#the Anna can be shipped with Mayor whats-his-face

[marinerainbow]

I BETTER see some ship art of these two. The internet was made for this.

[sepublic]

Halloween Special: The Shut-In!

           So, this episode is SUPPOSED to be canon, I believe? Or the idea is that within the episode itself, the events take place after the Plantars return to Wartwood, but otherwise it isn’t canon? I’m not sure, I’ll have to go check. Either way…

           This was a REALLY fun, and surprisingly freaky episode, especially towards the end! I love the darker, pragmatic take on Halloween for Amphibia, and how the holiday is interpreted in this world as more of a doomsday preparation sort of thing, this show’s worldbuilding is always so fun. Let me tell you, I lost my mind when I saw human Sprig, Polly, Maddie, and Toadie! Is the implication that Toadie is actually, like, around the kids’ ages this entire time? That makes people shipping him and Mayor Toadstool, uh… VERY, er… But at the same time, I can see why everyone thought he was an adult- So an honest mistake and thus no harm done! And come to think of it, Polly seems to be about the same age as Sprig here. So, the ages may not necessarily match… But then come to think of it, it IS weird that the writers/animators chose to give Toadie a humansona, and not say, Ivy! Actually, Toadie is rather minor and feels oddly specific considering who else was excluded, so I have to wonder if there was some particular reason for this, of if the writers just felt like it?

           Anyhow, the humanized versions of our frog friends are adorable, Sprig and Polly are gingers, no surprise there, and the bucket over Polly’s foot is so cute! I love how Anne didn’t even TRY to change who she was, she legit just tied up her hair and that’s it. Her story was a fun premise, and I expected the video to actually be a jumpscare that pulls in its victims at the last moment. And I mean, sort of? It definitely takes a while for that Video Cat demon thing to arrive… But I loved Anne in this bit, how she’s so smug and proud of herself and really doesn’t want to care what others say about her skills, you go girl! You go write dialogue! And I just realized, but this is possibly the closest look we have to Anne’s actual home and bedroom, assuming things haven’t been changed up all that much in the ‘bootleg’ translation… So F-Annes, analyze!

           That Video Cat being unable to take criticism and literally dying to it is a mood. Also, either its eggs ARE boba, and/or they just taste like it… Either way, keep in mind that Molly legit took a huge bite out of one. Then again, more feral things have happened in Amphibia and ESPECIALLY with Polly, so I guess I’m not too shocked- Look at Anne, she wanted to eat that monster crab that almost killed Sylvia way back when! Are those cats invincible because they’re bound to no videos, or are they subject to regular criticism in general… Can they also be physically killed as well?

           WHY am I even asking, when we know this isn’t canon whatsoever and is never going to come up again!? Anne insists that this happened to her phone specifically, so I guess the gag is that the phone had a previous owner named Anna, etc…. Still, while it’s funny how Anne just gets away with completely making up a story, I do have to wonder if it’s like. Allegorical to a real-life experience. Probably not, given the presence of humanized Sprig, Polly, Maddie, and Toadie… Unless Anne is recounting something that happened in Amphibia, but then Sprig and Polly would’ve recognized what Anne is alluding to, given how they remembered those other past adventures (which was a hilarious gag that I felt nostalgic to recognize). I’m probably just overthinking it.

           Then, we’ve got Hop Pop’s story! He had LUSCIOUS locks, and he met the Grim Reaper- Again, allegedly. Not gonna lie I assumed that dude was Frog Lucifer or something, but this is kind of better? Either way that was pretty dark, and I love the implication that the Grim Reaper legit went out of his way to steal some rando’s hair. Poor Hop Pop, he never got his hair back! Are we going to call this canon? Does this confirm the presence of a Frog Grim Reaper?

           (Side-note, I feel bad for Wally! Imagine being born on a day where everyone has to be holed up lest they turn into Were-Amphibians! That must’ve been quite the scandal for the Ribbiton family, I have to wonder if this influenced his decision to go out and live his own life with how lonely Wally was…)

           Then we have Sprig’s story! I’m so happy to see Ivy again, I never realized how much I missed her and her adorable design, and her hair is so cute! Kind of reminds me of Anne with how wild it is, I want to see a one-shot of Anne bonding with Ivy over their messy hair now. I really appreciate that gag of Sprig realizing what Ivy’s about to say, about how everyone has knitting needles, and Ivy breaking down that door without remorse. This story was my favorite, not just for the comedy, but also…

           DANG, that was legitimately terrifying?!When I saw those slimy frog skins, knowing those were actual people, with Hop Pop even suggesting one of them could’ve been Gary… and YIKES, what happens to the flayed bodies?!? Legit I freaked out when I saw the Seamstress, this was straight-up Leather Face, the show wasn’t even trying to be subtleor dodge around it, those were actual people skins! This was some Wartwood Chainsaw Massacre…! Seeing all of those hanging skins and faces gave me the heebie-jeebies, I didn’t expect the show to go THIS far, and while I’m impressed and glad it managed to freak me out, still! That build up to the reveal of Ivy literally ripping off that ‘face’, us seeing a glimpse of the Seamstress before her skins fall off, and it looks like she lacks any skin entirely, and that’s why she wears others’!

           Only, she DOES have skin, it’s just clear- Fun fact, I watched this with my brother and he immediately recognized the Seamstress as a Glass Frog, by name, before Sprig did! I think it was a neat gag how for Sprig, he immediately calms down because for Amphibians, Glass Frogs are a somewhat normal and non-supernatural facet of life, relatively speaking. For us humans, well, it reminds me of this one myth about a woman whose head can rise from her body, unveiling her organs…

           I THOUGHT the episode was going to go the sweet route, even as I joked that the Seamstress still, y’know, KILLED people. And like Apothecary Gary, the show remembered this and we legit had the Seamstress burn to death in a classic horror movie finale, and I yelled when she made one last stand to grab Ivy by the leg and bite her! I get that there’s meant to be an allegory between Ivy not appreciating her own hair, and the Seamstress not appreciating her own skin, body positivity and all that- But mostly I was too freaked out to appreciate it. Ivy waddling around blindly in present-time was adorable, though.

           And, Polly! I LOVE the sort of lesson, the realization that her being gone was scarier than ANY story they’d heard that night (probably because this was real, at least I assume the other stories were fake but regardless). We get our twist of Polly turning into a Were-Tadpole, and then anticlimactically reacting while the others lose their minds as noises of ruckus are heard, implying that Polly immediately went feral afterwards, or the others just made a mess as they freaked out! Also, love the twist on the ending credits, that’s delightfully morbid…

           All in all, this was a great episode! Surprisingly scary, and definitely hilarious- It’s a much-needed break from this Amphibia hiatus, especially now that I’m also dealing with the hiatus for The Owl House and Infinity Train (the latter of whom may be permanent PLEASE watch the show on HBO Max), and Kipo’s ending. I do have Carmen Sandiego’s third season to watch, though. I wonder if there’s any speculation to be gleaned from the Blue Moon turning people into monsters, and how that can connect to Blue Energy for the Calamity Box relating to the virtue of Heart. Does the Blue Moon turn people into a monstrous form that reflects the darker sides/fears of their heart? I’m probably overthinking it. Either way, I’m really glad we got a classic Holiday Episode for this show- I always love those, ESPECIALLY Halloween ones!

[deathsmallcaps]

Hey guys I have a dumb idea

I would like to write a 10,000 words of fan fiction during winter break, but I can’t decide on what to do. So here is twelve options. Either choose one for 10,000 OR 2 for 5000 each or 3 for 3333 each. Please let me know :).

1. ATLA AU: Some benders and non-benders can turn into the magical animals associated with their element, and the Gaang (season three edition) are being hunted by the most successful poachers in the world for roughly an episode. Aang: All of course. Katara: Magic fish possibly? Would have to workshop that one. Zuko: Dragon. Sokka: normal but excellent sword and boomerang fighter, of course. Toph: normal Bender, which makes her interactions with wild badgermoles and her innovations in metal bending all the more impressive. (DEFINITELY inspired by muffinlance’s wonderful work)

2. Umbrella Academy: What happened to the other kids? Mostly a description of Reginald being horrible and very quickly judgemental of the babies while gathering the Seven, and how/whether they grew up or not. (Have only seen the tv show but apparently in the comics Five and Luther are twins which may play into what I’m going to write.)

3. Batman: Peggy Sue AU for Alfred where he wakes up the day after the Waynes’ murders with memories of having witnessed his entire family die, and so resolved to make sure Gotham grows up safe, and so do Bruce and his little Robins, perhaps at the expense of them never living with him at all. It may or may not be difficult to make sure Damian is born lol. (It would be a big plot point)

4. I’ve been kind of working on this for a while but I have a choose your own adventure story (but you have to roll dice for unspecified paths) for each Disney princess. Have currently finished planning out most of Belle, just depending on what you guys want I would write up and post however many. The paths may depend on how much of the extended lore I’ve seen (For example, I’ve seen more of the Ariel extended canon stuff, so farther along you may meet Gabriella, or Melody, or so on.) it would be a Peggy sue au once again. I may also make a mini-one to ‘unlock’ with luck for Melody. Anna and Elsa are separate ones.

5. A continuation of The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, by Terry Pratchett. Maurice would once again be mostly the main character, and he would set up a kid to take over as Lord Mayor of Ankh-Morpork, and possibly get involved in the steamboat business. If we had time, we would meet more of the extended Ankh-Morpork cast.

6. The Nine Lives of the Marquis of Carabas: an exploration of Neverwhere, Coraline, the Graveyard Book, Good Omens, American Gods, Time Cat, Pan’s Labyrinth, the Neverending Story and Discworld. Basically how he lived one life and kind of ‘Forrest Gumped” his way around the stories.

