Happy Brienne Week y'all !!! Here is my participation to the festivities.
Having scarcely drawn the chivalrous lady, I took liberties in my design. Some elements are straight out of my own imaginary, some are derived from the series, and some are sourced from fanart. @swordmaid 's has been a personal favourite and a great inspiration to root my rendition of the Lady Knight.
This illustration was made for the first day of Brienne Week [Day one - No Chance, No Choice - Duty, Chivalry, Honour | Protector, Heroism]
Shout out to @brienneweek for organising this grandiose event.
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Long-Distance Love Has A New Stand-In For The In-Between
Anyone who has lived through a long-distance relationship knows the problem is rarely the big moments. It is the in-between hours that wear you down, the stretches between calls when there is simply no one to narrate your day to. That gap is exactly where AI companion platforms have quietly found their footing, and where SweetDream has built something worth noticing.
On sweetdream.ai, the appeal is less about novelty and more about presence. You design a companion whose personality and voice feel right to you, then talk to them the way you would talk to anyone you miss. The conversations are emotionally intelligent and remember context, so the relationship has a thread running through it. There are voice messages for the morning, real-time phone calls that sound genuinely human for the lonelier nights, and AI-generated photos and even video that give the companion a face you recognize.
It is worth saying plainly: this is not a replacement for the person you are waiting to see again. But as a way to soften the distance, an AI girlfriend that actually keeps up with your life is a meaningful thing. And the privacy is total, which, for anyone navigating a relationship across time zones, matters more than most companies admit.
I can't believe I Robot You Jane is one of the lowest rated episodes of Buffy, it's such a fun time! We got the introduction of Jenny Calendar and all her fun interactions with Giles. Moloch is a fun one-off antagonist with a cool design, especially in metal form. Some pure 90's cheese, "I'm jacked in." A Willow centric episode! And Buffy and Xander working themselves into a protective frenzy because they care so much about Willow!! It's just a really solid Monster of the Week episode, perfect S1 vibes.
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the other thing that we're missing from the loss of the 22 episode season is a tech-based monster of the week episode the teaches us the dangers of computers (The X-Files' "Ghost in the Machine"; Buffy the Vampire Slayer's "I Robot, You Jane"). like i don't think we'd be having all this trouble with a.i. if people remembered Moloch the Corruptor.
i saw this post on reddit the other day that said jaime's arc in feast is about him becoming tywin and that's not even worth engaging with for just epically stupid levels of ignoring what's in the text but it got me thinking about how much of feast is jaime mining the carcass of tywin's existence for anything of value
jaime's an accidental and reluctant philosopher but there's this overt hand of george element to watching jaime pick through ilyn payne's rooms looking at the absolute wreck that devoted service to tywin made of ilyn's life and you have jaime there dragging ilyn out of his cave into the sunlight to try to give him a chance at living the sort of worthwhile life jaime imagines he once intended to live
there's nothing subtle in the way this relates to jaime's view of his own life.
then jaime's wandering through the crownlands and riverlands looking at the absolute decimation tywin left in his wake with no delusions about tywin's responsibility for it (or his own tbh) which makes it almost magical when jaime reaches down tywin's gullet into the guts of his dad's advice and legacy and looks at the gore he pulls out, weighing and evaluating what's worth using and what isn't. and then he's like well i can use this song as a weapon, i can use words as a weapon, i can weaponize the horror of tywin in a way that spares people the actual physical harm of tywin's favorite methods as much as i possibly can
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Itās not rose, itās not stood up, itās not got up, itās not pushed himself to his feet.
Scrambled.
Itās haste, itās a loss of composure. Immediate movement. Instinct, really.
Throughout the first part his chapters of AFFC, Jaime cannot think about Brienne without reaching for some protective layer of mockery. Everytime he wonders where she is, or remembers her, or hopes sheās alive and well, he cushions those thoughts with insults. Stubborn, ugly, a face that could curdle milk. Wench. The longing for her is there, but so the reflexive need to disguise it from himself.
