#so anne becomes the stand in queen

[princessanneftw]

King Charles III and Princess Anne attending the annual Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 9 November 2024

[haggishlyhagging]

The New Testament scarcely mentions Mary. She is brought into the story mainly to emphasize Jesus's divine conception and birth. Her presence is noted once or twice, but little is made of it. In the centuries that followed, however, Mary was exalted to ever-higher positions of glory. She is the subject of many of our most famous and beautiful works of art. In light of what we have learned about the Goddesses of the ancient Near East, it is interesting that Mary is shown not only as the Madonna with her child, but standing on the crescent moon or with stars circling her head. She takes on many of the ancient Goddess symbols and is often painted as a larger-than-life figure. She is also shown being crowned Queen of Heaven, absorbing the title of the Goddess. It may be that the need of the people for a female deity was so great that the Christian Church might not have survived without the elevation of Mary to this exalted position. We need to look carefully, however, at just what aspects of the Goddess Mary was allowed to retain and what the results were in the lives of women.

Mary was taken up to heaven and seated with god the father and his divine son Jesus. She became the main intercessor between human beings and the divine. She was called Mother of God and Queen of Heaven, but she was not made a full-fledged member of the Godhead. The Church used her to satisfy the need for a female presence in Christianity but also to keep women in a subordinate position. Her purity as a virgin was exalted and women were taught to strive for that purity and to obey the divine (male) will. At the same time she is, of course, a mother, and women were taught to bear as many children as possible. But Mary did it while remaining a virgin; other women, in order to be mothers, must be tainted by sexuality. If they remain pure they cannot be like Mary the Mother; if they become mothers they cannot be like Mary the Virgin. No matter what they do they are guilty and inferior.

Mary's stance is: "Let it be to me according to your word." She is passive, obedient, and pure. She sits on a throne but has little power, certainly none of the power or independence of the earlier Goddesses or their free sexuality. Nevertheless, the doctrine of her virginity gave women a way out of the role of submissive wife and bearer of children. When the cult of Mary was at its height, thousands of women escaped into convents, communities of women. There they developed skills and talents in the arts and in the administration of large estates. Many abbesses wielded significant power and controlled sizable amounts of wealth.

It is interesting that, just as the veneration of Mary reached its height in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, the Protestant Reformation reasserted the dominance of the male divinities. One of Luther's major reforms was the closing of nunneries, and Mary is notably absent from all formulations of Protestant theology and ritual. Whereas Catholic women have suffered from their attempts to imitate an impossible model, Protestant women have had no exalted female model of any kind. Mary's presence has been used by the Catholic Church to reinforce the subordination of women, and her absence has been used by Protestantism to reinforce their insignificance.

-Shirley Ann Ranck, Cakes for the Queen of Heaven

[maryleclerc]

𝐫𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲 — charles leclerc

pairing: prince!charles leclerc x reader

summary: in which prince charles and princess y/n of monte carlo announce their pregnancy of their first royal baby

vote for the royal baby name here ❤️

warning: english is not my native language and i did use google translation also i did not know much about the royal rule so please don’t take it serious, i’ll be grateful if you leave comment to let me know about my writing if i needed to fix anything

read previous part: 𝐫𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦���𝐧𝐭 > 𝐫𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠

charles_leclerc with y/n_leclerc

Liked by y/n_leclerc, lorenzotl and 174,730,461 others

charles_leclerc We are really happy to announce that we are expecting our first child. Y/n and i decided to not appear in any public event until the birth of our child for safety of my wife and baby. And we also receive lots and lots of congrat and with all the best wishes for both of us and baby

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y/n_leclerc ❤️❤️

sofiagraace Love you both

heismydreamman She will join the Christmas Night ceremony with the royal and we’ll see her bump show

princessy/nmyheart Am i the only one here thinks she’s going to name her child Anne?

jessicalauree So freaking adorable!!!!

y/n_leclerc

Liked by charles_leclerc and others

y/n_leclerc Throwback to our wedding day and honeymoon ❤️ @charles_leclerc

Comment are limited

theroyalnews

126,822,163 Likes

theroyalnews

The Prince and Princess of Monte Carlo first public appearence since the announcement of Princess Y/n pregnancy. Princess Y/n appeared in public today with a long, flowing black velvet dress to hide her pregnant belly, it seems that Prince Charles has become a protective husband to his pregnant wife when he repeatedly refused to stand for too long at today's ceremony. Towards the end of the session, we had a chance to ask a few questions with Prince Charles and Princess Y/n.

"Prince Charles, how do you feel about today's ceremony?" “Well I feel very happy and excited at the ceremony today, it is a very important ceremony for my mother Queen Pascale” Prince Charles said, and I ask Princess Y/n “And Princess Y/n, how do you feel?” She answered “Since I'm pregnant right now, it's natural to feel tired but this is only a side effect and the main part is that we can enjoy this happy time together with the Royal Family”, “I have Just a few short questions, can the Prince and Princess answer a few questions for me?" “Of course” They both replied at the same time. “First question, surely you also know that the announcement of the pregnancy has shaken all the people with joy, right? So a few people emailed us asking us to ask you about the baby's gender was? Is this information that is allowed to be revealed?” Prince Charles nodded his head and answered my question “I know this is information that everyone is curious about, although we are the Prince and Princess of Monte Carlo, we must always adhere to the principles given by the royal family", Princess Y/n replied, "But of course we'll let everyone know as soon as we have the baby." She laughed, then I continued to ask the last question "Then Prince Charles and Princess Y/n have come up with any name for the royal baby yet?”, Princess Y/n replied, “Charles and I haven't come up with any name yet but we plan to name the baby with our traditional royal name", "Because she likes traditional names, I like more modern names, but I love her and the baby so the name will be decided by her" Charles said then both of them laughed.

What do think the Prince and Princess will name their baby? Leave us a comment about what you are thinking!

tag charles leclerc , y/n_leclerc

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diwkjd_ I guess they will name it Charlotte or Carlotta, easily Charlotte is a tradition name and its also Charlotte is female version of the name Charles… isn’t it cute

unclejamees I don’t know what they’ll name him/her but i just love the fact Princess Y/n chose to name their baby with royal tradition name

penelopejanes It’s definitly gonna be named Charlotte

⤷ jaada How are you so sure?

⤷ penelopejanes Idk, just so easy to guess, i mean Charlotte also royal tradition name tho

beaniw I got the opportunity today to talk with Prince Charles and Princess Y/n and they’re super nice and Charles is super protective of his wife lately

[olderthannetfic]

I'm IWTV-wank-avoidance-asking Anon and it kinda missed me that it would be a wanky topic lol I was trying to see if the show is worth watching. A lot of my mutuals are posting IWTV gifs so I assume it's good, but I was curious if anyone who read the novel would think "Better read the novel". I don't realize an asking-for-rec ask would be wanky, but now that I think about who the writer is, it kinda makes sense. My bad lol

--

Ahahahaha.

Around here, I don't think anyone is precious enough about Anne Rice to start the genuine version of this wank, but Rice fandom can be... uh... very intense even on top of Rice herself having been the queen of drama.

You know about Red Beans Anne Rice, right?

Many years ago, Anne got all butthurt about a tacky-ass restaurant taking over an abandoned building that she'd had Lestat being emo in in one of the books. Instead of gothic atmosphere, it was now very PINK and LOUD. So she wasted money taking out ads in the local paper as Lestat trying to shame the restaurant owner... at which point a bunch of other restaurant owners also wasted money to respond in newspaper ads saying that they welcomed fellow businesspeople. It all ended in the restaurant's grand opening and people with plates of "Red beans Anne Rice" (i.e. red beans and rice).

--

Anyway, I read the first book back in the 90s when I was like 15. It's decent from what I remember. The thing that made it iconic when it came out in 1976 was that it was pretty heavily pushing the vampire=drug addict metaphor. This is everywhere in sexy goth sadboi vampire media now, but it wasn't as much of a thing at the time.

It was also very, very gay but in that way where (at least in the first book), nobody really says the word. That meant something in the 70s. Even by the 90s, it wasn't such a big deal, and it's a big nothingburger in the 2020s.

Book 1 is Rice dealing with the death of her child. It's all about suicidal feelings and Catholic weirdness. The main character is Louis, a.k.a. Rice's self-insert (which she confirmed herself).

Books 2 onward are about Lestat's dick.

He becomes a rockstar, vampire-bones the ur vampire, which causes him to mega level up, thus enabling him to thwart her plot to kill all men on earth aside form a few for breeding purposes, bodyswaps so he has a working penis again, fucks a nun, swaps back, gets Louis back by trying to commit suicide and accidentally getting a tan, etc... Much, much later books are about the other bonkers vampires, most of them more in the horny rockstar mold than the sad mommy of dead baby one.

In book 1, Louis is a depressed plantation owner who eats a bunch of his slaves among other fucked up shit. Claudia, their vampire daughter, is a small child who is upset about being stuck as a kid forever. One of the more disturbing parts is when Louis finds out she's fucking adult men. Lestat turns out to be a French nobleman with mommy issues despite Louis thinking he was only pretending to be upper class.

-- The TV series moved the entire plot much later in history, made Louis black, and gave him a spine. Some racists cried about this and some of tumblr cried about how it was offensive to take the plantation owner and make him black instead of doing that with the other one.

The show also made it more overt that Lestat is an abusive jackass boyfriend. This apparently came as a surprise to people with poor reading comprehension. Others have wanked about fans still liking Louis/Lestat instead of Louis/less terrible boyfriends. But... like... It's IWTV. What did they expect?

(So yes, some book fans will be immensely wanky about the show. Ignore them.)

Also, I hear they fuck on the show? Rice's vampires don't have working junk, which we know because Lestat stands in front of an entire wall of mirrors in the most bougie bathroom ever in Akasha's evil lair and discusses how his penis—I mean "The Organ"—no longer does anything.

Also, Armand in the books is the 14-year-old kept boy of a Renaissance painter with a harem of boys or something like that. (It's been a very long time since I read these.) Shit like this never makes it into the adaptations.

--

If you're curious about the history of vampire media or about a certain kind of Southern gothic shit, sure, read the books, particularly the first one with its radically different tone and much greater historical importance.

The old movie is a decent adaptation of book 1, though it makes it less gay (or at least removes Louis' weird boner for his dead brother) and messes with the ending in a way that would have made sequels veer off from the books. I haven't seen that other old movie with Aaliyah, but it looks like a campy time capsule of baaaad movies of that era.

Anyway, no, you don't need to read the book before watching the show. They changed a massive amount of stuff.

