#poi root

[evilkat23]

Well, nobody really asked, but the Person of Interest/TADC story is a go! It's not off the ground yet, and I don't know if anyone outside of myself cares, but I'm doing it and that's all that matters!

[dorkfruit]

the first set of requests i got for the six fanarts post (:

[ace-of-spaders]

Also that last paragraph in the context of POI would definitely be about Harold.

Yes they got him back together with Grace yay (though an argument can be made that over the time that they have been apart he's changed so much... would they still be as compatible to put it in The Machine's language as they were?).

But they also killed half of his new found family.

He lost his dear friend before the show started and we see how much it changed him how much it weighs on him to this day.

And now he also lost a good friend, two daughters (one who really is by all means his daughter because he thinks the Machine is gone and the other whom he came to love as his daughter) and his best friend / partner / one could argue other half not even in the romantic sense, they really were pieces of one whole.

And all of them died because of him and what is even worse *for* him.

So getting him back together with Grace after that doesn't really even feel like a happy ending. More like a consolation prize.

And I don't mean to diminish Grace's and their relationship's value I don't... I just know that those losses hurt him deeply and I don't think he will ever be able to truly be happy even with Grace.

Those people were so close to him they were practically pieces of him, bricks in the foundation of who he is, and if they are gone - as said in another good but hated by the writers' show - you just become a pile of rubber crumbling into dust.

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just thought these tags from by previous post deserve their own post

[axisiishaw]

Every time I see Root paired with the Machine, something in me dies. To me all this does is flattening her character, making her less human. To me it’s clear that Shaw was her person. Root was devoted to the Machine, yes, the Machine gave her purpose. Shaw gave her meaning. Shaw was her anchor. I love that Amy Acker also always saw this. And mentioned it repeatedly. She almost never talked about the Machine. It was always about Shaw.

[chick-with-wifi]

Shoot relationship timeline

Shaw's perspective

Following their first meeting, Shaw begins hunting down Root out of anger, but there is also a definite element of fascination. Root managed to trick her completely, which is not easy to do given what we've seen of Shaw's cold-reading skills, and shares her enjoyment of violence.

Later, Root gets the drop on her again by showing up in her bedroom to kidnap her. Shaw is furious and only agrees to work together once Root proves she's getting orders from the Machine. Throughout this mission, she witnesses Root's loyalty, considerable skills and the promised violence (as well as other things in the CIA safehouse) that prove their compatibility.

While Root is in the Faraday Cage, Shaw consistently advocates for letting her help them. She still doesn't trust Root, but understands her and knows she will do what she's offering. Sure enough, Root is let out of the cage and saves Reese, which is when she earns Shaw's respect and trust.

Shaw now views her as part of the team, demonstrated by the way she easily begins working with Root when she rescues them from Control and is reluctant to leave her with Hersh, then goes to look for her at the end of the episode.

Shaw doesn't see Root again until she returns to New York in 3x17, at which point she displays concern for Root's welfare when she checks the dressings on her injuries. This could be because it weighed on her mind that the last she saw of Root was evidence she had been tortured, only to learn she had left the country with nothing but a brief message to Finch.

I headcanon that they began sleeping together again after this episode and it cements them as being on genuinely friendly terms. This is shown by Shaw enjoying the opportunity to do a relevant number with Root (including lots of violence), showing an interest in her life and suggesting a steak joint, implying that she wants to spend more time together, in 3x20.

I would also suggest it's around this point Shaw starts to realize Root has feelings for her, as Root's flirting progresses to adoring stares (3x17, 3x20), taking opportunities to touch her (3x22) and compliments ("She knows you can handle yourself." 3x22), in a way that seems genuine, rather than just trying to annoy her.

They continue as friends-with benefits, bantering and looking out for each other, until the turning point in 3x23. Upon learning Root is going into a Decima fortress alone and there's a good chance she'll be killed, Shaw stops in her tracks and decides to help her immediately. This is the moment she realizes Root means a lot to her, possibly in a different way than she's used to caring about people, and she can't stand the thought of her being in danger.

Although Shaw doesn't acknowledge this revelation in her interactions with Root, she clearly finds it difficult to walk away from her when they have to go their separate ways as Samaritan comes online.

In season 4, they don't get to spend much time together due to keeping up their cover identities. But Shaw still pays attention to and cares about Root, as she immediately knows something is wrong in 4x05.