Then two very specific things happen, shortly from one another:
1) Ronnet Connington. Learning from her ex that she was once engaged, hearing him sneer and mock her. Ronnet laughed. Jaime did not. Golden slap as we all know it. Sending the guy away because he canāt stand the sight of him. After this, something changes in Jaimeās head. The insults disappear. The wench disappears. She becomes Brienne now.
2) He remembers the bath they shared in Harrenhall. Itās a very specific scenario. Heās kind of aroused by Pia hitting on him, and his mind recalls this other time where he was also aroused, when he saw Brienne naked and he had a boner. And he thinks that now, with Pia, he no longer has an excuse like he did before. Which is an astonishing thought when you stop to look at it, because no longer has an excuse for what? The implication is obvious. Deep very very deep down he knows he has been making excuses. Itās interesting because he doesnāt feel the need to excuse his attraction to Pia or to Hildy later on. But he felt the need to do that with Brienne.
And after these two very specific scenes, thereās almost a silence where Brienne is concerned. Itās as if Jaime is deliberately avoiding thinking about her.
And I wonder if itās because heās running out of ways of explaining things away. Running out of excuses. He canāt hide behind the insults anymore, behind the disrespect, behind the jokes. He lost the taste for it after Ronnet, he doesnāt want to be Ronnet for Brienne. So silence is the next best defense. Which is Jaimeās preferred method for dealing with anything that genuinely moves or unsettles him and that heās not ready to confront yet. Avoidance. Ignore it.
And then in his last and only chapter in ADWD, thereās that little thought:
Brienne, where are you?
It almost feels accidental, like something that slipped out before he could stop it.
A few pages later, a guard tells him a woman is demanding words with him.
A moment later, Brienne walks into the tent. For one brief second, before the defenses come up, we see exactly what Brienne causes him when he doesnāt have a moment to compose himself.
in light of the season, i thought i'd share some christmas/holiday/winter themed fics! a healthy mix of asoiaf & got fics (its christmas, after all), just check the fandom tag.
enjoy! as always send love to the authors of these fics!
ASOIAF
Merry & Bright by winterkill (T, 5k, 1/1)
Brienne wasnāt present for the conversation between her father and Galladon, but sheās pretty sure she can imagine it. Galladon probably said something like, āDonāt get too excited, Dad, but Brienne mentioned bringing a friend for Sevenmas.ā
Galladon has never been one for details, and her father absolutely hears whatever he likes best.
The horror of Brienneās mistake dawns on her the moment her father greets Jaime and her at the front door. He looks so, so pleased when he says, āI got your room all ready for both of you!ā
Christmas Wrapping by cardinalgirl75 (T, 13k, 5/5)
After a busy year, all Brienne wants is to spend Christmas Day by herself with her favorite cookies, hot chocolate, her favorite holiday movies...
...and her memories of the guy she's been chasing all year.
What happiness befalls me by sdwolfpup (T, 13k, 1/1)
In search of a tree three weeks before Christmas, Jaime ends up at Tarth Trees. It won't be weird if he keeps coming back to see the tall, blond, muscular woman who helps him, right?
have I been good enough to ask for your love? by theworldunseen (T, 5k, 1/1)
Brienne needs to get out of her apartment. She tries a brand new coffee shop.
Game of Thrones
Take Me Home For Christmas by sdwolfpup (T, 40k, 5/5)
Brienne Tarth is in love with her best friend and roommate, Jaime Lannister. Not that she's ever going to tell him that, because she doesn't want to ruin a good thing. But when she takes him home to Tarth with her for Christmas, her father's relentless cheer, some unexpected visitors, and a little Christmas magic might change her mind--if she doesn't mess everything up between them first.
Since We've No Place To Go by virginfiber (T, 37k, 13/13)
After Brienne Tarth drunkenly hooked up with one of her detestable coworkers, she didnāt think things could get any more awkward.
