#( HM this was probably my best gifset )

[m4ndysk4nkovich]

Hello! Here are some Debbie asks 💖 -

1. Favourite/least favourite Debbie relationship (can be romantic or platonic)?

2. Storyline you wish Debbie had?

3. Underrated Debbie moment?

4. Where do you see Debbie in five years time?

5. Best Debbie outfit/look?

6. First line that comes to your head when you think of Debbie? (Could be a line she says or one someone says about her)

7. Funniest/saddest/best Debbie moment?

8. Favourite fanfic or fanart or gifset about Debbie?

9. How did you feel about Debbie’s ending?

10. Five words to describe Debbie?

yay hi calli!

my favorite relationship debbie was in would probably be debbie x sandy (sebbie), but only pre-11x05 before they were ruined. and my least favorite relationship would probably be heidi? her character was brought in so randomly and in an obvious attempt to slander debbie more. i would say that my least favorite would be a relationship that she had with any of the guys she was with, but i don’t really count those since she was a lesbian and underage for most of those relationships.

i don’t really know how to answer this… there are a few storylines that shameless started for her and just didn’t bother to explore so i guess i’ll say those. (this is depressing sorry) in 4x07, debbie’s friend convinces her to self harm, and she does. season 4 debbie is very interesting because she explores abandonment issues, peer pressure, and grooming, which are all important issues. i think that the shameless writers got over her self harm too fast, and i think that it could have been interesting to see them talk about that, because it is an issue that many struggle with (although ian did also struggle with it in 5x10). i also wish that we got a scene where debbie talks to her siblings about how they treat her. in season 11, they mistreat her a lot, but it’s all for comedic purposes so nobody really talks about it, but i wish she or someone else would stand up for her.

every debbie moment is an underrated one if you ask me, lol. i think an underrated one may be when she bought a snake and put it in matty’s girlfriend’s car. it was so evil and maybe people hate her for it but i just found it funny. also, when she lied to jimmy-steve and said it was her birthday for free food. she’s iconic.

five years from now or five years from the finale? i’m gonna go with five years from the finale, which is 2026. i see debbie doing well. adult liam in hos says that they all end up doing well, and yes, he’s talking about a time far more in the future, but in season 11 debbie’s business was successful so i’ll say that she is. i think that she and franny will stay in the gallagher house, and i hope that debbie will get some therapy because she desperately needs it, especially if she has a ten/eleven year old kid. i want her to find a good girlfriend, maybe it’s sandy, maybe it’s not. idk. really all i hope is that she’s doing well mentally, franny’s thriving, they have a house, and debbie does everything is still going well.

hm… well, the wedding dress in 10x12 is the first thing that comes to mind. she looks fabulous and she’s doing it for the sake of gallavich, which we love. if it’s not that, it’s probably one of her other looks in season 10, because i think that was her best era fashion wise (and in general, honestly. that was her redemption arc, john wells just fucked it up), so probably the black dress with the leather jacket that she wore while convincing ian to get back with mickey, or the red dress she was trying on.

6. (the bullets got messed up😭), well, for lines, “you do not f with debbie gallagher!!!!” (after attempting to drown a girl who bullied her for being a closet lesbian), “you can’t drink him away, mickey. it won’t work”, (after convincing mickey to go back to ian, because my girl loves her family and is the biggest gallavich fan in the whole show).

7. funniest would probably be the, “you do not f with debbie gallagher!” thing, but also when she kidnapped that kid and was questioned by the police, specifically because the scene was just little clips of her talking and one was like, “yes i would like a cookie”, it was just so funny i love her. for saddest, i’d have to say hitting frank with a bag full of soap and then sobbing into her pillow, crying when she knew that derek left her, or when she was screaming at derek’s mother’s house and consoling franny even though franny couldn’t hear- i died inside a bit when i watched that scene. her best moment was any moment she helped out her siblings (which happens a lot, contrary to what debbie antis who think that she’s selfish think), like coming to mickey’s house to get him back, somehow getting ford up on a billboard so that fiona could shoot paintballs at his ass, creating a distraction at the gallavich wedding, and pranking kelly with carl- there’s a few more but those are my personal favorites.

8.i have a few favorite fics, like definitions by the lovely @astaraels, the sun; a little to the left, and familiar patterns by the also lovely, @aceyanaheim. this is probably my favorite gifset, and i don’t really know a lot of debbie fanart- but probably anything that @deedala did because she loves debbie also and is an amazing artist.

9. how did i feel about it… well, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I FUCKING HATED IT. i really hated every characters ending, gallavich’s ending was fine but there were also some things about it i didn’t really love. i’ve made really long posts about my issues with this ending, but to summarize: in s10, john wells attempted to make a debbie redemption arc, which is why there isn’t a lot of debbie hate in that season. many people liked her that season, esp because of 10x12. but then, in s11, we’re expected to believe that everyone hates debbie, (*cough* ian *cough*), and we hear her called a “terrible mom” a “loser” “annoying” etc. also, frank’s parting words to her were horrible and mean! i would start bawling if i were her, and i get that it’s frank, but still. also, they ruined sebbie and replaced it with a toxic person who we know debbie is only dating as a form of self sabotage. i have so much more to say, but that’s it simplified.

10. strong, selfless, ambitious, caring, loving, determined, chaotic, independent, creative, helpful.

💋

[leonard-cold]

I’ve been wanting to engage the coldflash fandom more and I’ve got some qs for you! — what’s your favorite:

Coldflash episode?

Barry Allen Episode (could be from outside the flash too!)

Leonard Snart focused episode? (LoT or the Flash)

And also…

What’s your favorite fanfic? (Or list a couple)

What gifset do you always reblog?

No pressure on asking but I hope that these are fun questions ❄️⚡️

hey anon

my favorite coldflash episode is probably infantino street. it felt like the writers showing us a glimpse of what could've been in an almost painful way but i just love watching them work together and it was a beautiful farewell to a beloved character that acknowledged how important these two were for each other. we could've had it all... but at least we'll always have infantino street

my favorite barry episode is a tie between 'the runaway dinosaur' and 'the last temptation of barry allen' (tho i haven't watched the show beyond s6 yet so always subject to change)

my favorite len episode... hm. for the flash it's probably 'going rogue' bc i love when he gets to be an asshole and gets away w it 😂 i mean, i know it's controversial but i also love 'doomworld' bc its so fun to see wentworth give us his best disney villain acting 😆 i actually hate most of s1 of legends (big l for me that this is the only season my fave character is in and i can barely stand to watch it...) so if i had to pick one it'd probably be 'white knights' just bc it's low stakes fun watching len be his little con-artist self

there are so many great coldflash fics out there honestly, i remember saying i was gonna make a rec list bc i specifically wanted to rec more recent fics... but then i didn't 😅 so anyway, my fave fic is 'tell me what you want me to say' by giraffeter (here), i actually had to stop myself from reading it over and over again bc i was worried i was going to make myself sick of it which would be an absolute tragedy bc that fic is so amazing and addictive, i could gush it all day like a schoolkid with a crush 😍

bonus point for any fic crestfaller has ever written for the ship, i cannot pick one, her work always makes me go stare at the ceiling for a little while it is *that* good (edit bc i forgot to link them but you can find her coldflash fics here)

(and i know this was abt coldflash but my fave coldwestallen fic is 'that old switcheroo' by sandrine, which you can find here)

idk if there's a gifset that i always reblog in the way you mean bc i rarely reblog anything spontaneously haha, i schedule two posts a day and i pick them by looking through my bookmarks

these questions were definitely fun, not sure my answers were all that interesting lmao, but in any case thank u for your interest 😊

[stevethehairington]

20 and 50 for the ST asks

helllooo!! i am SOOO sorry for such a late response omg.

i hope i got the right ask game here lol but i'm preeeety sure i did.

20. favorite emotional moment?

i definitely have to go with robin's coming out scene for this one. there are several other good emotional moments throughout the show, but this one really takes the cake for me because it's just SUCH a good one!!! and it's not very often that we get a gem of a coming out scene like this one, it's just so well done, and i could really go on and on about the scene. PLUS it sort of solidified thee platonic soulmates, like, from this point on they are IT for each other in that sense, yknow? and steve and robin's friendship is truly one of my favorite things about the show.

50. top five absolute fav things about stranger things in general?

ooh hm well i suppose:

the friendships!! there is such a huge focus on friendship in this show and i LOVED that so much. i feel like the show has sort of strayed a little bit from this in the later seasons, but oh man, season 1? that shit HITS, the friendships there are SO good, they're SO strong. like the party? i love that little group of kids!! they're so ride or die already!! they clearly love each other a lot! and then when el and max join the group, they become Part Of The Team too and i love them and i love their specific friendship too! and steve and robin my favorite dynamic duo!!! there is TRULY no other platonic soulmate best friendship out there like theirs, it's something special. and also the kids' friendships with steve (especially dustin!!!) it's SO good!!

the vibes are just so good too. like i was born after the 80s lol but there is still SUCH a sense of nostalgia with this show, again especially in that first season! there's just something about a bunch of kids riding around on bikes fighting monsters that hits different yknow?

steve's character arc!!! steve is probably my favorite character of the whole show and just the way they did his arc is one of my absolute favorite things ever because they did it so WELL. like, asshole popular jock who realizes that he's wrong and realizes that he fucked up and actually puts in the effort to fix what he did and to make things right and to mean it too, that's just SO GOOD. THAT is how you do a redemption arc. i just love steve so much, he deserves his whole entire own bullet point here lol.

i feel like if i give steve a whole entire bullet point for himself i HAVE to give eddie a whole entire bullet point too because that man.... well, he changed the whole entire game. like i've said it before but i was just a casual fan before s4 - watched when new seasons came out, talked with friends about it, but i was not part of the fandom. like i didn't look through the tags, or reblog a whole lot outside of the occasional gifset or smth, and i certianly didn't write or create any of my own content/hcs/etc. but THEE second that eddie munson walked onto that screen he stole my god damn life from me. that guy dragged me over the edge of that boat and right through the watergate with him because once i saw him i was HOOKED and i did not look back. so yeah, it's entirely eddie's fault that i am here today and i adore every single thing about him and what he stands for and who he is and i wont get into it because this post will really never end but i am SO disappointed with what they did with him and how they chose to *end his character arc (*clown shoes are FIRMLY on tho bc i am honk honk fully onboard with the we have not seen the last of eddie munson train soooo lol).

the absolutely incredible fantastic wonderful beautiful amazing inspiring awesome ridiculous epic EVERYTHING that everyone has created in response to this show. i love stranger things, i do, but we all know that there are certain things - characters, relationships, arcs, plotlines, etc. - that have missed the mark, that could have been better, that could have gone a different way. and it is the fans, it is the writers, it is the artists, it is the gif makers, it is the editors, it is EVERYONE who puts their heart and soul into creating for this fandom that fills in those gaps, that fixes things, that takes these characters we know and love and breathes even more life into them, takes them to new places, lets them explore things they deserve to explore. i will forever be grateful to everyone in this fandom because of this!!! it's incredible and it's the best part of the whole show, truly.

