#ocean likes me ep5

[shawty-writes-a-little]

From Eden 4.

[part1] [part2] [part3] [part 4]

darkling x brekker!reader

summary: feelings are heavy

word count: 3k

warnings: S2 shadow and bone, ep5 intoxication dreams, heavy angst, LONGING, English is not my first language x

An: I WILL update more frequently I PROMISE I PROMISE I PROMISE and NO this has nothing to do w that angry from Eden anon, but hey fucko if you’re reading this I still love you

Despite of what y/n promised Kaz, she knew she wouldn’t entirely stick to her word. For somebody who grew up in ketterdam honour was just another grey line ready to get bent to one’s will. Besides high ground all mighty morals isnt what Kaz raised her with anyways, she knew that if she planned to cross what she promised Kaz it’d be a reflection of perhaps just the way he raised her. At the moment she told herself frankly anything as they traveled for quest of the Neshyener, some of her big brother’s words did drip through her mind in a way, could it be she was that naive? Was she a pawn in Aleksander’s game, perhaps a useless one but still someone whose emotions he had amusement toying with? No. That could not be, Kaz didn’t have half a mind to know what he was speaking of and y/n knew Aleksander better than that. He wasn’t the best of men, he had his traits but he had always been a great lover to her per se and that is what mattered.

Pulling out of her thoughts when Tolya approached the three talking about how they should pray for their dead and what not, the rest where praying for their dead whilst Kaz, Jesper, wylan along with y/n stood on the side. Them not praying wasn’t a blasphemous just not that heavy on faith. Especially Kaz and Y/n. “We don’t have to worry about our dead, y/n here can well enough resurrect them.” Kaz taunted.

Most of the time y/n would talk back but she knew better than to create a scene again, “If I pay you will you shut up?”

Kaz scoffed, the source of their money was same nonetheless “How much and the answer is no regardless”

Choosing not to answer to kaz’s remarks y/n parted ways with a simple “I’m with wylan and Jesper” despite of whoever Kaz had planned to group her with, she didn’t give him time to answer as she paced with the two with slumped shoulders and crossed arms. Kaz doesn’t get to pick and choose what’s right and what’s not for everybody, all the time. She thought to herself grumpily, alternatively Kaz gestured Jesper to keep an eye on her, he believed he had lost y/n to the darkling’s manipulation for a long time—she’d be angry and whiny about his restrictions and ways but Kaz wouldn’t loose another one of his siblings to their nativity.

As much as y/n wanted to be present for the crows, in the plans and their ongoing troubles as well, she sensed something off between wylan and jesper she didn’t want to pry wylan and Jesper couldn’t get alone time with y/n to tell her about it, so in all it was just filling awkward silences with small talks. She could deduct it was probably some argument. It seemed petty as an outsider of someone’s relationship but she recalled being in that position once.

She went through it all once. The days spent with Aleksander hauntingly found his way back to y/n’s mind. She’d avoid sleeping so what she assumed was her own mind tormenting her with his dreams would stop. ‘But can’t you see I’m right here?’ ‘The saints couldn’t get me to leave you…’ ‘I am not leaving you, my world, I’m leaving neither.’ It felt frustrating thinking about those dreams where he said he hadn’t left and then reality struck that he actually hadn’t. Did they mean anything? Was the Aleksander in her dreams real?

If so, she was furious. Furious at the man who claimed to love her to ends and had her believe he had died. He wronged an entire nation and didn’t even tell her that. Conversations with him prior to it all came back like cold and sharp ocean waves. He’d talk of a greater tomorrow for Ravaka, everyday he’d work tirelessly camps to camps tracking one artefact to another. Not that he didn’t tell her about it, they would have lengthy conversations but y/n would’ve never thought he would be expanding the fold just like that. The signs were perhaps always there. It was rather wrong of her to be oblivious to it, she was the only person Aleksander was that open to. Maybe if she loved him less she could’ve known what he was capable of.

He’d told her of all wrong that was done by his hands, she foresaw them, lost them in the story of the boy she told him, the boy travelling town to town raised on a wretched fate. Y/n knew what it was like to grow up in burning houses, the flames never really leave you. She maybe didn’t condone what he did but she never even asked herself that. She didn’t want to at the time. Kaz’s words ‘Manipulated by your beloved monster’ made her glum thinking was he right? Surely not, the man who’d raise wars would come into her arms like the sweetest gift of life. His shoulders relaxed only in the moments he’d have his arms around her. The man who didn’t speak more than orders and council meetings would talk to y/n about his past, for a stoic man his love was ever so evident for her even amongst other people—gesture of his hand on the small of her back, his eyes scanning for a certain woman in the crowd, married…they were almost married. How could he possibly manipulate her? His love that intense like of a raging storm why wouldn’t Kaz understand that?

Aleksander did a bad thing, evil even. Her Aleksander, a traitor, rebel, the villain to them all, most dangerous thing but they don’t know how the most dangerous thing used to laugh. How he used to love. How he does, but y/n isn’t so sure if she could reciprocate it that way anymore. She knows she shouldn’t. She knows she shouldn’t even be thinking about him the way she did as of now. No.

Y/n has promised kaz and she had promised herself, she wouldn’t associate with him no more. He kept his motives hidden from her once and he could again if he succeeded. The world was against him for a reason. All the torment he inflicted wasn’t justifiable by her. She’d see him one of these days, for one last time and then wash her hands of him. He could live out his days in the wild or create a house of a fold for himself and she wouldn’t bother to care. It broke her heart not to care for Aleksander but she didn’t know any other way. She knew what she told Kaz but she promised not to go back to Aleksander, she won’t. Y/n will have to confront him once, she thought about it a lot, what it would be like, hold him by the collar and demand an explanation. Wish him the worst, bid him goodbye and then wash her hands of him.

—

With sundown y/n became more and more clearer of her thoughts. Firm she will close the chapter that was Aleksander. Currently she stood alongside Kaz as the crowd towered tolya who explained the map of inside the house. Kaz’s plan was to sweep from all sides for the neshnyar, as y/n attempted to accompany wylan Kaz yanked her back by his cane, “Remember what you promised?”

“That literal?” Y/n groaned about her promise to ‘not leave kaz’s sight’ straightening her clothes. That evening took a low turn actually. The metal doors clung close with a pang just in a few moments they were in. The red gas flew out of the walls of the small room they were trapped in, faster than they could register what was happening.

“So this is how we die” Jesper’s shaky voice was first to admit what everyone else was thinking. Y/n struggled against the metal doors still, thankfully her optimism didn’t run out before she dropped to the ground unconscious.

-

The air felt crisp against her skin as the gigantic window crept open. She remembered these chambers. They were the ones she shared with Aleksander back at little palace. Y/n found herself in a dress, even the dress she recognised. Before she looked in the mirror she could reckon the fabric, it was her wedding dress. Unsure how to feel about it she just stared at her reflection. Is this after life? Is this a dream? Or perhaps a nightmare? Is it real? Four striking questions she didn’t bother to look an answer for as she stared at herself. Before everything happened, she’d never really got to try on her wedding dress. She chose the fabric and the pattern and the work on it but things went south faster than the designers worked. With the fete there was barely any time for trial. But as she saw herself in the moment it was exactly like she’d imagined, never too big on fancies but it was her wedding dress. Even her hair was done so perfectly she could make no sense of what was happening. It felt so confusing and endearing at the same time. Finally looking away from her dress her eyes fell on the note by the mirror desk which read ‘The Gardens.’ In a handwriting she was afraid she recognised.

Picking up the hem of the dress she walked out the room, down the long stair case she rushed to find an explanation for which state of being she was in. The opening to the gardens were enlaced with flowers and veils. When she finally came to the gardens she found entire area decorated as though celebration of the biggest event ever. Benches surrounded what seemed like a wedding altar, above hanged the most gorgeous garlands of bright flowers with dark organzas draped in a beautiful pattern. Each and every little detail was a conversation she remembered having with Aleksander from when they planned their wedding. In awe of the scene as she try to take in everything along with the sunset over the horizon, two hands pulled her back by her waist. Before she registered being alarmed, the instinct was replaced with that of warmth. Warmth she held very dear. “Why hello, my love” Aleksander spoke as he rested his head by crook of her neck giving her shoulder a gentle peck.

“Aleksander” Y/n said and turned to face him, she wanted to make sense of what it was that was happening but she truly didn’t want to. Maybe she is already dead but she was the happiest perhaps accepting whatever this was. She had so many questions to ask but the sight of his face, in his wedding attire, first time since the ship, first time since her strange dreams were it was just bargain, blame and endless arguments, y/n overcame the urge to punch him and show how cross she was, how much her hurt her, she just wrapped her arms around him, leaping into him as he carried her off her feet and hugged her tightly in his arms almost as if she wouldn’t exist if he let her go.

This felt like his luckiest moment, “and they say it’s a bad omen to see your bride before the wedding” he joked letting her out of his arms but still holding her close. “You look heavenly.”

“What-uh what is this?” Y/n asked finally, she could gather it was a wedding perhaps there but how so? What time of the year even was it? Plus they had so many hurdles to overcome before actually getting married.

“It’s our wedding day!” He exclaimed as he replied to her and gently caressed her face with a smile on his face. He moved his head to the side gesturing her to look around, the decorations, the empty guest benches, the wedding attires.

“But…how? How did we get here? Did we even tell everybody?” Y/n asked still not convinced that this could be real, a faint voice in the back of her head did tell her none of this was remotely real.

“We did, the guests will be here any minute.” Aleksander said “I just wanted to see you once…for myself.”

