#wrestling with historical fashion as always

[marmartea]

Caltabellotta 1302

[lild00td00t]

Straw Hats as siblings

I promise I love Brook and Chopper, but Brook would be such a bad influence like, Chopper gives me SUCH little brother vibes. Enjoy ! ~

Luffy

• The NASTY sibling who you don’t allow in your room

• Just him standing in your doorway is enough to get crumbs in your bed

• Purposely eats your left overs. “Oh you were saving that ? Should’ve hid it better shishishi- “

• Is always somehow in some way staining your clothes or carpet

• Definitely picks his nose and rubs it on you in an argument

• A common occurrence is midnight snacking. You’re both at the fridge at midnight having a snack, just standing in the dim light of the fridge while eating shredded cheese together

Zoro

• The older brother that your friends all crush on, sleep overs and the biggest hang out space is your house

• His room smells. I said what I said.

• ALWAYS working out

• is the embodiment of “ stay out of my room or you die “

• you can convince him to do stuff for you and your friends with alcohol

• He probably buys you and your friends alcohol if you ask too -

• Has mean nicknames for you

• Whenever he wants the last of something he’ll make you arm wrestle him for it, knowing that he’ll win every time, he’s such a meanie

Sanji

• After you get into a fight minutes later he’s knocking at your room… “you hungry ?“

• Definitely flirts with your friends mom

• Packs the cutest lunch for you every day and leaves a small note that probably has something cheesy written on it

• Always offering to make you snacks

• Will definitely comfort with you food

• When you get sick, he will not let you do ANYTHING, he takes care of you and nurses you back to health

Ussop

• Tells you so many stories, whether they’re true or not is debatable but he ALWAYS has something new to tell you

• He’s your partner in crime. When you two get in trouble you both either go down together or lie your way out

• You have a secret handshake or a made up language, everyone thinks it’s dumb but you guys know that they’re probably just jealous they don’t have something as cool as you 😎

• Loves doing arts and crafts with you, teaches you to make extremely cool crafts

• Definitely helps you sneak out of the house to go out with friends, he’d be a cool brother like that

Nami

• ALWAYS “borrowing” your stuff without asking, mainly clothes

• Keeps a list of how much money you borrow from her

• helps you do your makeup before you go out, she’s probably the one who teaches you about how to apply it and what to wear fashion wise

• Writes down EVERYTHING you have ever done to her. Yknow how people keep screen shots ? Nami keeps a small book of everything you’ve done to her, and will ALWAYS find a reason to use it in an argument

• Extremely over protective, investigates people before you affiliate yourself with them

• Definitely gives amazing relationship advice

• Gossiping with you is a common occurrence

• If your ex was ever horrible to you she would blackmail TF out of them

Robin

• Helps you with your homework, if there’s something you don’t understand she’ll help you until you do !

• Always having lunch with you, she brings you food when you’re at school

• Loves helping you clothes shop, she’ll give her opinion when asked but she just enjoys being out with you

• Tells you facts out of nowhere, the room will be silent and all the sudden she’s like busting out some historical fact

• She also probably buys the sister bracelets or the necklaces like they have at Claires, she proudly shows it off like the best big sister ever <3

• Definitely scares off creepy guys or girls from you, she’s always looking out for you

Franky

• SO competitive, everything you two do is a sibling rivalry. Who finishes their food first ? Who can get the most compliments on their new hairstyle ? Everything is a competition between you two !

• In all seriousness he’s an amazing brother, he’s always striving to make you smile or happy

• Checks the oil in your car, but complains the whole time about how you don’t take care of your stuff

• He’s usually driving you everywhere, he was probably the one who taught you how to drive

• If ANYTHING happens with your car, TV, stove, toilet, he’s the first person you call, he usually knows exactly how to fix whatever it is

• Would definitely threaten your S/O to take care of you, probably threatens to put sugar in their gas tank if anything happens to you-

• Also the first person you ask to open something

Chopper

• “ mom said it’s MY turn on the Xbox “

• He gives me major little brother vibes, I have a feeling he’d high key be a tattle tale-

• LOVES when you play games with him, now when he loses ? That’s a different story, I feel like he’s the type of sibling that cries in monopoly because he has no money :(

• Loves asking you random questions

• You two are always snacking together

• Also study sessions are common with you guys

• When you get sick, funnily enough he’s the one taking care of you, always bringing you hot soup or tea with an ice pack for your fever, he’ll make sure you don’t feel alone while you’re sick <3

Brook

• Bad influence

• Like Zoro, he would probably buy you and your friends beer if you asked

• Would read your diary, 100%

• Definitely the brother that your friends think is super cool and laid back

• Tries to teach you how to play guitar or piano

Jimbei

• The responsible sibling, he’s always packing your lunch, taking you to school, scheduling appointments, taking you to practice, he’s pretty much the reason you’re always on time and prepared

• Checks your homework when you’re finished

• he’s also extremely polite!When meeting your friends parents they absolutely adore him, I imagine that polite nature also rubs off on you which makes Jimbei so proud

[casketjones]

I'm not sure how to info dump for a bunch of character concepts in a way that's digestible but eh whatever

Concept work for a group of mafia hitwomen and their long suffering handler. They're likely going to be used in a underground illegal wrestling ring arc because that's all I really want in my media.

This post plus additional sketches and more background info will be going up on my patreon and kofi tomorrow.

more under the cut,

They're all vampires that I really cooked up to test a concept for vamps for my comic project. Based on a blood sucking animal and a historical anti-vampire burial method, some of the burial methods are gonna be pushed and fibbed because there's not that many of them. so yeah incidental vampires will have a cage motif even tho I know good and well that cages were to prevent resurrection men getting in not vampires getting out. I feel that's thematically close enough. There's so many really good sanguivore animals out there these are maybe too safe even.

The other thing I really wanted to accomplish with these designs is targeting lesbians, hey ladies these are for you. How am I doing?

going left to right here we got

Flea- She's a Flea I tried taking a lot from Blake's Ghost of a Flea but I don't think it comes through. Her grave-shackle is that scythe coming out her shoulder, it's maybe a bit of a stretch, the real thing was buried in the ground next to the corpse so if it rose it would decapitate itself but I didn't really want to complicate the design with a bunch of dirt or something. Regardless I like her design a lot. Short hairy goblin of a woman, someone stop me from naming her Puce.

Mosquito- Her hair took a little bit to sort out, it used to be real bad but this mess is perfect. Horrible 90's stylized part call back, reminiscent of boxer braids while being ostentatious enough to work in any setting. That cool bangle is her grave-shackle, an actual shackle this time. Her build was immediate, huge arms, weird long butt, perfection. She's the easiest to dress which isn't that surprising considering shes thinner but usually big arms are really difficult in women's wear. Flea is actually the second easiest to dress. There's gotta be a better name than Malaria, but i could call her Mal.

Geo(?)- small mafia man, constantly put upon, constantly behind the 8-ball with upper management; you know the type. The other guys definitely tell him he's lucky all the time but they'd never switch assignments with him. Why is he so small? because I can do whatever i want. His name might be Geoffrey.

Lamprey- Went through the most iterations, was very hard to piece together a woman this disaster lesbian. The spike through the heart, traditionally meant to keep the alleged vampire pinned to the ground was always part of the design, so was the long neck and heart lipstick, the hook earring came and went. Everything else was difficult; general build was pretty similar but i didn't actually work until I gave her a gut and dropped her waist. I used to have gill markings on her neck that looked like vampire bite marks and that took a while to give up but that hair is too good. She probably will end up being named Nakkila, it's a Finnish town with lamprey on their crest.

Leech- Took just two stabs to get her hair, body and face where I wanted it. Those bright red eyebrows work so well to subtly mimic leech markings, her hair shapes are perfect and I love drawing them. It's hard to tell at this size but her lips are sewn together which works almost too well for the theming, the cartoon jack'o lantern shape just sits right on a leech. Being built like a brick shithouse with fantastic fat rolls really gives the body diversity in the group the punch it needs. But dear god in heaven she is so hard to dress! I'm liking this dress a moderate amount right now and I really love the shoes but it's not perfect. I've tried suits instead, I've down active wear, all crazy difficult. It's like fashion doesn't want to accentuate horizontal stripes on large bodies or something? I gotta keep trying on it. I've almost convinced myself to name her Annelid.

[bump1nthen1ght]

feel free to ignore but i would love to know if you have other characters that are drogo's workmates? i just love the setting of it all (drogo my beloved!! 😔🤝)

Oooh this was such a fun request anon! Hope y'all enjoy some general headcanons about Drogo's coworkers. If you're interested for more just let me know!

(And if you have no clue who were talking about, heres the link to the headcanons about our resident demon Drogo!

Headcanon 1

Headcanon 2

Headcanon 3

Drogo's Coworkers: Belz and Rory Headcanons!

Belz (He/they)

Belz is the champion of smooth talking clients, even among his fellow sex-demon coworkers. They always have a way of getting customers to extend their time, knowing exactly what to say to make them wanting more

Bright blue skin and horns that curl back into his messy, shag hair. Definitely one of those people that can hop right out of the shower and their hair looks perfect

On the smaller side of sex demons because he’s actually half-human! Belz is around 5’9 with a lithe body

(Their mom is this sweet baker who fell in love with their biker incubus dad. Though according to his parents, the baker is the wilder of the two 👀)

Their day job is as an art teacher at a rec center and the local community college.

(Definitely the teacher everyone has a crush on. His billowy tops and boho pants make him feel like a love interest you’d run away to Greece with)

Will flirtatiously offer to be your nude subject if you ever want to practice figure drawings ;).

But then will genuinely paint the most beautiful portrait of you when they feel most inspired. It could be as simple as you sitting in the couch in your undies, but he’ll make you feel like a Renassaince muse.