I'm in more of a Chinese media phase right now, but a bunch of friends have watched and said the show is genuinely good.

[hotmusketeerspoll]

Magnificent Musketeer Tournament

Constance Bonacieux Poll 4 - Round 1

Constance - Megan Lanquar Les Trois Mousquetaires, le spectacle musical 2016

She's sooo pretty and she gets to wear these super fun hot pink dresses!! There's also this part where d'Artagnan spins her around in a circle and it's just so sweet. I think they're cute.

Constance - Tamla Kari The Musketeers 2014-2016

She is brave, caring, independent-minded, loyal, and determined that men aren’t going to have all the fun. She does what she thinks is right, even if it’s dangerous or difficult. She’s ABSOLUTELY GOT THIS. She’s both the garrison mom and one of its fiercest soldiers. She’s a Musketeer!

The complete list of entrants can be found here.

Additional Propaganda under the cut

Megan Lanquar:

Video clip of the cute twirl:

Video clip of her singing:

Tamla Kari:

She's a fully rounded character, absolutely beautiful, and responds to misogyny with "maybe I bring men to fight [my battles]". She's the Queen's confidante and she's so wonderful that she turns down a man's proposal after her husband's death and he just accepts it and wishes her happiness. This fanvid says it best:

Even though her story is different from the book, it's so wonderful to watch her grow and take such an active role.

Constance is one of the best characters of this show - she gets to be so much more than just a love interest and we get to see her as a fully fleshed out person. Her relationship with Anne in particular stands out as really interesting and fun. She is also a badass and gets to take part in adventures and eventually becoming part of the garrison organisation after she gets to marry d'Artagnan. I'm a sucker for a happy ending and for once Constance gets hers.

[schemmentigfs]

schemmentigfs’s complete masterlist. 🍂

melissa ann schemmenti. (abbott elementary, 2021-)

requests are open, feel free to send any prompt for me. <3 your feedback is really appreciated and welcomed.

Sweet Nothings: after coming back from a game night, Mel whispers sweet nothings to you while you are fast asleep.

Future Milf: what was supposed to be a normal monday morning at abbott elementary, turns into a chaotic one after you lend Melissa a certain t-shirt with a curious print after Jacob drops some food on her clothes in the lounge.

Future Milf (part 2): after the embarrassing incident, you start to avoid Melissa. afraid that your friendship is over, meanwhile the second grade teacher is willing to know what happened and tries to get things back to normal between you two.

two queens in a king size bed: you and Melissa spend your first morning together as a married couple.

Caught Red-Handed: Janine catches you and Melissa after a quickie at the janitor’s closet on school grounds, revealing your long standing relationship with the older woman.

Tempting Fiery Redhead Devil: Jacob reveals that Melissa once told him that she wasn’t a jealous person. outrageous by the made-up lie, you decide to take revenge by flirting with one of the teachers at the book club reunion without knowing that it would lead to painful consequences later at your girlfriend’s place.

Her First Woman’s Touch: Melissa goes through a difficult process of self-discovery and acceptance to learn more about intimacy between women, so she can give you pleasure during sex.

Your Body, My Playground: Melissa fucks her frustration on you after a stressing day at abbott.

Blue Faces, Red Tempers: Melissa gets a taste of her own medicine when your son pranks her by painting her face blue before the weekly dinner with the abbott crew.

Pretty When You Cry: an argument triggers your childhood trauma and makes you return to self-destructive habits worrying both Melissa and Barb, especially the redhead who knows that you struggle with mental and physical health conditions.

Proving You’re a Good Girl: Melissa discreetly pulls you in for a quickie in Janine and Gregory’s bathroom during a party, thinking she won’t be interrupted while she fucks you senselessly.

Wedding Bands: The crew finds out about your marriage with Melissa.

Push and Pull: Melissa gets too carried away during sex. But you don’t say anything until next morning.

In The Quiet Of Absence: After spending a month in Paris for a work conference, you finds yourself longing for the warmth of home and, more than anything, for Melissa.

Sweetening The Deal: Feeling stuck and desperate for a change in life, you meet Melissa Schemmenti, a sophisticated and wealthy woman at a bar. As you talk, a beneficial arrangement is made —you become her sugar baby in exchange for financial support and a life of luxury.

[theroyalhouseofwindenburg]

The Domino Effect

Following Dorthea's passing, The Dowager Queen Margaery's health declined. And by the winter of 1354, she was seemingly nearing her final days. Her bedchamber was filled with priests, nuns, and her closest family, as they all loyally stood by her side. Margaery sat up in her bed and called for her grandchildren. Princess Augusta first came to her, kneeling at her side.

"Augusta, you are a vision of grace and strength. I am so proud of the woman you've become," Margaery spoke softly, her eyes filled with love as she gazed at her granddaughter. "Your beauty is a reflection of your grandmother, Queen Anne. I see her spirit shining through you," Margaery continued, a hint of sorrow in her voice. "I am sorry for the pain caused by my son's actions against you, your mother, and our family. It weighs heavy on my heart."

"But do not let my passing hinder your path, Augusta," she urged, her voice gaining strength as she caressed her cheek. "Go to Tartosa, you are to be Empress one day, and let love and diplomacy mend what has been broken. Your future is bright, my dear, and nothing should stand in its way." With tears in her eyes, Augusta moved to the side. King Edward walked to his grandmother's bedside, taking her cold and frail hand into his. Margaery looked into Edward's eyes with a sense of peace, her hand trembling as she reached for her grandson's. "Edward, in your hands rests the crown's unwavering legacy. Let the realm feel your benevolence, as my Wilhelm once did, for kindness and devotion are the strongest swords," Margaery whispered weakly.

Edward clasped her hand gently, his eyes reflecting the weight of her words. "I will do my utmost, to honor both you and my grandfather's legacy. I pray that I can bring as much light to the realm as you both once did."

With a faint smile, Margaery continued, "Your grandfather would be proud, just as I am, for your reign shall mend the scars of your fathers mistakes. Seek a queen whose heart mirrors your resolve, for in her lies the future of our line."

Edward nodded solemnly, his determination shining through. "I will find a queen who shares our vision, one who will stand by my side as we steer our realm under the Watcher's guidance."

Margaery's voice grew softer, yet carried a firmness that belied her frailty. 'The crown must never falter, Edward, for it is the beacon that guides this realm,' she reminded him. 'I need to rest now for a while.' Her words were gentle, yet weighted with the knowledge of impending farewells. As Edward leaned in, she whispered to him, 'Remember always, I love you dearly."

In these moments, Margaery also imparted a crucial decision. The Kingdom of Effenmont, a jewel off the coast of Windenburg that had come into her possession after her father's passing years prior, would pass to King Edward upon her eventual departure, becoming a state of Windenburg. This gift, intertwined with her love and guidance, would forever shape the realm they both held dear.

As Edward gazed out the window at the falling snow, he felt the weight of centuries resting upon his shoulders, each snowflake a whispered reminder of the legacy he must uphold, the mistakes he must correct, and the future he must forge for his realm and his people.

In the early hours of the morning the following day, Margaery lay on her bed, her eyes fluttering open slightly as she weakly called out for Edward. He hurried to her side, his heart heavy with impending loss, yet he masked his emotions with a calm demeanor.

With a stern but loving expression, Margaery reached out for Edward's hand and whispered, "Do not forget what I've told you, The crown must never fall."

Edward nodded solemnly, his eyes reflecting determination and sorrow. "I won't forget, I promise."

As Margaery attempted to sit up, a sharp pain pierced through her chest, causing her to gasp. She cried out for a priest, her voice strained yet resolute. The priest rushed to her bedside, offering prayers and comfort as Margaery lay back, her breaths becoming shallower.

In her final moments, She whispered her late husband's name, a final farewell to the love of her life. "Wilhelm?" she breathed, her voice barely audible amidst the hushed room. Her eyes slowly closed, and the priest, after a brief examination, turned to the King with a somber apology, saying, 'I'm sorry, Your Grace. she has passed.' The room fell into a solemn silence, the weight of Margaery's legacy lingering in the air."

Edward stood by the foot of the bed, his gaze fixed on Margaery's frail form. The soft glow of candlelight danced across the room, casting a somber ambiance that mirrored the heavy emotions in Edward's heart. Though surrounded by loved ones and attendants, he felt an unyielding solitude settle upon him, as if the world had receded into a distant murmur, leaving only him and his grandmother in that final moment.

In the days that followed Margaery's passing, a wave of sorrow swept through the kingdom as news of her departure spread like wildfire. Citizens from all walks of life, from the bustling markets to the quiet countryside, made their way to Westsimster Abbey, their solemn faces a testament to the deep respect and admiration they held for their departed queen.

Inside the grand halls of the abbey, a scene of profound mourning unfolded. The royal family stood together, their heads bowed in reverence, as they surrounded Margaery's peaceful figure. She lay adorned in her finest regal attire, a testament to her grace and dignity even in death. Her robes, woven from the finest purple satin, cascaded around her in gentle folds, accentuated by the soft gleam of ermine furs that spoke of her regal lineage.

A crown, symbolizing her reign and legacy, graced her brow, its jewels catching the flickering candlelight and casting a radiant glow upon her serene features. Despite the weight of grief that hung heavy in the air, Margaery appeared as if she were merely slumbering, her expression one of tranquil repose. As Edward approached Margaery's resting place, his heart heavy with sorrow, he found solace in the memories of her unwavering strength and kindness. With a voice touched by emotion, he spoke to the gathered mourners:

"We stand here today not just to mourn the loss of a queen, but to honor the legacy of a matriarch whose love and wisdom guided us all. Margaery was not just a ruler; she was the heart and soul of our family, a beacon of grace and compassion in times of turmoil. Her absence leaves a void that can never be filled, but her legacy of unity and empathy will continue to inspire us as we navigate the path ahead. Let us remember her not with tears of sadness, but with gratitude for the light she brought into our lives."

Following her funeral, Margaery was placed in her coffin and carried beneath the grand halls of Westsimster Abbey. There, in the dim light of the crypt, she was laid to rest beside her late husband, King Wilhelm IV. The royal family gathered around her final resting place, their faces etched with grief as they mourned her one last time.

The chamber echoed with the soft sounds of weeping and whispered prayers, a testament to the deep loss felt by all. As the moment of farewell drew to a close, they began to exit the chamber, their hearts heavy with sorrow. King Edward lingered at the entrance, his eyes cast downward in despair. His mind was full of emotions, an immense amount of grief, responsibility, and reflection.

