#tog timeline

[thegayguard]

The Old Guard (comics + movie) Comprehensive Timeline

Edit: 16 Feb- reformatted to make it easier to read

I spent way too much time spent researching the comics one night resulting in this, my TOG magnum opus, including every confirmed event up until the beginning of the movie. If there's anything I missed let me know (I did misplace my copy of Force Multiplied but I don't think they did many flashbacks iirc). This is mostly for my own purposes, but absolutely feel free to use it for your own fics/art/meta/etc

Also thank you @yumekuimono for the putting together the photographs on Copley's hyperfixation board, which inspired me to make this.

It's long, so it's all under the cut. Enjoy!

4500s BCE:

Andromache is born in the Western Steppe, later known as Scythia, now known as the Ural region, mostly. Fifteen or so years later her mother(figure) gifts her an axe, naming Andy as her successor instead of her sisters. Five or so years later Andy's mother plans to have her killed out of jealously. Andy doesn't die, though her mother is killed in the conflict. Andy kills her attackers in revenge, then goes back to lead her people as a pseudo-god for an unspecified number of years.

500s BCE:

Quỳnh (Noriko) is born in modern day Vietnam (Noriko in Japan).

330ish BCE:

Lykon is killed for the first time following Alexander The Great to Judea. Andy meets him not long after (comic only canon, the movie doesn't specify when Andy and Lyon meet except to say it's after she meets Quynh).

Note- There's no firmer information on Yitzhak aka Isaac Blue at this time, apart from him being Jewish, a contemporary of Lykon, having been with Andy in the year 1950, and now living in Alaska. There's a wonderful analysis of his likely timeline by @nevermindirah who places him around the time of the Second Temple, somewhere between 500 BCE and 70 CE.

630s CE:

Andy meets Quynh in Alexandria while fighting with Amir ibn al-As. They become inseparable and travel with Lykon and Yitzhak for a time as roaming soldiers (anything about Yitzhak, so far, is comics only canon)

1066:

Yusuf ibn Ibrahim ibn Muhammad ibn al-Kaysani called al-Tayyib is born in Maghreb, North Africa, to a family of merchants

1069:

Nicolò di Genova is born in Genoa, Italy

1099:

Joe and Nicky meet and kill each other and, according to word of god (aka Greg Rucka), get on to the more pleasurable type of physical relationship very quickly after.

1100-1230:

Andy and Quynh are spotted around the crusades, likely to find Nicky + Joe

1200s:

Noriko (comics only canon) is killed many times fighting rogue samurai around feudal Japan

1550-1600 (Renaissance):

Lykon dies for the last time, Joe saves a young artist from a fire in Genoa, forcing them to avoid Italy for 100 years

1500s (late):

Quynh and Andy attempt to free people from the witch trials and are caught themselves, leading to Quynh's underwater imprisonment

1700s (late):

The Guard are in London for a time. Joe saves a coffee shop owner from the stocks, Andy gets a new axe (that is still very much the same axe, to her).

1770:

Sébastien LeLivre is born in Marseilles, France.

1789-95:

Andy, Nicky, and Joe are at the Paris Commune. Nicky and Joe aren't speaking at the time.

1790s:

Andy meets a former West Indies slave turned British soldier turned highway robber named Achilles. Andy follows him to Australia, starts a life in a small town.

1812:

Booker dies in Russia while following Napoleon. He's hanged for desertion. The Guard meets up with him a few years later. (Note, it's very likely Booker was conscripted in the place of a richer man in exchange for a fee, or as blackmail material, given that married men were exempt from the Grande Armée and even the Imperial Army's levée en masse. My theory is he was caught by a banker or shop owner for his forgeries, and was therefore forced to take the man's place in the army).

1830s:

Booker hangs out with his youngest son Jean-Pierre, likely towards the end of his son's life, at a Parisian restaurant. Andy leaves Achilles for an extended amount of time to go to Jamaica, likely for the Baptist War. She comes back to find him dead, killed by their neighbors. She then razes the entire town in retaliation.

1834:

São Paulo. Joe jumps through a window as a distraction for reasons as yet unknown.

1853:

Joe and Nicky spotted on the ground of the Crimean War

1863:

Nicky goes undercover of sorts in the American Civil War as a Confederate soldier in Pennsylvania. Joe is helping the slaves Nicky frees along with the Quakers in York. The Guard appear at the Battle of Gettysburg

1870, September:

Booker and Andy meet in San Francisco after Booker unknowingly saves Merrick's great grandfather in a frontier town because of an inexplicable feeling he should stay to help

1887:

Nicky and Joe save a young person in Zanzibar, presumably the victim of a hate crime

1904:

The Guard prevent a coup in Haiti

1914-18:

The Guard fight in The Great War. Joe saves a little girl who becomes the youngest Nobel Laureate in Medicine. Andy fights in the Gallipoli campaign and in France

1916:

Andy saves a refugee family in Montenegro, one of whom goes on to develop early diabetes detection.

1917:

Andy takes part in a battle in Passchedaele, Belgium, and adopts an orphaned boy, Zeus

1932, November:

Joe and Nicky go to a bar in Berlin, run into the person they saved in Zanzibar, and punch a Nazi.

1944:

Andy is involved in the French Resistance in WWII

1945, August:

The Guard prevent a third atomic bomb

1950:

Andy and Yitzhak eat a meal made for them by Zeus somewhere not in the US

1956-59:

Joe, Nicky, and Booker are spotted helping the Cuban Revolution

1968:

Nicky and Andy appear at MLK speeches separately. Joe and Nicky rescue a man from a cave (poss. Onyx Cave, AZ in Oct. or Gory Hole, IN in Nov. -US cave incidents are very well recorded)

1969, July:

The Guard take down a pedophilic serial killer in Minnesota (possibly based on Stanley Rice). Nicky and Booker stay to track down everyone who knowingly let the killer go free. Joe and Andy head on to San Francisco to watch the moon landing at a bar.

1975, April:

Andy helps in Operation Babylift in Vietnam

late 1970's:

Andy lands in Cleveland, not knowing where she is after a job. Coincidentally, she cleans herself up in a restaurant owned by Zeus, who she hadn't seen in decades.

1978:

Booker gets captured by a cult of murder- and sex-obsessed nuns in NYC. Three months later Andy rescues a reluctant Booker from the nuns' compound in Guyana

1989:

Andy helps people escape East Germany

1992:

Booker serves as a combat medic in Sarajevo. Nicky attends university under the name N Smith (likely a graduate school given the wording of the ID. My guess, either for medicine or computer science, both of which were rapidly evolving at the time)

1994:

Nile Freeman born, South Side of Chicago, IL

2000s:

The Guard rescue children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They are also linked to the US 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan.

