#her and bertha are just so lovely together

[fuckyeah-dragrace]

soa is how i greet everyone oml "hello my caucasians!!"

[m30wk1ttycat]

i love you

pairing: brenda x fem!reader

tw: none, just brenda being drunk :3

summary: car ride with brenda, jorge, and the others.

i wanted to post this earlier, but i lowk forgot. SORRY.

you and the others went looking for brenda and thomas. every single person there was stumbling, struggling to even stand on their two feet without having to hold onto something.

and, apparently, brenda wasn't much different.

"y/n!" she hummed, lazily wrapping an arm around you in a side hug. you weren't sure if she was doing it to support her weight or if this was her new way of greeting you, but you guessed it was the former.

"hey, bren." you gave her a smile, as if that would hide the worry you felt when you couldn't find the brunet. "where's thomas?"

she pointed towards a boy in the crowd of people, already being held up by newt and minho who had managed to find him.

"great," you huffed. now you had to find your way back.

⛧

after what felt like hours of watching jorge beat up the dude in the fancy suit -- who turned out to be marcus -- you were finally on the way to the right arm. jorge was driving, of course, and the rest of you were sitting in the back, chatting.

brenda was playing with your rings, twisting and spinning them, still in some sort of a daze. you could barely manage to get a non-slurred word out of her, so, instead, you let her toy with your hands in silence while you talked to the others, trying to get to know them. if you were gonna be stuck together in this cramped car -- that was called 'bertha' for some very odd reason -- why not at least try to learn more about them?

"ew," you said in response when minho mentioned the stew incident. apparently, some chicken had gone bad, and frypan didn't notice it. the poor gladers ate stew with spoiled chicken meat, and ended up suffering with food poisoning. now that? that sounded disgusting.

"i know, and the sloppers had to clean to clean the toilets," minho continued, newt beside him looking like he was having war flashbacks. almost as if he was the one who had to clean those toilets -- which he didn't, since he was the second-in-command, and a gardener. but damn, that sounded like a nightmare, and judging by the blond's face, it was, indeed, a nightmare.

"i feel bad for them," you chuckled.

meanwhile, brenda was looking at your hands, shifting them and angling them so she could look at the rings. in her defense, those rings looked really fucking cool.

you felt her intertwine her fingers with yours, and she shifted in your lap, holding your joined hands to her chest. you wanted to ask her if she was okay, but clearly, she wasn't. whatever it was that she was offered at the 'party', she looked very much out of it.

"i love you," she all but whispered, looking up at you for a second. then, she turned away, mumbling, "you're a nice girl, i don't tell you that enough."

barely focusing on her words, you didn't think much of her half-murmur until your brain finally registered what she said. you felt your cheeks warm up at the new information. your best friend loved you? she was drunk, though, so she probably didn't mean it.

but what if she did?

what was that one saying? drunk words, sober thoughts?

nah, you were overthinking it. she's drunk. or maybe high, you weren't even sure what the hell she took at that party.

gulping, you looked down at her.

"love you too, bren," you said after you calmed down.

this was.. unexpected. but a nice sort of unexpected.

now you just had to pray that jorge didn't hear your exchange of 'i love yous' or he'd probably shoot you dead.

[ash5monster01]

Perfect to Love

Pairing: Steve Harrington x FemReader!PlusSize

Warnings: fluff, mentions of bullying, body image issues, fat shaming, angst, trust issues.

Summary: Beth Walker was used to living in the shadows. She had only one friend and anyone else who paid her mind usually bullied her for her size. So she learned to keep her mouth shut, her head down, and her heart closed because she had to accept the fact that she would be nothing more than the fat girl to people. That is until Robin decides Beth needs more in life and that might just include a boy who she never would’ve thought could see her for who she truly was.

word count: 1,326

→ Part 1

Masterlist

"Bertha!" chuckles from teenage boys followed the sneer that came from Colin Matterson's mouth, football captain, and all around douche. Beth recoiled into her self as heads turned to look at her and her peers chuckled. People thought they were clever adding two little letters to her name, instead they were just mean.

"Eat shit Matterson!" Robin stood and yelled to which the boy just brushed off and continued on his way to a seat in the bleachers. Beth felt her breaths coming out in heavy paces but she appreciated Robin for sticking up for her. "Don't listen to him Beth, he's an asshole"

"You know I ignore him" Beth told her, adjusting the strap to her marching band helmet. Robin took notice of how her flute trembled in her hand despite the tough facade she was putting on.

"Still Beth, people like him aren't going to matter by the end of the year" Vickie piped in. Ever since the three had been placed beside each other in the line up they had gotten to know each other. They also learned that Beth was super cool despite being silent most of the time. Things used to not be so bad until Barb Holland passed away, leaving her to be the only bigger girl left in their grade.

"I know, just hurts that he's right" both girls instantly gave offended looks, quickly muttering off how she was one of the most prettiest girls they knew but sometimes those comments didn't hold a lot of weight opposed to the mean ones. Beth knew it was wrong to not think her friends were sincere but if Colin Matterson was the one calling her beautiful things would be a bit different. Being seen at all by somebody new would be different.

"Beth nobody is perfect and you in comparison to Colin Matterson is a thousand times better and I mean it. You have more personality and good qualities in your pinky finger than he does all together" Beth offered a smile because a small part of her knew she was right. Yet after years of opposite comments there was still a small part of her that believed Robin was just saying it to make her feel better.

"Thanks Rob" but Robin knew she still didn’t get through to the girl and that thought frustrated her more than anything. Beth deserved to be seen for the amazing person she was, somebody like that shouldn’t have to hide from the world because of some stupid standard of beauty. It pissed Robin off to no end especially when she knew if Beth looked how people thought she should look she would be the most popular girl in school.

Robin kept this in mind throughout the entirety of the pep rally, walking Beth to her car, and waiting for Steve to pick her up. She was frustrated not only trying to find a way for others to see how amazing Beth was but for Beth to see herself as such. Robin knew what hating yourself could be like, it took years for her to accept being gay. Some things you can’t change and the sooner you learn to accept them the happier you’ll be. Yet since she couldn’t come up with a sure fire way she continued to be frustrated.

“What’s with you?” Robing looked up from the returns she was stacking to see Steve leaned against the counter giving her a confused look.

“What do you mean?” she asked and he quickly chuckled, a shake of his head swaying some stray hairs loose.

“You’ve barely said a word since we’ve gotten here. Normally you’re going on and on about how cute Vickie was at band practice today. You being quiet is weird” Steve told her and Robin finally sighed, falling against the counter like she had finally given up.

“It’s Beth” Steve rose his eyebrows in a suggestive way and Robin shook her head against the counter top, a sign that it wasn’t like he thought.

“Beth Walker, you remember her?” Robin asked and Steve shook his head which only caused Robin to sigh harder.

“She’s my friend and easily the sweetest girl on this planet but she gets terrorized at school, she doesn’t even know how cool she is because of how terrible to other students are to her” Robin explained and Steve suddenly felt guilty for not knowing her despite being a grade ahead.

“Why are they bullying her?” Steve asked, curious as to what reason someone would have to treat a sweet girl badly.

“She’s bigger, kinda like Barb but shorter. They call her Bertha” Steve cringed at the mean name, even he could feel the sting of it.

“That’s awful Rob” he told her and she nodded as she lifted her head from the counter.

“It is and Steve she is so great. Like the coolest chick you’d ever meet. She drives a brand new corvette and the kids still treat her like shit” Steve smiled at Robins defense for the girl, the thought comforting him to know she’d do the same for him.

“Have you tried telling her this?” Robin let out a small groan as she started to pick at a stray string on her shirt.