[wingsyliveblogs]

Things I know about The Owl House

In preparation for my liveblog of The Owl House, I’ve made a list of things that I have been spoiled on regarding the series over the last year or two. I intend to go into the series as blind as possible - I watched the first episode about a year ago, to see if it was something I’d like, but I have never seen anything else from the series - no episodes, no clips, and as little exposure to images/gifsets as I could manage. 

But sadly, when a show is as popular as this one, it’s hard to avoid spoilers entirely. And I’m not particularly good at remaining unspoiled on things, as my curiosity often gets the better of me and I end up playing spoiler chicken with myself. So, as it turns out, there are a lot of things that I know about the series that I probably shouldn’t. Since I can’t exactly un-know these spoilers, I figure the best course of action is to share everything I know so we’re all on the same page. So let’s get to it!

Disclaimers:

1. This is a list of things that I, someone who has never watched The Owl House, would consider spoilers. However, there may be actual spoilers for the series in here, so tread carefully if you’re not caught up with the series yourself.

2. This is a post made as part of a blind liveblog. Please do not spoil or clarify anything that is listed here. I do not want any more information about the series than what I already have. Thank you!

(Warning: this is a long post.)

As mentioned above, I watched the entire first episode a year ago to see if it was something I'd want to watch (and potentially liveblog). Yes, I took an entire year to get around to this. I don't recall all the details, but I remember the general plot of the episode, the premise of the series, and the main characters' names. 

Their names are Luz (main character), Eda (mentor character), and looks at smudged writing on hand King, I think? (my brain filed him as "the little guy" so I'm not 100% sure on the name but I think that's it) 

(prior to watching the first episode, I assumed it was a straightforward fantasy setting - something like The Dragon Prince, for example. Having watched that one episode, I am now aware that it's a "character from the real world goes to fantasy world" type setting.)

I don't actually know much about King beyond what the first episode revealed about him, and I don't exactly remember everything that happened in that episode so... he's probably the main character I know the least about. babey 

I've heard that Luz attempts to learn magic, though I don't have any info about how successful she is. Based on what I remember of the first episode, it makes sense that this would happen, but I don't remember if it's actually brought up in the first episode so I'm counting it as a spoiler. 

I... think the whole "I let my mom think I was going to a boring summer camp (or something, I don’t remember the exact details) but actually I am hanging out in a cool fantasy world" set-up might... be addressed?? in some way? instead of just being the background for the story to happen? This may just be wishful thinking, though. I think I do recall reading that something happens at the end of season 1, maybe? but that's about it.  

so, there are some things that I've heard about Eda. First of all, I know there's a fandom crossover joke about her and Grunkle Stan from Gravity Falls being exes. I can only assume they got on each other's nerves due to being way too similar for comfort. 

next... hm. I think Eda has some sort of curse??? I know exactly nothing about what the curse is or what it does, only that there’s an "owl beast" involved and I'm guessing this may have something to do with why the series is called what it is. 

Is Eda a were-owl??

seriously, I have visual references for what most of the important characters look like because I see them everywhere, but literally all I've seen regarding this curse thing is vague words. I am very eager to learn what it's all about! 

also I think there's an owl who's also a stick who is a character? Maybe named Hooty? (don't quote me on that one) They may have been in the first episode but I honestly can't remember, so until I actually get to watching it and find out, let's assume this is also a spoiler. 

I think there's a joke about them dying? unsure if it's fandom joking about a serious situation or just one of those funny bits in an episode though

then there’s some characters whom I'm pretty sure I should not know about 

there's a villain called "the collector". this is literally all I know about the character 

there's a girl who's kind of a mean rival character for Luz? but then later they become gfs. It is impossible to get within 50 feet of people talking about the show without knowing this. I am very happy that this is a thing but also it's definitely a spoiler so 

they are canonically gfs and that is why the series has been cancelled. Why does this keep happening 

I'm not sure about the girl's name but I sure do know the ship name! It's "lumity". Also I think her name might be Amity? 

sometimes she has green hair and sometimes she has purple hair. I think she just changes her hair colour at some point? I don't know why though 

I do remember seeing her in the ED at the end of the first episode so I assume she'll show up early on 

she has a family, but that's all I know about that. I don't even know how much of a family she has 

she has a last name, but I don't remember what it is, just that she has one 

based on what I know about her, I think I will like her 

there's a guy with like, white-blonde hair? I thought he had yellow eyes but my siblings have assured me that that is definitely not the case. I'm pretty sure that Eda has yellow eyes though so maybe that's where the confusion came from 

anyway his name is Hunter. He's an antagonist but he's sad and everyone loves him. I think he's working for a bigger bad guy? no details on that though 

he might also be called the "golden guard" or something like that? One of these names is definitely a spoiler 

based on what I know about him, I think I will like him 

one time I saw people talking about an episode that had just released. It was something about a lake. I think that the other girl might've been in the episode, but I don't recall anything else (I believe I was officially trying to avoid spoilers at that point, but...... badly) 

my siblings made a joke about owls being fried?? and insisted that I include that in this list. I do not think that this a legitimate spoiler.

The context was I was asking them to not spoil me since both of them have watched this show. I’m not sure if the context helps though

So that’s everything that I can think of off the top of my head. It may look like a lot (and it probably is a lot) but the way I see it, it’s mostly vague information about characters. I know very little about what actually happens in the story, and the worst that’s liable to happen is I’ll probably be nicer to certain characters than I might be if I didn’t know anything about them. 

Also, I wouldn’t count this as a spoiler, but I have been assured by my siblings, who know my taste in media very well, that I will enjoy this series. I’m definitely looking forward to watching it!

[annakie]

A List of Shows I’ve Watched So Far This Year

...and a couple of sentences about each one.  Also some movies and podcasts, too.

I started keeping a list around the time the entertainment outlets started publishing their “Best of 2021″ lists near the end of the year so I would be sure to catch some good TV since I wasn’t sure what to watch half the time.  So this list is partially from those lists, partially stuff I found in other ways like via tumblr gifsets on my dash, some things I stumbled upon, had already been watching, and some just because I was subscribed to whatever service a show was on and thought “Hm that looks interesting.”

Tried keeping track of movies and podcasts, too. Gonna do video games in a different post.  Currently I have 34 shows on my “To Watch / Catch up on” list, and always adding more.

This is in no particular order at all.

Taskmaster (& rewatched a lot of it.) - OK I immediately lied.  I moved this to the top because I honestly believe everyone should watch Taskmaster.  It is the most joyful thing I’ve ever watched, I love it so, so much.  Everyone I have convinced to watch the show has loved it.  It curbs anxiety, it always always always makes me laugh, and there’s a lot of it to watch. 

Taskmaster is a British... panel/game show, sort of, where five comedians/entertainers are at the whims of the Taskmaster (Greg Davis) and his assistant (Alex Horne, who is the true genius behind the show) and do ABSOLUTELY ABSURD tasks to earn his approval.  The same cast stays for an entire season (early on 5 or 6 episodes, then 8, now 10.)  Greg scores their efforts, and at the end of the season, the winner takes home... a bust of Greg’s head.  Mostly bragging rights and a spot on the Champion of Champions special that happens after every 5th season.

I cannot express how much I love Taskmaster. You can just watch most of it for free on Youtube.  Series 1 Episode 1 is a fine place to start, or maybe try season 4 for people you likely already know.  Anyway, that’s the sales pitch.  Everything else is just my opinions.  Watch Taskmaster, unless you hate fun and don’t need a distraction right now?

I started watching it near the end of last year, and then synced up with @ahab99 and we watched the rest of it together.  It’s been one of my favorite things to do this year, and the fandom is great.  My favorite seasons are 4, 5, 7, 9, 12 and 13, but I love them ALL.

Kongen Befaler (Taskmaster Norway) S1 & 2 - I love Taskmaster so much I started watching the Norwegien version, which is slow going because I have to be in the right mind to watch something with subtitles, but the Norwegian version is very nearly as good as the original.  Highly recommend it if you’ve finished with the original.  I haven’t yet gotten to the New Zealand version yet because I’m waiting for ahab99 to be ready, but I know it’s also considered to be great.