2005:

Nile's dad killed in action on the ground as a Marine

2012:

The Guard take a CIA assignment in Surabaya, Indonesia, with Copley and Booker as the point persons

2013:

Andy goes by the alias Alexandra Black in the Czech Republic

2014:

Joe goes by the alias Joseph Jones in Germany. The Guard is seen in Syria near an USAF F-22 bombing site.

2019:

Andy takes a break to travel. Joe and Nicky travel to Eastern Turkey. Booker is contacted by Copley on behalf of Merrick Industries.

2020:

Nile dies for the first time in Afghanistan at the hands of an enemy insurgent. Official record has her killed in action. The events of the movie (aka comics Opening Fire 1-5). Booker returns to Paris in his exile, where he is contacted by Quynh.

[deiaiko]

Happy two-year anniversary!

Masterlist

[incorrecttowerofgodquotes]

WHAT DID SIU MEAN BY THIS

[non-un-topo]

Axis | bluetigerlilies

Fandom: The Old Guard (Movie 2020)

Rating: M

Words: 29,671

Relationships: Joe | Yusuf Al-Kaysani/Nicky | Nicolò di Genova, Andy | Andromache of Scythia & Joe | Yusuf Al-Kaysani & Nicky | Nicolò di Genova, Nicky | Nicolò di Genova & Quynh | Noriko

Tags: Canon-Typical Violence, POV Nicky | Nicolò di Genova, Team as Family, Flashbacks, Memories, Tense Switching, it's deliberate don't worry, Post-iron maiden, Animal Death, Grief/Mourning, Liminal Space, Mythology References, Mild Sexual Content, Angst, Catharsis, Horror, Nicky + horror. So nice I did it thrice., Pathetic fallacy

Summary:

Andromache whispers into the silence, “You don’t remember, do you?” Nicolò is still looking at Yusuf as his mind begins to take him back. It’s the feelings first. The shift in gravity, then the all-encompassing bitter cold. No deck beneath his feet, no tether to hold. A great nothingness for eternity. He flexes his toes against the wood floor. Solid, still, stagnant. “No,” he says.

--

Decades into their relentless search for Quỳnh and shortly following a disastrous event that threatened their numbers, Andromache, Nicolò, and Yusuf rest in Iceland where the seasons seem to be moving backwards and forwards at once.

[acourtofquestions]

“Jewelry fit for a queen —

for a Queen of Assassins.”

— Nesryn Faliq (in reference to Aelin Galathynius) in Chapter 2 of Tower of Dawn

“The girl wore her scars the way some women wore their finest jewlery.”

— Throne of Glass

[folkorae]

My goal for this week is finish crown of midnight so that i can put the throne of glass series on pause (again) because hype fixation is a bitch and i am back in my kingdom hearts bullshit.

Edit: or i can just pause everything that i am currently reading because honestly kh novels are the things i want to read now 😭

[huntressfeyre]

i love the throne of glass series and it won’t ever change and I’m going through my “I bought the new editions re-read” and with one thing I disagree completely is the timeline I’m sorry but by kingdom of ash there is no way only over a year has passed there’s no fucking way there’s so many references throughout the series that x took several weeks or x took several months SO NO I DON’T AGREE THE SERIES SPANS A BIT OVER A YEAR OKAY

[modernmutiny]

I uh. might be currently writing an immortals au of taz balance à la The Old Guard bc clearly I've lost control of my life lol

[aueternus]

@f1ameheir aelin & dorian starter

They hadn't spoken properly ——— a couple of sentences exchanged between them at the most. It was a given; a war was raging, territories across the continent were in disarray, and Dorian... he was now the exiled king of his own empire. So many things had transpired in such a short span that any time to talk was near impossible. Hells, neither of them had been in the same room for over six months. Aelin was whisked away to the southern continent for her protection, and Dorian had been discovering the extent of his abilities, to control them.

As the memories of Sorcha bleed into his renowned mind, the whimpered apologies and the thud of her head connecting with the ground, the Havilliard heir is quick to suppress them before the emotions arise ——— he would not torment himself with that. Blue eyes flicker across to the assassin, arms crossed over his chest. “ ...You're different. ” Not a critic, merely an observation. Something snapped in Aelin upon seeing the mangled corpse of the Eyllwe princess, much similar to Dorian's own repressed grief with having to watch the execution of his lover. Now? She held her chin higher, authentic confidence in every stride.

“ I'd hoped you'd find some peace, some closure there. I just didn't expect to see a long lost queen return. I was expecting the foul-mouthed assassin I met all that time. ” The corners of his lips twitch briefly ——— the change wasn't terrible by any means; hope of gaining freedom and prosperity had been re-established across the continent. Then again, both of them had changed. Dorian was still figuring out if his change of self was for the better or the worse.

[i-hate-peas]

The Old Guard Fic Recs

So I've been a long time lurker within the fandom without ever getting particularly involved, but I wanted to show some appreciation for some of the super talented people who go here, because I have read a lot of incredible TOG fic.

Most (probably all) of these authors have loads of other amazing fics, but I've tried to just chose one from each, to keep the list a vaguely reasonable length. Although then I cheated and did some honourable mentions.

** just a note to say I started this list year (s) ago and forgot about it until literally today when I saw fic recs going round. Any of these fics I haven’t put a description for it’s because I didn’t do it at the time, and if I go back to reread them all this would never be posted, not through any lack of affection or enjoyment **

If any writers want tagging/ untagging etc please let me know! (i knew/ could find some blogs more easily than others lol)

Within Canon

Old Olives by aeli_kindara

Garden of Gethsemane mention = instant tears

Death in Her Hands by superblackmarket

Nile's growing relationship with Joe and Nicky. All of their fics are so beautifully written, but I especially love Nile's relationship with the boys and her facing her own immortality.

Honourable mention: Station to Station

Between the Hour and the Age by hauntedjaeger (@hauntedfalcon)

Andy! Nile!

Ouroboros by CypressSunn (@cypresssunns)

Set after the film, literally just read it.

compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience by Jack_R

A pair of early days Joe Nicky fics that reminds me of 'my wife is a bitch and i love her so much'

let's give them something to talk about by lacecat

When The Cherries White With Blossoms, Be Ready & Be Brave by chapstickaddict

Unearthed by merle_p

I think this is one of the most kudosed fics in the AO3 tag, but it deserves the hype!

