#j. bolton

[wyrmfedgrave]

It's all a matter of time.

Then, we'll see who's who...

End?

[atomic-chronoscaph]

Flash Gordon - art by John Bolton (1980)

[ilynpilled]

The thing about the hand loss and how people attach things behind it like “it was as a result of Jaime’s arrogance towards Hoat” or “he lost it because he saved Brienne from rape,” is that neither is true to what actually happens in the text. Those actions still hold meaning, sure, but the chop itself is also independent to it all (the maiming is symbolically karmic in a lot of ways as it is tied to his greatest sins, but that is not what i am talking about). The capture itself is different, but the right hand and his fate was doomed the moment he landed in Hoat’s hands for reasons out of his control. What is so good about it is that the hand chop is not really about Jaime as a human being (which makes it causing one of the biggest existential crises in the series all the more interesting), and more about Jaime as a token. Ironically, his status and relationship to his father is what ends up dehumanizing him entirely. There are so many things going on outside of Jaime. He is an integral political piece, every side is scrambling for him for different reasons, and he is fully treated as such in the Riverlands.

Hoat had his own motivation, that is much bigger than Jaime, due to his previous betrayal of Tywin, which turned into a death sentence following the results of Blackwater. As Roose implies throughout the dinner conversation, Jaime’s hand chop was, above all else, the result of Tywin and the ruthless foundation of much of his authority (the Reynes and Tarbecks are brought up again). And what I like about it, other than the emphasis on the players constantly making moves solely for their own benefit in war while everyone else suffers the consequences, is that it does address and criticize the Lannister method a whole lot. The hand chop almost feels less karmic for Jaime himself than it does for Tywin. It is another reason that I find the perspective that these books were heralding this kind of sociopathic ruthlessness as competent and uber effective while completely condemning the relatively more “moral” Starks so funny. Like without even getting into where we are headed in the aftermath of the WoT5K, the holes within the “Tywin method” are already being explored. And the results are creeping towards Tywin himself, invading his family, because it is his very heir that suffers directly from it. The more we move along in the story the more the distance lessens between him and his putrid actions to cement his authority and power. “I’ve lost a hand, a father, a son, a sister, and a lover, and soon enough I will lose a brother. And yet they keep telling me House Lannister won this war.” is a Tywin/House Lannister thesis when it comes to the events of ASoS. For a start, he is the one who brought in the Bloody Mummers. The cruelty he unleashes on the smallfolk ends up coming back to him directly through his heir being the one experiencing it full force. There is the layer of loyalty vs utilizing sellswords, which is one way the conflicting sides in the war foil each other, and it is a root cause of the betrayal to begin with. If you use these men, you can end up suffering the consequences yourself, loyalty can only be bought if you remain the highest bidder. Relying on greed is fragile. Then, the part that Jaime is repeatedly faced with throughout his narrative: fear ≠ trust.

Hoat is smart enough to realize by now that his betrayal will not be pardoned by Tywin. Jaime’s offer means nothing in terms of his safety. He is aware of his low status and the meaning of his action to Tywin. That is what truly dooms Jaime and his hand. Hoat needed that token, and he needed to secure a path for himself (without losing his token along the way to Roose) to the Karstarks. He made sure that he brought Roose down with him, and put him in a difficult situation. Sure, Jaime’s skill itself is a huge threat and liability, but that is not the primary motivator. It is his sole ticket to safety from Tywin’s ruthlessness.

Then the goat gets outsmarted by Roose, and Jaime catches on to that part, so Hoat does take the L ultimately I fear, but these layers remain and it adds a lot. I also like how in ASoS, Jaime’s status is constantly fluctuating between dooming him and saving him. It often depends on how clever he is being in the moment.

[catofoldstones]

once jon snow (my beloved) wakes up, is dangerous and terrifying and wolfish, and takes back winterfell, it is over for you bitches

[crosseyedcricketart]

MET Gala 2024, "The Garden of Time".

[rainestorm-theerror]

TROOOOOOY, what u doin wearing Tommyinnit’s shirt, /j

[singeratlarge]

Chris Andrews SONG OF THE WEEK “The Longest Time” https://timchrisandrews.bandcamp.com/track/the-longest-time ...Sometimes love presents holy moments. Even when one has to go separate ways, one can feel angels present. This micro-musical by Chris Andrews is pop balladry at its best. On a cosmic jukebox this song would play next to Michael Bolton, Cliff Richard, Leo Sayer, and Robbie Williams.

