#but also Earl failing is funny to me | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

marie-mcd · 2 months

Text

There's a specific concept from Good Omens that I really like (amongst many others), that I was chuffed to also find in a Sandman and a Discworld story!

I love that in Good Omens (both book and TV), Heaven and Hell are presented as mostly redundant and ineffectual when it comes to human morality - and that Hell in particular find some of the things humans do to be pretty shocking, and/or instructive.

Opportunities for humour aside, this idea flies in the face of the common belief that the world's worst ills are the result of outside forces influencing people to do evil (ie the devil. Or ... lizard people etc? I digress). And it's unlike other stories out there that are like, "World War II was actually caused by xyz characters!" or similar. Good Omens doesn't rewrite history like that, or let us - humanity - off the hook when it comes to the big stuff, when it could so easily have done so in a universe where Heaven and Hell are literally real.

The story, of course, also credits human cleverness to humans, and celebrates the things we should be proud of, like art, music, delicious food, craftmanship, invention, etc. And it credits humans for having a propensity for compassion and goodness.

"[Crowley] did his best to make their short lives miserable, because that was his job, but nothing he could think up was half as bad as the stuff they thought up themselves. […] And just when you'd think they were more malignant than ever Hell could be, they could occasionally show more grace than Heaven ever dreamed of. Often the same individual was involved."

I love this concept because I see it as an uncoupling of religion and morality. They can both exist together, but the former isn't necessary for the latter. (This isn't the only possible interpretation; the more literal reading might be more about free will, but this is where I extrapolated it to).

From Sandman: Season of Mists Episode 2 (plot context stripped out to avoid spoilers, but skip ahead to black text if you want absolutely nothing spoiled if you want to read it).

Lucifer: "And the mortals! I ask you - why? […] Why do they blame me for all their little failings? They use my name as if I spend my entire day sitting on their shoulders, forcing them to commit acts they would otherwise find repulsive. 'The devil made me do it.' I have never made one of them do anything. Never. They live their own tiny lives. I do not live their lives for them."

And from Eric, a Discworld book (this one's related to Hell learning from humans, more than morality/free will... I won't spoil the funny by elaborating!):

"Earl Beezlemoth rubbed one of his three noses.

'And humans somewhere thought this up all by themselves?' he said. 'We didn't give them any, you know, hints?' […]

The earl stared into infinity. 'I thought we were supposed to be the ghastly ones,' he said, his voice filled with awe."

Another commonality between these two stories that isn't directly shared by Good Omens (yet...? still have another season coming …) but that I like enough to point out, is the idea that Hell is a place where people end up if they believe they deserve to go there. I like this because a lot of people are influenced to feel guilty about "sins" that are innocuous parts of normal human behaviour, so it's pretty brutal to fear going to Hell over them. There's comfort in this idea, to me. (granted, the following Sandman quote states this less explicitly but I take the same meaning from it … but lmk if I've done a reading incomprehension; I also haven't read all the books yet).

From Sandman:

Lucifer: "And then [the mortals] die, and they come here (having transgressed against what they believed to be right), and expect us to fulfill their desire for pain and retribution. I don't make them come here."

From Eric (partial footnote near the beginning):

"Interestingly enough, the gods of the Disc have never bothered much about judging the souls of the dead, and so people only go to hell if that's where they believe, in their deepest heart, that they deserve to go."

Eric also really leans into the idea of Hell being a bureaucratic, corporate, boring nightmare, also familiar to Good Omens fans, and the demons are so over it. The tone (you could probably guess) is very different from Sandman, and it's one of the earlier, less-serious Discworld books; it's a very fun, absurd ride of a read!

There are a few other Discworld books I'll talk about in a future post, that may also be of interest to certain Good Omens fans (I'm gearing these posts toward the fans who came to Good Omens from the TV show and haven't had the pleasure of discovering Neil's and Terry's other work yet); the ones I have in mind examine religious extremism, and the uncoupling of religion and morality too. A couple of them also have queer themes, if that is also your jam! (Less shipping opportunities but I assume some fans, like me, like the rest of the material in GO in addition to the love story).

I'll end this with a quote from a footnote from Eric that has nothing to do with anything in this post, but which took me by surprise and had me laughing days later whenever it came to mind. It's referring to books in a section of the library:

"Just erotic. Nothing kinky. It's the difference between using a feather and using a chicken."

And another bonus one that I found while looking for the first:

"Rincewind had been told that death was just like going into another room. The difference is, when you shout, 'Where's my clean socks?', no one answers."

I hope this made sense and is maybe interesting to someone ... I had fun talking about this at least!

#good omens #good omens meta #good omens 2 #sandman #discworld #neil gaiman #terry pratchett #gnu terry pratchett #crowley #eric #eric faust #rincewind #p

86 notes · View notes

elerriellee · 3 months

Text

A tentative and not-so-short rundown of The Reunion 24/01/18 opening night. Ramin & Hadley centric.

Act 1

There's scripted talking in between the first few songs to introduce everyone. I say scripted because there are Chinese subtitles on the side screens.

Man of La Mancha: Ramin+Earl

Earl did the squeaky Sancho voice he was hilarious

I've Decided to Marry You: Hadley+Natalie+Holly

Holly is so sweet I'm officially a fan

Hard to Speak My Heart: Hadley's solo

This is Hadley's only solo, honestly, I'm a bit disappointed BUT he nailed it as always, what can I say the man is perfect. Also, talk about aging like fine wine. He was in full suit & tie in Act 1, I was looking through binoculars & shaking he's so handsome.

What Baking Can Do: Samantha solo

Journey to the Past: Samantha's solo

I don't have much commentary for Sam because honestly, I think her brilliance is like. A given fact at this point. Everyone should just acknowledge that she's perfect. End of discussion.

Come What May

Evermore

For Good

My memory has failed me. I think Come What May was Samantha+Natalie+Holly. Evermore was Ramin+Holly. I'm not sure.

Love Finds You: Ramin+Holly+Natalie+Hadley+Earl

Much better than the meet&greet version. More put together. Although I think the band fucked up a bit at the end.

After this song there's a short POTO entr'acte. They had installed chandeliers on the stage so they were lowered for the next few songs.

Think of Me: Holly+Hadley

Holly is so sweet. Hadley ran up the stage to sing "Can it be Christine". Lots of screaming.

All I Ask of You: Hadley+Holly

I'm aware there are comments online about Hadley!Raoul being a bit mean/harsh/demanding/whatever, BUT this version. THIS VERSION. Hadley's voice was so soft and gentle, he was smiling and gazing at Holly the whole time. At the ending bit when Raoul & Christine were supposed to kiss, Hadley does a little bow and kisses the back of Holly's hand. THEY'RE SO CUTE I CAN'T TAKE IT. Although I'm kinda getting sibling/bestie vibes from them lol.

Music of the Night: Ramin's solo

Classic & perfect.

20 minutes intermission

Act 2

Into the Unknown: Samantha+Holly+Everyone else in the back

Holly did the "voice calling to Elsa" part, everyone else was harmonizing in the background. Such a powerful beginning to the second act. Again, Samantha, QUEEN.

Heart of Stone: Natalie

I was shocked in all the good ways, Natalie's voice was so powerful it was mind-blowing. The band fucked up big time here but she saved it, she's amazing.

Love Me Anyway: Ramin+Natalie+Hadley on guitar

This song is by Pink, I think, and the only song that's not from a musical. Hadley has a few bars of beautiful guitar solo right in the middle and I'm pretty sure Ramin & I were wearing the same expression.

There's a bit of talking at this point from Ramin and Hadley, improv & not scripted. I'm getting FTRR vibes, they're so relaxed and comfortable with each other. Ramin jokes about Hadley's first time singing AIAOY after the 25th anniversary, and Hadley goes: is this your first time singing MOTN? They laugh and Hadley hums that meme sound effect (idek how to describe it), Ramin *singing along*: "No." Oh I love these two.

The Other Side: Hadley+Ramin

Hadley as Barnum and Ramin as Philip, I mean, wait what? But it worked guys it worked. And Hadley's version, the way he lowers his voice... is actually really sexy? (the friend I went with: it's not talking business it's seduction) I'm so confused.

Who I'd Be: Hadley+Ramin+Holly

This trio is gold.

I'm All Alone: Hadley+Ramin+Earl

They made this song hilarious. Ramin and Hadley making funny faces behind Earl and talking quietly while Earl was getting bullied singing "I'm all alone" (Ramley in the back, with an eye roll and a shrug acting all exasperated: "Yeah. He's all alone")

Till I hear you sing: Ramin solo

KING. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO BE NORMAL AFTER THIS?

I Dreamed a Dream: Natalie's solo

Again, Natalie has a resonating, powerful voice, and this song shows it.

Stars: Earl solo

How does he go from laughing and joking to full-on Javert mode in 5 seconds I will never fully understand. Amazed.

Heart full of love: Hadley+Holly

Another dream come true moment of hearing Hadley!Marius. If I'm honest this couldn't beat the 22-year-old Hadley version but again let's talk about aging like fine wine...

On My Own: Samantha

There was a suspended moment after "a world that's full of happiness that I have never known" & I'm pretty sure the entire room was collectively holding their breath. I don't think my words are ever going to be adequate to describe Sam's performance.

Bring Him Home: Ramin solo+Hadley on guitar

Them gazing at each other for 3 minutes. On the last note Ramin messed up a little, he turns to Hadley like "sos I fucked up" and Hadley takes his hand. During the meet&greet Hadley said Ramin was a bit sick so I guess he's not yet at his 100% (Last night Hadley was still coughing a bit as well, at stage door he was wearing two layers of jackets lol), but they're both looking (and sounding) much better.

One Day More: Everyone

Ramin as Enjolras. OMG. I think there's video online guys go see for yourselves.

Aaaand I think that's all.

