#jaime brooks

[a-dream-seeking-light]

Boiler room bounce

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repost of this originally posted back in the day by now-deactivated blog @highongrimes.  i edited the gif to remove light lines and transparent matte bars (shout out to GIMP for being able to handle animated webp files natively). via @life-in--the--vivid-dream

[ourladyofomega]

[oneshotprincess]

Cove, Terry, and Randy, also at the venue, watching all of this unfold like: 🤯, 👀🍿, 👁️👄👁️

[onepiecefanz]

So I've been getting a lot of posts like this one:

NOT CONFIRMED!!

But it does raise a question, since it is so hard expensive to fully CGI Chopper.. People think he'll be a real human boy instead.

If they do that tho... They need to change the child actor if One Piece is going to film all the seasons... Cuz that kid is gonna be a well grown adult by the end🤣🤣

[mazzystar24]

You guys are gonna bully me for the reference I’m about to make but bare with me

I was thinking about how differently they could’ve written buck and Eddie’s and Christopher’s dynamic if they wanted it to be what they are trying to sell us- which is that Eddie and buck are just best friends and buck is just really involved with Chris and Eddie’s family and that buck has a bond with Chris- which is also tied to the tsunami

So I got to thinking about one tree hill (I know you guys are loudly heckling me but fuck it’s low-key high key good) and in doing that I was thinking about Brooke and Jaimie’s scenes:

now I know now this post will only make sense to the demographic who watched both shows but like while their scenes show the real care and love that Brooke has for Jaimie, eventhough she is nurturing toward him and goes as far as to nearly drown to save him- much like buck for Chris - one difference is that none of their scenes feel like Brooke acts as a second mother, despite her literally making comments about wanting to adopt him she always feels like a godmother which she is.

They find the perfect balance in Brooke’s relationship with not only Jaimie but with Nathan and Haley that makes her presence in their lives never seem out of place, too involved or like she’s taking on the role of a parent while still having her go above and beyond for this family and for Jaimie.

This is something we simply don’t see with Buck because buck always seems like more with the diazes.

Even in terms of in show reference we never hear stuff like uncle buck or calling him Chris’ godfather (like we see with Brooke) because in the eyes of the audience either of those labels would just seem wrong at this point, like it would be rewriting history because he’s always acted more as another parent than either of those things.

Side note: Also let’s be real Brooke had chemistry with every woman on that show and yet her friendship with Haley was always so clearly friendship

[niriaveil]

i'm notoriously bad about reading codex entries in ME but the AHEM mod adding in functional lore for the catalyst based off the science behind it and explaining how it can be used to solely target reapers and only partly damage the citadel and mass relays. yeah i'll incorporate that into my belief system.

makes the AHEM > CEM transition a bit smoother, but I just know Hayley was down for several months / almost a year recovering from her injuries and having to get used to her prosthetic leg. i do love the vindication of anderson leaving shepard stuff in his will (mostly the citadel apartment, but i know he left more. i know it) but i'm seeing why most people enjoy these two mods. they're good. i like it.

the citadel dlc being the epilogue and note to send off on ME3 is really good too. i love my silly hijinks dlc so much.

[iowadream]

aforementioned AI Drake article. in it, jaime brooks discusses that one AI-generated Drake track (and why "AI-generated" is kind of a poor descriptor for what it is), how it relates to certain attitudes around vocaloid when it first came out, how it relates to our current conceptualization of a recording artist, and puts the recording artist within historical context. i CANNOT recommend it enough

[allgoodthingscomic]

Outta here.

[novaursa]

A Lion's Folly (to break)

- Summary: A story where a lion falls for the eldest daughter of Lord Eddard Stark, you.

- Pairing: stark!reader/Jaime Lannister

- Note: Keep in mind how events in the story will differ from the canon.

- Rating: Mature 16+

- Previous part: to mend

- Next part: the price

- Tag(s): @sachaa-ff @oxymakestheworldgoround @butterflygxril @lordofthunderthr @mrsnms

The towering walls of King’s Landing loomed larger with every step, the gates yawning open as Jaime’s group approached. The morning air carried the city’s distinct stench—a mixture of rot, sweat, and waste—and you wrinkled your nose, muttering something under your breath about how it smelled even worse up close.

Winter padded silently at your side. The closer you got to the Red Keep, the more restless he seemed, his blue eyes scanning the surroundings with unrelenting vigilance.

When you reached the outskirts of the city, you stopped, crouching down to meet Winter’s gaze. His ears perked up as you scratched behind them, your voice soft but firm.

“Stay here,” you told him, gesturing toward a cluster of trees on a nearby hill. “Find somewhere safe and wait for me. I’ll come back for you.”

Winter growled softly, his eyes narrowing as if in protest.

“Winter,” you said sharply, your tone brooking no argument. “Go.”

The wolf hesitated, his gaze flicking to Jaime, who stood nearby watching the exchange. Then, with a low huff, Winter turned and padded away, his massive frame disappearing into the trees.

Jaime smirked faintly. “That beast of yours doesn’t take orders easily, does he?”

You straightened, brushing dust from your clothes. “He’s smarter than most people I’ve met,” you replied coldly, giving Jaime a pointed look.

He chuckled, though the sound was faint, his gaze shifting to the gates as the group continued onward.

The streets of King’s Landing were bustling but not overly crowded. Market stalls lined the narrow alleys, their vendors shouting out wares as people moved about their daily lives. The group kept their heads down, Brienne flanking you protectively while Jaime rode at the front, his gaze scanning for trouble.

To Jaime’s surprise, they passed through the city without much fuss. There were a few curious glances, and a drunken shout or two from those who recognized him as the Kingslayer, but no one made a move to stop them.

The anxity only grew as they neared the Red Keep, its crimson walls rising high above the city like a fortress of blood and stone. The guards at the gates stiffened as they approached, their hands resting on their weapons.

“State your business,” one of them barked, his eyes narrowing as he took in the motley group.

Jaime raised his good hand, his voice calm but firm. “Ser Jaime Lannister, returning to the capital with an escort under Lord Bolton’s orders.”

The guard’s eyes flicked to you, recognition dawning on his face. “A Stark,” he muttered, his tone low and wary.

The murmur spread among the other guards, their postures tensing.

Brienne stepped closer to you, her broad frame a shield between you and the growing unease. “Stand down,” she said sharply, her voice cutting through the whispers.

Jaime dismounted, his expression hardening as he stepped forward. “She’s under my protection,” he said, his voice leaving no room for argument. “As are the others. If you’ve got an issue, take it up with my father.”

The guards exchanged uneasy glances before nodding reluctantly, their hands moving away from their weapons.

“Open the gates,” one of them ordered, and the group was ushered inside.

The courtyard of the Red Keep was bustling with activity, servants and soldiers moving about in a flurry of motion. The air felt heavier here, thick with the weight of power and intrigue.

You dismounted, your gaze sweeping over the unfamiliar surroundings. The walls seemed to close in on you, their crimson hue a constant reminder of where you were. Brienne remained at your side, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword as her eyes darted around, ever watchful.

Jaime turned to you briefly, his smirk faint but present. “Stay close to her,” he said to Brienne, his tone quieter now.

“You don’t need to tell me that,” Brienne replied curtly, her focus never wavering.

Qyburn stood off to the side, his expression unreadable as he observed the scene. The rest of Bolton’s men lingered nearby, their postures stiff as the guards kept a close watch on them.

“Ser Jaime,” one of the Red Keep guards said, stepping forward. “Your father is expecting you.”

Jaime’s smirk faltered slightly, replaced by a guarded expression. He glanced at you one last time before nodding. “Keep an eye on them,” he said to the guard. “And make sure no one touches her.”

The guard hesitated before nodding, though his gaze lingered on you longer than Jaime liked.

Jaime turned and began walking toward the towering doors of the Keep, the weight of his father’s presence looming over him like a storm. As the doors opened and the dark halls swallowed him whole, he couldn’t help but glance back at you one last time.

And for a brief moment, he wondered if you were safer in the Red Keep—or out in the wilds with your wolf.

Jaime walked with measured steps, his good hand loosely resting at his side while his empty sleeve swayed with each movement. The guards flanked him in silence, their armored boots echoing faintly on the polished stone floors.

Ahead, the towering doors to his father’s chambers loomed. Jaime took a deep breath, steadying himself. He’d faced enemies on the battlefield, endured torment in Harrenhal, and fought through pain and fever. Yet somehow, the prospect of facing Tywin Lannister was more daunting than all of it combined.

The guards opened the doors, and Jaime stepped inside.

