#certainly not the greatest episode

[jackofsometrade]

morse being queer (and other commentary) pt. 9:

season 3, episode 1, “Ride”:

- here we go season three‼️‼️

- give me some gay shit

- i just SMASHED an angel heart and an iced coffee so i am ready to go

- i do recall this episode being very gay in a very Gatsby way so i’m feeling excited

- i love rich people they’re so terrible

- winnie not saying “come home safe” to thursday because they’re all still shook up over what happened

- thursday assuming jakes would be the person to see morse

- “not since he got out.”

- ^jakes picked morse up from prison and also visited him in prison confirmed

- this whole episode proved that morse was well liked even though he doesn’t like being around people

- people. like. him.

- he’s a loner because he chooses to be. because HE thinks there’s something wrong with him

- they were not subtle with their plagiarism of Gatsby and i respect them for it

- going all in on the dark academia vibe

- thursday misses morse so much im SICK

- morse got invited to a party which means the gay stuff is gonna start happening

- monica deserved better ‼️‼️

- “he doesn’t want to be found”

- do you mean physically or spiritually queen?

- morse walking through this party has me cackling he’s so buttoned up

- roddy is gay for bixby

- i have 0 proof i’m going on vibes alone from a 0.2 second interaction

- thursday is wild for just breaking into morse’s house and waiting

- morse is absolutely gorgeous in maroon

- the way morse is so obviously trying to flirt with bixby and is confused when he doesn’t flirt back

- “and what’s the truth of you?”

- king CALM DOWN

- morse looks at bixby like hes another mystery to solve which means he is immediately obsessive and attached

- “you hardly know me!” “gamblers instinct”

- this translates directly to “ur hot”

- morse taking on bixby’s mentality to decide how to approach his life is so…

- “how was it?”

- strange i need you to reconsider the questions you ask

- he was a COP in PRISON

- this woman is awfully quick to assume morse is attracted to her

- the way he’s so uncomfy 😭😭

- given that jakes is the one who went to go see him in prison and given that he is clearly upset that morse is gone and given that he thinks he won’t be coming back…

- jakes is the only one who knows what morse went through in prison

- he knows!

- and he’s mad morse isn’t coming back

- “i wouldn’t hold your breath”

- he’s mad

- i need answers ‼️

- morse looks jealous asf that bixby’s attention is tacked onto Kay instead of him

- it is so unfair that both Kay AND bixby are using morse to get to each other

- like literally using him and for what

- “are you falling in love with me? men do.” “i can see how that might happen.” “then why don’t you kiss me?”

- i fucking HATE these manic pixie dream girls in the sort of episode

- like shut up

- no girl acts like this

- immediately jumping to his boyfriends protection 🙄🙄

- munch.

- “bix, you could have any woman in the world.”

- and then IMMEDIATELY looking ashamed for having said it

- he is basically saying “you could have anyone. you could have me. so why her?”

- them on the dock together is so intimate

- you can tell they feel it’s the last they’ll see of each other

- even though they don’t know why

- a romantic opera playing during this scene (depicting a forlorn man finding his lover dead)

- jakes being the only person to try and talk to him after he finds bixby 🥲

- morse trying to express to thursday why he feels like he doesn’t wanna come back and thursday being like “stop being a pussy and get used to it” is so insane

- bright is doing his absolute best to apologize and i gotta respect him for it

- my mom giggles every time thursday speaks (she has 0 clue what’s going on idk why she’s watching w me)

- morse opening up about prison makes me 🫤

- he didn’t know whether thursday was alive or not for so long 🫤🫤

- rich people in this time period really just stood around in silence drinking and smoking and thats all

- wish i was them

- ope nvm they also got abused by their husbands i do not wanna be them

- thursday WOULD love magic shows

- he is that bitch

- after morse got shot he reacted poorly to everything from a door slamming to a car backfiring; thursday gets shot and he lets a magician fully point a gun at him and fire for FUN

- heroin feels like such a random tie in to this episode

- like it makes sense in the plot but why

- morse is awfully quick to defend bixby despite not knowing him at all

- little bit 💅

- i know he met bixby in a vulnerable state and was glad to have that sort of attention but he is soooo determined to prove bixby is a good person despite FULLY knowing it isn’t true

- which is insane

- and gay

- you gotta be some kind of freak to have a portrait of someone you have no official attachments to hanging above your bed

- i know kay is supposed to be a sort of rattled and traumatized character but i don’t like the way they wrote her at all

- her entire character feels misogynistic

- even my mom doesn’t like it and that’s telling

- “bixby” being alive is so fucking funny to me

- gay people don’t die ‼️

- roddy deserved better! he was j a lil gay guy there was no need for all this hatred

- morse and jakes are so cold with each other this episode i hate it

- i know we don’t get to know anything about jakes as a person in this show but listen

- i feel like he’s intentionally really closed off and defensive and that’s why he’s especially defensive to morse

- morse is able to figure people out so easily and jakes knows that and he doesn’t like it

- he doesn’t want to be figured out

- so it makes sense that he would be particularly cold to morse (especially given that morse is presumably the only one who knows about his Blenheim Vale background)

- jakes just appearing in the shadows while morse is talking

- like what r u doing babe??

- this man killing his son after everything gets found out is so??

- and not a single person did anything about it

- jakes 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

- finding out where the coin flip thing came from is fucking sickening

- i will say that i enjoy the notion that morse falls in love really easily and that BECAUSE of that he’s a loner

- also the camera lingering on bixby’s face and morse just staring after they lead you to think he’s watching the film for kay???? that’s queer cinema

- “bixby didn’t belong in their world anymore than i do. did. i wanted to tell him that the last night i saw him. he was better than that.”

- morse convincing himself he could have saved bixby if he told them that neither of them belonged in that world

- because he thinks bixby would have gone with him

- like??

- “there’s no real magic in the world. only love. the rest is just smoke and mirrors.”

- him saying that all that was real between them was the love 🫤🫤🫤

- 10/10 for gay this episode

[mariocki]

John Levene pops up as Gene Bradley's co-pilot on his private jet, called Tony, (John Levene's character, not the jet) in The Adventurer: I'll Get There Sometime (1.15, ITC, 1973)

[cosmicspaceslug]

watching “Subspace Rhapsody” for Hugos voting and having my prior belief confirmed that most people hear “musical episode” and assume “good episode” & “good musical” when it is actually neither of those

[hopskiptumbl]

important addition

[britney-rosberg06]

When you go back to episode 2, the way Luke managed to convince other demigods to leave becomes quite clear.

He’s the first face they see, the nice calming presence someone who’s whole world just changed needs. He tells you things. Explains the world, to us the reader he’s exposition, to a camper he’s the leading authority on the demigod world. He controls the narrative these kids hear. Slowly he can even control what they believe—if he gets enough of their trust.

And this isn’t just for new campers, Hermes cabin canonically had the most kids leave. Luke’s kids. The kids who heard his speechs of glory and godly injustice for days, weeks, months, years. And now not only do you have Luke telling you about the gods and the world and their opinions, you also have Chris Rodriguez denouncing the food offerings and Ethan the quiet kid in the back who scoffs at names like “Zeus” and “Poseidon” and so on and so on.

Even if all those kids didn’t believe in what Luke taught, some did. And that’s enough to change the culture inside Cabin 11.

This isn’t to say that there was an oligarchy of some sorts within Cabin 11. With those who didn’t believe in Luke being scared into not talking no the opposite even. They all love him. His speeches are disguised as comforting words his reputation allows for you to put on the rose colored glasses he hands you because “surely the greatest swordsman wouldn’t hurt me” his understanding nature convinces you to vent your frustrations to him. And just like that you’re in it. Without him even having to say the words “i’m evil” your in it

So when he leaves, you all leave. Cuz he was helpful, cuz he was nice, cuz he understood. Because a life under him is certainly better than a life under the gods. Right?

[whateverisbeautiful]

♥️Reveling in Richonne - TOWL

#52: The Ring Finger (1.06)

gif cred: @machonnes

We’ve arrived at the TOWL finale. 🥹🥳

And y’all, the way this finale kicks off with that opening scene...🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. Episode 6 hit the ground running by starting with one of Richonne's greatest moments. I love how in the first episode of TOWL, Rick essentially gave his hand for the marriage. And now in the final episode, Michonne gives her hand in marriage. 🥰

Thanks to this gorgeous wedding ring scene and their parting kiss in the woods, this teaser is top tier. Also, Richonne + candle-lit scenes stayed a blessing to the end 🕯😍...

Sometimes there are scenes that make me want to know exactly who came up with the idea so I can thank them personally. And this right here is one of those scenes. 😋 Whoever’s idea it was to have Rick put the ring on Michonne’s finger while making love surrounded by candles needs a medal lol. 👌🏽🏅

So diving into these finale revelings, I noted that the episode description for The Last Time says “Rick and Michonne have to perform a near impossible miracle” And well, since Richonne is blessed and highly favored of course they pull off a miracle. 😇

The episode begins with Rick saying, “I remember it all. What it was like. Who we were. Who we are now.”

