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unproduciblesmackdown · 1 year

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vivacious posts when it's 9am after i finish rewatching andor and feeling extremely regular, which is to say i did get to catch / better follow things that you could catch the first time around if i wasn't particularly bad at it, but it wasn't like a huge deal b/c obviously the first time around was like "dear god this fucks" and so too it went this time around like jesus christ. The Everything. like every element. my god. thee politics. i am. thinking about like various moments even now as i type and it gives me pause b/c i'm getting caught up in "ugh yeah that single moment was so fucking good. and that, and that" like recalibrating to being In It and jeez like the sense of being so grounded in this very [the scale and life of these various individuals] and it's feeling very real with this sense of like "yeah these are the way their day to day lives are" and how that works so perfectly in tandem with Everything It's About. the smaller pieces and the way they come together, yet without ever zooming out to leave any of the people involved behind for like "okay now for the overall grander stuff" b/c it's all about any & all the ordinary people and how Everyday it all is

anyways i could go on with like, a bonus 5x length of just my Saying Things to work out thoughts & observations lol but it's like. luckily it's difficult lol like it'd just be running commentary to cover things. but much more distilledly, then i Again followed it up by watching rogue one which is also a great time, yet of course different despite it being like [yeah ofc like everything andor is about and everything about it is an extrapolation / further exploration of elements found in rogue one, then of course executed differently b/c it's a different format, different story, different entire creative project etc etc] like. i will now simply be going "just a few screenshots as illustrations of getting riled and thus taking screenshots" and making a half past 9am post b/c it takes me like two to three times a movie's runtime to watch it at least, and b/c it's vivacity and expressiveness time

i took these b/c i was laughing at how openly jyn is like :/ to herself when k-2so says cassian thinks it's a bad idea for her to come along. there's so many reasons for her to do so but it's also just inherently funny when they met 5 sec ago in a meeting room question like, i thought we were tactically getting along (which, fr why wouldn't she think so lol. like, he was there to raise concerns if he had them....but it even also plausibly sets up the plausibility in turn like, cassian not always necessarily feeling fully aligned with the Official Meetings / Decisions stuff or share his thoughts w/them all openly. and even more immediately is surely setting up especial reason for jyn to be like, well what other Misalignments don't/won't i know about with this guy, and everything.) anyways and as tagsingly discussed it's like, jyn's really pretty expressive and a bit like Yes That Was Funny Of You, and beyond that it's like ah the wariness / [not so Warm or Bold as perhaps ppl would expect from someone who's not Trying to be closed off exactly] makes entire sense like not just for the character but to me personally like, well, Right lol. we love our characters who just aren't expressing or comporting themselves in perhaps whatever ways are Usual enough that other characters or audiences know what to do with them....i don't know what's going on out there and i'm not asking but seems like [issues w/jyn as protagonist/character] isn't one of the most uncommon weaknesses or issues or dislikes or w/e that ppl can take with things, and to be the Complement of that i'll just be like yeah i'm so hype actually. like, well i'm not Not, i've always liked her / certainly not felt any particular issue, and it's all in the direction of like, any repeat viewing (i've had many, the [rogue one] enthusiasm has simply been latent / something i haven't posted about) or just further attention/consideration of her character is a shift for the "right on, i like her more / am further enriched"

i have to be all the more concise or we'll be here forever. luckily repeat viewings / further consideration also is a shift for the I'M CONSUMED re jyn and cassian as FOILS(tm) like ohhhh my god oh my god they're FOILS they're not only FINDING EMOTIONAL RESOLUTION through that so well i'm like they Do have the rights to kiss if they wanna, b/c there is A Whole Dynamic to provide context for caring, but they're also ones who are doing that who KNOW THEY'LL DIE like not only last minute but that nobody can even do this shit knowing they may well even probably die about it, it's all extrapolated in andor like i'm So Fucking There w/the [ordinary days of ordinary lives and everyone's Wariness is ordinary the proximity / immediacy of violence certainly even such that there's a constant relevance/presence of mortal danger to varying degrees] and that cassian and jyn are Scrapping Around For Survival foils who have definitely dealt w/the awareness and relevance of their and others' mortality before like, they're like hello my wary hurt but boldly putting yourself out there even in terms of completing tactical missions w/someone Kindred Spirit type foils and i am like LOOK it affects me so much. the "this whole time mortality has been pretty immediately relevant" the "we know we're both dying" the "we're kindred spirit foils" the "and we're finding so much of our emotional resolution through that which so enhances what resolution we still may have found alone otherwise" like god achilles and iphigenia (crash land falls etc) just like well i'm fucked up about this always now and I'm Fucked Up About This Always Now

i mean it about its only being a few screenshots, despite the fact that if something's anything to me i can talk endlessly about it and i'm FUCKED UP....took these b/c i was like "it's tfw: Dosidon't Do This To Me" like i hate it. i can't even possibly screenshot the "YES close the doors and lock everyone i the rumble room of biting killing like i Love when the [being foils] is going so well that Your Fighting that everyone else can get a little bit in on b/c we're also def a larger ragtag team is so Fun even when it's like [aaaah] because it's like yes Yes work (or simply air) out your issues with Yourself as part of scratching and kicking at your Foil out here" like this scene does so much i'm obsessed w/how well it works that this is where they leave off and it's sure not like "well good thing all that's settled" but then Suddenly things are resolved after a scene that cassian's reacting to but we don't even see him in but it's like dear god it Works. their fight is about Them not about like, oh we needed not to have this, we needed to resolve all this right here....that it has to be a bit in favor of cassian b/c if not then the audience can't feel he can be embraced, he's the deuteragonist we as well as jyn have been figuring out and obviously clashing w/the protag and even being a bit of an antagonist re their conflicting goals makes him Difficult and Ambiguous to us too, but i definitely distinctly remember going "Ah. yeah it's just like. yeah" re cassian during this argument the first time i saw the movie b/c jyn getting in a figurative punch that he gets riled about is so perfectly executed in like, despite again his fighting w/the protag it's like "here he is, this is about him" and so perfectly executed so that the Intensity is just enough for the occasion, You Know It's Real but it's also not like, too much so as to threaten jyn or something like oh you've been in this fight since you were 6 years old you're not the only one who lost everything etc and it's like, well he's not wrong that jyn has to take things out somehow at someone and this is like [you're foils you're foils you're foils] broadcasting for them both, it's not more important that they walked away like, well that argument resolved ideally for us all. cassian doesn't Have To work with jyn but next time we see him he's choosing to do just that and that means something b/c of it, here's jyn with the pieces ready to embrace going all in on an attack here b/c like, again where cassian's character is we need to hear more from Him in that argument, and it's not important like "after that jyn couldn't Possibly feel in conflict w/him ever again" vs what info we actually get, and she gets it too, she doesn't have to be More Correct b/c she's the protagonist, and cassian's the one more liable to take relevant action out here so for that story structure reason alone it's helpful for her to move in his direction, but also like, it makes sense that she could actually listen to criticism about like "yeah i am & i've Been doing shit out here for a cause" when she explicitly was saying she wasn't interested in doing [just that] earlier, and now here's a revisit where like. cassian Didn't follow orders or pull the trigger, his doing so is a matter of further alignment with jyn, they're foils, she can take issue w/him here to be sure, but he can take issue with her certainly as well, and the issues with Themselves, they both do listen to each other here even if we don't see it play out until jyn's quoting cassian (when he's not even there, that she or we see. god) and cassian's going from "i'm the one you've gotta convince" not outright answering if he believes her to outright saying that he does, and oh btw like we all already understand the stakes and how mortally doomed we all may be, and yet :)

like cassian being able to see jyn bringing the [you don't have to compromise yourself when you know what's right] when she's had to be so focused in keeping herself alive and this not changing in the face of whatever anyone else is doing, and jyn able to see cassian bringing the [and when you know what's right you commit and you do something about it] when he's been somewhat sacrificing himself to this cause and not prioritizing his sense of what he'd necessarily find otherwise ideal / to his detriment....like we're foiling we're foiling and of course they can both be right and this doesn't have to be about "it's bad that we Can fight, and are doing so" such that it's okay still being mad abt it at the end of the scene / not even really having a resolution beyond "we don't have to work together actually" so that choosing to do so b/c they're Aligned and Understand each other Is so clearly a choice and not simply a begrudging tactical alliance. i'm sure you could do like a whole essay of media analysis re writing here, and hopefully i do the equivalent, certainly don't feel like i can put into words this (even by my standards) clear and concrete analysis like, here's everything going on....but boy do i pick up on the Emergent Effect like feeling the [aaaaughhh foils] and [i love Conflict b/c like, of course when the foiliness is successful then it's gonna be conflict where everyone's also grappling w Themselves so it's enriching for them and for us] and like it makes sense that in between scenes jyn's takeaway is like "grr what now. well i've already had cause to shift more towards the rebellion (her father dying for it when that family relationship / the memories of it has been the most meaningful thing she's ever had) and here's cassian who clearly Has been operating in this like direct rebellion involvement, as someone who can also completely understand the [since you were 6 yrs old, losing everything] aspects of her existence b/c they're relevant to him too and that's been a part of him doing everything he's ever done, including up till just this moment, making points about how this is something bigger and you gotta turn Caring into joining the fight," while cassian can be like "grr what now. well we've been shown i'm genuinely sympathetic towards jyn / actually want to support this person as a partner in [their various adventures already] and clearly i'm not exactly proud for her to know i Was gonna yesscope her dad up until i decided i actually wasn't or of everything i've ever done and here's someone who i Get / who's had this similar life but Doesn't operate within this framework of like, being someone who'd see this from the strategic angle and 'yes i too feel i've been there done that re: compromising myself for the cause' so she'll be just straightforwardly upset w/him about it which ties into him being upset w/himself now or ever & Can He Justify It To A Past Self Who Hasn't Yet Done These Things / say that it's definitely worth it" so that next time they see each other jyn's more All In for taking action for the rebellion than these other official delegates for it and cassian's ready to disobey the official rebellion choice of [Not going to scarif to fight] that was made against jyn's arguments b/c he believes her, which he doesn't have to, and still doesn't Have to successfully talk his way around something as his only recourse, but he doesn't want to avoid anything here b/c jyn's Already like, aligned their foilship, again just like directly quoting cassian's dialogue abt Hope even to argue her point about the rebellion and show that her understanding of it now has ofc been affected by her interactions w/him, and in turn, his understanding of it....if everyone else is willing to compromise so hard there's no rebellion, she's bringing the Ideal Version Of What We Do Despite It All, while cassian moves away from being the [necessary compromises even when you v much aren't exactly happy with it] figure here towards like, this is why we ever made those compromises in the first place

OH AND. edited to add like jyn seeing herself in cassian and fighting w/herself that way: being guided by her own survival as thee rule even being its own path of "there's what you just have to do but might not be happy about" and like that only now she's invoking that either side of this Conflict as worse versus [both have been hurting me & i'm just trying to make it out here] like let's also fight about whether either of us feel we can change or question things now

and i hit the block character limit again. And it's like, you're you and you're also me and i'm me and i'm also you and we're both the warier one but also not and the more open one but also not, cassian with the Way Of Being and just like [no, he has the face of a friend] holistic inherent encompassing appeal, but ofc he has all his secrets, and jyn being more Openly Closed Off, yknow, but when she's being expressive what you're seeing is what you're getting. FOILS you never go wrong like god yes this successfully enhances both characters and makes them shine so of course it's now inherently valid if they want to kiss about that or have whatever kind of dynamic wherein they're both just clearly more attuned w/themself and what they want for operating together / being relevant to, & knowing each other.....and I'M. the dosidon't do this to me like WHAT a couple of lines of dialogue like i'm not used to people sticking around when things go bad / welcome home like OH YOU KNOW. just some small talk. just some "even if we know we might die doing this we feel like / are prepared to just keep sticking around" like just regular chill casual things you decide about someone while closely semicircling them all =) like you always are

oh, nice, beta editor blocks are really letting me go ham, i appreciate this filmed on a laptop w/a separate camera Specifically This Foils Fight Epic Wins recording like i love violence. truly like the art of this simultaneously wrapping up "Only conflict w/cassian???" issues Through More Necessary Conflict (this [hell yes lock everyone in a room let's fight] instance) and in bringing things out for real making it like, okay i'm serious, time to have our journey having a dynamic / knowing each other thus far affect the choices we make for the journey going forward, even when we both have to think about that some more b/c this Is an elevated immediate reaction zone for everyone and why even argue about it even this much if we really don't care at all about hashing it out and what the other has to say and why. while also they know they've Already been learning real things abt each other and really figuring out how they operate together rather than this violence session being Everything. jyn with a callback to something cassian said way earlier....anyways like i said, before i get even further here:

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epic of them to trade places like that, i.e. jyn leaving off a bit more Contained for having been given more to consider than she gave, since she Is more so starting out just needing to be pissed here and confront cassian on as much while he's not really Theoretically surprised by her reaction here but Is, in practice, actually having to confront it, so he can land more points but, naturally, has to get more outright upset than "grr ugh i'm i'm chill though. And i'm having one of my soaking wet moments" somewhat playing it cool, bit chilly even. absolutely crucial like a tiny outburst of unequivocally genuine emotion at the [since i was six years old] instance that's like i said ideally balanced like, as much emphasis as you need to go "ah. i see" about cassian in that moment, not letting it spill out so much it gets confused that this is more a Show of [I'm Pissed] than of very real relevant emotions for him too so that jyn's like, for real not now the only one who's lost everything....but also cassian maybe wanting to talk hs way around it even if he doesn't have to and then leave for the upper floor b/c, re trading places as mentioned, he's Not more contained in the end....this recording cutting off before the last few seconds' ending of him going "anyone else" and baze lying back like Thunk....everyone else having that connect / stake / relevance to this fight, but it's still to be left up to the foils lol....

and i'm Noticing fun little parallels thank you like cassian's first excursion into rebellion(tm) things involving his having the kyber crystal necklace tying him to it, supposedly as an embodiment of the cash money mercenary (without too many other options) angle, vs jyn's more straightforwardly like, it's sentimental and symbolic and the force(tm) kyber crystal necklace....but in the end also cassian's last interaction w/the necklace is one where it's more about trust / Integrity, if he was really just after the money why give it back, why not just leave with it all, why would nemik insist [cassian who he even knows is probably using a fake name] get his life's work most important thing here, why would cassian take it at all, and b/c nemik insisted vs that he'd just automatically love to have it....mixing and matching like, cassian not able to tell maarva he was involved in the aldhani situation which she'd be so proud of him for but is also now motivating her to not leave ferrix with him, that part of his message for her when he escaped factory labor torture/execution forever prison was that she'd be proud of him, that her message for him involved anticipating him blaming himself and was essentially that she was already proud of him, despite her still not knowing about the prison break or aldhani, cassian telling jyn her father would have been proud of her, cassian going to visit the equivalent of clem's grave and noticing like ah the sole time we break out [outright crying] huh

speaking of Not the sole time breaking out outright crying: that was me w/rogue one yet again. frankly the most Concentrated [aughhh] it's been packed into '"i knew the elevator shots were coming but i forgot about it because i got distracted by the Them and also then when i even outright parsed 'ah getting on the elevator huh' i started thinking abt [stairs vs elevator] considerations in that scenario and then i was like WAUGH and i cried. and then i was like 'augh kill me. again' a couple of times & died" and into "they hug through it" like oh i'm sorry epic [we've all been there] wary kindred spirit foils who've been facing their mortality all the time on their own doing so, & dealing with doing so, together??????????????????????? i'm so. i can't even tell you

anyways it's being half past 1pm now helps throw off me off track here lmao like oh i could Never go on and on about something, and surely i wouldn't, much less w/a lot of enthusiasm and [aaaaaaAUGH] to get across. or correct, scintillating insights that i'm just so regular about. i can regularly say that andor is off the shits like they made this That good huh. fucking society if it was one of those [first ten minutes available on youtube] deals like my god the "one of the things the opening scene is saying about the entire work through xyz elements? well through all the scene's elements it Does tell us all the series will fuck like hell" thanks so much

one "great that it's on youtube then" thing being the banger EDM track just dropped into things for your "just totally chill sexy beach episode living i swear (it's not)(quite)" scene change but then also dipped into (diegetically?) briefly and more muted during that first scene while going "just totally chill sexy bar visiting i swear (it's not)" location entering....the Whole score doesn't have to be excellent but is, love how like a sonic motif or what have you is [being in sync vs slightly not] and/or [isolating / distinguishing certain elements] like, a bunch of different Parts / Elements converging and being in sync or not, huh....just dropping this on us and like, [in episodes] the track section used being the immediately dramatic one starting at 1:13 rather than fading in like Oh Whoa like ok then ummm its Lit

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while i'm putting everything in a post and just going wherever with it, inadvertently went "oh didn't even realize the one season end post credits scene showing the death star construction also specifically showed that the [factory labor produce these things or be tortured / killed] prison products are confirmed death star components. i see it now" but the article i had to open to see abt that was also talking about like [and this brief clip rectifies some lore misalignments across however many installments] like ok sure i wouldn't know but nice, but then also opened with "still doesn't explain why they'd use human labor instead of droids esp since we see droids (in the vacuum of space) assembling parts here :)" like i am going to mcLose it the direct quote "melshi's right we're cheaper than droids and easier to replace" so (: what could explain that

anyways in conclusion: until any next spontaneous burst of a post. things that happen when you saw rogue one many times in theaters b/c it was a perfectly regular experience and then consider watching andor b/c of it despite watching fuckall, then with a [and the Politics, my god] mention crossing my path like, right, let's try it, and my god so fucking true and so fucking excellent and so my [rogue one] experiences are only charged, and would enhance every time anyways, so here we are. oh also shoutout to the friendly acquaintance whos rogue one posting at the time jokes that are also for real like "i know that robot is gay" right on

#well seems to be one of those longer posts. which i sometimes even tag idk i just improvise #long post ///#star wars ///#and i will be graced w/the yewtwo tag as the cost for betaeditorposting....#at the moment i'm not caught up in the AUGH of any threads here which is how i can wrap things up w/relative ease lol #two pm so nocturnal it's diurnal chaos hours resulting in some distractability. beyond the usual....will i take a weird little nap? maybe #sure did get thoughts more together w/new thoughts springing from that by Writing It Out. [foils] scholar out here def. they're themming...#Youtube #rogue one #andor

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blackquillchillin · 1 year

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Got home from work today and realized I never posted the jailbirds new house! screenshots below, It's a long post of a large Sim house, but I'd love to hear your thoughts!