7. A Phantom of the Opera/Over The Garden Wall crossover where a dead Eric decides to kill the Beast - at least he doesn’t try to suck the souls out of children! (Only young, beautiful women, of course). Wouldn’t be a very happy fic

8. Labyrinth (Jim Henson Movie): where after realizing that both she and Toby are too touched by the Fae to survive very long in this world, Sarah and her brother must rush to get back to the Labyrinth in time. (Small crossover with Pan’s labyrinth probablyy.)

9. Percy Jackson: and the extended pantheons crew all have a chill day and then do a murder mystery dinner party. I just want to mess around with all of them.

10. Dealing with Dragons and the Last Unicorn: Cimorene accidentally crosses over, meets the Last Unicorn, and invites her over for dessert. More plot to ensue, of course. Sort of a look at how a fractured fairy tale/aware of the fairy tale but unable to stop fate kind of story would mix.

11. (This one is likely to happen because I was recently talking to another user about this) The Boy Who Could Fly: after Max the dog dies, Eric appears with a puppy. Milky and Eric manage to then spend the day together, before he must go away again.

12. Peter Pan 2: Jane struggles to take care of her mother while raising her own daughters by herself. Desperate and in need of some time to mentally sort things out, she asks her children to call for Peter, despite being afraid they’ll stay away forever.

13. Wonder Woman and Captain America team up and are not shipped. They are just buddies who occasionally cross dimensions to hang out and punch fascists.

14. Steven Universe: The Pearls (along with a Steven who has seen a therapist) fuse into a time-travelling Mega Pearl and punch the Diamonds in their faces at the point where they have been the most oppressive in their lives. Rose Quartz does get treated as a separate entity, but instead of getting punched, she gets a HUGE talking-to.

15. The Princess and the Frog: When Naveen’s parents die shortly after WWII, they must choose between leaving her dreams and America behind forever or taking control of Maldonia. After the hardships of the Great Depression, the War

16. A Ghibli Fic: I want to write some some older Ghibli but would need a suggestion for that.

Sorry about the long post :)

[riderofthewind]

So I just finished reading Mortal Engines

And I needed to rant a bit about differences between the book and movie and why they were poor choices. I’m going to try and avoid generic ‘It’s different so it’s bad’ arguments because those suck, good movie adaptations of books that don’t massively diverge from the book itself are rare, it’s an essential part of making something great in most cases but in this case...oh god maybe they should have just done a shot for shot copy of the book.

This is gonna be a long one, but please join me on this nitpicky angry journey (and let me know the shit you liked/hated about the movie.)

OH GOD THIS MOVIE WAS SO TERRIBLE BUT THIS BOOK IS RATHER GOOD.

Warning: This will be nitpicky but I just...need to.

I'm a firm believer that a movie adaptation does not need to be faithful to the book it is based on to be a great movie. I love The Shining (I actually like the movie a lot more than the book but that's a rant for another day) however Mortal Engines manages to fail both at being a good movie and a good adaptation.

THE BEGINNING

The first like 30 minutes of the movie are almost shot for shot from the intro of the book and it's genuinely very good in both instances. London eats a small town, Hester boards, she tries to stab Valentine (in the movie she succeeds but he's fine. It's a change that I don't really understand because it doesn't actually change anything) and is chased off of London by Tom who is booted off by Valentine to cover his tracks. Tom and Hester group up because Hester is injured, they get picked up by another town who pretend to be nice and then are going to be sold as slaves.

I'm not going to go shot for shot through the changes the movie makes from the book because that'd be pointless. But I specifically wanted to recap this intro section because it's so close to the book and because where it diverges is mostly meaningless (and awful product placement.) However the part where it splits from the book is not just signposted, the script writer literally wrote into the script criticism of the book at this point in the movie. In the book, Hester and Tom remove a floor plating from their room and jump out, escaping before being sold as slaves. In the movie, they attempt this but Hester is too injured to make the jump out of the room and instead they are rescued by Anna Fang moments later. This makes sense and is a change that on the face of it I kinda like because yeah, it makes sense. Hester could barely walk at that point how did she make that jump? But the script in the film is so fucking bad that Hester may as well at this point go "I can't make the jump, i'm too injured" then turn to the camera and wink.

After this point the movie diverges in a lot of ways from the book, although it still follows mostly the same plot it just cuts out a bunch of stuff and ruins every single character then turns into Star Wars at the end because reasons.

SO

WHY THE MOVIE SUCKS

Okay, i'm going to get really nitpicky about specific changes that were for the worse that helped ruin this movie but to start with let me just summary and say. The movie sucks primarily because it's written terribly. Almost every character is reduced to shitty one liners after the intro, worst of all being Anna Fang, Valentine is reduced into generic villain, but even the characters who are similar to their book versions are just written so poorly that what worked in the book doesn't work on screen. Also Shrike's name sound so much like "Shrek" when being said out loud that it's hilarious. But overall it does stay surprisingly close to the book in plot up until the end, redacting a lot of stuff but rarely adding additional fluff. The way I'd break it down would be First act: Most similar to the book, overall very good. If the whole movie as this good it'd be a great movie.

Second act: Starts to diverge from the book to shorten it down for the length of a film. The writing is generally very very bad here, primarily because this section focusses on Shrike and Anna Fang. The former of which is reduced to saying "Kill Hester" over and over and the latter of whom is reduced to saying shitty one liners.

Third act: It's Star Wars but bad and has almost nothing to do with the book other than the location.

Also, I'm going to focus on story and characters here but keep in your mind that after the first act the cinematography gets terrible. Like genuinely it feels like a different movie also in terms of how poorly shot and edited the whole movie was after Act 1.

THADDEUS VALENTINE

Portrayed by Hugo Weaving in the film (doing his best Sean Bean impression) and uh yeah, the changes to him are central to the changes to the whole plot and basically what makes the movie so bad.

To begin with, Valentine is somewhat mysterious to start with. We know he's the Mayor's right hand man, he boots Tom off London after he hears Hester claim Valentine killed her parents but otherwise is charismatic and generally comes off as a very affable and likeable person. He is outspoken about the class divides in London having risen up from being a scavenger to the upper echelons of society himself. Both the movie and the book do this, it's great, he's a great character.

Valentine murdered Hester Shaw's parents long before the start of the book to take a piece of a weapon called MEDUSA back to London, which is used to rebuild the weapon which they intend to use to murder lots of people and basically make London an unstoppable monster. The big change the movie makes to Valentine's character is that this is his plan. Valentine does this in secret somehow, murders the mayor, stages a coup and takes London off course towards Asia to start firing off Medusa willy nilly and kill everyone and "save London" because they'll have so much to consume.

In the book this is the Mayor's plan and Valentine is being blackmailed into doing it because he wants his daughter to grow up in high society and have a better life. This is much better for a variety of reasons but the main one being that book doesn't reveal this until much later (in fact Valentine isn't even in most of the book) and it is foreshadowed by an earlier encounter with a bunch of pirates which didn't make it into the movie (which is fine because it's rather superfluous other than this foreshadowing.)

These changes aren't inherently bad but the way they are handled in the movie it basically just results in Valentine being an incredibly charismatic but evil villain the whole way through with absolutely no depth to his character outside of that. In the book what he did to get where he is puts strain on him and his daughter's relationship in a way that builds and results in his eventual suicide by refusing to escape with Hester and Tom, despite Hester's somewhat forgiveness of him seeing how hard he is trying to save his innocent daughter.

LUKE, I AM YOUR FATHER

It's heavily implied in the book that Valentine is Hester's father and not her mother's husband. But this only comes up like once in a conversation between Valentine and his daughter, Hester never learns about it and it's kind of a non-thing. It's only really there to show that Valentine was willing to kill someone who might be his daughter in order to build this life for his definite daughter.

In the movie, this revelation is made during the climactic battle between Hester and Valentine on the back of a ship during a fucking dogfight and oh god everything about it is the worst. He literally picks her up and dangles her over the edge of the ship and almost line for line repeats the Darth Vader father revelation from Star Wars. It's insane and goddamn I hate it.

SPEAKING OF STAR WARS

The movie changes the whole final sequence so that instead of it being a struggle for survival for each of the characters and the big climactic defeat of the villain being caused by the fact he was literally meddling with powers he didn't understand (in this case, old tech than they haphazardly rebuilt and didn't know how to fix when it broke) to being a generic big budget action sequence that copies more and more stuff from Star Wars. There's literally a sequence where a bunch of fighters are taking out guns so that someone can do a trench run. The action cumulates in Tom flying into the heart of London and blowing up the engines. It's just bad and generic and literally just Star Wars. It's boring as hell. As mentioned earlier, it's also just not shot well at all and it's a mess. They do these weird awful zoom ins every time a scene takes place inside MEDUSA and it's hideous and I have no idea why it's the way it is.

Other stuff:

ANNA FANG

I've mentioned a few times in this rant that Anna Fang only speaks in one liners in the movie but I can't get across exactly how shitty it is. She's damn cool in the book and the way they translated that to the movie was basically "she has a snarky one liner for every situation."

She does look cool though.

VALENTINE'S DAUGHTER

Katherine I think is her name? I literally just finished this book an hour ago and I don't remember. One of my complaints about the movie at the time was that she is a nothing character who does basically nothing. In the book she is a nothing character who does basically nothing but she also has a pet wolf. She exists solely to give Valentine a reason for being blackmailed, which in the movie isn't even a thing so she may as well have been cut out of it entirely. She sucks in both though so whatever.

