#mya’s silly characters

[booplesnotts-art]

A very spooky housekeeper

(I think that if the villagers get to have guns, so should Lucille and she’d use the FUCK out of it)

Lucille is a housekeeper at Castle Dimitrescu but she does a little more than just housekeeping. ‘Cleanup duty’ is what she calls it.

The cleanup duty in question:

She probably dismembers victims she’s dragged into the basement to be made into meals for the Dimitrescu’s because she just enjoys it— quiet time !!😌. She also likes to get some of the maids killed and used for experiments, just because it’s entertaining to her; she’s silly like that.

Real talk, though: Lucille is cold, cruel, and very manipulative; she lacks any sort of empathy and compassion for others and she uses them for her own personal gain/enjoyment. Just quirky !!

Side note; she has a gun because she uses it more in her original lore/my story, but I also imagine she shoots the samcǎ down from the rooftops when they’re just being annoying lol (cause they piss me tf off in the game). She’s a good markswoman, but in the re universe, she likes to use an axe (cause I think that would be neat and I wanna draw that)

[lookslikethatsallthetimewehave]

Mya's dad gives me "embarrassing dad" vibes

you don't enter someone's room like this unless you're a little silly!

And he is the one who comes up with the corny Christmas cards. You can tell because after his wife died, the cards became somewhat depressing, but after he met Sandy and his mood improved they went back to Corn City

he has nice bunny slippers

cute

Kevin seemed way too excited about this electric toothbrush he gave Mya! I wonder if he likes them because of the funny stimulation

oh, and he went trick-or treating with Mya

Joker, lol

you can tell it’s him cause of the hair and slanted eyes (although it’s not as obvious looking in other scenes)

Most grown adults don’t dress up and partake in trick-or-treating, so this tells a lot about his character. I love it XD

weird priorities XD

[jackoshadows]

One reason for why I find shipping Jonsa as a canon ship hilarious is that book Sansa would be so horrified if anyone suggested she marry Jon Snow!

And I think it's because Jonsa shippers themselves think differently to book Sansa. They know that Jon is a central character in the series, that he is a decent guy, has some secret parentage issues going on with the possibility of legitimacy, is loyal and forward thinking etc.

However, these matters don't concern book Sansa. She is a Stark - one of the last remaining Starks in Westeros. She is the eldest daughter of house Stark. The eldest daughter of the former Warden of the North and one of the formerly strongest houses of Westeros which still has a lot of loyalty from other Northern houses. She grew up with high expectations for her marriage.

She was formerly destined to be Queen of Westeros by marriage to Joffrey. She was considered for marriage to the Tyrell heir and would have been Lady of Highgarden. She married Tyrion Lannister who is heir to Casterly Rock. She is currently plotting to marry Harry the Heir - future heir to the Vale upon SweetRobin's death.

So as is seen by her as her right, Sansa expects a marriage to a very high born noble. So far all her prospects have been heirs to big houses and kingdoms.

In AGoT she thinks that the Stark Steward's daughter Jeyne Poole - The Pooles possibly being minor lords with a holdfast near Winterfell - was far beneath Lord Beric Dondarrion.

"Lord Beric is as much a hero as Ser Loras. He's ever so brave and gallant." "I suppose," Sansa said doubtfully. Beric Dondarrion was handsome enough, but he was awfully old, almost twenty-two; the Knight of Flowers would have been much better. Of course, Jeyne had been in love with Lord Beric ever since she had first glimpsed him in the lists. Sansa thought she was being silly; Jeyne was only a steward's daughter, after all, and no matter how much she mooned after him, Lord Beric would never look at someone so far beneath him, even if she hadn't been half his age.

For the same reason, Sansa would think that the bastard Jon Snow was beneath someone like Jeyne Poole.

In fact in her most recent sample TWoW chapter we see she doesn't think much of bastards. Five books in, with the very last published chapter, we see her matchmaking for the 19 year old Mya Stone with the much older, very low born, not good looking Lothor Brune because according to her that would be a good match for a bastard...

Alayne wondered what Mya made of Ser Lothor. With his squashed nose, square jaw, and nap of woolly grey hair, Brune could not be called comely, but he was not ugly either. Though he had risen to knighthood, Ser Lothor's birth had been very low. Brune would be a good match for a bastard girl like Mya Stone, she thought. It might be different if her father had acknowledged her, but he never did. And Maddy says that she's no maid either.

Sansa would be utterly shocked if someone suggested she marry loyal, honest, good Lothor Brune. He would be very low born for her. And if Lothor Brune is not good enough for Sansa how would she feel about marrying a baseborn bastard?

As much as Sansa would be joyful to reunite with her last living relative Jon Snow, she would rather match-make Jon Snow with some low born girl, some hedge knight's or freerider's daughter than marry him. And she would still think that a baseborn like Jon Snow would be lucky to marry someone higher up the chain like lowborn girls - the same way she thinks of Mya Stone and Lothor Brune.

Remember, bastards don't have any lands and are stigmatized as less than, being treacherous and lustful by nature of birth. Ned Stark gave Jon Snow no lands, instead packed him off to the Night's Watch.

Remember Alys Karstark dancing with Robb Stark and not Jon Snow because her father took her there to meet with the heir and not the bastard?

Look at Jaime's thoughts about Sybell Spicer:

"Your lord father promised me worthy marriages for Jeyne and her younger sister. Lords or heirs, he swore to me, not younger sons nor household knights." Lords or heirs. To be sure. The Westerlings were an old House, and proud, but Lady Sybell herself had been born a Spicer, from a line of upjumped merchants.

Or Lady Sybell's reaction to betrothing her son to Joy Hill. And this is only house Westerling.

"I have two sons as well," Lady Westerling reminded him. "Rollam is with me, but Raynald was a knight and went with the rebels to the Twins. If I had known what was to happen there, I would never have allowed that." Even from the grave, Lord Tywin's dead hand moves us all. "Joy is my late uncle Gerion's natural daughter. A betrothal can be arranged, if that is your wish, but any marriage will need to wait. Joy was nine or ten when last I saw her." "His natural daughter?" Lady Sybell looked as if she had swallowed a lemon. "You want a Westerling to wed a bastard?"

Also recall that the original arrangement was for two bastards to marry - Joy Hill, Gerion Lannister's bastard, to marry a Frey bastard.

So imagine Sansa's reaction to a suggestion that she marry the bastard Jon Snow... She would think it's a joke and laugh. She would be aghast and horrified. She would be repulsed and see it as punishment.

That's just how the high born Westerosi society thinks. Bastards are seen as the lowest strata. This is how feudal classism works in Westeros.

So unless Sansa gets suddenly and magically enlightened on classist prejudice, then Jonsa is something that is never, ever, ever going to happen. This is not even getting into what Jon Snow thinks and feels about the high born traditional ladies upholding Westerosi patriarchal ideals of femininity.

[swordsandarms]

When I think of how Lyanna is seemingly (mis)understood in spite of contradicting clues in the story, I think of how it happens with Elizabeth Bennet (Pride and Prejudice) and a similar typecasting as the one dimensional "spunky, bold" kind of girl.

Elizabeth has her flaws, but that is not being a stubborn girl screeching about love in spite of her family's precarious financial future - hence her own, too. Elizabeth pragmatically turns away from her infatuation with Wickham before it turns into more after one warning from her aunt that they would both be in ruin, and she considers accepting an offer from Colonel Fitzwilliam whom she doesn't love, but they have a comfortable dynamic that she thinks of as enough. On the other hand, she also rejects the man who would inherit Longbourn, Mr Collins - a marriage that could have saved her family - and even her eventual love interest, Mr Darcy - awfully wealthy. Which gains her the cliche characterisation.

But Elizabeth's problem is she is wary of marrying a man she cannot even respect - not necessarily love. It has impacted her since childhood due to the unfit marriage in character and intellect between her own parents, and she can understand the need to marry for financial stability, as long as she can have a reasonable mutually positive dynamic with her partner, but to not even hold respect for someone she'd be tied to for life is the ultimate misery to dive into.

Likewise, Lyanna doesn't even corner her brother about not being madly in love with the man they chose for her. She challenges his character, calmly and rationally - her argument is very much that love cannot make up for unequal character. She also brings up Mya Stone not because she is a hypocrite against bastards, but because she has come prepared with facts for argument - which is exactly as what Ned remembers it, a true fact which corners him in his side of the argument. He doesn't challenge Robert's deficiencies. He's the "naive" one saying love/a woman will change him. He's the oldest but not the mature one - he's the silly romantic blinded by a man's charisma and charm for most of his life. (In Lyanna's eyes, he would also be a man who proclaimed to bring an innocent KOLT to the Mad King himself for the sake of glory - fact which must also sink his character).

