#ww fans its coming i swear

[weirdcat1213]

dont look at me

[icyschreviews]

A Review of Prince of Persia: Forgotten Sands

The One You Should Have Remembered

Well isn’t this awkward? Allow me to hype you up for a game no one ever gave a shit about. Don’t worry, we’re so late to the party, the game’s server support has long been dead. Now you can enjoy it without having to worry that Ezio skin is going to steal 5 bucks from your wallet. So allow me to introduce you two. Forgotten Sands, here’s another misguided reader. Dear reader, this is Forgotten Sands, an incredibly polished piece of fast-paced action and an essential entry in the catalogue of every true Prince of Persia fan. Don’t you now feel silly for not having played it? I mean, neither have I, but we can rectify that mistake together.

Forgotten Sands is simultaneously an inevitability as well as a defiance of fate - a movie tie-in produced solely for cash that somehow managed to be a darn good game on its own merits. I know it gets a bad rep, even when it is seldom mentioned, yet most of the criticism I heard is inextricable from the movie. Ah yes, the Hollywood Prince of Persia. Eye-rolls ensue. Yet another shoddy video game adaptation that not even Jake Gyllenhaal could rescue.

I can’t say I blame the cynics, but if you asked the people who actually played the game (and not the ones who came out of the theater jaded, only to realize they were being sold a video game along with the movie ticket), they would have told you that Forgotten Sands has nothing to do with the movie. No, FS let the adaptation do whatever the fuck it was doing, while trying to snuggle itself somewhere between Sands of Time and Warrior Within.

You heard me right, this is another installment in the Sands of Time trilogy. Same old Prince, same old Yuri Lowenthal doing the voice work. The promise of yet another adventure with our beloved protagonist might make your heart flutter, but I’d strongly advise caution in this particular case. FS’ story reeks of cheap action movie screenplays, something an underpaid writer must have slapped together over a drunk weekend. It’s so astoundingly bland, I don’t even have the desire to ridicule it. Even the movie adaptation outperforms it by miles.

Some of you might be scrolling back to the first passage right now. Didn’t you say this game was good? How can that be true if the story is shit? Aren’t Prince of Persia games all about time travel shenanigans and the allure of Arabian Nights? Normally I’d agree with you, but with FS I’m willing to make an exception. What this game strives for is gameplay excellence, and since it came so close to peaking, I decided to turn a blind eye towards its less flattering sides. You’re more than welcome to make your own judgement.

I wonder, did the game snatch this shot from the movie or vice versa?

Since we’re definitely not talking about the story, there are two avenues along which we can further this discussion. Platforming is the more straightforward path, but let’s leave it for later and jump straight to the controversy. Let’s talk about the combat. You with me? You listening? Good, cause Forgotten Sands might have the best combat out of any Prince of Persia game.

You still there? Has the disbelief turned into outrage yet? Forgotten Sands? Best combat? Excuse me, but what? Why, I swear on my copy of Warrior Within there’s no other PoP game that comes close. What is this hack ‘n’ slash garbage and how dare you compare it to a true hardcore experience like WW? I played through Forgotten Sands and hadn’t died once! You call that a game? Are you some filthy casual who always plays on easy? Have you even finished Warrior Within? I beat it like twenty times on the hardest difficulty with one of my hands tied behind—

Shut up. Shut it. Yeah, I’m talking to you. I don’t care for the blind admiration you’ve been dragging around since you were 13. Why don’t you find a place for it somewhere up your ass? Yes, WW’s combat can be exceptional. Emphasis on can be. If Jupiter and Saturn align and Mercury is not in retrograde, Warrior Within can make you feel like a god. Or it can make you smash your gamepad against your desk.

I went over the damn thing in another review (shameless self-promotion here), but it all boils down to one thing. Half of WW’s difficulty comes from poor design choices, making the other half much harder to enjoy. Each time you enter a room you have to make a blood sacrifice to the camera gods lest it misbehaves itself, and then roll a perception check in case some mother fucker is coming at you from a dead angle. What FS offers me in turn is consistency. Being the fifth major PoP title released by Ubisoft, FS had the privilege of looking back on its predecessors and ironing out the creases. And you bet it did its homework.

The lock-on system is gone. Finally I can move in any direction I want and aim my attacks wherever I want. No more moving to the left only for the game to decide it should reroute my inputs towards a foe on the right. I understand that FS is a hack ‘n’ slash and that removing the lock-on must have been a necessity. If there are 30 enemies in the room, you don’t want the camera whip-lashing the player. However this change feels so liberating, I can’t help but wish it was part of the previous games as well. I despise soft lock-on systems in general and have yet to play a game that employs them successfully.

On top of that, I can cancel out of animations that don’t have iframes, and vice versa, I have iframes for the animations I can’t cancel out of. I cannot overstate the importance of these features and how sorely they were needed in the previous games. Further on, the arenas are spacious and the camera never gets stuck on anything. Couple that with smooth and responsive animations, a clean and comprehensive presentation, and you get yourself a combat system that flows like butter.

Did I hear anyone complain about Warrior Within just now?

This might be a good place to stop and take a step back. While FS introduced a bunch of quality of life improvements, which would have worked wonders in WW, it’s important to note that the nature of its combat is completely different. As I mentioned a few times by now, FS is definitively a hack ‘n’ slash.

Making your way through the tutorial, you won’t really notice any differences. You can still roll, swing your sword and jump over befuddled enemies. Then a few minutes in, a siege tower will open its doors and spew out 15 enemies at you. From then on FS just keeps adding to the deck. "More" is not a word that has a negative connotation in its vocabulary.

In itself I find this change to be neither good nor bad. Rather I’m much more interested in the side effects brought on by this design decision. As I said, looking at your basic arsenal, not much has changed. However a bit further down the line the game introduces you to the kick and the heavy attack.

The kick is there to facilitate the rock-paper-scissors nature of the combat. Way back in Sands of Time you could employ the jump attack against certain types of enemies, but would have to resort to wall bouncing against other types who were immune to the jump. Likewise the kick is there to deal with enemies hiding behind a shield, but can also be utilized as a powerful weapon against regular foes.

The heavy attack, which is undoubtedly my favorite, needs to be charged up and released. This sounds pretty basic, but the devil’s in the details as they say. First off, the attack can be cancelled at any time. Enemies can swarm you pretty quickly, so the game lets you abort and scurry off to safety instantly. Second, it doesn’t matter what direction the Prince is facing when stopping to charge up. You can tilt the stick any way you want and the Prince will launch himself there upon release. Third, the attack can be chained together from one successful hit to another. Mwah!

I know what you’re thinking right now: wow, what cool new additions. I wonder what kinds of combos you can build from them? Well, none.

As I’m sure you remember, both WW and the 2008 reboot had extensive combo trees. I liked how versatile and dynamic they were. You had numerous options for creating your own combat style. However they were shoehorned into the games at best. You’d expect them to be introduced gradually through gameplay, but no. The designers just dumped the entire combo sheet on your head and expected you to read through it. Even if you put in the time to try them all out, you’d eventually settle into using only a handful.

FS doesn’t bother with this. The closest it ever gets to a combo system are the variations of the jump attack. Besides simply vaulting over an enemy or smacking it over the head, the dedicated kick button also lets you tackle them to the ground. If you try to jump over an enemy with a shield, it’ll just knock you off with it. Furthermore the animation changes based on the enemy’s health. If it’s close to dying, the Prince will perform somewhat of a finisher. These special animations can also be triggered when driving an exhausted enemy up a wall or close to a banister.

Say hi to the movie’s ratings when you get down to the bottom.

As neatly packaged as it is, the combat system would certainly have felt barren without any further additions. Luckily FS decided to adorn it with more features. There are 4 brand new elemental powers for you to play with. No, they don’t make any sense within the narrative, so don’t bother frying your brain cells.

The Ice Blast is the most straightforward one, sending waves of ice along the trajectory of your attack. It’s great for mowing down entire rows of enemies, much further than your heavy attack can reach, and especially if you’re trying to get to those bothersome summoners. The Trail of Flame is somewhat of a passive, useful if you’re playing defensively of just like hit-and-run tactics. The Whirlwind is your obligatory AOE, considering the genre. Its logical counterpart, the Stone Armour, is perfect if you don’t want to be interrupted while going after a single target, like a stunned charger, or just want to shield yourself from those annoying scarabs.

Overall I feel the powers are decently rounded. They are specifically designed to be effective against the game’s main challenge - the ever increasing hordes of enemies. The only one I tend to question is the Trail of Flame, since it’s a rather passive ability in a combat system that favors aggressive play.

It took me some time to come to that last conclusion. The first thing I realized is that blocking is not a thing any more. The designers just made off with it and I didn’t even notice. Later I began thinking about how you obtain health and energy in this game. While it’s perfectly possible to dodge each and every attack, it’s not a realistic expectation to have. The staggering amount of enemies means you’ll get hit eventually, especially if you’re one for rushing into crowds. The game accounts for this by making fallen enemies drop health and energy. That way it creates a system akin to the one Bloodborne popularized a few years down the line - a closed loop of hitting and getting hit, an incentive to get in there and tap some ass instead of standing on the sidelines.

I do find it funny how the elemental powers are introduced to you. At some point the game tells you that you’ve gained enough XP and should open up a level-up menu. Level-up menu? There, among the obvious improvements to your health and energy, you’ll find the elemental powers just waiting for you without any further explanations. FS, you didn’t tell me this was a buffet. In a way this is the same transgression committed by the combo sheets from the previous games, although it is much more concise and comprehensive. For starters, the level-up menu fits on half a screen.

All of you need to chill out.

Well I guess it’s time to start nitpicking now. What? I said FS might have the best combat out of any PoP game, and I’ll emphasize that might again in case you missed it. While I think it polished much of what its predecessors got wrong, it made quite a few blunders on its own. God forbid there isn’t anything to bicker about.

Let’s start off with the minor stuff. Finishing off knocked-down enemies doesn’t quite work. You’re supposed to approach them and press the attack button, but it takes a while for the Prince to realize what he should be doing. Likewise, jumping on top of enemies is pretty imprecise. The Prince’s jump is ridiculously long and in most cases he’ll just leap past an enemy instead of engaging them.

Other than the 4 elemental powers, there’s another special ability I failed to mention. The Power Of Flight, or the dash as I’m sure it’s colloquially called, is a platforming ability that also made its way into the combat. It allows you to knock down enemies like bowling pins or quickly distance yourself from tricky situations. It’s devilishly fun, in both combat and platforming, but I worry it’s too powerful without the restraint of a cooldown bar. Then again, restricting it because of the combat would break some of the platforming challenges, but more on that later.

Boss-wise, there are only two types in the entire game: the chargers and the giants (or whatever class Ratash is supposed to represent). Timing the dodge on the former is completely broken. I could not for the life of me pinpoint the precise moment when you needed to leap out of the way. Its attack pattern is rather simple, though I do like how it’s expanded with crowd control. You can use the boss to clear out whole packs of minions, but then have to keep watch for those same minions not to overwhelm you while you’re chipping away at the boss. I wonder how this fight would evolve if they threw in a summoner…

Ratash, in his first two appearances, is perfectly serviceable, if not a bit too lenient. He also makes use of crowd control to add an extra layer to the fight, though it's not as effective as with the Chargers. Ratash shoots lightning bolts which can be used to kill minions, but he’s much less imposing and allows you to clear out all other enemies before engaging him.

The bosses that really get me going though are the trolls. Their move-set is more or less the same as Ratash’s, with one notable exception. They are the only enemy type in the entire game which forces you into a soft lock-on. Guys, what the hell happened here? The trolls are the perfect example that the lock-on does not work, especially not in this genre of combat. As if this doesn’t tamper with your ability to tackle smaller enemies, the trolls are also the only boss type which gets mixed in with summoners. Oh, now you remember to put them in! Watch as I get stunned-locked into oblivion while the camera stubbornly refuses to move away from the troll.

Overall, all of the boss types are severely overused, even for an 8 hour game. There’s also Ratash’s final form, I guess, but that fight is too short and too easy to make any impressions. If this were any other franchise, I’d be much more critical, but other PoP games set such a low bar with their bosses that I find it hard to complain.

I was also let down by the arena modes. I feel FS laid down the basis for a good combat system that could have been pushed much harder than it was. There are two arena modes in total and once you beat them, which won’t take you more than 15 min, there’s really no reason to go back to them. This could have been an opportunity to try out new and more challenging enemy combinations, to let you tweak the difficulty and measure your performance in various ways. It’s sad thinking of other games that have much more complex arena modes, but not nearly as polished a combat system as Forgotten Sands (The Witcher 2 and Alan Wake ffs).

Now you see me, now you don’t.

I think we can let the combat rest for a while and finally talk about the platforming in this game. Unlike the combat, the core of the platforming stayed the same as it was in the Sands of Time trilogy, with numerous improvements and additions further expanding on the original formula. This allows FS to deliver some of the best challenges the series has seen so far.

A number of tweaks have been made to the basic move-set, a lot of them inspired by the 2008 reboot, no less. This is rather surprising considering that FS leans heavily in WW’s direction, with its complex control scheme and relentless late-game sections, while the reboot made its mission to use as little buttons as possible. First off, you can now jump off pillars instantaneously by pointing the stick in the desired direction and pressing the jump button, regardless of where the Prince is facing. Next, you don’t have to press the jump button to pull yourself up a platform, but just tilt the stick forward without breaking the momentum. Last but not least, you can run up a wall after jumping towards it from any other obstacle, significantly increasing the potential of wall-to-wall scenarios.

I was also pleasantly surprised by how they revamped the control scheme for polls. Previously you had to hold down the special action button to initiate a swing and then press the jump button to launch yourself off the poll. Changing the Prince’s direction on a poll was particularly frustrating, as you had to keep twiddling the left stick like a mad man until the game decided to oblige. Now swinging is initiated by holding down the left stick in the direction perpendicular to the poll, while the direction parallel to the poll moves the Prince along it. Switching the perpendicular direction also neatly switches the Prince around the poll, removing any ambiguity from the mechanic. I appreciated this the most when tackling timed obstacles, such as doors, where being able to switch direction without breaking momentum is necessary for completing the challenge.

One new addition, which I’m positively blown away by, is the ability to initiate a wall run while holding on to a ledge, both horizontally and vertically. To give you my favorite example, you’ll come across a familiar trap when you first start descending into the underground city: a ledge and a spinning saw. However this saw is spinning right under the ledge, able to cut through the Prince if he were hanging on. At first I was confused. What is this setup? Then I realized what the game wanted me do. You have to grab onto the ledge when the saw moves away from you and run up the wall to let it pass beneath you on its way back. Then you have to slide down and move quickly along the ledge before the saw comes back to get you. My mind was positively blown. The game is full of little reinventions like this which make you view old obstacles in completely new ways.

Characteristic of a PoP game, all of FS’ animations are fluid and seasoned with little details to further enhance the experience. E.g. if you jump towards a hanging pillar just beneath its lower tip, the Prince will grab onto it with his arms and yank himself up until he’s encircled it with his legs. This comes off much more naturally than simply snapping you into place. Another good example, when you jump from one poll to another at a lower elevation, the Prince performs a different animation. He’ll grab onto it with only one arm, as if to signify that this is not a clean landing, perform a spin and then settle into the default position. All of this adds nicely to one of the most polished platforming experiences in the entire franchise.

Booby trapped corridor, my favorite.

The game wouldn’t be much fun if it only stuck with the basic move-set. There are three new platforming abilities tied to the Djinn: the Power of Flow, the Power of Flight and the Power of Memory. The Power of Flight, aka the dash, I already mentioned. What I didn’t go into is how it’s used exactly. See, another change made to the basic move-set is the separation of the jump from the roll. In previous installments, these were mapped to the same button and triggered contextually. In FS they occupy different buttons, clearly signifying the player’s intent.

To be honest, I don’t really understand this decision, neither in combat nor in platforming. To add to the confusion, the jump almost makes the roll obsolete. There are two reasons for this. First, the jump is ridiculously long. Rolling used to be king when it came to overcoming timed obstacles, but now it sits in the shadow of its far superior counterpart. Second, the camera feels weird when rolling, like it crashes into the Prince from the behind and squeals to a halt. It makes the already modest distance crossed by the roll seem even shorter.

To go back to the Power of Flight, the only reason I can justify the divorce between the jump and the roll is that their button combination is used to dash. As mentioned, the dash is recklessly unleashed during combat, but much more tuned to my liking during platforming. The camera work is exquisite. There is a genuine sense of exhilaration when swishing ahead, and an even greater satisfaction upon smashing onto your destination. The only thing I worry is that it over-saturates the game with yet another move for crossing distance, threatening to retire the other two mechanics whose buttons it makes use of.

The Power of Flow, i.e. freezing water for a specified amount of time, is an absolute banger. The game uses it to string together some insane challenges, which push your platforming skills to new heights. You’re asked to perform your usual assortment of moves while also rapidly switching the state of the water, freezing it to give the Prince new obstacles to interact with and unfreezing it to allow him through. This all culminates during the game’s final stretch where you’re tasked with hopping your way past multiple rows of waterfalls.

The Power of Memory, or level reconstruction, is yet another surprising inspiration provided by the reboot, specifically the phantom walls found in the Epilogue. On its own, it’s much lower stake then the other powers, requiring only the quick engagement of one button to successfully pull off. Never the less, it can be thrilling jumping off one solid surface, letting its safety disappear behind you, and then watching anxiously as another one forms in front of you in the nick of time. Coupled with the other two powers, it creates another layer of complexity around FS’ platforming mechanics.

The game introduces each of these powers in separate sections, allowing you to get used to them on their own terms. Soon though, it starts mixing them together to form some of the franchise’s most intricate platforming sections. You’ll find yourself splashing through waterfalls, landing on freshly reconstructed walls, bolting to unsuspecting birds, and then back swinging around bars of ice, all in the matter of seconds.

Come here, birdie, birdie.

Come to think of it, there are actually 4 powers of the Djinn, aren’t they? The poor Power of Time somehow got lost in the process. If I were to take a closer look at it, what’s the point of having it in the game at all? No, I don’t mean because of the lore implications. I couldn’t care less about that, not to mention that the other powers aren’t tied by some narrative thread either. What I’m aiming at is gameplay. Isn’t the rewind kinda pointless in FS?

I mean, just think about it. Auto-saves are so frequent, you’re basically being restarted on the last solid surface you were standing on. Minus Elika, it is functionally the same system as in the reboot. Why would you waste your rewind on that? Likewise, slain foes drop health, meaning the mechanic is equally useless during combat.

I only found two applications for it in the entire game. The first one is for poorly timed dodges on incoming Chargers. The second is for misinterpreting directional inputs (more on that in a sec). So, yeah, you could say I used the power rather frequently, but both of these instances were for correcting the game’s busted mechanics and not some intended design choice.

Furthermore, why on earth is the rewind power using the same energy bar as the combat abilities!? The Power of Flow has its own cooldown meter, the Power of Memory can be triggered at any time (as long as you like having a floor beneath your feet), and the dash has some (barely noticeable) downtime between bursts. It’s like they added the rewind just so they could have another reason to lodge the game within the SoT trilogy, without considering if the power even had anything to add to the gameplay.

Don’t you dare slip.

If I could add more complaints to the pile, I have some serious gripes with the camera. For the most part, it performs its job rather competently, but problems quickly start to arise. The first one that became apparent to me was its restrictiveness. The camera is fixed during most platforming challenges, giving you only a little wiggle room to look around. On one hand, I like this. You are constantly being pointed in the direction you need to go in. There is no ambiguity about what stunt to perform next, allowing the action to flow uninterrupted.

On the other hand, I felt like I was stuck on rails. The previous games let you explore their worlds without much hand-holding, emulating a sense of freedom which the open worlds in Warrior Within and the 2008 reboot made real use of. Sure, the camera would occasionally point to a specific direction, but only when necessary for clarity’s sake. I think that restricting the camera as much as it did, FS inadvertently created a sense of artifice, like its world is no more than a set of static scenes going by a carnival ride.

But enough about the camera angles. What really gets me about FS’ platforming is how directional inputs are handled. For some obstacles, moving the Prince forward requires pointing the stick in the direction relative to the camera. For others, you just have to push the stick forward. This is insanely confusing to say the least.

I don’t remember the previous games having this issue, at least not often enough to notice. In FS it is a constant recurrence. I wish the designers decided on one approach and kept it throughout. The camera is at its absolute worst when the game strings together two obstacles which don’t apply the same movement principles. It adds and unwelcome layer of uncertainty to platforming challenges which require quick decision making. The problem is further magnified by the fact that the game insists on using cinematic camera angles to frame the action. Yes, I know, it looks a lot cooler than your standard bird’s eye perspective, but it’s also much harder to tell what constitutes as "moving forward" when you’re viewing the Prince from some weird angle.