Tywin sat at a long table, his back straight, his piercing green eyes fixed on a stack of correspondence before him. Candles burned steadily on either side of him, casting flickering light over his stern, weathered face. He looked up as Jaime entered, his gaze immediately sweeping over his son with a cold, calculating intensity.

Jaime stood still under that gaze, his smirk faint but present, though it lacked its usual confidence. He could feel his father’s scrutiny, the weight of disappointment already palpable in the silence.

“Jaime,” Tywin said finally, his voice low and measured.

“Father,” Jaime replied, stepping forward.

Tywin’s eyes flicked to Jaime’s maimed arm—or rather, the absence of it. His expression didn’t change, but there was a flicker of something in his gaze: calculation, perhaps, or irritation.

“You’ve returned,” Tywin said, his tone devoid of warmth. “And in a state I can only describe as… unbecoming.”

Jaime chuckled dryly, holding up his good hand in mock surrender. “Not exactly the hero’s welcome I imagined, but I suppose I deserve that.”

Tywin’s gaze lingered on Jaime’s stump. “You’ve lost more than a hand, it seems,” he said coldly. “Your pride. Your discipline. Your dignity.”

“Not my charm, though,” Jaime shot back, his smirk returning faintly.

Tywin didn’t rise to the bait. Instead, he gestured for Jaime to sit across from him. Jaime complied, lowering himself into the chair with a faint wince as his body protested the movement.

“I received word from Lord Bolton,” Tywin said, his tone brisk. “He informed me that our arrangement with the Freys is no longer intact. The alliance, and the wedding, are off. Do you care to explain why?”

Jaime leaned back slightly, his smirk fading. “It seems Lord Bolton blames me for the disruption. Something about losing a bride.”

Tywin’s brow furrowed slightly, though his face remained otherwise impassive. “A bride? Explain.”

Jaime exhaled slowly, running his fingers through his unkempt hair. “Roose intended to marry Eddard Stark’s eldest daughter. She was to secure his position in the North. Unfortunately, she escaped.”

“And how did she escape?” Tywin asked, his eyes narrowing.

Jaime hesitated, his smirk faltering. “Let’s just say… I may have played a part in her freedom.”

The silence that followed was heavy, Tywin’s gaze cutting through him like a blade.

“You risked everything for a Stark?” Tywin said, his voice quiet but brimming with fury. “You jeopardized a carefully constructed alliance for sentiment?”

Jaime leaned forward slightly, his expression hardening. “I wasn’t about to let Roose Bolton use her as a pawn. He would’ve broken her. And whatever you think of me, Father, I don’t break women for sport.”

Tywin’s eyes gleamed with cold calculation. “That Stark girl is in the courtyard, isn’t she?”

Jaime nodded. “Along with Brienne of Tarth and the remnants of our escort. They’re under guard.”

Tywin leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled beneath his chin. “And what exactly do you plan to do with her, Jaime? Because as it stands, she’s a liability—a rebel’s daughter, tied to a house that has declared open war on the crown.”

Jaime met his father’s gaze evenly, his jaw tightening. “She’s leverage,” he said, his voice firm. “If we use her properly.”

Tywin studied him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. “You’ve returned broken and disgraced, Jaime. Yet you think to bargain with me, to dictate terms as though you still hold any power.”

Jaime smirked faintly, though there was no humor in it. “I may be broken, Father, but I still know how the game is played. And right now, that girl in the courtyard might be the best card we have.”

Tywin’s eyes narrowed further, his silence stretching uncomfortably.

“We’ll see,” Tywin said finally, his tone cold. “But make no mistake, Jaime. This is your mess to clean up. If your gambit fails, you’ll pay the price.”

Jaime nodded, his smirk fading as the weight of his father’s words settled over him.

The conversation wasn’t over, not by a long shot. But for now, Jaime knew better than to push further.

And as Tywin’s gaze bore into him, Jaime couldn’t help but wonder how much longer he could play this game without losing everything.

You stood near the center of the courtyard, your arms crossed, your expression hard as the guards kept a careful watch on you and Brienne. Winter’s absence felt strange—a constant presence suddenly gone—but you pushed the thought aside, focusing on your surroundings.

Brienne stood at your side, her broad frame tense and her hand never straying far from her sword hilt. The remnants of Roose Bolton’s escort lingered nearby, their expressions a mix of unease and irritation as they awaited further instructions.

It was then that a soft, almost serpentine voice broke through the noise.

“Lady Stark,” Varys said smoothly, his delicate hands folded in front of him as he approached.

Your gaze snapped to him, your brow furrowing as you took in his appearance. The man was unassuming, his robes fine but simple, his bald head shone in the sunlight. Yet there was something about him—something calculating and watchful—that set your nerves on edge.

“I am Varys,” he introduced himself, his tone pleasant but laced with an underlying weight. “The Master of Whisperers. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”

“What do you want?” you asked bluntly, your voice cold.

Varys smiled faintly, unbothered by your tone. “Only to offer some… information. I thought it might be of interest to you.”

Brienne stepped forward slightly, her eyes narrowing. “She’s not interested in your games.”

Varys’s smile didn’t waver. “I assure you, Ser Brienne, this is no game. It concerns Lady Stark’s family.”

Your heart clenched, though you refused to let it show. “What about my family?”

Varys’s gaze softened, though his expression remained guarded. “Your sister Sansa is here, within the walls of the Red Keep. She is alive and… as safe as one can be in such circumstances.”

Sansa. The name hit you like a blow, relief and fear warring within you. But before you could ask more, Varys continued.

“There has been no word of Arya, however,” he added, his tone tinged with regret. “I am still searching, but the world is vast, and she is elusive.”

You swallowed hard, forcing yourself to remain composed. “Are there any words of my brother? My mother?”

Varys hesitated for a fraction of a second before replying. “They are beyond my reach for now, my lady. The war has kept them… preoccupied.”

Before you could press him further, a contingent of guards approached, their leader stepping forward with a brisk, no-nonsense demeanor. “Lady Y/N,” he said curtly. “You are to be escorted to guest chambers within the Keep. Ser Brienne and the others will remain here.”

Brienne immediately stepped in front of you, her broad frame blocking the guard’s path. “She stays with me,” she said firmly, her voice low and dangerous.

The guard’s expression didn’t change. “That is not for you to decide.”

“She will not be left alone.” Brienne growled.

“Ser Brienne,” Varys interjected smoothly, his voice calm. “I understand your concern, truly. But Lady Y/N will not come to harm. She is far too important a piece on the board for anyone to risk losing her.”

Brienne’s glare shifted to Varys, her grip on her sword tightening. “And why should I believe you?”

“Because I am not in the business of breaking valuable pieces,” Varys replied, his tone pleasant but firm. “Lady Y/N’s safety is paramount—for now.”

You placed a hand on Brienne’s arm, drawing her attention. “It’s fine,” you said quietly, though your stomach churned at the thought of being separated. “I’ll go.”

Brienne’s jaw tightened, but she stepped aside reluctantly, her eyes flashing with frustration.

“See that she is treated well,” she said to the guards, her voice low but commanding.

The guards nodded, their postures stiff as they gestured for you to follow. You cast one last glance at Brienne before turning and walking toward the Keep, your heart heavy with uncertainty.

As you disappeared into the shadows of the Red Keep, Brienne turned her glare back to Varys. “If anything happens to her—”

“Nothing will happen to her,” Varys said smoothly, cutting her off. “She is under Lannister protection now. And while the Lannisters may be many things, they are not fools. They know her value.”

Brienne’s lips pressed into a thin line, her frustration evident. “Her value as a hostage, you mean.”

Varys inclined his head slightly. “A fair observation. But rest assured, Ser Brienne, I have no intention of letting harm befall Lady Y/N. Not while she remains useful.”

Brienne’s fists clenched, but she said nothing more, her gaze lingering on the entrance to the Keep.

Varys offered her a faint smile before retreating, leaving her standing in the courtyard.

Jaime stood in the halls of the Red Keep, the faint hum of activity echoing around him. He was freshly bathed, his hair trimmed, his clothes regal. The Lannister crimson and gold fit him like a second skin, but despite his polished appearance, he couldn’t shake the weight in his chest. The loss of his hand had stripped him of the pride he once carried so effortlessly. Now, every movement felt like a reminder of what he had lost.

The guards escorting him paused briefly as they passed a set of closed doors. Jaime knew what lay beyond them.

Your chambers.

He stopped, his gaze lingering on the heavy wood for a moment too long. The thought of you, confined within, sent an odd pang through him. He told himself it was curiosity—nothing more. Yet, something about the way you carried yourself, your fire, and your unrelenting defiance, lingered in his mind far more than he cared to admit.

