#joe and nicky disagree

[flow2024]

i phrased this post slightly quickly / misleadingly 😅 i don't think that people are necessarily outright saying that joenicky love each other more. i also want to clarify that i'm going purely off the movie here, which genuinely just doesn't have enough material to give us a clear picture, but i don't particularly read the darker aspect into their relationship there. i love seeing it explored in fic tho, i think it's super compelling! just not there in canon for me (the comics im not familiar enough with to say). so i think in the versions we get in the movie they would eventually stop, but it's one of those things that's kinda up to interpretation because they're not major enough characters within the film

the thing is abt the joenicky wouldn't have stopped searching take is that like. they're not Better Than andy / quynh and they don't necessarily love each other More. i find it interesting to examine the idea that THEY think they couldn't have stopped but ultimately because it's not them i think they'd have no way of understanding andy's position + circumstance would've made them stop in the end. again like in my tag rant i think they're both too concerned with the greater good. they would not place each other over that. in the end.

[assmaster-8000]

okay i finally dived a little deeper into the whole issue with chappell roan (ive been misspelling her name for the longest time my bad). it seems the biggest issue people take with her is her performative activism... when what they DO want her to do is literally just more performative activism.

for example, her republican family. you guys think it's so easy for her to cut them off when it's not easy for EVERYONE. for you, maybe. my mom wasn't the most supportive of my queerness when i was younger, and there was even one incident where i was sure i could never trust her again. in the following years, she's changed to the point where she unabashedly introduces me as her son, even to people who KNEW she had only 2 daughters for YEARS. that means family friends and family themself, who, mind you, are pretty conservative old farts. is she perfect? no! absolutely not! but she didn't give up on me, so i won't give up on her. point is, people can change. people SHOULD change. in fact, i see a lot of the progressive communities perpetuating 'us vs. them' mindsets. on one hand, it's understandable. how can it not be, when so many fundamentally disagree with your existence? who don't WANT to agree?

on the other hand, a lot of people are just. regular joes who CAN be educated. who CAN be changed. and changing their minds is exhausting, but you guys have to realise that true progress doesn't come from just nuking everyone with a conservative mindset/set of values. it comes from people changing for the better. it's so easy to pass them off as old farts who will never be better, but they SHOULD be. they can be.

back to my point, chappell roan has even convinced her immediate family members to change their values on certain topics. what DOES calling out her uncle do? do you WANT her to cut out her family, and what does that even do?

and a lot of people have brought up the fact that they, as a working person who doesn't have the financial means chappell does, manage to stay educated on top of keeping themself afloat. im sure that's true, and i think it's a valid point of discussion. but i think a lot of people aren't as educated as they think themself to be. you can't even watch the interviews to see what she says, and instead parrot your beliefs off of other people in a game of telephone. you think being educated is watching 1-2 minute videos on tiktok rather than reading up on history, theory, and lived experiences that can take well up to 10 minutes each article

as for building her platform on political activism, i can also get that. but like... she hires local drag queens to perform. she directly donates to charities. she uses her time on tv to advocate for the queer community. she herself said she tries to stay informed, but when she doesn't specifically support one community or provide the most articulated answer, she gets dogpiled on. it's fair to want to know that the artist you fund isn't a POS who uses their money for the worst, but are you guys saying the same about taylor swift? beyonce? nicki minaj??? if you want her to do better, is it not important to hold grace for her first? you can't coddle these grown adults, but i think it's very obvious to tell she's earnest about the queer community, and if she is, then it's worth extending some grace to her.

and the worst offender still. is wanting to critique her while also parroting misogyny, lesbophobia, racism, and ableism. why would she be a secret conservative! why would her tone matter as opposed to the actions she's already taken or her actual sentiments! why does she have to be sweet and nice for you to take her seriously! you guys can't handle mean lesbians because you can't even handle chappell roan! and she's not even mean!

[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”

[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

[nilefreemans]

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

[nerdsandthelike]

It's @thepromptfoundry's Genreuary Day 17: Cyberpunk! And I come bearing anti-capitalist propaganda Old Guard fic! Look, Joe and Nile are friends! It's the future!

Under the cut

The motorcycle pulled up to the corner right on time. Nile had just walked out of the internet cafe seconds before. 

“Come with me if you want to live,” Joe said from underneath his reflective helmet. 

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Nile couldn’t help but laugh. 

She slung a leg over the bike and held on tight. 

The bike skimmed silently over the slick streets, past neon advertisements for VR dream services, uplink port repairs, and the most ergonomic furniture to keep you from cramping after a day in cyberspace  

“So how long have you wanted to say that?” Nile yelled in his ear. 

She couldn’t see Joe’s grin, but she knew it was there. 

“What makes you think that was the first time?” he shouted back. 

Nile laughed again. 

Joe took a sharp turn into a wall that looked solid. Even though Nile knew that it was safe, she couldn’t help but flinch. 

When she opened her eyes again, she was in a garage lit by fluorescent lights. It was their base in this city, and as sparse and unwelcoming as any safehouse they’d had this century. It was hard enough to spoof her uplink to buy the necessities without being traced. They couldn’t risk exposing themselves any more than they already did. 

Even with all her time in the virtual world, Nile sometimes felt like she was living in the twentieth century. The team used fewer electronics than they had since she’d joined them. Everything was too easy to trace. Everything was made by one of a few companies that were more powerful than governments. They simply couldn’t risk their movements being tracked. 

So they used analog watches and agreed ahead of time when to meet. They used radio when they needed to communicate on missions. 

It was almost enough to make Nile miss her iPhone. 

“Are we in for the night?” she asked Joe.

“You are anyway,” he said. “You must be exhausted after that, you need rest.”

She couldn’t disagree with that. For all that she’d sat with her eyes closed for hours, it hadn’t exactly been sleep. 

She sighed in relief and began to wipe off her anti-facial recognition makeup. Based on what she’d seen when she was in the space, they hadn’t managed to crack this pattern yet. But it was only a matter of time until the algorithm caught on and she’d have to wear a mask until she could come up with a new look. 

“Where are the others?” she asked, looking around the empty garage. 

“With Nicky at the clinic,” Joe said. “They’ve had a dozen more people come in with nerve damage. He needs all the hands he can get.” He looked at her hopefully. “And all the information.”

Nile nodded. “I got the schematics. Enough to disable the malfunctioning ports. I’ll retrieve it now.” 

She sat down in the folding metal chair that looked like it had been around since her childhood and clicked the cable into the port on her arm. She closed her eyes. She could do this with them open, but it was easier to find information when she wasn’t trying to process things visually at the same time. The file was recent, though, so it only took her a second, and she typed the command to export into the keyboard she’d imagined in front of her. 

She had heard that the kids had faster ways of doing this, codewords instead of commands or they could just think precisely enough to control the computer in their brains. 

Nile didn’t trust that, and she wasn’t used to it. This was good enough for her. 

She opened her eyes. 

“Got it?” she asked. 

Joe looked at the ancient laptop hooked up to the other end of the cable and nodded. He closed the laptop and slid it into his backpack. “I’ll deliver it to the clinic now,” he said. “Eat something, I think there’s soup in the fridge. And then get some sleep. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“Thanks, Joe,” Nile said, stifling a yawn. “See you soon.”

[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.

[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.)

[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

[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