#i prefer the s1 finale

[phantom-of-the-501st]

Slightly Bitter

It's been over 24 hours now and I seem to have transitioned from denial into anger. 😅 Not incredibly pissed off or anything, but a little bit jaded.

I said early on in the season that I didn't want them to give Tech all of this character development only to kill him off straight away; it's cheap storytelling. And that's part of why I don't think that he's dead. It would be a bad narrative decision if he was. And me not believing that he was dead helped me accept this part of the story.

HOWEVER, having a few hours to sit on it, actually getting some sleep, and then crying about it again this morning seems to have cleared my head enough to take this all in and... I'm not totally happy with it. Okay, we don't think that Tech is dead, but him being dead is what the writers want us to think. And that's why I think that it all still feels a little cheap.

Even if he isn't gone, it still feels like they gave Tech so much focus this season just for the purpose of getting a stronger reaction out of us. They wanted us to get more attached to this character so that they could make us even more sad over a supposed death that doesn't even make sense narratively.

It's a level of emotional manipulation with the audience that doesn't sit right with me.

I don't hate this moment and I do think that a lot of it is because I don't truly believe that he's dead, and that Tech sacrificing himself is something that I can see him doing, but the fact that they want us to believe that him dying is what happened is why it's rubbing me the wrong way. Had he had more character development in S1, then I don't think it would bother me as much, but because it's so heavily focused in season 2, it feels too manipulative.

Characters shouldn't be given development purely for the reason of getting a stronger reaction over their death.

[paperglader]

I just rewatched the first ep of c3 cause of reasons and I need to know if Laura decided that Imogen was going to be in love with Laudna from the start.

I want to know when, how, why… was it pre-campaign, was there a moment throughout? when did it happen and when did imogen realize… cause, let’s be real. This was imogen heart-eyes temult on the literal first episode of the campaign:

Like, can you BE any more infatuated with your best friend who's also been your bedmate for two years and ongoin, that happens to have musical thoughts (opposed to everyone else's noise that hurts you) and that you chose to run away with cause she made you feel peace for the first time after a very long time?

I think not.

[mwagneto]

i love that every time any character uses a phone it's like, actually them using a phone like they all have their own banged up phones with their own wallpapers and contact names for everyone and you can actually see the call/hang up/etc when they're on call and the phone menu when they have to do anything.. like it's not a big detail but there's like basically no media out there that actually does smartphones well it's always either shit greenscreen or pre edited menus that look like they were made by someone who's never seen a smartphone in their life

[kitkat-the-muffin]

I really hated hsmtmts season 2 (for a variety of reasons, ramble in the tags) so I never saw seasons 3 or 4

Is it worth revisiting or is it too big a mess?

[gingerwerk]

Now on a mission to buy all comfort shows that are only available to stream on Netflix because fuck that bitch

[thosesillylittlegayghosts]

Guess who FINALLY caved and started obx?

[procrastiel]

My observations from the Good Omens fandom:

Fanart and fics that are from the time before the TV series (1990 - 2019): Az & Co love each other deeply and there are no labels. Their love is very chaste and they usually kiss only. Ace vibes.

Fanart and fics after GO S1 (2019 - 2023): Aziraphale is a babe, a softie, and Crowley is the strong protector. The only fanart where Crowley is the one holding Aziraphale in his arms is from this time period. Fics are often explicit, but it’s very balanced between top Crowley and Top Aziraphale. There is a lot of play with different genitalia, but the main focus is still the strong, intense, unbreakable bond between the two, which defies all human relationship labels.

Fanart and fics after GO S2 (Aug. 2023 - present): Crowley is the soft, whiny baby who needs protection. Most fanart depicts Aziraphale as the strong protector and Crowley as the fragile girlfriend behind him. Crowley is very often depicted with black nail polish & long hair, more feminine character traits, unless both characters are female. Most fics are explicit, and Aziraphale is dominating Crowley, Crowley is desperately looking for approval or being a total brat and making Aziraphale’s life a living hell after the final fifteen, pouting and being angry/resentful. The main focus in the fics in now the sex and sexual pleasure. Now there is also a lot more exploration of different AUs and incarnations e.g. Crowley is very often a snake, they are drawn as robots or mouse & rat, AUs for coffee shops, gardeners, priests etc.

I am not judging this trend in any way, but I personally prefer the depictions and interpretations during the S1 era, because they feel the most true to the source material of the TV show for me. I wonder if after S3 it will diverge even further or if it will circle back.

[my-fancy-hat]

jesus???!!?!??

me tweaking bc i can't watch more than one episode per day bc i dont want to smoke the entire show in one seat and feel guilty afterwards

[hellotailor]

Apologies if you've already done a post on this and I've just missed it, but can I ask for your take on the pyjamas worn by the cast of interview with vampire? I mean technically they're not a 100% necessary item, but just from a quick look there seems to be a lot of variety and they do change over the series

ok, i’m delighted by the specificity of this question, and it turns out that i have a VERY extensive answer.

there’s a lot of sleepwear in IWTV due to the volume of bedroom/coffin scenes, and like any other outfit, these costumes are shaped by characterization and historical period. for instance claudia initially wears a long, modest, frilly nightgown - an old-fashioned style that plays into her girlish doll wardrobe purchased by louis and lestat. however her sleepwear matures over the years, including a trendy lace nightdress with bloomers in the 1920s (note the rectangular silhouette), and a pink padded jacket/pastel robe outfit in 1940s paris. she's following contemporary trends while charting a visible trajectory from child to adult.

when i wrote about the Théâtre des Vampires coven costumes, i noted that while their wardrobes share certain themes (ie. monochrome patterns and stripes), they each have specific personal tastes. that holds true for sleepwear. in the S2 finale we see the coven going to bed in their coffins, with Eglee in a gorgeous (maybe 1940s?) robe, Celeste in a striped pajama suit reflecting her 1920s-30s cabaret style, and Armand in a plain grey set of prison jammies because he's Suffering.

of course, the star pajama outfits all belong to Louis and Lestat, playing into their wealthy domestic aesthetic in S1. they receive multiple bedroom/coffin scenes, and Lestat's gold Leyendecker robe is obviously iconic.

touching on the historical side of things for a moment, pajamas (as in a matching buttondown top and loose pants) were popularized in the western world in the 19th century, as a repurposed south asian import - kind of like how banyans became trendy among the upper classes in 18th century england. this was when loungewear started to catch on as a concept, both in terms of dressing gowns and smoking jackets (which you could wear while socializing at home) and actual pajamas, which became unisex in the 1920s.

back in his human life in the 18th century, Lestat probably slept naked or wore a shapeless white nightgown (and possibly a nightcap, the sexiest of garments). but in New Orleans he adopts Louis' lifestyle, which involves a luxurious wardrobe of fashionable menswear. they're both into shopping and looking good, and i think they enjoy the ritual of getting dressed together each night.

(i also have a personal theory that Lestat may prefer to sleep fully clothed because his formative traumatic memory involves waking up naked in the dark. after all, he doesn't need pajamas to stay warm, and he doesn't have a recent habit of wearing them in his human life like Louis does. then again, maybe he just enjoys having a new outfit for every occasion!)

in Dubai, we only get one scene (iirc) with Louis and Armand in their pajamas, lying in bed wearing outfits that tie into the striped prison bar imagery of their bedroom. Armand is in warmer brown tones (like his Paris wardrobe) while Louis is in black and grey, like the rest of his Dubai outfits. i'd also note that this is the one place where they're genuine in private, meaning that they aren't putting on a show for Daniel. so this is potentially Armand's most relaxed costume in the present day.

the fact that they're wearing this kind of old-school sleepwear feels very appropriate for their whole deal, imo. in the 21st century, a lot of people just sleep in boxers and t-shirts or whatever. there's a slightly 20th century vibe to wearing a full set of buttondown pajamas, and Armand's outfit reads as more stylish (and possibly more wealthy) than your average millennial guy. which makes sense! they're old men.

i think we can assume that every single thing in their Dubai home is ferociously expensive, even when it doesn't need to be. considering the way Louis gives himself a modern makeover in the finale, i do wonder if he'll switch over to sleeping in t-shirts etc next season, or if he'll stick with variations of the same sleepwear he wore during his mortal life.

p.s. all of my iwtv design posts are available on this tag!

[jinxs-gf]

Black Cat!Reader x The Team Headcanons

Black Cat!Reader x The Team

note: just because you’re in place of Black Cat doesn’t mean this is fem!reader! this is very gender neutral besides the mention of lipstick briefly…even then that’s not lady exclusive :)

content/warnings: this is seemingly set during s1 like my other yj fics but I imagine everyone being way older 😔🙏🏽 it’s weird but just roll with it pretty please. also…a bit suggestive??

word count: 3.6k

a/n: I wouldn’t have done this but this anon gave me the idea and I HAD to expand on it unfortunately

THE TEAM (platonic)

Lots and lots of flirting from reader, OBVIOUSLY. do y’all even KNOW Black Cat????? it would be relentless. and no matter how annoying and probably overwhelming it got, you wouldn’t back down

with even the toughest/hardest to crack team members

it’s not even like you’re attempting to lure them in…or get romantically involved (unless…), it’s just how you are. who can blame you! flirting is fun

you started off as just another “villain of the day.” Someone they could take on easily. They thought of you as a pity mission. An bad guy as small as a simple thief? What fun was that?! They’ve taken down Gods, magicians, robots…and Red Tornado assigned them a thief??? It was a joke.

until it wasn’t. until Batman saw potential in you (because of course he did. Robin was not happy about this.)

You earned the nickname Cat, which was a nickname in itself for Kitty Cat (Wally's idea, not yours, you gave him hell for it)

your first mission with them was definitely something. messy, to say the least

it was weird, the whole mind link thing. you made jokez and flirted through the link as a way of coping because…well you felt out of place

everyone was so close with each other, not to mention they didn’t come from a background of “bad guy shenanigans”

you felt like an outcast for the longest time, until everyone was revealing vulnerable secrets with each other before a mission. you finally spoke your insecurities with your place on the team

you and Artemis had the same worries (more or less) and bonded over that

you finally were able to let loose and just…be yourself around them

you became soft

the flirting and teasing was still there, however it was saved for missions

you preferred to keep Black Cat’s reputation

individual relationships

ROBIN (romantic)

He was very much against the idea of you being on the team. Sure you weren’t a crazy villain that hurt people (maybe not physically…but you were definitely a heartbreaker, Robin concludes)

You were still a thief at the end of the day. A bad person. And he didn’t like that.

