#I still think that Judith delivery was something

[randomnameless]

I did Crimson Flower first in my Three Houses run and... honestly, Edelgard wasn't even remotely as convincing to me to join her as the fact I'd get to fuck Jeritza.

Beresu I've chosen for the job grew up in Ardesian Empire and I've definitely leaned into Ashen Demon idea as much as possible, so what I've got was a merciless butcher, not a revolutionary firebrand. I expected Edelgard to be this scary red emperor with the grand ideas that justify the means, I expected the vibe of Nine Inch Nails' Survivalism, but instead she's an absolute dork and Hubert does everything morally dubious for her. It reminded me of Corrin in Fates on Nohr path and it definitely did not endear me to her.

Generally speaking the only interesting bits were Jeritza (love this man, best girl) and... maybe Hubert. Honestly speaking, with the way Hubert acts I expected him to be a Flame Emperor after seeing Edelgard. I just genuinely don't get how Crimson Flower Edelgard can be even remotely convincing - she's scary in White Clouds at times, but then it's nothing but dork, dork, dork, Beresu I hate rats, Beresu my path is stained in blood despite the fact I can barely reach any enemy in my automatic promotes and Hubert, Jeritza and you kill most of the enemies instead.

She's idealistic, but it's never really shown how much she's willing to mow down people for her ideals - we don't see destruction, we don't see any particular drama. The only bits closest to it were me deliberately not recruiting any non-BE students aside from Mercedes, Anette, Marianne and Lorenz. Killing these students felt like something, but it isn't really enough and it's entirely optional.

she's scary in White Clouds at times, but then it's nothing but dork, dork, dork, Beresu I hate rats, Beresu my path is stained in blood despite the fact I can barely reach any enemy in my automatic promotes and Hubert, Jeritza and you kill most of the enemies instead

LOL

I don't remember having the same movement issues with Hector when he was promoted, but damn if Supreme Leader's prf class was a nightmare, she was behind people and didn't have enough def to act as a suitable tank - she's supposed to be a player phase unit, but she doesn't have the mov stat to do so...

Granted, it was my first run too, so I missed on the heron festival event and didn't get a dancer :( but I played it before Emile was patched in, and, in a way, I thought it was on purpose - Supreme Leader says she'll explain everything to Billy later on, when they see Emile fighting with them when the BESF attacks the Monastery, and nothing is ever explained post TS - much like how the war was supposed to get rid of Rhea because she has scales, but come the post TS and we're not embarking on the MAGA ride, to conquer Fodlan!

Corn at least, in Conquest, spent more time angsting at the casualties and blood shed - to the point some players found it uncomfortable - Corn notable tried to save people or reacts strongly when Scarlet is Hans'd (just like Sakura's army? I don't remember that well).

It's less artificial than Supreme Leader who only says this in some support lines, or when she's alone with you - her lines feels more like a compulsory thing to say, a box to tick, than a regular reaction. There's nothing similar to Corn's distress or at least gambit to try to spare the defeated soldiers, instead, we have a round of hypocrisy because Rhea BaD when she doesn't let people evacuate the city before turning it in a giant bbq - when we have Emile on our side and when other routes reveal the battle of the Monastery happens so fast after her declaration of war that the CoS doesn't have time to evacuate all of its residents (+Emile saying the grounds around the monastery are battlefields too) in the other routes.

Hubert is still the best part of CF, even if I sort of grew somehow interested at the students insulting Billy when they chop them off - sure my interest later died, but Judith's JP VA lit screaming and crying when Ignatz and Leonie died, Inoue!Rhea's lines delivery, everything bar the BESF itself managed to make the "we must kille people we knew sad uwus" hit closer to the mark than the onion scene, aka the one where Supreme Leader cries after beheading a defeated, and on his knees, Dimitri.

But I agree, it's almost if all the pathos that was supposed to be triggered by the "kill your students :'(" from the game went to the CF enemies, rather than to the other routes casualties.

"We killed Ferdie professor :("

Watch as I gave a fig, Ferdie dies in a map where he is fielded with a Demonic Beast iirc, aka a Feral One. If Ferdie doesn't see anything wrong fighting side by side with a Feral One and doesn't have the same circumstances Lorenz does (granted, even those circumstances are mushy) - especially since it's possible for Ferdie to defect since that's what he does in SS - I legit feel less figs that when we had to kill a retreating Judith, or an Ignatz or Leonie who were defending their homes - hell, even Hilda who, against all of her words and previous behaviour - finally puts her life on the line to protect someone.

#anon #replies #I remember how I was engaged with this game when I only played CF #thinking we would have more revelations on the other side after playing the other routes #condamnation of Izuka and all more reveals about Nabateans and the plot #and instead I got teapots of Hresvelg Grey #talk about a disappointment lol #I still think that Judith delivery was something #just like Inoue!Rhea's lines #they're just - #What voice acting does to a meh script #it brings it to life #but then it was lolcalised and we all know how that ended #i still think if the US VAs had the same directions the JP VAs had #we would have had less discourse and the game would have been imo better #oh well #I'm beating a dead horse here #FE16 #you killed Supreme Leader anon lol

[whateverisbeautiful]

Reveling in Richonne

#178: The Ones Who Live  (11x24) 

Y’all the power and impact of Richonne is unmatched. 🔥

Michonne and Rick established a motto between them seasons ago, and now that motto is the final sentiment of the entire show. It’s perfect. 

I love that their love is still so alive. And that was evident in these final moments. Like there’s a real endless pulse to Rick and Michonne’s love that keeps them going and also spreads into positively impacting their loved ones too. 

So in the show’s closing scenes, we are reminded that this “zombie show” was always about the ones who live. And we’re also reminded that Rick and Michonne give each other and give us so much life. 

So for the last time in The Walking Dead, I gotta happy dance over the gift that is Richonne. 

Y’all after the flashback sequence, we then see Michonne looking just so regal in her new attire as she writes her letter. 

I also peeped she is still wearing the ring around her neck, and I cannot wait for this woman to find her husband. (And also to be officially referred to as Rick’s wife, Michonne Grimes). Like the moment Rick and Michonne first lay eyes on each other in the new show, I might just act a plumb fool. 😂

Michonne looks at the special iPhone sketch of her and Judith with the message for Rick to believe a little longer. And believing a little longer is something she (and us, since we have to wait until 2024) have had to do too. 

I love that she has his boots as well. Of course these items found their way to her. Cuz magnets. 🧲

Michonne speaks confidently as she declares that she knows her kids are alive and also that Rick is literally alive. And I love that she doesn’t doubt for a second that he’s out there trying to find her and their family. She knows her family is alive wholeheartedly and of course sis is always right. 

They cut to Rick writing his letter and looking rugged in a jacket reminiscent of the murder coat, and it notably has that logo on the back. Homeboy has clearly been through the ringer but still looking fine. 😋

I love that we see Rick with the iPhone for the first time and that these items have been in both his and Michonne’s hands. Both of them pack it in their bag and…they just cherish each other y’all, even in little drawings form. I’m beyond here for it. 

Rick then rolls up his letter and places it in a bottle and I may or may not have tried to slow down the video several times to read what the letter says. 😅 Cuz look, if there was anymore unspoken sweet things between him and Michonne in there I need to know lol. 

I was sorta able to make out a few new words, but what I did see loud and clear is that the letter ends with, “We’re the ones who live. Rick.” 

His letter ends on their mantra.  🥹 The motto they shared keeps him going. He’s sharing it with Michonne in the letter in hopes it’ll keep her going too. I could cry. 

Again, Danai’s delivery is great as Michonne says, “I will find him. Because I know he’s trying to find us.” Talk about unbreakable and unstoppable love. 

We then get an epic Michonne moment as she rides on a horse in armor and takes out a walker. We had to see R&M be the baddest to ever do it one last time in the original series so this was great. 👏

We also see Rick’s mucky bare feet walk in walker-infested mud as he chucks the bottle with the letter. It’s sweet thinking how many letters to Michonne could possibly be in bottles out there. 

Helicopter noises can then be heard as Rick utters urgent “no’s” before tossing the backpack on the boat, that thankfully will find its way to Michonne one day. 

Rick is told to surrender and put his hands up and then we see Michonne stopping abruptly on her horse as she’s dealing with a threat of her own, with what appears to be a giant horde before her. 

Rick takes out a walker, and looks pissed because this feels like one of the times he might’ve come closest to getting home before being caught. 

The way the person on the speaker seemingly exasperatedly says, “Come on Rick, it’s like we told you, there’s no escape for the living,” I have a feeling they’ve been having to deal with Rick trying to escape for awhile lol. And also their bleak “no escape for the living” sentiment is not enough to overwrite what Rick knows to be true, the motto instilled into him by his wife. 

And as Rick looks up at this helicopter, it’s the acting just with the eyes for me. 😮‍💨 Y’all give the eyes their own Emmy and then give Andy several too. Incredible. The story told just in his expressions alone. The teary-eyed frustration, devastation, longing, determination, and defiance. It’s powerful and oh how I missed Andy’s performance as Rick Grimes. Absolutely legendary. 🔥

As Rick looks up at this helicopter with every emotion on his face, we hear Michonne’s calming voice say, “Remember what I said. It’s what he said. Hold it to your heart. It’s true forever.” And ever and ever, y’all. ☺️

And it feels like, while she’s saying that in her letter to their children, it’s also something Rick is remembering in this moment that could feel like an ultimate defeat. Rick is remembering the motto right then and there. 

Then we get a bunch of characters joining in on mom and dad’s motto and I love that Richonne’s saying of “we’re the ones who live” is the final statement of the show. At its best, The Walking Dead was always about the living and the resilience of humanity. 

And then y’all the final series moments are given to Rick, Michonne, and their kids. Making it crystal clear the Grimes family is this show’s heart. 

As Michonne rides off into the distance, determined as ever, she says in her perfect, calm, and assured tone, “We are the ones who live.” (And I really like the music during this whole ending sequence.) 

Then Rick places his arms up with a decrepit city and descending helicopter before him as he says in a perfect, resilient, and “you’re messing with the wrong people,” tone “We’re the ones who live.” 

I love that the way Rick says it contrasts the surrender of his hands and lets you know, Homeboy may have been caught but he still has a lot of fight left in him because he’s getting to Michonne and their family one way or another.

It was a great visual too to see Rick and Michonne both looking defiant and determined to take on a threat “bigger than them” be it a helicopter or horde. Even in these circumstances, you still feel like whatever or whoever is trying to get in their way is the one in danger. Because Rick and Michonne are trying to get back to each other and nothing stops that. So these seemingly giant challenges are just mere rocks in the road for these two warriors. 

And to drive home his mindset further, the scene ends with a determined and defiant grin spreading across Rick Grimes’ face. 

Rick’s final smile is a fitting image to end on for the resilient character. 

And I appreciate the way it calls back to 7x09 when Michonne instilled in Rick this reminder that they’re the ones who live so they can smile in the face of adversity because, as she said in 7x08, they’re still standing and will keep standing. 

And so, as Rick reflects on his love Michonne and her words, he’s able to stand and smile even in what look like impossible circumstances. 

R&M’s love is stronger than any circumstances and it fuels them like no other. It’s why it can be believable that they’ll find each other against all odds. 

The scene fades to white and after getting a glimpse of where Rick and Michonne are ahead of their spinoff, the series ultimately lands on their legacy. 

Because they cut to Judith and RJ overlooking a lush landscape and it’s sweet that these siblings still have each other. 

I also adore the visual of the kids as they face away from the camera because we see RJ in the iconic sheriff hat worn by his dad and brother Carl, and we also see Judith with the sword strapped to her back. Rick and Michonne’s presence and impact is still felt so strongly in their precious kids who are the world’s future and the embodiment of hope. Look what Rick and Michonne created, y’all. 🥰

And Judith turns to RJ as she shares the family motto, the foundational belief planted in her heart by her mother, the saying that will push Michonne, Rick, and Judith and RJ forward on their journeys apart until they eventually reunite, as she says, “We get to start over. We’re the ones who live.” 

And yes they are, y’all. Yes they truly are. And this whole final sequence was life-giving. 

I’m so glad the show knew to end on Rick and Michonne and their legacy. It’s only right. R&M and their family remains the best thing to come out of all this imho. And while that was the Grimes’ family’s final TWD moments, as y’all know...

There’s still a whole new miniseries in store. When I heard the news that Rick and Michonne would be returning to complete their epic love story in a spinoff, I was and still am beyond elated. 

What I most want is to witness Rick and Michonne’s grand love story with grounded execution, and this short finale sequence gave me hope they can pull this off. 

We are in such good hands with Andy and Danai bringing this story to life. Just their voices and eyes were able to captivate and tell a whole powerful story within minutes during this series finale, so imagine when they have a show dedicated to them. 

I absolutely cannot wait! I’m so glad our patience paid off this way. Every time I think about all the Richonne gold in store, from the moment they first see each other alive, the I love you’s, the first kiss, Rick learning about RJ, any and all callbacks, professions of love, fighting battles together, their smiles, and of course their family reunion with Judith and RJ. I want it all, and I think we’ll be fully blessed with so much good stuff. 

So this is just the beginning to be honest. Because now that we’re closer to the home stretch of completing R&M’s story once and for all, I want to enjoy reveling as much as I can before it’s all said and done. So here’s to all the Richonne reveling there is to do later in 2023. And here’s to Richonne, for being the undeniable greatest of all time. Thanks for reading. 💜

#richonne #s11 #11.24

[my-mt-heart]

I know you aren’t feeling positive but for those of us fans who are going to wait and see & more than likely jump back on the horse if/when Melissa joins the show. Can you tells us your thoughts on the positive Caryl things you listed in your previous post? I believe it was the things listed in maybe the second paragraph?

To be clear, I am one of those fans who wants to see Melissa involved, though with the caveat that her return delivers what we're still owed for Carol's and Daryl's story. I just wish we knew we all had something to look forward to. Everybody else in the fandom does, so why not Carol and Caryl fans?

If I'm just analyzing their last two scenes together, I would note the intensity in Daryl's gaze on Carol after she says it's a beautiful day to go out. He's taking in her beauty while the sadness sinks in that she won't be going with him. The scene calls back a few different moments they've previously shared. Carol lays her head on Daryl's shoulder, which we've seen her do on the loading dock in 9x01 and in the cave in 10x09. I'd say that's her happy place. Daryl gives her a kiss on the forehead, a gesture that he once flinched from in S2, but can now return to her with ease because of the trust and love they've developed over the years.

Then back at the CW, Daryl tells Judith to look out for Carol, which prompts Judith to say he deserves a happy ending too. She's looking past him toward Carol, hinting that she knows Carol is his happy ending. Daryl understands that, and it even ties back to when he overheard Carol telling Lydia she needed to find happiness wherever she could get it. His "I love you" to her is impactful 1) because there isn't usually a necessity for him to use his words with her 2) because he's presumably never said those specific three words to anyone else before 3) because he's never felt that deeply about anybody else before and 4) because he's offering it as a promise that he's eternally bonded to her and therefore coming back to her. While I would've very much loved Carol's delivery to be just as weighty and for there to be a kiss, I buy (key word) that it would make parting ways impossible.

The issue for me is all of this gets overshadowed by the knowledge that the separation is only in service of a spinoff that blows up their deserved happiness together and subjects Daryl to more regressions and retcons. Just because their romantic feelings are emphasized in the finale doesn't guarantee that AMC's going to let that carry over into the spinoff. If they think they can get away with it, they'll only do the bare minimum to try to retain our viewership. Everyone is free to think for themselves, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with hoping, but I think Caryl stands a better chance of getting their happy ending if we keep all of that in mind and keep the pressure on AMC to deliver what we really want.

#caryl #carol peletier #melissa mcbride #darylneedscarol

[shimmershae]

My thoughts on Episode 18, A New Deal

inally got around to watching the episode and---

  So. They got Max and Eugene as the tease or whatever for this episode and before I even click on it I’m thinking to myself just don’t have any expectations okay?  Bury them.  Because they are cute in their own nerdy way but Jesus Take the Wheel their storyline has stolen so much time away from the storylines I’m actually invested in and been dying to see unfold this season.  Love Josh but gd.  The Pickle(d) Piper should not have accumulated more screen time up to this point than Carol.  Just saying.

The best thing about these two episodes so far is the flashbacks with Judith’s voiceovers.

TF are they including Daryl carrying Carol out of the tombs in that little montage of the people that go or die because nah.  NAH.

Ofc Pamela and Mercer appealing to Daryl to save Lance’s life ain’t gonna work.  But all it takes is one word from Carol’s mouth.

So.  Is Daryl legit pissed off at her or playing it up because of Pamela’s and Lance’s presence or a little bit of both? Because I’m about to take issue with him showing his ass like that to my girl when she’s just scrambling for a way to keep them all alive and leveraging what she’s got on hand.  Like stand down, Darren.  Damn.  

Who’s gonna write me some angsty, UST-filled fanfiction about the aftermath of that moment when our babies finally get to catch five seconds or five hours to themselves and Daryl’s all WTH, don’t sell your soul to these fuckers, and Carol’s like “I did it for you.  They were coming for you, Daryl.” And then they do more than just eye fuck.  Any takers?  Sarah? Silver? Charli?  Anybody?  