Those Warrior Within drapes will never go out of style.

Although FS is more than capable of chaining together some exhilarating platforming sequences, the levels the action takes place in are often quite forgettable. Whether from a lack of inspiration or pressure from higher-ups, the designers seem to have dug up SoT’s art book somewhere in the back of the office, and just blown the dust off it. The line between homage and rip-off dangerously leans towards the latter. You’ve got your baths, your gardens, your astronomy chambers, etc. They even reprise the palace’s defense systems.

Each time you enter a new area, the game swirls around the camera to give you a sense of the room and display its name in bold letters across the screen. Unfortunately, they all have a terrible case of the cookie-cutter syndrome. Each room is square-shaped. Each is entered from a balcony up above. The obstacles are placed circularly around the walls. There’s always an indistinguishable hallway leading from one room to another. On and on like that.

SoT was linear, but its levels were much more spatially complex than simple cubic environments. For some reason FS’ designers skipped that lesson while screening the predecessors for inspiration. Instead they just slapped over some SoT-looking textures. As a result, Malik’s palace feels like a temporary movie set, like a bunch of fake walls hastily propped up just before the player enters the room.

To give the game some credit, the levels do start to improve once you’ve made it past the halfway mark. My favorite sections are those adjacent to the Terraces. There the game finally stops leading you from one box to another and lets you scale spires and hop over balconies. The visuals are crisp, selling the opulence and magnitude of the palace’s rooftops. The featured content is also varied, giving you a pretty good puzzle section in the observatory and a chase sequence with Ratash, an unexpected throwback to all those fun times with the Dahaka.

Good old crank puzzles.

Ok, you know what, I lied. I said we wouldn’t talk about the story, but we absolutely must. I can’t believe they slammed some random door between the Prince and Malik just to stop them from settling their argument. It’s one of the main contrivances the plot keeps recycling to justify its existence. The brothers are like: could we toss over this amulet and fix everything? Yes, we could, bro. Ok, you do it first. No, you do it. No, you. No, bro, you do it!

Hold on, game, wasn’t the Prince’s biggest mistake in SoT not trusting Farrah with the dagger? Then why on earth is he not handing in the freaking amulet!? Also why do the brothers not trust each other in the first place? Did I miss something? What is their relationship made out of anyway? It wouldn’t have hurt to flesh that out more, especially if you’re going to make it the focal point of the story.

What’s worse, here’s the Prince, a couple of years past the most significant event in his entire life, still bearing fresh scars from letting his arrogance get the best of him. And does he talk about it with Malik? No. Does he share some insight regarding this strikingly similar situation? No. Does he try to appeal to his brother instead of succumbing to the same childish stubbornness? No! They could have had an honest to god interesting story about strained family relationships, the abuse of power and the difficulty of speaking up about one’s issue. But that would have required some actual effort, wouldn’t it?

The game culminates with the laziest Hollywood ending I might have ever seen in a video game. To my utter amusement, Malik died in the Prince’s arms as the camera zoomed out and the Prince screamed into the heavens. I was hoping they would squeeze in the Dahaka’s appearance somewhere in the post-credits, but I wasn’t even rewarded with that much.

Bro, we’re meeting up at the baths, right?

It’s really quite sad how often the game relies on SoT’s branding, but tosses aside everything that could have been drawn from its story. Instead, it desperately copy-pastes whatever it can get its paws on. Here’s yet another army attacking yet another desert city. Which army/city, you ask? Who cares. Why don’t you chew up SoT’s tutorial section - we nearly identically transplanted into FS, down to the specific camera angles.

Someone must have flipped through SoT’s glossary at this point. What are we missing? But Farrah, of course! Here’s her knock-off counterpart, what’s her name? Razia? (I had to Google that, just so you know.) She and the Prince share as much chemistry as Godsmack and a glass of lukewarm water. Most of her time on-screen is spent blabbering out exposition - I didn’t listen to a single word she said.

Yuri Lowenthal is back, and while I’d love if he narrated my life, could the Prince please keep his mouth shut unless he has something substantial to say? Yes, how dare I, but the dialogue is so poor it’s barely listenable even with the stellar performance. The only remarks the writers could come up with are so inconsequential, they could have had the Prince comment on the weather. They reuse the same joke about a collapsed staircase three times!

And could we take a minute to talk about the Prince’s face? I know technology evolves over time and new models need to be created to present the same characters. It’s not uncommon to have someone’s appearance change between installments, especially if there have been longer breaks between releases or if the in-game context justifies it. So for example, I can get on board with the transition from SoT to WW, where the 7 year in-game gap, as well as the Prince’s move from adolescence to adulthood, more that justify our protagonist’s altered visage.

On the other hand, Forgotten Sands, what the actual fuck? Who is this person? How does this Prince fit in between SoT and WW!? If it weren’t for those bangs and that signature goatee, I wouldn’t have recognized him to begin with. I’m becoming more aware with each new installment that our blue eyed Persian is a genetic abomination. At least we’re all in agreement that Warrior Within’s armor is the best armor.

Wait a minute… You’re not Farrah!

Here comes the obligatory section where I shit all over the publisher. So let’s see, Ubisoft, what have you done this time? Did the game have a troubled development? Hmm, I don’t think so. I can’t remember any such reports from back in the day, nor could I dig up ones now. Were there any egregious online features? Not really, just some inconsequential skins.

Wait, I remember now! Uplay! Let it perish in the deepest depths of hell where it came from! Uplay was what you had in store back in early 2021 when I first gave this game a try (yes, I know, late to the party). What I had to go through to get the game up and running on Steam was ridiculous.

At first, I didn’t have Uplay installed, so the game was trying to boot itself up using some archaic Ubisoft launcher I had leftover on my PC. After I installed it, it still wouldn’t run because the cache files created by the old launcher were causing issues. After clearing the cache, it couldn’t sync non-existing save files, so I restarted it in offline mode. Then, the cherry on top, it kept crashing silently whenever I tried to boot the game. Why, you ask? Because you can’t have your gamepad connected before the game itself starts. Don’t even ask how I got to that conclusion. It took me more time to get to the title screen than to download and install the damn thing!

At the time of writing this, early 2023 to be precise, Uplay is dead and gone, replaced by some other infernal construct called Ubisoft Connect. I flinched when I realized the game would put me through more launcher torment, but fortunately this time the effort was minimal. Except I had to launch a separate EXE to change the display settings. Ok, whatever. Now the new launcher tracks my in-game achievements. Cool, I’ll still be sure never to use it.

Ubisoft, don’t you keep pushing me.

To be honest, there’s not much here I can blame Ubisoft for specifically. Well, except for one thing. It’s clear as day why they ran back to the SoT trilogy. The earnings of the 2008 reboot were supposedly disappointing, leading Ubisoft to cancel the game’s sequel - a grudge I plan to take to my grave. Even so, I don’t mind they took that as a reason to revisit the old formula. FS shows just how much room there is to build upon the original mechanics. What I do mind is that the game’s creative wings have been clipped from having to stick so close to SoT. FS doesn’t lack polish, nor fun gameplay twists. It lacks an identity.

Just who talks about this game any more? People who’ve actually played it cannot come here in good faith and slander its quality. However, I doubt the game has many fierce defenders. I’ve looked through old reviews and couldn’t find critics being unfair with it. When you comb through them all, it comes down to the same thing. What good gameplay, what bad story. I can’t say I disagree. FS is notably better than any movie tie-in has the right of being, but is still a soulless husk despite its shredded body.

In a way, Ubisoft got exactly what they wanted, the polar opposite of the 2008 reboot. A game that tries to stick to everything a diligent marketer identified as the franchise’s strong suits. A venture that must have been pulled down each time it flew a little too close to the sun. Even so, I’m amazed it managed to get away with as many gameplay innovations as it did. There were clearly some incredibly talented people on the PoP team, who fought for every inch of creative freedom they could get there hands on.

Despite all that effort, the game failed the test of time miserably. True to the irony in its name, Forgotten Sands slips my mind way too easily. This review sat in my virtual drawer for two years until some twist of faith brought it back to my attention. I daydream about Sands of Time, I pull my hair over Warrior Within, I cry in my pillow thinking of the reboot, but I barely contemplate FS unless it somehow plants itself right in front of me. It never managed to carve itself a piece of anyone’s adoration, so it was left behind in the dustbin of gaming history.

Ezio would have jumped, you pussy.

[sheikah]

In the books wasn’t there 3 treasons, and one of them was a treason of love or something? Maybe daario will be danys final treason? I guess it could happen but honestly daario and Cersei just sounds odd to me. Even if he’s bitter and wants revenge, he knows exactly what dany is capable of and knows he’d be on the losing end.

Hey, anon. I’m going to use this ask to make a post about all of these “leaks” in general. Hope you don’t mind. The supposed leaks can be read here. More of my answer under the cut. 

Yes–in Dany’s book visit to HOTU she is warned of three treasons and one is “for love.”

Because of that, I agree that the idea of Daario working against her to be possible. But if I’m really analyzing it, I think that Daario leading the Golden Company would be the betrayal for gold–because he would be getting paid by Cersei/Euron/The Iron Bank, and I don’t think he would fight Dany “for love” of Cersei. It doesn’t add up. And I also don’t believe Daario was genuinely in love with Dany, so I can’t see his alliance with Cersei as like a spurned lover’s revenge. 

So to answer your question, Daario could be the final treason. But I think he fits better into the treason for gold than for love. 

Anyway, I also agree that it seems odd for this Daario plotline to be legitimate at all. So I’m going to address first the reasons I think the “leaks” are suspect. 

1. Tyrion and Varys are not mentioned. To be fair to OP, OP claims to only know details of episode 1 via a conversation with a source, and a few scattered details about the rest of the season thereafter. So possibly episode 1 is not heavy on Tyrion or Varys activity. However, OP didn’t mention this (at least not at the time that I read the leaks. He/she could have edited. I haven’t checked) which tells me Tyrion and Varys slipped their mind, which tells me that they just made up this episode plot and left them out. Say what you will about D&D and their flaws this past season, but Tyrion would be part of an episode they wrote in which everyone gets to Winterfell. He’s a mediator and would certainly be involved in the Jon parentage conflict, as well as some sort of interaction with Sansa at the very least. Tyrion is one of the big 5. He’s going to be around. 

2. The way OP described certain parts of the plot sounds “fanficy.” For example, they are vague and not very detailed when it comes to several plotlines, but they described in great detail how Jon supposedly kisses the tears away from Dany’s face when she cries about the Night King taking over Viserion. 

It also sounds overly cheesy and oddly detailed that Jon tells Arya that seeing her again feels better than coming back from the dead. Not to mention that Jon didn’t seem to enjoy the feeling of coming back from the dead at all. 

3. Certain parts of this don’t make sense considering what we know of last season. My understanding of the final shots of 7.07 is that Bran used ravens to spy on the Night King again, and that he was able to see the Night King riding Viserion and blowing a hole in The Wall near Eastwatch. You can see the scene again here. 

Based on this, the leaker’s claim that the season opens with Bran seeing this seems a little odd. We should believe that Bran already saw it, and instead begin the season by dealing with the aftermath. With only 6 episodes left, I can’t see a re-hash of this scene, a scene which already delivered its emotional payload and would be a weak opening for the final season imo. 

Furthermore, the leaker claims this revelation disturbs Bran and that he is so bothered by it, he is distracted and doesn’t address Jon’s parentage with him right away when Jon returns to Winterfell. I can see why from a writing perspective they would hold off on this revelation for tension, but it shouldn’t be because of Bran’s supposed emotional turmoil. Season 7 did its best to convince us that Bran no longer experiences emotional turmoil. This would be very inconsistent. 

4. Why would Jaime swear his sword to Dany upon arriving at Winterfell? We already know that Dany has abandoned the mentality of demanding oaths of fealty considering all that is going on, so we must assume Jaime does this of his own volition. But it doesn’t make sense. Jaime is disillusioned about Cersei, yes. But disliking Cersei does not equal respect for Dany. Jaime tried to murder her in 7.04. I’m not sure he’s going to be kneeling to her any time soon. His oath is to help in the war against the WW. That doesn’t require an oath to Dany personally. 

5. Speaking of Jaime, I think his death is more likely than Brienne’s. I see Jaime finally redeeming himself as “Kingslayer” by possibly slaying the Night King himself and maybe dying in the process. I know this is a long shot but I would love for him to be the one to deliver the final blow to NK as the true Kingslayer and one the realm would remember fondly forever. I do think it’s likely the Jaime/Brienne romance will proceed and that one of them will die. I just think it’s more likely to be Jaime than Brienne. 

6. Daario leading the Golden Company seems odd to me. How would he become the leader of this group when last we heard, he was maintaining peace and freedom in the former slave cities? When Daario was a mercenary, he was a Second Sun, not a member of the Golden Company. This seems strange to me.  

7. OP claims to know nothing of the ending. I think this is awfully convenient. OP claims to know that Jon and Dany stay together despite Jon’s angst over parentage reveal. OP claims to know the ending of Jaime/Brienne storyline. OP claims to know that Jon and Dany are likely to survive because Melisandre dies to save them. But OP doesn’t know specifics of Night King’s death? Doesn’t know for sure who survives the series? What kind of scenario exists where OP is told all of these super specific details but doesn’t actually know the ending? It seems like OP just didn’t want to write that part because their “tidbits” remain easier to swallow without the finality of the series’ end there as part of them. The other “leaks” presented ludicrous endings and were immediately shut down for it. Without presenting an ending at all, OP seems more credible in some ways. But it also makes me doubt them. 

8. OP never mentions Dany’s pregnancy plot until prompted in the comments. Again, just like Tyrion and Varys, this strikes me as odd. If there is indeed a Targaryen baby, which OP says there is, this would be a huge plot point. So for OP to know this, as they claim to in the comments, but leave it out of their description of the plot in the post itself, makes no sense. This tells me again that OP is making all of this up, forgot about the Targ baby, and had to cover their ass when it was brought up in the comments. 

All that being said, of all the leaks so far, these were some I was most inclined to believe. Full disclosure: that might be because these leaks are the only ones so far that don’t give us a sadistically horrible ending for Jonerys. So maybe I was ready to accept these simply because of my Jonerys obsession. But I do think there are other reasons to give these a little more credit than other “leaks” we’ve seen thus far. 

1. The Greyjoy plot makes sense. I’ve seen other fake leaks that present Euron as the real threat and villain of season 8, as the last man standing after Night King and Cersei fall. In these theories, Euron is some sort of evil mastermind that manages to kill many principle characters. I just don’t see that. So this leak sounds closer to the mark. We can already see that Cersei’s agreement with Euron is fragile and that she is using him. When he discovers that, he might very well go back to the Iron Islands to protect what’s his or gather his forces to retaliate. 

We’ve also now seen the beginnings of Theon’s redemption arc that I personally believe will culminate in saving Yara. Theon saving Yara wouldn’t be that significant if Euron is still in King’s Landing with Cersei instead of at Pike posing a threat to Theon’s rescue mission. So all of what the leaker presents in this regard sounds right to me. 

I also think that Yara ultimately dying despite Theon’s efforts is in keeping with the tone of the series. We can’t have everything we want and I would be sad but not surprised if Yara is killed. It would also be the final straw to shake Theon out of his indecisiveness and inaction–his rage over this could believably compel him to kill Euron, providing a fitting and satisfying end to that subplot. 

2. I’ve always thought that Arya would admire Dany, and the leaker says as much. Arya is canonically aware of Visenya Targaryen and even the name of her sword. It’s not a stretch to think that Arya would look at Dany–a Targaryen woman who is brave enough to ride into battle alongside her men, a woman who tamed three dragons–and see her childhood hero, Visenya Targaryen, a warrior queen. It also fits with Arya’s character to trust someone based on Jon’s opinion, and according to OP, Jon still defends Dany to the Northerners, and Arya would see that. 

3. Even though I question it above, I don’t think the Daario plot is as crazy as others seem to think. Everyone is happy to constantly remind that there are only 6 episodes left. That being the case, I would be very surprised to see a host of new characters introduced as the captains of the Golden Company, because no matter who the writers choose, they will be a new character to show!canon. Having Daario lead the Company doesn’t make sense, especially to more invested fans like us. But the GA would probably enjoy the angst of him landing on Westeros to oppose Dany, and would also like a familiar face instead of a new character as the leader of the GC who only shows up briefly to likely be killed off a couple of episodes later. 

I also don’t think it’s that surprising that Daario could sleep with Cersei. One of the things that Dany always lamented about Daario in the books is that he clearly loved her for what she was, not who she was. Daario is arrogant and enjoys a challenge. He loved Dany because she was an impressive conquest–the Mother of Dragons, the Queen of Meereen. She was formidable in every way. He admired her power as much as her beauty. 

Dany on the other hand, was taken in by Daario’s persistence and charm. In other words, he’s good with women.

Now take Cersei. Despite her inability to truly oppose Dany’s and Jon’s forces, she is still Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. She is still a beautiful woman, the Light of the West. She is exactly Daario’s type. She is also no prude. Cersei has slept with inappropriate men besides Jaime before, and in the book she even subtly propositioned Ned Stark in an attempt to save herself when he revealed that he knew the truth about twincest and the illegitimacy of her children. So sleeping with a man casually, or with a seemingly unlikely man, is not OOC for Cersei. I don’t think that after suffering the loss of Jaime and the miscarriage of their last child, that Cersei would be in a position of confidence. She might crave the attention and comfort of a man like Daario who is 1. attractive 2. charming and 3. (assuming he really is the leader of the GC) a powerful ally. 

And of course, these two sleeping together would explain why Euron ditches Cersei, which I fully expect to happen.

4. The Melisandre story works. Sort of. I don’t really know what “army” she could pull together from Volantis but we know she’s leaving Westeros, we know there must be a reason. We know she knows about the WW and wants to prevent their destruction of humanity. We also know that according to what she told Varys in 7.03, she will return to Westeros and die there. 

Considering all of this, her dying in some way to save Jon and Dany after bringing aid doesn’t strike me as crazy. I think it’s fitting, actually. She’s another dynamic character who has changed a lot over the seasons and who has seen the error of her prophecies and her assumptions, but I think her belief in Jon and Dany and what they could do for the realm is genuine. She also said she had been ready to die for a long time. So her dying to save them makes sense. 

And of course, no one is kinder or a better judge of character than Dadvos. I am totally on board with him forgiving her in the end, after seeing that she gave her life to try and right her mistakes. 

5. As I said above, it does make sense to me to hold off on Jon’s parentage reveal immediately upon seeing Bran, so that part sounds in keeping with a good plot structure for the final season. 

OP’s descriptions of Jon’s reaction are also in line with what I’ve been saying–that Jon will handle this revelation the way he advised Theon to handle his own identity crisis. I think it sounds very in-character for Jon to accept his heritage from both families and to ultimately embrace Dany and their love despite the complications. Overall, I don’t believe this is a true leak. But parts of it sound okay, and we need to keep that in mind if we are interested in a potential real leak in the future. Because if one were to come about, it’s entirely possible that some of this information might overlap. After all, some fan theories have been correct in the past. 

So we can disregard this leak and we should. But I’m not going to dismiss the whole thing outright because to do so might be to dismiss or overlook a future, genuine leak the way many people did with Lads. After all, the wight hunt sounded ridiculous–and imo it kind of was. But it was real. Who knows what D&D are capable of lol?

[wendynerdwrites]

The Queen’s Favorite

A fic that I’ve gotten requests for, including from @jandsstark and @what-would-ww-do! The theme being: post season 8, Jon realizes he doesn’t deserve Sansa.

Oh, and fan cast Charlie Cox as Ser Patrek (not Stardust Charlie Cox, Daredevil Charlie Cox. But, you know, in a doublet... So... if Netflix did an adaptation of Marvel 1602?).

Jon:

Perhaps he should expect the way his former brother turns expectantly towards him, blue eyes mild. Jon barely recognizes the sweet, adventurous boy he knew in this stoic youth.

Bran used to smile easily and purely. But now, while the corners of his lips may turn upwards, there’s something missing. This person who calls himself Bran and the three-eyed raven does not feel joy. Or anything, really.

“Hello, Jon,” Bran says in that frustratingly mild tone, “What may I help you with? If it’s about your parents, I’m afraid I’ve told you all that I can.”

Jon purses his lips. This isn’t about that at all. But the mention of it summons some embarrassment. In perspective, his purpose here now is stupid, superfluous, shallow. He’s not even sure why he’s asking.