“Ser Jaime?” one of the guards prompted, his tone hesitant.

Jaime tore his gaze away, his smirk faint but present. “Lead on,” he said, waving them forward.

As they continued down the hall, he tried to push the thoughts of you aside. Tonight, he had an obligation to fulfill—a role to play, as always.

The door to Cersei’s chambers opened, and the scent of lavender and wine greeted him. Cersei sat by the window, a goblet of wine in her hand, her gaze fixed on the city below. She turned as Jaime entered, her expression piercing and unreadable.

“Jaime,” she said, her voice cool.

“Cersei,” Jaime replied, his tone lighter, though it lacked the warmth he might have once carried. He closed the door behind him, stepping into the room with measured confidence.

Her eyes immediately fell to his empty sleeve, the fabric neatly pinned where his hand once was. She rose slowly, her lips curling into a faint sneer. “So, this is what’s left of you,” she said, her voice dripping with disdain. “The great Jaime Lannister. The golden lion, reduced to this.”

Jaime’s smirk faltered for a moment before he shrugged, forcing it back. “Still golden,” he said, his tone light. “Just a little less… complete.”

Cersei stalked toward him, her gaze taking in every detail of his appearance. “And what’s this I hear about you bringing a Stark girl into my city?”

Jaime tilted his head, his smirk fading. “She’s leverage. For Sansa. For Arya, if she’s found. You know how the game is played.”

Cersei’s eyes narrowed, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “You stole her from Roose Bolton. Do you have any idea what chaos that could bring? What rumors might spread?”

“Chaos seems to follow us, doesn’t it?” Jaime replied, his tone biting now.

Cersei stepped closer, her gaze locking onto his. “You always had a weakness for her,” she hissed. “I saw the way you looked at her in Winterfell. Don’t think I’ve forgotten.”

Jaime’s chest tightened, though he kept his expression neutral. “This isn’t about her,” he said firmly. “It’s about strategy. Nothing more.”

Cersei’s laugh was low and bitter. “Strategy. Is that what you call it now?” She stepped back, shaking her head as she sipped her wine. “You’ve returned broken, Jaime. And now you bring this… problem to my doorstep. What exactly do you expect from me?”

Jaime’s jaw tightened, but he forced a faint smile. “A little gratitude might be nice. Or have you forgotten that I came back at all?”

Cersei’s eyes flickered with something unreadable—anger, perhaps, or disappointment. “I thought I’d feel something when I saw you again,” she said quietly, her voice almost cold. “But now… I barely recognize you.”

Jaime’s heart should have ached at her words, but to his surprise, they barely stung. He studied her, the woman he had once worshipped, and found himself wondering why he had ever held her so high.

“I recognize you just fine,” Jaime said softly, his tone laced with a bitterness he hadn’t intended.

Cersei’s gaze hardened, but she said nothing more, turning away to look out the window.

Jaime stood in silence for a moment longer, the distance between them more palpable than ever. Then, with a faint sigh, he turned and left the room, the weight of her rejection heavier than he wanted to admit—but lighter than he had feared.

And as he walked back through the halls of the Red Keep, he found his thoughts returning to you, the fire in your eyes so different to the coldness of the woman he had left behind.

The heavy door to your chambers creaked open, drawing your attention from the window where you had been staring out over the sprawling city below. The muted light of the overcast day cast a somber glow over the Red Keep, but your thoughts were far darker. You had been trapped here for hours, the weight of what awaited pressing down on you like a stone.

But the sight that greeted you at the door made the world around you fade.

Sansa.

She stepped into the room hesitantly, her delicate features pale and drawn, her auburn hair neatly arranged despite the tired shadows under her eyes. She looked older than you remembered, though it hadn’t been so long since you’d last seen her. The light in her blue eyes, once so vibrant, had dimmed, replaced by something brittle and fragile.

The door closed behind her, leaving the two of you alone. For a moment, neither of you moved, the weight of everything unspoken hanging in the air.

“Sansa,” you breathed, your voice cracking.

At the sound of your voice, Sansa’s composure shattered. A sob escaped her lips as she rushed toward you, her arms wrapping around you in a desperate embrace. You held her tightly, your own eyes stinging with unshed tears as you felt the tremors of her cries against your shoulder.

“You’re alive,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”

You pulled back slightly, your hands resting on her shoulders as you searched her tear-streaked face. “What have they done to you?” you asked softly, though the question carried a sharp edge of anger.

Sansa shook her head, her lips trembling as fresh tears welled in her eyes. “Everything,” she choked out. “They’ve done everything.”

She sank onto the edge of the bed, her hands twisting in her lap as she tried to compose herself. You sat beside her, waiting patiently for her to speak.

“They married me to Tyrion,” she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. “It was their way of keeping me here. Of controlling me.”

Your jaw tightened, your hands curling into fists. “Tyrion?” you repeated.

Sansa nodded, her gaze dropping to the floor. “He’s been… kind, in his own way. He hasn’t hurt me. But it doesn’t matter. None of it matters.” Her voice broke, and she buried her face in her hands. “I watched them kill Father,” she sobbed. “I was there when they took his head. And now they’ve brought you here, and I don’t know what they’ll do to you.”

Her words were a dagger to your heart, each one twisting deeper than the last. You wrapped your arms around her again, pulling her close as she cried against your shoulder.

“They won’t hurt me,” you said firmly, though the certainty in your voice was forced. “I’m here for you, Sansa. For Arya. We’ll find her. We’ll find a way out of this.”

Sansa shook her head, her sobs quieting slightly. “They’ll never let us go,” she whispered. “They’ll use us until there’s nothing left. Until we’re just… broken pieces on their board.”

Your chest tightened, a fiery resolve sparking within you. “I won’t let that happen,” you said softly but fiercely. “You’re stronger than they think, Sansa. We both are. And we’ll survive this.”

Sansa pulled back slightly, her tear-streaked face lifting to meet yours. There was a flicker of hope in her eyes, fragile but present.

“How?” she asked, her voice trembling.

You didn’t have an answer—not yet. But as you held your sister’s gaze, you knew one thing for certain: you would find a way to protect her, no matter the cost.

And for the first time in days, Sansa’s lips trembled into the faintest hint of a smile.

Jaime leaned against the cold stone of Tyrion’s chambers, his gaze fixed on the goblet in his hand. The sweet tang of wine lingered on his tongue, but it did little to dull the chaos in his mind. Tyrion, seated across from him, poured another goblet for himself, his eyes glinting with curiosity and something deeper—concern, perhaps.

The Red Keep’s walls seemed to close in around Jaime as the weight of his father’s judgment lingered. The sting of Cersei’s rejection was still fresh, but it was the news Tyrion had just delivered that truly rattled him.

“Roose Bolton,” Jaime muttered, swirling the wine in his goblet. “He’s as much a vulture as he is a man.”

Tyrion raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair. “You sound surprised, brother. Father’s plans are always practical, if not particularly kind. Roose wants his bride back, and Tywin sees no reason to deny him.”

Jaime clenched his jaw, his good hand tightening around the goblet. The thought of you being sent back to Bolton turned his stomach in ways he didn’t want to acknowledge. He had witnessed Bolton’s cold calculation firsthand, the way he regarded people as pieces on a board, devoid of humanity.

“She’s not a bargaining chip,” Jaime said sharply, the words escaping before he could stop them.

Tyrion tilted his head, his expression thoughtful. “Everyone in King’s Landing is a bargaining chip, Jaime. You know that as well as I do.”

Jaime let out a bitter laugh, his smirk faint and humorless. “And what happens to her once she’s back in Bolton’s hands? Do you think he’ll treat her with the same care he gives his prisoners?”

Tyrion sipped his wine, his gaze steady. “No, I don’t. But that’s not our father’s concern. Roose Bolton is an ally, and allies require incentives to stay loyal.”

Jaime’s chest tightened, his mind racing with conflicting emotions. He had no right to care—no reason to feel the fire that burned in his chest at the thought of you being handed back to Bolton like some kind of prize. You were a Stark, a rebel’s daughter, someone who should mean nothing to him.

And yet, you haunted him.

He couldn’t forget the way you looked at him, your eyes bright and unyielding, or the quiet strength you carried even when the odds were stacked against you. He had told himself it was simple admiration, a grudging respect for your defiance. But as days turned to nights, and nights turned to restless hours, he couldn’t deny the truth that gnawed at him.

You mattered.

The realization unsettled him, leaving him feeling raw and exposed in a way he hadn’t since he lost his hand.