Oh, you know that hurt.  Almost feel sorry for Lance there.  

What did Carol have to promise them to get that deal?  You know it ain’t that easy.  What were the strings?  

They really playing up that underlying distance between Carol and Daryl aren’t they? Like they might have slapped a bandaid on the wound but it’s still there, festering out of sight.  

The way I giggled at Lance saying he was on an ant hill.  It was all in Josh Hamilton’s delivery.  

These power dynamics between Pamela and Lance are something else.  

Max got an axe to grind with Sebastian.

Carol and Lydia have my heart.  Cassady and Melissa are cut from the same cloth.  They don’t just play their characters.  They embody them and that hug melted me.  The hugs with Daryl, too.  

Why’d we have to zoom in on Carol’s face in the background of that long overdue moment where Daryl both acknowledged he knows Lydia saved Carol from opting out and thanks her?  Why? Furthermore, why did all the good, meaty moments happen offscreen on this show and they fill up the episodes with, well, filler?  Anybody? Bueller?  Bueller?  

D’aww. Sweet Gracie and Aaron moment.  That hug goodbye.  It makes me uneasy.  

Poor baby Judith has had a taste of peace, however fake it has been, and doesn’t want to have to bear arms anymore.  She’s had a taste of being a little kid instead of a little adult and doesn’t want to leave it behind.  

Carol and Daryl have absolutely been co-parenting those babies.  They are a formidable unit.  Even if there are arguably cracks in their foundation.  

More of this CW lottery business.  Ugh.

Carol wearing red again and looking beautiful.  

Are they finally gonna let the Ren Faire fairy tale take its last breath because this girl is tired AF of them taking that stick and beating it?  I mean, it could have been a lovely moment.  If they hadn’t already given them “closure” ten thousand times already.  Damn.  

Sebastian stay being a shitty baby wipe.  

In spite of her insta-status, I like Annie.  That almost certainly means she’s marked for death.  

I hope Daryl putting on his vest again means he starts acting more like the Daryl I used to know.  

The Sophia mention has me in my feels and they have Daryl distracted.  Like I know he’s worried for Judith because she’s pulling a Carl but I don’t like the way they played that. Sophia’s name after all these years should have stopped Daryl in his tracks and had him looking at Carol with that soft gaze he reserves only for her and those kids.  

Wait a minute.  Were Aaron and Lydia and her own insta-romantic partner heading back to ASZ or?  

Eugene about to fuck things up.  I can tell. Like Lance is that scorpion enticing the frog to help it escape.  You know he’s not going to go against his own nature.  

Gabriel preaching to an empty church.  Ouch.  Really takes me back to his introduction.  

Why is every Rosita moment making me feel like she’s on some kind of farewell tour?  

Coco is precious.  

I love Judith and Uncle Daryl moments.  They’re really touching.  But again I have to ask, why do they keep sacrificing all these would-be Carol/Daryl moments to the cutting room floor to give us more of the same?  Like same song, second verse?  

They really could have cut so much of that repetitive Maggie/Negan/Daryl/Reapers roundabout and given us these moments all along and they wouldn’t have me so resentful now at the nth hour.

Carol and Daryl are totally giving me vibes of two best friends (secretly or not-so-secretly in love) co-parenting the orphaned daughter of their own best friends.  

Like c’mon. With all the Henry and Sophia mentions and helping Daryl navigate the moods of a preteen girl, Carol has to be swimming in her feels and I’m just sitting her like Daryl, my dude.  Take notice.  

Wrestling? WTF?  At least Judith looks like she’s having fun.  

Where’d Carol disappear to?  

Speaking of disappearing acts, where TF is Princess?  

Max best have her running shoes on.

Oh damn. Lance and his posse setting Walkers loose on the CW people.  

Again, they seem especially hungry.    

Eugene riding in to Max’s rescue with his pony whipping behind him.  

What a gruesome way to go.  I mean, Sebastian deserved it.  But poor Judith having to pull the trigger like that and let go of her hopes for something better.  

Team Family is in some deep shit.  

#The Walking Dead #The Walking Dead spoilers #Season 11 spoilers #A New Deal #Shae's thinky thoughts #things that make me smile and cry #for reasons

[whitexwingedxdoves]

waterfall   [request]

Pairing: Daryl Dixon x Reader Pronouns: She/Her Warnings: babe its just fluffy as heck. Summary: Now he had a ring, Daryl Dixon needed the perfect way to propose to you and after many dead ends, he finally cooks up the perfect plan. A/N: Requested by @witch-of-letters​ . Erm this is just the cutest request ever though. My heart is so full. (this has fully let me live out my Mrs Daryl Dixon fantasy) Tags: @chloe-skywalker​

Marriage had never even been a passing thought in Daryl’s mind before, though with Negan behind bars now and the fact you were carrying his child something seemed to switch in his mind. He spent a good week searching for the perfect ring for you despite the limited options, he even considered mugging a walker for one at some point.  He found a lucky escape one day when Carol, who was also searching for the perfect ring for you in between her time at the kingdom, found a perfect silver band with a singular diamond that glistened in the sun. She managed to disguise the delivery to Daryl as a visit and you thought nothing of it, soaking up most of her time talking about how hard you found the first trimester of your pregnancy and how everything seemed so much easier in your second.  

Cursing under his voice as he sat on the porch of your home, Daryl caressed the ring in-between his fingers. Now he had the ring he would have to come up with the perfect way to propose to you, feeling you deserved so much more than a kitchen floor proposal.  The advice he managed to pull from Carol before she left was nothing other than ‘as long as it comes from the heart’ which was no help to him. The sound of the front door opening almost made him drop the ring, he scrambled to tuck it away into his vest turning to face you. His eyes landed on the bump that had finally formed on your stomach, a smile cracking his face. You gave him a small smile, rubbing your bump before looking outwards to the street, letting a small sigh pass your lips. “I’m gonna go see if the infirmary has any more vitamins left” you finally spoke, the man just nodding your direction, chewing on the corner of his mouth. “I won't be long” with that, Daryl scrambled to be by your side and planted a soft kiss on your cheek before waving you goodbye.

-

Daryl was sure his brain was fried after straining to come up with a proposal idea, not understanding why it was so hard, he had come up with plans for tracking and war on the spot but this was the first time he encountered a block. He knew it was time to pull in some reinforcements and who better than Michonne.  When he found her, he just pulled the ring from his pocket and showed it to her. Michonne could barely hide her wide smile as she saw the band, not that she wanted to hide it.

“Are you asking me to marry you?” she joked as her eyes finally met his, a soft grunt left Daryl’s lips as he placed the ring back into his pocket. “So, when you asking her?” Her grin resembled that of a girl who had just witnessed her friend get asked to prom by their crush, it made the archer a little uncomfortable as he shifted on his feet.

“tha’s the problem” a sigh filled his words “Dono how ‘m gonna do it” his brow cocked at the sound of Michonne’s teasing laughter

“You know you don’t need to make a big deal out of it!” Finally making her way around the kitchen, cleaning up what was left of Judith’s lunch, Michonne just shook her head at the man. “She’ll say yes, whatever you do” even though her words were confident, it didn’t convince Daryl.

“Na, she deserves a big gesture” he argued, Michonne shot him a look but chose not to argue with the man as she placed plates into the sink. “Don’t go tellin’ e’ryone!” he added before turning on his feet to leave the house.

“Your secret is safe with me”

With the lack of help from Michonne, Daryl sort out other people for ideas – all having the same results, Nothing! Aaron was far to giddy to even think of anything on the spot, Gabriel just spoke about the beauty of marriage and the ceremony, not really answering any of Daryl’s questions and Rosita... well Rosita suggested he propose over a hog’s carcass, even going as far as telling him to hide the ring on one of the ribs – of course she was joking but even Daryl couldn’t deny that you loved hunting just as much as he did. He only had one person left he could ask and he scolded himself for not thinking of it first, Rick.

Of course Rick was at your home, talking to you when he found him, Daryl just waited and waited for the conversation to come to an end, shifting on his feet throughout Rick’s visit. He never caught the sly looks Rick would send Daryl’s way every so often when you weren’t looking, he was too focused on the task at hand to notice much of anything. When Rick finally announced he was leaving, Daryl followed after him making sure the front door was closed before he started to talk.

“Hey, can I ask ya somethin’” Daryl shouted after the sheriff, making him turn on the bottom steps to your porch.

“Is this about askin’ Y/N to marry ya?” Rick teased, sending Daryl a knowing look which only caused the archers' brows to furrow slightly “Michonne told me!” he admitted with a small laugh.

“I told ‘er not to tell anyone!” Rick shook his head at the angry tone in Daryl’s voice, the smile never leaving his features.

“She’s right, ya dont need no fancy candle lit dinner – just ask her. She’ll say yes” The advice offered to Daryl only made him roll his eyes, Rick didn’t stay long and left with barely another word leaving Daryl with no new ideas and just as confused as he had started the day.

-

The next day he woke up with an extra spring in his step, he finally had an idea. You couldn’t help but be baffled by his sudden mood change, yesterday he spent all day on edge and every time you brought it up he would just brush it off as if nothing was the matter or when he massaged your feet while you read a book, he seemed to press a little harder than usual and jump every time you spoke to him. Today though, he told you to spend the full day relaxing and gave you a soft kiss before he went out on a hunt, which you did, you spent half the day reminiscing on the hunts you’d go on together, how he always seemed impressed with how skilful you were with a knife or how he’d comment on how much of a magpie you were when you’d come home on a run with the most impressive treasures. It wasn’t long until Daryl showed up again, he wasn’t the usual messy Daryl that you’d encounter after a hunt, nor did he have a belt full of squirrels. You didn’t question him, scared to make him just as jumpy as he was yesterday and just offered him a kiss when he walked through the door.

You noticed how proud he looked as he set his cross bow on the kitchen counter “M goin back out, just wanted to know if ya wanna join?” he questioned you which confused you even more. Since the day you found out that you were pregnant, he had practically wrapped you in bubble wrap, arguing with you every time you wanted to leave the gates.

“You want me to go on a hunt with you?” Your hands naturally settled on your stomach as you cocked your brow at the man.

“It’s safe, made sure before I got ya.” His tone was convincing but you still questioned his motives “Figured ya’d wanna get out for a bit” he finally added and you accepted his invitation. He was right, you needed to get out of Alexandria badly, you loved it there but every day it seemed to get smaller.

-

He took you in a spare car, refusing to let you get on the back of his bike while you were carrying his ‘son’. It wasn’t long until he had parked up at the side of a road, and led you into the forest. You watched his movements carefully and questioned every step he took, not seeming to follow the same formula he used every time he tracked.

“What are you doing?” you questioned, noticing the obvious tracks in the ground that he ignored.

“Trackin’” he argued, mimicking his past actions to seem more convincing as he led you further into the woods. You figured it was best not to question him anymore, despite your knowledge of tracking, it was nothing in comparison to Daryl’s.  He finally stopped at a waterfall, one you didn’t even know existed, it was small but god it was beautiful you could barely peel your eyes from the view. You stood there for a moment, allowing the tranquil energy to take over.

When you finally turned to Daryl, he seemed to be fumbling in his pocket for something which only made you laugh a little. He took a few steps closer to you with something buried in his fist, you weren't sure what it was but your heart seemed to race a little at the possibilities. He looked around at the waterfall only confirming this was the best place to propose to you; the sun now had a golden hue as it fought with the leaves on the trees to find the ground. His eyes finally met you as he took your hand in his.

“I aint ever done this shit before” he whispered which only made your giggle reappear.  “Ya the most importan’ person in my life. Fer god sake, ya carryin’ ma son” you rolled your eyes at his assumption but couldn’t wipe the smile from your face as you watched him awkwardly try to find the right words to say. “ a love you” he finished which only made your smile widen, you opened your mouth to respond to his loving words but nothing left as he knelt down on one knee in front of you. Your heart seemed to beat harder than it ever had done in your life, your eyes filling with tears as you watched the scene unfold, secretly wishing someone would capture the perfect moment on film for you to watch forever. “Y/N Will ya marry me?” he held out his palm to show you the perfect ring, you couldn’t believe something so beautiful existed in this world let alone the fact you’d get to wear it.

You stood speechless for a moment, the only sound you managed to get out was a squeak of some kind, you nodded your head a little too vigorously holding out your hand for the man to squeeze the ring on, it was a little small but with enough pressure it fit. Before he could find his way back to his feet, you managed to knock him onto the ground, his arms wrapping around you as you attacked his face with small, sweet kisses. “I love you, Daryl Dixon” you whispered in between the kisses, only making the southerner laugh.

You sat there watching the waterfall between Daryl’s legs, his back providing the perfect back rest, only turning away to glance at your ring, not sure what was more beautiful. Finally you looked up behind you to find his eyes had been on you the entire time. He lent down to place one of his tender kisses on your lips as you reached your hand to his face. You sighed on his lips before he pulled away, your eyes remaining close as you let the feeling linger. “Mrs Y/N Dixon, I like how it sounds”

“Me too”

#daryl dixon #norman reedus #twd daryl #daryl dixon fanfiction #the walking dead fanfiction #twd fanfiction #daryl dixon x reader #daryl dixon x female reader #daryl dixon x you #daryl dixon x y/n

[walkerwords]

“The Savior Sessions” Part 2 of 33 - Negan x GN!Reader

IMAGE CREDIT:  Gene Page/AMC

SERIES MASTERLIST

Summary: Part two of the Savior Sessions. Negan asks about how the reader met Rick Grimes and they have a question of their own. 

Word Count: 2231

Warning: None

Song I Wrote To: “Lost On You” by LP

Note: Thank you so much for the love on the first one. As I said before, these are just going to be uploaded at random, but I was having writers block so this came out of it while I work on my other works.

---------

It was early the next time you pushed open the heavy door that led to Negan’s cell. 

“Rise and shine,” you sang as you entered, biting into a fresh apple. Negan was already awake, sitting on the floor of his cell bouncing a tennis ball against the stone wall. 

“Have you always been so cheerful in the mornings?” Negan asked and then succumbed to a yawn. You smiled as you took your chair and positioned it once again in front of the bars.

“Absolutely not,” you answered. “Mornings were the bane of my existence before the world ended.” 

“What changed?” he asked. 

“Probably the fact that Walkers woke you up no matter what and if you slept in, you risked being eaten or murdered in your sleep,” you finished with a shrug. Negan just shook his head, already amused. “Oh, I got you something,” you told him and then dug into the bag at your side and produced another apple that you had grabbed from Eugene’s backyard. “Breakfast.” Tossing the piece of fruit through the bars, Negan easily caught it, turning it over in his hands. 

“Special delivery from my new favourite person? How did I get so lucky?” Negan asked as he took a bite of the apple. 

“You’re locked in a cell because you started a war with Rick Grimes, I wouldn’t exactly call that lucky,” you said. 

“Actually,” Negan said, getting to this feet, “he started it with me.” 

“Optics,” you said with a wave of your hand. Negan chuckled and collapsed onto his cot, watching you through the bars. 

“So, what has been going on with you, (Y/N)?” 

“Not much,” you said, “I was roped into helping Porter with something yesterday that I highly regret.”

“How’s that?” 

“Eugene needed some help scavenging for scrap metal and parts for some new radio he’s going to attempt to build. We went to an old office building about forty miles West and after looking for a couple of hours, he finally found what he was looking for…in the ceiling.”

“Oh no,” Negan said as he took another bite of his apple, clearly absorbed in your story. 

“And of course, I was the only one who could fit into the small space so I hauled my ass through the ceiling to grab his damn wires. I have never been a fan of small spaces, but this felt like I was crawling into my own casket. Not a fan and no matter what Eugene wants, that will never be happening again.” 

“Ah, Eugene,” Negan mused, “I do miss that weirdo. I did have a soft spot for him at one point.”

“Until he went all double-agent on your ass and blew up your bullets,” you said fondly as you remembered that particular day in the field. 

“Can’t win them all, (Y/N),” Negan said. 

“No, you cannot,” you agreed. Sitting further back in your chair, you crossed your ankles. “What about you? Anything interesting happening around here?”

“How would I know about anything that goes on in this postcard of a town?” Negan asked with a glint in his eye. 

“I know that you listen to us through your window,” you said, pointing to the small hole that offers him a peek at Alexandrian life. Negan smirked, leaning back against the stone wall, matching your position. “Out with it.”

“Very well. Gabe and Scott were arguing about something to do with the council. Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but Scotty boy isn’t on the council, right?”

“He’s not,” you confirmed, “but he’s one of Michonne’s right hands when it comes to security. Normal for him to have concerns. He’s practically Judith’s personal bodyguard these days.”

“As if Miss Grimes needs one,” Negan said with a smile. 

“You should see her when she used the sword,” you told him. “She looks just like her mom.” 

“Always knew she was a special kid,” Negan said. It was silent for a few moments as the two of you finished off your apples and basked in the quiet. Eventually, it got too much and you finally spoke. 