HESTER SHAW

She is constantly described as ugly and deformed after what Valentine did to her. In the movie she has a kinda cute scar but that's it. This sucks but again, whatever. It's a movie, that's how this shit rolls unfortunately. It's hard to market your movie when the protagonist looks like Two Face in TDK.

All in all, I'm glad I went on this journey of reading the book after seeing and hating the movie. It was fun in its own weird way. I definitely enjoyed it more than being excited for an adaptation of a book I liked only for it to suck at least. That movie was bad but it led me to reading a good book so it did something of worth.

[zalrb]

It’s Finally Written! {TVD 1x22 Review}

1.  I find it kind funny that Caroline essentially becomes Carol Lockwood. I’m saying this because Carol is organizing the various floats/participants in the Miss Mystic parade and it reminds me of Caroline in 4x07 and pretty much any event after that.

2. “I’m here to eat cotton candy and steal your girl.” “Don’t start with me, Damon.” “Oh you started it with you ‘I’m insecure, leave Elena alone’ speech.” Damon, honey, you are the picture of insecurity when your time comes to be with Elena.

3. “You’re worried that now that Katherine is out of the picture, I’m going to turn all of my attention to Elena” basically what happens Damon because or obsession just needed somewhere to go. You guys watch Supernatural? You know what Dean and Sam expel a demon from someone and the black smoke goes searching for a new vessel? That’s Damon’s obsession.

4. Anna and Jeremy’s conversation is actually cringe-worthy mostly because of the acting but Jeremy, her mother is dead and you are not comforting at all. Maybe its a Gilbert thing.

5. Anna telling Jeremy to turn because he can shut off his emotions as a vampire is ridiculous because her emotions aren’t shut off, that’s how she can love Jeremy, if Jeremy shut off his emotions who is to say hat he would want to be with her, he would have no emotion! It’s so illogical.

6. “My whole life I never liked this man” ,--- Elena about John when Stefan tells her he could be his father. Remember that anon who tried to tell me that Elena hated John because he tried to kill Damon? LOL 

7. I like how Caroline tells Matt to hide his cast because it’s not era appropriate but there is a yellow school bus in the backdrop.

8. Elena isn’t even trying to make a case for herself with  Jeremy is the thing, she’s just like Jer, please” say something else, Elena.

9. Elena, Stefan, Tyler, Matt, Caroline and Jeremy are all in this parade in some capacity but Bonnie is on the sidelines? OK.

10. “I like you better like this. The period look, it didn’t suit you” because it reminded you too much of Katherine, Damon? But DE fans say Stefan is the one who had a problem separating the two of them?

11. “Don’t make me regret being your friend.” I mean, he raped your best friend and tried to kill your other one, Elena, you should’ve regretted this friendship from the jump. 

12. I remember when Damon mocked Jeremy and his teen angst I thought it was hilarious the first time I watched it because Jeremy was being so extra but it’s actually in terrible taste because Jeremy’s pain is all Damon's fault, seriously, the dude is trash. And I hate Bamon now but I remember I shipped them before because Damon’s appreciation for what he thought Bonnie did was genuine and there was respect there but with Elena, it was more like a conquest. And him roughing up Jeremy “for” Elena is ridiculous.

13. And Stefan being Stefan is honest and humble and sincere and you see that he’s getting through to Jeremy even if he’s still upset.

14. “Oh there’s only room for one do-gooder, I get it.” Damon, you threatened to turn Jeremy unconscious so when Stefan says “get over yourself” it’s the most appropriate response.

15. Liz, what do you actually do as a sheriff?

16. How would Liz override the mayor?

17. Honestly, what reason would Damon have to be at the MF parade until nightfall? Like does he not have anything better to do with his time? Skulker.

18. Also this is a terribly coordinated plan for the tomb vampires, I thought that once the fireworks started then everyone would be getting merked, not that when the fireworks started, they move to get in position to kill the people they wanted to murder.

19. OK. So here’s my thing. These vampires are in a crowded place in a small town and no one is seeing these people getting round up by the cops and injected with a substance? No one is going to question it? 

20. It makes no sense to me that John would stake Anna as a personal fuck you but not stake Damon when he and Isobel agreed to keep Elena safe from Damon and Stefan and Damon had actually tried to kill him.

21. I also find it interesting that when Damon is supposed to show some form of growth it isn’t related to Elena at all. He thanks Bonnie because he knows she hates vampires and him specifically but helped them anyway and when he wants to help Anna it’s because Stefan explains it him what selflessness is.

22. Elena being indignant that John tried to kill Damon doesn’t make sense unless she’s indignant that all of the vampires are being set on fire.

23. And Elena being indignant about Bonnie is also like ... Elena, look at who you run with though? Damon legit tried to kill her and he was responsible for her grandmother’s death if you can be like”oh Damon rapes and kills and manipulates people because he’s sad over Katherine” then you have to understand why Bonnie lied about the device. Compassion doesn’t just work for Damon, writers.

24. Hey Damon, remember when Stefan risked his life to save yours and then you try to kiss Elena? Stay classy.

25. Jeremy is all, I know you think you took away my suffering but I still feel empty and alone,OK, but you felt that way even when Vicki was alive though so I need the show to understand the difference between Jeremy’s pain about Vicki and his general teenage emo angst.

26. Jeremy, those don’t even look like enough pills to overdose on.

27. Kat’s eyes are beautifully big.

28. Damon, don’t play yourself, Bonnie legit said that she couldn’t let Stefan or Damon die because Elena loves Stefan that implies that because Stefan loves Damon and Elena loves Stefan, Damon’s well being is in Elena’s best interest.

29. Lol Ian is eating Nina’s face.

30. So Jenna glaring at Damon after catching him kiss who she thinks is Elena and then closing the door is not enough for me. Jenna was legit flirting with Damon at the bar like 6 episodes ago because they’re age appropriate for each other, if that man was kissing my underage niece, we would have some fucking words.

31. And then Katherine’s entrance. I don’t know why she couldn’t just snap John’s neck but whatever.

Thanks for reading!

[wandering-bard-from-the-id]

Daughters of Arendelle - Chapter 13 - Jokulsa Day 2

Daughters of Arendelle - Part I - Bonding

Links to Chapters 1-12

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12222767/1/Daughters-of-Arendelle

*Author’s Note – Remember at the beginning of this story I warned it would not all be fluff? Proceed at your own peril.

Chapter 13

Aug. 18, 1840

“Stop her!” Bloody Nose called as he chased after the woman.

The Queen’s Shield formed around Elsa, weapons at the ready.

The young woman ran with amazing speed, dodging and jumping over obstacles along the way. Elsa couldn’t help thinking she looked like Anna playing in the garden. She pushed away the thought.

At the edge of Elsa’s guard the woman slid to a stop. She dropped to one knee. “Your Majesty, a word please! I beg you.” Her head bowed. She was panting from her run. Dark hair fell over her face, but not before Elsa noticed bruises and dried blood.

Before Elsa could answer the second man who from the pursuit reached the girl. One of his eyes was red and starting to swell, no doubt it would be black by morning.

“Come here, you little harlot.” He grabbed her by the arm trying to jerk her to her feet.

“Release her.” All eyes went to Elsa.

“Your Majesty,” the Mayor stepped between her and the girl. “This girl is a local menace. She shouldn’t be here.” He waved to the guards. “Take her away.”

With one on each arm they drug her to her feet. “Get your hands off of me! Your Majesty, I beg you…”

A sharp crack echoed through the square as Black Eye backhanded her. The blow snapped her head to one side, sending blood flying from the cut on her lip. Had the men not been holding her the blow would have sent her to the ground.

Cold air rushed through the square. It crashed into Black Eye. He sailed several feet away to land on his backside with a grunt.

All eyes turned once more to the Queen. Yellow magic sparked on the hand hanging loose at her side. “Release her.” The words carried as much force as the wind gust that had struck the guard.

Bloody Nose looked to the Mayor.

“Release her, now.” Elsa raised a hand toward the guard.

He let her go, his hands held up as he drew back several steps. The girl jerked away. Her hands clenched into fists.

“Step forward.” Elsa commanded.

The young woman closed the distance separating them in several quick steps. “Your Majesty.” She dipped into a formal curtsey, with her head down.

“Rise. What is your name?”

“Viktoria Engstrom, ma’am.” She rose coming to a military attention stance.

“Why do you wish to speak with me?”

“The people of Jokulsa are suffering. Everything you have seen today is a charade, ma’am.”

“Enough!” The Mayor took a step toward her. “The Queen does not wish to hear your lies.”

“Samuelsson.” Elsa had not yelled, yet the force of her voice brought a hush over the square.

He turned to face her.

“Do not presume to know what I wish.” Emotion flickered in his eyes for a moment before he pushed it down.

“My apologies, Your Majesty.” He backed away with a bow.

Elsa’s attention returned to the young woman. “You were fleeing authorities, and it would appear you’ve been assaulting the town guard. Why should I believe your claims?”

“I am not a liar, Your Majesty. My family has been loyal to the Crown for generations. My father was a member of the King’s Shield. He served with honor till his death.”

“Your father was a member of the shield? Engstrom?” Elsa’s eyes narrowed as she searched her memory for the name. Realization struck her with the force of a blow. “Your father was Sergeant Engstrom. He was lost at sea.” With my parents, she kept the last to herself.

Startled the young woman faltered for a moment. “Yes, ma’am. I am honored, Your Majesty, remembers my father.”

“His sacrifice is not forgotten.” She remembered him, just as she remembered the names of every soul lost on that ship.

