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greatooglymooglyyy · 26 days

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The Last Ride Chapter Six (AU Cowboy!C.Sturniolo)

summary: when spoiled and sheltered city girl Y/N finds herself in running in the wrong crowd, her dad gives her an ultimatum. it's either spend the summer of her gap year on her uncle's ranch or face being cut off and finding a job. just when she thinks it can't get any worse, she meets Chris, the brooding farmhand who thinks he knows her type. but as the summer goes on, they both realize there may be more to the other than meets the eye.

requested and advised by @rootbeerworshiper

series masterlist

contains: angst, mentions of parental death, parental abandonment, fluff, cussing, 2.8k words

“Fuck!”

I yank my fingers out from where they’ve been caught in the wooden gate, wrapping my other hand around them to try to alleviate the throbbing sensation that overtakes my every thought.

Chris tuts, running back to the truck to grab something while I blink back tears. I do not want to cry in front of him over a jammed finger, even if it hurts like a bitch. He jogs back quickly with the ice pack from our lunches that he’s wrapped in a bandana. “Let me see.”

I reluctantly place my hand in his and let him apply pressure to my fingers with the cold damp cloth, hissing when he makes contact.

We lock eyes for a second but I look away, taking the ice pack from him and pulling away. The last thing I want to do right now is give him another chance to create a meaningless moment between us.

Chris takes the hint, stepping back and running a hand through his hair. “It looks like it’s gonna swell up on you. Maybe you should go find your uncle and take the day.”

I nod, examining my fingers and cautiously moving them. It strings but I doubt they’re broken. Still, any excuse to get a day off this ranch is one I’m willing to take. I start to head back towards the chickens, where I saw my uncle last when I hear Chris softly call my name.

Turning back, I give him a hard look of disdain. I can only assume the worst is to come out of his mouth. “What?”

His face drops and he shakes his head, muttering a low “never mind” before he heads back to the pickup truck. He’s actually given me a rare amount of space today after the weekend’s events, only speaking to me to give out tasks and then making himself scarce.

I watch him for a second, taking in his seemingly hurt expression. Something like sadness settles in my chest before I force myself to look away and shrug it off. I won’t allow myself to feel guilt over something that isn’t my fault.

Hopefully, he’s feeling regret after giving me yet another tragic date story to add to the books. That is if he’d even call it a date. Not that it matters. I’m here to pay off a debt, not worry about whether or not some small-town playboy is hot or cold.

*********************************************************

I wake up still a bit woozy from the pain medication that Aunt Birdie gave me when I got home. Not wanting to force myself back to sleep, I head into the living room to watch TV. I expected both of them to be sleeping by now, but Uncle Buck sits rocking gently in his chair when I enter the living room.

He looks up at me and gives me a gentle smile. “How ya feeling, darling? How’s the hand?”

I flex my fingers for him, only the slightest bit of tenderness still lingering. “I think I’ll keep it.” I joke, walking over to take the seat nearest him.

Buck laughs softly, bringing his beer can to his lips and taking a sip. He clears his throat before he speaks, trying to sound casual. “And Chris? You keepin’ him?”

I raise an eyebrow, leaning forward in surprise. “Not you too, Uncle Buck.” Birdie had tried for hours to convince me of Chris’ merits after Friday’s shit show but my uncle had kept silent. Until now.

He puts the beer down and runs a hand over his face as if he’s already exhausted of the conversation. “I don’t wanna get into young folks' business or nothin’. But I heard through the grapevine what went down.”

Rolling my eyes at the small-town rumor mill, I sit back with a sigh. “Uncle-”

“I just wanna make sure you’ve got the whole story, Y/N. That’s all. Y’all are more similar than I think y’know.”

He breathes out heavily as he starts, shaking his head like the story pains him.

“Chris’ mama and daddy were one of those old classic love stories. I mean real lovey-dovey shit, high school sweethearts, prom king and queen, write a song about it, whole nine yards. Never seen two people be in love quite like that.

They got hitched fresh out of school and had him not long after. We all thought they were seven fools for getting settled so young. But they didn’t care. They were happy as a tick on a fat dog. You’d catch ‘em round town, hand in hand with this little boy, lookin’ straight off a Hallmark card. Picture perfect for years.

But then she got sick. Somethin’ wrong with her heart. Docs say she needs this big scary surgery or she won’t see another year. But right before it’s scheduled… they find out she’s pregnant. All those years after Chris. A little girl. So she refuses the surgery. The whole town tried to talk sense to that woman but nothing worked. And his daddy… man it was like he was this shell of a person. Like he was already gone before she had a chance to get better.

So when she died giving birth and he took off a few months later, it wasn’t even a surprise to much of anybody. Something snapped inside of him and I’d bet my last dollar that wherever he is, he’s still broken.”

My heart feels like it’s straining against my chest as I listen to his story, the air seeming so thick I can’t breathe. “And Chris?”

Uncle Buck closes his eyes for a moment before he answers. “He grew up. He grew up way too fast. They moved them into their grandma’s house. Lord bless her. She was already well into her aging by then. Imagine that. Man of the house at fifteen years old. Raising a baby damn-near by yourself. I still remember the day he came knocking at my door, hat in hand, beggin’ for a job. He was just a twig of a thing then. But anybody could see he had the world on his shoulders and he was terrified of dropping it. He still is.

Now I ain’t tell you this so you’ll take him back. Or whatever it is you kids are gettin’ up to. I’m just saying… if you’re gonna put him down, do me a favor and set him down easy, he’s been dropped enough.”

*********************************************************

The next night, I wake up to a sharp knock on my window and sit up straight, a tinge of confusion setting in until I fully wake up. I rush over to the window and throw it open, knowing there’s only one person it could be. I passed him a note before I left work, asking him to visit me tonight. But I’d fallen asleep waiting on him when the night dragged on.

Chris leans awkwardly into the window, the energy so different from the last time we knelt here. He bites his lip, his eyes bouncing between my room and my face before he finally speaks. “Y/N. I am so fucking sorry. I didn’t think you wanted to hear it from me but it’s no excuse. I shoulda said it as soon as I saw you-”

Reaching out softly and lacing our hands together, I cut into his rambling, eager for him to know that it’s all okay now. “My uncle told me everything. I’m sorry too. It’s not fair of me to assume I’m the only one with a fucked up life.”

He grimaces, breathing out heavily through his nose. I can feel him fight the urge to shut down, relief engulfing me when he doesn’t pull away. “We should start a charity, huh? The deadbeat parents society. We’d make a fuckin’ killing.”

I smile weakly, knowing what it is to cover my pain with self-deprecating jokes. Knowing how it never once stopped me from hurting. Instead acting as a bandaid, simply covering the problem but not solving it.

Chris laughs out a bitter half-chuckle with a shake of his head. “It’s just ironic, you know? All those lessons, he’d drill into me. All that big talk about what it means to be a man. Just for him to turn around and walk out on his family. The one he had left. Some man he was.”

He clears his throat, trying to suppress the emotion in his voice, so I squeeze his hand in encouragement. He gives me a sad smile before he continues. “You know I used to think it was me. Like I wasn’t enough to make him want to stick around. But now? I look at Evie and it just don’t make sense. Ain’t a thing in the world could make me walk away from that face.”

