#joe and nicky disagree

[mirrorofliterature]

don't get me started on the booker apologists who think that his being "queer" (because Greg Rucka said he's essentially bi and on the ace spectrum in a private discord chat, lol) absolves him of having a self-centered, amatonormative world-view.

the very fact that he thinks nicky and joe's queer romantic love shielded them from all other forms of loss/trauma/etc just reinforces the fact that his personal version of amatonormativity is not contingent on heteronormativity!! I don't know why people are choosing to be deliberately obtuse about this very valid point you made (other than woobifying an angsty white dude, as usual.)

I did stumble across that and I found the way people were treating that as canon very strange. I amended a post where I called Booker straight with this:

I am now aware that Greg Rucka has in a discord message confirmed Booker as queer. This is not canonical, however. It’s very not publicly available word of god. Until it is included in the next movie, it is not movie canon and I will continue to call him straight, because to the movie watching fan, that’s what he reads as.

It is even less canon than authors tweeting out that a character is x sexuality or confirming it in an interview - and I don't personally care that much what the author says outside the story. I find it very strange that people are weaponising booker's 'queerness' to absolve him of his sins. Like, queer people can be shitty, too.

I'm not sure why people are so desperate for him to be so when the film is chock-full of interesting and dynamic queer characters, but I digress. Just because Booker being bi and ace is Rucka's headcanon doesn't make it canon as it is not in the film - if it's your headcanon, that's cool, but Booker is not canonically queer. There is nothing that implies that he is bi or ace - I would have noticed, particularly the latter.

And you're completely right. Being queer does not prevent people from being amatonormative!

This is a really poignant ask. I think that what a lot of people disagreeing with my interpretation comes from is these people do not understand what amatonormativity is. It's not jealousy, it's devaluing all relationships outside of monogamous romantic relationships. It is implicit in Booker's words and is unlikely conscious on his part, but it comes out in this canonical line: 'you two always had each other!' Romantic relationships do not stop grief, or racism, or homophobia, or - millions of other horrible things nicky and joe have experienced.

All my posts really stemmed from a deep frustration at Booker's just absolutely selfish narrow tunnel vision - because Nicky and Joe lost their first families (their parents/siblings/nieces+nephews), experienced centuries of discrimination, AND lost quynh.

anyway booker's issues are not nicky and joe's responsibility - they have their own recovery to worry about.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Mike Luckovich

* * * *

Drive voters to the polls!

October 31, 2024

Robert B. Hubbell

Oct 31, 2024

Drive voters to the polls! Ignore the noise. Don’t fret over every bump in the road. Don’t over-interpret data that is not yet complete. Yes, we are all anxious. Incessant worrying will not tease answers out of complicated scenarios freighted with variables we cannot control. Let’s focus on what we can control: Driving voters to the poll.

Trump's hate-fest at Madison Square Garden continues to dominate the political narrative, causing leaders in the Puerto Rican community to continue their harsh criticism of Trump. A popular Puerto Rican entertainer, Nicky Jam, who appeared at the Republican convention, withdrew his endorsement of Trump. A leading newspaper in Puerto Rico published an op-ed that endorsed Kamala Harris and criticized Trump's contentious history with Puerto Rico:

Trump has for years maintained a discourse of contempt and misinformation against the island that reveals an obsession and disdain for a people who do not have the power of the vote to defend themselves, since the three million American citizens who live in Puerto Rico cannot vote in the presidential elections. However, the other five million who live in the United States, whom they also labeled as trash, can vote.

Many readers were concerned about Joe Biden’s garbled attempt to condemn the offensive remarks by the comedian at the Madison Square Garden rally. Republicans and much of the political media wrongly claimed that Biden said Trump's supporters were “garbage.” Biden said no such thing. A review of the transcript and a fair reader of Biden’s comments taken as a whole show that the Biden was condemning the comments by the comedian—not Trump's supporters.

The transcript released by the White House shows the following statement by Biden:

And just the other day, a speaker at his rally called Puerto Rico a 'floating island of garbage.' Well, let me tell you something. I don't -- I -- I don't know the Puerto Rican that -- that I know -- or a Puerto Rico, where I'm fr- -- in my home state of Delaware, they're good, decent, honorable people. The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporter's -- his -- his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it's un-American. It's totally contrary to everything we've done, everything we've been.

Trump and his media team will not be deterred by the truth. They will claim that Biden said Trump's supporters are garbage. No matter. The Biden gaffe will blow over, but the offensive comments about Puerto Rico will not. Indeed, Trump has doubled down on his comments by calling the MSG rally “beautiful” and ���filled with love.”

Biden’s alleged comments did not target a specific nationality or ethnicity. Trump's did—and are being taken personally by Puerto Ricans across the country. Moreover, Biden addressed and clarified his comments through a White House statement.

And Kamala Harris distanced herself from any implication that she viewed Trump's supporters negatively. In a Wednesday speech in North Carolina, Kamala Harris said,

Unlike Donald Trump, I don't believe people who disagree with me are the enemy. He wants to put them in jail. I'll give them a seat at the table.