Sansa, on a personal level, is no longer his responsibility. He relinquished his right to interfere with her life when he swore himself to Daenerys. It’s a decision he made out of fear and panic, a desperation to keep the dragon queen from withdrawing support from their cause. But it proved futile. Daenerys is still the North’s ally for now, but Jon has not managed to give her what she wants. Between the Ice Dragon and Daenerys’s refusal to keep her remaining dragons at least ten miles from every densely populated landmark, the North made its decision. Their former king could call Daenerys his queen if they wished, but they shall not.

Thus, Sansa is crowned, and not just to rule the North. The Vale enthusiastically joined the call in swearing themselves. And it didn’t end there. As it turned out, Sansa sent a couple thousand men to take back the Trident as well in order to restore her uncle to Riverrun, secure the lordless Harrenhal (left without one upon Littlefinger’s execution), swell their numbers, and increase the buffer zone between the North and the Lannisters.

A delegation, led by Lord Jason Mallister’s heir, declared for Hoster Tully’s granddaughter. Jon’s cousin, his former half-sister Sansa, is no longer mere lady of Winterfell. She is Her Grace Sansa of House Stark, First of her Name, Queen of the Three Realms of the North, the Vale, and the Trident.

When Daenerys threatened to burn the castle alive for the “treason”, one of the castle tower ballistas, fired at Rhaegal and clipped. his wing. The response suddenly became more diplomatic, with both young queens coming together to end the threat of the Dead.

The Stark forces and influences have been swollen by the enthusiastic support of the Riverland army. Sansa ended up bringing a Riverlord’s delegation to decide who they preferred.

As it turned out, the Trident has as much interest in dragonfire as the rest. Daenerys watches, aghast as Patrek Mallister, heir to Seaguard, came before the whole court to announce that it was Stark forces that freed him from the Frey camp. Him and numerous other heirs owe their freedom to the Queen in the North. Many, many we quite insistent on this, from Lord Blackwood to Lord Piper. But the charismatic head of the delegation seemed most passionate about the issue.

Amidst throngs of cheering people, Daenerys watched, lemons in her mouth, as over half the continent swore themselves to their new queen. The girl who had been a fugitive just a year ago and since managed to restore her home and bring order to the North and protect and feed people during Ice dragon attacks. A true queen.

Daenerys could not do much to stop it, either, except threaten fire and death upon countless innocents for simply not choosing her. It was then that Jon chose to reveal his identity to her and threaten her out of that idea. It was a positive move on his part all around. He was especially sure of that when he was thrown out of her chambers. But hours later, she was reluctantly swearing an oath of friendship with the new Queen of three realms.

It was perhaps stupid of Jon to think that at this point, he might have a chance. After months and months of self-loathing over his feelings for his “sister”, he’s learned that isn’t the case while stuck in a liaison with his aunt. Perfection. But after Daenerys rejected him, this was finally his opportunity.

He’d have to take his time, of course. The two of them were raised as siblings. She’d need time to get used to the idea. And he’d give her as much of that time as he could, considering.

So, the evening after Daenerys swore her vow---- Sansa looked beautiful, her head held high and her eyes shining, triumphant, Jon snuck up to her door with a bottle of Arbor Gold. When she comes to the door, she looks shocked and keeps it partially closed.

Jon holds up the bottle. “I thought we might celebrate, Your Grace.”

“Oh!” She glances behind her briefly, then looks back. “That’s very sweet of you, Jon, it is, but I’m not feeling particularly well right now. Perhaps another night?”

He frowns and reaches up to feel her brow, “You don’t feel feverish.”

“It’s… a headache. It’s nothing. Nothing that a bit of rest can’t cure, I’m sure.”

There’s a thump in the background. The hair on the back of Jon’s neck stands on end and, ignoring her protests, he pushes past her.

To find a man in her chambers crouching over a fallen bronze pitcher. Jon immediately unsheathes Longclaw, ready to skewer the intruder.

The man stands and holds up his hands. It’s then that Jon notices that he’s not wearing his boots and that his upper body is clothed solely by a purple tunic.

Jon recognizes him now: average height, reddish-brown hair and beard, brown eyes, muscular build, perfect jawline, and an easy smile. That easy smile appears, albeit sheepishly as he rises. Jon��s blood burns when he sees that bush. He’d like to slice that look right off his face.

“I am a guest in this house, My Lord,” Ser Patrek Mallister reminds him with an arched brow.

“Put that away, Jon, honestly!” Sansa snaps, annoyed. Jon looks at her, utterly aghast. Mallister is easily ten years her senior.

He does sheathe his blade, but quickly asks, “Where is your chaperone?”

Sansa scoffs. “Chaperone? Jon, honestly, I’m a widow and, in case you missed it, Queen, now. I am not some blushing maid who requires a beady-eyed Septa to look over my shoulder.”

Jon scowls. She’s not even denying what this is? But, for the purposes of confirmation, he asks, “What are you doing with him?”

“None of your business, Jon. Now, thank you for the wine, but this is none of your concern. Please leave!”

“I’m not going to let you---”

She practically pushed him out, breaking his heart in the process.

First place he goes, of course, are Bran’s rooms. But now that he’s here, he’s second-guessing himself. How does he ask this without betraying himself?

Jon hesitates and goes, “I’m worried about our sister. Her and Mallister---”

“---Are happy right now,” Bran says significantly, “There is no cause for alarm.”

Jon steps forward, “Can you at least just look? Make sure she’s not---”

“Jon, doing you honestly think Sansa, after everything she’s been through, would open herself up to a man without checking with me first? I’ve looked into his past, present, and future. He used to drink and whore too much up until he was taken prisoner during the Red Wedding. All things he told Sansa about when he began pursuing her. Now he spends less time carousing and more time serving his father’s people and lands. He’s a fine man. He’s not lied to or hurt her, or done anything dishonorable.”

This angers Jon far more than if Bran told him that Mallister was Aegon the Unworthy born again. But he has to hold back his frustration, or betray himself. He marches out of Bran’s rooms to his own and paces furiously.

What did you expect? For her to remain alone forever? She’s young and beautiful and you’ve been gone for nearly a year! Perhaps if you’d done as Sansa suggested and sent an emissary to Dragonstone we wouldn’t be in this mess!

I was trying to get away from her at the time, I thought she was my sister!

You’d have found out the truth much sooner had you been less of a coward. She’s an adult woman, more than capable of taking care of herself. She took care of an entire country while you were off nearly getting yourself killed beyond the Wall. This is her decision. You must respect it.

Maybe he must, but he can’t simply accept it.

You were her brother and you almost made her kneel to a foreign invader after taking a crown that should have been hers and throwing it away on a woman who brought an Ice Dragon to Westeros because of a useless pact Sansa warned you not to pursue. Did you think she would want to throw herself into your arms? Why? Because of that battle she won for you? That you nearly ruined because you fell into a trap she warned you about? Or because you’ve embraced her a few times?

They were excellent embraces. At least, he thought so.

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~

Sansa:

By his own admission, Sansa wouldn’t have liked Patrek if she’d met him a few years prior, when he was squandering his time drinking and whoring and actually hoping for a war to achieve some “glory”, which, Patrek also admits, he wouldn’t have been able to define.

“Two years in a Frey dungeon has an effect on a person,” he tells her wearily, pulling her into his lap, “I realized that I was no hero, no great personage. That I was stuck in a cell, waiting for someone to rescue me, a pawn in everything, boosted by nothing I’d created myself, just a name.”

Sansa rests a hand upon Patrek’s cheek, feeling the contrast of clear skin and stubble. It’s hard to imagine him as a lout or a prisoner, with such a kind, honest face. Faces can be deceptive, though. Her own courtier’s smile proves that.

Patrek isn’t young. Or, at least, he’s not as young as Sansa. He is a good friend of her Uncle Edmure, though he’s well younger than him. He’s one-and-thirty. But there’s something sweet and incurably boyish about his expression that only ever makes him looks mischievous at worst. He has a trickster’s smile sometimes, but unlike Petyr’s, there is no cruelty to it. Sansa has no doubt that Patrek has had his years of being thoughtless, petty, irresponsible, and callous, but even at his worst, she has a hard time imagining any true malice behind it. People who are deliberately malicious rarely have this level of self-awareness without practically flagellating themselves over it.

Patrek accepts what he was, and tries to be better now with a stalwart and somehow hopeful practicality. He’s a child of summer, perhaps, but he is ready to meet the winter. He knows how awful he was to break some milkmaid’s heart in his youth, but he’s insightful enough to know that there are more pressing matters than his own guilt and that everyone, including that milkmaid, is better off if he puts his mind to contributing as much as he can to the danger facing them now.

“We were all idiots when we were young,” she tells him, “I thought I was a lady from a song. I expected to be loved, and thought pretty, refined people were good.”

His face falls a bit. “The difference, though, Love, is that when you mention your youthful stupidity, you’re referring to your thirteenth year. When I refer to mine, I refer to my thirteenth year up until well into my twenty-seventh. I wasn’t even half-finished creating regrets when I was your age. I was stumbling out of barns with my hose about my knees. You are the unanimously chosen queen of three realms whose governance has been admired and praised by experienced and accomplished lords and ladies old enough to be your grandparents.”

Sansa blushes. When Patrek says things like this, it has an effect almost unlike anything she’s ever known. The closest anyone has gotten to making her feel truly proud, recognized, and flattered is when Jon quietly informed her after her ascension that she deserved it. Others have praised her, of course. Though Sansa has noticed that she’s gotten far less praise for feeding the populace and clearing the roads than her deposed cousin got for his supposed military victory (that was actually hers). But that is the way of things: war is glorified, feats of martial prowess are the ideal, the things that get preserved by songs and stories. No one ever writes a ditty about resource allocation, even if said resource allocation is what enables those armies to fight in the first place. No one wanted to sing of edicts and budgets. Battles were more lyrical.

When she is praised for her unglamorous contributions, she usually looks for a motive behind it. Cynicism is not a habit easily broken, so when one of her courtiers move to praise her wisdom, she either wonders what they want from her, or bitterly notes the surprise in their voice, as if it is inconceivable, even after months and months of her deftly ruling this disaster-prone country, that a young woman can handle such responsibility. Even when people like Lord Royce, who she likes and trusts, tells her she’s made a wise decision, there’s an underlying message of, “What? How? You’re supposed to be stupid and dependent!”

Logically, she knows she should be suspicious of Patrek. By his own admission, he has a history of deceiving and flattering women. Part of her does suspect him, wondering what will happen the morning after she’s finally let him into her bed. She searches his face for a lie constantly. She even asked Bran to investigate him.

The worst her brother could come up with is, “The only reason he doesn’t have a gaggle of bastards is because his father was fastidious about delivering Moon Tea to his conquests’ doorsteps.”

She asked Arya to tail him for a day. “He went to the Wintertown tavern with some of his men, had a pint or two, but didn’t so much as pull one of the wenches into his lap.”

Abandoned loutishness aside, there could still be ulterior motives to Patrek’s pursuit. He may be saving his focus for the ultimate conquest --- a queen, for example.

She is queen, and she cannot forget that. She has no shortage of suitors, really. Many of whom undoubtedly seek to rule the Three Realms via marriage to her. Patrek is the heir to his own lands, to Seagard. He will be one of the most powerful lords of the Trident some day, and should logically be seeking a wife from a noble house who can be his lady. But it’s possible he expects that Sansa will defer to him and cede control of her domains to her Lord Husband should they marry, and that House Stark shall become House Mallister.

Sansa’s afraid to ask. If that’s true, it will be a bitter disappointment. If it isn’t, he might be offended that she’d suspect such a thing, or feel repelled that she’s thinking of marriage at all.

So her policy thus far has been to just try to enjoy him while she can, and try not to fuss too much. With the war, it’s not as if there’s much pressure on her to marry immediately. Especially since she isn’t going to be fighting on the front lines. She has yet to share her bed with Patrek, who has shown nothing but patience, and if she does, she has a supply of Moon Tea to prevent any inconvenient pregnancies. As long as she is careful, stays devoted to her duty, and doesn’t let her heart get in the way of her head, she should be fine.

“True enough,” she agrees, pleased, “Not many would admit that, though.”

She’s promised herself that the moment Patrek asks for a favor, she shall end things. She’s even told Arya as much. “If I should tell you of some underhanded request, or begin giving him undeserved perks, you are to stop me.”

If Patrek is here for a crown, she will let him announce it, and end things there. It’s not about power, but about duty. She was trusted by her people to take on the responsibility of leading them, to protect their rights, their independence,and protect their faith in her, the monarch they chose. She cannot hand that honor off to some power-hungry potential lover. She is not Jon.

Sansa has to marry, of course. One of her duties is providing an heir. But her husband shall have to take the Stark name, play the role of consort, and accept her regency. Her vassals shouted “Queen in the North”, not “Queen-until-she-finds-a-king-to-marry in the North.”

She’s even debated giving her husband the courtesy title of “King.” “King” in practically every legal and social context is synonymous with “regnant.” It doesn’t have the flexibility of the “queen” title. If she names whomever she marries “King”, it might create some legal loopholes that threaten her status and authority. After all the North has suffered, stability is key to its survival. Part of that stability is having an unquestioned, strong, solid monarch. That was half the reason Jon bending the knee was so unacceptable. If Sansa takes a king, she will no longer be unquestioned.

The issue is that there’s no precedent for this sort of thing. At least, not one on the books.

But even if she marries someone content to treat king as purely a courtesy title, that doesn’t mean others can’t twist it, or that their families will see it that way. And even those suitors who wouldn’t usurp her authority may still want to be called “king”, regardless.

She doesn’t know. When she looks into Patrek’s warm brown eyes, though, she doesn’t see a man searching for a crown.

“I’ve noticed, with all due respect, that the men of this realm aren’t fond of using many words, whether it’s to admit a personal failing or otherwise,” remarks Patrek, “They’re very loud, but not very verbose.”

Perhaps it’s stupid of her, carrying on like this with a man at this time, but… Everything is so hard and confusing and terrifying. And so very, very lonely. Nearly every waking minute is spent going over ledgers, receiving petitions, signing documents, conducting council meetings, making sure that roads are cleared, refugees are housed, troops are deployed, enemies are watched, ballistas are maintained, supplies are sent and received, battles are planned. All while hoping that the Dragon Queen will change her mind all of a sudden about accepting the North’s independence and burn them all. It’s all on her. Everyone is depending on her.

It’s not as if she has calm periods, either. That her moments come during attacks and battles. No, Sansa feels like she’s constantly engaged in battle. On the surface, people might scoff at this, claiming there are no enemies charging towards her to kill her. But starvation, disease, subterfuge, and revolt are every bit as deadly and far, far more subtle. They’re invisible enemies. She has to fight them off, while also providing the actual armies the means to fight at all. It doesn’t matter how great your numbers are or how skilled your commander is, if your soldiers are too weak to move from hunger, illness, or untreated injury, or don’t have weapons or armor to defend themselves, or can’t walk because a lack of adequate footwear have rendered their feet bloody and broken, defeat is inevitable. In addition to providing the supplies, she must keep the roads clear enough to deliver them, make sure they are handled by trustworthy and qualified people, keep track of the needs and positions of their forces across vast distances, and coordinate defenses back home. She has to do all this while ensuring that there are no traitors in her court trying to sabotage or murder her, while keeping her vassals happy so that they continue to provide their vital support. And she must get all of this done while observing, respecting, and adhering to the codes that protect her peoples’ rights. And making sure her home is always ready to defend itself from a dragon attack, Ice or otherwise.

Meanwhile, Cersei Lannister is gathering up an army to finish off the weakened victor of the War for the Dawn. Which, of course, is just one part of the vast issue that is planning for the future after the war and the winter, which Sansa also needs to do if her country is going to recover from everything, stay united once the common enemy is gone, and thrive.

And she just… She wants something. Something in her life right now that grants her some relief, some joy. Something that briefly lets her forget that the world is on her shoulders. Something that satisfies some manner of yearning within her.

This is winter, there are no lemons growing anymore.

Furs can only do so much to keep her warm. Sansa leans against Patrek’s chest, listening to his heartbeat, and sighs. “Some people talk at length and end up saying nothing at all.”

“Nothing of substance anyway.”

It’s probably stupid, wrong, and selfish for her to still, on some level, want a handsome, charming man to kiss and comfort and praise her. But she has to be wise, right, and selfless all the time. She barely even feels like a person anymore. More like the pedestal for a crown.

Sansa doesn’t resent or hate her power… far from it. As queen, she is more secure than she’s ever been. She doesn’t have to answer to any lord, no one can force her to do anything she doesn’t wish to do. Instead, she can order others to do things like donate grain or take in smallfolk. She’s restored House Stark and their home and there’s less risk of having it taken from her than ever before. And, while her efforts are less likely to be recognized than those of generals and commanders, it makes them no less rewarding. Every day she watches people stand in line for food, people who would be starving if not for her organization and leadership, having healthy rations of bread, turnips, meat, and stringed beans placed in the hands instead of trying to eat leather and sawdust. People who are living in the camps she set up, who would have been killed by Ice Dragon attacks had she not used Bran’s abilities to warn her and evacuated areas beforehand. When she watches men march off to battle, she has the comfort that, at the very least, they have adequate armor and weapons because she made sure of it. That there are lords and ladies who are feeding and housing smallfolk who would have left them in the cold had Sansa not interceded.

Maybe there will never be songs of this, and maybe Lord Royce and the others still seem surprised by her competence, but Sansa knows she isn’t unnoticed. She’s hailed and followed whenever she walks through the camps or rides through town. People look at her not just with the deference of her rank, but with hope and love. Many are not afraid to personally approach her in the streets about some issue or another. She’s received many tearful thanks from mothers and fathers whose children have had their first full meal in many moons. Or whose daughter was the target of one of Ramsay’s “hunts.” A crown of the most precious metals and gems couldn’t make her feel as good.

Sansa watches the flames dance within the hearth.

It even makes her fear the Dragon Queen less. Daenerys sees how Sansa is regarded. She notices. The woman has come to Westeros promising to “break the wheel” of tyranny by the powerful families (except her own, of course), has built her reputation on being the “chosen” queen. The “Breaker of Chains”. A benevolent, yet powerful liberator. Burning a castle filled with innocent men, women, and children in it because they didn’t want to kneel to her is the antithesis of that. She’s already threatened to withhold support and let the White Walkers destroy the North if Jon didn’t bend the knee. She’s already burnt Randyll Tarly and his young son, Dickon, alive, for denying her. She lost the Martells, the Greyjoys, and the Tyrells. The status of the Reach and the Dorne are shaky, to say the least. She’s brought Dothraki, famous for their brutality, for raping and pillaging innocents, to these shores. And one of her dragons became the mount of the Night’s King in an effort to secure a futile alliance with Cersei Lannister. Then she ignored the request of the North (the place that has suffered all the Ice Dragon attacks thus far) to keep her own dragons at least ten miles from highly populated areas.

Daenerys was told by Jon that even if he bent the knee, his people would not accept a Southern leader. She refused to believe it, insisting they would if their king said so. Then, when they arrived in the North and Jon announced it, the people unanimously rejected her and crowned Sansa instead. Not out of fear, not because they were deceived. This was their choice, based on merit.

Given her current track record in Westeros, Daenerys is already having trouble convincing the people that she’s any different from Cersei. The Reach reacted with horror to Dickon Tarly’s death in particular, and currently maintain steadfast neutrality. As for Dorne, it already had divisions since Ellaria Sand’s takeover was based on nothing more than kinslaying, and most of the lords there, while harboring no love for the Tarly’s, are similarly disturbed by the deaths, and are suspicious of any queen who would ally with someone who based their power on murdering children and relatives.

The Starks have pledged their friendship, and Sansa has even promised to deploy her remaining forces after the war to help Daenerys defeat Cersei and take the Iron Throne, even if the North, Vale, and Riverlands were no longer part of her domains. Daenerys’s long-lost Stark nephew has promised not to challenge her for the throne despite a superior claim. The Starks are well-known to be honorable, good, and to have suffered horribly, and to be the first a sole responders to the threat the continent faces. Winterfell is not only home to a household of decent people, but is filled with and surrounded by innocent refugees. Displaced, defenseless men, women, and children. And it hosts many respectable and important lords and ladies. All of whom adore, trust, and respect their young queen, the long-suffering, dutiful Sansa Stark, who has known so much cruelty and tragedy and has emerged from it wise and kind.

If Daenerys destroys Winterfell, she destroy any chance of being anything more than a “Mad Queen.” She destroys herself.