His earnestness cracks me open and I bring my open hand up to cup the side of his face. “Take it from someone who’s got years of top dollar therapy behind them. None of it was your fault.”

Giving me a nod like he wants to believe me, Chris blinks at me slowly. “Maybe not.” He sighs and pulls away, drumming his fingers on the windowsill. “But last weekend was. What do you say, you let me try to make it up to you?”

“Depends on what you have in mind.” I lie for the second time in a row. But this time, the smile he gives me tells me he’s calling my bluff.

*********************************************************

“What if I told you I’ve never fished before in my life?” I say anxiously as I watch Chris set up my rod, trying my hardest to keep my disgust at the bait out of my tone.

I’ve never been on such a small boat either, it’s more fun to feel all the waves this way, but I definitely will not be telling him that.

He gives me a lopsided smile, looking up from his hands. “Was that supposed to be hard to believe or somethin’?”

“Well I don’t know, people usually have a dad there to take them out fishing, even some of my city friends, but my dad was too preoccupied with everything work-related.” I sigh, not expecting the innocent conversation to take such a sad turn. “But I’m a country girl now I gotta learn the ropes.” I mock a Southern accent, trying to bring light to the clouded atmosphere.

Chris just laughs, shaking his head as he hands me the fishing rod, bait now attached and swaying slightly. “That’s okay. No time like the present.”

I look between him and the rod a couple of times before I give him my best puppy dog eyes. “Can’t you just cast it for me?”

He scrunches up his nose and shakes his head back at me. “No can do, Scotch. If I do, you’ll never learn and then you’ll tell the next country boy you pull, I never taught you right. And that I cannot have.” He jokes, leaning over and adjusting my hold on the pole.

“Oh, I promise you, you’re the only boy who will ever get me on a fishing boat.”

He’s silent for a beat before he locks eyes with me, a glint I can’t place in his eyes. “Careful with those promises, darlin’. Round here we make you keep ‘em.”

Chris doesn’t let the moment hold long enough for me to reply, standing and moving to sit beside me on my bench. He moves my hand from where it had been lying on my leg to join the other one on the pole. “Take your index finger and hold the line. Not like that. Perfect.”

It’s so funny how easily he slips into a bossy voice but I kind of love it. I’m starting to realize how much I like every version of him. He whistles low for my attention and I glare at him. Okay, maybe not every version.

“Watch me, okay.” He says as he picks up his own rod, narrating his movements as I study him. “Pull back to about right here and then swing forward. Make sure you’re watching the water where you want to land. When you’re about here, let go of the line. Simple.”

Chris smiles at me but I just stare back blankly. If he thinks I got any of that he’s an idiot. But, I’m way too stubborn to ask him to show me again so I take a deep breath and try to imitate him.

To my surprise, my cast actually lands somewhat near where I was aiming for and I laugh in shock. “I did it.”

“You did!” Chris says, matching my excitement while he reaches over to close the bail for me. He takes the pole from my hand and places it into his holder. “Watch it now. If you see a tug, you gotta grab it fast.”

“Got it, captain.” I bring my fingers to my forehead, saluting the boy who’s shaking his head and avoiding eye contact with me.

In between laughs, he speaks. “You have got to be the corniest motherfucker alive.”

Before I can even muster a reply, I get distracted by the sight in front of me. Well, I get distracted by the boy in front of me, taking off his baseball hat and ruffling his hair before placing it back on his head.

For whatever reason the sight of him puts me in a trance, and it’s incredibly embarrassing. “Whatcha looking at sweetheart?” He asks, taking full advantage of my flusteredness.

I scoff, turning away to hide the blush that threatens to taint my smiley cheeks, keeping a firm grasp on the rod in front of me. “Don’t get cocky now, Christopher, it's a bad look even for you.”

“Somehow I get the feeling you don’t think I have many bad looks.” He taunts, only earning a punch to the shoulder. “Okay, Scotch. I’m kidding, I'm kidding, really, I’m flattered.” He places his hands on his heart, only furthering my annoyance.

“We’ll just forget all that talking you’ve been doing about me around town then yeah? People here seem to have an understanding that you speak highly of me.” I argue, proving my point when his eyes roll to the back of his head in annoyance.

“Is that why-” He starts, but from the corner of my eye, I notice my pole begin to bend towards the water and gasp.

“Oh! It’s moving!” I say, jumping up from my seat and cutting him off. I grab the rod, fumbling a bit and almost dropping it but Chris saves it before the fish can pull it under.

I flinch a bit, expecting him to yell about almost losing his rod but he just hands it to me with an encouraging smile. “Okay, babe. Pull it up to ‘bout 45 degrees. Okay reel down and then pull up. Keep doing it just like that.”

I do exactly what he says, watching the fish skip across the waves until he is squirming the air in front of us. I let out an excited yelp as Chris unhooks it and holds it up. “Damn, Scotch. This is a big sumofabitch for your first catch. You wanna take a picture?"

My excitement dwells a bit as I stare down at its beady little eyes and Chris laughs before he tosses it back. I lean over the boat, unsure why the tiny accomplishment is making me feel so emotional.

Giving him a huge grin, I turn to wrap my arms around Chris, still bouncing slightly with excitement. “I really caught one all by myself.” Any other time, I’d be embarrassed at how young I sound but right now I don’t care at all.

Chris returns my hug, laughing into my hair as we sway back and forth with the waves. I pull away slightly, staring up at him and admiring his icy blue eyes in the low moonlight. And before I can talk myself out of it, I lean up, pressing my lips to his in a fraction of a kiss. He looks stunned but leans back in, chasing my lips but letting me lead. I keep it chaste, wanting to know he wants this as much as me before I go any further.

He pulls back first, eyes scanning my face for any sense of discomfort, only finding my begging eyes. “I really like hanging around you, you know that right?”

I smile, relief washing over me when I come to the conclusion I didn’t make a complete fool of myself. “Yeah? Do I make the job of scooping up horse shit that much better?”

His hands lift to the sides of my face, practically covering my whole cheek with his palms. “So much better.” He leans back in, this time guiding the kiss, leaving me in a butterfly-filled puddle in his grasp.

Everything besides the two of us seems to dissipate around me, nothing but the warm rough feeling of his fingers on my cheek keeping me grounded.

When we finally pull away, Chris resting his forehead against mine as the lightening bugs flutter near the bay, I realize how insane I've been for ever once comparing him to Jace.

Jace couldn’t kiss like this if his entire life depended on it.