Secret passion: Rodents, especially his two pet rats, Benny and Jet

Once when they were drunk they tried to call out to an opossum and keep it as pet, Drogo had to pull them away as they cried saying “Look at its little face!!”

Bond with his pets and you’ll be one of their favorite people, period. They’ll gush about their whole life history and how much work he’s put in their rat enclosure.

Like Drogo is very flirtatious with his tail, often holding out your wrist or wrapping around the meat of your thigh as he pats you in the butt

Ror’aman/Rory (She/Her)

Built like a brick SHITHOUSE; I’m talking 6’3, arms like carved marble, and thighs that could split a watermelon open

Bright Lavender skin and long, tall horns. Has thick, wavy black hair that she loves wear loose

Specializes in mommy-dom stuff, mostly because of her deep and raspy voice, but it’s aggressively caring demeanor that gets her the nickname ‘Mama’ in the office

One of her favorite hobbies is sewing; Not only can she make her own sexy outfits but she also has a passion for historical fashion. Going to a Ren Faire with her is a delight.

Loves to dress you up in the outfits she’s made, even having tailoring sessions where she can customize stuff to look absolutely perfect.

Her main source of income is as a personal trainer. She’s mastered the mix of encouraging and fierce where she can push you to your limits yet make you feel confident.

(Also has killer gym fits. All the matching sets that hug her body perfectly)

Like many Succubi, she is super touchy feely. She’ll randomly pet the top of your head or rub the back of your neck, not even realizing the shivers running down your spine

Will scratch the base of your skull with her long acrylic nails, pat your lower back, before giving a soft little kiss on your temple

(I mean c’mon who wouldn’t be like “Mommy 😳”)

Hardest part of staying over at her place? She has a tall person’s shelves, meaning you need a step stool to get everything. Or, she can pick you up by your hips and put you on the counter 😉

Takes play wrestling very seriously. You’ll be trying to grapple her with half strength and she’ll go between your legs and throw you over her shoulder like a fresh hunt, before supplexing you onto the bed

(She sees no problem with this: Fight the bull you get the horns 😤)

[kiradical]

Beep boop this is my personal main blog. This blog is full of nonsense and ramblings. Mostly reblogs.

Here you’ll find:

•Politics (acab, blm, eat the rich, etc. if you scroll for a bit I’m sure you can figure out what my personal political beliefs are)

•Stuff about poverty (usually this is my own personal ramblings about my situation but I do also share resources and such when I can)

•History (general (but mostly stuff relating to historical figures and eras I like), art, fashion)

•Occasional religious stuff (either me talking about it or sharing others posts)

•Wrestling (mostly wwe, and mostly Rhea Ripley)

•Cross stitch (and fiber arts in general)

•Art

•lots of random reblogs that are anything from aesthetic to just silly posts I found. This blog is and always has been a fucking mess and I ain’t gonna fix it now

I don’t usually post adult things here (I have a side blog for that) but sometimes it makes it’s way over here and so for that reason this blog is 18+

If you see me interacting with your horny blog or whatever but not reblogging, it’s probably going on my sideblog (I also queue and save to drafts sometimes too).

My tags are mostly for my own use to find things later, but tags that might be useful to you if you want specific things are: #personal, #me, #historical fashion, #cross stitch, #fiber art, #art, #art history, #history, #witchcraft.

The "mine" tag is safe to reblog. It's literally just my silly little thoughts or something not terribly personal to me that I think folks might relate to. But unless you're a mutual responding to my post, please don't reblog posts tagged as "personal."

If we are mutuals feel free to message me anytime, otherwise ask box is open (sometimes anon is on sometimes off), but don’t be rude or weird cuz I’ll just block it and delete it and you’ll never get to see a response. I like talking to people and making new friends.

I live in extreme poverty currently and am struggling to even get groceries. If you are feeling inclined to help me it is much appreciated. My cashapp is $kiradical (message me for anything else). Thank you. Every single dollar helps keep me and my cats fed. 💚

[kitwilsonsass]

I was left with the impression that Elton's injury actually added to PD's popularity. I mean, the way WWE milked it and made those hilarious videos and interviews about Elton's recovery I thought a lot of people enjoyed the comedy. However, I agree that comedy can be overused and become an obstacle down the line for them to be taken more seriously and not just as the goofy mischievous tag team. They also strike me as very hard working and dedicated guys. It seems to me that they have come a long way from where they began.

I'm not gonna lie, I really like their image and roles they play. It's sad that some people don't get it and find them annoying. Actually, the biggest criticism I've seen so far is not so much about the comedy aspect but the fact that they are flamboyant and care about fashion and style which for some "fans" is "too gay" and PD are "woke" and "WWE is pushing LGBT propaganda" etc. There's definitely a lot of toxicity in the wrestling fandom.

Lol, them doing the Dirty Dancing lift in front of their gfs does not srprise me at all. 😂😂 I expect nothing less from them. 😂

Also, why are there so many wrestlers in WWE nowadays? Has it always been like this? I mean, just browsing through their YT channel or IG account makes my head hurts.

If PD get a new storyline to work with, what do you think it will be? Or more importantly what do you want it to be?

It helped in the sense that it kind of gave people a really good taste of the kind of personality they could provide (and it was extremely needed at that time due to other events), and the #EltonStrong thing was fun, but it kind of wore off quick. Unfortunately they were fighting the same team for... a long... long time. It just got kind of played out and they didn't really have anyone else to face. And that + repeated matches with no real time to do much = stale quick.

I think the comedy aspect isn't so bad with fans, it's more than historically the company itself tends to kind of... treat the talent as a joke as whole and oversimplify the characters. But management's changed recently, so, high hopes.

The "too w0ke" stuff is funny because on the flip side, you see some people who are like "THIS IS CONTROVERSIAL! GOLD!" like make up your minds, lmao. It's also funny because the pretty boy in a MAN'S MAN WORLD has been a chracter type since wrestling began and was still in black and white. So people being like WHAT HAS IT BECOME!!! is like wow, way to admit you know absolutely nothing.

Roster is pretty big. Too big. The rosters are separate for the shows, but there's still a lot of people that don't get screentime unfortunately.

I'm hoping they face DIY, because I think they'd have some genuinely great matches. There was also this whole bit with Elton thinking, somehow, that one was the other's father - and upon being corrected decided they're "each others dads" and I just.... need to delve deeper into this. Tell me your weird daddy issues, Mr. Prince.

[profutured]

Okay, so! Team Star HCs bc I have the brainrot:

Eri is a dog enjoyer. She has a Lucario of her own that she babies like there's no tomorrow, and she especially loves the more strong-looking dogs. Think Maschiff, Granbull, or Poochyena. That's not to say she won't adore a Fidough or Yamper, however! She loves all puppies.

She never felt confident in herself before Team Star. Though she was never bullied before her time in Uva Academy, she always preferred to keep to the sidelines and mind her business. Her transition into 'Infernal Eri', a permanent adoption of her wrestling moniker and luchador mask, came because it was the only way she could find the courage to defend herself. If she saw her bullies as just another opponent to beat, rather than as classmates and people she'd hoped would be her friend, it made it much easier to push back against their efforts and stand up to them when necessary.

Her popularity among the Caph Squad comes because she's... genuinely sweet. She's a kind leader and is always ready to throw herself into battle rather than let her girlies take the hit for her, and she's easily the most forgiving of the Team Star bosses. She instantly forgave Carmen, the girl who started off her bullying to begin with, and welcomed her into Team Star once the students turned on her instead. The two are best friends.

Eri loves to teach, and thinks she might want to become some sort of sports instructor some day. The Caph base is often hosting some sort of event, be it makeup or hairstyling parties, or intense, hours-long sessions on how to battle, wrestle, or spar with an opponent.

She's a huge fan of Alola's Masked Royal. Eri hopes she can battle him one day.

Atticus' real name is Henzo Shūmei. His family are from Johto originally, and Atticus spent some time training under the Elite Four's Koga before he left for Paldea. It's here that he got his Poison-type talent and knowledge, as well as a more in-depth education on what it meant to have ninja ancestors and how to actually fight like one.

He always planned to quit battling and study fashion once he finished his core education, specifically historical fashion and how to design his own inspired pieces. However, he was nervous about how his parents would take the news, especially after all the trouble they'd gone through to secure him a place as one of Koga's students, and he never ended up telling them before he left.

His decision to leave behind his 'real' name was a way to cut himself free of these worries and focus on being true to himself. It's also why he covers most of his face and speaks in deliberately old-fashioned ways - it's an attempt at anonymity and presenting as someone new. He's not Henzo anymore, he's Atticus!

Though his role as the Navi Camp's boss means that he devotes a lot of himself to improving his battles, it's still not his primary passion. He's much happier as the designer for Team Star's custom outfits, and frequently takes on requests for new variations and matching accessories. He took inspiration from Galar's Dynamax phenomenon and made Penny an even fluffier G-Max Eevee backpack, though he's yet to actually give it to her.

Once the game's events have occurred and they start returning to classes, Atticus works closely with Director Clavell to design an appropriate uniform head covering. He understands he can't turn up in his full poison-themed outfit, no matter how much he might want to, but he's not stepping foot in a classroom until he can keep at least a little of his anonymity safe.

[angelsnuffbox]

Hello dear!

For the ask game:

An Inducement to Marry.

1-15? If you don't mind?

And if you see this then I want you to know that I love every single one of your fics! ❤

Ask me about any of my fics x

Omg thank you so much! It boggles my mind to think that you actually read all of them goshhh all my good words as well as my weird ones. Seriously thank you for putting up with them.

