#but maybe someone will see that and maybe change their mind about jon's ending

[asoiaf-essays-collector]

*Mic check* I'd like to add a few words, thank you!

This ending sucks not because it's tragic and ironic but because it doesn't make any sense. It adds absolutely nothing but pointless tragedy and irony.

Let's look at it from different perspectives, shall we?

First - why is the Night's Watch even there in the end? It has two purposes - to guard 7 kingdoms from the others and to guard it from wildlings. And last several thousands years it served mostly the second purpose. So the others are eliminated and wildlings are North's "friends" or allies or subordinates thanks to Jon - so why would the Night's Watch still be there? What they gonna do - just hang out? Chill on top of the destroyed Wall?

But okay, let's say the Night's Watch stands - although now they lack any purpose and lack people (most of them are just killed in the battles against the others, very little people are gonna arrive because, you know, years of devastating wars and Daenerys's war crimes and westerosi population is pretty much decreased). For whatever reasons - maybe they stay there just in case or because they don't want dissolve ancient and dying on its own order.

Show Jon went there for what? For queenslaying? Well, show Daenerys wasn't crowned yet, official queen of Westeros at that point was Cersei and little Hitler speech after her death still didn't mean that Daenerys was an official queen, there were ought to be some ceremonies, blessing of church and etc. Oathbreaking is not punishable, as far as I can remember, lawbreaking is. And after what she did to King's Landing I don't think there are gonna be debates on whether he broke the law or it was the lesser evil or whatever. Jaime didn't go to the Night's Watch, and in his case no one knew about Mad King's evil plans. Sure, there gonna be some displeased people - in show they were Greyjoys and Daenerys's army. Like yeah, let's pass a sentence for Stark-Targaryen (show)-legitimate heir - the most noble man in whole damn Westeros - based on Greyjoy's complaints and accusations of some former slaves.

But sure, let's say that it's all me rambling about the show. Let's say that GRRM will do it differently - the way that his "punishment" does make sense. Maybe even the Night's Watch will make some sense, idk.

So let's get a look on some themes.

My biggest issue with the Night's Watch ending is about Jon's death. He died, his watch had ended - that's it. He fulfilled his purpose on the Wall, he kept his ridiculous vows. Returning back to the Night Watch in this case is not ironic or tragic - it just cancels out the whole his Night's Watch arc. Like, what's the meaning of words "My watch has ended" (and I think that phrase is gonna make it to TWOW) if Jon gonna return? It has no weight.

It also cancels out some foreshadowing from the first books. Like - remember how Catelyn said that she was glad Jon joining the Night's watch and having no children to mess up with her grandkids birthrights? What's the irony in that? Everybody was happy Jon went to the celibacy order being sorta exiled and 7 books later he is exiled and stays in said order? You know what it sounds like? It sounds like another failed character arc in the show - Jaime's. You know, how he started with loving Cersei unconditionally, had his own emotional journey of trying to un-love her and still ended up loving her unconditionally in the end.

No, it's not how GRRM writes irony.

Let's take a look on yet another character arc, shall we?

Sansa Stark.

I think we all can agree she will end up as Queen in the North, no doubts here (forshadowing + political arc + show and stuff). So we got ourselves a pretty finished character arc.

She starts in Winterfell wanting to go south, wanting to marry some noble handsome southerner, to see tournaments and to be a part of royal court. Along her journey she does all that in the most twisted way and understands that there's no place like home aka Winterfell. So she returns there and stays for good. What's the irony in that, you ask? Well the irony is that if things went the way they were supposed to she wouldn't enjoy staying in Winterfell for the rest of her life I think. A girl with southern looks who likes stories about knights and tournaments, who loves songs and minstrels wanted to go away from Winterfell where there is no tournaments and no minstrels. She enjoyed her staying in King's Landing until Robert's death. She didn't complained about the heat and she didn't express any home sickness. She wouldn't want to go back to Winterfell so much if things didn't go wrong.

See - that is this kind of irony and tragedy we can expect from GRRM for his main characters that will make it to the very end. Yes, the character ends up in the geographical position she was in the beginning - but in this case it completes her journey, not cancels it out.

I wish we can look into some other characters, but we know almost nothing - because none of the endings in the show (aside Sansa's) makes sense and I don't want to give the show too much trust). Some of them are just ridiculous (like Jaime's) and some we just don't have enough information about (like Bran's) - but still we can make some assumptions about Jon.

I think the kind of irony they were looking for is not "Jon thought he was good for nothing but the Night's watch and he ends up just like he and everybody around him always thought - good for nothing but the Night's watch". I think the appropriate amount of irony is "Jon always wanted a lady wife, children and Winterfell for himself even though he had no chances to gain all of that, and against all odds he ended up in Winterfell but for impossible price of Robb's life and knowledge that his whole life was nothing but a bunch of lies".

After all, ASoIaF is not about senseless tragedies. It is about hope. Yes, our favourite characters sometimes die or end up not being somewhere they would prefer. But also the tragedies happen to them not because of some evil fate but because of the mistakes they made (and killing the totalitarian Daenerys just doesn't look like one). ASoIaF is actually very hopeful. Villains are dying the most ironic way possible, they do not escape the westerosi karma. Heroes are still kind and hopeful - even after all of her courting and marriage failures Sansa still hopes to find love and some sort of happiness in her future marriage. Jon still hopes to reconnect with his family after all the times people said he should forget about them. After all those years living in dishonor Jaime finally has a hope to be a little bit honorable about his oath to Catelyn (even through Brienne). Azor Ahai is supposed to bring everlasting summer. The Night King is supposed to die so that he can't proceed with Long Night 2.0. The Winter is coming but after it came it is spring on the way. Goddamit - the last book in series is called A Dream of Spring - and it sounds hopeful af to me!

See that?

ASoIaF starts with tragedies. But it doesn't have to end with one.

At least I'm hoping so.

Sure, GRRM still can write whatever end he wants to. Jon still can end up in the Night's Watch. GRRM still can write his ending the way that it will make sense. But at this point it sure as hell doesn't - neither in show nor in books.

Case closed.

Martin loves circular endings and irony though and endings where history rhymes. So Jon back at the wall makes a ton of sense thematically. I remember watching the show before even reading the books and when we we found out that Aemon, the maester at the wall, was a Targ and came to the wall/became a maester almost in a self-sacrificial way to not cause any problems re future claims to the Iron Throne my first thought was 'Yeah, this is gonna be Jon's endgame. Aemon is his mirror character and he will end up back at the wall repeating history.' Low and behold 8 years later I was right lmao. A lot of Jon fans don't like his ending because they think he's a hero and good guy so he doesn't deserve to go back to the wall. The nature of tragic or ironic endings are not about what characters deserve, half the characters in the books didn't deserve what happened to them, that's what makes it tragic and ironic.

Aemon, the maester at the wall, was a Targ and came to the wall/became a maester almost in a self-sacrificial way to not cause any problems re future claims to the Iron Throne

Why must you hurt me this way?

'Yeah, this is gonna be Jon's endgame. Aemon is his mirror character and he will end up back at the wall repeating history.'

Stop, I beg.

Low and behold 8 years later I was right lmao.

Listen here, you smug bastard! 😂

A lot of Jon fans

I am of the variety

don't like his ending

it fucking sucks, but go on

because they think he's a hero

wishing that some hero would throw him down and cut off his head --> Longclaw descended

and good guy so he doesn't deserve to go back to the wall

NO ONE DESERVES TO BE AT THE WALL IT IS A CORRUPT INSTITUTION USED TO UNJUSTLY PUNISH BOYS! FORCED VOWS OF CELIBACY ARE WRONG! THE IDEA OF PREVENTING SOMEONE FROM FEELING LOVE IS STUPID AND TAKING THEIR FUTURE FROM THEM IS VILE! (*screams for 17 minutes*) AND ANOTHER THING-- (*slaps myself*) —I'm not overly fond of the Watch, now that you mention it.

The nature of tragic or ironic endings are not about what characters deserve, half the characters in the books didn't deserve what happened to them

Oh. I guess I could have read the whole ask before gnawing on my dresser.

that's what makes it tragic and ironic.

*gasps* You smart ass! Lmaooo. I did not see that coming from the beginning, I'm so impressed you called it that early on! And before you knew he was a Targ? Or had you clocked that by then too? That had to be the best feeling that while the rest of us were bitching and moaning you were like, tell me something I didn't know from s1. My gosh. The people you watched it with must have been so annoyed with you! Wait, if you knew Jon was Aemon-ing, who did you think would rule in the end?

[unmotivatedwrit3r]

One in Eleven Million (final chapter)

damian wayne x reader x jon kent

(A/N): And we have reached the end! Thank you to everyone who has been following this story and I hope the ending was worth the wait. I also wrote at least some of this and the last chapter while delayed at a train station/on the train so any offhand references I make to either of those things are because of the haha.

And happy new year!

Series masterlist can be found here.

warnings: anxiety, train stations, small amount of cursing

wc: ~1400

~~

Jon blinked awake to Damian tapping him on the shoulder. 

“Huh?” 

“We’re almost there,” he said, nodding out the window. Outside, the scenery had changed from the green of Pennsylvania to the cloudy skyscraper city of Gotham. “Alfred’s meeting us at the station. I’ve already asked and he’ll drive them home if they’re comfortable.” 

Jon looked over at you. He couldn’t remember if you or he had fallen asleep first, but he felt privileged that you did at all. Sure, some of it might have been the exhaustion of the last day, but he had a feeling you wouldn’t have fallen asleep if you didn’t trust them to be there and wake you up. Based on your complaints about the station there, there was no way you wanted to end up in Newark. Or New York. 

Jon shook you gently. You opened your eyes, confused, then sat quickly upright. 

“Shit, I fell asleep? I didn’t mean to.”

“If it’s any consolation, so did I,” Jon shrugged. 

“I didn’t mean to miss the last hour,” you argued. 

“Last hour of what?” Damian stood up in the aisle, pulling Jon’s carry-on out from where he’d tucked it in. Jon grabbed his backpack then helped you pull your suitcase upright. 

“Of—thanks Jon—of time left with you guys.” You winced. Maybe that was too honest. Tugging your backpack over your shoulders, you followed Jon towards the exit at the end of the car. Damian stopped at the car door. You braced yourself with your suitcase to avoid toppling over as the train shuddered on the tracks. It really did feel like the plane turbulence from earlier. 

“This stop, Gotham Station,” the loudspeaker declared. One thing airplanes have going for them, you thought, better sound systems. The train’s announcements were barely audible. “Doors will open on the right side of the train. Please watch your step.” Anything further was indecipherable under the burbling of the speaker. 

“Wait, why did you say the last hour?” Jon asked as the three of you took the escalator up to the station's main area. 

“I have no idea how to contact you after this.” You pulled your suitcase over the lip of the escalator with a tug and continued on. Despite the amount of public transportation you’ve taken, Damian seemed to know the station better than you. You followed him as he weaved through the groups of people sprinkled around the area, Jon right behind. 

Damian stopped just outside a side entrance, and you moved around to his other side to avoid blocking the door. Jon followed. 

“We do all have phone numbers,” Damian suggested pulling out his phone. You assumed he was texting whoever was picking up him and Jon. 

“Oh, duh!” 

Jon’s excitement made you smile. The thought had crossed your mind earlier, but you’d dismissed it as a non-starter. You felt a little silly for that now. 

Jon’s phone was already open to a new contact sheet when he handed it to you. You weren’t sure if you’d ever actually given them your last name or if they remembered ever seeing it on your train ticket or boarding pass, but there was bound to be someone between Gotham and Metropolis that shared your first name, so you added it in anyway. Jon took it back from you and started typing. 