Vice President Harris gave two speeches on Wednesday. Her remarks in Wisconsin are here: Kamala Harris in Wisconsin. Her comments in North Carolina are here: Kamala Harris in North Carolina. With two speeches per day, Kamala Harris is relying on her stump speech.

Meanwhile, Trump chose to answer questions while posing in a garbage truck—a reminder of the “floating island of garbage” comment at the MSG rally. A reporter asked Trump if owed Puerto Rico an apology over the remarks by “the comedian.” Trump refused to issue an apology, and proceeded to issue a string of lies that no one believes—especially Puerto Ricans who remember Trump abandoned Puerto Rico after Hurricanes Maria and Beryl. See YouTube, Trump speaks to reporters from garbage truck.

In short, Trump has hurt his prospects by welcoming hate speech at his Madison Square Garden rally and Kamala Harris’s disciplined approach has allowed her to benefit from Trump's exposition of the ugly core of MAGA extremism. As always, we have every reason to be hopeful but no reason to be complacent!

Reactionary Majority of US Supreme Court upholds Virginia voter purge

On Wednesday, the reactionary majority of the US Supreme Court lifted a stay issued by the federal district court that enjoined efforts by Virginia to purge its voter rolls of alleged non-citizens. The action by the court is both a disgrace and an outrage. But the order is unlikely to affect the 2024 presidential election. The controversy involved about 1,600 voters. Voters who believe they were wrongly removed from the rolls can submit a provisional ballot (which will be subject to a challenge in the context of a due process hearing under state law).

The brief order signed by six justices offered no rational for reversing a stay issued by the district court and affirmed by the Court of Appeals. But the effect of the order lifting the stay violates the Supreme Court’s own doctrine of not changing the status quo prior to an election. It also seems to violate the National Voter Registration Act. See Mark Joseph Stern in Slate, U.S. presidential election: The Supreme Court just carved an outrageous loophole into a major voting rights law.

Per Stern, the Supreme Court’s order lifting the stay authorizes

a clear violation of federal law. A federal statute, the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, outlawed any state “program” that “systematically” removes “ineligible voters from the official lists of eligible voters” starting 90 days before a federal election. Congress enacted the statute in recognition of the obvious fact that these purges often caught up eligible voters, as well, creating confusion and threatening civil rights. Nonetheless, Youngkin issued an executive order exactly 90 days before the Nov. 5 election mandating a daily set of voter purges.

Stern’s article contains additional important details for those interested. Here’s the point: Whenever the reactionary majority is faced with an opportunity to protect voter’s rights or bless schemes to suppress those rights, the Roberts Court blesses voter suppression.

The usually reserved Norman Ornstein (contributing editor of The Atlantic), wrote

At least five utterly lawless partisan hacks on the Supreme Court. Rulings that have nothing to do with law or precedent, just giving Trumpists like Youngkin a free hand. The Roberts Court is an utter disgrace. And it does not bode well for the aftermath of this election.

Ornstein expresses many people's views: They do not trust the Court to follow the law or precedent when faced with election disputes after Election Day. Correction: They do not trust the Court to follow the law or precedent, period.

That is why it is imperative that we “run up the score” against Trump to reduce the reactionary majority’s margin for inserting itself into the outcome of the election. The order issued today will have a small impact that can be corrected by voters who are citizens. But the fact that the Court seems always to rule against the most fundamental right of all is troubling.

Sigh. . . Another reminder to read the Constitution and text of statutes when explaining Mike Johnson’s plot to overturn the election

I read two articles today that explained how Speaker Mike Johnson will overturn the election by having the House “refuse to certify” the election or “vote to reject” slates of electors. I am not going to call out the authors by name because their intentions are good. But in both instances, their analyses were flawed because they did not accurately account for the Constitution or the Electoral Count Reform Act.

The central flaw in the “Mike Johnson will overturn the election” theory is that Mike Johnson will likely not be Speaker of the House on January 6, 2025. Moreover, as I have explained several times, the House does not “certify” the election.

The following timeline—taken from the Constitution and relevant statutes and rules—sets forth the exact sequence of events from Election Day up through the declaration of the winner of the electoral vote on January 6, 2025. The sequence below almost always answers the misguided statements that “Mike Johnson will overturn the election” because “the House will refuse to certify the election.”

Dec. 11: Governors send “certificates for ascertainment” identifying electors selected by popular vote

Dec. 17: Electors identified in “certificates of ascertainment” meet to cast their ballots

Jan. 03 at 11:59: Current Congress (118th) ends. Mike Johnson is no longer Speaker

Jan. 03 at 12:00 Noon: The Clerk of the House swears in all newly elected Representatives in a mass ceremony.

Jan. 03 at 12:01 p.m. The newly sworn in Representatives elect a new Speaker.

Jan. 06: Kamala Harris presides over a joint session of Congress. The electoral ballots are opened, read aloud, and tallied. Kamala Harris announces the person elected president (so long as that person has a “majority of the electors” appointed.