An Inducement to Marry isn't a fic that I usually get asked about, but I remember I had a blast writing it! I'm flattered you'd bring it up <3 It's been a while though, so forgive me if my memory lapses a little on this.

1: What inspired you to write the fic this way?

Iirc this was my second Regency AU so at the time I was just getting into writing regencyAU fics for Good Omens and it was pandemic lockdowns and I was at the height of my Jane Austen obsession. I was reading so many books on Regency era customs and culture and I wanted to read regency AUs of A/C so badly but there weren't any of them at the time, so I wrote my own.

2: What scene did you first put down?

I write all the scenes in all my fics in the same order they occur in the story! (With the exception of Strictly Business, which I have had to wrestle with for a bit for various reasons).

3: What’s your favorite line of narration?

I remember really liking all the parts where I went into great detail about how attractive Aziraphale was lmao here's one of them in the opening scene:

Mr Fell was also a right stunner, with eyes bright as Tadfield's perfect summer skies and hair soft as its perfect winter's snow. His countenance was strong. He had a stable, stocky build blanketed by the comfortable, if a bit old-fashioned, textiles of his clothing... A perfectly pleasing man, he was, though one who lived only with his mind in his books even when his hands were completely devoid of them.

4: What’s your favorite line of dialogue?

From Chapter 9 there's a part where Aziraphale gives Crowley a kiss on the cheek for good luck in his gambling which he says was "In the spirit of keeping you within marriageable conditions" idk why but I thought it's such a funny thing for him to say at the time. Just the most Aziraphale excuse to kiss Crowley ever.

5: What part was hardest to write?

The confession scene with the illumination! It was so emotionally charged and one of the few scenes that made me actually cry as I wrote them.

6: What makes this fic special or different from all your other fics?

I think it's the most Georgette Heyer-ish thing I ever wrote. The plot is a bit more complex than my usual no frills fluff (romance, comedy, banter, adventure). If I ever fulfil my (totally unrealistic) dream of being a published historical romance fiction writer one day I imagine the story would have these exact vibes.

7: Where did the title come from?

It was remixed from a line that Emma Woodhouse says in the beginning part of Jane Austen's 'Emma'. In the novel she says something like "My being charming is not quite enough to induce me to marry". In the 2020 film the line goes "I have none of the usual inducements to marry. Fortune I do not want. Consequence I do not want."

8: Did any real people or events inspire any part of it?

The part where Aziraphale talks about a romance book he likes with the line that goes something like 'For the heart has always bested the mind in performance', I made up the novel title and quotations myself but the themes were based off of Jane Austen's 'Persuasion'. I also mentioned "The Beau" in one part I think, which refers to Beau Brummell, a major arbiter of English mens fashion around the 1810s.

9: Were there any alternate versions of this fic?

None! I plotted it out on a discord chat from start to finish one lazy afternoon and it behaved exactly like I plotted, thankfully.

10: Why did you choose this pairing for this particular story?

Do I even write about any other pairings lmao

11: What do you like best about this fic?

See answer for no. 6!

12: What do you like least about this fic?

The opening scene is pretty hefty, and some comments did mention that they had a hard time getting past it. I was new to Regency style writing at the time and got too enthusiastic with trying it out. If I were to write that fic now I probably would be more concise about it. Also would try to make it funnier.

13: What music did you listen to, if any, to get in the mood for writing this story? Or if you didn’t listen to anything, what do you think readers should listen to to accompany us while reading?

I wrote almost all my Regency AUs while listening to the Pride & Prejudice 2005 and the Emma 2020 OSTs to get me in the old timey mood.

14: Is there anything you wanted readers to learn from reading this fic?

Cheese ice cream is valid and it's hella fuckin delicious and also coming from an Asian perspective, it's far far from being the weirdest ice cream flavour out there.

15: What did you learn from writing this fic?

That gambling culture in the Regency era was wild

[thecapitolvoice]

the results are in!

thank you all for making these people's voice awards so special. whether you voted with your gut or at random, we love you all.

and now, the reading of the votes:

Tribute Categories

Most likely to win the 132nd Games

This one is a fascinating tie between Victors: Victor Sterling and Sawyer Bell. Honorable mention goes to Juliana Carnelian, Edison Mitchell, and Rowan Durum, who all were cast a single vote. Oh well -- when Collier beats them all, you'll regret being on the wrong side of the vote.

Most likely to embarrass themselves in the Arena

This was a NAIL BITER. (And we have a lot of nail to bite.) It was like, Juliana, Ellemora, Juliana, Ellemora, back and forth, but in the end, I think we all agreed that a wannabe from Three is worse than a wannabe from One and Ellemora snagged the category. Still, I was hoping for a tie breaker, because when there are ties, they have to mud wrestle.

Most likely to absolutely slay their interview

Oddly, our loyal readers seemed to believe in quite a lot of tributes' ability to speak in front of cameras and under bright lights, despite years of proof that tributes are largely not good at this! For reasons that make no sense to me (the reasons are math), our trusty software gave Rowan Durum 34% of the vote while Edison Mitchell received 33% (AKA, clearly the same # of votes...). Kind of feeling like this software is in beta mode. Oh well. If he's not wearing assless chaps he's not slaying.

Non-Tribute Categories

Victor who wears their victorhood the best

Cress Meadowforge with a steel chair absolutely bashing the competition, proving for poor Miller that a Brick is no match for steel. We love to see it. Cress, sweaty, you're doing amazing. And you're very scary.

Most Daddy

Also known as the most consequential vote of our modern times. This was so close. In the end Dale Winter and Lex Sterling tied, but Monty, you know you always have a special place in our hearts beds.

Most decorated Panem Pioneer of them all

Little Cain Gunn!!!! I mean, I know he's all grown-up, but it just makes me so happy to see him succeeding all over again. I do want to know just how many badges he actually earned, though we all know murder ain't one of them. #oops #theresstilltime

Best dressed

It only makes sense that two of our dear Games stylists were in competition for this one, but Valentina pulled it out in the end, and we are so happy for her!! Sorry to Ramona and Rio, but it seems like at least some people think you're fashionable, so... go home happy, okay?

Worst dressed

Honestly this category is not about fashion but vibes, and you all were vibing appropriately. Poor Alder Reid, who's never received anything but praise in these glossy pages, has been chosen as the worst dressed. I for one am APPALLED that you would speak ill of him. (Rush baby I'm so sorry you were nominated but cult members are historically not flashy dressers.)

Who you'd want by your side in the Hunger Games (Career Victor Edition)

This one fascinates me. Miller Brick won, which is very excellent for him and definitely an appropriate choice, but Montgomery Cannon, whose readership supports this very periodical you're setting your eyes upon now, got no votes. How is this possible?

I mean, we also didn't vote for him. But come on. Also, those of you who voted for Ariadne are insane and I love you.

Most likely to wire-tap the Gamemakers' cell phones

Electra Conduit and Alder Reid, please come collect your handcuffs! This category was actually a trick to find out who we should arrest next. Thank you all for your participation in justice.

And finally

Most confusingly-written category

We're sorry about the Panem Pioneer thing.

Thank you again for your participation! Without you, we'd just be a pair of queens talking to ourselves. Let us know what you think of these results!

Some housekeeping: Victor & Sawyer, Rowan & Edison, Dale & Lex (especially Dale & Lex), and Alder & Electra will all be mud wrestling starting at 2pm in the training center.

[scottelkartwork]

ARTWORK

CERAMICS

Trophies to Conceptualism, 2023

Stoneware ceramic

Five decades of conceptualism

1917, Marcel Duchamp

1921, Man Ray

1936, Mèret Oppenhiem

1941, Pablo Picasso

1959, Robert Rauschenberg

But why does it matter? Duchamp’s act of placing a urinal on a plinth, an everyday commercially produced ceramic object which was transformed by being placed in an artistic context, given a new name, and pseudonymously signed ‘R. MUTT, ‘Fountain’ challenged the art establishment by questioning what we consider to be ‘art’, and started the dissolution of the distinction between art and life. If this was art, anything could be art! It opened the door to consider other mediums in a fine art context, such as those historically rooted in craftsmanship, like ceramics, embroidery, and fashion. Ceramics finally had its fine art breakthrough into the contemporary with UK ceramicist Greyson Perry winning UK’s prestigious art award, The Turner Prize, in 2003. By rendering the function of an object obsolete, the object moves into a space for pure aesthetic contemplation. This functional / non-functional aspect is always one ceramicists wrestle with, especially in contemporary art, and one I am exploring with this series of works. The ideas initiated by Duchamp undoubtedly changed art, and has been explored by artists and makers ever since. I have briefly highlighted some of the artists and works that have expanded upon Duchamp’s ideas, in these celebratory plates which serve as trophies to conceptualism. They are in the recognisable form of a functional plate, but they are made to be hung on a wall as a non-functional display piece.

[cowboyjen68]

Hello! I hope you’re having a wonderful day! This is a little out of the blue so let me explain a bit. I’m an AFAB androgynous bisexual. I’m currently in a queer sapphic relationship with the love of my life, who is a lesbian.

I’ve been feeling that something is missing from my identity, and that it is tied into my relationship and the role that I play within it, and I’ve been looking around for terms/labels that would fit how I feel. I connect a lot with the term Butch but I’m cautious of using it as I’m not lesbian and I don’t want to erase the history and identity of the label.

I’ve seen a lot of lesbians caution against using the label of Butch as an aesthetic, as it’s an identity and describes the relationship between sexuality, gender, presentation, relationship dynamics and more.

Im in my 20s, In a sapphic relationship for the first time and exploring a lot of things with my partner. I’m a little confused so I’m gathering information from older lesbians and sapphics where I can, and I was hoping you’d be able to answer my questions. Thank you so much, I really appreciate it!

