#the gifted 2x06

[aphrmoosun]

Aemond & Aegon

House of the dragon Season 2 Episode 6

[marvels-universe]

@giftober 2024 + @mcuchallenge prompt Day 18: Gift.

Loki 2x06

[just-trying-to-fangirl-in-peace]

A true gift (Sauron x fem!Elf!reader)

-> in which you share a private moment with your husband, then add a special little detail to his new look

Warnings: evil!reader, nudity, mentions of smut, but really this is just a silly fluff piece written ‘cause I’m obsessed with his little hair bow🤭

Note: set in 2x06, part of the evil!reader collection - all you need to know for this one is that reader has been married to Sauron since before Adar killed him and infiltrated herself in Eregion as a smith while she waited for his return.

Your husband is a Maia, and as such never sleeps. He does, however, feel inclined to lie down with his eyes closed and be lost to the world, in moments such as now—when he is held in your peaceful embrace, your fingers lovingly stroking his loose hair.

It’s a rare moment of intimacy these days, and you cherish it all the more for it. Celebrimbor rarely allows you a moment of respite in his rush to finish the Nine, and you and your husband do your best to not disappear at the same time, so as to avoid suspicions that you share any deeper of a relationship with him than the other smiths of Eregion. Needless to say, you are overjoyed to find yourself alone with him. And in a bed, no less.

He had slipped inside your chamber under the cover of night, and sleep had been the furthest thing from your mind as you and your husband had sated your longing over and again. Naked and spent, you had pulled each other close, and so you still are now, as soft morning light pours through your window. He has coiled himself around your completely, one leg draped across your waist and his head resting upon your chest, and you do not mind his weight above you in the slightest as you hold him close. His hair is wonderfully soft under your roaming fingertips, his skin delights yours everywhere you touch.

He may not need sleep, but you would gladly drift into it. In a blissful position such as this, you would drift gladly even into death.

But you do neither, for he stirs, wishing to lift his head. You know what he means to say—that your absence will soon be noticed now that the day has begun, that you ought to return to the forge and to your plans and to your charade. You tighten your hold on him and keep his head against your chest, giving a stubborn groan.

His low chuckle reverberates into your skin.

“I know. I know,” he coos, shifting to press his lips to your heart. “I have no wish to leave.”

“But you will,” you sigh in defeat, even as he trails lazy kisses up along your clavicle. “We must.”

He hums, nuzzling your neck. Too much of you is pressed against too much of him for desire not to ignite within you at the slightest movement. It’s a bittersweet relief when he presses one last, lingering kiss to your lips and takes it upon himself to pry his body away from yours and leave the bed. You turn to your side, pulling the covers up to your chest to ward off the cold he leaves behind.

You are, however, presented with the slight consolation of watching your husband move naked about the room.

Of course, it isn’t exactly the particular image of your husband’s body, or even the features of his face that had won your affections in the first place. Your love runs too deep to be dampened by any sort of aesthetic transformation, though you do admit some forms are more practical than others when it comes to the physical aspect of your relationship, strictly shape-wise (one such as the amorphous black mass to which he had been reduced until recently, for instance, might prove a challenge in that department—yet not an entirely insurmountable one).

His current form, however... Lord of Gifts, indeed. It is the finest of male specimens of whom you are given a most generous view, and he damn well knows it. He takes his sweet time sauntering across the room, each movement slow and deliberate as he treats you to the sight of his tall, perfectly sculpted body. His long hair falling over his shoulder blades, the elegant line of his spine, the plump globes of his buttocks—oh, the bastard. Showing himself off as if you are not in a state of constant desire for him, like you’re not literally his soulbound wife already.

Or maybe it’s you slowing time with your eyes as you look at him, precisely because of how utterly and hopelessly smitten you are.

Whatever the case, a knowing smile tugs at the corner of his mouth as he glances your way. You look on, shamelessly, as he recovers the clothes he had carelessly discarded the night before, and methodically (as well as tragically) begins to dress himself back to decency. He’d had a new garment made, one more suited to his tastes now that his previous modest, light-grey robes had served their purpose of conveying his most pure intentions to Celebrimbor. This outfit is an intricately patterned black with a golden band at the waist, the imitation of leaves raining down his collar area and left shoulder, and a discrete glimmer that looks as though stars have been trapped deep within the fabric of his sleeves.

You’d loved the sight of him dressed in it so much that, paradoxically, you had taken tremendous pleasure in stripping it off him. He was a gift in too pretty a wrapping for you not to greedily reach inside for the wonders you knew lay there, meant only for you.

But if you had it your way and peeled it off each time the mood arose, you would never get anything done. Perhaps, once you are King and Queen and have plenty of servants to carry out your orders, you shall be free to confine yourselves to some ornate bedchamber and reemerge only after days on end of having your fill of one another.

For now, you must allow his newly tidy appearance to remain intact. He is nearly ready to join the others in the forge, the only unruliness left about him being his loose and disheveled hair. You particularly enjoy how softly it falls upon your shoulders whilst you are beneath him, and he certainly takes pleasure in your tendency to fist your hands in it and tug at the roots, causing all kinds of entanglements. It’s nearly sad, how easily he can undo the sensual mess. One power-wielding hand smoothing down the tresses, and his hair looks as though it has been brushed to perfection with a thousand thoroughly administered strokes.

That done, he sits down at your vanity and picks up the last accessory he must arrange upon himself—the headpiece he’s been wearing since he became Annatar, the partial imitation of a crown which curves around the back of his head, serving to hold his hair practically away from his face whilst accentuating the divine nature of the presumed Lord of Gifts.

Lord of Gifts.

Your love-addled brain is stricken with an idea too wonderful to go unheeded.

���Oh, let me,” you say, suddenly rising from beneath the sheets. It takes but a moment to put on a nearby nightgown, not nearly enough for your husband’s questioning eyes to drink you in the way he attempts to, but you are too enthusiastic to care. It is best anyway not to let his gaze set your skin ablaze when you must wait for the following night to have him tend to the flames.

His brow knits in slight amusement, but he indulges you and halts in his movements, waiting for you to come to him. He must think you mean to arrange the headpiece in his hair yourself—thus stealing another few touches before you leave the bedchamber and must refrain from doing so for the remainder of the day. And he is not too far from the truth. But as soon as you are standing behind him, you take the accessory from his hand and toss it casually upon the bed, reaching for your comb on the vanity table instead. Now, your husband frowns, unsure.

