#i also think he would need at least a little convincing that vale will stick around precisely bc he’s misread the situation before

[moonshynecybin]

do we overestimate how quickly and easily marc would forgive vale (now) do you think?

scream yeah the thing is i think he WOULD make nice with him irl but he would not forget. marc is good at pretending like he’s over things while they are still stabbing him directly in his 22 year old underbelly, and this is one of THE formative and damaging experiences of his romantic lil life… i also think vale would need to do some actual repentance/groveling before marc would believe that he meant it, and what that looks like between those two stubborn prideful competitive liar freaks boggles the mind (would it even be verbal. doubtful. would it be horny. undoubtedly.) BUT marc held on so long to him for a reason, and i do think internally he’s still a little bit like we are soulmates we are the same. identifies 2013 as the best year of his life. searching for a reason why they broke up and he’s like we got divorced because we are both aquarius. listing the best riders of all time and saying vale first. idk he’s a romantic he’s an optimist it’s still one of the only things that gets his feathers ruffled in interviews and i think if vale opened the door a crack he couldn’t help but see what it would feel like to maybe let him back in…

[chronicbatfictioner]

"Overall, it wasn't so bad..." Tim commented.

"Except for the fact that Bane roared like a constipated bear and literally lunged at Damian and Jason threw him out the window..." Barbara quipped, her face serious but her lips were still twitching. "I... am highly amused. Twice."

"You were laughing until you bent over double that if you weren't in a wheelchair, you've probably knelt on the floor laughing." Dinah deadpanned. "It was hilarious."

"Yes, it was. The fact that Jason could actually lift Bane and throw him out... Did you guys see Bruce's face, though! Oh my god! He... he looked at Jason as if he'd seen the lord savior Jésus Todd or something!" Tim crowed. "Like, the dude Bane got thrown out a bay window twice. I get the awe, I was a little star-struck myself. But I can't believe dude actually wanted to try the third time until Alfred pointed a damn shotgun to his forehead! I can't even!"

"This thus solidifies my thoughts that the Waynes may be trying to figure out a way to get rid of this... brute without... I dunno..." Barbara pondered.

"Gotten themselves broken in half?" Tim suggested. "He sure insinuated that he would do such a thing to Damian."

"Oh, gee, Tim. Which part of his speech insinuated that? 'You lying bastard!', or 'I'll break you in halves!'?"

"I'm partial to the 'bastard' remark, really. I mean, pot, kettle?" Tim replied, giggling.

"Technically," Helena Bertinelli - The Huntress - sighed as she chimed in; "and ironically, at that; the 'bastard' would be Bane since he claimed to be Thomas Wayne's son and is younger than Bruce. Which means he was 'conceived' while Dr Thomas was already married to Mrs Wayne..."

"Right? Bruce and Talia were two consenting adults, albeit under 20 years old; and were wed in a local ritual witnessed by locals, according to Jason. You should see Bane's face when Jason presented copies of the marriage's registry." Tim continued.

"Oh, we saw, all right. Harper's drones worked quite well." Dinah replied, snickering, referring to Harper Row, one of their tech 'consultants'. "Even at that height, it still delivered crystal clear pictures. I vote we use them again."

"No vote needed, the drones are on stand-by at the Wayne Manor permanently at this point. I'm more interested in his reaction when Damian offered them a DNA test." Barbara told her.

"I'm more interested in Bruce Wayne's reaction, really. He didn't seem too surprised, as if he was expecting this to happen or something." Helena pointed out.

"Maybe he did," Barbara replied absently. "Dude has been swingin' more than the roarin' 50s, there has got to be some juniors out there that even he didn't know of."

"Ugh, while I'm not a fan of Bruce Wayne's womanizing ways, I personally don't think he's that reckless. He's not a drinker or a junkie, as far as I know. He has virtually no vice other than extreme sports." Helena argued.

"I agree," Selina, who has been quietly watching from the corner, chimed in. "This is a guy who got visibly antsy when some sexy girls in bikinis come up to him - I thought he was gay. But if he'd been... wedded to Talia Al Ghul all these times, that would make sense. He knew exactly where he stood, and what would come up if he screwed it up."

"Has Jason or Dick said anything of the Doc and Mama Wayne's reaction?" Helena asked.

"They seemed truly confused, a little apprehensive, but didn't seem to be opposed to the idea that Damian is Bruce's child. Dr Wayne said that a DNA test wouldn't be necessary, but Jason insisted it." Tim replied, and added a little absently a few heartbeats later. "But why would he, a physician with more specialties than a truck stop, would not question the biology of anyone claiming to be his biological descendant?"

Barbara glared at Tim, "excellent question, Tim. If my dad has someone coming out of the boonies saying he's related to me, the first thing dad would do is draw blood."

"They... don't care?" Dinah suggested. "Maybe the Wayne men were less... chaste than they appear?"

Barbara glared at her this time. "Of all the women Bruce Wayne has dated, I've only recorded a handful who would end up in a second date. Less than a handful who were actually mentioned beyond social media photos; and you know how I feel with social media photos: generic, unverifiable, and showoff-only. Dates with Bruce Wayne generally would start with the pick-up, dinner, and then some form of jewelry. I..." she looked at Selina and Helena, "you've both dated him at one point or the other."

Selina shrugged, "I went for a gala dinner, and was honestly there to scope the homeowner's safe, really. I wasn't interested in a follow-up date." she replied. "Helena?"

"Social arrangement. My people called his people and boom, we were on a red carpet." she elaborated. Helena was a part of a mafia family, until she decided that the mafia way would not be the best way to make Gotham a happy place for all, and donned the costume of the Huntress to hunt down wrongdoers. Barbara had decided to let her join to prevent her from going over the line and murder anyone out of overzealous-ness; but also in order to get a line-in into the mafia families.

"No second dates, either, huh?"

"No, I'll have to check, though. I think his people called me again, but I wasn't interested in a vapid playboy, even if he has more money than Jesus."

"Vicky Vale," Selina reminded. "She has had a... somewhat lengthy relationship with Bruce some years ago."

"Sooo... the next answer in our mystery could probably be answered by interviewing an investigative journalist." Tim commented.

"Oh, no..." Barbara grinned mischievously. "Not this investigative journalist. I know just the journalist to talk to when it comes to gossip among themselves."

Dinah snorted a laugh. "I thought you didn't like her."

"I liked Vale less," Barbara griped. "Plus, Vale is already getting news on Bruce's probable child; why shouldn't I send Lois Lane the allegations of the Bane Conspiracy?"

"Conspiracy with who?" Dinah asked curiously.

"Oh, the Waynes, of course, to get rid of the Court of Owls," Barbara smirked. "Why should we be the only ones racking our respective and collective brains when we can have someone else on the ground doing the grunt work?"

"Babs, you can be... pretty evil sometimes," Selina remarked. "I know there's got to be a reason why I like you."

"I'm also awesome with technology and can launder your ill-gotten money and make it legal and undetected." Barbara pointed out.

"Oh no, that's why I liked you." Helena quipped smirking. "Seriously, how many mob family can say their ill-gotten money is accountable by law?"

"As long as it is within the facets of the law, and so on and so forth... Anyway! Tim, you're quiet for more than two seconds. I'm always nervous when you're quiet."

"Just thinking..." Tim said, looking a little lost in his own brain. He often does that when he has at least a dozen scenarios running through his mind. Through the time of Barbara knowing him, Tim would probably be the only person whose claims of 'just thinking' wouldn't immediately be picked on by anybody.

"Care to share with the class, kitten?" Selina prompted.

"It's not fully mapped yet... but I was thinking. What if the Waynes aren't... didn't cooperate with Bane in order to destroy the Court of Owls, and they're literally being hostages in their own home? What if Bruce Wayne has predicted something like this could happen, and has gotten himself all prepared all the way to ten years ago when he wedded Talia Al Ghul? I mean, who would have had enough firepower to defeat Bane other than the Al Ghuls? Look at Jason," Tim pointed out. "He threw Bane out the window as if he was a fly. While Jason is as solid as a rock but isn't a metahuman - Bane is. He was assigned by Talia herself - out of Gotham - to protect and guide Damian-- why? What's so special about Jason Todd? Why did Talia choose him? Why didn't Bruce Wayne - at least - act shocked when Damian said he was his son? Surprised, sure. But not shocked or in denial.

"Who's gonna win if Bane turned out to be Dr Wayne's son? Who's gonna lose? What will they lose? Who is Bane accountable to? If none, who planted the idea of him being Dr Wayne's son? Because from what I've read about him, he was born and raised in a prison with his mother - no mention of a father. His mother was an insurgent of Hasaragua, fighting against US-condoned democracy. And while there was a record of Dr Wayne being there, there was no exact date and length of stay, because he was there privately and not as a part of Médecin sans Frontieres or something like that.

