#how are we my dear mutuals? 😂

[ishipmutualrespect]

-

[drenched-in-sunlight]

I'm sorry but like, how are ppl believing that Rellana and Messmer are a thing when the evidence provides otherwise? Apparently there're a lot of small details that have been surfacing lately and apparently it confirms that they're a couple? Even though there's a lot of evidence that there's also not? Like what's the truth? Also I'm reading some Japanese text as well, which they're also unsure of, but they're still concluding that it's one sided. Can you tell me lore wise what's going on?

i mean if ppl ship something then every small details can become sth to talk about (i literally look at Rellana's sword having gold engraving and claps my hands "gold? gold. oh she's in love with Marika i knew it." 😂😂)

i don't ship those two, so i can only give you a rundown of something that doesn't involve any romantic connection, cuz i don't think there's one. so idk whatever i said can even be considered "lore wise"?

but there's one lore implication i find fascinating: Ymir probably has a hand in convincing Rellana to follow Messmer, so he can gain access to LoS and Cathedral of Manus Metyr via her (he was her mentor + at the place where you find her dueling shield, there’s a glintslab firefly). we know how much of a manipulative rat he is so i don't put it past him to do so.

also, in an absence of any items confirming outright mutual affection, you turn to character dialogue. and Messmer and Rellana have no dialogues involving each other, even in cut ones (which i know ppl are upset about, but i find it funny ajdfd). hell, everyone only agrees Ciaran has a crush on Artorias because Hawkeye Gough's cut dialogue confirms it so.

have you seen Godfrey's cut dialogues about Marika? if From wants a canon romance they can very much write it cuz what the hell is "Dearest Marika is precisely what I must take back." "Dear Marika, do not fear. I am returned." "Oh Marika, I will take thee in mine arms once more." (he's so real for that).

so like... believe whatever you want, you can ship something from one throwaway detail, you can ship something because it's canon, you can do whatever. a validity of a ship doesn't have to rely on "truth" (which is always vague in From lore to begin with), and even if a ship is canon, you can choose to ignore it too. ppl do that all the time lol. just don't crash other ppl's party. leave each other alone and enjoy our own crops.

[the-secret-third-mon]

I was prodding around my private Discord server, adding each of our chosen emoji into the names of our personal “journal” channels, and a thought occurred to me:

Our (my) mind really is like a small community these days. XD

Even if we view ourselves as a single person, I can’t really deny anymore that I also view myself as being “multiple”, too. The best way to describe this vibe, outside of my usual “the secret third option”, is as a person with both a single collective identity and multiple identities.

We’re fluid parts of a single whole, and enjoy existing as that “fused” whole whenever a situation lends itself to such; but we love interacting with each other, our friends and loved ones, and the world in general as each individual part of us, too. Both is good.

It just really amuses me when my personal Discord server has more channels on it, and regular activity, than a vast majority of the smaller, private Discord communities that we’re part of. We have a handful of close, mutual friends on our private server, but often times it’s largely just us (aka. myself) rambling away in a “thinking aloud” way or writing at each other. How one person can talk away so much to and/or at themselves I have no clue, yet here we are. 😂

It also often blows my mind how much different my life is now, two years after first realizing (and consciously acknowledging) that we had DID, compared to my life prior to that. In many ways, it honestly does feel like another lifetime…

I guess in a sense, recalling our past life is like another secret third option, too: not quite an entirely different person’s life, but definitely not the exact same person we were prior to DID awareness either.

Having so many previously internal parts of us fully integrated, fused, and actively fronting now has significantly changed my daily identity, even if the average person couldn’t even tell. My own internal vibes are just strikingly different to how I used to feel, not least because I finally comprehend why my gender orientation shifts so frequently (gender fluidity is a trip). It’s also really lovely having ready access to so many different emotions, memories, and everyday skills nowadays, too, and I’m most definitely a better teacher and employee as a result.

But returning to my original observations: I just find it very amusing how natural it is to exist as multiple these days, despite also feeling more singular and “whole” than ever before. Everything just makes so much sense now, in ways my mind previously never did for as long as I could remember…

I really do love every part of me (us), and this strange little community we’ve created. There’s a particular Japanese song and music video that used to resonate with me long before I ever fathomed being multiple, and in many ways it’s even more meaningful and dear to me now. All I can do is keep praying for safety and good health, so that I can properly enjoy the rest of my life with every part of myself/us/we and this wacky mind community we’ve forged together.

(The song in question that I referred to above)

[shrinkthisviolet]

It's Love Letters Night! Send love and positivity to your favorite writers and bloggers!

This got really long so I’m sticking it under a cut 😅:

@negative-speedforce you are absolutely amazing. I love your posts and fics, I love Siv, and I love how much you love Nora (your fic about both versions of Nora sharing a name and the ✨insecurity✨ that would cause lives in my head RENT-FREE) and!! You’re an Iris and Reva defender just like me!! 🥰

@vexic929 you’re so amazing and fun to talk to! You have such wacky off-the-wall ideas and you make them work so well and I love you for it 💞 Malcolm, Berrie, and Beth in particular are so dear to me, and so are their fics!

@goldheartedchaoticdisaster you’re so fun to talk to, especially the OUAT stuff lately 🥰 I also always appreciate seeing your comments on my fics, they’re always long and wonderful and you’re just a delight. I can’t wait to see how you write Rowan, I love Nicky and Stephanie, I love your characterization of Mike Barnes and his family (canon to me!! Everyone read “bad boy (no more)”, it’s so good), and your CK Mini-Rewrites? *chefs kiss* you should’ve written the show

@angst-is-love-angst-is-life you pulled me into my current whump fixation headfirst 😂 I love reading through the whump prompts on your sideblog (@whump-is-love-whump-is-life, for anyone who wants to check it out), and I love talking to you 🥰 you also make me cry with how much you hurt Barry in Trophy and 12 hours, but I respect the whumpy endeavors

@fezwearingjellybananas you’re such a delight 🥰 you pulled me into Snowest with “Milk and Sugar”, your fics are so fun to read (and often a niche/novel premise), and I love seeing your sweet comments on my fics! I also so love the cycle of inspiration we’re in 😂 (for context, they got inspired by my Morgan AU to write Speedster Siblings, which (along with Gone in a Flash) then inspired me to write my Daddy Issues AU)

@starstruckpurpledragon (aka @kitkatt0430), you are wonderful and amazing and you’ve written so many amazing fics and meta for this fandom!! You have great takes, super interesting ideas…and you’re so wonderful to talk to. You also (along with @alittleflashvibe) pulled me into Saverb with “You Must Live (For Me)” 😂 much appreciated for that

@alittleflashvibe you are a delight and incredible and your Barrisco takes are such a highlight of this webbed site 💞 you always get me to see something new in their scenes, it’s terrific. You also pulled me into shipping Barrisco in general 😂 (you and @starstruckpurpledragon, as I mentioned above)

@frosty-the-killer-doll hiii I know we don’t talk a lot but I just wanted you to know you’re incredible and I love your takes on Caitlin and Frost—you’ve gotten me to see them both in new ways (that web weaving post about how Frost’s instinct to protect was corrupted by vengeance?? That was inspired, and it’s only one of your many great takes about her and Caitlin!). I also love love LOVE the Jesse fic you wrote, it’s like you read my mind fr 💞 love having you as my mutual

@icedteaandoldlace you’re so wonderful too! I’ve loved following along with your comments as you read my Morgan AU…and you’ve given me such a wonderful appreciation for Kamilla and Kamisco. Your Kamilla & Caitlin friendship fic is so sweet and I love it to pieces

@blackaquokat where to even begin 😅 we’ve been mutuals for like…what, years now? I don’t even remember how it started, but I DO remember your WKM fics and how incredible they are 🥰 your OC for the DA is absolutely how I view them, and your fics are so canon to me, you deserve all the love for crafting such a meticulous world from the pieces Mark gave us.