The only detail missing from the above timeline is that ballots of electors can be objected to on the following grounds only:

(a)  the electors of the State were not lawfully certified under a certificate of ascertainment, or

(b)  the vote of one or more electors has not been regularly given.

For an objection to be heard, 20% of both chambers must agree to hear the objection.

For an objection to be sustained, a majority of both chambers must vote to sustain the objection.

Note that it is not a ground for objection that the state legislature has appointed a competing slate of electors or that someone alleges the underlying popular vote was tainted by fraud.

Note that Mike Johnson will not likely be Speaker on Jan. 06, 2025. And even if he is, he does not have the unilateral ability to reject electoral ballots; a majority of the Senate must also sustain an objection.

So, next time someone tries to tell you that “Mike Johnson” plans to overturn the vote, remember that Mike Johnson will likely be a member of the House and nothing more on January 6, 2025.

[Robert B. Hubbell Newsletter]

[ghduck]

Intelligence:

Extraordinary Genius: Theodore,Roger,Adele

Genius: Nicky,Aaron, Trinity,Enzo,Lucy, Ivan,Guest,Forest protectors

Gifted: Maritza(possible genius?), Shadow man,Mayor,Keith,Leslie,Luanne,Miguel,Jay,Quentin

Above average: Delroy,Finch,Otto,Abanante,Jen,Julie,Mya(possibly gifted?),Diane,Mr murthaugh,Missing journalist, Janitor,Librarian

Average:Gerda,Dan,Glen,Allison,Joe,Regina,Pris,Lisa,Franklin,Bubba Fein

Below average:Seth,Ruben

high animalistic:Fran,Crows

Animalistic:Skipper,Gunter,Clementine,Brisket

???: Dark Essence

Agree? disagree? What would you change?

That's about right

[nickeverdeen]

The Old Guard characters reacting to you saying the save word during “it”

Andy (wlw/lesbian)

The biggest halt you’ve ever seen

Andy stops immediately upon hearing the safe word

Her expression shifts from lust to one of deep concern

She gently touches your face, making sure you’re okay

Andy speaks softly, asking if you’re alright and what you need or want

She holds you close, providing comfort and reassurance

If you want to be alone you’ll be alone

Andy respects your boundaries without question

She apologizes that she pushed too far

Andy reassures you that it’s okay and that your comfort is the most important thing if you apologize or feel embarrassed or bad

Can’t really sleep for rest of the night as she feels terrible

If you wanna later continue she’d disagree or be very hesitant

The next time you’re doing it she’s much more careful

“I’m here for you, always. Just tell me what you need.”

Nicky (mlm/gay)

Nicky stops instantly, his concern immediate

His face shows worry as he checks on you

He gently hugs you, ensuring you feel safe

Nicky asks softly if you’re alright and what you need just like Andy

He uses soothing words to calm you down

He apologizes, feeling like shit that he misjudged and pushed your comfort level

His touch remains gentle and reassuring

Nicky understands the importance of boundaries and respects them deeply

He follows up with you to discuss any concerns and ensure your comfort

“I’m so sorry, love.”

Nile Freeman

Nile stops quickly, her concern evident

Her eyes soften with worry as she looks at you

She gives you a comforting hug, holding you gently

Nile asks if you’re okay and what you need to feel better

She reassures you that it’s perfectly okay to use the safe word

She gently apologizes if she overstepped any boundaries

Nile listens attentively to any concerns or discomforts you express

She gives you space if needed or stays close for comfort, depending on your preference

She makes sure to check in on you later, ensuring you’re okay

“I’m here for you. Your safety and comfort come first, okay?”

Joe (mlm/gay)

Joe halts immediately, his face showing instant concern

He asks if you’re alright, worry evident in his voice

Joe pulls you into a comforting cuddles

He apologizes softly

Joe respects your need for space or closeness, whichever you prefer, just like Nile

His touch remains tender and gentle, ensuring you feel safe and alright

Joe cares deeply for your well-being and shows it through his actions

He makes sure to have a follow-up conversation about what happened

“I’m so sorry, Y/n.”

Booker

Booker stops quickly, a bit confused

Booker softly asks if you’re okay and what happened

He might apologize if he feels he overstepped

Similar to Andy he might not sleep very well as he feels real bad

Asks if you want cuddles or anything else

If you’d later on want to continue he’d be a bit hesitant

More careful in the future

“I’m sorry if I went too far.”

Merrick

Merrick stops as soon as he realizes what happened

His face turns serious as he checks on you

He gently touches your arm, making sure you’re alright

Even though it may not look like it he respects your boundaries without hesitation

Apologizes

Merrick reassures you calmly that you did nothing wrong

He listens carefully to your concerns and adjusts accordingly

Merrick makes sure to check in on you later to discuss and ensure your comfort

“I want you safe and comfortable”

[reginamillls]

joe and nicky are not "nile's dads"

strongly agree | agree | neutral | disagree | strongly disagree

send me an unpopular opinion and I'll rate it

[peri-helia]

Men of principle 

Also on Ao3 here

Joe had always known that sometimes he really was too much of a soft touch and that being said, sometimes it got him into trouble. Like that time in Bucharest when Booker had bet that they definitely, have their cake and eat it too, walk in the park, piece of piss, give Houdini a run for his money.