"What about Mrs Wayne? She wasn't a poor or uneducated woman, since she was a Kane. Society-wise, do you think she would have tolerated her husband's indiscretion, both then and now? Yet she kept quiet for nearly two months. She has a Ph.D. in psychiatry, and would she be the ones to keep quiet about DNA testing and all that? Personally, I don't think so. If my mother - a little 'lesser' society lady compared to Martha Kane-Wayne - ever got a word of a child that 'probably' got fathered by my dad, she would have demanded a divorce right away without bothering with a paternity test, sure. But my dad, who was also a society man, would have at least attempted to convince her that it was a mistake and/or it was a lie. What best method to decide a child's paternity than DNA test?

"The criminal front in general - especially the costumed criminals - has been pretty quiet since Bane eliminated the Court of Owls. Why? That's rather stupid since we know that the Court's Talons were the ones who made moves to 'discourage' the costumed freaks. Annnd... that's where I couldn't map out things further." Tim rambled.

"Keep talking, even half sentences are better than none, Timmy." Barbara prompted. Tim might have had a brain that worked a mile a minute, but he was still very young and would often get flustered with himself. Barbara, on the other hand, has an eidetic memory, and things Tim said tend to stick to her brain and would fill the gaps in any puzzles she might be thinking about. Even half sentences.

"Right, I do the fact spreads, you do the jigsaw-puzzling." Tim nodded. "The murders of Talia and Ra's Al Ghul. Jason said they were deliberately murdered in a way that they would never be able to be resurrected through the Lazarus Pit. The perpetrators would be the League of Shadows, a rogue splinter of the League of Assassins. Lead by Lady Shiva. Why? Why were they murdered? Why now and not - say - next year or last year? Who benefited by their death? Aaand... I'm done, for now, I think..."

"I... can feel a headache brewing," Dinah admitted. "You and your conspiracy theories." she rubbed Tim's head fondly. Tim gave her a half-smile, still trying to articulate the thoughts in his head.

"That's why we need him, he takes the most random input and makes a theory out of it, and some of them would actually make sense. I'll start a search string based on some of your questions. If you have more, don't hesitate to tell me, Tim." Barbara realized belatedly that her tone sounded dismissive, and turned to Tim. "Want me to call up for Chinese and powwow a little more?" she added.

Tim shook his head, still glaring blankly. "Thanks, I gotta go... I've some... things to look into. Thanks, Babs," he replied, ending it with a genuine smile as he got up.

"Want to come home with me, Kitten?" Selina asked, worry for Tim apparent on her normally-blank face.

"No, thanks, Ma. I gotta go back to the mansion, just in case, right?" Tim pointed out.

"Then Dinah should go with you," Selina decided.

"She's coming there later, right, aunt Dinah?" Tim asked. Dinah nodded.

"I'll get home with food, so don't worry about that, kiddo." she said. Tim waved them all and then walked out.

Once he was out of the door, Selina sighed. "Ah, young love..."

"Right? Remind me to check in on him before going to the House. I don't want to walk in on something and have him traumatized." Dinah agreed.

Barbara glared at them quizzically, and then at Helena, who shrugged. "Grayson said it first, I think. Our kitten is growing up. I just hope that Jason guy is worth his firsts..."

The memory of Tim gawking at Jason when he thought Barbara wasn't watching flashed in her mind.

Oh.

And then of Jason blatantly checking Tim out just before Oracle made her appearance, and at times when her Oracle projection was turned off.

"Oh boy," she sighed.

"That's about it in a nutshell. Good thing I've told him of the birds and the birds..." Selina grinned slyly.

"Millennial parenting at best, Ms Selina Kyle." Dinah grinned. "Come on, let's go patrol and induce the fear of goddesses to Gotham's low-lives before inducing maternal fear to our little kitten."

"...or to the big tabby. We'll see," Selina added, waving as she and Dinah walked out of the room.

Suddenly Barbara felt a little sorry for Jason. Just a tiny, teensy, weensy bit of sorry.

[littlemisssquiggles]

RWBY Squiggle Scripts #022: “Playing Pretend”

Picture it.

Heroes’ Day Out!

While staying in Atlas, our young heroes of RWBY and the JN(O)R gang decide to take a day off to explore the sights. During their excursion, due to their differing interests, the group decides to split up into four pairs: Ren and Nora, Blake and Yang, Weiss and Jaune and lastly, Ruby and Oscar.

Ruby was really enthusiastic about checking out the Atlesian Delta Mall---a giant shopping precinct within the kingdom that was very popular with the local youths because of its entertainment arena home to an arcade and a giant movie complex among other fun areas. 

At first the Rosebuds were happily enjoying themselves. However things turn sour when Oscar gets separated from Ruby while exploring the wall.

During his search for his missing rose, Oscar’s lone trek across the complex leads him to bump into a rather interesting group of people Before Oscar got a chance to even apologize to who he bumped into, he suddenly found himself swarmed on all sides by four girls who practically towered over him.

One girl was a proud blonde by the name of Clementine Pell. Another girl, a brunette with glasses was Naomi Navy. The third girl, a walking body of pink, was Ran Orchid and finally the fourth girl, Yasmine Alba---a red-eyed beauty with long hair as white as snow.

Oscar swallowed nervously as the girls flocked around him.  Suddenly he felt like a worm trapped in a cage of hungry canaries.

Clementine: Well what do we have here ladies? Looks like a little prince has lost his way.

Naomi: Ooh you're right Clem! He does look like a prince.

Ran: He’s such a cutie pie. I love his freckles! I can just eat him up!  

Yasmine: Quit acting so thirsty Ran. What's your name, sugar pie?

Oscar: *awkwardly* Uh...I---Os---Oscar.

Ran: Ooh Oscar!

Naomi: Like Gold!

Clementine: So you're a golden prince.

Oscar: Uh, if you'll excuse I really need to catch up with my---

Oscar attempted to walk past one of the girls---the snow-haired one---but to his dismay, she snaked her around one of his.

Yasmine: What's the rush, darling?

Ran: Yeah, why don't you come hang out with us?

Clementine: You wouldn't want to refuse the company of four beautiful girls like us now won't you?

Yasmine: Won't you!

Oscar: I...I...

Just when Oscar believed he was a goner, a glimmer of red caught his eyes as Ruby Rose came into view.

Ruby: There you are!  I've been looking all over for you.

Oscar: *in relief* Ruby!

Instantly, Oscar wiggled his way out of the snow-haired girl’s grip and joined Ruby at her side. Ruby smiled at Oscar before training her attention on the four girls who eyed her with stern expressions.

The blonde one even got up in Ruby’s face.

Clementine: Excuse me but we saw him first!

Ran: Yeah paws off our little prince!

Ruby: *blinking confusedly* Your little… what now?

She looked at Oscar.

Ruby: Oscar, do you know these girls? 

Oscar: No I've never seen them in my life.

Ruby: *frowning crossly* Are they harassing you?

Oscar: I---

Yasmine: He was about to get to know us personally before you butted in.

Naomi: Buzz off!

Ran: Yeah, who do you think you are?

Ruby: Oh where are my manners? The name’s Ruby Rose and…

Ruby draped one arm around Oscar’s shoulder pulling him closer to her with a big beaming smile.

Ruby: I'm his girlfriend!

CNRY: *in unison* What!

Oscar: Wait...what? 

Clementine: *hands on hips; appearing skeptical* Funny, you don't seem like his girlfriend.

Yasmine: Yeah like a cutie prince like him would ever date ugly peasant trash like you.

Oscar: *frowning defensively* Hey! Don't talk to her like----

Ruby: It's okay, sweetie. I'll handle this.

Ruby glanced back at the four CNRY girls; the smile on her face now curling into a smirk.

Ruby: So you want proof, you say?

Before Oscar had time to react; the next thing the small farm boy knew, Ruby suddenly closed the space between them and planted her bare lips over his in a kiss.

At first, Oscar was caught off guard by the sudden invasion. His body stiffened at the first out of shock but after a while he slowly felt herself melt into the kiss and it was not long before that he actually started kissing Ruby back.

By the time the two parted, Oscar’s heart was like a drum in his chest. His cheeks were flushed; far more than usual as he just stood staring at Ruby.

He wasn’t the only one. When Ruby returned to the four girls, their faces were a perfect Picasso of astonishment, disappointment and unbridled rage. A masterpiece of human expression that brought the big Chesire-cat smile back to Ruby’s face.