#ramin karimloo #hadley fraser #earl carpenter #holly anne hull #natalie may paris #samantha barks #the reunion #the reunion beijing #ramley #also i wrote this on my way to the second performance please excuse any mistakes

60 notes · View notes

amethystroselily · 5 days

Text

Ok the Undertaker being Vincent’s dad theory is really funny to me, so here’s how I think it could possibly work.

Undertaker was a reaper 70 years ago and seems properly obsessed with the phantomhive family as a whole, and met Vincent later on in his life, so I really don’t think he was married to Claudia. Plus Claudia and Vincent’s father didn’t have the same last name, so whoever he was I doubt they were married (perhaps having to do with Claudia trying to keep her title or something). So I think he had some deep attachment to a previous Phatomhive lord (perhaps he was a servant), but then the earl died or something, and then he killed himself, becoming a reaper. Then maybe he was monitoring the family for years and they kept dying so he snapped and went rogue, maybe his experiments kept failing, so then he was like woah maybe as a reaper I should see what mixing my dna in would do (probably a rule about not fraternizing with humans to avoid this), and around then the current Phatomhive family head is a woman so like great time to test it out, then maybe the relationship fell apart because of some sort of respectability she had to maintain or they were busy or something and she didn’t want him around her kids anymore, then years later undertaker gets back to stalking the phatomhives once his son is the new earl.

Maybe he wanted to use Vincent’s body because he had a higher concentration of reaperness, but then he lost the corpse (maybe bc fire, maybe bc Vincent isn’t actually dead) so he’s using ciel instead.

Also I’ve seen the theory Francis was involved in Vincent’s death, and maybe that’s why he doesn’t seem particularly invested in her side of the family. Perhaps sibling feuds are a long tradition in the Phantomhive family and it makes him think of a previous one and that’s why he keeps getting so involved.

The way Othello talked about Undertaker made him sound like he was a lot like Francis when he was younger, and I think the idea of Francis looking down on this random strange man who worked with her brother and him turning out to be her father whom she takes after in both looks and personality is so interesting.

Also I personally think he like stole some of Othello’s research on resurrection on his way out and that’s where all the tension is coming from. Because obviously Othello can’t tell Grell that, so he has to skirt around it, but there’s obviously something more going on between him and undertaker.

#im just throwing ideas at the wall for my own amusement #black butler theories #black butler manga #black butler #kuroshitsuji spoilers #kuroshitsuji #undertaker #undertaker black butler #othello black butler #ciel phantomhive #claudia phantomhive #vincent phantomhive #francis midford #r!ciel #o!ciel #undertaker is ciel’s grandpa theory #cedric k ros

18 notes · View notes

rockislandadultreads · 10 months

Photo

LGBTQIA+ Pride Month: More Fiction Recommendations

My Government Means to Kill Me by Rasheed Newson

Earl "Trey" Singleton III arrives in New York City with only a few dollars in his pocket. Born into a wealthy Black Indianapolis family, at 17, he is ready to leave his overbearing parents and their expectations behind.

In the city, Trey meets up with a cast of characters that changes his life forever. He volunteers at a renegade home hospice for AIDS patients, and after being put to the test by gay rights activists, becomes a member of the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP). Along the way Trey attempts to navigate past traumas and searches for ways to maintain familial relationships—all while seeking the meaning of life amid so much death.

Less is Lost by Andrew Sean Greer

"Go get lost somewhere, it always does you good."

For Arthur Less, life is going surprisingly well: he is a moderately accomplished novelist in a steady relationship with his partner, Freddy Pelu. But nothing lasts: the death of an old lover and a sudden financial crisis has Less running away from his problems yet again as he accepts a series of literary gigs that send him on a zigzagging adventure across the US.

Less roves across the "Mild Mild West," through the South and to his mid-Atlantic birthplace, with an ever-changing posse of writerly characters and his trusty duo - a human-like black pug, Dolly, and a rusty camper van nicknamed Rosina. He grows a handlebar mustache, ditches his signature gray suit, and disguises himself in the bolero-and-cowboy-hat costume of a true "Unitedstatesian"... with varying levels of success, as he continues to be mistaken for either a Dutchman, the wrong writer, or, worst of all, a "bad gay."

We cannot, however, escape ourselves--even across deserts, bayous, and coastlines. From his estranged father and strained relationship with Freddy, to the reckoning he experiences in confronting his privilege, Arthur Less must eventually face his personal demons.

This is the second volume in the “Arthur Less” series.

Rosewater by Liv Little

Elsie is a sexy, funny, and fiercely independent woman in south London. But several things in her life have gone terribly wrong. She's estranged from her family; is failing to make it as a poet; and has just been evicted from her social housing. As fierce and independent as she is, even Elsie must admit that being a carefree 28-year-old is proving difficult--and that she's running out of options.

Juliet, her best friend since childhood, has always been Elsie's lifeline. So even though they haven't spoken in months, Elsie is soon snuggled up on Juliet's couch, back at home among the mismatched cushions and knit blankets.

Between their reruns of Drag Race and nights smoking on the balcony, something surprising begins to glimmer in Elsie's heart. And as the days turn into weeks and then months, this feeling quickly becomes too fierce to ignore. Will Elsie be brave enough to open herself up to love?

The Fake by Zoe Whittall

After the death of her wife, Shelby is suffering from prolonged grief. She’s increasingly isolated, irritated by her family’s stoicism and her friends’ reliance on the toxic positivity of self-help culture. Then, in a grief support group, she meets Cammie, who gives her permission to express her most hopeless, hideous feelings. Cammie is charismatic and unlike anyone Shelby has ever met. She’s also recovering from cancer and going through several other calamities. Shelby puts all her energy into helping Cammie thrive—until her intuition tells her that something isn’t right.

Gibson is fresh from divorce, almost forty, and deeply depressed. Then he falls in love with Cammie. Not only is he having the best sex of his life with a woman so attractive he’s stunned she even glanced his way, he feels truly known for the first time in his life. But Gibson’s friends are wary of Cammie, and eventually he, too, has to admit that all the drama in Cammie’s life can feel a bit over the top.

When Gibson and Shelby meet, they realize Cammie’s stories don’t always add up. In fact, they’re far from the truth. But what kind of a person would lie about having cancer? And what does it say about Shelby and Gibson that they fell for it?

7 notes · View notes

deathfavor · 3 months

Text

@shackld said: "Earl! Uh, happy birthday!" Nobody would blame her at feeling a little uneasy at being around the man, he didn't exactly seem to like her all that much and well, Chief can't say she blames him but the whole 'bomb' situation did wonders for her opinion of him as well. Still, there was a part of her that wanted to gain his trust so… baby steps. "Zoya told me, but I didn't really know what to get you so-" She's quick to step into the room, having lingered awkwardly in the doorway, and slide the envelope towards him. "It's a card, it's got a dog on it." She didn't know why that was important to mention. "And also… a gift card to this lousy fast food place, um. I don't know, it's good - maybe you can take Horo." (i stand by that shes scared of him idec)

happy birthday earl

When the Chief approaches, Happy birthday is the last thing that even the ever-cunning fox expects. Mostly because HE certainly hasn't informed her of the day, but he doesn't think about it that much either. At least, not until Horo or Zoya or any of the other Legion members make it abundantly clear that he won't just be working on his birthday like he intends. Every year he tries, every year he fails. Still. Chief is unexpected even when it comes to today.

" ... Thank you, Chief. " It takes him a moment to thank her properly; he is nothing if not polite on matters like this. " Zoya told you? Now I know how everyone seems to keep finding out. " So that was where the leak in his personal information was. Even if it was only the day. Though, he can practically imagine her rolling her eyes and remarking that C'mon Earl, you need to loosen up! What's one day of celebration? because that WAS so very her.

He lifts a hand calmly. " Nothing is neces- " Still, before he can actually dismiss it, the chief has already produced an envelope and placed it on the desk. Its so...absurdly ordinary that he almost chuckles. Almost. Something like birthday cards even with all the violence and chaos. He ensures she isn't touching it before he reaches out to grasp the envelope and open it to see the card. Amusement gleams in his eyes at her apparent need to inform him of the fact it has a dog on it. " Symbolic? " He asks, though there's a hint of teasing in his voice rather than just the usual grim tone. Whether she catches it or not is of little matter he supposes. " It's a very nice dog. " Might as well humor it. A dog gifted to a fox, how funny. " I appreciate it, Chief. "

Earl glances at the gift card that slides out, grasping it between gloved fingers. Her discomfort is evident, but that's the lowest thing on his priorities. For all the tough, ruthless, and cunning energy that Earl gives off ( and indeed, is ), the mention of Horo immediately has his focus an interest. He always has a soft spot for her. No matter where they are or what has happened, he is always her big brother first and foremost.

" Can Horo come out to a lunch? " Earl asks, dark eyes focusing on the Chief with active interest now. That would be nice, a way to spend time and check on his little sister. " Thank you, again. This is more than I expected. "

#shackld #honestly being scared of him is valid #he is so serious all the time #that and he rarely uses brute force #he is Scheming more often than not #always on edge #buT LET HORO GO OUT FOR LUNCH CHIEF #PLS HE WOULD GENUINELY LOVE THAT #᛭ — [IC] raven wings guiding the wolves [EARL]#᛭ — [VERSE: SURVIVAL] doomsday is the color of fox fur [EARL]

2 notes · View notes

docholligay · 1 year

Text

13. United Kingdom

youtube

This is one of my daughter’s favorites, because she’s two and also europop trash. She seems (seems) to like Israel slightly more, but she’s a toddler and can’t quite use the ranker yet. I also knew @verbforverb was going to like this the SECOND it came out.

I have mentioned that I try very very hard, and sometimes fail, at letting the personalities of the singers get to me in any measurable way, because I’m not asking someone to be likeable, I’m asking them to sing.

I ABSOLUTELY fail with Mae Muller. There are so many things I hate about this song. I hate the accent levelling* until the JARRING jump where she talks like a person in her Spice Girls Spoken word moment, I hate that the song sounds like a 3 minute commercial jingle that you can’t get out of your head (as jetty put it), I hate the lyrics, I hate it all.

