'...no more dreaming like a girl so in love with the wrong world...'
First order of business. My shiny new Hermione/Snape header! All hail the artistic awesomeness of ed_84! Much love and my eternal gratitude, darling! *hugglesquish*
Which brings me to this: The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker
Albino heroine? Odd, I think. Hmm, this has potential.
The fated seventh member of the Guard that’s charged with saving the world from supernatural threats? Nothing out of the ordinary there. There’s always a group of misfits with powers responsible for safeguarding humanity on some epic quest.
Love interest is her Professor- whoa, hold it, WHAT?! Kudos to you, book, you have my undivided attention. I want to read this just so I can figure out how it got by the censors. I didn’t think YA novels promoting student/teacher relationships had a chance in hell. [Official book trailer]
My curiosity piqued, I hunted down an excerpt from the book- and nearly died from fandom flail…
---
A door burst open, and the assembled company, ghosts included, started. Out from an office at the front of the room strode a tall figure in black, and the ensuing silence was deafening.
The newcomer turned to face his students. Percy’s breath caught. Here stood the most striking man she had ever seen. Lustrous dark hair hung loosely to broad shoulders. A few locks turned out in an unkempt manner contrary to the rest of his appearance, while a few strands clung to his noble, chiseled features-a long nose, high cheekbones, defined lips like a Grecian sculpture and impossibly dark eyes. He was dressed in a long professorial robe that hung open over a smartly buttoned velvet vest, and a crimson cravat at the throat was the only colour this distinguished figure sported.
…
He wrote a name upon the board in scrawling script. His voice took hold of his audience, a richly resonant, unparalleled baritone. "I am Professor Rychman. Welcome to my class.” He swept the room with his eyes, coolly evaluating his new students. When his gaze found Percy, it lingered. Caught in that stare, she shrank into her chair.
…
Class began. Professor Rychman was ruthless with his subject matter, and he flew through what he considered background material and began scribbling unending sequences of letters and symbols in all manner of baffling arrangements. Percy attempted to take notes but was soon lost. Hypnotized by the stern yet melodic sound of his voice, she found herself swept away by the cadence of his speech. Every movement and sentence held impossible confidence. His eyes managed to stare down every student over the course of the lecture, and even when his back was turned, his presence gripped the room.
--
IT’S SNAPE. COME ON, TELL ME I’M NOT IMAGINING THIS.
I know that when I’m in the thrall of a fandom, anything and everything in my life relates back to it in some way. I’ll seize on the most tenuous connection just for the fandom related squee.
Like this old teacher of mine who had hair the exact style and shade as Scully’s. ‘Out of a bottle’, Jacob noted unkindly. [The teacher, as well as Scully] But who cares what’s needed to maintain the illusion? I stared at the back of her head for an hour on the bus trip, anyway. [Because I’m scary like that]
Like when this quiz show host asked ‘What’s heavier, a raptor or the two Veronicas combined?’ [The latter being the Australian pop duo, FYI] I immediately shrieked, ‘Raptors! Veronica! It’s The Lost World!’ Clearly, that is just me being a freak.
But people, read the excerpt. A stern ruthless teacher who intimidates students, whose appearance is described as being a tall figure in black robes over a vest, with intense dark eyes, shoulder length black hair and a prominent nose.
It’s like a ‘Snape: Physical Characteristics’ checklist! Except without the Harry!filter to ugly him up, no greasy hair or beaky nose here, oh no, his hair is ‘lustrous’ and his features are ‘noble’, likening him to a ‘Grecian sculpture’.
And his voice! Utterly mesmerizing, it ‘took hold of his audience, a richly resonant, unparalleled baritone’. I love it. Totally like the author was fed up with JKR mistreating the most awesome character ever and decided to appropriate him for her own story, lmao, after being suitably romanticized.
Also? His name’s Professor Rychman. As in, Alan Rickman? The author’s not even attempting to be subtle here!
---
Legend of the Seeker.
This is highly irreverent. My love for the show has been revitalized and I'm fangirling it hardcore once more.
But I must ask this: so, the main impediment to Richard and Kahlan enjoying some well-deserved sexytiems is the fact that if she experiences the delights of orgasmic bliss, she will lose control of her powers and confess Richard, y/y?
So, technically, if the sex is bad, [blasphemy!] and she doesn't 'burn with an incandescent glory'...get swept away in the 'waves of tactile pleasure'...caught in the 'glorious, rippling cascade of sublime release' [don't mind me, I'm just quoting from romance novels]- then she won't lose control and won't confess him? Right? Is my logic undeniable?
Thus, Richard can still father the new line of Confessors, etc. etc. Just it wouldn't be much fun in the baby-making process as everyone would assume. Where's IVF when you need it?
-
LOTS: 2 x 01- Marked
Bath sequence of hedonistic win.
This is an auspicious beginning to her time as a lead character, I must say. :D
I could watch her enjoying the back massage courtesy of two gorgeous ladies all day.
[Who do I have to kill to get such service?]
