#Anyway Changing of the Guard is peak of their relationship dynamic and I’m all here for it | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

falsegoodnight · 3 years

Text

part one of my december fic rec! this list encompasses the fics i’ve read from the 1st to the 15th so half of this month! (mostly just the first week and a half though because FINALS!)

there’s still twenty fics/ficlets on here though which is insane so that’s why i’m splitting my monthly recs into two lists again!

you can find part two here

—

✰ (have yourself a) Merry little Christmas by @defencelesst | G | 1k (so so so soft and sweet and perfect!! lottie’s stories always warm my heart!)

There's a saying in Korean culture about how watching the first snow of the year with someone means you're destined to stay together for a long time.

✰ Still by @allwaswell16 | NR | 2k (a timestamp for this series) (so sweet and heartwarming! the PERFECT end to the series!)

Louis has settled into his life in Colorado with Harry, their horses, and of course, Lacey the goat. And now the day has arrived to finally marry the man who makes this place feel like home.

✰ sugary sweet by @soldouthaz | E | 4k (drabble from this series) (hot, hot, hot! did i mention, hot?)

From the corner of his eye he can see every movement. The fire makes Louis’ skin even more golden than usual, the peaks of his nipples dark pink in pale contrast. His chest is already beginning to rise and fall quicker where a blush has bloomed up near his throat from his excitement. His arm is raised, shaking lightly as he holds up the icing can, his mouth parted as he pants softly.

Louis looks ethereal, and Harry’s having a more difficult time than he thought not being able to touch him.

✰ Thank you, five by @nouies | E | 6k (technically a reread) (so so cute and lovely and hot!!!)

“Harry?” He says as soon as he recognises the other man.

“Louis? Wh-what are you doing here?” Harry asks with a frown.

“Well, I’m here for rehearsal,” Louis announces with a proud smile.

There’s a flash of confusion on Harry’s face. “What do you mean rehearsal? I got the part, you didn’t.”

✰ can you keep me close, can you love me most? by @soldouthaz | G | 6k (a drabble from this series) (made me CRY!! love this world and these characters so so much!!!)

“I’m so sorry, Harry. This was supposed to be our night and we were going to eat and then walk around the city and-”

“Lou, it’s alright,” Harry says, “seriously. We can always make another reservation. Don’t worry about it, love.”

“I know, just -” Louis cuts himself off with a sigh.

He knows they can reschedule. It’s not so much that he cares about the reservation, really, or any of the food. His students are so important to him and he’d always drop anything to help them, except that he sort of - well, Louis sort of thought Harry would propose tonight.

✰ singing your praises by @loubellies | E | 6k (really hot and sexy but also cute!)

Prompt 86: Louis rides Harry while wearing his packer’s jersey/sweater and gets his ass ate.

✰ You’ll wait for me only by @tired-eyes-lou | T | 9k (love accidental bonding fics! cute!)

Harry nips at the bondmark on Louis’ neck, Louis’ hands go to his hips, grounding him. He allows himself this, knowing that his Omega needs it too. Harry pulls back, “Go on a date with me.” He rushes out, looking at Louis’ eyes.

Louis laughs and shakes his head. “No, Louis, I’m serious. We’ve bonded for life anyway, might as well try.” Louis looks at him, “You’ve been thinking about this a lot.” Louis points out, Harry nods. “Okay.” Louis says and walks out leaving Harry. “Okay what?!”

✰ Pretty and Pink by @larryinpantiess | E | 13k (cute and lovely! love trucker harry!)

Harry never lets anyone come on the road with him.

Then, a cute hitchhiker, Louis comes around.

✰ show you the stars in the daylight by @yvesaintlourent | E | 13k (AMAZING INCREDIBLE PERFECT! i love childhood best friends and also !! miscommunication !! idiots in love !!)

Louis has a type and at sixteen and scrawny, it's definitely not his best friend's little brother Harry...ten years later, he changes his mind.

✰ silver linings by @millsxwriting | T | 14k (so cute and sweet :’) as a big fan of emails, this made my heart happy)

As Louis starts his freshman year of college out of state, Harry finishes his last year of high school back home. The distance between California and Arizona has both of them gripping onto everything they can to make their relationship work.

