#that's part of what watw is about

[aplaceforstellasscribbles]

Y'know, the plot of WATW relies heavily- you could say is constructed entirely- on the idea that everyone wants to see themself as a good person. No one is the villain of their own story.

Which can be super interesting when writing an unambiguously "evil" character, seeing how they justify and twist things around to frame their actions as morally correct.

It's also interesting when writing a character that isn't unambiguously "evil" or "good." When this person isn't deceiving themself into thinking their actions are good, when they're doing what they were taught is right, when they feel good about what they're doing- they think they're a good person because of course they are, look at all the good things they're doing, look at how kind and generous and thoughtful they are!

And then, maybe, you show them that their actions weren't as universally good as they thought they were, you show them that they hurt people.

What do they do then? How do they move forward from there?

[percydarling]

WATW Chapter 4

(Penny dead but I just shortened the title of Weasleys after the war as WATW)

Hermione couldn't breathe. It felt like there was something heavy on top of her. She had read about these things, but now her head was empty, she just felt heavy.

And it hurt.

Her chest felt heavy and the feeling was just indescribable. She was just walking in the trees, on the grass barefoot, not knowing where she was going. She just walked.

Penelope Clearwater.

It hurt to even think about her. She just couldn't think.

Penelope Clearwater is was a good person. A kind girl.

She was Hermione's friend. It's not fair. It's not okay.

Hermione feels guilty even though she shouldn't. It's not her fault, the logical part of her brain tells her. There was nothing she could have done about it.

The other part says hogwash.

She could have done something to protect her, some muggle safe house or or some shelter or just something. She was pregnant, she... just didn't deserve this.

Hermione stops. She just stops. She sits down, her back to a tree and breathes. She needs to relax and think rationally.

She's angry at Percy, because he should have done more for her, but she knows deep inside she's not really angry, just upset.

He's the one who told her about them dating.

"Hermione sits in the library, the quietest place in Hogwarts, thank Merlin for that.

She needs some space away from the boys and just learn for the moment but she also came here to stare at Percy Weasley who was reading a book at the other end of the table.

She might have a tiniest bit of a crush on the eldest Weasley at Hogwarts. It's not like she has anyone to spill that secret to either Ron or Harry. Telling Ron or Harry is definitely a big no especially since Ron is his brother.

Percy heaved a sigh, his face troubled as he quickly shut book and groaned softly. Hermione doesn't think she's ever seen him in such a state, she often marvels about how he keeps sane with the terror twins around him but even then he wasn't like this.

Something must have happened. Hermione doesn't like seeing him like this. She had to ask him what's the matter.

"Percy, I'm sorry to interrupt but umm is there something on your mind?"

Merlin, that was so awkward, Hermione was just about to say never mind and run back to her book, but Percy replied.

"Oh, hello Hermione, well, to put it simply, I have girl problems",Percy says embarrassed as he looks the other direction.

Oh. OH.

Well, she really didn't think this through, did she? How can she help with that? Giving her crush love advice was not on her agenda.

But looking at Percy feel so down doesn't make her feel any better.

She really was going to do this, wasn't she?

"Well, I'm no expert really, but just talk to her? That's always the right way to go and maybe a present she may like. I'm clueless about the situation so I'm not really sure what to say here."

"You don't have to say anything really. Just please don't tell my brothers about this."

"Of course, you can trust me"

The fact that Percy had confided in her made her feel warm and nice.

"May I ask what's her name?"

Hermione did want to know this mysterious girl's name who had Percy being so melancholic.

"Her name is Penelope Clearwater", he said, a lovesick smile on his face. It made Hermione's heart break.

She knew Penelope Clearwater, she was a prefect and extremely pretty.

When she got back to her dorm, she let thee tears loose. He was her first crush and seeing him liking someone else hurt.

It was a long time before she met Penelope in person. She was in the library, looking for some clue to solve the mystery of the Chamber.

That's when she saw her.

Penelope Clearwater.

Black curly hair, in a way that Hermione's could never be, hazel eyes like honey and a smile that could make you feel warm.

She was flawless. And she was approaching Hermione.

"Hello, do you need some help?", she had asked her.

Hermione wasn't usually speechless but at that moment, all she could do was stare.

"Don't Gryffindors have a quidditch match today? You ought to get going."

"I just needed to get something before I go."

That's when she found the page she was looking for.

"WATCH OUT"

Penelope screamed jumping in front of her, getting petrified in the process.

Hermione quickly tore the page, before it petrified her, all the while thinking how Penelope should have been in Gryffindor.

After that incident, Penelope always greeted her, asking her if she was fine and inquired about her mental health. She was studying to be a Healer, a fine profession for her.