Kidnapping for Dummies by Amiril

Similar to above, already very popular, but great and very funny!

The Last Man on Earth by Survivah (@optimismology)

I will admit I don't normally go for Booker/Nile, but this fic sold it to me. Looking at them and their developing relationship as the newer immortals.

Canon Divergent

Retrograde by Pinkninja

I mean this fic is the Big Bitch of the fandom for me, if you haven't already read this, where have you been? But also if you haven't already read this I am so jealous, read it and take your time with it and bawl your eyes out over it and appreciate the joy of reading it for the first time. The level of detail and planning in this fic is indescribable. It follows Nicky trapped in a Time Travellers Wife style life where he jumps back and forth throughout his own timeline, whilst Joe lives his life in chronological order. Exquisitely written.

If Never Again, If Every Day by gallifreyburning and takiki16 (@gallifreyburning, @takiki16)

Another absolute Titan of the genre. I know you’ve already been recommended this 500 times, what more can I say.

though I'm dying to (fall in love with you) by yusufsmoon (@babygirlyusuf)

Travellers from an Antique Land by kaydeefalls (@kaydeefalls)

Andy, not Quỳnh, trapped under the sea. I love all their fics.

AUs

Makes Me Want You More by Sixthlight (@sixth-light)

Perhaps not the typical favourite choice from Sixthlight, one of my absolute favourite TOG authors, but one that is funny and lovely and sweet that I keep coming back to. Shorter than many of theirs but perfectly formed.

pumpkin gnocci verse (series) by Liadan14 (@bewires)

I mean it's got estranged family, suspenseful chronological structure, cooking, spies, intimate and honest sex scenes, hilarious misunderstandings involving keeping halal, lovely found family moments, and the actual recipes used. What more do you want.

The Reality of Everything by Marbletopempire

One of the fics I desperately waited for each instalment for. Very funny, lots of sexual tension, plenty of Cate Blanchette spotting opportunities.

sine qua non by mellyflori (@werebearbearbar)

One of the first of their fics I read, with a very sweet build up of misunderstanding to friends to lovers, involving growing up, discovering sexuality, trying to be nice about your best friend's bad boyfriend, and a long suffering sofa.

The Brooklyn Verse (series) by GayLittleEarring, yusufsmoon, nicelytousled (@marwankenzarisgaylittleearring @babygirlyusuf @nicelytousled)

I saw the creation of this on Tumblr before it was a fic, and it lived up to every expectation. Very sweet and sincere, with lots of great discussions about art, whilst also very funny (Lamp the free loader, Joe sending thirst traps out of irritation) and hot. ItalianAmericanNickyfromBrooklyn and Joe my beloveds.

a good (eighth) impression by deaniker

I love a good hook-up to 'oh shit I have feelings' fic, and this is even more entertaining because Nicky is Lykon's ex, and Joe has very much seen him at his worst.

You do not have to be good by emjee (MerryHeart) (@emjee)

At one point a tumblr post about Joe the Professor and Nicky the Priest got very popular, and I'm not sure if this fic was inspired by that, but is one of the great fics with similar concepts. Such a lovely, gentle fic about love and also identity, featuring also Nile and a very sweet snail.

it's such an almighty sound (series) by raedear (@raedear)

A secret service AU that goes full enemies to lovers, with lots of tension, plotting, betrayal, frustration, and tenderness.

Honourable mention: take my hand (you got me rockin' and rollin')

fight 'til the day that i die 'verse by incurableromancer

Suspenseful, noir, super hero AU that has such a great writing style and is very atmospheric.

if you do take a thief by knoepfchen (@knoepfchen)

Cluedo style AU with lots of fun twists and slow building of backstories, with the whole gang.

Honourable mention: life is not the things that we do (it's who we're doing them with)

[acourtofquestions]

Chapter 55 of Tower of Dawn😭

[5five5five5five5five5five]

Bored take some Viktor five content:

* five and Viktor end up being roommates due to everyone else not having the strong tolerance to handle his ass. Viktor doesn't either but they wanted to go back to the start and rebuild a dynamic after all the chaos and drama.

* they end up getting really close. It's easier for Viktor to listen to five talk about his past now that they have experienced all sorts of weird shit and five is less bitter about viktor's new found independence and choices now that the world is saved.

* I hc that five has trouble using Viktor's preferred name and five HATES IT. It's not to be disrespectful or not understanding gender, he's all cool and very respectful. It's that when you have truama as deep rooted as his, calling out his siblings names on a daily basis in a lonely ruined world for 40 years. Carrying around viktor's book as a lifeline to stay close to him....it's just not something your brain can let go. he wants to let it go, he feels like a ass everytime he slips and apologizes like 3 times even when Viktor said it's ok. his truama CLINGs to viktor's dead name like his life depends on it. He does get better at it as they start live together and it was a 1/9 chance anyway so Viktor wasn't too bugged by it and understood that it's not meant to be disrespectful. Trauma's a bitch. They both get that.

* they take turns making lunch and dinners. Breakfast is always coffee and peanut butter and marshmallow sandwiches.

* Five starts collecting vintage cook books because he's had food from other timelines that aren't as popular anymore and wishes to make them.

* Viktor LOVES Chappell Roan. Five is unimpressed but likes watching Viktor just jam out well doing chores or studying.

*Viktor would drag five to a lot of queer centric events and five would feel out of place at first like "I'm your 60 year old straight cisgendered brother that looks 15. I don't fit in and I don't think that drag show bouncer is going to be as lenient as that strip club in the 60's...long story." But over time, five actually starts to enjoy himself. And maybe learning his gender and sexuality along the way (I don't have strong opinions on that yet. All ik is he's such a fruit and has no idea /pos. When Viktor and Klaus are your favorite siblings....ask yourself whyyy)

* they host small dinners with a handful of siblings at a time. They can't host all of them at once due to their apartment size (it would be a disaster) but sometimes Diego, Lila and the kids come over. Or just Luther with fast food well he was walking home. I think the biggest group would be brother nights (sorry Allison....i feel so bad for her lmao I think her and Lila hang out on those nights. )

* five and Viktor realized that giving the other puppy eyes breaks the other easily. I think both have trouble saying no to the other due to feeling bad about how much they fought and were butting heads throughout Dallas and the hotel. Five doesn't want to let his bs behavior under "gotta save the world" distress linger between them. And Viktor doesn't either, he also misses his brother and just wants to see him happy and relaxed for once.

*that doesn't mean they don't fight. They bicker consistently about such basic things . From where the remote is to when the other will be home to the past. They don't don't do a good job at not throwing the past in each others face......but they useally settle down.

