#❃ ┊ ┊ ─── ┊ ┊ THE MIRROR OF YOUR DREAMS ⤷ S3

[henderscn]

“ i’m not good at caring about people’s shit on purpose. ”

prompts for emotionally stunted idiots | accepting @v1ctimplagued

┊ ┊ ─── ┊ ┊ ❝ i think everyone in this stupid ass town knows that already, billy. you don't exactly try to hide it. ❞

with a roll of her chocolate eyes, olivia turned her back to billy and carried on trying to clean the graffiti off the wall. someone had broken into the community pool when it was closed the night before and decided to tag the side of the building. she hated the morning shift normally but this made it even more unbearable.

❝ are you just gonna stand there thinking you look pretty or are you gonna help me? ❞

[buddie-fic-recs-this-way]

hi!! i loved that buddie au list you posted!!! i was wondering if you had any more?

hi!! oh thanks, i'm glad you enjoyed that list! au's my most beloved lol. the other anons were specifically asking for "normal jobs" outside of firefighting, so i will make up a list of general au's below 😊 (as always, anyone else is welcome to add more!)

—for anyone who want's the other list, you can find it here

wait for me there by kitkatpancakestack @kitkatpancakestack (high school au)

home is just another word for you by bi_buckrights @bi-buckrights (different first meeting/army!eddie)

kink club au series by Princessfbi @princess fbi (different first meeting/bdsm)

bro·ken by kristen999 @thekristen999 (different first meeting/s3 au)

keep me as your finish line by thatbuddie (talktothesky) @thatbuddie (different first meeting/gym bros)

look how they align by allyasavedtheday @littlespoonevan (different first meeting/girl!dad buck)

your dreary mondays by hammersmiths @henwilsons (different first meeting/babysitter buck)

hardest hit from feather's kiss by Princessfbi @princessfbi (different first me meeting/hockey & dance)

life is just the way you hold me by allyasavedtheday @littlespoonevan (different first meeting/professional cuddler)

what's up danger? by Princessfbi @princessfbi (different first meeting/superheroes)

close my eyes and stumble (right into your love) by HMSLusitania @hmslusitania (different first meeting/dispatcher!eddie)

i didn't know i was lonely 'till i saw your face by HMSLusitania @hmslusitania (different first meeting/couples therapy)

i want your midnights by allyasavedtheday @littlespoonevan (different first meeting/roommates)

MukbangsWithBuck by ReallySmartLadyMarieCurie (different first meeting/texting &social media)

i was supposed to sweat you out (i think there's been a glitch) by heartbeatdiaz @lonelychicago (different first meeting/firefighter academy)

stuck now so long, we just got the start wrong by Daffi_990_ao3 @daffi-990 (different first meeting/probie firefighters)

till now i always got by on my own (i never really cared until i met you) by MonsterRae1 @monsterrae1 (different first meeting/mechaninc!eddie, roadtrip)

kiss me before it's over (If only for a minute) by bi_buckrights @bi-buckrights (baseball buddie)

racing with the brakes cut by letmetellyouaboutmyfeels @letmetellyouaboutmyfeels (fast & furious au)

i can be the subject of your dreams by BekkaChaos @bekkachaos (vampire!buck)

red life might stream again by Underhung_Aura @eddiebabygirldiaz (fantasy au)

good knight sweet prince by Spotsandsocks @spotsandsocks (medeival/badass dragon(s))

you and i'll be safe and sound by spaceprincessem @spaceprincessem (hunger games au)

you've set me running free by bigfootsmom @bigfootsmom (werewolf!eddie)

bitumen by ZainClaw @zainclaw (vampire!buck)

objects in the mirror by SevenSoulmates @sevensoulmates (soulmate au)

stitch my soul by r_holland @onward--upward (soulmate au)

what they think we are by mansikka @redlightsandicedtea (bucks jobs before lafd/fake relationship)

to be found by ZainClaw @zainclaw. (werewolf au)

and a lil self promo 🤗

love's a game; wanna play? by browney3dgirl6 (murder!boyfriends)

let me lose myself by browney3dgirl6 (step up au/dancing)

he hits my heart like a homerun by browney3dgirl6 (different first meeting/firefighting academy/baseball)

come back home by browney3dgirl6 (army buddie)

[avariantflaire]

Why Levi and Petra?

Of course, upon general viewing of SNK and its characters, it's clear that they have established Erwin, Levi, and Hange as the leading trio of the Survey Corps. They represent this faction of the military and in interesting ways, mirror the main protagonists of the series.

While there is a lot to be said and appreciated about Levi's relationships with Erwin and Hange, I have come to find that the character who humanizes him is the lovely (albeit forgettable) Petra Ral.

Early in the series, we are introduced to Levi as Humanity's Strongest Soldier. Erwin makes use of his abilities in this sense, and Hange often relies on his strength in combat as well. That is not to say this is the extent of their relationships: we have Levi's iconic "Give up on your dreams and die" scene with Erwin (S3 E16) and the infamous "Maybe we should just live here [away from my responsibilities] together" request from Hange (S4.2 E8). However, something to note with both scenes is that while they give depth to Levi's relationship with both characters, he essentially serves to highlight others. In the former, Levi's response directly challenges Erwin's dream, and allows this commander a defining moment of growth. Similarly in the latter, Levi is used as a means for Hange to express and eventually overcome their fears and insecurities about the deal they've been dealt as the new Commander of the Survey Corps (which at the time was rapidly disbanding under the Jaegerist movement).

In other words, Levi is the "subplot character" to Erwin's and Hange's individual arcs. (According to John Truby, 'The subplot character… provides another opportunity to define the hero through comparison and advance the plot.')

Which begs the question… at what point in the series, if any, is Levi defined as a character in and of himself?

Two prominent scenes from season 1 come to mind, which are namely: 1) The dying soldier scene (S1 E9), and 2) Petra's conversation with Eren in headquarters (S1 E15).

In the first, Levi comforts a dying soldier and vows to carry on their will and exterminate all Titans. When the soldier passes before he can reply to Levi's words, Levi turns to his fellow soldier Petra and asks her if he was heard. Petra provides confirmation, emphasizing the peaceful expression on the soldier's face.

In the second, Petra confronts a gloomy-looking Eren, who has been tasked to clean headquarters along with the rest of the Special Operations Squad (aka the Levi Squad). She specifically points out how Levi is 'not the hero he's expected to be' in the sense that he has a terrible personality, though she does so while smiling almost fondly, as though it doesn't matter what his personality is because they can always put faith in him as their Captain. It seems she wants Eren to understand this - or a notion similar.

It is in both moments that we are able to clearly see Levi beyond being a powerful soldier. Always, he is a threat. When he enters the scene we expect the shift in the dynamic of the battle - we expect him to win. He's a trump card. Erwin's last words to him are an order (S3 E16), and Hange's last words about him is "he's [Armin's] underling now, so really put him to work" (S4.3.1). Levi acknowledges Erwin's and Hange's humanity, bolsters it even, with the conviction of "dedicating your heart". In SNK he is the symbolism, the embodiment, of a soldier. That's all he really ever gets to be. Even his softest moments with - heck, anyone in the series - are meant to deeply reflect on the guilt, the burden, the purpose of getting the job done. ("So… you're telling me… I've spent all this time and energy running around killing people?" (S2 E12) / "Just think, if your hands were still clean... Jean wouldn't be here right now." (S3 E2) / "If we just run away and keep on hiding, what will we have left?" (S4.2 E8))

But for those singular moments in season one, he's more than just the threat. We see him as a human not only with (personality) flaws, but also with dreams and convictions, tied so seamlessly with his comrades' cause that we are reminded painfully, at the end of the series, that it was Levi who carried them all to the end. Throughout the story we see Levi lament fallen soldiers; we are exposed to how much he empathizes with his comrades and their deaths, to the point where it can be said that no one keeps us more aware of the lives that have been lost throughout the show more than Levi himself.

In this manner, Petra was the subplot character to Levi's hero. She gave the audience a (subconscious) glimpse of the Humanity within "Humanity's Strongest" and built the bridge that would lead us to compelling and important revelations about Levi's thoughts and actions as the show progressed. It's Petra whom he finds tending to a dying soldier; Petra whom he asks for confirmation that the soldier heard; Petra who, against all expectation, asks Eren to see past the station, the status, the soldier, to the person himself.

"He's not quite the great, perfect hero society makes him out to be, huh? The real Captain Levi is shorter than you'd expect, temperamental, crude, and unsociable. (…) You thought that because he's skilled, he doesn’t have to follow the rules like everyone else?" (S1 E15)

It's even Petra who, despite her rank, asks Levi to step aside when Eren becomes a half-baked Titan. Here, Levi's robust intuition and split-second decision making skills are shown even away from the battlefield. It's Petra who leads the Special Operations Squad in their apology to Eren (S1E19 "Bite"), who first instills in us (narratively) the notion of trusting your fellow comrades. More specifically, she is who convinces Eren to place his life in their hands. It's this notion that Levi carries with him even until the final arc - "I've saved Eren countless times over - each time, more comrades dying. All because I believed he was the hope of humanity." (S4.1 E13) In the manga (Ch112), it's Petra we see at the forefront of this belief.

"Do you, Eren? Do you find it that hard to trust us?" It's Petra who dies, her words the final say in convincing Eren: "I believe my squad will be victorious." (S1 E21)

"It's like some awful joke," Levi reflects later on, as his comrades' dying hopes and dreams flash by in the canopy of the forest. "What the hell was the hope that we saw? Such bullshit. It's not even funny." (S4.1 E13) "We" here could definitely mean the soldiers who've given their hearts, but the metaphorical representative of this heart is Petra herself... "Eren! Trust us." (S1 E19)

And in the end, it's Petra in the forefront alongside Erwin and Hange, representative of her fellow soldiers, the one (experienced/veteran) Scout we've seen and interacted with in the entire series to have professed the values of hope, of trust, of belief, which is henceforth carried on by Levi himself, his own convictions, his own dreams. They are, in the entire series, the glimpse we get into the Scout Regiment beyond the series' titular character and his comrades in the 104th, and a thorough dive into what makes Levi Humanity's, not simply its strongest.

