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mdwatchestv · 7 years

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Game of Thrones 7x06: Run Joe, Run

Woo boy that was A LOT. Like a lot, a lot. In so many different ways. I would even go so far as to describe some elements as 'extra'. Yes there was excitement, action, and feels. I even admit to screaming bloody murder when the zombie bear came from a direction I didn't expect. But when all was said and done I couldn't help but feel a bit...used. This season, although boasting some great moments, has felt undeniably different than previous years. Instead of focussing on building out a world and the characters that inhabit it, the show is now rocketing towards a foregone conclusion. If the world of Game of Thrones is a chess board and we have spent the past several years watching knights and queens slowly slide around the squares jockeying for position, this season is the equivalent of knocking it all to the ground and letting the pieces literally fall where they may. Alternatively, if the world of Game of Thrones was a high-end Barbie collector's basement, this is the season his eight-year-old niece broke in, ripped 1993 Holiday Barbie out of her box and made her make out with 1960 1st edition Ken. And neither of those things are inherently bad, playing with dolls and knocking a boring game on the floor are both entertaining in and of themselves, but they are also a departure from what we have come to expect.

Before this season I never thought about things like "Wait- how many long miles IS Westeros? What is the land speed of a laden Raven? What's the MPH on a dragon? How long by air? How long by sea?" I wasn't worried about the logistics, the tech specs. We had other things to worry about, like battle strategies, familial strain, and tyrannical kings. But now it feels as if the curtain is starting to be pulled aside and we are for the first time seeing the mechanics at work behind the scenes. While there were thrills to be had in this super-sized penultimate outing of season seven, they came at a price. In the after-episode special Benioff and Weiss openly admitted to essentially reverse-engineering the entire episode in order to get the final shock of zombie dragon, rather than letting it be the consequence of an organic series of events. One of the reasons Game of Thrones works so well is that consequences, even the upsetting ones, feel earned. The Red Wedding, for example, tragic as it was, was ultimately palatable because it made sense in the larger story. It was the tangible result of a series of connectable actions, not a gambit for ratings. Often the killing of beloved characters leads fan to become disillusioned with a show because it's done in the service of shock value, rather than organic storytelling. But as major characters drop on Game of Thrones, it only acts to draw the audience in further because it’s done in a way that rewards previous storytelling. The idea that characters are existing in a real world with real stakes and consequences is compelling and rare. Up until this season Game of Thrones never had characters rendered immortal by their series regular contracts, or even clear-cut heroes and villains. Yes, we root for different characters and houses, but at this point no one has a clean moral conscious. Those qualities are exactly what made Game of Thrones so good, and what it is seemingly starting to lose. It's worth pointing out that up until recently the show has had source material to rely on for guidance, and is now having to pick it's own path to the end. Viewer’s theories about the show’s endgame have become increasingly out there, perhaps in response to a world where outcome is not necessarily determined by prior events. For better or worse, anything is possible.

This episode was some moments of interest strung together with moments of "what?!?!?". Let's begin. ZARTF (Zombie Acquisition and Retrieval Task Force), as well as a few randos clearly marked for death, sally forth into the north. This whole episode gave me greatest hits of Lord of the Rings vibes, including "walking in a straight line across a mountain", "being rescued by a giant winged beast at the last second", and "rolling up half dead on a horse". I really gotta carve out 10 hours to rewatch those. To pass the time tromping through the snow our seven "heroes" try and work through their daddy issues (a little late imo), and Jon makes a half-assed attempt to give Longclaw back to Jorah (conveniently failing to mention it's like the only thing that kills White Walkers). The first sign of trouble comes when the group is set upon by a zombie bear! You hate to see that. Some of the red shirts are killed, Top Knot McGillicutty is wounded, and Jorah saves the day with his dragon glass dagger. Which I guess they all have? Or just Jorah? Unclear. This scene is what we like to call in the biz a foreshadowing.