Silly Triana does not agree.
T: We’re wasting time, Cara.
You're wasting prime ogling time, Triana! This could fuel a million fantasies, hush now!
C: You’re disturbing my bath.
The regal disdain in her voice amuses me.
T: While you’re washing your hair, D’hara is going to pieces. We should go to the People’s Palace now.
C: And do what when we get there?
C: Loot the wine cellar?
I love the flirty way she nudges that wench. 'Let's all get drunk 'coz I'm all out of ideas!'
Wench is all, 'I only had to scrub your back every day for the past five years before you finally took me out on a real date'.
T: We swear our allegiance to Lord Rahl.
C: Lord Rahl is dead.
T: If he were the last of his bloodline, then our agiels would have lost their power.
Then she SHOCKS THEM THROUGH THE WATER.
[Let me point out how Cara doesn't even flinch at the pain. Those bath wenches are pansies. Then again, I'm guessing they report higher job satisfaction rates than the Mord'Sith. Sign me up!]
Ohhh, Cara's gonna cut a bitch.
C: If and when the new Lord Rahl should claim his throne, we’ll decide if he’s worthy of us. Until then, who better to bring order to the territories than the Mord’Sith? I’ve called for a meeting of the [fantasy concept] at the [fantasy location]. We leave today.
T: When did you become Queen? I must’ve missed the coronation.
Puh-leeze. I like Charisma Carpenter. In theory. But her whiny voice and high school comeback irritates the hell out of me.
If Triana had ever watched tv, she'd know that nothing good ever follows a naked woman emerging from water [in sci-fi and fantasy, anyhow, I can't speak to other forms of entertainment].
She is foolishly over-confident. Moron. Stands there with that superior smirk, waiting for Cara's comeback...
OMG. I cannot describe to you the awesome of this smackdown. Cara doesn't even bother with a cutting verbal retort, she just tosses Triana into the pool! And then half-drowns her into submission!
[C: Well? What do you have to say for yourself?
T: I'm sorry, I didn't mean it! Of course your boobs are way more fabulous than mine!]
T: I demand an honorable death. It’s my right as a Mord’Sith.
C: You deserve no honor. You will stay alive and serve me.
[Ohh, Cara. Never leave an adversary alive to forment disharmony in the ranks. *shakes head* Execute all your enemies, it's far safer that way, 'k, sweetie?]
I love the way that Cara flings people away from her. She does it a lot, like she doesn't want them tainting her any longer than absolutely required to discipline them.
C: Does anyone else have a problem?
*cricket cheeps in the dead silence*
All hail Cara, HBIC!
---
Is it just me or was anyone else amused Cara's tone when she went, 'Lord Rahl?!' and then drawled, 'You've certainly come up in the world'. I was giggling so hard and I don't even know why! We rarely see her display emotion, so that moment of surprise and then resignation, like 'Oh, perfect, the cherry on top of a miserable, thrice-damned horrorshow of day, it figures'.
C: Any girls who were taken, my sisters must have taken them after they beat me and left me to die.
K: I’ll get the truth out of her. *reaches*
R: *grabs her arm* You can tell she’s lying?
K: Their training makes the Mord’Sith hard to read. But I’ll find out. *reaches*
R: *halts her again*
Subtext!
I am amused at how much of a cockblock Richard is in this scene. Or whatever the femslash equivalent is. Kahlen's all eager to get her hands on Cara but he just won't give her the satisfaction, lol.
Moral quandry.
In light of the revelations of Broken, I am troubled by Kahlen's attitude here.
Confessing a Mord'Sith causes them unimaginable pain before they die [although I didn't see any of that in the one that Kahlen 'executed'] and Kahlen was just so confession-happy here, she was a loaded gun ready to blow in a heartbeat and take Cara down but for Richard's interference. And this was before we found out about what Cara did to her sister.
She doesn't even want to give her the benefit of a trial as per Broken, Kahlen just wants to wade in there and condemn her to death right away. Am I missing something here or is she just singularly unconcerned with the whole sanctity of life thing that she's supposed to be all about?
R: She’s the one that helped me kill Darken Rahl.
K: Whatever she did, it was to save her own skin. Richard, we can’t trust her.
Kahlen! Stop diminishing your win like this! Cara helped save the world, FFS, give her a break! A thank you! A pat on the back! What's with the intense desire to off her? Sheesh!
Oh, hang on. Fiercely repressed attraction, sublimated into rampant hostility. *nodnod* That's gotta be it. :P
R: I’m not telling you to trust her. I’m telling you to trust me.
Go Richard! I'm loving him a lot more this season! It's like with the new growth of facial hair came a new infusion of maturity!
The way he handled Kahlen was perfect. She may loathe Cara all she likes, but she's following Richard's lead and she has to trust him to make the best decision in the circumstances or else undermine his authority. Well played, boy!
R: You’re going to help us find your sisters.
C: If you help me kill them.