“Thank you, My Queen.” Viktoria curtsied once more.

Blue eyes looked the girl up and down, searching for any tells of deceit. “In what way are the people suffering?”

“The Baron and Mayor tax us to ruin, and when we cannot pay they steal to make up the difference. When there is nothing left to steal, they force people into the mines.”

“What mines?” Elsa’s brow furrowed. “According to the town resource reports Jokulsa no longer has active mines. The last one was closed almost a year ago after it failed to yield ore.”

“No, Your Majesty,” Viktoria replied. “the mines are open and producing.” Her gaze shifted to Samuelsson. “Not that the people see any benefit from them. The profits are pocketed by the Mayor and his group of thieves.” She waved a hand toward the businessmen gathered behind the Mayor.

“Lies!” Samuelsson moved toward the girl. Olsen stepped into his path. The Mayor glared at him, but made no attempt to challenge the Guardsman.

Viktoria shot him a defiant look. “I do not lie, Your Majesty.” Her gaze softened as it returned to Elsa. “The people are being taxed to ruin, and with the lost of the widows and orphans allotment, the most vulnerable are suffering.”  

“Wait, what do you mean the loss of the allotment?”

“Begging your pardon, Your Majesty, but we were told a decree had come from the Crown dissolving it.”

“No such decree was issued by the Crown. The pension has not been dissolved.” Elsa’s jaw tightened till her teeth ground together.

A murmur passed through the crowd. From the corner of her eye Elsa noticed the Mayor shift uncomfortably from one foot to the other.

“I have not received my father’s pension in months, ma’am. And I know of others who have gone even longer without payment.”

Elsa felt her face shift into the emotionless mask she wore so well. “Months?” Her eyes swept over the crowd. “Is this true? Are there others who have not received their allotments?”

Many in the group exchanged glances and shuffled about. From deep in the crowd a voice could be heard.

“Let me through. Move aside.” The crowd parted as an old man stepped forward. His back was hunched and he used a worn cane for support. Clear of the crowd he stepped to Viktoria’s side. He bowed leaning so far forward Elsa feared he might topple over. “Your Majesty, I’m Otto Vardo. I served in the Royal Navy for thirty-two years. The young woman speaks the truth. We have not received any payments since last fall.”

Anger boiled up in Elsa with more force than her magic. She turned on the Mayor. “Where is the money?”

“Your Majesty,” His smug grin was back. “I assure you, this is all a misunderstanding.”

“Liar!” Came a shout from the crowd. Others began to murmur their agreement.

Elsa turned to the crowd. “If there are others among you who have not received your allotments step forward now.”

Several people made their way through the crowd. It was a mix of old and young.

As the group grew larger Elsa turned on Samuelsson. “How much money have you stolen from these people?” Her words were steady, hard and cold.

“Stolen? Now see here, I’m a public leader…”

“And I am the Queen.” He had the good sense to take a step back, placing a little distance between them. “The Crown entrusted you to see to it the people were cared for. The people accuse you of betraying that trust. You will turn over all of the towns financial records as well as your own immediately. There will be a full audit,” She drew a step closer to him, tightening her fist against the magic frosting over her palm. “and if I find one kroner in your pocket that has been stolen from these people, I promise it will be the last one you ever own.”

His eye was twitching so hard he could barely keep it open. “Your Majesty, I object to this…slander. You are accusing me of being a thief.”

“You are accused of breaking your oath of trust. Pray I do not find people have died from your greed, or the charge of theft will be the least of your concerns.” She held him fixed with her gaze. “Admiral?”

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

“Send Captain Olsen and a group of men to the Mayor’s office. Collect all the town financial records. Send Lt. Nickolas with a second group to his home to collect his personal records. Place the Mayor under arrest. He is to be held for trial pending our return to Arendelle. Gather up the business leaders from the dais, I wish to speak with them as well.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The officers broke away taking several Marines with each of them.

“Arrest?” Samuelsson eased back a step only to find several members of the Shield blocking his path. “No, I…I can’t go to Arendelle.”

“You can, and you will.” Elsa replied.

“Your Majesty, there are others being held at the mine as I was.” Viktoria said.

“Silence girl!” Samuelsson hissed at her.

“Admiral, if the prisoner interrupts again, have him bound and gagged.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Mayor’s mouth dropped open, but he did not speak

“Where is this mine?”

“It’s not far, ma’am, just over the ridge.” Viktoria pointed toward the town’s edge.

“Take me there.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Viktoria bowed and turned to lead.

Elsa and the Admiral fell in behind her.

“Your Majesty, would you like your horse brought up?”

“No, thank you, Admiral. I’ll walk.” Elsa cringed at the thought of climbing back into the saddle.

The Queen’s Shield took up its position around Elsa, as the remaining Marines formed in behind them.

Several yards behind followed the curious townspeople.

0000

Members of the Queen’s Shield and several Marines took up forward positions as the group approached the mine’s entrance. Two very confused Town Guard stood at the opening. Their muskets were drawn, but hung loose in their hands, barrels pointed downward.

Elsa came to a stop several feet behind her guard. She was regretting leaving Vor in town. The uneven terrain caused her ankle to throb and a dull ache had settled in her lower back. She pushed the pain aside; there would be time to deal with that later.

“Admiral,” She tugged the bottom of her jacket down to straighten it. Her attention focused on the mine. “order everyone out of the mine, then have troops search to make sure no one is hidden inside.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” He drew his sword and stepped forward. She couldn’t help flinching at the zing of metal against metal. It stirred emotions and magic. She forced both down.

He stepped to the forward line of soldiers. “By order of Her Royal Majesty, Queen Elsa of Arendelle, shoulder your weapons and stand down.”

The men exchanged uncertain looks, neither moved.

Halldor leveled the sword at them. “Shoulder your weapons or you will be arrested for defying the Queen’s orders.”

“Muskets, on the ridge!” One of the Queen’s Shield cried out.

Elsa’s eyes cut to the ridgeline as two shots rang out almost as one. Dirt sprayed up several feet in front of the Queen’s Shield as a musket ball buried itself in the ground.

From the shadows among the rocks a figure pitched forward. The limp body landed face down, on the ground before the entrance. He wore the uniform of a town guard.

The dusk from his landing had not settled when more guards appeared among the rocks, others rushed forward from the mine entrance. They began to fire.  

Black Eye and Bloody Nose had flanked the Mayor during the march from town. Black Eye drew his sword and attacked the soldier closest to him.

The Marine guarding the Mayor brought his musket up to fire on the man. He never got the chance as Bloody Nose, rushed in driving a dagger into his back. As the soldier crumbled to the ground, Bloody Nose jerked the dagger free.

His victory was short lived as a member of the Queen’s Shield, shot him in the chest. He was dead before he hit the ground.

Before the soldier could bring his musket around to fire Black Eye stabbed him in the thigh. With a foot against the soldier’s chest he pulled the weapon free, shoving the soldier away. As the man dropped to the ground, Black Eye spied Viktoria. His lips curled back in a snarl. “Hello, harlot.”

With the sword held high he charged her. She took a step back, settling into a balance position. As he drew close enough to start the downward arc, she squatted. Too late he realized his mistake. She rose lifting him from the ground. His momentum carried him forward, flipping him at the height of the lift. He landed flat on his back, the air rushed from his lungs with a grunt.

Viktoria stood over him smiling. The smile broadened at the string of curses hurled at her.

He rolled onto his stomach, clawing at the dirt. His fingers found the sword hilt. Before he could grasp it, a thick, leather heel stomped on the outstretched hand. Bones snapped under the blow. He howled as the heel ground deeper into the back of his hand. The pressure vanished and he tried to raise to his knees.

A solid kick to the ribs lifted him from the ground and sent him rolling till he landed on his back. He curled into a ball, making no attempt to get up.

Viktoria snatched up the sword. She poked at him with it. The man curled tighter into himself with a whimper. “Coward.” She turned her attention to the surrounding chaos.

Samuelsson reached into his jacket. His fingers curled around the smooth wooden handle of the small pistol tucked in a special pocket of his waistcoat. He only had one shot. It would have to be enough to make his escape into the wood line. By the time the soldiers could give chase he would have a good head start.

He searched the group for an escape route. His eyes came to rest on the blond haired woman standing several feet away. The sight of her caused his hand to tighten on the pistol grip.

The Queen was raising her hands in a strange manner, no doubt to unleash her cursit magic. His mind shifted gears. Without the Queen and her gift, the Baron’s men would have no trouble over taking her guards. With her gone he could return to business as usual. Yes, cut off the head and the body will crumble, he thought. He moved toward Elsa.

One of the Marines on the front line fell. The angry buzz of a musket ball whizzed pass Elsa’s ear, behind her another soldier fell. She snapped into action as more Town Guards appeared at the mine entrance.

Both hands swept downward, one to the front the other to the rear. Yellow magic rushed across the ground in opposite directions.

Behind her a thick wall of ice rose shielding the townspeople. Spider web patterns crackled across the ice as stray musket balls embedded in it. The ice held against the attack.

Before her the ice slithered over the ground. It encased the feet of the Town Guards at the mine’s entrance. They cried out struggling to free themselves. The ice continued up the rocky ridge forming a shield against any snipers hidden among the rocks. As the ice spread, nearly a dozen men appeared, driven from their rocky cover. They scrambled up the face of the ridge to disappear down the other side.

Samuelsson stepped over a dead soldier’s body. The Marine lay on his back, lifeless eyes staring skyward, a bloody hold in the center of his chest, marked the musket ball’s entry. With most of the Queen’s Shield rushing forward to protect her from sniper fire, the felled soldier left a gap in their defenses.