It wouldn’t be Aegon the Conqueror burning Harren the Black alive within Harrenhal. That’s already controversial, but at the very least, Harren was a known monster, a vicious, brutal warlord who tortured, enslaved, and killed countless innocents to create his monster of a castle. Winterfell is a centuries-old bastion of defense and leadership in the North, the most famous solace against the harshest winds of winter, ruled by the oldest and most honorable and arguably respected House in Westeros. And it is filled not with raping pirates but refugees.

By burning Winterfell, the Mother of Dragons will have committed an unprecedented, unforgivable, and vicious war crime out of pettiness. She’ll be a mass-murderer, liar, hypocrite, and lunatic. She’ll have not only slaughtered countless innocents, but destroyed her only remaining ally in Westeros and the North’s primary defenses, leaving her own armies vulnerable. The Night’s King has already taken one of her dragons, and a second was wounded by a ballista. Both incidents happened because of Daenerys’s own stupidity. She lost a dragon and dragged a wight to King’s Landing to have a tea party with Cersei Lannister, but burned the last of honorable Ned Stark’s children and all their people alive. Over a title. Not the Iron Throne, which Cersei Lannister sits upon, but one that the people of the North, Trident, and Riverlands begged their leader to take.

She’ll have destroyed the oldest House of Westeros, and numerous important lords and ladies as well, with absolutely no respect to their status, their families, their names, their people. That does not bode well for ANY noble family. None of them will be willing to accept Daenerys. Between Viserion’s death and Rhaegal being wounded, her dragons are not invincible. And with Winterfell gone, Daenerys will have left herself right in the open path of the army of the Dead. Even if she does manage to win that, her armies will be severely depleted, and will have Cersei and the Golden Company waiting for them. And they will be without a shred of support from anyone in Westeros.

Such a thing is not just a matter of soldiers, either. There are also issues of transportation and accommodation, not to mention supplies. Between the Red Keep and Daenerys’s current location is the entire North, the Riverlands, and the Vale. Daenerys’s ability to cross rivers, stay at castles, set camp in fields will all have to be attained under threat of Dragonfire. She’ll be a pillager in every sense of the word. And if the citizens (possibly headed by the noble families whose parents and siblings died when Daenerys burned Winterfell) decide to organize a resistance, she’s even worse off. Some kingdoms may even decide that Cersei is preferable, since Cersei has no dragons. She also immolated many innocent people, including a Great House, but she had to lure them all into one building to do it. Far less dangerous. And even she was still forced to do things like repay her debts to the Iron Bank and betroth herself to a pirate. She’d be much easier to control and stand against.  

Overseas powers might also get involved. The Iron Bank was already backing Cersei over the collapse of the slave trade in Dragon’s Bay. But the destruction of Winterfell might make several other kingdoms and cities nervous about the rising power of this mad, dragon-riding conqueror. It’s not as if her conquests in Essos were exactly peaceful. Even those governments with no interest in the slave trade might fear that the Mad King’s Daughter will decide to outdo her forebears and expand her empire beyond Westeros, and reign fire down upon them. After all, if she was willing to murder the famously benevolent Starks for being independent, what would stop her from burning Pentos? Braavos? Yi-Ti? The Summer Isles?

Burning Winterfell would make enemies of everyone, diminish her defenses against an army that has already claimed one of her dragons, and paint her forever as a bloodthirsty lunatic. No one would trust her, want her, respect her. Just fear and revile her.

Daenerys, despite her prior actions, likes to think herself a force for good, wants to believe everything she says of herself, despite her “Submit or burn” policy. On some level, she knows this. So she’s yet to burn them all alive. If it’s out of basic decency or self-preservation, Sansa cannot be sure. But she feels more secure as a queen of the people than one of ashes, fire, or blood.

Still, people are fickle, she knows this. And that doesn’t make her life anything less of a constant struggle. And she just… she just…

She feels a protrusion rising from between Patrek’s legs, pushing into her thigh, and her lip curls.

Patrek doesn’t pretend to be a model of virtue, or a perfect repentant. He doesn’t act like his improved character is a burden, or something deserving of praise. And Sansa believes that even if he’s not in love with her, even if motives aren’t pure altruism, that he does possess some genuine affection for her, and that it isn't just about her looks. They have long conversations well into the night, and when he responds to her, he always has an engaged and insightful comment or query, and he always recalls prior conversations, so she knows he’s not merely pretending to listen.

Sometimes, he does get distracted, but he always admits it. Then there are other times, when they’re sitting by the fire and it’s gotten truly late, and he drifts off to sleep, his fingers in her hair, halted where he’s been stroking it.

There are also his impressions of the members of the court, wicked, accurate, and hilarious. Sometimes she laughs so hard she can’t breathe. And it just feels so, so good to laugh, especially at something irreverent, inconsequential, and immature. Most of her laughter over the past several years has come from observations and sarcastic remarks so morbid that she has to laugh to keep from crying. So something like this is a wonderful respite.

And he is very handsome. And he truly looks like a man, not a boy. There’s definitely a boyishness in his looks, but it’s notable because he is so clearly an adult male. It’s not prettiness, like with Loras or Joffrey, though Patrek is gorgeous. But it’s the sort of beauty that can only be called handsomeness, not prettiness. And it’s not as if he’s some dirty, burly creature, either. He dresses very well. He is not shy about the fact that he prefers wine to ale. His manners are Southern and genteel. He doesn’t spend every other minute challenging other men to wrestling matches, arm wrestling, or drinking contests.

“What do I have to prove?” He’s said. “I survived nearly four years in a Frey dungeon while this lot were retreating to their castles. You rode off to war while they sat huddled by their hearths. I don’t need to prove myself to men who were outmatched in courage by a nineteen-year-old fugitive and a ten-year-old orphan.”

Sansa adjusts her position slightly, turning to look into her paramour’s eyes. They’re eyes that have seen terrible things, that have watched as their body, mind, and soul have endured cruelties. Patrek doesn’t go into much detail about his captivity. Sansa doesn’t mind, she doesn’t go into much detail about hers. Maybe someday, they will.

But these eyes still manage to be so warm. They’re the brown of burnt caramel. Fitting for him. Burnt, yes, but still full of sweetness and somehow richer for it. Sansa wonders if he sees any warmth in her own eyes, or if they’re just icy cold to him.

She only wishes he had a bit more affection for the North and its people. But Sansa consistently gets the impression from him that he considers her vassals to be a bunch of pompous, ignorant, tasteless louts and her to be too good for them. There is still a touch of snobbery to Patrek. And even when she tries to explain reasons her lords had for staying out of the war against Ramsay, his response is usually just to stroke her hair and declare her a far more understanding person than himself. He judges himself, yes, and he’s happy to judge others.

“So,” he says, wetting his lips, “Will I have to Duel your brother tomorrow?”

“You’d have to get my permission to draw steel towards one another under my roof, and I shall not grant it.”

This does give her pause, though. She may not allow a duel, but there was nothing stopping Jon from requesting one. It is the sort of thing he might do, too. And if he does, people will wonder why, rumors will arise, and…

She neither wants or needs gossip. Sansa treasures what privacy she has, and she doesn’t have much.

“That being said…” she slips off of his lap, “Perhaps I should speak to him.”

“Now?”

“Well, if I wait until tomorrow, it could be too late. I don’t want to give him too much time to fly off the handle.”

Patrek clears his threat and folds his hands. “Are you sure that visiting him now would be prudent. He might have a… guest.”

Sansa flinches. He means the Dragon Queen, and he is right. Everyone knows about them. Some of her angrier vassals believe Jon betrayed the North and bent the knee so Daenerys would marry him and make him King of Westeros. Sansa doesn’t believe that part, but she also isn’t stupid. They do share a bed. And for some reason, every mention or reference to this fact always hits her like the blow of a lance.

She wanders over to her desk and pulls out some parchment. “I’ll go to his room and if it sounds like he is… entertaining… I will just pin this note to Ghost’s collar.”

Patrek rises from the sofa and goes to open the hall door. Ghost pads in casually, tail wagging, moving to greet Sansa. Her lover has been here enough times to know that the direwolf guards Sansa’s door faithfully all through the night, every night. Another thing which assures Sansa about Patrek is that the beast has yet to show any hostility towards him. Ghost always snarled at Petyr.

Sansa finishes scrawling her note.p, but doesn’t pin it. Folds the paper in her hands, she says bashfully, “I think I should at least try to speak to him about it in person, first. I mean, if it were your sister, wouldn’t you---?”

“You’re not his sister,” Patrek reminds her. And she nods.

“But he is still family. He’s still a wolf, and a pack sticks together if they wish to survive.”

Patrek purses his lips and says nothing. Sansa’s shoulders sag.

“What?”

“I just don’t think it’s fair that you’re so forthcoming with him and I’ve yet to see him return the favor.”

“I wasn’t always so open with him,” Sansa answers, thinking of the Knights of the Vale, “And I regretted it.”

“I think he’s entitled to a fair number more regrets than you at this point.”

Sansa sighs and walks to him. She kisses his cheek. “I won’t be long.”

~_~_~_~_~

Jon:

Eventually, his feet ached too much from pacing. Now he is slumped by the chair, staring at the fire, downing ale, and stewing.

He’s so alone.

Even as a bastard, he’s always been one of the court, a man of the North. Now, though? He’s a guest in his own home. He’s sworn himself to Daenerys, he’s her subject, of her court and kingdom. He’s not even Ned Stark’s son. He’s a Targaryen.

He and Daenerys haven’t formally said it yet, but they’re done. They haven’t shared a bed since Bran revealed everything. He’s been caught up in the horror that he’s bedded his aunt.

With Daenerys, he suspects, the horror is more at this greater claim to the Iron Throne than their blood relation. She was raised as a Targaryen, after all. Such things are typical for them. Him as her nephew was one thing, but as her rival? Not after all the work she’s done.

Perhaps she also sensed his lack of interest. That was another possibility.

Jon suspects, though it has not been confirmed, that there’s some sort of unspoken agreement between Daenerys and Sansa that Jon will live here should they survive the war in order to keep him and his claim out of the way. Jon doesn’t mind too much; he doesn’t want the throne and he loves Winterfell. But he doesn’t like being arranged for, and he doesn’t like the idea of living his life here as Daenerys’s nephew, not a true member of Sansa’s court.

What is left of his identity? His name, his birthplace, his father, his legitimacy, his title, his position… All changed. Jon isn’t even sure what his official title, style, and name are even more. Have all the legal relevant legal documents had ‘Jon Snow’ scratched out, with ‘Aegon Targaryen’ written in smaller letters above? Daenerys named him Warden of the North, but he’s pretty sure that is null with Sansa’s ascension. He’s Rhaegar’s trueborn son, so is he a prince now? Or just ‘Lord’? The servants address him as “My Lord”, but that’s more a formality.

Twenty-three years of age and he still has no idea who he is, what he’s doing, or what he should do.

Perhaps he should tell Sansa how he feels. She can send that Mallister brat packing. They could formalize their alliance with Daenerys through marriage and he could be a Stark again as her consort.

Maybe he should just ask to be sent out as soon as possible. Given a command and just get away. He’s good at fighting, even if he doesn’t enjoy it.

Jon nearly falls out of his seat when there’s a knock on the door. At this hour. His stomach lurches when he considers Daenerys. Oh, gods, please no.

Reluctantly, he goes to the door. His heart rises at the sight of Sansa. Oh, gods, yes.

Perhaps having him see her with Mallister made her realize something. Maybe she’s here to apologize and confess her true feelings. Maybe he’s had more than just a couple of cups of ale.

Sansa’s eyes narrow. “I need to speak to you about what you came upon this evening. I don’t want you to act like a fool and make a fuss.”

Jon stares at her blankly. Yes, more than two cups. He feels a bit indignant. “You run over to my chambers in the middle of the night and you’re worried I’ll make a fuss?”

Sansa does blush, but she also persists. “Yes. I don’t want you… punching him at the breakfast table or challenging him to a duel for my honor or something. People will talk, and I can’t afford that. I know how you get.”

“Chivalrous?” He asks, half-teasing, half-hopeful.

“Over-protective.”

“I think I’m just the right level of protective, actually.” Without thinking, Jon raises his hand and clutches her cheek gently, “Why shouldn’t I want to protect you?”

“You’re free to want whatever you wish, Jon. Just don’t act on it. I’m a grown woman, and I am more than capable of taking care of myself now that I have the means.” She pulls his hand away.

He likes it when she gets annoyed. And her boldness is thrilling. He smiles. “Come in and have a drink with me, let’s discuss this.”

Sansa hesitates, but enters. “I don’t have time for a drink, but I prefer to speak behind closed doors,” she says, standing to face him, her arms crossed.

Jon sighs, his thoughts suddenly turning melancholy. “...It isn’t hard?”

“What isn’t hard?” She asks wearily.

Jon frowns. “After what happened to you. After what Ramsay did. I’d think after that, you’d need years and years before you could share a man’s bed again.”

Sansa’s eyes grow wide and her mouth opens. “I… I… Not that it’s any of your business, but Patrek and I haven’t coupled.”

A wave of relief washes over Jon. “Really?!”

“Really. He’s a perfect gentleman.”

“Then why was he barefoot and down to his tunic?”

“We were in private, and he was getting comfortable. Sometimes he sleeps on my sofa, so he likes to shed a few layers just in case. We talk through the night sometimes.”

“And you like him?” Why?!

“Yes. He’s very genuine.”

“You’re sure of that?”

She bristles. “I know the difference, Jon!”

“Of course. Pardon me. I just want to be sure. I worry.”

She holds her head high then. “Well, I believe that’s it then.”

“That’s not it!” He sputters, “It’s entirely unsuitable! You’re a queen! Do you want people to think your morals have fled?!”

“I have proven my generosity, work ethic, loyalty, and devotion to the extent that they have named me queen. I have done too much good for my people to brand me completely dissolute based on what occurs in my bedchamber. Besides, Patrek and I are discreet. All I ask is that you follow suit.”

“Why should I?!” He demands. “Why should I be discreet about you making yourself into some lordling’s whore?”

Her face goes white again, and Jon loathes himself. He tries to speak up, to take it back, but his voice gets caught in his throat.

Sansa’s voice is like acid. “Because if you didn’t, it would make you the most traitorous, insensitive, despicable shit I know. Goodnight.”

She moves toward the door, but Jon grabs her wrist. “Wait!”

Sansa scowls. “What?”

I love you. I love you. I love you.

“I love you.”

He says it out loud. It takes him several seconds to realize this. Sansa’s face goes slack and colorless. She knows what he means by that. There are several seconds of silence, where the world seems to stand still. Then the color returns to her face. And returns some more. And some more.

“Did you love me when you ignored my warnings about Ramsay and Cersei? When you suggested that I admired the woman who ruined my life? When you told me that even though I’d been raped and tortured within our home for months that you’d rather flee to somewhere warm than do anything about it? When you left me behind and didn’t write? When you accepted the crown instead of pointing out that it was I, not you, who won the Battle of the Bastards and was heir to the North? When you bedded Daenerys and offered her the country I risked my life for?”

It’s like a slap in the face. Jon releases her wrist and steps back. “Yes,” he whispers.

“Whenever I spoke to you, Jon, I felt like I was being ignored. You once outright mocked the idea of listening to me. Even though I’d been proven right before and ignoring me nearly got you killed. Even though I saved your life. The one time you seemed to consult me, you changed your opinion afterwards and announced it to the whole court without asking me. And you never once asked me anything else, either. Like what happened to me in King’s Landing. Why I kept Littlefinger near. I asked you plenty and you treated it as if I were undermining you. After years and years of being treated like a fool, a pawn, and useless, I got it from you as well. Even though we thought ourselves siblings at the time, that was your chance to prove the value of your ‘love.’ If you cannot appreciate my counsel, then you are unworthy of my heart.”

“I… I---”

“---And, you know, Jon, I’m not so sure that you do love me. I think that when you look at me, you don’t see me. You see all the things that were denied you. You see all the things you were told that a bastard like you wasn’t worthy of. I’m not a key, Jon. I’m not Key to the North, or to Winterfell, or to your legitimacy, or the key to proving all those nay-sayers wrong.”

It’s as if all his insides have disappeared. It hurts worse than Olly’s blade.

“Sansa, you have to---”

“---I don’t have to do anything you say, you’re not my king, and I don’t belong to you,” she snaps, “I belong to my subjects, and as per your choices, that doesn’t include you. I am Queen of the Three Realms, Regnant of over half of Westeros, Lady of Winterfell and Harrenhal! I don’t have to do anything that doesn’t involve keeping my people safe and fed. As long as I do that --- and, let me remind you, I am, very, very effectively --- I can do what I wish. I may bed Ser Patrek tonight. I may marry him tomorrow, or not. I may give him a child. A child I’ll declare a legitimate Stark and heir to my kingdom regardless of whether or not I wed. But I can’t do what I like with you. You belong to your aunt. The one you fucked. You’re her whore. And unlike me, that’s the only thing you can lay claim to anymore. Goodnight, My Lord.”

She slams the door behind her, leaving him speechless.

He crumbles to the floor once he’s too tired to stand anymore. He blacks out at some point, and is woken by another knock on his door. Joints in agony, Jon reluctantly rises and goes to open it…

...To find Patrek Mallister glaring at him.

He barely has time to react when the heir to Seagard has him by the collar and pushes him up against a wall.

“She told me everything, you Bastard Lizard-Fucker,” Mallister sneers, “I never thought you’d have the stones to tell her---”

“---You… You…” Jon chokes out.

“Me and everyone else at court,” Mallister says through clenched teeth, “You may not have inherited the Targaryen looks, but you sure as shit inherited their flair for subtlety. I’ve ignored it because I overestimated your sense of decency and thought you’d never say a word. But last night you proved me wrong and you called her a whore. Now, listen, I’m going to be around for as long as she wants me here, Snow, and you’re not going to get in the way, got it? And even if there’s a point where she’s not my lover, she will always be my queen and if you ever insult her again, I don’t care if I have to march all the way from Seagard. I’ll rip your tongue out.”

He releases him, backs up, and straightens his collar. “Good day.”

[verdigrisprowl]

Oct 23 Dancitron Movie Night - Wonder Woman

Basically everybody was enthralled by the trenches battle scene. Except Prowl.

After the movie, Prowl and Soundwave had a very long, serious discussion about whether or not it’s a good idea to, like, let Cybertron be completely destroyed. You know, the typical sort of thing couples disagree on.