But goddamnit. I LOVE Mae Muller. I HATE that I like her so much. She did a pretty terrible job in Barcelona, really, and immediately the next day put out a short of her running through the airport that said “Me fleeing Barcelona after [twitterid] said my vocals flopped last night (I’m sick!)” and I laughed and I hated that I laughed. She is funny and engaging on stage, and she is honestly like, sorry verb you’ve been replaced by a new British Jewish mess I’d like to get drunk with (Actually, come along, i think it’ll take both of us to wrangle her). She’s tacky and I KNOW she’s a sloppy drunk and I am SO MAD about how much I like her and I want her to do well. DESPITE HATING EVERYTHING ABOUT HER SONG. RAGE.

And she was fucked from the word go by TAP music, who, so there was this huge rumor that Rina Sawayama was going to be tapped to be the Eurovision rep. It was never going to happen. It was a FUCKING PIPE DREAM. Rina has actual things to do with her life (affectionate). This was rumored even to be her song, I think it JUST hit the line for being viable:

youtube

Would I have loved that? Yeah, I absolutely would have. But it was never going to happen, and of course Rina played along, and they took WAY too long to announce Mae, and honestly...they could have just candidly said, “Okay we promise it’s not Rina, we can’t wait for you to see who we picked” ANyway Mae was IMMEDIATELY thrown into a situation where she was a disappointment, which is SO UNFAIR to an artist no matter how I feel about them.

And she’s basically just made it her business to charm the shit out of every human being who comes into contact with her. I worry about her some, in that I fucking wish she would stop trying to dance and sing. She can’t do it. She loses her breath. Like, work on your cardio, but for now, STAND STILL. I doubt she’ll flop, but she’s closing the whole show and I would hate for her to put in a disappointing result (BECAUSE SHE’S CHARMED ME) because no one is paying attention to her actual abilities. She’s also changed the Spice Girls Moment and I don’t like the revamp as much.

youtube

*Every time I say this, someone says this isn’t a real thing, and this is just what singing is like, and, no, it isn’t. I have linked people papers and articles and I’m tired of doing that for shit you can hear with your own ears. It’s a noted observable fact in music, particularly mainstream music, it’s called accent levelling, and it is true and real even if that fact annoys you because maybe you or someone you love do it subconsciously. It’s a strange midwest-atlantic American mix that’s been more and more codified since the 80s, and, I also do it and I don’t care for that either! Look no further than singers like Billy Bragg or Steve Earle or Dave Carter, or to use a better known example, Lily Allen, to see it doesn’t actually have to be that way! It’s due to a series of media based and sociocultural factors, and also pressure from mainstream record companies to ‘sound mainstream’ but it’s not just how people sing. I said I wasn’t going to link, but here’s a very straightforward article from the guy who literally wrote the Cambridge Dictionary of the English Language and also was chair of his department in Reading for ten years, also wrote a great book about English pronunciation. Link.

#translated from the original European #Eurovision ranking 2023

13 notes · View notes

viscountessevie · 1 year

Note

Former anon back again with Lorraine Heath recs okay so I am a chaotic little gremlin who doesn't read anything in order so I'll give you my favorite of her books and then if you're not chaotic like me my favorite series!

Waking up with the duke is a massive angst fest and I adore it! The Earl takes All aka the gorilla twins book is one of the wildest plots I've read in hr and it's gorg and also again angst fest literally made me cry. The Duchess Hunt is by far my favorite boss/employee hr it's the gold standard that all other boss books fail to live up to (do check triggers on this one tho!). And then my favorite series is the scoundrels of st James which is an older series of hers but I adore it esp the first two books. Very much Oliver Twist inspired which is hilarious. Also you're so valid for the Elizabeth Hoyt trigger stuff especially in the second half of the series some of the earlier books might work for you the (lol) Georgian Batman books are a lot less dark than the later ones iirc!

Can I just say I LOVED waking up to this message - especially the first part! While I am a choatic gremlin in life, I usually like reading in order. However, lately with HR I've been skipping around if I don't like some of the books in a series, especially if they are standalones without an overarching plot. Though through the Hellions series I have found myself loving books they tie themselves together.

All this to say, I'm not picky and bring on the chaos! Also all the titles you recced, I found it funny that on your previous ask, Caro (mermaidsirennikita) recced the same ones - yall have really similar tastes we love to see it! She, Triv and Z are my HR book influencers as I say below and I love them for it XD

Definitely adding these titles to my TBR and will live blog them when I start reading them!

As for The Duchess Hunt, I am usually not a fan of the Boss/Employee trope - it’s gotta be done right for me and not be a shady HR violation lmao but I liked how Sara Cate dealt with it in Praise and this book sounds really compelling! Funny story, I’ve actually seen reactions and commentary by Trivia and Z in our group chats and I was really interested in it. So definitely going high on my list. I’ve also heard of The Scoundrels of St. James and am into it but also so many books ahahha so we’ll see when I will get to them. I really need to start sifting through my TBR to see what I want to read next after Wanna Bet.

As for Hoyt, usually I am getting better with my triggers but also I am in a life slump so I am being more mindful of them than usual. Definitely interested in checking out the title Caro dropped - The Bodyguard with Whitney Houston changed my life and we love good disability rep so I am definitely down for that! The Georgian Batman books you mentioned also seem cool. Ngl I feel like this rn and I LOVE IT:

Thanks again for sending this in anon! Always feel free to gush about these books in my ask box - I love hearing about them even if I’ll get to them a while later lol

#HR Blogging #HR Book Recs #Lorraine Heath #Elizabeth Hoyt #Caro Tag #Trivia Tag #Zaira Tag #Chaotic Anon #The Viscountess Answers

5 notes · View notes

allkinds-oftrash · 1 year

Text

The Crown S5E8 Commentary

To the two people who actually read this, hi I’m finally back with these commentary! Its been a busy last two days but we’re almost done!!

Non-Spoiler Thoughts: Great dramatic episode for the tipping point of the saga that is The War of The Waleses! While I get why we got a look into the politics of the BBC, that storyline paled in comparison to the drama of Charles and Diana. So my main two complaints is: They should have shown us the full scale of the War of the Waleses and the interview’s tone should have been different. The tone they adopted worked within the context of the show and Diana’s characterisation this season but failed as a live recreation. For me personally, I think its crucial for the show to get the public events and live recreation scenes absolutely accurate so it can’t be easily discounted as fully a work of fiction and so it can go hand in hand with the scenes that are fictional - since there is so much free rein around those scenes. For me the live reenactments ground the show for me. Overall, I did enjoy it!

Spoilers Under The Cut:

Okay the ACTUAL Bashir Interview episode Let's goo

Lmaooo William "I might understand it if it was made in my lifetime" PLS HE'S SUCH A MILLENNIAL I like his relationship with Lizzie, it's very sweet Not her comparing changing TV sets to becoming Catholic 😂 Lizzie what are you doing Time to modernise Elizabethh

Diana and Dr Khan my beloved!!

Gsshsjj ohmygod Nov 5 was when Diana recorded the interview And on Guy Fawkes Night - the i r o n y

Tween William is right for setting boundaries but it's also really sad to see She's so alone sigh

I think the BBC sideplot would have been more compelling on it's own if it wasn't going up against the royal family subplots John's right thoughhh about the ethics Also the politics of it all, we really can't escape it huh

It's so funny Dukey wants to do a Queen tribute all while the Bashir interview is being arranged behind his back LMAOO THE RUPERT MURDOCH NAME DROP/CALL OUT I CACKLED DHJDJDJ Dukey why are you sucking up to Lizzie so much kdjdkdk NOT JOHN SAYING YES OUT OF SPITE I'M SCREAMING Lmaooo the excitement on Bashir's face that was endearing

Not Earl Spencer being paranoid about MI5/6 and Jepson Look what you did Martin Bashir Oop you've been caught buddy This is why you should always keep your story straight Oh god shut up Bashir not you turning the siblings against each other

Lmaooo they're going hard on the connection to Nov 5th - I wish they actually released it on that date itself it would have been a vibe! From Bashir drawing the connection and William's school covering it We love to see it! Living for the parallels 👏🏾👏🏾

God this was THE LOOK It's happening omg it's happening Let's go Elizabeth Debecki let's see what you're made of I can't decide if the choice not to show a live reenactment of this interview was good or not Definitely takes the pressure off Elizabeth D but still would have liked to see her recreate it. Like Ik we've all seen the original but it would have been nice to see it fully play out in the episode.

John having a whole crisis in the beach is so funny and relatable pls I wonder if he regrets it now

Hohoho this conversation is gonna be intense Glad she's being honest with Lizzie At least you got a heads up Yesss call her out Diana!! Well make the time Lizzie God I wanna hit my head against the wall Take some accountability Elizabeth Windsor

Do you really Lizzie DO YOU DEFEND HER?? NOT HER GASLIGHTING HER NOT THE INTERVIEW COMING OUT ON THEIR ANNIVERSARY DGDJJDJD YOU CANNOT MAKE THIS UP I'M SCREAMING

Ohmygod Dukey you have no idea what's coming OHMYGOD DI PICKED CHARLES' BIRTHDAY SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS TO BE ANNOUNCED WE LOVE the pettiness!!! She deserved to do this Yes is it a little mean?? But Charles put her through the ringer, now it's his turn to be put THROUGH IT

Gsjdjej John breaking the news to Dukey I'm cackling The way his face drops omg John said No ❤ to Dukey's protests and we have no choice but to stan Oh it's gonna be memorable night alright I can't believe the Panorama interview overshadows their anniversary pls shdkdk

Everyone's faces omggg Choose Your Fighter; The Reaction to Tampongate or the Panorama Interview

Okay yeah there's a sardonic edge to Elizabeth's answers as Diana when it should have been more sad esp the iconic "There was three of us in the marriage" but I don't hate the change. It works in the context of the show even if it's inaccurate tonally from the actual interview. Yeah Elizabeth Debecki definitely needed to look more sadder in this interview. The sorrow line did not hit as hard.