It’s almost too easy, Samuelsson thought as he drew the pistol. With a quick snap he cocked back the hammer, straightened his arm and leveled it toward the back of Elsa’s head.

One of the Queen’s Shield shouted a warning, trying in vain to dive between his Queen and the assassin’s bullet.

Cold, hard steel sliced through Samuelsson’s wrist in one swift stroke. His eyes went from the severed hand, still clutching the unfired pistol, lying in the dirt, to the bloody stump of his wrist.

His blood curling scream echoed through the clearing as he dropped to his knees, cradling the damaged limb to his chest.

Elsa turned to find Viktoria standing over the howling man. The sword tip pressed against his throat. She gave the young woman a nod of thanks. Viktoria smiled in return, blush creeping up her cheeks.

It didn’t take long for Elsa’s men to gather what was left of the guards, corralling them off to one side. Stripped of their weapons they knelt before the Marine’s bayonets.

With the fight over Elsa took a moment to survey the damage. Two Marines lay dead and several other soldiers, including members of her Guard had been injured. Something deep in the pit of Elsa’s stomach stirred. She had expected to find trouble but not this.

With a wave of her hand the ice wall shielding the townspeople vanished in a swirl of snowflakes. They held back as if the barrier were still in place.

“Your Majesty!” A member of the Queen’s Shield came to attention before her with a salute.

“Yes, Lance Corporal?”

“Ma’am, the Admiral has been wounded.” He pointed to several soldiers gathered around the fallen man.

She fought the urge to run as she made her way to them.

One was giving instructions as the other two assisted him. Elsa watched as the man stuffed bandages under the Admiral’s bloody jacket.

“How is he?”

“It’s a chest wound, doesn’t look like it struck his heart or lungs.” He looked up to find the Queen standing over him. His eyes widened. “Your Majesty.”

“Will he be alright?”

“I…I don’t know, ma’am. Right now my concern is stopping the bleeding.” He replied.

“Your…Majesty…”

Her chest tightened at the weakness in Halldor’s voice. She pushed away the thought of losing another ally. “I’m here, Admiral.” She knelt offering what she hoped was a comforting smile.

“Must…get back…to the manor…dark…”

She looked to the soldier. “Can we move him?”

His head moved from side to side. “At the moment it would not be wise, ma’am.”

“Not…safe here…My Queen…”

“I understand, Admiral. Please, save your strength.”

She rose and turned to a guard standing nearby. “Sergeant, find the town doctor and procure some wagons to move the wounded and dead. Send someone to notify Captain Olsen of the Admiral’s condition.”

“Yes, ma’am.” With a salute he sprinted off.

She turned to another soldier, her voice low for only him to hear. “Stay here. Let me know when the wagons arrive. If the Admiral’s condition worsens, send for me immediately.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

People began to emerge from the mine. Young and old filed out, some under their own power, others with the support of fellow miners and soldiers. Many raised hands to shield their eyes against the bright sunlight. All were covered with dirt, sweat and dust of the mines. Some were so coated it was impossible to tell the color of their hair.  

Townspeople rushed toward them, greeting family and friends. Others searched for missing loved ones among the crowd.

Elsa’s magic stirred at the proof of her people’s suffering. She clenched her fists to keep it from seeping out.  

“Guard.”

“Yes, Your Majesty?” A young Marine, who looked barely as old as Anna appeared at her side.

She did not take her eyes from the broken souls wandering from the mine. “I want to speak to the Mayor, now.”

“That’s not possible, ma’am.” He swallowed hard as dark blue eyes settled on him.

“Why not?”

“He’s…” His voice cracked. “He’s dead, Your Majesty.”

She stared at him for a moment. “Dead?”

“Yes, ma’am, he bled out from his wound… ma’am.”

Her eyes closed as she bit back a curse. Well, at least it will save me the trouble of hanging him, she thought. She opened her eyes, allowing her attention to shift back to the people.

Without a word she stepped away leaving the nervous soldier to wonder if he should follow or not. He chose to hold his position.

She walked among the people, calling to soldiers to help those most in need of attention. To her guard’s dismay she kept sending them away to aid others, often leaving herself unguarded.

As she made her way through the growing crowd, people began to realize who she was. Whispers of, it’s the Queen, followed in her wake.

An old man coated in grey dust dropped to his knees before her. “Your Majesty, we knew you would not abandon us.”

Before she could answer he bowed, touching his forehead to the tip of her shoe, and began to weep. Between sobs he kept repeating, bless you.

“Please…get up…don’t…please.” She started to reach for him when a young man and woman came and took him by the arms.

“Your Majesty.” They spoke in unison. With quick bows to her, they pulled the man to his feet.  

“Come, Papa.” The man shifted his grip on the man’s arm to support him better.

“Thank you, My Queen.” The woman didn’t wait for a reply as she helped guide the man away.

He laughed, looking between them. “I told you she would come. Remember, I told you the Queen would not forget us.”

“Yes, Papa, we remember.” The woman assured him.

Elsa felt her stomach churn, ice tingled along her fingertips. Panic began to build up inside her. Her eyes swept over the clearing, looking for a place she could hide. Without thinking she started toward the mine entrance.

Lost in her thoughts she didn’t realize one of her guards had fallen in behind her.

“..water…”

Several feet from the mine entrance she pulled up short at the weak cry. Her guard managed to side step in time to avoid plowing into her.

Hidden in the shade of the ridge, sat a girl of no more than ten with a small boy cradled in her lap.

The child held the boy closer as she realized Elsa was watching them.

“…water…” the boy repeated his cry.

Panic gave way to concern as she drew closer to the children. “Guard, get some water, please.” She didn’t look back calling the command over her shoulder.

He hesitated, torn between protecting his Queen and following her orders. With a nod he went in search of water.

“Hello.” Elsa knelt beside the children.

The girl drew the boy closer, her eyes narrowing as she watched Elsa’s every move.

“What is your name?” She reached out a hand to stroke the boy’s hair.

“No.” The girl held him tight with one arm as she snatched up a large rock with the other. Her arm drew back, but she didn’t throw it.

Elsa leaned back, raising her hands in surrender. “I won’t hurt him, or you. I promise.” The girl didn’t respond. “Is he your brother?”

Her head moved up and down in a slow nod.

“I have a sister. Her name is Anna. I would never let anyone hurt her.” Oh, Anna, how I wish you were here now, she thought. You would be so much better at this.

The child’s tension eased a little, but the rock remained ready to strike.

The boy began to whimper.

“Please, let me help him.” Elsa held out her hands careful not to get to close. “What’s his name?”

She looked from the boy to Elsa and back. The hand holding the rock eased down a few inches. “Tor.”

Elsa released a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

“Ragna, what are you doing?” Viktoria appeared at Elsa’s side. “Don’t you dare throw that rock at the Queen. Your Majesty, I’m so sorry.”

“No harm was done.” Elsa smiled at the child. “She‘s going to let me help her brother. Isn’t that right?”

Ragna lowered her brother so Elsa and Viktoria could see him.

“I sent one of the soldiers to get him some water.” Elsa stroked a hand over his forehead, alarmed at the warmth radiating from it. “He’s running a fever.”

Viktoria cupped his face. “No, I think it’s the heat. Sections of the mines are unbearably hot. We need to cool him down.”

“That, I can help with.” With a flourish of her hand Elsa produced an ice washcloth. Both children gasped in awe. She began to wipe the boy’s brow.

He moaned as the cool rag passed over his face and hair.

“Here.” She created a second one, handing it off to Viktoria. “Try to get her cleaned up a bit.”

“Yes, ma’am.” She took the cloth, marveling at it before taking it to the girl’s dirty face.

“Why are these children here? Where are their parents?” Elsa created another cloth, placing it on the boy’s brow as she continued to wipe at his face and hair.

“They are orphans, ma’am. Once they are big enough to carry things or dig they are sent to the mines. The unlucky ones go to the Baron’s manor to work as his staff.”

“Why are they unlucky?”

Viktoria met her gaze. “They seldom return and if they do, they are usually in poor shape.”

“I visited the orphanage; the children seemed well cared for.”

“They weren’t the orphans. The Mayor rounded up local children from the outlaying farms and forced them to pretend so you wouldn’t see how poorly they were treated. Any child old enough to talk was brought here to wait till after your visit, ma’am.”

“What of the young woman who was running it? The one with the scars, she seemed to care for the children. The Mayor said she was the matron.”

“Yes and no, ma’am. She grew up in the orphanage. Once she was older Torill Troll sent her to work at the manor.”

“Who is Torill Troll?”

“Torill Troll, she’s pure evil that one.” Viktoria snorted a humorless laugh, before remembering who she was speaking with. “Her real name is Torill Saksen, but the children call her Torill Troll. She is the matron, ma’am. She works for the Baron. The girl you met is Dagny . She worked out at the manor, till that crazy German got drunk one night and carved up her face. The Baron didn’t want her after that, so she returned to the orphanage to look after the babies.”

“Not long after that Torill put her in charge of the orphanage. Dagny does what she can to care for the children, but it’s not easy.”

Elsa looked around the clearing, taking a quick head count. “All of these children can’t be orphans.”

“Most of them are. When they need more children Torill travels to surrounding villages and collects the orphans who are old enough to work. Then she brings them back for the Baron and the Mayor to take their pick.”

Elsa stared at her, the words spinning in her mind. “What of the children who are too weak or sick to work?”

Viktoria’s jaw tightened as she wiped at Ragna’s face. “Not long after the Baron took control, some of the children disappeared. Torill said she had found homes for them in a nearby village. No one had any reason to question her. Not long after that I started helping out at the orphanage when I could.”