*Viktor LOVES to try and use therapy talk with five, who hates it at first. But overtime, I think after a very strong breakthrough in his issues and realizing how much not being under survival adrenaline is effecting him, he becomes more accepting of it. And it's helped their fighting and understanding each other a lot.

* I feel like they get rather touchy together over time. Fixing each others hair, leaning on the other well sitting on the sofa, etc

*five has to tie viktor's ties ALL THE TIME.

*(tw drugs) I feel like they have "rekindling our Lost teen years together" nights where they get high (they only take edibles bc neither like smoking) and watch all the cartoons five has missed. Wear comfy clothes. Talk about nothing. They try to make it a point to talk about anything BUT family and the past. Witch helps them grow closer.

*five wants bees. They have no room. Five is very sad. Viktor hopes they one day get a bigger place to have bees.

* five gets a emotional support animal with viktor's help. mr.pennycrumb! They do all the training and five loves that boy with his life. He really helps him with episodes and panics.

* Viktor ends up helping five with rather basic things. Again, no more survival adrenaline to make him speed learn everything all the time. He can afford to be confused and frustrated. "Egh How does the tv remote work again?" "The pepper grinder has stopped wo- oh the other direction..." Five starts to feel rather useless but Viktor likes helping. five bitterly jokes at Viktor being either his elderly care nurse or babysitter. Viktor reassures him it's not like that and they are just brothers and he needs help.

* Viktor gets into the habit of calling five "bud" as a loving brother pet name.

I've ran out of brain fuel. I could go on for hours about them though.

(PRO SHIPS DNI THIS IS ALL PLATONIC)

[delicateperspective]

Lyrical Analysis of "Keep Driving"

I won’t lie, this is the one I have been the most excited yet the most terrified to do. It’s one of my favorite songs on Harry’s House—both for its creative artistry and for its loudness. Keep Driving is more than just a song; it’s a collection of snapshots, a stream-of-consciousness look at a relationship that is both deeply intimate and quietly fragile. At first listen, it feels like a list of disconnected images, but when you start piecing them together, a story emerges—one of love, nostalgia, longing, and the quiet fear that it could all fall apart.

For many listeners, this song feels random—a collection of phrases that don’t seem to connect. But when viewed through the lens of Harry’s history, especially his connection to Louis, the pieces start to fall into place. The references are oddly specific, and some of them are so pointedly linked to Louis that it raises the question:

Did Harry want us to know exactly who this was about?

He knows his lyrics will be dissected—why include such obvious clues?

Are we just finding connections that don’t exist, or is this song a carefully constructed puzzle for those paying attention?

And if so many of these lines can be explained with public-facing knowledge, is it possible that the others have meanings we just haven’t pieced together yet?

At a certain point, the number of connections starts to feel less like coincidence and more like intent. And with that in mind, let’s dive in.

If we analyze Harry’s House in reverse order, each song builds on the next, forming an emotional arc:

"Love of My Life" – Harry reflects on a love that changed everything for him. He lost it, but now has it again. This signals a reconciliation.

"Boyfriends" – He acknowledges that the relationship isn’t perfect. They’ve both made mistakes, but they always find their way back to each other.

"Satellite" – He’s finally ready to fully commit, but his partner isn’t quite ready to choose him publicly, completely. He’s waiting.

And now, we arrive at "Keep Driving."

This song is what happens after they’re back together. It’s domestic, fluffy, and filled with tiny moments that make up their life as a pair. But beneath the surface, there’s an unease, a tension—the recognition that things aren’t perfect, that there are problems lurking in the background, but instead of addressing them, they choose to just keep driving.

It’s not just about relationship struggles, though. There’s also a sense of blocking out the outside world. The world is chaotic, overwhelming, and sometimes the only thing you can do is shut it out and focus on the person you love.

Lyric Breakdown and Analysis

Black and white film camera

Harry has been into photography for years. He’s been seen using film cameras consistently, and black-and-white photography aligns with his nostalgic, artistic aesthetic. This is an image of capturing a moment, freezing time—an attempt to make something last forever.

Yellow sunglasses

In September 2019, Harry was seen wearing a very distinctive pair of yellow sunglasses. Given the timeline of when this song was written, it’s reasonable to assume this is a reference to those.

Ashtray, swimming pool

Harry doesn’t smoke, but Louis does. This line paints an image of their domestic life—possibly suggesting that Harry makes Louis smoke outside by the pool 😆

Hot Wax, jump off the roof

This is especially interesting because the official lyrics capitalize both "Hot" and "Wax," suggesting it’s not about literal candle wax but a proper noun—something specific. HotWax is a band that released singles like "Stay Cool" , "Pat the Killer Cat", and "Baked Beans" —all around the time this song was written.

Later, HotWax opened for Louis’ Away From Home Festival in 2023.

Harry and Louis both seem to have taken an interest in this band, making this a subtle but meaningful connection.

A small concern with how the engine sounds

This is a metaphor for the relationship. The car = their love, their journey together. The engine making a weird noise suggests that something feels off, but it’s "just a small concern"—one they don’t want to dwell on.

We held darkness in withheld clouds

This is one of the most poetic lines in the song. "Held darkness" – They’ve been through pain, struggles, secrets. "Withheld clouds" – They’re keeping it back, not talking about it, holding back the storm. Instead of addressing what’s wrong, they’re choosing to suppress it—at least for now. They’re holding off all of the internal and external issues facing them so they can enjoy this moment.

I would ask, 'Should we just keep driving?'

This is the central question of the song. Do we stop and deal with everything? Or do we just keep going, keep pretending everything is fine, keep holding onto what we have for as long as we can?

Maple syrup, coffee Pancakes for two Hash brown, egg yolk I will always love you

This section is absolutely packed with meaning. Harry and Louis’ love for pancakes and maple syrup has been well-documented since the early One Direction days.

January 2011: Tweet from the official 1D account: "Hey everyone, me and Harry have just had pancakes and maple syrup for breakfast. Great way to start the day! Miss you all! Louis and Harry x"

February 2012: Louis tweets: "Question is... Are they gonna serve pancakes at the Brits??"

Louis has celebrated National Pancake Day multiple times (2013, 2016, 2018).