“My love, as much as I would like an excuse to prolong our stay—”

“Oh, shush,” you chide. “This will take but a moment.”

With nimble fingers and the help of the comb, you part his hair at the temples and brush it into satisfyingly neat sections. It’s an improvisation, really, but you set about the task you have in mind with nothing but determination and a nice little hum on your breath. Your husband sits with the sort of quiet compliance he reserves for your benefit only, and you know that he is relishing the sensation of your fingers gently handling his hair as much as you are. At times your fingers more or less coincidentally brush over the pointed tips of his ears, and the lightest flutter of his lashes betrays how sensitive they are to the touch, the very same as those of any Elf.

You catch his gaze in the mirror, and give him a playful smile as you work on his hair. The vision you had in mind is beginning to take nice shape, and you bite your lip in concentration as you try to guide each golden strand precisely where you need it to be.

“Pass me that hair tie, will you?” It’s a bit further away on the vanity table than the previous ones you had used, and you are busy keeping together quite the intricate design. Your husband obliges you—but his hand catches yours as you take the tie from him.

“My love,” he says, mirth dancing in his eyes in the mirror, “I do hope you have not managed a knot so vicious that even my power cannot see it undone.”

“It isn’t a knot,” you retort, lightly swatting his hand away from yours so you can finish what you started. You shake your head in faux disappointment. “How little you trust me.”

“I trust you with life, my flesh and my soul,” he declares solemnly. “My hair, however, is a different matter.”

That would earn him another scandalized swat, if your hands weren’t occupied with the finishing touches to your little masterpiece.

“There,” you grin triumphantly, at last satisfied with what you have accomplished. It’s almost ridiculous, the youthful delight that takes over you. An echo from a distant life that was so long ago, it barely feels like it was ever yours. It brings a small pang to your chest—but you ignore it as you cradle your husband’s head from behind and place an adoring little kiss to his hair, right above your handy work.

With a small, not unkind sigh, he picks up a hand mirror from the table and turns around on his stool so he may align the reflection with the one in the vanity mirror, see for himself what you have accomplished:

An utterly precious, superbly elegant hair bow.

“A true gift,” you say proudly, tucking a strand of hair behind his ear, “for all of Middle-Earth.” Your fingers drift to his chin, and nudge it upward so he meets your gaze. “But for me, especially.”

Without looking away, he sets down the hand mirror and takes your wrist, planting a kiss to the palm of your hand.

“It is fitting,” he admits, a teasing lilt to his tons as he idly plays with your fingers. “It shall be a pity, when I next bed you, to see such beautiful work unraveled by the very hands which crafted it.”

“Oh, I am not ruining that,” you assure him, striving to sound like you mean it. “Whatever you may do, I shall keep my hands firmly to myself. Or rather, to other parts of you,” you add, shrugging as if in afterthought.

The underlying challenge in your voice is swiftly accepted. Your husband stands and faces you with a mischievous gaze, cupping your cheeks.

“We shall see,” he murmurs against your lips, right before he claims them in a parting kiss filled with lurid promises. Then he pulls away, smiling innocently. “See you soon, my love.”

You are reminded, as he leaves, how futile it is to pretend like you may ever part without your body and soul aching for his return before he even steps out of your sight. But all eyes which look upon him today shall see the work of your loving fingers that he proudly wears upon himself—another small consolation to which you cling whilst you wait for the victory that shall make all your sufferings worth it.

Previous fic with same reader -> As we are now

Next fic with same reader -> Jealousy

[apoloadonisandnarcissus]

Sauron’s Masterplan in Season 2

What could be Sauron’s intentions into shapeshifting into Elrond in 2x07? For the tent scene with Adar, and the following scene with the Orc and the horse. Context here.

First things first, him kissing Galadriel is a minor detail in all of this. Forget about the kiss, or the romantic subtext (shipping), and let’s concentrate on Sauron's masterplan. 

Celebrimbor 

Sauron, obviously, needs him to make his “rings of power” masterplan a reality. No doubts here.

Concerning Adar

Sauron planned the whole battle of Eregion, and he “planted the seeds” for it into Adar’s mind in 2x01. Because he wants Adar to assemble a huge army for him to take at the end (which is what happens in 2x08), and become Lord of Mordor. He also wants to take his revenge on Adar, while he’s at it.

Sauron’s plans for Galadriel

He also wants Galadriel at Eregion, as Elrond tells us in 2x02, and in the same episode Sauron sends her a vision of Celebrimbor in danger. I don’t think this had anything to do with Nenya, actually; it was Sauron’s doing to "plant the seeds" of her travelling to Eregion.

When Galadriel, Elrond & co are on their way to Eregion, Sauron controls the path they need to take (he destroys a bridge using lightning for them not to go that way). There are two others paths (both who are being watched by Sauron, as Elrond says).

Elrond: What other paths might we take? Camnir: To circumvent it, we shall either have to turn due north, adding two weeks to our journey... Elrond: Or? Camnir: We go south, through the Hills of Tyrn Gorthad. Which will get us to Eregion much faster. 

Elrond chooses to go south, to the Barrow-downs, where they will encounter the Barrow-wights who killed the Lindon soldiers carrying the message that Halbrand is Sauron. Galadriel advises against this, influenced by Nenya, and says that’s the road Sauron wants them to take, so they need to go north. Elrond, however, dismisses her warning.

But is it, really the path Sauron wants them to take? Because he wants Galadriel alive at the end of all of this, why would he want her to fall into a trap? One of the Barrow-wights even manages to take Galadriel, until Elrond saves her. 

Sauron wants Adar’s army at Eregion, and he needs Celebrimbor to forge the rings of power in the meantime. So, Galadriel arriving “faster” at Eregion wasn’t, probably, his idea, at all. Sauron, most likely, wanted her to take the longest road, and arrive after the rings of power were completed, and he had control over Adar’s army. 

Why? Because he wants Nenya, yes, but he also wants to bind himself to her, and harvest her "light" for himself, and keep Morgoth’s bounds at bay. This has been one of his goals ever since Season 1. And Tolkien tells us, in his letters, that Sauron still has good intentions as Annatar, and truly wants to rebuild and heal Middle-earth from Morgoth’s corruption.

Galadriel being taken captive by Adar wasn’t in his plans, either (which explains his reaction to “the body” in 2x06). And he grows impatient and restless once Adar’s armies show up at Eregion, also adding to the fact that Celebrimbor hasn’t finish the rings of power, yet. And he’s starting to “lose it”, as we saw in 2x07. Which isn't like him, at all.

