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galacticwildfire · 2 years

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The Storm Queen

One

Baratheon oc x Robb Stark/Jon Snow

Cassana Baratheon learns she is betrothed to Robb Stark amidst her plot against her mother's family, and struggles with the prospect of abandoning politics to be a Northern wife, while Margaery Tyrell tries to seduce her into another arrangement.

Word Count: 8.7k

Tags/warnings; arranged marriage, angst, language, lesbianism (margaery), plotting, drinking,

Cassana

The city is alive with celebration. I wish I could say the same.

In the courtyard below they set up for the joust, usually, I enjoy sitting beside my father and watching but I know today's joust holds a different meaning. The son of every lord who means anything shall be competing and I know why.

I am of age to be married and everyone knows it.

I also know who is coming to the city, my grandfather. There is only one reason he's coming all this way and it's not for my sixteenth name day.

The man who rules my father wants to make sure the most important marriage to be made in seventeen years is one that will benefit him. To further House Lannisters power, not House Baratheons.

Which is why I had Renly ensure the Tyrells would be here. The Lannisters rule through my father but Renly and I know that we might be able to undermine Tywin through a marriage that will benefit House Baratheon, for the power to rest on our shoulders, not House Lannisters. But only if we are careful.

The door opens and I turn around expecting it to be Renly but instead it's Margaery armed with a bright smile and Tyrell roses.

"Oh Cassana, you look so lovely," she praises, kissing my cheek and embracing me warmly. I find a moment of hesitant ease in her arms before she pulls away, smiling as she examines the fabric of my Baratheon style dress. "So radiant."

"As are you Margaery," I say looking at the Tyrell rose who is ever beautiful, only growing more charming with age, more like her grandmother. Something I always keep in the back of my mind.

"Roses," she smiles holding them out for me. "You can never have enough beautiful things and I remembered how you loved the roses in Highgarden when you visited. How long ago was that?"

"Last year, Renly took me," I remember having very vividly learned why he decided to venture all the way to Highgarden, which was also the reason why Loras seems to visit the Red Keep so frequently. "And thank you, they are just as beautiful as I remember, as are you."

Her and I have known each other since we were children due to our closeness in age, with her only being a year or so older than I am. Due to distance, I can't say we've ever been around each other for long enough to become truly close in the way I've desired but there are times where I've called her a friend. But that was High Garden, in Kings Landing one can hardly afford to trust anyone enough to call them a friend.

"You are too kind," she laughs modestly as I put the roses into a nearby vase. "You're even more beautiful than I remember, it's a shame they keep you in this keep. You must visit Highgarden soon, perhaps Renly could convince your father to let you return with us after the celebrations have finished."

"It is not my father that needs convincing," I remind her and we both share a knowing look.

She and I did grow close during my last visit to Highgarden, we were growing quite close in a way I didn't think was possible until my mother ordered I return to the Red Keep. When I returned the only explanation she gave was that she didn't want me being influenced by 'that Highgarden whore.' The closest thing to a true friend and companion I've ever had. Even if I can never truly trust her.

"Perhaps I could convince her to allow me to go as a nameday present."

"Hopefully," she says taking my hand in her's as we come to look out my window. "I cannot imagine being cooped up in this keep, in this city."

Unfortunately, I can.

"Well, it seems that soon enough I'll be leaving this city for good."

She gives me a curious look. "And if you had the choice where would that be?"

"Somewhere beautiful," I answer truthfully as I come by her side to survey the men below and give her a teasing smile of two gossiping ladies. "They are all awfully boring, I must admit I had been hoping to see a Martell."

"Martell?" she exclaims before giving me a little smirk. "I don't think the queen would approve."

"Certainly not," I agree with my own little wicked grin. "The Dornish do have a certain appeal but I'll admit that I'd betroth myself to Loras just to go to Highgarden and get away from my mother at this point."

"Well my father has been looking for a bride for him," she considers as if the Tyrells hadn't been hoping for this match since I was born. "And no one would reject a princess's hand in marriage."

"Except Renly may have some objections," I remind her and we again share a knowing look. "As fond as I am of your family and your home we both know why it is not the first match I would desire."

"Which is understandable but ladies in our position must make the best of our circumstances, and my brother despite his affections is the most eligible man in the Seven Kingdoms," she reminds me as she takes my hand in hers smiling. "And we'd be sisters."

Loras is a decent man, regardless of his affections he is not to my tastes but he would be kind enough. Treat me well enough. And I would have Margaery as a sister. Even so, when I think of a life in Highgarden as its lady I still feel empty.

I give her a small smile and look out to the city. "It's strange, I hate Kings Landing but I think that if I left I'd miss it."

"It's your home," she says understandingly. "And it's not so bad."

"Don't lie," I try to laugh but humour struggles to reach my voice.

"Alright, but to be fair you can only see about five brothels from this window."

That does cause a genuine laugh to finally escape me and I feel at ease with her. But I never know if she is genuine in the kindness she shows, from experience any doubt is reason enough not to trust in her.

"It's a miracle I cannot hear them," I comment knowing there's one thing I won't miss about this city.

"Which is why you must come to Highgarden," she insists, stroking a piece of hair away from my face as she suggests "And speak to my grandmother. I know she'd be interested in exploring a match between you and Loras. And if not then we can enjoy ourselves."

There's something in her eyes that is certainly suggestive and I ask "Are you trying to court me on behalf of your brother Lady Margaery?"

"Perhaps," she smiles coyly in a way that is far less innocent than simply courting. "Is it working?"

"Perhaps," I tease back at her and her fingers are feather-light across my cheek.

"You know, most women don't know what they like until they've tried it," she says and there is no mistaking her intentions here. She knows that Loras doesn't have a chance in all the seven hells at being able to seduce me into marriage, but she thinks she just might.

Despite my curiosities, I've never dared venture near a man even if he did catch my eye. I look down at the men below and know that if I ever did desire to explore those curiosities with any that they'd no doubt end up dead in a jousting accident.

But a woman however is a different story entirely, something that would look innocent enough to the always watching eyes of the Red Keep. Something that would be almost impossible to prove if anyone did suspect anything other than innocent.

"Indeed," I agree, deciding to play along with her game. "Unfortunately for a woman in my position, it is difficult to be able to try anything."

"Which is unfortunate as sadly so many of us get to try so little before we're old and grey," she sighs but her offer is clear. "But if you were to come to High Garden then I believe you'd be satisfied with what you could try."

My curiosity might just get the better of me. "And what if I found myself inclined to try what I could before I am wed?"

Her lip curls upwards. "That can be arranged."

Before either of us can go any further the door opens and one of my handmaidens stands there looking a little pale.

"Princess, the Queen is here to see you."

Dread immediately fills me and I understand why the handmaiden is so pale.

I look to Margaery and know that my curiosity is certainly getting the better of me, but if she wants to seduce me into a marriage with her brother then I'll let her try.

"I will see you at the joust Lady Margaery."

She smiles as she courtesy's to me. "Princess."

She takes her leave and I take a moment to prepare myself, putting in a smile as my mother walks in with her head held high but she doesn't look as stern as usual.

"Mother," I greet with a polite half-curtsy.

"Look at you, you're all grown up now," she observes, frowning as she touches my loose black hair. "You definitely are your fathers' daughter."

"Well I definitely didn't get my hair from you," I reply in good jest but she only looks bitter.

She glances at my dress, yellow-gold as is it is the colour of my house, of house Baratheon. Its fit is loose and light to suit the weather, the neck of it low cut and my arms bare. "Highgarden fashion. I don't suppose you plan on changing, something with more fabric would be modest or red would look lovely."

"No," I answer, every conversation with her has always been a battle. If I didn't have my fathers will she would have me under her thumb. "Black and gold are the colours of my house, I am a proud Baratheon."

"Of course you are," she says stroking my arm warmly but her eyes tell a different story "It's a shame your father is out on a hunt instead of being here to wish you well on your name day."

I am no fool, my parents have never been happily married, my mother tries to keep us children from him as much as possible and he lets her.

He doesn't care much for Joffrey, Tommen of Myrcella, they look nothing like him but I have his black hair and blue eyes. I am the only one who resembles him. It is the very reason he loves me most and why my mother can hardly look at me some days. While Father favours me she favours my blonde-haired siblings, as awful as Joffrey may be.

But as much as I may look like my father I still have my mothers mind and I know what she is trying to do.

"He is celebrating in his own way, he will come to see me before the joust, as he always does," I remind her, hoping that I am right.

In my younger years, he'd sit me on his lap for all the lords and ladies to see but as I've grown older he's pulled away. In my heart I know it's not because he doesn't care, but because of my mother. As I've become a woman I've begun to resemble her in my facial structure and mannerisms and he's become distant because of it. He can hardly stand her and I've always feared the same fate would befall me.

It's not easy being the daughter of a king.

She gives me a small doubtful smile "Of course sweetheart." She then pulls out a parcel wrapped in red cloth "I had something made for you."

I unwrap the parcel and inside is a gold Lannister lion necklace, identical to the one she wears.

"You may be a Baratheon and you may look like one but you are a Lannister, never forget it."

How could I possibly forget?

"Thank you, I'll treasure this," I say politely as I set the parcel down on my table much to her displeasure.

House Lannister is the richest in Westeros but also the most cruel. If my mother isn't enough evidence of that my grandfather is. Due to their wealth people such as my father tend to ignore the horrors he has inflicted on innocents, like the Targaryen children.

But I've never been one to turn a blind eye.

"Uncle Jaime is busy preparing for the joust but he sends his regards, I believe Tyrion and Renly may be stopping by before the joust to see you," she informs me and I smile to myself at the thought of seeing Tyrion, my favourite uncle.

She sighs heavily as she walks to my window and looks down below to the joust being prepared.

"You're aware that this joust is different to the others?" she asks me stiffly.

"Of course," I answer knowing that I'm sixteen, it's time for me to be wed or at the very least betrothed. I should have been betrothed years ago.

Which is why the Tyrells are here, why Margaery wants to seduce me into going with her to Highgarden and marrying Loras, a princess is quite a prize for an ambitious house.

"Rest be assured it is simply a courtesy to the nobles, you will not be shipped off anywhere. Not like I was shipped off to your father."

I've been wanting to leave this city ever since I can remember, but as I admitted to Margaery I know that I'd miss it. Not the city itself perhaps, but the politics, the life of it.

Regardless, if I had the choice I'd go to the Stormlands but I know that I won't find a husband there, well they have a handful of young lords such as Beric Dondarrion but none of a high enough standing to be suitable. It has to be a man from one of the major houses and considering I'm the child of two of them it cuts my options.

Martell, Tyrell, Tully, Arryn, Greyjoy, Stark. Only a handful of them have men of age I can marry, or rather would be willing to marry.

There is Prince Doran's son Trystane who would be about a few years younger than I am or even Prince Oberyn, but he'd have to be about the same age as my Father which I wouldn't overly mind if it wasn't for his reputation. I have found myself wondering if the reason they've waited so long to betroth me is if they plan to wed me to an older man, and it's no secret the hatred he holds for my family. No better way to make alliances and settle disputes than offering a pretty young bride. Although from what I hear he has no trouble finding people to occupy his bed, men and women alike which isn't a problem but I would rather my husband share my bed and mine alone.

Which is the problem I have with Loras. It's not simply his preferences but the fact he is sleeping with my uncle, a problem which Margaery clearly sees as small but one I find difficult to overlook.

