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tommykinard6 · 1 month

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Buddie fans, my loves, come have a seat for a moment.

I want to have a chat, from a long time Buddie lover to you, whether you’re new or have been here a long time.

It’s okay.

I’ve been in the trenches with you. I’ve been pulling for Buck and Eddie to get together for years. I haven’t given up, even as I’ve seen other fans leave because they lost hope. I don’t blame them. The Buddie section of the fandom has been powerful and beautiful and all consuming. We’ve gone seven seasons and up until this point, not one of the two men in question was even confirmed to be queer.

But we all need to take a moment and breathe. That’s it. Stop doom scrolling for a moment and breathe in.

Good. Now hold for a moment.

And breathe out.

I’m going to get real here, alright? And you might not like everything I say and that’s ok.

We need to stop being a problem. Stay with me. I’m not saying we need to stop shipping Eddie and Buck. Far from it. I will love that ship forever. I’m not saying we need to stop our fanfics or fanart or our love for these two. Our feelings are valid. Many of us have been in love with these two for a long time. The Buckley-Diaz family is a strong unit.

Our feelings are valid and we feel what we feel. But our reactions are utterly and entirely our own responsibility.

We need to stop the bullying.

Let’s face it, many Buddie fans have also been long time bullies in the fandom. Particularly in regard to the actresses who have played the female love interests in the past. Don’t get me wrong, aside from maybe Ali, I have disliked every love interest introduced. But have we not yet learned to separate actress from character? If we are going to dislike an actress, let’s do it for a valid reason. Marisol’s actress for example is problematic. But many fans have rained hell down upon any woman introduced.

I’ve noticed this issue for a long time. But now we’re dealing with the issue being even more widespread because of Buck/Tommy. Now fans are bullying each other. The fandom is divided, even in what is probably one of the better seasons we’ve gotten (in my opinion). I need you guys to stay with me here.

Buck is bi.

Let’s say that again. Evan Buckley is bisexual. A major character on a major show on a major network, previously a womanizer and still a very masculine figure, is queer.

This is monumental. This is amazing.

But so many of you are letting your feelings about Buddie get in the way of appreciating the progress we’ve made. Especially with the reintroduction of Tommy Kinard, Buck’s love interest.

Let’s clear up a couple of things, shall we? Tommy Kinard is not Sal DeLuca. He is not Captain Gerrard. While he was part of the old 118 and definitely was in the old boys club, not only is he not the major problem, but in most cases that he’s an asshole, it can be traced back to his own secret. It’s not great, sure. But let’s look at the facts. Chimney is friends and still keeps in touch with him. Hen appears to hold no animosity and was clearly comfortable with him. In Bobby Begins, they all are friends. And clearly, Tommy has undergone a massive self-growth period. You cannot try to back up your point with inaccurate facts.

People can change. People can also be forgiven. It’s the prerogative of those involved. Enough said.

“But TK6,” you may say, “Buck should be with Eddie! Tommy is a plot device!”

Let’s set aside instant gratification culture really quick and talk about storytelling. You cannot get everything you want when you want it. You also cannot have your cake and eat it too. Buck and Eddie, if both queer, were never going to come out at the same time. Do we really want that?! Because identity is messy. Self discovery is messy. Eddie has Catholic guilt. Buck has self esteem/worth issues. Life isn’t a fanfiction. The real possibility of their relationship surviving such a transition isn’t all that high. IF Eddie is canonically queer, he’s going to have a rougher path than Buck has had.

Also, everyone is a plot device. Let’s get real. If a character doesn’t move a plot along, what’s the point? YES, Tommy is there for a storyline. That doesn’t in anyway invalidate his existence or his presence in Buck’s life.

If you want an instant Buddie storyline, visit ao3! There are amazing stories on there.

Now let’s talk about Buck/Tommy, or TEvan.

I am a long time Buddie lover. I also proudly ship TEvan. Yes, those can coexist. I don’t often multiship, but it’s a beautiful thing. I want Buddie to be endgame, sure! But I’m also okay if TEvan lasts. If they end up being endgame, will I be disappointed about Buddie? Of course. I will also be thrilled because Buck and Tommy are a sweet couple and I’m here for it.

As a queer woman, I’m happy that Buck is bi. Multisexual representation is still sorely lacking. Male sexuality that lets a man keep his masculinity while being queer? Even more so. Just take a look at the ao3 tag. Buck is emasculated in many fics. That’s why I stopped reading a lot.

We have a ship here that includes two very masculine men, who are emotionally vulnerable and exploring something new. I understand ship disappointment. But the negativity is wild. We need to stop the bullying. We need to stop the cheating storylines. We need to stop making Tommy into an ab*s*r only because we apparently can’t handle a love interest being a good person.

At the end of the day, these are fictional characters. It’s a fictional show. But these are real people. All of us are sitting here behind our screens with real feelings. We need to stop.

Buddie may one day happen. And maybe they won’t. TEvan might be endgame. They might not be. Tis the way of 9-1-1. It’s exciting, isn’t it? Waiting for something new and exciting. It was starting to get a little stagnant.

As a queer person, I’m not trying to gatekeep anyone. However, we cannot sit here and say “stop queerbaiting us!!!!” (They weren’t, we’ve always had queer representation on 9-1-1) “give us more representation” and then when they give it to us say, “NO! Not that way!”

If it was about the representation, it being Eddie or Tommy would matter a lot less.

So if you are someone using representation to shield yourself, kindly just be honest with yourself and everyone else.

In the words of our Lady and Savior Taylor Swift, “You need to calm down”.

Now, back off into the world of scrolling you go, my lovelies. Remember, keep an open mind and breathe. At the end of the day, it’s a show. But I for one will happily wait for every episode because I’m loving this.

#911 abc #9-1-1 #911 season 7 #911 show #tommy kinard #bucktommy #evan buckley #buddie #eddie diaz #911 spoilers #911 meta #I’m sure I’ll get hate and I’m prepared for that #however #I’d like to point out that you’ll simply prove my point #it’s two am and I just want people to get along #lgbtq community #lgbtq

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aemondtargaryenonlyfans · 8 months

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KINKTOBER SLEEPOVER.

GIF.

Modern!Maegor Targaryen x fem!Reader

Based on this request

WARNINGS: SEXUAL CONTENT-MINORS DNI; p in v, breeding kink, pregnancy kink, age gap, power imbalance, rough sex, degrading, power play, size difference

WORDS: 1.3 K

NOTES: Thanks for your request @hypocritic-trash-baby! This sleepover really shows me how difficult it is for me to write something with less than 1.5 K words lmao. But I still had so much fun writing modern!Maegor. Hope you like it!

If you had known that working three hours overtime each evening was a part of the job when you had applied, you would not have taken it – regardless of how damn hot your boss was.

Maegor was just your type. He was in his mid 40s, incredibly tall and bulky, but not fat, and allowed you to savor your feminine energy, despite you being his junior personal assistant and supposed to assist him. Whenever he was around, you didn’t have to bother opening doors, and if Maegor heard of someone being rude to you, it was only a matter of time until that person would crawl back to apologize.

And not to talk about the looks he gave you.

It was thrilling.

You scarcely saw the violet hue of his eyes whenever you were around him, always dark blown with something you couldn't quite decipher. Even if you weren’t alone with him, he undressed you with his gaze, and it always strayed to your middle, lingering there a bit too long.

You felt desired, and it was no surprise your confidence got a good boost from it.

This was the main reason for the skirts of your office attire getting progressively shorter, always straddling that fine line between being appropriate or unfitting.

It was another endless evening in the office, though this time, you and Maegor were completely alone. All your colleagues had left earlier to attend the birthday party of Maegor’s senior personal assistant, Alys, while she had passed all her tasks over to you.

… what somehow brought you into the current predicament.

Your chest was pressed flush against the wall of Maegor’s office. He had ripped your precious heart motif tights between your legs, had pulled your thong to the side and had rucked your skirt up around your waist.

Maegor towered over your small frame. One of his paw-like hands held your arms locked behind your back, while the other cupped your chin to tilt your head back, forcing you to arch your back to accommodate his cock as he pounded into you with reckless abandon.

“Waited so fuckin’ long for this,” Maegor grunted into your ear, his hot breath fanning over your flushed skin. “All those short skirts…,” he trailed off, seemingly needing a few seconds to regain his breath. “... you were just beggin’ for me to fuck you, huh?”

Your mouth hung agape, and with his hand tilting your head back to a point it was borderline painful, you weren't quite able to make any more sounds than breathy whines and whimpers. “Y-Yes,” you mewled, the sound straining your throat to the point you had to cough once.

Maegor seemed to notice your struggle, and even though his hips didn’t slow down, he was generous enough to ease the grip on your face, allowing your head to bow forward.

“Oh, fuck,” he groaned, your name leaving his lips so smoothly, you almost came just hearing it, “takin’ my fuckin’ cock like the good girl you are.” While his hand kept your arms pinned behind your back, his other grabbed your thigh to raise your leg, draping it over his forearm as he braced it on the wall.

The new angle had you seeing stars, his cock repeatedly attacking the sweet spot inside of you to the point you felt the urge to pee. Every moan hiccuped in your throat each time his hips slammed into yours, his heavy balls slapping against your aching clit, but not once giving you enough stimulation to push you over the edge.

“That’s it, ‘m gonna get you all nice and ready for me. Gonna fill you up to show everyone you’re mine.” He said it as if he had been waiting for this just as long as you had, if not even longer. “Just knew I had to breed you when you pranced into my office for your job interview.”

As he bent forward, he rested his forehead against the back of your head, looking down to where his cock was repeatedly disappearing inside of your cunt. “G-God, please, daddy… harder,” you whimpered, pressing your eyes shut. “N-Need you t-to… cum in me.”

Your words made the animal behind you groan. “That’s what you want, huh? Bein’ fucked full of my cum until you’re pregnant with my child?”

At this point, your mind was blank, his merciless pounding and words forcing every thought right out of your brain. You whined a string of incoherent words, rambling one ‘yes’ after the other.

You could feel his thrusts becoming more and more erratic, a sign that let you know he was about to topple over the edge. With a few more thrusts, he fucked into you, until he released a breathy groan that heralded his orgasm. His twitching cock spilled his load deep inside of your cunt, and you squeezed him ever so tightly in response, milking him for every drop.

While you thought he was done with you as he pulled out, a bit disappointed you didn’t get to come at all, your doubts were quickly pushed aside with his strong arms wrapping around you, turning you in his grasp, and lifting you from the ground. You squealed at the sudden action, more so when the coldness of his desk seeped into the naked flesh of your arse.

Before you could say anything, he draped your legs over his shoulders and plunged his cock back into your cunt, his seed mixed with your arousal serving as lubricant.

“You’re mine,” he growled, a threatening edge to his husky voice. “I fuckin’ own you and this sweet cunt of yours. Breedin’ you over and over, until I’ve knocked you up. Want everyone to know that I fuck you.”

His possessiveness intimidated you, but you didn’t complain, not when it meant you got to be fucked like this for the rest of your life.

“You gonna look so fuckin’ radiant with a swollen belly.” You looked up at him with half lidded eyes, drool dripping from for parted lips – a clear sign that he had most definitely fucked you dumb by now. “Gonna be so, so full of me, pigeon, don’t think I’ll be able to keep my hands off of you.”

“Mae–Da-Daddy, please,” you called out desperately, not caring if it was loud enough to be heard outside of his office, since no one was there to hear it in the first place. Finally, you felt the heat in the pit of your stomach building again, the coil ready to snap at any given moment. “I want it, please. Need it so bad.”