@seek--rest your fics are OUT OF THIS WORLD and so are your takes!! You’re one of my favorite Spidey fic authors (and that’s a very short list 😂), you’ve gotten me to see him and MJ in such incredible new ways (Irondad but make it MJ!! Ingenious!!), and you have great takes overall (your post-Blip meta my beloved!!), here and in the discord. You also wrote the May & Sally fic of my DREAMS!! Some people might call you an “absolute displeasure to know”, but I couldn’t disagree more, you’re wonderful 💞

@abcd-em on the note of “Irondad but make it MJ”, Vagary lives in my head rent-free 💞 you’ve written PeterMJ in so many wonderful ways, but that in particular really sticks with me. And you’re such a sweet person in general

@hollow-dweller speaking of great takes…hollow you’re practically oozing with them, here and on the discord. I always come away learning something, and you just have so many amazing thoughts?? Also I keep thinking about the Peter & Jessica fic you wrote like…oh my god?? Inspired?? I must applaud you 👏👏

@robbyykeene your CK takes are so incredible, you’re the first account I go to for them, I love reading your posts. You’re so right 💞

@leohttbriar i adore your fics! Your Samtory ones live in my head rent-free, and so does “for what do we live (but to make sport for our neighbours)” like!! You Get It!! You Get Penelope and Charlotte!!

@jenpsaki I can hardly talk about Samtory and not mention you, when you’re the one who pulled me into this ship with “different but same” 🥰 and thank you so very much for that

@arrthurpendragon you are a key pillar of the OC community and so wonderful 🥹 thank you for hosting that exchange event back in July of last year, it pulled me into the OC community and I’m so grateful for it

@lady-of-the-spirit you’re delightful to talk to, you have great takes for pretty much everything (ESPECIALLY Star Wars), I love Hestia, and I’ve never seen HOTD but I love how passionate you are about Alicent 💞

@basimibnishaqs speaking of having great takes about Star Wars…🥰 Rey & Luke being father and daughter especially, I LOVE your posts on the subject. And this fic you wrote about them!! An AU ofc but so very sweet to me 💞

@practically-an-x-man you and I are fairly new to being mutuals but I love having you as one 💞 still chugging through the Ophelia fic, but I love it so far! And ofc as I mentioned before, you write AMAZING whump (as shown in this incredible fic!)

@azaablue your ATLA fics are out of this world, but “beautiful boy” and “Push and Pull” in particular always sticks with me 💞 all the kudos in the world, you Get It, and you’re so wonderful. A gem in the ATLA fandom

@calliopieces your Maiko fics are a GEM in The ATLA fandom, especially “crowning glory” 💞 you just Get Mai and her family situation, and especially Fire Nation girlhood, and I love this fic so much for it

[deepperplexity]

Prompt: 9. Missing Star [A3]

Pairing: Colonel Brandon x Fem!Reader

POV: Second, Reader & Third, Brandon

Setting: Delaford Estate

Continuation of: Prompt 1. Chimney Soot & Prompt 5. Grave Of Snow

A/N: It's been a moment since we last saw our dear Colonel who kicked off Rickmas2023 - shall we return and find out what's been brewing since last time? 🤭 I'm very excited to share this one, I ended up staying up kinda late yesterday to make sure it would be ready for proofing this morning but I think my late-night brain did a good job - and the nicknames in this one! I love nicknames! 👀👏

I also started working on tomorrow's prompt yesterday night as well - breaking off the serial theme with a Brandon One Shot tomorrow that I think will be a bit longer 😂 It was gonna be just like 1k (for my sanity's sake) but I'm already on 2k and I think I need another 2k at least to wrap it up nicely 🙈 I really am terrible at keeping things short, but I think this one is gonna be really good so I hope you're excited for MORE Brandon content tomorrow, feels like he's really popular among my readers this year 🥰👏❤

Tags/TW’s: Emotional Turmoil, Classicism, Mutual Pining, Love Confession, Hand Holding, Hand Kissing, Feeling Less Than Worthy, Sort Of A Proposal? Feels… like, feels, you know?

Abbr.: Y/N - Your Name

Word Count: 2.1k+

LINKTREE // AO3 // MASTERLIST

⩤• Brandon •⩥

He watched as you walked into the room, timid and quiet in your movements despite the commanding dress he’d had made for you. Ever since he had disclosed those bold words of your effect upon his heart from the first moment his eyes had found yours, well, he had perhaps been too bold in stating such a fact openly, without barely knowing you. Yet, how could he not? You were a vision as grand as any illusion conjured in the Sahara. As wonderfully sweet in demeanour as a gentle deer in any lush forest where hunters did not exist.

How, on God’s green earth, could he not fall for your beauty? The gentleness he had witnessed in those eyes of yours, framed by soot and ash, over a week ago. The sweetness of your words as you spoke of him as if he were another man — he knew now, of course, you had not known who he was. That you had treated him kindly and spoken only kindness of a man unknown to you based merely on the words of a friend had only engulfed him further in your beauty.

The moment he had entered his bedroom, seeing you in his bed dressed only in a nightshirt and free of any soot or ash for the first time, his judgement had taken flight and abandoned him with no wits. You had disarmed him so fully, so easily, so honestly — he often found himself to be at a loss for words in your presence. Sure, he was a man of few words to begin with, but never had he lost the ability to form sentences of the simplest kind until you appeared.

As you walked toward him, your eyes cast down while simultaneously flicking about in what appeared an effort to not look at him had his heart twisting uncomfortably. You were far younger than him, but not as young as to it not being within reason for him to house such feelings, surely? The very idea you found him… unappealing , made a coldness slither along his back and stiffen it. But as your eyes darted to his for a moment, there was a small hesitant smile across your lips just a mere step before you were stood by him, beside the naked tree within the ballroom. He wished desperately to reach out and clasp your hand, kiss the back of it and offer you anything within his reach no matter where in the world anything lay that was your heart’s desire.

His hands ached with the want to hold you once more, as he had caught you when you stumbled out of the chimney like his own blessing from the stars, or when he carried you from the forest and had the honour of feeling nearly all of you pressed against him. It was not proper, nor had you indicated he was allowed to touch you in any manner. He cursed his errant heart's desires when there was so little evidence regarding your feelings on the matter.

“Miss Y/l/n,” he said quietly, a deep rumble he couldn’t control. “Colonel Brandon,” you replied gently, sweetly. He wished for the world to fall away so he could speak with you clearly, could affirm the words he’d spoken a week ago the day he first met you and subsequently fell into the pit of desperation and want unlike any he had ever experienced.

⩤• You •⩥

You didn’t know what to do, what to say, how to act or even what to do with your fidgeting fingers. He looked at you with such a strange sensation in his eyes. There was nothing but gentleness and kindness visible in them, but the sensation was another matter entirely. Ever since he’d spoken those words, of you breathing life into his heart, your world had tipped on its axis and realigned itself to centre around the gentleman who now spoke so few words to you. Had he perhaps misspoken? Was he changing his mind about the declaration which had nearly burned your skin with its warmth?

You stood beside him, your hands clasped before you while you both looked at the naked, magnificent tree the servants had carried in that very morning. “Such a beauty,” you said with awe as your eyes travelled up to the top where a star would soon sit. “Indeed,” the colonel said in a quiet murmur and you turned to smile at him, only to find him already watching you. Your cheeks heated under that intense look of his.

“Miss, are you finding my estate to your liking?” he asked, yet another question only asking of things that held little importance. Why you wished for him to take a deeper interest in you you could only say was due to the warmth spreading within you each and every time you saw him. “You have a beautiful home, Colonel,” you said and he smiled that little smile of his before he looked away. Could I do it? You wondered. Could you, perhaps, ask a more personal question to show your interest in him?

“Sir,” you began but kept your eyes fixed on the tree as he made it hard to speak without stuttering or stumbling over your words. “Is there-, is there a lady of the house?” You nearly sucked in a breath at the most forward question, you hadn’t been in the servants’ quarter long enough to hear any gossip and now that you were there as his guest they only greeted you with formality. Even Mrs Garber had abandoned any real friendliness and adopted the behaviour of you being a higher citizen. You couldn’t quite wrap your head around it. They were all very nice, friendly, and even kind. They were a happy staff, yet there was no real friendship to be found for you now.

As the silence stretched on, you dared take a peek, only to find him looking at you with barely any emotions in his features; as if he were holding himself still and indifferent. “There is not,” he said after a moment. “Oh, I would have thought-, I mean given-, umh, I…” you stuttered as his eyes never left yours, it was as if your mind could not properly function when he watched you and the way your body nearly purred when he was close had you vibrating as he was just within reach but never actually touched you in any way. It was proper. But it was maddening .

“Given, what? Do explain, miss,” he said, but it wasn’t derogatorily put. A genuine curiosity lingered in his dark voice edged by a warmth unlike any other. “Well—” you averted your gaze and began fidgeting “—given how handsome and kind you are, Sir.” Where the boldness came from you had no idea, but the words had been on your tongue for close to a week now. “You think me handsome?” he asked, a stunned sort of air to him. “Who would not?” you asked, turning in the process to look straight at him. “You are a handsome man.” “I am old,” he countered while for the first time lowering his eyes away from you. “We have a different opinion of what old means, Sir.” “You say that word, in a specific manner, miss.” “What word, Sir?” “That word.” “Sir?” “Yes, you speak it with such respect.” “I have the utmost respect for you, Sir Brandon.” He tilted his head at that, studying you closer all of a sudden.