“All the time but I know she doesn’t listen. I can’t blame her though, when the same people keep building you up and hundreds of strangers tear you down it doesn’t do much. That’s a battle meant to be lost” Robin wished that her words could resonate with the girl but the only way they would is if someone like Colin Matterson finally came around and started saying them. Then suddenly it hit her. “You used to be a dick right?”

“Woah, what the hell?” Steve held his hands up and Robin rolled her eyes.

“You know what I mean Steve, you weren’t the best guy back in the day” Robin defended and he dropped his head.

“That’s way harsh Rob, you know I’m not like that anymore” Robin nodded and began to move around the counter to face him.

“Well yeah, you’re super cool now. But guys like Colin Matterson still think you’re King of Hawkins?” Steve thought about it before nodding, he graduated with the Mr. Popular reputation even if he still didn’t feel like he had it.

“Not that I’m proud of it but yeah, those guys all still think I’m hot shit” Steve said as he crossed his arms. “So what’re you getting at?”

“Meet Beth, hang out with her in public, if people see you with her they might realize it’s not her size that matters” Steves eyes widened, totally not seeing where this conversation was going.

“I don’t know Rob-”

“Please Steve, she’s so great. It doesn’t have to be right away, I can bring her to a movie night or something. She just deserves to be seen for who she is and I can’t help her with that but you can” Steve pressed his hand to his eyes, thinking about it for a moment before turning to her.

“One movie night, then I’ll think about it” he told her as he pointed a finger at her and she began to jump and cheer. “You’re something else”

“And you’re the best Steve Harrington, truly” Steve tried to hide his smile but he couldn’t help it as he watched Robin become so happy over the thought that she could help a friend.

If Robin had claimed this girl was so special maybe it was worth a shot. Hell he never even really thought of Barb as big, it was mainly Tommy and Carol that ever bullied people for things like that. Yet he realized he wasn’t much better never even realizing her when he knew most of her grade because of Nancy. The size didn’t matter to him, but if he didn’t like her and started bringing her around wouldn’t that be just like using her?

a/n: if this is a story you guys would be interested in plz let me know, I am also aware I have not finished my Rooster Series yet but I do have the outlines for the remaining chapters so I wanted to get a head start on this. I think the concept would be cute and I’m a sucker for the fact I think Steve Harrington would be all about plus size girls. I think this could be a cute short little series <3

let me know if you want to be added to the tag list

[greenerteacups]

Oooh can you talk more about fashion in Lionheart? I love love Narcissa’s letters to Draco in the beginning, loving him more than tea and champagne and silk pillowcases—the glamour and indulgence of it all!

[rubs hands together] Well. I'm going to take advantage of these asks and go full-indulgence, then.

Since you mentioned Narcissa, I'll run with it: Cissa is always wearing black. Always. Usually she's wearing a gown or elaborate dress, modeled after the Edwardian style; sometimes, a nightgown; and sometimes it's "leathers," which I interpret as some kind of corseted fighting habit with a knee-length skirt and light armoring — in fact, heavily modeled after the outfit that Bellatrix wears in the films, only she'd wear a blouse underneath it (she's not indecent).

The color does a couple of things for her. First, it's obviously a nod to her family. (Sirius, incidentally, also wears black all the time. In fairness, black leather was having kind of a moment in the 90's, and he's a bit of a punk himself, but there's still a parallel there if you want to see it.) Black is also a color of mourning, and Narcissa is someone who lives heavily in the shadow of the past; in her prologue to Book 4, we see that she wakes up in the morning thinking about Andy and Bellatrix, and then has an imaginary conversation with one of her hallucinations while she gets dressed. None of this seems unusual to her. She's quite literally haunted — she's a woman trapped in an old English country estate with only servants and ghosts for company, slowly going mad, while the social order around her crumbles; it's all very Jane Eyre, very Turn of the Screw, very Gothic. It's like if Rochester had died and left the house and Adele to Bertha. And she dresses for the part! When her son rocks up with an unwanted houseguest, she swans down to dinner in white tie! She's saying, yeah, I am that bitch, and you should be intimidated by me, and this is not like the houses you're used to. Say what you want about Narcissa, you can't say she doesn't have panache.

Then you have her hair. I made a conscious decision to tweak the Black sisters' hair from the books, where they all have radically different hair colors and textures, because I wanted to underscore their similarities, not their differences. They're sisters; they grew up together; it's not realistic that some of them Just Are better/sweeter/nicer people, and I don't like what it suggests about the morality of the HP universe if that's how it works. Anyway, so I gave Andy and Bella basically identical hair, and I cribbed Narcissa's hair from the movies, where she has this cool two-tone black-and-white bouffant going on. The thematic reasons for this are (1) it looks sick as fuck, (2) it looks sick as FUCK, and (3) I think there's something really interesting about the idea that Narcissa either chooses to dye her hair to resemble her sisters or dyes it to differentiate herself. Whatever her natural hair color is, she's changed it to try and take control of her relationship to her family/past, and the reasons for that are intriguing.

[olithetalker]

Speculation: Why many people find Ben Florian unlikeable

Okay so just for the record, this is essentially an analysis post on the Disney series - Descendants. Specifically on the character of Ben Florian, but more so about the reception of his character and why I think people have responded to him the way they have. Gonna be fairly longish so yeah. Anyways, hope you enjoy! :)

Introduction

Pretty much ever since I first saw Descendants, I have been a huge fan of Ben. (Which is no secret if you've read my blog ;)). I think Mitchell Hope did a fantastic job with the character, and his performance really drove it home.

So it's always been quite... Confusing to me that so many people don't like his character. Tumblr isn't too anti Ben, but on YouTube videos and on TikTok, a lot of analysis around him is typically quite negative. The charms of the character that I see and that really make the series for me, really don't work on everyone. And that's something I've found very hard to understand.

But as of a conversation I have had with @hannahhook7744.. I had an epiphany. As to why this character just seems to be a breeze of annoyance to many. And I think the answer lies in tropes and expectations.

First let's talk a bit about another character, a fan favourite - Audrey Rose.

What role does the character of Audrey Rose play in feelings of spite toward Ben?

I think most dislike for Ben stems from the story of his ex girlfriend -Audrey. We get shown it to some extent in the first movie, but it's much more explicit in the third.

In Descendants 1, Ben and Audrey were together. And while under the influence of a love spell cast on him by protagonist Mal Bertha, he performs a love song to Mal in front of the entire school. Naturally humiliating Audrey and breaking her heart.

After the performance, Mal and Ben start dating each other, much to Audrey's understandable anger.

The movie ends with Ben and Mal happy together and everyone is delighted about it yada yada. And then we get an entire sequel where Audrey does not make a appearance.

It's then in Descendants 3 that she makes a comeback. We see that she and Ben have been friends since childhood, and that she's still hung up on him.

Then, again publicly, Ben proposes to Mal. Mal happily agrees and everyone is delighted, except of course, Audrey. She is further heartbroken by this.

The devastation Audrey feels from losing Ben to a girl who literally enchanted him, causes her to have a emotionally moving breakdown in her bedroom, singing "Queen of Mean", a song about heartbreak from rejection.... At least that's what it's about at first.

It then turns into a song of vengeance. Audrey swears revenge on Mal and Ben for the ordeal she has been put through. She takes Malificient's sceptre from the Auradon Museum, and it changes her look, style of talking etc etc. She's a new person. A person hellbent on getting even with the two people who are (intentionally or not) responsible for her heartbreak.

And that's where we enter - the tropes.

The Tropes

The kind of character arc Audrey has had is pretty common. A girl gets her heart broken by a guy. Maybe he cheats on her. Maybe he breaks up with her in a unfair manner (like in this case). And the girl decides to get even with the guy and the "other girl" who has taken her place in his life.

Except... Here's the thing.

