I have read Fellowship of the Ring more times than I have cared to keep count and every time I read Boromir’s, well, possession for lack of a better word, I have read it in fear, in discomfort, in horror, indifferently.

This was, I think, the first time I read it in pity. I looked at all the plans Boromir was making, how he would save his beloved city, how obstinate he was in his belief that the men of Minas Tirith would not be corrupted when wielding the Ring against Sauron —and I felt sad. He’s waving his hands and hollering and part of him is desperate just for the Ring, of course he is, he’s been traveling beside it with no hope for months, but he’s also desperate for hope. He’s desperate for a chance to save his people, save his brother, save his city.

Moreover, every time he calls out the Elves or the Wizards, you have to remember that he doesn’t know them. All he knows is that he traveled almost a full year to get their advice and they send him on, in his eyes, a hopeless venture. The one hope they give him is Aragorn, who promises to return and help save Minas Tirith with him, but even that all changes once Gandalf dies. They come to Lothlorien and of course it’s a welcome break, but they cannot, or maybe in Boromir’s eyes will not, help his people. And once they leave, Aragorn assumes his role as leader of the Fellowship in Gandalf’s stead more permanently and suddenly even that one, brief, uncertain hope of his is gone. Aragorn will follow Frodo. And it’s almost certain that Frodo will not go to Minas Tirith.

So is it any wonder, really, that tired, desperate, hopeless Boromir, out of his realm, out of his depth, already hanging by a thread when he joins the Fellowship and having been gnawed on by the Ring for months upon months afterwards, finally snaps once it’s clear that he will have to return home empty-handed and almost certain that somewhere far away Sauron is capturing the Ring and killing the companions that he had bonded with? Of course part of the Ring is making him lust for power, but it’s also his only “reliable” (in his mind) source of hope left to save his city.

And so I read Boromir’s (intelligent and thought out, mind you) raving and I don’t feel scared for Frodo, not after reading it so many times and knowing what ultimately happens, but sorrow for Boromir.

Somehow never caught this before, but does this imply Birdperson’s mom killed his dad and he remembers seeing it?

The fact this memory is somehow tied to Blood Ridge in his mind makes me wonder if that’s part of why he didn’t accept Rick’s advances— maybe even subconsciously. If that’s what this implies, no wonder he had commitment issues. Makes the shit with Tammy hit differently, too…

I know it’s a throw away moment, but I really hope we get a follow up on that… Regardless of what that memory is, it’s dark shit.

Every day i just want to write a post that just says "The Brigadier is so damn autistic."

but I then worry about what other people might say if I do that

but fuck it

The Brigadier is so fucking autistic, and nobody can change my mind

One knows when true love enters your life. Life seems to pause for a moment. Everything around you freezes for an instant. You feel as a part of your being had been completed. Like that missing piece of the puzzle. You feel home, safe & complete within his arms. Nothing else matters only the notion of being at his side. For in that moment, you know he is your everlasting bliss. He's all your seasons. He's the sunrises and your sunsets all wrapped into one...

I love the military art of the late Bryan Fosten, who passed away a few years ago at the age of 92. He worked extensively with Osprey Publishing, particularly with Napoleonic era uniforms.

This illustration is from The American War 1812–14, from left to right: Lieutenant, Baltimore United Volunteers, 1814; Private, Rifle Co., Michigan Legionary Corps, 1812; Major-General, US Army, 1813. Fosten painted a convincing tableau with these diverse soldiers, giving them unique appearances and facial expressions.

Ukrainian Letter of Solidarity with Palestinian people

Could you write about Enid and Hati's fight?

Hati couldn't breathe.

And when dust settled and he tried to push himself up, he begin to be very aware of the fact that he couldn't see either.

A dark ache twisted along his eye and his chest heaved at that.

she didn't go for his tongue.

He swallowed the bitter tang that threatens to spill. What was he feeling? Relief that he didn't lose a part or dissapointment that she didn't go through with it?

Hati squeezed his only working eye closed before looking up.

"I can still go for it," she says and her lips hold a sardonic tint as she smiles.

Instead of asking why, of spilling out a wonder of just how she always seems to know what he thinks; Hati makes sure to breathe through his mouth and smile back. "I'd rather you not."

Months later, Hati will still not ask the one question that lingers in his mind. After all, the last time he dares to imply such a thing, it left him with a scarred side.

Just who do you see when you look at me?

and the follow up of;

Is that why you spared me?

I desperately need the Thrawn stans (specifically novel Thrawn Stans) to remember that Thrawns whole deal is rebuilding the Empire and fighting the New Republic.

I'm going to have a very busy week off, so I took the opportunity to doodle a bit this morning whilst I have the time! I've been trying to figure out how I imagine Suvi from Worlds Beyond Number since the episodes have been Citadel centred lately :)

so the way I read the gay jokes (and Klinger’s crossdressing), at least in the first half of the show, is that they’re defiant. they are something the characters brought with them from home that they use to define themselves in opposition to the norms of the military.

the jokes very pointedly have this vibe a lot of the time - Clayton calling the doctors “real soldiers” directly before a cut to Hawk and Trap dancing together; Hawkeye hitting on his enemies to antagonize them; Hawkeye introducing him and Trapper as sodom and gomorrah during the MacArthur rehearsal; gay dodge jokes; etc etc etc. And when they don’t directly have that vibe through framing, the overall atmosphere of the show imparts it anyway. most of the characters are created to exist in opposition to military norms, it’s the basic premise of the show. the gay jokes fit right in with the overall sensibility - like even for Frank they underline the ways in which he doesn’t fit military masculine ideals, hypocritically in his case.

and of course Klinger’s crossdressing is an escape attempt, a connection to his family as he follows in his uncle’s footsteps and often gets outfits sent from home, and it’s a symbol of distinction and individuality in a sea of conformity.

to me the gay jokes and other assorted homoerotic elements are very much about who the characters are as people, the attitudes they bring with them when they’re drafted (and pass on to others as in BJ starting to make jokes in his first couple seasons to conform to Hawkeye’s sense of humour), and a sign of their hatred for being there. rather than the military setting being an environment that uniquely allows this kind of freedom of expression, it’s something the characters insist on specifically in defiance to that setting. on top of that, while I’m sure this isn’t the intent, it’s very easy to read Klinger dropping the crossdressing and Hawkeye making way fewer gay jokes in the last few seasons as the setting grinding that resistance out of them.

and I feel like that suits the essential themes of the show perfectly as well, ie: being on a military base in a war zone sucks, lol. it’s a very neat and thematically satisfying take to me.

Fluffbruary #6: Penpals, Passing Notes & Texting (McShep, SGA)

The list of prompts can be found here.

Post-canon established relationship, set whenever you'd like it to be but as long as iPhones exist (although I suspect the IOA would use Android, lbr). John is blue, Rodney grey. Also, picture heavy/long post!

Totally based on personal preference but I believe in military-occupied Hawkins but not post-acopalyptic Hawkins 🙏🏻 that’s all

day 23/548 of taehyung's military service

this selca was posted on 130721 with the caption:

I’ve come from Taetae Magazine. Can I take at least one photo~??

(trans cr: Iraide @ bts-trans)

are these characters really “hozier-coded” or do you just not listen to any other good music