#unflappable mature king

[novaursa]

The Games We Play (simple things)

- Summary: The dragon catches Otto’s attention, and he decides to charm you.

- Paring: targ!reader/Otto Hightower

- Rating: Mature 16+

- Previous part: persevere

- Next part: adamant

- Tag(s): @sachaa-ff @alyssa-dayne @oxymakestheworldgoround

Otto was passing through the hall of the Red Keep when he spotted you at a window, looking out over the twinkling lights of King’s Landing below.

After a moment’s hesitation, he approached, clearing his throat softly. “Princess Y/N,” he greeted, his voice as smooth and collected as ever. “A fine evening, isn’t it?”

You turned to him, a slight smile playing on your lips. “It is, Lord Otto.”

He shifted his weight, almost awkwardly—a rare sight from the usually unflappable Otto Hightower. “I was wondering if… perhaps you might like to, ah… spend some time together this evening. Talk, perhaps?”

To his evident surprise, you considered his offer for a brief moment before nodding. “Alright, Otto.”

Otto blinked, clearly caught off guard. “You… you’d like to?”

You shrugged with a hint of amusement, glancing out the window. “Why not? The evening is young, and I could use a little distraction.”

Otto took a steadying breath, obviously trying not to let his excitement show too blatantly. “Very well, Princess. Is there… somewhere you’d like to go? A place you enjoy?”

You turned to him, an intrigued gleam in your eye. “Yes, actually. There is.”

Otto smiled, clearly already forming visions of a quiet library alcove or a secluded garden where he could charm you with his best courtly conversation. “Wherever you wish, Princess.”

With a grin, you reached out, taking his arm and leading him toward the stairwell. “Good. Then let’s go.”

As the two of you descended the stairs, Otto continued to follow you, anticipation in his step. He hadn’t expected this turn of events, and his mind was racing with possibilities. But the excitement soon turned to mild confusion when you continued past the gardens, past the library doors, and right out of the Red Keep’s main gates, heading toward the city.

“Princess…” Otto began, glancing around with a faint frown as you moved purposefully through the crowd of merchants and townsfolk on their evening errands. “Are we… going into King’s Landing?”

You shot him a mischievous look. “Yes, Lord Otto. Where else?”

Otto tried to keep his composure, but his shoulders visibly tensed. “Are you quite certain? The streets can be… a bit unpredictable this time of night.”

You laughed, clearly delighted by his nervousness. “Is that fear I hear, my lord? I thought you were the steadfast Hand of the King.”

He cleared his throat, his expression a delicate blend of pride and caution. “It’s not fear, Princess. Simply… awareness. The city is not exactly a place for royalty to wander without a plan.”

“Oh, I have a plan,” you replied breezily, ignoring his clear apprehension as you led him further into the heart of King’s Landing. The sounds of laughter, shouting, and lively music filled the air as you passed a bustling tavern, and you waved politely to a few surprised merchants who recognized you.

Otto glanced nervously at the tavern door as a particularly loud burst of laughter erupted from within, his jaw tightening. “Princess, perhaps we could—”

But you were already moving, navigating the maze-like streets with ease. Otto followed, his eyes darting around as though anticipating trouble to spring out at any moment. He cast a wary glance at a group of rowdy men singing loudly down the street and, with visible effort, kept himself from grabbing your arm to steer you in a different direction.

After a few more turns, Otto finally cleared his throat, his voice lower and more urgent. “Princess… I must advise that we head back to the Red Keep. The city can be rather… unforgiving at night.”

You looked back at him, a smile tugging at your lips. “Oh, come now, Otto. Where’s your sense of adventure?”

Otto opened his mouth, clearly wrestling with his next words, as if he wanted to admit that adventure was the last thing he was hoping for tonight. “My sense of… adventure is quite intact, I assure you. I simply believe that certain precautions should be… exercised.”

You laughed, tugging him along as you led him even deeper into the city. “Oh, I think you’ll survive, my lord.”

But despite his best efforts to appear calm, Otto’s eyes were darting left and right as he followed you, a faint sheen of worry creeping into his expression. He muttered something under his breath, and you could’ve sworn you heard him quietly mumbling something about “unnecessary risks” and “courtly dignity.”

And as you turned another corner, Otto fell silent, a distinct look of panic flashing in his eyes as he realized you were guiding him straight toward Flea Bottom.

By now, you couldn’t hide your amusement at his unease. You kept leading him onward, his discomfort only adding to your own enjoyment of the evening.

With every step, Otto grew quieter, his face set with a carefully controlled calm as he marched along beside you. But internally, he was starting to panic. Seven hells, he thought, if anyone sees us here, the scandal will be unmanageable.

But you only smiled at him, as if you knew exactly what he was thinking.

As you and Otto made your way deeper into the winding streets of King’s Landing, his discomfort grew more visible with every step. He kept glancing over his shoulder, his hand twitching as though longing for a parchment or quill—anything that might remind him of the order and decorum of the Red Keep.

Then, around the next corner, you almost collided with a familiar, smirking figure leaning against a lamppost, arms folded and eyebrows raised in delight. Daemon. His violet eyes sparkled with amusement as he took in the sight of the famously proper Otto Hightower trailing behind you like a nervous, disoriented cat.

“Well, well,” Daemon drawled, barely able to contain his laughter. “I never thought I’d live to see the day—Lord Otto Hightower, Hand of the King, out for a midnight stroll… in Flea Bottom.”

Otto straightened, the surprise clear on his face as he quickly tried to regain his dignity. “Prince Daemon,” he greeted stiffly, but Daemon only grinned wider.

“Oh, don’t ‘Prince Daemon’ me, Otto. What brings you here? Following my sister on one of her little… adventures, I see?”

You smirked, folding your arms as you watched the two of them. “You make it sound like I dragged him here, Daemon.”

Daemon tilted his head, looking Otto up and down with a mischievous glint. “Honestly, Y/N, I’m impressed he made it this far without fainting. You do know this man has probably never walked outside the Red Keep without his little entourage of guards.”

Otto cleared his throat, straightening his spine in an effort to hold onto the last shreds of his dignity. “I assure you, Prince Daemon, I am more than capable of navigating the city without an escort.”

Daemon laughed, shaking his head. “Oh, you think so, do you?” He stepped closer to Otto, eyeing him with a challenging smile. “Then prove it. Keep up with her.” He jerked his chin toward you. “And stop looking like you’re about to dash off to write a report on every street vendor you pass.”

Otto visibly bristled, his face tightening in determination. “I am more than capable of accompanying the princess wherever she wishes to go.”

Daemon snorted, clapping a hand on Otto’s shoulder, much to the older man’s discomfort. “If you can’t keep up, Hightower, then perhaps you aren’t worthy of a Targaryen at all.”

Otto’s jaw clenched, and he squared his shoulders, clearly not about to let Daemon have the last word. “I assure you, Prince Daemon, I am perfectly capable of… keeping up.”

You grinned, sensing Otto’s resolve harden under Daemon’s scrutiny. “Well then, if you’re both so determined, let’s see who’s really up for it.”

You turned, gesturing down a narrow, bustling street filled with vendors, musicians, and all manner of questionable characters. “Let’s keep moving, gentlemen.”

With that, you strode forward, Otto following closely behind, his face set in a steely mask of determination. Daemon fell into step beside him, clearly enjoying the chance to watch the notoriously proper Otto navigate the chaos of the city.

As you made your way through the crowd, a group of children ran past, nearly colliding with Otto, who only barely managed to dodge them. Daemon laughed heartily, slapping Otto on the back. “Careful, Otto! Don’t want to get dirt on that nice, pristine cloak of yours.”

Otto forced a smile, though his discomfort was obvious. “I am perfectly fine, Prince Daemon. A little… grit won’t bother me.”

“Oh, really?” Daemon smirked, his eyes lighting up as he spotted a nearby tavern with rowdy patrons spilling out into the street. “Then let’s take a little detour.”

Without waiting for a response, Daemon led the way into the tavern, and you followed, giving Otto an encouraging smile over your shoulder. With a determined set to his jaw, Otto stepped inside, clearly doing his best to prove his worth.

The tavern was packed, the air thick with laughter, spilled ale, and the sound of someone playing a badly-tuned lute in the corner. A few patrons shot curious looks your way, clearly intrigued by the sight of two Targaryens and the Hand of the King among them.

Daemon, grinning from ear to ear, leaned over the bar and ordered three drinks, slapping them down on the counter. He pushed one toward Otto, raising his own in a mock toast. “To Lord Otto Hightower—the bravest man in the realm tonight.”

Otto eyed the tankard with a wary expression, but with Daemon’s expectant grin and your amused smile watching him, he had little choice. He lifted the drink, giving a brisk nod. “To… the evening.”

He took a tentative sip, his face twitching slightly at the taste, but he managed to keep his expression neutral, much to Daemon’s disappointment.

“Oh, come now, Otto,” Daemon chided, draining his tankard in one gulp. “Surely the king’s Hand can do better than a polite sip?”

Otto sighed but raised the tankard again, taking a larger swallow this time. The bitterness seemed to surprise him, but he forced it down, coughing slightly as he set the tankard back on the bar.

You laughed, patting him on the shoulder. “Not bad, Otto. I didn’t think you’d even make it through one sip.”

He gave you a tight-lipped smile, clearly determined to maintain what remained of his dignity. “I am not as… delicate as some may think.”