Maegor smirked wickedly at you, and reached between your bodies to press his thumb to your clit, dragging it over the little bud in circles. It had your moans growing in volume as your climax washed over you, your convulsing walls clenching tight enough around Maegor’s thick cock to trigger his second release of the night. Your boss came with a shuddered breath leaving his lips, and by the way his jaw set, you could tell that he was slightly overstimulated already.

You wanted to prop yourself up on your elbows when he pulled out, but his hand was quick to push you down again. A gasp escaped your throat at the impact, wanting to see just too badly what he was up to when he bowed forwards and brought his hand to your abused cunt.

The uncomfortable feeling of being overstimulated filled your veins as Maegor dragged a thick finger through your folds, eventually sliding it inside and using it as a plug to stop his seed from oozing out of your cunt, making sure it wasn't fruitless.

A few seconds passed until he pulled your thong back in place and fixed your skirt, helping you down his desk. When you met his dark blown gaze, you knew the insatiable man in front of you wasn’t satisfied.

“I’m not quite finished with you yet.”

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pvtameliatucker · 3 months

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okay but I'm not seeing people really go into the DETAILS of Buck and Natalia breaking up. Like think about it.

This man avoided his own loft and ignored any communication from Taylor, knowing the relationship was at its end. He avoided that confrontation and Eddie wasn't only just privy to it, HE WAS SITTING FRONT ROW to that shit show. But with Natalia?

Natalia, it's clear, that BUCK dumped HER. And it was such a non-issue to him, that not only did it happen completely offscreen, but he didn't lament to Eddie about it at all. And in the discussion we DO get, he's fine. He's actually fine, not just plastering on a smile to skate by the feelings. THAT IS SUCH PROGRESS.

And I see people talking about the Eddie of it all, where when Marisol leaves, Buck will step up to stay But. BUT. I don't see ANYONE mentioning that this is the first time Buck ended his relationship before Eddie ended his, storytelling-wise. When Ali broke up with Buck, Eddie's ended first because Shannon asked for a divorce and then passed away. Eddie broke up with Ana first and then Buck broke up with Taylor. People are noticing that when one starts dating, so does the other, but I never see them noticing the ORDER of who does what first either starting or stopping their relationships.

So I think its such a great small detail to show Buck's growth that not only did he have a breakup (one he initiated) but he had one that was so Uninvolved to his emotional problems that it happened where an audience wasn't needed, and that he was able to do so without the fear of being left behind by Eddie. Because it seems like his other relationships he took cues from Eddie to see if he would wind up being alone, but now he's gradually accepting that, no, even if Eddie isn't Available for him, he's still available. Whether it's a romantic buddie speculation or platonic.

Idk, I think I'm rambling because my thoughts go zipping around, but all I'm really saying is, I'm so happy Buck has this personal progression that doesn't need a Front and Center this time. He gets to have peace with himself when having that decision, which he rarely gets.

#911onabc #911 #911 abc #911 spoilers #evan buckley #eddie diaz #buddie #evan buck buckely #911 s7 #911 season 7

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reasonsforhope · 10 months

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"When Ghana’s parliament voted to decriminalise suicide and attempted suicide in March, Prof Joseph Osafo felt a weight lift from his shoulders.

Osafo, head of psychology at the University of Ghana, had been engaged in a near 20-year battle to abolish the law – brought in by the British – which stated that anyone who attempts suicide should face imprisonment or a fine.

“It was a very good feeling. I felt like a certain burden had been removed. I was extremely elated,” he remembers. “Then the next morning, I realised we had a lot of work to do.”

Four countries decriminalised suicide in just the past year

Ghana is one of four countries to have decriminalised suicide in the past year – Malaysia, Guyana and Pakistan are the others. More could soon follow, which campaigners say is a sign of greater awareness and understanding of mental health. Kenya and Uganda have filed petitions to overturn laws and members of the UN group of Small Island Developing States have committed to decriminalise. Discussions are also being held in Nigeria and Bangladesh.

“There seems to be a domino effect taking place,” says Muhammad Ali Hasnain, a barrister from United for Global Mental Health, a group calling for decriminalisation. “As one country decriminalises suicide, others start to follow suit.”

“It is quite unusual,” adds Sarah Kline, the organisation’s chief executive. “It’s a huge sign of progress and an important step forward for the populations most at risk, as well as the countries as a whole.” ...

A large number of laws were introduced by the British during colonial rule. Suicide was decriminalised in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in the 1960s – it was never criminalised in Scotland...

The results of these punishments can be “devastating” and present “a huge barrier” to addressing the problem, says Natalie Drew, a technical officer with the mental health policy and service development team at the World Health Organization. Health experts and advocates argue that suicide should be treated as a public health issue rather than a crime.

Criminalising suicide denies people the right to access health services and discriminates against them because of something they’re experiencing, Drew adds. Research shows that in countries where suicide has been decriminalised, people can seek help for mental health and rates tend to then decline.

Next Steps

In September, the WHO is due to release a guide on decriminalising suicide for policymakers, with explanations of how countries have managed it...

“[Ghana’s decision] should have an impact on the work ongoing in other countries, especially in the Africa region,” says Osafo. Within the past couple of months, he has set up a mental health working group with representatives from about 20 African countries, and one of the biggest issues on the agenda is decriminalisation of suicide, he says. “Nigeria is active, Cameroon is active … Kenya has joined and is doing fantastic work. We have Uganda. People have been asking us how we did it.”

Since suicide was decriminalised in Malaysia last month, Anita Abu Bakar, founder and president of the Mental Illness Awareness and Support Association (Miasa), has already seen things change. Crisis response teams and helplines are expanding, and money from the mental health budget is being given to organisations who work in the community. “This is the shift we’re so happy to see,” she says. “It was such an archaic law.”

She adds: “I’m a person with lived experience. What does decriminalisation mean to people like me? We feel supported, we feel this conversation can go to a different level. Obviously decriminalisation is not the only way to prevent suicide, but it’s a big one. I’m happy for this progressive move – better late than never. I’m excited to see what happens next, not just for Malaysia but for the rest of us.”"

-via The Guardian, July 20, 2023

#cw suicide #cw sui mention #ghana #malaysia #guyana #pakistan #nigeria #kenya #uganda #cameroon #mental health #mental illness #healthcare access #decriminalization #england #colonialism #good news #cw sui attempt #suicide

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witheredoffherwitch · 6 months

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Speculations and Spoilers: A Breakdown of the Trailer

Overall, here are my initial thoughts on the trailer: it exceeded my expectations. I was prepared for the rumoured "leaked" version but I am pleasantly surprised with what we got instead. The aesthetic of this season has already improved - the colour grading, costumes, and makeup all seem to have upgraded from previous seasons.

Now let's get to the trailer itself. I won't analyze every single scene, but rather focus on a few intriguing ones and share my own theories. Just a heads up, there may be some spoilers mentioned in the following observations. So, proceed with caution!

The first shot of Rhaenyra is absolutely heartbreaking. She appears shattered and defeated, likely searching for her son's body by the Shipbreaker's Bay:

Both shots seem to be part of the same sequence as she is wearing the same outfit.. and the first shot could be the aftermath of her unsuccessful attempt to find her son's remains.

In the next scene, we are presented with two dragons on opposite sides: Syrax and Rhaenyra on one side, and Seasmoke on the other. This will potentially show Addam or Laenor swearing allegiance to Rhaenyra's cause.

The third scene I wanted to highlight is Alicent caught in the midst of a riot. While many assume it will occur during the funeral procession, I believe it takes place much later in the series. One hint is from the leaks revealing Alicent's funeral attire, which looks quite different from what we see here.

The first image is from the leaked footage, while the second one is what we see in the official trailer. It's possible that they may have reshot the scene with different costumes, but it seems unlikely. In the second scene, which I assume will be set much later in the season, it seems likely that they might finally introduce the Shepherd. Personally, I will be thrilled if they bring him into the series earlier on as he becomes one of the most prominent voices against House Targaryen. His early introduction will showcase his growing hatred for their dragons, and his sermons will only become more antagonistic as Rhaenyra's rule progresses. Eventually, it will lead to the infamous storming of the dragon pit where the mob will eventually slaughter all of their remaining dragons.

A brief glimpse at Helaena's scenes with B&C and her attending Jaehaerys' funeral procession:

The second scene captures her gazing upwards, likely indicating one of two possibilities: 1. she is giving the command for Dracarys to Dreamfyre, or 2. she is looking up to see Aegon on Sunfyre, who may perform the final rites himself.

In addition to Rhaenyra's dragon-riding scene, we are shown Baela and Aemond on their dragons. Baela is decked out in armour, possibly indicating her involvement in a war. This supports the popular theory that she will be present at Rook's Rest.

Baela's scene has many fans speculating that it may be when she witnesses the death of Rhaenys.

Moving on to the Aegon scene, I am thoroughly amused by his attitude. I was afraid we would be stuck in another sombre period with Aegon, but thankfully we have moved on and entered his cunty phase.

Lastly, I won't delve deeper into these two scenes since I've already addressed the question here.

However, I have heard the theory about it being a dream sequence, which is something I personally prefer over the idea of it being about Alys.

Now, my final thoughts: Rhaenyra looks more pro-active as most of us had expected earlier. However, I still doubt if they will include her in any of the war sequences. Her role will be much more covert (which the maesters wouldn't have known to record in the history texts.) On the other hand, Alicent appears to have given up this season altogether. A side note: both women look stunningly beautiful in the trailer.

Aemond continues to dominate as the most interesting character, and it seems we can anticipate his reign as Prince Regent this season. Even in his brief appearances, he manages to captivate our attention and leave us wanting more. Aegon will be taking charge and we can expect a major comeback now that he is leading the Green faction.

AND that concludes everything for the time being! I may come back to this post later and make some revisions, but for now, this is all.

#house of the dragon #hotd season 2 #hotd trailer #rhaenyra targaryen #alicent hightower #aemond targaryen #aegon ii targaryen #helaena taragryen #baela targaryen #team black #team green #rhaenys targaryen #hotd discussion #hotd discourse #hotd speculations

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fanficapologist · 23 days

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Of Dragons and Maelstroms: Aemond POV

Themes and Warnings: slow burn, enemies to lovers, blood, violence, explicit language, sexual violence, period-typical misogyny, sexual themes, smut, tension, marriage, jealousy, pregnancy, childbirth, miscarriage, attempted sexual assault, breastfeeding, major character death, divergent timelines

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the House of The Dragon/Fire & Blood/Game of Thrones characters nor do I claim to own them. I do not own any of the images used nor do I claim to own them.

Chapter Nine

The one-eyed Prince arrived promptly for the small council meeting, as was his habit, slipping into the chamber with a quiet efficiency that spoke of familiarity. The Small Council chamber in the Red Keep was a stately room adorned with rich tapestries depicting scenes of Westerosi history. The long, polished table was surrounded by high-backed chairs. Tall windows allowed sunlight to stream in, casting a warm glow over the room.

As the other council members trickled in, it became apparent that Aemond's grandfather, Lord Otto, was chairing the meeting. He sat at the head of the table, his presence commanding respect as he prepared to lead the discussions.

“Where is the King?” Aemond questioned his grandfather.

“He is…indisposed this morning,” the Hand replied diplomatically.

Nursing a hangover then, Aemond thought to himself. Probably after a busy night in Flea Bottom, whereby the Targaryen name continued to be sullied by his idiot older brother’s debauchery.