If this is your introduction to Chris, he’s a British singer-songwriter and recording artist whose songs have been covered by Roger Daltrey, David Essex, and Davy Jones (Monkees). Under the name Tim Andrews he was a champion of late 60s psychedelic pop and (later), as Kris Ryder, he released New Wave synthpop sides in the 80s. Chris was also part of the seminal freakbeat band Fleur de Lys. Meanwhile, enjoy his current material: https://timchrisandrews.bandcamp.com/track/the-longest-time

#britpop #chrisandrews #holy #angels #time #singersongwriter #recordingarist #britishrock #rogerdaltrey #davidessex #davyjones #monkees #ballad #softrock #robbiewilliams #cliffrichard #leosayer #michaelbolton

[doyoulikethissong-poll]

Because yay more polls :D

These are the songs I've chosen from each Showdown polls for this round of a hundred songs, that didn't get as much love as their tougher competition.

What song did you personally like the best? Did a song make an impact right away or did it require the full version? Did the artist reveal change your opinion of the song itself for better or for worse? Tell me in a reblog!

(note: this is not a popularity contest or to vote for a favourite artist out of loyalty 💖 it's still about the song.)

209 here 212 here 221 here 234 here 243 here 257 here 263 here 276 here 282 here 298 here

[myesc8petw0rld]

My Favourite Multiple Characters Preferences/Reactions

@okay-j-hannah

They Love You’re Curvy Merlin, Arthur Pendragon, Paul Atreides

They Give You Practice Kisses Bucky Barnes, Steven Grant, Marc Spector, Loki

You Give Them Neck Kisses Steven Grant, Theseus Scamander, Spencer Reid

You Give Them Neck Kisses Loki, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black

@darling-i-read-it

React to Having a Crush on a Very Flirt Girl Benoit Blanc, Ramsay Bolton, Erik Lehnsherr, Newt (MR) and Norman Bates

Reacting to You Sitting on Their Lap and Ask for a Kiss Adrian Chase, Jesper Fahey, Darkling and Billy Hargrove

Reacting To Neck Kisses and a Good Massage Matt Murdock and Bruce Wayne

Reacting to Neck Kisses Charles Lee Ray, Aaron Hotchner, Indiana Jones, Dorian Gray and The Dark

Getting Jealous and Confessing Their Feelings Loki, Dr. Strange, Homelander and the Darkling

If you know someone to put in my rec list, let me know

[vivacissimx]

vivacissimx meta masterpost ✧˖°

We're about at the time where a post like this makes sense. If you see any missing metas it's likely because I no longer (entirely) agree with either a premise or phrasing and I'd like to rework it at some point—or I forgot. Feel free to ask!

I've bolded metas which I believe to be the most sound or that highlight a critical point which is overlooked by most ASOIAF analysis I have read. I also use the tags #text and #gender-in-asoiaf.

The Starks and the North

how jon being a bastard shaped the relationships between ALL members of house stark

on the abuse debate

how jon snow internalized catelyn tully stark's ideals

jon snow's heroes: an evolution from AGOT to ADWD

on jon snow and the R+L=J reveal

on jon snow's attraction to men

on jon snow forgiving theon greyjoy

on jon snow weaponizing his own competence

jon snow & women at the Wall: the question of rape

sansa stark & foreshadowed false testimony

sansa and ned have a foil relationship to lyanna and rickard

arya IS like other girls

arya stark: death and balance

arya & jon underrated parallels

the textual significance of the arya/lyanna parallels

the importance of lyanna stark's crypt statue

how lyanna influenced ned's acts of love for his daughters

how ned stark would perceive daenerys targaryen

what would happen to ned if robert discovered R+L=J?

Daenerys Targaryen

every daenerys ever: how dany's claim of a throne is foreshadowed throughout house targaryen's history

on the healing power of fire

on the myth that daenerys targaryen ruined meereen's economy

on the myth of a diplomatic solution in meereen

daenerys & ser barristan selmy: found family!

daenerys & bran: putting the first/last chapters of AGOT in conversation

daenerys & tyrion: how their TWOW alliance may come about

House Targaryen

visenya the conqueror & the evolution of usurpation in house T

on rhaegar targaryen and the prophecy of TPTWP

on alysanne targaryen, and how viserra's betrothal/the aftermath unfolded

viserra, alysanne, & baelon: a web weaving

viserra & saera

Theon Greyjoy

theon's gender: always broken, always under construction

[NOTE: this is the meta on which all my other theon meta relies. If you read nothing else I have ever said about theon, please read this.]

roose bolton as (another) father figure to theon

why theon greyjoy did not go visit his mother

theon greyjoy and the myth of return

theon greyjoy and winterfell's mirroring in ADWD

House Lannister

jaime & tyrion's awareness of cersei being abused

cersei lannister's brothers rationalization of cersei as being complicit in her abusive relationship

on cersei lannister's idealization of rhaegar, & also her dysphoria

ASOIAF Misc

breakdown of the grand maester conspiracy

unreliable narrators (and why we NEED arianne martell POV)

jon connington's memory

Dance of the Dragons Era

rhaenyra targaryen's maladaptive relationships due to abuse

rhaenyra & daemon's gender troubles

on viserys naming (and keeping) rhaenyra as his heir

on the legality of claims of bastardry

alicent, criston, & daemon as rhaenyra's formative (abusive) influences

[boltonplaything]

Ramsay Bolton NSFW Alphabet

A-Aftercare: Ramsay Bolton is not an affectionate man. If he has no regard for you he will just use you until he's satisfied then either leave you in the state that you end up in or kick you out of the room. If he cares for you even a little he will allow you to stay and cuddle.