“Is this due to my age?” he asked, circling back to the subject you held little regard for. You didn’t see an old man, only a handsome and kind one with a strange sort of distance to him. “No, Colonel. I’ve heard stories of you through the city, my former master spoke highly of you but with a certain distaste for your gentleness as he was a cruel—” You shut your mouth before another word could slip out. “Continue,” he ordered. “I do not like to speak ill of—” “Is he the reason you are fidgeting with your hands so incessantly?” It wasn’t a question so much as a quietly spoken demand for answers. You only nodded. “His name?” “I shall not speak, Sir. If you’d excuse me, I do not feel well all of a sudden,” you said in a quick lie. The memories of Lord Burlington were still too fresh. Your skin and flesh still felt the sting of his crop, held by him or his loyal butler.

You walked far too swiftly towards the door but before you could open it a warm hand grabbed yours. You froze mid-step as lightning seemed to strike you from his soft but steady touch. “Miss,” he said in a quiet drawl. “You shall speak the name so I can sever all ties.” Those were the words he spoke but the threat under them was far clearer than you’d care to admit. “You wish to shame the lord?” you asked. “He is but one of many who treat us with… severity.” “I wish to invite him to the day I shall make you mine, and he shall see what a beauty he harmed and realise he is done for, my sweet.” “The day—” Your breath hitched as his hand tightened only for his eyes to widen a second later and release you.

He turned away, his hand fisting before relaxing as he watched the naked tree while your blood pounded in your ears and your heart hammered beyond what should have been possible. The tension lay thick in the air while the silence stretched. “I have spoken too rashly,” he admitted. “Forgive my assumption, miss.” “A-assumption?” you managed to force out between laboured breaths. “That I hold a candle bright enough to capture your flame. Much like this tree misses its star, you have been my missing star. Bright, gentle, light…”

The words he spoke, so kind but sorrow-filled, twisted your heart as you watched his usually straight shoulders slump. You’d spent a week falling for him from a distance. Each gentle word to his staff, every confident step, all the little looks and smiles gifted in your direction. A true gentleman at heart, holding the respect of many yet naming you his missing star — the most important decoration of a Christmas tree and guiding light to those lost.

“Sir…” “Do not fret, my sweet,” he interrupted without looking at you. “I am accustomed to rejection.” “Accustomed to— What? Colonel Brandon I—” “It’s been many years though, as I’ve not offered myself to anyone. Before you, it was never anyone of true importance either.” “Importance? Sir, I’m a scullery maid. I have no—” “Do not finish that sentence,” he said as he swung around, his gentle eyes widened. “You are of the greatest importance, little star.”

Your mouth turned dry while your stomach churned and warmed under his stare. The harshness that mingled with the kindness in his eyes was a warming thing to be witnessed by. You wished to feel those strong arms wrap around you, holding you close while his gravelly voice whispered those sweet nicknames which had from time to time slipped out of that thin mouth of his you wondered what it felt like to kiss.

“I’m not rejecting you, Sir.” Those were the only words you managed to push out as your throat closed up. His brows lifted, surprise marring his face. “You-, you are not?” he asked and you shook your head. “Then, what are you doing?” “I-, I-,” you began, but how were you to speak of what he made you feel? He, a respected colonel with such grace and wealth to him, was far beyond your reach. You had done your best to tamper down your feelings, the building need in your entire body for him which only grew with each passing day.

You took a step back, as if your body knew it could not have what it wished for and tried to increase the distance. “Do not walk away from me, miss,” he said, but there was no harshness to his voice. “I’m not worthy,” you whispered. “My heart says otherwise.” “But I’m not— And you’re—” “My sweet,” he said, interrupting your clumsy attempt at forming words. “You are far beyond worthy. I knew, from the moment our eyes met and you spoke so kindly. There is more value in you, my missing star, than most in high society.”

You shook your head, as if you couldn’t believe the words he spoke. Yet, the moment he grasped your trembling hand it was as if the world fell away. There was only him, his kind eyes, his sweet warmth. The soft touch of his thin lips against your knuckles nearly had you undone right then and there.

…To Be Continued…

LINKTREE // AO3 // MASTERLIST

A/N: How are we feeling? 👀🙈 Gosh, I loved writing this one - it just feels so right for Brandon to be like this - I hope it hits the mark for you too! Also - I'm really getting into the thick of Christmas prepping now - I will do my best to post fics as early in the day as I possibly can but it might fluctuate a bit 😅❤

Q: What Rickman character would you prefer to be snowed in and stuck with for a week in a somewhat realistic setting? A: For me, it would have to be Snape - the magic alone makes him a prime candidate for making the week better 😂 Cold? Use a charm. Thirsty? Use a charm. Moving furniture? Use a charm. Can't reach the blanket? Use a charm. 👌

TAGLIST: @lizlil @snapefiction @darkthought15 @monstreviolet @flowerdementia @marvelschriss @once-upon-an-imagine @ravennight41 @caseydoodles98 @slytherinprincess03 @theconsultingdetectiveswife @grimmyhild @monster-energies @myobscureimaginarium @snowblossomreads @eternal-silvertongued-prince @cherryglossie @setsuna-meiou31 @helena211 @a-queen-and-her-throne @justsaturn0 @turvi @imwithyoutiltheendofthelinebucky @sunnylikesfrogs @mamawolfsmith16 @dianilaws @sassanoe @snapesrn @bernadette-peters12 @sammy-13 @smartowl999 @castleofthorns @serenanight87 @sunset90 @mamawolfsmith87 @snowblossomreads @ladykardasi @a-queen-and-her-throne @eternal-silvertongued-prince @lyrixsnape @imwithyoutiltheendofthelinebucky @daddythanatos

Want to be tagged? 💚 You can tag yourself HERE! Or tell me and I’ll gladly tag you! 😍

[Dec:2023]

[bforbetterthanyou]

I’m curious…what is your opinion of Henry’s relationship with each of his wves?

Oh my goodness gracious, thank you for this, Anon! (This got ridiculously long so I’m putting it under a cut)

Okay I guess I’ll start with Catherine of Aragon since she never gets to go first…

Hot take (not really) but I don’t think she and Henry had this great romantic love. And, for the record, I think it was mutual. I don’t think either of them loved each other in a romantic way. However, I also don’t think that Henry married her because he was forced to…because who forced him? His father? Yeah, Henry claimed later on that he only married Catherine because it was his father’s “dying wish” (or something to that effect) but we don’t know if that’s actually true and also, Henry denounced the betrothal in 1505 and no one forced him to go through with it regardless. And, certainly, none of the naysayers were forcing him to go through with it. Catherine apologists make so much of Henry uses the “brother’s widow” excuse during the Great Matter and completely gloss over the fact that there were multiple people also citing this as a reason during the period of Catherine’s widowhood.

I think, what it came down to, was that Henry knew that Catherine had been living in wealthy poverty and was maybe not being treated very kindly by his father, and Henry was also dealing with his own poor treatment by his father, and so Henry saw himself as this knight in shining armor rescuing the damsel in distress. Of course, Henry and Catherine had also known each other for almost a decade—it’s hard to know exactly what their relationship was like during those years because I doubt they really interacted much, but if Catherine was kind to him then that would add to why Henry was so okay with ignoring the naysayers. And then, in the early years of their marriage, Henry came to admire and respect her.

Where things get complicated is the issue of their children. I remember once seeing this article Suzannah Lipscomb wrote where she speculated how their marriage would be if Henry, Duke of Cornwall had lived and Suzannah made it out to be that everything was all rainbows and sunshine and she was his beloved wife forever etc etc. That’s great, Suzy, but I really don’t think it’s, at all, realistic. Certainly, if Catherine had had a healthy son who survived, Henry wouldn’t have divorced her even after she hit menopause. But Ithink it’s very optimistic to say their marriage would’ve been perfect. Obviously, losing so many children didn’t help. But, like I said, I don’t think Henry was deeply in love with her, so I think it’s inevitable that he would’ve strayed (I guess is the right word?).

On to Anne (strap in y’all this already way too long answer is gonna get even longer).