Y/n couldn’t help but smile at his irresistible little gesture to see her before the wedding all for himself. They were about to get married, together for an eternity, yet he couldn’t spare a few moments even. “And Kaz?”

“You know how your brother is, he was upset, really upset for a while. But he came around. Doesn’t he always?” Aleksander explained as he held his beloved’s hands in his.

His mannerisms of holding her hand so tightly desperately want to see her. Kaz coming around like he always did. Scene of the wedding. It all felt so strikingly real. This is perhaps exactly how their wedding would be. This was real. Maybe what happened before all of this was just a terrible terrible dream. Believing that y/n leaned forwarded and kissed her husband to be. Omens he damned. He kissed her back holding her face with his hand and his free arm by her waist securing her tightly in his arms.

Y/n pulled away for a moment to look at him, the setting sun behind her casted light orange hue on her lover’s face and she wanted to be reassured he was here. This was real. This was happening. However the voice said otherwise. It was everyone’s voice all at once.

“You abandoned me! You died…you made promised-you-I loved you..I-I love you! And you aren’t here you died you’ve left me”

“—I’m here aren’t I?”

"If it isn't the wedding bells I hear!"

"That monster of yours you almost married wasn't sabotaging your life?!"

"Manipulated. He manipulated you. You dimwit.”

Every conversation, every dream, everyone’s voices were echoing so loud it shambled the walls of her intoxicated dream. She pulled away from Aleksander sharply and put her hands over her ears to silence everything she wanted to be a bad dream but was reality. Aleksander put his arms around her to support her as she knelt to the ground he crouched down next to her not wanting to leave her side for a moment.

“This…this isn’t real.” Y/n told herself more than she told Aleksander. This isn’t real. It made her want to cry because this actually was her dream, to marry Aleksander and no body is cross with her. Her dream was dying. “This isn’t real-“

“Y/n” he cooed forcing her frantic eyes to look back at him, “look at me my love.” He said and his voice was so full of love and fragility Y/n wanted to cry that this wasn’t real. It was perhaps a stark foreshadowing what her dream would be like in reality, she could be in her wedding dress with her beloved and yet feel like crying. Because that dream would never be hers. “This could be real. It almost was. For a long time it almost was real, wasn’t it? It never occurred to you even four months ago that this couldn’t be, that we couldn’t be. Why now?”

“Aleksander…” she wept in her hands, how was she to explain to her hopeless lover of a conscious which conversed to her in form of Aleksander.

“Do you not want this?” He asked, his eyes scanning every hint of assurance on her face desperately wanting just one answer.

“Yes” she breathed out as tears ran down her face but she knew the ‘but’ after that yes was a big and unavoidable one. However unpleasant it was. “But it’s different now…”

“How is it? How is it any different y/n? Are you not the same woman who’d house a wretched soul that is mine…like you always did? The dreams we share…would you not house it any more?” He asked.

“Yes…yes I—I would Aleksander…” but I simply can’t, not after what you did. Y/n held back from saying because she didn’t want to admit it to herself.

“Then please, be it, be my home, be my solace, I’m out there leading a fight by myself and I always have until you—you. Please fight y/n. Fight for us. Don’t loose hope in us so soon…don’t wash your hands of us. Promise me you won’t?” He asked as he held her hands like the only thing in the world but she did not have anything to say as she stared at him. Eyes so full of hope but it was just the face of her own conscience. She did not have the heart to promise him anything nor did she have the capacity to stomach their love. She…missed him. But she didn’t want to anymore. That idea in itself was painful, very painful.

All that turmoil was over as a bigger one took place, gaining consciousness. Y/n woke up gasping for air as her mouth tasted like the worst thing she’d ever tasted. Familiar faces around her sighed in relief as she coughed her way out of almost death.

—

They got what they were there looking for. The neshyenyer. However y/n just got more frustrated how could her feelings remain so disoriented? She hated how she felt, she hated Aleksander but she wanted to love him to the end of her days but she knew that wasn’t possible anymore. She hated how Kaz still saw her as someone not capable to make rational decisions on her own and she wanted to prove him wrong but she didn’t know where she stood.

Furthermore as they walked out in the barren fields, Kaz tried to talk to y/n for a moment as they were loading the carriage but she dismissed him for later. Perhaps his intoxicated dream was eye opening too but y/n couldn’t handle it at the moment. Torment that her feelings and the dream she just had inflicted heavy upon her.

—

HIIIIIIII god I love this plot SO much at this point I’m just writing for myself😭

Drinker water eat sweets and keep seasonal depression away mfs

Tags: @louderfortheback @sloppyzengarden @mori1b2bpad @zeeader @shitpostrandomness @duchess @serpentthecrow @evalynkillgrave @bwormie

[thawthebeez]

sick and fucking tired of seeing people kagehina-posting to the song I Don't Smoke by Mitski as if any of those lyrics fit them at all. "if you need to be mean be mean to me" and it's always the s2 ep5 fight where hinata is the victim as if that argument was kageyama patronizing hinata and not the two of them having a minor disagreement and hinata ultimately fighting for what he knows is right. "i can take it and put it inside of me" in reference to hinata internalizing any shitty thing that's ever been said to him as if he hasn't been glued to kageyama's side ever since day one when kageyama was calling him a 'klutzy piece of shit' on the regular and not giving a single fuck. "just don't leave me alone wondering where you are" as a form of hinata angst because kageyama went to the world stage, where he definitely won't be found, because his face definitely won't be on the TV screens in restaurants in hinata's new home town because STILL the universe refuses to keep them apart for some fucking reason. hell, if anything that line should be told from kageyama 'i have abandonment issues' tobio's perspective, because at the end of the day HINATA was the one to leave for some foreign country on the other side of the world (but even then, they still most definitely kept contact. like you're crazy if you think that a mere ocean is going to keep them apart). but, yknow, the haikyuu tiktok community just loooooves to demonize tobio any chance they get, because, well, they can't baby the autistic coded character so they gotta make him seem like a horrible person instead! i can't do this anymore .

[lesbicosmos]

masterlist of all my fics i have on ao3!!!

(you guys will never guess who my favourite music artist is based on all my fic titles)

complete works

◻️dead poets society:

so in awe there i stood (anderperry, side chrisginny and mittsie)

oh, your love is sunlight (chrisginny)

she gives me toothaches just from kissin' me (chrisginny)

chrisginny week 2023 fics:

i've got some colour back, she thinks so, too

fell in love with the fire long ago

we'd sit back and watch the world go by

we lay here for years or for hours

something so precious about this

no grave can hold my body down

i'll crawl home to her

chrisginny week 2024 fics:

the one with violets in her lap

◻️good omens:

i'd like for you and i to go romancing (aziracrow, s2 fix it)

we should just kiss like real people do (aziracrow, minor vinylatte, s2 ep5 rewrite)

◻️merlin:

i'd be home with you (morgwen)

you're the king and i'm your lionheart (merthur, post-canon modern day)

the future's so bright, it's burnin' (morgana&merlin, s2 ep3 rewrite, magic reveal)

◻️doctor who:

there's something tragic about you, something so magic about you (thasmin)

◻️supergirl:

hope that you're good to me, baby (supercorp)

◻️dead boy detectives:

it feels real to me now, it felt real to me then (payneland)

just a mirror away (edwiniko being platonic soulmates)

the case of the dead boy daughter (gen, referenced payneland)

the great petname debacle of '24 (payneland)

'cause it was always you, alright (payneland)

where did i go wrong? i lost a friend (edwin & crystal post-niko's death)

73 years (payneland, future fic)

hold me like water or christ, hold me like a knife (payneland)

payneland week 2024 fics:

i could break beneath the weight of the goodness, love, i still carry for you (prompt: language of love/sickfic)

eurydice, darling, just give him your hand (prompt: myths/legends)

nothing in the world belongs to me but my love mine all mine (prompt: love confession/first kiss)

you know the galaxies of my heart (prompt: domestic au)

fear is the heart of love (prompt: canon divergence)

through your eyes i see a smile you bring to me (prompt: free day)

i could find you darlin', in any life (prompt: soulmate au)

palasaki week 2024 fics:

found the place to rest my head (never let me go) (prompt: sickfic)

i'd be home with you (prompt: fondness)

the way i love the ocean (prompt: AU)

minds are unlocked, this feeling is amazing (prompt: physical intimacy)

deadboyween 2024 fics:

even upside down, it's beautiful somehow (prompt: comfort)

and it feels good to be known so well (prompt: orbs)

ongoing works

◻️good omens:

ineffable slice of life - ongoing oneshot series:

the one with the cold christmas (aziracrow)

the one with the halloween party (brief aziracrow, vinylatte and anathema/newt)

◻️merlin:

everything you've done... i know now. (merthur, arthur in avalon, arthur returns)

◻️dead boy detectives:

operation sapphic detectives (palasaki, sequel to cause it was always you, alright)

heard the voices and caught my breath, so close and yet so far from death (niko & edwin, found family, post-canon)

[idontwikeit]

they really went and both white saviored the shit out of lestat and absolved him for his role in claudia's death in one go. the racist fans really did get what they wanted (and a much evil-er brown man on top)

First I have to say sorry for all the potential english error I'm not as well articulated, I'm drowsy from meds, not my first language etc and it's been so long since I write any sort of paragraph length things that sadly are not work emails

So I have been giving it some thought during rewatches, and I can see what you mean by they white saviored lestat and absolved him for the role he played in claudia's death, but I feel like this doesn't necessarily apply as on the whole. Lestat was still abusive, the relationship was still toxic (acknowledged by cast), even in the 1st half, Louis addressed it (Why you rehearsed a play that would burn your daughter alive? Why you crossed an ocean to rehearse a play that would burn your daughter alive?). But again, I'm not as well-read to expand on the white savior trope subject, if anyone would like to correct me please do.