Charles throwing a tantrum I can't even Okay she did pull it off well in the end But yeah tonally the performance was off It just needed to be more devastating and wistful.

Not Dukey apologising and resigning dhkdjdd This is so dramatic pls

William's scenes/reactions in this feels loaded after what he has said recently about the interview

Overall a great dramatic episode, just slightly disappointed with the portrayal of the interview recreation.

#The Crown #The Crown Season 5 #The Crown spoilers

5 notes · View notes

avadaniels · 2 years

Text

Now that I've finished season 2, I'm pretty disappointed with the overall storyline of the boys' island. I LOVED the boys' characters. They were very funny and enjoyable to watch. But in terms of the plot, I cannot comprehend what their storyline was supposed to add, other than showing that Gretchen is totally crazy and not interested in objective results at all. rant under the cut

There was only one plot device on the boys' island: Seth's character. Basically all the boys’ scenes are them learning about Seth and dealing with the consequences of Seth's actions. Even the rescue on Day 34 only happened because Seth punched Alex and stole the boat. If they had extracted Seth as planned, it seems the rest of the boys would have all survived together without issue until Day 50. It doesn't make any sense why Gretchen started off the season saying the boys "imploded". This made it seem like the boys were incapable of collaborating in the long term, and that they could not survive on their own. But that’s not what happened at all.

It feels like the writers started with the idea that the boys are incompetent because they can’t maintain a single unified camp, and then had to come up the story of how that happened. Their execution of the story failed in two ways. Firstly, they completely forgot to include the actual dangers and consequences that splitting up implies. Secondly, since the catalyst of the split was a single person's actions, they completely missed the mark on demonstrating the incompetence of the group as a whole. (Maybe the point was that the boys weren’t incompetent, but if so, the writers failed to prove that too, since they barely show the boys’ survival capabilities at all.)

The danger of splitting up is that there’s strength in numbers. It should have been extremely difficult for Seth, Raf, and Ivan to survive on their own, and also been harder for the main camp to sustain themselves with less hands to accomplish all the same tasks. This could have pushed to them to extremes, to act rashly and make mistakes, but it doesn’t. The girls demonstrated way more structure, planning, and discipline, and still barely managed to survive as one group. It seems very unlikely that all of the boys in both camps survived peacefully for so long with hardly any forethought or leadership. If even one thing went wrong with any major survival element (food, water, health), it could have lead to death. But somehow they all conveniently survived for over a month. The boys had to deal with the jaguar and Seth, and apparently nothing else.

None of the survival problems were shown, so what did they use instead? The writers worked so hard to orchestrate a situation where the boys would have to split up, the reason they split (Seth) became the entire focus of the boys' storyline. It left no room to explore all the other interesting aspects they can add to a deserted island.

In addition to the problems above, the show spends a long time convincing us that Seth is a great guy who helps everyone, and then very quickly destroys all of that emotional investment. We spend the rest of the season waiting to see how bad it gets on the boys’ island, which turns out to be not bad at all, as they all magically survive and stay sane without consequence. I thought Gretchen would have avoided rescuing the boys early unless absolutely necessary, and that hellfire and mayhem would be raining down on their island by Day 34. Instead it was just a failsafe, triggered by Seth fucking around.

To me, the most confusing detail is that Gretchen claimed the control group was a success. She chose Seth as the confederate even though he was clearly very unstable, and she definitely knew about his problems. Compared to Nora, a very calm and caring person who's never been in trouble, there is only one way to interpret the fact that Gretchen chose Seth: she deliberately sabotaged the boys. He ends up lashing out against the others, disconnecting the mics, and forcing the early rescue. Once Gretchen learned the truth from Josh, she knew that Seth was the only reason anything went wrong on the boys' island (though more should have gone wrong that wasn’t written). Given that she knew about his problems beforehand and made him the confederate, how can she claim that her study proves anything when it so obviously looks like she planted Seth there to ruin the boys’ camp?

This analysis might be harsh and overly-logical for a teen drama, but I’m just disappointed that the boys characters were so good, and we saw very little of them outside of dealing with Seth’s bullshit. There could have been lots of interpersonal problems to push the boys even farther, seeing personalities and relationships really change. More violence, more catastrophe, more adventure, anything. It would have been much more interesting if things actually went wrong with the boys, but the writers reversed-engineered the symptoms instead of the problems, ending up with a story that just falls flat.

I’m also very confused by the setup for season 3, but I won’t get into that now. I guess I’m excited to see how far Gretchen’s delusions take us.

#the wilds #the wilds spoilers #text

6 notes · View notes

theshakespeareproject · 4 months

Text

Thoughts on King Henry the Sixth Part I

Usually I will break these down further into the Acts, but for now, I wanted to talk about this one in one big chunk. Mainly because I didn’t start taking notes in the beginning.

Each night I curled up in my reading chair that wouldn’t be out of place in my grandfather’s home, and read with my reading lamp and usually my dog curled up between my legs being his adorable self. I had this big thick volume cracked open on the left armrest because that was closest to the light and cast the least amount of shadows. I usually tried to have a mug, coffee, hot cocoa, or tea, in that order (sorry everyone, I like coffee better).

To begin with: I had no idea what was being said almost the entire time. Shocker, I know. I tried my best to avoid glazing over but ocasnaionaly it happened and when I tried to find the spot where my eyes just started scanning instead of processing, I couldn’t. So if I missed something, I’m sorry, I’ll catch it on the reread.

Something that jumped out to me immediately, is I don’t think King Henry, the titular character, even showed up until Act III of V. For the most part, especially early in the story, the cast was made up of Earl’s all named after town’s that are in New England, I assume they’re probably in actual England as well but it is way funnier to imagine the Earl of Warwick going home to Warwick, Rhode Island and having to say “Wicked” constantly.

Joan of Arc - is a character!? She is almost the antagonist but also I find her extremely sympathetic because, well, it’s Joan of Arc. Also, I pictured her as Vanessa Hudgeson’s the whole time, thanks Drunk History, she was one of two characters that stood out to me.

As I was reading, I noticed two things about how I read these lines in my head. Without fail, I would read one line as speeding up and the one after as slowing down, and repeated this almost the entire time. I don’t think this was the actual rhythm that it’s meant to be read in but it’s what I defaulted to. The other, is that if I tried to picture someone reading the line, it was usually a man in his mid 30s, set against a black backdrop on a wooden proscenium stage, with like an angle of looking up at him from a slight bit left of house center. The man was lit from a top light, and his face was always blurred, and he always yelled his lines very angrily, still in that fast then slow rhythm. If anyone knows why my brain uncreatively placed these characters, please let me know.

Midway through Act IV, Talbot and his son begin speaking in rhyming couplets. I was looking for it before, I may have missed it, but this was the iambic pentameter I was expecting would be their the whole time, I think. Iambic pentameter was one of the things I remember my high school teacher from junior year telling me about, and it stood out as a cool writing technique, but also very stressful, I can never tell what syllable is supposed to be stressed.

I’d like to talk about John Talbot, I feel like he very suddenly appeared, all of a sudden got really emotional, spoke in rhyme, and then died. Who was he? Why did he die so suddenly? When will he get his own spin off prequel?

France is a very important part of this story about a King of England. More than half the story is set there. The France part was vastly more interesting, why did we need any of this story set in England.

The War of the Roses was important, in some way. At one point many of the Earl’s and noble fellows pick between the red and the white rose. There’s a line about picking a white rose but pricking their thumb and turning the rose blood red. It’s interesting, but I’m going to need more historical context in the future when I do a reread. Most of my knowledge for the War of the Roses is due to A Song of Ice and Fire using it for inspiration (No, I did not watch The Tudors so no, none of my knowledge comes from there).

There’s a scene in Act V, maybe it wasn’t supposed to be funny, but I found it funny. Where Earl of Suffolk and Lady Margaret are talking, and after every line the other says to them, they have, like, a snarky one liner they say in an aside to the audience.

If you don’t know what the aside is, anytime Fleabag said something directly to the camera or made eyecontact, that’s an aside. It’s a breaking of the forth wall to explain info to the audience. It happens a lot in these plays.

“Prehaps I need to be rescued by the French; And then I need not crave his courtesy.” Said by Margaret to the audience, line of the play for me. I too would love to be rescued from the British by the French.

The sequence of Joan of Arc (she’s not called “of Arc” but it’s what I know about her so I’m going to keep using it for convenience sakes) being potentially gaslite by Shepherd, where he claims to be her father. I don’t know if he actually is, I don’t think he is, because he told them to burn her because she refused to recognize him. I don’t know if that’s sexism or an admission that he lied, either way, really uncomfortable scene.

This is followed by Joan of Arc claiming to be pregnant and then going through multiple potential baby daddies. If there is a historical basis for this, I will take back my complaint, but this felt like an attempt to villainize someone else’s hero, not cool Shakespeare.