If I’m not mistaken, I don’t think we’d heard Rick say this line before this episode. Like the following sound bites from different characters are all lines previously said throughout the miniseries, but I think this opening line from Rick is new. And it hit me on the rewatch that he’s talking about him and Michonne specifically rather than a broader ‘we’.

Like I interpret this as Rick saying how, after all their years apart, he still remembers everything about the life and the love he and Michonne had before and who they were together. You know that man has an excellent memory. Especially when it comes to Michonne. 😋

And I like that he says ‘who we are now’ because even after all they’ve been through apart, after all the ways they’ve grown and changed, who Rick and Michonne are now is still so compatible and connected. Still soulmates. 😌

Also, the episode after Rick left TWD was called 'Who Are You Now' and I love that years later, this miniseries so beautifully illustrated that who Rick and Michonne are now are still wholly each others.

The first shot as Rick says this is a shot of mountains as the helicopter flies over the terrain. And then I adore that when he says “Who we are now” we get to see Richonne in the now as they lay in this setting that always gives me regal medieval vibes fit for TWD's royal couple. 🤩

gif cred: @nerd4music

Now, I always smile when I think about my first time watching this scene. I knew this episode had an S rating going in but I didn’t know what that would entail since I thought Episode 4 would probably be the last time Richonne had a bedroom scene. And so when they cut to this scene, I remember my eyes immediately focused on what items were left on top of the table because it’s the finale so I thought certainly the stuff on the table was intentionally placed.

But then...my eyes started picking up on some motion going on in the background - and I was gagged. 🫠

I quickly realized that the most important thing going on in this scene is those two lovebirds in the back re-consummating the marriage. 👌🏽

gif cred: @nobleriver

I love everything about this. 🥰 The sensual setting with the abundance of candles. (And I just know it was that true blue romantic Rick that lit all those candles for their special 'wedding night.' 😋)

The rich colors, the lighting, the literal and figurative smokiness coming off this scene, the way the camera slowly glides over the table and inches closer to Richonne fully in their element together. 👩🏽‍🍳💋

gif cred: @nobleriver

After Rick had to watch the memory of Michonne burn away in the premiere, it’s beautiful that in the finale Rick gets to be truly back with Michonne surrounded by the far more romantic and uplifting flames of all those candles. 🕯👌🏽

Whenever I see this scene now, Richonne is all I see. 😋 But the items shown really are intentionally placed and all tell the story of their travels: the noodles, the whiskey, the soda, the map and notes, the CRM uniforms and thread. And the sound bites that play from the characters also tell the story of Richonne’s TOWL journey.

At first, I thought the sound bites were simply recapping the journey, but on rewatch I see they have even more intention in both shaping the story thus far and setting up what's to come in this finale. 

First Michonne says, “My name is Michonne. I lost someone. Years ago.” And in the background it’s so sweet seeing all the caressing going on between Rick and Michonne. Once again, it’s a canon fact that he loves being on top of her. And I love the way they’re holding onto each other and the way he’s tenderly touching her face. 🥹

gif cred: @nobleriver

Then Okafor says, “You both possess something I believe the CRM needs to become what it needs to be.” And while Okafor was originally saying that to Rick and Pearl, the line is reiterated here because it’s Richonne who truly possesses something that can change the CRM for good.

(Side note: Y'all, I must admit it's a true challenge for me to try and write and pay attention to what these characters are saying right now when Richonne is back there like that making me distracted. 😋 I keep having to rewind and refocus.🤭

Like I know we all see the way Rick has Michonne's legs hiked up in the air during this part. These talented actors are very good at selling these scenes, that’s all I gotta say lol) 

gif cred: @nobleriver

Then it’s a bit of an audible jump scare when Jadis says, “People are a resource.” Didn’t quite want to hear a snake at a blissful moment like this lol.

But I'm pretty sure that corpse's line was used because Rick and Michonne are about to protect the people from the people with their plan to expose the CRM higher-ups.

Then we get a palette cleanser from hearing Jadis when we hear the best bestie Nat say, “I know how to build things and I know how to burn things, but it takes more than that at the end of the world.” And the intentionality behind using that line here is definitely because Richonne will end up employing Nat’s techniques to take down the CRM's leaders and also because the concept of building vs. burning was explored throughout the show and led to the answer that sometimes you have to do both. 

As Nat says this, we see Richonne’s backpacks and other things spread out on the ground. The way all their stuff is sprawled out...it seems like the second the mood hit and the candles were lit they threw everything off and got down to business lol.

I like how the most significant items are closest to Richonne’s bed. There’s a bloody sword and ax which feel like they pay homage to some of Richonne’s signature weapons. And I like how the blood on the sword and hatchet just adds to the fact that this stunning love story takes place in an apocalypse of all places, between two apocalyptic all-stars.

Along with the weapons, there’s Rick’s prosthetic, the meaningful iPhone, and the Danger lighter.

And best of all, y’all...there’s the wedding ring. 💍😏

gif cred: @coolpartytimefan

As Beale’s voice says, “You tried to escape four times. Why are you here?” Rick slowly grabs the wedding ring, serving as a visual answer to why he’s here - He’s here because of Mrs. Grimes.

And y’all, when I tell you I nearly passed out just seeing that he was slowly grabbing the wedding ring. 🤭 I did not know that this epic love story was going to get this good. #BoundlesslyBlessed.

Along with the visual answer, there's then a verbal answer to why Rick and Michonne are here when Thorne says, “There’s someone you love out there.” I love hearing that play over this visual of Richonne, because truly Rick and Michonne are the one for each other and their love has fueled them to keep going. 

As this is said, Rick proceeds to do the most romantic thing ever when he slowly slides the wedding ring onto Michonne’s ring finger. Just 🫠…our ship is goated for a reason. It just don’t get any better. 👏🏽

gif cred: @msanonships

I love the way Michonne is looking up at him with her hand on his chest and then when she realizes what Rick’s up to she holds up her hand and watches as he puts the ring on her finger all slow and sexy. And Rick is locked in during this moment, honey. 🔥

I adore how honored Rick is to be able to put this ring on Michonne and to be her forever husband and to have her as his wife. She’s Mrs. Grimes...

And I just love that he wanted her to wear the wedding ring for this intimate moment that gives such wedding night vibes. Like there’s something so sacred and majestic about this scene, especially with the lux colors, lush blanket and pillows, and the candlelight glow. 😍

Not only does Rick feel that Michonne deserves the world - he makes it his personal job to give it to her. And he does a damn good job, doesn't he? 👏🏽👏🏽😊

gif cred: @lousolversons

Rick is also very good at making things a moment and this crowning moment very clearly had an affect on Michonne. Because as Rick so tenderly slides his hand down Michonne’s arm and then looks in her eyes, Michonne looks up at her husband like she thinks he is truly the sexiest man on planet earth.

And you know what we always say…Michonne is always right. 😇

gif cred: @coolpartytimefan

I love that Michonne’s journey took her from one; looking quite taken by Rick in their pre-canon seasons of TWD.

To two; lying down alone fiddling with Rick's ring on her finger in her final TWD episode. (Which I've always loved that after Rick's season 9 departure, Michonne wore that ring because she knew that who she and Rick were to each other was 100% husband and wife).

To three; now lying down with Rick over her so lovingly placing her wedding ring on her finger. 🙌🏽🥳

Rick always wants Michonne to know, in every way that he can express, how much he loves her. 🥹 And the abundant love Michonne continuously has for Rick is always written so clearly on her face. 🥹

Also, with Rick not having a ring finger himself it feels like placing this wedding ring on Michonne during a moment where they’re this one and interconnected is almost like placing the ring on them. 

gif cred: @coolpartytimefan

As they have this eye contact moment that is just chemistry on another level, it’s paired with Michonne’s heartrending line from the masterpiece Episode 4 when she asks Rick, “Do you still love me?” And Rick passionately answers, “Always.”

Those are fitting lines to include because this TOWL journey had Richonne having to navigate what their love looks like now and officially see that they truly have always loved each other and always will.

And now here they are in this beautifully intimate moment, one in every way, letting their undying love just fill the entire atmosphere. 🥰

gif cred: @coolpartytimefan

And truly, Rick looks at Michonne like she’s the most beautiful treasure in the world. At this moment, he's looking at her like he’s again thinking “I love you always.” And in all ways. Amen. 👌🏽

I adore how, after he puts the ring on, both Rick and Michonne look like they've somehow managed to fall even deeper in love by the second.