Because Jane Austen isn't George Martin and in a different genre, Elizabeth Bennet gets to marry a man who is rich, AND handsome, AND the love of her life - all ONLY after he gains her higher regard in his character and virtues. (Darcy himself isn't some cliche of a man changed by love as naive Ned would have life work. He has the spine to admit Elizabeth is right, and he initially wants to let her know that upon re-meeting her, and that all that is not what he thinks a man should be - what he wants to be - accountability, something so crucial, yet something that Robert Baratheon would only - and that barely - prove only on his death bed).

But Lyanna's unknown POV past Harrenhal completely erases the clues of Robert's lowly character being unveiled to her in person. She is portrayed as stuck in the "naive"/"hypocritical" role of the girl who once before Harrenhal has told her brother she for the time being had bad feelings about this man for a start (those having turned out to be good instincts long term, and at the least informed short term, mind you).

KOLT is not about Robert, and not even about Rhaegar, though I would say his actions bear more interest fandom wide. But it is about Lyanna. And while within that perspective it might also be about what Rhaegar's actions mean to HER POV, the fact that Robert is also there, that he would have at this point in time her attention as the man chosen for her, the few mentions of what she must be seeing while to the reader they're ignored or dismissed - simply because we're narratively PAST that, and the next thing we know of Lyanna is that she's PAST HIM.

But Robert is there, and Lyanna is thrown in his company. Howland doesn't care - Lyanna is the hero in this defining episode of his life. HE's just the Storm Lord who is getting drunk and shouting about giving the KOLT to the mad King himself. But somewhere Lyanna is watching. The debauched lifestyle. The man who puts his own pride and potential for glory ahead of an innocent's wellbeing. The man who would soon be "just rolling in for a fight" in a war that defined a continent because life to him is a party and a game.

But women cannot be individuals with a dignity of their own. If they have any consciousness they better be fighting the patriarchy in the trenches or they are spunky selfish girls wanting shallow things instead of sacrificing for the family's wealth and status. There's no in between.

[thebeesareback]

The big Robert Baratheon thoughts

There are several characters within the ASOIAF universe who could comfortably be the protagonist of their own book/series, and GRRM has spoken about how, when writing a character, he tries to see all the major events through their eyes and how it would have affected their lives. Dany and Oberyn are good examples of this, and a shorter book/series could comfortably have either one of them as the main character. If a fic writer is looking for any inspiration, I think a lot could be drawn from Dany in Vaes Toloro.

Another of them is a character who almost seems like a false protagonist in GOT: King Robert Baratheon. The people who don't know him think he's amazing, the people who do know him despise him. He has a fleshed-out backstory, character and the power to influence the plot in many different ways. Yet he's killed off quickly, and I think the fan community often overlooks him as a simple drunken idiot. So I'd like to dig a little deeper.

Robert's life can easily be sectioned into three parts: pre-rebellion era, the rebellion era and the post-rebellion era. Most of what we see comes from Ned Stark, and later we have flashbacks from Cersei which show a much darker and thoroughly rotten man.

To start: Robert is the first born son of House Baratheon, a clan with significant power and influence. He's exactly the kind of young man the Westerosi patriarchal "might makes right" system rewards -- the sort of son Randyl Tarly would love to have. He's an excellent fighter, charming, good looking ("muscled like a maiden's fantasy", oh Ned). There's also a kindness there. When he's fostered at the Eeire he sends for a gift of oranges for Jon Arryn, and although the fruit goes bad, he's not upset and instead plays with the other teenagers. It's silly and funny and the most childish we ever see him.

He isn't always lovely, of course. In Stannis' memory, Robert is unpleasant. He mocks Stannis' falcon and, therefore, Stannis himself. However, Stannis is a miserable shit, and this comment comes after they've spent years disliking each other, so there's obvious bias. Robert seemed to be happy to be away from his family, and so some alienation from his brothers does make sense. Robert and Stannis go through the ordeal of watching their parents die, and it's understandable that this would cause issues in their relationship. Perhaps that's why they pushed each other away. Having a walking, whining reminder of that trauma can't have been pleasant, and the desire to pretend that everything is ok and ignore problems gets more persistent as the years go on.

The third thing we hear about from Robert's pre-rebellion era is his relationship with Mya Stone. I'm not totally clear on the timeline, so I don't know if it's 1. parents' death > 2. Mya's birth > 3. the rebellion or if 1 and 2 are the other way around. Either way, Robert seems to adore his daughter. Ned thinks about how frequently they visited her, and how much Robert enjoyed spending time with her. In a kinder story, Robert would have always been close to Mya. Then the rebellion starts.

There are, of course, lots of things which lead to the rebellion. I don't think Tywin was going to put up with the Mad King for much longer, and Rhaegar felt the same way. Then you have the coalition between the Starks, Baratheons, Tullys and Arryns, and at some point Varys and "Young Griff" would have popped up. For Robert, though, things were straightforward: he wanted Lyanna, and Rhaegar took her away. He remarks to Ned that "Seven Kingdoms couldn't fill the whole she left". It's clear that he didn't actually know Lyanna that well, and it could easily be argued that the reason he worshipped her memory was a mix of affection for Ned and a desire to return to a time where he wasn't traumatised.

Obviously, war is traumatic. That's kind of the point of the series. Everyone who fought in Robert's Rebellion is changed in some way and the scars, literal and metaphorical, run deep. Stannis broods over his "rewards". Ned misses his sister, brother and father. Catelyn is aware of the loss of her betrothed, and Lady Dustin crystalises her rage. Jamie is ostracised and bitter. Jon Connington promises more violence. The list goes on. The things Robert sees during the campaign clearly change him, and this brings us back to Mya.

One of the key themes of the series, most prominently in the first book, is the idea that the innocent should not be sacrificed. That's why Ned works so hard to protect Jon and why he resigns his handship when Robert wants to kill Dany. Something happened to Robert during the rebellion, where his hatred of the Targaryens solidifies so much that it becomes the only thing he really wants. Other things, like his love of his daughter or the belief that children should be protected, all go and he's left with Tywin Lannister and the corpses of Rhaenys and Aegon.

Robert doesn't have to make peace with the Lannisters. In fact, lots of people (the Starks, the Dornish and the people of King's Landing) would be much happier if he didn't. Tywin ordered a horrific thing, and Robert rewarded him. For me, this is where Robert becomes the man we meet in Game of Thrones. He's so broken inside that he does nothing, and tries to pretend that he's still the person he was as a teenager.

After the rebellion, Robert goes on to have plenty more children. If he loved Mya and wanted to see her all the time, after the rebellion he forgets her. And she's the lucky one! Robert must know that Cersei has his twins drowned, he ignores Barra and Gendry, and he only acknowledges Edric Storm because he has to. Then there are the kids who are legally "his", even if biologically they're not. I don't think we ever see him interact with Tommen or Myrecella, and his relationship with Joffrey isn't good. Sure, Joffrey is a little shit, but you could argue that it's partially because of Robert's treatment. Stannis thinks, at one point, that Robert might have killed Joffrey because he hit him so hard.

Why does Robert detach? Well, there's the trauma, the general depression, the loneliness, the disconnect between *conceiving* children and *the actual children*. I think, as well, there's the knowledge that, by allowing Tywin to get away with the murder of the Targaryen children, he's set a precedent whereby the same thing could easily happen to his own kids. If someone needed to get rid of Robert -- and there are people who would like him gone -- they would come after Joffrey, Tommen and Myrecella, and perhaps his bastards, too. He can't protect them, and it shames his chivalric ideals, so he disconnects, doesn't care, and drinks excessively. It might be a way of dealing with guilt, or a way he protects himself from losing anyone else. Ultimately, Joffrey, Tommen and Myrecella are doomed; Edric only escaped sacrifice because of Pylos and Davos, and might well get mixed up in a Varys/"Young Griff" scheme; all of the bastards in King's Landing are killed; and if Gendry survives, it's because of plot armour. Nobody cares about Mya, really.

There's plenty to say about the Robert/Cersei match. Firstly, I'd like to mention how much I enjoy the show-only scene where the two discuss their marriage. It's heartbreaking, well written and beautifully acted, and gives some depth which makes the experience richer.

None of the Lannisters like Robert, with the exception of Tyrion. Tyrion likes Robert because Cersei doesn't, but their creepy and destructive bond is a whole other issue. Ned thinks that Robert was a man with "big appetites", and a clear desire to be loved. It probably means he wasn't ever going to be a good husband, which Lyanna points out (in a line which I cannot imagine a 14-year old ever saying, but I digress). Robert loved the thrill of the chase and the first few weeks of a relationship, but wasn't willing to really emotionally attach to anyone. Perhaps it's because, like with his children, he had to keep people away in case he lost them, like Lyanna.

