#having a dream thieves moment like i actually feel unwell

[pygmypouter]

the second secret was perfect in its concealment. ronan did not say it. ronan did not think it.

[botlabyrinth]

OKAY PERCY JACKSON EPISODE 6 THOUGHTS (long post)

i was definitely a bit weary of the big changes: the fact that the summer solstice deadline passed and that percy gets 4 pearls. but after thinking about it for a while i think im actually okay with it!! first of all, its making the show interesting for book readers bc they caught me off guard and now we don’t 100% know how it’s going to play out lol

but also, i like that the deadline passing raises the stakes a bit more. the fact that percy still wants to go get the bolt from the underworld, just shows how committed he’s become to the actual goal of the quest and starting to embrace his demigod side. and it’s going to make his trip to olympus at the end so much riskier & dangerous considering a whole war is literally about to start. so im okay with this

and then the 4 pearls: i still don’t think they’re going to be able to take sally with them out of the underworld. something is definitely going to happen to 1 of the pearls, it’s going to get lost in the chaos of them making it to hades’ palace or SOMETHING because a big part of the prophecy is “fail to save what matters most in the end”. they have to leave sally behind and i think it’s going to be so much more heartbreaking that percy HAD 4 pearls and HAD the chance to save his mom but they lost 1 along the way so then they’ll have to make the tough decision and TRULY fail to save what matters most… bc in the book it’s not even really an option since he only gets 3 pearls

obviously i could be wrong about that lol but i don’t think there’s any way they don’t leave sally behind because she’s not there on the beach when they’re about to fight ares, which is where they are directly after the underworld (unless they’ve switched the order around but idk how that would work)

other than that I LOVED EVERYTHING with the trio, the bestieism continues and i love it. you can really see the shift in percy and annabeth’s dynamic after the last episode it’s so cute. the little grover and percy moments were so sweet too, their convos felt RIGHT out of the books to me. also MORE SEAWEED BRAIN AND WISE GIRL!!!

LOVE the dream sequence bc it felt so book accurate, we do get a lot of percy witnessing other people’s convos through his dreams and this is the first time we’ve seen it in the show, it was great

luke immediately jumping at the chance to blame clarisse for stealing the bolt in the iris message lol im laughing

more luke/annabeth sibling set up AND hermes and may and luke backstory set up??? i was NOT expecting that so early on but im deeply obsessed

the whole hermes situation was also great… i can’t believe it but i liked LMM’s performance?? i think he sold it really well. again im so excited to be getting these convos about hermes and luke so early on because it is such a key part to the end of the series.

the conversation with percy and the nereid and the way percy reacts to thinking the quest failed??? the way he refuses to give up?? the nereid saying they all see so much of poseidon in him??? i’m unwell

crying at annabeth pick pocketing hermes, the literal god of thieves, that’s my girl fr

the entire cab driving sequence was just so funny. peak comedy, and brought some lightheartedness to the episode that i think was very needed. the new yorker in percy really came out in that scene lmao

there was just SO MANY hilarious moments of dialogue and jokes between the trio i feel like this episode captured the essence of their dynamic from the books so well

overall LOVED it, wish it was longer, and i’m curious to see how they finish it off in the next 2 episodes. i’m trying my best to hold back the criticism for any changes until we’ve seen the whole season, because i think most complaints people have from this ep will probably just be fixed or addressed in the next 2 lol

[quinn-of-aebradore]

Rewatched my recording of Rowen's epilogue party today for fun and promptly got knocked out with emotion by her conversation with Gale again, so I figured I might as well inflict that on y'all :3

Their conversation opened with a hug, which is in this post, it's very cute, and then Gale talks about teaching for a bit, prompting this:

Which is wonderful and lovely! Rowen's looking at him so fondly, which makes sense given that their little magic lesson was the first time anyone had ever "properly" taught her magic! She was a scrappy little thieves guild kid who taught herself, after all. So of course she tells him he's an excellent teacher.