Sauron's powers 

Sauron is a mastermind, a control freak, and a micro-manager villain who plans everything up front and is always ten steps ahead of every other character. He does have an insane amount of powers, but he doesn’t have the "gift of foresight"; he can’t see the future. And, so, he doesn’t know how things will actually turn out when he plants the seeds into other beings’ minds.  

And so, he needs to take matters into his own hands, every now and again. With Celebrimbor, he crafts a gigantic illusion to keep him locked at the forge tower for him to finish the rings of power, while the siege of Eregion begins. With Galadriel, he destroys a bridge to prevent her and her company from going that way.

Meanwhile, Celebrimbor discovers the truth, but Sauron still needs him to finish the Nine. Now, the Elven army arrives, and Adar wants to negotiate with Elrond, by luring him with Galadriel on a cage. We see Sauron looking at this scene from Eregion walls, while Celebrimbor is being taken away back to the forge tower by soldiers. But we, the audience, aren’t shown anything else from the mastermind behind this whole thing.  

“Eye of Sauron” is, among other things, exceptional eyesight. He can see everything (this power is not a “giant eye ball on the top of a tower” like in the Peter Jackson adaptation).

However, Saruman in “Fellowship of the Ring” does give a good description of the "Eye": "the lord of Mordor sees all. His gaze pierces cloud, shadow, earth, and flesh. You know of what I speak, Gandalf: a great Eye, lidless, wreathed in flame."

Sauron [...] a sorcerer of dreadful power, master of shadows and of phantoms, foul in wisdom, cruel in strength, misshaping what he touched, twisting what he ruled, lord of werewolves; his dominion was torment.  The Silmarillion

There’s a shadow above the two armies, while the Elven army is charging at a portion of the Orc army (because the Orcs are already attacking the walls, and trying to tear them down to infiltrate the city). Sauron is a master of shadows; who can weaponize and control them (and he does this several times in the legendarium), and he “shadow walks”: he uses shadow as a means of teleportation (and that’s how he was able to travel so fast from Eregion to Khazad-dûm to ask for more mithril).

Could Sauron pull this off? Could he conceal Adar and the Orc army from sight, right in front of Elrond's nose? Absolutely. One of his set of powers is world manipulation; Sauron can manipulate reality and the weather at will, and he can trick several characters at the same time. We already saw him doing this in Season 2. Once you understand this, all is fair game.

Why does Elrond stop charging, then? For any other reason other than Adar being in front of him, really.

Elrond meeting with Adar

Now, why would Sauron want to stop Adar and Elrond from meeting? It’s only because of Galadriel and to set her free? No. Because that's the least of his problems.

First of all, Sauron doesn’t know what Adar and Elrond will discuss in this meeting:

Sauron is aware Adar seeks a truce between Orcs and Elves; what guarantee does he have Adar won’t propose this and Elrond won’t accept?

What guarantee does Sauron have Elrond won’t make an alliance with Adar? Elrond could very well surrender Nenya to test Adar’s theory (Morgoth’s crown + Nenya to destroy Sauron);

Elrond and Adar could reach an agreement in stopping the attack on Eregion.

All of this would mean the ruin of Sauron’s masterplan. Not because Eregion wouldn’t get destroyed, but because, if Elrond was to side with Adar, even if temporarily, they would be able to enter Eregion without bloodshed and stop Celebrimbor from forging the Nine rings of power.

Because this is what Adar proposed to Galadriel in 2x06:

Adar: It is said the Three Elven Rings saved your kind from fading. Is it true?If it is, then perhaps together, this crown and your Rings would be powerful enough to truly destroy Sauron forever. The Deceiver believes he is still beyond my grasp. But I know he hides in Eregion. And I suspect you know for certain… Halbrand is Sauron. Isn’t he? The fate of that city now rests on your ability to put aside your pride. I suggest you find the will to do so. If you can.

Which Galadriel eventually accepts, later on:

Galadriel: As we speak, Elrond hastens from Lindon with an army of Elves. And Nenya, my Ring […] Once he arrives, he will seal off the city, loose Celebrimbor from Sauron’s grasp, and then together, Uruk, you and I will eradicate all trace of Sauron from this world. Never to return. Adar: And what then? Galadriel: Any Rings that have known his touch must be destroyed. Adar: I meant, what then for the Uruk? Will your High King permit us to return home in peace? Or will he proceed with his plans to invade Mordor?

And Sauron is aware of all of this. Would he risk Elrond and Adar meeting and reach an hypothetical agreement? And pretty much obliterate his entire masterplan? Because his plan is at risk if these two characters were to meet.

Then, Sauron also needs the two armies to fight outside of the city walls to gain himself more time, for Celebrimbor to finish the Nine. But he can't have the Dwarves joining in, and influences King Durin (via his ring of power) not to send aid. Sauron doesn’t want the walls to be breached just yet. Not until the Nine are complete.

All of this means that, from Sauron POV, Adar and Elrond can’t possibly meet nor make any sort of negotiations. And he has to do something about it. The logical conclusion is: Sauron shapeshifts into Elrond and goes to meet with Adar himself, to make sure his masterplan doesn't get wrecked.

And that's what happens in the "tent scene" in 2x07: there is no negotiation, the battle still goes on as planned, and he even manages to "plant the seeds" of discord among Orcs and Adar, for his next move in 2x08 (take the Orc army for himself). And he provides Galadriel with a means to escape, because he needs her, too.

Then we have this shot right here, after the tent scene, and while "Elrond" is leaving the Orc camp. Is this really Sauron or an illusion he crafted for Celebrimbor, to make him think he's right there, but he isn't? Because Sauron has the power to do this.

And that explains why the have this off-screen narrator, of showing Elrond leaving the Orc camp:

And so, he goes on to make sure the battle is to proceed, himself. Because Sauron wants the two armies to fight each other, instead of the Orc army to be focused on tearing down Eregion walls.  

Interestingly enough, this is exactly what “Elrond” tells Vorohil before sending him off to Khazad-dûm: Ride to them now. Meantime, I will ensure that Eregion's walls hold for one more night.

Which can, also, explain what Sauron is doing at the beginning of this scene: he has his eyes closed, as if he’s performing some sort of magic, but Celebrimbor is right there, working on the Nine, and so whatever Sauron is doing here is not meant for him.

We saw him performing something like this before, both in 2x06:

And when he meets Galadriel at the top of the hill in 2x08, he smiles. Because everything turned out in his favor, at the end. Adar is dead, the Orc armies are his, and Galadriel is there, to hand him over the rings of power, and to bind herself to him. I would even argue that Sauron knew and wanted Celebrimbor to give the Nine to Galadriel.