Meanwhile in Dragonstone Dany is mooning over Jon Snow, even though he is a short stack (he IS super little) and ignores Tyrion who is attempting to invent democracy. In their exchange it's reiterated that Dany can never have babies (beyond her dragon babies), making a potential hold on the Iron Throne tenuous at best (Jon is still the *true* heir, but doesn't seem like Bran is going to tell anyone that anytime soon). Dany would rather not talk about any of that though, and would rather crush/not crush on the King of the Short. Speaking of women on the edge, the Sisters Stark are also failing to see eye to eye. After discovering Arya's BAG OF FACES (I have so many questions about the logistics of face wearing, but I am simply too tired to get into it), Sansa is understandably concerned. These concerns are heightened when creepy-ass Arya pops in to play a decidedly threatening game of questions. Arya seems to think Sansa is out to usurp Jon because she is a Cersei-in-training. Sansa thinks Arya is a terrifying demon child. This is a relationship that has also become frustrating centering around a conflict that doesn't ring true. While it's true that Arya and Sansa have become very different young women, there is more that unites than divides them at this point and Arya's extreme aggression towards her sister feels unwarranted. The core characteristic of the Stark family is that they ARE the Stark family. Arya put aside her dreams of Cersei killing in order to reclaim her heritage, and with the pack dwindling the remaining wolves have to stick together now more than ever. Both of these women have been through extreme trauma, both of them have had to make unthinkable choices in order to survive, and both of them have been continually underestimated by their male cohorts. I'm not saying this is a relationship that should not be without conflict, but their animosity lacks nuance. Granted this show doesn't have a lot of experience with complicated female relationships, but Sansa and Arya attempting to reconnect as complex young women in a time of crisis feels like a real missed opportunity.

And I have seen the Twitter theories that say that the two girls are gaming Littlefinger together, that Sansa sending Brienne away (to an I think prematurely scheduled zombie viewing) right after Littlefinger advised her to use Brienne against Arya is concrete proof. As much as I hope this is all true, it just doesn't seem likely at this point. But maybe Sansa's bizarrely abrupt send off of her last loyal subject really was a clue to a larger plot, or maybe it's just an excuse to put Brienne back in Jaime's path to give him a last second shot of moral obligation. I would love nothing more for my pessimistic theories surrounding two of my long time favs to be proven wrong. These two characters, no matter their ultimate fate, deserve the chance at a final team up.

Back up north, our band of brothers conveniently stumble upon a manageable squadron of zombies led by a White Walker. After dispatching the Walker all the zombies but *one* turn into dust. The plan is going smoothly! However the last zombie calls the rest of the hoard and they are well and truly fucked. The group sends good old Gendry to run back to the Wall (an unknown distance) to raven Dany for help, while the rest of the pack becomes stranded on a rock in the middle of an ice lake surrounded by the entire undead army. Here's where I have questions. Question 1: If Ole One Eye and Top Knot McGee can make fire whenever they want, why cant they have a fire on the island? Or at least gather around one of the swords? Question 2: Can the zombies not use bows? It seems like our group would be pretty easy to take down with a couple dozen arrows. Question 3: How long are they waiting/expecting to wait? How long does it take for the raven to get to Dany? More questions to come later. Anyway Top Knot succumbs to his wounds, meaning that One Eye is now on his final life. The Hound, who was pretty useless most of this episode, continues to be useless by alerting the zombie hoard that the ice is safe to walk on. Our party engages in a seemingly hopeless battle against an untold number of assailants, hoping against hope for a dragony miracle to happen.

And it does! Dany swoops in with her brood in the last second, blasting the zombies with fire, and rocking a seriously fabulous white fur coat, to save the day! Not only is her winter wardrobe literally to die for, it also looks like she may have skinned Ghost to make it, symbolizing her new allegiance (romance?) with Jon. I also have to ask at this point why this wasn't the original plan. Dany made pretty good time getting up there, didn't have to tromp through the snow, and likely could have had Drogon pick up a zombie in his talons- all in seemingly less than a day! But I guess that would have been much less macho than grimly marching through the snow. It looks like the tables have turned in favor of our hereos when suddenly....the Night King picks up an ice spear and takes out Viserion! Nooooo.

This was a genuinely heart-wrenching moment, as an audience we have watched Dany's dragons grow from hatchlings to giant death machines, and seeing one of them ripped out of the sky was just as painful as losing any beloved human character. Again this was a moment that delivered an emotional punch, but the journey to that payoff was not as satisfyingly authentic as it could have been. Jon, realizing the White Walkers are somehow ready for dragon combat, sacrifices himself so Drogon can take off with his payload safely. But it's an empty sacrifice, because Jon is last minute rescued by BENJEN STARK, who is part ice monster, part North of the Wall lifeguard, all Stark all the time. If you recall Benjen, or Cold Hands I guess is his nickname, previously came in for the save with his swinging lantern when he rescued Meera and Bran. But Benjen's last minute saving days are over as he is eaten by zombies in order to allow Jon to escape. Sad.

Back at the wall Dany ignores Daddy Jorah in favor of wistfully staring out over the tundra, hoping for Jon to appear. And appear he does! Jon is more than fine, especially shirtless and wrapped in furs on Dany's pleasure yacht. The two have some weird flirting where Dany reveals she can never have children, and Jon actually refers to her as 'Dany'. Good thing they are both so hot, because that banter wouldn't cut it anywhere else. Also she's his aunt. I simply cannot stress that enough.