Hello! I am having a great day, even though late fall cold weather is setting it. I am two coffees in this early morning and I am going to do my best to answer this. Please note, I am not a historian, I don't read much lesbian theory or political writings. I can and only ever come at questions from my personal expiences and from information I have learned in the long held lesbian traditional of intergenerational friendships. Basically, stories around kitchen tables and campfires give me what I draw on to respond.

I am really only seeing the term Sapphic or queer sapphic being used in the last few years so I want to make sure I am understanding you a bit better.  Sapphic was only really ever used to mean lesbian in my circles, since it refers to the first "really out and known" lesbian, Sappho the poet. But I see lately it is being used to describe any women, bi or lesbian, who is attracted to other women. And queer is a very broad term to me. My best guess is as you said you are bi and with a lesbian and sapphic queer is an more expansive definition of how you see your self in relation to your relationship with another women (your current partner). Forgive me if I misinterpret that. Androgynous seems a description of how you are perceived by others. And what aesthetic you feel comfortable presenting yourself as to the greater world. I just want to make sure I am on the same page of understanding.

Butch has always been a lesbian term in my life time.And my friends in their 80′s and 90′s are even more FIRM in the standing that butch is always, strictly lesbian. Many in fact hold very dearly to butch/femme and the connection between the two, how they are deeply interwoven. Butch is  Never used to describe the experiences or energy of bi women or anyone other than a lesbian woman. Historically, to my knowledge, it was used to boil down the experiences and perceptions and realities of masculine lebian women to one easy word that everyone understood. A simplfied descriptor to allow women who shared similar experiences to find each other and form community and be recognized as a defined group within the lesbian and great gay community. And even in the larger world.

I have seen it used as an fashion or aesthetic look as in “that is a butch hair cut” or “that suit is very butch” or “arm wrestling, how very butch”. Mostly that is the use of an understood word to convey a stereo type or humorous take on an activity or clothing an no offense should be taken. I guess because I am firm in knowing I am butch because I have shared my experiences and found others like me who relate, a little play on the word is no big deal. No one is looking at Julie Andrews in Victor Victoria in her fitted suit and thinking she is butch. But they might say “That suit is butch”. 

If yiou are bi, butch is not for you. Perhaps masc or masculine Or don’t worry about a descriptor. If the masculinity comes off with clothes or a different hair cut it is just not the same experience as a butch. If you are naturally masculine, but not a lesbian, and believe me, here in the midwest there are plenty of straight and bi  women are far and away more mascline than I am, BUT their energy is just not the same. They are rarely mistaken for men, or “not quite women” as is my experience and that of many butches. 

I would agree with you that butch is a short cut to describe presentation as it relates to our own comfort AND public perception, sometimes relationship dynamics and sexuality. The gender part was definitely something society thrust on me first. “you act like a boy” or “why do you look like a man”. Now my own LGBT community occiasionally tries to thrust gender roles on me and other butches “Butches have muscles” or “butches are supposed to be tops” (NO, LOL) or “butches love sports” (again, NO).  

Please be you and love your woman and be protective and gentle and strong. Wear what you love to wear. Love the hobbies you love and find things that fulfill you. Butch is not for you as a bi person. It is wonderful to have a wide range of friends and find the cross over of experiences. Please seek out bi women and peope  to talk to and share your ideas and stories with them. I know bisexuals can be the hidden among us but they are out there. Perhaps a few will see this thread and reach out. 

I wish you and your love all the hope and happiness you deserve. 

[blessedarethebinarybreakers]

I'm not the same anon as before but I was scrolling through like Side B/SSA catholic tumblr for a while and I feel truly terrible. then I remembered your post about just shooting you a message. My question is, when you think or believe God is LGBT affirming, how do you know you're not fashioning a God out of your own beliefs? it's a question I always hear from side b ppl and homophobes in response to affirming churches and I never know how to answer. like I'm catholic so I'm not sola scriptura and that doesn't bother me as much, but if I don't rely on tradition or the Bible then what am I relying on? I have so much faith in God, but everyone believes that their beliefs are true. Am I wrong to doubt the church tradition and should i have more faith in them to be rightly guided by God? Does trusting my own interpretation mean I'm twisting God to fit my own image? So sorry about the long ask.

cw homophobia, transphobia, queerphobia, unaffirming Christians

Hello anon! Ach ugh, I am bombarded with that accusation of "shaping God in my own image" all the dang time and it drives me up a wall.

While I acknowledge that we all have a tendency to want to find our own assumptions confirmed in scripture, I'm not the one conforming to the world's stereotypes and bigotry by casting God as a wrathful, abusive, anti-queer, white supremacist patriarch! I've been compelled to investigate and challenge my own beliefs time and time again — why don't my accusers take even a single moment to do the same with their assumptions and beliefs?

Anyway, to start with the question of rejecting tradition:

Christian tradition is so much richer and broader and more colorful than those in power want you to know!

Christians over the centuries have organized themselves into communities and relationships that many contemporary Christians would despise, as they break with heteronormative norms of the "nuclear family." Kittredge Cherry of QSpirit writes about much of this history in her articles on various Christian historical figures.

And Saints have experienced God in many-gendered ways from the start — and have experienced themselves that way too!

As Elizabeth Geitz explains,

"It is important to stress that throughout the Christian tradition, even the incarnate Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, was consistently imaged as both male and female. It is for this reason that Anglican theologian Mary Tanner stated at the Lambeth Conference of 1988 that the church needs to ‘recapture certain neglected strands of the tradition, especially from the mystics of the church, that help to point our way into the future.’

Recapturing and recovering lost tradition is what I am suggesting here, not inventing something out of whole cloth to answer only a twentieth-century concern. As committed Christians isn’t it appropriate that we teach all of the tradition of our church rather than just part of it?"

On to the next facet of your question —

Are we fashioning God in our own image / according to our own beliefs or desires?

I am told time and again that in order to believe that God affirms LGBTQA+ persons and relationships, I must "go against scripture." To the contrary, I find the God of scripture to be radically inclusive.

It’s only if you insist on a narrow reading of the Bible as the literal, inerrant word of God (and especially if you resist examining biases & failures translation) that those tiny handful of “clobber verses” require you to accept as “clear as day” that God isn’t LGBT affirming.

For my own framework of reading scripture that takes the Bible seriously but not literally, visit my webpage here. One problem I explore there is the one that Rachel Held Evans lays out in this quote:

“The truth is, you can bend Scripture to say just about anything you want it to say. You can bend it until it breaks. For those who count the Bible as sacred, interpretation is not a matter of whether to pick and choose, but how to pick and choose. We’re all selective. We all wrestle with how to interpret and apply the Bible in our lives. We all go to the text looking for something, and we all have a tendency to find it."

On that webpage, the last section responds to that accusation that “you’re just reading into the Bible what you want to believe!”

On a similar note, I’ve got an old post that explores 1. How to “know” we’re not just “justifying our sin” when we interpret God as affirming us; and 2. “If being gay is as natural and God-affirmed as being straight, why do we need to work so hard to prove it?” I direct you there for responses to those questions!

Finally, as you continue to grapple with arguments commonly made against us, I invite you to explore my rebuttals tag, where I compile responses to those common arguments. Some of the stuff in there that’s tangentially related to your questions:

I once wrote a sermon on the idea that when we give in to the idea that being LGBT is a sin, that’s “conforming to the world,” while embracing LGBT people as they are is living into God’s Kin(g)dom.

“How do you know God is okay with LGBT+ people?” Answer

Everything I thought I knew about God has changed now that I have accepted God affirms LGBT people – what do I do? / I don’t know the Bible or God like I thought I did – what do I do? Answer

This beautiful statement by Rabbi Shai Held about God’s love in the face of human rejection 

And of course, even more vital than tearing down others’ hate is to build up joy and love — so check out my #affirmation tag too, where among other things you’ll find examples of how various parts of scripture support the full affirmation and inclusion of LGBTQA+ persons.

Wishing you well, anon! Please let me know if you have more questions or requests for resources! <3

[yasminbenoit]

Yasmin Benoit Makes History in Asexual-Themed Lingerie Campaign

“At the forefront of the Asexual visibility movement is British Model Yasmin Benoit, who you’ve most likely seen online looking incredible whilst making ace-history. As the creator of #ThisIsWhatAsexualLooksLike, their work often brings light to many asexual misconceptions and shows you that being Asexual doesn’t look just one way. To celebrate Asexual Awareness Week, Yasmin has made history by collaborating with Playful Promises to create the first-ever Asexual theme lingerie campaign!” - Unite UK

What is a common misconception about asexuality that you wish to debunk?

A common misconception that I try to challenge when incorporating activism into my modelling is this pervasive idea that there's an asexual way to look or dress. It's a message I've received ever since I started being more open about my asexuality - people would say that I 'didn't look asexual.' Because I was a young Black girl, because people thought I looked nice, because I put some effort into my appearance.

There's this belief that if you're not sexually attracted to anyone, then it's either because you're sexually unattractive and no one would want you, or you should make yourself sexually unattractive, as not to attract any kind of attention. It can be quite a dangerous mentality, because it means that asexual people looking attractive is somehow extra provocative and trigger more aggression in others. This strange, frumpy asexual stereotype can make asexual people feel like they can't experiment with fashion and express themselves through it the same way as everyone else can. I don't think your sexual orientation needs to determine the way you dress.

What is the significance of having an asexual lingerie model?

Lingerie is associated with sexuality, it's seen as being a sex-positive thing and it's associated with embracing your sexuality. It's also associated with feeling sexy for other people. I think having an openly asexual model who loves lingerie, but not for sexual reasons, shows the many ways that you can appreciate these kinds of designs. It also includes asexuality within a sex-positive space, which I think is really important, as we're often left out of those because of the assumption that we have no sexuality, no sexual interests, or that we're inherently anti-sex.

