#i think she's a lemming. talk to the wall

[fishareglorious]

aww... they didn't specify what manner of rodent she is......... i guess we'll never know what exact species of sogbeast windsong is......

[unsoundedcomic]

These pages have made Lemuel click for me and I feel like I finally get him. Beautiful work ❤️ I am curious, have you seen anyone guess the circumstances of Lem's involvement? Specifically that it was meant to be him?

I hadn't! I didn't see anyone guess it correctly for years, and I used to torment readers by telling them all the clues they needed were in chapter 7. Still, nada :3

When 18 started, I was really worried that I hadn't dropped enough foreshadowing, haha. Let me tell you that in my experience, readers don't like to be surprised all that much. They much prefer to have just enough clues that they're able to figure it out for themselves first. So I worry about being too twisty, it's not good.

With that in mind, I tried to throw a bone earlier in the chapter when Lemuel said something like: "Ssael wouldn't even let me have this." That felt really on the nose to me but I don't think it worked! It wasn't until a few pages ago when Lemuel talked of being denied glory, and theeeen lots of readers saw the writing on the wall, thankfully.

Now @zacksfairest did clue in a little earlier than that, but she is a Lemuel scholar and her intellect is very far above mere mortals'.

[malk1ns]

Yesterday I came across the 5 on 3 video and since then I have been thinking about baby sid being infatuated by baby geno. Maybe one of them having a crush on the other and just being so not normal when around their crush.

so i had a little bit of a conversation with @plethoriall along these lines earlier today that is helping inform this; i hope you don't mind third party POV!

Mario has rarely regretted offering to have Sid stay with him.

Sid's rookie year he'd been a breeze; compared to most 18-year-old hockey players Mario's known, rear-ending the nanny's car was small potatoes. Sid was respectful of their home, didn't mind when the kids demanded his time and attention, and never put Mario in the awkward position of having to talk to him about not bringing hookups back. He'd expected much of the same when Sid called to let him know when he'd be returning for camp before his sophomore year.

That was before Malkin arrived.

Mario's memories of being a lovesick teenager are pretty dim at this point. He'd had his fair share of ill-advised crushes, more than one person he'd hooked up with that he probably shouldn't have, and Nathalie had forgiven more indiscretions than she should ever have tolerated, but being a 19-year-old with a world-ending crush is foreign to him.

He's doing his best to be empathetic, really he is. But there are really only so many stories one man can be expected to sit through while still pretending that his prodigy isn't head-over-heels for a teammate.

(He'd tried to broach that topic once, when Sid had come home from a night out inconsolable about Geno taking a girl back to the hotel room he still had rented in his name even though he'd essentially moved in with Sarge. Sid had locked himself in his room for three days, only coming out for practice. Austin had been devastated.)

"—and then Geno said the funniest thing," Sid is saying, and all Mario can do is grunt and listen, because Sid had followed him down to the gym and Mario figured he could put him to use as a spotter. He should have known better. "He said that Ovi's last name was...well, I don't remember exactly, but he basically called Ovi a sheep. Isn't that funny?"

"Hilarious," Mario gasps, and luckily Sid notices and grabs the bar before Mario drops it onto his chest. "Okay, I think that's enough for today."

Sid frowns, looking at the clock on the wall. "You've only been down here for twenty minutes, though."

"I have a phone call, just wanted to get a quick set in," Mario says, clapping Sid on the shoulder and making for the stairs. "Thanks, kid."

He manages to lock himself into his office before Sid can come find him with another story about Malkin, dialing Sarge's number and pouring a glass of whiskey as the phone rings.

"What," Sarge snaps as he picks up, and Mario laughs.

"Long day?" he asks, taking a sip.

Sarge's sigh is noisy over the line. "Jesus, Lem, you'd think nobody in the world has ever had a crush before," he complains. "I swear to god, If I have to listen to Sidney this or Sidney that one more time, I'm kicking him back to that hotel. It's ridiculous."

"Not much better over here," Mario murmurs, flicking through his daybook. The younger players have a PR event at Dicks tomorrow; maybe if he makes a few calls he can get Sid and Geno paired up. The cameras can't be on them the whole time. "He almost let me drop the barbell on myself just now."

Sarge snorts. "And somehow they both think the other one couldn't possibly feel the same way, even though they spend half their time making cow eyes at each other. I swear I was never this stupid."

Mario thinks back to the 90-91 season and winces. "I'm sure I came close a few times," he allows.

He has to pull the phone away when Sarge guffaws loudly in his ear. "Oh, I've heard stories," he says, and Mario wrinkles his nose. "But I don't think anything either you or I have ever done could hold a candle to this. And Zhenya won't hear a word from me about it, he acts like the world is ending whenever I try to bring it up."

"Sid's still pretending that he's just a big fan of Malkin's hockey," Mario sighs. "I'm thinking of telling comms to put them together for that event tomorrow and distract the cameras for an hour."

"We could lock them in the equipment room?" Sarge suggests. "Not for too long, of course, but..."

Mario thinks back to dinner the night before, when Sid had chattered on and on about Malkin for so long that even Nathalie's patient smile had started to fray. "I think you're on to something," he says. "Sid always stays late to talk to people—when is Malkin due for a trainer appointment? I'm sure Dana will help us out."

[gh0stsp1d3r]

Okay I apologize for the Dad!Tangerine mood I’m in rn now LOL, but can I please request a Dad!Tangerine x daughter!reader where the lil girl and Tan’s dynamic is much like Sully and Boo from Monsters Inc? The lil girl’s personality is like Boo. Tangerine and Lemon are on a job (taking out super bad people), and just as they’re about to leave (them two being the only living people left standing), they hear a little cry, and they follow it (being really concerned) and find a 2 year old girl all by herself, said little girl immediately stopping crying when Tangerine starts talking to her, even when Tangerine is all grumpy, it just makes her giggle, and Y/n starting to call Tan “Daddy”. (At first The Twins definitely weren’t planning on keeping her with them, but she quickly melts their hearts hehe) After being with them a bit, she starts pointing at Tangerine and going, “Daddy!!” And he’s like, “No no no, I am not your Dad kid”, but she just keeps going, “Daddy!!” And giggling (much like when Boo called Sulley “Kitty”). Tangerine gradually accepting the title, Lemon being fully on board the moment she calls him “Uncle Lemon!!” Also you know Lemon would be getting her ALL of the Thomas the Engine merch LOL… Tan accepting the Dad role as Y/n has him (and Lem) wrapped around her little finger

AHH I LOVE. Sorry this took me so long Cece, I wanted this to be good 😭

The girlfriend of Tan is one of my oc’s 😭 , no warnings really

Tangerine took the knife out the man’s chest, and he fell to the floor.

“How many was that?” He asked.

“14.”

“What? I thought that it was 15.” He said.

“Well, either way the file said 16 people were here.” Lemon argued, looking around the warehouse.

They circled it, and they didn’t realize the other room. They heard a loud wail, as well as whining. Tangerine and Lemon looked at each other, and held their guns out. They both hid behind the doorway, and looked around and were about to shoot when they noticed you. A child. No older than 3 years.

They looked at each other.

“What the hell?” Tangerine mumbled, and they both put their guns down. You crawled away from them and were now backed up to a wall.

“Shh, sh, sh.. it’s alright.” Lemon said, as they both approached you. Your cries got louder.

“‘Ts alright, Its alright. We’re not gonna hurt ya.” Tangerine said quietly and softly, he crouched down to your level. Your cries stopped and you looked at them.

Lemon slowly picked you up, and carefully held you in his arms. You looked at the both of them with a curiosity in your eyes.

“Guessin’ we killed her parents.” Tangerine sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“Probably.”

“Wait.. is she the 16th person?” Tangerine thought.

“Wha- oh, shit. You’re right. It’s not like we can jus’ kill ‘er, mate. That’s way against my morals.”

“Yeah, I wasn’t really plannin’ on it.” Tangerine said, angrily now. “But what the hell do we do with her now?”

“Dunno… maybe we jus’.. put her up for adoption? Leave her at a fire station?”

“The first ones not bad, but the second ones dangerous. They could miss her. Heard they ran over some baby cause they didn’t see her.”

“Yeah. Well, guess we could jus’ put her up for adoption. But how would we explain how we have her?”

“Never thought of that.” Tangerine sighed, and groaned. You made grabby hands to tangerine, and he quirked an eyebrow as Lemon laughed.

“Think she wants you, mate.”

“No way. Nope.” Tangerine looked the other way. Lemon went up to him, practically forcing you into his hands. Tangerine sighed and held you, you smiled and giggled, babbling at the mustached man.

“Dada!” You said, it didn’t exactly sound like that, but they knew that’s what you were trying to say.

“Nope. Nope.” Tangerine groaned and put you back down onto the cold floor, you stared up at him still while he stared down at you. You walked around the room for a little, and motioned for Lemon to pick you up again which made him smile and laugh quietly.

“Aren’t you just adorable.” He booped your nose, and you giggled at the man, grabbing at his finger, his large hands looked like a giants to you.

“Don’t say it.” Tangerine mumbled when Lemon stared at him.

“We should keep her-“

“No.”

“Look at ‘er! She called you dad.” He hit tangerines shoulder.

Tangerine groaned again and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“No. I’m not having this conversation-“

“I can be uncle lemon. I’ve always wanted to be an uncle!” He said, practically begging at this point.

“Uncle.. lewmon?” The pronunciation sounded w weird coming from you but it made lemon smile widely.

“Oh my gosh. See that? She jus’ called me uncle. We have to keep her.”

“I don’t exactly know how to care for a bloody baby!”

“All we gotta do is clean her diapers, which I’ve done, feed her, clean after her, and keep her safe. C’mon man. I’m sure your girlfriend would love her.” Lemon teased him.

Tangerine narrowed his eyes, picking up his phone and texted his girlfriend “how do you feel about a child? Specifically 2 years old or something?”

“Uh… why? Aaron, if this is another joke..”

“It’s not.” He texted back.

“I mean I like kids, yeah. Do you mean like.. as ours?”

“Yeah. Kinda. Found one on a mission, we can put it up for adoption but she seems to like me and Lemon too much.”

“I mean… I’d love too, yeah, but wouldn’t it be a lot? The adoption process and all.”

“Don’t worry bout that, love.” He said, and put his phone down with a sigh.

“Well.. looks like she’s ours now.” He told lemon with a shrug.

Lemon smiled “All cause of your girlfriend?” He teased.

“Yes. Shut up.”

———————————————————-

“Alright, alright, let’s give uncle lemon a break.” He picked you up, taking you away from his brother who desperately needed a break from watching you for hours.

“Thanks man.” Tangerine said to him, patting his shoulder.

“Yeah. It’s nothin’. Anything for my only and favorite niece.” He smiled at you and Tan again, while Tangerines girlfriend came running down the stairs.

“Alright, let’s go. Thank you lemon!” She had said, and quickly left him alone in the house.

He sighed “Man, can’t believe I went from an assassin to a full time babysitter.”

[lovely-maryj]

warnings: spoilers for xavier, zayne and maybe rafayel's anecdotes and just spoilers for love and deepspace in general; cursing like usual lol

so i finally unlocked xavier'a 2nd anecdote, and it's so sad??? like so fucking sorrowful and the angst???

i mean, i was already spoiled about it cuz my sister saw a tiktok about it and she told me but the writing??? that, i did not expect omg

so xavier is definitely really old lmao. i didn't expect it to be told in mc's pov so i was expecting it to be jeremiah or some other person xavier knows but i'm definitely not complaining.

i expected that the 'mc dying in xavier's arms' moment to be in his 3rd anecdote so i was surprised

[edit (10 Feb 2024): the anecdotes apparently switch places when one gets unlocked lmao. so this is actually his 3rd anecdote and it just became the 2nd one because i unlocked it first. sorry for the confusion TT]

can anyone explain to me what kind of being xavier is cuz like it was implied that he isn't human??? he (and jeremiah) is giving long-life species from the xianzhou loufu. or is it only mc that "doesn't have a hundred years" because of her protocore syndrome?? so if it weren't for that, she'd live as long as the others or??

someone pls explain TT

i tried reading the deepspace message thingies but maybe i was really sleep-deprived when i read about philos so i didn't absrob and comprehend a single thing

while we're talking about anecdotes, what the hell is up with zayne's second???

like is it an au or is it further down the timeline (i.e., the future)???

