#i think i may be a pod person. hope it doesn’t show at the wedding. or maybe i do? | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

themand0lorian · 2 years

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The Pedro Boys in Love is Blind

Anybody as obsessed with Love Is Blind as I am???? Been watching the new season (Lauren and Cameron from S1 still my fav), and was thinking about how our fav boys would react to the show...

A/N: obviously original idea goes to Netflix, just a fun crack idea to get my mind going. for the case here any children/relationships in canon don’t exist, but general storylines are referenced. written as gender neutral!

(if you’re unfamiliar, the premise is these people fall in love/get engaged without ever seeing each other, then meet, live together, and have a wedding a few weeks later where they reveal whether they want to go through with the marriage by saying I do/I don’t at the altar. 10/10 trashy tv watch, on Netflix)

Din Djarin: won’t admit it but he’s INTO IT. This is literally his life. no one knows what he looks like. explains his religion and how devout he is, which scares some partners off. One person gives him a chance, lets him explain it and how it’s about honor and family and all that jazz, and they realize they have a lot in common, they’re just not mandalorian. Din proposes, but the partner has trouble feeling like he’s actually into them, since he rarely shares his emotions. Both say I do.

Frankie Morales: Waits to bring up the coke/South America stuff until they’re halfway to the wedding. the partner feels betrayed he didn’t tell them sooner (AKA in the pods), but he didnt want to mess things up. they fight and make up; he may try to leave at the wedding, but his friends talk him out of it, and they end up both saying I do, even though the show makes it seem like they will both say I don’t.

Marcus Pike: Every person in the pods is his true love. He’s super into it. He really does not care what they looks like. Several people fight over him; he proposes within the first episode with his grandmother’s ring. Things outside the pod are rocky, but he always lays everything out on the table, and truly believes he will end this married. he says I do, but the partner says I don’t, and in his sad exit interview, he says hes hopeful to eventually find the one.

Jack Daniels: Every single person pegs him as a cowboy immediately. They put a big focus on his accent every show. If he commits to someone they say he looks exactly how they expected him to. they make it to the altar, partner says I do, but Jack says I don’t, too hung up on his sweetheart to go through with it, and the partner is absolutely devastated. Jack is upset too, knows he messed up, refuses to give any sort of exit interview. may try to reach out to the partner again after the show, but they have trouble opening back up to him again.

Javier Peña: Plays Never Have I Ever with every partner and reveals a lot of sex stuff he’s tried. Won’t get into any of his deeper thoughts/fears/etc., doesn’t end up proposing even though several partners are super into him and fight over him. Honestly doesn’t even know why he’s on the show (Maybe a bet from Steve?). After the pods it comes out that he’s actually hooked up with several of them already, just being on the local singles scene, and people always talk about how great he is in bed in like “tell all” reddit posts that show fans eat up.

Pero Tovar: super worried the entire time that the other person won’t like his scar. Tries to warn them he’s ugly but producers won’t let him. he stews quietly and gives dirty looks to any of the other guys who talk to him, and theyre all low key scared of him. Person he ends up with kisses him on the lips when they first meet, then runs a finger over the scar before kissing it, too. he tries to act tough about it but his eyes are glassy. they both say I do.

Marcus Moreno: Super genuine through the pods. Makes a connection with someone but is a bit trigger-shy with the proposal. Feels like he’s met his best friend, reveals his powers outside the pod. Partner is thrown off but rolls with it; overall they have very little drama and aren’t shown much on the show, but both stay together after the show ends, probably get married a few years down the road with this as their funny meet cute.

Oberyn Martell: Always talking about sex. Outside the pods, always making innuendos and talking about how many children he wants and he’s ready to start now. Definitely says I do at the end, no hesitation. If his partner is just as into it (overtly sexual, thinks he’s charming) they will also say I do.

Max Lord: Acts like a rich entitled prick in the pods. Talks about how great his company/life is and how he can provide so much to anyone, but never really makes any deep connections. several partners think he’s in it just to be on TV, which turns them off. doesn’t even attempt a proposal, and honestly overall gets little screentime other than at the beginning to make people talk about how he’s an ass.

Ezra: Literally will not shut the fuck up in the pods. All the dates go way over time to the point where they’re in there for hours and hours. if he does make a connection/propose he may not get as much screen time as other couples; kind of just a boring so-so overall, not enough drama for TV. he’s worried about his arm but he definitely tells them about it in the pods, and the producers spin it as his dramatic backstory. May not say I do, but won’t break it off after the wedding; will say they need more time to decide.

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vminity21 · 3 years

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Speak Now | myg

Pairing: groom!yoongi x bestfriend!reader

Word Count: 3,124

Genre: angst/fluff

Warning(s): curse words used, mention of a toxic relationship, mention of advances toward infidelity Rated: pg 13

Summary: When the love of your life is about to marry the wrong person, you muster up enough courage to profess your heart before it is too late. By late, you mean the day of your best friend’s wedding.

Credits to: @suhdays for making the cover, you are my favorite!

With clammy palms, you relieve a steady breath descending into the pew while bundles of people bustle through the chapel doors in search for a place to sit. You picked the first available section that you saw and with a silent prayer, you hope that whoever chooses the same row will maintain their distance. With your mind racing, you frantically observe the scenery encompassing the audience from the colorful stained windows, the mahogany pulpit to the rich color of the carpet- absolutely anything to distract you from the overwhelming anxiety plaguing your tightening chest. There is, rather, one thing you are searching for. More like, someone. You are aware he is hidden in a room in preparation for the event about to take place, but unbeknownst to him, you did reluctantly, after many nights of pondering, decide to show up with a mission in tow. Your heart shattered in millions of pieces when you discovered, scrolling through social media, that Yoongi’s wedding ceremony was shared on his wall.

Upon assumption, you were not invited to the event for reasons you are certain of. But this post gave you a date and a time to organize your thoughts and the words that you want to say.

Since elementary school, you and Yoongi have been inseparable. Thick as thieves as your best friend Monnie would say; two peas in a damn pod her boyfriend Jeongguk would say, and even your mother supported the dream of you and Yoongi getting married one day. That day seemed to vanish suddenly even though Yoongi has been your best friend for as long as you can remember, and regardless of him being taken, you have also been his shoulder to lean on throughout his incredibly toxic relationship with his soon to be bride to be. The comical part of it all to you is that she has never been fond of you from the beginning which you inwardly knew it boiled down to jealousy. And as you figured, you were not invited because she demanded so.

Anger brims harshly beneath you and in attempt to clear your unwanted thoughts, you shake your head. She’s irrelevant anyway. It is Yoongi I am here for. In the end, you are here for one reason and one reason only. For Yoongi to know how you feel about him once and for all.

“Y/N?” Jung Hoseok approaches you, one out of the six best friends Yoongi has other than you. From afar, shoulder leaned against the brick wall of the school, you stared in evident longing as Yoongi set his backpack in his car irritatingly. A fight unfolded between him and his girlfriend and the pair were oblivious to you being a witness. Uncertain of yet again why she was mad at him, you turned to face Hoseok with a gasp of surprise since he unexpectantly caught you hiding. “Look,” he wets his lips, “If you don’t tell him how you feel, I will.”

“Please don’t!” You gasp, watching your volume as you switch your gaze to make sure Yoongi and the blundering wench hadn’t seen your presence. Turning to Hoseok, you plead, “It’s not-! What if?” You sigh, “What if I can’t? What if he still doesn’t get it?”

“But she’s not good for him and you know it. If there’s anybody who deserves each other it’s the two of you,” Hoseok’s expression becomes saddened when you look away from him. Emotions gather in the form of tears as you fight to hold them back.

“I just don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“Well, I wouldn’t be standing here telling you to confess to him if I felt it was a bad idea.”

The church pews continue to become occupied until the echoes of conversation simmer to cease once the out of tune organ cringingly serenades the atmosphere. Wincing in response, you grit your teeth to stifle a giggle because of course the wench of the west would choose the most untuned instruments there are. Ultimately, how fitting can this be for a wedding that should not even be happening? Turning to look at the first coupled bridesmaid and groomsman, memories start to churn when you see each of Yoongi’s friends. Hoseok was not the only one who warned you ahead of time to profess your feelings for Yoongi.

“So, when are you going to tell Yoongi you’re ‘unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him?’” Taehyung’s fluffy curls fall into his eyes as his cheeky grin enters your vision. He is leaned over the back of the couch as he bounces from his knees hitting the cushion.

“And this concludes the last and final time that I will ever watch Twilight with you,” you announce, crinkling at the wrapper of a rice krispie treat from the kitchen. “I’m not as wanted as Bella Swan.”

“You see that’s where you’re wrong. What makes you think you are the only one who feels the connection?”

Pausing from your eventual snack, you glare at your friend, “I’m not in love with him,” you denyingly mutter.

“Your eyes say you are.”

“Gah! Taehyung, how many times do I have to tell you that it’s not going to happen, alright? He has a girlfriend. Obviously if he wanted me, he could have chosen me a long ass time ago. We’ve been in each other’s lives all this time, so why hasn’t he said anything?”

“Have you ever considered that maybe he thought he couldn’t?”

“Excuse me?”

“As being a previous ex of yours, let me explain.”

“We dated for two days. In the first grade!”

“It counts.”

You scoff, pressing the krispie treat underneath your palm as you lean onto the counter to steady your rising nervousness. After a moment, you signal for Taehyung to proceed.

“I think you tend to forget that you’re not the only one who is afraid to confess your feelings to someone. Yoongi may be afraid, too.”

You shrug in reply.

“You are his best friend, Y/N. Maybe he didn’t want to be at fault for ruining a friendship if you happened to not feel the same, so he settled for her.”

He’s right, and deep down beneath the fear, you know it. Stepping toward Taehyung, you ruffle his frilly tendrils, “I loathe you.”

Playfully slapping you away, he chuckles, “Hence why I force you to binge watch chick flicks with me. I loathe you, too.”

Taehyung and his bridesmaid LenLen remain poker faced as they gradually step down the aisle. The memory of Taehyung fades when you find Namjoon sitting alone staring straight ahead with the same expression and another flashback ensues.

After ranting about how hurt you are by the upcoming wedding date, Namjoon visits to console you since counseling is something he does daily, and he is the perfect friend who listens to every word you say other than Min Yoongi. “I just don’t get it. She treats him so poorly and all it does is break my heart. And of course, I never got an invite. She despises me!”

With crossed arms, Joon’s glasses sit daintily on his face while the turtleneck he is wearing shapes his frame- he looks incredibly professional even on his day off. “Yoongi asked me to be in the wedding,”

“Oh?” you say, “As he should. You are one of his best friends,”

“I am, but she happens to despise me, too.”

“What?” You gasp incredulously, “How could? Joon, how do you even know that?”

He settles upon the couch while your gaze follows him, a brief sigh brushes his lips, “He asked me to marry them which she openly opposed.”

“That’s.. That’s a really huge deal, Joon. So, are you going to do it anyways?”

“No,” Namjoon responds quickly, “The reason she despises me is because she thinks I will ruin her and Yoongi’s relationship, the same as she sees you- a threat.”

“But how?”

Joon rubs at the crease in his eyebrows, “She made advances toward me when they first started dating, and I couldn’t bring myself to tell him which is why I can’t push you to tell him your truth until you are ready. I was scared he would think I was lying. The last time I saw her was at a sports game and when he left to grab her a drink, she started touching my thigh and I left immediately.”

“That’s why,” your voice trails off as you remember something, “That’s why Yoongi was so worried about you! Because you never miss a game with him! It was because of that conceited, selfish bi-”

“Hey, let’s not stoop to her level. I strongly dislike her as well, she put me in a very uncomfortable position which is why I am never around when she is. I refuse to be pictured as whatever she decides to manipulate.”

“Joon,” you murmur, leaning forward to squeeze his shoulder, “We all know who you are. Yoongi adores you. Knowing how she is, we would have believed you over her most definitely. Are you going to attend the wedding at all?”

“I’m not sure,” your eyes flicker between his as sadness clouds them, “I want him to be happy and the only person he would be happy with is you.”

It was silent immediately after Namjoon said those words that are still repeating within your mind. Did all of Yoongi’s friends concoct a plan to nudge you to profess the entirety of your heart to him? And what happened to Namjoon was so cruel and it was the final straw that motivated and fueled you to do exactly what you are about to do today. She doesn’t deserve Yoongi, she doesn’t deserve his family, she doesn’t deserve his friends, and she most definitely doesn’t deserve his love. It is time for Min Yoongi to know the truth and nothing but the truth.

The piano chimes in with the organ clashing hideously as the time drags, and you notice Hoseok who is arm and arm with a bridesmaid you are unfamiliar with, stifling the urge to react to the disconcerted music. He takes his place where the best man stands and links his hands before him- a quick grin is shared with whoever he makes eye contact with and his dimples appear for the slightest of seconds. Seokjin and Jimin as well as Jeongguk are completely lined already and when Guk finally locks eyes with Monnie who is sitting in the audience, they share loving smiles. After today, if all works accordingly, Yoongi will be yours and you no longer would envy the love you always longed for with him.

Looking back especially after all the encouragement from you and Yoongi’s friends, there are moments where you almost worked up the bravery to tell him the truth, but it seemed with every opportunity, his girlfriend would find some way to interfere. It was as if she disturbingly knew your schedule and your thoughts which is something you never truly admitted to your friends. You didn’t want her to sound like an excuse that is holding you back from saving Yoongi’s heart from further turmoil.

Flitting your gaze to the handsome lineup of groomsmen, you realize not even one is smiling. Before you can contemplate further on all the reasons why there aren’t any smiles, you move your gaze just for your heart to halt instantly. There he is. Min Yoongi, the love of your life, dressed in a well fitted tuxedo that clings to his thin frame, makes his way timidly to stand in front of the pulpit. His blonde hair spreads neatly upon his forehead while his lips stay in a firm line once he takes a moment to fix the cuffs of his sleeves before resting his hands together in front of him. Gaping at how beautiful he looks; the nerves swerve tremendously inside you because the time is inching closer for you to tell him everything without holding back.

Your shoulders tense once the reverend directs the audience to rise, you are so focused on Yoongi, you hardly can hear the beginning of the wedding march as you swallow roughly. Standing to your feet, your hands are freezing when you hold them together, yet you muster enough to turn to see her make her entrance- the bride who wanted to hold captive of Yoongi’s heart. It’s hard to watch her smile at him as if she truly cares for him, it takes everything not to feel nauseated by the scene. The way she has treated Yoongi, Namjoon, and everyone else it feels like, will never settle with you. The times she obsessively called Yoongi whenever the pair of you would study together, interrupting the time he wanted to spend with his guy friends, or the curse words she would spew at him when she didn’t have her way; or the times she made him cry by threatening to leave him just to turn around and post a selfie of her and a random guy to make Yoongi jealous. So of course, Namjoon would have been heard. He has a heart of gold as well as the rest of the crew. And Yoongi deserves to surround himself with this serene positivity.