…It didn’t end well.

And tonight’s not going so swimmingly either.

He’d done the last sweep before everyone hunkered down for the night – they’re stopping over in the tiny Foxtrot safehouse in Napoli – when he comes back to their bedroom to find Nicky spread out like a starfish over the entirety of their bed, face down in the mattress in his t-shirt and shorts.

Shit.

“Habibi?”

“No,” Nicky replies, not even bothering to open his eyes.

This is what he gets for being nice. Exhaling with a fond smile at his stubborn husband, Joe quietly shuts the door and wanders towards the bed. For a moment he simply watches Nicky’s chest rise and fall and thanks the universe for the gift of his man and this long life to share it with him. Then he ducks down, gets his hands under Nicky’s ribs and left thigh and shoves.

Nicky’s hands and feet twist into the bedding, anchoring him in place, not giving an inch. Joe could tickle him, but he is an honourable man. So Joe gives in, straightening, hands falling to his hips.

“Cuore mio, you cannot banish me from the bed,” he huffs, fighting back a smile and losing. Nile had once asked what there was even left to fight about after centuries together. Andy had laughed and Quynh had hidden her face in her wife’s shoulder as the women had cryptically answered that even between them there were some molehills still seemed like mountains.  

“Evidently I can, babe” Nicky retorts, as concise as his blade.

“I only agreed with Nile to make her feel welcome here with us” he explains, trying not to sound as amused as he is. Nico and the hills he chooses to die on. Nicky turns his head towards him, eyes open and full of reproach. The tiny curl at the corner of his lips gives him away.

“There are other ways to make Nile feel at home without sacrificing principle”

Normally when a disagreement arises in this manner, when its one of the lesser ones and not tied to a job and a needless death, being reckless with their immortality in the way they haven’t been since they were young and thought forever meant forever, they just climb over each other in the bed. Work through it or agree to disagree. Or turn the disagreement into something they can agree on, like falling asleep in each other’s arms, kissing or who can be the most poetic in their sentiments. Nicky will say its always Joe who sees the inner meaning in the world and speaks it into being, and Joe will say Nicky’s poetry comes from the way he expresses his heart.

But when you’ve been together as long as they have, sometimes its good to spice things up every so often.

“What a thing, that my heart should be so capricious to me!” Joe sighs dramatically, clutching at his chest. “Very well. If my destiny is to spend tonight away from you then I shall only beg to kiss you goodnight before I go”

Nicky’s head rises off the pillows, looking at Joe curiously. He’s obviously trying to anticipate what this change to their habits means. He gives that small curved smile that means he is quite happy to see where Joe is going with this.

Joe’s own smile grows as sharp as his scimitar. He leans over his love and grazes his lips over Nicky’s cheekbone, warmth blooming in his chest at the way Nicky’s eyes flutter shut. Those long eyelashes dark against his skin. So he moves on, upward to gentle kisses on Nicky’s eyelids, that tempting scar between his eyebrows and the broad expanse of his forehead. Then he starts working down the other side of his face, lingering on his mole.

“Joe-“ Nicky’s fingers graze Joe’s beard, the edge of his hairline at the base of his neck where Nicky loves to kiss, loosely trying to cup Joe’s face and guide their mouths together but Joe purposefully evades him. The game’s not over yet.

Instead he kisses along Nicky’s neck, knee coming up to press onto the mattress, focusing on the moles dotted across the skin, suckling kisses and huffing in a mix of frustration and satisfaction as they quickly fade. Nicky moans and presses himself upwards, arching off the bed to fit the lines of their bodies together. As Joe continues his communing with the canvas of Nicky’s skin he can feel Nicky growing to hardness against his hip.

“Yusuf-“

“Mmph, Nicolo” Joe teases around his mouthful, hands trailing down Nicky’s ribs as Nicky moves from neck to shoulders, squeezing and scrambling. Right, then. He lifts free entirely.

“Yusuf?” Nicky’s eyes are hazy with want, wide with confusion at Joe’s removal. “Babe, is something wrong?”

Joe cannot help the way his heart twinges at the worry on his beloved’s face, and he almost feels bad for what he’s about to do. Almost. But for all the ways they’ve made love over their long lives, that delicious spark that comes from something new always reminds him of their youth. The beginning of it all, the intensity and passion. While he loves the devotion of their more languid lovemaking, that he can feel their devotion to each other in ever touch as ever, Nicky stoked to blazing is equally delicious.

“Nothing, hayati. I’ve had goodnight kisses aplenty to tide me over and now I’ll take my banishment. Thank god Andy insists on decent couches.”

Nicky blinks.

Once.

Twice.