(i actually unlocked zayne's still in dark anecdote first and i'm just only talking about this now lol)

but how is he getting dreams of our present timeline?? and how did he break the 4th wall during that one dream?? all he did was reach for mc's cheek and she was suddenly like "you're not zayne". and can we talk about how people are turning into wanderers?? and zayne is a wanted serial killer. i mean, not for the reasons one would think without any context but he is definitely wanted by the law. also he's so sad?? his apartment is so bare he only has a bed and a dresser in his room?? he wants to be a doctor because in his dreams, he is one?? and even in this universe/lifetime, he is still an orphan. he was orphaned twice??? in the same life??? damn

anyways, ppl, pls explain what the hell is up w/ these anecdotes. spoil me all you like cuz i really wanna know

i haven't unlocked rafayel's yet, sadly. idk how lmao. i mean, it says i should have at least 10 4*/5* cards so that would means it's the same criterion for the others right?? but i don't have 10 4*/5* of zayne nor do i have that many of xaviers?? like i don't get it TT

but i did hear (from my sister ofc) that he became an art teacher in mc's high school??? to like see how she's been?? and he hired a p.i to like watch her from afar?? and he told said p.i to stay away from her when p.i sent him a pic of mc??

does that mean rafayel is older than mc? cuz there is no fucking way he became an art teacher if he's younger than her. and it says on his profile that he's 24?? if he was way older than he looked, then his age would be listed as "???" like xavier's but it isn't. so he's actually 24? that make mc at least 21 i think?? cuz if mc was like 18 (senior year) in rafayel's 2nd anecdote, he's be 21 and that's believable for an art teacher rt?? i actually dk how old mc is in his anecdote but my sister said she was a student.

[edit (10 Feb 2024): he actually became a lecturer at mc's university, not high school lmao]

what i'm sure of is that means he definitely recognized her when they first met (again in his pov) with the goldfish in the main story. why the hell did he walk away so fast tho?? he didn't even let mc finish speaking :( (i will forever hold this over his head)

[edit (10 Feb 2024): so there's a reason for this and i'm thinking it has to do with how mc "betrayed" him in their past lives or smth. that makes me sad]

i know he's a merman from lemuria cuz i finished all available chapters. but why the fuck did i gasp so loud lmao cuz i also already knew he was a merman both from spoilers and the "nightly stroll" chapter in his "falling for you" thingy

i also just wanna know how exactly they met the actual first time?? and how did mc forget?? if i met a merman or someone equally as magical when i was a kid, i'd never let anyone forget it.

anyways, i guess i'll keep pulling for more cards 'til i unlock his anecdote so i can finally (hopefully) piece things together

(i hope none of this was confusing to read. if so, i'm so fucking sorry TT)

[depressedstressedlemonzest]

Tag Game Tuesday (on Wednesday)

Tagged by @guinguin1984 @scurvgirl @such-a-barbarian @auds-and-evens @juliakayyy @lingy910y @lupeloto @golden28s @michellemisfit and @energievie

________________

you can call me: Lem

pronouns: she/they

sun sign + favorite flower: Libra and my knee jerk reaction is always to say daffodils, but I don't think I really have a favorite.

what time did you wake up today?: ugh first at 12:58am because nala had to pee, then 4:45am for work

what kind of phone do you have?: Galaxy s8+ horribly needs an upgrade, but she still functions.

pick one: beach, mountain, desert, or forest? Beach or forests

favorite vegetable: potato

last person you talked to on the phone: this lady I had a job interview with today, called her to reschedule.

last person you texted: my dad

you’re at the smoothie shop, what are you getting?: water, for some reason smoothie texture puts me off. Not sure why, I like shakes. Could be the fear of pulp?

you’re at the zoo, which exhibit are you seeing first?: lions, tigers, and apes oh my

last movie you saw in theaters: The Barbie Movie

last movie you watched at home: Bring it On.

something that sparks joy: my oldies saying funny off the wall things I wouldn't expect.

and finally, what’s your current obsession: planning a cottage core/garden party baby shower for a coworker, planning my outfit for the renn faire next month, and then who to cosplay for the local con.

Last time I went I dressed as a femme Aziraphale, I might go as a femme Crowley this year since I basically already have all the clothes. BUT i don't know for sure. I would want to get prescription colored contacts but have never worn them before.

I'll tag

@ian-galagher @witchboywitchboywitchboy @flamingbluepanda and @gallawitchxx

[kaladinsspear]

TLDR: my ex wanted me to be a fantasy, fuck that, I’m a person.

So I just started reading That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming and I forgot how much I love the romance genera! This book is playing with some of my favorite tropes and I am thriving!

I think I stopped reading romance because with my ex, she wanted me to BE the mail lead in a romance novel. She wanted that decisiveness, that power, that burning focus and intensity. She wanted me to be dominant, but she didn’t want to get bogged down with things like setting and maintaining her own boundaries, or giving me feedback on what’s working for her and what isn’t, or sitting down with my neurodivergent ass and having a frank discussion about exactly what she wants from me so I can ask questions about the edge cases and clarify expectations and come up with defaults for when I don’t know what she wants. None of that boring stuff, I was suppose to just be.

I think I stopped reading romance because it reminded me of all the things I’m not, and made me feel like the strain of the relationship was my fault because I couldn’t be good enough. If I was more confident, more assertive, more aggressive, more powerful more, more, more, more then I could be the man that she deserved and she wouldn’t have to settle for weak, placid, little me.

You know what, though? Fuck that. Romance novels are a delightful fantasy, but they are a fantasy and the personality traits that make for a hot vampire king do not make for a well adjusted member of society.

No, I will not push you up against the wall and kiss you, because you have given me no explicit and indication that you want me to. If I’m that aggressive with you when you’re not in the mood and ready for it, I could hurt you. I don’t care if it’s hot in the books, being manhandled in real life when you aren’t in the mood for it is frightening and humiliating and you already have ptsd from military service. I’m not going to potentially trigger your fight or flight without a very clear and unambiguous ‘yes’. I don’t care if we are teasing and clearly headed toward the bedroom, even if you told me you wanted me to pin you against the wall when we talked about it yesterday, if I take that step when you don’t want it, that’s not an ‘oops, I’m sorry’ kind of thing. That’s domestic violence. I’m gonna need a clear and in the moment ‘yes.’

I’m reading romance again and actually enjoying it because I’m allowed to see it for the fantasy and story that it is. This isn’t an example that I need to live up to. I am a pool tech and a student. I don’t have the time or spoons to do what it would take to get washboard abs. If I lost that much body fat, I probably wouldn’t be able handle the endurance work that my job requires. I’m training to be a programmer and I live in a world of disinformation. I don’t need to be able to make snap decisions with confidence, I need to think strategically and adapt to new information.

I think my ex also made it worse. I couldn’t trust her to enforce her boundaries, which means that I had very little guidance on how to avoid crossing them. It made me extra carful around her, always hedging and bending to her whims. I knew that if I crossed a boundary, I would find out about it from her betrayed tears.

The more distance I get, the more relieved I am to be out of that marriage. I know she will tell anybody that will listen that I’m an abusive asshole who took advantage of her dependence on me, but that’s fine. She can tell anyone she wants about how horrible I am. How weak, cowardly, manipulative, dishonest, unreliable, and lazy I am. They will probably believe her. But it’s a price I’m happy to pay to be allowed to be who I am, and to stop trying to be an impossible fantasy.

[buttercuparry]

The version of Arya this fandom supposedly wants us to "accept", is the one who says: most girls are idiots. Who remains apathetic after carrying out an assassination- that is has no qualms about being an assassin and is happy to just quote sassy one liners and leave the ruling and politics to the supposedly more "proper" Stark.

While my previous post about the ferret queen was just that-me being petty and even the name calling that I am going to do in this post or that I have done previously is the pettiness talking, I would genuinely like to look at this more seriously.

I don't know if the idea that is being subscribed to, that is the idea that indeed the book will have a similar ending or rather the same ending as the show, is because the ferret got her crown: but regardless of that I want to know where exactly did the show and the book converge for them to have a "prediction" about Arya? Was it when the show actively tried to posit Arya as the troublemaker by making her throw food at a banquet? Or making her leave her needlework not because she was once again made to feel worthless by the septa but because she wanted to flex her supposed archery skills on her brother? (This aforementioned skill which has no basis in canon and appeared just so that Arya can sass back to Lem about hitting the target prefectly in the cock, tit and head and have a "sisterly bonding" moment with Ferret 🤢🤢).

Did the supposed prediction come from when perhaps the show, unlike the books saw Arya stabbing away at the table in her (very valid) anger at Joffrey? I seem to remember that in the books Arya felt miserable and all she wanted was to run back to winterfell or to the wall. Is this the 'running away' that is referenced to when the ferret stans have their oh-so-book-compliant meta discussion? Or do they, much like their fave, are impartial to only particular bits of narrative. They say that Arya just wants acceptance as she is and we don't do that. Lmao. The 'acceptance' they think Arya demands from the narrative is one where she is let to go stabby stab stab to her heart's content, be indifferent to any kind of romantic love, talk shit about women, and be a "lone wolf", that is fucking away to nowhere in search for "adventure". By the way I am sure in their mind, this adventure has less to do with any discovery of any kind and more to do with Arya ending up as a sellsword...you cannot convince me otherwise.

Funny thing though, when that ferret Stan said that Arya going on her little boat trip very much parallels our real world history in a certain way, especially when show!Arya turned a xenophobe- I wonder if they realize what it implies for their precious ferret queen?

Anyway back to the discussion at hand. Since the ferret Stans are so canon oriented, do they think this prediction they had for Arya comes from the choice of the name of the direwolf? As in Princess Nymeria sailing from Rhoynar and ending up on the coast of Dorne? Well...they must surely have the reading comprehension to relate that should this be a clue to Arya's future then the only way it comes into play is if Arya, the princess, much like Nymeria, the princess, sails away in search for a new home along with her people. And by people I mean not a handful of westerosis or northmen but more or less the whole of the north to escape some kind of apocalypse. Pretty sure this is not what they supposedly have talked about because then where would their ferret queen end up?In an empty hall :( with only ghosts at her command :( :(

I seem to remember another set of text lines but I am doubtful of them considering these lines. But since they have claimed to be connoisseur of canon, who am I, who as an Arya Stan have so little knowledge on canonical events to question them? Anyway when they said they predicted Arya's journey on the show by reading the books, were they by any chance talking about the lines where Arya got to know about Bran-Rickon's death. Where she said she wants to fly to Winterfell to see for herself if this is true and then fly away and never come back ( unless she wanted to), if her younger brothers truly are dead? I think...I am not sure but I think...I think they forgot to consider the "condition" Arya set herself. Should her brothers much like all other family members are lost to her, only then would she leave Winterfell. I mean it's pretty basic English, maybe this wasn't what was used to "predict" Arya's fate in the show. But umm...there weren't any of these in the show...how strange to use one piece of text to predict what's going to happen in media. Truly it is a talent gifted to few.

I mean show!Arya couldn't wait to go to HoBaW. And here we have book!Arya, telling Jaqen that she can't go with him. She has to look for her mother. To connect these to opposing journey and arriving at a prediction of Arya leaving Westeros is galaxy brained. I wonder if they learnt such deductions from their precious Ferret. Afterall she is a political genius without doing anything really so...🤷🏽

Since we are talking about canon that is the books, and relating it the show, umm...did they by any chance go over the boat scene where Arya tried to pay for the ship to take her to the Wall? I mean this obviously proves she doesn't want anything to do with family. Afterall she didn't even protest when the captain said they are bound to Bravos! Arya is so big and muscly afterall...she should have forced them to take her to the Wall!!

Oh and yeah magic doesn't matter. So all the tidbits where the old gods themselves are guiding her, reaffirming her identity and even sending her boons ( according to Arya) in Braavos is just...irrelevant. After all the critics and literature enthusiasts have minutely gone over the text! Their precious Ferret don't have much going on in that department so of course this means nothing. I mean these are irrelevant when it comes to building winterfell like snow castles ( which got destroyed but hey! That's besides the point). Truly how can we ever be as canonically knowledgeable as them.

[little-miss-dilf-lover]

Thank you for letting me deliver this drabble! fem!reader

He really couldn't a rat's ass about the White Death or his spoiled brat of a son. After they managed to take back the briefcase from Ladybug, which was quite easy considering that the man was practicaly begging them to take it from his hands, the only thing on their minds was to get off this train, put the case on red and just have a wonderful time together.