She stands before Yoongi as the two join hands. He hardly gives a smirk; doubt seems to exist within his glance, or so you hope. Your icy palms clasp together once the preacher bellows for the guests to now take their seats. The ceremony proceeds, yet you wait for the preacher to say the exact words you are desperately wanting to hear. Lightheaded, you feel the blood drain from your body despite the hammering your heart is profusely beating against your rib cage.

Never in your life did you dream you were going to do what you are about to do. It is bold. It is courageous. And you could care less about what the aftermath will be. The only person whose reaction matters is Min Yoongi’s. The reverend seems to drag his sentences, but when he clears his throat, you straighten your back in preparation for what is coming next.

“Speak now or forever hold your peace.”

Here’s your chance.

Hands shaking, body trembling, you jolt from your seat,

“I. OBJECT!”

Dramatic responses of collected gasps reverberate to the ceiling of the building. Eyes turn to stare at you in congruent with the hushed whispers scattering amongst the pews wondering why you made such a bold choice; and, if looks could kill, you would drop lifeless by the dark daggers burning through your skull by the witch trying to be Yoongi’s forever. Fingertips numb, you try to tune out the raving murmurs, you hadn’t realized you closed your eyes for a few seconds to gather yourself, and when you open them, they instantaneously connect with Yoongi’s that enlarged in shock. His thin lips part and as you gaze at him, tears pool though you relentlessly try to fight them.

“Yoongi,” you speak between stammered breaths, “I know this is…. Sudden, and possibly the most insane thing I am ever going to do,” you put a quivering hand to your lips for a second then dropping it to your side, “But Yoongi, if there is anyone who deserves to spend the rest of their life with you, it’s me.” You cannot believe that sentence slipped from your mouth, but in your heart, you know it’s the truth. Just like that, without your knowledge, smiles begin to bloom from the men standing by Yoongi’s side. Not only do you see it, but so has everyone else who has been in each of your lives. Why else would his “bride to be” have been jealous of you since their whole relationship began a few years ago? She could even sense the chemistry you and Yoongi have shared and still share.

“Yoon, she will never see you the way I see you; the way your family sees you; or the way your best friends see you.” From your peripheral vision, you see a gleamingly proud Hoseok along with Namjoon whose hopes are flying as high as yours, but your gaze never once falters from Yoon’s. Wetting your lips, you continue, “I know you. I have always known you. And you deserve the world and so much more.” Yoongi steps forward then pauses to hear more of what you have to say, “And Yoon,” a tear escapes, trailing warmly down your burning cheek, “I am deeply, undoubtedly, and wholeheartedly in love with you.”

In that moment, Yoongi begins to walk down the stairs, Taehyung’s boxy smile lights up his face as he fist pumps excitingly in the air. You may not have used the exact words from his favorite script, but you know you are beyond words with how much you are in love with Min Yoongi. The horrified bride agonizingly tries to stop Yoongi, but he refuses to take his eyes off you, brushing past her, she lights up in prominent rage. You, with glistening hope sparking across your soul, you shuffle past the gawking people in the pew, ready to crash into Yoongi’s arms.

When he reaches you, his tepid palms cup your face, swiping away the tears that just keep falling as you stare into his umber eyes that mirror the emotions you have brought to him that he is finally seeing. Before you can take a breath, he leans in, capturing your kiss exactly how he has desired, but never found the courage to reveal, that he in fact would dream of you too on countless nights. Or when he felt uneasy or sad, he would relive the best memories that happened to be with you to give him peace. Everything you have ever dreamed of is coming true as the fireworks explode in every direction within your chests. He kisses you so passionately that you both forget about the world, your hands dig into the sides of his tuxedo jacket as he deepens the kiss, tugging him as close as he can be.

Namjoon starts clapping as he stands to his feet until the entire place erupts in a fit of cheers. Even though hundreds of people are encompassing the two of you, it still feels like it is only you and Yoongi within the vast universe. How long have you waited for this moment with the one person you have loved for so long? How many stars had you wished on to finally end up where the two of you are now?

Breathless, Yoongi rests his forehead to yours while the sensation of his kiss still lingers, dazed and filled with immense happiness, you gaze at him fully, he speaks, “I love you, Y/N. I love you so much.”

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ripley95 · 4 years

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Echoes of Old Embers

Chapter 12

Pairing: F!Shepard/Kaidan Alenko

Rating: T

Chapter length: 3.6K

Story Synopsis:

After surviving the war, one of Shepard’s biggest regrets was rejecting Kaidan at Apollo’s. Fate has a way of bringing Jane and Kaidan back into each other’s lives. A misunderstanding with his family makes Kaidan and Shepard relive old history and question where they stand.

Link to Chapter 1 on AO3

Chapter Synopsis:

It’s time for the reception, and nothing seems to go right. The memories of what Shepard used to have with Kaidan are becoming too painful, leading her to make a difficult decision.

Read to Chapter 12 on AO3

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Read the chapter here below the cut:

The wedding ceremony concluded and went off without a hitch. Shepard had never seen Libby happier. Granted, she’d only known Libby for a few days, but it was still a nice change to see that she was no longer stressed out or upset. She was finally enjoying this special day that she had worked so hard on, and it brought a smile to Shepard’s face as much as she was suffering on the inside for her own reasons.

After the ceremony, there was a brief period reserved for professional photos, which Shepard hadn’t really expected. Admittedly, she hadn’t actually gone to a wedding before, so she didn’t know what to expect, but she couldn’t help wishing she was more prepared for this particular event. She was glad the Alenko’s would all have these treasured memories, of course. She could imagine these photos being added to the datapad full of other family photos as a treasured memory.

What she wasn’t so fond of, was the fact that she had inevitably been roped into being included in more of them than she cared for. The Alenkos inclusivity and kind gestures were something she typically admired, but in this particular moment, she couldn’t help but think it was a flaw. She figured that she and Kaidan would be parting ways after this wedding. Knowing that, these pictures with her in them would be a sour spot on these otherwise happy memories. Part of her wanted to scream that she and Kaidan weren’t together to get them to stop once and for all, but that would have completely defeated the purpose of her keeping a low profile throughout the wedding. Instead, she stood right next to Kaidan, close enough to feel the heat of his body as she eyed him with the sadness of knowing their goodbye was coming soon. She forced a smile before each click of the camera and hoped it was convincing enough to not ruin Libby’s photos.

Time passed quickly, at least. It was perhaps the only small mercy she’d been granted this whole time. Before she knew it, the reception was already happening. Again, she didn’t know much about what to expect from a wedding, but it was her general understanding that it would be much more relaxed compared to the rest of the day’s events and that seemed to be the case. However, Shepard couldn’t help but feel that something had changed with Kaidan the entire time. He was more quiet and she wasn’t used to it. They shared a comfortable enough dinner passing conversations, but she couldn’t help but think that maybe this misunderstanding was getting to him more than she thought. It was one thing when she was the only one being tortured by the confused feelings and memories of what they used to be. She didn’t know if she could handle him being so hurt about it now too. She didn’t want to put him through that, especially when he was supposed to be celebrating.

She was supposed to be staying with him for the rest of the week until his vacation time was over, but all she could think about now was leaving. Her circumstances hadn’t changed. She still wasn’t about to be assigned housing anytime soon, but she’d done nothing but cause problems the entire time she was here. She didn’t think she could personally take much more of this. Surely she could think of a believable excuse to leave, making sure Kaidan’s family didn’t feel bad about her going on such short notice.

Dinner went by just about as quickly as everything else. Before she knew it, they were all standing to watch Libby and Derek have their first dance as a married couple. Shepard envied the way they looked at each other. Happy. Like having each other was the only thing that mattered. As soon as they were done, the music changed to something more upbeat, encouraging other couples standing on the sidelines to make their way to the dance floor. Shepard and Kaidan stood awkwardly by the edge, watching the fun, barely engaging each other.

“Do you want a drink?” he finally asked.

“Uh, yeah, that sounds like a good idea,” she said.

He led them over towards the bar.

“What can I get you?” the bartender asked.

“I’ll take a whiskey,” Kaidan said.

“Make that two,” she amended, appreciating that it was something strong.

“Here you go,” the bartender said, handing them each one.

They turned to leave and started watching the crowd that was now enjoying themselves on the dance floor. They both started nursing their drinks.

Maisie walked up to them, moving to the beat as she made her way from the dance floor.

“What, you guys aren’t going to dance?” She asked with a beaming grin on her face.

Even if this was an ideal situation and she and Kaidan were somehow together, she would have had a good excuse for getting out of this one. She may as well have been a ballerina in the battlefield, but she had absolutely no rhythm when it came to dancing. Unless she wanted to make a mockery of herself, she wasn’t about to go out there. It was one thing in privacy with her crew. Under normal circumstances, she might not even mind letting loose here, but it would have been one more thing to draw attention to her. For the most part, Libby’s already had her magical night, but she still hated the potential to steal it from her, and opted to want to stay on the sidelines.

“I’m afraid I’m a horrible dancer,” Shepard said.

“What?” Maisie asked incredulously, stopping dead in her tracks. “You can’t be serious. You?”

“Oh, she’s telling the truth all right,” Kaidan said from beside her with a snort.

“Hey! You’re one to talk. I seem to remember you making finger guns at that party in my apartment,” she said with a big grin on her face.

“Hey, now, this conversation isn’t about me. Maisie’s already well aware of my dancing abilities.”

“Uh-huh,” Shepard said with a smile that she couldn’t help thinking would wane the moment that Maisie left them alone again.

“It’s true, I know he’s got no game on the dance floor. You, on the other hand, are not allowed to say that without a show,” she said, all but ready to drag Shepard into the middle of the crowd when Shepard pulled back.

“Maisie, I don’t think that’s a good idea. I don’t want to draw attention to myself,” Shepard tried to say in a lowered voice.

Maisie huffed out a laugh at her. “Well, if that’s your goal, maybe you should reconsider. Have you taken a good look at that crowd?” she asked, turning to look at everyone dancing. “Everyone’s making a fool of themselves. Only ‘Commander Shepard’ would have a complex about this. If you ask me, I think standing on the sidelines is probably drawing more attention to you than however bad your dancing must be.”

Shepard looked out into the crowd. Sure enough, it was full of people just letting loose. No one cared about how they looked, though she still thought her skills were subpar to everyone out there. At the same time, she probably wasn’t bad enough to draw attention away from everyone else who was just out there having fun.

Shepard turned to Kaidan then, “Shit. She has a point, doesn’t she?”

“I’m afraid she might,” Kaidan said with a smirk.

“Yes! You know I’m always right,” Maisie said with a smile.

“You don’t have to rub it in,” Kaidan said, holding his hand out to Jane. “Shall we?”

“Can’t wait to see this,” Maisie said with a smirk.

Maisie took their glasses and Kaidan gave her the tiniest of glares before he and Shepard made their way out onto the dance floor.

“So, do you have a buzz going yet?” Kaidan asked.

Shepard looked at him, slightly amused. “A bit,” she answered.

“Good, because I think it’ll at least help us not be so self-conscious out here,” he said with a smile as he started dancing.

Maybe it was because she was teasing him about it moments before, but it seemed like he would be leaving his finger guns holstered for the evening. His rhythm was almost as bad as hers. In fact, it was as bad as hers. It brought back memories of them dancing in that casino on the Citadel when they were trying to figure out who stole her identity. Before they even knew she had a clone. They had the exact same dance style then too… And somehow she was always the one that got flack about it from the crew. It made her wonder how security at the casino never thought they were suspicious, because who would want to be seen dancing like that out in public? Shepard had to laugh at the memory of it.

“What?” he said, in mock offense as he stopped dancing immediately, thanks to her outburst. “You don’t like it?”

“No, it’s not that,” she said, grabbing his arms to get him to start bopping them again. “It’s just that, I’d say we’re two peas in a pod or something.”

She started mimicking his moves. Not that she was trying to match him or anything, but more because she legitimately didn’t know any other way to dance. She never knew what to do with her arms. Or her legs for that matter... or where to look. Practically nothing came naturally to her about dancing, but then again, she rarely ever had a partner. Today, she had Kaidan as a distraction and it was easier to let go of the insecurities, already knowing that she looked ridiculous, because he looked ridiculous too. They looked into each other’s eyes. It made both of them laugh some more as they kept dancing.

She didn’t know if it was the alcohol or the dancing, but the night’s tension finally started to feel like it was easing away. She liked seeing Kaidan let loose a bit. It wasn’t something that was typically easy for him either.

Before they knew it, they danced through song after song, and the tempo suddenly changed to something much slower. That made them both stop and catch their breath as they looked to each other again, wondering what to do.

Kaidan saw everyone else around them starting to dance, so he looked back towards her with a smile, holding his hands out in question for her to join him. “I guess we probably should.”

Shepard looked around her, realising the same thing. “Right,” she said as she put her hands in his, and he pulled her closer.

Perhaps it was the alcohol, or their lack of experience for dancing, but she thought it was a bit closer than most people typically got as they were slow dancing. So close that their torsos were touching and they couldn’t even see each other unless they pulled their faces apart. Shepard was so naturally inclined to want to rest her head on his shoulder. She wanted to fall into him and let his comfort take away the stress of the last few days as she nestled into him.

She pulled away slightly. “For appearances sake,” she said, remembering that they didn’t want to make this rumour about them being together get any deeper. She had to get a hold of herself. She was doing exactly what she knew she would when she agreed to come out here. It was so easy for this to feel real and she was finally letting that get the better of her.

“Right,” Kaidan muttered. “For appearances,” he said, with a smile that clearly felt forced to Shepard. She had already gone and made it awkward again. Just another reason that her plan to leave tomorrow was becoming more tempting by the minute. She was getting too close, not only to Kaidan but to his whole family now and that wasn’t fair to any of them.

After the song finished, the band got on the microphone. “All right, everybody, before we continue the dancing, we have to do one of the most important parts of the wedding,” they said in an excited tone. “We still have a bouquet toss to do!” they yelled into the mic, clearly trying to get the crowd riled up.

Shepard took that as her opportunity to pull away, leaving her with a pang of guilt, knowing she shouldn’t have let it get that far in the first place. “Do you want to get another drink?” she asked, trying to distract herself from the pain of it.

“All of the people hoping to get a ring on that finger soon, come make your way to the dance floor,” the announcer said.

Kaidan looked back to Shepard. “Yeah, I think that would be a good idea,” he said as they both made their way back to the bar.

“Two more whiskeys,” Kaidan said as they walked up to the bartender again.

He promptly handed them both a glass. Shepard couldn’t help but notice Kaidan taking a big swig of his. She followed suit.

“Jane, what the hell are you doing?” Maisie asked, startling them both to turn around. “This includes you, you know! Come on!” she said, pulling Shepard into the crowd of single people wanting to catch the bouquet.

“Maisie, that’s really not—” Shepard said, trying to protest the action, not wanting to be part of this.

“Don’t be silly, it’s just for fun.”

Shepard didn’t want to fight her or cause a scene by protesting. She relented, and let Maisie pull her out into the crowd. The two of them stayed in the front up close, which was even worse. Shepard would have preferred to blend into the background somewhere, but now she was on display. It would look weird if she wasn’t jumping to grab it, wouldn’t it? Even weirder if she purposely dodged out of the way of it as though it were a grenade. She figured she’d grab it if it headed directly at her, but she wouldn’t be going out of her way to catch it either.

