#team gleggie

[willswinona]

twd mutuals wanted

i need more twd friends so just like this post for a dm! you just have to watch the show and hopefully not like negan (team rick ftw) and maybe ship gleggie or richonne idk it’s not a must but it would be nice! also maybe be willing to join a gc?? i’m making one soon and i need more ppl to join lol

[waynedunlaptheorgandonor]

one last thing before i disappear for the night, just bc i didn't want to forget to put out this reminder:

don't just cancel amc+ and boycott 11c. don't watch any of it. don't watch the 700 different extended universes. fear, beyond, origins, up, down, left, right, whatever the fuck else they have now. don't watch "exclusive insider info." stay off their youtube channels. don't retweet/reblog promotional material. amc has spread the twd universe out super thin, using the marvel method of "if it's part of the universe, someone will watch it!" prove them wrong. i've joked that twd is the only show amc seems to have, but honestly, they've been pumping out content for the sake of pumping out content for years now

carylers are not the only ppl they've screwed. they've been dangling a carrot out for rick stans/richonne shippers since the start of s9. they've completely fucked over maggie stans/gleggie shippers by putting negan and maggie on the same team (and same spin-off??). they have introduced and then immediately sidelined a shitton of characters, over and over again, a lot of whom are women, queer, or poc. they've sidelined ACTUAL BILLED ACTORS (ahem, melissa, ahem), or promised bigger roles to characters who have been there for years, only to pretty much forget their existence. melissa getting kicked off the spin-off is not a caryl-centric issue. it is a catalyst to highlight a bigger problem

it would be so easy for this to turn into a shipwar--the network would LOVE IT if that's what this dissolved into--but for once in our gd lives we are all on the same side here, even we aren't all aware of it yet

carylers are heading this project, sure, but listen--everyone in the twd fandom is here bc some part of it resonates with them, some part has their heart. well, creative control is being taken away from the actors, writers, and showrunners who care about it as much as we do. we're all victims here

so make them regret it. if you want to watch twd, pirate it. don't watch it on amc or netflix (or other streaming, idk if it's on different services outside of the usa)

in the scheme of the everything that is happening in the world all the time, this might seem like a relatively small and petty issue, but the truth is that any demonstration against a larger establishment that ends in victory becomes a model for others in the future. today we fight for melissa, and kang, and characters we love, but if we accomplish that, then tomorrow we can fight for wage equality for actresses, or fight streaming services when they make more and more surcharges despite being billion dollar companies, etc

small things matter. they matter a fucking lot. so cancel, boycott, unsubscribe, and while you're at it, lower your pitchforks aimed at each other, and point them in the direction of the people who deserve it

we are so much stronger as a unit, my dudes, so let's all sit down at the table together. we're serving the rich for supper

/soapbox (for now)

-diz

[mockingjayne12]

The decision was made a long time ago, before any of us knew each other.  We were all strangers who would’ve just passed each other on the street before the world ended.  And now we mean everything to each other.  You were in trouble.  You were trapped.  Glenn didn’t know you, but he helped you.   He put himself in danger for you.  And that started it all, from Atlanta, to my daddy’s farm, to prison, to here, to this moment now.  Not as strangers, as family.  Because Glenn chose to be there for you a long time ago, that was the decision that changed everything.  It started with both of you, and it just grew.  All of us.  To sacrifice for each other.  To suffer, to stand, to grieve, to give, to love, to live, to fight for each other.  Glenn made the decision, Rick.  I was just following his lead.

Maggie Rhee

[thereadersmuse]

“I am a Hero” Live-watch Party

@exoticdeviance and myself are pleased to present our second live-watch party! We had an amazing turn out for a first one, featuring: “Train to Busan” and hope we can equal that or more this time around. As with last time this is a party open to everyone, you don’t have to be part of the twd fandom to join us. In terms of ‘history,’ this live-watch party idea started with the aim of helping foster relationships within the embattled twd fandom. Encouraging people from different corners to come together and enjoy so good old fashioned movie-related fun.

When: Saturday, June 24th @ 2:30pm PST.

Where: On rabb.it. We will put up a post about an hour ahead of time that will link you to the chat room for the live-watch. We suggest entering 30 minutes before run time if you are unfamiliar with how the site works. That way you can get signed up and work out any bugs well ahead of time. While signing up at rabb.it (as many of you did already) is free and dirt easy and your experience can be tailored for your enjoyment, I will be sporadically on tumblr during the movie, making the occasional post if you prefer to follow from tumblr. We do recommend you join us on the chat however, way more fun! (past link for reference)

What we expect: That you come to have fun and enjoy a movie with us. And that you leave your fandom wank - regardless of what it is - at the door.

There are a few rules that we would like to state right off the bat:

1.Please change your rabb.it guest username to your tumblr name if you plan to contribute to the chat. People have the right to know who they’re engaging with and if they want to engage at all. If you don’t plan on chatting but are simply there to watch the movie, you can stay as a guest.

2. Abusive language and behavior will NOT be tolerated in the chat and people engaging in that behavior will earn a swift kick to the ass and permanent ban. This includes, but is not limited to, talking shit on people who have decided they are not emotionally ready to bridge the gap between ships. In short, don’t be a dick. Leave that shit on tumblr if you must. We don’t want your garbage.

3. If you have a history of severely abusing people and you knowingly enter this event to cause a stir, you will be kicked and banned immediately without question. (If any of you have questions or concerns on who we consider abusers, please get in contact with us!)

4. This is a neutral and judgement free zone. We’re inviting people from fandoms other than TWD, and I’m inviting some real life people who don’t know shit about fandom. Please god, don’t embarrass us.

Movie Warnings: blood, body horror, excessive gore, excessive violence, zombies, subtitles.

- If you aren’t able to watch with us due to time zones, something that comes up or what not, just message @thereadersmuse with a link to the movie to stream on your own time. The movie is definitely worth watching!