“The Mayor had begun to use the older boys in the mines. There was an accident one day and two of them were hurt. One lost part of his leg and the other a hand. They were brought back to the orphanage in bad shape. Dagny and I spent several days caring for them. I came back one morning and they were gone. Dagny said, Torill, the German and a couple of the Baron’s guards showed up in the middle of the night and took them. She told Dagny they were being taken to another village for care. No one believed that.”

“After that whenever there was a sick or injured child I would stay the night with them. Another mine accident left a young boy crippled. Both his legs had been broken under a fallen beam. Two days later Torill and the others showed up in the middle of the night and took him. I followed them to an old mining pit a couple of miles outside of town. It’s far enough away so no one can hear the cries, or smell the death.” She drew a sharp breath. From the corner of her eye a single tear slipped down her cheek.

“They carried him crying and screaming to the pit. Torill taunted him as they tossed him in. After they left I went to the pit.” Her hand began to tremble. “I could hear him crying. In the moonlight I could see him lying atop a pile of bodies. It took me most of the night, but I managed to get him out.”

“After that I found some folks to help me, and when we knew there were sick or injured children we would sneak them out of the orphanage. Dagny would tell Torill they had died. We took them to some of the local farms, where they were hidden in case the Baron’s men came around.” She wiped at Ragna’s hair, offering the child a sad smile.

Elsa felt as if the ground had fallen out from beneath her. “How long…has this been going on?”

Viktoria turned to her. “After my father died, I moved here to live with my grandmother. Things weren’t so bad then. The Baron’s father-in-law managed to keep him in check, for the most part. But, after his death, the Baron became more brazen with his cruelty. About a year ago he took over the local government, placing men he could control in power. It wasn’t long after that his men took control of the main roads and patrolled the borders. By the time everyone realized how bad it was, it was too late. We were trapped.” She turned back to Ragna. “We tried to send messages out, but most never made it through. And the few that did went unanswered.”

Bile crept up the back of Elsa’s throat threatening to choke her. Her ice rolled in her veins with such force it caused her muscles to ache.

“When word came that we would receive a Royal visit it seemed our prayers had been answered. But the Baron’s men began to round up anyone he thought might cause trouble. Most were taken to the mines, some simply disappeared.”

“I…I didn’t know.” The excuse sounded pathetic to her own ears.

“No one blames you, Your Majesty. You have saved us.” Her bright smile ripped Elsa’s heart out.

“Here’s the water, Your Majesty.”

She jumped as the soldier knelt beside her. “Thank you.” She managed to keep her hand from shaking as she took the small tin cup from him.

“Here, little one.” With a hand under Tor’s head, she raised him and pressed the cup against his cracked lips.

He gulped it down. “Easy, not to fast, you’ll make yourself sick.” After he drank down the last of it, Elsa dipped the cup into the water bucket at the soldier’s feet. She handed the cup to Ragna. “Here, you need to drink some too.”

The child took the cup drinking it all in one go. Water raced from the corners of her mouth as she drank.

“Hey, easy there.” Viktoria pulled the cup down. “What’s your rush?”

She wiped the back of her hand over her mouth, leaving a dirty streak. “Thank you.” She smiled up at Elsa.

Tears strung the corners of Elsa’s eyes. “Excuse me.” Not waiting for an answer she rose. The soldier stood. “Go see if anyone else needs assistance.”

“But, My Queen…”

“That is an order, Lance Corporal.” Her tone left no room for debate.

“Yes, ma’am.” He answered to her retreating back.

She made her way to the far side of the mine entrance. There she found an outcrop of rocks with a space just wide enough for her to step through. It shielded her from the clearing.

She reached out supporting herself with a hand against the rocky surface. Ice began to creep over the rock. With a grunt she heaved her lunch onto the ground. For several minutes she altered between heaves and sobs, clinging to the rocks to keep from falling to her knees.

With some effort she slowed her breath to sharp pants. The tightness in her chest grew stronger as her thoughts turned back to Viktoria’s words. She leaned forward to rest her forehead against the thick layer of ice. How could I have been such a fool to think I could run a kingdom from behind closed gates?

She pounded a fist against the ice till it ached. The pain pulled her back to the moment. There were would be time for reflexion later. For now action was needed. She whipped up an icy cloth and wiped her face and mouth.

“Queen Elsa?”

Her eyes closed as she groaned a faint curse. With great effort she reined in her ice, forcing it and her emotions back under control. The ache in her muscles returned as the ice refused to be silenced.

She straightened and wiped her face once more before waving the cloth away. With a deep breath, she tugged down the bottom of her jacket, turned on her heels and moved out to meet the guard.

“Your Majesty.” His relief at finding her shone on his face. “Captain Olsen is here, ma’am, and he brought the wagons.”

“Thank you, Lance Corporal.” She started past him than stopped. It took her but a moment to circle her hands together and create a small stack of ice cloths. “Hand these out to any who need them, please.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He accepted the cloths.

She made her way to the small group of soldiers gather around half a dozen wagons. “Captain Olsen.”

The officer came to attention before her. “Your Majesty.”

“You are aware of the Admiral’s condition?”

“I am, ma’am.”

“Good. We need to get these people back to town. Then round up those responsible for these atrocities. They will be going back to Arendelle to stand trial for their crimes.”

“Who exactly are we arresting, ma’am?”

“Start with the Mayor’s staff, all of the men who were on the dais this morning and a woman named, Torill Saksen. Do not let her escape, Captain.”

“Yes, ma’am. What about the Admiral, ma’am? We need to get him back to town.”

“I have some ideas on that. But first I’ll need to inspect the wagons.” She noticed the sun was creeping behind the mountains. There was no way they would make it to the manor before dark. She tucked the thought away and started for the wagons.

[gordonwilliamsweb]

Must-Reads of the Week

The Friday Breeze

Want to read the best and most provocative stories from the week? Welcome to the Friday Breeze, where we compile them all — so you’re set with your weekend reading.

While you, loyal reader, wait for a wonderful new permanent Friday Breeze writer to start breezing, welcome to this week’s rundown brought to you from St. Louis by me, Midwest correspondent Lauren Weber.

I’m sadly here to inform you the news is … still bad. So bad, in fact, that “doomscrolling” — the act of not being able to escape your smartphone feed of misery — was examined by The New York Times.

And that’s because all you need to know about the current state of the coronavirus can be aptly summed up in renowned infectious disease reporter Helen Branswell’s latest piece for Stat, titled “How to Fix the Covid-19 Dumpster Fire in the U.S.”

The Week’s Latest

But to be more precise: New coronavirus cases in the U.S. shattered a single-day record with over 75,000 Thursday. That number of daily cases has more than doubled since June 24. Deaths from COVID-19 are rising yet again while hot spots across the Sun Belt continue to flare. The Center for Public Integrity uncovered an unreleased federal document saying 18 states are in the “red zone” for COVID-19 cases and should consider stricter protective measures.

And as outbreaks strain lab capacity nationwide, some people are waiting seven or more days to get test results, hobbling potential containment responses. Now, the CDC is urging people to not be retested.

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Masks, Schools and Tony Fauci

Mass mask confusion continued to drive the week, with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp suing Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms over her mandatory mask order. Later, he urged all citizens to wear masks for four weeks — but said he would not support a mandate. Meanwhile, Georgia hospital workers are sounding the alarm and attempting to send patients out of state as hospitals fill up. Across the country, more than half of states have issued mandatory mask orders at this time. And this detailed map of just who is wearing masks in the U.S. is worth your time.

The sharp divide over back-to-school plans for those in public and private school came into focus (private schools have the money to hire their own epidemiologists!), all while Bloomberg reported the percentage of cases of children and teens with COVID-19 is on the rise. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention postponed releasing further guidance on how students could safely return to school this week. That follows previous complaints from President Donald Trump, who said on Twitter the CDC’s initial recommendations were too tough. Or, as White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Thursday, “The science should not stand in the way of this.”

The big distraction of the week had to be the attacks on the reputation of America’s favorite scientist, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. He withstood a White House attack on his credibility, led by Peter Navarro, Trump’s trade adviser, in an op-ed in USA Today — one that USA Today has since said “did not meet its fact-checking standards.” To his credit, Fauci called to “stop this nonsense” and focus on the coronavirus. For more of a deep dive on the ongoing fireworks, check out this week’s amazing-as-usual episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” podcast. And never forget that Fauci did manage to sneak in this InStyle digital cover with some killer shades and he read a college kid’s thesis on the side during his tenure.

Speaking of op-eds, here’s one worth reading. Larry Hogan, Maryland’s Republican governor, wrote an op-ed about how he felt the Trump administration left his state to fend for itself amid the pandemic. Best part: how he and his wife, who was born and raised in South Korea, were able to secure half a million tests by going outside of the federal response, tapping into her contacts and then protecting them from the feds with the state National Guard.

The disappearance of public data from the CDC website created another firestorm this week. While the data has been restored, it’s another chapter in the saga of tension among the CDC, the administration and public access.

Pocket Change

The insurer UnitedHealthcare posted its most profitable quarter — EVER — proving that, yes, you can get rich during the pandemic. Meanwhile, hospitals face the harsh reality of a surge colliding with their plans to resume profitable elective surgery.

And, no, you won’t be getting on a cruise ship anytime soon — the “no sail” order from the CDC has been extended through September 2020.

Long Reads and Graphics Worth Your Time

Racial inequities in COVID exposure, treatment and care persist at every level, as this piece zeroing in on East St. Louis shows. And this week, over 1,000 employees of the CDC sent a letter to its head calling out systemic racism within the agency.