One Direction Carpool Karaoke: In the aired version of the segment, we see Louis ordering food—a sausage McMuffin with egg, two hashbrowns, and a chocolate milkshake—while Harry only orders an iced tea. But in cut footage, Harry is later seen chewing while holding a hashbrown wrapper and drinking out of Louis’ chocolate shake. So, what does this mean? The implication is adorably domestic—Louis ordered for both of them, and they shared their food. It wasn’t even a big deal, just something natural between them. Now, let’s be real—why was this scene cut? Ben Winston (who directed the segment) has a history of editing out moments between Harry and Louis that could be seen as too "intimate" or "suggestive". If you were trying to minimize speculation about their relationship, this is exactly the kind of casual, boyfriend-coded moment you’d want to remove. It’s not about what they’re doing—it’s about how natural it looks. They don’t even think twice about sharing food, and that’s something couples do.

This isn’t just about food—it’s about history, shared memories, small moments of love that add up over time. The final line, "I will always love you," is the most direct expression of love in HIS ENTIRE DISCOGRAPHY.

Passports in footwells

This immediately evokes the idea of traveling—whether by car or airplane. "Footwell" refers to the floorboard of a vehicle, meaning the image here is of passports casually tossed on the floor—perhaps from frequent travel, perhaps from rushing to leave.

But Harry’s most infamous “passport” moment ties back to his relationship with Taylor Swift—or rather, the stunt that was his relationship with Taylor Swift. On New Year’s Eve 2012, Harry was set to meet Taylor in NYC to ring in the new year. However, he "lost" his passport and was delayed getting there. Many fans believe this was intentional, a way to avoid the highly publicized (and later mocked) NYE kiss he was expected to have with Taylor on national television. When he did arrive, his body language was stiff and unenthusiastic, and the entire interaction felt awkward and forced. If this line is referring to that moment, it could be Harry subtly referencing the absolute mess of PR relationships, travel schedules, and forced narratives that dictated so much of his public life at the time.

Kiss her and don't tells

This line immediately follows the passport reference, which makes it even more likely that it’s about stunts and forced public relationships. "Kiss her" could refer to being told to perform affection for the cameras, particularly with Taylor Swift, Kendall Jenner, or other PR pairings over the years. "Don't tells" sounds very much like a play on "don't ask, don't tell", which could be a nod to secrecy, suppression, and the unspoken rules of the industry. Essentially, this could be about being told to kiss a woman for the press while simultaneously having to hide the truth about his real relationship.

Wine glass

Probably red 😜 Considering Louis’ red wine and ginger ale (I'll add the proof that that is what he drinks on my Little Freak analysis), referenced explicitly in Little Freak and the song Grapejuice where Harry sings about drinking “something old and red.” Essentially, red wine has been a recurring symbol in this album.

Puff pass

This is a direct reference to weed, a phrase commonly used when sharing a joint. Louis was caught on video smoking weed with Zayn back in the 1D days, and he has been open about his use of it since then. Harry, however, has never explicitly admitted to smoking, but there’s plenty of evidence that he’s familiar with it—most notably, a clip where he smells a fan’s weed from the stage and gives her a thumbs-up.

CUTE NOTE: Louis’ song "Silver Tongues" contains the lyrics: "You said grass was a dirty drug, you like to preach with the vodka in your mug." Which sounds very much like "wine glass, puff pass". This could easily be playful banter, hinting at conversations they’ve had about weed vs. alcohol.

Tea with cyborgs

This feels like one of the more obvious lines that One Direction fans would recognize—yet its inclusion in a deeply personal love song would be strange if it wasn’t about a member of the band.

Most likely, this is a reference to the One Direction “Drag Me Down” music video, where Harry is explicitly shown drinking tea with robots at NASA. The behind-the-scenes footage confirms it was tea, making this a direct and intentional reference.

Beyond the surface-level connection, this ties back to another song on Harry’s House—"Satellite", for which the music video was filmed at the same NASA facility. If you’re listening to the album in order, this reference foreshadows the next song, but if you’re following our reverse-album theory, it builds on the themes we've already seen.

The phrase “tea with cyborgs” also plays with the idea of something ordinary (drinking tea) clashing with something unnatural (robots, space, the artificiality of public personas). In the context of Keep Driving, it could symbolize the strangeness of their reality—where normal moments of intimacy exist alongside the surreal, highly publicized world they had to navigate.

Riot America, science and edibles

This line is a perfect example of how Harry juxtaposes the chaos of the outside world with private, intimate moments of escape.

"Riot America" probably refers to the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, which erupted across the U.S. following the murder of George Floyd. Harry himself participated in the protests in Los Angeles, marching alongside others, holding up a Black Lives Matter sign, and later publicly donating to bail funds for arrested protesters. The inclusion of this reference shows that the weight of the world is very much present in the song—it’s not just about personal struggles, but the larger political and social issues surrounding them.

"Science and edibles" then immediately follows, shifting from something heavy and serious to something light and personal. It could reference deep conversations they’ve had about life, the universe, and everything in between—topics that Harry, in particular, has always been fascinated by (he’s spoken about his love for physics and space multiple times). "Edibles" suggests a moment of relaxation, perhaps a way of escaping from the intensity of everything happening around them.

This contrast—protests and politics vs. science and weed—reflects the theme of Keep Driving: blocking out the noise and focusing on the person next to you, even as the world outside feels like it’s on fire.

Life hacks going viral in the bathroom

This line likely references @/onlyjayus, a TikTok creator who became insanely popular during quarantine for sharing life hacks from their bathroom mirror. Many of these hacks were psychologically based, which is interesting because Louis has expressed a strong interest in psychology in various interviews.

In my mind, I love to picture Harry finding these videos on TikTok and showing them to Louis during their quiet, alone moments—because he knows Louis would enjoy them (but refuses to use Tiktok). It’s a small, intimate detail that adds to the song’s theme of private moments shared between two people.

Cocaine, side boob Choke her with a sea view

This is one of the most open-to-interpretation lines, but what’s clear is that it evokes a very specific LA, party-culture aesthetic—one of excess, indulgence, and luxury. Cocaine is often associated with Hollywood, wealth, and the high-profile party scene, which Harry has been adjacent to for years. This isn’t the first time he’s referenced cocaine on this album (Daylight: “You were just doing cocaine in my kitchen, you never listen”), suggesting that drug culture was present in his environment. Whether this line is about personal experience or simply an observation, it contributes to the hedonistic, reckless energy of this part of the song.

"Side boob" is a very specific kind of sexual imagery—it’s not just about nudity, but about a glimpse of something, a partial view. In the context of an LA party scene, it could reference fashion trends (revealing dresses, casual sensuality) or the hyper-sexualized nature of Hollywood. Alternatively, if we apply the song’s larger themes, it could symbolize something (or someone) being seen, but only partially.