General Information:

- We will be debuting a brand new shiny blog for live-watch party related business, so while it is only a shell at the moment, be sure to give @angerdrivein a follow. This will eventually be the blog we will use to get out information about live-watch parties and such so if you are interested make sure you give it a follow and stay tuned.

[beesunbee]

"The decision was made a long time ago, before any of us knew each other. When we were all strangers who would’ve just passed each other on the street before the world ended. And now we mean everything to each other. You were in trouble. You were trapped. Glenn didn’t know you, but he helped you. He put himself in danger for you. And that started it all. From Atlanta, to my daddy’s farm, to the prison, to here, to this moment now. Not as strangers, as family. Because Glenn chose to be there for you that day a long time ago. That was the decision that changed everything. It started with both of you, and it just grew to all of us.”

[galadrieljones]

What other ships do you ship from the walking dead and will you write fanfics

Hey anon ^_^

For me, TWD isn't really a ship-heavy show. I mean, I like some of the ships, but Bethyl was special in that it just sort of gave me these immense feels and then was very tragic. Here are the ships I like:

I like Richonne, and I like Sashraham. Gleggie, too. I actually like Rosita x Gabriel, tho I know a lot of people don't. I get it, actually, as Gabriel would feel like a stabilizing force for Rosita. I kind of wish they'd had her have Gabriel's baby, instead of Siddiq's, but I liked Siddiq a LOT and cried with he died, so it's not really a big deal to me lol.

I always liked Tara x Denise ;-; Denise's death took my by complete surprise. I was really sad about it (and Tara's, too).

While I'm pretty much all Team Delusional/Bethyl, I really don't mind Daryl x Connie. If that's what it came down to, I would be okay with that. It doesn't stop me from shipping Bethyl first, but I think that if the Beth thing never happens, Connie would be good for Daryl. I commonly ship characters with multiple other characters though, in all the fandoms I've written for. I like to stretch my mind this way lol.

It's also toxic and maybe unpopular, but I remember liking Lori x Shane when I first started the show. As time went by, Shane started to freak me out, but she seemed to really love him, and she was in a major bind. I think that current Rick would have spared Shane, and Shane could have redeemed himself and ended up happy with Lori.

On Fear, I really liked Nick x Luciana. I love Nick Clark a lot, and when he died, I was a little beaten up. I'm not up to date yet, but I am already shipping John x Laura/Naomie/June. I love Madison and Strand as a platonic ship. Their bond has been one of the big anchors for the show, I think, which is pretty uneven but occasionally wonderful.

Honestly, I'll ship a lot of things lol. The only ship I really can't get into is C@ryl. I just personally see them too strongly as friends, with big sister/little brother implications, and I think they're wildly co-dependent and have a toxic effect on one another. I obviously don't care that ship them. Ppl can do whatever they want. I just can't. I do, however, love Carzekiel.

I wish Carl and Enid had had the chance to grow up together. Their bond soured at some point in the show, and I disliked that. They're a minor thing in Magnolia. As are Carol and Morgan (who idk if I ship yet...but I might! lol).

I don't have any plans right now to write fics other than for Bethyl. Granted, I've said this in other fandoms in the past and it's changed so, we'll see lol.

[idreamincol0r]

[walker---bait]

Someone help me, I'm so emotional. This Glenn speech! They could have ended the entire series with that. That was a beautiful ending to this season.

[rickgrimesnstuff]

"If we had followed negan from the beginning instead of Rick, we would think Rick was horrible and negan was good"

No we wouldnt,all wed be seeing is sadistic monologues, torture porn and violence against women for like 8 years lmao

[teamlucille-blog]

[drcloyd]

I have to ask the obvious, lol: the first one for TWD

001 | twd

Favorite character: daryl but with the caveat that i do not like certain things the writers have done. but that’s what fanfic is for

Least Favorite character:uhhh negan. just have zero interest

5 Favorite ships (canon or non-canon):daryl/jesus (obvi my fav)richonnedaryl/aaronmaggie/glennjaaron

Character I find most attractive:god the cast is honestly so attractive i can’t pick. everyone. they’re all hot. 

Character I would marry:i would marry denise but we’re in a poly relationship with tara.

Character I would be best friends with:i think i would get on well with aaron? 

a random thought:god i wish i wasn’t so obsessed with this show. i wish the past few seasons hadn’t been SHIT. it could have been so...so good. like just. i’m so disappointed. 

An unpopular opinion:negan sux

My Canon OTP:canon???? uh richonne and gleggie. 

My Non-canon OTP:desus

Most Badass Character:they’re all???? carol for most unexpected badass, daryl for just all around survival badass, rick for beard and terrifying badass, jesus for ninja badass, aaron for cute adorable badass, michonne for samurai badass, etc.

Most Epic Villain:god i like...never care about any villain istg buuut maybe the assholes at terminus because wtf

Pairing I am not a fan of:didn’t like abraham/rosita and not...really sure where gabriel/rosita came from???

Character I feel the writers screwed up (in one way or another):certain storylines with daryl are like JUST ENOUGH ALREADY. also like just....jesus???? they??? so much potential they fucking WASTED. i went back and read the comics and jesus is like basically a fucking main character and there was just so much they could have done and didn’t and tom didn’t fucking deserve that okay anyway i could rant all day bye

Favourite Friendship:i love the rick and daryl friendship. loved team fam but like...there’s...no team fam anymore

Character I most identify with:denise cloyd. i’m not as anxious as her but i feel like she’s exactly how i’d be in the apocalypse

Character I wish I could be:i wish i had jesus’ ninja skills, aaron’s heart and daryl’s leather vest. is that an answer? 

[shimmershae]

I'm bored.  Anybody want to help me out with that?  C'mon, my TWD lovelies. Confession hour.  Entertain me, lol.

Give me: 

 3 unpopular opinions you have about the show. 

 Morgan's story would have been better served if it had been more directly linked with Rick's story instead of Carol's story.  Even though Mel and Lennie are arguably two of the most talented members of the cast and they eventually swayed me mostly in their favor, I will always resent the way TPTB had Carol essentially running in place for the last few seasons so that they could play this misery arc with Morgan.  I think they could have achieved the same or better results if Morgan had actually interacted with multiple TF members while getting reacquainted with Rick and recognized his and Carol's commonalities that way.  Rick should have been the one he was all gung-ho to impart his all life is precious ways to.  Not Carol. 