I still can’t stop thinking about this profile of Lorna Breen, an ER doc who took her own life after becoming overwhelmed not only by the coronavirus crisis but by an exacting medical culture.

These New York Times graphics stress how drug overdose deaths hit a new high in 2019 — many worry the coronavirus is exacerbating their continued rise.

Finally, What’s Abuzz

In case you didn’t have anything else to worry about, mosquitoes are flying into the blind spots of health departments overwhelmed with COVID-19. The CDC is buzzing with concern, as Anna Maria Barry-Jester and I reported yesterday as part of our Underfunded and Under Threat series with the AP.

And for a speed round, these guys tried really hard to hand out free masks at Huntington Beach, California; the inside tale of how a Qatari prince had USC at his beckoning takes many a turn; and you just may have been using hand sanitizer wrong this whole time.

Try to lay off the booze, folks — experts say it’s only supposed to be a drink a day. Also maybe, just maybe, think about staying away from the bars altogether.

If we have a football season — a big IF — here’s what the “mouth shield” helmets would look like.

Plus superhero heartthrob Henry Cavill somehow spent his quarantine staying swole AND learning how to build computers?

But our favorite British superhero might just be Tom Moore, newly knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. The centenarian captured the world’s heart after raising millions for British health care workers by walking laps in his garden with his walker.

Must-Reads of the Week published first on https://nootropicspowdersupplier.tumblr.com/

[stephenmccull]

Must-Reads of the Week

The Friday Breeze

Want to read the best and most provocative stories from the week? Welcome to the Friday Breeze, where we compile them all — so you’re set with your weekend reading.

While you, loyal reader, wait for a wonderful new permanent Friday Breeze writer to start breezing, welcome to this week’s rundown brought to you from St. Louis by me, Midwest correspondent Lauren Weber.

I’m sadly here to inform you the news is … still bad. So bad, in fact, that “doomscrolling” — the act of not being able to escape your smartphone feed of misery — was examined by The New York Times.

And that’s because all you need to know about the current state of the coronavirus can be aptly summed up in renowned infectious disease reporter Helen Branswell’s latest piece for Stat, titled “How to Fix the Covid-19 Dumpster Fire in the U.S.”

The Week’s Latest

But to be more precise: New coronavirus cases in the U.S. shattered a single-day record with over 75,000 Thursday. That number of daily cases has more than doubled since June 24. Deaths from COVID-19 are rising yet again while hot spots across the Sun Belt continue to flare. The Center for Public Integrity uncovered an unreleased federal document saying 18 states are in the “red zone” for COVID-19 cases and should consider stricter protective measures.

And as outbreaks strain lab capacity nationwide, some people are waiting seven or more days to get test results, hobbling potential containment responses. Now, the CDC is urging people to not be retested.

The Friday Breeze

Want a roundup of the must-read stories this week? Sign up for The Friday Breeze today.

Sign Up

Please confirm your email address below:

Sign Up

Masks, Schools and Tony Fauci

Mass mask confusion continued to drive the week, with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp suing Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms over her mandatory mask order. Later, he urged all citizens to wear masks for four weeks — but said he would not support a mandate. Meanwhile, Georgia hospital workers are sounding the alarm and attempting to send patients out of state as hospitals fill up. Across the country, more than half of states have issued mandatory mask orders at this time. And this detailed map of just who is wearing masks in the U.S. is worth your time.

The sharp divide over back-to-school plans for those in public and private school came into focus (private schools have the money to hire their own epidemiologists!), all while Bloomberg reported the percentage of cases of children and teens with COVID-19 is on the rise. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention postponed releasing further guidance on how students could safely return to school this week. That follows previous complaints from President Donald Trump, who said on Twitter the CDC’s initial recommendations were too tough. Or, as White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Thursday, “The science should not stand in the way of this.”

The big distraction of the week had to be the attacks on the reputation of America’s favorite scientist, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. He withstood a White House attack on his credibility, led by Peter Navarro, Trump’s trade adviser, in an op-ed in USA Today — one that USA Today has since said “did not meet its fact-checking standards.” To his credit, Fauci called to “stop this nonsense” and focus on the coronavirus. For more of a deep dive on the ongoing fireworks, check out this week’s amazing-as-usual episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” podcast. And never forget that Fauci did manage to sneak in this InStyle digital cover with some killer shades and he read a college kid’s thesis on the side during his tenure.

Speaking of op-eds, here’s one worth reading. Larry Hogan, Maryland’s Republican governor, wrote an op-ed about how he felt the Trump administration left his state to fend for itself amid the pandemic. Best part: how he and his wife, who was born and raised in South Korea, were able to secure half a million tests by going outside of the federal response, tapping into her contacts and then protecting them from the feds with the state National Guard.

The disappearance of public data from the CDC website created another firestorm this week. While the data has been restored, it’s another chapter in the saga of tension among the CDC, the administration and public access.

Pocket Change

The insurer UnitedHealthcare posted its most profitable quarter — EVER — proving that, yes, you can get rich during the pandemic. Meanwhile, hospitals face the harsh reality of a surge colliding with their plans to resume profitable elective surgery.

And, no, you won’t be getting on a cruise ship anytime soon — the “no sail” order from the CDC has been extended through September 2020.

Long Reads and Graphics Worth Your Time

Racial inequities in COVID exposure, treatment and care persist at every level, as this piece zeroing in on East St. Louis shows. And this week, over 1,000 employees of the CDC sent a letter to its head calling out systemic racism within the agency.

I still can’t stop thinking about this profile of Lorna Breen, an ER doc who took her own life after becoming overwhelmed not only by the coronavirus crisis but by an exacting medical culture.

These New York Times graphics stress how drug overdose deaths hit a new high in 2019 — many worry the coronavirus is exacerbating their continued rise.

Finally, What’s Abuzz

In case you didn’t have anything else to worry about, mosquitoes are flying into the blind spots of health departments overwhelmed with COVID-19. The CDC is buzzing with concern, as Anna Maria Barry-Jester and I reported yesterday as part of our Underfunded and Under Threat series with the AP.

And for a speed round, these guys tried really hard to hand out free masks at Huntington Beach, California; the inside tale of how a Qatari prince had USC at his beckoning takes many a turn; and you just may have been using hand sanitizer wrong this whole time.

Try to lay off the booze, folks — experts say it’s only supposed to be a drink a day. Also maybe, just maybe, think about staying away from the bars altogether.

If we have a football season — a big IF — here’s what the “mouth shield” helmets would look like.

Plus superhero heartthrob Henry Cavill somehow spent his quarantine staying swole AND learning how to build computers?

But our favorite British superhero might just be Tom Moore, newly knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. The centenarian captured the world’s heart after raising millions for British health care workers by walking laps in his garden with his walker.

Must-Reads of the Week published first on https://smartdrinkingweb.weebly.com/

[dinafbrownil]

Must-Reads of the Week

The Friday Breeze

Want to read the best and most provocative stories from the week? Welcome to the Friday Breeze, where we compile them all — so you’re set with your weekend reading.

While you, loyal reader, wait for a wonderful new permanent Friday Breeze writer to start breezing, welcome to this week’s rundown brought to you from St. Louis by me, Midwest correspondent Lauren Weber.

I’m sadly here to inform you the news is … still bad. So bad, in fact, that “doomscrolling” — the act of not being able to escape your smartphone feed of misery — was examined by The New York Times.

And that’s because all you need to know about the current state of the coronavirus can be aptly summed up in renowned infectious disease reporter Helen Branswell’s latest piece for Stat, titled “How to Fix the Covid-19 Dumpster Fire in the U.S.”

The Week’s Latest

But to be more precise: New coronavirus cases in the U.S. shattered a single-day record with over 75,000 Thursday. That number of daily cases has more than doubled since June 24. Deaths from COVID-19 are rising yet again while hot spots across the Sun Belt continue to flare. The Center for Public Integrity uncovered an unreleased federal document saying 18 states are in the “red zone” for COVID-19 cases and should consider stricter protective measures.

And as outbreaks strain lab capacity nationwide, some people are waiting seven or more days to get test results, hobbling potential containment responses. Now, the CDC is urging people to not be retested.

The Friday Breeze

Want a roundup of the must-read stories this week? Sign up for The Friday Breeze today.

Sign Up

Please confirm your email address below:

Sign Up

Masks, Schools and Tony Fauci

Mass mask confusion continued to drive the week, with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp suing Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms over her mandatory mask order. Later, he urged all citizens to wear masks for four weeks — but said he would not support a mandate. Meanwhile, Georgia hospital workers are sounding the alarm and attempting to send patients out of state as hospitals fill up. Across the country, more than half of states have issued mandatory mask orders at this time. And this detailed map of just who is wearing masks in the U.S. is worth your time.

The sharp divide over back-to-school plans for those in public and private school came into focus (private schools have the money to hire their own epidemiologists!), all while Bloomberg reported the percentage of cases of children and teens with COVID-19 is on the rise. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention postponed releasing further guidance on how students could safely return to school this week. That follows previous complaints from President Donald Trump, who said on Twitter the CDC’s initial recommendations were too tough. Or, as White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Thursday, “The science should not stand in the way of this.”

The big distraction of the week had to be the attacks on the reputation of America’s favorite scientist, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. He withstood a White House attack on his credibility, led by Peter Navarro, Trump’s trade adviser, in an op-ed in USA Today — one that USA Today has since said “did not meet its fact-checking standards.” To his credit, Fauci called to “stop this nonsense” and focus on the coronavirus. For more of a deep dive on the ongoing fireworks, check out this week’s amazing-as-usual episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” podcast. And never forget that Fauci did manage to sneak in this InStyle digital cover with some killer shades and he read a college kid’s thesis on the side during his tenure.