Oh, scaryyyy! Cara's out for blood, big-time. She has officially got her psycho on. *bounces*
Gotta say, I am so relieved that she wasn't wrestling with any vestige of loyalty to them. I thought the brainwashing may have made her bound to their cause even after they beat her bloody [and how much does this remind you of Xena's similar ignominious fate at the hands of her army when they deposed her in the Gauntlet?] but thankfully, once they kicked her out [literally *winces*], she goes all Kill Bill on their asses.
---
C: If they went that way, they took the girls to the Drowning Cave.
K: Drowning Cave?
C: During the rains, the river floods it. Uncooperative trainees are left there just before a storm.
K: Charming.
*snicker* She's reining in the obvious hatred now in favor of fake sweetness. Trying to impress Richard with how well you play nice?
[cut for exposition!dump]
K: Maybe this was their plan all along- lure you into an ambush because they knew you would do anything to save the children.
C: Yes, the Seeker’s kind-heartedness is legendary.
LOL. Nothing she said there was precisely insulting, but her inflection! Her taunting expression! PRICELESS.
It’s like she enjoys winding up Kahlan.
I love it, how Cara mocks her by picking on Richard. He couldn't care less but Kahlen gets all worked up and frenzied about the slightest insult to him issuing from her lips. *g* Cara has her all figured out and is playing her superbly here, lol.
---
Tunnel of Inept Intimidation Tactics.
C: Give me your hand.
Kahlen doesn't trust her. Either that or she doesn't like not being in control.
['coz it's one thing for her to grab Cara, another for Cara to grab her]
I love how Cara's so strong, she hefts up Kahlen with no discomfort, no expression of effort.
Gratuitous hair!shot.
Also, Kahlen seizes hold of Cara. [Boy, she really can't keep her hands off that woman, can she?]
Cara really does not appreciate being touched.
K: I don’t know exactly what you did to make Richard trust you.
K: But if this is some sort of trick, I will kill you.
Jesus Christ. Kahlen. The woman is leading you to save some innocent little chickies and you want to waste time by throwing down and making threats? You thought this was the most appropriate use of your time? I thought that was singularly male flaw- idiotic male posturing rankles me so- but thanks for balancing the gender playing field, well done.
Cara has this feral look in her eye that I recognize from when the vicious family cat is about to attack someone. Aiming to draw blood and leave scars. *flinches* [Also- HELLO, LIPS. The very definition of plump and pillowy...]
But she restrains herself- I really admire her for holding back on the ass-kicking I know she was dying to give. This is what we call 'thinking of the greater good instead of indulging petty grievances and establishing hierarchy'.
This was ill-thought-out on so many levels. Just a few:
a) Wow, guess she doesn't trust Richard as much as we thought.
b) Cara's a MORD'SITH, honey, these childish intimidation tactics aren't going to work on her!
c) Innocent lives are on the line while she plays at being bad-ass. *eyeroll* Cara's been co-operative so far and she wants to risk alienating her like this? If I were her, I'd throw up my hands and be all, 'Fine, you don't trust me? If that's the way it is, I'm outta here, I don't have to put up with your crap'.
LOL. That dismissive once-over is hilarious. Cara wordlessly sizes her up and then turns her back and walks away- her body language insults Kahlen, by showing her that Cara isn't concerned by her at all, while she moves on.
This is the awesome thing about Cara. She doesn't waste her breath on empty threats- she is a living breathing threat just by existing as her own her bad self. She doesn't care about extracting any humiliation from Kahlen, it isn't necessary to knock her down a few pegs in order to restore her self-esteem because Kahlen's opinion is insignificant. She's too confident and self-possessed for her feathers to be ruffled by this incident.
Instead, she just gets on with the job. I love it.
*considers the alternate universe where she didn't make an ass of herself*
'Oh, well, at least my hair is prettier and swings in a more aesthetically-pleasing, gravity-defying way than hers.'
---
Of Mind Games and Agiels.
C: Hello, sisters. I brought you a prize.
[Reminiscent of that Twi!vampire going, 'You brought a snack', no? *g*]
[Neither of the Mord'Sith wonder why the 'prize' isn't even attempting to run away from her mortal enemies. I'm new to this concept, so maybe there's Mord'Sith magic that'd hold her paralyzed in position, but otherwise, I'm guessing there's no minimum intelligence requirement to joing up with the leather-clad sisterhood]
C: *dramatic hair toss* The Mother Confessor.
OHHH, BETRAYAL! IT PIERCES MY BREAST WITH PAINFUL CLARITY.
Kahlan’s all, ‘But I just threatened you! Hand on your throat and everything! How dare you?’
Then Cara reveals her true colors and the fight is on.
For the pathetically brief period of time it takes to eliminate the two guards. Seriously, I thought they were an 'elite' fighting force? What gives?
On the other hand, how hot is Kahlen with her two daggers?
Philanthropist!Kahlen flows towards the kiddies.
K: Help me get them out of here.
C: I didn’t come for children.
WOOHOO! She's armed with agiels and ready to party! With a VENGEANCE.