So I mentioned how I don’t think Henry was really romantically in love with Catherine. I think that Anne was the first time (and the last time actually) that Henry genuinely, properly, fell in love with someone (sorry Bessie stans…do those exist? Probably…somewhere…I definitely feel like I’ve seen at least one person try to argue that Bessie was the great love of his life). Anyway, yeah I think Henry had all of these grand romantic ideas about himself and he believed himself to be in love with every pretty girl…and then he met Anne and his brain just short-circuited. (And, who can blame him, I mean Anne Boleyn is obviously the most perfect woman whose ever existed, I’m in love with her 😂). In all seriousness, Henry didn’t have the great passionate love with Catherine but he definitely had it with Anne. We could talk about what went wrong in that relationship, but I’ve already stated my opinion on that and almost got run off of Tumblr for it.

So moving on to Jane…

Oh dear. It amazes me how many people still believe Henry’s own propaganda. So, unfortunately, for those of you, it’s very clear to me that Henry never loved Jane at all. He treated her pretty poorly while she was alive. I think she appealed to him because she wasn’t Anne. After she died, he fell head over heels with the idea of her. But that’s about it.

Now, lucky number 4.

I feel like I don’t really need to say much about this one. Henry made his feelings about Anna pretty clear.

I guess I could talk about their post-divorce relationship. What’s sad is that I think Anna could’ve actually been good for him. She comes across as a pretty chill person, but she also enjoyed a lot of the same things that he enjoyed. I think, if Henry had just not done that stupid thing of thinking that he was still 20 years old and that Anna would magically recognize him somehow, then I think they could’ve been brilliant together.

Onto Katheryn number 2.

I feel like this one is pretty self-explanatory. Henry was getting old, he couldn’t exercise like he used to, he had mobility issues, he was becoming obese…and Katheryn made him feel young again. What’s interesting comparing Katheryn and Anne’s downfall—Anne died because she was powerful, Katheryn died because she was powerless.I mean, it’s not insignificant that Katheryn’s downfall took months while Anne’s took just a few weeks. Obviously, the suspicion of Katheryn committing adultery was embarrassing for him, but she stuck around so long under house arrest because the only real threat Katheryn posed was to Henry’s ego.

Yee-haw, it’s Kathryn Parr (any Rex Factor fans out there?)

This one I also feel like is pretty self-explanatory. By this point, Henry has alienated and killed everyone who ever cared about him so, naturally, he’s feeling pretty lonely. What I find most interesting is that Kathryn was older and more mature and, obviously learned. I think with Jane, especially, and to a lesser-extent, Katheryn, Henry was kind of over intelligent women who could stand up to him. But I get the sense that, after Katheryn’s execution, he kind of got tired of the subservient wife. I think Henry actually preferred intelligent, feisty women, but things had gone so horribly wrong with Anne that he wanted the opposite. But then he quickly got bored of the opposite. Obviously, at this point in Henry’s life he’s really not interested in anyone standing up to him or trying to impose their opinions on him, but he still wanted someone he could have a conversation with. And Kathryn, bless her, was clever enough to match him intellectually without pushing the boundaries too much.

Wow, this got so insanely long. I’ll put it under a cut so it doesn’t clog up anyone’s feed.

But, you know, when I really spell it out like this, it just emphasizes how frustrating it is when all the wives get lumped together and the last few even get largely ignored. Because, for all of them, their circumstances for becoming Henry’s wife were completely different, and all of their relationships with him are completely different. People act like him having six wves was inevitable or that his choices were completely random. On one level, I can understand why people lump them together in this neat “Six Wives” package but doing that completely ignores the fact that they were individuals, not just a part of this rotating door of arbitrarily chosen women.

[softboiledwonderland]

Thank you for tagging me in this @konartiste 😊 being very lame and doing it months after the fact <3

LOTR themed tag game! Reblog with your own answers and tag three or more people you want to get to know better!

- How old were you when you were first introduced to LOTR? I was nine when my mum took me to the cinema (I think I'd read and loved The Hobbit by then) to watch the movie. I did not like it at all! 😂 We didn't know what it was about and had no idea it was part one in a trilogy, which came as a nasty surprise after three hours of horrible movie lol. I loved the beginning, but like: the troll terrified me to my core and for a long time afterwards I was scared it would somehow come after me, Gandalf died, I thought Boromir had a suspicious face from the start and didn't mind that he died (cue 20+ years later and I'm writing the most important fic in my life so far about him) but his death was still traumatic, and I just wanted my comfort hobbits to get a happy ending and instead they were crying and resigning themselves to more misery. I didn't even watch the other two movies when they came out I was so disgusted with the whole thing lol. Read the books and watched the movies as an older teen and loved them all.

- Favourite LOTR character? Probably Aragorn, but also the hobbits (they're a unit). The entire Fellowship is so dear to me though. And Boromir is my blorbo.

- Books or Movies? Books! The movies are cool and all, but the books are where Tolkien is.

- Which location in Middle Earth would you want to visit? If I had to choose only one it'd probably be Rivendell, but also the Shire, the Old Forest, Rohan, Dol Amroth, Gondor... and the Great River, just because of my fic. <3

- Favourite Movie? Not sure, perhaps The Fellowship, ironically enough.

- Favourite scene? I'm so bad at remembering movie scenes! Maybe the Council of Elrond? There are so many amazing ones with such beautiful music so I'm not sure. Love Gandalf charging at the Nazgûl with Pippin in tow <3

- Favourite quote? “The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater.”

- What Middle Earth race would you like to be? I'm usually a Hobbit in every online quiz, but it'd be fun to see what being an Elf is like.

- Favourite LOTR ship: This is going to sound weird because I'm writing a long, shippy, Canon Character/OC fic at the moment, but I'm not really into LOTR for the ships so I kind of don't have one? I adore Aragorn/Arwen and Faramir/Éowyn as much as the next person and Sam and Rosie are precious, but I'm not really fussed.

Going all out and tagging all the mutuals I THINK I saw reblogging LOTR at some point, if I'm wrong I'm sorry, if you already did this back when it was making the rounds please ignore it, if you want to ignore it anyway by all means feel free to do so, thank you and have a nice day <3 @dangerously-human @to-be-frank-i-dont-care @phoenixflames12 @ass-deep-in-demons @spifflocated @erathene

[msmargaretmurry]

i wanted to write some fandom-related new year's reflections down and this felt like the best place for it! i miss livejournal every day!

i don't generally do formal new years' resolutions, mostly because i am always too busy around the new year to really sit down and think and reflect about what they should be and how i would want to measure them, but i do think the new year is a good time for a little mental reset regardless and i have been Pondering over the past few weeks about what i would like that to mean for me...... i have always complained that tumblr as a platform is terrible for making friends and i stand by that (i have met good friends on tumblr but the friendships flourished when we took the conversation elsewhere) but i do think this past year i have been #blessed in obtaining some really lovely mutuals and acquaintances On Here in a way that has made me feel more connected to hrpf fandom at large, which has been really nice ❤ so that is something i would like to continue in 2024. i hesitate to be like "i want to spend more time on tumblr" because i probably do not need to do that lmao but i do maybe want to try to be a little more proactive about making/maintaining connections and loose ties. my dear pal kasper @moregraceful has talked about fandom as community and that always resonates with me, because it can be so easy to feel like you are feeding Content into the Content Machine for people to Consume and honestly that is so miserable! i don't want that! maybe 2024 will be the year i finally post my thoughts on the interminable "bookmarks comments are for readers, not writers" discourse.

anyway. i know a lot of the actual fandom ~conversation these days happens on discord, which is am afraid of, but idk maybe i'll try to have more of an open mind about it this year. but maybe i won't. making no promises to myself there 😂 i am trying to be realistic about how much free time i will have for fandom in the midst of work and grad school and real life social life so i think the upshot here is wanting to be thoughtful and deliberate about how i spend the free time i do have for this stuff.

on the fanfiction front...... i came into 2023 in a pretty shitty mental place about writing, mostly due to how lonely i felt about writing-as-community in 2022 — it's just not fun to feel like your friends are having fun without you about things you thought you'd be included in! — and spent most of the year trying to pull myself out of it, with middling success. like, i enjoyed the head above water ficlets i added to that universe but i do still feel a little crappy that those were the only things i was able to finish writing. i have so many stories i want to get out! so i am also trying to look at this new year as maybe a chance to give myself a clean slate and say that no matter what writing goals i set for myself i will also try to be gentler with myself and focus on enjoying the writing process regardless of the end product. but i would also like to actually finish some real fics this year, lol. i might set some measurable goals, but that will not be happening until i get home next week.

in conclusion, idk what i want this year to be yet! a friend of mine recently mentioned the joys of using the julian calendar for her winter celebrations means the new year isn't until january 14, so the first two weeks of the year get to be kind of a "soft launch" of the year to figure out what works best and i did immediately steal the concept even though i am a gregorian calendar girlie. so i am still pondering, still percolating. if for some reason any of you actually read all this and have your own fandom- or writing-related new year's goals/resolutions, i would love to hear them ❤

[oraclekleo]

Tiny Tarot Game (NSFW)

CLOSED

Hello my dear followers and random visitors of my blog!