Speaking of op-eds, here’s one worth reading. Larry Hogan, Maryland’s Republican governor, wrote an op-ed about how he felt the Trump administration left his state to fend for itself amid the pandemic. Best part: how he and his wife, who was born and raised in South Korea, were able to secure half a million tests by going outside of the federal response, tapping into her contacts and then protecting them from the feds with the state National Guard.

The disappearance of public data from the CDC website created another firestorm this week. While the data has been restored, it’s another chapter in the saga of tension among the CDC, the administration and public access.

Pocket Change

The insurer UnitedHealthcare posted its most profitable quarter — EVER — proving that, yes, you can get rich during the pandemic. Meanwhile, hospitals face the harsh reality of a surge colliding with their plans to resume profitable elective surgery.

And, no, you won’t be getting on a cruise ship anytime soon — the “no sail” order from the CDC has been extended through September 2020.

Long Reads and Graphics Worth Your Time

Racial inequities in COVID exposure, treatment and care persist at every level, as this piece zeroing in on East St. Louis shows. And this week, over 1,000 employees of the CDC sent a letter to its head calling out systemic racism within the agency.

I still can’t stop thinking about this profile of Lorna Breen, an ER doc who took her own life after becoming overwhelmed not only by the coronavirus crisis but by an exacting medical culture.

These New York Times graphics stress how drug overdose deaths hit a new high in 2019 — many worry the coronavirus is exacerbating their continued rise.

Finally, What’s Abuzz

In case you didn’t have anything else to worry about, mosquitoes are flying into the blind spots of health departments overwhelmed with COVID-19. The CDC is buzzing with concern, as Anna Maria Barry-Jester and I reported yesterday as part of our Underfunded and Under Threat series with the AP.

And for a speed round, these guys tried really hard to hand out free masks at Huntington Beach, California; the inside tale of how a Qatari prince had USC at his beckoning takes many a turn; and you just may have been using hand sanitizer wrong this whole time.

Try to lay off the booze, folks — experts say it’s only supposed to be a drink a day. Also maybe, just maybe, think about staying away from the bars altogether.

If we have a football season — a big IF — here’s what the “mouth shield” helmets would look like.

Plus superhero heartthrob Henry Cavill somehow spent his quarantine staying swole AND learning how to build computers?

But our favorite British superhero might just be Tom Moore, newly knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. The centenarian captured the world’s heart after raising millions for British health care workers by walking laps in his garden with his walker.

from Updates By Dina https://khn.org/news/friday-breeze-health-care-policy-must-reads-of-the-week-july-17-2020/

[zalrb]

TVD 1x10 Review

Hi all! Welcome to the tenth review of TVD season 1. Considering that I haven’t like sat down to watch a full episode of the past seasons of TVD in a few years and my memory might not be the greatest I think I will start with my usual disclaimer: I will write my thoughts in real time so if I make a mistake at the beginning of this post, it will be corrected by the end. There will be anti-Damon and anti-Delena sentiments (I’m only mentioning these two because it’s the beginning of the series), and I feel the need to say that there may be some anti-Jenna sentiments too. I will probably bring up other shows and call attention to misogynoir, racism, anti-blackness etc. Ready? Let’s go.  You know, I never get the sense that MF is affected by the vampirism, like we see that Damon has killed Tanner and Vicki’s friends and, well, everyone and while there are reports of animal attacks, it doesn’t feel like the residents care or even know. With True Blood, everyone was on fucking edge because people kept dying, with Sunnydale people aren’t exactly on edge but they know their town is weird with the constant mysterious deaths and because the stakes themselves are actually like End of the World big, we already get the hysteria of something terrible is about to happen so we need to stop it. Even in Teen Wolf, Beacon Hills is under curfew. Everyone is chillin’ in MF. Oh I bring this up because Logan Fell killed that random jogger because he’s a newbie vampire. “But we’re a team, we can travel the world together!” When have you two ever actually been a team, though? Like in the past. Even when they liked each other as humans, Damon was never on Stefan’s team. He was Team Katherine. “Kids are too young to be brought into this.” This is what Liz says about Stefan to Damon regarding the Council. “Kids are too young to be brought into this”. This is what Liz says about the boy who is going to school with her daughter to the man she saw her daughter dating. Like SERIOUSLY TVD. Matt and Caroline legit look cute and them talking about TV is adorbz. Yes, Zal ships this POS with Queen Caroline, anons. I like how moody Elena gets when Bonnie is like, what kind of future could you have with Stefan even if he stayed? She just gets grouchy, lmao. I like how Damon says that he wouldn’t have been so obvious about how he killed people if he’d been the one who killed the jogger as if his messy ass killing people isn’t what alerted the Council about vampires coming back to MF in the first place. “Until you become ‘we’ people … we can’t make it to the party, we can’t make it to the game, we don’t like the colour red” lol. Logan’s transition still doesn’t make sense to me. Damon said that he killed him but didn’t turn him, another vampire found him and give him their blood --- Anna, but like, Logan was DEAD when Damon attacked him so like when the hell did Anna give him her blood? “For once, Mayor, we actually know where our kids are.” WHERE COULD THEY BE IN A SMALL TOWN LIKE MF? Poor Matt. “It’s not a big deal…” looking at Elena with those hopeful eyes and she’s legit just ribbing on him like a friend. “Well you probably love her” there’s absolutely nothing to suggest that Logan loved Jenna. I love Dobsley standing next to each other, they’re such an attractive pairing. I really like when Elena says “I appreciate you looking out for me but please if you’re going t leave then just go” and her voice quavers as she says it because him being around but not being with her is painful. And their intense stare before Jenna comes and asks Elena to hide her from her ex-boyfriend. OMG I JUST BOOKED THAT WHEN LOGAN COMES UP TO ELENA AND STEFAN, STEFAN TAKES HER BY THE HAND. SO CUTE. LOL Stefan staring Logan down being like “Don’t ever. Threaten me. Again.” And then walking away, Logan has no idea what to do with himself. With Damon he was snarky and actually pretty confident, with Stefan he’s like … … … “Bonnie, where are you I’m ready to go” OK Caroline but maybe Bonnie isn’t? LIKE? And even HERE, we don’t see what Bonnie wants to be when she grows up. Tyler draws, Caroline wants to be a broadcast journalist, Matt used to want to be an astronaut, Stefan wanted to be a doctor, we find out later Elena wanted to be a writer and Bonnie what, doesn’t need to have any background because she’s a witch? “Alpha male douchebag” oooooooooooh werewolf reference. “Yeah I’m starting to see a lot of things, Stefan” like the fact that he is a good man who will protect her and her friends and therefore a person she’s in love with. Moon over Tyler, lmao, I booked that in season 1 too. Awww, the teary gazes between Stefan and Elena. And the SE love scene! I’ve written so many posts on it I’m just going to link them here: http://zalrb.tumblr.com/post/145263622105/can-you-compare-and-contrast-stelenas-first-love http://zalrb.tumblr.com/post/150643738095/whats-your-interpretation-about-cut-plumb-line Needless to say it’s such a transcendental scene. And I love that Elena gasps right before Stefan kisses her. Also, I like that “Cut” is an accompaniment to the scene, it doesn’t overpower it. With DE scenes, what you remember is the song, you remember Never Let Me Go and I Was Wrong because it’s blaring and overpowers what’s actually happening. With the SE scene, they are the main event and the song doesn’t blare until after they’ve given themselves over to each other in the living room. I have it paused because my mother won’t leave me alone but it’s paused at when Stefan turns away from Elena and the expression on Paul’s face is full of such vulnerability and fear at Elena discovering the part of himself he hates the most. And when he says “Elena I can’t” it legit looks like it tears him up inside. I’m just realizing I usually focus on Elena when I watch the “don’t hide from me” scene but I’m looking at Stefan and when she puts her hand on his face, the way his mouth parts, like being touched on his face affects him so deeply and thoroughly. Nina’s shining fucking eyes man. Still love that she takes him by the hand and guides him to his own room in his own his house They want to talk about how the necklace is a DE symbol even though they focus on it during the SE love scene. Seriously, Elena’s face when Stefan’s kissing her neck. OK so it turns out I did have a few things to say about the love scene. “LOOK, I like Caroline, she has this thing, this way about her and I like her!” SO high school. Yeah Matt, stand up to Tyler! I also like that Matt looks at Tyler like wtf is up with you when he just accepts that he likes Caroline and isn’t being a raging douche bag. Also it still bothers me that they’re friends considering how FOUL Tyler treated Vicki. Still totally love that Elena is in Stefan’s shirt, cuddling with Stefan after sleeping with Stefan, like you just want to be wrapped up in him, girl. Stefan being all considerate and asking if she needs a drink of water. And the way Elena is so giddy and cuddles his pillow. TOPLESS STEFAN. Here is the thing that bothers me. OK Elena is upset that Stefan didn’t tell her she resembled Katherine, like fine, I get that, but why the fuck would she leave the vervain necklace, like that DOESN’T make sense. “But maybe it’s a token of their relationship” yeah it’s also what keeps her from being compelled. LIKE. IT IS AN ILLOGICAL AND STUPID MOVE. I also want to know how the car works. Like, Bonnie consistently drives Elena to school but Elena’s driving the jeep or SUV or whatever from Stefan’s place and it’s not the weekend so like, why does she get it tonight? Are she and Jenna sharing the car? Thanks for reading!