There's Edmure Tully who's heir to Riverrun, in his late thirties so while he is about my mother's age it's nothing too bad, but based on what I've heard about him, which is a lack of anything appealing, I'd rather not consider him as an option.

Jon Arryns son is just a boy so that's out of the question and my father would probably grab his war hammer if the council even suggested marrying me to Theon Greyjoy.

But there is one who I can find little fault with, Robb Stark.

My father loves his more than his own brothers, Ned even named Robb after my father. The friendship between our houses is the most solid of any in the realm but it hasn't been sealed through marriage. Robb would only be a year or so older, seventeen, as far as I know he's not betrothed. I wouldn't be surprised if father wanted us to wed, on the surface it seems like a perfect match but the council wouldn't be pleased, and neither would I.

Renly and I have long suspected the crown's debt to the Lannisters and the Iron Bank is far greater than Littlefinger let us believe. Which means he would certainly like for me to be married to the second wealthiest family in Westeros to settle that debt. And if it means my father becomes less dependant on Tywin and turns to the Tyrells instead then it would be worth the personal sacrifice I'd have to make.

I've long given up on the idea of love being a factor in who I marry. I want a marriage that will give me freedom, advantage, wealth, power. Something that a marriage with a Stark wouldn't give me, it would no doubt make my father happy but the last thing I want is to be shipped off to a frozen wasteland, expected to act as a Northern woman would. As honourable as the Starks may be I hear many Northerners are far from honourable, it's no surprise when one of their major houses has a flayed man for their symbol.

Which is why Highgarden is the next best option. Somewhere I would actually be free and respected. Somewhere I could still hold influence over the politics in this city.

"So if you have no plans to wed me to any of them, who to?" I ask curiously to see if she knows anything.

I've considered just about every realistic match and I've reached the point of telling the small council that I'll help them bloody choose a practical one if it means I can stop worrying about it.

"You are still a child in my eyes, you will not marry until I say so," she says fiercely and I know she doesn't want to let me go.

She wants me to be a Lannister, she wants to keep me here, trapped under her thumb in this godforsaken city. She was nineteen when she married my father, would have been married to Rhaegar Targaryen at about my age if the Mad King hadn't rejected my grandfathers' proposal out of spite. Instead, she ended up marrying the man who killed him.

"And what does father say about the matter?" I ask and any warmth she had disappears from her eyes.

"You are my daughter, his opinion doesn't matter," she scolds. The only other option that matters is your grandfather, but that will not be for a long time to come."

And with that, she leaves the room as quickly as she came. Only leaving me more determined to free myself from her.

Who knows, I may just attend a Small Council meeting to discuss the matter and sort this out for myself. I'm hardly begging to marry for love, I already have a handful of matches in mind that would be beneficial for myself and the crown.

I'm not asking for love, only freedom.

It's not long before there are more knocks on my door and one by one people come to visit me. Uncle Renly with fine cloths and silks in the Baratheon colour and style, promising that he will take me to the Stormlands sometime soon, however, he's certainly not opposed when I mention travelling to Highgarden.

He and Tyrion have always been the uncles I've been closest with. Renly often says if Robert was more like me then the realm wouldn't be so bankrupt. Which is exactly why we need the Tyrells instead of my grandfather.

Much to my surprise, some members of the small council come bearing gifts, Littlefinger with some books on law and other practical topics and the promise that if I ever need assistance that I can trust him. It was all I could do not to laugh in his face, he truly must think I am naive to believe that I would help him gain influence.

Littlefinger only serves one person, himself.

The Septa comes with Myrcella who gifts me with hugs and flowers, and with little Tommen who gave me a basket of sweets. They are at a truly lovely age, unlike Joffrey. I'm unsurprised and even relieved to see he hasn't come, he is only a year younger than me and I fear the day he comes of age.

Even Uncle Jaime comes by to wish me well much to my surprise. He's always been strange around us children, particularly myself but he is still warmer to me than my own mother. He and Tyrion are the only Lannister's that don't make me despise the family name. Well mostly Tyrion, there's always been something off-putting about Jaime.

The door opens and I expect Tyrion but I'm surprised to see Varys. "Happy name day Princess," he says with a respectful bow. "You are a woman grown now."

"My lord, you are a welcome sight," I say, accepting the books he offers me but I have more pressing matters. "I know this question may be a little upfront but as Master of Whisperers I figure that there's no one better to ask."

"Ah, you want to know which is those men down there you'll be marrying," he says knowingly but it's not a difficult guess to make.

"Oh I know it's none of them," I assure him. "But surely it's been a topic of discussion on the council."

"It has been," he admits. "I think Littlefinger has suggested every nobleman from Loras Tyrell to Oberyn Martell to Theon Greyjoy, each least desirable than the last. He seems to be leaning towards Ser Loras for Highgardens wealth but our late Lord Arryn said it was a matter for the king alone. It hasn't been discussed since his death but with your name day, I suspect it will be on the agenda again. I trust your uncle Renly can keep you updated on any developments."

"He could but I'd rather be a part of those developments," I reveal. "You hold significant influence over the council and your knowledge is trusted which is why I would like your knowledge on any suitors being considered and I will assist the council and my father in arranging a practical and beneficial match for myself and the crown."

He looks surprised, but he takes me seriously. "That can be arranged, Princess."

Just then the door opens and my first reaction is to look for my father but my eyes drift downwards to my favourite uncle.

"What are you two plotting?" Tyrion asks as he adds more books to the growing collection on my table. He was the one who drilled into me that a mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone. Something I've taken very seriously since a young age.

"My marriage," I answer and he looks utterly confused.

"To who?"

"Yet to be determined," Varys says and gives us both a respectful nod. "I will inform you of the next council meeting."

"Thank you Lord Varys."

He leaves and Tyrion looks at me with raised eyebrows. "Marriage?"

"It's past time I was betrothed and it's hardly like my father is arranging anything, and you know my mother's stance on the matter so it seems that leaves it to me."

"Matter," he repeats to himself. "You have no idea how much you sound like my father when it comes to discussing marriage."

"Well it is a matter to be dealt with," I say knowing it's a practical matter, not a personal one.

But Tyrion knows better.

"I know you want to get away from your mother but there are more practical ways to do that than shipping yourself off."

"Well if I'm going to be shipped off I might as well have a say to whom," I point out. "My mother on the other hand says she's not going to have me shipped off like she was to my father."

"And speaking of your fathers," he begins and I go still "Don't worry he'll be here. He never misses a joust."

"He'll never miss a joust but his own child's name day is another matter," I remark bitterly.

He looks up at me and exhales heavily "Let me cheer you up, it's your name day after all. Come have a look at what I got you."

A smile comes to my face as he begins spreading out the books and I bend down to hug him. Out of all my family, I've always been closest to him much to my mothers' displeasure. Sometimes I swear it's him who's raised me, alongside Renly who is forever the irresponsible chaperone, who is more like a brother to me than an uncle.

But Tyrion has always been my rock in this family.

I pick up the first book in my reach and see it's a history of the Targaryens.

"Hide that one from your father," he says giving me a wink and I can't help but laugh. "You are the princess, it's only right you know the history of Westeros and the Targaryens were great rulers. The founder of your house was the rumoured bastard brother of Aegon the Conqueror, and your great grandmother was a Targaryen if I'm not mistaken, that was Roberts claim to the throne."

"I believe it was," I say knowing my history well, but also the reality of it. "Even if he did take the throne by right of conquest."

As I examine it he watches carefully "Wars will be fought over thrones but in the end, it's always bloodlines that solidify whatever is taken in war. You best know what your claim is."

Father goes into a rage whenever any mentions the Targaryen claim, he can't stand hearing the name Targaryen or considering that it's the reason he claimed the throne and not sheer strength alone.

"I do love history but it's not like I'll ever be Queen," I comment somewhat bitterly as I know just who the throne will go to.

"You never know," he says as I pick up a book on the history of the North. I put it aside and see a book on the Riverlands but aside from that most of them are all about the North.

"Have you suddenly developed an interest with the North uncle?"

"You should start reading up on it, after all in just a few days we'll start the journey."

"Pardon?" I ask at a loss for what he could mean.

"Oh your mother hasn't told you yet," he cringes as he pulls out a flask and takes a sip. "Well Since Jon Arryns unfortunate death your Father has decided to ask Ned Stark to be his hand."

Jon Arryns death was a shock to us all, and as for Ned Stark it's certainly news to me but I'm not surprised.

"My Father does love Ned Stark," I say fondly remembering the stories he would tell me about their adventures together during the rebellion. My bedtime stories from him were comprised of war stories, not fables.

"More than his own brothers that's for sure," he comments and I know it's true.

Renly and I are far closer than he ever was with his brothers, he was never manly enough for my Father and Stannis doesn't have much love in his heart or affection, he's a hard man. I pity his daughter Shireen, although she is a far few years younger than I am we were always close whenever I'd go to Dragonstone, it pains me that Stannis hides her away in that cold castle due to her affliction.

"Definitely," I agree as my thoughts wander to the North and what else the journey could hold but my thoughts are interrupted.

"I also have some Dornish wine but you'll have to hide it otherwise your mother will drink it all," he teases as he sets it down beside the necklace.

"Uncle?" I ask suddenly having a possibility dawn on me.

"Yes child?"

"I know the small council has not made a decision regarding my marriage but in your own opinion do you have any ideas?"

He swallows hard knowing that I'm not a child anymore, that I'm fully aware of what my duty as a princess is.

"Cassie, that is something you shouldn't worry about."

"I'm not worried, I just want to know."

I came to terms with my duty as a child, I knew even then that I'd either submit willingly or be dragged into a sept. Now I've taken it upon myself to have some control over my fate.

"To be honest I'm not sure but I am aware that your Father does have someone in mind, unfortunately, he doesn't often share his ideas with the small council."

That's when it dawns on me. "No, but he did with Jon Arryn. Varys told me that everyone that was suggested Jon Arryn dismissed."

Tyrion sits up a little straighter. "So Robert does have someone in mind, someone Jon Arryn must have known about."

We hear a commotion from below and dash over to the window to see father arriving with the hunting party in good spirits.

"Well, I suppose I'm about to find out."

Tyrion's gone by the time heavy footsteps echo through the hallway and the door bursts open.

"Father," I beam as he lets out a hearty, slightly drunken, laugh.

"Come here," he says opening his arms and pulling me into a tight embrace, almost crushing me. "Gods look at you, you're a woman now."

"I am," I say but I'm not going to interrogate him just yet, not when he's in such good spirits.

He hands me a parcel wrapped in fur "I got this for you on the hunt."

I smile knowing that it's his way of showing his love. He may leave to hunt but he'll always bring back the pelts for me. I open it and inside is a gold belt carved into the Baratheon style so it resembles the antlers of a stag.

"It's beautiful," I breathe in awe as I inspect the details, particularly the stones embedded in it that resemble those in his crown.

"Your uncle Renly suggested it," he says seeming proud of himself and I know that means Renly had it made and then gave it to him to give me. "And you should see about having that pelt made into a cloak, you'll need it."

"For the North?"

"Ah so you do know," he says pulling out a chair to take a seat. "Do you know why?"

"Uncle Tyrion told me you're going to ask Ned Stark to be your hand," I say, then feel my suspicions becoming truth. "But it's more than that."