 My first opinion aside,I really think we're at the point now where having this be 'Rick's story' is sucking the life out of the show. 

 Michandrea had more passion and pull between them than Richonne. 

  3 ships you enjoy(ed). 

 Caryl, hahaha.  Total no-brainer.  I love these two to distraction.   

 LoRick.  Because it was complicated and angsty and I wanted to see how somebody tries to save a sinking marriage during the ZA.  I had no doubt they loved each other, even though things went south.  Now in love?  I'm pretty sure they'd fallen out of that, but we'll never know if they could have reached that point again, will we?

 Gleggie.  Because they were sweet and Glenn was such a pure and genuine soul. 

 Honorable mention goes to Richonne because I love how supportive these two are together.  But at the same time?  I think Michonne as a character has taken a backseat to her being one half of this couple and her main storyline consists of being that support for Rick and I'm not really here for the ladies to just 'stand by their man.'  . 

 3 crack ships--however unlikely--you wouldn't mind seeing sail/wouldn't have minded seeing sail. 

 Rositara.  Never going to happen because Rosita isn't into girls, but if they ever decided to lay the groundwork for it?  I totally would be down for it. 

 Merle + Andrea.  I think they could have actually been fun, lol.  Comical and surprisingly sexy, but again.  We'll never know.

 Jerry + Nabila.  Because they're both precious and I don't know.  I think they'd definitely be cute together. 

 3 favorite seasons. 

 Season 2, Season 3, and Season 5. 

  3 favorite headcanons for Caryl. 

 Who doesn't love the idea that they snuggled together for warmth that first long Winter?  I mean, really. 

 When things are eventually settled, Daryl lets Carol cut his hair and she returns to her true, flirty form complimenting him on his pretty eyes.  Combing her fingers through his hair and practically making him purr like a big cat.  They finally kiss and it's awkward and sweet and sexy and Daryl tries to pull the whole 'pretty romantic' line with Carol.  She just sputters with laughter and kisses him again and they stumble someplace private and make out like shy teenagers. 

 Carol didn't leave Hilltop without saying goodbye.  They talked the night before.  Then the next day, she and Daryl took hugging to a whole new level in plain view of assorted members of Team Family.  And this time?  Daryl gave her one of those Mulder-Scully-esque kisses on the forehead as he drew away but there was never any doubt he wanted to kiss her mouth instead.  He didn't, though.  He kisses the palm she has cupped around his face.  The next time he sees her?  Well, in the audience of the King, he stakes his claim.  ;) 

  3 sentence story.   

  "You and me?"  A hesitant but hopeful smile tugs at her pretty mouth, makes her blue eyes glimmer and glow as she waits for his answering nod.  

 "Wherever you go, I go."   

[dazednconfus-ed]

Looking for some blogs to follow

Like/reblog if your blog has any of the following:

Tv:

-Supernatural, especially Castiel/Destiel/or Endverse 

-Sons of Anarchy, especially Tig 

-TWD, especially Daryl, Rick, Michonne, Carol, Glenn, Negan, Aaron, Jesus, Ezekiel. Ships include Caryl, Desus, Rickyl, Richonne, Carzekiel, Gleggie, Aaric, Dichonne Michandrea. NO Bethyl or Carl/Negan or teen/adult ships.

-FTWD, especially Strand.

-Stranger Things

-Into The Badlands

-Preacher

-Ride With Norman Reedus

-Marvel, especially Luke Cage, DareDevil, The Punisher, Jessica Jones, and Agents of Shield. 

-Hannibal 

-M*A*S*H

-The Crow: City of Angels

Comics:

-Marvel (All)

-DC (All)

-V for Vendetta

-Watchmen

-Alan Moore anything

-Preacher

-The Walking Dead

Anime/Manga:

-Dragonball/Z/S

-Naruto/Shippuden/Boruto

-Bleach 

-Cowboy Bebop

-Death Note

-Trigun

-Outlaw Star

-Witch Hunter Robin

-Hellsing

-FLCL

-Yu-Gi-Oh (classic)

-Gundam Wing, especially the 08th MS Team

-Elfen Lied

-Wolf’s Rain

-Tenchi (Muyo, Universe etc.).

-Rurouni Kenshin

-Ninja Scroll

-Ancient Magnus Bride 

-Yu Yu Hakusho

Movies:

-LotR/The Hobbit trilogies.

-The Boondock Saints

-Pitch Black/Chronicles of Riddick

-Blade (I, II, III).

-80s horror (Nightmare on Elm Street, Hell Raiser, Friday the 13th, Halloween, Creep Show, Night of the Living Dead, Child’s Play etc.)

-80s Scifi/Fantasy (Dune, Aliens, Labyrinth, Blade Runner, The Fifth Element, Legend, Neverending Story, Dark Crystal, Willow etc.).

-Dark Castle Entertainment Horror (Ghost Ship, Thir13en Ghosts, House on Haunted Hill etc.).

-Guillermo del Toro movie (Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water, Crimson Peak, The Devil’s Backbone etc.). 

-Tim Burton movies (The Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride etc.).

-Martial Arts movies (Bruce Lee films, Street Fighters, House of Flying Daggers, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Ninja Assassin etc.)

-Blade Runner 2049

-The Crow

-Pandorum

-Resident Evil 

-Easy Rider

-Repo! The Genetic Opera

-Donnie Darko

-The Big Lebowski

-Dazed and Confused

-The Rockie Horror Picture Show

-Only Lovers Left Alive

-Mad Max: Fury Road

-Pulp Fiction

-Ju-on/The Grudge

-Shutter

-Ringu

Games:

-TWD Games

-Metal Gear (All)

-Final Fantasy (All)

-Dragon Age (I, II, Inquisition). 