ItsyBitsySpyers 7:56 pm *Soundwave finishes setting the last of the snacks down from the stack he had coiled in a feeler and heads for his usual spot. Rumble and Frenzy are already in their spots, with Laserbeak floating between them.* Purgatori 7:57 pm [Theres a slightly hesitant medic in the entrance, but the music draws him in. Ah, one of the ones Jazz had played while on Earth. Interesting.] FakeProwl 8:00 pm *honestly, what DIDN'T Jazz play while on Earth* *appears, checks his usual spot is clear, and sits* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:00 pm *Nods to Ratchet and pings Prowl* FakeProwl 8:00 pm *greeting/permission ping* Purgatori 8:01 pm *goes to sit in his normal chair, aka in the corner* Bevel 8:03 pm *trundles in like she do* Whirl 8:03 pm *trots over to The Whirl Table and hunkers up like a horrid gargoyle. As per usual* Swoop 8:04 pm *bounces into the room before letting out a biiiiig (currently flame free) yawn and stretching* *anyone in wing smacking distnace will be smacked by a wing* Tarantulas 8:05 pm *GUESS WHO'S EARLY TODAY. earlier than he normally is. it must be all that energy he's gained back since he got better. tarantulas narrowly avoids getting smacked by that dumb wing but even swoop's not gonna get him down today* Bevel 8:05 pm *still near enough to the entrance to be smacked* *grabs the wing and playfully shoves Swoop further into the room* Swoop 8:06 pm *SQUAWKS* Bevel 8:06 pm *grins* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:06 pm ((EIGHT MINUTE WARNING)) Swoop 8:07 pm *bats ineffectively at bevel* noooooo no WINGS ItsyBitsySpyers 8:08 pm *Soundwave and the crew nod to everyone, though Frenzy and Rumble wave wildly at Whirl and Bevel too.*