Your phone buzzed straightaway. You pulled it out of your pocket, smiling. 

“hi :)” the first message read. It was sent to you and a third number. Then “it’s jon”

“Huh,” you mused, reading it. “I’ve never seen anyone spell it like that before. That’s cool.”

You unlocked your phone, opened it to the group chat, and held it out to Damian. 

“Would you mind? So I don’t misspell your name?”

Damian muttered an assent and took it from you. He returned it with both contacts filled out. 

“Oh, great, thanks.” You chuckled at Jon’s contact. The name, instead of the Jon offered by the initial text, had been filled out as “Jonathan Kent.” Damian’s name, you were proud to say, was spelled the way you imagined it was. The last name was a funny coincidence, you thought, considering he lived in Gotham. 

“Wayne?” You asked, about to make a teasing joke. 

“Like Bruce Wayne, yes.” Damian said, carefully watching your reaction. 

“Like ‘Wayne Enterprises’ Wayne?” He nodded. “Holy shit. Wow, okay, I didn’t expect that. Wow.” You couldn’t read the expression on his face. Some part of you wondered if he was waiting for you to make a comment about his money or his father. 

“Why did you take the train with me?” You asked instead. The concrete was rough beneath your shoes, a noticeable contrast from the smoothness of airport flooring. “You could have easily had someone pick you up. Pick both of you up. So why–?” 

“Because we wanted to,” Jon answered simply. 

“I am not in the habit of making,” Damian hesitated, “friends and then leaving them behind.” 

“Yeah,” Your heart thudded loudly in your chest. “I’m glad we agree on that.” 

An unfamiliar black car pulled up beside you. You took a couple steps back. It was nice, but anything unfamiliar, nice or not, wasn’t worth the risk. 

Damian, on the other hand, moved in closer. He opened the passenger door and said something to the driver then turned back towards you. 

“Do you want us to drop you off at home?”

You hesitated for a moment. Jon was looking hopefully at you. Damian’s “friends” echoed in your head. 

“Yeah,” you agreed. “That would be great.” 

Jon’s face split into a grin. The corner of Damian’s lips quirked up. There was some warm feeling in your chest at the fact that you caught it. You smiled back. 

Alfred Pennyworth, as you learned his name was, stopped the car right outside of your building less than thirty minutes later. 

“I’ll get your suitcase,” Jon offered, hopping out of the car as you collected the rest of your things. 

“Thank you, Mr. Pennyworth.” 

“You are very welcome,” he answered. 

You shut the door behind you, now face to face with Jon. 

“Is a hug okay?” You asked him. “I’m not sure if that’s a thing you do but-“

Jon gives good hugs, you decided immediately. You could feel the weight and warmth of his arms where they circled your shoulders. 

“I’ll text you, okay?” He let go, hands moving to shove in his pockets. “I’ll take a picture of Metropolis when I get home and send it.” 

You smiled at him; there was something concrete to look forward to. Damian came around the back of the car. 

“You’re not a hug person, right?” You asked him. He shrugged. 

“Only for certain people.” 

You nodded, oddly disappointed. Damian opened his arms. 

“Are you sure?” You asked him. He nodded and you let him set the pace, tightening your grip only when he did. Damian was a good hugger too, you realized. You wondered if the older brother you heard of hours ago on the plane and Jon both had something to do with that. 

“You guys know where I live now,” you adjusted your backpack over your shoulder and pulled up the handle on your suitcase. “So come visit sometime, okay?” Your gaze wandered over to Jon. “Well if you’re in town, I guess. Metropolis isn’t exactly walking distance.” 

Jon chuckled. 

“I’m here pretty often.”

Damian scoffed a quiet laugh. 

“We will. And keep in touch.”

“Yeah,” you smiled. “You guys too.”

You gave a final wave before heading into your building. A cloud of melancholy followed you inside. You ignored it, pulling dirty clothes from your suitcase to toss in the hamper before heading to take a shower. 

Hair dripping but finally clean, you flopped onto your bed, reaching for your phone. Three messages were waiting for you. You answered the one from your parent, asking if you’d gotten home safe. The second was an email. You’d deal with that later, after you got some sleep. The third was a picture from Damian. 

He didn’t even make it through my shower, the attached message read. On your screen, Jon was lying on a couch underneath Damian’s large dog. He was fast asleep. 

You laughed and replied, then set your phone down. A nap would definitely throw off your sleep schedule, you knew, but Gotham was nocturnal anyway. You slept the afternoon away.

[throwawayasoiafaccount]

i am reminded once again that people are so weird about rhaegar.

it’s interesting but nauseating to see the shift about him on the anti-rhaegar side of the fandom as it’s clear that people are still wildly and crazily deep in their fanon versions of him, but have decided he’s somewhat useful to them as the fandom becomes less accepting of the ‘targaryens are bad and all mad’ narrative that was floating around for years, so some of the antis have slightly changed their tunes.

i should clarify that the shift does seem subtle right now, so maybe it’s not going to affect the way the antis discuss rhaegar that much, but i find it interesting and a bit annoying so im gonna discuss it.

the shift is basically starting from ‘rhaegar was a moron and killed his family by fucking his whore so he deserved death’ and seems to be heading to ‘rhaegar was secretly really cunning and cruel and actually loved elia but she was iffy/neutral of him and he only got with lyanna to have a baby and left her to die cause he was always gonna go back to elia.’

both of these are crazy interpretations imo, but the second one is even worse than the first. the first interpretation is at least a tad bit understandable, but the second is completely based on fanon land nonsense.

because… how is rhaegar seen as cunningly cruel when he’s only been paralleled with dany and jon, two incredibly kind characters? one of the first times dany is directly paralleled to rhaegar is when dany was protecting others! while we do learn a lot about rhaegar through these parallels, there’s also an on page interaction that completely contradicts the ‘rhaegar is cruel and callous’ interpretation. it starts when jamie is recalling rhaegar’s departure to the trident, he remembers when jon darry snapped at him, telling him to obey and stay with aerys; then rhaegar takes the time to console a teenage jamie and ease his worries before he leaves. we have all this and yet people interpret this character as cunningly cruel and willing to use others for his own ends?

like bsffr… this is a character who prefers writing songs and singing them instead of violence and the song of swords. that says a lot about rhaegar, and it’s all good things.

speaking of good things said about rhaegar: barristan as whitebeard, when he was still sussing out dany, calls rhaegar able, determined, deliberate, dutiful, and single-minded. these are all positive descriptions. barristan also later says that there’s a lot of good to be said about rhaegar, more than any of dany’s other relatives. this is not the description of someone hiding a nasty personality behind a perfect facade, it’s a deliberate set up preparing us readers for the big rhaelya reveal and to contradict roberts anti rhaegar propaganda.

i also want to mention the other side of rhaegar. he was described as melancholy and was said to have sad eyes, and according to cersei he looked wounded. it seems like he suffered from depression. and based on the parallels between aerys and viserys, i think it’s safe to assume that aerys was likely abusive to rhaegar like viserys was to dany. what’s written in a world of ice and fire supports my case and shows that things were always very very tense between rhaegar and aerys. things were so tense in fact that aerys even brought varys in as spymaster partly because he mistrusted rhaegar. that is a very terrible environment for someone to grow up in, and yet rhaegar still pulled through so much so that characters still sing his praises years after his death. that’s impressive and shows how good of an impression he left on so many characters.

now, i also want to discuss the rhaegar x elia ship as it’s getting more popular as the tides keep shifting. one quote that these shippers use to support their ship is the “rhaegar was fond of elia” remark made by barristan, but the context of that conversation is specifically left out by these shippers. basically the conversation began when dany is telling barristan that she’ll do her duty and marry hizdahr, so she asks barristan if rhaegar wed for duty or love. barristan hesitates and tells her that rhaegar was fond of elia but says nothing about love. context is key here. and while it’s not surprising that these shippers need to strip away the context as they have to go up against rhaelya, which has a lot of textual support, it is deceitful and proves that their case is weak in compassion to the build up of rhaelya.

anyways… yeah… this shifting tide is weird af and seems like a huge backwards dive into fanon land, and while i can’t control anyone i think i’ve done my best to stay true to canon by mentioning what we know about rhaegar and trying to keep my interpretations grounded.

tbh… i don’t even like this character that much, but i think his impact on the fandom is so cool. cause it’s like… here is rhaegar, a sad boy, and yet so many people treat him like he’s satan incarnate responsible for everything bad. it’s like so wild and so far from what little we know of him. so, basically, because of this fandom discourse, i became interested in this character and am now one of his defenders. yeahhhhh….

also, because so many people liked to basically shit on rhaegar for ‘doing nothing’ and ‘just letting war break out’ i found it kinda fun to theorize about what he may have actually been doing at the time of the rebellion. as of now, i’m pretty set in my belief that he specifically went to dorne to conspire with house martell and potential allies in order to overthrow aerys. my theory is based on what we know of his personality, and i think his last words to jamie clearly hint that he had some sort of plan in place; and since he was last in dorne, it’s only logical to conclude that there was something going on.

that’s all

[missbluesunflowersstuff]

I think the only right way for Damian to become Batman is much slower than everyone thinks

Just image: Damian in the future as a veterinary student, slowly distancing himself from the world of vigilantes and Bruce, an old man, with aching and tired bones, who has suffered with chronic pain for years (you'll have to take chronic pain Bruce Wayne and Jason Todd headcanon from my cold dead hands) getting ready to go on patrol once again. There are a series of murders happening and he wants to investigate

And Damian goes into the cave (maybe to take care of Batcow) and see the scene. He feels sorry for his father, Bruce's love for Gotham cursed him and now Gotham was slowly killing him. Then Damian calmly approaches and gently pushes his father into the chair. And in a tired voice Damian says:

“Leave this to me today, father, take your medicine and rest.” "No, Damian. You have to go to college today"

"Gotham is my city too, they're my people too...and they still need Batman"

Damian also knows that Dick has his own city to worry about; that Jason is busy on some mission around the world; that Steph is too tired for this; that Tim is too attached to the Robin mantle for that; that Duke recently had a child with his wife; that Cassandra is now a renowned ballet teacher and Damian doesn't want to get in the way of his siblings' lifes. He knows that if he asked, someone would accept, but everyone is so happy now, it took so long for them to reach that moment... Damian then decides to sacrifice himself that night.

Only that night

He will becomes Batman just that night, so his father can rest, he makes it clear that he will only do it that night

"Don't get used to it, father, it's just for today"

But that news spreads like fire. Even Jon and the other heroes start to inform Damian about things that happen (Batman still is very important in the Justice League) and Damian? Damian ignores

He goes through the messages, emails and claims he only did it once and never again. He forwards everything to Bruce, not wanting to get more involved than is convenient

but then the next month, Bruce has another rough night and Damian takes up the mantle again. This becomes a strange habit between the two of them, slowly and silence, one night a week... two nights a week...

The biggest change happens when Bruce is seriously injured fighting someone much stronger (and younger) in the sewers of Gotham. Damian had an important test at college and Bruce didn't want to call him, it wasn't fair to push that on Damian when the boy made it clear that he didn't want the mantle. So Bruce lies there for hours, in the midst of pain and dirt trying to reorganize his mind until Damian appears, the youngest son noticed that his father hadn't come home yet so he got worried and went after him.