As for when Louis said “it’s not on you”, it is strange and at first watch, I did go wtf but in my rewatches, I can see why since it’s not out of character for Louis to say so. He did, in fact, let Lestat back in, after ep5 dv him choking Claudia and almost killing Louis, and the cheating. Just as s1ep7 Claudia said, "You spend an hour with him and you’re breathing in sync together". Louis absolving Lestat’s role in Claudia's death, just as him absolving Armand's role in Claudia's death (before he knew Armand was going let the coven to kill him too I guess), and accepting what Lestat did to him ("I didn't know it was a gift"), is his way for him to move on from his grief.

Whether we as audience choose to accept it is another thing, I feel like there is an insistence of the complicity from earlier episodes but they failed to link everything up.

I think ultimately what I dislike amounted to poor execution on screen for 1) having to start laying ground for s3 with lestat as the centerpiece and 2) having to let Louis free himself from the past and from the two relationship he had, in an already immensely packed episode. The one-go, as you said, is too jarring. And I love how dre (@/gayvampiredivorce), it doesn't feel as "earned".

And building off sasha (@/hermit-frog)'s meta post and what we talked about in dm, I won't say he's "much evil-er", it does align with his past actions, at least after rewatching 3 times to try and see from his angle (coz mygod so many points really they just let it go unanswered). Him adhering to the great laws, him following the rituals and rules by the coven and the role assigned by the coven, the insistence of a curfew etc. Also him having no concept of love ("does he know what love is" by assad) and thus cannot trust it and thus making the choice.

Also ultimately i think with coven and louis, I think Armand always goes for the option that will provide destruction of the other: when the coven gave him the choice, one is with the supposed guarantee of destruction of Claudia and Louis (eliminating the uncontrollable factors that threatened the ritualistic pattern of his life), another is the mutual existence of coven and louis (which I think in Armand's belief, will not be possible, just like lestat and his previous coven), so he chose coven; when louis was freed as Armand cannot stand it (as reasoned in sasha's meta post) and made him choose again (informing the coven or not), the coven can no longer offer a clear role for him to play a part it is the destruction of coven, so he chose Louis. I don't think he can handle two paths at once to choose from.

(But same with ep3, he was going to kill Louis until the very last minute, his impulsiveness of wanting to have the love Louis had for Claudia is what stopped him there. For me at least, I don't think Armand was going to let coven kill Louis, but I also don't think Armand knows what he would do until the moment arrives. And he would never know with now Lestat "saving" Louis.)

And so I feel like again, it is the poor execution of the show writing. If the fight between Louis and Armand is longer which we only had not even a glimpse of and only heard, I think we can see more from his side of the story. calling armand as a much eviler brown man I feel like will be a disservice to assad's acting

if anyone more articulated than me wish to talk about this, please do

[starplusfourletters]

Random takes on ahsoka ep 5

Okay actually spoilers this time

Thesis statement: Ep5 was absolutely ridiculous and I loved every second of it

For those wondering what it would look like if the peak of Zirakzigil and King’s Cross smashed into each other at a thousand miles an hour…

YASSSSS THIS IS THE ANGST CONTENT I SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED. I’m not even gonna think about it for a minute just gonna sit here and wallow

Ohhhh he’s got the early season CW armor on he’s just a little guy <3

[Referring to the Teensoka section] Man I was emotionally prepared to hate whatever this was gonna be but I really liked it. Like, multiple different character beats that all hit really well. Nice job guys.

When you’re 45 and just learning what intergenerational trauma is. Better late than never

Why is S7 Teensoka so short. I just think Ahsoka from ~S7 onward should be freakishly tall and yes I know Rosario Dawson isn’t super tall but let me have this

I guess there’s an argument to be made that all Ahsoka character beats get executed multiple times (lookin’ at you, Vader reveal) but guys. Guyyyyyyyys. How many times can she go swimming and then return as Gandalf the Orange because I’m counting three now (I feel like world between worlds and rebels finale are separate level-ups, but if you see them as one beat I’d throw Mortis into the mix). Admittedly part of that might be that I’ve been taking post-Rebels S2 Sith Temple Baptism as canon and I guess not everyone watching this show became completely feral in May 2016

This is totally unrelated but omigod those were Topps cards? The makers of Dinosaurs Attack? Universes are colliding for me rn

Huh we’ve never seen how her face and her montrals meet up before. And… I’m not sure I like it. Put the headband back on

Yeah I know we all knew the white robe was coming but Dave. Dave this is a lot. Like she has white gloves now? And white boots?? ([Channels Bojack Horseman] Do you get it? Do you get my joke?)

Also possibly unpopular opinion but I’m just sayin’ white isn’t her color. The combo with her montrals just makes her look washed out.

Alternative hypothesis: the white clothing is the spare outfit she hates but hasn’t gotten around to getting rid of yet and the grays are coming back as soon as they’re out of the drier

Alternative alternative hypothesis: Seatos’ ocean is 0.1% bleach.

Oh sweet baby Space Jesus she can do psychometry now. She hit level 20 at Malachor and just kept taking levels anyway. My blorbo is op and I can’t even be mad

I’m not even gonna touch “surviving without oxygen for several hours without even intentionally meditating”

Suddenly realized we’re more than halfway thru this show and we haven’t seen Thrawn and we still don’t have any substantial information about the Dark Jedi so like… who is the villain? Is it intergenerational trauma? Please tell me it’s intergenerational trauma

Why do space whales have baleen? Oh to filter feed on midichlorians. Never mind I retract my question

Aaaand Filoni just hit “Jonah” on his Biblical Hero Dartboard

So you wasted billions of dollars on this technology when you could have just asked a whale nicely? How embarrassing.

Come to think of it tho why didn’t Ezra just take a whale BACK? Then again if I start thinking too much about this it’s just gonna devolve into “How Rebels Should Have Ended”

[blueiight]

btw antoinette was not turned yet in the scene where louis & claudia find her in the hotel, she's still asking lestat for it when she says promises have been made and her eyes/nails are normal (plus missing a finger). sam said he decided to turn her after that cause he knew claudia and louis were outside and i guess he didn't get what he wanted out of that stunt, which honestly confuses me like idk what he wanted from louis at that point and i get why ppl get mixed up about when antoinette was turned. the loustat sex scene w/ claudia plotting the escape after are probably convos antoinette heard and relayed to lestat though?

good looks for recalling the order of scenes. i think what lestat wanted out of bringing antoinette’s cut off finger was to bring himself back into louis& claudia life. lestat knows he violated the patriarchal pact of chauvinist performative protectiveness (going from “if any disrespect was done to you, id kill him myself” in ep2 to beating the brakes off louis in ep5). abusers will pump fake vulnerability to try to bring the people they abused back into their fold. mentions of his own trauma & how he was turned is showing his vulnerability to louis (deflecting, guilt tripping the person even by bringing up past events to excuse ur present actions) n he prolly thinking not to mention i EVEN cut off the finger of my side piece & gave u her ring(that i prolly bought her myself). woopty woo. my mind. forget about what i did& lemme be daddy again. claudia���s an adult u say, louiii? pshh 33 years is a drop in the ocean to a vampire~~ then turned antoinette cuz he knows claudia too well, n saw antoinette’s new purpose as a means to get past claudia’s 04 pistons defense. it make sense to me if thats how it went in that order according to sam. & not to cop pleas for generic honkey #45 but antoinette is an unwed woman from a couple states over whos lost her job since the azalea burned down. not too many opportunities for an unwed middle aged white woman in them days. its too easy for a regular dude let alone someone like lestat to swoop on in and manipulate/seduce her w all typa fantasies (esp w his vampire mind gift). u dont like this current life of living in a shithole across the river? well i can give u ~~eternal life~~

[murfpersonalblog]

The Wake - my IWTV dream last night

I had an AU dream about IWTV and had to write it down.

In my dream, AMC's Louis and Lestat are married with 3 children (ABO/mpreg for life), but are currently seriously considering divorcing--Lestat's cheating, and Louis' more married to his job (a book editor who works nights remotely). Claudia, Madeleine/Madeline & Viktor are just kids (14, 10 and 6), caught in the middle--Claud wants to stay w/ Louis, Madeline* wants to stay w/ Claud, Vik* doesn't want them to split at all.

*10 yr old Madeline resembles a much younger Bailey Bass, but with bluer eyes cuz of Lestat, and darker skin cuz of Louis. *Vik is Lestat's mini-me, just with curlier hair.

Gabrielle babysits the kids when Loustat's fights get too nasty, but she hates babysitting, and even though she doesn't get along w/ Louis, sometimes she gangs up on Lestat with Lou ("ugh, you're just like your father!"). It's a whole mess. Where do we go from here?

Gabby recommends they all take a break at their tropical vacation home on Night Island (ofc she does). But one night, in the middle of a(nother) particularly bad argument that the kids are unfortunately there to witness, there's a bad storm--lightning, power goes out, etc. In all the ruckus, there's suddenly banging on the back patio door facing the stormy ocean, the front door by the main road, and the basement door in the wine cellar.

Les checks the entrance, Lou checks the back, Gab checks the basement. The kids hide in their rooms.

Lou sees someone unconscious on the beach, about to get sucked into the water by the waves. It's "Lestat," dressed in ancient clothes. Running up to him from the side is a frantic "Louis," also dressed in ancient clothes (1700s*--the Ep7 ball blouses), soaking wet. He's speaking rapid French, looking for the owners of the house, cuz his "Lestat" is unconscious, and 1700s!Lou has no idea where they are--their ship to Paris sank.