Ruby: *smugly* Proof enough for you ladies? Or do you need more convincing?

Yasmine: *disgustedly* No thank you!

Clementine: Let's go girls. Before I lose my lunch.

Naomi & Ran: Totally!

Whipping their hair, the CNRY girls walked away; finally leave Ruby and Oscar to themselves once more.

Ruby: Phew! That was a close one. Sorry for that. It was the only thing I could think of. But at least they're gone now, right Oscar? 

Oscar: ...

Ruby: Oscar?

Ruby faces Oscar; finding him still staring at her.

Ruby: What's with that face! 

Oscar: I'm sorry! You...kissed me. You actually kissed me.

Ruby: *defensively* Yeah but it was a fake kiss. To help you with the---

Oscar: *frantically* I know I know! It's just...that was...well...my…

Ruby: …Wait, was that...your first kiss?

Oscar: *awkwardly*...Ye---Yeah. Pretty much, yeah. 

Ruby: Oh. Oh no. I’m so sorry!

Oscar: No! No! It's ok. Better you than those girls, right?  Besides...it was fine.

Ruby: *taken aback* Fine?

Oscar: As in good. *embarrassed* It’s…not exactly how I pictured our---I mean…my first kiss being but---y’know…

Ruby: *awkwardly*Well...uh...if it's any consolation, it was my first kiss too so…

Oscar: *incredulously* Wait...WHAT! That cannot be your first kiss. How?

Ruby: What do you mean how?

Oscar: I just...I mean I always figured you of all people would have kissed tons of guys before.

Ruby: Excuse me?

Oscar: I don't mean it any bad way. I just...I always figured a beautiful girl like you would have some tall handsome guy or y’know…several guys waiting for you back home in Vale.

Ruby: *snorts* That's…really weird but really sweet of you to assume but...no.

Oscar: *still in disbelief* Really? Not even at Beacon?

Ruby: Well at Beacon I was pretty much the runt of the school. Youngest huntress to be accepted, remember?

Oscar: Yeah but...you're also pretty amazing.

Ruby: *laughingly* Trust me. If you had met me back then, you wouldn't think that. 

Oscar: I doubt it. If you were just as cool and kind as you are now, I would've liked you sooner. *jokingly* Y’know beat out all those guys in line for your hand.

Ruby: *giggling* Oh please. I didn't even have a date to the school dance. Me having a line of guys chasing after me. That’s rich!

Oscar: I should've been at Beacon. 

Ruby: Why’d you say that?

Oscar: So I could’ve asked you to the dance.

Ruby: *snorts* Pffft! Again, really sweet of you Oscar but… you would’ve been 13. That’s younger than I was.

Oscar: *smiling* So? I'd still ask you.

Ruby: *blushing slightly* Well tell you what? If there's ever another dance, you'd be my first choice for my date.

Oscar: *grinning* I'm going to hold you to that. It’s a date. And…uh… speaking of dates…

Oscar took Ruby’s hand, looking at her warmly.

Oscar: Ms. Rose, would you do me the honour of going on a date with me right now?

Ruby:*snickering* Do me the honour?

Oscar: *embarrassedly* What? Tha---That’s how the guys asked out the girls back home. It’s a farm folk custom!

Ruby:*laughing* You’re not serious!

Oscar: *huffily* It is! You Valerian city girls just don’t know common courtesy.

Ruby: *teasingly* Jokes on you, I’m a Patch girl, born and raised. Besides I meant about the date thing. You’re not serious about that, right?

Oscar: Actually I am. We still have a couple hours to kill before we meet back up with the others, right? And…there’s a perfectly good movie theatre right over there that’s showing all three Grimm Samurais movies with a food court that gives out free popcorn to couples. Besides I think those crazy girls from before might still be lurking around. You mind playing my girlfriend for a few more hours?

Ruby: *excitedly* You had me at Grimm Samurais! Let’s go!

Oscar: *grinning* After you, snookums.

Ruby gave Oscar a weird look; brows raised. Oscar blushed.

Oscar: *defensively* What? It---It’s part of the pretend.

Ruby: Y’know what’s also part of the pretend. You paying for me.

Oscar: What!

Ruby: Now c’mon Oscar, what kind of pretend boyfriend would you be if you didn’t treat your cute pretend girlfriend to our pretend movie date? Isn’t that right pumpkin?

Oscar: *pouting* I’m going to pretend dump you.

Ruby: Can’t cause you’re pretend madly in love with me!

Ruby sticks out her tongue at Oscar playfully before skipping off before he could say anything else. Oscar only shook his head as he only stared after the Silver eyed huntress. He then sighed dreamily.

‘…Or maybe I’m just in love with you for real…’ Oscar thought; an affectionate smile already tugging at his lips. With that, the young farm boy caught up to Ruby; taking her hand in his again as she in turn beamed brightly and tugged him forward in eager excitement, as the two rosebuds entered the mall theater together.

And scene.

Squiggly Scriptwriter’s Commentary:

This has been sitting in my drafts for weeks and I didn’t realize how adorkably cheesy this was until I finished editing it. So much cheese. Hope no one reading is lactose intolerant.

This spawned from the random idea of what if… Ruby fake-out made out with Oscar to get him out of a sticky scenario with a group of fangirls. I quite like the romance trope of the fated pair fake kissing each other for show only for their real feelings to surface later in the plot.

I was planning on releasing this script earlier but…y’know busy bug syndrome got in the way. It wasn’t until I saw @blackhakumen​ beat me to the punch with his own version of the “playing pretend” trope for Rosegarden, that I finally figured it’s about time I finished this. You can almost say his work gave me the push to finally wrap this up! Thanks for the motivation boast with your script Black. If you haven’t, check out Mini Fanfic #64: My Boyfriend by Blackhakumen.

I haven’t written anything this cheesy for Rosegarden since my ‘A-Dork You!’ RWBY Squiggle Script. Good times. I still love that script.

A special thank you bunches of oats to my fellow Garden Rosebud @miki-13​ for loaning me their lovely OCs who cameoed in this script.

The CNRY girls are from Miki’s RWBY fanfic---‘Reconciliation’. If you haven’t already checked it out, I’d definitely recommend it to you guys. It’s a fantastic read that not only tells an excellent interpretive follow-up from the events of V6 but it also includes an original cast of interesting characters. Seriously check it out.

I hope you didn’t mind the cameo Miki. When I first thought up this script, I was originally going to go with a random character but then I remembered your CNRY girls. Sorry if me borrowing them was for something as cheesy as this. The CNRY girls served their part well. I just hope I did your girls justice here.

More RWBY Squiggles Scripts

 ~LittleMissSquiggles (2019)

[dealbrekker]

Buckle Up Buttercups

The following is the result of one of the long-ass arguments I have in my head while in the shower, all of which lately have been about--you guessed it--Season 8 GoT.  ***Now I realize it would take a lot for this to actually happen, but the sheer energy in the visuals I was coming up with made me too happy so let’s roll with it***

Behold:  A rewrite.

Episodes 1 and 2 would remain largely the same but with more scenes with Cersei in the South.  More dialogue between her and Qyburn, her other advisers and Euron (I hate him) that would aid in leading to my re-imaginings.  I would also stretch these things out into Episode 3.  This would give us opportunity flesh out a possible Dany heel turn much better.  I think that in this time, Jon’s true identity would be spilled to his sisters, rather than in the canon Episode 4.  Bronn would show up and give his whole spiel to Tyrion and Jaime.  More suspicion between our key players in the North--more discussions showing Dany’s growing anxieties and realizations that she’s very close to being alone in the North.  This episode 3 would end with the Dead arriving and everyone having to put aside their misgivings.

Episode 4 plays out as just as the show’s Battle did until about the halfway point/a little before.  I figure this would be right around the time the dead start throwing themselves on the fiery barricade Mellisandre ignited.  Shots of the ground troops looking horrified and spent and defeated.  Jon and Dany are chasing the Night King through the sky--breaking up that killing arctic wind in the process--but too distracted to continue stopping the dead on the ground with dragon fire.

Just when the bulk of the dead are breaking through into the castle, we get a wide shot from above and outward from Winterfell that show the unfathomable masses of dead coming.  And then.   

Streaming over the back portions of the dead are projectiles--massive glittering jars that upon impact explode in wicked bursts of wildefire.  The green flames start vanquishing the dead.  And then a swath of red and gold soldiers slam into the dead from the side (a throw back to the Knights of the Vale arriving at the Battle of the Bastards).  King’s Landing has arrived.