As a final coda to this decades long episode, we see the Night Army dragging the corpse of Viserion out of the lake only to reanimate him into an ice zombie dragon! Gah! Shit is most definitely getting real, as the Night King adds some real power to his arsenal. Will zombie dragon still breathe fire? Ice? Freezing rain? Excited to find out. Next week (the season finale???) looks like it will be the zombie summit down in King's Landing. I have zero predictions for this. My only hope is that Euron will be there, I miss him. In a world of uncertainty, Euron brings the party.

Stuff I didn't get to:

Stop shipping Dany/Jon, START shipping Brienne/Beardy

They almost took Beardy from me after I SPECIFICALLY asked them not too.

Beardy learned the word dick <3

Beardy rode a dragon!!!

MVP: Beardy. I don't have to defend myself.

XO MD

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artificialqueens · 7 years

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My Waterloo (Trixya) - Miss Bianca

Summary: “It’s like the song is prodding at Katya to do something, to just surrender already, and let himself try happiness for a change. And maybe it’s the late hour, or the sight of Trixie asleep on his shoulder, but Katya kind of wants to just fucking take the leap and do it.”

A/N: I’m back, guys, but writing a different ship this time. An anon requested a fluffy Trixya fic surrounding Waterloo, maybe it having some special meaning to them, and I suddenly remembered my own conclusion that even though the song came out in the 70s, it was still somehow written about Trixya. So this is just a lil oneshot, set during their tour of Australia back before Unhhhh and all of that. The fic does have to do with the song, so being familiar with the lyrics is useful. Drag names, male pronouns. I’d love any and all feedback!

It’s three AM, and Waterloo is stuck in Katya’s head.

The song is catchier than a cold, and he can’t get rid of it. Normally, he wouldn’t mind - he likes Waterloo. It’s more his current situation, as it relates to the song, that makes it problematic, because his brain has anxious speculation down to a science.

The idea of grabbing his earbuds and listening to something else is dismissed as quickly as it comes, mostly because at the moment, Trixie is asleep next to him.

Even though it’s irritating, he has to appreciate the irony of the situation. Trixie being cuddled up next to him is both the reason why Katya would rather not have Waterloo stuck in his head at this precise moment, and the reason why he can’t go get his earbuds and listen to something else.

Trixie is bare-chested, and clinging to Katya’s arm like it’s a stuffed animal, warm cheek squished against Katya’s shoulder. He’s also snoring quietly, which is something he’ll deny tomorrow morning in a muffled yell while he brushes his teeth, wearing nothing but a towel.

Katya smiles faintly at the dimly lit ceiling. Briefly, he wonders whether this is a normal-people-feeling, this tugging in his chest that makes his stomach flip whenever he imagines being domestic with Trixie.

From the day he’d met him in the workroom, Trixie had swept Katya up into a hot pink, sweaty, malibu Barbie and blonde russian lady-Ken Los Angeles fairytale, filling Katya’s head with crazy ideas like destiny, and love at first sight, and sharing a dog and life and pastel yellow rubber duck.

It was as if Trixie was trying his hardest with every laugh and smile and phone call at midnight to make Katya abandon his bitter grip on reality and fall, hard. And for the first time ever, he had.

Dating isn’t a thing that Katya does, and he rarely thinks about the implications behind being in love with someone. As a result, he had no idea what to do with this new information, and still doesn’t - and if he’s honest, it scares him. A lot.

Katya never would’ve expected Trixie to make his heart ache like this, but here he is. He thinks that maybe, normal-people-feelings like romantic love really are as dramatic as they’re made out to be.

A lot of the time, he does want to say something about how he feels. Or maybe just kiss Trixie randomly before they go to sleep, or reshape one of Trixie’s flower crowns into a makeshift bouquet and profess his love. But then he remembers that the thought of being in a committed relationship is fucking terrifying. And for Trixie, a real relationship is the only option.

So now, they’re stuck in some kind of fucked up limbo, touring together and sleeping in each others’ beds most nights, but only kissing for audiences and leaving everything unspoken.

Katya would like to think that they’re both just waiting for the other to make the first move. Realistically, though, he knows that Trixie won’t make the first move, not unless he knows Katya wants to be with him for real.

So they’re both keeping their mouths shut, but Katya’s the only person they’re really waiting on here.

Katya sighs, blinking up at the ceiling and rubbing at his eyes with his free hand.

Waterloo, I was defeated, you won the war, the voices sing in Katya’s head. He can’t help but picture Trixie’s face, eyebrows raised, a small smile on his lips. Waterloo, promise to love you forevermore.