Now, nearing the end of the story, I need to mention the Earl of Suffolk, the only Earl that stood out. And it really only happened in the final Act. He goes to France to “woo” Margaret and then gets her to agree to come back to England to marry King Henry. At first, I thought he was just that cool of a guy. Put’s on the riz and gets the girl for his homie. Nope. He does give an impassioned speech to convince others to let the King marry for love, but it’s a trap! In the last line of the play, Suffolk is revealed to be a secret villain. He is the Littlefinger! Yes, that’s right, there are two sequels to this play, we are getting MCUed way back in 1591! Picture it:

The Earl of Suffolk will return in King Henry the Sixth Part II

#william shakespeare #shakespeare #king henry vi #lit #literature #read along #books #book quotes #reading #reading challenge #surprise joan of arc #joan of arc

0 notes

alfie-etherington-fmp-year-1 · 2 years

Photo

and here we are it’s finally complete my comic page concept the first real one I’ve ever done so far digitally so It’s to get my foot in the door as well as have something nice to wrap up my project with

starting with the line it was pretty simple to do especially since stevie nor earl are super complex characters designs wise helped further streamline the process of doing it

as for colouring it was time consuming but still quite simple with the harder questions being in where to place shadows for the walls of the scene I had a base colours and then used a the dry paint tool texture with a darker versions of the colour to make the walls look more worn in the imagery

this is the part where I give you a detour in why it’s good to have backups or fail safes for your stuff as during the colouring process I had accidentally gotten the cloud file damage due to a computer restart and thus all my work had just been whisked away in an instant I had a saved picture of the line art files however that wasn’t nearly affected due to me separating most of everything in terms of characters and backgrounds into different layers which means the colouring wouldn't of had been nearly as good looking, however I had lucked out as since it was a cloud file I could head onto my browser to log into adobe creative cloud there and download my exact file back onto my laptop, this was a massive luck out for me and is also a lesson into investing in different backup plans in case certain things fall flat, a corrupted file a messed up usb or the wifi going out at just the wrong time could cost you hours of process if you don’t have a back up plan so do be weary.

moving onto colouring after that whole thing was done was again time consuming but manageable I also used the picture frame to include an Easter egg to my previous project and the two main characters of it, blob and trixel I’m aware no one will get it but I find it funny to place Easter eggs like that in my stuff for some reason

here’s a picture of the comic without the subtitles

also to close off with subtitles each is unique in a way Jesse's are regular stevies are angular and look radio esc which fits with his existence as a television and earls are in the pen colour of his other form and the background lines to signify his role as one of the mutant creatures

also one more thing stevies speech patterns are a two way reference the way he speaks was inspired by spamton a character who was a living caricature of a spam email who used parts of sales pitches as communication

as well as stevie interludes being references to quotes and tropes associated with television that might fit the situation for instance the “hoopla” quote was based off the quote of an old sponebob episode.

0 notes

bebepac · 2 years

Text

Encounters

I am participating in @wackydrabbles prompt # 141 “Tell me you changed your mind” will appear in bold.

This is also the maiden voyage of The Blue Honey Cafe, which I have no idea where it’s going none whatsoever but we’ll just freaking see. Okay!

The Book: TRR Pairings: None Word Count: 1154 Warnings and Ratings: None there’s not even a curse word in this! This one is for ERrry body!

Summary: Riley has breakfast at the Blue Honey Cafe and meets Liam Ryerson for the first time.

Original Post: 04/09/22 at 2:50PM EST.

A/N: It’s funny because when I started this around six months ago, I knew then, I wasn’t going to use my OG Riley for it. Maybe it was something in my spirit then trying to tell me something, so I’m using a new Riley for this series.

A/N2: FYI There is a Star Trek The Next Generation joke here. Captain Jean Luc Picard is a fan of Earl Grey Tea, and any time he orders it he always says, “Earl Grey Tea, Hot.” You will see Liam make this reference in the this chapter.

A/N3: I have to say this has been a WIP in my google docs for over six months. I shared it with @dcbbw when it was a paragraph, or two and she put her special brand of top shelf liquor writing wizardry on it, giving me a little direction in the start, which I really appreciate. I really look up to you friend. You have an amazing talent, and you are so humble about it. Thank you for being my friend.

The Blue Honey Café was the best-kept secret in Charlotte, NC’s downtown business district.

It was a modest, unassuming storefront known only to locals, and a select few at that. Their menu was unpretentious, the food served one of two ways: fried or deep fried, with tea so sweet, it would lock your jaw.

It was the south, after all.

The coffee was a strong, dark roast with no syrups or espresso shots although management had finally caved and offered flavored creamers, and multiple forms of artificial sweeteners.

Heated tea was a possibility but there were only three types: Lipton, green, and Earl Grey.

It was open Monday-Saturday, 7am-7pm, making it perfect for breakfast, lunch, and happy hours during the work week. Breakfast was offered all day on Saturday.

Their motto was simple: Good food, good people.

Mason,

who worked the counter and register, knew all the customers by name. He knew about their significant others, their promotions, who wanted to leave their jobs, wives, husbands. Orders tended to be placed in between brief conversations.

Mason knew what his customers would order, and always asked, “The usual?” Laura over at Bank of America always wanted pancakes with extra crispy bacon.

Without fail, Phil would order the daily specials for breakfast and lunch; he was especially fond of Fish Fridays. Mason wasn’t sure if it was the fish or the fact it was Friday. His best guess is it was Friday as Phil always seemed to be living for the weekend.

And then there was her.

She had no usual and every time she frequented the establishment, she would always look over the menu. With an embarrassed smile, she explained that everything sounded so good.

She was new to the Blue Honey Cafe, with a bright smile and still wore her Hartfeld Heels lanyard around her neck. She was fresh out of college, eagerly looking to take on the next step in her journey, adult life.

"Well no rush, when you're ready, you know where I'll be." Mason smiled at the beautiful young woman.

“I’m Riley. You seem to know everyone by name.”

“Okay Riley. Now that I know your name, I won't forget it.” How could he forget the name of someone as beautiful as her?

Riley side-stepped out of the line to continue looking at the menu. She was interrupted a few minutes later while she was still perusing the menu, still undecided by a handsome stranger.

“Excuse me miss, are you in line?”

“No, still trying to figure out what I want, apparently not doing a good job at it.”

“Mason should recommend something for you, everything is great here.”

“Liam, tell me you've changed your mind?!?!? Are you back here to stay?"

“Yep, you can take the boy out of the country, not the country out of the boy. Honestly Mason, California really wasn’t for me.”

“What was wrong with California?” Riley inquired. “I’ve always wanted to go to California, and see the sights I’ve only seen in movies and on television.”

“I totally get that part of California, and honestly nothing is wrong with it, but I’m a southern boy. You just can’t get decent sweet tea in California or grits. I saw someone put sugar in their grits Mason.”

Mason chuckled loudly. “Yeah, we don’t serve our grits here with sugar. Our sugar is for our coffee and tea here, not our grits.”

“The food you eat out is keeping you from staying in a beautiful place like California?”

Mason picked up immediately the sound of disappointment in Riley’s voice.

He smiled at her because he had just figured her out. Mason understood exactly who Riley was. She was living in the south, but the south, southern living did not have her complete buy-in, at least not yet.

“What you’ve got to understand about the south and from the sound of your accent Riley, I can tell you’re a transplant, probably from New York, or Jersey, food is life here. Food is the way a lot of our people bond, we show each other how much we love each other, and even support them in the tough times. And I have to agree with Liam, if I can’t go somewhere and get my belly and soul filled, I don’t care how beautiful it is, it’s not the place for me. Good food feeds your soul too, Riley.”

There was an impressed glint, in her eye, as she stared at Mason.

“Well what I think is feeding my soul as you so eloquently put it, is the ‘You’re Bacon Me Crazy’ platter today, with an earl grey tea.”

Liam nodded.

“Good choice Riley, but you know I’ll never learn your order, if you keep picking different ones every time.”

“How do you know I’m not doing that on purpose Mason? Somebody here needs to keep you on your toes. Maybe unpredictability is my superpower.”

Mason raised his eyebrow in interest. “Noted.”

“Make it two, her meal is on me.” Liam stepped up to her holding out his card to Mason.

“Her meal is on her. She has her own money. Thanks, but no thanks.”

Mason tried to keep his face expressionless as Riley politely cut Liam down to size. But in his spirit.....

Mason instead took Riley’s card to ring up her meal. “The lady has spoken. Your food will be up in a few Riley.”

“Thank you Mason.” She gave Liam a matter of fact nod.

Riley flashed Mason a smile before she walked away.

The only thing predictable about Riley thus far, Mason had noticed, was where she sat. She always picked the small table by the window to people watch and ate silently.

“Wow, she sure is something isn’t she?” Liam glanced in her direction.

“Riley is quite the force of nature.”

"Do you know if she is single?" Liam inquired.

"I mean…. She just moved to the area not long ago, and she hasn't ever brought anyone in here before. She's also not wearing an engagement ring."

"So that means you looked, Mason?"

"She hands me her card every day. I just happened to notice."

"Are you interested in her?"

"Who wouldn't be?"

Liam nodded. Both stared at each other in silence. She was fair game.

Here's your coffee."

"Thanks Mason. Is that Riley’s tea? I'll take it to her."

Before Mason could refuse, another regular customer came up calling him by name. Liam quickly grabbed the tea.

"I appreciate it," Mason grumbled under his breath as he watched Liam walk over to Riley.

Riley had refused to let Liam pay for her breakfast; maybe she would also refuse to let him sit with her Mason had thought to himself.

"Riley, Mason was tied up with another customer, so I brought you your Earl Grey tea. You did forget something though."

“What’s that?”

“You didn’t order it hot.”

Riley chuckled softly.

"I noticed your Starfleet cadet key chain. May I sit with you?”

"Sure."

"So you're a trekkie too Liam?"

"My mom used to watch the original Star Trek, and The Next Generation, and Voyager."

"Mine too."

Mason watched Liam and Riley laughing from a distance as they talked.

"Game on Liam. Game on."

#bebepac writes #wacky drabbles #choices fanfiction #choices fic writers creations #the blue honey cafe #trr liam #trr riley brooks #trr mason

96 notes · View notes

sweetkingdomstarlight-blog · 3 years

Text

plastic smile

Pairings - dark Charles Blackwood x Reader

Word Count - over 4.7k

warnings - oral (f and m receiving), major character manipulation

A/N - huge thanks to @buckyownsmylife @bestofbucky and @supremethunda for beta reading this. Thanks also to @eurynome827 for helping me to choose the gif. The poem in this is by Vinicius de Moraes and might be one of the most beautiful things I've read. As usual this is 18+ only so please don’t interact if you are a minor

It had been a long day at the diner and you only started two hours ago, your usuals were the only thing getting you through it. You lived in a small town where everyone knew everyone so when the red sports car arrived that morning it’s all anyone could talk about.