*Sweet, sweet telepathy permission. He'll reach out juuuust enough to make contact.* Bevel 8:08 pm Watch where you swing them then! *batted at so ineffectively* Swoop 8:08 pm nnooOOooOoOooo??? FakeProwl 8:09 pm *touches back* Whirl 8:09 pm *lifts his head to bob it in greeting to the twins* Bevel 8:09 pm Yeeeeeeeeessssss Tarantulas 8:10 pm *tarantulas comes over to the couch and probably spoils sw and prowl's moment by covering each of their faces with a paw, as if they couldn't already guess who he was. esp sw. the fricken telepath with a visor face and deployers scattered around* Swoop 8:10 pm *hops on the back of the nearest sofa* no no no kehehheh NO FakeProwl 8:10 pm ... Tarantulas, why are you blocking my vision. Magnum Ace 8:11 pm -and he's trotting through the door, rotating his shoulder a bit. Looks up and stalls again- ItsyBitsySpyers 8:11 pm *Soundwave jerks and ducks out from behind the limb. He's not a fan of people who don't have visor removal permission putting their hands on it. Or paws. But he'll nod to Tarantulas once he's free.* FakeProwl 8:12 pm *Admittedly, it took Prowl a moment to realize his optics were being covered, and not that the lights had suddenly gone out. Avatar with low touch sensitivity, don't ya know.* Tarantulas 8:12 pm *tarantulas snickers and lets go* How did you know it was ME, goodness Bevel 8:12 pm *sticks her tongue out at Swoop and goes to sit at Whirl's table* Yes yes yes mwuahaha YES. Bull Armor 8:12 pm -was following beyond Magnum Ace and just barely manages not to crash into the pitcher- Magnum whats... -Bull Armor stops as he stares ahead at what he sees- Whirl 8:13 pm *have a head-bob, too, Bevel* Purgatori 8:13 pm *pulls out a datapad* Swoop 8:13 pm *cackles and bounces on his perch* NNNOOOOO Magnum Ace 8:13 pm ....I may have forgotten this happens sometimes. Don't panic. FakeProwl 8:14 pm *... Hears a voice at the door. Please don't let it be... Looks.* Oh. Damn. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:14 pm ((OKAY so warnings... warnings... I haven't watched WW since it was in theaters so I don't remember everything. Blood, violence, historical setting and viewpoints that go with that, probably some swearing, uhhh some cheeky content but nothing like R-rated. That's probably about it.)) Bull Armor 8:14 pm -though not screaming, the slow sinking of Bull Armor's horns was a good indicator that he really was close to freaking- ItsyBitsySpyers 8:15 pm ((...IS TOOTHLESS THE SCRAPLET IN THE ROOM)) FakeProwl 8:15 pm ... Hello. We come in peace. Bevel 8:15 pm *tosses a treat at Swoop from her seat* YES. Whirl 8:15 pm ((O BOY)) Magnum Ace 8:16 pm Bull. It's safe. I promise. Purgatori 8:16 pm *is starting to wonder why he even comes to this* Bull Armor 8:16 pm Magnum... where are we? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:16 pm *"We come in peace"? Who is Prowl talking t-- ohhhh dear. Another alien.* Magnum Ace 8:16 pm And I think we're the ones in the wrong place, Prowl FakeProwl 8:16 pm ... We WELCOME you in peace. I'm not good at the— I'm not usually in charge of "first contact" duties. Magnum Ace 8:16 pm We're...not on Earth Swoop 8:17 pm *flops backwards on the sofa, staring upside down at the room* Magnum Ace 8:17 pm And there's someone in charge of that? Swoop 8:17 pm Soundwave Soundwave Where Bird? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:18 pm *He points over to the couch where the twins are.* FakeProwl 8:18 pm When we plan on greeting a new species that isn't yet part of the larger galactic community, yes. Who's in charge depends on who's stationed on that planet. Usually someone charismatic, though. Bull Armor 8:18 pm I think I can tell 'that'. -Bull couldn't help his voice rising an octave or two- Purgatori 8:18 pm *crosses arms over his chassis* Atleast its not my turn. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:18 pm *Rumble points at Whirl. He used to be morale officer, yeah? Why not him?* FakeProwl 8:18 pm —Anyway. You don't—that's not—that isn't the priority right now. Bevel 8:18 pm *waves to Whirl, she did notice the nod earlier when she sat down* Magnum Ace 8:18 pm Ah. Right. That makes sen-Bull, please, it's okay. I've been here at least twice Tarantulas 8:18 pm *tarantulas pops up and clatters over to the earthlings, checking around them for traces of the multiversal doorway. he's not bothering to introduce himself, he's Busy With Science* Magnum Ace 8:19 pm And I'm fine FakeProwl 8:19 pm *dry look at Ratchet* I seem to recall last time you INITIATED first contact. Whirl 8:19 pm *raises his head again* What am I being volunteered for, exactly? Swoop 8:19 pm *pushes off his spot and ends up on the floor, scampering over to Bird in a half out of control mess of limbs. ** Purgatori 8:19 pm Someone had to do something, damnit! Toothless 8:19 pm *peeks out from Squeaker-friend's armor* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:19 pm //Welcomin' the new guy.// Bull Armor 8:19 pm -Bull Armor did his best to hide behind Magnum; though that was impossible with his much bulkier armor- Magnum Ace 8:20 pm Please don't...Bull Armor, it's okay Whirl 8:20 pm *looks over to Bull Armor* Welcome to Dancitron. I neither live nor work here. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:20 pm *Rumble snorts* FakeProwl 8:20 pm ... You're the catcher, correct? Bull Armor 8:21 pm Umm, yes... Purgatori 8:21 pm The what? Magnum Ace 8:21 pm -turns to pat Bull Armor's shoulder- FakeProwl 8:21 pm I've seen part of one of your games. I'm a—er. A fan, I suppose. *He's hoping that bringing up something familiar will be comforting.* Whirl 8:22 pm *perks up* This looks like a cool place to live. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:22 pm //The catcher. Behind the guy with a stick, catches stuff they ain't hittin'.// ItsyBitsySpyers 8:22 pm \\FRAG YEAH IT DOES.\\ Magnum Ace 8:23 pm Yes, he's the reason I can pitch in games Squeaker 8:23 pm *tiny giggles at the cute child* Bull Armor 8:23 pm -While having no idea where he was or how, so far everything seemed safe; at least from the way Magnum was acting- FakeProwl 8:24 pm ((oh my god her name is Antiope. I spent the whole movie thinking her name was Aunt Iope.)) Purgatori 8:24 pm *his attention is being drawn to the movie* Swoop 8:24 pm ((literally swoop at bed time)) ItsyBitsySpyers 8:24 pm \\BULLSCRAP.\\ Whirl 8:24 pm I only really know two scorpions. Neither of them seem to want to sting. Bevel 8:24 pm Shields can totally have sharp edges. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:24 pm #it hurts people #:( Purgatori 8:25 pm Grimlock and Kup, anyone? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:25 pm *Zori uncurls and leaves Soundwave's neck to head for Whirl.* Swoop 8:25 pm Me SWOOP like story time : > Purgatori 8:25 pm *oh, human mythos, he likes this* Magnum Ace 8:25 pm -Magnum is calm because he's trying to keep Bull Armor calm- Whirl 8:25 pm *will stoop down and offer his claw to taxi Zori up to the table, or whichever perch he would like* Magnum Ace 8:25 pm Anyway...I think we should get off the floor. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:26 pm *Zori will take that claw, and sit on the table for now. He might clamber onto Whirl later if it gets frightening though.* Whirl 8:26 pm *he is, as always, welcome* Squeaker 8:26 pm *holds a blanket out to Bull Armor* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:26 pm //Heh, she's teachin' the kid anyway.// ItsyBitsySpyers 8:26 pm //Kinda familiar, huh, Bevel?// Bevel 8:26 pm *grins* Yep! FakeProwl 8:27 pm Would you like up on a table? Or a chair, or...? *directs the question to the catcher, who's undoubtedly more rattled by all this and thus gets first choice of seat.* Tarantulas 8:27 pm *seems satisfied having taken all the data he can from around the earthlings, thankfully without stepping on them* Bevel 8:27 pm *leans forward to watch the movie* Purgatori 8:27 pm *Ratchet appreicates the not stepping on them part, friend* Bull Armor 8:28 pm -Bull Armor looks at the blanket held out to him- T-thanks, but I think I'll be ok. -He then turned his attention to Prowl- Which ever is safer? Magnum Ace 8:28 pm -Much appreciated, the not being stepped on bit- Swoop 8:28 pm *rolls onto his back for maximum upside down movie watching* Bull Armor 8:28 pm -While Bull Armor hated heights, he really didn't want to be stepped on by the much taller beings- FakeProwl 8:28 pm ... Table, probably. Bevel 8:28 pm Sword! Tarantulas 8:28 pm Safest is on the ceiling, but you probably wouldn't like what I'd have to suggest, hyeheh Purgatori 8:29 pm *rubs at his faceplates* Swoop 8:29 pm Her grab sword : > For fight ItsyBitsySpyers 8:29 pm [[Please do not put webs on his ceiling.]] Pause. [[Or mechs in webs on his ceiling.]] Tarantulas 8:29 pm *whines* Magnum Ace 8:29 pm . . . Bevel 8:29 pm *laughs* Swoop 8:30 pm ?? Why Her not fighting? Magnum Ace 8:30 pm -seriously Tara? Web them to the ceiling?- ItsyBitsySpyers 8:30 pm {{Them scaredy-fleshies, think her die maybe if fight.}} Tarantulas 8:30 pm *he was offering to be nice!* Swoop 8:30 pm Die more if NO fighting Bull Armor 8:30 pm -Bull Armor would not approve of being stuck to the ceiling- Whirl 8:31 pm If you lot need a seat, my table's open. *Whirl's spot usually becomes Small Mech Central* FakeProwl 8:31 pm *Walks over to the Earthlings, stops what he hopes is a non-threatening distance away, kneels, and holds out his hands on the floor.* I can lift you. Purgatori 8:31 pm *a single optic ridge rises at the others offer* Swoop 8:31 pm KAHA! Her hit with sheild Purgatori 8:31 pm *look at Prowl, being the gentlemech* Swoop 8:32 pm :V Magnum Ace 8:32 pm -Magnum will step up first, so Bull knows it's safe- Thank you FakeProwl 8:32 pm *Protect and serve.* Swoop 8:32 pm KAHA! Her PUSH! FakeProwl 8:32 pm *He still likes to do that when he isn't busy, yknow, being the lesser of two evils.* Purgatori 8:32 pm *Theres the mech he remebers from Earth* Swoop 8:33 pm 😮 Bull Armor 8:33 pm -After a moment Bull Armor follows Magnum lead; though much more cautiously- Purgatori 8:33 pm I didnt think humans had powers ItsyBitsySpyers 8:33 pm *The twins lean forward in their seats, oohing.* Bevel 8:33 pm Awesome. Whirl 8:33 pm These're Amazons. Not human. FakeProwl 8:33 pm You're fine sitting with them? *tilts his head toward the table Whirl offered.* Purgatori 8:34 pm I have space at my table, if needed Magnum Ace 8:34 pm -he's leaving this up to Bull Armor- FakeProwl 8:34 pm *usually a table with Whirl and his crew wouldn't be his first choice, but it worked out fine last time and Whirl DID offer.* Bevel 8:34 pm *waves to Magnum Ace and the newbie* Swoop 8:34 pm Crash! Magnum Ace 8:34 pm -waves back to Bevel - ItsyBitsySpyers 8:35 pm {{Heh, him dead. Byeeeee.}} Bull Armor 8:35 pm Which ever is closer. -Bull Armor really hated heights and wanted to be on a sturdy place as soon as possible- Swoop 8:35 pm Water crash fun. Kind of! More than ROCK crash keheh Bevel 8:35 pm Oh no. Tarantulas 8:36 pm *oho, tarantulas has a genius idea. he promptly steals prowl's seat* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:36 pm *Soundwave glances over at Tarantulas. What does he think he's doing...?* Tarantulas 8:36 pm *snickering, currently* FakeProwl 8:36 pm ... Right. *To Whirl's table it is, then, no dawdling.* Whirl 8:37 pm ((me2 steve)) Tarantulas 8:37 pm (( same ItsyBitsySpyers 8:37 pm #hiiii Whirl 8:37 pm *bobs his helm at the little guys again* Sup. FakeProwl 8:38 pm *Puts his hands on the table so they can step off.* Purgatori 8:38 pm Oh. Oh no Bevel 8:38 pm *too distracted by the fight to greet the bitties* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:38 pm //Ohhhh they're so fraggin' outclassed.// Swoop 8:38 pm Dead Whirl 8:39 pm Outgunned, yeah. Outclassed? Not so sure. Bull Armor 8:39 pm T-thank you. -Bull Armor says to Prowl after he scrambled off to the safety of the solid table- ItsyBitsySpyers 8:39 pm *Rumble scratches his chin* //...Yeah, okay. I'll give ya that one.// Bevel 8:39 pm *cheers* Magnum Ace 8:39 pm -hops off after his teammate is on the table- Thanks. You okay there Bull? Purgatori 8:40 pm *So much death.* Swoop 8:40 pm *bounces* Them really good at fighting : > Bull Armor 8:40 pm Y-yeah, I think so. Toothless 8:40 pm *coos* Whirl 8:40 pm Nice. Bevel 8:40 pm *bounces are they gonna do the--she did the thing!* 😄 Aw no. Magnum Ace 8:40 pm ... Whirl 8:41 pm Nice. They won, even though they were working with a disadvantage. Purgatori 8:41 pm [plating pulling tight against his frame* FakeProwl 8:41 pm The Amazons clearly have superior training, teamwork, and combat techniques. They're better with their weapons than the humans in the boats are with theirs. Whirl 8:41 pm Yep. Bevel 8:41 pm Really good warriors can totally beat guns and blasters with swords. Squeaker 8:41 pm *pets Toothless* Whirl 8:42 pm Fancy guns are great--I mean, who DOESN'T love a good gun? Especially a Brainstorm gun? But in the end it comes down to how good of a weapon YOU are. FakeProwl 8:42 pm Plus they had the advantage of higher ground and of knowing their environment. Swoop 8:42 pm What glowy rope KEHEHHh Purgatori 8:43 pm *snorts* Swoop 8:43 pm Him yelling ItsyBitsySpyers 8:43 pm *...Does not like the idea of this lasso* Purgatori 8:43 pm * he could have used this lasso many, many years ago* FakeProwl 8:43 pm *Okay, the Earthlings are situated.* Toothless 8:44 pm *shrinks back into Squeaker's armor* Purgatori 8:44 pm *plating is tight against his frame again* Swoop 8:44 pm Him melting? Magnum Ace 8:44 pm . . . FakeProwl 8:44 pm Right. If you need anything else, just—just shout. I'll be over there. *vague gesture.* My name's Prowl. Tarantulas 8:44 pm *tsk. they always call the smart ones the bad names. clearly she's misunderstood. tarantulas sympathizes* Squeaker 8:44 pm *looks away and pets Toothless more* Magnum Ace 8:44 pm -bad time to tune into the movie- Swoop 8:44 pm Him bad at stealing, Bird. Bull Armor 8:45 pm Thank you, Prowl FakeProwl 8:45 pm ... We usually send wayward guests home once the movie's over. So. You'll get home, I assure you. Swoop 8:45 pm Him bad at flying too! Keheheh. CRASH! Whirl 8:45 pm I mean, the poor guy's got to work with a PLANE. It's a damn shame. Squeaker 8:45 pm Information like that should just be destroyed Purgatori 8:45 pm War. War never changes Swoop 8:45 pm KAH! Maybe okay at bombing. Purgatori 8:46 pm [rubs at his faceplates] ItsyBitsySpyers 8:47 pm [[Information like that is valuable.]] Magnum Ace 8:47 pm Information like that is dangerous Squeaker 8:47 pm Not valuable enough. NO information gained by other's pain is worth anything at all Purgatori 8:48 pm You have clearly not been in war Bevel 8:48 pm Boo Magnum Ace 8:48 pm -gently places a hand on Bull Armor's shoulder- You okay? Swoop 8:48 pm Why queen say no fighting? : < Tarantulas 8:48 pm If vital research is destroyed, then only one person would ever know it - no one could study it more. To - counter it. *of course* Bull Armor 8:49 pm Yeah, this is just strange -Bull Armor offered Magnum a reassuring nod. Swoop 8:49 pm ((don't tell me how you kept that watch safe)) Bird Bird Magnum Ace 8:50 pm Usually the movies end in time for a decent amount of sleep Swoop 8:50 pm Them live in cave : > ItsyBitsySpyers 8:50 pm {{What?}} FakeProwl 8:50 pm *Right. the Earthlings are situated. Heads back over to his usual couch.* Whirl 8:50 pm *streetches out his neck and fixes his big, single optic on the Iron leaguers* So, what's you guys' deal? Swoop 8:50 pm Them in cave too Bull Armor 8:50 pm Is this where you've disappeared a couple time? -he asked Magnum- FakeProwl 8:50 pm *Stares at his usual spot.* Swoop 8:50 pm Lots of people in cave Magnum Ace 8:50 pm ...yes and no? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:50 pm {{That bath, not live.}} Purgatori 8:50 pm It has come to my attention that I am needed elsewhere. Tarantulas 8:50 pm *cheeky visor squint* Purgatori 8:50 pm Enjoy the movie Swoop 8:51 pm Bat cave ItsyBitsySpyers 8:51 pm [[Unfortunate. Goodnight, Ratchet.]] Swoop 8:51 pm *Bath Kehhehhhehh Bevel 8:51 pm Bye, Ratchet. Purgatori 8:51 pm Goodnight, Soundwave. Bevel Whirl 8:51 pm Seeya, Doc. Squeaker 8:51 pm ((Goodnight and be safe)) FakeProwl 8:51 pm *... Checks to see if there's room to sit next to Tarantulas or Soundwave.* Toothless 8:51 pm *waves a pincer* Tarantulas 8:52 pm *deliberately left no space. no luck there* *spider limbs everywhere* Swoop 8:52 pm JUMP! Keheh FakeProwl 8:52 pm ... Please give me my space back. Swoop 8:52 pm KA! Her fall Bull Armor 8:53 pm -Bull Armor looks up to Whirl at hearing the larger bot's question- Our deal? -he wasn't quite sure what Whirl was asking about- Swoop 8:53 pm OH her good at climb MAKE climb kehehheh That how Snarl climb It funny WHAM WHAM Bevel 8:53 pm That is how you climb a building. Whirl 8:53 pm Yeah. Whaddya do, where ya from? Tarantulas 8:53 pm Wwwwhy ought I? There's room here. *reaches out to pull prowl in* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:54 pm [[Because he requested it.]] FakeProwl 8:54 pm *Takes a step back, out of leg range.* Bull Armor 8:54 pm We're from Earth and play sports; mostly soccer and baseball. -Bull Armor answered simply- Whirl 8:54 pm Huh. Athletes, then. Tarantulas 8:55 pm *nooooo...* I assure you I'm a comfortable seat. You /know/ that already. What is it? Magnum Ace 8:55 pm That's correct. Swoop 8:55 pm Her mom mad Them fight? FakeProwl 8:56 pm ... I don't want to. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:56 pm //What kinda creator says she ain't allowed to come back?// Bevel 8:56 pm The mean kind? Whirl 8:56 pm Yeah. Unless she means like, they physically will be unable to find the island, that's dumb. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:57 pm //Yer my greatest love, so I'mma never see ya again. Bye.// ItsyBitsySpyers 8:57 pm //Like. Tch.// Magnum Ace 8:57 pm It's probably more of the 'can not find ever again' Swoop 8:57 pm Them fight Tarantulas 8:57 pm *slumps backward onto the couch. then sllllloooowly slides down off the couch onto the floor to sit there instead. there you go prowl* Swoop 8:57 pm then her win and Her queen and get everyone fight! Magnum Ace 8:57 pm You saw the fog and distortion around the island ...right? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:58 pm //They got maps.// Whirl 8:58 pm That's what I'm betting on--that's it something out of her control. Magic. Otherwise, thats's just dumb. Magnum Ace 8:58 pm The pilot was having trouble with his compass and map Whirl 8:58 pm *suddenly laughs; he saw the look Diana gave the sword. He knows that look. He knows that feeling* Magnum Ace 8:58 pm He was hitting it when she came in ItsyBitsySpyers 8:58 pm //So go flyin' until stuff frags up. Then you're there.// Bevel 8:59 pm *wants to make that sword* FakeProwl 8:59 pm *... Stands still.* Magnum Ace 8:59 pm And hope you don't drown or die in the crash? FakeProwl 8:59 pm *Now he feels bad. Thanks, Tarantulas.* Tarantulas 9:00 pm *you're welcome* Whirl 9:00 pm Like, I'm not saying it's HARD to find. But impossible. Magic just prevents it. Swoop 9:00 pm *has no idea what this conversation is, paws at Bird instead* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:00 pm *Soundwave tilts his helm at Prowl and motions to the couch. Will he not sit?* FakeProwl 9:00 pm *... Sits.* Whirl 9:01 pm ((bless this movie, for giving me both Gal Gadot and Chris Pine to admire as a little side bonus)) FakeProwl 9:01 pm ((i love this entire adlibbed scene)) Whirl 9:01 pm ((IKR)) Bevel 9:01 pm (( i love this scene Tarantulas 9:01 pm (( it was adlibbed? omg ItsyBitsySpyers 9:01 pm ((it was)) Squeaker 9:02 pm ((wow)) Magnum Ace 9:02 pm ((burned to a toast there bud FakeProwl 9:02 pm ((she went for his life)) Whirl 9:03 pm ((fatality)) Swoop 9:03 pm ((10/10)) Toothless 9:03 pm O,o Swoop 9:03 pm Her face got thing on it ItsyBitsySpyers 9:03 pm {{Her play music in opera place?}} Swoop 9:03 pm Opera place? Whirl 9:04 pm She's probably missing most of it. Tarantulas 9:05 pm *terrible? terrible is basically the same as naughty, right* FakeProwl 9:05 pm *An officer desperately trying to win the war, and his mad inventor. Hmm.* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:07 pm [[She has clothes on.]] Bevel 9:07 pm Everyone else has more. Whirl 9:07 pm ((her face when she sees the baby. I die)) FakeProwl 9:07 pm ((i like that she hears crying and she's INSTANTLY like "BABY." she's never heard a baby before in her life but she Knows)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:08 pm //Primus.// Whirl 9:08 pm *snickers* Bevel 9:08 pm Good priorities. Swoop 9:09 pm ((everyone is precious)) Tarantulas 9:09 pm (( specs = even cuter tbqh Swoop 9:09 pm ((omfg)) Bevel 9:10 pm ((the glasses made her even hotter Whirl 9:10 pm (9AGREED)) Magnum Ace 9:10 pm ((dying here ItsyBitsySpyers 9:10 pm ((me trying to get into those damn doors)) Swoop 9:10 pm *kicks his birby feets* Tarantulas 9:11 pm *is moping until further notice. maybe he can sift through data while he mopes* Swoop 9:12 pm Kah! Headbutt! Her AWESOME Whirl 9:13 pm Yeah. I like her. Bevel 9:13 pm She is awesome. Magnum Ace 9:13 pm He...killed himself? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:13 pm [[To preserve secrets.]] Magnum Ace 9:13 pm Oh. Tarantulas 9:13 pm (( oh look it's remus lupin Whirl 9:15 pm ((i always think of him as the dude from the Island of Dr Moreau)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:15 pm //Uh.// Magnum Ace 9:16 pm ...that's bad. Isn't it? Squeaker 9:16 pm mhm Swoop 9:16 pm ((i was afk what did I miss)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:16 pm ((where did you leave off)) Swoop 9:17 pm ((diana EMBARRASSED some dudes in an alley)) FakeProwl 9:17 pm ((diana embarrassed every single dude she's come across)) Magnum Ace 9:17 pm ... ItsyBitsySpyers 9:17 pm ((They went to a command council type place, people refused to listen to a guy suggesting a peace talk - that guy--__ ((and now they're here)) Swoop 9:18 pm ((*fingerguns*)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:18 pm [[What fools.]] Magnum Ace 9:18 pm -squirms a bit. The solider bit hit too close to home here- Swoop 9:18 pm Kekhehheh Bull Armor 9:18 pm -sees Magnum shift uncomfortably- You ok, Magnum? Swoop 9:19 pm *pokes bird* Squeaker 9:19 pm *offers a blanket* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:19 pm {{What?}} Swoop 9:19 pm Spy lie, huh? kehehhhhehhh ItsyBitsySpyers 9:19 pm {{Oh no, not Bird. Bird good, perfect, never lie. Only truth, always.}} Swoop 9:19 pm *poke poke giggle poke* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:19 pm {{Him Boss lie. Heh heh.}} Magnum Ace 9:19 pm Huh? Oh, yes, I'm fine. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:19 pm [[And well.]] Swoop 9:19 pm Bird ONLY good bird EVER kehehhh Magnum Ace 9:19 pm -he's lyyyyying- Whirl 9:19 pm *hunkers down again. CLUNK. Bots on the table, you are now accompanied by Whirl's head, which is lying flat on the table* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:20 pm *Zori extends a cautious claw to Whirl's head. Did he fall asleep?* Bull Armor 9:20 pm -Bull Armor jumped slightly as Whirl's head hit the table- ItsyBitsySpyers 9:20 pm [[...He would have liked more of that.]] Whirl 9:20 pm *flicks his antenna; nope, he's still watching* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:21 pm *...Can he climb up on Whirl's head?* Magnum Ace 9:21 pm -jerks back at Whirl head- Whirl 9:21 pm *Whirl will not stop him* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:21 pm *Up he goes! And maybe to do a little humming and dancing.* Whirl 9:21 pm *snorts* Having fun up there? FakeProwl 9:21 pm *... Quietly nudges Tarantulas with his foot.* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:22 pm #maybe #more if you are okay Swoop 9:23 pm Her waaaaaaaaaaay better fighter than dumb bar guys kehhehhhehhh Magnum Ace 9:23 pm -nudges at Whirl- Are you...okay? Tarantulas 9:23 pm *tiny jump - looks up from a tiny console he's pulled out* Hhhm? FakeProwl 9:23 pm Nothing. Tarantulas 9:24 pm *....squints* FakeProwl 9:24 pm *Nudge nudge.* Swoop 9:25 pm ((she is so genuine <3 )) FakeProwl 9:25 pm ((she is, i love it)) Bevel 9:25 pm ((I love her so much Whirl 9:25 pm *speaking to Zori at first* Yeah I'm f--*jerks his head away sharply when Magnum comes to nudge him* Whoa, little guy. Pump the brakes. Tarantulas 9:25 pm *leans onto the nudging leg* Whirl 9:25 pm *and then he settles back down again* Perfectly fine. Just tired. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:26 pm #do you want to sleep? #here? #I will guard you Swoop 9:26 pm Bird Bird Magnum Ace 9:26 pm Ah. Sorry. Swoop 9:26 pm You Bird better at sneak things ItsyBitsySpyers 9:26 pm {{What what?}} Whirl 9:26 pm I don't intend to go to sleep, but if I do, then feel free, professor. Swoop 9:26 pm and Swoop better at bomb things : > ItsyBitsySpyers 9:27 pm #noooo #after Swoop 9:27 pm But Her Lady good fighter tooooo ItsyBitsySpyers 9:27 pm \\HEH.\\ {{Bird good fighting. You not worry.}} Swoop 9:28 pm Bird good at everything Whirl 9:28 pm *glances to Magnum* You get a pass 'cause you're an alien. You're good. You can touch my neck, if you need to. Just not my head. Hell of a toast. I'd toast to that. *to Zori* Hmm... maybe, yeah, if you lot don't mind. It's either here or the wasteland. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:30 pm #the wasteland has monsters #bad places #here is good #and safe Magnum Ace 9:30 pm Thank you? -confused pitcher here- Whirl 9:31 pm Our wasteland's pretty barren. But, yeah, I'll wager this place is safest. Magnum Ace 9:31 pm -blank stare at the screen- ItsyBitsySpyers 9:33 pm *Soundwave folds his hands and leans forward a little.* Toothless 9:33 pm *wiggles excitedly* Bevel 9:33 pm *leans forward in anticipation* Whirl 9:33 pm ((now, of all times, I lose bandwidth, thanks internet B( )) Magnum Ace 9:33 pm She's-! Swoop 9:33 pm *perks up* Whirl 9:33 pm *also raises his head, a little* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:34 pm //Hot damn.// Whirl 9:35 pm You said it, mech. Magnum Ace 9:35 pm Oh...wow... Swoop 9:35 pm :V AWESOME Bevel 9:35 pm *new favorite human* *well amazon* FakeProwl 9:36 pm *just looks vaguely irritated.* *... granted, "vaguely irritated" is pretty close to his default expression, but.* Swoop 9:36 pm *SHRIEKING laughter* Bevel 9:38 pm Yeah! Magnum Ace 9:38 pm ((I'm sorry, but if I saw that, I'd nope outta there Windchill 9:38 pm *Appears.* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:38 pm [[...He is reminded of the way Wreckers conduct themselves.]] Windchill 9:39 pm I did not hit her I DID NOT... ItsyBitsySpyers 9:39 pm [[Or try to.]] Windchill 9:39 pm Oh hi Whirl. Whirl 9:39 pm Not too far off, but with way more collateral damage. Swoop 9:39 pm !!!! FakeProwl 9:39 pm *a derisive snort.* Swoop 9:39 pm *FIST PUMP* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:39 pm [[As he said. "Try to." Unless they are Wheeljack.]] Whirl 9:39 pm And there's no way they'd send us to a place that was still calm enough to have any living noncombatants in it. Bevel 9:39 pm That sniper is really dead. Whirl 9:40 pm *looks over; there is a tiny scorpion on his head and little mecha all over his table* Hey, 'Chill. Toothless 9:40 pm *purrs* Magnum Ace 9:40 pm She's...right. She's not human Windchill 9:40 pm Is there still room for my GIANT BUTT? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:40 pm [[Charging into stalemated battle zones and the like.]] *Hand flick.* [[What were you snorting at?]] *Zori waves hi from Whirl's head.* Whirl 9:40 pm Yep. *only Bevel is sitting with him tonight, so he's got one free side* FakeProwl 9:41 pm *mutters* A damn waste. Swoop 9:41 pm What is gala? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:41 pm [[The actor's skills?]] {{Party. Biiiiiig party.}} Windchill 9:42 pm *Takes that spot. If he's sitting a little oddly it's because of the hidden dent in his butt.* Swoop 9:42 pm Ohhh party Windchill 9:42 pm What is this? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:42 pm //Wonder Woman. She's kinda livin' up to it.// Whirl 9:42 pm She really is. Bevel 9:42 pm Yeah Whirl 9:42 pm *snickers* FakeProwl 9:42 pm No. This entire... display of heroic nonsense. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:43 pm *Leans back.* [[Do elaborate.]] Swoop 9:43 pm ((no girl YOU did)) Magnum Ace 9:43 pm I find it...entertaining -says the mech who does heroic nonsense himself- Windchill 9:45 pm So. Whirl 9:45 pm That was Piaf, earlier. Windchill 9:45 pm Like Wonder Bread. But not. FakeProwl 9:45 pm @Soundwave «When one person with far more experience in conducting himself in wartime explains to another person why it is nearly impossible AND strategically inadvisable to deviate from the slower plan for a sudden burst of heroism, and then the second person deviates from the plan anyway, one of two things happens.» Whirl 9:45 pm *squints* Sous les pont de paris, I think. Definitely not breadlike, yep. Windchill 9:46 pm But does she still go well with peanut butter? Swoop 9:46 pm Bird Windchill 9:46 pm *Chinhands. Of course he walked into the mushy stuff.* Whirl 9:46 pm Couldn't tell you that. Can't taste peanut butter. But damn, I sure as hell can SMELL it. FakeProwl 9:46 pm @Soundwave «One: he gets himself—and probably everyone around him—killed.» Windchill 9:47 pm Hmm. The REAL question is... do you smell like peanut butter? Whirl 9:47 pm Not to my knowledge, nope. Windchill 9:47 pm *Leans over. Prepare thyself for the nostrils.* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:47 pm *Zori sniffs Whirl's head* #...what does peanut butter smell like Windchill 9:47 pm *Dramatic sniffing.* I smell...I smell!! Ducky. Whirl 9:48 pm I'll bring you some. I don't really... know how to describe a smell. Magnum Ace 9:48 pm ((really, movie? really? FakeProwl 9:48 pm ((yeeeeeeeah, and they were doing so well)) Whirl 9:48 pm ((I'm just saying. If I was either of them and I thought I might die tomorrow, I'd go for it)) ((well, if I cared for that sort of thing)) FakeProwl 9:48 pm ((but he's unnecessary for pleasure)) ((she said so herself)) Whirl 9:49 pm ((Might as well try something new 😎 )) Magnum Ace 9:49 pm ((I know, right? FakeProwl 9:49 pm (("well, fine, i guess i'll try dick ONE time.")) Magnum Ace 9:49 pm ((and yes Windchill 9:49 pm I like the horses. That's what I care about. ...She's not very good at stealth? *Snorts.* Whirl 9:50 pm She's more of a "charge in and decimate the enemy" kind of fighter. Swoop 9:50 pm BEST kind 😄 Windchill 9:51 pm ...Why can't she be both? Whirl 9:51 pm Not saying she can't. Just saying she isn't. Windchill 9:51 pm She seemed sneaky enough there, I guess. Dung of a bug... *He'll have to ask about that.* Magnum Ace 9:52 pm ((she isn't Windchill 9:53 pm What the heckie. FakeProwl 9:54 pm @Soundwave «Two: he succeeds. In succeeding, he makes himself look like a big damn hero and the person arguing for the cautious plan look like a fool and like he didn't care about the people he insisted they leave behind; and he also gains an inch of progress while sacrificing the objective that could have gained them a foot of progress. He makes himself look good while destroying their opportunity to make a real difference.» Windchill 9:54 pm Why aren't they speaking German? Magnum Ace 9:55 pm ((she DID Whirl 9:55 pm Nice. Windchill 9:56 pm What... Magnum Ace 9:56 pm Stealth...is lost on her, I think Whirl 9:56 pm Yeah? Magnum Ace 9:56 pm That sword is pretty obvious Windchill 9:56 pm *Raises a brow.* Swoop 9:57 pm ((fuck em up)) FakeProwl 9:57 pm @Soundwave «And I am quite tired of such destructiveness being glorified.» Bevel 9:57 pm She is a princess. Princesses always draw attention. Swoop 9:57 pm ((i LOVE how obvious her sword is)) Windchill 9:58 pm *Appreciates the horses.* *They work so hard.* Magnum Ace 9:58 pm It was the sword. Right along her spine. Toothless 9:59 pm *sad chirr* Windchill 9:59 pm *Came in too late to really know or care what's going on.* FakeProwl 9:59 pm ... Huhh. *glances at Soundwave.* As I said. Gain an inch, lose a foot. Bevel 10:00 pm Those poor villagers. Magnum Ace 10:00 pm ...... Tarantulas 10:00 pm *is hunched over a bit more working with his tiny console, he's forgotten the movie* Magnum Ace 10:00 pm -he's liking this movie less and less with every battlefield and mass murder like that- FakeProwl 10:01 pm *Is satisfied, in a dark way, now that her charge was for naught.* Whirl 10:01 pm Well, technically, Prowl, it was the reasonable person's reticence that did that. Movie didn't change its tune. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:01 pm @Prowl: [[He is fascinated by her powers. But you are correct. And while he himself employs mechs who specialize in such activities--]] Subtle motion toward Rumble and Frenzy. [[--He prefers to avoid using them in that manner, when possible.]] FakeProwl 10:02 pm @Soundwave «It's not the violence and the heroic charges and and of themselves. They have their places.» Windchill 10:02 pm *Fakes a yawn.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:02 pm @Prowl: [[...That said, as a former gladiator, he does appreciate her skills. She would be a formidable force, given proper guidance.]] FakeProwl 10:03 pm @Soundwave «It's blatantly ignoring the cautious advice of those who know better.» Magnum Ace 10:03 pm ...is it over? Bevel 10:04 pm ...I do not think so. Windchill 10:04 pm Too much unresolved conflict to be over. Magnum Ace 10:04 pm Oh no. Bull Armor 10:04 pm oh boy FakeProwl 10:04 pm @Soundwave «Charging into battle without a strategy is objectionable, but not unforgivable. THROWING AWAY the strategy—and being REWARDED by the narrative for it...» Swoop 10:05 pm ((I love how she is totally down for murder. None of this man pain bullshit. Fuck 'em up.)) Bevel 10:05 pm *sighs sadly* Windchill 10:05 pm Wow. Magnum Ace 10:06 pm ...this just went from bad to worse ItsyBitsySpyers 10:06 pm @Prowl: [[To those two, he -is- the one who knows better.]] Amusement tag. As he said. Windchill 10:06 pm *Sneers a little.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:06 pm *They specialize in it, and sometimes they do throw away strategy, but he'd prefer they didn't.* FakeProwl 10:07 pm @Soundwave «... She's learning better.» ItsyBitsySpyers 10:07 pm @Prowl: [[She is.]] Whirl 10:07 pm He's not entirely wrong. Maybe a little too optimistic about the power of belief. Magnum Ace 10:07 pm . . . ItsyBitsySpyers 10:07 pm //...Hold up, how's that guy there?// Bevel 10:07 pm How did he get there? Whirl 10:07 pm But I mean, yeah, the world's rotten. ...? Magnum Ace 10:08 pm How'd he...oh no. Whirl 10:08 pm Ha. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:08 pm //How's he him? He was arguin' for peace 'n all.// Whirl 10:08 pm While knowing that the Germans would still attack with their chemical weapon. Bevel 10:08 pm He said no one listened to him earlier. Whirl 10:09 pm Easier to manipulate things from the top. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:09 pm \\SOME GODKILLER.\\ Swoop 10:09 pm :V Whirl 10:09 pm Heh. Windchill 10:10 pm Is this our plot twist villain? Whirl 10:10 pm Yep. I like it. FakeProwl 10:11 pm *... is finding himself sympathizing with the war god who wants to destroy everyone.* Windchill 10:11 pm Eh. *He's not gonna comment. Nope.* Whirl 10:11 pm Everyone likes to think it's the mad scientists and the uppity soldiers who make these things happen. Nice to see the movie pinning it on someone in high command. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:12 pm //PRIMUS BELOW// ItsyBitsySpyers 10:12 pm //How's she s'posed to fight THAT?// Swoop 10:13 pm BOOM! Kehehhhehhh Windchill 10:13 pm He's floating? Whirl 10:13 pm Just means it's going to be an interesting fight. Windchill 10:13 pm *Snorts.* Magnum Ace 10:13 pm !!! Windchill 10:14 pm How do they know it's on a timer? I missed it. Bevel 10:15 pm They were spying. Swoop 10:15 pm Flammable 😄 Dinobots good for flammable Windchill 10:15 pm Everything's flammable if you're serious about it. Swoop 10:15 pm YAH Windchill 10:15 pm *Nods.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:16 pm [[...Oh.]] Whirl 10:16 pm Oh, he's about to die. Windchill 10:16 pm He's fuckin' dead. So's that guy. Whirl 10:16 pm *the very best parting gift imaginable, though* Windchill 10:16 pm *Blinks.* Bevel 10:16 pm Whoa armor Windchill 10:17 pm Swords, lame. FakeProwl 10:17 pm ((i can't frickin take ares seriously. he still has his fuckin Mild Mannered Bookstore Owner mustache.)) Windchill 10:17 pm *And yes, he is just saying that to be antagonistic.* (( ME NEITHER. )) Whirl 10:17 pm ((yeah honestly the face...... kinda ruins the effect)) Magnum Ace 10:17 pm ((just by a lot Bevel 10:18 pm ((i just can't take him seriously because it's remus lupin FakeProwl 10:18 pm ((i mean i realize that's part of the point. the face of war itself is just an Average Joe.)) ((but STILL.)) ItsyBitsySpyers 10:18 pm ((.....i never got that)) Windchill 10:18 pm (( I think this fight is kinda underwhelming anyway but that's a major factor. Nothing against the actor but they probably should have changed that to almost anything else.)) Swoop 10:19 pm ((there were so many boss moments that it'd be hard to do a one on one at the same level as her going one vs machine guns)) Magnum Ace 10:19 pm Oh. No. FakeProwl 10:19 pm ((yeah, basically from the point Real Ares shows up onward im a lot less enthralled with the movie.)) ((you can't top the machine gun scene)) Bevel 10:19 pm ((no man's land best scene Whirl 10:20 pm 9(agreed)) ((no man's land was best)) Tarantulas 10:20 pm *suddenly huffs and violently tosses his console into a subspace. crosses his arms over his knees* Windchill 10:21 pm (( P much. I personally find a lot of end fights underwhelming when we're supposed to up against gods and demons and the most we get is brute, physical force. )) (( So that might just be me. )) ItsyBitsySpyers 10:21 pm *Soundwave lets a feeler slither down to Tarantulas and brush against a spider leg. Enough to listen if wanted, easy to brush away if not.* Windchill 10:21 pm Well. If she had listened to him she might have been able to prevent his death. That sucks. Whirl 10:22 pm Yep. Mistakes and all that. Windchill 10:22 pm *He can't really endorse being told what to do, so don't do it.* Tarantulas 10:22 pm *all sw will read is frustration and a bunch of icky numbers before tarantulas swats him away and goes to get up* Windchill 10:23 pm *Ear flicks.* FakeProwl 10:23 pm *...sigh.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:23 pm *He pulls the feeler back in, not offended but mildly concerned. What are those numbers? Why did they inspire that?* FakeProwl 10:24 pm *So all humans are worth saving because one of them loved her.* Windchill 10:24 pm *Actually bursts out laughing.* Swoop 10:24 pm Bird Look Bird Her ZAP ItsyBitsySpyers 10:24 pm {{Best.}} FakeProwl 10:24 pm ... The fact that she believes in love does nothing to change their destructiveness. Magnum Ace 10:24 pm -what's funny about that?- Windchill 10:25 pm *Wipes an optic.* Whirl 10:25 pm I think it's more about the question of whether or not humans CAN be anything other than destructive. Bevel 10:25 pm ((SUPERHERO LANDING FakeProwl 10:25 pm The fact that humans are capable of love does not undo their destructiveness, either. Magnum Ace 10:25 pm They can Windchill 10:25 pm That was dramatic. Whirl 10:26 pm Nope. I don't think the movie's trying to say they're not, though. Windchill 10:26 pm It's saying that they're worth it anyway. Your mileage may vary. FakeProwl 10:26 pm Hmph. Whirl 10:26 pm I mean, don't get me wrong--I'm not buying the schmaltzy bullshit--*waves aclaw* Bevel 10:26 pm We are just as destructive. Tarantulas 10:26 pm *glances at prowl for a second but is too much of a drama butt to actually send anything but a ping before he leaves out the doors* Whirl 10:26 pm Like I said. The world--well, worlds. Multiverse, is rotten to the core. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:26 pm *..."Hmph"? Odd, coming from a protector.* FakeProwl 10:27 pm Their argument is inadequate. *Glances at Tarantulas. Pings back.* Windchill 10:27 pm The point was it's about what you believe. So if you believe that they're worth it, then they are. At least to you. Or, her. It's pretty, eh, subjective. Whirl 10:28 pm It's about how, y'know, people and reality and life in genberal is more complicated that 'good' or 'bad.' You gotta take the bad with the good. At least, that's what I'm getting from the movie. FakeProwl 10:28 pm *Prowl's got to remind himself not to voice his opinions out loud.* Windchill 10:28 pm They pretty much spell it out...more than once. It's not very subtle. ... *distracted.* Is she, like, old? Whirl 10:29 pm She's a demigod. Doesn't age, presumably. Windchill 10:29 pm Huh. FakeProwl 10:29 pm *It invites people to explain what the movie's saying when his problem is that he disagrees with what it's saying.* Windchill 10:29 pm That sucks too. Toothless 10:29 pm *headbobs to theme* Whirl 10:29 pm *hey now, Whirl also conceded that he disagreed with it* *he's just clarifying the movie's argument* Bevel 10:30 pm *not really sure what she wants to say about the movie's message so just settles for* Diana was a really cool fighter. Windchill 10:30 pm *He said it was subjective.* Bevel 10:30 pm *so deep* Windchill 10:30 pm *No actual counter-argument was presented.* Whirl 10:30 pm She was. Swoop 10:30 pm *kicky feet* That good movie : > Windchill 10:30 pm I think... Swoop 10:30 pm You Soundwave do FIGHT movie Like this moive Magnum Ace 10:30 pm Interesting movie Swoop 10:30 pm every time Forever : > Bevel 10:30 pm I am gonna make her sword. Windchill 10:30 pm I probably wasn't supposed to find it as funny as I did. Whirl 10:30 pm Decent. Worth watching once. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:31 pm [[He prefers to keep things well mixed, Swoop. There are many guests with varying tastes.]] Magnum Ace 10:31 pm Bull? Swoop 10:31 pm This BETTER Bull Armor 10:31 pm It was different -not the type of movie Bull usually watched- ItsyBitsySpyers 10:31 pm //Whirl. Whirl.// ItsyBitsySpyers 10:31 pm //You 'n this fleshie in a fight. Who wins.// Whirl 10:31 pm Mm-hmm? *looks to him* Well, she's a demigod. I dunno. I don't know if conventional weapons can even hurt her. But, luckily, I know a guy who makes UNconventional weapons. So it's a toss-up. Magnum Ace 10:32 pm ... Toothless 10:33 pm *peeks over at smol warm-metals* Windchill 10:33 pm Probably depends on who's faster to find and take advantage of each other's weaknesses. Which is how all fights go, really. Magnum Ace 10:34 pm -stares back- Swoop 10:34 pm *yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwnnnns* *streeeeeeeeeeeetches* Windchill 10:34 pm *Not that...he would know anything about fighting.* Swoop 10:34 pm *decides to sleep exactly where he is* Toothless 10:35 pm ((plz not to 44 Sonic the not-much-bigger-than-a-baseball ;D)) ItsyBitsySpyers 10:35 pm *Laserbeak drifts down to sit on Swoop and guard him* Windchill 10:35 pm *What is this whiny music.* Magnum Ace 10:35 pm ((don't worry, he's not pitching indoors ((soundy wouldn't be happy with the damage ItsyBitsySpyers 10:36 pm ((soundy would start pitching. a fit.)) Windchill 10:36 pm (( Justice would be served. )) Toothless 10:36 pm *loud purrs for Not-Smol-That-Bites* ^__^ Magnum Ace 10:36 pm ((granted now he has one called the 'asteroid cannon' ((and it's named that for a reason Windchill 10:37 pm *Stretches.* Magnum Ace 10:37 pm -blinks and continues to stare. What is it?- ItsyBitsySpyers 10:37 pm *...He hears a purr. What is--* Toothless 10:37 pm ((translation: Thank you for the stream!)) Windchill 10:37 pm *Leans over to torment Whirl.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:37 pm *SCRAPLno wait that was the toothless one. Okay. False alarm.* ((you're welcome! come by any time 😄 )) Toothless 10:38 pm *bounces a little and waves a pincer* Whirl 10:38 pm *eyes Windchill sidelong without raising his head* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:38 pm *Soundwave lifts a feeler and wiggles one of its claws at Toothless.* Windchill 10:38 pm *It's time for your weekly dose of stage whispering.* You know...if we were really NAUGHTY, we could get banished for another sleepover. *If you know what his waggling eyebrows mean.* Whirl 10:39 pm I've already made arrangements to stay here tonight. FakeProwl 10:39 pm *glances to see what Soundwave is wiggling at.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:39 pm [[No fragging in public.]] Whirl 10:39 pm Rain check? Windchill 10:39 pm You suck. Whirl 10:39 pm *SNORTS* Windchill 10:39 pm *Sits up straight.* Bevel 10:39 pm *moves chair a little away from Windchill and Whirl if they're gonna be gross* FakeProwl 10:39 pm *juMPS TO HIS FEET AND IN FRONT OF SOUNDWAVE THAT IS A SCRAPLET* Squeaker 10:40 pm Do not hurt the scraplet *angry mom face* Magnum Ace 10:40 pm -what's with the reactions? He could lob that thing through a wall- Whirl 10:40 pm There is a zero percent chance I will ever frag ANYONE in public. Windchill 10:40 pm Sure. *Tosses his head.* I forgive you. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:40 pm *Soundwave huffs softly and rests a hand on Prowl's back.*