-Classic Games (Dark Stalkers, Mortal Kombat, Super Mario, Sonic The Hedgehog, Zelda, Street Fighter etc.)

-Okage

-Clock Tower

-Silent Hill

-Resident Evil (all)

-Fatal Frame

-Shenmue

-Death Stranding

Aesthetic/Interests:

-Nature/landscape

-Travel/adventure

-Wildlife

-Body art/tattoos

-Indie

-Hipster

-Grunge

-Classic cars/muscle cars/sports cars/customs

-Motorcycles/bikes/customs/cafe racers/Harley Davison

[mugsywrites]

Can we please get some bonus features or extras from FotR? I just need to be in a world where Glenn, Carl, Eric, and Abe are alive and well and Desus, Gleggie, Carzekiel, and Richonne are living fairytale endings. Can we talk about baby Herschel and Judith? Or Daryl and Jesus’s honeymoon?

Sure thing, nonny. Here’s a very, very, *very* rough bit of a fic that was going to be about Carol and Ezekiel’s wedding in the FotR ‘verse (still might finish this one)

Carol is fine right up until the week before the wedding, then she isn’t. She can’t pinpoint the catalyst, she just opens her eyes in the morning with the words run, run, run circling through her head. She lays in bed still and quiet, focusing on her breathing.

In bed beside her Ezekiel is sprawled on top of the covers snoring softly. He doesn’t have a stitch on and neither does she, they’re in the hottest part of the summer and the heat is inescapable. Bits of his dark skin gleam gold in the weak morning light.

Her throat tightens and she turns her face away and squeezes her eyes shut. Run, run, run, run.

It’s been almost a year since she made the decision to stand and fight for the people she loved, to accept the burdens that come with loving people in this world. At the time she thought it would be enough, that the voice telling her to run would go quiet and she wouldn’t have to hear it anymore. She isn’t so lucky; in a way it’s like how she quit smoking right before everything happened. The compulsion was still there, and it had taken active, conscious resistance to keep from just giving in. Put a cigarette in front of her and it got stronger.

Run, run, run.

She breathes in and out, the taste of panic on her tongue. Daryl’s voice comes to her then, rough with sorrow. Running don’t make it go away.

Maybe you can go…and not go.  Ezekiel’s words come to her this time, giving her the answer. Go, and not go. She slides out of bed and gets dressed as quietly as possible then tiptoes out of their room.

She leaves a brief note for him, resting against her pillow so it’s the first thing he’ll see when he wakes up.

Z,

I’m sorry I didn’t wake you, but you needed the rest. I’m going out for a bit to think, I will be back before it gets dark.

Love,Carol

She doesn’t tell him where she’s going, she doesn’t need to. All she takes with her besides weapons is a canteen full of water.

Dianne is on guard when she reaches the gates. The other  woman’s lips twitch and she tilts her head, “Your Majesty.”

“Don’t think I won’t stab you,” Carol says, plastering on her best Susie Homemaker smile.

Dianne shivers theatrically, “It gives me the damn creeps when you smile like that.” She gives Carol a closer look, “Something wrong, boss lady?”

Carol hesitates. Dianne and her…well, they aren’t quite friends, but they are close to it. Dianne doesn’t believe in bullshit (most of the time, when she calls Ezekiel “Your Majesty” there’s not a trace of irony to be found). Carol likes her, and it’s a little terrifying. She hasn’t had many real women friends since Lori’s death. She loved the Greene sisters but they were young. She avoided Michonne for a long time, one look into the other woman’s eyes and Carol just knew. Knew that Michonne was a mother, knew that like Carol she had outlived her child. It was like looking into a mirror, and neither woman cared to do that for long.

But she’s been at the Kingdom for nearly a year by Ezekiel’s side, knows and cares for his “knights”, watches over the children, and she might be becoming friends with Dianne. They’re not quite there yet, so Carol just shakes her head and says, “I’m alright. Tell Ezekiel not to worry about me if he comes asking.”

Dianne eyes her skeptically, “You look a bit frazzled, Your Highness. Maybe you should stay here. Plan wedding details.”

Carol snorts, “I’m not planning a single damn thing about this wedding,” she really isn’t, “All I know is I’m going to say ‘I do’ at one point. Preferably to Ezekiel.”

Dianne still seems hesitant, but she doesn’t delay Carol any longer. She opens the gates and tells Carol to watch out for herself.

******************

Her house is much as she left it. More dust, more cobwebs. It’s too hot for a fire, so she makes do with the dim light. Sits down on the dusty couch where she spent weeks reading the former occupant’s romance novels, napping, and just existing.

No wars to fight, no weddings to plan, or to be planned for her. When she said yes to Ezekiel both of them had something quieter in mind, but when news travelled around the rest of the Kingdom “quiet” was no longer an option. She blames Jerry, he was probably the one to start talking. Wedding planning had bled into the plans for the festival and the decision to combine the two had been made, since folks were already planning on coming from the other communities. So Carol was getting married in front of a crowd of people, many she barely knew.

Carol sighs; she should have stopped this before it started. Kept it as casual as Ezekiel’s proposal had been. They’d been on their hands and knees digging in the garden, even the “King” and his “Queen” tended to the garden. He passed Carol a trowel and said, “We should get married.”

Carol laughed a little, “Really? Tired of living in sin?”

“Of course, my lady,” Ezekiel said, putting on his King voice, “Honor demands that I make thee honest.”

“Oh, of course. Big ceremony?”

“If it pleases my lady. Or if it pleases her the King can simply put a ring on it.”

“And what would please the King?”

“I adore all excuses for festive merriment. But it matters not, dear maiden,” his smile slipped away and he dropped his King voice. He was only Zeke when he said, “Carol. I’m…I’m serious. Will you marry me? We don’t need to make a production of it.”

She really looked at him then. Kind eyes, dark and warm and there were times she thought he saw everything inside her.  

Her chest expanded, something warm rising up. For a few seconds she didn’t recognize the feeling, as it was one she’d only experienced a handful of times in her life, most of them within the past six months.