Damian and Bruce open a pact that night, Bruce would stay in the cave supervising and Damian would work in the field

This works very well at first but soon Damian comes home to see his father sleeping, and it becomes a routine. Damian is happy that his father trusts him enough to sleep while his son is on patrol, that's good

the truth only shocks Damian when at a league meeting Jon refers to him as Batman, not Robin or Damian, no. Batman. The Batman.

and even though many people believe that he became Batman out of neopotism, the truth is much more different and sad than that. He became Batman through his own choices and effort, to protect his tired father and also to protect Gotham. Because, in the end, Damian learned to love Gotham the same way Bruce loved it.

Note: I love imagining this old Bruce slowly realizing how unfair he was to Damian his early days, how Bruce only saw Damian as a spoiled brat, a monster covered in blood and mud instead of helping him like Dick, Alfred and Steph did . I love imagining old Bruce kicking himself for not noticing Damian's gentle, compassionate side sooner. Side that was underneath all the anger, dirt and trauma

And also Bruce realizing that Damian is as gentle to people as Talia was in the past Note²: I'm not trying to villainize Bruce and sanctify Damian; Damian did a lot of things, but he was a ten year old child who didn't know how to deal with the world (+brainwashed by a cult) and Bruce was a grown ass man who had been dealing with traumatized people for many years, Bruce should have been more patient with Damian but you still have time now Bruce, you can do it. I believe on you, you can still be a good father

[sewliia]

Magnus Archives Episode 154 / 200 Analysis

(If this was mentioned by anyone before, I am sorry. I found one tumblr post showing the similarity in John's “Together - one way or another” but nothing more. So if you guys know more sources on this topic please share them with me. I would love to talk about this more.)

(also this is maybe a bit messy but I hope you guys see my vision)

I believe the Ending of the Magnus Archive was already decided in the episode “154 - Bloody Mary” or at least episode 200 is a parallel / continuation of the post statement scene.

I will show 154 in order while adding the matching parts from 200 (the parts from 200 are coloured differently to easily recognize them).

In 154 John learns that they can leave the Institut if they damage their eyes permanently.

After gaining this information he goes to Martin. He is the first to know.

(This one is not hard evidence - just something small I noticed)

(200) Martin is also the first to know what John did (also the only one).

(154) John then proposes to Martin that he wants to leave with him, because he trusts Martin and doesn't want to do it alone. He doesn't even consider the others here. He just wants to be with Martin.

This also plays into Jon's identity crisis in Season 4. Martin was there for him all the time and Jon values Martin's opinion more than the others, cause he loves him, cause he hopes Martin wants the same, cause he wants someone who gives him permission, to tell him what is right.

(200) Here we have it the other way around now. Martin trusted John not to kill Jonah on his own and John finally had the courage to do something on his own.

(154) Martins response is:

He doesn't want to choose for John, since he knows how insecure John is.

(200) John made it Martin's decision. He can’t kill himself at this point and already made his choice.

(154) This scenario is almost the same, just that the roles are partly swapped. In both cases they aren't sure if John will survive this, that it is a risk and a wish to escape.

Ending with the famous “one way or another” spoken again by John.

(154) After John proposes his idea to Martin he gets unsure, saying his idea was stupid. Martin says he has to see things through with Peter, which triggers John to try again.

(200) There is no exact line that fits this, but John derails everything by killing Jonah on his own.

(154) This one is interesting.

Martins says John would never blind himself. John indeed doesn’t want that. He wants to live, he wants to see and he likes his powers.

Blinding himself would be the easy way out.

In this season John fights a lot about his wants and his identity, so it makes sense that he asks the others for guidance and opinions. He is not sure what he really wants and even if it is okay to just take it. I am sure that John at this point loves Martin deeply and wants his input on the situation. He wants to hear “of course I come with you John”, but Martin denies that from him.

(200) At this point not even John's love for Martin holds him back and he does what he wants to do, going from “could” to “did”.

Martin is also in disbelief here, mirroring his and John’s words in 154.

you do - you didn’t

I could - you can’t

“I did. I am “

John is confident in this scene. He IS what he decided to be. He is whole.

(154) More evidence that even Martin doesn't believe John.

Again a parallel:

I can't follow you

Martin pushing Jon away ( to save him)

(200) Where you go I go.

John pushing martin away (to save him)

(and then changing his mind, accepting the proposal of escape)

In short:

(154)

John proposes to leave together.

Martin says John would and can not do that.

He won't make the decision for John.

Martin pushes John away.

John says he waits.

(200)

John does something that Martin dared him to do.

John tries to push Martin away.

Martin proposes to leave together.

Martin has to make the decision for John.

They stay together.

Maybe I went a bit crazy here but these scenes have so much in common.

[every-aj-needs-an-angel]

Some softish wedding vibes for the lovely @flowercrowngods sorry this took all day

The wedding was beautiful. A cosy little affair in the forest surrounding the Byers-Hopper cabin, just The Party and their immediate family. The guests had a myriad of mismatched chairs decorated with pretty tulle bows, the aisle strewn with wildflower petals collected by the kids, fairy lights strung from the trees casting a warm glow over the dusk ceremony.

The older teens of the party had been on decorating duty and they’d done a great job, even if Steve did say so himself.

Joyce looked stunning in her simple, lace summer gown, Hop beaming and wiping tears from his eyes as Jon walked his mum down the aisle.

Claudia sobbed loudly, Dustin tutting but handing her tissues, shhing her every now and again, making everyone hide a smile behind their hands when she'd wailed "it's just so beautifulllllll!"

Murray had officiated, dressed in ceremonial robes and actually on his best behaviour for a change. Will was Joyce's man of honour, El was Hop's best woman, Steve had never seen either of them look more radiant.

Steve had been roped into dress shopping by El and Max because although she was doing much better, Max's eyesight wasn't what it once was and Steve was apparently the only one with any fashion sense. He was glad he'd gone with them because the three of them had had so much fun, both girls had picked beautiful dresses without really needing his help at all, not that it stopped him smiling to himself as they spun happily in front of the floor length mirror, letting the skirts flow around them, or from taking them both for new records and ice cream, that Dustin had thrown a two hour fit for missing out on.

Then somehow the mum's had talked him into taking all the boys to hire tuxedos, not that he'd minded but Eddie had tagged along when he heard from Dustin that it was going to be a fun road trip with new records and ice cream, and seeing him spin out of the dressing room, all high on life from being with the kids and out of Hawkins, his hair tied up in a messy bun had taken Steve's breath away. Luckily he'd managed to cover it up with a laugh when Dustin had popped out next dressed in a white tux, strutting around because he thought he looked like Elvis.

So they all looked gorgeous and it was all just very sweet and picturesque and romantic.

Although Steve could've done without Mike snarking in his ear at every opportunity, snapping his name like his nanny used to when he was misbehaving, except Steve wasn't doing anything wrong. In fact the first time he'd been told off he'd been up a ladder hanging lights, the second time he'd only walked out the cabin, now dressed in his suit, trying and failing to get his tie perfect. The third time he'd been stuffing cake in his mouth in a rush because his and Max's song had just come on but he was torn between moving and eating, so he'd sloppily thrown the cake in his mouth, frosting pouring out the edges of his lips. Steve didn't get his reaction, yeah it was a little gross but Max was laughing so who cared.

So as soon as the song ended and El came back to dance with Max, Steve grabbed Mike by the collar and dragged him into the cabin.

"Okay, what's your problem? You've been at me all day!" Steve demanded to know, hands on his hips.

Mike spluttered and grouched incoherently, something about Eddie, him being a person, which was just perplexingly obvious. And for someone who'd had a lot to say all day, he suddenly wasn't saying anything, but Steve knew if he just waited Mike out, he'd eventually get his thoughts out in a coherent sentence. Except Will came dashing into the cabin, eye's lighting up when they landed on Mike, grabbing him by the wrist and dragging him back out into the party, before he ever had a chance.

Steve sighed rejoining the reception, mingling and chatting and trying not to be too obvious as he watched Eddie, maybe he'd said something to Mike, maybe he'd noticed the way Steve hadn't really been able to keep his eyes to himself, since, well since forever really but he'd definitely been more consciously aware of his lingering gazes since he'd woken up in the hospital with a joke and a groan, and they'd only become more incessant since he'd first seen him in that damn tux. Christ, Steve get a hold of yourself!

He just hopes he wasn't making Eddie uncomfortable, he didn't think he was because every time Eddie glanced over, it was always with a big smile, the one that started soft but grew until his dimples were showing when Steve smiled back, so he was almost sure that probably wasn't it, surely he'd look away like Robin did when men letched over her.

The next time Mike snapped at him, he was only dancing with Robin, not closely and certainly not well. Dancing In The Moonlight by King Harvest was playing, it was a song they all knew and loved and listened to whenever they all hung out. Robin had dragged him to his feet, just as he'd sat down with Wayne to chat about next weekend's game, and forced him to dance, waggling his arms around and doing all the silly moves until he couldn't help but join in.

Steve's eyes immediately snapped to Eddie, who was sitting by the edge of the makeshift dance floor, looking more miserable than Steve had ever seen him, even when he was a wanted man and on the run. Steve handed Robin to Mike, who protested about being forced to dance, but Robin had had a few glasses of wine and didn't seem too fussed about who she was dancing with, so long as she had a dance partner.

Wayne had his arm slung over the back of Eddie's chair but Eddie was slouched forward head in his hands forlornly watching everyone dance instead of joining like he usually would. Wayne and Steve shared a smile as he headed towards them, Wayne jumping up with a mumbled excuse, disappearing over to the buffet table to chat with Claudia.

Steve loved how he never needed words with Wayne, it was like he could read Steve like a book, had since their first meeting in Eddie's hospital room, he'd just given Steve a hard stare and for a second he thought he was about to get a smack or at least thrown out but Wayne had just given him a soft smile and pulled out another uncomfortable plastic chair for Steve to sit with him at Eddie's bedside.

They'd been fast friends, bonding over stories of Eddie, sports and an adoration of cheese of all things. Wayne even called him son, like he did with Eddie but that was probably just because there hadn't been a weekend since Eddie left the hospital, where Steve hadn't been at their new government bought apartment, screaming at the tv or the radio with Wayne, Eddie huffing and rolling his eyes and bemoaning that he was being forced to put up with two sports fanatics.

But Steve quickly learned the easiest way to settle Eddie was through his stomach, staying after the game to make fresh pizza or four cheese gnocchi or manicotti, from recipes he'd stolen from an old trunk in his attic, watching with pride as both Munson's wolfed down his food, was the easiest way to make Eddie beam at him.

Eddie hadn't noticed Steve coming over, didn't even perceive his presence until there was nothing but a pair of legs directly in his eyeline, forcing Eddie to look up at him.

"Hi," Steve said tentatively, Eddie's smile settling quickly back into place but not quite meeting his eyes.

"Stevie," Eddie greeted, aiming for normality but just the fact that he hadn't drawn out the e gave him away, "nice moves," he teased, sounding a bit too grouchy to be playful.

Steve adored that about their dynamic, the playful mocking, the poking and tickling and doing whatever they could to make the other bite back or laugh hysterically or both but it felt less like their playful banter and more like a defense mechanism, like maybe Eddie was mad with him.

And maybe it was something about the soft warm lighting or the giant strawberry moon peering down on them or the fact that they were at a wedding but something felt bigger, heavier but at the same time incredibly delicate like one wrong move could destroy them both.

"Dance with me," Steve murmured instead of teasing him back, holding his hand out for Eddie to take. Eddie furrowed his brows and blinked owlishly at him, Steve couldn't help thinking he looked adorable but if he let his introspection go on too long, he'd be lost for the night. Steve wafted his hand impatiently, trying to snap Eddie into the present but he only blinked slowly at his outstretched hand too.

