#murder on the ned express

[nedhardy]

YA'LL FATIMA HANGS UP THE PURCELL PHOTO I NEVER NOTICED THAT THAT IS SO CUTE THOUGH

#last train to blue moon canyon #murder on the ned express #nancy drew games #clue crew #her interactive

[cuculine-nelipot]

One way in which OFMD exceeded expectations this season is the emphasis they placed on the need for personal growth, especially in the pursuit of relationships - all relationships, not just romantic . Buttons laid it all out for Ed, and then turned into a bird just to prove that it is possible if you believe enough. They repeatedly drew attention to Ed's and Stede's flaws, and why they need to work on them in order to become better people not only for each other, but for everyone around them

Lucius told Stede that he was selfish and self-centred, that despite his self-proclaimed love, respect, and kindness, his actions made him anything but. He and the other crew members told him that he was wilfully ignoring reality so that he could believe in the fantasy of Ed/Blackbeard that he had constructed for himself. These are all things that prevent him from being both the captain and the romantic partner he wants to be. The main thing he needs to do to change is listen actively. This has been true since season 1, when we saw him refusing to engage in an honest dialogue with Mary, and several times when he ignored his crew. However, throughout season 2 he is given ample opportunities to listen, to grow as a person, to become a better leader and partner, but he doesn't. At all. He tells Lucius that he can talk to him about his bad experiences, only to quickly tell him that it's too much, talk to Pete instead. He lets the crew vote as to whether Ed should be allowed to stay, only to invite him back shortly after they decide against. After much arguing, he begrudgingly accepts that the crew believes his red suit is cursed, but he does not get rid of the shirt. He agrees when Ed tells him that he needs their relationship to progress slowly, only to initiate sex with him soon after. When Ed expresses his anger about that, he does not understand, and he does not take responsibility. He murders Ned Low even though he knows how desperate Ed is to leave violence behind. In the final episode when everyone tells him that his plan is terrible, he does not listen and insists that they do it anyway, and Izzy dies because of it. He does not take responsibility for that either. In fact, throughout the season he happily comments on the fact that despite his staggering incompetence, things always seem to work out for him specifically, not acknowledging that the same is not true for anyone else. He has remained just as self-centred and self-serving as he was in the very beginning.

Ed too experiences a similar state of arrested development. His core motivation is still to be a different person, and like in the first season he swings from one persona to the next, never reconciling the disparate parts of himself. The closet he gets to reckoning with himself is when he admits that he does not think he is worthy or capable of being loved, but that he wishes he was. However after being "reborn" every attempt he makes to that end is at best superficial and half-hearted. When he addresses the crew he does not say he's sorry, and the only thing he does that could be framed as an attempt at reparations is when he gives them money to throw themselves a party. At that same party he (at Stede's encouragement) congratulates himself for dispelling the poison, disregarding the fact that it was the crew's idea, and the crew who put all the effort into it.

Like in season 1, each of his personas comes with a costume change. There's the kohl smeared face of the Kraken, the cleaner crisper Blackbeard, and the neutrals of Ed - a blank canvas. He does not know who Ed is yet, and he is prevented from finding out by his unwillingness to accept that he is the Kraken and Blackbeard, to sit alone with himself. Fang points this out to him, but instead of anything meaningful coming from it, we get two separate scenes of Ed thinking about being quiet, about being present. Just for a laugh. Because, like with Stede, it's funnier (apparently) for him to stay exactly the way he is.

So he does not grow, because despite the writers putting him in positions to do so, their idea of comedy is for him not to. His brief stint as a fisherman is shockingly reminiscent of the end of season 1, where he's so focused on being zen and chill and being a totally new person that he neglects the basic functions of his job. Unlike then, he does not have the excuse of being burnt out. There is no commentary on toxic masculinity here. It was just 'funnier' to show him being incompetent, and apparently the only way the writers could think to get him back to the main narrative. By which, of course, I mean Stede. Because despite it's ensemble cast and the seamlessly integrated character-driven storylines on season 1, this is the Stede Bonnet show, right?

In spite of his very real, and understandable frustration with Stede a) initiating sex despite his explicitly saying he wasn't ready and b) killing Ned Low right when he was trying to leave violence behind, he makes a beeline for him. He rows back to the Republic of Pirates, sees it on fire, and immediately thinks of Stede. Not the crew (because despite Izzy's quite frankly insane last words he has not done anything to build a relationship with them) and not either of the two men he's sailed with for years. Only Stede. For Stede all of his development (as little as it was) is undone. He kills some naval officers despite his previously established desire to avoid violence. he dives to retrieve his Blackbeard outfit, simultaneously completely undermining the significance of him tossing them in the first place, and of his swimming upward towards a new life.

In season 1 he left Blackbeard for Stede and in season 2 he reclaims him for the same reason. But that's not growth. That's not character development. In both instances he is simply being reinvented in the context someone else. He pursues Stede simply because Stede enables him to imagine that he is a different person, he becomes the version of himself that exists in Stede's mind. If this were real life, it would be an extremely unhealthy way to live. In terms of fictional media, it's just lazy writing. Putting him next to Stede is the easiest, least meaningful way for Ed to change. Despite insights into his interiority, he is not being written as a character with agency.

This becomes especially obvious when we look at Izzy's dying words, and at David Jenkins own thoughts about their relationship. Jenkins says that Izzy fed Edward poison and ended up eating it too. Izzy says that he fed Edward darkness because he needed Blackbeard. There is exactly one instance where this is true. That one instance does not in anyway serve as evidence that Izzy was responsible for every violent thing Ed had ever done. Izzy was not responsible for Ed killing his dad, Izzy was not responsible for the joy Ed admitted he took in maiming people, and it certainly does not in anyway justify the violence Ed enacted on him. That one instance also does not change the fact that Ed very clearly had all the power in his and Izzy's relationship. He ignores Izzy continuously. His reaction to Izzy's anger is violence - he chokes him, he maims him. Izzy has no power. Ed chose violence - for a myriad of complex reasons, yes, but it was his choice. But the writers are framing it so that Ed is simply a puppet - he can either be filled with "Izzy's" poison, or Stede's "goodness." He has no agency, because it's too hard. It's too complicated. It would be too much for Ed to be a complex, morally flawed character who grows and changes for the better, and it would be so hard to write him having his happy rom-com story. So it's better to just simplify all that complexity, right? Forget the trauma Ed endured, forget the trauma he inflicted, forget his depression and his mania. Izzy fed him poison. Izzy made him Blackbeard. Let's just leave it at that. Except that's not the story they wrote, is it. If Izzy made him Blackbeard, fed Blackbeard, wanted Blackbeard, needed Blackbeard, then why does he almost never call him Blackbeard? Consistently, since episode 2, it's a constant stream of "Edward", "Ed" and "Eddie" and we're supposed to believe it was Blackbeard he was after? Speaking of Izzy, his arc is the cruelest of all. And no, I'm not salty that he died. I am beyond disappointed that he died in the arms of his abuser, that his last act was to not only absolve his abuser of all responsibility, but to take it on as his own, and that David Jenkins seems to think that this is a good end to his story.

At this juncture it's important to say that Izzy Hands is very clearly a victim of abuse - physical and emotional. It has however become abundantly clear David Jenkins and many fans of the show do not see it that way. Why? Is it because he's a man? Because he does not act like some preconceived notion of an abuse victim acts? Because it's possible that he "brought him on himself"? Is it really possible for anyone to bring that level of violence on themselves? He experiences the most growth of this season, yes, but as we've established the bar is very low, and he was not given the chance to flourish like it first seems. He does not remove himself from the abusive situation. He is confronted about it, he lashes out in panic, and he is consoled, but he still cannot admit to it. That one moment of care allows him to distance himself from Edward - just a little bit. It allows him to stop enabling Ed, and to stand up for the crew. Not himself, the crew. He is just as selfless and as blind to his own needs as ever.

When Edward shoots him in the leg he screams for death. When Edward confronts him again, he surrenders to the fact that he is not loved, or wanted, and he tries to kill himself. He does not survive for himself, or of his own volition. He survives because the crew makes him survive - they try to hide him, they cut off his festering leg, they make him a wooden one, they allow him to lean on them (physically and implicitly emotionally) for support. He begins to heal, but he does not fully get there. He still loves Edward. We see it in his desperation to know what Ed told Stede about him. We see it in the way he approaches Ed, hoping for a moment of his time. He never reckons with the fact of his own abuse. He tells himself a shark took his leg. His dying act is to apologise to his abuser, to blame himself. He lets Edward go not for his own sake, but Edwards'. He lets go of Edward, and he says he wants to die, just like he did when Edward shot him, just like he did when Edward talked to him after that. He hasn't healed. While Ed's and Stede's fatal flaw is their selfishness, Izzy's has always been his selflessness, and that is still true. He still loves the man who hurt him beyond comprehension, he still gives his life - takes away his guilt and gives him the family he earned for himself - so that man can be happy without him. He literally dies for Edward's sins. He is denied the opportunity to ever live for himself. He was given the beginnings of healing, a home and, a family; one party and a swan song.