He thought of his grandmother's final counsel, the words that would forever resonate within him: "The crown must never falter." The weight of her legacy and the promise he had made felt almost overwhelming in that moment.

As he took his final steps out of the chamber, Edward whispered to himself, "I will not let you down, this crown shall never fall.".

Queen Margaery 1279-1354 (75 yrs)

May the Watcher guide her into the light ♡

[meddling-in-horror]

Giving Them the Moment: How Our Flag Means Death and it's Portrayal of Black Men is the Most Important Thing on Television Right Now

Note: written April 20, 2022

Media is an incredibly distinct way of communicating. It has a wide reach, and each person has their own interpretation of what they see. That’s the beauty of the medium as a whole. However, there are often downsides, especially when it pertains to the West. In the US in particular, there is a trend within popular media to lean towards propagandization. Whether it’s the idea that communism and socialism are products of the ‘Evil East’ or the lingering effects of the Motion Picture Production Code - also known as the Hays Code, the media monopolies have a firm grasp on what we as a society watch and enjoy. 

When you begin to play close attention to how the media portrays Black men, this becomes abundantly clear.

It is a rare thing when we see Black men whose characters aren’t portrayed as being the object nor the perpetrators of violence. In fact, only one mainstream popular show comes to mind: The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. But even then, the given circumstances of Fresh Prince revolve around Will’s escape from the violence of the ‘urban’ inner city. This vilification of Black men dates back to the 1910s with D. W. Griffith’s Birth of a Nation, and continued into the 1930s, where Black people were often personified as the monsters, representing the ‘exciticism’ of the world beyond the West. It is the ‘exoticism’ that has played a huge part in the dehumanization of Black men as a whole. But as a Black Queer person watching Our Flag Means Death, it is breaking that mold in an incredibly important way.

The Black men in the show are allowed to have fun.

This show is breaking barriers left and right. Of the major recurring cast of 15, over half of them are people of color. It’s overt and unflinching portrayal of Queerness when so many of its older viewers - myself included - have lived through the Bury Your Gays and Dead Lesbians tropes time and time again is overwhelmingly refreshing. Nearly all characters are Queer until proven straight and represent all parts under the umbrella, including Leslie Jones’ polyamorous pirate queen and Vico Ortiz - a non-binary actor - playing a non-binary character. 

But in a world where the narratives of Black men are so often framed around violence and brutality, the Black crewmates of the Queen Anne’s Revenge - Frenchie, Oluwande, and Roach - are allowed to be funny and vulnerable. Each one of them is starkly different from the other with identifiable characteristics that allow the audience to humanize them. The trio quickly became my favorites among the crew, with Roach being the stand-out amongst them. Samba Schutte’s often deadpan delivery never fails to draw a laugh from me, in particular the assertion that “meat is meat”. Frenchie, played by Joel Fry, is the quickest on the draw where his intellect is concerned, being posited in the show’s fifth episode as having had a hand in inventing the pyramid scheme while spouting the wildest of conspiracy theories and being afraid of cats (they’re witches, they steal your breath, and have knives in their feet, you know). The softness and constant vulnerability of Samson Kayo’s Oluwande may be one of the most important aspects of the show, as it establishes him as a reliable and trustworthy confidante to not just Jim, but to Rhys Darby’s Stede Bonnet as well.

They exist in their own separate spheres on the ship, going about their own separate business completely unbothered. While it is implied they lead violent lives as pirates, this violence isn’t used to define them as characters. In fact, Oluwande stated that both he and Jim engaged in piracy because they “had no choice”. The brief mention we get of Frenchie’s backstory implies that he lives a life of servitude, though whether that was as an enslaved person or a freed Black domestic worker is not mentioned. While there is little known about Roach so far, it is implied that his culinary skills are far beyond the levels of what is needed aboard a pirate ship.

The friendships and relationships they form within the crew aren’t built on violence either, but on open and honest communication. Most notably, the friendship of Frenchie and Wee John Feeny, played by Kristian Nairn. Fry and Nairn are an impeccable comic duo when their characters become ‘room people’, and the scene where they begin to design their new space is a personal highlight of the episode. Oluwande and Jim’s romance - played to perfection by Kayo and Ortiz - is one that revolves around both characters being almost devastatingly open with each other. Both actors play the emotional vulnerability of the characters well, and it is important to emphasize that it is Kayo’s Oluwande that moves to meet Jim where they are. 

While the show allows all its men to show varying levels of emotional vulnerability - an exception being offered to the emotionally constipated Izzy Hands, played by Con O’Neill - there is something so special about seeing that luxury afforded to Black men. This show has, in just ten episodes, has become a game changer for the television industry. It has proved that a show with explicitly Queer characters can become a massive sleeper hit, and that sometimes the best kind of historical show is one that is historical fiction. But it has also proved that you can create a narrative with Black men that doesn’t include their stories being framed in violence or brutality, that they can be funny, charming, witty, vulnerable, intelligent, complex characters with their own narratives that serve a purpose outside of a device of exoticism. It is this rare thing that makes these characters, and indeed the show as a whole, so important to its viewers. 

We deserve more vulnerability, more humor, and more humanizing content from these three men, and this show is one that is truly deserving of a glorious second season.

Sources:

Donaldson, Leigh. “When the media misrepresents Black men, the effects are felt in the real world.” 

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/12/media-misrepresents-black-men-effects-felt-real-world.

Kumah-Abiwu, Felix. “Media Gatekeeping and Portrayal of Black Men in America.” 

Opportunity Agenda. “Media Portrayals and Black Male Outcomes.” 

https://www.opportunityagenda.org/explore/resources-publications/media-representation-impact-black-men/media-portrayals.

Our Flag Means Death, (2022-). HBO Max.

[m-jelly]

@f-ssk requested an enemies-to-lovers style story where butting heads leads to passionate love.

@ladycheesington <3

For country and love.

Levi x fem!reader

Royal AU, enemies-to-lovers, fluff, romance, falling in love, flirting, teasing, slight politics, becoming a couple, Emperor Levi, Queen reader.

You are the Queen of a very small island. The island is full of life and food. Levi is the Emperor of a much larger country which is very rich and strong. Levi is advised that absorbing your country with his would benefit his people. Determined to help his country he tries to do what is right, but you stand in his way. At first, you butt heads, but as you get to know each other from meetings you both fall deeply in love.

@ladycheesington @levisbrat25 @nyxiieluna @li-anne @galactict3a @youre-ackermine @thebobaprincess @2moth-anon2 @cypidity @nbinairyn @bts-spnlvr12 @darkstarlight82 @emilyyyy-08 @notgoodforlife @demonic-bird

Every single letter Levi had sent to the Queen of the Island he desired was first met with nothing, but then was followed by witty and smart replies. It allured him to come to see who this wonderful Queen was and the incredible Island that so many people talked about being a haven.

He released a long sigh as he stood at the front of the ship, his eyes locked onto the Island ahead of him. A heat washed over him as he marvelled at the brilliance that was the Island. The ocean was a brilliant blue, the sand a wonderful white and the green rolling hills were vast. The buildings were a nice mixture of colourful as well as pure white.

When he got closer to the docks he was expecting guards, but he only saw a warm welcome with one smiling lady with two assistants. The woman didn't look anything like a Queen, so he was a little confused. Levi wanted to meet the Queen, not some assistant or random person.

Levi climbed off his ship. "Where is the Queen?"

The woman bowed. "Welcome, Emperor Levi. The Queen is currently unavailable. She sends her apologies. She would like to extend an invitation to a guided tour around her palace, as well as lunch."

"I accept. What is the delay?"

"Our Queen is often in high demand. She is ensuring that everything is in order. She wants to be as welcoming as possible to you, in order to do that she had to do as much work as possible."

Levi felt a bit bad that he had gotten a little annoyed. "I accept."

She smiled and bowed. "Thank you. I will escort you around our Island, as well as show you what our Island is known for."

The day was so wonderful. Everything he saw was beautiful and even the people who lived on the Island seemed elated. The resources produced were all delicious and high quality. Each person who worked for a business to better the country was well looked after.

Eventually, Levi ended up at the beautiful palace with lots of balconies to welcome the wonderful warm sun. "Beautiful."

The assistant smiled. "Nothing too grand. Our Queen doesn't like to use the money of the people for something only she lives in. She downsized. She made this country better. She cares for her people."

"What a good woman."

"Thank you."

Levi flinched at the sound of an alluring voice. He slowly turned to see you riding closer on a horse. "My Queen."

You slipped off your horse and walked closer to the most handsome man you'd ever seen. You smiled sweetly at him as you dragged your gloves off. "Welcome to my country. Apologies for not greeting you at the docks, but my presence was needed elsewhere. I am also deeply sorry for my appearance. Trousers are not fitting for a Queen to wear on a first meeting."

Levi gulped hard as he admired your legs being gripped by your trousers. "You look...beautiful."

You felt your cheeks burn. "Thank you. I must say, dear Emperor, you are ravishing to the eyes. However, I do believe our meeting is not for flirtation but political business. I shall escort you around my home before we have lunch."

Levi followed you around like a puppy. Every word you uttered he listened eagerly. There was this magical hold you had on him and it excited him. The tour soon came to an end and he sadly had to part with you so you could change before lunch.

Levi changed into something that would impress you and waited for you. As soon as the doors opened and you were announced, he stood up and felt his heart flutter when you entered in a beautiful dress that hugged your figure so perfectly.

You smiled softly at him. "Please, sit. You are an Emperor and I'm a mere Queen. You hold a greater power." You took a seat and let lunch be served. "I do hope this does not come across as rude, but how long do you intend to stay here?"

He coughed a little on his drink. "Mm, I was hoping until we make some successful political arrangements."

"Such as?"

He leaned on the table. "Your country is small and cannot fully protect itself or sustain itself for long. I understand that you are trying hard and you have done an exceptional job. I truly commend your efforts. I am offering a way out. I will buy your country and sign a treaty with you. Your country will be absorbed into mine. I can offer you a royal home in a nice spot. You can even remain here."

You downed the last of your drink and hummed. "Are you done?"

Levi frowned a little. "Done?"

You hummed. "Yes, with your comical speech. I must say, you are highly entertaining. How you do not have an Empress yet surprises me. Someone so handsome and funny surely should have countless maidens throwing themselves at your feet."

Levi blushed a little. "I have no maidans throwing themselves at my feet. I was not jesting either."

You leaned your cheek on your hand and smiled. "I should have every right to challenge you to a duel. The thought of war between countries is abhorrent to me."