*1700s!Loustat is still the AMC 2022 version, cuz I have no interest in the book/film Loustats anymore, ick.

Les sees someone (a corpse!?) unconscious & bleeding in their driveway, with several broken limbs. It's "Louis," dressed in vintage clothes. A blubbering "Lestat," also dressed in vintage (1930s--all black from Ep5), is on the front porch. He's crying heavily, face bloody. He had taken Louis flying over NOLA but dropped him, and they somehow landed here.

It's a whole isekai anime, pretty much. Everyone's struck dumb once they realize they're looking at their doppelgangers, while their spouse lies "dead" before them. They need to all get in the house. The 2 Lous carry "Les" in from the water, and the 2 Lestats carry "Lou" in from the front porch.

But inside, the kids' screaming suddenly seems to have doubled, and Gab's cussing up a storm. There's another "Gab," dressed in muddy 1700s hunter's gear, catfighting modern!Gab & tearing up the basement. And there's 2 sets of kids running around scared of each other (1700s "Claudia" is 5, 1700s "Madeleine" is 21ish, and 1990s/2000s "Viktor" is 18ish--they all look like younger/older versions of the modern kids).

The chaos doesn't stop until everyone notices the half drowned "Les" & bleeding "Lou," and the confusion/panic increases.

There are 3 Lous:

modern!Lou (online book editor; looks like Dubai!Louis btw)

1700sLou (was on a ship to Paris with drowned/swamp!Les)

1930sLou (Ep5 broken & bloody, after 1930sLes dropped him)

There are 3 Lestats:

modern!Les (cheating; former rockstar; music producer)

1700sLes (drowned/swamp!Les; was on a ship to Paris)

1930sLes (guilty after having dropped broken!Lou in NOLA)

There are 2 Gabrielles:

mod!Gab (old money paleo-archaeologist)

1700sGab (old money adventurer)

There are 2 sets of kids:

Claudia (14 & 5)

Madeline (10 & 21)

Viktor (6 & 18)

The Gabs are the first to recover--mod!Gab performs CPR on drowned/swamp!Les, and the 2 awake Lous corral the kids away. 1700sGab sets broken!Lou on the floor and rearranges his limbs, while the 2 awake Lestats start pouring blood on his wounds.

The unconscious Les & Lou are still out cold, but are visibly healing. Everyone hovers around awkwardly, not knowing what else to do but wait, like they're sitting at a funeral wake almost. Everyone's clearly got burning questions.

1700sGab is distraught to see HER 1700sLes out cold, but 1700sLou doesn't know who she is. But he knows 5 yr old Claud & 21 year old Mad, and they know him.

1930sLes is the most horrified--he's seeing double of his mom, whom he hasn't seen in "centuries," and he recoils from 14yr old Claud. He doesn't know the other kids at all. He is stunned by sexy & confident modern!Lou, and pities 1700sLou, who is hella sad & weepy. (Modern!Lestat tells him to keep his eyes on his own Louis--which modern!Louis finds HIGHLY ironic.)

No one knows "Vik," but he recognizes his 6yr old self, and mod!Loustat as his dads. He doesn't know his sisters, and they don't know him, but they know each other.

They all have the same questions for each other, but don't get very far that night, as emotions take over, and everyone's confused as to how they all got there, from obviously very different time periods. But the sun is rising. The doppelganger Loustats are shocked by all the modern fixtures, and ESPECIALLY the UV windows. The modern Loustat are used to being up during the day, but the older ones aren't--1930s Les, 1990sVik, and 1700sGab are the only ones who can stay up just fine (they're strong, and more curious than tired), but all the other doubles are tired. The broken Lou & comatose Les are sheltered in spare coffins in the basement (which the chagrined Gabs offer to clean). The modern!Sisters double up in mod!Claud's room so the doppelganger!Sisters can share mod!Mad's room. 1700sLou is given the guest room so he can cry himself to sleep. 1930s Les, 1990sVik, and 1700sGab are all fine on the pullout couches in the den.

This is where my dream got spotty, and it was skipping around a lot as it kept going, like I was seeing scenes out of order. (It actually felt like episodes of The Real World or some other reality tv show--it went from suspense & drama and creeping me out like the Tethered in Us; to actually making me laugh myself awake right when I got the sense that the different Loustats were attracted to each other. O_O)

It's been bothering me how AMC said the show will still be called IWTV, not VC, cuz the big question's who's gonna keep doing the interviews? How will the interviews play out for TV, rather than in the books?

But basically the jist of my dream was that the "Interview" was amongst themselves, as the vampires all tried to figure out what had gone wrong with all of the Loustats' relationship. The most immediate concern was how the injured Lou & Les ended up that way--and it's quickly apparent that their corresponding spouses are lying/hiding things. 1930sLes was way too withholding, and 1700sLou was so emotional & guilty.

Modern!Loustat's impending divorce is mirrored in the other Loustat's issues, which start slowly coming to the fore, as they all realize that all of their relationships hadn't been great for awhile, and the kids are caught in the middle. The Gabs slowly start speaking up, revealing the part they've been playing; how Lestat's neglect of his kids & husband reflects her own bad marriage to his father, and her neglecting her own kids. Gab and Lou are too similar, and history is just repeating itself.

The ones who are most candid end up being the kids--the fact that the kids know SOME of the Loustats or siblings but not others is very telling. 1930s'Les' bad reaction to 14yr old mod!Claud is troubling, and the fact that he's so unprepared to see his mom(s), and has NO idea who the other kids are. 5yr old Claud's reaction to ALL of the Lestats is the worst, but she loves all the Lous. 21!Madeline is the most cool & collected, very detached, and clings more to bb!Claud, as Madeline isn't too comfortable around ANY of the Loustats. 18!Vik is the oddest one of all. He's the spitting image of the Leses, but no one knows him. But he seems to catch on the quickest out of everyone, like he knows/suspects what's going on, but he's very quiet & patient & sticks mostly to himself. He's most interested in bb!Vik, who's excited to have a big brother he can show off all his toys & comics to (Vik is quickly spoiled on a few plots--the most upset he's seemed to date).

It's only once the injured 1700s!Les & 1930s!Lou finally wake up that the truth starts coming out more:

1700s!Les had actually been chasing after 1700s!Lou, who'd run off with the girls to Paris. They were afraid of Les, cuz he was practically criminally insane--sick and sadistic, mean to Lou and the girls, a complete sociopath and psychopath. He was masking his fear that they'd leave him in extreme acts that only made them more desperate to leave than ever. 1700s!Loustat came to physical blows on the ship, and 5!Claud got between them and knocked Les overboard to get him away from Lou. But Lou jumped after Les, Claud accidentally(??) fell overboard (she's hard to read), and Mad jumped after Claud. Loustat & the girls magically washed ashore at the house.

1930s!Lou was indeed dropped from the sky--but Les did it intentionally. He had tried to wine & dine an increasingly disassocative Lou, who was depressed after their own 14!Claud had run away and been killed by another vamp (Bruce?Armand?). Les took Lou up into the air to try and be romantic, but they ended up arguing over Claud anyway. It got NASTY, and Lou spat "I hate you, let go of me!" Petty & vindictive, Les dropped him, and soon regretted it, but when he flew back down they were isekai'd.

18!Vik finally pipes up that he was sent to them by the Talamasca. He comes from a different dimension/time than book!Viktor. Dr Fareed still created Vik as Lestat's clone, but this Vik HATES that he grew to be an adult never knowing his father(s). He asked the Talamasca to help him find a way to make it so Les never missed out on Vik's childhood, and was never separated from Louis either. So the Talamasca sent Vik to this dimension, where he soon realizes that bb!Vik would end up raised in a broken home (mod!Loustat), or not be born at all (1700s/1930s Loustat) if Loustat didn't realize that they are a family, genuinely love each other, and that they need to learn to communicate better--not get into petty arguments, fisticuffs, or leave when things get hard.

So all three Loustats learn the error of their ways. No one divorces, amends are made between parents and children. They all go back to their proper timelines, but as better people. And 18!Vik is happy to know that even though he missed out on knowing his parents as a kid, he has eternity to get to know them now, and that at least Loustat in his timeline managed to figure all this stuff out without him, before dragging anymore of their kids into their mess. So Vik learned to appreciate what he already had; and everyone lives happily ever after.

Good for them and all--but I'm still sleep deprived.

[gunsatthaphan]

“I was wrong. I’m sorry. Please come back to me.”

[ofmdficlibrary]

Pining Izzy Fic Recs

Ahoy, mateys! As has recently been confirmed by showrunner David Jenkins in an interview, Izzy Hands is deeply in love with his captain. Themes of pining and unrequited love have been explored from Izzy’s POV in quite a few fanfics in our fandom so far, so today we are shining a spotlight on five of them below:

Fool's Errand by CommanderTeatime | 5k Rating: T Warnings: Graphic Violence Major Tags: Pining, Unrequited Love, Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Sickfic, Referenced Self-Harm Summary: Following the disappearance of Stede Bonnet, Blackbeard throws himself headfirst into Izzy's perception of who he's supposed to be, even if it comes at great detriment to himself and their meager crew. Narrowly escaping death at the point of a Spanish sword and twin frigates, Izzy finds himself trying to save his delirious captain from infection. Israel Hands realizes he's been in love with the man ever since they met as privateers years ago.

storm chaser by maderilien | 4k Rating: T Warnings: None Major Tags: Unrequited Love, Pining, Jealousy, Character Study, Introspection Summary: Rationally, Izzy Hands knows there is a chance his captain might die in battle one day, but he never expected to lose him like this.

give me back my heart, you wingless thing by BloomsOfWinter | 1k Rating: M Warnings: None Major Tags: Unrequited Love, Pining, Implied Sexual Content Summary: Israel Hands has always known the cold metal taste of blood in his mouth from all the biting of his tongue. Devotion is his curse. [Spoilers for ep5.]