The Great S1 & 2 - Speaking of great... watched this as it was on Alan Sepinwall’s best of 2021, and I trust him about quality of things most of the time.  Enjoyed The Great a lot, not one of my favorite things of the year, but thought the leads were very good and also Sacha Dhawan was a nice surprise.  It’s got a lot more grossout humor than you were probably expecting. But I’ll watch S3.

Halt and Catch Fire S1-4 - I’d watched S1 and the first half of S2 when it was airing, then fell behind, and my DVR broke, and I never caught back up.  But Sepinwall had mentioned it somewhere in a review I read recently and put it back on the list.  It’s a show that got stronger every season.  S1 was really trying way too hard to be Mad Men But In the 80′s And About Tech, once they figured out the characters in S2, toned down Lee Pace’s character and made the “mousey wife” not so mousey, it got amazing.  Loved it so much.

Station Eleven - The first few eps aired last year, and I watched it in real time, but the last three aired this year.  This is one of the best things I watched not only this year but... ever.  A story of love and hope after a world-ending pandemic.  You would think “I don’t need a pandemic story right now” but yeah, you need this story.  One of the most satisfying moments I’ve experienced in fiction near the end of the series, too.  So good.  Highly rec.  This also means Mackenzie Davis was one of the leads of... the last two things I talked about and she deserves all the awards.

Hacks S1 & 2 - I love Jean Smart and had been meaning to get around to this one for awhile, so I got to it like a few weeks before S2 aired.  Really funny and powerful story of two women in different generations who were there when they needed it the most.  A definite rec.

Starstruck S1 & 2 - I watched this not only because Sepinwall recommended it, but because it was created by & stars Rose Matafeo, who is on series 9 of Taskmaster and who I adore because of it.  Really funny,  great story, a little frustrating, but well worth it.

Our Flag Means Death (3 times) - Thanks to tumblr for all the gifsets, and finding out Guz Khan (who is in S12 of Taskmaster) is in this show, I gave in and watched it.  I didn’t watch it the first time til the week after it ended, but then I signed up for HBO Max to support the show and watched it three times in one month.  Loved it.  Can’t wait for S2.

Severance - Came for Adam Scott, stayed for holy shit what is going on here why do I have to wait week to week for more?  I NEED ANSWERS NOW.  Creepy, bleak, and very, very intriguing.  Am on the edge of my seat for season 2.  Another one of the best things I’ve seen this year/in awhile.

The Expanse (Some in 2021, some in 2022) - One of those shows I’d been meaning to get into for a long time and I knew if I could stick with it eventually I’d love it. I had tried the first episode a couple of times over the last few years and didn’t like it but... I was determined this time and stuck with it.  I have LOVED Shohreh Aghdashloo for a long time and she got me to stick around.  I honestly didn’t love the show until season 2 or so, but at some point I was all in, and was sad when I finished, though a couple of the seasons were weaker than others for sure, and learning the circumstances behind the removal of one of the main characters, who was another of my favorites, put a small damper on it.  But I’m glad I finished it.  Someone make a S7. :(

Upload S2 - Watched S1 and thought it was decent, S2 was... definitely affected by the Pandemic filming.  It was OK, but not great.  The season finale especially seemed cut off too soon.  But I’ll keep watching.

Doctor Who Specials (New Year’s special and The Sea Devils) - New Years special was great, other one was okay. It’s nice that they’re addressing 13/Yaz.  Even though, ya know, it’s almost regeneration time.  There’s a lot about the 13 era I have liked, but also a lot of wasted potential.  And I’m not a fan of the Timeless Child thing... have seen few who are, though. 

I also rewatched the Husbands of River Song because the Taskmaster himself, Greg Davis, plays King Hydroflax in this episode.

Critical Role S3 + Calamity - Been keeping up with Critical Role still, though sometimes I fall behind a week or two.  I have been enjoying S3 a lot, probably more than I enjoyed the first arc of S2.  Having Ashley back full time is great, and I like the new characters.  Been staying far, far away from the fandom and the drama, though.

Calamity was amazing.  I know I posted a thing about maybe not watching but I did because of how everyone was talking about it, and it was everything people said it was.  I cried through most of the finale.  Thanks to @thequeenofmyownscreen for crying with me. :)

I have very much wanted to get into Dimension 20 since before Calamity and really want to now, but have yet to find the time.

Breaking Bad Rewatch (Just season 2.5 to the end) - After watching the first half of S6 of Better Call Saul, and hearing the second half is going to have more relevance to Breaking Bad, I went back and re-watched BB from the first Saul episode to the end, since I hadn’t seen it since it aired. For like the S2 and some of the S3 part I was fast forwarding through a lot of like, Hank & Marie scenes or parts that were a lot of people staring at each other, but after awhile I just settled in and re-enjoyed the ride.  Worth it.

Better Call Saul S6 - As noted above, have been keeping up with BCS the whole time.  Love it.  Can’t wait to see how it ends.  DON’T KILL KIM WEXLER, PLEASE SHOW.

(BBC) Ghosts S1 - 3 - Three of the main characters have been contestants on Taskmaster (Charlotte Richie - S11, Lolly Adofope - S4 and Katy Wix - S9) plus at least two guest stars (Jessica Knappet - S7, Bridget Christie - S13.)  So after learning this plus seeing some gifsets on my tumblr dash and seeing it was on HBO Max, I watched.  Really enjoyed it, highly recommend. 

(CBS) Ghosts - While looking up info for BBC Ghosts, I saw CBS had brought the show to America.  I thought “Well, let’s see how bad they fucked this up” and dove in, intending to watch just the first episode or three.  I finished the (currently only, S2 is incoming) season in like a day and a half.  They did a good job making both the living married couple and the ghosts American, retaining some flavor of the BBC version without it being a direct ripoff aside from the pilot and one ghost being a near carbon copy of the British counterpart.  I think they did a good job making it their own.  The Brit version is probably still better, but I don’t regret watching both and will watch the next seasons of both, too.

(New) Kids in the Hall - I was in High School when the Kids in the Hall was originally airing on Comedy Central here in the US, and things like “I’m Crushing Your Head” were as cool as Wayne’s World quotes.  Wasn’t sure what to expect about the revival but I really loved it, a lot.  Be warned if you watch it there is old man full frontal in uh, the first episode, lol.  But seriously, it was great.  And I’m flabbergasted and mad that it wasn’t nominated for an Emmy.

Only Murders in the Building S2 - I think S1 aired last year?  Watching S2 now.  What a delight this show is.  As an Old, I grew up loving Steve Martin and Martin Short and they’re amazing here.  I had no idea who Selena Gomez is before this show, and now I adore her.  Enjoying S2 a lot.

For All Mankind S3 - I think I watched S1 & S2 at the end of last year, and except for that mindbogglingly terrible subplot at the end of the 2nd season, I really loved it.  S3 has been likewise great so far.  Even though the stupid subplot continues into S3.  I’m a Margot and a Dani stan.

Mare of Easttown - When this was airing last year it felt like everyone was talking about it and how great it was, so I got around to watching it.  It was, indeed, very good, with a resolution that was surprising but didn’t feel like came out of nowhere.  Also more Jean Smart = good.

The White Lotus - I mean, I have HBO Max right now and this is another show people kept talking about when it was airing, so I watched it.  Eehhh, it was okay.   It was a good takedown of white people at their most white-people-ness.  Don’t think it deserves the Emmy love it’s getting except for the guy who played the hotel manager.

The Umbrella Academy S3 - I keep up with TUA when it’s on, and enjoy it. Enjoyed S3 as well.  Not as much as S2 but hey, enough to look forward to S4.  Mostly glad this season Luther got over Allison, but Allison this season was uh... not great.

Stranger Things S4 - Just like most everyone else, watched ST4 and I did love it, though the criticisms of it is pretty valid, too.  NGL, got pretty bored with the Eleven subplot in the first half and fast forwarded through it as I thought it was very obvious Henry = Vecna and it felt like otherwise we were rehashing a lot of other stuff.  And the Russian Prison subplot could have been cut way down, too.  But still, love Stranger Things.  Can’t wait for S5.

Murderville - Will Arnett’s improv / cop comedy.  Swung WILDLY in quality depending on who the guest of the week was.  They were right to put Conan first and Kumail Nanjiani last so it started and ended on its strongest episodes.  I adore Annie Murphy but it was uncomfortable watching her stumble through her episode.  But I finished it and would watch a S2.

Resident Alien S2 - I think S1 was stronger so far, but still loving this show, and Alan Tudyk is great, so is his co-lead Sara Tomko.  Could do with less Mayor and Mayor’s Wife who’s character’s names I can never ever remember, and more of everyone else.

Barry S2 & 3 - I watched S1 as it aired and never got around to picking up S2 or 3 until a few weeks ago.  It’s very good, and very violent.  Can’t believe they’re still gonna do a S4 after that S3 ending.

The Flight Attendant S1(ish) - I watched the first episode and thought... I am not into this enough to watch the rest of the season but I do want to know how it ends.  So I skipped right over to the last two episodes.  Maybe I’ll do the same with S2.

Gentleman Jack - Was interested in this from tumblr gifsets.  Literally watched the first episode and a couple of hours later the cancellation was announced, lol.  Overall, I enjoyed it but I hope Suranne Jones’ back is OK because she carried this show for all sixteen episodes.  Anything focused on Anne Lister was great.  But they could not write a subplot of side characters to SAVE A LIFE.  The cast was great, (I mean they had Five himself Peter Davison!) with what they were given.  But so many subplots either were messy, boring or went nowhere and were dropped without resolution.  Still glad I watched it but... it feels like only Lister/Walker ever found its footing and everything else was... not there.  I’d have kept watching, but not super upset it’s likely not going to happen.