"Aren't you dancing with Robin?" Eddie eventually asked hesitantly, which confused the living bejesus out of Steve because surely he couldn't mean…

Steve shook his head vigorously trying to send that mental image back to the pits of hell where it belonged, glancing purposefully over to the dance floor, he could see Robin'd got her arms around Nancy's neck blushing deeply as she babbled constantly. He knew she hadn't quite been able to look at Nancy the same way since they'd visited Creel together but Nancy had her arms securely around Robin's waist, listening intently and grinning and maybe, just maybe…

"I think she's content with her new partner," Steve mumbled, knowing full well that Eddie knew Robin almost as closely as he did, knew that Eddie could see what he saw and that whatever he was doing was some kind of avoidance technique, "dance with me."

They'd danced before, alone and in front of the party, there was no reason for Eddie to be nervous, didn't stop him looking anxiously around Steve's legs at the dancefloor, "There's people," Eddie muttered dejectedly.

Steve glanced over his shoulder and then back to Eddie, with a confused frown, "You mean all the people who love and care about us?" he asked affectionately.

Eddie snorted and huffed, "You," he corrected shortly.

Steve's brows furrowed deeply, "Huh?"

Eddie sighed, rolling his eyes, "All the people who care about you," he clarified grumpily.

Oh no, he's gone down the rabbit hole.

Steve sighed heavily, "Okay, that's not even close to the truth, but for the sake of not arguing, if they care about me, they have to care about you," he informed him.

Eddie sniggered, "Why, you gonna beat 'em up if they don't?" Eddie tried to tease but it came out too flat.

"No," Steve sighed, hooking his finger under Eddie's chin and forcing him to look at him, "anyone who doesn't care about you, doesn't get to care about me. These people are my family but if it came down to a choice of them or you, I'd pick you every time," Steve admitted sincerely.

Eddie's breath hitched but he didn't say anything, looked like he might cry if he did.

Steve decided it was time to just use his trump card, "Dance with me. Please."

And just like that Eddie jumped to his feet dragging Steve onto the dancefloor, because Eddie never denied Steve anything when he said please, not that Eddie ever denied him anything really but it was like a little button that overpowered all Eddie's apprehension and theatrics.

"Can I stay with you please?"

"C'mon Eddie, up, Owens says it'll be good for you to go for a little walk. No? Please?"

"Could you just keep talking until I fall asleep please?"

"Can you pick Dustin up tonight please?"

"Could you bring milk when you come over please?"

"What's wrong Eds? Talk to me, please."

They got situated just as the song changed to a much slower one, At Last by Etta James. Appropriate, Steve thought gleefully. Eddie just stood there, a little shell-shocked and unsure but not running away so Steve gently took his hands and put them on his waist, circling his own around Eddie's neck, except Eddie had his arms perfectly straight keeping a space between them.

"What're you doing?" Steve asked, fond amusement in his voice, it wasn't like they'd never been close before.

"Leaving room for Jesus," Eddie replied, Steve recognised it as an autopilot response, Eddie long lost to his mind, but Steve couldn't help it, the bubble of laughter just burst right out of him. Sometimes Eddie was just inadvertently funny and when Steve laughed he'd stand there like he was replaying the conversation until Eddie was laughing too at his own comment but Eddie's face crumbled, trying to pull away but Steve just held on tighter.

"Hey, no, Eds. I wasn't laughing at you, just maybe we're a bit old for Jesus to need to dance with us. C'mere," Steve said, pulling Eddie closer, wrapping his arms more tightly around him, swaying slowly to the music.

The look in Eddie's eyes as they listened to the song told Steve all he needed to know about why Eddie had been avoiding him, why he was only looking his way when he thought Steve wasn't looking, why he was being so evasive, how he'd managed to spiral so far that he thought he and Robin, ugh, Steve can't even think it.

Even Mike's snapping made a whole lot more sense, "Stop messing with Eddie," boy really needs to learn to stop grumbling, "he's a person, he has feelings!" Mike could see Eddie pining and had taken it on himself to try to stop Steve doing whatever mundane task that had Eddie yearning.

It was probably the sweetest thing Steve had ever seen Mike do for someone who wasn't El or Will, even if it pissed Steve off that he'd always be a cad in Mike's eyes, that he just assumed that Steve was a bad guy (when he's done nothing but throw himself in front of him and his friends time and again to protect them) that he was purposefully leading Eddie on, being intentionally enticing just to hurt him.

Not that it mattered what Mike thought, he could only hope that it was all his biases and not that Eddie hadn't been venting to the kids, all that mattered was that that wasn't what Eddie thought of him.

The whole atmosphere of the night had changed, everyone had slowed and quietened, couples solely focused on the person in their arms. But Steve felt the ground under his feet change, drew from Captain Steve the guy who'd thrown the first punch at Billy to protect his kids, felt Sir Steve crawl up his throat, the Knight who'd gone into battle against an all-powerful beast and brought his comrades out of the pits of hell because he'd seen now, seen clearly for the first time in god knows how long and he couldn't just go back to pretending, not without giving this is best shot. And thank god for Etta James because she was going to help him, because he could do this, he could be brave and fight for what he wanted for a change.

He had a horrible singing voice but Eddie already knew that, told him so often and in many imaginative ways.

"I found a dream that I could speak to, a dream that I can call my own," he sang quietly, trying to copy Wayne's looking into your soul look, trying to let Eddie see that his feelings are reciprocated, classing it as a win when Eddie grins, blushing deeply and mushes his face into Steve's neck.

"I've found a thrill to press my cheek to, a thrill that I've never known," he continued, nuzzling further into Eddie's neck because now he was this close it was like he couldn't get close enough.

"You smiled," Steve murmured against his skin, unable to wipe the lovesick smile off of his face. He and Eddie had always been close but they both knew this was different.

Originally it started with helping him limp around when he'd refuse to use his crutches, then when Wayne had to go back to work Steve started staying the night so Eddie could sleep without having to worry about waking up alone after a nightmare, he'd only spent the first few hours on the sofa before Eddie woke up screaming, sweaty and shaking, Steve hadn't even thought about it just clambered in behind Eddie pulling him flush against him, shhing him and running his fingers through his hair to get it out of his face, he didn't bother with the sofa again after that, they just shared Eddie's bed, soothing both their nightmares with the others presence.

But they've had time and distance from their trauma since then, most of them have been to therapy and they're all doing better, they can sleep in their own houses, in their own beds, they can all actually sleep for eight hours and wake up well rested. But he and Eddie stayed as close as ever, it's rare that they're never not touching, if Eddie's tired he'll attach himself to Steve like a backpack. They hug, they hold hands, Eddie even kissed him on the cheek one time, Steve's pretty sure it was an accident but he'd been so busy trying to hide the blush that'd sprung to his cheeks to really read the situation, maybe if he had they might've got here sooner because looking back Steve's not really sure how he missed all the signs, Eddie sits in his lap on movie nights for god sake.

"You smiled," Steve sang, pulling back to look at Eddie, to look at the adorable endeared grin and the pretty blush he can't hide because his hair's all tied up, still neat as a pin, showing just how much hairspray Claudia had used to hold it in place.

"And then the spell was cast," he crooned, because it was, from all the way back in school when Eddie would taunt the other jocks but there was never any bite in it when it came to Steve, his teasing came with a smile he never saw directed at anyone else, and he still remembers how it would make him preen a little and how he'd always feel a little peppier for the rest of the day.

But it felt like magic when they met for real, not the king and the jester but Steve and Eddie, battling the unknown side by side, Eddie smiling real smiles, teeth and dimples, all for Steve, because of Steve. And then of course he'd just had to be the hero and Steve had swore at him the whole way to the hospital because he'd been so mad but after days at his bedside, the first time he woke up and smiled at Steve, he knew from that moment on he was done for.

He'd just never thought they could have this, never dreamed Eddie would feel the same way so he buried that feeling deep down, enjoyed his friendship, relished being someone Eddie could rely on, being his confidant and still even when Eddie said "don't punch me but…" Steve had been too scared to rock the boat, didn't want to lose what they had because just because Eddie was interested in men didn't mean he was interested in him.

Who'd've thought Mike Wheeler would've been the one to make Steve see what was right on the end of his nose.

"And here we are in heaven," Steve trilled, resting his forehead against Eddie's trying to calm his heart before it beats right out of his chest, because there's butterflies taking flight and Steve's never in his life been nervous about a kiss but this one feels monumental and he can feel it coming and he wants it now and he also wants to wait and let this moment last forever.

"For you are mine," Eddie crooned, sounding more like a question. And as much as Steve always melts whenever Eddie sings, the fact that Eddie's still questioning his intentions, after he declared that Eddie's the most important person in his life, after what they're currently doing, just makes Steve realise how long Eddie's been his, how blind they've both been, how they've both been so wrapped up in what they can't have neither of them noticed it was right there for the taking.

Steve beams at him, let's Eddie see the way he makes him feel, the way he's always made him feel, nods like he's agreeing to a marriage proposal, deliriously happy and tear streaked.

"At last," Etta sings into the moonlit evening, as the boys seal their promise with a kiss.

[kitsunesakii]

Spider in the Dark

This was SO MUCH FUN

Printer issues, Lunch Date, Flower Shop, The Stranger pt. 1, 2, 3, 4, ur here, Two is Better than One

Sasha hummed in satisfaction as the program she had been working on finally yielded. An address popped up on the screen and she frowned. That warehouse was definitely empty. The police had cornered a small group of the People's Church along with Author Nolan; he was dead. Well, honestly probably not. Sasha had seen enough to not trust such a hopeful claim. But he couldn't still be there? 

She had been researching the claims that some statement givers had given on the Stranger. Honestly it was just idle work until Jon gave her a real task. But one search had led to another and now she was staring at an address that was supposedly where a mannequin had been dropped off for maintenance. So why was it the same warehouse as Author's group?  

It wasn't a mistake on her end. And she doubted it was a coincidence. Those didn't seem to exist in this place. Maybe Jon knew something about it, Sasha moved to stand when Jon's door flew open and Jon paused, looking around before frowning. 

"Where is everybody?" 

"Martin went to investigate a lead and Tim's taking some sort of vacation day." 

Jon scowled and Sasha grinned. "I, however, am right here and not busy at the moment." Besides the mystery of the warehouse but that was a side project at best. 

"I need to follow up on a location someone left us about a statement, it was last week so I hope to find something useful."

"Alright, where?"

He squinted at the paper and read the coordinates. Her eyes shot up. 

"Jon, that's the same warehouse they had the ambush at." She gestured to her computer screen. "What statement was it about?"

"An artifact delivered by Michael Silesa. I think Gertrude was looking into it, I found an older recording-"

"I'm going to stop you there," Sasha cut him off and rubbed her temples. "Have you really thought about this? This seems like a trap."

"Possibly. I'm going to check it out."

"I'm coming with you." She was leading him out of the basement before he could protest, glancing back just in time to see him stuff a recorder in his pocket. Sasha rolled her eyes. Recently he had been jumpier, at first she had thought it was just because of the worms. Then she shrugged off the suspicion to the fact that even after a very annoying, very persistent argument on why Micheal seemed interested in protecting her and having to listen to him list off all the reasons it was a horrible idea, she still didn't  change her mind. But now she was starting to think the paranoia was from something else, and if Jon needed a little extra confirmation of her loyalty she was willing to provide it. Hell just about anything to get out of the office. 