He can hear the frustration in his voice when he asks "How long 's this fucking train?" His brother's agitated tone not helping the situation "16 cars, ten economy, six first-class. Pretty long if you ask me." He swears under his breath, feeling his jaw clenching, "Calm down bruv, she's probably in the bar car, pouring herself a drink or something." He scoffs at Lem's attempts to calm him down, "Then why isn't she answering her phone?" Reaching into his pocket to dial her number again.

As they enter the next car they stop, hearing the soft buzz of your phone. He's quick to notice the splattered blood on the wall betwen the four seats. Lowering his hand, he slowly approches, a million thoughts going through his head, 'it can't be, it can't be her phone...right? Surely it's a coincidence, just some unlucky fella who met their end on this forsaken train. Right?'

He feels like he's frozen in place, unable to move as he stares at her lifeless body that's laying on the floor. The shot wound to her head being a sick reminder of the conversation the three of them had just minutes ago,"You still got that vest on ya?" Tan sighs, looking towards his wife and brother, "Oh, no, vests give you a false sense of security. You might, like, get shot in the neck." Responds Lem, "Yeah, or in the head too." She adds and Lem chuckles. Tan frowns as he stares at her, "I'm sorry darling but who's side are you on here?" She puts her hands up and sends him an innocent smile.

He drops to his knees, extanding his arms so that his shaking hands could bring her closer to him. He stares down at her peaceful expression as it finally hits him. He brings his hand to her face, his thumb softly stroking her cheek, he removes his necklace and puts it around her neck, in exchange taking one of the many rings he gifted her.

Sitting besides him, Lem places the Edward sticker in her soft palm. Wise. It sometimes felt like she was the only one with her head on her shoulders, always thinking before acting. He can't help but smile as he remembers how many times she got them out of trouble with her quick way of thinking and talented acting skills. It always made him feel so proud of her. Kind. Despite working as an assassin, he swore blind that she was the sweetest person he's ever met. Greeting them with freshly baked goods whenever they would return from a mission they thought it was to dangerous for her. Somehow always managing to light up the mood whenever something went wrong. Talking about everything under the sun while catching glances of his annoyed brother.

He moves to look at him, noticing how quiet he is, not having energy to scream. So he does it for him.

BONUS SCENE!! HAPPY ENDING! because I actually shed a tear while writing this.

His knuckels turn white from the grip he has on the handle. Reaching the bar car, he feels like he can finally breathe again as his eyes fall on her. "Guys! I just foun- oh god you both look terrible! Uhm, sorry I shouldn't say that." she giggles and they can't help but laugh as well. Letting go of the briefcase, he walks around the bar to wrap his arms around her, "Found these cool drinks- hey you're very sweaty and bloo- wha- what happen to your forehead?" As she inspscts his wound, Tan's eyes find his brother's, who gives him a I told you so look.

I promise this will be the only angst you'll get from me. Sorry if there are any spelling mistakes!💺 anon

yo!!! omg this was incredible!!?! had me hooked and I actually had a 😦 reaction when it got to the death part :((

you’re a very good writer btw, very beautifully done💗

[australiablog]

We have a very long drive so getting some snacks for tomorrow was a must! When we got back from the shop most of the group were looking at the tiny courtyard at the bunkhouse, you can find opals on the ground if you look close enough. It was hilarious seeing everyone on the ground digging through rocks. G had a surprise place for us, so we all got on the bus and went via a dirt road to this place. It was called crocodile Harry and honestly I don’t even think I can explain it right. It was a dug out cave but inside was so weird. Everything was carved out of the rock but it had names, signatures, photos, flags and sentences over every cm of that place from people all over the world. Harry had also carved out silhouettes of women all over the place and boobs everywhere. Tommy was properly disgusted and we all had a laugh at his expense. We all called it payback for last night. Lem had a marker with her so most of us signed the walls as well. I couldn’t find anything from any Belgians so I signed it with ‘first Belgian, Tinne’ . I have to leave my mark somehow, right? We stopped on one of the massive rubble mountains of rock that comes out of the mines when they made a new dig. I didn’t really join in digging because I honestly don’t have enough patience for it. Before dinner we watched the sunset again, the sky is always so pretty here. I’ve never seen sunsets like I have in Australia. Dinner was at a grill restaurant so obviously I got a Tbone steak that was absolutely to die for, it was extremely tasty. We didn’t stay long because everyone is knackered. When we walked back to the bunkhouse the first thing we heard was Sam snoring. He didn’t join anything today, I overheard Yazz talking to him and that apparently he’s sick. He never interacts with anyone so you hardly notice he’s not there. He snores extremely loud so we all went to bed with headphones on. Morgan even switched off her warning signs so she could turn the volume up so she wouldn’t hear him.

11/7

We had a lie in today, I didn’t sleep very long, only 7:30 but we all got to bed really early. I was happy I had a 2$ so I could have a long shower. Because we are sleeping underground there are air vents, but somehow it was really stuffy in there. They had tiny rooms with curtains on the side of a very long hallway. The rooms all had 2 or 3 bunkbeds. We all bunked together in one room, not one of us really thinking about the fact we could have our own “room”. The rooms are all caved out allcloves of the beige sandstone. It’s definitely one of the most unique places I ever spend the night at. Breakfast has never been so chill as today. At 10 am we went with a tour guide to walk in the opal mines. The movie they showed was a bit ridiculous but informative as well. We gathered around the screen that opened to show a little room that had all the machines they use to cut, shape and polish the opals. Morgan had placed her water bottle behind me and I didn’t see, so I nearly broke my neck over it when we left the movie room. The mines were really impressive, I was a little bit worried it would be claustrophobic but it really wasn’t. The tunnels themselves were about 2m in diameter so I had no trouble standing up. Nick had to duck in multiple places and us shorties had a bit of a chuckle with it. The cave rooms itself were sometimes a bit small but there was always a bigger room around it. You could see the marks of the pickaxe with which they were made years ago. Most of Coober Pedy live underground because it’s so warm here in summer. The caves were all around 20 degrees so it was very comfortable. The shop had a lot of jewelry made of opals and it was so pretty. Afterwards we went to an art gallery that had lots of dot painting and was a kangaroo orphanage as well. They had two big kangaroos and a baby one that had only been there for a week. I already bought a painting so I didn’t look too closely, there were really pretty ones though. The guy who was giving a tour had a very heavy Aussie accent and I had some trouble understanding him sometimes. We all could feed the kangaroos and pet baby Jay. They are softer as you’d think. I wish we could have held the baby kangaroo but then again if they let everyone do that, we’d probably still be down there. This afternoon was free until 4pm. So me and the girls went to a bakery on the other end of the tiny town to get some lunch. We really get along and it was fun to spend some time on our own away from the group. The bakery had a small terras we all sat outside off.

[randoauthor]

Love Letters to No One (B.B)

Part Five: Braddles

Pairings: Rooster x Fem!Reader, Platonic!Maverick x Fem!Reader

Warnings: Fluff, inference of death, also the bird strike accident was Lem and not Pheonix and Bod this time.

Word Count: 1.1K

Author's Note: Hii, sorry about the delay I wanted this part to be absolutely perfect! I hope you guys enjoy it!

Masterlist!

*21 years ago*

Dear Bradley,

I don't know when I started to fall in love with you, being four years older than me I figured it would never happen, and the way you are talking about the Academy I fear it never will. I know you want to be exactly like your father, but there has always been the thought of you going up there and never coming back down. I would obviously never tell you any of this to your face.

Your's truly,

Lemon

I sighed as I folded up the letter, it's not like he was ever gonna read it anyway, in three months' time Bradley was going to graduate high school and head to the Naval Academy, and the times that I get to see him will be shorter and shorter. I take a slight glance at the prom dress that was hung on the closet wall, somehow, magically, Bradley had convinced whoever he needed to convince that I absolutely needed to go to his senior prom with him. I have no clue how he did it, frankly knowing Bradley, I don't think I want to know.

"(Y/n)! Dinner!" Mom's voice rang through the near-empty house, with dad having gone on some mission. Every time he left our usually small house felt like a mansion, "coming!" I shout back. I place the letter delicately into an envelope, label it with the date, and set it into a shoe box.

*Present Day*

The mission had been moved up so our time was cut even shorter than it already was. I looked over to Bradley his face showing even more concern than the day before. I don't think he noticed my glance but Natasha did, which earned me a questioning head cock.

Dad explained some new drills we would run and how the G's would affect us. I could feel myself zoning out, worry taking over my body. I don't remember the end of class, or even getting suited up. Yet here I was, somehow on the tarmac in front of my F-18.

Being up in the air always brought me a sense of comfort, and I finally understood what Bradley yearned for all those years ago. This drill does a number on your body thought, with more G's comes more pressure, comes blacking out. Having completed the drill with Omaha and Fritz I fly up to meet dad in the air before all hell breaks loose that is.

"Bird strike! Bird strike!" He yells into the comms, trying our best to dodge seagulls I hear the worst things ever.

"Lemons been hit!" Maverick comes frantically through the comms as his daughter is fighting to extinguish the fire in the engine. Her comms are choppy and none of us can make out a word she is saying, I glance around the room everyone had stopped what they are doing and is now focused on the radio, our last form of hope to find out what is going on.

"Lemon, it is no use eject!" Maverick says frantically once again.

I stand up, being met by Pheonix, Bob, and Hangman as I feel myself begin to panic. I glance around the room, everyone's face has gone from panicked to concerned once we got the news that she ejected.

I don't even make a word the admiral says out, not until he calls for me.

I look up from my hands. "Lieutenant Bradshaw, she's gonna be asking for you." I don't even think twice before giving a fast nod and tearing out of the room to my truck, I don't even care if I just broke any protocols, I had to get to her.

*21 years ago*

Dear Bradley,

Hospitals are freezing, it's been close to six months since the last time I saw you. Mom is going to begin some form of treatment soon, but now all she does is joke that she won't live long enough to see you and I get married, apparently, that's something my parents and Carole joked about while we grew up. Personally, I think that puts too much pressure on a person and I don't even know if I want to get married. I have however decided to enroll in the Naval Academy, I know that is a touchy subject for you, but I promise to have the most fun for both of us, hell it can be like you living this through me. I still wanna know where you are. I know you'll never tell me, but I just wanna make sure you are okay.

I miss you Braddles,

Lem

*Present day*

I was shivering by the time I woke up in the hospital room, dad was at my bedside every now and then he would stroke my hand, ask for another blanket, or see if I could eat anything. Eventually the nurse just told him to ask all of the questions at once so that I could get some rest.

I was fine besides some scratches, bruises, and a small burn or two. I was talking with dad, Admiral Bates, and a doctor when I heard a faint knock at the door.

"Hey Lem," Bradley said softly, "how ya feeling?" I shot him a smile while everyone made some room for him next to me.

"Sorry about our date tonight," I said softly, feeling bad that I missed this opportunity to finally go on a proper date with the man I've loved since I was 13.

"Don't worry about it, I went and picked some up on the way here, nothing is gonna stop me from this date." He said with a smile before raising a plastic bag that was letting off a delicious smell.

Dad and Admiral Bates gave us a smile before getting the hint and leaving the room, the doctor explained to Bradley what was going on with my body before he too left the room, leaving us alone.

"I am so glad you are okay Lem," his face had gone from his signature smile to a more worried face. I raised a hand to his cheek, which proved to be rather difficult when you are hooked up to different machines.

"Do you really think you would be able to get rid of me that easily!?" I shot at him playfully.

Bradley laughed before just taking my hand in his, and with a soft peck on my cheek, he began pulling out the food and arranging it on the tray table in front of me.

And holy man did it smell amazing. We took a moment, between talking and filling our faces, unaware of what was going on outside.

"Bradley, I-" a soft knock stopped me from what I was about to say, and when my dad came in, puffy-eyed and sniffling. I knew something was wrong.

"Lem, it's Uncle Tom."

My heart dropped.

Taglist!

@itscheybaby

@turningtoclown

@daryldixonstorm

@dilfsandtherapy

@Nickie-amore

@malindacath

@luckyladycreator2

@sadpetalsstuff

@Shanimallina87

@wishingwell-2

@xoxoloverb

@majormaybe1

@mizzy-pop

@saramaple

@hope-love-equality2

@toothhurtyam

@beaner-life-23

@fogle97

@justanothermagicalsara

@tallrock35

@marchingicenotes7

@callsigns-roo-and-bag

@scoopsahoy008

[the-king-andthe-lionheart]

The Fundamentals of Gendrya

So I just want to establish the possible foreshadowing Arya and Gendry have that hints at a possible romantic relationship in the future, as well as the romantic undertones present in their story.  I’m not really going to focus on symbolism in this meta (although it will come up a couple of times in a minor way), as that will be a focus for future meta.  This is only meant to establish the fundamental basics.

