#my little machiavellian babies

[comfycel]

do you ever remember this deleted scene exists and the smile on your face drops?

[tlcartist]

I’m so tired of people not being able to treat Giorno’s character with any degree of nuance. Why are the only options either “he’s the perfect golden child who’s never done anything wrong ever and he’s my little baby uwu” or “Giorno is a monster who ruthlessly uses everyone around him for his own personal gain and he doesn’t actually care about anyone”?

Like I’ve seen so many bad takes that start off looking like they’ll be an interesting discussion of his character because they correctly point out that Giorno is definitely flawed but then they take a sharp turn into “Giorno purposefully killed everyone around him for his own personal gain.” There has to be a middle ground here. Giorno can be blinded by his ambition while also caring for his friends and their loss can deeply affect him. Those two things aren’t mutually exclusive.

I think that sometimes we forget that while yes, he’s Dio’s son, he’s also Jonathan’s. Yes, it’s impossible to deny that Giorno inherited some qualities from Dio. His charisma, his intelligence, his drive and passion to achieve his goals, but I think it’s also fair to say that he also has some of Jonathan’s qualities. There’s a gentleness to his character that just flies in direct opposition to who Dio was as a person and to me, that’s what it means to have the heart of a Joestar. I’m sorry but viewing Giorno through lens of pure Machiavellianism feels really pessimistic and like it goes against the spirit of the series and I just have no interest in it.

[thebeesareback]

Fuck it, let's talk about Littlefinger

(the ASOIAF character, not just fingers in general. Also, I've said "Brandon Stark" for Ned's brother, and "Bran Stark" for Ned's son)

Trigger warning: rape and forced abortion

So one of the things I've said before is that I love ASOIAF for many reasons, including the complexities and backstories of all the characters. I suppose that's why there's a bazillion characters and the books are so long.

Anyway, one interesting example of narrative framing is the perspective we get on Littlefinger. He's (arguably) the main antagonist in the first book and is responsible for everything from Jon Arryn and Ned's death to the Tyrell marriage to Joffrey's assassination. We see him as a scheming villain, determined to harm our saintly Starks.

Littlefinger was born as a second-generation immigrant and heir to a minor lordship. Thanks to his parents' relationship with fuckhead Hoster Tully, he got to foster at Riverrun, where he befriended Cat, Lysa and Edmure. The books are interested in the "outsider" perspective on power status, hence Jon Snow's POV, and arguably Theon and Arya, too. They live in the home, they're part of the family... kinda. Sansa always thinks of Jon as her "bastard half-brother", Theon knows that Ned might have to kill him, and Arya doesn't fit neatly into her assigned gender role. They see Rob and Sansa and want that, kind of, but know they'll never get it.

Therefore, in his youth, Littlefinger knew that he was smart, knew that he wanted power, yet was keenly aware that it was almost impossible for him to socially climb. He does -- we'll get to that in a bit -- but as a child, he knows it's unlikely. Think of Rob and Jon playing in Winterfell and Jon yelling "I'm the Lord of Winterfell" and Rob just returning "no, my mother says you won't be". It's a horrible situation to be in. We don't get Littlefinger's POV, but if we did, I think there's a good chance he would remember a similar scenario.

Then there's Littlefinger's relationship to Catlyn and Lysa. Little boys often have crushes on little girls, and it's usually pretty sweet and can sometimes become a nice romance or just fade away. We hear that Catlyn is intelligent and beautiful as an adult, so it's easy to see the appeal, and Catlyn also has status through her Tully blood and an understanding of Machiavellian power plays because her father raised her as his heir until Edmure was born. One could easily see Littlefinger's desire for Catlyn being a desire for power and status, as well as her own merits.

Lysa had a crush on Littlefinger, creating the incesty love triangle that GRRM loves so much. I can't imagine playing kissing games with a foster brother and a sister, tbh. Littlefinger himself seems to only see Lysa as a pawn, and uses her feelings to get her to do what she wants. The narrative suggests that, for a time, there's Catlyn, mourning her mother; Lysa, mourning her mother and interested in a boy who doesn't really care about her; Edmure, just being a baby; and Littlefinger, caught up in rules and restrictions: allowed to be close to what he wants, but never truly part of the team.

Events start to occur. Fuckhead Hoster Tully decides to set up marriage alliances for Catlyn and Lysa. Lysa meets Jamie Lannister, who barely pays her any attention (he's distracted by the presence of his hero, Brynden "Blackfish" Tully). Catlyn meets Brandon Stark, who has power, status, a noble house, physical prowess -- everything Littlefinger wants. On the night the Stark-Tully engagement is arranged, Littlefinger gets drunk. He can't cope with the years of complicated class dynamics, he's heartbroken, and he's what, 14? He's immature and acts like it. Then Lysa rapes him.

I'm not a psychologist so I can't comment on the impact of sexual violence, especially when gender and power play into the situation in this way. However, Lysa did an unforgivable thing, and there was nobody Littlefinger could turn to. That's horrifying. I also think that more should be made about Littlefinger's comments about shutting your eyes and getting it over with in relation to being in bed with "an ugly woman".

Soon after, he challenges Brandon Stark to a duel for Catlyn's hand. Catlyn "betrays" him (in Littlefinger's mind) by giving Brandon her favour, Edmure "betrays" him by "squiring" for Brandon, and then Brandon nearly kills him. So we have a teenager who is 1) in huge amounts of physical pain, 2) without friends or allies, 3) was recently raped and 4) considered unimportant and insignificant. Then, Lysa rapes him again. The fact that this poor child didn't have a full mental breakdown is genuinely suprising.

We don't know if Littlefinger knew about Lysa's pregnancy at the time. What Hoster did to her was also unforgivable -- violence begets violence, and Lysa and Hoster's relationship is full of toxicity and harm. Hoster is also just generally monstrous. If Littlefinger did know, that's another layer of complexity where his foster father aborts Littlefinger's baby, a physical reminder of the sexual violence Littlefinger endured.

A few years later Lysa convinces her then-husband, Jon Arryn, to bring Littlefinger to King's Landing. He is traumatised, he is resentful, and he is cunning. He works hard to enter the places he was once barred from, like the court, the Red Keep and the small council. Now he can take his revenge on everyone who hurt him.

GRRM often talks about the futility of revenge. House Martell is the most obvious example of this, and the speech Elaria gives is beautiful and poignient. Littlefinger doesn't get revenge on Hoster or Brandon Stark. He does kill Lysa, but that's more to shut her up. In a story with a different perspective -- and a few characters kept alive -- we could see Littlefinger as a Kill Bill style avenger, ruining the lives and families of all of those who harmed him. It could be easy to root for him, not against him as the narrative sets up.

Revenge isn't simple, and that's why Littlefinger doesn't succed and isn't an inspirational character. He never confronts anyone on what happened to him -- he's too psychologically damaged -- so instead he kills Ned and Jon Arryn, two people who had nothing to do with his traumatic experiences at Riverrun, and then he hyperfixates on poor Sansa, who looks like Catlyn in his memory. He's immature and stunted in his mid-teens. I wonder if Littlefinger and Sansa lived for another 10/20 years he'd find himself losing interest because she moved on and he can't.

Littlefinger will likely die because of Sansa, and nobody will miss him. He's not a good person. He's groomed and lied and manipulated her, and the horrors he inflicted on Jeyne Poole, supposedly her best friend, are even worse. I don't see his future death as triumphant, though, in an unbiased overview kind of way. The Starks will celebrate, because he killed their dad. No one else will really care. The Lords Declarant have got rid of an annoyance, and he wasn't really working with King Tommen or the Small Council any more.