“I’ve been thinking about heading over to the Kingdom,” you said, “check in on the King.”

“That guy is weird as shit,” Negan said, “and what was up with the tiger?” 

“Shiva?” you asked with a grin. “She was incredible. Ezekiel was a zookeeper before the Turn and he saved her when she got hurt once. When everything went to hell, he went back for her and the two of them took on the Walkers together. Shiva was with him every step of the way.” 

“What happened to her?” he asked, noticing your use of past tense. “I didn’t see her after the day everyone rode in here.”

“Walkers got her,” you told him. “Ezekiel was cornered and she fought them off to save him, but there were too many of them.” 

“Damn,” Negan said.

“Yeah, tell me about it,” you said. Shiva’s death had hit you pretty hard when Jerry had told you. When you had met the big cat, she had immediately taken to you. Besides Ezekiel, only a few people were able to get close to her. Yourself, Jerry, Daryl, and Carol were those people and all four of you had mourned the loss of Ezekiel’s tiger for weeks after her demise. There was something so primal about hunting alongside the cat and as weird as it was, it felt almost natural to move through the new world alongside a predator such as her.

“So,” Negan said, snapping you out of your reverie. “What’s on the agenda for the day?” 

“That’s up to you. I’m just here as a sounding board,” you told him. 

“We both know that’s not true,” Negan said as he smiled at you. You shrugged and waited. Eventually, he sighed and gave up. “Fine, fine, I will start,” he said. “How about you tell me how you met the infamous Rick Grimes.” 

“I can do that,” you agreed and settled in for the story. “I met Rick the same day that he was reunited with his wife and son. Do you know what happened to him at the beginning of all this?” 

“No,” Negan said, intrigued, “do tell.” 

“Well, you know he was a cop, right?” Negan nodded. “Right, so before the Turn, Rick was shot on the job and he ended up in a coma. His partner, Shane, tried to get him out of the hospital when everything happened, but he couldn’t wake him up and so he left him behind so Shane could get Lori and Carl to safety. He barricaded Rick’s hospital room to keep him safe and then he left. Rick woke up well after the Walkers began taking over and he was all alone in the hospital.”

“Jesus,” Negan said, cringing at the thought. 

“He ended up meeting Morgan not long after and he explained everything that had happened.”

“Stick guy?”

“Yeah,” you nodded, “eventually, Rick made it to Atlanta to look for the refuge centers, but of course the city was overrun. He was pretty much screwed until someone saved his life and got him off the street.”

“Who was that?” Negan asked and you paused. You had tried not to think about Glenn now that you were tasked with speaking to the man who had murdered him, but now it was unavoidable. Negan waited while you tried to control your anger that swelled in your chest. 

“It was Glenn,” you said, “Maggie’s husband.” Recognition flashed in his eyes and his face fell, but you continued. “Glenn was just a kid then, but he risked everything to get Rick to him and got him to our group that was scavenging in the city. They’re all dead now, but they were good people. Well, all of them except for Merle Dixon, Daryl’s brother. He was a piece of work…”

“And what happened to him?” 

“The first time? Rick handcuffed him to a rooftop cause he was being a racist misogynist and then eventually Merle cut off his own hand to get away. The second time, this asshole we had problems with killed him and let him turn. Daryl had to put him down.” Negan’s brows rose at that, but he didn’t interrupt. “Eventually, Glenn, Rick, and the others got back to our camp at the quarry, and Rick, Lori, and Carl were reunited. Lori introduced me to Rick shortly after.” 

“Did you two get along?” 

“Not at all,” you laughed as you remembered your first meeting. “I didn’t like him when I met him. He was too...uptight. Daryl also hated him for leaving Merle, but those two worked it out eventually. Rick just showed up and took charge and it bugged me, but I soon realized he was the best person to lead us and so we all fell in line. He ended up saving our asses more times than I can count so I guess we made the right decision after all.”

“Hero type, huh?” 

“No,” you disagreed, “if you knew everything he did to protect us, you wouldn’t call him a hero. He was just one of the only ones to do what was necessary to do what needed to be done. I learned a lot from his actions.”

“Meaning what?” Negan asked. 

“Meaning I learned quickly how to kill someone when it was necessary to keep my people safe. We all did.”

“Even Carl?”

“Even Carl,” you agreed. “As I said, we’ve all done things. This world never cares how old you are, you just have to survive.” 

“Who was the first person you killed?” he asked. You stared at him as the images flashed through your mind. The face of the man whom you killed as he went for Tyreese when the Governor attacked the prison. You could still feel his blood on your fingers as you removed the knife from his skull. It was the first of many kills, but it was still the first. 

“We’ll save that one for another time,” you said.

“Did I touch a nerve?” he asked, but it wasn’t his usual snarky comeback, he genuinely seemed concerned. You smiled at him.

“I’m a lot tougher than I look, Negan,” you told him. “You can’t piss me off that easily.” 

“Good to know,” he said. His expression changed then, watching you as if trying to read every inch of you like a book. “I can see the gears turning in your head, (Y/N).”

“Is that so?” 

“I know you have a question on your mind,” he said. “Go on, ask me what you want to know. God knows I’ve been doin’ all the damn talking.” Negan was right, you did have something you wanted to ask him and it had been on your mind since the day Jadis, or rather, Anne had shown up at the gates of Alexandria looking for Rick.

“Why did you kill all of Jadis’ people? What was the reason for wiping them all out? Was it vengeance or were you just bored?” You hadn’t meant for it to come out as harsh as it did, but this was something you needed. While Jadis wasn’t your favourite person, she had helped your group when it was needed and before she disappeared, she had become a key member of the group. Negan sighed and you could see that the question bothered him. 

“I didn’t kill them,” he said in a low voice. “I ordered Simon to go and speak to her and get them to drop their alliance with you, but I never wanted him to… Simon killed Jadis’ people. I didn’t know about it until she told me herself.” You watched him, trying to see if he was lying, but you also knew he wasn’t a liar. In fact, Negan’s whole thing was that he never shied away from the truth. It was annoyingly charming and something that you admired and found incredibly irritating. 

“So, you’re not a cold-blooded killer then,” you concluded. 

“Not always,” he said with a slight shrug.

The sun was getting higher in the sky now and it began to stream through the small window of Negan’s cell. You knew you would have to leave in a bit. You had promised Aaron that you would watch Gracie so he could run an errand. And by errand, you knew that meant meeting up with Jesus. The man thought he was being slick, but you could see right through his lovesick lies. It was adorable. 

“(Y/N),” Negan said, gaining your attention once again. “Let me ask you this because I have been curious since our last visit.” 

“Shoot,” you said. 

“What was your vote on what to do with me?” he asked. 

“We didn’t vote,” you reminded him. Rick had made the decision and that was that. 

“Well if you had,” Negan said, “what would you have chosen?” You thought about telling him, but a part of you loved keeping him on his toes. 

“I’ll tell you next time,” you said as you got up from your seat. 

“Tease!” he said dramatically as he fell back on his cot. You rolled your eyes but didn’t stop the smile that spread on your face. 

“Not used to getting what you want, Negan?” he looked over at you with narrowed eyes. You leaned over and wrapped your hands around the bars. “Tragic.”

TAGS: @thanossexual

@yes-sir-hotchner​

@boom-bunny​ 

@delusionalteenagewhispers​

@sophia-gwendolyn​

@ritajammer21​

#walkerwords #twd fanfiction #twd #the walking dead fanfiction #walking dead #the walking dead imagine #negan x reader #reader insert #saviors #negan imagine #TWD season 9 #fanfic

[honestsycrets]

Alfred the Great | Love Alphabet

❛ sy’s notes | This one includes a lot of life scenarios of Alfred and his wife. I enjoy how it came out-- and I hope you do too.

A = Affection (PDA, what sort of affection they give)

“Not here,” he bends his head. You stand behind his throne chair, settling your hand on his shoulder. You press a kiss to his rosy cheek, in the presence of the others, as he waves you off.

Alfred has never been someone who was particularly touchy due to the way he was brought up. While small touches were always common, the way you stroke him-- touch him, caress him, out in the open gives him both a sense of delight and shyness when he realizes that others are watching.

B = Babies (Anything you want about babies)

“Perhaps you should show me.”

“Hold him here,” you guide Alfred’s hands. As he kneels beside your bed, a king on his knees, Alfred feels like any other man-- not a king, fumbling for the right hold.

Has no idea what to do with a baby of his own. He has no experience with holding a child and has no idea what to do when you place his in his arms, only finding himself staring down upon the thing, utterly lost. 

C = Cuddles (How they cuddle or are cuddled)

His days are long. As a king, Alfred very rarely spends time in your rooms. He’s busy with putting all his energy into England for England. So, at the end of a long night, when he crawls in beside you, his hand might drape over your waist. He’d set an apologetic kiss to your head and fall asleep.

D = Darling  (Pet names)

Small ones. He prefers to call you more proper names while in public; his wife, his queen, being the chief of them. Behind closed doors then, he might be more lazy with his pet names. 

E = Enamored (how hard do they fall when in love)

“Who was that girl there--” he points through the crowd. You pick your skirts up, then disappear from where you came, weaving through the crowd here to see the king.

“Where m’lord?” 

“She was just there.”

Admittedly, he has no time to fall in love. His interaction with women outside of his family is limited to chamber maids and the occasional woman during feasts. That is why his marriage was arranged. But if by happenstance he does meet a woman, it’s just that: a sudden pang of surprise.

F = Firsts (A first on anything you pick)

“She won’t know,” you swish around the horse, mounting first, then extending your hand toward him. He takes your hand, despite everything in him saying he shouldn’t, not that day. “Come! Live a little, prince-boy.” 

First fling-- Taking him away from Judith and Aethelwulf is too easy. With everyone’s eye on Aethelred, all you have to do is fool Judith to slip her precious boy away. Alfred is unsure of it-- his mother’s voice beating in his head, where were you! He falls ill when you bring him back.

G = Good Morning (How do they wake you up)

Do forgive me, the parchment reads the day after your wedding. A small golden and pearl necklace sits on top of the crisp paper. I’ve too much to do. I will see you as god allows.

H = Hugs (Do they like hugs?)

He does. They’re a small comfort to him when he’s going off to war, but even more so when they are followed up with a kiss, and the command for him to come back safely.

I = In Labor (Labour and Delivery)

“Women have been doing this since the dawn of time, Alfred.” His knuckle taps repeatedly over the parchment. Yes, women have been doing this since the dawn of time-- but not his woman.

He can’t get a lick of work done. He’s too busy thinking of his wife, who labors alone, in her modesty has sent him out. Get something done, he isn’t here yet, you told him. Strong woman. And still he gets nothing done, leaves his chambers, and seeks you out.

J = Jealousy (Are they jealous? How do they handle it?)

“Do you think the blonde one or the brown one is the bigger brother?” your chamber maids say, giggly amongst the quietly gathered. Before him, the Northman stood. 

“The blond,” you speak up, rarely. You never spoke. “What? He’s a big man.” 

Your chambermaids gasp, looking up. “Ooh,” they squeak-- and regretfully, Alfred’s head snaps over too. 

Watchfully. He’s not admittedly jealous-- but quietly and privately so. He asks many questions, rather than interrogate you about your interests in another, to make sense of what happened earlier. You aren’t jealous, are you? you hush him with a kiss. Of course not, he was simply-- concerned.

K = Kisses (How do they kiss? How often?)

Gently-- at any point that he can. Leaving or coming, he doesn’t spare any kisses. He’s often gentle, and so you might have to push him to be a little more passionate. Shyness won’t get him everything after all. 

L = Loyal (How loyal are they?)

Absolutely. 

M = Memory (Their favourite memory about you?)

His grandfather’s bath was a tranquil place. You come here, every moment that you can spare apart from seeing the people, caring for the settlement, and doing your duties as queen. You strip away your clothes and fold them, not hearing the door squeak open, nor Alfred come in. The water plips as you shift into it. At the sound of boots you whirl about, holding your chest. 

“Please.” Alfred stands there. His favourite moments of you are your most private moments. The moments when you think you’re all alone, but aren’t. “Go on-- clean yourself.” 

N = Never! (Dealbreakers)

He can’t deal with someone who might whine about his time. His first concern is England and everything else is secondary to the fact. In his mind, his partner must understand where his allegiance must be.

O = On the Rocks (How do they make up?)

“Why are you here?” you unclipped the earring from the back of your ear, turning to find Alfred waiting by your table where you kept your jewelry box. “Does England not need its king today?” 

“Not if you are still angry,” he raps his knuckles over the table. “I am sorry.”

With his time. It’s so important, and so scarce, that if he knows you are disappointed with him, it’s the one thing he can do to get back into both your good graces and show he’s apologetic about what happened. Or at the least, wants to make amends. 

P = Playtime (Any headcanons on sex)

“Alfred what are you doing?” 

He’ll try almost anything once. At the start of the relationship, you would take the more dominant role by inciting sex. But, after Ubbe came, Alfred seemed to change, putting more effort into chasing you with a strange confidence. The dominance is strange-- but welcome. You wonder how much he told Ubbe about your sex life.

Q = Quiet Time (How do they wind down?)

After his day, if he can sneak away, he likes to cuddle in bed. It’s better than sex to him because he can lace his fingers through yours, and carry off all thoughts of the long day away. 

R = Rapture (What makes them happy?)

He took you that morning to watch him spar with Ubbe. Ubbe was fantastic, you’d admit. A true Northman, strong, witty, quick. But your eye was on Alfred alone, following the way he dodged, the way he moved. You held a cup ready for him when he collapsed beside you. 

“What... do you think?” he heaved between heavy breaths. He could fall into illness, but he didn’t. He was strong, and as he chugged his drink, your hand caressed his chest, coming up behind his neck, kissing him hard and strong. 

“You were perfect.” He admits-- he likes to impress you.

S = Soulmate (What do they think of soulmates?)

“A soulmate?” he asks you about the concept. He’s not heard of such things-- but it sounds... fitting, he’d say.

T = Together (What do you like to do together?)

Off of the carriage, you walked in the dust. Your maids said you would dirty your dress and yet, you didn’t care, you wanted to be among the children. After his duties, Alfred clopped by on his horse, leaning down in his saddle to hand something toward you. You pluck it from his fingers and realize-- it’s a sweet smelling flower. 

Secretly, Alfred enjoys it when you accompany him on his trips. He often does get sick, so if it has to happen, he would prefer that it happen when you are by his side. 

U = Unyielding (How do they handle interlopers on the relationship?)

The queen’s hands had been over him. Not the queen-- not his queen-- but the queen from another place. You had seen the way he pushed her hands down, cupping them together with a shake of his head. “I have a wife,” he stressed. “And no interests in another.” 

Alfred doesn’t tolerate it. He makes sure to snuff out the concerns of women coming after him where they stand. Similarly, he expects you to do the same, although it he must, he will. 

V = Vulnerable (Are they vulnerable often? How do they handle it?)

Not often. Apart from his family, he might be vulnerable with you. Romance and family life is the one place where he might be vulnerable-- and hopes that you’ll protect that vulnerability.

W = Wedding (Wedding headcanons)

“I’ll make it up to you,” Alfred says once the doors are finally shut. You roll on your side, over the small stain of blood dribbled over the sheets, yet still sore. He takes initiative to shift on top of you, his forearm balancing himself. 

“That is not the way you wanted to...” he drops off, knowing that it was foolish and silly when you cup his soft cheek. It’s okay, you have to tell him, over and over again.

Being a king, it’s all done according to how it has to be done. While the wedding is luxurious, it could be better. He knows that-- you deserve his affections in private.

X = (E)x (How do they handle exes? What do they do if they see them)

With a semblance of longing but also of respect. If he’s moved on, he’ll gingerly nod his head, go on his way. If he hasn’t, he might wonder to himself-- perhaps he could have done this, or that, better.

Y = Yearning (What do they do when they miss you?)

Alfred held the end of the table, chewing his cheek, the paper was still not done. He has work to do-- but he can’t help wonder, where were you? Were you well? He turns to one of his guards, “Call the queen,” Alfred stands upright, throwing his hand out lightly. “Tell her I want to eat with her.”

He can’t get any work done. So, he does the only thing he can think to do-- he calls you into his quarters and hopes that this blaring need will quell. Or, if his body is so weak, he has to... eat first.

Z = Zzz… (Sleeping headcanons)

When he’s exhausted, he collapses into bed beside you. He doesn’t remember when he falls asleep, only that you’re there beside him.