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another-day · 3 months

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welcome back to episode in review and HOO BOY do we have a lot to talk about

spoilers for episode 18 of inanimate insanity invitational!!!!!

so to begin OH MY GOODNESS that was a doozy

that episode was intense i had to keep pausing and rewinding it was scary ok lets start

seeing this i just knew i was in for a ride whoop dee doo!!

i feel like they were right TO A DEGREE, because mephone doesn’t have any ill intentions, he’s just misguided. he thinks the show is the only way he can have friends or people who like him, its really sad.

just wanted to include this because THEY’RE ALL SO SILLY and cabby politely standing beside the seat because she can’t sit on it THEY’RE SO SILLY

i was talking to some of my friends about this earlier, but silver’s whole world probably cane crashing down here. he’d been fighting for not just himself, but candle as well, and her not wanting to give him her vote, despite him doing everything she wanted, was probably heartbreaking. he’d found his inner flame and beat the competition and this is what he gets? i understand why he was so pissed later on because the one person he thought would be happy for him wasn’t.

he almost immediately covered it up, but his inner flame’s later outburst shows how he really felt.

mephone was hoping his plan would follow through here, but it also shows he’s hung onto the guilt of season one’s finale. in one of my previous theories, i guessed that he valued paintbrush for two reasons; that he thought they’d understand the guilt of losing 4s, and that they act somewhat similarly to him. i don’t think this is in confirmation of that, but it backs it up somewhat.

the perfect prize to mephone is this going to plan, without any casualties despite what the season four file may imply, from what i can tell. he’s scared its all gonna go wrong the same way season one’s finale did. however, i still don’t think he wamted to follow through with this plan, evidenced by both him and the floor at the end.

do i need to say anything

its the anti-avengers dude

sorry this was so funny to me i had to include it

this scene messed me up guys like seriously

on one hand, candle thinks silver spoon’s learned his lesson, that the inner flame is not something to boast, but rather cherish and use for good. she thinks this because silver spoon functions in such a way. he reveals something about himself that she doesn’t approve of, she expresses that, and he changes to fit her standards, that’s how its always been. it shows her trust in him, his constant, because as much as he thinks otherwise, he never truly changes his ways, until now at least. that’s why she was so shocked, thinking he wouldn’t hang on to that since he seemed so unbothered previously. to her, silver was almost always an open book, so to see him hide something was shocking.

for silver spoon on the other hand, the one person who always had his back, who taught him everything he knew, turned on him. he did everything she asked and she won’t support him. it would be enraging, hence why he didn’t understand her lesson. he was too focused on the fact that she’d decided, in his eyes, that he still wasn’t enough, too powered by emotion and greed. he’s incredibly insecure, so to have her tell him he’s doing everything he aspired for wrong resulting in the rage clouding his mind, and thus,

SHE IS DEAD BOY ‼️

seeing him inching toward her motionless body at the end was tragic i was on the floor. she advised him not to let the inner flame, his rage, cloud his mind, he didn’t listen, and look where that led him. its tragic, really.

as a mephone angst enjoyer WAAAAH

this was mean, springy’s mean, i don’t like him.

… but he’s right. to mephone, this WAS all a game. he’s changed and grown, but that’s not gonna change how badly he’s treated people. mephone is broken because he refuses to fix himself. implied through the screen protector memory from episode 13 season two, mephone was taugh that he was strong, and should never be a vulnerable. as a likely result, he may have grown to resent vulnerability, and in turn never sought help, because that would be making yourself vulnerable.

whoop dee doo ok i’m ending it there before i get out of hand.

thanks for reading this if you did and i hope you didn’t completely hate it!!!

have a lovely day, and stay safe ;P

#inanimate insanity #inanimate insanity invitational #iii ep 18 #iii 18 #iii 18 spoilers

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sasukeless · 3 months

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2 If you’re still doing the controversial ask game

2) was sasuke right?

ahh this billion dollar question isn’t it. i feel like this is the top 1 most discussed thing on this app for years, i have read every side of it.

to give #my opinion, im gonna go with yes. but its far more complicated, like most things are with naruto lol. i believe sasuke is right because he sees there’s a flaw in the existing system around him and to finally do something about it the only way to do that it’s to get ride of the system from the root.

now, as much as i agree with sasuke there i don’t agree with the way he tries to do that revolution. i dont mean this in a “oh violence wont be fixed with more violence” bs. i mean this because where sasuke’s goals are born for and how they affect his plans.

when sasuke finishes listening to the kages and it’s coming up with his thoughts, he immediately is bombarded by memories of itachi (itachi only, not his clan) and itachi’s words to him. when he states he will not let the village be destroyed he does it by adding “itachi’s will”. when sasuke is dying in the war arc his only thoughts again are that he doesn’t want to waste what itachi wanted to die. this shows us very clearly that sasuke’s revolution is very influenced by itachi’ wants. a little different, sure but still the same. which makes sense why his goal at vote2 is destroy the last person he loves and bear the hatred of everyone so the villages can have peace between them as long as they focus all on him. and this is quite what itachi did, just on a bigger scale. naruto = uchiha clan. the villages = konoha. sasuke = itachi.

^this is where many people complain that kishimoto had to turn sasuke ooc to make him evil and i can see what they mean but personally i dont view it as such when i look at what sasuke’s arc has always been. i have seen also that they dislike that post reveal sasuke’s character seems to be focus on itachi more than in his clan like in part 1 which i also disagree. itachi has been sasuke’s main influence in his character since day one. even in part 1, sasuke’s hate towards itachi isn’t just because he killed his clan, kishimoto focuses alot in showing itachi and sasuke having a loving relationship. kishimoto is very specific that sasuke’s biggest grief at the end of the day is not the massacre alone but the fact it was itachi who committed it. this is essentially what sets sasuke aside of other characters that lost their family/clans/parents etc. its not only what he lost but by who’s hands he lost it. so his focus has always been in itachi. so i dont think it was only part 2 that sasuke became more driven by itachi than anything else… anyways going back to the topic because im going off the rails (sorry).

sasuke has always had itachi first imo. and sasuke has always been defined by love too so ofc he’s gonna forgive the person he loves even if he doesn’t deserve it, ofc he’s gonna try to achieve that peace his brother “sacrificed” his life for (even if thru different means that he wanted you to). but while i understand and love sasuke’s character, i still think these are all very personal reasons for his revolution plans and thus why it fails.

his revolution plans are also self destructive but he doesn’t care because he still views it as his ultimate duty (again why he was so distraught when he was about to die without doing anything). he wants to become the bearer of all evil, and pain and hatred and wants to be all alone, even tho that is something that has caused alot of his pain in the past, he even talks about possible immortality and its just, well sad. you can tell hes about to sell his own doom because he thinks thats what he has to do to fix everything. he is ready to become a martyr. and forgive me but i view as that as a very tragic

so while i will always view him as being in the right, because when you put him in comparasion to most characters that doesnt realize whats wrong w the shinobi world, he will always come as one of the few that actually isn’t blind (even if its framed as bad for pointing that the system needs to be destroyed), i still dont think his plans are the right ones

#ask game #whats great about sasuke is that hes a very complex and layered character I will day THE MOST complex and also consistently developed in #the manga #unfortunately theres alot of bias when it comes to reading him #sorry this took me this long to answer i wanted to put all my thoughts but also i dont think i did completely idk #if theres typos in this I am sorry #mine

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incensuous · 8 months

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LYNEY & LYNETTE (GENSHIN)

[CRASHES INTO YOUR LIVING ROOM] GREETINGS, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT OUR LORD AND SAVIORS, LYNEY AND LYNETTE

As you can imagine, they are not canon, but I'd argue they are the closest we have to siscon/brocon in all of Genshin. And the only playable twins (aside from Aether and Lumine)!!