It's also really significant for me personally, because queer people - particularly queer racial minorities - are taught to dim parts of ourselves to stay palatable, employable and avoid stigma in our respective industry. Being openly asexual isn't necessarily going to please everyone or make them want to work with you, it can have the opposite effect. To have the chance to to blend the theme of the asexual flag into the photo shoot for a well-established lingerie brand is amazing. I haven't seen a lingerie brand ever do that before, so it's great to be part of a historical moment. I hope it makes other asexual people feel seen and empowered.

How does lingerie help you express yourself?

I've always had quite an unusual style, I don't like limiting myself to anything. Growing up interested in alternative and gothic subculture, I always saw things like corsets, stockings, big boots and things like that as being integral parts of a cool outfit. I also used to be really into video games and professional wrestling, where the women were always wearing something very akin to lingerie and kicking ass doing it. I guess it made me associate those looks with being powerful, and it was something I wanted to incorporate into my own style. So when I wear it, I feel like I'm channelling that energy. Lingerie is the closest thing you can get to a straight-up superhero outfit without going full Comic-Con. Unfortunately, you can't walk around every day in lingerie but photo shoots give me the opportunity to experiment with it and feel like I'm capable of back-flip-karate-kicking a giant man out of an arena.

What advice would you give to someone who identifies as asexual and is yet to “come out”?

Other people's reactions to you aren't a reflection of you, it's a reflection of what they don't know. There's a chance that people will completely get it and accept it right away, and there's a chance that they won't do that, but the latter doesn't mean that it's hopeless. It takes some people a while to understand. I also recommend that asexual people yet to come out prepare themselves for doing it often, as it isn't the kind of thing you just have to do once. It can be helpful to have some resources you relate to on hand, as people sometimes understand and accept asexuality more when they can see that it's a genuine sexual orientation that other people experience, not just a random word you heard on Tumblr one time. Finally, it's important to know that coming out isn't essential. You don't have to share the intricacies of your sexuality with anyone, not everyone is entitled to that information. If you don't want to use a label or tell people about it, or if you just want to keep it on a need-to-know basis, that's your right too.

How do you wish asexual people were more included in events such as Pride?

For me, it isn't just about including ace flags in the corporate side of Pride, it's expanding our idea of what Pride is and how the asexual experience relates to it. Asexual people have always been part of Pride, we might not have experienced the same systemic oppression as other identities, but we have the similar experience of having a pathologised, stigmatised identity which has lead to us being taught that there's something inherently wrong with us. It's something we have to unlearn and Pride is all about embracing the parts of your sexuality that our society has taught us to be ashamed of. I wish that we could expand our understand of queerness outside of who wants to have sex with who and how. That way, there would be less debate about asexual inclusion and it'd happen organically, and people would put the same effort into representing the asexual community as all the others. Personally, I'd love to be able to do what I did in 2019 when I opened the first asexual bar at London Pride without our inclusion sparking questionable think-pieces about whether or not we should be allowed to be there.

Where do you want to see the Ace community in five years time?

I just hope that we get out of this weird groundhog day that we've been in for like...twenty years. Sometimes it feels like we're making progress, and we are, but at a much slower pace compared to other identities. The way we discuss sexuality has expanded a lot but it hasn't become very inclusive of asexuality yet. The kind of questions that I get as an activist now are strikingly similar to those I saw asexual activists getting in the early 2000s. We're still in a 101 introductory stage as if this orientation is some kind of new fad. I hope that in five years time, we're way past that and asexuality is more normalised. Then we can get into more interesting conversations and incorporate asexuality into how we understand sexuality in general, which will surely benefit everyone.

[theelvenhaven]

Elves Dressing Up for Halloween

Gondolin

Halloween Request:  Hello! For a Halloween request, could I ask for headcanons of what the elves of Gondolin would dress up as for a costume? Would any be extremely hesitant? Would any be receptive to couples costumes? Thank you (and if not, thanks for taking time to read this!) 😌 - @sterling-roses

* * *

Turgon

Turgon honestly isn’t one for dressing up at all on Halloween and will not be partial to even couples costuming. If anything he would much rather host a party and keep his usual attire than have to dress up as anything. Even if it is customary. 

At most you may get a masquerade mask on him and that is as far as it will go. So every year, being quite the creature of habit, he prefers to go as a King than let his hair down a little and relax. Though Turgon will support you in almost whatever costume you decide to go in AS LONG AS it is appropriate. 

Nothing inappropriate or overly sexual as Turgon is a little bit of a prude. Though he won’t fight you too hard and be considerably flustered all night over it and bite his tongue. He’ll eventually grow used to whatever costume he may not find appropriate but it certainly takes some time for him to get used to it. 

Glorfindel

Glorfindel loves dressing up, being the big ray of sunshine that he is, and has a lot of fun dressing up! He is really creative and thinks outside the box on the costume ideas that he comes up with. 

And when you ask him to dress up in couples costuming he immediately jumps at the chance to be able to do so. Glorfindel also loves to be able to help create these said out of the box costumes too. For example you have a ton of cardboard boxes at your disposal, he will absolutely spend the time to make a costume out of it. Robot? Fish tank? Washing Machine? He’ll put it together.

Glorfindel also really loves puny costume ideas too. Anything that can be a big play on words he is bound to figure out an idea for you both to wear. No matter how ridiculously cheesy that idea might be, Glorfindel will absolutely run with it. He has a blast coming up with the ideas. 

You are absolutely welcome to assist in coming up with something, Glorfindel loves to hear any of your ideas. And if you are more partial to an idea that you have, he is happy to relent to you and get your costumes put together with whatever theme you prefer. Either way, Glorfindel is just really happy to spend time with you like this!

Ecthelion

Ecthelion is pretty rigid and formal and strict, so when it comes to dressing up for Halloween, he isn’t all too elaborate in dressing up. If anything he may add an accessory or two to a really nice outfit, but it is never anything over the top. 

So when you suggest couples costuming, Ecthelion is a little hesitant to join you in any of the ideas that you might have. They might need to start off relatively conservative and more classic like Period specific costuming or Historical Figures or something Masquerade style. 

He feels a little odd all dressed up, especially since it is not the one or two accessories that might dress up his costume. But Ecthelion trusts you deeply to not put him in something ridiculous or make him look ridiculous and tries to enjoy the fun of the night all dressed up. 

I do not recommend really letting him choose in the beginning of your costume couple planning because he will not venture even into the more conservative spaces. Choosing to keep it more to what he is already comfortable with. 

Rog

Rog loves to dress up and though he does, his costumes can be pretty simple. Happy to dress up and throw together whatever he might have at home. Even if it means wearing work attire for Halloween. A blacksmith is technically a costume. 

So when you suggest couples costuming, Rog is really happy to let you take the reins and lead the way on what to dress up as! He’s a lot of fun and can easily get super into character with it. Such as if you want to dress him up like he walked right out of Woodstock 1960 and give him a few verbal cues to use, he will shamelessly use them. 

Rog’s a big ball of fun and the life of the party, and after the first time you two couples costume expect to couples costume from then on out. Cops and Robbers, Period Costuming, Heavenly Themed, Character Specific, whatever it may be he is down for it (unless it is offensive). The ellon will absolutely costume with you in those inflatable costumes and have a ball with it. Inflatable sumo or dinosaur is absolutely up for grabs. 

Just know you will probably have to have it custom made and fitted for him properly. And Rog will absolutely try to wrestle or horseplay with someone in the said inflatable costumes. Anticipate that he may go home in it with it deflated because he will eventually pop it.

Penlod

Penlod in his true fashion is dressing up as a Historical Figure. You’ve told him how costumes work and that he can be anything he wants to be, and the ellon is going to choose the most interesting Historical Figure he can. 

He will absolutely be as detailed accurate as he can be, from the costume and to the accessories. Penlod puts a lot of attention into his costume and the little pieces that bring it all together. 

Penlod will absolutely do couples costumes together, but he will not budge on it not being a historical figure. He WILL consider being a regular civilian in x time period if thats what you wish! Ancient Greece? 1400′s Renaissance? French Rocco? 1800′s? 1920′s? 50′s? You name it and he will dress up as it. He’s a sucker for histories and will happily spend time compiling a costume that is just as detailed as his!

You both will absolutely look like you’ve walked right out of the era you two dressed up as. With Penlod indulging facts about the era to anyone who will listen to him. 

Egalmoth

Egalmoth loves being able to dress up really exquisitely and jumps at any opportunity to be able to do so. His costumes are so incredibly elaborate and gem and fine stitch filled they’re absolutely heavenly to look upon. 

Sometimes he really doesn’t even pick a theme of what he wants to dress up as when it comes to Halloween. Egalmoth just wants to dress up nicely, he’s a little bit of the “he’s got the spirit but is confused” saying. Though he is absolutely  aware that he is supposed to pick a theme. He just chooses to not always do so.

He will absolutely couples costume with you, but when he does, Egalmoth absolutely wants to pick the theme. He’s bold so he is unafraid to pick unearthly themes like dressing up as the Vala of such regal nature, or Ancient Gods in rich costume style or Angels or Monarchy. Anything that allows him to be able to put you both in an incredibly unearthly and regal status he is here for. 

Anticipate that Egalmoth, like Penlod, has an extreme eye for detail. So no expense will be spared and your simple costume will quite quickly become a luxurious and intricate affair. 

Galdor

Galdor is really go with the flow and has a knack for choosing a good costume with his more go with the flow nature. Though he won’t really dress up unless he finds it necessary to do so for like a party. If he’s solo on Halloween he’s more likely to just stay cozy. But when it comes to couples costuming, he is all for it!