In 4x07 Shaw meets Tomas, and is both attracted to him and intrigued by the life he's offering. But when the time comes to choose who she wants to be with, she picks Root. I would say this is the moment Shaw realizes she loves her, because although she sees the appeal of a glamorous life of crime abroad, what she really wants is to keep what she has with Root. She then goes to find Root, cites her reason for staying as "I guess there are things I care about here." and finds an excuse for them to spend time together. This is as close as Shaw gets to declaring her feelings.

Neither of them take the leap to change anything about their relationship, but their following interactions carry an undercurrent of intensity because they know what they mean to each other. Such as Root telling Shaw that "while you may not be scared about what could happen to you the next time, other people are. People who care for you." (4x09) and Shaw shoving grenades into her bag while saying, "She's going to meet an all-seeing, all-evil god by herself. That doesn't sound fine to me. That sounds like someone who needs backup." (4x10)

In 4x11, before sacrificing herself to save the team, Shaw kisses Root. Knowing it is her last opportunity to do so, she allows herself to embrace how much this brilliant, frustrating woman means to her.

Root's perspective

Root is already a fan of Shaw before their first meeting, having read her file and been impressed by her considerable skills. But, since misanthropy has been the driving force of her life, she is likely also intrigued by the idea of a heroic sociopath. And sure enough, once they meet it's a case of intense thirst at first sight, only furthered by Shaw's declaration that she "kind of enjoy[s] this sort of thing."

During their first mission together, Root clearly enjoys messing with Shaw ("Safety first." 3x06) and is thrilled to learn that she lives up to the reputation in her file. But Root also recognizes that Shaw actually listens to everything she says and acts accordingly. After a lifetime of being dismissed as crazy or a liar, that's significant.

In 3x12, when Root learns that Shaw came to look for her, she is genuinely touched and I would pinpoint this as the moment she realizes she has feelings for Shaw. She's been alone for nearly all her life, and now this incredible woman cares about her enough to come back.

When she returns to New York, her flirting is as blatant as ever but seems softer ("I love it when you play doctor." 3x17), as if she means it with more sincerity but also has something to lose. As mentioned above, this is around the time they start sleeping together again.

Root continues crushing on Shaw, but doesn't do anything to change the status quo. Until 3x23 when Shaw comes to save her at the Decima fortress, which is the first hint that Shaw likes her back. Root fully expected to die on that mission and sounds unusually serious when she says, "Admit it, you were worried about me." But when Shaw's reply doesn't reveal anything, she continues with their usual banter.

The next development happens in 4x05 when Root, again believing she's going to die, asks Finch to give Shaw a message. While unwilling to approach the subject with Shaw directly in case it violates her boundaries, she views her feelings as significant enough that she wants Shaw to know if the worst happens.

In 4x07 when Shaw chooses to stay with Root, she is clearly thrilled. Following Shaw's confession she teasingly asks, "and is that why you came to see me?", but the answer doesn't matter. She knows how Shaw feels, her actions say everything.

As stated above, neither take the plunge to change their relationship after this. When Shaw sacrifices herself, Root is devastated and willing to do anything to find her.

After they are reunited, they have both been holding onto their love for those nine months. Root never stopped looking for Shaw or believed she would betray them, Shaw viewed Root as her safe place. So I headcanon that shortly after their meeting in the park, they have a conversation about their relationship and are officially 'together'. This is shown in 5x10 by their easy, flirtatious banter ("You want to stick around, give 'em a proper welcome?" "Thought you'd never ask.") and tender, vulnerable conversation while holding hands ("This might be the first time I feel like I belong.").

[susannaius]

"Tomorrow, their world crashes. But we can give them tonight."

Person of Interest (2011-2016), 5x05: A more perfect union

[jackintheboombox]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Person of Interest (TV) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Harold Finch & Root | Samantha Groves Characters: Harold Finch, Root | Samantha Groves, Bear (Person of Interest) Additional Tags: Platonic Relationships, Platonic Female/Male Relationships, Loneliness, Comfort Summary:

Harold and Root share a peaceful moment.

--------------------------

My first Person of Interest fic! :D

[swtorramblings]

Second Chances-4: The Root of the Problem

Root instructing Claudia in her new reality, while the Machine watches, by @fleeting-sanity​.

Second Chances chapter list

Claudia shattered the Staff of the Sun Elves, denying its power to her father, and has found herself in another world, a strange world. Our world. A world with its own dangers.

