#his strategy immediately was to isolate her

[hetagrammy]

I know it wasn't really popular until the 1870s, nor am I totally sure Arthur would go this far, but the idea of Arthur putting Molly on a "rest cure" to treat her "hysteria" around the 1840s before the Famine really kicked in is something that has been sticking in my brain. The idea of this woman going Yellow Wallpaper is something that just intrigues me. To be clear, either way, Arthur 100% referred to her as his "hysterical sister" and used that as an excuse to both keep her from going to Europe and making allies again.

[godsfavdarling]

I don’t know how to do this

my masterlist

pairing: Spencer Reid x bau!gn!reader words: 2,7k summary: Diana has passed away, and Spencer is struggling to find a way to move forward. warnings: angst/hurt, death of a parent, grieving, mention of a case, drinking a/n: this was written for 2024 Criminal Minds Pre-Whumptober organized by @tobias-hankel! Main Whump-ed Character: Spencer Reid Bad Thing: Minor Character Death Bad Person: No One One Line Prompt: "She was the only family I had left... I don't know how to do this."

The cold night air mixed with AC hit you as you stepped out of the elevator, heading towards the hotel's bar. You had checked on Spencer's room earlier and knocked a few times, but there was no response. Either he wasn’t there or he didn’t want to answer. 

Given the month he had, you couldn’t blame him for wanting to be alone.

Diana had passed away quietly in her sleep from a stroke, exactly 25 days ago. Spencer had received the call early that Saturday morning and immediately caught a flight to Las Vegas. 

At the same time, the team was called in on a high-profile kidnapping - the daughter of a senator had gone missing in New York. 

You all hesitated, torn between going to support Spencer or going after the missing girl. 

Your first instinct was to be there for him, but with a child’s life on the line, the team knew you were needed in the field. With heavy hearts, you left Spencer to deal with his mother’s passing alone. He assured you all he understood and that he’d be fine. 

But deep down, you knew he wasn’t.

You felt horrible. As much as you tried to focus on the case, the thought of Spencer dealing with everything alone gnawed at you. 

It crushed your soul knowing he had no one by his side. You tried calling him a few times a day, but he never picked up. 

All you received were brief text messages saying he couldn’t talk right now. While sitting in the senator’s living room discussing strategy, you had to physically stop yourself from getting up, walking out the door, and catching the taxi to the airport. 

Every instinct screamed at you to be with him, but duty held you back.

A few days later, the senator’s daughter was saved, and Spencer returned to the office as if nothing had happened - or at least, he tried to. 

When he walked in, your hearts sank. No one knew what to say. He gave an awkward smile and casually asked about the case, but the tension in the room was palpable. 

Seeing the uncertainty in your faces, Spencer quickly added that he was okay, asking you not to tiptoe around him. He kept repeating it, insisting he was fine, but the hollow look in his eyes told a different story.

Hotch took Spencer into his office, and you knew exactly why. He wanted Spencer to take some time off, to grieve. 

You had already planned to check on him the next day - bring dinner, maybe even cook something, and just let him talk it all out. 

But when you arrived at the office the following morning, Spencer was already at his desk, quietly working on paperwork. You glanced at Morgan in confusion, and he just shrugged, defeated, before returning to his own desk.

Maybe this was Spencer’s way of coping - throwing himself back into routine, not wanting to be left alone with his thoughts. It made sense, you reasoned. 

You tried a few times to get him alone, to check in on him, but he always quickly changed the subject, steering conversations away from himself.

You asked Hotch to make him take some time off, and he obviously tried, but Spencer was more than stubborn. Hotch seemed to agree with your assessment - maybe isolation was the last thing Spencer needed right now. 

Maybe staying busy was how he was coping.

Besides, the team was short-staffed. You needed all hands on deck, and Spencer was an invaluable asset. So, you stopped pushing.

Spencer was smarter than all of you - he knew what he was doing.

At first, he seemed to be succeeding in pretending he was okay. He threw himself into work, keeping up appearances. 

But after a few days, the cracks began to show. His hands trembled slightly when he reached for files, the dark circles under his eyes deepened, and there was a sharp tension in his voice that hadn’t been there before.

You wanted to keep asking if he was alright, but after he snapped at you one day, you stopped. 

You didn’t know how to help him anymore. And to make things worse, the cases piled up - one brutal crime after another. 

It felt like you barely touched ground in D.C. before you were back on a plane, headed to some new tragedy.

 At some point, you couldn’t even remember the last time you did groceries or cleaned your place.

The team had no choice but to keep moving forward, and the new version of Spencer - present, but hollow - became the norm.

You were in Nebraska, trying to stop a killer who had already claimed the lives of three teenage girls. Two more were still missing, and the clock was ticking. 

Every minute felt like a failure. 

The unsub had left no trace, no evidence to follow, and the pressure to find the girls alive was mounting. It was wearing everyone down, but Spencer most of all.

He had been unnervingly quiet, keeping to himself and diving deep into the case. His usual calm demeanor had cracked.

 You saw the signs - his hands trembling slightly as he flipped through files, the way he’d rub his temples like he was warding off a headache. 

His grief, compounded by the endless string of brutal cases, was starting to suffocate him.

And then it happened.

The team was gathered at the precinct, going over the latest developments when a local officer made a passing remark about the profile. “I’m not sure this is helping us. We’ve been following this lead for days, and we’re no closer to finding them.”

Spencer’s head snapped up, eyes narrowing dangerously. 

His voice was sharp, cutting through the room. “You think the profile isn’t helping because you don’t understand it.” His tone was low but laced with anger. “If you had done your job properly, maybe we wouldn’t be dealing with two more missing girls right now.”

The officer looked taken aback. “Look, I’m just trying to—”

“No, you’re not!” Spencer's voice rose, his frustration boiling over. “You’re standing here questioning everything we’ve done while we’re running out of time. These girls are dying because no one here knows how to handle a case like this!”

The room fell into stunned silence. Spencer’s hands were trembling, his face flushed, his entire body coiled like a spring about to snap. The officer, wide-eyed, took a step back.

That’s when Hotch intervened.

“Reid,” Hotch’s voice was firm but calm. “That’s enough.”

Spencer turned toward Hotch, eyes still burning with barely contained anger. “We’re wasting time, Hotch. If we don’t move now-”

“You need to step away,” Hotch said, cutting him off with a steely gaze. “Right now, you’re doing more harm than good.”

Spencer looked like he was going to argue, but Hotch didn’t give him the chance. “Go back to the hotel. Get some rest.”

“I don’t need rest,” Spencer shot back, his voice tight with frustration. “I need to find these girls.”

“You’re exhausted, and you’re not thinking clearly,” Hotch continued, his voice hardening. “If you stay here like this, you’ll only make things worse. Go. Now.”

Spencer stood there for a moment, fists clenched, his chest rising and falling as he tried to hold himself together. 

But Hotch’s gaze didn’t waver, and after a long, tense silence, Spencer relented. Without another word, he stormed out of the precinct, the door slamming shut behind him.

The room stayed silent for a few seconds, everyone watching the door as if expecting Spencer to come back. But he didn’t. 

Hotch let out a slow breath, his jaw tight. “He needs to rest,” he muttered, more to himself than to the team, before turning back to the case. “Let’s get back to work.”

A few hours later, Hotch told the rest of you to head back to the hotel and get some sleep. You all needed it - there was nothing more you could do while exhausted.

That’s how you found yourself at the hotel bar after trying to check on Spencer. 

You needed a drink. You needed a moment to breathe.

As you walked into the bar, you saw him.

Spencer was sitting at the counter, staring down at a half-empty glass of whiskey. The sight made you pause. Spencer never drank.

You hesitated, watching him for a moment, unsure of whether to approach or let him have the solitude he seemed to crave. 

But seeing him like this - broken, still drowning in his grief and frustration of the case - it was impossible to just leave him there.

Taking a deep breath, you approached and slid into the seat next to him. He didn’t look up.

After a moment, you broke the silence. “Hey.”

Spencer blinked slowly, his eyes bloodshot, as if it took him a moment to register your presence. 

He didn’t say anything at first, just stared at the few drops of amber liquid left in his glass. His fingers tightened around the glass, knuckles going white.

“Sorry about today,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “This case is just... and the others this month were so...”

“I know,” you said softly, your heart breaking for him. 

Spencer was always so articulate, so precise with his words. Seeing him struggle to express himself felt unsettling. His usual clarity aand wits seemed to have vanished.

His eyes stayed fixed on the glass  “How are you holding up?” he asked, his voice cracking.

“Oh… I’m fine,” you replied. “We’ll figure it out. And Hotch already promised us a week off once this is over.”

“Really?” Spencer asked, his voice tight with a hint of nervousness.

“Yeah,” you said, trying to offer a comforting smile. “We all need it.”

He said nothing.

“Spencer,” you began softly, trying to gauge his reaction. “I know you’ve been thrown into work, and I understand why. But I also know you didn’t really have time to grieve for your mom. It’s been a lot, and I want to make sure you’re okay.”

You watched him closely, trying to read his expression. “We’ve been so focused on the cases and keeping things moving, but your well-being matters too. You don’t have to go through this alone. It’s okay to take a step back and let yourself feel what you’re feeling.”

You paused, giving him space to respond, hoping that your words would reach him.

He was too focused on work, too busy trying to stay afloat in a sea of pain and responsibility. It was eating away at him, and you couldn’t ignore it any longer.

You knew he was trying to push his grief aside, burying it under layers of work and duty. It was his way of coping, but you weren’t sure anymore if it was working. 

Spencer remained silent, his eyes still fixed on the glass. The room started to feel heavy and the silence grew more uncomfortable by the second.

You knew you had to do something to break through the barrier he’d built. 

You took a deep breath, trying to keep your voice gentle and inviting.

“Spencer,” you said softly, “how about we go for a walk? You know… we could clear our heads a bit and breathe some fresh air”

He didn’t respond immediately, but after a moment, he looked up at you with his eyes beautiful chocolate brown as always but tired and wary. 

You could see he was wrestling with the idea, but you hoped that the offer of a simple walk might give him the space he needed to open up. 

“Just a walk,” you continued, offering a small, encouraging smile. “No pressure. Just some fresh air. I need it.”

After a brief pause, Spencer nodded slowly. He stood up, still looking uncertain.

You walked together in silence, the crisp night air a welcome contrast to the hot and tiring day. 

The nearby park was quiet, illuminated by scattered streetlights that cast a gentle glow on the two of you and the empty path ahead. The rhythmic crunch of leaves under your feet was the only sound, offering at least just a moment of stillness in all the chaos.

After a while, you found a secluded bench nestled under a canopy of trees. You gestured for Spencer to sit, and he did, though he looked uneasy.

You took a seat beside him, giving him space but staying close enough to offer comfort.

You couldn’t even begin to fathom what he was going through. His family situation had never been easy, and now, left completely alone - it broke your heart.

Finally, Spencer spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know how to do this,” he said, his tone breaking with vulnerability. “She was the only family I had left… I don’t know how to do this.”

You turned to him, seeing the pain etched deeply into his features. 

His eyes were distant, filled with sorrow. His quiet admission was a stark contrast to the usual composure you were used to, and it hit you - the force of his raw grief and you felt an intense, helpless wish to erase it. You wished you could make it all go away. You wished you could take some of it from his heart to yours. 

Maybe together you could carry it all.

You imagined a world where grief could be split, a world where his pain could be lessened by your willingness to shoulder part of it. Would he let you carry some of it? 

“I keep thinking that if I stay busy if I just keep working, I won’t have to face it. But it doesn’t work like that. It just keeps coming back.” He swallowed hard, his voice trembling. “She was everything to me. I don’t know how to move on… how to live… without her.”

Spencer’s gaze remained fixed on the ground, his fingers gripping the edge of the bench as if it were the only thing keeping him from breaking down.

“I’ve been trying to hold it together, but it’s so hard,” he said, his voice cracking. 

“I’ve been taking care of her since I was a kid and... Over the years, I watched her mind slip away, losing bits and pieces of herself. It was like watching someone you love disappear in slow motion. And then, she started forgetting me too. I was the only one left to care for her, and it felt like I was losing her over and over again.And no matter how hard i tried, no matter what I did I couldn’t help it”

He continued, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. “And now… she’s gone for good, it’s like I’m left with this… huge void. I miss her so much, and I know how messed up it is but a part of me feels… relieved that she’s not suffering anymore. But it’s all so tangled up in my head. I don’t know if I should be sad that she’s gone or if I should feel guilty for feeling relieved that she’s finally at peace. I’m confused and lost and I don’t know what I feel and what I should feel.”

He looked at you, eyes pleading for understanding. “I thought I could handle it, that if I just kept going, I’d find a way through. I’d figure it out like always. I always know what to do but this… I don’t know.”

You let everything he said sink in and gently placed your hand over his, checking to make sure he was comfortable with the touch. 

“I can’t even begin to imagine what you’re feeling right now. It’s a lot. And it’s okay not to have all the answers immediately. Grieving is always messy and complicated, and it takes time. You don’t have to go through this alone, and there’s no need to rush. We’re here for you, and I’m here for you no matter what.”

His eyes glistened as he looked at you, the weight of his grief momentarily softened by your words. 

Without another word, you opened your arms, inviting him into a hug. He hesitated for just a moment before wrapping his arms around you.

As you held him close, you whispered, “You don’t have to carry this alone. I’m right here with you, and you can always talk to me okay?”

“Okay,” he whispered into your hair, his voice trembling slightly.

[chrattenthusiast]

Hate - Matthew sturniolo pt2

Authors note: the last part was inspired by all i wanted - paramore !!!!

Warnings- choking, spitting and ofc sex😆

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──────

The past week had been an agonizing descent into emotional chaos. Each day felt like a struggle to maintain composure as the memory of Matthew, the man you had vowed to hate, occupied every inch of my mind. Simple tasks became a challenge, as your thoughts were constantly hijacked by his presence, even in his absence. Desperate for a distraction, you convinced yourself that avoiding Matthew would be the solution, attempting to dodge him at every turn.

However, your well-intentioned strategy crumbled when Nick and Chris, refused to let you retreat into solitude. Dragged you against your will, they insisted on taking you to a random party, determined to shake you out of your self-imposed isolation. , you found yourself amidst a sea of strangers, the pounding music and swirling lights serving as a temporary escape from the last weekend how he knew every inch of your body, the way he pounded into you and how he always knew how to make you feel good.

Hey, are you listening?" The interruption jolted you back to the present, you replied with a forced, "Yeah, I am," masking the lie behind a half-hearted smile. My attention, however, was fixated on the man in front of me, who seemed oblivious to the fact that his words about his brand new car were falling on deaf ears. As he rambled on, his enthusiasm only fueled your growing irritation. The beer bottle in your hand became a tempting, makeshift weapon.

Glancing around the room, filled with sweaty bodies and the pungent scent of marijuana, you caught sight of Matthew. His gaze, like an invisible thread, connected with yours. His face contorted with a mixture of annoyance and anger as he witnessed the man boldly wrapping his arm around your waist. you couldn't help but smile, realizing that you were successfully getting under Matthew's skin. Testing your luck, you seized the opportunity to escalate the situation further, grabbing the man (whose name you had already forgotten) and planting a kiss on him. To your surprise, he didn't seem to mind; instead, his grip on your waist tightened.

Just as the tension reached its peak, the atmosphere shifted abruptly. The man was forcefully shoved away from you as you turned to see Matthew, his eyes shooting daggers at the now bewildered intruder.

"Bro, what the fuck is your problem" the man exclaimed in confusion as Matt stepped forward menacingly.

"Don’t ever touch her again, unless you enjoy the comfort of a hospital bed." Matt warned with an intensity that sent a shiver down the man's spine.