---
Battle of the righteous and morally superior.
Richard eyeballs Triana...
...who suddenly recalls an emergency fitting session for a new line of leather outfits. The honor of the Mord'Sith is at stake, lest anyone dare mock their fashion sense.
She turns just in time to acquaint Cara's palm with her face. A surprisingly girl move from the kick-ass warrior, but I'll let it go this once.
C: This belongs to me. *reclaims agiels*
Cara is so gorgeous when she's caught up in battle lust and killing people. RAWRRR.
This time she doesn't make the mistake of leaving her enemy alive behind her. *cheers*
---
The intensity of the eye!sex between these two could power a city for weeks, no joke.
*sighs with pleasure* Oh, how brilliant this new season is! Adding Cara to the cast has just made my year! *squees*
The conflict between her and Kahlen is exciting; sometimes, Kahlen is so perfect she's almost unreal, and it's good to see that she can be a little judgmental and make mistakes about people.
The maturity Richard demonstrates is long overdue and character growth at its best, plus his faith in her is so heart-warming, I love that he doesn't give up on her.
Best of all, the snide, snarky banter Cara brings is the highlight of every episode and I'm just so, so thrilled!
---
Meme:
30 Day Meme:
Day 02- favorite movie:
Atm? My new loves- I'm hesitating between The Proposal and Star Trek. I watched them both again recently and they're made of so much win. Totally buying them when they're cheaper. [I refuse to pay $20-$30, kthxbai]
Classic favorite? Dogma. SO MUCH LOVE. I've seen it about a million times by now. ['I'm pissed off, is what I am! Do you go around drenching everybody that comes into your room with flame-retardant chemicals? No wonder you're single!' LMAO]
Tagged by odakota_rose.
FIRST: If you've been tagged, you must write your answers in your own LJ and replace any question that you dislike with a new, original question.
SECOND: Tag eight sexy people. Don't refuse to do it like a pansy.
I don’t know who else has done this, feel free to disregard if so:
kat_rowe, labrt2004, luisa_f, mcgarrygirl78, sapph, spence_reid, sunkrux, woodchoc_magnum.
1. Who sleeps in bed next to you?
My imaginary friend. We like to snuggle.
2. What did you last eat?
Do pills count? I had my two Roaccutane this morning.
Otherwise, the water ices last night. I was reading HG/SS fic and I had one green, then one red. For Slytherin and Gryffindor. YES, I live, breathe and literally eat fandom, what of it?
3. What kinds of books do you read?
Romance. Fantasy/romance. Sci-fi/romance.
I’m a hopeless romantic, what can I say?
4. What are you reading right now?
Maria V Snyder- Magic Study.
Which is mainly fantasy! With only a smidgen of romance! My one serious book, haha! I feel so intelligent...
5. If you could be anywhere right now, where would it be?
Next to you, bb.
6. Tell me something interesting that happened today.
LJ worked perfectly! It didn't screw up at all!
7. Name one odd item within three feet of you.
Er...oh, my Coffee-Mate? Hazlenut flavored milk designed to enhance your coffee-drinking experience. :D
8. What's your current fandom obsession/addiction?
Harry Potter!verse. Because Snape and Hermione are epic win.
9. What did you really want to do today that you didn't?
Get a better picture with Katherine. She looks gorgeous, I look chubby and gross.
10. What are you most excited for?
Fangirling.
11. What websites do you always visit when you go online?
Yahoo email, livejournal, rewardscash.com.au, fanfiction.net…among many, many others.
12. What was the last thing you bought?
DVDs! Don't ask me why I bought Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium, it was an impulse buy...*facepalm*
13.What do you want right now, off the top of your head?
To never feel depressed and worthless again.
[Yeah, that’s gonna happen]
14. What's your biggest procrastination method?
To quote my dear odakota_rose-
“The internet. Doesn't really matter what, though LJ is a big portion of it.”
15. Are there any bits of childhood you miss?
Not really. Oh, the lack of self-consciousness, not caring what I looked like.
16. Spring, summer, fall, or winter?
Winter.
I like wearing layers, as opposed to showing limbs.
[Unless my chest counts. Mother and Ma have been making fun of me showing off the cleavage these summer holidays, lol]
Also, we have the house heated but not air-conditioned, so I suffer on those suffocatingly humid days, ugh.
17. Say something to/about the person/s who tagged you.
odakota_rose. My beloved Cylon twinny.
She totally gets me and isn’t afraid of the crazy!verse I permanently reside in.
Plus, she has great taste in fandoms… :P Not that I have anything to do with it...[what is the count now? Three, I believe, CM, TLW, Mentalist...?]
---
Vidspam:
Thom Yorke's Hearing Damage is my favorite song of the moment. I've been listening to it on repeat for hours on end this past week. So amazing. *sighs happily* And it's the soundtrack for one of the coolest scenes in New Moon- Victoria pwning the wolves and eluding them on her epic running scene through the woods. It makes running for your life from a pack of werewolves look sexy and glamorous! [Say what you will about the series- here's my movie review- but it has amazing music]
Which brings me to this: The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker
Albino heroine? Odd, I think. Hmm, this has potential.