"Aye," he confirms and I already know. "That old bastard's sat in the North for long enough but that's not all. When Ned and I were young we always joked about my daughter marrying his son. Then when we fought the Greyjoy's we agreed on it."

Despite suspecting my fathers' intentions I can only blink at him in disbelief. "If I've been engaged for nine years then why wasn't I or anyone else aware?"

He waves off my frustration and I just reach for the wine so I don't let any particular words slip out.

"All seven of those bloody gods and the Kingsguard wouldn't stop your mother from killing me if she knew," he says and I realise that is a pretty fair assessment.

"So you only told Jon Arryn so the council wouldn't marry me off to Loras Tyrell."

He looks surprised. "How did you know that?"

"Call it a good guess," I say knowing he'd just call me stupid for fretting so much when he's had this sorted for years. As I taste the wine on my tongue I finally allow myself to process just who I'm marrying. "Robb Stark?"

He nods his head proudly. "Aye, there is no better man that could marry my daughter, than a man raised by Ned."

I nod my head vaguely in an utter state of disbelief. While I knew my father would have of course wanted me to marry a Stark I never thought it would be practical. Never gave it any real consideration. I almost certainly thought I'd end up married to Loras, or if not him, then sold to the Martells. Robb has of course crossed my mind but I never let myself consider the option, I never thought the council would agree.

"I just never expected it," I admit. "I'm certainly not complaining but I've never seen the value in a marriage alliance between the North and the crown, they have no considerable wealth in either gold or resources, or anything of practical value?"

He again waves off my concerns. "Which is why the council doesn't know, I can hear Littlefinger now saying that we need the Tyrells wealth. There's a reason I have two daughters and two sons. There'll be a marriage there somewhere with the Tyrells but this is more important than wealth. If the North and the realm aren't united then the Seven Kingdoms falls apart, it is the backbone of this damn country."

I sip my wine as I try to make sense of this match. It provides no wealth but I know how important stability between kingdoms is with maintaining peace. I just can't shake the feeling of disbelief.

"I just can't believe I've been betrothed since the Greyjoy rebellion and you've never even told me."

He seems surprised that I'd be offended, that I've even given a thought to it.

"Well yes but no," he tries to articulate. "You see we never did any of that formal crap, even if we forget about your mother, if the council or Tywin knew I was betrothing my seven year old daughter to the Starks when the Tyrells were right there they would have found a way to put an end to that."

"I see," I say slowly, able to see the sense in his decision which Jon Arryn must have supported but still bothered by it. Bothered by the lack of input into the decision, that despite all my careful consideration of what would benefit the realm whilst giving me freedom, the decision was already made for me based on jokes made with a friend sixteen years ago. "So I will wed Ned Starks son."

"I could have wed you to Loras or some Dornish prince, they even suggested betrothing you to Theon Greyjoy but I told them over my dead body."

"Greyjoy I understand, Theon is a prisoner of the Starks but an alliance with the Tyrells or Martells would be far more beneficial for the wealth of our house and keeping the peace. We wouldn't be reliant on my mother's wealth."

It would separate us from the Lannisters, we would have wealth that isn't coming from Tywin. His influence would fade. I know Renly wants to distance our house from the Lannisters, if marrying Loras is what it takes for my father to not be ruled by Tywin then I'll do it.

But he just seems confused that I'm arguing, disappointed even as he frowns "I thought that marrying Ned's son would make you happy."

I go quiet as I realise my own happiness is something I haven't even considered since he told me, it's something I've rarely if ever let myself consider. It's never been happiness I've chased, but freedom and doing what is best for the realm. For my house.

"I never thought my happiness would be taken into account when deciding on my marriage. That it doesn't matter when practical decisions have to be made," I confess and he turns more serious than I've ever seen him.

"You are my daughter, my child. My own flesh and blood. Of course your happiness matters to me," he says with such resolve it shocks me a little. "Damn the realm, and damn what the councils thinks is a practical decision. It's time the houses Stark and Baratheon are joined as they always should have been."

As they always should have been.

Lyanna.

The woman my father loved, the woman he went to war for. The woman who died before he could save her.

It's a betrothal he could not fulfil, an alliance between our houses that was never fulfilled.

"If it is what you wish then I'll do my duty to our house."

He scoffs. "Duty. Who trained you to be so obedient?"

"Tywin," I answer. "He taught me to always put my house first."

"Tywin," he mutters under his breath as he takes a drink. "I suppose someone has to but this hour first. So listen to your father when I tell you that your duty is to try to be happy, to live for something more than duty. When I was your age I definitely wasn't thinking about duty. All I cared about at your age was girls and killing. You're father, the king, orders you to forget about duty. Forget what Tywin taught you. You're my daughter, now stop acting like a bloody Lannister."

The words sting a little but I know they're true. For so long I've focused solely on duty, to be the dutiful daughter and use that to my advantage. Now I know where I'm going, it's a marriage that will not help my house gain the independence it needs but perhaps my father is right. Perhaps it will make me happy.

"Is Robb like his father?"

I only met Ned once, during the Greyjoy rebellion. He was a kind man, a good man. I knew it because my father was a better man when he was with Ned. That rebellion was the last time I saw my father truly happy, ever since he's wasted away into what he is now.

"I haven't met him," is all he says and I know I'll have to find out by other means. "But it's time you got out of this city."

He pours himself some of my Dornish wine not questioning where it came from and chugs it on one go. "Good to see you're not drinking that watered down piss."

"When will the wedding be?" I ask wanting to know. It could be in months or even years.

"Soon," he simply answers. "I still have to talk to Ned to work out the little details but I plan on having it before Ned and I leave Winterfell. Your mother is hellbent on keeping you in this city so you'll be living in Winterfell."

"So I won't be coming back to the city?" I realise, my heart becoming torn between the joy of finally leaving this place for good and the fear of going somewhere unknown but fear has always excited me, given me a fight response instead of flight like a true Baratheon.

"God I hope not," he comments and his voice turns serious. "I mean that in the most loving way possible, I don't want you here with your mother. You are my daughter and I'll be damned if she makes you into a Lannister. Tywin can drill the importance of duty into you all he wants but you know what you're mothers like. She's got her claws in the rest of your siblings. You are the only one of them who is a true Baratheon."

"I'm a Baratheon," I promise him. "I've always been your daughter, not hers."

His eyes soften. Well soon you will be Cassana Stark," he says almost emotionally. "I named you after my mother, I wanted to make you Lyanna but Cersei wouldn't have it. I saw that black hair and gods you screamed when you came out of her, reminded me of a battle cry. You had that Baratheon spirit, if you were a boy I would have had you fighting with the best master of arms in the Seven Kingdoms unlike that blonde shit of a brother of yours. I tried to have him trained but he threw a tantrum when he was disarmed and your bloody mother wouldn't have it."

"Sometimes I wish I was a boy," I confess knowing that my greatest failure is my sex. "I always wanted to fight, I wanted to rule. I always wanted to be like you, not my mother."

He almost looks regretful. "I wish you were, you'd be inheriting the throne and not Joffrey. You are a true Baratheon unlike him, gods I don't know what went wrong with him. I remember when you were just a child and Joffrey was being Joffrey, I think he had tried to kill your cat or some bloody pet and you took it upon yourself to set him straight. You picked up that little toy warhammer and struck him true. Your mother was hysterical but I remember being so proud, you had my temper. Ours is the fury alright," he laughs to himself and as he looks around at the books and I notice him beating back his emotions. "Gods you would be a good King. You actually educate yourself, unlike your mother who thinks she already knows everything and you care, unlike me. If you were a boy then I'd probably abdicate and make you king, I've always hated ruling but with Joffrey as heir I can't do that."

I know he's always thought I was a better option than Joffrey but hearing him say it so proudly almost brings tears to my eyes. Almost, he's always hated tears, he thinks that they show weakness. I won't cry but I'll never forget his words.

"Thank you, Father," I say holding back tears, wishing more than anything that I was a boy but I'm not. That was my greatest misfortune. It's moments like these I begin to understand my mother who believes she would have been as great as Tywin if only she was a man.

"Sometimes I look at you and wonder what would have happened if Lyanna was your mother and not Cersei."

I go very quiet as he mentions Lyanna. My mother won't even speak her name but everyone in the Seven Kingdoms knows he loved her.

"Tell me," I say gently, taking this chance to see a side my father rarely ever shows. One my mother tries to convince me doesn't exist.

"I would have taken you on hunts with me, women from the Stormlands are fiercer than the other kingdoms but Cersei forbade the idea as barbaric, unladylike. The Stormlands and the North are similar as you'll come to see, both are wild countries with hardy people. I would have had you hold a sword or perhaps even a hammer if you were strong enough. I gave you a miniature warhammer when you were a child and you loved it but your mother took it away as it was no toy for a young girl. I gave Joffrey the same toy but he never even touched it, it was the one you hit him with. I wish I never let your mother have such a tight grip around your throat, she's been suffocating you since you were born."

"You aren't wrong," I admit and feel nothing but emptiness. "I wish more than anything that I could have had that life."

"But perhaps I can do this one thing right, I can get you out of this city, away from your mother and married to a good man, a Stark. You're clever, more competent than half my council. You might not be able to rule the Seven Kingdoms but you can rule the North for me, Robb will be warden of it someday and I know with you there the North and the realm can maintain what Ned and I built."

All my life my mother has tried to convince me that my father doesn't love me. I've always known it was a lie but I never knew just how much he had tried, especially in the beginning. But by marrying me to Robb he is doing the best thing he could do for me.

"Thank you, Father," I say gripping his hand tightly, wishing that things had been different. That the life he had imagined for me was the one I had lived but now everything is about to change.

"Now pack your things and don't tell your mother about this," he says giving me a small smile.

"I won't," I promise knowing just what she would try to do.

"And there's one more thing," he says looking at my wine. "You might want some more of that. Your grandfather just arrived."

My stomach twists and I clear my throat. "Then I best greet him before the joust."

It's only then that I change my dress to something more modest, it's only then I put on the necklace my mother gave me.

Tywin Lannister is here, I best present myself as I have to everyone these past years.

The dutiful daughter.

I find him standing in the throne room, the king without a crown.

"Grandfather," I say bowing my head in respect as he turns to look at me.

"Cassana," he says observing me carefully. "You're a woman now."

"I am," I smile pleasantly. "Thank you for making the long journey to attend my name day celebrations."

"Yes well I thought it was time I came to the capitol to arrange your marriage considering your father hadn't," he says stepping closer. "Or so I thought."

He looks at me expectantly and I know better than to lie. "I had not thought so either."

He narrows his eyes at me. "Were you aware of this informal betrothal your father had made with Ned Starks son?"

"No my lord," I say honestly. "However I was aware Lord Arryn turned down any matches proposed by the small council so I suspected that he and my father had something in mind."

He makes a satisfied sound then asks "And do you know why your father kept this hidden from everyone, including his own council?"

"So my mother would not intervene," I answer. "She still does not know of the betrothal."

"A sensible decision," he praises. "I did not think Robert was capable of such a thing but I suppose he knows how hysterical your mother gets over these matters."

"Indeed," I agree and he watches me carefully, the eyes of a lion stalking its prey.

"And how do you feel about this betrothal?"

I know he doesn't care for my feelings, he wants to know what I think of the decision logically.

"I feel that a more beneficial match could have been made but if my father wishes for me to marry Ned Starks son then that is my duty."