Stammering, he offered a shaky apology, “I didn’t know she was spoken for”

What a fucking pussy, you thought

Interrupted mid-thought, you found yourself yanked away from the growing crowd that had formed around. Matt's grip on your arm was firm, and as he pulled you away, the chaotic scene behind faded into the background.

“Where are we going Matt” — your left unanswered as he pulls you towards the direction his car.

“Get in” he says bluntly

“No, I’m good” you say

You find yourself pushed against a car, sandwiched between the cold metal and the warmth of Matthew's body pressing against yours. His proximity was unnerving, yet strangely electrifying. "Get in the car, Y/N, or I swear to God, I will spank you so hard you won’t be able to sit for days. You choose," he declared, his voice low and authoritative and of course you couldn't help but smirk at the unexpected threat.

"How chivalrous," you whispered, teasingly testing the boundaries. His response was immediate and filled with a kind of possessiveness you hadn't anticipated. "Only for you, sweetheart, although you seem to not get that. How many times do I need to fuck the shit out of you he began, his frustration evident, "before you understand that I do. not. want to see you with other men?"

“It sounds like you’re upset, aww matthew “ you say mockingly

“Did he really upset you?, Did you not like the way he was touching m-“ you’re instantly cut off when matt wraps his fingers around your neck slightly adding pressure

“Get in the backseat. Now” he whispers against your lips

Weird. Matt never acted impulsively. You instantly obey as his eyes showed a little desperation and you liked that. of course

You quickly slide into the back seat, with Matt following closely behind. Without delay, he seizes the back of your head, pulling you into a passionate kiss that feels both necessary and possessive. You have no complaints.

Tugging at your top in a demanding manner, you raise your hands, but instead, Matt forcefully tears your top in half, planting intense kisses all over your chest. Gripping your ankle, he pulls you into a reclined position.

Lifting your skirt without bothering to remove it, he slides down your panties and tucks them into his back pocket.

his fingers move through your slit back and forth inciting a moan from you, finding your clit he circles it. matt leans backward wanting a full view. wanting this moment engraved in his mind every time he thought of you. you move to palm him through his pants when he pins your hands on the seat. “ just be a good girl for me and sit back”

He inserts two fingers, his cool rings teasing your clit, creating a pleasurable friction. Your hips instinctively sync with his motions,

He tightens his grip around your neck. As he quickens the pace of his finger thrusts, you release another gasp of pleasure.

You try to hold in your sounds, trying to move away from his fingers he adds pressure to his grip around your neck. “where you tryna to go baby?, where’s that good girl that could take it all hmm”

“you were so confident a minute ago, yet you can’t handle my fingers,” he mocks

he decides to add a third finger, curling his fingers hitting that sweet spot he knew you loved.

“matt please “ you’re able to plead in the midst of your moans

“Isn't this what you wanted? I didn't give you enough attention, so you tried getting with someone who couldn’t even get you this wet” he says

you look down at how you were taking his fingers causing you to grow wetter, causing a small wet spot to the leathered seat

"Do you enjoy watching yourself?" he asks, and you respond with a soft whimper.

you’re about to hit that level of release, based on the lack of words being said by you. matt immediately pulls his fingers out earning a protest from you, which he ignores looking at you smugly he takes his fingers covered with your essence putting it to his mouth sucking off your juices he leans down connecting his lips with yours making you taste yourself.

“you taste that?, that’s all me. not him“ he reminds you

“if you wanna cum you’re gonna have to earn it, now take my pants off “ he says voice dripping with dominance

your shaky hands move to his belt unbuckling it. he takes a hold of the belt wrapping it around your wrist. you look at him confused sure it wasn’t unusual for matt to pull a stunt like this —but in public. with his brothers a street away from the both of you. gave you a rush of excitement

he takes of his boxers lining up with your entrance. he decides to tease you further. moving up your folds and without warning slams into you giving you harsh thrusts. giving you no leeway to adjust

you let out the loudest moan which he doesn’t stops. he likes this. he was always a fan of hearing how good HE made you feel

“that’s it, let it all out for me baby” he encouraged

“fuck you” you reply, Disliking how much influence he had on you, a feeling clearly rooted in the fear of experiencing heartbreak.

He clenches your jaw, making you open your mouth, then spits into it. "Swallow," he commands, and you comply, staring at him with lowered eyelashes.

“i know you can’t get enough of me, you’ll always come back to me. no matter how much you try to run away. you always come back. and i’ll make you see that “he replies to your insult.

Thrusting into your hips, he targets that familiar sweet spot, causing your eyes to roll back. His hand travels toward your throat, fully enclosing it. He maintains a firm grip, allowing just enough air for you to breathe, and you moan under the pressure. However, you find yourself struggling to breathe a little.

“ look at me” he says, and you oblige

“there is no one who could ever make you feel like this. i won’t share you with anyone else.”

"Yes, Matt," you cry out, tears welling in your eyes. He gently wipes them away as you continue to gaze at him, your hands clutching the ones he has wrapped around your neck.

“ you wanna breathe?“ he says adding more pressure but making sure he wasn’t inflicting harm onto you

“please ” you beg

“come on this dick if you wanna breathe baby” he says

His fingers rubbed against your clit, bringing you closer to your release, not slowing down his movements, the only intention in his mind was to make you cum. He lifted your legs and placed them on his shoulders, wanting to feel you deeper

Leading to a loss of focus as additional tears flowed down your face.

You're under his influence, absorbing all he provides, making sure to maintain eye contact—aware of his fondness for it, yet fearing he might stop if you looked away. Yet, you found appeal in the peculiar way he gazed at you.

Closing in on your face, he eliminates any personal space between you, driven solely by the desire to prevent your escape from him. Your eyes lock onto the silver metal wrapped around his neck, lightly brushing your face —making your walls squeeze around him tighter.

“ you got this baby, just a little longer for me yeah ”he encourages

his words giving you some sort of confidence you move your hips to meet his rythym aching for that release you were denied earlier. the car slowly moving with the bucking of your hips. and filled with the grunts matt made.

he leans down his lips meet yours, matt abandons your clit, one hand still wrapped around your neck his fingers graze your lower stomach pushing slightly feeling where he was buried deep. a silent laugh escapes his lips “ you feel that don’t you sweetheart do you see how well you’re taking every inch” he mocks clearly still mad over the recent events that took place earlier

“i just did that to make you mad, i don’t want him matt “ you choke out using your limited oxygen to pled your case

“say it then, tell me that you want me and no one else “ he replies

“ i want you and no one else matt” you pled. truth laced with every word that left your mouth

“come for me “ and you do instantly releasing all over his shaft clutching onto his tatted arm. he immediately release his hand that was wrapped around your neck and you take big breath. filling your lungs with oxygen.

he gripped onto your hips, pulling you impossibly close as he comes inside you. subconsciously mimicking your habit in seeking comfort from you as well.

“are you okay.” he asks staring at your neck that had imprints of his fingers. slight guilt washing over him fearful that he might’ve pushed you passed your boundaries.

“i’m okay matt” you scratch his scalp gently to reassure him that you were okay.

A hush envelops both of you, uncertainty filling the air. Neither of you knows what to say next. After months of mutual disdain, you both finally confessed to liking each other.

After minutes of mutual silence, with your eyes lowered and bodies still connected, Matt, buried in your embrace, finally summons the courage to speak. "Did you mean what you said?" he asks.

His words quicken your heart, and as you attempt to lift from under him, he holds you firmly in place.

"Please don't walk away from me.", he manages to say, still catching his breath,

You gaze at him, releasing your grip on his tousled hair, Unable to think coherently.

"You're joking, right? I mean, we hate each other, Matt," you say, aware that your words are a lie. Beneath all the arguing and name-calling, you love him. Yet, you're foolish enough to let fear cloud your judgment.

"please don’t lie to me “ he says

"I'll be straightforward since you're stubborn. You don't want to see me with other people, and neither do I," he says, his voice resonating with honesty.

"So, cut the bullshit and let me be the man you deserve. If you don't want that, I understand. Just please have the balls to tell me, and I'll leave you alone," he says, loosening his grip on your waist.

Testing the waters, you move, and he doesn't stop you. The unspoken tension hangs in the air, awaiting the resolution that could redefine their dynamic.

Allowing him to withdraw, you grimace slightly at the sensitivity. As Matt moves away, defeated, you stare back at him, your heart still pounding from his confession. Despite the tumultuous nature of your relationship, you halt yourself from self-destruction, reluctant to spoil another delicate aspect of your connection with Matt—though delicate might not be the perfect term to describe it.

Gently cradling Matt's face like a fragile porcelain mask, your hands trembling with fear of causing harm. In a tender moment, you press a soft kiss to his lips. That simple gesture speaks volumes, conveying your unspoken desire for him. In that shared intimacy, Matt understands, and what you wanted becomes clear – him.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

@mangosrar @mattsd0ll @christinarowie332 @loveesiren @cabincorematt

[rotbtd-edits]

The characters

Based on my Rotbtd story. The profiles are found on the computer version of my tumblr blog site, but I wanted to have some sort of collective post with them here too, while adding some details. Just because I like profiles 👍

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

The protagonists of Rotbtd

Hiccup

Age: 20 Height: 6'1" (185 cm) Home: Isle of Berk Guardian core: Friendship Likes: Dragons, flying, exploring, inventions and crafting, diplomacy, sketching, crabcakes, sarcasm, learning about dragons Dislikes: Cruelty, betrayal, arguing with dad, dishonesty, restrictions, being told what to do, manipulation, dragon abuse

An adventurous viking and the future Chief from Berk, Hiccup’s dream is to further study the dragons and explore the world. While being hesitant about Guardianhood at first, he’s a natural leader and keeps the team moving through hardships. As innovative technical genius Hiccup relies more on strategies and sometimes his stubborness of wanting to do things his way can even come off as stalling. Hiccup is the Guardian of friendship, symbolised by his bond with his dragon partner Toothless.

Merida

Age: 17-18 Height: 5'4" (164 cm) Home: DunBroch Guardian core: Courage Likes: Archery, horse-riding, adventures, training, sweets, having fun, free days off, story-telling, being a Guardian Dislikes: Nagging, tight clothes, restrictions, customs and traditions, inactivity, being told what to do, her mother's temper

A princess from the kingdom of DunBroch. Out of the four Merida is the first to embrace Guardianhood, seeing it as an escape from her fate at home and her mother’s demands. Wanting to take immediate action she can come off as hotheaded and inconsiderate, but she deeply cares for the well-being of the people and her team. Merida is an excellent archer and a loyal friend, stopping at nothing to help those in need. She’s the Guardian of courage.

Jack

Age: 17-18 Height: 5'8" (175 cm) Home: ??? (Burgess) Guardian core: Fun Likes: Pranks, flying, having fun, facing challenges, snowball fights, honesty, children, having friends and love Dislikes: Mind games, restrictions, friends' suffering, manipulation, being alone, cruelty, the Man in the Moon

Resurrected by the Man in Moon a few years earlier, Jack woke up confused and alone. Due to his distrust at the Man in Moon he also doubts the whole Guardianhood at first. A free spirit, Jack tends to hide his insecurities under jokes but under the bratty behaviour beats the brave heart of a Guardian. Jack possesses ice powers and cannot remember anything but glimpses of his past, making him an enigma. As the Guardian of fun he lightens up the team.

Rapunzel

Age: 18 Height: 5'5" (167 cm) Home: Kingdom of Corona Guardian core: Imagination Likes: Art, house chores, ducklings, adventures, baking, facing challenges, pranks, singing, being able to go outside Dislikes: Being alone, arguments, betrayal, selfishness, boredom, getting confined, dishonesty, wearing shoes

Born with mystical powers, Rapunzel was raised in isolation by her paranoid mother. Spending her days dreaming about the world outside, she’s always harboured love for adventure and embraces the journey. She can appear naive and insecure but in reality is very clever and resourceful. Her positive outlook also helps the team come together, though sometimes she gets frustrated at the bickering group. A great artist, Rapunzel’s the Guardian of imagination.

[julaibib]

I feel so heartbroken, and distressed. What can I do to feel better?

Sadness or is distressed needed in life; it is something that was felt by the best of those who came before us. Ya’qūb (ʿalayhi al-Salām) felt sad when he lost his son Yūsuf. Fāṭima (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhā) felt sad when she lost her father the Prophet Muḥammad (sallAllāhu ʿalayhi wasallam), to the extent that she did not recover until she departed from this world. When the Prophet (sallAllāhu ʿalayhi wasallam) lost his uncle Abū Tālib and his wife Khadījah (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhā), he, too, felt extremely sad. In fact, historians named this year ‘The Year of Sadness.’

There are three types of sadness. Al-huzn is sadness referring to what has occurred in the past, al-gham is a current state of sadness and al-hamm is the sadness of what may occur in the future.

A common trick of the shaytān is to isolate oneself when feeling sadness. Isolation is not the cure. The Prophet (sallAllāhu ʿalayhi wasallam) tells us that a believer who mixes with the people will be harmed whether you like it or not. Therefore, our mindset should encourage us on how to proactively overcome the state of sadness rather than allowing it to consume us.

Allāh says,

“And he called out within the darkness, ‘There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.’”

This is the du’ā of Yūnus (ʿalayhi al-Salām) by which he invoked Allāh (jalla wa ʿālā) whilst in the depths of the ocean within the belly of the whale. Allāh (jalla wa ʿālā) tells us immediately after this verse, that He rescued Yūnus (ʿalayhi al-Salām) from al-Gham. This is one of the three states of sadness mentioned above. Therefore, du’ās such as the above are ideal for a person feeling a current state of sadness.

“So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.”

Preparing for the reality of trial and strife is of utmost importance in Islam. The ideal strategy is that when times are good, we are fortifying our walls by remembering Allah, making duaa, being thankful for what we have, and detaching ourselves from the dunya (worldly life). 

If we have worked on purifying our hearts during ease, then when hardship hits, it will extract from the good and pure in our spiritual cups. We would have practiced gratefulness so we will know how to be grateful during loss. 

[manorpunk]

To Seize and Hold - Act II

Distracting myself from election scrolling.

+++++

Jacob Martin Rider is modeled after a very particular type of guy, a type of guy who is intimately familiar to grand strategy gamers, central European history buffs, and anyone else who knows what a ‘Hussar’ is. That type of guy is the cavalry dandy.

The cavalry dandy is a grizzled, battle-tested, hard-drinking killer, a 17th century Rambo who charges into the nearest fight before he even knows who’s at war. The cavalry dandy is also a vainglorious fop obsessed with preening and fancy clothes. He is a perfect example of how changing and nebulous something like ‘masculinity’ is: the military is supposed to be the domain of masculine manly men, hard-eyed killers fighting other hard-eyed killers, but it is also a place of elaborate ritual, fancy uniforms with braids and sashes, dance-like ceremonies of precision movements, even those big dumb Air Force swords. Martial culture is the epitome of homiesexual. Or, to put it in Jacob’s words:

“If you want success on the battlefield, you need a fag. Alexander the Great? Huge fag. Frederick the Great? Huge fag. Napoleon? He’s French, so it’s complicated.”

But seriously, who the hell is this Jacob Martin Rider guy? Here’s what has been pieced together from a combination of primary sources, interviews, and good old-fashioned rumor, as will be revealed throughout the story:

Back in the day, JMR was a self-defense instructor who worked with queer groups, training people in martial arts and shooting. By 205X, when the remnants of America were bogged down in multiple wars with massive fronts, Jacob gathered his former students and lovers together into a small army and offered his services to the New US Army. He was hastily given the rank of Major by general Tony Poolsupplies and stationed in the northern Michigan front of the Quebec War.