Charles Blackwood walked into the diner and sat at the counter like he owned the place, his aura was the kind that everyone was drawn to; he was domineering and confident but friendly. You turned his coffee cup over and filled it up with the dark liquid. “Can I get you anything to eat today?” Smiling at him as he looks over the menu, you observe his features; strong jawline, soft curly hair, thick pouty lips and large uncalloused hands.

It takes you a moment to realise he’s asking you for pancakes, you blush and smile sweetly writing his order down and passing it back to the kitchen. Earl, one of your favourite regulars, asks for a refill, beckoning you over. “You be careful with him, don’t go getting any thoughts. He’s a Blackwood,” he tells you in warning.

The Blackwoods were almost an urban myth in the town, you only ever saw Merricat once a week and never her sister since the ‘incident’. The whole town was terrified of them, people always fear what they don’t understand. You however, thought they must be lonely and always tried to make an effort to speak to Merricat when she came in for her drink. Sure, she was a little odd but she was always polite and never forgot to thank you before she left, you always thought some of your other customers could learn a thing or two from her.

Passing Charles his pancakes, you catch your breath when he looks up at you with those big, blue eyes of his and smiles at you, grabbing your hand to ask you to stay. You stood chatting while the diner was emptying, feeling butterflies at how attentive he was, he asked you so many questions about yourself and actually listened to the answers. After finishing his third cup he pays, leaving you a hefty tip, and winks saying he’ll see you again tomorrow.

Watching him drive past in his flashy car, you can’t help but wonder why on earth he spent so much time getting to know you, you come from very different worlds. Wiping the countertop down and finishing up, you grab your bag and shout through to the kitchen, letting them know they’ll see you tomorrow.

Everyone around town seems to be talking about the Blackwoods today, you go to the library and hear Mrs Conners talking on the phone with goodness knows who about how Charles has come back, you then go to the park to sit and read when you hear two mothers gossiping while their children run around. You can’t understand the fuss but nothing ever happens in this tiny town, people talked for weeks when poor Sarah got flipped off her horse and broke her leg.

The next morning went the same as usual, you filled coffee cups, brought eggs and wiped down tables, that was until Charles came back and sat down in the same seat as the day before. He smiled at you and you held your fingers up to let him know you’d be right there, he grabbed a newspaper and read patiently refusing a drink from Barbara while he waited for you.

You flipped his cup round and poured him a coffee. “You know she has the same coffee as me,” you teased him, passing him the sugar and pulling your notepad out to take his order.

“Yeah but yours is so much sweeter,” he says, pushing the white crystals away and taking a sip of the bitter drink.

You try not to smile at the strange compliment but fail quite spectacularly when your mouth practically splits your face in half. “I’ll go and order your breakfast Mr Blackwood”.

Turning to add his ticket to the wheel. “It’s Charles.” You look back at him curiously.

“I’m sorry what was that?” You walk back over to him.

“You can call me Charles darling, Mr Blackwood is too formal. That’s my fathers name so please call me Charles.” He stares at you as though he’s staring through your soul, you lean forward and flip the paper over, grabbing your pen and passing it to him.

“I’m stuck on 10 down.” Pointing at the half finished crossword puzzle.

The diner has emptied again and you’re sitting laughing with Charles while you wait for the lunch crowd to show up, he is cute and funny, nothing like the other guys in town, the butterflies never really go away when he’s around you.

After your lunch shift, you grab your book so you can go and read in the park again when you see him across the street, leaning against the car. “Wanna go for a drive?” He opens the passenger door and gestures for you to take a seat, you don’t even think about it before skipping over and climbing in.

“So darling, tell me where you want to go,” he asks, grabbing your hand and kissing the back of it. You almost melt into the seat, not able to speak for a moment before clearing your throat and pointing him in the direction of the beach on the outskirts of town. You talk for hours, you tell him about how your parents both died a few years ago, how you’re trying to save up enough money to move to the city and how you’re trying to write a book.

He’s such a good listener, you feel like you’ve talked for hours about yourself, which is refreshing because usually you’re the one people talk to. You could charge an hourly rate in that diner, listening to people’s troubles. He smiles that big beautiful smile at you and leans in to kiss you, it’s soft but demanding, grabbing the back of your head to deepen it, you moan into his mouth as he pushes his tongue in and strokes the top of your mouth.

Pulling back and rubbing his nose against yours, he looks down at you. “You’re so beautiful, I could just keep you forever.” Blushing at the cute compliment, you hide your face in the crook of his neck. He gives you a moment before tipping your chin up with two fingers and staring into your eyes. “I can’t believe one little compliment makes you so shy, you should be told everyday how precious you are my little dove.”

Dropping you back off at the diner for your evening shift, he waits for you to get through the door before waving goodbye and driving away. You float around on cloud nine for the whole shift and it hasn’t gone unnoticed by your boss, who has watched everything from the moment Charles first walked into the diner.

Calling you into his office, he asks you to take a seat. “Look, your private life is none of my business but please just be careful with him, he’s not what he seems. The whole Blackwood family is bad news.” You nod and smile at the elderly man who has always looked after you since your parents passed away. You respect him but he doesn’t know Charles very well, if everyone took the time to understand him better they’d see what a sweet person he was.

The end of your shift comes quickly and once again he waits across the street, leaning against his car and smiling at you. “Need a ride home?” You walk across to him and throw your arms around his neck. “Oh, someone is happy to see me,” he chuckles and kisses the top of your head.

Directing him to your house, he drives with one arm wrapped around your shoulder, running his fingers over your neck gently, setting your whole body on fire. Such a soft, gentle touch and you’re already absolutely desperate for him. Pulling up to the front of your little cottage, he switches the engine off and pulls your face up for another deep, soul clenching kiss. Leaning back you look at him bashfully. “Would you like to come in for a coffee?” He nods and kisses your forehead softly before telling you to stay put, running around the side of the car, he opens the door and holds out his hand to help you out.

You show him around before going to the kitchen and making coffee, taking out your best mugs, most of your kitchen stuff comes from the diner, and grabbing some snacks. You’re just leaning up to pick something out of the cabinet when you feel him pressed up against your back, he grabs the packet you were reaching for and sets it down on the counter. “It’s almost like I’m made to be here, looking after my little dove,” he whispers in your ear before planting soft kisses down your neck.

You breathe out softly as he takes his time finding all of your sensitive spots before turning you and holding your head in his big hands and desperately kissing you. Grabbing your ass, he picks you up and sits you on the counter. “Can I touch you?” He smiles as you nod quickly, moving your skirt up slowly, teasing you. You’re practically begging him by the time he pulls your ruined underwear down, he looks at them and sniffs the wet patch smirking at your embarrassment. “Looks like someone is needy”.

Shutting your eyes, you’ve never felt so absolutely mortified before, but he grabs your chin. “Look at me.” You slowly stare at his face as he grabs your hand and puts it on his hard cock. “Don’t be embarrassed, I want you just as much.” Holding your panties up he smirks. “These are mine now though.” Pushing them into his back pocket he pulls you closer to the edge of the counter and kisses around your thighs, tracing a line closer and closer to your wet folds.

You’ve read about this before but no man has ever done it to you and you’d never ask. His tongue is so firm and warm, he knows exactly what to do with it and you feel a new sensation slowly building inside you. He sucks on your clit and pushes what feels like two fingers into your tight wet hole, angling them up, setting your whole body on fire. You moan out loud and grab his thick hair, holding him right in place as you explode, moaning out his name, your voice echoing around your small kitchen.

Pulling your skirt back down to cover you up, he licks his lips and sucks his fingers clean while you catch your breath. “I’ve never tasted anything better before.” Your cheeks warm up again and are about to look away when he softly grabs your face, running his thumb over your lips and jawline. “You are so precious, don’t let anyone tell you any different. I’m going to go now, you need some sleep. I’ll come by in the morning and drive you to work”. You see him out and get cleaned up, pulling the blankets up, you don’t need to read to help yourself fall asleep tonight. You still feel like you’re floating.

You and Charles have been inseparable for the last month, he pretty much lived at your place so you could see more of each other. Every morning he’d wake you up with gentle kisses and touches that set your body on fire, he was so attentive driving you to work and taking your books back to the library when they were due, sitting in the diner doing the crossword puzzle while you work.

It was the best month of your life, so that weekend, when he got down on one knee to propose, you didn’t hesitate in saying yes, sliding his grandma's ring onto your finger, you made love that night and he made you feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

The next day, you wake up and see a white dress hanging from your wardrobe door, confused you go downstairs to find Charles and see him preparing breakfast for you. Eggs, coffee, orange juice and a flower in a glass just for you, walking up behind him you wrap your arms around his waist and kiss the freckle between his shoulder blades. “Is all this for me?” He turns around in your arms and kisses the top of your head.

“You weren’t supposed to wake up yet, I wanted to surprise my beautiful fiancé.” You kiss his lips and smile running back up the stairs and jumping into bed.

Following you up a few minutes later, he places the tray over your lap. “I have a proposal for you”. You slowly drink the bitter coffee and try not to let your disgust show on your face, he’s clearly never made coffee before but somehow that makes him even cuter to you, now you get to look after him forever.

“Let's go down to the courthouse and get married today, I don’t want to wait another minute to make you mine forever.” It was too soon, you know that, but the look on his face was so cute, you didn't want to hurt his feelings so you agreed, almost crying at the look of happiness on his face. “I found this dress in your closet, it's perfect, you’ll look like my own personal angel.” That was it, that's all it took, your own personal kaleidoscope of butterflies flew around your body. You were so happy you could almost cry.

After breakfast and a little bit of fun, he ran out to get a haircut and grab a few things for the ceremony. You got dressed and pinned your hair up in a simple style. Looking at yourself in the mirror, you felt sad that you didn’t have any family to be with you, you didn’t really have any friends either but you did have Charles and honestly that's all you wanted. Writing down a poem you wanted to say to him after your vows, you tucked it into the hidden pocket on the side of your dress and smiled when you heard the car pull up.

