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thetormentita · 3 months ago

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the bastard queen - chapter 1

the things we do for love.

Pairing: Original female! Targaryen/Arthur Dayne

A/n: au for Robert’s Rebellion. Enjoy!

Rating: Mature (+16)

The strangling tension can suffocate even the most strong-willed courtier. With the hint of charred corpses still lingering in the air, Arthur Dayne wonders if the king has changed his clothes since the last night, where he delighted himself with the pleading yells of two prisoners as wildfire devoured them and the rest of the people gathered in the Great Hall drowned in horror.

With the reliable Barristan Selmy guarding the meeting with him, his lilac eyes observe the men as they take their seats around the wooden table, only the naïve Qarlton Chelsted and the newly appointed Hand Owen Merryweather to not show grim faces. The tension is palpable, a heavy cloak of discomfort wrapping around each lord present. The king's recent actions have instigated fear and uncertainty, even among the most loyal men.

As matters follow one to another, almost the whole group of men trying to decide what is best for the realm, Arthur’s mind is partly elsewhere, honed by years of duty and vigilance. His gaze, under the guise of passive surveillance, catches every subtle shift and twitch among those gathered. All of them or too cautious or too coward to dare and defy the monster with the crown upon his brow.

“With your permission, Your Grace” lord Merryweather’s voice almost trembles with hesitation, fearful of the reaction of the king. “There is a pressing matter this council has to discuss” Aerys raises a pointy eyebrow towards him, and Arthur can spot the slight curl of the king's lip, an ominous prelude to his temper which could ignite over the most trivial of provocations. “Princess Valaena’s marriage.”

This mention of the Princess Valaena, the beloved jewel of the kingdom, causes a distinct shift in the atmosphere of the room. The council members exchange wary glances as the name of the only daughter of the monarches is put over the table. They all have witnessed during the years the mood swifts and the affronts of Aerys towards his own daughter, branding her as ‘bastard’, ‘dragonspawn’ or worse only because the colour of her hair is darker than the rest of her family, and they have developed various degrees of sympathy towards her. Arthur Dayne himself stiffens when Merryweather dares to speak her name, thinking of him as unfit to even think about his princess.

“We should wait” Rhaegar Targaryen, the Crowned Prince, also shows himself most uncomfortable in his chair with the idea of being separated from his beloved sister. “My lady wife is still recovering and she gladly keeps her company. It would not be wise to rush matters.”

The tension around the table is palpable. A quick glance from Rhaegar to both kingsguards looks more like a plea than he actually wants to.

“Nonsense!” the king screeches, the council apparently having passed over the menacing looks of the loon, with his nails more like claws pointing at his own son and heir and to his master of ships, who dares to agree with the prince. “That girl will be useful to the crown for once in her life.”

“Your majesty” lord Velaryon counterattacks, having properly made his work towards the eyes of the Mad King for quite a time, “with your permission, I would suggest the lady Valaena to get married to me. Houses Velaryon and Targaryen have had a shared history towards the centuries, and Driftmark would prove a safe refuge to our much beloved princess.”

Aerys, his gaze sharp as the blades his ancestors wielded, seems to consider consider Velaryon's proposal with a mixture of intrigue and suspicion. Leaving hopes for a response hanging in the air like a thick fog, he seems to find amusement in the pause, rejoicing himself as he crashes Lucerys Velaryon’s hopes with an acrid cackle.

“Do you think that I would allow my only daughter to be pushed to the margins of my realm, hidden away on Driftmark, while I sit the Iron Throne?” Aerys’s voice rises, filled with annoyance and madness, and it seems that the balls of every member of the council shake on their pedestals over the table “How dare you to even think of putting a hand on her!?”

It seems this time the protective father has taken the place of the abusive parent, and if it weren’t for the space between them both, with Aerys sat at the head of the table and the Lord of the Tides almost at the other side of it, the king would have easily thrown his wine cup to his face, or even worse.

“Your Grace” it is this time Lord Varys’ modulled voice to speak, and the whole bunch of men put their attention upon him, the Master of Whispers. The Spider. “I can think of a much more adequate suitor for the princess’ hand” his eyes dart towards Lucerys Velaryon, who just answers with a half lidded gaze behind his own cup. “Storm’s End.”

He was just a lad when the tragedy of Shipbreaker’s Bay took place, only a mere squire to prince Lewyn before he joined the Kingsguard himself. The death of the beloved Steffon Baratheon and his lady Cassana stroke the Red Keep, with queen Rhaella helplessly weeping for them in the Great Sept of Baelor and the Mad King descending upon madness more quickly even.

“Lord Steffon and lady Cassana died in a mission for the Crown, and the young stags would surely feel again protected by the Crown if their house would join house Targaryen again, like two generations ago with the arrival of princess Rhaelle.”

Both kingsguards exchange glances, almost like searching an explanation or even a support. If the only unsullied member of that wretched family was to be taken away, what could be awaiting around the corner?

“Storm’s End seems the most appropriate place, father” Rhaegar’s measured words leave Arthur and Barristan nonplussed. “Robert Baratheon is a force to be considered, and Valaena can be the most ideal way to make him bend the knee to the Crown’s wishes.” Both knights look at the prince, their expressions a mix of concern and understanding. They knew the politics of the realm as well as any, and the value of strategic marriages could not be underestimated, but Rhaegar giving up his sister, his only confident, the receiver of his hopes and praises, is something none of them can explain. “Besides, it is close to Kingslanding, with a safe passage through the Kingswood now that ser Arthur led the royal offensive and cleaned the road of thieves.”

As soon as the meeting meets its end, quickly Arthur and Barristan make their way towards Rhaegar, whose paces drive him to the Master of Whispers. Both knights carefully take their places behind them as the prince and the Spider talk about trivialities before the conversation takes a sharp turn into more pressing matters. The air around them thickens with tension as Rhaegar's tone becomes earnest, almost urgent.

“Do tell me there is a good reason for having placed that wretched idea on the table.” he grits, trying to look as calm and regal as always, the type of king Westeros deserves instead of Aerys.

“I seem to recall that you and I pursue the same interests, Your Highness. Our primary aim is to ensure the stability and prosperity of the realm,” the Spider responds, his voice smooth and measured, a stark contrast to the prince’s fight to keep his composure.

Barristan Selmy swiftly opens a door, half hidden at mere sight and the three of them end up pushing Varys inside, quickly closing it behind, making sure nobody listens to their clandestine meeting. The room, lit by a single flickering candle, casts long shadows across the faces of the men, adding an air of mystery.

“You have to be kidding, Spider” the Stormlander spits, arms crossed over his chest, clearly disgusted.

“We share a common goal, despite our interests being different” the bald man observes each and every one of them and Arthur finds it hard to not gut that man in that room and let his heart drive his actions. “With the temperamental Robert Baratheon linked to the crown, maybe one day he witnesses one of the King’s fits and surprises us. I find it surprising that none of you have reached that thought…”

“How sure you are that he will risk everything for the princess?”

It is not a question, but almost a growl that escapes his lips. With his wrist resting carelessly over Dawn’s pommel, Arthur’s lilac eyes observe the eunuch’s face with attention, ready to defend Valaena’s honour if he musts.

“She is a complete delight” a cunning smile upon Varys’ thin lips repulses him. “There are lots of young lords who would gladly risk their titles, their lands, even their lives for a chance to stand beside her. All she has to do is charm him, and he will do whatever she wishes, no matter the cost. Power, in its most intoxicating form, wouldn’t you agree, my lord?”

Arthur’s grip on Dawn tightens with the mere thought of his princess used as a mere tool in the dangerous games of court. The idea of Valaena, with her vibrant laugh and kind heart, being manipulated by those who see her as nothing more than a pawn in their quests for power fills him with a cold, seething anger. Yet, amidst this storm of emotions, a steadfast resolve takes root within him. He knows the challenges that lay ahead are daunting, but the thought of Valaena facing these alone is something he cannot, and will not, entertain. The fire in his heart, fueled by his love and unwavering determination, ignites a clear path forward. He vows to himself to keep her away from any harm, to guard her as long as he breathes, to stand by her side against the shadows that seek to engulf her.

Only when Rhaegar dismisses the Master of Whispers he allows himself to show the true depth of his concern.

“What happened to the vision, Rhaegar?” his voice, bitter, reflects the turmoil swirling within him. “We were supposed to protect her, to ensure her safety above all else. Have we lost ourselves that badly in the webs of the spider that we are unable to see the light with our own eyes?”

The vision. How hard it had been to handle the burden of such a prophecy, one who sealed the fate of the young princess to a loveless marriage, to the hopes of bearing a saviour, the future of house Targaryen depending on her fragile shoulders… At least she has Elia by her side. For a short while.

#asoiaf fanfic #asoiaf fic #arthur dayne #arthur dayne fic #arthur dayne fanfic #arthur dayne x original character #a song of ice and fire fic #a song of ice and fire fanfic #arthur dayne x oc #tbq1

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soobadnoonecanstopher · 1 year ago

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Can I Stay? (A Baekhyun Story) Part 3.

Pairing: You x Baekhyun

Rating: M

Word Count: 6.4K

Warnings: Unresolved sexual tension, apologies to anyone named Chet, contagious giggles, gratuitous use of the word cunt, an unspecified age difference, an English story that uses the word Noona for lack of another word in English that carries the same feeling, if you don’t like this, then don’t read this story.

Author’s note: remember all those years ago I said I’d write a Baekhyun x Noona fic? This is that fic.

Inspired by the Ray LaMontagne song Can I Stay

Tag List: @andimoon @his-mochi-cheeks

Story Links: Can I Stay? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

[WARNING- This is Part 3! part 2 was just posted a day before this. DON’T SKIP PART 2]

‘Noona, can I stay?’

Of course you wanted to tell him yes. Of course you had grown attached to him in ways you could never tell him. But how much power did this man really think you had in this company? Between the two of you, he had so much more influence here; heaps more than you had.

“Baekhyun, that is not a decision for me to make. You are a great assistant, but you are a more important person than just my assistant.” You made your best attempt at it. The sooner he understood the magnitude of his potential the sooner he would let go of this fixation on staying in this department as your assistant and the better off he would be. If for the sake of his future in this company, he should probably move on. Although, you also realized that part of what made you so damn good at your job was the years of experience you had with it.