Tony had little faith or trust in Jacob, however, calling him a “dollar-store Napoleon,” and he plunked Jacob down at a quiet outpost along Michigan’s coastline and refused to give him any orders. Jacob, meanwhile, privately referred to Tony as a “McClellan-ass bitch” and accused him of deliberately prolonging the war to get kickbacks from arms manufacturers.

Despite being roadblocked by his superiors, Jacob worked tirelessly on scouting, surveying, and reconnaissance, and noticed what appeared to be a contingent of the Imperial Quebecois Army preparing to reorganize by transporting reinforcements across Lake Huron in unarmed and unarmored ships. He recognized the opportunity for a rapid attack that could isolate and scatter the opposing army, potentially winning the war in one fell swoop. When Poolsupplies left him on read, Jacob decided to go ahead with the attack anyway. The Battle of Lake Huron was a resounding success for the Great Lakes Republic, and his use of small-arms drones for screening has arguably been influential in the development of mid-21st century drone tactics.

Despite his success, Jacob was immediately stripped of his rank and put on trial for disobeying orders, or lack thereof, and launching an independent offensive. And also for a lot of procurement fraud, that’s how he got rich but everyone forgets about that part.

Fast-forward, and enter Sunny Roosevelt. She thinks that JMR would make a perfect candidate for her defense advisor - talented and experienced enough to be useful, and crazy enough that she could always find a reason to drop him like last season’s merch. There’s the perfect opportunity to test him, too. Northern Michigan looks like it’ll be crawling with right-wing forest militias - again, sigh - so he can start off by getting a lay of the land and drawing up some contingency plans. What Sunny does not know is that there’s nothing Jacob loves more than strolling into a small town and pissing everyone off with his public flamboyance.

It does not take long for Jacob and Liam to both capture each other’s interest. The attempts by Liam’s father to keep the two of them apart other only gives it the sweet, sweet allure of ~*~forbidden love~*~. After Jacob saves Liam from being cornered by Byron Weber (one of Remington’s large adult sons), Liam enthusiastically agrees to be whisked away from his hometown to live at Jacob’s mansion.

<gratuitous sex scene>

And what a life it is! Peace and luxury, no need to work, and he can finally get in touch with the side of him that he’d had to keep hidden for all his life. Things slow down a bit as we take some time to develop the relationship, reveal Jacob’s backstory, adjust to the new routine, and have lots of gratuitous sex scenes. The fun and games before we raise the stakes and have the big midpoint moment, to put it in plotting terms.

<gratuitous sex scene>

Liam gets to know the new cast of characters, including a trio of maids who seem to share a special, as-yet-undisclosed relationship with Jacob:

Anton Smolenski, from Moldova. Short and somehow has naturally pink hair. He is the stern and serious one of the trio, perpetually scowling with his hands on his hips or his arms crossed.

Brandi Hyde, from Tidewater. Tall, gaunt, and stooping with long blonde hair, facial scars, and a wide, unsettling grin. The creepy one of the trio, fond of eye shadow, knives, and giggling slowly.

Ismai’l “Izzy” al-Iskander, from Balochistan. The suspiciously sweet one, with sleepy eyes, perpetually tousled hair, and a fidgety smile.

Still, it’s not long before a sense of unease starts to nag at Liam, although everyone else assures him that it must be him shaking off the results of his upbringing. For instance, he gets some odd looks for practicing Founderism - the fun new Christian heresy where the Founding Fathers are worshipped as saint-demigods. It’s not just Liam’s upbringing, though, it’s also his knowledge that he won’t be able to stay here forever - and even if he could, he wouldn’t want to. He wants to keep a sense of independence, the knowledge that he’d be okay if he ever had to leave, but he quickly learns that it won’t be easy. First, he’ll need to get his future-GED to qualify for citizenship. Classes are all online, and he tries to find a study group or a way to meet with other students, but other people tell him shit like “oh yeah if you have a Buck.it account you can sign in through Toastr. Do you have Bip? You need Bip.”

<gratuitous sex scene>

Liam continues to play Aivrcade, but one day when he signs in, he’s suddenly locked into a private server that he’s never heard of before. When it loads, he’s in a room with Sunny Roosevelt. She is distinctly not cute and bubbly. In fact, she’s dressed like a mob boss, with a red suit and large shades. She tells Liam that Jacob’s been talking about him - not a lot, but she picks up on these sorts of things. Jacob seems to like him. A lot. And that’s a very useful bit of information. Especially since Sunny needs someone to keep an eye on Jacob. Hint hint.

Liam objects - after all, he hasn’t exactly been trained in espionage. How could he pull this off?

Don’t worry, Sunny says, you grew up queer in a small town, so you obviously have some practice with hiding things. Besides, there’s a lot of money in it for you if you say yes. You’re trying to be independent, right? Don’t look so surprised, of course I knew that, I’m Sunny. With the money I can give you, you’ll be set for life without a sugar daddy.

Liam asks if he has to go along with this or if he can say no.

That’s a very good question, Sunny says. Can you say no to me? I suppose there’s only one way to find out. If you really want to know the answer that badly. :)

Liam says yes, and Sunny gives him the password for the private server he can use to contact her to give her all the juicy details.

As a result, Liam starts to look at Jacob differently, the things he says and does and what they mean. He listens in on Jacob’s conversations, and 

Turns out the maid trio have been with Jacob since the Battle of Port Huron - they look much younger than they are thanks to future-drugs. Anton thinks Jacob has been going soft and has been privately goading him to get back to his roots. What happened to the old Jacob, the one who trained people, taught them how to protect themselves? Goddammit, it’s time to bring back the Battletwinks. Anton is like a foil to Liam’s desire for self-reliance and autonomy, taking it in a more aggressive direction - “autonomy means forcibly carving out a niche for yourself and remaining vigilant in a cruel world.”

I notice now that this is a bit messy - I mean obviously, it's an outline, and it's the middle parts, it's the different threads that will have to be bound together very carefully. Setting up the dominoes to have a satisfying payoff.

<gratuitous sex scene>

[thehistoryprincesse]

𝒫𝓇𝒾𝓃𝒸𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝐼𝓈𝒶𝒷𝑒𝓁 𝑜𝒻 𝒫𝒶𝓇𝓂𝒶 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝑀𝒶𝓇𝒾𝒶 𝒞𝒽𝓇𝒾𝓈𝓉𝒾𝓃𝒶, 𝒟𝓊𝒸𝒽𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝒯𝑒𝓈𝒸𝒽𝑒𝓃

Happy pride month everyone!! This month I will be trying to touch on some of my favorite queer icons in history. :)

Maria Christina Johanna Josepha Antonia was born on 13 May, 1742, the fifth daughter of Maria Theresa of Austria and Francis I, Holy Roman Empire, and elder sister to Marie Antoinette. Maria was deemed to be her mothers favorite child, which shows obvious in the letters between the two. This favoritism sparked much jealousy in her siblings, teasing and critizing her heavily, this favoritism, of course came with many upsides. She received a stupendous education and was regarded as perfectly speaking french, italian, and english, aswell as being an exceptional painter. But as a mothers favoritism often does, it isolated Maria greatly, which although having fell in love with multiple men in her life, none of the matches were quite supported by her mother.

Isabel of Parma on the other hand, did not have much love with her mother, Isabella of Bourbon-Parma was born on 31 December, 1741, to Philip, Duke of Parma, and Louise Elisabeth of France, the eldest daughter of Louis XV and Marie Leszczyńska. At a young age Isabel was recorded to have threw violent tantrums frequently, which in turn her mother Elisabeth disciplined the girl so severely that isabel’s paternal grandmother Queen Elisabeth Farnese of Spain (de facto), compared the discipline to a military drill, (although Queen Elisabeth was recorded as to promoting this discipline.), soon enough their relationship grew so stressed that Isabel’s mother regarded the young girl as stubborn and unbearable to raise. Isabel after being dropped into the hands of her governess and forgotten about by her mother, quickly turned to mischief and curiousity, being recorded to play all day and night with no break, isabel writing, 'My head was always in the clouds, occupying itself with a hundred thousand ideas at once'.

Due to the influences of Madame de Pompadour, Louis XV and Maria Theresa of Austria came together to strengthen and ally the houses of bourbon, and that of the habsburg. In this alliance resulted many marriages, one of them being of Isabel of Parma, (a bourbon princesse) and Joseph II, Archduke of Austria, and the elder brother to Maria Christina. Her marriage with Joseph seemed to be impartial, he was recorded to have been taken by love (although he wasn’t really sure how to show it) with his new bourbon wife, but it seemed this love was awfully one sided, Isabel having had no opinion on her new husband.

During this period of time, Isabel was said to have grown majorly depressed and borderline suicidal. In a letter to Marie Christine saying; ‘What should the daughter of a great prince expect? Her fate is unquestionably most unhappy. Born the slave of the people’s prejudices, she finds herself subjected to this weight of honours, these innumerable etiquettes attached to greatness… In the end the effort is made to establish her. There she is condemned to abandon everything, her family, her country–and for whom? For an unknown person, whose character and manner of thinking she does not know… sacrifice to a supposed public good, but in fact rather to the wretched policy of a minister who can find no other way for the two dynasties to form an alliance which he pronounces indissoluble–and which, immediately it seems advantageous, is broken off…’

By the Isabel reached the age of twenty she was extremely successful in most everything she did, she continued her education, helped her husbands military strategies, and was said to have painted and decorated many rooms in the schobrunn palace, many of which are still on display today.

In the midst of her life in Vienna, it was obvious that Isabel and Maria had grown awfully close, many letters survive today of their close bond with eachother, clearly showing how Isabel had taken a liking to her husbands sister, instead of him.

“The confusion which reigns in a certain drawer which lives in my room, where are to be found together and without rhyme or reason a political tract, a pile of letters, a comic opera, a vaudeville, a treatise on education, a clavier part, some moral reflections. A sermon jostles a treatise on all types of foolishness, prayers are mixed up in a paper devoted to declaring my love to you, letters from the emperor muddle up with letters of a hundred persons who are indifferent to me, and with those letters which are so dear to me and constitute the sweetness of my life.”

Unfortunately, apart from one responding letter to Isabel, none of Maria’s correspondence to her sister-in-law survived. But it is clear that at some point, Maria had either fallen out with Isabel, or confessed to her that they could no longer continue their rendezvous, this is made clear in a very passionate letter Isabel had written.

“I am writing you again, cruel sister, though I have only just left you. I cannot bear waiting to know my fate, and to learn whether you consider me a person worthy of your love, or whether you would like to throw me into the river…. I can think of nothing but that I am deeply in love. If I only knew why this is so, for you are so without mercy that one should not love you, but I cannot help myself.”

Sadly, shortly after making this letter, Isabel passed away at the age of 21 due to smallpox, aware that she was bound to pass soon, Isabel wrote one last letter to her dear Maria. Advising her on how to navigate and survive the court of Vienna, and how to convince her mother on a marriage.

Clearly, Maria took his letter with utmost sincerity, as after after mourning for much much longer then required, Maria had convinced her mother on a marriage, ending up being the only daughter of Maria Theresa to marry for love, instead of convenience. That suitor being the Prince Albert of Saxony, a man with no fortune or inheritance.

[princess-of-the-corner]

ML Plot Points: Fu and S3 Finale

After the Ladybug Replacement arc, Hawkmoth is recovering while Viceroy takes over the akuma business. They quickly realise that quantity over quality is no longer a viable strategy since they have to deal with 4 to 7 heroes in any given attack. As such, they take a break for a couple of days while waiting for an emotion they can get something useful out of.

The akuma in question is Sandboy. Which would be used to flesh out all the heroes and give Fu a more serious nightmare about his failures.

After that comes Feast. Starts the same, but Fu goes with Ladybug and Chat Noir into Feast and is the one to break the amokised object. Also, This ep is the one when Hawkmoth and MAyura figure out where Fu lives.

I’m not sure If I’d add any more akuma attacks in the time period between the Ladybug Replacement and Feast. Those two are the only really necessary ones, with Feast happening directly before the finale.

And thus, Love Eater happens. (Sidenote, instead of the floating head ballon, I’d have them be a gold and blue two headed snake with the get along shirt wrapped around them. Think a King Taijitu from RWBY). Hawkmoth tries to convince Chloe to get akumatised and it doesn’t work, she just tells him off and sneaks off to fight the akuma. Instead of that, Hawkmoth just gives Lila a butterfly and tells her to stay on standby until he says the word. Hawkmoth has purposefully has Love Eater be more difficult so that all seven heroes will have to be involved. Once all of them are there, he de-akumatises the Bourgeois coupled and akumatises Lila into Hoaxer with the goal of having her distract them for as long as possible.

As soon as Lila is akumatised, Mayura makes a tiny butterfly Sentimonster, has it go into the massage parlour and she changes it so it’s the size of the building. Horse!Fu makes it out with the miracle box, but barely and is immediately confronted by Hawkmoth, Mayura and the Sentimonster.

Fu has had it rough these past few episodes. The Ladybug replacement arc forced him to admit that he’s still making mistakes and that he’s clearly making things worse for the girl who he saw as a granddaughter. Sandboy forced him to accept that the Order was messed up from the beginning and that even if what happened was his fault, he can’t afford to keep punishing himself and everyone he chooses to isolation. Lastly, Feast forced him to face the literal embodiment of his mistake and the Order’s sins.

He can’t keep going the way he’s been going. Even if it’s what the Order would have had him do, it’s wrong.

So Fu just looks at them and apologises. He tells them that, truthfully, he doesn’t know how to help their loved one and that it was wrong of him to lead them on just to get their miraculi. They deserved better. Since Hawkmoth has literal telepathic powers, so they know he’s not lying. It’s a nice moment between a traumatised old man who is finally trying to do better and the two people he screwed over.

Alas, it’s too late for reconciliation. Fu waited too long and the two of them have done too much. Letting them have the miraculi is simply not an option, so Fu does the only thing he can:

He breaks the miracle box and makes portals beneath every miraculous, sending them to a location where he thinks the heroes will find them.

Thus begins the second most interesting fight I’ve foreshadowed in the posts about world building and powers.

-Hawkmoth has telepathy powers and can communicate his intentions to Mayura. This means he can predict what Fu will do and that his teamwork with Mayura and the Sentimonster near perfect.

-Mayura, since she has both the Amok and the peacock miraculous, can control and change the Sentimonster at will. Want to give it a snake head from it’s back that lunges at Fu? A bunch of insect limbs as sharp as swords? Wings? A fuckton of limbs/tentacles? Make it bigger or smaller depending on the situation? She can do so.

-Lastly, Fu with the horse can make portals. Since he had the miraculi since he was 8 and is now almost 200 he is the strongest current holder and he has absolutely no limits. He’ll feel awful afterwards, but it’s for the best. Favourite ideas include:

Launching himself through moving portals to pick up speed and lunge at them them from weird angles,

Throwing the horseshoe and when they parry it, sending it through a portal so it still hits them.

Portal-Cutting a building, making it go through a set of vertical portals so it builds up speed and sending it through a third portal to launch it right at them.

Portal-cutting the Eiffel Tower in specific parts so it collapses on top of them.

Canon had Fu go out like a bitch. HC had Fu go out like a bitch offscreen. I may not like the character, but I can let him go feral in his last moments. The man should have one cool fight scene.

Eventually, the heroes manage to beat Hoaxer and join the fight, at which point, Mayura just makes the Sentimonster really big and violent so they can flee. They at least got the grimoire, that’s. more than they had before.

Fu gives up guardianship and tells Ladybug where he sent the miraculi, since he can’t be sure they’ll find them. His last words to her are: “Don’t repeat my mistakes. Don’t be a Guardian, be a leader.”