He seems surprised by my obedience, but pleased. "I remember when I told your mother she was to marry your father, she still hates me for it even though I made her a queen. Do you know what this match will make you?"

"I will be the wife of the Warden of the North," I answer. "My father has stressed the importance of a good relationship between the realm and the North."

"Very good," he says but looks curious. "However, if you could have chosen a match for yourself then what would you have proposed?"

Again, he does not care about my personal feelings. He's testing me.

"The Tyrells are wealthy and their son is only a few years older than I am not that that matters, they are Lords of the most fertile land in Westeros and the maester say that this summer is coming to an end. A union with them would ensure the crown had all it needed for the coming winter and enough wealth to support itself," I say and notice him listening intently. "I do not sit on the small council meetings but I am aware of my fathers spending habits and having wealthy connections certainly don't hurt, especially a union that will ensure their loyalty to the throne. However where loyalty is concerned the Dornish are a greater risk, it is no secret the discontent they bear for the throne and many still hold resentment for the events that occurred during my fathers' rebellion, such as Oberyn Martell. A royal match is not only a peace offering but also a promise of a renewed relationship between Dorne and the realm. Personally, I had always assumed I would be wed to either Loras Tyrell or Trystane Martell for practical reasons. I can see the practicality of a union with Robb Stark in regards to the realm but it seems my father made this match with his heart rather than his head."

"Hmm yes," he says sounding disappointed, not in me, but in my father. "You are an intelligent woman, you always have been. In fact, those two matches are ones I might have arranged myself if given the opportunity. A match with the Tyrells is certainly beneficial to the crown's treasury and one with the Martells could be the key to holding the peace. However, you have Myrcella still, while a second-born princess is not as much of a prize as the first it will have to do. Your father is the king, he may be a foolish one at that but there is benefit in you marrying a Stark."

While I am content with being used for a marriage alliance the thought of my little sister who has not even bled yet being sold like a broodmare does not sit well with me. It never has. But I do not let it show.

He looks to the throne. "You are the daughter of the two greatest houses in Westeros, and it is your duty to carry on our legacy. As a woman, you will not sit on any throne nor rule, but as the wife of a Warden, you will hold considerable influence over him and therefore the North. You will bear children with the Stark name and ensure the North stays loyal to the throne when Joffrey comes into power. While you may come to be known as Lady Stark you will always be Princess Cassana of the Houses Lannister and Baratheon, and your duty will always be to your family."

"And to the throne," I add to which he does not argue, only nods in approval. "Which is why I must do my duty as the throne and my family are one and the same."

House Baratheon, not House Lannister.

"Indeed it is. The house that puts family first will always defeat the house that puts the whims and wishes of its sons and daughters first," he tells me for the hundredth time. "Yet it seems you are the only other Lannister who understands this."

That comment surprises me and he again looks to the throne.

"My daughter is a queen because I married her to Robert Baratheon, yet if she had it her way gods know where she would have ended up. My eldest son joined the Kingsguard on a whim and serves as a glorified bodyguard while my youngest is a stunted fool who spends his time drinking with thieves and prostitutes. It seems only my granddaughter understands the importance of putting duty before all else."

My blood boils at the insults against Tyrion, the uncle who practically raised me. The one who taught me all I know. The one I love most.

Yet again, I do not let it show.

Not while I hold the favour of the most powerful man in Westeros.

"Which is why I will go North and marry Robb Stark, to do my duty."

The words taste bitter on my tongue. Go North, all the way to Winterfell. Away from my home and my family. Highgarden or Dorne I would have settled for, not Winterfell. I am a southern woman through and through, a woman who wants freedom.

I do not know if I will get that in the North.

"Yes but remember," he warns. "Your duty first and foremost is to your house."

Duty. My entire life has been consumed by my duty to my house and the throne.

The dutiful daughter, the perfect princess.

Reflected in the glass above the throne I can see her now with a Lannister lion around her neck.

And I despise her.

Taglist:

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carlatsukinamistolemyhamsandwich · 2 years

Note

I don't understand why the fuck Carla killed Shin on Ruki's route? Was it because he got Yui pregnant? Also, it looks like Carla decapitated him? I really don't understand why you do these things Rejet!!!?

Okay so this is actually a really interesting point that I've wanted to talk about for ages but have never gotten the chance to so thanks for giving me an opportunity to discuss it anon!

So, first of all, I think it’s important to establish that Ruki’s DF route is not the only occasion where Carla kills Shin, the others being Carla’s DF Brute ending (after Shin raises a sword against him), Shin’s DF Manservant ending (after Shin has run off with Yui) and Shin’s LE Brute ending (where Carla thinks Shin isn’t actually Giesbach’s son, if you haven’t played Shin’s LE route it’s a whole thing). Excluding that last point, we can see that Carla can be driven to kill Shin if he thinks Shin has betrayed him.

The reason Carla kills Shin in Ruki’s DF route is therefore two-fold. Firstly he tried to take Yui for himself (which I’m sure Carla has figured out at that point) and this constitutes an act of betrayal. However Shin also tries this in his own route and only gets killed for it in the Manservant ending, which brings us onto the second reason: when Carla confronts him about disobeying his orders, rather than immediately coming up with an excuse like Shin usually does, he instead turns on Carla as well. To Carla this shows that Shin has not only betrayed him (which is already grounds for killing him), he’s also lost all sense of himself and he shows no regard for carrying on the founder race which is what Carla sees as their prime objective. Thus Carla does what he feels is his duty and kills him.

As for why he beheads him, that’s because, as a founder, Shin is pretty difficult to kill. He either has to burned (which would have taken too long in this setting and it gives Shin more of an opportunity to fight back), take a direct hit to the heart (and it has to be really accurate as Kino seemingly stabs Shin in the heart in Carla’s LE route but in the Vampire ending, he actually manages to recover from the injury) or decapitation (this is probably the most efficient way to make sure you kill any demon and thus why Carla chose it). Admittedly for the founders there is also Endzeit but that would have taken far too long.

Now with all of that established, I think it’s also important to cover how we can consider these sorts of scenes to be in character when compared with those where Carla is shown to care to about Shin (Shin’s LE Vampire ending, Carla’s LE ending and Carla’s CL route). One of the key things about Carla is that prior to meeting the MC, he has big issues with duty versus emotions. Duty almost always wins out, with I think one of the sole exceptions being the incident where he got the Vibora to spare Shin’s life in exchange for his eye.

Now, I think a fair question would be “if Carla cared enough to beg for Shin’s life then how come he kills him on multiple occasions in the games?”

The answer to this is really to do with Giesbach’s death. Even though I’m certain he knew it was the right thing to do, Carla struggles to reconcile with killing Gies (in some bad endings he asks his father if this fate is his punishment). This again comes down to a matter of duty, as the next king of the founders, it was Carla’s duty to ensure they weren’t all wiped out by Giesbach waging a mad war against Karlheinz, however as the king’s son, it was also his duty to follow the King’s order, and this is without bringing any of Carla’s personal feelings about Gies into the matter.

So after this when Carla then assumes the role of king, he now has the weight of killing the previous king (who he respected) adding to this idea that he has to act as a king should and not like a person with feelings. Thus while he might have allowed himself some personal choice before, now he can’t afford to. If Shin betrays him then it’s Carla’s duty as king to kill him for treason.

So all in all, this event in Ruki’s DF route fits with Carla’s personality. HOWEVER, it’s also important for us to consider the narrative consequences of this event and how it impacts the story the route is trying to tell. It’s through this scene that the other Mukami brothers are confronted with the reality of someone being responsible for the death of their own sibling, and given that this is while they’re hunting Ruki down with the intention of handing him over to Karl (who they’re pretty sure will kill him), it’s a big deal. It’s a moment that allows us, the audience, to see that they really aren’t comfortable with the idea of sending Ruki to his death.

Additionally, it gets Shin out of the way for Karl to then become the big bad in terms of the endings, which I think is another key narrative point for Ruki’s character given how important Karl is to him. If Ruki’s endings just involved the Tsukinami brothers barging in and either taking Yui or magically getting defeated, then they wouldn’t be nearly as impactful as they are.

TL;DR Carla killing Shin in Ruki’s DF route makes sense from both a character and narrative standpoint which is probably why Rejet included it.

Anyway I hope you’ve all enjoyed this edition of me rambling about the Tsukinami brothers instead of simply sticking to the topic at hand ^^;; Have a lovely day anon!

#analysis #this post has earned that tag darn it #ask #I hope actually answered your question anon #although I may have gone a bit too deep into analysing Carla lol my bad #shin tsukinami #carla tsukinami #tw: character death

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dramaqueeenamby · 3 years

Text

Waves: Quarantine

A/N: It's been way too long since I've done something for the Wavesverse, and I apologize deeply. I have a few requests related to this series to complete, but I couldn't knock this idea.

Words: 4K

Warnings: None

Tags: @babe-im-bi @notacamelthatsmywife @missyperle @queenoftheworldisdead @tashawar @valkryienymph @letsshamelessqueen-m @hello-therree @mani-lifes @liquorlaughslove @toni9 @koko-michelle @theequeenofcurses @taylortheeshowpony

Waves

Summer placed her phone inside of the mount and made sure that it was secured before she sat back in her bed, getting comfortable with the mass of pillows supporting her back, and smiling tentatively. “Hi, guys.”

Summer!

Someone tell me this isn’t a joke???? Please???

She lives!

Sis, blink twice if you need help.

Summer rolled her eyes. “Ya’ll better stop. I know it’s been a minute since I’ve hopped on live, but it hasn’t been that damn long.”

Summer continued to read the comments where more than a few people pointed out she hadn’t gone live on Instagram in over three months. Her mouth dropped. “Ya’ll lying. It has not been almost six months, has it?” She placed her hand over her mouth when people started dropping dates in the comments. “Okay, I stand corrected. Damn, I’m sorry, guys.”

Don’t be sorry, bestie. Do better!

Damn, ya’ll are so entitled. Celebrities have lives too.

What life? We all been in quarantine.

Rich people quarantine be different from us poor folks, I guess.

“So that’s actually one of the things I wanted to talk about.” Summer cleared her throat. “And I’m going to try really hard to make sure I word what I want to say as clear and as effective as I can, but I know this is still going to end up as a salacious headline. So, it is what it is.”

Oooh, Summer about to drop some tea.

I don’t see her wedding ring, ya’ll…..

I’m scared omg.

Watch this be nothing but a role announcement.

She shrugged and took a deep breath. “Okay, so a few days ago, I did the Buss It challenge, after being harassed by Sanda. And can I just say that filming was a challenge in and of itself? Not necessarily the movements but preparing? I’ve got two kids, twins, who are like the Tasmanian devil. I was literally up at 3 something in the morning trying to record it because my wild children won’t let me be great.” She chuckled. “Kids are something else.”

Summer truly jumped through hoops and was a damn near acrobat trying to figure out when she could not only get herself done up but actually record the challenge. Being the perfectionist that she was didn’t help, but the fact that she couldn’t recall the last time she’d put on makeup and dressed up was a whole other fiasco.

Quarantine definitely brought out her bum side.

“All of that aside, I truly was satisfied and happy with the final product when I posted it. In hindsight, I should have just left it that, but I wake up every day and choose chaos, so I decided to read the comments.” She blew out a breath. “One of the most frequent comments and really, insults, I’ve received my whole career. Primarily, since I was cast as Storm, revolves around how I look. I.e., my weight. I’ve been called fat, obese, out of shape, and so many other things.”