Michonne softly places her ring-clad hand back on Rick's chest and then he leans in as they share another very passionate kiss. And y’all, the only beef I have with this teaser is with that fade-to-black. It comes in too quick lol. 🤭The fade-to-black could’ve waited just a second or two more, because you know some of us be greedy. 😂

But regardless, it’s a great hot-and-heavy kiss and just shows yet again that Rick and Michonne are each other's strongest craving. This whole Richonne ring moment was perfect. 🤩

TOWL really said 'I now pronounce Richonne the hottest husband and wife on television.' 🔥👏🏽

gif cred: @msanonships

Ages ago, I was really eager for Richonne to have rings of their own, and little did I know I’d just have to wait about eight years and then Rick would put a ring on Michonne in a stunning lovemaking scene like this. And once again, it was entirely worth the years-long wait. 😇

I appreciate the way this opening scene just immediately set the tone of how TOWL started as an epic love story and would conclude as an epic love story. What a dream. 👏🏽

And because we’re spoiled, y’all, the teaser doesn’t even end there. 

They then cut to the woods with Rick and Michonne looking like the baddest to ever do it in their black CRM uniforms as they walk forward with the helicopter in the back. Move over Mr. and Mrs. Smith, this is Mr. and Mrs. Grimes on a mission. 🔥

gif cred: @nerd4music

And then as Rick and Michonne walk, they stop and turn to each other and immediately kiss like their life depends on it and I’m always here for it. Like I’ll forever be elated over the fact that there were kisses in every single episode of this 6 episode miniseries, and not just that but most episodes had multiple kissing scenes too. Richonne kissed more in 6 episodes than they did in their four seasons on canon on TWD.

gif cred: @ricksmarlene

And truly, not even just from a shipper perspective but from a story perspective, it makes perfect sense for these characters who are madly in love and haven’t been able to express it for over eight years to be kissing all the time like this. Cuz I mean...

And now that they’re back together, of course these soulmates are going to make up for that lost time every chance they get. It's just realistic. 😌👌🏽

So I love that our goated captains came back to make this 6-episode miniseries and said guess how many episodes we can fit kisses into...

All 6, baby. 😋 This particular kiss in the woods is meaningful too because Rick and Michonne are about to part for the first time since agreeing to go home together and you know for magnets going their separate ways isn’t easy or ideal, especially when what they’re parting to do is dangerous.

But I love that because their kisses are communication, this kiss was the two making it so clear to each other that no matter what the CRM tries to do, they are each other's ultimate choice and they’re in it together.

Like I love the reassuring vibe of this passionate kiss and the way Rick holds her face and then the way they stare into each other's eyes afterward and nod, again communicating so much. 🥰 They’re about to reenter the lion's den and this moment just felt like them giving each other the strength to do so. 

gif cred: @nerd4music

And y’all, you know I stay getting distracted by Richonne so I forgot Michonne's voiceover is actually saying something in this scene lol. Lemme go happily rewind a sec. ⏮😋

Okay, so while they share this golden kiss, Michonne gives insight into their plan when she says, “It sounds simple, right? We go in. You get the briefing. I get the dossier she left behind. We bring what we know to the city, then go home. Together.”

As this is said, Michonne holds Rick’s arm until the last second as he turns to go which is sweet. They are really each other's baby, y'all. 🥲And as she watches him, we hear her say, “It’s never that simple.” 

gif cred: @msanonships

I know that this last line is meant to be ominous but one thing I'm grateful for about how TWD & TOWL approached Richonne is that it's not like other relationships and things in the show that have to ultimately end in tragedy. Richonne was built to last and be an actual lasting win for Rick and Michonne in this series, which is why I never feared that the two would split up or die because the love they found with each other is the one thing this franchise allows to be unbreakable and triumphant.

So next, Rick slowly walks up to the gates with his hands up as his voiceover says, “I’m Sergeant Major Rick Grimes. You probably think I’m dead.” I like that line because as we know TOWL was a whole journey of Rick dying and coming back to life through Michonne. So now, for the first time in a long time, it’s Alive Rick rolling up to the CRM. 👌🏽

gif cred: @sowhumpful

Then as the CRM soldiers slowly open the gate for him, the teaser ends with Rick recalling his father's words saying, “He said I didn’t need to be scared. That it was just ‘the burning.’” Then the scene fades to black just like how this teaser started and y’all, I just gotta clap it up for that teaser. That ring moment alone had me overjoyed and then the kiss in the matching uniforms and Rick's fine gait up to the gate was the cherry on top. 👏🏽👏🏽

We were already feasting and the finale was just beginning. I appreciate that since this is ‘the last time,’ this show let Richonne do what they do best one last time and just put their love and chemistry on full display. 👌🏽😌

[freakinator]

prev get peer reviewed

you made me realize that wemmbu. Barely moved away from his station, not just the colony but the vault

whenever he moved away from the vault it was to either show a new guy around or to fight and the few times he actually moved away from the colony it was for the benefit of the colony

i think?? hes only moved away from the colony thrice?? 1. to fight the levels guys 2. to help build the gold farm and 3. to recruit fantst

like. he was So determined to do a good job that stayed in one plalce for practically the whole video, which is highly notable considering he was all over the place in previous vids

also i took so many screenshots of the final confrontation lol but its mostly of the same scenes so heres some of the more notable ones

notice how zam has a habit of either perching somewhere higher than wemmbu or getting right up in his face or backed up by his guards

though interestingly the one time where it was neither of those things, where wemmbu was instead higher than zam, was in that final moment where they just stared at each other for an amount of time that was ngl bordering on uncomfortable lol, idk if thats just coincidence or if it means anything at all but still interesting

Zam: "The worst part about this is that, y'know, I actually... I-I kind of enjoyed working with you, but... I dunno... I-- again I-- I mean, I know how you work. I know how you are. I know what you do."

Zam: "You betray, and... I'm not gonna give you the chance to do that to my empire 'cause I care too much about it."

Wemmbu: "Bro, I haven't... I haven't... betrayed a single-- a-and I get that I've done that in the past but, like, I.."

Wemmbu: "I just haven't done anything like that on this server. I-I-- dude."

Zam: "Doesn't matter, Wemmbu, I'm not... I'm not taking any risks."

Wemmbu: "Are you not gonna kill me now, though? Heh."

Zam: "No!"

Wemmbu: "Why--"

Zam: "I have no reason to, what are you gonna do?" [laugh]

Zam: "There's no need to." [laugh]

Wemmbu: "You're gonna--" [chuckle]

Zam: "There's no need to chunk ban you either--"

[explosions go off in bg for the rest of the conversation]

Zam: "--I'll let you... y'know, I'll just-- I'll just let you, like, y'know, just live in it. Live in the moment. Uhh, enjoy your time. Live out-- Live out your days, do whatever you want, I don't really care."

Zam: "You're not a threat."

...

Zam: "Y'know you can just-- you can just move on from all this-- this empire stuff, you can go... just go back to whatever it was you were doing before you ever met me, before you ever met... anyone else on the server, just- just go back to being Wemmbu, just go... just go do Wemmbu things."

Zam: "Y--[wheeze] Y'know the funniest part about all of this? You shouldn't even be mad right now because this is-- these are my materials that I'm blowing up. Just to send a message."

Zam: "There's-- [chuckles] There's no reason for you to be upset about this, I gave you all this stuff. Maybe you spent the time on it but, like, who really cares? Just..."

Zam: "Just move on to something better, move on to something else."

Zam: "Uhh... and don't... don't-- don't mess with me. In any way, shape, or form, alright, let this be a lesson to you."

...

Zam: [giggles]

Zam: "Ahh, what a wonderful day."

...

Wemmbu: "Y'know what's funny, Zam?"

Zam: "Yeah?"

Wemmbu: "You think I'm not a threat and yet, somehow..."

Wemmbu: "With your prisons, you couldn't even stop literally the most helpless player on the server, Parrot--"

(overlapping) Zam: [laughs]

(overlapping) Wemmbu: "--from... from breaking into them and freeing everyone."

Wemmbu: "You couldn't even hold Spoke... for, like, a week."

Wemmbu: "And this is your--"

Zam: "Mmhmm."

Wemmbu: "--little sad attempt... at having control over that sort of situation again."

Zam: "Mmm."

Zam: "That's what you think, Wemmbu, that's what you think."

Wemmbu: "That's what I think?"

Zam: "Yeah..."

Wemmbu: "Alright..."

Wemmbu: "Ha-- You know what's funny though?"

Zam: "Yeah?"

Wemmbu: "I don't think you realize but Clown has already failed to kill Parrot."

Zam: "Really?"

Zam: "Parrot's a little slippery guy, I'm not... I mean, like..."

(overlapping) Wemmbu: [laugh] "That's just--"

(overlapping) Zam: "It's-- It's-- It's a little shocking."

Wemmbu: "That's-- That's the opposite of the truth, Parrot... Parrot is the easiest guy to capture or trick and yet y-you still.. are so incompetent you can't even do it yourself."

