dragonhazel

[dragonhazel]

Interesting what people are taking away from S3, particularly the discourse around how Pen wasn’t properly romanced or courted “because she’s a mid-sized lead.”

Babes. My love. Sweetheart.

Daphne was fake courted for weeks and then compromised and then denied a proposal.

Kate was all tension, turmoil and heartbreak and then compromised further.

Pen got:

- two stags locking horns over her affections,

- chased down in a carriage,

- a man on his knees for her begging her to see him as a prospect,

- the best (imo) “I have feelings for you and have no idea if you feel the same but I just need you to know it” speech since 2005 P&P,

- a very sexy and consensual, if compromising, romp in a carriage,

- FULL AND IMMEDIATE COMMITMENT WITH ZERO BULLSHIT because this man could not live one more second without her being his,

- defended to her mother,

- paraded around the ton and in front of her worst enemy’s face,

- the most utterly reverent sex scene in the history of the show,

- an engagement ring that matched his mother’s because of the parallel friends to lovers love story,

- and him constantly worried out of his mind that he wasn’t good enough for her

✨ AS ✨ SHE ✨ DESERVED ✨

I mean, maybe I’m a little too modern but that beats a promenade and flavored ice dates and calling hours by literal lightyears. That angel girl was thoroughly — damn nearly aggressively — romanced.

Do I still have issues with the screen time, absolutely, but Jesus if Colin wasn’t head over heels whenever he pulled his head out of his ass. (And even, sometimes, when he hadn’t.)

[dragonhazel]

#RIP Penelope Featherington you would’ve loved Regina George

[dragonhazel]

Francesca Bridgerton really info dumped about her special interest to John Stirling and he said, “I can’t think of anything witty to say in response but I can leave abruptly to give her a grand gesture relating to what she just told me.”

And Francesca really said, “I’m so grateful I literally cannot wait to perform this piece. I’m gonna leave abruptly even though both my suitors are in front of me.”

This is the kind of autistic x autistic relationship I dream about.

[dragonhazel]

I'm rushing to get to work, so I can't tag anyone, but here's my last few lines!

Kairi hums in acknowledgement. 

“And you’re so nosy, you wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to snoop.” 

The pain that sears the middle edge of my ear is worth it. 

WIP Game! 🖊️

I was tagged by the wonderful @shrimparmy and @kiljoius! Thank you, friends! 🥰

"Please share your last sentence; or, if you don't have one, share a plot bunny or idea!"

Something I am hoping to have finished for @uminoirukaevents in May!

Tough But Fair - Chapter 2

Iruka turned his glass clockwise and anti-clockwise again and again with only the tips of his fingers without ever actually taking a sip. He should have known it was too easy. Danza Shimura was not a man you could play around with and get away with, even if that wasn’t what he was doing at the time. Maybe he shouldn't have been so openly smug about the loophole he’d thought up that allowed him to be Naruto’s parental shoulder.

Looking at the full glass of alcohol in his hand, he lifted it up to his lips before setting it down again without taking a sip. Pushing it out of the way, he rested his head on his arms in the now-available space.

'An inquiry into his conduct to establish his right to teach,' The letter he received just that afternoon had said. 'Undeniable evidence of mistreatment of students' It said. ‘Unbiased favouritism resulting in ignored students' it said.

Every word had been like a kunai right between the ribs.

Gonna tag! @kakashiswilloffire @dragonhazel @lotusfartstwice @clumsydragon28 @unioncolours @notquitejiraiya (no pressure! ❤️)

[dragonhazel]

Love how Maomao isnt the 'spawned out of the ether' kind of autistic you often see in media. She is very clearly the daughter of two autistic (& otherwise neurodivergent) people. As well as having, at the very least, an autistic grand uncle.

Like thats some real autistic rep right there. Got a family history of autism, accociated trauma and all. I love it.

[dragonhazel]

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*sobs uncontrollably* That’s their baby!!!

[dragonhazel]

Jinshi: You give me butterflies 🖤

MaoMao: Digest them.

Jinshi: I miss you!

MaoMao: You saw me two days ago.

Jinshi: I can't stop thinking about you!

MaoMao: Don't you have a job?

Jinshi: I am in love with you!

MaoMao: no, you are not. *Side eyes* Rethink your choices.

*30 years later*

Jinshi: I will poison you.

MaoMao: *Soulmate AU. 300k words. Slowburn*

[dragonhazel]

Thinking out loud about The Apothecary Diaries #19... and my observation on how many have expressed disdain about Jinshi's muted reaction in rushing to get treatment for Maomao's injury. How could he remain so calm when the one he cares about is unconscious and bleeding? Why was he not running out of the temple with Maomao in his arms, flailing and yelling for a physician? Why was he not more distressed about it? Anyone would have lost it upon seeing their loved ones hurt like that, would they not? And to that, I'd like to offer this for consideration: Jinshi isn't just anyone. He is the Crown Prince. And to add an extra layer of nuance, consider also that Jinshi, attending the purification ceremony as the Crown Prince, meant that all eyes were on him that day.