Cersei is her own woman and, to be honest, not a very good wife. Robert thinks he would have been happy with Lyanna, Cersei thinks she would have been happy with Rhaegar: both are wrong. She starts her wedding day by having sex with her brother; she regularly cuckolds her husband, and then she finishes off by murdering her husband. You could argue that her behaviour is driven by Robert's physical and sexual abuse, and his emotional distance and obvious disdain. I don't think that's incorrect, per se, I just think there's a nasty mix with the two of them. They're bad alone and worse together. They're a toxic, unhappy, traumatised mix, and a solid argument for Westerosi divorce.

Finally, there's Robert's alcoholism and his love of food. There are a number of reasons for this -- the genre's enthusiasm for descriptions of feasts; parallels with Henry VIII of England; possibly GRRM simply likes adding his favourite meals, similar to how he created House Estermont so there could be turtles, because he had pet turtles. Obesity is the sort of thing that's pretty common in middle age men who used to be very physically active, because they had to eat lots to make up their calorie deficit, and when the exercise stopped, the food continued. As for alcohol, it gives Robert an opportunity to forget his (admittedly plentiful) responsibilities and woes, makes him feel like a hero, and gives him an excuse for his abuse of Cersei. He rapes her, and when she brings it up, he says "it was not me, but the wine", then REACHES FOR A BEER. I'm certainly not qualified to talk about addiction and trauma, so if anyone has thoughts on this, please add a comment.

In Shakespeare's Macbeth, the eponymous character snatches the crown at his wife's goading, and then finds that things disintegrate around him. There's a scene in the play where two servants talk about what's going on in Scotland, and one says that two horses fought, and one ate the other. When a monarch is usurped, in literature, nature goes against itself. In real life, revolutions are messy and complicated and difficult. Robert Baratheon fought a rebellion to get his fiance back, whilst others used him and worked alongside him for their own reasons. He was left holding a rotten crown. Abused and abuser, surrounded by toxicity and exuding his own hatred, one could easily create a novel about his disillusionment.

[endthestarlight]

Artfight dump✨✨

Here's all the other artfight stuff I made that I haven't posted yet

Characters and their owners in order:

Vissarion and Lucia for @floressas and @sainvrier

Hawthorne and Nautilus for @bonesandpens

Lillie-Belle for Lavender Towne

Celestine for Rirurie

Mya for Xeron

Felix for @eddies-silly-art-gallery

Ming Yue for Melechonical

Twinkle for 1whowalkbutnosmile

Sol and her shadow for @blakerstreet

I had lots of fun drawing all these and I'm proud of myself for drawing more than I did last year, even tho my art was very inconsistent ^^;

[kusuguricafe]

Meido Day!

A/N: I realized it was Maid Day, and I really wanted to write something for it. Thank you for the suggestion, anon! Please enjoy 💖

Summary: Miyano has a Maid Day surprise for Sasaki!

Characters: lee!Miyano, ler!Sasaki

“Sasaki-senpai!”

“Oh, Myaa-chaa— Eh? Eeh??”

Sasaki turned to see his lovely boyfriend, no, a lovely-looking maid??

“D-does it look good on me?” Miyano shyly asked.

“Good? It’s absolutely adorable!”

Miyano blushed, avoiding Sasaki’s gaze. “You really think so?”

“Of course I do! But, don’t you not like wearing women’s clothing? Why are you wearing that, anyway?”

“It’s Maid Day.”

“Oh, I see. Kawaii~”

Sasaki took a closer look at Miyano’s outfit. The maid dress suits him surprisingly well, and the white hairband stands out well against his black hair, he thought. Those black stockings and adorable Mary Janes really make the outfit. I’m surprised he chose a dress that short, I can see his thighs—wait, have I ever seen his thighs before!?

“Sasaki-senpai?”

“Yes? Sorry, I was lost in thought for a second there. Could you do a spin for me?” Sasaki smiled.

“Oh! Um, sure!” Miyano lifted the ends of his dress up slightly and twirled around.

Sasaki was starting to feel faint. “The big ribbon on the back is very moe. Is that how you use it?”

“K-kind of.”

“So, uh, are you going out anywhere today, or…?”

“Oh, no, I just, uh… I did this for you.” 

“You—you what?”

“I wore this for you!” Miyano said, much louder this time. “D-don’t make such a big deal out of it. I just thought that, maybe, you would like it…”

“Oh my gosh, Mya-chan… That’s the cutest thing I’ve ever heard. I could just die!” Sasaki said, holding back laughter.

“Hey! Don’t laugh!”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. You’re just too cute.”

Miyano’s eyes widened. His face was still flushed from the last few times Sasaki had called him cute in the past couple of minutes. This wasn’t helping. He covered his face with his hands.

“Aw, Mya-chan, don’t hide!” Sasaki walked over and gently moved Miyano’s hands away from his face. “There he is~!”

Miyano couldn’t stop a wobbly smile from appearing on his face. “S-stop! You’re embarrassing me. Don’t look at my face!”

“Why not? You have such a beautiful smile!”

“N-no I don’t! It looks silly…”

“You don’t look silly at all! Okay, well, maybe a little—”

“See!?”

“No no no! Not from that, j-just the outfit, but, it looks really good on you! It really does, I’m just still a bit taken aback.”

Sasaki realized he was still holding Miyano’s hands, which were now trying to escape.

“You’re not trying to cover your face again, are you?”

“...”

“Nooo, I want to see it! Please let me see my darling boyfriend’s face?”

“F-fine,” Miyano pouted.

Sasaki frowned. “Hold on a minute, I’ll be right back. I think I have something that will complete your look.”

Miyano sat down on their couch while he waited for Sasaki to return from the other room.

“Here! It’s brand new.” Sasaki said, presenting a black feather duster.

Miyano blinked in surprise.

Sasaki stepped closer and fluttered the feather duster over Miyano’s ear.

“EEP!” Miyano jumped and covered his ear with his hand.

“Oh? Is someone a little sensitive, hm~?” Sasaki waved the duster over Miyano’s other ear, and when he covered that one too, he waved it over his neck.

“Ehehehe nOho! S-stahahap!” Miyano covered his mouth.

“Stop hiding your smile! I want to see every part of my Mya-chan’s face.”

Miyano shook his head.

“Guess we’ll just have to do this the hard way…” Sasaki said, placing the feather duster down on the coffee table. He wiggled his fingers at Miya.

Miyano squeezed his eyes shut, his hands still covering his mouth. Sasaki reached down and began kneading at Miyano’s hips, causing the smaller boy to burst out laughing and squirm beneath him. Miyano almost immediately uncovered his mouth to bat at Sasaki’s hands instead.

“WahAHAHAha nononOHOHO! WhyhyHYEEE?”

“Honestly? I just really wanted to tickle you,” Sasaki admitted. “Seeing your bright smile and hearing your sweet laughter is a bonus! Tickle tickle tickle~”

“Yohohou cahahahan’t jUHUST say things like thahAHAHAhat!!”

“Sure I can!”

Sasaki moved up to Miyano’s ribcage. Miyano weakly grabbed at Sasaki’s hands, ultimately just holding onto them, making no real attempt to stop him.

“AhahahahahaahaAA! Hahaha noho, wAhahAAHAHA!”

Sasaki had to resist the urge to squeeze Miyano’s bare thighs. Maybe some other time. He didn’t want to push Miyano too far.

“Ihihit tihihihickles! Sahahahasaki-senpahahAIIII!!

But that wouldn’t stop him from pinching right above his knees. “Tickles?”

“YehehEHES!”

“Where else is Myaa-chan ticklish?”

“I’m nohOHOt just gonna tell yoHOU thahAHAhat!”

“Hmm, how about…”

Sasaki managed to catch one of Miyano’s feet, which had been thrashing about. He unfastened and slipped off his shoe.

“Ah, wait! Sasaki, p-p-please…!”

“Please what?”

“I, I don’t knohohow!”

“If you really want me to stop, I’ll stop.”

No response.

“Mya-chan?”

“Y-you don’t have to stop…”

Sasaki grinned. “Okay, just tell me if it’s too much, alright? This is the last spot I want to try.”

Miyano nodded. Sasaki gingerly scribbled his fingers across the ball of Miyano’s stocking-covered foot. Miyano screeched.

“Whoa! That bad?”

“Sh-shut up! WaitwAITWAHAHAHAA NAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAHAHAHA!!! SAHAHAHASAKI AAAAAHAHAAA NOHOHOT THEHEHEHERE!! PLEASE NOT THERE!!!”

“Here? Right under your toes?”