“Only blood can bind” (Adar; 2x05) 

And Galadriel is about to join him, until Nenya influences her otherwise, and she jumps off the cliff, to escape the situation. Which wasn’t in Sauron’s plans, either. And he realizes one of the rings of power resisted him. Him, their master and creator (he believed). And so, he needs to do something about it, too, in Season 3. Create a master-ring to control the lesser rings of power:

[gnnosis]

i have a theory about the bear & carmy’s artistic talent and no one else (that ive seen!) seems to be talking abt this. gotta get it out there so if it happens i can say i predicted it

carmy is going to leave the restaurant industry. we see time and time again that carmy is not happy in the industry, and maybe never has been. he’s traumatized by the fancy restaurant he worked at. he wanted to work at the beef, but only to be with mikey. he took over the beef because he (felt he) owed it to michael — and because he had the skills — not out of some great love of cooking. he only got to his level of skill out of a self-professed “fuck you” to mikey! carmy’s not happy. “this shit’s not fun for me,” he says to richie. make no mistake — he’s really, really good at it. but he’s not happy. the industry brings out the worst version of him, every single time. the stress of the kitchen turns him into the bear from the 1x01 opening, into his mother.

contrast this with syd and richie, tina, even marcus. even under stress, even with everyone yelling at each other, the kitchen brings out the best in them. they’ve improved their skill levels because they feel they owe it to themselves. richie thrives under the pressure of being a concierge, he’s a new man, he wears suits now. tina is a transformed person because she’s begun to believe in herself (and knows others believe in her). marcus (although thwarted by his own hyper-focus sometimes) delights in the craft of being a pâtissier, creates spectacular, thoughtful dishes — he flourishes.

and sydney. sydney, under stress, opening night, is throwing up in the bushes, like we know carmy did in a job that was Bad for him. but it’s not the stress of the job per se that’s getting to syd, but the pressure she’s put on herself to do well enough that her dad will see the bear as she sees it — her very own place in the industry she loves above all else, a place to practice her beloved craft, to take care of people, to pour everything she has into this one thing. it’s not the job making her physically sick, like it did carmy, it’s the pressure of showing how much she loves the job, of her dad thinking she’s doing well enough to deserve to love and devote herself to it as much as she is. and in the kitchen, under pressure, with carmy locked in the fridge, syd doesn’t panic, doesn’t yell and scream — not really. she collaborates with richie, delegates as necessary, steps up — and leads. she shines.

carmy as a chef is doing what he’s good at, performing the skills he’s cultivated. it might be the only thing he feels he’s good at. it’s all he’s ever really known. but it’s not healthy. it’s killing him. it’s ruining his relationships with everyone important to him. he needs to get out.

i predict that sydney and richie will take over the bear. probably with nat’s help behind the scenes. they love it. it gives them purpose. it makes them thrive.

and carmy… will go to visual arts school. (or simply become an artist. do people still do art school these days? if so… like… he could do worse than SAIC)

i don’t think the show has been dropping all these references to carmy’s artistic talent for no reason. the pants he designed (thom browne’s!), the drawings of claire they mention and then flash during his panic attack, the speculative drawing of the bear he gifts michael in 2x06, and the menu drawings that sydney gushes over. the painting he hates that’s hung in the restaurant? could you do a better one, carm?? in the future, will that get replaced with one of yours, carm??? his artistic talent is lingered on too much to not be indicating something about what carmy really loves. a talent he innately has but doesn’t seem to realize the depth of. what he’d spend his time doing absently before he got caught up in the rat race of the restaurant industry. he talks about art like it’s something he’s compelled to do, like it’s something he loses himself in. a flow state.

carmy can flourish too. it’s just that he’s going to need to go somewhere else to do it.

[whenmemorydies]

2x06 Fishes (Copenhagen/Pantry scene)

And rounding out my top three most tender, sweet scenes in The Bear, is the Copenhagen/Pantry scene from 2x06 Fishes.

GIFs by @heardchef

Why do I love it:

Amidst all the macho posturing, raised voices and general chaos of 2x06, this is the most intimate scene of the episode. In contrast to what comes before and what will come after, here in this small pantry time slows, as do the characters. Mikey gently whispers to Carmy with such care and affection in his voice. And Carmy, in a rare moment of having his experience validated by his family, seems happy, as indicated by the softening of his voice and his tentative, small smiles during this scene.

There’s also the introduction of “give me three things”, which in its delivery here sounds like shorthand for a game Mikey and Carmy have probably played since they were kids. I love the familiarity of it. Mikey saying “well Carm, that’s a home run” and Carmy’s very sweet “yeah, out of the park” while smiling and nodding were the cherries on this lovely morsel of dialogue.

Out of both seasons thus far, to me this is the scene that best conveys the depth of Mikey's love for his little brother. He's rooting for Carmy, wants him to succeed. He wants to hear about how his brother is getting out of the Berzatto house, freeing himself from its legacy. So when Carmy gifts him that stunning drawing of a dream, you can see the moment Mikey's heart breaks. Because he believes he's not physically or mentally able to walk that journey with his brother, as much as he might want to. And in that heartache...also so much love.

Author's note:

In case you were wondering what my top two tender scenes are in The Bear (thus far), see below:

#2: Napkins scene from 1x08 Braciole

#1: I'LL NEVER LEAVE YOU I LOVE YOU Table scene from 2x09 Omelette (for obvious reasons):

What are yours?

[greenqueenhightower]

And wtf is the deal with Daeron being 16 years old, older than Luke, Baela and Rhaena and having a tiny dragon that’s only begun to take flight? The fuck, was Tessarion’s egg a parting gift when he left the keep at 6 years old?!

At least we know that he has the Hightower Swordsmanship skill gene like The White Bull and Ser Loras.

I had the same question, anon 💚

I thought that Daeron was much younger to have been sent to Oldtown as a ward, and to have a dragon so small. I am confused about the timeline, because by the time Joffrey was born in 1x06, Daeron had already been sent to Oldtown. The time jump to 1x08 is six years later, and the events of 1x09 up until 2x06 are only a few months. So how old was Daeron when he was warded off? If he left just before the events in 1x06 he would be 10 years old... Aegon is 13-14 and that time and Sunfyre is big enough for him to ride... so why doesn't Daeron who is 16 years old in 2x06 already have a flying dragon in Tessarion?? It is weird considering that his egg was placed in his cradle according to custom and it hatched... so what was the issue? Had Aegon not flown Sunfyre in 1x06 yet, and maybe did so at a later age, 15-16? But why would Aemond be so bitter about not having a dragon if Aegon hadn't started riding his own as of yet?