He Loves Me (Not) by anysin | 400 Rating: T Warnings: None Major Tags: Unrequited Love, Hanahaki Disease, Pre-Canon, Angst Summary: Izzy coughs up sea grass, as he always does, over Blackbeard.

Lying in the Ocean Singing Your Song by jessclare | 3k Rating: T Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Major Tags: Unrequited Love, Post Season 1, Angst Summary: Izzy loves Blackbeard. Ed loves Stede. Blackbeard doesn't love anyone.

[ilguna]

S1 ep5 of me rating shit from the hunger games!

Todays episode will be Finnick Odair’s outfits across the movies since he’s been cursed with Straight Man Fashion Taste

4/10 solely because the sweater isn’t all that bad. It’s the fucking ocean shorts that ruin it. Did this man pick it out of the mud or has he shit his pants so many times that it stained? The world may never know.

6/10 because of the teal tights. The movie really didn’t do the chariot outfits justice. Is the skirt breezy? Is that why the tights were needed?

First training outfit receives a 5/10. It’s pretty bland. Second training outfit is an 8/10 because he looks hot and I don’t need to justify why. Might have something to do with the jacket. Idk

Like a 3/10. What the fuck?? They had me until the skirt-shorts that are being held up by the belt. I don’t! Understand! Why couldn’t they dress him normally???? Is this to prove he looks hot in anything he wears??? Who gave the directors this creative freedom??

8/10 Finnick is looking hot. Loving the thumb holes. It’s a practical wetsuit, better than what the books had wanted tbh. Missing the plastic purple belt tho. Currently wondering how his mullet disappeared in the span of like 12 hours but okay.

Um. So this is the hovercraft outfit after they’re rescued. Like a 2/10 because why is he wearing a trench coat?? In the movie it looks like an actual robe but this isn’t right. All he’s missing a witches hat and cauldron. And maybe a broom.

6/10 because it’s a hospital gown, what do you expect? But also take a look at those feet for me. Are you looking real close? “Oh his socks?”

No. Those aren’t socks.

Well.

Last one for now. I’m thinking a solid 1/10. Maybe a 1.5 for effort. I’m hating everything tbh. So let’s get this right.

He’s wearing a jacket, over a jacket, over a shirt. And then he’s wearing pants, and decided that a nice skirt would go great with that. And to top it off, the cowboy shoes.

I’m. I’ve had enough.

[rocinawanda]

The Expanse Season 2 Thoughts!

WHEW. What a season finale that was. What a season this was. People were right they definitely stepped it up even higher from season 1.

First of all to go back and recap earlier episodes because they have to be mentioned! I viewed every episode until ep5 as a continuation of season one because thats what it was. Insanity! The chase of Eros station, the power of the protomolecule, Miller and Julie, the crash onto Venus. wow. So much has happened since, its almost crazy to me to remember that was all included in this season at the beginning. 205 was definitely the Real finale. Not to discredit the finale of season 1 but when I heard they didn’t get as many episodes as they wanted 205 is obviously what would truly have been the finale and what an incredible piece of television. 10/10.

From there season two slowed down a bit, as it rightfully should’ve because episodes 203-05 were hyper paced. But they built up to the ‘battle’ ahem slaughter on Ganymede station which I kinda wish we saw but Bobbie survived long enough for Mars to force her to be their lying spokesperson. But hey, she got to see the ocean!

I loved that they showed that ‘Future Earth’ still has problems that we can even relate too today somewhat. Like oh, the compulsory societal requirement to work to survive no longer exists so Earthers are seen as lazy because most don’t work. But its not that they don’t want to, there just aren’t enough opportunities out there for everyone. So that 52 year old guy waiting since he was 17 to be a doctor, sorry, no need for any more right now.

But then we also got to the end, Bobbie defecting to Earth as an asylum seeker, (reminded me so much of Juliana running from the Kempeitai and kneeling at the Nazi Embassy border for asylum in ‘The Man in the High Castle’, I got giddy). She’s now Chrisjen’s bodyguard? I am on board! That last save was incredible. I worry for Chrisjen every season so far and it has only just gotten worse.

Onto the Rocinante crew, this whole season they’re risking their lives, playing hero, terrifying me and making me cry. Jim is losing it, a little bit? Maybe a slight power trip towards the end of the season which Alex helped bring him out of. Even Naomi taking more risks than I thought she would. But I understand it as after Eros, they have specific priorities now. Naomi just wants to save more people from dying no matter the circumstance. Jim is terrified of another proto-m catastrophe happening so his focus is on destroying any remaining remnants of it.

Amos, my boy, has been trying to make decisions for himself lately even if it means defying what Naomi says and I’m glad he is but it hurt seeing him so lost at times this season and wondering if he’s doing the right thing, being a good person or on the right side. May it get easier for him next season, please.

Lastly, war is coming. No doubt about it. Naomi gave Fred Johnson their sample of proto-m and whew now everybody has some. Unsure if they’ll try to take it back as he said the Rocinante isn’t welcome on Tycho anymore. Also, I just had a bad thought that he may use it as a bargaining chip to stay in power on Tycho as he only narrowly escaped a coup and the mormons are suing him.

Oh! I almost forgot. Venus. Proto-m infected Venus is currently home to a lot of protomolecule which is manifesting into something else. It took that Martian ship and the U.N research ship apart easily. I’m assuming that will have a large impact on what happens next season.

[vulpineechoes]

in ep5 “The Hattifattener’s Secrets”, they find a wooden lady in the ocean and Moomin has a moment of blushu blushu bc pretty lady

a bit later him and Snorkmaiden joins the others and Snufkin asks where they were, and Snorkmaiden exposes Moomin and says that he’s in love with the wooden lady

and Snufkin’s one word response (different versions of “Really?”) to that is.....funnier than it should be when you compare the different dubs:

English: very amused voice, sounds like he’s about to start laughing

Swedish & Finnish: very bored voice, could not care less

Norwegian: slightly confused/curious voice

Spanish: mostly just a chuckle

Japanese: radiates jealousy, you can hear the frown

and Snufkin’s next line is smth like “Now that you’re here, please help me with this” in the other languages, except Japanese where he literally says “Talk about that later” (when he’s not around to hear it)

[cassatine]

In which i look at known instances of the Commission fucking up with time, because.

Early 1430s, Gutenberg’s press

[EP6] “Gutenberg seems to be having second thoughts about the printing press,” the Handler to Gene

Gutenberg’s movable type printing press was first attested in a 1439 lawsuit, but he would have started working on it around 1436, so we can probably put the Commission’s intervention in the first half of the 1430s. This is a big one, not because Gutenberg invented printing (woodblock printing presses already existed in Europe, and East Asia had movable type) but because his press spread fast in Europe and beyond, especially once mechanized, and as far as impact on history goes, it’s... hard to beat. See [here] for a quick overview.

1902, Manila

[EP5] “Last thing we need’s a tail. Manila 1902?,” Hazel to Cha Cha

Might be related to the Philippine-American War / the handing out of the Philippines from Spain the U.S, or something completely different. 

1914-18, Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand + WWI

[EP6] “And that’s how Phil determined the Archduke just had to go,” the Handler to Five.

[EP5]:

Not much to explain here. Irl Gavrilo Princip shot the Archduke, and it was a politically motivated military conspiracy, but the important bit is it was the trigger event of WWI. 

1915, Sinking the Lusitania

[EP6] “How long have you been on the Lusitania,” the Handler to Herb.

Another pretty obvious reference, this time to the sinking of british ocean liner RMS Lusitania by then-Nazi Germany in 1915. The ship was carrying war munitions (some officially, some not) and was technically listed as an auxiliary war ship, but it was also unarmed and transporting civilians, including 139 U.S. nationals, 128 of which died in the sinking (among a lot of other people). The event played an important role in shifting public opinion in the U.S. wrt intervention in the war as well as, ultimately, the actual entrance of the U.S. in WWI in 1917.

1937, The Hindenburg 

[EP6] “It’s too bad Joseph Späh decided against sabotaging the fuel tank,” the Handler to Five.

A reference to one of the early [sabotage hypotheses]. Later in the episode, Five’s how-to-destroy-the-Hindenburg plan is given, and it’s nicely complicated excepted by then we’ve already seen this:

[EP5]:

The second photograph is [quite recognizable], so... two possible explanations:

The EP5 white and black flashbacks are symbolic to some degree.

Since the Commission seems to work on cases from everywhere and everywhen at the same time, it’s possible they have to deal with the ramifications of the changes they made in the timeline themselves. Or something.

The point of that mission was probably to put an end to zeppelin development: the crash in the U.S. of the Hindenburg, a German zeppelin, was massively covered and is widely recognized as having destroyed public trust in zeppelins, pretty much killing the golden age of zeps in its infancy. A timeline without the Hindenburg disaster would have been a pretty big departure from ours.

Late 1940s-53, Stalin’s death

[EP5]:

Here we have a sort sequence of Stalin giving a speech, followed by something that seems to be [the actual procession of Stalin’s coffin] that followed his death (from natural causes, definitely no assassination in the middle of a speech) in 1953.

So two options :

Another more or less complicated chain of events in the style of Five’s plan for the Hindenburg (the white and black flashbacks from EP5 being symbolic to some degree)

In the show’s timeline Stalin was actually shot during a speech. No idea what year the speech sequence is from, but there’s quite a bit of gray so idk I’d put it post-WWII, late 40s maybe, so not that far from his actual death, and during the Cold War, which would make for a decent alt-hist splinter event that can be tied to The State of Technology in the show: a somewhat different Cold War, different developments with ramifications worldwide, something something. The Vietnam War does happen (1955-1975), although [it doesn’t quite fit with reality], so the timeline has to remain close enough to ours. 