Also, the post is gonna detail all about the new Fontaine quest, so SPOILERS ahead!

In the newest story quest, we first meet Lynette and shortly after her brother, Lyney. Right out the gate, it's clear they're very close. This is honestly the ONLY time a sibling relationship is this front and center, despite Genshin having other playable siblings. Lynette gives me tsundere vibes, and Lyney is your typical cheeky, charismatic magician. Lyney mentions he's surprised Lynette is talking to the player, as his sister typically only talks to him. We tease Paimon, our companion, for being talkative enough for the both of us.

We take a ride together and, Lyney mentions it gets boring seeing the same scenery, and out of the blue, Lynette responds, "So you mean it's still boring even when I'm riding with you?" It's a strangely jealous sounding question, and considering Lynette is a bit deadpan and tsundere, I take it as Lynette wanting to get a response out of her brother. (Spoiler, this isn't the only time she says something like this!) Lyney is embarrassed and responds, it's because Lynette doesn't talk much, and how it feels like being at home, with just the two of them.

When we learn of a decades old case in Fontaine, revolving around young missing women, Lyney turns very serious and says, "I just imagined for a second what I would do if Lynette were to suddenly disappear... I'd pay any price to get her back and then find a way to track down the culprit." This is actually a bit of foreshadowing for what we learn about their backstory later on.

During the events of the game where Lyney is accused of murder and kidnapping a young woman (connected with the case of young missing women), we find out the twins are not just your friendly neighborhood magicians, but they are also working for the Fatui--an enemy faction, who have their roles behind many international plots. This upsets us but we still decide to defend Lyney and Lynette.

To prove their innocence, Lyney and Lynette reveal how their magic trick of swapping places with an audience member is done. Part of the trick involves Lynette briefly exiting the original box, disguised as Lyney, to pretend the swap hadn't worked, before Lyney steps out of the correct box and wows the audience. Lyney says, "I mean, we are twins. All it takes is a change of clothes and no one can tell who's who, hehe." The twins are twinning!!!

Lyney reveals their tragic backstory, of how they became street orphans after their parents died. To provide for the two of them, he observed a street magician and learned a few tricks. He mentions, "But, I didn't want my sister to remain a street rat together with me forever." The way he words it feels so selfless--he's thinking of Lynette before himself. While they're twins, he's definitely her older brother, and in the Japanese dub, Lynette calls him "onii-chan" WHICH IS INSANELY CUTE.

The two of them became popular enough as street performers, they caught the attention of a rich noble, who adopted them.

Their sad story doesn't end there. Lyney explains the noble basically paraded them around in his social circles as entertainment. One night, Lyney realizes Lynette is not in the car with him to go home and waits for her all night. When she doesn't return, Lyney asks the noble about her and is told someone had taken a liking to Lynette. And so, the bastard actually gave his sister away. As a gift.

I'll note here this is pretty intense for a Genshin scenario. The game is relatively PG, and while murder, etc, is talked about, and there are innuendos galore, we've never had straight up sexual abuse hinted at (as far as I know).

Lyney manages to find the location of his sister and sets out to save her. We see how young they are in this screenshot and by this time, they've already gone through this scenario--it's wild!!

By the time Lyney gets there, Arlecchino has already killed the piece of shit noble and saved Lynette, along with several other young orphan girls found in the basement. They mention no harm had come to Lynette yet. Arlecchino is a Fatui Harbinger, and has an incredibly ruthless demeanor, but she does run the House of the Hearth, seemingly full of orphans she's recruited. She offers the two of them to join the House of the Hearth and is referred to as "Father" by the orphans.

I think Lyney and Lynette do get close to the other children, but in particular, they seem close with Freminet, and even introduce him as their younger brother. I love them!!!

This has been a monster post, and I haven't even gotten to the text lore or their personal quest. I'll save that for a part 2, but even though this post is excessive, I just NEEDED to absolutely gush how cute they are.

#lyncest #lynecest #shipcest #i know no one is gonna read this but if anyone just wants to know about these two without downloading genshin at 1million gb #doing dozens of hours of story quests to get to fontaine #i am gonna give a damn play by play of every cute moment between them #truly just for me to come back to and relive lololol #fontaine spoilers #my recs #seriously no other genshin siblings are as. siblingy as this #so far all 3 siblings have shown up in each others character trailers #it's so adorable im crying #cant wait for lyney and lynette to show up in freminet's trailer

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know-the-way · 1 year

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The stages so far of me binging the entirety of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries (spoilers if you haven’t watched it before):

1. “Yeah, the 1920s hasn’t ever really been your preferred vibe, but so many of your friends like this show, and you love ‘Clue’ which seems similar, so just bite the bullet and go.”

2. “Wait, they’re Australian? What? Did I know this before and forgot?”

3. “Ohhhh right, Miranda Otto was in this! I did know that. And she’s a cocaine lord?! Nice. Don’t get to see her in many villain roles.”

4. *first scene with Phryne & Jack* “Oh, he has a very nice deep voice, okay I see I see mmmhm okay. … Why is so he so sulky, though? Big ‘who hurt you’ vibes. Intriiiiigue… “

5. “OH dEaR oh mY, there is banter and cheeky looks, this is bad, coDE RED, pretty sure this is your LAST chance to exit before this becomes a #problem.”

6. *does not exit* *becomes a #problem*

7. “Oh, so she’s gonna be banging lots of men with no emotional attachment (when there is clearly some tragic past hiding under the surface as to why that might be)? So an emotionally damaged woman who copes with her traumas by deflecting said emotions through sex and other various reckless behaviors? Babe… *cups face gently* babe, babe, babe. You’ve made this beyond a problem now. Because every little glimpse of vulnerability among your extremely out-of-hand savior complex is gonna make me fall in love with you more and more… just like the tall, broody inspector man over there (who still has a very nice voice and sad, kind eyes and who you seem to be afraid of being smitten with for ~*some reason*~). Anyway, Jack and I, we’re both fucked.”

8. Wdym they both have traumas from the war & from past relationships, that they both witnessed an unimaginable amount of loss, and that both are broken so deeply that they built fortresses of ice around their hearts to protect themselves AND YET BOTH OF THEM THAW JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE WITH THEIR EVERY INTERACTION? Fuck OFF! This is not FAIR!

9. “Miss Fisher was actually on her way home.” He said that with a fully clenched jaw and a step forward. Fuuuuccckk, there’s gonna be smoldering jealousy, too? Just slap me in the face, the amount of longing I’m about to witness… Jack, it’s okay buddy, we’re in this together. There’s something special about you and she’s gonna figure it out… after what appears to be several seasons and perhaps a feature film. But she’ll figure it out! Stay strong, soldier! I’m rooting for you!