Penelope was almost like a friend.

Hermione didn't realise how far she had walked until she saw Ginny with the broom.

She could never go a long way without finding a Weasley could she?

Ginny for her part was looking at the Lovegood's cottage.

Luna. Oh.

Luna probably knew Penelope.

Does she even know? Does anyone besides Percy?

Hermione sighed before standing next to Ginny. Ginny didn't even flinch as she appeared by her side.

"When should I tell her Hermione?"

"Once we deal with our grief, we can help her with hers."

-

Fleur sat alone in the kitchen of the Burrow, drinking tea. She was sure Percy would come back. Bill had gone upstairs to talk to his parents about the matter.

Charlie had gone down to the village to buy some groceries.

CREAK

And then there he was, the man himself.

Charlie came into the kitchen, placing the items on the kitchen platform carefully , before sitting besides Fleur.

Fleur felt closer to Charlie than any other Weasley siblings. Charlie kept praising her for the whole dragon part in the Tournament. It was nice to see that someone appreciated her talent, besides her beauty, not many people did that.

It was refreshing.

"Percy will come back won't he?"

"Yes, I believe he will Charlie"

Charlie kept tapping his feet as he sipped his tea. He was anxious, it was not something Fleur hadn't seen before. He wasn't there when Fred died. He had taken that hard and kept blaming himself for things which were in no way his fault.

"I should have known her."

"Who?"

"Penelope. I should have paid attention, I should have done something. I should-"

"Charlie, this is not your fault."

"It is! I should have read Percy's letter more carefully, I could have helped her come to Romania or I could have-"

"Charlie. Listen to me, you cannot live in the past, you cannot change it. This is in no way your fault, you had no indication that this would happen, you were not to blame."

He seemed to calm down at that.

"You're right Fleur. I'm not to blame, we all are."

-

George sat on his bed, lying down, staring at the ceiling.

There's just som much rage inside him, so much anger and disappointment and anger again.

He's angry at Percy.

He's angry at his family.

Most of all, he's angry at himself.

He's behaving like a git, he knows that but why can't he stop? He just wants things to go back the way they were. Why can't things be normal again? Why is life like this?

"George?"

It was Ron. He was knocking on his door.

Ron, who never knocks, is knocking on his door. If George wasn't feeling so down, he would have laughed.

"What is it Ron? Don't come in."

"Don't be so hard on Percy, George."

"Why? Because his child is dead."

George hated every word that came out of his mouth but he could care less.

"Our nephew is dead George. Let that sink in."

Nephew. Merlin, he was being a prick wasn't he?

"You know what's the worst part George? I don't care, I should, I should give a damn but I feel so numb. Everything feels numb."

George didn't know what to say to that because that's what he's feeling right now.

Numb.

"Your anger isn't directed at the right person George."

"Whose the right person then Ronny? Voldemort?"

"Fred."

[cicada-bones]

QoS Timing Notes

So, I finally got around to making a complete summary, day by day, of the events of QoS in Aelin’s and Rowan’s pov. I just wanted to post this here on the off chance that anyone else wanted to use it (and all of the extra details are approximate, but they are what - in my opinion - makes the most sense math-wise, so you don’t need to read WaTW to use these points if you want) ❤︎ ❤︎ ❤︎

bullets under the cut:

Aelin leaves for Rifthold and Rowan heads back for Mistward

(the end of HoF) for our purposes, this is Day 1

Day 9 (approx.)

Lorcan leaves Maeve, stealing the ring (to allow for time to travel from Doranelle, past Mistward, and to the coast)

Day 11 – Lorcan passes by Mistward (night)

Day 12

Rowan catches the scent and leaves Mistward, heading for the coast Lorcan boards a ship that day (meaning he arrives in Rifthold less than a day ahead of Rowan)

Day 13 – Rowan boards a ship headed for Rifthold

The journey takes approx. 2-3 weeks, so Aelin likely arrives sometime around Day 14, im leaving this one a bit vague This is also approximately the day of Maeve’s conversation with Gavriel and Fenrys (in my fic) The reason I like Day 14 as her arrival, as it means that both Aelin and Rowan have approximately 2 week trips that way

Days 14-25 Aelin is alone in Rifthold

14 – she meets with Arobynn, chaol, returns to apartment (chapters 1-7) 15 – meets Lys and Evangeline (morning), then Chaol and the guards in the shadow market (evening) then goes to the bank (chapters 9-11) 16 – summoned to assassin’s keep, then bank again, meeting with Lys, talk with chaol and nesryn where they stop the executions (chapters 13-14) 17 – saves Aedion (chapters 15-19) 18 – talk with Aedion (chapter 22) time jump – three days 21 – fight in the Vaults (chapter 22-24) 22 – conversation with Aelin and Aedion, then Chaol joins to plan, Aelin discovers the Wyrdhounds (chapters 26-27) another time jump – 2 more days