“AHAHAHAHAAAA ASDJKSFLHKHSGFKSBABJSJK!!!!”

“How are you even making those sounds? Haha!”

“PLEHEEAAAAHH PLEHEHEASE STAHAHAHAHAA!!!”

“Okay, okay! I’ll stop. I had no idea you were this ticklish! Breathe, you’re alright.”

Sasaki put Miyano’s shoe back on as Miyano caught his breath. He laid there, panting. His eyes were sparkling, and his face was flushed a deep pink. Sasaki gazed at him lovingly.

“Can I take some pictures of you before you take that off?”

Miyano opened his eyes and looked up at Sasaki. “But, my face is all red now, and I’m sure my hair looks ridiculous!”

“Pleeease, for me?”

Miyano paused to think.

“I won’t show them to anyone else, I promise! Please, Mya-chan!”

“Okay! Okay. For you.”

“Yayyy!!”

Miyano smiled genuinely, not feeling the need to hide it anymore.

[k3boardsmashhhhh]

Top ten black splatband characters because I said so 😈

1. Maya and Kitamura from ink theory. Maya reminds me of the rnb singer mya and she gives off mixed girl vibes like look at dem locs. same with Kitamura she’s def a darkskin girl!! she got her little fro out and she’s just so cute

2. Warabi mid-pair/j bro is so crazy and bro is so real for that. To me warabi is def Japanese, Brazilian, and Trinidadian I love Warabi too much they’re so 2012 scene kid mixed with swag era. Plus bro always serves cunt like what white gender-fluid DJ can do that?? Exactly none of those octohoes.🗣️🗣️🗣️

3. Kuze from Hightide era. Kuze is black man idc. I feel like he would be Guyanese he’s just so pretty n fashionable and fun love him so much (hightide era please come home… please.)

4. Mizole and Tsumabushi from Wet Floor. Both of them got black t-boy swagger that’s unexplainable. Mizole has albinism while this dude neil is brownskin and too prove my point even further they both of them got 4c hair too cmon now we all know they black asf

5.Harmony/Paruko from The chirpy chips/ABXY My boo boo stinkaling HARMONYYYYYY!!!! I love Paruko a lot she’s so sillayyy (her being transfem and a sapphic Autizzy real) they r getting hit with my negrofication beam her ass is lightskin period

6.Murasaki from SQSQ/Front roe. Tbh so many of the sea urchins with black spikes or locs reminds me of textured hair therefore being black as hell to me (such as Spyke and murch) plus just like Paul Murasaki was the og black kid swagger now my boy got older and still kept that swag I see him

7. Paul from SashiMori. If this goofy lil mf had a voice it will forever be Darwin from tawog ion make the rules I’m sorry. Paul is such a cutie patootie but he def gives off that black swaggy kid vibe but also dusty ass ipad kid. Bros turning 15?? In splat3 I believe so I hope I’m right and we can finally see what he looks like after all these years🙏🏽🙏🏽

8. Kikura from C-Side. They are black period… KIKURA IS BLACK!!11 (ily kikura muah)

9.Fin bottom and Blow bottom from Bottom Feeders. Fin respectfully is Afro Scottish while blow is Afro Irish!! They are so real and silly

10. Mizuta Ahato basically Dedf1sh. They made damn near every octoling DJ black so my favorite blasian stud had to be on this list period

If you read allat thank you🫶🏽

[jackoshadows]

Here's the thing though. You keep writing about how Sansa 'felt'. Ex:

But I do understand the readings of Sansa as someone who felt misplaced in Winterfell, regardless of whether or not she actually was.

There is nothing in the text that supports Sansa 'feeling' misplaced in Winterfell and therefore any such readings are either projecting onto the character or creating a headcanon based on what one would like to see in this particular character i.e she was 'feeling misplaced in Winterfell'. To me it feels like the reader projecting what they would feel like seeing Arya making friends with the smallfolk and then assuming that Sansa would feel the same. However, there is nothing in the text itself it to support this assumption.

Regarding your point 1: I agree that Sansa losing Lady is different to Arya's losing Nymeria - especially as we proceed to the later books and the Stark kids connect through their wolf dreams and the direwolves are set to play a big role. However, when we are talking about the girls feeling lonely without their wolves, then Arya is also dearly missing her wolf, a part of herself. Added to that Arya is also dealing with the loss of her friend, Mycah - and then getting teased by Sansa and Jeyne about how Mycah's body was cut up into pieces. Added to that, after Mycah's death, Arya has no companionship in KL unlike Sansa having Jeyne. So who is feeling more alone and isolated in KL? Arya or Sansa?

Regarding your point 2:

But I also don’t strictly think that makes it impossible that some part of the criticism could come from a place of subconscious envy. Of course, when thinking about this, I am analyzing Sansa as if she were a real child with real psychological mechanisms at play. Which doesn’t really work. It’s more like, if she was a real person, this is a possible emotion that might have influenced her behavior.

See, this is what I am talking about in terms of projecting what you think the character should feel and experience, which is completely disconnected from the character the author is writing and what the text is actually telling us. Of course you are free to make up your headcanons, however, don't use that as an argument against actual canonical text.

At no point is Sansa ever envious of Arya making friends with the smallfolk. It's very clear that Sansa sees Arya's intermingling with the smallfolk as a flaw. I am sorry, but you writing about Sansa's 'subconscious envy' is as silly as Jonsa shippers writing about how Jon is subconsciously madly, deeply in love with Sansa and is subconsciously thinking of Sansa every time he talks of Arya or that Sansa is subconsciously basing her Alayne persona on Jon Snow when there is nothing of this sort present in the text and Sansa straight up says that she forgot Jon Snow's very existence until Myranda reminds her of him.

The word 'subconscious' is my supervillain origin story at this point - an easy way for stans to project their own headcanons about feelings, thoughts and emotions onto a character when there is no evidence of such in the canonical text.

In fact if Sansa was indeed subconsciously envious of Arya's ability to make friends with the smallfolk, we should have seen her at the least make an attempt at friendship with Mya Stone in the Vale. She has every opportunity to do so. Instead she forms a friendship with the high born Myranda Royce with whom she gossips about Mya and sees Mya Stone as less than on account of her bastardy and only deserving of an older, low born, 'ugly' suitor like Lothor Brune. This is who Sansa is as a character, this is the character GRRM has given us.

Sansa envied Arya’s disregard for classist and sexist expectations would give more meaning to her later character development as her opinions change on things like bastards.

But her opinions don't change on bastards!! That's the most disappointing aspect of her character - the lack of character growth. She's very static in terms of growth. She has never acknowledged her abysmal treatment of her little sister. She is only aghast at having to play a pretend bastard in the Vale - at no point does she reflect on the unfairness of societal discrimination against bastards. At no point does she think that Mya Stone deserves better - No, she thinks Mya Stone deserves less because she is a bastard. In book 3, after everything she experiences at the hands of the Lannisters she still wishes 'beautiful, graceful' Margaery was her sister rather than Arya. She still thinks in her most recent Vale chapters that Mya would only be pretty in a dress. Amongst all our main POV characters, she is one of the most pro status quo, pro patriarchy characters in the series.

Despite growing up in the North which experiences hard winters with food shortage and despite just overhearing Littlefinger's price gouging scheme, withholding food from a starving populace we get nothing in her POV about any of that while enjoying a sumptuous feast with a huge lemon cake being made especially for her.

I don’t think this is nearly enough to say Ned favored Arya or neglected Sansa or anything like that but given Sansa’s skewed perspective she may have perceived that at the time.

Where is this 'skewed perspective' in the text? Again, the only time we read Sansa saying that Ned was not being fair to her as opposed to Arya is at the very end of AGoT when Ned calls of the betrothal and is planning to send both girls back to Winterfell and allows for Arya to have dancing lessons but refuses to let Sansa say goodbye to Joffrey.

We know this is the only time because Sansa's reaction to this is swift and disastrous. She acts like the spoiled brat she is to this perceived slight from her father by tattling all of his plans to Cersei.

We read in her POV chapter where she tattles to Cersei in how she saw herself as the favored daughter because she was good unlike 'wicked' Arya. And both her parents did nothing to disabuse her of that fact. Which was why she felt 'wicked like Arya' when she went to tattle all of Ned's plans to Cersei.

She preferred sothron culture and wanted to leave Winterfell. Couldn’t those things make her feel out of place, even if she doesn’t directly say it? One could also make the case that Sansa latched onto sothron culture and KL because she felt misplaced but I think the former explanation, idealizing sothron culturing and king’s landing leading to a feeling of being misplaced instead of the other way around, would be more likely.