“And…if the decision was yours?” His eyebrows were lifted and his expression challenged, as if he asked some mysterious, unsaid veiled question instead of this very obvious ‘Can't I just stay as your assistant’ question he was actually asking. You wondered what had made him so determined to get a response from you.

“I think with a couple of years here with me, you would get too good and surpass me.” You pursed your lips in contemplation. You saw his incredible potential the minute he walked through that door on the first day.

“And then I would have to kill you.” You said it with a straight face and it took him only a minute before his eyebrows dropped and he let out a half exhaled breath mixed with a loud laugh.

He’d spun on his heels and taken a step back from you, before turning back to look at your face again, his wide grin quite evident on his face. “This is the first time I’ve heard you make a joke.”

“What makes you think I am joking?” You deadpanned, no longer even looking at the man and he laughed out loud again.

“Oh my god,” he said out loud to himself. “I think this might be a new step in our relationship.”

“I beg your forgiveness, you kick me in the chest. I ask you to hold on to me and you threaten me with death.” He was talking only for himself now. Amusing himself with his little jokes like he often did. “I’m not gonna lie, I’m kind of into it. I guess that ‘What Rihanna Song Are You’ quiz was right. Chains and whips do excite me.”

“Are you done?” You interrupted, actually unable to take any more after your started leafing through the pages and pages of work you had accumulated on your desk.

The more you looked the less you wanted of all of it. You began handling everything with rougher hands and eventually resorted to angrily tossing things into a miscellaneous pile you had just created that made no logical sense. If these things annoyed you the most, they landed in that pile. After a while, after every other toss a swift hand would come into your field of vision and pull something out of the pile.

You didn’t know where it went, but the pile was shrinking and your mood was feeling lighter because of it.

The only pile left after Baekhyun’s mystical sorting just needed signatures. You could do that and walk at the same time if you had someone watching for obstacles in your path.

“I have a meeting with Choi’s First AE in ten minutes and I needed all these signed like yesterday. Let’s go.”

“Now?”

“Now, Baekhyun. Sign and walk and don't let me fall into an open manhole cover.”

He did pretty good with it. “Step up,” He called out beside you and you stepped up when he told you, finding the perfect rhythm and finding the step he warned you about. “Four steps, then turn right,” he said again while also grabbing the folders and flipping to the signature pages that he had already pre-marked with brightly colored sticky tabs last week when he was desperately trying to get you to sign them. Apparently he had been getting emails about them. They were overdue. There might have been phone calls too. Not dangerously late, but you did feel guilty for the delay. Why didn’t you think of this before? You’d probably wasted hours of your life just walking. Those walking hours could have been used for signing. You were pretty sure you were a genius.

That was until your forward progress was abruptly and jarringly halted by a firm arm wrapped around your waist and you were pulled back violently. A loud sound like a beast’s roar echoed against your eardrums and you gasped out loud. Your stomach leapt up into your throat as a panic rose up inside of you from the shock of it.

You’d just stepped off a curb. He’d warned you about the step down, that wasn’t the unexpected part. The danger came too suddenly for either of you to prepare for right after that. You smelled the exhaust of a retreating motorcycle. You could see the crazy driver speeding off in your peripheral vision. You felt the trembling and the shaking inside of your chest as you tried desperately to breathe though the tightness of the arm squeezing around your waist, pulling you back to safety.

“Shit,” Baekhyun swore out loud sometime during the commotion and you’d cried out the same.

It took a few moments of steadying yourself. When your mind sharpened to what happened you found yourself having stumbled back two or three steps with Baekhyun’s arm still wrapped around your waist, the firmness of his forearm digging into the softness of the skin directly below your breasts and his hand you felt laid flat over your rib cage, fingers digging in hard. Tight and firm everywhere. You felt bound up entirely. A clattering of documents bounced onto the floor by your feet and your eyes blinked hard and fast as you tried your best to calm your breathing down. He was still holding onto you when you could feel the panic subsiding and your breathing returning to normal.

Baekhyun’s upset seemed to take longer to pass. You felt the rapid up and down breathing of his chest echoed through your back and his face was buried in the space just over your shoulder, against your neck and into your hair. You could feel the heat from his breath on your neck. It was warm and sticky.

You gave a light tap over his arm that still held you tightly around your waist. Trying to get him to loosen the hold and let you go. It took some convincing though. His arm was very firm and he was holding you very tightly. Close call with literal death aside, a new danger was quickly making itself evident. He felt incredibly warm and nice with his body pressed up against you like this and you recognized the need to separate yourself from him if you were going to keep any remaining bits of your sanity and self resolve intact.

“Are you okay? You aren’t hurt?” He asked from somewhere buried behind you and you urgently nodded. He needed to let you go. He smelled so good.

You tapped his arm again, faster and more insisting, nearly begging now.

“I’m okay,” you said as calmly and as convincingly as you could manage with the limited oxygen you had in your lungs. You could finally feel the tension in his body relaxing a little. But only a little. The longer he held onto you, the more you felt something else making the air around the both of you feel so heavy — something else making the heat spreading between your bodies somehow feel warmer.

Baekhyun was not letting you go, and this was changing for him too, it seemed.

It took no less than a miracle that you did not moan out loud when you felt the deep inhale he took into his lungs with his face still buried deep within your hair. That deep inhale was paired with the smallest sound that came from somewhere deep inside of his chest that, if you were thinking strictly with your rational brain, you could maybe contribute to the relief. He made that sound out of relief that you were not hurt. He pulled that warm breath into himself deep and slowly, savoring it for much longer than necessary out of…relief. A wave of warmth ricocheted through your chest and down into your belly and you closed your eyes through it, desperately reminding yourself that you and him were now, well out of harm’s way, standing on a sidewalk at your workplace where anyone with eyes could see this.

Your tapping was harder now. It woke him up.

As soon as his arm was loose enough, you made a quick and clean break of every and all bits of contact with his body. As abruptly as this happened, you extracted yourself and you ignored the way his eyelids fluttered slowly open and that fucking pink hue in his cheeks and lips that turned his face into one of the most attractive faces you’d ever laid your eyes on.

You squatted down, picking up everything that had fallen and soon enough he joined you, grabbing things from your hands to add to his piles without saying a thing about what maybe he also felt building between the two of you whenever you happened to get too close to each other.

It couldn't happen. It no longer mattered whether or not you believed it was happening. You knew for certain that whatever was or was not happening, it needed to stop here. You simply would never put yourself into any position for this man to need to touch you ever again. You could not trust yourself.

A moan. You almost moaned. You could practically feel the sound ready to come out of your chest if you’d only allowed your mouth to open, it would have. You were insane. You were a crazy person, a goddamned lunatic and a menace. He was your assistant for god's sake.

You steadied your breathing and your resolve and decided to allow yourself two entire minutes to sign the rest of these things on the spot. So what if you were late to your meeting. Punctuality be damned. Sure, the almost dying part was a little scary, but even you had your limits of what you could stand. You had almost moaned! What next? An orgasm right here on the sidewalk? Lock you up and throw away the key now.

You made it on time to your meeting. He was the First Assistant Editor to the Picture Editor Sophie Choi, with whom you had been working very closely with for months on this project. Sophie’s 1st was a man who simply went by Chet. No last name, just Chet. Apparently it was his thing.

He was nice. He was always polite with you even when he had some bad news to deliver, he always relayed whatever news, projects updates, or requests for your team he had for you with an empathetic and professional filter. Unlike some other utterly obnoxious 1st AEs that you’d worked with in the past, Chet was alright.

He was also tall and extremely handsome if you were into muscles, backwards ball caps, and men who looked like they probably moonlighted as underwear models in the back pages of GQ magazine. Not that you had ever seen him in his underwear, but you did follow his instagram and you always made sure to give him that little heart when he posted his pictures.

Chet was a hugger. When he saw you his smile was charming and inviting as he called out your name and he wrapped his big arms around you, pulling you in like a long lost friend. You weren't exactly friends with him. While you’d been invited for drinks with him and his team on many occasions your schedule had always been too swamped to take him up on the offers, but he was still just as friendly with you.

You didn't require Baekhyun to attend this meeting but he was weirdly insistent on tagging along after the quick introductions you made between the two men. They both shook hands and there were some formalities and awkward pleasantries exchanged between the two. Baekhyun whispered to you that he was sure that he should attend this meeting for learning purposes. You were sure nothing important other than networking was about to happen, but he insisted that everything was important in its own way. He was stubborn and after a few back and forths you finally just gave in to the man. If he wanted to waste his lunch hour, who were you to argue?

Chet made a kind of too loud joke about some rumors that you’d been saddled with some fresh meat intern and you were quick to assure him that Baekhyun had actually turned out to be the best assistant you’d ever had. After the harmless joke, you risked a careful glance at Baekhyun. If he’d taken any offense, he certainly didn't react. He spent much of the meeting sitting in the back of the room typing furiously on his cellphone, no doubt answering many emails on your behalf. Baekhyun was always busy on that phone, keeping your workload down as a side effect.

The meeting was about halfway through when your stomach growled noisily and embarrassingly, reminding you that yes, you were indeed human and you probably should eat something today.

“Why don't we take this downstairs—” Chet lifted an eyebrow in your direction, “—have some lunch… on me?”

You considered it. It didn’t sound like a bad idea. You had all of the materials already and you skipped dinner last night and now that you thought about it, you skipped breakfast this morning too. Your nerves about the presentation had kept your appetite muted. The last meal you had was something shoved into your mouth by Baekhyun sometime yesterday afternoon.

‘Eat this,’ he had said at the time and you blindly opened your mouth and received whatever he shoved in there.

“Some lunch sounds lovely, Chet. Thank you.”

“That does sound lovely, Chet. Thank you,” Baekhyun mirrored from the back of the room, obviously inviting himself along. You couldn’t be completely sure, and you definitely wouldn’t swear to it under oath, but there was something funny about his tone.

Chet’s wide smile had a microscopic hiccup as his eyes moved between you and Baekhyun and then back to you again.

“Great!” He said over-enthusiastically, almost manically and you also detected something just a little funny in his response as well.

You didn't know what, but something was up with these two men.

Lunch was delicious. Baekhyun took the spot directly beside you, took it upon himself to unwrap your utensils and he placed them just so beside your plate and Chet sat across from you and took it upon himself to unwrap your straw and place it inside your glass for you.