Day 25 (chapters 27-29)

Lorcan arrives in Rifthold – morning Rowan arrives in Rifthold – evening Aelin/Aedion/Nesryn go out for drinks Rowaelin reunion Aedion confrontation/1st nightgown scene Lorcan has already tracked Rowan to Aelin’s apartment and discovered them together by this point, because he sees them sleeping in the same bed this night (because by the next night, he makes a comment about it)

Day 26 (chapter 29/33-36)

Training scene, Lys visits, Chaol visits Then that afternoon Aelin shows Rowan around Rifthold (fluff) Evening – Aelin drags Lorcan into the sewers, with Wyrdhounds Confrontation between Aelin/lorcan/Rowan (night)

Day 27 (Chapter 38-39)

Evening, eating dinner when Lys joins them Night – Rowan and Aelin visit the Wyrdhound, capture the Valg (stevan) and cuts off its hand Aelin sneaks out (presumably to visit the shadow market and bank again)

Day 28 (chapter 39/41-44)

Visit Sam’s grave Puts on the oil, dragon dress scene They torture the demon, dinner with Arobynn, he puts the ring on Aelin Lys, Rowan, and Aedion have a conversation in the living room Aelin/Rowan explain their plan to Aedion Aelin/rowan discuss the wyrdkey Aelin stands watch in the rain “don’t touch me like that” scene

Day 29 (chapter 46-47/49)

Visit the assassin’s keep (celaena’s last stand) They make sure Arobynn is really dead End of part 1 Conversation between Aelin and Aedion Rowan goes hunting for Lorcan (tracks him around the city, doesn’t find him) 2nd nightgown scene – Rowan tries to talk to her, she shuts him down

Day 30 (chapter 49-50/52)

Aelin/Lys get information from the bakery woman Rowan, Aedion, Nesryn, and Chaol – all waiting outside (awkward af) Go under the shadow market (hellfire) – and into the Sin-Eater’s temple, info about Erawan Spies confirm that the army is being raised in Morath, they all talk (evening) Lorcan catches up with Aelin and Rowan – tells them about the ring, and his plans for Maeve and the keys (meaning that Lorcan spent 3 days being chased by the Wyrdhounds, and leading them awry) Rowan and Aelin finally get their shit together – first kiss, neck bite (almost) meaning it took only 5 days for Rowan to completely cave in to Aelin

Day 31 (chapter 55-56)

Evangeline breaks in – tells them about what happened to Lys ‘a few hours later’ they were in an inn in the city, planning (1/2 a mile from Temis’ temple – so the meetup is very close to Rifthold)

Day 32 (Chapter 57-61)

They save Lys Confrontation with Manon Rowan is hit with the arrow (Aelin realizes they are mates – doesn’t say anything) They go to Nesry’s father’s country house

Day 33 (Chapter 64) - Time jump

Day 34 (Chapter 64) - Night - Planning, Aelin/Aedion/Rowan

Day 35 (Chapter 64) - Aelin releases Lys from her debts to Clarisse

Day 36 - Skipped – time jump (planning)

Day 37 (Chapter 65)

Night – conversation between Rowan and Lorcan, hands over the fake Wyrdkey (Lorcan scents Aedion/Gavriel) Conversation between Aelin and Chaol (finally come to an understanding/forgiveness) “you make me want to live” rowaelin scene

Day 38 (Chapter 66-79/83)

They see the message from Manon and change their plans Lys and Evangeline head for safety, Chaol and Aelin head into the castle, Aedion and Rowan head through the sewers with the hellfire Lorcan presumably has a moment where he decides to go save them, after earlier choosing to set the Wyrdhounds on them The big battle Lorcan steals back the ring, and disappears Aelin makes her speech in front of the city – cries, then passes out Lysandra vomits on Lorcan, Rowan and Lorcan have a conversation

Days 39/40/41 (covered in summary in chapter 83)

Aelin sleeps for three days Rowan sat by her – presumably heals Chaol’s back during this time Aedion takes control of the castle

Days 42 (Chapter 83)

Aelin wakes up, they kiss and make up Aelin and Dorian have a convo Chaol and Dorian have a convo – plans for southern continent (might be the next day – not specified)

Day 43 (Chapter 86/88)