First, Junie and Thena's room!

I picked out dark blue wallpaper cause it seems fun but also restful, you know? and picked out a pink bed, chairs, and rug to contrast, and because I think Junie would love it. They've got photos of friends, Junie's pet fish, and some flowers from their wedding! let me know if ya'll wanna see wedding photos by the by, I took plenty.

Next up, Thena's Work Room!

The missing wall just has a few pictures on it, nothing special. Thena's got her posters, her hard drives, her nice couch, her speaker, and all of the figures Junie's been collecting for her! everything she needs for her programming Job, and a cute little bookshelf and chair that came with the house!

Quick break to see the upstairs and downstairs bathrooms, since we're right next to one of them anyway.

Don't mind the puddle, mostly just made the bathrooms look lived in, though I did give them a more modern tub upstairs, as well as add lighting. does no one in the sims have a well lit home?

Next up, Simon's Room!

Inside we have his lovely furniture, a double bed this time, an upgrade from his last room, which he shared with Fulbright, and didn't have room for two doubles. :(

It also has his writing corner, and an easel! he's writing still, but I think it would be neat if he had another hobby, just for fun! also, a space rock, just for fun. quick look at the missing wall, bookshelf and all.

Next, Bobby's room!

Bobby where are you going.

That's Simon's room, you have your own!

Bobby's odd choices aside, I think he'd be the kind to have a liiittle bit dated wallpaper, and not replace his computer (It's still good!) despite the fact that it is, in fact, Thena's old computer from when they lived in the dinky little starter home, and were not making several thousand a day.

It just feels right.

Lastly for the upper floor, work out room!

Before they had a treadmill in Thena's room and a punching bag in her workroom, but no more! the original house just had a weird corner, so I turned it into a room!

The upstairs hall has some fossils in it, but isn't that interesting, so we'll have a quick look downstairs instead. Living room ahoy!

Frankly, this space is a little too big, Ended up splitting it into two spaces. This is why I don't really like open floor plans, but in the last house it was really nice? maybe I'm just bad at space. here's a quick look at their last living room for comparison:

Double living room and dining space, which I liked. If you guys have any advice for better using the space, let me know. Maybe add some rugs?

Speaking of dining rooms, quick look at their dining room and kitchen, nothing special!

Mostly unchanged from the base, though I did bring the nice fridge and stove with. they didn't survive at least twelve kitchen fires to miss out on their unbreakable stove and fridge now. It is smaller then the last kitchen, but not enough so to be really notable. Maybe sometimes I'll extend the building, we'll see. I also added some clutter and things, since no base house in this game ever looks even vaguely lived in.

Oh, and the sculpture on the table bobby made! it was a wedding present for Thena and Junie.

One last living space, and then a quick look outside!

That's Simon's pet fish, a Rainbow one lives in there! also Simon's print, from examining all of Junie's fossils. She has so many. Still looking for places for some of them. Maybe the bathroom? not sure. Kinda hate that they don't fit on any of the shelves. Any way to put them on top of the bookshelves? I feel like that'd be a great place.

Overlook at Junies Garden, and a quick peak at Metis's resting place, and then we're done!

Yes, they did move that gravestone from the last house, and yeah, that has implications, but it's finnneee. No worries.

Thank you so much for reading this! here's a bonus ghost for your trouble, and goodnight!

#ace attorney #the sims #Jailbird crew #the sims community #simon blackquill #bobby fulbright #athena cykes #juniper woods #metis cykes #simonsays #why are none of these houses ever well lit #seriously

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tsui-no-sora · 2 years

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I am on a talkative mood rn so yes have this <3

To be fair I am a lurker pretty much and I was so close to being a lurker with Karmaland too; the only reason I made a side blog was because I wanted to make a pun out of the url (Quackity with K of Karmaland - Kuackity).

I didn't see more than a couple of reblogs, maybe a tag or two in the future of that blog. I am usually nervous talking like in text cause I am not the most elocuent person nor the one with the best gramatic and wording.

But I think you were the one who made me want to become active, I just couldn't help responding to your takes and the back and forth of input made me so happy that I decided to invest myself in this of being active and voicing things.

Thanks to you I made a pinned comment (yes my example was your own, sorry), I started liveblogging (seeing you reblog my live blogs was special), you were my first ask (and probably the reason I have gotten asks since most are anons and you told me I had it off), I made banners cause I saw you made one, and so many little things.

Now I have 30 followers (is not a lot maybe to some but I was always on 2 in my main), a lot of posts, people reblogging content, adding their own, I have guides now, and anons with special names and so much.

I am sappy now, but thank you so much. I am so glad to be your mutual (you my first mutual too) and I am just happy in general to be able to droo here, or in your tags, or see you in my tags, in my asks. Just yeah 💜💚

-kuackity

Sorry I read this and then I re read this and then I read it again because I was freaking out I took screenshots of it so I don't lose this ask

You don't know how happy it makes me hear that me yelling back to the posts you wrote made you want to be more active I have never really been active in any fandom before except for one where it was literally just me and my irl friends posting for each other it's really difficult for me to get enough confidence and energy to post my fics and to post my analysis about things even now I still have so many posts on drafts because I get nervous and scared easily you are really like the first person I have interacted like this with ever

You are also the reason I even get asks and stuff now I have always been used to just sending them and lurking around but now I mostly get at least one or two asks a day you don't know how insane that is to me and trust me I get it 30 doesn't feel like a lot compared to other people but I had my main for about eleven years now and used to be really active on it and never got past like 10 followers and they were all irl friends so it is a lot

It's so cool being told you made the banners because you saw mine because I loved the banners you made and immediately wanted to use them and I inspired my own pin posts out of the blogs I looked up to the Liveblogs thing as well I got more interested in posting my random thoughts in real time because I saw you doing the same and I wanted to keep reblogging and interacting

I initially thought that posting about Karmaland was just going to be me yelling to the void with maybe one or two reblogs here and there you don't know how happy it has made me to actually have somebody to speak about my Minecraft series with and somebody to send asks and reply to posts back and forth to make theories and headcanons with it's really the best part of fandom

You are the first mutual on this fandom that I actually speak with consistently and I really love your posts and I'm glad I helped you get a little more confidence to share them with the world our community it's rather small but I like that it exists and we are in it you know it's really cool it warms my heart and you even got your anons with cool names

Thank you too for being such a cool person and hanging out with me in my blog I love hanging out in your inbox and in your tags all the time

#❤️💖💗💓💘♥️💝#k i love you let me give you a hug #for real aaaaaa this ask made me so happy #you have no clue how nice it is to hear this from u #u the best #kuackity tag #beloved's asks

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marjansmarwani · 2 years

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Any or all of the questions you can answer on “taken by the tide of the morning light”

It feels like it's been so long since I wrote this one (turns out it's been almost exactly a year, who knew), but I will give all the questions a try.

taken by the tide of morning light

How long did it take you to write this fic?

I don't think it took me all that long once I had an idea, but it was for a bthb square and getting an idea to fill the square/request took a lot longer than writing the fic did

What program did you use to write this fic (Word, Google Docs, etc)? Is that the program you use for all your fics?

Google Docs, and yes. I can't believe I ever functioned without it.

Where did you write this fic? Is that your favorite spot to write?

I vaguely recall writing a good chunk of this one on the patio of the coffee shop by my apartment because the weather was too nice to stay inside. But I do enjoy writing there, so sure!

What do you need to write? Is there anything special you need to do/have to help your creative flow?

Silence. It's unfortunate but I cannot focus with any TV or too many other distractions. Music sometimes is okay, it really depends. Mostly silence and solitude help the most.

What inspired the idea for the plot?

@morganaspendragonss requested this bthb square and I know she asked for TK whump, but beyond that probably just talking to friends and a desire to see Carlos and Gabriel working together.

What inspired the title for this fic? Is that usually how you choose titles?

It's a lyric from "Solitary Sparks" by Fortunate Ones and yes, I'd say 98% of my fic titles come from lyrics. I have a doc that is a running list of lines from songs I think would make good titles and when I can't think of a title (aka every fic) I scroll through it to pick one. Best thing I have ever done as a writer honestly.

Was there anything from canon that you pulled for this fic?

Probably? I can't think of anything specific but I'm sure there is.

Share a screenshot of the original outline (if you dareee😈)

I don't have it or I would! I start my outlines in the docs I end up writing in and then delete bullet points as I complete them, so my outlines are self-destructing.

Was there a scene that you hadn’t originally planned to include? Why did you decide to fit it in?

I can't remember exactly, but I am pretty sure I added one more TK in captivity scene than I meant to because I needed it to be balanced when I split one of Carlos's scenes into two. But a fic like this with alternating povs, I tend to stick pretty close to my original outline.

Was there a scene you wished you could have included? Why didn’t it fit in?

I would have liked to do some firefam scenes when we find out TK is missing and after he's found, but it just didn't fit with the story I wanted to tell.

Was there anything you had to research for this fic? Do you usually do a lot of research?

I always research for fics (my google search history is interesting, to say the least), but for this one I think I was researching arteries to figure out where it would be bad for TK to be stabbed but would also make sense for his situation.

What was the easiest scene to write?

The scene with Nancy and Carlos where they discover TK is missing. I do not know why but I do remember it being the first one.

What was the hardest scene to write?

Probably the last scene because I always struggle with endings.

Is this one of your personal favorite fics? Why or why not?

I don't dislike it, but it's definitely not in my top 10. But that's the problem when you've written 121 fics for a fandom, not all of them can be your favorites.

What is something you wish more people noticed about this fic?

How meticulously planned out it all was. And by that, I mean the kidnapping and resulting rescue. I put a ton of thought into it.

What is something you didn’t expect people to notice or gravitate towards in this fic?

Maybe how much everyone seemed to enjoy the way I wrote Gabriel? I think it was my first time writing him and I was really pleased by the reception of that, but surprised too.

Does personal experience ever inspire your fics? What about this particular fic?

It does, often (not just with the teacher au but definitely with the teacher AU), but I can't think of a way in which it applies here. Thankfully I have little experience with being kidnapped and/or tortured.

Did you have a beta reader(s) for this fic? How did they help you during the writing process?

Again it was a year ago, but according to the tumblr post Jamie beta'd it and chances are I talked through a lot of the plot points with them too, because that's how just about every fic I used to write went.

Did you write every scene in order? What was the first scene you wrote, and what was the last?

I never write in order. I think I've written from start to finish maybe twice.

I know the Carlos and Nancy scene was the first scene I wrote, but I think for this one the end may have actually been what I wrote last.

Is there anything you would change now about this fic? Why or why not?

I think it is solid and it tells a good story, but if I tried it again I might expand on some parts a little more. But that's how I keep ending up with massive fics, so maybe not.

(I skipped a few questions, but that is most of them Anon!)

behind the scenes fic asks

#ask games #anonymous #anymore that come in I'll answer at some point tomorrow #because I have a long day (of pride!) tomorrow #and need to sleep #but I will answer them!

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absolutepokemontrash · 3 years

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I come bearing a request! The Brothers with an MC who's really good at cooking and baking? Like, the stuff food blogs dream of. Master-level instagram pastries. Could compete with the chocolate guy if they put their mind to it.

👀 ooooo, I do love me some pastries-

(I know you have an *ahem* distaste for Lucifer, dear moot, so enjoy Lucifer acting like a bit of a dingus in his section!)

Lucifer

Oh, the human can cook. *insert asshole eyeroll here*. Great. Wonderful. Groundbreaking. That’s what’s got all his brothers acting like- what was that word Levi used? Simps? This human has turned six of the seven rulers of hell into a bunch of simps.

Sure, the human has near godlike cooking prowess. Sure, everyone looks forward to their day for cooking. And sure, everyone thinks the human’s pretty great.

Tsk, not him though. He’s a refined demon. Some silly food isn’t going to make him a lovesick fool… did he smell eclairs..?

Lucifer peered into the kitchen to see MC carefully taking a tray of eclairs out of the oven and letting them cool off on the counter. His favourite dessert… right there in front of him…

Due to not being a total moron, MC notices Lucifer and asks him what the hell he’s doing just standing ominously in the doorway. Lucifer makes up some bullshit excuse about reminding MC to do their homework and just leaves. Okay, game plan, he needs those fucking eclairs or he will spontaneously combust.

As he snuck into the kitchen that night, Lucifer took a moment to briefly wonder why he was creeping around his own house. He was the Avatar of Pride for pity’s sake! He could eat whatever he damn well pleased! Oh shit was someone coming- no? Okay, back to sneaking.

Lucifer crept into the kitchen, saw the eclairs, and all logic was thrown out the window. Time to eat!

“BEEL NO! NOT THE- Lucifer..?” “…” “…” “…you’re very talented, MC, do you mind making more of these?”

SOMEONE SNAP A PICTURE! THIS IS THE CLOSEST LUCIFER HAS GOTTEN TO BEGGING IN THE LAST THOUSAND YEARS!

Mammon

Ugh, stuck babysittin’ some dumb human, how lame…

As Mammon was throwing a “I’m broke and I’m stuck in a pact with a dumb human” pity party, the most heavenly smell entered his nostrils. Cooking… good cooking… was Barbatos visiting or somethin’? Nah, Lucifer woulda made a big fuss about gettin’ ready for Lord Diavolo. Huh, so what was goin’ on in the kitchen?

Huh? The human? The human can cook? Well damn, maybe this whole deal wouldn’t be so bad. Oi! MC! As payment for babysittin’ ‘em, he got to have an extra big share of- OW!

Did- did the human just hit him with a spoon?! Th-they can’t do that!

Apparently they fucking can. Mammon gets told to sit the fuck down and wait for the food like everyone else. He grumbles on the way to the dining room, but he can’t fully hide his excitement to try the food.

The food even looked pretty! How did they do that?! Magic. It had to be!

After everyone’s tastebuds were blessed with the heavenly substance that is MC’s culinary exploits, Mammon decides he needs to get on this human’s good side in order to receive more food! Maybe even find some way to make a profit or somethin’!

After weeks go by of trying to suck up to the human without looking like too much of a chump, Mammon eventually realizes… hey, this human ain’t so bad. They’re nice, they make him feel good about himself, they give him headpats… he’s really hit the jackpot here!

He’ll offer to help MC bake or cook, but beware, he will try and sample the food before it’s done. Don’t let him lick the spoon!!!

Leviathan

First thought? This human ain’t shit. Thought after seeing their food? WOAAAAAAAH! JUST LIKE THAT ONE ANIME-

He was unceremoniously cut off by Beel asking demanding seconds. Humph, fine, he doesn’t actually care about this dumb normie food anyway.

…well at least until Levi saw a little something something on TV that he just had to ask MC to try and make. He shyly knocked on their door and when they answered, Levi shoved the screenshot in their face and stuttered out a dinner request.

On the day MC was supposed to make dinner, Levi poked his head into the kitchen and tried to make it look like he was just standing in the same room as MC and not checking to see if they were making his dinner request.

Not that he’d blame them for not doing that… who’d wanna make some anime dinner for a yucky Otaku- OMG JAHSHSHABA THEY’RE MAKING IT! *fangirl squeals*

As Levi continues to commit the SIN of being in the kitchen at the same time as someone else, MC eventually just asks him if he’d like to help out.

“Here! Just keep turning the takoyaki.” “R-really? You trust me?” “Yes, Levi. You watched how they made it on your show, right?” “Yes! I won’t mess up! I swear on my honour as an otaku!”

All in all, it was a very cute bonding experience for the two. Now it’s a regular thing. Levi requests something for dinner or dessert, MC makes it, Levi helps out.

Satan

So, the human can cook. That’s nice. At least someone in this literally god forsaken house can.

He makes sure to thank MC every time they cook, then he makes sure to thank whatever deity is watching over him that Solomon wasn’t the human staying with them.

As the months progress, Satan realizes, he should learn how to cook better. I mean, Levi and Mammon were somehow both improving in their cooking endeavours, and if MC could teach those two, then he would be a breeze.

Satan walked into the kitchen and simply asked if MC needed any assistance with what they were doing. MC just slid him some garlic to dice and that’s how this mentor/student relationship was formed.

Satan was a star pupil, but Mammon and Levi weren’t above trying to sabotage Satan’s progress to get him to leave.

Here’s the thing, the sabotage worked, but it only worked once, and the two idiots didn’t stop to think that maybe they shouldn’t sabotage the meal they were going to have to eat later.

Well, cooking lessons continued uninterrupted after the ghost pepper incident…

Even when he’s ‘graduated’ their little cooking class, Satan’s always willing to lend a hand if needed. He also will slyly hand over some recipe books and cute baking supplies that he finds. MC should be prepared for lots of cat related things to come their way.

Asmodeus

The human can cook? Oh frabcious day! He’s saved from a life of his brother’s mediocre cooking! And the human’s so cute too! What a bonus!

Not only is the human cute, but their food is just so… aesthetic??? Pretty???? Omigosh he just has to get a picture for Devilgram!

For the first few months, MC’s relationship with Asmo consists of Asmo not at all subtly asking to take pictures of their food and post it to his Devilgram. Listen MC, his followers would just love it!

Being the saint-sheep they are, MC lets Asmo sit in whenever they’re making anything in the kitchen. And Asmo slowly realizes “hey, this cute human with the awesome food is actually pretty cool too!”

New Mission: Make the human fall madly in love with him so they’ll want to hang out more.

Whether the mission succeeds is up to MC of course. (I mean, I’m already smitten with him sooooooooo-)

MC offers Asmo a lot of the pastries they make, but the Avatar of Lust almost always declines. Listen honey, he’s on a diet- wait, don’t make that sad face! He’ll eat it! Look! It’s- it’s delicious…

Diet cheat day is now every day MC makes dessert. The feeling of bliss Asmo gets when he takes a bite out of anything MC makes is only second of the treats is second only to the joy he feels at seeing MC happy that he likes their food. It’s just so wholesome I can’t-

MC’s food Devilgram has almost surpassed Asmo in terms of followers and honestly- he isn’t even mad.

Beelzebub

Gasp! Lucifer finally got him the pet personal chef he’d always wanted! Thanks big bro! :D he’ll be sure not to eat this human!