“Habibi?” he sits up slowly in the bed, a tiny furrow appearing on that marble brow. He bites that lovely lower lip the way Joe is going to when the joke is over.

Nicky reaches out a hand, a feather light touch encircling Joe’s wrist. “Yusuf, I – I don’t understand. You aren’t – you are truly going to sleep on the sofa? Over this? I –“

Joe watches with burgeoning horror as Nicky’s ocean-like eyes become wet with tears. He made his Nicolo, his moon, the warmth of his heart cry. He is never going to spice anything up again. They will be as bland as bland and traditional as traditional can be after this.

He drops to his knees, bracketed by Nicky’s and clasps Nicky’s hands. “No, no sweetheart, I was only kidding. The nights I get to curl around you are the sweetest dreams this life could give me, ya amar and-“ he presses a kiss to Nicky’s hand, penitently and then he looks up –

Nicky is smiling. Scratch that, Nicolo is full on grinning. Face wiped clean of grief. What in the world –

“Got you”

“Oh you bastard! Crocodile tears?!” Nicky bursts out laughing, ugly snorting and it’s the sweetest music of Joe’s life and fucking hell but his husband is an ass.

“I’m going to throttle you, you –“ he hisses, a threat he hasn’t made since they were young and shy and dying of unresolved sexual tension, along with everything else.

“Oh, Yusuf. You know I love it when you talk like that”

He grabs at Joe’s hands and they fall back onto the bed, but rather than a kiss, they grapple, tussling for the upper hand . But they’re so old now, with more days spent together than apart and are too evenly versed in each other to outmatch the other. Eventually, they lie on their sides, facing each other, chests heaving.

Joe guides Nicky’s hand under his shirt, to rest over his thudding heart.

Nicky gives his pectoral an affectionate, appreciative squeeze. “Later,” Joe laughs. Then, “Where did you learn to cry on cue?”

“Nile. We were bored out of skulls on the Nairobi job and she taught me how”

Fucking hell. He knew Nile was lethal, but this is a new level. He must learn  immediately.  

“I still disagree with you.”

“I know, love. And I with you”

“Joe?”

“Yes, Nicky?”

“I love you more than I know how to ever explain, tesoro”

Joe squishes closer, pressing his face into Nicky’s neck, “There are not enough stars in all the galaxies in all the heavens to encompass how much I love you, habibi”

Nicky just huffs something almost inaudible about fights and finishing them but he presses back into Joe, interlacing their fingers tightly.

Some things never change.

[aboheadcanons]

Joe [The Old Guard]

Male / Omega

Infuriatingly outspoken in a way that does not befit an omega in the slightest. It served him well during the Crusades and continues to do so today (much to Nicky's chagrin).

His ability to physically engage and comfort with everyone with Nicky around surprises everyone. But after hundreds of years -- some of them spent killing one another -- the two trust each other implicitly.

That said, their unending trust does not mean they see eye-to-eye on all matters. They do disagree on many things -- some of them political, namely the social statuses of dynamics in the current century.

Quick to connect with strangers. Quicker to react against betrayal. He is not gentle about this. To be fair, though, Joe isn't exactly a "gentle omega." He is expressive: loud, boisterous, confident, and frequently outspoken. Nicky sometimes has to rein him in with small snips.

Almost in contrast to his big and bold nature, his heats tend to be small affairs. They are so minor, even Nicky misses the signs sometimes. He chalks it up to the many, many years of having had them, and dismisses Nile when she expresses concern about it. If there are any health repercussions, he hasn't noticed anything affecting him.

Whatever Nicky doesn't see, Joe sees.

[a-couple-of-notes]

Okay. I've seen a lot of people arguing that the scene would have been better if they axed this line, and I--like, I don't disagree, necessarily, it's just that my problems with this final fight were less about what Billy does and more about what Rio and Agatha don't do, y'know? (Like Rio feels weirdly nonexistent in this fight after dropping her cackling Death performance, and I think it would have added a lot to have her as a counterpoint to Billy, to really hammer home the thematic choice Agatha is making.)

However, this idea of Billy trying to manipulate Agatha while also being truthful...I can get behind that. I don't think it quite lands as intended (Joe Locke gives a great performance overall, but I feel like that line just needed a little more bite to sell the manipulation). Still, for Billy, it's this continuing thread of being one of the only people to see Agatha, to emotionally connect to her, but also being just like Agatha, of learning his own power and darkness from Agatha. It's a truth that he violently rejects and then comes to accept as a part of himself in Episode 9.

And then on Agatha's side--I refuse to believe she doesn't know Billy's trying to manipulate her here. Billy's trying to manipulate her, and he's using his best understanding of her story (still a half-false one) to do it. She's being faced with the culmination of her shadow self, a person she in a way created. She has to look at this boy who has cracked her emotional walls enough to telepathically communicate, who reminds her of her son, who reminds her of herself, who is trying to appeal to her and manipulate her at the same time just like Agatha does with everyone else. The choice to save him is, yes, because Billy reminds her that she couldn't save Nicky--but I think it's also kind of Agatha saving part of/a younger version of herself. Just like when Billy stops banishing her in the basement, he stops denying the parts of himself that are like her.