Galdor’s only preference is that he prefers the nature themes, but he won’t strictly adhere to them and will explore other costume themes with you. The only line he will draw is if he finds any of the themes to be vulgar or offensive in anyway.

Whether you two are Witches and Wizards together or the Angel and Devil, Galdor is going to be happy to meet your expectations. He’s got a pretty good sense of humor though and will be happy to dress up in awkward costumes or whatever other humorous costuming you might come up with.

Maeglin

Maeglin is completely and totally hesitant at the idea of dressing up as anything. The idea of just dressing up as whatever, just seems like an open line for someone to possibly criticize what he has chosen and that is an immediate dislike for Maeglin. 

As for couples costuming its really really REALLY going to take some convincing to get him to participate. If anything, the first few Halloweens he is probably not going to be receptive to any of it at all. Totally opting to just tagging along while you dress up. 

Though he gives in to the peer pressure of everyone asking him where is his costume or hearing how it would be cute if you two dressed up together. Maeglin absolutely lets you choose what you want to dress up as, but I warn that you might want to start out far more conservative and safe options like him being a Knight and you being a Princess/Prince or perhaps you’re both Pirates or maybe you dress up like Ancient Greeks/Romans. 

Something that isn’t going to be too over the top, but just enough out of his comfort zone people will recognize that you dressed up. 

* * * 

Tags: @saviorsong @lilmelily @dicksoutformtl @fandomhoe101 @icarus-fell-in-spring @someoneinthestars @red-riding @miriel-estelwen @ta-ka-shi-ma @nerdyely @thegirlwithoutaname87 @anunexpectedsideblog​ @achasiel​

[greensaplinggrace]

a list of alternate universes & story ideas, if you’re short on writing inspiration or stuck in a writer’s block. 

these are mostly gathered from AO3, but some I came up with. If anybody wants me to add anything, feel free to make a comment or dm me. honestly, this is mostly for my own benefit lol

A

Always a Different Sex

Angels & Demons

Arranged Marriages

Apocalypse

Assassins & Hitmen

Actors

Avatar & Bending Setting

Aliens

Animals

Artists

Army

Architects

Age Changes

Angels

Afterlife

Ancient Rome

Art School

Alien Invasion

All Female

Amusement Park

B

BDSM

Bakery

Boarding School

Bounty Hunters

Bar/Pub

Bed & Breakfast

Bookstore

Ballet

Bodyguard

Babysitters

Babies

Baseball

Bikers

Birds

Bands

Beach

Boxing

Boy Band

C

Cats

Car Racing

Canon Divergence

CEOs & Businesses

College/University

Coffee Shops & Cafes

Canon

Crack

Creatures & Monsters

Childhood Friends

Celebrity

Criminals

Circus

Children

Cyberpunk

Character Swap

Chefs

Cthulu Mythos Fusion

Cults

Corporate

D

Different First Meeting

Dark

Dystopia

Daemons

Domestic

Dragons

Detectives

Dance

Diners

Different Powers

Daycare

Demon Hunters

Dinosaurs

Dungeons & Dragons

E

Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies

Escorts

Elementary School

Earth

Evil

Edwardian

Elf

Elizabethan Era

F

Fantasy

Fusion

Future

Fairy Tale

Flower Shop

Fashion & Models

Fae

Farm/Ranch

Federal Agents

Flight Attendants

Fraternity

Flower Shop & Tattoo Parlor

Firefighters

Family

Foster Family

Food Service

Frontier

Football

Fans & Fandom

Fast & Furious Fusion

G

Gender Changes

Gods & Goddesses

Gangsters

Ghosts

Ghost Hunters

Gang World

Guardian Angels

Genie/Djinn

Ghost Hunters

Grocery Store

Gladiators

Greasers

H

High School

Human

Historical

Hell

Heaven

Hipsters

Hunters

Hogwarts

Harry Potter Setting

Hospital

Hunger Games Setting

Horror

Hockey

Hollywood

Harem

Homeless

Hackers

I

Idols

Industrial Revolution

Inanimate Objects

Information Technology

Ice Skating

J

Journalism

Jungle

Jurassic Park Fusion

K

Kids

Kindergarten & Pre-School

Kingdoms

L

Library

Lawyers

Law Enforcement

Lifeguards

Laboratory

M

Modern Setting

Magic

Medieval

Mechanics

Modern with Magic

Middle School

Mob

Modern: No Powers

Magical Realism

Merpeople

Mythology

Military

Muggle

Marching Band

Music

Modern: Still Have Powers

Mutants

Mental Institutions

Monster Hunter

Monsters

N

No Powers

Non-Famous

Neighbors

Non-Magical

Normal Life

Noir

Navy

Never Met

Ninjas

No Zombie Apocalypse

Normal High School

O

Office

Olympics

Online Dating

Orchestra

Orphanage

Ordinary People

Old People

P

Pirate

Police

Post-Canon

Prostitution

Post-Apocalypse

Past Lives

Paris

Pet Store

Pianist

Pizza Place

Prison

Pre-Canon

Parents

Porn

Politics

Photographer

Professors

Police & Yakuza

Popstar

Priests

Psychics/Psionics

Purgatory

Punk

Q

Quest

R

Royalty

Reincarnation

Roommates/Housemates

Rock Band

Role Reversal

Regency

Robots & Androids

Restaurant

Road Trip

Real World

Retail

Reality Show

Romantic Comedy

Radio

Religious

Renaissance

Roller Derby

Roller Skating

Rugby

S

Soulmates

Supernatural Elements

Superheroes/Superpowers

Science Fiction

Space

School

Scientists

Sex Shop

Shipwrecked

Showbusiness

Skating

Small Town

Sports

Spirits

Spies & Secret Agents

Stripper/Exotic Dancer

Student/Teacher

Serial Killers

Still Have Powers

Supernatural Hunters

Surfers

Swimming

Shapeshifters

Steampunk

Sentinels & Guides

Sugar Daddy

T

Time Travel

Teenagers

Teachers

Tattoo Parlor

Twins

Theatre

Thieves

Trans

Tattoos

Tennis

Titanic Fusion

Tomb Raider

U

Urban Fantasy

Utopia

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[be-not-afeared]

Jaime Lannister and John Silver: of arcs and endings

Or, herein follows a possibly niche comparison between the character arcs of Jaime Lannister (Game of Thrones, HBO, 2011-2019) and John Silver (Black Sails, Starz, 2014-2017), in which I will argue that Jaime’s character arc fails not because of Jaime’s actions, but because of the way his story is framed to the viewer throughout the series, using Silver as a springboard to explore the requisites for a tragic yet satisfying ending.

(Yes, this is 5K words long. No, I am not sorry. Spoilers for Jaime’s and Silver’s storylines in their respective shows, and while I’ve tried to stay vague about the Bigger Picture, read at your own risk.)

Okay, so. I was, and still am, to an extent, a huge Game of Thrones fan. I’ve pored over the books, been to conventions, and spent a good couple of years while I was at uni discussing fan theories on message boards into the early hours of the morning. Jaime Lannister has been one of my favourite fictional characters for over a decade. Yet I certainly wasn’t alone in watching in horror as years of hopeful build up was thrown away in the span of one and a half episodes during the final season of the show. There are *many* things that hurt about season 8 of Game of Thrones. But the swift 180 we see in Jaime, from aiding the Starks in the Battle of Winterfell and finally choosing Brienne, to abandoning her to return to Cersei 20 minutes later, was, for me, one of the deepest cuts.

When I started watching Black Sails this August, I was immediately compelled by Silver – unsurprisingly, as someone who has exactly one favourite character type: Traumatised and Morally Grey Anti-Villain. Watching Silver’s character develop over the four seasons of Black Sails was an absolute joy, and his ending in the finale, though *incredibly difficult*, was nuanced and in character and satisfying. (Am going to try and keep as vague as possible on details here, because Black Sails is an incredible show that more people should watch and I don’t want to completely spoil the ending).  Silver and Jaime are two characters with a lot of similarities and their characters arcs appear to run in direct parallel with each other: both selfish and arrogant men who become more empathetic and invested in others as the series progresses, in large part prompted by the loss of a limb. However, the gulf in reception of their overall arcs can be pinpointed to one huge disparity between the way both storylines were framed to the audience, and that is difference between redemption and tragedy.

“I was that hand”

But first! Let’s start with the more obvious stuff.

When we meet Jaime Lannister and John Silver in the pilots of their respective shows, they are both introduced as arrogant and self-serving – yet charming – men, who place the needs of themselves (and Cersei, in Jaime’s case) above all else. Silver kills and impersonates the cook on the merchant ship Flint’s crew captures, and has no qualms about lying his way onto the crew whilst simultaneously planning to sell the Urca schedule to the highest bidder. For Silver, his own survival comes before any sense of moral code. We are told stories about Jaime before we properly meet him  – that he killed the previous king, Aerys Targaryen, that he has no honour – but nothing that we see first-hand contradicts this; at the end of the pilot he attempts to kill a child to cover up his and Cersei’s incestuous relationship. Silver is certainly supposed to be more likeable than Jaime, but both men, despite their lack of morals, are presented as charming, clever, and good with a one-liner. As we move through the early seasons of both shows, they are consistent in these traits, although Jaime is presented as an outright antagonist whereas Silver from the outset is a morally grey unknown entity, keeping viewers on our toes wondering if he’ll turn against Flint, against Billy, against Eleanor. Things change, for both men, however, with the direct lead up and fallout of the loss of a limb: Jaime’s hand and Silver’s leg.