@tephi101 @alicedopey @supernaturalvikingwhore @tootie-fruity @titty-teetee @queen-see-ya-in-valhalla @ethereallysimple @deathbyarabbit @deathbyarabbit @readsalot73 @natalie-rdr @lol-haha-joke @lisinfleur @hissouthernprincess @marvelousse @dangerous-like-a-loaded-pistol @vikingsmania @wish-i-was-a-mermaid @lif3snotouttogetyou @gruffle1 @cris101071 @gold-dragon-slayer @babypink224221 @wonderwoman292 @naaladareia @beyond-the-ashes @generic-fangirl @chinduda @laketaj24​, @peaceisadirtyword, @ly–canthrope @cris101071 @daughterofthenight117 @unassumingviking @ladyofsoa, @inforapound @winchesterwife27 @feyrearcheron44@readsalot73 @squirrelacorngliterfarts @gold-dragon-slayer @medievalfangirl @sallydelys  @bluearchersstuff @affectionrabbitt @whatamood13 @notyouraveragegirl17 @igetcarriedawaywithyou @unacceptabletatertots @ivarandersen @stra-vage @tgrrose @cookies186 @learninglemni-blog @theleeshanotlouise @soiproclaim @msmorganforever

#Alfred x Reader #Alfred/Reader #Alfred the Great x Reader #Alfred the Great/Reader #Vikings imagines #Vikings imagine #vikings/reader #vikings x reader #honestsycrets #TV: Vikings imagines #saxon imagine #saxon imagines

[unproduciblesmackdown]

let's get those Multiples Of Four for the lihn asks

Thank Yoy here i gooo

4) Favorite exchange(s)?

i like the conversation when sheila stays behind with susannah while the latter gets changed into the uniform skirt or whichever costume piece lol and susannah is clearly like trying to Fit In as she would with the girls as a whole group re: just sheila but that's not really what sheila herself is about so it's not going anywhere at first. it was very funny when judith just smacks susannah's lunch tray straight down onto the floor rip. and of course i love kitty Addressing susannah leading into masochist

8) Favorite costume(s)?

hmm not great at noticing these details (especially the first time around and in non-hq footage lol) but i Did notice (and appreciate) how all the characters were costumed quite differently in a very Personal Style sort of way, v helpful to characterize them each and help distinguish them earlier on. i did like susannah's costumes a lot with the yellow / purple and patterns and vests and carefully styled hair and her post-timeskip look was fantastic as well

12) Favorite background moment(s)?

again i was pretty focused on the foreground stuff really lol and i don't really remember anything where i was noticing something happening only in the background. but a more Literal background moment, i too really enjoyed the silhouettes of the girls striking poses being projected onto the bg behind susannah at the beginning of the show, very effective and Dramatic

16) Underrated moment(s) in the show? 

i don't think i have a real answer re: what's Underrated mostly b/c i've already seen so much good analysis & appreciation from people about pretty much everything........so a vaguely tangential answer is about wishing it was just a Little more evident that Kitty And Dorothy Have Their Own Thing Going On, which like, yeah maybe it's easier to tell in person watching the show, but......and i Do like that kitty's connection to susannah is so clearly more general than their Relationships (or potential ones / wanting one) b/c of course susannah's dilemma around goes beyond Just the particular forbidden romance with this particular person

i also found judith's character like, nonzero engaging, which is just like i hadn't heard much about her  prior i don't think. not as though she's at all Likeable in the sense of like if you were in the show you would not like this character who is both a bully and a narc but it's still like, good for her eventually realizing the error of her ways even if it'd've been good to realize it Before miss asp made it clear she was only ever intending to use judith, and like, maybe if your snitching on a girl had indirectly led to her death you'd stop narcing on everyone instead of just setting up the same situation again. but at least she comes around and threatens francis and even her awfulness can be funnier than the awfulness of other characters who are being awful

20) Headcanon(s) for what happens before the show?

oof that's tricky since so much stuff in the show is unveiling ppl's Backstory / what's happened prior.....idk i was gonna say i wonder how kitty got makeup kits into nation but maybe they're allowed / it's allowed for her b/c her parents are paying so much. not very exciting

24) The Other One or Oh Well?

did have to confirm which one The Other One is but i guess that one lmfao i just have a great time with sheila going off on those verses and it's fun how it's this playful song about them bonding over being rejected.....the "and i guess i don't know how to feel about it" delivery is v funny. much respect and appreciation for Oh Well though of course

28) Something you like/have noticed about the show that you haven’t seen anyone else mention yet?

i'm not sure there Was much that i noticed that i hadn't heard about prior......tbh i think there were just a few Plot Points i hadn't already heard discussed but they weren't exactly Fun ones so i was like hm yeah i can see why ppl wouldn't necessarily specifically address this for kicks

32) If only one could happen, would you prefer a cast recording or an Off-Broadway run?

i agree w/ p much everyone, gotta love the increased availability of a cast recording.....will be around for more than a few weeks, will cost less to obtain the experience, and around here Who Knows what cast recordings will spark. love how plausible it is that lihn Will get a cast recording, here's hoping

36) Favorite song(s) off the Hits of Nation/character playlists?

seeing as i forgot these playlists exist, f, and i have never heard music i just checked for which songs i know i know off the top of my head lol. s/o to each of the girls having iko iko by the dixie cups on their playlists, guess that's some required listening

[susannah: l.e.s. artistes by santigold], [rat: one way or another by blondie, i got a rocket in my pocket by jimmie lloyd (which i've only partially heard b/c it plays in the bg of a The Iron Giant scene lmao so this only counts like 1/3 of the way)] [kitty: diamonds are a girl's best friend by marilyn monroe, la vie en rose by edith piaf, anthems for a seventeen year old girl by broken social scene] [ya-ya: sugar sugar by the archies] [miss asp: i THINK i've heard "straighten up and fly right" and "if i knew you were comin i'd've baked a cake" but i don't especially wanna look them up and confirm lmao. know "i'm proud to be an american" and "god bless the usa" lol ew. "comfortably numb" by pink floyd and "whatever will be will be" by doris day et al and "my heart will go on" by celine dion] [first of all interesting that francis and buzz share a playlist but i guess really all of the roles by The Guy are pretty functionally similar lol. accentuate the positive by perry cuomo, blowin in the wind by bob dylan, i Think i've heard hang on to your ego by the beach boys but i think i forget how it goes]

40) What does LIHN mean to you? 

hmm well classic iconis content around here with the shows celebrating misfit weirdos and him always trying to write a show about people who usually wouldn't get a show written about them and creating this material for an all-girl show with only one token The Guy and the Lead specifically being a black girl and there being a specifically trans role as well.....love how much people have been enjoying it even as it took me ages to get around to Consuming it myself, and it's been v cool for it to be so like, here's Totally New Material. even prior to me having actually seen it, it was also definitely nice to have This in the wake of august to interrupt the [lying facedown], and again it was fun to even secondhand have ppl having a great time w/ the show and getting to appreciate the Content and Analysis happening hell yea

44) Favorite non show/cabaret performance of a song?

oop i might've only seen the non-show video for "oh well" so guess it wins! fine by me

48) Favorite time Francis was wrong?

it's pretty classic / all-encompassing when he very strongly implies that susannah has no choice but to marry him / no Hope for her Future otherwise

#lihn #nothingunrealistic1

[elixir448]

Good Girls 3x02 Thoughts

The Opening Scene

I think we all knew that Rio was knocking on Rhea’s door, rather than Beth’s. Even so, this opening scene was a gift. Of course, it is meant to mislead the audience into thinking that we are going to see Beth and Rio come face to face for the first time since she shot him but there’s so much more to talk about!

First of all, this season is really setting up Beth and Rio’s relationship as the major driver of the plot and, arguably, this has always been the case. The show is definitely about the girls but Beth and Rio’s relationship (both personal and professional) pushes the story forward. In my opinion, it’s second only to the girls’ changing motivations for being in crime, in terms of plot progression. Manny referred to Beth as Rio’s “archnemesis” in a recent interview and I know a lot of people disagree with this and think it’s funny. While I think the terminology is perhaps a bit off, I think the idea is there and what I love about it is that Beth and Rio’s relationship is so difficult to define, which I touched upon in my 3x01 thoughts post, and it’s impossible to encompass what they are to each other with one word. They have been so many things at so many different times and, gosh, now they have history. A painful, spiteful, kind of tragic, extremely messy history. I love that this season seems to be gearing these two up for what looks like a major confrontation at some point. I can really see things exploding between them later in the season, on a level beyond the alley scene in 2x07.

I’m digressing but the point is that this scene really sets them up as antagonists again, which they have been on and off for the past two seasons. In fact, I’d argue that the term never really departed from their relationship at all and it looks like we’ll be going back to the facade of one-dimensional antagonism for a little while but with the weight of the history they now share, it seems unlikely that they’ll be fooling anyone.

I think it was @foxmagpie who pointed out that Beth is staring into the mirror that Rio smashed in her fantasy in 2x05 and I practically had a stroke when I read that. The way the scene is set up, with Beth and Rio both looking in mirrors is so symbolic of their relationship and what they are to each other. While I would hesitate to call them mirror images, I certainly think that Beth and Rio are similar in the fundamental ways that shape a person but they are so different in others, particularly in the ways that they occupy the worlds that they live in and the lives they have lived.

While Beth is staring in the mirror, we hear Dean say “well, how much did you get for it?!” and it’s quite startling and almost intrusive. Beth and Rio aren’t even in the same room but they’re basically having a moment. And of course Dean has to intrude. Even though Dean is Beth’s husband and despite everything he did in season 2 to keep her, it really represents to me that Dean has been the outsider ever since Beth and Rio met. And, despite Dean’s belief that Rio has been forcing his way into Beth’s life, the reality is that he is the one who has been intruding into their relationship.

Rio has a new car! It’s a G-wagon, it’s loud and kind of pretentious. I do miss the Cadillac but I love that his new car lines up so well with how he’s been this season, which is loud! He had Agent Turner and several other FBI agents killed in the first episode alone. If that’s not loud, I don’t know what is.

Marcus and Rio’s reunion was the sweetest thing ever. I thought my heart was going to explode and release like a ton of rainbows and sunshine and unicorns. The way that Rio held Marcus really said everything about how much he missed his son. Rhea seemed a little ticked off about his sudden reappearance but happy and accepting overall, which really just adds to what we have already learned about the breakdown of their relationship and Rio’s presence in Marcus’ life. I know I said it last week but I have to say it again. I love how much this detail further humanizes Rio, beyond what the introduction of Marcus in 2x01 achieved. He’s not infallible and he has his own, very personal, flaws that affect his family. Just like Beth.

I’ve been seeing a lot of speculation that Rhea knows more than she has been letting on to Beth. Again, I don’t think that’s true. I think Rhea really just saw her relationship with Beth as a genuine friendship and I don’t think she knows anything else. Towards the end of the episode, Beth of course speaks to Rhea and I think that once Rio realised who Rhea’s soccer mum friend was, he filled Rhea in enough for her to realise that Beth intentionally sought her out and cultivated a friendship. This could mean that he told her everything but I doubt that very much. I think he probably told her just enough for Rhea to feel a great deal of hurt over Beth’s actions.

I am a little disappointed that we never got to see the scene where Rio clocks on to the fact that it’s Beth that Rhea is talking about. We’ve been robbed! But honestly I loved the episode so much that it’s fine I guess.

Annie, Sadie, Gregg and Nancy

I really love, love, loved the writers including how difficult transitioning can be because of people around you not keeping up, even if they are fully accepting. I’m not surprised though because the writers have handled Ben’s arc so well.

As for Gregg and Nancy attending couples therapy, I’m not exactly surprised. I do wish that they had parted ways but I do recognise that it’s such a difficult situation to handle with a newborn baby and I do appreciate the realism of it. I personally grew up with a mum who put up with way too much and lived a life that she was way above but she didn’t walk away because of me and my brother. I also see what people mean when they talk about wanting to see Beth take control and walk away from Dean for good because staying together for the sake of the kids is overrated, and I also see how this relates to wanting Nancy to walk away from Gregg. Believe me, I really want to see Beth and Dean part ways, with regards to their marriage. But I also really empathise with the situations Beth and Nancy are both in, for different reasons. Nancy can, of course, financially support herself and her child but Dakota is a newborn baby and I can see why parting ways with Gregg at such a time would be so difficult when they both want to raise their child and be around at all times as he grows up. For Beth, it’s really about financial security and stability and it’s so interesting to me that she continues to chase this with Dean, as he clearly has sunk the family business multiple times before (as discussed by Beth and Annie in 2x04). I think it’s become a bit of a habit at this point, which I am keen to see broken this season!

As for Annie attending therapy. I love it! I think Annie’s at the beginning of a really interesting, introspective path this season and we really saw it doubled down in this episode, with her being called out by Ben once again and comparing her life to a major road traffic accident. I really hope the writers continue with these random introspective moments for Annie, sinceI’m really enjoying them. Her scene with the kid prior to the therapy appointment was A+++, so funny! I wonder if that kid is going to turn up again, especially since he was in quite a few bts pics during hiatus. He’s such an amazing little actor too!

I’m really interested in seeing where her arc goes. We know that she develops an inappropriate crush in 3x04 and I think we all think it’ll be on her therapist; if this is the case, I’m really curious to see whether her therapist finds out and if he reciprocates because it would be incredibly unprofessional and unethical if he pursued something with his own patient.  

Also, Annie is the manager! I straight up hollered during that scene. Mae’s line delivery continues to be hilarious and totally spot-on.

(Side-note here but I love that Beth was drinking a slushie again and that she answers the phone call from Ruby with “hey lady.”)

Judith, Beth and Dean

I really loved Judith and Beth’s scenes in this episode and the depiction of the archetypal mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship. I particularly loved how it emphasised that Dean cannot defend Beth at all; not once in the entire flipping episode did he say a word to help her.

Throughout the episode, we see that Judith is a lot like Dean when it comes to Beth. They don’t listen to her and they don’t see her. Beth had to repeatedly explain that her workplace sells “not just cards” and this is strikingly similar to Dean’s blatant disregard for Beth’s opinions and thoughts.

I think the writers and Jessica Walter did a fantastic job of capturing the complexity of a character like Judith. I’m quite passionate about this kind of thing because I grew up in a family where it was commonplace to see a sort of bitterness develop in women who had suffered a lifetime of simultaneous oppression and complete disregard from men and who had, as a result, developed a kind of internalised misogyny. More so, I love that the writers portray Judith as a character who is very much aware of this bitterness and yet she still personifies what those very men expected of her and she now expects the same from her daughter-in-law.

And yes! I wished that the writers would touch on mental health again and I got it! The discussion about post-partum depression is SO IMPORTANT. Women aren’t just mothers once they have kids; yes, it’s often a crucial part of their identity but it’s certainly not everything. Not even close to everything.

Judith sacrified her working life to raise Dean because her husband made more money than she did and it was expected of her to raise a child; she did not feel like she could have both. She patronises Beth in this scene, acting as though Beth should know better by now. What I love most about this is Beth saying that Judith’s happiness was important and that she shouldn’t have quit. It represents so much growth to me because we’ve seen Beth back-slide into the misshapen family she has with Dean. This really represents to me that, internally, she’s moving forwards and she won’t let herself be held back by Dean.

(Another side-note but I love that Beth affectionately calls Kenny “KB” and that his full name is Kenneth Irving Boland.)

Beth

We talk about it all the time but Beth is veeerrryy good at compartmentalising. We’ve seen it numerous times. With relation to this scene, I love that she clearly feels weird about Turner’s death and that the girls seem to appreciate the possibility that she might be upset over it, as her and Agent Turner did have a weird kind of relationship that she enjoyed sometimes. I think, in her own way, she resented him but also respected his ability to see through her and match her. She definitely really enjoyed the high she got from one-upping him.

Despite this, Beth lays down the flowers and is all about business again. She processes her emotions and moves on and we’ve seen her do that a lot. She did it with Dean in 1x01, when she wrecked his study with a sledgehammer and yanked the pig off of Boland Motors but then went straight back to sorting out financial matters with him and being civil. She resented Mary Pat for extorting them but she seemed to come to terms with how similar they were in season 1. She was tearful over Dean’s cancer diagnosis but she processed it and came up with the idea to launder money through stores. We’ve seen it now with Agent Turner, her processing his death and moving on. I love how perturbed the girls were by Beth’s reaction; they really have clocked on to this side of Beth that they never saw before the events of seasons 1 and 2, how she can’t quite get enough crime and they are maybe now realising that Beth has always exhibited a kind of ruthless pragmatism.

The only person we arguably haven’t seen her do this with is Rio; she’s never been able to process her relationship with him. Following the ‘breakup’ scene in 1x09, she was clearly grieving something and she couldn’t move on like she had with any of her other relationships. Instead, by having him arrested (even if it was only for a short time), she ensured Rio could not turn his back on her.

As I said before, Rio’s shadow hangs over Beth’s arc and Beth’s shadow hangs over Rio’s scenes. Beth continues to learn from what she saw of Rio and she continues to try and emulate him. What I love most of all is that this is rarely successful, compared to what she manages to achieve in this episode by playing on her own, personal strengths, for example the scene where she speaks to the manager and lists all of the community positions she holds. Despite this, she has a lot to learn and she really needs to stop and think sometimes (gosh, I don’t know if she’s ever going to do that haha) before barrelling into a situation. Annie is absolutely right; Beth will never be Rio, no matter how much she tries to think like him or act like him, because they have their own strengths and the world regards them differently.

I do love that she has clearly learnt a couple of things from Rio, such as outsourcing in order to launder the counterfeit cash and, my personal favourite, she’s finally realised that there are consequences for screwing up. In this episode, she teaches Annie a lesson about how, if they continue to be taken advantage of by criminals attempting to renegotiate deals, eventually everyone will know and exploit it. It really reminded me of Rio’s rotten egg lesson in 1x07. Say what you want but these two definitely have some good teaching moments haha.