#ofmd #our flag means death #ofmd spoilers #Izzy Hands #Edward Teach #Stede Bonnet #tw sui ideation #this post is much longer than I thought it would be whoops

[rise-my-angel]

'BuT NeD ThInKs PoSiTiVeLy Of RhAeGaR' Ned thinks of Rhaegar ONCE that he was a man unlikely to visit brothels. From this we can conclude that he was not a sex pest like Robert. How on earth does this inform of Ned's personal feelings though? Ned is comparing Robert and Rhaegar and thinking in factual terms. Its similar to how he thinks of Aerys killing his father and brother but not once does he express hatred against Aerys. But we do know what he would think of Aerys, its common sense. Even if we go by 'Lyanna was willing' idea, Lyanna still died because Rhaegar impregnated her at 15 and then left her imprisoned without proper healthcare. She died because of Rhaegar's actions. People who use this argument are usually those who don't understand Ned's character very clearly, he is a man who while suffering from ptsd, suppresses painful emotions and feelings.

Ned Stark is SO MUCH more complicated then those people will ever give him credit for. They are desperate to paint him as so easily black and white when he is the most "living in the grey area" man to literally ever exist. They also refuse to give any context to that scene.

Because it isn't really Rhaegar Neds thinking about in that scene, it's Jon. Ned is in a brothel looking for one of Roberts many bastards, and connecting Robert to Lyanna to Rhaegar he wonders if Rhaegar was like Robert in that sense. The question Ned is really asking, is if there is a possibility that there are more people out there like Jon. He's asking himself if he's sure that Jon is alone and comes to the conclusion that yes, Rhaegar probably didn't sleep around like Robert and this comes to the conclusion that the only secret child of Rhaegars is in fact, still Jon.

But it's like you said, Ned strongly buries his true emotions deep down. He is a very traumatized man who has never truly gotten past the point in his life where his sister died in front of him. Ned is still trapped in that room and the haunting smell of blood and roses. Ned was described as catatonic for a while after Lyanna died and he never truly came out of that emotionally. He keeps everything inside very deeply and is utterly haunted with that upcoming trauma once the main story starts. His every action in Kings Landing is rooted in that trauma of what happened to Lyanna and the deep fear of what will happen to Jon. Everything he does in Kings Landing is about that, Neds priority in the story, is Jon. That dicates everything he does in the main plot because he is deeply traumatized and terrifed of what will happen to his son.

There's even a strong argument to be made that had Robert never come to Winterfell and involved the Starks directly within the dealings of the Crown, that Ned wouldn't ever have let Jon join the Nights Watch. That agree or disagree with letting him, that a big reason he allows it, is out of the fear of Jon being anywhere near the people Ned's spent Jons entire life protecting him from. That Ned would rather Jon be in the Nights Watch, then hunted down and murdered by Robert.

Ned the entire story and half of his life has been burying very deeply rooted trauma of what happened to Lyanna, and has been motivated that same time to put Jon as one of his biggest priorities right up until his death. But because he keeps this all buried deep inside, its easy for people, mostly Rhaegar defenders, to paint him as black and white, a bad father, a mindless soldier with no autonomy outside of Robert, a selfish man.

Ned Stark is one of the best written characters in recent literature, theres a reason he's still remembered and talked about to this day, and it is certainly not because he is as black and white as Rhaegar stans desperately try to slander him as.

#if i asked a random person what series is ned stark from #theyd probably be able to at least say game of thrones #if i asked a random person what series rhaegar targaryean is from #id bet most random people couldnt tell me or at best would make a lucky guess #game of thrones #a song of ice and fire #asoiaf #ned stark #eddard stark #anti rhaegar targaryen #anti rhaegar x lyanna #anti rhaegar stans #anti targ stans #anti targaryen

[esther-dot]

Idk how to explain it in better terms but the fact that Jaime focuses more on wanting to be perceived as good than actually doing good is a huge turn off for me and the reason why I don't believe grrm is writing a redemption arc for him.

So, here's a definition of redemption arc,

What exactly is a Redemption Arc? It's a type of character development in which your protagonist starts bad and becomes good in the end, often culminating in a heroic act that atones for their past

And I agree with you. His story won't fit the above. Jaime is bitter that doing the right thing is viewed the way it is by Westeros, and we can understand why he's angry, but I haven't seen any genuine regret about trying to kill Bran, for example, and kid killing is a big no-no, so imo, the flow of the story hasn't been to move Jaime from morally bad to morally good the way that expression implies.

In fact, in AFFC, he's talking about how he would have killed Arya and threatens to trebuchet a baby. When we have Ned's horror over Elia and her kids' deaths, over how the Hound murdered Mycah, his refusal to participate in the assassination of Dany, and his decision to risk his life/jeopardize his family by committing treason to protect Jon, I think we know Martin hasn't moved Jaime over into his "good" column. Our perception of his infamous act evolves, but that's not the same thing as Jaime changing.

What I think is so often perceived as a redemption arc is merely that Martin engaged our sympathy for Jaime later in the series and fans equate understanding/caring for a character with moving them into the "good" category rather than accepting that Martin routinely does this. The Hound, Tyrion, Theon...he calls them all villains, but at one point or another, we get tragedy and suffering in their lives That leads fans to conclude that the Hound and Tyrion are actually decent people, when by any objective standards, they aren't. The point isn't to move them from villain to hero, it's to offer believable explanations for why they are who they are, do what they do, and make them dynamic characters. Embracing the idea that good and bad impulses can exist in the same person, that the same person can be brave and kind as well as murderous and cruel, that's not too big of an ask. And imo, it's a shame fans want to use one to negate the other.

Even Jaime killing Aerys which kinda seems heroic is shaded by not only his greater loyalty to his family, but his own feelings about Aerys, and part of his memory is how he stood by while Aerys committed other cruel acts. In killing Aerys, he saved countless people, familial loyalty or no, it was the right thing to do, but we have all the rest of the series showing us, doing what is right really isn't of the utmost concern to Jaime. His loyalty is to his family of origin, he has an obsession with Cersei, and doesn't even seem to care much for his own children which again, I think indicates that as layered as he becomes with each new book, it's a misread to settle on the idea of redemption/good guy.

Fans think he's gonna kill Cersei as that final redemptive act, but to me that feels like looking at things from a Cersei hater perspective, not Jaime's. The man has been written as rather, disinterested in acting on a right/wrong spectrum, and is generally more concerned with family, it seems a little unreasonable to think a suitable ending for him is to reject that because how would such a man continue? He needs peace with his decisions, what he does has to flow from the essence of who he is, so it seems more likely to me that his end is dying with Cersei. That isn't redemption in the eyes of the fandom, but I think it could very well be redemption for himself. He has that nightmare about Rhaegar blaming him for Elia and the children's deaths, his own children may all die, there is nothing he can do about that, but going to their mother, the person he was faithful to his entire life, who is essentially his life partner/wife, it allows him to be truly loyal when all others think him faithless, and as annoying as some will find it, I think it gives him his own form of honor.

I wrote once about thinking he would die with Cersei:

I'm ok with Jaime deciding his fate is to be with Cersei, in birth, in life, even in death. As I thought it worked in the show, returning to Cersei in the books will likewise mean he is able to have some self-respect. I don't think you can read his, I mean, I would say Cersei obsession and believe he'd ever have any peace of mind if she died alone while he had to go on living. (link)

In that post I linked to meta about that and a great write-up on Jaime that I think you'll enjoy!

#dot chat #anti jaime lannister #(just to be safe) #anti asoiaf fandom #asoiaf speculation

[poorshadowspaintedqueens]

Didn’t Robert Baratheon invalidate his own claim by pardoning Tywin, Gregor and Lorch after murdering Elia and her children, as well as rewarding the Lannisters for their treachery? How is that different to Aerys’ tyranny?

As is so often the case in these matters...it depends on who you ask.

People can split hairs all they want about inheritance and succession, but it wasn't Robert's Targaryen connections that got him the throne. It was the fact that a coalition of powerful lords agreed that he should be king, and were willing to put themselves and their armies on the line to push his claim. Robert became king by right of conquest as soon as he killed Rhaegar at the Trident. It may not have been as dramatic as the Field of Fire, but the basic premise is the same. See also Henry of Richmond becoming king of England in 1485 after King Richard III was killed in battle.

That being said, although Robert was king de facto, he was still not king de jure. He hadn't been officially crowned and anointed, he did not occupy the capital city of King's Landing, and he was unable to sit on the Iron Throne. All three of those symbolically important elements still applied to Aerys, and Aerys still had two male heirs: Rhaegar's son Aegon, and his own son Viserys.

It is also worth remembering that, for the majority of the Rebellion, the Lannisters did not explicitly declare for one side or the other. Tywin had decamped to Casterly Rock after the tourney at Harrenhal and, so far as we know, did not leave his lands until his army marched along the Gold Road to King's Landing. He must already have left Casterly Rock before the Battle of the Trident, considering how long a march it would have been, so it's not actually clear whose side he intended to join. If Rhaegar had managed to win the battle, I'm certain Tywin would have deferred to him, especially since it's hinted that he intended to depose Aerys. But that isn't what happened.

Instead, Tywin found himself in the unenviable position of having to prove his loyalty to a new regime after having spent two decades propping up the old. He may well have even engineered the sack of King's Landing in part to cover up his plan to kill Rhaegar's children, perhaps intending to make their deaths look like collateral damage. (Though I might be giving him too much credit here.)