You might remember the tiny tarot game which gave you the answer to How would you tame your brat. It was a really fun game, I think you enjoyed playing it and I certainly enjoyed doing the readings.

So let's reverse it for today, shall we.

Rules:

I will pull only one card for each ask.

Anons are allowed.

Any info you provide about yourself (sign, MBTI, favourite colour, etc.) is appreciated and will make the reading more accurate but you don't have to provide anything

Minors do not interact - this is gonna be a spicy reading

Tarot isn't a science and this whole game is for entertainment only, I can never guarantee any of it.

I don't read energies, I don't meddle with yours or anybody's elses.

Feedback is appreciated but not mandatory

You can also take on the challenge and pull a card for Kleo with the same question

If you are interested in more readings, check out Kleo's Paid Readings offer!

Today's question is:

How would you be tamed by your Dom?

(Daddy/Sir/Master/Mommy/Mistress/Queen/etc.)

What works on you? Praises or Discipline? Are you more likely to obey when talked to gently or do you need a strict command?

Hopefully your card will tell. 😂

As always, remember that any kind of power dynamics in a relationship has to be mutually consensual and all parties involved need to agree on all aspects of it. Open and honest communication is the key to successful relationship. I know, boring stuff. But I feel like everyone on Tumblr needs to be reminded as some of the fanfics go a bit unhinged 😂 Just... Remember to make difference between fantasy and real life and stay safe! 💖

I can't wait for your asks!

[gladdygirl18]

Once again I am super late with this but hey, this is gonna be a 3 in 1 special so this is gonna be a very long tickle tea story, so get your popcorn ready

Blue me, orange BF, red Bi friend, pink Lesbian friend

So on the 14th of this month, I was over at my boyfriend's place just to do a bit of hanging out, do homework, etc. Throughout that time, he would cuddle up to me, nuzzle me, and just all around being adorable 🥰💖

So after sometime he started to poke around my belly and tickle me, saying:

"I told you I was gonna tickle you. Did you think you could escape your.... punishment~?" 😳💖 (I genuinely don't even remember wtf I did to make him tickle me, let alone say that😅😂) "and not only that..."

He then pulls out a sleep mask that he got as a gift (it has a built in cooling pad to help with headaches, and it actually felt really nice ngl) he then slipped on the sleep mask and pulled me into his chest "now the fun begins" and starts tickling me like crazy

Since I can't see where he's gonna tickle me next, it made the tickling all the more unbearable and yes, fun 🥰💖 I tried to block his hands but that didn't work at all. After sitting in his lap, he had me on my stomach and continued tickling me! The way I was kicking and laughing omgggg

UGGHHH HE IS SUCH A GOOD TICKLER 😆🥰💖

After what felt like almost 10 minutes of tickling, it was his turn. However, it didn't go as well.as I'd hope. Somehow he knew where I was, grabbed me and started tickling me AGAIN

"That's not fahahahair!" "All is fair in love and war, my dear~ You fought back again me, who says i cant do the same~?"

TIEISBSNDJRHD SHUT UUUUPP 😆🤭💖🥰🫶🏾🫶🏾💖

I tried to tickle him back but he was quicker than me, as well as being bigger and stronger than me, so I was at a severe disadvantage. After that, he was telling me all the things he wanted to do with me with the blindfold (Rated R stuff ofc)

Just yesterday, me, my boyfriend, and 2 of our mutual friends were hanging out in an empty classroom to do some HW (no hw was completed 🤣😅) I was poking my Bi friend, and he wasn't ticklish

"How are you not ticklish?"

"I don't know. Like just one day I just decided not to be ticklish and boom."

"Like for me, I can turn it off whenever"

My friend didn't believe me and started poking me. I laughed at first before shutting it off completely; no laughing, squirming, nothing

"Wow you really can turn it off"

"Told you"

"For me, I turned that shit off damn near permanently and I don't know how to turn it on again" 🤣🤣🤣

After that whole conversation, my boyfriend snuck up behind me and hugged me. the entire time my boyfriend was flirting with me, rubbing his hands all over my body, kissing me, making our friends jealous. Then when my Bi friend was telling my boyfriend that I can turn off being ticklish, my boyfriend was quick to prove both of us wrong

"She can turn it off for a while, but you just gotta keep going at it with her. Eventually she'll crack"

To prove his point, he pinned me down across on of the desks, and started tickling me

"(Bi friend's name) hehehehelp!"

He only smiled before walking over and rapidly poke my sides!

"Hehehehelp mehehehe! Not hihihihihim!"

AHHHH THIS IS STRAIGHT FROM A TICKLE FIC, I KNOW IT IS 😆🥰💖😆😂😆😂🫶🏾💖

I then looked to my lesbian friend and called out to her. Wanna know what she said?

"Deserved. Very well deserved" I almost died 🤣🤣

After that whole fiasco, the next day, I went back to my boyfriend's place (surprisingly early too) and we just played video games, working on HW, and the occasional cuddle/Makeout session. After a while, I had asked my boyfriend if he can time me again for how long I can be tickled for (I started to like this game 🤭💖 even if he does win every time, he still helps out with it) so After getting my stopwatch ready and putting my hands behind my head, he got to work

Omggggg I was on cloud 9! There were times where I would sit up and try to block out the tickles but he would casually say

"Nu-uh, lay back down. Im not through with you yet" "where do you think you're going?"

HE IS SUCH A FUCKING TEASE 🥰😆💖🫶🏾🥰💖😆🫶🏾💖

After that, he hand stopped tickling me, saying his hands were starting to cramp (felt a bit bad about that and I did massage them to make them feel better) and before when we played this game, I lasted 1:04. My time was 2:14

I then told him smth along the lines of:

"I think you're the tickle monster of this relationship now"

"Hmmm.... nope, still you" *kisses me* "you like tickling and being tickled, so you're still the tickle monster here"

"But you're barely even ticklish"

"I know, but I tickle you like this because I know how happy it makes you. And seeing you smiling, laughing, and enjoying yourself is all I ever need to see to know that I'm doing something right"

I LOVE HIM YOUR HONOR I LOVE HIMMM 😭🥰💖😆🥰😭😭🫶🏾💖🥰🫶🏾

It felt like he was tickling me for like 5-10 minutes straight (my perception of time got fucked up during the summer before school started so yeahhh)

After that, we cuddled, had a make out session, and some other.... "fun" things but that's about it

Holy fucking shit this was a long tickle story! But it was all very very fun! Again, apologies that this is late; school work and club work keep me on my toes and don't have time to write for myself all too much; I was lucky to find this little window of time to write this

More tickle tea stories soon!

Tagging: @giggly-squiggily @sunstone-smiles @burningablaze @cutesmokes @otomiyaa

[fayes-fics]

Five

Thousand

Whaaaaaaaaaaat?!

Congrats my love!!! I’m so proud of you, and especially happy to celebrate in this mini love fest to celebrate this occasion! 🥳🫶

Now, I could ask some really mean questions and make you pick between two impossible things…

Actually yeah, that sounds brilliant and is exactly what I shall do. 🤪 So, without further ado……

Would you rather an all you can eat supply of cheese for a year but you can never have Coke Zero again, or all of your butter be so cold that it tears the bread, no matter what you try to do to it, for a year?

Would you rather we never get a benelake scene or oral sex godthony gazebo scene is removed from existence?

Would you rather Anthony never returns from India or Benedict never takes off more than a cravat on screen in s4?

And last but certainly not least… 😇

Would you rather go inside, or lock the door?

Love youuuuuuuuu 😘💗

Hi my dearest 🫶

Again I love how cruel my mutuals make these choices hehehe (100% affectionate) 😂🤔

Thank you for taking part and your kind words my dear 🥹😁🧡🧡

1) I can’t stand the tearing bread thing (not that I eat butter much these days, booo!) so I guess I’m giving up Coke Zero 😱 so I can have cheese.