Daemon burst into laughter, leaning on the bar as he watched Otto struggle to keep his composure. “Well, well! Maybe there’s some fire in the Hand after all.”

Just then, a loud group of sailors burst into a lively song nearby, and a few of them began dancing, pulling random patrons into the mix. One particularly eager sailor grabbed your hand, spinning you into the crowd, and you laughed, going along with the impromptu dance.

Otto’s eyes widened, clearly alarmed as he watched you disappear into the sea of twirling figures. But before he could react, Daemon nudged him hard. “Go on, Hightower. Don’t lose her now. You said you could keep up.”

With a resigned sigh, Otto squared his shoulders and plunged into the fray, awkwardly navigating the chaotic dance floor as he tried to make his way to you. Every few steps, someone bumped into him, sending his cloak askew, and his careful strides quickly turned into unsteady shuffles as he dodged dancers left and right.

Finally, he reached you, his face slightly flushed from the effort. “Princess,” he managed, a bit breathless, “perhaps we should… consider returning to the Keep.”

You grinned, raising an eyebrow. “Not yet, Lord Otto. We’re just getting started.”

Before he could protest, you took his hand and spun him into the dance. He stumbled slightly, his eyes wide as he struggled to keep up with the unfamiliar rhythm, but he held his ground, his grip firm as he attempted to match your movements.

Daemon watched from the bar, arms folded and a delighted grin plastered across his face as he observed the sight of the usually composed Hand of the King dancing—if it could be called that—in the heart of a rowdy tavern. “Well, Otto,” he called, lifting his empty tankard in salute, “looks like you might just be one of us yet.”

Otto shot him a look, part exasperation, part determination. He turned back to you, finally allowing himself a small, genuine smile as he managed to match the rhythm—if only for a moment.

You laughed, squeezing his hand as the dance continued, leading him through the lively crowd. He still looked slightly panicked, but there was a spark in his eyes now, a flicker of something that even Daemon had to admit looked a bit like… excitement.

And as the music swelled, you wondered if perhaps, for the first time, Otto Hightower was beginning to enjoy himself—just a little.

As the first hints of dawn crept over the horizon, you, Daemon, and Otto trudged back toward the Red Keep, moving a little slower and perhaps a bit more rumpled than usual. Flea Bottom had certainly left its mark—the faint smell of ale clung to Otto’s cloak, and Daemon looked as if he’d never had more fun in his life. As for you, you were simply trying to keep a straight face as Otto held his head high, doing his best to pretend that the entire adventure hadn’t taken at least a decade off his life.

At the entrance to the Keep, you paused, turning to Otto with a grin. “Thank you for tonight, Lord Otto. I… actually had a wonderful time.”

Otto blinked, surprise flitting across his face, but he quickly regained his composure, offering a dignified nod. “It was… my pleasure, Princess.”

“Goodnight, then,” you said, though you gave a small laugh. “Or… I suppose it’s ‘good morning.’”

With a last smile, you bid farewell to Daemon and Otto, gliding off down the hall, clearly quite pleased with how the evening—or morning—had turned out.

As your footsteps faded, Daemon turned to Otto, an amused yet slightly impressed look in his eye. “Well, Hightower,” he drawled, leaning against the doorway, “I didn’t think you had it in you to survive a night in Flea Bottom. I’ll give you that.”

Otto straightened his cloak, trying to smooth over the visible wrinkles as if that would somehow restore his dignity. “Your confidence in me has always been… appreciated, Prince Daemon.”

Daemon chuckled, his grin turning slightly sharp. “Don’t get too comfortable. Just because you managed to stay by her side for a night doesn’t mean you’re suited to her.”

Otto’s expression tightened, his gaze steady. “I would never presume otherwise. But the princess deserves someone who respects her, who values her for more than her title.”

Daemon’s grin faded, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. “Respect, is it? Then respect this, Hightower—I’m not your friend, and I won’t hesitate to remind you of that if you overstep.”

Otto met Daemon’s gaze without flinching. “I don’t expect us to be friends, Prince Daemon. But I believe we both want the same thing—for the princess to be happy.”

Daemon gave a low chuckle, pushing off the doorway. “Just remember that if you break her heart—or her spirit—I’ll break every bone in your body.”

Otto’s lips pressed into a thin line, but he nodded, accepting the unspoken terms. “Understood.”

With one last glare, Daemon turned, heading in the direction of his chambers, though his lips quirked slightly in what might have been a grudging respect. “Good night, Hightower. Try not to get lost on your way to the council chambers.”

As Daemon’s footsteps echoed down the hall, Otto allowed himself a rare, small smile, feeling both exhausted and—perhaps for the first time—triumphant.

At least for now, he had survived.

The council chamber was already filling with the usual early-morning murmurs when Otto Hightower entered, looking… well, uncharacteristically disheveled. His usually pristine cloak was rumpled, his eyes had faint circles beneath them, and there was a faint trace of what might have been ale on his collar. To make matters more shocking, Otto, the ever-composed, razor-focused Hand, looked almost relaxed.

The councilors exchanged wide-eyed glances, each more shocked than the last as Otto took his seat, nodding at each of them with an almost—dare they say—cheerful expression. Tyland Lannister was the first to recover, but his smirk was unmistakable.

“Well, well, Lord Otto,” Tyland drawled, leaning back with an amused gleam in his eye. “You’re looking… shall we say, unusually lively this morning?”

Otto cleared his throat, sitting up straighter, though even he couldn’t disguise the way his eyes drooped slightly. “I assure you, Lord Tyland, I am fully prepared to attend to the matters at hand.”

At that, Maester Mellos leaned forward, squinting as he peered at Otto with a mixture of suspicion and concern. “Are you quite well, Lord Hightower? You seem… a bit out of sorts?”

Otto waved a hand, dismissing the concern. “Quite well, Maester. Merely a… busy night. Nothing more.”

At the head of the table, Viserys looked his friend up and down, his brow furrowed with disbelief. “Otto… busy night?” he repeated, as though the concept was too bizarre to even comprehend. “Are we talking about the same Otto Hightower who retires to his quarters at sunset with council reports for company?”

Otto managed a dignified nod, though his eyes glazed slightly as Beesbury began rambling about the latest shipment of grain from the Reach. “Indeed, Your Grace. I found myself… otherwise engaged.”

Jasper Wylde, who had been silently observing, leaned forward, eyes narrowing in curiosity. “Otherwise engaged? And may we ask… in what?”

Otto paused, carefully weighing his response. “A matter involving Princess Y/N. She, ah… sought my company in the city.” He said this with an air of complete professionalism, as if discussing the grain shipment with Beesbury.

The room fell silent, and everyone’s heads turned slowly toward him, expressions ranging from shock to open-mouthed astonishment.

Princess Y/N? In the city? With Otto?

Lyonel Strong’s eyes widened, and he quickly tried to mask his surprise, though the corner of his mouth twitched. “The city, you say? Well, that would explain the, ah… slight rumpling.”

Otto shifted, doing his best to straighten his cloak. “Yes, well, Flea Bottom is hardly the most… pristine of environments.”

Tyland snickered, glancing at Viserys. “Perhaps we’ve underestimated the good Hand here. Who knew he had the spirit to roam the city under starlight?”

Viserys chuckled, still studying Otto with a mix of disbelief and admiration. “I must admit, Otto, I didn’t expect you to join Y/N on one of her wild escapades. I half expected you’d be too… responsible to humor her.”

Otto cleared his throat again, struggling to maintain his typical gravitas. “Sometimes, Your Grace, one must be adaptable. And I have every faith in the princess’s judgment.”

At this, Mellos raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Adaptability… yes. Ahem, but Lord Otto, you do appear somewhat… affected by your night out.”

For a brief moment, Otto’s eyelids drooped, and he blinked, refocusing his attention with an effort. “Rest assured, Maester Mellos, I am more than capable of conducting my duties.”

But as Beesbury launched into another lengthy update on the grain crisis, Otto’s attention began to drift, his mind wandering back to the chaotic streets of Flea Bottom, the music, the laughter, the dancing—an unfamiliar warmth spreading through him. It was unlike any night he’d had in years, and the strange feeling of ease, even excitement, lingered, almost throwing him off balance.

Jasper Wylde coughed, drawing Otto’s wandering attention back to the table. ���Lord Otto,” he said, hiding a grin, “I believe Lord Beesbury had a question for you regarding the taxation rates on incoming shipments.”

Otto blinked, doing his best to focus. “Ah, yes, of course. Taxation…” He cleared his throat, frantically trying to remember the previous discussion, but all he could think of was Daemon’s mischievous grin and the crowd of dancers sweeping him along in a tavern.

Viserys snorted, clearly trying not to laugh as he watched Otto struggle to keep his mind on the task at hand. “Otto, I’m afraid a night out may have done something to you.”

Otto’s jaw tightened, and he mustered every ounce of his concentration to respond. “I assure you, Your Grace, I am as dedicated as ever to the realm.”

Tyland chuckled, leaning back with a smirk. “Well, perhaps the Hand should take more nights off. Seems he’s… loosened up a bit. Makes him almost likable.”

Otto shot Tyland a withering look, though his face softened with the faintest smile, still feeling oddly content despite his exhaustion. “Thank you, Lord Tyland. Your… insight is noted.”

Viserys leaned back in his chair, unable to hide his grin. “Well, whatever happened last night, Otto, it seems to agree with you. Perhaps it’s time we all considered such… outings more often.”