I think there is some sadness, though, for the child who wanted to be included, wanted to be loved, and who was instead hated, abused, ignored and scarred. RIP Littlefinger, a victim of the patriachy and the class structure.

[threepandas]

YANDERE!All For One.

A horrifying concept! Thanks, we (love) hate it!

He is ALREADY dangerous enough. Unhinged enough. Having his complete and undivided attention? His INTEREST? His fucked up, Machiavellian, sociopathic lil squirrel brain, COMPLETELY focused on the task of hunting you for sport?

Ha ha... *deep inhale* *starts screaming, never stops*

The man was already a living horror movie monster. Making him a yandere makes him WORSE~☆. Which is GREAT. For us, specifically. The readers. Not for the victim. THEY are fuuuuuuucked. Possibly in the literal sense, but unlikely.

Mind games and power plays are more fun.

The pointless struggle. Possession of something. The resemblance to Self. Because HE is perfect. Other people? Abhorrent. They're Rats. Vermin. Less, even, then that. They are nothing but occasionally interesting Quirks with meat attached to them. Sometimes useful servants and peons, born to be ruled.

But respective PARTNERS?

Gods NO. Don't be disgusting.

He is PERFECT. Powerful. He pulled himself up from the ruins of the early Quirk riots, the first days of those ugly wars, and became something MORE. Ascended. A Dark Lord, meant to rule, BORN to rule, over this new age of Man. It all makes perfect sense to him. He has plans within plans. Stretching out for centuries.

He just needs to get his brother BACK.

End this little rebellion.

It's a set back. Just a set back. And he's being PERFECTLY reasonable about his brothers Quirk. Utterly sane. He's ALWAYS been level headed and rational about family... is what he tells himself.

But he's NOT. He's Yandere AF.

His parents? He doesn't care AT ALL about. They nominally were supposed to control HIM. Uninterested, thanks. But? His weaker little brother? We SAW how he reacted. So I propose? You gotta be RELATED to him. And THEN the Bad Touch Instinct flips on.

Do you ACTUALLY have to share blood with him? No. But it would seriously help your survival chances. But the more you LOOK like him? The closer your Quirk to his? The more you are "him but weaker somehow"? The more INTERESTED he is.

The sort of Yandere he is? Is almost entirely dependent on HOW he learns of your existence. Cause? There is no way in HELL he had sex. At least not with ANOTHER PERSON. He has thousands of Quirks, thank you very much, any need he has? He can settle HIMSELF. Don't touch him.

Keep your filthy, filthy, disgusting paws to yourself.

So if someone SOMEHOW managed to get PREGNANT with his child? :) Well, now. :) he Certainly does have some Very Violent QUESTIONS. For EVERYONE involved. Starting with: How did you get his DNA? And did you touch him?

And once THEY are brutally dismembered corpses? You know, AFTER the child is born. Yandere time! They will want for nothing and KNOW nothing but him. Vault baby 2.0!

But?

Let us say? That the "mother" isn't an idiot. She KNOWS that she Oop's'd a baby with a Fuckin Psycho. Time to RUN. Let's EVEN give that kiddo Self Insert Powers! Cause WHOOPS? "Mummy... mummy I think I stole a quirk." (At least that random toddler seems WAY happier?) Oh SHIT! That's, KINDA DISTINCT.

Uuuuuuuuh *frantic maternal mental math* my babyyyyy.... has.... a....

SUPPRESSION Quirk! Yep, JUST like great *garbled cough* Aiko! Runs in the family, real rare. Looks like a two touch. Once to "suppress" and again to "UN-suppress" RIGHT, honey? *confused child nodding* yep! See! That's EXACTLY what it is. Nothing to see here.

Now PUT IT ON THE FUCKING FORMS.

And? That probably WORKS. For a while. Cause Mother moved them to the DEAD CENTER OF NOWHERE. Where her Quirk won't get her panic pregnant by any SUPERVILLIANS at a fucking Super Strength Thrown down (gdi, what even IS her life?!). But? Really only takes ONE(1) person, don't it?

One person to notice... waaaait a minute.

I've felt this before.

When AfO gave me my Quirk. *Looks at person in front of them*

And? Male? Female? Non-binary? Doesn't matter. He'd be INSTANTLY so, so horror movie creepy.

Suddenly EVERYONE AROUND YOU knows who you are. Is very polite. Your hotel is immaculate. Your food gourmet. People watching without watching. But are you imagining it? You haven't changed anything from yesterday. Why all of a sudden?

He gets the test results.

You Are His.

Suddenly the watchers are GONE. There is only ONE(1) watcher. Tall, broad, pale. An immaculate suit no matter how out of place. Red eyes. A placid face that might as well be carved from stone, for all the genuine human expression it shows. Never there when you turn your head.

Across the street. Atop buildings. In the shadows of alleys.

You can't tell if you're paranoid or your eyes just aren't quick enough. Was there someone just outside the window? Was that REALLY a shadow you saw, cast from the otherside of the door? You live in a safe neighborhood... don't you?

You can't tell if it's your reflection you're seeing or NOT.

Your gut says it isn't. (Says RUN.)

One by one, he'd pick off those around you. What information do they have? Who amongst his loyal can he replace them with? Isolate, isolate. Slowly, ever so slowly. Like a spider weaving a web.

Shhhhhh, shhhhh. Can't let you startle. Have you NOTICE. You'll fight. Hurt yourself pointlessly struggling. Things aren't ready yet. We must continue to play pretend. Go about our little lies. Enjoying the "freedom" he allows. All while he observes. Learns. Refines his plans accordingly.

People can adapt to damn near anything. As long as it doesn't hurt them. Sometimes even when it hurts them. A watcher? That... that never DOES anything? Maybe it's just some Quirk you unknowingly picked up. It's a crowded place, the city. It could happen.

Would explain why it went from lots of them to just one! You got control of it. Yeah. Yeah that makes more sense. (We rationalize away SO MUCH, in this age of Quirks.)

Which makes the fear so, SO much more real. So much SHARPER. When you jerk awake. In your bed. In your room, in your apartment. Where you SHOULD be alone. To a powerful hand, clamped like steel across your lower face. A familiar hole humming against your lips, dead center of a strangers palm.

That's your Quirk.

Why does-?! Eyes flick up as you struggle to breathe. Red, red eyes. White hair. Your face but older, watching you struggle, coldly handsome and deeply masculine. There's only one person he COULD be. All For One. You panic. Have to escape, but you can't get leverage. Scrambling pointlessly at the hand effortlessly pinning you to your bed. Crushing you too it.

Your fingers catch at his suit, his expensive watch, but despite your frantic efforts nothing draws blood. No amount of bucking so much as rocks him. He waits you out. Watching you panic yourself nearly unconscious. Not enough air. Can't breathe. Can't BREATHE!

Coughing, confused, and struggling to suck in air, you finally go limp.

He breaks into a grin. It is the stuff of nightmares. Croons down at you, like praising a pet, that you did good. Calls you by NAME. Oh god, he knows who you ARE. You don't have a lot of Quirks, never wanted to be like him. But you're SCARED. Your hands shake as they come back up.

As though you're going to try and pull his hand away, again.

Palms against skin. You... you try to RIP as many Quirks out of him as you can. Hopefully it hurts. M-Maybe it'll stun him?