-

OOF BUT THIS IS DOPE

[amelikos]

Some character notes and episode notes for HZ044, writing them down for future reference.

Friede went to check the strange tower on the isolated island, and he eventually saw Spinel and his Pokemon there. He goes back to the ship and calls for a meeting. Different from how he reacted in HZ014 when he followed Spinel's Rarecoil and fell in his trap (and didn't mention it to the crew afterwards). This time, he is sharing all the information he has instead of rushing directly into things.

Back on the ship, Friede shows the footage he got and Liko recognizes Spinel as the one who stole her pendant and mentions that Sango (she used her name) said they were going to summon Rayquaza, so Friede assumes they actually have a way to do it (maybe by using a machine or something). Dot offers to make a shutdown program that works on any machine and mentions that she cannot forgive "that guy" (referring to Spinel). Liked that they still included their kind of rivalry, given that Spinel's introduction arc overlapped with Dot coming out of her room and getting Kuwassu as a partner. Dot got tricked multiple times by Spinel, and she wants to be involved this time too, because it's personal for her.

Friede suggests using a boat to get to the island because going by ship or on Lizardon would immediately give him away. Liko and Roy want to tag along as well. Friede is about to refuse because it's dangerous but doesn't finish his sentence once he sees how determined they both look and eventually accepts. I really like that they keep emphasizing that things are dangerous, makes things feel grounded.

Liko and Roy eventually go to the island and go through a forest to get to the tower, along with Friede and Landau. There are wild Pokemon who don't seem used to humans and they try not to stand out by not making any noise. Eventually they get to the tower and Friede warns Liko and Roy to be careful. The door was open, which makes Friede suspect something is wrong but he still goes inside and ends up being locked there. Friede tells Liko and Roy that they should go ahead without him. Liko and Roy are both worried but Landau tells them to believe in Friede and continue onwards. Liko takes a deep breath to regain her composure and they all decide to look for where Rayquaza might appear. Love the small moments with Liko being worried and her just taking a moment to breathe to calm herself down, it feels real.

Spinel and Friede get to interact face to face for the first time. Friede recognized his voice and referred to him by the words he used back in HZ014, and Spinel calls him by his name and professor status. Spinel revealed that the place was built just to imprison Friede. I just like the implications that he did all of that just to trap Friede and isolate him from the others and that he was going to wait for him there, which implies that he acknowledges him as a threat and wants to delay him. Love how cunning Spinel is in general, his strategies involve some kind of deception and distraction, isolating his opponents and luring them away, which he did with both Friede and Liko in HZ014.

Somewhere else, Sango is skeptical and asks Agate if their plan will really attract Rayquaza. She also wonders where Amethio is and calls him "bocchan" (very important lore, thank you Sango for the casual reveal). Agate says that they'll execute the plan without him and that it was Spinel's idea. Sango says it's a shame he's missing out and adds that Spinel hates Amethio. Onyx tells her to stop blabbering and to get back in position, which annoys Sango but she does it anyway. Onyx shakes her head at her www He really has to put up with a lot with her (but he still cares).

As an aside, Sango's words about Spinel hating Amethio were interesting... I wonder how much of that is true. Spinel usually keeps a lot of information to himself, so the fact that his supposed dislike for Amethio was so apparent that even Sango saw it? Maybe he doesn't care about hiding it, maybe he can't hide it because Amethio irritates him that much? Maybe he feels like that because Amethio is too honest and straightforward in his approach, which is very different from how Spinel acts? I think that for someone like Spinel, being anything else than "indifferent" towards someone is a feat, so Amethio is "special" on some level... (Spinel finds very few people "fascinating" so far, we know Liko being the key to something had him intrigued, and he's also interested in Friede) He did keep up with Amethio's training and observed it back in HZ034, and last time they both interacted, Amethio did agree with Spinel in HZ027... So I wonder what's up with Spinel potentially hating Amethio, and why he may feel that way in the first place.

Back in the tower, Spinel talks about the device he made. Basically a resonance generator which recreates the energy Terapagos emits when calling to Rayquaza. Friede wonders if the Explorers can beat Rayquaza, to which Spinel says that three skilled Explorers are on the job, so they might be able to do something. Friede says that Spinel didn't strike him as the type to rely on others, but Spinel says he is just using them. Very good banter and back and forth here, I love how we get a view of how Friede considers Spinel and how methodical and calculating Spinel is too.

Friede and Spinel are about to battle, when Friede realizes he can't use Lizardon in that confined space (which is also why Spinel lured him there). He decides to send Cap to battle, and Spinel wonders if he is being underestimated (just like Amethio back in HZ002, and Friede remembered Amethio said the same thing). Blacky going full out in battle was great to see, and Spinel's battle style was interesting! Blacky knowing Reflect (a move reducing damage) says a lot about Spinel's relationship with his Pokemon too. We got a small exchange between Friede and Cap during the battle, when Cap shows him the small crack made on the and lets him know they should use this to escape.

Back to Liko and Roy, they are looking for the Explorers and Terapagos reacts to something. They can all feel Rayquaza is about to appear and it does eventually happen. (The BGM used between 12:10 and 12:20 was great and I hope it ends up in the OST if there is ever one)

Nanjamo was shown briefly livestreaming, so I wonder if she'll catch footage of Rayquaza.. Liko, Roy and Landau head to where Rayquaza is, while the Explorers start attacking him. Rayquaza was shown reacting to the sound similar to Terapagos and it felt like he stopped an attack after hearing it, I feel like this showed Rayquaza's soft side in a way? Rayquaza appeared after hearing "Terapagos" calling out to him and stopped whatever he was about to do upon hearing that sound again, so he is definitely not indifferent to Terapagos's cries.

Meanwhile, Dot announces that she finished the shutdown program but needs to get close to the device to activate it. She seems hesitant at first, and Murdock suggests doing it instead of her because he is worried about her being in danger. However, Dot says she will do it because Liko and Roy are fighting too and she is inspired to do the same to be on the same level as them. While Murdock is still worried, he is both proud and supportive of her wishes and says he'll lead her there. (Dot really grew to appreciate her friends and is pushed to act, be braver, and go out of her comfort zone thanks to them. Her development these past episodes has been great to witness.)

Back to Friede vs Spinel, they keep battling and Friede eventually manages to use Spinel's moves against him and break the wall to run away. Their VAs were really good in that scene btw (loved the way Spinel said いかさま whenever he ordered that move, and the way Friede said "sorry, I broke the place~" was a bit too much... weirdly teasy-sounding too in a way, which I loved.. Makoto Furukawa and Yashiro Taku are just great fits for their characters and their acting elevates literally any scene they are in). Either way, Friede leaves and Spinel considers him interesting now and wants to play with him some more~ So he potentially got himself a new obsession and wants to know more about Friede. I hope their dynamics will be expanded upon in the future because they are intriguing (and quite similar in some ways? Given that they both enjoy researching in some ways).

Two other things I loved was the non-conclusive aspect of the battle and Blacky's reaction. I love that HZ keeps showing non-conclusive battles because they tell a kind of story too, and that Friede doesn't finish battles if he doesn't need to. The context of each battle he takes part in is always very different (which is why it's interesting when he does engage Amethio in battle and gets into them a lot, but that's another story), and the story doesn't force battles to keep going for the sake of it. It's not cowardly to prioritize other things and HZ shows that the protag and hero side can run away. Running away or using distractions aren't only things antagonists or enemies do, and there is no moral judgement made about it, which I honestly appreciate.

Blacky's reaction was also interesting because as Friede and Cap left, I think she was growling? Which potentially shows that she may have wanted to finish the battle and knew she had the upper hand (darkness being her element too, being trapped in there was convenient) and was confident about her skills. Yet, back in HZ016, Blacky immediately wanted to back off once Oliva came out so she knew about the potential danger then. I think it shows Blacky doesn't overestimate her abilities (backing away from a confrontation that might be too dangerous, and knowing when things are in her and Spinel's favor).

Back to Rayquaza, Liko and Roy do what they can to stop the Explorers. Roy thought of using Stomping Tantrum to make Agate lose her balance (quick thinking on his part!), and called Kaiden to repel Agate's Ultra Ball. (I hope we see Kaiden more in chapter 3 because his appearance here was short and quick)

Dot eventually jumps into the scene in her Gurumin costume and manages to disable the device by connecting her Rotom Phone to it, thanks to Kuwassu and Kanuchan's help. That's the first victory Dot had against Spinel in a way, since she could interfere with his plan somehow (I do hope there is more to their rivalry in the future, still). Kanuchan eventually starts crying since the whole situation was scary for her, so Dot comforts her and calls her back to her Pokeball. Liko and Roy praise Dot for her feat, so Dot hides her face with her again before accepting their compliments. (It was cute. She clearly was happy about their words but she was still a bit embarassed.)

Eventually, Rayquaza breaks free from the ice and salt crystals. Agate starts getting visibly worried (I liked seeing another side of her since she is usually so composed and seems like the most levelheaded of the Explorers compared to the others.. she also got worried for Sango later on). Rayquaza launches Draco Meteor which hits a bunch of stuff in the area. Sango snaps and charges towards Rayquaza to use Self-Destruct (I love her battle style and how unhinged she is). The move manages to hurt Rayquaza and sends him crashing into the Brave Asagi. While Orio, Murdock, Mollie and the other Pokemon are still on the ship. Liko and the others are horrified. (Friede's expression, particularly, was good at the end.)

Anyway, great episode! I missed Kureha Matsuzawa's writing (last ep he wrote was HZ032 with Lapras joining Liko and the others, and Lucius flashback).

[weekendpassrevoked]

Easy's Songbird - Chapter Three

Orlando, Florida, February, 1942

Her family was obviously not very happy with her when she returned home that afternoon, uniform in hand. In fact, her mother didn’t speak to her for a week after how upset she was. She started speaking with her after they dropped Lucas and Cameron off at the train station and she sensed how upset Isabella was.

The worker had been skeptical about receiving her information when she signed up. Technically, she wasn’t allowed to, considering she was still 16, but after confirming her birth date, she was allowed to continue the process. 

Isabella didn’t feel excited, more queasy than anything. Her gut was telling her something was going to happen and she just didn’t know what.

It was on February 24th, her 17th birthday, did she finally figure out what it was. 

She had come home from school, exhausted. She had been restless recently. Nerves finally getting to her. When she walked into the dining room, she found her parents and Maya around the table, unreadable expressions on their faces.

Uneased, she finally broke the silence. 

“So, is everything okay or are yall going to leave me in the dark?”

Surprisingly, it had been Maya to finally answer her. 

“いさ, すわて”

She felt fear crawl up her throat, was it Michel? Had something happened to Lucas or Cameron?

Her father spoke up, voice tense. “Te llegó una carta en el correo.”

Her eyebrows furrowed, a letter in the mail for her wasn’t anything unusual. So what the hell were they playing at?

Taking the letter from her father, she finally understood why.

“ United States War DepartmentWashington, D.C.February 15th, 1942

Miss Isabella M. VegaOrlando, Florida

Subject: Assignment to Special Project "Blitz"

Miss Vega,

After careful review of your familial background, language qualifications, and exemplary educational record, it is my duty to inform you that you have been selected for participation in a newly-formed initiative, codenamed Project Blitz . This project represents a significant advancement in the United States Army's medical deployment strategy. As part of this experimental program, you will be assigned to a unit of Airborne Infantry , providing medical support to combat soldiers during airborne operations in enemy territory.

The role you are being asked to undertake is unprecedented in military history, and as such, will require exceptional skill, adaptability, and discipline. You will be expected to operate under extreme conditions, often isolated from traditional support structures, and your courage and ability to innovate in the face of adversity will be critical to the success of the program.

You will be attached to the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Easy Company , currently in training for airborne operations. As part of Easy Company, you will parachute into combat zones alongside the infantry, providing direct medical support on the front lines. This assignment is not without risk, but the War Department is confident in your ability to meet the extraordinary demands of this operation.

Your orders are to report to Camp Toccoa, Georgia, no later than March 10th, 1942 , for further briefing and specialized training. You will receive additional details upon arrival.

It is important to note that your assignment to Project Blitz is considered classified . Discussions regarding the nature of your assignment, or the existence of this project, outside of official military channels are strictly prohibited.

The War Department expresses its full confidence in your abilities and looks forward to your contributions to this groundbreaking initiative. Your performance in this role will not only aid in the immediate needs of the war effort but may also pave the way for future generations of women in the military.

Respectfully,Lt. Col. James A. MerrittPersonnel DivisionWar Department

Isabella’s heart pounded, her hands shaking. How the hell had her name made it all the way to D.C?

Her father cleared his throat, looking at her severely as if he was trying to see right through her. 

“ Vas a aceptar?”

She gulped, this had been what she had always wanted right? To do something and prove herself? To be just as capable as the men on the front lines?

“ Si.”

That night, she had her birthday cake. For now, she would enjoy her last birthday at home, surrounded by those who cared for her. Her parents had bought her a new guitar strap along with a new journal. Usually, she would just doodle and write new music in her journals, but this time around she decided she would start writing in it once she started her training. Lucas had gotten her more veils for church, while Cameron got her new art supplies. They’d made sure to leave it with her mom before they left. Then, Maya excitedly brought in a box all the way from her room.

“あなたのお兄さんと私は、この誕生日を特別なものにしたいと思いました。あなたが子供たちの面倒をたくさん見てくれた��かげです。私たちはこれを作ってもらい、私の家族の助けを借りて、日本から送ってもらいました。”

Her eyes widened. She carefully received the box from her, placing it gently on the table. She took the lid off, not knowing what to expect. Inside was the most beautiful kimono she had ever seen. The furisode was dark green, with delicate light green flower patterns. The obi pink and green, along with a pink obiage and obijime. It came with a beautiful white juban with the haneri having flower embroidery. But the most beautiful part was the haori; an off-white with sakura and crane patterns.

She felt tears roll down her cheeks, too stunned to speak. How could she even repay them for this?

“Your お兄さん and I had this made for you. There is still much time until you turn 20, but we hope that when you do, you will be able to wear this for the coming of age ceremony. But, who knows? Maybe you will meet some 素敵な兵士 while you are away that will dignify wearing this.” Maya grinned. 

Furisode were traditionally only used for very special events, like the coming of age ceremony or weddings. Maybe Maya and Michel hoped she would meet someone soon? Isabella was never romantically adept, especially with how religious she was, Lucas and Cameron being her friends and coincidentally being male was pure luck at its finest. 

Isabella doubted she could even take this with her to training, and even if she could, it was unlikely the men training for war against the Germans and Japanese would enjoy seeing their medic dressed in the enemy's traditional clothing, but she would do it for Maya. Maya, her only sister, who had been there with her through thick and thin ever since she met her when she was only a girl. 

Yes, Isabella wasn’t ethnically or racially Japanese, but the culture had been a part of her since she was a child and she had grown up with it. Maybe that’s what was most beautiful about the United States, how culturally diverse it is. 

She carefully put the lid back on the box and slid from her chair, kneeling with her head touching the ground. She sobbed, “心から感謝いたします.” As she cried, she heard Maya quickly rush up from her chair, flustered, begging her to stand. 

As she finally stood, wiping the tears from her eyes, she saw her parents hugging Maya, thanking her all the same. Suddenly, she felt a pang of grief in her heart. Maya said Michel had planned this too. Her brother, who despite being so far and in so much danger, still thought of her and her future. She missed him terribly. 

Anzu ran up to her, begging to be carried. She brought a drawing with her, hastily drawn in a way only a child could. She hugged her tight, confused over the strange commotion, but still excited to give her only aunt her birthday gift.

“Isa. I made you this.” Anzu whispered in her ear. “I hope you like it.”