B- Body part: Ramsay loves every bit of his lovers Body, if he had to pick a favorite though it would probably be your ass. He's the type to spank you and the type to take you from behind. His favorite part of himself would probably be his hands. They're so skilled in all things, flaying, archery, and fingering.

C- Cum: He would love to make an absolute mess of you. Your face, your chest, your back, anywhere. He'd paint you all over or fuck your throat and force you to swallow it all. He would cum inside of you, not caring if he made more bastards. If you two were married however, he would be insatiable, wanting to make you pregnant ASAP.

D- Dirty Secret: This is Ramsay we're talking about the man has no secrets, he will do anything and everything to you and would not be shy about it. The only thing I could see that he wouldn't admit is that he's into praise. Ramsay would want to be told he's doing a good job.

E- Experience: He knows everything there is to know, you name it he's tried it on someone willing or otherwise.

F- Favorite Position: Doggy or Cowgirl. Doggy if he's using you or you're in trouble and Cowgirl if he really cares about you. I also can see him really being into the mating press.

G-Goofy: He's serious the entire time. Deadly serious. If you chuckle or try to crack a joke he's not having fun anymore

H- Hair: He's well groomed, every once in a while he gets too busy and it grows a bit but never much past stubble.

I- Intimacy: During sex? Not a chance, maybe some loving eye contact if you two are a couple but other than that he fucks, he's not here to be mushy and make love.

J- Jack off: If he's horny and you aren't at his immediate disposal then absolutely yes he will, and then once he comes home he'll bend you over and scold you for not being there for him to immediately fuck.

K- kink: the man is outrageously kinky, his favorite kinks though are definitely knife play, primal play, CNC, and maybe even some pet play

L- Location: Anytime, anyplace, if you are there and he wants it he will take it

M- Motivation: Ramsay is always ready to go, after a long day of torturing someone in the dungeon he'll be ready to let out all of that adrenaline, after a hunt he's ready, the second he sees you period...he is ready

N- No: There's nothing this man wouldn't try at least once.

O- Oral: He could and would eat pussy like a man who has been starved, you would have to just lay there in a pool of your own fluids and pray that he gets lockjaw. He also loves when you suck him off, gripping your hair in his hand and forcing you down on his cock with throaty growls.

P- Pace: fast and hard, if you try to ask him to go gentle he may try (if he cares enough) but his primal desire to ravage you will kick in and he will break you in half once more

Q- Quickie: He perfers to have all night with you with all available tools but if he wants you and doesn't have the time to be thorough then yes, he'll bend you over or push you against the nearest surface and fill you with his cum.

R-Risk: He lives for it. If you two get caught...oh well.

S- Stamina: He can go all night, even if he fucks you till his cock will not physically get hard anymore he still has his fingers, and his mouth to work with. He will never only go one round if he has you at his whim.

T- Toys: anything he can implement as a toy, he is on it. Though, he perfers to only use knives and ropes.

U- unfair: Ramsay can either be a very kind man and give you more orgasms than you can handle or edge you for hours until it hurts to even move, he will have you stammering out pleas for your release. He also likes to purposely contradict himself just to give himself the excuse to punish you. He'll tell you he wants you to do something and then when you do it he'll come up with some stipulation he hadn't disclosed and punish you for not following the rules. He likes to be unfair.

V- Vocal: He wants you to scream and cry. He wants everyone to know how good he's giving it to you. As far as he goes, he's a growler. He growls and pants, every once in a while you'll get a moan from him. He'll whisper dirty things in your ear, vile things, and just keep going. Growling after every sentence.

W- Wildcard: He's really into dog terms, breeding terms especially. He wants you to call him master and he wants to call you his little whelping toy. You're his "stubborn bitch" his "Stupid mutt" he loves it, this is what gets him going the most.

X-ray: For how cocky he is you would think it's massive right? No, he's about seven inches but thick. He's an advocate for "size doesn't matter, it's what you do with it" and boy does he know what to do with it.

Y- Yearning: All day everyday, he's always thinking of how and when and where he's going to fuck you that day.