Wemmbu: "And now-- heh."

Zam: "Mmhmm."

Wemmbu: "And you think just placing a bunch of TNT in... in th-- in these builds i-i-i-is, like..."

Wemmbu: "I dunno, bro. Y-Y-- [chuckle]. You're a funny guy, Zam, you're a funny guy."

Zam: "Yeah?"

...

Zam: [chuckle] "Oh, Wemmbu..."

Zam: "Hey, if you continue messing with me there will be plenty of chances, I'm sure. But... I'm-- I'm giving you the chance to, y'know, walk away from all of this."

(overlapping) Wemmbu: "Zam. I haven't... I haven't messed with you."

(overlapping) Zam: "I feel like you should take that in good faith."

Wemmbu: "I haven't messed with you once, Zam."

Wemmbu: "I literally..."

Zam: "You said you were gonna kill me the second you get the chance."

Wemmbu: "When did I say that?!"

Zam: "During the trial chambers! Remember?"

Wemmbu: "Bro, I was just [while laughing] yapping, bro, when-- why would I kill you?"

Zam: "Doesn't matter, doesn't matter. I know how you work, Wemmbu."

Wemmbu: "Bro."

Zam: "Y-- As soon as it becomes convenient for you--"

(overlapping) Wemmbu: "Bro, this entire time, bro."

(overlapping) Zam: "--you definitely were going to kill me."

Wemmbu: "It was never convenient for me this entire time to protect your stupid vault, I didn't even go in it until, like..."

Zam: [giggle]

Wemmbu: "Until I knew for a fact that you were against me."

Zam: "Mmhmm."

Wemmbu: "I was nothing but loyal, bro."

Wemmbu: "Every single day, Egg would ask me if we could break in the vault because what you were saying made no sense and I trusted you."

Wemmbu: "You made a massive mistake here, Zam."

Zam: [laugh] "If it's a mistake then prove it to me 'cause, I-I dunno, right now from-- from what I'm looking at, Wemmbu, a shoeless-- a shoeless player, from what I'm looking at right now, uhh, this doesn't feel like a mistake to me at all. I feel like I've, uhh, made the right choice."

Zam: "I don't need someone as weak as you in my empire."

Wemmbu: "Alright, bro."

Zam: [chuckle]

[explosions go off in bg]

[iwritenarrativesandstuff]

There's something in the differing emphasis that Brad and Hunter and Charles place on the phrase "good guy" that really affected me on my first watch and hit even harder on my second. I'm going to try and put it into words.

When Brad and Hunter say it, they say "we're good guys", as in, good at everything a guy "should" be good at - good at sports, popular with the ladies, on their way to a good university. But they turn out to be total shitheads. They don't care about being "good", they just care about their reputation, how they're perceived. It's status and power - they're good guys and they feel entitled to do whatever they want.

But when Charles, feeling betrayed by this reveal of their character, says he wanted them to be good guys, the emphasis is completely different. Charles wants to be a "good guy". He doesn't want to be a "bad guy".

The emphasis is on good, because that's really the crux of Charles' greatest fears, isn't it?

When Charles wants to be a good guy, he doesn't mean it the way Brad and Hunter do; that veneer of goodness that comes with popularity. He means that nothing he did was ever good enough for his dad. Doing the good thing and helping that kid his "friends" were beating up literally got him killed. Trying to stop Devlin only got him trapped in the loop, stuck until his friends freed him, only able to watch helplessly as a mother and her innocent children get slashed to death before his eyes.

And it's this helplessness that is the thing that truly sets him off at the end of episode 4.

It always struck me just how much of his breakdown there, for as much as he finally gives a voice to his own hurt at the injustice of his situation, was still about other people. Because he was secure-ish, at one point, when he was Edwin's partner and protector. He thought he did a good job at it anyways, but guess not, because something obviously happened with Edwin and he's not talking to him about it. And he likes to think he did good with solving cases, but Crystal is still hurting and haunted by a demon and nearly threw herself off a cliff earlier that day because she wants her parents so badly, and he's no closer to helping her solve that. And all of it, every single part of it, is a reflection of his own unresolved trauma; that he never "made it better" and he can't, so now he tries to be good enough for other people, but that isn't working anymore either, and now someone is threatening to take Edwin away, and even this final shocking act of anger and violence is still in service of protecting; of saving someone from the suffering he was never able to escape except by fucking dying.

His anger, really, stems from the injustice of it all, and the abuse of power by guys who can get away with it because they're guys, when they should've, could've, been good to others instead. It's a large part of why he projected so strongly onto Brad and Hunter - they did everything right, they were good guys who got screwed over, because even if everyone seems to love you, there's always that one person you can never please, right? Who will hurt you, no matter how good you are. When it's revealed that Brad and Hunter are far more like his bullies, like Devlin, like his dad, than he'd thought - controlling, intolerant, cruel to those who "step out of line" - Charles feels betrayed and horrified because he related to them... so what does that say about him?

But here's one major difference that Charles does not seem to recognize well. Charles has never had the power in these situations. He was the victim, and his being the victim is through no fault of his own, but the fault of those who decided to be cruel. It is certainly not contingent on how good he is. Being good in the eyes of people who want to hurt you will not stop them from hurting you.

When he lashes out at the Night Nurse, it's out of helplessness and rage. Once again, he's pitted against someone who holds more power than he does and is threatening harm, and he's just been bitterly, brutally reminded that a smile and a helping hand and a firm word never, ever worked to make it stop. There's only one other way he can think of to shift the balance of power, and he's finally livid enough to actually do it. This violence is a desperate attempt to finally overcome yet another force much greater than him, a transdimensional entity that has unjustly arrived to take his best friend to Hell. And Charles wins, he did it, he stopped her, at least for the moment. But at what cost, when he looks at his friends and can't tell whether they look more scared for him or of him? And can he blame them, when he's clearly scared of his own anger and how overwhelming it is now that it's been let out?

Because he tries so hard to be good and it's never good enough to stop the suffering. Because that anger rose to the surface so easily and maybe that means he's not good at all.

But of course, Charles once again misses something important here - there is a distinction in why that anger exists. His dad, Devlin, and Brad and Hunter get angry because their power over others makes them feel they have a right to punish when things don't go their way. Charles gets angry because he feels more helpless than he'd care to admit, and seeing cruelty inflicted onto others by those with power makes him want to cut them down to size.

And herein lies the second major difference. Charles... is a kind person, at heart. He's genuine. He really does likes helping out, he likes making people happy, he doesn't turn people away who need help, he's friendly and protective. The scene where Edwin pulls him out of his fear that he's somehow bad even though he really doesn't want to be, is outright one of my favourite scenes for what it brings to both of their characters. Edwin knows exactly what to say. While it's always good to check your behaviour, to apologize and take accountability - because no one can be good all the time, and even the most well-intentioned of us will mess up sometimes - Edwin is right.

"Bad guys do not worry about being bad guys."

[group-dynamic]

*SCREECHING*

I was watching this lovely, bittersweet edit highlighting the short, tragic friendship between Celebrimbor and Elrond as they're portrayed in the Rings of Power, and it got me reflecting (as many of us have) on the prophesy, "My father foresaw that one day Celebrimbor's life would be in my hands" and how it's too bad there wasn't anything that felt like a weighty resolution to that thread. Like, to have a prophesy directly from the foresight of Eärendil that's first mentioned in season one and invented for the show feels so significant to be used merely as a device to compound Elrond's failure, you know? The prophesy works well as foreshadowing and elevates the tragic impact of Elrond's role as commander and his inability to defend Eregion, but that feels so distant to the idiom "life in his hands." Especially since Elrond isn't even in sight of Celebrimbor's death, so how could his life really be so directly in his hands--

IT'S THE RING.

THE RINGS.

Elrond's only direct acts related to "saving" Celebrimbor on screen is trying to save his records and his city, aka the lore and legacy around him. And that fails. The records are burned, the city is reduced to rubble, the smith's greatest achievements are corrupted and certainly going to be twisted further to some evil purpose in Sauron's hands.

And Elrond's been so certain that those rings are corrupted, including the elven rings (which for a while are the only rings the Lindon elves know of in the show). But then suddenly those elven rings are all that's left of Celebrimbor's legacy and in the first and last episode of the season they're LITERALLY in Elrond's hands. When he jumps from the cliff trying to keep them from his friends, and when he finally picks one up and uses it for good--for its intended, healing purpose. I mean, Elrond future lore master has Celebrimbro's life story in his hands. He has Celebrimbor's life's work in his hands, and all the parts of himself and his craft he poured into those rings.

And one day Elrond will literally be one of the bearers and wielders of Celebrimbor's life work and legacy. Yeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaahhh==

"His life in his hands" indeed.

[paranoid-rhythm]

Fate/Grand Order COMIC à la carte PLUS! SP Showdown!