Of course she does, given the above. And then-

This look, coupled with that line and the fact that Rowen imagined going on a romantic walk with him during that moment? And that very soon after, he told her about Mystra and she promptly pulled away and that was that? Heartbreaking.

And he follows it up by complimenting her! He knows very well by now that Rowen in that moment had never been formally educated in magic like he was and he's telling her she was already incredible from her own efforts! This man is still so smitten. And then he redirects, back to his students before asking-

Gods, how conflicted I (and Rowen) felt about answering this. Everyone she's talked to so far, when they've asked (and the option was there), she's mentioned Astarion and how happy they are. But with Gale, after they've just danced around the "what could've been" aspect of their relationship, it would feel like rubbing salt in a wound to not only do that, but call Astarion the love of her life, wouldn't it?

So, wizard-exclusive option four it was.

Look at this man's face! Oh my god. Granted I didn't manage to get the best screenshot of it, I was fighting the video player's progress bar a bit, but I swear. He is so fucking fond. I'm unwell about it.

And then!!! He goes from So Damn Fond to "I can't stop talking about you" "I've told my students all about you. You should come teach with me." He has it so bad, my heart hurts.

This is very much Rowen's Worry Incarnate face but let me tell you. When I heard that Gale becomes a professor in his non-god ending, I immediately headcanoned that he brings Rowen in as a guest lecturer, not knowing that he actually makes that offer. Because he knows her history, he knows how much something like that would mean to her. That even though she's grown so much from her state of feeling constantly inferior to everyone when they met, that having her skill as a wizard legitimized in that way is a dream come true. So that's not a look of worry on her face, really. That's "I am holding back tears".

And then below that, there's the layer of "I've missed you, here's a way we can spend time together that I know you won't decline". Not in a manipulative way, obviously, he knows she's happy and he wouldn't begrudge her of that in a million years. Regardless of their relationship being platonic or romantic or anything in between, Rowen's his closest friend who he can truly talk about magic with and it's the same for Rowen! And in the end, even with the heartache that is there, that's what their foundation is and that's what matters.

[theartistknownaslymond]

Oh also I can’t remember if I asked, but maybe an Oonagh playlist if you’d like? (Lmk if I’m requesting too many of these haha)

Not at all! Love getting these asks :D And this one was waaaaay too fun, I could have kept adding things forever. Managed to wrestle it down to 15 tracks...

Hard-wrought with Unleashed Storms - a playlist for Oonagh O'Dwyer in the band AU (link to Spotify)

The Dubliners - Óró Sé Do Bheatha' Bhaile

David Bowie - Oh! You Pretty Things

Gang of Four - We Live As We Dream, Alone

Grace Jones - Nipple to the Bottle

Cocteau Twins - The Spangle Maker

Carpenters - Ticket to Ride

Horslips - Hall of Mirrors

David Sylvian - When Poets Dreamed of Angels

Shriekback - The Big Hush

The Cure - Pictures of You

The Velvet Underground & Nico - All Tomorrow's Parties

Shakespeares Sister - Red Rocket

PJ Harvey - Sheela-na-gig

Kraftwerk - Das Model

Melissa Etheridge - Come to My Window

Comments below the cut. CW for discussion of domestic violence, EDs, you know...Oonagh stuff.

We begin with an Irish rebel song, of course. When you can also translate the opening lines as 'Welcome oh woman who was so afflicted, / It was our ruin that you were in bondage, / Our fine land in the possession of thieves… / And you sold to the foreigners!' I think we can safely call this an Oonagh song on every level.

Oh! You Pretty Things is early Bowie from Oonagh's modelling days, having a blast with her friends, living a life her family thoroughly disapproves of, and doing her bit to arm the nationalists on the side.

The Gang of Four track just makes me think of Oonagh's spikiness and cynicism, the way she throws herself into making money from her career and Cormac just doesn't believe she can really be doing that well from such a silly job - though he's happy to spend her earnings just the same. Then Nipple to the Bottle is another song about her and Cormac, alcoholism and dv, her defiance, plus Grace Jones has the kind of career Oonagh thinks she would love. And yes, I realise the song is actually about the breast vs bottle-feeding debate. But I suppose Oonagh probably has strong feelings about not being able to feed Cai herself given how unwell she becomes under Gabriel's care on the ashram, so it fits either way.