Libby stood at the edge of the dance floor. She turned around so that her back was facing the crowd anticipating her throw. Libby gave them one last glance before she tossed the bouquet. She threw it high, but short, so it wasn’t going to reach the crowd. Everyone was lunging forward in an attempt to catch it.

As the crowd moved forward, they pushed Shepard with them. As much as she was trying to hold herself back, it wasn’t working with everyone else encroaching behind her. She stopped even keeping an eye on the bouquet, just trying not to fall over from the horde of people when it suddenly hit her square in the face. Reflexes took over as she caught it.

That wasn’t good. She gathered that it was only a silly tradition and didn’t really mean anything, but it still left her feeling sullen. It was a symbol for something that wouldn’t be happening with her, at least not with the person she wanted. Not to mention that she didn’t want to add to whatever weird feelings there was with Kaidan now. He’d been through enough with the misunderstandings. Even though it was silly and insignificant, he didn’t need that reminder on top of everything.

Shepard heard clapping from behind her and turned to look. Maisie was jumping up and down, clapping her hands.

“Yay! Maybe you really will be my sister-in-law!” Maisie said excitedly.

Shepard wanted to let out a hard sigh of frustration, but knew better than to make a scene. Instead, she turned back towards the bar where Kaidan was standing. She couldn’t help but think he looked somewhat dejected. He was immediately distracted by his mother talking into his ear over the noise of the party.

The bouquet-seeking crowd dissipated and Shepard saw Raiya make her way over to her.

“You sure look like a deer caught in headlights.”

“Uh… yeah, I guess you could say that. I’ll be honest, I’ve never been to a wedding before. I didn’t really expect something like that to be taken so seriously.”

“Don’t worry about it, it’s still just for fun. Don’t let it get to you.” Raiya said.

“Wait, yes, let it get to you!” Maisie jumped in. “I want a sister-in-law. Especially this one,” she said, pointing to Shepard.

Raiya scoffed. “It’s not like some magical spell. It’s not going to miraculously make them get married.”

“No, I know that, but I thought maybe if Kaidan could see her looking happy after catching it, something might click in his brain to make him consider it more. I like her. I want her to be permanent.”

“You can’t play with people’s emotions like that, Maisie. Just let them have their space. They’re clearly trying to figure things out. They don’t need the added pressure. You know, I bet it’s this kind of stuff that made Kaidan not bring anyone home before now.”

“All right, already, I get the point,” Maisie said. “I’m sorry, Jane. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“It’s okay,” Shepard said, knowing the sentiment was innocent enough. “It’s kind of sweet to know you care about me that much already,” Shepard said with a genuine smile, not wanting her to feel bad about it.

“Yeah, well, you’re pretty cool. Plus, it’s nice to think of Kaidan being happy.”

Shepard just smiled at her, appreciating the gesture, though she knew deep down that Kaidan was anything but happy right now.

“Well, now I went and made this awkward. I think I hear the dance floor calling my name, so I’ll just give you some space. I really didn’t mean to add pressure, though,” Maisie said.

“It’s fine. Go have fun,” Shepard said, waving the bouquet towards the crowd that had picked up the dancing again.

Maisie took that as permission to leave. Now it was just her and Raiya.

“Try not to take stock in any of that. Not that I wouldn’t want you in our family if that’s the way you guys are naturally headed,” Raiya quickly amended. “But I just know how much pressure that kind of thing can be on a relationship. I know there’s complicated history there, so don’t let it be a burden on that. Maisie’s just really excitable and grasps onto anything that holds her interest for even a minute.”

“So I’ve noticed,” Shepard said with a laugh that Raiya returned.

“But seriously, just don’t let it get to you. It can be overwhelming to meet a family like ours when you guys are still trying to figure out exactly what you are. I think my talk with you earlier probably didn’t help with that. I can see that you care about Kaidan and I don’t think you’d do anything to purposely hurt him. You’re a good person, Jane. I just want you both to do what’s best for you,” Raiya said, looking like she genuinely cared for her, too. It was nice and an important gesture from her after being so protective.

“Thanks for understanding,” Shepard said genuinely.

That made her look back to where Kaidan was previously standing, only to notice that he was gone. Maybe their dance and her catching the bouquet hurt him even more than she feared. She couldn’t blame him after everything that had happened.

“Can you give this back to Libby,” Shepard said, handing the bouquet over to Raiya. In truth, she had no idea what she was supposed to do with it, if she was supposed to keep it or not. Was it bad form to give it back? She didn’t know, but she was also sidetracked, wanting to make sure Kaidan was okay. “I should probably go find Kaidan.”

“Yeah, sure,” she said, taking it back.

Shepard headed towards the bar, where he had been standing before this whole debacle and looked through the crowd everywhere, but he was nowhere to be found. She figured that a lot of the night’s events probably upset him, but she felt awful that she might have made him feel bad enough to miss out on the celebration. She’d rather talk to him now about her plan to leave so he could still get some enjoyment out of the night.

As she turned through the crowd one last time, she finally saw Ada heading towards her.

“Well, don’t you look like a chicken with its head cut off,” she said with a laugh. “If I had to venture a guess, you’re probably looking for Kaidan, aren’t you?”

“That obvious, huh?” Shepard said with a forced smile.

“Very,” she said teasingly. “I sent him to go get a bottle of wine from the cellar. It’s something I wanted to give to Libby and Derek as a gift, but I forgot to grab it earlier.”

That was actually perfect. Maybe she’d catch him while he was still there and they could have a moment to talk alone away from the crowds.

“Thanks,” Shepard said with a smile of gratitude.

“Don’t mention it,” Ada said with a warm smile.

Shepard took that as her opportunity to leave, exiting the barn, heading towards the house for the cellar. Finally, she’d have her chance to end this misery.

#f!Shenko #f!shepard/Kaidan Alenko #f!Shepard #Kaidan Alenko #mass effect #fanfiction #mass effect fanfiction #mini slow burn #friends to lovers #angst #accidental dating #my writing #my fic on tumblr

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ginmo · 5 years

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Okay this is going to be long haha. As a disclaimer, Jaime can still die. This just explains why I’ve become skeptical over that fate.

I have not been given a straight answer to Jaime’s fate by any of the people I have spoken with, and I can’t be too detailed in my explanations because of reasons, but this is what I can say:

1. Jaime doesn’t die in the battle of WF. I’m making this clear because this has become popular spec. Now when I say die, I mean permanently dead, not resurrection dead. I have no info about any resurrections, so it’s entirely possible he can “die” and still come back. All I know is that Jaime is definitely alive after the battle of WF, so don’t listen to any leaker who says his final farewell is during that battle. I know of a specific event (actually, two of them) that happens after the WF battle, and he’s very much alive for it.

2. Jaime is in all 6 episodes, and no, that information is NOT taken from Nikolaj’s contract. I can say this with 99% confidence.It’s possible he could be in less depending on how they move scenes around in post production, but at least during filming, every person I spoke with was certain he was in every episode.

3. Jaime is not dead during Tyrion’s trial in episode 6. Tyrion’s trial is AFTER the KL battle.......... sooooo.................

4. Okay this really isn’t anything lol but, they were all pretty excited to tell me what happens, and wanting to tell me “so badly!” while… knowing I want him to live. Like I said, that doesn’t mean much, but I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt and assuming they’re not, like, Satan or something. “Omg you want him to live so I’m so excited for you to see him DIE! :D!!”

Recent Observations:

This isn’t what I’ve been personally told, but this is what I have observed in fandom over the past few months. Take all of this with a grain of salt. I’m only including these because they got my attention, considering what I know.

1. There have been a couple randos that have popped into fandom just to say that everyone is wrong about Jaime because he lives and then they poof. Like I said, take this with a grain of a salt. It probably is nothing, but they always stood out to me as suspicious.

2. Recently, someone said they spoke with a family friend and that friend said a person everyone thought would live ends up dying and someone who was “seemingly marked by death from the beginning” would survive. This actually can’t really be argued for any character. Not every character has been around since the beginning, and only a handful have been “marked by death” in the eyes of fandom.

Speaking on average: Jon, Dany, Sansa, Arya, Bran, Sam… all of them have fairly uncertain fates or the assumption of survival. Minor characters? No one is going to care so much about their fate to give a spoiler about it (“oh man dude! Melisandre LIVES! People will freak!”) or the others haven’t been around since the beginning… IMO, there are only two characters that fit that description: the twins. Considering I have good reason to believe Jaime may actually have a chance at survival, and since literally every sector of the GoT fandom, including the JB fandom, he's talked about as if he’s already dead, I’m going to make an assumption here and apply that to Jaime. Out of the twins, Jaime has actual potential set up for survival, Cersei not so much.

Narrative:

As much as Jaime’s death would fit the traditional mold for the path he is currently on, there is setup for a possible survival in the books and the show. I had always envisioned his fate going either way, and was confused why people would be completely convinced of death or survival. I felt both had set up? I went from thinking he was doomed, to thinking he would survive, to being totally unsure, back to thinking he’s dead again, and now I’m residing in survival camp.... for now, at least lol.

I could go on and on and on with the support in the books. I could describe a different interpretation to his weirwood dream, dig up quotes about how he’s yearning for fatherhood and a married life and how he thinks he will only ever be a warrior, explain how the hand chop was his “death,” moan about how eye-roll worthy it is for him to be a Stark prop. I can find evidence to argue that he’s simultaneously being molded into a leader and heir and therefore it would be a wasteful death that accomplish nothing. I can also blab about how Brienne is basically his plot armor because of how ridiculously redundant and meaningless it would be for HER arc if another person were to die in her arms and leave her exactly where she started (actually, no, I’ll probably still talk about this with the show evidence because it annoys me). But since this is a somewhat show-themed post, the question being about season 8, I’ll just stick with the show evidence.

Show Evidence:

1. Watch: Jaime and Tywin’s conversation #1 , conversation #2, conversation #3. Look. The show decided to include THREE SCENES about marriage and the Lannister Legacy. THREE................

“Oh but in the first one he says that he doesn’t want the Lannister legacy to fall like the Targaryens did which foreshadows the Lannisters going extinct.”

Jaime fulfilling his duty as heir has been brought up T H R E E times.

And the Targaryens went… extinct? … I mean… who are the two leads of this series? If they’re going to parallel the Targaryens in some form, then that means they definitely don’t go extinct. Baby Lannister left behind? Possible. But…

2. Jaime is removed from the KG in season 6. Why? In the show he... didn’t need to be removed from KG so he could later on leave Cersei (even in the books he ran off while still on the KG). Brienne says Fuck Loyalty and he Fucks Loyalty anyway. They could have had him do that while still member of the KG. It was perfect setup. Tywin wants him removed so he can fulfill the Lannister legacy, Jaime eventually gets removed. What’s the point of removing him from the KG to simply lead the Lannister army for two seasons and then die if he could have been doing that anyway as LC? They removed him from the KG because he’s being molded into an heir and freed of vows for endgame. And, again, connects to the Tywin conversations.

3. Purple Wedding. Ah, one of my favorites. (<- that one kinda sucks because the youtuber edited Brienne’s walk to be more quick but you still get the point)

When Loras and Jaime are having a conversation, Jaime says, “You’ll never marry [Cersei]” and Loras responds with, “And neither will you.” Loras walks away, Jaime looks down, Brienne walks past and Jaime looks up. Keep in mind GRRM at least wrote the Cersei and Brienne portion, and it was even mentioned that they paid attention to the transitions. when filming and editing.

Minor detail to mention: the Bear and the Maiden Fair is playing in the background.

”lol that song has been used before for other people.”

Yeah... for marriages. Not only has it been consistently used for Jaime and Brienne - also season 3 when they’re captured and used as the episosde title for the bear pit- but the other times it has been used were for: the wedding feast between Tyrion and Sansa, the wedding feast between Edmure and Roslin, and then the wedding of Joffrey and Marg... and when did it play at theirs? During the Jaime and Brienne scenes, literally during and after Loras told Jaime he would never marry Cersei and then Brienne walks past and then Cersei accuses Brienne of being in love with Jaime.

“It just means Jaime won’t marry Cersei because he’ll fall in love with Brienne.”

Maybe? But he’s already simultaneously falling in love with Brienne and he was (in the show) still trying to marry Cersei? Why is a theme of marriage hammered in so often then? (like Brienne’s monologue, which I’ll get to)

Maybe I can also throw in this more tinfoily bit in. “Maybe you’re a Lannister too.”

4. “Die in the arms of the woman I love.” -sigh-. Okay, I admit, the first time I heard this I jumped on the SEE JAIME IS DEAD bandwagon and was firmly stationed on that wagon until I got info that started raising my hopes and then Brienne’s, “nothing’s more hateful than failing to protect the one you love” popped into my head and I’m like

and then “who wants to die defending a Lannister.” Yeah yeah, “who wants to die defending a Lannister” is simply foreshadowing Brienne’s love for Jaime and doesn’t necessarily mean she will die (she at least survives to episode 6, after the battle). But if you take that and mix it with “nothing’s more hateful than failing to protect the one you love” and stir it in a pot, you got yourself Brienne making a move that almost gets her killed to save Jaime and NOT fail the like 4th or 5th person just because.

That line about failing is so often overlooked. Yeah, of course it’s possible it can mean she fails again, but I’m just… even if it doesn’t foreshadow shit, it made it clear that failing the one she loves is a thing she wants to avoid so... why the hell would the story have her fail another fucking person? What’s the point? She feels like she failed her father, failed Renly, failed Catelyn (more in the books), she’ll probably feel that way after Pod bites it, let’s have her fail Jaime too! :D! Let’s also be repetitive and have a guy die in her arms again just to rip her heart out and leave her exactly where she started just for the demonic lolz (btw I never subscribed to GRRM being as blood thirsty as people make him out to be). To me, that line sounds like she’s going to do everything in her power to not let that happen ever again. There will probably be a close call where she thinks she failed but doesn’t. Jaime saved her twice, maybe she will be the knight in shining armor and save him.

“Okay but what if she’s left with his baby? She’s not exactly where she left off then.”

No, she’s not in the exact same spot, and that’s a scenario I definitely find plausible. However, she... still kinda is? Stripping her of the only person who has ever genuinely loved her in that way sends a message that society is correct- Brienne, an ugly, undesirable woman- is unworthy of love. Brienne is unworthy of a long, happy life full of love because the Gods gave him to her for just a bit, dropped a baby in her lap as a consolation prize, and took the one person who has ever genuinely loved her for who she was.Normally I would argue that GRRM isn’t writing a story that gives characters everything they deserve. And I agree with that, but I’d argue that he’s using Brienne to literally tell a message of BatB. Inner beauty triumphs, superficiality does not (Cersei being example A). The message isn’t as effective if this rejected, freakish, beast of a woman continues to feel like a failure, continues to get fucked over and remains fucked over in endgame.

