Madi 📸

“It’s literally impossible to be a woman.

You are so beautiful, and so smart, and it kills me that you don't think you're good enough. Like, we have to always be extraordinary, but somehow, we're always doing it wrong?

You have to be thin, but not too thin, and you can never say you wanna be thin. You have to say you wanna be healthy, but also, you have to BE THIN.

You have to have money, but you can't ask for money because that's crass.

You have to be a boss, but you can't be mean.

You have to lead, but you can't squash other people's ideas.

You're supposed to love being a mother, but don't talk about your kids all the damn time.

You have to be a career woman, but also, always be looking out for other people.

You have to answer for men's bad behavior, which is INSANE, but if you point that out, you're accused of complaining!

You're supposed to stay pretty for men, but not so pretty that you tempt them too much or that you threaten other women because you're supposed to be a part of the sisterhood, but ALWAYS STAND OUT and ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL. But never forget that the system is rigged, so find a way to acknowledge that but ALSO, always be grateful!

You have to never get old. Never be rude. Never show off. Never be selfish. Never fall down. Never fail. Never show fear. Never get OUT OF LINE. It's too hard! It's too contradictory, and nobody gives you a medal or says 'thank you!' And it turns out, in fact, that not only are you doing everything wrong, but also, everything is your fault.

I'm just so tired of watching myself, and every single other woman tie herself into knots, so that people will like us.

And if all of that, is also true for a doll just representing a woman, then I don't even know." -Gloria the barbie movie

this is it. this is exactly it oh my god.

Targaryen one-shoulder red cloak!!

remember when you were 10 and you would hang out with your friends in order to Look At The Computer together like you went to their house and experienced the information superhighway together. and then leave

How fucking old are you people?

normal amount

You see, there used to be a time (not all that long ago) when being offline was the default. And going online was the rare and wonderful thing that we (briefly) enjoyed.

It even came with happy modem noises.

They weren't happy noises.

They were polite and reasonable noises! The sound of protocol being followed! Negotiation and compromise!

The box would scream

in retrospect we should maybe have taken the unholy screams as a warning

a series of unfortunate events is really the blueprint for characters doomed by the narrative like i think that series changed my brain chemistry forever… the title tells you how the story will end and the author repeatedly tries to warn you away but still you pick up the book. the first sentence is that it’s a tragedy and you keep reading anyway.. you read through the whole story and it’s terrible and tragic and unfortunate and then after you’ve stayed up late reading it under your covers with a flashlight, you go to your school library as soon as class is over and check out the next book in the series because you need to know what happens even though really, you already know. the end is right there in the title, it’s there in every page .. before the story even begins you know it’s a tragedy and you read it anyway and—

I’m scared to lose what’s left of you.

“Rhaenyra and Alicent are the same. They are both greedy, selfish women who fight for the throne.”

No, they’re not. They are not the same.

Rhaenyra Targaryen was a very happy child (up until her mother died, at least).

All she ever wanted was to live her princess life, marry the love of her life and ride her dragon, Syrax.

Rhaenyra never cared about the Iron Throne. She was more than okay with her mother giving her a little brother who would shoulder the responsibility.

But everything changed when Viserys chose her as his heir. That meant the world to Rhaenyra. Imagine being the first princess in history chosen by your father to succeed him. That has never happened before. It gave her a sense of worth, of purpose, which she adored.

And then for the first time in history, the lords of the Realm presented themselves in front of a princess and swore to uphold her claim.

In that moment, it was as if Rhaenyra herself had sworn an oath to the Realm, to be their future Queen. She took on the responsibility, and sat beside her father at Court, learning everything about politicking. She then moved to Dragonstone when she was sixteen and learned to govern.

Rhaenyra was willing to give up on her dreams so she could make her father proud, so she could take on the responsibility and lead her House. And that’s just what she did. She spent years preparing to rule. She had to endure a marriage to someone like Laenor Velaryon (the ultimate challenge: have children with a man of a different sexual preference, and who is also unwilling to bed you, at a time when the whole Realm expects you to produce heirs).

And then…to have all that she was promised taken away from her.

I would rage.

To have sacrificed all these years of my life, to have endured childbirth for the sake of the Realm despite knowing that my own mother died in childbirth, to have to deal with greedy and backstabbing people all on my own…all that for nothing.

Rhaenyra didn’t covet the throne. She never wanted it, but it was promised to her. And for all she had sacrificed, she would be damned if she let her abusive stepmother and her worthless, lazy spawns take away what she worked hard for.

Alicent Hightower, on the other hand, was an upstart from the beginning. Being the daughter of a second son who had no fortune of his own, she couldn’t have expected to have too many prospects. She therefore slithered her way in Court life with the help of her father, became a lady in waiting and bid her time until the moment came to seduce the King and take the crown. She became the most powerful woman in the Seven Kingdoms, the Queen. She was given privileges which she abused, her children were well taken care of and lacked for nothing (and they rarely appreciated it).

But this was not enough for Alicent (or Otto). She wanted more. She was greedy. She wouldn’t settle for anything less than having her own blood on the throne, and she committed high treason to make that happen. A decision which destroyed her family.

So, no, the stories of these two women are not the same.

Rhaenyra fought for the oaths which had been sworn to her, for her father’s wish.

Alicent fought for her own selfish desires.

Bernard Hill

1944 - 2024

One thing that genuinely astounds me is how certain people are under the impression that Aemma Arryn and Alicent Hightower are equal victims, who would comfort each other in the afterlife for what “big, bad” Viserys did to them.

As if Queen Aemma wouldn’t pull Alicent’s hair by its dark roots for what she did to her only daughter, Rhaenyra.

But seeing as how Alicent is in the Seven Hells, Aemma likely wouldn’t get her chance.

Eowyn against the Witch-king

She ain't have time to mess around

“Vampire help hotline, what can I do for you?” “I just… I miss garlic bread…”

I was thinking about that episode where Aegon turns two and his nameday is celebrated.

Saw some people call Rhaenyra a petulant child for being sulky about everyone's attention being on Aegon, but like... Please tell me I'm not the only one who thinks it's deeper than that?

Rhae had been overshadowed by the idea of son that Viserys cherished so much her whole life, and it's clearly showed in the way she speaks about Baelon. That was until Viserys gutted Aemma while she was begging him not to, being exhausted and on the milk of poppy, terrified, and realized everything he's done, deciding he'd "make up" by naming Rhaenyra his heir.

And then, he remarries, he has a son that he always wanted so much — can you really say Rhaenyra's fear of being tossed aside once again is baseless?

Like, obviously, that was none of Aegon's fault because he was just a toddler, doing nothing but existing at that moment. And I'm not saying Rhae was right to act this way. But dismissing her behaviour as a mere tantrum that is based on her being entitled and spoiled... Well, you do you, I guess.

"Midnight" is one of my favourite episodes!!

A speedpaint video of this will be available at my Patreon on may 1st

the problem with watching doctor who as a child is that a small part of your brain can never completely give up the idea that the doctor exists. if i saw a blue police box materialize out of thin air i would not be anywhere near surprised enough.