Most of the time in this story archetype, the guy really is a heartbreaking douchey thob.

I mean think of any time you've seen this storyline other than Descendants. When is the guy who has dismissed the girl ever really portrayed in a decent light?

In this specific situation, it's not that simple. Yes, Ben did break up with Audrey by publicly humiliating her. And yes, that's extremely brutal. But he didn't choose to. He was acting under a mind controlling love spell.

But nonetheless, this is probably the only instance where the guy breaking the girl's heart like that genuinely was not his fault. It's pretty odd to get a situation where the guy cheating on the girl really didn't willingly do anything wrong. But nonetheless that's what this is.

Ultimately 9 times out of 10, the role Ben plays in this archetype storyline really is of the bad guy. And so it is very compelling to see this the same way. To overlook how at least as far as the break up incident itself, Ben was not at fault, and just see him as the jerk who hurt Audrey.

Audrey's story is also relatable to real life stories too

Another thing which sadly does not go in Ben's favour either, is that this kind of story isn't just found in fiction. Art reflects life, and what Audrey is unfortunate to experience, for the most part, is all too real.

Many people are unfortunate to get hurt by their partners in real life through things like cheating, or just something involving a "other girl/woman". And the pain from this.... Is not forgettable.

And so I think a revenge fantasy of hurting the unfaithful person and their new consort is very common.

Add onto that that lines Audrey speaks in D3 are written to be relatable and impactful. ("There's nothing to lose when you're lonely and friendless, I won't let another person take advantage of me, the anger burns my skin third degree, now my blood's boiling hotter than a fiery sea etc)

I think with that, it's all too easy for victims of these sort of situations to project their own case onto Audrey's. To see Ben the same way they see the guy who hurt them. And in some cases, to see Mal as how they see their homewrecker, and perhaps want to see her get hurt by Audrey too.

And in real life, there is no love spell that makes people cheat against their will, like there was for Ben. People in reality who do the thing that Ben did really are responsible for their hurtful actions.

So ultimately, the sorts of real life people Ben is being associated to by viewers, aren't particularly decent.

Also, the revelation that Ben and Audrey are childhood friends just exaggerates all these feelings. The people who have been hurt by partners who actually had significant meaning to them are the ones who will naturally relate to Audrey most. And again, project their own experiences onto this girl and the people in her life.

The mistake Ben DID make; wrong but taken out of proportion

Ultimately, while what Spell!Ben did is the sort of thing that gets done all the time irl, it is also pretty evident that as I keep saying; he wasn't in control of himself when he did it. So for many people, even the ones who can relate to Audrey, that fact will be acknowledged.

But the truth is, there is a mistake Ben made. After the love spell was lifted, Ben never went to see Audrey to comfort her after what happened. No doubt that inaction would have fuelled the already existing heartbreak. I mean if Ben had had a word with her, maybe he could have given her closure and made her feel better. But he didn't.

There is no justification for this. Ben was in the wrong for this failure.

But it should also be considered that Ben isn't a 40 year old man who has just left his wife of 10 years. He is a teenager. He is still developing in terms of maturity.

Communication, especially about difficult topics, isn't something teenagers are the best at. I mean if Ben were to approach Audrey, we can tell that it would have clearly been very understandably awkward for him (again, not an excuse, but a point to consider). I mean, if you had just done something so awful to your childhood friend/ex girlfriend, regardless of whether or not it was your fault, approaching someone who you'd expect is probably very angry about it is quite unnerving.

But none of these factors would be considered by a lot of audience members, and for understandable reason:

Because of the tropes, expectations and their personal experiences, they are pre set to see Ben in a negative light. So the thing he WAS wrong for, they understandably will find it harder to empathize with and see from his perspective.

[el-moscorrofio-y-el-mercachifle]

As you recently posted that you are worried about the third series without Gaitan I would ask some questions. First, what did you thing of the second series *Ecomoda*? What would you want Betty, Armando, et al. to be up to decades later? Are there aspects of the original series you would like to see followed up?

Hiii thanks for the questions!🥰

Tbh, I never watched Ecomoda. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the cute Armando/Betty fluff, but I really saw no point in it (and it always looked so oversaturated with colors that it was unappealing to me lol). So some of the things I'd love to see might have been answered already in Ecomoda and I judt don't know lmao. Although That's also part of my issue with this new coming series!

Regarding what I would like to see, new and continued, and in no particular order, I'd love:

Tributes and/or mentiones of the original cast members that are no longer with us. Perhaps Hugo keeping a portrait of Inesita on his desk and occasionally making comments to it (("ay, Inés, ¿está viendo usted la porquería de puntadas que son estas? No, es que esta gente es alérgica al talento, de verdad" while he's in the middle of one of those tantrums or something before moving on. Just general and occasional comments in a way that leaves the viewer with the sure knowledge that Hugo loves and misses Inesita, and that for him she'll forever be his best friend and she is never forgotten but also not to an unhealthy degree you know??)). Bertha talking about her Gordito on the phone or to the Cuartel (just because the actor passed doesn't mean the character has to, too). Betty mentioning something like Catalina moved to another country or something but that they are still the best of friends and keep in contact often; or Camila saying she's planning to go on vacations with her Aunt Cata for the summer. Just in general, I'd love for this new part to not forget those who participated in the original, and for all the relationships and friendships that were so cute and strong to remain as such in the new one.

Betty and Armando still in love. I want them to be so in love and devoted to each other, but I also want to see them as a team working together in Ecomoda. I also want them to be respected. Maybe the Cuartel is not so aprovechado anymore? Lol

Flashbacks. I want some more details about their lives, things that we missed for the past 20+ years

Clues about the characters' pasts. I want to know Marcela and Armando's childhood. I want to know when Nicolás and Betty became besties. I don't need big full scenes, but a casual mention like, Armando going "oh, sí, yo tenía tu edad cuando...". Just to fill in gaps that the original left (although I'm also fearful of too much info considering Gaitan is no longer the one writing them)

Unfortunately, there are characters that aren't coming back even though the actors are still around. I want to know what happened to Daniel, to Sofia, to Jenny. I want to know what happened to Daniel after being so stupid as to invest every single penny he owned and put it in a proyect that led nowhere lmao. I want to know what happened to Jenny.

I'd love to see Freddy and Jimmy being good friends. Jimmy doesn't have to call him dad, but I want it to be super clear that Freddy basically is and they love each other as father and son (as seen in ysblf). Just imagine their bond now, after so many years! Hopefully Freddy and Aura María are still going strong

I don't remember if Mariana is coming back, but I'd loved to see her actually getting a modeling career like she wanted

I want to see the relationship between Betty and her in laws

I want to see how Marcela came back into their lives (which is honestly baffling and I'm still unsure about this decision, but I understand they had to bring back the iconic duo)

I REALLY don't want Patricia to be redeemed. I don't. She never seemed like she wanted to be redeemed. But if she is, they better give a super good explanation

I also don't want Mario redeemed lmao. I hope he still is the hedonistic womanizer with no sense of morality. Again, I don't think he wanted to be redeemed.

In general, my only three real expectations are: Betty and Armando still together, good and faithful characters, and a good story. I really don't see the need (besides money lmao) to bring it back, so I'm not having much hopes ((especially regarding the characters. I really hope they aren't further flanderized!))

Thank you for your question🥰🥰

[flowers-for-the-grave]

The End Has Come

It's all over now.

Scott finally got his happy ending. Shirking his crown, he happily went off with Milo. It worked. The spell worked. Now Scott was able to live out his life with his love. Scott was Milo's moonlight, his little shadow. Losing his magic was a price he was willing to pay if it meant he could spend the rest of his life with Milo. Scott was overjoyed.