It was 100% true. The minute Marvel announced that she’d been chosen to play Storm, the racists came all out of the woodworks. She was too short, too chubby, too dark, too black. And Summer didn’t care, not a bit.

“Even,—and I’ll tell you guys this, when I first started my SS training, that’s what I call it, SS for Storm Shape, there was a—person who worked for Marvel at the time who came to visit me while I was training.” She smiled thinking back on that day. She could still recall it so clearly. “He basically was pissed because to him, I still looked the same, fat and out of shape.” She adjusted her top and shifted in her bed. “That same day, I deadlifted and bench-pressed over 200lbs” She paused for effect. “What I need for people to stop doing is stop fucking projecting—and I’m going to cuss in this, so if you don’t like it, oh well. I work for Disney, but I’m a grown ass woman, and I’m going to say what I want.”

I am screaming. Summer said we getting alll the tea today!

So, it’s wrong to point out that someone is physically unhealthy now, cool?

The problem is that no one wants to see a fat superhero. It’s not realistic.

^^^^ Tell me you have a small dick without actually telling me you have a small dick.

“I saw Lizzo, whom I adore, post a Tik Tok where she basically said that she workouts to have the body she wants not what ya’ll want, and honestly? Same. She said that her body type is no one’s fucking business, and that’s so true. Ya’ll love to hop on this internet and pick apart people you don’t even know and criticize bodies you don’t even have to live in and move around with. And for what?” She shook her head, slamming her fist into her open palm as she spoke. She was fully invested now. “I know we in quarantine, but damn, pick another hobby cause being a bully is not it, sweetie.”

I really needed to hear this today.

Using Lizzo as a point of reference makes everything you’re saying null and void. Lizzo is clearly overweight and at risk for diabetes, heart disease, just to name a few…..

I been saying this! You can’t look at a person and say they’re unhealthy.

Bodies come in so many forms, and all are beautiful.

“Now, I bring all this up because a lot of people were commenting on my Buss It challenge and pointing out the fact that I’ve gained weight, and guess fucking what? I have, and you know what else?” She leaned over to whisper while covering her mouth with her hands for focused effect. “I don’t care.”

Summer laughed and shook her head. “As others have pointed out as well, yes, we have a gym in our house. I 1000% acknowledge the fact that having the resources that I do as a celebrity and someone who has money puts me in a different category. Hell, my husband has a whole fitness app. I recognize that. If I wanted to keep up with my workouts, emphasis on wanted, I could have. I own up to that, but I just didn’t feel like it, and that’s okay. What’s not okay is to send and leave mean messages calling me all kinds of names.”

Summer had thick skin. She always had. Growing up with her family, who always ensured to feed her self esteem and make sure she knew that she was beautiful, definitely paid off. It was just a combination of quarantine and not having a lot of opportunities to keep herself busy with work that had her feeling some type of way.

“And that’s something else I wanted to bring up.” She blew out another breath and tried to gather her emotions. This was the subject she was almost certain she’d grow teary eyed discussing. “I love my husband to death. My children are everything. Christopher’s family is like my own, but— I haven’t seen my family, like my mom, grandma, brothers, etc in almost a year.” She paused, dwelling on that. Almost an entire year since she’d been able to physically hug and interact with the people who made her who she was. “And I’ve always made it clear how much I fucking love my family. I live in Australia. I can’t do a drive by with grandma so I and my kids can at least see her on the doorstep.” She quieted again, eyes darting off as she quietly cursed. “I’m trying really hard not to cry right now.”

Please don’t cry, bestie.

This is the side of quarantine that people don’t talk about enough.

Has this woman never heard of FaceTime????

I feel her pain. I live in Europe, and my family is in the states. This quarantine has been brutal.

My grandma died from COVID, and I couldn’t even go to the funeral. Summer is bringing up a good point.

“Damn,” Summer chuckled bitterly and wiped at the tears that fell. “I’m okay, I promise. I just bring this up because quarantine has also been very hard for me in that aspect. At certain points, I’ve been down, I’ve been in my head a lot, and I just was not, for the most part, in a space where I felt like I had to keep up my fitness regimen. And that’s okay. I put my mental wellbeing ahead of making sure my body is socially acceptable. Sue me.”

I really appreciate her honesty.

Summer never goes beyond surface level in interviews, so seeing her this vulnerable is really surprising.

Are we supposed to feel bad for her? She’s rich. She can afford whatever help she needed.

These comments are not passing the vibe check.

Ya’ll are all mental health advocates, but when a black woman is opening up about her struggle, it’s discarded?

“And let me make this clear too, I have an amazing husband who is so patient and so kind. He’s one of the best people I can go to when my anxiety hits, so I don’t want this to come across as me complaining that I’ve been alone. I have him and our children. I just miss the rest of my family. That’s all.” She dried her eyes and started to read the comments, unsurprised by the mixed reaction. She expected as such and was unaffected. At least until she saw one comment.

@ChrisEvans: ❤️❤️❤️

“Evans!” Summer wasn’t expecting to see his name pop up. It’d been such a task convincing him to join IG, let alone teaching him how to operate it. “Let’s go live.”

Not my husband and wife in my head about to go live!!!!

Imagine being able to call Chris Evans your best friend

I still say they smashed idc

It’s Christopher Jamal Evans hopping on this live for me.

^^^ I’m so sick of y’all with that shit.

“Let me try to add him,” Summer spoke to herself, scrolling through the comments to find his so she could request him. “Alright, I requested him. Let’s see if he answers.”

She wondered if she should have sent him a text asking if he was available when he appeared on her screen, effectively splitting it with her on the top and him on the bottom.

“Punk.”

“Kid.”

Summer smiled and greeted, “Hi, best friend.”

He chuckled. “How you doing, Summer?”

“Clearly not as good as the people watching,” she chimed. Summer saw nothing but heart eyes and hearts in the comments. “These people really love you. You truly are a manipulative bastard. He’s an asshole, guys.”

“Don’t be jealous, Summer. It’s so unbecoming of you.”

“You can go to hell.”

“Language,” he playfully reprimanded. “Where are the kids?”

“At preschool. Things are finally starting to open back up over here. Thank God.” She clasped her hands together. “Y’all, please wear masks. Don’t be Karen’s.”

Chris laughed, grabbing his chest. “We’re getting there, Summer.”

“The lies you tell,” she countered. “Don’t A Starting Point, me. Ya’ll are far from getting there, and I’m tired of it. I wanna see my family.”

He sighed. “I know, but how are you feeling today?”

“I got rid of the kids, so that’s definitely a weight lifted,” she answered honestly, laughing when she saw judgmental comments in the chat. “Listen, if you’re a parent, you know where I’m coming from. You love your kids, but my god, sometimes you just need some space.”

“As soon as this all blows over, I told you to send em’ by me for a couple of weeks.”

“Best friend, I already purchased their tickets.” He laughed. “As soon as I get the green light, they are all yours. Feel free to keep them.”

“You guys see how she is?” He pointed to Summer, leaning and squinting to read what was being said. “I do love kids, especially the twins, they’re amazing.”

“He is really really great with them, guys,” Summer added. “One thing about Evans, he’s patient as hell and really, just a big kid. Why do you think him and Christopher get along so well? 40 going on 4.”

“I resent that.”

“Is it a lie though?”

He hesitated. “No.” They both laughed.

I’m loving the dynamic between these two so much.

Is it just me or are they flirting with each other…..

Ain’t nothing inappropriate about this conversation. Ya’ll are reaching…

Ya’ll remember that blind item that came out years ago alleging Chris (Evans) was the biological father of the twins? Hmm…..

^^^^^This kind of bullshit is the reason we’re in a global pandemic.

As always, Summer and Evans ignored any foolery that was being dropped in the comments when she caught a comment that didn’t contain some ridiculous rumor.

“Yes, it is true that Evans and Christopher weren’t allowed to do press together anymore. Ya’ll, they literally could not stay serious for more than a minute. I felt so bad for the poor interviewers.”

“Hey, we were not that bad,” Evans protested, his Boston accent more prominent.

She gasped. “You guys were terrible, Evans, and you know it. I was so mad when they put me with ya’ll those few times. I could barely hear the interviewers over your laughing and stupid commentary that literally no one asked for.”

“We did not.”

“There’s deadass video proof, Evans.”

“Fake news.”

She opened her mouth but caught herself. “I was about to say something.”

He laughed and asked, “Do you remember how we all got drunk before the Infinity War premiere?”

“No, ya’ll got drunk. I was big and pregnant, remember?”

“No,” he dismissed. “You were drinking with us.”

“Evans, how was I drinking when I was pregnant?” She challenged and reminded. “I got drunk with ya’ll for the Endgame premiere, not Infinity War.”

“That’s right,” he remembered and chuckled. “You think we’ll get in trouble for saying this?”

She shrugged with one shoulder. “You’re dead, Christopher never gets in trouble for anything, and I do what I want. I think we’re good.”

Kevin Feige watching this live right now like 🥴🥴🥴🥴

I never realized how arrogant she is……

LMAO. Not the whole cast showing up drunk to the biggest premiere of their lives.

Chris Evans is too damn fine to be approaching 40 and still single.

Their friendship is so goals omg

@ChrisHemsworth: Snitches

Summer’s jaw dropped as she caught the last comment, swiping up to click the name and make sure that she was reading correctly. “Christopher, what the hell are you doing on my live?”

Evans brows furrowed. “Hemmy is here? Shouldn’t he be working?”

“That’s what I want to know,” Summer supplied. “And how long have you been watching?”

@ChrisHemsworth: Long enough.

She smiled nervously and looked off to the side. “I feel weird now. I don’t like when he watches my lives.”

“Aren’t you guys married?”

“Aren’t you supposed to be shutting the fuck up?”

Evans lifted his hands in a defensive manner. “Touchy subject, I see.” They shared another laugh as he cleared his throat. “Why don’t you add him now? I’m supposed to be helping Scott cook.”

“My favorite Evans,” she gushed and furrowed her brows. “You, cooking? Since when?”

“Get out of here.” He waved her off and reminded. “I’m not the one who constantly causes near fires when in the kitchen.”

“So, you really just putting all my business out there like that?”

“Summer, it’s not secret to anyone that you can’t cook for shit.”

“Wow, it really be your own best friends.”

He chuckled. “Love you, kid.”

“Love you too, punk,” she blew a kiss. “I’ll text ya’ later.”

“Alright.” He smiled for the camera. “Thanks for having me everyone.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” she said jokingly. Evans and Summer said goodbye one last time before he left the live. She blew out a breath and ran her hand through her hair. “Baby, comment something so I can add you. It’s too many comments to wade through.”

Summer adjusted her phone and checked the time on the clock on the wall. It’d been a while since the kids were away at school, and she didn’t want to get so caught up that she was late picking them up.

@ChrisHemsworth: I can’t. I’m too drunk.

Summer released a mixture of a laugh and a snort reading his comment. “You are so damn petty.” She clicked his name and adjusted her outfit while waiting for him to answer. She almost cursed when it seemed like he wasn’t going to join, only for her to smile when his face appeared on her screen.

“Hi,” she greeted in a soft voice with a small smile.

“Hello, Sandcastle.”

“Did you just—I swear to god, it’s always something with you.” Summer rubbed her temples and shook her head. Christopher smiled in response. “Why aren’t you working?”