"The thought never crossed my mind. War is expensive." He leaned closer to you. "My Queen, your beauty and brains are mesmerising."

You dabbed your mouth. "And yet there is a but that follows this sentence."

"Paying for your country."

You rose to your feet. "My country cannot be bought."

He stood up and began following you. "My Queen, due to you running a small country people are far more demanding. It is difficult to run a country, even more so that if it is an Island."

You turned to him. "Are you saying I am failing at running my country, that I require assistance from a man such as you?"

"Your country is so small, it can barely stand against a rival country."

You stormed out of the room. "I do not wish to speak with you further. I will hear no more of selling my country."

"Your stubbornness is astonishing."

You huffed. "How dare you insult me."

"It is true. You deny me a chance to explain myself. Tch, stubborn."

"You are a ruffian, not an Emperor. I will not let my people lose who they are due to your rein."

Levi moved closer and stopped your path. "I will not change the people and their customs. I will be respectful."

You stared at him. "It is taking every ounce of my willpower not to strike you across your handsome face."

"You still see me as handsome?"

"Annoyingly." You turned. "I will retire to my chambers. You should do the same."

For days now Levi had been winding you up about your country for days now, you were fed up. It took everything within you not to strike him across the face. However, you chose to behave for the good of your people.

As you practiced with your sword Levi continued to talk to you, but his talks became more flirtatious. He moved closer to you. "Perhaps a change with the deal?"

You pointed your sword at him. "Cease your talking. I will hear no more of your deals!"

He wrapped his gloved hand around the blade and slowly ran his hand down. "The title of Empress is far more fitting for a ravishing beauty as yourself."

You felt your heart skip a beat. "Have you gone mad? In your letters, you spoke of a small battle to decide this. Once I replied, you spoke of a meeting where it was negotiations. You came to my home and demanded I sell a place I love. Now you suggest I become an Empress? I cannot. My land is not grand enough."

Levi caressed your cheek. "I meant for you to become my Empress."

You smacked Levi on the thigh with the side of your sword. "Do not jest!"

"There is no jest."

You put your sword away. "Marriage between us?"

Levi tilted his head as he took you in. "I cannot imagine anything more glorious."

You whined a little before hurrying away. "You confuse me so."

Levi chased you. "Why do I confuse you? Surely this is simple. A marriage seems the right move for us both."

You turned and glared at him. "I am reserving my hand for a man who loves me. I will not marry for political gain. I desire love. I deserve love."

"I never said the marriage would be political." He pointed at you to stop you from speaking. "Before you speak, I am yet again not jesting."

"You cannot be serious. It is not possible for you to love me."

"Why?" He reached over and took your hand. "Why is the idea inconceivable?"

You lowered your head. "All your words to me have been flirtatious, that is true but your actions have been that of a stiff royal." You dragged your hand from his grip. "Actions speak louder than words and your acts do not proclaim love. Now, cease this silly game. I have much work to do."

Levi felt his heart leap in his chest as you returned to the training ground. He was in awe of you as you worked with your trainer and showed impressive swordsmanship. Levi was madly in love with you, it was impossible to deny his heart and how deeply it longed for you.

The two of you had been inseparable over the two weeks he had been here. His heart had grown fonder with each passing day. Levi longed for your love. He was no longer considering taking your country, but in fact, was willing to give you everything he had. He had a plan in his head, he was going to show you how much you had won his heart.

Over the next few days, he presented you with countless gifts, from flowers to dresses and jewels. Each gift he presented had you flustered and showing signs of equal attraction towards Levi. However, you were refusing to give in to your desires. Every gift he presented to you was getting grander by the day.

You hurried through your palace to your room as the night drew in. Your heart would not stop racing as you thought of Levi. Recently, he had been leaving you love letters and each was making your heart yearn for his touch. There was no denying it, you were deeply in love with your rival country's Emperor.

As soon as you entered your room, you requested the maid to leave. Once you had your own space, you removed your clothes and wore a nightdress and dressing gown. You moved to your balcony and read over Levi's loving words about you. You smiled sweetly at how he had written your name, as if it was the most precious thing in the world.

A gentle call of your name made you flinch. You looked down to see Levi below you in tight high-waisted trousers with a white low-cut shirt. "My Emperor, what are you doing out here?"

He smiled up at you. "My Queen, my moonlight. I could not sleep as my mind was filled with you. I had to come see you."

You whined a little. "Could we drop our royal speech? It is tiring and there are no maids or butlers here."

Levi bowed. "Of course. I will talk to you like commoner would. Can I come up?"

"It might be a difficult climb."

"Tch, I'm strong."

You frowned when he disappeared. "Levi?"

He appeared right in front of you making you squeak. "My name sounds good on your lips. However, your lips would be even better on mine."

"You're unstoppable sometimes." You pulled back and sat on the balcony allowing Levi to climb fully up. "I can't stop reading your letter."

"I can't stop reading your replies. Your words are so beautiful."

You looked up at him. "Have you really given up trying to buy my country?"

"I couldn't give a shit about owning your country anymore. All I want is you and your love. I will give you my country and all my riches just to have you."

You blushed hard. "Levi, that's a lot to give."

He dropped to his knees. "You don't understand." He softly said your name as he took your hands. "I love you. I love you more than anything. I don't want to lose you or leave you. I want to be with you."

You hummed a laugh. "You don't need to give me anything, okay? I don't want money for your land."

"Are you sure?" He frowned. "Maybe a new dress or a ring."

You laughed. "Levi, stop. I don't need anything. I told you weeks ago that all I ever want is love. You are giving me more than anything I have ever seen before. It's so beautiful." You pulled him to stand up. "No more kneeling for me."

He pouted. "I enjoy it though."

You rose to your feet and caressed his cheek. "To think that two months ago we were exchanging negative letters and I threatened to slap you. Now, you are wiling to give up everything for me and my whole heart and body yearns for you."

Levi's eyes lit up. "You love me?"

"It's impossible to deny. Now, please kiss me before I break apart in your arms."

Levi yanked you against his body and kissed you with ferocious passion. As your lips became plump they soon parted causing tongues to meet. The heat that burned between the two of you was intoxicating and mesmerising. The world and its troubles faded into nothing and all that remained were two halves becoming one. It was as if one soul had been split for so long and was now finally one. It was impossible to deny, Levi and you were meant to be together.

You parted from Levi's sweet lips. "Lay with me."

Levi smiled softly. "I will show you body-shaking pleasure all night long."

He was true to his word. All night Levi caressed and loved your body. He knelt again before you to devour everything you gave him. When your bodies became one it was impossible to stop. The hunger you both had for each other was unstoppable. Every inch of your body was explored and loved by Levi. The two of you only stopped when you could take no more and exhaustion consumed you.

When the morning came a pain filled your heart. Dark whispers in your head said it was just a night of passion and he would be gone, that he had used you and it was a game. You were scared to open your eyes but a delicate caressing of your body and delicate kisses soothed you.

Levi smiled softly at you as you gazed at him. "What shall we do today, my darling? Shall we go shopping? Take a stroll? Read together? Ride a horse? Take a boat?" He kissed your neck. "Hold each other all day? Or are you in the mood for more loving?"

You gazed at him. "You are still here."

He pulled back from your neck. "Of course. Were you expecting me to run off?

You welled up. "I thought you would leave me, that maybe you were using me."

He wiped your tears away. "My darling, you are my everything. You are my country and the greatest treasure out of all my riches. I am never leaving you. You might have to throw me in a cell to get me away from you." He traced patterns on your stomach. "Actually, that won't work. I will just break out and claim you again."

You felt your heart race. "You really do love me."

"A crazy amount. Do you still love me?"

You giggled. "Very much."

Levi smiled. "That makes me happy." He dragged you into his arms and held you tightly. "I want to hold you like this for eternity."

"That would be perfect."

[camillasgirl]

Queen Camilla becomes Patron of the Anne Frank Trust UK

Ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day 2024, on Saturday 27th January, we are deeply honoured to announce that Her Majesty The Queen has become the first Royal Patron of the Anne Frank Trust UK.

As The Duchess of Cornwall, Her Majesty was Guest of Honour at the Anne Frank Trust Annual Lunch in 2022. The event marked Holocaust Memorial Day and the 75th anniversary of the publication of Anne Frank’s Diary. Her Majesty said the following words as part of her speech on that occasion:

“Let us… learn from those who bore witness to the horrors of the Holocaust, and all subsequent genocides, and commit ourselves to keeping their stories alive, so that each generation will be ready to tackle hatred in any of its terrible forms. And let us carry with us the words and wisdom Anne Frank (a child of only 14 years old) wrote on 7th May 1944: “What is done cannot be undone, but at least one can prevent it from happening again”.

Nicola Cobbold, Chair of the Anne Frank Trust, says:

"On the eve of Holocaust Memorial Day, the profound honour of Royal Patronage emphasises the importance of Holocaust remembrance and anti-prejudice education. Her Majesty’s interest in young people and in reading is well known and long-standing. As a youth charity whose key educational tool is a beloved book, Anne Frank’s Diary, we could not be more delighted to have Her Majesty as our Patron. What this confirms, too, is The Queen’s deep commitment to commemorating the 6 million Jews murdered by the Nazis and to overcoming prejudice today. The devastating events in Israel and Gaza have led to unprecedented levels of antisemitism here in Britain, as well as a significant rise in Islamophobia. Her Majesty’s support could not be more timely as we all work to challenge hatred and build social cohesion at this critical time.”

[dragon-kazansky]

Spirit of the sea

Izzy Hands x Reader (GN)

You were a member of Blackbeard's crew long ago. Then you became a ghost story. Izzy Hands only sees you in his dreams these days, until he sees you for real when investigating Stede Bonnet. This sets him on a rollercoaster of emotions between you and what his captain is doing.

{Masterlist}

{Previous Chapter} - {Next Chapter}

Warnings: Swearing. Mostly Izzy, sometimes you, but mostly Izzy. Angst too.

Chapter Five - Rocky waters

♡♡♡

We've been almost a fortnight aboard the Revenge... and I'm beginning to suspect that Edward nas no intention of ending Stede Bonnet's life.

If I didn't know better... I'd say he's somehow become seduced by this imbecile.

You catch Izzy writing in his journal as you walk past his cabin. He had been rather quiet the past couple days, at least as far as you were concerned anyway. He hasn't noticed you in the doorway. You smile at the sight of the wooden sparrow on his desk. You knew he would like it.