Star Wars

Book of Boba Fett - I think I liked this series more than most when it was focusing on Boba Fett but also like... the criticism was fair.  And yeah it felt more like a sub-show of The Mandalorian rather than its own thing in the end.  It was quite cool seeing the whole gang, minus Cobb, fighting together in the finale.  And also uh, this may be blasphemous, but I am slightly disappointed they brought Grogu back?  I think they are victims to their own success if they don’t think the show can survive without Grogu, whereas I was kinda looking forward to Mando on his own.  But I’ll enjoy Mando S3 either way, I think.

Even this review of BoBF became a review of The Mandalorian. *facepalm*

Obi-Wan Kenobi - Yeah it was messy blah blah but I really really loved Obi-Wan.  We’d been waiting for Obi’s return forever and I think they did a great job making the show emotionally resonate.  It was so great seeing Hayden back, too.  And it also adds a little more emotional weight to ANH how too, with Obi-Wan having a relationship with Leia.

Star Trek

I watched all the Star Treks. Yesterday was the first NON-STAR TREK Thursday of this ENTIRE YEAR and I AM MAD ABOUT IT.  Luckily Lower Decks S3 starts next month.

Prodigy S1.0 - There’s still more Prodigy S1 coming, but I am enjoying this show more than I thought I would, grading on the “It’s for children!” curve.  NGL I am most invested in the Real Janeway & Chakotay stuff but the kids and Holo-Janeway are also great.  Excited for more.  And the Kobiyashi Maru episode was a fave, as well as the 1.0 finale.

(Rewatch) Picard S1 & then Picard S2 - I forgot most of what had happened in S1 so I rewatched it.  I like it more than most people did, but I mean... there’s like no Star Trek I don’t like.  S2 started strong, and I liked the ending, and a lot of what they did in the middle stumbled with some great moments and a few not so great.  There were definite parts of S2 that... didn’t work.  But it was also fun.  Plus my Teenage Dream Crush (lol) showed up, which was a huge plus for me.  And uhm... I am absolutely feral about what’s going to happen in S3.

Discovery S4 - I think Discovery had gotten stronger every season, and I again, have enjoyed every season.  I do definitely agree I wish every season wasn’t universe-ending threats, and the bridge crew doesn’t get enough to do, but I mean... that doesn’t at all ruin my enjoyment of the show. I thought the universe-ending threat was at least new and original this year.

Strange New Worlds S1 - Ummm... yeah.  It’s great.  I’m mad about how great it is.  It’s not my favorite of the New Treks (Lower Decks is probably my fave) but I do get why so many people say this is their favorite.  REMEMBER THOUGH... we wouldn’t have this Pike, Spock and Una without Discovery S2.

--

MST3K

Mystery Science Theater 3000 S13 + Specials - I Kickstarted MST3k season 13 for uhhhh... more than I probably should have.  I am really loving Season 13 so far.  Jonah is great as always, I already adore Emily and her bots, and having Joel back in the riffing seat with J. Elvis by his side mashed the nostalgia button so hard.  All the episodes have been hilarious, though some are more faves than others, but that’s normal.  Really enjoying the “special events” too.  Having something to do like, every other Friday by appointment has been nice, too.  The chat is very friendly and actually funny.  Ready to support them for as much as I can when S14 talk comes around.

The Mads Are Back - MST3k-related, Frank Coniff and Trace Belaiu have been doing monthly riffing livestreams since July 2020 and I’ve been to them all.  So another monthly Tuesday night appointment.  They also do a guest interview after each, which has been delightful.  Was a big help early in the Pandemic to have another monthly “appointment” to look forward to, and I’m glad they’re keep on keeping on with the livestreams especially since Frank’s health problems.  And I love that nearly all the old cast plus some of the new MST3k cast has come and hung out in the post-show with them. <3

Along with that, just rando, MST3K and Rifftrax episodes whenever I feel like it, often as white noise when I’m gaming or working.

--

Trashy Realtiy TV - I make no apologies.  I don’t watch a lot of reality TV but I have watched these.

The Circle S4 - I just lilke the Circle, OK? Love is Blind S2 - It’s a dose of drama that I usually avoid. 70% of Love is Blind Japan S1 - Wanted to see the differences. I watched the pods and vacation part, skipped most of the “We’re back at our real lives!” episodes and just went and saw who made it to the altar and who said I do.

JUST STARTED:

The Other Two - Haven’t finished yet, but just wrapped up S1.  A Sepinwall rec I wouldn’t have checked out otherwise.  The Entertainment Industry Takedown stuff is kinda funny but nothing we haven’t seen before.  What has made this show work so far is that yeah the mom + adult kids are very dysfunctional on their own but they love each other and their little brother a lot and that glue makes the show worth it for me.

Blood and Treasure S2 - I would not watch this show most likely but Mark Gagliardi is one of the main stars (probably #3 on the call sheet I’d guess) and when a guy you kinda know is on TV, you usually wanna watch that guy being on TV.  It’s a fun cheesy National Treasure like romp.  This season was filmed in 2020 and JUST NOW BEING RELEASED and only on Paramount+ so we’re probably not gonna get more.  The first two episodes released just this week so, we’ll see how the rest of the season goes.  Mark’s character has his own subplot this season though so I’m excited for that.

Movies

TBH I don’t watch a lot of movies?  There’s too many shows to watch.  But I have watched these in the last 6 months...

Everything Everywhere All At Once - Everyone was talking about it so I wanted to experience it.  As amazing as everyone said.  I still think about it often. And get Absolutely Story of a Girl stuck in my head.

The Batman - Not a huge Batman fan, (like it’s FINE but whatever) but wanted to see Pattison’s take on it.  Thought the movie was a little too long, and I came away with no strong feelings other than Pattison and Dano were both very good, and was excited to see Izzy Hands and Irving from Severance in the movie :v

Star Trek The Motion Picture - I’ve seen this like a half dozen times, and am always amazed at how many reaction shots of the cast’s face they padded the film with.  Wanted to see the new enhanced visuals and cut.  At least what they were gazing at for 15 minutes of the film’s runtime looked great.  I need to finish rewatching the rest of the TOS movies.  I’ve been saying that since I finished my All-ST Rewatch in 2020.  SO I guess I didn’t actually FINISH that rewatch.  Hm.

The Lost City - I truly don’t know why I watched this movie but I had finished whatever show I had been watching and didn’t want to start a new one yet so I watched this for no reason.  Cast was good, movie was cheesy but also fun in a Romancing the Stone sort of way. Not great, but fun.  Daniel Radcliffe makes a great villain.

Suicide Squad - I’m... trying... to watch the DC movies.  I’ve only seen the two Wonder Woman movies, Batman vs.Superman and that first Superman movie, all when they came out.  I’ve heard the second one and the Peacemaker show are great though so I’m trying to shove my way through the rest to that.  Do I have to watch the Snyder cut?  Anyway, this was fine, but felt like it was trying way too hard to be cool. Was entertaining at least.

Podcasts

I haven’t been listening to a lot of podcasts lately, tbh.  Mostly I listen in the last hour before bed when I’m playing on my Switch and hanging out with Patchy. 

The Taskmaster Podcast and Taskmaster: The People's Podcast - Yep been listening to the companion podcasts to Taskmater, too.  The original TM podcast is hosted by Series 9 contestant Ed Gamble and it’s fantastic because he’s SUCH a fan of the show, and he’s a great interviewer.  It’s a recap podcast, of the current episode if a series is airing or past series when one’s not.

The People’s Podcast is hosted by S8 contestant Lou Saunders + a guy who’s a fan (and a writer) who keeps meticulous stats of the show.  Though there’s a bit of episode discussion it’s mostly a celebration of the fandom.  Episodes are a bit more hit or miss depending on who the fan-guest is, but it’s a good effort and usually still entertaining.  Especially loved them interviewing Norwegian Taskmaster Assistant Olli Wermskog <3

Hello From the Magic Tavern S4 + Patreon Bonus Content - I’ve been a fan of HFTMT since about episode 24 (When Craig Cackowski guest starred.)  Through the years sometimes I’ve kept up, sometimes I’ve fallen months behind, but I have listened to it all, including the spinoff podcasts and signed up for the pateron on day 1.  Still love these guys after all these years.  If you want to listen to three guys and guests worldbuild a silly magical world, here you go.  There’s like 400 episodes including spinoffs and Patreon content, you won’t run out any time soon.

The Delta Flyers - Technically as I’m a Pateron patron I watch the episodes online, not listen to them as a podcast.  This is Robert Duncan McNeil (Tom Paris) and Garrett Wang (Harry Kim’s) Voyager rewatch podcast, that they started as a pandemic project, and they’re now in season five.  I really enjoy their takes, even when I don’t agree with them, and there’s so much BTS content.  Also the bonus content includes really great interviews with the rest of the cast pretty often, guest stars, directors, writers, crew, producers etc etc.  I pledge at a mid-teir level now and don’t regret it at all.  I usually watch while working, and sometimes I get a few episodes behind.  And also sometimes I have to rewatch the Voyager episode before listening to the podcast episode.  But very worth it.  Going to miss this one when they’re done.

The “To Watch / Catch up On” list: Counterpart You're the Worst Miracle Workers Zoey's Extradordinary Playlist Pen15 Derry Girls In Treatment We Are Lady Parts Girls 5eva Squid Game Succession Reservation Dogs Evil I May Destroy You Love Life Shadow and Bone Yellowjackets New Girl Wheel of Time Lovecraft Country Atlanta Watchmen Tuca and Bertie Sharp Objects Devs Yellowstone Gaslit Abbot Elementary Shining Girls The Orville

Catchup: Cobra Kai Downton Abbey (last season or two + movies) Rutherford Falls S2

I am taking suggestions.