And okay but listen.  Cersei sits upon a horse, far back from the castle, with the Mountain and Qyburn and Euron (I hate him) by her side as her army swarms past her to fight the dead.  She has her Smug Cersei Face locked in as she watches and her eyes flick to the sky where the dragons still battle.  I am NOT trying to make Cersei a hero here, just stick with me.  Her eyes are all for Dany and you can just sense the “yeah bitch, you thought” coming off her.

And I know it’s like the longest shot in the world to even think Cersei would come with her army if she sent one, but she has always believed herself invincible, especially with Mountain/Qyburn/Lannister followers blah blah.  So I could see her coming.  And definitely wanting to be there to soak up the moment.  She stays back from the fighting, though, obviously.  

We see the shock and confusion of our northern fighters, lasting only as long as possible before they have to refocus on the dead still pouring in.  Jaime especially is floored by this turn of events and his face does that great thing where all his emotions flood out without words.  This is point ONE of our hmmm moments.  

The rest of the episode remains the same.  Even with the Lannister forces, the dead are gaining ground, Qyburn convinces Cersei to retreat further back with little effort--because we can’t be that happy with her.  Arya does her badass thing and ends the Night King (because I LOVED that and wouldn’t change it for the world).

But here’s where it alters. 

Just when you think they’ve won--Cersei shows her true colors.  I see this as a direct assault (with that shock factor those writers love so much but actually in a way that TRULY MAKES YOU FEEL THE WAY THEY INTENDED, NOT JUST ANGRY) on Rhaegal.  Whether it is with a scorpion or wildfire--Cersei has clearly had this planned.  The dragon dies.  The Northerners outside witnesses this.   Jaime, Brienne, and Pod.  Dany and Jon.  Arya and Bran see him falling from the sky somewhere beyond the weirwood.  The episode ends on Dany’s enraged and defeated face transitioning to Cersei’s cold and domineering one.  Dany now doesn’t have time to properly mourn Jorah.  The Northerners have no time for anything.  Cersei is the Big Bad.  Like they clearly wanted her to be.  But failed in doing.

Episode 5:  A slight time jump.  Cersei and her retinue stand in the Winterfell Hall before Dany, Jon, and Sansa.  The only reason she is not dead is because A. Drogon is suffering from the wounds he received in battle and B. Cersei had tasked certain Lannister soldiers with procuring hostages.  This can include Northmen and Samwell. Our 3 protagonists cannot make a move without risking their lives.  Dany is verging on breaking down, and says something suggesting she doesn’t care about these people because they never cared for her, and is fully prepared to cut Cersei down with the Unsullied.  Sansa will not bear it, nor will Jon.  Everyone has their hands on their swords (except very obviously Jaime point TWO) while Tyrion and Varys are trying to mince words.  Cersei says she figured this to be the case, and reveals that she has Missandei, too.   Dany rages but stands back.  

And here people cleverer than I would write scathing dialogue between Cersei and the others that would firmly keep Cersei the egotistical villain.  Probably saying something like “I wanted the pleasure of destroying you all myself.”  We get a fantastic standoff between Sansa and Cersei.  “Little dove becomes a hawk, I see.”  “No,” Sansa says.  “She became the wolf she was always meant to be.”

Cersei makes references to possibly have spies among them, which would explain how she knows Missandei is important to Dany and Sam to Jon.  Eyes shift vaguely at Tyrion and Jaime.  Even Brienne side-eyes Jaime for the briefest of seconds Point THREE).  More barbs are thrown.  And now Cersie looks at Jaime and asks him to come back.  Not in a weepy, begging way, but in a “I will destroy this place, come be the lion I know you to be” way.  In an abuser telling their victim they’re not good enough for anything else kind of way.  And he looks at Tyrion for a moment, and very obviously doesn’t look at Brienne.  And crosses to Cersei’s side.  Cue the jeers.  Cue Brienne’s heartache.  Cue our collective gasps and rage.  Cue Cersei looking like the fucking Queen of the world for her victories.  Cue Euron (I hate him) looking pissed. 

And then, I honestly think that here Cersei would still have Missandei killed.  As a threat.  As a promise.  Just because she fucking can.  And she’s only truly interested in damaging Dany at this point, because she doesn’t know about Jon’s bloodline, and figures the North will be hers once Dany is dealt with.

Missandei’s death (after the proper build) would be the last straw for Dany.  She cannot act, though, because the Mountain stands before them.  She has the presence of mind to hold Greyworm back because she recognizes the futility of letting him throw himself at Cersei and the others.  Lines are drawn and Cersei leaves.

The last 1/2 to 3/4 of the episode would be the Battle.  

The battle would wage as most battles in the show have, but I will illustrate key things I imagine going down.

Sansa would speak with Jon before he heads out, urging him that it’s not just Cersei they need to keep an eye on.  He nods.  My Jon Snow, while not wanting the responsibility of ruling, has always put the realm before his own desires.  He goes to find Dany.  What he finds is a woman bereft.  The battle has begun, houses North and South locked in deadly combat beyond the walls of the castle.  Dany tells him all of this will be easy with Drogon.  The tides will turn once she lays waste to the Lannister army.  He says something to the effect of “And what of our army?” knowing that there will be no discerning Lannister bodies from Stark bodies in the wake of a dragon.  Dany will look him dead in the eye and say they were never her men.  It is a tone that clearly says they are his and they will die for it, same as Cersei’s.

Jon knows she is lost and kills her quietly as in the show.  I think it would hurt him to do so.  Jon is not without remorse for what Dany had been, what could have been built.  They are family after all, but again, Jon has always done what’s best for the realm, or has at least tried to.  Drogon appears, and for the sake of my ending, he’ll carry Dany away and vanish.  The thought of a dragon loose in the world tickles me.  The Unsullied and Dothraki that remain would be lost to the confusion of the dragon leaving and Dany’s disappearance.  They’d throw themselves into the battle, killing both sides, but eventually break under the loss of command and Queen.  (The surviving forces would be allowed to leave Westeros peacefully should they wish, or remain peacefully should they wish.) 

This leaves Cersei and the Iron Throne--as the show had been leading to.

The armies see the dragon leaving and this bolsters the Lannister forces.  We jump between individual battles.  And here is where another plot corrects itself.

Jump to Cersei and her guards.  The thick of battle edges closer to where she took up location, and Jaime is trying to get her to retreat further, touching the hilt of his sword and casting looks that make us rethink his motives, but her madness is upon her and she can’t look away from the battle.  Jaime has to deflect several renegade soldiers--if only to keep up appearances--and even gets sucked into the masses for a time.  

Sandor Clegane locates his brother where he guards Cersei.  They engage after either one of them kills Qyburn, and separate from Cersei.  We get flashes of their battle intermixed with the following.  Ultimately Sandor defeats the Mountain---and lives because I genuinely like that character.    

Euron (I hate him) is engaged by Yara and the surprise aid of the Iron Born.  Theirs would be an awesome fight, in which Yara guts him like a pig and takes his fucking rings or shit.  He pays the iron price, and she dedicates his death to Theon--a better Kracken than Euron (I hate him) ever was.

Flash back to Jaime.  Enter Brienne.  She is righteous in her anger and heartbreak.  Jaime tries to control his emotions, but he mirrors her sadness.  And they engage.  He is halfhearted, she is all rage.  It reflects their fight on the bridge when he was her prisoner.  Their fight is only one that they can have, and we see all the emotion in their faces and actions.

And so does Cersei.  When Jaime can no longer bring himself to attack Brienne, he steps back.  Not quite yielding but no longer in the fight.  Brienne hesitates.  You can tell she doesn’t want to kill or even maim him.  You know she’s remembering everything they’d been through until this moment.  His step back has her tilting her head in question.

Flash back to Cersei across the way.  Bronn has come to her side.  “Earn your castle,” she tells him.  “Kill them both.”  Jaime hears this and leaps to action, taking a bolt to the side (shades of when Cersei sent the man to kill Tyrion in Blackwater Bay).  Brienne launches toward Bronn but he knocks her across the face with his arm.  She stumbles and falls.  Bronn hovers above Jaime, who has eyes only for Brienne until Bronn says, “Let’s start with you.”

The crossbow aims at Jaime’s chest.  And then he turns and shoots Cersei in the leg.  At this point we’re all flipping our shits on our couches or whatever.  Bronn saunters up to Cersei who is screaming in equal parts pain and wrath.  Jaime is struggling to rise, horrified and shocked by what he’s seeing.  Bronn squats to look Cersei in the eye.  He’s behaving very unlike himself at this point.  Viewers might start to suspect something.