Her character song, "The Light of Dual Wings", can literally be taken as an allegory of the dreams the Scouts have entrusted to Levi. That's how prominent she is as a Scout; how coded her devotion to Levi is, whether interpreted platonically, romantically, or narratively, as the dedication of hearts.

So, yes, I love them together. I love their scenes, the implications of them narratively, the values Petra professes so effortlessly in the air, washed away by the higher tides of the Female Titan arc. I love that it's still Petra at the forefront, in all of Levi's reflections moving forward, because she is our first glimpse into Levi's character, the real him.

In the end this is just a ship post struggling to keep from delving too much into the symbolism of Levi and the Scouts (how Levi is the face of the Scouts more so than Erwin himself, really), the truest depiction of humanity's collective fight for freedom in this entire series. In his early days, Eren wanted to be a Scout, after all. It is Levi and Petra who push him forward into 'that hell' - for better and worse, respectively.

[yannaryartside]

Carmy doesn’t wanna be with Claire despite his trauma, but because of it

So, I was working in a meta about the roles of Chef David, Claire and Sydney in Carmy’s character arc. But I think there is something that can be a point of its own, let’s see if I can explain myself correctly.

I have read opinions about how once Carmy work things out with Donna (that recent la times interview had Calo mentioning how they mirrored Claire shots after Donna’s shot) and many people came to that conclusion of how Carmy wanting to be with Claire is sabotaged by his trauma.

And that is a valid take and it could be what it is, but I don’t think it makes sense. No if you let abuse be a realistic player in the equation. Let me explain.

Abuse breaks your perception of yourself and the world, and sometimes you are gonna choose a partner based on that perception. Falling in love /having crushes is something that comes from our subconscious and can be deeply conditioned.

Carmy had a mother that ignored/neglected/abused him while constantly comparing him to his brother. Then he got a head chef that humiliated him, got him so scared that was physically sick and mentally damaged. All of this is self hatred fuel. He once thought he was abused because he wasn’t good enough. (This is what you wanted, to be the best) to the point he subconsciously thinks is okay to continue the cycle of abuse as long as he gets the star. (Btw he didn’t wanted it for Syd as a gift, he wanted it to prove her and his former chef that he could succeed on his own terms, the star was his revenge).

Let’s talk Claire. He had this crush in this girl that was nice to everyone, even him with how “defective” he felt. Then miraculously this girl said that even from then she had a crush on him. She is easy and doesn’t have a problem with any of his very serious mental health issues and immaturity. He feels good enough with Claire not because he is bettering himself from an honest place (like with Sydney at times) but because Claire doesn’t ask for even basic human accountability. This is enabling to someone with a healthy mindset. But for Carmy, it is heaven, and in s3 he thinks he lost that.

I think this is the reason we don’t know shit about Claire (her hobbies, the story of her family, dreams or aspirations) because the only thing that matters to the story (Carmy’s story) is the comfort and amusement she provides. Addicts choose different drugs based on what they want (feel happy, forget, adrenaline) and Claire is the perfect drug to each one of Carmy’s core wounds.

She represents the social approval he didn’t have growing up (Michael and his family wanted them together, she is from the cool group of kids he wanted to hang out with, and Claire even acted as vehicle to Carmy feeling part of that hight school experience in the frat party)

Carmy doesn’t have to guess her humor because she puts an effort (I think) on being amenable all the time. She has all easy similes while Donna has faces of disgust and anger)

She has this perpetual need to be around and take care of broken people (her drunk friends, her patients, the stupid Faks) while never criticizing them or asking them to change (it is cool that Michael set things on fire, she hooks the Faks with her friends, she tells carmy to never apologize)

There is an extra dark side to all of this, because this relationship is not only very superficial but very relying on both of them playing the role of the “broken boyfriend” and the “saint girlfriend” but that is a topic for its own meta.

Now, some examples based on personal experience to bring more context to this point. Trigger warnings:descriptions of physical and philosophical abuse.

My mother was engaged once with a man that was physically abusive, then she left him and married my dad, a man that respected her for her brain and never hurt her with his hands, but was manipulative and psychologically abusive. For years she accepted this “lesser” (in her words) type of abuse and described their relationship as “the best she ever had” because that is the broken perspection she has still. If you are hungry, you learn to eat garbage.

When you hate yourself, you may accept anything that tells you nothing is wrong with you, or tells you how “fix” you. That’s how cults get you, that’s how others abusers get you, surgeries, scams, you are a pigeon that will collaborate in being taken advantage of and you will be thankful for it. This is not victim blaming, abusers know the characteristics of a person that is not gonna fight back, the one that keeps believing they deserve the abuse. That’s why is so difficult to break of this cycles. The show decided to use the toxicity of the industry to show how an abusive person (Carmen) is gonna jump from abuse to abuse of he still believes he deserve it. All 3 berzatto siblings have self hate integrated to different extremes. Mickey hated himself till the point of drug addiction and suicide. Nat does it so she believes is her responsibility that everyone is all right even if it cost her greatly.

I want to bring this last point home:

Our traumas protect us sometimes, if ever questioning the believes that formed after them.

If Carmy ever confronts Donna, he will realize he was never defective, that bettering himself is something he is worth for, and then could choose a partner, based on a true understanding of himself and being able to find real compatibility, not just momentary relive for his pain and a distortion of acceptance. He doesn’t need to keep believing he is broken.

Anyhow, thank you for reading.

[pensbridge]

S3 First Reactions 🪞🐝🦋🪶

❤️ Already fangirled about the whole engagement night - the hugs, Hyacinth!!!

Colin not being able to stay away for that long after their engagement announcement and immediately excusing himself at Anthony's suggestion is exactly what I'd expect of him. ×

❤️ Colin calling out Portia. "out of love." 😢

❤️ "OUR BRIDGERTON NAME" is so important, because it's reiterating that Penelope's getting to choose her family when the one she was born into is so awful

He was so nervous when she didn't respond to their new home.

"Because I love you...Pen." 😢

"Are you sure?" PEN, no 😭😭😭

❤️ That mirror moment (i love how he said "the way your eyes shine when you look at me..." callback to her complimenting his eyes) "...And other things..."

bxtch they stuck with the thread of Colin not opening his eyes to stay in the dream and Pen checking to see if it's real when they kiss

The eye acting of Nicola and Luke! (they are being doe eyes x the intensity of his gaze or w/e it is)

The gulp <3 Nicola

"You are so beautiful."

❤️ The first time!!!

"I hope my husband.." - Fran, AND John -"I would not dream of it" 😯 asdfjgkglyl

Kate & El (got their s2 vibes)

Ahh, the "Do I look a mess?" "You are my mess" was delivered so perfectly.

cute, cute, cute riding through town in carriage (no personal space)

The hand kiss in front of portia!

Colin handing Eloise the spoon 🤣

❤️ the charades game - the cutest thing (they're holding hands)

Also, fuckin Anthony being tooo competitive 😆

Peneloise rights! The back 'n forth in the game 😬

The panic attack was high-octane; the concern in the scene was cute xxx

❤️ Fran looking at John & Violet hating this story lol.....and then, me noticing her realization to another child in love

❤️ The look & collar tug in the church (polin is so dorky & domestic already)

❤️ Soooooo....the spontaneous dance in the church is better than I thought it was gonna be...their goofy footwork, spinning in a multitude of circles "dancing with MY FUTURE WIFE in THE CHURCH WHERE WE WILL BE MARRIED" bye

Part 1, the ton jokes and bullies them and Part 2, we just see people that can't help but get happy and giddy when they see their young love. Violet and Lady Danbury awwing at polin and embracing them in the park!!!

❤️ "I am going to look at the very fine wainscoting" -John, please! 😅

"Not every attachment must be dramatic and hard-fought." - Francesca 😢 bby, you're right

I legit went from this man has the crazy eyes ppl talk about to *tired eyes Wide-Open*... Bi Benedict?! ..I'm getting Bi Benedict?! (I was like: Why?Is?He?Staring?at?him?Like?That? (i knew i sensed the vibes! The Best Surprise!!!)

"This dance does not compare to a private waltz in the church where we'll be married." She's SO cute! "Well perhaps we shall have to add some flourish." Stop. km now (that's so him! he is so dumb; they're married already and dumb as they should be! ×)

Props again with the deaf representation & the sass when Miss Cressida enters the ball

"A scandal writer for a daughter. Can you imagine?" - Portia (i'm sorry i love this whole sequence)

Polin gets more perfectly dork w/stepping on feet being included during their dance at The Mondrich Ball (that's very them)

Thank god for Bridgerton giving us hour long episodes in this 2nd part.

❤️ Eloise admitting she's wrong (and so casually) 😢 ps i think they both have faults but i just love this

❤️ "The column began because I felt powerless in my own home." - Pen (well, i'm glad she said it!)

ok, now Pen admits her faults. all is right again

❤️ Irish accent again

"You are Lady Whistledown." This reveal was everything

omg, was this the scene where he wasn't supposed to cry, but did?! What would I have done without this reaction in such an important moment?! 😢

I love how Penelope highlighted the voiceless as she said she should with Eloise in her new edition of Whistledown

Violet to Agatha - "..but I hope you know that my care for you is not contingent on your aid." 😢 (she sees her)

This whole fight outside the modiste's. 😭

"I have been careful. You have been foolish.."

❤️ "I LOVE YOU" and he was shocked (an 'ily for you' moment) [i was not expecting the follow up to his line to go like that]

❤️ They deserve a hot passionate makeout before they are married where they get completely caught up after fighting.

"What am I chopped liver?" yes Anthony in this situation you are.