"Choke her with a sea view" is perhaps the most ambiguous line, and it can be interpreted in multiple ways:

A BDSM reference – Harry has occasionally played with themes of power dynamics and submission in his lyrics and performances. If this song is personal, this line could be an allusion to a sexual preference or private dynamic. With a seaview, of course, referencing that this act is done in LA.

A metaphor for excess and suffocation – The imagery of choking juxtaposed with a sea view (something peaceful, luxurious, and desirable) could symbolize feeling overwhelmed despite being surrounded by beauty and privilege.

A commentary on LA culture – The idea of having everything—stunning views, wealth, luxury—but still feeling trapped or consumed by the lifestyle fits with the broader themes of escapism vs. reality in Harry’s House.

Toothache, bad move, just act normal

At first glance, "toothache" might seem completely random, but it actually lines up perfectly with a public event in Louis' life. In March 2021, Louis tweeted: "Hope everyone is alright! Had my wisdom teeth taken out recently, ruthless stuff! I'll be on in a few days, Sending you all love."

The timing aligns with when Harry’s House was being written and recorded, making it very possible that this small, seemingly insignificant detail stuck with Harry enough to include it.

Then comes "bad move, just act normal." "Bad move" could refer to the pain or regret of getting his wisdom teeth out, but in the broader context of the song, it likely represents a larger mistake—something personal, perhaps even within their relationship. "Just act normal" is particularly interesting because it echoes a recurring theme in their history: pretending everything is fine, keeping up appearances, suppressing emotions. Whether it’s about stunts, PR relationships, or simply navigating their personal struggles in the public eye, this line suggests that instead of addressing things, the go-to response is to stay quiet, keep moving, and act like nothing’s wrong.

Moka pot Monday, it's all good

"Moka pot Monday"—a completely ordinary day, where they buy a moka pot and make coffee. "It's all good"—a moment of simple joy amidst all the noise. This contrast is so intentional—Harry is showing that, yes, there’s pain, mistakes, and the constant need to suppress emotions… but then there’s just a quiet Monday where they get a moka pot, and for a moment, everything feels okay. It perfectly encapsulates the theme of Keep Driving: the world is messy, the past is complicated, but instead of dwelling on it, they focus on the small, beautiful moments that make it all worth it.

Final Thoughts

"Keep Driving" is one of the most intimate and revealing tracks on Harry’s House. It doesn’t tell a linear story—instead, it feels like flipping through a scrapbook of memories, a mix of everyday moments and lingering anxieties. At its core, the song is about love, domesticity, and escapism—but not just in a romanticized way. There’s a deliberate tension woven throughout the lyrics, a sense that things aren’t perfect, but instead of stopping to fix them, they choose to keep going.

Harry has spent his solo career carefully navigating his public image, giving just enough for people to speculate but never confirming anything outright. But Keep Driving feels different—like a song written for someone who already knows exactly what it means. Harry is not subtle in this song. While much of his music is poetic and open to interpretation, Keep Driving is filled with strikingly specific details that seem impossible to ignore.

Beyond just Harry’s personal story, Keep Driving speaks to a universal experience—the feeling of wanting to block out the chaos of the world and just focus on someone you love. The juxtaposition of political turmoil ("Riot America") with quiet, intimate moments ("Moka pot Monday") mirrors the way people cope with uncertainty. The world is falling apart, but maybe if you just keep driving, keep moving forward, keep focusing on the small joys, it’ll be okay.

That’s why this song resonates so deeply—it isn’t just about who it’s about, but what it’s about: Love that persists despite challenges, Avoiding confrontation, choosing escapism instead, Finding comfort in small, mundane moments.

Keep Driving is a song that looks simple on the surface but becomes more profound the deeper you dig. It’s a love song, yes, but it’s also a song about choosing to keep going, even when things aren’t perfect. For Harry, it might be his way of documenting a love that has spanned years, survived hardships, and still exists in quiet moments like pancakes for two and moka pot Mondays. For listeners, it’s a reminder that sometimes, you don’t have to have all the answers. Sometimes, you just keep driving.

[emilystheories]

Breaking SJM news: a completely new series is (likely) on the way !!

Last night, I came across a veryyyy interesting YouTube video posted by Bloomsbury 4 weeks ago. Although the video was mostly super boring (talking numbers and finances), towards the end, we get this little nugget of information...

[Bloomsbury staff member]: "Regarding the timeline and future Sarah J Maas book releases, which are obviously very important to us... so her next title, which is the third in her Crescent City series, comes out on the 30th of January, 2024. So, that will fall into this financial year."

[Bloomsbury staff member]: "And thereafter, we have SIX further contracted titles -- so continuing this series, and STARTING A NEW SERIES AS WELL."

A new series! This likely goes hand-in-hand with the announcement made by Bloomsbury a couple of months prior, in which they stated that 4 additional SJM books were on the way (but curiously, no further details about these books were given...)

Although we don't know for sure, this is my guess as to what these 6 future SJM books are:

2 x ACOTAR books.

Then the 4 remaining, newly contracted books; the first being the final Crescent City book, House of Many Waters.

Leaving 3 x books for the new series (which makes perfect sense, as when starting a new series, SJM is always contracted for 3 books initially).

The question remains as to what exactly this new series may be. Which leads me to... Twilight of the Gods.

[SJM universe spoilers ahead!]

Back in 2015, SJM started a Pinterest board for 2 new book series that were connected in some way; one was Crescent City, and the other was called Twilight of the Gods. 

On her Twitter, SJM also mentioned that she had been working on both for quite a while, and that it was soon time to release them into the world.

Around the same time, a series called 'Twilight of the Gods' was mysteriously added to SJM's official Goodreads catalogue.

'Twilight of the Gods' is another term for Ragnarok; a famed tale of Norse mythology where the Gods and giants/demons across all worlds joined together to fight a giant battle that signified the end of the world.

Thus, I believe that 'Twilight of the Gods' is SJM's next series; it will be a Ragnarok retelling, and all of the characters from TOG, ACOTAR and CC will join together for a cataclysmic battle against the Asteri, the Daglan, and the Valg (because lets not forget that Orcus and Mantyx are still unaccounted for...).

With this in mind, consider the numerous references to Norse mythology that SJM has already scattered throughout her books:

Feyre as Freya: Freya was perhaps one of the most renowned Norse goddesses, and was Queen.

Nesta, Emerie and Gwyn as the Valkyries: An obvious one, but the Valkyries originated from, and had a huge part to play in Norse Mythology (Ragnarok especially).

Lucien as Loki: According to Norse mythology, Loki is often depicted with long, red hair. He is also seen as a God of fire, and is commonly associated with foxes.