Tywin offers Tyrion this explanation for his choice to sack King's Landing in A Storm of Swords:

We had come late to Robert's cause. It was necessary to demonstrate our loyalty. When I laid those bodies before the throne, no man could doubt that we had forsaken House Targaryen forever. And Robert's relief was palpable. As stupid as he was, even he knew Rhaegar's children had to die if his throne was ever to be secure. Yet he saw himself as a hero, and heroes do not kill children [...] I grant you, it was done too brutally. Elia need not have been harmed at all, that was sheer folly. By herself she was nothing.

Tywin isn't wrong, at least not about Robert's image of himself. Robert is willing to have children die on his orders (c.f. Daenerys in AGOT), and Ned's narration confirms that he certainly didn't express any guilt about the deaths of Aegon and Rhaenys ("I see no children, only dragonspawn," etc). We know Ned--and a number of others on the coalition side--pushed for Robert to have Tywin executed, or sent to the Wall for his war crimes. So why didn't he? Even Machiavelli would have advised that he do so.

In Chapter 7 of Il Principe [The Prince], Niccolò Machiavelli offers a striking fanboy anecdote about Cesare Borgia's conquest of the Romagna. He describes the man Cesare appointed to establish order across the province as "a cruel and vigorous man, to whom he gave absolute powers," and relates that "in short order this man pacified and unified the whole district, winning thereby great renown" (21). However, as soon as the job was done,

the duke decided such excessive authority was no longer necessary, and feared it might become odious; so he set up a civil court in the middle of the province, with an excellent judge and a representative from each city. And because he knew that the recent harshness had generated some hatred, in order to clear the minds of the people and gain them over to his cause completely, he determined to make plain that whatever cruelty had occurred had come, not from him, but from the brutal character of the minister. Taking a proper occasion, therefore, he had him placed on the public square of Cesena one morning, in two pieces, with a piece of wood beside him and a bloody knife. The ferocity of this scene left the people at once stunned and satisfied.

Even if he was reluctant to punish the lord of the Westerlands, Robert could easily have had Gregor Clegane and Amory Lorch either executed or sent to the Wall. They were, after all, the ones with literal blood on their hands, even though it was clearly on Tywin's orders. I doubt that would have fully mollified the Martells, but it would have at least been a basic show of good faith. But Robert not only pardoned all of them, he then rewarded Tywin with a marriage alliance and the prospect of his grandchildren on the throne. Machiavelli would not have approved.

Now, Robert insists to Ned that this was Jon Arryn's idea, and we know Jon was also the one who travelled all the way to Sunspear to return the bones of Lewyn Martell. But one has to wonder how different things might have looked if the Lannisters had been made to answer for their crimes.

But the question in the ask was: Does this invalidate Robert's claim? And the answer there is no. It does not. He had already won, for all intents and purposes. Now, while these actions do not invalidate his claim to the throne, they do win him a number of enemies, and they succeed in alienating Robert's staunchest ally and best friend.

#asoiaf #asoiaf meta #robert baratheon #aerys ii targaryen #jon arryn #tywin lannister #robert's rebellion #niccolò machiavelli

[ilynpilled]

also, in her converation with Ned, cersei outright TELLS him that Jaime would kill Robert if he knew how Robert abused her (fuck robert i hope he's rotting). and Robert knew it too which is why all his bruises were generally weren't on her face where people, specifically including Jaime, could see.

This is her exact quote: "Jaime would have killed him (Robert), even if it meant his own life"

that's probably one of the reasons why she doesn't tell him. she was in an awful, awful situation and it reflects the situation of so many other abuse victims across the world. it's not fair that she should have to keep this from her own family and worry about what her brother would do, but if he DIDN'T do anything...what kind of a person would he be? just look at Aemon the Dragonknight as a prime example

regarding this post: link

yeah thats the quote they refused to take at face value when almost everything about his characterization indicates that it would be the case.

i think when it comes to the discussions of much of this the dissonance comes from not confronting that this society refuses to acknowledge marital rape as rape. i do not have the quote at hand (@/georgescitadel might have it) but george himself has expressed that marital rape as a concept doesnt exist in medieval society. that is why it makes sense that while jaime is aware that robert “claimed his rights”, he does not recklessly murder him for it in rage unless cersei gives the word (again, we already know he is ready to do it after he sees that robert is disrespecting her by cheating on her and proceeds to ask her if she wants him dead for it. but like you pointed out, cersei understands that if he saw evidence of physical abuse he likely would not ask for permission and potentially get himself killed.) this is because arranged marriages are treated as a norm in which conjugal rape and a man claiming his rights is not really acknowledged or understood (more like confronted tbh) as rape. this is an integral aspect of the patriarchal domination thats present in westerosi society, its woven into its very fabric. women are placed into a role of subordination, again, it is robert’s “right.” and jaime too is unable to conceptualize it as sexual abuse on the level of rape. hence we get quotes like this:

like we know and understand that cersei was repeatedly raped by robert. we know she didnt make anyone kill her. we know what jaime is saying and thinking here is inconsistent and makes little sense if he believes that she was raped.

that other passage suggests that jaime does not fully grasp or know this. and in general society doesn’t for the most part, including most of the victims themselves. “claiming his rights” is not referred to as rape. robert also knows that what he is doing is wrong, especially the part where he is hurting her (theres also the layer of the code of chivalry being completely contradicted), but he refuses to confront it in multiple ways, and i dont think even he fully acknowledges it as rape either even though i refuse to believe that he is not aware of it. cersei’s right to label him a coward. same with ned in that very conversation, he even sees and knows that robert physically hit her, heard her say that she can scarcely bear him touching her, and yet he asks: “a thousand other women might have loved him with all their hearts. what did he do to make you hate him so?”, and cersei also doesn’t give the answer: “he repeatedly raped me.” jaime understands rape as terrible, he shows concern towards brienne, and risks personal harm (and gets it too since he is kicked unconscious because of it) saving her from it, and it is an act driven by empathy, and he even ironically acknowledges that rape can leave someone broken in a way that does not show on the outside. he executes pia’s rapist too, sets a precedent among his father’s men, and recognizes that she’s “scarred” where it does not show: “That’s all she is, a little girl in a woman’s body, scarred and scared.”

and re the present: while i have a sympathy for jaime in the sense that the betrayal that he was confronted with shatters the delusion that he made immense sacrifices for and defined most of his life atp, and the fact that it makes him feel that he was not actually loved by her as well as recontextualizing his most horrible decisions, he should be showing more consideration and empathy (and i am not saying that he is obligated to die for her either. he isnt) and put in the effort to actually place himself in cersei’s shoes and navigate these blindspots that he has (he has the capacity to, again: “they will leave her a cripple too, but inside, where it does not show”). right now, he is extremely bitter, violently even, and can be selfish and misogynistic as hell about it, and i obviously believe that that is something that has to be recognized by readers for what it is.

but still, regarding the rest, i also think ppl dont acknowledge that because of how medieval society operates there is a very skewed perspective and understanding of certain things and how that affects characters. even with rhaella, jaime is disturbed by the physical abuse:

like he doesnt use the word rape like he does with brienne and the bloody mummers, but he obviously hears and sees that the abuse thats happening to rhaella is horrid and hurts her, and feels a need/obligation to protect her. this is why it is not inconsistent at all that jaime would recklessly murder robert without “permission” even if it meant his own life if he saw evidence of physical abuse, but does not do the same for the marital rape/him claiming his rights. in this society it is not viewed as a violation of rights because women do not really have these rights in these circumstances. their purpose is to marry and bear children. rape is mostly understood and recognized as “low born criminals violently raping women”, “knights and soldiers violently raping women when their blood is up” etc, not “nobles in marriages raping their wives when they claim their rights”, or “coerced rape occurring every time nobles use brothels” etc.

and, as you may have noticed, there’s a strong “you’re hurting me” motif with all of this, because no matter what westerosi society normalizes to maintain patriarchal hegemony, it is obviously all an utter violation of human rights that deals immense harm and trauma to women.

#ask #cw rape #cw domestic abuse

[inthehoneymoonwithconnorrk800]

IMAGINE:

If Arya was a Lannister The image does not belong to me. Possible timeline and wording errors, sorry.

-Remember the baby who cried and struggled to survive, thinking it was a boy? Well no, it was a girl.

-The baby survived to Cersei and Robert's peace of mind, both of them finally agreeing on something.

-Cersei had a long list of names, preferably originating from Casterly Rock. Meanwhile, Robert was over the moon. It took about 30 days for him to finally choose a name, Cersei had never been so embarrassed of her lord husband (for the moment).

-The king named her Arya. It turns out that, in those thirty days, he was messaging his lifelong best friend Ned Stark, asking for advice on a good name and how to be a good father. Ned upon reading that the girl was born with black hair like her father and watery eyes (I don't know if Baratheon blue or brown like show! Robert, how do you prefer it?), without hesitation sent him several respectable northern names and one of them was Arya. The king loved it, it sounded like Lyanna. Actually, he planned to call her that but his Lannister wife gave him the most murderous look when he vaguely commented on it, to test the waters.

-Arya Lannister grew up with all the luxuries and attentions of her position. However, the years passed and so did the resentment between Robert and Cersei.

-Arya from an early age, was rebellious. That pleased Cersei, it reminded her of when she was a child, and instead of Tywin forbidding her something, Cersei granted it. So she learned to ride, to train with wooden swords and to know about war strategies. However, Cersei had her limits: like to know how to behave like a lady, to know how to sew perfectly, to present herself with other children of her rank, little things like that.

-Robert loved it, saw the wildness in her blood and imagined that Arya was the daughter he and Lyanna Stark might have had. Arya was teasing, mischievous and enjoyed roaming the halls of the Red Keep.