In the morning, Aelin and Rowan go back to her apartment to get the real wyrdkey, and the golden right for Lysandra from the jeweler – the last time she ever goes there) Aelin gives Lysandra the ‘Lord’ title After dinner, all of our gang has a convo together in Aelin’s room Night – final conversation between aelin/chaol/dorian

Day 44 (Chapter 88

They leave Rifthold Journey north takes three weeks before they reach the border (day 65) END OF QoS

Day 58 – Gavriel and Fenrys board a ship to Skull’s Bay (that’s how it works out math-wise, approximately)

Day 65 – our party reaches the border with Terrasen

Day 68 - meeting with Darrow (beginning of EoS)

Day 70 – Rowan saves Dorian from the attack

Day 73-4 – Rowan and Dorian arrive in Skulls bay

Where Gavriel and Fenrys are already waiting for them

In summary, the entirety of QoS takes place over about a month, with most of the content taking place within like a week of that time (days 25-32) other than the big battle which happens a week later on day 38

(i included the fenrys/gavriel notes for my own purposes - so i guess just ignore those lol)

[vonlipvig]

Survivor Winners at War Finale Recap

If I think too hard about the fact that I’m finally--after all these years--caught up with Survivor, I’m gonna start crying. Took a pandemic for it to happen, but hey! WatW Finale time!

And what better way to start the finale of the biggest season yet than by reminding us all that we’re in a fUCKING PANDEMIC! That’s right, babey, we’re in Probst’s garage and we got the gang on the Zoom call but we can’t have a reunion because we didn’t pay for Zoom premium so this shit’s gonna get cut off at 40 minutes.

LOOK AT EVERYONE IN THEIR STUPID LITTLE ZOOM SQUARES I’M SO MAD LMAO. Nah, I get why they really couldn’t have a reunion, it would be wayyyy to awkward and just so many things could go wrong if everyone’s relying on their wifi and such...but MAN, what if someone’s pet walked into the shot? WE GOT MEGA ROBBED.

(Also, ok. Who’s not wearing pants? Y’all can’t fool me, lmao. Also wait, do Rob and Amber own two of the same wall hangings? Sophie just said FUCK IT I’LL BE IN THE GARDEN, we stan).

ANYWAY BACK TO THE GAME.

But yeah, we start right with the comeback challenge, at which my friend and I were like “Ok, this is Natalie’s challenge to lose”...and yeah, she won!

DFJHSDKF SAVAGE.

But then again, it was pretty close! She really struggled in some parts because I’m sure the nerves and the pressure of having bought three advantages was really getting to her, but in the end, she got the ball puzzle thing and won her ticket back into the game (thank god it wasn’t Wendell or my mom would have teased me SO HARD).

And remember when this thing started, that I was actually rooting for Nat to win?...Well, yeah, not anymore, really. I just don’t want anyone from the Edge to win, be it Nat or anyone else. I did want her to come back, just...not win the whole thing. Especially Natalie, who was first out. It just...feels weird. I can forgive Chris King of the Edge in his season cause...they’re mostly new players and he did everything he could to be the most deserving person in the end (Like...Gavin or Julie? Nah, Chris won). But in an all winners season? Where so much stuff happened? It just wouldn’t be satisfying, at least for me.

BUT MOVING ON!

Nat starts saying that everyone on the Edge is like “Ooh, Tony’s gonna win! He’s so gonna win!” so she can, y’know...try to get the target off of her and also target the pERSON WHO’S PLAYED A GREAT GAME.

And then...I don’t know why Sarah is so convinced that Natalie doesn’t have an idol when she clearly does. I mean, we only see the edit so who knows...but daaaamn, that’s gonna be costly!

Challenge time, and it’s the “go on different stations to get puzzle pieces and then do the puzzle” one (Also, I just discovered challenges have names...which I will Not learn, whoops). The puzzle, turns out, is the one where they stack little cilinders and build a three tiered tower...the one Michele won in Kaoh Rong. The first thing my friend says is “Oh, Michele’s gonna win this one again cause she remembers”, and I’m like haha good one...

And then Michele does the puzzle faster than everyone and wins it.

KICK IT.

So Tony wants to vote for Denise, or at least split it Denise-Natalie in case Nat has an idol--SHE DOES--but I think Sarah and Ben are just...convinced she doesn’t. Still, the guys have idols for themselves, so...

In TC, Sarah gives a really good talk on gender biases and the double standards that women who play Survivor have to face--and of course in real life as well--, and I thought that was a very honest, very powerful thing (and yEAH maybe I was snapping my fingers along, she fucking SAID IT).