Lauren was happy. She made friends! After years of being in the desert, alone, she had people that made her laugh. People that she cared about, and cared about her in return. Lauren liked having friends. It was much better than being alone, that's for sure. But her mind was doubtful. She ran instead of fighting that demon. Would the others forgive her? Lauren wouldn't know.

Pris was going to start her own family in the ocean. Pride welled in her chest as she swam amidst the waves. She could visit her sister. She could live her life. There was no way anyone could ever say she wasn't overjoyed. The water passed over her skin and she relished in the feeling. Pris was happy.

Shelbie was home again. It was awkward, especially after she set off the rain again, but she couldn't complain. Not when she was welcomed with open arms and into a warm hug. She melted into the touch with a smile on her face. Shelbie was grateful.

Eloise had found that crown. Some loser had just left it on the ground! And whilst she didn't know how someone could just leave it there, she didn't question it. Eloise readily picked it up and placed it on her head. She paid no mind to the runes on the ground, nor the circles of chalk. Eloise didn't see the shimmering dark-green glow pass over the crown.

Joey had followed Tiff through that portal. There was nowhere else that she could've gone. He scrunched his eyes shut and tried to ignore the unsettling crawl of goosebumps on his skin as the portal transported him. He didn't need to return to the mages that tossed him away when his magic was revealed. He didn't need to prove himself to them anymore. Joey just had to find his friend and make sure she was okay.

Tiff couldn't help but grin. This would be a new adventure. A new world. Those voices called to her, beckoning her to come with them, more hypnotic than a siren's song. Tiff wanted to take the plunge. Just like she had done with the competition. Only this time, there was no major incentive to do it. No Mother Nature calling her forth to help protect the plants. Tiff had chosen this.

Cleo marveled at her new body. No more rotted flesh. No more stitches holding her limbs together. No more time spent having to struggle with an undead body she was condemned to be trapped within. Cleo finally had a normal body again. A normal body with a beating heart. With no stitches. With no risk of falling apart if not for her magic keeping her together. Cleo was content.

Bertha had to follow Joey and Tiff. Without them, the two would likely get themselves in trouble within mere minutes. So, albeit somewhat reluctantly, Bertha bade their beloved Mertha goodbye as they ran towards the portal and stepped in. They watched as Mertha's image dissipated slowly. Everything soon was covered in green, green, green. Green everywhere. Just green. Bertha had to help them.

Happy endings never last. Loose strings must always be tied when all is said and done.

The story is not over just yet.

[ashesandhackles]

HP re-read: Goblet of Fire (Part 3)

Chapter 31,32, 33, 35,36,37

Harry hearing the trial is important because it deepens the seed in him for wanting to finish the war. He thinks about how it was Voldemort who had ripped Neville's parents away, and why BCJ went to Azkaban with his mother fainting and his father asking him to rot. His world has expanded.

Ron being a bb and being like how the extra jinxes they learnt is good training for them being Aurors. I love how childlike his assumption is that this is what the three of them will end up doing. Always the three of them against the world. <3

ooh Harry's initial shield charm is weak. Set up for when it gets stronger later in the series - it's one of the spells he uses in the final battle, one that protects Molly from Voldemort's wrath.

Sirius sending daily owls and then giving Harry a muddy paw print as a good luck card. I LOVE HIM.

Fudge apparently looking stern next to Maxime, and her eyes being "rather red" while Hagrid kept glancing at her from along the table. What a subtle way of telling us what happened here.

Cedric raising his wand to shower red sparks for Krum after being tortured by him. This is a good moment, because Cedric doesn't know Krum is under the Imperius, and he could have just let Harry do it. But he also raises his wand along with Harry, right after saying Krum would deserve being eaten by a passing Skrewt. Nice character work.

Harry politely asking the sphinx to move <3

the chapter really sets up its imagery: a dark overgrown graveyard, a church, a yew tree, an outline of an old house on the hillside. The yew, in particular, because its associated with Voldemort. (we also see baby! Voldemort being carried into this setting by Peter)

there is also something about Voldemort's father's house overlooking the rebirth at the graveyard - the above/below positioning of it all. Such a strong image.

"blank and expressionless as windows of a deserted house": as we note earlier, Avada Kedavra is a spell that releases the soul from its container. So this specific imagery of a deserted house - a body that no longer houses its soul is very eerie, very effective.

every image in this chapter is horrifying: Harry tied to Tom Snr's headstone, baby!Voldemort at his feet, Nagini circling the headstone.

Interesting what was Voldemort's understanding of why his father left his mother: "He didn't like magic, my father", "the fool who gave me his name - Tom Riddle". We know from HBP that he pieces together a story from Morfin's account of what happened - and he thinks it's his father who gave him the "ordinary" name. Even with Voldemort's hatred for his father, it is him Voldemort assumes an active role for, and not his mother. His negative feelings are directed against his father.

"may your loyalty never waver again Wormtail": Voldemort does gift giving and rewards with implied threats. XD

"one who I believe has left me forever, he will be killed of course" : Snape. I would kill for a conversation between Snape and Voldemort, when Snape comes in two hours late.

Peter convinces Bertha for a night time stroll. Where is Peter's adventures in Albania before he returns to Voldemort story? He has been quite busy.

Voldemort Villain monologues the entire chapter. He is so overt with his immortality hints that I am surprised baby Reg is one who catches on. Speaks to his and Sirius' upbringing a bit.

"and now, you face me like a man, straightbacked and proud" : the crumbs we get of James Potter's characterisation and how Harry uses this taunt later to empower himself to fight. ("he was going to die upright like his father")

James arms Harry with knowledge of what he must do, whereas Lily's role is more to offer him comfort (its the nature of the books. Lily gains a more stronger role in last 2 books, whereas the first 5, James is central to Harry's development)

Harry leaps over the cup (his means of escape) to get to Cedric's body first - all this with a broken leg. What a pure boy. It is not only the fact that Cedric asked him to, but because he has also witnessed the desecration of a dead body in the ritual. He recognises it as a violation.

BCJ's father wound pouring out of his monologue, and the need Voldemort fulfills or one BCJ hopes he would fulfill is that he will be closer than a son, that he will be singular, noteworthy and special among Death Eaters in a way he wasn't to his own father.

@dragonlordette talked about how BCJ! Moody was in tune with people's feelings and she is right: the careful way he manipulated Cedric, Dobby, and planted a book with Neville well in advance shows someone who watches, catalogues people's behaviour, so he knows which buttons to push.

Rowling planting Snape's loyalties here: she emphasises Snape's face in BCJ's Foe Glass both when three of them burst the door open and once again when he enters to survey the room.

Crouch's mother's love as a destructive force that enabled the rise of Voldemort when she broke her son out and took his place in Azkaban. (love as destructive force is a theme that series plays with both in good way and bad way - and more overtly in HBP)

I love how seamlessly Dumbles, McGonagall and Snape work together. When McGonagall is losing it over the Dementor's Kiss, Snape sarcastically explains what Fudge has done (" he seems to feel his personal safety was in question" Imao)

Sirius spends all year obsessing over a plot in the tournament and that someone is out to get Harry, and he sees Harry in this state, his suspicions are confirmed in worst possible way. His hand shakes when he helps Harry into a chair .

Harry drawing comfort from Fawkes. <3

Sirius, noticing how Harry was avoiding Dumbles eyes, harshly tells Dumbledore that Harry needs sleep <3

the "gleam of triumph" in Dumbles eyes that set off so many fan forums when GOF first came out.