"But we aren't going anywhere without torches, and I'm going to text Tim to give us three hours and if he doesn't hear back to call the cops."

Jon frowned. "That won't be necessary."

"Tough." She said simply, shooting Tim a text as they entered into the afternoon sun. 

----------------------------------------------

"This is definitely a trap." Sasha said matter of fact as they looked over a piece of paper that had been taped to the side door of the large industrial warehouse. The paper had the words "A Guest for Mr. Spider." Printed nicely. She hadn't the slightest idea what that meant but it left Jon three shades paler than before which told her all she needed to know. "We should leave." 

"I'm not leaving." Jon put the paper in his pocket and opened the door. "I need answers."

She followed in after him and quickly grabbed his arm. He paused long enough to allow her to hand him a torch. It was pitch black in there. 

They walked forwards and she tried to remember where they were. Along the wall she spotted a yellow door. She wasn't sure whether to be relieved or not. 

"What does the note mean?" Her question echoed. 

"Nothing."

"It must have meant something with the way you balked at it."

"Why are you so curious about it?" His words settled around them with an accusatory bite. 

Sasha rolled her eyes. "Oh I don't know, maybe it has something to do with the fact that I'm following you blindly into a place that could kill us?" Her heart was hammering in her ears. God she hated the dark, she shifted her grip on his wrist. Even with the torch she could barely see the wall beside them. 

"Well excuse me, I don't see the danger you could possibly be in with how close you are to deadly monsters." 

There was no way he was doing this right now. And Sasha knew that she shouldn't be fueling it but her nerves had her on edge and her filter was left at the door of the warehouse. 

"I don't appreciate your passive aggressive tone."

"I don't like being lied to." His words bordered on a growl. 

Realistically she knew the stress of it all was hitting him. They should leave now, she had already started to lose track of direction and he wasn't helping. 

Sasha tried to remain calm as she answered. "I haven't lied to you." She slowed them to a stop and looked around. "Jon, maybe we should leave."

"Why, " He ripped his wrist free and shined the torch directly in her face. "Why should I believe anything you've said to me? For all I know you wrote the note, I saw you already knew the location of this warehouse before I even brought it up."

Sasha swore the darkness was getting darker around them. Her calm was slipping. 

"Yes I was looking up a statement that had to do with the warehouse, specifically about a mannequin that was delivered here. I don't know anything about the note or why it might be significant, that's why I asked." She could barely see him over the blinding light in her eyes. Alarms were going off in her head that they needed to start looking for an exit. "Listen I know it's been a hard two weeks since Prentiss and all-"

"How would you know? You've been in the clear, chatting up the bloody distortion!" 

Obviously he wasn't finished with their previous argument. She heard a sound to the left and her head snapped in that direction, aiming her torch into fog. Was there always fog? She was shaking, woefully aware that they hadn't brough anything to arm themselves with. 

"Jon, please, can we please have this later-"

"For all I know you've brought me here to kill me, you certainly seem panicked enough." 

Sasha was just about done with his paranoia. "Damn it Jon, I'm scared of the dark!"

No sooner were the words out when both their torches flickered and died. 

Sasha just about lunged at Jon, gripping whatever she could as tight as she could. "You can accuse me of murder after we live long enough to get out of here. Now please tell me you still have extra torches in your bag." 

"Right. Yeah, yeah, I'm going to need you to let go of my shoulder a moment- thank you."

There was the sound of shuffling fabric then both of them froze. To the left she could hear a distinct clicking sound followed by tapping. She swore it sounded like footsteps, but too many to be human. She squeezed his arm. "Light, Jon, light." She whispered. 

The sound of a zipper followed a small swear from Jon. 

"They won't turn on."

Shit. "Jonathan Sims, if I die because of your paranoia for me I swear to Christ I will kill you." She needed to think. "Ok, the wall was to the left of us, if we can find the wall then we can find a way out."

He let out a shaky breath and they started moving, pausing every once in a while when the tapping got closer. 

Sasha held her breath as they walked in the supposed direction, her heart ricocheting in her ears, but this couldn't be right, they should have hit a wall by now. Jon made a small sound of disapproval and they both stopped for a moment. 

Sasha remembered her phone and used one hand to rip it out of her pocket, trying to turn it on. Dead. 

Because of course it was. 

Her gaze snapped to the left of her, she swore she had heard a sound. Not the clicking like before, it almost sounded like-

Something wrapped around her arm and she nearly screamed, nearly, quickly shoving her free hand over her mouth, dropping her phone. 

"What, Sasha what?" Jon's voice trembled with fear low and close to her ear. 

Laughter. She had heard laughter. And not just anyones. 

Before she could process an answer she was being pulled lightly, and in response she pulled Jon as well. They walked in silence for what felt like years, Sasha being led blind until she heard the subtle sound of hinges and the hand that was pulling her was gone. 

It took her a moment to realize she was in front of a door. She didn't need to see the color to know where it led. 

Her grip around Jon tightened and she felt him move closer. "What, why have we stopped?"

"I- I think I found us a way out, a door, but, Jon I already know you don't trust me but-" 

"If you found an exit why aren't we taking it?"

Sasha gripped the handle tightly. "I don't think this door leads outside." She whispered. 

A beat of silence went by before Jon seemed to understand what she was insinuating. 

"Absolutely bloody not, I will not follow you into whatever hell awaits us through there, there's got to be a better-"

His voice staggered and instantly a loud guttural sound burst through the silence followed by fervent tapping. 

"No time." Sasha threw the door open and pulled Jon inside just as the roar seemed to shake the ground beneath them. The door shut easily, leaving them with just the sound of their heartbeats. 

Sasha allowed herself to breathe again. Tremors were running through her body as she tried to keep composure. This was the final straw, either she was changing departments or Elias was giving her one hell of a raise. 

Sasha hadn't let go of Jon since they crossed into the corridors, and she couldn't hide her relief of sight. Even if the mess and ever changing blur of shapes hurt her mind a little. Sasha looked at Jon, he was leaned over, his hands on his knees and breathing shakily. He was paler than he should have been. She glanced around and saw a flickering door in front of them. But it was there. And she pulled Jon forwards. 

"Come on." Her anger almost surprised her. 

She still didn't let go of Jon as they tripped and swayed to the door. It didn't move, and when she opened it, it led out onto what appeared to be a street corner. Laughter echoed through the halls as they stepped through the threshold, the door disappearing behind them. 

Immediately she let go of Jon. 

For a moment it was silent, Sasha feeling something in her pocket and pulling out her phone. Hadn't she dropped it? She opened it to a message from Tim asking for a time check. 

She glanced at the time and frowned. 

Thirty minutes. Only thirty minutes. 

"My, my, that counts twice in one month. Dear Archivist, please tell me you walked into her web on purpose, if I knew how much you seemed to enjoy the thrill I wouldn’t be so quick to gift you such a free pleasure."

Sasha didn't have the willpower at the moment to worry about Micheal leaning against the wall and sneering at Jon. She needed a minute. Breathing through her nose as she prayed for her heart to relax. Jon responded to Michael's words with some barked reply. She wasn't listening, instead focusing on not breaking down and crying on the street corner. 

A few minutes went by, the wind filtering through her hair as she finally took the time to turn to the two behind her. 

She wasn't entirely all that sure on what Micheal said but Jon looked livid and Micheal looked overjoyed. 

"Shut it!" She hollered over the two of them, her voice not nearly as strong as she had hoped. Instead it sounded a level above a pathetic whimper. "Micheal. Thank you for getting us out, Jon, come on we are leaving."

She didn't turn around to see if he was following her, but it wasn't long till he was beside her. A new type of silence taking over. 

Sasha wasn't even sure if angry was the correct term. She thought over her words carefully before speaking, keeping them flat and almost monotone. 

"I don't know what's worse. The fact that we almost died from something neither of us could see, or the fact that you came to the conclusion I was going to kill you. Both are pathetic enough."

"I didn't-"

"Oh don't even think about taking your words back now." She wasn't making much progress on keeping her tone even. "Where did that even come from?! Logically, what do I benefit from killing you? We've already come to the conclusion that your job isn't the 'promotion' we all thought it would be."

His words were quiet. Ashamed "Gertrude Robinson was killed in cold blood." 

Right. She had had a suspicion that that had been bothering him. It made her let out a small crude laugh. 

"And here I thought it was because I had befriended what you call a monster."

"I just don't want to end up like her, you knew her! I was just-"

"Just what, Jon?" She stopped in front of him, anger and fear spilling through her words, unable to be held back any longer. "You are one of the most intensely skeptical people I've ever met, I've never heard you this paranoid before. Do you even have any evidence? Where's your proof? You criticize every single statement you read because they never have the proof you want, now you are going off of nothing and suspecting everything!"

"Gertrude Robinson is my proof." He shot back. Like a cornered dog she thought, shaking her head. 

"She's proof that someone was out to get her. I met her! I'm not all that surprised someone came after her and honestly neither should you! Christ Jon we were attacked by worms and now this, obviously there are things out there able and willing to kill. Why the hell suspect me?"

But it wasn't just her. Tim had mentioned that he thought he had seen someone outside his house, he blew it off but now she wasn't so sure. Jon suspected all of them, no doubt. 

Sasha shook her head, rubbing away the pathetic tears that begged to fall. She was so tired. Sick of things trying to kill her. Sick of feeling like she was on the witness stand. Sick of it all. 

"Jon I've always felt I understood where you were coming from. But I don't understand this. I don't understand shutting everyone out because of some suspicion. I didn't almost just die only for you to label it as some failed attempt on my end. I'm your friend, sure I trust people a little more often than you do but that doesn't mean I'm plotting behind your back." The anger fell away as she scowled at nothing. "I guess I can't force you to trust me." She shook her head and started forwards again. 

"Sasha, please don't- I- I don't, if you tell the others- listen I know I'm hard sometimes but I know something up I can feel it."

"I won't tell anyone."

"Wh-what?" 

"I trust you. Shocking right? Well I do, and if you genuinely think you are in danger then-" Sasha shook her head. "Well I've believed worse with less so, sure, let's go with that. But I'm not willing to believe it's someone on our team ok? Leave them alone." Sasha stopped and turned. Jon was staring at her with the most relieved expression. 

"You're serious?"

"Accuse me of killing again and this will be a drastically different conversation. Bloody hell Jon, I can't with you sometimes."

[beauty-and-passion]

TMA - Chapters 1-10: The beginning and everything I didn’t expect to see

Hello, everyone.

As promised, here is the first post with my impressions regarding chapters 1-10.

Let’s not waste too much time here: there is a lot to say and I’ll leave my final impression for the end of this post. For now, let's start.

<< Main masterlist

_______________________________

MAG 1: Angler Fish

Well, that’s not what I expected.

So this series doesn't have a continuative plot, but it’s rather a “monster-of-the-week” situation. However, I don’t think it will be just like that: I’m quite sure a plot will come in the future. But since it’s not coming for now, I think the option I chose (i.e. commenting this series 10 chapters at a time) is perfect. This way, I can easily keep track of my favorite statements!

I also appreciate the small introduction. So we have a place: the Magnus Institute. I suppose this is the “library” I vaguely remembered. And we also have a person: Jonathan Sims, our maybe-protagonist. And we have Martin too! And Sasha and Tim! I have no idea who they are, but I’m looking forward to knowing them.

All I got for now, is that Jonathan (who I will surely call Jon from now on, because his name is too long) is kind of a skeptic. Clichè, but I accept it: this is a horror/supernatural series, so he will probably change his mind when he will face the real shit.