You know that the longer Izzy is aboard this ship, the worse it gets for him. You've kind of adapted to the way the crew do things round here. It's a change of pace from your days on Blackbeard's crew.

As Izzy scribbles away, you decide to interrupt gently. With a soft knock to his already open door, you smile as he lifts his head to look at you. He snaps his journal shut and drops it beside him on his cot.

"What do you want?" He asks, trying to look annoyed by your interruption, but you can see through him.

"Thought I'd come check on you. Everything good?"

"Just peachy," he let's out an exasperated sigh. You chuckles softly as step into the room with one foot.

"We'll be off this ship soon. Sailing back aboard the Queen Anne leaving ruin in our wake. Doing things we used to do."

Izzy stares silently into space at the thought.

You step a little closer to his bed and take a seat. You can see how tired he is. The man never seems to stop: always working, never resting.

"When was the last time you slept?" You ask him.

"Last night."

"All night?"

He eyes flicker up to meet yours. He looks less than impressed, but he also can't hide anything from you. The sigh that escapes his nose tells you enough.

"I know you hate it here, and that you want Blackbeard back so we can return to our ship and our life, but you also need to give it time, Izzy."

"It's been a fucking weeks."

"I know, but surely he has a plan. He's our Blackbeard."

"That's the problem," Izzy starts. "I don't think he's our Blackbeard anymore. I think he's been seduced by Bonnet."

"Seduced?"

"Last night... last night I was up on deck. I could hear them. They were... I'm pretty sure they were fucking."

"Out in the open?" You ask, wide eyed.

"Sounded like it."

"Ew, Izzy, why were you listening to them?"

"It wasn't on purpose!" He groans. "I think Edward might be... in love with this guy."

You fall silent as you think about it. It made sense in a way. Edward was always where Stede was. They kept in the same cabin. They talked constantly. They were always looking art each other.

"Well shit..."

"Exactly!" Izzy huffs.

"I mean... Is it that bad if he is?" You ask him.

Izzy stares at you. "Bad? It's a fucking disaster."

You gaze down at your lap. "He's the happiest I've seen him in ages."

"It's pathetic."

You glance up at Izzy. "Love? Or the fact you're losing Blackbeard to Bonnet?"

Izzy glares at you.

You stand up from his bed and move over to the door. You glance back at Izzy. "I would be so lucky to have what they do."

Izzy watches you leave. He stares confused at the space you occupied only moments ago. Your words and the expression on your face, it felt strange to him. What did you mean by that? Were you jealous of Edward? No, that was nonsense. Izzy knows you better than that.

Izzy thinks he knows you better than that.

♡♡♡

One of the crew's favourite things to do was tell stories. If it wasn't Stede reading them a fairytale, it was telling ghost stories.

It was entertaining, even if they didn't always make sense.

You were sat on the steps near where Izzy stood with Ivan and Fang. You could hear them talking behind you. You were watching Ed where he sat by Stede. The latter was telling one of his ghost stories.

"So, is the plan off?" Ivan asks.

"Yeah, I reckon we're not killing this guy now." Fang chimes in.

"The plan is very much alive." Izzy says. "He promised me."

You listen to them.

"It just seems that he's having an awfully nice time," Fang says, looking at Izzy. "I mean, look at him. He's telling ghost stories."

"This is the most open and available I've ever seen him." Ivan states.

You sigh and get up, walking last the crew and heading below deck. Izzy watches you go, not once looking away until you were out of sight.

♡♡♡

You're sitting in your dark little corner when you head footsteps coming toward you then stopping. You don't have to look up to know it's Izzy.

"You alright?" He asks.

"Yeah."

He sees the way you're sitting with your knees up, arms draped over them. You're not even looking at him. He sighs quietly.

"You're not. What is it?"

"Nothing, Izzy."

"You can talk to me, ya know."

You glance up at him. You can't read him for his blank expression. You're not sure what he is trying to do.

"What happens if Edward doesn't kill him?"

"Then I'll take matters into my own hands."

"Will Edward even let you?" You ask.

"Does it matter? We'll get our captain back and we can go back to our lives. We... we can be a crew again."

"We're not a crew now?" You gaze up at him.

"Not with this lot."

You turn your eyes away from him and Izzy exhales through his nose in a sound of slight desperation. He doesn't want you to turn away from him.

He says your name softly. "This isn't our home."

When you say nothing he clenches his jaw and walks away. You listen to his footsteps fade. When you're sure he's gone you sigh.

♡♡♡

You stand on deck the next morning as the ship is shrouded in fog. The crew of the Revenge have no idea what's going on, but you sailed with Blackbeard long enough to know.

A Fuckery, as he liked to call it.

You lean against the railing of the ship as you wait. Once Stede arrives, dressed in pretty pyjamas and gown, Edward demonstrates the art of "Fuckery", which leads to the Swede jumping over the side of the ship.

Ed promptly stops his theatrics so someone can get the Swede back onboard.

Izzy promptly comes out, looking up at Ed who is still hanging from the mast. "May I have a word?" He asks, grabbing at Blackbeard's boot.

"It's a bit like theatre, isn't it, Ed? Theatre of fear!"

"Ha, theatre of fear, love that!" Ed grins back at Stede.

"His name is Blackbeard, dog!"

"Well, I'll leave you to it. It looks like there's trouble in paradise." Stede walks off.

You stick around just long enough to see Izzy try and help Ed, but he gets fed up after being caught between his legs. Izzy storms off leaving Edward hanging.

Ed looks at you.

"Help?"

You shake your head and walk off too. He can get out of his own mess.

You follow Izzy to find him with Fang and Ivan. He looks at you as you get closer to him. There is something about the way he is looking at you that sends your heart thumping.

"Where's Blackbeard?" He asks.

"Hanging out."

Izzy doesn't react, but Fang giggles and Ivan grins.

"You with us?" Izzy asks.

"Izzy..."

"No. It's important that I know you're with us," he says. "You don't want to stay with this lot, do ya? You're so much more than they are. You're wasted on a crew like this." Izzy speaks softly, almost gentle. This isn't like him at all.

"Why is this suddenly about me?"

"I-"

Izzy is cut off by Edward entering. You turn around to see him looking less than impressed.

"You left me hanging." He looks at you with a flat expression. You don't even react. "What the fuck's all this?"

"Do you remember your policy about let's aboard your vessel?" Izzy asks.

"Pets? Yeah. No pets. They befoul the ship."

"You know what else you said?" Ivan asks. "You said the love of a pet makes a man weak."

"I said that?"

"Yeah, when I joined your crew, you made me put my dog down." Fang tells him.

"Yeah, OK. Well, yeah, vaguely... remember that."

"So, here's the rub. Me and the boys, we think you've begun to view Bonnet as a sort of a pet." Izzy says. "You're in too deep, Edward. Beat thing to do, end it quick."

"The longer you wait, the harder it gets..." Fang says, getting upset. Ivan holds Fang as he cries.

You stand between Izzy and Edward, not sure what to do. Edward walks off, making it a bit easier on you.

Izzy turns his eyes to you and then follows Edward out.

You look at Fang and step closer.

"There there, Fang. It's okay."

"He's in doggy heaven, Fangy," Ivan says, trying to comfort him.

"But we go to different heavens!" He cries some more. You pat him on the shoulder. Fang turns and pulls you into a hug.

You stay there awhile.

♡♡♡

You sit on Izzy's bed and wait for him. He takes a while to return, but when he does, he seems surprised to see you there.

"I was looking for you," he says.

You're sat on his bed with the wooden sparrow in your hand. You notice some detail has been added to it in ink, meaning Izzy is giving it some character. It made you happy to think this meant something to him.

"I've been in here."

Izzy watches the way you handle the gift you made him. You're being very careful with it, your finger tracing over the ink lines on the wing.

"You know I'm right," he says.

"Do I?"

Izzy closes the door to his cabin and stands in front of you, gazing down at you with his dark eyes.

"Bonnet has to go."

"Do you hate Edward being happy?" You ask

"No, I-"

"Because it seems like it," you cut him off. "Edward has found someone new. He's trying new things and kind of just enjoying life."

"We're pirates, we're not meant to enjoy life." Izzy hisses out.

"You didn't enjoy being on Blackbeard's crew?" You ask.

"Well, yeah."

"You don't enjoy sailing the seas?"

"Course I do-"

"You don't enjoy life?"

He falls quiet.

"Are you jealous that all of Edward's attention is on someone else, or are you jealous that he has something you don't?"

Izzy stares at you silently.

You put the bird back on the desk and stand up, looking Izzy in the eye. You want to say more, but you're not sure what. Izzy seems to read your mind.

"It will be over soon," he tells you. "Tomorrow night."

"Oh. So, that's it then?" You ask.

"Thought you'd be happy."

"Happy?" You huff. "You're the one who will be happy, Izzy."

"Don't tell me you're soft for Bonnet too," Izzy almost begs.

"I don't hate the guy like you do. He's actually kind of nice. He's kind, polite, funny if even unintentionally so."

"See, that's my point. He ain't a pirate."

"Izzy. Let the man live. He's doing his thing and he's still alive."

"Not on my watch," he says in a low voice.

You see the look in his eyes and you walk away. You're done trying to change his mind. This thing with Stede was between Izzy and Edward.

You weren't going to get involved.

♡♡♡

You walk into the kitchen to find Fang holding an unconscious Lucius down. Roach is sharpening a kitchen knife.

"The fuck?"

Fang looks up. "His finger is infected."

You lean over Lucius to see the state of his hand. His finger was horribly swollen. "Ouch."

"Seems to me the best move here is... amputation," Roach says, looking closely at the finger.

"Oh, for God's sake! He's a visual artist." Fang cries out. "You can't cut the boy's little fingies."

"Level with us, man." Pete grabs Roach. "There's no better option?"

"Not in my professional opinion."

You pull a face.

"Hold him down."

You sigh and help Fang hold the poor lad down. Just as Roach is about to cut the finger off, Lucius gains consciousness again. As soon as he realises what's happening he pushes both you and Fang away and runs off.

"It's only going to get worse!" You call. He's already too far gone.

You can't help but chuckle as Pete and Fang go after him.

This crew isn't so bad.

♡♡♡

The Fuckery goes about as expected. Except for the fact that the crew of the Revenge didn't raid the ship. They let themselves get boarded by the Dutch merchants and basically put on some kind of Shakespeare play.

It ended with Edward freaking out and hiding in Stede's bathtub.

Stede did not die.

Izzy was fuming. You stand beside the man seeing the way he was clenching his jaw. His fist was balled up and it took everything in you not to reach out and calm the man.