The fated seventh member of the Guard that’s charged with saving the world from supernatural threats? Nothing out of the ordinary there. There’s always a group of misfits with powers responsible for safeguarding humanity on some epic quest.
Love interest is her Professor- whoa, hold it, WHAT?! Kudos to you, book, you have my undivided attention. I want to read this just so I can figure out how it got by the censors. I didn’t think YA novels promoting student/teacher relationships had a chance in hell. [Official book trailer]
My curiosity piqued, I hunted down an excerpt from the book- and nearly died from fandom flail…
---
A door burst open, and the assembled company, ghosts included, started. Out from an office at the front of the room strode a tall figure in black, and the ensuing silence was deafening.
The newcomer turned to face his students. Percy’s breath caught. Here stood the most striking man she had ever seen. Lustrous dark hair hung loosely to broad shoulders. A few locks turned out in an unkempt manner contrary to the rest of his appearance, while a few strands clung to his noble, chiseled features-a long nose, high cheekbones, defined lips like a Grecian sculpture and impossibly dark eyes. He was dressed in a long professorial robe that hung open over a smartly buttoned velvet vest, and a crimson cravat at the throat was the only colour this distinguished figure sported.
…
He wrote a name upon the board in scrawling script. His voice took hold of his audience, a richly resonant, unparalleled baritone. "I am Professor Rychman. Welcome to my class.” He swept the room with his eyes, coolly evaluating his new students. When his gaze found Percy, it lingered. Caught in that stare, she shrank into her chair.
…
Class began. Professor Rychman was ruthless with his subject matter, and he flew through what he considered background material and began scribbling unending sequences of letters and symbols in all manner of baffling arrangements. Percy attempted to take notes but was soon lost. Hypnotized by the stern yet melodic sound of his voice, she found herself swept away by the cadence of his speech. Every movement and sentence held impossible confidence. His eyes managed to stare down every student over the course of the lecture, and even when his back was turned, his presence gripped the room.
--
IT’S SNAPE. COME ON, TELL ME I’M NOT IMAGINING THIS.
I know that when I’m in the thrall of a fandom, anything and everything in my life relates back to it in some way. I’ll seize on the most tenuous connection just for the fandom related squee.
Like this old teacher of mine who had hair the exact style and shade as Scully’s. ‘Out of a bottle’, Jacob noted unkindly. [The teacher, as well as Scully] But who cares what’s needed to maintain the illusion? I stared at the back of her head for an hour on the bus trip, anyway. [Because I’m scary like that]
Like when this quiz show host asked ‘What’s heavier, a raptor or the two Veronicas combined?’ [The latter being the Australian pop duo, FYI] I immediately shrieked, ‘Raptors! Veronica! It’s The Lost World!’ Clearly, that is just me being a freak.
But people, read the excerpt. A stern ruthless teacher who intimidates students, whose appearance is described as being a tall figure in black robes over a vest, with intense dark eyes, shoulder length black hair and a prominent nose.
It’s like a ‘Snape: Physical Characteristics’ checklist! Except without the Harry!filter to ugly him up, no greasy hair or beaky nose here, oh no, his hair is ‘lustrous’ and his features are ‘noble’, likening him to a ‘Grecian sculpture’.
And his voice! Utterly mesmerizing, it ‘took hold of his audience, a richly resonant, unparalleled baritone’. I love it. Totally like the author was fed up with JKR mistreating the most awesome character ever and decided to appropriate him for her own story, lmao, after being suitably romanticized.
Also? His name’s Professor Rychman. As in, Alan Rickman? The author’s not even attempting to be subtle here!
---
Legend of the Seeker.
This is highly irreverent. My love for the show has been revitalized and I'm fangirling it hardcore once more.
But I must ask this: so, the main impediment to Richard and Kahlan enjoying some well-deserved sexytiems is the fact that if she experiences the delights of orgasmic bliss, she will lose control of her powers and confess Richard, y/y?
So, technically, if the sex is bad, [blasphemy!] and she doesn't 'burn with an incandescent glory'...get swept away in the 'waves of tactile pleasure'...caught in the 'glorious, rippling cascade of sublime release' [don't mind me, I'm just quoting from romance novels]- then she won't lose control and won't confess him? Right? Is my logic undeniable?
Thus, Richard can still father the new line of Confessors, etc. etc. Just it wouldn't be much fun in the baby-making process as everyone would assume. Where's IVF when you need it?
-
LOTS: 2 x 01- Marked
Bath sequence of hedonistic win.
This is an auspicious beginning to her time as a lead character, I must say. :D
I could watch her enjoying the back massage courtesy of two gorgeous ladies all day.
[Who do I have to kill to get such service?]
Silly Triana does not agree.
T: We’re wasting time, Cara.