First I want to say that when I’m talking about the romantic possibility of Gendrya, I mean future Gendrya, as in once Arya is older.  However I will posit and say that because we are viewing this in the world of Westeros (in a pseudo Medieval world that GRRM exaggerated and sensationalized from real Medieval sources as well as rumor) and because GRRM has established he has no problems with placing his younger characters in romantic or sexual situations (see Mercy TWOW) I think it would be remiss to think GRRM would not take Arya and Gendry here if that was his plan all along.  After all, there is plenty of precedent.  

This also leads me to remind everyone that Gendry is not an adult when he meets Arya, and the age gap between the two is one of the least egregious age gaps in the books as most of the age gaps are between adult men in their 20’s and 30’s with 12-16 year old girl’s.  I think a lot of people think of the age gap as Arya being 9 the whole time and Gendry being 16, but this is in fact wrong.  According to the timeline, Arya and Gendry meet at the beginning of 299 AC, right around Arya’s 10th birthday.  In 299 AC Gendry was only 13/14 years old.  He was born in 284 AC and is not the same age as Robb and Jon, like Ned surmises.  Gendry is just big for his age, and it’s highly likely Gendry doesn’t even know how old he is.  When Arya and Gendry separate in ASOS Arya is almost 11 while Gendry is 14/15 years old.  

Regardless, this is fiction, and doesn’t reflect real world morals.  So what I’m getting at is that if anyone disagrees with this meta because of their ages I suggest you don’t read any further.

Foreshadowing

Our first hint of foreshadowing happens in Arya’s very first chapter:

She frowned down at them with dismay and glanced over to where her sister Sansa sat among the other girls.  Sansa's needlework was exquisite.  Everyone said so.  “Sansa's work is as pretty as she is,” Septa Mordane told their lady mother once.  “She has such fine, delicate hands.”  When Lady Catelyn had asked about Arya, the septa had sniffed.  “Arya has the hands of a blacksmith.” - Arya I AGOT

This quote is later followed up with:

[...] “I ruined that gown Lady Smallwood gave me, and I don't sew so good.”  She chewed her lip.  “I don't sew very well, I mean.  Septa Mordane used to say I had a blacksmith's hands.”

Gendry hooted.  “Those soft little things,” he called out.  “You couldn't even hold a hammer.” - Arya VII ASOS

In the same book Lem Lemoncloak says this to Gendry:

“You must be a lackwit, boy,” said Lem.  “We're outlaws.  Lowborn scum, most of us, except for his lordship.  Don't think it'll be like Tom's fool songs neither.  You won't be stealing no kisses from a princess, nor riding in no tourneys in stolen armor.  You join us, you'll end with your neck in a noose, or your head mounted up above some castle gate.” - Arya VII ASOS

At this point Arya is indeed a princess, but Lem also makes an obvious reference (to the audience) to the Knight of the Laughing Tree, which I think we can safely say was Lyanna.  The fact that Lyanna is Arya’s literary mirror, tells me we can connect Arya to Lem’s comment, not to mention the inclusion of “princess” just kind of seals the deal.  We also know that Arya is the spitting image of Lyanna and Gendry the spitting image of Robert Baratheon.  I think it’s worth noting also that after Acorn Hall, Lem takes it upon himself to make sure nothing untoward happens between Arya and Gendry (he thought Gendry was taking advantage of Arya after they wrestled) as he starts sleeping in between them, which is seen in Arya V ASOS when they are at The Peach.  Lem saying “Don’t think it’ll be like Tom’s fool songs neither” is also interesting because at Acorn Hall we specifically get Tom singing a love song directed towards Arya and Gendry.

Speaking of Lyanna and Robert being reflections of Arya (in both appearance and personality) and Gendry (in appearance for the most part) this is said in Eddard I AGOT:

We were meant to rule together. If Lyanna had lived, we should have been brothers, bound by blood as well as affection. Well, it is not too late. I have a son. You have a daughter. My Joff and your Sansa shall join our houses, as Lyanna and I might once have done."

Now this quote may be referring to Sansa and Joffrey, but I do think it’s foreshadowing for Gendrya and this is just a misdirect.  After all, Joffrey is not Robert Baratheon’s son by blood, but Gendry is, even though he is illegitimate.  To me this also sounds like a promise.  When you think about it, the story truly begins at the Tourney of Harrenhal with the events that broke the betrothal between Lyanna and Robert, so it would be very cyclical for the ending to do what the beginning could not, binding a Stark and a Baratheon together in marriage.

There are also several references about Arya marrying an apprentice/blacksmith:

“[...] Or if it is marriage and children you desire, tell me, and we shall find a husband for you.  Some honest apprentice boy, a rich old man, a seafarer, whatever you desire.” - Arya II AFFC

We also have a comment made by Jaime:

“Not all,” said Jaime.  “Lord Eddard's daughters live.  One has just been wed.  The other...”  Brienne, where are you?  Have you found her?  “...if the gods are good, she'll forget she was a Stark.  She'll wed some burly blacksmith or fat-faced innkeep, fill his house with children, and never need to fear that some knight might come along to smash their heads against a wall.” - Jaime I ADWD

Now I know what you are going to say, that Jaime is referring to Sansa possibly marrying a blacksmith or innkeep, but if it weren’t for Jaime’s thought’s in the middle towards Brienne, you’d never guess which Stark daughter he is referring to because Sansa was only just recently married as well.  Also it’s Arya who is associated with a blacksmith (Gendry) and a fat-faced innkeep (Hot Pie).  So while Jaime is referring to Sansa here I think we are meant to actually look at the reality behind this and reverse the foreshadowing back onto Arya, because it wasn’t Arya who was recently wed, that was Sansa.  It’s also Arya who is legitimately trying to forget she was a Stark (Sansa isn’t trying to forget, she is only pretending to be Alayne to ensure her protection) and like I mentioned it’s Arya who had a blacksmith and future employee at an inn as companions for two novels.  So I think it’s a foreshadowing switcheroo.  And I think it’s also worth mentioning that while Jaime sent Brienne out to save Sansa, Brienne spends her whole journey almost exclusively hearing news and following leads about Arya.

There is also a reference in Brienne VII AFFC that makes mention that Arya may marry an apprentice boy:

Gendry was the closest thing to a man grown, but it was Willow shouting all the orders, as if she were a queen in her castle and the other children were no more than servants.

If she were highborn, command would come naturally to her, and deference to them.  Brienne wondered whether Willow might be more than she appeared.  The girl was too young and too plain to be Sansa Stark, but she was of the right age to be the younger sister, and even Lady Catelyn had said that Arya lacked her sister's beauty.  Brown hair, brown eyes, skinny...could it be?  Arya Stark's hair was brown, she recalled, but Brienne was not sure about the color of her eyes.  Brown and brown, was that it?  Could it be that she did not die at Saltpans after all?

*

“One day that little girl [Willow] will make some man a frightful wife,” Ser Hyle observed.  “That poor 'prentice boy [Gendry], most like.”

Willow is very obviously a Arya stand-in which makes this specific quote about Arya and Gendry, not Willow and Gendry.

Arya IV ASOS has the strongest case for future romantic Gendrya.  Not only does Gendry follow after Arya and invite her to look at the forge, Gendry opens up to her about his life right before he was uprooted, and does this:

Gendry reached out with the tongs as if to pinch her face, but Arya swatted them away.

Gendry is being playful and open with Arya during most of this scene in the forge, teasing her in a manner that verges on flirting, telling her a story about his past, laughing and having fun with Arya.  And then this happens:

Gendry put the hammer down and looked at her.  “You look different now.  Like a proper little girl.”

“I look like an oak tree, with all these stupid acorns.”

“Nice, though.  A nice oak tree.”  He stepped closer, and sniffed at her.  “You even smell nice for a change.”

“You don't.  You stink.”  Arya shoved him back against the anvil and made to run, but Gendry caught her arm.  She stuck a foot between his legs and tripped him, but he yanked her down with him, and they rolled across the floor of the smithy.  He was very strong, but she was quicker.  Every time he tried to hold her still she wiggled free and punched him.  Gendry only laughed at the blows, which made her mad.  He finally caught both her wrists in one hand and started to tickle her with the other, so Arya slammed her knee between his legs, and wrenched free.  Both of them were covered in dirt, and one sleeve was torn on her stupid acorn dress.  “I bet I don't look so nice now,” she shouted.

Gendry compliments Arya’s looks and scent, only for Arya to think he’s teasing her about her appearance due to her intense insecurity when it comes to highborn conformation (Gendry’s laugh when he first saw her didn’t help matters in her insecurity even though Gendry most likely only laughed out of being startled at her transformation).  This insecurity leads Arya into getting angry and starting a wrestling match with him.  This wrestling scene also directly follows Jaime and Brienne’s very sexually charged sword fight, and could also be interpreted as foreshadowing a romantic and potentially sexual relationship in the future, like theirs did, when they are older.  

Now I’m not saying that I think Gendrya is going to go NC-17 in the books, but I do think it’s likely to go PG-13 by the end of ADOS, considering we have precedent that GRRM has no qualms about writing these types of things as I mentioned above, and we know Arya is going to be 12 in TWOW and may be at least 14-15 when the series ends depending on how much GRRM can spread out the timeline in the next two books.  But considering the amount of stuff that needs to happen, I think the next two books will span 2-3 years before the epilogue begins.

Then there is the love song GRRM specifically wrote for Arya.  A song that has only appeared in one chapter, Arya’s chapter:

“My featherbed is deep and soft,

and there I'll lay you down,

I'll dress you all in yellow silk,

and on your head a crown.

For you shall be my lady love,

and I shall be your lord.

I'll always keep you warm and safe,

and guard you with my sword.

“And how she smiled and how she laughed,

the maiden of the tree.

She spun away and said to him,

no featherbed for me.

I'll wear a gown of golden leaves,

and bind my hair with grass,

But you can be my forest love,

and me your forest lass.”

Now we know this song is about them because when Tom O’Sevens is singing it, he winks at Arya, and later Lady Smallwood specifically says to Arya “I have no gowns of leaves”.  The song specifically mentions yellow – a Baratheon color – and depicts the free spirited “Maiden of the Tree” who wants love on her own terms, which sounds like what an older, flowered version of Arya would want if she fell in love.

Romantic Undertones

Arya’s Crush

As she passed the armory, Arya heard the ring of a hammer. A deep orange glow shone through the high windows. She climbed to the roof and peeked down. Gendry was beating out a breastplate. When he worked, nothing existed for him but metal, bellows, fire. The hammer was like part of his arm. She watched the play of muscles in his chest and listened to the steel music he made. He's strong, she thought. As he took up the long-handled tongs to dip the breastplate into the quenching trough, Arya slithered through the window and leapt down to the floor beside him. - Arya IX ACOK

It’s very subtle but this paragraph tells us everything.  Arya unintentionally reveals in this quote that she watches Gendry blacksmithing enough to know that the world falls away when he’s in his element.  She watches the play of muscles in his back and notes how strong he is and even attaches poetic language to his work.  Arya has a crush on Gendry.  It’s not acknowledged and it’s likely she doesn’t understand it herself, but this seems to be the truth of it, especially with the way GRRM worded this.  I don’t know how many times I’ve read a romance where the protagonist studies their love interest while watching the “play of muscles” in their back or their arms.  It’s also interesting to note that Arya always mentions specifics about Gendry’s looks and notes details about him:

He blinked at her, startled. Strands of thick black hair, still wet from the bathhouse, fell across his deep blue eyes. "I'd hurt you." - Arya II ACOK

"It's me they want," Arya whispered back. His ear smelled of soap. "You be quiet." - Arya II ACOK

When she spied Gendry, his bare chest was slick with sweat, but the blue eyes under the heavy black hair had the stubborn look she remembered. - Arya VIII ACOK

"She's not alone." Gendry rode out from behind the cottage wall, and behind him Hot Pie, leading her horse. In his chainmail shirt with a sword in his hand, Gendry looked almost a man grown, and dangerous. Hot Pie looked like Hot Pie. - Arya II ASOS

Now most of these I’d normally chalk up to the author just being descriptive, but if that’s the case, why don’t we know more about Hot Pie’s looks, who Arya spent nearly a year with at the same time as Gendry?  Why does she take special time out to describe Gendry so much?  Honestly I think part of it is to keep reminding us that Gendry is a secret Baratheon bastard, but that doesn’t explain the first quote about Arya watching the “play of muscles” in his back and noting how strong he is.  So I think it’s a combination of GRRM wanting to remind the audience that Gendry is a Baratheon and to also subtly show us that Arya has an innocent crush on him, but doesn’t know or acknowledge that this is the case out loud.