He jerks. The grip on your face turns brutal, crushing, then relaxes back to suffocating. For a brief, terrible moment, you were certain you were about to LOSE your lower jaw. He shudders above you. Eyes sliding close he seems to revel in the sensation he just experienced.

Lifting a hand, he runs it through his hair, down his face, his neck. Lightly. Slowly. A shudder. As though he can't keep his hands off himself after that. Please God, let that not be what you think it is, starting to press against you through your covers.

His eyes, when he opens them, BURN.

A hand braced next to your head. The choking scent of his cologne, spiced and musky, burning at your nose. It mixes, like the calling card of something DANGEROUS, with his sharp aftershave. He leans down with the sort of ease that speaks of incredible muscle control. The movement utterly fluid.

A hungry grin, getting closer and closer. Then nothing but mad, crimson eyes filling your view. Your view of him blurs. Tears. All your long muttered plans for anger and sass abandoning you, now that the moment has come. You... you don't feel terribly brave. You feel cornered.

His hand move from clamped over your mouth to holding your face still.

He enjoys the view. Watching you cry for him. Muses in a low voice, just for you, that he wonders... will you try and fight next? His brother did. And you have far more Quirks then he possessed. Should he rip them out one by one? Or all at once? He could give you MORE. Share some of the interesting ones.

But, ah, you'd have to EARN that. Now wouldn't you?

You truely are his child. Covetous and greedy, just like him. Tell him... did it feel GOOD? Did you HUNGER? Want his power for yourself? His greedy little thing~♡

Is he a platonic Yandere? Does he want to screw you through the decadent king sized mattress? Yes. Somehow both. Somehow neither. Honestly? You can pick! He is EXACTLY that level of Weird about it. Just like with his brother.

He wants to croon and cage. Tie them up and discuss the newest research papers. Cuddle like equals yet have them at his feet. He wants to fuck himself. But only his PAST, WEAKER self, whom he can dominate. And while it's PREFERABLE they be into that? He doesn't give a shit if they aren't. Obviously... outside of a quirk? This is not possible.

(God knows he's probably TRYING.)

So the next best thing? Someone who LOOKS very, very similar! He would be OBSESSED. And the harder it was to get them? The more CONTROL he had? The closer they were to being LIKE him? The deeper his Obsession.

This has been my Yandere AfO Talk. If ya'll write anything, for the LOVE OF GOD, LINK ME.

[moonshynecybin]

your tags on the great gifset just. yes. absolutely. also love how vale continuously gets autocorrected to cake for you lol it’s beautiful every time it happens !

thank you if you ever see my cake typos PLEASEEE know i meant vale. it happens SO much on my dumb iphone i have noooo idea why but my autocorrect is allergic to just spelling his name correctly. it ends up sounding like marc is playing psychosexual mind games with a machiavellian little baked desert

anyway!!! they would slayyyyy the great. marc showing up young and naive and filled with a like. divine right esque determination that he will help usher the country into a golden era of the enlightenment (believes he was put on this earth to do this as DESTINY) and then he gets to [not russia not italy but a secret third thing] and finds everything in hedonistic disrepair completely run by vale’s nepo babies <3 truly vale given too much power too many parental issues and left to languish in his worst tendencies of never doing anything he doesn’t want to ever. ambitious and cunning (he would NOT be as stupid as peter but he WOULD have that same charisma ! something that marc/catherine struggle with in comparison) and marc tries to hold on for idealistic love but eventually is like. okay. i need to throw a coup here. that needs to happen. why are YOU ruling when i have IDEAS. and it KILLS HIM (vale DOES make him laugh crucially but in no world would marc sit there like a demure little consort and not contribute to policy. why are you ruling badly when EYE could rule and whip ass at it. he’s a group project terrorist.) but eventually he does rally his small army of men obsessed with him (plus dani and jorge comma reluctantly) and they are locked in wacky hypersexual and extremely violent political satire drama for the next three years until they realize they’re in love.

[muwitch]

The moon for your rookery

TY SO MUCH FOR THESE <3 answering these epic tarot rook asks I am, as matter of fact, vomiting words here again, so going under the cut!

Lucius [SD]

Where do I even unpack with that one…

The jig is on, the cat is out. Most of Luc’s problems and personal quests are tightly tied to him being a Radonis’ nepo baby [one of several but alas]. And it wouldn’t be so bad actually, if he wasn’t also half rivaini, which in a highly ancestral society is not always looked positively upon. Besides we are speaking Tevinter.

By his birth he is put down in a rat race he despises, yet desires to win so desperately just to prove everyone and especially the absolutely absent father figure wrong, and do so with gusto. He adopts quite a machiavellian approach to his own life and how he works toward that complicated goal. He joins Shadows out of late teen rebellion and for the longest time is not there really for the cause, there is an ulterior motive lingering in the back of his head. That is a blindspot he later forgets about and it bites him in the ass years after. Painfully.

He’s an altus mage. He generally tends to think of larger categories and despite them being of “greater good” it takes time for him to narrow them down to see not only calculation and statistics where it should be people. He radicalises pretty easily. He knows there’s collateral damage, always. And he thinks he’s ready for those sacrifices to be made. Exitus acta probat.

He’s (not by choice) a bloodmage - occasionally - and it ties with a certain will to sometimes impose cruelty both on others and himself. It requires a sort of forceful detachment in important matters. It also comes with crushing feelings of guilt and self-resentment he constantly tries to justify. Magic is a tool, right?

From all of the above Luc has this bivalent nature where he has no idea where he actually, truly belongs, because he’s already quite detached from Rivain and despite living in Tevinter since age 5, always constantly reminded he is not fully a vint. Not in a certain sense. He’s a Shadow Dragon, but has to lie to his comrades 24/7 about his identity in pretty little words. And he thinks he’s doing the right thing by doing so, protecting them from himself - from all that comes of him really being himself with all the luggage - but mostly protecting himself. All that pia fraus is a direct product of his upbringing. He’s all tangled in that complicated web of self-lies he’d build over the years that he forgets himself that omnia mea mecum porto.

On the brighter side all the “good” values per se come from his mother. They take root and survive in small rebellious acts long enough to sprout when he’s ready. Despite his efforts to convince himself of being what he is, he still has lots of compassion and understanding to people around him. And is not immune to making connections, to value honesty (toward himself of course, but at least he’s ready to reciprocate as deep as the situation dictates) and things that are humane in their nature. He wants and  tries to be a bigger person, something better, something lighter, something others can look up to. Once, twice, slowly trying to right the wrongs that already happened. (Not like there isn't a certain influence in his inner circle about that).

Watch him be bitten in the ass again for it.

Gwyn [GW]

Ah, my sweet Fereldan child. Daughter of two hailed heroes. Heiress to the teyrnir of Amarantine. Current king-consort’s niece. Beloved and cherished and protected from a younger age. THE disney princess. 

Gwyn is no stranger to a little bit of entitlement because of her heritage, and, specifically, her family history, aka Warden Cousland’s beef with First Warden(s). Gwyn thinks, a bit naively, because she’s barely 19, that she just knows better. It’s the teen maximalism at its best and worst in her, taking her own experience at Vigil’s Keep and her mother’s style of managing the Wardens as ideal. 

She also thinks because of that she, Gwyn, knows how to handle shit, especially concerning wardens, she has this natural ego, this belief she HAS TO step up and do things. Which is a polar sort of entitlement to that of Luc’s. She feels this responsibility which neither of her parents wanted her to bear, and a bit of dreams of heroics.

