Why did they let Stannis Baratheon do the finger heart thing in his photo op with the nights watch

Original pic

For @gameofthronesdaily Event 03 : Friendship

The idea that GRRM is anti Tolkien is particularly funny because ASOIAF is sprinkled with rather intricate (and even passionate) homages to LOTR. And I can’t help but think of how Tolkien’s Fellowship, more specifically the Hobbits, may have inspired GRRM’s Night’s Watch. Jon Snow, for starters, is in many ways a combination of LOTR’s Frodo and Aragorn. And in the same way that Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin are unexpected heroes in LOTR (because who looks to a hobbit as the face of an epic adventure?), Jon the bastard becomes the leader of a ragtag of socially disenfranchised men (in the form of the NW) who are anything but heroic. Sure there’s the odd knight or noble in there, but the NW is quite full of criminals and the very worst of the social order. The hobbits aren’t the strongest or the sharpest but they become the face of the fight against Sauron. And the NW, while being severely undermanned and under-equipped, has become the main force that stands against winter. GRRM even adds a love letter to Tolkien’s Sam Gamgee by adding his on Sam - Sam Tarly - who acts as a moral compass and counselor to Jon, in the same ways that Sam Gamgee is key to Frodo’s journey. And just like Frodo, Jon gets his very own pair of jokester friends, one of whine is even named Pyp. So it’s all very beautiful and nice, and we should talk about it more because it’s super evident that GRRM is a massive Tolkien fanboy. But I do have to say tho, GRRM’s take on Gandalf is exceedingly hilarious just because Melisandre is famously very bad at her job.

considering how often they have to go chasing after him in canon, i just KNOW modern au snow patrol are tired. someone has to be on jon-watch every time they go clubbing because one sip of alcohol activates his stark wolf hindbrain and he's off. sam then spends the next two hours in escalating panic as dolorous edd lists every dangerous and terrible thing that could be happening to him. eventually grenn always finds him drunkenly trauma dumping on a complete stranger (this is how jon makes 90% of his friends) and drags him home by the scruff of his neck. there's a betting pool on when pyp will snap and buy one of those toddler leashes. pyp tried this once. jon gnawed through it.

I love the Night’s Watch chapters for a lot of reasons but a lot of it is the dynamic between all the boys Jon befriends - Sam, Pyp, Grenn, and poor Small Paul. Sam starts off very convinced that they’re going to leave him because he’s Jon’s brother, not theirs, except Grenn just point blank refuses to leave Sam behind, and Small Paul is insistent that he can carry Sam as well.

Grenn and Small Paul even refuse when given the okay to leave Sam by another brother!

When Jon wakes up at Castle Black, the first thing he does is reach out for his brothers, and Pyp holds his hand!!!

Jon is upset with Grenn for leaving Sam behind at Craster’s but Grenn doesn’t brush it off - he is crushed by what he did, and feels guilty as all hell, and Pyp has to try to cheer him up!

Jon smiles at their antics while they’re in the middle of a long siege/battle that is overwhelming them.

And then of course, when they’re all reunited, they are so adorable

The scene when Jon is chosen as Lord Commanded has so much Pyp, and my man Dolorous Edd being the funniest person in the room as usual

i just love them all so much!! they’re brothers!!!!!!

Halloween piece for @kaktuskopf :) ❤❤❤❤

Jon, Pyp and Grenn (Pyp suggesting some seasonal decor) / Costume celebration at the Night’s watch (Jon, Pyp, Grenn, Satin, Sam)

Requesting the snow patrol (Jon snow and nights watch pals, plus Tormund and Val, if you can oblige)

1. Pyp is probably making fun of Alliser Thorne

2. Val, looking beautiful and letal as she usually does

the night’s watch being made up of gay couples is so real.

Jeor and Benjen?

Qhorin and Mance?

Pyp and Grenn?

Jon and Satin?

beyond the wall week: day three - kneelers or free folk

Night gathers, and now my watch begins. It shall not end until my death. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children. I shall wear no crowns and win no glory. I shall live and die at my post. I am the sword in the darkness. I am the watcher on the walls. I am the fire that burns against the cold, the light that brings the dawn, the horn that wakes the sleepers, the shield that guards the realms of men. I pledge my life and honor to the Night's Watch, for this night and all the nights to come.

"Aemon told me you’d go. I told him you’d be back. I know my men … and my boys too. Honor set you on the kingsroad … and honor brought you back.”

“My friends brought me back,” Jon said.

“Did I say it was your honor?” - Artwork by Kay Huang

Something that I really like about Jon's relationship with his close friends at the Wall is that on a small amount of time, they became the sort of "ride or die" pack.

When Jon wants to jump in defend the newcomer Sam, we witness Pyp trying to hold him back:

Pyp laid a mailed hand on his arm"Jon, no," the small boy whispered with an anxious glance at Ser Alliser Thorne.

Pyp is afraid of Alliser Thorne and how he will react if they defy him.

What Jon's friends do once our boy jumps in to Sam's defense? They also join in:

Suddenly Pyp was besides him " Three to two will make for a better sport," the small boy said cheerfully. He dropped his visor and slid out his sword. Before Jon could ever think to protest, Grenn had stepped up to make a third.

Yes, they are afraid of Alliser Thorne but they won't let their fear stop them from aiding Jon in a fight they told him to avoid. That's true brotherhood!

Found Family Tournament Round 2 Part 12 Group 59

Propaganda and further images under the cut

Night’s Watch Crew: Jon Snow, Samwell Tarly, Grenn, "Dolorous" Edd Tollett, & Pyp

Night’s Watch Crew:

Ultimate snow bros

Arya, Gendry, Hot Pie (& Lommy & Jaqen):

They're just funny and cool bro

He found out soon enough. "Queen's men," Pyp told him—after he let out a whoop, and shouted, "Run and bar the doors, lads, it's Sam the Slayer come back from the grave," while Grenn was hugging Sam so hard he thought his ribs might break—"but best you don't go asking where the queen is. Stannis left her at Eastwatch, with their daughter and his fleet. He brought no woman but the red one."

Samwell Page 1044

Sam gets a warm homecoming when he arrives at Castle Black.

Sam: These are STD's.

Jon: What are you talking about buddy?

Sam: STD's, Save the Dates. For Gilly and my wedding.

Pyp: Ah, yes. Hey, just out of curiosity. How many people have you given STDs to?

Sam: Lots. Like a hundred.

{everybody but Sam starts laughing}

Sam: Oh. I get it. STD has another meaning. You're gross. No one else is gonna think that.

Emmett: Everyone else is going to think that Sam. But it's sweet that your mind didn't go there.

Sam: You're right it is sweet.

Pyp: Will your first dance be to "You give me fever" ?

Ed: Will you be serving crabs at the reception ?