❤️ Violet calling in Kanthony for Colin marital advice

❤️ Yellow

The look at each other down the aisle.

❤️ Vows. Weddings on this show are usually so unhappy, but I appreciate that Colin is still so reassuring & clearly beaming about this when there is residual upset/confusion.

❤️ Eloise cryyinng

Ben's line to El- "..The friendship you have with Penelope... As the one you have with Colin." xxx (she doesn't wanna lose them)

"OUR child will always be a Bridgerton, but I should like them to know that they are a Sharma as well." fxck 🥲

"I should like to dance with my husband.."

The disappearing people in the wedding dance. like they're the only 2 ppl in the room! (Bridgerton either has it out for me [to cry] or loves me so much)

ANTHONY 👁👁 Marcus & Violet

Colin's hand caressing on Pen's face at the end of the dance they're really coming for me (bro did he almost kiss her?!??? i freaked out; had to rewind)

The queen excusing all non-Bridgertons + "Penelope, you are a Bridgerton now."

I kind of love that "Everyone except the Bridgertons are to scatter," but Lady Danbury's just there

GOD (I knew it as soon as it was coming) Eloise hugs Pen <3 🥲

ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod bi Ben

❤️ The hair grab!

This printer's assistant is on my shit list

SCOTLAND!!! JOHNCESCA

"It is not up to you what we do." 🤭❤️🤣 Colin mad but still ready to defend his wife (as it should be)

"I know my father was a good man and you are a good friend." Violet-Agatha feels

🙀He kept the letters!

💛John's words to Mama Bridgerton (her children's traits)

She said she was a fumbling mess in front of Edmund like 5 minutes before she is fumbling in front of Marcus

"Then how am I meant to help you?" ❤️ "By loving me."

❤️ Pen's love confession

"....to be a young lady to whom no one listens." - Pen!~Eloise shared look

Philippa + her "bugs"

😲 Lady Danbury x Pen (she knew! ❤️)

❤️ Colin's love confession (them crying together x)

El traveling with Johncesca

Mi-MICHAELA Stirling ... Bridgerton I swear if you are queerbaiting

OH MY GOD! Mama Bridgerton's words -FRANCESCA is fumbling her words.

❤️ Colin focussing on the hands in bed

Pen on top!

"Your father is always trying to distract with a clever word &..." "You think my smile is beguiling?" x "I could not have written without the help of Auntie Penelope." They are so obsessed with each other

Philomena?! did i hear that rt? omg Philippa

Yay we got confirmation of Colin's book! (I can only hope they're sitting in bed reading next season).

[henderscn]

┊ ┊ ─── ┊ ┊ this job wasn't exactly her idea of fun. she would much rather have been at the dance studio in town practicing her new variation she was learning for class but nope. here she was at the ass crack of dawn scrubbing spray paint of an ugly coloured wall. at least she wasn't alone even if it was billy hargrove that was keeping her company. it could be worse, her stupid cousin could be here pecking at her head like some needy little baby bird. she just wanted to get the hell out of hawkins and move on with her life, this town was more trouble than it was worth even if it was the only place she had any family left alive.

olivia smirks to herself as she notices him finally start helping and decides to flick a little bit of the soapy water off her scrubbing brush in his direction with the hopes that it would hit him. she's bored so why not try to get on billy's nerves just for the hell of it? she's not the sharpest tool in the shed.

❝ i'm not your darlin', sweetheart. ❞

continued / @henderscn.

　He sometimes had to remind himself this job was a means to an end. It wasn’t so bad. The pay was shit but it kept him busy and outta the house during the summertime when he had too much of Neil’s time and focus for his own comfort. Truthfully, he was saving every damn dime to get outta here as soon as he graduated so it was the only real thing that kept him afloat, semi-responsible about showing up to work, and reminding himself of said goals when the kids got so rowdy he wanted to strangle them all. 

Billy sighs and moves to grab the cleaning supplies to help her scrub ‘cause it needed to be taken care of sooner than later. If he found out who he would rattle them up a little for giving him more unnecessary work to do.

“I don’t think I look pretty, I know it darlin’.”

[kandisheek]

If you're part of the Put On The Suit 18+ Stony Discord Server, you may already know that we've been running a server-exclusive bingo for the past one and a half months. And today is the day when we can officially say:

✨ WE HAVE BLACKED OUT THE CARD!! ✨ Great job, team!

This was the first fandom event I've ever run, and I couldn't be happier with how many people participated and created beautiful fics and art for it. And to share the love, here is a masterpost of all the incredible works that people have made.

What's a Reverse Trope, you may ask? You simply take a common fanfic trope and flip it on its head. "There's Only One Bed" turns into "There's Too Many Beds" and so on.

A special thank you to @avengersnewb for her help with organizing everything, and let's get into the fan works!

S1: Good Doppelganger 🔃 Evil Doppelganger

Now this is a whole different birthday. by Lancelot_The_Dragon_Lord It's Tony's birthday coming up, and Steve doesn't know what to give him.

S2: Fast Burn 🔃 Slow Burn

Welcome to the 21st Century by EvilDime Phil Coulson wonders if he should have held back the information about queer rights a bit longer. Captain Rogers does not seem to be taking it well. How to make friends with new teammates by Girl_Back_There Tony didn’t mean for it to happen, but he can’t resist a hot guy in a Captain America suit. Especially when said guy is eye-fucking the Iron Man suit.

S3: Twice Serumed Steve 🔃 De-Serumed Steve

Perfection, Scientifically Speaking by EvilDime When Steve injected himself with the serum in a desperate bid to keep it out of A.I.M.'s hands, he had expected something familiar like more muscles, greater speed, further heightened durability. Or even no change at all, since the first dose had already been designed to make him perfect. Steve had been wholly unprepared for what he got instead.

S4: Fake Break-Up 🔃 Fake Relationship

The Inheritance by laiwrites Without waiting for an answer, Steve approached, laying the spread out on the polished oak desk and setting their places as if they were in the dining room. He was in the middle of drawing up a chair when Tony said, "Darling, I believe we must divorce." On accident, Steve scratched the chair legs against the expensive parquet flooring. "It is too early for this. If you must jest, Tony, could you at least wait until after I have eaten?"

S5: Can't Forget Anything 🔃 Amnesia

Remember (when your dreams have ended) BirtheV If Tony Stark were a better man, he would take responsibility for his actions. But since Tony is not even a good man, he's going to take the easy way out and forget Steve Rogers ever existed. Only then will he be able to live without this grief that's killing him. It turns out brains are rather fickle about what they remember and forget. Things can always get worse.

T1: Empty Nest Fic 🔃 Kid Fic

mirrors a still sky by laiwrites Four snapshots over several decades of Steve and Tony growing old together at their house on the lake. Based off of an AU where they make up and get married after Civil War.

T2: Too Hot To Cuddle 🔃 Huddling For Warmth

Beating the Heat by KandiSheek It's too hot to do anything but lie in bed together. Steve and Tony find ways to entertain themselves.

T3: Hate At First Sight 🔃 Love At First Sight

If You Tame Me by KandiSheek They've been together for barely a month when Steve gets a dog. Which would be all well and good if the dog didn't hate Tony on sight. How the hell is Tony supposed to make a dog like him anyway?

T4: Didn't Know They Weren't Dating 🔃 Didn't Know They Were Dating

Been There, Done That by EvilDime "Steve," Tony interrupts Steve's solicitous stream of concern. "Do we have a date this afternoon?" "Sorry, a what?" "A date," Tony repeats. "My calendar claims that I have a 'Coffee Date with Cap' at four o'clock." There's silence on the other end of the line. Then, hesitantly: "Like, a date-date?" "That's what the calendar says," Tony confirms. In which Tony and Steve lost only a week's worth of memories during a mission, but it turns out it was a somewhat important week.

T5: Lie Serum 🔃 Truth Serum

(No) Touching by Naivelittleprincess "I hate you," Steve whispered with a softness better suited to a different set of words. Tony only hummed and paused in the middle of his rant about pineapple on pizza to plant a quick kiss on his lips. "I hate you too, winghead. Now, listen—this is important and it makes my hot, Italian blood boil."

O1: Presumed Alive 🔃 Presumed Dead

Sanguinary Revelations by FestiveFerret Tony's pretty sure his brand new relationship with Steve is the best relationship he's ever been in. Until he learns something surprising about his new beau.

O2: There's Too Many Beds 🔃 There's Only One Bed

Sometimes, There's too many beds. by Lancelot_The_Dragon_Lord With the others Avengers moving way, Tony and Steve are left in the tower alone, with far to many empty beds. Tony falls back into bad habits, and Steve's just being Steve. This always end well, Right? Romcom Fantasies by starkparade Tony runs into Steve at the airport, and when the hotel Tony booked in Washington DC abruptly cancels his reservation, Steve offers him to stay the night at his place. It sounds like something straight out of Tony's romcom fantasies starring Steve, except Tony is convinced that Steve is in love with someone else. Situation Normal: All Fucked Up by KandiSheek Tony had a foolproof plan. Step 1: Get Steve into bed with him. Step 2: ? Step 3: Live happily ever after. Sure, it could use some work, but success was guaranteed. No one is more shocked than him when it doesn't work out quite like he planned.

O3: Free Space

Friends by EvilDime Shopping for a coffin is not where Steve expected to make a friend. And he almost doesn't.

O4: Ruin-It 🔃 Fix-It

Close It by starkparade Steve had to make the hard call to prevent the nuclear blast going off inside the wormhole from reaching the island of Manhattan. As a result, Tony Stark never made it back. Steve did what he had to, and yet his guilt is eating him alive and he can't figure out just why he is so affected.

O5: Too Much Communication 🔃 Miscommunication

The Opposite of You by KandiSheek Tony has a lot of opinions about the kind of person Steve should date. Steve doesn't quite know how to tell him he's already made up his mind.