Their Mutual Jealousy

Starting after the events of Acorn Hall in Arya IV ASOS, it’s obvious that something shifts in Arya and Gendry’s relationship.  One aspect is that Gendry can no longer ignore that Arya is indeed a highborn girl after seeing her for the first time dressed up as one.  He knows what class differences will mean for their friendship.  And another aspect, is that Gendry acknowledges that he may be romantically interested in Arya, or at least acknowledges the potential for those feelings to emerge in time.  And because of this, combined with their class differences, Gendry knows that if he follows Arya to Riverrun where her mother and brother are, he would end up watching Arya grow into someone he could romantically love, only for her to be torn away from him due to an arranged marriage.  Both of these aspects play a factor in why we see Gendry become more outwardly scathing towards highborns in the chapters following this and why his behavior seems to become one rife with jealousy.

In Arya V ASOS the Brotherhood Without Banners travel to The Peach and both of the above aspects I spoke of are present in this chapter:

"You don't even know what a brothel is."

"I do so," she insisted. "It's like an inn, with girls."

He was turning red again. "What are you doing here, then?" he demanded. "A brothel's no fit place for no bloody highborn lady, everybody knows that."

And when Gendry protects Arya from a pervert by saying that she’s his sister, this is what goes down:

"Why did you say that?" Arya hopped to her feet. "You're not my brother."

"That's right," he said angrily. "I'm too bloody lowborn to be kin to m'lady high."

Arya was taken aback by the fury in his voice. "That's not the way I meant it."

"Yes it is." He sat down on the bench, cradling a cup of wine between his hands. "Go away. I want to drink this wine in peace. Then maybe I'll go find that black-haired girl and ring her bell for her."

Arya doesn’t really understand the intentions of the pervert, despite knowing of sex, and is confused on why Gendry would say that he’s her brother, but when she asks him, he takes it the wrong way since he is already so sensitive about their class differences at this point in their story.  That last paragraph is what makes this exchange really interesting though.  Why would Gendry say this, when it’s already made clear and established in this chapter that Gendry has no intentions of sleeping with any of the girls, even when it’s offered to him for free?  He is very obviously lying to try to get a rise out of Arya and the only way this makes sense is if we put it under a romantic lens.

Then we have this:

Arya whirled and left him there. A stupid bullheaded bastard boy, that's all he is. He could ring all the bells he wanted, it was nothing to her.

Now considering Arya’s defense mechanism (the mechanism that has her calling things or people stupid when she’s hurt or feeling inadequate by them to try to make the pain and hurt not seem so severe) the fact that she calls Gendry a “stupid bullheaded bastard boy” and proclaims Gendry ringing the bells of any girl was “nothing to her” tells us that it matters to her and that she’s upset.  This is further reiterated in Arya VIII ASOS:

Arya wished she had another crabapple to bounce off his face. "My father had honor," she said angrily. "And we weren't talking to you anyway. Why don't you go back to Stoney Sept and ring that girl's stupid bells?"

So here we have Arya mention this three chapters later, likely weeks if not months later.  If Arya didn’t care about Gendry ringing “all the bells he wanted” then why is she still so hurt and jealous?  She’s obviously been stewing about this for a while.

In this same chapter we also see gems from Gendry that clearly proclaim that he’s still plagued about his class differences to Arya.  It also clearly shows that Gendry is jealous of Edric Dayne once Arya befriends him, especially since she befriended someone highborn, like her, who just so happens to be a boy who we know has nearly the same coloring as Rhaegar Targaryen, which evokes the history repeating motif that is present in Arya’s arc of the Rhaegar/Lyanna/Robert love triangle.

"You have a knife," Gendry suggested. "If your hair annoys you so much, shave your bloody head."

He doesn't like Ned. The squire seemed nice enough to Arya; maybe a little shy, but good-natured. She had always heard that Dornishmen were small and swarthy, with black hair and small black eyes, but Ned had big blue eyes, so dark that they looked almost purple. And his hair was a pale blond, more ash than honey. - Arya VIII ASOS

And

"My lady?" Ned looked embarrassed. "I'm Edric Dayne, the . . . the Lord of Starfall."

Behind them, Gendry groaned. "Lords and ladies," he proclaimed in a disgusted tone. Arya plucked a withered crabapple off a passing branch and whipped it at him, bouncing it off his thick bull head. "Ow," he said. "That hurt." He felt the skin above his eye. "What kind of lady throws crabapples at people?"

"The bad kind," said Arya, suddenly contrite. 

Gendry continues to encapsulate “ours is the fury” during Arya’s whole exchange with Edric Dayne.

I do want to add that I know Gendry’s class issues have always been there, and it’s definitely been made even more apparent to him during the War of the Five Kings during his time in the wartorn Riverlands with Arya, so it’s not exactly that far-fetched that Gendry may become even more sensitive and/or bitter about it.  However, this extremity of his behavior only happened after Acorn Hall where he saw Arya looking like the highborn girl she is.  And while I do believe part of Gendry’s increase of bitterness about their class differences does have to do with potential romantic feelings, I also think it has to do with Gendry also coming to terms with the fact that Arya’s family is also directly responsible for the carnage they have seen and experienced (even though he doesn’t blame Arya, as she seems to be one of Gendry’s exceptions when it comes to his dislike of the nobility).  If it weren’t for the blatant flirting on his behalf in the forge at Acorn Hall and the jealousy, I would honestly chalk it up to Gendry trying to reconcile his own trauma and anger regarding highborns, including Arya’s family’s sins, but alas, that is not completely the case.

Post Separation

When Arya is kidnapped by the Hound and witnesses the Red Wedding, Arya contemplates where she may go and this crosses her thoughts in a very romanticized light:

She could stay with Hot Pie, or maybe Lord Beric would find her there. Anguy would teach her to use a bow, and she could ride with Gendry and be an outlaw, like Wenda the White Fawn in the songs.

But that was just stupid, like something Sansa might dream. - Arya XII ASOS

The fact that Arya follows this thought up with “that was just stupid, like something Sansa might dream” tells us specifically what type of fantasy this is.  Arya isn’t fantasizing about an adventure, she’s fantasizing about love and romance, considering those are the types of flights of fancy Sansa always loses herself in.  Now Arya isn’t outright rejecting the possibility of romance here, because there is more to that second paragraph:

But that was just stupid, like something Sansa might dream. Hot Pie and Gendry had left her just as soon as they could, and Lord Beric and the outlaws only wanted to ransom her, just like the Hound. None of them wanted her around. They were never my pack, not even Hot Pie and Gendry. I was stupid to think so, just a stupid little girl, and no wolf at all.

She rejects the possibility because she remembers that Hot Pie and Gendry abandoned her as soon as they could, and that all the Brotherhood did was use her, according to her perspective on the matter.  And her perspective is entirely skewed because of her abandonment and low self-esteem issues, as well as not fully understanding the class issues as she honestly didn’t think that bringing Hot Pie and Gendry to Riverrun and Winterfell would cause any issues with their friendships, which is understandable for a kid to think.  Especially one that hadn’t been in the highborn world for the past year and a half.  In fact, Medieval children in the real world and in the books, weren’t reprimanded for playing together regardless of class, usually the highborn children played with the children of those who worked and lived within the castle walls, from other lords children to stewards children to the helps children.  It’s just something children did until they reached a certain age where it just wasn’t allowed anymore.  So it’s only natural for this not to really factor into Arya’s plans.

When Arya is about to walk into the House of Black and White, Arya comforts her fear with a memory of Gendry:

Suddenly she was somewhere else . . . back in Harrenhal with Gendry [...] - Arya I AFFC

Which indicates that Gendry is still very much on her mind at this point.  I think it really says something as well that Arya takes comfort from a memory at Harrenhal of all places.  I think this indicates how much comfort she took from their friendship.  I also think she doesn’t think about Gendry with the Brotherhood to take her comfort because while ASOS has the most romantic foreshadowing for them and the two shared some nice moments, it was also the start of them truly fracturing, or so her unreliable narration interpreted it as.  After all, she actually thought that Gendry was making fun of her looks at Acorn Hall, and she thought Gendry didn’t want to be her friend anymore as he “abandoned her” for the Brotherhood.  So while Harrenhal was awful and they had their disagreements there, Arya still felt reassured with his companionship and likely found it uncomplicated in comparison to her other problems at the time.

*

When we next see Gendry in Brienne VII AFFC we see a drastically different Gendry.  While Gendry has always been guarded and sullen with a chip on his shoulder, with little love for the nobility, this change is drastic enough where it’s unsettling to read at first.  Not only is Gendry just flat out rude in a very mean way but he is filled with rage.  Gendry joined the Brotherhood because he liked how they handled justice, but under Lady Stoneheart there is no justice and he doesn’t seem to mind.  His beliefs have shifted as well.

And though his eyes had been that same deep blue, Lord Renly's eyes had always been warm and welcoming, full of laughter, whereas this boy's eyes brimmed with anger and suspicion.

Septon Meribald asked if he might lead the children in a grace, ignoring the small girl crawling naked across the table. "Aye," said Willow, snatching up the crawler before she reached the porridge. So they bowed their heads together and thanked the Father and the Mother for their bounty . . . all but the black-haired boy from the forge, who crossed his arms against his chest and sat glowering as the others prayed. Brienne was not the only one to notice. When the prayer was done Septon Meribald looked across the table, and said, "Do you have no love for the gods, son?"

"Not for your gods." Gendry stood abruptly. "I have work to do." He stalked out without a bite of food.

Gendry was at his forge, bare-chested beneath his leather apron. He was beating on a sword as if he wished it were a foe [...]

What would a knight be doing working at a smithy? "You have black hair and blue eyes, and you were born in the shadow of the Red Keep. Has no one ever remarked upon your face?"

"What's wrong with my face? It's not as ugly as yours."

Lord Renly was ahead of her, her sweet smiling king. He was leading her horse through the trees. Brienne called out to tell him how much she loved him, but when he turned to scowl at her, she saw that he was not Renly after all. Renly never scowled. He always had a smile for me, she thought . . . except . . .

While some people chalk up Gendry’s behavior as a result of trauma about what he experienced in the Riverlands, and I don’t deny that is a factor, I don’t believe it’s the only factor because we didn’t see Gendry like this post Harrenhal or even with the Brotherhood in ASOS.  Yes he embodied “ours is the fury” at times and was jealous and bitter, and rude at times as well, but he wasn’t flat out cruel to people, nor filled with rage and vengeance.  The Gendry before Arya was taken would never have led Brienne to Lady Stoneheart for the slaughter after she tried to save everyone in that Inn against Rorge and Biter and co.  We can also see another difference in Gendry:

Lightning cracked to the south as the riders swung down off their horses. For half a heartbeat darkness turned to day. An axe gleamed silvery blue, light shimmered off mail and plate, and beneath the dark hood of the lead rider Brienne glimpsed an iron snout and rows of steel teeth, snarling.

Gendry saw it too. "Him."

While there is no emphasis on the “him” when Gendry sees the Hound’s helm, it’s an abrupt and emotionless statement.  It’s one word without emphasis but it conveys a lot.  Gendry recognizes the Hound’s helm and it’s apparent he’s not happy, thinking that it was indeed the Hound for a minute.  And while I’m trying to avoid discussing symbolism, I just can’t ignore how the lightning that cracked in the south could also be symbolic of Gendry’s true mood.  He is, after all, a bastard Baratheon, connected to the storm, the fury - thunder and lightning - as well as sharing a connection to the god, Thor in our mythology.  This lightning could symbolically be linked to Gendry’s anger and vengeance.  So why does Gendry act like this when he sees who he thinks is the Hound again?  He had no issue with the Hound during his trial by combat, so what changed?  The Hound kidnapped Arya.  And while he knows Arya didn’t die at the Red Wedding, he and the Brotherhood aren’t entirely sure if the Hound sold Arya to the Lannister’s and if she is now Arya Bolton.  So it makes complete sense why he would have issues with the Hound.  In fact I think a lot of this behavior we are seeing from Gendry is the direct result of the Hound kidnapping Arya and not knowing if she’s dead or being brutally raped and tortured in the North.