Edward was complimenting the crew on their performance.

Edward was enjoying himself.

Not anymore.

"Stede Bonnet."

You turn to look at Izzy. You curse under your breath. Yet, you shouldn't be surprised. Izzy did tell you he would take matters into his own hands.

"Draw your weapon."

"No, Izzy, we're not doing this." Ed points at him.

"No, YOU'RE not doin' this. So I must." Izzy steps down and grabs 2 swords. "Stede fuckin' Bonnet... I fuckin' challenge you to a fuckin' duel."

He tosses Stede a sword.you step in front of Izzy.

"Izzy, please."

"Move." He says your name softly.

"I accept your challenge," Stede says from behind you. You turn around.

"Stede, no."

"Stede, be careful. He does know his shit," Edward warns him.

Izzy uses his arm to move you out of the way. You glare at him as he steps closer to Stede.

"As do I. You've taught me well," Stede replies to Ed.

"Not that well," Ed admits.

Stede watches Izzy. "I assume standard duel rules apply. What are those exactly?" He asks.

"Let's make it interesting, shall we?" Izzy says. "The loser is banished from the ship, if they're not dead."

"Izzy, no!" You call out, but he ignores you. Instead he instantly swings his sword at Stede.

Stede manages to block his attacks

"Come on. Give a man a warning." Stede says as Izzy holds his sword up to his neck.

"That was your warning."

They start swinging their swords at each other. You stand there anxiously, watching. There is no way for Stede to beat Izzy. Israel Hands was the best man you knew with a sword.

Izzy gets a hit into Stede which stumbles the man backward. Izzy's swings become a little more furious. Stede falls onto the ground. Izzy stands over him with sword pointed down at him.

"Yield or die."

"I choose... this." Stede throws powder into Izzy's face, temporarily blinding the man. Izzy covers his face and stumbles backward. The crew cheer for Stede, but all you can think about is if you should step in or not.

Stede gets to his feet, he gives Izzy a smack on the backside with his sword. Izzy straightens up again and continues the fight.

Izzy disarmed Stede with ease. The gentleman pirate backs up against the mast.

"So, it looks like we've arrived, Bonnet. The end of the road." Izzy holds his sword up to Stede again.

"Alright. Let's call it a draw," Stede says, breathless.

"Nah, I'm good."

"Izzy, stop!" You try once more in vain, but it feels like he's ignoring you completely.

With a firm stab, Izzy's sword goes right through Stede's abdomen and into the mast, pinning him there.

You inhale sharply at Stede's scream.

"Did I do it right?" Stede asks Ed, looking at the other man. "He missed all the important bits..."

Izzy tries to pull the sword out, but to no avail. He pulls hard, grunting. You stare at him, mild confusion painting across your face.

"This mast... is made from the finest cherry wood in Brazil. It's rather strong, actually." Stede manages to say as Izzy continues to attempt to pull the sword out.

Edward looks flabbergasted.

You can't quite believe what you're seeing yourself.

"Shut up!" Izzy yells at Stede. "Don't you ever shut up?! You rancid rat!"

The sword breaks in Izzy's hand. The blade still pinning Stede to the mast. You feel a gasp escape last your lips.

Buttons laughs. "Well, now, Mr Hands. Reckon he's rendered your sword inoperable."

Izzy stands there with realisation on his face.

"By duelling tradition, that means..."

"Stede wins!" Frenchie yells. The crew all cheer. "In your face, Jizzy!"

Edward shrugs as Izzy looks at him.

You watch Izzy with concern. He walks off. You watch him. You don't care for what everyone else is doing. You take off after Izzy.

He disappears into his cabin, you follow him inside, not even knocking. He doesn't say anything to you about it as he faces away from you, shoulders tense.

"Izzy..."

"No." He speaks with a firmness, but not in an angry way. Just a firm 'no.'

"Izzy, please. That whole thing was stupid."

"You're telling me..."

You take a step closer to him hoping he will turn around and look at you. He remains facing the wall of his cabin.

"Just forget the duel! Forget everything."

"No. Rules are rules."

"Izzy..."

He turns around and looks at you, but only briefly. He looks like he struggles to look you in the eye.

"He promised me. I was fucking right all along. Edward's gone soft for that twat. Any trace of Blackbeard is gone and it's all because of fuckin' Bonnet."

Your arm twitches as if you were going to reach out and touch him, but you catch yourself. However, Izzy noticed the slight reaction in your hand. He kind of wished you would.

"Don't be stupid, Izzy. Stay. We'll figure all this out. Maybe there's another solution."

"No." He shakes his head, his Adam's apple bobs as he swallows thickly. He's angry. Silently angry.

"It was a stupid fucking duel. Are you seriously going to leave?"

"I'm not a coward."

"I didn't say you were," your voice is almost pleading. "Don't go."

"Rules are rules," he says again. For a brief second his eyes meet yours and you can see all the emotion bottled up inside. You want to reach out and hold the man, caress him, get him to open up and talk to you.

But he won't.

Your breathing becomes uneven as you try to fight off any emotion. You will not cry in front of him.

"So that's it then? You're going to fuck off and... and what? Leave me behind? I only just found you again and you're leaving me?"

"You could come with me."

"And do what? Izzy, what would be the point? I only just found my way back home," you tell him.

"No. This isn't home. This is a lie. A facade. Home was back on our ship, back with Blackbeard's crew. Home is... is where we belonged. It's where we lived together."

A tear escapes and runs down your cheek. This was your breaking point.

"Fuck you," you whisper.

Izzy stares at you.

"Fuck you and this whole fucking thing." You take a couple slow steps back toward the door. "Fuck off then, Izzy. Leave me behind. Maybe... maybe I should have stayed a ghost story."

You don't hang around. You turn on your heel and leave.

Izzy catches his breath as he stares at his empty doorway.

"Fuck," he whispers.

♡♡♡

@grippleback-galaxy - @askmarinaandothers - @godlikegallagher - @for-fuck-sake-im-alive - @whiskeyswriting - @lxsm2 - @bloody-bunni666 - @the-chocoholic-writer -

[brf-rumortrackinganon]

I’m sure this would have been mentioned but could they have changed their last name to Sussex so that when Meghan divorces Harry she has the Sussex surname instead of Markle so she keeps the Royal connection?

No. Meghan's surname has legally been Sussex since May 19, 2018.

It's the children who haven't been able to use 'Sussex' as a surname. The "we finally have the same last name" comment is meant to cause outrage in people who don't know what has really been happening or how titles and styles work. It's a 'fuck you' to Charles.

Meghan still gets to keep the title after a divorce. Under the divorce protocols, Meghan becomes Meghan, Duchess of Sussex instead of Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, as she has been known since Megxit*. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex becomes her title for life unless she remarries and takes her new husband's name; however, that is only an assumption. Neither Diana nor Sarah have remarried so we don't actually know where the palace actually stands on this.

*Meghan's full official title is Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex but use of the HRH went into abeyance per the terms of the Sandringham Summit/Megxit. The HRHs still belong to her and Harry, they just can't use them. This is why they're fighting so hard for half in/half out - being "in" (even if only part time) lets them use their HRHs again.

Keep reading for how the Sussex title conversation got to where it is today...

A disclaimer first - I'm not an expert by any means on titles. My knowledge on titles comes from the royal books I've read and it is totally possible I may be wrong on any of this.

When Harry was getting married, Queen Elizabeth gave him a new title, The Duke of Sussex, as a wedding gift. This is an important distinction to make - the title was given to Harry only, not to Harry and Meghan. (I see a lot of newer fans/royal watchers making this mistake.) When Meghan married Harry and became his wife, she took The Duchess of Sussex as her new married name (with Duchess being the female equivalent of Duke). Meghan is also able to use Harry's HRH in this way too; she only has HRH because it's Harry's and she assumed it as part of his Duke of Sussex surname.

Royal family protocol is that if you have a title - whether it's your own or courtesy of your husband or father - then that title becomes your surname. Hence Kate calling herself Mrs. Cambridge and George being registered for school as George Cambridge. If you don't have a title, then you use the family's surname, Mountbatten-Windsor.

Princess Anne was the first person to use Mountbatten-Windsor in an official capacity when she signed the marriage register with Mark Phillips. Lady Louise (Edward and Sophie's daughter) is the first person to actually be known with Mountbatten-Windsor as her surname; her actual name is Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor. And also William used Mountbatten-Windsor as his surname when he sued over Kate's topless photos, which suggests that the titled members of the family may use Mountbatten-Windsor in a personal capacity.

Because Harry and Meghan declined titles for their children, Archie and Lili's surname at birth were Mountbatten-Windsor. So the family was The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, and Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor. Even if Harry and Meghan had allowed their children to use their titles from birth, they still all would've had different surnames: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, the Earl of Dumbarton, and Lady Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor.

But now that Archie and Lili are grandchildren of the monarchy and eligible to use HRH Prince/Princess honorifics (per the 1917 letters patent), Harry and Meghan have changed their minds on allowing Archie and Lili to use titles. So now Archie and Lili can use their own titles (technically Harry's title) and now everyone finally has the same surname under family protocol of using Dad's title as their surname - all four of them are now legally HRH ____ of Sussex, even though the HRHs are in abeyance.

This is where the 'eff you' to Charles comes in: if the BRF had just done a new letters patent for Harry and Meghan's kids when she was pregnant with Archie (as they did for William and Kate) then all of this would have been avoided in the first place. So in Harry and Meghan's eyes, it's the BRF's fault they're weren't a 'real' family until just now when they all began using the Sussex surname.

Other than remarrying after a divorce or Harry's death, the only way Meghan loses Sussex is if the title is removed from Harry - voluntarily, by Parliament, or by Charles. If Harry doesn't have the title, then Meghan can't use the title and neither can the children. If this were to happen, then Harry becomes The Prince Harry ('The' signifying he is the son of the reigning monarch), Meghan becomes The Princess Harry, and I'm not sure what Archie and Lili get.

In this case, I can see Harry and Meghan legally changing their family's surname from Mountbatten-Windsor to Sussex so the family can continue being Sussex without Harry having the title but I can't see anyone taking it away at this point, even if Parliament did change the laws. What's probably more likely is a letters patent from Charles that converts the Sussex title from "Harry and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten" to just Harry and only for his lifetime (as Charles awarded Edward the Duke of Edinburgh title).