Z- ZZZ: If you guys go for a long time then he may fall asleep but if it's one of those nights where he makes you cum a few times and is finished he'll stay up unable to sleep. He's lowkey an insomniac.

[ramsayxme]

Chapter One / Chapter Two / Chapter Three / Chapter Four / Chapter Five / AO3 Link

TW - description of dead bodies, physical violence, oral sex, manipulation, ramsay bolton.

Chapter Six: Consequences

You were certain that Ramsay was starting to trust you. You were no longer confined to one room. Ramsay allowed you to wander the Dreadfort, inside and outside, as long as you stayed within the walls. He began providing you with warmer clothes since you were able to spend time outside. This morning, you were walking along the stables. Your long cloak dragging along the dirty snow, frozen patches of mud sticking up from the earth. You enjoyed the fresh air and taste of false freedom. You were starting to feel somewhat comfortable in the chaos.

You hadn't seen Reek since the torture. A small part of you felt nauseous when you thought about that night, but you shoved it down. Maybe Ramsay was right, he deserved these things. Who were you to decide? You didn't know his past. Perhaps you were just helping Ramsay bring justice. Something had changed that night, though. The way Ramsay looked at you had shifted, almost as if he felt a stronger connection with you... or perhaps you were making it up. You struggled to attempt to define how Ramsay felt about you, and struggled even more with how you felt about him.

You spent the entire afternoon in the stables. Animals calmed you. You knew Ramsay's favorite horses were gone, so you assumed he was on a hunt or traveling. You could spend hours brushing the horses and whispering your deepest thoughts to them, knowing they would never judge you. The day was drowned out by their whinnies and the distant barks from the kennels. When the sun started to set, you began to head back towards your chambers.

You turned the corner past the stables and saw Reek, pulling down a flayed man who had been posted up for a few days. The leftovers of his body had froze and Reek was yanking on him in a desperate attempt to separate the frozen muscles from the wood. You wanted to speak with Reek. You had a lot of questions and you knew he couldn't lie. Your curiosity got the best of you as you walked up behind him. "Reek..." you whispered. He jumped at his name, immediately cowering and tilting his head to the side. "M'Lady." He muttered, his eyes staring at the ground.

"Where's Ramsay gone to?" You quietly asked. "On a hunt, M'Lady. They left b-before sunrise." He stammered, his eyes refusing to blink as they were glued to the snowy ground at your feet. You wanted to speak to Reek alone. You knew this was dangerous if Ramsay found out, but you were dying to pry at the broken man. "Follow me, then." You started to walk towards the large stone archways. Reek drug his feet as he kept up with you. You brought Reek to your bed chambers, and sat by the fire, allowing him to defrost.

"Reek, I want to ask you some questions, okay?" You said, noticing you were dumbing your voice as if you were speaking to a small child, just like Ramsay did when he spoke to Reek. He nodded his head quickly, his eyes fixated on the fire and small whimpers escaping his throat. "I'm not going to hurt you..." You reminded him. Of course, it would be hard for him to believe you, but you wanted to try to reassure him. "Who are you?" You asked in a hushed voice. His cracked lips parted as he stuttered. "I...I'm Reek. I'm Reek."

You shook your head. "No, no... who were you...before Reek?" Your question seemed to sting as he winced away from your words. "No. J-just Reek." You sighed, realizing that he was much more broken than you thought. You rested your hands on your thighs as you sat on your knees. Reek shifted around, unable to get comfortable. "Do you want a blanket?" You asked him, reaching for one of the woven blankets nearby. He squirmed. "If it pleases M'Lady to give me one."

You handed him a blanket and he quickly wrapped it around his quivering body. You stared at him for a moment before asking your next question. "Reek, Ramsay calls himself Lord Bolton, but we had dinner with Roose Bolton, the Lord of the Dreadfort. Why does Ramsay call himself Lord?" Reek cried under his breath. "R-Ramsay has asked me to call him Lord B-Bolton. He calls himself Lord Bolton because it pleases him...He is my Master. Ramsay will be Lord someday." Reek finally looked at you, his eyes seemed to open into his interior slightly. "You need to be careful around him." He whispered.

You scooted closer to him, realizing you were making progress. "I know, I know, he's hurt me too but he's also been very kind to me..." You were interrupted by Reek. "It's a trick, please!" He began crying, tears falling down his cracked and bruised skin. "Who were you before Reek?" You asked again, hoping to infiltrate his vulnerable state. "No! Just Reek! Always...forever." His eyes filled with tears as he looked at you. "Okay, okay...I won't ask that question anymore." You sighed, studying the broken creature.