She was happy. Pure, uncomplicated happiness was the only emotion she felt. Most of the time at the Kingdom she was…content. At peace. A fire burnt down to cinders but still warm, still not ashes yet.

It terrified her.

“Can I think about it?” she said when she finally found her voice.

Ezekiel was a good actor, but not good enough to hide his hurt and disappointment. Despite that all he said was, “Of course. All the time you need.”

She still feels guilty for how relieved she was that not more than an hour later a runner from the Alexandria Safe Zone showed up at the gates. Her relief faded quickly when the runner delivered his news: Jesus was missing, they suspected it was some of the Rogue Saviors, a search party had been sent out.

Oh Daryl, she thought, heart in her throat. Her decision was made and she went to pack a bag immediately, Ezekiel watching.

“I don’t think you should go,” Ezekiel said after a long moment of silence.

“I have to,” she said, “He needs me.”

“We need you here.”

She hesitated; then, “If there’s something going on one of us needs to go out and deal with it before it comes here to the Kingdom.”

“And it’s not because of what I asked you earlier?”

She threw him a contemptuous glare, “Not everything’s about you, your majesty.” Carol is a good actress but she’s not good enough to hide that there was some truth to his accusation. So she tried hiding it in anger.

Ezekiel’s nostrils flared and she could see it had worked, at least a little. He was getting angry. Thing is, they rarely fought. They argued some, of course they did. They occasionally had differing ideas on how to run the Kingdom, she would get mad at him for hiding his feelings under his King persona, he would get angry that she just ran away from hers. They argued, then one would apologize, and they would both get over it.

It’s a novel experience. She and Ed fought at first, back when he used words instead of his fists to pummel her. She stopped arguing eventually, not that it saved her from a beating. Then Ed and Sophia died and it was just her, just Carol, taking care of the others and stepping up. She argued with Rick, Lori, even Daryl on occasion. That winter on the road she would lose her temper and snap at any of the group without second thought, and she learned not to cringe if they snapped back. Now she argues with Ezekiel because he can see through her bullshit and she through his, and neither one let the other get away with it.

[STUFF]

“You know he’s gay, right?” Carol finally snapped.

Ezekiel looked confused, “Who, Jesus? Yes, of course—“

She rolled her eyes; she loved him but he sometimes would miss what was right in front of him, “No, Daryl. Why do you think I said he’s going to need me?” She couldn’t believe she had to spell it out for him, “Daryl’s gay, and I’m pretty sure he’s in love with Jesus. If something happened to you Daryl would come to make sure I was ok.”

[STUFF]

Worry for Daryl was the main reason she went to the Hilltop, but not wanting to give Ezekiel an answer definitely influenced her decision. She told Ezekiel she would give him her answer when she got back.

She didn’t stay at the Hilltop for long; when she got there Maggie and Daryl were gone, and she only talked to Glenn for a few hours before there was a commotion—someone shouting for the doctor, saying the search team was back and Jesus was hurt. When she saw Daryl outside of the medical trailer covered in blood and looking like a lost child she knew she had made the right decision coming here.

She took him back to the trailer he shared with Jesus, marched him into the shower. He was in the shower for a long time, long enough for her to knock on the door with worry.

Once he got out and changed clothes he stood there looking lost. She put her arms around him and he went to pieces. No tears, just whimpering into her shoulder and shaking so hard it was all she could do to hold on to him.

They ended up on the floor outside the bathroom while Daryl collected himself, face resting agains her shoulder as she stroked his damp hair. After a long time he asked her why she was there, and when she told him seemed surprised that she had figured out what was going on between him and Jesus.

[STUFF]

She offered to help Alex with his nursing duties, and when she came in to check on Jesus found Daryl curled up in the bed with him, one hand pressed against his heart. She walked quietly over to them; Daryl was out, his face was completely relaxed and at peace. She swallowed hard and tiptoed out of the room.

Running don’t make it go away. That’s what Daryl had said to her, when she told him that Ezekiel had asked her to marry him.

The next day when she arrived at the Kingdom she threw her arms around Ezekiel and said, “Yes,” before she even said hello. He was actually confused for a minute before he realized what she meant. When he did his smile was enough to light the entire world and he actually honest-to-god dipped her back like they’re on the cover of a Harlequin novel and kissed her. She hated that it gives her butterflies, that it made her want to giggle like she must have done when she was a teenage girl who hadn’t yet learned just how the world really worked.

[STUFF]

She doesn’t regret saying yes and can’t imagine truly running away, not now or ever, but that’s not enough to stop this feeling of rising panic and fear. It’s funny in a bleak kind of way that she doesn’t remember being afraid the first time she got married. Can’t remember much of her first wedding at all, Her wedding to Ed hadn’t been much to remember. The guest list was small—his parents, some women she went to church with. Carol can’t even remember their names, a thought that makes her sad. At one time they had been her entire world, she had thought they were the best friends a woman could have. Was she happy? She must have been, even though she can’t remember Ed ever causing her happiness.

Carol has been a lot of women over the years—she’s been Carol the doting wife who was just so clumsy, always running into doors and falling down steps. Transparent lies she still was able to sell with conviction. Carol the mouse, meekly obeying Ed. Carol the mother, devoting herself to Sophia completely. Carol the leader, sitting on the prison council and confidently making decisions. Carol the fighter, Carol the killer. At the Kingdom she is Carol the Queen, even though she and Zeke aren’t married yet and both have tried to get people to stop referring to them by made up titles.

She spent a long time in that house outside of the Kingdom trying to figure out who exactly she was.

[

STUFF, SHE REMEMBERS HER FIRST CONVERSATION WITH EZEKIEL AT THE CREEPY HOUSE]

“My mom died when I was seven,” Ezekiel answers, eyes soft and voice far away. “It was a sudden thing, she had a heart condition we didn’t know about. My dad…he was a good guy, but he was just so lost without her. Lost in his own grief. I started doing what I could to cheer him up, pretending everything was fine and he didn’t need to worry about me,” he shrugs, “Then in high school, I was just so shy—What?” he says, eyes sparkling. Carol had let out a disbelieving snort at the “shy” part.