Otto resisted the urge to roll his eyes, giving a dignified nod instead. “I shall keep that in mind, Your Grace.”

As the council resumed their discussions, Otto took a deep breath, steadying himself. Despite the lingering exhaustion, he felt strangely at ease—a warmth he hadn’t experienced in years. And though he knew this was likely to earn him more jests from the council, a small, contented smile lingered on his face.

For once, Otto Hightower felt… alive.

[crushribbons]

𝖈𝖗𝖚𝖘𝖍𝖙𝖔𝖇𝖊𝖗 (𝖓𝖔. 𝖎𝖎)

prompt: [ FIGHT ] our muses are leaders on opposing sides of a war. they have known each other before the war and now their sexual tension is worsened while trying to negotiate a truce. while disagreeing on terms they have rough sex, each one trying to dominate the other. (source)

char: daemon targaryen [house of the dragon] x fem!hightower!oc

warnings: daemon and rhaenyra didn't get together (because i could never endorse infidelity against MY queen) but daemon is still in line for the throne au, oc is alicent’s older sister and grew up in king’s landing as well, SMUT (18+ ONLY), oral (f!receiving), penetrative sex, male manipulator daemon, so canonical daemon.

a/n: this is penance, believe it or not.

The Targaryen rat's smirk would not leave his smug face, no matter what threats she'd been empowered to hurl across the oaken map table at him.

"I do wonder," he began, his words infuriatingly measured and even. Her chest was heaving, she knew it, and she ought not to show how much he riled her. But that smirk. He continued: "Why it is that the unflappable pretender Aegon has sent his aunt to negotiate the terms of his surrender for him."

Her ears flamed red. "Surrender?" she seethed. Daemon was standing, nay, slouching was more the word, against the table as if all this diplomacy bored him, as if the ownership of the entire country configured in tiny marble statuettes in front of them wasn't hanging in the balance. Her sister had warned her what an immovable ass the Targaryen prince would be.

He will not negotiate, he will toy, Alicent had whispered in her ear as the court around them had bustled with preparations for sending her envoy to Dragonstone. We are all mice. He thinks himself the only cat.

"We have no intention of surrender, my prince." She had to spit out the last word, a bitter, oily taste in her mouth.

His eyes narrowed, the first indication he was moved in any way by her presence. "My king," he ordered. Her shoulders did not fall.

She may have wanted nothing more than to see her flighty nephew removed from the seat that he already had nothing more than a tenuous grasp on, but to see this cocky, smug, arrogant usurper in his place...It couldn't be allowed.

Suddenly, Daemon cooed her name, and she dug her nails into the table involuntarily. "You will address me as the Lady Hightower," she said, but the anger in her voice was starting to wain. Memories of Daemon, ten or twelve years prior, taking her face in his hands beneath the Weirwood tree at King's Landing and kissing her deeply before he left to either kill the Crab King or be killed by him, surged through her and set her chest aching.

The tiny part of her that had ached for attention after King Viserys had passed her over in favor of marrying her younger sister had enjoyed the kiss the most, but a swirl of confused arousal had also told her that what she felt when she was near Daemon would not so easily be sated.

They looked across the table at one another, lines etched into their now mature faces, and she knew he was thinking of it, too. Daemon had such a particular way of looking at her, with a downcast face but upturned, ice-blue eyes that were tinted with longing.

"What are the king's terms, my lady?" He finally spoke after several seconds of silence.

"Will you even deign to listen if I tell you?"

Daemon's hand ceased its fidgeting, propped on the edge of his sheathed sword. Then he turned to the attendants lining the wall. "Leave us." Ten small bows and curtsies were given, and they were alone. Daemon rounded the table and made his way towards her. Her heart pounded as he grew closer, his footsteps slow and deliberate.

"Do you think of it, ever?" he asked when he was standing but a foot away from her. His silver-blonde hair was far longer than when she'd seen him last. "Of that night?"

He refused to show any vulnerability, picking up a navy armada from the map and spinning it idly rather than look her in the eyes. The image of Aegon, eyes ablaze with ideas of bloodshed and glory, on the Iron Throne, came into view in her mind. There was urgency to these negotiations, her family was depending on her. Her sister needed her.

"Yes," she whimpered pathetically. Daemon groaned and shed the last bit of his cool demeanor to close the distance between them and grab her just as he had all those years ago. Their lips met, and if anything, it felt even better, even more perfect and sweet. His were soft, and he tasted of dark wine.

Daemon wasted no time positioning her how he liked, bending down to grab the backs of her legs and lift her onto the table. Her shame was almost potent enough to make her push him off, to clear her head and think of her duty and responsibility to her family, and to Westeros. But then Daemon licked along the edge of her jaw, inhaling as he did so, and breathed, "How a woman born of that pig Otto Hightower can be so intoxicating..."

Her brow wrinkled, and she wished to speak up on her noble father's behalf, but then Daemon was falling to his knees and looking up at her, his normally gaunt face flushed pink. "Let's have no more of this--" He flipped her dress around her waist, ran his hands from her knees up her thighs, marveling at the softness, "--unproductive talk."

"It is only unproductive because you do not pay me any heed," she retorted, but her voice was strained and grew more so when Daemon leaned into her covered heat and pressed his lips and nose to it. Pleasure like she hadn't felt in years coursed through her, mixed with a depraved dash of power and headiness. The heavy iron rings on Daemon's fingers were cold against her exposed legs as he gripped her tighter.

The pretender king ate her cunt until she writhed against the Blackwater Rush and knocked the represented King's Guard onto the ground with her flailing arms. One found purchase in his silver hair, and Daemon glanced up at her and smirked, again, that infuriating smirk!

"I am glad to find you so agreeable, my lady," he murmured while kissing her again, his lips covered completely in her. She wished he wasn’t so easily able to break her.

As Daemon drove into her later that night in the chambers prepared for his guest, he said, “You have not yet told me the terms of your surrender, my lady Hightower. Will you place the crown on my brow yourself?” His hands caged her on either side of her shoulders as he thrust and hit a point inside her again and again that made her scream soundlessly. Sweat beaded between their bodies, the sweet mingling of their breath making her dizzy. Words would not form on her kiss-swollen lips.

The Targaryen rat made her come two more times before the sun had risen. He split her apart and laughed about it, and she begged for more. “Do not leave me, dove,” he whispered in her ear while they lay together afterwards, skin glowing. “This war can only have one outcome. Stay with us here and join in our victory. Join me.”

He will not negotiate. He will toy.

[golvio]

Still thinking about the stark contrast between the general grim, highly-restrained stoicism of TotK Ganondorf’s human form compared to the exaggerated, rapidly shifting moods of “Yippee! :D Whee!! :DD Wahoo!!! :DDD *does a cute little backflip*” and “YOU STOP RUINING MY FUN RIGHT NOW OR I WILL THROW A BIG DIVO TEMPER TANTRUM AND WRECK EVERYTHING!” of his Demon King form.

Guy’s pretty obviously repressed as hell, and I think that’s one of the reasons he always goes off the rails the second he gets a chance to step out of his ceremonial One Special Man role. However, the fact that what he’s repressing feels so…childish, even the violent parts…I’m wondering if the guy ever got the chance to be a child when he was actually little.

Maybe he got yelled at and punished for making simple inexperienced baby mistakes the way Zelda was because he was under similar pressure to Fix Everything and symbolically parent all his adult subjects/family members as a Symbol of Hope that could soothe their fears and anxieties on-demand. (Not to mention Buliara’s mom raised a bit of a red flag about authoritarian parenting styles being common in Gerudo military families). Only instead of just suppressing everything and standing perfectly still and quiet in public while floundering in private like Zelda did, he got extremely skilled at convincing the people around him he was the mature, unflappable, strong, comforting, and eternally available collective cultural father-figure who’d guide them out of the hard times they were trying to hammer him into.

Only…that wasn’t real personal development, only the illusion of development. He encased his true personality in the superficial shell of the sexy manly-man hero that everyone wanted him to be. The second he was able to emerge from that shell without anyone being able to punish him for it, that inner traumatized little jerk immediately started lashing out in revenge at the people who held him to such an impossible standard in an effort to finally feel in control of his own life. It’s like a former child star melting down upon entering adulthood after being denied agency and independence by the studio they’re contracted with and their financially profiting family for so long, only with magic and the forsaking of one’s own humanity involved.

That underlying theme of metamorphosis throughout the game, echoed in Kotlin’s “dream,” could’ve been capitalized on here. The people loved the shiny gold cocoon the weak, helpless larva formed, begging it to never emerge so they could enjoy its beauty forever. But he knows, he knows that if he never breaks open the shell encasing him, he’ll die before he ever gets the chance to unfurl his wings. The form they love is incomplete, shallow, temporary. He’ll die if he can’t discard it. He would rather be alive and horrible to behold than dead and perfect. The people will hate what emerges from their jewel, but in this new shape he can sting and bite back, so let them hate him.

But, also, just…could you imagine if we had a chance to meet The Cocoon and the people who worshipped it, saying how much they love their king while knowing absolutely nothing about him, only to find out he had his own “secret sanctuary” much like Zelda did? Somewhere we could glimpse the soft, hungry insect of his soul that yearned to break free? What we’d see in the pieces of his secret joys scattered around and the scratches of his notes would be something ugly, bitter, childishly self-centered, yes. But in there would also be real passion, real feeling, a real life desperate to finally live that would make the handsome shell brandishing a sword feel hollow, uncanny, and downright off-putting by comparison.