You're wasting prime ogling time, Triana! This could fuel a million fantasies, hush now!
C: You’re disturbing my bath.
The regal disdain in her voice amuses me.
T: While you’re washing your hair, D’hara is going to pieces. We should go to the People’s Palace now.
C: And do what when we get there?
C: Loot the wine cellar?
I love the flirty way she nudges that wench. 'Let's all get drunk 'coz I'm all out of ideas!'
Wench is all, 'I only had to scrub your back every day for the past five years before you finally took me out on a real date'.
T: We swear our allegiance to Lord Rahl.
C: Lord Rahl is dead.
T: If he were the last of his bloodline, then our agiels would have lost their power.
Then she SHOCKS THEM THROUGH THE WATER.
[Let me point out how Cara doesn't even flinch at the pain. Those bath wenches are pansies. Then again, I'm guessing they report higher job satisfaction rates than the Mord'Sith. Sign me up!]
Ohhh, Cara's gonna cut a bitch.
C: If and when the new Lord Rahl should claim his throne, we’ll decide if he’s worthy of us. Until then, who better to bring order to the territories than the Mord’Sith? I’ve called for a meeting of the [fantasy concept] at the [fantasy location]. We leave today.
T: When did you become Queen? I must’ve missed the coronation.
Puh-leeze. I like Charisma Carpenter. In theory. But her whiny voice and high school comeback irritates the hell out of me.
If Triana had ever watched tv, she'd know that nothing good ever follows a naked woman emerging from water [in sci-fi and fantasy, anyhow, I can't speak to other forms of entertainment].
She is foolishly over-confident. Moron. Stands there with that superior smirk, waiting for Cara's comeback...
OMG. I cannot describe to you the awesome of this smackdown. Cara doesn't even bother with a cutting verbal retort, she just tosses Triana into the pool! And then half-drowns her into submission!
[C: Well? What do you have to say for yourself?
T: I'm sorry, I didn't mean it! Of course your boobs are way more fabulous than mine!]
T: I demand an honorable death. It’s my right as a Mord’Sith.
C: You deserve no honor. You will stay alive and serve me.
[Ohh, Cara. Never leave an adversary alive to forment disharmony in the ranks. *shakes head* Execute all your enemies, it's far safer that way, 'k, sweetie?]
I love the way that Cara flings people away from her. She does it a lot, like she doesn't want them tainting her any longer than absolutely required to discipline them.
C: Does anyone else have a problem?
*cricket cheeps in the dead silence*
All hail Cara, HBIC!
---
Is it just me or was anyone else amused Cara's tone when she went, 'Lord Rahl?!' and then drawled, 'You've certainly come up in the world'. I was giggling so hard and I don't even know why! We rarely see her display emotion, so that moment of surprise and then resignation, like 'Oh, perfect, the cherry on top of a miserable, thrice-damned horrorshow of day, it figures'.
C: Any girls who were taken, my sisters must have taken them after they beat me and left me to die.
K: I’ll get the truth out of her. *reaches*
R: *grabs her arm* You can tell she’s lying?
K: Their training makes the Mord’Sith hard to read. But I’ll find out. *reaches*
R: *halts her again*
Subtext!
I am amused at how much of a cockblock Richard is in this scene. Or whatever the femslash equivalent is. Kahlen's all eager to get her hands on Cara but he just won't give her the satisfaction, lol.
Moral quandry.
In light of the revelations of Broken, I am troubled by Kahlen's attitude here.
Confessing a Mord'Sith causes them unimaginable pain before they die [although I didn't see any of that in the one that Kahlen 'executed'] and Kahlen was just so confession-happy here, she was a loaded gun ready to blow in a heartbeat and take Cara down but for Richard's interference. And this was before we found out about what Cara did to her sister.
She doesn't even want to give her the benefit of a trial as per Broken, Kahlen just wants to wade in there and condemn her to death right away. Am I missing something here or is she just singularly unconcerned with the whole sanctity of life thing that she's supposed to be all about?
R: She’s the one that helped me kill Darken Rahl.
K: Whatever she did, it was to save her own skin. Richard, we can’t trust her.
Kahlen! Stop diminishing your win like this! Cara helped save the world, FFS, give her a break! A thank you! A pat on the back! What's with the intense desire to off her? Sheesh!
Oh, hang on. Fiercely repressed attraction, sublimated into rampant hostility. *nodnod* That's gotta be it. :P
R: I’m not telling you to trust her. I’m telling you to trust me.
Go Richard! I'm loving him a lot more this season! It's like with the new growth of facial hair came a new infusion of maturity!
The way he handled Kahlen was perfect. She may loathe Cara all she likes, but she's following Richard's lead and she has to trust him to make the best decision in the circumstances or else undermine his authority. Well played, boy!
R: You’re going to help us find your sisters.
C: If you help me kill them.