Oh, look at that, even Jac confirming that Billy manipulated Agatha

[icannotreadcursive]

There’s a post going around about the poster preferring Nicky and Joe not referring to/thinking of each other husbands because that’s kinda small and meaningless compared to the depth and scope of their relationship

Which I…..don’t disagree with?

But I also absolutely do not see them not using the word “husband” to refer to each other, especially when talking to others, because it’s just usefully descriptive.

The point of language is not to fully express the depth and nuances of what you think and feel about the people and things in your life at all times, it’s to get the person you’re talking to to understand the idea you’re trying to communicate to the extent necessary for the situation, as clearly as efficiently as reasonable.

Therefore, a lot of language is shorthand. Honestly, I’m prepared to argue that most relationship words are primarily shorthand.

So yeah I think Nicky and Joe would call each other husbands—in something kinda like the way people often call their dad’s best friend “uncle” whoever. Is it fully accurate? No. But it gets the idea across.

[in-tua-deep]

I sent an ask like this before but I think tumblr ate it so I guess I’m sending it again. I love your tog/tua crossover! It was the post that made me watch the old guard and I’m v happy abt that. I was thinking about Booker ‘I have trauma about my kids growing old and dying’ Le Livre and I can’t help but think he’d go full dad mode on Five at all times. Five gets the father he deserves and Booker gets an undying child. Everyone wins.

oof yeah it would be... complicated to say the LEAST

I’m not sure Booker would be ready in any sense of the word to be a father again, and having an immortal child would be,, really painful honestly, especially when he had to watch his children grow old and die and now there’s this child who gets to live and it’s not fair

and Booker is... a normal father, for lack of a better word. He loved his children. He told them stories and swung them into his arms and pressed kisses against their rosy little cheeks, he held them when they cried and joined in with the laughter, and he loved them

and so he looks at this - this child, because Five is thirteen and he doesn’t deserve this

but Five is not familiar with the idea of a normal father. His father was cruel, was very forthright in the fact that he did not care about the children as human beings. It’s laughable to think that Reginald Hargreeves would ever tell them stories, would ever hold them or kiss their cheeks or laugh with them. Reginald Hargreeves avoided even touching them. A father to Five is monumentally different than what a father is to Booker

they bright side is that if Booker ever acts fatherly, Five doesn’t clock it as fatherly. He might accuse Booker of mothering him? But honestly Booker probably is like “we can’t let Five do X dangerous thing, he’s baby” which,, Grace helped the kids get ready for their missions, she never tried to protect them from their ‘work’

and some of the things are so far outside of Five’s frame of reference that he just assumes they’re an Old Guard thing or something, like when Five gets a smear of dirt on his cheek and Booker automatically grabs a handkerchief to scrub it off

(I can claim this because Five has such non reactions to the same thing in the s2 gifs I have seen that I can only say he’s just like ??? the whole time and just chooses not to address it, especially bc it happens both with a family member AND an enemy and he doesn’t react either time)

To be fair, they all baby Five to an extent, but it looks different for each of them

Andy doesn’t know what to do with a child? She hasn’t really,, been around children for extended periods of time honestly, she’s used to saving kids and is honestly pretty good at awkwardly talking Five through panic attacks. But she’s kind of tough love, and would probably cheer Five up by giving him weapons and letting him blow stuff up tbh

Nicky and Joe are kind of like fun uncles? they tease Five a lot, and he can’t even argue with them because they’re both like 900 years older than him but also they are very emotional and touchy and they like to ruffle his hair and lean on him and give him hugs that pick him up and swing him around. It’s weird and he isn’t sure if he likes it, but it’s kind of nice to be included?? They never had kids so they’re kind of indulgent with him tbh, kids like taking down horrific time based organizations as a pass time right?

Booker is awkward because he is a father and so he does things like ruffle Five’s hair on autopilot or pile more food on Five’s plate or anything, and he freezes because - it’s something he did with his own kids, and,,,,, he might get more than a little emotional about it. which weirds Five out. Booker is definitely one of the more protective of them though and dislikes putting Five in the line of fire

Nile has Big Sister energy, despite being younger than literally anyone else in this au technically considering that the umbrella academy are 3 years older than her. She has what is vastly lacking: emotional maturity. She sort of adopts Five as a kid brother, which makes her nostalgic for her own brother but also Five is so different it’s not a big issue, but Nile used to babysit for money as well and knows how to handle difficult kids and just applies that to Five