10. “Oh God, her little sister was murdered. As someone who loves my own sister dearly, that’s fucking awful, this is hurting me deeply, and I really do not like it. 🥺 … AND THE MURDERER IS DUE TO BE RELEASED? AbSoLUTELY not! … WDYM THERE’S ALSO AN ABUSIVE EX?! And he’s come back to MURDER HER over a naked painting of her younger self like a fucking CREEP?!*”

(*not a correct summarization of what happened, but not not correct)

Anyway, I found the tragic past!

11. “Abusive ex is played by Peter O’Brien? With a ‘French’ accent? *snort* I mean, okay, it’s a choice. Anyway… what a douche… moving on… “

12. Aw, they kissed! *claps* And so soon! I mean, it was under horrible circumstances, but it happened… and with lingering looks to boot? You know what, I’ll take it. ‘Cause, I mean, look at them… and like let’s not talk about the juxtaposition of Phryne’s panic over seeing someone who once hurt her being redirected by a kiss from someone who would never hurt her… and Jack subsequently lunging for an armed René to stop him from taking Phryne… we’ll just ignore that for now

13. Felt the “I am not afraid of you” in my bones. Good shit.

14. “You kissed me. … You kissed me back!” Children, please. This is a Wendy’s.

This is as far as I’ve gotten, but omg what a fun ride so far. Friends who tried to recommend this to me for YEARS, I am SO sorry I slept on it. I understand now and your taste is impeccable. *muah*

#mfmm #it’s 5am idk

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if-you-like-pina-colada-s · 11 months

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Hetalia characters as your classic comic book supervillains (buckle up babes cuz this is gonna be a long ride):

America:

His downfall was obsession mixed with ignorance.

His villain origin story was 100% "fallen hero". Too focused on this imaginary ideal hero life, he spiraled into villainy. By the time he realized what he'd done, it was too late. Oh well, guess he's the bad guy now, too late to stop now.

Potential additional powers: manipulation

Germany:

His downfall was attachment.

His refusal to sacrifice mortal possessions were what led him down this path. Something was taken away from him, and that's what made him snap. In order to ascend to a higher level he had to let go of it/them, and he failed to do so.

Potential additional powers: ability to control metal

Russia:

His downfall was desperation

He had a goal, a harmless goal even. Unfortunately a turn of events led to him sacrificing good decision making for his greater goal. Leading into a villainous lifestyle all in the name of a once harmless goal (which has now become more sinister).

Potential additional powers: hydrokinesis, cryokinesis

Japan:

His downfall was a decent into madness

I think his villain origin story was something akin to a tragic accident. Something traumatic that led to him slowly going insane. A science experiment gone wrong, the death of a loved one, whatever the case, the day it happened was the day he lost his mind.

Potential additional powers: infrared vision

England:

His downfall was a thrist for vengeance

His backstory includes lots of hurt. Betrayal maybe. Regardless he never forgot nor forgave and now seeks vengeance on some self-proclaimed "hero" who has seemingly forgotten what they did to him. (Ah yes the classic "you made me the bad guy" trope.)

Potential additional powers: spell casting

France:

His downfall was grief

He had always longed for a happy ending he knows he'll never get. He's grieved a life he never had and refuses to let go of the illusion that he can live in peaceful bliss for the rest of his life. Now he stops at nothing, not even the consequences of his actions, to get that "back".

Potential additional powers: power of illusion

Canada:

His downfall was anger

At certain point he's had enough. And I feel he's slowly but surely become a "you want me to be the bad guy, fine, I'll be the bad guy" kind of villain. They took advantage of him, ignored him, brushed him aside for too long. After what he's about to do, they won't ever underestimate him again.

Potential additional powers: ability to open portals

China:

His downfall was a loss of hope

He used to believe in something, that's for sure. But he's given up on it now. He's lost all faith, all sense of direction. So now he wanders aimlessly down this twisted path. Not entirely sure where its headed, but its not a good path, that's for sure. Man's just completely lost it and is a hot mess.

Potential additional powers: pyrokinesis, electrokinesis

Italy:

His downfall was a realization of something he didn't want to admit

His optimism has faded and has left an empty hole in his heart. He didn't want to think so negatively, but it's hard to keep a smile on your face for so long. A sad, broken man is all that he is now. He's suffered enough on his own, time to share it with the world.

Potential additional powers: ability to extend/retract claws

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fandomizer · 1 year

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Avengers x teen! reader

Captain America x adopted! Daughter! Reader

Tony Stark x teen! Reader

Peter Parker x Reader <Friendship>

TW: Death, Neglection, Swear words, Drug use, Not Proofread

╔═══════════════════╗

𝖓𝖔𝖜 𝖕𝖑𝖆𝖞𝖎𝖓𝖌: Mary On A Cross

[Cross-Drug]

01:32 ——◦———— 04:04

↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺

↠ⁿᵉˣᵗ ˢᵒⁿᵍ ↺ ʳᵉᵖᵉᵃᵗ ⊜ ᵖᵃᵘˢᵉ

╚═══════════════════╝

"What are you doing with these, [Y/N]?"

"Give 'em back!"

But through all the sorrow

[Y/N] let out a bull laugh "I can't believe you went in to my bags!"

All avengers were looking at her. Some with anger and some with disappointment. "Kid, this is serious. You ca–"

"Ironic, coming from you Tony. And stop acting like you care! 'Cuz none of you do!" she went for the elevator before Vision approach her.

"We care, Dusk, if we didn't we wouldn't be having this conversation right now." Natasha said, making [Y/N] halt.

"Don't... Don't. You. Ever. Call. Me that!" her tone was emotionless and venomous at the same time.

We were riding high

"Hey, it's alright. Okay? No one's angry we– I just want to understand why. I'm sure you have a good reason."

And the truth of the matter is

"You want to understand? You ask me WHY? You want the truth? THE REAL TRUTH, CLINT? When they said some one was gonna adopt me I was curious and happy. But then I learn that the one who got adopted was Dusk and not me." tears started to gather in her eyes. Voice shaking. Hands wondering around her pockets. Looking for something little to bring her some release.

I had to let you go, let you go

"[Y/N], that's not an excuse of your actions." everyone eyed Steve with the evidence of shock in their eyes.

"Steve, don't start now." Tony was getting irritated, he had seen this exact look a long time ago. In the face of his loved one.

"Shut the fuck up, old man! You've never wanted me! You don't want anyone in your life expect for that SHIELD's Founder! But news flash, she is dead! Had a great life without you too! Why can't you just let it go?!" [Y/N] shouted, meaning every word she said. Tears of sadness and anger leaking down her cheeks.

"Know your place, kid." Steve had straighten up his shoulders. In an attempt of appearing bigger in her eyes.

"What if I don't?!" she was trying his limits, as well as hers and her friends.

"Y—"

"Shut up, Steve! Just shut up!" Iron man cut off his 'friend's' words.

"How I talk to my daughter is not your business, Tony. She did something wrong which deserves a punishment."

"You, your murder machine friend and SHIELD are enough of a punishment to her!" the stern look in his eyes was telling a tragic story.

"I know it's hard for you to understand but keep your egoistical self out of this, Stark. Because not everything's about you."

"Says the man who's the king of melancholia." muttered [Y/N], getting Captain's attention back on her.

You go down just like Holy Mary

"What is that suppose to mean, young lady?!"