He stares at Cersei for a long moment before he starts to recite names.  Names that haven’t been crossed off an ever shortening list.  Cersei is mesmerized and confused.  Her name is last as Bronn pulls off his face and Arya Stark crouches before her (Bronn is dead because Arya is no fool).  “You should have never made light of Winter, Cersei Lannister,” she tells the now thoroughly cowed Queen.  “Winter is the season of wolves.”  She stands.  “But your name is no longer mine.”  She turns to Jaime.

Now here I would accept either of two outcomes.  Cersei defiant to the end in both, shaming him and Brienne and the Northern heathens he crawled to.  He would plead once more, if only for the sake of the baby, because the baby is as much him as it is her.  And she would sneer up into his face, laughing.  “There was never any baby.”

By now, a crowd has amassed, and much of the fighting is in the far background.  Jon has made his way to the circle.  As has Tyrion and Davos.  Jaime looks down at Cersei--hurt crossing his face.  Tears in his eyes.  And then anger comes.  His hand clenches and only hatred is in his eyes.  In this he either kills Cersei himself, quickly and cleanly, after telling her he stopped loving her long ago, before looking pointedly to Brienne.  “I was never yours,” he says to  Cersei, revealing his true motive.  Once she dies, the Lannister armies yield.

If Jaime cannot bring himself to land the killing blow, he passes her off to Jon and Sansa for official trial and execution.  In which Sansa watches one of her greatest tormentors beheaded, coming full circle to her father’s death.  End of episode.

Final Episode:

The Epilogue we all wanted.

I’m up for different outcomes here.  I always figured if we got any sort of happy ending it would be a non-mad Dany on the throne with or without Jon, but since we’ve gone the mad route for the sake of the bitter in bittersweet I’d accept the following options:

From Winterfell, the plans are made.

Jon on the Iron Throne, appointing Sansa Queen of the Independent North.  Davos as his hand and Tyrion as hers.  Arya as a roaming envoy between the two.  She’d find a good balance with Gendry and the hint of something more with him down the road.  Brienne would remain as Sansa’s head of the Queensguard, Jaime serving under her.  (In this episode we get their hook up but as something far sweeter than the drunken celebration one even though I can’t say I hated that version).  Bran remains in the North as well.  It’s been some time so clean up and rebuilding has commenced.

Alternatively, Jon acts to appoint Sansa to the Iron Throne, claiming that he is better off as Jon Snow, not Aegon Targaryen.  He’d be the Stark in Winterfell in that case.  Or else, they’d call for an end to seven kingdoms as a whole, and allow self governance of each kingdom.  If released from her service, Brienne returns to Tarth with Jaime and Pod.  Jaime divests himself of the Lannister name and tells Tyrion he can do whatever the fuck he wants with Casterly Rock--Jaime is a Tarth now.

The episode ends with the Stark children together on the battlements, prepared to go their separate if not permanent ways.  They’re all looking out over the grounds as life around the castle goes on.  Dogs bark and horses stamp their feet.  The blacksmith is working and children yelling.

“If Father and Mother could see us now,” Sansa says, wonderingly. 

Arya smiles softly.  “And Robb and Rickon.”

Jon nods, certain.  “They can.  They all can.”

It is quiet for a beat before one of them asks, “And what is to come now?”  In a tone that ponders their futures.  They turn and grin sheepishly at Bran, jokingly looking for his Sight.

He looks up at his siblings, and with a soft but true smile, he says quite simply: “Spring.”

[kateofthecanals]

A Tale of Two Reunions

So, last night featured 2 reunions that I knew were coming... both which I was dreading/anticipating. They both turned out to be Not As Bad as I feared but still contained a lot of problematic aspects which made me cringe...

First up...

Sansa & Tyrion

Not the love-fest I was fearing, thank goodness, with Sansa, having been through her fair share of fuckery since leaving King’s Landing (Ramsay, Littlefinger, etc.) expressing some sort of relief at seeing him again because she now realizes what a Nice Guy™ he is. Nah, none of that, and I am grateful (for now). Though it doesn’t exactly jibe with show-canon, does it? This is the reunion I would expect from their book-counterparts, from a Sansa who never quite warmed up to Tyrion, by design, and a Tyrion who is highly resentful of her for it. In show-verse, Sansa and Tyrion were buddies and quasi-confidantes. He seemed to respect her and gave her her space, and in return she (seemingly) gave him her trust. So I honestly would have expected a much warmer reception from her toward him, based on what the show established about their relationship. It almost feels like the show is trying to make some glib point about how Sansa doesn’t trust anyone anymore, even people she previously allied with.

On the other hand, this scene directly followed one in which Tyrion announced that Cersei and her army were coming North to “help”, so in that regard, I can understand her being a little pressed with him. That’s fine, tbh, because the last thing I want is for some cushy-wushy reunion between these two. She was throwing quite a bit of shade in his direction, and I am not mad at it.

Of course, we all expected another stop on the Sansa Apology Tour to take place here, and it did. Though it wasn’t quite what I had feared -- i.e. Sansa apologizing for not being a more “dutiful” wife or some such crap. No, she apologized for leaving him high & dry at the Purple Wedding, which... isn’t wholly unjustifiable. Unlike the books, Sansa was unwittingly whisked away by Dontos; she did not leave of her own volition. And as has been established, she and Tyrion were pals, so an apology here wasn’t the most outrageous thing in the world.

What did bother me, though, is when she said the wedding “had its moment” with a little grin. Ugghhh... It reminded me of last season when Sansa & Arya were bonding over having wished THEY were the ones to murder Joffrey. This constant reinforcement by the show of Sansa Stark as someone who delights in the brutal deaths of her enemies makes my stomach turn. #NotMySansa

Then Tyrion’s line about all these people who underestimated her being dead now. Who are these people exactly? Littlefinger? He’s the only one I can think of, but he wasn’t exactly “outsmarted” by her; she needed BranBot 2000™ to clue her in before she finally turned on him. Ramsay? She escaped him thanks to Theon, not by anything she did personally. And Jon was the one who set him up for her little dungeon revenge kill. Who else “underestimated” her who is now dead? Or rather, who else “underestimated” her that she had a direct hand in their downfall?

On the whole, though, it was tolerable. I’m hoping this is their only interaction this season.

Sandor & Arya

I was already feeling pretty resentful about this one before it even happened, because it comes at the expense of NO interaction at all between Sandor and Sansa. I’ll be perfectly honest -- the more that SanSan is willfully ignored, the more annoyed I am by anything Sandor/Arya-related. If we were at least on an even playing field here -- with Sandor feeling a protective urge toward BOTH Stark sisters -- then that would be one thing. But the continued prioritization of Sandor’s relationship with Arya over his relationship with Sansa makes me HIGHLY begrudging of the former. I just DON’T. CARE,

So the scene opens with Sandor, again, being a dick to Gendry for no reason. I do not understand the purpose of making Sandor just an utter intolerable shit to everyone around him. It doesn’t make him cute or funny or badass, it makes him unwatchable. And the fact that Arya had to step in and ONCE AGAIN reign him in? HARD FUCKING PASS. It reminded me of Season 4 when Arya had to cover for Sandor’s inexplicable rudeness by claiming he was MENTALLY ILL. Fucking spare me...

Then they have a rather tense exchange... almost like a standoff to see which of these hardasses would soften first. Arya, somehow, won this game of chicken (NO PUN INTENDED). I was legit scared that they would end up hugging or some shit but thank goodness we were spared that. Sandor seemed rightfully grumpy about the fact that Arya left him for dead (AND robbed him), which I’m GLAD because yeah that was totally a dick move, even if he was eventually rescued. The intention was that he die a slow agonizing death in the middle of Buttfuck Nowhere, The Vale, so yeah, I’d be a little bitter too. And she was 18764% not apologetic about it either. (Indeed, when she first spots Sandor in the retinue at the beginning of the episode, she looks surprised but also doesn’t look happy about it). Recall Season 5 when The Waif beat her with a stick and called a liar for claiming she hated The Hound and hoped he was dead. Well, if her look at the beginning of the episode was any indication, she was telling the truth.

But apparently her bitchiness was like a warm compress on his cold, dead heart, because THIS was the moment he softened?? And then, with the hint of a smile, delivers the line “You’re a cold bitch. I guess that’s how you’ve been able to survive.” Because as we all know, you can’t survive the Game of Thrones without being an emotionless husk. The implication here is that Sandor is PLEASED with this outcome. Of course, his “lessons” for Arya during their time in the Riverlands consisted of him teaching her how to kill without remorse or hesitation. She’s become a hardened killer, just like him, AREN’T WE PROUD?? There’s no attempt at self-reflection here (I mean, no one has bothered to bring up the fact that she nearly killed her own sister last season), and because Sandor himself has had ZERO character development, he’s more than happy to be the one to endorse and encourage her homicidal tendencies and be proud of the coldblooded killer she’s become. And somehow we’re supposed to find this heartwarming?? NO THANKS.