Sirius gets so upset when Harry mentions how James asked him to escape, so for the first time in the whole meeting, his face is in his hands. (instead of Harry's shoulder) In Sirius' eyes, he failed to protect Harry and James' ghost saves Harry instead. It is a reminder of his failure.

also hilarious that no one besides Madam Pomfrey questions the presence of an emotional support dog. (also like the best emotional support dog in question, Sirius growls at Fudge for insinuating Harry's liar. I would love to hear the cussing out Sirius is giving him)

Snape makes a "sudden movement" when Lucius' name is mentioned. Snape's feelings for the Malfoy family, despite actively working against them, is complicated.

also how throughout the altercation between Dumbles and Fudge, Mrs Weasley had to keep a hand on Harry's shoulder to prevent him from rising.

Another person who has had enough of Fudge in the scene is Snape. Snape showing his Dark Mark to the Minister of Magic is legitimately one of my favourite moments of him in the series. It's a stand he is making - and in rereads, his loyalty and commitment is clear as day.

Harry wants Sirius to stay. I love that Harry actually asks for what he needs when it comes to Sirius. BB :heart:

"He had no memory of being hugged like this, as though by a mother" AHHHHHHH.

ah Cho crying when they raise a toast to Cedric upsets Harry. He looks down in response :(

Impassive face Hermione = Hermione who has just been kissed goodbye by Krum. (also that Harry isn't surprised when Ginny later reveals that they did indeed kiss)

Ron asking for Krum's autograph makes Hermione smile, and him assuring Fleur her english is good enough already makes her scowl The range of emotions she experiences in this scene.

Harry asks the twins to buy a different set of dress robes for Ron and say they are from them. Harry learns how to be careful and sensitive with Ron's feelings. What a sweetheart.

[dontforgetoctober3rd]

Masterlist of my fics so far

Forgot how frustrating writing was but also how much I used to love it (I was churning out fanfics every other day when I was 14 lmaooo)

A lot of them I genuinely pulled out of my ass, a few I had to entirely rewrite before publishing on here and a couple are unfinished BUT this is them! It's a wide variety (Mostly House of The Dragon, my current obsession, but there's other fandoms too!)

Not This Time

A short, Cregan Stark-centric drabble about his grief during Jacaerys' visit to Winterfell. This is a sad, doomed-by-the-narrative fic.

A Piece Of Home

A oneshot Aemond Targaryen X Yi Ti OC fic. Nothing but cute and peaceful domestic fluff!

Come Go With Me

An extremely cheesy, corny, Michael Gavey oneshot where he meets his dream girl at the bread and butter, 'ol reliable of every meet-cute fanfiction: a coffee shop. I love it tho! Tried my best to keep Michael's personality canon compliant (imo)

Life Eternal

A multi-chatper hotd fic based off another incredible hotd fic (which I highly recommend), Second Sons by @avengingangelfanfic .

Status: unfinished

The Lesson

A short Rhaemond (Rhaena X Aemond) drabble where Aemond basically openly simps for his wife Rhaena via caring for her hair and has...issues with how some men perceive that as demeaning. So he handles it lol

Untitled Aemond X Rhaena fic

Pure fluff. I never gave this a title, but all the same here is the summary: Pregnant Rhaena craves limes/lime-flavored things so her husband Aemond of course does everything he can, causing innkeeper Hotpie some difficulties in the process. Hotpie is actually the star of this fic lmao

Untitled Aemond X Rhaena fic 2

More random Rhaemond fluff. A no dance of dragons AU where everyone gets along, the lovely couple is at a ball having a discussion on when is the appropriate time to say the "L" word to someone.

A Keen Eye

A mini Aemond x Rhaena fic that they aren't actually in but it's still about them! It's a bunch of highborn girls gossiping about their marriage.

Untitled Daemon X Rhea Royce fluff

Exactly what it says on the tin. Not really a coherent story but little snippets of their life together if their marriage had been a happy one.

Spillways

A multi-chapter The Gilded Age fic featuring Marian and an OC who is a future Earl! Agnes is also a huge part of this story, I love her character!

Status: unfinished

One Day

Another Gilded Age fanfic, this one is just a little snippet of Bertha's mother's life in Ireland before she married.

He Is

However cheesy you might find my Michael Gavey fic, this oneshot out cheeses it for sure. A crossover Bridgerton/HOTD fic with some Skyrim mentions, it's a timeskip to where Philomena Finch is of age and on the marriage mart. Except, she doesn't want to marry. She wants to write! Aemond also loves to write! Well, well well...and yes, the title is another Ghost song surprise surprise.

[lesbiangummybearmafia]

The Gilded Age, 02x05 Close Enough to Touch, my thoughts...

Omg I'm so happy for Aunt Ada! It was brilliant she didn't allow her fears to stop her marring the Reverend Forte. Their so sweet together. I understand that Aunt Agnes had to marry that man she did and as result had a horrible marriage but I'm glad the Reverend Forte pointed out to her that it was for her own selfish reasons she didn't want Ada to marry him and not because she was trying to protect Ada. I'm also glad Aunt Agnes got her head out of her butt and went to the wedding! Because no matter what she said under the grumpy exterior I want to believe she actually happy for her little sister. Now I want them to find a man for Aunt Agnes, wouldn't that be amazing to see!

Ok I completely annoyed by the whole Peggy and her boss thing. How played out, over done, so predictable and well just lazy is that?! Why can't they make her character smarter than that. Be all like oh hell no fool, you're married. Yes we had a scary fucking moment back there but no we don't need to be kissing or anything else. Because it makes Peggy's character come off as less than she is, less intelligent, less brilliant. It does such a deserves to her character!

But Bertha's staff was so not on our watch mf! I freakin love them. Especially Church making sure the Duke didn't end up with a lap full of hot soup. And Watson for catching on to what was going on in the first place! Bertha needs to give them and Mrs. Bruce a rise!

Oh I loved, loved watching Turner's plan at revenge go up in smoke. Omg Mrs. Fish comments perfectly just hitting Turner's last nerve lmfao!! God their making me truly hate her.

Bertha's dinner party gown was so beautiful. I do like seeing all the lighter colors this season and flower prints. I thought Bertha was rather cute when she kept checking to make sure everything for the dinner was perfect and all her staff kept reassuring her. I would like to see more moments like that where she's well cute. When Gladys tried to walk further down the talk, Bertha all come back here you lol. I so knew one of the main reason Bertha wanted to meet the Duke was because of Gladys. If she gets her way Gladys is going become a Duchess. It was great Bertha and George are not longer fighting omg. I didn't realize how heavy that made the show until the episode. Even with the events with Peggy unfortunately the episode still feel lighter.

Oscar and Maude Beaton are very sweet together but I don't want to see Maude get hurt. If Oscar actually loves her, perhaps like one loves a very dear friend or a best friend than maybe it's alright but if not. He definitely needs to stop acting like any kind of goldigger though! I just really want him to have honest feelings for Maude is all.

Marian if she doesn't want to be with Dashiell Montgomery ok. But her doing cringie face everytime he said something in that direction is getting old and annoying. Could she please grow the same spine for herself she seems to have for everyone else.

It's so awesome they put in about Emily Warren Roebling the first female engineer. That whole thing Larry finds out is completely ture part of history. I really appreciate the show added. It's important that our women's history finally be included.

[phireads]

Why the Ending of Jane Eyre is Perfect

Quick disclaimer: I am not a qualified academic (which will become increasingly evident if you decide to read this) and I also wrote this at 2AM, meaning there likely will be a lot of errors. I am also aware that parts of this are simply restating facts or well-known analysis of the novel but I feel they help to bridge my thoughts together. I’d love to hear anyone else’s opinions on the ending, or on what I’ve written, just please be kind and respectful.

I often see people talking about how Jane gives up all her freedom to be with Edward, how she’s chained to an unworthy manipulator for the rest of her life. And look, I understand this take.