The introduction of Brienne of Tarth as Jaime’s foil kickstarts his path towards becoming the honourable man he once dreamed of being. During their roadtrip across Westeros, she challenges him and is able to get under his skin in a way we haven’t yet seen before. This comes to a head when the duo are captured, and Jaime intervenes during her attempted rape, lying about her ransom worth and saving her from an awful fate. The result? The immediate amputation of Jaime’s sword hand, representative of Jaime’s identity (“I was that hand”). Jaime is punished for the first selfless act we see him commit on the show with the loss of the source of his power and self-worth.

Silver, in a similar fashion, finds himself in a position to save the crew he has spent two seasons disparaging. When he is offered the opportunity to betray his crew for an escape route, he refuses (the reasons for this refusal never outright stated, although I imagine Flint’s “where else will you wake up in the morning and matter” and Billy’s “that’s our brother you’ve got there” both factor heavily). Again, the result of this refusal is the brutal torture and eventual amputation of Silver’s leg – a man who in his own words is “not a joiner”, prone to taking what he needs and leaving, to reinventing himself, to always having an escape route. As actor Luke Arnold says: “He's a guy who's always had one leg out the door, and then they cut it off.”

What is interesting here is not only that we have two characters who are *punished* for moving beyond their selfishness, but that that punishment is specifically catered towards their defining characteristics. Jaime is left unable to fight, unable to defend himself, unable to uphold his reputation. Silver is left unable to run, unable to leave his past behind him, unable to remain without attachments. Both are left vulnerable.  The loss of Jaime’s hand forces him to reinvent himself in a world ruled by swords; as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, father to Tommen, and an honourable man working to uphold his oath, through Brienne, to Catelyn Stark. The loss of Silver’s leg, however, leaves him *unable* to reinvent himself; forcing him to rely on his crew and paving the way for the growth of his relationship with Flint and Madi. In losing their limbs both Jaime and Silver are set on paths towards gaining empathy, and are able to become invested in those around them.

 “Defined by their histories, distorted to fit their narratives”

Game of Thrones and Black Sails both engage heavily with ideas of myth-making and storytelling. Stories are woven into the mythology of Westeros; a world with thousands of years of history revealed to us slowly over the seasons to suit the narrative and the teller. We are told the story of Rhaegar Targaryen’s kidnap and rape of Lyanna Stark in the pilot, and at first this serves to provide a tragic landscape for Robert’s unhealthy relationship with his wife and his crown. It is only as the show develops and we hear more about Rhaegar and Lyanna that we realise there is more to this story; in season 5 Littlefinger recounts the events of the Tourney of Harrenhal to foreshadow the reveal of Jon’s parentage later that season, that Rhaegar and Lyanna had a happy and consensual relationship and that it is Robert who could be viewed as the villain of this sequence. We are taught through watching the show to never assume that any given story is true. Black Sails similarly plays with the idea of the power of the storyteller, combining historical pirates with fictional pirates and an origin story for Treasure Island, and going to great lengths to show that history is in the hands of the victor. Most of the primary sources of pirate history are from the perspective of civilised England, and in the process of watching the show we come to realise the bias inherent in these histories; much like in Game of Thrones, they are stories, and should not be assumed to be either true or accurate. As Jack says in the finale: “a story is true, a story is untrue […] The stories we want to believe, those are the ones that survive”.

Jaime Lannister and John Silver are both characters defined by stories that are forced upon them without choice: the Kingslayer and Long John Silver. We meet Jaime as the Kingslayer; our opinion of him is immediately formed by the story of him stabbing in the back the King he had sworn to protect, and cemented by the fact that our protagonist, Ned Stark, a man we like and trust, is the one telling this story. The Kingslayer’s presence is so strong in the first two seasons of the show that Jaime becomes nameless, reduced to this one defining act. It is only after the loss of his hand, and through his developing bond with Brienne, that he is finally able to tell his own story and we realise our entire perception of Jaime’s character has been based on an incorrect interpretation of events: that in killing Aerys Targaryen Jaime was saving the population of Kings Landing from destruction via wildfire. It is only after the truth of this story has been revealed to us that Jaime is able to begin moving past the Kingslayer and forging a new identity.

We see this in reverse in Black Sails, for the story of Long John Silver is not introduced until the season 3 finale, but like Jaime, this story is not told by Silver. Billy creates the myth of Long John, commits the acts attributed to him, and uses him as a figurehead for the pirate rebellion all without Silver’s knowledge or consent. Season 4 sees Silver wrestle with this identity of King of the Pirates, surrounded by people who want to use ‘Long John Silver’ for their own benefit: Billy, Israel Hands, even Flint. As the power and influence of Long John Silver the story grows, John Silver the man is disregarded, and his value reduced to how he can further everyone else’s individual causes. Though he does embrace this title (for a time, at least) to further “Flint and Madi’s war”, a cause he doesn’t truly believe in beyond his investment in Flint and Madi as people, we come to realise that the ‘character’ of Long John Silver that we know from Treasure Island is only that: a character, a story, a collective created for a larger cause that Silver himself eventually betrays.

I have seen some criticism of this scene, but for me one of the few redeeming moments of the Game of Thrones finale was Brienne writing Jaime’s story in the Book of White. Despite Jaime’s less than satisfactory conclusion, with this act he is finally able to move past the Kingslayer; Brienne has rewritten his narrative, and he will be remembered as a Knight who “died protecting his Queen”. Silver is offered no such release. By contrast, the story of Long John Silver is all that will be remembered; the worst fear for a man who cannot bear for his own story to be known. Indeed, we learn that “those who stood to benefit most from [Long John Silver] were the most eager to leave it all behind”. While Jaime is able to escape the story of the Kingslayer, the story of Long John Silver is what will endure, “all that is left of [him] is the monster in the story they tell their children”. Hello Treasure Island.

 “Reviled by so many for my finest act"

We can see here that Jaime and Silver’s narratives deal with similar themes, but often in contrasting ways. Just as with storytelling, Jaime and Silver’s backstories are key parts of their storylines in their respective shows, but operate with very different functions. (It is only as I am writing this that I’m realising how similar the themes of Game of Thrones and Black Sails actually are? If only Game of Thrones had the follow through of Black Sails... We were all rooting for you, etc etc).

Jaime’s backstory, and the truth of the act that earned him the title ‘Kingslayer’, is revealed to us mid-way through season 3. This comes at a very key moment for his character: Jaime has just lost his hand and is at his most vulnerable, and Brienne’s stubborn and persistent honour is clearly starting to affect him. “I trust you,” he says to her in the bathroom scene in 3x05, and we can assume that this is the first time he has said this to someone who isn’t a Lannister in quite some time, possibly ever. Essentially, the reveal of Jaime’s backstory comes at a moment where we are already beginning to soften towards him and are therefore open to hearing an alternative interpretation of events. While Jaime needs to be able to tell his story to begin to move past the identity of the Kingslayer, if this reveal had come too soon it wouldn’t have had the same dramatic effect, as viewers wouldn’t have been open to seeing him in a different light. All we saw of Jaime in the first two seasons was the “man without honour” that everyone believes him to be; by mid-season three we are already beginning to realise that there is perhaps more to him that meets the eye, so the reveal of his backstory has the most impact.

(This is exactly what Black Sails does with Flint’s backstory, and I firmly believe that if we had been told his story in season one as was originally the plan it wouldn’t have been anywhere near as effective. We needed to know more about Flint, and to see his uneasy partnership with Silver begin to develop as we delved into the backstory piece by piece, so that by 2x05 our hearts were ready to be broken. Buuut that’s a different essay.)

Black Sails loves a backstory. As we move through the show we slowly learn why and how our favourite characters came to be in Nassau , and universally these reveals add to our understanding of that character and their motivations: for Flint, for Billy, for Max, for Jack. We enter season four with Silver as the only character we don’t know anything about prior to the pilot. Surely then, we were about to get a ‘Jaime Lannister bathroom scene’ equivalent, a moment that will add depth and understanding to Silver’s character? Were any of the stories he has told about his past true? Who is Solomon Little? … Instead, what we get is one of my favourite sequences of the entire show, in which, after Flint realises that he knows nothing of Silver’s past, Silver reveals that Flint, and by proxy the viewer, knows “of [him] all [he] can bear to be known”. Silver is the ultimate storyteller, master of manipulating and deceiving others through the power of a narrative, yet he cannot bear to be the story himself. We never learn Silver’s backstory, and all he reveals of his past is that it speaks to “events of the kind no one can divine any meaning from, other than the world is a place of unending horrors”; he has chosen to repress his past, has rendered it unspeakable, and both Flint and the viewer are only left to wonder at what these “horrors” could be.

Although this lack of backstory adds nothing to our view of who Silver *was*, it is key to understanding who Silver *is*, and *why* Silver makes some of his more controversial choices further down the line. Silver’s need to repress his past is as key to his character as Flint’s need to define himself by his own backstory. We understand from this that Silver has experienced a level of trauma which is unspeakable, quite a feat for a show with plenty of other horrific backstories and especially pertinent given that Silver is one of our most gifted orators. Silver’s inability to process his past explains a lot of his actions in the early seasons; his coping mechanism has been to move through life without forming attachments, convincing himself that he doesn’t need (and shouldn’t need) other people. It is safe to assume that Madi and Flint are the first people he has let himself be truly vulnerable with, which paints his actions throughout season four in a different light; loving people is new for Silver, and he doesn’t know how to do it in a healthy or selfless way. The placement of this scene is as important to Black Sails as Jamie’s bathroom scene is to Game of Thrones; we needed to have already seen Long John Silver’s significance to the war spiral beyond Silver’s control, to have seen him become compromised by his love for Madi and the beginnings of the collapse of his partnership with Flint, for this scene to pack the punch that it aims for and to beautifully set up the culmination of his arc in the finale. How devastating, for a man who cannot bear for himself to be known, to be the one figure whose story will outlive them all.