So, even though this reunion wasn’t as bad as I had feared, the messaging behind it was absolute garbage. THIS is what we get instead of a Sandor/Sansa reunion??

Of course, at this point, looking at these 2 scenes, I’m not convinced that a Sandor/Sansa reunion wouldn’t be much different. Sansa would receive him with the same air of aloofness and standoffishness that seems to be her default nowadays, Sandor would make some snarky quip about her still being alive, and at some point he’d express his approval for the cold, untrusting (and murderous) ice queen she’s become.

So.... maybe it’s a good thing if they don’t ever cross paths again.

[dragonologist-phd]

The Best Parts of Ourselves

First prompt fill of the new year! This one’s for the @pillarspromptsweekly Prompt #61: Making. (it could also fit the bouquet prompt, but I already did that one, so Making it is!) The story is also here on AO3.

“What, you’re going to save the world with rose blossoms?”

“I just might. You never know.”

The soil underneath Desta’s hands was cool and natural, and she smiled at the familiarity of it. Caed Nua was amazing, certainly, but she could only take so many ghosts and memories and magical anomalies before she wanted something simpler. A nice garden was exactly what this place needed.

“What are you doing in this mud pit?”

Desta looked up to see Hiravias watching her with amusement. “Is this some kind of…” he wiggled his fingers at her godlike form, “you know, changeling thing? You have to roll in dirt every now and then? I can’t believe I wasn’t invited!”

In response, Desta flicked a bit of fresh mud in his direction. “I would think a druid of all people would recognize a garden.”

Hiravias wiped the mud from his cheek and looked at the ground appraisingly. “A garden has to have things in it, you know. Things that are actually growing.”

“And it will. I just have to plant them first.”

“Can’t the Steward get it whipped into shape for you? Isn’t that the point of this creepy magic castle?”

“Some things are better done yourself. Without magic,” Desta said firmly. “It will be worth it, you’ll see. Once all the flowers come in-”

“Flowers?” Hiravias cocked his head. “You’re not even going to plant useful things? Medicine? Food?”

“Oh, I’ll plant those, too,” Desta said with a dismissive wave. “But we’re going to need flowers. You’ll see.”

“What, you’re going to save the world with rose blossoms?”

“I just might. You never know.”

“Sure,” Hiravias said, although he didn’t sound convinced. “Well, it should make the place a little less gloomy, at least. Before they all wilt and die when the frost comes. And then you can do it all again in the spring.”

“Aren’t druids supposed to like nature? Didn’t your clan keep gardens?”

“My clan lived in a bog.”

Desta frowned. “Bad example. Just trust me, okay?”

Hiravias shrugged. “Still don’t see the point, but as long as we’re not diving into the cellar of undead horrors, knock yourself out.”

 It was three days after finding Eder’s brother’s helmet that Desta made the first flower crown.

Her little garden was coming along nicely, with a rainbow of blooms sprouting stubbornly through the cold Dyrwood rains. She studied the plants thoughtfully, picking some familiar flowers she’d seen in the Gilded Vale and some new ones she’d acquired through trade.

The result was a clash of colors- pink hyacinths, white calla lilies, bright yellow daffodils- and Eder laughed with incredulous delight when she held it out to him.

“Am I supposed to wear this into battle?” he asked, holding the crown aloft.

Desta shrugged. “Only if you really want to,” she said. “It’s just that… well, the weather’s been a bit dreary lately, hasn’t it? I thought perhaps you could use something bright.”

Eder considered that for a moment. “Huh. Reckon you might have a point there.” He walked over to the shelf where he’d set his brother’s helmet and positioned the crown around the metal base. He smiled, and there was an easiness to it that Desta hadn’t seen since they’d dug the helmet from the dirt.

“Yeah. That’s kinda nice.”

 Kana liked the crowns, and it wasn’t long before he insisted Desta teach him the practice. They sat together in her garden, and she showed him the movements required to weave the stems and leaves and petals into an new creation.

“This is harder than it looks,” he commented, observing the tangled twigs he’d been attempting to ravel together. “I believe my fingers are better suited to turning pages. Perhaps I should stick to songs and history.”

“You just need practice,” Desta assured him. She leaned over and set a small crown on his brow- a simple braided band of green ivy bearing sprigs of purple aster and springberry. “And then you can return to Rautai and teach all of your philosopher and aristocrat friends the dignified craft of weed-weaving.”

“I may have better luck with that than with any of my research,” Kana joked, but Desta could sense the worry weighing down on his shoulders.

“Don’t give up just yet. You may not have found exactly what you wanted, but what you did find is still pretty impressive. And I’m not just talking about the flowers.”

“I suppose that’s true. I’ve learned more in a month here than I did in all my years back home.” Kana smiled, and then laughed in triumph as he at last managed to complete the small loop of vines he’d been working on. He held it up to Desta with a grin. “And perhaps I’m getting the hang of this, as well.”

 Aloth wasn’t an easy person to sneak up on; Desta had to wait until he was completely absorbed in his grimoire.

“Aloth?” she said once she’d crept up behind him, and as he lifted his gaze to answer she plopped the crown on top of his head. The expression on his face was worth the wait.

He blinked in surprise and plucked the crown from his head. He regarded it in silence for a moment- it was a fairly simple crown, decorated with sprigs of lavender and interwoven with small daisies just beginning to bloom. At last, he spoke hesitantly. “Is it my turn now?” He ran his hand over the flowers, still looking baffled. “…thank you?”

“You’re welcome!” Desta said happily. “I thought the colors would look nice on you. I think I was right.”

A small smile crept onto Aloth’s face, and he placed the crown back on his head. “Well, I can’t promise it’s going to become a new staple of my wardrobe, but it is lovely.”

“High praise coming from the fashionable Aedyran wizard,” Desta said, lilting her voice into a poor imitation of Aloth. He smirked at her attempt of his accent, and Desta laughed. “If you think that was bad, you don’t even want to hear my Iselmyr. How are the two of you doing, by the way?”

Aloth tilted his head, considering. “Better, I think. I have to admit, she’s proving to be more cooperative than I first expected.”

“I’m happy to hear. I think it’ll do the two of you some good to work together.” Desta reached over to straighten Aloth’s crown, her lips pursing thoughtfully. “I suppose I should make Iselmyr her own crown. What kind of flowers does she like?”

Aloth’s expression shifted. “Yer  frilly red ’uns are right bonnie!”

Desta was still trying to parse the words as Aloth regained himself. He saw her confused expressions and clarified. “I believe she likes the red chrsyanthemums.”

“Perfect! One chrysanthemum crown, coming up.”

 Three crowns were begun and abandoned before Desta could finally hold on to the memory of the Grieving Mother long enough to complete one. She presented it quickly, before the thought could once again fade away.

The Grieving Mother took it hesitantly, her fingers brushing against the soft white petals as if afraid they would crumble under her touch. “What is this for?”

“I thought you’d like it,” Desta said gently. Ever since she’d refused to cleanse The Grieving Mother of her memories, the woman had been… not cold, really, but distant. Even more distant than usual, which for the ghost-like cipher was an impressive feat.

Desta reached between the snowdrops and sprigs of Berath’s bell to retrieve one of the dandelions she’d delicately placed on the top of the crown. “Here. Make a wish.”

The Grieving Mother blinked at the flower, but after a few long moments leaned forward and blew softly. Her breath was just enough to send the dandelions seeds scattering into the wind above their heads. The Grieving Mother watched the seeds fly away, an unreadable expression on her face.“I hope it comes true.”

“It will,” Desta replied. She didn’t know for sure what the Grieving Mother had wished for, but she had her suspicions. “I’m sure of it.”

 Desta had never known how to talk to Durance. After the disastrous conversation with gods, where he’d engaged in a one-sided rage against Magran, she knew even less what to say to him.

He was horrible. That much Desta couldn’t deny. But seeing him so thoroughly rejected by the god he’d dedicated his life to still sent a pang of sympathy through her heart.

She threaded together a circlet of blooms from her garden, roses in shades of reds and yellows and oranges that she thought he might enjoy. She didn’t say anything about it; conversations with Durance inevitably ended in insults and frustration. Instead, she simply left it in his room at Caed Nua, hoping he would understand the unspoken… support? Peace offering? Desta honestly wasn’t so sure herself.