If Jane had married Mr Rochester the first time around - whether Bertha had existed or not - she would be a victim. She would have very little power in her marriage (though she did foresee this issue when she wrote to her uncle in Madeira) and there wouldn’t be much she could do to rectify her situation. Rochester was her superior in age and in status. She had no connections and it would have been extremely easy for him to cut her off from the world and make her into his pretty housewife (if he so wanted to).

Had the book ended on a successful first wedding, it would be a tragedy. A loss of freedom and a loss of Jane herself. But it doesn’t. That’s why the second part of the book is so compelling because whilst the mystery and romance of Jane’s time at Thornfield is captivating, Jane becomes the heroine we love when she’s free and freezing on the moors.

After these trials, Jane is elevated, in both the world and in her opinion of herself. She is a little older, has family and connections and she has experienced the favour of another man. She found herself in a position of total desperation and has emerged all the better for it. She is not deeply happy while she’s with the Rivers, but she is independent.

She recognises that she is not only “made for labour” as St John attests. But nor is she only a vessel for Rochester’s passion either. She is completely capable of making her own choices concerning her future. Had she chosen to marry St John and travel with him to India, she would have been sacrificing her freedom in another way, and her heart in favour of duty. Instead, she chooses a love which will flourish on her terms, not those of a husband and captor. She decides that she deserves a great love story. Her faith is of the utmost importance to her, but she must also place belief in her own desires.

Mr Rochester absolutely was unworthy of her. I say “was” because by, the end of the novel, I would argue that he is as much changed as Jane. He has lost his reputation, much of his fortune, and a great deal of his physical ability. He has had to learn what it’s like to be forsaken by all those around him - as Jane was in her childhood. He has also lost his greatest purpose, Bertha.

Now, I hear you say “but Phi, Rochester hated Bertha!” and you are correct however…

Bertha had become such an intrinsic part of Edward Rochester’s life over their fifteen years of marriage. He sees her as his burden but also as an outlet for blame. He needs Bertha because then he never has to take accountability. While Bertha lives, each of Rochester’s actions can, arguably, be rationalised by her existence.

I regularly hear people talk about how both Bertha and Jane are reduced to being “just wives”. However, whilst I like to believe that Mr Rochester tries to save Bertha from the fire because he finally sees the humanity in her, I think part of the reason he goes up there, to the roof and to near certain death, is because he doesn’t know what he will be if not the tortured husband of Bertha Antonietta Mason. No, his marriage is not a public one but we see how it consumes him. In Edward’s mind, his marriage absolves him of his moral duty to his god and to his fellow man.

Bertha’s death is not just a convenient plot device which allows Jane to return to Mr Rochester without compromising her values. As heartbroken as it makes me, Bertha must die.

Mr Rochester must be able to let her go entirely, along with all the excuses her life and dependency gives him, for him to truly address his faults and finally be deserving of Jane.

How we know definitively that he has changed, though, is because he isolates himself once more. He reduces his staff. He lives a solitary existence. He does not try to better his circumstances nor does he try to travel to Europe in search of his former comforts. He is not the man he once was.

He is ashamed, rightfully of his actions, wrongfully of his disabilities. He is miserable without Jane.

He has nothing, he even admits that he believed Jane to be dead.

Yet still, he lives. I think he stays alive because he’s trying to find, within himself, the faith which Jane encouraged him to seek when they parted. If Jane is dead, as he thinks, he must honour her in living as she wanted him to.

This is why Brontë’s ending is perfect. Jane doesn’t have to sacrifice all for love. She retains her money and her new-found family and most importantly, her spirit.

If she wanted to, she could make Edward her Bertha. She could lock him away and live as a single, or widowed, young woman. But she won’t. We know she won’t, because redemption and forgiveness are so vital to Jane’s belief system. She forgives Aunt Reed for her cruelty, and St John for his callousness. She says it herself, when she tells Mr Rochester that she must leave him: “I forgave him all, yet not in words”.

Jane is not weak. She forgives those who she deems worthy. She would not return to Mr Rochester, would not marry him and be his loving wife, if she wasn’t certain he had at least begun to redeem himself. No, he is not perfect (and far from it) but he doesn’t have to be. Thanks to Charlotte Brontë’s skilful prose, Jane and Edward feel like real human beings and human beings have deep flaws, fissures which run deep through each and every one of us. To expect Edward to be a perfect man, is akin to Mr Rochester affirming that Jane is an “angel” following the proposal. Jane rejects this idea because she does not require divinity or perfection from herself or anyone else, so why should we?

Of course, given the book’s socio-historical context, many of Jane’s views on her autonomy were controversial, progressive, and empowering for the women who read her story.

Naturally, this message doesn’t hold the same weight today, as we live in the fourth-wave of feminism. However, I’ve always found it exceptional that Jane still chooses Edward, in spite of his disability.

Even today, disabled people are often regarded as inferior romantic partners. I’ve seen this in the way self-proclaimed feminists online claim that Jane is forced to be Mr Rochester’s nurse now that he is disabled (as if Edward is evil for not turning her away - and he does give Jane that heart-wrenching option). I don’t quite know how to articulate just how awful and ableist it is to say things like that.

So, in conclusion, I believe that the end of Jane Eyre is perfect because it draws the novel to a close in a manner which is cohesive with what Jane has always longed for - love, freedom and a sense of belonging. She is able to attain all of this without hurting others unnecessarily. She has been broken down and so has Edward.

Together, with care and tenderness, they can build up their home, and their lives anew.

[usergrantaire]

phew that sure was an episode of the gilded age

- we’re finally getting ✨DRAMA✨ and it is delicious

- also i loved peggy milking a cow in her fancy day dress

- finally larry’s fling with mrs blane is coming to an end…… but i don’t think that’s the last of this storyline we’ll see

- him saying “i thought we were going to get married and be together forever” is peak “im in my twenties” levels of delusion

- ok i know there won’t be a lesbian maud beaton….. but let me dream 🥲

- bertha clown moment switching out her and turner’s place cards. her entire tug of war with turner over the duke is hilarious and i cannot wait to see more of it

- speaking of turner!! we finally got a first name after a season and four episodes!!! it’s enid 💀

- her and oscar recognising each other at the dinner was a treat

- man after the way she lorded her academy box over bertha just to have it snatched from her by mrs astor AND had the duke snatched from her as well i just know she’ll be out for blood next episode

- ada and the reverend. i think they’re cute together but omg that proposal was so rushed? like so rushed im beginning to suspect he has a wife in the attic situation iykwim. and ada immediately says yes?? girl we have like half a season left 😭

- frances very unsubtly trying to set her dad and marian up and marian wants OUT

- since this is a fellowes show i don’t have high hopes but what i would LIKE to see is the striking workers absolutely fucking george’s shit up

- gladys wasn’t in this episode but i know that bertha’s gonna try to sell her off to the duke. and she’ll probably strong arm george into agreeing to it by holding the whole “naked lady’s maid in his bed and lying about it by omission” thing over his head

- “i don’t WANT other dukes, i want THIS duke! WE found him, and he’s MINE” immaculate and hysterical line delivery. very veruca salt core. no notes

that’s all for the week folks see you next week

[daughter-of-melpomene]

Plot Bunny Game: Descendants, Ben and Mal ship?

Thanks so much for this, Charlie!! Gonna tag the rest of the Descendants gang @dancingsunflowers-ocs, @ginger-grimm, @auxiliarydetective, and @ginevrastilinski-ocs!! <3

NAME: RaeLynn Fitzherbert.

LOVE INTERESTS: Ben Beast + Mal Bertha.