1963, Assassination of JFK

[EP5]

Five’s presence fits pretty well with the conspiracy theories built around the presence of a second, never found, gunman, though he doesn’t actually interfere in the JFK sequence. Kennedy gets shot nonetheless, which might be due to another Commission operative or, as actually happened, to Lee Harvey Oswald. Impact-wise, what followed was Johnson winning the 1964 election, and what followed that and Johnson’s policies was a conservative backlash which the U.S. (and also like, the world) are still riding. Big shit again.

London ‘66

[EP2] “You gotta tell me how you did the London job in ‘66.” Cha Cha to not-actually-Five

Two contenders that I can see here:

The death of Edward the Confessor (January 1066, London), which started the Norman Conquest because he’d been kind of indecisive wrt his succession. The Conquest is a big date in brit hist, but there’s some [dispute] around aspects of its impact.

The five days long Great Fire of London (1666). A huge disaster for London (and Londoners; the number of ‘recorded deaths’ is low but the actual death toll of the fire and its consequences isn’t known).

Others

[EP4]

No recognizable historical figures that I could spot among Hazel and Cha Cha’s ghosts, which would have been a fun detail. There’s some variety in the ghosts’ clothes and ethnicities, although most of the clothing looks to be from the modern era. Zoya Popova is Russian, mandarin and farsi are spoken, Juan Mueller died in the Swiss Alps, and there are references to jobs in

Tokyo (“The kid in Tokyo, did he really get lost?,” Cha Cha to Hazel)

Trinidad (“Remember Trinidad? We worked [tortured] that guy solid for what? Two days, two nights?,” Cha Cha to Hazel). Which Trinidad isn’t specified.

[EP6]

The Handler says her weapon collection (a pen huo qi chinese flamethrower, M26 grenades from the Vietnam War, the Walther pistol Hitler used to kill himself, and a weird-ass helmet among others) was amassed during her ‘travels’, which may or may not be a euphemism for Commission missions.

Also worth noting that the Commission has it QG in 1955.

[EP9] “That job you did in Calhoun, that shit’s legendary” Hazel to Five

No idea. There’s a bunch of Calhoun and I haven’t found anything significant, which isn’t helped by the prominence of John C. Calhoun in search results.

And that’s about all I caught.

[quell-tea-salon]

THE IDOLM@STER SideM 3rdLIVE TOUR - GLORIOUS ST@GE Fukuoka (2018/3/25) event report

Cast: S.E.M, Cafe Parade, THE Kogado, Legenders, Mofumofuen, Beit (Pierre and Minori only; Kyoji (Ume-chan) was at Anime Japan).

This is going to be long and messy and full of CAPS. Cast members are referred to by their nicknames. The set list, if you don’t mind spoilers.

Where do I start? My heart is so full.

My day started like this: I was exhausted even before the concert because I had been in the queue for the merchandise booths for FIVE HOURS since 8:30am. There was SO many people, and no doubt many, like me, had traveled interstate or even from overseas. As Fukuoka’s concert was the only one held in West Japan I think that many fans from this side of the country would make the effort to come even if they didn’t have a ticket for the concert (anyone could visit the merch booths and there were cinemas nearby showing the live-viewing). Anyway, I was planning to buy the rubber wrist bands but they all sold out within the first hour. I had to keep changing my shopping list while checking twitter updates about stuff that had sold out, and by the time I reached the booths pretty much everything that I wanted was gone, save the official pamphlet and Fukuoka limited edition charm (in pic above). I’ve attended events before so I should have known what to expect, but I was still shaking my head in disbelief ^p^ On the bright side I made friends with the person who was in line next to me (a BeitP!) and after we were finally done with the booths we barely had time to grab lunch before the show started.

There was another long (but thankfully fast-moving) queue to enter the concert hall as staff did ID checks, then yet another line for the bathroom. By the time I made it back to my seat, it was 6 minutes to start time OTL Unfortunately I didn’t have much luck with seating this time; I was two thirds down the back of the hall and could barely see the ground level of the stage. ...And of course there was a tall dude a few rows in front of me blocking my view of the middle of the stage >_> I had to keep reminding myself that I was lucky just to be there. (Sitting in the back rows isn’t all bad though; more on that later.)

The show kicked off with the standard sponsors and messages from Yamamura on the main screen. Then the lights dimmed and the whole cast appeared on stage to perform Reason!! It took a while for it to set in that I was actually physically present at a concert and not watching a live-viewing T_T For today’s concert Totto (Hazama-sensei) covered Shugon’s (Teru) solo parts in the song. Later he introduced himself as the MC for today! While I was happy for him tbh I was also a little worried bc Totto can be fuwafuwa (fluffy.... if you get my drift), but I knew Yoshiki would support him. Thankfully Totto was a decent if mostly absent (lol) host, and even Enokiya, usually a salty tsundere, was surprisingly serious for the most part *Maita P’s everywhere clutching their chests* Furukawa and Shohei both said that they were happy to be here as Fukuoka/Kyuushu is their hometown. They both spoke a few lines (in-character) in the local dialects :D During Legenders’ turn Kasama-san shared a cute story about Fuumin - apparently it was Fuumin’s first time on a plane and after landing his ears felt weird so he said “I think I left my ears in the sky!” which Kasama-san thought was such a cute thing to say wwwwwwww Fuumin turned bright red... Koma-chan was just happy to be near the ocean ww (the convention hall was right along the water).

After the intro talk the lights dimmed again and as soon as we heard taiko drum beats we quickly set our pen lights to fluro pink - it was From Teacher to Future! S.E.M appeared in the ouendan cheer outfits and recited the lines from ep5 (as per Makuhari day 2) before striking the Pose of Passion as the crowd cheered :D Again, they shed the ouendan coats before singing. This time Cafepa were the background cheerleaders!! (Later, Enokiya said that he felt whoever was behind him (Asselin iirc) hit him with their pompom a couple of times ww)

Next was Mofumofuen with Welcome Happy Kira Park! THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST SONGS TO DO CALLS WITH! It was sooo much fun and there were all so adorable T_T To this day I’m still in awe of Yano every time Nao’s voice comes out of his mouth lmao

Cafepa was up next with Cafe Parade! As a fan of Furukawa I was excited to finally get to see him live and he didn’t disappoint. Idk why but today he cranked up the seduction to 100 and his Asselin was.. ajfh;ajfk;ahk;s Asselin u ok why are you dripping sex appeal.......... this is not the Asselin that i know... Also i was wearing concert earplugs (bought a pair after realising that attending so many concerts was gradually damaging my ears; didn’t help that Japan’s concerts are RIDICULOUSLY LOUD) but I could still feel his insane vibrato through the ear plugs O______O But I digress. Cafepa are always rly fun to watch on stage as their performances tend to be dramatic and have a musical flair.

Legenders - Symphonic Brave. I was shaking bc MY OCEAN BOYS!!! It’s my least fave Legenders song but I’ve gradually warmed up to it after watching them perform it on LV a few times, and i rly do love the vocals. Combined with the visuals on the monitor this song makes you feel like you’re soaring through the sky and that anything is possible... Sadly Koma-chan wasn’t performing well today (I briefly wondered if he had a cold or something bc his voice was rly weak in both volume and control), but Kasama-san and Fuumin were amazing! I love the use of mic stands in this song T_T

Kogado - Tsuyoku Toutoki Kemonotachi. Each time they perform this song they do a brand new fight sequence during the bridge; usually Shohei is the one who comes up with the moves (with help from the dance instructors) but for Fukuoka, all three Kogado members worked together and performed a badass fight scene complete with explosive sound effects www

For the next song, a grand staircase decorated with red carpet unfolded on the main screen and Pierre appeared on the upper level of the stage. Mahou no Stair!!! (Yes!!!!!! We knew that Pierre and Minori were definitely singing their solos since they were unlikely to do any Beit songs without Kyoji, and it also happened to be the last day for Beit in the tour.) As Pierre made his way down the stairs towards the lower level of the stage, the steps lit up in red, mimicking the red carpet, while the staircase on screen shifted so it looked like Horieru was a prince gracefully descending upon the ballroom to join us for a dance ;______; Tbh I’m not fond of Pierre’s solo as it sounds rather flat (a pity considering Pierre has such a cute genki voice) but he was super cute and princely and melted every heart in the vicinity T_T At the end of the song he made a gesture like he was waving a magic wand to cast a spell (the main screen behind him showed a sparkly golden spiral) and when he moved aside to retreat from the stage MINORI APPEARED ON THE UPPER LEVEL HOLDING A BOUQUET T______________T Pierre had summoned Minori!!!!!!!!! We screaaaaamed omg Beit medley T______T

During Cherish Bouquet TakaP unleashed his sparkly princely charisma by 5000000% and killed a bunch of people (both girls and guys) in the audience [FANSERVICE INTENSIFIES] By the end of the song most of us were dead.... and when he held out the bouquet towards us (the camera) our SCREAMS lol istg ;;;;;;;;;;;;