[cosmereplay]

Happy Fanfic Friday!

I got to thinking about all the fun AUs in this fandom and ended up wanting to do two things: show off the creativity of Stormlight fanficcers, and encourage the authors by letting them know that we care about their work.

So here's a list of 10 unfinished AUs that I found particularly creative and fun. If you have fun reading them, please leave a comment for the author and let them know. It means the world to an author! (Please do not demand an update or shame the author - just let them know what you enjoyed about their story!)

The Art of Motion by The_Great_Deprussian Rated Teen, 27,000 words. Kadolin. Dance AU, High school AU Adolin and Kaladin go to different high schools, and their dance teams are paired together for an upcoming competition. Adolin is ready to put in the work, but Kaladin is having trouble committing, and he won't say why.

The City of Kings and Heroes by SorchaSolas Rated Teen, 5000 words. Superhero AU (Modern with Magic) Kaladin has wings and breaks the law, Shallan can actually shapeshift, and Sylphrena is a human who's just really blue.

Blood Money by Anonymous Rated Teen, 62,000 words. Kaladin/Moash. Cowboy AU Deputy Sheriff Kaladin tries to keep his head above water as his past starts to catch up with him, setting off a series of events that start to unravel the carefully curated history of the town, and baring Kaladin's complicated feelings about a man he lost.

Bridge Boy and Pretty Boy by JoysWordcraft Unrated, 2000 words. Kadolin. Veterinary clinic AU Kaladin was working just another normal shift at his vet clinic when a disheveled blond stranger rushed into his veterinary with a hurt golden retriever. 'Help me,' the stranger said, and Kaladin's peaceful life was no more.

Sunshine in your eyes by elsecaller_muu Rated Teen, 21,000 words. College AU Kaladin thinks it's fine to study constantly and never sleep. Then he meets Adolin, with his curly hair and crop tops and warm smiles, and his life is turned upside down.

Take Your Own Advice by coinshotmisting Rated Teen, 5000 words. Coffee shop AU An introductory look at the world of Kholin State University, and the backgrounds of Adolin, Kaladin, and Shallan as they each approach the same coffee shop. I love the little worldbuilding touches in this!

Soulmate Archive by RydiaAsuka Rated Teen, 30,000 words. Soulmate AU Injuries show up on the bodies of their soulmates. Adolin's life turns upside down when suddenly he gets slave brands, and his body looks like it's beaten every day.

Mature and Explicit fics below the cut:

rooting in your heart by Stormcursed Rated Mature for stark depiction of mental illness, 6000 words. Kadolin. Flower shop AU Kaladin buys flowers for Tien's grave and gets annoyed by the unflappable blond working the counter.

A Brewing Storm by azurehue22 Rated Mature, 5000 words. Kaladin/Tarah; Shadolin. Modern AU Civil unrest starts to spread across Minneapolis. Kaladin sees its effects first hand at the local hospital. Shallan ignores it and tries to stay focused on her art school studies. (Runs parallel to another fic with Mistborn characters, in the same city!)

Transference by presage_bloom Rated Explicit, 2500 words. Shallan/Beryl. Therapy AU Shallan gets in trouble and ends up seeing Dr. Jasnah Kholin for therapy. Meanwhile she's in a D/s relationship with Beryl.

[cyberdragoninfinity]

🔥 Can I get some unpopular Yugioh protag opinions?

YOU SURE CAN lemme give one for all the protags ive met so far

🔥Yugi: I like Yugi as a character a bit leaps and bonds more than I like Atem (while I do still like him plenty.) Their dynamic is crucial to DM of course but Yugi on his own is just a stellar character and I feel like sometimes he does get a little based over in favor of Yami Yugi (by both fans and official ygo merch and media.) Also I'm in the particularly unpopular camp of finding puzzleshipping much Much more engaging to me from a platonic standpoint as opposed to a romantic one. im like this with a lot of ships but that's probably the biggest instance of all. das platonic soulmates to me babey.

🔥Jaden: already talked a bit about it but i'm not the biggest fan of how his character was handled in Season 3, and I don't think the whole Supreme King situation was handled as well as it maybe could have been. Also Jaden is fat to me we know this I see it in my visions and I know it to be true in my heart

🔥Yusei: The concept of "z-one is evil yusei from the future," while a fun AU idea for sure, really just would not be as impactful on 5D's narrative as what we got instead, as I've rambled and raved about many a time. Yusei seems to get hit was a particularly large amount of "whump" in fanspaces, just a really perpetual desire to see him in some state of misery, that I don't really jive with.

🔥Yuma: HE'S A GOOD CHARACTER. AND I LIKE HIM. AND HE IS MY FRIEND. I think there's such a charm factor to his personality, to me him being a little annoying is a feature not a bug, he's so delightfully rambunctiously 13 and so full of unconditional love. it rocks that he loses a bunch. i dont think zexal would work half as well as it does if yuma was older/more mature/an unflappably confident duelist. there is so much beauty in the flaws we get to see him work with and through.

🔥Yuya: ok actually i havent really seen enough of arc-v yet to have a concrete unpopular opinion on him. watch this space over the next couple of months im sure something with spring up in my brain. i do really like him a lot ;_;

[sovereign-tempest]

Gotta be DC (or just the batfam) for the fandom meme!

SEND ME A FANDOM (BatFamily)

I’ll tell you:-

The first character I first fell in love with: JASON PETER TODD! (my beloved XD) The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Alfred Pennyworth. The protective father/grandfather vibes are REAL with this absolute KING. He is much more a parent to the kids than Bruce is most of the time. Even in sources I cannot stand, Alfred is a boss. It's gotten to the point that even my partner is like "Is Sassy Alfred in it?" whenever I ask him to watch something Bat-related. That's how much we idolise him in this house XD The character everyone else loves that I don’t: Damian Wayne. Maybe it's because I've dropped off the comics (haha money, whats that) and haven't kept up, but he was such a brat tearing down everyone and everything around him - it pissed me off. I'm assuming he's matured/grown up? Because people look at me weird when I say I'm not fussed on him. The character I love that everyone else hates: ...Jason Todd? Or at least there was a time people weren't fussed/didnt know who he was/hated him. But after the Arkham Knight game I saw a HUGE surge in fans. Filthy casuals...XD The character I used to love but don’t any longer: Bruce Wayne. I've noticed as I've gotten older I see more and more flaws. Again, it depends on the source. Some do this well and play with those flaws, make it a point of his humanity - others make him this unflappable character and...he's just an asshole. The character I would totally smooch: ALFRED- ...what, you wouldn't? Seriously though, Jaybird Jason, Cassandra, Tim, Dick, Stephanie - they're all so attractive dammit The character I’d want to be like: If I could have any lick of bravery from the Robin's, I'd be unstoppable. The character I’d slap: Bruce most of the time. It tore my heart out reading 'Red Hood; The Lost Days' and seeing Jason break down crying because he thought his father figure had replaced him while he was trying to get his mind straight after the Pit and get back to Gotham. He gets there, and Tim's in his place. I don't care if Bruce was there at Jason's bedside the whole time when he nearly died in Outlaws - I can't get over it. A pairing that I love: Nightwing x Oracle (or Dick x Babs, however you want to put it) and Tim x Stephanie are absolute top tier. A pairing that I despise: Jason x Talia al Ghul. I almost vomited seeing that on PAPER in Lost Days. Also, wouldn't say DESPISE but I'm not fussed on Dick x Jason either, much of the same reasons as to why I'm not fussed on Dimilix.

AN; dnt flam me but jason and tim hve da best cemistree as bruhs despete the replacmen! 

[ryanberga]

Maybe it’s me hoping as a white person/not my place but I think people (tumblr wise anyway) are starting to realize all the infantalizing racism he got and treat him better? All the chaotic king and emotional maturity (especially while at the same time, and no shade to him, Shane’s proving the whole badass unflappable thing to be not true) has probably helped?

yeah i'm only active on tumblr so i have no idea how ryan is treated on other platforms (except i've heard uhh twitter is pretty shitty but that honestly doesn't surprise me at all), but at least in my little corner of bfu/watcher fandom, i've seen a lot more people vocal about the poor treatment of ryan as compared to shane, and i've seen people actively trying to spread awareness of the issues that still exist, so i think that has definitely lead to people treating ryan as more of like. an actual person lmfaoo

[winglssdemon]

Star Wars Fic Recs

Here’s a list of a few of my favorite fics! All of them will be in prequel trilogy, before prequel trilogy, or clone wars era. All of them are Obi-Wan centric.

Everything is Going to Plan (And Other Lies) by beamirang (WIP) Rating: Explicit Obi-Wan/Jango Fett Author Summary: Jedi. Slave. General. King. Obi-Wan has had - and rejected - a number of titles over the years. For some reason, people keep putting him in charge of shit. Word Count: 14,288

Jate’kara by pallorsomnium (WIP) Rating: Teen Obi-Wan/Jango Fett Author Summary:  It’s just his kriffing luck that the one time he decides to take a break planetside, everything goes to bantha shit. Jango happens to be on Naboo when the Trade Federation decides to invade. From there, his quiet life as a bounty hunter goes sideways. A TPM AU. Word Count: 20,418

Bloody Escape by Sulis57 (One-Shot) Rating: Mature Obi-Wan/Asajj Ventress Author Summary:  Obi-Wan Kenobi and Asajj Ventress barely escape with their lives after a dangerous encounter with Darth Maul and Savage Opress. Trapped together in a small shuttle, these one-time enemies must put their differences aside in order to find their way back to civilization. Things get complicated when Ventress realizes Kenobi has been gravely wounded. Will he survive the long journey or will his blood be on her hands? Word Count: 3,889

A Lesson in Attachment by someawkardprose (Completed One-Shot) Rating: General Audiences Pairing: Obi-Wan/Cody Author Summary:  Obi-Wan has never been enough. It's okay. The Force loves him anyway. Word Count: 7847 An Ace!Obi Fic with besotted Cody and that trope where Anakin hides his marriage but there’s no real reason to. Plus Clone Rights!