-Every time Cersei looked at her, she felt a sneer at her strong resemblance to her father. That was when she was about eight to nine years old. Her walk, her tone of voice, her expressions, it was something she couldn't stand. She let him drop out of her "boy" classes despite Robert's protest, following the advice her father Tywin had given her years before.

-"You should act, as well as x lady," "speak as a maiden should," and "is that the best attire you have, call your maids." It was Arya's day to day life.

-But Arya Lannister was proud. When lions do not fight, they hide and continue to fight from another perspective. She ran away, looked for hiding places, begged her father to oppose her mother (unsuccessfully).

To make matters worse, baby Joffrey arrived. He was blond and identical to his mother, to the point that he absorbed all her attention. Arya had annoyed him a little, but then she was glad, she could have more freedom to do what she wanted.

She made all the fuss she could that caught Tywin Lannister's attention. Annoyed, he traveled with Tyrion to reassure his first granddaughter. When it was hinted to become his ward, Cersei's denial was immediate (she knew firsthand her father's cruelty even to his own blood), then, the second idea was for Tyrion to serve as nanny, practically.

The king was amused and agreed to the deal. Not knowing the impact his uncle Tyrion would have on little Arya's life.

Quickly, Tyrion settled in and engaged in wry talks with the young Lannister. They both fled Cersei's wrath, sometimes with her uncle Jaime acting rather strangely around Arya.

When Arya bled, it was the worst day of her life. An ambitious and spiteful Cersei, a cold Tywin and a friendly Robert, were looking to see which would be her best match.

That was when Arya went from being a little girl to being a woman.

#cersei lannister #queen cersei #robert x cersei #got #game of thrones #asoiaf #a son of ice and fire #books #house lannister #lannister #house baratheon #baratheon #robert baratheon #bobby b #game of thrones headcanon #game of thrones imagines #tyrion lannister #tywin lannister #hear me roar #ours is the fury #what if...? #what if...? got #what if...? game of thrones #a song of ice and fire #arya stark #arya #arya lannister #king robert #king robert baratheon

[torturedpoetemotions]

People who say Stede doesn't care about the crew in season 2 or is uniquely careless with them in season 2 compared to season 1 baffle me.

Stede in season 1 can be thoughtless and a little selfish, and often is! But that's tempered by genuine care and a desire to be kind to others as well. Small but pertinent example from season 1? The petrified orange.

Stede outright SAYS he didn't want to give it up, but he still offered it to Jim without hesitation, because he felt it was right as it came from their childhood home. I don't think him admitting he didn't want to give it up after they gave it back undermines that, either. If anything, he did something he REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO DO in an attempt to be fair and kind to a member of his crew.

There are a ton of examples like this throughout season 1, where Stede is oblivious to others' needs or feelings until he isn't, until he makes the conscious effort to stop and think and choose to exercise care.

And season 2 shows that this is still very true of Stede. If anything, he puts his needs aside MORE often and faster, with even less hesitation than he did in season 1. Especially when it really matters.

If he didn't care, would Stede have gone straight to Zheng Yi Sao to ask for mercy for the crew's mutiny against Ed? Would he have postponed allowing himself to grieve for Ed in order to RESCUE the very people he thought had killed him?

Like...we moved past that little fact SO fast because of the merman of it all, but genuinely. Let that sink in a bit. STEDE THOUGHT ED'S CREW HAD VIOLENTLY MURDERED HIM. And he still cared enough to see that they were acting out of desperation, and offered no recriminations or condemnation even when Izzy literally asked him for it. He put his grief on hold and came up with a plan to help them all escape execution.

He was also initially willing to go along with exiling Ed from the ship to make the crew feel safe! Even though he clearly didn't want to, at all. All season, all he wanted was Ed back, and yet he put the crew's needs first again. He only asked them to reconsider once he realized Ed would be sleeping alone in the woods, and worked with Ed to make sure all their stipulations were met when they agreed.

He is literally the ONLY person to express direct and obvious concern about Izzy's drinking all season, even when he and Izzy still weren't on the best of terms. He went to Izzy for help becoming a better pirate captain, and I genuinely think that was as much for the crew as it was for Stede himself. After his talk with Ed about how he could repair some of the damage he'd done, Stede immediately sought out someone he thought could help him overcome his own inadequacies and avoid doing more damage there.

He also got rid of the suit despite not believing it was cursed, just to make the crew feel better. He encouraged Ed to find ways to be helpful and rebuild trust with the crew. Convinced him to go along with Calypso's Birthday to help the crew de-stress and have some fun. When he killed Ned Low his first stated reason for that, what was it? "You tortured my crew."

(And his last was "you fucked Calypso's birthday," which we know he knows was just an excuse for the crew to have some fun.)

How does anyone watch all that and think Stede doesn't CARE enough?!

Thinking of others before himself may not be his first instinct all the time, but whose is? And in his case, how the hell would it be? When you've spent your entire life--prior to the last few months at most--never being thought of and being mocked or rejected for your every attempt at reaching out to other people, is it any surprise you'd withdraw into yourself and stop bothering?

So it isn't a skill Stede has built, and it isn't something that comes naturally to him, but it's still one he makes an effort to use. It may not be his first instinct, but it's still what he DOES when he stops and thinks about his actions. That's so important! He cares! On purpose!

#ofmd #stede bonnet #ofmd meta #my meta

[goodqueenaly]

Do you think Viserys should have made Rhaenyra his Hand? Would that have made her succession go more smoothly?

Viserys naming Rhaenyra Hand would have certainly avoided the major problem the king himself created IOTL following Lyonel Strong’s death: given the opportunity to name Rhaenyra as Lyonel’s replacement, Viserys had instead directly empowered the very faction which opposed Rhaenyra coming to the throne. By instead naming Rhaenyra his Hand, Viserys would have given that executive authority to Rhaenyra (and, by extension, the black faction), potentially lessening (though not necessarily removing) the ability of the green faction to act quickly and effectively in crowning Aegon the Elder king. Ned’s tenure (and failures) as Hand demonstrate the power (or lack thereof) a Hand can exercise, especially in a turbulent regime shift; if Rhaenyra had so chosen, she might have, say, immediately detained any pro-green courtiers at Viserys’ death, or publicly proclaimed herself as queen throughout the capital and sent ravens to announce her accession, or staged a quick coronation herself. Viserys might have also cited the precedent of his own father, Prince Baelon, who had served Jaehaerys I as Hand after he had been named the Old King’s heir, in order to justify naming his own would-be heiress to such a position.

At the same time, I would not say that Viserys naming Rhaenyra Hand would have been a panacea to all the troubles of the black faction. For one, the very elevation of a woman to this position at all might have triggered vocal comment, or even outright pushback, on the part of the green faction (as well as potentially those not yet committed to either faction). The track record for women in official positions of power under the Targaryen monarchy up to this point was mixed at best: Queen Rhaenys and Queen Visenya might have sat the Iron Throne presided over the day-to-day running of the government, but the clever Florence Fossoway could only serve as de facto master of coin through her husband Martyn Tyrell, while Queen Alysanne could only advise her husband (and be brusquely reminded of the limits of that power whenever Jaehaerys I so chose). Too, the black faction would not at all have welcomed comparisons between Rhaenyra and Tyanna of the Tower, the sinister mistress of whisperers who had sat at Maegor’s right hand and abetted Maegor in torture and tyranny (until she herself had been murdered by the king). On top of all of this history, moreover, Viserys I himself had come to the throne because he as the most senior male male-line descendant of Jaehaerys I; having passed over a female cousin who might have ruled in her own right, Viserys might have had a more difficult time trying to assert that his daughter and would-be heiress could now have near-royal executive authority.

Likewise, by naming Rhaenyra as Hand, Viserys would have literally brought Rhaenyra into the heart of royal government - which is to say, even more closely in contact with the green faction. Tensions between the green and black factions had grown no softer as Viserys’ reign continued: the quarrel between Rhaenyra’s sons and Aemond at Laenor’s funeral, and the subsequent reactions of both mothers, only expressed the antagonism each faction felt for the other. (Indeed, Viserys IOTL had specifically separated the two factions following Laenor’s funeral precisely to avoid such conflicts.) The sniping and insults traded by both sides at the 127 AC feast IOTL may have, therefore, escalated into open, or more open, violent conflict once the two parties came into more regular contact with each other, had Rhaenyra taken up residence in the Red Keep as Hand. After all, neither Criston Cole (who murdered Lyman Beesbury at the secret council following the king's death IOTL) nor Daemon Targaryen (who arranged the murder of young Prince Jaehaerys, again IOTL) were unwilling to engage in violence, even murder, in the names of their respective factions. 

Nor would such a position have guaranteed that Rhaenyra would have ruled well. Her treatment of Vaemond Velaryon demonstrated her willingness to exercise extrajudicial and violent retribution against someone she perceived as any enemy, while her call for torturing Aemond in the aftermath of the fight at Laenor’s funeral showed a similar attitude extended even toward younger members of the opposing faction. IOTL, Rhaenyra did little better during her brief rule in King’s Landing, overseeing the implementation of “ever more exacting taxes” and severely punishing an increasing number of alleged traitors while planning an elaborate celebration for the investiture of her last Velaryon son as Prince of Dragonstone. It is therefore uncertain whether Rhaenyra would have proved a strong, capable Hand under her father’s reign - and any failure, or perceived failure, during her tenure might have only undermined her claim to take the throne once her father died. 