The calculations were out of joint. There were always unexpected events, anomalies, but these were unprecedented. The Machine had no numbers, no predictions, no way of calculating their impact.

She predicted, though, that it would be severe. People don’t suddenly appear without being significant. The only real question was whether their effect would be positive or negative.

She was in the middle of a call. She didn’t really want to end it, but there was work to do.

“Sorry, sweetie, I’ve got a job. You’re probably going to be busy, too.”

She disconnected, then thought about what she would say, how she would present herself, and left the apartment. It probably didn’t matter, this number was a wild card, there was no way to plan around her, not really. Still, the video showed she was confused, but curious. Perhaps eager to learn. She might be able to work with that.

She’d have to hurry, there were already reports going to the police about the odd girl, she’d be picked up soon.

---

Claudia was still staring at herself in the glass when she heard the strange sound, a kind of warbling scream. Then she saw the flashing lights down the great road as the, what were they? Carts? Carts would do. Magical carts swerved around the corner and moved toward her.

Then came the voice. “Run, girl! Run, you can’t let them catch you.” She looked around, trying to find the voice. There was no one on the street, but there was a figure in the glass now that hadn’t been before, pointing towards a nearby passage away from the crowd, away from the smoke spewing things speeding by. Away from danger? She couldn’t be sure.

She ran where she was shown, just as the carts pulled up nearby. She heard what had to be doors opening and a good deal of shouting from behind her. Then the voice again. “Fifth door on your left, fast as you can.”

She glanced over her shoulder at just the wrong moment, tripping into a metal cylinder filled with waste, her tattered robes now soaked with filth from what spilled out. She got to her feet and began counting the doors.

She got to the door and pushed it open, ducking inside and closing it behind her, locking it with the voice’s help in the dark. She heard the, she supposed, city guard in the alley, searching. Then they were at the door.

“Oh, don’t worry, they won’t come in unless you give them a reason to.” She opened her mouth to answer, but the voice shushed her, so she sat alone in the dark. She felt like crying but didn’t. She couldn’t, not in front of the voice. Below the voice? Behind the voice? Whatever.

She woke with a start. It was quiet and even darker. The much had dried, leaving her robes and hair a sticky mess. “OK, it’s dark, the police are gone, are you awake enough to move?”

She nodded, wondering if that was enough. It was. “Good. Do what I tell you and soon you’ll be safe. Safer, anyway. And maybe you can get clean.” She followed her benefactor’s instructions. She could see it was nighttime, and there was less activity, but it was still bright enough to see clearly, strange torches hanging overhead.

This was all she had wanted. For humans to have the power of magic. This was good, wasn’t it?

Soon, she was directed to a rusted metal gate. She pushed it aside and stepped through.

A woman appeared at the door ahead, beckoning her. She spoke with a familiar voice. “I thought you’d never get here.”

Claudia stepped toward the stranger, looking for a trap, not sure she cared if it was one. She was tired and lost. But she finally asked, not who are you, but the more important question. “What do you want with me?”

“Oh, I don’t know yet! It’s exciting, isn’t it? But come inside, we went through a lot of trouble to get you here.”

Claudia stepped inside. There wasn’t anything else to do. “Why do you have the same voice?”

The woman grinned. “That’s complicated. It’s my voice. Could you hear me?”

“Yes?”

“Great! Let’s get you cleaned up, get you some fresh clothes, and then we’ll talk.”

---

Claudia came out, cleaner than she ever thought she would be again, soap and hot water and something called a luffa washing it all away. The clothes were comfortable, maybe a bit itchy. She went and sat and waited for the strange woman.

“Hey, there, girl,” she said with false cheer. She seemed friendly, but Claudia found something there that frightened her. “You can call me Root, and you’re messing with our algorithms.”

She blinked, hesitated, and all she could say was, “What?”

“This is going to take a while, isn’t it?”

“What’s going to take a while?”

“Your education.”

She thought that sounded like a challenge. “I’m a fast learner.”

“You’d better be.” Root gestured at a slender piece of metal on the table nearby.“This is for you.”

She picked it up, examined it, and found it unfolded, revealing a set of rune-carved keys on one half, and a flat surface of some sort on the other. “Some sort of puzzle? A way of doing magic in your world?”

“Magic? Some people think so. I hope you can do better. You can hear her, so we can work with that, but hope is never something to count on.”

And then Claudia began to learn a new magic, indeed, but not Dark, instead  made of points of light.