“I am.”

“You are?”

“Yes.”

“If you’re working, how are you talking to me?” She asked, sassily.

“Umm, a little thing called multitasking, ever heard of it?”

“Wow. You are an asshole.”

“That’s mean.”

“You’re mean.”

“Christopher, you are literally a child.”

“Does a child have muscles like this?” He flexed, and Summer stilled. Christopher stayed in ridiculous shape, but this was another level. He’d never been this massive, and she wasn’t too proud to admit that. Just not aloud.

She faked a yawn. “Am I supposed to be impressed?”

They really just be roasting each other all the time, and I’m here for it.

Summer must be legally blind because this man is stupid fine tf

It’s gotta be steroids. That’s not natural.

^^^^^He’s the god of thunder.

Summer rolled her eyes at the typical nature of the comments. These were the reasons she limited her time on social media and especially stayed away from reading the comments. Her attention was redirected to the top of her phone. It was a text from Christopher asking her to call him.

“But we’re—oh, I get it.” She realized he wanted to talk to her, not her and her tens of millions of followers. “Alright, guys, I’m gonna get off here so I can talk to my husband, alone.”

“She just doesn’t want to share me with you all, that’s all.”

“Don’t even start, Christopher,” she lectured while he laughed and got serious, for a minute tops.

“Hope you all are taking care and staying safe,” he spoke honestly. “And we’ll talk to you soon.”

Summer waved and smile. “Bye, guys. Remember to be kind.” Summer offered a final smile before ending the live. Closing up the app, she moved to open FaceTime and called up Christopher. He answered almost immediately. “You know I hate when you watch my Lives. Now, how much did you see?”

“Enough to know you’re coming to see me tonight.”

She laughed aloud. “Funny.”

“I’m serious, Summer.” Focusing on him, she realized that there was no humor in his voice nor his expression. Summer also noticed that he didn’t have the Thor wig on yet, which was probably why he was able to go live with her. He was waiting to get into hair and makeup. “Leave the kids with Liam. It’s not like he’s doing anything.”

“Christopher!”

“What? Is he not a professional unemployed bastard.”

Summer’s smile remained as she shook her head. “You are so mean.”

“I’ll handle the flight arrangements. You, my beautiful wife, just make sure you get on the jet so I can handle you.”

“Christopher, you’re working. People with everyday jobs don’t just up and show up to their spouses workplace because they miss them or need a break from the kids. That’s how folks get fired.”

Christopher started to move around, walking somewhere, she realized. “What are you doing?”

“Hey, Tike.”

Summer’s eyes widened slightly. “Christoper!”

“Sup, man?” Taika asked casually, as Summer laughed again. Taika Waititi was such a character.

“You mind if Summer comes up for a few days?”

“Sure, man,” he replied almost right away. “Bring the kids and chickens too.”

“I am not bringing those damn chickens,” she immediately protested.

Christopher made a sound. “Ha, so you are coming!”

“I didn’t say that.”

Taika joined Christopher so that he was in camera. “Hey, Summer, why don’t you come on join? You can have a cameo. Chickens, too.”

She rubbed her temples. Taika’s and Chris’s friendship would never not make sense to her. They were cut from the same cloth. “One, hey. Two, I was already in Ragnarok. I’m good on the cameos. Three, what is with ya’ll and those creepy looking chickens?”

“Whoa, creepy? What did the chickens ever do?”

“Exist,” Summer answered dryly. She still hadn’t forgiven Evans and Christopher for convincing her to let the kids keep those damn things. Her home was becoming more and more of a farm with each animal that joined the household.

“Tough crowd, that one, ehh?”

“Always,” Christopher agreed.

“I can hear you both,” she reminded and groaned loudly. Summer would love to spend a few days away from the kids. Chris would be working, yes, but she’d at least get some time for herself. Even better, alone adult time with her husband. That had also been a bit tricky during quarantine because of her rambunctious twins. Still, she disliked using her status as a celebrity to gain things, and this would definitely be a case of using status for pull. “I don’t know….”

Deep in her thoughts, she hadn’t realized that Chris had walked away and returned to wherever he was prior to finding Taika, most likely his trailer.

“What if you only stayed a night?” Chris tried to bargain. “The flight is only an hour and a half. That will give you more than enough time to come here, let me fix you dinner, run you a nice bath, maybe get in the good ole’ horizontal tango—”

“You know I hate when you call it that,” she reminded quietly, admitting. “That does sound nice, though.”

“Or, I can come to you—“

“Absolutely not. Christopher, you’re already doing so much back and forth as it is.” One of the good things to come out of quarantine, to Summer at least, was that it forced many people to take a much needed break. Her husband was one of those people. Christopher had been working nonstop since she met him. Project after project, film after film, many of them Marvel films, which put a whole other layer of difficulty what with the strenuous physical requirements. Even now as he shot Thor 4, he was in the best shape he’d ever been, muscles nearly tearing the cotton of his clothes. He looked amazing, but it was what they couldn’t see that she was starting to grow a little concerned over. Christopher wasn’t as young as he once was. He had to slow down, eventually.

Summer realized this would be a perfect chance to have a conversation about just that with him, which all but led her to her final decision.

“Alright,” she conceded, finger up as she made her demands. “Three days, and I stay at the house while you shoot. We may be returning to normal, but we’re still in a pandemic. I won’t go around anyone except you.”

“So I get you all to myself? Hardly consider that a stipulation.”

“And…we talk.”

“After the horizontal tango—“

“I swear to God, if you don’t stop calling it that—“

“What was that, sweetheart? I wasn’t listening.” She saw that he had paused the screen, causing Summer to remember that she hadn’t even consulted with the babysitter. “Making flight arrangements for you.”

“Shit, let me text Liam and make sure he’s available.”

“He gets reception in the box?”

“Christopher! For the last time, your brother is not living in a box.”

“Do you know that for certain?”

“Goodbye, Christopher,” she prepared to end the call before smiling softly. “I love you, Christopher, and thank you.”

He winked. “I’ll always do anything for you, Summer. Anything.” A beat. “Don’t forget to leave the clothes. You won’t need them.”

“Christopher!”

#chris hemsworth x black!oc #chris hemsworth x black!reader #chris hemsworth fanfic #chris hemsworth fandom #chris hemsworth fanfiction #fic: waves

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stellar-imagines · 4 years

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🐛Hi! I was wondering if it'd be okay to ask a MU for both Bnha and KnY? If not then only Bnha is fine! I'm a bi gal, 5'2" with very pale skin and very bad eyesight (so I wear glasses). I'm a rather emotional person when it comes down to it, e.g. getting excited and nervous easily, but I try my best to keep myself level-headed. Thus I tend to be quiet but remain a friendly and positive attitude! I've been told I'm kind, loyal, easy to talk to but also a bit of a nag because I care so much ^^;

We ship you with Yaoyorozu Momo !

♤ Both you and Momo fit like two puzzle pieces. She's very supportive especially when you're feeling a bit emotional, she will comfort you and you will do the same for her. When it comes to studying, you're pretty okay with it and with Momo's help, it was just easy to understand everything. Seeing that you're so passionate with geology, she tries to get involved and do a bit of learning herself. Instead of studying it on her own, she loves to hear it from you. On weekdays where you have school, the two of you would do some homework together. If you're not that good with your studies, she'd be very patient with you.

♤ You love tea!? This girl has a lot and by a lot, like she probably has an entire inventory full of tea. She loves sharing it with her classmates and especially with you. Yaomomo would come to you with a cup of tea when you're in the middle of doing something, urging you to take a break and relax for a while. Sometimes, you'd surprise her with your own tea, of course its nothing extravagant like her own. She might be from an upper class, a rich family and you took it upon yourself to educate her with the trendy things. Surprisingly likes bubble tea.

♤ She thinks that you getting excited and nervous easily is very cute. In addition to that, she believes that you're similar to Iida in a way. That's mainly because you nag a bit but she knows that you mean well. She remembered the time she was studying for the test with almost no breaks in between. And you would just come in with some snacks and drinks advise her to take a break. When you'd go out for a date, you make sure to bring all the necessities, ensure that she's dressed properly for the weather. Lightly during the summer and armed with a jacket during the winter.

♤ When it comes to dating, the two of you take turns making plans. You would take her on walks where you can enjoy the scenery, eating snacks from the food trucks nearby or at an affordable restaurant. On the other hand, she can go a bit overboard, bringing you to high end restaurants. Sometimes you both just decide to stay in, you would write stories while Momo reads books. At some occasions, she would read your finished works. She's very amused at how you're able to write your own stories.

We ship you with Rengoku Kyojuro !

☆ A very lively and caring boyfriend! Kyojuro has no problems showing his affections to you much to a few people's dismay. He gets very excited whenever he sees you. He loves to pick you up, spin you around and give you a kiss. You call it being emotional but Rengoku calls it being expressive and honest with your feelings. Getting excited and nervous easily is completely okay, at least that's what he personally thinks. He thinks that trying your best to stay level headed is being strong. He loves praising you!

☆ Your hobbies are pretty interesting to say at least. He has never seen anyone passionate in geology as you are. In his downtime, he would be sitting with you while you read books about geology, be it on the planet's history or materials and important metals. He might not be interested in geology that much but he's a great listener. He likes to spoil you a lot and he rarely gets mad at you. If you do something wrong, he wouldn't be mad but he will give you advise and tell you.

☆ Guy is quite protective. He trusts you and your abilities to protect yourself. There will be occasions where you will go on missions on your own or with other demon slayers. Before going off, Kyojuro would give you the usual talk, telling you to be careful and watch your surroundings when it comes to night time. When its a mission where you're under his supervision, he doesn't want you in the front lines and will not hesitate to tell you to stay behind him. Not because he doesn't want you getting hurt but because he trusts you to watch his back. You say you nag a lot? Kyojuro doesn't mind at all. He had lost his mother and being nagged a lot felt nice. It shows that you really care about him.

☆ His father hated animals, therefore he has never had a pet before. You would take him outside for a walk not only to enjoy the scenery but also the stray cats and dogs. Occasionally, there will be owners who would go on walks with their dogs. If they were people you recognize, you would greet them while petting their dogs. You also urge Kyojuro to pet the dog too and you like how happy he is. So, walks and picnics on open spaces is quite a common way to unwind.

Total: 844 words Published: 10.03.2020

Thank you for requesting! *｡٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و*｡ Hope you don't mind one male and one female matchup 😌― author Hibiki/Lou

Thank you for requesting! Hope you liked it! ― author Natsuki

Rules post! || Ask box!

Please do not mind the grammar mistakes and typos.

#stellar-imagines #matchup #matchups #bnha imagines #bnha x reader #bnha matchups #bnha matchup #kny imagines #kny matchup #kny matchups #kny x reader #mha imagines #mha x reader #mha matchup #mha matchups #boku no hero academia #my hero academia #mha #bnha

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masseffectholidaycheer · 5 years

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Can you please email us of we're one of the people who should be expecting a late present? Also ... I'm a little disappointed to say I've seen *people* on discords laughing about how they forgot about HH and are now throwing together fics with what they admit is minimal effort. As someone who spent weeks making a physical gift and is probably going to get one of these fics that even the writers were laughing at ... I'm really upset. You don't need to publish this. I just thought you should know.

Okay. Real talk here, folks.