“That’s just a little hard to believe, is all,” she says, lips curving a slightly.

“Well I was,” Ezekiel insists, a matching smile playing at his lips, “I don’t think you woulda recognized me then, I was 5’4 and weighed about 90 pounds soaking wet. Acne, glasses, mouth full of metal, the works.”

She lifts her eyebrows and tries to imagine it, how he must have looked back then. He sees her look and continues, “Do you remember…what was the name of that show…it had that nerdy kid, Urkel? You remember that?” Carrie nods, and she’s grinning and trying hard not to laugh. Ezekiel continues, “I felt like I shoulda sued them, clearly my likeness was used as inspiration. Should have gotten royalties.

“I never really fit in, but theater kids were all nerds too. I started out doing the lighting, rigging the stage. Then junior year came and I shot up half a foot, started working out. Then they let me be onstage. Was never into enough to try and make a career out of it, but I kept up with it.”

[STUFF]“Was made lead zookeeper right before the turn,” Ezekiel says, sipping on his wine, “Still not a very lucrative job, mind you. But I didn’t care about that. I loved the work. It wasn’t…the work wasn’t easy, it was hard work, you know? A lot of physical labor. But easy to do,” Ezekiel laughs at himself, then lowers his voice until it’s at “King” levels, “Apologies, the wine hath left my wits addled, fair maiden. Or perhaps it is your company that intoxicates me so.”

She kicks him, “You’re full of shit,” she says, but she can’t stop the pleased smile from twitching at the corners of her mouth. He spots it and he grins, inordinately pleased with himself. She kicks him again.

“But no,” Ezekiel says thoughtfully, “Hard work, but I loved doing it. Loved the people. Loved the kids,” his eyes drifted off, “The way their faces lit up while they watched the animals. I used to do demonstrations, bring the animals out and introduce them. Big ones like Shiva, little ones like the otters…” He smiles, eyes far away.

“My daughter loved the elephants most,” comes out of Carol’s mouth without conscious thought, stunning her. She can’t remember the last time she was able to think about Sophia without pain, much less speak so casually about her.

“Did she,” Ezekiel says, voice gentle. He looks completely unsurprised at the revelation that she once had a child.

“Yeah, she did,” Carol whispers, and she starts to tell him about Sophia’s class field trip one year. Carol had originally told her that she couldn’t go, reduced cost or no they couldn’t afford it. But Ed had stepped in, said of course she could go, then stunned them further by suggesting that Carol sign up to be a chaperone and go with her. He wouldn’t go to his weekly poker game, it would be worth it to treat “his girls” to a day of fun.

Ed did things like that sometimes. Things like take them out for ice-cream and a movie out of the blue during the summer. Pick up some flowers for her on the way home from work. Take Carol out to a fancy dinner on a night Sophia was staying over at a friend’s house.

Carol preferred his fists to that. She knew how to deal with those. Ed’s out of the blue bouts of kindness left her feeling off kilter and half mad. When things went back to normal after he treated them sweet it was all the more frightening. It was like she spent her entire life curled up in a tight ball, hands over her head and protecting her vital parts. It was an exhausting way to live, and when Ed treated them even if she knew what would happen she let herself relax just a little. Lower her shields—not all the way, never all the way—but enough to give herself a rest. To expose one little part of herself she was able to keep protected most of the time. Then Ed would be on her.

She doesn’t tell Ezekiel that last part. She pushes Ed out of her mind completely. “There was a baby elephant playing around in the mud. Sophia…she loved it. Had this little disposable camera, when I had the film developed it was nothing but blurry pictures of that elephant.” She stares into the dark liquid of her wine glass, “I suppose it’s dead by now. Starved, or eaten, or…” She doesn’t finish, there’s not much point.

Ezekiel is quiet, waiting until he’s sure that she’s finished speaking before he says, “When I went to the zoo to get Shiva…most of the animals were dead. Eaten, as you say. The elephants got out, though,” Ezekiel pauses, “Which didn’t surprise me, they’re notorious cage breakers even with constant supervision. I like to think they’re still roaming around somewhere, trampling any of the dead that tries to come at ‘em.”

Carol almost accuses him of lying, of spinning a fiction for her of a small herd of elephants wandering through fields that used to be farm country. Leaning down to scratch themselves against a rusting tractor. Stroking each other with their trunks, like the mother elephant had done with her baby a lifetime ago during their trip to the zoo. She almost accuses him of lying, but she sees his expression and remembers what he told her in the garden, Never bullshit a bullshitter, and knows he’s telling the truth. About the elephants escaping, at least.

“You know they’re matriarchal?” Ezekiel continues. Carol shakes her head, and he continues, “One female leader, her daughters and granddaughters. They’re smart too, y’know how they say an elephant never forgets? They visit the bones of dead friends years after they’ve died.”

“I’ve killed people,” she whispered quietly.

“I know,” Ezekiel replied, “We’ve all had to.”

She shook her head and closed her eyes, “Not just the Saviors. Or people like them.” She swallowed and tried to find words. Slowly, haltingly, she told Ezekiel about Karen and David.

“And that’s not everything,” she said, not daring to look Ezekiel in the eye. “There were these two little girls at the prison. Their father was killed and asked me to take care of them. Lizzie and Mika.”

The words kept coming out of her. It was as though they had always been there, just waiting to be let out. She told him about Sophia. Told him how much Mika reminded her of Sophia, the sweetness to her. Mika’s dead body, Lizzie standing over Judith with a knife cheerfully telling them, I didn’t destroy the brain, she’ll come back. It’s ok.

“You killed her,” Ezekiel interrupted, “Lizzie.”

“She couldn’t be around people,” Carol said, voice small, “She thought the walkers…I thought of taking her somewhere, just the two of us. Watching over her. But…” she close her eyes, “I had to think of Judith, of Tyreese…” her voice chokes on his name. “So that’s some of the bad I’ve been

“No,” Ezekiel says, voice soft, “I’m just glad it’s not the sort of decision I’ve had to make yet,” he goes quiet again, then, “Have you been carrying that around all by yourself?”