On the first night MC was supposed to make dinner, Lucifer needed to hold Beel back from breaking into the kitchen to see what was causing that heavenly smell. It was, difficult… especially because Lucifer hadn’t slept in three days.

When they all sat down to eat, Beel practically inhaled everything and held up his half bitten plate for seconds.

We here at Stupid Headcanons incorporated recommend that MC have as many bodyguards as possible stationed around the kitchen at all times to ward off a hungry Beel. We don’t want him eating the ingredients and half-tempered chocolate.

A cinnamon roll through and through, he’ll eat everything MC gives him with a big ol’ smile on his cute little face. He’s not the best person to go to if MC wants advice or critique because the best thing Beel can usually muster is “it was really good.”

As Luke said in Lesson 5, Beel would make an awful food reporter. But we love him.

Similar to Levi, he’ll give meal requests on what to make for dinner. (At this rate, MC’s going to have to make some kind of list).

He kind of just waits by the door like a sad puppy whenever MC is making anything because he can’t get into the kitchen :(

Belphegor

The smell of freshly made chocolate chip cookies wafting through the house did reach the attic and it only fuelled his rage more. How dare the human win everyone over with cookies?!

After the attic incident, Belphie was won over with cookies.

Belphie just stands creepily in the kitchen doorway whenever MC is making anything and just makes shit really uncomfortable. Why’s he doing that, you may be wondering, well, he’s trying to calculate the energy needed to swipe the bowl of cookie dough and sprint to safety.

He never succeeds, mainly because once he gets to the bowl, MC already has the wooden spoon ready to smack him, so he just freezes mid-theft and slowly puts the bowl down.

“Oh my gosh, it says let the bread dough rest overnight? Let’s get a headstart and go to sleep now.” “Belphie what-” “I made a pillow Fort, come in. Let’s sleep.” “In the kitchen????”

How’d he make the pillow Fort without MC noticing? Years of experience. He’s trained in the art of- MC? What do you mean you can’t sleep right now and you need to get a head start on shaping fondant?

…he may have eaten the fondant while MC wasn’t looking… whoops… Beel may have rubbed off on him a little…

#Obey me! Headcanons #Obey me Headcanons #obey me #obey me!#obey me! shall we date?#obey me shall we date #obey me mc #obey me mammon #Obey me Lucifer #Obey me Leviathan #Obey me Satan #Obey me Asmodeus #Obey me Beelzebub #Obey me Belphegor

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offtorivendell · 3 years

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The Dusk Court, The Hewn City, and Hybern - Part I, The Theory

Please don’t share or screenshot this post without credit.

Disclaimer: These thoughts are based on my own interpretations of the text, and are obviously not intending to say with any certainty what may or may not happen in future ACOTAR books.

This post was inspired by the amazing Eighth Court theory, which was first posted on Tumblr by @shadow-singing. While my thoughts took me in a slightly different direction than Shadow Singing, this post does not mean to denigrate her original post, which connected so many dots, and has become a widely accepted headcanon. In fact, this post likely would not exist without it, so I give much of the credit for this post to her.

TW: for mentions of canon abuse, torture and child birth related trauma.

This series contains mild spoilers from SJM’s Throne of Glass series, with regards to Celaena’s past - so reader beware.

Like many who read the ACOTAR series, on learning of the existence of the seven Courts of Prythian - Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, Dawn, Day and Night - my first thought was, what about Dusk? It bugged me, but nothing in the text jumped out at me… until ACOSF.

One of the more popular theories making the rounds of the ACOTAR fandom after the release of ACOSF is Shadow Singing’s mind blowing Eighth Court/Dusk Court/The Prison theory. Like most people who read it, I was instantly hooked, and it’s been a headcanon of mine ever since - do yourselves a favour and make sure you check it out. Once again, the following post is not intended to belittle Shadow Singing’s original theory at all, it just came to me when I was thinking about Merrill, her "remarkable" twilight eyes, and her ancestor, Rabath of the Western Wind, and grew from there. While the link between twilight and dusk is obvious, Rabbath Ammon was an ancient city that was conquered by an Egyptian king in the third century BCE, and was renamed after him, and the Western Wind title made me - eventually - think, look west.

So! What if the Dusk Court used to exist as what is now Hybern? Did the fae who currently live in the Court of Nightmares - in the Hewn City - originally hail from the Dusk Court, and were they escapees from its fall? When Elain killed the King of Hybern in ACOWAR, did she reclaim the Dusk Court throne for its rightful High Lord or Lady? Who would that even be? Merrill, Azriel, Mor… or even Elain herself? Read on for Part I, The Theory.

A HUGE thank you goes out to both @wingedblooms and @nikethestatue for all of the time that they spent discussing ideas with me, their valuable thoughts, and giving this a once (or twice) over when it was done.

PS. This is almost 10,000 words... I'm sorry. There's a very brief summary just below the "read more."

TL,DR: I suspect that the Dusk Court historically existed as what is now known as Hybern, and that the Prison island, while not the Dusk Court itself, contains a group of trapped fae that hail from there. Evidence exists that suggests that Elain and Azriel combined are a metaphor for dusk, and they - or their child - may eventually inherit the Dusk Court.

Where in the World Was the Dusk Court?

While the Prison island will almost certainly play a role in Elain’s personal story (so far Feyre and Nesta have both visited it, in addition to each of them conquering their own "sister peak"), as well as the overarching plot of the second ACOTAR trilogy, I think that the island that holds the prison mountain itself is too small to be an entire court - though I do still think it could be significant.

When I tried to split the map of the Night Court into two, thinking that it had perhaps annexed the Dusk Court at some point so long ago that even the fae cannot remember - perhaps when Rhys’ line of High Lords took power from Mor’s line - I could not make it work neatly… initially, at least.

I went through the following iterations of potential Dusk Court territories:

Image source: ACOTAR ebook

Option 1 - Southern Night Court

One would assume that the Dusk Court would have been the southern half of the Night Court, given the logical progression from Dawn to Day to Dusk to Night, but while that region would comprise the Court of Nightmares (more on this later), it is isolated from the Prison island, which I assumed was crucial at the time - while they were collecting the Harp from the Prison, Cassian mentioned to Nesta, that Rhys had told him that “this island might have even been an eighth court” (ACOSF, chapter 53). This area could also potentially include Velaris, depending on how far north you drew the boundary line in an attempt to claim the Prison island, which would then create an oversized Dusk Court, and an incredibly undersized Night Court.

If the border was, in fact, much further north than I drew above, further even than the line for option 2, it’s plausible that a previous High Lord or Lady of the Night Court could have been envious enough to attempt an invasion of an overpowered Dusk Court to their south, which could have explained Rhys and Mor’s family history - remember that the line apparently swapped from Mor/Keir’s line to Rhys’ line so long ago that no one really remembers why - but it doesn’t explain why Velaris, the City of Starlight, would have originally fallen inside the Dusk Court.

Option 2 - Northern Night Court

Thinking, then, that if the Prison island was simply part of the Dusk Court, and not the Dusk Court in its entirety, it could have meant that the Dusk Court was actually the northernmost half of the current Night Court; however, that region currently houses the Illyrian Steppes and the Illyrian Mountains, which includes Ramiel. It seems a little unbalanced, at least in my mind, for the original Dusk Court to hold two of the “sister peaks,” - Ramiel and the Prison, with the third being the mountain in “the Middle,” under which Feyre was trapped in ACOTAR - if it is less than half the size of the current Night Court, but it still could have been the case.

However, the reason why I don’t see this happening is that reinstating the Dusk Court, and reclaiming its land from the Night Court, would involve even more angst for the Inner Circle, both politically and emotionally, than I believe SJM currently has planned for this trilogy; it would probably require an entire trilogy on its own to do it justice, instead of having it as a subplot to a book in the Koschei trilogy, as well as a majority cast of Illyrian characters, assuming they were the original stewards of the land. Not to mention that Elain (or anyone else who isn't an Illyrian) wouldn’t be a suitable main character, given she is High Fae, so has not experienced the prejudice that the “lesser faeries'' often do, in particular the prejudice that is unique to Illyrians, and she does not know their culture.

I believe that, if SJM chooses to delve further into an Illyrian-centric storyline, it will be in a future trilogy, and would centre around Emerie, with Cassian and Rhys, and potentially Balthazar, for support. The Valkyries and their respective partners would probably play a secondary role, but in a way that both honours and centres the experiences of the Illyrians, especially the females. This would also be a great way to learn more about Cassian's past, and perhaps see a teenaged or young adult Nyx embracing the Illyrian half of his father's heritage.

Option 3.1 and 3.2 - Eastern Night Court, plus or minus the Prison

In an attempt to catch both the Court of Nightmares and the Prison island, either the purple or magenta lines could have allowed for an appropriately sized Dusk Court (and Night Court); however, these lands would again involve a potential “high fae saviour” plotline for Elain, as they include Illyria. They also lie to the east of Prythian, and not the west - westerly winds come from the west.

Thinking of Rabath of the Western Wind led me to what I think is where the Dusk Court may have been located.

Hybern.

Image source: ACOTAR ebook

Option 4 - Hybern (but currently under the Court of Nightmares)

Hybern lies to the west - the direction from which we'd see a westerly wind, and the direction in which the sun sets; Hybern is an “island” approximately the size of a Prythian Court, and has a king, not a High Lord - though we don't know what happened after the end of ACOWAR. What if Hybern was the Dusk Court and, at some long-forgotten point in time, conquerors came from another court, in search of land, power or riches, and overthrew the ruling High Family?

As for the Prison Island, I don't think that it was necessarily a part of the Dusk Court, though I do think it could still contain trapped faeries; it's too close to the Night Court to have belonged solely to Dusk. My crack theory is that it was the seat of the High King, and the eight-pointed star was the symbol of a unified, whole Prythian - but that is purely conjecture at this point. The Prison theory and the Hewn City/Hybern theory aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive - some form of both could be correct, and I can’t wait to see what will actually happen.

How Did the Sun Set on the Dusk Court?

It is well-known that SJM draws inspiration from myth and legend when writing her books, combining different aspects of multiple tales into a new, cohesive, whole. Given that a single glance at a map of Hybern, Prythian and the Continent is enough to demonstrate the region’s more than passing resemblance to our real-world Ireland, Northern Ireland, Great Britain and the European continent, it - plausibly, at least - stands to reason that the stories specific to real world locations could influence the history of their Prythian counterparts.

The Tuatha de Danann and the Daoine Sidhe

This is, of course, purely hypothetical, but I see some potential parallels between the Dusk Court as I’ve hypothesised it, and the Tuatha de Danann and Aos Si/Daoine Sidhe from Irish mythology. Tuatha de Danann translates to Tribe of the Gods, or People of the Goddess Danu, and The Daoine Sidhe, People of the Mounds, are said to be their descendents, a supernatural race who live underground, in a world that is said to coexist with our own. Some stories call this world an alternate universe, and it is known as the Otherworld - the realm of both the gods and the dead.

Rhys said, “We will walk onto that field and only accept Death when it comes to haul us away to the Otherworld. - ACOWAR, chapter 69

We learnt in ACOSF that the priestess Merrill was researching parallel universes, and apparently there were up to twenty six of them; does that mean that there are twenty six possible “mounds” of faeries from the Dusk Court, trapped in one way or another, and scattered around Prythian, or their world? Where could they be?

“Merrill’s brilliant. Horrible, but brilliant. When she first came here, she was obsessed with theories regarding the existence of different realms -- different worlds. Living on top of each other without even knowing it.” - Gwyn, ACOSF, chapter 13

The Ireland of the Tuatha de Danann was invaded by the Milesians, and the Tuatha de, said to be either elves or faeries, escaped into their burrows underground. I suspect that this could parallel the faeries of the Dusk Court, or at least their High Family and other important figures, who would have been more likely and able to flee the invasion that toppled their court. However, given what the Harp showed Nesta when she was under the Prison mountain, I believe that some are more trapped than others.

The Invasion

Warning: minor Throne of Glass spoiler.

While the fae of the Hewn City - and potentially others like them - are metaphorically trapped, they are free to leave their mountain to watch Starfall, and go off to war etc.; other fae may well be fully trapped, since either during the initial invasion, or at some point later on. Whatever was used to trap the faeries underground must have been extremely powerful, and I agree with Shadow Singing that the Harp could have been used in the assault.

I do wonder if the ruling class of the Dusk Court was somehow lured and trapped before the main invasion, as Nesta was shown by the Harp, either on mainland Prythian, or in Hybern, which would make the rest of their court easier to conquer. If you have read SJM’s Throne of Glass series, I could imagine it as having happened similarly to how the King of Adarlan overthrew Terrasen’s royal family.

“I don’t know. He’s been smart about keeping the extent of his power hidden. But he had to resort to trickery and threats to beat us that day in Hybern. He has thousands of years of knowledge and training. If he and I fought … I doubt he will let it come to that. - Rhys, ACOWAR, chapter 20

While the above quote was referring to the Inner Circle’s disastrous attempt to steal the Cauldron from the King of Hybern, to prevent him from taking out the Wall that protected the Human Realm from the faeries, I think it could also potentially hint at how exactly the Dusk Court was overthrown to begin with. Rhys may have also provided us with some more context when he showed Feyre parts of Azriel's interrogation of the Attor.

It didn’t even know I’d slipped inside, but—there: images of the army that had been built, the twin to the one I’d fought against five centuries ago; of Hybern’s shores full of ships, readying for an assault; of the king, lounging on his throne in his crumbling castle. No sign of Jurian sulking about or the Cauldron. Not a whisper of the Book being on their minds. Everything the Attor had confessed was true. - Rhys, ACOMAF, chapter 28

Did the Attor unwittingly show Rhys the Dusk Court just after it had fallen to Hybern? There was no sign of the Cauldron or Jurian, no thoughts of the Book of Breathings; everything the Attor had confessed was true. The King of Hybern appeared to be a man in his forties, which means that, for a High Fae, he is old.

Amren said, “The King of Hybern is old, Rhys—very old. Do not linger.” A voice near my chest whispered, Hello lovely, wicked liar. - ACOMAF, chapter 61

Could he be the same King who took control of Dusk, all those centuries - millennia - ago? Perhaps, but where did he come from?

The Spell-Cleaver Connection

This section is, like this entire post, simply ‘speculation with quotes,’ so I could definitely be on the wrong track, but I suspect that the Day Court, and more specifically a branch of Helion’s family, may have had something to do with it. Could the person who was responsible for conquering the Dusk Court have been either the King of Hybern himself, or his ancestor if he wasn’t alive at the time, and could they have hailed from the Day Court? The imagery of the Day (Court) flowing into Dusk, then the Dusk turning (in)to Night for help, as well as combining history and mythology from multiple origins, is something I can see SJM having done.

Now, as a life-long atheist who purely studied science-based courses, please forgive the following section if I have misunderstood anything but, given Merrill’s ancestor was Rabath of the Western Wind, I think that the history of the city of Rabbath Ammon could have inspired what I suspect happened to the Dusk Court. Initially, I thought that it was purely because both lands had fallen to an invading force, but when I was reading a little further, I thought it could be something more.

Rabbath Ammon was conquered multiple times over its extensive history, including by the biblical King David, then by Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Alexander the Great, and then an Egyptian king in 322 BCE - Ptolemy II Philadelphus, who renamed it after himself… so maybe the King of Hybern was called Hybern, after all. Further, the Day Court is assumed by many to be inspired by either ancient Egypt or Persia; if this is true, could this be another hint to the events of Prythian history?

In addition to both Helion and Hybern sounding like names that could come from the same family (that’s purely subjective on my behalf, I know), both are known for their abilities with spells, and spell cleaving. Helion is even known as “Helion Spell-Cleaver,” though it isn’t apparent as to whether that’s just a nickname, or a family name. But I digress, if the ability to break spells and bargains runs in the Day Court line - Lucien appears to have inherited something like this from Helion, and Feyre has, too - then it is plausible to suggest that the King of Hybern and Helion could have been related, even if only distantly. After all, Tamlin asked Helion for help in breaking Feyre’s bargain with Rhys before he went to Hybern, at Ianthe’s insistence, after Helion refused.

Why, though, would a faerie from a branch of the Day Court’s High Family invade the Dusk Court, if he hailed purely from Day? Given that the High Lord’s magic chooses for itself, I suppose he could have been hoping that the power would leave the bloodline altogether - as Cassian mentioned it could in ACOSF - but it would make more sense if someone from the Dusk Court’s ruling family had married into the Day Court. If the King of Hybern had both Day and Dusk heritage - if he was a “cousin” to Dusk - he could have thought he had a higher chance of being chosen by the High Family’s magic, and becoming High Lord himself after he’d deposed the previous High Lord. The fact that he called himself a King, and not a High Lord, would appear to suggest that this was not the case.

It also sounded like Helion has a family history with the Mask, or perhaps another object from the Dread Trove. This, again, is leaning heavily into crack theory territory, but if either the Mask or the Harp were used to invade the Dusk Court - I assume by a branch of Helion’s family that didn’t get along with the ruling line - then perhaps that is why Helion appeared to be affected more by the Mask than any of the others.

Helion whirled to Nesta, all sensuality vanished. “You truly wore this and lived?” It wasn’t a question meant to be answered. “Cover it again, please. I can’t stand it.” Rhys tucked in his wings. “It affects you that much?” … Helion shuddered, and Nesta threw the cloth over the Mask. As if the cloth somehow blinded it to their presence. “Perhaps an ancestor of mine once used it, and the warning of its cost is imprinted upon my blood.” - ACOSF, chapter 41

If an ancient member of Helion’s family had died while using an object from the Dread Trove, perhaps it could have imprinted some sort of warning into the rest of the family. Once again, this is likely incorrect, but this is ACOTAR, and stranger things have happened.

Why the Hewn City?

But Rhys only said to Mor, “Send word to your father. We’re going to pay him and my other court a visit.” My blood iced over. The Court of Nightmares. - ACOMAF, chapter 41

The Hewn City, home to both the Court of Nightmares and Mor’s delightful family, who act as stewards, has long stood out to many as being odd, for lack of a better term. Why is it called the “Court" of Nightmares, when it is located inside the Night Court? If Keir’s line is related to Rhys’ ancestors, why is he called the “steward,” and not a Prince of the Hewn City, as Varian and Cresseida are the Prince and Princess of Adriata in the Summer Court, to Tarquin’s High Lord? Why does Rhys need Keir’s permission to assemble the Hewn City’s Darkbringer legion for war, when Rhys himself can call the Illyrian army to battle?