That is, until they got snowed in together.
Last Christmas (i gave you my heart) by SeeThemFlying (E, 21k, 1/1)
Last Christmas, Jaime and Brienne had sex.
This Christmas, they are still working out what to do about it.
Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, and Kind by EllisJay (T, 11k, 1/1)
Jaime is in love with his best friend, Brienne, and has plans to tell herā¦.one day. Eventually. Definitely in the next year for sure. He's nearly 100% sure of that, or maybe 80% sure. A spur-of-the-moment Christmas gift bumps up his timeline considerably.
Merry Christmas, I'm Yours by theworldunseen
Single dad Jaime Lannister loves three things the most: his daughter Myrcella, coffee, and his best friend Brienne Tarth. Also Pop Tarts. So, four things. Now that curmudgeonly diner owner Brienne is single, will he make a move this Christmas season?
A gender-flipped Gilmore Girls AU with little plot, lots of fluff, and bonus smut at the end!
Shopgirl by CaptainTarthister (E, 74k, 19/19)
Finding herself often tired and cranky from working multiple jobs to put herself through school, the last thing Brienne needs is repeated encounters with the very annoying, very entitled, and unbelievably handsome half a god, half a dick Jaime Lannister during the last two weeks of her least favorite season: Christmas.
i would be happy just to hold the hands i love on this winter night with you by theworldunseen (T, 7.8k, 1/1)
Since Jaime took over his grandfather's restaurant ā and hired Brienne Tarth ā things have been good. Chaotic, sure, but good. But this holiday season, everything might change.
Brienne and the Christmas Calendar by angel_deux (T, 11k, 1/1)
Brienne writes scripts for a television network that exclusively produces shitty romance movies. That's not the ONLY reason she hates the Christmas season, but it's a pretty big part of it. Her roommate and best friend Jaime, on the other hand, is filled to the brim with holiday cheer.
Or: Jaime does the whole Christmas Advent Calendar thing, and Brienne is oblivious.
A Christmas Competition by sdwolfpup (T, 10k, 1/1)
Jaime Lannister could win the decorating contest for all she cared. She was just trying to spread good cheer.
And if it made people consider her in the competition, well. There was no harm in that, was there?
With a Star in My Hand by catherineflowers (E, 5.9k, 1/1)
It's Christmas Eve in London and Jaime and Brienne have a lovely family Christmas planned with Tommen.
Pre-Christmas by WackyGoofball (T, 29k, 1/1)
Jaime is out with Bronn and Tyrion to celebrate the annual pre-Christmas, though he is anything but in a festive mood.
Ever since a certain incident at his favorite gym's Christmas party involving a poorly chosen gift, Jaime is at odds with his best friend Brienne.
Though he may have to come up with a solution fast when an angelic entourage enters the bar.
The Ghosts of Christmas Eve by WackyGoofball (T, 59k, 7/7)
Tyrion Lannister wants nothing more but his older brother back. Inviting him over for Christmas dinner is his one hope to help his brother break out of his shell into which he withdrew after the horrible accident at Jaime's factory some years ago.
Brienne of Tarth wants to come to terms with the aftermath of the accident, while also trying to mend the damage between her and her employer Jaime. She is driven by her wish to get to the bottom of the accident that cost them both so much.
Jaime Lannister is trying to keep himself together, but thereby just keeps pushing those away who care about him most. Driven by guilt, regret, and an ongoing anger over how his life always seems to take a turn for bad, Jaime has long since given up on the happiness others associate with Christmas season, wanting to be by himself, if only to keep his loved one's out of harm's, or rather his, way.
Alone at home, Jaime is visited by ghosts from past, present, and future, teaching him some many lessons, some of which prove to be rather painful, but Jaime has to realize rather sooner or later that much more is at stake than Christmas itself.
In fact, he may, yet again, come just too late...