And then there are a bunch of upcoming shows or shows with seasons that aired in like 2021 that I haven’t mentioned here to watch like, the Lord of the Rings show, and S2 of Leverage: Redemption not currently on this list that I will watch as they come out.

No idea how someone with an actual life squeezes in more show time.  I’m still like 90% in quarantine still (thx immune system) so... at least I’ve got the time.

[kaijudyke]

okay obvious but. wwdits for the show ask game? love your blog btw!! 💖

aw thank you!! i promise you i have no problem with obvious.

My rating (1-10): 10!!! ideal show 10/10 they are giving me everything i could possibly want. hmm. wait. okay. 9.5/10. not enough lesbians. when will nadja sleep with a woman. WHEN.

My favourite character: okay. listen. i love nandor so much. guillermo is amazing and he's so important to me but i just. i adore nandor. big dumb idiot. he's perfect.

My least favourite character: HM this is such a hard question bc like... even the characters who are maybe less likeable are unlikeable in the way they're intended to be? like, simon the devious isn't my favorite character, but he sucks in the specific way he's supposed to suck. he serves his purpose in the narrative. there aren't really a lot of characters i actively dislike. i guess like..... topher????? just by process of elimination lmao

The character I think I'd be friends with: i have painted myself into a corner on this one by repeatedly insisting to lev that i don't think guillermo would actually be a very good friend because he is completely unhinged. i stand by this. but compared to the other main characters he wouldn't be bad to hang out with!

The character I think I won't hit off with: i mean. most of them, realistically. definitely colin robinson bc i am a sensitive crybaby and it would be SO easy for him to stress me out and feed off of me.

My favourite episode/scene: this is so difficult... out of s3 so far i really really love the casino! the latest ep was AMAZING too. in terms of a specific scene... hmm... guillermo fighting all those vampires in the s2 finale is pretty hard to beat i have to say

Whose clothing style I like best: honestly probably guillermo, which is probably because he dresses like a butch lesbian

Times I watched it (and if I would again): i have watched it two times! actually i think i've watched the first season three times? anyway i would watch it again and i will be doing so in the near future bc i have an idea for a fairly elaborate gifset

send me the name of a series / film

[ckneal]

end of the year review!

Well, I was tagged by @nalivaa, @openpolarsea, @jumptheshark, and @ramseynatural (thanks, guys!), so here we go!

what fandoms did you create for?

I think I managed to get one or two posts out for Doctor Who, but Supernatural has by far taken up the majority of my creative energies this past year—and to think, I had thought I was done in the Supernatural fandom. My bag was packed, I was out the door. Then. . .Jake Abel.

how many works did you make this year? fics (posted on ao3 or tumblr or wherever), edits, gifsets, moodboards, playlists, fanart, vids, meta?

Fic-wise? I have written three in this past year. Four if you count the one I’m editing. But in terms of tumblr posts? Oooooh, so many. I’m not going to count, but the number 200 does not seem outrageous. For the most part, coming up with these posts serves as stress relief for me, and this has been a fairly stressful year.

any stats you want to tell us about?

Sadly, my typo rate is holding steady. 😐

what inspired you this year? any specific works or creators?

I’m always taking in stories from shows and books and musicals, but this corner of the internet has also been a profoundly inspiring influence. There is so much range and creativity in the content that I see cross my dash every day. I’ve also followed more people in the last year than I have since starting tumblr, and interacting with so many more as well, which has resulted in a lot of inspiration due to exchanging ideas and riffing on a concept. I know that I’m going to forget people if really try to name everyone.  

what are you most proud of?

Probably the Royal AU. That was an idea came from a perfect storm of inspiration from things that were going on in real life and things I was dabbling in for fun. And I think I had maybe four false starts at writing that particular idea out, because there were a lot of different pieces that I wanted to include, and each time I was convinced that no one would actual read this post. It was way too long, and way too dull. I was delightfully surprised by how sweet people actually were about it. And it also actually led to me getting to know one of my best tumblr friends.

what’s a piece you didn’t expect to make? why?

Oh, definitely the shared-body midamoul AU. In fact, if you read the posts in the order that they were actually written, it’s kind of funny how you can track my gradual decline from “I don’t even like this ship, but I need to wrap my head around how it could even happen in order to respect it” to the correct situation, where I am outright addicted to the concept, and just spamming the midamoul tag on a daily basis. I feel like I essentially saw a bunch of people who I admired coming together over this ship, and decided that I needed to go over there and just kick in the door, and start throwing my ideas at them, opposed to politely knocking and asking if I can play too. (Thank you guys for tolerating me during my denial period.)

Hm, I don’t really know who’s left to tag in this. Perhaps @susanoosama01? 

[softly-savage-mint-yoongi]

content creator year in review

I was tagged by the ever-delightful @j-pping to do this and I am so touched this is a lovely thing to do :c Thank you so much darling! <3 first creation and most recent creation of 2020: First creation was... according to my archives, I posted the second chapter of Allotrope on New Year’s Day. Most recent creation was...the Allotrope Christmas Special. one of your favorite creations from 2020: Oh! I really, really loved the Robinhood AU I wrote for @guardians-of-exo based on her moodboard way back some months ago! It has since been removed and launched me into wanting to write an interwoven AU based in Medieval era with her, so embarking on that adventure has been really fun and adventurous! a creation you’re really proud of: Hm, literally without turning this into a gush-fest about Allotrope, I’d say... the universe of our collab series, An Adventurer’s Guide to Romance. It might not seem like it but making nine timelines connect and overlap is hard. It only gets harder to entertain and write something new and fun without getting repetitive- especially when writing the same situation from another character’s perspective. I’m proud of how well it has gone so far and I can guarantee to you that’s why it takes so long to write each one after the next- I have to go back and reread and follow timelines and stuff to make sure I’m at the correct point in time of the story! a new style you tried this year and a gifset/fic that uses it: Uhh... I don’t have anything like that. I suppose you could say for style, that would be the series mentioned above that I collab on with @guardians-of-exo. I had read the entirety of Welcome to the Exodus Mall, an amazing and brilliantly colorful series by a writer I admire, @yehet-me-up. I was so blown away by the way she weaves everything together and felt inspired to write something in that fun kind of interwoven space because how freaking cool is a bunch of backstory and from characters you love when their arc is over??? a creation that took you forever: Ohoho, does it count if it is not over...? I have four creations that have been WIPs all year. One is Heat Seekers, a Chanyeol x f.reader set in a futuristic/dystopian AU, a really super personal piece for Yoongi called Desiderium, a fluffy and domestic Baekhyun piece that I can only write when I am in a very specific and soft mood, and lastly is my multi-chaptered Namjoon x f.reader Magic AU, Moonchild (which will probably get a rewrite). your creation that received the most notes this year: Without a doubt that would be Allotrope chapter 2, with 280 notes. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for every single one, but I would probably be a lot more discouraged by the perpetual decrease in notes as the story progressed if I didn’t absolutely find this story loving and wonderful and if I were not at peace being proud how honored I am to have been able to write it for Junmyeon. a creation you think deserved more notes: This is a cringe-worthy question. But I suppose, if I could wish for it, it would have been that the Allotrope chapter 7 would have received a bit more notes. NOT for the fact that I feel like it wasn’t well-loved, but the anxiety in me wants to make sure it was seen by the people who care to have read it through and I feel like its current count isn’t accurate enough to reflect that wish. I want people to know how the couple ended the story. Really, I know the two biggest fans of it, @jenmyeons and @kyungseokie read it more than once (I love you both thank you so much always), and that they love it so much. I just want to be sure everyone who ever gave me support and liked this story has had a chance to read its ending. <3 a new fandom you joined and a creation you made for it: ASLKDHALSLKFG Stray Kids because Changbin and Chan choose violence daily, but I haven’t had a chance to write anything for it yet. Although, I’ve had plenty of time to read things for them and lemme just say, bless you Skz fanfic writers. MVPs, all of them. Perhaps one day when I can’t contain myself anymore I’ll write something, ha! a creation you made that breaks your heart: Without a doubt, Allotrope. Breaks it down into tiny pieces and builds it back together again over and over. Also more recent, the quick and dirty Estiferous, all because of its cause for inspiration that was the fake scandal that dragged Chanyeol through the mud. dearest @saebyeog-i and I were in a fucking FIT. It’s not the best thing I’ve ever written but it was still heartbreaking to thinking about it and then to write it. JUST LOVE HIM. a ‘simple’ creation that you really love: THIS IS EASY- Ameliorate! This sweet domestic fluff fic I wrote for @kyungseokie when she was not quite feeling so well and I had just finished writing Saccharine for AAGTR after watching 100 Days My Prince so I was hella in my Ksoo feels. a creation that was inspired by another one: This one isn’t writing lmao, it’s this portrait drawing I did of Chanyeol, which was inspired by his photos for 1 Billion Views, so technically inspired by another work, just, still not of the writing variety. a favorite creation made by someone else: Ooh for sure there are several, even if not written this year! Welcome to the Exodus Mall series by @yehet-me-up as mentioned above, Fortune Favors the Brave and Meminerunt Omnia Amantes by @j-pping,  The War by @guardians-of-exo. Bitter Brews by @saebyeog-i (I love you and like it’s your fault, even without this adorable story, that I have a big fat crush on Johnny). Transference by @dark-muse-iris that I scream about whenever I can, Void and other works (like Gwanghae Flow) by @btssavedmylifeblr, literally anything and everything (but especially Light Sakura) by @yeoldontknow, I’ll be Yours by @jiminbbyboy The Rich Man’s Crochet Club by @kpopfanfictrash along with every other work she’s written. Sweeter Than Sweet by @gimmesumsuga, Wanted (and Tentacledipity of the same AU) by @jincherie, and all things written by @jenmyeons (but extra love for Fine Dining Chanyeol and The Dating Problem Junmyeon, omg.) and @kyungseokie (especially Dichotomy and the following Car Je T’aime and Clair de Lune (I am a sucker for her Baekhyun okay T~T)). literally so many others, oof. some of your favorite content creators of the year: See above. uwu Enjoy the last few days of 2020 and ring in a safe, healthy and happy New Year for 2021, everyone. Love you! <3