And all of this is without mentioning that the reason the Dance happened - that is, the conflict between the competing claims of Rhaenyra and Aegon the Elder - would still have been true even if Rhaenyra had been named Hand. The green faction still would have had a colorable argument to claim that Aegon, rather than his elder half-sister, should be acclaimed king at the death of Viserys I, and I very much doubt that the mere naming of Rhaenyra as Hand would have compelled the green faction to shrug and concede defeat. Viserys I himself had created the circumstances of the Dance, and no position in government, no matter how high or powerful, could reverse those circumstances; such a move might have changed how the Dance would have played out, but would not, I think, have stopped the Dance in its tracks. 

#asoiaf meta #rhaenyra targaryen #viserys i targaryen #alternate universe

[kellyvela]

The “Sansa and Lysa = have sisters favoured by their fathers” parallel (if you can call it that) is so funny to me because ned completely ignores sansa and her interests compared to arya. He immediately hires a personal trainer for arya the moment she expresses a slight willingness to learn but he doesn’t even realize that sansa doesn’t play with dolls or that he literally kills her direwolf.

If anything it’s sansa who is dismissed and ignored by her family members to the point where the only close bond she forms in winterfell is with jeyne poole compared to her siblings who all seem to be favorited by another family member (Arya with jon and ned, bran and robb with catelyn and rickon, jon with benjen)

Ned neglecting Sansa is the reason why I hate him. But he was a noble man in a society where lords didn't take care of the children, much less of the daughters. At most, the lords mentored their male heirs at some point. That's why Sansa had a septa, Mordane. But Mordane wasn't the best guardian/tutor for Sansa and Arya, and she was also a woman and a subordinate of Lord Stark. Also take note that Ned was named Hand of the King, a really busy and stressing job, and he was also on a mission to find Jon Arryn's murderer.

Ned also had that corrupted notion of duty that led him to kill Sansa's direwolf.

And more important, our author projected his own relationship with his father in characters like Sam Tarly and Sansa. Both of them have fathers that didn't understand them, Sam got it way worse, of course.

On the other hand, Ned is traumatized by what happened with her late sister Lyanna, and since Arya reminds him of her, he is more empathetic with his younger daughter and her interests. Arya looks like Lyanna and Brandon and has the wolf blood that took both to the death, so Ned was afraid that Arya's impulsiveness lead her to a grave as well. He never imagined that it would be his obedient and dutiful daughter the one that would emulate Lyanna in defying her father pursuing an unwhorthy blonde prince. He never see the wolf blood in Sansa.

Ned was wrong about all of that and he failed Sansa. And when he realized what he has done to her was too late, and the only thing left was dying for her.

Now, I wouldn't say the rest of the Starks ignored Sansa. Catelyn often dismissed the maid to brush her hair. Arya spent most of her time with her being annoying. Bran, despite calling Sansa's interests "stupid" (similar to Arya), seems to be Sansa's fave brother. Rickon was a baby, we don't know much about Robb, but Sansa idolizes him as the rest of the Starklings. But Jon Snow was always observing her from afar, that's why we know he knows about Sansa's love for stories of chivalry and courtly love and he didn't call that "stupid." He seems to appreciate that of her. He also longed for Sansa to consider him more than just her "half brother," like the other Starks did.

But yeah, I go your point, she really was the different sibling of the family; you can see it with Lady, the prettiest, smallest and most trusting of the pack, like Ned sadly realizes moments before killing the wolf.

#anon asks #sansa stark

[babybatscreationsv2]

Marked ch 4

Marvel | Starker

When Tony's soul marks first appeared he was afraid he wouldn't be good enough for his soulmate. When Peter's marks appeared he was afraid of what the blood and bruises meant. Now they're left dealing with the consequences of a dangerous lifestyle and a lot of distrust.

Warnings: violence, murder

It felt weird inviting the man into his apartment. He was a complete stranger and yet sitting across from him felt like the most natural thing in the world. Their souls really did know each other. Peter was nervous, sure, but it felt right to be here with him. Yet, it felt so strange. Truth be told, he didn't know how he felt. He felt too many things all at once.

Peter looked at Tony from across the coffee table. He looked so out of place on his faded second hand couch. Him and Ned had gotten it off of Craigslist. Same with most of the other furniture here. The stained coffee table between them held a stunning bouquet of flowers. Nothing about the scene added up in Peter's head.

"How did you find me?" He asked. His voice interrupted the silence, but it did nothing to dissolve the tension.

"It's what I do," he answered plainly. Peter could see how guarded he was. Even his voice was masked. Just the way he sat as if claiming the couch, leaning casually against the arm, it was all calculated to give a certain impression.

"You find people?" Peter raised his eyebrows. "What are you, a detective?"

Tony smiled. "Not exactly."

Peter took a breath. He clasped his hands together. "Everyone thinks you're trouble. Ned and Mr. Octavius. I don't even dare show my aunt the bruises."

"I'm sorry about that. I'll try not to get punched in the face next time." He smiled apologetically.

"Did someone attack you?"

"Would that bother you?" His voice remained measured but Peter caught the excitement in his eyes. Still, he didn't know this man and he wasn't going to be talked in circles.

Peter scowled. "Has anyone ever told you that it's rude to answer a question with a question?"

Tony smirked. "It's a good way to get answers though isn't it?"

"And I suppose you're in the business of getting answers, too?"

"Now you're getting closer."

Peter ran his palm down his thigh. He hoped he wasn't visibly sweating. They weren't getting anywhere and if anything the tension felt worse. "Yeah, it would bother me. Just like it bothers me when they all tell me you're trouble. But that's crazy because I don't even know you."

Tony sat back. "I feel the same way. Only I know a lot about you and I guess that's not really fair is it?"

"No, it's not."

His mouth twitched like he might smile again. He was an awfully smiley person for someone covered in scars. "What do you want to know?"

"Everything."

"Why don't we start smaller scale?"

"What do you do for work?"

"Something else."

Peter rolled his eyes. "Fine. Where do you live?"

"Manhattan," he answered too simply.

Peter narrowed his eyes.

"I have a condo," he relented. "I've lived there about six years, it's a fairly new building. Of course I move around a lot anyway."

"For work?"

"You're not ready to know what my job is, Peter." The first real frown crossed his face.

"You're an assassin?" He said it like he was teasing, but he half meant it.

Tony leaned forward. His expression was firm, serious, urging Peter to take him in. "I'm never going to lie to you. So I need you to stop asking for now."

Peter sat back in his chair. "So they're all right about you then. You're not a champion boxer."

Tony laughed. "Is that what you thought?"

"It's what I wanted to believe, but I'm not stupid. I wanted to believe it was paint on my hands, but I know blood when I see it. And you're covered in a lot of it sometimes."

"You know a lot about blood, do you?"

"I fall down a lot."

"Is that how you got that scar on your knee?"

He nodded. "Tired to jump a staircase." He grimaced.

"Why?" Tony laughed.

Peter shrugged. "One of my friends said I couldn't. Guess he was right."

"Sounds like you need better friends."

"Do you have many friends?"

Tony thought for a moment. "Not many, but the ones I keep are loyal."

Peter huffed a laugh and shook his head. "Everything you say is so ominous."

He smiled softly. "I'm not making a very good first impression."

"No, it is good. You seem like someone who doesn't usually get nervous." But he was nervous about talking to Peter and nothing could be more flattering.

Tony just looked at him. He looked as if Peter had seen into his soul. Maybe he had. Maybe that was how all of this worked. He wanted Tony to see him, too.

"Let me take you out."

"Like a hit?" Peter drew back in mock surprise. "I was right!"

Tony smiled. "I'll pick you up tomorrow after work. We'll have dinner."

Peter crossed his arms. "Will we?"

Tony held out his hand in appeasement. "Excuse me. Would you please join me for dinner tomorrow?"

Peter smiled. "I would be honored, Tony."

----------

He had to make the right impression. Something impressive, something honest, something Peter would enjoy. He was used to simple things. That didn't mean he wouldn't enjoy a grand gesture. Besides, Tony liked expensive things. Dressing down and taking the guy out for a cheese burger wasn't his regular type of outing. Not if he was looking to have a good time.

He put on a suit, but left the tie behind as a compromise. The restaurant he'd made their reservation at didn't require them, but he was certain it was still a nice place. Definitely outside of Peter's budget. He had to admit it was thrilling to know he had the honor of treating his soulmate to all the things he'd been missing in life. Fancy food, expensive clothes, he'd give him everything. But he had to do it right. Desperate wasn't a good look on anyone. Or was it? Maybe Peter was into that. Damn, he hadn't been so nervous since he had to tell his dad that he crashed the Ferrari. At least this was guaranteed to have a better outcome. They were soulmates after all. He'd never seen soulmates that didn't work out in the end.

Tony took a last look in the mirror. The sight of his aging face made him hesitate. Peter was giving up a lot by choosing an old man. What could they possibly have in common with an almost 30 year age gap? Yikes. He sighed. His head fell forward, hanging down between his shoulders.

On his forearm little black lines began to appear. They swirled around and twisted into the shape of a rose. Then a sunflower. He couldn't help but smile. Who was he to decide for Peter that he wasn't good enough? He was happy. He was excited for their date. That much was clear. So, what the hell?

He took the elevator down to the garage. Steve and Bucky were hanging out, two of the few allowed anywhere near his home.