I don't know, if anyone can shed some light on this it would be greatly appreciated because I am confused as well.

[nalyra-dreaming]

By the way, I was always tormented by the question of how strong Armand's abilities are. Why, when Daniel and Louis remembered everything, he didn't erase their memories again? Or how does it work? Also, the question arose why Armand didn't understand that Daniel was working with Talamasca? I saw a theory that it might be because of the blood that he drank from Armand before, which we will find out about.

Or there was blood in the medicine, too. That part has not been brought up again, and I bet it's important.

And I'm not sure if I subscribe to Armand not interfering when Louis remembered after 2x05. Because 2x06 might have been... bumpy, and 2x07 was harrowing... but Louis behavior in the early parts of 2x08???

Weird AF. Like something "readjusted" him. Until Daniel presented the final evidence.

That happened before in the season, Louis breaking down emotionally in 2x01... and 2x02 lovey-dovey happy smiles again, for example. Or the telenovela moment, after being asleep.

Armand is a big mind and spell gift user. I'm not sure you can quantify the powers, but... he definitely employed those powers as he saw fit.

[adarswidow]

The gift

Finally collecting the courage to post a short little festive thing. It’s Yule and Elendil’s wife is visiting him before the Sea Trial. A little festive (but sad) thing I wrote based on the events in Rings of Power 2x06. No other warnings. ____ It was that time of year again, but I didn’t feel the Yuletide spirit in my bones as I used to. Usually, there was a big celebration all over Armenelos with grand feasts that I used to help prepare. There were decorations, food, and dancing, too. It was at one of those celebrations that Elendil first talked to me and finally asked for a dance. The rest was history. 

There was, of course, a great reason I wasn’t feeling the celebrations this year and that was all because of him. My husband wasn’t with me but locked up in a cell. How could I possibly feel festive? I was devastated but tried to hold it together. For him. After what had gone down in the Shrine in the Old Quarter the other night, causing the death of his dead son’s best friend - I was certain all celebrations had been canceled. We were all in mourning. At least, the ones of us who were of The Faithful. Ar-Pharazon and all loyal to him certainly didn't mourn what had happened in the temple. I was afraid of what they’d do to my husband, but I was also afraid of the fate of all of us loyal to his cause. Our numbers had diminished, but we were still determined to fight for what was right.

I had been granted a visit to my husband’s cell. They weren’t complete tyrants… at least not yet. I was thankful I’d get to see him again and had made sure to bring something for him. Maybe there was still hope for some kind of festive spirit, even if I doubted it.

The cells were dark, damp, and reeked of filth. Elendil was sitting on the ground, one handcuffed, dressed in a brown tunic. He had been ripped off his beautiful blue uniform that brought out his deep ocean eyes so well. He was dirty and looked tired and dehydrated, but when he saw me his entire face brightened up. He looked shocked, happy, and sad all at once. The guard stepped out, while still having his eyes on the two of us. I embraced my husband like I hadn’t seen him in ages.

“Elendil!” I cried, holding him tight in my arms, touching his hair, and kissing his forehead. “I never thought I’d see you again” I sobbed. He lifted my head, touched my cheek with his one free hand, and kissed me deeply. Then he looked into my eyes, his love manifesting in this one gaze. “You have been brave, my love”, he told me. I nodded, weeping. “Are they treating you ok? What can I do to get you out of here?” I whispered in desperation. Being close to him again made me realize I didn’t want to be apart from him ever again.

He just shook his head, while not looking bothered by the fact that we were all doomed; accepting his fate, and he hugged me and put my head to rest on his chest while stroking my hair.  He sighed deeply before he spoke with content in his voice.

“There is nothing you can do, my love, but pray the Valar have mercy on this soul. Pray they are on our side.”

Initially, I didn’t like the sound of that. But he was right. I couldn't do anything. Even if I could get him out of this prison cell, there was no plan for the aftermath of that escape. “I’m afraid”, I sighed, while sinking into his chest again, listening to his every heartbeat. It was comforting to listen to, I could feel it calming my pulse. One part of me wanted to convince him not to give up – to not accept this dreadful fate –  but I knew he had already made up his mind and was comforted by the fact that I had to some extent accepted it too.

And then I remembered about his gift. It felt so ridiculous – what did a gift matter now – but maybe he wouldn't think so.

“I almost forgot!” I exclaimed, sitting up. “I have something for you.”

He looked curiously at me. “Happy Yule, my dear”, I said, kissing him again. “Maybe it can bring some luck.” He unwrapped the package with the pendant inside, the one he had been admiring at a shop as we had walked the streets together weeks before. He looked touched by the memory we both shared of that day while he was admiring the craftmanship itself. He put it in my hand and I put it around his neck. “Thank you, my star, now I will always have you with me.”

We kissed passionately, him holding me in his arms until the guard came back to fetch me. 

[thoughtfulchaos773]

I'm writing a meta about anhedonia and Carmy. But when I realized something else I had to post.

The reasons, in my opinion, for Sydney mirroring Mikey is for Carmy to have a better experience and find joy in all things that he once had a bad history with; Sydney represents transformation in everything Carmy's experienced.

We see fire light when Sydney and Carmy are around each other along with the color red - only Sydney wears red. I think about the dream Tiffany had in 2x06, about how all their clothes turned to green except for the baby. What she touched turned red. It's because Eva, in a way, represents transformation and being the good outside of the trauma in the family, just like Sydney. It's telling us there can be good that comes out Of the past wounds.

Sydney is new to the Berzatto family, but she's also written as being able to relate and sometimes fall into her own self-sabotage. She's written to mirror the Berzattos so we can click with Sydney. Being too out of place would make her into a romantic lead like Claire, which falls flat.

How does Sydney transform Carmy's experience? One example is the gift parallels between Sydney and Carmy and Mikey and Carmy. The gift Carmy gives to Mikey was sentimental, but it turned into a bad experience when Mikey walked away - Mikey, because of the damage of his addiction and other mental health issues, could not experience joy and like Carmy he's used to attaching himself to dread.

But the gift given to Sydney, there's joy in it. Carmy walks away like with Mikey, and instead of seeing sadness, we see Sydney's joy in Carmy's declaration of love.