The More I Live The More I See this Life is Not About Me by K_R_Closson (WIP) Rating: Teen Gen Author Summary:After touching a mysterious artifact, Cody's general is suddenly a child with the memories to match. Cody has to coax a suspicious adolescent back to base without alerting the nearby Separatists of their presence. Reversing his general's age an easier fix than Cody thought it would be, but he didn't factor in the possibility that Obi-Wan might not want to give up his self in order to become General Kenobi again. It'd be easier to think if he didn't have an insidious voice in his head, whispering to him to distrust the Jedi.  Word Count: 18,895 General Kenobi is turned into his younger Melida/Daan time period self. The clones are horrified. (Author has stated that the fic is finished and there will be timely updates.)

The Interviews Series by Bloody Devil (3 Completed Fics in the series, but there might be more? I sure hope so) Rating: Teen Referenced Obi-Wan/Quinlan Vos Author Summary:  1st in Series:  An interview with Master Jedi Qui Gon Jinn and his Padawan Obi-wan Kenobi to give insight into the Jedi Order and it's workings, turns into a group interview when a bunch of Padawan Kenobi's friends crash the interview. 2nd in Series: After the 'unedited' version of the follow up interview was posted to the Holoweb, a lot of sentients came to the same conclusion. The Clones were good with Kids and Trustworthy.This leads to complications for the Coruscant Guard. 3rd in Series: Another follow up interview, this one with someone Obi-wan doesn't like, snowballs in a way no one predicts.Obi-wan is just very tired. Word Count: 35,805 Technically Crack!Fics but the series holds a lot more, brings up clone rights, and has some very heart-wrenching moments.

The Past Remains by otherhawk (Completed)  Rating: Teen Gen Author Summary:  The war drags on leaving trauma and destruction in its wake. After a bereaved Master is accused of harming his padawan, Obi-Wan is sent to talk to her, dredging up memories of his own past. Word Count: 15,692 Contains Anakin and Cody along with Obi-Wan. This fic REALLY hits the feels. It’s a fantastic emotional hurt/comfort fic.

Hold Onto Me by LuvEwan (One-Shot) Rating: General Audiences Obi-Wan & Qui-Gon  Author Summary:  Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan crash land on a random planet (oh no!). They must rely on each other to survive (oh yes!). Word Count: 3,149 Just...straight up hurt/comfort. I do wish there was more to this fic but it does stand alone very well. I’m just a sucker for good old fashioned hurt/comfort and worried partners.

Balance by beamirang (WIP) Rating: Mature Mostly Gen Author Summary: “I’m not going to kill Palpatine because I hate him,” Obi-Wan says serenely. “I’m going to kill him so Anakin can’t.” In a bid to pull Anakin back to the Light, Obi-Wan hurls himself into the Dark. They both land somewhere in the middle and the whole Galaxy shakes with the impact. Word Count: 17,847

Patrilineal by markwatnae (One-Shot) Rating: General Audiences Obi-Wan/Cody Author Summary:  General Jinn is dispatched to join the 212th Attack Battalion and Cody watches General Kenobi interact with his former master, the man who skirted death at the hands of a Sith. He cannot seem to find a suitable definition for their relationship. Word Count: 2,467

Misunderstandings are Born of Miscommunication by Fic_Request_Blog (One-Shot) Rating: Teen Gen Author Summary:  Or The one where Kenobi is blind and no one remembers to tell the clones. Word Count: 2,210 Blind!Obi is freaking life and this is such an enjoyable one-shot

It Was Another Time and I Another Man by Pell_Binterhol (WIP) Rating: Teen Gen Author Summary:  Master Jinn and Padawan Kenobi find themselves thrown decades into the future and into the midst of a civil war. Ahsoka is delighted for an opportunity to know her unflappable grand-master when he was her age, but as their differences mount, she comes to learn just how much the order has changed. Word Count: 27,707

Matter of Time, Matter of Opportunity by markwatnae (One-Shot) Rating: Teen  Obi-Wan/Qui-Gon Jinn Author Summary: Obi-Wan wakes up in the Halls of Healing after a terrible mission with a broken jaw. He does not realize until later how his experience had also fractured his spirit. Word Count: 8,172 Note: While this the 3rd in the Alpenglow series, this one can stand on it’s own.

[ao3feed-merlin]

poetry and other sordid mysteries

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/UhlZrF4

by stanzas

Throughout his life as a knight of Camelot, Sir Leon has caught the king at one point or another in some manner of bizarre or compromising situations, though this one in particular might finally push the unflappable first knight off the end of his very long, patient rope...

Words: 2564, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 9 of merlin bingo 2022

Fandoms: Merlin (TV)

Rating: Mature

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: Multi

Characters: Leon (Merlin), Elyan (Merlin), Gwaine (Merlin), Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Gwen (Merlin), Merlin (Merlin)

Relationships: Gwen/Merlin/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Leon & Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Elyan & Gwaine & Leon (Merlin)

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Canon Era, Established Relationship, POV Outsider, Accidental Voyeurism, Implied Sexual Content, Long-Suffering Leon (Merlin), Long-Suffering Elyan (Merlin), Everyone Knows About Merlin's Magic (Merlin), Humor

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/UhlZrF4

[astrognossienne]

observations, part 8 (or the sun-moon opposition post)

sun-moon oppositions are self-serving sweethearts; they are often the catalysts for chaos; the ones that are the most underrated and under the radar, that have the most emotionally contrasting and profound yet conflicting sun and moon signs have the most power, in my experience and estimation…they’re pretty lucky and people seem to want to do things for them and protect them; you rarely know where they’re coming from or what they’re thinking; fascinating, daring, dynamic, multifaceted—if somewhat difficult to understand—they project an aura of mystery that others find intriguing, a tantalizing mix of hot irrational passion and cold calculated detachment; have a very rare appeal; unforgettable enigmas. likes to push people’s buttons; evokes powerful responses from others; there’s just something about these folks…subtle…the way the carry themselves is appealing; very sexy, very alluring and drives the opposite sex mad - the men are hard to figure out, often strong silent types, and the women are high-minded, girly, yet ladylike and throw curveballs at every turn. women gravitate towards them even though they don’t care about them too much, but if forced, they can grow to be warmer towards them. they’re the king/queen bee of any situation and are quite unflappable, and as such people want to please them and cater to them/look up to them; egos are like brick walls, stubborn, not the type to let loose and if they do, it’s something to see indeed. always captivating and cool. you’ll never know what going on underneath the cool and calm exterior because they know how to keep it cute and classy and keep their shit together. great bodies and very attractive (often 10/10). not really good at admitting they were wrong but will still do so in the name of maturity. they look good in their clothes. often balanced, yet can have their moments of craziness and irrationality…

very idiosyncratic, you’ll never forget one, for they know how to leave their mark. depending on the sign, they may or may not be as empathetic. likes to isolate themselves either by themselves or with their lover. their relationships are often volatile and they often put a spell on their lovers which makes them inextricably tied to them if not forever, then for a very long time. you won’t get over one ever. their words are often cutting. great dancers, their bodies are often gorgeous and have maddd appeal sexually. can be very cruel to the wrong people for seemingly no reason but in reality because of what’s going on in their head, can be fake and shady, needs their privacy and DOESN’T tolerate anyone in their business. will be classy always but don’t push them cause they’ll fuck you up real bad. can be very snobby and stuck up (or at the very least keeps to themselves), very mature, not the lovely-dovey touchy-feely type yet still romantic, they get under your skin like no one else. it takes a hell of a lot to convince sun-moon opps that someone is a good person. tough people who don’t fuck around. won’t get one over one them for long and they always come out looking good in the end. they know how to roll with the punches and they always come out on top. always up one over others. always. may look like/come across as one thing, but are something completely different…good luck trying to figure one out.

observations

1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8

[bisokubira1995]