Then both Pierre and Minori appeared on stage again wearing blue happi kimonos as the next song’s intro played AND WE LOST IT BC IT WAS FUN FUN FESTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BEIT!!!!!!!! GROUP SONG!!!!!!! THEY’RE DOING BEIT SONGS AFTER ALL!!!!! T__________T AND FUNFUNFESTA IS MY #1 FAVOURITE SONG TO DO CALLS WITH omg i felt sooooooo spoiled at that moment...... There was so much to love about this part. Pierre usually dances with his Kaerre plush in this song but this time he was holding Kyoji’s pierre plush (the blue one!)  so Kyoji could perform with them ;___; And both Pierre and Minori were super generous with the fanservice! TakaP’s winks are so destructive >< During the catering part konamono was replaced with “Ramen!” (specialty dish of this region). THEN KOGADO BURST ONTO THE STAGE, ALL WEARING HAPPI KIMONOS AND CARRYING A MIKOSHI PALANQUIN djhfaglhgdfLJHGLFHJDSdf they were hopping and cheering and it was both hilarious and amazing to see Kogado like this......... Really there was so much happening, my heart could barely keep up ;;;;;;;

Shinonome was up next with Piece Montee. This whole sequence was really cute! During the song he mimicked making a cake, piping cream and taste-testing before finally being satisfied with his creation. A HUGE (like, human-sized) balloon art cake was wheeled out onto the stage. After Shinonome left the stage, the lights dimmed and Nao-kun appeared, admiring the cake which had a plate saying “Happy birthday Nao!” on it!!!! NAO-KUUUUUNNNNN THE BIRTHDAY BOY <3<33333

Nao was the cutest thing during Hop Step Hai, Ship T___T He kept admiring the cake and looked soooo happy... He even showed us his fluffy tail and i just jhdfkj;gf;KDF,lkl just, an angel ;;;;;;;;;;

Later during the talk segment, Yano thanked us for all the love, support, and birthday wishes, and said that while he’s feeling incredibly happy and blessed, he has no doubt that Nao is feeling even happier and at the top of the world. It was also Minori’s birthday around that time, so as a double birthday celebration they asked us producers for a favour. We all held up our pen lights in red to mimic candles on a birthday cake, and when Minori and Nao made the motion of blowing out the candles we turned off our pen lights all at the the same time. The hall and stage lights were completely dimmed for this and it was a really pretty sight T_T Happy birthday, Nao and Minori!!!!!!!!!!!

Then it was time for Mofu In The Park, another super fun song to call along to! ME ME! PYON PYON!! GAO GAO!!!!!!!!!!!! This was Mofu’s last day in the tour and they really gave it their all ;___;

THE NEXT PART......IS WHERE I DIED. When i heard the song intro play i FLIPPED MY SHIT BECAUSE I RECOGNISED IT AS SECRET! PLAYFUL! DRIVE! which is a song from the St@rry Collaboration series (the extra CDs that came with the anime BD/DVDs) and NOBODY EXPECTED THIS BECAUSE IT WAS BELIEVED THAT THEY WERE SAVING THOSE SONGS FOR FIVE ST@R PARTY DKJFA’JGFA;KJGAF;IYLAKYJK

So i was in disbelief already and my brain barely had a second to process that this song belongs to S.E.M and Jupiter before S.E.M APPEARED FROM THE SHADOWS ON AN ELEVATED TROLLEY DECORATED IN BRIGHT RAINBOW LIGHTS AND I JUST DIEEEEEDDDDDDDDD ajbgadjakhaf;l ok so i kinda expected a trolley to come out bc i noticed the staff running around and looking like they were securing the routes, but i wasn’t expecting it to be S.E.M, much less them singing this...sinfully sexy song ;_______; The trolley started from the left side of the stage and made its way around the perimeter of the concert hall, doing a left into the walkway RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE BLOCK OF SEATS WHERE I WAS (they were so close omg S.E.M!!!! BEFORE MY EYES!!!! crying forever) before ending its journey on the right side of the stage. As per tradition they were throwing rubber balls at the audience (sadly not in my direction ><). Jirou-chan and Rui were perfect idols and dishing out fanservice the entire time //// Hazama-san was amazing and beautiful and stoic ajhgfsaldgsl god i love SEM so much ;;;;;; As the trolley passed in front of me JIROU-CHAN POINTED AT ME!!!!!!!! At that moment i was actually grateful for getting a shitty seat at the back of the hall sobssss Jirouuuuuuuuuu ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

I REALLY love this song but i have to admit i was barely paying attention to the singing because i was... distracted....... haha... Also this performance changes things for Shizuoka because if SEM did their collab song without Jupiter there’s a chance that DraSta will sing Etranger without Beit. Oh my god. I’m shaking just thinking about it. I’M JEALOUS OF EVERY SINGLE PERSON ATTENDING SHIZUOKA T_T pls say hi to my babies on my behalf.... Anyway, back to the concert.

Tbh i was already 1000000% satisfied with the concert after SEM’s performance lmao but the set list continued to blow my mind... One of the solos i was hoping to hear was Saki-chan’s Favourite ni Odorasete, AND THAT WAS THE NEXT SONG!!!!!!! I started out not rly liking Kobapyon’s voice for Saki-chan because he does this weird squeak that a lot of female seiyuu do too for cute moe characters, which ig kind of describes Saki-chan... But the more i learned about Saki-chan the more i started to like him (her? they? idk which pronoun Saki-chan prefers, pls do enlighten me if you know) and his solo is such a cute and catchy song T_T Kobapyon is srsly really cute in person as well.... just a bundle of angelic cuteness and ribbons tbh.... To top it off, the guest performers for this song were Minori and Pierre!!! Minori was at the top of the stairs and as Saki-chan approached he gave him a bouquet, which Saki-chan happily accepted. Then Minori held out his hand like a fking prince and held Saki-chan’s hand and escorted him down the stairs AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH (the crowd wouldn’t stop screaming ajkh;skjfg). At the bottom of the stairs was Pierre, sitting on a bench and reading a book (iirc). Saki-chan bade Minori farewell and approached the bench, and Pierre pulled out a handkerchief and set it on the bench for Saki-chan to sit on JKAHGLFHGLAHG WHO EVEN DOES THAT ANYMORE OH MY GOD T_______T Saki-chan danced with the both of them in turns and just looked like a beautiful princess with her princes... (I just remembered a tweet i saw about this... “Saki-chan with B(eit) LOL BURUZON CHIEMI REFERENCE) By this point the audience had died again from both jealousy (of Saki-chan) and just overall bliss from getting to witness this cute af performance. Compare this to last year when SEM were the ones escorting Saki-chan and got slapped in the face instead LOL. (When this was brought up during talk time Yoshiki was like “Oh, so it’s fine if it’s Takatsuka?” LMAOOO)

The CafePa medley kept going! Next up was Roll’s One Whole Wonderful. Roll is SO cute!!! TwT He mimed being surrounded by cakes and took a bite from all of them before breaking into the HAPPIEST smile, omg just precious ;;;;;;; Why is CafePa full of cuties ;;;;;;;;;;;; My heart was purified ;;;;;;;;; Then the rest of CafePa joined him on stage for Reversed Masquerade. I love this song more and more each time i see it. I especially the single-file march they do towards the end ;w; 

I started yelling again when the next song played because it was another one that i had been hoping to hear!! Amehiko’s Sweep Your Gloom!!!!!!! (Lol before the concert i was like “I’ll be happy if i get to hear this ONE song. And maybe these others too if i’m really lucky” and i got to hear pretty much all the songs on my list dhjgladhflajdh BLESSED) I love Amehiko’s smooth voice so, so much and this song, despite the serious and uplifting lyrics, sounds sexy af bc of Kasama-san’s voice //// To make the performance even more amazing (THIS KEEPS HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE CONCERT ISTG WE ARE SO LUCKY) Rui and Jirou-chan joined the stage as the backup dancers and i wished that i had extra pairs of eyes to watch all my favourites doing the moody sensual dance T_T

As a LegeP i was still feeling giddy and happy AND THEN SORA APPEARED ON STAGE FOR FLOWING FREEDOM omggggggggg my heart >_____< I LOOOVE this song and Sora did such a great job performing it T_T Fuumin was even wearing red contacts to match Sora’s eyes and the text graphics on the main monitor was really stylish and well done, so much so that i found myself watching the graphics half the time. Next, rounding up the Legenders medley was Legacy of Spirit. Legenders’ starting point! This LegeP couldn’t have asked for more TwT (I guessed that they would save Chris’ solo for Shizuoka.)

Finally it was The Kogado’s turn again! They’ve performed RAY OF LIGHT at every appearance in the tour and it just gets better each time!! Just kickass in all aspects and I love Ren singing in a higher tone, esp that last note of the chorus *__*

Back to SEM with ∞ Possibilities! I’ve heard this song a million times but i’ll never get sick of it. We cheered each time Hazama-sensei hit that goosebumps-inducing note in “koeTEEEEEEE” ;____;

Next was yet another song on my wish list! Hazama-sensei’s Learning Message! Like everyone else I’m absolutely in love with Totto’s amazing vocals and the song’s technopop instrumentals are to die for. Imo this song’s key sounds a tad high for Hazama’s in-character vocal range but Totto never fails to deliver a strong vocal performance >< In true SEM tradition he had some weird dance moves haha (someone on twitter interpreted them as possible math symbols).

Beit took the stage again for Smile Engage!!!!! Ahhh THE representative Beit song T_T Horieru and TakaP were sparkly and charming as usual but tbh the vocals sounded a little thin without Kyoji...

SEM joined them on stage next for Eureka Diary. As with the previous songs i think Minori sang most of Kyoji’s lines? I have to admit that I don’t really like this song but it was great seeing Beit and SEM on stage together ;w;

We were in the last segment of the concert which followed the standard template - Beyond The Dream, costume change break/”Encore!” yelling time, then GLORIOUS RO@D, and lastly, DRIVE A LIVE. Iirc Jirou-chan sang Touma’s solo part in GloRoad? I was jealous of the people sitting in the front half of the hall as it was raining paper/foam stars with the Glorious St@ge logo. But more importantly I was ecstatic to be able to participate in yelling “WE ARE 315!!!!” during Drive A Live T_______T I’ve never felt closer to the im@s community and the 315 idols.....