It was Batman’s idea—and usually Batman had great ideas. This was a very bad one. He hated every bit of it.

…until he got to know you better

Taking you down was easy. “Easiest job I’ve ever had,” Robin boasts.

You pout, “that’s not very nice.”

Ha. He knocked you down a peg. Good. You needed a little humbling-

“-How come you’re lying to me, Robin? I thought we had something.”

Uh oh. He absolutely hated when you used that sickeningly sweet voice on him.

Of course you didn’t believe his lie. Of course you could tell how difficult that mission really was.

It’s not apart of his proudest moments. He hesitated to stop you on the mission, completely caught off guard by your flirtatious behavior. I mean, who wouldn’t be?!

In a moment of weakness, he let you go. Awestruck by the kiss you left imprinted on his cheek. Something he got teased relentlessly for.

The rest of the team finished the job for him after that.

In the back of his mind he knows the only reason he didn’t like the idea of you being on the team was because he…knew it wouldn’t end well for him. He was sure to be on your long list of broken hearts (a list that was never confirmed to even exist)

It made sense in his mind…he was Robin. A bird. And you were a cat. A right recipe for disaster. You’d trap him in your greedy little claws and eat him alive.

Over time that perspective changed.

Robin hates to admit it, but he’s softer now. Softer around you. For you.

“I know who you are,” he says with that arrogant smirk.

“So why can’t I know who you are?”

“Only…really important and trustworthy people know. The only person who knows besides Batman is Wally. He’s my best friend.”

“Why doesn’t that include me?” you’re practically purring, rubbing a finger down his face, “am I not important enough to you?” You pout for show

He looks dejected, like he was having an internal battle with himself. And you could tell which part of him was losing.

Your fingers inch slowly towards his mask, ready to lift-

“Robin.” And the stupid, stupid monotone voice that belonged to Batman interrupted you.

You’ll get him back for that.

Robin was now being scolded, but he was having none of it.

“It was a moment of weakness.”

“It will not happen again. No more moments of weakness. You’re growing, your body is going through a lot of different things. Keep it in your pants-”

“Whoa old man! Whoa! That’s going too far. And what about Selina?! You’ve had many moments of weakness because of her. You can’t scold me for this one time.”

“It’s because of my experience with Catwoman that I know better. I’m trying to stop you from…getting hurt.”

Robin calls bullshit on that. What could you possibly do to hurt him? (Thoughts that completely contradict his first impressions of you)

The next time he sees you he’ll spill everything. He’ll let you know that he does trust you and that you do matter. That you’re important to him.

Just to spite Bruce. And maybe because he really likes you and wants you to know it.

It was his idea to bring you onto the team anyways…he’s just giving Bruce exactly what he wanted. A warm welcome to a new teammate.

WALLY (romantic)

Wally was so happy someone FINALLY reciprocated his advances. And especially with a catch like you? Black Cat?! He was over the moon.

At first.

It quickly came to be too much. He's been waiting, praying for someone to match his energy, but now that he's got it? He's not exactly sure how to handle it. He's gotten so used to being blown off, teased, and scolded for his flirting that it was weird when you flirted back.

He was of course the first to tease you when you officially joined the team. He gave your your nickname, Kitty Cat. You despised the name and him for the longest time.

Wally was annoying. Taunting you at all times. Calling to you as if you were an actual cat.

He'd click his tongue, "here kitty kitty."

And for that, your flirting was meaner towards him (compared to how you treated everyone else). Which is the exact reason why he couldn't handle the teasing from you. It wasn't the normal way Robin would, "oh yeah, Wally can't phase the way Flash does. Otherwise he gets a nosebleed. Right, loser?" Or the way Artemis would, "ugh, you flirt like a divorced 40 year old who's desperate for a rebound. Loser."

No, your teasing was quite different. You laughed cruelly, throwing your head back for show, "Come get it before it's gone, loser."

So. He was still a loser to you, but it seemed you actually liked that about him. Maybe.

Wally didn't like it as much as he thought he would. It ruined his cool guy facade (one that didn't exist, Robin would say). It was humbling, the way he suddenly tumbled over his words, face flushed red and all.

More than humbling. It was embarrassing.

You bring him down to the mat with a loud THUD. Much like the time Black Canary beat him during their first time training. Except you used your weight, tumbling on him (and straddling him in the process. Great).

Embarrassing embarrassing embarrassing.

The only person that was able to truly catch him was his best friend, Robin. And that's with years of experience with the speedster. You'd know him all of a few months and you're able to do it?!

"It won't happen again,” referring to his teasing of your name, naming you Kitty Cat and clicking his tongue at you.

“Or I’ll have to teach you a lesson. Much different from this one.” And you casually walk away.

Wally desperately wanted to get up, to humble you back. But he couldn't. He felt physically incapable of doing so.

You had really done it. You slowed down the (second) fastest man alive.

Wow.

"Wow. That was extremely painful to watch," of course Robin had something to say about it.

"Shut up man."

KALDUR (romantic)

It was "unprofessional," he said.

Unprofessional your ass. It was perfectly professional. A lot of people on the teams had partners within those same teams. Black Canary and Green Arrow, Superman and Wonder Woman (exes—but that still counts for something), Conner and M’gann acted like a couple and no one said anything! So what was the problem?

Well apparently there wasn’t a problem…seeing as this “relationship” was more welcomed—as in, Kaldur didn’t tell the Black Cat off when they made advances towards him. Besides when he called their behavior “unprofessional.” That was once. He didn’t say a word of it after that.

In fact, he allowed—dare anyone say encouraged it.

On missions you were attached to his hip. Even if he assigned you to be by Artemis’ side or assist Robin, you wouldn’t listen. And he didn’t say anything about it, instead informing the team to continue on with the plan.

His professional act as the team leader never faltered, not even you could break it down. He merely tolerated your flirting (his words, though you knew better. He loved it).

The team was each in their individual positions scoping out the area, ready to attack at a moments notice. Kaldur was squatted down and you decided it was the perfect opportunity to pounce on him (as you usually did). You wrapped your arms around his neck, now on his back.

“Does the team leader have time for some sweet talk?”

“I, we have a job to do, Cat. Focus.”

You hum, “What are we doing here again?”

He starts relaying the plan to you, you taking note of the way he doesn’t scold you (he repeated the plan to the team multiple times on the way over, he surely would’ve berated one of the other guys for not listening). You never had any intentions of listening, only wanting a chance to annoy him.

“Blah blah blah, is this your version of sweet talk?” You squish his face between your fingers and plant a kiss on his cheek.

He only sighs, “Later. After the mission is complete.”

For once, your find yourself surprised. He’s promising to reciprocate your advances?

This should be fun.

CONNER (romantic)

M'gann was more subtle with her flirting (not really, especially with the way she blushes), more timid and on the nose about her feelings. You? You got straight to the point. Kind of like how open Artemis was when she first joined the team. She had no shame letting the team know telepathically how attractive she thought Superboy was. Seriously, what was it with new recruits and taking an immediate liking to Conner? Why not the other three boys? What did he have that they didn't!

Although Artemis gave up on that crush at first sight almost immediately

You? Not so much. it was very noticeable that the Black Cat was adamant on cracking the boy of steel. it seemed like an impossible mission, but with a little determination and a couple sultry words? it was pretty damn easy

This is very much an enemies to lovers type relationship (kinda):

At the beginning, when you first met, he was open to new relationships. Getting to know people he could count on within the team, though that openness completely died down. Your flirting was nonstop. Even on missions! How was he supposed to concentrate on the task at hand when you found time to graze his arm or speak soft words to him?

You annoyed him, sosososo much it wasn't even funny. Even more than M'gann did. Both of you were insistent, that's for sure. But one was more bold than the other. He tried telling himself it was because he didn't like you: at least with M'gann he wanted a relationship to come from it (not necessarily romantic)

But with you...he hated you. No. He hated the way he reacted to your advances...he hated admitting to himself that your words affected him. That he felt something not so platonic for you. Damn you and your stupid flirting. It was surely going to be the death of him. And that's saying something: the clone of the man of steel actually breaking down? unheard of.

But you managed to do it. Unfortunately.

Conner finds himself thinking about you, more than he'd like. Another reason to dislike you. You take up his mind. Every waking moment and every dream. It's infuriating.

And now he was starting to worry about you during missions. He saw you get knocked down, away from the rest of the team. The fall looked nasty, and with the way you seem to lie there with no intention of getting back up, he's sure you've been knocked out

Conner tries to ignore the way his heart clenches at the sight, kind of like the way it does when concerning you in different context

It gives him the courage to voice his worries, he calls out to you, and as expected: he gets no response

The enemy leans down to your level, ready to do more damage. Conner is quickly snapped out of his daze and starts running over to you

Until he abruptly stops. Because you open your eyes to wink at him, jump up, and take the enemy down with ease.

It's right then that he takes back every thought of admitting he doesn't hate you. Because the stupid smirk you're sending his way reminds him of every reason why he dislikes you.

Everyone is home or in their respective rooms already, leaving you and him. You're behind him, massaging his shoulders gently (your touch wouldn't have persisted if he showed any signs of discomfort, he leaned into it in fact, allowing you to continue)

You bring your head down, cheek to his,

"Oh come on. You can lie to everyone and yourself. But you can't lie to me. I know you were worried back there. Just admit it, Loverboy."

He can only roll his eyes. And blushed. You were never going to live this down.

"I wasn't. Now leave me alone." If only his actions were as convincing as his stern words. Words that would've scared off the likes of M'gann had she been in your position. But you knew better, knew that his shaking hands and quickly warming face meant that his words had no meaning.

Your hand dragged from his shoulder to his chest, right over his heart. Yeah, his words were meaningless with the way his heart was beating for you.

Conner was finally warming up to you and you had him right where you wanted him.

And so you let go. "Whatever you say, Loverboy," and with a kiss to his pink cheek, you leave him alone to ponder his complicated feelings.

Feelings that were in fact not complicated at all. Because Conner was finally, finally ready to admit to himself and to you that he wanted you. So badly.

If only you hadn't pulled away so quickly, he couldn't reciprocated the kiss or two...it would've been an easier, showing you how he feels instead of saying it out loud.

He'll kiss you next time.

M’GANN (romantic)

The Martian can't hide her liking towards you for the life of her. She could’ve even if she tried.

It was near painful, you pitied her. You almost felt bad and stopped teasing her. Almost.

It was fun though, how could you stop?