"You know what I mean. I'm going to my room."

Mary on a Mary on a cross

In her room [Y/N] sat on the floor, her back against the door. She had her arms wrapped around her legs keeping them close to her chest. On the floor, right next to [Y/N], there was an empty needle. She could hear them fighting but she couldn't careless as the drugs had hit her brain.

Not just another Bloody Mary

It had been hours since the girl last seen by the team. [Y/N]'s breaths had become shallow as the drug's done it's work. She, for once felt at peace as the non-talked sleepiness took over her body.

Knock Knock , Knock ,

Knock Knock , Knock Knock Knock ,

Knock Knock , Knock

She looked up, confused, at the door knob. She thought what was wrong with this stranger and the way they knocked on the door. The knocking repeated itself. [Y/N] let out a frustrated sigh as she tried to get up. Key word, tried. She hold onto the knob, pulling herself on her shaking legs. Before she could turn the knob she fell down with a thud. Alerted, the stranger at the door –Peter–asked if she was okay.

Mary on a, Mary on a cross

After getting no response, he invited himself in.

Not just another Bloody Mary

What Peter saw when he got in the room was one of the most scariest things he had ever seen, even though he is a crime fighter spider. [Y/N] was laying on her side not moving and lips turned blue. He knew she was breathing or at least trying to, her heart rate was slowing down too drawing her near death more. Peter wondered why FRIDAY didn't send them any notification then remembered what his friend was best at. Hackinc.

"Mr. Stark!" he bend down next to [Y/N].

"What's wrong kid?" Tony asked as he came by the door.

"She needs medical attention."

Tony stood there like he didn't hear Peter. He continued to stare ahead. They needed to move fast if they wanted her to stay alive.

Mary on a, Mary on a—

༺༼╚═══════ - ════════╝༽༻

I hope you like it

Part 2?

#Spotify #avengers #avengers x teen reader #tony stark #tony stark x teen!reader #steve rogers #clint barton #captain america x adopted daughter reader #peter parker x reader #platonic #drug use #Songfic #angst #x reader #mary on a cross #Cross-Drug

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lazysublimeengineer · 1 year

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TOKYO REVENGERS SPOILERS FOR CHAPTER 276

Heartbreaking panel. But y'know who's I'm more sad about? Chifuyu and Inupi. They are the ride or die characters for Takemichi. They stayed loyal to him and always saw the potential and greatness in him. So seeing their tragic faces at Takemichi's dying state in this timeline is just 💔💔💔💔💔🥲🥲🥲

Mikey's desperation. It reminded me that reaction when Draken was in the hospital in the Moebius arc. The despair. The tragedy. The complete misery in his eyes. But this is now more amplified when he's holding Takemichi's dying body into his. Like damn. That determination reminded me of Naoto and Shinichiro and just like that. It restarted all over again.

Listen fellas. I've seen enough time travel fix it fics in AO3 and fanfiction sites to know where this is going. I'm telling you Wakui is camping in these sites to spy on our fics lol. But kidding aside, as much as I'm glad to see Takemichi being "alive" once again I can't help but to worry because if everything is reset then that means Kisaki is very much alive in this timeline and 50% of the problems and crimes came from him in different bad timelines.

Baji will be Baji regardless of what timeline he met Takemichi. Imagine getting welcomed by that familiar punch again lmao. At the very least Emma tried to stop him this time 😅😅😅😅😅

Damn. Look at Takemichi's heartbroken face when he realized that Mikey probably never remembers him. I mean, still a Takehina fan here but sometimes we need a good, old Maitake angst to feed this fandom.

Oh? So Mikey "still remembers him in this timeline?" Interesting. Wonder how's that gonna play out but I already have an inkling on what it's gonna be anyway.

Overall, a bit bittersweet chapter. But not really that surprising tbh. There are still 2 chapters remaining. There will be CONSEQUENCES for this happy chapter. The characters can't get away with it unless there's a PAYMENT involve in their destinies in exchange for their lives and happiness. ALL I WANT TO SEE NOW IS DRAKEN AND MITSUYA. ARE THEY STILL FRIENDS IN THIS TIMELINE NOW? WAKUI IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO ANOTHER SPIN OFF THEN IT NEEDS TO BE THE TWIN DRAGONS SPIN OFF OKAY?

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prettylittleliarsxxxx · 10 months

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Lindsey Shaw is reflecting on one of the most difficult times in her life, both personally and professionally.

In Wednesday’s episode of Ned’s Declassified Podcast Survival Guide (which you can watch in the video above), Shaw recalls the painful moment in 2014 when she learned that she was being let go from her role as Paige McCullers on then-ABC Family’s Pretty Little Liars.

“I got called into [series creator Marlene King’s] office, and she was just like, ‘So, we’re gonna let you go,'” Shaw says, adding that she was told, “It’s not because of your acting.”

Shaw knew the real reason. In recent years, she has become comfortable speaking candidly about struggles with drugs and alcohol, as well as with her relationship to food and her body, and the toll they’ve all taken on her life and career.

“I just gave away everything I cared about,” she says. “I don’t know that I’ve ever gotten back to the point in my career that I was before that talk, that meeting, or that whole season of using. It’s a f–ing lot, dude. Caring about your body can make you go in all different directions, from plastic surgery to drugs to withholding to any kind of s–t.”

Still, Shaw remains grateful to the PLL team for handling her exit “with so much care,” both on and off screen. Not only did the writers craft a beautiful goodbye scene for her character midway through Season 5, but Shaw also recalls King asking if she had someone to talk to about what she was going through. When Shaw replied that she didn’t have anyone, King, replied, “We’ll find somebody.”

As for that beautiful scene, Shaw remembers that she and co-star Shay Mitchell “couldn’t even talk” between takes while filming Paige and Emily’s airport goodbye. “We just hugged each other and let it be what it was,” she says.

And Shaw, of course, will forever appreciate that the producers brought Paige back to wrap things up in the show’s seventh and final season.

“I used that show as a therapy session every time I went in,” Shaw says. “I cried harder there than I did in that whole six years by myself. Everything went into Paige. … It was a great and crazy and scary and sad and wonderful and tragic ride.”

#pll #pretty little liars #tw addiction #lindsey shaw #paige mccullers #tw alcoholism #marlene king #shay mitchell #this is very sad but i'm glad she's open to talking about it

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dooareyastudy · 1 year

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March 2023

Un beau ténébreux, Julien Gracq, 1945 | How come each Gracq’s book I read becomes my favorite? Well, Le roi pêcheur is still my absolute favorite but this one comes right after. The atmosphere, the tension, everthing is addicting. The writing, so elegant and striking. I really love Julien Gracq you guys.

Philosophie du droit, Jacques Ellul, 2022 | This is a lecture from the 70s given by Ellul to PhD students in Bordeaux. Kinda sad to see that PhD students from that same university are now mainly offered lectures on entrepreneurship and how not to be too depressed during their thesis! About the book itself, just like a lecture, some bits are really interesting and others less. Not too dense, overall a good introduction to law philosophy I think!