Now back to “die in the arms of the woman I love.” This line was used to set up the JC downfall to the viewers, and get Jaime questioning by having Bronn say, “does she feel the same?” On the surface it’s Cersei, the subtext is Brienne. That was it’s purpose. But I tend to agree with the people who say it can also be foreshadowing. So can he still die? OF COURSE! Will I agree with the narrative decision? NO (explanation further down). Can he die and be resurrected like a literal BatB tale? YEAH! Can it mean that he dies in the arms of the woman he loves as an old man? SURE! There’s multiple interpretations here.

Going back to the last one, I find it curious that immediately before Jaime mentions his preferred way of death, Bronn said he wanted to die as an old man in his castle with children groveling at his feet for his fortune and Jaime makes a comment about how that’s boring. So, I’d find it kinda funny then if the two desires were combined. (and Jaime never said in a battle, btw. The scene he describes is romantic with no context).

5. Brienne. Don’t tOUCH ME. Okay.

a) She told Catelyn she wasn’t a Lady, told Pod she wasn’t, Cersei told her she’s a Lady whether she wants to be or not... her insecurities over being a Lady is CLEARLY a theme that the show decided to keep. And then there’s this scene. Brienne fulfills her oath by keeping the Stark girls safe and getting them North. Pod calls her my Lady, Brienne begins to say she’s not a Lady, stops herself, and then thanks Pod. why is this always ignored?? This is saying that plot is done. Brienne is done being a bodyguard (which is also made crystal clear in Season 7 when Sansa basically tells her she can protect herself and Brienne tells the Hound that Arya doesn’t need protection). Brienne’s acceptance of her title is the story saying that Brienne will move on from this dragged out af plot and will now get ready to fulfill her role as Lady/heir. So what does this have to do with Jaime? Ahem. Well who else is being groomed for the role of Lord/heir?

b) I’ve been dying for them to finally give some book canon backstory to Brienne and show her vulnerable side. I was pleased in season 5 when we were delivered a wonderful little nugget that isn’t straight book canon, but an adaptation of it. Look, the fact that they even CARED to adapt this for the show is huge. Here is the scene.

The addition of this scene is important because it’s Brienne literally telling Pod (and the viewers) that the happiest she has ever been was when all the boys wanted to marry her and take her back to their castles. It’s reminding the viewers that romance is a major theme of her arc. They had her specifically mention marriage and living a domestic life in a castle and that made her fucking happy dude. The happiest she had ever been.

Now… why? Why is that necessary if Jaime and Brienne are just destined to bang and then he bites it? If they wanted to highlight that Brienne is a sexual being that wants to be loved, they literally could have taken out the whole marriage and castles and kept it as the boys dancing with her and complimenting her and flirting with her made her happy. But no, they brought in marriage. She wants marriage, man. She secretly desires the life of a Lady, with the one she loves, and that’s okay. And do NOT tell me that her destiny is to be some bodyguard for the Starks. I already wrote like 4 paragraphs on it but deleted because… not the place. Anyway, they adapted the marriage bits because it’s something that comes up in Brienne’s chapters quite a bit. (The lions on the cloak as she watched the boy she was to marry walk away and Jaime putting a cloak around her shoulders are probably my favorites).

“But what if they marry and then he dies!”

Oh, a little spoiler: Let’s just say it doesn’t seem likely they marry on screen. Possible, but very unlikely. So if they marry, marriage would have to be implied after the show... -whispers- which means he would have to survive.

Also, I already explained why I personally find that an ineffective ending, but again, is it possible that’s the version being told? Hell yeah it is. This is why I’m not completely convinced of his survival, and why I have always been open-minded about his death, and have gone back and forth depending on how much I trust the quality of writing. In most redemption arc narratives the character dies because death itself is something they have avoided, usually by obtaining power or through an exploration of a courage theme. Jaime has already proven he’s willing to sacrifice himself and has accepted his death on many different occasions (ex: he jumped into a bear pit with one hand and no weapon with literally no plan, and on the show he charged a fire breathing dragon head on with nothing but a spear I mean....), so what does his death as a knight really accomplish for his character besides, “it’s TRADITIONAL! Redemption = only DEATH! Knightly honor = only DEATH!” (I can feel myself going down a rabbit hole by wanting to talk about the hand chop so I’m going to stfu now because this is getting ridiculously long.)

“GoT has been inconsistent in the past and sometimes they do things that make no sense.”

I know, and it’s still entirely possible the execution of this story is trash and everything was pointless. That argument could apply to literally everything I say in this post. But at the same time, GoT is shit at being subtle, and when they want to drive a point or theme home, they do, even if it’s sloppy. (and yeah, like mentioned, I see this in the books as well... I’m not basing my opinion entirely on the show. It’s just if I add book bits on here, it’s going to get even more boring than it currently is lol.)

“Gin, sorry, I just disagree with you.”

That’s okay! It’s possible I end up changing my mind 50 more times, based off of the info coming in. Guys, I just think this story can be DIFFERENT. I’m so goddamn tired of the same, predictable narratives. And also because, like I said, I see potential set up for survival. I see all of the different interpretations. I’m tired of seeing people act all arrogant, like the answer is already there, when I see evidence for at least the possibility of something different.

Like we can’t even fucking discuss his survival in fandom, and if someone even BREATHES it they’re called delusional or in denial, even by their fellow JB shippers. NO? I just see multiple paths and interpretations?? And... to make it even more confusing I’ve been receiving optimistic hints that have raised my hopes??????? Fuck, I’m basically a victim here because I had been comfortable assuming the worst lol.

I’m legit procrastinating on posting this because I have anxiety putting it out there. Discussion of his survival is that unpopular.

#jaime x brienne #brienne of tarth #I totally just talked to myself throughout the entire post #and #I warned you it would be long haha #..#.#got spoilers #got s8 spoilers #jaime lannister

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moonlitgleek · 6 years

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samwpmarleau

replied to your post

“Don't you think POD was a bit abelist for refusing tyrion?”

see, idk, while that may be par for the course in westeros, it's pretty dang hypocritical. elia wasn't supposed to survive infancy either, and yet she did. oberyn is the one putting the ableism spin on his mother's choices, we have nothing from her specifically. imo, she easily could have taken it as an insult for a) ableism towards her own daughter, b) the reneging on the deal she had with joanna, which tywin presumably used to be on board with, c) the assertion that elia isn't ~worthy~ of his precious jaime, and d) because betrothing elia to tyrion would mean at EARLIEST elia couldn't have her first kid until she was 29, which is just ridiculous in westeros' terms.

It’s true that we haven’t heard from the Princess of Dorne herself but Oberyn is as close to a reliable witness as we’re going to get until GRRM deigns to give her a voice. By no means does that mean that everything he says must be accurate, but the flow of the conversation between him and Tyrion doesn’t seems to support that this is only Oberyn’s spin imo. Oberyn alternates between telling his mother’s observations and giving his own conclusions in this conversation but he does frame each as they are. For example, he clearly presents his thoughts about the supposed double betrothals and the cabin on their ships as his own deduction before he shifts into telling information that his mother told him. The part about the match with Tyrion being taken as an outrage not only comes with Oberyn’s assertion that it was, it comes in-between an instance where Oberyn is recounting things his mother told him, and another where he confirms that she did think that she won the tilt. The context that Oberyn gives - that this is a story that merited a mention on the Princess’s deathbed, no less than 6 years after the incident and (probably) after Elia had married Rhaegar - coupled by his lack of objection to Tyrion’s assumption that the Princess did think of the offer as an outrage makes me inclined to take this as the Princess’s take too and not just Oberyn’s. After all, if she didn’t take it as an insult, why did she think that she won the tilt like Oberyn confirms? Yes, it’s absolutely because wedding Elia to Rhaegar was a resounding rebuff to the ableism Tywin showed towards Elia, but that is intrinsically tied to Tyrion and his disability.

Thing is, the ableism against Elia can not be separated from the ableism against Tyrion because it was delivered through Tyrion. The very expression of Tywin’s ableism towards Elia was in offering disabled Tyrion instead of able-bodied Jaime, sending a message that sickly Elia could only be worthy for the disabled kid, not the golden able-bodied one. If Tyrion was not disabled, if there was no ableism leveled at him from both parties, the offer wouldn’t have been an insult in the first place. We can’t claim that the Princess of Dorne was insulted only because the offer of Tyrion displayed ableism towards Elia which had nothing to do with Tyrion himself when said ableism lies in offering Tyrion. If she didn’t think there was something wrong with Tyrion, then what was the insult to Elia? That Tyrion was much younger? That might have made the match a bad fit, disadvantageous and unsuitable for the Princess’ dynastic hopes, but it’s no insult in and of itself. Not “an outrage” as Tyrion put it and Oberyn agreed with him. Simply a part of dynastic negotiation.

Nor can the fact that Tywim refused the match be taken as an insult on its own, unless every other lord took failed marital plans as a personal insult, and unless the Princess of Dorne herself took Tywin’s rejection of Oberyn for Cersei as an insult. Which she didn’t though Tywin’s brusque tone clearly bothered her. Too, it can not be said that Tywin reneged on a previous marital agreement because we got no indication that Tywin even knew about the correspondence between the Princess and Joanna, and Joanna’s own agreement can not be seen as a solid promise of betrothal that Tywin should be held to because marriages are typically arranged and negotiated between heads of Houses so Joanna couldn’t have formally betrothed the twins without Tywin’s approval. As a political actor in her own right, the Princess knew that, which is further supported by how all the information we have indicates that she didn’t approach the matter like it was previously preliminary approved. I’d also think that the Princess would have mentioned it to Oberyn if this was a case of Tywin going back on his word, considering that betrothal agreements are a big deal in Westeros.

while ableism is rampant, given elia's own condition, the fact that dorne is more lenient with pretty much everything, and tywin's betrayal, i think it just as likely she took it as just a plain insult, irrespective of tyrion's condition.

I don’t think that Elia’s illness precludes the Princess of Dorne displaying ableist behavior. It is not uncommon for someone to display prejudice against the same minority group that a loved one belongs to. This is a bit like saying that someone isn’t racist because they have PoC in their family. Not only does casual prejudice exist in behavior that isn’t consciously recognized as prejudice, but selectivity in prejudice also exists. It is not uncommon for someone to exclude a loved one from a certain prejudice. We see this all the time in real life and also repeatedly in the text. Various Starks causally dehumanize Tyrion by referring to him by a slur or reducing him to his disability, but they’d never do that to Bran (though casual ableism towards Bran does creep up in several places because they don’t even realize that’s ableism). Tywin is a ramping misogynist who thinks women are inherently inferior and has wild issues with powerful women but Joanna was still his confidante who he left in charge when he was absent. Rhaenyra Targaryen displayed the usual prejudice and scapegoating of bastards when she ordered the arrest of Addam Velaryon based on nothing but his bastardy, even though her fiercely protected elder three sons were all bastards. Lysa Tully is grossly ableist towards Tyrion, even though her own beloved child is also a victim of Westerosi ableism. Oberyn himself showed ableist behavior towards Tyrion in a way I highly doubt he showed with either of his beloved siblings.

(I also think there is a conversation to be had about the kind of disability in question because that does affect the form of ableism leveled at a disabled person. Ableism aimed at Tyrion is different from the one aimed at Elia is different from the one aimed at Lollys is different from the one aimed at Hodor, even though all have points of correlation and all share the implicit belief that the disabled person is worth less than others. That casual assumption of Tyrion’s immorality and evilness and violence even as a baby or before he’d done anything questionable that’s from people who aren’t as grossly ableist as the Lannisters, that’s a distinct pattern of disturbingly common reactions to Tyrion that is patterned to his specific disability. But I’m not really equipped to tackle this subject so I’ll leave to more informed people).

additionally, the fact that elia was besotted with baby tyrion and thought him absolutely adorable, and that oberyn thought him a perfectly normal (or at least not deformed "enough") baby suggests the POD didn't display much ableism at all in raising them. maybe they just turned out well in spite of her, but i'm not inclined to think that the case.

That’s a too narrow view of what ableism is, though. It restricts ableism to the purposely malicious and more extreme form, to instances where people call a disabled baby monstrous because of his disability or use it as an excuse to abuse him. But that is not the only form of ableism there is. Casual ableism is still ableism.

More importantly, it is not accurate to imply the Martells haven’t shown ableism and use it as a proof that the Princess didn’t display it in turn. Because Oberyn was repeatedly ableist. He might have thought Tyrion “a poor sort of monster”, but he said baby Tyrion had “an evil eye” (evil being a stereotype often used against Tyrion due to his dwarfism which automatically vilifies him in the eyes of everyone), regularly referred to him as the Imp, told him to his face that it was an outrage that he was put forward as an option for his sister and expected Tyrion to see where he was coming from. Oberyn displayed a lot of casual ableism with Tyrion, because ableism is inescapable in their society. I tend to think about the instance with the Princess of Dorne as a similar kind of casual ableism. I reiterate that I don’t think the Princess of Dorne was malicious or that she wanted to tear Tyrion down. But I do think that she thought him not good enough for her daughter because of his disability, in a similar way to Catelyn’s reaction to his marriage to Sansa (though that has other elements as well, of course. But thinking of Tyrion as “the twisted little man” really can’t be taken as anything but ableism).

Point is, one doesn’t need to be actively abusive or terrible to be ableist. Jon Snow actively lorded his physicality over Tyrion at the beginning. Some of the kindest souls in the series like Sansa and Bran still display that prejudice, not out of maliciousness or a desire to hurt and not out of a conscious belief of superiority to the disabled person. It doesn’t mean they are bad people. But that doesn’t make their behavior any less ableist, not when it’s built on, informed by and expressed through a person’s disability.

#asoiaf #asoiaf meta #tyrion lannister #elia martell #the unnamed princess of dorne #oberyn martell #tywin lannister #bran stark #lollys stokeworth #hodor #disability in westeros #ableism tw #ableism in westeros

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agl03 · 6 years

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Do you think Fitz and Simmons will have a more relevant in the second arc of the season? I really hope so because their season 4 arc was the best part of the season, but their current arc is a bit of a letdown. Plus, every time this show has done a spacetime plot their roles are scaled back to where they're mostly in the background. It's the same with May. This season needs to be more character based than it's been so far. I know I give season 3 alot of flack for these issues, but this is worse.

Hi Anon,

I can’t make you like the arc, I really enjoyed it. I was actually pretty happy with how the time was divied up with the characters in the first arc, everyone got time in the forefront and move the main story along as it did. I do think that trend will continue a bit into the back half of the season.

Now that the pod is behind us and there are some spoilers trickling out and what I’ve seen set up I’ll go ahead and do where I see things going for a few of the characters as of right now. As always canon and future spoilers could totally blow this out of the water.

Coulson: He is going to be crucial. Its been confirmed he’s dying and according to Loop Elena they have to “let him”. Additionally Loop Elena said not being able to change Coulson’s decisions was frustrating to her and that will create issues. His relationship with Daisy will also be strained since he forced her to come back and I do hope at some point they allow Philinda to follow up on the “maybe there is” from last season. He’s TOP of my gonna get kidnapped at some point list. According to Robin he’s needed to bring all the pieces together so a good set back will be losing him to the baddie or Hale. Be it he goes willingly to protect the others or he gets kidnapped/captured.