“Jaime,” Tyrion’s voice cut through his thoughts, careful and probing. “What’s truly bothering you?”

Jaime exhaled slowly, setting the goblet down with a clink. “It’s nothing,” he said, though his voice lacked conviction.

Tyrion studied him for a moment, his gaze narrowing. “You’ve been distracted since you arrived. Cersei, perhaps? Or could it be our dear guest locked in her chambers?”

Jaime shot him annoyed look, but Tyrion’s smirk was faint, his tone careful. “You’ve brought her here, risking Father’s wrath. Tell me, brother, is this a rescue mission? Or something more?”

Jaime leaned back, his smirk returning, though it was brittle. “You’ve always been good at seeing things that aren’t there, Tyrion. She saved my life.”

Tyrion’s smirk widened, though his eyes remained serious. “And you’ve always been good at avoiding the truth, Jaime. But it seems the truth has caught up with you this time.”

Jaime didn’t respond, his jaw tightening as he stared into his empty goblet.

Tyrion set his goblet down with a soft clink, his tone turning somber. “Father plans to send her back before Joffrey’s wedding. A gift to Bolton to ensure his continued loyalty. Once she’s out of the city, her fate is out of our hands.”

Jaime’s hand curled into a fist, his chest tightening. “And if I object?”

“Then you’ll have to find a way to outmaneuver Tywin Lannister,” Tyrion replied, his tone grim. “And I don’t envy anyone who tries.”

The room fell into silence, the weight of Tyrion’s words hanging heavily between them. Jaime’s mind churned, a whirlwind of anger, frustration, and something far more dangerous: desperation.

Jaime suddenly found himself questioning the path laid out before him—not for himself, but for someone else.

And the realization terrified him.

The corridor leading to your chambers was eerily quiet, the kind of silence that made Jaime’s footsteps sound louder than they were. He paused in front of the heavy wooden door, his good hand hovering over the latch. Visiting you now, with the weight of Tywin’s plan pressing on his shoulders, felt like walking into a storm he couldn’t control.

But he couldn’t stop himself.

Taking a steadying breath, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.

You stood near the window, your arms crossed and your back straight, a picture of defiance even in captivity. The setting sun bathed the room in golden light, casting sharp shadows across the stone walls. You didn’t turn to acknowledge him, though the tension in your posture told him you were fully aware of his presence.

“Lady Y/N,” Jaime said lightly, closing the door behind him. “Enjoying the hospitality of King’s Landing?”

You turned suddenly, your eyes blazing. “Lannister,” you snapped. “What do you want?”

Jaime raised his hand in mock surrender, his smirk faint but present. “A warm welcome, perhaps? Though I suppose that’s too much to ask under the circumstances.”

You scoffed, pacing away from him. “I’ve been locked in this room for days. No word, no explanation. And now you stroll in as if I should thank you for it?”

Jaime’s smirk faltered, replaced by a flicker of guilt. “I came to tell you the truth,” he said, his tone quieter now.

You stopped, your arms dropping to your sides as you turned to face him. “The truth?” you repeated, your voice laced with skepticism. “Then tell me this: when will my sister be returned to my brother? When will Brienne take her back to where she belongs?”

Jaime hesitated, his gaze dropping for a moment before meeting yours. “Sansa isn’t going anywhere,” he said carefully. “Neither are you.”

The words hung in the air like a blade.

“What do you mean?” you asked, your voice dangerously low.

Jaime exhaled slowly. “My father has plans for you. He intends to send you back to Roose Bolton before Joffrey’s wedding. As for Sansa, she’s… important to the capital. To the Lannisters.”

Your expression shifted from confusion to fury, your hands curling into fists. “Roose Bolton?” you spat, your voice rising. “You’re sending me back to him? After what he’s done? After everything I’ve been through?”

Jaime took a step forward, his good hand raised in a placating gesture again. “It’s not my choice,” he said, though the words felt hollow even as he spoke them. “If it were up to me—”

“But it’s not up to you,” you interrupted, your voice shaking with anger. “You’re just a pawn in your father’s game. A pawn with no hand and no honor.”

The words cut deeper than Jaime expected, though he forced himself to stay composed. “I didn’t come here to argue,” he said quietly. “I came to warn you.”

“Warn me?” you snapped, your eyes blazing. “You’re delivering me to a butcher, Lannister. The man who flayed my brother’s bannermen, who betrayed everything the North stands for. And you dare to call it a warning?”

Jaime stepped closer, his voice soft but firm. “I’m trying to help you.”

“Help me?” you barked a bitter laugh, shaking your head. “You want to help me? You should’ve died on the road, Jaime. From that wound. Better yet, I should’ve killed you myself when I found you being dragged out of my brother’s camp like a thief in the night.”

Jaime flinched, the memory of that night rushing back with startling clarity. The anger in your eyes now mirrored the fury you had shown then, and he couldn’t blame you for it.

“You should have,” he admitted, his voice low. “It would’ve saved us both a lot of trouble.”

The silence that followed was deafening. Jaime’s chest tightened as he watched you, your face a mixture of anger, frustration, and something deeper—something that struck a chord in him he couldn’t ignore.

He had no right to care, no right to feel the gnawing guilt that twisted in his gut at your words. You were a Stark, a symbol of everything his house had fought to suppress. Yet, the thought of you being handed over to Bolton, broken and used as a pawn, filled him with a rage he didn’t know how to contain.

He wanted to tell you everything—that he hated the path his father had set for you, that he didn’t want this any more than you did. But the words caught in his throat, tangled in the web of his own guilt and pride.

Instead, he took another step forward, his voice soft but steady. “I can’t change my father’s mind, but I can make sure you survive this. No matter what it takes.”

You stared at him, your eyes narrowing as if searching for a lie. “I don’t need your protection, Lannister,” you said coldly. “I need my freedom. But that’s something you’ll never give me.”

Jaime opened his mouth to respond, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, he turned and walked toward the door, his heart heavy with the weight of your accusations.

As he stepped into the hallway, the sound of the door closing behind him echoed like a finality he couldn’t escape. He felt powerless—not as a knight, not as a son, but as a man who had failed someone who mattered.

[dc-megatournament]

A Master List of fighters in the “Batman vs Everyone” tournament so far

If a character isn't listed here, they haven't been submitted.

List of the Fights Already Posted w/Results (in Alphabetical Order)