2) Benelake or Antongue?!? That is SO HARSH TO CHOOSE. Dammit…. Dammit. This is actually impossible. 😭 But dammit after no Benebum in s3 there better be SO MUCH in s4, including emerging naked from a lake completely gratuitously. But how can I obliterate the gazebo scene?!?! Can I pick both exist or neither exist?! That’s the only thing I can pick, surely?!

3) I’m sorry but I’d prefer no Anthony than Benedict stay completely clothed in s4. I neeeeeeeeeeed it. See above. Gratuitous and lingering pls. Thank you.

4) I’ll go inside AND lock the door thankyouverymuch 😝

Thank you so much for your dastardly choices and wonderful gifs. Love youuuu too 🫶😁🧡🧡

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

*poke* *poke* Delivery for a fellow mutual!!

To my dearest, 

Decorating for the holidays was a wonderful experience. Learning about your traditions for this time of year filled me with happiness. I’m grateful to hear you share more and more about yourself, I always find it endearing. I wonder, what other plans do you have for this winter season? Are there any particular activities you would like to do? If you have none, may I suggest taking you ice skating? I would love to see you cling onto me as we attempt a few lifts. Well, till then my dear. 

Jade Leech

??.dWJBHGIURGBHQWBVbetiy2f7vqt76bogeabnlafhb???F?><FL:<DA>??????? ?? ????? ? ?qewmnwpqupbyqribiyqegbidst45173986famkDSkbnfVwuofvaoe???? ? ?? ?? ? ?????? ?? ?? 😭 I DID NOT????? ? ???? ?EXPECT TH i S??????????

Now I’m picturing Miss Raven on a ladder (held up by Jade) to place holiday decorations… only to get distracted from the shiny lights and glittering ornaments. She tells him about how some birds migrate south for the winter, while ravens like her tend to stay put, gather resources, and fiercely defend their territories. That’s why she and her uncle are often cooped up in the warm indoors this time of year, Miss Raven explains. They’re busy being birds 😂

“Activities I like to do for the holidays? Well, ravens don’t particularly observe such celebrations. I treat the holidays like any other winter day. It’s too cold to go out, so I’ll fix myself a hot drink and nestle up with a blanket and a good book,” Miss Raven would say. “Of course, there are also some human activities I’ve been curious to dip my toes into…”

When the idea of ice-skating gets pitched, her eyes light up the same way the fairy lights do—and Jade knows she’s enthusiastic about trying something new. As expected, she’s clumsy on the ice and is forced to cling to him for support 💀 and while he teases her about it, he’s no more graceful than she is. They wobble around the rink together until he gets bold and attempts a lift (against her protests). Miss Raven is hoisted up and gets a brief glimpse of the pearly grey sky and the winter wonderland that surrounds them, then they both collapse, out of breath from the exertion.

Thank you very much for the surprise gift, I really appreciate it!! 🙇‍♀️ Wishing you well this holiday season~

[thefandomsinhalor]

🐝🦄🦋 for the lovely asks

Hello dear anon!

🐝 We are off to a good start as I'm gonna go rogue right away and mention only one person for this section (I'll compensate for the third section, and mention more lovely people that I would like to know better, how about that?) simply because I can lol, and it's @amaranthhiding 😊😊😊 I like that we are pretty much on the same wavelength about stuff in general (fandom or otherwise). I like how truly considerate and kind she is, and I like how passionate she can be too 😊 You're awesome!

🦄 ...🙃 Lord. this is always the part where I'm almost regretting posting these asks lol. All right. I like that I will read most of anything within my vicinity and how a fast reader I am (may sound dumb to say, but considering how slow I used to be, I'm choosing to see this as an accomplishment). I like how when I find something new I like/or am interested in, I let myself go for it, no matter how weird or silly it can be. And because I need to say another one, I'll say that I like how I've learned (and still learning) to trust my intuition.

🦋 This was a tough one because I could easily tag well over twenty people if I'm being honest. But since I can only choose a few, I'll begin my fangirling with @dreamsandcherrypie since they are my most recent subscriber (💜) and that I simply adore their art and it's never a bad time to get know artists! (Your art is awesome, always happy to see it on my dash!!) I will continue my fangirling session with @witchy-worm because her art is also incredible, and based on her intro post, she's relatively new among the fandom (yay!! more lovely people! 💜) and I'm always curious to know random stuff (like what's your fave ep and what finally got to you to watch and join in. When did you know you were hooked? 😂). I will also mention @mercurialkitty, @thesherlockianwhojustcant, @thefaeriemagic3, @i-wanna-cry and quite frankly, soooo many others, who have been mutuals for YEARS, it's awesome to see you still here, still love spn and the same weird and silly stuff I post/reblogg and vice versa. I always smile when I see your stuff on my dash or your name in my activity. 💜 Say hi anytime you want 💜 I'll stop here because this took me way too long already lol. Thanks anon! 💜 Have a nice day everyone!

[crankityart]

Guuuuuuuys, I'm gonna cry ... soooo ... I need to tell you all about my German comic con experience and how I met Harry Lloyd IN DETAIL!

First of all, the piece you have all been waiting for:

AHHHHHH I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE IT! First of all, something I did not expect: Harry's autograph line was sooo empty. 🙈 The moment he arrived it was like ... 3 of us! Nonetheless, he was super sweet and friendly. When I told him I was here because I loved his performance as Viktor he was so surprised but happy about it! He immediately said, "Oh, I love Viktor!" and when I told him he was my favorite character Harry responded, "Mine, too!" So yeah, we bonded a little over our mutual love for Viktor. XD He gave me so many nice compliments and said the artwork is fantastic and 🥺🥺🥺 and my favorite comment of his when he saw the piece was "Well, usually Viktor doesn't look that happy!" 😂 and I had to admit to him that I was rather fond of sassy Viktor.

Eventually, I told him to put something motivational on it instead of my name and HE WROTE THE FRICKIN "CRANK IT" LINE! I secretly hoped that it would be a lil "crank it" or something but didn't say anything and he instinctively put it on there and I couldn't be happier 🥺❤️

But that's not all ... okay, I ... I got greedy ...

Yep, I also bought a selfie ticket, don't mind me here. :'^) It was so awkward coming to his booth a second time (as far as I could tell his booth was rarely occupied by fans and I kinda wanted another shot, because you know, no waiting in line, what an opportunity! Gotta give him that sweet money, this poor man should not sit here all alone!) and this time I was the only one in line and Harry was still the sweetest. He asked me how my day was and if I had a good time and even asked for my name because I didn't mention it the first time. And then we shook hands and he said "Nice to meet you" like A GENTLEMAN! I swear he was so down to earth, it was so wholesome. 🥺 If you get the chance to meet him, please do it! I highly recommend it! And my favorite thing while waiting in front of his booth was listening to the people making comments about him when walking by because some people were hilarious! I remember one girl going "I thought he was kinda ugly in GoT but what the hell he is SO CUTE in real life!" 😂 poor and lucky Harry.

The rest of the time I've spent walking down artist alley and giving away my other Viktor fan art copies to other artists. I met some really cool people and had great conversations AND they all wanted to give me their arcane artwork in return, so I basically traded all of my copies for other awesome art. That was so nice of them! 🥺 And yeah, simultaneously I had the chance to brag about my autograph and hopefully inspired a few of them to get one themselves. 😌 so much for my Harry Lloyd/Viktor propaganda, haha. (I didn't see a single Viktor cosplay though, that was blasphemy!!)

Overall, it was just so nice and wholesome! Thank you so much for motivating me, because without you I don't think I would have created so many Viktor artworks. 🥹 Sharing them on here with everyone is so dear to my heart! ❤️

[nobodysdaydreams]

Well...

...that could have gone better.

(Also it turns out Lovelace IS an alien. 👽 so that's fun, I think?)

(or my reaction to episodes 44-46 of Wolf359)

Welcome back dear readers, sorry for the delay. Procrastinating on finals has been taking up all of my time, thank you for your understanding.

Tagging the mutuals who got me invested in this, and if you want to be tagged or untagged from these posts, lmk, or you can follow my blog or simply follow the tag "#bods wolf359 reactions". Anyone who has followed me for a while knows my updates are inconsistent, so I apologize in advance for that and for any spelling/grammar mistakes in my posts.

@sophieswundergarten @oflightningandstars @acollectionofcuriousreblogs @herawell @commsroom

Episode 44: Desperate Times

Now where were we? Ah yes. Cutter lied about their deaths and has an evil girlfriend who makes his robots. Hilbert and Lovelace told Minkowski about the death thing to get her on board, and once they have her, she should be able to get Doug and Hera on board.