Ashiya Douman VS Dioscuri

TL & Typeset by yours truly.

Right, so, edited to add AU's commentary below.

Au's commentary

【Douman】

I think that due to his position as an onmyouji and as a bonze, he places an emphasis on formality and rituals. Whatever his motivation may be, he can't help but go through these motions (though there are times that he stops abrubptly), it's like "if he has to do it anyway, it's more interesting to do it this way." In addition, it was a confrontation against the Dioscuri.

The Dioscuri, gods who connect with humans through "rituals" that play an important role in religion and faith, and whose way of being can be influenced and altered by man, in contrast with Ashiya Douman, one who blasphemes even gods themselves, one who guides humans by "looking up to the heavens and divining the stars." The ritual was brought about when Douman thought that he wanted to perform the steps to carry out the purifying ritual (monomi^), but he did not want to be the one to be shut in, so he made someone else disappear instead.

(^物忌み - monomi; an onmyou practice of shutting oneself inside the house on inauspicious days to avoid misfortune.)

In simpler terms, it's an act to purify one's body and soul by cutting off impurities, as such, Castor was furious at not only being suddenly separated from his sister, but also for being judged as "defective." (Although Castor's anger was at the forefront, his bond level is assumed to be high, because he rushed into the scene, out of concern regarding the abnormal situation, and for his Master's safety.)

【Dioscuri】

・Castor's Saint Graph is deficient, due to his separation from Pollux (derived from the Dioscuri interlude). ・In addition, it was difficult to stop Douman with a god's power, as due to Douman's spell, it was a situation where no divinity other than Douman's was functioning.

As for the "stronger truth (for the Master)" that Holmes mentioned, at this part, the Master was reminded of Dioscuri Castor's return gift from Valentine's, St. Elmo's Fire. One aspect of the Dioscuri is being the guardians of navigation, the guiding light, the "star" shining in the heavens.

Castor's return gift, based on the circumstances of the event scenario, is interpreted here as a blessing given by the Dioscuri only to the Master. A "truth" that was clear to the Master, that even if no one else knew about it, without any doubt, they have received this blessing. At that moment, the Master, who is the key figure in this divine ritual, overrode the "Dioscuri" by strongly recognizing them as "stars" rather than the "twin gods". Thus, this is the process that allowed Pollux to be revived.

【The Master of Hell】

Though it has various meanings, it revolves mainly about Seimei's episode with the "Taizanfukugun", and the "Taizanfukugun Festival^".

(^An onmyou festival, revering "Taizanfugun", a god from ancient China that was syncretized with the Buddhist king Enma, and was believed to rule over human lifespan and fortune. It was a popular festival among court nobles during the Heian period, and it was the festival that the onmyou family, the Abe clan, excelled at.)

Taizanfukugun is a major deity in onmyoudo, in Buddhism, considered as one of the ten kings of hell (sometimes equated with King Enma). The main implication of this image is that he is able to interfere with even the forces of hell and use them as if they were his own.

In this sense, Seimei should be the one who's more suited for hell, so what point would there be if the Master falls into hell? Would there be any meaning after that? In the first place, the Master would certainly not fall without a fight. And if they decided to, they would jump in without hestation, which is for Douman, also infuriating.

How does Douman see the greatest onmyouji? Did he collectively likened that person to the emotions swirling around him? Was it through the story of that person's resurrection, their travels through the world of that time, that equated to them easily conquering even Hell? Or is it something else entirely?

Whether he gives it his all or not, I feel that for Douman, there seems to be a fundamental ambiguity in self-affirmation, making him think "If I'm like this, then that person must be even better", regardless of Douman's own level of ability.

【Companion/Attendant】

When the Master pledged that they were determined to take Douman with them, even if it meant dragging him along with them, I wanted to show a "contrast" that showed their difference from Seimei, expressed through the rather exaggerated "Master allowed themselves to be accompanied / Seimei will never allow himself to be accompanied."

It's like "I said I liked apples, but he didn't say he liked apples. So he must hate apples.", something to that extreme. From Douman's point of view, that's how it must have been.

Furthermore, most of the passages in which Douman refers to Seimei are all from his perspective.

-The following is a digression -

・Sanson and Asclepius These two were the ones originally from Showdown Part 1. Originally, there was no scene in which these two talked to each other, but I hope those who read the previous comic will notice it.

This too, is a story about "humans" and "demigods (children of Apollo)".

(By the way, I was able to draw Asclepius in his second ascension for this FGO comicalized series.)

・At the beginning, I wanted to make the Master upset by making (Douman) say, "I killed her,'' but the response got boring so I changed it up.

・Buddha's great vows - this is the Bodhisattva's vast desire to save all sentient beings. In short, this was a hugely sarcastic remark towards the Master, as if to say "Your determination and your theatrical declaration are both truly admirable!" However, it also suggests that even if they would have to get various people to help their cause, the Master might just be able to pull it off.

・I was able to finish Holmes' panels in just one day.

・The last panel I drew was Douman's left side.

[mariocki]

Horror icon Ingrid Pitt guest stars as enemy agent Elayna in The Adventurer: Double Exposure (1.20, ITC, 1973)

[malfoyswand]

𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬

pairing: draco malfoy x reader

summary: your best friend, draco malfoy, plans a surprise to ask you to the yule ball.

word count: 1.8k

genre: fluff

warnings: none, just soft draco :)

author's note: thank you to the lovely reader who requested this, it's my first request so i really hope i did this justice! also yes, i got a little inspired by that one gilmore girls episode with the 1000 flowers for the proposal lol

➪ masterlist | requests

"Mate, I think you're overthinking this."

Blaise Zabini reported his opinion of the matter, but Draco Malfoy barely comprehended a word he had spoken. The only things on his mind were (Y/N) and of course, the bloody Yule Ball.

If he was honest with himself, Draco was at least partially excited for the dance. He knew it was meant to be one of the greatest nights he may ever experience while at Hogwarts, but he wasn't sure if he would. The dance was only a week away and somehow, Draco found himself without a date.

If anything, the Yule Ball was making him nervous.

"I'm not, Zabini!" He spoke quite loudly, then softened his voice as he realized students had looked their way. "This needs to be perfect, alright? This is (Y/N) we're talking about, you know how I feel about her."

Blaise couldn't help but sigh, with a smile on his lips as the two of them walked to their Defense Against the Dark Arts class. It was quite a feat for Malfoy to tell Blaise that he had romantic feelings for his best friend, (Y/N). Blaise knew that Draco dreaded being seen as anything but tough to the world, the fact that a girl had this much control over his emotions spoke volumes. 

"Exactly my point, Malfoy. She's been your best friend since first year, I doubt she would ever be disappointed or angry with whatever you come up with. Besides, she's just a girl. Just ask her to the ball like how you would ask a girl out on a date."

"Er.. well.." Draco began to speak, the hand that wasn't holding his books scratching the back of his neck. The two of them finally stopped walking besides the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, Blaise's eyes widening as he tried to hide his laughter.

"You're telling me that Draco Malfoy has never been on a date before? Merlin!" His laughter echoed down the chamber, earning him a scoff and a playful shove inside the classroom by Draco. "Sorry, sorry. I just thought that with every other girl in this school begging to be your date to the dance, you would've taken at least one of them on a date." His voice was spoken quietly, careful that the other students wouldn't hear their conversation.

Draco shook his head as the two of them sat down in their seats, pulling out their books and parchment. "No. I've turned them all down. They're just not her, know what I mean?"

"You're down bad, mate." Blaise smirked slightly to himself, whispering the only advice he could really offer his friend. "Listen, girls like being asked out in a personal way. You know the kind of things (Y/N) likes, all you have to do is make it special and she'll be swooning."

"Right." Draco mumbled to himself as Professor Moody began to teach his lesson. However, he certainly wasn't thinking about Defense Against the Dark Arts. Instead, Draco glanced over to where you sat across the room. He knew you better than anyone, yet he had no idea how to ask you to the Yule Ball.

That was when the idea struck him. The new bag you bought last week caught his eyes, he noticed the way the bag had intricate floral designs sewn into it. A memory replayed in Draco's mind. He couldn't help but smile to himself as he wrote on a spare piece of parchment, folding it into a paper crane before sending it your way.

Your hands caught the paper crane, grinning as you knew exactly who it was from. You tried to ignore the way your heart seemed to skip a beat each time you saw one fly towards you. On the piece of parchment, it read:

Meet me at the Astronomy Tower tomorrow morning before breakfast? - D.M.

You lifted his gaze to meet his awaiting gray eyes, your head nodding before turning back to the professor's lesson. Draco did the same, but his mind was already running through a mental checklist on all the supplies he had to get to make his idea come to life.

The next morning, you woke up wondering why in Godric's name you decided to meet up with Draco this early in the morning. The sun was just starting to rise outside the window, and none of your other roommates were even awake. You groaned as quietly as you could, practically tiptoeing around the dorm bedroom to avoid waking everyone else.