She nods, “I never told anyone. Neither did Tyreese,” she swallows, “I almost told Daryl once, but he told me he didn’t need to know. I think he might have guessed some of it, though.”

[STUFF]

[DARYL COMES TO THE CREEPY HOUSE]

[STUFF, DARUS ARRIVE AT THE KINGDOM]“Give me a damned hug,” she says. One side of his mouth crooks and obeys her command. She holds him long and tight before pulling back to study him.

He looks different than when she saw him last, since everything happened with the rogue Saviors months ago, beyond the obvious that he’s not exhausted by worry and guilt. There’s a looseness to him she’s never seen before, the closest was how he was at the prison. When he stopped being a boy and became a man. When she stopped being a mouse and became something else.

“You look good,” she tells him.

[STUFF]

[maggieandbeth]

i got tagged by @bertihelena and @rileyglue (thank u my angels)

rules:

tag (9) people you want to get to know better

bold what is true

appearance: I am 5'7" or taller I wear glasses (distance) I have at least one tattoo I have at least one piercing I have blonde hair I have brown eyes I have short hair My abs are at least somewhat defined I have or have had braces

personality: I love meeting new people People tell me that I’m funny Helping others with their problems is a big priority for me I enjoy physical challenges I enjoy mental challenges I’m playfully rude with people I know well I started saying something ironically and now I can’t stop saying it There is something I would change about my personality

abilities: I can sing well I can play an instrument I can do over 30 push-ups without stopping I’m a fast runner I can draw well I have a good memory I’m good at doing math in my head I can hold my breath underwater for over a minute I have beaten at least 2 people in arm wrestling I know how to cook at least 3 meals from scratch I know how to throw a proper punch

hobbies: I enjoy playing sports I’m on a sports team at my school or somewhere else I’m in an orchestra or choir at my school or somewhere else I have learned a new song in the past week I work out at least once a week I’ve gone for runs at least once a week in the warmer months I have drawn something in the past month I enjoy writing I do or have done martial arts

experiences: I have had my first kiss I have had alcohol I have scored the winning goal in a sports game I have watched an entire season of a tv show in one sitting I have been at an overnight event I have been in a taxi I have been in the hospital or er in the past year I have beaten a video game in one day I have visited another country I have been to one of my favorite band’s concerts

relationships: I have a crush on a celebrity I have a crush on someone I know I have been in at least 3 relationships I have never been in a relationship I have asked someone out or admitted my feelings to them I get crushes easily I have had a crush on someone for over a year I have been in a relationship for at least a year I have had feelings for a friend

my life: I have at least one person I consider a “best friend” I live close to my school My parents are still together I have at least one sibling I live in the united states There is snow right now where I live I have hung out with a friend in the past month I have a smartphone I have at least 15 cds I share my room with someone

random shit: I have breakdanced I know a person named Jamie I have had a teacher with a last name that’s hard to pronounce I have dyed my hair I’m listening to one song on repeat right now I have punched someone in the past week I know someone who has gone to jail I have broken a bone I have eaten a waffle today I know what I want to do with my life I speak at least 2 languages I have made a new friend in the past year

tagging: @behlamy @wandamaxiomff @bethish @kikyoslight @gleggie @alicias-clark @cass-ian @jamescarstairs @tessacarstairs

[bethgreeneishopeunseen]

Genekie: A Familiar, But Missing Romance

In my last big Genekie meta (X), I broke down Genekie’s dynamic, the root of that dynamic, and its similarities to Bethyl. The big ships of the show, as of now, are Gleggie (r.i.p.), Richonne, Bethyl, and Carzekiel. Genekie will probably appear on that line-up next season. Season 8 will cover the All Out War arc, which will bring characters closer, and accelerate relationships already accelerated by the apocalypse. It will be the Season of Love™. @bethgreenewarriorprincess​, @flying–forward, and I (also known as the Genekie Support Group) were discussing Genekie a few weeks ago. Christy and I both agreed that the Genekie hug hit us hard. It was reminiscent of the Bethyl hug from 4x01.

When we watched 7x11, we both felt an immediate shift in Eugene’s character dynamic, and suddenly possibilities had opened up. So many parallels have been made between Abraham and Frankie, in relation to Eugene, for a reason. Eugene was most loyal to Abraham, his protector and friend, and now his loyalty will shift to Frankie. He will become the protector for the woman whom he will fall in love with. We’ve never seen anyone interact with Eugene on that physical-emotional level, just as we’d never seen anyone interact with Daryl like that until Beth. Eugene did hug Abraham in 6x16, but that was because Eugene didn’t know if he would come back. He was going to sacrifice himself so the group could get Maggie to the Hilltop. Frankie initiated the contact, and she is nearly a stranger, and one of Negan’s wives. Not only a Savior, but inappropriate contact with her would carry heavy punishment. And yet Eugene let her hug him, and he didn’t flinch from her touch. He may have grunted when she smiled up at him, but he also had the trace of a smile, as she softened his hard exterior. Overall, Franke is the only person who’s been like that with him.

7x11 was like a dark mirror of 4x01 in certain ways, especially since the Sanctuary has elements of the prison. The Genekie hug is a mirror of the Bethyl hug, born out of wanting to share joy instead of shared grief. 7x11 also mirrors 4x12. Frankie called him “Dr. Eugene” as he set up the experiment, paralleling Beth calling Daryl, “Mr. Dixon.” One born out of interest, the other out of anger. bethgreenewarriorprincess even described Genekie’s experience at the Sanctuary as being “stuck in a ‘suck-ass camp’ together. On another level, Eugene and Frankie are stuck in their own version of the country club.

In the episode commentary, Angela Kang explained that Scott Gimple created a whole backstory for the former inhabitants of the country club (X). The phrase “Welcome to the Dogtrot” referred to the workers who became slaves of the country club members. There was a class struggle. While this Easter egg foreshadowed Beth’s arc at Grady, the egg also alludes to the Saviors, which Grady was a rehearsal for. The country club workers were the people “who ate shit” at Pine Vista.