✰ Won’t Keep You My (Dirty Little) Secret by @lovelykits | M | 16k (wow wow wow i adored this!!! louis and harry were both so lovely!)

Louis and Harry have been together since the end of last year and somehow no one knows about it.

✰ The Boy with the Tin Chest and the Glass Heart by @louloubabys1992 | M | 18k (amazing concept and so cute!! love the inclusion of fairy tales in this one too!)

Alpha Harry Styles, world-renowned author of fairy-tales, is being persuaded by the Beta, Liam Payne, to hire a new illustrator. Since Harry’s own illustrations are too graphic for what is supposed to be children’s stories, Liam feels the need is dire. Omega Louis does not agree with Liam since he believes that Harry’s stories are fine just the way they are. Of course this has nothing to do with Louis being totally biased or totally head over heels for Harry. It certainly has nothing to do with being jealous of the mysterious omega illustrator Liam has in mind to team Harry up with.

Seriously, it has nothing to do with that at all. Nothing, absolutely nothing, zilch, nada.

Yeah...

✰ Across the Grey, Salty Sea by @the-cheshire-pussy-cat | E | 20k (incredible!!! the ending made me so emotional ahh)

Prompt 212: Alex from Dunkirk and French escort/prostitute Louis who ends up in Alex’s quarters more nights than not. Alex gives him his dog tag to wear maybe just a lot of smut and dirty talk with Louis being a pretty princess.

✰ blue songs are like tattoos by @loubellies | E | 31k (berkeley chant!! but so so cute and amazing! loved the playlist that went with it too!)

“Good morning, University of California, you’re listening to KALX 90.7 FM Berkeley, this is DJ Harry Styles. If the owner of the tapes I’ve been finding around the studio doesn’t come forward and introduce himself, I’m going to continue tossing them straight in the trash!”

✰ Freeway of Love (In a Pink Cadillac) by @mizzhydes | E | 33k (the plot twist took me off guard but wow!)

Louis was on his way to Miami to visit an old friend. Harry was going there for a little R&R and take in the sights and sounds. A sudden upgrade in seating brought these polar opposites together. The universe works in mysterious ways and they are unknowingly about to embark on an adventure they will surely remember for a lifetime.

✰ Cold As Ice And Everything Nice by @harriblou | M | 41k (this was so sweet and amazing and tender <333 loved it!)

Louis is a professional ice-skater and he meets Harry, who offers to clean the ice for him.

✰ When Our Worlds They Fall Apart by @holdingthornsandroses | E | 42k (louis as leia??? harry as han solo??? amazing perfect incredible! made my heart happy!)

Harry put his hand over his heart as if Louis had wounded him. “You’re so harsh, my liege! Perhaps you need to relieve some tension…” He let his voice trail off suggestively.

“The day I ask YOU to relieve tension is the day I lose all my wits and join the Imperials,” Louis said. “It will never happen.”

✰ A Place With Skeletons by @crazyupsetter | E | 51k (yet another masterpiece from this author. continues to blow me away <3 that one line (you know if you know) still sticks with me today)

“I would choose anyone other than you,” Louis says, picking up his train of thought again. He feels a lot more cornered and defensive when they’re in Harry’s house, for some reason. It doesn’t really make sense, considering that this time, Louis was the one who couldn’t hack it any longer. He broke first. There’s something about being in Harry’s space, though, the green and earthy feeling of it. It should feel like open space with all the plants, but Louis has never felt more claustrophobic than he does when he’s here.

Harry’s chest moves against his back, a sharp intake of air. Before he can open his mouth to defend himself, Louis keeps going, “If I had a choice in any of this, I would have been saved by that elderly security guard over you. I wouldn’t mind having to have the occasional cuddle with her.”

✰ through the wheatfields and the coastlines by @thepolourryexpress | E | 53k (ni was right. i definitely fell in love with cowboy harry but i’m not complaining! this fic had it all and i’ll definitely be rereading this in the future - so so amazing!)

Louis needs inspiration, and a certain cowboy and his lamb are the perfect distraction.