Don’t even get me started on Beth completely zoning Dean out and thinking about crimeing. She’s just always thinking about crimeing, so much so that she lets her mother-in-law come into her house and belittle her, solely because Judith is cleaning up after the kids and Dean (and ironing Dean’s boxers, eewwwwww); clearly, Beth’s priorities have shifted alot over the timeskip. That scene where she just goes full mum Bethie mode, serving lemonade and walking like an absolute queen to the truck, to get what she wants from the movers. That hair, those big blue eyes, that sweater and that French music! Perfection! AND SHE HAS A CHINESE SYMBOL TATTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! ON HER HIP!!!!! OMG!!!!!!!!!!!! I NEED RIO TO REFER TO THAT AT SOME POINT THIS SEASON!

Ahem. Anyway, my second favourite scene in this episode was the scene between Beth and the mover in her backyard. Gosh, it was amazing. And I loved her blouse. The music, the intensity, the power play, the staring. Oh my god. I have watched it about 100 times already. It was genuinely a stunning scene and both actors killed it.

Dean and Gayle

I think there are two potential ways this is gonna go. Either Dean cheats with Gayle, after attempting to resist the temptation and grounding himself in Beth and their family, or he experiences some attention at work that he doesn’t necessarily appreciate, paralleling the attention he paid his female employees who were in a vulnerable position. Maybe it’ll be both?

Regardless, I think that this arc is really going to further separate Beth and Dean and their respective interests. I mean, so far Beth and Dean’s arcs have been entangled; even in season 2, Dean is drawn into Beth’s crimeing with Rio and the family business he inherited was used to launder money. Now, Beth and Dean have very different and separate storylines with regards to their work. Beth is crimeing and Dean is unaware of what she is up to, as she has absolutely no interest in confiding in him (I mean, she suspiciously asks him why he needs money from her; she clearly doesn’t see him as anything more than just Dean at this point). The only link they seem to share now isn’t the dealership, work or crime. It’s really only their kids. I think we’re going to see their paths diverge further this season, particularly following the kiss (which I think will be in 3x04 based on Beth’s flowery blouse in the released pictures but she’s worn it numerous times before and has already worn it in this episode, so who knows!)

Also, classic Dean paying too much gross attention to a woman’s body, even as a tattoo, making inappropriate comments and judging the movers for being ex-convicts. God, Dean is such a prick.

Ruby and Stan

The scene where Ruby felt that she and Stan were not being seen by the sales assistant was also really important. Gosh, I love how this show incorporates things that are not just relevant today but have always been relevant, you feel me. I also really loved that Stan defended his passivity in this situation with some very legitimate reasons. Fighting for what you believe in is great but it’s also okay to feel exhausted and just want to get something done. I really felt that and I feel like everyone can relate to that on some level.

I know nobody needs to hear me say this again but I’m so scared for Stan this season. Like, Manny has me scared by saying that he’s most excited for Stan’s storyline.

And yesssssss. Ruby confided in Stan. I’m so happy! What a stark contrast from Beth and Dean. These two really are the ideal relationship and couple.

That Ending!

It was basically painful to see Beth following up with Rhea throughout this episode, knowing that Rio had put the pieces together and was gearing up to reveal himself to Beth. I also love how genuine the phone call was between Beth and Rhea and it kind of broke my heart but it really is deserved. Gosh Beth, you are a whole ass mess and you and Rio really deserve eachother.

I have considered how this was going to play out so many times and I have thought of so many different ways it could have happened. We haven’t even seen it all yet but I genuinely think Rio revealing that he’s alive to Beth happened perfectly. I love the way we hear his voice first (just like Beth heard his voice first when she met him in 1x01), the way that the camera keeps Beth in frame and pans to Rio slipping into the chair next to her, not taking his eyes off of her and savouring her reaction. You can just tell that he’s thought about this moment so many times! I’ve said it before but there’s something in the way Rio moves, this kind of elegance and grace that I’ve never really seen before.

Him slipping into that chair is straight up perfection though. To me, it represents all the ways that Rio continues to just casually slip into all the parts of Beth’s life, just like he always has since the beginning of their relationship; it doesn’t even feel like an invasion, if that makes sense. That side shot we get of Beth’s face really captures how wide her eyes become, they’re practically swallowing her face she’s in so much shock.

The ringing in her ears, the way all the noise disappears from the room but we can hear the thunk of the chair as Rio sits in it and the sound of his hands clasping together, everything else becomes unimportant. THE WAY HIS HEAD IS TILTED. HOW MANY FREAKING TIMES HAS HE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS?!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don’t even get me started on Rio’s extra AF ass kissing the bullets she shot him with as he lays them down in front of her and lists the organs that she injured in the 3x03 promo. We see how close he leans in but doesn’t touch her. I am so curious to see how he leans in and how quickly it happens. The faux gentleness in his eyes and face and voice, referring to her as “his girl”. Where is the lie?! Beth really is his mess to clean up. I am really loving the dimension that is added to their relationship with this. Like, I hate you and I want to kill you and I’m planning to kill you so nobody else can do it. It has to be me. And then when Rio realises that he can’t kill Beth, because of the bombshell she drops, I can’t wait to see that shift into something like I hate you but I guess I have to deal with you and nobody else can touch you.

As for what I think the bombshell will be. Lemme just get this out there. I don’t think it will be pregnancy for so many reasons, which have already been discussed in the fandom. It may have something to do with Beth’s operation, maybe it’s something that she does in 3x03 that we haven’t even seen yet or maybe we just won’t know until we watch the episode lol.

Anyway, I’m super excited for 3x03 and can’t wait discuss it and them speculate on 3x04 afterwards.

#nbc good girls

[frizz22]

Can you do a continuation of “Unexpected Deliveries” Where Hilda has to take her teething/fussy son with her to church and Faustus holds him during his sermon to help calm him down? Thank you, love your writing btw! :)

Notes: ellareadswitches, spellwood_is_life, sparkles21 all requested similar but have Hilda and Zelda swapped. Combined with the above prompt. Read on ao3

Note: part 1 here

Zelda watched as Hilda anxiously bounced Edward on her knee; trying to calm the little boy before he drew disapproving looks from the entire coven. Despite her sister’s efforts, Eddie’s small whines became progressively louder as Faustus tried to continue Black Mass over the disruption.

When a fourth member coughed pointedly, Faustus walked around the pulpit and strode over to them, still preaching. Blushing fiercely, Hilda made to gather up their belongings and leave.

“Sister Hilda,” Faustus murmured, losing his High Priest voice and lifting a brow. “I think all the boy needs is some movement, yes?” 

Hilda gave him a small nod, shrinking into herself at the attention and glares from everyone. “Yes, Father Blackwood, he is a bit restless. But I didn’t want to disturb... already have though, haven’t I? I just didn’t want to miss any part of Mass.” she finished meekly, dropping her eyes.

A small smile graced Faustus’ lips. “Nor should you,” he affirmed and then, to Hilda and everyone else’s astonishment, Faustus held out his hands. “May I?”

Slightly dumbstruck, Hilda passed Eddie over to Faustus along with the boy’s blanket.

Quickly and easily settling the babe on his hip, Faustus strode back to the front of the church and continued Mass as though there’d been no interruption.

Eddie frowned at first, unused to the warlock holding him, but as Faustus moved back and forth in front of the pulpit, the boy popped his thumb into his mouth and rested his head contentedly against Faustus’ shoulder.

Everyone else, while stunned, was able to refocus on Faustus’ sermon, Zelda, however, couldn’t process anything beyond how natural Faustus looked with a child on his hip. Couldn’t focus on anything but how he naturally rubbed a soothing hand along Eddie’s back, how smoothly he transferred the babe to his other hip when the boy grew heavy, and how expertly he caught Eddie’s blanket when it fell and offered it back to the babe.

Even when Mass ended, everyone filtering out and Faustus coming back over to hand a now sleeping Eddie back to Hilda, Zelda still hadn’t gotten over the scene.

It certainly didn’t help that Faustus smiled at her and winked before walking over to another witching family waiting for his counsel.

Blinking, Zelda couldn’t help but think back to the day Eddie was born. How she’d stood outside the birthing room after Cerberus had gone in to see his wife and new child and Faustus joined her. How he’d asked if she ever thought about marriage and children.

His last comment about testing the water hung in her mind as they collected their things and made their way out of the desecrated church. Zelda glanced over her shoulder once as they neared the door and found Faustus’ eyes on her despite how he was clearly talking to the witching family in front of him.

Fighting a blush, Zelda hurried after Hilda into the woods to walk home; teleporting would only wake Eddie.

Not missing her uncharacteristic silence, Hilda arched a brow at her. “Something on your mind?” She asked softly so as to not disturb her little boy now cuddled against her.

Feigning ignorance, Zelda hummed, though the blush she’d been fight crept onto her cheeks, betraying her.

A giggle escaped her sister and she shimmied the best she could while carrying Eddie. “Someone’s thinking about Faustus Blackwood again,” Hilda teased, “and maybe thinking about having more with him than whatever you normally have.”

Cheeks heating even further, Zelda lengthened her stride, so Hilda had to scurry to keep up. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She retorted, trying to sound as foreboding as possible to dissuade Hilda, and her own thoughts, from going down that path.... because certainly Faustus hadn’t meant what he said a few months ago about marriage and children.

Snorting, Hilda fell into step with her again. “Whatever you say, Zelds. I just know what I saw in there, from both of you.”

She rounded on her sister. “Both of us!?” Zelda demanded, hating how easily she’d been baited.

A knowing smile quirked Hilda’s lips, but she just kept walking, the house almost in view now. “Zelds, please, you two have been dancing around each of since the academy. Why not stop and actually act like adults and...” she trailed off and smirked, eyes on the front porch.

Confused by her sister’s sudden silence, Zelda turned to follow her gaze; standing there, leaning confidently against the bottom of their porch railing, was Faustus.

Her eyes widened as her stomach fluttered, he must have teleported there immediately after his consultation.

Hilda breezed past him, thanking him once more for his help with Eddie, before heading in, stating she’d make some tea.

Following more slowly, Zelda schooled her face. “Faustus,” she greeted, “what can I do for you?”

A slow, sinful smile spread on his lips and Faustus arched a brow. “Well, I’ve been thinking,” he replied once she’d stopped in front of him. “And I think it’s time we finally do as we were intended to do for decades now.”

Lifting a brow of her own, Zelda tried to temper her expectations. “Oh? And what is it that we were intended to do, Faustus?”

With an elaborate flick of his wrist, a box appeared in Faustus’ hands. “Zelda Fiona Spellman,” he pushed off the railing and closed the distance between them. “Will you do me the dishonor of marrying me?” He opened the box to reveal twin turtle dove hearts.