I don’t remember much from the ending talk but I do recall SEM attempting to speak in the local dialects, a somewhat teary-eyed Murase addressing F-LAGS who were watching the LV, Beit & Mofu & Kogado expressing gratitude for the support they’ve received (last day for all these groups), and SEM blowing a synchronised kiss at the camera before disappearing from the stage right at the end akjgfa;kgjfas; *clutches heart*

This day will be a treasured memory of mine for years to come.... Ngl, because i didn’t have a great view from my seat at times I kinda wished that i could’ve split my body in two to watch the concert live and the LV at the same time. But SEM drove by in their rainbow limo trolley within metres of my seat and Jirou-chan shot me in the heart so there’s that.... And while it’s a shame that my main baes DraSta weren’t at Fukuoka, the amazing set list gave me everything else that i wanted, plus more. So much more T_______T Thank you, 315Pro. This P will keep working hard to support our idols!!

[grey1444]

Thanks to @icarusfallsforwalls for tagging me!

Five Songs I’ve Been Playing on Repeat: Ambient1 / Music for Airports- Brian Eno Weightless- All Time Low Starting Line- Luke Hemmings Figure Me Out- The Summer Set Space- Biffy Clyro

Currently Watching: All Time Low documentaries - most recently Straight to DVD Ted Lasso  Doctor Who Royalties (*just gave up after ep5) Currently Reading: Way too much archiveofourown and foundations of blockchain. I need to get back to books. Last Movie Watched: I have the attention span of a gnat for narrative since the pandemic started. Unless you count "How Did We End Up Here," the 5SOS doc, the last movie I actually watched was Casablanca. In September 2020.  Notes about the songs below the break, because it turns out I had a LOT of feelings. Also, in my defense, I do listen to a lot of podcasts, but yeah. I’m in the tank for music right now big time.

1. “Ambient1/Music for Airports” – Brian Eno       Every night.        Calm, repetition, ambient, minimalist sounds. How I turn my brain off.

2. “Weightless”- All Time Low 

I’m new to this song (thank you, Michael Clifford) as of September, but it is hitting me just exactly right. Here are a few of the things I love about this song: 180BPM of emo adrenaline rush build and release, Sincere hopefulness, Sweet melody and heavy distortion, THAT HOOK. THAT BREAKDOWN. Jack Barakat’s pick slides into the crash of the killer hook and some gorge riffs, Rian Dawson going hard and his rolling drum fills upping the momentum even further on the chorus Zack’s heavy gritty bass Did I mention I really freaking love the post-chorus instrumental freaking breakdown. Oh, and Alex Gaskarth. 

[Opening, sweet melody and emo vocal at the front, driven from underneath by an electric kickdrum (?) and a single repeated eighth note on guitar]

Manage me, I'm a mess Turn a page, I'm a book half unread I wanna be laughed at, laughed with, just because I wanna feel weightless and that should be enough [starting to build] But I'm stuck in this fucking rut Waiting on a second-hand pick-me-up And I'm over [BAM DRUMS/GUITAR/BASS STING] getting older

[pre-chorus] If I could just find the time Then I would never let another day go by [bass Bass BASSSSSSS]

I'm over getting old [CRASH INTO THE HOOK] MAYBE IT'S NOT MY WEEKEND BUT IT'S GONNA BE MY YEAR And I'm so sick of watching While the minutes pass as I go nowhere And this is my reaction To everything I fear [Alex’s voice on FEAR is transcendent] 'Cause I've been going crazy, I don't wanna waste another minute [pause, head bang] here.

3. “Starting Line” - Luke Hemmings //  This whole song is a visceral energy rush that builds and builds and builds. It's painful, beautiful, desperate, and hopeful. Some of the most evocative turns of phrase I’ve ever run heard in the lyrics and that drop FUCKS

"In and out of focus, moments that I keep  Something for the pain and something so I sleep Won't you comfort me? Warm the air that I breathe Visceral in doses, hiding in the seams  Standing on the sun and I don't feel a thing Won't you comfort me? Take the fear I don't need I wake up every morning with the years ticking by I'm missing all these memories, maybe they were never mine I feel the walls are closin', I'm running out of the time I think I missed the gun at the starting line. 

[This **feels** being shot from a gun. My muscles say SPRINT]

:: MAH HEART:: 4. “Figure Me Out,” The Summer Set // I could not pick this band out of a lineup & I don’t think I know any other song of theirs, but Spotify kicked this song out as a rec and it’s a freaking ANTHEM of hope and self-discovery in a gorgeous rocking rhythmic swell. … “I don't know just where I fit in / Cause when I open my mouth I know nobody's listening” [ouch] [Chorus] But I believe there's more to life Than all my problems Maybe there's still hope for me to start again Get my feet back on the ground And pull my head out of the clouds I think it's time for me to figure me out … [Outtro] I just want to fall in love Before I'm dead So I can make my parents proud Hope my feet don't fail me now Cause it's time for me to figure me out

5. “Space”, Biffy Clyro // EPIC beauty and the soothing of the soul. I think the lyric, “There's always a space in my heart for you” is about coming back to a lover, but somehow, because of the quiet and the grandness of the vocals and instrumentation, it very much feels like I’m being told, me specifically, by the universe, that I’m seen and there’s a place for me. The mix of staccato and extended deliveries of the vocals follows the plink, sweep, and swell of the orchestration. “Heart” is a quarter note long and then it’s THREE BARS. It’s like being immersed in the ebb and swell of the deep ocean, someone holding you tight and safe, words spoken and sung directly to you and you alone, and it feels like something grown and transcribed rather than written. Simon Neil’s Scots accent comes out in the rounded extended twang of simple words like “you” turning a single syllable into a quiet microcosm of the orchestral swell. The original is goooooorgeous, but in 2020, Biffy Clyro decided to up the stakes and recorded a orchestral version with a CHOIR and a FULL ORCHESTRA at Abbey Road. (Because the universe freaking needed it) Whoever the sound engineer is deserves all of the awards for capturing this glorious monster perfectly – giant drums hitting hard but never once overwhelming Simon’s gorgeous soft tones and particular inflections. I really really REALLY love this song. 

Seriously, click the link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSBelw5CzI8 “There's always a space in my heart There's always a space in my heart There's always a space in my heart, heart Will you wait, will you wait for me? There's always a space in my heart I'm still caught in your gravity”

[teacup-tyrant]

SHADOW & BONE REVIEW: EP 3

On this episode: Warm-up heists before actual heists, a big ol'Kazzy smile, a long complaint about Nina's plotline, and more racist Ravkans.

- Ohhh windmills? Are we in the Kerch countryside? Are we in Kinderdijk in the Netherlands??? Oh ok no, still Ravka.

- One letter for Mikhail and 2 for that other girl, and none for Mal, bye!

- Look at that lovely French bed Alina gets. Is there a name for those? Like... a king Louis-style dining chair. You know, the ones with the round back that’s upholstered in the middle.

- Call me Aleksander ?! WAHT. Already!?

- Time for a heist?! YES, now we’re talkin'

- Jesper and this goat, man. This is almost TOO MUCH. I feel like they're diminishing in a way by making him sooo comic relief-y

- Ben Barnes... has excellent hair.

- Time for a lore dump with some lovely music!

- For real, where can I get one of their fluffy ushankas? I like the texture they have.

- Baghra: "Sorry Alina, your little fireball sucks. Never darken my cave doorway again." Harsh, Baghra.

- AHAHAAAA how do you guys feel about THIS particular Kaz hat?! This little floppy beret-looking thing? Bet you want the fedora back now. This boy and his disguises, I swear.

-ok there's that lovely building with the dome from before. Royal archives. Pretty. I want one for my house.

- OMG KAZ AHAHAHAAH best sculptor ever, amazing, what an act, what a smile (it's kind of frightening. Every time Kaz smiles it's kind of frightening. what is the line? sudden as a thunderclap or something like that? We understand now, Inej.)

- This heisting montage is so Oceans 11. It's an Ice Court warm-up. Just THINK of what The Heist™ would be like on screen. This was my favorite sequence so far. 10/10 would steal shit again.

- Inej walking behind this guard the whole time and not being seen. beautiful. We stan a sneaky Wraith.

- Where can I get a pair of mal’s fluffy winter boots, these look so warm. All the Ravkan uniforms look so warm.

- “He knows his shit” how punny

- Back on the ship: in Jack Sparrow voice “apparently, there’s a leak”

- Idk about the Matthias & Nina scenes. Kind of unnecessary. I feel like they should have saved them for season 2. Sorry. .I feel the same way about her involvement in KoS and RoW. Nina is such a good character and you can tell how much LB loves writing her. Imo, Nina should have had her own series instead of constantly being shoehorned into other peoples' series, you know what I mean? It should be the Nina’s Adventures in Fjerda series. She deserves it.

- Inej gives Kaz her knives to hold because of course she does. Ouch, my heart.

- UGH I have always wanted to try aerial silks, I am so jealous. I like how Kaz isn’t watching her hahahaha

- Oh no the Darkling is making me feel bad for him

- Yeah, sure, they’re going to stand trial Matthias, you keep telling yourself that

- Did Alina just mentally break up with Mal

- Sure are a lot of people getting shot in the head in this show, eh?

- Mal does not approve of your racist propaganda (fucking racist Ravkans x4) also how tf is he alive right now

...oh no mal, she just broke up with you though, didn’t you know?

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