M’gann would actively seek out your approval and attention when you joined the team. It was only natural, she did it with the rest of the members, so you were no exception.

Besides, the only teammate she was kind of close with was Artemis. Was it sooo wrong of her to want to get close to you?!

Nope! Though she does wish you weren’t so…forward sometimes. Not that it’s unwelcomed, she’s just unsure of how to act because of it. Is she supposed to reciprocate? M’gann has never seen nor experienced such a dynamic on Mars, much less on Earth. So she awkwardly blushes and smiles.

Eventually she gets used to it. And gets very much into it. She won’t vocalize her feelings, instead she’ll mind link and talk that way. Often times it’s easier to communicate through touch. Which says a lot, M’gann would rather use touch?? Not the mind link?? Which was the main source of communication on Mars? Whoa.

It was mainly because…she didn’t want to reveal all her feelings to you. She’s usually able to control what goes through the mind link, having done it since childhood, but you’ve made her mind a complete mess. She all but short circuits when you’re around.

Can anyone blame her?

"You know what I'm thinking?"

"No."

"Well you can read me, can't you Martian girl?"

She giggles at herself, how could she forget? "Hello Megan!"

Her smile turns timid once she reads your mind.

"Oh."

ARTEMIS (romantic)

It was honestly unfair how fast the blonde caught your attention. Her voice. Her stupid raspy voice.

Unfortunately for you, Artemis wasn’t exactly buddy-buddy with you at first. Well, she wasn’t really with any of her teammates. But with time she’s learned to get along with everyone.

“I just wanna get to know you, Blondie. What’s wrong with that?” You asked in the sweetest voice you could muster up, one that usually made everyone fall.

Yet she rolls her eyes.

So that’s how it’s gonna be, huh? Fine.

It was right after a mission, everyone was surrounding Red Tornado, relaying the events to your mentor.

“You know we could’ve took that guy down way faster had you not been on Robin the whole time.”

“Jealous Blondie?

“Stop calling me Blondie!”

You had sleepovers, movie nights, and other hang out outside of missions. With or without the rest of the team. They were fun, the first time you were alone with her is what really got her to warm up to you.

“Ugh! Of course literally everyone else canceled but Cat.” She really seemed to hate you.

You were outside her window, watching as Artemis complained to no one but herself. She once offhandedly commented on how her place was off limits for hangouts (refusing to explain why, which was okay with the team).

You were definitely crossing a boundary doing this, but she seemed upset in the group chat. You couldn’t just leave her by herself.

And then…the Sportsmaster walks in her room. One of the team’s enigmas. A thorn in their side. What the hell?

He does nothing but berate her for not “joining them.” Joining who? Then proceeds to say he’d be happier if she ever thinks to change her mind

“I’m never going to be apart of your messed up team, dad.”

Oh.

And then he’s just…gone.

You’re stunned, and only then does she finally notice you. She ushers you into her room, now berating you for your actions and spying and breaking her boundaries and…

“Your secret is safe with me, babe.” It was meant to be a term of endearment to reassure her,

Friends called each other babe, right?

“Babe?”

“You’d rather be called Blondie?”

She rolls her eyes, “whatever.” And as annoyed as she wanted to seem, she smiled and hugged you gratefully.

It was the only time you allowed yourself to be any kind of vulnerable around her. Or any of the team for that matter.

Once she got over her high horse, it was a very reluctant friendship turned…something more? That’s to be determined. But with the way she now flirts back? You’d say that was a good sign.

“Hey Blondie.”

“You calling me Blondie is the equivalent of Wally calling you Kitty Cat. Maybe I’ll have to teach you a lesson this time around.”

“I like the way you think, babe.” (You say not so platonically this time)

ROY (romantic)

You were on him as soon as he rejoined the team. How could you not be? He was even grumpier than Conner was when he joined, making him extra fun to mess with.

You had no chill when flirting with him, he decided immediately that was annoyed with you. And did not want to be friends.

Because his actual friends brought him joy, they made him laugh and they listened to him when he had bad days. You? You made a bad first impression, therefore he refused give you the chance to do any of those things.

Often telling you to buzz off and if you didn’t he’d “choke you with a hair ball.” Kinky, you replied.

He hated it.

Until you found out about his girl, his other Cat. Cheshire. That’s when things changed. You were less…on him.

"Me and her were never a thing!"

"Getting defensive there. Afraid I'll get jealous?"

"I could care less about your feelings."

“Oh really? Is that right?”

His eye twitched. He couldn’t believe he was trying to…reassure you? Was that what he was doing?

He was trying to make sure you knew he wasn’t with Cheshire. That her feelings were one sided. It’s something he shouldn’t be doing, he tells himself. In fact, he should be doing the opposite. Tell you that she means something to him, or maybe stay quiet and insinuate that they had something going on.

To get you off his back.

You seemed to back off completely when you found out Cheshire flirted with him often on missions when the goal was to take her down. Much like how the team’s predicament when they first met you.

It made you…upset?

And for some reason that made him upset.

“So you’re my Roy Toy? Mine completely?” Wally and Robin had originally griped about the nickname until it eventually made them laugh. They came to appreciate it.

“I’m no one’s. Not yours, not Cheshire’s, not the Justice League’s nor the team’s.”

“You will be mine one day, Speedy. And you’ll love it.”

Roy doesn’t respond but he feels like…there is some truth to your playful statement.

Maybe one day.

bonus:

THE TEAM

They all slowly turn towards you.

"...you've kissed all of us?"

You only shrug, “wasn’t that obvious?”

you can tell I got lazy lmaooo

I hate how I formatted this omg

[rainydayathogwarts]

Age gap - Aaron Hotchner

Summary: Your coworkers find out you love age gaps, but don't know about the relationship with your boss and the age gap within it. warnings: mentions of sex, brief smut ish, rs with your boss takes place in like s1 - hotch and haley are already divorced here. age gap (reader 27/hotch 44) - also we're going to ignore how i keep posting these off schedule 0.7k+ wc

You hadn't meant to attract the entire team's attention. The 'never have I ever' question had been accusingly aimed at Emily, who's been in just about every type of controversial relationship, but if you were telling the truth, you'd been in more than one relationship with a significant age gap. You tried averting your gaze away from any of your teammates' stare, hoping they wouldn't call you out on drinking. "I'm sorry, how old are you again?" Penny's question was the first, followed by:

"How big was the age gap?"

"Since when are you into older men?" and

"It was just one relationship right?"

"I won't be taking questions." You stated, but Penelope's harsh glare had you pouting, leaning back against the booth. "Okay, well you know how old I am." Having joined the team a mere year ago, you had surprised everyone with your young skin and healthy locks, a smile filled with innocence that had made them guess you were still young. Luckily, being so young and attractive had allowed the team to make fast progress on certain cases. Dealing with difficult Sheriffs on non-local cases was made relatively easier when all you had to do was smile at them and laugh at whatever inappropriate joke they made about you to get your way. Despite the team telling you that you didn't have to deal with the perverted cops, you'd shrugged it off, saying it only made everyone's live easier.

It was always worth it, especially when you went back to the hotel at night and were whisked away into Hotch's room, where he pinned you down against the bed, thrusting into you jealously while grunting into your ear that you were his. His and no stupid cops'.

Aside from that, your humour and light-hearted nature made it easier for the team to live with their traumatic jobs on a day to day life. Especially when you managed to better the SSA's mood when he was feeling particularly grumpy. "Okay how big was the age gap?" Pressed Derek with raised eyebrows. You shrugged, sipping your cold drink. "Depends which man you're talking about." Emily let out a long whistle, commenting "Looks like I've been dethroned."

Giggling, you traced the rim of your glass, licking your lips softly. "It's just a preference." You added, eyes flicking up with a glint of mischief. "Rossi, Hotch, watch out." JJ joked, making your gaze shift to the two older men on the team. You tried not to let your stare linger on Hotch, who was sat directly facing you, otherwise a clear indicator of the liking you'd taken to your boss. "Biggest age gap was older than I am." You weren't sure if your drunken words made much sense, but from the audible gasp Spencer let out, you assumed it was. "So that's what... twenty-eight years?" You hummed, looking up at the ceiling while trying to do the maths. Giving up, you shrugged your shoulders, muttering "Something like that."

At your team's impressed whistles and little jokes, you risked another glance at Aaron, who was already looking at you, a soft smile on his face. Quickly turning away from him, you asked "Why, Emily how big was your age gap?" Emily's answer barely hit your ears because you were too busy feeling for Aaron's leg under the table. When you finally felt the soft cotton of his trousers against the skin of your foot, you ran it up his leg, catching his reddening face from the corner of your eye as you maintained eye contact with Emily instead, nodding along with her.

You were sure that if Aaron focused hard enough, he would still be able to feel your hands on his thighs from when you crouched under his desk bare hours ago, licking up the underside of his dick before latching onto the tip, sucking so eagerly that he had to cover his mouth to stifle his moans. "You're coming back home with me after drinks tonight." He had told you, a hand on your waist when you were finally finished, fixing up your lipstick. "Then I can properly reward you for everything." And you couldn't wait, thighs clenching in anticipation.

Now all you had to do was sit with your friends and laugh along to their jokes, trying not to drag your boss away into a bathroom stall so that he could finally take you home, bending you over his couch with his fingers shoved down your throat so that you wouldn't wake the neighbours.

[orengejoshi]

Love you art. My favorite thing is definitely your coloring. Flug does give t boy swag. Hope to see more of your drawing soon. Out of curiosity what do you hope for season 2?

Thank youu🥺💜

I know what you meant but just the entire term "T boy swag" reminded me of my fav rapper who just goes by "T" and since I wanted to do that for a while anyway (his songtexts would resonate with Flug so much) I used this as an excuse to redraw one of his album covers, so I love that, I'm gonna steal that heheh

(relatively unrelated for everyone except me lol but I always throw in some art when replying to asks)

umm yeah so... we're not even done with the first season, so idk. from S1-B I predict more of what we've had so far; more or less episodic comedy, slowly easing us into a connected plot. 6th episode already kinda introduced that.

it's gonna be one of those cartoons like TOH who start off silly and episodic in the first season and develop into a melodramatic serialized show from 2nd season onwards.

this is going to be an unpopular opinion but I actually do not 100% vibe with that, I prefer episodic cartoons like SpongeBob or South Park without overarching plot; comedy over drama. but it was always obvious that Villainous is gonna have a fuck ton of lore so I'm not disappointed.

my criticism rn is that I feel it's already way too many characters I'm sorry. it's getting pretty convoluted. I'm just not a fan of that but again pretty subjective. I can't bring myself to care for absolutely any character that we haven't seen animated yet. it's been too long for me to throw too many new characters in the mix, I've been nonstop hyperfixated since 7 years so I'm skeptical about changes.

as for the plot, I have no idea. we're in so early that I can't even imagine where this is gonna go.

for the end I wish that no ship with the main 3 becomes canon. it's just going to create fandom wars, just leave it open

I just want to see Flug happy...