"Good luck, tonight," Steve called.

"I look alright?" Tony did a turn before he passed them.

Bucky looked at his watch. "You got time to change?"

"Watch it, Barnes."

"You look great, Tones. Go get him," Steve called. "Just don't lay it on too thick. You'll scare him off."

"Glad you're both so supportive," he scoffed.

"Happy to help, boss."

Tony climbed into the car and started the engine. He wrapped his hands around the wheel giving himself a moment to relax. It was practically a done deal yet the anxiety wouldn't leave him. He'd dreamed about having a soulmate once and he'd given up on it. He couldn't mess this up.

He left early. Maybe too early. Peter wasn't outside yet when he pulled up in front of rec center. A few kids were wandering out the door. He hoped Peter wasn't far behind. He found a spot to park on the street and sat with his leg bouncing impatiently. The awkward phase couldn't last forever, right? He couldn't believe he was nervous, but then again when was the last time he actually wanted to impress someone?

When Peter came outside, Tony's heart skipped a beat. He grabbed the handle of the car door and stepped out. Peter smiled when he saw him. He had a gym bag on one shoulder and his hair was damp. The outfit was barely going to make the dress code for the restaurant, but no one was going to say anything to the man on Tony Stark's arm. Still, he was gorgeous.

Tony walked around the car and met him on the sidewalk. "Ready to go?"

Peter nodded. His cheeks were blushing the prettiest pink. "You look great," he said.

"You look amazing," Tony answered. He took a step back and grabbed the door handle to open it for him. It was so sweet the way he blushed and ducked his head as he clambered into the car.

"How was work?" Tony asked as they pulled away from the curb.

"The kids wanted to play dodgeball, today." He laughed. "There's always the one kid, Grayson, who's afraid of getting hit."

Tony smiled. "Sounds like a sweet kid."

"Yeah, they're all great. Some of them have problems at school. Or at least their parents keep saying they do, but I don't see it. They're good kids."

"Maybe you bring out the best in people."

"Nah, I don't think it's me," he said, but he turned his head towards the window as if he were embarrassed. "What did you do today?"

Tony hesitated, realizing that the honest answer was wait for you to get off work. "Lots of boring phone calls."

"Must be nice to get out of the office then." He caught Peter looking at him, trying to gauge his reaction. He couldn't help but smile. He was too curious for his own good.

They pulled up to the restaurant and Peter gaped. "Here? I've never been here before."

"I thought a first date deserved something special."

"I'm not really dressed for this place. Don't they have a dress code?" He looked at the crowd walking into the building. "Everyone's wearing a tux. I can't go in like this."

"Hey, am I wearing a tux?"

Peter looked at him. "Well no, but still..."

"Trust me, alright?"

"Okay..."

Tony stepped out of the car and left the door open for the valet. The man greeted him and stood patiently to the side as another valet ran to open Peter's door. Tony offered his arm to the blushing young man. Even dressed down as he was, he was still far more beautiful than anyone else there. Even as they entered the building and walked beneath a dazzling gold and silver chandelier and over white marble embedded with gold and past a water fountain with shimmering orange and yellow fish, Peter was the most beautiful thing in the room.

The hottest spotted Tony and quickly stepped up to greet them and lead them to a table. Tony preferred the tables that were tucked against the far wall. There was a fire exit nearby if needed and they were more quiet than the tables at the center. She led them over to one before disappearing, only to be replaced by the sommelier. He'd barely spoken when Tony realized how overwhelmed Peter was.

"We'll pass on wine for now, thank you," Tony said. The man gave a small bow and hurried away. Peter visibly relaxed.

"You don't drink?" Peter asked.

"I thought you might like a moment to settle in. Someone will be by with fresh bread, they won't mind taking our drink orders."

"I'm okay, don't worry about me."

Tony reached across the table and took his hand. "You don't have to be anything you're not Peter. If this is too much for you, we can leave right now."

"No, I love it! I've just never been to a place like this before." He ducked his head a bit. It was so enticing watching him speak with his lips nervously bitten red, looking up through his lashes. He was beautiful in pictures, but in person he was enchanting. "Maybe you could order for me?" His laugh was self-deprecating. "I can barely read the menu, it's all in French."

Tony paused, debating whether or not to tell him that it was actually Italian. He looked so uncomfortable already.

"You're in good hands," Tony promised with a squeeze to his fingers. He took his hand away as the promised bread arrived. The comfort of warm bread seemed to help Peter relax. Tony led the conversation, keeping to light and easy topics. Peter talked so easily once he was relaxed and his inability to stay on topic was charming. He said every thought that came into his head and he didn't seem to know how unusual that was. No wonder everyone adored him.

They were getting their meals in front of them when Peter frowned. He was looking over Tony's shoulder.

"Do you know that guy?"

Tony turned to look. His heart caught in his throat. Fuck. That cheap suit and greasy hair. Quentin's people were here. He turned back and spared the dining room another glance. Sure enough, three more pairs of eyes were on them. Mother fucker.

He took out his phone and sent Happy a quick SOS. On the outside, he kept his expression calm. He put his hands flat on the table so they wouldn't shake.

"Peter, listen." Peter's eyes met his. He watched them wide slightly as he caught on to the grim energy surrounding them. "Remember how I can't tell you what I do for a living?"

He nodded.

"That's because it's bad. I didn't want you to think less of me before you even got the chance to know me. But I need you to trust me now. Can you do that?"

Peter glanced behind him again. "Tony what's going on?"

"Don't look at them, look at me." He paused while Peter turned his eyes back to Tony's face. "Can you trust me, Peter?"

"Of course. But what-"

"Get under the table," Tony cut him off. There was Quentin. He'd been sitting at the back of the room hidden behind a woman in a wide brimmed hat. He stood now, sharing a slimy smile with her as he walked towards their table. They were surrounded.

"What?"

"Down. Now!" Tony pulled the gun from his jacket, adrenaline pulsing through his veins. He upended the table and Peter sunk down, using it to block them both in. Their backs were to the wall and either side was Quentin and his people.

Tony shot the guy at the back, the one Peter had been staring at. The first shot was good, but the panic in his heart had the second going wide as he shot at the next guy. He'd never felt like this before. Was he having a panic attack?

He looked at Peter, crouched low, trying to make himself small even though he was all gangly limbs. He wouldn't let anything happen to him. Not to him. No matter what.

Shot hit against the table and the wall behind them. Tony took a breath to slow his racing thoughts. There was a fire exit behind Quentin. He would have men at the door in case Tony got out. And a car for a quick getaway. Getting out wasn't going to work. But Tony had loyal bodies in the kitchen. That's why he came here.

He grabbed Peter's arm. Peter looked at him with terror. "Listen to me, you listening?"

Peter nodded. It worried him that the man wouldn't speak, but there wasn't time for worry.

"I'm going to draw them away. When you see an opening, run for the kitchen. Tell them Tony Stark said they're to protect you. Understand?"

He nodded again. Then he swallowed. "Yeah, okay."

"You'll be alright. I promise." It hurt to fail like this. To fuck up such an important moment. He didn't know how he was going to fix this, but he'd find a way. For now, he just had to get them both out alive.

Tony looked over the table. A shot grazed his forehead and landed in the wall behind him. He fired once at the guy left blocking the kitchen and he went down. Then he looked at Quentin. Just him and three of his men. None of Tony's had made it in yet. There must have been fighting outside.

He vaulted over the table and used the next to jump over the dividing wall that separated the back dining area from the front. A hail of bullets followed him just a hair too slow, but he swore he felt the heat of them at his back. He spared a glance to make sure they followed him, but he didn't dare look at Peter and risk reminding them that he wasn't alone.

Another shot, another one down, but he was still outnumbered. Where the fuck was Happy?

#starker #marvel #mafia au #soulmarks au

[nedhardy]

Idiot

#murder on the ned express #nancy drew games #clue crew #her interactive #last train to blue moon canyon

[hamliet]

Rereading A Clash of Kings

In light of my recent Fire & Blood reread, I decided to reread the whole ASOIAF series because, well, why not. Below are some general observations/musings on the themes, character arcs, alchemy, and foreshadowing of book 1. I’ll do this for the others as well. It’s not really a meta so much as observations and thoughts.

Thoughts on A Game of Thrones here.

Themes

Duty vs Love

"Do you want to be loved, Sansa?" "Everyone wants to be loved."

"I see flowering hasn't made you any brighter," said Cersei. "Sansa, permit me to share a bit of womanly wisdom with you on this very special day. Love is poison. A sweet poison, yes, but it will kill you all the same."

Incorrect.

But actually, it's not so simple. Yes, love makes you weak to a degree, but love also restores, and a loveless existence is something that turns you into Cersei. Not a good thing. Stannis, too, doesn't need to be loved, and this will destroy him.

However, all of our heroes mention wanting to be loved. Tyrion pays Shae to pretend she loves him. Sansa wants to be loved. Daenerys wants to be loved. Arya even thinks it. Theon desperately wants love from his father, and does terrible things to get it.

Catelyn also betrays her own son to free Jaime out of love--love for her daughters. She utterly throws duty away for love, which is very understandable, and yet also something that is going to contribute to the Red Wedding in the next book.

Identity and Illusions

A key element of Romantic literature is focusing on the internal, not the external. Part of that includes a focus on the self: who am I? where do I fit into the world? Y'know, that Jungian and human stuff.