Days went by with no acknowledgement from Durance. At last, Desta peeked inside his room once more. In the place where she had left the flowers, only a pile of ash remained.

Desta didn’t try again.

 “And what are these called?”

“Zinnia,” Desta answered. “They’re pretty, aren’t they?”

“And so many colors,” Sagani mused. She was quiet for a moment as she fingered the bright flowers on her crown. “There’s nothing like this back home. I might actually miss it when I go back.”

“You’ll have to take some back with you. Along with some dragon scales, some of those potions we found at Concelhaut’s…”

“Trophies?”

“Mementos. To back up all the amazing stories you’ll be telling,” Desta said. She chewed thoughtfully on her lips as she straightened the row of flowers on Sagani’s head- purple, red, yellow, pink, all bold and bright. The cheerful colors contrasted with the pensive look on Sagani’s face.

“I’ve been gone so long,” she sighed. “Things are going to be different when I return.”

“Maybe. Probably.” Desta wasn’t sure what she could say to comfort Sagani. The nostalgia in her voice whenever she spoke of her home, of her family… Desta had never felt anything like that. She’d left her own home long ago and felt no grief over it. “Different doesn’t need to mean bad, does it? Think of all that you’ve seen, and done, and learned. You’re going to do great things when you get back home. Just like Persoq.”

That made Sagani smile. “And then maybe some day another hunter will go out looking for my reincarnated soul, to tell me about my adventures and accomplishments.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised at all.”

“But before all of that… I’m going to give my kids a big hug. I can’t wait to see them again.”

Desta smiled and nodded, trying not to show the strange, sad longing that gripped her chest at those words. “You’ll have to bring them some flowers. And tell them I said hello.” Desta looked down, suddenly self-conscious.“… I don’t really know what it’s like to have a family, but I’m glad you’ll be returning to yours. Even if it means I’ll miss you when you’re gone.”

Sagani chuckled. She plucked one of the flowers from her crown and, standing on her tiptoes, tucked it into Desta’s hair. “I’ll miss you, too. And don’t be silly- a family is just people who care about you. Of course you have that.”

 It took a bit of convincing, but at last Pallegina acquiesced to Desta’s pleas to just try on her flower crown.

She placed it on her head with little fanfare, glancing grumpily at Desta as she did so. The tulips hung heavy over her forehead, pinks and purples bringing out the colors of her feathers. “There. I tried it. May I remove it now?”

Desta sighed. “I just wanted you to give it a chance. I think it looks good on you. But yes, you can take it off.”

“Agracima.” Pallegina immediately tugged the crown from her head. Seeing Desta’s face fall, she mustered an apologetic smile. “I do appreciate the gesture. But it’s not part of my uniform.”

“Nobody is going to report to your ducs that you’ve been wearing flowers.”

“Hmph. I should hope not. They’ll be upset enough over the negotiations.”

“They’ll get over it,” Desta said with more confidence than she truly felt.  From what she had seen of the ducs so far, Pallegina had the right of it- they would be very upset at having their orders ignored.  But Desta had to hope that after their initial anger they would see that Pallegina was right.

Pallegina made a noncommittal noise, but the tension in her shoulders did seem to ease at Desta’s reassurance. She sighed and traced a finger over the petals of the tulips in her hands. “I hope I won’t regret what I’ve done.”

“You did what you believed was right,” Desta replied. “You should never regret that.”

“That, I will agree with.” Pallegina smiled. She turned the crown in her hands for a moment, then set her chin and placed it back on her head. “I suppose I can wear it for one day.”

 The last crown was the one Desta worked on the longest, picking out only the biggest and brightest flowers to be saved and added to the final product. It was a thing of glory, if she said so herself- roses that had overshot red and landed on a striking orange, vibrant marigolds, and even a couple of white lotus blossoms that Desta had managed to coax into blooming. Autumn leaves were beginning to cover the ground, and she collected some of the fallen foliage to weave into the base.

Hiravias often came to the garden to watch her work on it. He often chattered as they sat together, filling the hours with stories about his previous adventures or musings to Wael or the latest gossip on the other companions. As Desta finally neared completion on the crown, however, he was uncharacteristically silent.

“What’s on your mind?” Desta asked as she tucked in the final flowers. “Usually I couldn’t pay you to be quiet.”

“Not with money at least. Gotta be more creative than that,” he said with a grin, although his voice lacked his usual crack of wit. He shrugged. “Just thinking about the other piece of my soul out there, I guess. Wondering whether it was smart to let him go.”

“If it makes any difference, I think you did good,” Desta said with firm certainty. She looks up from her crafting to meet Hiravias’s eyes. “It takes a certain kind of strength to walk away from a fight. A lot of people choose to settle their problems with violence because it’s… easier, in its own way. It’s harder sometimes to look for something better. But you worked for an ending that was a little more peaceful, and I think your soul is better for it.” She grinned playfully. “And I’m a Watcher, so I should know what I’m talking about.”

Hiravias nods. “I suppose that’s true. Leaping to fight any old fool who challenges you doesn’t provide much opportunity for growth, does it?” He paused, and looked around him at the scenery. “Speaking of growth, your garden’s not looking half bad.”

“I know. And now for the crowning achievement,” Desta smiled at her own joke and held the finished flower crown aloft. Hiravias let out a low whistle.

“Nice. Who’s that for?”

“You, of course,” Desta said with an eyeroll as she held the crown out to Hiravias.

He blinked in surprise and lifted his good eyebrow. “Hey, aren’t I handsome enough already? Besides, something like that should go to the gardener, shouldn’t it?”

“I was thinking it should go to the person who magicked all these flowers into being.” Desta couldn’t but help but laugh at the guilty expression on Hiravias’s face. “Come on, did you seriously think I wouldn’t notice? At first I thought it was the Steward, but she didn’t touch the gardens after I told her not to. So I had to think… who knows a bit of nature magic and has a problem following rules?”

“You don’t know any magic was involved-” Hiravias stuttered, but Desta just pointed to one of the flowers on the crown.

“That’s a lotus blossom, Hiravias. In autumn. In the Dyrwood. I’m not stupid.”

A flush colored Hiravias’s cheeks. “Fine. I helped with your flowers. It’s not a big deal.”

“And I made you a flower crown. Not a big deal.” Desta held the crown out once again, and Hiravias at last begrudgingly took it and placed it on his head.

He struck an over-exaggerated pose, turning the scarred side of his face towards Desta. “Do I still look fearsome?”

“Absolutely terrifying,” Desta promised. “Now come use your intimidating druid magic to help me with the orchids.”

[ganglylimbs]

Small Talks Of Something

Fandom: RWBY

Pairing: Jaune/Ruby

Notes: Future AU with fluff and small amounts of angst. I don’t know if this info is really needed but in this AU, Jaune is a teacher at a newly reformed Beacon, Ruby is still a Huntress with a new team, Weiss had started a new company, Yang is also a Huntress and Blake leads the new White Fang (they live in Menagerie and are also getting married so there’s some slight bumbleby)

“...Ok. Now that we can see how the armies are set, with the red chalk being Army 1 and the blue chalk being Army 2, can anyone tell me what a smart first move is?” Jaune Arc asks, turning around from the chalkboard set before him to look at his students. He stands tall, with long blond hair pulled back into a bun. He is one of the more casually dressed teachers at Beacon, with his worn jeans and t-shirt, hoodie tied around his waist. But Jaune figures as long as he is comfortable and can move around freely than it’s fine.

His classroom is set up in a wide half-circle, his students spread out. This is a class for third-year leaders, so there is only a handful present. A few hands shot up, a few more following as he waits a minute. Finally, he calls out. “Ms. Alice?”

A young girl with short, spiky pink hair speaks up. “If Army 1 could split their forces, then half could distract Army 2, while the other half flank them.”

Jaune nods. “Ok, that’s a pretty good move. Can anyone tell what could be wrong with this strategy?”

A few more hands. Jaune points to another student, a boy this time. He also stands up, answering  “If you halve the army, that halves the manpower. Army 1 will be crushed before they can fully flank.”

“That’s certainly a worry.”

“But it depends on the army.” Alice pipes up again. “If the distracting half of the Army can hold their own, and if the flanking half of the Army is quick, then the strategy still works.”

Jaune moves to sit on the edge of his desk, watching Alice and the boy (Cadet) argue back and forth. He smiles as a few more students started adding their own suggestions. Just as he is about to break in, the door to his classroom bursts open.

On instinct, he reaches for Crocea Mors, the sword is a comfortable weight against his side. But his hand stills at the sound of a familiar voice. “Jaune!”