Gloria Steinem memoir adapted into “The Glorias“ on Amazon Prime

The death last week of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has left another icon of gender equality, Gloria Steinem, thinking about the big picture of the 2020 presidential race."It's yet another reason to win the next election and to vote," says Steinem, the public face of the feminist movement for the last 50 years. "It's just one more reason that this is the most important election in my lifetime ever.But the passing of Notorious RBG also leaves Steinem feeling, like so many other women, as if she's lost a hero and a guide."Day by day, I want to say to myself, 'What would Ruth do?'," Steinem says. "If I do that, autel maxiim im508 key programmer. if I ask myself that question, and do my best to do it, then Ruth will still be here. And I hope a lot of us can do that, everyone who knew or saw or honored her."At 86, Gloria Steinem has been on a remarkable journey, which she covered in her 2015 memoir "My Life on the Road." Now that book has been adapted into "The Glorias," a timely and emotionally resonant film by director Julie Taymor that premieres Wednesday on Prime Video. As a journalist and activist, Steinem has carved out a huge legacy of achievement that extends from helping launch Ms. Magazine to co-founding the National Women's Political Caucus to fighting for the still-unrealized Equal Rights Amendment and beyond. In 2013, President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. But "The Glorias" isn't a career retrospective of a great woman. As interpreted by Taymor, who's best known for audacious creative leaps like Broadway's "The Lion King" and the Beatles-soundtrack movie musical "Across the Universe," it presents Steinem's story as the bus ride of a lifetime.The biopic stars four different actors as Steinem at various ages, with a twist. The Glorias don't just portray her at different periods of her life; they're able to see each other and, at times, interact during scenes set on a bus. The destination of the trip isn't revealed until the end, but it provides an absolutely fitting conclusion.There's the little girl (Ryan Kiera Armstrong) whose charming father values adventure over his family's stability; the lonely teen (Lulu Wilson) who cares for her mentally fragile mother; the young woman (Alicia Vikander) who struggles to be taken seriously as a writer and emerges as a voice for women's rights; and the mature leader (Julianne Moore) with the aviator glasses and unflappable cool who takes on the political power structure in her war for equal treatment and respect for her sisters.The credit for the movie's insightful approach goes to Taymor, says Steinem, who put her trust in the director (and co-screenwriter) and wasn't disappointed."It seems to me she's a genius filmmaker of our time. I had faith she would tell the emotional truth. I wasn't present (during the filming). I didn't have any conditions. I just had faith in who she is as a filmmaker."Steinem calls Taymor's use of "the Greyhound bus through time" a genius approach for the biopic. "I could not imagine how she could do a book that covers eight decades and two continents. But she invented a way to do it."Fittingly, Steinem's story shares the screen with snapshots of key feminist titans who were her friends and allies, including Dorothy Pitman Hughes (Janelle Monáe), Flo Kennedy (Lorraine Toussaint), Bella Abzug (Bette Midler), and Wilma Mankiller (Kimberly Guerrero). But it's the bond the Glorias have with each other - a comforting hug here, a validating comment there - that gives the movie a surprising tenderness.Asked what she would share with the Glorias in the film at this point in her life, Steinem says, "I think what I would say to my childhood and teenage self and 20s self is it's going to be all right."As depicted in the film, Steinem defied expectations for young women of her generation. "I was supposed to lead a certain kind of life, have a regular job, get married and have children. In the '50s and' 60s and '70s, there was much mor...

[okay-lets-not-panic]

I am writing this in an attempt to make sense of, or rationalise if you like, the mess that the Kings have made of Diane and Kurt. I spent the better part of a year filled with rage about the way the end of The Good Wife left the characters but when The Good Fight was announced I decided to withhold my judgement, for the most part, and see what the writers were going to do. Well, I’ve now seen the first season and had a few weeks to think about it and I can’t say I’m entirely happy. That’s not to say there weren’t things that I loved, because it’s Diane and Kurt we’re talking about; even with horrendous and unfathomable writing decisions the characters and relationship are still evocative. (Basically, if the end of TGW didn’t destroy them for me, then I think they’re probably untouchable.) However, since I believe that they deserve better than what’s been written for them thus far on TGF I felt I had to write something, a rant perhaps, whatever ‘this’ is, to try and understand exactly what the problems I’m having with the relationship are. I can see though, that for some people the events of TGF could have been a balm to the serious wounding McHart shippers suffered in 2016, and so if anyone wants to avoid reading this because the ship is in a relatively good place right now and they don’t want to think about negative stuff anymore, I completely sympathise and understand. (Although I do talk about the good things too!)

I want to make clear though, that regardless of how things have played out on TGW or will in the future on TGF, I’m actually really grateful for this ship. They are so lovely to watch and I adore both characters intensely. So while I will have a bunch of negative things to say, I want to make sure that anyone who reads through this overlong and aimless post realises that whatever I end up saying, I really love Diane and Kurt and am grateful to the Kings for creating them.

Now to preface my (already) obvious bias upfront: before the last episode of TGW, I really thought Diane and Kurt were perfect. Just something about their contrasting personalities really clicked and felt right; his intensity and her poise; his stoicism and her mannered speech; country versus city; rustic versus elegant, Kurt’s willingness to throw his lot in with Diane relatively early on in their relationship while she was far less committal, and, oh yeah, liberal versus conservative. I almost forgot that last one, seriously. There’s just so much to point to and go ‘look how different they are’ but it never felt like these things would or could ever be a problem. That’s how right for each other they are. The political differences were like the sweet glace cherry on top of a gorgeous sundae: a grown up relationship for a grown up world. The inclusion of McHart was also one of the more feminist decisions in a show that was often touted for its feminist credentials. Gosh, it seems silly that this should be so but the fact of a mature woman at the top of her profession having a stable, drama-free but undeniably hot marriage is really fucking rare in fiction. I would love to have other examples pointed out to me but I really can’t think of many comparable fictional relationships.

The passionate certainty (which seems an odd phrase but it’s the best I can come up with) at the heart of their relationship, even from the earliest days, was one of the many things that made me fall so hard for them. So many ships I gravitate towards tend to be angsty couples with huge personal obstacles to overcome before the relationship can work, if it ever can; so McHart was a welcome change of pace. I had no doubts about them. Even from season one it was very hard for me to envision Diane with anyone else. Rewatching ‘Bang’ now makes me laugh because during their initial meeting they are so completely made for each other and it’s so obvious in retrospect, once the viewer is more familiar with the characters and how they interact, the way they act at this point is incredibly telling; Diane is hilariously unprofessional and off-kilter and Kurt not only puts up with it but he actually seems to enjoy this behaviour in a sort of bemused fashion even though despite his usual unflappability it clearly gets under his skin. Let’s not even mention the Sarah Palin picture in a frame thing and Kurt’s little ‘on the phone’ performance later in the episode because does anyone really think this falls anywhere on the spectrum of typical behaviour for him? Anyway, suffice to say – you can totally see them meeting ‘the one’. I know that the writers probably never intended any of this and the relationship actually grew organically from episode to episode but… I don’t know, maybe it’s just Christine and Gary’s impeccable chemistry at work but the longevity of McHart seems almost inevitable now. When they introduced Jack in season three I was genuinely confused because what was the point? Despite the fact that Kurt was hardly ever in the show, I couldn’t fathom the prospect that perhaps McHart wouldn’t be endgame. Diane and Kurt would assuredly end up together; this fact was never in doubt, even if Diane hadn’t quite worked it out at that point.

Sadly, it was this faith in the relationship that caused me to be so blindsided at the end of TGW. I have spent years stressing over other will they/won’t they ships on other shows but I barely had a moment of anxiety about McHart, because how could it ever end badly? Especially once they were married. After that point it made no logical sense from a character or overall plot point of view to break Diane and Kurt up. Once they’d finally, finally, got to the place where they were both emotionally ready to commit fully to one another, it would be totally unsatisfying to mess about with their relationship considering the kind of people they had always been depicted to be. Well boy, was I wrong! And it’s not even that I had any particular trust in the Kings as writers for that matter. I’ve been screwed over by the majority of shows I’ve watched at some point. Hell, I’m a Buffy fan. And I know that many people in the wake of TGW finale made comments about how the Kings are incapable of keeping an untarnished good and solid relationship on their shows, and looking back at TGW in retrospect, this is true, but you see because I wasn’t overly interested in the other relationships on the show I was never particularly affected when they got gutted, it was just unconnected passing drama to me and not part of a disturbing pattern. I obviously underestimated the writers desire to push cheap drama at the expense of well-drawn characters.

However, the cold truth is, the writers wrote the ending that they did and so now I have to make sense of canon and make it fit with my understanding of the McHart relationship. But I find that I just CAN’T! (Even with the added information from TGF.)

Now I realise that it is quite possible to point out various issues Diane and Kurt could have that they never properly dealt with. Obviously. But I don’t see how those issues translate into random infidelity. Of course, we can extrapolate that Kurt was unhappy that they didn’t spend more time together and maybe even that Diane had a tendency to prioritise work, especially after they were married. There’s more than enough textual evidence to make an informed guess about this. But couldn’t the writers have done something else with that idea? Okay, I get that it had been decided that Diane desperately needed to be left with nothing at the beginning of TGF (even though wrecking Diane’s personal life ended up being basically irrelevant to the setup of TGF in the end. I don’t see why she couldn’t be broke and jobless but with a support system at home; that would still be devastating for her? Anyway, I digress…) but even if they were dead set on splitting McHart up couldn’t they have used a more organic reason? Perhaps the fact that Diane’s ambition or professional life was driving a wedge between them; hell, they basically did that in season 7 anyway when she asked Kurt to compromise himself on the stand for her. They could have gone further with that, at least it would have been in character. Or they could have written about how difficult it is for two people as different and as set in their ways as Diane and Kurt to change their lives enough to accommodate another person on a full time basis. I mean, hesitation to commit because of other priorities was a factor throughout their entire first five years of knowing each other. It would make total sense that the issue didn’t just magically go away once they were married. Honestly, almost anything would have been better than the plot the writers went with. I would even have preferred Diane to have the affair (if the writers were so convinced one needed to happen) not because I think the idea is any more palatable or likely but because Kurt’s constancy was such an important part of his character. He made his feelings clear to Diane pretty early on in the show, he sort of asked her to marry him in ‘Silver Bullet’ for God’s sake, and when she shows up on his doorstep after a year in ‘Gloves Come Off’ he is… pretty happy about it I’d say, if taken aback. By that point he’s fully realised any relationship he has with Diane is going to be on her terms but he’s totally willing to go along with it because y’know… he loves her. And that feeling ain’t going away.