Where sunrise finds us by sdwolfpup (T, 8.8k, 1/1)
Jaime is trying to make it to Casterly Rock for Sevenmas when a storm shuts down every flight out. He's got one night to drive there, and there's only one car left in the rental lot - which a grad student from years past, Brienne Tarth, has already reserved. Eighteen hours together in a car with their history and his feelings, it's sure to be a chill and uneventful trip.
While Renly was sleeping by mawryth (M, 47k, 13/13)
It's Christmas in London and Brienne is facing another festive season alone. However, things take a turn to the unexpected when Brienne saves her dream man's life when he gets pushed onto the tube tracks. The man survives, but he's fallen into a coma, and there's another problem - his family think she's his fiancee...
How will Brienne get out of this mess, and what will she do when Renly's brother-in-law Jaime starts to ask some awkward questions?
This is a fanfic based heavily on the film 'While you were sleeping' starring Sandra Bullock. I started writing this at Christmas (obvs), but life and work became frantic so it has taken me all this while to put it together. I've written the whole thing and I'm halfway through editing it, so expect regular updates. I hope you enjoy my second foray into fanfic writing - it's been a lot of fun!
As always, I own none of the characters or material within this story and will not profit in any way.
I Light A Candle To Our Love by theworldunseen (M, 7.4k, 1/1)
Jaime is in love with his best friend Brienne, and he thinks she might feel the same way, but something is holding her back.
That something? Her dad is Santa Claus.
Blurred by AlicienneOfTarth (E, 12k, 1/1)
She turned toward him and he felt the force of her eyes on him, compelling him to look up. He did, no real choice there, and for a moment he forgot what he wanted to tell her. Fuck those eyes, he had been obsessed with them the moment she had entered in his classroom, wearing one of her stupid Polka dot sweater, standing like a proud warrior and blushing ridiculously at the same time, an incoherent, lethal mix that he couldnāt even explain. Every time he closed his eyes, lately, all he could see was that blue and he fell asleep trying to find the right nuance in the colour spectrum.
He cleared his throat. āYou forgot your assignment.ā
Tell Her (you've got nothing to lose) by akindofmerrywar (T, 9.6k, 1/1)
āNo, itās not that, Iā¦ā he looked up at her broad smile - too sincere to be a faked customer service simper. And then it all spilled out in a rush. āI bought the last ticket on this flight to go and tell my friend Iām in love with her. On Christmas Eve.ā
Jaime's in love with Brienne. And at Christmas, you're supposed to tell people you love them - right? Even if it means abandoning your terrible family on Christmas Eve, booking the last seat on a flight to Tarth and spending several hours driving around the city looking for them. He can only hope that Brienne loves him back.
A Lousy Christmas and a Crappy New Year by HildegardtheB (M, 27k, 5/5)
For Jaime Lannister, Christmas is the worst -- the absolute worst. Until one truly terrible Christmas Eve when it isnāt anymore.
you'd better not pout by slipsthrufingers (T, 8k, 1/1)
Office Christmas means one thing and one thing only: Secret Santa. Five times Brienne Tarth was disappointed by the office Secret Santa and one time she wasn't.
here is a collection by sdwolfpup of all of their holiday stories! (some listed here, some not.)
The Jaime/Brienne Holiday Collection by sdwolfpup (10 works)
A collection of JB stories all centered explicitly around holidays, primarily Christmas and Sevenmas.
and finally, here is a collection of fics (not curated by me) that are winter / sevenmas themed as well. tysm to huntingviolets for collecting these!!!
** not all of these are braime, but there are quite a few on this list, so check it out!
Sevenmas & Other Winter Holidays collection by huntingviolets (closed, moderated)
Fics featuring Thanksgiving, Sevenmas, Winter Festival/Winterfest, Yule, the Long Night, Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Yearās in A Song of Ice and Fire/Game of Thrones universes.
I think part of the reason why we feel so sad is that we're too far away from raw, numinous experiences. Like you know that post with a picture of the unpolluted night sky where people are reacting in terrified awe not realizing that's what the stars really look like?