Why do I think this?  Because this behavior began between Arya being kidnapped in ASOS and Brienne VII AFFC.  Only a few to a handful of months have passed since then.  This, I believe, is the inciting incident.  Another reason why I believe Arya is the reason is because of what he is doing.  He is staying at the Crossroads Inn, one of the last known places Arya was sighted, and he’s helping take care of orphaned children.  Arya took in strays as well and cared for them, like Weasel.  And considering how Gendry in ACOK wanted to leave Weasel and Hot Pie and Lommy behind, it’s interesting to see that he’s helping by taking in strays himself now, as if he thinks he may be able to atone for not saving Arya.  Another reason is because the Brotherhood is actively searching for Arya as well.  She is ever present on their minds.  So yes, I believe part of Gendry’s change has to do with losing Arya, which goes to show how much he really cared about her.  Not to mention (a tiny bit more symbolism, oopsie!), Gendry’s stay at the inn, waiting for Arya to return (I believe Gendry and the BWB are hoping that Arya is alive and will return to the inn) is a romantic aspect to the mythology of Weyland the Smith and his Swan Maiden/Valkyrie, and the aspect about the Brotherhood + Gendry searching the realm for Arya is also a romantic Cinderella motif, hence why I feel Gendry’s behavior here is supposed to have romantic subtext.

*

Extra:  Another interesting aspect that I think foreshadows this future relationship is the meaning of Gendry’s name.  Gendry is a nickname type of surname for a person who has inherited his family estates from his father-in-law, deriving its origin from the Old French word “gendre,” which meant “son-in-law.”  And as we know if Arya and Gendry married when they were older, Arya wouldn’t be taking his name, but he hers, due to her higher status.  So by marrying into the Stark family, he would be inheriting from his father-in-law Ned so to speak, even if it’s just inheriting the surname.

So this is everything I’ve compiled so far about Gendrya, that relies on just their foreshadowing and romantic undertones in the texts we have available but I’m positive I’ll be adding more to this list once TWOW officially releases.  However, I still have a lot more to share that focuses on their symbolism and motifs throughout the story, so I’m definitely not done making Gendrya meta, far from it and I can’t wait to share it with you all!  

And if anyone is interested in Arya’s and by extension Gendrya’s Cinderella motifs, you can find it at this link:  A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes.

[earthfire-75]

You Send Me Flying

(Author’s notes: written with @nature-and-music, beta’ed by @lady-jane-revisited. Warnings: language, smut will come later)

I don't want to make a habit of this

But seeing you is like getting a fix

Every time I kid myself; I'll never do it again

Definition of love on a cliff

A lemming has no alternative

I want to die in your arms

That's my suicide wish

Chapter One:

I’m at a party with Vince where he’s playing with his band, Rock Candy. We had gone to school together, along with Tommy, who we hadn’t seen or heard from since graduation. That’s about to change.

I’m talking with some of the guests around me when the singer’s set is over and start to excuse myself so I can join him at the bar. I’m getting better about being more social, but sometimes it’s still a little overwhelming. The next thing I hear is a familiar voice greeting Vince. I turn around just in time to see him hugging Tommy. When they pull away, I jump up to hug the other man in a bear hug.

“Tommy! I’ve missed you!” then I smack his shoulder, hard. “Where the hell have you been?!”

“Ow,” Tommy whined, rubbing his shoulder. “Trying to start a band, man! Damn, you hit hard!” His eyes light up and he pulls a tape out of his jacket pocket. “That reminds me! Vince, we still need a singer,” Tommy says, handing the tape over. “Give it a listen, will ya?”

Vince hesitantly takes the tape, asking who else is in the band. Tommy happily points out the other two who came with him. I lean toward Tommy, getting a better look. Both men are cute, but I have a weak spot for blue eyes.

“Who’s the short one?” I ask.

“Dude, no way!” Tommy laughs. “He’s like… old!”

“He doesn’t look that old! Plus, you know I have a thing for blue eyes.” I whispered that last part so only Tommy and Vince could hear. I look over at them again and I see him looking at me with a raised eyebrow. Had he heard us anyway?

“Gross,” Tommy mutters before turning his attention back to Vince. “Just give the tape a listen, man. There’s a number on it where you can reach us.”

“Yeah, alright, I’ll listen to it tonight.”

After a quick goodbye, I couldn’t help myself, watching the “old man” walk away. Vince laughs beside me. “You finally found someone you’re willing to give it up for?”

“Shut up, Blondie!”

About a week later, after convincing Vince to actually listen to the tape, we went to audition. Well, he did, I went for moral support. His girlfriend came too, who acted like a bitch from the moment we got there. She completely ignores Nikki’s greeting and then just stands there looking at them, half in disgust. I shake the bassist's hand in formal greeting, as does Vince.

“Nikki Sixx,” he addresses with a wide smile, then pointing to the “old man” as he plugged in his guitar. “That’s Mick Mars right there.”

He nodded his head as he adjusted his guitar strap comfortably upon his shoulder. I gave him a little smile, but his focus was on his instrument, something that I could understand.

Nikki tapped on my shoulder, “There’s some beer in the fridge if you want some.”

I thanked him and as I headed towards the kitchen, I couldn’t help but overhear Vince asking what was the matter to his girlfriend. Her response was something along the lines of making sure that the rest of the guys were good enough to play with him. The silence in the apartment was so prevalent that one could hear a pin drop after such a remark. I rolled my eyes as I cracked open the bottle cap, making my way back to the living room. The first strum of Mick’s guitar made my heart stop for a split second, the same feeling intensified when Tommy and Nikki played along as well. The vocals from Vince that came in seconds later really boosted their sound. I rested my back against the wall as I heard them play. However things came to halt when Vince’s girl told them to stop, commenting that their music was “too heavy.”

“Hey, how about giving him an actual chance?!” I asked a little more angrily than I intended. Then I turned to Vince. “You got this.”

The boys talked amongst themselves about changing up the tuning and tempo, Nikki recommending to Vince about where he could really push it vocally. Next thing we knew, the four of them practically created an earthquake, their little session could have brought the roof down! We were shocked and amazed at how incredible they sounded. It was heavy and just the right amount of aggressive. I clapped after they completed their song and exclaimed that they sounded amazing!

Tommy was ecstatic as he stood up and gave Vince a high five, “Fuck yeah dude! You sound amazing!”

Nikki appeared as if the wheels in his head were turning, reflecting on what just occurred in the last few minutes, meanwhile Mick simply stood there as if nothing happened. Tommy ran to the fridge to grab everyone a celebratory drink.

Nikki groaned, “Dude, come on, we need to save those for later-”

Tommy ignored his unfinished remark as he passed the bottles around, “That was crazy, Vince you sounded awesome! And Mick, holy shit, I’ve never heard guitar playing like that before!”

Mick shrugged as he took a gulp of his drink, “Whatever, come on we have more to work on.” He kept his head down and strummed the strings, although I could see a little smile pulling at his lips. “Alright, what’s next Nikki?”

The bassist turned to the band and so they played another tune, this time even louder and heavier than the previous one. The banging from the annoyed neighbors downstairs could barely be heard, although I could definitely feel the pounding from below my feet. I couldn’t help but get lost in their sound as I watched them, especially the way Mick’s fingers would manipulate and pull at the strings. If I didn’t know any better, I could have sworn that he looked at me for a brief second. Regardless of what I thought I saw, the musicians played one more song, one that was a little slower, yet still could pack a punch musically and lyrically. Tommy would perform a little trick where he would twirl his drum sticks when the timing seemed right, Nikki would put his best foot forward as he plucked the strings of his bass, Vince would proceed to move his body the way a snake slithers across the grass, and Mick had loosened up a bit himself. The guitarist would lean forward, pointing the neck of his instrument away from him and mimicking a shooting- like motion.

Now it was time for a break, they all congregated in the kitchen and helped themselves to another round of drinks. Even Vince’s girlfriend was more or less slowly warming up to the rest of the band. Although I could see from the looks on Nikki’s and Mick’s faces that they weren’t the least bit interested in her being around them with the attitude she gave them earlier. Mick looked over to me and I could see that little smirk again, but he actually kept it this time.

“So what do you think? About the music?” he asked.

I smiled, “You guys sounded amazing. I’ve never heard anything like it before. I don’t even think the punk music scene sounds this hard.”

Nikki interjected, “Yeah, well that’s them, not us.”

“Is that your best attempt at a ‘thank you’ Nikki?” I pondered with a chuckle.

“Shut up,” he responded with a chortle.

Vince’s girlfriend took her man by the arm, “Vince, can you step outside for a second? I want to talk to you.”

The poor man had no choice but to follow, giving us a nod and to let us know that he’d be back shortly. Once she was out of sight, everyone let out a sigh of relief.

“Hate to be him,” Nikki mentioned, causing Tommy to snicker. He turned to me, “Listen, we got to practice a bit more, but you're welcome to stay if you want to.”

I smiled and nodded, “Cool man, yeah I’d like that.”

Tommy sat up on the countertop, dangling his long legs as he took another swig, “Cool! So where are we gonna play first? I hope it’s not gonna be a bunch of pool parties or gyms.”

I rested against the fridge, “I think you guys need a name first, Tommy.”

“We’re gonna work on that tonight, as soon as Vince gets his ass back here,” Nikki noted. “And hey, when we get our first gig, you can come too. But the bitch ain’t coming.”

We could all wholeheartedly agree on that matter.

@nature-and-music @lady-jane-revisited @mickmarstookmyheart @sophiazeppelinchick @gothicfuneralsblog @thesmokingguns

[leonicscorpio]

Batboy Headcanons because I made this for me but you all can enjoy this too if want. (May contain mild NSFW)

Dick:

Has a weird relationship with unwanted gaze and the attention he receives because of his physique. He genuinely likes the attention but he draws the line when people start getting touchy. Just because he's shirtless working out doesn't mean he gave you consent to touch him.

Has good dieting skills but he's in his mid-late 20's and his metabolism has 0 signs of slowing down. He once ate a whole xl bag of M&M's in front of Steph and Babs and both said they wanted to murder him because he won't gain a pound.

Dick has ADHD and I'm sorry if you don't think otherwise. He has hyperactive type ADHD and while he's gotten better at controlling his symptoms he still stims stretching and flexing his arms and shaking his arms.

While not so much in Gotham, Dick is very politically active and volunteers at voter registration and working with organizations with the mission of police demilitarization in Blüdhaven.

Dick is a very sexually driven individual. However, I don't think it's entirely healthy. His ADHD also comes into play with this but Dick just needs to have a release at least twice a day or he'll feel physically sick.

I don't know if you all have seen male gymnasts. But Dick, like the rest of them, has FREAKSISHLY large biceps. Everyone talks about Dick has the best ass in the bat family and while Jason may be larger and stronger, Dick has the best physique.

Dick's apartment is littered with sticky notes in places such as the fridge/in front of his computer. If it's not written down and in a place where he can't ignore it, it's not going to get done.

I'm sorry I know everyone says his birthday is in March but I have to go to the older Nightwing comics and say his Birthday is December 1st. I want you to look me in the eyes and tell me this man doesn't give off Sagittarius energy. You can't. I respect you but you can't look at that and tell me that man isn't a Sagittarius or has super heavy Sag in his birth chart.

Dick's at home doing nothing but chilling? You best believe he's gonna be shirts off, tits out, and rocking some blue flannel PJ's.

Dick is currently the only member of the family asides from Barbara who is regularly attending therapy. And he actively encourages each of his brothers and sisters to go every time.

After his Agent 37 days. He sits down with Jason and talks about having to use a gun and how hard it was. And how having to kill people has affected him. When he had to kill the KGBeast (Agent 37 days he snapped his neck) I headcanon Dick just trauma v*mit*d. Jason hugged him and just consoled him.

It's canon that Dick has anger issues but to me, it's not explored or talked about enough and not a lot of people like to talk about it. Dick is very much the 'if I ignore it it'll go away' type when it comes to his anger and he can brush most insults or harassment off fine enough. But when he breaks, he makes Jason look like a saint. I'm talking slamming you into a wall and screaming in your face angry. He'll be profusely apologetic afterward but still.

Despite popular belief, I don't think he's that bad of a cook. He's just not very experimentative. He can follow a recipe and does look at some guides. But to me, Dick Grayson just is that guy who is like Chicken veggies and rice are a meal that I can cook 4-6 times a week.

Dick has a slight fear of dentists. He doesn't have bad teeth and has good dental health. He just doesn't like the idea of a drill going in his mouth and the few times Bruce has to take him to a dentist he had a panic attack every time.

Everyone lives for the fics where Jason beats the shit out of Tim and everyone is just like lol well Bruce and Dick just forgives him. No. When Dick found out it was Jason who beat Tim to the ground, Dick was literally seething and told Jason "Pick on someone your own size or else I'll make you wish you back in that f'ing coffin."