And speaking of the genre, glad to know that this story is horror/supernatural. I’m not a huge fan of horror, but I like to be surprised/scared/creeped out in creative ways.

And this first statement… fails to do that. Sorry to say that, but the story is kinda meh. The supernatural element is just here and it’s not very scary. Fine, the mysterious figure is probably just the bait of a supernatural shit we don’t see, but it’s weak. And the association with the anglerfish isn’t enough to creep me, nor creative enough to surprise me.

I hope the next statement will be better.

_______________________________

MAG 2: Do Not Open

Yep, that’s much more interesting.

I like that the wooden coffin doesn’t do anything you might expect from a coffin in a supernatural story. The scratching was still kind of clichè, but I didn’t expect the singing in the rain. Or the “dream possession” or whatever it was that weird power that tried to trick Mr. Gillespie into opening the coffin.

It was also kinda funny to follow his misadventures in dealing with it. And understandable too: my man doesn’t want to open the weird coffin, so he will do everything to not open the weird coffin.

Honestly, same: I am a wimp and if someone delivered some weird shit in my place, I wouldn’t be so stupid to go face-first into it. Curiosity might be strong, but my will to live is stronger.

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MAG 3 - Across The Street

That’s another interesting statement.

First, you think it will be about Graham and his journals, then there’s the weird hypnotic table with the missing piece, then Not-Graham. There are a lot of things here and they’re all creepy and interesting and I want to know more about them. Could there be a follow-up to this story? Or, at least, to its mysteries? It would be very cool to read another story and find the missing piece of that table. Or one of Graham’s journals. Or to see Not-Graham again. It would be fun. I hope there are follow-ups.

About the supernatural stuff: I couldn’t really understand what the arm-y thing-y was, so it wasn’t exactly scary, but more… bizarre? And a bit meh. It was just a black arm-y thing-y after all.

What really crept me out was Not-Graham casually saying: “Hey Amy, we live so close to each other, what a weird coincidence! Maybe I’ll pay you a visit.”. THAT was creepy as fuck and I loved it.

_______________________________

MAG 4 - Page Turner

I vaguely remember the name Leitner, so I have high hopes we will see more of his books in the future. After all, this statement looks more like an introduction to him and his books, rather than a self-contained story about Random Weird Thing no. 247.

Maybe we won’t see Ex Altiora anymore, but other books… why not? Also, Jonathan knows about Leitner and asked to search more of his books, so maybe we will see more of them.

By itself, the story is good at introducing the weirdness of these books through the equally weird figure of the Keays. I feel there’s still a lot to find out about Mary Keay’s murder, her existence, her place and her connection with Sanskrit. I want to know more about her.

And I want to know more about Gerard Keay too. Will we see him again in the future? I hope so: I feel like he has still a lot to say.

I also noticed a guy named Michael. Will we see more of him too? Is he the same Michael I’ve heard about? Or is there another Michael? Can’t wait to find out.

_______________________________

MAG 5 - Thrown Away

I don’t think this statement is creepy, but rather, a great example of weird.

There is nothing truly scary here, only weird. And I love this kind of weird. Every new trash bag is a surprise and the surprises are not gore-y, bloody, or clichè with the sole purpose of shocking you. The stuff inside is harmless, just… immensely weird: a long paper strip covered with the Our Father prayer, a huge bag full of teeth that are all of the same tooth… that’s not dangerous stuff, just weird. Unexpected. And, therefore, very cool.

The metal heart was a great choice too: just like all other findings is not disgusting nor gore-y, but it serves its purpose perfectly. You look at it and you know Alan is dead. I love it when creativity is used so well.

I also noticed there is another Michael here. Is he the same Michael mentioned in the previous story? Or another Michael? How many Michaels are in this series? XD

_______________________________

MAG 6 - Squirm

Another meh statement: a mysterious girl is feeling very sick, then she basically explodes into worms. Kind of a backlash, going from the delicious, subtle weird of the previous story to the disgusting stuff of this one.

However, I can understand Mr. Hodge: if my room was packed with worms, I would’ve burned the whole house down too.

Also, it looks like Jon knows this woman in red. Will we see Jane Prentiss again? Or more of her victims? No, of course I don’t want your answers: the series will tell me ;)

_______________________________

MAG 7 - The Piper

A simple war tale, starring a supernatural element, the Piper. I don’t find it particularly scary, but rather a melancholic figure. Sure, it’s a bit eerie and mysterious, but not particularly interesting - not for me, at least.

The story isn’t particularly captivating either. It’s just here and it screams “filler”. Or maybe not? After all, Jon remembers the name Joseph Rayner, so we will see another story featuring this guy?

_______________________________

MAG 8 - Burned Out

There’s a lot of stuff here - maybe even too much. First, Mr. Lensik’s father and fractals and math and the mysterious guy with “all the bones in his hands”. Then Mr. Raymond Fielding and Agnes, the disappeared kid, the missing hand, the tree, the green apple with spiders… woah, woah, slow down! What are all these things? Should I remember all of them? Are they all important? I feel like I already forgot something while writing them down!

Honestly, this huge number of peculiar elements is very distracting, because it gets all of the reader’s attention and takes it away from the story itself. A story that, if we reduce it to basics, what’s truly about? A man meets a ghost and pulls down a tree. Not exactly the most exciting thing ever.

Now, I’m not saying that a story with multiple digressions is bad. It just needs an extremely good writer and A LOT of time and space to properly develop everything, because it would be too easy to “forget” the story and get lost into all the digressions.

So, considering these statements are all short, I would rather avoid too many elements and keep them as simple as possible, focusing more on the story itself and adding just one or two recurring elements.

_______________________________

MAG 9 - A Father’s Love

Another meh story. Some elements are interesting, like the necklace with the hand and closed eye related to the Church of the Divine Host and the mysterious something that blows out every lightbulb. But yeah, from the moment it was mentioned that the father had a shed, I knew he was doing some supernatural circle/prayer/whatever.

A simple story, but nothing truly amazing about it.

_______________________________

MAG 10 - Vampire Killer

Seriously, every time there is a meh statement, a great one follows up. And if it’s not great, it’s extremely interesting. Or, like in this case, it’s surprising.

I mean, a statement titled “Vampire Killer”? I expected the same old tale about seductive vampires burning out in the sunlight.

But nope, this story offered a new vision of vampires. Even better, it did it by putting these details into the story, in a great example of show don’t tell.

I really like that the vampires' characteristics are so… bestial. Shark-like teeth, a leech’s tongue and no ability to talk: it’s new, it’s cool, it’s interesting and I would love to see fanarts of them (once I’ll finish the whole series).

I also appreciate that they burn like crisps, because without blood (i.e. a liquid), they dry out: so, not only it justifies why they drink blood and not eat solid food, but also why they burn so easily. It’s cool, it’s logical, it’s creative: I love it.

Oh-oh, am I also noticing a small hint of doubt in Jon’s words? Is he starting to think these statements are not just silly stories made by insane people/mythomaniacs? Didn’t expect him to start so soon, but I suppose a lot of things will happen in the near future and he needs the right state of mind to face them.

_______________________________

In conclusion

My first overall impression is positive: this series looks promising and I want to read more statements. Sure, my impression is based on 10 chapters out of 200 (so basically nothing) and on all the assumptions I made while reading. I don’t know if there will be a continuative plot, I don’t know if the characters of these stories will return and I don’t know if something huge will come in the future. I am just assuming these things, based on my experience as an “art-forms-enjoyer”.

I just hope I am right and that, while being right about these things, the series itself will keep surprising me with creative ideas. I would be very sad if my assumptions were correct, but the quality of the statements gets worse and worse. Please, keep being creative! More surprising stories and less “meh” stuff!

That’s all for now. I’ll come back very soon with the next post about chapters 11-20.

>> Next post

(How about a coffee? ☕)

_______________________________

TAGLIST:

@royalprinceroman @mudpuddlenl@allmycrushesaredead @aquatedia@whatishappeningrightnow  @effortiswhatmatters @bella-in-a-bag  @doydoune @forever-third-wheeling​ @payte @hypnossanders​  @idontreallyknow24​  @imcrushedbyarainbowoffical​ @patton-cake​  @hereissananxiousmess​  @purplebronzeandblue​  @cynicalandsarcastic​ ​@lost-in-thought-20​ @andtheyreonfire​ 

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@dracayd-universe​ @starlightnyx​ @stubbornness-and-spite​ @averykedavra @joyrose-fandomer @mihaela-tbg @igonnatalknothing

@thatoneloudowl  @grayson-22  @softangryfuckingdepressed @theotherella  @boopypastaissalty @nevenastark @varthandiveturinn @roses-bubbles @cuter-on-the-inside  @coldbookworm  @snixxxsmythe @charmingcritter  @analogical-mess @emphasis-on-the-oopsie @selfdestructivecat @yangwalkerao3 @the3rddenialist

[allalrightagain]

for the WIP ask game: 4. Knights Posting > Tortall > Gender Nonsense (opposite edition)

Hi! Thanks for the ask! I answered 4 here, but I’ve taken the liberty to pick the fic I actually forgot to put on the list (feel free to send another ask if there’s something else that caught your eye!) and also include another snippet from Gender Nonsense (opposite edition)

George Buys Alan a Prostitute AU:

Technically I forgot about this one because it does not have actual written prose yet (hence no snippet) but it lives rent free in my brain and also my dms with @mkaugust.

Early In the Hand of the Goddess, Alanna is seething with jealousy over Jon sleeping around, and George has done his light propositioning and come up empty. However, he’s a sex positive, trans inclusive kind of guy written in the height of second wave feminism so ofc he thinks Alanna should spread her wings and have the same (sexy) opportunities that everyone else gets. Now, there’s obviously the complication of Gender (for both participants), but thankfully he’s the Rogue and between himself and Rispah, they can actually guarantee discretion, so he sits Alanna down in private (in the post war timeskip, maybe? extremely awkward bandage to the Goodbye Kiss’s potential effects on their friendship) and says okay I have not changed my mind still and I don’t expect to, however if you wanted to lose your virginity like the less romantically inclined young lads often do, I can promise your secret would be safely guarded by any of Rispah’s people, and you’d have your choice of gender(s).

And initially Alanna says no because of who she is as a person but then Jon is who he is as a person and, well. She’s back in George’s rooms within a day.

(eventually, she and Jon do get together still, and Jon is a lot less jealous about the whole thing once he sees her experience is a LOT better than. well. any of the other uptight ladies he’s been meeting. Alanna is less impressed, but does love being better at things than her partners so it works out.)

And also at some point, possibly not until late in Lioness Rampant, they end up at a party or meeting with Jon, Alanna, George, Alanna’s ex fuckbuddy, Rispah, Myles, and Eleni, which is delightfully awkward.

Gender Nonsense (opposite edition)

“George, you haven’t seen the ladies at court. I’d have better luck marrying Gary.” He was whining. He knew he was whining. It wouldn’t do him any good, and he knew that too, but perhaps if he’d gotten all his whining out here, with someone he loved and trusted, someone far away from the inner workings of court politicking but who understood the game, he’d be able to stand another day of it. The day after that was anybody’s guess. “Don’t think Gary solves any of your problems, other than perhaps not being bad to look at.” “Not as bad as some.”

[krisbianbitchface]

Ok so to warm my heart a little from the coldness of knowing I will have to wait 2 years to see dear Rhaenyra again I have started watching Game of Thrones,I was not very fond of it when it came out however now I am older and just desiring to binge watch anything to get myself to sleep and I have a few thoughts I need to get out of my head or maybe opinions,it might me a little over the top since of course I am a lesbian drama queen and I live to complain,im only in season 3 almost ending the season...