I believe that this is because the Hewn City is an offshoot from the Dusk Court, from the time it was located in what is now known as Hybern; When Dusk fell, a cohort from their ruling class/family must have managed to escape, as Aelin escaped Adarlan’s invasion of Orynth and Terrasen. Someone from the then High Family’s line must have escaped with them, and the line chosen by the Dusk Court’s magic has been slumbering ever since. Mirroring Aragorn as the King of Gondor, with Denethor as the Steward, Keir appears to be the caretaker of the remaining Dusk Court, until the High Lord Lady of the Dusk Court returns.

Keir himself gave us hints, with his comment that he had found himself “... sympathetic to Hybern’s cause,” (ACOWAR, chapter 25). Given that Feyre noted that “the Steward clung to power, it seemed,” it appears that Keir may have been considering allying himself with Hybern. Does he know, or suspect, the true origins of the Court of Nightmares? Keir is “older, far older” than Rhys; it is feasible that he has heard rumours of the true origins of the Court of Nightmares, and was seeking to reunite the Dusk Court, most likely hoping to gain more power for himself as a result.

Before Rhys, Keir was nothing more than a sullen child. Yet I knew Mor’s father was older. Far older. The Steward clung to power, it seemed. … And no doubt Keir would inform his almost-allies in the Autumn Court. Or one of these other monsters would. - ACOMAF, chapter 42

Later on, in ACOWAR, Nesta Archeron asked all the important questions; under the guise of informing Nesta about the Court of Nightmares, and discussing the politics behind the Night Court using Keir’s Darkbringer legion, Rhys and the rest of the Inner Circle surreptitiously give us a lot of hints about the Hewn City’s relationship to the Night Court, and - potential - future revelations. Of course, they don't know that what they're saying holds more than one possible interpretation.

“What is the Court of Nightmares?” Nesta demanded. Lucien answered for us. “The place where the rest of the world believes the majority of the Night Court to be.” He jerked his chin at Rhys. “The seat of his power. Or it was.” “Oh, it still is,” Rhys said. “To everyone outside Velaris.” … “And yes. Keir’s Darkbringer legion is considerable enough that a meeting is warranted.” … Nesta’s brows narrowed. “Why not just order them? Don’t they answer to you?” Cassian set down his fork, food forgotten. “Unfortunately, there are protocols in place between our two subcourts regarding this sort of thing. They mostly govern themselves -- with Mor’s father their steward.” … “The steward of the Hewn City is legally entitled to refuse to aid my armies,” Rhys explained to Nesta, to me. “It was part of the agreement my ancestor made with the Court of Nightmares all those thousands of years ago. They would remain within that mountain, would not challenge or disturb us beyond its borders… and would retain the right to decide not to assist in war.” “And have they -- refused?” I asked. Mor nodded gravely. “Twice. Not my father.” She nearly choked on the word. “But… there were two wars. Long, long ago. They chose not to fight. We won, but… barely. At great cost.” - ACOWAR, chapter 18

Why would a High Lord need to “negotiate” with members of their own court? From all that we’ve read, the courts weren’t historically democratic - they were far from it - so this, to me, is a hint that the Court of Nightmares was not originally part of the Night Court. Perhaps the Dusk Court refugees arrived at the Palace above the Hewn City, and negotiated terms of sanctuary from the then High Lord or Lady of the Night Court. I assume that the Night Court was chosen because the two courts had a pre-existing relationship, potentially with alliances by marriage, which could explain Rhys and Mor’s distant relationship, and Rhys calling the Court of Nightmares his "other court" in ACOMAF. If that was the case, the High Lord or Lady of the Night Court would understandably want to reduce the likelihood of a Dusk Court family member making a move for power in the Night Court, hence the agreement to not “challenge or disturb” beyond the borders of the Hewn City.

If this negotiation happened "all those thousands of years ago," it's possible that this was what triggered Rhys' ancestor - the "ancient High Lord with a different vision" - to sacrifice himself to protect Velaris, which had been kept secret for five thousand years before the attack in ACOMAF (chapter 14, 57); some time after the arrival of the Dusk Court, that High Lord may have used the associated disruption to hide a coup that worked in favour for both his personal plans, and keeping the hidden Dusk Court secret, safe.

“There was a time when the Night Court was a Court of Nightmares and was ruled from the Hewn City. Long ago. But an ancient High Lord had a different vision, and rather than allowing the world to see his territory vulnerable at a time of change, he sealed the borders and staged a coup, eliminating the worst of the courtiers and predators, building Velaris for the dreamers, establishing trade and peace.” … “To preserve it,” Rhys continued, “he kept it a secret, and so did his offspring, and their offspring. … Rumor has it that ancient High Lord cast his very life’s blood upon the stones and river to keep that spell eternal. … “But along the way, despite his best intentions, darkness grew again—not as bad as it had once been … But bad enough that there is a permanent divide within my court. … And we allow the Court of Nightmares to continue, blind to Velaris’s existence, because we know that without them, there are some courts and kingdoms that might strike us." - ACOMAF, chapter 29

For all that ancient High Lord’s efforts, though, it appears that "darkness grew again" - language that screams dusk symbolism to me - and that a "permanent divide" remains within the Night Court. Might this be because they are actually two separate courts?

Whether the Hewn City existed then, in any capacity, or whether the Dusk Court escapees built it into what it is today, we'll have to wait to see; though, given the embellishments, they must have had some input into its design, as they appear to be significant - but more on that later. The Hewn City being located under a mountain is significant in that it could potentially symbolise their trapped counterparts of the Court of Nightmares, whether they are still in Hybern, at the Prison, under Ramiel, or elsewhere altogether. As Keir mentioned in ACOWAR, both peoples are "trapped -- stagnant," and he recognises Hybern’s people as "kindred spirits."

Keir frowned up at the obsidian chandelier, fashioned after a wreath of night-blooming flowers -- the center of each a twinkling silver faelight. “There are many similarities between Hybern’s people and my own. Both of us trapped -- stagnant.” “Last I checked,” Mor cut in, “you have been free to do as you wish for centuries. Longer.” Keir didn’t so much as look at her … “Ah, but are we free here? Not even the entirety of this mountain belongs to us -- not with your palace atop it.” “All of this belongs to me, I’ll remind you,” Rhys said wryly. “It’s that mentality that allows me to find Hybern’s stifled people to be… kindred spirits.” - ACOWAR, chapter 25

The word "stagnant" is an interesting choice. We know that SJM is very particular about her wording - creating puzzles out of sentences, spread over an entire series - so the fact that it has only been used to describe three things so far in the series leads me to think that they are connected. The water-wraith from the Spring Court had wholly black eyes, like a "stagnant" pond; wraiths are associated with death, so the word stagnant here makes sense. The Hewn City, Hybern and the Spring Court, however, should not be stagnant - unless something is wrong.

She wore no clothes. Her long, dark hair hung limp over her high, firm breasts—and her massive eyes were wholly black. Like a stagnant pond. And as she moved, the afternoon light shimmered on her iridescent skin. - ACOMAF, chapter 8

The Spring Court had felt stagnant. Hollow. Empty despite its growing life. - ACOSF, chapter 43

We know that Tamlin has all but abandoned his post as the High Lord of Spring, and that given he refused to participate in Calanmai the year Feyre left for the Night Court - having a reluctant Lucien stand in for him - and that he has only gone further downhill since, he probably didn't participate in the most recent Great Rite, either. Has Spring begun to stagnate because it has no functioning, or worthy, High Lord? Or is Spring languishing because it's High Lord hasn't participated in the Great Rite for, presumably, two years now? Did Lucien taking over for Tamlin at Calanmai two years ago even work, given he is not of the Spring Court - and if it did, did anyone complete it for Tamlin the following year? If my interpretation is correct, then ACOSF ended not long before the third Calanmai since Feyre left the Spring Court… what will happen this year?

Lucien mentioned in chapter 21 of ACOTAR that minor dalliances on Fire Night "will help the land, too," and that "here, our crops depend upon the magic that we regenerate on Calanmai" - if no one is regenerating the magic at the High Lord’s level, no wonder the Spring Court is suffering.

“We do this by conducting the Great Rite. Each of the seven High Lords of Prythian performs this every year, since their magic comes from the earth and returns to it at the end—it’s a give-and-take.” - ACOTAR, chapter 21

Similarly, and assuming that Lucien is correct - that each High Lord participates in the Great Rite in some form, even if it's not identical to the Spring Court - if the Dusk Court has not had a High Lord or Lady for, presumably, five thousand years, to participate in this "give-and-take" of magic between the High Lord and the earth, then it stands to reason that it, and its people, would also stagnate.

The final piece to the Hewn City puzzle - one that I struggled to make fit for a while… reader, I started this in early April, send help! - was, why was a transplanted Dusk Court called the Court of Nightmares? I understand that they potentially kept the name of the old Night Court seat of power to help with their ruse, but I couldn't think of how "Nightmares" could have also been linked to the Dusk Court until I read the following quote again, but this time paying more attention to the sentence before the mention of the "bridge" that appears to foreshadow a mating bond between Azriel and Elain Archeron, whom many suspect could inherit the Dusk Court:

I saw the painting in my mind: the lovely fawn, blooming spring vibrant behind her. Standing before Death, shadows and terrors lurking over his shoulder. Light and dark, the space between their bodies a blend of the two. The only bridge of connection … that knife. - ACOWAR, chapter 69

Azriel is a Shadowsinger, and with what magic does Keir’s Darkbringer legion fight? Shadows.

What is an alternative term for nightmares? Night terrors.

And, finally, what time of day is a blend of light and dark? When light blends into dark, and not the other way around? Dusk.

Etymological Evidence

SJM is well known for being intentional with her word choice; because of this, it is reasonable to make deductions based on the names of places (and people) that are used in her works. The following is a - most likely incomplete - list of words whose etymology and definitions could suggest a link to the Dusk Court.

Darkbringers

The Darkbringer legion fights with shadows, so their name appears to make sense, and not require much additional thought. However, if we think about the Court of Nightmares in the context of dusk, then the sun setting brings the dark of night; the imagery of Darkbringers as the Dusk Court’s potential army, then, is appropriate.

Dusk

Dusk is the time of day when the sun sets, twilight, the "state between light and darkness." Which two characters are strongly associated with the darkness and the light? Azriel and Elain Archeron.

Hewn City, The

To hew something is to chop or cut it out of something else. The parallel here is simple; the Hewn City was carved from the stone of the mountain under which it sits, but its people were hewn from a different court altogether.

Hybern

It cannot be a coincidence that Hybern, whose shape and location, in context with the rest of Prythian, so closely resembles that of the island of Ireland, was so named when the Roman name for Ireland was Hibernia, The Land of Winter. Hibernia is derived from hibernus, which means "wintry."

Another word that stems from hibernus is hibernate, and so, by extension, hibernation. To "pass the winter in torpidity and seclusion" sounds very similar to what the Court of Nightmares has been doing in the Hewn City. For those unaware, "torpid" describes a state of being "numb, lethargic, or dormant," and historically also meant "without feeling or power." Not only has the Dusk Court lost its power, but the two characters who many suspect will end up responsible for its rebirth are also known to keep their feelings close; after his argument with Rhys at solstice, Azriel was described as feeling "nothing at all," and Elain, and Azriel, to a lesser extent, also had their agency - their power - removed from them during their bonus scene in ACOSF.

Keir

The name Keir is often said to mean dark haired, dark skinned, or swarthy, but a lesser known term that is attributed to it is dusky.

Morrigan, The

The Morrigan is a goddess from Irish mythology, who is associated with both war and fate; she is said to foretell death, doom, or victory in battle, and is the guardian of the dead. The Mor we know from ACOTAR has the power of Truth, which could be paralleled to The Morrigan’s ability to observe fate, although we are yet to know its full extent. Given that Azriel, the person whom I suspect is the heir to the Dusk Court, is strongly associated with Death throughout the series, this all fits. For an interesting theory on ACOTAR-Mor’s potential powers, look at what @silverlinedeyes had to say here and here.

Nightmares

If the people of the Hewn City are truly descendents from the Dusk Court, and the symbology of a hibernating court holds true, then it must all seem like a bad dream to them. Hopefully, they will soon be woken up.

Realm

Merrill was researching the theories behind the existence of different realms - other worlds. Many of us initially thought of the worlds that contain SJM’s Throne of Glass and Crescent City characters, but “realm” can also refer to any land, such as a kingdom, country, domain, or duchy etc. What about a court? The use of the word “realm” in that instance could potentially have had multiple meanings; true parallel worlds, such as Erilea, the Dusk Court, and an alternate plain, in which members of the Dusk Court could have been trapped.

The People of the Mounds

The Daoine Sidhe, who I mentioned above in 'How Did the Sun Set on the Dusk Court?' are thought to be descended from the Tuatha de Danann, which translates to either Tribe of the Gods, or People of the Goddess Danu. It is likely significant, then, that the Hebrew version of Azriel and Elain’s names mean the following:

Azriel - God is my help.

Elain - my God has answered me.

As I mentioned earlier, I do think that the Prison will play a role in the rest of the story going forward, but I suspect that it could be one of the ‘mounds’ that contain trapped faeries - perhaps a group of escapees from the Dusk Court, rather than being the Dusk Court in its entirety. Alternatively, if the Prison was significant to a unified Prythian, could the fae have been trapped when then High King Fionn was overthrown by his queen and general? Both? While I do like the idea of the eight pointed star being the symbol of the eight courts of the Prythian of old, I am leaning towards the fae trapped in the wall having belonged to the Dusk Court, as Shadow Singing suggested.

The information that the Archeron sisters combined have gleaned has to be significant:

The Harp showed Nesta a group of faeries being trapped in stone, when she was collecting it from deep inside the Prison.

Fae screamed, pounding on stone that hadn’t been there a moment before, pleading for their children’s sakes, begging to be let out let out let out -- … It was a trap, and our people were too blind to see it… The Fae clawed at stone, tearing their nails on rock where there had once been a door. But the way back was now forever sealed… - Nesta’s vision, ACOSF, chapter 53

Elain could hear both a heart beating through the stone, and the sea, while sleeping in the House of Wind, at least back in ACOWAR - many suspect that it was not Lucien's heart that she was hearing. In addition to Elain hearing “the crashing sea” in her sleep, when she was too far away from the coast for even a fae to hear them, Feyre heard “the crashing sea” when she was at Hybern.

She said, “I can hear the sea. Even at night. Even in my dreams. The crashing sea -- and the screams of a bird made of fire.” - Elain, ACOWAR, chapter 24

Faelights slithered along the bone-white walls, the windows looking out to the crashing sea far below. - Feyre, ACOMAF, chapter 63

Feyre suggested that the jagged stone walls inside the prison appeared to have faces hewn into them.

With the small lights floating ahead, I tried not to look too long at the gray walls. Especially when they were so rough-hewn that the jagged bits could have been a nose, or a craggy brow, or a set of sneering lips. - Feyre, ACOMAF, chapter 18

The use of the word “hewn” could be significant, especially if the Hewn City does hold (some of the) remnants of the Dusk Court. The fact that the fae that the Harp showed to Nesta were “too blind to see” the trap also sounds incredibly familiar:

The King of Hybern said, “The trap was so easy, I’m honestly a bit disappointed you didn’t see it coming.” Faster than any of us could see, Jurian fired a hidden ash bolt through Azriel’s chest. Mor screamed. - ACOMAF, chapter 63

Like Koschei in chapter 71 of ACOSF - “I spend so many months preparing for you, and you don’t even wish to speak to me?” - I believe that the King of Hybern could have been talking directly to Azriel, and that the reason that Jurian shot him with the ash bolt was linked to Az being - unbeknownst to him, but not to others - a potential heir to the Dusk Court line. I think that he may have also recognised Mor. If the Prison does contain fae from the Dusk Court, then the following statement from Azriel gains extra importance.

Azriel just shook his head. “I’ll go. The Prison sentries know me -- what I am.” - ACOMAF, chapter 16

If Azriel is a contender for heir to the Dusk Court, then this line was not just referring to him being a spymaster, or a shadowsinger, but something more.

Further evidence that the Prison contains at least a portion of the fallen Dusk Court was provided by Rhys, when he first took Feyre to the Prison island in ACOMAF. While he mentioned that the Prison was made “before High Lords existed,” and that some inmates remember “those days,” it is significant that the line regarding Mor’s family is in a completely separate sentence, almost as if it was a new thought. Perhaps one to which we should pay attention.

“Where are we?” I said… “On an island in the heart of the Western Isles,” Rhysand said, staring up at the mammoth mountain. “And that,” he said, pointing to it, “is the Prison.” … “This place,” he said, “was made before High Lords existed. Before Prythian was Prythian. Some of the inmates remember those days. Remember a time when it was Mor’s family, not mine, that ruled in the North.” - ACOMAF, chapter 17

The Prison would have been strongly warded before the Dusk Court fell, which was after “Prythian was Prythian,” but what if the “sentries” to which Azriel referred were the more recently trapped fae, some of whom were potentially sacrificed by Hybern in the name of stronger wards - perhaps not unlike Rhys’ ancestor sacrificing himself to protect Velaris? As Amren said - and in keeping with the tradition of Nesta asking the important questions in ACOWAR - we have the following:

“What’s the Prison?” Nesta asked at last. “A hell entombed in stone,” Amren said. - ACOWAR, chapter 21

As I suggested, I suspect that Merrill’s search for different realms is important, not necessarily because she will help Azriel and Elain search for and free those fae in their book - however interesting that would be, there likely isn’t time; Koschei waits for no one - but because it informs us of the possibility of up to twenty six different caches of faeries, who could be trapped in one way or another. Could there also be a portal to a truly alternate realm somewhere in each "mound" that exists in Prythian's world?

Where could the mounds be?

Hybern

The Prison island, and potentially others in the Western Isles

The Northern Isles

Under the Mountain - Amarantha literally trapped fae there during her reign

Ramiel - means ‘the thunder of God’

The Sleeping Mountains

The mountains in which Neve’s people live and run their mines

The Library under the House of Wind

I’m sure there have been other hints dropped throughout the series that I have missed so far, so please let me know if you have any other ideas!