Reek perked up suddenly. "He's coming back." He stated blankly as he stood up, shaking. You didn't hear anything. "M'Lady, he will hurt you if he knows we were talking!" His voice shaking with concern. "Hide!" You hiss, Reek shaking his head back and forth. "That'll be worse." His eyes sink back to the floor and he quickly rips the blankets off the chair and bed, collecting them in a heap in his arms, acting like he was gathering your linens for washing. Just then, you heard Ramsay. His voice echoed through the hallway outside your door, and his voice only grew louder as he approached.

He was laughing with another man until he reached your door. You heard him bid the man a good night as he swung open your door, grinning as he stepped inside. He was clean shaven, his hair messy from riding through the woods. His nose and cheeks were kissed red from the chill in the air. He wore his hunting gear, his bow still in his hand. He grinned at you, but his eyes quickly shifted to Reek standing near you. The smile across Ramsay's face died instantly when he saw Reek. Ramsay took slow steps into the room before pulling his face into a false grin once again.

"Reek?" Ramsay started, his voice dumbed down. "What are you doing in here?" Reek shifted his feet. "G-gathering the linens, M'Lord. I... forgot to do them earlier. I'm sorry." He scurried towards the door, but Ramsay stood in the way. "My love. Is this true?" He looked at you, eyebrows raised. You swallowed hard, praying to the Gods that Ramsay would believe you. "Yes! Reek forgot to get my linens earlier, so he came by a few minutes ago. He was just leaving."

Ramsay looked back at Reek. "Well, we can't have him get away with forgetting his job, can we?" He looked back at you. "If he really failed, he needs punished! He can't get away with it that easily, dear." Ramsay walked over towards you and draped his arm across your shoulders, leaning in to your cheek. "We need to punish him for this!" He hissed. "Reek, drop those linens and come over here." Ramsay squeezed you tight under his arm. Reek obeyed.

He hobbled over and stood in front of you and Ramsay. Ramsay nudged you. "Go on, love. Hit him." You felt your stomach churn but you knew you had to do it. Without hesitation, you pulled your arm back and slapped Reek across the face, hard. "Blacken his eye so he will not forget tomorrow." Ramsay demanded, breathing heavy as he watched you torture his plaything. You pulled back once again and punched Reek directly on the cheekbone under his eye. You knew it would leave a large bruise. "Good girl!" Ramsay chuckled, kissing your cheek.

Ramsay stepped forward and punched Reek himself in the same eye. "There!" He exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air. "Now you will not forget." Reek sniffled and cried as he picked up the linens and scurried out of the room like a pest under a bright light. Ramsay turned to you, wrapping his arm around your waist and pulling you close to him. He grinned as his eyes lazily scanned your face. He kissed your lips softly and whispered, "Now, I have something I want to show you." He took your hand and led you out the door and down the hall. He brought you to the dog kennels.

The dogs barked loudly in their dark kennels, each bark producing a huff of breath in the cold air. The walkway was illuminated by torches flickering against the walls. He pressed you up against the wall and kissed your neck, his hands hungrily pulling at your snug clothing. He wasn't used to you having so many layers on, and he grumbled realizing he couldn't paw at your bare skin yet.

He tugged your cloak, pulling you into an empty kennel, and shutting the door behind him. The dogs were still howling and barking until Ramsay's voice boomed loudly. "Hush! Sit!" Every single hound obeyed him instantly which sent a shiver up your spine. Even the wild animals didn't dare disobey their master. Ramsay kissed you deeply as he tugged at his own trousers. He was already aroused when he pulled the waistline down to his knees. "I missed you today. I'm quite exhausted, make me feel better." He put his hands on your shoulders and gently added pressure, coaxing you to your knees.

You gave in, sliding down to your knees in front of Ramsay. You felt your stomach flutter when his cock touched your lips. You were eager to please him. You began gently kissing the tip of his erection, swirling your tongue between your lips on him. He exhaled strongly as he pet your hair. You began slowly allowing the head of his cock to bob in and out of your mouth, his groaning told you everything you needed to know. Ramsay reached his hands up to his own head and ran his fingers through his hair before opening his eyes and gazing down at you.

"Can I tell you a secret?" He groaned, his cock still in your mouth. You pulled away from his member, a small pop as it left your mouth. "Yes, always." You continued to stroke him while you waited for the secret. Ramsay brought his hands down and stroked your hair before gripping it tightly. His teeth grit together and he bent at his waist, leaning down to your forehead. His voice spilled out smoothly, "I know you lied to me. I don't know why Reek was in your chambers, but I do know that you lied to me."

You froze, your hand stopped rubbing him. You could only peer up at him as he stood back up. He didn't say anything else, but he smiled a wicked grin and used your hair as reins. He yanked your hair, forcing your face against his cock. "I didn't tell you to stop." You instantly put your mouth back around him as he pulled your hair, forcing his cock down your throat. He fucked your face mercilessly. You gagged, sputtered, and spat as he used your face for his pleasure. He growled as he watched you suck him.