(and it actually works more often than not, five is not immune to Nile’s impeccable logic - mainly because Nile doesn’t order Five she lays out her reasoning in a way that he can’t even argue with)

booker has issues, he has a LOT of issues especially regarding kids and stepping into a fatherly role that I’m not sure he would comfortable with for a long time... but he has a lot of time to wrestle with those issues and eventually step into a more parental role since they have... literally hundreds of years together in the future lmao

five has to learn to actually be a child and not just a child soldier, which isn’t exactly easy considering he’s now going to part of the immortal ‘army’ 

honestly i think a good healing part of this au is just... the og squad learning that surviving isn’t the same as living, and even though they still have to be careful about their footprints even with Copley erasing them... I think they have a lot to learn about living

and having normal human ‘sponsors’ to help out... well I mean - the Hargreeves are super wealthy now that their dad kicked the bucket and are probably very willing to go on camping trips or go to Disney World or drag the squad paintballing. When was the last time the og squad just had fun? no worrying about missions and saving people or saving each other, just pure silly nonsense fun

and the Hargreeves are learning to have fun for the first time as well, even if it means Klaus aggressively putting Mickey Mouse ears on everyone and Diego cheating at paintball and Nile teaming up with Allison to get everyone to go to various plays and musicals

the Hargreeves aren’t immortal but they also aren’t helpless either, and I could see them tagging along on any cool missions for a while. Especially Diego, tbh, with his discount batman schtick he has going on

(honestly if anyone would remind Booker of his kids, it would... probably be Klaus? His children were adults when they died, and he saw them dying, and Klaus is skinny as a rail and sickly looking and probably has health issues thanks to the extended drug use and withdrawal going on

so consider: Booker telling Klaus to sit down and let him cook, get some soup in that boy he’s way too skinny, booker is FRENCH he WILL cook for this beanpole. His mama’s stew could knock the plague right out of a person, probably. 

Booker: that is far too heavy for you let me take it

Klaus: oh! no dude it’s fine - 

Booker: sit down !! you look like a strong breeze could knock you over. I will bring you some soup.

Klaus: I’m fine !! Don’t worry about me - 

Diego: don’t listen to him!! he absolutely needs minding 24/7 or he WILL find a way to get hurt

Booker: !! are you hurting right now? Sit down! Honestly -devolves into muttered french curses as he bustles off to the kitchen-)

but yes there you go the og squad and umbella academy combine into the ULTIMATE FAMILY due to shared custody of Five for the duration of the academy’s lives

[zairaalbereo]

It’s past midnight when the phone rings. Joe has been waiting. He wasn’t sure how long it’d take, but he has waited before and he will do it again. He picks up the phone and waits, receiver pressed to his ear. There’s silence on the other end of the line. Outside the crickets are chirping. It’s a balmy night.

“I’m not sorry,” Nicky says, and even though his voice is full of regret, Joe believes him.

“I know.”

“They were kids, Joe,” he says, and Joe has to close his eyes against the bottomless grief and desolation in those words.

“I know.”

He also knows Nicky isn’t telling him because he thinks Joe has forgotten.

“They didn’t care.”

They didn’t. And that might be the worst sin of all in Nicky’s book.

“Is it done?” he asks, and hopes it is. For both their sakes.

Nicky is silent for a long moment. “Booker is taking care of the last one.”

Joe slides down the wall and lets his head drop back. “Good.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there with you.”

Joe wipes away the single tear that spills over his cheek. “Thought you said you’re not?”

“Not for going after them. I know you didn’t want me to.”

“I didn’t. But I know why you had to.”

“And I know why you couldn’t.”

Joe hears Nicky swallow, and when he speaks again, his voice has lost its hard edges. “I saw it. The moon.”

I was there with you, is what he isn’t saying. The best I could.

“Beautiful, wasn’t it?”

“It was.”

“Come home, hayati,” Joe says quietly. “I’ll be waiting.”

I love you.

Nicky sucks in a deep breath and lets it out again in a heavy exhale. Exhaustion. Relief. Gratitude. “I know,” he says, softly, like the brush of lips against Joe’s eyelids, kissing away his tears.

I love you, too.

A/N: I read the newest comic first thing this morning, and I really liked it, and then I kept thinking about it, and well… I’m still thinking about it. 🙈 Also, drawing Joe with hippy hair… very interesting. 😂

On Ao3

[nicolos]

Okay so, I don't disagree that Joe is saying that their response is not going to be the same as mice, but I just don't think the statement has anything to do with Nicky, if that makes sense. Like yes, he's kind of making two statements - one about experimentation on people and one about timidity or,,, helplessness, I'd say, rather - but I don't think it's about Nicky's personality, just because (a) Merrick isn't talking to or about Nicky specifically and (b) implying he's only incredulous that Nicky could be compared to a mouse is kind of excluding himself? Idk. I don't see it as a remark on Nicky particularly is all.

If the line was "he thinks we're mice," to me it would sound the same, but the fandom perception of it would be widely different, is what I mean I guess

sometimes i think we forget the point of he thinks you're a mouse nicky

[fereldenturnip]

WIP Crusader!Nicoló di Genova. The movie doesn’t go into any detail about Joe/Nicky’s backgrounds other than “We met in the (1st) crusade, killed each other a bunch of times, then decided making sweet sweet love was better ;D ”. As romantic as this is, I did some hefty research and decided to, not necessarily retcon his usual backstory, but throw in some historical accuracy. Ya know, for flavour!   