Red = Lost fight Against Batman

Green = Won fight Against Batman

Blue = a third option was taken

Amazing Man/Will Everett = Lost

Ambush Bug/Irwin Schwab = Lost

Amy Rose =

Angus MacGyver =

Animal Man/Buddy Baker = Lost

Ant-Man/Hank Pym = Lost

Aquaman/Arthur Curry = Lost

Arsenal/Roy Harper = Lost

Artemis =

Atom Smasher/Albert Rothstein = Lost

Avatar Aang = Third option; Bruce attempts to adopt Aang

Azrael/Jean Paul Valley = Lost

Aztek/Uno = Lost

Baked Beans =

Barbie = Won

Batgirl/Cassandra Cain = Won

Batman Beyond/Terry McGinnis = Lost

Batwing/David Zavimbe = Lost

Batwoman/Kate Kane =

Beast/Hank McCoy = Lost

Beetlejuice = Lost

Ben Tennyson = Lost

Big Barda/Barda Free = Won

Big Hero 6 = Lost

Black Canary/Dinah Laurel Lance = Lost

Black Cat/Felicia Hardy = Lost

Black Lightning/Jefferson Pierce = Lost

Black Orchid/Susan Linden = Lost

Black Panther/T’Challa = Won

Blade/Eric Brooks = Lost

Blue Beetle/Jaime Reyes = Lost

Blue Beetle/Ted Kord = Lost

Blue Devil/Dan Cassidy = Lost

Booster Gold/Michael Jon Carter = Lost

Bucky Barnes = Lost

Buffy Summers = Won

Bugs Bunny = Won

Captain America/Sam Wilson = Lost

Captain America/Steve Rogers = Lost

Captain Atom/Nathaniel Adam = Lost

Captain Cold/Leonard Snart = Lost

Captain Jack Sparrow = Lost

Captain Marvel/Billy Batson = Won

Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers = Lost

Cassie Hack = Lost

Catwoman/Selina Kyle = Third Option; They make out instead

Citizen Steel/Nathan Heywood = Lost

Cosmo and Wanda = Won

Cyblade/Dominique Thiebaut = Lost

Cyborg/Victor Stone = Lost

Darwin/Armando Muñoz =

Deadman/Boston Brand = Lost

Deku/Izuku Midoriya = Lost, Gains a father through Batman

Detective Chimp/Bobo T. Chimpanzee = Lost

Doctor Doom/Victor Von Doom = Won

Doctor Fate/Kent Nelson = Won

Doctor Fate/Khalid Nassour = Lost

Doctor Fate/Linda Strauss = Lost

Doctor Light/Kimiyo Hoshi = Lost

Donald Duck = Won

Dr. Mid Nite/Charles McNider = Lost

Dracula (Castlevania) = Lost

Echo/Maya Lopez = Lost

Eda Clawthorne = Lost

Elektra Natchios = Lost

Elongated Man/Ralph Dibny = Lost

Elsa = Lost

Emma Frost = Won

Enchantress/June Moone = Lost

Etrigan/Jason Blood = Lost

Finn & Jake = Won

Fire/Beatriz da Costa = Lost

Firestorm/Jason Rusch = Lost

Firestorm/Ronnie Raymond = Lost

Ghost Rider/Johnny Blaze = Lost

Godiva/Dorcas Leigh = Lost

Godzilla = Won

Goku = Won

Green Arrow/Connor Hawke = Lost

Green Arrow/Oliver Queen = Lost

Green Goblin/Norman Osborn = Lost

Green Lantern/Guy Gardner = Lost

Green Lantern/Jessica Cruz = Lost

Green Lantern/John Stewart = Lost

Green Lantern/Kyle Rayner = Won

Green Lantern/Simon Baz = Lost

Gundam Aerial =

Gwen Tennyson = Lost

Gypsy/Cynthia Reynolds =

Hatsune Miku = Won

Hawkgirl/Kendra Saunders = Lost

Hawkman/Katar Hol/Carter Hall = Lost

Hawkwoman/Shayera Hol/Shiera Hall = Lost

Heather (TDI) = Won

Hellboy = Lost

Hello Kitty =

Hua Cheng =

Hulk/Bruce Banner = Lost

Human Torch/Johnny Storm = Lost

Huntress/Helena Bertinelli = Lost

Invincible/Mark Grayson = Lost

Invisible Woman/Sue Storm = Lost

Iron Man/Tony Stark = Lost

Jade/Jennifer-Lynn Hayden = Lost

Jar Jar Binks =

Jenny Wakeman/XJ-9 = Lost

Jerry (Tom & Jerry) = Won

Jesse Quick/Jessie Chambers = Lost

Jessica Jones = Lost

Jim Gordon = Lost

John Constantine = Lost

John Wick = Won

Katana/Tatsu Yamashiro = Lost

Katsuki Bakugou = Lost

Kim Possible = Won

Kirby =

Ladybug/Marinette Dupain-Cheng & Cat Noir/Adrien Agreste = Lost

Light Yagami = Lost

Lobo = Lost

Luke Cage = Lost

Luke Skywalker = Lost

Madame Mirage/Angela Temple = Lost

Madame Xanadu = Lost

Magik/Illyana Rasputin = Won

Man-Bat/Dr. Robert Kirkland Langstrom = Lost

Manhunter/Kate Spencer = Lost

Mariah Carey =

Mario & Luigi = Won

Martian Manhunter/J’onn J’onnz = Lost

Maxima = Lost

Megatron = Lost

Metamorpho/Rex Mason = Lost

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers = Lost

Mister Miracle/Scott Free = Lost

 Mizu = Lost

Mon-El/Lar Gand = Lost

Monkey D Luffy = Won

Moon Knight/Marc Spector = Lost

Mr Rogers = third option; convinced Bruce to go to therapy

Mr Fantastic/Reed Richards = Lost

Ms Marvel/Kamala Khan = Lost

Mystery Inc (Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, Scooby) = Won

Naruto Uzamaki = Lost

Nightshade/Eve Eden = Lost

Nightwing/Dick Grayson = Won

Nimona = Won

Oracle/Barbara Gordon = Won

Orion = Lost

Percy Jackson = Won

Phantom Stranger = Lost

Phineas & Ferb = third option; Batman hires P & F

Pikachu = Won

Pink Panther = Won

Plastic Man/Patrick "Eel" O'Brian = Lost

Powergirl/Kara Zor L/Karen Starr = Lost

Powerhouse/Naomi McDuffie = Lost

Power Puff Girls =

Queen Hippolyta = Won

Raven =

Red Hood/Jason Todd = Won

Red Tornado/Ulthoon = Lost

Regina George = Won

Rick Grimes = Lost

Robin/Damian Wayne = Lost

Robin/Tim Drake = Lost

Rocket Red/Dmitri Pushkin = Lost

Rocket Red/Gavril Ivanovich = Lost

Rogue/Anna Marie LeBeau = Won

Sailor Moon/Usagi Tsukino = Won

Saitama = Won

Sally Jackson =

Sanderson Sisters (Winifred, Mary, Sarah) = Lost

Sara Pezzini = Lost

Shade, the Changing Man/Rac Shade =

Sharon Carter = Lost

She-Hulk/Jennifer Walters = Lost

Shen Qingqiu = Lost

She-Ra/Adora =

Snoopy & Woodstock = Won

Sogeking/Usopp = Won

Sonic the Hedgehog = Won

Spawn/Al Simmons = Lost

Spider-Man/Miles Morales = Lost

Spider-Man/Peter Parker =

Spider Woman/Jessica Drew = Lost

Spoiler/Stephanie Brown = Won

Squirrel Girl/ Doreen Green = Won

Star Butterfly = Lost

Starfire/Koriand’r = Won

Starman/Mikaal Tomas = Lost

Star Sapphire/Carol Ferris = Lost

Steven Universe = Third option; Batman attempted to adopt Steven

Stitch/Experiment 626 = Won

Storm/Ororo Munroe = Won

Strawberry Shortcake = Won

Supergirl/Kara Danvers/Kara Zor-El = Won

Superman/Clark Kent/Kal El =

Terezi Pyrope = Lost

The Atom/Ray Palmer = Lost

The Atom/Ryan Choi = Lost

The Bride/Beatrix Kiddo = Lost

The Crow/Eric Draven = Lost

The Cullens (Carlisle, Esme, Edward, Jasper, Rosalie, Alice, Emmett) = Lost

The Darkness/Jackie Estacado = Lost

The Doctor = Third Option; Bruce becomes The Doctor's companion

The Flash/Jay Garrick = Lost

The Flash/Wally West Lost

The Punisher/Frank Castle = Lost

The Question/Renee Montoya = Lost

The Signal/Duke Thomas =

The Warner Siblings = Won

Thor = Lost

Tigress/Artemis Crock =

TMNT =

Toph Beifong =

Troia/Donna Troy = Won

Uncle Iroh = Won

Vampirella = Lost

Vibe/Cisco Ramon = Lost

Vixen/Mari McCabe = Lost

Walter White = Lost

Wasp/Janet Van Dyne = Lost

Wolverine/James “Logan” Howlett = Won

Wolverine/X-23/Laura Kinney = Won

Wonder Woman/Diana Prince =

Wonder Woman/Nubia = Won

Word Girl/Becky Botsford = Won

Xie Lian = Lost

Yami Yugi = Lost

Zheng Shang-Chi = Lost

Fights That Have Yet to Be Posted (also in Alphabetical Order)

Adam West Batman

Alfred Pennyworth

Alphonse Elric

Andros (Power Rangers)

Annabeth Chase

Arceus

Baldi

Batman/Jace Fox

Batwing/Luke Fox 

Bill Cipher

Bingo Heeler

Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff

Bluebird/Harper Row

Bluey Heeler

Brody Foxx

Captain Kirk 

Crazy Jane 

Cybersix

Cyclops

Danny Phantom

Daredevil/Matt Murdock

Darth Vader

Dazai Osamu

Dolly Parton

Donald Trump

Duolingo Owl

Ed Dillinger (TRON)

Edward Elric

Element Woman/Emily Sung

Eliot Spencer

Ellie (TLoU)

Elon Musk

Elric of Melninbone

Elsa Bloodstone

Eva-02

Ezio Auditore

Firestar

Flamebird/Bette Kane

Gabby Kinney

Geo-Force/Brion Markov

Ghoulia Yelps

Giovanni Zatara

Green Lantern/Hal Jordan 

Grumpy Bear

Hawkeye/Clint Barton

Ice/Tora Olafsdotter   

Iceman/Bobby Drake

Ichigo Kurosaki 

Jean Grey

Jenny Sparks

Joel Miller (TLoU) 