With the stones set in their places by each council member, the meeting began. Aemond sat with rapt attention as the council discussed matters ranging from Lord Ormund Hightower's army progressions in the Reach to the challenges of obtaining resources from Essos via the Gullet due to the Velaryon fleet.

Focused, Aemond diligently took notes on each point, fully immersing himself in the intricacies of politics. While it wasn't his designated role, he embraced the responsibility, driven by a determination to prove his worthiness to and for the crown. Unlike his brother Aegon, who showed little interest in kingship, Aemond saw each day as an opportunity to demonstrate his capability and readiness to lead.

“Which leads us onto some news I need to share,” Lord Otto announced, his tone solemn as he turned to the Master of Laws, his gesture deliberate. “Lord Jasper, I regret to inform you that your previous sister by law, the Lady Viserra Targaryen, has passed.”

Across the table, the Master of Laws blinked, his stoic facade momentarily faltering as he absorbed the news. Aemond could see the ripple of shock that passed through the room, mirrored in the slight widening of Lord Jasper's eyes.

"As has the entirety of House Morne," Maester Orwyle added, his voice heavy with sorrow. "Every man, woman, and child fallen to an outbreak of consumption."

Aemond's breath caught in his throat, a pang of sympathy coursing through him."Gods be good," he muttered quietly, his gaze dropping to the table before him.

Fuck. Alys had done it. Lying with the witch had not been in vain. The prophecy would come to fruition and Aemond would finally get everything he wanted, no, deserved. He would be King and Maera would be his queen. Their line would produce the King of Kings and return the House of the Dragon to its proper glory.

“Our condolences are with your daughter at this time,” Lord Larys interjected, his voice a soft murmur, his gaze sympathetic as he addressed Lord Jasper. “Yet their downfall means Lady Maera has inherited the Fortress of Fog and fleet of Morne as the closest living relative.”

Lord Jasper nodded solemnly, his expression masking the turmoil within, before turning his attention back to Lord Otto, his posture straightening with resolve. “Thank you, my Lord Hand. I shall be sure to inform her.”

But before he could continue, Lord Otto interjected, his voice tinged with a hint of anticipation. “I am not sure if you should inform her just yet, my Lord. The members of the council have a proposition for you,” he revealed, his gaze shifting towards Ser Tyland Lannister, his gesture inviting him to speak. The Master of Ships rose from his seat, a determined glint in his eyes as he retrieved a map from his pocket, laying it out on the table. Aemond leaned forward, his interest piqued, as he joined the others in studying the intricate details.

“The fleet of Morne possesses extensive knowledge of the eastern seas. Sixty ships, coupled with the Lannister fleet, would give us a considerable advantage at sea,” the Master of Ships began, tracing his finger over the scattered islands off the coast of the Stormlands. Aemond followed his movements, mentally mapping out potential strategies.

“The straits are also the perfect place to harbor our ships, closer to King's Landing than Lannisport, yet distant enough to keep any conflict away from the Capital itself,” Ser Tyland elaborated, his tone filled with conviction. Aemond nodded in agreement, recognizing the strategic value of such a position.

“It is also close enough to Dragonstone to launch an attack at short notice I see,” Aemond added, his voice carrying a note of determination. He glanced at Ser Tyland, acknowledging the astuteness of the plan, before settling back into his seat.

“We ask you to pledge the fleet to your King’s cause,” the Hand of the King declared, his gaze shifting to the Master of Laws for his response.

Lord Jasper appeared hesitant, his brow furrowed in contemplation before he finally spoke. “My Lords, you are putting us in a precarious position. You do not know the Lords of the Straits or the Sapphire Isle, but I do,” he cautioned, his expression grave. Aemond observed the tension in Lord Jasper's posture, a subtle indication of his concern.

“They are proud and fierce when it comes to protecting what is theirs. Lord Bryndemere Tarth is obnoxiously stubborn. He even objected to Lord Byron’s and Lady Viserra’s betrothal as she was not of Tarth blood,” Lord Jasper explained, his frown deepening with each word. Aemond nodded thoughtfully, absorbing the implications of Lord Jasper's insight.

Ser Tyland's eyes rolled in exasperation as he retorted, “Think of it as merely borrowing, Jasper, and the glory it would bring your house.” Aemond observed the tension mounting in the room, the Master of Ships' frustration evident in the dismissive gesture of his hand.

“It is improper for a Lady to inherit such a vast amount of land and resources anyway. We could give it back to one of your sons once the war is won,” Ser Tyland continued, his tone tinged with arrogance. Aemond noticed the tightening of Lord Jasper's jaw, a sign of his growing irritation.

The Master of Laws shook his head vehemently, his anger palpable. “You clearly lack the knowledge of the Stormlands, Tyland,” he sneered, his words laced with disdain. “My sons have no tie to the Straits, only Maera does. If we provoke House Tarth and do not honor their customs, who is closest to them to receive their wrath?” Aemond observed the furrow of Lord Jasper's brow, a silent indication of his resolve.

The Master of Laws glanced up, meeting Aemond's gaze with a sense of solidarity. “My House, my seat, my children. I will not risk it,” Lord Jasper declared solemnly, his voice carrying a weight of determination. Aemond nodded slowly, acknowledging the gravity of Lord Jasper's decision.

“You refuse your King and country, my Lord?” Lord Larys interjected slyly, a smirk playing on his lips. Aemond rose from his chair, his gesture commanding attention as he addressed the room.

“That is enough,” the Prince commanded firmly, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. “We will come to a conclusion in the next few days. For now, let it be.” Aemond observed the subtle shift in the atmosphere, a temporary reprieve from the heated debate.

“Thank you, my Prince,” Lord Jasper nodded gratefully before rising from his seat. “If you will excuse me.” With that, the Master of Laws exited the small council chamber, leaving behind a palpable sense of tension. Aemond surveyed the remaining council members, his expression unreadable as he returned to his seat and contemplated the implications of their deliberations.

Lord Larys couldn't resist a smirk as he remarked, "Sensitive, isn't he?" His words carried a mocking tone, a subtle jab at the Master of Laws' departure.

The Hand of the King turned to Ser Tyland, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "‘Borrow,’ Tyland, really?" Lord Otto's disbelief was palpable, prompting Ser Tyland to throw his hands up in bewilderment. "Would you be so inclined as to let us ‘borrow’ Casterley Rock for the cause?" Lord Otto continued, his tone laced with irony. Aemond observed the tension building between the council members, a sense of discord hanging in the air.

Ser Tyland scoffed in response, his disbelief evident. "It is hardly-" he began, only to be interrupted by Maester Orwyle.

"You're right, it is not the same," the Maester interjected, his voice calm yet authoritative. "You do not have someone breathing down your neck if your affairs are not properly handled."

Aemond rolled his eye at the ensuing squabble, a silent commentary on the futility of their bickering. "We needn't upset the allies we already have. The Realm is divided enough as it is," the Prince interjected, his voice firm as he sought to steer the conversation towards a more productive course.

With a decisive gesture, he stood up once again from the table, his intention clear. "We will secure it another way. I will speak with my brother," Aemond declared, his words met with nods and murmurs of agreement from the remaining council members.

Departing from the room, the Prince devised a plan; he would approach his older brother and stress the importance that the fleet of Morne would be vital to the war effort at sea. Rather than simply forcing House Wylde’s hand, as well as appeasing House Tarth, an alliance could be made by marriage and the fleet could be used as Maera’s dowry. Aemond would assume the position of Master of Coin and Maera would remain in the Capital as a companion and sister to Helaena. Everybody won. Especially the one-eyed Prince.

Pinning down the King was harder than the Prince had planned. Aegon declined visitors for the majority of the day due to being abed, however when Aemond returned in the evening, Aegon was already gone, back out to the streets of Flea Bottom. Frustrated, Aemond returned to his rooms and began to settle down for the night, prepared to approach his brother the next morning.

His chambers were cloaked in darkness, with a pervasive black hue dominating the room. The walls adorned in ebony tapestries, and the furniture crafted from dark wood, all contributed to the monochromatic scheme. Despite the somber palette, the atmosphere was one of serene orderliness. Every item found its place with precision, from the perfectly made bed with its charcoal linens to the polished obsidian desk where quills and parchment lay in meticulous alignment. Not a single stray object disrupted the pristine neatness of the space, reflecting Aemond's penchant for tidiness and control even in the solitude of night.

The Prince deftly removed his black leather doublet, revealing his slender, chiseled torso, which appeared even more defined in the flickering light of the hearth. As he discarded the garment, he slipped into a soft white cotton night shirt, though the expanse of his chest remained on display, a testament to his confident demeanor. He then released his silver hair from its tie, allowing the locks to flow freely and frame his contoured face. Settling into a chair by the warm glow of the fire, he continued to pore over a tome detailing Maegor the Cruel's reign.

The book highlighted the old King’s ruthless methods and uncompromising nature. While Aemond admired some of his ancestor's qualities, such as his strength and determination, he couldn't help but be critical of Maegor's reliance on violence over diplomacy. It was this approach, acting with steel and fire before seeking peaceful resolutions, that ultimately led to Maegor's downfall, a cautionary tale that resonated with Aemond as he sought to navigate the complexities of power and leadership.

As Aemond delved into the chapter about Tyanna of the Tower, Maegor's enigmatic third wife, he couldn't help but scoff at the extent of his ancestor's trust in her. Rising from a humble courtesan to queen and Mistress of Whispers, Tyanna wielded considerable influence over the court, a fact that both intrigued and unsettled Aemond.The accounts detailing Tyanna's alleged sorcery and involvement in poisoning Maegor's other wives' children in the womb sent a sudden chill down Aemond's spine.

Despite his confidence in Alys and her abilities, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that crept over him. Through the witch's powers, Maera's reputation had been restored, securing a valuable dowry and bringing her on the brink of betrothal to him. Yet, the parallels between Tyanna's rumored actions and Alys's own abilities left Aemond with a sense of disquiet, casting a shadow of doubt over his trust in her. Never again.

The peace was disturbed when Aemond’s doors suddenly burst open, but the sight that greeted him was a welcome one indeed. Standing in the doorway, her dark brown and silver curls tumbling around her face, was Maera, her expression one of absolute fury. A smirk tugged at Aemond's lips as he glanced up from his book, taking in the sight of her wearing a sheer white nightdress that accentuated every curve of her body.

As Maera stormed across the room, her nightdress billowing around her, Aemond couldn't help but admire the glimpse of her rounded thigh as she unsheathed her dagger, pointing it menacingly at his bare chest. Though he maintained his outward composure, inwardly, he felt a surge of desire at the sight of her fiery anger. To have her here, in his chambers, clad in her nightgown and brandishing a dagger, stirred a primal longing within him that he struggled to contain.

Aemond rose from his chair with a deliberate calmness, brushing past the dagger Maera held against his chest as he strode purposefully to the nearby table. Pouring himself a goblet of wine, he took a measured sip, the liquid warming his throat as he waited for Maera to speak. When Maera revealed that Lord Warren Tully had not proposed as anticipated, Aemond couldn't contain his satisfaction. Behind the rim of the goblet he brought to his lips, he concealed a grin, relishing the twist of fate that had thwarted Maera's expectations.

Despite his annoyance that a mere trout had evoked such a reaction from her, Aemond couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment at being the cause of her fury. In his mind, Maera needn't be upset, for he had secured a promising future for her by his side, a fact that filled him with a quiet sense of pride and accomplishment.

"A true shame that Lord Warren Tully hasn't proposed marriage yet. Perhaps he finds other ladies in King's Landing more intriguing,” the Prince declared cruelly, hoping it would further deter her from a life in Riverrun.