N1: True Hate's Kiss 🔃 True Love's Kiss

What if.. Tony was where Rhodey was by Lancelot_The_Dragon_Lord Tony is following the Quinjet, and gets hit by a stray laser by Rhodey. He falls.

N2: Abstain or Die 🔃 Fuck or Die

Swingin' Party by Naivelittleprincess It’s his sister and his best friend’s wedding, and Tony is not allowed to have sex with his ex-husband.

N3: Divorce of Convenience 🔃 Marriage of Convenience

Fools Rush In by betheflame “So you’re getting a divorce of convenience to then get a marriage of convenience, but really nothing about your actual marriage has changed?” “Pretty much,” Tony affirmed. “You’re fucking nuts if you think this’ll work, pal,” Bucky said. "Fucking nuts."

N4: Found Foes 🔃 Found Family

This Meeting Could Have Been an E-mail by laiwrites In an alternate universe where Iron Man is one of Captain America's fiercest enemies, the two of them find themselves on opposite sides of a battlefield as usual. Only, this time Cap has a proposal.

N5: Lovers to Friends 🔃 Friends to Lovers

The sunrise over the cliff face by Lancelot_The_Dragon_Lord Steve is proposing to Tony. Or is he? It's Not You, It's Me by EvilDime “Tony,” Steve said slowly. “Is this the Talk I think it is?” Chewing on his lip did not make this any easier. Resigned, Tony slipped his lip back out from between his teeth and faced the music. “Not the way you’re thinking, Steve. But, basically? Yes.”

Y1: Everyone Has Powers AU 🔃 No Powers AU

Waiting On A Miracle by Naivelittleprincess [An AU inspired by Encanto, featuring Peggy as "Abuela", the team as her adopted foster children with special gifts and Tony as the odd ball without any powers.] "I don't know why you weren't given a gift, Tony," Peggy had raged. "But that does not mean you go around ruining everyone else's life!" "I wasn't. Steve wasn't happy with Sharon!" "And he won't be now. You've made sure of that. Howard was right! You are a miserable child! I should have never let you stay here."

Y2: Virgin Tony 🔃 Playboy Tony

Darling, don't be afraid. by Lancelot_The_Dragon_Lord Tony Stark is a virgin, always has been. It's not for the lack trying. He's just scared to be vulnerable.

Y3: Monstercuddling 🔃 Monsterfucking

All Wrapped Up by KandiSheek Tony gets caught by a tentacle monster, which sounds terrible but actually isn't. The creature just... holds him, for a while, before the rest of the Avengers show up and rescue him. Finding out just how depressingly touch-starved you are via wholesome tentacle kidnapping has to be the pinnacle of humiliation. Now Tony needs to figure out how he can repeat the experience with less tentacles and more actual human contact. And also why the hell Steve seems to be the only one on the team who isn't down for some casual Tony cuddling.

Y4: Undercover in a Straight Bar 🔃 Undercover in a Gay Bar

Fruit Punch by Naivelittleprincess Tony's days of being a playboy might be over, but that doesn't mean anything when he has to teach Steve a lesson.

Y5: Last Kiss 🔃 First Kiss

Forever the Name on My Lips by ralsbecket Tony jokes about how the final kiss they shared was all love and morning breath. A full grin spreads across his face as he confesses, “The only thing I regret in my life is not brushing my teeth that morning.” Don't Look, I Think We Made The Sun Cry by Naivelittleprincess As long as they are together, death is but the next adventure.

[currymanganese]

The Bear Season 3 and The Mirror (1975)

The Bear S3 felt like C Storer watched Andrei Tarkovsky's The Mirror (1975)

(which can be watched for free and restored High Definition on Mosfilm's YouTube channel below:)

and got wrapped up in replicating a 10 episode season long psychological non linear experimental drama of that nature, especially with its visuals and themes - but the reason The Mirror is profound and meditative to me is the framing device of the narrative with the protagonist being a man on his death bed whose life is literally flashing before his eyes in disjointed and disconcerting / disoriented vignettes, even down to dreams and reminisces being dominated by memories of his mother and his ex-wife ( btw, two characters who, in a clear allusion to unresolved Oedipal trauma, are played by the same actress, Margarita Terekhova); if C Storer really drew inspiration from this film then hopefully S3 was about depicting Carmy as a metaphorical "dead man walking" who will be reborn psychologically and emotionally in S4. However the differences in the run times of The Mirror as a standalone film and The Bear S3 and its nature as a serial meant the season felt exhausting to get through for me - let's hope the emotional reprieve for Carmy that never came in S3 sticks the landing in S4.

@thoughtfulchaos773 I really do agree with your assessment that this season was a love letter to film as an artform, you may be interested in watching this movie if you've never seen it.

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

Purpose, chef!

Premise: Nothing can be sustained without it.

Not a restaurant, not a family, not a job, not even a meaningful conversation.

❤️ ←This is where purpose lives.

Some people lead with it, some others are more rational. All of them, at some point, come to realize that in order to go on they will need to find their true purpose. They will hit a wall. Life happens.

This purpose, this REASON WHY they're doing it and why they're willing to face challenges, beat all odds or give it their best shot, doesn't necessarily have to be gradiloquent, like changing the world. It can be:

Or:

Sharing your dreams with someone, has a purpose, a reason why you do it. And that's love, in one way or another. Love has many facets. One of them is the one we all wish for Sydcarmy, but it's certainly not the only one.

In Sydcarmy's case what S3 showed us was how they went through a Purpose Crisis, which I went over → here and in a nutshell → here.

Both are going throught their own personal hell, but none of them remembers right now why exactly they are putting up with all of that shit. That's the crisis and the opportunity to re-purpose their entire relationship in order to carry on. If they fail to do this, they are gonna part ways and find purpose elsewhere, only if they're lucky. It doesn't always work like that... you'll see, purpose doesn't grow on trees. And very much like love, it can't be controlled, managed, it either exists or it just doesn't. Because love and purpose are inextricably intertwined concepts.

Love gives purpose and purpose cannot exist without love.

I'm one of the ones who advocates for communication, BUT it's not just any communication. Not anything is better than this:

I'm team effective communication, which is to say that they can only break the cycle of miscommunication with:

Words

Actions

Comprehension

Compromise

Patience

GAME CHANGER: ONLY IF THERE'S A WILL → And for that they need to re-find/remember their purpose. Or even re-define it, if necessary. If their original purpose no longer serves them to be happy, they should re-signify it, which I went over HERE already and think will happen next season.

I actually have been reading the writing on the wall since before S3 happened because important and enough are not the same thing.

The other C word → Comprehension (granted not anyone can serve comprehension. I trust Sydcarmy, though).

I see them trying to communicate all the time, they are starting sentences and not finishing them. There's a lot going on under their surface at all times. They are mirroring each other, even in silence. And they have always had, and still have, unspoken communication.

Which is not enough but it's important.

They are just not on the same page right now because they are no longer understanding each other. I spotted that even before S3 premiered actually, it was painfully obvious and I mentioned it → here.

The catch: Understanding (can’t happen without communication).

They need to understand each other. At a conscious level. They still got it unconsciously, that’s why she hasn’t quit. She knows deep deep down. Carmy knows too, that he’s doing all of this for her and he doesn’t know it’s wrong because according to everything he learned, it is right.

But right now they just don’t understand why they are doing all of this (PURPOSE). It’s because they ❤️ each other, we know that but they don’t. Not consciously, anyway… They have to understand that and the rest will follow.

Communication without understanding is just noise.

So, basically what they need is effective communication to really understand each other and remember why they are doing this together. If they are no longer doing it for a star, for recognition, for success, for vindication, and only for each other because none of those even if achieved would mean shit unless they get them TOGETHER, then that needs to be their new purpose because if this crisis serves them to realize that all that matters is THE PEOPLE, then that's even better than winning a bullshit star. If they need to re-find the same purpose they originally had, which was:

Then so be it.

His purpose:

To me Carmy's purpose is quite clear and fixed. It won't change because SYD IS HIS PURPOSE and to a certain extend he knows it. Regardless of how ready or not he's to admit it at this point (he's not there yet, unfortunately).

He keeps choosing her though → over and over.

Carmy has already made his purpose clear time and time again, whether Syd understands it or not (she doesn't yet, unfortunately).

Carmy shared his dream with her and before that he put her in charge of Mickey’s legacy, his most valuable asset (emotionally).

He's putting himself through hell to get her the star she wanted (not saying this is OK but this is what he did). He never wanted a Michelin Star restaurant, he wanted that restaurant to be THEIRS, that was enough for him, till this moment:

She's soooo much his whole purpose to do any of this that he made her partner, or is trying to.

She’s the only one he apologizes to without being told to, spontaneously, because she's his purpose to be a better person. A person that deserves her.

He created houndreds of menus for her, to rotate them every day, because his purpose is to give her that star, because she's his star.

He wants her to get some rest while he continues to work on a dish inspired by her polka dots headscarf and losing sleep, which is something he does every night, he stays there sleeplessly working on the menu, after everyone leaves.

He wants her by his side when he says goodbye to Ever, which means a lot to him.

His whole purpose is to share his life with her, in whatever shape or form that may take. In this case, that shape is The Bear, but they could re-signify that purpose if needed, to stay together if this is no longer working for them. He will let Syd make that call. Because he trusts her.

Her purpose:

We're yet to find out whether Syd will remember, find out, or re-signify her purpose, and once she does, she will decide and act out on it to either stay by his side or leave him. It all depends on her purpose or lack thereof. Whatever that might be. Whatever shape it takes moving forward.

My point is: What's clear right now is that they are not consciously making any choice based on purpose. That's the knot they gotta untie to break free from the vicious cycle they are now trapped in.

They are already making it unconsicously though:

Bonus track: The Jacket (I knew it!)

Remember to follow my tag #Gingerpovs 💋

[queen-haq]

Fic: Never You, Part 15 (Polin, Rated R)

Fandom: Bridgerton (TV show)

Spoilers: S3 released scenes.