Frankie represents the “Rich Bitch” at the Sanctuary. She is part of its upper class, and it’s not unreasonable that lower-level Saviors would resent her or write her off for marrying Negan. She chose him, without the need to, unlike Amber, who needed meds for her mother. There is also an element of sexual violence, as Negan rapes wives like Amber through coercion. 

Frankie makes me think of Beth. It takes a strong person to remain so kind, especially in the Sanctuary. And someone who actually really has the will to survive, and to LIVE, to an extent, by becoming a wife. Because even though she’s married to Negan, she lives a pretty good life in terms of comfort and luxury. With that in mind, I also think that Frankie’s belief in the world was compromised a long time ago, hence why she hasn’t left the Sanctuary (yet). She needed to believe that Eugene was a good man, explaining why she appealed specifically to his goodness to help “Amber”. Furthermore, Elyse DuFour mentioned in an interview that Frankie doesn’t really care about anyone except the other wives. They’ve all been hurt by Negan one way or another, and they’re each other’s family. Frankie is the kind of character who doesn’t cry anymore.

As Frankie inspires Eugene to find his courage, he might inspire to find her belief and faith in the world and in people. He’s the good man that she needs in her life.

In summary, Genekie is a dark mirror of Bethyl, had they never gotten out of country club. All of Gimple’s ships go back to Bethyl, the OTP of the show. From a Team Delusional standpoint, so many parallels wouldn’t be showing up unless Bethyl was important to the story and to the writers, specifically Gimple. He is the show runner, and the man responsible for Richonne, Carzekiel, and Genekie. All of those ships parallel each other and parallel Bethyl. 

From a narrative standpoint, Genekie exists to round out the story in terms of romance. In an interview, Elyse mentioned a possible romantic development between Frankie and Eugene (X). The quote always stood as strange to me because it doesn’t make sense for the actress of a tertiary character to think a romance would be possible, with a main character like Eugene, unless it was already there. Elyse probably dropped her comment about a “maybe not, maybe” romantic development because she’s discussed Frankie’s arc with the writers. She seeds the possibility while also keeping said possibility ambiguous. It’s reminiscent of the kind of statements Emily would give about Bethyl (X). Even with all of its parallels to Bethyl, Genekie would still be a fresh storyline for the audience. The relationship would be illicit, because Frankie is married and married to Negan. She could not leave him for Eugene, and so they would be forced to fall in love at a distance, hiding their true feelings. As I mentioned in a past meta (X), Genekie would be darkly ironic as Eugene and Frankie are both professional liars. Eugene lied about the cure and being a scientist, while Frankie lies about her feelings for Negan. They live their lies, and if they fall in love, then they would have to lie to protect the other. Cue the angst. The show has never done a forbidden romance, as the apocalypse kind of wipes out the reasons for something to be “forbidden”. When society falls apart, morals adapt. But Gimple is all about romance tropes, evident by how he has developed his other ships:

Bethyl: The Love That Defies the Odds, That Defies Death, and is the Damn Romance Novel. Hades/Persephone, Beauty and the Beast, the Princess and her Knight.

Richonne: The Couple That Slays Together Stays Together, Freyja/Frigga and Odr/Odin. (X)

Carzekiel: the King and his Queen, through a Hades/Persephone lens.

Gleggie: Star-crossed lovers. Because even though their relationships is from the comics, I just know that Gimple added the line “Maggie I’ll find you”. That bit is not in the comics, and that scene was pretty much directly ripped from the comics. It was added for a reason, and I think it’s because Gimple isn’t a fucking pseudo-intellectual nihilist like Kirkman. Odysseus/Penelope. (X)

That leaves Genekie. Forbidden love goes back to Greek mythology, in Western culture. The most notable story is that of Pyramus and Thisbe (X). They were a partial inspiration for Romeo and Juliet. In the myth, Pyramus and Thisbe live next door to each other, but they were forbidden to see each other let alone to marry. The couple made it work by speaking through a hole in their garden walls. Eventually they planned to run away together and were to meet at a tomb. Thisbe got to the tomb first, but she had to hide from a lioness, and she dropped her shawl in the process. The lioness, who just had killed an animal, nuzzled her shawl, bloodying it. Pyramus saw the shawl and thought the blood was Thisbe’s. He killed himself. When Thisbe saw what happened, she killed herself too.

Forbidden love stories include Romeo and Juliet (of course), Cleopatra and Mark Anthony, Anna Karenina, Tristan and Isolde. The list goes on, in fiction and in history. Genekie will balance out the relationships on the show, as they will be a different kind of power couple. They will be more like Bethyl, because Richonne and Carzekiel are more of the standard form of power couple. Genekie will be a story of two very different people completing each other, body and mind coming together, akin to the famous Leonard and Penny relationship from The Big Bang Theory. And knowing Gimple, he will find a way to incorporate mythical/archetypal traits into Genekie. I bet he will use Aphrodite and Hephaestus. 

For those unfamiliar with Greek mythology, Aphrodite is the goddess of love and beauty and sex. She was born from sea foam, and Zeus married her to his son Hephaestus. Hephaestus was thrown from Mount Olympus when he was born, usually by his mother, due to his ugliness. The fall crippled one of his legs. Still, Hephaestus became a great engineer and the god of fire. Neither party loved the other, and Aphrodite was known for her affairs, most famously her affair with Ares, the god of war. If Gimple reverses the story, Frankie as Aphrodite would be married to Ares (Negan) and would fall in love with an awkward, unconventionally-attractive engineer. If you need further proof of this possibility, please also read this amazing piece on how Aphrodite and Hephaestus could be written as a love story: X.

Gimple is telling a modern epic, and he taps into our cultural, literary roots to codify his story. It is a fresh take on an age-old story of good versus evil, in which hope wars with fear and in which love conquers even the most insurmountable odds.