I'll always just hope to get as much information about Flug as possible

definitely hope they explore Miss Heed's character too, as long as she doesn't end up with Flug l'm interested in her. I would like to see her getting worse (maybe switching sides?) before finally healing and learning to love herself

I want to know more about Goldheart and consequently about Flug's past

I wish for Demencia to snap out of her brainwash some day and learn about her past. I need Flug and Demencia to become real good friends and escape together with 505. I do NOT want them to become heroes but in order to find true happiness and peace they'll have to leave this place imo

but I think most of that is WAY in the future, this won't all happen in the 2nd season. but idk how long this series is gonna be, I doubt the crew even knows, so ye!

[misty-caligula]

Okay this is gonna be long, but I’ve got a lot of ground to cover so please bear with me. In a real way, this is my series thesis.

I’ve said before, many times now (like a cycle) that for me the most important scene is ep 1 act 1 scene 1. There’s something There that I have been struggling to see clearly, struggling to articulate, and s2e9 really finally gave me the last pieces for it.

I think that Pit Girl is the point of the entire story. But not in the way that I thought going in. I feel like I’m rambling, so I’m going to try to structure my thoughts.

Imagine you’re a new viewer. You haven’t watched yj start to finish 30 times, you’ve never even buzzed before. You turn on the tv and the FIRST thing that happens is you see ... brutality. A half dressed girl chased through the freezing woods, murdered without a chance. They drag her through the snow, string her up, pour her blood on the ground. Hack her into unrecognisable chunks. Sit around in scary outfits and rip at her, with a huge focus on the teeth, as horror music plays. Then, Misty takes off her mask, puts on her glasses, and does the worst possible thing. She smiles. Directly at you.

Again, forget everything you know and go on vibes. You’re seeing the teens pre-crash, and you’re seeing them in the third timeline, fully formed, with horror motifs and covered in fur. You’d be mistaken for thinking that you were seeing start and end. Except that... we know, and you know, that Pit Girl is the middle. These monsters somehow came back from this. How? When they’re so so so far gone?

Hence the show. I know I’m not breaking new ground here, but bear with me. I’m going somewhere.

(Edit: Readmore added because honestly, LONG post)

You’d be forgiven, fresh-faced new viewer, for thinking you were watching some kind of gross-out slasher. But what happens in S1? Restraint. Laura Lee, the first non-crash victim dies at the end of episode eight. Jackie end of ep 10. (For the sake of this thesis we’re going to be almost exclusively focused on the teens.)

And yet there’s this tonal shift, It’s like ... inevitability. Like watching a crack in a window that’s very slowly spreading. Everything is steadily Getting Worse. The weather is slowly getting colder, the days are getting darker, food’s getting scarcer, life is getting harder. But so much of this difficulty is coming from external events and pressure. Yes, cracks start to show in the internal relationship dynamics, of course, but if food was plentiful, if shrooms were less so, if the weather were better, then they could probably work out a very long term stable situation. Sadly for them, things are not stable, and the pressure is building.

Then Jackie dies and the glass gets a really big break.

It’s worth mentioning at this moment that Jackie at any time could’ve come the fuck inside. Safety and warmth and even love were available to her. All it would’ve required was for her not to be the centre of the world. To make actual goddamn concessions and join the team. Which is why she couldn’t possibly make that choice, because she had to be invited, she had to be apologised to, she had to be accommodated. She couldn’t see the rest of the ‘jackets as being people who just like her were in a really shitty situation. She saw them as being external, as being in cahoots against her, as being part of some Thing that she wasn’t in on. She couldn’t let go of the society they’d left, and she preferred to die. Which sure is a choice...

Keep all of that in mind though. We’re taught to blame Shauna for Jackie’s choices. Let’s stop with that. Jackie chose not to assimilate, she looked around the cabin at the team eating the bear and praying to the wilderness and instead of just paying lip service to fit in, like Tai, she decided to put her foot down and make a Thing of it. She decided that being Right was more important than being Included.

Seriously, keep that in mind, we’re coming back to it. Cycles, you know...

Season 2, everyone’s hungry and hey we have this spare Jackie lying around. And we joke like “ha, you gonna eat that?” Only...

No. They WEREN’T going to eat her.

Really think about that for a second. They put her in the meat shed. With the bear. Think about what that does, psychologically. Linguistically. The meat shed is made to store food. The bear has a word: carcass. Day after day after week after month they carve progressively more pathetic chunks from it, subsisting on what little it offers. In the EXACT same room, sitting right there is Jackie. Her body has a different name. Corpse. With many different connotations. At NO point does ANY of them raise the fact that they’ve taken their friend and added her to their meat stockpile.

Because they haven’t. Instead, they’ve added a new sub-room. The meat shed is now also a morgue. And nobody ever once had to say it. They got it. We got it. You got it. And while they starved and their bodies BEGGED for food, Jackie’s corpse lay there, frozen and fresh, and stubbornly refused to become a carcass, because they wouldn’t let it. They knew that there were more important things than meat, even when they were starving.

The bacchanal was a mistake. A literal error. It simply wasn’t planned, wasn’t meant to go down that way. Maybe if they HAD considered that route earlier and had a discussion about it they’d have been prepared, psychologically, maybe if they weren’t so starved. Who knows. But in the middle of the night they were offered a way out, and they took it.

But Shauna took it first.

Even in their state, even faced with an ideal roasted feast infront of them, they waited until Shauna said it was okay. Because Jackie was Shauna’s friend, and they knew that she was still a person. That this was still a corpse first. It was Shauna who was able to give them permission to survive. To turn a friend into a meal. It was not their place to take that step. To shoulder that guilt. So Shauna did it for them.

The next day they’re devastated. The heavy reality sets in, now the hunger is settled. And Jackie’s carcass is far too real, they can’t change her back into a corpse. Nat tries, bless her heart. But Tai’s screaming reaction at having eaten Jackie’s face is only an externalisation of the grief and horror and agony they’re all going through.

And after Jackie they starve again. Hope and heat and light dwindles further. Every single day they all take another step towards death. That’s what starvation is, it’s the same thing as dying, you die a little bit every day until you can’t die anymore.

Kristen falls. Misty doesn’t even consider that she might bring her back as meat. If she had’ve, she might think, maybe she’d be considered like ... heroic. It doesn’t even occur to her. She’s not going to LET those bitches eat her one and only friend, and she goes out of her way to protect her.

Shauna has her horror show birth. And, no matter WHAT the context is, she produces.... meat. In the most awful, brutal way. And while the fandom made so many jokes and stuff, the reality is that yes... at least to an extent there was real nutrients there. And it was never once even brought up as an option, by these desperate, starving girls. 

When Coach tries to kill himself, here’s a ready source of willing meat. And Misty uses it as a threat to stop him. But it’s hollow, she’s just putting on fake fangs to try to keep him safe. She’s not actually that vicious thing that she’s pretending to be, just like she’s not actually homophobic.

When Lottie tells Misty to eat her if she dies, Misty fights her on it. Lottie has to insist. Then when she tells the rest of the team, they are so overwhelmed with the selflessness of the gesture that it inspires them to twist it into their first hunt. That’s what it takes. The hunt is an act of self-sacrifice and love.

And so we get to the hunt. The proto-pit-girl, we’ve come full circle and we start to learn all these answers to questions posed in act 1 scene 1. And they’re not the answers that were assumed.

How do they get to the point of eating each other? They sacrifice themselves willingly, for the sake of each other’s survival.

Why do they hunt the way they do? Because Shauna just can’t stand to murder a friend in cold blood, a friend she cares for and has no reason to hate.

Why the spike pit? Because it keeps the blood off their hands. Because it lets them blame It and preserve a tiny fragment of their innocence.

Why the weird symbols? The ritual itself? Because they need SOMETHING to hold onto, to make it all make sense.

Why so brutal? Is it? We THINK it’s brutal. It’s certainly bloody. But Pit Girl dies almost instantly. Her pain is over fast. She doesn’t have a good time going into it, obviously, none of them want to die. But she chose to run, she could’ve taken the knife instead. And the spike trap was efficient. Yes they drag her through the snow and string her up, but it’s mechanical and just part of the process and she’s dead already. Her pain is over fast, it’s not sadistic.

Why do they chop her up into chunks like that? Because nobody wants to eat her face. Because nobody wants to struggle with her humanity, they want her to look just like any other meat. So that they might be having deer or bear or ... friend. They’re eating because they are biological machines that need to eat, that NEED death to survive. They didn’t ask to be made the way they are, and they’re doing their best to cope. Shauna, probably blindly, takes on that responsibility, to transform their friend into unrecognisable meat to change a corpse into a carcass. She takes that pain for them, holds that sin for them, out of love. So they can eat, so they can survive.

What’s with the creepy horror masks? During the ritual they can’t handle being themselves. They create alternate versions of themselves to hold what must be done. The masks aren’t there to scare anyone, because there IS NO AUDIENCE. The masks are there to hide behind. That’s why Misty takes hers off at the end of the scene. The ritual is over and they can go back to being people again.

Why is Misty fucking Quigley in charge? Because she CAN be. Because she’s strong enough. If Lott/Nat/The AQ is the goddess/queen, Misty is the priestess/handmaiden, tasked with actually carrying out her orders. She interprets the queens words when she’s too weak, she provides counsel when she needs it, she tells the team what they need to hear in the moment, she gives out the micromanagement. Misty’s the power behind the throne, because when she says she’ll do something she fucking follows through. No matter the cost. And what the team NEEDS, whether they choose to admit it or not, is a backbone.

So...

They bring home Javi. The music uses a reference that’s never been done before. It uses the spiritual powerballad that was playing when Laura Lee tried to fly away. It builds the expectation of Great Things, of big, potent ...

And then it just stops. As the girls are faced with the reality of what’s laying on the table. The cold, blue corpse of a soft child who never hurt anyone. No matter what they do, no matter how hard they try they just cannot make him a carcass. But they have made the choice already, and if they turn back now it’s not like it’ll bring him back. They’ll just be starving and regretful as he rots.