Both of these scenes have stayed with me long past my first watch, and feel vital to understanding Jaime and Silver as characters. For Jaime, his backstory informs all his actions moving forward, his desire to transcend the Kingslayer, to become an “Oathkeeper”, or even “Golden-hand the Just”. For Silver, his lack of backstory informs all his actions up to this point in the narrative and prepares us for the choices to come. Just as Jaime is defined by his past, Silver is defined by his *lack* of past.

 “This is not what I wanted”

So, we’ve tracked Jaime and Silver’s characters throughout the show, but how do they both end? The answer, of course, is… tragically. Jaime is offered a glimpse at what could be a peaceful life, in Winterfell with Brienne, before turning it down to return to Cersei’s side only to meet his end while the duo try to escape the collapsing walls of Kings Landing. Silver betrays Flint and Madi in a horrific fashion, ensuring that they both survive though knowing that in doing so he was destroying his relationship with Flint and that there was a chance Madi would never forgive him his actions. (Or, this is my chosen interpretation of the ending, in any case, although the point still works if you prefer one of the other readings). Just thinking about Silver’s ending in Black Sails makes me want to cry. Thinking about Jaime’s ending in Game of Thrones makes to want to cry too, although for a very different reason. Neither are the ending we would hope for these characters in an optimistic and ideal world. But Silver’s decision to betray Flint and Madi feels narratively satisfying in a way that Jaime’s decision to betray Brienne and return to Cersei never could. Why is that?

Jaime Lannister’s character progression from season 3 onwards was set up as a redemption arc. We thought we were watching a jaded and selfish man become an honourable man. The show, admittedly, takes its sweet time with this journey in comparison to the book equivalent, and inserts some *interesting* deviations which I won’t dwell on here (looking at you 4x03 and the entirety of season 5). But, ultimately, the journey that Jaime finds himself on from the moment he loses his hand seems to be heading for a triumphant ending. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t expecting him to survive the series. But I was expecting him to go out in a blaze of glory – fighting side by side with Brienne, perhaps, or protecting Bran, or one of the other characters he had wronged in the past. There was also always the chance that he would end up fulfilling the much subscribed to book theory of the valonqar, although this admittedly looked less likely as that particular line of the prophecy was cut from the show. When Jaime finally leaves Cersei at the end of season 7 it is such a triumphant moment – after years of struggling with these warring parts of himself, his toxic love for Cersei and his growing moral conscience, a decision had been made and a tie cut. We enter season 8 assuming that there is no going back. We don’t get a hint of any conflicting feelings from Jaime about this decision in the first half of season 8; we are focused on preparation for the Battle of Winterfell, and revelling in the joy of having Jaime and Brienne in the same place for longer than a single episode for the first time since season 4. We get the knighting scene (which, let’s be honest, is where the season peaks). We get the battle. We get the sex scene between Jaime and Brienne (which I… don’t love, for many reasons up to and including the weird virgin shaming jokes from Tyrion in the previous scene and their level of intoxication, but still gives no hint that Jaime is battling an inner war). And then later in that same episode, despite Brienne pleading with him to stay, we get Jaime’s snap decision to return to Kings Landing to attempt to save Cersei: “You think I’m a good man? […] She’s hateful, and so am I”.

The issue here isn’t the decision itself, or Jaime’s choice of words. We know that Jaime isn’t a good man. We know that he’s done awful things for Cersei’s love. And, if we think about it, it makes sense that he wouldn’t be able to leave behind a lifelong co-dependent and unhealthy relationship without looking back, and that he would be driven to return to Cersei’s side when the reality of her impending death hit. The issue is that none of this decision making is presented in the show itself; there was no build up, no foreshadowing. Instead of showing us why this decision was made, the show presents this scene as a shock twist, leaving the viewer with whiplash wondering how Jaime’s story could have taken such an unexpected turn so quickly. The redemption arc that we all thought we were watching was not a redemption arc at all, and don’t think I was alone in finding this revelation deeply unsatisfying.

Let’s leave Jaime for a moment and turn to John Silver. Even for viewers who entered Black Sails without knowing they were watching a prequel to Treasure Island (such as myself!), we can assume that most people have heard of the fictional pirate Long John Silver: the ‘villain’ of Robert Louis Stevenson’s adventure who embodies what it means to be a “gentleman of fortune”.  When we meet clean-shaved, smarmy, two-legged Silver in the pilot most viewers will at least have an idea of the trajectory his arc will take – and that it won’t end with him and Flint skipping off into the sunset hand in hand. We know, because of history, that the pirate rebellion is doomed to fail, that slavery does not end in the West Indies, that Nassau does indeed fall back under English rule, and that piracy is eventually stamped out of New Providence. And we know, because of Treasure Island, that John Silver will end up hunting for Captain Flint’s treasure, while Billy Bones dies from a stroke at the very idea of a visit from Long John and Flint drinks himself to death in Savannah. In essence, we know that we are watching a tragedy.

The genre of tragedy dates back to Ancient Greece, and describes a narrative that presents an examination of human suffering while evoking a sense of catharsis. Aristotle defines tragedy as “an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude … through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation [release] of these emotions.” In other words, in order for a tragedy to achieve this state of emotional release, we as the viewer need to both anticipate (or, fear) the resolution and feel sympathy (or, pity) towards the tragic hero. Black Sails does this masterfully. The pathway towards the destruction of Silver and Flint’s partnership has its grounds as early as season 2, before it has even really started to develop, where Silver talks of his fears of being “used and discarded” by Flint. In the finale of season 3 it is made explicit during their conversation before the battle, with Silver interrogating what he sees as the pattern of Flint’s loved ones dying “not just during [their] relationship, but because of it”. Silver finds himself “unnerved by the thought that when this pattern applies itself to [Flint] and [Silver], that [he] will be the end of [Flint]”. As they lock eyes across the water later on in this episode, the setup of their opposition, complicated by the genuine care between them, is complete, and we enter season 4 dreading the crumbling of their relationship. Season 4 dangles this dramatic irony over us; every time Flint mentions the indestructible force of their partnership, the things they can achieve when there is “no daylight” between them; every time Silver mentions that Flint has his “genuine trust and friendship”; every time they both speak of their partnership in the same terms as the love that Silver holds for Madi, “I’m committed to Flint, I’m committed to Madi” / “he is my friend, too”, we dread the moment where this will all change. We may not know how it will play out, but we know it is coming. The “fear” is very much present. As, indeed, is the “pity”. We understand why Silver makes the decision he does, even if we don’t agree with it. The show has taken lengths to track the development of Silver’s ability to care and make himself vulnerable to others; we believe in his love for Madi, and understand why he believes that he is doing the right thing. Silver’s tragic flaw is that in gaining empathy his selfishness moves to encompass those he cares about; he will do dark things to protect them without consideration of their own choices or agency.  The finale of Black Sails is difficult, beautiful, and yes, tragic, but we end Silver’s story understanding and perhaps even empathising with the decisions he made, believing him when he says that “this is not what [he] wanted”.

 Tragedy vs redemption

John Silver’s story is a tragedy. And I believe that Jaime Lannister’s story is also a tragedy; a deeply flawed man who tries to escape the inevitability of an abusive and unhealthy relationship, only to eventually fall back into this cycle and become consumed by it. The problem is that this wasn’t the story we thought we were watching. The ending of Jamie’s character arc has none of the fear, none of the pity, none of the catharsis of Silver’s, because there was no signposting towards this end. If Jaime’s arc had been treated as a tragedy from the outset then perhaps it would have felt emotionally satisfying rather than rushed and unexpected.

Admittedly, as Jaime is not as central to Game of Thrones as Silver is to Black Sails, the show could not spend as much time detailing his inner world as Black Sails does to the latter. However, if the show had framed Jaime’s story with a sense of tragedy rather than triumph, then his decision to return to Cersei in season 8 would have had the same inevitability as Silver’s betrayal. In season 1 of Game of Thrones, as in the first instalment of A Song of Ice and Fire, Cersei tells Ned Stark that she and Jaime “are more than brother and sister. We shared a womb, came into this world together. We belong together”. However, the show doesn’t include Jaime and Cersei’s later, darker ruminations, that “we will die together as we were born together” (Jaime, ASOS), and “we will leave this world together, as we once came into it” (Cersei, AFFC). Jaime and Cersei’s doomed fate in the books is entangled in a way it never is in the show, and doubly so when you factor in the possibility of Jaime actively causing Cersei’s end due to the valonqar prophecy. In addition to this, if we had seen Jaime leave Cersei earlier in the narrative and then grapple with this decision, showing him struggling to be the man Brienne believes him to be and overcome his past actions, then his failure wouldn’t have seemed so out of the blue. With very little effort or changes on the part of the show, Jaime’s *entire* arc could have been framed in a way that would have made his death a tragically fitting end to his and Cersei’s story.

Jaime and Silver both end their respective narratives in very similar places to when they were introduced, or at least they do on the surface: Jaime unable to leave Cersei even in death, Silver alone and eventually chasing treasure (yes, Madi is still in the picture, but I don’t think we are meant to infer that their future relationship will be a trusting one). However, for Silver, this similarity is only surface deep, for we followed his growth and development and understand the tragedy of his choices. Although Jaime goes through a very similar pattern of growth, the framing of his arc as redemptive means that the unexpected nosedive into tragedy in season 8 doesn’t have the weight or impact that it intends, and we are left without understanding *why* he makes his choices. Jaime’s arc is a failed tragedy that doesn’t fulfil the cathartic requirements of the genre, but with a bit of reframing it could have been as emotionally resonant as Silver’s.

Long story short: watch Black Sails.