The Cocteau Twins track is just so sinister, very Berlin (QP) Oonagh, about both Cormac and Gabriel (though she doesn't know it about the latter yet). Ticket to Ride is her escape to the ashram (and yes I am deeply annoyed Karen Carpenter changed the pronouns, because it's Oonagh leaving, not Cormac), sad but at peace, and Oonagh is doubtless well aware that Karen Carpenter is battling with severe ed just like her. Horslips are another Irish band Oonagh would be fond of, and Hall of Mirrors covers everything from modelling and dysmorphia to the gas-lighting of Cormac and Gabriel. Eerily, the carnival music in the background reminds me a lot of Ticket to Ride, too.

The David Sylvian track is another one that covers her relationship with Cormac, her aunt Therese's deliberate ignoring of Cormac's violence because he's a poet and a 'great man' and the fact she puts up with him for so long for 'the cause' as well. Just imagine Francis playing a cover of this (it's a bit late, really, '88 I think, but go with it) and Oonagh raging in the audience at his audacity, but also being kind of moved that he's noticed and cares.

Softly explore each hallway and room

Like a thief in a haunted house

You never know what you will meet next

A monster or a mouse?

It's time to face up to yourself

Come and watch your head distort

This one's interesting

Shows a crack right through your heart

Then the Shriekback song is one I chose first because of the sound - it's exactly the sound Oonagh wants to cultivate in her break-through, and when she and Thady Boy sing it's precisely this kind of thing. The lyrics don't hurt either, mind:

She rises early from bed

Runs to the mirror

The bruises inflicted in moments of fury

He kneels beside her once more

Whispers a promise

"Next time I'll break every bone in your body"

And the well-wishers let the devil in

And if the river ran dry they'd deny it happening

Pictures of You is for Oonagh reflecting on her modelling career, reclaiming her identity and what she likes about herself. Musically I think she's really into early goth like The Cure.

Is there a flame in the dark?

Is there a bright hard star?

These creatures look the same now

We freeze wherever we are

We wake alone in the blackness

We sleep wherever we fall

One dream all around us

This big hush infects us all

All Tomorrow's Parties is one I had on the mini-playlist for Oonagh ages ago and it's just too her not to put it on here (see also Kraftwerk, Das Model). Definite Nico vibes to her brief attempt to get into pop-stardom, and she, too, has a quirky voice rather than a, uh, good one for singing.

Shakespeares Sister - Red Rocket is a bit of fun from a great Irish artist, but it's also a bit about the ashram:

And then oh, if I could draw, I would draw Oonagh and Marthe going absolutely ape-shit in the crowd as PJ Harvey sings Sheela-na-gig - reclaiming sexuality and Irishness and autonomy and just 'washing that man right outta my hair'. Finally, Come to My Window is also for Them - early '90s lesbian chart domination!! They deserve it.

Life's a bitch then you die

No more dancing in the sky

Part on another star

You can't get there in a car

Find a new religion

Going on a mission

Making a decision

To face my soul

[elisha-am]

For Newt's birthday (Feb.24th)

He should know better this day will come.

At first, it was how she seemed a bit distracted when she talked to him. Her eyes would shift away from him, and stared blankly at anywhere but him until he called her name.

And then she started to brush him off, made little excuses to end their conversation then hurried away to Merlin knows where. She always apologizes when she does, but it began to feel less and less heartfelt.

Now she is avoiding him if she can. Like a skeptical beast, leaving the moment he comes near her. There’s one time she even apparated away when she caught a glance of him.

It’s not unusual that he goes to bed and wakes alone giving her hectic working hours, but it’s getting more and more.

He knows what this means. Deep down, he’s been waiting for this moment to come since they met.

Tina is tired of him. People always do.

And he realizes that he is hurt. He should be used to it, but all he feels is hurt and betrayed.