So Sydney is transforming what once was for Carmy. She's the fire ablaze and burning down what caused carmy pain.

This is why shit hits the fan when he doesn't focus on Sydney. He has to move forward in order to have pleasurable experiences. She represents something alive, joyful, and new.

But this is what makes Sydney one of the best written female leads. She has her own baggage too, even though for Carmy she's this calming influence, she's trying to find her own peace of mind.

The question is- does Carmy represent that same transformation for Sydney?

[imminent-danger-came]

It's Finally Time. LMK Game Motif.

Spider Queen: "The game is just beginning!"

(1x04 Noodles or Death) (Shout out to Spider Queen for being the first instance of Game Motif)

-

Sun Wukong: "So, you thought you had all the pieces right where you wanted them?" Lady Bone Demon: "There are so many moves I've yet to play."

(2x00 Revenge of the Spider Queen)

-

Lady Bone Demon: "Your destiny has not been changed or diminished! Your enemies have done exactly what we needed. And now, my queen, the real game can begin."

(2x00 Revenge of the Spider Queen)

-

Sleep Bug Game: "Sleep Bug! Download now from the app store!"

(2x01 Sleep Bug)

-

Lady Bone Demon: "With this, you will build your revenge, one piece at a time. Five more items of power must be collected, and then, we shall forge your destiny!"

(2x01 Sleep Bug)

-

Pigsy: "I've seen it all before, games suck up the best years of your life until you're left a hollow bitter old man."

(2x03 Pig Pong Panic)

-

Lady Bone Demon: "Just a piece in a game you can not possible comprehend."

(2x05 Minor Scale)

-

Game Wukong: "After you complete the tutorials, you'll learn how to access-" MK: "Ugh! This is taking forever! How do I...skip."

[...]

Game Wukong: "REMEMBER. NOT EVERY OPPONENT CAN BE BEATEN WITH BRUTE STRENGTH! DO YOU WANT TO LEARN A COUNTER ATTACK?"

(2x06 Game On) (Game Motif the episode fr fr)

-

Huntsman: "Why am I doing all this for you?" Lady Bone Demon: "You're only asking this now? Because, that is you're role to play in this game."

(2x08 To Catch a Leaf)

-

Syntax: "My Queen, we can begin collecting the materials! The update is ready." Spider Queen: "*Breathes in* Good, good! I'm not gonna let that little lady play me!"

(2x09 72 Transformations)

-

Lady Bone Demon: "It would seem the Queen's usefulness is drawing to an end. Time to remove the unnecessary pieces from the game." Mayor: "With pleasure, my lady."

(2x09 72 Transformations)

-

Spider Queen: "I was just a pawn in the game! Like you." MK: "It's not too late, you can run." Spider Queen: "Haven't you figured that out yet, there's no running from what she is."

(2x09 72 Transformations)

-

Gold Fish Demon: "The rules, they are simple: you put up something of value in order to win something of value! Win the game, get the prize!"

(3x03 Smartie Kid)

-

Lady Bone Demon: "The Samadhi Fire is the final piece of the game, a tool destiny has gifted me to complete my work!"

(3x11 This Imperfect World)

-

Red Son: "That's how I know you won't lose control—you can't, because you're the only hope I- the only hope this world has left. But! Only so long as you master all my tutorials."

(3x11 This Imperfect World)

-

MK: "Ugh! Again! Remind me how this 'game' is supposed to convince me I'm not destined to turn into an evil demon monkey thing again? Cause every option I pick takes me to this!"

MK: "Same!"

MK: "Screen!" Macaque: "Hey you're finally getting it! No matter what options it's giving you, you're always gonna end up in the same spot."

(4x10 The Jade Emperor)

-

Macaque: "Alright misery kid, you were supposed to realize by now that the choices the games giving you, aren't the only choices you've got! Life isn't some pre-written thing like a video game where you have to do what the tutorial says!"

(4x10 The Jade Emperor)

-

The Jade Emperor: "How is it you come to stand before me today Azure, was there a point where you questioned it, or where you to oblivious with your own delusion to realize you are a mere piece in someone else's game!"

(4x10 The Jade Emperor)

-

Azure, who gave you that scroll? Because whoever it was, they must have known this would happen, wanted this to happen! And they used you to do it.

[lethisfleshnotbetorn]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Whumplist

I’ll be adding on to this as I think of them (and also when I finish season 7) comment if I’ve missed any

Xander Harris

1x02- The Harvest

Unconscious, dragged, manhandled

1x03- Teacher’s Pet

Drugged, kidnapped, caged, chained

1x06- The Pack

Possessed, caged

1x08- I, Robot…You, Jane

Manhandled

1x11- Out of Mind, Out of Sight

Locked in a room, poisonous gas, getting weaker

2x01- When She Was Bad

Knocked out, bloody nose

2x03- School Hard

Put in headlock

2x04- Inca Mummy Girl

Attacked, life force nearly sucked out?

2x06- Halloween

Manhandled

2x12- Bad Eggs

Knocked out, locked in closet

2x16- Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered

Attacked, chased (pretty much the whole episode)