Oh, scaryyyy! Cara's out for blood, big-time. She has officially got her psycho on. *bounces*
Gotta say, I am so relieved that she wasn't wrestling with any vestige of loyalty to them. I thought the brainwashing may have made her bound to their cause even after they beat her bloody [and how much does this remind you of Xena's similar ignominious fate at the hands of her army when they deposed her in the Gauntlet?] but thankfully, once they kicked her out [literally *winces*], she goes all Kill Bill on their asses.
---
C: If they went that way, they took the girls to the Drowning Cave.
K: Drowning Cave?
C: During the rains, the river floods it. Uncooperative trainees are left there just before a storm.
K: Charming.
*snicker* She's reining in the obvious hatred now in favor of fake sweetness. Trying to impress Richard with how well you play nice?
[cut for exposition!dump]
K: Maybe this was their plan all along- lure you into an ambush because they knew you would do anything to save the children.
C: Yes, the Seeker’s kind-heartedness is legendary.
LOL. Nothing she said there was precisely insulting, but her inflection! Her taunting expression! PRICELESS.
It’s like she enjoys winding up Kahlan.
I love it, how Cara mocks her by picking on Richard. He couldn't care less but Kahlen gets all worked up and frenzied about the slightest insult to him issuing from her lips. *g* Cara has her all figured out and is playing her superbly here, lol.
---
Tunnel of Inept Intimidation Tactics.
C: Give me your hand.
Kahlen doesn't trust her. Either that or she doesn't like not being in control.
['coz it's one thing for her to grab Cara, another for Cara to grab her]
I love how Cara's so strong, she hefts up Kahlen with no discomfort, no expression of effort.
Gratuitous hair!shot.
Also, Kahlen seizes hold of Cara. [Boy, she really can't keep her hands off that woman, can she?]
Cara really does not appreciate being touched.
K: I don’t know exactly what you did to make Richard trust you.
K: But if this is some sort of trick, I will kill you.
Jesus Christ. Kahlen. The woman is leading you to save some innocent little chickies and you want to waste time by throwing down and making threats? You thought this was the most appropriate use of your time? I thought that was singularly male flaw- idiotic male posturing rankles me so- but thanks for balancing the gender playing field, well done.
Cara has this feral look in her eye that I recognize from when the vicious family cat is about to attack someone. Aiming to draw blood and leave scars. *flinches* [Also- HELLO, LIPS. The very definition of plump and pillowy...]
But she restrains herself- I really admire her for holding back on the ass-kicking I know she was dying to give. This is what we call 'thinking of the greater good instead of indulging petty grievances and establishing hierarchy'.
This was ill-thought-out on so many levels. Just a few:
a) Wow, guess she doesn't trust Richard as much as we thought.
b) Cara's a MORD'SITH, honey, these childish intimidation tactics aren't going to work on her!
c) Innocent lives are on the line while she plays at being bad-ass. *eyeroll* Cara's been co-operative so far and she wants to risk alienating her like this? If I were her, I'd throw up my hands and be all, 'Fine, you don't trust me? If that's the way it is, I'm outta here, I don't have to put up with your crap'.
LOL. That dismissive once-over is hilarious. Cara wordlessly sizes her up and then turns her back and walks away- her body language insults Kahlen, by showing her that Cara isn't concerned by her at all, while she moves on.
This is the awesome thing about Cara. She doesn't waste her breath on empty threats- she is a living breathing threat just by existing as her own her bad self. She doesn't care about extracting any humiliation from Kahlen, it isn't necessary to knock her down a few pegs in order to restore her self-esteem because Kahlen's opinion is insignificant. She's too confident and self-possessed for her feathers to be ruffled by this incident.
Instead, she just gets on with the job. I love it.
*considers the alternate universe where she didn't make an ass of herself*
'Oh, well, at least my hair is prettier and swings in a more aesthetically-pleasing, gravity-defying way than hers.'
---
Of Mind Games and Agiels.
C: Hello, sisters. I brought you a prize.
[Reminiscent of that Twi!vampire going, 'You brought a snack', no? *g*]
[Neither of the Mord'Sith wonder why the 'prize' isn't even attempting to run away from her mortal enemies. I'm new to this concept, so maybe there's Mord'Sith magic that'd hold her paralyzed in position, but otherwise, I'm guessing there's no minimum intelligence requirement to joing up with the leather-clad sisterhood]
C: *dramatic hair toss* The Mother Confessor.
OHHH, BETRAYAL! IT PIERCES MY BREAST WITH PAINFUL CLARITY.
Kahlan’s all, ‘But I just threatened you! Hand on your throat and everything! How dare you?’
Then Cara reveals her true colors and the fight is on.
For the pathetically brief period of time it takes to eliminate the two guards. Seriously, I thought they were an 'elite' fighting force? What gives?
On the other hand, how hot is Kahlen with her two daggers?
Philanthropist!Kahlen flows towards the kiddies.
K: Help me get them out of here.
C: I didn’t come for children.
WOOHOO! She's armed with agiels and ready to party! With a VENGEANCE.
---
Battle of the righteous and morally superior.
Richard eyeballs Triana...