[[It is an oddity. A harmless one. But thank you.]] FakeProwl 10:40 pm *Considering that Prowl doesn't know who that person is, he will summarily ignore them.* Windchill 10:40 pm *That makes one of you, Whirl.* FakeProwl 10:40 pm *... Soundwave, he's less inclined to ignore.* You're sure? Not a scout? Toothless 10:41 pm *shakes helm, no no no no no scout, no swarm* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:41 pm [[One moment.]] Leans around Prowl and motions to Toothless. [[Open your mouth, would you?]] Windchill 10:41 pm *Always set on the backburner, TAKEN FOR GRANTED.* Whirl 10:41 pm *glances to Windchill* Y'know, I was just wondering why it is everyone seems to think we're shacking up, but then I remembered how often you tell me how much you like my ass. And then, question answered. Toothless 10:42 pm *carefully slides headplates to show tooth stubs* Windchill 10:42 pm *Face kind of just warps hideously to exude smugness.* It's a fantastic ass. Whirl 10:42 pm You're objectively wrong, but thanks. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:42 pm *Nods.* [[Yes. He recognizes this one.]] Bevel 10:42 pm Oh! I like this song! Windchill 10:42 pm I am not. FakeProwl 10:43 pm *The fact that it can't eat doesn't mean it can't scout. But if Soundwave is certain.* Whirl 10:43 pm Never heard it. Windchill 10:43 pm *He just doesn't have any taste, which might be the same thing but he's gonna argue anyway.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:43 pm [[Besides. It has been living in that mech this whole evening. We would have been dead long before now.]] Whirl 10:43 pm *will just wave a claw at Windchill dismissively; you DO have horrid taste, Whirl was specifically designed to be unattractive* Bevel 10:43 pm It lives inside someone? FakeProwl 10:43 pm *... Reclaims his seat.* Is it... tame? Whirl 10:43 pm *the Functionists clearly couldn't fathom a mind as twisted as yours* Windchill 10:44 pm *Not even a little.* Squeaker 10:44 pm It... hides in my pauldrens sometimes Magnum Ace 10:44 pm What...is it? Windchill 10:44 pm *Is it a coincidence that most of his friends/fuckbuddies are one eyed and mean as hell? Yes, but what a hell of a coinkydink.* Toothless 10:45 pm *looks up at Squeaker, guilty for having snuck out & causing a fuss* Windchill 10:45 pm *Leans back in his seat, and crosses his legs while fighting to hide a wince. Damn you, ass-dent.* Squeaker 10:45 pm *helm bomps her smol friend* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:45 pm [[As far as he knows.]] FakeProwl 10:45 pm ... Hmm. How does it eat? ItsyBitsySpyers 10:46 pm [[Now that is an interesting question.]] Looks expectantly at Squeaker. Squeaker 10:46 pm Small things, nuts and bolts, nothing alive though. Whirl 10:46 pm ((PFFT)) *looks over to this new conversation* Huh. Kinda like Killer. FakeProwl 10:46 pm I meant, without teeth. Whirl 10:46 pm Which is my pet barnacle. Windchill 10:46 pm *Ears flick up. This is more his style.* The best pet barnacle. Squeaker 10:46 pm It has the back ones Windchill 10:46 pm Best pet, even. FakeProwl 10:47 pm ((ah, wise music choice.)) ((metal, to keep the scraplet fed.)) Bevel 10:47 pm ((lol ItsyBitsySpyers 10:47 pm *Rumble motions Magnum Ace over.*

(PFFF)) Magnum Ace 10:47 pm ...you mean it's species eats live meals? ItsyBitsySpyers 10:47 pm //Yeah. 'N usually it's us.// Windchill 10:47 pm *Would retract his head like a turtle, 'cept his collar gets in the way. He eats...things.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:47 pm *Well, no reason to have him come this way now. He was gonna just whisper that.* Toothless 10:47 pm *hangs helm* Whirl 10:47 pm Ours, too, except ours are just about microscopic. Squeaker 10:47 pm Most of the time yes. But Toothless is nice Magnum Ace 10:47 pm -and now he gets what hte fuss was about- FakeProwl 10:48 pm Yes. If you ever see one of those—run. Ideally, somewhere cold. Whirl 10:48 pm *pauses over some fond... memories? memories-that-don't-belong-to-him-but-are-there* They're neat. Magnum Ace 10:48 pm Cold tends to shut us down. FakeProwl 10:48 pm One alone isn't much of a threat; but one alone is usually a scout for a swarm. Windchill 10:48 pm *But he's not gonna out himself like that tonight.* FakeProwl 10:48 pm Cold tends to shut them down, too. And since they're smaller, they shut down faster. Bull Armor 10:48 pm -Bull unconsciously shivered remembered that one time in the artic- Magnum Ace 10:48 pm I'd hope so. Toothless 10:48 pm *Looks at RedSnol and nods* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:48 pm [[He will stick to this one, if it is all the same to you, Whirl.]] Microscopic metal eaters. Brr. Magnum Ace 10:49 pm -pats Bull, sorry for bringing that up- Whirl 10:49 pm Yeah, at least you can see those. One scraplet in the wrong place is enough to kill a mech, in our dimension. You could probably handle one of yours no problem. Magnum Ace 10:49 pm Ice hockey leaguers need a special formula to play on the ice correctly -not to mention knowing how to play on ice in general- Bull Armor 10:50 pm Even we need special fuel if we're in the extreme cold for too long. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:51 pm *Extreme cold. Also a brr.* Magnum Ace 10:51 pm Or we lock up and freeze until brought somewhere warmer Toothless 10:51 pm *shudders and ducks back into Squeaker's pauldron to drag out its knitted "scraplet cozy" * Windchill 10:51 pm *Sighs.* I like the cold. Bevel 10:51 pm What is ice hockey? Magnum Ace 10:52 pm Another sport Bevel 10:52 pm Do you throw balls made out of ice? Windchill 10:52 pm *He's large enough and generates enough heat that it's not quite as much of a problem.* Whirl 10:52 pm You're built for it, aren't you? High-altitude specialty, right? Magnum Ace 10:52 pm No, it's played with pucks and hockey sticks ItsyBitsySpyers 10:52 pm *Soundwave spots the cozy and huffs. Yes, a good idea. Too bad his tarps are upstairs.* Bevel 10:53 pm Pucks? Windchill 10:53 pm When in good repair I'm built to handle temperatures of both extremes. To a degree. *That's a pun, okay.* Whirl 10:53 pm *snorts* Squeaker 10:53 pm *straightens and fluffs said scraplet cozy* Magnum Ace 10:53 pm Thick disks meant to slide around on the ice Whirl 10:53 pm *and slowly un-hunkers, streeetching* Okay. Time to crash. Where should I go, Professor? Magnum Ace 10:53 pm Usually at high speeds Squeaker 10:53 pm That sounds a bit dangerous Bevel 10:54 pm Cool. *grins* Whirl 10:54 pm Take care of yourself, loser. *to Windchill* Magnum Ace 10:54 pm Not really Bevel 10:54 pm *hitting disks with sticks sounds fun* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:54 pm #ummm #the lounge? #that is a big space #upstairs Magnum Ace 10:54 pm Most of the danger comes from the opposing team FakeProwl 10:54 pm *vaguely remembers having to offer Soundwave a tarp at one point, when a show was talking about cold things. the details are fuzzy though. he was drunk at the time.* Windchill 10:54 pm GoodNIGHT, loser. *Rejected again.* FakeProwl 10:54 pm *doesn't have a tarp. has a sham-wow.* Windchill 10:55 pm *Totally sparkbroken.* Magnum Ace 10:55 pm ...and yourself if you don't know how to play on ice. FakeProwl 10:55 pm *... takes out and offers the sham-wow anyway.* Pretend it's warm. Whirl 10:55 pm *hey now, you were simply second to offer* Windchill 10:56 pm *Don't rain on his drama parade.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:56 pm *Soundwave looks at Prowl, the shamwow, Prowl again, and. Reaches. For the shamwow? Then looks at Prowl.*

*...He's so confused* Whirl 10:56 pm *He stands and holds a claw up so Zori can be relocated from his head* Just show me the way. Squeaker 10:56 pm If you need something warm I have plenty of blankets in subspace ItsyBitsySpyers 10:56 pm *But he drapes it over the spark light on his chest. Very well.* FakeProwl 10:56 pm I don't have a heating tarp. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:57 pm #come on! #this way! the stairs are over there

*Claw point. Onward, mighty airsteed!* //Hey, hold up. Us too.// \\YEAH!\\ Whirl 10:57 pm *your steed is aw--well, okay, he pauses for the twins. He's taken aback for a moment, then realizes well, he probably SHOULDN'T be--he's not used to this* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:57 pm To Squeaker: [[He will be fine, thank you.]]

{{You not getting them back if him take, heh.}} Whirl 10:58 pm *so he just pauses to wait for them, and then Zori's airsteed shall leave the room* Windchill 10:58 pm *Waves.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:58 pm *And they'll follow.*

*In the meantime, Soundwave looks to Prowl once again.*

[[That is all right. He accepts this offering in its place.]] Whirl 10:58 pm *tosses a final wave off to Windchill* Bevel 10:58 pm *sends goodnight messages to Whirl, Zori, and the twins* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:59 pm *Pings back to Bevel.* Whirl 10:59 pm *and a last ping for Shovel, too* Windchill 10:59 pm *...All of the fun people have ABANDONED HIM.* Whirl 10:59 pm *now's your chance to get to know Bevel, who is cool* Windchill 10:59 pm *Drapes himself in the chair forlornly, dramatically.* Magnum Ace 11:00 pm -is he okay?- Bevel 11:00 pm *pulls out a datapad to start planning Diana's sword* Windchill 11:02 pm *No-one understands his unrequited spark-boner.* Magnum Ace 11:02 pm -starts tossing a baseball up and catching it, wondering if he and Bull Armor had been forgotten- ItsyBitsySpyers 11:03 pm *Ravage abruptly explodes from behind the seat and snatches the baseball out of the air. Nope. They hadn't.* Squeaker 11:03 pm What is that thing anywhow? Toothless 11:03 pm *chittergiggles at the ball theft* FakeProwl 11:03 pm *who could forget the two Real Live Baseball Players* Squeaker 11:03 pm ((forgive her she knows next to nothing of sports)) Magnum Ace 11:03 pm -jerks back in surprise- HEY! ItsyBitsySpyers 11:04 pm [[A cat.]] FakeProwl 11:04 pm *Speaking off, he hears a Distressed Real Live Baseball Player. What's going on over there?* Magnum Ace 11:04 pm Give that back! Squeaker 11:04 pm I know what a cat looks like Bull Armor 11:04 pm -Bull Armor stares at the more animal looking mech that stole Magnum's ball- Squeaker 11:04 pm what did it take from him? Magnum Ace 11:05 pm A baseball Bevel 11:05 pm *oh hi Ravage, have a ping* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:05 pm *Ravage drops the ball on the floor and gives it a solid whack. Nyoom goes the ball. Nyoom goes Ravage. Ravage also goes ping.* Magnum Ace 11:05 pm I was practicing my pitching, before the movie Toothless 11:05 pm ((Ravage shows up and my cat starts fussing... coincidence?I think not.)) Squeaker 11:05 pm *Researches the term baseball* oh Neat! Windchill 11:05 pm *Okay, this isn't working out well for his butt-dent. He is forced to sit normally.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:05 pm ((LOL)) Bevel 11:05 pm *goes back to her datapad* Magnum Ace 11:06 pm Give that back, I still need it. Bull Armor 11:07 pm It wouldn't be the first ball lost. Magnum Ace 11:07 pm True. But I don't like losing equipment. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:07 pm =I hunted it. It is mine.= Magnum Ace 11:08 pm You...what? It's not for hunting ItsyBitsySpyers 11:08 pm [[Ravage, return the ball.]] Toothless 11:08 pm *hits its booster jets and tries to nyoom in and filch the ball back* Bevel 11:08 pm *covers her mouth with the datapad to hide the fact that she's trying not to laugh* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:09 pm *HISS at scraplet.* Squeaker 11:09 pm Toothless Sweetspark, you and the baseball are just about the same size* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:09 pm *...But there was an order. So he sulkily lets Toothless return the ball.* Toothless 11:10 pm *looks up offended; scraplet is at LEAST softball sized!* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:10 pm *He didn't want it anyway. Sulk sulk slink behind the bar curl up mutter hmph.* Toothless 11:10 pm *hauls roundthing back to RedSmol* Magnum Ace 11:10 pm -not when it's made for mechs where a golfball is the size of a grapefruit- FakeProwl 11:11 pm *... Movie's over. Glances at Soundwave.* Perhaps it's time to escort our unintended guests home? Windchill 11:11 pm *Raises hand.* Magnum Ace 11:11 pm Thank you ItsyBitsySpyers 11:11 pm [[It may be for the best. He won't have his guests things stolen.]] Not in front of an ex-cop, at any rate. Things that get left behind are another story. Bull Armor 11:11 pm At least he didn't try 'hunting' it while you were pitching it. Toothless 11:11 pm *if roundthing's too big to carry, then it will push!* Magnum Ace 11:11 pm -and this time the ball is staying in his hand- I don't think he would be able to catch it Bevel 11:12 pm *pulls a couple bits of scrap metal from her subspace and bends them together into a small lobbing ball that she rolls along the floor toward the bar.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:13 pm *Soundwave points at Windchill while speaking to the baseball players.*