In her desperation, Maera moved in once more, the blade of her dagger now pointed directly at his throat. He watched her every move with intrigue, finding it increasingly difficult to ignore how hard his cock was straining against his trousers. "I thought we had a truce," she implored, her words laced with vulnerability. "I thought we were friends. Why Aemond? Why would you do this?"

The Prince’s agitation simmered beneath the surface. "Lord Warren is not worthy of your hand."

He had intercepted the proposal not out of malice, but out of genuine care for her, as well as necessity for the future. He believed in their shared destiny and was determined to ensure that no one would take her away from him. She was his, and he had always been hers. Their verbal sparring continued, a dance of wit and emotion that Aemond orchestrated with precision. Like a skilled musician with a fiddle, he played her reactions, navigating the conversation with finesse.

When he pointed out her impropriety, particularly regarding her lack of attire, Maera stammered for a moment, her cheeks flushing with anger and embarrassment. It was a sight that Aemond found both infuriating and strangely alluring, the intensity of her emotions causing him to almost groan inwardly. With a subtle smirk, he watched as she squirmed, relishing the opportunity to toy with her emotions like a cat with a mouse.

Maera placed her dagger on the table with deliberate care, a silent declaration of truce, before positioning herself right beside Aemond. As her finger traced a tantalizing path up his clothed arm, her feather-light touch caused him to tense his jaw in response. The air between them crackled with tension, their proximity charged with an undeniable chemistry that neither could deny.

In a voice that sounded sweet yet carried a cutting edge, Maera purred words that both enticed and wounded him. Overwhelmed by the tumult of emotions raging within him, Aemond gave in to the primal urge coursing through his veins. With an intensity that bordered on desperation, he pushed Maera back against the wall, his grip on her shoulders unyielding like iron. He pinned her to the cold stone, their bodies pressed chest to chest, breaths mingling in a tangled symphony of desire and defiance.

Though Maera attempted to fight against his hold, a display of strength that Aemond quietly admired, he silenced her protests by burying his fingers in her hair and pulling her head back, forcing her to look up at him. Their eyes locked in a battle of wills, each daring the other to yield.

Even in this intimate and precarious position, they continued to hurl insults and snarl at one another, their verbal sparring escalating to new heights. But as the tension mounted, Aemond's dominance asserted itself. With a firm hand wrapped around her throat, he exerted his control over her completely, a silent declaration of his authority in that moment, and he was willing to bet her cunny was wet at him overpowering her.

Uncertain whether to be enraged or enamored, he felt a conflicting surge of emotions. No one else could challenge him the way she could. Despite his indifference to others’ opinions, he regarded Maera as a worthy adversary, her intellect and spirit a match for his own. She was the one who could truly test him, the one who had always held his attention, whose challenge he truly welcomed. It was her. It had always been her.

Aemond tensed his jaw, his eye searching her face. He frowned before taunting her once more. “I should’ve known all that time ago that you a maiden by the pathetic kiss that you shared with that Tully cunt.”

His harsh words hung in the air, his gaze locked on Maera's face as if searching for a reaction. She seethed in silence, her anger simmering beneath the surface, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a response. A dangerous intensity continued to emanate from him as he shifted his hand on her throat upwards, his thumb now grazing her bottom lip.

When Maera attempted to snarl at him once more, Aemond seized her lips in a harsh, demanding kiss, silencing her protests with the press of his mouth against hers. He could sense her inexperience, but rather than deter him, it only fueled his desire for her, igniting the urge to possess and dominate.

As she surrendered to the kiss, her hand tentatively exploring the expanse of his broad chest, Aemond felt a surge of triumph coursing through him, a sensation more exhilarating than any victory on the battlefield. Her submission to him, demonstrated by the growing confidence in her touch, only intensified his hunger for her.

In a bold display of dominance, Aemond bit down on Maera's lip, eliciting a gasp from her that allowed him to deepen the kiss. With a menacing edge, he explored her mouth with his tongue, savoring the taste of her as if committing it to memory, unwilling to forget the sensation of her against him.

As Aemond kissed Maera fervently, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was unlike any other encounter he had experienced before. It wasn't akin to the fleeting kisses bestowed on him by the whores in the brothel during his youth, nor the rough ones he had placed upon the bodies of serving girls he had used. This felt different, right even, as if her body had been purposely crafted by the Gods for him alone.

Driven by an insatiable desire, Aemond's hands began to roam Maera's body, tracing every curve beneath the flimsy material of her nightdress. Despite the intoxicating sensation, a part of him wished the fabric wasn't in the way, hindering his exploration of her soft skin.

As Maera's hips sought his own, creating a friction that sent waves of pleasure coursing through him, Aemond couldn't suppress a primal growl of longing. Her desperation was evident as her hand clutched desperately at the fabric of his undershirt, pulling him closer. In that moment, Aemond couldn't help but feel that Maera desired their shared fate as fervently as he did, their connection undeniable.

The Prince found himself completely enthralled by Maera, swept up in the intensity of their shared desire. As much as he yearned to lose himself in the moment, to lift up her nightdress and take her right there against the wall, he knew he had to regain control, both for the sake of her honor and his own. With a reluctant resolve, he pulled away from her, breaking the connection that had ignited between them.

Taking in the sight of her, Aemond couldn't help but admire the aftermath of their encounter. Her face was flushed red, her lips swollen from the fervent kisses they had shared. Her disheveled hair framed her face in a wild halo, adding to her allure. With each quickened breath, and the unmistakable signs of lust reflected in her blown pupils, Maera exuded an irresistible magnetism that Aemond found impossible to resist.

Smirking at her, the Prince couldn't help but notice the flicker of fury reigniting in Maera's green eyes, a testament to the fiery spirit that had drawn him to her in the first place. She pushed past Aemond with swift determination, moving gracefully to her table to retrieve her dagger, securing it to her thigh with practiced efficiency. Next, she reached for her candle, casting a flickering glow over the room, before gathering her shawl from the floor where it had been discarded long before.

As she approached the chamber doors, Maera glanced back at Aemond, her eyes ablaze with a potent mixture of anger and defiance. With a voice dripping with venom, she unleashed a torrent of chastisement upon him, condemning his treatment of her over the years and lamenting the court's attempts to strip her of her rightful inheritance. Despite the harshness of her words, the fury in her eyes only served to enhance her beauty in Aemond's eye, a captivating sight that assured him that having her as his queen was meant to be.

What made the moment even more intoxicating for Aemond was the glimpse into the turmoil raging within Maera’s mind. He could see the conflicting emotions battling for dominance: feelings of desire, resentment, and hatred all vying to be heard over one another. It was a mesmerizing display of inner conflict that only served to deepen his fascination with her.

"But it doesn't matter that Lord Warren didn't propose,” Maera sneered, capturing Aemond’s attention. “My new inheritance will attract plenty more suitors. So, get to work meddling in my affairs if you want to scare them all off." With that parting shot, she stormed out of his chambers, slamming the door behind her.

As he reflected on the encounter, Aemond couldn’t shake the sense of unease that settled over him. It was only a matter of time until the rest of the court discovered Maera’s new inheritance, which would undoubtedly attract even more suitors to her doorstep. Time was not on his side, and he knew he needed to speak with his brother, the King, when he eventually returned from his depraved activities, to stake his claim and secure his betrothal to her.

The one-eyed Prince found himself unable to sleep that night, the memory of his encounter with Maera haunting his thoughts. He tossed and turned in his bed, his mind consumed by images of her, unable to shake the sensation of her lips against his. He touched his calloused fingertips to his lips, as if seeking reassurance that the kiss had truly happened, still not quite believing the reality of it. The fact that she had kissed him back only added to the turmoil of his emotions.

As the hours ticked by in the oppressive darkness of his chambers, Aemond continued to lie awake, his mind racing with thoughts of Maera and the tangled web of desire and resentment that bound them together. It wasn't until the faint light of dawn began to filter through the windows that exhaustion finally overtook him, and he drifted into a fitful sleep, his dreams haunted by visions of the woman fate had bound him to.

He swore in his dreams he could even hear her voice echoing in his head. When he jolted awake, his heart pounding with a sense of urgency, he was startled to find that he could actually still hear her voice, this time calling out his sister’s name; Helaena. Quickly shaking off the remnants of sleep, Aemond sprang into action. With practiced efficiency, he retrieved his sapphire eye, inserting it into its socket and securing the eyepatch in place. He dressed swiftly, donning his doublet and pants, lacing up his boots in haste before rushing out of his chambers to investigate the source of the commotion echoing down the corridor.

“Helaena, please answer if you're okay,” Maera could be heard yelling, followed by repeated banging on the heavy wooden doors. Rounding the corner, he was met with a distressing scene; his mother, the dowager Queen, and Maera, frantically attempting to gain entry to Helaena's room.

With urgency in her voice, his mother pleaded for help, her worry etched deeply into her features. Aemond wasted no time in springing into action. First, he attempted to jiggle the handle and shoulder-barge the door, hoping to force it open, but to no avail. Frustration mounting, he cast his gaze around the corridor, searching for another solution.

Spotting a nearby painting of the Smith hanging on the wall, Aemond acted decisively. With a strength that belied his slender frame, he ripped the painting off as if it weighed nothing, revealing a concealed door behind it. With determination, he attempted to force this secondary entrance open with his shoulder, but the door resisted his efforts, stubbornly refusing to yield.

As the Prince was trying to strategize another way to gain entry, Ser Criston Cole, his trusted friend and teacher, rounded the corner accompanied by three other knights, two of whom were known for regularly guarding Aegon's door. They carried a battering ram and placed a significant distance between themselves and the stubborn door.

At Ser Criston's command, the trio of guards sprinted forward, the battering ram crashing into the door with resounding force. The door groaned and creaked, reluctantly giving way slightly under the pressure. Undeterred, the guards charged forward once more, their collective effort forcing the door wide enough to allow entry in single file.

Aemond watched in awe as Maera practically shoved everyone out of the way in her eagerness to reach his sister. Her determination was palpable, and while he admired her resolve, a sense of apprehension gnawed at him, fearing what they would find behind the door. With a mix of anticipation and trepidation, Aemond followed Maera into the room, bracing himself for whatever lay ahead.

Helaena's room was in shambles, a chaotic scene of destruction that struck Aemond to his core. Furniture lay overturned, belongings scattered haphazardly across the floor, and the air was heavy with the scent of fear and desperation.

As Aemond's gaze fell upon the bed, his heart sank. He watched Maera hastily wrap a sheet around his sister, attempting to maintain her modesty, but the makeshift cloak couldn't conceal the extent of Helaena's injuries. Bruises marred her arms and legs, her eye swollen shut, and blood stained the sheets beneath her.

Aemond stood frozen, a wave of horror washing over him as he took in the sight of his battered sister. His attention was drawn back to Maera, who was shouting at his mother for not taking the situation seriously enough. Maera then turned her attention back to Helaena, who sat huddled on the bed, avoiding everyone's gaze with a haunted expression that sent a chill down Aemond's spine.

"Helaena, did Aegon do this to you?" she asked, her voice unwavering.

Helaena hesitated, her gaze flickering around the room, clearly afraid of the consequences of her answer. Maera gently brought her friend's attention back to her, her grip on Helaena's hand firm but reassuring. "Tell me," she urged softly.

After a moment, Helaena nodded, and the admission cause a fire to surge through Aemond’s veins. This was the final straw. Aegon was an entitled, selfish, depraved little prick. Not only had he shown no interest in his birthright as king, but he had also repeatedly tormented Maera over the years, be that by physically touching her or verbally assaulting her. His disgusting activities continuously sullied the Targaryen name, bringing shame upon their House.