Charles walked in and looked at you like you hung the stars in your soft cotton dress, he passed a small hand tied bouquet of pink roses to you, smiling at how happy you were. “I got us an appointment with the judge, can you be ready in 15 minutes?” You looked in the mirror and nodded, picking up a lipstick to match your bouquet, you swiped it on and went to find your future husband.

An hour later you had said your vows, Charles was smiling so wide when you recited yours, squeezing your hand when you said honour and obey. The judge looked at you and you pulled out the poem, dropping Charles’ hands for a moment before you began;

I know that I’ll love you

My whole life through, I know that I’ll love you

At every farewell I will love you

With desperation I know I’ll love you.

And every verse i write will be my chance to say

I know that i'll love, love you my whole life through.

I know I’m going to cry,

Whenever you’re not here I’m going to cry.

But each time you return will make up for

The loss I felt when you weren’t at my side.

I know I’ll have to bear

A never ending feeling of despair

While waiting for this chance to be with you,

With you my whole life through

A tear rolled down your cheek and Charles wiped it away with his thumb. The judge pronounced you husband and wife and you kissed, his tongue softly caressing yours before he rubbed his nose across yours, your own secret love language.

Climbing into his car, Charles looks over at you smiling. “Shall we go to the diner now so you can quit?” Turning your whole body to look at him, he smiles that big grin that makes you melt. “I’m your husband now, I’ll take care of everything and you will take care of me and our children. I can't wait until you’re swollen with our children,” he says while rubbing your stomach. “You want that, don’t you my little dove? You want to honour and obey me.” Nodding, you turn back and look out the window at the passing scenery.

He stops outside the diner. “You’ve got ten minutes to grab your shit, don’t take all day.” Your stomach drops at the tone in his voice, you can’t think of what you’ve done to upset him but you want your happy and loving Charles back. Gathering your things, your boss tells you he’ll always have a space for you and not to be a stranger, he watches as you cross the street and climb into the car.

You slide up to him like you usually do but he pushes you away. “I’m driving, sit over there” the rejection stings but it makes sense he needs to be safe especially when driving. You sit and play with the roses he got you earlier, sniffing them and smiling at the sweet gesture, in no time at all you’re back at the cottage and he storms off into the house without even waiting for you. Your stomach drops, you must have upset him but you can’t think how or when, you walk into your house and call out for him wanting to apologise and fix whatever happened.

He’s in the bedroom sitting on the bed waiting for you “hey there little dove, come over here, it’s our wedding night don’t you want to make your husband happy?” Nodding you walk over to him and move to kiss him but he pushes you back and opens his legs “kneel down for me” pushing your shoulder down with force your knees hit the floor and you wince at the sharp pain. Undoing his belt and pulling his cock out he gently grabs your hair and pulls you over “make me feel good, be a good wife for me” you nod, licking and kissing his length before sucking the tip into your mouth.

He moans out and the fist in your hair tightens as he pushes you further down, choking you and bringing tears to your eyes. You slap his thighs to get him to ease up but he thrusts up into your mouth even more and groans out before spilling down your throat. Pushing your head back you stumble backwards and hit the floor “mmmm well done” he says lifting you up and sitting you in his lap. “How about you go and make us some dinner and I’ll clean up your mess in here?” He says as he kisses your neck, nibbling on the spot that he knows makes you putty in his hands, you stand up and he slaps your ass making you jump “make something nice for me and fix your hair it's a mess”

A few hours later you’re sitting reading on the sofa when the phone rings, Charles jumps up to grab it and grins a kind of smile you’ve never seen before. Staring at him as he sits back down he looks over at you and smiles “Constance has invited us over for dinner, she must have heard our happy news. It's all coming together my little dove, I’m going to be so rich I won’t have to talk to anyone in the family ever again and people will respect me all across the city”. You look at him confused “what do you mean? You’ll be rich?” But he just ignores your questions and reads the paper.

You wake up the next morning and find a dress hanging up waiting for you, sliding your feet into your slippers you go downstairs to find Charles sitting waiting at the dining table “finally you’re awake, I’ve waited for hours for you. I’m absolutely starving” grabbing the eggs and bread you look at him sitting reading his newspaper, he hadn’t even made himself a coffee. “I need you to look nice for Constance, we need to make a good first impression” you nod your head and give him breakfast trying to kiss him on the cheek but he pulls away.

On the way to Blackwood manor you’ve already been told to be on your best behaviour and you feel tense, sensing your feeling Charles pulls you close and hugs you like he used to, kissing your head and squeezing your shoulders “I’m sorry darling I just want them to love you as much as I do, I didn’t mean to make you nervous” you relax into his side and smile feeling the little flutters in your stomach again.

Constance and Merricat welcome you into their home and congratulate you on your recent wedding “I’m sorry you weren’t there, we were just so excited to tie the knot” Charles says hugging you tight and smiling at his cousins. Merricat pulls you into the garden while Charles and Constance catch up “why aren’t you at the diner anymore?” She whispers, hoping Charles doesn’t hear her, you smile at her knowing she likes her routine “I’m sorry, Charles wants to take care of me so I don’t have to work anymore. We’ll be starting a family soon so I won’t have time for anything else” that’s not what she wants to hear so she storms into the house and barges past Charles while you call after her.

You help Constance prepare lunch and try to get to know her better but she seems to be wary of you, probably because of Merricats reaction earlier. “Charles can you open the wine for the table please” you ask, passing him the corkscrew and biting your lip when he winks at you and blows a kiss. “You two seem to be enamoured with each other” Constance observes as you smile to yourself, grabbing the plate of vegetables “Thankyou, we love each other very much, neither of us wanted to wait too long before making it official”. She nods her head and smiles “I wish we could have met before you married, I want to get to know my new cousin. Merricat speaks so fondly of you” she says as you both walk into the dining area

Merricat comes back for lunch sitting at the opposite end of the table from you all, sneering at everything Charles said. You could see he was getting more and more annoyed with her and you tried to diffuse it before something bad happened by constantly interjecting and getting her talking. Dessert is served and you all sit discussing the weather, which is the safest subject between you all, you’ve discovered, when Charles suddenly changes the subject. “So Constance you sent me a letter saying that I was entitled to some of the family money” you all look at him in shock but he doesn’t seem to care.

“Yes but there were some conditions Charles” she says softly trying not to make a scene. Exhaling a loud breath through his nose he starts “I needed a wife” he nods at you, your face burning with rage as you start to put the clues together. He continues “I need a home, I have that now. So where’s my money” you stare at him with tears in your eyes, before excusing yourself and going to the bathroom.

You take deep breaths to not let your panic take over. Trying to focus your mind on something you grip the edge of the sink and don’t hear him enter, until he leans over your body growling in your ear “don’t you dare fuck this up for me and I’ll make it worth your while”. Staring at each other in the mirror for a moment, the only way out of this is if you nod in agreement and follow him back to the table.

Merricat jumps up and sits by your side gripping your hand “are you ok?” You turn and smile at her nodding your head “I’m fine thankyou I just needed a little air” you take a sip of your wine and turn back to Charles glaring at him but he just smirks “I brought a duffel bag we can fill with my share, we can do it right now get it over and done with”.

Agreeing with him Constance takes him to the safe, leaving you and Merricat alone “you should leave him, he’s just using you” she says quickly and quietly. Shaking your head at her “now Merricat it’s not like that, he loves me he just shows it differently that’s all. He wants to start a family with me” you fake a smile and play with the ring on your left hand.

Once he has his money, Charles quickly makes excuses to leave, hurrying you out of the door with a hamper of food from the pantry, you wave at the sisters and smile as he drives away. Not attempting to get closer to him you sit in silence for the rest of the journey. Getting out before he’s even stopped the engine once you pull up at the cottage, slamming the door in his face and marching up to the bedroom to change.

He walks in a few moments later and picks you up pushing you against the wall, trapping you “listen to me, I needed a wife and you were an easy target. You fluttered your eyelashes the moment you set eyes on me, I knew I could get you exactly where I needed you, now I’m rich and I don’t need you anymore but I am willing to give you a couple of months wages to tide you over but you have to be a good fucking wife until I can get things sorted back home” you smile and nod at him “ok, that seems fair how long will you be here?” Raising a brow at how quickly you agree he contemplates his answer “about a week, maybe more” nodding again you push him back gently and move away from him “I’ll set up the guest bedroom for you, I would prefer it if you would sleep in there”.

He takes a deep breath and leaves the room watching you as he goes, as if he expects you to do something silly behind his back. He has no idea what’s about to happen and you’d almost feel sorry for him if it wasn’t for the fact that he’s a shitty person who deserves everything that's coming to him.

The next few days you play it cool, you want him to be relaxed around you and not raise any suspicion. You cook and clean and play the dutiful wife in all areas but the bedroom, not that he doesn’t try everyday, kissing your neck, rubbing your shoulders while you cook, even whispering filthy things in your ear like he used to but you always say no and turn him down.

Wednesday rolls around, nothing exciting ever happens on a Wednesday. Charles goes for his afternoon nap leaving you downstairs reading your book, you wait 20 minutes before hopping to action. Running to the pantry where he’s kept his duffel bag you quickly unzip it and check it’s all still there, satisfied he hasn’t moved anything you grab it and throw it in his car. Running back to the cupboard under the stairs you grab your suitcase, slip the note out of your book and place it on the end table next to his wallet.

Climbing into his car you start the engine and wait a moment to see if he wakes up, watching the window until you see him, there he is, his face burning with rage as he spots you. You blow him a kiss and speed off, laughing to yourself that you managed to fuck him over once and for all.

He runs downstairs hoping to catch up with you and screams when you’ve already gone, walking back into the house he spots the note you left him “Dear Charles, you were an easy target. Have a nice life”

#charles blackwood #charles blackwood x you #charles blackwood x reader #we have always lived in the castle #sebastian stan

224 notes · View notes

iturbide · 2 years

Note

Ah, I found the line that made me think Hubert convinced Edelgard to work with twisted, he says "However, their power is essential for us at present. Edelgard also strongly opposed the idea at first." (Script is on the wiki, it's CF ch13, Beyond Escape, links aren't allowed.) The fact that /Edelgard/ opposed the idea makes me think Hubert was the one that convinced her (since I don't really think anyone else could), so that's why I have that Impression, but it could easily mean something else.