If she doesn't say it in the text of the books, then that is again your headcanons for what she might have felt isn't it? Again, we have a strong characterization of Sansa as a character who, pre-ACoK, felt that the Southern culture and men/women were superior to Northern culture and she grew up with this notion because of all the ladies surrounding her like her mother, the Septa, her friends, the romantic songs and stories she grew up on, everyone - including her father - wanting her little sister to be like her, observing her little sister getting scolded for not being like Sansa by the adults in her life etc. What about any of this would make Sansa feel left out or displaced?

Again and again, we see from Sansa's POV that in her opinion that it was Arya who was lacking as a person. From the author's own interviews, he has explained how Arya and Jon bonded because they felt like outcasts in Winterfell. Why is Sansa being shoved into this narrative because of suppositions, projections and assumptions of Sansa's - unwritten in the books - subconscious thoughts.

I don’t think it’s “both sides”-ing the matter to read more complexity to what drove Sansa’s treatment of Arya because the motive doesn’t change the

Maybe you are not discussing this with the intention to 'both-sides' but this idea that it was Sansa who was the outsider in Winterfell, that Ned was partial to Arya over Sansa, that Sansa felt alone and isolated and that was why BOTH sisters ARE EQUALLY TO BLAME for their antagonistic relationship is a very popular and oft seen opinion on the tags. When it is all based on made up headcanons and when that is pretty much taking from Arya' narrative themes and characterization to give to Sansa in order to excuse and justify the character's actions.

Time to ramble. I’m thinking about the way Arya and Sansa fans seem to get into this debate about who was more lonely and neglected in Winterfell. Which is kind of funny because then the arguments get totally reversed when debating other aspects of the characters. But anyway. The general arguments seem to be:

1. Arya was clearly the neglected outcast. This is clear in the meta narrative because of her connection to Jon and the fact that she doesn’t look like her true born siblings. The more direct evidence comes from the way Sansa and Jeyne teased her, the harshness of Septa Mordane, and Catelyn’s exasperation. It can be inferred that Arya feels a sense of insecurity wrt to her family ties as she wonders if her own mother would want her back after everything that happened. It can be assumed that she was a bit of an outcast based on her disinterest in the things expected of her as a girl, and we see the way many characters look down upon non-conforming women and girls in-universe. Sansa, on the other hand, receives praise from her mother and the septa and has two named close friends in Winterfell. She happily conforms to what is expected of her as a highborn girl and we can assume she would fit in in Winterfell.

2. Sansa was clearly the neglected outcast. This is clear in the meta narrative because she is the only one to lose her direwolf, which is the family symbol. The more direct evidence comes from contrast with Arya, whom Sansa observes can “make friends with anybody,” seemingly in contrast to herself. Ned agreed to kill Lady despite knowing she was innocent and indulged Arya’s interest in swordplay whilst being unenthusiastic about indulging Sansa’s interest in tourneys. Arya is demonstrated to be beloved by Ned’s men in a way we do not observe with Sansa. We can assume that Sansa didn’t feel like she belonged because of her interest in sothron culture, something none of her siblings share. Arya, on the other hand, is extroverted, makes friends easily, is northern in appearance, and has no interest in sothron culture, so we can assume she fit in in Winterfell.

I actually don’t think a lot of the points in the two arguments is mutually exclusive. We also have to remember POV bias. Arya doesn’t reflect on Any friends her age she had at Winterfell (I am not including Mycah because I am under the impression they became friends on the way to King’s Landing), but Arya is not one to reflect and reminisce. Sansa notices that Arya can make friends with anyone, but she doesn’t experience Arya’s inner world. What does Sansa mean by making friends? Does she see Arya having fun and being at ease talking to anyone and feel envy, since she herself feels like is performing, always minding her manners, when she’s socializing with most people? Could it be that Arya is friendly but struggles to find long term close friends like Jeyne and Beth, attributing this disparity to Sansa’s “ladylike” interests? Could it be that being teased by Sansa and her friends and scolded by Catelyn and Mordane has made Arya assume that other girls wouldn’t be interested in close friendship with her, causing her to be friendly but keep a certain distance? (**please note I am not trying to make a case for nlog Arya. I think keeping a distance because you assume you’ll be rejected is different and does not require that she looks down upon other girls, because there is no evidence for that here**)

I don’t have a good conclusion I just think it’s interesting that this is something that gets debated because the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. We can’t know because we get very few flashbacks and the story picks up when their normal lives in Winterfell end. I can’t speak to George’s intentions but if we pretend they’re real people I’d speculate that both would have felt misplaced within Winterfell at times, envying certain traits about the other

[mothwithapencil]

Hi can I just ask for some Ghetsis positivity because I’m sick of everyone around me slandering him

Sorry this is a little late but YES. YES YOU CAN. Big post incoming.

Listen. People hate Ghetsis for completely valid reasons. But people like him, even relate to him, for completely valid reasons too. And I'm sick of people shitting all over Ghetsis and people who like him all the time, even when it's completely uncalled for. I'm sick of having to be "humble" and apologize for liking Ghetsis when introducing myself to people, lest they think I kick puppies and throw babies off cliffs for fun or something. Sick of scrolling his tag and seeing people calling him horrible things or, even worse, targeting his disabilities (physical and mental). Sick of people legitimately claiming he's homophobic, transphobic, even racist just because they don't like him. You do see how that's harmful to people in those groups who like him right. Furthermore, I have the type of RSD where if someone doesn't like a character I like I feel hurt myself. So you can imagine how hellish it is out there. I can't imagine how bad it is for systems with Ghetsis introjects. So for all the completely normal people bearing the curse of simply enjoying a character:

Ghetsis likers! You're valid!

Ghetsis is a very complex, layered character! There's lots to like about him! He's pretty, he's funny, he's tragic, he's a depressed middle aged man.... The list goes on! There's also many valid reasons to relate to him! Ghetsis is implied to have several mental illnesses/disorders/etc that aren't often seen, especially not in a Pokemon game. He's paranoid, he has PTSD, NPD, body dysmorphia, he even shows autistic+adhd traits. He's also a cane user and is popularly interpreted as being an amputee/prosthetic user and having chronic pain from the injuries on his eye/arm/leg/etc. Although him being a villain doesn't do much for "good representation," it's okay for you to see yourself in him! I relate to him for his paranoia, PTSD, and autistic/adhd traits, and that's okay! And some may ask "But N is autistic and likely has PTSD too, why not relate to him instead?" Some may relate to him too! You're allowed to like both of them! Ghetsis and N likers aren't mortal enemies, we're not that different! But not everyone can just choose which characters they attach to. And some may relate to Ghetsis more for a variety of reasons. Ghetsis has a slower, more rough process of healing that may appeal more to some people. You're not obligated to relate to one character over another because the first one isn't a "good guy."

Even if you don't particularly relate to him, you can enjoy him just for the sake of liking him! Some reasons I just think he's a fun character:

His silly "mya-ha-ha-ha!" laugh!!!

The fact that he tries to look intimidating and scary only to call the player in USUM "tiny intruder"

Gee N, your dad is gnc AF!

This picture.

"That blasted Colress! How dare he put his personal intellectual curiosity before our ultimate mission of conquering Unova!" *proceeds to continue spoiling Colress rotten and not doing a single thing to stop him from putting off his work*

The fact that he does so much to make himself seem emotionless but is still clearly very emotional. There's lots of things that confuse and scare him!

His passion! His love for Unovan history and public speaking! (even if he's not the best at delivering them without pacing around and stuttering and trailing off...) (#autism)

His terrible fashion sense. He looks like he fell through a window and got caught on the tapestry. His unexplained love for eye motifs. Me too.

The sheer fact he's such a layered character. There's a lot about Ghetsis that's never directly stated in the games, and much to be picked up from subtle implications. His history as a descendant of fhe Ancient King, his several traumatic life experiences (two separate pokemon attacks, and of course the "memory that has continued to haunt [him]," etc.

His incredibly silly dynamic with Colress. According to pokespe and the RR episode, they've known each other for years, much longer than one would think initially. Trying not to steer too much into antigrav territory, their friendship is unique and funny. They're best friends. They threaten to feed each other to Kyurem daily. As long as they don't get caught, they plan on conquering Unova together. Colress annoys Ghetsis on purpose and Ghetsis responds with ranting about him in private but still raising his paycheck. Chaos duo.