The Seasonal Imagery Employed Throughout the ACOTAR Series that Symbolises the Dusk Court

I plan to delve further into this topic, as it pertains to individual characters, in a separate post, but I will include the basics here. Many readers have picked up on the fact that Azriel is written as cold, was called Death, the knife in the dark, while Elain Archeron is warmth, spring and golden sunlight personified. While poetic on its own, this imagery is significant in terms of the Dusk Court; dusk is the meeting point between light and dark, a “blend of the two,” if you will, which is why Elain and Azriel together appear to strike the right balance. After all, just like a slumbering beast, a hibernating court will need the warmth of a blooming spring to finally awaken.

The following comprises a brief - I tried, truly - selection of the examples scattered throughout the series with, I assume, the intention to place this imagery in the back of a reader’s mind, ready for that “ah ha!” moment in a future book. I have colour-coordinated the appropriate passages, blue for Azriel (cold, death, dark), pink for Elain (warmth, life, light) and purple for the Dusk Court (the Hewn City, a balance of Azriel and Elain).

First, we have our initial impression of the palace on top of the Hewn City, setting the scene.

Then the darkness vanished. I smelled jasmine first—then saw stars. A sea of stars flickering beyond glowing pillars of moonstone that framed the sweeping view of endless snowcapped mountains. “Welcome to the Night Court,” was all Rhys said. … It was the most beautiful place I’d ever seen. Whatever building we were in had been perched atop one of the gray-stoned mountains. The hall around us was open to the elements, no windows to be found, just towering pillars and gossamer curtains, swaying in that jasmine-scented breeze. It must be some magic, to keep the air warm in the dead of winter. Not to mention the altitude, or the snow coating the mountains, mighty winds sending veils of it drifting off the peaks like wandering mist. Little seating, dining, and work areas dotted the hall, sectioned off with those curtains or lush plants or thick rugs scattered over the moonstone floor. - ACOMAF, chapter 5

Window-side vigils is another theme that is strongly tied to both Azriel and Elain, which @suelky has discussed here, but I digress. After the scene was set by the passage above, we have plenty of examples of winter being dominant; again, some of these are related to Azriel and Elain, others just using the imagery in general, but all of them act to remind us of the importance of death and winter and dark being juxtaposed with life and spring and light.

I watched the light shift inside the sapphire Siphon instead, as if it were the great eye of some half-slumbering beast from a frozen wasteland. - ACOMAF, chapter 22

“She was shunned for bearing a child out of wedlock, and forced to give birth to me alone in a tent in the dead of winter.” - Cassian, ACOSF, chapter15

I was not frightened… Not of the roaring wind as we winnowed into a familiar, snow-capped mountain range refusing to yield to spring’s awakening kiss. - ACOMAF, chapter 42

Even in the middle of winter, she was a bloom of color and sunshine. - Feyre, about Elain, ACOFAS chapter 17

Amren had curled herself into an armchair, bundled in a gray fur coat, as if the nip in the air today were a blast of winter. No Elain, no Morrigan. - ACOSF, chapter 20

Then, to show progression, but again scattered throughout the series, to avoid arousing suspicion, we have hints of spring being on its way.

Her sister’s delicate scent of Jasmine and honey lingered in the red-stoned hall like a promise of spring, a sparkling river that she followed to the open doors of the chamber. - ACOSF, chapter 17

Patches of snow still crusted the hilly, open land, though the first buds and sprouts of spring poked through. - ACOSF, chapter 65

And lastly, we have winter retreating, and spring beginning once more. Significantly, the final chapter of ACOSF begins with "spring bloomed fully," which I suspect symbolises both Elain’s readiness for her own journey, and the fact that the Dusk Court is about to wake from its centuries long hibernation.

Spring dawned on Velaris. - ACOSF, chapter 62

A smile bloomed on Azriel’s mouth… - ACOMAF, chapter 24

Winter had indeed yielded to spring. - ACOMAF, chapter 43

Spring bloomed fully around Velaris. … The city spread before them, glowing in the spring sunshine… - ACOSF, chapter 80

Azriel and Elain are dark and light, winter and spring, death and rebirth. In short, they are Dusk made flesh.

Will the Sun Rise on the Dusk Court Once More?

As it inevitably happens, winter will eventually yield to spring, but the question is: to what extent? I have a feeling that Azriel and Elain will do something that awakens the scattered Dusk Court from its long hibernation, but what could that be?

I let them creep closer, sniffing around, as I said to Rhys, “Surely, my love, they would like to stand now.” Rhys smiled down at me, then at the crowd. “Rise.” They did. And some of those tendrils of power dared climb up the first step. I pounced. - Feyre at the Court of Nightmares, ACOWAR, chapter 25

Calanmai

Warning: minor Throne of Glass spoiler.

We were introduced to the concept of Calanmai in ACOTAR, an apparently important bit of Prythian lore that has been essentially forgotten ever since. Maybe the lack of Calanmai in the books since ACOTAR has been intentional - perhaps SJM is saving it for the sister who is most closely associated with spring?

“Fire Night signals the official start of spring -- in Prythian, as well as in the mortal world,” Lucien said. While his words were calm, they trembled slightly. I leaned against the wall of the hallway, forcing myself into a casualness that I didn’t feel. “Here, our crops depend upon the magic that we regenerate on Calanmai -- tonight.” … “We do this by conducting the Great Rite. Each of the seven High Lords of Prythian performs this every year, since their magic comes from the earth and returns to it at the end -- it’s a give-and-take.” … “The magic will seize control of his mind, his body, his soul, and turn him into the Hunter. It will fill him with his sole purpose: to find the Maiden. From their coupling, magic will be released and spread to the earth, where it will regenerate life for the year to come.” - ACOTAR, chapter 21

A crack theory of mine - even more of a crack theory than this entire post, really - is that if Azriel and Elain are together on Calanmai, their “give-and-take” could trigger the rise of the Dusk Court. If each of the seven High Lords partakes in some shape or form, and we have no reason to doubt Lucien’s information, then the hypothetical eighth High Lord would also do so. Many readers assume that ACOTAR’s Calanmai is at a similar time to the real-world Calan Mai, which occurs on the first of May; this seems to fit, time-wise, with Feyre’s comment that she and Rhys accepted their own mating bond on that night.

“No. When Calanmai came along, he refused. He flat-out refused to participate. I replaced him in the Rite, but…” I’d forgotten. Forgotten about Calanmai and the Rite. I did a mental tally of the days. No wonder I’d forgotten. I’d been in that cabin in the mountains. With Rhys buried in me. Perhaps we’d generated our own magic that night. - Lucien and Feyre, ACOWAR, chapter 3

While I assume that, like Nynsar and Starfall, the Courts’ individual celebrations of Calanmai/Fire Night could vary, it is interesting, at the very least, that while there was no official hunt of a white stag, Rhys did still have to hunt Feyre down, because Mor wouldn’t tell him where she was. Whether the union has to occur on Dusk land, or it just has to be between the heir of Dusk and a partner at any location, I’m not sure; we also don’t know whether the heir of the Court has to be the Hunter or the Maiden - which would be a twist I’d love to see, Elain as the Hunter, and Azriel as the stag, or Maiden! - but I suspect, if this crack theory eventuates, that Elain, spring personified, the lovely fawn with her “doe-eyes,” would make sense as both the stag and Maiden, while Azriel, warrior and spymaster, would appear to be the Hunter.

If I’ve interpreted dates correctly, Fire Night should be pretty soon after the final chapter of ACOSF, in which spring had “bloomed fully” around Velaris; blooms appearing subject to climate, and not the date. Depending on how close the start of Elain and Azriel’s book is until Calanmai, there might not be enough time for this to happen - like I said, it’s a crack theory - but I could imagine that, if Elain gets frustrated with being “stifled” in her further attempts to help her family with the search for the fourth Dread Trove item, as well as being in a worse place due to the stress of her situation with Azriel (she may think that she's lost him as a friend, after the events of solstice, if he has stuck - so far - to Rhys’ order to “stay away”), she may attempt to go after the final Trove item herself, with whatever skills she has been taught by Nuala and Cerridwen, and maybe Azriel himself, in the last two years. This could be the impetus that Azriel needs to throw off Rhys’ order and “get her back” once more, thereby hunting her down. If he finds Elain on Calanmai, and they give in to their feelings, then perhaps they could also unknowingly trigger the rise of the Dusk Court. This reawakening will probably be hinted at subtly throughout the book, perhaps in a similar manner to the kingsflame flower of Terrasen in SJM’s Throne of Glass series, but won't be fully realised until later on.

Will Azriel and Elain Move to Hybern?

While many would love to see the Dusk Court rise to its full former glory - assuming that it was, in fact, glorious at one point in time - both for the people of Hybern, who have been suffering - "stifled" - and for the suspected Dusk Court faeries who may be trapped inside multiple mounds, both literally and figuratively, I don’t think that SJM has the time - or the pages - to properly explore a peaceful ascension to the Dusk Court’s throne, let alone one that is barred by Hybern’s current ruling class, or whatever remains after the end of ACOWAR; SJM’s Throne of Glass, which contained similar themes, had more than one book to do so.

Azriel and Elain taking control of the Court of Nightmares would be a good compromise, as it would symbolise their place as the - again, hypothetical - presumptive High Lord and High Lady to the Dusk Court, while not adding in more events than SJM has the space to write about in their book, while moving the overall Koschei plot along, and leave the possibility open for future books. It would also mean that the sisters all remain together, in the same court, at least for the foreseeable future.

I will interpret the lack of two thrones to be due to the fact that this visit came upon you quickly,” Rhys said with lethal calm… Our loyal subjects,” he added, smiling faintly. - ACOWAR, chapter 25

The Prince and Princess of the Hewn City

Back in ACOWAR, when Mor was discussing the lack of a romantic relationship between herself and Azriel with Feyre, she said:

“ … but it won’t matter if Rhys makes him the Prince of Velaris -- he’ll see himself as a bastard-born nobody, and not good enough for anyone. Especially me.” - Mor, referring to Azriel, ACOWAR, chapter 52

Nesta also told Cassian that, while she was never her father’s princess, Elain was:

“We weren’t always poor. Until I was fourteen, my father was as rich as a king. They called him the Prince of Merchants.” He gave her a tentative smile. “And you were his princess?” Ice cracked through her. “No. Elain was his princess…” - Cassian and Nesta, ACOSF, chapter 14

Further evidence of Azriel and Elain's potential positions of power was provided in ACOFAS, when Azriel stopped their entire family from eating until Elain had returned, at which point Elain sat at the head of the table. Not only this, but Elain is canonically caring and wise, but willing and able to act to defend her people when required - all traits that would make a good ruler.

@mrspettyferr has delved much deeper into this, but Azriel and Elain ending up as the Prince and Princess of the Hewn City appears to have been foreshadowed throughout the series so far.

In parting, I will leave you with one of my favourite quotes about Elain, which I believe both demonstrates her innate goodness, strength and potential, and is also suggestive of the themes with which we have come to associate both her and Azriel.

Days passed. The shadow within me didn’t lighten, and even the thought of painting was abhorrent. Instead I spent most of my time with Elain in her little garden. I was content to listen to her talk about every bud and bloom, about her plans to start another garden by the greenhouse, perhaps a vegetable garden, if she could learn enough about it over the next few months. She had come alive here, and her joy was infectious. There wasn’t a servant or gardener who didn’t smile at her, and even the brusque head cook found excuses to bring her plates of cookies and tarts at various points in the day. I marveled at it, actually -- that those years of poverty hadn’t stripped away that light from Elain. Perhaps buried it a bit, but she was generous, loving, and kind -- a woman I found myself proud to know, to call sister. - ACOTAR, chapter 29

It appears that SJM may have set up Elain’s future arc all the way back in ACOTAR, and it looks like it was always meant to include both Azriel and the Dusk Court.

If you’ve read all the way through this monster, then thank you for your time; if you want to read any more of my thoughts on the Dusk Court, then I have more posts on the way.

If you enjoyed this, please consider reblogging. 💜

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lifeofclonewars · 3 years

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Fives and Echo in Clone Cadets

Okay, buckle in if you're gonna read this. I'm an English major and you can tell bc this started out as a quick rant with a few points in my head at midnight and turned into a full analytical essay on the Domino Twins throughout the entirety of Clone Cadets in one sitting plus some next-day editing. What can I say, I analyze everything I watch even when I'm not consciously doing so. Some pictures and links included.

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I get the whole “Fives and Echo weren't close until after Rishi” thing because of the poetic-ness of the narrative of brothers who aren't close going through trauma and coming out of it stronger and as best friends all that but listen to what I have to say.

We’ll start chronologically: with their final run-through before the finals. As you may know, I made a list (here) of who argues with whom during Clone Cadets. The other three constantly nag Echo about his habit of repeating things. Hevy and Cutup both call Echo, well, Echo but before he accepts it as a name and more as an insult. Cutup’s the first one to do it, literally almost right off the bat. Hevy does it to purposefully pick a fight after the practice test. DB responds to Echo's “stop calling me that” with “stop repeating every order.”

Fives argues a bit with the rest of Domino when they're all arguing, but he only says one negative thing toward Echo. But there are so many things that make it different from the things aimed at Echo from the rest of the squad.

He tells him “Will you shut up with instructions? You're not in charge.” Domino’s nagging Echo about the repeating, Fives... doesn't quite do that. The narrative makes it look like Fives is also mad about the repeating orders, given both DB and Cutup have at this point. However, what Fives says doesn't make a direct reference to Echo’s habit, at least. He's definitely frustrated here (they all are, they’re failing again), but, at least to me, he's frustrated because Echo's focused more on getting them to follow exact orders instead of moving forward or working together. And yeah, he snaps a bit while reminding Echo he's not squad leader and not focusing on the right thing. But he never mentions the echoing, and, after this one moment, he never makes a negative comment toward Echo again during Clone Cadets. Also, important to note, Echo wasn’t repeating orders or anything when Fives snapped at him, just saying they’re not following orders again (which is different).

So, basically: everyone’s arguing about everything. Everyone argues with Echo about various things. Fives is the only one that doesn’t go and make a comment about Echo’s repeating during it, though.

That signifies something. Fives has got a better understanding or acceptance or trust in Echo than the rest of Domino. He doesn't mock him for what makes him him. He gets why Echo does it, maybe. Even if he doesn't, he knows it helps Echo and that Echo repeating orders is his way of trying to help his brothers. And this comes into play at a point farther along in the episode that we’ll get to soon.

Next comes the, like, one moment we see the clones have some downtime. It’s when, once again, they start arguing. Despite DB being the one to tell Echo “stop repeating every order” during the run-through, we see them getting along here. We see them chatting with each other and 99 very briefly when Fives' gives his “you never even met a girl” line and Hevy comes barging in. Hevy insults 99, Echo tells the squad to follow orders, an argument starts, yada yada.

Then, Hevy gives his “care to repeat that, Echo?” line, which I mentioned earlier as Hevy doing it to purposefully pick a fight. When they start to fight, we hear the other members of Domino start cheering Hevy on. One says “Come on. Get him, Hevy!” The other says, “Smack that know-it-all.”

Here’s the thing, though. They show a shot of DB, Cutup, and Fives. Cutup can be seen pumping his fist but his accent isn’t heard. There are two voices speaking, but they’re layered on top of each other so it’s hard to tell who’s speaking and how many people are speaking if you aren’t paying attention. Together, this comes out to look like Fives and DB could be the ones talking, and Cutup’s not actually speaking.

However, as I’ve mentioned in previous posts, Cutup’s accent drops in and out all throughout Clone Cadets. Especially during impromptu moments. With this, it is also possible to conclude that he is speaking during the fight, just without a different accent, especially since he’s pumping his fist.

That leaves Fives or Droidbait as the other person speaking. As you can see, both of them seem to be watching. Now, you could argue that Fives is the one who said something. You can argue the DB is the one who said something. Since they’re showing the fight when the lines overlap (the “Get him” one starting about a second earlier), there’s no conclusive evidence for either. For the point of this argument, you can’t argue that it proves Fives and Echo were close, you can’t argue that it proves they weren’t.

Following that comes Colt’s speech before the final. As I’ve noted multiple times, nobody in Domino is happy with Echo the first time he makes a comment.

Going back and watching it happen in time reveals a bit more, though. They’ve all got facial expressions kinda similar to it when it cuts back to them after Colt speaks. Echo says “thinks he means us, boys?” Hevy seems to be the only one truly angry about the comment. The other three seem to be more of “what are you talking about, you know we’re not that great.” Plus, you know, they’re all nervous about their final. Even more so with how they didn’t make it through the day before. (Here’s a link if you wanna see it for yourself. 0:45; it’s all quick reactions, but you can see what I mean)

(Hmm so maybe I was wrong about that screenshot before. Go figure. There’s a reason screenshots aren’t always completely reliable sources for shows, since none of what I just talked about is visible in a standstill moment. This is why I’ve rewatched Clone Cadets 48209832 times. I’m still picking up new things about Domino while doing it.)

When Echo says, “well bravo for Bravo Squad,” some other things happen. Firstly, Echo’s rolling his eyes. He’s either being flippant about Bravo or he’s being self-aware enough to know it’s a bad pun and that his brothers don’t like his comments. But Fives actually looks over, concerned, when he makes the comment.

That definitely counts for something. Especially since the other three don’t look very concerned about how Echo’s feeling with the comments. (Hevy’s definitely not looking over here.) But Fives seems to be wondering how anxious Echo’s feeling or something along those lines and how Echo’s expressing it. Especially since Echo doesn’t purposely pick fights like Hevy. He’s just making comments that happen to aggravate the Squad more than he’s usually trying to use as his way of showing he cares about his brothers and how well they perform.

After that comes their first run of the final. And with it comes a moment I love so much. Echo’s standing at one of the cover blocks when Fives runs up to him. Not only does this happen, but Echo smiles so much at seeing his brother do so.

He’s just! So happy that Fives is there. I love that. Anyway, Fives tells him, “you flank right, I’ll flank left.” Then comes Echo’s lil pun moment. Fives rolls his eyes, but he looks more fond but exasperated than truly annoyed.

Right after that, Fives runs off again. Which means he took Echo’s comment about staying on the same side and went with it, even though that wasn’t his initial plan. He’s trusting in Echo’s combat planning there. After DB gets shot down, we can actually see this happen as they meet Hevy at another one of the blocks. They come from the same side, Fives, then Echo. So, it worked out successfully.