I fucking hate that kid bran,he takes soooo much screen time just to retell dreams and look like that snarky kid that throws random stuff on the ground in Walmart with a stupid look on his face (I really Wish Jamie would have killed his ass)

Melissandre is the most interesting character of the series,so witty and cruel in the best way,I was shocked when she killed that king with her baby demon and absolutely smitten,I love cruel women.

Jon Snow is the most boring character I have EVER witnessed in the story of television and trust me I've been there since Xena Warrior Princess graced the screens,just no goals,no path,no big dick or small dick energy,no energy AT ALL,just a big fat ugly Hero complex that I just can't stand because the actor has the same expression everytime no matter what happens,even having a boner with a cute girl cuddling his dick he is 😐 like gtfo of my face

Cersei is second to Melissandre in the scale of bad bitches,she is just so fucking resented and hot,everything she says sounds like wind chimes even if she is sending a child to his death,I cant help but want her to hate fuck me and call me a fagg0t and then tell me Im the worst fuck she's ever had and just use me again.

Dragons...Should I say more? I started the series of House of the Dragon because I just love dragons,and a particular scene is just edged in my mind like iron,Daenerys saving her little dragons from that sorcerers dungeon and their cute little faces watching her almost like trying to say "Momma! You're here! we missed you!" I think is the cutest scene ever.

Daenerys...She serving cunt,she ate and licked the plate,she served and left no crumbs,the director said cut and she heard CUNT and went with it, she caused a motherquake of 9.99 in the cunt scale,she's mother, and no other than the Mother of Dragons, I just love her,she is what Cleopatra VII was before hollywood found her and turned her into a makeup propaganda fashionista, a true strategist and conqueror.

Kal Drogo,I just mourned his death,he was so cute and murderous, i wept real tears for sweet Daenerys, I think the actor was really good and he needed more screen time, his scenes were charged with masculity and power,something we really lack these days in television.

Sansa, she is a beauty,the kind of beauty fantasy writers try to describe and there is just no way that human exists and then there is her...But she is so fucking traumatized and set aside just like every other woman in that universe,hell,even in life,I feel for her...And also wanna date her,i won't lie

Aria is a tough little woman,I think they really need to step up her action scenes because I think she serves well as a hope in the darkness kind of character however I do wish the actress was more prone to make a proper action sequence ala Eleven from Stranger Things,you can say what you want about miss Millie Bobby Brown but she is one of the few actresses willing to make many changes ln television for years to come with her characters.

Jamie Lannister is an interesting fighter and I wish it was possible to swap his fight scenes with Aria since i think it was proper giving the context,anyway he has good fighting sequences that I think were ment for someone else.

The sex scenes... This was a series HBO really set the bar high for nudity,there is so much nudity,sometimes unnecessary and cruel for the actresses involved and at the same time, is not surprising considering this series was made by two straight men,this always happens in the industry although these days is harder due to the constant intimacy coordination, but yeah in those times I can't imagine how unerving it was for actresses to bare it all for a couple of coins in a popular series.

Enough with my ramblings,I declare myself a fan of game of thrones only for Daenerys and her cute little dragons 💖

[cult-of-the-eye]

MAG 86 here we goooo

Ok so I actually listened to this like a few days ago but I never got round to looking at the transcript but HERE I AM

God this is the blanket never did anything one

He says tucked in so fucking menacingly like Jesus Christ man

TIM MY LOVE

I can't get that one post out of my head that says how Tim was the furthest from being taken by the Eye cause he keeps tripping up on pronunciations and stuff in statements that other archival staff wouldnt honestly it's such a genius take

Oh shit this is getting really long I'll add in a read more

God I love how he's rebelling in every sense, he's doing the bare minimum, he's literally warning people away from it

It's kind of interesting the way he always thought the statement stuff was stupid but in the whole of season one and a lot of season two he managed to hide his distaste pretty well, like even when he lashed out at Jon about the Prentiss incident, he still didn't say that the statements were stupid, but he's saying it behind his back - maybe some part of him knew that Jon needed the statements to work and some part of him still felt for him enough to not point that out

He's kinda dramatic with it as well but I feel like in more of a self aware way than jon

You can feel his distaste honestly the statement just sounds wrong coming from him, which is interesting cause I didn't think that about when Martin did it

So he's mad at the fact that he put effort into a job that he wasn't even that comfortable with in the first place and now he's trapped in? Not about the monsters??

Jesus Christ Tim being a bit of a dick to melanie

HE BLAMES MARTIN????? Damn bro you weren't there how could you tell he didn't do it properly??

I think he's mad at himself for not being there and deflecting it on to martin

She likes that it's quiet!!! That's cute

Martin's not big on change AH neurodivergent vibes

All the archival staff are literally queer and neurodivergent you can't change my mind

Also the fact that he thinks that's the biggest reason why martin doesn't want Melanie around, not the Horrors and the same reason as Tim

I think Tim is refusing to think that Martin might see the situation in the same way as him because if he does then it means Tim's way of dealing might not be the best way and that's an unacceptable thought to him

Suspicious and resentful - my man is self aware I think he knows the way his path is going (hurtling towards destruction) but is too stuck shaking his fist at god to try and get out or he's sort of known his whole life that this is where he was supposed to end up, a terrible fate created by his own two hands that dug their own way down to rock bottom and he's just so tired of trying to do anything about it that he's just accepted it

SASHA OH GOD

Wow seeing firsthand the effects of the stranger, the way neither Tim nor Melanie can remember the real Sasha, but Tim has to live with the fact that he didn't notice and Melanie has to live with the fact that she did, but can't prove it

WHO AM I EVEN SAD FOR

AUGH I THOUGHT SOMEONE MADE THAT UP I DIDNT KNOW IT WAS CANON OH GOD

He lost his FRIEND and he DIDN'T REALISE and he STILL DOESN'T KNOW THE WHOLE TRUTH AUGH

Oh I wonder why he left the tape running? I'd think he would've forgotten to turn it off but if so I feel like he'd have that shocked moment of remembering which he didn't

Maybe he wanted proof of the conversation? Maybe it was a warning to anyone listening to the tapes? See firsthand how terrible it is at the Magnus Institute so you don't work here? I dunno

Ha I had to ask my lovely mutual @melandrops to explain what a marker was

Oh god honestly this statement fucked me up I completely understand why people hate it I hate it

I was so scared of the dark as a kid and the idea of being reduced to that state of lack of awareness and vulnerability is actually terrifying

Also the dude dying in the blanket???? Ew ew ew

Love the fact that tma doesn't just go with a oh shit I forgot a torch so it was pitch black kinda horror but the I brought a torch, I even brought spare batteries but it still did nothing which in my opinion is even scarier

Oh god her whispering the blanket never did anything that was horrifying

Melanie was actually so good at giving the statement girl really got into it

I was also talking to @melandrops about archivist!Melanie cause I think that would be really interesting... she'd definitely bring a more proactive vibe to the role...

It's interesting to think that Melanie and Jon hated each other at first sort of because they're so alike? It's like the we are made of the same stuff (derogatory)

Love how she just checks out the dead guy

The way she's denying it even though she's literally had paranormal experiences before that's so Jon core she would be a great archivist

JON????

Oh shit I just realised he's labelled as Archivist...when did that happen??

That's so funny he's like bitch maybe I do have reason to kill you

Hmm nice touch of Melanie being like do you guys not want me cause I'm a girl?? Is this misogyny??? Good guess but unfortunately it's worse

It's quite nice that Jon's trying to save her even though the meetings about helping him and her quitting would mean he'd lose the one informant he might have in the institute

Shot in the leg by a ghost in India????

Ha Tim hates you and Martin's probably being watched

Love how Tim's hatred for Jon is so visceral and known that they don't even bother watching him

I bet Elias would delight in knowing about Martin's little crush on Jon and how Jon actually hated him in season one and then how their relationship progresses he'd thrive on the drama and the angst the little bastard

Ok ok it's good that he's on the right track, he guesses it was elias

Wait the whole murder was on tape... WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT TAPE??? DID ELIAS TAKE IT??? COULD IT BE USED AS EVIDENCE???

YES MELANIE IS BEING CAUGHT UP (info style) BUT ALSO NO MELANIE IS BEING CAUGHT UP (web style)

[karaspal]

at this point in current canon, can nia nal be considered a superhero? i’m talking about the comics, she is undoubtedly one on the show. is she in anti-hero territory?

i know waller pushed nia to do the things she did in ss:dream team BUT she is still responsible for her own actions. she chose to protect her town at the expense of gamorra. if she didn’t get the rest of the team through the barrier, nothing bad would’ve happened to the gamorrians. i know nia later tried stoping the rest of the team from letting waller in, but too little, too late?

she helped jay and jon liberate the people back in soke. she saw what bendix did to them. she hugged one of the victims and said “it’s okay. it’s over.” after that, she chose to bring an equally awful person into their city.

i understand why nia worked with waller. her motives are very clear. she just wanted to protect her people, even if it meant someone else’s might suffer. her actions weren’t born out of place of cruelty. she is a compassionate person. had her life be at stake, she would’ve never done what she did.

i also think nia is somewhat responsible for what happened to sara. not directly, no. but the domino effect of the situation got sara killed and nia was the one to get bizzaro into the city. nia lost her mother not too long ago, and now she is the reason one of her friends lost their mother too. and he just got her back. i’m not even sure i want them to make up, if we need to be honest, but we’ll see how their interactions go. i might change my mind on this one.

the narrative seems to be presenting nia as the hero who keeps getting screwed over, but shouldn’t a hero stick to their morals no matter what? they should not be susceptible to blackmail. it’s hard, yes, when you know refusing to work with a villain might get your family hurt, but heroes make tough decisions.

anyways, by no means am i saying she is a villain. but i was thinking maybe she is dipping her toes into anti-hero territory? i hope i don’t come across as someone who doesn’t like nia. i like her, i find her character interesting and i’m excited to see where she goes from here. and at the end of the day, she is 18 and just started her superhero journey so there’s always time to learn and be better.

i’m open to discussion. if you disagree with me, feel free to let me know. if you agree with me, feel free to let me know. i want someone to discuss ss:dream team with!!!

[catofadifferentcolor]

Terrible Fic Ideas #30: A Maiden Dark and Fair, but make it f!Jon/Renly

As some of you may be aware, I have a slight obsession with female Jon Snow fics, in large part because of the pairings it makes possible to secure the Iron Throne. So many interesting houses, so many potential grooms...

To which, I've spent the last several weeks trying to figure out how to make an arranged marriage between a female!Jon Snow and Renly Baratheon work.

aka the Alys the Storm Queen fic

Just imagine it:

Robert Baratheon is not a particularly liberally-minded man. He sees his youngest brother prefers men to women and, rather than make other arrangements for the succession of Storm's End, concludes that Renly just hasn't been offered a woman pretty enough.

Bobby B has also always wanted to join his bloodline to House Stark. His son deserves a woman like his own beloved Lyanna to be his queen. Joffrey and Sansa are of age - only Sansa takes after her mother, so that would be like giving his son a Tully bride, no matter how beautiful. Maybe they can betroth Tommen and Arya?

But wait! Ned has a bastard daughter - a beautiful, of-age bastard daughter who is said to be Lyanna come again, Alys. A bastard, yes, but Robert can do a favor for Ned and legitimize the girl and do a favor for Renly by marrying him to the most beautiful woman in Westeros.