You weren't sure what kind of an imbecile you had appeared to be, but clearly they thought you needed help with something as simple as feeding yourself. You smiled politely to both men. Maybe they were both just overly polite people? Although you knew for a fact that Baekhyun wasn’t that polite when it was just the two of you alone.

Something was definitely up with these two men.

Oddities aside from them, you didn't realize just how hungry you were until you took the first bite of your pasta. If this was going to be your only meal of the day you were going to have some carbs dammit.

Baekhyun had grabbed a chocolate dessert with his lunch plate. You recalled him mentioning once that he wasn’t that into sweets but you didn’t want to pry. You did steal occasional glances at the chocolate layers and one such glance had your eyes bouncing up onto his face where he chewed lazily on his sandwich without any care in the world for how lovely those chocolate and vanilla cream layers looked and must taste.

His eyes slipped to the side and he looked at you as he chewed and swallowed casually. He put his sandwich down and his hand slipped over to the dessert plate. With a single fingertip he touched the edge of the plate and he pushed it quietly and carefully in your direction until it sat there beside your pasta as if it had belonged there all along.

Your eyebrows lifted and you widened your eyes in his direction, mouthing a silent and hopeful ‘me?’

He nodded his head once giving you the tiniest scrunch of his nose and he picked his sandwich back up and continued to eat until it was almost gone.

You had abandoned your pasta, you’d had your fill of it. You took the first bite of the chocolate cake and you were pretty sure you could weep. You were also pretty sure you had completely and thoroughly just fallen in love….with the cake. You could so easily be bought and sold with a good chocolate cake. Baekhyun was the winner. Whatever the competition was, if any at all, whatever these weird vibes between them were, as far as you were concerned, it was over with the first bite.

Then lunch and the meeting were actually over and you didn't catch any more strange interactions between Baekhyun and Chet. Perhaps you’d imagined it all. With your belly full and your workload even lighter you graciously accepted the goodbye hug from the tall well meaning man and you even promised that you’d make an attempt to meet him for drinks once this project wrapped. You did, afterall, have an end date in sight at last. And even if you only saw him at the wrap party where there would be drinks, you wouldn’t technically be lying to him right now. He accepted your promise with an extended pinky finger waved into the air as you walked away cheerfully.

Your mood was grand. It was probably the cake and the pasta.

“Ahh, he’s great.” You remarked out loud and from your left you heard a stifled scoff poorly disguised as a cough from Baekhyun. You turned to look at him with wide questioning eyes.

“Chet.” Baekhyun said his name out loud once with an audible emphasis on the T at the end. As if that T was its very own punctuation mark. As if it was its own hilarious punchline.

“What? He’s nice. He’s so good to work with and he’s never given me any trouble at all.” Why you felt the need to defend Chet to Baekhyun you couldn't quite explain.

Technically, Baekhyun hadn’t even said anything bad about him. He just kept saying his name as if that in itself was the problem.

“Chet.” He repeated the name again, slower this time and then he laughed outright into his hand as if it was the funniest joke he’d heard all day. You’d expected one or two chuckles from him. But strangely, and concerningly, it didn’t stop. And worse, it was weirdly contagious. You fought it all you could but you accidentally allowed a few giggles to escape when he was in the thick of the fits of laughter. It had gotten so bad in the elevator up to your office that you had to smack him on the arm to get him to stop laughing and breathe before he passed out. His eyes were watering from it. He was wheezing and he was gasping. You reached up and wiped a tear stain from his cheek and patted him right on the face kind of hard, almost a slap, anything to get it to stop. It didn’t.

You were feeling dizzy as well. You felt drunk on this madness you both found yourself trapped in. It was silly. It was childish. You couldn’t remember the last time you laughed so hard. Even something as simple as eye contact with Baekhyun from across the quiet office would set you both off again. And he’d reach for the box of tissues and cover his face completely all the while loudly cackling. You had been overworked, exhausted and stressed maybe and this was a side effect of all of it. Maybe you’d both finally just lost your minds.

He eventually wound back down, calming and then busying himself with actual work.

“Chet.” He said out loud almost an entire hour later, bursting into noisy laughter all over again. You had to actually bite down on your lip to keep yourself from laughing. You were sick of it. Your stomach muscles ached and you were so very, very tired of the giggles.

“No more,” you begged, holding your face in your hands. Your cheeks were sore, everything hurt. Finally you just gave up and left the room to go to the bathroom and splash some water on your face. What was this? You wondered if you’d ever be able to meet with Chet again and just act normal. You definitely couldn't ever meet him with Baekhyun again, that was for damned sure.

Sometime in between redoing your entire face full of makeup that the laughter and the face washing wiped it out, and taking your seventh brisk lap around this hallway you decided it was time to put your foot down.

You were in charge here. This was your department, you had twenty seven subordinates that, on a daily basis, treated you with the utmost respect and followed your orders to the letter. You had made a decision that it was time for Baekhyun to do the same. You didn't care what he called you or who his father was.

You marched back into your office to face him with a plan in place ready to set into motion and you found him in a spot you absolutely didn't expect.

He was sitting behind your desk, in your chair doing a little sideways back and forth wiggle in your spinning office chair. He was humming a soft tune to himself as he carefully and slowly wrote something down with your pen on your pack of post-it notes, underlining and dotting and crossing letters. Your office phone had been moved. You guessed you received a phone call while you were out.

When he saw you walk through the door he looked up at you briefly before looking back down at what he was doing.

“Assistant Byun,” you said firmly. He hummed out in response and continued to write without looking up at you. You were fired up and ready for this and no amount of his distraction techniques were going to work on you this time. You knocked twice on your desk. “Assistant Byun?” You’d called out again and his eyebrows shot up in the middle of his face.

“Yes, yes, I am here. Your Assistant Byun is here, what do you need my esteemed and magnanimous Manager Noona?” He was still in a playful mood it seemed.

“Byun Baekhyun, from today onward you, nor I, are not allowed to say the c-word inside of this office. Do you understand me? The c-word is banned.” You put on your angry and serious voice and Baekhyun’s eyes widened and he looked straight into your face.

“I’m not allowed to say the…c-word?” he paused and his eyes looked down at the post-it note that he had just pulled off the pack and was holding gingerly between his thumb and his index finger.

“The c-word. You are not allowed to say the c-word anymore.” You harnessed the annoyance for the time wasted today. You thought about the hours of work you’d have to do at home to make up for today and you used that to make yourself seem as authoritative as possible. You meant business now. Play time was over. This was serious.

Baekhyun’s eyebrows furrowed and he dropped his chin in confusion.

After a long moment of thought he spoke.

“Cunt?” He whispered.

You closed your eyes and inhaled a deep breath. You had completely forgotten about that c-word.

“No, Baekhyun. Not cunt, Baekhyun.” You gritted your teeth.

“The other c-word from earlier, from the past three hours Byun Baekhyun, the other c-word. You can say cunt,” you hissed in annoyance with a hand wave, “You are forbidden from saying that other c-word.” Your frustration from the day was mounting. You rubbed your temples with your fingertips, willing the headache you felt building to subside.

“So, I can say cunt in this office?” His voice was louder now and you closed your eyes, threw your head back and inhaled a deep breath. “Cunt is okay? The other c-word is not allowed, but cunt you are okay with. That right, Boss?”

“Yes. You can say cunt if you have to say cunt. Do not, under any circumstances, say the other c-word in this office. Am I clear?” When you opened your eyes he was leaning his head far back in your desk chair in a lounging position. He’d pulled the lever below the seat so the seat back leaned way back and he was watching you with that little post it still held gingerly between his fingers and there was a look of smug satisfied amusement on his pretty face.

“Did anything happen while I was away? Why are you in my chair?”

“Well,” he began, sitting up straight and pushing himself up onto his legs as he made his way back around from behind your desk where you were pretty sure you had never given him permission to be. Not that it mattered, he already had access to everything you had access to, just for the sake of the assistant’s job.

“Well?” You urged him to continue and he looked down at the note again, reaching once more for the pen he scratched something off very thoroughly and you caught a quick movement as he wrote something in its place. He stood up now, straightening his shoulders, looking as put together and professional as ever and he straightened his back as he began reading word for word from the post-it note.

“Cunt called while you were out and asked if you would like to meet him tonight for drinks. I was sure to let him know that your schedule tonight is full and would be full all week, and I made sure that he knew that you do not have space to fit him in for drinks tonight, as you will be busy all night long, with the wrap. Cunt sounded unreasonably upset and just a little bit like a c-word. You are more than welcome, but not in any way obligated, to call him back. From Baekhyun.”

He looked up from the note with wide innocent eyes and his lips pulled into the smallest little pout and you reached forward and grabbed it from him quickly. Sure enough the entire thing was there, word for word. He’d crossed out Chet, replacing it with the word with Cunt every time.

You were pretty sure you were about two seconds away from a complete nervous breakdown.

You knew when you were beat. It was close enough to quitting time that you merely wadded up the note and tossed it into the nearest trash can and began packing up your laptop and a few things you knew you could work on at home. You knew you had a hard deadline coming up tonight by midnight that you absolutely could not miss but everything was on your laptop, you could simply get it all done and submitted from home.

Your quitting time meant it was also Baekhyun’s quitting time. He helped you pack up a few of your laptop accessories, lifting a few peripherals into the air in silent question. You nodded or shook your head for what you would need and they either went into the bag or they went back to the desk. This quiet communication between the two of you was one of your favorite things about him.

The ride down the elevator to the lobby was peaceful. Today felt like running a marathon. This job was usually stressful and eventful but today had been a whole other monster entirely. You could feel the stress and tension in your shoulders and you longed for a long soak in your bathtub.

Baekhyun walked out of the elevator beside you but in no way did you both have the same destination. You knew he would go out to his car and you would make your way down to the subway. You knew he lived on the opposite side of town from where you lived. The distance had to be maybe a 40 minute drive with this office being a center point. You hoped he got some good rest at home and you knew with your workload you’d have to settle for a 30 minute nap at most.

You’d cleared the elevator hallway and stepped into the open hallway when you saw him. It was Chet, and you caught the back of him seated in a chair having a rather casual and loud conversation with a buddy. You’d recognize the 2nd AE’s toupee atop his head from a mile away. This was definitely not something you needed right now.

Your steps paused and you backed up a quick two steps, hiding behind the wall that divided the elevators from the lobby. You could clearly hear the two men laughing and reminiscing about whatever it was two buddies talked about.