✰ Know I Think You’re Awesome, Right? by @princesshalo | E | 60k (amazing amazing amazing! loved the conflict between louis and harry and their dynamic!)

A college AU where Louis is a hippie, very good vibes activist and Harry is a punk, anarchist that always gets involved in violent protests.

If you read any of these lovely fics, remember to leave kudos and comment to show your appreciation!

*if i made any errors, please let me know :)

enjoy!

#my fic recs #fic recs #2020 recs #december 2020 recs #december recs

73 notes · View notes

tirorah · 3 years

Text

Road to Berlin – The Strike Witches Magnum Opus?

Hello! It’s been a long time. I don’t plan on returning to Tumblr long-term—it simply stole away too much of my time and energy, and I had to do what was best for myself. However, I thought I’d pop in for a very special message.

You see, Strike Witches’ third season, Road to Berlin, has now reached its halfway point. And I need you to watch it.

“Strike Witches?!” I hear you say. “That weird show about girls with no pants that you’re obsessed with for some reason?”

Yes, exactly! Hold on, don’t run away yet! Sit with me for a spell and allow me to explain my boundless love for this silly, emotionally gripping show. Allow me to tell you why it might affect you in the same way, and why Road to Berlin may be the best offering yet.

Welcome to the 501st Joint Fighter Wing

If you’ve heard of this anime, you’ve undoubtedly heard of (or witnessed) its rather infamous claim to fame: a group of teenage soldiers fighting strange creatures in an Alternate Universe World War 2 Europe, flying around with guns and magic-fueled leg machines, and none of them are wearing any decent trousers.

That takes some getting used to, doesn’t it? I’m not going to deny that. But while Strike Witches’ rather peculiar design decisions are inescapable, there’s one thing you need to take into account: Season 1 aired all the way back in 2008. And over those thirteen years, it’s evolved into an experience unlike anything its roots would suggest.

Strike Witches has always been a strange beast. It has a large cast and divides its activities evenly between (light) war drama and slice-of-life shenanigans. And there’s fanservice, lots and lots of it! But the show’s emphasis on risqué camera work, and how that camera work is handled, highly depends on which entry you’re watching.

You see, Strike Witches is strangely ambitious. It could’ve easily taken its bizarre concept and pushed that to its limits, bringing in as much fanservice as possible and playing a simple story in the background as window dressing. But it was never satisfied with just that. Even early on in Season 1, the show deals with heavier themes like pressure, trauma and loss.

And then there are the characters, the undisputed stars of the show. Twelve strong and all with different backgrounds and personal quirks, they may at first seem like TV Tropes come to life. And certainly, sometimes they are. However, as the series progressed, things started to change. Even Season 2, arguably the lightest and silliest of all entries, featured material that built on character development and character growth earned in its predecessor.

With the movie and a trio of OVAs to round out the cast a bit more, the stage was set for Road to Berlin.

The Difficult Road Ahead

When this season was first announced back in 2018, two things stood out to me. First of all, the key visual and promotional video released along with the announcement were much more similar in style to the movies and the OVAs, featuring serious-looking characters and stormy clouds. Secondly, for the first time in Strike Witches history, an entry received a subtitle. Yes, the OVAs were named Operation Victory Arrow, but that was merely wordplay to spell out “OVA.” It wasn’t wholly serious.

Road to Berlin, however, is deadly serious.

Let’s start with an overall theme. The vaunted 501st Joint Fighter Wing has had some major victories, but much of the continent is still under occupation by the Neuroi. The Hive over Berlin is the Wing’s new target, but the journey there is fraught with obstacles. Plans are thwarted and delayed by Neuroi more powerful and far craftier than their 2008 counterparts.

And as the opening song tells us: “We all have flaws.” The Road to Berlin isn’t an entirely literal road; it’s also a metaphorical one. The push to Berlin is their hardest battle yet. Victory can only be achieved if the characters face and overcome their weaknesses. But they’re not alone.

Friendship Is Power

As the characters have long since been established, there’s greater room for growth not just in one character, but also in how that character interacts with others. Road to Berlin chose the best possible route and decided to emphasize character dynamics. Episodes don’t focus on a single character anymore; they focus on relationships, and those relationships are at their peak here.