Of course, since it’s not like the writers spent much time developing his character maybe it was just presumptuous of me to draw these conclusions? And this is the crux of the problem for me; it’s not just that a relationship I liked got ruined by some leftfield infidelity (although that’s bad enough), it’s the fact that they had to basically assassinate Kurt’s character, as the audience understood him, to do it. For example, a decent part of the humour and tension in Diane and Kurt’s relationship came from Kurt’s friendships with his students and what Diane perceived this to mean. Which is all well and good when the truth is that the whole thing is totally innocent, because then the plot serves to highlight Diane’s insecurities even though we, and she, know that she should be above feeling like that and has no reason to anyway, and it also serves as an interesting character point for Kurt. Why are all his friends young women? It doesn’t have to be a negative thing. And I think it’s this that sticks in my craw most of all; it’s not only that they used his student relationships in the most lowbrow and predictable way possible (one of the few facts we actually knew about him keep in mind) but also simultaneously forced the older guy cheats on his wife with a younger woman story on us. It’s such a fucking cliché I could choke. I would hate that they did this to Kurt’s character enough on its own but honestly they did this to Diane too and just… WHY? On the most shallow level Diane is hot as fuck and smart as hell and basically WHAT? OMG I’m never going to stop being angry about this am I? Their story went from being really quite progressive to incredibly regressive in the span of one episode. One. I can still feel the emotional whiplash.

From the moment Kurt was introduced to us we were battered over the head with the fact that integrity is his defining feature. He will only testify on behalf of people he believes to be innocent. Whenever one of Kurt’s current or former students was brought up, the resolution was always that there was nothing dodgy going on. Diane directly asked him if he had slept with any of his students (or, at least, the ones she met in the bar) and he said no. He doesn’t lie or prevaricate on the stand, not even to protect himself. He agreed to help Alicia with a case because it was the right thing to do for the client despite the fact that Diane was unhappy about it. The only times we have ever seen him compromise himself then Diane was always the deciding factor; showing her the demonstration in ‘Running’ because of his feelings for her, and then later on, in season seven, agreeing to testify the way Diane wanted him to. (Interestingly enough, both of these incidents backfired on him spectacularly.)

Now, Kurt may only have been a supporting character of a supporting character on TGW but it still amounts to seven years worth of consistent characterisation down the drain for the writers to then say ‘oh actually he was a total hypocrite all along’. Because where does it end? If he lied once, then it’s feasible he lied a million times. And not only does this go for the affair itself but why did he not tell Diane about it immediately after it happened? Expecting me to believe that Kurt slept with Holly is almost beyond my comprehension but to then take it further and expect me to buy that he kept it a secret is just… madness. Keeping quiet about it is both completely out of character and really, really stupid; he knows Diane is whip-smart, it’s one of the reasons he fell for her after all, so why wouldn’t she be able to work it out? If we in hindsight say that Kurt was willing to lie on the stand when she asked because he was feeling guilty about the affair, then wouldn’t this be relatively apparent to his wife, if not at that moment then at some later point? He would realise this. He’s not an idiot. And not only was she bound to find out about it, considering the world in which these characters live and Diane’s position in it, there was always a strong possibility that it would happen in a really public horrific way. (Another reason I hate the writers btw is because Diane and Kurt had so many cute moments in court during their relationship and now that’s all tainted. And it also plays like a kind of nasty bizarro symmetry, considering the fact that Diane and Kurt’s relationship was initially outed in court when Kurt was testifying. I can’t even imagine deciding to write something that on the nose and crass.) I’m not saying that Kurt should have been expected to know that Alicia would be able to make the assumption of an affair having occurred and then stoop low enough to use that hunch in court, but I never got the impression that Kurt liked or trusted Alicia AT ALL. So again, I ask, why wouldn’t he consider this as a possibility? The only conclusions I am able to draw from this is that he’s either stupid (which we know he’s not) or callous, which is ridiculous because we know that he loves Diane. So… what am I supposed to think? Don’t the Kings realise what they’ve done? The affair plot completely undermines the entirety of Diane and Kurt’s relationship and by extension Diane herself somewhat. And considering they were planning a spinoff featuring Diane at the same point when they were writing the end of TGW, it seems insane that they would want to damage her character like this. Why did she marry him? Was she just wilfully blind to what he was really like? Did she not see it? Or was the affair supposed to be a random moment of weakness in reaction to a kind of emotional neglect and therefore more understandable (if still utterly ridiculous)? Wasn’t their attraction to each other based on the fact that despite their many ideological differences they each found many admirable qualities in the other person; Kurt’s Tea Party Republican schtick didn’t matter to Diane in the face of what a good and honourable man he was. Right? But if he doesn’t have his integrity then… what is the relationship based on? Sexual attraction? I don’t know. I genuinely can’t understand why the writers would want to throw it all away in the manner that they did. Was it really because of TGF? Or was it because by late season seven of TGW Diane and Kurt’s marriage was the only healthy and beautiful thing the show had left in it with any depth, and the Kings had run out of things to burn? If it’s the former, then it’s annoying, because as I’ve already pointed out, Diane’s situation in the TGF didn’t really require the sacrifice of her marriage. If it was the latter then I don’t know what to say other than TGW was ending and there was more than enough drama that could have been created around Alicia, who was the star of the show, without involving Diane. It’s not like the writers devoted that much time and energy to her in the last couple of seasons anyway and I think it was incredibly disrespectful to mess with Diane’s character just so the weird slap framework could play out. I genuinely believe that Diane would have been above all that shit anyway. I also think that if the writers had bothered to spend more time developing Diane’s character, and by extension Kurt, then maybe they would never have had to resort to such a poorly planned storyline in the first place. But obviously this was never going to happen on The Alicia Show.

Now, talk of character development leads me to the state of McHart in TGF. Look, part of me is just grateful they wrote Kurt into it, I was half-convinced that they were going to give Diane a clean romance slate for the new show. But now that they have actually allowed a situation where we could, and should, get some resolution to the affair storyline, they’ve basically done the exact opposite. Having said that, yes, I admit it: I loved seeing them together in ‘Inauguration’. I was ready for it but I wasn’t ready for it. Seeing him waiting outside her house, being almost unbearably Kurt-like, filled me with joy. (It’s a weird phenomenon but when I think about McHart in my general life, post TGW, it really stresses me out because of what was done to them, but then when I see them onscreen I can barely remember what bothered me so much; the way he looks at her, so intently, like he’s constantly trying to figure her out and the way Diane changes in Kurt’s presence, the way she emotionally opens up like a flower - they are just meant to be.) And while I knew the conversation they were about to have wouldn’t be particularly pleasant, in a lot of ways it felt okay, he was there for her, she kind of allowed him to be, she let herself be vulnerable with him despite everything. It was definitely better than many of the scenarios I had envisioned during the hiatus. The fact that she wanted Kurt to be the one to initiate divorce proceedings was a positive sign, clearly she wasn’t ready to let go of their marriage entirely despite her insistence that the relationship was over. I was interested in Kurt’s assertion that in his view he’d never left Diane and also his reaction when Diane pointed out that he had because of the affair with Holly. He actually seemed kind of… annoyed? I don’t know? Was he tired of having it thrown in his face? Does he think it’s an unreasonable thing for her to say at this juncture? Weird, because it’s really not, even if it did happen a year ago. Diane just seemed resigned and tired, and this could indicate that they’ve talked about the affair endlessly with constantly diminishing returns, but it’s more likely that it was a reaction to all the other bad things that had happened to her already that episode. We’re not told how often they’ve seen each other since the end of TGW, if they have at all, although the nature of their interactions in this episode suggests that they have at least spoken from time to time. It’s hard to tell though, they’ve always been able to fall seamlessly back into casual intimacy after a long time apart. Nor do we have any idea as to what the confrontation that they must have had after the scene in court back in TGW was like. Did she ask him why he did it? What did he say? Did he give her an explanation for anything? We don’t know because the writers chose to tell us exactly nothing. Kurt wasn’t exactly remorseful, but again, it’s been a year, he can’t make his whole life about a mistake he made. The problem is, since we haven’t seen these characters since ‘End’, the affair is fresh in the audience’s memory and it seems like we’re only getting half a story. I mean, if McHart is going to carry on being Diane’s primary romantic relationship in TGF then these are pretty important problems to be glossing over.

After this Diane and Kurt seemed to fall back into their old pattern; he reaches out to her, she gets swept up in it, and then she pulls back. Of course, it’s different now, she has an actual concrete reason to be hesitant with him. But they didn’t discuss it, of course! I’m not even saying this is out of character behaviour, but it is frustrating to watch.