Overwhelmed by the emotions swirling through her, Zelda merely nodded before throwing her arms around Faustus’ neck and kissing him senseless.

~~~ 

3 years later

Zelda gripped the sheets underneath her as she rode out another contraction, Hilda soothingly patting her calf as she measured how dilated Zelda was.

Slumping against the pillows behind her once it passed, Zelda turned her head, breathing heavily, and caught sight of a certain warlock creeping out the door. “Faustus Blackwood!” She snarled, her husband freezing with one hand on the door jam, shoulders hunching at being caught. “If you don’t get back in here this instant—" her threat trailed off as another contraction hit.

Sheepishly, he came back into the room, stopping next to her. “I just, I—" he fumbled, clearly still as uncomfortable in a birthing room now as he’d been during Hilda’s unexpected delivery a few years before; his eyes looking everywhere but her lower half.

She grabbed his forearm in a vice-like grip to prevent him from inching away again. “I don’t care,” Zelda panted, swiping some sweaty hair from her face. “You’re staying right here until our child is born.”

“Dearest,” Faustus pleaded, face paling as he risked a glance to where Hilda was still positioned between her propped up legs. “I love you, I do, and I’ll love our child endlessly. But...” Whatever the rest of his argument would have been was cut off by a low growl emanating from the back of Zelda’s throat as a stronger contraction hit.

Hilda squeaked excitedly as Zelda bore down. “I see the head, Zelds, keep pushing, love. Almost done, you’ve got this, you’re doing so well.”

A shuddering breath of disbelief escaped Zelda, but she followed her sister’s instructions, clutching Faustus’ hand the entire time.

And then, then there was a cry.

Faustus made some wordless exclamation and moved towards the end of the bed, their linked hands stretching between them. “A girl,” he breathed, turning to grin at her widely, “we have a daughter.” His thumb stroked over the back of her hand unconsciously as he shifted to look at the babe again; apparently no longer bothered by the scene.  

When Hilda cut the umbilical cord and carefully wrapped the girl, handing her to Faustus, Zelda tried to push herself up a bit. “She’s healthy?” She asked, already reaching for her daughter, heart cracked wide open with warmth and love.  

Smiling widely, Hilda hummed. “Of course, Zelds. You’ve got a perfect little girl on your hands. Now,” she patted Zelda’s leg letting her know she was done and stood, stripping her gloves and vanishing them. “All you need to do is name her. I’ll give you two a minute.” She squeezed Zelda’s knee and patted Faustus’ arm before leaving and shutting the door behind her.

Faustus carefully handed the babe to her, immediately sitting on the bed next to her and wrapping an arm around her. “Zels,” he breathed, pressing a kiss against her temple. “She’s perfect. Has my hair,” he noted thickly, and Zelda smiled as she glanced at him, touching his cheek gently.

“She is perfect.” Zelda agreed, turning her attention back to the warm weight in her arms. “What shall we name her?”

Pressing against her more firmly as if he couldn’t get close enough, Faustus smiled tenderly. “Judith? Like Judas?”

Zelda couldn’t help but make a face. “We’re not naming her Judith.” She half laughed, looking at her husband with raised brows. “That’s no fit name for a witch.”

“Fine.” Faustus grumbled, muttering under his breath a little at the immediate rejection before making another suggestion. “Lily, short for—"

Eyes lighting up, Zelda cradled the girl closer. “Lilith,” she finished, stroking a finger along her daughter’s cheek. “That’s perfect. A strong, unholy name for our girl. Oh Faustus, how thoughtful.” Zelda shifted to beam at him and he leaned in and kissed her lightly.

“Lilith Jade,” he added softly, his grip on her hip tightening unconsciously. “After, after my mother, if that is alright with you. I know you’ve lost yours as well, but I—"

She turned to face him fully. “It’s beautiful, darling, I love it.” Cupping his cheek, Zelda kissed him again before leaning more heavily into his side; exhausted. “Welcome to our family, Lilith Jade Blackwood.” She whispered, carefully kissing Lily’s head.

“My girls,” Faustus murmured, bringing the arm not around her waist up to support her hold on Lily. “How can one warlock get so lucky?”

Though she normally would’ve made some quip at the sentimental comment, Zelda just smiled and nestled further into her husband, her eyes on her new daughter. She couldn’t really tease him when she felt the same.

#caos #caos fic #caos fanfiction #Chilling Adventures of Sabrina #Zelda Spellman #faustus blackwood #zelda x faustus #spellwood #hilda spellman #mention of #dr cerberus #dr cee #writing prompt #netflix #ao3 #AO3 fanfic #ao3fic

[justjessame]

A Little Ass and A Lotta Sass Chapter 18:  When Did the Last Brothel Close Shop...Or What Jobs Did the Wives Have Before?

I’d managed, through sheer force of will, to push the unpleasant truths of my new living arrangement far far back in my mind. With the slate I cleared, I was able to fall into the book I’d grabbed from the shelves. I fell so deeply into the story that I almost didn’t hear Negan’s return. Almost, but who could drown out that whistling as it grew closer? Especially knowing intimately what else the lips doing the whistling could do…

I kept my nose in the book, planning on making Negan work for my attention. Bargaining power only worked if he knew he wouldn’t get everything with me so easily. My attention was going to have to be earned. Even if I knew he was a dirty fighter.

“Ah, there’s my girl,” his grin could be heard in that fucking voice of his.

Certain, I was sure, that I’d launch myself into his arms and make him feel like a 50s husband who just got home after a hard day of bread-winning for the little woman all day. I had to stop myself from snorting at the thought. Sure, he’s a 50s husband who happens to bear more resemblance to the Fonz than to Darren Stevens. Good luck with that, sweetie, I thought, keeping my attention on the page in front of me.

I felt him sit at the end of the couch that I was reclining on with the throw he’d tossed over me the day before. He shifted my legs, lifting them so he could move closer, so my legs would be draped over his lap, from knees down. The throw was still over top of my body, and his hands were running underneath along my leggings covered legs. I kept ‘reading’ even remembering to turn the page here and there.

“Callie,” Negan’s voice had gone to that low, deep, dark place that made everything on me tingle, but I refused to acknowledge it, or him. His fingertips were touching my bare ankle, light but with the callouses my nerves were coming alive. “Sweetheart, what are you reading?” Fucker, I thought, you KNOW that if I speak, and it comes out the least bit breathless, then you’ve won this round.

I took a beat, keeping my eyes on the page of God fucking knew what fucking chapter, and tried to remember what the story had been that kept me so engrossed before I heard him whistling. Shit, what the fuck? Clearing my throat, I lifted up the book so he could see the title for himself. Then I put it down and continued ‘reading’. I felt him shift, moving his hands to my waist, and lifting me so he was at the end where I’d been laying, and now my ass was cradled in his lap. Damn it, I swallowed, feeling how very much he missed me while at ‘work’.

“It looks good,” his voice in my ear. “Why don’t you read it to me?” Oh, he really really didn’t play fair. I felt his lips touch the shell of my ear and my eyes closed. “Callie? Princess? Don’t you want to share with me?”

Another swallow for me, and I forced open my eyes. Sure, why the fuck not? I started from where I’d turned the page absently to while playing with fire. As I read, Negan tempted me to completely lose my damn mind. He’d touch my hand holding the book, running his fingers along my wrist, his head on my shoulder. He’d turn his head and run his nose down the curve of my jaw, listening for any signs that he’d truly won a hitch in my throat, a sigh, but I kept reading. Bringing in the big guns, his lips started exploring my neck, kissing and nipping at every spot that he knew would drive me insane. Until I forgot to read, closed my eyes and just enjoyed the attention he was lavishing on my skin.

His chuckle against my pulse point made me bite my lip. “Finished already?” His hand took the book from mine and tossed it at the table in front of the couch. “Thank fucking God.” And then our lips met and I moaned. As our tongues touched, I forgot why I’d wanted to refuse to give in to his presence, why I’d been playing hard to get. I forgot everything except him and me, and what we could do to one another.

 When we were finally satisfied, which took less time than I thought possible, we lay on the couch together. I had to admit, giving in was always worth it with Negan. I was laying over top of him, my head tucked under his chin, my hand over his slowing heart with his arms wrapped around me to keep me in place. As our breathing regained control, our hearts stopped racing, we relaxed settling in to just being together.

“How was your day?” I finally asked, wanting to hear his voice rumble through my cheek.

His chuckle sounded tired, we had just exercised pretty hard after all. Then he sighed. “The usual,” then as though realizing that I would have no idea what the usual entailed, he kept going. “I always have people pushing for more or taking more than they’ve earned. And with the-” He stopped, and I waited for him to gather his thoughts. “Now that I’m monogamous,” ah, I thought ‘the wives’. “I have a new round of people having to relearn their places.” I started to shift, feeling uncomfortable that I’ve caused him problems, but his arms were like steel holding me to him. “It was bound to happen, Callie.” I felt his lips touch my hair. “You’re more than worth it. It’s just the fucking learning curve.” I felt him groan at the thought. “And finding something they can do, for fuck’s sake, you teased me about them being just pretty fucking faces, well I’m learning that for the most goddamn part, you’re fucking right.”

I propped my chin up on his chest so I could look up at him. “They did nothing except sit here-” his eyes narrowed, and I corrected myself. “They sat wherever they were given space and just waited for you?” The judgement was heavy in my voice. I couldn’t imagine doing that, that anyone could hope to fucking survive in this world without learning to be useful. And sex, while amazingly fun, wasn’t exactly a marketable skill when surrounded by dead biters. “Did they all come from brothels?” That last one was meant to be an internal dialogue, but of course it fell out of my lips.

Negan laughed, no longer sounding tired, and I shook my head. “I’m startin’ to wonder about that myself, Callie.” He shook his own head. “I swear to fucking God, I have no fucking clue what they did prior to latching onto me. None. And now I really fucking wonder.” He studied me, and his smile grew. “Then there’s you.” Ut oh. “Itching to get the fuck out of these rooms to be useful. Fighting to have control over ANYTHING. Jesus, why didn’t I find your ass sooner?”

I let my head fall back to lay on his chest. “You weren’t ready for me.” I shrugged, not knowing how, but knowing it was the truth. “Are we still going to do interviews for my ‘guard’?” I could feel the irritation growing at the thought. I’d negotiated for it, the power to choose, but it grated on me to have to have security. Then again, if what Dwight had said was true, and I had to trust at least that much, then I might need them.

“Yeah,” he said, running a hand up my bare back and into my hair. “I told Dwight to have a few I think you’ll like to come up after dinner.” His hand was tugging the band from my hair, letting it fall in curls down my shoulders. Once free, his fingers began brushing through the silky strands. “They’re people I trust, with my life, Callie.” I knew that he wouldn’t say that about just anyone, but then again he trusts Dwight. I nodded, relaxing at the feeling of his hand running through my hair. “Your hair is fucking gorgeous, baby girl.” I could feel his body coming alive under mine. “Why don’t you wear it down more?”

Propping my head up again so I could meet his eyes, I smiled. “Ever tried getting gore out of long hair? Or undead leavings? And God fucking damn it, imagine one of them grabbing it?” My smile turned to a smirk. “Practicality keeps it up. Even in Alexandria, just because anything can fucking happen. No matter how safe you think you are.”

He considered my words, his hand still running through the curls, letting them twist around his fingers. “Practical?” He squinted, and kept thinking. He licked his lower lip and I waited. “You’re really not at all like them, are you?” And I was fairly certain that wasn’t a question he needed me to answer.

 We were dressed by the time dinner arrived. Negan had gone into the bedroom to do who knew what, so I answered the door. The same delivery boy stood on the other side, and he seemed braced for my kindness this time. He even managed to smile as I handed him the tray from lunch. When I thanked him, he remembered to say “you’re welcome”. Progress. Thank goodness.

I set the table, finally able to do SOMETHING without Negan taking over. When he came out, I’d put the identical plates in our regular spots and had taken my seat. I heard another chuckle leave him as he came closer to join me. “Feeling better?” He asked, and I shot him a look. “It really fucking irritates you that I want to pamper you, doesn’t it?” He took his seat and stared across the table at me.

I stabbed a bite of the potatoes that were growing cold on my plate. “Why would you think that?” I asked, biting my fork with more force than necessary.

His laughter told me that my poker face may need to be relearned for him. “It’s a theory.” He picked up his own fork and we returned to the ‘getting to know you’ portion of our day. “If I would let you do any job here,” he gestured around him, as though I needed help understanding, “what would you prefer to do?”

I considered what he was asking, eating carefully through more of my dinner. “What I did for our group, I guess.” I shrugged, thinking it was most logical.

His brows furrowed, and he took a drink from his glass. “Laundry?” I snorted, shit, that’s right. He’d only witnessed the household chores of Alexandria. Poor man.

“Negan,” I shook my head. “Laundry, taking care of Judith? Those were just family chores.” I giggled at the mere idea that I’d only been a housewife with no husband. “Dad, he understood my little talent, the one you saw me work in that video. That’s what I did. I was his human lie detector.”

I watched him digest this, as he absently ate. Did he honestly think that Dad would let me run off if I didn’t have SOME idea of how to take care of myself here? And that I’d rush off with Satan’s favorite offshoot without some inner understanding that I had a pretty decent understanding of human behavior and that I felt safe with him? Jesus, living with those multiples must have made him assume that sex overrode every brain synapse in a woman’s head. Not that he didn’t manage to short circuit me now and again, but so far it wasn’t permanent.

“How?” He asked, and I smiled.

“You saw how Deanne chose to greet new people? The videos, the questions? They’re fucking useless if you don’t understand human behavior. She convinced herself that being a former politician made her see more than a regular person on the street.” I took another bite, chewing and swallowing before continuing. “It may have worked, but she failed to add in the stress and uncertainty that comes with surviving this bullshit. It changes people, and so sitting down with a layperson and ‘telling all’, has to be reran through a sieve that filters what’s being said, shown, and known with what that person has experienced.”

As I shrugged, he studied me with interest. Learning more about me was apparently making Negan appreciate me more. “And you can do that?” He’d leaned back, food forgotten.

“I told you, I can’t read minds, but behavior? That’s simple.” I looked down at my own plate and was shocked that it was almost empty again. Seriously, how did he fucking do it? “Deanne was different in so many ways. She hadn’t fought, not really. Her people stumbled into Alexandria, and she realized it was a boon. Yet, when her people started scouting for people to join, they didn’t know and she didn’t know how the world changed people. Why would they?” I thought of Aaron, and hoped he was doing well. “She asked questions that didn’t matter. She listened to words, but didn’t pay attention to the thousand yard stare that some people get when they’ve seen too much and are more dangerous because of their quiet and calm. She didn’t use the knowledge she was so fucking smug about to actually comb through the people better.” It had been her downfall. That and refusing for the people to learn useful skills, and learn to kill “She had no idea she had a domestic abuse situation under her nose. She didn’t think learning to survive ‘in case’ was worth the effort. And so, she died. Because, from what I’ve experienced, ‘in case’ or ‘worst case scenario’ has a pretty high fucking likelihood of happening.”

Negan was watching me as I explained. “You’d be able to tell what exactly?” I liked his curiosity. That he wasn’t blowing it off or pretending it was a parlor trick.

I sighed, and took a drink from my own glass. “If a person fidgets, when meeting a new group, it means different things. Fear, discomfort, uncertainty, those are normal, especially now. Couple the fidgets with another tell, shifty eyes with the inability to make eye contact, tugging at any part of their clothing at waist level and then you have to look closer. Eye contact isn’t something we have to fear against walkers, some dickhead humans sure, but walkers aren’t all that interested in staring deeply into your eyes. And the tugging? Concealed weapon, or some type of mark or branding are both possibilities.” I leaned back in my own chair, pleasantly full now. “I can’t tell you that they’re dangerous, but I can tell you where to look to find out.”

He let out a long breath. “Fuck, no wonder Rick kept you out of the first fight.” I was about to object, but he kept going. “You’re too fucking valuable.” Or my mouth overrules my ass, I thought, but yours sounds more complimentary, so do go on. “What do you need to be able to do it?”

I laughed. “A person? A neutral spot?” I shrugged. I’d been gauging people for my entire life. I didn’t really know what I’d need. “I do it without thinking most of the time, Negan.”

“You don’t like Dwight.” It wasn’t a question, but I knew he wanted to know how and why.

I shook my head. “I don’t trust Dwight, there’s a difference.” I stood up, needing to move to explain. “There’s a lot going into it. The way he gave up everything that was taken from Daryl that he took for his own. The fact that you could punish him in such a permanent way.” Negan was nodding with my words. “And there’s a way he stares, at you, that makes my blood run cold.”

Negan’s eyes were furrowed. “He got Sherri back. He’s one of my best warriors.” I could tell this wasn’t to me, it was him trying to see what he’d missed.

“And yet,” I said, making him refocus on me. “There’s something there that even you aren’t sure about.” I knew that too, watching the two of them interact. Negan always seemed to be testing him, and Dwight always seemed to know it. “Maybe he doesn’t trust that he’ll get to keep her, or maybe he’s still fucking angry that you got to have her for so long? I don’t know, I just know that I don’t trust him.”

“What would your suggestion be?” He asked, and I knew I might shock him with my answer, but it was the truth.

“Keep him close. Don’t let him have an inch, but don’t let him know you suspect.” I offered, moving to his side. “There’s a saying, ‘keep your friends close-’”

“‘And your enemies closer.” He finished, pulling me onto his lap.

#negan x ofc #the walking dead #Smut #alternate universe

[readingraebow]

Girl in the Blue Coat Section Two

Chapter 15-34

1. While Hanneke is cleaning out the papers in her closet, what clue does she find that makes her change her mind about what she thinks might have happened to Mirjam? She finds a copy of Het Parool. And then she bikes over to Mrs. Janssen’s and confirms it’s the same one Mirjam had been reading on the day she disappears. In the classifieds, Hanneke found a notice saying: “Elizabeth misses her Margaret, but is glad to be vacationing in Kijkduin.” Elizabeth and Margaret are the code names Mirjam and her best friend Amalia used to use to send notes to each other. And Hanneke hasn’t really though about Mirjam disappearing right after reading Het Parool. But now she thinks Mirjam went to find Amalia and boarded a train to Kijkduin after reading the notice.

2. What bad news does Ollie bring Hanneke? He says he went to the theater to talk to Judith's uncle but discovered that Mirjam has been brought to the Hollandsche Schouwburg. They were out looking for people whose names were on their list and when they couldn't fill their quotas, they just started rounding up anyone who had Jewish papers. And one of the names on the list is M. Roodveldt. She's scheduled to be transported in two days.

3. Where does Hanneke find Mina? She's staying with Mrs. de Vries. Which Hanneke thinks can't be right, when Ollie gives her the address, because Mrs. de Vries is hella mean and both Hanneke and her boss hate doing deliveries there. But, it seems, Mrs. de Vries also hides Jews because when Hanneke goes to visit Mina, she's also hiding her neighbors who "disappeared". And she also lives right across from the theater, which is why Ollie sent Hanneke there in the first place. Mina saw Mirjam's group brought into the theater and photographed it.

4. What plan do Ollie and Hanneke make to get Mina’s camera back and save Mirjam? Does the operation go as planned? So. Hanneke says that she can get a Gestapo uniform that they can use for the operation. She sneaks into Elsbeth's house and takes her friend's uniform and Ollie wears it to impersonate a guard. He then presents fake orders and tells them he has to search the baby carriages. He does and he successfully retrieves the camera. But then there's Hanneke's part. So she walked the stretch with Willem where the group will be lead from the theater to the train station and they decided that Hanneke will have to grab Mirjam before the bridge. So while Ollie is distracting the guards to get the camera, Hanneke is meant to get Mirjam. Except she finds Mirjam and she's trying to lead her to safety but Mirjam WON'T GO. And then Ollie is done and they're moving again and time is running out and when Hanneke grabs Mirjam to go, Mirjam runs IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION and Ollie grabs Hanneke and drags her to safety. But the guards chase after Mirjam... and shoot her. And then leave her body in the street for the rest of the group to walk around. It. Is. HORRIBLE.