A Clash of Kings focuses on that to an extreme, deconstructing the assumptions the characters have about themselves.

We have Catelyn at her childhood home in Riverrun, watching her father's life flow out. She angsts about her role as a mother, and loses more and more children. Robb is a king now, and their roles are now reversed to a degree: he gives her orders, not the opposite. Her sons Bran and Rickon are "killed." Arya and Sansa are lost. In the end, she becomes a traitor, the thing Ned was falsely executed for, against her own son.

Arya chooses many new names for herself. She never felt like she fit in as a girl, so at the start of the book, she's a boy named Arry. When Yoren and the others are killed, she adopts the name Weasel, named for a real girl who ran off into the woods and hasn't been seen since. There's longing here: Arya sees herself in the child, who grieved openly and loudly and annoyed everyone else but whom Arya couldn't abandon. She gives herself that name, but she still cannot grieve openly. It's not safe.

When you cannot grieve, you turn to vengeance. Arya murders a man in cold blood with her own hands escaping Harrenhal at the end of the book. Hot Pie expresses horror, which yes, is negative framing even if it's not for no reason that Arya did it.

Jon affirms himself as a man of the Night's Watch over and over, but at the end of the book he's told by Qhorin Halfhand that being a man of the NW might mean betraying the Night's Watch. Sometimes, duty itself is betrayal--and of course, it's a change in his identity. He's to infiltrate Mance Raydar's troops. Since Mance too was once a Night's Watchman, it taunts Jon with the possibility of losing identity.

"They only spare oathbreakers. Those who join them, like Mance Rayder." "And you." "No." He shook his head. "Never. I won't."" You will. I command it of you." "Command it? But . . . " "Our honor means no more than our lives, so long as the realm is safe. Are you a man of the Night's Watch?"

But we're also given hints that identity is not always what it seems. Ygritte tells Jon "Be that as it may, what's certain is that Bael left the child in payment for the rose he'd plucked unasked, and that the boy grew to be the next Lord Stark. So there it is-you have Bael's blood in you, same as me." Who is a wildling, and who is a Stark? It's not clear.

Theon is an identity mess in this book. He asserts himself a Greyjoy, but his father mocks him as being a Stark. Even when he's committing atrocities on behalf of House Greyjoy, he does it thinking of... well:

Theon told himself he must be as cold and deliberate as Lord Eddard. 

He keeps waffling about whom he is, and then plays on identity himself. He murders and burns the miller's boys, calling them Rickon and Bran. And he takes Reek into his service, when Reek turns out to be Ramsay Bolton. Reek, of course, is who Theon will become--and it is also who Theon could become. Not the sniveling, pathetic creature Reek, but instead Ramsay himself, if he lets his lack of love from his father consume him.

Sansa, of course, must pretend to be in love with Joffrey, while clinging to her blood as a Stark. She does all she can to stay herself, to believe in knights and kindness, and saves who she can when she can.

Davos, too, has a primary conflict about identity. He is a father, a smuggler, a loyal servant to Stannis because he admires Stannis' justice. But when he sees Melisandre and her demon shadow babies, he clearly wonders whether or not Stannis is still justice, even if subconsciously. After losing three sons in the battle of Blackwater Bay, he's set up to see a conflict between his identity as a father and his position with Stannis.

Tyrion... oof. I've already talked about how he asked Shae to become Tysha, under the delusion that he would be in control this time. He falls for Shae anyways, that is very clear, and everyone gets hurt for it. He hasn't been able to grieve openly for Tysha, and as a result he's stuck in a cycle. Plus, throughout the book he's the one saving everyone in King's Landing, and he still gets the hatred of everyone around him for it. When the novel ends, he's survived battle and an assassination attempt, and he now looks like the monster the people call him. But is he? (No.)

Daenerys... I'll talk more about her in the alchemy section below, but her entire arc is about learning who she is as the last Targaryen. She also learns about what magic is, and how rotten it appears under the surface. The heart in the House of the Undying is "a human heart, swollen and blue with corruption, yet still alive. It beat, a deep ponderous throb of sound, and each pulse sent out a wash of indigo light. The figures around the table were no more than blue shadows. As Dany walked to the empty chair at the foot of the table, they did not stir, nor speak, nor turn to face her. There was no sound but the slow, deep beat of the rotting heart." If you lose yourself in prophecies, you become a shadow of a person.

Look Back or Be Lost

In addition, Dany's prophetic narrative connects strongly to Jon's in terms of themes: sometimes to accomplish goals, you must do something that looks like the opposite of accomplishing your goals. It's all part of the journey. Sounds like a theme that might be emphasized by oh, the hero accidentally burning King's Landing:

"To go north, you must journey south. To reach the west, you must go east. To go forward you must go back, and to touch the light you must pass beneath the shadow."

Still, I do think this indicates that Daenerys's journey ends in the north, not in the south. Quaithe would have otherwise said "to go south, you must go north." And technically, Dany still is going to stop in the east (Essos) before going west (to Westeros). To go forward and be a hero, she'll have to look back. In contract to "if I look back, I am lost," looking back is exactly what will save her in her darkest hour, I believe. While Dany assumes the shadow references Asshai, and it's possible this was once the plan, I think there are lots of other interpretations of this... including Jungian. Symbolically, to be a hero, you have to accept your shadow, or the negative elements, which Dany is absolutely denying in this book with "If I look back, I am lost."

Alchemy

Let's start off with Daenerys and identity. I talked about how A Game of Thrones ends with her reborn as red sun, as opposed to white moon. She then wanders through the Red Waste, which is filled with pools that are "scalding hot and stinking of brimstone." (Brimstone is sulfur.)

The rest of the story is about her encountering white and moon and finding it does not fit her anymore. They stay at an abandoned city "pale as the moon and lovely as a maid." It's abandoned, empty, filled with only loneliness. Then they arrive in Qarth, a white city, only to find it is rotten to the core. Daenerys has to leave the white behind. She's even noted to no longer be comfortable under her old markings:

 Dany's tight silver collar was chafing against her throat. She unfastened it and flung it aside.

Other marking details include Sansa being solidified as white and the moon, with her wearing "a moonstone hair net." However, both Sansa and Arya have been having attempts to dye them red... that aren't good things. Most notably, Arya throwing wine on Sansa's white silk in the first book, and here:

The Lorathi brought the blade to Arya still red with heart's blood and wiped it clean on the front of her shift. "A girl should be bloody too. This is her work."

Arya ends the book after murdering a man thinking that the rain (water) will wash the blood off her hands.

Metals

Robert was the true steel. Stannis is pure iron, black and hard and strong, yes, but brittle, the way iron gets. He'll break before he bends. And Renly, that one, he's copper, bright and shiny, pretty to look at but not worth all that much at the end of the day."

Stannis isn't just iron; he's lead and tin as well. Robert is iron. Renly is copper, the highest of base metals (probably the best to be a king among the Baratheon brothers), but still, well, a base metal.

Oaths

The oaths the Reeds swear to Bran seem to be somewhat alchemical in nature:

"Hearth and heart and harvest we yield up to you, my lord. Our swords and spears and arrows are yours to command. Grant mercy to our weak, help to our helpless, and justice to all, and we shall never fail you." "I swear it by earth and water," said the boy in green. "I swear it by bronze and iron," his sister said. "We swear it by ice and fire," they finished together.

All the colors that had been missing from Vaes Tolorro had found their way to Qarth; buildings crowded about her fantastical as a fever dream in shades of rose, violet, and umber. "On the morrow, you shall feast upon peacock and lark's tongue, and hear music worthy of the most beautiful of women. The Thirteen will come to do you homage, and all the great of Qarth.

Foreshadowing

Again, George's foreshadowing is sometimes odd. Still:

Varys smiled. "Here, then. Power resides where men believe it resides. No more and no less." "So power is a mummer's trick?" "A shadow on the wall," Varys murmured, "yet shadows can kill. And ofttimes a very small man can cast a very large shadow."

This pretty clearly foreshadows f!Aegon, the "mummer's dragon." He's a shadow, which may kill but also is not real because he isn't the actual Targaryen Aegon VI. Tyrion concludes this conversation by asking Varys "who are you?" again hinting that Varys' identity is the key to his motives (he is a Blackfyre).

Arya and Sansa's relationship was troubled in AGOT, but they miss each other. When Arya wishes for King's Landing to be destroyed by water (again water=Arya), she thinks: Sansa was still in the city and would wash away too. When she remembered that, Arya decided to wish for Winterfell instead.

Bran has a crush on Meera for sure: the girl caught him staring at her and smiled. Bran blushed and looked away.

Catelyn thinks to herself: the face of a drowned woman, Catelyn thought. Can you drown in grief? Well, considering what will happen to Catelyn's body after the Red Wedding (being resurrected out of a river)... seems pretty clear foreshadowing.

Lastly, Daenerys's prophecies will get their own section, but another thing of note is that right after Dany's chapter about the blue rose that smells sweet growing from a chink in the ice, Jon's next chapter contains this line from Qhorin to Jon:

Sometimes a man forgets how pretty a fire can be.

Both have beauty associated with the other, along with their primary element.

Prophecies

Oh Seven the chaos. The first visions of Dany in the House of the Undying are obvious--Westeros being ravaged by the war; Robb turning to Dany for justice for the Red Wedding (again, Dany is seen to be a friend, as hope, to/for the Starks, not an enemy).