And now, to learn that he had resorted to such violence against his wife, his own sister, was a betrayal beyond comprehension. While Aemond understood that a wife traditionally belonged to her husband, such cruelty had no place within their House, especially considering all that their mother had endured. The sacred bonds of kinship had been shattered by Aegon's actions, leaving Aemond seething with a righteous anger that burned deep within him. It was clear that decisive action needed to be taken to ensure justice was served and to protect their family from further harm.

But before Aemond could intervene, he observed Maera taking command of the room with a remarkable blend of control and diplomacy. She issued instructions with authority, directing maids to run a bath for Helaena, summoning someone to fetch the Maester, and instructing guards to find additional servants to restore order to the room.

Once the immediate tasks were delegated and underway, Maera spared one last sad glance at Helaena, her expression a mask of sorrow before it transformed into one of ferocious anger. Aemond's eye locked with hers, recognizing the determination burning within her. Without a word, Maera swiftly exited the room, her purpose clear.Aemond understood instinctively what Maera intended to do, her resolve evident in every step she took. With a sense of urgency, he hastened after her, catching up with her shortly in the corridor.

She looked up at him and her tone was resolute as she warned him, “Lo ao sylugon naejot keligon issa, Aemond, nyke jāhor-” If you try to stop me, Aemond, I swear I will-

Aemond, however, had no intention of halting her. He matched her determined stride and assured her, “Keligon ao? Maera, nyke kesīr naejot urnēbagon …ao ȳdra daor jiōragon amīsagon” Stop you? Maera, I'm here to watch… and ensure you don't get caught.

Justice would be done. And if it were delivered by Maera’s hand, it would be a holy sacrament that Aemond would be privileged to witness.

Notes: I love writing these chapters and building the tension between him and Maera honestly 😍

Tags: @0eessirk8 @magicseahorse @blue-serendipity @abecerra611 @saltedcaramelpretzel @marvelescvpe @watercolorskyy @shesjustanothergeek @thelastemzy @kckt88

Thank you so much for reading! Comments, feedback, likes, and reblogs are greatly appreciated 🖤

#maera wylde #aemond targaryen #aemond x oc #aemond fanfiction #chapters #hotd aemond #hotd fanfic #house targaryen #house wylde #hotd helaena #house of the dragon season 2 #house of the dragon #ewan mitchell x reader #aemond fanfic #aemond smut #aemond fic #aemond targaryen fanfiction

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lifeofpriya · 9 months

Text

Longing - Shohei Ohtani imagine

[gif credit goes to @shoshohtani]

song of the fic: Pasoori by Shae Gill and Ali Sethi

You wake up in your small apartment each morning, making coffee and breakfast before heading to work. The days blend into a monotonous routine, leaving you feeling unfulfilled and lonely. Your evenings are spent in solitude, indulging in frozen meals and binge-watching TV shows. Deep down, you yearn for something more meaningful in your life.

One fateful evening, you decide to step out of your comfort zone and attend a local baseball game. As you settle into your seat, the excitement in the air is palpable. The crowd enthusiastically roars as the star player, Shohei Ohtani, takes the field. You've heard about his incredible skills and record-breaking performances, but seeing him in action leaves you in awe.

Intrigued by Shohei's talent and charisma, you find yourself captivated by his every move. His powerful swings and precise pitches leave you spellbound, and you begin following his games religiously. One day, fate smiles upon you as you spot him at a coffee shop before a game. Summoning your courage, you approach him and strike up a conversation. To your surprise, he is warm and approachable, and you instantly feel a connection.

As the weeks pass, you continue to attend Shohei's games, but your thoughts extend beyond his athletic prowess. You imagine spending time with him outside the ballpark, sharing laughter and creating memories. Encouraged by your growing affection, you take a chance and invite him to dinner. To your delight, he accepts with a smile.

Over shared meals and outings, you discover the depth of Shohei's character. Beyond his athletic achievements, he is compassionate, driven, and shares your longing for connection. Each moment spent together deepens your affection, and it becomes clear that something special is blossoming between you.

However, as the baseball season nears its end, the looming reality of Shohei's return to Japan threatens to dampen your newfound happiness. The uncertainty of the future weighs heavily on your heart, and you dread the possibility of being separated once again. You share a romantic sunset dinner on your last evening together, cherishing every moment. In a tender moment, Shohei promises to come back to you, no matter the distance.

The following months are filled with longing and anticipation as you await Shohei's return. The days seem endless, but your love remains steadfast. Finally, the long-awaited day arrives—the start of a new season. As the game concludes, you find Shohei standing at your doorstep, holding a bouquet of flowers. The joy in both your hearts is palpable, and you know that your love has endured the test of time and distance.

Together again, you compensate for the moments lost, cherishing every second spent in each other's embrace. You support Shohei wholeheartedly as he devotes himself to his baseball career, attending games and offering unwavering encouragement. You provide him solace and a safe haven in the quiet moments, easing his exhaustion and reminding him that his worth extends far beyond the field.

One evening, after a particularly challenging game, you decide to surprise Shohei with a thoughtful date to lift his spirits. You prepare his favorite meal with love and secure tickets to an art exhibit you know he'll appreciate. As you unveil the surprise, a smile lights up his face, and you embark on a night filled with art, laughter, and heartfelt connection. In each other's presence, you find comfort and strength.

As the baseball season progresses and the team advances toward the playoffs, the bond between you and Shohei deepens further. On a chilly October night, amidst the jubilation of a division-winning celebration, Shohei finds you amidst the confetti and cheers. He scoops you up in his arms at that moment, exclaiming, "We did it!" The love in his eyes assures you that no matter the challenges ahead, your hearts have found a home in each other.

Together, you face the uncertainties of life with unwavering devotion. No distance can separate you, for your love transcends borders and oceans. In the embrace of each other's arms, you find the warmth and fulfillment that once eluded you. And as you continue to cheer Shohei on from the stands, you know that the most significant victory is the love you share, a love that knows no boundaries.

#shohei ohtani #shohei ohtani imagine #shohei ohtani imagines #baseball imagine #baseball imagines #baseball blurb #mlb blurb #mlb blurbs #mlb imagines #los angeles angels

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somerabbitholes · 1 year

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hi c what are the most absolutely readable books you've read

recency bias notwithstanding, here you go —

Beartown trilogy by Fredrik Backman: easily one of the best things I've read; about an ice hockey town and how the sport is both toxic and redeeming for the town; he does people beautifully and I have cried multiple times on public transport while reading this

Figuring by Maria Popova: it looks at how creativity is a collective human project and how the best things/the truth about the world is almost always uncovered when people encounter other people and ideas. The book has galaxy brain energy and it made me feel all fuzzy and soft about the human project after reading it <3

Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe: about the IRA and the Troubles in Northern Ireland and its bearing on politics now; how violence of this sort lives on in societies and cultures long after it has ended; how cultures deal with (or fail to) morally dubious histories. There's just so much to think about here!

Appliance by J. O. Morgan: a short dystopian novella about this machine that is basically teleporter. The book follows how its growth and occupation of the society is basically inevitable; makes really chilling and smart observations on authenticity and scientific progress along the way

The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen: follows the Lambert family at the end of the 1990s and through them, about everything up, socially and economically, with American culture then. Really well written and one of Franzen's best

The Room on the Roof by Ruskin Bond: a coming-of-age story he wrote when he was 17; somewhat autobiographical and captures his life between England and India as a child and teenager among friends and family

There but for the by Ali Smith: about the chaos that develops around a family and particularly a man when said man goes into one of the rooms at a dinner party and locks himself in it; he becomes a sort of lightning rod for a lot of politics and rhetoric, and the book shows this in really witty ways. There's great wordplay and endless puns and you'll have fun while reading it

Our Bodies, Their Battlefield by Christina Lamb: about what war does to women, and more specifically about how rape is and should be tried as a war crime; it's part journalism and in part an exploration of how we can make things better on this front. Very harrowing but very very good

I will also direct you here for some comfort books, and here for some more fiction i really like

#booklr #book recs #anonymous #answered #reading

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bohemian-nights · 1 month

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yeah the suggestion that sophie should be erased is deeply annoying to. like i need male centered white women who are fujos to step away from bridgerton and benophie. Sophie being a woman, a bastard woman, and navigating her gendered oppression because of her lower class is integral to benophie. if people want lgbtq representation they can go watch another show, or better yet, create original characters and go write fanfic if they want.

There is a place for LGBT+ rep in Bridgerton, there is even a place to turn a couple of the characters bi, but specifically gender swapping any of the main love interests/protagonists just would not work, and people need to be honest about that. However, they won’t be because they are just using the excuse of the show not being “diverse enough” to not support a Black woman playing Sophie Beckett.

The reality is that Bridgerton has tried to be more diverse than most shows, but they do not have to check every single box or else the show is not “progressive” enough. That’s not how it works.

It’s not “unprogressive” to keep the most oppressed woman due to her gender and class in the eight book series a woman. Again taking rep away from women(and marginalized women at that) to give to a (white) man that way you can see two (white) dudes fucking on screen does not make you “progressive.” Trying most surely does not make you a good ally(seriously where are you people when we are actually getting bad rep?).

Just because you see Black people in a period piece that’s highly popular, in a place where you feel we don’t “belong,” that doesn’t mean that we have to give up our space to fit you inside it.

(Mind you this is a place that we created because if Shonda hadn’t adapted these books added the diversity this series would’ve never done the numbers it has. Bridgerton is a sensation because of racial diversity that isn’t steeped in racism and race. It’s neither here nor there, but we constantly create our own, everyone wants to eat off our plates, and then leave us with scraps after they’ve had their fill).

This whole discourse is just incredibly bizarre, but the thing I find the most disturbing about it is the fact that even if you want to say Sophie should be a man, Benedict doesn’t like men.

I mean this literally should be a non-issue since he has shown 0 interest in men for two seasons and he’s had plenty of opportunities to fuck them if he wanted too.

Now if the show turns around and makes him bi this season(doubtful, but I’ll humor the weirdos) he still clearly likes women too so why Sophie should get the boot is beyond me, but not surprising considering the state of fandoms.

Silently off topic, but kinda related since it comes from the same place of using the lack of prominent LGBT+ rep to justify keeping a Black woman from being Sophie.

Which brings me people who think that Masali Baduza(suspected Sophie) can’t possibly be Sophie and instead insist that she’s either related to the Stirlings(the family Francesca marrys into) or that shes a gender bent Michael.

For issue #1 people claim that Masali and Victor Ali(the man who they suspect is John Stirling) “look alike” therefore she must be playing his sister. Victor Ali and Masali don’t look alike outside of both being dark skinned Black people(the people saying they do look hella suspect🙃).

And while Masali isn’t a household name she did have her own show(Noughts + Crosses) so she’s too big to just be playing someone’s sisters on Bridgerton. Not to mention the secrecy for a side character seems extremely unwarranted.

Now for issue #2, people are using a casting call(cause at least they know that it makes no sense for Masali to be a side character) that allegedly went out two years back to say she’s gender-bent Michael.

If you believe in the casting call(a similar one went out for Kate calling for a Indian actress when she was being cast so it is on brand) it says that the actress cast will be the lead for season four. Francesca’s story most surely isn’t going to be next up(skipping over both Eloise and Benedict? Be real) and it’s also another gendered issue to where if you make Michael into a woman you are changing up the story so much you might as well created an OC.