I found it -- thanks for finding that! Here's the full quote:

Hubert: Professor, I understand how you must be feeling, considering what they did to your father. I know it must be foul to even consider cooperating with their kind. However, their power is essential for us at present. Edelgard also strongly opposed the idea at first. Our enemy is the Church of Seiros itself. It cannot be toppled with the Empire's might alone. Those working under Lord Arundel are extremely hostile toward the church. And the enemy of our enemy is...Well, I think you sufficiently understand by now.

Funny enough, when I was playing through CF in the first place I actually took this quote as showing Edelgard's rein over Hubert, rather than his influence over her! A lot of this is just speculation on my part, but bear with me here:

A lot of this idea stems from the fact that I doubt Hubert and Edelgard were reunited with one another until after the Twisted had completed their experiments, resulting in her acquiring the Crest of Flames. That experiment in and of itself is somewhat interesting to think about, and warrants some in-depth consideration, because it gets tied up in some of the recent convoluted history of the Adrestian Empire. So let's break that down a little:

Ionius IX becomes the Emperor of Adrestia, and as is common, marries and takes on several consorts -- among them Edelgard's mother -- in hopes of producing an heir who bears the Crest of Seiros. It's not explicitly stated in the game that I recall, but the game is pretty clear that the Imperial nobles heavily favor Crests (which is why Hanneman's sister was married off to a minor noble, only to died of what was otherwise a likely a manageable condition when she failed to produce a Crest-bearing heir for her husband), so I generally imagine that a Crest of Seiros is required for ascending the Imperial throne.

Now, while this element is speculative, I do think it feeds into this idea that a Crest is required to become heir to the Imperial throne -- and that's Hubert himself. We know for a fact that Hubert is the oldest son of Marquess Vestra, and that he was appointed to Edelgard's service in his youth, well before the Insurrection of the Seven (which we'll get to shortly). Edelgard herself mentions in her C+ Support with Byleth that while she was born with a Minor Crest of Seiros, most of her ten siblings were born with none at all. As the oldest son in the family that has historically acted as the right hand of the Emperor, logically Hubert should have been appointed to one of Edelgard's eight older siblings, especially given that he's three years older than her -- but instead, Hubert ended up tasked with protecting Edelgard. This implies to me that Edelgard was not only one of the few Crest-bearing heirs of Ionius, but the first of them to be born, which automatically put her at the top of the line of succession despite the fact that she was technically the ninth child born: because a Crest is key to inheritance in the Imperial family.

At this time, the Emperor was certainly a major power in Adrestia, but additional influence was held by the various heads of noble houses who performed important functions, such as the Prime Minister (Duke Aegir), the Minister of Domestic Affairs (Earl Hevring), the Minister of Military Affairs (Count Bergliez), etc. As stated above, there's strong evidence that the Imperial family passes from one Crest-bearer to the next -- and unfortunately for Ionius, he had eleven children and at most three Crest-bearing heirs, one of whom only had a Minor Crest of Seiros. In order to maintain an appearance of strength and power, the Imperial family really needed a Major Crestbearer for heir to the throne...and Ionius was struggling to make that happen. There may have been concerns within the Imperial household (or even without among the noble families that wielded influence) that the Emperor's bloodline was growing weak, which could in turn put the stability of the Empire at risk.

In 1167, when Edelgard was around 4 years old, Ionius attempted to roll out a series of reforms that would ultimately put all power in the Empire in the Emperor's hands. We have no idea why he did this-- the game never explains the logic behind it -- but it may very well tie into the concerns above: rumors of the Imperial bloodline growing weak, the lack of Major Crestbearers for an heir, and associated concerns about putting a Minor Crestbearer on the throne. By consolidating power for himself, he would have greater freedom to change the rules, make it easier for Minor Crestbearers to succeed in the Imperial family, and furthermore crush dissent regardless of whether it came from a commoner's mouth or a nobleman's. House Hrym, seeing this as a disconcerting move, attempted to secede from the Empire and reached out to House Ordelia in the Leicester Alliance for aid -- a rebellion that was swiftly quashed, leading to the extermination of House Hrym and the subjugation of House Ordelia.

Ultimately, this draconian response to Hrym's rebellion might be what led the other six Great Noble families of Adrestia to act as they did -- after all, any dissent from their individual Houses might lead to similar results. Four years later in 1171, the remaining noble houses of Aegir, Vestra, Varley, Bergliez, Hevring, and Gerth rebelled against Ionius and attempted to seize power in what would become known as the Insurrection of the Seven (with the destroyed House Hrym as the honorary seventh House alluded to in its name). Recognizing the danger, Edelgard's uncle and minor noble Lord Volkhart von Arundel whisked her north to Faerghus for her safety.

Sometime just before or during Year 1174, Lord Arundel was replaced by Thales and allied with Duke Aegir (this isn't a solid fact, but can be inferred given that Arundel had routinely donated to the Church of Seiros in the years before, only to abruptly stop in that year). This support ultimately helped bring the Insurrection of the Seven to an end with the Great Noble Houses emerging victorious and leaving Ionius stripped of all power, existing only as a figurehead for the Adrestian Empire, leaving the noble houses led by Duke Aegir as the powers behind the throne controlling the Empire. As part of this, Thales also brought an idea before the Great Nobles that would solve their problem of needing a suitable figurehead for the future -- namely, creating one bearing the Crest of Flames.

The Crest of Flames is an oddity in the game because of its complicated history. Nemesis was a folk hero of sorts: it's the reason why he's been enshrined in Fodlan's history as the King of Liberation -- but at the same time, his ultimate fate in that history was as a man corrupted by power who fell to Seiros. Duke Aegir and the other Great Nobles likely wanted to capitalize on the folk hero aspect when it came to the experiments, expecting that the revival of the Crest of Flames would make for a perfect figurehead, leveraging that folk hero element (especially since relations with the Church of Seiros had been deteriorating over the past century); unbeknownst to them, though, Thales and his group wanted to revive the Crest of Flames for the purposes of exterminating the last remaining Children of the Goddess once and for all. This ultimately led to the experiments that took the lives of Edelgard's siblings and left her as the sole survivor, bearing both her Minor Crest of Seiros and the Major Crest of Flames.

So with the history out of the way, we can dig into some more minutiae. Edelgard was about 11 years old when the experiments began in 1174; we don't know when they ended, but given how physically taxing they were, and requiring periods for the subjects to heal between procedures to ensure that at least one survived, it probably wouldn't be unreasonable to say they lasted two or more years, possibly ending in roughly the same timeframe of the Tragedy of Duscur in 1176 and making her 13 years old. Over the course of the those experiments, it's safe to say that Edelgard developed a hatred for quite a few groups: the Twisted who committed these atrocities against her and her family, the Great Noble Houses of Adrestia who signed off on this and stripped her father of the power to stop it, and the Church of Seiros run by inhuman beasts that instituted the system biasing toward Crests in the first place. And at the end, it's perfectly understandable that she would want to see every single one of them destroyed.

Now while I have criticized Edelgard in the past for how poor her long-term planning was in regards to the game's central conflict, I can't say that she's stupid. At 13, she had three major groups she wanted to eliminate, and also no reasonable way to achieve even one. The Imperial Nobles wanted to defang and chain her the same way they had her father, and would never allow her an iota of power because of it; the Church of Seiros was an institution ingrained throughout the whole of Fodlan in various ways, shapes, and forms, and led by dragons who would not so much as blink if a human confronted them; and the Twisted clearly had enough power at their beck and call to implant dual Crests into people, making them a frighteningly powerful force. Under those circumstances, her options were extremely limited -- but she almost certainly knew by then that the Twisted had no love for the Children of the Goddess, and they had power that she did not. Her best (and likely only) chance of achieving her goals necessitated that she ally herself with people that she hated, intending to lull them into lowering their defenses so that when the time was right, she could take them down just as she intended to undermine and destroy the Imperial nobility.

And then she had to pretend to play nice in order to achieve some measure of freedom. By letting Duke Aegir and the other nobles think that she would be easily controlled, she would be released from confinement and have more freedom to move. I can't help but imagine that she was only released from the underground lab beneath the palace after she had already allied herself with the Twisted -- meaning she had already made the decision to walk that path by the time she was reunited with Hubert. Having not seen her since 1171 when her uncle took her to Faerghus, and having no viable way of getting information on what was going on, Edelgard is almost certainly the one who told him about what she suffered -- and also the one who kept him from trying to cut them down for their crimes, since it would only get him killed. Despite how much she would have to hate the decision, it was also her only choice -- something she would undoubteldy stress to Hubert -- but it also puts gives them better access to the Twisted and their operations, improving their chances of gathering intelligence about this enemy that they can use in the future. That may even have been where Hubert started engaging in covert activities: he learned those skills so he would have a better chance of getting useable information on the enemy they kept closest, so that when the time was right they could take them down in one fell swoop.

Ultimately I think it comes down to the fact that just because someone is opposed to an idea doesn't mean they're not going to do it. Edelgard would naturally be strongly opposed to allying with the Twisted, after what they did to her and her family -- but when her choices are between allying with them and staying a prisoner, shackled and forced to bow to the Nobles who oversaw the torture and deaths of her siblings, all while the monsters who set this system in motion rule unopposed...I see no reason why she wouldn't take the option that at least gives her a chance of getting revenge on those who harmed her and her family.

#answered #cheeseandcake #fire emblem: three houses #edelcourse #edelgard really isn't stupid #she gets overconfident and jumps the gun #and she gets really bad tunnel-vision #but she's by no means stupid #it's part of what makes her so fascinating honestly #honestly if she'd suffered actual consequences in-game #for her horrendously poor handling of these situations #i think crimson flower could have been an effective tragedy #it's the forced happy ending that really doesn't work for me

15 notes · View notes