It was the entire family, crudely drawn with love. She smiled through her tears, putting the drawing on the table so as to not ruin it. “Oh my sweet girl. Thank you.”

“Why are you crying?”

“Well Anzi, I have to go somewhere far away for a while.” she sniffled. Anzu tilted her head to the side, wide-eyed. 

“Like papa?”

Her heart hurt again, how long had it been since Anzu saw her father?

“Yeah sweetie, like papa.”

Anzu giggled. “You’ll be back, so why are you sad?” She let out a giggle after hearing her innocent reply. “You’re right Anzizi, I won’t be sad anymore.”

“Good!”

The night carried on, tears no longer shed and laughter aplenty. The next day, her family helped her pack for her trip. She put her new uniforms neatly folded in her bag with help from her mother, along with some normal clothes. She took her journal and some stationary with a picture of the whole family, her new veils for mass, her bible and school books to keep her sharp. She decided she would take the kimono by hand, and if they indeed said she couldn’t keep it, then she would mail it back home for safe keeping. 

Anzu sat on her bed, watching her pack the last of her things. 

“Isa?” asked Anzu.

She hummed in reply, waiting to hear what her niece had to say. 

“Why aren’t you taking teddy and tokage with you?”

She giggled. Teddy had been the very first thing she had received in this world. A bear her brother bought for her the day she was born, and she slept with it every night ever since. Tokage, on the other hand, was a stuffed lizard toy Maya had sent her during her last trip to Japan. 

“Do you think I should?” she teased.

“Yeah!”

She threw them in her bag too, no loss, no foul right? She’ll mail them back if needed. At least she’ll have something from home to keep her grounded. The men would probably make fun of her for it, but she couldn’t care less. 

She zipped up the bag, carefully standing. She still wasn’t used to the pencil skirt the uniform had. She had always worn Michel or the boy's hand-me-downs, or loose dresses and skirts her mom made that allowed her to run around unrestricted. Hell, even her performing clothes were loose. Her favorite was a brown, plaid circle skirt with a fitted black short sleeve blouse made of velvet with white flowers embroidered on the collar and some leather ankle boots that she had worn-in to the bone. She paused, maybe she should take that outfit too, just in case.

As she truly finished packing. She called for her father to help her with the bag. Maya and her mother were waiting at the door for them, Anzu running to hold Maya’s hand while her mother held Taiga. Thankfully, the walk wasn’t too bad, she still wasn’t used to wearing heels and despite the short walk her feet were starting to hurt. 

As they arrived at the station, the reality of everything finally hit. This would be the last time she would see her family for a long time. She would miss Taiga’s first words and steps, Anzu’s first day of school, her own high school graduation. Would her parents change too? 

As their time together shortened, she tightly hugged her parents. 

“I’ll be back soon okay? Lo prometo. ” she strained. 

Her father kissed her head, smiling. “I’m so proud of you. Stay out of trouble okay?”

She nodded, “Take good care of the cats, don’t be mean to them while I’m gone. I’ll know when I get back if you were.”

Her father chuckled and pulled away as her mother kissed her cheeks. 

“Remember to pray every day, and keep up with school as best you can.”

Isabella honestly didn’t know when she would find time to pray the rosary every day, hell, if she would even have time to study. But she would try for her mama. 

She kneeled down to Anzu’s height, brushing her dark hair from her face. 

“Alright Anzizi, you’re gonna have to be a big girl when I’m gone okay? Make sure to help your mama and あぶじ”

The girl nodded, fiercely determined.

“I promise!”

Isabella grinned and ruffled her hair. 

“Atta girl!”

She stood, facing Maya and Taiga. 

“You’ll be okay right?”

Out of everyone Isabella was most worried for, it was Maya. Attacks on Japanese people were getting more and more frequent, and without her there she was afraid the worst would come true.

Maya nodded and smiled, grabbing her hand.

“I’ll be fine, don’t worry.”

Isabella leans over and kisses Taiga’s head. 

“I’ll be back Taiga, be good.”

She turns back toward the train and boards. She feels tears begin to form as she sits down and looks out the window to her family. She scans over their faces, trying her hardest to commit them to memory. Who knows when she will return.

The train begins to move, box in her lap, and she feels like the world is slipping out from under her. This was it. She places her hand on the window as she moves further away, and she sees her father run alongside it, yelling, trying his hardest to see her till the very end. The platform ends and she sees the devastated expression on his face. Her tears roll freely when she finally hears him. 

“ I love you!”

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

Chapter Translations

“いさ, すわて” (Isa, sit down)

“Te llegó una carta en el correo.” (You received a letter in the mail)

“Vas a aceptar?” (Will you accept?)

"Si" (Yes)

“あなたのお兄さんと私は、この誕生日を特別なものにしたいと思いました。あなたが子供たちの面倒をたくさん見てくれたおかげです。私たちはこれを作ってもらい、私の家族の助けを借りて、日本から送ってもらいました。” (Your brother and I wanted to make this birthday memorable since you've helped us so much with the kids. We had this made and sent all the way from Japan with help from my family.

"お兄さん" (Big brother)

"素敵な兵士" (Handsome soldier)

“心から感謝いたします.” (I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart)

"Lo prometo" (I promise)

"あぶじ” (Mix between あぶ and じじ, personal loving term for grandmother)

[fiasco-of-freyglen]

realizing my last question might have made no sense (the back in black one) What I was trying to get at with the point about showing up late, did that effect the choices since Fiasco was by himself and couldn't bounce ideas off his party members?

I think fiasco frequently convinces himself that he’s totally alone in his own head (as opposed to other ardowin PCs of mine), and really does a lot of his decision making without the advice of the party. You may have noticed that fiasco will occasionally fully make a decision for the group and not really wait for an objection (for example, the decision to go to the archon library immediately after the gildhart raid, rather than going after Valentina, which conveniently worked out to be in the same place).

Because of the two days of isolation, fiasco made a lot of choices that he’ll have to deal with on his own (he believes, he’s wrong). In regards to Alithea, the choice not to immediately not give her sparrows letter was more of a decision for alithea’s health instead of actual strategy. Fiasco has no idea what the letter says, and by the last time sparrow was upfront and honest about what she is, he didn’t want to risk an emotional moment possibly being further detriment to alithea’s health.

[ladylooch]

I have a question. How would Emma and lexi take care of their men after last night ? They clearly were very upset during the media scrum.

Ooooo they were sad weren’t they 🥺

Emma will defer to Timo for what he needs. They are great communicators. But also Timo played half of his career without her or any partner, so he knows what best he needs after difficult nights. Emma will usually curl up to him wherever he lands. Sometimes he wants to watch tv. Sometimes he wants to go to bed right away. Other times he wants to bend her over the back of the couch and take his frustration out on her. That’s her favorite 😍 But Emma is never far from Timo. On the rare occasions he wants to talk, Emma will listen and validate where needed. Mostly though, she knows he wants to vent and will offer a safe space for him to do that.

Our sweet Lexi gets as sad as Nico after those nights. She hates when Nico is sad and immediately wants to fix it for him. Nico tells her all the time, there is nothing she can do. But as a captain’s wife, she feels the burden of the team on her shoulders too. Lexi likes to make Nico a comforting snack and crack open a beer with him on the couch. Nico likes to talk after the game, sometimes they will be up well after 1 am discussing every little detail. Lexi researched hockey rules and strategy online and through books so she could offer insight and provide feedback. Nico loves that about her. How she dives right into his work and passion with both feet. Before her, Nico would feel so alone and isolated after rough games. But now he has her holding his hand on the couch, assuring him the team will work through their struggles with his steady leadership.

[stillthewc]

DISVENTURE CAMP ALL-STARS: FINAL FIVE PLACEMENT PREDICTION

With Episode 16 wrapped up and the thirteenth contestant eliminated from All Stars, I wanted to take a quick second to post my placement predictions for the rest of the current cast. I'll do my best to explain my reasoning for each person, and will add a "read more" in order not to immediately spoil anyone. With that out of the way, let's get started!

5. RIYA

While I was horribly wrong about my previous prediction of Riya going home last episode (rip Alec), I'm about 95% sure she's going home next, assuming the person in fourth place doesn't usurp this placement for her. Riya's arc this season has very much been about trying to maintain her "villain" branding while pushing away someone who still believed in her, and this episode's left enough breadcrumbs to have me thinking it'll officially wrap up soon:

With Alec being disposed of, and Grett having zero loyalty towards the villains anymore, Riya's essentially all alone voting-wise (outside of maybe Ally, but she seems more obsessed with getting Jake out than legitimately working alongside her at this point). This makes me think Riya will realize how isolated she made herself, and see how flawed her pursuit of "villainy" truly is.

This episode's opening and closing set pieces heavily emphasize how corrupted Riya's become, with her selfishly asking for a perfume bottle back he apparently gave her as a gift (not sure of the full context of this since this is my first DC season, but obviously it was a show of goodwill), and disposing of it after seeing Connor's disappointment in her desire for it. This metaphor feels like a nice semi-cinematic closer to their story, representing the end of this arc.

Add in the fact Ally's being built up as the next big antagonistic force, and the eventual pushing out of Riya feels like an inevitability at this point. I do genuinely hope it's sooner than later though, please let this storyline die already Odd Nation.

4. GRETT

It pains me to put Grett at such a low final five placement, since she's probably my second-favorite person still left in the competition. Her arc about breaking free from Yul was extremely cathartic, as is seeing her gain confidence in herself and take control of the competition. However, that's precisely the problem, she's in too good of a position right now.

Obviously, Ally's seen through her strategy of playing both sides, making it clear that she'll probably have a hand in Grett's elimination. But it also worries me that Grett won the last episode's immunity challenge, with this demonstration of how capable she is feeling like the climax to her story. Plus, on a pure logical level, she doesn't really have the votes to stay at this point: while Connor's chill with her, Jake's open about distrusting her and Ally's growing suspicious of her. Tl;dr, things aren't looking very good for Best Girl in the long run 😔.

3. CONNOR

The man, the myth, the legend, Connor's my personal fave of the season by far. The man's carrying All Stars on his back at this point, with me loving his positive influence over the heroes, his desire to prove he's capable of winning, and even his exploration into his destroyed relationship with Riya (even if I wish the arc was exponentially cut). However, I have difficulties thinking he'll actually win.

While he has enough plot points at this point to make me think he won't immediately be evicted after Riya's gone, I think the major theme with him post-Riya elimination will be the "proving himself" arc. However, I don't necessarily think it'll end with him proving himself as the best contestant, but rather realize the positive effect he had on others: Jake basically sees him as a father figure, Alec is gay for him admires him as a person, and even Riya has the slight potential of being influenced for the better by him. I can totally envision him fumbling the bag just before the final two, but being shown just what his worth truly is, and helping my pick for the winner... well, win the season.

2. ALLY

As much as I really, really, really don't want Ally getting to the finals, it pains me to say the story would just make more sense if she came in second.

Although I personally find the writing of her arc substandard at best, Ally's descent into villainy is a perfect mirror of my current winner pick: while their arc's been about them growing and changing as a person, she's ended up regressing to the same petty, annoying contestant they once were, making them nice thematic parallels to one another.

Plus, with Riya likely leaving relatively soon, and Grett's "villain" status being up in the air at this point, it just makes sense for a newly-corrupted hero to be the final boss of the season. Hell, with her desire to be liked, perhaps the newly-found disappointment from her friends will be the reason she loses. Who knows?

1. JAKE

I've been on Team Jake's-Winning-Disventure-Camp-All-Stars since Lake's character shilling to Aiden about him in Episode 11, and with everything I've watched following it, I can't see any outcome that doesn't have him being the winner at this point. He's easily what I'd consider the main character of the season and, while his arc hasn't exactly been the most enjoyable to me personally, is the one I'd consider having the most win equity to it.

During the first half of the series, Jake... isn't exactly the most pleasant, to put it mildly. Due to the early arc of Jake's paranoia over Tom's relationship with Aiden, he spends most of his initial screentime being snippy with his hero alliance (mainly Aiden and Ally), something weaponized by some of the more villainous players. This petty feuding leads to the hero alliance's darkest moment: Ashley, aka Jake's most trusted ally at that point, getting voted out as collateral.

However, after Best Boy™️ Connor returns to the game, and subsequently calls the heroes out for their pettiness, Jake begins to take small steps to stop being such a self-destructive person. He manages to turn his sour relationship with Aiden around into a genuine bond, helps Connor out of his Riya-related funk, and has his currently-best moment of winning Episode 15's immunity challenge, using his emotional openness to pass a truth-based challenge. This is wrapped up in his pre-challenge exchange with Connor in Episode 16: he's realized he can change for the better.

All of this makes me think the finale will focus on the dichotomy between him and Ally: while Ally's fallen into the same paranoid and spiteful line of thinking as him, his ability to grow as a person will be karmatically be rewarded by his win.

...And that's it, that's all! Thanks for reading my predictions! Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna see how these stack up as the new episodes roll out, lol.

[getblackout503]

“Like hell we are” Yami said to his comrades, he was trying to convince them to storm the Zogratis base to retrieve his daughter, his squad member. Yet they denied his plan.

“Yami, we can’t just barge in.” Charlotte told him. “I understand what you’re feeling but you have to think this through.”

“If you understand what I’m feeling then you know I can’t just sit here and wait, god knows what he’s doing to her right now.” Yami was truly terrified at the horrors they must be putting Grey through.

“But it would be suicide to just storm in.” Jack said.

“Not to mention they would have us outnumbered, assuming they’d expect a counter attack.” Dorothy added.

“Then let’s get better weapons and-“

“Yami please, you need to calm down and think thing through-“

“I am!” Yami screams, then he stops. He realized his actions. “Sorry, it’s just…I need to save her.”

The room fell silent, they knew what Grey meant to him. And they truly felt the same, they’ve known Grey from the moment Yami first brought her to the base, they’ve bonded with her, grown closer to her, helped her. Charlotte still remembers the day Yami brought her, she remembers tending to her wounds.

“I-I’m sorry,” Grey said.

“For what?” Charlotte had already disinfected and bandaged her wounds, whatever she had been through it wasn’t pretty.

“For causing all this trouble, I should have…I shouldn’t have been-“

“Don’t say what I think you’re going to say.” Charlotte could tell immediately what this girl has been through, for she’s seen it from her two apprentices, oftentimes they mask their traumas with tough exteriors. Yet Charlotte remembers the countless nights she has held them in her arms as they wept, and she feels she may have another one to hold. But it’s not like she hates it, these girls need someone to care for them, to let them know they matter, but it’s not only them for she knows everyone is in need of someone to trust. But sadly many times they are hurt for that need and it ends up causing an endless cycle of isolation and want, no, a need to reach for someone, to find someone. “No one should have to feel that way, I may not know what has happened to you, and you may never trust me enough to tell me but, sometimes the best thing you can do is…find someone to trust.”

“B-but…last time I did that, I-“

“I know, but…that doesn’t mean you have to stop letting people in.”

“Why…why are you people helping…me?”

“Why?” Charlotte smiles gently and warmly. “Because you need help, and it would be wrong to leave you to fend for yourself.”

Charlotte saw the girl’s eyes start watering, her heart broke at the very sight and as if her motherly instinct kicked in she wrapped her arms around the blue haired girl and held her as she wept. Charlotte vowed that day to always protect this girl.

Yet now she felt as if she had broken that vow, not only was her daughter most cherished friend gone but now she was back to the place that had damaged her. And she wasn’t alone in this sentiment both Jack and Dorothy had grown close to Grey. Jack being the cool uncle to Grey and Dorothy being the loving aunt that always loved teasing her, so they as well felt as if they had failed. Grey meant the world to them and with her gone it tore them to shreds.

“We know Yami,” Charlotte took his hand. “That’s why we’ll save her, together” She and the others were ready to lay down their lives for Grey, but they needed to plan their strike properly.