Which leads me to ‘Chaos’, and this is where my problem actually lies. I know, I know, they reconciled; and it was lovely, and Diane was adorable in the hospital, and Kurt told her he loved her, and ‘Wild World’ played but… I’m sorry, the set up for the reconciliation irritated me. Juxtaposing Kurt’s ‘everyday heroism’ with Diane being morally compromised because of her job is pretty dreadful, especially if this incident is what leads to Diane deciding that she can now be with him again, in whatever capacity. For starters, I don’t see how Kurt rescuing a baby gets him off the hook for the affair; one has nothing to do with the other. We already know Kurt’s generally a decent guy (or at least we thought we did), this is not some shocking revelation. Or is the carjacking supposed to prove to us/Diane that Kurt really is a cowboy after all? Secondly, of course Diane has to make compromises as a lawyer, she’s been doing the job a long time, and therefore has probably come to terms with and found a way to compartmentalise most moral qualms she may have; I don’t see why Kurt putting himself in danger selflessly would make her feel bad about what she does. And thirdly, I can totally see why Kurt having to go to hospital and Diane not knowing the extent of his injuries would lead her to put the feelings she had for him in perspective; he may have betrayed her but she doesn’t want to lose him forever, obviously. However, was it necessary for the writers to artificially rush their reconciliation with this? They haven’t worked through anything as far as we know; Diane clearly still seems incredibly hesitant about moving forward with their relationship, she tells him he hurt her and he says ‘it won’t happen again’. Umm… okay? Is that it? Why won’t it happen again? I mean really why should we trust this statement? It would help if I knew why the affair happened in the first place, and what Kurt feels about it. But since I don’t and the show doesn’t seem inclined to tell me, the only thing I know is that Kurt had an affair and then lied by omission about it for an unspecified period of time. I want to trust him and I want Diane to be able to trust him again, but the writers have to give us something to go on other than his previous good character and unrelated acts of heroism.

Interestingly, writing this has made me feel better about McHart than I have for a year, it’s still much harder to ship them now though. If anyone has anything to add to what I’ve said or wants to take issue with something I’ve written then please feel free to say your piece.

[ceciliaerik-blog]

Task 1;;

—— ❝ let’s start off easy. tell me the basics. ❞

[ name ] Cecilia Alexandra Erikkson

[ date of birth ] July 6th

[ place of birth ] Stockholm, Sweden

[ age ] 18

[ religion ] Lutheran

[ marital status ] Single

[ occupation / title ] Queen of Sweden

[ gender identity ] Female

[ allegiance ] Her allegiance lies with Sweden and what is best for her country, which right now means peace

[ spoken language(s) ] Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, Danish, English, Italian, Spanish, and German.  She’s currently working on Russian, Polish, and French.

[ special skill(s) ] Multi-lingual, extremely good at picking out accents, well-read, needlework, mathematics, charismatic, horseback riding, and violin

—— ❝ what of your family ?? are they still alive ?? ❞

[ father ] King Christian Alexander Erikkson (deceased)

[ mother ] Queen Dagny Cecilia Lundquist (deceased)

[ sibling(s) ] none

[ children ] none

—— ❝  now let’s paint a picture of you. ❞

[ height/weight ] 5′5″/125lbs

[ built ] slender with slight curves

[ hair color ] Blond

[ eye color ] Blue

[ accent ] a thick Swedish accent

[ voice ] Has a second soprano voice and speaks on the softer side

[ style of speech ] She speaks at a moderate speed, making sure to enunciate when she can so people can understand her through her accent.

[ scars ] none

[ abnormalities ] none

[ clothing ] prefers lighter colors such as baby blue, lavender, and periwinkle

—— ❝ tell us, what kind of person are you ?? ❞

[ star sign ] Cancer

[ alignment ] Neutral Good

[ enneagram type ] The Loyalist

[ color personality ]   you are aqua #00FFFF

Your dominant hues are green and blue. You're smart and you know it, and want to use your power to help people and relate to others. Even though you tend to battle with yourself, you solve other people's conflicts well. Your saturation level is very high - you are all about getting things done. The world may think you work too hard but you have a lot to show for it, and it keeps you going. You shouldn't be afraid to lead people, because if you're doing it, it'll be done right. Your outlook on life is very bright. You are sunny and optimistic about life and others find it very encouraging, but remember to tone it down if you sense irritation.

[ what plant(s) best represent you ]

Chamomile: Easy-going, friendly and well liked, you’ve got a gentle and sweet nature and a calming presence that puts others at ease. Your sensitivity to others may cause you to take on too much of other people’s feelings, though, and you may even be prone to worry.

Fennel:  You’re quiet, sometimes shy, with a tendency to be reserved. You have a humble, kind nature and often find yourself taking care of others. You can be known to hold things in, and you don’t always speak up for yourself. This tendency to hold things in can lead to disturbances.

Peppermint:  Unflappable. You are cool in the crisis, calm in the storm, collected amongst the chaos. You’re a breath of fresh air, a waft of inspiration to the down-and-out, a refreshing, inspiring, uplifting person to be around. Of course, even a cool cucumber like yourself can run into trouble. You may try to take on too much, which can leave you feeling weighed down and not quite yourself.

[ theme/character song ] TBD

—— ❝ do you have anything more you wish to say ?? ❞

As much as she tries to be mature, an immature temper can sometimes slip through.

She just really cares about her people and their opinion of her.  She wants them to like her and think well of her.

She’s thought about getting married, but she feels like she has a lot more freedom since she is the Queen Regent to decide whom she wants to marry for herself.

[raeseddon]

Baka-Tsuki is a gift. I've been tearing through the Ghost Hunt light movels and loving how much more insight and depth there is to the characters. It mskes the fact that the anime never really had time to focus on anyone but Mai, Naru and to a certain degree Masako a real shame. In the anime Hosho, Ayako and John have a lot of moments where they feel like set dressing instead of characters.

Interestingly, Hosho can come off as downright hostile towards Ayako in the novels where in the anime she's seen as the instigator of most of their arguments. His crictisms of her in the novel version of the anime finale case are a lot more harsh. Instead of just questioning her usefulness he questions her faith itself (which, he's one to talk, Mr. "I couldn't listen to music at the temple so I left.") And Ayako insists a lot more strongly earlier on that she can be useful because 'the conditions are right.' Her eventual explaination of her powers and her idea of faith is fascinating and deeply complex compared to the others, and gives a much better idea of why she puts up with the shit she does from Hosho (up to a point.) She's had no formal training; she's a doctor but still considers herself more of a miko anyway as she was 'taught from the source' so to speak. The woman is so used to being called a lair and a fake that she doesn't even try to really defend herself (though it still hurts and she'll still snap at people for it) instead, she waits to go all out for the times she knows she'll suceed. To his credit, once he does see her really work Hosho lets up on Ayako significantly.

John too is illuminated a lot more in the novels, mostly through exploring the limits and upper thresholds of his spiritualist powers. His primary usefulness in the novels is that he's the only one who can consistently and safely exorcize living things-- the others have some severe limitations where that's concerned (Ayako hasn't practiced it much, Hosho sticks in inanimate objects and directly exorcizing the spirits themselves, and Lin can only exorcize if he knows the identy of the posessing spirit.) John also falls into the role of team diplomat when things get a little to ugly between either Mai and Naru or Hosho and Ayako. Interestingly, he doesn't question Ayako's power as much as Hosho does, which alludes a lot to something they both have in common-- neither of them are formally trained. Whether John admits it or not, Hosho points out the litany of things that don't add up about John and put him more in Ayako's category than anything. First and foremost, the Church does not condone exorcisms lightly, if at all and there's a lot of paperwork involved in sanctioning one. Secondly, a single ritual exorcism takes several takes to prepare for-- there's a fasting period-- thirdly while he makes it sound very convincing, half the time John doesn't even read the right passages-- he gets most of his material from a 1978 translation of sections of the Gallacian Bible, not the King James. Another thing the anime comes close to totally overlooking about John is that he's really perceptive. He's the one, that-- after dancing around some more outlanish theories about what's going on in the Bloodstained Labyrinth-- is able to hit the nail on the head. Along with Yasu, he's the one to figure out just how complex the mansion really is. (Which, 90% of that novel is the SPR teams going around measuring shit but once they figure it out oi. There's a very House of Leaves feel to the place.) Although the novels never really tell John' whole story, it really jut makes it a shame that the anime barely scratched the surface.

Another character the novels dig a lot deeper into is Yasuhara, who due to his late introduction (compatively) barely gets a chance in the anime. (Although the few he gets are either comedy gold or leave you going ow.) Yasu's a hell of a lot more of an unapologetic nerd in the novels and while he can pull off that brazen self confidence rather naturally it has a very defined limit. He's also the one who, after the shit hits the fan in the finale case forces himself along to confront Okubo-sama because "there needs to be a rescue team." He was convinced (not wrongly) that things were going to go very, very badly and that they'd need someone there to drag the others to safety. (This backfires horrendously when he tries to be a hero and lands not only five broken ribs for his efforts but a mild case of septicimia that keeps him in the hospital almost as long as Naru-I-can-vaporize-a-deity-with-my-brain-Shibuya.) Yasu is also so smitten with Hosho in the novels it's stupid, and it makes for some exceeingly sweet moments between the two of them. (Yasu admitting the he wishes he were more mature, and being self concious of the fact that Hosho always seems to see through that unflappable megane fascade is one of the best moments in volume 7 of the light novels before things go to shit.)

There are also a number of sweet moments of him and Mai screwing around and acting like the teenagers/young adults they are that really counterpoint some of the very horrific things the two of them experience from case to case. The novels don't shy away from the fact that ghosts and spirit and the violence that often acompanies them are not the norm for Yasu and Mai, even though Mai has her foot more in the door than out, so to speak.