2x21- Becoming pt 1

Arm broken, knocked out

2x22- Becoming pt 2

Arm in cast

3x08- Lover’s Walk

Headlock, knocked out, kidnapped, bleeding

3x13- The Zeppo

Manhandled, threatened at knifepoint

3x15- Consequences

Attempted SA, strangled

3x17- Enemies

Knocked out

3x20- The Prom

Attacked by a demon

4x02- Living Conditions

Knocked out

4x08- Pangs

Sick with syphilis

4x09- Something Blue

Attacked by demons

4x18- Where the Wild Things Are

Drowning

4x22- Restless

Tormented by dreams

5x01- Buffy vs Dracula

Hypnotized

5x03- The Replacement

Hit with magic

5x11- Triangle

Manhandled, broken arm, bloody

5x16- The Body

Angst, injured hand

5x18- Intervention

Knocked out

5x20- Spiral

Car sick

6x01/02- Bargaining

Attacked, put in headlock

6x03- After Life

Possessed

6x14- Older and Far Away

Attacked, injured

6x16- Hell’s Bells

Angst

6x17- Normal Again

Attacked, knocked out, tied up

6x19- Seeing Red

Shot at, angst

6x20- Villains

Angst, traumatized, frozen with magic

6x21- Two to Go

Held at swordpoint

6x22- Grave

Knocked out, maimed with magic, bleeding, angst

7x01- Lessons

Attacked by ghost

7x05- Selfless

Knocked out, held back

7x08- Sleeper

Knocked out

7x09- Never Leave Me

Attacked, hit over the head

7x14- First Date

Tied up, stabbed, bleeding

7x15- Get It Done

Thrown into a table

7x18- Dirty Girls

Eye gouged out, hospitalized

Rupert Giles

1x03- Witch

Knocked out

1x05- Never Kill a Boy on the First Date

Attacked by vampires

1x06- The Pack

Knocked out

1x09- The Puppet Show

Strapped down, almost decapitated

1x11- Out if Mind, Out of Sight

Locked in room, losing oxygen

1x12- Prophecy Girl

Knocked out

2x01- When She Was Bad

Kidnapped, hung upside down

2x17- Passion

Angst over Jenny’s death, crying

2x21- Becoming pt. 1

Knocked out, kidnapped

2x22- Becoming pt. 2

Tied up, tortured

3x04- Beauty and the Beasts

Tranquilized

3x07- Revelations

Hit over head, knocked out, head trauma, hospitalization

3x09- The Wish

Locked in cage, forced to watch Cordelia murdered (alternate reality)

3x11- Gingerbread

Chloroformed

4x09- Something Blue

Goes blind (temporary)

4x12- A New Man

Turns into a monster and attacked by Buffy

4x22- Restless

Tormented by visions

5x16- The Body

Angst over Joyce’s death

5x20- Spiral

Injured, near death

5x21- The Weight of the World

Hospitalized

6x22- Grave

Attacked, beaten up, close to death

Angel

2x09- What’s My Line pt. 1

Caged, almost killed by sunlight

2x10- What’s My Line pt. 2

Kidnapped, tied up, gagged, burned with holy water, tortured

2x22- Becoming pt. 2

Stabbed, killed, sent to hell

3x04- Beauty and the Beasts

Feral, chained

3x09- The Wish

Held prisoner, chained, tortured

3x10- Amends

Tormented by visions, suicidal

3x15- Consequences

Attacked, caught in net

3x21/22- Graduation Day

Impaled with arrow, poisoned, angst

Spike

2x10- What’s My Line pt. 2

Injured (in wheelchair for next several episodes)

4x07- The Initiative

Imprisoned

4x08- Pangs

Tied up, shot with arrows

4x09- Something Blue

Chained, tied up

4x10- Hush

Tied up

5x18- Intervention

Kidnapped, gagged, tied up, tortured

5x22- The Gift

Angst over Buffy’s death

7x01- Lessons

Tormented and crazy (for the next several episodes)

7x08- Sleeper

Mind control, angst

7x09- Never Leave Me

Tied up, chained, mind control, kidnapped, cut, bleeding

7x10- Bring On the Night

Tortured, water boarding, beaten

7x11- Showtime

Chained

7x13- The Killer In Me

In massive pain, near death

7x15- Get It Done

Attacked, thrown through the ceiling

7x17- Lies My Parents told Me

Angst, beat up, burned, chained

Daniel ‘Oz’ Osborne

2x10- What’s My Line pt. 2

Shot in the arm

2x15- Phases

Transforms into a werefolf

3x04- Beauty and the Beasts

Attacked, thrown around

3x09- The Wish

Imprisoned, caged

3x16- Dopplegangland

Held hostage at the Bronze, held back, thrown by vampire

4x06- Wild at Heart

Angst

4x19- New Moon Rising

Captured by initiative, experimented on

Riley Finn

4x14- Goodbye, Iowa

Withdrawals

4x16- Who Are You?

Has sex with Faith in Buffy’s body (questionable consent)

4x19- New Moon Rising

Taken prisoner by the initiative, locked up

4x21- Primeval

Mind controlled by Adam, forced to watch

5x04- Out of my Mind

Sick, weak, going crazy

Andrew Wells

6x13- Dead Things

Angst over being murder accomplice

6x19- Seeing Red

Knocked out, arrested

6x21- Two to Go

Attacked, afraid

7x09- Never Leave Me

Tied up, slapped, bitten by vampire, attacked

7x10- Bring on the Night

Tied up, gagged with duct tape

7x11- Showtime

Tied up

7x16- Storyteller

Angst over killing friend

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Thursday, January 9-Friday, January 10, Part 2

Kathy: Ewww! Who left their gum here? Buffy: Gum gnome?

~~Living Conditions~~

[Reviews & Recaps]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer 5x21 & 5x22 REACTION | "The Weight of the World" & "The Gift" by The Horror Bandwagon

Buffy The Vampire Slayer 6x20 Villains Reaction by Jules Reacts

Buffy The Vampire Slayer "WHAT'S MY LINE?: PART 2" S2E10 (REACTION!!!) by JerBear Reacts

*AM I..... TEAM HOLTZ?!* ANGEL 3x08 REACTION l Quickening by domi e.

'Halloween' (2x06) | Buffy The Vampire Slayer | with special guest Girth Brooks! by Up The Buff!

Podcast: ANGEL 1.11 - Somnambulist by Buffy the Vampire Straya

Podcast: ANGEL 1.10 - Parting Gifts by Buffy the Vampire Straya

Publication: “Buffy vs. Dracula” – Revisiting Buffy’s Subversive Dracula Episode 25 Years Later via Bloody Disgusting

[Recs & In Search Of]

A Fanfic question [Looking for works posted on MZP-TV] by eevol76vamp

[Community Announcements]

James Marsters Unable to Attend FAN EXPO New Orleans 2025 by dontkillspike

[Fandom Discussions]

zeroing in on how spike behaves [in Seeing Red] by lesbianmarrow

I’m remembering why season 6 is so hard to watch; I hate watching Buffy be abusive. by rhisardthewizard

Holy shit, did Mr Trick just...verbally confirm that Sunnydale is an all-white town? by thornfield13713

it's kind of funny, and also really sad, that you can always tell when one of these Angel dreams is a dream by thornfield13713

[Buffy and Faith's first meeting] by

[Faith vs Buffy, how slaying feels] by

As much as I love seaon 5 I can't shake the feeling they dropped the ball with Ben's story by abadbadbrujah

[Joyce sympathy] by thornfield13713

[Buffy, Faith, and slayerdom] by

I really like After Life by coraniaid

Soul vs no soul by multiple authors

3x04 does Xander get any blame? by multiple authors

I guess she didn't anticipate this aging poorly by multiple authors

Who are the most righteous Buffyverse characters according to you? by multiple authors

What are some impressive things the Buffyverse writers were able to do that you think are underrated? by multiple authors