Combined with competence acquired by training at home and all the runaway hot girl shit, makes her think only she could handle certain things. She has to learn to rely on others as much as she relies on herself, not only inspiring them to be self-sufficient, but actively engaging to let them reach out to her and share the burdens that are too heavy to carry alone.

Due to runaway reasons, while we are at it, she’s more on the same page with peasantry than actual royalty she technically belongs to by birth. Her dislike of Fereldan post-Blight politics and her mother’s involvement in it, she transfers the same approach to authority to other places, which is, in hindsight, not the best strategy to have. She purposefully hides her family name by going as Gwyneth Thorne for those reasons and from time to time it bites her back, but not as painful. (But only until South gets blighted and she has THE experience firsthand).

Despite her mature image, Gwyn’s whole motivation for the Rook business is to help cure her parents. As simple as that, and she’s so single minded about it, she forgets to focus on other things. Forgets that she’s still a child with a gaping weeping hole made by her parents absence. One she’s desperately trying to stuff with something for years. She forgets she needs to let herself be vulnerable, open. Not some fearless brave warrior a Warden should be, not the effective leader, but just a person. When she lets herself cry for the first time that’s gonna be a revelation.

Also, she’s Fereldan, that lot comes with the funniest bundle of biases. Despite her education Gwyn would be either spouting the pup nonsense as much as harding, or be a surprised picachu for the whole year Varric drags her around as they track Solas. She easily forgets things are not what they were “back home” and when calculating she should probably consider cultural differences instead of assuming - she’s working on it, honestly.

And the funniest bias she’s is with the griffons, because not only did Wardens AGAIN conceal things, fuck them up, but she also wants one for herself. She earned it. No she wants one now, Davrin, we gonna bag the weeping howler, get me bow. 

[merrivia]

I’ve finally read Pet and am kicking myself I didn’t read it sooner!

I’ve measured out the short stories like I’m nibbling on chocolate, Charlie Bucket style, and I was leaving this till last partly because of that, and partly because I didn’t feel that interested in Ancel (sorry Ancel, I take it back).

It’s fascinating reading about events that occur in Captive Prince but not from Damen’s POV. The idea that everyone has complexities under the surface, and that things aren't always as they seem, is only understood by Damen negatively in the first half of Captive Prince I think. Veretians are untrustworthy and slippery and Machiavellian. And that's not, not true! The Veretian court IS a pit of vipers. But people are also still human, and it's that extra step of understanding the humanity underneath even these acidic, performative snakes which is interesting. Ancel is sharp and smart (and really needs to be taught how to read forthwith). Berenger is morally admirable, and isn't actually sleeping with him. Vannes cares about Berenger in her own small way. Laurent emits a great deal of power and is "instantly commanding" to others (but not to Damen, which must have really infuriated him).

Here’s some more snippets of my thoughts in general:

Waxing is canon! So interesting. Why does no grown man ever shave in the books also? Why isn't attending, also shaving? I think we'll just have to accept that as Pacat's choice. Maybe the only blade she wanted between them was the ghost of swords from a long ago fight/swords in the present?

Isagoras the writer/poet- any connection to Isagoras the historical figure who was embroiled in a power play in terms of Athenian politics and democracy? Who Aristotle called ‘friend of tyrants’? Obviously he’s not meant to be that figure but is it a sort of irony and foreshadowing for the political choices Berenger has to make?

And Akielon writing/poetry is popular among men with status? Interesting. You wonder if Laurent approved a poem waxing lyrical about Ios, or really anything that suggested the Akielons aren't barbarians.

I feel as if Damen would know this poem, and read it to Laurent as part of courting him 🥺

Interesting to see a first impression of Laurent from the viewpoint of someone not instantly obsessed with him- severe and harsh, but no mention of his beauty till later.

I mean this nicely but Damen really has no idea how naturally arrogant and superior he comes across as in this situation, does he? I mean, it’s completely understandable if you think of Akielon society, and how he’s been raised and treated; in fact it would be implausible any other way based on his character traits too. He’s just so bad at pretending to be a slave even as his life is at risk if they find out he’s a prince 😂 oh Damen /pets his curls/. And oh, a *lion* you say....

Just really bad at acting servile, it's so funny. Love him.

Speaking of Lamen, it is a little unsettling how quickly Damen starts to fall for Laurent in Captive Prince and how Laurent truly does hate him, yet…is clearly on some molecular level, attracted to him, I think? It’s just a really heartbreaking and stressful dynamic. His "complete attention" on him...let's face it, if Damen had looked like Govart, Laurent wouldn't be fixated in the same way (I mean this nicely).

Oh my baby Laurent. You know this isn’t right. Are you reenacting a past trauma? Making him suffer what you suffered? Even if you aren’t, your flaw is letting your hatred and anger blind you to your morals. (Lucky a man is going to fall in love with you who is pretty much always on your side even when you don’t always deserve it…). Damen will help you be more honourable /pats blond head/

"Locked” is an apt word isn’t it, considering all that ties them together (and not to mention the gold cuffs and collar…) and oof, Laurent's sexual domination in this scene is quite apparent.

and…

I mean, we all know this is sex by proxy and so does Ancel, who just met Laurent and Damen!

And lastly, I am team Berenger. He's a Good Man and would probably get on pretty well with Torveld and Nikandros, the other dark haired, loyal and responsible men in the trilogy.

Nice to see someone see commoners as people all year round (not simply when their villages are being massacred and their humanity is thrown into stark relief by it)!

[cagedchangeling]

Beautiful gun wielding Girlies

Sigewinne my machiavellian little baby

and gorgeous cold caring Clorinde

[asongoficeandthrones]

A Clash of Kings First Read - Chapter 15

(POV: Tyrion III.)

Setting: King's Landing.

Favorite character: Varys. I really like how shrouded in mystery he is. And also, how the hell is he able to change so much (physically and otherwise) between the "real" Varys and his other guises? Is he really a wizard of sorts? Or is it really just great acting? Tyrion would still have been my fave, to be honest, if not for a few brash comments about Shae and how I thought for a second that he was going to betray her (which is weird, because I don't even like them together).

MVP: Littlefinger and his anti-Stannis plan. It's really devious, but I guess it could work? Some of it's a little far-fetched, like the "eating a rabbit during pregnancy will give the baby floppy ears" bit, but I guess it's the point and besides, Varys said in this chapter, "Men see what they expect to see," and I guess it could apply to those rumors as well? Like, if enough smallfolk believe it, everybody will?

Things I loved/liked:

The Tyrion/Varys conversation. As always. I bet they actually could be friends if they stopped mistrusting each other so badly. Which they won't, I think, because mistrusting each other is the smart thing to do, and also because that's who they are.

I know I said before that I didn't really like political schemes, etc... But I'm gonna contradict myself, because I really liked it here. Probably because Littlefinger is good at what he does. (And I don't even really want Stannis to be brought down by that plan, it's just that it's technically good.)

Cersei's reaction to the letter and her lack of good judgment. Tyrion's right, her anger probably could have given it away that the incest thing was actually true.

Things I disliked/hated:

Not understanding one bit the thing with the chain?

The whole brothel part, because I really didn't understand Tyrion's character in that moment (bravo, GRRM, for making me think Tyrion really was going to visit the brothel). I mean, it certainly didn't fit with his previous thoughts about Shae.

Quotes:

"Lord Varys," [Tyrion] said from the saddle, "sometimes I feel as though you are the best friend I have in King's Landing, and sometimes I feel you are my worst enemy." "How odd. I think quite the same of you."

because it illustrates their "friendship" so well.

Thoughts overall: Machiavellian and intriguing.