Great point Doug. How many secret rooms can one space station have?

And how many copies of the SI-5? Because we already had two Duck boys. If another Kepler strolls in and starts talking about Whiskey again, that might just be too much for me.

No Minkowski. You don't want to kill anyone. But I understand.

Wow. Doug knows some fancy words. "Commander Eiffel" 😂

Oh, they're actually laughing. I'm sorry Doug. Wow, he just made that up too, very convincing.

Aw, Minkowski. I want to hug her. If she doesn't make it back to her husband...

oh yay, she and Doug are talking it out! Friends! My feelings exactly Hera! 💕💕💕

Hera is so sweet. It's weird to think she was built by and modeled after someone so horrible.

Ah. Taking a late night stroll around the ship Hilbert?

Hilbert. NO. NO NO NO NO NO. NOT THE EVIL CHAIR.

Evil chair will kill you. Evil chair will show them your brain which shows them your plan to rebel against them. Do not trust the evil chair Hilbert. For a smart man, you make some remarkably and unbelievably dumb decisions.

I want to believe in them. I do, I really really do. But unfortunately, I know that there is an entire other season left. So...

It's not looking good. Personally, I think the most expendable is Hilbert. They can kill the character off without having to fire the actor. If anyone's about to die, it's him.

The "terrible trio", I like it Doug. Good nickname for SI-5.

The um...the blunt force trauma face?

Oh my this hypothetical of Maxwell, Kepler, and Jacobi falling apart is music, sweet music.

If only...if only.

They are really counting on the SI-5 acting exactly like this. I hope they get it right. I do love the way they make Whiskey Boy out to be such a cartoon villain. He really is.

Oh they're conflicted about who to target. That's right Hera. Target Duck boy. I mean...they did already kill him once, right?

Although slight problem. Let's say they do kill SI-5. Let's say they try to fly the ship back to earth. Can't Cutter just blow the ship up remotely? He'll probably send a missel after them before they even get into the atmosphere. I mean...what would you even do in this situation? He's literally got them bargaining for every second of their lives. Makes you wonder how many teams he has out there like this...

What happened? No gas? Oh dear. Plan B?

HIT MAXWELL WITH A WRENCH? POP A WEASEL?

I don't like how this is going.

"I'm glad I have you alone" Hilbert stop it.

Opponent is not going to hesitate to kill you. That's true. But you can't forget who the enemies are. Cutter and Pryce. And yes. SOMETHING IS WRONG!

Oh dear. Well this is terribly awkward.

...um...so...Maxwell. Duck Boy. Fancy a mutiny?

Guess not. Oh dear. This is bad. This is very very bad.

IS NOT ABOUT THE CONTACT EVENT! IT'S ABOUT THEM GETTING BACK AND YOU KNOW IT.

I KNEW THAT YOU COULDN'T TRUST HER.

"Don't struggle?"

Not the brain sweeping. Maxwell you have lost all my respect, and likely your own if you still had any left in you.

Shut up Duck Boy, literally no one wants to hear from you.

Well this is a pickle. How will our heroes (and Hilbert) get out of this one? 👀

Episode 45: Desperate Measures

"Wakey-wakey", shut up errand boys.

"Passion for disciplining crew members, isn't that right Jacobi?" You're a sadist waste of space who works for a sadist waste of space, we got that Whiskey Boy.

Oh great. Another super secret room. There's probably thousands of them at this rate. A whole city in the sky.

What a nice little room of weapons. As a lover of dramatic irony, I do hope Dr. Robot and our dear Errand Boys find themselves on the other side of those weapons.

Hera you can delay having to respond to her commands! You can! Remember: You can't do this. You're not good enough. Use it to your advantage.

"I knew it!" you did Doug. And yeah, Hilbert didn't sink so low.

"Kill whoever you like least", well there goes Hilbert.

Good work Hera! 🥰 Oh dear it hurts.

THE VENTS! That's right! Go Minkowski!

Geez does Whiskey Boy ever tire of the sound of his own voice? I guess not.

Shut it Kepler! Yeah Doug! He can go to hell! Tell him off!

Doug: "You're crazy"

Kepler: "No Doug. I'm just a man that wants to be taken seriously. That's why I'm sitting here with a gun in one hand, glass of Whisky in the other, while singing "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe" like a cartoon supervillain. There's nothing more respectable or serious than that."

Lovelace is speaking FACTS. He has lost his humanity. But um...ironically so might have Lovelace. Or all of them still unclear on that.

"You're hilarious" "one more thing I have that you don't" ooohhh... dang, it that ain't the truth. No one will be as funny as Doug, but if anyone comes close it's certainly not Whisky boy.

"Very nice speech captain" Well it was better than the Whisky speech Kepler. Take notes.

That's right Lovelace. Who cares what Kepler see when he looks at you? No one. Because he is a waste of space.

She'll survive because of magic alien plot armor.

Aw, she did it for Doug. That's really sweet.

And...off goes the gun. But no screams. He better not have shot Doug.

"You have 30 minutes to think about what you've done. Then we'll talk about Eiffel."

I know I should be furious over the whole "what you've done" comment, but I gotta ask, how dangerously stupid is Kepler? 30 minutes is plenty of time to put a plan into action. What does Kepler need 30 minutes for? Swirling his Whisky around and telling Doug how much he loves the feel of it in his hands.

Why don't you mind your own business Maxwell? Why don't you shut up and mind your own business and throw yourself in the airlock?

Good stalling Hera...yes! Finally knocked out Dr. Robot. Now, as much as I am against murder, eye for an eye, and all that...in this situation, keeping her alive puts multiple innocents at risk.

Anyone got an eye on Duck Boy?

Kepler doesn't care about Maxwell! He doesn't care about anyone!

Doug...great speech for this to work, he has to care about human life, and he clearly doesn't.

Yeah, I don't really like chess either Doug.

Why do I feel like he's going to hurt Hera in a way that only Maxwell can fix?

Ah there he is. "I wouldn't do that so someone. I just blow people up to kill them! :)" ugh Duck Boy is the worst. I knew that he was off doing something silly. "Crazy Jacobi the loose canon" dude, you're Duck Boy. That's your existence.

And I knew Hilbert would be the one to go. They don't have to fire his voice actor to kill him, which makes him expendable.

Well it took a very long time to get here, but looks like Hilbert is finally gonna kick the bucket. And yeah, you guys have no idea how long they've been trying to kill Hilbert. If it was Doug, I'd be more worried, but between Hilbert and Doug, Doug's got the plot armor.

And...there he goes! Oh wait...did she shoot Maxwell! Oh be quiet Jacobi, it's not like you ever actually cared about her. If Cutter or Kepler ordered you to kill her, you would have done it.

You can't talk sense into him Doug. He's a nutcase. We established that.

I love Doug. "Well it's been a topsy-turvy day!"

And see Kepler? Not so fun playing with lives when yours is on the chopping block, now is it?

Yes Doug! Tell him! Oh poor Whisky Boy, are you gonna cry?

Right three people dead: Lovelace, Hilbert, and Maxwell. That's a lot. My money is on Lovelace coming back due to alien magic, Hilbert dead for good, maybe Maxwell lives on in Hera's memory or flashback land.

YES! I love Doug's loyalty to Minkowski!

Does Kepler have an escape pod? I feel like he would. Oh he's telling his duck boy to stand down. But duck boy doesn't seem too happy about that. I guess he cared a bit more for Maxwell than Kepler, even if he would have shot her if given the order.

"Finally over" hm...I seriously doubt that.

Ah yes the aliens. I wonder what they have to say about all this. And Kepler please shut up. "You want to be in charge of this mess, fine." The mutiny literally just happened on your watch. You spent half the crew budget on expensive Whiskey. You don't care at all that Maxwell is dead.

Episode 46: Bolero

Is that music? Um... what is this? I do wonder why they chose to send music, when they've demonstrated that they can send voices.

Yeah...this is a lot. And they lost their human doctor and robot doctor. As much as I hated them, they were useful. Unlike the errand boys, who only seem to be good a cowering in fear from ducks and giving speeches about whisky.

Oh and apparently they like music too. How nice.

"If the commander wishes for silence, then silence she shall have" and yet you're still talking.

Yeah...what do they do now. They have to warn everyone, expose Cutter and get him to jail, but the aliens are also invading. Oh gosh, are Cutter and Pryce aliens? Is this a plot to replace humanity with aliens? That at least makes more sense than Cutter's a loon who just wants to take a gander at some dangerous aliens, but why do I get the feeling that "Cutter's crazy" is what's actually happening here?