Because he thought Tina was different. For the first in his life, she was the one who understood.

His vision, his struggle, his heart.

He gave it all to her when he gave her the ring. She accepted it all and promised to stay.

Apparently, it’s just one another unrealistic dream of his.

He drags his feet through the door into their house, dark and lifeless. The dreadfulness from the day at his publisher is just another weight.

He removes his coat and scarf, sets his case down absently at the door.

He hears the nifflers squeaking, followed by someone scolding at them for pawing the shine when he walks past the doorway leads to the basement.

Weird. He remembers he specifically told Bunty not to come to work today.

A hand on his wand, he walks down the stairs.

What he sees is Tina fending off the family of nifflers from a small table, where two sets of silver tableware and a bronze candle holder are, in the middle of the basement

What is that for?

“Uh-uh, no. Don’t even think about it. Please behave. This is important to me. “ He watches her pulls out five coins and hands it to each one of them. “ If you be good and go back to your nest now, I’ll give you one more, okay?”

Those pesky little thieves squeak few more but eventually climbs down the table and back to their nest with their new collection.

“You will spoil them.”

Tina whips around to face him, seems a little flustered, then she gives him a shy smile.

“Newt! You are home.”

Merlin helps him, she is so beautiful. 

His beautiful, beautiful wife.

How can he live on if she decides to leave him?

His pain must shows on his face because she rushes to him and cups his face with her hands.

“Newt, are you alright? Are you feeling unwell?”

“No.” 

“ ’No, you are not alright’ or ‘No you are not feeling unwell’? ” 

All he can focus on is her cool fingers caressing his cheeks and her low chuckle laced with worried. Worried for him. 

“Please don’t do this, Tina.” Don’t go. “ You don’t have to let me down easy. You can just tell me if you don’t want to be with me anymore. I will accept that. ” Her fingers stop and he gently grabs her wrists and pulls them off his face.

“What? Why do you say that?” She frowns so deeply that he thinks her browns might fuse together.

“Be- Because you, you’ve been avoiding me?” He averts his eyes, not out of habit but being afraid of her answer.

He hears her gasps and then feels her hands on his face again.  

“Newt, look at me, please?” He can never refuse her when she pleads, can’t he? 

“I’’ll never leave you, Newt Scamander. I’m sorry, Newt, I didn’t meant to make you feel that way.” She continues when he does as she ask. " I just want to surprise you.”

“S-Surprise me?”

She takes his hand and walks toward the small table. He notices there’s a trolley with dishes and a small cake.

“It’s your birthday. So I was planing a kind of surprise dinner. And growing up with a Legilimen you kind of learn that the best way to keep a surprise is minimum the contact.” 

He can feel the dark cloud hanging over his head for days slowly scatters away.

“My, My birthday?”

“Yes, it’s today, don’t tell me you forget your own birthday?” She chuckles in amusement.

“It’s just I don’t normally celebrate my birthday, at least after I was out of Hogwarts.” He smiles sheepish. 

“Oh, Newt. I should do this years ago if I know, but with Grindelwald and the war coming —— " 

"Tina, it’s fine, I don’t really mind.” He brings their still joint hands up and kisses hers.

“And here I am making you feel ignored and unwanted. I’m really sorry. ” She lowers her head smiles guiltily. 

“No, Tina, I’m just glad that I’m wrong. Maybe I should try not to jump to conclusion next time.” He leans in for a kiss and she gives him. “ You say something about dinner?”

“Oh, yes, I have some help from Queenie and Jacob, they send their ‘Happy Birthday’ with the strudel and the cake.”

After they settle down, she reaches across the table and grabs his hands.

"Um, there’s actually another reason why I’ve been , um, avoiding you. I have something I don’t know how to tell you.” She frees one hand to reach the water glass for a sip.

Her continued silence is making him nervous, so he squeezes her hand as encouraging. 

“You can tell me anything, love.”

“Okay,” she takes in a breath, “I’m pregnant.”

Happy birthday, Newt ;-)