John Egbert

Joker - Persona 2

Joker - Persona 5

Jubilee/Jubilation Lee

Katara 

Kazuma Kiryu

Kisuke Urahara

Kuchipatchi

Lan Wangji

Legion/David Haller

Lieutenant Columbo

Link

Lin Manuel Miranda

Lionblaze

Luo Binghe

Mary Poppins

Max Tennyson

May Chang

Mickey Mouse

Midnighter

Nightcrawler/Kurt Wagner

Obsidian/Todd Rice

Onyx Adams

Optimus Prime 

Ozymandias

Plastique/Bette Sans Souci

Prodigy/David Alleyne

Puss in Boots

Roronoa Zoro

Ryu (Street Fighter)

Santa Claus 

Scar (FMA)

Slenderman

Sokka

Solid Snake

Spectrum/Monica Rambeau

Stan Pines

Stargirl/Courtney Whitmore

Steel/John Henry Irons

Steve (Blue Clues)

Swamp Thing/Alec Holland

Taylor Swift

The Flash/Barry Allen

The Immortal Snail

The Pope 

The Question/Vic Sage

The Ray/Ray Terrill

The Shredder

The Thing/Ben Grimm

Tin Tin

Tom Cruise

Tyson

Ultraman

Vacuum from Teletubbies

Velvet Crowe

Voltron

Wei Wuxian

Winry Rockbell 

Zatanna Zatara

[marwyn]

Featured in but two chapters of George R.R. Martin’s multi-volume A Song of Ice and Fire, brutish Craster may seem a minor character, peripheral to the larger thematic concerns of Martin’s sweeping and bloody Game of Thrones. Indeed, entrenched in his ramshackle keep in the Haunted Forest, well north of the Wall that marks the end of Westerosi civilization, defined by a predatory incest that leaves him with nineteen daughter-wives and no living male heirs, Craster appears in every way a figure beyond the pale, the very antithesis to the more courtly domains of Starks and Lannisters. Yet even if he is, in the words of Dywen of the Night’s Watch, “a kinslayer, liar, raper, and craven,” such crimes fail to distinguish him from leaders of Westeros’s noble families. Lannisters, Freys, and Tullys do not balk at stratagems or kin-murder; cravens can be found in the white of the Kingsguard. Even in his incest, Craster breaks taboos wildlings acknowledge, only to emulate both Targaryen rulers who “married brother to sister” and the scandalous love of Jaime and Cersei Lannister, whose illegitimate fruits become the seeds of the Song’s protracted wars. It may well be true, then, as wildling Ygritte tells Jon Snow, that “Craster’s more your kind than ours.”

It is precisely this hypothesis I propose to take seriously here. Indeed, I maintain that Craster, far from being a minor addition to Martin’s formidable gallery of grotesques (on par, say, with Vargo Hoat), is a crucial cue to what the novels treat as the pathological self-regard of the Westerosi dynasties. In its endogamous self-reproduction and its dedication to cruel self-culling, the House of Craster discloses, I argue, the true economy of the Game of Thrones, highlighting how the great Houses’ insistence on purity and power sees them not only devouring their own, but reducing the realm to a feast for crows. Craster distils the truth of great seats like Riverrun or Casterly Rock, not just because his paternal incest evokes a fraternal form central to such great lines as Lannister or Targaryen. Rather, the Craster who takes all his female issue to wife and leaves the sons he sires on them to “[t]he white shadows,” reveals a deadly social narcissism that lies at the heart of Martin’s great families, one that establishes them as institutions at odds with themselves and as effective allies to the forces that threaten Westeros.

What lies at the heart of the Houses’ strife and the realm’s ruin, Craster’s example teaches, is not merely incest nor even the Oedipal strife of fathers and sons, but a foundational narcissism that can imagine both family and society as only the pure extension of self. Martin offers Craster as a stark illustration of this phenomenon so as to highlight how the whole of Westerosi society is rooted in and ravaged by this violent narcissism. It is not only Craster who refuses to brook any rival master, or libidinal agent, under his roof; it’s nor just he who enforces an identification of self with House, with society, through familial bloodshed. If the Targaryens wed their siblings, it was in service to purity of blood, after all, and if Tywin’s twins are pledged to one another, it is because, as Cersei says, “Jaime and I are ... one person in two bodies.” In both cases, love of kin only as self involves ready violence against both relations who thwart such identification and those alien to the bonds of blood: Dany must fear waking the dragon, and Bran’s fall is very long, indeed.

The narcissistic cast of familial ties and its tendency to ruin both Houses and the realm is, I argue, the very pith of the bloody Game of Thrones, a fact well delineated by three consequential instances: Samwell’s repudiation and near-murder at the hands of his father, Randyll Tarly; Tywin Lannister’s sadistic dissolution of Tyrion’s marriage to [Tysha]; and Hoster Tully’s destruction of his grandchild, Lysa’s unborn bastard, for the crime of having lowly Petyr Baelish as sire. In each case, a drive to purity tears Houses apart. Moreover, the latter two examples highlight how such narcissism stokes civil war and so abets the mortal threats of rising winter and the Others’ return.

D. Marcel DeCoste, “Beyond the Pale? Craster and the Pathological Reproduction of Houses in Westeros,” in Mastering the Game of Thrones: Essays on George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones (eds. Jes Bettis and Susan Johnston)

[katsu-curry835]

Why Bisexual Jon Snow Could Work /srs

Jon Snow is bisexual and here's why.

Aight, I'm aware the queer rep in asoiaf is pretty eh for the most part. Sweets is cool, and Loras and Renly have a nice implied relationship but Dany and Cersei having gay sex scenes felt way more fetishized than actually meaningful representation, especially since neither character considers a romance with a woman. Because of this, I'm gonna say that while I think this could be a valid direction to take the story, I'm like 50% sure that GRRM won't write it. Then again, it's been so long between books that times have literally changed and FnB seemed to have a ton of queer relationships so who knows.

Ok, ok, so I've laundered my argument; we all know why we're really here. Jon Snow could be bisexual and that could be really important for the story. Why?

First and most obvious is that it's another parallel with Dany. Jon and Dany have had storylines that directly mirror each other, especially in books 3 and 5. Dany is confirmed bisexual by the narrative, since she has regular sex with her handmaiden Irri, although because of her position of power over her, she tries to limit them. And, as already mentioned, she never gets to be romantically attracted to a woman. Maybe that's coming in future novels, who knows, but all that to say Dany and Jon mirroring each other on the bi front is not inconceivable, especially when you consider that there is already evidence for Jon being bi.

I'm sure most of you deep into this discourse(?) have probably predicted that I'm going to talk about Satin. And if this story does go in the 'Irri' direction, Satin is definitely the candidate for Jon's male love interest. He's a former prostitute from Oldtown, which mirrors another of Dany's handmaids (Doreah I think) and he's Jon's steward, like Irri is to Dany. Other characters also seem to think that Satin has kinda slept his way up the ranks to being Jon's steward, confirming at least that this idea is in GRRM's head. I wanna take a look at a few scenes and see how they could imply a future relationship between Jon and Satin. Take a look at this fight scene between Jaime and Brienne (I promise this is relevant.)

"'Give me the sword, Kingslayer.'

'Oh I will.' He sprang to his feet and drove at her, the longsword alive in his hands. Brienne jumped back, parrying, but he followed, pressing the attack. No sooner did she turn one cut than the next was upon her. The swords kissed and sprang apart and kissed again. Jaime's blood was singing...

...The dance went on. He pinned her against an oak, cursed as she slipped away, followed her through a shallow brook half choked with fallen leaves. Steel rang, steel sang, steel screamed and sparked and scraped, and the woman was grunting like a sow at every crash, yet somehow he could not reach her."

To me this scene has always read as implicitly foreshadowing Brienne and Jaime's future romance. Words like "kissed" or "grunted" or "pinned her against a tree" feel implicitly romantic/sexual, even the way the scene is described as a "dance." Jaime even says at a later point "Might I have this dance my lady" to mock her. Of course there is plenty more in the story as a whole that foreshadows Brienne and Jaime having a relationship, but I use this as an example because I want to point out how GRRM sometimes writes a fight scene as romantic and sexual foreshadowing, or at least that can be how some scenes are interpreted. Now I want to look at the scene where Jon trains Satin.

"It's too heavy," the Oldtown boy complained.

"It's as heavy as it needs to be to stop a sword," Jon said. "Now get it up." He stepped forward, slashing. Satin jerked the shield up in time to catch the sword on its rim, and swung his own blade at Jon's ribs. "Good," Jon said, when he felt the impact on his own shield. "That was good. But you need to put your body into it. Get your weight behind the steel and you'll do more damage than with arm strength alone. Come, try it again, drive at me, but keep the shield up or I'll ring your head like a bell . . ."