May: Look for her to come forward and maybe have to assume a leadership position when Coulson is taken out of the picture. Outside of that I’m still having a tough time getting a read on where she is going.

Daisy: She will also have a lot going on. The fallout with Coulson. Loss of her powers and eventually getting them back/embracing them again. Ruby is Obsessed with her so we’ll have to wait to see what that looks like. IE do the interact regularly or if its a obsession from afar kind of thing. Based on BTS pics she looks to be with Deke a lot.

Deke: Is alive. He should offer some comic relief as his sass is going to no doubt go up exponentially in his new environment. He’ll be adjusting to earth and kind of just hanging on for dear life as he works with the team. He’ll prove a crucial link for the team on ‘past’ events and I am looking for more about his parents to come into play as well. Finally, possibly watch for him and Daisy to go romantic. I know a lot of people don’t want it (I don’t want it) but with the set up I saw I have it on my radar. I would personally like to see him working with everyone on the team at some point.

Elena: I still won’t be surprised if she leaves the team for one reason or another at some point in 11 or 12. I think a lot of that could hinge on who she tells about Coulson, if she confronts him, and how that goes. I am watching for her to question every single decision Coulson makes because she doesn’t know which one is the one that led to the end of the world.

Mack: He’s up there with May for me. He’ll take on a more supporting role plus whatever happens with Mackelena…it just depends on if she does indeed leave and if they disagree about how to handle things with Coulson.

Fitzsimmons: There are a few points here both together and as a couple. I’m feeling there will be a wedding sooner rather than later. They will work on healing from the Framework fall out. And I’m expecting to see them sciencing again in a way that hasn’t been seen in a long time. I can see them being targets of the baddies depending on what the baddies plan is, especially if its got some scientific components they don’t necessarily understand. Hale could also have a bone to pick with Fitz for escaping and taking a ton of the toys she stole from Shield with him. We know from Flashbacks that Fitzsimmons did a lot of work with Gravitionium (which is going to be in play too) at some point. With Jemma, building on the “Inhuman whisperer” thing we saw multiple times.

Ruby: What does her obsession with Daisy entail and I really need to see her in action.

Hale: She’s back too and going to be a force to be reckoned with. She has a lot of secrets and again I need to see more of her, who she’s working with, who/what she has, and what the end game is. I won’t at all be surprised if there are some ties to Hydra in the mix at some point. I could also see her being based a bit on General Stoner’s character from the comics.

Creel: He’s back and my guess is someone is wanting to use his powers…and not in a good way. Or Piper tracked him down to help.

Talbot: Is also going to be back. He could be in the same place as Creel. I’m still not 100% sold that was actually Talbot that was shot in 4.22, rather it could have been a rouse of some sort to help take down Shield and the Real Deal is being kept somewhere else. I’ll bet Coulson will eventually wind up with him…I can’t wait for that, I love those two together.

Right now I have no idea what episodes will be bigger for Fitzsimmons…aside from 12 I think they have something BIG in 12. For now I just need to wait and see how things fall out as they get settled back on earth.

#aos spoilers #aos speculation #ask agl03

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panda-noosh · 7 years

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What do you think the most memorable kiss shared between the Paladins and their S/O would be like?

THIS WAS SO FUN TOWRITE!

Shiro:

- Ifeel like the most memorable kiss for Shiro would definitely be thewedding kiss.

-You two had been going out for nearly three years when he finallypopped the question – all nerves and jittered giggles, but he askedyou and you of course said yes.

-So the day he finally had you in his arms at the altar, after notseeing you that whole morning whilst you got ready, he was ecstatic.

- The person who takes the ceremony would say the “You may now kissthe bride” and the kiss would be slow. I can see Shiro waiting fora moment, just to stare at your beautiful self and thank whoever thehell is listening for giving him such a gift.

-And then he'd slowly lean in and your lips would feel like they'rebarely touching. A light kiss that held so much emotion that itnearly made him burstinto tears.

- His hands would be on your waist as he rocked the two of you backand forth only slightly, humming against your mouth. It was like thecheering crowd behind you had completely disappeared.

- Thatis before Hunk and Lance start chanting about “getting a room”but that's for another time.

Keith:

- Themost memorable kiss for Keith would be the kiss that he would giveyou after you two have your first time.

- A special moment for anybody, of course. Bare bodies pressed tightagainst one another, as if he's afraid you'll leave if he doesn'thold you close enough.

-You'll be drifting asleep, in a woozy state as you fight to keep youreyes open. Your head will be resting on Keith's arm as he looks downat you, grinning from ear to ear with bed head and tired eyes.

- He'll be almost completely lost in the memories of earliers actions.He barely notices when he is leaning his head down and pressing hislips to yours in a firm, yet light and gentle kiss.

-You'll look up, shocked for a moment and suddenly fully awake, andKeith would just snuggle down in the sheets, whisper “I love you,”before drifting off to sleep.

-He acted like the kiss was merely nothing, but it's one he neverforgets.

Lance:

- Themost memorable kiss for Lance would be the kiss he gives you once herealises he loves you.

-Because for Lance, there really is a distinct moment where he justkind of stopped and was like, “Holy shit. They aren't just somebodyI flirt with for fun. I actually love them.”

- And it's a scary moment for him. Of course it is. He never thoughtsomebody would tie him down like that. He thought he'd be the busyplayer, hopping from person to person with no strings to hold himdown to one person.

- But nah. You just hadtowalk into his life and ruin that plan completely. He's not even madabout it.

- You two are sitting beside one another in an outdoor cafe. Itoverlooks a park, but the crowd of children and adults and elderlyare completely forgotten – the only person Lance is concentratingon is you.

- He holds chopsticks to your mouth, rice perched on the top of theclipped cutlery. You're laughing as he attempts to guide thechopsticks into your mouth, your face going red and your hair a messfrom the wind which had attacked the two of you on your special dayout.

- But then the rice is falling onto your lap and Lance takes a deepbreath, half expecting you to freak out and yell and scream about howyour outfit had taken ages to be picked out. But it never comes.

- Instead, you shove his shoulders with a playful gasp, your smilegrowing larger and larger as you find yourself uncontrollablylaughing.

- And he just has to pause for a moment because his heart is beatingso fast and he's never felt so happy before and suddenly it's likehe's on the top of the damn world.

- And then he's leaning in and he cuts your laugh off by pressing hislips to yours, dropping the chopsticks completely. The kiss is needy,one that screams, “I love you,” even if the words had never beenshared between the two of you before. He just – he loses himself.

- He pulls away and you two are leaning your foreheads against oneanother, panting and needing air even if you would rather be kissingall over again. Lance chuckles whenever you whisper, “I love you,too,” as if you could read his mind.

Hunk:

- Yourfirst kiss would be Hunk's most memorable kiss. It sounds generic,but Hunk doesn't think so.

- He hadn't kissed very many people before you. The odd dare when hewas in high school, his grandmothers cheek kisses that she gave himeveryday before school – but that was close enough to it. He'dnever had a S/O before you. He barely knew how to function when hewas around you.

-But he can just kind of tellthatyou're growing mildly impatient. Three months of dating without asingle peck on the lips is a lot for a person, and the last thing hewanted was for you to believe you were anything less than his world.

- And it's not like the kiss is forced, either. He doesn't feelobliged todo it, because you've told him tine and time again that you'll waitfor him, that it isn't him kissing you that makes you feel specialbut instead how he treats you. He believes you when you say that.

- So he takes a while to build up the guts to do it. Does he just leanin? Does he ask?

- He ends up asking.

-It's blunt, too. Like, you're simply talking about your day and youtwo are having a conversation and he just needsto kiss you allof a sudden.

- He pauses his sentence, looks at you and just says, “Can I kissyou?”

-“god, please.”

- You two are kissing and it's soft but rough at the same time. Handsin hair and him pulling you impossibly closer as this need drivesthrough his entire body to just feel you against him. But your lipsaren't smooshing together. It's gentle. He's being Hunk, and showingyou how much he cares through something other than PDA.

-He asks if the kiss was okay after you two pull away and you just nodwith that smile on your face that he loves so much. That's probablywhat makes it so memorable for him – he saw the relief on your faceafter he had done it, and he had never felt more important in hisentire life.

Pidge:

-The most memorable kiss for Pidge would be the kiss she gives to youafter you come out of a bad accident.

-Imagine it. You've spent daysinsideof a healing pod. She's spent days sitting outside of your healingpod, begging some unknown entity that you will make it out of thisalive.

-Coran and Allura are both losing hope, both telling Pidge that theyneed to unplug the machine eventually because it's taking up so muchpower for the ship. But Pidge just won't let them.

-She's given you everything. Her love, her kindness. She's told youher secrets, told you things that nobody else knows. She findsherself not wanting those secrets to just go back to her. She wantsyou to help her through things again. She wants to hear your voiceagain, strictly telling her to go to bed whenever she spends all hertime working on some ridiculous project that always ends up headingnowhere.

- She does everything. She contacts aliens from different planets,asking for any help they can give her but nobody knows what to do.You were completely battered in that battle, and the likelihood ofyou getting out of death right now were scarce.

-And Pidge had never felt more scared. Scared for you. Scared forherself. Scared for the whole damn ship, because you were sometimesthe only thing keeping her from ripping Hunk's head off.

-But then the doors to the healing pod open and you're stumbling out,coughing up a lung with your hair a mess and your body so skinny itlooks like you might break from stomping too hard.

-She's up in seconds. Seconds.

-She starts to cry as you fall into her arms, her name slipping fromyour mouth on a loop, your nimble fingers running through her hair asif you can't believe it's really her.

-“Yeah. Yeah, Pidge. Me. I'm here. I never left. I told you I'dnever leave.”

- And then you're kissing and she doesn't even know how it happened.She just opened her eyes and your lips were on each other and shewasn't complaining. She didn't complain when you started to sobagainst her lips. She didn't complain when your hands balledthemselves into her shirt, pulling her closer and closer to you.

-You didn't complain whenever her hands pressed against your cheeksand she, too, started to cry. Because she was so close to beingwithout you, and that thought alone was enough to make the tearsfall.

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thenextrush · 4 years

Text

Did the show really need hosts?

Hosted by Nick Lachey and wife Vanessa, the show was pretty self sufficient without them as they only appeared in several episodes, they didn’t even bother to show up for the 82 minute season finale. It wasn’t like Next in Fashion where participants needed handholding and direction each week with challenges, and it didn’t even need voiceover narration like they did in The Circle.

Total air time from this supercouple couldn’t have been more than 10 minutes in total, where do I sign up Netflix? Easiest gig ever!

A wall within the conversation pods divides the couple who decide on who they want to “date” without the pressures of appearance and visual social cues

Not seen the show? Here’s what you missed:

If you’ve missed the first 9 episodes, it’s different to Married at First Sight because the daters have a chance to engage and get to know prospective partners before taking a leap of faith:

The bachelors live on one side of the complex, while the bachelorettes live on the other.

From 30 singles, 6 couples got engaged and headed to Mexico for their first physical date / honeymoon

35 days is how long it took for them to date in the pods, meet in person, meet their parents, with weddings taking place on the last day

Diamonds are not this guy’s best friend:

One of the most memorable confrontations took place in Episode 4 and because of Social Media & Marketing Manger Carlton Morton‘s omission, it led to NBA Dancer, Diamond Jack making decisions without all the information resulting in a missed opportunity for the show because she turned out to be a firecracker with her dramatic exit. Whether he wanted to or not, Carlton became the poster boy for fluid orientation and he lost whatever sympathy that could have left this story on a positive note because of that temper tantrum by the pool that will define his Love is Blind appearance for years to come. His outrage at Diamond was misdirected and inappropriate. But she gave as good as she got putting him in his place, she needs to come back in Season 2 or ask her to host the show if she’s got a spare ten minutes in case the Lachey’s are busy! No one deserves to be spoken to like that especially when you drop a bombshell from them out of no where expecting them to be okay with it the next day. Obviously, they didnt make it to the altar with the couple throwing in the towel in Mexico and going their separate ways.

The Weddings in the Season Finale:

Up until the season finale, the soundtrack of the show could rival any Weddings Greatest Hits essential playlist with its light and bubbly vibe. As each couple uses the same reception venue to tie the knot, the music quickly turns into a dramatic symphony straight out of a Star Wars Jedi battle as the marriage celebrant ends his piece to recite vows with the question: “Is Love Blind”, the couples then respond with an “I Do” or an “I Don’t”.

Giannina pours her heart out in a poem:

The fiery Venezuelan retail owner, Giannina Gibelli has been a ticking time bomb since she and Industry Supply Manager, Damian Powers left the pod and it started almost straight away on that yacht in Mexico. Even her mother before the wedding says to her daughter in Spanish that she “better be serious and not treat this as a game”.

Giannina finally seemed ready, taking on board a hurt and worn down Damian’s feedback at dinner. The love-hate exchanges with these two seemed to come from a place of passion making them so entertaining to watch because they’d somehow always make their way back to that place they found in the pod.

She genuinely seemed to be making an effort especially with a poem she wrote for him accompanied with socks to wear to the wedding:

“The beginning was rough the middle was sweet the other half was a lot and soon we’ll reach our peak. I asked you once ‘Can you handle me?’ I hope you know now and forget the rest cause ready or not, this isn’t a test So what do you want? Only you can guess”

As Giannina walks down the aisle at the end of Episode 9, Damian becomes teary.

Damian’s shocking 360:

Damian has been pretty consistent and devoted to his fiancee who on several ocassions throughout the season has gone on a tyrade. The season finale opens with Damian responding to the marriage celebrant’s question to take Giannina as his lawfully wedded wife:

“I do not” he says quivering as tears roll down his face.

Did not see that coming at all, total blindside. What’s weird is he thinks he can still salvage a friendship with Giannina after she runs out of the church in embarrassment leaving guests and family in a state of awkwardness. His decision makes Giannina the only woman from the group to have been ditched at the altar.

Opposites Attract until Barnett freaks out:

Ex-Military Tank Mechanic, Amber Pike pretty much quit her waitressing job after she got engaged. Her dream was to get married, be a stay-at-home mom and let her future husband dig her out of credit card and student loan debt and pay for the $850 custom tailoring on her wedding gown. Meeting Matt’s family couldn’t have been easy but her unpredictability complements well with the .

Brawl for a Cause fitness professional, Matt (aka Barnett) gets cold feet and things are looking grim with a montage of his doubts if having to choose between his family and fiancee, her financial insecurity and a conversation with his rational thinking brother. “Getting married means putting that other person before yourself. Are you ready to give up everything for that person?”. Matt doesn’t return any of Amber’s calls or texts the morning of the wedding and finally shows up at the eleventh hour.

Turns out it’s just a normal case of wedding day jitters and professes to Amber that he “can’t imagine a life without you”. Classic Prince Charming Cinderella match right there!

What’s the real reason Kelly wouldn’t sleep with Kenny?

Health Coach, Kelly admitted it herself, that maybe “her whole definition of love is not right” because despite saying that intimacy in previous relationships she’s had without connection has been a total let down and kiss of death for her, she finally comes clean saying she’s “conflicted” because she doesn’t “know if she is 100% in love with him”.