This post is already so long, and I could say more, but to top it off I want to say:

Ghetsis likers who hate N and N likers who hate Ghetsis are the weakest link. As I said earlier, we can enjoy both! Ghetsis enjoyers and N-joyers, we have a lot in common! We both love a very clearly autistic guy with lots of trauma and pretty long hair! It's not a stretch to assume most of us have some parental issues we're coping with by attaching to them! Furthermore, you don't have to "avenge" N by violently hatimg Ghetsis. N still loves his dad, and even if he doesn't have to, he still wants Ghetsis to heal and get better (Cue to... Everything he says to Ghetsis, and even his line when teamed up with him in Pokemas: "I still have hope for you, Ghetsis..."). If he saw the things some of you say about his dad, he'd be horrified. I promise you, saying you want to kick out Ghetsis' cane and take out his other eye just makes you ableist, not a soldier fighting for N's honor. People who like either character aren't at war with each other! I love my N-joyer friends! We can coexist.... Harmonia enjoyers holding hands and singing in a circle...

That's about it! Sorry I'm so passionate about this, I've just seen a ton of hate on Ghetsis lately and I want to combat it. By the way, feel free to send me an ask about any of the stuff I mentioned here!

Please don't interact with this post if you're going to say some mean shit about Ghetsis/his fans or say "he's not actually autistic/disabled etc" "I hate him but..." "You still shouldn't like him because xyz". Please just let this be a happy space for us!!!!

[booplesnotts-art]

She likes to watch

Mya draw your oc consistently challenge (impossible)

It’s never a good thing when Lucille smiles. There’s a warning around the castle for the maids; whenever Lucille smiles, it means danger

[peculiarscriptures51]

ʙᴛꜱ ᴀᴍʙᴡ ᴏɴᴇ-ꜱʜᴏᴛꜱ, ꜱᴄᴇɴᴀʀɪᴏꜱ, ᴀɴᴅ ꜱʜᴏʀᴛ ꜱᴛᴏʀɪᴇꜱ | ʙᴛꜱ x ᴏᴄ - The Details + Masterlist

I’ve been meaning to post this for a while! It’s my AMBW One-Shots (etc.) series! I post these excerpts on Wattpad all the time, but I feel like they may get more love here from Tumblr. (Well, I hope, lol.) Let me know what y’all think! I’m always open to suggestions, requests, recommendations - everything! Feel free to message me ideas for scenes, scenarios, characters; feedback on what you’d like to see more or less of; I’m all ears! Please enjoy these excerpts! Most of them, I’ve dedicated a lot of time to. (Some are older than others, but they’re decent, I think).

Compilation Masterlist

🌺Description🌺

🌺Specifications🌺

🌺The one with the misleading title🌺

‘~’ => SEXUAL CONTENT/ NSFW

*If you see ‘~’ in a chapter title: one indicates mentions or light sexual content; two indicate full blown sexual content.

I will indicate other SFW/NSFW as needed for each chapter, though ‘~’ in a chapter title will be used primarily.

Kim Namjoon ❤ Alexandra Watson

The one where she can't sleep (KNJ)

The one where it's not a secret anymore (KNJ)

The one where he has to watch the kids by himself (KNJ)

The one where she's the Chosen One (KNJ) pt.1

~The one where she’s Sweeter Than Sweet (KNJ)~

Kim Seokjin ❤ Ingrid Noir

The one where their daughter has her period (KSJ)

The one where she convinces him to do yoga (KSJ)

The one where they were roommates (KSJ)

The one in which he saves her (KSJ)

~The one where they need to spice up their sex lives (KSJ)~

The one with the cheesy pick-up lines (KSJ)

The one with the silly dispute (KSJ)

~The one with the harsh lesson (KSJ)~

The one where they drifted apart (KSJ) pt.1 ; ~pt.2~

~~The one where they make-up (KSJ)~~

~The one where their son gets caught (KSJ)

Min Yoongi ❤ Mya Gray

The one where she's acting strange (MYG) pt.1 ; pt.2 

The one where she's riding the 'Crimson Wave' (MYG)

The one where he's catching feelings (MYG) pt.1 ; pt.2 ; pt.3 

The one where she's terrified (PJM + MYG)

~The one where they're amateurs (MYG)~

Jung Hoseok ❤ Grace Evans

The one where he can't help admiring her (JHS)

The one where he helps with her hair (JHS)

The one where he gets a glance of her past (JHS)

The one where they were overwhelmed by temptation (JHS)

The one where she comes home drunk (JHS)

~The one with the yacht (JHS)~

~The one where he's her gynecologist (JHS)~

The one where he wants to be there for his daughter (JHS)

The one with the Vlive (JHS)

Park Jimin ❤ Hazel Stewart

The one where he needs a babysitter (PJM) pt.1 ; pt.2

The one where they share a hot tub for the first time (PJM)

The one where they've tried everything (PJM)

~The one where he makes love to her (PJM)~

The one where he has a crush on her (PJM) pt.1 ; pt.2 ; pt.3 ; pt.4

The one with the cute things he loves about her (PJM)

The one where she's terrified (PJM + MYG)

The one where it's her first time getting comfortable (PJM)

The one where he's guilty (PJM)

The one where she's had enough (PJM) pt.1 ; pt.2

The one with the Breaking Point (PJM) (pt.1?)

Kim Taehyung ❤ Hope Davidson

The one where it's his turn to watch her (KTH)

The one where they only have each other (KTH) pt.1 ; pt.2 ; pt.3 

The one where his wife gets pissed at him (KTH)

The one where she's feeling guilty (KTH)

The one where he has hate in his heart (KTH)

The one where he can't resist (KTH)

The one where he's all she's got (KTH)

The one where she mourns (KTH)

Jeon Jungkook ❤ Joy Watson

The one where she has a sweet tooth (JJK)

The one where his son needs his Mama (JJK)

~The one where something's missing (JJK)~

The one where the issue is resolved (JJK)

~The one where they reminiscence (JJK)

The one where he's an android (JJK)

The one where she's his Miss Right (JJK)

The one where there's turmoil (JJK)

The one with the wisdom teeth (JJK)

~The one where their son is quiet (JJK)

The one where she gives him a chance (JJK)

The one where he wants a baby girl (JJK)

[jackoshadows]

The amount of big names in the fandom immediately discarding the strong possibility of Jon becoming king is baffling to me. They claim that Jon won’t have time for disputing over a title because he’ll be busy fighting against the Others and when duty calls he’ll choose to fight the Great War instead of ruling and that’s his fate. I ask: who the hell is more prepared to fight a war than a king? Who’s better at managing everything than the ultimate authority? That’s why it sounds so silly to me. Specially when tempered with “he loves his siblings, that conflict was solved, that’s why he’ll give up on Robb’s will”. Yeah, sure, George set that all up just for Jon to say “nope, I’m good”. That’s not how a complex story like ASOIAF works. Controversial but I have the feeling that they only say that as an excuse to shove Jon aside so S4ns4 can be queen even though she lacks half of the experience Jon has as a ruler. When they know they’re stretching it too far, they’ll say “why can’t all the Starks rule together like a sweet loving family???” so S4ns4 won’t be excluded and they can look reasonable and less awful in the eyes of the fandom for shoving Jon aside for S4ns4’s sake, like they used to do to Bran the Eternal Tree and Arya the Eternal Sailor. I personally can’t wait for Arya to crown him.

Exactly!! This is pretty much it.

And also, I would like to point out that these bnfs are also big Stannis fans! That's what so hypocritical and ridiculous about this. Jon's support for Stannis is entirely predicated on the acknowledgement that Stannis has the power of a king and therefore the ability to unite people, gather an army and make important decisions for the good of the realm. And Stannis knows about the threat from beyond the Wall and is still engaged in battle and politicking south of the Wall.

If that is okay for Stannis to be king, why does the same not apply to Jon with the only thing standing in his way being his bastardy?  Unless they think that being a bastard disqualifies him in some way that it does not for Stannis.

Also, the implication that the only reason Sansa would oppose a King Jon is because of sexism is 🤣🤣🤣. That’s right, book Sansa who has never, not once, pondered on the inherent sexism of Westerosi patriarchal ideals will be opposed to king Jon on the basis of it being sexist and not because Jon is a bastard. Classism and discrimination against bastards is totally okay - Jon should be precluded from power because of his bastardy. But sexism preventing a younger and less experienced Sansa from getting it over Jon? Oh no, how unfair 😱.

Jon is the oldest, most experienced of Ned’s children (the only one who can rule without a regent) but if he gets rulership in the North over Sansa, who does not know the first thing about what is happening all over the North - it must be the sexism that Sansa is outraged about, nothing else right? 🤣 The same Sansa who in the most recent book thought that because Lothor Brune’s birth was very low he would be a good fit for a bastard girl like Mya Stone....

And then there's the fact that they think these characters don't evolve and change at all over 5 books! The mind truly boggles. So 9 year old Arya at the beginning of AGoT going all 'eww boys!' and telling her father that she will never marry and have children apparently means that's permanent! And this is in a book series that liberally uses a rule of three, meaning, characters end up making different choices the third time.