[gojuo]

Tell us now your top 5 most hated characters on ASOAIF and F&B please!

My no.1 most hated ASOIAF character is Tywin Lannister. I hate this man. I hate him very much. I wish he would go away and die somewhere where he will inconvenience no one but the vultures. I loathe his manner. I loathe his style. I loathe the fact that he dares draw breath in a world where my loved ones do not or rather cannot because he murdered them. I loathe that he was rewarded for behavior which, in-universe, he should have been quartered for. I want him dead. I want to kill him and destroy him. I want him died. #SCENE #ANGER #FUCK #DIE #HATERED

There is not a single ounce — not even a miniscule amount ­— of sympathy I have for this scumbag. Not a single thing likeable about him. Not a single redeeming quality he has to his name. From the first moment he showed up on page until the very last mention of him, he was nothing short of disgusting. He is diabolical, satanic, monstrous, loathsome, ghoulish, sadistic, cruel, insert every single synonym of the term demonic here, etc. etc. I hate him. I hate him I hate him I hate him I hate him.

The whole “Yeah he’s evil uwu but Charles Dance is so granddaddy I can fix him <3" sales pitch this low IQ fandom has been pushing since the dawn of that accursed adaptation on top of it all only makes the intense disgust I hold for him so much fucking worse. Tywin Lannister has no conscience, no charisma, no morals, and he has no honor — all of that in an un-sexy way, one of the greatest crimes a villain with no traumatic backstory could objectively ever commit. Never mind the beyond immoral execution of the Red Wedding (“Machiavellian” my ass. Any stupid fool who says this crap needs to go back to elementary school in order to relearn how to read and how to interpret literature and themes in literature right the fuck now), never mind the severe mental torture he’s put his own flesh and blood through to the point where two of them are in a destructive incestuous relationship with each other and the other pushed to the point of patricide, this monster had his son's fourteen-year-old little child-wife gangraped by his guards, had each of them give her a silver coin after one was done with her, then had thirteen-year-old Tyrion rape her last and, contrary to the others, give her a gold coin because “Lannisters are worth more”. All because she was a common-born little girl who dared to marry the disabled son he hated so much. Am I supposed to think this piece of shit falls under the sexy evil category of villains? What sad backstory does this trash have to his name that would woobify him enough to “if villain bad why sexy” him? His father had a few mistresses after his mother died and gave them gifts and cared for them? Was that the tragic past of his that elevated him enough for people to wash their conscience clean so to cross moral boundaries all to lust after this so-called “sexy villain”? Tywin Lannister had his father’s mistress, who was nothing but a poor common-born daughter of a candle-maker, stripped naked and paraded through the streets of Lannisport for two whole goddamn weeks, and forced her to tell every man she came across that she was a thief and a whore, quite alike to what he did to Tysha as well. This man hates women. I cannot stress this enough, like Tywin Lannister hates women. And not just women, but especially commoner women. His modus operandi is inflicting sadistic sexual violence on any and all women he doesn’t like (which is like, all of them). As a true “if villain bad then why sexy” connoisseur and quite frankly, the president of the club, this man is not, never was and never will be a part of that esteemed category of villains.

And you know something that’s a veeery personal ick of mine — and this is really the icing on the cake for me — is shit-for-brains dickriders of this ghoul having the gall to pretend like he did not explicitly order the murder of Elia and her babies, that he apparently just “let” Clegane and Lorch loose on them. These low IQ fucks know what that demon did to his father’s poor mistress and what he did to little Tysha, and then somehow they still think this sadist with a severely fragile ego did not tell Clegane and Lorch to do what they did to her with his own mouth? Any waste-of-space who parrots this BNF-drivel (all said in order to minimize what happened to Elia, Rhaenys and the baby in place for Aegon) is not only going on my blocklist like immediately, they also need to die. Respectfully.

Now, I mostly spoke on his character from a moral standpoint, but I want to make clear that this loser’s shortcomings aren’t only morality-based. All the shit-for-brains stans this demon has know he has no morals so they always deflect to the “b-b-but he’s a military genius, that’s why I like him, I’m so edgy!!!” excuse and I want to emphasize how fucking stupid you have to be to believe Tywin is anything but brainless. AFFC is literally right there. GRRM’s explicitly spells out to the reader through Jaime’s POV how fucking stupid Tywin was in everything that he did. How the only show of military genius this demon had was through being nothing but a bully. All his work unraveled the second he died. He built nothing, and he will go down in history as nothing. That’s why his one and only legacy will always be that he got murdered on the shitter by his own son, like the fucking loser that he is.

I hate this fucking character with every fiber of my being.

On number 2 stands Aerys II Targeryen. Do I even need to explain this? What I said about Tywin applies to this racist, rapist, fascist piece of shit as well. I’m not going to waste my time and money psychoanalyzing this bottom-of-the-barrel trash. Aerys is the pinnacular culmination of three hundred years of Targaryen delusion, self-worship, egotism and five thousand years of Valyrian hubris, god-complex, and megalomania. Him and his daughter both, but I’ll get to her in a minute. This man’s lucky he’s only got 2 stans — and those two are only stanning just to be contrarians — unlike Tywin, who’s got an actual dedicated fanbase. Ugh. Two peas in a pod. One edge he has over Tywin is that at the very least Aerys has some sort of tragic backstory that’s actually valid. Too bad for him idgaf. Pour one out for Rhaella :(

My third most hated is ... Daenerys. Man… How do I even open this can of worms… I’ve a whole tag dedicated to hating her, soooo awkwardly waves hand in that direction. Everything about Daenerys is just so … racist. Racist on an in-universe level, racist on a meta level and racist on a fandom level, so I was never going to like Daenerys no matter what. The fact that she has the most insane and delusional and downright disgusting fanbase ever in all of media history really doesn’t help her case. If they hadn’t been this rabid and racist, then I don’t think I would have hated her this much. Because then I could’ve just had her character be as she is: the Paul Astreides of the series. A false Messiah, basically. The meta-level racism (GRRM making every single antagonist in her plotline nothing but walking, talking Reel Bad Arabs tropes; the use of POV trap which leads to none of the brown and black supporting characters in her story having a voice; GRRM’s own racism as in exotic-erotic tropes for all of the Essosi people, really badly researched POC cultures he based the Essosi off of, using brown and black people as nothing but props for the main white girl) and Daenerys’ in-universe racism (conquering and colonizing lands and peoples; white saviorism; imperialism; her hypocritical use of slavery) would still be there, of course, and I still would not have been able to stomach it meaning I still would not have rooted for her in any way, but then at the very least I would not have been subjected to a long decade of fandom racism being justified through the excuse of her freeing slaves from evil Reel Bad Arabs (spoiler alert: she is not freeing anybody).

Ugh, I don’t wanna talk about her. Everything about her from her character to the plot and storyline and her place in the narrative is downright insulting to me as a WOC, and quite frankly, any WOC that lays down their lives to defend this girl baffles me. Like, stop it. Please have some self-respect.

Then comes Jaehaerys the Old King. Father and inventor of misogyny. It’s crazy.

No. 5 is Rhaenys I and Daeron I the Young Dragon. EVERY TONGUE THAT RISES AGAINST THE DORNISH SHALL FALL!!!

[fleurelinathehybrid]

💛[Chapter 30: Healing torture with forgiveness P. 2]💛

Apparently, being inside that black spot was like entering the mind of a dreamer who neither dreams nor has nightmares about anything. There is no light, no shadow, no silence, no sound, nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

Except for the resplendent glow of his little Dawn in his arms, who apparently showed no hint or iota of fear whatsoever. Her tender smile was enough to show him that she was okay with her father. Dream, without any worry involved, continued with his search.