Summary: They may have been friends once but his callous words decimated their relationship. Determined not to have anything to do with him, Penelope is ready to move on. But Colin isn’t giving up, not at all. Friends or not, they are connected for life - and he intends to remind her of that.

Excerpt:

“You would hate me for not wanting to court you. You would be that selfish?”

“Of course you would think that.”

“What else is this if not punishment?”

Masterlist (contains links to previous parts and my other stories)

A03 link if that’s more your jam

Colin entered Penelope’s chambers through the window, brushing leaf remnants off his trousers when he spotted her sitting by the dresser. He stilled immediately. She was in a blue nightgown, her breasts full and soft underneath the fabric, hair wet and piled atop her head. He swallowed, spellbound by the sensuous reflection of her in the mirror. Porcelain skin as smooth as silk, the red in her hair glowing like a beacon, she was a stunning goddess and ready to be worshipped.

Eyes locked with him, a shy smile graced her stunning face whilst she stood up, turning around to face him. He remained frozen in place, mouth agape. Her lush curves in the gown played havoc with his thoughts and all he could think about was ripping the fabric off her body so he could touch her, kiss her. Fuck her. Yet he felt paralyzed, his heart thundering in his chest and ready to explode at any moment. There were only a handful of steps that separated them. Just a few feet that needed to be crossed before he could claim her as his own – but he couldn’t move.

“Are you well, Colin?” she inquired, her brows furrowing with concern.

His throat felt dry, he couldn’t speak.

A worried expression settled over her features while she quickly sauntered closer, and he was mesmerized at the sight of her bountiful breasts bouncing in her gown. Hands aching to stroke her, he stretched his palms instinctively by his side. Then she was standing right in front of him, looking up at him with the bluest of eyes, smelling of roses, and he found himself trembling at her proximity. When she reached up to caress his face, he closed his eyes. One. Two. One. Two. He breathed her in, over and over, determined to calm the chaos that threatened to overwhelm him.

He grimaced when she touched the bruise on his lip.

“What happened?” she asked, her voice fraught with worry.

His vantage point allowed him to glance down her gown and he was struck by the urgent desire to nuzzle his face between her breasts. Oh, that lustful need never seemed to lessen, instead growing every fucking time he was close to her. He was dying to take her nipples into his mouth-

“Colin?”

He forced himself to snap out of it. “Benedict was a little too eager when I told him about our engagement. He meant to embrace me but his arm struck my face instead.” Perhaps he should have felt guilty for being dishonest with Pen, but it's not like he could tell her about his fight with Arthur earlier.

Her thumb lingered over the wounded spot with a tender touch. “Does it hurt?”

He bent forward, inching his face closer to hers. “If I say yes, will you kiss it better?”

Her lips parted with anticipation, a sensuous haze brimming in the depth of her eyes.

“Would you like me to?” she asked with a hint of tease in her voice, deliberately taunting him.

His breath grew shallow. He could practically feel the slow enthrall of desire coursing through her. “Do you not know how much I want that? How often I think of you, dream of you? You haunt my every moment, Penelope.” Lifting his hand to her cheek, he caressed her face with his thumb.

“I must ask Benedict to be more cautious with you. I can not have him endangering my intended husband.”

His heart fluttered in his chest. Husband. That’s who he was, now and forever, just like she was his wife. The wedding ceremony was merely a formality they had to go through, but in all the ways it mattered they already belonged to each other. And the thought of it made him so heady he could barely breathe.

“You have that look again,” she murmured.

As much as he wanted to respond, all thoughts left his brain as she guided his hand from her cheek, trailing down her neck, to rest upon her right breast. Eyes locked on her, his thumb brushed over her nipple, feeling the nub harden under his touch.

“As if you are caught in a trance, caged somewhere where I can not reach.”

It was her words that snapped him out of his daze. Cupping the back of her head with his other hand, he peered down at her. “There is no place in this world where you can not reach me. I am yours. Completely. As much as you are mine.” His lips closed over hers, his tongue stroking hers. Despite the desperate urgency to throw her on the bed and fuck her to his heart’s content, he deliberately took his time. He explored the contours of her mouth, holding her with a hesitant touch so as not to maul her gorgeous body the way his soul truly craved to. Until suddenly she pulled away, her breath labored, gazing up at him with passion-filled eyes.

“What’s wrong? Do you want to stop?”

Still silent but with a resolute gaze, she began to unbutton his waistcoat with determination. The fiery desire in her eyes was magnetic as she threw the vest aside, burying her face in his chest. Could she feel his heart pounding, he wondered. Did she know how hard he was from simply breathing her in? Enclosing her in his arms, he dropped a tender kiss on the crown of her head.

“I have thought about this for so long, even before I knew what intimacy was.” Voice laden with seduction, she pressed her forehead against his chest. Smoothing her hands down the fabric of his shirt, she started untucking the material from his trousers. “I dreamt about touching you and kissing you.” A soft giggle escaped her, stirring his desire further at how charming she sounded. “I even dreamt you fed me cake in bed.”

He laughed, raising her chin to meet his stare. “I’ll remember that for our wedding night.”

Her crystal blue eyes roamed over his face, as if she was committing every inch of him to her memory. “Is it wrong that I have imagined this moment numerous times in my mind?”

He drew in a sharp breath. “I have done the same.”

She undid the buttons beneath the ruffled collar before trying to slide the material up. However she was tiny, barely reaching his shoulders even on her toes, so he offered his assistance and slid the shirt over his shoulder and threw it aside. The stark desire on her face set his heart fluttering, even more so when her fingers trailed up his arms, feather-light strokes working to drive him mad with lust, along his clavicles, smoothing their way over the hair on his chest, and then – his body trembled – her hands traced the lines and ridges of his stomach.

If he was a better man, he would be patient and let her explore every inch of him – but he was selfish and greedy and wanted her too fucking much to prolong his wishes. Grabbing her wrists, he secured her hands behind her. “I’ve dreamt about your sweet, beautiful pussy for so long and I’m dying, Pen, dying to know what you taste like. Will you let me?”

“Oh…” Cheeks flushed a bright pink, she gazed back up at him with the most endearing shyness on her face. “No one has… I haven’t…”

And that’s all it took for him to lose his mind, knowing she hadn’t experienced oral pleasure before and recognizing how privileged he was to share that with her. Heady with excitement, he kissed her in a rush of madness, desperate to satisfy her every want and need, moving from her mouth, trailing down her neck, her chest, kneeling in front of her to worship her like she deserved. But she had desires of her own, reaching down to grasp his face and kiss him again, this time their lips caught in a languid caress, with her in charge and her mouth slow and sensuous against him. They barely made it it to the bed, both of them lost in each other as they toppled onto the sheets. She giggled at his clumsiness and he laughed along with her, their laughter giving into shy smiles while they undressed each other. 

He kissed every inch of her voluptuous form, in all the ways he had imagined, crawling down her body until he was kneeling on the floor and positioned between her legs, his hands gripping her outer thighs. The red curls on her mound glistened with wetness and he couldn’t look away from her beautiful cunt, seeing her so drenched with desire.

“Colin…” Her voice was filled with uncertainty. “Are you sure this is something you want to do?”

He pressed a smile into her skin, amazed by her sweet naiveté. “Darling, you’re mine. And I intend to have my way with you.”

It started with exploration on his part, tasting her, kissing her, little by little, letting Pen get used to him without stimulating her too much, working her with his mouth and enjoying the subtle tremors that ran through her. Seeing the pleasure flutter across her face, her back arched, breasts out, was enough to drive him mad. Especially when her moans grew raspy, her hands tangled in his hair whilst his tongue flicked over her clit using rhythmic strokes. She tasted so sweet, sweeter than he had imagined, and the scent of her arousal was intoxicating.

“Please… Colin… don’t stop…”

His Penelope, begging for more, and he loved it, loved her eager demands as he fucked her with his tongue, his fingers. However, her wildness was wreaking havoc within him. It was all too much, his self-control growing more tenuous at the sight of her writhing under his touch. She was so enthusiastic, so seductive, and he was determined to bring her to orgasm - but simply watching her climax would surely make him explode and that was the last thing he wanted.  

Wiping his mouth with his forearm, he climbed up her body until he was perched above, staring into her cerulean eyes dazed with lust.

“I want to feel you inside me,” she said in a breathless whisper, bewitching him.

He penetrated inside her with a soft thrust, letting her feel and get used to the stretch of him. Then she shifted her hips, taking him in deeper - and the sensation was intense and exquisite and unlike anything he had ever experienced before. This wasn’t making love or rutting or fucking or any of those trivial words to describe man’s baser instincts. No, this was transcendence, and nothing – nothing – ever came close to being inside her.

Frantic with need, he started pulsing. It took every bit of resolve he had to keep his movements deliberately steady, to the point of biting down on his already bruised lip to exert restraint – but then she reached for his face, bringing him closer, her tongue swiping the blood from his lips. As if to say she wasn’t interested in slow and steady. Instead her gaze pleaded with him to go faster, to not hold back, and he finally let the beast within him loose, thrusting harder and harder while she clung to him.

“No, no…” he begged when she tried to close her eyes. “Stay with me, Pen… look at me.”

And she did, mouth parted, their bodies moving in unison.

If being inside her was a spiritual experience, then coming in her was nirvana itself. His release washed over him like a breaking wave, leaving him breathless and drained, whilst at the same time Pen reached her climax. Ecstasy flickered over Pen’s face, her body trembling, and in his post coital-bliss all Colin could do was watch her, hold her, and remind himself she was his.

Nothing and no one would ever come between them.

***

Their bodies glistening with sweat, Colin buried his face in her chest. A small part of his mind prodded at him to move, he was probably too heavy for Penelope, but he was reluctant to leave her breasts. Her heartbeat had been pounding at first, rivaling his own, but slowly it grew to a steady, rhythmic beat, sounding like a harmonious melody to his ear. Her one hand languidly stroked his hair, the other rested on her side, interlocked with his.