This message made me cry. And not in a good way. And not in a joking way.

Anon, I know upsetting me wasn’t the intention of your message. I know you’re frustrated, and that you worry you may be disappointed. But please just wait and see what happens with your gift. Believe it or not, there are still dozens of gifts in the mail and somewhere around 50 other gifts unaccounted for. A huge number of those will roll in over the next few days because the deadline HASN’T PASSED YET. The due date was ALWAYS at the end of the month. Until now, people have been posting EARLY. Which is great. But nothing’s late until the 4th.

To the people on Discord laughing about making a half-assed gift, where anyone—including, potentially, your giftee—can see you, shame on you. You’ve had plenty of time. You’re getting a present. The least you could do, the very least, is not brag about how much you’re half-assing something that people do put a lot of effort into where other people can see you doing it.

At the end of the day, this is an honor system. I don’t have the time, energy, or resources to ensure everyone is performing to a certain (arbitrary) level. This exchange is open to everyone; I have always wanted it to be open to everyone. So, yeah, maybe sometimes your gift was made by a beginner or by someone trying a new thing. It’s why I have tried, over and over, to hammer home the importance of gratitude.

But, I feel you, Anon. It’s hard to be grateful when you have evidence that some participants are deliberately not trying hard or that they don’t really care. It really sucks. I think it’s rude, I think it’s sad, it makes me really unhappy, and, frankly, really angry. But I’m not able to sit on every person’s shoulders and demand they put in more effort.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll doubtless say it again. I’m one person, here. Every year, I run this thing because I love being part of something that makes so many people so happy.

I put in countless hours of work. For free. Every year. In my life outside of Tumblr, and when not wearing the Holiday Harbinger tentacles, I’m a freelancer. I don’t have a guaranteed income. And I still volunteer 50-100+ hours I could be using to make money running this exchange because I love being part of something that makes so many people happy.

No matter how much I try to streamline the process, or how clear my instructions are, or how carefully I try to make people understand what they’re signing up for, I inevitably end up having to chase people down, deal with demands or entitlement, deal with people who bail at the last minute (often without telling me, which means having to find pinch hitters even later), all while monitoring all the participants and ensuring that, at the end of it—which is supposed to be January but is almost always MARCH—everyone has a present.

And I do it because I love being part of something that makes so many people happy. And because so many people pour their heart and soul into this exchange.

But I have limitations. As I’ve said, I can’t afford the time to email people individually. If you have a concern, EMAIL ME DIRECTLY and I will respond to it. I can’t deal with late gifts until they’re actually late. And this year, nothing is late until Feb 4th.

I love being a part of something that makes so many people happy. But right now, I’m not one of those happy people.

So please, gift makers, if you know you’re going to be late on delivery, send your giftee an anon message telling them. Then send an email telling me, so I know what I’m dealing with here. And please, don’t half-ass. If you need more time, tell me. For the love of all that’s holy, put in the amount of effort you hope someone else will put in for you. I can’t believe this is something that needs to be said outright.

#harbinger speaks #mod post #harbinger housekeeping #Anonymous

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pretty-volatile · 2 years

Text

Sunday, May 22, 2022 11:55 am

Hello it's been a while. Soooo I withdrew from school. COVID continues to get worse & school was requiring in person classes & I couldn't get myself to campus because I'm too physically disabled to consistently walk to campus while also maintaining my same work hours in order to afford to live in my apartment & feed us so...yeah. School is low on the priority list. I told my dad, he said to take care of myself so I think he understands ? Idk when and if I'll go back, it's all too stressful. Plus the in person classes followed a bit after my official autism self diagnosis & being in person was way too triggering. I have a good relationship with my siblings that I know of. They mean the most to me honestly. I just want to know they're okay & that they have a family member looking out for them. My father & his wife misgender & misname my middle sibling and it makes me feel uncomfortable because I've like tried to correctly name & gender them in front of their parents but it just goes over their parents' heads. It's also been a source of argument between their mom & I. I've talked about it on here before. I don't wanna talk about it except mention that we STILL haven't talked about that fight soooo fuck that. Work has been better! Not physically....and I could definitely be paid more but in terms of the social environment, it's better :) I'm no longer the only trans person at my job & that incited me to stand up for myself so now everyone correctly refers to me except one or two coworkers that are still working on it (though it's annoying & embarrassing for me because sometimes the customers witness it & I don't know what to like do lol). I would say I do a fair job of ensuring everyone feels respected & appreciated there, though sometimes that can be a lot of mental/emotional work to maintain thinking of literally everyone else but myself. My only selfish thing I do is i like to escape for cigs whenever I can but I'm literally on top of everything. Idk if I've ever mentioned but everyone at my job is very Neurodivergeant & we work very well together now & can pick up on each other's communication styles etc. It's really a nice work flow. But my body gets so exhausted. I haven't seen a doctor & idk if my dad takes me seriously about it. It's always "do physical therapy" or "get another job" and it's just like....you're missing the point sir....but anyway. My partner & I are doing well and I love them very very much and I'm so appreciative that they're in my life & I don't know what I'd do without them, anygay. Though father says or does some cringe shit I would say our relationship/communication is a lot better than before. I've been better at like just letting myself be awkward or quiet or to the point & just overall trying to be more myself around him. Very much related to tryna & autism, the difficulty of talking tk my father. But literally no one caught onto that....we had a therapist try to work in that with my & him when I first moved out. I didn't like her but I didn't know how to say that & i didn't want to start over. She didn't believe me about my anxiety & she listened to my father more than me. I'd lie to hear about self harm or suicidal thoughts/attempts etc. But like she never picked up that it was probably from all the missed time & trauma & masking autism (for both of us?). But my last therapist kinda picked up on it, but STILL she didn't mention autism! She picked up on my stimming & originally she didn't believe that i had BPD & she knew how I described my father (like a stereotypical white autistic man) but she never popped the seed into my brain. She encouraged other research but she didn't mention autism and idk i guess that it makes me sad that maybe she knew and maybe i could've started working in things sooner. Idk. I met her at a very tumultuous & overwhelming time. Idk if I would've had the mental capacity to take all that on at once tbh. But oh well.

Anygay, that was cathartic I guess. But now I've stayed up longer than I should :P I have to take a nap before work. Goodbye for now

#journal entry

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inqua · 7 years

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I don't mean to be a bother, and you don't have to do this if you don't feel up to it. But from what I've perceived you love Hector. So I ask of you, could you more or less provide me an analysis of Hector's character. I want to be represent Hector as accurately as possible. I'm researching the common traits between Hector and Holmes of Tear Ring Saga. Thank you for your time.

I love Hector? Nooo what could havepossibly given it away??? 😞

I gotchu fam dw, screaming about Hector is pretty muchmy default state of being. In fact, I’m flattered you asked me, though I’m not sure if I’m the best person to do this. I don’t think I’ve everwritten an elaborate character analysis before, but you know what, as a wise woman once said, I’ll… do mybest.

Hope you like reading though. Like. A lot.

(Spoilers for FE7 & FE6 under the cut)

OK, so before I start I must say most of this is just me interpretingthis character based on what—relatively—little we know about him from thegames, given that he’s always a side protagonist of sorts in comparison toEliwood, even in his own story mode. It’s also been a while since I played theElibe games so forgive me if I’m missing anything. I tried to remain asobjective as possible, though some slight bias might slip through now and thenbecause I just love FE7 and its characters… a little too much. Which alsoexplains why it got so lengthy… again… woops.

Hector… You could very well argue he’s just another gentle giant archetypecharacter. And if I’m to judge from Hector’s popularity, this is precisely whatpeople love about him, including myself. But I do think that his character goesa little deeper than just that as well. What I personally think makes this particularcharacter stand out is his relationship with his best friend Eliwood, and Iwould even go as far as to say that the dynamic between these two carry thisgame’s plot for the most part. Eliwood, as well as his other friends and lovedones, are the driving force beyond pretty much anything Hector does, if youthink about it. This is shown immediately in an early encounter with Hector: whenhe finds out Elbert is missing, he doesn’t even hesitate for a second. He hasmade up his mind: he’s going to help his friend get his father back, because it’s essential to him that he spares hisbest friend the loss of a parent, a feeling he himself knows all too well.He quite literally goes out of his way to achieve this, defying his brother’sdirect orders even though he’s probably very well aware that Uther simplywishes to protect his younger brother and last remaining family member. Hector,however, just cannot afford to lose what’s at stake and has to ignore hisbrother’s wishes. Right now, Eliwood needs his aid more than anyone, and intheir supports, Eliwood points out that he already knew that this would beHector’s choice, because of their blood oath to always come to each other’s sidewhen in need.

I’m convinced Hector is actually a way more sympathetic and emotionalperson than he lets on. In his supports with Eliwood he’s casually checking inon him to see if he’s not overworking himself, and Eliwood picks up on this andappreciates his concern. He’s also very emotionally invested in what happens toEliwood’s family, as shown in the infamous “WOOOELIWOOD!!!” scene, where Hector almost seems more excited than Eliwoodhimself when finding out that Elbert is still alive. And then when lord Elbertultimately meets his fate when they were soclose, Hector’s feelings about this unfortunately never really get explored anyfurther as far as I can recall, which is a shame, because I’m willing to betHector is blaming himself at that moment for his own inability to save hisfriend from having to go through what he went through himself after being sodamn close to pulling it off. Most likely Hector does not want to show anyemotional weakness in fear of seeming vulnerable, as is very common in thistype of character. When finding out about his own brother’s death, Hector seemsto be more upset with Oswin—and to an extent Uther himself—for hiding Uther’sillness from him, rather than about the actual death itself, which perhaps hehad seen coming already. What’s more is that he has this scene afterwards withLyn where, if I recall correctly, he still acts very standoff-ish about the entiresituation and it is Lyn who is on to hisact, and cries in his stead, depending on where they are in their supportrelationship. Beside all of this, I also think Hector acknowledges his role asthe “pacemaker” of the bunch. He knows that even in times of despair, he haspeople relying on him, and he is always the one shown trying to keep the moraleup, though through actions rather than words, because as we all know, wordshave never been his… strongest asset. An excellent example of this is of coursethe scene with Nils in the desert, where their current situation is at anabsolute low, but Hector manages to cheer Nils, Ninian and Lyn up regardless.As well as in his supports with Lyn, something similar happens when he cheersher up after she lost to him, and againLyn takes notice of Hector’s genuine concern for his allies, but of courseHector, being Hector, plays it off.

I like to think Hector’s also got somekind of intelligence hidden underneath all that muscle. Note how he’s nevercompletely oblivious to the politicalsituation, but rather he emphasises that diplomacy simply isn’t his way of settlingthings, and he would rather let either Eliwood or his axe do the talking. Thisis probably because he’s still young and doesn’t quite have a grip on his own temperamentyet, but this is also something he has tolearn along his journey if he ever wants to grow into the role of marquess.In fact, he acknowledges this himself in his story mode’s epilogue, where headmits that, indeed, he may be ill suited for this position as he is right now,and even shows little interest in it. Funny is that although Hector himselfsays this, others do seem torecognise qualities of a ruler in Hector, as in his supports with Oswin of allpeople, he compliments Hector’s true and honest character. Even so, Hector doesacknowledge that it’s something he’s just going to have to grow into, because the throne represents everythingthat was ever important to Uther, and it was entrusted to him and him only.The only thing you could conclude from the little screen time Hector gets inFE6, is that he eventually did mature into the role and accepted the responsibilitiesthat come with it; yet at the same time, he also hasn’t changed a bit when youconsider he is directly partaking in battle regardless of his social or politicalstatus. After all, Hector’s still a warrior at heart.