Until they heard almost muffled moans deep in nowhere. Both father and daughter approached the noise to find out if the trapped sibling was there; if so, Dream would be forced to put him to sleep and protect their mind from any possible attack from that woman they are forced to call "mother."

As soon as Dream walked, his sweet little princess pointed out a point with her chubby little finger. Rewarding her with a soft kiss on her forehead, the king of nightmares followed his baby's lead; his daughter was definitely too smart to have such a prematurely young body.

When they got closer, they saw a silhouette that maintained the shape of a person. if Dream weren't so intelligent, he would perfectly recognize the silhouette of his rebellious sibling; however, there was a huge difference:

The same darkness covered their skin, clothes, hair and face. Except for the eyes, those golden orbs that could attract anyone with their beauty.

Unlike other situations, this time it was because they were in danger of a little more severe torture. That was mental torture.

Being face to face, Dream placed Dawn in his arms so that she could also face her aunt/uncle. Desire, still motionless and unable to react to those in front of them, was still suspended in the air, as if they were floating.

The silence was overwhelming for Dream, so he took the initiative to speak, with the intention of making his brother react.

—Desire? —he spoke, trying in vain to hide his panic in his voice— Sibling, I know you can hear me!

Desire was still, floating in the air with his arms open. Without reacting, or moving, or speaking.

—Desire, please speak! —he said, almost letting out tears— I beg you, little sibling! I need you!

A machiavellian laugh was heard throughout the dark place. Dawn looked everywhere, not understanding what was happening, but not afraid. And that was possible because the one who was afraid was Dream; but more than just that, he was worried. He didn't need to guess whose laugh it was.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Do you need them? Oh, son, do you still need them?"

—You…

Dream over protectively hugged Dawn, who was analyzing the situation with her innocent gaze. Suddenly, a shadow materialized in the middle of the distance between Desire and Dream, showing the shape of a corpulent woman and, apparently, the height of her sister Death. He didn't need to doubt the next move to attack her, he just witnessed a sharp evil smile.

"My dear son, I see that you come here to save your brother. Which is surprising to me, because I understand that they tried to play a joke on you"

—Don't start with your lies, I already know it was your idea. —he responded, darkening the sclera of his eyes with darkness and transforming his light blue pupils into stars burning with rage— What did you tell them? WHAT DID THEY DO TO YOU FOR YOU TO TORTURE THEM?!

Night's laughter was getting louder and louder, almost causing Dawn to quickly snuggle into her father's chest for safety and protection. After that action, Dream hugged her so that he put his cheek together with her daughter's hair. That makes Night's laugh sound a little more burlesque.

—Let them go, mother. Whatever you've done to them, it won't do you any good. —Night's favorite son spoke firmly, with a determination that she herself could not recognize, to always see him as her devoted son. —I can't attack you because Dawn is present, and my goal is to heal my brother from your torture.

"So, will you forgive him? After what he did to you?"

Dream clenched his jaw.

—You mean, —he spoke annoyed— after you made them think they did to me.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, if it was their idea to plan and execute their prank."

—Yes, but Desire wasn't evil enough to cause my near death during childbirth. I know them, Night, you don't. —Dream concluded, as he approached her with his daughter in his arms, who had no longer hidden her face for minutes. —If that were the case, they wouldn't have given me what I needed to survive childbirth and become a father for the second time. —he looks at Dawn and places a soft kiss on the corner of her forehead— And if it weren't for whatever evil thing you did to them, their prank would be harmless and they wouldn't be forced to stop talking to me. —he looks at her again with more hatred than he had before— Admit it, mother.

Night crosses her arms as she walks around Desire haughtily, marking an authority she has already lost.

"What do you want me to admit, Dream? That before your sibling came up with the prank or even got the bait and ingredients for the potion, I had already planned to set a trap for them? That I didn't need to investigate to know that they already found out from the Kind Ones and that they were forced to take the blame for your near end for fear of me? That I threatened them and cornered them in their own kingdom?"

Each question was met with a look of mixed horror and fury. The Sisters were right, Desire was just a collateral victim of this whole thing.

‶I only get everything I want. And, well, this time it was almost everything. That brat, on the other hand, was an extra detail bothered by damned Desire."

Dream doesn't know what made him angrier: her nerve to admit everything without remorse, her insult to his daughter or her contempt for his sibling. Or, also, he was angry for all three reasons and didn't know which one to complain about first.

—You will not torment me or my siblings again. —he spat angrily, releasing tentacles of shadows from behind his back, holding his daughter carefully and firmly— And don't even think about tormenting my family, not after what you put my firstborn, Orpheus, through. I'm capable of forgetting that we're family if you even dare to get close to Dawn! —that makes Night burst into laughter capable of altering Dream's sanity— NOW LEAVE!!

After letting out that scream, Night retreats into a cloud of the same matter as the spot of darkness where they were, with her distinguished machiavellian laugh getting lost in the air of the void, but maintaining the darkness around her. Dream hugs Dawn firmly, in case that woman dares to touch even a hair of hers; he barely pushes her away a little and sees that she is unharmed, and he kisses her cheek and rubs his nose on her skin, both to calm himself and to calm her down.

When they both focus their gaze on Desire again, they realize that, instead of floating, they are now kneeling with their eyes wide open, their hair disheveled, and very emotionally tormented; the bright side was that they had no traces of their mother's dark matter enveloping their body and face.

Dream, with Dawn in his arms, approaches his distraught brother and, with a considerable distance, kneels to get a better look at his sibling.

—Desire? —the king of Nightmares asks nervously, getting the fifth sibling to react and pay attention.

—D... Dre... Dream… —they sigh tiredly, while they sees them in front of them. —What… are you doing here?

—I come to get you out of here, to bring you back to us, brother. —he answers calmly, with a smile that sought to hide the tears that fell down his cheeks.

That answer leave them greatly bewildered. —Why? Why would you come for me? Why would you rescue me after what I did to you?

—Because I already know that it wasn't your intention, it was our mother's mischief. —he responds, trying to get closer, but is rejected by Desire themselves. —Brother, she blackmailed you. She made us all believe that you caused this, but that was her plan. If he had not interfered in your prank, my pregnancy would not have been complicated nor would I have been in danger during childbirth. And just like that, your prank–

—It would be innocent. As I thought it would be. —they respond, with reluctance and sadness, while lowering their head. —Dream, she didn't blackmail me, she was right.

—What…? —Dream was stunned— What are you talking about, Desire?

—I had a prank planned to annoy you and, well… —they play a little with their fingers— to get your attention back. —tears were already overflowing from their golden eyes— I didn't measure my limits and... I almost killed you. She… knew what I was going to do, and that's why she beat me to it before poisoning… that damn ginseng that I grabbed. —at this point, they couldn't help but hiccup and sob— I'm a damn monster!

—No, you're not. —that statement leaves him painfully moved, releasing some tears. —No, little sibling, you are not.

— YES I AM! —they sobbed louder, very upset— I DECIDED TO PLAY THIS PRANK ON YOU, JUST BECAUSE OF MY STUPID WHIM TO RECOVER OUR RELATIONSHIP!

After releasing that truth, an incredibly painful one for Dream to hear, Desire cannot help but hug themselves in order to protect themselves from possible harm that no longer exists, due to the guilt they feel after not being able to hide the pain of not being able to regain the affection of their brother. Due to the sadness of the situation, Desire couldn't help but crouch down and hide their crying face with their hands with the intention of not looking more pathetic than they already were.