He closed his eyes, breathing her in.

In the past Pen had been the one he turned to when he was out off sorts, the one who helped him weather the inevitable difficulties that came with life. Her friendship eased his worries and gave him a sense of balance – yet, now, she was the source of chaos, the one responsible for all the tumultuous emotions that left him feeling off kilter. But as reckless as he felt, he wouldn’t go back to how things were before. Because that overwhelming sense of thrill and excitement Penelope elicited in him, that rush of exhilaration - it was what made him feel more alive than he ever had before.

A languid sigh escaped her, drawing his attention back to her sinful body underneath him. Her thighs were slick with his cum, she smelled of sex and him. And her beautiful, voluptuous breasts – he unlinked his hand from hers and brought it to her right breast, cupping the flesh. He’d dreamt of slathering her tits with his cum many times, his wicked mind imagining her squeezing her breasts together as he fucked her cleavage with his cock. He had yet to bring his fantasies to life but there was plenty of time to do that. A lifetime, for both of them to explore each other in every way possible.  

“Was it alright for you, Colin?”

It was the trepidation in her tone that brought him out of his reverie. He shifted up, laying his head down on a pillow to face her. “It was beyond anything I’ve ever dreamt of.” He cradled her face, fingers stroking her supple skin. “And you? Did you enjoy it?” His hand slid down her cheek, grazing her chin.

The blues of her eyes sparkled with mischief. “I’m not sure. Perhaps we need to do it again for me to be certain.”

“Yes, a wise idea.” He grinned, trailing his hand down her neck, her decolletage, the length of her body.

Her eyebrow quirked up in question. “Now? I didn’t know that was possible…” She bit down on her lip, the gesture not meant to be seductive but turning him on nonetheless. A soft blush crept across her cheeks as his erection brushed her thigh. “Oh, you’re already…”

“Hard? Yes, a condition I seem to suffer from whenever I’m around you.” His hand slid in between her legs, teasing her folds. “And you’re already so wet for me, aren’t you?” His own ragged breathing began to mimic her short, hushed breaths as his thumb stroked over her clit. “Your cunt is so eager and ready, sweetheart, ready for me, my fingers…” His fingers curved inside her and she expelled the most passionate of moans, her eyes half-lidded with pleasure. “My cock…”

“Need you now.”

Her words were a sultry demand, commanding his full attention. With everyone else she may have been a shy wallflower but with him she was different, her true self, revealing what she wanted without hesitation. And he understood how fortunate he was and utterly grateful for it. “What do you need?” Perched above her, he teased his cock along her entrance. “My cock inside you, Pen?” He taunted, studying her face closely as she opened her eyes to meet his gaze. “Would you like to be fucked, sweetheart? Is that what you want?”

“Yes!” she bit out defiantly, causing him to laugh. Then she swept her hand down his neck, his shoulder, brushing her fingers along the hair on his chest, dipping her hand lower and lower – until her fingers stroked his cock.

Just that little touch was enough to make him swipe the smug grin off his face. “Pen-”

“You can play with me but I can not reciprocate?” Her eyes gleamed with wicked satisfaction. “Do you really believe I would allow that?”

Biting down on his lip, he smiled. “I suppose not.”

“Then would you please make love to me, Mister Bridgerton?” Her leg curved around his thighs whilst her arm trailed down his back. “Or would you rather fuck me instead?”

Her wanton words sent thrills down his spine and he penetrated her slowly, inch by inch, so he could feel her muscles clench around him. The expression of sheer ecstasy on her face left him awestruck, amazed at how beautiful she looked in the throes of passion.

And then he started pumping inside her and every rational thought in his mind was soon driven away by the only one that mattered – Penelope.

***

Penelope was snuggled next to him, at times dozing off, other times humming and drawing lazy circles on his chest while he simply held her in his embrace. His heart yearned at the deep connection between them. Soon this would be their reality every day, waking up next to each other, spending their lives together, and it filled him with warmth and excitement at the thought of their impending future.

Yet his insecurities still nagged at him. Now that he had experienced true intimacy with Penelope and understood how rare it was, there was no way in hell he would ever let anyone take her from him. But what if Debling tried to work his way back into her heart? What if the bastard was able to convince her Colin was the wrong choice? Colin had spent the last few weeks doing everything within his power to get her to marry him, but what if all that dissipated because of Debling? Panic surged through Colin instantly, making his chest ache with a strange tightness.

“It will be dawn soon.”

Her voice brought him back to reality. “I know.”

“We can not risk having Mama or anyone else find you here.”

“Pen?” She looked up at him, eyes shining from the soft glow of the candle that cascaded across her face. His insides ached just from looking at her. “Would you have really married Arthur?”

There was no immediate response as she contemplated his question. After what felt like an eternity, she finally spoke. “Yes.”

His heart sank, despite her words not being a surprise. “Even though you loved me?”

She sat up, pulling the sheets up to her chest. Instantly he missed the physical closeness between them. “But I’ve always loved you for as long as I can remember, and you were an unattainable dream as far as I was concerned. I couldn’t live like that anymore, it hurt too much. I needed a change, a life of my own, and Arthur gave me that chance.”

Jealousy surged through him. Arthur had been her knight in shining armour when he couldn’t be, because he’d been too fucking blind to what was right in front of him.

“I don’t understand why you’re angry.” Frustration glimmered in Penelope’s eyes. “You didn’t want me. You were fulfilling your dreams of travel and enjoying dalliances with other women. Did you really expect me to spend my life pining after you?”

“No, of course not.” He sat up, shifting to sit behind her so her back was nestled against his chest. “I just don’t know how you did it. I don’t understand it.” He held her hands in his own, squeezing her palms. His chin was tucked into the crown of her head, his body folding around hers. As if she was created by the universe to fit with him, the missing part that made him feel whole and perfect. But that didn’t mean it was the same for her. Because Penelope was perfect all on her own, she didn’t need him. Not like he needed her. “My feelings for you consume me. You’re all I think about, the only one who matters. The thought of not being with you…” He shook his head. “I can’t even fathom being with anyone else. It makes me ill.”

“Perhaps your feelings for me are stronger than you think.”

Her tone was meant to be teasing, probably to diffuse the tension in the air, but it elicited a different reaction in him. He directed her to turn around, so he could look into her eyes. “Or your feelings are not as strong as mine.”

A bevy of emotions flitted across her face. As hard as he tried to decipher them, he couldn’t, not even when she reached up to palm his face, her soft hand cradling his cheek so tenderly. “You underestimate my love for you.”

“Because you don’t need me, you would be fine without me. You could live your life as expected, you could even marry someone else and be happy. But I would not, could not do that.” He pressed a kiss on the flesh of her palm, his voice quivering when he spoke next. “My life would be nothing without you in it. I would be nothing.” He studied her closely. “A lonely, broken man grieving the woman he longs for.”

Silence hung in the air between them. He wanted her to refute his words, assure him she would be equally hopeless and lost without him. She didn’t.

After what felt like an eternity, she gave him a placating smile. “The sun is rising and everyone will be up soon. If my mother catches you in here, we will both be dead.”

He nodded his head, understanding the meaning behind her words. Penelope had no intention of continuing this conversation.

He left the bed and dressed quickly, watching her while she did the same. When they were both ready, she moved closer and reached up on her toes to give him a kiss.

He held her tightly in his arms, afraid to let go. “Mother and I will visit later this afternoon to discuss the wedding plans.”

The smile she graced him with was wonderfully hopeful. “I look forward to it.”

Rays of sunlight were beginning to filter through the curtains, scattering across the room. It was high time he made his escape, but he couldn’t bring himself to leave quite yet. Clutching her face, he peered at her closely. “I will never let you go, Pen. No matter what."

A line appeared between her brows. “I’m glad to hear it.”

Desperate as he was to believe her, a part of him knew instinctively Penelope was holding something back. And the forced distance between them was beginning to claw at his heart and mind, eroding every bit of his inner self.

She nudged him to leave. “Everyone will be getting up soon, Colin. You must make haste.”

Reluctantly he opened the window and climbed out, feeling a heavy weariness in his soul.

[henderscn]

this post goes into detail about olivia's involvement throughout the stranger things timeline. it does contain a lot of spoilers as it documents her whereabouts during the events of each season. read with caution if you are not up to date.

main verse

tag : ❃ ┊ ┊ ─── ┊ ┊ TELL ME LIES ‚  TELL ME SWEET LITTLE LIES  ⤷  MAIN olivia’s main verse is set post season 4 which means everything she was involved in during her season verses has already happened in her life unless we discuss otherwise. she is working her part time job at the radio shack and teaching more classes at the local dance school in her spare time. she is having a gap year before she goes to college. she wants to major in dance and go on to hopefully open her own ballet studio somewhere away from this godforsaken town.

season 2 verse

tag : ❃ ┊ ┊ ─── ┊ ┊ EVERY SINGLE DAY AND EVERY WORD YOU SAY  ⤷  S2 olivia arrives in hawkins in the january of 1984 after the tragic accident that rendered her an orphan. she is in a deep depression and doesn’t really talk to anyone even when she starts school. she doesn’t feel like she fits in at all with the people that inhabit the seemingly boring town. she starts dancing at the local studio in a bid to get some happiness back in her life.  she comes home from dance one day to find her cousin, dustin, and steve harrington in her backyard. it’s then that she gets wrapped up in all the trouble surrounding hawkins. she goes with them to the junkyard, questioning them the entire time because she has no idea what is going on. they try their best to explain it to her but it’s not until she ends up in the corner of an abandoned bus surrounded by demodogs that she truly believes them. she goes with the party members as well as steve to the lab and ends up back at the byers house with everyone. she’s confused but she’s trying her best to not get in anyone’s way so she stays with steve and the kids when will is taken to the cabin. she witnesses billy beat the crap out of steve and then ends up crammed in the back of the camaro as there was no way they were leaving her behind with that thug. she stays with the car when the party goes into the tunnels.