Life and death is a common theme with Hector’s character. Honestly, longbefore picking up the Armads Hector probably already knew he would meet his endat the battlefield, as his death quote—regardless of what point he dies atmight I add—is always something along the lines of: “not here”, implying that he knows it was something inevitable andwas likely going to happen sooner or later anyway—Armads or no Armads. Buthonestly, did Hector ever give a damn, knowing that the price he pays for it isworth it? All of this he did for his friends and family, which at this pointhave probably become one and the same. And so, in his dying words, he asks Royto take care of his daughter Lilina, because “despite her strong exterior, shedoes need a friend to support her.” Huh… Sound familiar?

Even though I’m aware the whole “dying in order to protect your lovedones” shtick is a very common shounen trait that’s been beaten to death,and that the writers had plenty of room to play with this trait given his fatein FE6, the sheer nonchalance with which Hector treats his own sacrifice, as ifit was nothing, breaks my heart every damn time. In that regard I think it isbrilliant—if not completely sadistic—to make the player emotionally invested ina character that was doomed from the start.

TL;DR: Hector makes for such a legendary character because of hisundying loyalty for his loved ones, and how determined and stubborn he is inensuring their safety. His genuine concern for his allies and the charismaticrole he takes upon himself in the army are appreciated more than he would ever takecredit for, and his underlying selflessness does not go unnoticed to thoseclosest to him. And although he may dislike his role as marquess, his brutalhonesty and recklessness might prove surprisingly useful in this position, and areboth to be admired and feared. He probably always knew he was going to meet his end on the battlefield, but frankly never gave a damn because the sacrifice was alwaysworth it to him: his loved ones would get to live. To put it quite promptly:Hector is all you could every wish for in a best friend, and that’s exactly howhe was written.

That is how I interpret him and why I like him at least… I honestlydon’t think I’ve said anything new about his character that hasn’t been saidbefore, but I hope I did him justice regardless.

Anyway, thanks for putting up with the long read. This was like. 2+ pages lmao

#loptyrofjugdral #hector #fire emblem #blazing blade #fe7 #fe #ask #inquask #text #long post #the rumor come out: inqua loves hector #it was fun researching tho. learned a lot AND made myself sad. a very productive day indeed #i know absolutely 0 about the tear ring saga tho but gl

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yournewapartment · 7 years

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I've been looking around for a while and I don't know if minimum wage would be enough to get an apartment, buy food, and take care of all my cats and it's just generally stressing me out and now I'm wondering if I should even think of living alone

Take a deep breath! While not ideal, living on minimum wage can be done. My advice to you would be to look for some sort of roommate situation as opposed to living on your own. You could also rent a room in a house which would be significantly cheaper than a one bedroom apartment. Your cats shouldn’t cost you more than $50 extra a month, and they will give you such relief and comfort. Moving out of your parent’s house and living on your own can be stressful and feel overwhelming- you’ll want your furry friends by your side!

Budgeting on Minimum Wage

Overview

The average minimum wage in the US is $7.25/hr. Even working full time at 40 hours a week, that’s only a profit of $290 before taxes. This is not a fair living wage! You are worth way more than this amount! I strongly encourage you to start looking for another job that pays better, look for something around the $10-$15 range.

While $7.25 is atrocious, thousands of people around the world support families on much less. If they can do it while supporting children, so can you! To live off a minimum wage budget you need to declare yourself independent. If your parents are still claiming you as a dependent YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO THIS. I also recommend that you have the highest amount possible taken out of your taxes so that you get money back from your state at the end of the year, instead of being in debt to them.

What I’ve done is come up with a budgeting plan based off some made up factors and my own personal experience.

Housing

1. City life. Forget about the city! Apartments located in cities can be three times as expensive as apartments in small towns or villages. On top of the extra expense, they’re much smaller and have less amenities included. I’d much rather live in a one bedroom apartment with a dishwasher and a conveniently located Laundromat, than a literal closet with no windows on a fifth floor walkup. Look for apartments twenty minutes to a half hour outside of your closest city. Now you have the close conveniences of a city, with none of those pesky city prices that your budget can’t handle.

2. College towns. Shop around and look at apartments by local colleges. Large colleges with have apartment complexes within walking distance of the school grounds. Landlords know that college students have less money (you might even be a college student yourself) and adjust their prices accordingly. Even apartments next to ivy league schools are priced this way, so don’t be discouraged by the institution’s “prestige”.

3. Locale. Your safety is more important than your bank account. It doesn’t matter if you live in Section 8 housing or in an affluent suburb. Some apartment complexes and neighborhoods are just safer than others. I live in a heavily populated and upper middle class suburb, and the first year I moved in, a drunk woman tried to throw a beer bottle at my car. Thankfully this is the only time this happened to me, but it made me feel unsafe in my environment. Before signing a lease, walk or drive around your prospective home’s neighborhood at night. Take in the atmosphere, and make sure it’s one where you could comfortably run to the local supermarket at 10:30pm and pick up toilet paper.

4. Roommates. Living on minimum wage requires that you find one or two roommates to help split the rent. The more the better! Get together with your more responsible friends, so at least you’re living with people whose company you enjoy. There are lots of “roommate wanted” forums and message boards for you to browse on the internet, but always bring a responsible adult with you before meeting a stranger. Please. Bring your mom if you have too.

Food

1. Low-spoon food. I created this post a few months ago which offers lots of suggestions about cooking and shopping on a budget.

2. Online recipes. Here are some of my favorite online Tumblr cookbook resources.

- College Student Cookbook. Click here.

- Meals On The Go. Click here. (Not a cookbook, but super helpful)

- Broke College Kid Masterpost. Click here.

- Cooking on A Bootstrap. Click here.

- Good and Cheap. Click here.

- Budget Bytes. Click here.

3. I also regularly update my cooking on a budget tag.

Misc Expenses

1. Gas. Shop around and find the cheapest gas in your area. Avoid gas stations next to colleges, highways, and in touristy areas. Look into getting as gas rewards card from your favorite supermarket. I get 10 cents off a gallon with Stop & Shop every time I do a big shop.

2. Dollar store. Get to know your local dollar and bargain stores. You can buy everything from pots and pans to bed sheets there. These stores often sell bulk ramen for $1 and large cans of crushed tomatoes for 75 cents. That’s enough food for you to live off of for several days. When shopping, I make three grocery store stops to ensure that I spend the least amount possible on my pantry needs. I go Dollar Store, Stop and Shop, and then to my local organic grocery store. I’m going to make a list of things that I buy at Dollar Stores and things that I don’t buy at Dollar Stores soon!

3. Cable. We are living in the digital age- you don’t need cable television. Use Netflix or Hulu or whatever. It will save you tons of $$.

4. Internet. As far as internet speed goes, if you’re living with roommates you will probably need a higher speed. Living by yourself, choose a lower one. Most internet companies offer large discounts to new subscribers. These typically only last a year, but will save you serious money. Make sure to take note of when this discount expires, and contact the company before it does. If you don’t, they’ll begin charging you the full amount without notice.

5. Verizon. I just want to take a moment to talk about how much I love Verizon because they have literally saved me so much money in the three years I’ve been with them. After you sign a contract with a new internet company, they charge you a bunch of ridiculous fees like “activation fees” and “installation fees”. I called Verizon and was like “I’m a poor college student, I can’t afford this” and they were like “don’t worry, we’ll waive the fee”. I signed a two year contract with them that saved me $80 on a high-speed internet bill per month (my price being only 50.99 a month). After the contract expired I call them and they put me on a month to month, keeping the price absolutely the same. TLDR- get Verizon if you can.

6. Utility. Get on a monthly budget with whatever utility company services your new apartment. Although it may seem like the cheaper option, paying the actual amount of electricity you spend per month is the more expensive. It’s also unpredictable, and a minimum wage budget won’t allow for it. See this for more info.

7. Amazon. I buy a lot of my beauty, cleaning, and cat products online. Amazon offers Prime shipping free for a year with a student email address, and then offers it at a greatly reduced price after the year. If you are a student, snap up that free deal ASAP. If it’s in your budget, I’d greatly recommend investing in Amazon Prime.

8. Saving money. It’s so important to attempt to break way from the “paycheck to paycheck” vicious cycle. Living this way does not allow for emergency expense money, and trust me, sometime soon you will need emergency expense money. Your cat might get sick or your car may die, whatever it is, it’s always smart to have at least $500 squirreled away. I’m gonna level with you, things have been tight for my budget and I haven’t been able to save anything for the past three months. But this month I will!

Example Budgets

Full Time

Working with the $7.25/hr and 40hr/week model, here’s an example budget for living on minimum wage. That’s $1,160 a month without taxes.

Housing: Let’s say you’re sharing an apartment with two close friends, the rent being $1,500 without any amenities. That rent split three ways is $500 each.

Gas I commute twenty minutes every day, and I drop about $20-$25 a week on gas. That’s $100 on gas a month.

Food: I do one big shopping a month with my boyfriend. We drop around $180 and that’s including toiletries and soap and stuff. So maybe you’ll spend about $100 a month on all your shopping needs.

Cable/internet: Hopefully you took my advice and skipped cable. Let’s say you’re paying around $50 per month for internet. Split three ways that’s $17 each.

Laundry: Hopefully you’re not like me and are only spending around $20 on laundry per month.

Random expenses: Because there always are some. Especially when you have cats. Let’s just tack on another $100.

With everything added up, you still have around $290 left before taxes! That money can go into a savings account, and after several months, you’ll have that $500 worth of emergency money saved.

Part Time

Working with the $7.25/hr and 25hr/week model, here’s an example budget for living on minimum wage. That’s $725 without taxes.

Housing: In this case, you need to look for apartments in the $800-900 range. In my area, one bedroom apartments go for around $1000, so you may need to get creative with your roommate (I don’t think you could have more than one roommate in this situation). Buy dividers to split the bedroom or studio in half! Let’s say your rent is $850 with nothing included, that’s $425 each.

Gas You’re still looking at a large gas bill per month, so it may be more inexpensive to ride a bike or use public transportation. Let’s say you use public transportation, and spend around $50 a month on that. Or maybe you and your roommate can split gas expenses and share a car?

Food: Pinch those pennies! Use some of those budget cookbooks I linked above to help you cook healthy and delicious meals for under $4 each. See if you can only spend $80 a month on groceries.

Cable/internet: Hopefully you took my advice and skipped cable. Let’s say you’re paying around $50 per month for internet. Split two ways is $25 each.

Laundry: Hopefully you’re not like me and are only spending around $20 on laundry per month.

Random expenses: Because there always are some. Let’s just tack on another $100.

That leaves you $25 to put in your bank account, if that. This is a paycheck to paycheck situation, and you will probably need to get another source of income to feel secure. But you can still do it!

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yournewapartment · 7 years

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Hello, I'm the anon who's freaking out about being thrown into adulthood, and thank you for your previous help. 1.) How do I mamage/budget a minimum wage salary? 2.) I've never been great with any sort of organization, but would you mind teaching me about home organization and important paper organization?

Okay, so this post will be about budgeting on minimum wage, and later in the day I will also post about paper organization. Enjoy!