As you brushed your hair in the girls' lavatory, you felt the butterflies in your stomach begin to flutter around again. You cursed yourself under your breath as you tried your best to focus on your breathing.

Lately, being near Draco Malfoy has always made you more excited than you really ought to be. Of course, he was your best friend so you had always been excited. But now, even one glance at him caused a warmth to glow within your chest. The feeling was a foreign one.

As you walked through the castle towards the Astronomy Tower, that warm feeling in your chest arose again as you caught sight of him. He was pacing near the entrance door, mumbling as if he was rehearsing something. You cleared your throat as you walked towards him, Draco stopping in his tracks.

"(Y/N)." He spoke your name, his lips forming into a soft smile. "Thanks for meeting up with me, I know it's a bit early for you." His tone was playful, he knew you were not much of a morning person. 

"About that, why so early in the morning, Malfoy?" You gently shoved his shoulder, he only laughed in response. He opened the Astronomy Tower door entrance, his hand indicating for you to step inside first. 

"You will see."

You walked up the long set of stairs up the tower. You couldn't see the fact that Draco was a nervous wreck behind you, his hands having to wipe themselves on his slacks to remove the sweat from his palms. As much as you hated to wake up this early in the morning, you knew the views up from the tower would be gorgeous. Draco knew that the Astronomy Tower was, quite honestly, your favorite place to admire the landscape.

“Oh my..” Your body stopped in its tracks once the two of you reached the highest level of the tower. Your eyes couldn’t take in your surroundings fast enough it seemed.

It was as if every surface of the tower was covered in red roses. Somehow, someone must have placed hundreds of roses in vases, scattering them around almost every corner of the room. The light shining into the tower only amplified their beauty, it was as if each petal seemed to come alive as the sun continued to rise.

“D-Did you know these flowers were here?” You stuttered as you started to pace around the room slowly, your fingertips grazing upon almost every petal there was. Their beauty took your breath away.

“I did.” Draco bit his bottom slightly as he watched you, desperate to know your reaction. He couldn’t tell if you liked or hated them. “They’re for you, actually.”

Your eyes darted from the roses you were admiring to Draco, your body facing his. Although you were truly flattered, the idea of him doing all of this for you made your head spin with so many questions. You knew Draco Malfoy better than he may ever know himself, you had never seen him do anything this nice or extravagant for anyone before. 

“You said a couple of weeks ago that you wish spring would come along so you can watch the flowers bloom again. Of course, it’s only December, as we can all see.” Draco answered your question, a slight chuckle falling from his lips as he pointed outside of the tower. More snowflakes began to fall, covering the castle with even more snow.

“So, I thought to bring the flowers to you. And I only assumed you liked roses, from your bag.” His eyes went from watching the snowflakes outside to your bag that was decorated with tiny red roses around it. Since when did Draco notice something so mundane, like a new tote bag?

“I just.. don’t know what to say.” Your voice came out as a whisper. Him decorating the entire Astronomy Tower with roses, just because you said you missed the spring and summer flowers, was entirely insane. You couldn’t come up with the words, so all you could do was step forward to hug him tightly.

Within an instant, you felt Draco’s arms wrap around your waist, his head resting in the crook of your neck. He closed his eyes, smiling softly to himself out of relief and joy. He was relieved and happy that you had liked the surprise, but he knew what he must do, even though it terrified him.

“That’s not the end of the surprise.” He said as he slowly pulled away from the hug. All of a sudden, it was as the boy became aware of every heightened emotion he was feeling. “But I must do this properly..”

Your eyebrows raised as you watched him turn around, picking up one of the red roses from their vases. If you weren’t convinced you were dreaming at the moment, you would have sworn you saw a small bit of sweat on Draco’s forehead as he looked towards you.

“I-er..” He took a step forward towards you, any closer and your bodies would have made contact. With a deep breath to calm himself, he handed the rose to you. “Would you want to go to the Yule Ball with me, as more than just a friend?”

Your lips slightly parted as you took the rose from him. You had slowly been falling for your best friend for the past four years, but you had convinced yourself that the Slytherin Prince would never fall for you. For four years, you had thought that he would never settle for you, when every other girl in this school begged for him just to look their way.

Once you realized you had failed to give an answer, you closed your mouth and smiled in his direction. “I would love to, Draco.” You responded, stepping forward once more to close the gap between you two. You pressed your lips softly to his cheek.

When you pulled away, you realized that Draco’s cheeks were slightly pink as his eyes widened. You couldn’t help but laugh slightly at the sight. Draco Malfoy was notorious for being the calm, collected one of the two of you. Seeing him as, essentially, a nervous wreck over you caused that warmth to be felt in your chest again.

“Who would have thought I could make Draco Malfoy this nervous?” You joked, attempting to calm his apparent nerves.

“Who said I was nervous?” He scoffed just as playfully, grabbing a few more roses to hand to you. You took them in your hands, smelling their pleasant aroma as you followed him back down the staircase.

“Malfoy, you were just as red as these roses.”

[muddyorbsblr]

relinquish the crown: under one condition pt2

Series Masterlist See my full list of works here!

Placement: Season 1, Episode 15; immediately after 'under one condition pt1'

Summary: Your father summons you to the throne room, where you are to learn of the traditions of your ancestry…as well as the state of your impending betrothal

Pairing: Loki x Reader

Word Count: 3.2k

Warning/s: themes of incest (he's adopted but still); Prince Damien; Odin; talks of duels to the death; talks of incestuous ancestry [let me know if I missed anything!]

Things to be aware of: stressed Loki hours; stressed Reader hours; a good chunk of this is 'traditions old and new' (Prologue, Part 2) in Loki's POV

"I truly feel as if we've been growing so much closer in the days past, Princess." Your stomach churned as you once again had to swat away the hand of the crown prince of Alfheim before it could slither around your waist.

"What a relief that you seem to think so, Your Highness," you droned with an audible exhale, putting in an effort to yawn as you unsubtly stepped a few feet to the side to put some distance between the two of you.

You slowed your stride when you heard Damien's sibilant uncivilized expletive, fighting back the smirk that tugged at the side of your mouth as he began to pull yet another temper tantrum, stomping his boot at the dark marbled ground. "Princess Y/N, I'm growing quite tired of having to play this guessing game of whether I am beginning to win your favor or not. I have done everything you have asked for in a partner--"

"Have you now?" you cut him off, turning so sharply to look upon his petulant, indignant face. "All you have done in these days past is show how well you can follow direct commands in my presence. If I wanted to have a companion with those traits, I would have gotten a pet." His nostrils flared comically at your flippant remark. "It is your consistency, or lack thereof, of your behavior in the presence of others. Your inability to comprehend the simplest of requisites that I have for someone I would wish to call a partner."

"I have been nothing but diligent in--"

"Choose your next words with the greatest care, Your Highness," you warned him. "Before you utter them, consider the possibility that I might already know the truth. That I might simply be offering you the chance to come clean."

Instead of seeming humbled, he simply scoffed at your words. "You make it seem as if you are everywhere in this castle, Princess. And while I have never been the best strategist I can assure you that there is no feasible way for just one person to know every goings on in such a vast place." He straightened his stance, making a show of visibly deflating his ego and giving you a bow. "But I assure you, even if you were, you would find that I truly have been taking your requisites to heart."

"You are not the first person to underestimate my reach, Prince Damien," you spoke through gritted teeth. "And you certainly will not be the last." You began to walk down the hall again, only to be stopped by a member of the palace guard.

"Your Royal Highness, Princess Y/N," Skarde spoke, his voice trembling as well as the rest of him as he bowed to you.

"Skarde, what's wrong, are you ill?" If he wasn't, then his demeanor perturbed you. It was the behavior of someone holding back a distressing cocktail of emotions. Anger, fear, visceral repugnance…

The palace guard member ignored your inquiry and instead went straight to business, as if he wasn't quite literally shaking in his metal boots. "Your father has requested your presence in the war room, Your Highness."

You nearly started skipping down the hall in the direction of the room in question, relieved that your time with the ill-bred elven prince had been cut short for the day. "Best not keep him waiting then," you simply said before making your way down the hall, not bothering to wait for the guards to start leading the way.

"And what about our schedule for today, Princess?" Damien whined from yards away. "What am I to do with the plans--"

"Whatever you wish, Prince Damien," you answered him snappily, your voice booming and echoing across the hall. "Perhaps you could practice your diligence that you tout with such confidence." The guards displayed a valiant effort to hold back their chortles as the elven prince huffed and stomped away.

"Undoubtedly off to place another call to his father," the guard snickered. "Complaining about how allegedly unfairly he's being treated."

Your ears perked up at Skarde's remark. "So he complains about me often, then?" He looked uncomfortable for a moment before eventually nodding his head stiffly. "And what other information do you hold about our esteemed visiting prince?"

