#the joining

[sketchydeni]

Did a little redraw.

This is basically how the Joining goes, isn't it?

[meushell]

“Sam Carter” on Outer Limits

The Joining

Amanda Taping as Cmdr. Kate Girard

It could be seen as a nightmare that Sam has. 😂

That wedding dress is…interesting. 🤨

Maybe not so much of a nightmare. Her husband actually lives. 😂

[do-you-think-im-spoopy]

Okay, to be honest, I'm only a little past the halfway point of The Primal of Blood and Bone so it's really too early to make a judgement call. But after 600 pages I also feel entitled to some opinions.

Okay, here we are 6 books in and Poppy is STILL being constantly sexualized and infantilized by her own husband. I DESPISE that man. He's vapid and violent and disgusting.

The only upside is that Jennifer Armentrout at least seems to finally realize that Casteel is a problem in this book. The other characters are finally calling him out. I can finally respect that much about her.

Now, the Kieran issue... I LOVE Kieran. He's my favorite character by far. I adored The Joining and believe it was truly planned and foreshadowed from the beginning. It's obvious to anyone who can read that it was always the plan. It's what makes this series even remotely different than all of the many many other romantasy series out there.

That being said, because of the fan backlash (which I will NEVER understand), she's obviously trying to backtrack on the throuple. It's really sad because, like I said, it was the only really interesting thing going on with the relationship in this book.

Now they're introducing jealousy?? Cas has NEVER been jealous of Kieran. Ever. And it's like the attraction between Cas and Kieran and the between Poppy and Kieran just no longer exists. And they're pawning him off on Helenea?? This is devastating. Like, stand behind your writing. Have a backbone. Defend your characters.

Anyway, things could still turn around. But relationship-wise, things are looking very grim atm. I do want what's best for Poppy but Cas is holding her back and holding her down. Won't let her be who she is. Because he's a fucking neanderthal.

Just my halfway thoughts. I'll be back when I finish. Discussion anyone?

[mythals-whore]

Day 3: The Joining

Full piece on ao3

(divider from THIS post, by @flowersforthemachines)

“We only speak a few words prior to the Joining, but these words have been said since the first." the commander's voice is low now, somber. "Join us, brothers and sisters. Join us in the shadows where we stand, vigilant. Join us as we carry the duty that cannot be forsworn. And should you perish, know that your sacrifice will not be forgotten, and that one day, we will join you."

He clears his throat, as he takes the last few steps down to meet the recruits. He stops first at the man just to Davrin's left, "Gaspar Choquet, from this day forward you are a Grey Warden."

Choquet takes the golden chalice in one hand, wearing a somber expression when he lifts the chalice back to the Commander Grisbaum with grace, "Santé."

His hand is steady as he lifts the chalice to his lips. The Commander's grim expression doesn't shift as Choquet drinks deeply. Davrin watches the man face for any discomfort, but if the concoction tastes even half as bad as the dwarven ale they had in the deep roads, it doesn't show on his face.

It's not even a moment before the chalice is back in the Commander's hands. Choquet is just turning—likely to offer Davrin his usual self-satisfied grin—when he seizes.

His whole body goes rigid, color draining out of his face. The former chevalier—who has not once emitted a single complaint—starts screaming. His hands come up to clutch at his head, panic bright and stark in his eyes. Davrin reaches for him on instinct, catching him by the arm and half-collapsing with him to the ground.

The man's fingers close around the front of Davrin's tunic, fingernails scraping his chest. It looks like he might say something—but then his eyes roll back, the whites of his eyes showing starkly against his dark lashes. And then his screams are choked off, because his throat was spent or because he could no longer breathe, Davrin isn't sure.

Choquet's hand goes limp, sliding from the front of Davrin's tunic.

He looks around frantically—only to find that no one else has moved.

The rest of the Wardens remain still, though more of them have curved around the back, blocking off their only exit, like they might try to flee. The briefest glance he casts over his shoulder at Mal says that he isn't the only one who noticed.

"Step forward, Davrin."

The Warden-commander watches on with a somber expression, the chalice still held between long, gnarled fingers.

Understanding thunders painfully through his veins.

They don't let just anyone join. Don't risk just anyone's lives. They forced them to train, to wait. Pulled men out of prisons and out of the gallows because they were already dead. Davrin dares a glance down the line. Julian's eyes have gone wide, but he doesn't move. None of them do. He's too young for this kind of risk—the wardens must have known that, it's why they made him wait. But it seems they could only deny him for so long.

Just as Davrin supposes they could not deny him. The Warden who brought him to Weisshaupt was wary enough, suggested he reconsider. Maybe Davrin should have heeded that warning. He didn't need the Wardens.

He was no longer starving—between the arrows in his quiver and the coin he made hunting monsters, he did alright. He was rarely without food and any night spend without a roof over his head was of his own choosing. It wasn't a bad life, but Davrin was so tired.

Tired of being on his own. Tired of moving from place to place, carrying all his things in a single rucksack. Tired of searching for meaning and finding none.

Davrin fought darkness. Slaying monsters and saving people, that was worthwhile—but the Wardens did it better. And they did it together.

That was worth every risk.

So Davrin gets to his feet, lowering the other man to the ground with as much care as he can manage.

And as Davrin reaches for the goblet, he makes his peace with whatever happens next.

[bedes-silliest-soldier]

My friend made me watch all of Pluribus this weekend, and it was SO GOOD. Highly recommend if you have access to apply TV.

We have a couple theories on what the Joining is, but spoilers below I guess.

I don’t think they’ll ever confirm what exactly it is, or what its precise source is, and I’m not all that worried about that.

I had the idea that it’s more or less what it is shown — a kind of virus, that spreads both through infection and mimetically through things like the radio transmission.

My buddies had an idea with a little more meat, and that was that the Joining is an alien weapon meant to create a compliant population and mostly wipe it out to prepare for the arrival of colonists and/or rulers. I do think this is more interesting, and is born out by just how malicious the Others can be with how they wipe out cultures even while pretending that’s not what they would do, and behaving in deeply dishonest ways despite the fact that they can’t lie.

[raven-reads87]

SPOILERS FOR A FIRE IN THE FLESH

Nyktos just said (I’m listening to the audiobook) something like “the fates can see the love between two or more souls.”

TWO.

OR MORE.

MOOORRREEEEEEEE

This further supports my theory that Kieran is also heartmates with Cas and Poppy. Booyah.

[complexpersephonecomplex]

‼️The War of Two Queens Spoilers‼️

I finished The War of Two Queens and

Cas and Kieran should’ve AT LEAST made out a little bit during the Joining