[all-eyes-lead-to-the-truth]

All Eyes Lead to the Truth | Triangle (6x03)

Nothing had gone according to plan from the moment the stranger stepped into the ballroom, peeking out from beneath the brim of a German officer's hat. Judy Montgomery had boarded the S.S. Queen Anne under the assumption that she would carry out her mission undetected. Like a ghost. But this strange man –whoever he was– seemed to know everything about her, everything that had happened and even everything that would come to pass.

How was that possible?

The pair of them ran pell-mell down the ship’s long vestibules, as if trapped in a maze, his sweaty hand wrapped tightly around her own. He’d told her she was the only person who could save the ship, and although she didn’t know why, something compelled her to trust the man. Besides, what did she have to lose? Her mission had failed, and German troops had boarded. 

In any event, the stranger seemed to share her distaste for Nazis. In these times, that was really all that mattered.

They ran down countless hallways and staircases, all of it feeling like some labyrinthine dream. But when they rounded a corner, there was a moment Judy felt something very real: a flash of unfamiliar imagery in her mind. American flags waving in front of a tall building, vehicles driving in front of it that looked nothing like the ones she was used to seeing. Most importantly, a woman who looked a bit like her, standing next to a familiar man. They were talking closely to one another like compatriots. Like friends.

Like equals.

“Come on, Scully!” he shouted, pulling her back to the present. What the devil was that? 

And who was Scully? It was like he thought that was her name, but it certainly didn't sound like any name she’d ever heard.  

She did her best to keep up with his long strides, and eventually he found a crew member exit, flinging them both out onto the deck. The chilly nighttime air stung her face but the stillness around them slowed everything down, which was exactly what she needed.

“What are you doing?” She wanted answers. She would go no further without them.

“Telling you how to save the ship,” he said.

“Out here?”

“I can't stay. I gotta get back to history. You’ve gotta rescue it.”

“What?” Back to history? This was some kind of joke, it had to be. She was staring into the eyes of a crazed lunatic who’d dragged her all over the ship, and for some reason she’d allowed it. She hated that, most likely, it was because he was so damn handsome.

“Wait, listen to me,” he said, grabbing her hand again. “The ship's been caught in something called the Devil's Triangle. Some kind of time warp.”

Judy had heard of this kind of thing before, but only from the likes of H.G. Wells. Science fiction. 

“Are you crazy?” she asked him, quite seriously.

“You know Einstein, right?” he asked. The idea that he’d listened to her and remembered every word she’d spoken made her want to listen, too. “He predicts the theoretical possibility. He also predicts an atomic weapon to destroy the world.”

“Yeah? So what?”

“If you don't go back and convince the crew to head back into the Devil's Triangle, everything Einstein predicted will become true, except for the outcome of history.”

She wasn’t sure what to make of all this, but what he wanted from her was simple and clear. “So… if I don't turn this ship around…” 

“In all likelihood, I won't exist. And neither will you.” 

Despite all her prior misgivings, she now found herself battling against her own impulse to believe every word this man was saying. And although the science was foreign to her, he was looking at her now with an expression she could definitely understand: it was yearning. A deep, passionate yearning she’d read about in books but one that, here and now, with this man, she had not earned. 

“So in case we never meet again…” he mumbled, and quite suddenly he was grabbing her by the neck and pulling her in to kiss her, his lips crushing against hers. 

A man taking a liberty such as this would typically provoke her to knee him in the groin, then punch him in the stomach, just like she’d been taught in her OSS training. But instead, Judy fell into the kiss, because something about it was magical– as if it opened a window into that other world, the one where she was his equal. And she found herself realizing that he didn’t merely resemble the man she’d seen in her vision moments ago; he was that very man, in what she now believed could only be the future, his future, standing closely to a woman who looked like her, just like this. Asking her to believe him.

Needing her to believe him.

Somewhere out there, in some other stitch of time, there was a woman of whom she reminded him: someone he cared about deeply.

Time stood still as they kissed, and somewhere in the furthest recesses of her secret heart, she wanted to keep kissing this man until the sun exploded. But eventually he let her go, and Judy drew back, struck dumb, wobbling a bit. As the real world shifted back into focus, her inherent sense of decorum took over and she popped him one, right in the kisser.

The stranger recovered quickly and smiled, touching his cheek tenderly. With a gentle huff of a laugh, he said, “I was expecting a left.” Then he spun around, and with no hesitation whatsoever, threw himself overboard.

Judy watched in utter confusion, tossing him a life preserver. She could not make heads nor tails of this encounter, but the one thing she knew with every fiber of her soul was that she believed him.

She turned and headed towards the engine room. Whatever it took, she would convince the engineers to turn the ship around.

Read the rest of All Eyes Lead to the Truth on Ao3

@admiralty-xfd

[agalychnisspranneusroseus]

In RiAAU, when Anne accidentally takes her girls to Earth at age 23 (plus Sprig, who came as a stowaway), they're transported to different points of LA - specifically, to their respective childhood homes. After running around through the city, having a few encounters with the police (who think they're cosplayers on drugs) and several crying sessions, they find each other. Anne had already met her parents and spent a day with them before leaving to find her girls - she was angry with her wives when they left, and she didn't know they had all been transported until she saw something about a crazy "medieval fair attendee" robbing someone with swords in the news. Being with her parents was... awkward. First of all, they spent twenty years looking for a missing son, a little boy, and what came back was an adult daughter. She had changed her gender, apparently, but also her entire name. "Anne Plantar" was completely different from "Andrew Boonchuy". She slept holding her sword. She caught insects in the backyard and baked them into cookies. She could see they had all of these expectations for what their son would be like when he came back and it was painfully obvious that Anne didn't meet a single one. At least her brother was with her. They climbed out the window on the first night they were there and left to find Sasha and Marcy.

Now, the Boonchuys were the only ones who stayed in their old house after their kid went missing. The Wu's left nearly ten years after Marcy disappeared, and the Waybrights got divorced, remarried, and had more children in different houses, in separate parts of the city. When Sasha and Marcy returned, they found their old houses empty, or with new people living there. Tracking each other down was hard, but when they finally reunited, there were tears and hugs and kisses and they slept in the floor of the Wu's old abandoned house. Whatever had made them all so mad before seemed insignificant now.

They return to the Boonchuy house - Anne wasn't about to let her wives, who were both literal royalty back in Amphibia, live as squatters until they found a way back. It's uncomfortable and awkward but Anne explains everything she hadn't told her parents before - that she didn't come alone, that these two were the two other kids who went missing with her, that they're world leaders back home and that they're all married. Yep. Yes it's legal. Yes there's this polygamy clause that allows it in some ca- why are they looking at her like that? Lest to say, her parents are feeling very emotional about their baby being married. And the fact that they missed it.

So they stay with the Boonchuys for several weeks. It's shocking how quickly Marcy becomes friends with her dad - he shows her this thing called "videogames" and it's like a whole new section of her brain is activated. Sasha bonds with Anne's mother very easily, too - she's just generally very helpful, a great listener, and always goes with her to the market because she can carry the most bags at a time.

It's... nice, to see two of her three families get along so nicely. Her three families if you count Sprig winning over her mom. Really, Anne is happy. She knew her relationship with Marcy and Sasha was unusual, and if it weren't because she was consort to the queen of Newtopia and the lady paramount of the old Toad State, they'd all probably get a weird treatment back home. The fact that her parents seem fine with it is comforting.

Still painful to see her wives becoming so close to them when Anne can barely stand being in the same room as her mom without feeling awkward and wanting to bolt. She's starting to feel like coming here was a big mistake.

[hotmusketeerspoll]

Magnificent Musketeer Tournament

Constance Bonacieux Poll 1 - Round 2

Constance - Tamla Kari The Musketeers 2014-2016

She is brave, caring, independent-minded, loyal, and determined that men aren’t going to have all the fun. She does what she thinks is right, even if it’s dangerous or difficult. She’s ABSOLUTELY GOT THIS. She’s both the garrison mom and one of its fiercest soldiers. She’s a Musketeer!

Constance - Lyna Khoudri Les Trois Mousquetaires: D'Artagnan 2023, Les Trois Mousquetaires: Milady 2023

She's so clever and funny and sweet, she's the perfect Constance. There's no M. Bonacieux in this one so she's single AND a homeowner (one (1) landlady has rights). All of the best scenes in this movie are between her and d'Artagnan because they are SO cute together. There's this part where she's sewing up a gaping wound in d'Artagnan's side and he's flirting with her and she says "next time, I'll sew your mouth shut," and he just meekly goes "alright, I'll shut up." They are CUTE, your honor!!!

The complete list of entrants can be found here.

More information & links to the other polls here.

Additional Propaganda under the cut

Tamla Kari:

She's a fully rounded character, absolutely beautiful, and responds to misogyny with "maybe I bring men to fight [my battles]". She's the Queen's confidante and she's so wonderful that she turns down a man's proposal after her husband's death and he just accepts it and wishes her happiness. This fanvid says it best:

Even though her story is different from the book, it's so wonderful to watch her grow and take such an active role.

Constance is one of the best characters of this show - she gets to be so much more than just a love interest and we get to see her as a fully fleshed out person. Her relationship with Anne in particular stands out as really interesting and fun. She is also a badass and gets to take part in adventures and eventually becoming part of the garrison organisation after she gets to marry d'Artagnan. I'm a sucker for a happy ending and for once Constance gets hers.

Lyna Khoudri:

[shallowseeker]

It's so interesting too, that in sundering themselves from their humble backgrounds, Crowley and Rowena mirror that which was inflicted on them, trying to become their oppressors (a Godstiel theme, if you care):

In Hell, Crowley is a king who commands no respect and begets no real loyalty. He's become a classist bastard. Dark ages-mentality.

Along with Rowena, Crowley inflicts pain on the ones "beneath" him, trampling the rebellious demons, especially the ones that stand up for "equal pay for equal work."

///

And it's not exactly as Crowley tells Sam at the end of s10—a long con to "change" Hell for the better.

That's a half-truth Crowley is using to make himself feel better.

A LOT of Crowley's behavior has been shown to be flagrant, for his own amusement to satisfy his own pain and loneliness. We got to see that all season long. Even before Rowena showed!

This line is intended to appeal to Sam and soothe Crowley's deeply wounded humanity. It's another version of "for the greater good."

Sam also uses things like this to pad his own wounded humanity.

///

In Girls, Girls, Girls, Crowley insists that "human trafficking is tacky," which is another form of padding to protect his pride. This helps Crowley look away from reality. He did the same, trafficking Dean to Cain, as Randy trafficked Claire to Randy in order to get a stronghold against his enemies/debt.