Dick's favorite foods (some based in Canon*): Milk Chocolate*, Cereal*, Asparagus, Bananas, Banana flavored candy, Hawaiian Pizza* (suffer its canon) Rum, thanksgiving Turkey.

Jason:

He may be the self-diagnosed black sheep (rightfully so) of the family, but Jason does genuinely love spending time with his siblings. Whether it be sharing memes with them on social media or just randomly showing up where they are and abducting them to go get ice cream/coffee/snacks.

He'd probably attempt to harm you if you told him this to his face. But he is the closest acting to Bruce out of all of the family. In terms of mannerisms and inherent warmth and kindness behind a dark façade.

Has two moods: either exceptionally, almost neat-freak levels of clean, or his life is completely falling apart and Jason can't tell you for sure what color his floors are because there's so much stuff scattered about.

Despite their initial hatred of each other, Jason truly feels closest to Tim and Tim is the only person asides from maybe Barbra who he can just talk to without feeling any judgment.

Jason only smokes when he's extremely nervous about an operation or a hit. For those who don't know criminal justice cigarettes are the fastest way to get genetic material on someone. That being said he does still like to smoke occasionally.

Me, plus a lot of people give him this sort of 'Lazarus Rage' as I like to call it. When he's in the heat of a mission or if he's getting upset/angry his vision will get blurred with green, and it feeds on his anger and just gets perpetually harder to contain until he releases it. Jason has gotten much better at controlling it. But as he will tell Tim or Babs, he's "seeing green" which means they need to be careful because Jason could kill.

Everyone says Dick is the mother hen. I see you, I accept you, but let me raise you. Jason came to realize that he died because of his rash decision to go after The Joker alone. If Jason finds any of his siblings out acting alone, or even at the very least without Oracle. Jason WILL forcefully interject himself and ask them what the fuck they think their doing.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Trying to get close to Jason is hard. He will degrade you can attempt to try to get you to hate him before he lets you in (that cheeky Tsun of him)

He genuinely cares for and supports all of his siblings but has been rough on them needlessly. But if Bruce is being the distant or absent parent he is, you better believe if any of the siblings drops him a text or a call, Jason will be there in a heartbeat.

He's the most physically powerful of the whole Bat Family. You don't understand because of his time in the League, his time with the All-Caste, and having abused Venom for a time, he can snap an arm bone like it's a carrot with little effort.

Everyone in the family likes dogs and goes out of their way to gush over a dog, but Jason takes it to a whole new level. And even when he's masked up dogs just gravitate to Jason.

Can and has grown a beard in a matter of a few days. He usually likes to be clean shaven but some days he likes to wear a beard just to throw everyone off.

One time him, Steph, Tim, and Duke all went to a restaurant (Red Robin lol) and the waitress got his order wrong and his burger had raw tomatoes on it, Jason took the tomatoes off and ate it while looking absolutely miserable. Tim: Jay why did you eat that you didn't have to you know you could have asked the server to fix your burger. Jason, almost in tears: "She works really hard and she tried and I'm a scary dude I don't want to make her upset.." Duke: "... Jason you literally shot at a cop for looking at you funny the other day. But you're afraid of upsetting a waitress?!? I mean ACAB but dude.. "

Jason's happiest big brother moment™ was taking Tim and Damian to the shooting range and watching them both get their first bullseye.

You can't tell me Jason Todd was into the Emo/Screamo/Warped-Tour Scene. His favorite bands/Albums in no particular order, That's the Spirit (Literally the whole album is Jason Themed and I'm gonna die on this hill) & Sempiternal by Bring me the Horizon, Digital Renegade & Everyone's Safe in the Treehouse by I See Stars, The Resistance: Rise of the Runaways by Crown the Empire,

Jason Todd's favorite foods: (Also some based in Canon*) Burgers, Chili Dogs*, Lager-style beers, Freshly baked bread*, Neopolitan ice cream, grilled corn, and Chinese Chicken noodle soup with Duck.

Tim:

This boy *slaps car roof* gives off so much asexual energy. I know New 52 exists but I just feel like Tim is the person who really, REALLY has to trust you and like you before he's sexually active with you.

HYPERFIXATES. You also can't tell me Tim isn't on the spectrum/or has ADHD.

Is the only member of the family who regularly checks up on Jason and talks to him every day via text message. The two are memelords together and love to play pranks on the other members.

While Dick may give the most frequent hugs and Jason gives the tightest, most secure hugs, Tim's hugs are always the warmest and make you just feel good.

Tim's birthday is July 19th. Meaning he's a Cancer. Let that sink in.. no, really let that information just soak. (Note I have nothing against Cancer women, cancer men however....)

All of the bat boys really struggle with talking about their feelings. Dick will manipulate you into changing the subject via twisting it to be about you, Jason will just cut you off or will ignore you, Damian will deflect everything and harass you until you stop, Tim however, Tim is very emotional and while he's very calculated about who he's emotional with, he's not afraid to break down and cry if he trusts you.

Everyone who says he's the level headed Robin haha how's it feel to be WRONG. Tim is at best the least functional college student and at worst a lemming. 'No Tim, coffee isn't a meal I'm going to make you some food or I'm going to stick you in a room with Damian for an hour.' Richard (Dick) John Grayson.

People overblow how addicted to caffeine Tim is. But it's true. Just overblown. You can talk to him before he's had his caffeine just don't expect him to be anything but curt and blunt.

Everyone says Jason would be the worst at texting but it's Tim. He's the master of leaving you on read. While Jason may do it on purpose, Tim is just really bad at texting people and while he always will read your messages he forgets to respond unless it's really funny or really pressing.

Everyone sees Tim as this bean pole super skinny boy Robin. Tim may not be stacked like Dick or a freaking tank like Jason, but Tim is NOT super skinny. He's just as muscular and likes to work out as anyone, but he just is super lean, so he looks a lot bigger and his muscles are more defined because of how thin his skin is. He has those almost disgusting spider veins on his arm. Kind of gross to look at, but he's the dream of any nurse. This means Tim is also the king of accidentally sending/posting thirst traps.

He really is the glue of the Bat Family. Everyone kidnaps Tim for 'Tim Time'.

Dick likes to spar with and in general just hang out with Tim. Tim tried to teach Dick how to skateboard and you'd think the boy who mastered the trapeze would know how to skateboard but you'd be wrong.

Babs and Tim always hang out and talk about computer stuff and Babs knows she can vent to Tim about anything and he won't say a word.

Tim and Steph were a thing for a while and even though they're just friends now, they still are very close and the two have a very deep bond, liking to shop with each other and watch movies,

Cass just loves to be around Tim because of how calming he is but also she knows she can spar with him AND Cass can also skateboard with Tim too.

Even though him and Damian are always fighting, the two still end up being together and have this unspoken bond. They work great together on a team but other than that they still hate each other.

And while everyone still is hesitant around Jason, and despite the fact that Jason literally beat Tim to within an inch of his life, AND would still trigger Tim and taunt him about it. The two have this odd closeness that rivals even him and Steph. Tim will always be the first to bat for Jason. Jason was Tim's Robin. And despite the fact Jason literally beat it into Tim's head to "never meet your heroes." Tim will always be there for Jason should he ask. The two are just close. And it's hard to describe. Bruce has caught Tim and Jason just platonically sleeping next to each other or just doing their own things shoulder to shoulder silently, just enjoying each other's company.

Tim and Duke also have a really positive relationship with one another and the two can stay up all night just talking about anything. Their minds just mesh well together. The two also love to team up and prank the other members of the Batman Family.

Tim's favorite ASMR/Stim? Watching those Tik Toks of people cleaning computers or cleaning phones. The sound of an air duster is like music to his ears and if any of the Bats need their technology cleaned it secretly makes Tim so happy to help them.

Wear his hair up or wear his hair down? It depends! While Tim likes his long hair he also has gotten plenty of compliments for his short hair and likes to style it to suit any occasion.

My one pet-peeve with Tim is that he probably is that person who lets his privilege show from time to time. While he was essentially raised to just sit down, shut up, and be a perfect trophy son to the Drake's. The Drake's were in the same tax bracket as Bruce and Tim definitely was a rich kid. He never means to come across as spoiled, but sometimes Jason will give him harsh looks if Tim just throws away food he doesn't like or says things like Chipotle is 'poor people food'

Tim Drake's favorite foods (you know by now*) Donuts*, Shallot and Artichoke Pizza with Canadian Bacon* (odd choice but it could work) Artichokes in general are his favorite vegetable, Strawberries, and Beef Pho.

Damian:

I headcanon that he has the worst teeth of all of the Bat Boys and he actually has to use lingual braces. (Hence why you can't see his braces)

Canonically is a very good artist and while him and Tim don't get along, Tim introduced Damian to digital art and gave him a photoshop pack and a nice tablet for his birthday one year and Damian loved it so much.

Damian is a capricorn and I will die on this hill. A January capricorn too.

Now you want a good chef? You've got Damian. Having converted to veganism Damian has had to get creative whenever he goes out to eat so he tends to like to eat more home cooked foods. Damian loves all matters of mushrooms, eggplant, and bell peppers.

Damian really struggles the most with his wanting to just be a normal kid. Despite the fact he will dismiss you for it, anytime he gets to spend at Gotham Academy with Jon and the rest of the kids he's naturally the happiest.

Damian LOVES to give gifts. He loves the look on people's faces when they are shocked when they actually get something from Damian.

Despite the fact that he's been traumatized from both his times with Ra's and Talia as well as with Bruce. He just wants Bruce and Talia to be together because he loves them both equally.

While he's the least flexible and least gymnastic of the Robins do let your guard down around him. He is the fastest runner and the guy is rivaled only by Jason in terms of lethality.

So someone (Jason Todd & Duke Thomas) introduced Damian to trap music and ever since anytime his phone gets stolen people will be shocked to find he's listening to some combination of Lil' Yachty, X, Kendrick Lamar, Wiz, and Kodak.

If any random person tries to hug Damian he'll immediately push them away, he'll bitch and moan about just about anyone hugging him other than Bruce & Dick.

Damian loves to go to the beach/the ocean. He just thinks it's so vast and he loves the brineness of the air. Also being half white, quarter middle-eastern and quarter Chinese (Yes everyone forgets Talia is half Chinese) Damian gets DARK. And although he's just okay as a swimmer he still likes bogeyboarding and eventually wants to learn how to surf.

I'm genuinely afraid once Puberty is done with this kid and everyone in the family is. He has Bruce Wayne AND Talia Al-Ghouls genes and those are two SEXY human beings. Damian's gonna grow a beard one day and people aren't going to know how to act.

Damian secretly plays Fortnight and not even Jon knows. He doesn't want to get shamed. He'd rather lose a match and ruin his streaks than deal with the shame of anyone in that family finding out he plays Fortnight.

Damian Wayne's favorite foods (canon*) Cereal*, Avocados, Grilled Tempeh, his mom's Tabbouleh, Mushroom Tacos, and Vegan Sushi rolls, and grape juice.

Duke Thomas

Duke is like, freakishly good with a piano, and he picked it up naturally!

Also everyone says Tim brews the best pot of coffee in the Bat Family, cue to everyone's surprise when Tim was sick one day and couldn't make a pot. Only to find the coffee was freaking amazing. Duke didn't take any credit at first until Alfred let it slip that Duke was the one who brewed the pot.

Duke being the only Meta of the family originally thought he was the double-token because he was a Meta and a black boy. Needless to say his fears were seriously unfounded the moment he got to know everyone.

Although he somewhat fears Jason and his temper initially, he and Jason have one of the closest relationships in the family. If Tim isn't around to bat for Jason, Duke will happily take his spot. The two work on each other's bikes and grew to share the same taste in music.

Duke uses his Photokenetic powers as a force for good and for shenanigans. Jason wants to play a prank on Dick and Damian while Dick is reading Damian a story? Duke will hide Jason in the shadows and will cover up his shadow. Alfred dropped something in the dark? You better believe Duke will find it in 3 seconds or less.

Duke makes it a point to visit his parents every weekend to talk to them. Although they are making some progress in their recoveries, it's still slow going. Eventually, he starts bringing members of the family to see his parents. It started with Cass, then Jason, and the rest followed suit.

Duke loves playing video games with Damian and even helps Damian beat some tougher levels when Damian is about to rage and destroy the console.

Duke is into Magic the Gathering and you cannot tell me otherwise. Duke also is the DM for the Bat Kids annual D&D games. I can and will make a D&D Batfam Headcanons if asked.