So Shauna, blind and shaking, does the best she can. And when she brings in the meat, she - of all people - understands EXACTLY what Travis is going through. She knows what he needs. Because she’s been here. With Jackie. So she brings him Javi’s heart. His core. His love. His soul.

(She doesn’t bring him Javi’s head. She cuts that off and puts it aside so nobody has to eat his face... Some things are worth more than pure nutritional survival.)

And Travis, god bless him, does the only thing he can do left to respect Javi. He takes his heart, and he bites it, raw and bloody.

It hurts him to do so. It disgusts him so much, but he manages not to throw up. It disgusts the girls too, but they watch on, horrified. And that’s the POINT. Travis makes sure that before they do this, before they do what they have to... that they all remember this is Javi, this is human, this is a person. And he preserves the horror. For all their sakes. And only then, after he’s given his blessing, after he’s done his human acts, do these starving, ravenous girls allow themselves to reach for their food.

S1E1. Act 1, scene 1. We do not know who Pit Girl is. We do not know the exact circumstances that get us there. But we do know where we started now. What the original meaning is behind each of these little things. And it’s not brutality, not barbarism. It’s love. It’s not lord of the flies, a bunch of monstrous human-shaped creatures giving in to their primal nature and predating on each other. It’s a team of terrified people desperately clutching at their own humanity as hard as they can. Trying SO hard not to let that glass break, to not become the thing that the framing of act 1 scene 1 tried so VERY hard to convince us they were. Context changes everything.

And the proof is in the pudding. After they eat Jackie the shock explodes throughout the cabin. The atmosphere is thick, and horrific. Now with Javi, reduced to simple meat, carefully and lovingly seperated from what made him human, so they can grieve him while they sate their natural needs, the mood post-eating is calm and soft and warm and loving. For once they’re all together,  with grateful full stomachs and in a time of peace and plenty. They’ve done the impossible and maintained their humanity and love for each other and their respect for Javi in a nearly impossible situation.

*takes a deep breath*

Which brings us to THIS asshole.

Right from the start, Jackie is only kind of part of the team. She’s the team captain, put up there by Coach Martinez, but not because she’s the best of them but because she can maybe wrangle them into doing better. And they KNOW that she’s not really one of them. They plot around her, and just don’t bring her in on it. They put up with her, more than loving her, she’s just kind of forced upon them. But she does her best, to try to maintain some semblance of order, giving pep talks and the like.

Wait, Jackie? I mean coach. My bad.

Anyway, so Jackie has one friend, Shauna. She SEEMS popular, and everyone talks to her, but Shauna’s the only one who actually likes her. And Shauna’s her connection point to the team. She’s got one foot on each side, and is torn as to where her real loyalties lie.

Sorry I’m talking about Jackie again.... weird.

In S1E9/10 Shauna finally chooses the team, for real. And Jackie tries to pull her back away, but Shauna puts her foot down. No way, she counters, I’m ON the team, you’re the odd one out. Why don’t YOU leave, Jackie? Jackie looks around at the burgeoning cult, she thinks “Look at these evil monstrous bitches, and now Shauna’s one of them TOO?” And instead of finding a compromise, instead of doing introspection, instead of anything like that, Jackie goes and freezes to death because it turns out that sheer rage won’t keep you warm in sub zero temperatures. Because no matter what happens, Jackie’s Right and it’s more important to her to be Right than Included. If she’s not in charge than why is she even THERE?

Hold on, I see my mistake. Let me backtrack.

Right from the start, Coach is only kind of part of the team. He’s trying to hide from his real life, from Paul and the complexities of being genuine in society by taking on the job of coaching the ‘jackets. And they KNOW that he’s not really one of them. He’s just the guy they have to listen to, because society put him there. But he tries his best, giving pep talks and the like.

So Coach has one friend, Natalie. He SEEMS popular, and everyone talks to him, but Nat’s the only one who actually likes him. (Ignore Misty, a schoolgirl comphet crush is not the same thing). And Nat’s his connection point to the team. She’s got one foot on each side, and is torn to where her real loyalties lie. Sometimes she’s on the bench with Coach, complaining about the state of things. Sometimes she’s in the thick of it with them all, and Coach is nowhere to be found.

In S2E9, Nat finally chooses the team, for real. And Coach tries to pull her back, but Nat puts her foot down. No way, she counters, I’m ON the team, I’m worse than them, you’re the odd one out. Go, save yourself, you don’t belong in this place. Coach looks at a table covered in blood and gore, at Nat’s face, at the rest of the team pledging fealty to her. And instead of looking for context, or looking for compromise, or even remotely trying to understand what he’s looking at he thinks

Look at these evil monstrous bitches. They’re eating each other. They’ve all gone mad. They’ve even gotten Nat now. There’s no hope for them, there’s no hope for anyone out here.

And he decides that they’re corrupt. That the way you deal with that is fire. And he’s wrong.

(I have a theory that he’s gone and jumped off the cliff, that he set the fire to clear the corruption, and now like Jackie, unable to live in this situation any longer, he’s decided to die himself. I’d not be surprised to find him in s3e1 that way)

Jackie was a frustrating, difficult person. Because no matter how things went she just COULDN’T let go of the fact that she was trying to fit a mold that just didn’t suit her. She was raised with super high expectations, when she was really just kind of mid. And that’s fine, honestly, most people ARE mid, that’s why it’s mid. But she refused to see that those around her were shedding their social pressures, were adapting to the wilderness. They weren’t having a good time, they weren’t hunting and foraging because they were out there, camping for fun. Nobody wanted to be there. They were just trying not to complain about it, because they were all in the same boat.

Coach is similar. He simply won’t adapt. Refuses to. I mean this is a guy who’s STILL trying to live in the closet when there’s open lesbians making out in public around him. Who thinks of others as inherently monstrous when he himself, as a gay man, should know better. Because that’s what trying to fit your society-assigned role does to you.

It’s no accident that he and Jackie both spend a long time in the woods and neither of them can do something as basic as start a fucking campfire. Javi, a little kid, survived for MONTHS on his own in that cave. Coach couldn’t make it a day alone. Jackie couldn’t get through a night. They both rely so heavily on the team without ever once recognising it. Because SOMEONE was keeping the fires going. They both just ... refused to engage.

And just like Jackie can’t see that they’re not having fun out there in the woods, on the knifes edge of survival, Coach can’t see that they’re not having fun when they are so desperate they feel it’s warranted to sacrifice one of their own. He always thought of them as monsters, and he just sees what he expects to: a bunch of stupid useless teenage girls, finally doing what he always expected they would.

At any point... At ANY point he could’ve come in from the cold. He could’ve just accepted reality as they have. He could’ve taken some meat and accepted the price, as they have, joined them in their GRIEF about it, shared their humanity, and survived. Just as Jackie could’ve come in from the cold, and become part of the whole. But instead, they sit in the cold, consumed by their bitter hate, and decide that no, it’s everyone ELSE who’s wrong.

And who emerges from the burning cabin? A bunch of scared kids. Shauna, the FIRST cannibal, who saves Jackie’s prom dress before anything else. Travis, who grabs Javi’s wolf. Nat who grabs the ammunition - that they NEVER use on each other - because if they lost that they’d get SERIOUSLY desperate. And they protect each other, they make sure everyone makes it out. These supposed monsters who are so far gone they don’t even care about eating each other go out of their way to save each other, not just themselves.

Because Coach is wrong. Just like Jackie was wrong. Just like WE were wrong, in s1e1. Which brings me to my actual point.

This question is asked so many times in S1 it’s almost a mantra. And the ‘jackets’ oath of silence really builds up that it must’ve been something REALLY bad, right? But S2E9 has really made me recognise that fundamentally... Act 1 Scene 1 is entirely what everyone who asks this question is expecting.

Imagine they DID know what really happened out there. With that bloodthirsty fucking look in their eyes...

They’re not looking for an answer. They’re looking for a story. For an exciting spooky nightmare they didn’t take part in, so they can get a shiver and a thrill they didn’t earn.

They’re not looking for a love story. They’re not looking to hear how HARD these scared, tragic, broken people fought to hold onto their morals and their humanity and their sanity even against their own survival. They’re not interested in Shauna blinding herself just to try to stop her hands from shaking. They’re not looking to hear about Travis choking down the blood of his brother just to make sure that he can really FEEL it. So he can share the guilt, and never ever pretend like it’s Just Meat. The look in his eye when he can’t think of any good response to Van’s arguments that he needs to let Javi save him. What they want is...

They don’t want the context. And if the ‘jackets ever did try to tell anybody what actually DID happen out there, all they would see is ... Episode 1, Act 1, Scene 1. A bunch of monsters. Eating each other. Just like Jackie. Just like Coach. Just like we did, on first glance.

I’ve been saying this whole time that Yellowjackets is doing something really special. That it’s letting us see behind the curtain, that while everyone’s asking this big question, “what really happened?”, we’re the ones who get to know. Because it can’t be told. It can’t be spoken. It can only be seen. Experienced. I think that S2 has finally finished the first major arc in the teen timeline, that we now have the context to understand what comes next. And I do believe that it will get messy, it will devolve. Into fighting and screaming and battles. It’s tragic, but it looks like that’s the downward spiral, spiraling. As Travis and Nat deal with the guilt of what they did with Javi for each other. As Shauna and Nat butt heads and people pick sides. As Misty Mistys. As resources get even more desperate now their shelter is gone. As potentially new people (hikers? other cabin people?) get brought into conflict with them (I believe the cabin is a smoke signal, personally).

But don’t ever forget that we got here with love. Expect that the downward spiral will be lubricated with toxic, broken, codependant, self-destructive love as well. Watch them love each other to death... they’ve already begun.

[thebenjiblackwoodexpress]

Devil's Snare part.7

Aemond Targaryen x Reader

Description: King Viserys has died leaving behind a vacuum of power that the Greens are quick to fill. Aemond tries to qwell his wife's fears for the inevitable war between the Blacks and Greens. But at Aegon's coronation Aemond realises he might not be able to protect those he loves.

Features Aemond being a thought child and finally convincing his wife to ride Vhagar with him.

Previous part

Writer's note: Thank you for all the lovely comments on the previous part. So sorry for the massive delay in getting this part out! Was fighting for my life at work and as per usual overthought it. It follows the plot of S1 x 09 The Green Council. Mostly canon compliant for now but will change. I intend to give these babies as happy an ending as I can in the ASOIAF universe. Angst to follow in the next part.