When Colt tells them they failed not too long after that, another thing happens! Fives and Echo share a look. They didn’t have to — Hevy was behind Fives and Cutup was in front of Echo. They could’ve shared a look with them. But they didn’t. It’s definitely an “oh crap” kind of look they share with each other. Something that’s usually shared with those your closer to in situations like that, ya know?

“But wait!” you might say. “These are mostly examples of Fives being a good brother than of them being close.” Well, that’s where Echo and Fives talking to Shaak Ti about transferring squads comes into play! Of course, since I’m going chronologically, it’s not the immediate next point on this, but it happens during this conversation.

The two of them talking to her is a pretty big deal, especially since constantly up to that point we see Echo not getting along with the squad. He definitely wouldn't do it with Hevy, who he fights with most. Cutup and Echo don't fight as much as Echo and Hevy but we don't see them actually talk to each other besides whenever they do the sim, right before the second final, and Rishi. And Rishi is Hevy and Cutup making fun of Echo a bit. (Main difference then is that they do understand each other better to some degree and it doesn't escalate like it once might've.) DB, I touched on some points earlier.

But there’s a reason it’s Echo and Fives here, and it’s more than just Fives fighting with him less.

When they talk to Shaak Ti Fives trusts Echo to do the talking for them (he only speaks up twice with small comments then). While it’s a short conversation, most of the talking is done by Echo. The duo most likely had a conversation beforehand about what they were asking and why. While we don’t know who asked the other if they wanted to do it, they’re both there, and Fives trusted Echo and his memory and ability to repeat the points they wanted to make. It's the exact opposite of what the squad has been doing. Instead of mocking the repetition, he gives Echo a chance to do it without judgment and as a positive thing.

Echo also goes on to do some things that show it’s not just Fives being a good brother, it goes both ways with them.

There are only two instances where we see Echo touch someone. One is when he fights with Hevy (and Hevy starts it). The other instance is with Fives, during this talk. The two of them had been standing at parade rest and Echo — who's whole thing as a cadet is following orders — breaks it to set a comforting hand on Fives' shoulder!

He's the one to do it! Echo’s the one that takes the opportunity to comfort Fives and Fives doesn’t shy away from it. And not only did he recognize what Fives was feeling, but he also acted on it. They know each other well enough at this point to understand each other’s emotions and how to react to them accordingly.

And it's not like the other clones don't nudge and pat each other on the back and whatnot. Hevy pats 99 on the head (condescendingly smh Hevy you know better but whatever that's not the point).Both Fives and DB nudge Cutup for a comment he makes.

Echo just... doesn't do it during Clone Cadets. (I will point out he gives 99 a light excited punch on the shoulder during Arc Troopers — but that's after he's been with Torrent and trusts 99 even more than he did on Kamino for helping Hevy out) But he does voluntarily set a hand on Fives' shoulder. He’s comfortable enough with Fives to do it when we don’t see him do it with the rest of Domino or even 99.

Also, we all know Fives smacks some of his brothers, we've all seen that post by now. But he never does it with Echo. Instead, he lets Echo do what he's comfortable with. I just think that's important to note.

There’re also multiple times in this scene where they share looks while they’re speaking or when Shaak Ti says something. If you watch Arc Troopers or the first half of the Citadel Arc, even some parts of Rookies, Fives and Echo have a lot of nonverbal communication. This is just planting the seeds for that.

This scene can also be used for some “Fives and Echo aren’t that close” arguments, especially if you go with the “they are literal twins” hc. The whole “they wanted to stick together because they were twins, not necessarily because they got along better” argument. There are some other points here, like the fact that Fives did say something rude to Echo, or that Fives was talking to Cutup in their downtime and Echo with DB.

The thing is, with these things I've talked about, it shows that they were close on Kamino, regardless of that hc. I highly doubt LF and Filoni actually write them as twins (they probably would've mentioned it by now if they were). So while I personally like to take some of these things as them being twins, mostly they just show that either way, they were close. And the points Echo makes while asking Shaak Ti come into play as well.

Echo states, “Which is why Fives and I are looking out for each other,” when told that the clones, like the Jedi, have individuals and the group be one and the same. He makes it a clear point that they’re looking out for each other, that they’re trying to make the decision they think is best for the other. That’s! A big deal and sign that they’re close, if you ask me.

Right at the end of the scene, Fives once again shows his trust in Echo. After hearing that they’ve been given another shot at the final, he looks skeptical. What does he do right after? Look at Echo. He didn’t need to, he could’ve stared at the wall, ground, given Shaak’s back a funny look. But he looks to his brother for comfort again. And we see Echo look back at him, doing so, right as it transitions to Cutup’s scene.

(“Wow this is really long, you must be obsessed with Domino Squad,” you might also say. That would be correct lol. We’re almost done, though.)

The next time we see either of them is when they think Hevy hasn’t shown up but then does. This is a nice little moment. Domino must’ve had a conversation or something because Cutup, DB, Fives, and Echo seem to be more at ease beside the whole missing Hevy thing. I should write that conversation someday. Echo even repeats what Fives said and nobody makes a comment about it.

Hevy eventually surprises everyone with his dramatic entrance and marches through their bench area to head to the simulation room. After that, the three of them turn and look at Echo, who shrugs. Not really a moment between Echo and Fives and more about the whole squad, but it’s there. Domino’s getting along better as a whole, matching more of what the dynamic between those two has been the entire time.

And finally, the second final. Like how the practice test is slightly focused on Echo’s comments and the reactions to it, this one’s focused on Hevy being the natural leader he is. Also, just, Domino Working Together.

When they take cover in the little slit thingies, Fives and Echo take cover in the same one. Part of it was probably which one was closest. Part of it definitely was production trying to make it easier to fit more of them in the same frame there. But also, it says something about how they trust and understand each other on the battlefield. Partially from growing up training together, partially they've got the trust and understanding the whole squad is just finally starting to get within the rest of their dynamics.

The only scene in this whole episode I don’t know who’s who is during the medal scene. If we base it on where Hevy stands, Echo and Cutup are the ones to talk. However, the second clone doesn’t have Cutup’s accent and it’s not one of those situations that Cutup tends to drop his accent. So I’m not really sure, other than that Domino is very clearly all proud of each other. I’m not really sure why I wrote this paragraph then… aNyWaY, that’s the episode!

TL;DR Throughout the episode, the Domino Twins show multiple signs of them being close to each other. I really think that the episode is supposed to show us that they're close from the beginning and Rishi just made them form an even stronger bond. Paraphrasing Shaak Ti, their journey is about them connecting to the rest of their squad throughout the episode, not necessarily about them also learning to connect with each other. They’ve got that down, after all.

#b talks #arc trooper echo #arc trooper fives #domino twins #domino squad #echo #fives #clone cadets #star wars meta #clone wars meta

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fallingsunflower · 3 years

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Okay hello, I’m here to tell you my experience at Harry’s MSG 10/16 show (from a GA perspective). I tried to avoid going online and looking at too many asks so my opinion wasn’t influenced by anything.

I went with two friends and for the sake of this post I’ll call them B (who’s a big Harry fan) and C (who is still a big fan but isn’t too aware of anything going on with him).

We didn’t know the rules with lining up or camping out so after doing a little bit of research, we showed up at about 4 am and there were about 150 people in front of us. I think the first person in line got there around midnight or 1 am. There was a sharpie being passed around so we all numbered our hands so it would make it easier to keep track when getting our wristbands.

Around 7 am we got shifted across the street and that was a shit show. I have no clue who was directing that but it was poorly done and we all got out of order. We wound up awkwardly clumping together and a couple girls were trying to direct us to stay in order, which led to a group of other girls complaining that number order doesn’t matter (and that bothered me because they were about 50 people behind me so yeah it mattered lmao).

By some miracle we wound up getting in number order again, where we were supposed to be. MSG started handing out wristbands around 8 am when they technically said they’d wait until 9 am but I wasn’t complaining. My wristband number was also basically the same as the unofficial one on my hand, which was cool. There were a lot of people trying to cut the line and fake wristbands/their number.

My friends and I came back around 5 pm and although they advertised it as a lottery system, it wasn’t. They let us in in number order and we managed to get basically right behind barricade.

Jenny Lewis is absolutely adorable. I had never heard of her before but I loved her and thought she was great. She got emotional when we all put our flashlights on during one of her songs. It seemed like that's never happened to her before.

Harry came on about 25 minutes after her set ended, and to answer an ask I happened to see - yes, “Olivia” played twice during the pre-set playlist - once before Jenny came out and once after. But after she left it played immediately after “I’m Coming Out” so do with that info what you will. Also they played “Toxic” and “Stockholm Syndrome”.

Harry was pretty good. He’s pretty tall, especially in comparison to Jenny. She’s about 5 foot and he’s a solid head taller than her, at least. Also yes, he’s very pretty. I think I was most taken back by seeing his tattoos in person, idk why. And some of the pictures I took are clearer than my eyesight and I’m having trouble believing I took them lmfao

But although Harry is Harry is pretty in person, his band is BEAUTIFUL. Like deadass every single one of them was glowing. I’m obsessed with Elin and Sarah omg. Also Pauli. He was literally smiling the entire time. I was I was closer to them but they were on the other side of the stage. Mitch and Niji I couldn’t really see unless they were on the cat walk but 👀 I got some solid footage of them vibing (the pictures I’m sharing are screenshots from videos).

Overall I had a good time. I’m just like 99% sure the girl jammed up next to me had a fever because she was scolding hot (like physically warm lmao). It was like a furnace which made me warm. I’ll probably get covid tested in a couple days.

Harry’s energy was okay. Again, I’m not complaining. I had a good time but he seemed tired. There were a couple of songs where he looked like he was zoning out. He also messed up the lyrics to 2 or 3 songs. And the only time it was really obvious he got choked up, to me, was when he was making a speech (I think it was about how much he likes MSG but I’m not 100% sure). I’ll also watch some videos later and see if I notice anything else but yeah, that was the only time it was super obvious he was emotional last night. I thought he was going to break down.

He spent a long time thanking us for having his back and talked a lot about One Direction. He also assured us performing is his favorite thing to do. And he thanked Rob Stringer for allowing him to create the music he wants to create. Honestly? It didn’t really feel that forced to me. My friends agreed. Maybe rehearsed but I wouldn’t really say forced.

He didn't really interact with the crowd that much. My friend, C, saw him in concert in 2018 and said he was much more interactive but she thinks that's because he had less songs to play back then and was filling time. I'm not 100% sure if I agree with that but yeah, she said she was "disappointed" with his lack of interaction.

I will say that while although I agree, Harry's a great performer. He is way better live than in the studio. I'm not sure if it's the arrangements that are different or his vocals but I just prefer him as a live singer. "TPWK" was a ton of fun, and "SOTT" was beautiful (one of my favorite all time songs). "Kiwi" was also a good time, and yes MSG shook. There were several songs I thought the floor was going to collapse.

He didn't do the "what does it taste like" spiel before "WMS". He also sang "TBSL" which I was pleased about, and yes the "arrogant son of a bitch" part was screamed the loudest. A couple of the songs felt shortened tbh, but I think that was just me because things move quicker when you're having a good time.

Harry seemed to favor my side of the stage, which was by watermelon pit I believe. He stayed primarily in the general stage area and only came out on the cat walk a handful of times.

Before anyone asks, no I didn't see Olivia. I'm 99% sure she was on the opposite side of the stage. I also wasn't looking for her though but I heard some girls next to me talking about her while Harry was singing "Cherry" and they kept pointing towards where he was. And my friend, C, is a fan of Olivia's and isn't that deep into Harry's life but she thinks they're a stunt (she said it doesn't bother her though).

Overall it was a good time, however I will say this: Harry exudes this energy that took me back a little because it's different than I thought. I have no idea how to describe it but it was a bit off putting. He's very confident in how he moves but he does these movements that seem like he's also guarding himself. He seemed emotionally distant as well. I don't really know if maybe I was just in a different headspace or what the deal was but I'm a little taken back by how I felt watching him. It's not a bad thing because there's a million reasons why I could have felt that way but I thought I'd mention it. I'm seeing him on the 30th too so I'll give a rundown of that concert, too, for comparison.

Let me know if you have any questions in case I forgot anything!! <3

(he looked up in there for a decent while - this is a screenshot from a video I took)

#love on tour #harry styles #sunflowerdiscussion #harry styles tour #jenny lewis

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lucy90712 · 3 years

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Wilbur Soot- MCC

Request: Can u make a part two of MCC when ur on ur period I would love to see Wilbur! Also love ur HC!

Warnings: female reader implied, periods and cramps mentioned

~ I have been looking forward to this MCC since it was announced because I finally get to be in the same team as my boyfriend we have both won separately and the people we are teamed with are also really good so expectations are pretty high which has me nervous. I've been training extra hard as well to try and make my weaknesses less obvious so that the rest of my team won't have to carry me on certain games. All of this training however has made me super tired because I stayed up practicing and streaming last night which was kind of stupid of me but I can just drink a red bull or something to wake me up.

Wilbur has been super excited too because he has wanted to be on a team with me for a while and has been begging Scott to let it happen and he must have finally gave in. I love that he's excited to team with me and not have to be against me but I feel like there is more pressure because he really wants us to win together but its so hard to tell if that will happen. I would love to be quietly confident but there are some really strong teams although we do have George and Phil as well who are both pretty good (did I just make an elite team like imagine adding Dream as well) so we may have a good chance.

He pulled me up in the afternoon after I had been trying to catch up on my sleep to go on a walk before we will be stuck in our offices for ages. Wilbur has his office in an office building but I have mine at home because I like being able to just watch tv or get a snack when I'm working but its kind of good because it means there will be no echo from the both of us talking at the same time but we won't be able to celebrate together if we win.

On our walk my back started to really hurt as well as my stomach and immediately I knew what was up, I'm starting my period. I knew it was due but I was hoping it wouldn't be today because my performance will be even worse if my stomach hurts the whole time which I know it will. Wilbur could tell there was something wrong with me when I moved my hand over my stomach and walked quicker to get back home and sort everything out.

"You ok there?" He asked

"I'm good just cramps" I said

"Aww I'm sorry do you want to go home?" He asked

All I had to do was nod slightly and we were on our way home and Wilbur had an arm around my waist proving a bit of warmth to sooth my cramps a little bit. He has seen me doubled over with pain and sometimes get nauseous with how bad they can be so he knows that MCC tonight is going to be a struggle hence why I don't ever stream when I've got cramps because I will just curl up in a ball in pain if I do. We got home and when I had been to the bathroom Wilbur was waiting with painkillers and a heating pad to make it a bit better and he cuddled with me on the sofa until he had to leave to go to his office.

Once he was gone I needed a distraction so I started my stream to get a bit more practice in while just talking to my chat, they were concerned when I kept wincing after a wave of pain but I assured them everything was fine and I just wasn't feeling my best. Soon enough Wilbur joined the team vc and we interacted on stream for the first time in quite a while, the other joined soon as well and we headed into the main server for the start of the event. MCC is one of my favourite streams to do because everyone gets behind the whole team and cheers us on plus its a good chance to interact with new people, the viewers also love it each time which keeps me going even when its a game I don't like.

Half way through we were doing pretty good sitting comfortably in second place which is right where we wanted to be but next is ace race which is Wilbur's least favourite game and I'm not very good either plus with the new map we are all struggling. Getting into the game I was so nervous because I've been doing really well so far and have been sitting on 4th overall for the past 2 games and I would love to stay there but that probably won't happen. Phil is pretty good at ace race so I tried following him around but I quickly lost him and was going round with Wilbur instead both of us swearing when we couldn't make it through a particular part or our elytras were playing up.

"Fuck sake I hate this stupid jump pad" I said

"You bastard" Wilbur said

If anyone was hoping for a swear free stream then that went out the window very quickly, the combination of me, Wilbur and ace race is not a good one for no swearing. I can't even count how many times we both swore throughout but I imagine it was a lot although in the end it was worth it because I finished in 7th which is the best I ever did and Wilbur was 10th so we did really well. Coming out of ace race I went straight to the build with the leaderboard to see how I was doing and I'd moved up into 3rd in the overall so of course I took a million screenshots and got Wilbur to join some of them.

"You are doing so good I'm so proud of you" he said

"Thank you you're doing good too you're in 8th" I said

The last game soon came and finished and the nerves as we went into the hub to see our final placement were sky high especially because I did awful in survival games because my cramps started to get worse again and I just couldn't concentrate. We all loaded in and looked at the leaderboard and we were still in second, that means dodgebolt which I'm normally pretty good at but its just not going to happen today.

I'm so excited because we could actually win like Wilbur and I wanted but this is the hard part and with me not at my best I don't know how well it will go, people often target me too because I'm good at dodgebolt so I might get knocked out pretty easily. Wilbur was texting me during the break to see how I was doing and was reassuring me through discord that we could do this, he was also ready to come home right away and told me to stay streaming so we could celebrate together if we win and if not just to give the viewers a bit of content.

Dodgebolt got underway and we won the first game with a bit of ease so my confidence was rising as my cramps were getting worse. Game two started off badly when me and George got knocked out pretty quickly with Wilbur following not long after but Phil pulled through and won us the tournament.

"Well done everyone you all did really well" I said

"You did great too" Phil said

"Great job everyone but I'm gonna go home, y/n I'm coming for you" Wilbur said

With that he left the call and was on his way back while the rest of us celebrated and talked to friends on other teams or people who joined our vc to talk. It's been a while since I've won MCC so it was nice to feel that sense of achievement again and my chat are happy which is what I always want. I had a lot of Wilbur's viewers too as they joined to see him when he got back but honestly we share a lot of the same audience so it didn't feel bad only having this amount of viewers because of him because they are kind of my viewers too.

Eventually Wilbur got home and burst through the doors to my office arms wide open wrapping the round me and the back of my chair before giving me a chance to get up and let him sit down. I sat on lap and we talked to chat for a bit while he had his hands on my stomach slightly massaging it to help my cramps which was much appreciated. We celebrated our win together and promised to show off our coins when we get them before ending stream and climbing into bed.

When in bed I laid on top of Wilbur because it was comfy and he was warm while he rubbed up and down my back soothing me until I fell asleep while whispering cute things in my ears.