Danika (Fendyr) and Fenrys as Fenrir: Fenrir was a renowned monstrous wolf of Norse mythology. Fenrir being 'unleashed' is one of the key events of Ragnarok.

Hunt as Thor ('Thurr'): During Ragnarok, Thor has a famous battle against the 'Midgard Serpent.' Consider the snake that Hunt is holding on the cover of HOSAB. 

Midgard: is the 'Earth' world in Norse mythology.

Hel (spelt the same way): Is the 'underworld' of Norse mythology.

Further, if you looked at SJM's "Twilight of the Gods" Pinterest board - before it was deleted - you'd see countless images of (Lady?) Thor, the Valkyries, Sailor Moon, and even the coffin that Maeve locked Aelin in... (that can't be a coincidence, right..?!) Some examples below:

'Twilight' is also another word for 'Dusk'; considering the lost Dusk Court, and 'Dusk's Truth' (both of which are the centre of the upcoming crossover and broader multiversal narrative...) it matches up perfectly.

Thus, I believe that the remaining ACOTAR and CC books will continue to add to the multiverse, bit by bit. And whilst they can still be read in a standalone fashion, my guess is that they will build up to a grand finale (perhaps the very last ACOTAR book will end with Aelin walking through a portal...?) and then Twilight of the Gods will begin.

If you thought Kingdom of Ash was epic... then Twilight of the Gods -- if correct -- is bound to blow us away (and, it might even put SJM's name in the history books).

[anarchiii]

Worlds apart-11 —ACOTAR x TOG AU

Part Eleven | warnings: angst, violence and mentions of blood!! | Azriel x Celaena Sardothien

Summary; Pain and suffering one after the other, Azriel decides that maybe he’s not meant for this world, but maybe he is meant for another…

Note: this is an AU it’s not in the books.

Masterlist / Series Masterlist

Azriel’s POV

“So let me get this straight; you fell through a mysterious portal that made you teleport into an entirely different universe and then met a human woman and fell in love with her, who ended up helping you get home but not before you kissed her and she got caught?” Rhys hissed, he tried not to bristle at the tone, when he said it like that, it did sound a little crazy, apparently, he had been gone for weeks, so that meant Erelia and Prythian’s timeline ran at the same time. Which wasn’t that helpful.

When Amren had heard of the news, her eyes had glowed a unearthly silver and she had practically dragged him to her apartment before his brothers showed up, “yes,” he answered back, Cassian had snickered as he had heard the story. Completely baffled that he had fallen for a human of all things. Stating, ‘at this point you might aswell have married Kochei’ he hadn’t bothered to correct that his mate was once human and that he suspected Celaena was not such a thing, not if that pre-natural way she walked had anything to do with it, the way she held herself, he had seen Fae here spend centuries trying to master that grace and still didn’t have it, even he was still learning.

It was one of the first things he had noticed about her, not counting her gorgeous form that sometimes glowed like the first signs of dawn, like the queen of sun, or fire.

“Hush, boy,” Amren snapped at their High Lord before turning to him, her stare piercing his very soul, “what did you call the things your woman wrote, Wrydmarks? Do you remember what they looked like?” She questioned, he shook his head in response. She tutted. Looking very disappointed.

“Well, in that case, perhaps we should visit Helion’s great library and search for some books, maybe if you see the Marks you will remember them,” he had never heard her sound so nice and understanding, it unsettled him, she clearly wanted something desperately enough that she would take such a tone.

Rhys frowned, clearly not pleased at Amren taking the lead, it seemed he still wasn’t used to that, “anyway,” Cassian started, turning mischievous eyes to him, “how hot was she? Like hot, hot, or just hot?” He questioned, how the hell was he supposed to answer that? He winced, everyone in the room was scowling at the Illyrian warrior, “no comment.” He choked out before walking out of the apartment. He didn’t wait for anyone before shooting up into the sky.

He loved his brother dearly but he wasn’t in the mood right now, he had to get his heart back, even if it took all his immortal years to do it, even if Celaena might be nothing more than dust by then. Even so. His heart would remain hers forever more.

-

Celaena’s POV

“Stop whining, he’s not here anymore,” Celaena said simply, straightening the clasp that held her blood red cloak to her back, it’s golden wyvern shining in the late dusk sun, she looked at herself in the mirror, looking so familiar but so foreign, she didn’t wear what she wanted now. She always wore the tight black suit the King had gotten—similar to the one she had worn, gifted by Arobynn—though more knives and hidden mechanisms added.

She pulled up the mask so it covered half of her face, touching up the Kohl on her eyes, Fleetfoot whined again, clearly not listening to her mother, it pained her to see her dog so sad but there was nothing she could do, Azriel was gone. The golden furred pup would have to accept that fact one day or another. Even if she couldn’t quite accept it herself.

Celaena sighed, patting Fleetfoot’s head, once again, the dog would be left alone while she went out and killed for her enemy, the man that had slaughtered her family and then killed some more, would the bloodshed ever end? Or would he only stop when he had conquered everything, with his Champion by his side, she felt like she was taking off a set of shackles just to put another pair on, never to be free.

Strapping all her blades to her body, she tied up her boots and walked out the door, soon making her way through the streets of Rifthold, climbing up pipes and windowsills, she walked across the emerald roofs of the city, she found her target easily.

He stumbled down the alleyway, reeking of ale and smoke, his dirty blond hair strewn across his forehead, she could see the sweat beading down his brows from here, she landed on the ground quietly with the grace of a cat, staying close to the walls of buildings as she made her way closer and closer to the man, Celaena ignored the puddle she stepped in reeking of urine, this would be over soon enough.

The man stopped in his tracks, tensing slightly and looking around, she halted her breathing as she waited, he seemed to notice no sign of anyone as he kept moving, she watched his hand drift to the poorly hidden dagger at his side, it’s hilt plain and unremarkable for such a renowned Assassin.

Francis Denumóunt, a rising killer that had caught the attention of even Arobynn Hamel, though, for such a stealthy and ambitious Assassin, he had the alcohol tolerance of a child, and that would be his downfall.

Drawing her knife, she trailed right behind him, her un-earthly grace allowing her to remain dead-silent, in a matter of seconds. She pounced. A cat playing with a mouse, she swiped low and sliced the back of his thighs, causing the man to fall to the ground where the crunching of his face told her his nose was shattered, she didn’t hesitate as she planted the knife in his spine, a muffled groan of pain sounding from him, it was like a song to her, killing.