Baekhyun who had been just a step behind you caught your rapid evasive motions and his eyes also zeroed in on and instantly understood the danger in the lobby.

“Oh shit,” he said under his breath. “He doesn’t even work in this building. I bet he’s waiting for you.”

“What do I do? I don't want to go out for a drink. I have a midnight deadline. Is there a back door?” Your voice betrayed your panic and Chet��s noisy words broke through the occasional squeaking of the wheels on the cleaning lady’s bucket as she mopped the hallway floor and curiously glanced at the two of you hiding here behind this wall.

‘Man, she’s got this new cockblocking assistant. Real fucking annoying, one of those pretty boys. I mean like I’m pretty but I’m still manly, you know bro? Anyway, I’ve been working on this chick for like six months which is fucking bullshit, for me, you know that. She’s a fucking tease, a sexy tease, but still. Dude, she likes all of my posts. Yeah, tonight’s the night. I’ve waited enough.’

The air felt thin and you could feel that suffocating sinking feeling in your stomach that sometimes came with these horrible realizations about people you thought you knew. Behind you, you felt his flinch as every muscle in Baekhyun’s body seemed to tense up and he took a step forward.

You reached out a hand and wrapped it securely around his arm and you pulled him back hard.

“I still have to work with him,” you said firmly and you did your best to keep the trembling out of your voice.

Baekhyun was frozen and his ears were bright red with a look of anger like you hadn’t seen before from him set deep inside his eyes.

He was eerily quiet save for the sound of his steady breathing and his fists were white from how tightly he clenched them. What was this strong reaction? It wasn’t like he had that much allegiance to you. Maybe he just hated the sight of those womanizing, degrading types of men who treated women like conquests and objects.

Baekhyun looked around at his surroundings and his focus stopped on the old woman with the mop and squeaky wheeled bucket. He was reaching into his pocket and he pulled out a crisp bill, you couldn't quite make out the denomination but it had to be at least $100 and he walked up to the woman with a smile on his face. A few words were exchanged and she quietly nodded and accepted the offering from him, turning and walking away quietly with the mop in her hand, leaving behind her bucket in the center of the hallway, close enough to where Chet sat for you to instantly understand Baekhyun’s intention.

Baekhyun was casual about it. You watched on in awe as he returned halfway to where you were and then made a quick circle, working up some speed he pulled out his cellphone and acted as if he was glued to the thing, completely immersed as he moved fast. He kicked the bucket with enough force for a wall of dirty mop water to go flying. The water was nearly black and it traveled with impressive speed, hitting Chet and soaking almost up to his waist. He yelped out in surprise and Baekhyun yelped out in surprise as he really sold it and fell down onto the floor, grabbing at his shin as if he were in great pain. The cellphone he had in his hands flew and clattered onto the carpet and Chet stood up half surprised, half enraged but too soaking wet to do much other than hobble around.

“What the fuck!?” Chet howled toward Baekhyun who was already being helped up by several concerned onlookers all who looked back at Chet in admonishment for instantly rushing to blame Baekhyun, who was clearly injured here. Chet was just wet. A few of the more sympathetic bystanders tossed a few take-out napkins in his direction.

“Who left that there?” Baekhyun called out in concern and groaned in fake pain.

“Oh no, Chet! Your pants, Bro!” Baekhyun said loudly and you had to cover your mouth with both hands to hide the loud snort of laughter that erupted from your mouth. The commotion itself lasted until Chet grumpily wobbled out of the front door, probably headed back to his own office for a change of clothes. The old woman returned shortly after that with her mop and began soaking up the remains of the liquid and Baekhyun straightened his posture, miraculously recovered from his injury and he sauntered his way back to you with a smile on his lips.

“My dearest Manager Noona,” When he reached you, he did so with his palm lifted into the air and a sweet little addition to your title on his lips, “Chet seems to have been called away on an urgent matter and is regrettably unable to join you for drinks this evening.”

“Oh no. What a shame,” you replied with a bright smile for him. You can't remember ever being quite this smiley at work before Baekhyun. If someone were to see you, they’d think you’d gone crazy. Maybe you had.

At least today was Friday. At least after you met your midnight deadline you had a late start tomorrow, you would be able to sleep in. You’d be able to eat breakfast and you’d be able to have a meal at a table like a civilized human. Your Saturday was relatively light compared to what today had been.

You said your farewells to him and you made your way to the subway, settling into the seat as you casually considered the quickest and most efficient way to make your deadline tonight. Your hand passed over the pockets, feeling for the blue external hard drive you always kept there in the pocket of this bag that had vital attachments that had been cleared and vetted by every important department at work to submit to the production teams. You felt with both hands over that space in the bag and found it suspiciously flat and terrifyingly empty. The pocket was empty. The hard drive was not in there. You were already nearly home and you searched your recent memory for clues, where had you left it. Where would it possibly be?

You searched through your memory and came up blank. Where had you seen it last? A feeling dawned suddenly and you remembered something Baekhyun had told you while you had been mentally occupied with something far more important at the time.

‘The blue hard drive is…’ His voice echoed…but you could not recall the rest of his sentence. Is where? Where was it?

You pulled out your cell phone and sent a text.

‘Blue hard drive’ you said those three words and only those three words and your phone was ringing.

You lifted the phone to your ear and before you even said a word Baekhyun was speaking.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I have it. I have the blue hard drive. Shit. This is make or break isn’t it? I forgot to give it to you. Where are you now? I’m turning around. I’m coming to you.”

“I just got home. I’ll text you the address.” You hung up the phone without saying anything else and you quickly sent him your home address. As soon as you’d done it you felt uneasy anxious butterflies swimming around inside of your belly when the realization of this hit you.

Baekhyun was coming to your house and you were about to have a full blown panic attack at the thought of that man alone in here with you.

Byun Baekhyun was coming to your house. He’d given a little thumbs up to the text message with your address and that meant that he was already on his way.

[To Be Continued]

Story Links: Can I Stay? - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

#Baekhyun fic #Baekhyun fanfiction #Exo Baekhyun #Baekhyun #exo fic #exo fanfiction #exo story #baekhyun story #baekhyun smut #girl dinner

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lightningxdagger · 1 year ago

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Name: Violet Riorson geb. Sorrengail

Nickname: Vi , Violence { only Xaden } , Silver One { Tairn } , Lightning Wheeler

"I love you, You could throw my entire world into upheaval, and I would still love you. You could keep secrets, run a revolution, frustrate the shit out of me, probably ruin me, and I would still love you. I can't make it stop. I don't want to. You're my gravity. Nothing in my world works without you." @xwingleader ❤️‍🔥 01.02.24 • 05.03.24 💍• 15.06 ♾️

Violet wurde im Juli 613 AE geboren und war die jüngste Tochter von General Lilith Sorrengail und ihrem Mann, einem Schreiber, mit zwei älteren Geschwistern, Brennan und Mira. Aufgrund des Fiebers, das sich ihre Mutter während der Schwangerschaft zugezogen hatte, wurde Violet mit einer seltenen Erkrankung geboren, die dazu führte, dass sich ihre Haarspitzen silbergrau verfärbten und ihre Bänder und Gelenke häufig subluxierten. Dies führte dazu, dass ihr Vater sie in den Archiven einsperrte, während sie am Basgiath War College lebten.Aufgrund des Einflusses ihres Vaters verbrachte Violet ihr ganzes Leben damit, sich wie er zum Schreiber auszubilden. Nach seinem frühen Tod übernahm Professor Markham ihr Studium und betrachtete sie als seine Starschülerin. Als sie aufwuchs, freundete sie sich 619 AE mit Dain Aetos an, als sie fünf Jahre alt war, und er sechs, da sein Vater, Oberst Aetos, als vertrauenswürdigster Berater ihrer Mutter fungierte. Violet und Dain verbrachten die meiste Zeit zusammen damit, Orte zum Schwimmen und Klettern zu finden und führten Violet anschließend dazu, Nolon und seine Heilerin Winifred kennenzulernen, als diese verletzt wurde. Im Jahr 628 AE, im Alter von 14 Jahren, sah Violet ihren ältesten Bruder Brennan Sorrengail zum letzten Mal vor der Schlacht von Aretia und ließ sie zurück, um um ihren Bruder zu trauern, als sich die Nachricht verbreitete, dass er von Fen Riorson mit einem Bolzen getötet worden war. Sein Tod führte dazu, dass ihr Vater Herzkomplikationen bekam, die schließlich zu seinem frühen Tod etwa ein Jahr vor den Ereignissen von Fourth Wing führten.Violet wurde bei ihrer Aufnahmeprüfung für das Basgiath War College in Bezug auf Geschwindigkeit und Beweglichkeit zu den besten 25 % gezählt. Am Morgen des Wehrpflichttages sieht Violet ihre Mutter und Schwester im Büro ihrer Mutter. Ihre Schwester Mira argumentierte mit ihrer Mutter, dass Violet nicht in den Riders Quadrant gehen sollte, weil sie nicht überleben würde, aber ihre Mutter würde ihre Meinung nicht ändern. Mira packt daraufhin Violets Rucksack für sie um und gibt ihr Reiterstiefel, damit sie besseren Halt an der Brüstung hat, und ein Korsett aus Drachenschuppen als Rüstung.Sie trifft Rhiannon, bevor sie die Brüstung überquert, und sie tauschen ihre linken Schuhe, sodass beide einen Schuh mit gutem Halt haben. Sie trifft Xaden oben auf dem Turm und als sie den Turm überquert, versucht der hinter ihr gehende Kandidat, Jack, sie zu töten, aber sie überlebt.

﴾ Wire: lightningxdagger (deutlich besser erreichbar)

﴾ ● DISCLAIMER:

Aussehen: Ich weiß das Violet mit hell braunen Augen beschrieben wird, es ist nur super schwer passende Faceclaims zu finden daher bitte ich um Unterlassene Aussagen über ihr Aussehen, einfach die Augenfarbe gedanklich Anpassen.

Alter: Violet ist in meiner Version 21 Jahre alt. Also keine Sorge das FSK ist erfüllt!

L3S3V3: L = Language/Sprache ・S = Sex ・V = Violence/Gewalt Die Nummer 3 ist das Höchste (umgangssprachlich auch Rating FSK 21) also keine falsche Scheu.