There is plenty of evidence that suggest Benedict’s season is next, Sophie has been cast, she’ll be in s3, and even if you don’t want to believe the casting call right now, that Masali is playing her, but instead of seeing what’s right in front of them people want to say that it just can’t be.

Overall I feel like people are doing a whole lot of talking and “advocating” for nothing cause they are butthurt that Sophie doesn’t look how they want her to look.

It’s still hurtful though to see that people would rather want Sophie to be a man and take away everything she stands for than see her being played by a Black woman, but again fandoms are unfortunately weird like that.

Let me end this by saying that while my rants my sound like I have gone crazy or am trying to start some bs, I have been suffering in silence since Bridgerton came out nearly three and a half years ago so this is me breaking my silence.

Again this isn’t really about erasing Sophie. It’s about keeping Sophie from being played by a Black woman which is fucking nuts considering that a Black woman is producing this crap.

First it was how Sophie couldn’t be non-white because it would be problematic. Then after Simone was cast as Kate it was how the show had no East Asian representation or Latina rep and had “too many Black people”(where are the Black people besides Lady Danbury and Will 🙃)so Sophie could be non-white, but she should not be Black.

Now that it truly seems like a Black girl it’s how Sophie should be a man cause the show has no LGBT+ rep.

And yeah everyone deserves rep, but the fact that people have continually said that their has been enough rep for Black people as a way to silence us and push their own representation at the expense of Black people is disgusting.

I can not reiterate this enough, the one thing this shitty ass fandom has been consistent in is saying that a Black woman shouldn’t play Sophie Beckett.

All I can say is that I hope Shonda has not listened to the people who keep yelling at her to give them representation at the expense of Black people while at the same time being fucking passive aggressive whiny little anti-Black bitches to her and all the Blackish actors on the show.

#bnask #bnasks #bridgerton asks #I guess now I got to protect her too 😭#this is all coming out in a word salad but I literally bit my tongue for months cause I didn’t want to get into more fandom drama #I’ve ripped the bandaid off and am speaking out now #sb asks

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https-furina · 5 months

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2023 is coming to an end and while this blog has yet to hit one year old, it’s gathered its fair share of mutuals. it’s only fair to give you all some thanks and appreciation before the year closes. if you’re not here i apologise sincerely, i’ll make sure you are on next year’s list.

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ mika — @mikacynth

hi mika !! i’ll start with you. i know we haven’t interacted much since you went to university (i hope you’re doing super well !! please take care of yourself) but i wanted to thank you for being one of my first mutuals on this hell site. you were super friendly and you always randomly drop cursed genshin memes in the server <3

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ mae — @maehemthemisfit

mae, i don’t know where life has taken you but i miss you a lot. it was so fun trying to figure out dango anon and you made me laugh countless times, i just hope you’re doing well <3

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ bell — @blue-b3rries

ew it’s bell (i’m JOKING) hi sweetheart !! you literally never fail to make me laugh in the network server and you always come out with really random things. it’s okay, maybe next christmas we’ll get you a dictionary /lh i love you !! /p <3

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ inky — @lemeowade

inky !! my favourite artist ever !! we don’t actually interact too much on tumblr now (i do like a lot of the stuff you rb tho) because we talk a lot on discord now. it’s nice to have someone that checks in occasionally and i absolutely love when you show your art !! it’s clear you’re making progress with it and finding your style and i love it so much. you’re gonna do fab things sweetheart <3

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ amai — @amaiaqt

one of my favourite writers ever and a fellow cyno simp !! i miss you a lot and it shows because i always get excited to see you in my inbox. i hope life is treating you well and that we get to see you more in the new year <3

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ general — @watatsumiis

hi general !! i’m sorry we didn’t interact as much anymore but you’re so sweet and fun to talk to !! i love your writing and i have the best time reading your tags on people’s art because i’m like “damn. that’s so me” and also you always reblog the best art?? it’s wild you keep my dash alive <3

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ aly — @soleillunne

who are you? anyways hi wife !! i send you appreciation letters whenever things get tough so i’ll dull it down here a little. thank you for being probably my closest mutual, talking to me daily and always sending tiktoks to each other. if you dare think about leaving me, i’ll find you. in every lifetime <3

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ ari — @n3r0-1417

another person that i’m super sorry we don’t interact as much anymore ): you literally never failed to make me laugh and you 100% have permission to kill me at any time, just don’t tell aly. i hope we can interact more in the new year and i hope it treats you well too, you deserve it <3

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ yui — @ilyuu

yui !! wow i’m really failing on interacting with some of you but whenever you’re on my dash it’s pure chaos?? even with no context i can’t lie it’s funny. i picture it like when the scooby doo gang are running and you see all the different shots and stuff. anyways, 2024 better treat you good !! <3

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ kiri — @kirimoochi

the last time we interacted you wasn’t doing so hot on some fronts and i really hope things have improved for you, sweetheart. you deserve the world and whilst i love your alhaitham & kazuha works, i know a lot of them came from your heart and i hope you’re healing. i pray the new year is kind to you and that things are going better <3

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ bori — @bboricha

hi bori !! we’ve only interacted a few times because i find it sooo funny when you randomly appear on my dash talking about leon kennedy (because honestly, same) but i hope there’s chances we interact more in 2024 !! fun fact, i followed you for your 5swirl stuff and 1k special (i actually remember what content made me follow you hahahelpme) but i stayed because… relatable. here’s to more interactions !! <3

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ yume — @yaminohimeyume

oh boy.. hi yume !! you know i could sit here for hours appreciating you right? whenever i log into genshin i check to see if you’re online so i can say hi !! i love helping you with bosses, domains or even exploration but even when we just talk and i don’t join you, it’s nice to have a conversation with someone. you’ve provided me with plenty of distractions this year but in 2024 our goal is to build your characters HAHA i love you !! /p <3

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ aya — @miuzki

my neuvillette !! i miss you so much, i hope you’ve been doing well and not overworking at all. i know you haven’t really been in touch with genshin towards the end of this year but you’re always welcome in my messages, yknow? i love your writing so much (i still re-read that comfort piece you wrote for me all the time…) please take care of yourself and i hope you have an amazing new year <3

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ yukari — @ryuryuryuyurboat

is that.. is that my favourite child?! hi ryuu !! i don’t exactly remember how we met. you kinda just appeared in my life one day but it felt like i’d known you forever. you’re an absolute joy to know and you constantly bring a smile to my face !! i’ll c6r5 morrigan first though. have a fantastic new year (and you will not be getting rid of me) <3

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ lili — @lillonvia

oh my gosh !! my chihuahua !! every time we talk i have the best time ever i can’t even lie like that one time we randomly started reciting the lyrics to california girls and how you started playing on eu server for me. it’s a little crazy with the timezone difference but you’re the amber to my collei and you deal with me torturing you with my genshin va knowledge (did you know cyno is izumi from horimiya?) i love youuuu /p <3

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ dumbi — @dumbificat

well well well, if it isn't the cutest mf to ever exist >///< it's my co.. parent-in-law? i don't remember because i just remembering rizzing you (oops.) but hey dumbi !! i'll be fr i was always a little nervous/scared to interact with you but i really wanted to and then you joined the network and i minorly lost my mind.. thank you so much for all the smiles and laughter you've brought in these past few months and also for your writing that i am very happily married to. oh and all the fun i get to have helping you explore on eu <3 thank you for letting me join you sometimes. i really hope we get to interact more in 2024 and here's to hoping the new year treats you well!! i love youuuu /p <3

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ heia — @heiayen

heia. my child. my sweet, funky bean. i love you /p but also. fuck you for how much you make me absolutely lose my shit when it's late for us and i have to be quiet so instead i'm wheezing in bed until i'm crying. chaos hours are the best and you are genuinely such a sweetheart to be friends with. i hope we get to interact more in 2024 (you have no choice) and that it treats you well !! but also, 0.5 stars to the ayaka uber but 10 stars to the network's ooc reporter. mwah! i love you (again) /p (you still need to read to me in some blankets ehehe) <3

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ coco — @hwaitham

hi hi coco !! we haven't interacted that much (and i'm typing very formal for this post it feels out of character for me) but i've loved your works for sooooo long !! and you and haitham are so cute i just wanna. AAAA you deserve the world and i genuinely hope everything you ever want comes true in 2024 because you just deserve it. if it doesn't, i'll start barking up some trees ehehe. i love you!! /p i hope we get to interact more in 2024 <3

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ raine — @to-kazuha

oh, it's you /j hi sweetheart <3 2023 has been very all over the place for us but here we are, ending (and starting) another year together !! even if you don't think so, your writing is amazing and i can't wait to see you grow and get more comfortable with it (practise makes perfect!) and also how can i forget that you're my personal miko main.. life would have been a very sad experience if you hadn't came to me on anon in my old blog <3

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ clara — @umgatochamadopercyval

clara !! you're a very recent mutual so i can't say i have a lot to write (we'll be changing this in 2024 !!) but you are an absolute gem to know. your asks never fail to make me smile and now even your messages !! you're a sweetheart and you deserve a lot of good things. i hope 2024 brings more sagau isekai to my dms and a lot of joy to you. never stop being you !! <3

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ yza — @yzashaven

hi yza !! we've not been able to interact for a while ): but i'd like to appreciate you for all the times you've came to my inbox with angst, i love you so much for it /p and i still have an angst draft with your name on it because of an idea you came into my inbox with !! your writing is so good and i really hope we get to interact more next year. happy holidays sweetheart !! <3

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖ honorary mentions — @jingyuansbird, @honeykaes, @nervocat & @bunicate

happy holidays & happy new year to the four of you !! i would love to appreciate you all but i can only go as far as praising the absolute hell out of all of your works !! you're all fantastic writers that i love to pieces and i hope that the new year treats you all well !! here's to more interactions so i can write you all paragraphs next year (cries) <3

signed with love, serafina.

#signed with love 💌#https-furina

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bl00dlight · 17 days

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i saw this ask on another blog and then recently i came across a reddit post abt this exacttt thing. but it did make me wonder, cause I know u got some opinions but, what do u think about Aemond being a blood supremacist? alot of team greens deny it but idk... he literally says it in the show? the blog also disagreed I think to. also love love love ur fic nd I like how u haven't made aemond and visenya like besties. cause I agree with ur other rant to, there is soooo much soft, Mary Sue stuff with aemond and it dosent really fit him as a character at all.

First of all thank you sm for reading the fic. I literally just cracked open my mother fucken laptop one day and was like "IM OVER IT!!!". But yes, I agree, so many fics really like project an idealised version of Aemond. Which is totally fine, no hate no hate but, I just prefer canon accurate characterisation with everything.

But to answer your question, I feel like it's pretty straightforward and I'm also really surprised this a debate? Yes, Aemond is obviously a valryian supremacist. Almost all the Targs are to some degree and the Velaryons. But Aemond quite literally references the importance of keeping their valyrian blood pure and is deeply obessesed with dragons. "It would keep our Valyrian blood pure." Coming from a 13 year old boy is like a clear indicator that, yes homie is pro-targ supremacy. He is also the mirror of Daemon... who is also pro-targ supremacy.