“We’ll get her back, we need to plan and prepare before we go in” Jack said. “Plus weapons, but leave that to me kehehehe”

“I’ll have my guys come up with a battle strategy.” Dorothy said with a yawn, though she was the most motivated.

“Then me and Yami will handle the manpower,” Charlotte said as she turned. “Though it may take us a day to fully prepare, we need to plan and organize first, and attack second.”

“Okay…just…”

“We’ll get her back, I promise you”

“We better, because I’d rather die than have her suffer.”

“That makes two of us”

‘Grey, just hold on kid, we’re coming for you’

[morgan-weston]

talking would take too much time, i think i just better show you || eva & morgan

WHO: Eva Anderson @anderseva & Morgan Weston

WHERE: Eva's condo

WHEN: 8th of September

WHY: After his big blow-out argument with Andy about who Oakley's dad is, Morgan intends to go over and apologize to Eva for the radio silence and explain what has happened, buuuut his instincts are telling him to do something else.

WARNING: Smuttyyyy

MORGAN:

A week and a half had passed since Puck and Eva had confronted Morgan about Andy. The wheels had turned inside the young cowboy's head, going over every single word, every single thing that had been said, analyzing every single part of it, and trying to figure out what the best strategy for going about this whole ordeal would be. He'd basically isolated himself, not talking to his two lovers, or spending the same amount of time with them, that he used to, just to figure it our. And he missed them, goddammit! He couldn't help it! But he needed this conversation with Andy to be out of the way. He needed to have an answer, to know what the next step would be, before seeing them again. And when he finally did, it did not go any type of way that he was expecting it to. In fact, it had left him angry, frustrated and hurt. And he could easily just have let that kick him back into isolation, but being his rational self, Morgan didn't want that to happen. No, he knew what his next step would be. He rang the doorbell of the condo, leaning against the doorframe and running his fingers down his chins, the beard brushing against his fingertips as he waited for the frontdoor to open. And when he did, he slowly stood up, and looked at her. His eyes found her deep ones, and he felt his knees buckle. He'd thought out exactly what to say, but when he saw her, he couldn't help himself. Instead, he let his impulses take over, and he stepped forward, his hands softly grabbing a hold of her waist and bringing her body into his, their chests colliding and their lips crashing against each other, in the most hungry way that Morgan had ever been for Eva.

EVA:

With classes having started this week, Eva had been able to throw herself into work and use it as a distraction from any ounce of guilt she had about what had gone down with Morgan. While she didn't regret her interaction with Andy, she had regretted telling Morgan about it. With the way he'd stormed out of her classroom and then hadn't said a word to her since, she didn't exactly know where they stood. Puck also hadn't said anything to her about hearing from Morgan so while she didn't know if the men had spoken, she was practically assuming that the cowboy just wasn't up for dealing with them at the time. But she was trying to give him space, which was why she had spent her weekend with girl friends before deciding to relax a bit on Sunday. Or she was until she heard the knock on the door. She wasn't expecting any company today, but she was grateful that she was in one of Puck's old high school tees and a pair of shorts as she went and opened the door. Seeing Morgan on the other side, she couldn't read into his eyes but she was sure something was wrong, but then she was being yanked forward and pulled into a kiss before she could ask him if he was okay. Eva wrapped her arms around the cowboy's neck as she guided them into her loft, and then she kicked the door shut behind them. When the need for air became too much, she pulled away just enough to break the kiss but to still be able to gaze into Morgan's eyes. "How do you want me?"

MORGAN:

It felt like the massive weight on his shoulders from the emotional turmoil of everything that had just happened had suddenly been lifted, as Eva responded to the kiss almost immediately. The way she reciprocated by pulling him in was something that he was incredibly grateful for, and when she kicked the door closed, Morgan pushed her up against it, a hand instantly falling onto the hard surface to keep her from hitting it. He could’ve stayed like this, but that was probably the lack of air in his head talking, because he breathed heavily when Eva pulled away, his eyes opening. He’d been determined to tell her how he felt, determined to communicate about it, but instead, the only determination there now was, was the lust behind his eyes, and he knew Eva could sense that, given her question. She was always so good at knowing exactly what he needed. “In every kind of way,” Morgan said, voice low and raspy from the lack of air. He looked down briefly and saw the t-shirt and shorts that she was wearing. He recognized the top; it was Puck’s. He would be next on Morgan’s list to visit. For now, his attention was only on Eva though. Bending down slightly, Morgan’s hands slid to her ass, and he lifted her up effortlessly, his lips connecting back on hers, as he made his way further into his lover’s condo. He had no idea where he was going, but he had two things on his mind: ‘don’t drop her’ and ‘kiss the ever-loving fuck out of her’. Her lips were soft like pillows, and the way she fit against him like this was everything. Morgan managed to find his way into her kitchen, setting her down on the countertop. One hand spread her legs apart to make room for him to stand in between, and the other swiftly started tugging on Puck’s t-shirt, desperately needing it off. The kiss only broke, once the material of top had to come off over her head, but it didn’t take long for Morgan to connect his lips to the bare, warm skin of Eva’s neck, where he felt so incredibly safe.

EVA:

Eva should have been slowing things down here, asking him to use his words to explain the radio silence over the last week and a half, questioning what exactly had happened that led to him turning up on her doorstep like this, but she couldn't. Or at least she didn't want to. While she was used to him being much softer and a lot more gentle with his actions, at least majority of the time, she knew that this was different. Assuming he'd talked to Andy, she could only theorize that the talk did not go over well, and that they had probably lied yet again or said some shit about them threatening her, so she was sure that Morgan wasn't happy right about now. If he wanted to work his frustration out with her, she sure as hell wasn't going to stop him. His answer to her question sent chills down her spine — the cowboy had never exactly said that to her in that tone, and the pool between her legs was proof that it had sparked something inside of her. Smirking as he scooped her up, she eagerly kissed him back yet again as he carried her into her kitchen and put her on the counter. While she enjoyed him being an absolute gentleman, there was something about him being insatiable that was driving her wild. She let him get the shirt off before she was tilting her head to the side, giving him much better access to her neck as her hands fumbled with the buckle on his belt. Eva needed it off, now, and luckily it didn't take too much blundering before she was undoing the belt, and then the buttons, before pushing his jeans down as far as she could manage in this position. Now she was the one getting impatient. "Mr. Weston, I hope you didn't come all this way just for some foreplay." She whined. "Because after the way you just kissed me, I need you."

MORGAN:

Morgan always got like this around Eva. There was something about her - he couldn't explain exactly what it was; if it was her energy, the way she looked at him - that always had the man craving for more. More of being physical with her, more of getting to know every single movement and sound of hers, more of wanting to know what she thought and felt. He couldn't possibly get more of her. His lips ghosted over the silky smooth skin of her neck for a second or two, feeling the way her small hands were working his belt and pants, and his hand moved to her hair, tangling his fingers into it. The velvety-like feeling of her earlobe hit his nose, and he breathed in deeply as he placed kisses right under it, feeling the air hit his legs as she managed to push his jeans off. 'I need you' chimed through his ears as his brain started to register it, and he moved back in to kiss her lips passionately, managing to deepen it after a moment. "I need you too," He whispered against her lips, and started kicking his shoes and pants off, having to break the kiss. His hands lifted his t-shirt up and over his head, and whilst trying to catch his breath after the kiss, he allowed his eyes to explore the goddess who was right in front of him. Her body, her face, those eyes and lips. "God, I need you so fucking badly," He repeated, a rawness in his throat appearing on the swear word. He couldn't even begin to describe just how badly he needed her; but he also couldn't even fathom in what kind of capacity he did. His hands moved to her thighs, letting his fingers wander up, and under the shorts. They danced with the fabric for a moment, his eyes trying to read her reactions, before he finally bend down and placed his lips, going on the exact same trail that his curious hand had just done. He pushed the shorts slightly out of the way, so his lips could have access to her inner thigh, and his fingers inched closer and closer to Eva's hot center. "What do you want?"

EVA:

Although it hadn't been that long since they were last intimate, Eva had been quietly longing for him. She felt like she'd spent more time 1x1 with Puck than she did with Morgan, at least in terms of intimacy, and she was desperate to change that. Doing it as a throuple was one thing, but with so many limbs and mouths attempting to move in sync to please one another, it was much hard to soak in every little thing Morgan liked during sex, so this was her chance to explore it all. Hence her melting into him at the foreplay, allowing his lips to trail over her flesh until he was kissing her yet again, making her whine every so softly as she kissed him back. Honestly, how she was still struggling to understand the severity of her increasing feelings for her men, she'd never know, but Morgan's actions so far were only driving her crazier. Her mouth briefly went dry as he returned her sentiment in a tone she wasn't accustomed to, but she was sure that the puddle between her legs signaled just how much she loved it. Watching his hands travel along her body, Eva bit her lip as Morgan lowered herself, not that he had to do much of that, right between her legs. She was almost struggling to decide what she wanted as her eyes stayed glued to his. "Umm..." She paused, running a hand through his hairas she shrugged. "I need either your mouth or your dick — or both, I don't even care." She whimpered as she gently tugged on his short, dark strands of hair. "I just need you to fuck me, Mr. Weston."

MORGAN:

A devious smirk grew on Morgan's lips, hearing Eva whine for more, for him. In his ears, it sounded like he could do anything he wanted to, to her, as long as it involved satisfying her, and that was a dangerous game to play. Now it felt like he wanted to prove something to her; that she'd never get anything better than this. So while he was bent down, his hand travelling up and under her underwear, his lips explored that soft skin on her thighs, getting higher and higher up, tongue dragging over it, before finally finding the right spot that he could leave a mark on, wanting her to have something to remember this time by. Meanwhile, his fingers finally reached her hot center, and his thumb ghosted over her clit, rubbing it gently before moving his lips up towards it. His tongue darted out, licking up some of her juices and humming delightfully. "You taste so good, Ms. Anderson," he growled, and looked up at her with a smirk, before moving back in, tongue and thumb toying with her clit for a moment, before he finally stood up straight. His arm slid around her waist, as he tugged his underwear down enough to reveal his hard member, taking it into his hand and beginning to guide himself into her. With eyebrows furrowed, he kept his dark eyes on hers, and held his breath, feeling her walls around him tightening. "I can't do both at the same time," he teased in a breathless whisper. "But I can promise you the latter." And with that, he had her filled up, and he slowly started to pull out again, only to push himself in, and start a steady rhythm of thrusts, eyes never leaving Eva's.

EVA:

With the few amount of times that Morgan and Eva had done this as just a duo, it was easy to spot the difference in this time and the others. Him wanting to please her in ways no one else could was customary when he was simply charming her, or wining and dining her, but him aiming to appease her like this sexually was driving her crazy already. She watched him chase kisses along her inner thighs, not even remotely worried about him marking her up. If the man wanted to claim her, she'd sure as hell let him. She was so mesmerized by his mouth being possessive that she hadn't even paid his hand any attention until he was toying with her clit, causing her to softly moan out in response. Morgan was definitely trying to kill her at this rate, and she was one hell of a willing participant. As soon as she felt the warmth of his tongue swiping though her folds, Eva gently ran a hand through his hair. "Morgan!" She whimpered. They both knew what had gotten into him, and part of her wished he could always be this frustrated or upset or whatever if it meant he'd keep devouring her like this. Him teasing her clit sent chills down her spine, and she immediately frowned once he stopped. "You're torturing me." She pointed out as he held her, though she instantly perked up as he freed his dick. With the Puck's shit with his dad and Morgan's baby daddy drama with Andy, she hadn't been dicked down since the last time the throuple had been together, and she'd needed this. Eva bit her lip as his length started to fill her up, and she rolled her eyes playfully at his words. "This is exactly what I needed, cowboy." She confessed, gazing right into his eyes as he started pushing in and out of her cunt. "I've missed you." She muttered almost inaudibly. Showing affection was one thing, but Eva had never been one to just openly admit to missing someone in this capacity, yet it was true, and she'd been starting to get needy when it came to her men. "Harder, Mr. Weston." She pleaded.

MORGAN:

There was a hung intensity in the room, it almost felt like there was an electricity between the two semi-naked bodies, and sparks kept flying off. There was no denying that Morgan was using his frustrations, his pent-up anger - but he was also using his desire, his need for Eva. She was like a drug, in an incredibly compelling way. One taste, and Morgan was hooked, and now he'd gone through withdrawals for over a week, and he wanted to go back, take her all in. The way he craved her, how desperate he was to feel her against him, hear her moans and get shivers from her fingertips dragging through his hair or her nails along his back; it was like he was a predator, hovering over his prey, taking in his prize before devouring her, as if she was his last meal. He wasn't sure if he'd heard correctly, or if she'd mumbled something else, but the words 'miss you' seemed to register in Morgan's brain, and it only made it more intense for him. Not once did he take his eyes off of hers, as his thrusts only grew faster. He wanted to show her, prove to her that he'd missed her too. Heavy breaths came out through his nose, and his arm around her waist gripped her tighter, making sure she didn't go anywhere. Every now and again, he would feel her walls vibrate against his dick, or her moan had his heart flutter, and in return, his throat would close up, and a growl would come out. His free hand moved to her cheek, cupping it gently, a stark contrast his hard thrusts. The sound of their skin clapping together filled the room, and Morgan was beginning to feel his abdomen area start to tense up, that itch slowly starting to get scratched. "Fuck, you feel so good," He managed to moan out loud, eyes finally closing and giving in to the wonderful sensation of her. He turned it up a notch, not being able to help himself, and sped up, going faster and harder, fingers tangling into Eva's hair, and eyes openinp to keep them locked on Eva's, wanting to watch her every reaction.

EVA:

Eva wasn't sure how she'd gone from giving Morgan to space to suddenly having his dick buried inside of her, but she was on a cloud now. As much as she had been avoiding the obvious feelings she was starting to have for Puck and Morgan, the way she'd wrapped her arms around Morgan's neck and was moaning and whimpering just for him would surely say otherwise. She was hardly this enthralled by pointless sex with anyone that wasn't her boys, and the shift in the cowboy was definitely about to send her brain spiraling. The only other time she'd felt desired this much was during Puck's birthday threesome, which naturally was on another caliber with all things considered, but this was much different. Morgan's grunts, the intensity of his thrusts, the way he was gazing into her eyes — Eva was almost in a trance as her nails clawed at the nape of the man's neck, and she was struggling to maintain eye contact as her head tried to tilt back the more he railed her. "Fuck, Morgan!" She cried out as he pinned her body to his, giving her absolutely no chance to try and run away from pounding (not that she'd wanted to). Soon enough her walls started clenching around his shaft, and she felt a familiar flutter in the pit of her stomach, and Eva was sure that she couldn't last much longer. She would have smirked at his words if it weren't for the yelp that then came out as Morgan's hand slipped into her hair, and the increased past of the thrust inside of her only gave her a few additional seconds before her orgasm was washing over her, causing her to drench Morgan's dick in her cum as she moaned out his name repeatedly, and probably far too loudly. She was sure that her neighbors wouldn't appreciate that so before she knew it, she was crashing her lips into his, kissing him passionately as he fucked her right through her climax.