I think it's like. You need vivid experiences that can't be easily repeated. You need elemental things. I don't mean this in a crunchy hippie just-try-yoga way I mean this in a way that's like...we're inside all the time and most things we experience are scheduled ahead of time. When there are sidewalks, we follow them, and there's always some boring place to go. You need things that no one has any control over and that no one can sell for money.
You need to be outside in a storm and see lightning strike very close to you. You need to meet a wild creature and have to stand very still and almost not even breathe and watch before it vanishes. You need to be alone somewhere very big. You need to go to a place because it looks interesting and be at the wrong place at the wrong time. You need to climb over a fence instead of going in by the gate. You need to hear the exploding sound of a huge flock of birds flying. You need to watch live theater performed by kids on a low budget. You need to be lost somewhere. You need to be barefoot somewhere. You need to sing with other people who are singing. You need to get soaking wet with all of your clothes on and come inside shivering.
You need to stand next to a very tall very old tree and feel small, you need to see a new born baby bird and feel very big. You need spend the night in a field or around a bonfire with friends in the middle of nowhere. Fall in a creek, take a random trail on the woods. Be young and dumb in nature, no matter how old you are.
I feel so insane about ai. I've had face-to-face conversations with people who use it for therapy, who use it to calculate the safety of pill interactions, who use it for all their emails and grant applications and legal documents and academic papers and finance sheets and for every single question they have about the world, and if you tell them about the ecological costs they just laugh and say "I guess I've used a lot of water." and I've been in multiple gatherings of 10+ people where I'm THE ONLY PERSON who doesn't use chatgpt. it's turning me into a ranting raving pariah, because how don't you people see??? why don't you understand??????? this bullshit didn't exist five years ago, you absolutely do not need it, and it is destroying everything
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The greatest trick GRRM ever pulled was using a single act in the beginning of book one to convince the reader that Jaime Lannister, the biggest procrastinator this side of Rhaegar Targaryen, is impulsive.Ā
Even defenestrating Bran isnāt truly impulsive. A quick decision, sure, but an impulsive act is one that is performed in a moment when it couldāve been delayed until further consideration could be given. So, a bad choice? Sure. But it isnāt like he couldāve put off killing the kid until later on.Ā
Same with everything else he does. Going back for Brienne? A considered choice performed within the available time limit. Leaping into the bear pit? Same.Ā
This is a man who spent fifteen years knowing Robert was abusive, yet did nothing to stop him. True, Cersei asked him not toā¦but wouldnāt an impulsive man have done it anyway? Sometime over those fifteen years? A man who even as a teenage boy waited well over a year, until the last second, to kill Aerysā¦and even changed clothes to do it. A man who waited until the last possible second to bust Tyrion out. A man who hangs around Kingās Landing pretty much watching the Kettleblacks humping Cerseiās leg and does nothing. Who finally gets Lancel, theĀ āother man,ā alone, and instead of attacking him listens and counsels and tries to get him to eat something and encourages him to get out there and live his life.Ā
Now Cersei? She is impulsive. Falyse and Mr Falyse, go kill Bronn for me. Oh no, Qyburn, hereās Falyse for your vivisection needs. Oh hey Qyburn send Falyse back I have use for her. This pattern - decisions made in the moment based upon whims that she forgets she even made at all and then when the whim turns out to have been a massive fuckup she covers up with even more impulsive bad moves - repeats for her. But Jaime is not this way. ThisĀ is yet another of the million ways Jaime and Cersei - who are truly nothing alike - differ.Ā
The only truly impulsive act I can remember seeing from Jaime Lannister? That one time he busted Red Ronnet Connington upside the head for trash talking Brienne. The Golden Bitchslap was performed without thought or planning and did not have to happen.
But other than that? Nah. This man is not impulsive. And to be fair, though he waits until the last second, unlike Rhaegar, he does know when the last second is.Ā