I don't believe that Aemond commented on Helaena in ep7 just to display how "dutiful" he is. We know for a FACT Aemond is not dutiful, he is ambitious/power hungry. That is his whole arc, especially in Fire + Blood. Homeboy is dutiful in the same way Daemon is. It's not about actually caring for what is right or wrong, it's about his own proximity to power. I think alot of people really misinterpret Aemond's lines regarding duty as being a display of dedication. When in reality, it's narcissistic grandiosity lol. Like straight up. His envy of Aegon isn't "ugh I'd be a much better King because I care about protecting the realm, helping the smallfolk, maintaining order, doing what is right." It's "ugh, I'd me a much better King because I'm BETTER." We can see that in ep 9 when he literally gives out a list to Cole, why he would make a superior King to Aegon. Not once does he mention anything outside of what he perceives as his own brilliance. This is a book Aemond quote when he becomes Prince Regent and wears Aegon the Conqueror's crown "It looks better on me than it ever did on him,". So here we have another indicator that this isn't about being a good dutiful brother, this is about him living out his Rogue Prince fantasy.

I feel like people may bring up Alys Rivers as a counterpoint but again, I don't see why? Because remember, Aemond literally slaughtered her entire House because he hated the Strongs. He would make fun of Jace and Luke's appearance in Fire and Blood for like lack of Valyrian features. He left Alys alive so he could take her as a "prize" to use as a 'bedmate' / 'paramour'. This wasn't recorded as a consensual reltionship, and of course Alys went with it because what else is she gonna do? Fight him? He just slaughtered her entire bloodline, just BECAUSE of their blood. She's on thin ice. By today's standards she was put into sexual slavery. (unfortunately fire & blood is an unreliable text and it was written to be contradictory, so literally there is no actual canonical understanding of their relationship) Also a significant amount of fire and blood was written by those from the Greens side, and there are claims she bewitched him etc etc so that he wouldn't kill her. Regardless, the point is, Aemond fucking Alys isn't a marker of his progressive belief that Targaryen's aren't superior? If anything it reinforces it because he has literally chosen a woman who in every single way is completely socially 'inferior' to himself. Again, it's about power and vengeance. Him taking Alys is saying "look at me, I can do whatever the fuck I want. I can burn the Riverlands down, I can slaughter an entire House and then, I can fuck the last very last woman left because I CHOSE TO KEEP HER ALIVE." And he did it again, he abandoned Alys at one point and left her captive to another mother fucker just to get more vengeance on the Blacks after Helaena's last child dies (i can make a post on the suspicious Helaena x Aemond parallels in fire and blood) and then eventually came back to get her again. He don't really give that much of a fuck, in my opinion. She is not an example of him not being a bigot. And we see this in the real world too. Powerful bigots have historically sexually enslaved whom they oppress. *cough cough, literally ww2*. Sex is a power exchange in many ways, and Aemond taking Alys to fuck, after he spent his entire life loathing her family and KILLING THEM, is not some star-crossed lover shit. It's him continuing his reign of abuse on the Strongs. He kept one of them alive, just to fuck. That is an active example of his supremacist beliefs. There is also speculation Alys got pregnant, but it's never confirmed. However, his son would be another Strong bastard. And it wouldn't mean shit to him, because is that not the ultimate "haha im superior" to interject himself into the Strong line? To be the one which controls it's survival?

Also again, we see it time and time again with Targ men. They believe in Targ supremacy, actively want to participate in their 'traditions', while also wanting booty calls. Daemon does the same thing, homie fucks women left and right, yet still loved /married Rhaneyra because she was a Targaryen like him. Viserys iii also, fucked other women, yet canonically wanted to marry Daenerys once he assumed the throne to continue their bloodline.

Because marriage is very different from sex in this universe. Marriage and sex are two completely separate ideas. So it makes sense for Aemond to believe that Targaryen's should maintain their Valyrian blood through marriage because it is a marker of supremacy; while he also wants to exclaim is dominance through having sex with a woman who is 'beneath' him. Aemond is also an actual misogynist in the books too. So again? In what world does he look at Alys as his equal?

Thus, why marriage/love/legitmate children is reserved for Targaryen women, and sex is reserved for prostitutes, bedmates etc. People be forgetting, in this society women are used at the whims of men, LAWFULLY - like it's their right to do so, and women are very much given social status based on how men view them sexually. Madonna/Whore complex.

Which is kinda interesting if we even go further to talk about Helaena and Aemond...

Funnily enough, this exact topic will come up in my fic. Anyway, that's my take on it. That's kinda why the strong niece fics never made sense to me, because it is so contradictory to the motives behind what he does.

#hotd #targaryen #aemond targaryen #got #daenerys targaryen #house of the dragon #rhaneyra targaryen #aemond one eye #daemon targaryen #aemond x reader

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maddyhessesblog · 3 months

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Burlesque in Expression

Christina Aguilera - Express (Burlesque)

How is the film related to the social context of the country during production?

When the musical Burlesque was released in 2010 the United States was still recovering from the financial crisis of 2008. This global economic downturn significantly impacted various industries, even the entertainment business, which suffered from the rapid decline of consumer spending. Burlesque's central narrative is rooted in themes of chasing dreams and finding success despite difficult circumstances which naturally resonated with audiences when the film was released. Along with this, the emphasis of female empowerment and solidarity grew even more culturally significant in 2010 when the discussion surrounding gender equality and women’s rights was rapidly gaining momentum. The establishment of International Women's Day and the creation of the global UN Women's Agency occurred in 2010 during this heightened period of global activism. Burlesque’s main character Ali leaves her small-town life behind to chase her dreams of becoming a star in Los Angeles. Her relationships with the other female characters in the film are ones of sisterhood and community even after feuds and rivalries because the community is a grounding force in the performances. Another crucial part of the narrative is Tess' fight to keep her theatre from being turned into a condo, playing into economic disparity between the wealthy and the working, highlighting other culturally relevant notions permeating society in 2010. Urban gentrification and redevelopment projects massively underwent in several large cities including Los Angeles which lead to an upturn of displaced business and residents to make room for office buildings, parking structures, and housing developments, like condos.

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When it comes to Burlesque as a genre itself, however, it is a reflection of the social context of the time in which it is produced. In the 20th century burlesque was often a form of escapism during extreme periods of social and economic hardship like the Great Depression.

These shows portrayed performers through humorous themes and utilized social commentary that was specifically relevant to that era. Dances and shows would reflect on changing attitudes towards gender, sexuality, and societal norms which offered a space for expression that was not accessible to mainstream society.

Shows in the Progressive Era (early 19th to 20th centuries) were often satirical of political figures, social norms, and cultural trends. They often involved comedic sketches and musical numbers that parodied current events, public figures, and politicians. Focusing on Los Angeles specifically in 1990s, the Velvet Hammer Burlesque was known for an avant-garde style that blended traditional elements with prevalent social commentary. These shows revolved around themes such as gender roles, sexuality, and body image, all challenging societal expectations and norms.

Burlesque is a time where the audience can sit back and watch while the performers can exist in an entirely different world that actively operates to critique the state of the current world through song and dance.

In what ways are the performance spaces separated from the narrative spaces in the film?

Unlike other musicals, the numbers within Burlesque do not drive the plot forward in a contemporary sense but rather embody a more internal and emotional significance for the character’s development throughout the films: they are just performances which physically mirror the emotional perseverance of each character. Ali's performances relate to the central message of the film rather than the moments that make it up. She performs because she needs to be on stage. And Tess, the owner of the club, performs because she needs to save the stage so the show can go on. Her song "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me" is more profound and deeply reflective of her journey with the business and what it means if it goes away. For her the performing was never her reason for keeping the place running, it was about ensuring there was a space for stars to perform.

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How is spectacle integrated into the film’s narrative?

Spectacle is the essential feature of the narrative, however as described in the text the relationship between narrative and spectacle in this case is considered aggregate, meaning this relationship maintains a definite distinction between narrative and spectacle as two separate aspects of the film. The spectacle of putting on the performances is just one of the many layers of this relationship for this specific film. The performances serve as entertainment for the audience and a position of power for the characters, but these routines also work to explore thematic elements through the development of the characters.

Despite ongoing tensions among some of the girls within the club, the unifying force between them is the threat of losing the one place that makes them feel alive, that enables them to perform in the way they feel as though they were born to. In Ali's first performance "Something's Got a Hold On Me" she sings without a stage, revealing that a star can exist without a stage,but a performer relies on a stage to be a star. Once it becomes know that Ali's character can sing she gains even more recognition as someone to watch. This "star" quality separates her from the rest of the girls, playing into the Hollywood view of the more you can give, the more you'll make (and the more they'll take). A large component of the "spectacle" as mentioned in the text is the integration of the viewer as the "'internal audience" which "retreats into offscreen space', allowing the performance to be 'truly all for us'" (1982, p28). The contrast between narrative and spectacle consequently heightens the perception of both.

3:20

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What is the role of dance and movement in relation to the film’s narrative and spectacle?

Choreographed dance numbers serve as expressions of thematic elements, emotional sequences, and interpersonal relationships. Because of the wide range of dance whether it be graceful, energetic and comedic, or sensual, a variety of emotions are conveyed through several different routines. The routines serve several purposes: transfixation of the audience through elaborate dances and costume design, a platform for the performers to therefore captivate the audience and subsequently convey thematic elements and messages through these routines, which is a compilation of the elements that make up the Burlesque performances. And to exist in opposition, though unbeknownst to audiences, Burlesque is a reflection of those who come to watch. The songs act as a mirror for society to examine themselves in a medium that is laughable but digestible. It is unironic in it's irony, leaving the audience laughing, unable to distinguish who the joke was really and truly about. The effects of the two worlds of the backstage musical Feuer discusses is this sense of "double identification" both the inclusion of the creation of the spectacle itself backstage ,and the viewing of the spectacle as the audience.

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In what ways does impossibility within the film ensure the audience escapes from reality?

Within the film impossibility exists on stage so both the audience and characters live beyond the basis of reality. The dramatic costumes accompanied with music, lights, and props distort forms of reality for the characters and the audience as it creates a world of unlikely desires and imaginative ideas. This heightened reality where anything appears possible allows viewers to suspend belief and immerse themselves in this world of spectacle and fantasy. Because the characters’ main goals are to be apart of this show their desire to escape is almost more intense than those who pay to witness it. On a larger scale, the theme of impossibility and escapism is largely the central force of the film as it is designed around the main character leaving her small life behind to chase her dreams in Los Angeles.

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Questions:

Are there any other musicals that offer reflection, whether satirical or not, of current social and economic circumstances?

Considering that these musicals are backstage, would you argue that the narrative separation from spectacle is what makes the musical backstage, or is it the spectacle removed from the narrative? Essentially: what is the more significant component of this type of musical, would the narratives function if the music was incorporated differently?

Burlesque is an interesting case considering masculinity, but for the other musicals, what was the gender dynamic within the film? In the text it's made clear Berkeley's dancers were mainly female as they were "spectacles all on their own," how does this impact the musicals discussed today?

How central is escapism to the narrative of your musical? Would there be a narrative without this element, or what would the story morph into in lieu of it?

@theuncannyprofessoro

#oxyfilmmusical #Youtube

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savelockwoodandco · 1 year

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What’s a reasonable timeframe to push for either the renewal of Lockwood & Co, or for another streaming service to pick it up?

Obviously there are a multitude of factors to consider- key among them being the actors (age, commitment to other works ect). After a certain point, things would be forced into the territory of a remake instead of a continuation of the original series.

It’s only been a month (already?!?), and there’s been some great progress is getting the word out there (a massive thanks to all involved for their hard work!), but how long can it continue?

Thanks for the question Anon, and we appreciate the kind words <3. This answer's kinda going to be divided into two parts, namely 1) reasons not to worry about the timeframe for the actors' sakes, and 2) our opinion of the timeframe in constrast with other shows that have been picked up.

There are tons of factors to consider, this is true, but we're luckier than most because of our source material.