It’s like the song is prodding at him to do something, to just surrender already, and let himself try happiness for a change. And maybe it’s the late hour, or the sight of Trixie asleep on his shoulder, but Katya kind of wants to just fucking take the leap and do it.

The idea to do Abba songs for their lipsync duet had been an odd one, but Katya really was down for anything, just as long as it made Trixie happy. Of course, Dancing Queen was an obvious choice for one of the numbers - cliched, catchy, and unbelievably iconic.

Trixie claimed to have picked the other, Waterloo, at random. But at this point, Katya is convinced that the choice must’ve come down to either witchcraft, conspiracy, or Trixie’s history with musical theater. Most likely a combination of the three.

And it’s weird, Katya knows that. Having a corny, perky song from the 70’s as a soundtrack to what exists of his love life is weird. But he’s pretty sure - no, positive - that Waterloo was somehow written about him and Trixie.

And he’s starting to suspect that Trixie knows this too, and has since the beginning.

And if Trixie does know, Katya speculates, he must’ve picked it deliberately, in some crazy Ryan Murphy-esque scheme to use music to fix all of his relationship troubles.

It was a pretty good scheme, though, Katya has to admit. Mostly because it had worked.

“Tracy,” Katya whispers loudly, in a sudden burst of bravery.

There’s no reply, and Katya taps his fingers against his palm anxiously, worrying his lower lip between his teeth until it’s sore.

“Tallulah.”

Still no reply, and Katya sighs dramatically, his body almost buzzing with building anticipation. He doesn’t even know what he’d say if Trixie was awake, and it occurs to him that maybe he should rehearse it first.

Trix, did you pick Waterloo deliberately? Was there a reason?

No, too pushy. He tries again.

I was thinking about Waterloo. Not the historical event, the song, y’know, the one you wanted us to perform for thousands of overexcited club-goers.

Already too long-winded.

Trixie, do you think Abba wrote Waterloo about us?

Trixie would only assume he was setting up a time-travel joke, and in all fairness, he’d probably be right.

Tracy, I think I’m finally facing my Waterloo. As in, it’s in front of me, right now. It’s you.

Sounds too much like a joke.

“Brian,” Katya says finally, tapping Trixie’s stomach with his knuckles. “Brian.”

Trixie wakes up with a gasp and a jolt, and when Katya looks over at him, he’s wide-eyed and confused.

“Wha-”

“Ithinkyou’remywaterloo,” Katya interrupts, the words coming out in a rush, all blurred together. He can hear his own heartbeat, suddenly far faster than is probably healthy.

Trixie frowns at him.

“Kat, it’s the middle of the night and I, like, just woke up,” Trixie says, exasperated. “Maybe try talking slower?”

“I think,” Katya starts again, swallowing hard and looking at Trixie again. “You’re my waterloo.”

There’s a pause, a moment of total silence.

Trixie’s mouth falls open slightly, his eyes suddenly alert and awake. And then, he stifles a yawn, and props his head up on his hand, blinking down at Katya nonchalantly.

Katya stares back at him, baffled by his lack of response.

“Are you gonna explain, or…” Trixie says finally, tone almost sassy.

“My waterloo,” Katya repeats slowly, and Trixie only raises an eyebrow at him. “I’m…I’m surrendering? You won.”

“As great as it is to finally win something, I’m still gonna need you to decode what exactly you’re saying,” Trixie snarks.

“The song, Trixie!” Katya exclaims. “How are you not getting this?”

Trixie shrugs.

Katya lets out a sigh, frustrated at how difficult Trixie is making this.

“The song that we perform, together, inspired by Napoleon’s surrender at Waterloo, that you picked out for us,” Katya tries. “And you make me look like a real woman because you’re so much taller than me, and…”

“Yeah…?”

“The song, Waterloo,” he continues to ramble, gesturing with the hand that’s not being held against Trixie’s chest. “You know, ‘my fate is to be with you’, ‘promise to love you forevermore’, ‘I feel like I win when I lose’ and all of that romantic cliche bullshit? Waterloo?”

Katya stares up at him for a moment, eyes wide, expecting some kind of response.

The corner of Trixie’s mouth twitches slightly, and Katya narrows his eyes.

“Wait a second, are you fucking with me?”

“No, of course not,” Trixie replies, clearly trying to stop the smile from spreading across his face.

“Oh my god, Tracy, you cunt!” Katya exclaims through a wild burst of laughter.

Trixie is full on grinning now, excitement written all over his face as he laughs. His hand slides into Katya’s, interlocking their fingers between their bodies, and Katya’s heart jumps.