season 3 verse

tag : ❃ ┊ ┊ ─── ┊ ┊ THE MIRROR OF YOUR DREAMS  ⤷  S3 olivia isn’t such a depresso espresso anymore and has got herself a summer job working at the community pool as a way to get herself out of the house more. she’s still trying to process the events of the past year but she’s coming to terms with it slowly. she doesn’t have much time to process it before things start getting weird again. she gets roped into taking dustin to starcourt and then ends up trying to help him, steve and robin decode the russian message. she sees the russian soldiers during the delivery and starts contemplating whether she’s actually dead because that is the only way the way her life has turned out would make any sense. she gets trapped beneath the mall with steve, robin, dustin and erica where she investigates the lab with them. she doesn’t get captured as she is trying her best to protect dustin from the russians and helps rescue steve and robin. she ends up in eleven’s group at starcourt as all she cared about was dustin not being there in case things went south. she helps them attack the mind flayer with firecrackers and holds a crying max as she watches billy sacrifice himself.

season 4 verse

tag : ❃ ┊ ┊ ─── ┊ ┊ YOU DON'T WANNA HURT ME  ⤷  S4 olivia is now working at the radio shack part time and has started teaching a few classes at the local dance studio as a way to keep herself going. she tries to avoid dustin and the others the best that she can but that doesn’t last for long. her cousin asks her to come with them to find eddie who liv knew of from the rumours of his drug dealing as word travels fast in the small town. she helps them explain the upside down to eddie with the limited knowledge she has gained over the past two years. she ends up at the library with nancy and robin as her dance studio was next door and the two girls saw her coming out when they arrived, roping her into helping them. she refuses to go with them to the prison where victor creel is being held and instead goes with max and the others to the graveyard. she helps them rescue max from vecna with the masterpiece that is kate bush’s ‘running up that hill’. she goes with them to investigate the creel house despite her somewhat irrational fear of old houses. olivia and the others find eddie but she opts to stay on land to protect the kids instead of going out in the boat with the other teenagers at lover’s lake. she probably would be a lot of help since she was a lifeguard the year before but her priority is keeping dustin as safe as possible. she ventures into the upside down for the first time with dustin and eddie to keep the bats away from the creel house so the others can take down vecna. she isn’t that into rock music but she has to admit to herself that its pretty cool the way eddie plays the guitar. she tells eddie not to do anything stupid but watches as he rides off on the bmx. she runs after him with dustin and holds dustin as he holds eddie’s dying body, trying her best to comfort him.

alternate verse

tag : ❃ ┊ ┊ ─── ┊ ┊ WE WOULD NEVER BREAK THE CHAIN  ⤷  ALT olivia’s alternate verse is set post season 4 but she had nothing to do with anything upside down related and is just living her life as normal. she is working her part time job at the radio shack and teaching more classes at the local dance school in her spare time. she is having a gap year before she goes to college. she wants to major in dance and go on to hopefully open her own ballet studio somewhere away from this boring town.

[somedayillbepeterpan]

For Bonus Polinweek Day 5 | Favourite hand scene + Nicola appreciation Day | The Marie Claire AU shoot (sorry if the edit is not good and it has no music. Just think of this as a photo carousel)

I start this appreciation post for this goddess by saying that I hope that every person who deemed it right to ignore her in her 20's are eating glass right now for not giving her the opportunity to shine back then. I could have had Nicola a long long time ago but these clowns kept her from me.

I never expected myself to be this addicted to Polin but I got to say that it really all started with Nicola. S2 brought my attention to Pen because she was sooo messy in that season but I loved how Nicola played that dichotomy. And I really really wanted to know what Pen said to Colin after that awful line.

This led me to the book, to the countless fanfics, to falling in love with the characters, to admiring the actors. I was so excited for Polin season but I did not realise the intense chemistry Nic and Luke had until the press tour started in my backyard, Bowral, Australia. I always thought that they looked great together but that day, when I saw the photos and the clip where Luke showed his tank top to Nicola changed me and I haven't had a proper sleep since.

But this is an appreciation for Nicola so I'll keep my mouth shut about Lukola/Polin 😂

There are only a few actresses that I am dedicated to (meaning, I have seen and supported most of their work). I tend to be picky with the actors I support and I focus on the ones who can successfully disappear in their roles making the character iconic instead of the other way around (think of the reason why some actors become typecasted). I see this so clearly in Nicola and it's why I have rewatched most of her work (honestly, how iconic can you get when most of your work are easily re-watchable?). I see the character and the work that Nicola has put into it. She makes character journals for all the roles that she plays and if that is not dedication, I don't know what else to call it.

For the first time in my life, I bought a fashion magazine so I can have these deliciously gorgeous photos of Nicola. I like fashion in a way that I like looking at aesthetically beautiful things but I would not spend any money on that. But, I bought the Marie Claire AU because I loved this cover shoot. I especially love what Nicola says in the interview: "It is important for people to know I wasn't an overnight success."

She is soul-stirringly beautiful to me. I legitimately always have goosebumps whenever I see a photo of her. I've posted it here before that I genuinely question my sexuality whenever I look at an image or video of her.

Am I just projecting my desire to get over my insecurity over my body on her? Definitely. I cannot even begin to describe the confidence that I feel about myself now because of the mirror scene. I know Nicola doesn't explicitly accept her being a representation of full bodied women but it is her portrayal of Pen in S3 that I finally understood what media representation meant for the first time in my life.

Have I rambled on too much? I will for this woman because there are endless things that I love about her.

I hope she's happy. I hope she is able to rest. And I hope that even more of her dreams come true 🥰

[murfpersonalblog]

IWTV S2 Ep8 Musings - The Ep8 Script (Pt1)

Thanks to slitwrstsavior sharing the script and @memorian for digitizing it! <3

Imma have to do this in chunks, cuz of Tumblr's 30-pic limit.

SHADE.

AMC. I'm finna smack y'all. I NEED those alternate outtakes! 😭🙏

😳 JACOOOOOOB! 😱

SIR ANDERSONNNNNNNNN~!!!!

You ain't have to commit to the bit like THAT! They said suck the BLOOD DROP on the FLOOR, not the effing ROCKS themselves! XD Your improvs are IMMACULATELY UNHINGED! 😍

This is VERY cool & interesting!

HH's OCD mirrors Lou's mad ravings during his PTSD unhinged Revenge Plot, but it's also really cool that he was from vinatge Hollywood, contemporaneous with Louis' film noir aesthetic in 2x7, AND HH's association with aviation, and Lou's dream learning to fly (a plane)--perhaps in honor of Claudia mad that Les wouldn't teach her to fly (with the Cloud Gift? 😭💔) NO ONE EFFING TOUCH ME!

Ahhhhhh~! They're his triggers; AND his reset-buttons. U_U

He was finna KIIIIIIILLLLLL Lestat, IKR!? XD

I love how the use of ellipses can stand for either interruptions (Louis shushing him) or deliberate pauses (Armand actively tryna think of a lie).

Rolin's goofy arse. XD He really meant it when he said he wanted Dan's music to come in clutch.

Can't help but notice that it's SILENT during this part though. The "tense" film noir music only starts AFTER Louis' finished speaking. Which I think was a better choice. Let Louis' words sink in--HIS voice is the only one that should matter. THEN let the music come in. 👌

I EFFING KNEW THAT WAS HER ASHES OMG!? That ain't LIPSTICK!

I'm STILL MAD we didn't effing SEE the ear/jaw. But thank you for the movie nod from Akasha's BAMF exit.

Ahhh, that answers my question about if Louis was still using the Fire Gift from halfway across Paris--that is AWESOME, wow!

[EDIT] Forgot to add this in, cuz AMC!Lou's officially OP:

EXCUSE YOU!? Since when did Santiago know Armand's birthname!?

So either: Armand told Santiago his backstory, OR Santiago stole it from his mind (highly unlikely), OR he eavesdropped Loumand. SNAKE!

There's a typo--it should say "They are there to...." Which they took out anyway, and good riddance; Lou immediately cuts him off, cuz ain't nobody tryna hear your effing excuses, a-hole.

I DO wanna hear what he would've said though--pour some more Kool-aid down everyone's throats whydontcha!? "I knew the wisdom of the Great Laws," as if! I NEED to know what REALLY went down with the coven in S3--Imma make a separate post, cuz I have so many questions, that this Ep8 script unfortunately is NOT answering.

SUFFER, bish.

Imma cut off right here, and make a separate post.

[onceuponapuffin]

My Good Omens Season 3 Predictions

Based on the Amazon Playlist and Established Patterns in S1 and S2

I’ve been listening to the songs on the official playlist that Amazon released in December, and I’ve been thinking about it non-stop. It’s been long enough, and now I feel like I have a solid enough footing to have ideas about season 3 based on the information given to us by the playlist (especially the songs Neil provided). Keep in mind that this is my speculation only. I may be entirely wrong, this post may age poorly, but I am okay with that. At the end of the day, I know for absolute fact that I will be THRILLED with whatever season 3 actually brings (But please – for my sanity – let there be a happy ending for Crowley and Aziraphale).

First of all, we know the season was outlined back in 2005, and I would assume (for the sake of this post if nothing else) that by the time the s3 announcement came, Prime had the general outline. And so, in the spirit of how this show does things, the playlist is full of Clues.

GIF by fuckyeahgoodomens

I’ll put the songs in parenthesis as I go.

Between “Before the Beginning” and “In the Beginning,” i.e. Flashback 1:

We’re going to start the season with Crowley’s Fall (Midnight Rain). Neil has said that he’s not going to ever tell us Starmaker’s name, so I’m not expecting that. But we know that each season starts with a prologue, and we also know that these flashback mirror the current events. Crowley’s Fall makes a lot of sense to start with because it is the first thing that pulls him and Aziraphale apart. And where are we starting from in present day? The Divorce.