"I-I must not speak ill of visiting royals, truly, Your Highness I misspoke earlier--"

"Come now, it's alright," you tried to calm his stammering. "This would not be rumor mongering or engaging in a smear campaign over Alfheim royalty. You would simply be imparting what knowledge you have to better serve your princess. To the family and the realm you swore your fealty to."

It took a moment but he finally exhaled and sounded quite relieved with your words. "As always, you are correct, Princess."

"It's all a matter of perspective," you told him cheekily. "Now, while we are speaking freely I must ask…why so morose?"

"Brother you could have asked for anything," Thor spoke somberly, all three men in the war room so visibly tense as they awaited your arrival. "Anything in the Realms and it would have gladly been given to you. Why did it have to be this? Why choose the path that would betray Y/N's good graces when she has so easily welcomed you not just into her life, but into her closest circle of trust? Why throw that all away?"

"Because this was the only way," Loki answered him stoically, doing his best to fight back the tears that prickled in the backs of his eyes. "Because had I not asked for this then within the year, you would have lost us both. I would perish in the duel and she would be taken from Asgard, tragically fated to become Alfheim's royal child bearer." He spat out the last words, grimacing as he remembered just a few days ago when he heard Damien spout those hateful words.

"Loki that is a vile accusation to throw at--"

"Those were the words of one Prince Damien, Father," he bit back, jaw tense as he stared down the Allfather. "When he corresponded with the King of Alfheim. He and his father are the ones who are vile, treating women as if they are objects to be traded and shared. The only difference that they can see with Y/N is that she happens to be made of more precious material." His heart broke to even speak of you the way that those heathens would. "You were correct, Brother. Damien is not a suitable match for her. He had never any intention to be."

"Your terms were to save her from this fate?" He nodded at his brother. "Then why the illusion that there was a romantic love behind--"

"Because that was no illusion," he said in a rush as the doors opened, letting you enter the room with a carefree smile on your face that tore at the god's heart even more. He took this moment to commit that smile to memory; it may very well be the last time he would ever see you so happy around him.

The god watched with his heart pounding violently in his chest as various emotions colored your features in rapid succession. From the playful jesting smirk that he'd grown so fond of, to concern when you thought that your grandfather had fallen ill, to a mix of curiosity and confusion when he'd begun to explain the traditions of the days of his father Bor and his grandfather Buri and his father before him.

And ultimately how your features softened as you reassured him that the Realms need only more time to acclimate to the new ways that his marrying of your grandmother set into motion. Loki could see in your eyes the level of determination, the steadfast belief, that Asgard along with the other Realms would come to realize that this was the right way to move forward.

"You abolished an archaic practice in order to wed for love; any man, woman, and child in their correct faculties should understand that," you addressed them all, your words firm and yet your tone gentle, soothing even. Especially as you finished off your statement with misty optimistic eyes. "To wed for love is everyone's dream."

He couldn't help himself. "I know it's mine," the god muttered, causing you to turn your gaze at him, pointing his way.

"He gets it," you said with a demonstrative smirk. Oh, Little Princess, if only you knew the weight behind those words, he thought, trying his damnedest not to sigh. This exchange was far from over; you hadn't even begun to get into the horror of it all.

And yet he couldn't help but return that sly little grin of yours with one of his own, fighting back his tears as he tried to commit every fraction of a moment that he could to memory. Before you would come to know the truth of why these traditions were being told to you now. Before knowing of his affections.

Before your relationship with him would shatter, and he would have to go on the rest of his days with whatever was built out of the rubble.

Before all of that, he would relish in that final time that you looked upon him with fondness, smiling at him as if you two were co-conspirators, and scrunching your nose at him.

That moment was far too short lived, being broken so abruptly by Odin clearing his throat and calling your attention back to the matter at hand, and effectively hurrying along the closing of this chapter of yours and Loki's story. Whatever happens now, you must commit, he told himself. No matter what she says in return, the only thing that matters is you have ensured her safety.

"Y/N, in order to have done so, I had to accept a new tradition proposed to me by my predecessor. My father. This tradition being that if I were to have more than one heir, determining who would succeed me would involve…permanent consequences."

Your neck tensed visibly upon hearing those words. You needn't any more explanation for what your grandfather said, but Thor spoke and offered it anyway. "A duel."

It was almost as if Loki could hear your heart splinter apart as you repeated the words. "A duel?" Your eyes darted between him and your father frantically, searching for even a shred of reassurance that somehow you understood wrong. Grasping for straws you knew didn't exist. "You would have to kill one another?"

The only shred of reprieve that the god felt in this moment was that at least Odin sounded even the slightest bit remorseful over having to relay this information to you. "Or one would have to yield," he confirmed.

Your face contorted into an expression of rage and incredulity. "That is barbaric, Grandfather!" you seethed, chest heaving as the muscles in your neck tensed with every sharp inhale. "What could have possibly been worse than this that it had to be abolished?"

"Y/N, before Odin's rule, our ancestry sought to keep its lineage…pure, as they would call it," Thor nearly spat out the words. Even from this distance, Loki could see that his brother was stubbornly fighting against the inevitable. That soon enough there would be a wedding that served as amalgamation of the ancient traditions and the traditions that Odin accepted in turn for Frigga's hand. "That is how the faith of the people was ensured. That the realms would be ruled with the most reliable individuals alive, passed down from generation to generation. Our generations. Pure, meaning--"

"Now now, Brother," Loki interjected, hearing how the blond prince was already choking on the words. "Let Y/N come to the conclusions herself. Have faith in her knowledge of the words." He looked to you, giving you a somber smile and a single nod. Turn the page, Little Princess.

From the way you'd looked down and your eyes began to dart back and forth as if you were scanning the pages of a book visible only to you, he already knew that you were finding your way to the contentious truth of your ancestry. "Pure," you said the word slowly, as if it tasted foreign on your tongue. "Untainted?" You looked to everyone in the room; Loki regretfully gave you a nod to keep going. "Untainted…by others? Untainted by other realms." You'd begun to seethe again, fists clenched so tightly to your sides that your knuckles began to lighten. "By other lineages, am I getting warmer?"

"Yes, Granddaughter," Odin answered. Loki couldn't quite place the reason behind the veiled anguish in his father's tone.

Was it truly out of dread on your behalf that this exchange would inevitably and effectively sign your life away? Or was it for something more underhanded? Was it because this exchange would not allow him to see the day of that duel he seemed so piqued to come to fruition?

"This was once the tradition of our family. I was arranged to be betrothed to my father's sister's cousin before I met your grandmother. Had I accepted, all our lives might have turned out quite differently."

Your response, the way your nose turned up in a clear show of repugnance, painted a cold and sobering picture of how the rest of this conversation -- and quite possibly your lives together -- would play out. "Grandfather, that's incest," you spat out, the corner of your top lip curled up in disgust now as well.

Would you be just as repulsed, he wondered, once you knew that this was the kind of love he'd held for you? For all this time?

Would you ever look at him again with the joyful gleam in your eyes that warmed his heart whenever you were in the same room together? Or would he have to settle with at least a look of neutrality? A life of forced pursed and tight-lipped smiles when out among the denizens of the realm, only to have sneers and crushing solitude behind closed doors?

Would you even agree to his surrender? Or would you rather see him lose the duel at the hands of your father, so you could be rid of his lecherous ways? Could you be so cold?

"Now do you understand why this barbaric tradition was placed, Daughter?" Thor asked you, his own fists clenched on the table, as if bracing himself for whatever answer may come from you. And whatever questions you had to follow.

You nodded at him, slowly, as if the sinking realization weighed you down tremendously. "But one of you would perish, at the hand of your brother," you answered weakly, before your head shot up once more, looking your father in the eye, a new epiphany making itself clear in your mind. "Is this why you and Mother chose to not have children after me?"

Tears fell from your eyes, undoubtably mourning the loss of a life you'd never lived, one where you got to grow and play and roam the Realms with sisters, or perhaps train with brothers.

"So that you would never have to carry that burden, my dear child," the blond answered you, his voice strained, audibly struggling with tears he fought not to shed. "I would never place that burden on your shoulders."

You shut your eyes tight, your trembling form forcing Loki to fight the urge to walk over to you, to wrap you in his arms and help you to calm yourself. He could almost see the images flashing through your mind now, assessing what the outcome would be of the duel, imagining the horror you would have to watch unfold. Bracing yourself for grief.

And suddenly the grieving girl was gone, replaced by a version of you that oozed with the calculating composure he'd only seen one other time, when you were actively processing the betrayal of one of your closest friends. You righted yourself, standing upright with your shoulders squared, arms behind your back. "Well I wish you both the best of luck."

For a fraction of a moment, your eyes darted to his, the sheer heartbreak in them steadily tearing away at his resolve. You were bidding him goodbye. You would probably wish you could once everything was laid out.