Rank the Angel Seasons by multiple authors

Buffy’s Mom by multiple authors

Hank Summers should've been killed off by multiple authors

I'm so glad I watched this show dude by multiple authors

Rewatching after 18 years, can't believe how good it still is by multiple authors

I support Clem's dietary choices. by multiple authors

S7E17 Lies my ParenTs Told Me by multiple authors

I just love Angel so much by multiple authors

Your top ten unpopular opinions by multiple authors

Rewatching as an adult by multiple authors

"The Killer in Me" imo is the only legit bad episode of Buffy by multiple authors

One of Buffy’s more underrated act of compassion in my opinion by multiple authors

How many times a day did David Boreanaz have to shave?! by multiple authors

Angel saving Xander from Faith by multiple authors

buffy vernacular by multiple authors

Would Faith and Buffy had respected Wesley as their Watcher if they had the Wesley from Angel Season 2? by multiple authors

Cordelia should have discovered Angel when he returned from Hell in Season 3 instead of Buffy by multiple authors

I just finished the show for the first time ever and wanted to share some of my opinions ( I loved the show) by multiple authors

How would Doyle have interacted with other characters? by multiple authors

"RED MEAT" Iowa Flag by multiple authors

[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]

Publication: The Canceled Buffy Spinoff Better Than Angel via Giant Freakin Robot

Submit a link to be included in the newsletter!

Join the editor team :)

[nunyabznsbabes]

Catholic Imagery in Yellowjackets: An Incomplete Thread

Shauna's infamous Saints line

Shauna as the Blessed Mother, wearing the light blue head wrap while nursing her baby in the dreamworld

The fact that there are seven confirmed survivors of the wilderness, which is a HUGE holy number in Catholicism that symbolizes perfection. There are seven sacraments, seven deadly sins, seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, etc. etc. (one of each, for each!)

The fact that if Mari survives, which I legitimately think she might, there will be eight survivors - the Catholic number for resurrection

The tie between Holy Communion (consuming the Body and Blood of Christ) and their ritual of cannibalism - but reversed, in that Jesus "gives" His body for the spiritual salvation of those partaking in the sacrament, while the girls "take" the bodies of the others for their physical salvation

Lottie as a prophet (and also as Jesus)

Shauna's baby as Jesus

The reoccurring theme of forgiveness and redemption, or the impossibility thereof

The windowpanes behind Shauna in 2x06 as linking representations of the cross; like the Virgin Mary, her son has died/been sacrificed for the good of the collective

The use of physical objects, like Van's bone necklace, to protect against supernatural harm

Joseph's coat of many colors and dead cabin guy's coat that they're all passing around and hallucinating/having visions in

The repetitive motif of sacrifice; Laura Lee's of herself, their offerings to the wilderness, picking cards to determine who's going to die so that the others will live

[deckerstarareotp]

Brokenly depended: A JackieShauna web weaving

Yellowjackets 1x01//Maggie Nelson, Bluets//Yellowjackets 1x0//Maggie Nelson, Bluets//Yellowjackets//Alice Miller, The Drama of the Gifted Child: The Search for the True Self// Yellowjackets//On Grief: A Conversation with Sara Henning, An Interview by Corinne Segal// Yellowjackets 2x06//Hanif Abdurraqib, A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance

[joanna-lannister]

what do you think about the other members of the Lannister family you don't talk about that much (Like Tyrion or Tywin)?. Any headcanons about them? Also do you have any opinions on book only Lannisters like Aunt Genna?

I like Tyrion! But more show!Tyrion than book!Tyrion. I won't say he treats Cersei way better, but despite everything he loves her and he loves Myrcella and Tommen, while book!Tyrion treats them lowkey like shit 😐 And I LOVE Cersei and Tyrion's relationship, it's so complex, full of resentment, yet there is deep down love between them because they are the same family. I love how they hang together while Jaime is captured. Their scene in 7x07 is amazing, I'd call it the climax of their relationship. How Lena and Peter bring them to life, and give them so much layers? Fascinating. What I don't like about Tyrion tho, is how he threats Joffrey. You gonna say "But Marie, Joffrey is the worst." and this is where I lowkey disagree because Joffrey is a child, and he grew up in a toxic environment where his "father" used to beat and rape his mother. The way Tyrion slaps him in 1x02 and 2x06 (I think it's 2x06, if I recall correctly) just doesn't sit right with me. Yes, Joffrey was a problem, but as I said he was also a child, a child who tried to repeat the same he saw his "father" display. I think Tyrion should have handled it way more like Tywin did. Also the fact he killed Shae 😬

Tywin. I love him, but I also hate the way he treats Cersei and Tyrion. He is such an interesting character, but so hard to get right (writing him is such a struggle, trust me lmao). He is all about moving his pawns across the board, but refuse to get married himself after Joanna's death. He still loves her after all those years, I love that. But yeah, the way he treats his children is just... No comment. As Cersei said: "One look at your own children and you would have known." Also, if he had listened to Cersei, he would have realized the Tyrells were a problem, like the nose in the middle of the face, and treated them as such. And if he had listened to Joffrey about Dany, he would have noticed she was a threat. So he is not as smart as people pretend he is. ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

As for Genna, I'll be honest, but I have mixed feeling about her. Same as Tywin, I think people pretend she is smarter than she is, which is probably why I have such mixed feelings, and I think Cersei and her don't get along well, which is sad because Cersei needs another maternal figure. But yeah, that's my feelings about her.

As for headcanons:

In another life, where Jaime and Cersei can raise him, Joffrey would be way more like Myrcella and Tommen. Tho, he would have the arrogance of Tywin because he is the first born. And he would have still burst of anger because of the incest 😬

Joanna's death left everyone speechless in the family, and they wore black for months. Tywin has never worn any other colors since then.

In a Modern AU, Tyrion would be the beloved uncle who bring the best and most expensive gifts.

Modern AU again, Joanna would still die because of professional incompetence. Or if she lives, she wouldn't be able to have children anymore.

Tywin and Joanna's first time was on their wedding night. It wasn't the best.

Cersei wears her hair like Joanna used to! I cherish this headcanon so much, because it's pure mother-daughter love 🥺

Tywin and Joanna picked Jaime and Cersei's names together, and Tywin was with her in the birthing room.

Joanna used to bake alone with Jaime and Cersei in the kitchen of Casterly Rock.

Joanna was smarter than Tywin

Thank you so, so much for the ask, it allowed me to talk about my favorite family 🤪❤️✨