MORGAN:

Morgan's breath was ragged as he felt Eva tighten around him, the pleasure overwhelming but his thoughts, for a moment, were somewhere else - caught between the wild lust they were tangled in and the mess of emotions he'd been wrestling with lately. He never expected things to escalate like this tonight, but here he was, buried deep inside her, hearing his name fall from her lips in a way that made him feel... something more than just the physical. He grunted as her nails clawed at the back of his neck, her body pressed against his in a way that made it impossible for him to think about anything else. Every thrust, every gasp, had him holding on tighter, needing her in a way that went beyond just sex. He wasn’t the kind to get caught up in feelings like this, but damn if being with Eva wasn’t messing with his head. Her moans echoed in his ears, the way she responded to him driving him wild. “Goddamn, darlin’…” he rasped, his voice rough as he watched her, caught between the intensity of their connection and the raw desire pulsing through his veins. He didn’t let up, gripping her hair as he felt her climax around him, her body shuddering with the force of it. The sound of her voice, the way she cried out his name, only pushed him further. When she kissed him - desperate, passionate - he groaned against her lips, not letting up on his pace as he rode out her climax with her. He could feel the heat coming through his own abdomen, the way she was clenching around him, the way her tongue against his felt, the way she was still moving against his body as she rode out her orgasm. Groaning into the kiss, Morgan’s eyebrows furrowed, and he could feel it. And with one last thrust, he managed to pull out before the white ropes started coming out of him, and he breathlessly bent down again, lips going straight back onto Eva’s now swollen cunt, tongue licking up her delicious juices. Moaning into her as he kept cumming, his hands moved to try and give him more space between the fabric of Eva’s shorts and her skin, but it kept getting in the way, and finally, the frustrations (as well as others) had to come out, and he grabbed a hold of each side of the shorts and her underwear, and tore them apart with a loud ripping sound. His frustrations and anger caused him to want to bring pleasure to Eva all day long.

EVA:

Eva wasn't sure of much these days, at least when it came to people's feelings and shit, yet she knew something was brewing with her, Morgan, and Puck. She'd gone over a week without so much as a peep from either man and when she'd noticed it, she'd felt a few different emotions but had chosen to swallow them and resort back to her old ways. She'd stuck her neck out to defend Morgan and try to push the idea that he deserved to know if he had a son out there, and then he'd essentially ghosted her afterwards — which she partially assumed was because she'd been right and Andy was only allowing him to see his son if he stayed away from her. She would've understood it, sure, but her disappointment and the lack of anything from Puck following their classroom fiasco had her doubting whatever feelings she was considering for either one of them, and then Morgan showed up like this. Whatever had gotten into him in the time they hadn't interacted was more than working out in her favor, and she damn near melted when he spoke. Him calling her darlin' was added to the list of shit she loved hearing the cowboy say, and if she wasn't already dripping all over his length, she certainly would have been now. Even the way he didn't miss a beat as he continued to pound her right through her orgasm was fucking sending her to all new heights of pleasure, and she was barely even able to contain the way she was moaning and panting simultaneously against his lips. Once he finally had to pull out, she frowned before watching him lower himself between her thighs again, and then her head was tilting back once more as she tugged on his hair again. "Ohh my God!" She yelped under the warmth of his tongue. "Mr. Weston—" She purred breathlessly now, yearning for more already but definitely aware that she needed a minute to recover. Her eyes widened when Morgan ripped both her shorts and her underwear, and the sight alone set every inch of her body on fire. "Goddamn.." Eva whined, and she would have been the one to initiate another round, but she knew they needed a break first, but she still liked their proximity so she wrapped her arms around his neck again and pulled him closer. "Not complaining....but we should talk." She pointed out. "Also, hi." They hadn't exactly had time to exchange pleasantries with the way he'd come right in and kissed her, so she figured now was a good time for it.

MORGAN:

Morgan’s breath was still uneven, his heart pounding from both the intensity of what they’d just shared and the weight of everything that had been on his mind for the past week. He hadn’t meant to disappear on her like that. In truth, he hadn’t meant for any of it to go the way it did with Andy either, but lately, he’d felt torn between too many places; a small part of him wished the kid was his; it meant that he’d created something bigger than he could ever describe. But on the other hand, he hoped Andy hadn’t lied about all of that to him, and he wasn’t ready to give up whatever it was that he had with Eva and Puck. Not now. Not when he was feeling some feelings that were indescribable but absolutely amazing to feel. As Eva wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer, the tension in him eased just a little. Being here with her, feeling her warmth, it reminded him of what he’d been missing. A small groan did escape his throat though; he’d wanted to keep going, wanted to keep tasting her. But he also understood why they couldn't. He pressed his forehead to hers for a moment, catching his breath, a small smile tugging at his lips when she gave him that ‘Mr. Weston’ tease. But her words about needing to talk lingered in his head, heavier than the playful mood they'd shared a moment ago. "Hey," he finally said softly, his voice low but filled with an unfamiliar warmth. He kissed her cheek lightly, the intensity of their earlier passion settling into something quieter, more intimate. "I’m sorry, I got a li’l carried away,” Morgan started, pulling back enough to look at her poor ripped bottoms that he’d gone all Hulk on. He let his hands slide up her back, grounding himself in the feel of her. Finally, his eyes lifted to catch hers again, sucking in a deep breath. They should talk. “And I’m sorry about just disappearing. It wasn’t about you. There’s been a lot goin’ on with Andy, tryin’ to figure out how to talk to 'em." Morgan sighed, shaking his head slightly, his eyes meeting hers with a mixture of regret and sincerity. "You deserved better than that, and I don’t wanna keep you in the dark. I wanna figure things out with you. Just… been caught up in my head, and I know I should’ve been here." He let his forehead rest against hers again, his touch gentle as if trying to show her that he meant every word. "But I’m here now. So, let’s talk."

EVA:

While Eva couldn't deny that Morgan coming in the way that he had and having his way with her had been hot as hell, it was only a bandage over the real issue here. She didn't expect much from him or from Puck, but proper communication to at least let her know that they were fine and just needed some space for a few days would have been nice. Anything would have been a much better alternative than the radio silence that had sent her right back to her old ways, but she wasn't about to tell them that. Especially not after Morgan had fucked her like that, and was prepared to go for another round until she'd stopped him. Letting him rest his forehead against her own, she took in his ragged breathing and allowed her own to even back out as she started trying to force her brain not to be so jumbled up now. She didn't even know what to say to him after the Andy thing, nor had she wanted to initiate the conversation herself considering that she'd gotten them all into this mess to begin with, but they would've just kept having sex if she hadn't intervened. She smiled at the kiss to her cheek, appreciating the simple gesture, before she too glanced at her now ripped bottoms. "Don't. That was sexy as hell, and I'm tempted to go get redressed just so you can do it all over again." She teased, though the thought had crossed her mind. Who wouldn't want to see that again? Before she could dwell on it too much, Morgan started his verbal apology, and she was already sighing when he mentioned not keeping her in the dark. Eva may have overstepped before, so she was 100% fine with being left in the dark on that situation, even if Morgan didn't want that. She chewed on the inside of her cheek as he continued, leaning more into his touch as her mind settled...for the most part. When it was finally her turn, she shrugged first. "I'm not mad that you weren't here. I dropped one hell of a bomb on you so I get why you needed space, and I'm glad that you took it." She reassured him. "Honestly, your situation with Andy should be handled with just you two. I can't promise not to argue with them again, and if that is your son, I'm not gonna be the reason why you can't be in his life." The kid thing wasn't for her anyways, but especially not when the kid was that young, so she had no issue removing herself in order to let Morgan see his son. "I am mad that you, and Puck, just ghosted me without so much as a simple text to tell me you were okay or wanted out of..whatever we're doing." Eva could have called it a relationship, or something akin to that, yet she'd much rather vomit than label it as such. "If all of this is too much while you're trying to figure things out with Andy, then just say that."

MORGAN:

Morgan closed his eyes for a moment, letting her words sink in as he rested his forehead against hers. Her touch was grounding, but her words cut through the haze of everything they’d just done, forcing him to confront what he’d been avoiding. He wasn’t great with feelings, especially when they got messy, and this thing with Eva and Puck - it was starting to get real messy. And now, with Andy in the mix, things were spinning faster than he could keep up. He gave a soft chuckle at her teasing about getting redressed just to have him rip her clothes off again. It was easier to lean into that kind of talk, to keep things light and fun like they usually did, but the seriousness in her tone when she mentioned Andy pulled him right back to the heart of the issue. “I get it,” Morgan said quietly, his voice soft but sincere. “You’re right. I should’ve said somethin’. Should’ve let you know I was okay, that I just needed some time.” He brushed a thumb along her jaw, searching her eyes. “I didn’t mean to ghost you, Eva. I’ve just been tryin’ to figure out what the hell to say to Andy, how to handle all this without makin’ a bigger mess. But I should’ve made sure you weren’t left wonderin’ ’bout me. That wasn’t fair to you.” Morgan sighed, leaning back just enough to look at her fully. “As for this thing with Andy – the kid isn’t mine.” He said, definitively. He trusted Andy to tell him the truth. “And while it’s been somethin’ I’ve had to deal with on my own, you bein’ around, that doesn’t mean I can’t figure it out. You didn’t cause any of this, and you sure as hell ain’t the reason I’m tryin’ to sort things out with them. Don’t think for a second you’re the problem here.” He paused, his brow furrowing as he tried to find the right words. “And I ain’t tryin’ to get out of whatever this is between us, Eva. I don’t know what it is, and maybe that’s part of the problem. But I know I care about you. I wouldn’t be here right now if I didn’t.”

EVA:

Eva hated feelings, she hated doing the serious thing and she had been trying her hardest to avoid it for as long as she possibly could. It was a habit, one she'd perfected over the years as she ran away from her feelings, and communication wasn't her strong suit. Clearly the same went for Morgan and Puck, which wasn't a good thing, but she'd just assumed they were all fine with things the way that they were until this whole thing happened. Nodding along as he pointed out the obvious, she didn't feel the need to point it out again since he knew what he'd done wrong again. Leaning into the hand on her jaw, she knew he meant every single word he was saying, which helped ease the rest of her frustration. "You can stop apologizing, cowboy. I hear you, and I believe you." She stated. Poor communication was certainly the cause for all of this shit, and she didn't know if they'd all grow from this overnight, but she was going to give him the benefit of the doubt. Or she was, until he insisted that the kid wasn't his. There was so much she wanted to say, to ask why the hell he believed that so easily, but she was deciding not to get involved in all of that again. Letting him say what else he needed to say, Eva simply hummed before shrugging nonchalantly. "I care about you too. And truthfully, I want to be here for you through all of this, I do, but that means talking to me. Seriously, if everything with Andy is too much and you need space, just say it. If you need a distraction, then I can do be that. But I need you to talk to me because I can't read your mind, cowboy." She pointed out before she leaned in and kissed him softly. "But ghost me like that again and I swear I'll kick your ass."

MORGAN:

Morgan smiled against her lips as she kissed him, feeling the tension between them start to ease. There was something comforting in the way Eva said she believed him, the way she didn’t push for more explanations or question the Andy situation further. He knew it wasn’t simple, but hearing her say she cared and was willing to be there meant more than he could put into words right now. He pulled back just slightly, enough to meet her eyes with a softer look. “I hear you, Eva. I’m not gonna disappear on you again, I promise,” he said, his voice low and genuine. His thumb brushed lightly against her jaw as he kept his hand there, feeling the warmth of her skin under his palm. There was a part of him that still didn’t fully understand what he was feeling - whether it was the mess with Andy or the uncertainty with the throuple that had him all turned around - but he knew one thing for sure. He didn’t want to lose either Puck nor Eva, and he couldn’t keep pretending his feelings for her were just surface level. “I've missed you,” he admitted, his smile crooked, almost sheepish. Hearing her threat, he knew that she wasn't kidding around, but he couldn't help but grin anyway, nodding along as he took it in. "Good thing I don't want to ghost you then, huh?" And with that, Morgan moved both arms around Eva's form, slipping her off of the counter, and throwing her over his shoulder, her ass right in the air, and the torn garments of her bottoms swinging about. "Now, if you don't mind, Ms. Anderson, you and I have some things to catch up on," He said, making his way to the bedroom, as he kept a steady hand on Eva so she wouldn't leave his shoulder, and another giving her ass a playful smack. He wasn't about to go another week and a half without her again, but he also didn't hate the fact that his only intention was to spend every waking second devouring her and making sure she knew he'd missed her.

[samieree]

Born in Flames || Game of Thrones

OC x ?😏

-> Chapter XXXI ''Command''

Chapter XXXII ''Dragonstone''

This should have been their last day in Meereen. Tomorrow morning everything should be ready to sail and in about three months they will be on Dragonstone. A lot of time, but considering that she spent over four years in Essos, a few months doesn't seem that long anymore.

She has never seen anything in Westeros other than Casterly Rock and King's Landing, and soon she will finally have the opportunity to see her own lands. She wonders what they look like... She always wanted to see the Eyrie, or Highgarden and all its gardens... Or Winterfell, apparently it's huge, much bigger than the Red Keep and second only to Harrenhal. Tyrion told her that the castle made an impression on him and when he heard about the fire he was even sad and somewhere he hoped that they would rebuild what was destroyed.

She stood on the balcony and watched the sunset, this is the last time she can admire it here. She had the feeling that she didn't want to leave this place, these people, these views. Everything has become so peaceful lately, it's hard to leave these lands and go into the unknown, not knowing what awaits you. She won here, but will she win there too? This was what she feared the most, the unknown. It wasn't even about gaining the throne, it was a symbol, nothing more. She wouldn't want to get it if it didn't mean so much to people, if they didn't think a ruler must sit on the Iron Throne in King's Landing.

These are problems of the not so distant future, and now she will have to face one more thing... Telling Daario that he is staying in Essos. She put it off because she didn't want to break his heart and... And at the same time, she selfishly didn't want to deprive herself of the warmth of his arms when he hugged her. Now she can't escape it.

"Your ships are almost ready." she didn't want to take her eyes off the city, but she had to make things clear. She took the goblet of wine from the railing and returned into the room, where she set it on the table. "I saw that they were finishing painting the sails, they will definitely be done by tomorrow."

"That's good." she replied, forcing a smile. She went to sit on the couch, put her hands on her knees and started playing with her fingers.

"I wonder how the Dothraki will cope with 'poisonous water.' And then-"

"You're not coming with us." she interrupted him before she chickened out again, there was no time to put things off.

They looked at each other in silence for a moment before Daario moved closer to her and stopped in front of the couch. She could tell she surprised him with that statement, but it seemed like he didn't understand it like he should have.

Or he didn't want to understand it.

"New strategy? Second Sons will attack from the west, will we surprise them? We will take Casterly Rock and the Lannisters will remain isolated in King's Landing." he sat down next to her and grabbed her hand gently to stop her from playing with her fingers. He sensed something was wrong, but thought she was just stressed about the travel.

"Good idea." she forced herself to smile again, it was visible in her eyes. "But you're staying here. You're not sailing to Westeros."

As she crushed it out, a stone got off of her chest, but was immediately replaced by another one, caused by the fact that she clearly hurt Daario.

"But...Visenya-"

"There is finally peace in Meereen." she interrupted him, leaning out of the couch to reach for a goblet of wine and handed it to him as if it would ease his pain. "I want you and Second Sons to make sure it lasts. You will rule in my name..."

"Fuck Meereen."

"Don't say that, we have to take care of this city. And I have one more request for you: End slavery in Lys and Volantis, the last cities where it still exists. If-"

"I'm here for you, not for them." he interrupted her, not accepting the cup, which she kept holding out towards him. He got off the couch and knelt on the ground in front of her. Finally, resigned, she put the goblet back on the table. "I love you, I want to serve you, kill your enemies, give you what you want..." he sighed in frustration.

"I want to destroy slavery, completely. And you swore to me." she noticed. "So I order you to stay in Essos."

She saw that her words did not satisfy him in any way, and that was not what they were intended to do. She was supposed to be honest, not comfort him. She couldn't treat it like her relationship with Jaime, because she didn't feel anything towards him, it was easy to reject him and run away, start a new life. Daario she didn't want to abandon, she liked him, a lot. Maybe it wasn't love, but leaving a friend is never easy. Especially since it was with him that she shared the first intimate moments of her life and will never forget it.