[spook-rambles]

hm probably best to start this blog with some avatar renaissance content which I'm gonna snipe from a conversation I was having on disc. anyway king Bumi was the rightful and uncontestable monarch of the independent great city of Omashu. okay I mean actually I don't remember how he became king but so idk if he's rightful BUT

(this is in response to that post talking about how Bumi gets to call himself king which is definitely something I've thought about. also be thinking about that other post (gifset? I think?) talking about Bumi's airbending influence from Aang when he was young)

so Bumi rules Omashu, which we learn a lot about on the way there. The city is ANCIENT, and named for the first two earthbenders, who literally moved mountains bc they were so in love, and learned earthbending from the badgermoles. (remind you of anyone else? anyway). this city feels like an earthbending spiritual center, so it really fits that its king is a master earthbender

so like how do the people see Bumi? We get to see his wisdom and intelligence but he likes to use an insane facade, so his citizens probably just see that. however, Omashu is doing great! despite the fact an insane dude has been running it for generations; most of the war even. merchants are even vetted before they enter the city (yes I'm extrapolating in that cabbage man scene) so business must be bustling! not to mention the huge amount of package traffic we see on the city's STATE OF THE ART DELIVERY SYSTEM. (though Bumi can't be credited for that; he and Aang rode those as kids). point is citizens are probably like "eh okay this dude's NUTS but seems to have this on lock"

cut to the day of black sun. Omashu has been under fire nation rule for some time (it doesn't say on the wiki so probably nobody knows. not me that's for sure) and Bumi has been chillin in a cage. just chillin. now it occurred to me that this guy probably would've been able to coinvent metalbending if he put his mind to it, so what's the deal? (master earthbender and known airbending style problem solver; out of the box thinker etc.) but really what would that have got him but out of the cage, and he had a whole city to take back. so whether it even occurred to him or not he's like. well you know what they say. wait until exactly the right moment, but it'll probably be awhile until a right enough moment to 1v1 a fuckin city. my headcanon here is Aang maybe passed on some meditation knowledge to him too but really every master bender seems to be down with that. anyway I'm pretty sure he just no thoughts head emptied for a week? weeks? to properly keep his strength and awareness (he got a lotta rocks from a long way away for a prison made for a master earth bender) up until he knew the time was right. we don't have any evidence iirc of Bumi in the spirit world, so I don't think he was just vacationing

so back to why he's Uncontestable. his citizens I think would have full trust in him from so many years of prosperity, so fire nation occupation would be uneasy but they're like "dude it was weird when he imprisoned the avatar too but it worked out let's just see where it goes". and go it does.

Bumi comes crashing down his city-mountain eating temporary nonfirebenders for a late lunch in a giant earth mech, just laughing hysterically like well. himself

if I were an omashian, after shitting myself, I would say "man I wasn't sure for a sec there but this guy can be my king forever"

so on top of his insane tier raw strength defending the city, there's straight up no way the citizens would ever deal with a hostile takeover from King Fucking Bumi

I think the only way to gain true control of Omashu in his lifetime is to beat him fair and square (or not at all, same diff to him) in an earthbending fight and have him abdicate to you. and who could do that???? Toph probably but if something is "only Toph can do it" you may as well call it impossible

so since Toph isn't taking it and Bumi says he's king there's NOBODY who can tell Omashu wtf to do, and who's gonna stop him?? the dai lee?? they're like baby mooselions to King Motherfucking Bumi

[raviposting]

I was tagged by @swordmastersokkas and @superhero-bastards, thanks guys! <3

Rules: Choose any three fandoms and answer the questions, then tag some friends!

I choose: well, the last three fandoms that I reblogged onto my blog because I would have sat here for 30 minutes choosing otherwise. 

The Umbrella Academy 

9-1-1 

Stranger Things

The first character you loved:

idk who was the first sibling to grace my screen probably....Diego? He seems like he’s very much my type?? Yeah okay I think it went, “Diego is exactly the type of character I lo-THE GHOST BROTHER IS THERE????” when I tell you that my brain cells went straight out the window.....

Oooh I do believe it would be Bobby. He just gave off soft dad vibes and I absolutely adored that. 

Oh my god Will, I saw him and was like! Child! My son! Must protect! 

The character you never expected to love so much:

Luther!! soft monkey man 💗 <-- straight up stealing Dani’s comment there. I always expected I’d end up liking Luther at some point but I love him so, so much now 

Athena!!! I had a hard time getting to like her and Buck, but I knew from gifsets that I’d end up loving Buck eventually so I just. Adore Athena and her character a lot and I’m very glad I do. 

STEVE. Oh my goodness the arc that he went through..I am so glad they decided to change his character into a good, sweet guy because he got a Zuko-version redemption (it’s v funny bc there’s a post detailing why Zuko’s redemption works and they can be applied to Steve’s in season 1 and!! Further evidence backing that post up if I could just FIND it lol). But I love Steve a lot!!! 

The character you relate to the most:

diego, vanya, and ben. no i shan’t elaborate (bc i already did in our discord server. talk about overshare. anyway join the dark side, we have bots and chaos) <--- Again, stealing Dani’s answer lol

Ooooh. Very hard. I think I want to say Chimney. I feel like I have elements of Maddie and Buck but overall I think I fit Chim’s vibe and he’s the character I’m the most similar to, but while hers is faaar more intense that mine I think Maddie’s arc and coping really gets to me and Buck is bi because he’s definitely bi so you know. 

Hm. I’m not super sure that I relate to any of them honestly? I think if I had to choose I’d say Robin, probably, but that’s it really. 

The character you’d slap:

reginald :) <---- agAIN, stealing dani’s answer

I don’t.....think there’s anyone lolol 

:))))) His name isn’t Whispers, that’s the dude from Sense8, but whatever tf that guy’s name was who experimented on El. :)))) Also Billy, because he’s a racist and hurt my boy Lucas

Three favorite characters (in order of preference):

yes <-- I am once again saying that I am stealing Dani’s - okay fine, make me choose and obviously Ben is my favorite okay, and then Diego is my second favorite, what can I say, I’m weak for them. But all the other siblings are tied for third okay 

oooh very hard bc I like a lot of them equally uhhh okay 1. Maddie and Chimney no I won’t choose you can’t make me 2. Buck 3. hnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng Bo...bby? Actually no, the entire Grant-Nash family is in #3 lol 

Steve, then the rest of the scoops troop, then either Will or Lucas! Best characters hands down honestly 

A character you liked at first but don’t anymore:

no <-- guess whose answer I stole this from 

idk if she really counts but Abby? I was more “meh whatever” on her to “ehhh I don’t think I really like her” but it teetered between that and neutrality 

I don’t not like him but I was....very much not a fan of the way they decided to write Hopper this last season and I feel like a lot of things make me go “I guess I’m electing to ignore this” to continue liking him I’m ngl

A character you did not like at first but now do:

…luther once again <-- do we even have to guess 

I don’t think I have anyone? 

I guess Murray. He gave off kind of creepy vibes season 2 imo and I wasn’t the biggest fan of him but I actually rather liked him in season 3! :)

Three OTPs:

diego/lila, vanya/sissy, allison/ray (and klaus/dave but we haven’t seen much of them) <--- Dani are we twins? I think we’re twins 

Buck/Eddie, Maddie/Chimney, and Bobbie/Athena (sorry @ hen and karen asdfjkl) 

I’m cheating bc this one is an OT3 but - Steve/Nancy/Jonathan (cowards, get them together!!!), Joyce/Hopper, and none of the kid ships are OTPs to me I just think the kids are adorable so like? I guess one of those ships 

I’m tagging: @superbandnerd99 @electro--coffee @incendiaglacies @zaritomaz @piggiesaregreen @vaughnsgreenwood and whoever else wants to do this :)

[margridarnauds]

ronan & olympe for the ship opinions? (also please let your previous anon know that they're the funniest person in the world and i love them)

So…interesting thing, there. And something I’ve been increasingly thinking about as I think back on my last few years of fandom, my evolving feelings towards M/F shipping, and how fandom, as a whole, treats M/F ships. I’m going to apologize in advance for the length since I KNOW you didn’t sign on for 1.5k words of reminiscence. 

Also: BEAGLE ANON, YOU’RE THE FUNNIEST PERSON IN THE WORLD. 

When I first started out with 1789, in about 2015 or so, I was actually pro-Ronan/Olympe. Like, I wanted NOTHING more than fix-it fics where they retired to the country and had babies. I listened to La Guerre Pour se Plaire for HOURS, getting caught in the gothic atmosphere and the passionate, conflicted lyrics. But, at the time, the overall fandom environment was…well. Not conducive to it. And I was young, and I wasn’t strong in my opinions yet, so I stood back and kept it to myself. I think that might be part of why I ended up backing away from 1789 when I did. Yeah, I liked it, but I didn’t have a strong sense of community, and most of the attention, at that time, was in the Mozart, L’Opera fandom, and I wasn’t a major picture there. I attended streams, yeah, but I wasn’t a CONTENT creator, and it was easy for me to fade into the background, I think. Maybe because I was too afraid to be a content creator, back then, because that would involve possibly expressing my own opinions. I accepted that Ronan/Olympe was No bad, terrible, awful based on that desire to fit in, because it was so much EASIER. Just like I accepted that French 1789 was a disaster, that MOR was much better, and that, really, it wasn’t worth the effort. Just an inferior musical. (The problem, of course, was that I NEVER liked MOR as well as I liked 1789. Maybe it’s better put together, but I don’t ENJOY it as much, and imo it drags quite a bit at a few places, a problem shared by its German counterpart.) 