Dream, sadder than he has ever been, looks at his younger sibling's emotional state; without a doubt, he was able to witness the abrupt personality change between this Desire and the old Desire. This was definitely beyond just forgiving a children's prank.

Desire, still immersed in sadness, does not notice that their tender niece places her little hand in their disheveled hair. Their cries can no longer be heard, they barely feel a few fingers giving an innocent caress to their blonde strands; maybe that, or the fact that they feel another hand in their hair and hears some incomprehensible babbling, leaves them exposed to the temptation to look up and raise their head.

And there it is, a pair of topaz orbs clashing gazes with a pair of golden orbs red from crying so much. After that action, Dream is tempted to get a little closer. This time with a more nostalgic smile.

—When you left, you didn't give me the chance to thank you for saving her. —he spoke, settling Dawn back into his arms. —You gave me the opportunity to feel the feeling of having a family again, Desire. —the little brother looks at both of them, trying to understand his point. —If it hadn't been for her, we wouldn't know where you were and we wouldn't have been able to find you. Because you're part of the family, little sibling. You are part of my family and hers.

Desire, more sentimental than they already were, feel the need to hug that little ray of light who looked at them with indescribable tenderness. As soon as Dream delivers it to their hands, the innocent smile floods her sweet face.

—Did you… ask them to look for me? —they question surprised, making the tender baby nod without erasing that smile. With tears streaming down their cheeks, they proceeds to bring their forehead closer to hers. —Thank you, Dawny. You saved my life. —After saying that, they close their eyes to feel that sweet warmth that their niece gave off, who without hesitation, holds their face with both hands to give more love than expected.

After that act, Desire can't help but cry more and hug that niece who had saved them from their possible end. Dream, with more tears flooding his light blue eyes and spilling down his cheeks, proceeds to hug two of his most loved ones in his endless life.

Both siblings, immersed in their hug, do not notice that the little princess gives off her light to eradicate the darkness around her and that stain of darkness from her father's palace disappears.

When they finally separate from their hug, a little confused by that strange light, they realize that there is no darkness around them. They were back in Dream's throne room.

The surprise becomes greater when Dream sees that not only are his subjects and his partner waiting for them, but also his other sibling. All with their hearts hanging by a thread with worry.

As soon as Desire sees them all, they immediately run to hug them, along with little Dawn still in her aunt/uncle's arms.

In the eyes of Mervyn, Hob, Lucienne and Matthew, this only meant one thing.

The arrival of that little princess would be the main pillar to help this family of anthropomorphic representations heal past wounds.

[itxleandra]

Hello fans, and newbies. Today I came to talk nonsense, but this time it won't be random nonsense, I'm going to talk about my not normal and worrying extreme passion for Freddie Louds.

YES BY FREDDIE LOUDS, sit down and come to this double session of fagotism and lesbianism (Hope you like it)

Okay, a little context for those unfamiliar with the universe of NBC's Hannibal series; Frederica "Freddie" Louds is a Tabloid journalist who seems to attract misfortune to her as if it were a magnet, and she is also an enemy of Will Graham but that is a complement (don't believe everything I say) And she is also very gossipy. I don't know how to explain things properly, watch the series if possible.

ANYWAY

I started watching Hannibal, the first episode was great, and WOW!!!! SECOND EPISODE BABY, LOOK AT THIS BEAUTIFUL WOMAN TALKING BAD ABOUT THE PROTAGONIST And I was like: Oh- that's cool, what an interesting character. Maybe she's my second favorite character.

Poor me, little did I know that she would LITERALLY be my biggest fictional crush. The episodes went by, I paid full attention to everything and especially Freddie's scenes.

It didn't take long for "strange" things to start happening, suddenly a strong palpitation, butterflies in the stomach, sighs and in love and then I realized HOLY FUCK I'M IN LOVE WITH HER?! Then I thought again then yes I said to myself: Ooh. This is something really compromising, I'M NOT GOING TO REPRESS THIS I LOVE HEEEERRRRRRR

(Yes I'm a little weird, but a cool weirdo)

I initially took it as a joke, but I only stopped doing it when I noticed that I was saving several photos of the character in a folder on Pinterest and edits of her in collections on Tiktok. I literally got "excited" to see her iykwim (Jesus this is so embarrassing)

I just loved the way she looked, her personality, her face, the beautiful curls in her hair... Damn what the hell, why am I in love with her? She's such a "Machiavellian" and opportunist, Idk. I heard somewhere that "love comes from strange places" I don't remember where I read this but that's ok. The most interesting thing about all of this is that I'm her total opposite.

But I think I've said too much, the summary of all this is: I'M TOTALLY IN LOVE WITH AN ANTAGONIST CHARACTER FROM A HORROR SERIES, SUCK THAT BABYYYY

Hahahaha!! Okay that's it for today. XOXO FANS See you soon!!

[letsbenditlikebennett]

Alex Bennett as Taylor Swift Eras

(Thanks you @mortemoppetere for the amazing graphic &lt;3 )

Debut

A Place in This World

I don't know what I want, so don't ask me 'Cause I'm still trying to figure it out Don't know what's down this road I'm just walking

Fearless TV

Change

Because these things will change Can you feel it now? These walls that they put up to hold us back will fall down It's a revolution, the time will come For us to finally win

Speak Now TV

Innocent (to Kaden)

It's alright, just wait and see Your string of lights is still bright to me Oh, who you are is not where you've been You're still an innocent It's okay, life is a tough crowd 32 and still growin' up now Who you are is not what you did You're still an innocent

Red TV

The Lucky One

It was a few years later, I showed up here And they still tell the legend of how you disappeared How you took the money and your dignity and got the hell out

1989

New Romantics

'Cause baby, I could build a castle Out of all the bricks they threw at me And every day is like a battle But every night with us is like a dream

Reputation

Getaway Car

I was ridin' in a getaway car I was cryin' in a getaway car I was dyin' in a getaway car Said goodbye in a getaway car

Lover

The Archer

I've been the archer I've been the prey Who could ever leave me, darling? But who could stay?

folklore

my tears ricochet (Alex&Andy)

And I can go anywhere I want Anywhere I want, just not home And you can aim for my heart, go for blood But you would still miss me in your bones And I still talk to you (when I'm screaming at the sky)

mirrorball

I'm still on that tightrope I'm still trying everything to get you laughing at me I'm still a believer but I don't know why I've never been a natural All I do is try, try, try

evermore

tolerate it (to parents)

I made you my temple, my mural, my sky Now I'm begging for footnotes in the story of your life Drawing hearts in the byline Always taking up too much space or time You assume I'm fine But what would you do if I Break free and leave us in ruins Took this dagger in me and removed it Gain the weight of you then lose it Believe me, I could do it

Midnights

Mastermind

No one wanted to play with me as a little kid So I've been scheming like a criminal ever since To make them love me and make it seem effortless This is the first time I've felt the need to confess And I swear I'm only cryptic and Machiavellian 'cause I care

[beedreamscape]

May I offer music quotes that remind me of Laerryn and Quay, some of which are in the playlist I made. Sorry, this is so long but I just had to include a bunch that been plaguing me.