There’s a newfound maturity to the writing in Road to Berlin, a gentle touch that allows the characters to breathe and be more than their foremost traits. You get a sense that the characters have grown from their experiences; they feel different, more well-rounded, but they still behave exactly as they should. This is difficult to get right, and while I’m sure there might be a few eyebrow-raising moments here and there, the overall result is a cast that continues to improve every week.

Chekhov’s Gun

Underpinning the character work is a highly intriguing execution. Road to Berlin delivers subtle setups and satisfying payoffs in every episode. The pacing is also seriously tight. No moment is left unused, every opportunity for additional development is taken. Even the script itself doesn’t like to waste time; it explains things here and there, but it rightly assumes you know who the characters are and what everything means, so it doesn’t bother with many unnecessary lines.

On top of all that, this season is reaching new heights in confidence and sheer audacity, and it uses that to deliver something truly special. There are interactions here that I never could’ve imagined, twists that genuinely caught me off-guard, moments where I had to sit back and digest what I’d just witnessed.

Not a single episode has been predictable thus far; I’ve had more surprises than I can count. In fact, before I started watching I made a bingo card on a whim, filling it with trends and running gags I’d spotted over the course of the series. Some of those bingo spaces have already been proven wrong, and others are in question. Road to Berlin has done such a spectacular job at simultaneously defying and exceeding my expectations that I honestly have no idea where this journey will take me.

The Fault in Our Stars

Okay, hold up, stop the hype train! I admit, I’m a massive sucker for Strike Witches. One could say this somewhat clouds my judgement. Shocking, I know. So, to make this enthusiastic recommendation fairer, let’s dig into something that I hope to see an improvement on.

There is some terrible imbalance in screen time going on here. I know I said earlier that the cast is great, and it is amazing, but some characters have definitely been favored over others. Yoshika is the main character, of course, so it’s not unreasonable for her to have a large role. Similarly, characters like Minna, Gertrud and Shirley have more experience and higher ranks than the others, which means they have an easier time fitting into scenes.

So, who’s gotten the short end of the stick?

Let’s start with Lynne. She hasn’t had as much of a presence as I’d hoped. The primary reason for this is Shizuka, who’s taken up the role of newbie to the squadron and is often paired with Yoshika because they’re working together. As each episode focuses on the relationships between a select few characters at a time, the others are often relegated to minor roles, and poor Lynne hasn’t had an episode to highlight her yet. I’m sure her moment will come eventually.

I don’t know if the same thing applies to Minna. She’s mostly stuck behind her desk again, it seems, and while she’s definitely had some scenes, her role as Wing Commander hasn’t allowed her as much wiggle room as some of the others. What I want to see from Minna is more time to be a nurturing mom to her girls. The thing is, I’m not sure how they’d accomplish a Minna-centric episode. I suppose they could pair her up with Mio, but even then, I’m uncertain where to take her. It seems redundant to have her be worried out of her mind over Mio again, and she seems to be keeping it together pretty well so far anyway.

In a trend so merciless it’s almost comical, Sanya and Eila seem forever doomed to the peanut gallery. They started out with few lines and have pretty much remained in the background since. Of course, a big factor to it all is their role as the night patrol, which naturally separates their activities from everyone else’s. It’s my current prediction that their relationship is next in line to be showcased. The quality of that episode will likely hinge on how their personalities are tuned, but there’s potential for something great.

And most shocking of all, Mio—She Who Has Practiced Plot Armor Ten Thousand Times—has had the most infinitesimal role of all. I’m of two minds on this. It appears that Road to Berlin has realized that having Mio fly into battle without a shield or Striker Unit is silly, and this is good. On the other hand, Mio is an iconic and beloved character. She deserves some screen time as long as she doesn’t overshadow the others. For now, she seems to be relegated to strategizing and logistics, although I have a hunch that a way to circumvent her newfound vulnerability has already been set up. Time will tell if this ends up being utilized.

Journey’s End

In closing, Road to Berlin highlights the best of what Strike Witches has to offer. It’s striding boldly forward, eager to dazzle us with its animation and audio, grinning as it challenges our preconceptions about where its characters can go and what they can do.