He reached one of his hands down to cup his testicles, gently massaging them while he shoved himself down your throat. His thighs were shaking and his needy hips pressed forward. You couldn't attempt to guess how many minutes it lasted before he started harshly moaning, filling your mouth with his cum. You swallowed as he caught his breath, leaving his member inside. He groaned as he slowly pulled his now soft cock out of your mouth. He tucked himself back into his trousers, tying them at his waist as if nothing had happened.

"Follow me." He beckoned you to stand. You carefully took his hand as he guided you out of the gated area and down the midsection of the kennels. "This one is my biggest and best girl!" He whispered into your ear, pointing to a huge hound sitting in the shadows of the biggest kennel. You nodded, watching the dog snarl. Ramsay smiled as he led you through the exit, silently walking to his chambers together. You didn't know if you should say anything about the lying.

Once in his bed chambers, you both crawled into his bed for the night. He apparently wanted your company since he didn't drop you off at your own chambers. You lay in silence as Ramsay shifted, making himself comfortable underneath the woven blankets. He groaned as he pulled you close to him. You were both on your sides and he rested his chin in the crook of your neck. He started drawing small circles on your arm with his fingers.

"You know, my love..." He began. "I told everyone we will be having our wedding tomorrow. I truly want you to be my bride." He whispered, sprinkling kisses on your shoulder as he spoke. "Ramsay, about earlier-" You wanted to bring it up, it was eating at you. Before you could say more, Ramsay shushed you, his hand gripping your jaw. “I know you lied. You don't have a good reason to lie to me, I am going to be your husband. That would be a shame, to lie to your future husband more than once. I am showing you mercy."

You nodded against his grip. He kissed your neck as he rolled onto his back. You heard him exhale a gentle smile. "Do you remember the big dog I showed you, the largest girl?" You whispered a response into the night, "Yes, I remember." Ramsay took a deep breath as he settled, his hand resting on your hip as he pulled you to your back, lying next to him. He turned his head, his curls falling on the pillow. You couldn't see much of his face in the dim light, but you could see the widened whites of his eyes. "She is the one who will rip you if you ever decide to lie to me again." Your blood ran cold as you lay still, listening to your lover gently fall asleep.

Chapter Seven

[bekaterrier]

Happy Audio Drama Sunday! This week definitely had me feeling some feels...

@hinaypod Episode 45 - Paghahanda (Preparation) Part 1: More Mari and Sauvard bonding time! The music box is interesting, I can only imagine one of those tunes playing creepily in the background of a scene... More vague clues from J, the man cannot just outright say something. Also starting to see some of the consequences of Murphy's decision after dealing with Bolton.

@desertskiespodcast Chapter 17 - The Accident: I said it earlier this week and I'll say it again, phew, that was an episode. I was so frustrated like Nonny and Mac, wondering why Tendy wasn't doing more about this terrible traveller. Tendy's breakdown at the end was so raw and heartbreaking (serious kudos to Jared for the acting on this one). I'm glad Nonny and Mac are there and hopefully they can start helping him out of this hole.

@storiesfromylelmore Episode 202 - Chess: Rion, sweetheart, let someone hug you! I felt this episode to my core; the trying to please everyone all the time, taking on too much, and then Rion also had to deal with that awful secretary's bigotry? I'm glad there was an adult who was able to recognize at least some of what was going on and hopefully make things easier (even of Rion didn't want them to). I can't wait to see how well Keryth's charmed rings work!

Case Study IREC-A59 Episode 3 - So Here's The THING: I really like the little clues we've been getting to give us an image of what humans look like compared to the alien crew (ex: "sit down so you're not towering over it"). Like Ineke, I am also very curious about the initial report about humans and what the reported first contact was.

@midnightburgr - Welcome to the Horizon Part 5 - Trinkett's Trip: Can you feel the vibes? I definitely feel the vibes because Tina and Cat are killing it as Deidre and Verge! I love that Frank is teaching Verge how to be part of the community. But also, Frank? Are...are you gonna be okay? Clementine, what did you do?!

The Department of Variance of @somewhereohio Season 2: I have to stop trying to predict where this story will go because I am never anywhere NEAR what actually happens - and I love that! The world is so rich and complex, the characters are so compelling, and I cannot wait to hear Jasmine and Scarlett kick some ass in season 3.

[windriverdelta]

Jon Snow - King in the North?