"If I want to rule Westeros, I must make alliances. And we all know that the best way to do that is through marriage." she explained calmly when he still didn't get up from the ground and held her hand.

He sighed and then asked:

"Who are you marrying this time?"

"I don't know yet, but for someone for sure." she shrugged. Involuntarily, she raised her hand and plunged it into his hair, combing it as if it would calm him down.

"You are the Queen, not a prize for the highest bidder." her hand froze in his hair when he said that, and mostly because he was right. Unfortunately, the reality was different, she couldn't fight the whole world alone, she had to secure alliances. She has already seen what it is like to rule without the support of the strong, influential and rich. She won't let that happen again.

Her word was final, but she still felt the need to explain her decision and do it in a way that he no longer questioned it, accepted it.

"I can't sail to Westeros with my lover." she finally said, the last argument she had left.

"The king wouldn't think twice about it, he would just do it."

"The king doesn't worry about illegitimate children." she replied. "He will deny they're his and the matter will be over. I can't do that, my heir must be legitimate, otherwise the Lords won't accept him."

"Then screw the Lords." If only it were that simple... "I don't care who you have children with, who sits next to you in the throne room. I only want you, I love you, do you understand?"

She doesn't understand. She would like to, but she doesn't understand. She doesn't know what it's like to love someone so much that you can't live without him. She doesn't know what it's like to be rejected by a loved one. She can only feel sorry for him, but her decision remains unchanged.

Besides, she's waiting to meet this mysterious boy...

"Is that what you would like? Be my mistress?"

"I'm not proud of it, but... I only care about being with you. Seeing you every day, making you smile. I make you happy, I know it, you do too." she looked down, but not for long, because Daario took her chin and lifted it. "Let me go with you, fight for you."

She moved her hand from his hair to his cheek, caressing it gently before leaning in and placing a kiss on his lips. She tried to pour into it everything she felt and wanted to say, but couldn't find the right words. She wanted to give him this one more moment, hoping that it would be like a balm to his heart, and not a knife that would only deepen the wounds.

"This isn't goodbye." she whispered once she had pulled away. "We'll see each other again, I promise. Until then, we will exchange letters."

He didn't say anything. The silence was worse for her than if he continued arguing with her, or even shouting, crying, whatever. Because this silence was more eloquent than all the words in the world.

He let go of her hand and stood up. He took a step back and finally reached for the wine she had offered him earlier. He drank it all at once.

"You will get the throne you want so much, I'm sure of it. I wish I could see it." it hurt. "But I won't betray you, ever. I will do everything you wish. I hope you won't forget about me." he gave her a forced smile, she saw it. "I will wait, Visenya Targaryen, Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, of the Great Grass Sea, of Dragon's Bay and my heart." after these words, he bowed slightly to her and quickly walked out, leaving her alone in this large room.

It's strange, she didn't feel lonely here before, and now the emptiness is tearing her apart.

She was supposed to talk to Tyrion that same evening, but she was unable to sit still in her chamber. Instead, she wandered the corridors of the Great Pyramid for a long time before finally finding herself in the audience chamber where she had spent so much time over the last two - or so - years. She was sitting on the stone steps, with a window behind her and a jug of wine and an empty goblet next to her. She didn't even like the taste of it, but at least she didn't feel so alone.

Hearing footsteps on the stairs, she looked up and saw that it was Tyrion who had come to her. Apparently he was fed up with waiting and decided to look for her.

"Sorry, I had to... Be alone for a while." she said, even a little too loud, because her voice echoed throughout the entire room.

Tyrion just nodded and sat down next to her, taking the jug in his hands and drinking straight from it, not bothering to go get the goblet or take hers. They sat like that in silence for a while, before Vis gathered herself to say why she felt that way and started talking.

"I left a man who loves me so much that he would do anything for me. And you know what I feel? Emptiness." she wasn't looking at him, but somewhere ahead.

It was strange for her, no heartbreak, no tears, just... Emptiness. Something that was pulling her down, that brought dark clouds over her.

"A good ruler sometimes has to sacrifice something." she didn't answer, but she took the jug from him and drank a little herself, also not bothering about pouring herself to a goblet. After one sip, she set it aside, but on the other side, so Tyrion wouldn't reach for it again. They can't get drunk here, their journey begins in the morning, and she still needs to discuss one thing with him. "He wasn't the first or the last to love you."

"Do you think Jaime..." the words slipped out of her mouth before she could stop them.

It seems since she ran away it must have been at the back of her head: Wondering if Jaime really loved her. And now there was the question of whether she had hurt him as much as she hurt Daario. What must he have felt when she pushed him away while they were kissing?

Well, the cold water certainly quickly cooled his enthusiasm.

"Yes." Tyrion replied, guessing what she wanted to ask. "You could compete with Cersei, your hair is blonde enough." he managed to make her laugh a little, because she smiled, lowering her head a bit. Tyrion himself laughed briefly as well. He didn't blame her for what she did because she did it to escape. It was nice to see this girl happy and not constantly depressed at Casterly Rock or King's Landing. "He would treat you well." he added when the amusement had subsided.

"But I wouldn't be happy." she quickly retorted. He didn't dare to argue with this statement.

"So it's finally happening." Tyrion decided to change the subject. "The girl who had nothing but a name has her own army, fleet and four dragons. Everything you could want after escaping. Enough to subjugate a continent. How do you feel with it?"

For a moment she considered whether she should answer honestly. After all, the truth was that she was afraid, afraid as hell. When the idea of ​​returning to her home lands was distant, she longed for it. Then she found a purpose in her life: Changing the world. But this only postponed her return to Westeros. She could lead the campaign to Lys and Volantis herself, but it would take months or even years. And now that she had allies ready to support her claim to the crown, she couldn't delay. If she was alone and had to build ships, she would go to these two cities in person. But one day she will see them. She will see the whole world that she is so curious about, all the places she has always dreamed of seeing.

She decided not to lie.

"I'm afraid."

I'm afraid of war, I'm afraid of death, I'm afraid of how much I might lose. I'm afraid of letting people down. I'm afraid I'll fail. I'm afraid it will all be in vain. I'm afraid that I'm not good enough, that it will turn out that I'm not suitable for the role I aspire to. I don't even realize how many things I'm afraid of, because I keep pushing these fears deep inside myself, not wanting to show weakness. This admission brought them all to the surface.

"Good." surprised, she finally looked at her interlocutor for the first time since he sat next to her. "You're in the great game now, and great game is terrifying. Only a madman like the Mad King wouldn't have doubts and fear of losing."

"What if I lose?" she asked quietly, almost in a whisper.

"You will die. And everyone who follows you too."

She shuddered, although she tried to hide it. Knowing how much there was to lose chilled her blood and motivated her to act. I cannot fail. I just can't.

"That's why I can't lose." she got up from the steps, Tyrion did it right after her. Vis finally decided to bring up the matter why she wanted to see him. "I need all the help I can get. From you too."

"I would offer you my sword, but... I don't have one."

She smiled, like she did when he joked about his brother's preferences. It was kind of cute that he wanted to fight for her, considering she will be fighting against his family.

"I have enough people to fight. I need something else from you." she reached into the small pocket behind the neckline of her dress and took out a pin, which she was still hiding from his sight. She wasn't sure about this decision yet, but she thought that everything will be revealed in time. "I had it made basing on what I remember... If you ever have any doubts, decide that you no longer want to serve me, that you are not able to fight against your family, you can resign. I will give you a horse or a ship and enough food and money to get you wherever you wish to go." he didn't say anything. He already guessed what was going on, even though he was surprised by such a move. She reached out to him and pinned the mark of the Hand of the King on his chest. "But for now... Tyrion Lannister, I name you Hand of the Queen."

Still slightly shocked, he knelt down on one knee in front of her and bowed his head. Apart from the fact that he did not expect that she would entrust him with such an important position, he had never encountered a ruler who would allow someone not to accept the honor. Moreover, you can resign at any time without telling a reason.

He will help this girl. He will do everything in his power to help her sit on the Iron Throne, because he has never met anyone in his life who deserved it more than her.

"It's an honor, my Queen. I won't betray your trust."

* * *

In the morning she stood before boarding the ship that would take her to Westeros. She was about to set foot on the ramp, but hesitated. She turned her head and looked out to sea and the multitude of other ships, under the colors of the Tyrells, Martells, and Greyjoys as well. Once she gets on board everything will change, there will be no turning back. The waves will carry them to lands that were once nothing but pain to her. Now she thought of them as a homecoming.

"Something's wrong?" she turned abruptly to ser Arthur, standing on her right.

"Nothing, just..." she stopped and looked out at the sea again. "Four years ago I left King's Landing on a similar boat. Back then I had nothing, I didn't think I could achieve anything. I ran away because I wanted to be free... And now I'm going back there, with my ships, with my army and my dragons. Sounds like a dream." she smiled, but then jumped when she unexpectedly felt a pinch on her hand. "Ouch!"

"You're definitely not dreaming this." he smiled and shrugged.

"Did you pinch my father like that too?" she muttered, pretending to be offended.

"Many times, he was very fond of talking about dreams. He only stepped on the ground when necessary."

She rolled her eyes and glanced, this time at the city she was leaving behind. For the entire continent she is leaving. Her life had changed a lot since she left, but she didn't regret taking that step. It is possible that she is the last of her kind and she will certainly not allow her to fade into oblivion in the depths of history. She left her mark forever here, in Essos, and now it's time to do the same in Westeros.

"This way, my Queen." ser Arthur pointed her to the ramp and smiled encouragingly. When she asked him one last, silent question, he only nodded.

Selaria, Daenerys, Ser Barristan, you will be proud of me.

With that in mind, she confidently placed her foot on the ramp and entered the ship, where Tyrion, Missandei, and Varys were already waiting for her.

* * *

First, a simple, black, cotton shirt. Then the pants, reaching to the waist and emphasizing it. Then high-heeled shoes, which she tied while sitting on her bunk in her cabin. When she was finished, she stood up and reached for something that she had ordered to be done before sailing to Westeros, when she decided that she needed more practical clothes, and warmer ones. It resembled a coat, the one with buttons on the inside so they weren't visible. She smoothed out the fabric that reached about her knees. Then she adjusted the long sleeves, similar to those on the gowns she wore in Meereen. All she had left to wear was a few rings and a hair ornament, a pin with three dragon heads facing back to back. She put it in the braids at the back of her head and was ready to go.

"It uuits you." Missandei smiled at her, she was waiting for Visenya outside the door.

"It suits you too." she returned the compliment. "Do we have anything planned for today?"

"Yes, dis-"

"Dragonstone on the horizon!" they were interrupted by a shout from the deck.

Visenya didn't give Missandei a chance to repeat herself. An excitement that she hadn't even expected washed over her. She ran up the stairs to the deck of the ship and quickly walked to the bow. The crew were shouting something to each other, but she didn't pay attention to it. It was morning, she and Missandei were the first to go on deck, and from the excitement that appeared among the people, it could be concluded that it was about to get crowded.

In the distance, they could actually see their destination, Dragonstone. Hundreds of years ago, this was where her ancestors stayed when they fled Old Valyria. Now she will live here, at least for a while.

She was so absorbed that she didn't even notice that others had also appeared on board, including Tyrion, who stood on her right.

"Welcome home, Your Majesty."

She didn't count how much time had passed between the moment she saw land and when she stood on the jolly boat. The dragons flew over their heads, heading straight for the castle and flying around it. From this distance she couldn't see its full beauty yet, but she already knew it is extraordinary. She felt it.

The boat reached the shore. She waited impatiently for the steps to be placed so she could finally set foot on land. Of course, she was the first to leave and took quite large steps towards the castle. At some point, however, she stopped, looking up at the huge building. With a sigh, she crouched down, resting her hands on her knees, and then moved one of them to the wet sand.

When she sailed here, she thought that she was sailing home, that she would finally find a place for herself in the world, after all, no matter how you look at it, this is also her family home. How many people passed through these lands? When her ancestors came to this shore, it was an empty island, nothing special. And yet they chose this place as their home. She lifted her hand from the sand and ran the grains between her fingers, thinking about this new chapter that was beginning in her life. She is responsible for thousands of lives, she cannot fail them.

Hearing the screech of the dragons, she looked up back at the path in front of her. She has decided to walk on it, there is no turning back. Enough of hesitating, enough of dreaming about the future, it's time to start building it.

She stood up, dusting off her hands, and confidently moved forward. She breathed deeply, calming her heartbeat.

The first steps led to a gate, a great gate. At the ground on both sides it was surrounded by sculptures of dragon heads, and at the top their entire figures. The two Unsullied went to open the passage for her while she focused on admiring the walls, which were already very ornate in themselves.

She didn't even notice that her closest companions were following her. She felt as if she were exploring this castle herself, as if its beauty was reserved only for her. Behind the gate, there were even more stairs waiting for them, but the beauty of the castle finally became visible. The gates looked like dragon heads and the towers were topped with figures of these beasts. The building definitely looked like the seat of a family with a dragon as its sigil.

She took two steps at a time to get inside as quickly as possible. Even there, the details in the decoration were taken care of, even though the interior was not rich in small decorations, like the Red Keep. The door handles resembled dragons, and the entire door looked as if it was covered with dragon scales.

The only thing she didn't like was the Stannis Baratheon's banner hanging inside. She grabbed the fabric and pulled it down hard, throwing it to the ground. This place would never be anyone's other than her family's again. If she is the last of her house, then let it be deserted, but let no one defile it with their sigils.

After passing through several corridors, with the sound of her heels echoing first and others following behind her, they finally stopped in front of a door where stood a throne carved into the rock. Once upon a time, the heirs to the throne resided in this castle, they were titled Prince of Dragonstone and this throne was for them. Her parents also once lived here, so she would probably have been born here if it weren't for the war.

Thinking about being here and actually being within these walls were two different things. She didn't expect that this place would make such an impression on her, that it would make her think about all her ancestors, especially the most famous ones: Aegon the Conqueror and his sisters, Visenya and Rhaenys. She is the first Visenya since the Conquest, and the second woman to claim the Iron Throne.

Rhaenyra failed to go down in history as Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, even though she deserved it. It didn't make her feel optimistic, but times had changed. Rhaenyra fought against her brother, both sides had dragons, the kingdoms were divided. She is the only person in the world who has dragons. There is no male member of House Targaryen to challenge her claim to the throne.

This is how I will go down in the pages of history, right next to the Breaker of Chains - she thought, entering the large room with the throne.

The chambers needed cleaning, of course, but that's not a problem, she has enough people to do it in one day, at least the most important rooms. She didn't know the exact layout of the castle, only what she remembered from the notes in the books, but there should be another room here, just above the cliff...

She climbed the stairs almost to the throne and looked around for a passage. It was to the left, and she immediately directed her steps that way. This chamber was smaller, but no less important. A bas-relief of a dragon decorated the wall, and the main thing that took up almost the entire space was a table.

But not just any ordinary wooden table... Made of stone, in the shape of Westeros, with all the most important castles, rivers, forests and mountains carved into it. There were even figurines on it and three chairs pushed aside. Everything was dusty, left to its fate at some point. She moved to the very end of the table, her eyes wandering over the places marked on the map. This is where they will plan their next steps, where to fight the battle, and how to transport the troops.

She rested her hands on the stone table and raised her head, looking at her companions who had come here with her.

"Let's begin." she said, interrupting the sound of waves crashing on the cliffs behind her.

~

-> Chapter XXXIII ''Dārilaros'' -> general masterlist -> Game of Thrones/House of the Dragon masterlist