Most importantly, Crowley is looking away from the fact that his clients are all selling their souls, that his Hell-workers have already sold theirs.

But most importantly, he's looking away from the fact that he trafficked himself. That's how he got here. Crowley, like Rowena, was dealt a horrible hand.

It's as in 10x21:

STYNES: There's always profit to be made from desperation.

///

And it's no accident that s10 dead-ends in themes of Frankenstein.

Crowley wanted to rule over Hell, but in Demon Dean, he wanted to patchwork someone together who could "see what he sees, feel what he feels."

Dean becomes Crowley's very own Nick the SIren, an immature combination of all things familiar, someone "just like me!"

And when Dean fled to Anne-Marie, to his "humanity," Crowley was gob-smacked. "That's someone the old you would fall for," he says. Spoiler alert: Dean was falling for her. Anne-Marie is, in essence, a stand-in for Dean's humanity.

Dean and Anne-Marie linger in the spectre of Daniel and Adina, Adina resembling Anne-Marie AND Dean, wanting to go "somewhere else," and Daniel like Cain in: "just wanting to be left alone." (It's no wonder, then, that it is Crowley who kills Adina.)

Dean was supposed to be Crowley's perfect Hell-"Queen," someone just like him. But Dean wasn't a queen. He wasn't a lot of things people wanted him to be.

Not what John wanted, not what God wanted.

Dean wasn't even a proper knight. As much as Cain pegged him for a mirror, as being "just like Cain himself," Dean didn't do ANYTHING Cain predicted because Cain, like Chuck, like the audience, has got Dean dead wrong.

Dean is Dean.

He's not John. He's not Crowley, and he sure as Hell isn't Cain.

///

Next,

Let's note that in 10x21, a girl was killed and her EYES were taken. This is emphasized for many reasons.

But in a big way, this blindness mirrors Demon Dean himself. His "pretty black peepers." Crowley said to him, "See what I see, feel what I feel."

These themes swirl around the whole season because as Dean is reckoning with what Crowley did to him, Crowley is reckoning with his own life.

What Rowena did to him. With his original, terrible, abusive human life. With his own demon deal.

To Crowley, it seemed like Dean could be the answer, the balm to his boredom, to his lack of purpose and, like with Amara being wounded by Chuck, a Holy tourniquet to that core wound left in Crowley by Rowena.

///

Aside/// Dean is more successful than Crowley:

Crowley gets much of his kingdom through MOC!Dean's battle prowess/defeat of Abbadon. Dean's sacrifices are the foundation of Crowley's current kingdom and ability to succeed.

There's an off-key parallel with Sam here. Dean's sacrifices in many ways enabled Sam to go to college and have a chance to succeed.

Even now, Sam gets a lot of friendship and love by proxy through Dean's preexisting, strongly forged connections. In season 10, we see Sam at his worst: Sam manipulates others via the loyalty Dean has earned.

Sam's (and Rowena's and Crowley's) lack of social grace and inability to make friends stand in stark contrast to characters like Dean. Sam, Rowena, and Crowley feel like outsiders, and they can't reckon with why. Even getting power and status doesn't seem to help them, and that frustrates them all!

SPN has plenty of other outsiders, sure. But I get the sense that Sam, Crowley, and Rowena struggle more than others do.

Even with awkward characters like Cas, people seem to follow him even when he doesn't want them to. People don't naturally follow Sam, (and actually, it's even more complicated than that—he's afraid of leading). Sam really has to work on it with the AU hunters.

By comparision, Dean, Mary, Cas, and Jack, all characters with big hearts, seem effortlessly able to form these deep connections. They don't seem to need recipes or a rulebook for "How to Win Friends and Influence."

(Aside/// It doesn't save big-hearted characters from getting duped, of course, and respectively, Cas and Dean are fresh off being manipulated by Metatron and Crowley!)

///

But anyway, Crowley wants to be top dog, and it's a losing battle.

Crowley denigrates those who remain loyal to him, calling them stupid and useless, and one wonders if this is what Crowley heard daily after his mother left and he went into the workhouse?

As a leader, it's not a good look for Crowley, and it's shown that his behavior actually makes him a weaker king, not a stronger one. He becomes paranoid that their loyalty is cheap and that they'd betray him the first chance they get.

And well. He's right.

Interestingly, it's this that Sam senses in him—this that Sam hates. It's a self-hatred, too. It's about the rigged game, maestro!

///

Rowena hates what Sam represents; Sam hates what Crowley represents

Rowena hates The Men of Letters. At first, spitting on Sam and Dean is a big "fuck you" to the upper class.

So, too, does Sam spit on Crowley as emblematic of Hell, as emblematic of the thing that had tried to lure Sam in as a "boy-king," a promise of power but with the harsh reality of only being needed ONLY for his parts (meat suit).

Sam beats on Crowley because he can't beat on Ruby, or on Lucifer, or on John. Because (and Sam's not exactly wrong!), "because Crowley has it coming."

Crowley killed their loved ones (Sarah, etc). Then he duped Dean and dangled him in front of Cain as cannon fodder for his war.

(But it isn't all Crowley's fault! It's the system of Hell at fault.)

///

And the Crowley-Metatron parallels are delicious, too...

VS

Metaron duped Cas and used him as cannon fodder for his war. Then Metatron ordered their loves ones (Kevin) to be killed.

(But it isn't all Metatron's fault. It's the system of Heaven.)

///

They're ALL in Hell, in one way or another. In a sense, they're climbing down off the rack to stick it to perfect scapegoats (monsters, demons, whatever) who "have it coming."

Metatron and Crowley are also intrinsically linked. They both have extremely UGLY family wounds, and they're slowly falling towards their own humanity.

///

Preying on desperation isn't just a demon thing:

You know the ruse: finding vulnerable people and preying on them by promising them either protection or something to protect their families.

Like Cas preyed on Jimmy, like Dean manipulated Kevin emotionally, like Metatron preyed on Cas, like Crowley dangled Dean in front of Cain then used him as a Hell-worker, like Randy swooped in on Claire, like Rowena is trying to prey on Crowley.

YET. Sam doesn't want to admit that he's done the same! He swooped in on Lester when he was at his lowest in order to manipulate him, like Sam's using Charlie's love for Dean to get her to go whole-hog into a dangerous mission.)

///

The backdrop of forgiveness:

Interesting then, that you have this whole backdrop of forgiveness: Claire forgiving Randy, Dean forgiving Crowley, Claire forgiving her mom, Cole forgiving Dean, Claire forgiving Cas.

Crowley laments that Rowena is a liar, and Dean frankly calls him out about lying to him and setting him up to be the fall-boy with the Mark, "guess it runs in the family."

Cas laments that he can't put Claire in danger, and she calls him out too, "Anything else, you mean."

But it's not THAT simple either! Even "virtuous, forgiving" characters like Dean and Claire are still spiraling down into hunting, and Cas is still eagerly sticking his knife into low-level demon-soldiers.

No one's hands are clean, not even those who symbolize forgiveness and change. It's so messy!

///

It's so interesting, then. How Sam and Rowena mirror each other more directly.

They can't seem to forgive anything. Because they can't bear, in all of their stalwart perfectionism, to really look at themselves.

Sam can't forgive Crowley. He can't forgive himself.

Sam goes through the motions of "a team effort" with Charlie and Cas, but like Rowena, he trades more easily in the business of selective truths and manipulation.

And that's a big thing, isn't it? Sam, Rowena, and Crowley are alike in this manner.

They want people beside them to assuage their own wounds.

They tend to rule in fits of misguided ruthlessness and subterfuge to get people into positions where they can use them, as they themselves have been used. They struggle out from under the boot...

Rowena can't forgive the entire world for being rigged.

Neither can Sam.

He couldn't be further than Claire Novak this season. But can we blame Sam? Let's step back for a sec and cut him some slack:

Sarah Blake in season 8. That was like two seconds ago for Sam. She was killed right in front of Sam BY Crowley. To think this is ONLY about Dean runs the risk of oversimplifying Sam. (And yeah, Sam could've tried harder to save the Trans fam, but let's not forget that Crowley was who he had to save them from.)

His need for vengeance shouldn't come as a surprise, and I don't think it should be simplified to "homophobia" either, like I sometimes see.

CROWLEY: Well, I think the people you save, they're how you justify your pathetic little lives. The alcoholism, the collateral damage, the pain you've caused – the one thing that allows you to sleep at night, the one thing is knowing that these folks are out there, still out there happy and healthy because of you, you great, big, bloody heroes! They're your life's work, and I'm going to rip it apart piece by piece because I can, because you can't stop me, and because when they're all gone, what will you have left?

This is a very Luciferian comment by Crowley, and it's interesting to how very like Lucifer some of his actions can be. Lucifer says very similar dialogue to the above when he's posssessing Vince Vincente/rockstar.

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It's another way that Rowena and Sam's plots are hopelessly intertwined.

Sam's hangups are about being squashed beneath the boot, but instead of finding another shoe, he's so afraid and so paranoid that he becomes the boot.

Dean and Cas are not immune to this. (Ahem, see Godstiel.) And perhasp Kevin Tran is to Dean as Charlie is to Sam. Miracle cure-Gadreel is a little bit like miracle-cure Book of the Damned, if you think about it... just on a smaller scale.

Sam tries to save his family not dissimilar to how his family saved him, by locking Deab up for detox, for doing "whatever it takes to save him."

But he's Sam, so it comes out... very Sam-like. On a big, destructive, and very CUNNING, pragmatic, and manipulative way. As we see in the early seasons, Sam is willing to go further. Into forbidden knowledge and outright human sacrifice.

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Like Rowena, Sam WILL tend to save his own skin this season, and with them both, there are "substitute sacrifices" involved.

Symbolically, Oskar is a substitute sacrifice for them both. (And before you get too into the idea of Dean being "immune," it's the way Jack will later, unfortunately, be allowed to be a "substitute sacrifice/bomb" - re Dean's: "Thank you, Jack. " Dean also expresses relief that for once he and Sam won't be the ones sacrificing etc etc' ; war son stuff etc etc)

ANYWAY.

Other characters' struggle with this theme of class doesn't seem as prolonged and ever-present as what we see in Sam, Rowena, and Crowley.

Cas and Dean are, on the whole, more likely to be upset with systems and forgive the individuals caught up in it. (SEE: Dean forgives Crowley for selling him out, Claire forgives Randy for betraying her, and Cas has mercy on Metatron in s12).

That was a lot of words to say that Sam, Rowena, and Crowley are fundamentally linked and it's so tasty to me.