SUMMARY: RaeLynn had always known that, despite being friends with the crown prince of Auradon her whole life, she was never going to be the one to marry him. It didn’t matter that she was of appropriate status to marry him, as the oldest princess and heir to the kingdom of Corona, or that she and Ben had gotten along like a house on fire since they were just babies in their cribs, or that Ben’s actual girlfriend was kind of an awful person - he and Audrey had been betrothed to each other since they were only toddlers, and that was enough to ensure that, no matter how close he and RaeLynn were or how either of them felt, they were both too bound by duty to ever be together. Which definitely sucks, considering that RaeLynn has had a big fat crush on her best friend for a few years now, but when Ben finally fulfills his dream of bringing some kids to Auradon from the Isle of the Lost and RaeLynn finds herself becoming close to the purple-haired daughter of Maleficent, she begins to hope that she might finally be able to let Ben go… only for that same girl to be the reason Ben finally breaks up with Audrey and be the subject of a very public love confession. Which definitely does not serve to make RaeLynn’s situation suck any less; it just makes her very, very confused.

EXTRA INFO:

Granted, I am not generally a fan of love triangles… except when they end in polyamory, which this one does!

Basically RaeLynn’s had a crush on Ben since they were in middle school, but Ben never developed feelings for her until their freshman year at Auradon Prep, and by then he’s already been betrothed to Audrey for years and he doesn’t want to disappoint his parents by backing out of it, so basically they’re both doing their best to hide their feelings because of their duties and because neither of them thinks the other feels the same - and then, of course, in comes Mal and the VKs.

RaeLynn’s heartbroken when Ben and Mal get together because she doesn’t realize Ben has a spell on him, but Mal very quickly started to develop feelings for RaeLynn after arriving in Auradon, and by the time the whole coronation situation happens she’s realized that Ben feels the same way about the princess and they agree to approach RaeLynn about starting a relationship - which, of course, goes very well!

She doesn’t have very much of her mother’s artistic ability, but she does have her otherworldly singing voice, a bit of a leftover from the sundrop flower’s magic. She’s been invited to sing at every school event and talent show since she was young, and though her voice doesn’t have any healing properties, anyone who hears it can’t help but stop to listen.

Did I name her after a country singer? Yes, yes I did.

send me a fandom and a faceclaim/love interest and i’ll make an oc!!

[velvet4510]

Many defenses of Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre have been written already, but I feel they’re important to remember when reading the book. It is easy to judge his actions towards his wife based on modern sensibilities and norms, but the historical context of the story is extremely important to note when evaluating his actions.

First off, in the 1840s, insanity was not grounds for divorce. So he wasn’t lying when he said he was trapped in that marriage; there was no legal way for him to leave her.

Also, in the 1840s, asylums were basically worse than death. Inmates were treated as less than human, and often chained, beaten, and sexually assaulted.

Plus, look at Bertha’s actions whenever she escapes from the attic:

1. She tries to murder her husband by burning him in his bed.

2. She tries to murder her own brother.

3. She sets the house on fire by trying to murder Jane, thinking she’s still in that room.

This woman is a 3-time attempted murderer. Regardless of motive, that just … is not okay. Yes, perhaps she’s not in control of her actions; perhaps her insanity is doing these things, not her conscious self. But still. She’s a danger to everyone around her. And considering the medical achievements of the time, there was no hope that she could ever be cured.

Rochester had every reason to send her to one of those asylums after she proved how dangerous she was. But he didn’t. He kept her locked in the house and looked after by a 24/7 caretaker where she was guaranteed safety, food, water, and decent company rather than abuse, torment, and starvation. That was in fact the better and kinder option. Nowadays, such an action would be horrifying BECAUSE divorce and professional mental healthcare are options. But not back then. Considering his particular situation, he did the most honorable thing that could possibly be done with regard to her.

And his anger towards her is not because of her madness. He himself tells Jane that if she were mad, he would still love her and be devoted to her forever. Bertha cheated on him during the first years of their marriage. He was ready to love and care for her all his life, but she betrayed his trust completely. You can’t fully fault him for having mistresses when she broke their vows of faithfulness first. Also, considering he was not told about her insanity ahead of time, he had absolutely no idea what he was signing up for with her. He wasn’t prepared to deal with someone who was mentally disturbed. And he mentions he literally contemplated suicide during the marriage; that’s how miserable she made him.

Whenever he talks about her, he rarely calls her “my wife.” He always refers to her as Bertha Mason, never as Mrs. Rochester. He’s so scarred by what he’s been through with her that he’s literally in denial and trying to convince himself that they’re not married. His behavior really reflects that of someone who has experienced spousal abuse and is unable to leave. It’s not pretty.

Yet, let’s not forget their last-ever moment together. She has ruined his life completely. Her existence prevented him from marrying the love of his life and doomed him to be alone forever after Jane left him. You’d think he would leave her to burn after all the harm she caused him, her brother, and Jane.

Instead, while still in love with another woman, and knowing her death would give him a chance with Jane, he goes back into a burning house, loses a hand, goes blind, and very nearly dies trying to save her life. She has done nothing to earn this act from him. But he still does it. Because his experience with Jane has taught him that, in spite of the unfair hand he was dealt, and his understandable anger towards her, Bertha is still his wife. He is still her husband.

What’s more, he chose to become Adele’s guardian. There was no proof that she was his, and he disliked children. Yet he still took on the responsibility of taking care of her and took the time to give her presents, hire a governess for her, and make sure she grew up in a safe environment. That really shows his good character.

Also, he completely turns around after deceiving Jane and concealing Bertha’s existence. When Jane learns the truth, Rochester stops all lies and comes clean, telling her everything and being completely honest. Honesty is one of the core factors of a healthy relationship and though Rochester badly fails the test early on in his romance with Jane, he does redeem himself on that front. And when she leaves him and he is heartbroken, he doesn’t take his pain out on anyone (unlike a certain “hero” from Charlotte Brontë’s sister Emily’s classic book). He arranges for Mrs. Fairfax to be comfortably retired and for Adele to go to school (decisions which very likely ended up saving both of their lives considering that Thornfield burned).

Moreover, when Jane returns to him, he has become selfless enough to believe she’d be better off without him and encourage her to marry St. John. He doesn’t try to possess her or keep her, like he used to. He gives her the freedom to choose.

And, being financially independent, Jane now has the power to live without him. Her marrying him is a choice, not a forced or coerced action.

The great thing about their love story is how it evolves from unhealthy to healthy. They both experience individual growth when separated, and get back together more compatible than ever before.

So, despite what haters may say, the great Charlotte Brontë’s text contains more than enough evidence that Rochester IS good enough for Jane and that he DOES deserve her.

[the-fandom-queenxox]

So I made myself wait to watch the witchcraft smp finale till all the povs were out, which means I waited for Cleo to upload and also my college decided to allow offline/traditional classes to be back so it took me a bit longer to finally sit down and watch the povs. So here is some of my thoughts while watching the witchcraft smp finale episodes:

(Spoiler warning)

17/04

Lauren:

-Yeah Lauren you kinda did drop the whole competition just to vibe, but that's okay I still love you!

-Omg her wings look like thicc slices of bread!!And the colors of it are real pretty

-Yeah Joey!!! You were the worst best friend ever, screw you!

-Scott to the rescue!!!!

-YOOOO Joey's out first!!!!!

-CLEO NOO!!

-Hi supreme Lizzie

-Scott's the new supreme!!!

-Oh yeah they all do have her autograph in a way huh?

-Everyone reaction to finding out Cleo was an undead this whole time is really funny

-OH I KNEW THE DEMON WOULD BE BACK TOO!!!!

-Lauren just dipped lmao?!?!??

Eloise:

-The "Yep that's me, you are probably wondering how I got here." Bit to start the episode was good

-Training montage

-Damm Shellby's strong af, she really giving them a hard time

-Ohhh her artifact exploded on her because of the reset, alright that makes a bit more sense

-Oh she skipped the demon fight hmm

-Lol she became a witch content creator after the competitions?!