Sonstige Regeln:

Ich habe keine Lust auf Drama außerhalb des Plays, also bitte ich gewissenhaft mit Menschlichen Gefühlen umzugehen.

Smalltalk ausschließlich in Charakterform, ich bin nicht gewillt private Sachen zu teilen.

(Dieses Abteil bekommt noch einen eigenen Post, solange steht es hier!)

Crossover sind gerne gesehen! Listenfüller werden gekickt! Sorry not Sorry.

#userfakevz #Vorlage #romanschreiber #fsk 21 #fourth wing #RPG #Buchcharakter #﴾ Violet ᵡ I will not die today.#﴾ Tairn ᵡ The Dragon that i chose #﴾ OCC // Realtime #﴾ Xaden ᵡ Attractive • asshole • complicated #﴾ Xaden ᵡ My Gravity ♡#﴾ Baby Riorson ᵡ Sometimes it's the little things that bring the most joy

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scotianostra · 9 months ago

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Happy birthday Robert Carlyle, born in Maryhill, Glasgow April 14th 1961.

Bobby was brought up in Glasgow, the son of Elizabeth, a bus company employee, and Joseph Carlyle, a painter and decorator. His mother left when Carlyle was four years old and his dad looked after him from then. He left school at the age of 16 without any qualifications and worked for his father as a painter and decorator; however, he continued his education by attending night classes at Cardonald College in Glasgow.

Carlyle became involved in drama at the Glasgow Arts Centre at the age of 21 (having been inspired by reading Arthur Miller's The Crucible), and subsequently graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. In 1991, he and four friends founded a theatre company, Raindog (named after Tom Waits' album "Rain Dog," one of Carlyle's favorites) (a company dedicated to innovative work then, which is now primarily involved in television and film work), and guest starred in The Bill. The same year he starred in his first movie, Riff-Raff, directed by Ken Loach.

I first noticed Carlyle in the excellent ITV series Cracker, as murderer Albert "Albie" Kinsella, it wasn't long after this he had a series of his own with Hamish McBeth, the dope smoking village bobby in a quiet Scottish town on the west coast, the series ran for three seasons from 1995 to 1997.

Since then Robert Carlyle has been able to pick and choose his roles, his films include, The World is Not Enough, Plunkett & Macleane, Ravenous, 28 Weeks later and of course as Francis "Franco" Begbie in the two Trainspotting films.

On the small screen we have seen him in as the title role in Adolf : The Rise of Evil, Human Trafficking and The Last Enemy on this side of the Atlantic, in the US he has starred in the TV movie 24, SGU Stargate Universe and the continuing Once Upon a Time..

The third season of British political thriller-drama COBRA is due on our screens in the coming months

Recently we saw the TV series of the popular film, The Full Monty, which surprised me of how good it was. In February Carlyle commented on X/Titter about a Simpsons episode Ae Bonny Romance, which aired last December. In one scene, audiences are shown an airline called “Planespotting”, with the plane including a picture of Carlyle’s character Begbie on its tail! Robbert tweeted "My life is complete.." As well as the nod, the episode featured the voices of actors Karen Gillan, David Tennant and Paul Higgins.

Robbiewas lastsen in the movvie, The Performance about an American Jew and gifted tap dancer while on tour in Europe, Harold and the rest of his troupe are scouted by a German attaché who leads the troupe to an exclusive performance for Hitler himself. Next up is a mini-series Toxic Town about the tragic toxic waste case in the East Midlands and three mothers fighting for the justice for the rates of upper limb defects in babies born in Corby were subsequently found to be three times higher than those of children born.

#scotland #scottish #history #actor #happy birthday

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fishmech · 1 month ago

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Steam Hardware Survey: Computer Information:

Manufacturer: Dell Inc. Model: Precision 5680 Form Factor: Laptop No Touch Input Detected

Processor Information:

CPU Vendor: GenuineIntel CPU Brand: 13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-13700H CPU Family: 0x6 CPU Model: 0xba CPU Stepping: 0x2 CPU Type: 0x0 Speed: 2918 MHz

20 logical processors 14 physical processors Hyper-threading: Supported FCMOV: Supported SSE2: Supported SSE3: Supported SSSE3: Supported SSE4a: Unsupported SSE41: Supported SSE42: Supported AES: Supported AVX: Supported AVX2: Supported AVX512F: Unsupported AVX512PF: Unsupported AVX512ER: Unsupported AVX512CD: Unsupported AVX512VNNI: Unsupported SHA: Supported CMPXCHG16B: Supported LAHF/SAHF: Supported PrefetchW: Unsupported BMI1: Supported BMI2: Supported F16C: Supported FMA: Supported

Operating System Version:

Windows 11 (64 bit) NTFS: Supported Crypto Provider Codes: Supported 311 0x0 0x0 0x0

Client Information:

Version: 1731433018 Browser GPU Acceleration Status: Enabled Browser Canvas: Enabled Browser Canvas out-of-process rasterization: Enabled Browser Direct Rendering Display Compositor: Disabled Browser Compositing: Enabled Browser Multiple Raster Threads: Enabled Browser OpenGL: Enabled Browser Rasterization: Enabled Browser Raw Draw: Disabled Browser Skia Graphite: Disabled Browser Video Decode: Enabled Browser Video Encode: Enabled Browser Vulkan: Disabled Browser WebGL: Enabled Browser WebGL2: Enabled Browser WebGPU: Enabled Browser WebNN: Disabled

Video Card:

Driver: Intel(R) Iris(R) Xe Graphics DirectX Driver Name: nvldumd.dll Driver Version: 31.0.101.5186 DirectX Driver Version: 32.0.15.6603 Driver Date: 1 18 2024 Desktop Color Depth: 32 bits per pixel Monitor Refresh Rate: 60 Hz DirectX Card: NVIDIA RTX 2000 Ada Generation Laptop GPU VendorID: 0x10de DeviceID: 0x28b8 Revision: 0xa1 Number of Monitors: 1 Number of Logical Video Cards: 2 No SLI or Crossfire Detected Primary Display Resolution: 3840 x 2400 Desktop Resolution: 3840 x 2400 Primary Display Size: 13.54" x 8.46" (15.94" diag), 34.4cm x 21.5cm (40.5cm diag) Primary Bus: PCI Express 8x Primary VRAM: 8192 MB Supported MSAA Modes: 2x 4x 8x

Sound card: Audio device: Speakers (Intel® Smart Sound Te

Memory: RAM: 15959 Mb

VR Hardware: VR Headset: None detected

Miscellaneous:

UI Language: English Media Type: Undetermined Total Hard Disk Space Available: 7616900 MB Largest Free Hard Disk Block: 988009 MB OS Install Date: Apr 21 2024 Game Controller: None detected MAC Address hash: 62e0fc470c01efb

Storage:

Disk serial number hash: 1ec11c53 Number of SSDs: 2 SSD sizes: 4000G,4000G Number of HDDs: 0 Number of removable drives: 0

#about me

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iviarellereads · 6 months ago

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The Dragon Reborn, Chapter 20 - Visitations

(THIS PROJECT IS SPOILER FREE! No spoilers past the chapter you click on. Curious what I'm doing here? Read this post! For the link index and a primer on The Wheel of Time, read this one! Like what you see? Send me a Ko-Fi.)

(Crescent moon and stars icon) In which we're not really still playing this game, are we?

PERSPECTIVE: Mat. A woman enters the room, all in white silk and silver, her hair as black as night, and so beautiful he almost forgets how to breathe. Mat half thinks he knows her, but then thinks he could never forget a woman like that, and wishes Rand or Perrin were here to help him talk to women.(2)

She says he'll be passable when he fills out again, and he realizes he's standing there naked. He rushes to the bed, grabbing a blanket to wrap around himself, and apologizes for her finding him that way. She says she wouldn't have visited like this, but she was here for another purpose, at this “White Tower” which seems to amuse her as a name,(3) and wanted to see "all of you". She tells him to eat all they give him, he needs to put weight back on and regain his strength, and she implies that their methods of Healing are crude, to take so much from the one being Healed.

Mat asks if he knows her,(4) and she says he may have seen her somewhere, and to call her Selene. She says she's not an Aes Sedai, and these Aes Sedai mean to use him, though he'll like it, mostly. There's no need to convince him to seek out glory. What does she mean? What kind of glory? She smiles and says she knew that would pull him.(5) Mat insists he's just a country boy, Aes Sedai have no use for him, he just wants to see a bit of the world and go back to his da's farm. Lanfear says he's more important than he knows, and he can have glory if he doesn't trust them. He starts to ask if she's a Darkfriend, although it's not something one can ask politely, and she's amused at the idea, No, she follows no-one. There's one man she could stand beside, but she doesn't follow.(6)

Mat laughed nervously. “Of course not.” Blood and ashes, a Darkfriend wouldn’t name herself Darkfriend. Probably has a poisoned knife, if she is. He had a vague memory of a woman dressed as one nobly born, a Darkfriend with a deadly dagger in her slender hand. “That wasn’t what I meant at all. You look. . . . You look like a queen. That’s what I meant. Are you a Lady?” “Mat, Mat, you must learn to trust me. Oh, I will use you, too—you have too suspicious a nature, especially since carrying that dagger, for me to deny it—but my use will gain you wealth, and power, and glory. I will not compel you. I have always believed men perform better if convinced rather than forced. These Aes Sedai do not even realize how important you are, and he will try to dissuade or kill you, but I can give you what you desire.” “He?” Mat said sharply. Kill me? Light, it’s Rand they were after, not me. How does she know about the dagger? I suppose the whole Tower knows. “Who wants to kill me?”

Lanfear realizes she's said too much, and tells Mat that he should trust her, because she admits she wants to use him, unlike people who would pretend not to. She will lead him to wealth and glory. He asks how he can know if any of what she says is true, and she says by listening to what the Aes Sedai tell him, and what they don't. For example, will they tell him his father came to Tar Valon, if he doesn’t ask? Siuan Sanche sent him and Tam al'Thor back empty handed, without even assurances that the boys were alive. But she can ensure that they're informed that he's alright.

At any rate, she wants him to remember that he has another choice, besides being used by these so-called Aes Sedai or going to Ballsy. She alone can guarantee him all he seeks, if he'll do as she says. He says he supposes he’ll choose her option, since he has so little choice. Her demeanour shifts dramatically, and she says she didn’t come all this way for a suppose. He starts to tingle all over and get a headache(7) but it stops and she takes off in a hurry when she hears something outside his door.