Jon Snow himself is a perfect example of this:

Forgive me, Father. Robb, Arya, Bran. Forgive me, I cannot help you. He has the truth of it. This is my place. ” Jon Snow, AGoT

You were wrong to leave her, a different voice insisted. He wondered if his father had been torn the same way, when he’d left Jon’s mother to return to Lady Catelyn. He was pledged to Lady Stark, and I am pledged to the Night’s Watch - Jon Snow, ASoS

I want my bride back … I want my bride back … “I think we had best change the plan,” Jon Snow said. If this is oathbreaking, the crime is mine and mine alone - Jon Snow, ADwD

And there is also a deliberate ignorance of the chapter where Jon does make his decision to refuse Stannis. I have already written plenty on this - the reason Jon refuses Stannis’ offer to be legitimized as Lord of Winterfell is because the King wanted him to convert to the Lord of Light and burn down the Winterfell Godswood. Ghost’s timely appearance with his white fur and red eyes reminds Jon of the Weirwoods, that Ghost himself is a gift from the Old Gods and of his sworn oaths in front of the Godswood.

When Jon later brokers the marriage between Sigorn and Alys, their wedding is a mix of two cultures and religions - that of the Lord of Light and the Old Gods. Because unlike Jon Snow, Sigorn the magnar of the Thenns has no issue converting to the Lord of Light, as far as we know.

There is a clear difference between Stannis offering Jon Snow Winterfell and Robb Stark doing it. The emotional weight behind Robb doing it is simply immense for GRRM to not tackle that in Jon Snow’s POV

That morning he called it first. “I’m Lord of Winterfell!” he cried, as he had a hundred times before. Only this time, this time, Robb had answered, “You can’t be Lord of Winterfell, you’re bastard-born. My lady mother says you can’t ever be the Lord of Winterfell.” - Jon, ASoS

“Mother.” There was a sharpness in Robb’s tone. “You forget. My father had four sons.”

“Jon’s more a Stark than some lordlings from the Vale who have never so much as set eyes on Winterfell.”

Should I die without issue, I want him to succeed me as King in the North.” - Catelyn, ASoS

There’s every chance that we get a rule of three scenario here as well. I can foresee for instance :

1. Jon refusing Stannis offer

2. Jon’s emotional upheaval with Robb’s decree and wanting to accept it for protecting the realm with the power of a king,  but conflicted because there are some Northern houses supporting Rickon Stark and his baby brother is the rightful heir

3. Arya Stark turns up with Robb’s crown, names him king and we get Jon Stark, Lord of Winterfell and KITN.

And yes, for all asoiaf fans proclaim that the books are complex tomes unlike traditional high fantasy and subvert tropes and all that, it’s ridiculous that they box these characters into specific roles like the show did.

The TV show did it simply because it’s an adaptation which combined plots and characters for budget reasons and because D&D are simply bad writers. So, if Jon Snow was doing everything his book version was on the show, what would they do with Sophie Turner considering they binned the Vale plot for not having more book material? They can’t ask Turner to sit out seasons. So they take away from book Jon’s plot and skillsets, and hand it over to show Sansa. Same with Arya and Bran. They put these characters into boxes: Arya: Assassin, Bran:3ER, Jon: Military man: Sansa: politician.

However, that’s not how it is in the books at all. If one has read these 5 books, imagine how ridiculous it would be for book Jon Snow to take any kind of advice from the 13 year old book Sansa we last see in the Vale!!

It was already ridiculous on the show because of how badly they shoved Sansa into Jon’s plot. It was not enough that show Sansa was the ‘politician’, she also is suddenly a military expert and demands that Jon ask her advise on offensive battle techniques, instructs northern armorers on the best way to make armor and lectures Yohn Royce on the strategic value of castles as a first line of defense!!

It’s doubly nonsensical in the books. Just like most medieval and feudal European monarchs (from whom GRRM has borrowed) had an education that was as well rounded as possible, so too are the noble rulers and leaders of Westeros and Essos. Jon, Arya, Bran, Dany and Tyrion all have political arcs with military aspects. Dany, Tyrion and Jon have participated in military defensive and offensive battles. They have ruled and administered over city states and institutions. They have made trade deals and negotiated political alliances. They have used both hard power and soft power in their dealings with allies and enemies. Arya’s arc has intersected with politics - both southern and northern - since she left for KL. Bran had an entire arc as defacto Lord/Prince of Winterfell in Robb’s absence.

Jon, Dany and Tyrion are competent leaders in their own right in all aspects and if Bran, Rickon or Arya do need an adviser or a regent because of their age then that regent will be an older, experienced person - ex. Davos. Not the least qualified 13 year old!!

[kellyvela]

Sansa hearing a howling of a wolf while descending from the Eyrie is interpreted in your fandom as Jonsa foreshadowing but the same kind of sound Catelyn also hears while ascending the Eyrie .

Yeah there's nothing to be compared between Catelyn and Sansa (both Tully coloring girls) in regards of Ned and Jon (both Stark coloring guys)......

This has nothing to do with Ned being fostered at the Vale under the wing of Jon Arryn and that years later Jon Snow was named after Jon Arryn and Sansa/Alayne is living at the Vale......

This has nothing to do with Jon Arryn being married to a radiant Tully coloring girl.......

This has nothing to do with Jon Snow saying this: "Our best hope may be the Eyrie. The Vale of Arryn was famously fertile and had gone untouched during the fighting. Jon wondered how Lady Catelyn's sister would feel about feeding Ned Stark's bastard. As a boy, he often felt as if the lady grudged him every bite." in A Dance with Dragons. There is no way that passage could be an allusion to Sansa/Alayne, what are you talking about??????

Catelyn ascending to the Eyrie has nothing in common with Sansa/Alayne descending from the Eyrie, not even the fact that both heard the howling of wolves......

Catelyn and Sansa were also assisted by Mya Stone (Robert Baratheon's bastard) and Mya reminded Catelyn of Jon Snow (Ned Stark's bastard), and Robert and Ned were wards of Jon Arryn and were fostered at the Vale. But all of this is just a bunch of insignificant coincidences, nothing to see here......

After all, other characters like Tyrion and Dany heard the howling of wolves along the series, right? Right?

Because these two passages HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH JON AND SANSA:

Above Snow, the wind was a living thing, howling around them like a wolf in the waste, then falling off to nothing as if to lure them into complacency.

—A Game of Thrones - Catelyn VI

There was ice underfoot, and broken stones just waiting to turn an ankle, and the wind was howling fiercely. It sounds like a wolf, thought Sansa. A ghost wolf, big as mountains.

—A Feast for Crows - Alayne II

See?

Catelyn mentioned Snow, but not Jon Snow, but Snow the waycastle. The other waycastles are called Stone and Sky.

Jon Snow and Alayne Stone have nothing to do here. Those words have nothing to do with Winterfell...

Catelyn comparing the wind howling like a wolf to a living thing is a contrast to Sansa comparing the wind howling to a ghost wolf.

Jon Snow having a direwolf called Ghost has nothing to do here...

There is no way that Sansa/Alayne could have been sensing the death of his bastard half brother Jon Snow...

There is no significance in the fact that the ghost wolf passage happened just before arriving to Snow, and by Snow I mean Snow the waycastle...

There is also zero significance in the fact that Sansa/Alayne remembered her bastard half-brother/cousin Jon Snow in the same chapter of the ghost wolf passage, saying this: "She had not thought of Jon in ages. He was only her half brother, but still . . . with Robb and Bran and Rickon dead, Jon Snow was the only brother that remained to her. I am a bastard too now, just like him. Oh, it would be so sweet, to see him once again. But of course that could never be. Alayne Stone had no brothers, baseborn or otherwise." Nonsense.

The fact that Sansa/Alayne called her cousin/step-brother Sweetrobing her Winged Knight... that could fly higher than the mountains is no allusion to a dragon or a dragonknight, not at all...

Silly Jonsas see Jonsa foreshadowing everywhere, such weirdos......

[fedonciadale]

People dislike Sansa not because of misogyny. She is written to be disliked. You can stan a character no matter where their moral spectrum lies but to turn that stanning to make them look good and whitewash their actions seems hypocritical. At least Cersei stans do not whitewash her actions while still sympathising with her . Sansa has been abused and so are many Westerosi women but that doesn't mean all of them are good people.

Hi there!

She is written to have conflict with Arya, but if you think that Sansa even needs to be whitewashed you clearly have not read any of her chapters. We don’t need to let Sansa look good: Sansa is good.

She was sad for him, she realized. (AGOT, Sansa II)

That is after the Hound shoved her around and told her his story.