How Are Crowley and Aziraphale Doing?

Bad (I’m a Mess). Crowley presents fine to the world, but we, who know him, can see he is struggling. I don’t know if he’ll actually go to therapy, but I would adore it if we got a glimpse of Crowley trying it and being like “NOPE” when it got too hard. He keeps expecting Aziraphale to walk around every corner, and keeps replaying the divorce in his mind (Just My Imagination).

Aziraphale isn’t doing well either. The Kiss, and by extension his last conversation with Crowley plays on his mind all the time (Could’ve Been).

Very soon after the playlist was released, one of my Good Omens friends on Discord (I forget who it was, I am so sorry), suggested that maybe Aziraphale is communicating with Crowley through his dreams. Honestly, I am so on board with this. With the number of songs that mention dreams and daydreams in this playlist, there is no way that Crowley’s dreams and/or imagination won’t play some kind of role in this season (In Dreams, Just My Imagination).

Minisodes

The Titanic

I think the most interesting thing is that we’re going to have at least one minisode about them alone through time. It’s something that we haven’t seen before, and it parallels their current journey.

That being said, I think one of these will be the Titanic (My Heart Will Go On). Here’s how I see it happening:

Crowley is the one on the ship. He’s not there to sink it, he’s just there to enjoy himself. Maybe he plays around with the kids a bit, maybe he makes friends. Point is, the humans have built this supposedly-unsinkable ship of dreams and he just has to see it. He’s there when it sinks. Maybe he even tries to save people or get the other ships to come faster, but he can’t save everyone.

Heartbroken, he returns home to his dark flat. He doesn’t turn on any lights. There are two envelopes waiting for him. He sits at the table to read them in the dark. The first is a commendation from Hell:

“Great job sinking the Titanic! Downstairs are Very Impressed with your work, as always!” He scoffs and tosses it aside. The second one is from Aziraphale.

Oh great, he thinks, Just what I need, a little ‘oh how dare you drown all those people you evil demon you.’ when I’m already feeling like shit. He opens it anyway. The first lines read:

“My Dear Crowley,

I heard that you were aboard the Titanic when it sank. Are you alright?”

Crowley breaks down and cries. ~End Scene~

1941

The playlist has Heart and Soul on it, but not a recent version – it’s specifically one that was recorded in 1939. So we’re almost definitely getting 1941 Part 3.

GIF by mimisempai

We’re going to find out what happened to cause their huge shift in dynamics from Date Night to 1967, and I think it’s a kiss. Maybe a kiss on the cheek? I’m not entirely sure. I do hope they get to slow dance to A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square though.

The Reunion

My friends, it will not go well. This is one of the songs that Neil chose – Cry Me a River. It just reeks of Aziraphale coming back and Crowley being (understandably, and rightly) being bitter towards him. Aziraphale will, eventually, I’m sure, get back in his good books, but he’s gonna need more than an I Was Wrong Dance to do it.

(Actually?) Saving the World

Okay so being perfectly honest, the only reason either of them are the lead characters in this series is because they’re so freaking loveable. They are very bad at their jobs. Anathema, Newt, and Adam saved the world in S1, and although the Husbands gave Adam a little pep-talk, I think he’s smart enough that he could have managed it on his own if he had to.

So, this time they actually need to save the world and have an actual plan. This is where I think a second body swap will happen – hear me out! First of all, remember that no one aside from Gabriel (who is Someone Knows Where), none of the angels or demons have figured out their trick from the first time. So I don’t think it is the plan, but I do think it will be part of the plan. Where am I pulling this idea from? The Show Must Go On, another one of Neil’s choices. It sounds like it’s from Aziraphale’s perspective, but Queen songs are usually associated with Crowley. Seems odd, right? Maybe because it is. Maybe because they swap.

The Book of Life

I think we’re going to see The Book of Life, and I think it’s going to basically be The Book of Love. I think this is where we’re going to get the Main Thesis. The Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything, if you will. Love. It’s supposed to be Love.

The Book of Love – another of Neil’s choices.

Epilogue

I predict they get their South Downs cottage (Neil said “not yet,” which implies it’s coming). And there’s also a wedding, though I’m not sure whose it will be (The Book of Love). I REALLY hope that it’s Crowley and Aziraphale, because they deserve that kind of happy ending, and Neil is too much of an Ally not to realize how important it is that they get to Live Happily Ever After.

One Last Thought

I still have no idea what to make of I’d Rather Go Blind. That’s it. That’s the last thought I wanted to share that doesn’t really fit in anywhere else.

Thanks for going on this journey with me. Let’s make our Bingo cards and see if I managed to get anything right in 3-4 years.

[mdhwrites]

Do you think the show rewards Luz’s Selfishness too much?

So I normally frame Luz's decision to self martyr herself and stay in her own world as not wanting to bother with the effort to fix her mistake. Let's shift that a bit so we can talk about why the show couldn't have Luz tell ANYONE this deeply selfish choice. A choice that by all means, Camila seems to think is just a bad choice for Luz and for no one else.

But... Luz chooses that her pain and angst is so bad that she doesn't want to help Amity reunite with her siblings. Or to make sure they can live in a world where they're safe. Gus' dad, Willow's parents, Darius, etc. All of them can rot as far as Luz is concerned. She even explicitly states this in For the Future. "Once Eda and King are safe, I'm going home."

No one else matters. LITERALLY no one else matters to her but the people she has chosen to care about and there aren't many of those. This is framed even worse by the fact that by the end of this episode, Camila will effectively say that Luz has NEVER done anything wrong. That trying to critique her at all, to try and give her life skills and friends with the camp after she put people's lives potentially in danger (snakes and fireworks are not meant for school for a reason), was wrong. That Luz just needs to be 'understood'. Part of understanding Luz, especially in S3, means that unless someone attacks her about it, like the dream sequence, WHICH ISN'T HER OWN MIND BUT A FABRICATION AND LIE, she isn't going to think about others. Just her adopted family and herself. And even then, maybe not even her adopted family since they sure as shit didn't matter in Thanks to Them.

BUT. we are supposed to sympathize with her and believe she did nothing wrong, just like Camila. Do not question her motivations, or her efforts, just believe her words.

This is emblematic of the show as well. The first two episodes talk a big game about fantasy vs reality and like Luz's selfish motivations, warped way of looking at things and her learning to be a human being, not a walking, wanna be protagonist will be interrogated. But... Not really. She repeatedly does things that are mirrored in her favorite series. Her final battle line will be a reference to that series and her delusions with that series. People might get briefly upset about her actions but most of the time she either doesn't have to do anything, like Reaching Out or Adventure in the Elements (where she gets a glyph BEFORE making up the fuck up she did) or show how special she is like in Lost in Language and Covention. I can only really think of like one episode after the first two where Luz fucks up and genuinely has to take the brunt of punishment for it, Winging it Like Witches, and even in that one, she is saved before anything bad happens to her before winning with the same trick that hurt her friends, just... Now it's okay because they're all on the same page about it I guess. Couldn't have had Willow come up with something herself because Luz actually was willing to listen to Willow and not force something onto her. That'd be too much work.

It's part of why the more you interrogate Luz's intentions and motivations, it gets BAD. So much of what she does could be easily grafted onto a kid trying to play hero or not learning anything from past mistakes. Don't ever forget that Teenage Abomination says "Listen to your mentor about their specialty," then The Intruder says "Don't take shortcuts to magic" before then in Adventure in the Elements, Luz takes a shortcut for magic while also not listening to Eda and almost gets people killed for it. GREAT JOB LUZ! Much development, such depth.

And yes, lots of shows will have characters yoyo and the like but these are within HALF A SEASON of each other. It usually takes a little longer for most animated shows to straight up start repeating lessons. Hell, yes, it is theoretically a problem for Amphibia too with stuff like Bessie and the hibernation episode both featuring Anne's impatience but also S1 is genuinely about how Anne is fighting between the lessons she's learning and her growing empathy versus how she used to be with her selfishness and laziness. Also, both episodes might be about her impatience but they genuinely tackle it in different ways, with one being about disregarding the rules because of overconfidence and the other one is out of boredom. For TOH... It's just that Luz wants the magic she thinks she should have, as easily and as fun as she thinks it should be instead of weird and actually taking work, and fucks it up because of that same motivation.

That same motivation that doesn't treat reality like reality. According to the show though, that's just the best way to be. Follow your own version, fuck everything else. That's what Luz gets to do in the end after all and she's the one literally blessed by God to be correct.

So yeah, I think her selfishness might be a touch rewarded.

======+++++======

I have a public Discord for any and all who want to join!

I also have an Amazon page for all of my original works in various forms of character focused romances from cute, teenage romance to erotica series of my past. I have an Ao3 for my fanfiction projects as well if that catches your fancy instead. If you want to hang out with me, I stream from time to time and love to chat with chat.

A Twitter you can follow too

And a Kofi if you like what I do and want to help out with the fact that disability doesn’t pay much.

[but-thats-idiocy]

Never, under any circumstances, should one bombard Neil Gaiman with fan theories. However, feel free to inquire about the availability of an apple pie.

I enjoy writing meta and sharing silly posts. Eons ago, I majored in Literature and my jam was 'Doubles and Mirror Images'. Dilemmas, analogies, references, metaphors—basically dissecting text down to its very DNA.

I do not write to read Neil Gaiman's mind, but rather to analyze how this story could progress and what could happen in possible dimensions.

I do not write Good Omens meta solely to predict S3, I have no plans to become an omniscient creature after this age. All those posts I wrote are just pops from my dream world.

Again, please do not send questions to Neil Gaiman about what you read here, otherwise I will have to send my not-so-cuddly seagulls, who cannot speak our language well, on you to ruin your meal times.

#pinned