Between baptizing babies and listening to confessions, Nicky wouldn’t have been a professional longswordsman. Could he have still known how to sword fight? Sure! Most men would have some basic understanding of sword defense. And Nicky is a formidable man. Buuut....  as a priest back in ye olden day, he’d have had to give up any personal possessions & familial ties and go full Man-of-Peasantly-Means. Bulky, itchy robes, bad bowl hair cut, stinking of incense and beeswax. Knights typically came from wealthy families that could afford 24/7 training, horses, arms & armor, etc. That shit is expensive, yo. No Priest Budget could afford that.

What the 11th c Genovese are known for are their skilled archers. It’s canon Modern Nicky loves his sniping weapons, so... Nicoló = longbowman and that’s my head canon. Sweet priest Nicoló would mutter psalms whilst turning blasphemer bandits into pincushions (Sister Nightingale Leliana vibes anyone???).

Suddenly you got the Pope calling for a crusade and he starts raining down Papal Indulgences to any volunteer like they’re mardi gras beads for thirsty college students. Father Nicoló--who possibly, maybe just an eenie weensy bit, might just absolutely need some eternal forgiveness for letting his eyes linger too often in the men’s baths--jumps at the chance to go crusading. Maybe he also does it because most of his parish is going and he wants to protect and guide them too. 

The Pope and royal leaders would be responsibly for equipping their foot soldiers beyond what they were capable of scraping up for themselves. Peasants often went into battle with tunics and pitchforks! At best, Nicoló would have a kettle helm, maybe some mail to go with a lot of cloth padding, and his trusty bow. Plus some hefty trauma from raiding Antioch. Look, they may be “heathen pagans destined for God’s almighty wrath-blah-blah” but Nicoló would still cringe at the sound of women and children being slaughtered. Being an archer also separates himself from most of the bloodshed and allows him to keep convincing himself that he’s doing God’s work. At least until a certain pissed-off Saracen breaks through the Frankish lines and charges straight for Nicoló ;) 

(As for the Templar Knight aesthetic, I’m throwing it out the window completely. Sorry, but Nicky couldn’t have been a Templar when they didn’t really exist during his stint in the 1st crusade.)

[ghduck]

ehy,can i share my headcanons for some charachters's birth year that we don't know,i would really like read any opinions,positive or negative,in what agree and in what disagree

ps:i will gave some birth years as a point of reference,they will be red

-Before time: The Shadow Man

-10,000 B.C.:The Guest

-1902:Bubbe Fein

-1908:Roger

-1912:Adelle

-1922:Janitor

-1924:Otto,Missing Journalist

-1927:Murtaugh

-1930:Man in the Hat

-1935:Keith

-1937:Librarian

-1941:Franklin

-1944:The Mayor,Trinity's parents

-1945:Theodore

-1946:Abanante

-1948:Gerda(alien kid at 6 years old),Pumpkin kid,Guest Kid

-1949:Leslie,Lisa

-1951:Luanne,Miguel,Jay

-1954:Joe

-1955:Quentin

-1957:Beatrix

-1959:Diane

-1967:Jen,Allie,Dan,Glen

-1981:Julie

-1982:Trinity

-1983:Nicky,Aaron,Enzo,(headcanon:Delroy)

-1984:Ivan,Finch

-1985:Maritza,Lucy,Mya

-1993:Pris

-1999:Regina

-2001:Piper

-2015:Dark Essence

half of these are canon anyway, so I guess I agree

[alit0my]

HC: we all know that the old guard has some big fears, but what about mundane fears? i feel like joe would be afraid of spiders and booker of dogs or sth? what do you think abt that and what other fears do you see for the team?

OoOoOo interesting! 

okay, so besides the canon fears of being trapped/kidnapped/tortured/being alone forever with no loved ones (ahem, looking at no one in particular for that one)...

Andy: claustrophobia(small spaces), most definitely due to what happened to Quynh but also very realistic. I hate small spaces too

Booker: he does fear dogs, maybe he had a neighbourhood dog that attacked him one day before he turned immortal and he’s been afraid ever since? but i like to think that he treats his fear of dogs like most people treat their lactose intolerance, they usually don’t give a shit until something happens

Joe: I was tossing up bw spiders or snakes with Joe, but I can go with both. he usually gets Nicky to kill/remove the spiders in the safehouses bc Nicky woulda grew up in a church and idk much about churches but they seem like they’d have a lot of spiders in them. plus, the only snake Joe likes is Nicky’s ;-)

Nicky: fear of heights, I’d like to think this is the reason why Joe jumped into the window from the Merrick building 

Nile: definitely has a fear of bugs/anything small that flies, I can see her freaking out whenever she sees a moth (same), mosquito, bee, literally anything fly in front of her face

[randomingoftherandomness]

'The Most Beautiful Man' Reddit thread about cryptid Booker is something the world needs to see