It would have been unkind to say so, however, so Sansa took a sip of milk and changed the subject. (AGOT, Sansa IV)

We see her thoughts and she fights with Arya, but she is always polite. And we shouldn’t underestimate how nice it is to interact with a person that does not insult you at every turn.

Sansa could not believe she had spoken. Was she mad? To tell him no in front of half the court? She hadn't meant to say anything, only . . . Ser Dontos was drunk and silly and useless, but he meant no harm.     (ACOK, Sansa I)

Sansa spoke up to save Ser Dontos.

"Help him," Sansa commanded two of the serving men. One just looked at her and ran, flagon and all. Other servants were leaving the hall as well, but she could not help that. Together, Sansa and the serving man got the wounded knight back on his feet. "Take him to Maester Frenken." Lancel was one of them, yet somehow she still could not bring herself to wish him dead. I am soft and weak and stupid, just as Joffrey says. I should be killing him, not helping him. (ACOK, Sansa VII)

Sansa helped Lancel an enemy.

How can I let my sister marry Joffrey? she thought, and suddenly her eyes were full of tears. "Margaery, please," she said, "you mustn't." It was hard to get the words out. "You mustn't marry him. He's not like he seems, he's not. He'll hurt you."     (ASOS, Sansa II)

Sansa warns Margaery of Joffrey, although she doesn’t yet know, if she can trust her.

He had not been dead when she left the throne room. He had been on his knees, though, clawing at his throat, tearing at his own skin as he fought to breathe. The sight of it had been too terrible to watch, and she had turned and fled, sobbing. Lady Tanda had been fleeing as well. "You have a good heart, my lady," she said to Sansa. "Not every maid would weep so for a man who set her aside and wed her to a dwarf."

A good heart. I have a good heart. Hysterical laughter rose up her gullet, but Sansa choked it back down. The bells were ringing, slow and mournful. Ringing, ringing, ringing. They had rung for King Robert the same way. Joffrey was dead, he was dead, he was dead, dead, dead. Why was she crying, when she wanted to dance? Were they tears of joy?   (ASOS, Sansa V)

Sansa weeps for Joffrey, even though he was horrid. 

She felt him nod. "The Winged Knight was brave, and so am I," he boasted to her bodice. "I'm an Arryn."

"Will my Sweetrobin hold me tight?" she asked, though he was already holding her so tightly that she could scarcely breathe.

"If you like," he whispered. And clinging hard to one another, they continued on straight down to Sky. ...

Alayne took Robert's gloved hand in her own to stop his shaking. "Sweetrobin," she said, "I'm scared. Hold my hand, and help me get across. I know you're not afraid."    

He looked at her, his pupils small dark pinpricks in eyes as big and white as eggs. "I'm not?" 

"Not you. You're my winged knight, Ser Sweetrobin."

"The Winged Knight could fly," Robert whispered.

"Ser Sweetrobin," Lord Robert said, and Alayne knew that she dare not wait for Mya to return. She helped the boy dismount, and hand in hand they walked out onto the bare stone saddle, their cloaks snapping and flapping behind them. All around was empty air and sky, the ground falling away sharply to either side. There was ice underfoot, and broken stones just waiting to turn an ankle, and the wind was howling fiercely. (AFFC, Alayne II)

Sansa helps a small boy over a chasm and gives him courage! She saves his life.

All these scenes are not my invention. That’s not me “whitewashing” Sansa. That is who Sansa is.

I also stan Cersei by the way and I know she is a foil for Sansa, a foil not a parallel.

Now, I suggest you do something else than wailing in Sansabut in my inbox.

Sry, not sry, all Sansabuts are misogynists, that completely miss the point of the fundamental importance of kindness and resilience.

[goodticklebrain]

POCKET BLOGS: Saye Anything

Hey everyone! Mya here. I’m really excited today to introduce a new feature here on Good Tickle Brain: POCKET BLOGS! As regular readers will know, since 2019 I have been working on my comics with the world’s first, foremost, and possibly only pocket dramaturg, Kate Pitt. (For more on Kate, including the etymology of the term “pocket dramaturg”, check out this Q&A with her.)

Kate is, if anything, an even bigger Shakespeare geek than me, and certainly has a bigger Shakespeare brain. I will often text her a random Shakespeare fact and say “Isn’t this cool?”, only to receive back “YES, and…” followed by a dozen more related facts, complete with footnotes. As I am taking the month off, I thought it only fair to share some of her delightful geekery and expertise with all of you.

So sit back and get ready to peer into some of the most geeky, random, and entertaining corners of the Shakespeare-verse with Good Tickle Brain’s new series of POCKET BLOGS!

Spare a thought for poor Lord Saye. The ill-fated lord’s entrance in Henry VI Part II is often overlooked because he arrives at the same time as Queen Margaret. Margaret makes consistently dramatic entrances across the four Shakespeare plays she appears in and there is an excellent chance that someone is about to be stabbed, slapped, or screamed at if she is nearby. 

In this scene, Margaret enters carrying the severed head of her very dead ex-lover the Duke of Suffolk, and talks affectionately to it while her husband King Henry desperately tries to work out how to put down a major rebellion. 

Saye is in the middle of all this and spends most of his first scene (and he’s only got two) standing around awkwardly while the King and Queen talk to everyone who isn’t him. It can’t feel great to be ignored in favor of someone who is missing his trunk and all of his limbs, and when King Henry finally turns towards Saye it is to point out that the advancing rebels would very much like to turn his head into a tote bag just like Suffolk’s.

Cue the awkward laughter and a messenger running in with the news that the rebels have arrived and everyone present who still has their heels should immediately betake themselves to them and get out of town. King Henry reminds Lord Saye that everyone hates him (because he raised taxes and can speak French) and he should probably join the bravely-running-away royals. 

Lord Saye however, declares that he will stay and face the rebels. He is innocent after all. Why should he flee when he has done nothing wrong? At this point, practiced Shakespearean audiences will be reaching for the popcorn. Declaring innocence never ever (ever) works when attempting to avoid unpleasant consequences in Shakespeare and indeed, Lord Saye is captured less than forty lines later and dragged before the rebels to be interrogated. 

Jack Cade, the leader of the rebellion, accuses Saye of such abominable crimes as printing, teaching grammar to children, and dressing his horse in excessively fancy horse-clothes. Saye is definitely not guilty of the first indictment, as this scene takes place in 1450 and the first books in England weren’t printed until at least twenty-five years later.

Regardless, the rebels continue to hurl increasingly ridiculous accusations at Lord Saye – “thou hast men about thee that usually talk of a noun and a verb” – while he confidently bats them aside by speaking Latin and quoting Caesar’s Commentaries. Not necessarily the best strategy when negotiating with angry men with pikes, but Saye also demonstrates that he can speak eloquently in plain English: 

Tell me, wherein have I offended most? Have I affected wealth or honor? Speak. Are my chests filled up with extorted gold? Is my apparel sumptuous to behold? Whom have I injured, that you seek my death? These hands are free from guiltless blood-shedding, This breast from harboring foul deceitful thoughts. O, let me live! 

Lord Saye’s contention that his hands are “free from guiltless blood-shedding” is equivocal, given that he menacingly indicates elsewhere that he has definitely shed some blood: “Great men have reaching hands. Oft have I struck those that I never saw, and struck them dead.” There were rumors that Saye was involved in the murder of Henry VI’s uncle Duke Humphrey, though Shakespeare depicts that death as definitely Suffolk’s fault.

In addition to being a cunning politician and a huge classics nerd, Lord Saye is also a war hero. Jack Cade contemptuously challenges him, “when struck’st thou one blow in the field?” but Saye fought with Henry V in France. He is now in his mid-fifties and past his fighting days (the rebels mock his palsy) but Lord Saye feels that his prior service to his country should save his life. 

Cade disagrees. Even though he admits, “I feel remorse in myself with his words”, he orders Saye to be dragged offstage and beheaded. The rebels also break into Saye’s son-in-law’s house and behead him too. They then put both their heads on pikes and parade around London smushing the heads together to make them look like they are kissing because the rebels are apparently twelve. 

Lord Saye is one in a long line of Shakespeare characters who appear briefly and die quickly. Cinna the Poet in Caesar, Young Seward and The Family Macduff in Macbeth, Cornwall’s servant in Lear: all of their deaths, like Saye’s, serve to make the bad guys look worse. However, Jack Cade and his crew have already murdered innocent people before Saye comes on the scene, so what does his death teach the audience that they don’t already know? Dramatically, there may be an argument for cutting this scene. Next week however, I’ll explain the extravagantly silly reasons why I am delighted by Lord Saye and think he should be in every production. (Hint: he’s related to Shakespeare!)

by Kate Pitt