Turns out she’s not physically attracted to him. Architectural Lighting Consultant Kenny Barnes who is five years younger than her is totally infatuated like a puppy dog and it’s actually devastating to watch him being ditched at the altar.

Poor Kenny, this match really seemed like it was going to work as viewers bought in to Kelly’s stalling. We were all so distracted with Jessica’s inability to reconcile pod and physical life that we didnt see this coming either. Especially after Kenny and Kelly’s parents met and had similar shotgun wedding experiences themselves. There also seemed to be great chemistry between both families in Episode 7.

“This experiment, it brought me to you.” said Kelly at the altar, “Someone who is so fabulous in every single aspect. This has been a wild ride and I am grateful that it has been with you because you’ve been nothing but supportive, and I appreciate every single moment that I shared with you. And I love you.”

Declaring how much she adores Kenneth and loves him, after the marriage celebrant asks if she’ll take his hands, it all comes crashing down when she says “I don’t” and leaves the chapel with a dumbfounded groom.

Standing alone at the altar, a brave class act of a gentleman, Kenny addresses the guests in a heartfelt moment that moves the bride’s mother as she whispers to her husband how much he loves the guy for his humble words:

“Obviously this is just a whirlwhind for everyone, and again, don’t want to dive too deep into it, and delve. Because you take something that is so complex, and it is authentic, and it is real, but today is not our day. Um, but I love each and everyone of y’all, and it’s something that I’ll cherish and be grateful for forever.”

Kelly later says to the camera that “I’m fucking 33 and I should know what I want” and the story ends there for now…

Everyone knew this relationship was doomed except Mark:

He was adamant that he didn’t want to “play second fiddle” when it was clear she was weighing up options. Tech sales rainmaker, Jessica Batten was embarrassing herself continuously with her drunken rants and throwing herself at Matt with no shame and then denying when she sobered up.

All the red flags were there, love truly was blind for personal trainer, Mark Cuevas who had to have been in denial about their connection and of course she ditched him at the altar.

No surprise there, that coupling always seemed to be doomed. In the end, Jessica admits that emotional connections aren’t enough and that for a relationship she jumps in to, it’s a combination of mind, body and spirit. Watching the season back, she clearly always wanted Matt and her efforts to try and make it work with someone she wasn’t physically attracted to weren’t enough. We would’ve been more sympathetic to her if she hadn’t made indirect passes at Matt after he got engaged to Amber.

We get the happy ending we were rooting for:

The award for sweetest couple of the season has to go to Articial Intelligence Scientist, Cameron Hamilton and Content Creator, Lauren Speed. It’s in this union we saw total authenticity and openness on both sides.

“Everyday that we’ve spent together has been a blessing to me. There’s so much I love about you. You made me want to be a btter an and you have evberythign I need in a partner and I feel very blessed to have you in my life” – Cameron

“Cameron I love that you make me comfortable being fully myself. No matter how flawed, goofy or broken I may have been. I’m thankful for our time together and how happy our moments are.” – Lauren

The lead up to their vows brought some great moments through the season. From their first physical meeting to Cameron meeting Lauren’s father, a touching moment between Lauren and her father before walking her down the aisle and Cameron with his mother. True Commitment. A family that works. A marriage that seems like it’s set to last.

The season closes with their final thoughts summing up their experience:

“She has everything I’ve always dreamed about in a partner. She’s charismatic, but down to earth, she’s confident but also humble. She’s intelligent, she’s kind.” – Cameron

“I don’t think I ever could have met someone like Cameron any other way. I’ve been looking for Cameron for over 30 years. Apparently Cameron was looking for me too, I’m glad we finally found each other.” – Lauren

Just two nuptials take place out of the remaining couples.

The final episode becomes available tonight globally 7.30pm (Australian EST). Add it to your MYLIST if you’re looking for something to binge on this weekend.

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Love is Blind: Who gets ditched at the altar? #loveisblind #loveisblindnetflix @netflixanz #netflix #netflixuk @camrhamilton @mattdbarnett1 @sexfact01 @KennyBarnes_11 @damian__powers @gianninagibelli @wpp_aunz @need4lspeed Did the show really need hosts? Hosted by Nick Lachey and wife Vanessa, the show was pretty self sufficient without them as they only appeared in several episodes, they didn't even bother to show up for the 82 minute season finale.

#australian entertainment blog #australian netflix blog #damian powers love is blind #Diamond Jack love is blind nba dancer #does amber love is blind get married #giannina gibelli love is blind #love is blind netflix review #love is blind season finale #matt barnett love is blind #sydney blog #who gets ditched at the altar love is blind #who gets married on love is blind

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newstfionline · 6 years

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Road trip through Middle America reveals resilience, pragmatism, and diversity

Doug Struck, CS Monitor, November 26, 2017

STORM LAKE, IOWA--La Juanita is packed. Under a mural of a farmer in a sombrero, three Asian teenage girls sit in a booth giggling with their white friend. At the next table, an ethnic pea pod of workers ogle overflowing quesadillas, arguing about sports. Spanish, English, and Hmong words slide within sentences and leap between tables.

And this is Iowa.

The presidential election a year ago produced a somber map of the United States, colored red and blue. The blue states were mostly clustered on the East and West Coasts, with a broad brush of red between. President Trump’s volcanic presidency has cemented the image of an urban elite and rural heartland frothing at each other over politics, culture, and heritage.

Mr. Trump’s election was delivered by these “flyover states,” cast as places of angry whites, frustrated at being left out of the economic recovery, besieged demographically, ignored politically, and stuck in shrinking small towns with vanishing jobs.

These problems exist. But they are not etched in inevitability. There are exceptions--exceptional people trying to buck the trends, and exceptional places that are succeeding. More than a few small towns are figuring out ways to stop their economic slide and to grow. More and more, white Middle America is being repeopled with newcomers of color, bringing a workforce to agricultural jobs, a vibrancy to decaying towns, and a mix of welcome--and suspicion--from older residents.

To meander on a 6,712-mile drive across the US on routes mostly painted red is to rediscover a heartland that is often not what the rest of America thinks it is. It is not monolithic. There are places refusing to be an emptying and failing “other” America. They are places of inspiration, optimism, and hope.

Exhibit A might be Storm Lake, Iowa, where half the population is Hispanic, black, or Asian and where schools are stuffed with children speaking 30 languages.

The town of 10,000 (locals say 14,000) is in northwest Iowa--solidly within Trump country. It is the picture of an idyllic Midwest: Dappled trees break the heat in summer and the town hugs a sparkling lake. Avenues are lined by homes with wide porches, and kids wander in blissful confidence about town. Cars stop midstreet as drivers chat with senior citizens in sneakers out on their evening walks.

Midwest towns like Storm Lake are seen as an endangered species. Rural areas cover 72 percent of the nation’s land but host only 14 percent of the population. “Nonmetropolitan” populations began to stagnate in the 1940s and have gradually declined since. Smaller, more rural populations have fallen more precipitously: 1,350 rural counties have lost residents in the past six years, while only 626 showed any gain, according to the research arm of the US Department of Agriculture.

But Storm Lake is different. Across from the town water tower is a Buddhist temple for more than 500 Laotian refugees who came here in the late 1980s. Rust’s Western Shed, the quintessential small-town clothing store, no longer just rents tuxedos for prom night and weddings, but displays quinceañera dresses. The high school valedictorian speech a couple years ago was given by a young woman who had first come from Mexico to Storm Lake speaking no English.

“Just because somebody doesn’t speak English, it doesn’t mean they aren’t bright,” says Carl Turner, superintendent of schools. Eighty percent of his 2,500 students are ethnic minorities, and the first language of 60 percent is not English.

For years, Storm Lake’s workers--almost all white men of European stock--slaughtered pork at the meat plant on the edge of town. It was hard work, but paid $30,000 a year, a solid middle-class income then. In 1981, the plant closed, citing competition, putting 500 people out of work. When it was reopened a year later by Iowa Beef Processors, wages had been slashed to $6 an hour, productivity demands were higher, and fewer than 30 former workers had been rehired, according to Mark Grey, a sociologist at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. Instead, the assembly lines were filled with immigrants who came for the jobs and did not complain about the pay.

The first group were Laotians, brought by a single respected patron from an earlier church-sponsored group of resettled Vietnam War refugees, according to Professor Grey. They were followed by waves of Hispanics, Mennonites from Mexico, Micronesians, Burmese, Africans, and others.

The resentments that followed the job upheavals have softened, and Storm Lake officials have stepped up to try to help the newcomers. The influx is now mostly accepted as the pain of necessary change, those officials say.

“It’s a pretty amazing place, for this to be in northwestern Iowa,” Dr. Turner, the school superintendent, says at his office in the center of town. “I tell new teachers they will never work harder and never learn more than they will here.”

The schools weave English as a second language courses throughout each day’s classes and have rigged up a system for high-schoolers to earn a year’s worth of college credits before they officially graduate, in part to help students who lack the legal documents to apply for colleges, loans, or financial aid.

Emilia Marroquin came to Storm Lake 16 years ago. She was born in El Salvador, spent 10 years in Los Angeles, and moved with her husband because they heard there were good jobs in the packing plant, and, she says, “we were looking for a safer place for our kids.”

“It was a shock. I came in November in the middle of a blizzard,” she recalls, now laughing at the memory. “Nobody spoke Spanish, and I didn’t speak English. We were living in a motel and I didn’t know anybody.” She lasted only a couple days on the exhausting, chilled meatpacking line. She quit--her husband stayed at the plant--and she plunged into English classes. She is now finishing a four-year college degree.

She chats while sitting in a tiny school chair at the town’s new Head Start program building, where she works as a community liaison. She just finished enrolling the child of a Sudanese arrival. “They need a person they can trust,” she says of people like the tall, lanky man who had come to her office, clutching a sheaf of official documents for his daughter.

“Those who stay feel they have job security, their kids’ school is safe, and it’s a safe community,” she says. “It’s a place where they can do things that they never thought of before, like owning a house, having a car, having a job that will give them good wages.”

If the newcomers bring problems, they would wash up at the foot of Mark Prosser, Storm Lake’s burly chief of police. But “in 28 years, I can probably count the hate crimes we’ve had on one hand,” he says.

The force makes an ambitious outreach effort to the communities, with mixed success. Their potluck dinner flopped: “We learned that in other cultures you don’t invite someone to a meal and then ask them to bring the food.”

And they don’t round up the town’s citizens to check their papers. Mr. Prosser shrugs at the question of how many are here illegally--he’s heard from one-third to one-half. But “we’re not in the immigration business,” he says. “I honestly have not even had that conversation for two or three years. It’s not an issue.”

Prosser, too, is bullish on the town’s diversity. “Sure, there are problems. But let’s be clear: The pros so outweigh the cons--it’s not comparable. Storm Lake is so young, so colorful, so vibrant compared to other Iowa communities. What kind of problems do you want to have--the problems of dying or growing?”

Other rural towns are seeing a similar influx. Hispanics, blacks, and other races made up 82 percent of what growth there was in rural areas between 2000 and 2010, according to an analysis by Daniel Lichter, a sociologist at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.

But the dagger in the heart of many small towns is the loss of industry. The Department of Agriculture says rural areas lost nearly a quarter of their manufacturing jobs during the 2000s.

There are towns trying to overcome that. Peru, Ind., was born almost two centuries ago, first as a trading post with the Miami Indians and then as a way stop on the Wabash and Erie Canal. It became a railroad hub when the canal was filled in, and thrived as the county seat with an Air Force base and several auto parts manufacturing plants. But the base and the plants were mostly closed by the 1990s, the town’s population shrank to 11,000, and longtime businesses gave way to shops selling electronic cigarettes and fireworks--a familiar death spiral for rural towns.

Gabriel Greer is the mayor. He is only 35 years old and owns a small construction business. He’s also a Democrat. “Donald Trump won hands-down here. I won hands-down here. Hard to square,” he acknowledges, sitting in his office in City Hall.

One reason is townsfolk are buying into his refusal to let Peru wither away. He and a small cohort of mostly young businesspeople are trying to save the town. The trick, he believes, is not the traditional one of courting the odd industrial plant to bring new jobs.

“‘Jobs first’ is not how it works anymore. What we are fighting now is a battle for people,” he says. “People now decide where they want to live, and start looking for a job from there. The jobs will follow.”

Mr. Greer notes there are five medium-sized or larger cities within about an hour’s drive offering employment. “Then the question is, where do you want to live?” Small towns, with cheaper and bigger homes, low crime, kid-friendly streets, and a strong sense of community may persuade many people to put up with a longer commute, he says.

Or eliminate it altogether. “There’s a lot of people working jobs online, and they can live wherever they want,” says Steve Dobbs. He moved with his wife, a lawyer, back to her hometown of Peru six years ago. They set up offices in the old Montgomery Ward store, and Mr. Dobbs started renovating the boarded-up storefronts to put lipstick on an aging downtown.

He sees signs it is working. The plywood is coming down, windows are being repaired, and a few new businesses have opened. In fact, the US Census Bureau says the rate of new start-ups in rural areas nationwide is nearly double that in metropolitan areas.

“We are definitely coming back,” says Sandra Tossou. She left a fast-paced culinary career in five-star restaurants to return to Peru, where she reopened an old bakery and now has a dozen workers. Facing down a towering cake with an icing bag, she says it was the right choice. “We’re part of the revival. It’s the young entrepreneurs who have to have the drive to make a comeback.”

The country looks different from the heartland. Middle America is a seductively vast tableau where people are shaped by natural elements--soil, water, wind, and space. The people in the heartland are more defined by the boundlessness of those characteristics than laws. Rules from Washington often seem an insolent din from afar, naive to the dictates of the land. Parents here raise their kids with an ethos of endurance, not complaint. They labor to overcome problems, not to circumvent them. They see religion, not government, as the only force equal to the power of the land and the weather and the miseries those sometimes bring. They honor consistency, not discord.

To the people of the heartland, the coastal denizens who fly over don’t know what’s below and don’t understand it. They pull down the window shades in their airplane to watch a movie.

But the very vastness of Middle America is drawing new industries. In Nebraska, corn is king. The countryside is a mosaic of huge circles of cornfields--grown around the radius of giant pivoting sprinklers--set within the squares of traditional property lines.

Yet from O’Neill, Neb. (pop. 3,700), you can take roads due east for 10 sections (as square miles are measured on farmland) and then due north for nine sections to find the state’s newest bumper crop--wind turbines.

Berkshire Hathaway Energy planted 200 turbines here at the Grande Prairie Wind Farm, an army of mechanical giants that loom over the landscape like the Martian invaders in H.G. Wells’s “War of the Worlds.” Shawn O’Connor is the senior manager who oversees the wind farm for Vestas, the Danish turbine manufacturer. He is a US Army-trained engineer whose background is in coal. He has run coal plants and helped build them. He says he realized they were industrial dinosaurs.

“I had a lot of career left. I wanted something that would grow,” he says. He calls the turbines “masterful creatures.”

He is right about the growth. Mr. O’Connor’s 200 wind machines will soon seem modest compared with the 1,000 turbines being erected in the massive Wind XI project in next-door Iowa, part of that state’s plans to abandon fossil fuels entirely.