The path to this greatness can be tough. Watching Strike Witches means accepting a number of strange concepts, which can give quite a few viewers a rough start with the series. However, if you made it all the way here and haven’t given Strike Witches a try yet, I sincerely implore you to make the attempt. If you allow the characters to sweep you off your feet, then Road to Berlin could be the apex of a most satisfying viewing experience.

Especially if its second half is as impressive as the first. I, personally, have high hopes. There’s no sky this show can’t conquer.

#strike witches #road to berlin #anime #yes I made a bingo card in Excel #I'm a passionate fangirl with ample Microsoft experience #oh right #I should point out that I changed my name from NeandaFFnet to TirOrah #as I don't use that old handle anymore #sorry for any confusion caused

35 notes · View notes

tonaegiris · 3 years

Note

8 for togiri maybe? i think it works well for them <3

ao3 // wattpad

Growing Older and Growing Up

“I don’t…I’ve never…been in a relationship and I’m going to make mistakes…I just need you to tell me. I need you to talk to me.”

Byakuya was slowly adapting to the new presence in his life.

Before attending Hope's Peak Academy, the only people he had had in his life anywhere near to how close this relationship was was with his butler, Pennyworth, and even then it was strange to receive any affection from him other than verbal reassurances. Now, he was constantly bombarded with attention and declarations of trust and encouragement of talent, it was almost too much.

The most persistent classmate, Naegi, Byakuya wasn't too fond of. His overbearing personality was too much for Byakuya to put up with so he tried to avoid him at every opportunity he was given. Same with Hagakure, as he had the same grievances as Naegi but his stupidity almost rotted the heir's brain.

One of his classmates, however, Byakuya enjoyed the company of.

He would struggle to describe where their relationship currently sat, with them teetering on the edge of entering a more romantic relationship over the friendship they currently had.

The inability to describe their dynamic frustrated Byakuya to no end, and he often just spent his time pondering over what he could classify their friendship into a box he could easily describe to himself, but alas.

Deciding to take a break from his thoughts, he walked over to where his simple dorm door was stationed and pulled at the handle.

Realizing it was locked he turned back to his table to grab the keypad to his door, he quickly walked out of his room and towards the kitchen. He wanted not to waste his time dealing with the horrid coffee the school provided its students within the cafeteria, and instead went to go brew his own out of Hanumaura's french press.

As he waited for the coffee to brew he heard sharp footsteps approaching the large room from the open hallway outside. He recognized them immediately as the friend he came here to clear his mind from.

It wasn't like he was upset at the intrusion, of course, he was mildly annoyed but nothing serious as he knew Kirigiri would respect his boundaries (unlike someone in his class).

"Hello Kirigiri." He decided to speak pointedly, showing his annoyance at being interrupted by just the person he was trying to avoid.

"Hello Togami," she spoke back, almost mocking him. "I came to talk to you. You weren't in the library or answered to me knocking at your room, I almost thought you were trying to avoid me."

Byakuya snorted internally at that. Little did she know... he thought to himself as he turned away from the french press. He didn't mind being taken away from his drink, the coffee would be better the longer he left it anyways.

"What are we."

Now that caught him off guard.

He was put into an immediate shock, this interaction was really not going the way he had planned.

He made a "Humph" sound before turning around and stirring his drink as a means to distract himself and relieve the stress he could feel building from this conversation.

"What I mean by that, Togami, is do you desire a romantic relationship with me."

Of course, Kyouko had already figured out Togami's feelings for her, possibly even before he did if the way he acted said anything.

But for Byakuya, this was the first time he was confronted with this exact idea, not just his internal complaints about not having a perfect box to place Kirigiri in.

It's not that neither of them truly didn't want to date the other. Byakuya will admit she would make a suitable partner for him as he cared for her and he assumed she did back.

He was right, in fact, Kyouko did care for Togami deeply, but Togami had never discovered that fact directly as the combination of his lack of emotional perception and Kyouko's ability to hide her true feelings somewhat made him unaware.

"I-" He stuttered out. "You deserve someone else, like Naegi."