This scene reads similarly to me. Words like "jerked," "rim," "get it up," even the one word sentence "Come," can read as sexual foreshadowing in a similar way to Jaime and Brienne if you are given context that Jon and Satin do end up together. In particular, "ring your head like a bell" reminds me of a scene where Gendry gets approached by a girl but rejects her advances.

"I'm named Bella," the girl told Gendry. "For the battle. I bet I could ring your bell, too. You want to?"

I would be remised if I didn't mention that Jon calls Satin pretty three times in the chapter where he's supposed to be engaged in a battle with the wildlings. Like yeah, that's a bit weird, why are you thinking about that now Jon. Or I could mention the fact that he described Satin’s voice swearing his words as being like song and that he could smell the fresh sweet oils Satin rubbed into his beard. Jon… buddy you got something you wanna say? I’m joking of course: you don't have to be queer to recognize another man's beauty. What I think puts this into perspective is if you compare this to how he describes Val, someone who it's generally agreed upon that he takes an interest in.

Here's a quote where Jon describes Satin:

"The boy claimed to be eighteen, older than Jon, but he was green as summer grass for all that. Satin, they called him, even in the wool and mail and boiled leather of the Night's Watch; the name he'd gotten in the brothel where he'd been born and raised. He was pretty as a girl with his dark eyes, soft skin, and raven's ringlets. Half a year at Castle Black had toughened up his hands, however, and Noye said he was passable with a crossbow."

Now here's Val:

"Val stood on the tower roof, gazing up at the Wall. Stannis kept her closely penned in rooms above his own, but he did allow her to walk the battlements for exercise. She looks lonely, Jon thought. Lonely, and lovely. Ygritte had been pretty in her own way, with her red hair kissed by fire, but it was her smile that made her face come alive. Val did not need to smile; she would have turned men's heads in any court in the wide world."

I mean, the fact that "pretty" is a word used to describe both Ygritte and Satin is a connection that I shouldn't need to point out the significance of, but I digress. If you actually compare these quotes, both look like neutral descriptions of someone's appearance in isolation, however in context, you have to ask why the author shows you this stuff. Why does Jon comment on how good looking both of these characters are so often? It doesn't seem like there would be any other purpose to these, again, repeated descriptions of both Val and Satin other than to highlight that the fact that Jon finds both of them attractive is important.

Again, none of this proves anything outright. I mention this because this is the sort of thing where if you reread the books with this lens, suddenly more things start to jump out at you, and it can read like obvious foreshadowing you missed. Like when Catelyn sees her reflection in some armor and comments on how "drowned" she looks. It doesn't mean too much on a first read, but when you know what happens to her, it's some clever foreshadowing.

Another big reason I think Jon getting with Satin might be important is that you can see it as a pivotal part of Jon's character arc, specifically Jon's sexual awakening storyline. When Jon first has sex with Ygritte, she's the one who initiates the interaction. In fact she has been doing that the whole time he's had her hostage, teasing him with advances and mocking him for his inexperience. In the famous cave scene, Jon's thoughts are how he wants to bang her, but also about how it would be in conflict with his vows. That's the main reason he never has sex with her until she incites it on her own; it's not because he doesn't want to. It's because he thinks it would violate the words he swore at the weirwood.

So Ygritte begins this part of his arc, and Jon discovers that he likes having sex, how original. But he still feels reservations about it, during the act and afterwards. After all, his people resent him for being able to openly take a woman to bed with him, while they have to go to Mole's Town to dig if they want to get any action at all.

My view on this is that the story is heading in a sex-positive direction with respect to Jon. There’s plenty of theming about this “why is it a sin if it feels so good” etc etc. The books are full to the brim of people feeling needlessly guilty about having casual sex, Jon especially. Where I think this is headed, therefore, is probably something like a wildling understanding of sex; Jon has to view sex as Ygritte did, because that was always the healthiest way for him to go about it. Except this time, to complete his arc, he is going to need to take the initiative himself and embrace his desires like Ygritte did. Her teasing him for not doing this was trying to get him to come out of his shell. It would feel strange to me if this went nowhere. Jon needs a future romantic/sexual partner so that he can feel no qualms with taking the initiative with them. How he learns to do that is up to George but suffice it to say, however uncertain I maybe that this partner will be Satin, a future romance is in the cards for Lord Snow.

So Jon's in a bit of a bind here from a meta perspective. If we want him to complete his sexual awakening storyline, he's going to have to take the initiative himself with a partner without feeling any inhibitions. But he can't do that if he's still a brother of the Night's Watch because of the aforementioned conflict with his vows. But he's not going to stop being a crow, his vows are important to him. So how do we reconcile the fact that Jon's character arc about his sexuality needs to be resolved, but he also needs to keep to his words? Simple: make his next partner male so it doesn't violate anything.

I've actually thought this could work as a plot point for anyone either in the Night's Watch or the Kingsguard. One of these men surely has to consider at some point the obvious loophole of "so I can't bed a woman, but what about a man?" and how that affects their honor or whatever. It just slots kinda nicely into Jon's storyline here. Another reason it really works is that Jon is looking to socially progress the Night’s Watch: unity with the wildlings, defending Satin from homophobia etc. Him realising the obvious flaw of the vows for not considering that men can be romantically involved through his own experiences as a bi guy can help him begin to dismantle the outdated nature of the customs. He’s framed as this sort of reformer, and being a queer bastard (who is also probably the lost heir to the Targaryen dynasty) makes this thematically poignant. He’s an outcast, but also a king.

Of course, he’s always been an outcast, being queer would just help add to that. And this is just one way of writing this arc; I’m not married to this take on this basis alone.

I can so imagine a scene where Jon is having sex with Satin and the lit hearth is positioned behind Satin's head from Jon's POV and it looks like Satin's been 'kissed by fire.' Also, Jon considering how Ygritte would feel about him doing this and coming to that conclusion that she would be proud seems like a great way to end a chapter about the two hooking up because Jon's arc would be basically resolved.

This final part is something that I feel should not be left merely implied: Jon being canonically bisexual would be great representation. This is one of the most beloved and famous heroes in all of fantasy, hell, in all of modern fiction. Making him queer would be a really important step forward for queer rep that should not be underestimated. Verity Ritchie (VerilyBitchie on yt) did an excellent video essay on bisexuality in reality tv, a point from which I'm going to paraphrase: it's really hard to effectively depict bisexuals because any confirmed relationship with another character would look like they 'picked a side.' But in order to continually show someone's openness to sexual attraction to two or more genders, you risk going to far the other way, falling into the bisexual sex demon stereotype. This is a really difficult needle to thread, and is why we have characters like Nick Nelson constantly having to remind us that they're bi, rather than having us just assume they could be. Put simply, we need better bi representation, especially with men and Jon Snow is excellent casting for the role. His relationship to Ygritte is constantly referenced throughout the narration as something he treasures and misses, so there would be no doubt that he was not 'gay the whole time.' But, if the Satin story goes ahead, there can be no doubt he's not queer either. Literature is a great place to put bi characters, I think, since an internal monologue can remind you of past relationships with other characters of different genders and how they mean something to the character in question, but never undermining the integrity of the current relationship.

Me personally, I'd be buzzing for Jon Snow to be confirmed as bi. Really interested to see people's thoughts on this.

[probablyasocialecologist]

Spotify intentionally cultivates a passive, disengaged style of listening because their business model requires them to guide subscribers away from music and towards cheaper, higher-margin content like podcasts and audiobooks. This helps to foment a bias in the streaming-led mainstream towards the comforting and familiar, which is bolstered by the inherent conservatism of program directors in America’s hyper-consolidated radio landscape. As the market for CDs and digital downloads has declined and streaming platforms’ subscriber bases have continued to grow, the nature of the record business itself has fundamentally changed. Five or six years ago, the physical market was still big enough to serve as an alternative to the streaming economy for those who wanted one. Today, there is no escape.