O’Connor walks into his office with a job seeker who is wearing a hard hat and safety harness. Before a person is hired, the candidate must pass a climb test: Scale a ladder 300 feet to the top of the tower and traverse the “nacelle,” the pod at the hub of three 177-foot blades.

“It’s not for everyone,” O’Connor says. When the wind blows, the turbine sways a bit, which can be unnerving at 30 stories high. O’Connor likes to hire local farmhands for his crew of 20 technicians. They respect safety, understand big machinery, and “show up for work every day,” he says. His technicians start at $17 to $22 an hour, not bad in a rural area where jobs off the farm are hard to get and usually pay meager wages.

Not far away, Jared Sanderson and Tim Peter are working at a grain silo set amid cornfields studded by the turbines. In every direction, giant white towers support blades that cut the air. Neither farmer minds the turbines.

“I’d rather have that than the leak from an oil pipe,” says Mr. Sanderson, referring to the ongoing controversy in the state over the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

Do the machines mar the aesthetics? “There’s nothing to look at here anyway,” says Mr. Peter, grinning. The men say farmers get about $10,000 a year to put a wind turbine on their land, and the blades are high enough that they can till the soil under them. The cows seem to approve, too: On hot days, they will line up single-file in the slender shade of a turbine tower.

Other new industries are cropping up in Middle America, not all welcome. Pueblo, Colo., made steel for the country’s westward expansion and was known as “the Pittsburgh of the West” until the price collapse of the 1980s. Its bruised economy is now reviving in part because of marijuana. Twenty-nine states have legalized pot use in some form; Colorado was the first to approve recreational use. Pueblo has one of the largest outdoor fields of marijuana--21,000 plants and expanding--in the country.

Pueblo’s citizens continue to argue about the crop--Isn’t it a gateway drug? dangerous to your health?--but the city reaped $3.5 million in taxes and fees from the pot businesses last year. A year ago, Beverly Duran, director of the Pueblo Hispanic Education Foundation, selected 30 high school graduates to each receive a $1,000 college scholarship. This year she gave all 210 students who applied for scholarships $2,000 a year for college, thanks to pot taxes. At the school awards ceremony, “the excitement and the look on the faces of the students was incredible,” she says. “It was the look of hope.”

Other towns in Middle America are hoping a change in Washington will bring new vigor to their main streets and monthly incomes. Across the state from Pueblo, in northwest Colorado, lies Craig (pop. 9,500). This is red country--Trump won the county by 82 percent. Ranchers graze cattle on dry, cinnamon-brown land dotted with sagebrush. Historical photos show gunslingers and huge cattle drives. The local museum keeps Native American displays on one side and cowboy displays on the other.

The scene at Craig’s annual Moffat County Fair seems relaxed. Worn boots and cowboy hats are standard uniform. Men and women deftly navigate around the grounds on horseback, willing their animals with gentle nudges and tugs. People wave hello.

Still, “it was a little scary before the election,” says Katrina Springer, president of the fair board, who grew up on a sheep ranch. Passions run deep here: At the center of town is a store dedicated to survivalists. “Prepare for the worst,” the sign in the window says. “Hope for the best.” Yard signs proclaim “Coal Keeps the Lights On,” in defense of the thick seams of the Yampa coal field underlying Craig.

It is impolite to ask ranchers here how many head of cattle they have--it’s like asking how much money they have in their bank account. Nor does one inquire too pointedly about the size of their ranches. Many ranchers graze their cows and horses on federal land, and their relation to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a touchy subject. By that calculation, they saw President Barack Obama as against them and see Trump as for them.

Standing by the auction lot fence at the fair, Shandy Deakins, who grew up in Moffat County, says the Trump election has eased anxieties in the area. “I feel that we have a voice now,” she says.

“Absolutely,” agrees Shane Ridnour, who works with show cattle. “We feel way more secure. In the last eight years, they were really going after coal. People back East don’t understand the benefits of coal and ranching. The BLM was trying to take away land that ranchers had used for years.”

“That’s the thing about this president,” says Mr. Ridnour. “He wants us to succeed.”

A few, quietly, are not so sure. By the craft exhibits, Susan Domer takes a moment from extolling the virtues of knitting--“your kids and husband think you’re busy working, but it’s relaxing”--to contemplate her town.

“Craig needs another industry,” she says. “When I was 18, I put Craig in my rearview mirror. I was going to take the world by storm.” Now more than five decades later, she is back, not out of defeat, but by choice. “It’s home. People here have common sense. They’re raised that way.” But she sees the challenges of living in rural America. “I have one granddaughter who sees what I see,” she reflects. “But she can’t afford to live here because there’s no job that will pay her [enough].”

Still, Craig is just 42 miles away from Steamboat Springs, a thriving tourist hub. The tools of change are there for rural America--a national infrastructure of good highways, a growing system of internet and virtual work, a variety of new professions that can thrive outside cities. The question for many small towns is whether they can overcome the image of isolation that the residents themselves embrace but outsiders are wary of.

#Middle America #Storm Lake Iowa #Craig Colorado #diversity #rural America

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janeykath318 · 7 years

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The Friendly Merman 7/13

The last month and a half before Jim’s new pod left was spent in busy planning of what routes they'd take and getting strong for the journey. Pike was finally declared fit to travel and joined the others in their temporary home off the California coast. Jim found the elder’s advice very helpful, as he knew which areas had sufficient hunting and which were Siren territory and off-limits. Between the seven of them, they soon had a route planned out.

Bones was still trying to convince Jim he needed a mate and touting the virtues of Carol and Gaila, but Jim just smiled and slyly avoided her matchmaking attempts. Eventually, she settled for asking questions about mer bonds.

“What do the young mermen do to show interest in a prospective mate?” She asked one day.

“Noting that much different than human males at first,” Jim said, lounging on his back on the sandy shallow water. “We show off and try to outdo each other in our backflips when we breach the surface, we shine up our tails and try to look extra good. Then, if we're really serious, we start bringing gifts. If the maid accepts the first one, that means she's receptive to our suit. After a year, the families agree on a bonding date and that's that.”

“Do you have any ceremonies or celebrations for it? Humans like to spend ridiculous amounts of credits on day or weekend long wedding parties.”

“So I heard,” Jim acknowledged. “For Mers, there's only a simple recital of the bonding pledge in front of the elders and immediate clan members, the bond itself is precipitated by the, uh, private time afterwards.” His face grew a bit warm at this, but Bones got the idea.

“A week later, there's a huge party and the whole pod is invited. They feast and tell tales and give gifts, kind of like your reception, only ours happens after the sweetmoon, I think you called it.”

“Honeymoon, Jim,” she corrected him with a smile. “That's a much preferable order of events in my book. A lot of times, couples are so exhausted from the reception, the honeymoon ends up being recovery time, at least the first few days.”

“Ugh,” Jim wrinkled his nose. “There are drawbacks to being human, I see. Did that happen to you when you were bonded?”

“Nope. We had a smaller affair. Couldn't afford to go crazy on the spending for the reception. Now Let me see if I understand this correctly: Merman can't have casual flings because of the bonds? Sounds like that's what you're hinting at.”

Jim rolled over onto his belly and propped himself on his elbows. Leah kind of wanted to brush the wet sand off his back and push back the damp strands of blonde hair that stuck to his forehead.

“You're right” he continued. “We mate for life, similar to Spock's people and only with one person at a time. If you cheat on your mate, you can cause bondsickness or even kill your original mate due to suddenly breaking the first bond. Mers who do that usually get expelled from the pod or sentenced to confinement. Bond-breaking is a very serious offense in our culture. It's why there's a mandatory courtship period for prospective pairs so they can get to know each other and decide whether they really want to be with each other for life.”

“Wow, Jim, that's hardcore. Doesn't it get frustrating?” She asked him.

“Not really.” He shrugged. Mermen didn't have quite the same needs human men did until they were bonded. Not that Jim knew what that was like. He had yet to find his future mate.

He shook himself out of these pessimistic thoughts by imagining Bones’s ex getting thrown in mermaid prison and plotting the imaginary taunts he would hurl at him when she broke in again with another question.

“Now I’m picturing mermen locked up in some underwater dungeon. What kind of justice system do your people operate with? Are there mer police?”

“Each pod generally polices itself, but for interpod incidents and serious crimes we have magistrates and judges.”

Jim went on to outline the various groups of mer law enforcement and told of the caves where criminals were held. Leah listened fascinated as Jim told how they often used huge sunken ships for their jails.

Then Jim asked Leah more questions about earthbound life and shared his dreams about flying if he was a human.

“Don't know why you're so keen on getting on one of those death traps, kid,” she shuddered. “But everyone to his taste, I guess.”

“Bones,” Jim said slowly as Leah made a move to leave. “Would you be mad if…...I….told you you're prettier than all the mermaids I've met?”

His heart was pounding as he timidly admitted why her attempts to get him to flirt with mermaids hadn't worked.

“No,” Bones said slowly, “but I would question your eyesight. There's no comparing me to those stunning beings of your species.”

Jim squeaked in indignation and blabbered his outrage in Mermish before he caught himself.

“Sorry, Bones, but that's just not true. You are very lovely. There's no convincing me otherwise.”

He smiled cheekily at her and Leah couldn't help but falling a little bit for the adorable Merman. It wasn't smart and kind of hopeless, but Jim had charmed his way into her weary heart nonetheless.

The day the pod was to set off, Joanna insisted on being woken up early (even though it was Saturday) to say goodbye to Jim. April seemed like forever to her and she was trying not to cry as she hugged all the mers and made them promise to come back.

“Sweet child, don't fret,” Gaila soothed her. “Of course we’ll come back.

“Aye,” put in Scotty. “And I'll bring you back some lovely tropical shells!”

“Da! We will return when we say,” Chekov added. “Mer people keep their promises.”

Leah, meanwhile, had her arms full of clingy Jim, who'd begged for a hug goodbye. Damp as he was, she still couldn't refuse him and stroked one pointy ear gently.

“Please stay safe, Jim,” she murmured, rubbing his back. “I don't want the rest of them to come back and tell me you were torn to pieces by a shark again.”

“I'll try, Bones,” he said, enjoying the caresses. “We stay far away from the great whites generally. Take care of yourself. I'll think of you everyday.”

“There's no way I'll forget you either, Jim. Jo and I will be expecting you back next spring.”

Jim sighed and drew away a bit, producing a colorful object from his hand.

“I have a present for you,” he said shyly, holding up what proved to be a necklace of brightly colored seaglass, translucent pieces glittered in the sunlight.

“Jim,” Leah gasped. “Did you make this?”

“With a little help from Scotty,” he said, looking hopeful. “You like it?”

“It's beautiful!” The glass was various shades of blue, green, and clear strung in a lovely repeating pattern. Being tumbled by the sea, no piece was the exact same shape and gave it a beautiful natural look.

“Thank you, Jim,” she said and gave the Merman a kiss on the cheek. Jim flushed and looked pleased as she put the necklace on and admired it.

“Ready to go, Jim?” Pike asked, ending his chat with Spock and Uhura. “It's high time we set off.”

“Yeah,” Jim sighed. “I guess it's goodbye for real now, Bones. Goodbye, Miss Jo.”

“Bye, Mr. Jim.” Jo said. “Don't get into any fights, now. Mama won't be there to fix you up.”

“Which is a good reason to avoid them,” he said. “Farewell, Bones, or as we like to say, may the tides be ever in your favor.”

Jim kissed her hand before he levered himself back into the water and began heading out to sea with his group, colorful tails propelling them.

She and Joanna stood and waved until the last tail could no longer be seen. Not until they'd turned back to shore did Leah realize something.

“Oh, shoot. I think I just agreed to go steady with a merman.”

#my fics #mckirk #genderswap #mermen

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flicksnfilms · 6 years

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Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

As the Avengers and their allies have continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero to handle, a new danger has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos. A despot of intergalactic infamy, his goal is to collect all six Infinity Stones, artifacts of unimaginable power, and use them to inflict his twisted will on all of reality. Everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment - the fate of Earth and existence itself has never been more uncertain.

Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo Writer: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely (screenplay), Stan Lee, Jack Kirby (Marvel comics), Jim Starlin, George Pérez, Ron Lim (comic book story) Cast: fucking everybody IMDB | RottenTomatoes | Official Site

Watched: on 25 April, at the IMAX cinema, and 28 April, and 01 May

Reaction: ± Thanos demands my silence. I will say that i wasn’t half as prepared as i though i was. I'll edit this in like a week with my actual reaction since i assume by then it'll be far enough down any follower's (who hasn't watched - IN A WHOLE WEEK AFTER RELEASE!) dashboard to not be seen unless you're looking specifically at this blog.

Memorable aspect of the movie: + So many things. (Soon.)

Would I recommend it? > Fuck. Yes.

[EDIT:] So, reaction. After more than a month because i haven’t been on in a while, and under the cut because it’s hella long (like, super fucking long) and rambling in my geeky joy. :D It’s in 3 parts, from the three times i watched it.

[Take 1] ± It was an EXCELLENT, WELL BALANCED FILM. They have the Marvel Cinematic Universe formula down pat of comedy and drama, action and reaction. It’s so perfect and fun to watch. They were able to give the gigantic cast fairly equal screen time as well as balancing the personalities on screen. [See bonus content at the very end.]. That they split up the teams and threw them with other franchises was a great choice for both balance and dynamic. The visuals -- cinematography, CGI, costume, make up, set design --, as always, are a feast, with the coloration of the film striking a balance between all the different tones from each individual franchise.