Naturally, the only one pleased by this is Robert.

However much all other parties do not want this marriage to happen (Renly has no desire to marry a woman; Alys was intending to become the next Old Nan; Ned is worried someone in the south will see Rhaegar in Alys' features; the other great houses are offended the king's brother is marrying a bastard, &c), Robert does, and it's his opinion that matters.

And so Alys Snow becomes Lady Baratheon of Storm's End.

Much to everyone's surprise, Alys and Renly become friendly on the journey back south. It makes the marriage rather more bearable, but doesn't change the fact that everyone in Westeros expects heirs from them before too long.

There are two ways I can see this going: 1) Alys, being a Northern bastard without recourse to the Wall or the Faith, has spent most of her youth training as a midwife. Before Bobby B got involved, it was her intention never to marry - in part to avoid complicating the succession, in part because she's asexual despite Westeros not having a word for it - and help care for her siblings' children. She takes a very practical view of things, and after some trial and error with a medieval funnel, their problems are solved.

Or: 2) After spending some time together, Alys and Loras get along well enough that the three of them settle into something of a polyamorous relationship. Bi!Loras facilitates sex between his lover and his wife - dealers choice on the details - and while it's nothing any of them would have sought out, it works well enough for them. And if one or two of the kids look more Tyrell than Baratheon? Well, who knows who Alys' mother was anyway?

Fast forward two or three years to the events of canon, with Robert dying (either killed by his wife or his own bad habits) and the War of Five Kings breaking out.

Perhaps Ned still loses his head, but I like the idea he managed to avoid becoming hand of the king and thus was safely in Winterfell at the time.

Perhaps Stannis declares himself as king, but perhaps Alys helps to mend fences between the younger Baratheon brothers. This involves visits to Dragonstone - and the discovery (via dragon egg, a very similar looking portrait, a purple-eyed child, &c) that Alys might have a claim to the Iron Throne.

And so the War of Five Kings becomes a war of two kings (Joffrey and Balon) and a queen.

Bonuses include: 1) Ned not revealing Alys' birthparents until long after she guessed it by other means. This should be an awkward, uncomfortable conversation that Alys by no means makes easy on her uncle followed by some screaming (Alys has a lot of built up anger and resentment about her treatment at Winterfell, however good she might have had it compared to other bastards) and lots of tears; 2) a cache of dragon eggs at Dragonstone, including one that hatches into a dragon that looks completely black except under certain lights, where her scales shine deep purple; and 3) Loras, quite unexpectedly, finding a BFF in his lover's Northern wife. Their relationship should be reminiscent of Kirk and Spock, and at least twice a week Renly should have cause to bemoan the fact his wife and boyfriend get along better than he does with either of them.

And that's all I have. As always, feel free to adopt this bun, just link back if you do anything with it.

Other Jon Snow Headcanons: Aegon the Unyielding | Aemon the Adventurous | Baelor the Brave | Lady Arryn | Lady Baratheon | Lady Lannister | Lady Stark | Prince Consort | Prince of Summerhall | Queen Mother

More Terrible Fic Ideas

[esther-dot]

Hiii! Do you ever see GoT writers, actors or even D&D confessing their plan of Jonsa or the reason Jonsa parallel Ned&Cat and even Jaime&Cersei? Something in the line of: okay, this was the plan but we changed our minds because X. That would give me soooo much peace. The foreshadowing and parallels were so obvious it makes me anxious when I remember the real ending.... even if they never get together. But what happens in between.

I would love an explanation too! I sometimes try to put myself in D&D's shoes and imagine what their platonic explanation could be for all the parallels/contrasts they created for Jonsa, and I actually think that the Cersei and Jaime connections would be the easiest to rationalize, but the fact that they also paralleled them with Braime is what makes it seem like it wasn't just a healthy sibling duo in contrast to Cersei/Jaime, it wasn't just about showing us the difference between Cersei and Sansa as leaders, it felt romantic! Especially as that convo carried through to the ending, Jon and Jaime were being paralleled and juxtaposed, both choosing their sisters over someone else, but Jaime choosing his "evil queen," Jon rejecting his, which means, you can't say it was accidental, they were intentionally doing that in s7-8.

Obviously, in the books the NedCat 2.0 idea will be a thing, we've already gotten comments about Jon and Sansa individually looking like the og, so D&D inserting that with the redux of NedCat scenes, ok, not necessarily romantic, maybe just a nod to the books, maybe they overdid it, but their motives were pure. Except, they included the choking LF scene. Jealously, rage, desire to kill. Sure, of course, LF deserved it, but then they also had Sansa be angry and jealous in s8, and again, there are platonic explanations for some of it, but it crosses the line, particularly in the feast scene. At that point it feels like it's more, something else.

(And let's not even talk about the parallels with Robb and Talisa, Sam x Gilly, or Gendrya.)

But will they ever tell us anything? Well, let's say TWOW comes out in a year or two and Jonsa is a thing in the books. We absolutely would have the entire fanbase revisiting Jonsa's odd chemistry in the show and rethinking things, and I bet, yeah, we'd finally get a reporter who would ask a useful question regarding the Jonsa scenes. Or, say Kit goes for it in Jon's spin-off, we'd definitely get some new insight into the acting choices he made in s6-8.

Absent of that, I can't imagine getting confirmation? Mainly because, it's not just an unpopular ship, it's hated. Dany stans, Targ stans, Jon stans, I saw all of them taking comfort in the midst of their rage and grief that at least Jonsa didn't happen. Any hint that show Jonsa in some form was real is probably the only thing that would make people hate the last season/finale more. Considering how disgusting our fandom is (they harassed child actors because they hated the characters they played, they ship the actors with other actors, bully them off social media, stalk them...) I don't see the upside of bringing it up and there is a big downside.

If they had the cover of Martin's books or a new show, D&D could say they didn't do it because it was weird but here's how they hinted at it or Kit could say it grossed him out but he tried to subtly include it. Presented that way, people could be sympathetic to them, not blame them, so I could see that. But if they just announced, "Yep, Jon had Targy feelings for Sansa," I don’t think people would take it well!

[abcdosaka]

i finished adwd. i also read the preview chapters for twow.

why did jon have to die right when i started liking his character :/ i’m sure he’ll be back bc i’ve already been spoiled for this and like everyone says he’s gonna warg back to life. him stannis and tyrion are the ceos of having terrible pr. like what he was doing was not wrong at all but he’s just not good at dealing with people. to be fair the odds are stacked against him but telling everyone IN A SPEECH he’s gonna ride to winterfell was the same level of stupidity as ned in kings landing. i do want him to clear his name though. at least unlike ned he was doing what is best for the people. whereas ned…he really didn’t need to be doing all that for…robert? his sense of duty? what was the reason?

anyway daenerys has become one of my favourites i never really cared for her pov that much in the previous books except maybe agot but she becomes such a strong person in adwd. i like how her storyline parallels jon a lot like they’re both attempting to lead the best they can in a compassionate way and making a lot of mistakes bc they’re so young and then they both “die” at the end. tbh im really hoping she can get away from khal jhaqo but i did see that mago will become an important character in the next book so i doubt it. maybe she’ll take over their khalasar that would be kind of slay. the one thing i don’t want her to do is join up with victarion or euron like euron for obvious reasons but victarion needs to die too. he’s a leech that thinks he’s a king. I have somewhat changed my mind about some of the Greyjoy pov characters like all that didn’t need to happen to aeron or Theon or Asha who has grown on me a lot. but like also this is the culmination of their culture, could they expect any better? Aeron is still yapping abt the old way like dude euron is the old way. The ultimate form of the old way. and ngl quentyn is kind of an idiot. Dumber than Jon, dumber than Ned, almost as dumb as Theon but at least Theon has the excuse of he was kinda screwed no matter what he just happened to choose the most painful option. Tbh I was kinda hoping he could do it it’s a little disappointing but rip in peace. Quentyns moron friends pissed me off though never talk shit about the queen. What kind of dumbass name is Drinkwater girl fuck you

also i was talking shit abt cersei last book but i hated the walk of shame. it was nasty. very very nasty thing to do to someone. seeing her conversation with kevan in the epilogue made me sad. cersei shouldn’t be like that she should be an evil paranoid bitch that’s who she is 😢 they took away her fire. i’m sure she’s just biding her time though. Nonetheless Cersei character development is 🫶🏽

also i’m not gonna lie i hope the jon connington/aegon stuff gets shut down quickly i don’t care for them and they’re getting in the way of daenerys future rule. they were introduced too late like who do they even think they are. Basically Victorian 2.0 I liked aegon better when he was a dead baby. tbh i’m actually hoping the people of Westeros form a democracy or something but baby steps. then again all this death needs to be worth something like the system has to change by the end. i’m kind of hoping all the female pov characters inherit the world but daenerys on top of course.

[stevie-petey]

I need something cute, like Steve getting a glimpse into the future and just seeing everything he's ever wanted. A big house full of kids, it's loud and busy, Toys scattered around. Then he just sees bug in all her glory. She's not dressed up or anything. Wearing pj's and sitting on the couch surrounded by a gaggle of little Harringtons. Some look like her, some look like him, maybe one who's too little to tell. Older ones sitting across the floor. Everyone's doing their own thing but all together in the same room. Everything feels warm and cozy. No more fighting for their lives, or worrying about what's gonna happen next. They're safe, surrounded by love that they created.

I imagine it like when Nancy comes back around Steve feels confused about his feelings ( Steve and Nancy never really had a friend phase like Steve and bug did, so I feel like they have trouble acting like friends around each other. It always lands into flirting territory and this might be confusing for the both of them.) And then he just gets hit with this vision and it makes him wanna cry. All he's ever wanted right in front of him but out of reach. When he'd get out of the upside he'd basically throw himself at bug. Any confusion is out the window and he knows what he wants.

ALSO, I feel like the jug reunion will be so good. I know season four took a lot away from Jon's character but I feel like it was needed. He saw his younger brother dead, his mom go crazy, planned a funeral BY HIMSELF ( and bug), he's almost died a million times. He deserved a break. He deserves to be a teenager and smoke weed, to forget about college for a minute. I feel like it helped him kinda go back to his old self, or maybe become someone new entirely that's a mixture of his two selves. Bugs tired when he comes back from California. She's been through hell and back and now she gets to see her old friend again. She gets to pretend like nothing has happened. Like she didn't almost die, like she hasn't been cursed or plagued with nightmares. She gets to relax and distract herself from everything that's happening around her. Don't get me wrong she's Happy, she loves Steve and she wouldn't give those memories up for the world, but she missed Jonathan. Everythings fucked but when bug and bee are together it's okay, they feel like everything will be okay. I feel like after everything that happened with vecna she'd feel homesick if that makes sense? She's way too stressed out and just wants to go home, but homes changed. Having Jonathan there would definitely help.

honestly what i adore about bug and jon is their childish innocence they still have together. the world is ending and theyve had the worst fucking three years of their lives but the second theyre together its bearable again.

i like to think of them as that feeling we all had as children, where we played superhero or tag or hide and seek, and the thrill and invincibility that followed after an exhilarating game with your best friend. your knees may be scrapped from falling, or maybe the dark closet you were hiding in began to scare you, but the moment youre back with your best friend all the fear and worries disappear because how couldnt they ? youre seven and your best friend is your favorite person in the entire world.

also you make such an interesting point about nancy and steve never JUST being friends. i never even considered that and now may have to rethink my pure hatred for that season 4 plotpoint (thats assuming the duffer bros even had that tidbit in mind). i think it adds such a nice layer to everything, so we shall see !!