#wilbur soot x reader #wilbur soot #wilbur #wilbur x reader #mcc #dsmp #mcyt

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gilly-bj · 3 years

Text

1: This is not a “why Levi will end up with Mikasa”, at all. I’m not trying to boost our confidence in RM because I don’t want us to get hurt again, okay? Fine. Always remember that those 10 pages might be even worse than 139 but we will never stop shipping RM . Always remember the 138 beautiful chapters and ignore the shitty one.

2: looong post.

3: Constructive hmhmh no criticism to Erem*ka. Now let’s start.

No one ever asked me why I think Levi is the right man for Mikasa (and viceversa); when I interact with non rivamikas, they are too busy hating on me and my ship to show a bit of respect and interest towards my opinions and thoughts. I wrote this post because I think that this question needs to be answered, especially after 139. These are six reasons why I think that Levi deserves to be Mikasa’s man.

(I’m doing Levi version first because Mikasa is the one who’s in a toxic “relationship” with a possessive “man”)

i) He helped her with her development.

Since Season 1, Levi has always helped Mikasa to grow as a person. In fact, Levi was the first one who made her realize that her actions have consequences that sometimes are not very pleasant. She understood that, even if Eren is in danger, the other people around her exist and they might get hurt because of her reckless behaviors. Talking about Eren, only with Levi, Mikasa stopped being Eren’s obsessive mother and became an independent woman, which is exactly the opposite of what she’s now with her “love” Eren. I think that Levi will help Mikasa to move on from Eren once he will return to Paradise, and I also think that she will find someone to love. I remember Armin’s words in 139:

The fact that three years have passed and Mikasa is still single makes me realize that probably this “someone” is a man from her group of friends. They left her alone for three years (clap clap 👏 good job, you too Levi 😒), and she hasn’t fallen in love during those years, so maybe once they will return to Paradise she will meet again this “someone” and they will finally fall in love. Now, we have three candidates for this role:

Jean

Levi

Connie yes im serious

I know that Jean had a crush on Mikasa but, I think that he doesn’t love her anymore. To me, Jean realized that his feelings were not returned so He decided to give up on her, if he had feelings for her, he would have followed her to Paradise, don’t you think? And I think that Jean deserves more; I believe that you shouldn’t wait your crush for years, if you both fall in love then fine but if one of the two as a crush on the other for more than 5 years but the other doesn’t return his/her feelings then the other should say bye 👋🏻

Then we have Levi, and Connie yes I’m serious. I have already said why I think that Levi will help Mika to move on so I repeat myself. And I ship Conkasa 🙃🙂 nahhh im joking but they are cute.

ii) He respects her.

It was confirmed various times trough the story that Levi respects Mikasa, and viceversa. Respect is one of the “rudiments” of a relationship. Yesterday, I was reading this article online about why respect is important in a relationship, and the first point got me in a particular way:

“1. Respect sees through the good and learns to accept the bad. When you are in love with someone, all you see are their best qualities, both inside and out. At the same time, you set aside their flaws and weaknesses, to tolerate these as much as you can. Respect doesn’t work that way.

When you have respect for the person you chose to be in a relationship with, you come to accept the person’s beauty and flaws, the bitter and sweet, and good and the bad. And from the acceptance, you both learn to adjust to each other’s systems and come up with a compromise that you can live with. Toppled with love, respect serves as the fuel to keep any relationship moving”

The last part reminds me of Rivamika; Levi and Mikasa both know that the other has his own beauty and flaws, and they accept each other that way. They don’t set those flaws aside to tolerate each other more, they just accept them and they love each other the way they are. With Eren instead, Mikasa has always set aside his flaws because she didn’t want to see them and she always misinterpreted his actions. I want to see an independent woman and not a girl who doesn’t want to accept that her crush is not perfect. Mikasa has to understand that it’s okay if she says “fuck you” for once. Wake up girl.

iii) He cares for her.

Levi has always cared for Mikasa since Season 1, even if I think that in the beginning, he cared for her just as a simple soldier since they didn’t know each other that much. After their first meeting, things changed on Levi’s side and on Mikasa’s as well; she learned to respect him, and Levi started to understand that gloomy brat, to the point that she became special to him; indeed, the way Levi treats Mikasa is very different from the way he treats everyone else, even the other women (Petra, Hisu, Hanji, Sasha) Please my Mika wake up. It’s sad that many think it’s just simple affection because “oh they are cousins he loves her just like a sister bla bla bla”. Sorry to tell you but I don’t have that much tension with my brother 😏😏 and some blind people still say that he hates when he:

Broke his ankle to save her

Always reminds her to calm down and to not be reckless because she can hurt the others but also herself

Always looks at her from afar to check if she’s okay

Literally cried when she was having one of her headaches (138)

Blind people 😏

iiii) He understands her.

Levi understands Mikasa’s feelings; they are very similar, and Mikasa found herself in situations Levi had already lived, from loosing her friends and family to the awakening of their power. And that’s also why Levi plays a big part in her development; remember in Season 1 when Annie kidnapped Eren and Mikasa lost her mind? Okay so when Levi saw her like that, he reminded of his younger self’s reaction to Isabel and Farlan’s death, and that’s why he acted in a soft way towards her; he already knew that in that situation, she wouldn’t have even looked at him if he didn’t act in a soft way. He knew she was lost so he took control of the situation.

Screenshot from: chapter 30.

iiiii) He’s a real man.

In my personal vocabulary, 139 Eren doesn’t fit the definition of man. Someone that treats a woman like that doesn’t deserve to be called “man” (same with women obviously). To me, a man is someone that’s able to respect his lover, that doesn’t treat her like an object and that thinks about her happiness first (that’s literally what love means lmao) (and more). Saying “I want her to be happy” is not enough when he wrapped the scarf around her again, knowing that she was suffering and she was not able to set herself free. If Eren really loved her, he wouldn’t wrapped the scarf around her again. Levi instead fits my definition of “man”, I’d say perfectly. He has always respected her, and he wants the best for Mikasa. He showed to love her, at least platonically, numerous times, he showed care about her physical and mental well-being. I think that Levi could make Mikasa feel loved, what her “lover” Eren has never done since he always treated her badly. Mikasa doesn’t know much about relationships, and Levi too, but with Levi she would understand what a real relationship looks like. And personally, I don’t want Mikasa to end up with someone like 139 Eren.

iiiiii) He his her ideal type and they share the same life goals.

Two months ago, I wrote this post named “How much are Mikasa and Levi compatible?”. There I listed all the reasons why I believe that Levi and Mikasa are each other’s ideal type. I’m not going to repeat myself, so if you want to read it, click here. Anyway, they share the same life goals, that are: a peaceful life in the middle of nature and a family since they both have a soft spot on children.

What do you think? Do you have other reasons why you think that Levi is perfect for Mikasa? I hope you liked this post and feel free to share your opinions!

#gilly bj #rivamika #levimka #levi x mikasa

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ridiculousn3sswrites · 3 years

Text

Lost in Translation

*Lafayette x Reader

*Request: “ @thefluffypancake asked: ‘Hey could you do a Lafayette x reader where she’s learning French and she try’s to ask him out on a date but accidentally asks something else. If not, it’s okay! Have a great day! 💞💞’”

*Warnings: Language, my own personal issues with French as a language. Let me know if I missed anything!

*A/N: This request is so old and I’m so sorry for that. Also I kinda changed the request a bit to reader saying she wants to kiss Laf because that word-for-word translation is off and you’ll see in the fic.

Tip Jar

**********

French was definitely a made up, ridiculous language. While - as your friends always felt the need to point out - every language was made up, French was even more made up than anything else. And yet here you were, trying to learn French on your own just so you could ask out the Frenchie in your friend group. It was a stupid idea in hindsight, but you thought it’d be cute to just surprise him by talking to him and then asking him out in French. Turns out it was a lot harder than you thought it would be. When your initial plan didn’t work out, you could always count on your friends to fuck up in a way that would make things somewhat better.

Apparently, John never got the memo to not tell Alexander you’d asked him for help with French, and Alexander never got the memo that you learning French was supposed to be a secret. He definitely didn’t get the memo to never bring it up in front of Laf (even though you were pretty sure you’d told John you were trying to learn to impress Laf), so he did exactly that when all of you were hanging out. You had just got back to the table, coffee in hand when Alexander opened his stupid mouth. “Hey, how’s learning French going?”

“I mean, that’s one way to greet me I guess,” you said, trying to ignore the heat rushing to your face. Nope, the best course of action would just be to avoid the conversation. “Like, I haven’t even sat down yet.”

“Wait, you’re trying to learn French?” Laf asked, looking at you in excitement. You could already feel your resolve weakening.

“I mean, I’m trying but it’s not working out so great. Turns out that Duolingo owl only cares about Spanish,” you tried joking, taking the empty seat next to him.

“Dude, you asked me for help,” John spoke up, like that would make the situation any better. It wasn’t your fault that French was an utterly ridiculous language. What language even needs that many vowels?

“Not my fault you’re a shit teacher,” you shot back, deadpan but completely joking. Even though John looked offended, you knew he wouldn’t hold it against you. After all, you were his ride back home. It took John a second to bounce back.

“Nah, you’re just a shit student.”

“I mean, my grades aren’t gonna argue with you there,” you laughed, the tension finally easing up some. You were still gonna strangle Alexander later, but for now things were fine. For all of five seconds.

“Why didn’t you ask me for help?” Laf asked, stealing your coffee and taking a sip. You were quick to take it back from him, trying to think of an excuse that wouldn’t give away your true intentions. However, now that you thought about it, just asking him to help you learn French probably would’ve been the easiest course of action. Have lessons with him a couple times a week for a few weeks, ask him how you ask someone out in French, and then bam! hit him with the question. Why do I always make things more difficult than they need to be?

“I… actually, I don’t know. Do you think you could help me out?” You tried to ignore the impressed look John was giving you. Sometimes you hated the fact he was your best friend.

“Yeah, of course! I’m offended you went to him first,” Lafayette said, stealing another drink of your coffee.

“Dude, buy your own!”

“But yours tastes so much better,” he teased.

“Gross, can you guys get a room or something?” Hercules spoke up. “Actually, don’t. I forgot I share a room with Laf for a second.”

“And you just made it worse than it had to be,” Angelica muttered, rolling her eyes.

“Anyways, when are you free? It’ll be fun helping you learn,” Laf said, turning his attention back to you. “Just send me your schedule and we can set it up!”

“Yeah, sure thing,” you agreed after a second, trying not to seem too eager. You and Laf rarely hung out on your own, normally having at least one of your other friends there with you. You couldn’t remember the last time the two of you had been alone, let alone you not being awkward when it was just the two of you. You texted him a screenshot of your schedule, your heart already racing at the thought of getting closer to him. You could handle hanging out with him with other people, but alone was a whole different story.

“Great! This’ll be fun!” His bright smile was enough to take your breath away, easing your worries somewhat.

“Yeah, I can’t wait.”

“Okay, so back to me,” John redirected the conversation, making a face at the look you were giving Laf. You couldn’t help but laugh at his obvious attempt, gladly letting him talk about whatever project he was working on now. No, you needed to figure out how you were going to handle this.

**********

Considering it was the middle of the semester, it was difficult to find a time to meet up with Laf that worked for the both of you. You both had papers, midterms, and group projects to work on, but you were finally able to find some time to have a little French session. The first few sessions were accidental, happening when Laf happened to find you in one of the 24-hour libraries, way too late for anything to actually stick in your mind. You found yourself only focusing on the way he spoke French, which was way too attractive to be fair.

After you had a few more impromptu sessions, you were finally able to actually set something up with Lafayette. For once, the both of you had a Friday afternoon free, so you’d be able to see him when you didn’t look absolutely destroyed by assignments and projects. It was still early on into your changed plan, but you figured now was as good a time as any to make your move. You managed to convince John to leave the apartment for a few hours at least, not that he made it easy on you. With his incessant teasing, sometimes you wondered why you chose him to be your best friend and roommate.

Once John was finally out of the apartment, all you had to do was set things up. You set out some snacks, not really knowing how to host other than offering people food, had some study materials set out because the two of you were going to work on some other assignments before you started with the French lessons. Things didn’t have to be perfect, but you were determined to make it as close as possible. You had a note on your phone for what you wanted to ‘ask’ Laf about, and you were ready. The only thing you needed was for Laf to show up.

As you waited for Laf to make his appearance, you decided to get some reading done for class. Well, you tried to. You couldn’t help you constant fidgeting, switching between tabs as though there would be a different internet on each one, checking your phone and scrolling through Twitter - you really had no idea how you were supposed to pretend that you were going to study when he got here. You knew it would be super obvious that your mind wasn’t 100% on your work. Before you could think about it any longer, there was a knock on your door. Holding yourself back, you waited a minute before getting up to answer it.

“Hey,” you said with a smile, acting like you hadn’t just been fretting over how you were going to get through this.

“Hey! You ready to study?” Laf asked, tugging on his backpack strap as if to prove he brought his work with him.

“Yeah! I’m set up at the table if you wanna just head over there.” You silently cursed how non-human that sounded. As soon as the two of you sat down, though, things got easier. Even as the two of you worked, you kept a small conversation going, making jokes about things you’d just read or were working on, telling stories about class. For the first time in a while, things were going just like they were when the two of you hung out with the group. Lafayette made it really easy for you to like him.

After a couple hours of the two of you working on your own things, Lafayette closed his laptop, getting your full attention. Laf leaned forward like he was about to let you in on some giant secret. “Are you ready to learn some French now?”

“Yeah, I wanna know what you, Alex, and John are saying whenever you go into French,” you teased.

“Non, that’s a secret,” Lafayette laughed, looking away. “Alright, let’s start.”

The session started out much like your impromptu sessions: Lafayette would say a common word or phrase in French, he’d ask you what you thought it meant, he’d tell you what it actually meant, and then you’d repeat it to him. He’d fix any mispronunciations, and you’d keep going until you got it right. This would go on for as many phrases or whatever until one of you decided to take a break. It was a nice little process and was definitely helping things stick in your mind more than when you tried learning on your own or with John.

You were the first one to call for a break, your heart pounding as you tried to figure out how you were going to do this. You wanted to ask him out soon, not willing to let yourself chicken out at the last second, especially since you knew John would talk so much shit if he found out you kicked him out and didn’t even ask Laf out. As you were in the kitchen, filling up your water bottle as an excuse, you tried to calm yourself. The worst that could happen would be things getting weird between the two of you, the best was the two of you would get together, so that meant reality would be somewhere in the middle. You took a deep breath before making your way back to the table.

“Ready to start again?” Laf asked, looking up from his phone.

“Yeah, I actually had something I wanted to ask you.” You took your seat next to him, grabbing your phone to double check what you had translated earlier.

“Go ahead.”

“So, uh,” you paused for a second, gathering the last bit of courage you needed. “Right, uh, what does je veux te baiser mean? Because, uh, je veux te baiser.”

Immediately, Lafayette looked away, drinking his water so he didn’t have to answer you. You could just tell something was wrong and felt your face heat up as you just looked down at your hands. When Lafayette finally spoke, you felt your heart drop. “I… I don’t think you know what you just said.”

You looked up, eyes wide. You knew French was tricky, but there was no way you messed up something that simple, right? You tried not to appear too flustered, but you knew it was a losing battle. “Wait, what did I say then?”

“I think I know what you were trying to say, but you didn’t say it.”

“So what did I say?”

“Okay, so direct translation was that, but what you said was, uh, you uh wanttofuckme,” he rushed out the last part, and it took you a second to process what he said. If you thought your face couldn’t get any hotter, you were wrong.

“Jesus Christ, I am so sorry. I mean I really like you but I didn’t mean to say that and I’m so sorry, that probably made you really uncomfortable and I understand if you want to leave and-” You were cut off by his lips on yours. You quickly melted into the kiss, even though you still weren’t exactly sure what was going on.

“Je veux t’embrasser,” Lafayette said as he broke the kiss.

“What?”

“Je veux t’embrasser. That’s how you say I want to kiss you,” he explained.

“Je veux t’embrasser,” you repeated with a small smile.

“Good.” You were rewarded with another soft kiss. Maybe French wasn’t so ridiculous…

No, it definitely was.

**********

Permanent Tag List: @treatallwithkindness, @laic2299, @delaber

#lafayette x reader #lafayette imagine #hamilton imagine #reader insert #requested

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youarejesting · 3 years

Text

Hope in the sheets.7

[Masterlist]

Beta: N/A Pairing: Hoseok x Reader Genre: Friendship, Comedy, Soft boy, Fluff, SMUT, Friends2Lovers, Words: 4.4k

Summary: You held many titles: his neighbor, colleague, wing-man… well, more likely a wing-woman, yet most importantly, you were his best friend. You had been friends since you were born. Between the two of you, you were younger; barely, but he never let you forget it. He always seemed to ruffle your hair and tease you, which could get rather annoying but he made up for it by treating you to things.

What if a drunken one night stand between you and your best friend Hoseok leads to more complicated situations? Your reckless twenties are cut short as you find yourself suddenly responsible for something a little more.

Warning: mentions a sex tape, mentions a birth tape

[First] [Previous] [Masterlist] [Next]

“Ah! Ah! Ah!” This videotape felt dirty, Hoseok wasn’t sure why, but he was sweaty, his heart raced, as he tried to look anywhere but at the screen. The woman on the video kept making noises and heaven forbid he look between her legs. Was it warm in here or was it just him?

“As you can see the birth canal opens up wide to let the babies head come down and out and the shoulder here is the widest part, so you have to be careful to listen to your body otherwise you may tear, so here we go these are the final pushes and then the baby will slip out—”

“Hoseok, Hoseok wake up!” You called alarmed, Hoseok opened his eyes to see you and the birth class instructor standing over him.

“Don’t worry love, there is always one in every class who faints” The woman handed over some ice, “Put this behind his neck it will help slow his heart rate, nerves sometimes get the better of the soon to be dads”

Sitting up Hoseok sat up a little embarrassed, “sorry, I didn’t mean to faint”

“No, Hobi, it’s okay I feel nauseous as hell after that video too. That looks scary as hell I don’t think I can do it” you whined. “This class traumatized me more than it helped, and what do we get a couple of cookies and some watered down juice.

“You are so strong and I think you can do it?” Hoseok tried to reassure you and you scoffed.

“If you're so confident you push the baby out.” Hoseok paled again swaying on the spot and you laid him back down. “You are properly scared aren’t you?”