Loves Pho just as much as Cass and Tim and they all call it a date night every now and then where they can go to a hole in the wall pho place. It's really a secret between the three of them.

DUKE THOMAS IS THE BEST SWIMMER OF THE BAT BOYS AND I WILL DIE ON THIS HILL. HE JUST THRIVES IN THE WATER.

Finding out his birth father is a supervillain was really tough for him. He went into a shell for a little bit afterwards. Cass and Steph were there to help talk him out of his funk.

Duke Thomas's favorite foods (lol what canon DC hasn't acknowleged our boy in a while..) Chicken Pho, Thai Iced Tea, Papaya, Crab Cakes, Italian Hoagies, his mom's Lemon Poundcake, mint chocolate chip ice cream.

I hope y'all enjoyed! Up next (eventually) will be the Bat Girls!

[chispas-and-broken-bindings]

Lmao 🤣 I know to which post you are replying about them being besties . That scene always gave me more ominous vibes than actually something that would ignite friendship . Also the title of " Usurper's Dog " isn't something @ry@ is going to take lightly .

Ha! I actually didn't have any particular post in mind. The Dany/Arya friendship is just something that I see float around the fandom from time to time and it drives me absolutely bonkers (not fanon. feel free to explore all your platonic dreams with these two in fanon. Go wild. You do you.)

If we are talking canon though, I can't think of a single character that has more anti-Targ foreshadowing in their chapters than Arya (even Jon comes in second place). I actually started pasting bits of Arya's chapters into a word document awhile ago, because I couldn't believe how much GRRM uses her POV to detail the horrors of fire and burning...it's almost comical how heavy-handed he is with it.

And yet...

After I saw this ask in my inbox, I looked at the Arya Stark tag and immediately found a post about Dany and Arya being best friends.

So.

Here we are:

A Storm of Swords - Arya I

Later they passed through a burned village, threading their way carefully between the shells of blackened hovels and past the bones of a dozen dead men hanging from a row of apple trees. When Hot Pie saw them he began to pray, a thin whispered plea for the Mother's mercy, repeated over and over. Arya looked up at the fleshless dead in their wet rotting clothes and said her own prayer. Ser Gregor, it went, Dunsen, Polliver, Raff the Sweetling. The Tickler and the Hound. Ser Ilyn, Ser Meryn, King Joffrey, Queen Cersei. She ended it with valar morghulis, touched Jaqen's coin where it nestled under her belt, and then reached up and plucked an apple from among the dead men as she rode beneath them. It was mushy and overripe, but she ate it worms and all.

That was the day without a dawn. Slowly the sky lightened around them, but they never saw the sun. Black turned to grey, and colors crept timidly back into the world. The soldier pines were dressed in somber greens, the broadleafs in russets and faded golds already beginning to brown.

Hot Pie opened his mouth and closed it. He did not fall off his horse. The rain began again a short time later. They still had not seen so much as a glimpse of the sun. It was growing colder, and pale white mists were threading between the pines and blowing across the bare burned fields.

A Storm of Swords - Arya III

That night they sheltered in a burned, abandoned village.

A Storm of Swords - Arya IV

The next night they found shelter beneath the scorched shell of a sept, in a burned village called Sallydance. Only shards remained of its windows of leaded glass, and the aged septon who greeted them said the looters had even made off with the Mother's costly robes, the Crone's gilded lantern, and the silver crown the Father had worn. "They hacked the Maiden's breasts off too, though those were only wood," he told them. "And the eyes, the eyes were jet and lapis and mother-of-pearl, they pried them out with their knives. May the Mother have mercy on them all."

A Storm of Swords Arya VI

"Please," Sandor Clegane rasped, cradling his arm. "I'm burned. Help me. Someone. Help me." He was crying. "Please."

Arya looked at him in astonishment. He's crying like a little baby, she thought.

Clegane tried to stand, but as he moved a piece of burned flesh sloughed right off his arm, and his knees went out from under him. Tom caught him by his good arm and held him up.

His arm, Arya thought, and his face. But he was the Hound. He deserved to burn in a fiery hell. The knife felt heavy in her hand. She gripped it tighter. "You killed Mycah," she said once more, daring him to deny it. "Tell them. You did. You did."

"I did." His whole face twisted. "I rode him down and cut him in half, and laughed. I watched them beat your sister bloody too, watched them cut your father's head off."

Lem grabbed her wrist and twisted, wrenching the dagger away. She kicked at him, but he would not give it back. "You go to hell, Hound," she screamed at Sandor Clegane in helpless empty-handed rage. "You just go to hell!"

(Okay, so she's not exactly sympathetic to the Hound's plight here, but still...another reference to burning, and a pretty graphic one at that)

A Storm of Swords - Arya VII

Jack-Be-Lucky, Harwin, and Merrit o' Moontown braved the burning septry to search for captives. They emerged from the smoke and flames a few moments later with eight brown brothers, one so weak that Merrit had to carry him across a shoulder.

The septry soon collapsed in a roar of smoke and flame, its walls no longer able to support the weight of its heavy slate roof. The eight brown brothers watched with resignation. They were all that remained, explained the eldest, who wore a small iron hammer on a thong about his neck to signify his devotion to the Smith. "Before the war we were four-and-forty, and this was a prosperous place. We had a dozen milk cows and a bull, a hundred beehives, a vineyard and an apple arbor. But when the lions came through they took all our wine and milk and honey, slaughtered the cows, and put our vineyard to the torch.

A Storm of Swords - Arya XI

"Dead," he shouted back at her. "Do you think they'd slaughter his men and leave him alive?" He turned his head back toward the camp. "Look. Look, damn you."

The camp had become a battlefield. No, a butcher's den. The flames from the feasting tents reached halfway up the sky. Some of the barracks tents were burning too, and half a hundred silk pavilions. Everywhere swords were singing. And now the rains weep o'er his hall, with not a soul to hear. She saw two knights ride down a running man. A wooden barrel came crashing onto one of the burning tents and burst apart, and the flames leapt twice as high. A catapult, she knew. The castle was flinging oil or pitch or something.

"Come with me." Sandor Clegane reached down a hand. "We have to get away from here, and now." Stranger tossed his head impatiently, his nostrils flaring at the scent of blood. The song was done. There was only one solitary drum, its slow monotonous beats echoing across the river like the pounding of some monstrous heart. The black sky wept, the river grumbled, men cursed and died. Arya had mud in her teeth and her face was wet. Rain. It's only rain. That's all it is. "We're here," she shouted. Her voice sounded thin and scared, a little girl's voice. "Robb's just in the castle, and my mother. The gate's even open." There were no more Freys riding out. I came so far. "We have to go get my mother."

(heart: broken)

Look, there is a lot to say about fire and about rain in Arya's chapters, particularly in A Storm of Swords. I don't have the energy for it, so I'm just dumping quotes. Draw your own conclusions.

This collection is by no means exhaustive, and I'm sure there is someone more dedicated than I am, who has written something about this symbolism. (If anyone has it, send me a link).

All I'm saying is that GRRM isn't throwing all this devastation by fire and blood into Arya's chapters as positive foreshadowing for how she'll feel when a certain conqueror cross the Narrow Sea with her dragons.

[paperrretro]

house party.

Pairing: Adam Banks x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 963 words

Warnings: None

Request: ayyyy could i request an adam banks x reader imagine. maybe something where the ducks go out for a halloween costume party and adam knows reader gets shy around him so he teases her a lot. tysm bro

“You thought I’d be a cat, didn’t you?”

“I mean, it’s your nickname …”

Before Julie can answer, an arm wraps around Adam’s shoulder. “Hey, Gretzky! Wednesday.” Charlie speaks loudly to be heard above the ruckus, nodding at the goalie before turning back to Adam. “Sorry to interrupt. Having fun?”

“Yeah, just taking a breather,” Julie says. “It’s starting to smell like a locker room out there.”

“Yeah.”

Charlie grimaces reluctantly. “… I mean, you’re not wrong, but after a while you get used to it –” He shakes his head. “That’s not what I came over here to talk about. Banksy, guess who I just spotted come in with Margot Lemmings? [Y/n]’s here.”

Adam blinks. “Really?” he asks, pushing off the wall.

“Yeah, surprising, right? Totally not because I told Linda to tell Margot to tell her that you were coming.” The other boy slaps him on the back with a grin. “Just thought you should know.”

With one last pat on the shoulder, the hockey-captain-turned-vampire waves at Julie and then leaves the kitchen, almost spilling punch on a cackling zombie as he squeezes by. Adam watches him disappear into the crowd, then turns to Wednesday-Julie, who looks at him with raised eyebrows.

“I, uh –”

She rolls her eyes, pushing him forward with a smirk. “Have fun, Banksy.”

A smile spreads across Adam’s face, and he nods. “Thanks.”

Making his way out of the corner he had been occupying for the past half hour, Adam searches the hoard for a particular familiar face. He can’t believe his luck, actually. You going to a party is one thing, but seeing you at a full-blown, high school Halloween costume party – even if it is chaperoned – is another. (Not that he’d be here if the Ducks weren’t, but still.) Your friend groups at school don’t have a lot of overlap, so this is one of the rare times that he can talk to you outside of group projects.

You’re kind of quiet around him. Charlie said that it’s because you like him, and Adam’s pretty sure that he’s right. Other than Guy, Charlie would know, wouldn’t he? He’s the one who got a girlfriend freshman year.

When he finally pushes his way through to the living room, he catches sight of Margot Lemmings handing a plate of cookies to, well, you.

Half eager, half hesitant, Adam takes in a breath and approaches the couch.

“Hey,” he says.

Margot tilts her head at him, then smiles brightly underneath her witch’s hat. “Banks. Fancy seeing you here. Nice costume.”

“Thanks.”

She nudges you harshly, but your eyes just dart quickly up to meet his before darting back towards the ground. “Hey, Adam,” he hears you mumble. He thinks.

“Hey, [Y/n].”

You squeak.

“Oh, you know what I forgot to get? Drinks. I’m gonna get some drinks for us,” Margot announces, standing up. “Mind saving my seat, Banks?”

“Margot –” You grab at her shirt desperately as she pulls away.

“What, you don’t want to hang out with him for a while?”

Your friend winks at him. Confidence slightly bolstered by it, Adam shifts on his feet and smiles slightly. “I mean, if you don’t want to, I can leave –”

Eyes widening, you shake your head. “What? No, that’s not what – I mean – um –”

“I am getting drinks,” Margot says.

The other girl pats him on the back (much like Charlie had done earlier), winks at him again, and goes on her way. Not one to miss an opportunity, Adam quickly sits down next to you on the couch. You manage a small smile towards him before taking a bite of one of the cookies.

Your knees are touching, and you’re not moving away. Yes.

“I like your costume,” he says, pointing at your hat.

You chuckle softly, awkwardly. It’s cute. He likes it. “Thanks. We … we wanted to match, so we, um … yeah.” Scratching the back of your neck, you clear your throat and gesture at his Oilers jersey. “Gretzky …?”

He smiles broadly. “Yeah!”

You smile back, still shy. “You, um, have the same number as him.”

“Yeah, I do.” The fact always made him a little proud – helped him skate faster, practice harder. Maybe he’d never measure up to The Great One, but he could sure try. Speaking of hockey – “You know, during games – I always see you in the stands.”

“You do?” you ask, sounding surprised. Maybe flustered, too. “Oh …”

Adam ventures a little further, getting more self-assured. “Some of my friends said that you’re always watching me,” he says, slightly teasing.

The stammering comes back full-force.

“Well, I – er – always is a little –” Breaking a cookie in half, you shrug weakly. “J-Just … sometimes, I guess, yeah.”

“Sometimes, always?”

You start nibbling on one half of the cookie, too embarrassed to reply. Then, tentatively, you nod. He has no idea what that means exactly, but it makes his cheeks flush a little all the same. You watch him when he plays. The thought is both emboldening and slightly nerve-wracking.

“It’s cool when I spot you during a game,” Adam admits, looking at his folded hands. “But if you came down afterwards to talk, that’d be cool too. Unless, you know, you’re just watching me because you secretly hate me.”

Giggling, you quickly shake your head. “I don’t,” you reply softly.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes,” you say.

He cracks a grin. “Okay.”

After a moment, you offer him the other half of your cookie. Adam accepts it, and as the night wears on, he gathers the courage to fit in some more teases, and your laughs grow brighter the longer the two of you sit together on that couch.

(Margot never does come back with the drinks.)