She crossed her arms and peered up at him with a hint of glare in her eyes. "So I'm not good enough for you?"

She was testing him, he knew it. "No!" He shot back, quickly reclining his anger and pinching his forehead. "Quite the opposite."

"Oh so now the oh so great Togami isn't so great?"

This was usually what he loved about Kirigiri. Her ability to shoot back at every stake he made and fight him in battles of wit no one else had been able to match yet. In this context, he was anything but fond of it, however, as it only caused annoyance in the conversation.

"I know you like me, Byakuya"

She had used his given name, something she had only done twice before. He had yet to use Kyouko on her, the intimacy of it being too much for him.

"I guess I do..." Was all he could say in response, all traces of vocabulary or articulation erasing themselves from his mind in the tension.

"I like you too..." Kyouko murmured out as she leaned in to rest her forehead on his shoulder, the moment only getting more intimate by the second. "What should we do from here"

"I don't... I've never... been in a relationship and I'm going to make mistakes... I just need you to tell me. I need you to talk to me."

Byakuya inwardly cringed at himself for showing vulnerability through his stutter. It was so unlike him to act like this, though he guessed the conversation permitted it.

"Don't worry," Kyouko whispered into his thin jacket, rolling her head to the side and letting her silver hair fall over her shoulder. "I'll be here to guide you all the way through"

Byakuya smiled at himself, and he could feel Kyouko smile into his shoulder as well.

His coffee was well done, that conversation seemed to take ages from the way his body was trembling over the press, his hands shaking as they pour the coffee for both of them.

If anything their relationship had only gotten harder to define for Byakuya, but he welcomed the change as the scent of freshly poured coffee washed over him.

#togiri #kyoko kirigiri #byakuya togami #kirigiri kyouko #kyouko kirigiri #kirigiri kyoko #togami byakuya #my art #fanfiction

10 notes · View notes

jadelotusflower · 4 years

Text

Robin Hood Rewatch: 1x02 Sheriff Got Your Tongue?

So for My Gang to Me this year I rewatched the first episode, intending to leave it at that, but recently I’ve been really in my feelings about this show again so I’m going to go all the way and rewatch the whole thing. Yes, even season 3.

So, some random thoughts, and Emotions about That Robin/Marian scene.

It’s rare we see some spunk from Locksley villagers, so Sarcastic Bow Man was very much appreciated. RIP Sarcastic Bow Man’s tongue.

“We are also against the Sheriff!” I really love Much’s earnest logic, and good heart - he doesn’t want the men robbing them to get sick from eating undercooked rabbit - or alternatively, doesn’t want them thinking he’s a bad cook, and either way it’s precious and Protect Much Forever. “Well those were horrible men” is also a very charming line reading.

Aw, Forrest and Hanton. I wonder that they went to the trouble of establishing them and including a wife for Forrest, only for them never to be seen or spoken again after this episode. When exactly were they cut, since I would have assumed the script for episode 3 at least would have been written before filming started in Hungary? Anyway, my personal headcanon: Forrest reconciles with his wife and she gets pregnant, so they leave to live somewhere he’s not a known outlaw, and Hanton goes with them.

“With your lawlessness and your...disgusting camp, and your snide...your snide...” It’s the way Sam sells it, Much is MVP in these scenes.

Okay, Robin’s been gone for five years, Alice lives in Locksley, little Little John is ten (?) years old. So why doesn’t Little John recognise Robin? Or he does, and doesn’t care until he hears about the reward, or doesn’t actually remember what Robin looks like, since Robin would have been a teenager when John was outlawed? I feel this is untapped story potential.

Concussion count: 1 (Robin)

Guy telling the Locksley villagers that they should have no fear of reprisal from Robin just goes to show how much he doesn’t get it. The Sheriff, on the other hand - the attempted manipulation by portraying Robin as brainwashed in a pow camp is clever (and of course that comes up again a terrible later episode).

“If I tell you where I am, can I claim the 20 pounds?” The pose, the quip: Peak Robin.

“In the Holy Land my master had dreams - he spoke your name.” Called out like that in front of your father, yikes. But the way Much looks right past Edward and stares at Marian, while she can’t look him in the eye - I really love the Much and Marian dynamic.