In the books we start out with Lockwood and George at ~16 and Lucy at 15 (as per Jonathan Stroud, who only deals with approximate ages), but they certainly don't go through the books at these ages. The first book takes place over a couple months, then there's a year time skip at the start of Book 2, and Book 3 picks up a few months after that (and a four-month time skip between Books 3 and 4). By the time of Book 3 (where S2 will pick up), they're around 2 years older than that, give or take a few months, so that makes Lockwood and George ~18, and Lucy a year younger.

To add to that, according to notes from the show specifically, Lucy, George, and Lockwood are approximately 16, 17, and 18, respectively. If they follow the time skip, which they really kind of have to, at least a bit, that puts them at 18, 19, and 20 come S2.

This works in our favor -- we were already going to have to have a bit of a time skip between S1 and S2, to allow Lockwood to heal and for the Trio to kinda come down from the whole Annabelle/Bickerstaff one-two punch. They may look a slight bit older, but they will have to look a slight bit older.

In order for the events of Book 3 (and 4 and 5, of course) to happen, Lockwood & Co (the agency) has to be more cemented, they have to be getting more cases, they have to be successful, not the incredible underdogs they are at present. Otherwise, the inciting incident of Book 3 that carries us through the first third of book 4 just doesn't happen.

So we have to have a time skip anyway.

It also helps that Jack, Hayley, and Ali (Kipps, Flo, and George) aren't going to look any older even with a gap of a few years, which I don't think will happen. Even Cameron (Lockwood), the youngest, won't change that much at 20; he already looks slightly older than his age, which suits Lockwood, and with the too-small suits and the too-big coat, which they'll resize if needed, he can be kept looking as emaciated and young-yet-world-weary that he is in S1.

As a final note on the cast's ages, L&Co has one of the most accomplished makeup crews I've seen in a long time. TV makeup is usually middling to bad, honestly speaking, but the crew at L&Co does a phenomenal job. It's not too hard to shave a year or two off of a person's face with the right subtle makeup, and they're more than capable of it.

The rest of the concerns around availability can be worked around, honestly. The first shoot only took so long because of Britain's COVID regulations, which won't be as strict this time around. I honestly don't think that availability is overmuch a concern -- and in any case, a fandom can't do anything about that, so it's best not to worry.

As far as a general timeframe goes? As much as we would love to be able to say X months X days is the Final Point so let's push until then, there really is no timeframe -- other than, in reverse of what a lot of of the fandom thinks (this being a lot of people's first ever Campaign to Save a Show, to be frank), that the month mark that we're hitting on Monday is when stuff actually starts.

Ignoring Brooklyn 99 (as ever the outlier), shows as almost a rule don't get picked up in the first month. Even Lucifer, a show that had built multiple seasons' worth of fans and was certainly one of the most active, passionate, nigh-crazy campaigns I've ever seen, took a month.

(As a note of encouragement, a show that both mods enjoyed, Selfie, which was cancelled in 2014 before it could even finish airing its season in the Death Slot, is now apparently in talks 9 years later for a movie to finish up the story, due to a huge swell in recent demand from China, who apparently loves the show and uses it to teach English. That's 9 years later, and we'd given up hope entirely. Good things can and do happen, whether a day or a decade after.)

In this humble mod's mind, the first month is always prep. Getting people organized, getting the word out, hoping for press, making sure that at the very least the cast, crew, and associated people of the show are aware of the fan response. That's been the job we've had in mind for the last almost-month.

Come Monday, we' move on to a slightly different stage. Not that we'll be doing anything drastically different -- continuous, repeated effort is king here -- but we'll be at the time when shows begin to be picked up.

It's what we mean when we say that this is a marathon, not a sprint. We've been stretching, buying water bottles, making punny t-shirts and cardboard signs, and setting out the race's trail. Sure, we hope that we won't have to run too far past the starting line before the whistle blows -- but whether we're picked up in a month or six or twelve or even longer, we're still gonna run it.

The show deserves our effort every bit as much as it deserves our love.

In the once again humble opinion of this mod, I would doubt it will take that long. We've had a phenomenal amount of press, engagement, etc etc etc -- as we say every time we post, we're continually impressed and grateful that we get to play a small part in this amazing effort. I, personally, am humbled by the talent and passion of LockNation every time I see a post on tumblr, or when the Twitter Mod shows me posts on twitter. You're an amazing group, and I'm honored to play my incredibly small role on this stage.

To try to answer your original question, it's the view of this mod that it will be measured in months, rather than weeks, for a pickup of the show, and that the starting gun doesn't really go off until the month mark on June 12th.

So maybe take the weekend, LockNation, and plan to do something this coming week that you haven't -- make a call, make a meme, make a difference. This weekend finishes off our month of prep, after all, and we gotta make sure our sneakers are tied and our sweat-bands are on.

On your mark, get set...

#save lockwood and co #lockwood and co #lockwood & co #l&co #encouragement post #answer post

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mariacallous · 2 months

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Writing for the Bulwark the other day Cathy Young asked a brilliant question: what on earth happened to the Intellectual Dark Web and its critique of the left?

Go back to the 2010s, and all kinds of people, myself included, were wondering why leftists allied with the most fascistic versions of Islam, and why there was such screaming intolerance in liberal institutions. All of a sudden we were told to accept that white people were inherently racist and that men could become women – just by saying they were.

If you moved in leftish circles and refused to clap your hands and cheer the new orthodoxy, your career was over.

In theory the response ought to have been a liberal defence of democratic freedoms. And from many it was.

But the “Intellectual Dark Web” - the melodramatic name came from a New York Times piece from 2018 – was something else. It consisted of online celebrities opposed to progressive orthodoxy, who revelled in the joy of shocking the liberal bourgeoisie.

The full list of its members ran: Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Glenn Greenwald, Sam Harris, Heather Heying, Claire Lehmann, Bill Maher, Douglas Murray, Maajid Nawaz, Camille Paglia, Jordan Peterson, Steven Pinker, Joe Rogan, Dave Rubin, Ben Shapiro, Michael Shermer, Christina Hoff Sommers, Bret Weinstein, and Eric Weinstein.

As you can see, it was a journalistic concoction, which did not hang together well. Genuine liberals, such as Steven Pinker and Sam Harris were yanked together with reactionaries like Douglas Murray and Jordan Peterson.

Meanwhile the self-aggrandising willingness of many of them to announce that they were “heretics” and “dissidents” was ridiculous. No one is a true heretic, unless they are persecuted. And dissident is an honourable title you cannot in good conscience bestow on yourself – not that that ever stopped anyone.

But once the caveats had been made, you could say that these were people who were willing to attack progressive orthodoxies as they turned oppressive, and in 2018 had a kind of radical glamour.

All gone. Utterly gone. Many of those acclaimed in 2018 have become what they despised – or purported to despise. They are on the side of the enemies of liberty now. They threaten basic democratic freedoms. The alt right has turned out to be the far right, as perhaps it was always going to.

If you are looking for an immediate cause it is clear that Trump has done for them. When the crunch came far too many supposedly intelligent conservatives bent the knee and tugged the forelock, and engaged in an intellectual justification of dictatorial power.

In the process they showed that there are two ways of dealing with left authoritarianism. You can defend the values of liberal democracy, and ally with the many on the left who agree with you.

Did the conservative members of the Intellectual Dark Web do that?

Did they hell.

They produced arguments for tyranny, which the conspiratorial atmosphere of the alt right positively encouraged. In the process, they showed how a critique of the left can end up justifying the authoritarianism of the right.

If you paint the globalist elite as all powerful. If you maintain that progressives have the means to indoctrinate the young through their control of the universities, schools and the mainstream media. If you further posit that they are guaranteeing their power by importing immigrants they know will vote for their centre-left parties, then a dictatorship is a justifiable response to such supernaturally powerful enemies.

Indeed, such is their supposed power of the "woke mind virus," overturning free elections is the only plausible response to a rigged system.

If everything from immigration policy to the schools is a con played by progressive elites to ensure their control of society, there is no other option available to the right. The 20th far right century used the justification that they were saving their countries from the communist menace. The woke menace serves the same purpose today.

I remember being interviewed by one member of the New York Times list, a media entrepreneur called Dave Rubin.

He could not get enough criticisms of the left. And indeed there was much to criticise. However, I pointed out that, if he was a serious man, he must be as willing to criticise the right. He assured the viewers he would.

Now he thinks there are “plenty of good arguments to make for voting for Trump,” even if he’s prone to “lying about everything.”

How brave. How very, very brave.

Cathy Young records how principled people have walked away in disgust. Claire Lehman, the editor of the genuinely challenging online magazine Quilette, said that she had started out believing that the US liberals' claims that Trump threatened democracy were deranged.

She assumed that warnings about Trump refusing to accept defeat in the 2020 presidential election were also “hysterical nonsense”—until it actually happened. The invasion of Ukraine and the willingness of the US right to work for Putin were further blows to her conservative assumptions.

“It really made me reassess my priors,” says Lehmann. “I realized that I had had a blind spot on those two huge issues. So I updated my beliefs.”

Others preferred to adjust the facts to fit their priors—or, Lehmann suspects, pretended to do so “because they don’t want to lose the audiences they built.”

Just so. Sam Harris added a second justification for intellectual cowardice when he said that he was disassociating himself from the IDW label because of other IDW figures’ embrace of Trump’s election-fraud claims. Some of his former allies were “sounding fairly bonkers,” he concluded.

Indeed they were. But they had to. If they were not bonkers to begin with they had to learn to give a decent impression of bonkerdom, if they wanted to appeal to their audience.

Jordan Peterson, a thinker who once had a few good arguments to make, now claims that covid vaccines caused more deaths than the “so-called pandemic,” and declares his lack of faith in every other vaccine for good measure. The podcast king Joe Rogan broadcasts vaccine conspiracism. As does a figure British readers may remember, Maajid Nawaz, who was once a liberal Muslim who fought extremism and now needs avoiding when the moon is full.

There’s a booming market for covid conspiracism in the US and beyond, and it pays to keep the customers satisfied. But, and perhaps I am being naive here, I do not believe cynics can do it. Like so many ideologues the alt-right must believe their paranoid fantasies as they tell them and allow the mask to eat into the face They cannot just pretend. They must believe.

Young writes

“It may be that, because of the dynamics in today’s intellectual and political marketplace, any commentator, media outlet, or group that opposes the illiberal left but doesn’t explicitly oppose far-right Trumpian populism is in danger of being co-opted by it.”

And not only in the US. The next British general election will almost certainly take place near the date of the US presidential election. We have already had Boris Johnson and Liz Truss announce their support for Trump, even though he is hugely unpopular in this country, and is a clear threat to Nato. It would be politically mad for Conservatives to tie themselves to Trump in an election campaign. And yet leading figures will do it for the same reason alt right in the US right do it.

First, they want the money. In the case of British politicians and journalists, the money American conservative lecture circuit provides. Second, they have talked themselves into a position where progressives are an enemy so dangerous that any measures are justified to bring about their defeat – including supporting a threat to the American republic and Western security.

As someone who shared the critiques of at least some members of the intellectual dark web in the 2010s, I can make a fair prediction about what will happen next.

Whenever I wrote criticisms of the left, colleagues would say that the right would welcome and exploit all my arguments, and that was true. As someone once said, I think it was me, “the left looks for traitors and the right looks for converts”. But, so what? A good argument must be made regardless of the consequences.

But then they made a further point. You should never listen to conservatives when they said they believe in freedom of speech, democracy and human rights. All they are concerned with is sectarian advantage.

It has been the historic achievement of the Intellectual Dark Web to prove that the sneering leftists were right all along.

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