5. What private/top secret information did Ollie reveal about himself to Hanneke in Chapter 25? So Ollie shows Hanneke his letter from Bas and in it, Bas says to tell Hanneke that he loves her and that she should move on. And there's a ~moment and Hanneke tries to kiss Ollie. But he backs off and says that he's in love with someone else. Hanneke guesses Judith but Ollie reveals that it's Willem. Which puts him in a whole different kind of danger because homosexuals were also rounded up during this time too. So she asks if he's in danger and he says he isn't as long as she doesn't tell anyone since no one else knows.

6. Why does Hanneke start to question if Mirjam had a birth mark on her chin and/or scars on her knees? Hanneke, Ollie and Willem go on a bike ride to do something "normal" but Hanneke is going too fast and ends up hitting a patch of ice and falling. She ends up scrapping up her knees pretty badly and then she remembers that the reason Mirjam got the blue coat in the first place was because she tore her other one and scrapped up her knees, leaving a permanent scar. But the girl she dressed at the funeral home didn't have a scar on her knees. And she also had a birth mark on her chin. So she has Ollie ask Judith about the birth mark and, as suspected, Mirjam didn't have one. The girl they just buried wasn't Mirjam.

7. What does Hanneke learn from Cristoffel about Mirjam? She learns that he knew it was Amalia hiding, not Mirjam. He had gone to school with both girls and they were in love with him. But he loved Mirjam and Amalia said she loved him more. One day when Mrs. Janssen was out of the room, Amalia came out and talked to him. She was the one who asked him to help her escape. The furniture that Cristoffel picked up while Mrs. Janssen asked Hanneke to help her find "Mirjam" actually contained Amalia so Cristoffel snuck her out and hid her at his house. But. She told him that she had inadvertently caused the death of Mirjam's family and he kicked her out... right into the hands of the Gestapo. So that's how she was captured and, later, killed. Mirjam, it turns out, has been safe all along. Realizing what she had done, Amalia rushed off to warn Mirjam and her family but she was too late and the family was already dead. So she switched coats and papers with Mirjam and sent Mirjam off to live with her aunt, reasoning that it would be easier for her to find her way out of the city and they would be reunited once more.

8. Describe the friendship between Hanneke and Elsbeth that is told brief snippets throughout the book. They were best friends, almost like sisters, and along with Bas, they were an inseparable group. But then Bas died. And Elsbeth fell in love with a German. And Hanneke didn't approve of the pairing or, rather, she didn't approve of Elsbeth having someone when she was alone. So Hanneke pushed Elsbeth away. And Elsbeth married her German. And even though Hanneke missed her best friend every day, they destroyed their relationship with words and now it's too late to fix their relationship. Even though Elsbeth kind of tried? She asked Hanneke to her wedding but it was because her mother told her to and she didn't think Hanneke would come. And Hanneke said she wouldn't. And that's where their friendship ended. The war divided a lot of things and their friendship was just another casualty.

  Section Two Reading Journal

Okay, so let me start off by saying that I LOVED this book! It was a wonderful story full of compelling stories and a lot of history and it was overall just a well written, engaging read. But the last 50 pages or so also made me cry my eyes out.

I mean. I get that this is a book about the Holocaust. BUT STILL. Amalia’s death was especially heart wrenching. And finding out everything that actually lead to it and her accidental betrayal. And then the afterword and even the last paragraph of the acknowledgements. I shed a lot of tears at the end of this book.

I love that this was a very different perspective of the war. It wasn’t your usual story of the horrors of concentration camps. It was about the horrors that were created outside of them. One teenager made a stupid mistake that had such dire consequences, all because of a stupid war. And I think that is a very powerful story.

I also loved all of the historical things that were peppered in this book such as Mina’s photography and the children who were saved and given to other families. I’m glad those things were based on real events. (Though I hate how tragically some of those stories really ended.) I also loved a line at the end of the historical accuracy afterward talking about how this is a story about a war but also about how we’re all heroes and villians.

This was such an incredibly powerful book and I know it’s definitely one that will stick with me. What an incredible read! I’m so glad we picked this book! <3

#trcbooks #color: girl in the blue coat #the color challenge

[my-mt-heart]

Hi, I wanted to give a review again with you my-mt! It's me! 🤗 you can call me Aurelia. Since I come by so often it seems like maybe it's a good idea to give you my alias name. I wasn't going to review since I thought this episode was pretty straightforward. But I did catch some things and wanted to share! My usual disclaimer of not being able to catch everything still applies for this hopefully short review! Thanks again for leaving such a fun review. I kept coming back several times to your page, like "did she post her review yet?" 😅

1. A little peeved at Maggie for basically leading a charge of revenge against the Reapers only to say to Gabriel "let's get the food, then go home." ...huh?

2. I agree with you, so let's compile this: I understand Judy misses Michonne. I think adding Virgil is a nice touch, since it reiterates what Daryl said about Judith having plenty of people who love her. Even if she doesn't have Michonne, her brother, Daryl and Carol, there are plenty others who will look out for her. And I love that. When she was watching Rosita do her thing, I think it reminded her of her mother and I think we may get a scene with Judith doing something similar before the season is through. But I agree. Judith and RJ's lines feel uncreative. Like that Gracie looks up to Judith and it shows age is a non factor to be an inspiration to someone. It just takes you working hard to be yourself. :)

3. I absolutely loved Pope. Not the character but just the actor's delivery. I really felt the passion. He just didn't seem so inaccessible. Like anyone of them could have taken him out. His time on the show felt rushed. I enjoyed him pushing his philosophy past the breaking point. He was too far gone. Not unlike Leah. I do hope he comes back haunting Shaw or something. I just enjoyed his performance as Pope. Annoyed that this season ends with fire arrows kind of like last season with Alpha destroying Hilltop in a similar fashion. Unjust uncreative.

4. My absolute favorite part in this episode was when Connie signed her wish to go with Carol. And Judith wanted to go with Carol. Aaaaaannnnddd...our favorite crossbow-wielding hero has been craving to go with Carol. My leading lady is quite popular as she should be. But seriously, that moment with her and Connie, Judith, Lydia and Kelly from last season, Daryl, Magna, etc. Is so touching. Because Carol ALWAYS has this look that's a mix between uncomfortable and surprised that people 'choose' her. Like, they accept her, you see? It is too sweet. And Melissa McBride has an unparalleled ability to convey such strong emotions with her expressive eyes and face. It is always a treat watching her. And I mean that quite literally. Since we got liver and onions every episode with Daryl and Leah with Carol like a dessert in between.

5. More on Carol and Connie's brief interaction. Something is telling me that is very intentional. My suspicion is that little sister Kelly told Connie how much Carol helped her find her sister, and how much it probably was eating her up inside. And Connie wants to personally thank Carol as well as tell her it wasn't her fault. Give her some peace, you know? I am confident this is what we have been waiting for with these two.

6. Okay! Now for Daryl and Leah's interaction. First, let me say that AK purposely had it all come back to a scene where Daryl is now saying Leah can leave with him, like from last season Leah was offering Daryl to come with her. She purposely had them both not choose each other a second time. Why is this important? Because it is essential that the audience know whether it is in a time-sensitive situation like in this season or something more laid back like last season, Daryl and Leah don't really want to be with each other. The core of their relationship is not trust. It's the debris left behind by brokenness. It only works if the two have no purpose. But if one of both of them are trying to improve themselves, they drift apart. Kang is showing that very clearly. So please don't be worried anymore, fellow Carylers.

7. I feel naughty but I have to joke about this. Leah betrayed Daryl not because of family (she conveniently left out that Daryl put down the other Reaper while in her presence). She had a tear roll down her cheek and everything because Daryl. Didn't. Want. Her. Behind. Daryl was literally there for the kids, the families. Not because she had something he wanted like her underwear. And THAT hurt Leah. It stings not being the center of the world. She was played. Notice how she mentioned Carver said not to trust Daryl, even though Pope essentially told her that first? It was because Leah sided with Daryl over Carver as a romantic interest (because Carver is a total rebound guy) and she was wrong in her choice! Something tells me she is not used to being wrong, especially like that. So it's a little personal.

8. But her descent isn't over yet. I really wish Pope said something to her before he died, which makes me think he will return briefly in the next episode or episode. 10. Hopefully. Anyway, did anyone else pick up on the fact that there seem to be NO other female Reapers? Like, Leah is the only one? I think that's on purpose. As well, as her speaking up a lot more. Notice how it greatly contrasts with Carol bonding with the other women in her community and not speaking so much accept to get things done? Guys, that's it! And I truly believe it is the reason behind Carol's criminally low amount of screentime. It isn't for no reason. It is used to illustrate that Carol is the healthier, wholesome, kind, loving, supportive, attentive, selfless, and but low self esteem woman. Compare with Leah's cold, ruthless, unsupportive, broken, selfish, confident behavior. Leah may or may not have been seeking to be the leader, but she was willing to put down her father figure without hesitation. Compare with Carol talking to Aaron (technically the father of Alexandria as the last original member pre-Rick's group), getting him to come back to himself. Carol seeks to heal others from her mistakes. But Leah is willing to cut people off for hers -even family- if they are too far gone or if she can't use them, sort of what she accused Pope of. Notice how she was quick to speak up when Pope asked Daryl "why am I keeping you around?" Yeah. All of that. My point is Carol is willing to become small in order to fit in better with the community so they can be greater than the sum of their parts. Leah kept asserting herself and making herself bigger than the insecure and unforgiving and broken person she actually is and that is why her group will fall apart. I know it looks like Carol is not doing much, Carylers, but it's only when you look at what Leah IS doing, you see that Carol is doing so much more than we think. She's choosing the higher path.

9. I am so, so, so, so glad that attempt at a Leah redemption tale is over. Because it wasn't happening. Leah and Daryl have no chemistry at all. It's so dry they have to bring up that cabin from years ago. Nothing would have happened in that cabin if they stayed there. Because deep down neither one of them is capable of changing who the other really is deep down inside. But it did serve a purpose and I want everyone to gather round for this one. When Daryl and Leah are having that seemingly heart to heart, does anyone else notice how tiny Daryl's voice gets and how small he sort of becomes? ON. PURPOSE. Now, run your minds back to 11x01 when Carol and Daryl share a look. And the way Daryl looks at Carol...ehem. Here is the difference: with Leah, Daryl sounds and acts and behaves immaturely, like a teenager. But with Carol, he looks and talks and acts like an equal to her. He LOOKS at Carol like a man. I have never seen Daryl look at Leah like that. And the fact that he talks real low and soft, trying to get Leah to help him go against Pope? He just seems much younger than her. He has never done that with Carol. He has always been straight with Carol (not counting Glenn and Abraham which was for her sake). He didn't want Carol to lose herself. But with Leah, he is willing to risk Leah losing something of herself (Pope). Yes. It blew my mind too. It's like Daryl wants Leah to come with him but it has that "let's crash this party and scram before they catch us" feel. With Carol, he wants them to leave together on peaceful terms.

10. Daryl's awkward social skills used in the previous episode with cigarette Reaper only for the purpose of him being put down this episode shows that Daryl's 'social skills' are shoddy and hilarious. Like, he has no idea how to talk to people still so this is what they came up with. 😆

I think if we look on the surface, it all seems pretty stale. But, underneath? There is a world of things going on. It will all come together. But I hope we feel better. I feel like I had more to say but nothing is coming so I will end here.

Yeah, hope my review was okay again! Enjoy our hiatus!

Oh by the way we may see theories floating around during this time about Leah having at least at some point been pregnant by Daryl (unbeknownst to him, of course) and that was what she started to say before they were interrupted but please disregard them. I know you are welcome to post. Just don't let it get in your hearts, okay? That is where Caryl lives. So, just remember that.

Hi, Aurelia. As usual, I really appreciate your keen eye because like you said, it's impossible to pick up on everything. That's a really great observation about Rosita channeling Michonne out in the rain with her weapon, and it makes sense considering we were watching that through Judith's perspective. Love all of the deep Carol/Leah/Daryl parallels you found and your rationalization for Carol's minimized screen time whether intentional or not :) Are people really speculating that's what Leah was going to tell Daryl? Oh, boy. I know we're going on hiatus, but don't be a stranger if you ever have more to say.

#caryl #caryl positivity #caryl is endgame #twd #twd season 11 #twd spoilers #twd speculation #twd for blood

[shimmershae]

My thoughts on Episode 3--Hunted.

 Most of you lovelies already realize this, but my thoughts tend to zig and zag quite a bit, lol.  So.  To save some of you the headache and spare you from seeing spoilers you’d rather not see yet, I’m again placing them behind a cut.  

First things first.  I have totally turned into Yvette Nicole Brown with her TWD notebooks, lol, and I’m not even sorry.  I just felt like it would be fun to go back when the final episode is in the books and see how well my thoughts from these early episodes line up with what I’m feeling when we say our (not-so) final goodbyes.  

But that’s enough about that. Let’s get to this thing.  

It really is insane how very much I love Melissa McBride.  Just hearing her doing the previously on TWD recap voiceover makes me ridiculously happy.  

Cole!  Dude!  We hardly knew ya.  

Not gonna lie.  That first shot of Maggie in all the chaos reminded of a shirt I’ve seen.  It says--”Well, well, well.  If it isn’t the consequences of my actions.”  

I have to hand it to Angela and the rest of her team.  These opening scenes--on all 3 episodes--have been BOMB so far.  They really hook you in right away.  At least IMHO.  

I realize I’m behind the game on this little tidbit, but how much do I adore the fact that Dog is now in the opening credits?  

Okay.  Alexandria might look like it’s been on some kind of post-apocalyptic bender but all our girls are looking beautiful as ever.  Maybe it’s Maybelline, lol.  

I love to see Kelly and Carol still gravitating toward each other.  It really speaks to each woman’s heart.  Carol wants to make amends so badly and Kelly just has the most lovely, warm, forgiving heart.  

Carol’s point about Alexandria still needing the horses to help with the heavy lifting and pointing out the walls and rebuilding won’t matter quite as much if they’re limited by their  hunger and what they can physically lift on their own isn’t wrong.  But I’m sure the same viewers that were okay with Daryl and Co. going out on Maggie’s suicide mission (using the same reasoning) and saying it made sense for the bigger picture will pretend not to recognize that the same element is there in Carol’s desire to go out there and look for the horses.  You know.  Because it was Carol’s idea and not that of their fave(s).  

Aaron, Man.  Or maybe I should say Angela.   You just had to put a pit of dread in my belly mentioning Buttons like that.  RIP, Buttons.  You deserved better.  I’m still traumatized.  

Look at all the babies bonding.  Look at RJ getting to sit at the big kid table.  

“My mom always comes back.”  She damn well better.  Those babies need her.  Until she does, though, Uncle Daryl and Aunt Carol (and Aunt Rosita and everybody else) are going to be there.  

Anyway.  Poor RJ.  He barely ever gets any lines, lol.  

Hershel and Judith are obviously the mini-adults in this group and baby Rhee is already more cynical and jaded than his sweet daddy was until they reached Alexandria and the wheels started to come off.  

So.  Does Maggie just think everybody’s already dead here or what?  Hmm.  

You know.  Any building can be creepy AF when the lights are off and it’s dark, lol.  Any building.  

So much darkness so far this season.  I’m going to have to invest in some blackout curtains.  I just know it.  

Where are all those stairs leading?  Why am I thinking of Hitchcock?  Am I mixing up my scary, suspenseful movies?  Probably.  

Of fucking course, Maggie dropped her flashlight.  Thank goodness she had that lighter at the ready just before Ghost Face Reaper took a swipe at her.  

Is that Father G with a screwdriver impaled in his thigh?  Listen.  These people deserve a Mega Bottle of pain killers and a week just vegging out in a soft, luxurious bed.  

All these horror movie tropes.  Some of them are cheesy, yes.  But I’m totally here for it.  

LMAO.  That’s it, Maggie.  A good old punch in the nuts works every time.  

Alden really is having a terrible, horrible, no good very bad day.  

Negan is still Negan.  Self-serving and looking out for number one.  But I believe the man really does feel the group is his group too.  He’s like that long lost, sketchy uncle nobody wants to acknowledge much less invite to the dinner table, but that bond?  However thin?  Is there.  

I am both hating that Maggie is being forced to work with the man that murdered her husband (my baby Glenn) and finding it fascinating the lengths she’s willing to go to survive.  This your plan, Angela?  

Rosita and Carol!  How sad is it that the last really significant scene I can remember the two of these women sharing was way back?  Before Rick and Co. attacked Negan’s outpost and Maggie and Carol were subsequently taken?  If only the show had done more of these kind of scenes.  

How much do I love all the girls working together?  Gimps would never.  They’d all be stuck back at Alexandria minding the kids and the community.  

Shallow aside--Rosita is so pretty in this scene.  

Rosita being worried about Carol honestly makes my heart hurt, because it’s about damn time more of them actually did.  Her saying Abraham is trying to tell her something in her dreams is interesting.  Angela sure loves her dreams, doesn’t she?  

Where are Daryl’s dreams, hmm?  No.  Seriously.  I guess they want to give some viewers plausible deniability until the bitter end.  

“Really?  We’re just gonna go toward the screaming?  Cool.”  Hahaha.  You know.  Even the smart people in horror movies sometimes bite it, Negan.  Just saying.  Maggie really does need to “stop running up the staircase” when she could just run out the front door though, lol.  

Poor Duncan.  I think you could have been another Tyreese, Jerry type for me.  

WTF does this show have against horses?  Those poor creatures.  

Kelly is totally me right now.  I’d be freaking inconsolable.  

Carol needed that hug.  Thank you, Magna.  From the bottom of this tired fangirl’s heart, thank you.  

Why give us that beautiful, golden shot with the horses when you’re planning to stab us through the heart later and twist the knife.  Oh.  Yeah.  That’s exactly why.  

Oh snap!  Father G’s delivery when he tells that Reaper “I’m not.  God isn’t here anymore.”  Cold as ice.  

Judas.  That the Reapers’ work.  Or.  Damn.  Either way, that’s harsh.  

Back to what Alden was saying.  All these oprhaned children.  Who’s going to take on Adam if he dies?  That poor kid has had a rough go of it.  Knowing that, makes you wonder what Alden was thinking volunteering for the suicide mission.  

Omigosh.  There went Agatha.  Terrible way to go.  Right, Beatrice?  

I’m sobbing.  Carol with the horse.  That hurt my baby so much but she hurt herself for her family the same way she has been doing since the Prison.  Melissa Mcbride?  When she cries, I cry.  Every effin’ time.  Aaron being there just made it hurt more.  But at least someone was there to see how and really take in how she continues to break pieces of herself off to keep her family as whole and safe and happy as she can.  

Rewinding a minute--that Magna and Carol conversation.  I get Magna’s reasoning too.  I do.  But Angela is just making everything so dire right now so that the sun when Connie is ultimate found shines a ltitle brighter.  