Odin cleared his throat, his posture now mirroring Thor's, bracing himself for the next few moments. "That's why we called you here, Y/N. Loki has relinquished his claim to the throne. Your father is now my sole heir, if certain terms are to be accepted."

Relief painted your features at those words, the smile threatening to break across your face worsening the guilt in Loki's heart. "What terms?" you asked all too eagerly.

Your brows knitted together at the sigh that came from your grandfather before answering your question. Then you became visibly crestfallen at his next words. At what terms Loki asked for to secure his surrender. "That we restore the archaic tradition. To fortify the people's respect in our lineage once more."

It wouldn't take you long to mentally catalog the unwed women in your family. You were the only one. You shook your head, clutching on to denial like it was your last remaining lifeline. "No…you couldn't possibly mean--" Your eyes darted sharply to your father's, now seeing the mix of horror and surrender in them and knowing that he agreed to this. After all, he was the one that called for you. "You would wed me--?"

Not one of them dared to answer you. You didn't them to. You already had your answers laid out as if in plain text. Anger seeped into your features, your own fists clenching on the table.

Loki understood why you would lean towards this emotion first. You wanted to marry for love; you'd said it enough times you seemed so tired of having to repeat yourself time and time again. And yet, here you were, with that desire being stripped of you all in the name of avoiding a horrendous fatal duel.

It wouldn't even cross your mind in the slightest that that would have been the farthest thing from Loki's mind when he offered this trade.

"You signed my life away,"  you seethed at your father, baring your teeth as if you were ready to take him on in a fight with your bare hands. "You purloined from me the opportunity to wed for love. And you--"

Ice ran through Loki's veins at the accusatory look you gave him.

"You squandered yours," you said more softly than he expected. As if you hurt for him, too. You knew he, too, wished to marry for love and only for love. "Why?"

His heart pounded violently in his chest, bracing himself for what was to come. What hateful words could potentially spew from your mouth as he ripped what denial you clung to. I'm so sorry it had to be this way, Little Princess.

"No," he said, standing from his seat, heart twisting once your eyes widened at that simple word. "I didn't."

A/N: Ohh god here we go…we have the Season 1 Finale up next and goddamn finally we're here. That only took me forever and a day 🤪 I can't wait to get into the events of Season 2. I can only tell y'all now that I don't have a definite number of "episodes" planned yet, but I have the broad strokes. Like I can confirm that the wedding will happen in Season 2…and that's about it 😂

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[spirantization]

I'm surprised at the hate that Sokka's character arc from NATLA is receiving. To me, Sokka's development and characterization was one of the strongest adaptations the series made.

In the original ATLA, Sokka's character arc revolves around him unlearning his own misogyny. He makes pointedly sexist comments throughout the early episodes like "Leave it to a girl to screw things up!", "There's no way a bunch of girls took us down!", etc.

Sokka's comments have a strong narrative purpose: they give a platform for women in the show (Katara & Suki mostly) to refute his attitude. Katara emphasizes traditional "women's work" (cleaning, cooking, sewing, etc), which forces Sokka to confront its inherent value. Suki is able to prove to him that women can fight too and he learns to respect female warriors. It's a great character arc and it's well-executed.

It's also characterization that is in direct response to the culture and feminism of the 90s and early 00s. The representation of women in the media at that time was...oof. It was not great. One-dimensional love interests whose only purpose is being saved by the male protagonist, mostly. Female protagonists were not as common, and certainly not ones who were depicted as being able to fight, and certainly not in cartoons. Female protagonists in animation were almost exclusively princesses.

ATLA was progressive in this regard. Katara was a complex female character in a time when there were not a lot of them, in media in general but especially in animation and kid's shows. (I grew up in the 90s; there were no characters like Katara in animation on screen for me.) ATLA incorporated the zeitgeist directly into the story, which is why we have Sokka learning to overcome his sexism in his interactions with Strong Female Characters.

If you go back and watch the original cartoon now, Sokka's sexism feels a bit dated. It's a very 90s, Girl Power, "girls can fight too" style of social commentary. It doesn't match with the media landscape of today. We've got 20 years of media with female superheroes behind us. If your message is "girls can fight too!" the response for the most part is going to be "yes, we know that. And?"

So imagine you're adapting the original ATLA for a live-action remake. You want to keep Sokka's character arc intact, but you want to update it for the 2020s. So what do you do? You look at the conversations that are happening today.

The 90s were about "girls can do everything boys can do", but the 20s are over that. The conversation is more about gender: gender expression, gender roles, gender dynamics. What does is mean to be a woman? What does it mean to be a man?

Sokka's character arc in NATLA is focused on this question: What does it mean to be a man? At the beginning of the series, it's his identity as a warrior that defines him. He needs to be the warrior, the protector, the leader. He's constantly trying to reaffirm this part of his identity, and it's completely tied up in his perception of his value as a man. Instead of his interactions with Suki being about "how could girls possibly be warriors", it shifts to Sokka saying "I'm ALSO a warrior" and trying to justify that to Suki (and mostly himself).

His arc over the series is about him accepting other aspects of himself and relearning how to define his masculinity. He can still have value as man without being the greatest warrior. He can still have value as a man by using his skills as an engineer. He can still have value as a man by offering compassion and kindness to others, like the little girl with the doll & Yue in her final moments. Instead of rigidly defining himself by a specific set of gender roles & expectations, he learns how to define himself through his own strengths and qualities.

I know there are a lot of people who are upset at this change to Sokka's characterization, and the most common thing I see is that it results in changes to Katara's character and her anger in response to Sokka's comments. I think there are valid criticisms to be made about how the show handled the adaptation of Katara's character, but I won't go there with this. In terms of Sokka and his characterization, it was well-done and thematically consistent with the original. It's not an exact port, and it never needed to be. It's still a feminist arc that centres on unlearning harmful misogynistic worldviews, but the focus has shifted from external (roles of women) to internal (his role as a man). And his journey is one that people would benefit from seeing represented.

[walkingstackofbooks]

Frankly, there should have been some sort of required explanatory paperwork and consent forms in DBIP - besides Zimmerman contacting Julian's parents, it always bothers me that everything else Julian has to do seems to just come up as they're going, and honestly, I'm not sure Julian would have agreed if he'd been given any forewarning on what it would all include.

(I mean quite honestly he's barely enthusiastic about any of it, and I kind of feel that if he hadn't felt that he *had* to given Zimmerman had already showed up on the station and launched into the "chance of a lifetime" spiel, he might well have declined even if he could have opted out of the parents thing.)

But I digress. The point is, what if Dr Zimmermann did email Julian the forms to sign off on - just, while Julian was in the Dominion Camp. And the changeling impersonator simply deleted the email (well, emails plural) because it was irrelevant.

So then you've got Zimmerman getting impatient to start his project (it's bad enough he has to model it on someone else, let alone waiting for them to even grace him with a reply) until eventually he decides oh fuck it, I'll just forge his signature to send to my superiors, it's not like he's going to refuse once I've explained in person.

And then it just... never comes up. No-one asks and he certainly doesn't feel the need to ask why Bashir had ignored him (and maybe he does overhear something about camp 371, which means he's definitely not going to bring the missing email up) and then by time anyone might have thought to question his ethics, if Julian ever did mention that he'd explicitly asked for Zimmerman to avoid his parents or what have you, the whole enhancements thing will have come out and it would probably just seem like Julian was being, idk, petty, if he ever tried to bring it up to the powers-that-be. Not that I think he would. But you know, even if a friend did try to persuade him, I can't see that approach bearing fruit.

And ugh, I'm just so angry on his behalf, because while the way it worked out was probably actually better in the long run than him keeping his secret forever/it coming out in some way where that plea deal wasn't able to be made, I'd really like Zimmerman to have faced SOME repercussions more than just, y'know, not getting with Leeta. (Not to downplay the that Rom, my hero, made to this episode of course. Thanks, Rom, for your service. You had the greatest of timings)

[space-manatees]

He was just a humble preacher's son. And yes, he had his demons, but they never stopped him from searching for beauty. Because when you find beauty, you find inspiration. If, that is, you stay as determined as Vincent. Never stop, no matter how many failures. When you know you're doing what you're meant to do, you have to try.

Ted Lasso, Season 3 Episode 6, Sunflowers

Van Gogh is the finest painter of them all. Certainly, the most popular great painter of all time. The most beloved. His command of colour, the most magnificent. He transformed the pain of his tormented life into ecstatic beauty. Pain is easy to portray, but to use your passion and pain to portray the ecstasy and joy and magnificence of our world. No one had ever done it before. Perhaps no one ever will again. To my mind, that strange, wild man who roamed the fields of Provence was not only the world's greatest artist, but also one of the greatest men who ever lived.

Doctor Who, Season 5 Episode 10, Vincent and the Doctor