I came back to 1789 around…2017, with the European Musicals Streaming event, with the Takarazuka one totally stealing my heart, specifically Lazare/Ronan. Suddenly, I was IN, and I was creating content. Yeah, most of the French musicals fandom didn’t give a flying fuck that I was creating content, with most of my support coming from my friends and Takarazuka fans, but I was CREATING CONTENT, for the first time since I joined fandom. I was finally starting to figure out my way in fandom, finally starting to get noticed. In 2018……..for reasons I won’t give out, at least publicly, there was a massive rift in the old French musicals fandom, a lot of bridges got burned, and, naturally, I was far enough from the fire. But this DID give me a shot at carving out my own 1789 experience, for once, without them hanging over my shoulder. I do think that the reason why the 1789 fandom’s as strong as it is now is because of that rift, because it left a sort of power vacuum. Suddenly, there was a space for other French musicals, and we didn’t have to worry about the constant comparison to MOR. BUT. Keep in mind. 2-3 years ago, the overwhelming consensus on Ronan was pure, unadulterated hatred. There were a few Ronan content creators in an already small pool, but the general consensus was that Lazare was better in every way and Ronan was a terrible protagonist.  (I know fully well that some old members of the French musicals fandom, to this day, won’t engage with Ronan content. At all. And I can say this as openly as I do because I KNOW they don’t follow me.) As a Peyronan shipper, I was in an awkward place, especially as time went on and I realized that I actually did like the little shit. One half of my OTP was absolutely beloved, one half was hated, and, while there was definitely some content on the Tumblr side of things (I definitely did NOT single-handedly invent the ship out of thin air, I don’t take credit for it, and I’m grateful to everyone who kind of. Took me in), the fan fiction side of things still tended to lean Ronan/Olympe. If, today, it seems like the fandom consensus is Ronan/Lazare, that’s because I fought tooth and nail to get my own place in the fandom. 

I…suppose you could say that I justified my place in the fandom by tossing Ronan/Olympe under the bus. It was easier, that way. It meant that I could forge alliances with anyone who wanted Solène/Olympe instead, though I was still on dangerous ground since I still wanted precious Lazare with Ronan, and, of course, the show would be better without Ronan. (You’ll note that the VERY FIRST fic I ever published on AO3 was Solène/Olympe. Why? Because I knew it would be a safe option to test the waters. That. And I really did just write it the night before my GRE.) But, at least I wasn’t a Ronan/Olympe shipper, right? I was safely gay. (Biphobia, thy name is fandom.) When I talked about Ronan, I talked about him as gay, I talked shit about Ronan/Olympe whenever I had the chance. All properly tagged, of course, in the proper channels. I’ve never been the sort to actively hurt someone who DID ship it, I just took pains to not associate myself with the Icky Het Ship. When I talked about Ronan, I talked about him as GAY, VERY GAY, not a hint of bisexuality to him. Because if he was bi, that might mean that Ronan/Olympe had a leg to stand on, you see? You’ll note that, to this day, I almost never acknowledge Ronan/Olympe as a thing that HAPPENED in any given fic continuities, because it was so much easier if he simply fell into Lazare’s arms instead. Wiping that little spot clean. And. Well. Here I am. About 5 years after I first got into 1789. And, looking back, I wonder if it was REALLY that bad, or if I just nodded my head because it was easy at the time, since it’s only been in the last year that I really, really began to develop my own spine. (Honestly, props to Marie Antoinette the Musical and, specifically, Morléans as a ship for that one.) For the most part, I’m proud of how far the fandom’s come in the last five years, and I’m proud of the work that I, individually, have done to help get it there, whether it was streams, gifs, or fanfics. But sometimes, I do worry that anyone coming in who ships Ronan/Olympe, like I used to…might feel out of place, and I never want to treat them like I was treated back in the day. 

Do I ship it? Not really. That ship’s sailed for me (I didn’t mean to make that a pun but here we are). I’m fairly firmly Lazare/Ronan and Solène/Olympe (though I’m not as firmly pro-the latter as the former, simply because I REALLY don’t have as much material to go off of there.) Not just because of the old pressure, but just because…looking at it in, say, the French cast…there’s really no chemistry there. At all. The Takarazuka Olympe looks mildly terrified to be in Ronan’s presence at any given moment. I DO actually kind of like it in the Toho production, especially with Teppei Koike and Sayaka Kanda, since the two of them fit together SO naturally and their voices are like two pieces of the same puzzle, but I’m not sure it’s something I’d particularly want to create content for. In fact, when I tried to write Ronan/Lazare/Olympe as an OT3, my HARDEST dynamic to write and justify was Ronan/Olympe. I do think that “La Guerre Pour se Plaire” is a stunning song, musically, it’s probably one of my favorite French musical songs. I do kind of tend to see Ronan as gay, simply because Takarazuka Ronan in particular is………..forceful, to the point that I can see him forcing himself to believe he’s in love with Olympe in order to distract himself from Lazare. I feel like the French cast, while arguably realistic in it showing Ronan/Olympe’s relationship having problems, also shows a couple that, really, beyond the physical attraction, couldn’t have made it work had both of them survived. And I feel like fandom, back in the day, was far too willing to take Olympe’s side over Ronan’s in that dispute, ignoring how Olympe’s own relationship to her side of the conflict is…kind of toxic to her. And while Ronan went about it in an ass-backward way (“I will kill your friends and family! To remind you of my love!”)……..he did make some Points. And Toho Ronan/Olympe, particularly Teppei/Sayaka, are more two kids in love who just want to give it a shot. (Kato Kazuki/Nene Yumesaki were more….forceful, manly hero/prim and proper governess with a spine of steel. Which is OKAY, but not really personally as interesting to me.) I do give the Toho credit for really, really making me see that, okay, it might not be for me, but it CAN work on stage. Mostly. (I still hate that forced kiss.) 

 I will say that there are times where I find myself writing Lazare rather similarly to Olympe in terms of him going through the same feelings of guilt, shame, and duty, and I’m just like “....hm. What have I really changed? Did I just substitute Lazare’s face for Olympe because it was easier? Or copied the existing dynamic and pasted a dude’s face over Olympe’s?” (I do think that there are definitely DIFFERENCES to Olympe VS Lazare, it’s just...eerie in those individual moments.) I do think, at the end of the day, the story of forbidden love during the French Revolution....we’ve HAD it before, in the La Revolution Française musical, and in my opinion it does work best as a queer narrative. And, unfortunately, Ronan/Olympe just...isn’t developed particularly well enough on stage to justify it as an EPIC ROMANCE. 

Overall, I think that I’m fairly settled in my ways at this point, but I also don’t hate it to the extent that I once did. It’ll never be my favorite, I can’t really see them getting married and having kids, and, frankly, the relationship just isn’t as interesting to me as the alternatives since we’ve SEEN it played out on screen, and I can’t really see myself making content for it or really engaging with it in any meaningful way outside of reblogging gifsets/reading fics, but like. I don’t HATE it anymore. I’m neutral to its existence. And, when it comes down to it, I have read fic/engaged in content for it, because, at this point, it’s STILL part of my favorite musical. If I could have done things differently….maybe I would have stayed with it more, for longer. Maybe I’d have written that happy country babyfic (you know. In 18th century France. Where raising babies in the country was so painless). Maybe I’d have gone over to Peyronan earlier and not looked back. Maybe I would have written Ronan more consciously as a bisexual man instead of a gay man. Who knows? Maybe I’m just a tired bitch these days and so am hyper-dissecting everything. But I definitely never want anyone coming into the fandom to think there isn’t a place for them just because they ship Ronan/Olympe. 

[cuddlemonsterdean]

A little Supernatural question, fill-out, thing! Pop the questions into a text post and answer for yourself if you want!

1. When did you start watching Supernatural?

October 2012, when season 8 was airing, and right around the time everything in my life was taking a serious nose-dive that was about to get much worse. honestly if i hadn’t found it then, i don’t know if i’d still be here at all.

i didn’t even have an account yet so i was browsing someone’s blog that had stuff from all kinds of fandoms on it. around that time i had been lurking in the batman fandom for a bit but it wasn’t really doing it for me so i was looking for something new to obess over. i kept seeing gifsets and stuff from spn, so i thought i’d give it a go. the first ep i watched was Lazarus Rising, and within not even 10 minutes i knew that this was it

2. Who is your favorite in TFW? 

I just love dean so much - he means everything to me. he’s taught me so much, he makes me happy, he inspires me. he makes me be brave when i don’t wanna be

3. Who is your least favorite in TFW? 

that’s a weird question??? i might not blog about them as much but i don’t dislike sam or cas. honestly it makes me sad when people (as in, fans) try to pitch tfw against each other

4. Tag your top 5 Supernatural blogs! 

i don’t follow a whole lot of people because i’m cautious of wank and stan wars and such but i love having @postmodernmulticoloredcloak @wigglebox @jensensitive @dotthings @occamshipper @mittensmorgul @deathswaywardson and @softcuddlydean on my dash :) (...that’s eight already. and i probably forgot someone. i’m not good with numbers okay!! o(>.<)o)

5. Who is your favorite character (not including TFW)?

it’s so hard to pick one but - Donna!!! i love her so much, she’s so upbeat and fun too watch but she has depth too and layers and i’ve really enjoyed how they’ve developed her as a character. i kind of look up to her :)