Even undercover as an eunuch, Jinshi takes great care in conducting himself with the propriety expected of his role, only ever letting his guard down with a select few whom he trusts enough to have his full immaturity on display. In all likelihood, Jinshi has been made aware of his status and the politics of the palace since he was young. It's not a stretch to assume that the allegiances and loyalties of people who serve the palace are constantly in flux. Everywhere we turn, we see politics at play; amongst the court officials, the Emperor's consorts, and even the handmaidens serving their respective mistresses.

In earlier kerfuffles, when it came to protecting Maomao from being bullied by the handmaidens, Jinshi would approach it in a way that his actions would not be seen as favoritism towards Maomao. Jinshi also didn't cry when he was seeing Ah-Duo off, and would only allow himself to be vulnerable when he was alone with Maomao. In every situation where we see him acting in an official capacity, Jinshi is always conscious and careful about how he is being perceived. So it goes without saying that appearing as the crown prince that day, Jinshi knows his every action is being watched and scrutinized by the people around him. Any move that could be potentially perceived as "weakness" or "unbecoming" of a successor to the throne could start rumors that might reach the enemies of the state, who could use that intel to sow discord among the common people or persuade disgruntled officials to turn against the current regime. The fact that the crown prince's life has been targeted only serves to remind him that there are those actively plotting to destabilize the kingdom by causing massive panic and chaos. Jinshi knows the weight of his role and cannot act impulsively in any situation, even if it's about someone he deeply cares about.

When we consider the above, it would be understandable why he showed as much restraint as he did when it came to what had happened to him and to Maomao. He's used to putting the needs of the country above his own all his life. To step out of the temple maintaining the dignity of royalty after an assassination attempt has just been made on him sends a message of defiance to the ones who were most certainly watching somewhere. And while sullying his hands with the blood of a mere servant girl might send some tongues wagging, Jinshi's composure and quiet indignation would cement his position not only as a man befitting of his lineage but also as a man not to be underestimated. Just something to think about. p.s: As much as I think Jinshi is seething with rage, I kind of feel he would still hold back on the death sentence when it comes to meting out punishment to the guard who was only doing his job, let alone when it's about a servant's disobedience towards a ranked official... so maybe Jinshi could still spare his life and throw him to the gallows or something. That won't matter anyway, since Lakan will probably use his connections to see that he will not live long enough to serve out his full sentence RIP get wrecked!

[dragonhazel]

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🎀

[dragonhazel]

Maomao’s opinions on Gaoshun:

Maomao’s opinions on Jinshi:

[dragonhazel]

"How could I not love you?

[dragonhazel]

It’s incredibly important to me that the anime decided to include this scene that wasn’t in the manga. In the manga, Maomao does pass out in Jinshi’s lap after saving him from what was obviously an assassination attempt.

HOWEVER, the manga cuts off at this point, keeping strictly in Maomao’s perspective, and cuts straight to when she regains consciousness in bed after being treated for her injuries. The manga doesn’t show how she got back. They SAY how, and she briefly mentions, “wow that must have been embarrassing; he carried me back,” but we don’t SEE it. We don’t get to feel the true impact of what that means. But the anime DID show us, and holy shit.

They SHOW us how taboo this is. They show Jinshi carrying her out of the temple, after a public attempt on his life.

They show us the shock and horror on Lakan’s face as Jinshi silently walks past him. Horror at the state his daughter is in, horror at another man—a man with a status he could never dare to question—staking such a public claim over his child, horror at the fact that he could never have this level of closeness with her (as Maomao would never allow it).

Everyone hides their gazes, as is their custom when someone of his rank passes by, but the air is different this time. Jinshi is furious, he’s terrified, and he could not give a single shit about how inappropriate it looks to these palace officials.

The shot that slowly follows her trail of blood—even though it’s a small detail—that in particular leaves such a intense impression of how poignant this is for him.

Maomao talked about this scene in the manga like it was nothing to her. She did what she set out to do: she saved the person who was targeted by the attack. She didn’t even know the target would be someone she knew. But she has no idea that this happened afterwards as a result of her bravery. To her, it likely wasn’t even an act of bravery at all. She acted on impulse; she did what she knew was the right thing to do.

The anime didn’t need to include this, because the manga didn’t show it. But damn, I’m so glad they did.

[dragonhazel]

this thought from maomao breaks my heart. to me it implies either she thinks someone like jinshi is so incapable of caring about someone like her to the point of being unable to process the moment or she can't recognize when someone is worried about her. either way it makes me sad

[dragonhazel]

[dragonhazel]

Jealous Jinshi letting Maomao know he's jealous in his own Jinshi way