PARADOX

“While I am enjoying this exchange of pleasantries,“ Gabriel said, seeing that Henry was about to respond, "there do remain a few - central - questions about this invention.” Henry looked at him blankly. “Such as what?” “I believe, Henry, that he is inquiring whether this…doorway-” Charlotte began. “We’ve called it a Portal,” said Henry. The capitalization of the word was very clear in his tone. “Whether it works,” Charlotte finished. “Have you tried it?” Henry looked stricken. “Well, no. There hasn’t been time. But I assure you, our calculations are faultless.” Everyone but Henry and Magnus looked at the Portal with refreshed alarm. “Henry…,” Charlotte began. “Well, I think Henry and Magnus should go first,” Gabriel said. “They invented the blasted thing.” Everyone turned on him. “It’s like he’s replaced Will,” said Ggideon, eyebrows up. “They say all the same sort of things.”

— Gabriel Lightwood, Henry Branwell, Charlotte Fairchild and Gideon Lightwood (Clockwork Princess)

Julian and Tavvy

one good thing about december on this hellsite is that this gif will be making its rounds again

everyone in Camelot being in love with Gwen

bonus:

You know, one of the tragedies of real life is that there is no background music.

— Annie Proulx

The sword in the stone episode is practically the essence of the whole show. It is Arthur and Merlin, both, that stand before all the people, but everyone's eyes are on Arthur, as usual. Merlin used his magic under their very noses and not a soul noticed his eyes glow gold. The scene where Arthur pulls out the sword? If that isn't a symbol of Arthur and Merlin's entire time together, then I don't know what is. Arthur is fully aware of his strengths as a warrior, but doubts his kingly qualities, and even though his love interest Gwen is there, he needs Merlin to reassure him. Merlin tells him of the legend of the sword and takes him to the sword. Mind you, he is fully aware it is by magic that the sword is stuck in the stone, and that it is stuck fast, but also that using magic he could easily get Arthur to pull it out with his thumb alone. Nonetheless, Merlin stands back and first lets Arthur try.  He lets him try anyway. Despite.  Because he knows it is impossible for someone to pull it out without magic, and yet he is so sure Arthur is the greatest king to ever exist that he momentarily forgets that a major part of the legend is his own brainchild.   But Arthur cannot, and yet he does not fail. Because he's got a Merlin. When Arthur is struck with panic and dread when he realizes for a moment how impossible the idea is, Merlin is there, as always, telling him what he needs to hear, a part of his heart and brain in a whole different person. Merlin tells him, "Have faith." This may or may not be the first time he's said it out loud, but the idea was always there. Merlin has no great warrior-like skills that Arthur knows of, and yet he is dragged along on every great and perilous journey and quest, because he has faith in himself when Merlin is around. And they always somehow get back home with two hands, two feet, and their own teeth. He has faith in Merlin. And the most important part, Arthur does manage to pull the sword out. He knew it was impossible, and he knew he did it. He knew it was magic, but he doesn't complain, because it would be foolish to refuse magic, because one, it was then that they needed it the most, and two, because magic has always been at the heart of Camelot.

To the one person who still didn't understand,

AN A MINUS IS NOT A BAD GRADE. AND WE ARE ALL AWARE OF THAT.

The kids who are talking about their problems here are LITERALLY gifted or topper kids.

The problem is with expectations. They're not saying that the A minus itself shattered them. They're saying the weight of all the standards and expectations are heavy as is, and that A minus breaks their back.

Teachers expect from us to push ourselves us to do our best. Our parents support us and send us to school to study and do our best. Our classmates and friends help us when in doubt. That's the supposed norm.

But there are people out there who have more expectations hanging off of them. Whose teachers expect them to understand more than they teach, whose parents do not seem to understand how a kid who scored well in 1st grade isnt doing so well in 10th grade, whose classmates congratulate themselves when they do better than them.

Now is it clearer?

There Is One In Each Classroom

😅😂 Yeah, I suck at this