Oh right Kepler's special DNA. But your DNA still works even if it's detached from your body, right? 🧬

"We owe it to Lovelace, Hilbert, and Maxwell..." good work Doug. They were evil, they were flawed, but they were still humans.

Oh Hera. Wow, we don't have funerals for animals???? Yikes... I'm starting to see how she was modeled after Pryce now. In that case, I wonder what happened to Pryce. Also Hera, I get what you're saying, but that's an insult to animals. Many cats and dogs I've met are very loyal, kind, and useful.

oh dear she's talking to Lovelace's ghost/memory. 🥺 It's not your fault Minkowski. It was never your fault. And yeah...you all deserve to make it home.

That is if there is even a home to come back to...

Doug, Hera, come on. You're best friends. Wow. And yeah, she and Maxwell were friends, that's why she's so upset! Oh right...if one human friend betrayed her...oh Hera...Doug's not like her you know that! Maxwell would sell you out, Jacobi would sell her out, and Kepler would sell him out, but Doug? Doug would never sell anyone out.

"I know what it's like to not get a chance to say goodbye. And I don't think you're past the point of not caring. Not yet." That's sweet Doug. But you're giving him a bit too much credit. Oh he's mad he killed her? Fair enough, but Jacobi...you said yourself you were monsters! Do you really want to try to claim the moral high ground here? That's right Doug! Tell him! "You're gonna like it...I mean you're gonna feel sad!" Yeah! That's right! Shove the compassion down his throat Doug. Sometimes that's the way you gotta do it.

Minkowski is gonna have some pretty severe PTSD after this. I want to hug her.

Oh no, Hera's remembering Maxwell. "Was everything you did for me part of a secret evil plan?" it's not that simple Hera. Bad people can do good things. Good people can do bad things. Cognitive dissonance Hera, that's how it's possible. Compartmentalization. Circular and deluded thinking. And fake Maxwell is right. It's about you Hera. It's not about her. Forget about Maxwell. Forget about Pryce. You're better than them, and more human too.

Yes Hera, get the feelings out. No, Doug she's coming around!

Oh no...no no no...Doug is wasted isn't he? Kepler's private supply no doubt...oh no... oh Doug.

"I killed them Hera." no you didn't Doug! Intentions matter! You are the ship's moral compass. Don't drink yourself off.

"I'm a drunken mess whether I have a drink or not." oh Doug. Doug.

Please don't give yourself alcohol poison. Oh good self-talk from Hilbert. Yeah Doug never wanted anyone to die.

"How else did you think this was going to end?"

Aw, Doug has so much hope. Never lose that Doug. Never lose it. And yeah, it's nice to believe in redemption. It is theoretically possible. Though in certain cases, highly unlikely. I won't name names.

So...it's just Doug and Jacobi at the funeral? Well. This is incredibly awkward...

Oh right, Hera's never been to a funeral...

Oh nvm Kepler's here for the food. He's so gross.

They gave Hera grief but no way to deal with it? Oh she can't understand why they are gone? The "I wonder if I'll miss you when you go away forever too" is hitting different.

Minkowski came through!

Wow, Jacobi actually is able to say a few nice words.

Dr. Hilbert was a monster 😂. Fair. Completely fair. See ya later Doc. I think Hilbert would have liked it.

Oh don't let Kepler talk. He'd ruin the funeral. Though to be fair, he'd ruin anything.

Never mind looks like the aliens beat him to the punch.

Looks like the aliens decided to come early.

Uh...HERA?

KEEPING WHAT OUT?

Tell me the aliens aren't already here.

Is Lovelace coming back? Oh Kepler knew this was going to happen.

"It can't hear you." DO NOT CALL HER AN IT KEPLER. Alien or not, she's a...well she's a someone.

So she IS an alien? An alien who acts like her? Okay... and yes please, let's start at the beginning. It's about time Kepler. If you're going to talk, you might as well say something useful.

Now I've procrastinated enough but...wow this doesn't look good. Hopefully the crew can get back safely.

[fandomsbyladymelodrama]

No pressure on this, but I wanted to ask if you'd like to tell me about one of/some of your favorite Christy scenes, and the things you like most about it/them? I can't singlehandedly revive the fandom on here, but it's such a joy to talk over this show with other fans!

I didn't realize until recently how thoroughly the Neil/Christy relationship informed my romantic preferences in all the media and writing I've done since watching it in my teens. Older, scholarly man/younger, determined woman, some kind of angst in the man's past, a need to change things for the better as an intrinsic part of the woman's character, a taboo element that stands in the way of the relationship... Even in the slash pairings I love so much, there's still so many elements of it!

Hey filmmakers, don't think we don't notice that you frame these two with Christy on a step/incline half the time to de-emphasize the height difference...

Oh my, oh my. Okay, first, let's be real. I've been waiting for an ask like this since 1994 (baby Tumblr wasn't even born yet 😂) so get ready for some major Neil/Christy feels that I've been suppressing but also diligently-tending-in-the-background for 30+/- years. THEY. ARE. PERFECT. Top-shelf OTP bottle, for sure. You understand, right? Of course, you do. We've discussed. But yeah, I feel the same way about this show/book/pairing influencing and informing both my writing style and romantic preferences in fiction over the years. Happy to admit it. Yes *raises hand* 1000 times yes. Hello, my name is ladymelodrama, and the fact that CBS so cruelly stole resolution for Neil/Christy from us forever (I'm not counting the PAX movies, I'm just not) is a crime against good television everywhere and will haunt my Christy-loving bones until I'm dead and buried in the ground deep enough so's the critter's can't find me, as Little Burl or Creed Allen would say. Anyway, you asked about Neil and Christy and favorite moments and since I can't just pick one...

I have a proposition to make :) Let's trade fave moments until we run out of them, maybe? No pressure, of course, but this is me mostly unwilling to commit to my Top 5 Scenes until I finish my rewatch, and even then I'll probably change my mind a couple times 😂 But here's one that I'll discuss in detail today and which I like to call the "Will This Do?" scene aka "and then they both smiled their little smiles at each other and lived happily ever after. The end." <3

(Credit to @heatherfield for this gif, and bless you, friend, for continuously shipping the same pairings as me - makes my gif-hunting so much easier haha <3)

So why do I love this scene so much? Oh, you know. Margret's dress. Objectively, it's gorgeous (the woman had style, even if she had no heart). And hey, it only coded Neil/Christy as endgame from the first episode, no big deal. Plus it was one of the softest moments in the whole show and THE WAY THEY SMILED AT EACH OTHER. Ugh. Soffffffft. I'm mean, you're seeing this too, right? ;) Meanwhile, I'm sure David is over here in the corner...doing what David does best XD Lurking. Always lurking.

(and, based on the pic I chose, maybe taking notes on how to have better chemistry with Christy? - "Dear Diary, Neil MacNeill is kinda the worst, have I mentioned?" 😂) But in all seriousness, what I love about that scene (and the exchange of smiles, in particular) is how there's an honest-to-goodness, my-spirit-just-spoke-to-your-spirit bit of humanity happening there. I die for those moments, little and quiet as they may be. It's just so...SOFT. They don't know each other yet. Not really. There's no romance at play (other than what I assume might be mutual physical attraction, even if Christy would never let herself go there. Not on her first days in the Cove) so it's more a budding friendship that we're seeing and friends-to-lovers is one of my favorite things? (Jorleesi, Jisbon, Siegfried/Audrey, Obidala, Red Cricket, Dickon/Mary much?). I also really enjoy when she comes down the stairs looking all pretty-in-lavender with her hair down (still lolling at your comment on that detail btw because...c'est vrai 😂) and "Oh no, David, it's so late...how will we ever get to Lufty Branch in time?" "Not we, Christy." (exactly, David, you're getting it). Too bad she has to spend all afternoon in this rustic cabin with a plaid-shirted, barrel-chested, brogue-speaking, moody mountain man with inside pain for dayssssss. Oh the everlasting horror XD

So yeah, so much to love about this scene (and the entire convo in the cabin afterwards and him plucking her from Theo prior to the whole dress thing - guy helps girl down from horse = I'm in love 😍). To witness the very beginning of their arc (okay, Part II of the beginning, but the doctor was busy with brain surgery during Part I, so you know what I mean) and to have the actors play it so, so beautifully and in an Appalachian setting that's just misty and magical and to die for all by itself... Mmmm *chef's kiss* Your turn, @darsynia <3