Pensées, Blaise Pascal, 1669 | I read this in order to read another book about jansenism and the figure of God in Pascal’s, Racine’s and Kant’s work. I’ll admit I skipped the parts about theology but the first half of the book is really worth reading. Not gonna lie, I wouldn’t have enjoy reading this if not for Goldmann’s book that brings a really interesting light on Pascal’s philosophy!

Le Dieu caché, Lucien Goldmann, 1955 | This book is an analysis of Pascal’s Pensées (and Racine’s tragedies but this is a very short part of the book unfortunately). I really like how it uses concepts and methods from Hegel and Marx to give a really deep and interesting insight on Pascal’s philosophy. The main concept of the book is the concept of “vision du monde” (world view). The author tries to demonstrate that Pascal’s philosophy (and Racine’s tragedies) embodies a tragic world view. The author shows that Pascal’s philosophy is one of paradoxes that cannot be solve in the world, but only in christian heaven. Thus, a never ending suffering for the one that cannot not live in the world where everything is relative and full of contradictions yet aspires to something absolute that can embrace and overtake the contradictions.

Liberté grande, Julien Gracq, 1946 | I was a bit disappointed but not too surprising as I am not usually a fan of prose poetry! Well, I had to have a least favorite Gracq’s piece!

Buddenbrooks, Thomas Mann, 1901 | Second book by Mann that I read and he is slowly but surely becoming an author that I really enjoy. This one is the portrayal of an old and wealthy family declining in a generation or so. The writing is clever, witty, often funny, often touching. Reading it was a ride! It had been a while since I appreciated a book so much for its characters.

La forme d’une ville, Julien Gracq, 1985 | An essay about the French city of Nantes and its role in shaping what is a city for the author. Very poetic essay (very Gracq), as the title suggests : as Baudelaire wrote, “la forme d'une ville change plus vite, hélas ! que le cœur d'un mortel”. It isn’t a description of Nantes as it is (was) but rather an exploration of the city as it exists in Gracq’s memory and mind.

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emilykaldwen · 8 months

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@alexandria-millie sent three asks for this so I'm putting them all into one!

I've seen a theory that Jaehaerys' murder was planned to cause suffering and discord among the Greens. Play Aegon against Aemond. If Healena had been furious instead of sinking into depression, the dance would have had a different ending. Daemon's marriage to Rhaenyra was a huge political mistake on Rhaenyra's part. Daemon can't be controlled, it was a matter of time before he did something horrible and unlike Viserys it wouldn't be easy for Rhaenyra to punish him.

Why you gotta bring me into the lion's den lmao. Okay. I'm gonna try tread respectfully and carefully here because these are all really nuanced, especially your final question: re daemyra (and I'm not their hype girl so take with that what you will).

Before I dive into everything else, I think what it has to come down to is how you view the Targaryens. They are a MESS. Capitals. Are they a fun problematic dynasty with dragons and incest and chaos? Yes, that's why we like playing with them, but they have been shown time and again to not be oh so great for the realm. They truly, genuinely believe they are above the common man (See: Doctrine of Exceptionalism), and as George has said: Dragons don't grow trees. The nobility as a whole for Westeros is a bad thing, Fuedelism ain't great! So it's really important to remember when it comes to talking about Targaryens is that you absolutely have that Valyrian Supremacy at play and while some may be better than others, you are supposed to be in the twilight of the Golden Age of Dragonriders, so remember that.

And if GRRM comes out and confirms: Yes, Daemon ordered B&C and all that, yes that's how I intended it, then there we go, word of god and all that.

1. Jaehaerys' murder motivation

I disagree. I can see why one would think it would sow discord, but truthfully I think that's a wobbly outcome to bank on because child murder does nothing but hurt Team Black. When I first read F&B and this situation, oh yeah 100% anti-Daemon cause that motherfucker killed babies! what the fuck! and while I'm still not Daemon's biggest fangirl, further reading of the situation and the story really highlights that Jaehaerys' murder was a fucking tragedy that shouldn't have happened, but there's no way anyone would believe Daemon Targaryen for being like 'yeah no I didn't order for Jae to be killed'. Because Daemon's spent his time not really fighting the sort of rumors and allegations thrown at him. He's just living it up in the myth people want to create of him. Make me your villain, I'm just doing my thing. Jaehaerys' murder gains sympathy for the Greens, it martyrs him in a way that Luke isn't. Luke was an emissary to a potential ally and was killed and it's tragic and sad. We sympathize for the loss of Rhaenyra's children.

Aemond's a 16/17/18 whatever year old riding a war machine with no experience in that way. It shows how utterly unprepared all these children fucking are for this.

Killing Jaehaerys only further villifies Daemon and now spreads that to Rhaenyra. It doesn't hold water, because it only really hurts Rhaenyra in the end.

[cavaet: This is the kind of set up thing where I could see 'well let's kill his son!' and then realizing 'shit no bad idea, okay lets kill aegon and/or aemond', but hey! for all I fucking know, George really was like 'yeah no they lost their shit and did something incredibly stupid because this whole book is filled with dumb shit that doesn't make sense like why is no one patrolling the gullet for enemy ships???]

2. Helaena's Grief and Rage

Sooooo seeing your child fucking decapitated in front of you after being forced to choose? Is gonna fuck you up. Her immobilizing grief makes sense to me. However if she had become a dragonrider in battle, yeah, that would change things. Dreamfyre is older than Vermithor, and Helaena's bond with her dragon is stronger than Hugh's with Vermithor IMO. The Blacks have Daemon and Rhaenys both experienced in battle on dragonback, but not with other dragons and Vermithor is being ridden by a dude who just learned how to ride a dragon. Dreamfyre puts the playing field strongly in Team Green favor from a battle standpoint, which is why she's taken out early.

3. Daemon and Rhaenyra

(no one @ me please)

the tina belcher sounds I just made. Okay, where do I start. Going up to my whole preamble about Targaryen Supremacy: No Targaryen marriage is politically advantageous. Their practice of dynastic incest continues to separate them from the realm that they rule because that's what they want. They are above men, they are closer to gods, and they don't want to dilute their blood (if you buy into the blood magic needed for dragon riding). Marrying out of the family would let other houses hold potential claim to dragons. We see this in Rhaenys Targaryen whose half Baratheon being able to claim a dragon.

The smartest marriage to happen at this point in time for the Targaryens was Viserys' marriage to Alicent Hightower. The Hightowers are tied with the Maesters (something something maester conspiracy), they are one of the most powerful families in the realm. THAT is a politically advantageous marriage (and a reason why they were not made Lords Paramount of the Reach). But politically advantageous or not, Viserys treatment of Alicent and her children further fractures the dynasty. His half-hightower children are not pureblooded Targaryen children (or even Aemma's children, which is a whole other can of worms), and I could very well see that as a reason why Viserys didn't name Aegon as heir (because he sure as shit held that threat over Rhaenyra's head in her youth because let's not forget he was a shitty dad to her too in different ways). Daemon, politically, doesn't help Rhaenyra's cause. Marrying her to Jason Lannister would have been a smart move. Laenor Velaryon still was a smart move. FUCK EVEN HARWIN WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD MOVE!