Warnings: female reader. Some minor sexual content but no smut.

Y/N woke to the feeling of soft lips brushing against her hairline. Opening her eyes blearily she tried to adjust to the darkness as Aemond's face was lit only by a candle on the night stand. Noticing that her husband was fully dressed and had a cloak dark as night wrapped around his shoulders, she frowned and reached for him.

"You are leaving."

Aemond leant forward towards her outstretched arms from where he was sat on the edge of the bed and she wrapped them around his neck. His long silver hair fell around them like a blanket, giving Y/N a feeling of safety and the hope she could convince Aemond to stay. This was instantly shattered by Aemond's next words.

"King Viserys has died. They mean to make Aegon King and of course he is nowhere to be found. It is just like him." He mumbled the last part with not a little irritation.

Y/N's eyes widened. The King had looked unwell the last evening but it still came as a shock for him to have passed so suddenly and then there was the the matter of Aegon.

"But he chose Rhaenyra as his successor."

Aemond nodded tersely.

"Yes, however my mother claims my father's final wish was that she be diposed for Aegon."

Y/N was not sure she really believed the veracity of the Queen's claim, having seen first hand the King's clear preference for Rhaenyra over all of his other children, much to her chagrin as this included her own husband. By the expression on Aemond's face she knew he did not believe this any more than she did, but he was unwaveringly loyal to his family and she had the sense from the look of determination in his good eye that he would support his brother's claim.

Sighing resignedly she placed her hand on his cheek.

"You mean to go looking for your brother?"

Aemond leant into her touch, wrapping an arm around her back to hold her against him and support her weight.

"My mother wishes Cole and I to seek him out and bring him to her before the Hand can get his claws in him."

Y/N nodded in understanding, though she did not wish her husband to leave and feared for the consequences that must surely follow for this clear usurpation of Princess Rhaenyra's birth right.

"Will you promise to keep yourself safe and come back to me as you left?"

Aemond smiled at her care for his safety, though it was unnecessary.

"I promise my wife to return just as I left her."

Y/N moved her hand up to tangle in Aemond's hair before lightly tugging him forward to kiss him, his grip on her tightening possessively as their lips moulded together. He pulled away all too soon for Y/N's liking, pressing their foreheads together and tenderly rubbing a hand up and down her waist, his touch searing through the thin fabric of her night gown.

"You're not making it easy for me to leave you wife."

Y/N lifted herself up to press a kiss to his scar as she was oft inclined to do, to let him know that it only made him more beautiful to her.

"Come back to me quickly" She spoke, her lips tickling his skin.

He smiled softly down at her, gently lowering her body back down onto the bed and moving to stand himself. He brushed a hand over the top of her head and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. 

"I will heed my wife's command and return to her as soon as I can."

Leaning down he pecked her lips again.

Y/N grumbled as he withdrew quickly, though she knew it was not for lack of affectation, rather an attempt to avoid derailing his plans if they became too wrapped up in one another.

"Not soon enough."

Aemond chuckled at her.

"Sleep well, my love."

With that he turned on his heel and strode from the room, looking back only briefly once he'd reached the door, as if requiring just one more glance before they were parted from one another for an indefinite period of time.

Aemond did not feel any sadness when Cole came to inform him of his father's passing. King Viserys had barely ever looked at him and he could never forget how he'd allowed Lucerys to take his eye with no punishment. The decision to place his somewhat idiotic brother on the throne did send a wave of jealousy crackling to the surface. He was the better suited Prince for the throne and yet he had to scour the streets of King's Landing for Aegon, who never wanted the throne anyway. But he would be satisfied to remove Rhaenyra and her bastard sons from the iron throne.

He had found it difficult to wake his wife, the soft flickering of candlelight casting an ethereal glow over her beautiful features. But he did not know how long he would be gone for and he did not wish to leave without saying goodbye to her. In the end he'd had to remove himself from her, before getting caught up in the floral scent of her skin and the petal like softness of her lips. Aemond carried her image in his mind as he traversed the filthy streets of flea bottom, filled with a drive to find his feckless brother so he could deliver him to his mother and return to his lovely wife as soon as possible.

He was briefly shaken by coming across the Madame again, serving only as a reminder of what felt like a dark and sordid memory he'd rather forget. Before he met Y/N he did not think he could ever consider a romantic connection and any level of intimacy desirable after what had happened to him as a 13 year old boy. But Y/N gave him a sense of security he had never felt before. She made him feel safe and loved, brought light into his life that was all darkness before.

When he was finally able to track down Aegon with Cole he chased his brother, taking the steps from the Sept 3 at a time, wishing for nothing more than to put an end to this farce and return to his wife. Anger rose up within him at Aegon's remissiveness in his duty. Should they have come looking for him, he would intend to be found and to rule as was their birthright. Quietly seething, he reminded himself of his duty to his mother and half dragged, half carried his brother back to the Red Keep. 

Aemond permitted himself time to wash and rid himself of the dirt of fleabag before rushing to go see his wife. He found her so engrossed in whatever book she was reading, curled up on the chaise, that she did not even hear the door to their chambers open. Always able to move almost silently, he tread quietly over to her, kneeling behind the chaise and leaning down to brush her hair aside and kiss behind the shell of her ear.

Jumping at the rude interruption, Y/N snapped her head around to look at him. He laughed as his lady promptly wrapped her arms around his neck and practically threw herself into his arms as best she could over the chaise.

Words muffled as she pressed her face into his shoulder, he was still able to hear his wife's sweet greeting, so attuned was he to the tenor of her voice.

"I missed you, my love."

Aemond stroked her hair, before trailing a hand up and down her spine.

"And I you, Nuha Prumia." He smirked as he felt her shudder slightly against his body, aware of the affect his speaking High Valyrian had on her. Releasing her momentarily and inwardly delighting at her adorable whine of disapproval he moved around the chase, then lifted Y/N's legs and placed them back down on his lap as he sat beside her. Y/N shuffled closer, bending her knees to remove the distance between them and lean her shoulder against his so she was half in his lap.

Aemond was only too happy at her closing the distance, revelling in the feeling of warmth from her shoulder against his and her legs on his lap. Wrapping one hand around her waist appreciatively, he reached down under her skirt and began stroking the soft skin of her ankle. 

"You found your brother I take it?"

"Yes, my love. Aegon is to be crowned on the morrow in the Sept."

He watched as his love's face fell and where a moment ago her eyes had been filled with joy at his return, he saw only alarm.

"I am afraid. Rhaenyra will surely retaliate."

Aemond wished he could remove her fears, assure her that all would be well. But he knew that a war was inevitable. He also knew he would do everything in his power to protect the woman he loved.

Squeezing her waist reassuringly, he considered how he might calm her.

"Once Aegon is crowned before the masses he will have every symbol of legitimacy and the great houses will bend the knee to him. Vhagar and Sunfyre will also defend the city. Above all, I will not allow any harm to come to you."

The last he spoke with steely determination, his eye boring into hers as he tried to impress upon her how he would always place himself between her and any danger.

Y/N placed a hand against his chest, just above his heart.

"It is you I fear for. They will ask you to fight and I could lose you."

Aemond was once again touched by the selflessness of his lady and her protectiveness of him. He'd never been more in love with her.

"I do recall you referring to me as a fierce dragon rider and swordsman, my darling girl. Put your faith in me now. I do not wish you to worry yourself over me. I will always return to you."

Y/N lowered her head bashfully in remembrance of her past words, her voice coming out as a low whisper.

"How can I stop worrying about you? I love you and I cannot stop my mind from racing at the thought of you in danger."

Aemond hummed as if considering, slowly inching his wife's skirt up until it reached her knee and gliding his hand up the soft skin of her calf.

"I can think of ways to distract you."

Y/N huffed "Aemond, I am being serious." Nevertheless, she curled her fingers around his tunic, pulling him closer to her, speaking to her own desire for him.

Aemond lowered his head and gripped Y/N's exposed leg, trailing his nose from her ankle to her knee and smirking as he felt goosebumps appear over the smooth surface.

"So am I."

Y/N sighed "you are incorrigible."

Planting a kiss on her knee, Aemond pulled Y/N's skirt back down and sat upright oncemore, sensing that this was not the type of distraction she was looking for presently.

Wrapping the hand not holding her waist around her knees, he pulled her onto his lap so she was fully encased within his arms. "Alright my darling, how can I ease your mind then?"

Aemond's eye flitted to Y/N's mouth as she bit her lip thoughtfully, wishing to nip at her lips himself.

"I'm not sure. I just can't shake this feeling that something awful is going to happen."

Aemond kissed the crown of Y/N's head and thought of what he would do to distract himself and clear his mind. Anything that would comfort the girl in his arms. There was only one thing at the forefront of his mind, though he was not sure she would be amenable.

"How about a dragon ride?"

Y/N's jaw slackened and her eyes widened so far it was almost comical, but nevertheless predictable. Aemond know Y/N had a fascination with dragons, but also a strong fear of Vhagar.

"Vhagar is an extension of myself, she would not harm you knowing what you are to me. You need not fear her."

Y/N blanched under the weight of his stare.

"I'd beg to differ."

Aemond suddenly thought of a way to endear his wife to his dragon.

"You should know that it is Vhagar who transports your bluebells to King's Landing."

Y/N sat up straighter at that.

"What?"

"Yes, they can only be found on the other side of the Blackwater, I ride out on Vhagar to procure them for you. So you cannot judge my dragon too harshly. She can be gentle, like her rider." He spoke teasingly, stroking Y/N's cheek affectionately as a rosy blush spread across her face.

"Still so shy." He tutted slightly as Y/N tried to turn her face away from him, pressing his hand to the side of her face to redirect her gaze back to him. "It is alright, I find it endearing."

"I am sorry you have had to go to so much trouble for me" Y/N blurted out.

Sensing that Y/N's cheeks were in fact reddened with embarassment and seeing the guilty look on her face, Aemond's eyebrows pulled together. That was not the effect he had intended.

"Do you enjoy the flowers that I bring you?"

Y/N nodded "Yes, they bring me joy."

Aemond spoke matter of factly.

"That is all that matters to me. It is no trouble for me to bring my lady the flowers she favours."

Y/N took him by surprise as she dove forward to press her lips against his, though he responded quickly, having missed the way she tasted. She was everything beloved to him, his home.

Pulling away after a few moments, Y/N grinned at him. "I adore you."