Those babies know they’re eating horse.  I could never.  

That’s got to be a different Coco.  She’s even smaller.  But she’s gorgeous.  

Fucking finally.  Angela having the other characters notice after an eternity of being blind to it, just how much Carol sacrifices of herself for them.  It’s so long overdue and I imagine Rosita’s even more worried for Carol now.  It’s a shame it’s taken 11 seasons.  My baby’s had blood on her hands trying to keep her family safe and whole and happy and fed for a long damn time.  So heartbreaking watching her try to scrub the blood away.  

Sweet, sweet hug that Kelly gave Magna.  She’s such a sweetheart kid sis to all of them, isn’t she?  

Interesting place of refuge.  A gutted church.  A visual symbol, Angela, of where Maggie and the rest of our people are now perhaps?  

“It’s easy for you, isn’t it?  Being reckless with sombody’s life...”  Maggie.  Maggie.  Those words would have hit so much harder if we hadn’t spent the majority of the last 2.5 episodes watching you ignore sound advice just because it came out of the mouth of somebody you (justifiably) hate.  

But will Alden be there when Maggie and Negan get back?  That is the question.  Or will he eventually Lucille himself?  

That little bit of lineup Negan music to remind the audience of Negan lovers and sympathizers that he once took great pleasure in murderously swinging a bag at people’s heads was a nice, subtle touch there.  Like agree with her or not, Maggie  is literally left to rely  on the hope, however small it is, that Negan has changed just enough that he won’t try to finish a job he taken on years before--killing what’s left of her.  

Oh lawd.  Next episode sees the return of a character literally nobody asked for.  How excited am I not?  

Dog better not be harmed or so help me.  

Now for Angela’s weekly explanations of WTF she/there were thinking because they been doing this plausible deniability thing so long some people out there watching with biased, muddy stan glasses can no longer separate head canon from canon.  

Is Maggie worried at all about Daryl or does she just assume his superhero powers are in full effect in this episode?  

“You can’t really say it wasn’t going to happen anyway.”  Not Angela pointing out that simply laying the blame for literally everything bad that ever happens at Carol’s feet isn’t the answer.  Say it louder for those in the back.  Alpha was going to do what Alpha wanted to do.  

“There is love there.  There is respect there.  However, there’s also frustration...”  You damn skippy.  Friendships and human relationships are complex AF.  Like Carol. She’s honestly one of the most complicated characters on this show and any show, IMHO.  That’s what makes her so memorable and such a lightning rod for discussion.  

I know I might be in a minority, but I really feel like they need more of those little scenes between the kids to keep things real.  

Kang saying she always feels like she’s going to get murdered in a staircase or parking lot is relatable, funny, and sad all at the same time.  It’s a girl thing.  

Why is Carol’s story giving me Dark Knight vibes?  Like I feel like she’ll gladly shoulder the burden of their distrust, their hate, or their judgment as long as the hard choices she makes keeps them safe.  And she’s still ultimately going to come back to save their asses even when they forsake her.  Just like Bruce Wayne/Batman.  Am I reaching too far, lol?  Because sometimes I do that.  

Anyway.  This is the third episode of the season and the third episode in a row that I mostly enjoyed.  I don’t know if I’m just so relieved and happy to have all the characters and my show back or what, but overall?  I’ve been pleased with the episodes and found something to love in all of them.  

There’s a much stronger horror vibe woven throughout Season 11 so far.  I feel like it’s a return to the roots of the show and I like that.  Literally none of the characters are making perfect choices and this viewer is here for it.  My only complaint so far is there hasn’t been enough Carol but what we’ve been given has felt like a gift and significant in a way that Gimps’ version was not.  Also?  I really hope the trend of the ladies working together and supporting each other continues because they rule the TWD world, lol.  

Hope you enjoyed at least some of my TWD word vomit.  

Until next episode.  

#The Walking Dead #Season 11 #TWD spoilers #things that make me smile and cry #for reasons #my heart

[whateverisbeautiful]

Reveling in Richonne

#138: The Presence (9x04)

While Rick and Michonne were separate for most of 9x04 there were still a lot of significant stuff with them so I have to break down what goes on in Rick and Michonne’s final day before their whole world changes. 👌🏽 Starting with Michonne’s eventful day where she has to be in the presence of Negan. 😑

But Negan also gets to learn that when he’s in front of Michonne, he’s in the presence of a queen.

We cut to Michonne and Judith sitting outside their home and Michonne is working on the charter while Judith sits with her, watching her mom be a diplomatic icon. And they hear a knock so Michonne gets up to see who it is and on her way over she touches Judith’s head and says “I’ll be right back, baby.” A precious little Mama Michonne moment.

So Michonne talks with Nora and I like to see Michonne interacting with a new person, who appears to be a friend. Nora gives the president an update on some stuff going on in the community, including that the drama king is not eating. 

Michonne lets Nora know that she’ll handle it cuz it’s her responsibility and it’s nice that, as much as Michonne has on her plate and as much as she has zero desire to spend time with Negan, she’s willing to add this to her plate cuz that’s what leaders do. 👌🏽

Michonne goes to Negan’s cell and I was low key quite curious cuz I had been wanting Negan to get to have an interaction with Michonne where he gets to more formally see who this queen is. And what better way to start that then her placing the plate down in front of him and standing like a boss as she tells him in a matter of fact tone, “The hunger strike ends today.” 👏🏽👏🏽 

Negan says he’s not on strike, he’s just not wanting to eat but, “it’s nice to know that you care.” But Michonne clears that up to let him know the real reason is, “We’re keeping you alive, and the living eat. So eat, Negan.” 

It’s also funny that she says it’s a nice day cuz she knows good and well Negan can’t enjoy that day. I’m here for the subtle shade. 😁 She tells him when she comes back in an hour she wants that food on his plate gone. She’s got enough people to mother, but clearly she now has to add his trifling self to the list. 

And then he has the nerve to ask if that’s all she’s got and I love her response and delivery of the line, “I got better things to do.” 😂😎 

Negan says if she wants him to eat then he wants her to stay and talk to him and I was like Negan I get it, everyone wants to be in Michonne’s presence but no, she doesn’t have time for you to try your mind games on her. Not today. Not ever.

Negan says he’s proof that they’re making a new civilization and so he uses that as leverage to get her to stay and talk, cuz then he’ll eat. And he says “I mean that’s what your boyfriend says.” Correction: that’s what her husband & soul mate says. 💯 

But I do like that at least we know by now that Negan has realized Rick and Michonne are a couple.

Michonne’s willing to sit with Negan for just twenty minutes, which is quite generous.  But she’s still very much in control of the situation as she takes a chair and sits and says, “You wanna talk? Let’s talk.” 

Negan is so used to being able to take control of the moment within five seconds of interacting with someone, but those games don’t work so easily with Michonne. 

So it’s implied that Michonne tells Negan about how she spends her day and we come into the scene where Negan says it sounds more boring than his day. Which...

He continues trying to provoke her by saying she’s the one stuck with the C-team while Rick and co get to be out there doing important stuff. Clearly he’s learned Michonne is one of their A team members so he asks why it is she’s been tasked with more domestic duties instead. And I was like; look what Negan’s not finna do is try to cause division between R&M. It’s a waste of time and energy cuz nothing breaks that bond. 👏🏽

Michonne challenges his point, asking, “You think I’m stuck?” and Negan answers saying just like he’s not meant to be in this cell, there’s a warrior in her that’s not meant to spend her days, “planting kale and kissing boo boos” but this silly fool doesn’t realize Michonne’s multidimensional so she can do all of that and then some at the same dang time. Cuz 👸🏽.

Michonne goes on to say, “You think that’s all this is? We’re rebuilding the world.” I’m glad she doesn’t let him downplay what she’s doing. She sees the importance in all of these things, no matter how small or seemingly “trivial”. None of it makes her less of a warrior or trapped in any way, and in fact it all contributes to the civilization they’re trying to bring forth. 

She tells him they’re at the start of everything with nothing holding them back while Negan rots away with nothing. And that’s the thing, I don’t know how much of the Grimes family unit Negan has gotten to see at this point, but if he saw them together, he’d know Michonne has a whole lot more to live for than he thinks.

It’s funny that Negan attempts to play the wife card with Michonne by saying he’s grateful his wife didn’t have to see him like this, in attempt to appeal to Michonne and gain sympathy. But Michonne’s ready with the amused response of how his wife probably wouldn’t have wanted to see the guy he was before he ended up in this cell either.

I feel like Negan tries to bring up how great his wife was and how she deserved better cuz he wants Michonne to start thinking about if she too is that wife who deserves better...but his manipulation can stay home cuz Michonne knows who she is. 🙄 

Michonne asks what happened to his wife, allowing them to have a more human connection. Negan says she passed form cancer and how they would have loved to have a kid and specifically a kid like Carl.

He tells Michonne, “We would have loved to have a kid like Carl. You were lucky” And the “you were lucky” part indicates the fool finally knows that Carl was Michonne’s kid...at the same time miss me with all this Carl remorse from Negan, cuz the man had multiple moments of almost killing him. 

Then, Michonne says she thinks about Carl everyday which is so sweet and so heartbreaking. 

And she says “But he’s still here. In everything we do. I look around and I see him everywhere.” And that is just powerful and heartwarming. I love her saying this and how Carl is still so apart of her. 

It’s sweet knowing she can find comfort in looking at their thriving community and seeing Carl in that. I’m sure a huge reason why she’s been so committed to investing in this community is because it’s an investment in Carl. She feels his presence here. 😌 And taking care of this community is how she continues to take care of her son. 

Negan asks Michonne if she sees Carl in this cell which, again, I was like I’m gonna need Negan to stop using this moment as leverage to try manipulating her into whatever agenda he has. Michonne is not the one. 

But I like that she reiterates, “Everywhere.” Especially cuz Carl is the only reason Negan is in a cell and not six feet under ground...so yeah she definitely sees Carl in this cell.

And then Negan quickly picks up on the fact that Carl wasn’t Michonne’s first kid. I like the wording of saying, “Carl wasn’t your first” cuz it implies again this understanding that Carl is her child. 

When he brings this up, Michonne immediately goes on defense and reminds him he only has a few more minutes to eat before she’s gone.

Negan picks up a lot from her response and can tell he’s onto something personal with her, so he insensitively keeps pushing by asking, “How did he die? It was a “he” wasn’t it? Did he have your eyes” and hearing that had me like...

The disrespect to use the knowledge of her deceased child to try and get under her skin. Negan, nobody wants to have these super personal conversations with you. He was out of line asking all that. 😑 I wanted Michonne to get a chance to talk about her sons but it just had to be with Negan of all people. :/

She tells him very matter of fact, that, “His name was Andre. And he just didn’t make it”. Negan says he’s sorry but Michonne lets him know she’s made her peace with it. 

And Michonne truly is a strong woman for having done the work to make peace with such a tragedy in her life. And it’s cool that we got to watch her journey of “coming back” and making her peace. So much so, that she can now be at this point in her life where her family has blossomed and is continuing to grow. 

Negan then says it’s better this way for the both of them with their losses. When he tries to say that he and her are the same, Michonne is adamant that they aren’t. But Negan is adamant that they are cuz he tells her “We were built for more. We still are, Michonne.”

It’s annoying that Negan really thought he could use such transparent tactics to get in Michonne’s head. He wants her to feel like the discontent housewife who needs to get away but like I said; Michonne is not the one. 💯

He says that behind walls and bars they die, but uh Michonne is one of the ones who lives so Negan, you thought. 

But his words do resonate a bit when he tells Michonne how being out there is like an addiction to them. That’s something Michonne has felt and known before. 

It’s what she spoke about to Rick in 5x11 when she expressed learning how the fight turns on you if you get too addicted to it. And it’s what she seems to be wrestling with in the montage in this episode too. This need to be out there fighting the fight is a need she feels strongly, to the point where Negan could get her to at least ponder if it’s an addiction. 

So Michonne quickly stands up, not wanting to hear anymore because she wants to believe that she’s put that addiction to being out there behind her. But part of her is not so certain.

Negan says he knows she knows what he’s talking about and it’s why she’s grateful too. She asks, “Grateful for what?” and Negan has the audacity to say, “That Andre is gone. Because you know all he would’ve done is make you weak.” Where is this man’s hometraining?? 🤔 Like who thinks it’s okay to talk like this to someone, and especially to get this personal with someone you don’t really know? 

And unlike Negan, it’s not all about selfishly attaining individual strength and tyrannical power. For some people, like Michonne, strength can be garnered in protecting others, not just looking out for yourself.

Michonne’s ticked off with Negan trying her this way and annoyed that, while it took him a minute, he did manage to find the right button to push, so she throws his tray of food and leaves. But she doesn’t just leave it at that.👌🏽👸

🏽gifs source: @michonnegrimes

#richonne #s9 #9.04 #her presence cannot be denied

[nellie-elizabeth]

The Walking Dead: Lines We Cross (10x01)

I did not actively dislike watching this, which is about as good as it gets for me when it comes to The Walking Dead. Objectively, this was a pretty good premiere!

Cons:

I do not blame the child actor for this, but the little boy they have playing RJ is... bad. I know some people who say Chandler Riggs was bad as Carl, but I always thought he did a serviceable job, even in the early seasons when he was just a little kid. But RJ is just wow. Distracting. Every line delivery stilted and strange. Especially when he's compared with the girl playing Judith, who actually does a pretty good job.

I have a theory about the Carol/Daryl situation. At the end of last season, they signaled romance between the two of them very hard. But in this premiere, they seem to be splitting the difference, trying to cater both to the shippers, and to those who see them as only friends. There was an almost sibling-like banter to Carol and Daryl for a lot of this episode, as Carol makes fun of Daryl for calling her his "best friend." But then the language shifts to them talking about "running away together," which is pretty romantic, no matter which way you look at it. I feel like they're trying to have the best of both worlds, falling into the classic TV trap of "will they, won't they" to keep audiences on the hook. This is Season Ten. It's time to stop messing around with long drawn out character arcs that make so little progress you can barely see them moving.

Pros:

Honestly, though, for the most part I found this premiere invigorating. Well, relatively speaking, anyway. The opening scene was a great way to start out, as we see a bunch of our characters on a beach in military formation with archers and infantry and shields, all practicing on a group of beach Walkers that are trapped in an isolated location. It was cool to see an organized force, and nice to see them practicing. They're doing what they should have done back in the prison, or when they first got to Alexandria - really preparing people for the realities of their world. I also continue to be impressed with new creative Walker designs. The driftwood zombie at the start of this episode was really creepy and well done!

There's something inherently comical about Rosita and her three men raising her new baby together. I'm fully prepared to hate this plot line later on, as it might turn in to something unbelievably stupid. But for now I like the interplay of Gabriel being all serious and dead inside, and Eugene charting everything about the baby's behavior, and Siddiq sliding in and out of pretty severe PTSD while trying to adjust to fatherhood. This is a plot thread to watch out for - it could break either way, but I'm looking forward to seeing what's next.

Sometimes I think to myself - what the heck is Negan doing here? But then Jeffrey Dean Morgan is an undeniably charming guy, and in some ways I get why he's still around. I still wish they would have killed him off, and I think that letting him live made the final confrontation with the Saviors much weaker. But if we're taking the long view, having Negan here is like having a human symbol of the future Carl and Rick were fighting for. He's still sleeping in a cell every night, he's still being watched by a guard, but he has somewhat integrated into society, and helps out in the gardens. With time, maybe he really will "pay his debt to society" or whatever, and integrate even more.

Despite the poor boy playing RJ's unfortunate performance, I really liked the scene where Judith told RJ the story of Rick's (supposed) death. Judith has actually been a lot of fun. The actress does a great job, and she also acts as yet another symbol of the future, of what a kid can look like in this world. She has never known a life before the zombie apocalypse, but she's still a kind and caring kid who goes to school and looks after her little brother. She's also a bad-ass who gets to come out on training assignments and kill Walkers with the grownups. This show has killed off some characters over the years that I never thought they'd kill off, but the main examples are Carl and Henry. I thought the show needed a child at its center, a symbol of what everyone was fighting so hard to achieve. I hope they don't kill off Judith, as she has become that symbol, and I think it's something that is sorely needed.

As I mentioned, I'm feeling ambivalent about Carol and Daryl and the direction they're going. I want romance, but I think they're going to tease us to the point of irritation. That said, I really liked their scenes together. Carol is acting almost too chipper, having taken to spending her time out on the sea, running errands for Oceanside and Alexandria that keep her away from the greater community. This is clearly a coping mechanism over losing Henry, and while she does seem content, there's always the very real chance that it's going to come crashing back around her now that Alpha appears to be returning. And Daryl is coping in his own way, stuck somewhere between being a loner and being part of the community. We see how happy he is to see Carol. We see him and Michonne reminiscing about Rick, as they talk about how nice it was to bring the kids to the beach. We see him learning some clumsy sign language to communicate with Connie. (If it weren't for Carol, by the way, I'd totally be on board for a Daryl/Connie romance, and I don't think I'll be all that mad if that's where they're going with this).

There are other things going on in this episode, little plot hooks that will be tugged on later - Aaron's isolationist and bleak world-view contrasted to Michonne's hopefulness. Ezekiel trying to find new purpose in his life. Connie's sister having trouble with her hearing, threatening Connie's ability to communicate without her interpreter. A satellite crashes to Earth and Eugene is interested in the potential technology. But all of these threads will develop more fully a little later on. I'll end this review by turning to the looming threat of the Whisperers.

We see our communities getting on with their lives after the painful double-disaster of the Whisperers' attack, and the big snow storm, several months ago. There are hints that they are well aware of the potential threat of the Whisperers returning, but they are mostly just doing their best to stay out of their territory and keep calm and carry on. As the episode ends, the satellite falling causes a fire and forces them into the Whisperers' territory in order to prevent that fire from spreading, and as the episode ends, we see Alpha staring up at Carol, the enmity bright in both of their eyes.

I'm pretty excited for this show-down. Alpha killed Carol's son, and from Alpha's perspective, Carol stole Alpha's daughter. The Whisperers were a really interesting and different villain last season, and I hope they don't overstay their welcome the way the Saviors did. But for now, I'm still on board.

That's that! I know a lot of people have been talking about the new show runner, and what this means for reinvigorating The Walking Dead. Speaking for myself, I have definitely felt disenchanted with the show for several years now, even as there have been moments, episodes, or characters that still intrigued me. I am excited for the show to improve, even while I privately feel that it should probably bow out before too much longer!

8.5/10

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