...who suddenly recalls an emergency fitting session for a new line of leather outfits. The honor of the Mord'Sith is at stake, lest anyone dare mock their fashion sense.
She turns just in time to acquaint Cara's palm with her face. A surprisingly girl move from the kick-ass warrior, but I'll let it go this once.
C: This belongs to me. *reclaims agiels*
Cara is so gorgeous when she's caught up in battle lust and killing people. RAWRRR.
This time she doesn't make the mistake of leaving her enemy alive behind her. *cheers*
---
The intensity of the eye!sex between these two could power a city for weeks, no joke.
*sighs with pleasure* Oh, how brilliant this new season is! Adding Cara to the cast has just made my year! *squees*
The conflict between her and Kahlen is exciting; sometimes, Kahlen is so perfect she's almost unreal, and it's good to see that she can be a little judgmental and make mistakes about people.
The maturity Richard demonstrates is long overdue and character growth at its best, plus his faith in her is so heart-warming, I love that he doesn't give up on her.
Best of all, the snide, snarky banter Cara brings is the highlight of every episode and I'm just so, so thrilled!
---
Meme:
30 Day Meme:
Day 02- favorite movie:
Atm? My new loves- I'm hesitating between The Proposal and Star Trek. I watched them both again recently and they're made of so much win. Totally buying them when they're cheaper. [I refuse to pay $20-$30, kthxbai]
Classic favorite? Dogma. SO MUCH LOVE. I've seen it about a million times by now. ['I'm pissed off, is what I am! Do you go around drenching everybody that comes into your room with flame-retardant chemicals? No wonder you're single!' LMAO]
Tagged by odakota_rose.
FIRST: If you've been tagged, you must write your answers in your own LJ and replace any question that you dislike with a new, original question.
SECOND: Tag eight sexy people. Don't refuse to do it like a pansy.
I don’t know who else has done this, feel free to disregard if so:
kat_rowe, labrt2004, luisa_f, mcgarrygirl78, sapph, spence_reid, sunkrux, woodchoc_magnum.
1. Who sleeps in bed next to you?
My imaginary friend. We like to snuggle.
2. What did you last eat?
Do pills count? I had my two Roaccutane this morning.
Otherwise, the water ices last night. I was reading HG/SS fic and I had one green, then one red. For Slytherin and Gryffindor. YES, I live, breathe and literally eat fandom, what of it?
3. What kinds of books do you read?
Romance. Fantasy/romance. Sci-fi/romance.
I’m a hopeless romantic, what can I say?
4. What are you reading right now?
Maria V Snyder- Magic Study.
Which is mainly fantasy! With only a smidgen of romance! My one serious book, haha! I feel so intelligent...
5. If you could be anywhere right now, where would it be?
Next to you, bb.
6. Tell me something interesting that happened today.
LJ worked perfectly! It didn't screw up at all!
7. Name one odd item within three feet of you.
Er...oh, my Coffee-Mate? Hazlenut flavored milk designed to enhance your coffee-drinking experience. :D
8. What's your current fandom obsession/addiction?
Harry Potter!verse. Because Snape and Hermione are epic win.
9. What did you really want to do today that you didn't?
Get a better picture with Katherine. She looks gorgeous, I look chubby and gross.
10. What are you most excited for?
Fangirling.
11. What websites do you always visit when you go online?
Yahoo email, livejournal, rewardscash.com.au, fanfiction.net…among many, many others.
12. What was the last thing you bought?
DVDs! Don't ask me why I bought Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium, it was an impulse buy...*facepalm*
13.What do you want right now, off the top of your head?
To never feel depressed and worthless again.
[Yeah, that’s gonna happen]
14. What's your biggest procrastination method?
To quote my dear odakota_rose-
“The internet. Doesn't really matter what, though LJ is a big portion of it.”
15. Are there any bits of childhood you miss?
Not really. Oh, the lack of self-consciousness, not caring what I looked like.
16. Spring, summer, fall, or winter?
Winter.
I like wearing layers, as opposed to showing limbs.
[Unless my chest counts. Mother and Ma have been making fun of me showing off the cleavage these summer holidays, lol]
Also, we have the house heated but not air-conditioned, so I suffer on those suffocatingly humid days, ugh.
17. Say something to/about the person/s who tagged you.
odakota_rose. My beloved Cylon twinny.
She totally gets me and isn’t afraid of the crazy!verse I permanently reside in.
Plus, she has great taste in fandoms… :P Not that I have anything to do with it...[what is the count now? Three, I believe, CM, TLW, Mentalist...?]
---
Vidspam:
Thom Yorke's Hearing Damage is my favorite song of the moment. I've been listening to it on repeat for hours on end this past week. So amazing. *sighs happily* And it's the soundtrack for one of the coolest scenes in New Moon- Victoria pwning the wolves and eluding them on her epic running scene through the woods. It makes running for your life from a pack of werewolves look sexy and glamorous! [Say what you will about the series- here's my movie review- but it has amazing music]
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