AND WE GET BIG ALLY BEN WITH HIS “we should respect women because they’re our mothers and daughters” I’M DKJDFHKDJ

he’s a little bit confused but he’s got the spirit alright, king of feminism let’s go (i’m obviously joking, his heart was very much in the right place, it just seemed like baby’s first feminism dfkjdfkj).

So they vote, and then IT’S IDOL TIME, BABEY. Nat plays it for herself--and Tony goes TOLD YOU SO--, then Tony plays his and Ben also plays his. The votes end up being for Ben and Nat, so no votes, so the four that are safe have to pick between Denise and Sarah, and if they tie, the girls go to a firemaking challenge.

In the end, everyone votes for Denise, which I guess yeah, cause Nat did want to work with Sarah, so yeah. Bye, Da Knees :(

At night, Tony makes a fucking pORTABLE FIRE TORCH to go look for the idol (and I bet he had the firefighter crew right behind him cause YOU’RE GONNA BURN DOWN FIJI OH GOD NO), but he can’t find it, and it’s Natalie that eventually finds the new idol!

Tony ends up winning the next immunity challenge (ok, challenge beast!), so you know what happens when he is safe...IT’S TONY TIME, IT’S SPY NEST TIME.

So Sarah goes with Nat to talk under the Spy Nest...and what the fuck Natalie has her idol in her buff around her wrist?

BRO I’M SO CONFUSED why would she not bury it somewhere safe wtf. So yeah, Sarah and Tony find out, and because they can’t split the votes, they have to decide who to vote for, either Nat or Michele, probably Michele since Nat would probably protect herself. And if they’re wrong, Ben’s out.

AND HERE’S WERE MAGIC HAPPENS. Ben...gives Sarah permission to vote for him. He tells her her speech moved him, and that that way nobody will be able to say that Tony dragged her to the end.

And holy shit.

And there’s plenty to say here about this. I think mostly this proves that Sarah is such a good player, especially when it comes to building genuine relationships. Like, this seems absolutely sincere, they really do seem like they’ve become friends, and to get someone to like you enough that they’ll give you permission to vote them off? That’s REALLY impressive.

Also I don’t think he “quit”, per se. I think it’s kinda like a “half-Ian”, for the Palau fans out here (me). He’s still gonna vote for Michele, Sarah’s still free to do whatever, the game is still on. But he’s saying “if this happens, hey I get it and I’ll still vote for you in the end cause I think you deserve it” and...wow, props to Sarah.

And in the end, that’s what happens, she does want to make a Move and she does vote for Ben. Wow.

Then it’s final challenge time, the “catch the balls one handed” one...and it’s Natalie that wins it! So...the Edge person is in the F3, interesting how this is gonna go.

Nat ends up picking Michele to go to FTC with her, and it’s up to Sarah and Tony to battle it out in the firemaking challenge. And OH MY GOD THIS WAS TENSE AS HELL. I confess I did want Tony and Sarah in F3, I think that would have been so epic...but it just felt right somehow for them to battle here. AND GOD I HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAS HAPPENING, ONE MOMENT SARAH WAS WINNING, THE OTHER HER FLAME WAS OUT AND THEN TONY WINS.

Hey, they might be cops irl but they are such a legendary duo in Survivor, I definitely got a bit choked up here. What a moment.

Aaaaaand here’s the moment my friend and I went “Yeah, Tony’s got this”. My friend was saying “Natalie should have done a Chris and go up to Tony herself”, and...yeah, yeah maybe. Or maybe Michele could have beaten Tony? It did seem so from the edit, but I bet Nat didn’t wanna go with both Tony AND Sarah so she picked Michele. Either way...yeah.

Granted, Nat had been with all the Edge people for so long, plus she did play the complete opposite of Tony’s game...but to my eyes, it was kind of clear Tony was gonna win.

...and win he did!

(Can I just say that this was so awkward? sdfkjhdsk I was doing the cheering noices because it was so weird without the live audience lmao).

But yeah, oh my god what a season! I’m actually super happy that Tony won, because HE 100% DESERVED IT HOLY SHIT. He played such a good game and he managed to tone it down at first so they wouldn’t go after him but then went FULL TONY and STILL managed to avoid votes and DAMN! (Also, I’m happy an Edge person didn’t win. Can we retire EoE/RI now, please?)

And as they say...that was that. It is still so surreal that I’ve watched all of Survivor (Ok, there’s still Int. Survivor, but STILL). It was such a rollercoaster, and being able to enjoy this last season with my friend (WHO WAITED FOR SO LONG FOR ME TO CATCH UP OH MY GOD I LOVE YOU) was an amazing moment that I’ll cherish forever.

Now to watch the Ponderosa vids!