Leaving Tar Valon sounds better by the minute. Mat takes inventory of his belongings, noting that the money would’ve seemed extravagant to him before but now it won’t get him far.(8) Suddenly there's a knock, followed by the door opening. The Amyrlin Seat and the Keeper enter, and tell him he should put his things away and get back to bed, before he falls over. They chat at each other about his condition in that annoying way people have of not talking *to* the person they're talking *about*.

They talk about how hungry he must be, and he says no, he really feels fine, he'll just be on his way. The Amyrlin says he's just eaten a meal for five with room to spare, and he'll eat that way four times a day for days yet, or else risk starving. He's just been severed from a two thousand year old corruption of magic, that has effects. She also tells him that his name and description are on the way to every bridge guard and dockmaster, and he's not to leave the island under any circumstances. Why do they want to keep him there? They don't heal people and then let them waste their efforts, and he may need more Healing still. He says he's been gone from home a long time, his parents probably think he's dead.

“If you wish to write a letter to them, I will see that it is carried to Emond’s Field.” Mat waited for more, but no more came. “Thank you, Mother.” He essayed a small laugh. “I’m half surprised my da did not come looking for me. He’s the kind of man who would.” He was not sure, but he thought there was a small hesitation before the Amyrlin answered. “He did come. Leane spoke to him.” The Keeper took it up immediately. “We did not know where you were then, Mat. I told him so, and he left before the heavy snows. I gave him some gold to make the journey home easier.” “No doubt,” the Amyrlin said, “he will be pleased to hear from you. And your mother will, certainly. Give me the letter when you have written it, and I will see to it.”

They told him, but he had to ask, and they didn't mention Tam. He mentions Rand, and the Amyrlin says she's sure he's fine, though she only met him the once. She sends Leane to get a bit of food and some drink, and then tells Mat some things are dangerous to talk about even around Leane.(9)

She asks if he remembers the Horn, and he asks what horn? She says if he plays games with her, he'll regret it. He says he remembers, and she asks if he knows he's now linked to the Horn? If he blows it, the Heroes will come forth. Anyone else will just blow a normal horn. So long as he lives. He realizes she could have let him die, had someone else, under her control, blow it instead. He accuses her of meaning to have him blow it at the Last Battle, and she asks if he'd prefer the alternative? He never said he wouldn't blow it, he says, realizing the alternative is to have him killed.

The Amyrlin gave an exasperated sigh. “You remind me of my uncle Huan. No one could ever pin him down. He liked to gamble, too, and he’d much rather have fun than work. He died pulling children out of a burning house. He wouldn’t stop going back as long as there was one left inside. Are you like him, Mat? Will you be there when the flames are high?” He could not meet her eyes. He studied his fingers as they plucked irritably at his blanket. “I’m no hero. I do what I have to do, but I am no hero.” “Most of those we call heroes only did what they had to do. I suppose it will have to be enough.(10) For now. You must not speak to anyone but me of the Horn, my son. Or of your link to it.”

He asks why she wants to keep it such a secret, even from other Aes Sedai? She says the more people know of a thing, the more it spreads. As it is, Darkfriends surely know the Horn has been found, but they don't know where it is yet, or that he sounded it. Does he want Darkfriends and Shadowspawn coming after him? He says he thought they couldn't get into the Tower, and she says well, all the more reason to stay and rest. He'll feel better soon.

He lays on the bed a long while. The Amyrlin wants to hold him like a sheep in a pen, and he wonders who the heck is Selene and what does she want? He thinks he'd rather face Trollocs than be caught between those two. There has to be a way out of both their grasps.All he has to do is find it.

=====

(1) And ANOTHER new one! This one's a lot more self-explanatory though. The moon, the stars, the night, and the daughter thereof. Lanfear's got her own icon now. What does that say about her arc and future in the story? (2) Ah, yet another "oh I'm the worst at talking to women" from one of the lads. They do like to trade that card around. (3) Why would this amuse her? Consider: she lived in the Age of Legends, before the Breaking of the World, all the Forsaken have been sealed in the breach with the Dark One since then but her memory is, of course, intact. Nothing survived the Breaking, and we saw the Tower-free island being formed when Lews Therin blew up and made Dragonmount. So, it's possible the White Tower was named in honour of something from the AOL, or named for something only loosely remembered through someone else's accounting. Or perhaps she's just amused at how they carry themselves as if they were the height of achievement when Lanfear is one of a very few people who know exactly how much more was achieved in her time. (4) Did Mat ever meet Lanfear? Has he seen her in his dreams, like Perrin has? (5) Mat has a lot in common with Nynaeve. Both will say one thing and do another. Both can be led by the right questions but remain suspicious of others' motivations. What's funny about this is, I can find love in my heart for Nynaeve but not for Mat, and many, many readers are the exact opposite. At any rate, Lanfear says she knew how to manage him, that that line about glory would hook him. She knows it didn't work on Rand. How would she know it WOULD work on Mat? And why would she admit it to his face, or does she think he's that pathetic and dense? (6) Not to interrupt, miss, but you do in fact follow the Dark One, do you not? We can probably guess that she means Lews Therin, the version of him she remembers, as the man she could stand beside… but she follows no one? Well, perhaps if you don't consider the Dark One a person so much as a cosmic force… (7) We've seen those symptoms before. Rand was subjected to a more intense form of the same when Liandrin found him in the dungeons at Fal Dara. We don't know for sure what it was, but we can probably guess. We know Liandrin has a Talent for Compulsion, for tweaking people to her side of things. But it's probably crude, since it's frowned upon by the White Tower. Lanfear, being from an age where magic was refined to what they believed might well be its purest form, might know a subtler and more effective method of the same. (8) My, how they grow up so fast. (9) I wonder how Leane feels about being sent out of the room so often lately for Siuan to talk to Emond's Fielders. (10) We have some reasonable assurances that Siuan hasn't been compromised, her Oaths are likely intact and she can't lie. So, her story is likely true. And, I think a lot of families have at least one person like that around. Mat is shaping up to be the archetypal lovable rogue, after all. The Han Solo, the Green Arrow, the Shrek, and how many others like them stretching backward in time in that vein.

#wheel of time #wot #the wheel of time #twot #the dragon reborn #tdr #wot crescent moon icon #mat cauthon #lanfear #siuan sanche #leane sharif

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of-void-and-stars · 2 years ago

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Wheel of Time and Cosmere fanworks auctions in Fandom Trumps Hate

Here’s an overview of the offerings in the Wheel of Time (both books an tv show) and Cosmere fandoms for @fandomtrumpshate this year. Not familiar with Fandom Trumps Hate? In short it’s a yearly fanworks auction of which the proceeds go to charities supporting progressive causes. For the long version click below

Link to Fandom Trumps Hate - FAQ

Bidding is open and runs till March 5th at 8PM EST!

Wheel of Time - Fanfic

WoT Fanfic #1

Name auctioneer: Emjen Enla (link to auction), tumblr: @emjenwrites

Highest rating: M (Mature)

Length/scope: Less than 5k words

Minimum bid: $10

Current high bid: $20

Books or show: Book canon only

Especially interested in:

Characters: Moiraine, Galad, Egwene, Cadsuane, Aes Sedai in general, Logain, Lan, Rand if you're asking to whump him

Ships: Moiraine & Lan, Galad/Bornhald, Siuan/Leane

Other: positive portrayals of the Aes Sedai, Rand's unhealing side wound, the taint on saidin

WoT Fanfic #2

Name auctioneer: Roccolinde/Fire_Sign (link to auction), tumblr: @firesign23

Highest rating: E (Explicit)

Length/scope: Less than 5k words

Minimum bid: $5

Current high bid: $100

Books or show: TV canon only

Especially interested in:

Characters/ships: Anything centred around Lan, Nynaeve, and/or Moiraine, platonic or romantic or pre-romantic.

Other: Power/Battle couple dynamics and competence kink, exes/second chances/second loves, prickly characters being vulnerable, female characters finding common ground, snark and banter, character-driven stories/smut, hurt/comfort, narrative gender fuckery of all types, shifting power dynamics where they are both aware. Tenderness, vulnerability, and the mortifying idea of being known. I adore complicated and nuanced takes on the character's relationship with gender and identity, and lines getting blurred there.

Wheel of Time - Fanart

WoT Fanart #1

Name auctioneer: milesofheart (link to auction), tumblr: @miles-of-heart

Subtype: Drawing/painting/etc.

Highest rating: M (Mature)

Length/scope: A digital oil painting recreating a famous painting, but with blorbos from my shows

Minimum bid: $20

Current high bid: $20

Books or show: Unspecified (presumably both)

Especially interested in:

Ships: I prefer to stick to canon pairings & relationships.

Other: Most interested in paintings that tell some kind of story, or there are strong vibes between the chosen characters and the themes in the original masterpiece. Color palette and postures also need to vibe for it to work. My experience is mostly with American and European painting styles, but I'm open to considering others.

WoT Fanart #2

Name auctioneer: MxCaptain (link to auction), tumblr: this is me, hello, you’re here!

Subtype: Pixel art

Highest rating: T (Teen)

Length/scope: Pixel art of up to three characters (dependent on complexity - ie I'll do one detailed/complex character or up to three simple ones) of your choice, with a simple background (think solid colour, repeating pattern, gradient, simplistic landscape) I will do one character sprite + a simple background for the minimum bid of $10, additional characters (up to two extra) for a minimum of $5 each. <- The strike through part is actually an old thing that I failed to delete before the auction went live! Feel free to reach out with what you have in mind, I am quite flexible.

Minimum bid: $10

Current high bid: $20

Books or show: Both!

Especially interested in:

Egwene! But again hit me up with other stuff as well :D

Cosmere - Fanfic

Cosmere Fanfic #1

Name auctioneer: Ternary (link to auction), tumblr: @ternaryflower53

Highest rating: M (Mature)

Length/scope: Less than 5k words

Minimum bid: $5

Current high bid: $20

Especially interested in:

I love exploring trans identity and aspec identity through fic (and I am okay with this including external sources of queerphobia). I'm a huge sucker for hurt/comfort and found family feels. I'd love an excuse to play with non-standard omegaverse, which has been on my list of things to write forever.