One of the open questions of TWOW/ADOS is whether Jon Snow will ever become King in the North, as in Game of Thrones and in Robb's will. Now the KitN point in the show was extremely sloppily done - Jon didn't really accomplish anything with it, and some people suspect that the show simply gave Jon Stannis Baratheon's book function - and unlike "Stannis burns Shireen" or "Bran becomes king" it's not one of the moments-from-the book we know of, but given the show's tendency to write "moments" without a solid foundation just because they occur in the future books it's not ruled out. There are also some references by Mormont's raven and elsewhere that compare Jon to a king.

That said, I find it improbable. The first big problem is Stannis Baratheon. He's never going to abide a new King in the North, as he makes clear to Catelyn and Davos in ACOK. Jon Snow is effectively a Stannis supporter in ADWD, as we can see from e.g the way he calls him "the king" without qualifiers to Alys Karstark and tries to warn him about Arnolf Karstark. I doubt that he'd try to usurp Stannis. And crucially, Stannis has a lot of plot armour/guaranteed survival going in to TWOW/ADOS - unlike the show, Shireen has been left at the Wall and there is no way she could reach Stannis at Winterfell before his army starves to death, so we know he has to survive. And while we've seen with the Edric Storm affair in ASOS that Stannis is prepared to sacrifice a child to stop the Long Night, until the Long Night is actually underway I doubt that he'll give his only child to stop it. Lastly, Stannis being Azor Ahai is one of the lies Daenerys must slay, not the Boltons or Jon. Him dying before ADOS is an exceedingly unlikely prospect.

Second, there are a lot of political obstacles to Jon Snow becoming King in the North. While Robb's will almost certainly legitimized him, there is no evidence that a written copy of the will survived the Red Wedding and the Grand Northern Conspiracy is not a thing. All what he'd have is Maege Mormont's and Galbart Glover's word, since all other witnesses are trapped south of the Neck/in Iron Throne ally custody - and oh yeah, they are with Howland Reed who knows that Jon is not Ned's son. Also, the will assumed that Bran and Rickon were dead and Sansa in the power of the Lannisters; they aren't, and this is going to come out in TWOW between Davos' mission and Bran revealing himself in the crofters' village, complicating Northern politics as all these candidates have advantages and disadvantages over Jon. It's also unclear whether Northern independence is actually strongly supported in the North after the Red Wedding - we don't have much evidence of patriotic fervour in ACOK and ASOS, let alone in the history of the North during the Targaryen dynasty, and the current movers-and-shakers in the North mostly weren't around for the war council in Riverrun where Robb's acclamation took place. Their attitudes might be very negotiable. And as for the notion of Jon being acclaimed like in the show after defeating the Boltons - that's extremely unlikely in the books for sundry logistical and thematic reasons.

Speaking of, I think it's somewhat thematically unsound for a story where per GRRM the "true conflict is north of the Wall" and where Osha tells Bran that Robb is marching in the wrong direction, to suddenly champion the cause of Northern independence. Stannis, not Robb, is still alive at the end of ASOS. A coalition between wildlings, Starks, Team Stannis and small-o others - later joined by Daenerys and Tyrion as future dragonriders - is way more likely in my opinion.*

Vis-a-vis Jon Snow, there is also the question of how KitN fits into his character arc. He has already declined Stannis' offer of Winterfell in ASOS, making a tilt in TWOW might be repetitive. His story in TWOW is likely going to head to a resurrection, the Stark Family Reunion, the R+L=J reveal and (eta: in ADOS - see conversation with @jackoshadows) becoming a dragonrider (two of them must be Targaryens), probably also an identity crisis - KitN seems more like a detour, especially as the timeline does not leave much time for anything else. Abandoning the fight against the Others for political games in the North only to return to fighting the Others would be questionable storytelling.

Credit to @nobodysuspectsthebutterfly @poorquentyn @turtle-paced for inspiration/citations.

*Or a very dark possibility: Northern separatists try to force Jon's (or someone else's) accession by fighting with Stannis ... only to be taken in the rear by the Others when the Horn of Joramun brings the Wall down and their attempt to end in catastrophe as their armies are smashed between Others and pro-Stannis troops. The fiefs of the most pro-independence Northerners we've seen - Lyanna Mormont (OK, she's way down the Mormont succession order), Greatjon Umber and Robett Glover - are also the closest to the Wall, discounting the mountain clans, and thus closest to the "firing line". That might be a set-up to such a tragedy.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Brandi Buchman at HuffPost:

Despite promoting debunked far-right conspiracy theories popular with movements like QAnon — including the claim that the FBI incited the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6 — and a very public record of calling for so-called “deep state” operatives who oppose President Donald Trump to be punished, Kash Patel has been confirmed as director of the FBI. The Senate confirmed Patel 51-49. He will oversee more than 38,000 civil servants, of whom 13,000 are special agents, over a 10-year term. Patel’s confirmation hearing in January before the Senate Judiciary Committee featured the president’s avowed ally working hard to repel concerns that he would weaponize the bureau and return it to an era of retribution and paranoia promulgated by the agency’s first-ever director, J. Edgar Hoover. Patel deflected last month when grilled about a list of “deep state” enemies he published in the appendix of his book, “Government Gangsters.” Patel called it a “glossary” and told legislators that describing it as an enemies list was a “total mischaracterization,” even though the 60 names on the list are almost all known public critics of Trump. Before Patel was confirmed, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) urged lawmakers to understand the gravity of their decision. “For the ordinary nominee, any of the defects in character or experience or performance in past jobs would have been disqualifying. We live in a time that is not ordinary, and this nominee is not normal. I’ve never seen any nominee to a position of significant responsibility that has as many disqualifying factors in his or her background,” he said before invoking the words of Trump’s onetime national security adviser John Bolton.

The Senate voted 51-49 almost entirely on party lines to confirm far-right conspiracy theorist and MAGA acolyte Kash Patel to head up the FBI for a 10-year term. Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins were the two Republicans to vote against, along with all Democrats.

Patel is Trump’s 3rd FBI director in his two terms, as Obama-appointed James Comey served the first few months until his firing and Christopher Wray served the remainder of his first term and the entirety of Joe Biden’s.

If a Democrat becomes President in 2029 (hopefully then) or 2033, they have a prerogative to fire Patel.

See Also:

The Guardian: US Senate narrowly confirms Kash Patel as next FBI director

[misfitwashere]

ROBERT REICH

JAN 30

Friends,

The Senate Judiciary Committee is now questioning Kash Patel, Trump’s nominee to become director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

As the chief investigative officer of the United States, the person heading the FBI can either protect or imperil the freedoms of Americans. 

I’m old enough to remember J. Edgar Hoover, the FBI’s first director, who served for 37 years, from 1935 until his death in May 1972. 

Hoover supported Senator Joseph McCarthy’s communist witch hunt. He established and expanded a national blacklist of suspected communists. He used the FBI to harass and sabotage political dissidents. He collected information on officials and private citizens using illegal surveillance, wiretapping, and burglaries — giving him the power to intimidate and threaten high-ranking political figures.

If confirmed, Patel is likely to be worse than J.Edgar Hoover. Hoover at least worked under presidents who understood that they worked for the American people. Patel will work for Trump, who works only for Trump. 

In fact, Patel has already come up with his own Trump enemies list. In Patel’s 2023 book Government Gangsters, he lists 60 current and former executive branch officials whom he refers to as members of the “Executive Branch Deep State.”

Patel calls these people “a cabal of tyrants” and “the most dangerous threat to our democracy.” In Patel’s words, these people:

“spread disinformation, spurn fairness, or even violate their oaths of office for political and personal gain, all at the expense of equal justice and American national security. … In many ways, this bureaucratic wing of the Deep State is the most dangerous.”

Patel lists several people who served in the Obama administration — including John Brennan, former CIA director; James Clapper, former director of national intelligence; Eric Holder, former attorney general; and John Podesta, former counselor to Obama.

Patel also lists several officials of the first Trump administration, including Bill Barr, Trump’s former attorney general, and John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser (whose security protection Trump just revoked). 

Also on Patel’s list are Hillary Clinton, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and former President Joe Biden.

Patel’s (and Trump’s) enemies list is no joke. Interviewed by The Washington Post, some on the list are lining up attorneys; a few are packing “go bags” in case they need to quickly flee; a couple are carrying recently acquired weapons; and several still in public office are getting employees ready to receive subpoenas or field interview requests by authorities. About a dozen have spoken to spouses or children about the steps they should take if police arrive at their homes.

Speaking at CPAC in February 2024, Patel said: 

“They have weaponized justice, they have politicized the intelligence community, they have seized our Department of Defense ... We must identify the people in government who are crippling our constitutional republic.”

On the “Shawn Ryan Show” podcast in September 2024, Patel said:

“The one thing we learned in the Trump Administration, the first go round, is we got to put in all American patriots top to bottom. … We will go out and find the conspirators, not just in government, but in the media. Yes, we’re going to come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens, who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections. We’re going to come after you.”

On Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast, December 2023, Patel said: 

“We [must] collectively join forces to take on the most powerful enemy that the United States has ever seen, and no it’s not Washington, D.C., it’s the mainstream media and these people out there in the fake news. That is our mission!”

I could have assembled much more of Patel’s ravings and writings, but you get the point. 

Kash Patel is not simply unqualified to be the chief investigator of the United States. He’s downright dangerous. 

The Senate has a constitutional responsibility to reject his confirmation. Please call your senators and tell them so. The congressional switchboard number is (202) 224-3121.