“I am horrified,” he laughed, “I am a big chicken”

“Honestly, I am scared too but I don’t get a choice Hobi, this baby is inside me and it has to get out somehow." you shiver after confessing the fear that had been building in the back of your mind. “If I wasn’t afraid of surgery I would install the old side door”

The gesture of a flat hand across your stomach made Hoseok smile sadly. He took your hands in his.

“I’m sorry that you have been dreading this. I will try to be someone who can eliminate your fears, little darling momma” he kissed your head. The instructor called everyone back to the mats and began explaining how to wash a baby and how to hold a baby for the first time.

It was a fun class but you were happy to get home and rest, biding Hoseok good night. He went quickly to his house where Jimin was sitting waiting for him with a hanging clothes bag.

“What were you so busy doing that I had to pick up your dry cleaning?”

“Y/n’s birthing class” Hoseok's face turned grave as he adopted a serious tone. “Jimin, don’t ever go to a birthing class. I don’t think I can unsee what I saw.”

“Haha, I’m not that silly, I know where babies come from. I am glad I am a man who likes men, so I will never step foot in a birthing class unless you pay me a large fortune. I mean I could watch someone give birth for money."

Hoseok shivered, making Jimin laugh at his expense. “You look pale, so let's change the subject. I bought Yoongi's old van. He sold it for some new equipment. That means I can get rid of the junk van I was driving before.”

“Can I have your old van?” Hoseok jumped on the opportunity.

“Uh sure, but I think it’s more money than it’s worth, you can have it for free because it needs new everything.” He shrugged “I was just going to make it scrapped metal”

“Yeah I can fix it up, I got some money lying around.” Hoseok yawned, “anyway thank you so much for getting my suit. I have my first day of work tomorrow, so I should go to bed early”

“Alright, but tomorrow night celebratory drinks for your first day?” Jimin clutched his shoulder.

“Of course,” Hoseok laughed, waving goodbye and carrying the suit to his apartment.

“Hey man, how was your day?” Jimin shouted from his newly acquired van from Yoongi. “Get in, we can celebrate tonight”

Jimin drove Hoseok home under strict orders to grab a nice change of clothes so the two could get ready at his house and go out celebrating Hoseok’s new job. Hoseok took the stairs two at a time leading to his apartment, his hand brushing past your old door. He missed you. He missed having you at his work, at his home, at his leisure. You two were inseparable and yet torn apart by the stages of life.

Hoseok had assumed you both would be single and somewhere in your mid-thirties you would just get married to one another for convenience. He grabbed some clothes and found the blacklight outfit you had bought for him, he pushed it aside trying to move on for just a moment.

Instead, he grabbed a classic black button-up and a pair of black dress pants. He placed the items in a bag and headed back down to Jimin waiting excitedly in the driver's seat. He drove them across town singing along to the radio and pulled into the driveway of a beautiful home. Jimin was a sugar baby and so he accumulated a lot of money with ease.

Jimin picked up the package by his doorstep curiously and read the name, his face broke out into a smile. Opening the box he found a beautiful pair of earrings. Hoseok paused, knowing Jimin had been talking about these types of earrings for a long time, but these ones looked handmade and a little cheap, not from a brand-name store like most of Jimin’s other clients would buy.

“They are so cute,” Jimin smiled, lifting the note, reading it aloud. “I don’t have money, so I don’t ask for much, it would just be a waste of your time. Even with this, I still want you to know that I think you are really sweet the way you always help others and never forget to share compliments to those who catch your eye. I will never forget how kind and funny, you are especially at work. The way you run your fingers through your hair unconsciously, how you pout when you think, the way you can glide across the dance floor with drinks without spilling anything. You disappear behind the bar with the cutest laugh and I am completely in love with you.”

“You have an admirer,” Hoseok looked over his shoulder at the letter before asking, “I wonder who it is?”

“I am not sure who it could be?” Jimin frowned, taking the box into a spare room filled with gifts. “They seem really nice”

Once the letter was placed carefully in the room, Jimin stepped out and decided to get dressed for the night. He paused in the doorway walking back and taking the earrings. “Even though they are cheap I think I should at least wear them.”

The two got changed and Jimin posed, “take a picture of me looking over my shoulder, so I can post a picture of the earrings on my Insta”

Hoseok picked up his phone and stepped behind Jimin, ready to take the picture of Jimin’s bare shoulder, earring, and side profile. He stopped when his phone came up with the stupid storage message.

Storage full!

You can free up space on this phone by managing your storage in settings.

“I can’t take a picture,” Hoseok sighed. “My phone storage is full”

“It’s okay, I should put on a bit of makeup to make the picture really pretty. While I do that, use my computer to plug it in and delete stuff. You can save the rest onto a USB, which you will find in the top draw. The USBs should be empty.

Hoseok watched Jimin stroll into the bathroom and thought he might as well take care of this storage issue on the phone. Plugging the device in, Hoseok began going through and deleting memes and stupid screenshots he no longer needed. He went through saving many photos of you, and videos the two of you shared together.

That's when he came across the picture of the two of you dressed in your black light outfits. Both of you looking happy together in the mirror. Hoseok saved the photo to the USB. The next was a blurry picture on the dance floor, he didn’t need that.

Deleting a range of blurred photos, Hoseok kept swiping through them until he came across a video of you and Hoseok walking home. He heard you giggling and unconsciously smiled. He honestly was so in love with you.

There were a few more blurred videos and then there was a video of you two laying in Hoseok’s bed. His heart started to race as he watched you lean down and kiss him in the video. Hoseok couldn’t remember any of this.

The next video was of you removing your dress but it continued, sometimes the phone was just left on the bed face down, at other points, it was lifted and Hoseok heard himself talking as he pointed the camera at you underneath him. “I love you.” He had filmed you while you two were having sex, “I love being inside of you too.”

Hoseok felt a little guilty, while you two were drunk he took a video of you both, not only that but he felt as if he took advantage of you. The next video was taken from behind and Hoseok felt ashamed of himself for the stirring in his pants.

“Are you watching porn?” Jimin laughed from the next room, confused as Hoseok switched to the next video. The two of you were cuddling on your side, Hoseok being the big spoon.

Hoseok's face fell. What had he just watched? His head was reeling with so many thoughts that he couldn’t process them fast enough. He understood that it was you in the video, and you were with him. It was that night. Were you his dream girl? “I slept with Y/n?” He blurted and like being hit with a truck he came to a shocking revelation. Hoseok shot to his feet and spoke out loud hoping it would help him make sense of the situation, “Am I, I think, I might be the father?”

“Oh, Finally!” Jimin shouted, his voice carrying into the office. “I have been waiting for you to figure it all out”

“What do you mean?” Hoseok said his stomach was feeling sick, he didn’t know if he wanted to vomit or cry. The betrayal setting in, “How did you know? DID SHE KNOW?”

Jimin stepped into the room, his lips pressed together in a thin line, with a look of pity on his face confirming Hoseok's suspicion. Hoseok got up, his eyes flashing around the room in a panic. He pushed past Jimin and grabbed the old set of keys from the countertop. Hoseok escaped and drove fast. He didn’t have a destination in mind but after a few minutes of driving he ended up at a park by Han River.

Shutting off the engine, Hoseok let his hands fall from the wheel, his head resting back against the seat, letting out a loud guttural shout. He let the tears fall freely as his sobs racked his body, every breath catching in his throat as if he was choking.

Hoseok wanted to scream, he wanted answers. They all knew. You knew. He thought he was your best friend, someone he trusted with all his secrets, and yet you kept something this big from him. The sick feeling in his stomach grew as did his anger and frustration with the situation.

How long were you going to keep this from him? When the baby was born? When the child was eighteen? Never? He had a right to know but all he wanted to know was why.

He left the vehicle, his phone ringing with your number but he turned it off. He walked to the nearest bar somewhere dark and quiet and he drank until he couldn’t see his hands.

“Hey mate you have to go, come on get up.” The bartender said, nudging him with an exaggerated sigh, “Mate can I call someone to come get you?”

“No one, my best friend is a liar, she is pregnant and didn’t even tell me it is my child,” Hoseok mumbled into the table. The bartender sighed again reaching into his pocket, “Who do you want me to call mate?”

“No need to call, I will go,” he said, pulling out his keys only to have them snatched from his hand. Hoseok turned to see Yoongi grabbing Hoseok’s things and thanking the bartender. “What do you want?”

“I got a distressed call from Y/n she is hysterical, I have checked in every bar and searched the nearby streets for Jimin’s old van. Yoongi threw the keys to Jimin who was waiting by the abandoned van and Yoongi scooped Hoseok inside.

Hoseok woke as Yoongi turned the key in the ignition they were headed for his home, but Hoseok had other plans. “You knew didn’t you?” Hoseok growled, “Take me to her."

“Not in this state?” Yoongi said definitely. “You are going to sober up, and then tomorrow you can speak with her.”

“You take me there right now, or I will get out of this car and go there myself!” Hoseok demanded, attempting to remove his seatbelt.

“Alright, alright sit down, I will take you to see her, but if you raise your voice at her I will knock you out and drag you back to your apartment." Yoongi turned to Hoseok with a menacing glare. "Do you understand?”

He nodded needing answers and he wasn't going to stop until you gave them to him. They pulled up outside your home and as he walked to the door he felt as if his legs were weak, ready to give way. He knocked with shaking hands.

He didn’t have to wait long for you to pull open the door eyes pink and swollen from your own tears.

"Hobi, I-"

"Please don’t talk, you had your chance. This whole time, and you didn’t… You didn’t tell me, little darling.” His voice cracked as he held up a hand to stop you, “it’s my turn to talk, you can listen to me.”

He watched you wipe the tears away, he wanted to comfort you, you were his closest friend. He loved you so much and couldn’t bear to see you upset. “You knew we had sex, you knew what we did and you hid that from me, you fell pregnant and you hid that from me?”

“I told you when I lost my virginity, I told you when I scratched my dad’s car, I told you when I took money from my fathers wallet, or when I stole your homework. I told you when I was moving from home, I told you everything good and bad.” Hoseok pulled out the phone and played the video, the sounds of you two together filling the air. “But you couldn’t tell me, your best friend, that we did this? That I might be the father of this baby?”

“Hobi, I wanted to tell you I was-” Your tears were relentless and it looked like the weight of the world was crushing you with guilt. You looked lost, he knew there must be so much you wanted to say and explain but the words escaped you. All you could think to do was apologize, like some sort of animatronic doll with one function.

“Wanted to tell me isn’t telling me,” he frowned. “Say it, is this baby mine?”

“Yes, you are the father?” You whimpered, holding your stomach. Hoseok didn’t feel better. He didn’t feel better confronting you or getting the truth. He didn’t feel better watching you cry. “I didn’t want to ruin our friendship. You are all I have Hobi, and I love you.”

“I thought I loved you too. I thought I really truly loved you, that even though I wasn’t the father, I would step in if I could. It turns out the woman I fell in love with is nothing but a liar.” Hoseok turned away unable to see your face contort in pain from the words he was saying, “I am disappointed in you. You said you wanted to grow up, but this is so immature”

Demanding to leave, Yoongi took Hoseok and headed to the van once more, hoping that the two of you could rebuild your relationship. It was painfully obvious that you both were painfully in love, so much so, that it was breaking your hearts more to fight with one another, than over whatever the fight was about.

You had spent the rest of the night crying until pure exhaustion took over your body and you fell asleep. No matter how many times you texted or called you got no response. You had left almost fifteen voicemails before you became too hysterical to speak. You were emotional and trying your hardest not to break down long enough for you to think things through.

It took four days and sitting in the bottom of the shower for ten minutes before you came to a decision. Even before Hoseok knew he was the father, you had planned to do it on your own. You weren't weak and you knew for certain that you would be okay. You had planned to raise this child as a single mother, you had hoped to tell Hoseok before all this happened, but you had planned for it just in case something like this did happen.

You could do this without Hoseok, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt, that you weren't mourning the relationship you had lost. You picked yourself up and put on a brave face crying only when you were alone as you single-handedly funded Ben and Jerry's company with the amount of ice cream you consumed.

You arrived at the next prenatal appointment. You watched all the couples cooing at their bellies and the little sonogram photos, as you sat alone quietly rubbing your belly and thinking how much you loved this child.

It strengthened your bond between you and your baby. You were working hard at your job, not ready to go on maternity leave as you didn’t know how financially stable you would be. You also worried because, without the distractions of work, you realized how alone you truly were and how much you missed Hoseok.

You wanted nothing more than to go back in time and take it all back. You wanted to get the courage and tell him. You would give anything to wake up beside him the morning after and just let yourselves deal with the aftermath.

Your mother's words echoed in your head, only able to be drowned out by the sound of your baby's heartbeat through the doppler, as the ultrasound technician measured your sweet little baby girl.

She had done no wrong and deserved only good things. It was on your way home from the scan that you decided to enter the baby boutique. You knew you were filling a Hoseok shaped void in your chest but you didn’t care, purchasing clothes, socks and shoes, and a tiny beanie all in mint green, white, or grey. At the checkout, you saw a small personal travel doppler for eighty dollars. It wasn’t as strong or as reliable as the one at the clinic but you bought it anyway.

It was the first thing you did when you got home, you put the gel on your stomach and pressed the doppler to your tummy, and listened to the tiny heartbeat and the swishing of the umbilical cord. The tears didn’t stop and that heartbeat in your belly was the mantra to which you swore to live your new life.

You were no longer living for yourself, you were living for your daughter, whom you loved so dearly. You stopped looking for Hoseok through the seventh and moved into the eighth month of your pregnancy feeling semi-okay.

Called by the marketing director to meet with the client, you followed him with documents, “Why did you pick me?” you asked

“You are the only one fit for this job,” He said, which made you feel odd, surely the pregnant lady wasn’t the first choice. However, you obeyed his orders, grabbed your coat, and followed to the restaurant where you were met with an unbelievable sight.

There was Hoseok standing by a beautiful woman dressed in a suit. Not only was it a punch to the chest, but it also left you self-conscious, resembling a chocolate egg. The way your body was so rotund did not do wonders for one's self-esteem.

Hoseok didn’t notice you until you stepped up to the table, your director announcing your arrival and greeting the young woman with a kiss on each cheek. “This is my hardest working assistant Miss Y/n,” The director said and you wondered again why he had chosen you to accompany him to the meeting.

“Well let’s get to business” the client smiled. You sat at the table and they brought out menus. “I will have the salmon en papillote, with a nice chardonnay.”

“I will have the same,” the marketing director said, attempting to look cool but you weren’t so sure.

“We will have the Steak au Poivre, I will take medium rare and she will have hers well done. What is in the side salad?” Hoseok asked and you looked up over the menu shocked by his audacity.

“We use a mesclun mix for its various colors and textures, with Lebanese cucumbers and avocado for a fresh and creamy taste and a drizzle of classic french vinaigrette” the waiter smiled politely.

“Skip the salads and instead vegetables would be preferable for both.” Hoseok closed the menu and looked up, the waiter looked at you for confirmation and you nodded handing over the menu.

“Have you two met before?” The client asked curiously and Hoseok shook his head, “It’s just you ordered for her?”

“She is pregnant so the best meat option is beef well cooked, and the salad would most likely make her sick due to the acidity in the vinaigrette.” Hoseok continued, “the vegetables, though plain, will be easier to handle and will benefit her better than a salad. It is something I learned in a birthing class once”

“Yeah, and you haven’t been back since.” You scoffed, drinking your water trying to calm yourself so you didn’t explode with anger.

“I didn’t think I had to, seeing as I am not the father of any children.” He said dryly back and you stood up throwing the napkin at him, tears welling up in your eyes. You didn’t care if he didn’t like you and refused to acknowledge your presence ever again, but saying that about your child was not okay.

“You take that back, Hoseok." You almost shouted but restrained yourself due to the setting, Hoseok didn’t appear to move and you tilted your head back and took a shaky breath. “I am sorry, it seems I am feeling ill, allow me to leave first”

You stepped out the door and headed down the road trying to find a cab when a hand grabbed your arm. Disappointed when it turned out to be the marketing director. “I rescheduled our meeting, I am sorry, you had to deal with something like this, it must be stressful being so pregnant”

He touched your belly and you were a little uncomfortable. This man was a little too interested in your pregnancy. At first, you thought he was just a nice boss who was looking out for you, but it was clear he had some strange thoughts running through his mind.

When he said he would drive you home, you told him you had an appointment. Even then he was determined to take you to the appointment, but you waved down a cab and jumped in quickly. You arrived at Jin and Tonic for a much-needed appointment.

“I want a drink” you sighed and Seokjin gave you water and you looked up seriously. I want an actual drink Jin, I am going through the worst year of my life.”

“Worse than the time you tried to become a volunteer at a homeless center, where some weird lady cut chunks out of your hair, so you had to shave it off?"

"Then you got into a fight with Hoseok because he drew an arrow on your head while you were sleeping and everyone called you Aang,” Jimin added as he shed his small jacket, showing off a pretty choker chain necklace with a rose pendant. “Cause you said that was the worst year of your life.”

“This is worse,” you said. “At least I was the one angry at Hobi and I forgave him quickly, now he is angry at me and even denied being the father of our baby. That’s not even the worst of it. My boss has some sort of pregnancy fetish and keeps trying to touch my belly and I am not here for it”

“Pregnancy fetish?”

“It’s not sexy, I am swollen from the neck down, I couldn’t see my feet this morning. I just hope I wore the same shoes. My bladder is so squished I am peeing all the time, I am hormonal and sweaty, and I can’t fit into my favorite pajamas.” The hysterical sobbing was muffled by the bar and it made Jimin giggle behind his hand. He walked around to give you a hug and Jin presented you with an ice cream sundae in an effort to cheer you up.

“Dance with me, pretty lady,” Yoongi said, finishing his drink and taking your hand. He led you to the dance floor where you were slow dancing like you used to. “You are still as pretty as always. Okay, you may not feel beautiful right now due to all those things, but I promise that you are.”

“Thanks, Yoongi.” You tried to get close enough to hug Yoongi but your belly prevented you from doing so, he stepped behind you and wrapped his arms around you slipping his hands under your belly and swaying. He was trying to take some of the weight to relieve some pressure on your back. “You are amazing,”

“I am, aren't I.” He laughed, swaying you softly.

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