Speaking of great dynamics, the Robin and Sheriff scene. Within a day, Vaisey already has Robin all figured out (well mostly) and knows exactly what buttons to push. I credit the show with attempting to address the problem of why Robin just doesn’t kill the Sheriff, and tying it to Robin’s broader ptsd is a good choice.

A Look. A Scene. Moving back to regular formatting because I have Feelings:

It’s very telling that Robin actually seems rather upset when he first sees Marian - he thinks he will soon die, and doesn’t want to her to see him like that. But that very quickly changes to amusement by her manipulation of the jailer, but crucially, he can’t let her know he’s impressed, he has to look away as soon as she turns her attention to him. And of course, begins to berate him, but what I love about this scene (and this pairing) is that they’re both right! Marian’s point that getting himself killed will doom more lives than he has saved is sound, but so is Robin’s, that he can’t stand by and weigh up lives to sacrifice for the greater good.

And he’s enjoying the banter, since Marian was probably the only person who ever argued like this with him, but then the tone of the conversation shifts:

“You could have stayed here in the first place instead of following your King to the Holy Land if you cared so much about your precious people. But you didn’t. You chose war. You chose glory.”

Marian slips here, she gets emotional - “you chose war (over me)” “you chose glory (over me)” And Robin thinks he’s got the upper hand here - he leans in and says “What is this about?” when he knows what it’s about, and she knows he knows what it’s about. It’s a reflection of their scene in the first episode, except this time with real emotion rather than flirtatious bravado, but neither of them want to admit it, they want the other one to first.

“This is about you saying that you care about me the people of Locksley when the truth is you ran off to battle thousands of miles away.”

Lucy’s delivery of this line just kills me - the hesitation, the hurt, the way she can’t meet his eyes until the end. Even behind veiled words, it’s the most honest she is about her feelings until the season finale. His return has thrown her off kilter, afraid she’ll drown in all that water under the bridge, and she is angry at him, angry at herself for feeling for him when she swore she never would again, for not even knowing what she wants from him in that moment, because when he does reach out for her she can’t handle it, and slaps his hand away.

And I don’t think Robin really understands until that moment how much he hurt her by leaving - it was all fun banter like it used to be until he sees what it really is, so he tries to show affection and is rebuffed. So in response, he withdraws too, back to that safe banter-place where everything is played off as a joke, and even gives her (and himself) an out - he wasn’t reaching out for her, there was “just something on [her] cheek” - but even that is a pointed remark, allowing him to wrest back the power in the conversation. It’s sets up their relationship for the whole rest of the season - Marian is very, very careful never to let her true feelings show like this again, and he is too easily rebuffed and hides in that safe place, where there is distance and he can say exactly how he feels but pretend it’s a joke and push her buttons - “I love it when you look at me in anger.”

It’s so good, because they are both just crying out for each other, but they’re too proud, in Marian’s case too hurt, in Robin’s case too defensive, and both of them too afraid to be open and risk getting hurt.

“If you go back in and die, then I will die. Of grief. So you must come now, if only the save me.” PROTECT MUCH FOREVER.

Robin proving that he’s willing to kill requires a bit of suspension of disbelief (wouldn’t Vaisey notice the “dead guard” disappears?) but it’s plot necessary, so we’ll go with it.

“That arrow hurt, lavender boy” - I love Roy.

When Robin tells the others to go, and then holds off the rest of the guards by himself it is A Moment, and while it’s Robin being flashy and showing off, it’s also showing them that he’s fit to lead them, because he’s willing to put himself in danger to protect them, to demonstrate how capable he is - but risky behaviour is also linked to ptsd and I think is also absolutely Robin always seeking control over any situation, and the more dangerous it is, the more rewarding when he succeeds.

Oh, I forgot this outfit. A +

#robin hood bbc #robin hood rewatch #robin x marian #my gang to me #sheriff got your tongue?#this week in Everyone Needs Therapy #and why can't these tragics just communicate #+ precious much is precious #and whatever happened to forrest and hanton?

25 notes · View notes