If I was born as a blackthorn tree I'd wanna be felled by you Held by you Fuel the pyre of your enemies

But we're the greatest They'll hang us in the Louvre Down the back, but who cares—still the Louvre

I was told to put my job in front of you, But it won't hold me like you do

But I do it for the love, Waiting on the gold rush

Boy, you're a sight to see, kinda somethin' like me

I love the light in your eyes and the dark in your heart You love our permanent chase and the bite of our bark We know we're classic together like Egyptian gold We love us

I'm only cryptic and Machiavellian 'cause I care

We are surrounded by all of these lies And people that talk too much You got the kind of look in your eyes As if no one knows anything but us

One of these days, maybe your magic won't affect me (hmm) And your kiss won't make me weak But no one in this world knows me the way you know me So you'll probably always have a spell on me

Forget the ache of yesterday And why don't we go dancing in the rain I know you think that I should change But nothing in the world could sway my way

And when I'm standing in this mirror after all these years What I'm viewing is a little different from what your eyes show you I guess I didn't see myself before you Moving forward

I know they said the end is near But I'm still on my tallest tiptoes Spinning in my highest heels, love Shining just for you

Hey baby, we don't mind all the watching, hi 'Cause if they study close, real close, they might learn something She ain't nothing but a little doozy when she does it She's so fly (she's so fly) tonight

In the mornin', you'll be dancin' with all the heartache And the treason, the fantasies of leavin' But we know that, when it's over In the mornin', you'll be dancin' with us

I won't tell you I'm lonely 'Cause it may be selfish I won't ask you to hold me 'Cause that won't mend what's helpless

And when you think of me am I the best you've ever had? Share one more drink with me, smile even though you're sad I'm walking the long road, watching the sky fall The lace in your dress tingles my neck, how do I live?

Aren't you somethin' to admire? 'Cause your shine is somethin' like a mirror And I can't help but notice You reflect in this heart of mine

[burlesquedanceralice]

A Very Alice Playlist...

Hand In My Pocket by Alanis Morissette

I’m high but I’m grounded. I’m sane but I’m overwhelmed. I’m lost but I’m hopeful, baby.

Alice loves this song, and it’s a very good song for her as well. One hand in her pocket, and the other is giving a peace sign for sure. High but grounded, lost but hopeful... She hasn’t got it all figured out just yet, but she’s trying. 

Honey by Kehlani

I like my girls just like I like my honey... Sweet, a little selfish. I like my women like I like my money... Green, a little jealous. ‘Cause I’m a beautiful wreck, a colorful mess but I’m funny...

A colorful mess, Alice may be pansexual but she really loves women. She can’t resist a pretty face, and she’s always falling for girls all the time. She likes them sweet, selfish, green, jealous - she likes them all!

WTH by Jhene Aiko

I am Alice, I’m in Wonderland. Where’s the rabbit? He is late again. Goodness gracious, I can’t wait for him. Who has got the time?

Obligatory Wonderland themed song, of course, but this one is for when Alice gets a little bit too high and her imagination runs away from her. It happens from time to time depending on exactly what drug she’s done. 

Mastermind by Taylor Swift

No one wanted to play with me as a little kid. So I’ve been scheming like a criminal ever since to make them love me, and make it seem effortless. This is the first time I’ve felt the need to confess. And I swear... I’m only cryptic and Machiavellian ‘cause I care.

Alice is a bit of a mastermind. At least when it comes to dating, she’s very good at playing the flirting game and getting what she wants. She was lonely as a kid, and so she’s always trying to make up for it by getting lots of people around her now. 

Spaceship by Kesha

I knew from the start I don’t belong in these parts. There’s too much hate, there’s too much hurt for this heart. Lord knows this planet feels like a hopeless place. Thank god I’m going back home to outer space.

Sometimes Alice feels like she’s not meant for this world. That there is some other world out there where she fits in a bit better. The world can be so cruel, and she feels it’s her place to stand up to injustices as long as she is here. 

You Asked For This by Halsey

I want my cake on a silver platter. I want a fistful in my hands. I want a beautiful boy’s despondent laughter. I want to ruin all my plans.  I want a fist around my throat. I want to cry so hard I choke.  But I want everything I asked for.

Alice is a wanter. She wants and wants all day every day. She’s a big girl though, and being grown up is exactly what she asked for. She just didn’t think it would be so much harder than when she was a kid. 

[womanexile]

Just some thoughts...

Labyrinth "You know how much I hate that everybody just expects me to bounce back/Just like that" "You know how scared I am of elevators/Never trust it if it rises fast/It can't last" Ours "Elevator buttons and morning air/Strangers' silence makes me wanna take the stairs/If you were here we'd laugh about their vacant stares/But right now my time is theirs/Seems like there's always someone who disapproves/They'll judge it like they know about me and you" [Most likely she would rather rally platonic relationships around her vs. romantic right now- especially with the public eyes on her.]

You Are in Love "Buttons on a coat""The light reflects the chain on your neck" [Style references?] "He says, "Look up"/And your shoulders brush/No proof, one touch, but you felt enough""One night he wakes/Strange look on his face/Pauses, then says/You're my best friend/And you knew what it was/He is in love [Comfortable/comfort/confide]

End Game "Reputation precedes me, they told you I'm crazy/I swear I don't love the drama, it loves me/And I can't let you go, your handprint's on my soul" [Sound like she appreciates the mundane things in life-btw, reminded me of Eros & Psych mythology] "It's like your eyes are liquor, it's like your body is gold/You've been calling my bluff on all my usual tricks" Mastermind "I'm the wind in our free-flowing sails/And the liquor in our cocktails""I laid the groundwork and then saw a wide smirk/On your face, you knew the entire time/You knew that I'm a mastermind" [But her life can never be normal- like a superhero or villain]

So it Goes..."Gold cage, hostage to my feelings""Met you in a bar/All eyes on me, your illusionist/All eyes on us/I make all your gray days clear and/Wear you like a necklace" [Made me think of Harry Houdini- magician/illusionist] Call it what you want "… I want to wear his initial/On a chain 'round my neck, chain 'round my neck/Not because he owns me/But 'cause he really knows me" [Proud in public, not kept like a dirty secret?]

Stockholm Syndrome "Who's that shadow holding me hostage?""Oh, baby, look what you've done to me" [Line is like LWYMMD] Kiwi "She sits beside me like a silhouette/Hard candy drippin' on me 'til my feet are wet" [Style music video visuals?] "And now she's all over me, it's like I paid for it (cha-ching)/It's like I paid for it, I'm gonna pay for this" Cowboy Like Me "Only if they pay for it/You're a bandit like me" Mastermind ""No one wanted to play with me as a little kid/So I've been scheming like a criminal ever since/To make them love me and make it seem effortless'This this the first time I've felt the need to confess/And I swear/I'm only cryptic and Machiavellian 'cause I care'"

All too well "And you call me up again just to break me like a promise""And there we are again when nobody had to know/You kept me like a secret, but I kept you like an oath/Sacred prayer and we'd swear""The idea you had of me, who was she?/A never-needy, ever-lovely jewel whose shine reflects on you" [Mirrorball & Blank space ref- chameleon?] You are in love "You keep his shirt, he keeps his word/And for once, you let go/Of your fears and your ghosts/One step, not much, but it said enough" [Trust & belonging/home]

I'm not familiar with their whole catalogue or others around them (or their influences). Kinda wondered if HS listened to Def Leppard? I remember TS did a CMT crossover episode with them. Their bootleg album Rare Gems, Vol. 6 had one of the songs she covered w/ them- Pour some sugar on me. Mutt Lange produced DL & (his ex-wife) Shania Twain's albums also.

I enjoyed all your thoughts on these. Thank you 😊