Jaime Brooks, American Sajaegi

[trintastic]

⭑ 1980’s names!

name master list ☀️ this list consists of (fem) names that were majorly popular during the 1980s. i will most likely be making a similar post to this eventually including sur names, if you have any suggestions you think would fit well in this list please lmk!

feminine

A ; amanda, ashley, amber, amy, angela, april, alicia, allison, alexandra, alexis, alyssa, anne, annie, angelica, angel, angeline, ana, audrey, aubrey, autumn

B ; brittany, britney, brittney, britanny, brandy, brandi, bianca, brooke, beth, brenda, barbara, bridget, bonnie, bonnabel

C ; christina, cristina, crystina, cristinna, christine, courtney, crystal, cindy, cyndi, cassandra, chelsea, catherine, cynthia, carrie, caitlin, caitlyn, cait, casey, candace, christy, colleen, carolyn, caroline, cassie, carla, claudia

D ; diana, dana, dawn, desiree, divine, destini, destiny, deanna, dominique, deborah, danielle, debbie

E ; elizabeth, emily, erin, eren, erika, erica, ebony, evangeline, elsie

F ; fallon, felicia, fern, francine, franchesca, faye, farrah, felicity, fiona, fiora, flora, freya, frey, frida, fatima, florence, frances

G ; gemma, gwen, gwenny, gabrielle, gabriella, gen, genevieve, genette, genesis, gem, georgina, giana, ginny, giselle, gina

H ; hannah, hazel, harriet, heather, hallie, hayley, hailey, holly, hope

I ; isley, ivy, imogen, isla

J ; jess, jessica, jessy, jessie, jessyca, jen, jenny, jenni, jennifer, jacqueline, jackie, jill, joanna, jaclyn, jaime, jamie, jordan, jordy, jordyn, jass, jas, jasmine, jasmin, jazz, jazzmin, jazzmine, jenna, jade, jayde

K ; krystal, kim, kym, kimberly, kymberly, katherine, kathryn, kathy, kat, katheryne, krystina, krys, kryssie, krissie, kristen, krysten, kristyn, katie, kate, kaitlyn, kaitlin, kathleen, katrina, kelsey, kara, kendra, kelly, kelli, kari, kourtney

L ; lydia, lindsey, lindsay, laura, lauren, loren, lauryn, latoya, leslie, les, lesley, leah, linda, lynda, laury, laurie, laurey, lori, latasha, liv, leigh-anne, lacey, lacy, laci

M ; maria, mariah, moriah, melissa, melyssa, michelle, michele, mychelle, mary, marie, monica, monyca, megan, meghan, megyn, megin, melanie, misty, margaret, molly, morgan, monique, miranda, melinda, marissa, meredith, merida, meagan, mallory

N ; nicole, nichole, nycole, nicol, natalie, natalia, nat, natasha, nancy, nina

O ; octavia, odette, odessa, olivia

P ; perrie, priscilla, patricia, pamela, payton, paige, paisley

Q ; quinn, quinnie, quinni, quincy, queenie, quen

R ; rachel, rachael, rachyl, rebecca, rebecka, rebekah, renee, reneé, regina

S ; sara, sarah, steph, stef, stefanie, stephanie, stefani, stephani, samantha, sam, shannon, sharon, stacey, stacie, staci, stacy, susan, susanne, susanna, sandra, sabrina, sheena, shauna

T ; trina, tiff, tiffany, tifany, tifaney, tiffaney, tiffani, tara, tracey, tracy, traci, tina, teresa, theresa, tara, tonya, tamara, tabitha, tasha, tammy, tamika, taylor

U ; unqiue

V ; vera, veronica, vanessa, victoria, vic, vickey, valerie, val

W ; willow, whitney, whit

X ; xandra

Y ; yasmine, yessica, yazzmin, yazzmine, yasmin

Z ; zara, zarley, zarlee, zarli, zarhlee. zoey, zoe

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🌈 Queer Books Coming Out in April 2024 🌈

🌈 Good morning, my bookish bats! Struggling to keep up with all the amazing queer books coming out this month? Here are a FEW of the stunning, diverse queer books you can add to your TBR before the year is over. Remember to #readqueerallyear! Happy reading!

[ Release dates may have changed. ]

❤️ Spring on the Peninsula - Ery Shin 🧡 When I Arrived at the Castle - Emily Carroll 💛 Bloodline - Jenn Alexander 💚 Grey Dog - Elliott Gish 💙 Every Time You Hear That Song - Jenna Voris 💜 I'm in Love with the Villainess v. 2 - Inori and Hanagata ❤️ The Caravaggio Syndrome - Alessandro Giardino 🧡 Leather, Lace, and Locs - Anne Shade 💛 Firebugs - Nico Bulling 💙 I Married My Female Friend v.2 - Shio Usui 💜 The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray - Christine Calella 🌈 A Sweet Sting of Salt - Rose Sutherland ❤️ The Selected Shepherd: Poems - Reginald Shepherd 🧡 Rough Trade - Katrina Carrasco 💛 Aubrey McFadden is Never Getting Married - Georgia Beers 💚 Taming of a Rebel - Eada Friesian 💙 Dayspring - Anthony Oliveira 💜 The Titanic Survivors Book Club - Timothy Schaffert ❤️ Orphia And Eurydicius - Elyse John 🧡 The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers - Samuel Burr 💛 A Good Happy Girl - Marissa Higgins 💙 Winnie Nash Is Not Your Sunshine - Nicole Melleby 💜 Here We Go Again - Alison Cochrun 🌈 Women! In! Peril! - Jessie Ren Marshall

❤️ Blood City Rollers - V. P. Anderson and Tatiana Hill 🧡 The Prospects - KT Hoffman 💛 Crazy Like a Fox: Adventures in Schizophrenia - Christi Furnas 💚 WATCHNIGHT - Cyree Jarelle Johnson 💙 Love From The Sidelines - Tuesday Harper 💜 The Pleasure in Pain - Roxie Voorhees ❤️ Mal - Perla Zul 🧡 The Black Girl Survives in This One - Desiree S. Evans and Saraciea J. Fennell 💛 Darker by Four - June C.L. Tan 💙 Otherworldly - F.T. Lukens 💜 Hearts Still Beating - Brooke Archer 🌈 Tryst Six Venom - Penelope Douglas

❤️ Teenage Dirtbags - James Acker 🧡 The Heart Wants What It Wants - D.M. Batten 💛 Something Kindred by Ciera Burch 💚 Sheine Lende - Dr. Darcie Little Badger & Rovina Cai 💙 Rainbow Overalls - Maggie Fortuna 💜 Flowers for Dead Girls - Abigail Collins ❤️ Canto Contigo - Jonny Garza Villa

❤️ Court of Wanderers - Rin Chupeco 🧡 Molten Death - Leslie Karst 💛 Triad Magic - ‘Nathan Burgoine 💚 You, Me and Bad Movies - Twoony 💙 The Faithful Dark - Cate Baumer 💜 A Case for Discretion - Ashley Moore ❤️ Party of Fools - Cedar McCloud 🧡 The Last Love Song - Kalie Holford 💛 This is Me Trying - Racquel Marie 💙 Dear Wendy - Ann Zhao 💜 Sun Eater - Dre Levant 🌈 The Breakup Lists - Adib Khorram

❤️ Bad Dream - Nicole Maines & Rye Hickman 🧡 If We Were Stars - Eule Grey 💛 The Broken Lines of Us - Shia Woods 💚 Eye of the Ouroboros - Megan Bontrager 💙 Henry Henry - Allen Bratton 💜 Dear Bi Men - JR Yussuf ❤️ Paige Not Found - Jen Wilde 🧡 Mechanic Shop Femme’s Guide to Car Ownership - Chaya Milchtein 💛 Wide Awake Now - David Levithan 💙 Merciless Saviors - H.E. Edgmon 💜 Smile and Be a Villain - Yves Donlon 🌈 Crash Landing - Charmaine Anne Li

❤️ Call Forth a Fox - Markelle Grabo 🧡 Central Avenue Poetry Prize 2024 - Beau Adler 💛 Good Bones - Aurora Rey 💚 Curiosities - Anne Fleming 💙 Someone You Can Build a Nest in - John Wiswell 💜 Revisiting Summer Nights - Ashley Bartlett ❤️ Bright Spring - Emmaline Strange

❤️ Girls Night - I.S. Belle 🧡 Late Bloomer - Mazey Eddings 💛 Withered - A.G.A. Wilmot 💚 A Wolf Steps in Blood - Tamara Jerée 💙 It Always Finds Me - Anthology 💜 Dulhaniyaa - Talia Bhatt ❤️ Moon Dust in My Hairnet - JR Creaden 🧡 Blood Justice - Terry J. Benton-Walker 💛 Relinquishing Control - J.J. Arias

❤️ Selamlik - Khaled Alesmael 🧡 Houseswap 101 - Jaime Clevenger 💛 Earthflown by Frances Wren & Litarnes 💚 Covenant v.1 - LySandra Vuong 💙 Honey - Victor Lodato 💜 The Dragonfly Gambit - A.D. Sui ❤️ Double Dyno - Sharon K Angelici & Taylor Rose