She then sees two visions of her past, bringing back the "If I look back I am lost" idea. She sees her childhood home with the Red Door, and she sees the dangerous past that she hasn't let herself face yet: her father, Aerys, essentially screaming to burn them all.

Then here's the chaos: Viserys's death, Rhaego (what could have been). Rhaegar's death, saying Lyanna's name.

mother of dragons, daughter of death

Dany has embraced the former, but she also needs to embrace the latter. That doesn't mean becoming a harbinger of death; in fact, facing her legacy of slavery and death (the Targaryen history) means the opposite.

Glowing like sunset, a red sword was raised in the hand of a blue-eyed king who cast no shadow....

A cloth dragon swayed on poles amidst a cheering crowd. From a smoking tower, a great stone beast took wing, breathing shadow fire. . . . mother of dragons, slayer of lies . . .

Oh hi, Stannis and Aegon. Aegon's not a real Targaryen anymore than Stannis is the real Azor Ahai: instead, she has to slay both of their lies.

Her silver was trotting through the grass, to a darkling stream beneath a sea of stars. A corpse stood at the prow of a ship, eyes bright in his dead face, grey lips smiling sadly. A blue flower grew from a chink in a wall of ice, and filled the air with sweetness. . . . mother of dragons, bride of fire . . .

This seems to pretty clearly represent Drogo, Euron, and Jon.

 . . three heads has the dragon . . .

Pretty standard ish? I would guess it's Daenerys, Jon, and Tyrion, though Bran is a possibility.

three fires must you light . . . one for life and one for death and one to love . . .

Okay. Again, I think for life is clearly understood to be Drogo's pyre to hatch the dragons. Death is likely the conflagration to burn King's Landing, even if accidental (my guess is Dany knows some of KL will burn but sets off the wildfyre, but not intentionally). To love is likely to defeat the Others.

three mounts must you ride . . . one to bed and one to dread and one to love . . .

There seems to be debate about whether this applies to literal rides or to Daenerys's love interests. If the former, it would likely be Dany's silver, then Drogon, and then... no idea. This seems likely to me, yet the distinct lack of a third one makes me question whether this is really the accurate interpretation, or if it's intentionally something that can be interpreted either way.

The husband one could be Drogo/Daario, Euron, and Jon. Yes, Euron. I do think Danaerys's struggle in A Dream of Spring will be between love in Jon and power in Euron. Again, the positioning of the ship between the clear Drogo/silver mount and Jon as the blue rose makes me think this is a distinct possibility.

three treasons will you know . . . once for blood and once for gold and once for love . . .

Again, Mirri Maz Duur is likely the first one, and possibly Jorah or the Harpies are the gold, or even Illyrio, or something to do with King's Landing. But the last one is interesting. I think people assume this is Jon killing Dany thanks to That Show, but I think the preposition indicates something that breaks a pattern. She's going to know three treasons. Who's to say she's the betrayed in every instance? "For" implies action, which makes me wonder if Daenerys will "betray" Jon in the endgame to save the world, via not sacrificing him as her love but instead sacrificing herself to save the world and him in it.

Again, the obvious thing is that love is Dany's endgame. Love, love, love. Not choosing ambition over love, Show That Shall Not Be Named.

#a clash of kings #acok #asoiaf meta #a song of ice and fire #daenerys targaryen #jon snow #jonerys #varys #tyrion lannister #arya stark #sansa stark #bran stark #catelyn stark #theon greyjoy #anti got #f!aegon

[spookyfbi]

Maybe it will be cleared up in the next episode but I don’t really get how we’re meant to interpret Stede’s feelings about killing Ned? Like… we know how Ed feels about it, but I feel like Ed is projecting a lot of his own feelings about killing his dad onto Stede and assuming he must be feeling the same way. But like…

For one thing, Ned isn’t Stede’s abusive father. Ned is a serial torturer Stede met 20 minutes ago who has done nothing in the last 20 minutes but torture him and his crew and goad Ed & Stede. But even if that doesn’t matter and taking a life is still taking a life no matter how horrible the person is and how little they mean to you in the scheme of things, it still fucks you up…

But wasn’t the whole point of s1e2 that Stede *didn’t* feel guilty about manslaughtering Nigel Badminton? Like he spent the whole episode haunted by a hallucination of him and you’re meant to think that he’s not taking the ‘murder’ well, but… then it’s revealed that actually Stede doesn’t feel bad that Nigel is dead and his guilt about his death is actually just misplaced guilt over abandoning his family. That’s the guilt he’s been dealing with the whole season and that’s the reason he feels like he deserves to die in Act of Grace.

So… I feel like there’s more going on. I feel like the reason we’re focusing so much on Ed’s interpretation of what he thinks Stede must be feeling is because actually if we were allowed to hear it from Stede we’d find out that something else was going on. I feel like it’s much more interesting if something else is going on.

But I can’t figure out what that something else is. Like, he doesn’t just feel nothing about it, otherwise he wouldn’t just go off to his quarters with that look on his face. He’d just be like ‘oh well, back to Calypso’s birthday’. Is it Ed’s clear disappointment that’s getting to him? Is it Ned’s words about Ed only liking him when he was the bumbling amateur? Why did he jump straight to sex with Ed and why did he have that expression on his face when he did it?

#ofmd spoilers #ofmd #our flag means death #stede bonnet

[schmirius]

@napneeders reblogged your post what if... a different ofmd s2

#THIS WAS A Ride #I love Stede expressing love in the grounded way of murder #and you know. the whole balance of the crew and blackbonnet working things out separately for a bit. etc

<333

[imaginary mid-season] "the whole balance of the crew and blackbonnet working things out separately for a bit"

One thing I kept thinking about with canon 2x05 and 2x06 was how Ed and Stede didn't seem to be *doing* much.

Why was Stede paired with Izzy in 2x05? Why spend a whole episode of narrative time on those two instead of the OTP? (don't wank about the father figure shit don't do it don't do it) Sure, when Stede reunites with Ed at end of ep it's funny when he tells Ed he had a whole A plot without him – but that means Ed is fishing with Fang for an awfully long time. It's a very sweet and important lesson Ed learns about Shutting The Fuck Up Sometimes but his half of the episode feels like an especially missed opportunity to me.

Likewise, in canon 2x06, I felt like they both just... hovered on the edge of Calypso's party, onlooking with vague paternal interest as the kids have a kegger. Supposedly they were the ones who organized it, but come on, they're sassing orphans while the crew do all the shopping, even.

I meant it in the original post: I really do like a lot of things they did mid-season, I just don't think the beats made a lot of sense. So from 2x06, I stole killing Ned Lowe and made it killing someone scarier (Hornigold) in imaginary 2x08; and I stole Stede and Ed boning at inopportune times and made it hornier (reacting to Anne and Mary's insane murder games) in imaginary 2x05.

[imaginary 2x08] "I love Stede expressing love in the grounded way of murder"

:D

Stede *loves* murder, okay. Stede left his wife and kids because he was vaguely aware he might be gay but the thing he left them for was a HIGH MURDER LIFESTYLE, and we should respect his choices. Ed likes him because he is insane. Ed really wants to kiss him after he burns down the French party for him. This is 100% what I want their happily ever after to be.

#replies #napneeders #ofmd s2 #imaginary s2 #:) i love getting to keep thinking about this ty ty

[agentrouka-blog]

"It was Ser Gregor Clegane who smashed Prince Aegon's head against a wall and raped your sister Elia with his blood and brains still on his hands."-Tyrion(ASOS IX). "She heard loud splashing and looked back to see Stranger pounding after her, sending up gouts of water with every stride. She saw the longaxe too, still wet with blood and brains."- Arya(ASOS XI). The way Hound was chasing Arya is really life threatening. Mention of blood and brain is similar in both passage.

It certainly is. 

It doesn’t just connect to Arya, either. There’s a curious and intentional parallel between Aegon and Rhaenys, Arya and Sansa, and Tommen and Mycrella, I believe, which I have looked at in a post before. 

My guess is that both the Stark girls and Cersei’s children are expressing narrative echoes of the horrific ccrime done to Elia and her children. 

The Lannisters are likely facing a cruel narrative punishment visited upon their own innocent children. What Tywin sowed, they will reap. 

The Stark girls escape this fate, because Ned disapproved of the murders, because he argued against murdering Daenerys. (Though because he forgave Robert for the murders, his children do suffer terrible things.)

The original escape of Aegon creates a fascinating twist and a mirror to Jon Snow. What Jon is to Lyanna, Aegon is to Elia: a legacy on the mother’s side that can stand up to the dragon father’s. 

And the boy who died in Aegon’s place - whom Aegon is keen to brush aside as the “pisswater boy” - he is calling for narrative justice, too. Pycelle’s death echoes his, brains bashed in, just as Kevan’s death echoes that of Rhaenys. (stabbed a lot by lowborn children.) The blood and brains of that anonymous child will reappear in Aegon’s arc, when he realizes that a person died in his place, and he has a duty to live up to that sacrifice. 

Honestly, these original child murders are one of the best examples of how GRRM works his long game of narrative balance, reward and punishment. They are the best argument for why the series is neither grimdark nor morally all that grey. No matter how long it takes, there is always a consequence to cruelty.

#parallels #violence #aegon vi targaryen #arya stark #rhaenys targaryen (daughter of elia) #sansa stark #tommen baratheon #myrcella baratheon #narrative balance #narrative punishment #child murder