[Take 2] Memorable [aspect] moments of the movie: + D: “I am Loki, Prince of Asgard... Odinson.” + XD “I’ll get you a metaphysical ham on rye.” + Doctor Strange and Tony’s interactions. It was interesting repartee and good chemistry. + Stark-raving Hazelnut and Hunka-Hulk-a Burning Love. I need to try these flavours, and also i need to know the flavours for every other Avenger. + <3 Tony brings the stupid flip phone around with him! AND there’s a message!! + XD “Squidward” + XD “Dude, you’re embarrassing me in front of the wizards.” + XD Bruce trying to beat Hulk out. + “Wong, you’re invited to my wedding.” + XD The singing. Mean faces. “Language. ... Ever since you got a little sap.” OMG. You GOT a little sap. Oh, puberty. “ XD “He is not a dude. You are a dude. He is a man. A handsome, muscular man.” “It’s like a pirate made a baby with an angel.” “God man.” + XD Mantis’s attack form. + XD Quill’s jealousy and mimicking. + “All words are made up words.” Well, that’s actually a good point. + “Is there a 4 digit code? A birthday perhaps” Thor’s really gotten into Midgard culture eh? (Which is a good carry over from Thor: Ragnarok.) + XD Rabbit. Tree. Morons. Ah, Thor’s nicknames. It’s fun, cause he doesn’t mean them maliciously and he says them with such regal diction that they feel kind of acceptable as nicknames. + The intro sequences for the rogue Avengers. STEVE!!! <3 And Sam! And Nat!! The whole fight sequence too! + D: “Where to, Cap?” “Home.” !!! (ESPECIALLY IF YOU REWATCH AGE OF ULTRON AND SEE HOW STEVE REACTS TO SAM SAYING “Home is home,” AT THE PARTY. TT_TT ) + “The kid watches more movies.” Well, that’s a good enough strategy. + “WHAT ARE THOSE??” The two teenagers use the same (meme) phrasing. + “Doctor. Do you concur?” + <3 “I’m not looking for forgiveness. And I’m way past asking permission. Earth just lost its best defender, so we’re here to fight. If you want to stand in our way, we’ll fight you too.” ICONIC. STEVEN FUCKING ROGERS, EVERYONE. + <3 The reunion greetings with Rhodey.” + XD “This is awkward.” + XD “It was an elective.” I NEED TO KNOW WHAT OTHER ELECTIVES THEY OFFERED ON ASGARD, PLEASE. + “I am Groot?” Evidently translates to: Are we there yet? The question of all kids in travelling vehicles everywhere. + D: “What more do I have to lose?” + Giant Peter Dinklage. So weird. + D: Quill and Gamora. + Quill actually got Thanos’s approval. So like, thanks, dad? Hahaha. + “We don’t trade lives.” + Nebula. What a badass. + XD “Blanket of death” + XD “Where is Gamora?” “Who is Gamora?” “Why is Gamora?” + “You’re from Earth?” “I’m from Missouri.” “Missouri is on Earth, dumbass.” + XD “Kick names. Take ass.” + Tony’s face. He’s so done with everyone. + Rhodey & Bruce. Ahh, what are friends for. XD + Steve & Bucky. Both of you are “hundred year old, semi-stable soldier”s. + Shuri! Wakanda! Man, i love this place. It’s great. + D: Gamora!! + “Get out of the way, Sammy.” SAMMY! + Thor jumping onto and then sitting on the pod. What a cutie. + “It’ll kill you.” “Not if I don’t die.” “Yes, that’s what killing you means.” + XD “Magic! More magic! Magic with a kick!” + Bucky & Rocket + “New haircut?” “I see you’ve copied my beard.” This is SO MUCH better knowing they ad-libbed it. + “This is my friend, Tree.” “I am Groot.” “I am Steve Rogers.” Of fucking course. Such a polite cutie pie, this guy. + XD Okoye’s reactions, and the “Why was she up there all this time?” + “She’s not alone.” FUCK YEAH. LET’S GO LADIES!! + “Oh, screw you, you big green asshole. I’ll do it myself.” Banner is super funny, situationally in this film. + “Tony Stark.” “You know me?” Hell yeah, you deserve to be acknowledged all over the universe, Tony. + The power of Doctor Strange and the mystic arts. SO COOL. + Tony ran out of nanoparticles! O_o + D: Wanda & Vision + “Steve?” TT___TT D: Bucky! Sam! My King! “Steady, Quill.” “I don’t wanna go!” TT__TT FEELS.

[Take 3] ± The familial hits get me more than the romantic ones. My reactions per viewing gave me three different experiences; It was personal, then intellectual, them empathic, in that order, for me. There are some moments i paid particular attention to, for a few characters:

Loki gets to come full circle with the “We have a Hulk,” line along with his redemption arc continuing on in from Thor: Ragnarok. Thor is an odd amalgamation of Shakespearean proper and slangy modern. “A little bit.” “So cool.” “I bid thee farewell and good luck, morons.” “Bye.”

The interplay between Tony and Strange. Excellent. It’s a real battle of egos at the beginning which turns to a mutual respect. Tony is a true leader. He intuits other people’s emotional reactions and attempts to keep them in line long enough to complete the goal.

A lot of shots in the Avengers compound are just Steve’s reactions. What bearing will this have? How does he feel about the cost?? Are they showing how tired he is from paying for his decisions?

The kid’s all heart. The first thing Peter does, once their plan goes awry, is try to save everyone even if he can’t remember their names. Okoye is a warrior to the core. She refuses to attach even these fuckers from behind. Bruce is such a goof and it shows now that he can’t disappear mid-scene. “Oh, you guys are so screwed!” And all the talking-to he gives Hulk.

Thanos’s voice really goes soft for Gamora, as a child, and the “I’m sorry, daughter.” “Tony Stark. ... You have my respect. I will wipe out half of humanity. I hope they remember you.” That’s amazing. The cost, the deterioration, is up to his arm and his neck. That’s an interesting detail which kind of implies that the Infinity Gauntlet (in the MCU at least) can only be used for something of this scale a few, if not only one, times.

I love that Marvel is really invested in antagonists that aren’t villains purely for the sake of being evil, but are fleshed out beings with emotions and purpose and passion, even if their goals are morally misguided. They have complex backstories and three dimensional personalities. Their goals are logical and intelligent, if a little beyond what’s reasonable. Their thought processes within the realm of imagination but a step too far for civilians and heroes.

The ending of this film is superb. I’ve seen many a peer say they think it’s too short or unresolved but i think they fail to appreciate the story. That sometimes the “good guys” don’t or can’t win (for now). That there are outcomes we’d rather not fathom and costs we’d rather not pay. But they happen. And the MCU gets this. That things happen and there’s a balance to it. There’s collateral and there’s gains and losses. And not just for the protagonist. (But for every character.)

Thanos achieved his goal, but at great personal cost. He won but lost all at once. Likewise, Killmonger achieved some of his goals but failed at others, died but did it with dignity in his eyes; Hela brought was released from her bonds and gained power but didn’t wind up ruling Asgard as it was swallowed by Ragnarok; Zemo sowed discord and ripped the Avengers apart from the inside, but was prevented from shooting himself and joining his family.

[BONUS:] In some of my movie reviews i talk about the characters and their stories in relation to Joseph Campbell’s Heroic Monomyth. And, i dunno, i suppose it my complete emotional roller coaster watching this film along with all the geek out moments, i completely missed its inclusion in this, given that the beginning of the monomyth takes place before the beginning of this film. I was delighted to find it pointed out to me in this post by The Screen Junkies - The Dailies Facebook. It’s a really good breakdown of the way the writers (maybe intentionally) incorporated the Heroic Monomyth in Infinity War despite it featuring like 7000 characters and all of Hollywood. :)

#films i watched in 2018

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agl03 · 7 years

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AOS 4x20: AKA When you have that really crazy theory that comes true AKA What the HECK just happened?!

First and foremost….everyone take a DEEP breath…it’s going to be okay…that didn’t go down exactly as I thought it would or as we hoped…and pretty sure I’ve shortened my life another ten years…but there are points of hope…I did see some good…I know my ask box will beg to differ but here was some points of hope….and plus side…we have our Fitz back. He’s in the clutches of the Big Bad still but he’s our Fitz again…yay.

So lets just dive right on in here.

Mack: Oh dear Mack. As a parent I can’t fault him I really can’t. Pretty sure we haven’t seen the last of Mack. And the terrible thing is they now might have to force him out in order to save his life in the next couple of weeks. Which is only going to hurt that much worse and make the fall out that much worse. I’m all for Mack and Uncle Trip teaming up in the Framework to raise Hope and take down what is left of Hydra.

Radcliffe: Well I think I can count that as a prediction coming true. He did indeed sacrifice himself, his chance at rebirth and even immortal life, the thing he wanted most for Fitz. He did care for him and while it doesn’t make up for what he did I do like that bit of redemption he got there at the end. We might see him one more time if we go back to the Framework, we’ll just have to wait and see. Though we all need to curl in a ball a little bit that good or bad Fitz lost two father figures in one episode. Alistair said the one thing to him I doubt he ever heard from his real world counterpart, I love you.

Daisy: Poor girl was doing what I call herding cats all episode. Trying to keep everyone together long enough to get them all out. Nice use of powers opening the portal. Did a good job as leader. I’m dead with her saying goodbye to Mack Had some nice closure with Trip, just an overall steady episode for her. And next week it’s out of the frying pan and into the fire for her. They are under attack (thinking Talbot is going to show up with some fancy planes to help out) and then she needs to get to where AIDA had the hostages before they die.

Coulson: The man is going to be getting soap making kits for the rest of his life. The Philinda was oh so strong it this episode and I really loved it. Real World Coulson is totally back! And boy did we miss him. Sadly mom and dad weren’t able to stop AIDA from taking off with one of the ducklings but overall that was a big big win.

May: FINALLY! WE HAVE MAY BACK! FOR REALSIES! Was I the only one flashing back to Garrett’s “You’d follow him to the grave” from Turn, Turn, Turn? She followed him through the molten lava portal. Nice bit of flirting there as they picked up without missing a beat and looking forward to them taking down Robo Superior next week…I hope. May deserves to do some serious butt kicking here. Once she recovers, and I do like that they had her a bit wobbly with how long she’s been in there.

Jemma: Well Woman on fire didn’t go quite how I wanted. Alistair going out how he did only sank Fitz deeper into the illusion and made it harder for her to get to him during their short confrontation. But here is NO DOUBT as to Jemma’s love for him. Even with a gun to her head she wouldn’t say she didn’t love him.

I can’t say this enough. Jemma is well aware what has been done to Fitz. That the other hostages aside from Coulson with the Tahiti assist weren’t able to wake up. That Fitz did wake up a little after Agnes but was pulled back in. I personally feel the loss of his father was too much for Jemma to overcome in a short amount of time. She knows he’s been manipulated and brainwashed. She knows it wasn’t him. Now that he’s been taken again she’s going to be more driven than ever to get him back…once she isn’t being blasted out of the sky. And let’s not forget Ophelia DID NOT WANT THEM TOGETHER! SHE DID NOT WANT JEMMA ANYWHERE NEAR HIM! Woman on fire is far from over, she has to get to him in the real world. She is not going to give up, not now not ever. They would have been separated again anyway…and this way is even more painful. That Jemma gets to Coulson and May only to learn that AIDA has taken him…again. I’m holding on guys. I have faith.

Fitz: When that really crazy theory that you had seems so crazy you request it be turned into a fic because it won’t happen…actually happens…yeah…so that actually happened. Is it too late to take back I wanted the whole Fitznapping /Role Reversal thing? Is is? Okay. So let’s roll with this. I won’t lie, I am a bit disappointed that Jemma didn’t break Fitz even a little bit there at the end. But at the same time I see what he writers were doing that she wouldn’t deny her love for him no matter what AND giving Dadcliffe a bit of redemption. It also needs to be noted that May and Mack didn’t remember at all either…Mack still immersed in the illusion.

BUT…our Fitz was back, as soon as he came out. Our Fitz was there…and devastated. To those that are upset that he didn’t mention Jemma there in that scene. He had been out for a few moments when they cut to him, he could have woken up with her name on his lips and we didn’t get too see it. And the poor guys was totally overwhelmed with everything.

And then Ophelia showed up and spirited him away again. I have watched that scene a few times now and a few things stood out too me. He did not react how Ophelia wanted. He didn’t run to her, throw his arms around her, or kiss her (it was almost a twisted parallel of the Fitzsimmons reunion from 4.07, only he didn’t react how she wanted). He was stunned almost in a trace. And you see him slip into that “trance” when she says Leopold. We have a number of metas out there that we suspected there was also some sort of trigger in play with Fitz….and we had pegged Leopold as the possible trigger. Fitz is out and able to fight back better, but she’s done a number on him, still enforcing the programming, and he’s still in her clutches. Our Fitz is now out too and our Fitz loves Jemma. Ophelia knows and is afraid of that. He’s going to fight her now!

Ophelia: Well that escalated a lot. Did anyone have she comes to the real world with Gordon’s powers? Me neither so kudos to the writers on getting one over on me. And Mark confirmed on twitter that those were indeed Gordon’s powers. Now we need to be leery if she has more powers too. If she gave herself anyone else’s powers while she was at it…Daisy, Lincoln’s, Jaiyings, Raina’s, Lash, please no Hives? I’m still not 100% sure what her plan is here. Taking over the world/making it into what ‘they’ (insert gagging noises) want it to be. Though news flash lady, this Fitz isn’t going to be down with the whole take over the world thing. She wants what she had in the Framework in the real world and that is just not going to happen, she’s still going to try, but it’s not going to happen. She has Fitz, he is still her hostage, she has quite possibly brainwashed him and is triggering him, and she is not going to give him up without a fight.

Misc Items:

Have to say love him or hate him….I’m a bit disappointed with how they left Ward. Is he alive? Dead? Captured by Hydra? On a yacht in the Bahamas? I mean Burrows was back and we know he was helping him fight so what on earth happened to him!?

Fitzsimmons: I realize right now a lot of the fandom is upset. This has been a long arc and we just want them back together. They lead us along the whole time in the Framework and then hit us with a truck of feels when they finally got reunited for only a few moments. I wholly own that I was wrong and this DID NOT go down how I thought it was going to tonight. This episode was more of a Philinda episode than any other couple. And that’s fine, that story needed to be resolved and it was done rather nicely. But I was right, we got our Fitz back, it was for a few precious seconds before he was kidnapped again, but we had him back. And he is NOT okay with what happened in the Framework and he is NOT the Doctor. Iain said at Wondercon that The Doctor and Fitz are two different people and Fitz DOES NOT love Ophelia he loves Jemma. And Ophelia is about to find that out.

Jemma is still out there and she is still going to stop at nothing to get him back. Now more than ever because HER Fitz is out there all alone in the clutches of a madwoman who thinks he loves her. I will not be shocked if Ophelia doesn’t sink the Oil rig in order to keep the team distracted saving Coulson, May, and Mace and not coming after Fitz.

I was off on the when but I maintain that the writers are building to something big with Fitzsimmons. Have they drug it out too long? Yeap. Is the fandom frustrated? Yeap I won’t disagree with that. I think now we are really seeing the effects of adding the Ghost Rider pod at the beginning of the season in this part of the arc getting crammed into the last few episodes.

That being said Fitzsimmons is one of those arcs they still need to wrap up…I can’t say if it will be in 21 or 22 but it’s happening. I know I’m a broken record but Lil and Iain were so happy and comfortable at both Wondercon and C2E2. And Lil is not like that if she is not happy with her story. She said her favorite Fitzsimmons scene is yet to air because no way was it the Framework Reunion. She would not have been like that if Fitzsimmons had a horrible end to the season. So hang in there guys. I know it’s hard right now. The writers haven’t done much to earn that faith and trust here recently but I’m going to give it to them. A lot can happen in two episodes. The wedding talk is STILL on the table, they said that would come up again and we have a 50/50 shot at it happening next week. I honestly won’t be shocked if the set up isn’t Fitzsimmons being the ones that run away, to elope and heal as we close out the season.

What it means to be human: AIDA’s a real girl…now what. Now she has to deal with that all at once. Learn what the different emotions feel like. Learn the difference between love and lust. See what she has done to Fitz. She is going to see him struggling and wanting to get back to Jemma, fighting her and her programming if that is indeed in play. At some point I expect for her to really stuggle with the emotions and the limitations of having a flesh and bone body.

AIDA REPLACED Jemma in his life with herself and his father, they even said he was inseparable with his father.

Okay that is what I’ve got for now. I will pick up more as I do asks and re watch the episode.

#aos spoilers #aos meta

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