“Ruby?” Jaune asks, a frown waring with the smile that threatens to take over as Ruby strolls into his classroom, seemingly oblivious to the commotion her appearance is making.

“Is that Ruby Rose ?”

“That’s totally Ruby Rose! I can’t believe she’s here!”

“Do you think I could get an autograph?”

“Do you think she could teach me some moves?”

Jaune ignores the whispers of his students. Instead, he walks forward to meet Ruby. “Ruby, what are you doing here? I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow?”

Ruby shrugs, taking Jaune’s hands and giving him a peck on the check. “I rushed home to see my husband. Is that so bad?”

The frown wins out. Jaune looks her over. “And you aren't hurt? Right?”

Ruby grins. “Yep!”

Jaune purses his lips. “Uh-huh.”

Ruby doesn’t relent. “Jaune, it’s fine. I’m here now, right?” She grins, wide, spreading her arms out. Jaune runs his eyes over her quickly. She doesn't  appear to be hurt beyond a few bandages on her hands. Jaune has no doubt that she had been well taken care of by her teammates while away on her mission, but he still worries.

Sighing, he lets it drop. He could take a closer look later. “So what are you doing here?”

“I came to surprise you.” She exclaims. “And to tell you that you now have the rest of the afternoon off.” There is a mischievous look in her eyes, a twinkle even.

“Really? I’m finding that hard to believe that you got that cleared.” But Jaune can see that the damage is already done. At the promise of the class getting out early, his students start to get antsy. Combined with facing the great Ruby Rose, no one is paying attention anymore. Scrolls are out and friends have clumped together to talk.

“Come on.” Ruby pleads. “I’ve been gone for two months. Don’t you want to hang out with your wife?” She batters her eyes at him.

Jaune can feel his resolve crumbling. Taking one more look at his students, seeing the way they are looking at him, anxious and hopeful, makes the last of his willpower disappear. Taking a deep breath, his shoulders slump. “Fine.”

Chaos breaks out. Students rush to pack their bags and leave. Over the sound of rustling and talking, Jaune tries to call out their homework. “Please write a half-page of what your first move would be if you were the leader in this situation. It will be due by next class period.” He feels Ruby pull at his arm, trying to force him out of the room. He digs his heels in, still calling out assignments. “And please remember, your essay on weapons and war is due next week.”

Eventually, Ruby hauls him out the room and down the hallway.

                                                       ~

They end up having lunch at a nearby cafe. Hidden between two larger buildings and only a few tables wide, it wasn't the most well-known place. But the sandwiches are like heaven to the tongue and Jaune loves their coffee. He watches, with a small smile as Ruby digs into her food. He knows that food on the road isn’t the best, that the rations that are often given to the Hunters were better used as ammo. So he doesn't say anything as Ruby orders another plate of fries. Instead, shrugs his shoulders at the waitress.

When Ruby finally settles back in her chair with a happy smile and a pat on her tummy, Jaune knows it's safe to talk. “So tell me about your adventures.”

Ruby’s eyes lit up. She leans forward. “Oh Jaune, you would have loved it. I mean, not the Grimm part but you should have seen the view. And I got to meet some new Hunters. Just out of school. A bit cocky, but good kids. They should go far.”

Ruby babbles on, sometimes tripping over her own words in her haste to get them out. Jaune continues to listen. He loves the way Ruby talks, the high pitch of her voice as she describes fights, the way other’s names are cradled on her tongue, the one place they can always be safe. Comrades who have fought side by side with her for years now. Her hands are just as expressive. They cut through the air, showing Jaune what her words can not say.

“And guess who I ran into?”

“Who?”

“Weiss!” Ruby’s grin turns bright as she leans in close. “I was even able to get coffee with her.”

“Oh? How’s she doing?” It’s been a few months since Jaune last saw Weiss was when she had come to stay with them during her business trip in Vale.

“Good. She had another breakthrough with some weapons she's been designing, something to help the metal from wearing down. And she made top ten Women of the Year for science and technology for the fifth time, which is exciting. I'm pretty sure I convinced her to hold a party for the event Oh. And I think she broke up with her latest boyfriend. Again.”

“Wait. I thought she was dating that Atlas Huntress?”

“No, she broke up with her early this year, remember?”

Jaune chuckles at that. Weiss still holds a Huntress badge and would go out time from time to help protect Atlas’ borders. But she had given that up as a full-time job years ago. Instead, she focused her attention on creating a more equal and powerful dust company than that of her brother’s. Jaune was glad for her, Weiss was determined and inspirational, a force to be reckoned with. She was well on her way clawing to the top.

She also seemed to be taking those same traits into her personal life. She made no secret of the line of lovers she had coming into her office. As she told them one day, “Why should I keep it a secret? Whitley would find out anyways and use it against me. Might as well get it out in the open.”

Jaune figured she was still revealing in being free from the restrictions of her family.

“Considering she just released her new line of dust based battle gear, I’m sure she’ll be fine,” Jaune says.

Ruby shakes her head, smiling. “That’s what Yang said too.”

“How is she by the way?”

“Stressing about the wedding. So the usual.”

“She knows it’s going to go off without a hitch, right? Especially because Kali and Taiyang are busting their ass off to make sure it goes well.”

“Oh, she knows. But she’s sure that something is going to go wrong.”

“I thought Blake was the one to get uptight about these kinds of things? What happened to carefree and adventurous Yang?”

“I know! It’s so weird. It’s like they switched personalities or something. It’s freaky.” Ruby shudders. “Anyway, I offered our help if she ever needs it.”

“I’ll bring my muscles,” Jaune says, flexing. Ruby snorts and Jaune pouts at her. “Hey.”

“Aw, I’m sorry but do you think Yang needs help moving anything.” Ruby reaches across the table to grab Jaune’s hand. “And besides, I’m pretty sure if she needs extra muscles, she’ll call Nora.”

“Ok. Fair.”

“Or maybe Ilia.”

“Sure.”

“Sun, too.”

“I get it.”

“Probably Ren.”

“Now you’re just getting insulting.”

Ruby smirks, sticking her tongue at him before bringing his hand up for a light kiss. Jaune smiles back, enjoying their shared warmth, the way a light breeze blows through his hair, the way everyone else seems to disappear. “I’m glad you’re back.” He whispers. “I missed you...missed this.”

“...I did too.” But something flickers in her eyes and suddenly Jaune is sitting straighter.

“You. You are staying, right? At least for a few weeks?” He asks.

Ruby looks away. He silence is answer enough. Jaune looks down. “How long?”

Ruby clears her throat. “They want me in Mistral by the end of the week. I’ll be taking a ship in two days time.”

“Two days?” Jaune wrenched his hand away, leaning back in his chair. “You only get to rest for two days? Ruby. Don’t you think that’s pushing it a little?”

Ruby frowns. “Jaune, they need me in Mistral.”

“Do they?”

“Yes.” Ruby reaches her hand across, reaching for Jaune. “They need all the Huntsmen they can get. I know...that I haven’t been spending a lot of time home but I need to do this. I need to.”

Jaune sighs. “I know you do. But, Ruby. You can’t keep doing this. You were gone for two months. Then before that, you did a three-month mission. Before that, it was five weeks. You barely get a rest in between each. You’re going to burn out.” But he holds her hand again.

“I’m fine.”

Jaune is silent for a second. “Do I need to stage an intervention with Yang, Blake, and Weiss?”

“You wouldn’t.”

“I would and you know it.”

Ruby slumps in her chair. “That’s not playing fair.”

“When it comes to getting you to take care of yourself, I can’t afford to play fair.”

“Oh look who’s talking.” Ruby sticks her tongue out at Jaune before giving him a small smile. “You’re still seeing that therapist, right?”

“Yep. She thinks I’m making great progress,” Jaune says. “I don't as anxious anymore when you or Ren or Nora or anyone else leaves. It would help though, if I knew you were taking care of yourself, though.” He gives Ruby a pointed look.

“Point taken" Ruby shakes her head. “I’m am glad that you’re still working on it. I would like to keep having you in my future.”

“Likewise.” Jaune gives her hand a squeeze. Ruby looks away for a moment but quickly looks back.

“One more mission. Then I’ll request for time off.”

“Not just for a week?”

“Not just for a week. A couple months at least. A proper vacation.”

Jaune’s shoulders drop, all tension leaving him. “Thank you.”

“Anything for my nagging husband.”

“Your nagging husband who loves you very much.”

“My nagging husband who loves me very much, yes.” She brings Jaune's hand up for a kiss. “I love you, Jaune, nagging and worrying and all.”