Aemond felt his heart stutter at his wife's declaration and the tender look in her eyes.  "Then will you ride Vhagar with me?" He wished to shower her with words of love in return but took the opportunity of her good humour to press the case for his dragon. It was important to him that his two great loves should not be estranged from one another.

Y/N's voice came out unsure and laced with anxiety.

"Is it not dangerous to ride at night?"

Aemond smirked, prideful on both his and his dragon's behalf.

"It was on a night just like this that I claimed Vhagar. She can see just as well in the dark."

Y/N promptly shuffled off his lap and rose to stand, swatting his hands away as he made to grab at her skirts and pull her back down, unsure what he'd said to offend her.

Turning back to him, Y/N offered her hand out to him.

"Alright then. Take my hand before I change my mind."

Y/N wasn't sure what had caused her to agree to Aemond's proposal, a moment of madness attributed to the stress attendant upon plunging the realm into civil war, or the desire to experience the exhilaration of riding on dragonback her husband always described. Whatever it was, for better or worse she now found herself staring into the face of the oldest and largest dragon in existence once again, though this time of her own volition.

Gulping anxiously, she turned to Aemond who was standing a few paces behind her, his hands clasped behind his back and a subtle smirk upon his elegant features. Likely he was satisfied he'd finally convinced her to face his dragon again. She thought that he was strangely obsessed with them getting along.

"Promise not to let me fall."

Stepping towards her until he towered over her, he gently took hold of her elbows.

"Only a fool would drop you. I will keep you safe."

Nodding, she tried to steel her nerves.

"How do we get up there?"

Vhagar was impossiblly big, her sheer enormity prompting Y/N to realise she may in fact have a fear of heights hitherto untested.

Aemond turned them back towards Vhagar, reaching over her shoulder to point in the direction of a ladder attached to Vhagar's hind. "We'll have to climb I'm afraid." She blushed as she realised she'd been too busy trying to keep her eyes on Vhagar's teeth to notice it.

Her clothing presented another problem.

"I don't believe my gown is the most practical for climbing." She swished her skirts to demonstrate.

A dangerously playful glint appeared in Aemond's eye then.

"By all means if you intend to make a habit of riding out with me on Vhagar I will have riding leathers made for you." At her wide eyed expression he chuckled and rubbed her waist reassuringly.

"For now I will ensure you do not fall. You will go first and I will follow behind to catch you should you slip. You have my word."

Y/N still felt unconvinced and it must have shown on her face, for Aemond only sighed before leaning down to brush his lips against her jaw.

Feeling his hot breath against her skin, Y/N began to lose focus.

"You are precious to me. I will not let anything happen to you." Each word was spoken with determination and a sense of finality she could not argue with.

She was startled out of her dazed state when Aemond straightened, a pleased expression on his face and she realised the rogue had meant to distract her so. Nevertheless, she turned from him towards the ladder, gingerly placing her hands against the first rung.

"Right then. Eyes forward."

"My eyes are always forward." Aemond replied indignantly.

"No they're not, Aemond."

Y/N heard him chuckle as she started to climb, gripping onto the ladder for dear life.

She smiled as she felt Aemond's hands hovering over her lower back as she climbed, keeping her safe just as he had said. Each time she felt her grip slipping, Aemond was there, encasing her body with his and pressing his hand to the small of her back to keep her steady until she reached the top out of breath and unsure how Aemond found this the least bit enjoyable.

Hauling herself on top of Vhagar's back, exhausted from her efforts, she felt Aemond slip behind her, then hands reaching for her as he lifted her to sit up in front of him. She let herself fall against him, glad of his arms wrapping around her to support her as she caught her breath.

"How do you do that all the time?"

Aemond kissed her temple affectionately.

"Yesrs of practice, my love. You did well. It will not be so difficult the next time."

Y/N felt her heart warm at his praise, but misliked his assurance that there would be a next time. If looking upon Vhagar was frightening, feeling the dragon's thick scales and leathery muscles beneath her was even worse.

Y/N felt her heart beating erratically, and then Aemond's hands brushing against her abdomen and hips as he pulled a belt around her and buckled it to the saddle. She shifted her torso as much as she could to face him.

'What about you?"

Aemond shook his head slightly, preoccupied with securing her in place to the saddle.

"I have never needed it. You do not either, I will keep you from falling. But I wish you to feel safe. You're already being brave for me, my darling girl."

Y/N raised her hand to stroke a finger down Aemond's cheek.

"I do feel safe...with you. But thank you."

Aemond smiled softly at her, the light of the moon illuminating his striking Targaryen features, rendering him all the more handsome to her.

"I am glad to hear it, little one. Are you ready?"

She thought she was as ready as she would ever be.

"Yes."

Aemond positioned his arms around her body so she was ensconced protectively within his hold, and reached for Vhagar's reigns.

"Good, then lean back against me and try to relax."

Doing as she was bid, and settling herself against his chest, Y/N was surprised by how safe she did feel, grateful that Aemond had not laughed at her for her fear and had attentively taken steps to make her feel as secure as possible.

Even before Aemond spoke, it was like the creature below her was cognisant of his thoughts and inclinations, stirring and laboriously shifting its enormous limbs to rise. Aemond called out in a clear and commanding voice "Soves". Y/N immediately felt rumbling beneath her legs as Vhagar responded to her rider, breaking into a run that had Y/N jolt, causing Aemond to tighten his hold on her. Her stomach did somersaults several times as Vhagar took flight, a gasp leaving her lips at the uncomfortable sensation as Vhagar rose higher into the night sky. But when they were so high Y/N could no longer see the ground Vhagar began to glide, and all Y/N felt was exhilaration, just as Aemond had said.

She laughed in delight as the cold wind whipped at her face, excitedly turning her head to take in the vast expanse of the night sky, dotted with stars which cast a glow upon Vhagar's scales.

Aemond brought his lips to her ear.

"I take it you like it then?"

Y/N twisted to beam at him

"Yes, I do." Tilting her head up and closing her eyes, Aemond was quick to understand her request and bring his lips to hers. He removed one hand from the reigns to tenderly stroke her torso, but Y/N's eyes snapped open and she gripped his arm in alarm.

"Aemond, hold onto the reigns."

The corner of his lips quirked up in amusement, though Y/N was grateful he removed his hand from her person to retrieve the reigns.

"Do not be alarmed, wife. Vhagar will fly smoothly as I have commanded. I am more than capable of flying my dragon and holding my wife at the same time."

Unconvinced and well aware they were suspended high over King's Landing, Y/N huffed exasperatedly at her husband's complacency. He never saw anything but wonder in his dragon.

"You just keep hold of those reigns and keep your hands to yourself until we've landed."

Turning to face forward oncemore and shuffling closer to Aemond as the cold air caused her to shiver, she heard the smirk in Aemond's tone rather than saw it.

"As you wish, my love."

Aemond kept his promise for as long as they were airborne. But when she was still a few rungs up from the bottom of the ladder, hands wrapped around her waist to lift her down. Despite enjoying the dragon ride far more than she could have ever believed, Y/N was glad to have her feet planted on solid ground once more. Though she stumbled slightly, her legs slightly numb from sitting in the saddle for so long and the subsequent climb. The feeling was short lived as Aemond swooped an arm under her legs and lifted her into the air oncemore, carrying her towards his horse.

"What are you doing Aemond?"

Her question carried no real opposition, just curiosity. Y/N didn't much feel like complaining, tired and cold from the chilly night air and happy enough to nestle onto Aemond's perpetually warm shoulder, the blood of the dragon flowing through his veins.

Aemond smiled down at her, his voice laced with a playfulness she was always glad to hear, fancying she could bring out a side in him that others could not.

"I believe the rule was that I would keep my hands to myself while we were aloft. I wish to hold my wife now it is permitted."

Snorting in a rather unladylike manner which would embarass her in front of anyone other than Aemond, who'd heard her make such a noise before and still loved her, she patted his chest affectionately and settled back into the crook of his neck.

Sharing the experience of riding Vhagar with Y/N had made him feel even closer to his wife if that were possible, as if she understood the deepest part of his soul that he bore to no one else. The brief moment of peace and pure unadulterated happiness, one that had made him forget the war that loomed over their heads, was shattered when Rhaenys emerged from the floorboards of the Sept upon her dragon Meleys. His first instinct had been to step forward and take up a protective stance in front of his wife and sister, though he knew it would do little good. As he felt Y/N's hand brush against his arm, whether seeking comfort he could not give or protection he would gladly give if he could, he did not know. But he stood between the dragon and the woman he loved determinedly, despite knowing it was fruitless if Rhaenys instructed her dragon to kill them all. In that moment Aemond felt helpless for the first time since he had claimed Vhagar, an act which had made him feel as if nothing could ever hurt him again. He had not accounted for falling in love and for the perils attendant upon placing someone else's wellbeing above your own. In his helplessness, he felt truly afraid.

After he had escorted his wife and sister back to the safety of the Red Keep, following Rhaeny's flight, all Aemond felt was rage. White hot and uncontainable, a fire that continued to build, each remembrance of the tears on his wife's face and the the abject terror in her eyes as he'd tried to calm her acting as kindling for the flames of his anger. He wished for nothing more than to act, to reign fire and blood upon Rhaenyra and her brood of bastards, and all those who supported the false Queen. Instead, he was forced to listen to the ravings of his grandsire within his mother's quarters.

"Had you not married that girl you could offer your hand in a marriage pact to Lord Baratheon. Now you must fly to Storm's End with empty hands. You foolish boy."

Standing so abruptly the legs of the chair he'd been sat upon screached painfully sharp against the wooden floorboards, Aemond rounded on Otto.

"Careful, grandsire. 'That girl' is my lady. Do not ever speak so disdainfully of her again. I am confident I will win the support of Storm's End through my diplomacy alone and barring that Vhagar should be incentive enough for Lord Baratheon to make the correct choice." Aemond did not give his grandsire a chance to respond, briefly turning to bid his mother goodnight before storming from the room. He did not return to his own chambers immediately, eager to calm himself before he faced his wife, not wishing her to see him so angry and not trusting in his ability to mask his feelings.

Y/N tried to slow her breathing to mimic sleep as she heard Aemond enter their chambers, not wishing to discuss what she had overheard. She knew he would try to comfort her and reassure her but she did not think she could believe him when her very existence presented such a challenge to their standing. Y/N tried not to stiffen and reveal that she was really awake as the bed dipped and Aemond snaked an arm around her waist, pulling her against his chest. Her heart raced as he rested his chin on her shoulder and whispered teasingly in her ear.