[[You might be surprised. But now is not the time to test that. Do the two of you go to the same place?]] *....Ravage curls a paw around the ball and pulls it close. Good.* Windchill 11:13 pm *He's just gonna put his hand down then.* Bevel 11:13 pm *victory* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:14 pm *Well, if Windchill doesn't WANT to respond to being called on. They're getting ready to close up shop for the night anyway.* Toothless 11:14 pm *skitters back to Squeaker, points to its "sweater" and then to a single strand, with a question-chirp. Any extra yarn for AngryCat?* Bull Armor 11:14 pm Yes; we should actually get back to recharge. We still got practice tomorrow. Windchill 11:14 pm *Pointing is ambiguous. He's not a mind reader.* Squeaker 11:14 pm *takes out a ball of yarn with a smile* Magnum Ace 11:15 pm Yes, we're both members of Silver Castle ItsyBitsySpyers 11:15 pm [[Then we will not keep you from it. He is certain Prowl would not like to see your games suffer.]] Windchill 11:15 pm It's TIME... For me to go. You're all welcome. Magnum Ace 11:15 pm -their mechanic is going to murder them both- Toothless 11:15 pm *pincer-wave* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:15 pm [[Very well. Do you require a bridge too?]] Squeaker 11:16 pm Be safe FakeProwl 11:16 pm *HUFF. Why you gotta call him out like that. ... ur rite tho.* Windchill 11:16 pm No thanks. *He hates those things.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:16 pm [[As you wish. Travel safely. He'd prefer not to be the one to tell Whirl you died.]] Windchill 11:17 pm Whatever. Toothless 11:17 pm *hides yarn somewhere AngryCat can hunt it and zips back to Squeaker to head home* FakeProwl 11:17 pm Magnum Ace, you can pass the catcher my comm frequency, in case of emergency. And explain to him the whole... secrecy situation, if you would, please. *never actually learned the catcher's name lmao whoops* Windchill 11:17 pm I remembered Rumble's payment this time, where should I leave it? Squeaker 11:18 pm *pets her smol friend* Toothless 11:18 pm *much loud purring* Magnum Ace 11:18 pm -nods- I will talk to him, later, about all of this. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:18 pm *Ravage will get that yarn later, when he is done sulking. And perhaps save some nuts and bolts for future visits.*

[[Ah. On the bar will do. He will probably come down later to get something and see it then.]] Toothless 11:20 pm *waves goodbye before hiding in the pauldron again* Windchill 11:20 pm *Shrugs. Good enough. He'll do that and pay his siblings-in-law back for it later.* Squeaker 11:21 pm *yawns* Thank you for streaming Soundwave. goodnight and be safe you all Windchill 11:21 pm *He's gone.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:21 pm [[Goodnight.]] Magnum Ace 11:22 pm But, yes, I think it's time we did go home Before we're caught ItsyBitsySpyers 11:23 pm *Then he'll open a bridge and gesture to it.*

[[We will see you next time, hopefully.]] FakeProwl 11:24 pm Hopefully NOT. We still don't know why they keep showing up here. Magnum Ace 11:24 pm Thank you, and hopefully if we do show up it's because we wanted to. FakeProwl 11:24 pm Tarantulas was supposed to be looking into that but—apparently had nothing to report. Or else left without reporting it. Bull Armor 11:25 pm Hopefully no one else gets pulled in. Really don't think GZ or Windy would be too happy about it. -let alone any of the humans- Magnum Ace 11:25 pm No, no I don't think they would... ItsyBitsySpyers 11:26 pm [[He hopes because he would like to solve it.]] Bevel 11:26 pm At least you got pulled here instead of somewhere else. Magnum Ace 11:27 pm -nods and gestures for Bull Armor to go first. Time to go home- FakeProwl 11:28 pm This makes two weeks in a row that you've shown up, specifically, here. At the same time. And once you showed up at a similar movie night hosted by Cybertronians. Bull Armor 11:28 pm Bye then. -Bull waves before stepping through- ItsyBitsySpyers 11:29 pm *Wonders if it is because of all the multiversal traffic his club gets on weekends. Or that his planet gets in general, since those visitors tend to roam elsewhere for a bit. Who knows what that does to reality around here?* Magnum Ace 11:29 pm Well, yes, it is odd... Bevel 11:29 pm *welp if everyone's leaving, Bevel's gonna leave before she accidentally gets caught in a private conversation. she leans over the bar to check on Ravage first tho* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:30 pm *Ravage looks up at her and grumbles some nothings. What.* Magnum Ace 11:31 pm Before this, I had only thought the multiverse was science fiction Bevel 11:32 pm Do you want to come with me to see something? I want to see if the big stairs in old Praxus are still there. *they might find a cool monster since the stairs go sort of under the surface if Ravage is into that kind of walk* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:33 pm *He grumbles a little more, gives the lobbing ball a smack, and gets up. Yeah, okay. Let's go.* Bevel 11:34 pm *grins and straightens back up* Ravage and I are gonna go check something out. *seems polite to tell SW* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:35 pm [[Very well. Enjoy yourselves.]] [[Now you know that it isn't, Magnum Ace. And its existence is the least of the wonders related to it.]]

[[But that is data for another time, if there is another time.]] Prowl might not want them coming in, but he'd like more information on that Earth someday. For reasons. [[Your bridge awaits.]] FakeProwl 11:36 pm *Oh, Prowl DEFINITELY wants more information on that Earth. He's got a quiet revolution to plan.* Bevel 11:37 pm *with a wave to Prowl and Soundwave, Bevel and Ravage will head out* FakeProwl 11:37 pm *He just doesn't want them popping in here against their will. Eventually it'll be a human.* Magnum Ace 11:37 pm -And that's the end of tonight. Nods and waves, before heading through- FakeProwl 11:37 pm *Farewell nod.* Magnum Ace 11:38 pm ((meanwhile mun is laughing right now FakeProwl 11:39 pm *... Is the coast clear? Yes? Leans on Soundwave.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:40 pm ((how come laughing?))

*Soundwave accepts the lean and coils a feeler around Prowl's waist.*

*But something's been lurking in the back of his mind since the end of the movie.*

[[...You agreed with the war god.]] FakeProwl 11:40 pm In THIS context, yes. I don't think that humans are inherently all-destroying. FakeProwl 11:42 pm However, in a film in which it's presented as a fact to be accepted that humans are all-destroying, the correct action is to remove them so they cannot destroy everything else. The fact that they can love and can be loved does not negate this destructiveness, and is not a reason to spare them. It's merely a reason to mourn the latent potential for good in them that was overrun by the realized potential for evil. Magnum Ace 11:43 pm ((soundwave and prowl wanting more info on magnum's earth ItsyBitsySpyers 11:43 pm ((he just wants to make sure it ain't unicron man)) [[You do not believe it can be overrun in the reverse direction?]] FakeProwl 11:44 pm The film did not present such an option. The choice the film presented was not "can or can not human destructiveness be prevented" but "humans ARE and will be destructive: should or should not they be spared anyway." Magnum Ace 11:45 pm ((true, still funny though ItsyBitsySpyers 11:50 pm ((fair!))

[[And you think they should not.]] He picks up the edge of the shamwow and looks at the light beneath it. [[That is an unexpectedly high bar, for someone who opted to protect a mech like him tonight. Many civilizations he has encountered since the exodus would fail to clear it.]] FakeProwl 11:51 pm It's a fictional situation that presented only a binary option. The film did not present the possibility of improvement, or redemption. It did not ask whether they're worth saving if they can change. It did not suggest they can change. "This is how they are; there is no indication they will ever be anything else. Should they be spared anyway." That's all it asked. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:54 pm [[Then if a third option HAD been presented - that suggestion of change - you would not have sided with the war god?]] FakeProwl 11:54 pm ... It depends on how high the probability that they would actually be able to follow through with it. But there is at least a possibility I would not have. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:55 pm *He lets the shamwow fall back onto his chest.*

[[That is of some comfort.]] FakeProwl 11:56 pm ... What do you care? I thought you had no love of humans. Anyway. It's fiction. Magnum Ace 11:56 pm ((and thanks for the stream, but I need sleep, g'night! FakeProwl 11:56 pm ((gnight~)) Yesterday ItsyBitsySpyers 11:56 pm ((night!)) ItsyBitsySpyers 12:00 am [[He doesn't. Not beyond a select few. And as you say, it is fiction. He does not know the human war god to be real.]]

[[But he knows that ours is, and that he and his fit into the humans' category. As do most others. What comforts him is the thought that you would not condemn us all.]] FakeProwl 12:01 am *moment of silence.* ItsyBitsySpyers 12:02 am *...Slow glance. He hadn't thought that so surprising, given his past.* FakeProwl 12:02 am ... If a war god came for Cybertron, I think I'd want to listen to his argument first. ItsyBitsySpyers 12:03 am [[...You what.]]

*Soundwave's feeler loosens. He leans back some, not entirely convinced he heard that right.* FakeProwl 12:03 am *Very pointedly looking away from Soundwave.* FakeProwl 12:05 am What, are you surprised to hear that? After I've just said that I'd side against saving a species whose virtues do not outweigh its destructiveness? ItsyBitsySpyers 12:09 am [[The -human- species. He didn't think you would--]] If his visor were off, his optics would be wide and his mouth open. That is, they are now too, but Prowl can't see it. [[You - are an Autobot. And a mech with a deep urge to protect others. You spent the war doing a job you loathed in the hopes of minimizing death.]] [[Why this, now? From you?]] *The feeler is slowly retracting.* FakeProwl 12:11 am BECAUSE I want to minimize death. FakeProwl 12:13 am It never got as bad in your universe, did it? In ours, we've committed genocide on so many planets that most mechs have lost count of them. And each one of those planets—each individual one—was full of more sentient lives than most people can fathom. Countless worlds with countless people. But I kept count of them. FakeProwl 12:14 am I spent most of the war seeing all those lives as... lesser, than Cybertronian. But they aren't. They never were. You would destroy Unicron without a second thought, wouldn't you? Because he's a world-eater. Because it's one of him versus all of the countless lives he'd swallow. We've eaten worlds, too. ItsyBitsySpyers 12:19 am [[Eating worlds is his purpose. It is what he was made to do. We are not - we are not of HIS metal. We may choose NOT to destroy. And there are timelines where this is so. You yourself said that we did not go to the extremes of your Cybertronians.]] FakeProwl 12:20 am And if the hypothetical war god were talking to me about YOUR Cybertron, I'd find his argument less compelling. ItsyBitsySpyers 12:21 am [[...But your world holds peace. It rebuilds. He hears it.]] FakeProwl 12:22 am The Golden Age held peace too. Which was why Nova Prime felt comfortable enough to sail off from Cybertron and try to conquer the rest of the universe. The Decepticons most quickly and efficiently exterminated lives when the Autobots were at their weakest, the war was at low ebb, and they had moments of relative peace they could use to progress with their genocide. If anything, a strong, healthy Cybertron at peace is more dangerous than a Cybertron at war with itself. ItsyBitsySpyers 12:34 am [[Then we -watch- it. We help to -guide- it, to rein it in if need be. We do not -terminate- it. Dead things do not grow or learn. Transformation is impossible.]]

[[We do not serve Unicron. To destroy your Cybertron and its inhabitants - Prowl, you cannot wish for that. You must not. It gives the Devourer what he seeks. It frees him to eat without fear of reprisal. More will be doomed than have ever been before.]] FakeProwl 12:39 am Cybertron has proven to be rather resistant to transformation and growth as well. And I care far less about one planet's personal growth than I do about the entire galaxy's overall safety. ItsyBitsySpyers 12:39 am [[He speaks of the galaxy's overall safety!]] FakeProwl 12:39 am ... But I'm not seeking Cybertron's destruction. ItsyBitsySpyers 12:40 am [[Perhaps, but you do not sound as though you would stop it.]] FakeProwl 12:43 am *grim smile.* As I said. I'd want to listen to the argument first. ItsyBitsySpyers 12:48 am [[...Then he hopes it will be a poor one, if that ever comes to pass. Or that he can counter it.]]

The alternative would break his spark.

[[Give him the numbers.]] FakeProwl 12:49 am ... You'll have to specify what of. *Prowl has a whole lot of numbers that are relevant to this conversation.* ItsyBitsySpyers 12:49 am [[You said you kept count. Of worlds and of the dead. Give him your counts.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 12:50 am [[It must be added to his map. He - needs to see it. To understand why.]] FakeProwl 12:57 am One hundred and twenty-one billion, seven hundred million lives. That's the closest we can estimate. The destruction is so vast we're only able to accurately round to the nearest hundred million. And those are just the worlds we know were populated by sentient species and were able to get an estimate of the number of sentient beings were on the world before their destruction. FakeProwl 12:59 am That doesn't count all the worlds the Decepticons annihilated before we ever reached them. FakeProwl 1:01 am We can't count the number of dead from planets where forts have already been built over the ashes. ItsyBitsySpyers 1:02 am *Soundwave's lights dim. Hard. He knew both sides had done worse than in his own timeline - FAR worse - but that...*

*How can he argue against numbers like those? How is he supposed to uphold his oath to protect their kind and the matching Cybertrons if Prowl's math includes something that big?* FakeProwl 1:05 am ... By my estimates, that number only accurately accounts for approximately fifteen percent of the Decepticons' kills. Potentially less than that. FakeProwl 1:09 am And that's only direct, intentional genocide—not species inadvertently caught in the crossfire. ItsyBitsySpyers 1:12 am [[No. There is no 'potentially'. He has heard of the phase sixers, of bombed planets, of entire species being led to pink alchemy plants.]]

[[We destroyed Junkion. We hurried the end of Velocitron. Both were quick and simple, and we did not have as many... tricks, as your factions. He refuses to believe it is as much as fifteen percent.]] FakeProwl 1:13 am Ah. Junkion. Us too. Shockwave did it, but half the time I get the credit. It was considered a minor battle. ... Two planets, huh? Three if you count Cybertron itself? ItsyBitsySpyers 1:14 am [[There were others. They took longer.]] [[But not as many.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 1:19 am [[...Still. He will not accept termination as a solution.]] *Shakes his helm again.* [[It is cheap. No facing what was done. No acting on errors that may still be corrected. And it is not what he has promised.]] FakeProwl 1:21 am I care less about Cybertron "facing what was done" than about ensuring it won't happen again. And I have no faith that they'll act to correct any errors. Cheap solutions work. ItsyBitsySpyers 1:25 am [[He seeks both.]]

Prowl's faith is not something Soundwave can change on the spot. He sees that much, and so, leaves that alone for now.

[[And working is not the same thing as being a good idea. He would know. You should, too.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 1:26 am [[At the moment, we are at an impasse. And he has much to think about. He... would put this subject aside, for now. Revisit it when there is something more to be said.]] FakeProwl 1:26 am *Huff.* I know. FakeProwl 1:36 am ... I'm sorry this isn't the type of thing you hoped to hear out of me. FakeProwl 1:41 am *When they had hashed out the rules on which they would base their relationship—had it been nearly a year ago, already?—Prowl had said that he did not anticipate any vast moral conflicts to arise between them—"but if any do, you know where I stand: by my convictions." So he'd said. And he thought now that, on some level, he must have known that this was the conviction he'd been preparing to stand by.* ItsyBitsySpyers 1:42 am [[...It isn't, no. It is... a line of thinking he abandoned a few years ago. One that may take you from him, if that hypothetical situation ever comes to pass. And something too bitter to have been meant for a spark like yours.]]

[[But he would not have wanted a lie.]] FakeProwl 1:46 am I know it might. ... But I'd far rather not have to stand on the opposite side of a battlefield from you. *... Still without looking at Soundwave, he reaches for... for his hand. His thigh. Anything.* ItsyBitsySpyers 2:00 am *Soundwave looks down at his hands. Please, let him think of something. Some way to stop him having to test his adherence to his latest vow. An argument or example or plea capable of helping Prowl see that there are other paths and safeguarding Cybertron and its inhabitants a little longer. They've all lost enough as it is.*

[[He will stand with you on as many battlefields as he can... but he answers to Primus above all others. Do not forget that.]]

*He hesitates at first, wondering if giving Prowl access to some part of himself would be a betrayal of his beliefs. But Prowl has done nothing except admit to a thought Soundwave himself used to share, and there's still time to try and make sure it never progresses into something more real. And if he does eventually fail at that, then... at least he can have moments like these to look back on afterward.*

*So he turns his hand over and slides his fingers between Prowl's, curling them tight. Too tight, probably, and yet, not tight enough* FakeProwl 2:11 am I won't forget it. *Because if there ever does come a day when he finds he must take action, it's going to be the first thing he thinks of. He'd said that he would not compromise his convictions for the sake of a relationship; and he'd said he expected Soundwave to do no different.*

*Prowl squeezes back just as tightly.* ... Thank you for—for agreeing to disagree. On something like this. At least as long as it's hypothetical. ... I wasn't sure you would.

*He hadn't been sure he'd leave this conversation with his amicaship intact. He'd even had doubts he'd leave the conversation with his life intact. If there were to be anything that would make Soundwave turn on him...*

*He squeezes tighter. Not yet. Not tonight. He hadn't chosen wrong to confess. His trust hadn't been misplaced.* ItsyBitsySpyers 2:26 am *Correct. Soundwave was no different. Had Prowl given Soundwave reason to turn, he would almost certainly have been killed by now. Prowl wasn't the kind of person wise mechs let live long enough to form and enact disagreeable plans.*

[[Do not thank him for that.]] *He didn't want that kind of gratitude from Prowl. It would sting all the more if he had to change his mind someday.* [[Just... stay, while you can.]]

*Let that replace the comfort he didn't end up finding in their discussion after all. They would both need it tonight.* FakeProwl 2:29 am *Prowl turned, pressed his chevron against Soundwave's upper arm, wrapped his other arm around Soundwave's forearm.* As long as I can. ItsyBitsySpyers 2:31 am [[Good.]]

*He settled his other hand on the arm wrapped around his and, after another moment's thought, let his feeler curl a loop around Prowl's waist again.*

*Recharge won't come for a while, but he'll not have moved by the time it does.* FakeProwl 2:36 am *He twitches as the feeler wraps around him again, then holds Soundwave tighter still. He won't sleep; but he doesn't plan on budging until the very second he has to go.*

[oadara]

What Jon's bringing? Knowledge of the enemy and that all of Westeros is fucked if they don't band together to fight the enemy. It's NOT just the North's problem, it's the whole of Westeros that's in danger, so including Dany's allies, their lands, her entourage, her armies, her home, her. Why does Jon have to pay for her to help defend the realm she thinks is her by birthright? It is her duty to defend it if she wants to rule over it. It's not some grand gesture of hers. 1/2

“As long as he is KITN he has leverage. She wants his kingdom. He wont submit to someone not willing to protect the people and wants power for the sake of it.” - another redditor’s reply to that redditor. Why would he swear fealty to someone who’s so self-interested that needs material gains before lifting a finger to help people?

I like how fans conveniently ignore that she’s not being the altruistic savior they have painted her as. She needs payment to save people. What a pretty picture. How about she saves the realm to become its Queen and not become Queen first and then decide whether to save the realm?

Anons,

I’m lumping all three together because you’re essentially saying the same thing. It seems to me that what all three or one of you fail to understand and wrap your head around is the fact that unlike Jon and the viewers Dany has no knowledge or proof of the Wight Walker. You are expecting her to act as if the word of Jon is gospelly when she has never heard of this person or met them. What you are expecting from her is beyond unreasonable and just shows the double standard that you are constantly judging Dany by. Had it been the reverse, you would be laughing at the idea of Dany showing up to Jon asking for her natural resources, army, and dragons. 

The worse part is that I’m sure you know the leaks and you know that the moment Dany finds out about the WW she decides to forgo her pursuit of the Iron Throne to fight alongside Jon against the WW. The second she sees with her own two eyes what is coming down from the far north she chooses to fight for the people of Westeros. She chooses to be who she has always been and you have failed to recognize: a person who would put her life and dreams on the life for the benefit of others. Redeeming her family name and restoring her House has been a driving force for Dany but not at the expense of others. 

And before I get another message about this, the dragons died 150 years before the birth of Dany’s dragons, they had been part of the known history, there were skeletons of them and ample proof the existed. Before the beginning of the series, the WW had been dormant for 3,000, they were a legend, a boogie man of sorts uses to scare children. You can’t compare the two. 

Jon showing up at Dragonstone without a plan of proof of his claims was not well thought out on his part and Dany has every right to be skeptical. And if Jon wants something from her, she has every right to demand his loyalty. 

TTFN