something about the erasure of platonic love in fandom bothers me. maybe its just that im aroace, maybe i just dont 'get' the differences between loving and being in love. but it bothers me.
visiting nobles/lords/royals quickly notice that merlin has arthur’s ear and that arthur values merlin’s opinion above all others. when they’re having trouble convincing arthur to go along w their plan or sign their Important Document, they go to merlin to try and convince him to convince arthur. merlin knows what they’re doing. merlin does not want to push arthur one way or another, he wants arthur to make his own choices and lead his people as he sees fit. merlin satisfies both of their needs by seeming apologetic that he can’t convince arthur of this but maybe they can and gives them “tips and tricks” on how to soften arthur up to agreeing to the plan.
its all bullshit.
so far he’s convinced a princess (looking for marriage) that arthur loves frogs and pranks so she filled his chambers with a bunch of toads (arthur is terrified of frogs), a lord (was “wronged” by another lord and wanted a portion of his land) that arthur is a fan of the arts, particularly music, and he ended up breaking into song and dance in front of everyone, and a nobleman (arguing against the repealed magic ban and hoping to bring back uther’s laws) that arthur LOVES potatoes and to just give him one throughout the day whenever he seems him so arthur will associate the nobleman with the joy of receiving his favorite food so he’ll be more inclined to the nobleman’s request (arthur despises potatoes).
Mike: Increase the speed, increase the speed! I'm holding you. Faster faster faster! Faster! I'm holding my son, I'm holding my son! He's not gonna fall, he's not gonna fall– he's right here with me.
[Pac and Mike both laugh, and Fit smiles as he looks at both of them]
Fit: Yeah, doin' good!
Pac: Hold– oh my– Mike, if you don't hold him, he's gonna break, he's gonna break!
Fit: He's gonna get scrambled!
Mike: [Lets Richarlyson go temporarily and encourages him] Just kidding, just kidding, just kidding. Nice, you managed to endure the– [Pac stands behind Mike and hugs him] Oh, you're holding me!
Pac: If you fall–
Mike: Hold Pac Fit, hold Pac Fit!
Pac: Nobody gonna fall!
Fit: Okokokok there you go. [He hugs Pac from behind too, and they all laugh, cheering on Richarlyson]
"Gale says I never smile except in the woods." - Katniss, THG, Ch. 1.
I present to you: Instances of Katniss effortlessly smiling/laughing around/because of Peeta in the first book:
Peeta unexpectedly laughs. “He was drunk,” says Peeta. “He’s drunk every year.”
“Every day,” I add. I can’t help smirking a little.
“Where is Haymitch, anyway? Isn’t he supposed to protect us from this sort of thing?” says Peeta.
“With all that alcohol in him, it’s probably not advisable to have him around an open flame,” I say.
And suddenly we’re both laughing. I guess we’re both so nervous about the Games and more pressingly, petrified of being turned into human torches, we’re not acting sensibly.
When we finally escape to bed on the second night, Peeta mumbles, “Someone ought to get Haymitch a drink.”
I make a sound that is somewhere between a snort and a laugh. Then catch myself. It’s messing with my mind too much, trying to keep straight when we’re supposedly friends and when we’re not.
“I hope that’s how people interpret the four I’ll probably get,” says Peeta. “If that. Really, is anything less impressive than watching a person pick up a heavy ball and throw it a couple of yards. One almost landed on my foot.”
I grin at him and realize that I’m starving.
Peeta, it turns out, has never been a danger to me.
The thought makes me smile.
“Lean down a minute first,” he says. “Need to tell you something.” I lean over and put my good ear to his lips, which tickle as he whispers. “Remember, we’re madly in love, so it’s all right to kiss me anytime you feel like it.”
I jerk my head back but end up laughing. “Thanks, I’ll keep it in mind.”
“Katniss?” Peeta says. I meet his eyes, knowing my face must be some shade of green. He mouths the words.
“How about that kiss?”
I burst out laughing because the whole thing is so revolting I can’t stand it.
Peeta’s struggling to get up when I reach the cave. “I woke up and you were gone,” he says. “I was worried about you.”
I have to laugh as I ease him back down. “You were worried about me? Have you taken a look at yourself lately?”
“So that day, in music assembly, the teacher asked who knew the valley song. Your hand shot right up in the air. She stood you up on a stool and had you sing it for us. And I swear, every bird outside the windows fell silent,” Peeta says.
“Oh, please,” I say, laughing.
“What’s the problem?” I say with a grin.
“The problem is we’re both still alive. Which only reinforces the idea in your mind that you did the right thing,” says Peeta.
“Ah, that’ll be nice,” says Peeta, tightening his arms around me. “You and me and Haymitch. Very cozy. Picnics, birthdays, long winter nights around the fire retelling old Hunger Games’ tales.”
“I told you, he hates me!” I say, but I can’t help laughing at the image of Haymitch becoming my new pal.
“Hey, Effie, watch this!” says Peeta. He tosses his fork over his shoulder and literally licks his plate clean with his tongue making loud, satisfied sounds. Then he blows a kiss out to her in general and calls, “We miss you, Effie!”
I cover his mouth with my hand, but I’m laughing. “Stop! Cato could be right outside our cave.”
I'm writing a fic for your Contaminated au, and more than usual, I feel the need to run a plot point by you so it doesn't clash with anything
In theory, if someone lost feeling on their legs before getting infected, could The Rot eat just the legs first (which they wouldn't feel) and watch themselves suddenly stand up again?
(You better fucking send me that shit when you’re done cause I WANNA READ IT)
But anyways, it depends on a few things:
If it was like a few moments before The Rot fully digested them, then it would still use their legs as normal.
If they lost them a while before, then it would pretend it couldn’t use them. Until they have assimilated another.
Do u think if durge had returned to baldurs gate either before or after the coronation, and so gortash was sitting in the privacy of his office instead, he would have acted differently to them walking in?
No need for performing to an audience.
Would he do his triumphant laugh as durge walks through the doors? He holds his arms up out and toward them while talking about how it’s a pure, bloody miracle that they still walk.
Of course, he’s still a little bit cautious (for like 5 seconds) just in case Orin was right about Durge not remembering him, but he just really can’t contain his excitement and relief, and he doesn’t have to up in his office.