#fth #fth 2023 #wot #wheel of time #cosmere #charity auction #fanworks auction #for the high bids: this post was made on March 2nd around 7am EST and will not be updated #last updated march 4th around 3am est

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grapefruitjuicedream · 2 years ago

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Rating Sarah J. Maas Character Names

Aelin - 5/10

Not bad but I don't like it. Pisses me off when a character's name changes part way through the series. Points added for pronounceability. And taken away for the "ae" quirk.

Alis - 6/10

Modern take on a classic name. Tried and true. Doesn't quite fit into the world for me. Overall good.

Amarantha - 6/10

Typical villain name. Decent vibe, not yucky. Points off for being too long.

Amren - 7/10

It's giving knock off tolkien side character. Perhaps a little too close to Arwen. The "am" combination isn't doing it for me, almost too close to amarantha. Good as a name, not good for the character tbh. Doesn't fit her vibe.

Archer - 6/10

Different kind of intreague than other Maas names. Not like other names if you will. Could not imagine calling a real person this.

#what not to name your fantasy characters #sarah j maas #acotar #a court of thorns and roses #a court of mist and fury #acomaf #throne of glass #crown of midnight #ratings #fanasy names

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blockinsider · 1 month ago

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Is Google’s Willow Quantum Chip a Threat to Bitcoin’s Dominance?

Key Points

Google’s subsidiary, Alphabet Inc, has introduced a new quantum chip named Willow.

Despite concerns, experts believe Willow is not powerful enough to pose a threat to Bitcoin’s security.

Alphabet Inc, under Google, has launched Willow, its newest quantum chip. There is speculation that Willow could potentially disrupt Bitcoin’s dominance due to its impressive capabilities.

Willow’s Quantum Capabilities

Willow, developed by Google, is a highly potent quantum supercomputer. It can perform certain computational tasks in just five minutes, tasks that would take classical supercomputers 10 septillion years. This duration is significantly larger than the entire existence of the world, which is 13.8 billion years.

The American multinational corporation has described Willow as a “state-of-the-art” chip. It showcases error correction and performance, setting the stage for a functional, large-scale quantum computer. This level of sophistication could render passwords obsolete.

Encrypted messages could easily be intercepted, including nuclear weapon codes. Essentially, anything with a secret key could easily be unlocked through brute-forcing combinations of numbers and letters.

Many believe that Willow has the potential to crack Bitcoin’s complex math algorithm SHA-256, thereby compromising the network.

Willow’s power lies in its qubits, which can reach up to 105, equivalent to improved error rates. Unlike traditional bits that represent either a 0 or 1, qubits can represent both simultaneously due to quantum phenomena like superposition and entanglement.

The presence of qubits allows quantum computers to run at a very high speed, performing multiple calculations at once. They could eventually solve problems currently intractable for classical computers.

However, Bitcoin’s SHA-256 for mining and ECDSA for signatures are believed to be highly vulnerable to quantum decryption.

Bitcoin Remains Unthreatened

Despite these concerns, some experts believe that Willow’s threat to Bitcoin is unfounded. Based on their analysis, Google’s latest quantum computing chip needs to be even more powerful to pose a risk, at least not yet. Therefore, Bitcoin might not face any immediate risks.

“Experts estimate you’d need about 1 million high-quality qubits to make a dent in Bitcoin’s security,” explained Cinemad Producer, a pseudonymous analyst and tech expert.

Therefore, even as advanced as Willow, quantum computers lack the necessary scale or error correction capabilities to decrypt widely used encryption methods immediately. They hardly stand a chance against RSA, ECC used in Bitcoin transactions, or even AES in securing data.

Should quantum computers reach a scale that can factor in large numbers, they could break these encryption schemes. This would compromise wallet security and transaction integrity. Until then, Bitcoin faces no immediate challenge.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin’s price briefly dipped, losing some of its gains in heavy crypto liquidations. From trading at over $97,000 during the early hours of Monday, the firstborn crypto asset plunged to $94,000. Since then, BTC price has recovered slightly and is currently trading at $97,304.83.

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seoabudhabiae · 2 months ago

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The Best 5 UAE Domain Name Registrars

Choosing the right domain name registrar is an important step for anyone starting a website. A domain name is your website's address on the internet, and a good registrar will help you register and manage it easily. In the UAE, there are several reliable registrars. Here are the five best UAE domain names registrars and why they stand out.

1. GoDaddy UAE

Overview

GoDaddy is one of the most popular names among UAE domain names registrars. They are known worldwide for their services, making them a trustworthy choice.

Why GoDaddy UAE is the Best

User-Friendly Interface: GoDaddy’s website is easy to navigate, which is great for beginners. You can quickly search for available domain names.

Variety of Domain Extensions: They offer many domain extensions, such as .ae, .com, and .net, giving you plenty of choices to find the right domain for your needs.

Affordable Pricing: GoDaddy often has discounts and deals for new users, making it cost-effective to register your domain.

24/7 Customer Support: If you run into problems, their customer support team is available any time to help you.

Additional Services: Besides domain registration, GoDaddy provides web hosting, email services, and website builders. This makes it easy to manage everything you need for your website.

2. AEserver

Overview

AEserver is a local UAE domain names registrar that focuses on the needs of businesses in the UAE. They are known for their personalized service.

Why AEserver is the Best

Local Expertise: AEserver understands the UAE market well, so they can offer services that suit local businesses.

Competitive Pricing: They offer affordable rates for domain registration, making them a good option if you are on a budget.

Quick Registration Process: You can register your domain quickly, often in just a few minutes, allowing you to get started with your website without delay.

Good Customer Support: Their support team is knowledgeable and can help you with any questions about domain management.

Variety of Services: AEserver also provides web hosting and SSL certificates, which are important for website security.

3. 1&1 IONOS UAE

Overview

1&1 IONOS is another trusted name in the world of UAE domain names registrars. They offer a wide range of services to help you establish your online presence.

Why 1&1 IONOS UAE is the Best

Affordable Packages: They provide starter packages that are affordable for new businesses, making it easier to get online.

Flexible Pricing Plans: Their pricing options are flexible, allowing you to choose a plan that fits your budget.

Easy-to-Use Tools: Their website offers user-friendly tools for creating and managing your website, making it accessible for beginners.

Strong Security Features: 1&1 IONOS offers essential security features like SSL certificates to help keep your website safe.

Responsive Customer Support: Their customer support team is available to assist you with any questions or issues you might have.

4. Etisalat UAE

Overview

Etisalat is a well-known telecommunications company in the UAE, and they also offer domain registration services. Their reliable service makes them a popular choice among UAE domain names registrars.

Why Etisalat UAE is the Best

Trusted Brand: As a major telecom provider, Etisalat has a reputation for reliability and trust, which is important when choosing a registrar.

Simple Registration Process: Their process for registering a domain is straightforward, making it easy for anyone to get started.

Bundled Services: If you already use Etisalat for internet or mobile services, you can bundle your domain registration, saving you time and money.

Strong Security Measures: Etisalat provides strong security features to protect your domain and website.

Local Customer Support: Their support team is based in the UAE, which means you can get help from people who understand local needs.

5. Crazy Domains UAE

Overview

Crazy Domains is a popular choice for registering domain names in the UAE. They provide a range of services that cater to different needs.

Why Crazy Domains UAE is the Best

Affordable Prices: Crazy Domains often offers promotions that make their domain registration very budget-friendly.

Easy to Use: Their website is user-friendly, allowing you to quickly search for and register your desired domain name.

Variety of Domain Extensions: They provide a wide range of domain extensions, so you can find one that fits your business.

Free Features: When you register a domain, Crazy Domains often includes free features like email forwarding and DNS management.

Helpful Customer Support: Their support team is ready to help you with any questions about domain registration and management.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Domain Registrars

When selecting from UAE domain names registrars, consider the following factors to ensure you make the right choice:

1. Pricing

Look for registrars that offer competitive prices for domain registration. Check both the initial costs and renewal fees to avoid surprises later.

2. Domain Extensions

Make sure the registrar offers the domain extensions you want. Options like .ae and .com should be available.

3. User Experience

Choose a registrar with a user-friendly website. An easy-to-navigate interface will save you time and make the registration process smoother.

4. Customer Support

Good customer support is essential. Look for registrars that provide 24/7 support through various channels, such as phone and chat.

5. Additional Services

Consider registrars that offer more than just domain registration. Services like web hosting and email can simplify your online management.

6. Reputation

Research the registrar’s reputation. Look for reviews and feedback from other customers to ensure you choose a reliable registrar.

7. Security Features

Check if the registrar provides security features like SSL certificates and domain privacy protection to keep your information safe.

8. Transfer Policies

Understand the registrar's policies for transferring domains. You might want to switch registrars in the future, so know the process and any fees involved.

Conclusion

Selecting the best UAE domain names registrars is vital for anyone wanting to establish an online presence. Each of the five registrars mentioned—GoDaddy UAE, AEserver, 1&1 IONOS UAE, Etisalat UAE, and Crazy Domains UAE—has unique strengths. By considering the factors outlined above, you can find the registrar that best meets your needs and helps you succeed online.

#domain name #domain names registrars #website #web hosting #services #business

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sonhee · 3 months ago

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Lee So-hee (Korean: 이소희; born November 18, 1994), better known by the stage name Han So-hee (한소희), is a South Korean actress. She began her career as a supporting character in the television series Money Flower (2017), 100 Days My Prince (2018), and Abyss (2019) before transitioning into lead roles in The World of the Married (2020), Nevertheless (2021), My Name (2021) and Gyeongseong Creature (2023–2024).

Han was born as Lee So-hee (이소희) on November 18, 1994, in Ulsan, South Korea. She attended Ulsan High School of Arts where she majored in arts. In her senior year of high school, Han moved to Seoul to live with her grandmother, where she worked various part-time jobs to make ends meet. Han originally had no plans of entering the entertainment industry and wanted to continue pursuing higher education, stating that, "I got into a university in France, but I couldn't go because I didn't have enough money in my bank account. I had to have at least ₩60 million (approximately US$46,000) in my bank account to get a visa. I didn't have that, of course." While working part-time at pubs, modeling, and doing commercials to save up money, the head of the agency to which she belonged persuaded Han to try acting.

𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟕-𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟗: 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬

Han appeared in SHINee's "Tell Me What To Do" music video in 2016. She made her acting debut in a minor role in Reunited Worlds (2017). She got her first main roles in MBC TV's Money Flower in 2017 and tvN's 100 Days My Prince in 2018. Later in 2018, she starred in KBS2's After The Rain and made an appearance in Roy Kim's "The Hardest Part". In 2019, Han played a supporting role in the tvN series Abyss, alongside lead actors Ahn Hyo-seop and Park Bo-young.

𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎: 𝐖𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝

In 2020, Han starred in JTBC's The World of the Married alongside Kim Hee-ae and Park Hae-joon, in which she played a main role as Yeo Da-kyung, a young mistress. The television series ended its run as the highest-rated television series in Korean cable television history. Han received widespread recognition thanks to the success of the television series, and for her performance she was nominated for Best New Actress – Television at the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards.

𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏–𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭: 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬

In 2021, Han starred in JTBC romance drama Nevertheless alongside Song Kang. Later the same year, she starred in the Netflix original crime-action drama My Name as Yoon Ji-woo, a woman seeking revenge for her father's murder. For her performance in My Name, she was nominated for Best Actress – Television at the 58th Baeksang Arts Awards.

In March 2022, Han appeared in the four-episode Disney+ mini-series Soundtrack#1 alongside Park Hyung-sik. In September, she appeared as Princess Kayena in a live-action teaser for the Kakao Webtoon series The Villainess is a Marionette. The following year, she featured in BTS' Jungkook music video for his single "Seven", which was released on July 14, 2023.

In 2023, Han appeared in the 1945 historical drama Gyeongseong Creature with costar Park Seo-joon. The first season was released on Netflix from December 22, 2023 to January 5, 2024, and the second season was released on September 27, 2024. Han also made her film debut in March of 2024 with the LGBTQ indie film Heavy Snow, which premiered at the 38th BFI Flare. She is set to appear in upcoming tvN drama Two-Faced Lover alongside Byeon Woo-seok.

𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲

In 2019, Han faced legal trouble after her estranged mother, known publicly as Ms. Shin, took out and failed to repay a ₩40 million loan with Han listed as the guarantor. A similar instance occured in 2022 when ₩85 million was borrowed using a bank account in the actress' name that "was opened arbitrarily [by Shin] when Han was a minor." Her mother was later arrested in September of 2024 for the operation of 12 illegal gambling establishments, in which "proxy owners" were used to allow patrons access to a a gambling website to play games like baccarat after purchasing game credits.

Han's agency, 9ato Entertainment, released a statement acknowledging that Ms. Shin had been involved in several fraud cases, including forgery, but clarified that their talent was not connected in any way.

𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬

In March of 2024, Han was spotted at the same hotel as fellow actor Ryu Jun-yeol while on a vacation in Hawaii, igniting relationship rumors. She confirmed the relationship herself on a personal blog later that month, and hours later, Ryu’s agency released an official statement corroborating these rumors.

The couple was confirmed to be dating since the beginning of 2024; however, they split later that month. Ryu’s representatives as well as Han's agency released a statement confirming the breakup. “They both realized that their roles as actors are more important. They promised not to waste any more emotions on personal matters,” it read.

𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

Han has been active as a model since 2016. Her advertisements include brands such as Ritz Crackers, CJ Group, J.Estina, Banila Co., Eider, Charlotte Tilbury Beauty, L'Oréal, and Giordano International. In 2022, Han became a global brand ambassador for luxury fashion house brand Balenciaga and Swiss luxury watch brand Omega SA. She modeled for Balenciaga's 2023 Spring/Summer collaborative campaign with Adidas. In 2023, she was announced as the global brand ambassador for Singaporean fashion house label Charles & Keith, French luxury jewelry house Boucheron, and Korean-owned sportswear brand Fila. Also in 2023, Lotte Chilsung selected Han as the new face of Chum Churum soju.

In 2024, Han became a global brand ambassador for home appliance brand Shark.

#ִ ۫ ⁎ . musings.#wikipedia + my own little bits

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iviarellereads · 11 months ago

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The Eye of the World, Chapter 26 - Whitebridge

(Harp icon) In which a hasty retreat must be made.

Mat finishes playing a barely recognizable song on Thom's flute, and Thom laments that he thought shepherds spent all their time playing pipes and flute, and now he knows better than to trust such tales. Mat points out that Rand's the shepherd, he's just a village boy. Rand asks Thom quietly why he's trying so hard, they're not really going to be gleemen, it's just cover until they find the others. Thom counters, what if you don't find them? You don't even know they're still alive.

Rand thinks they have to be, but Mat voices the same fear, what if they're all dead, right before one of the sailors calls out that he's sighted Whitebridge. The sailors prep the boat for docking, bringing their goods up to unload, and Rand watches the city approach, to keep from thinking about his friends.

The White Bridge from which the town takes its name shines, almost looking like glass, but Domon says no amount of rain can make it slippery, and no chisel or weapon can make a mark on it. Thom thinks it's a remnant from the Age of Legends. Domon says it doesn't have to be that old, or Aes Sedai work, to be great.(1)

Some merchants approach the ship with false smiles, but before he deals with them, Domon orders Gelb off the boat. Gelb retrieves his things from crew quarters, then angrily goes off into town. Domon catches Thom as they're disembarking, and offers to take them down to Illian, where there are great competitions for gleemen. Thom says he couldn't afford fare at Domon's rates, and Domon guiltily repays them their original fare, and some more besides. They've worked their fares and more with the stories, the songs, and the amusement of watching the boys train.

Rand has no idea where to start, but says they need to try to find the others. Thom says the right innkeepers will have the information they need, and leads the way. They go to an inn and ask for a little privacy. The innkeeper offers them a bit off room and board if he'll stay. After the innkeeper goes to get Thom some spiced wine, Thom grumbles that any decent innkeeper pays a gleeman in room and board and some besides, not a bit off.

When the innkeeper comes back, Thom asks him what the news is. Logain's been captured, on his way to fulfil the prophecies. The Aes Sedai who had captured him were parading him at every town on the road, to show off that the world is safe again. If they want to see him, they ought to go to Caemlyn.(2) It'll be a tale to tell one's children and grandchildren, even though false dragons are fairly common these days.

There was also a man through a few days before, from Illian, with a proclamation all done up in ribbons. He'd said there were messengers sent out to all corners of the world, to bring people to Illian to swear their lives to hunt for the Horn of Valere, something that hasn't happened in four hundred years.(3)

Thom starts daydreaming after this, so Rand tells the innkeeper they're looking for friends who may have passed through. Thom glares at Rand, coming back from his fancies, but gives the innkeeper short descriptions of their missing party members. The innkeeper tells Thom to forget about performing, and they'd best leave his inn as soon as the wine's done, and leave Whitebridge if they're smart. A weaselly man, always talking to himself and prone to rapid mood and behaviour changes, has been asking after those five, and others.(4) Then another man, all in black with his cloak pulled up so you can't see his face, came with the same questions as the first man.

A Fade, a Myrddraal, and Thom says he'll be back to look for them again. They should go take up Domon on his offer of passage to Illian. Rand gets stubborn, they either wait in Whitebridge or go on to Caemlyn, that's what they agreed on. Thom says the best way to evade the Fade is to go to Illian, the opposite way to what he expects them to do. Rand won't abandon his friends so easily, though. Nor will Mat, who tells Thom to go back to Domon, then. They'll make their own way. He's gripping the dagger, Rand notices, and might even be prepared to use it on the old gleeman.

Suddenly laughter breaks out on the other side of the low dividing wall of the inn. Someone making fun of another who mentioned Trollocs. Floran Gelb has found his way to this inn, but not noticed them yet. Thom quickly divides the money Domon gave them, in case they get separated. They sneak out to an alley, and Mat asks why Thom is helping them.

Thom stared at him for a long moment. “I had a nephew, Owyn,” he said wearily, shrugging out of his cloak. He made a pile with his blanketroll as he talked, carefully setting his cased instruments on top. “My brother’s only son, my only living kin. He got in trouble with the Aes Sedai, but I was too busy with . . . other things. I don’t know what I could have done, but when I finally tried, it was too late. Owyn died a few years later. You could say Aes Sedai killed him.”(5) He straightened up, not looking at them. His voice was still level, but Rand glimpsed tears in his eyes as he turned his head away. “If I can keep you two free of Tar Valon, maybe I can stop thinking about Owyn."

Thom goes to check things out and confirm the route, the boys wait what feels like an hour before they notice a strange man approaching the alley. It's not until he gets very close that they realize it's Thom in a new cloak. He tells them to leave one at a time, not so close people think they're together, just close enough to keep each other in sight.

Before they can leave, though, the Myrddraal appears. Thom bundles up his gleeman's cloak and instruments, shoves them into Rand's arms, and tells him to take care of his things and run when he tells them. He says don't stop until they get to Caemlyn, and the Queen's Blessing inn. As soon as Rand and Mat both affirm they've heard the directions, Thom draws his daggers and charges at the Myrddraal, shouting at them to run.

And run they do. They run until Whitebridge is entirely out of sight behind them. When they finally stop to catch their breath, Rand's only thought is worry for Thom, while Mat's sure he's dead, charging the Fade like that. Rand says Mat thinks everyone else is dead too, but the Fade was still hunting them, so they can't be, and if they're not dead, maybe Thom isn't either.(6)

Rand looks behind him, half hoping to see Thom behind them, running to catch up. When he doesn't, he gathers up their things, and suggests they start walking.

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(1) Domon has a point, but a material that fancy can't just be something everyday to this society, from everyone's reactions, right? If this were normal work and material, it wouldn't be so novel as to make Thom think it's ancient. (2) How interestingly convenient that this is where we're headed anyway. (3) Calling a hunt for the Horn of Valere (an easy corruption of "valour"), the first time in hundreds of years, an item so legendary there are competitions just for gleemen telling the story. Fascinating. Totally unrelated to our story, I'm sure. (Well, it seems to be unrelated for now, at least.) (4) Do we know anyone who's weaselly and unpredictable? Well, Padan Fain was a little of both in Baerlon, but surely he couldn't have beaten them here. (5) Well, and that's how Thom came to hate Aes Sedai so, and likely why he reacted to Moiraine so hostilely back in Emond's Field. (6) Exit Thom, pursued by a Fade. Do you think he's dead?

#wheel of time #wot #the wheel of time #twot #the eye of the world #eye of the world #eotw #teotw #wot harp icon #rand al'thor #thom merrilin #mat cauthon #bayle domon #floran gelb #innkeeper bartim

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