Like it was a symphony and she was the conductor, drawing melodies and notes of horror and suffering from the instruments that were her victims, she had never once doubted her Master when he had said she was destined for things far greater than the tiara that had once sat upon her small head, made for a throne too underwhelming for the queen that she was supposed to become, the princess of night. Lady of darkness.

The man stopped his protesting quickly, his body going limp, though a lake of ruby blood still growing, a part of her felt sympathy for the life so short lived, but she knew of the depraved things he had done and would’ve continued to do, she was a cold blooded killer but she wasn’t a monster, the stranger didn’t know it but she had saved her a life of misery, and that was the only way she would atone for what she did.

By killing every bad person until she was the only one left, alone once more as she always had been, even when her family had surrounded her, she had been alone, only a child, perhaps some part of her would always be a child. Forced to learn of the horrific things this damned world caused.

-

“Good job, Champion, see how good you are when you are not distracted by such things as friends and lovers?” The King said, though his voice eternally cold, his eyes had a hint of amusement in them, she hated him, she tapped her foot impatiently on the marble floor, ignoring the unnatural green light that was coming from the blazing fire across the room, Nothung was set on top of the fireplace like a trophy, no light dancing of the blade, as if it absorbed all of it.

“Before you go. . .” He continued, she looked back at him, showing no emotion besides that bored amusement, she knew he didn’t buy it but it was worth a shot, “there is a party in two weeks that I want you to attend, many of my court members are going and I suspect they are traitorous, I want you to find out what side that are on and bring them back to me if they turn out to be corrupt. There is already a dress picked out for you that is in your room. Though I suggest you get rid of that mutt, it’s quite a nuisance, that will be all,” and just like that, she was dismissed.

She ignored the questioning stares of the guards waiting outside the door, once, she knew most of their names, now, she had banished them from her memory, it would do her no good thinking about them. It would only get her killed.

A party, Celaena hadn’t been to one in so very long, she missed the rich laughter of the guests and the clinking of champagne glasses, the sound of the violinists playing their songs as the girls that would sit on swings and swing from balconies high above, squealing with each go, when she was younger, she used to wish she could be one of them. In their pretty dresses entertaining and amazing the people that came. Arobynn had made sure that dream didn’t last long.

Walking into her room she found the dress the King was talking about, it was plain black with a off-the-shoulder front and a strapless corset back, it was utterly scandalous, but what caught her eye the most was the the small diamonds covered the fabric that held the chest, there were matching black diamonds with crystals surrounding them, the earrings the same, she had to admit. The King had a good eye for fashion. No matter how hilarious that sounded, black slippers lay nearby, no details on them, no details were needed when the dress was the star.

A note lay on the garment, the handwriting on it unmistakably Dorian’s reading, ‘I hope you like it, I want all the women and men at the party to drop dead when they see you, including me.’ of course the King hadn’t gotten it for her, Dorian would be in so much trouble if his father found out he had done this. She couldn’t help but smile at the fact that hadn’t stopped him.

Fleetfoot practically jumped on her when she realised she was there, licking and sniffing everywhere she could, at least her dog was feeling better, she sighed, ruffling the fur on her head before undressing and getting under the covers of her bed, not caring that she was naked, there was no one sharing the outrageously large bed to gawk at her, no matter how hard she wished that it was not true. That she would wake up and immediately lock eyes with the gorgeous, whiskey eyed, onyx haired male that was the Shadowsinger. But perhaps that was the dream

The dog laid down next to her and soon fell asleep, she tried too aswell but found her thoughts kept wandering back to the male eternally cloaked in shadows, his heart of gold hidden away until someone worthy unveiled it. And that someone would not be her.

The End.

Note: these guyssss 😭🥺

-Taglist

@cynthiesjmxazrielslover

@shadowsingercassia

@aelincaddel

@azrielslittleslut

@yashiw

@snoopyspace

[silverlinedeyes]

The Fae at the Oasis and Timelines

This post is a long time coming…like since February 6 cc @wingedblooms lol, but for some reason I never got around to making it. Might as well make it now!

When I read HOFAS, I became convinced that the shifters in Midgard descend from the fae that Chaol and Yrene saw depicted at the tomb at the Oasis in Tower of Dawn (time stamped screenshot below for proof lol):

Here is how the fae that presumably came from Erilea are described in HOFAS when Bryce sees them in Silene’s vision:

“Tall, beautiful beings” from another world. Each capable of turning into an animal, with elongated canine teeth in their humanoid bodies.

Then we have what Chaol and Yrene see at the Oasis:

“Tall, broad-shouldered warriors” with pointed ears like the fae Bryce saw in the vision. Maybe I’m just being stupid thinking the “tall” description matters, but it just stood out to me and Sarah harkening back to this scene on purpose, and giving us a clue this is who those fae are.

We also know that the fae were at the Oasis during the first demon war, before Elena and Gavin were born:

According to this, the fae depicted at the Oasis settled there during the First War, before Elena and Gavin, and before Terrasen.

I know there has been a lot of talk about how ToG might be on another timeline from Crescent City and ACOTAR, and the events of ToG took place 15,000 years before the events of SJM’s two other series.

I think this disproves that. While it’s certainly possible ToG isn’t on the same exact timeline and might have occurred at some point before the events of CC and ACOTAR, I think that’s unlikely. Not only because Aelin sees Rhys and Feyre when she’s falling through worlds, which suggests she’s on the same timeline as them (unless she fell through space AND time), but also it would be odd for SJM to write two of her series on the same timeline and then the other 15,000 years beforehand so that story can never actually crossover with the other. (As I noted back in February:

Either way, I think the fae depicted at the Oasis lived 15,000 years before the events of ToG. We know Elena and Gavin fought Erawan 1,000 years before the events of ToG, and at that time, Brannon was decades from the fading. Which means he must have been alive for thousands of years at that point. We also know from KoA that the Western Gate of Orynth has stood there “thousands of years” and not been breached. So the fae came to the Oasis before that, since they came to the Oasis before Terrasen exists.

I think all of this together means that the shifters from Midgard came from the Southern Continent thousands and thousands of years before the events of ToG, but likely 15,000 years before the events of ToG.

And finally, I think the Under-King in CC was one of the Valg during the first demon war who snuck through the rift with the fae from the Southern Continent:

Maybe the Under-King was a valg spider, or a Valg soldier. But I think he was certainly a Valg who snuck through the Rift and began working for the Asteri when he got to Midgard.

I’m really excited to eventually see what SJM does with all of this and how she connects it, and I’m excited to see how she uses this to bring us back to the ToG world and tie it completely into the crossover as I know @wingedblooms and many others think will happen.