-Oli and Sausage got bailed out by El

-They made wcsmp's version of love or host lol

-Did she steal a award!?

-Someone get Scott I found his supreme crown

Joey:

-Oh that ice blast spell is cool(pun wasn't intended)

-Bro not the Stacy callback!!

-Cleo's time freeze ability <3

-Okay demon battle time

-Gods why was it that Joey give the "If we work together we can defeat the villian." Speech, it's not at all a thing his character would say

-Bro the demon's not even taking any damage lmao

-Scott's new to his supreme witch powers leave him alone

-Dude what home the mages won't accept you ba- oh that one right...

-I mean yeah screw those ice mages and all that but how is Joey's story gonna end now?

-You don't have any best friends le- oh yeah Tiff would be your best friend after all the demonic and botania stuff the both of you bonded over

-Where's Tiff?! Did mother earth take her back or smth?!

-No Joey she couldn't have gone through the elf portal, she has told you before that the portal works only one wa- aphgkgdj?!SURE JUST GO IN JOEY BYE WITCH!!!

18/04

Prismarina:

-Okay so at this point I'm pretty sure that there many chests in the area but not all of them have stuff in them and are there for decor

-Where did that blaze come from?!

-Lmao Cleo saying "Do we have a cool name?"

-Cleo and Scott are not giving Pris a chance to breath lol

-"I can't see it but I'll pretend I do"

-Bertha's curse got broken!!(see Bertha you didn't even have to bring back your dead sister and the demon she took down with her to break your curse you just had to wait)

-Is Bertha immortal?? Also do they not have a job outside of being the supreme witch competitions referee(???)

-Is Mertha's curse also broken now?

-Lol the demon fight crashed Pris' computer

-ARE BERTHA AND MERTHA ENGAGED NOW?!??!

-Is Pris a siren of some kind?

-Oh her dead sister is there, I'm going to assume that's her spirit coming for a visit or something

Shubble:

-Oooo we are finally meeting this "she" Shubble keeps mentioning

-My girl saw the weird dead deer skulls and said "Ew"

-*Big gasp* *choking noises* *literally dying* *it was nice knowing you*

-*In a nerd voice*Uhmm actually those look like shiny charizard wings thank you very much

-Her immediate respons to seeing Cleo was zap-teleport out of there

-Love how Tiff, Shubble and Pris are just watching Lauren and Joey "attacking" eachother

-Shubble leaving the scene when Scott shows up lol

-I love hduo, found sisters <3

-So is Tiff's first death not counted?

-"He is already dead let it go" SHELLBY?!!?!!!KAGLZHSK

-Why is it always these 2 in a fight to death

-Oh she just flew away?!!

-"Aren't you like dead though?" Shellby you need to stop!!kdhdhchbj

-Oh come on!! We are not meeting "her" aww man :(

Cupquake:

-Witch Tiff's grandma used to make nightsade berry pies. Good fact to know

-Oop the Bertha clone is back

-Oh her sneaking behind Cleo was so cool

-"Our leader!"

-"Yeah I want a piece of that. Equality!"

-The voices are back

-Oh, so she did went through the portal...huh

-This is just a random thought, but are we getting a fairies smp next? Cause I feel as though both witch!Tiff and witch!Joey 's stories are meant to continue in a way? Guess we'll have to wait and see

Cleo:

-Oh this is the longest episode, kinda nervous...

-The voices of all the Cleo's?! Excuse me?!??

-Gods, to get any of the end armor set pieces is so expensive

-Oh here is Pris making her amends, yeah I know this already I watched Pris' pov

-"I'M YOUR MAKER!" It's great to finally understand what she said at that time

-Yeah, I think "the coven" does sound cool and ominous

-Did Cleo just pledge herself to Scott? I-yo-I can't understand what their saying from everyone talking over eachother

-Damm has she not liked any part of being a time witch...

-All the skins!!

-And she's human again!

-"And they lived happily ever after." That's a poetic end to Cleo's story. Since she did introduce us to her character with "once/twice a upon a time" and had kind of a storybook structure from then on

19/04

Scott:

-He sounds so annoyed that he's only allowed to take 20 items with him lol

-I don't like how Scott said that he feels like he was going to "burst" and green particals started coming out of him...

-"Wow, you can't just say she's big!"

-"It encapsulates how weird and wonderful we are but it all still works together." Whatever you say new supreme!

-Frank and Agatha were in a 20 buck bet lol

-Agatha what other stuff is down in your secret lair??

-HES LOSING HIS POWERS TOO?!?!!

-Oh he is really going through with it!! Anything for his love ig

-HE DID IT!!!MILO IS BACK!!!!

-Oh he drowned to save Maxwell(I still don't know who that is. Their dog maybe)

-4 years?!

-Maxwell passed away a year later?!

-"Moonlight" "My little shadow" aww Milo is soo sweet, I love him already

-So he left the crown behind willingly. I mean I guess it make sense he just needed the power of the supreme witch to finally bring Milo back and since he lost all his powers he's not fit to have it anymore...

-Wait does this make Eloise the new supreme or do we need a new competition to be held pronto?!(in my opinion Shellby should be the new supreme cause she came in second place)

Bertha:

-So the supreme cursed Bertha and Mertha because she looked into the future and saw terrible things were to happen if anyone else were to become the supreme witch? Yeah that's fair ig :/

-Oh wow that was a quick forgivness lol

-Mertha did get the worst of it

-Her nap got interrupted that's so rude

-Time for the supreme games to begin!! But were skipping that probably cause I already watched it 8 times before this

-Oh quick run down of the events?! Sure...

-Oi!! That's so mean to Lauren she did her best!!

-That was an accident though!

-Oh when Joey asked to break the crown to have all of the being the supreme witch Bertha said "Me too?" Hehe

-Where is Mertha?!

-All "-ertha named" mobs lol

-I'm getting nervous, where is Mertha?!

-Why was she on top of a ice mountain?!

-Mertha's uncursed!!

-"666 hours later" sihdudynxtwhAT!?!

-WHY IS EVERYONE GOING THROUGH THAT DAMM PORTAL!??!!?

-Also why were you 2 spying on Joey and how did he not see the 2 of them, they're not hiding all that well

-They have a witch police?!

-Oh Mertha looks so sad waiting for Bertha...

-"Bertha will return" well yeah I sure hope she does!

And just like that it's over...how do I feel about it? Well...I think the smp had a strong start and a strong middle the ending though...is fine I guess...just wasn't my cup of tea, but I still liked the smp

[ladyofpembroke]

I really enjoyed the first episode of season 2 of the gilded age! There have been so many things set up for the season from this episode plus the trailer.

I really enjoyed Marian’s fight with Agnes, I liked Marian in season 1 but she was definitely sugary-sweet and the ingenue, this fight showed she has a bit more backbone than last season implied. I’m looking forward to seeing where her (barely) ‘having a job’ plotline goes. It seems like the show is setting her up for a governess teacher/widower romance that she will probably reject. I am of the opinion that they are probably going for a Larry/Marian endgame so I am biased. That being said it was great seeing Larry doing his thing as an architect, and I could definitely see him being approving of Marian teaching watercolors and finding something she wants to do outside of her family name.

Now I’m so curious about Peggy’s storyline, was the plan always to kill off her son before she could find him or did they decide later that her having a son wouldn’t fit with the plot? The whole family drama going on with her mom and dad and her is so riveting but I can’t wait to see how her story and that of other other protagonists come together again. I love that her and Marian having lunch seems to be a regular occurrence.

Oscar, I feel for you but please get away from Gladys. Gladys please don’t marry him just to get away from your mom.

I loved Bertha’s opera dinner but I fear she may receive Mrs Astors ire.

Overall, a promising start to season 2