So you can look at the Daemyra marriage in three ways: For love, for dragon, or both.

Daemon's unpredictable, and he pokes buttons, and he takes things too far (re: the gold cloaks for example). He's also very loyal: in the books, he's loyal and in love with Laena, he loves his children, and he's been in love with Rhaenyra as well for years (and probably having threesomes I guess? they were all way closer in the book than in the show) these two sides of a person are allowed to coexist if we allow the same for characters like Aegon and Aemond. And we are led to believe that him and Rhaenyra did in fact love each other. I mean, me personally, I'm the Rhaewin OTP girl because I love me Rhaenyra and Harwin and I think they were very good for each other/could have been very good, I mean they had three kids together, Rhaenyra didn't go find herself a Lyseni dude to fuck, so the kind of risk she was putting herself in with that means there was something more there. Not only that, but Daemons' loyalty was absolute: he would have done anything for Rhaenyra and I don't think he would have risked hurting her position and claim just to have a 6 year old killed.

I think it also puts her oldest three sons in further danger in terms of a future succession conflict based on the rumors of Jace's legitimacy vs Aegon the Younger, who is undoubtedly fully Targaryen, and had the Dance not happened, that would 100% be the grounds for a future succession crisis of children half-targaryen vs full targaryen blood including the TargTower children. The dynasty was primed for a civil war regardless of when that happened because Viserys failed utterly to secure the futures of his family and just hoped there were enough nepo baby jobs to go around I guess.

Case in Point: The Blackfyre Rebellion.

Basically: the Targaryens make huge political mistakes all the time. @gwenllian-in-the-abbey pointed out their theory in a comment on the last chapter of Maiden how Viserys being the one to have Aegon and Helaena get married would hopefully neutralize Aegon's power, because otherwise, you're marrying him to someone like Cassandra Baratheon, and Borros would 100% want his daughter to be queen!

Anyway, I hope that answers some of your questions!

#hotd tag #I'm not answering anything else on this omg #please let me keep hiding

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cadybear420 · 1 month

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Cadybear's Reviews- Ride or Die

Welcome to the seventeenth official Cadybear's Reviews! Today I'll be talking about Ride or Die, which I have ranked on the "Wood Tier" at 3 stars out of a possible 10.

(Peter Griffin voice) Before we all die, there’s one secret I have to share with you. I did not care for Ride or Die.

Yeah… I do not get this one. I do not get why so many people say this story made them cry or that it was so emotional and tragic. I do not get why (at least in more recent years) this has been paraded as one of Choices’ bests along with the likes of TCATF, ES, and ILS. Like, even if you really really love this book, I don’t think it comes anywhere close to being among the bests. It’s been a while since I last played, but even when right after I did play it, I could not buy into the “tragic and bittersweet” themes that people praise this book for.

Now don’t get me wrong, as a story in itself, it isn’t terrible. It’s a pretty simple story about a MC who wants a taste of adrenaline and independence before going off to college. And in some aspects it does manage to somewhat subvert the “Ohhhhh, the innocent studious good girl falls in love with the immoral criminal bad boy and he turns her bad, but oh no her dad wouldn’t approve of his innocent little daddy’s girl running off with a bad boy, and she’s gonna be all like ‘But Daddy I love him!!1!!1!!11!’ when he finds out and scolds her about it” kind of story that it comes off as at first (though I still found it very pointlessly genderlocked, both MC and Logan should have been GOC). Granted I’d still like to see the dynamic changed up for a bit, with MC as the immoral tough baddie and LI as the innocent one who breaks out of that image as they fall for the MC.

I did like the parts (though I think there were only like 2 or 3 of them) where you could choose between focusing on your studies or spending time with the Crew, and you could pay diamonds to combine the events. And if I’m not mistaken, it does affect whether or not your MC becomes valedictorian at the end. But that’s about the only thing that affects your story route I think.

And credit where credit is due, it is unique in that MC and LI don’t get together and have a happily ever after in the end (not that it would have been earned if they did anyways lol). It’s not a fantastic ending, but it is solid and at least a different change of pace. Why couldn’t the “MC and LI don’t get together in the end and live happily ever after” have happened in books like TNA, Surrender, FCL, and TBB?

So in concept, I do think this kind of story could have worked. Unfortunately, there are so many things that bring it down for me.

To start off, MC’s relationship with the Mercy Park Crew felt incredibly shallow to me. It technically makes sense, since they’re all meant to go their separate ways, but it also kind of makes it hard to feel any sadness for when we actually get to that point. So any “tragic” themes just felt… very lukewarm to me. The only part that actually felt emotional to me was when Teppei Kaneko sacrificed himself, because… you know. My dude got himself blown the fuck up in a car crash on purpose to save the others.

Most melodramatic and forced of all was Logan. I seriously do not follow Logan’s supposed “special reason” for taking interest in MC. Even after seeing other people explain it, I still don’t get it. I don’t understand why it’s so god damned special, nor why Logan himself is so god damned special and why he of all the LIs was the main LI. He just seemed like a standard bad boy where I know fuck all about his character other than that he and Colt kind of had some beef with each other.

On that note, Colt was the only LI I felt had any real emotional stakes and character and thus the only one I felt I had any reason to give a damn about in this story (also, he’s apparently a good passenger princess and says “you’ll always be my best driver” or something like that). And Mona… well, she had slightly more character than Logan at least, but she still felt like an obligatory token female LI (especially considering the book’s subtitle, seriously it’s really not helping the story at all).

All of this would probably put it on my Bronze Tier. But there’s just one more thing that brings it down. The story pacing.

The plot has some of the worst pacing I have ever seen. Like, MC’s dad should pull it over and charge it with a DUI. There were way too many things going on all at once, and I could not follow any of it. So if there somehow was any actual emotional substance or narrative depth to this story, I completely missed it.

That all being said, this book being mid isn’t completely the story’s fault. This was originally slated to have a sequel, and the plan the writers had revealed on Storyloom actually sounds pretty awesome and much better than what we got in the first book. Basically, it takes place 5 years later where MC has just finished college, and she’s apparently contacted because of her connections with the MPC and has to bring everyone together again for a new adventure, ending with MC and LI driving off into the sunset.

Originally, I figured the ending was conclusive as it was and there wasn’t really much that could be done with a sequel, even in a meeting-again-older-and-wiser side story set in the future. But now knowing the scrapped plan? We did kinda miss out. I mean, the ending it does have still works, but the story they planned for the sequel would have greatly improved the series. Though the thing where “MC and LI ride off together into the sunset” should at least have an option for MC to not get with her LI of choice by saying “I’ve long since moved on”.

To me, this is just a simple story about a MC who wants a taste of adrenaline and independence just before the end of her high school years. Nothing all that emotionally complex or narratively deep. Yeah, I know I give high praise to stories like OG HSS and TH:M that aren’t exactly complex or deep either, but they at least have highly varying story routes, compelling characters, and good pacing to show for it.

I don’t hate this one, but man is it overhyped as hell. Even if I did like this one (and who knows, I just might end up liking it after I give it a replay), I don’t think it’s nearly as good as people have made it out to be. I just don’t see it.

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