"I know you are awake."

So her act had not been as convincing as she'd hoped. Nevertheless, she remained still and did not answer, hoping he'd assume he was mistaken.

She felt his chest reverberate as he spoke and fought to keep her breathing even.

"Hmm, perhaps not."

Y/N's sense of self satisfaction lasted only a moment before her eyes flew open as she felt Aemond's lips against her bare shoulder where her night dress had ridden down, though she quickly shut them tightly again.

Panic set in as she felt feather light touches up and down her ribcage. Unfortunately, Aemond had discovered she was ticklish quite early on into their marriage and it had simultaneously caused him endless enjoyment and her endless irritation.

"Are you sure you're not awake?". Squirming as Aemond's ministrations intensified, clearly well aware she was awake at this point, she sighed and turned to face him. She pushed against her husband's chest and shot him a glare as she took in his wide grin and the mirth in his eyes.

"Fine, I'm awake."

Seemingly satisfied thst she was now paying attention to him, Aemond stopped his movements and instead rested his hand on her waist.

"I thought as much. Why were you pretending? Do you not wish to speak with me?" Guilt seeped through Y/N at the sadness that laced Aemond's tone. She did not wish to feed her husband's insecurities.

"I came to find you in your mother's quarters and overheard The Hand suggesting a marriage pact with a Baratheon Lady...and disparaging our marriage."

Aemond's expression darkened and his grip on her waist tightened.

"Ignore him, I will secure Lord Baratheon's support. I have no need of a marriage pact.  Vhagar should be incentive enough."

Y/N bit her lip and cast her gaze down, an overwhelming admixture of guilt and embarassment consuming her. "I worry that I have irreparably damaged your standing and that of your House. You should never have married a maid. Rather a lady who could have offered you more than I can. I know it is what your grandsire would have preferred...perhaps he was right."

Aemond lifted her chin gently between his thumb and forefinger so she was looking into his eye.

"That is not what I would have preferred. You are my love."

Y/N inwardly cursed her sensitivity as she felt tears prick at her eyes and her throat close up uncomfortably.

"If we were not married. If you still had the choice and were not bound to me. Would you not choose the Baratheon lady to save your family?"

Aemond's voice was low and soft as he spoke between each kiss he placed upon her tear stained cheeks. "You, you, you, always you. You are my choice."

Y/N let her head fall onto Aemond's shoulder, pressing her lips to his throat, relieved by her husband's reaffirmation of his love for her. Her heart was immeasurably moved by the fierceness of it sometimes, how someone who others feared could be a safe haven for her. She felt the intensity of it as Aemond slipped a hand under her night dress to pull her leg across his torso, his fingertips pressing into her skin, holding her to him so tightly it was almost painful. She didn't mind. Truly she'd let him crush her to him just as long as he didn't let her go. But she knew that on the morrow he would fly to Storm's End, and she had a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach, bolstered by a sense of foreboding that Aemond was slipping in between her fingers like water.

Tagging in the comments because I'm fighting for my life with tags at the mo.

Thanks for sticking around if you made it this far :)

[apoloadonisandnarcissus]

A fellow fan (who prefers to remain anonymous) shared their “wild theory” that there can be more to the Elrond and Galadriel kiss scene that meets the eye, and asked me to do an "breakdown" and see if it can be. Now, this is just theory, don’t get your hopes too high, please. 

This scene isn’t meaningless like many are trying to make it to be: this is the kiss that Morfydd Clark teased at the premiere, and it’s in one of the main trailers for Season 2.

I rewatched the entire scene like 5 times, and I did notice there was something strange about Elrond (body language, the way he walked and, even, the way he spoke), and before the kiss itself, Adar himself seems to act shady as his eyes linger on Elrond’s face, with suspicion.

All of this can mean nothing, however, there can be some clues, here: 

Elrond sounded quite passive-aggressive in his exchange with Adar, and kind of manipulative as well (this is a tense scene, but Elrond seemed OOC); 

Elrond didn’t actually choose anything: it took me a third rewatch to observe this, but the way the scene is written and acted, it’s like Elrond isn’t there to strike any bargains with Adar or stop the attack on Eregion (which should be his goal in this scene, no?), but rather to help Galadriel break free.  

Random mention of Melian (yes, Elrond’s ancestor, but also the Maia who fell in love with an Elf); 

Elrond hitting back at Adar with mentions of his “children” (and the camera lingers on the Orcs to see their reactions. We already saw the Orcs starting to turn on Adar, and in 2x01 we saw another character pulling out the same move); 

Elrond randomly calling him “Adar” to his face;

The weird way Elrond removed the pin from his cape is quite similiar to another scene we’ve seen of a pin being removed in S1; 

Adar’s entire demeanor changes as soon as he gets close to Elrond, and looks him in the eye;

The music that plays during the kiss, seems quite familiar to the 6:22-6:25 chords of the “Last Temptation” OST. 

After Elrond leaves the tent, his demeanor seems extra cold for his usual self, and he speaks only in Elvish. He also tells the soldier that he’ll try to hold on the walls of Eregion in a cryptic way (I mean yeah, but there's another character who’s also holding the walls at the moment, and who saw the Elfish army coming from a mile away, and probably Galadriel in a cage, too).

What’s the wild theory? It’s not Elrond in that scene, but Sauron.  

We know Sauron can bend reality to his will and create illusions: we’ve seen him impersonating Finrod, Galadriel’s brother, in 1x08; and this Season he shaped the entire reality around Celebrimbor for him to complete the Nine.

We know Adar and Sauron also share a connection and they seem to be able to recognize each other (Adar knew that Halbrand was Sauron), so can that explain the change in Adar’s demeanor as soon as he looks into Elrond’s eyes? Because he realizes it’s not him, not Sauron in front of him?

A few months ago, there were some “leaks” that Sauron would impersonate Celeborn to kiss Galadriel: what if he impersonated Elrond, instead? 

Can this be how Sauron will prove to Galadriel his love for her? Because he was the one who helped her escape Adar, and he’ll show her this at the finale?  (with how the kiss was filmed, it’s possible to do a character-change-reveal situation) 

Now, and as I’ve said in the beginning of this post, this is a “wild theory”, so don’t get your hopes too high.

[aardvaark]

Throughout leverage we see multiple different people driving the team/groups. Parker with the "I was taught to run from the cops", Sophie with the "taxi driver in Istanbul (citation needed)", Eliot with "I am getting us there in 5 minutes or less"... So what is your headcanon for how they decide who drives? Does Nate have a specific set of criteria where he picks who drives? Do they argue about who drives?

well, a lot of places they go, they need minimum two vehicles: hardison's van for tech (i think its only got two actual seats, though im sure people have had to sit in the back & get thrown around lol) and at least one car for other people/general driving. hardison tends to drive lucille so thats one down. if eliot's around to drive, he's probably driving the second car. if not, then nate, then sophie, then parker*. when hardison isn't driving lucille, he's probably as likely to drive as nate or sophie. and when tara's there, i doubt she has driving privileges lol.

in s1, i doubt they're carpooling much. like, they'd drive from their homes to the hq to the job themselves, and only go in the same car to do some quick task. later, they treat nate's apartment as home base and are frequently there for very little reason lmao, so thats when they actually have to plan more about who drives. obviously it heavily depends on how many cars are required and who's doing what. but. it seems like it's often nate driving with sophie as passenger, eliot driving himself or with parker as passenger, and hardison driving himself or with parker as passenger.

*detailed explanation of their individual driving under the cut:

parker is a genuinely great getaway driver, so her skills are useful in that type of situation... but i think 99% of the time, when they're not requiring a quick getaway, she is BANNED from driving. sophie even said so somewhere in s3, i dont remember exactly. canonically she can drive perfectly normally too (eg her driving with tara in the s2 finale) to be fair. she just doesnt want to lol. the stuff she has in her own car (both useful items and "decoration") is somewhat disturbing and very confusing. a lot of it is sharp. or a chemical hazard.

sophie drives sometimes but her driving can be... questionable, occasionally (ie big bang job). the (alleged) fact she learnt to drive from a taxi driver in istanbul seems to imply she didn't learnt to drive later than most, when she was traveling a lot? her attitude of "if i'm doing my job right, the mark just turns off the alarm for me" makes me think she'd apply the same logic here and would've done more hitchhiking & public transport than driving when she was first starting out, but over time got herself a car and learnt to drive because its kinda a safety thing in her line of work (need a getaway). all this to say, she can drive and she might have a nice car but its not her priority, you know?

nate drives sophie, some mix of her thinking its chivalrous and him having some ingrained ideas about male gender roles, but also just personal preferences. and a little bit because hes seen some of her questionable driving choices. once they're together, this changes to a more even split. also nate is def a backseat driver (like, regardless of who's driving/their skill level) and has been kicked out of a car at least once.

hardison is also mostly fine to drive or not drive like sophie. he'll bicker with eliot about who drives but mostly that's just an extension of their ongoing bickering saga. every time one of his lucilles gets exploded or whatever, he has a period of mourning and takes a couple weeks before he'll let other people drive the next incarnation of lucille - and to be fair thats usually because one of them was responsible for killing lucille.

eliot doesn't let other people drive his car (unless its absolutely necessary for a con - see: the boost job). he only begrudgingly lets people IN his car because SOMEONE spilled slushie all over it one time and yes he will continue to bring that up a decade later, hardison. i think being around the team has made him become one of those people who has strict rules for being in his car lol - no food/drink, no leaving anything in the car that doesnt have to be there. obviously the team break these rules all the time.

and the definition of what is a "necessity" and can therefore stay in the car is a BIG ongoing debate. some items of interest on the "necessity" list: gift wrapping paper, one (1) shiny thing, a gaming console, chloroform, a neatly packed bag of spare clothes, at least one dress hanging up with a dust cover, 3-5 CDs (which must be individually approved before being added to the car and only one of which can be christmas-related), spare reading glasses, cables that eliot annoyingly can't veto because he doesn't understand that stuff enough to argue, aluminium foil, and a pack of hair ties.

some things that have been BANNED: food & drink, glitter (there was an incident), nail polish (there was more than one incident), most tech stuff ("that's why you have lucille!"), secret money stashes, anything considered priceless by art experts, "surprises", and live animals.

i would love a road trip episode where most/all of them are taking turns driving and are stuck together in a vehicle for ages. also i now have the urge to go through the series and actually chart who drives.

lol thank you very much for the ask and ik the length is crazy but i hope this is a good answer haha.