“I still want an explanation,” Trixie insists.

“I hate you,” Katya comments, shaking his head, his cheeks already sore from how big his smile is. He looks up at the ceiling again, trying to calm his racing heartbeat.

“No you don’t.”

“No, I don’t,” Katya agrees. “I love you.”

He looks back at Trixie just in time to see the other man’s lips part slightly, his eyes soft as he stares down at Katya.

“I love you too,” he says quietly.

“But are you like, like, um,” Katya starts, nervously. “I mean, I’m…I’m in love with you, Brian.”

“I know,” Trixie says, smiling. “That’s what I meant, too.”

“But -”

“I’m not just gonna fuck you, though,” Trixie interrupts.

“No! No, that’s okay,” Katya says quickly. “I don’t want you to do that, that’s not what I - what I want, either.”

It’s quiet for a moment, and Trixie swallows visibly, his thumb running over the back of Katya’s hand.

“You sure you really mean that?” He asks finally.

“Yeah,” Katya nods. “I’m giving in. Can I take you out on, like, a date or something? We can do it your way, or, I mean, any way you want, because I have no fucking clue what I’m doing at all, and I just want you to be happy. ‘I was defeated, you won the war’, and all that.”

“‘Promise to love you forevermore,’” Trixie sings the next line of the song under his breath, squeezing Katya’s hand and smiling at him so affectionately that it feels like his stomach might literally burst from the butterflies.

“So that’s a yes, then? I’m taking you out?”

“Can you kiss me first?”

“I don’t know if you want that,” Katya says, shaking his head. “You’re shirtless, and I don’t trust myself to -”

Before he can get another word out, Trixie’s kissing him, quickly letting go of his hand in favor of cupping his jaw instead to pull him closer.

They’ve kissed before, onstage and in front of a camera that one time, but that had lipstick and an audience and a point involved. And besides, it wasn’t really them, Brian and Brian, doing the kissing.

This isn’t like that. This feels totally new, and real, and private. Trixie is kissing him like he’s been waiting to do it for months, and Katya knows the feeling. He tastes like mint from his toothpaste and strawberry lip balm, and the unique combination is suddenly Katya’s favorite thing in the universe.

When Trixie finally lets him go, hand sliding down to rest on Katya’s chest, Katya can’t help but grin up at him giddily.

“What?” Trixie demands, the corner of his mouth curled up in a half smile.

“Nothing,” Katya says quickly, grabbing Trixie’s hand from his chest and interlinking their fingers instead. “Nothing, I just, I really do love you.”

There’s not a lot of light in the room, but Katya swears he can see Trixie’s cheeks turn pink, and he almost wants to cry from the rush of adoration that surges through his chest.

“Shut up,” Trixie mutters finally, looking down.

“I do!”

Trixie just shakes his head, and repositions himself Katya’s arm is around him. He lies back down again, his head resting on Katya’s chest now, tucked into his side.

“Oh, so we’re cuddling for real now,” Katya observes. His heartbeat is still ringing in his ears, but he thinks he likes the closeness. “Okay, that’s cool.”

“Good,” Trixie murmurs.

Katya sighs, and they fall silent. The chorus of Waterloo loops through Katya’s mind, still on repeat, and he can’t help but smile.

Waterloo, couldn’t escape if I wanted to. Waterloo, knowing my fate is to be with you.

“Trix?”

“Mmm?”

“Are you going to sleep?”

“Trying.”

“Oh, okay,” Katya says hurriedly. “I’m sorry, I’m just -”

“Wired, I know,” Trixie finishes for him, his voice heavy with sleep. “Here, lemme have my hand back.”

Katya lets go of his hand, frowning slightly, and lets out a little ‘oh!’ as Trixie rests it on his side instead, arm wrapped around his middle.

With a sigh, Trixie starts to stroke his side gently through the soft fabric of his t-shirt, hand moving up and down slowly beneath his ribs. The close contact is nerve-wracking and different for Katya, but he doesn’t want to say so, because then Trixie might move away.

“It’s okay,” Trixie murmurs, and Katya realizes he must be able to feel the tension in his body. “You’re safe with me.”

“I know,” Katya whispers. “I know that, I do. Don’t, um…don’t stop.”

“Okay.” Trixie yawns. “I might fall asleep, though.”

Katya giggles, and he thinks he can feel Trixie smile against his chest, but maybe that’s just his imagination.

“Love you,” he says again after a moment, his voice still barely a whisper.

“Shhh.”

“Sorry.”

#katya zamolodchikova #trixie mattel #trixya #fluff #song fic #oneshot #miss bianca #rpdr fanfiction #submission

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