6. Who is your favorite woman in Supernatural? 

basically the same as above but - honestly all of the women are awesome

7. John or Mary? 

i don’t like this vs trend but Mary. maybe she’s difficult to love, but i personally really appreciate the decisions they made regarding her character and her character development, that she wasn’t this perfect mother dean remembered. i’ve never, ever, been able to relate to a mother child dynamic on tv before mary and dean. oftentimes mothers are portrayed as either perfect or evil, and to see this struggle, this gray area - it meant a lot to me, it was really powerful. i in general appreciate the message that it’s possible to both love and hate your parents at the same time, and that it’s something that’s just allowed to be that way

8. What were your first opinions of Sam, Dean, Cas, and Jack? 

i honestly don’t really remember. it’s also difficult because i already had half a foot in fandom and was also watching season 8 while it aired while also playing catch up on season 1-7 at the same time. with jack, i remember that i really appreciated alexander calvert’s acting choices, because he did this blend of innocent and ominous/threatening so well

9. What’s your favorite season? 

if you’d asked me this during season 13, i’d have said season 13, but now it’s definitely season 14 (for now, since 15 just started airing). the michael storyline was like my favorite ever (and inspired my to write what i think is, so far, my best deancas longfic), but also overall the season was so neat and fascinating thematically

10. What’s your least favorite season? 

i don’t really have one, though i’d say while rewatching the entire show over the summer i found season 6 the hardest to get through. not even because of everything that goes down with cas but like - the one and only good thing that happens to team free will there was getting sam’s soul back, and even that had painful repercussions. there is some really interesting stuff in there, but overall it was hard to watch

11. Opinions on Destiel? 

it’s canon. like - if someone tries to tell me it’s not i have to assume they’re being willfully ignorant on the subject (of course it’s perfectly fine not to ship it and stuff but arguing its very existence is kind of ridiculous at this point)

12. Do you believe Supernatural queerbaits? 

no. honestly i kind of feel like that word gets thrown around so quickly and so frequently people have forgotten what queerbaiting actually is and what it is not, and that’s done some serious damage

13. Seasons 1-7 or 8-14?

again with the vs thing but - 8-14. dean and sam finally have a bigger family and an actual home, that alone always makes me gravitate more to the later seasons

14. Favorite villain (plot wise)? 

Michael (big surprise XD). i enjoyed him so much, especially since he foreshadows what dean’s going through in regards to chuck/god rn

15. Do you think they should end the Lucifer plot line? 

don’t know when this questionaire was made - i think it’s over, and they did well with it

16. Who do you think has gone through more trauma (Sam, Dean, or Cas)? 

honestly, i think with trauma, we shouldn’t compare it like that. they’ve all been traumatized repeatedly - sometimes in similiar ways, but even then everyone reacts differently. it’s not fair to do comparisons, and it doesn’t help either

17. What’s your favorite Supernatural episode? 

i used to say i’m married to The Executioner’s Song, then Tombstone aired and i had the time of my life, and then Nihilism aired - and that ep was like everything i’ve ever wanted. i bet @postmodernmulticoloredcloak can still remember me spamming them via text while watching - which took me like two hours because i kept screaming about everything basically XD

18. Do you like case episodes? 

i love them

19. Who do you relate most to in TFW? 

dean. for all the reasons i already stated in 2., but also i’m the oldest daughter and had to protect my younger siblings as a kid (domestic violence situation, among other things). my younger “sister” and i weren’t blood related but i would have died for her, she meant everything to me. plus, dean’s really emotional but has a lot of protective walls that he needs to survive, and i can relate to that as well

20. Why do you like Supernatural? 

too many reasons to list them all. there’s dean, there’s the whole found family trope. the complexity of the characters and their dynamics, the deeply psychological themes than run through the entire narrative. i think you can really tell that the people - actors, writers, directors, crew - really love making the show, and put a lot of effort into it. it’s not a “perfect” show (which doesn’t exist anyway) but it’s made with love. plus we got this amazing cast that cares so much and gives so much, and it really makes you feel less alone, makes you feel seen and heard even if you never meet any of them face to face. it’s genuine, and it’s rare, and i cherish it, just like the show

21. If you could bring back one character and kill off another who would they be? 

hm, i genuinely can’t think of anyone i’d kill off rn. who i’d bring back - benny was awesome and i miss him. also eileen, but apparently we will see her again in some way, so there’s that :)

@wigglebox i did this because you said you’re tagging everyone who wants to do this, so now i’m stealing your move and saying the same! ;D

[l8rhader]

Stranger Things

I don’t know why this didn’t post last night, but! Favourite character: Dustin, as like *this is My Child And If Anything Happened To Him I Would Kill Everyone On This Show* but my favorite favorite is probably Steve.

Funniest character: So many, but Murray is high on my list.

Best-looking character: This is such a double edged sword because I’m saying that I’m attracted to a 19 year old character, but like... He’s exactly my age.  So Steve.  However, I’m also going to say that just from an objective standpoint (and because I want everything she wears in all three seasons) Nancy is beautiful.  Like ridiculously stupid pretty.

3 favourite ships: Joyce/Bob, Will/Mike in a like... down the line when they’re not 12 sense, 

Least favourite character: Billy.  Also Papa.  But Billy.

Least favourite ship: hm. Jonathan/Nancy.  I’m still mad at him for season 1 tbh.

Reason why I watch it: 80s aesthetic, the friendship, and sci-fi/fantasy

Why I started watching it: it was super popular and i kept seeing gifsets and i was like OH MY GOD FINE. and i’m so glad i did.

[softjeon]

Devil’s Hand | Final

• Pairing: King!Namjoon x Jungkook • Side-Pairings:  Namjoon x Jimin | Namjoon x Yoongi | Prince!Hoseok x Jungkook • Genre: Angst / Smut | Royal!AU ( → Gifset Trailer) • Words: 9,8k | Co-Writer: Cat @cassiavioletblue • Disclaimer: alcohol, abusive relationsships, abusive behavior, (sexual) violence, major character death

↳ There had been rumors, but in the end it was not really a secret that Namjoon loved delicate and beautiful things. Especially when it came down to his lovers and his castle. It was decorated with lot of flowing, long blue curtains, colorful paintings in every room, rows of marble columns leading along every aisle. There was a large garden surrounding the palace, which was by far Jungkook’s favorite place to be – next to the king’s bedroom.

« previous chapter | masterlist | next chapter »

A/N: Just a reminder to be aware of the disclaimers for this chapter! Thank you!

When Jungkook finally looked up, the sun was already setting low on the horizon, illumining the clouds with rosy tints. He sighed deeply and rose from ground when there was someone behind him. “The king is asking for you!” The maids stern tone made Jungkook jerk around, wiping over his eyes quickly to get rid of the tears. He didn’t need more evidence of his own softness. So, Jungkook nodded, telling the maid that he would come as soon as possible. Smiling faintly at Taehyung, he hugged him once more, thanking him before he made his way up the stone staircase to the king’s chamber. He was panting when he finally made it. So, Jungkook tried to take a few deep breaths and then knocked on the king’s door, letting himself in right after.

“I apologize,” He said quietly, averting his gaze down to his feet. Jungkook stretched out his hands for Namjoon to see, “I...I burned myself pretty painfully. I asked for the maid to bring you the tea...so, so I could take care of it a little.” Jungkook bit his lip, scared that Namjoon wouldn’t believe him again, thinking that he used it as a way to get away from him or meet up with Hoseok again.

Namjoon gripped his wrists and pulled him closer, making him stumble forward. He examined his palm and then sighed deeply. ��You idiot. Can’t you take care of yourself? What should I do if you injure yourself, hm? Take someone else? You know it doesn’t work like that. I need you and only you. So, try not to do it again. Go to my personal doctor after this. Have him take a look. I want you healed as quickly as possible. And if I ever feel like you do this to get more rest then I’ll make sure you won’t even remember what rest feels like, understood,” He waved Jungkook closer. “Now come here.”

“Of course, my king. It won’t happen, again.” He spoke fast, his eyes still a bit teary but Namjoon probably waved it off that it was from the pain. The young servant nodded quickly and only hesitantly moved closer to Namjoon when he ordered him to do so, not sure what the king needed from him now. Looking up at him, Jungkook blinked a few times. Being so close to him, he could feel Namjoon’s heartbeat, the warmth coming from him and all he wanted was to wrap his arms around his waist and feel safe again.

“Sit down.” He let Jungkook sit onto his thigh were the younger could sit comfortably while Namjoon could still look at him. “You know that after everything you’ve done you’re still important to me. Even though you betrayed my trust I still want to keep you close to me. You’re the one that knows me best. No one else can see me like you are allowed to. You know that’s something special, right? Letting you see me in private all the time?”

Jungkook held onto Namjoon, feeling nervous out of a sudden with the way the king was talking to him. “Y-yes,” He averted his gaze when the guilt washed over him again. And still he couldn’t stop his mind wandering towards Hoseok the moment Namjoon talked about it. He hadn’t seen the prince for a while now and he wondered if Hoseok was missing him? With horror, Jungkook realized that he was only half-heartedly listening, so he quickly returned his attention to the king. With shaking hands, Jungkook reached out for Namjoon pulling a string of hair aside and smiled. “I…I am yours, my king.”

“I know that you are. I would never allow for you to leave me.” He leaned in, kissing Jungkook right on his mouth in a surprisingly sweet, non bruising way. “Now get off and go to your quarters to rest a little. I’ll expect you to be here at lunch time again. Don’t let me search for you. Be nice. Maybe I’ll think about cutting you some slack next week. You’ve been good, Jungkook. If you weren’t so easily seduced by illoyalty you’d be the best.” He made Jungkook get up and reached for the tea. “And next time you can’t make my tea please make sure the person doing it for you knows what they are doing.”

Jungkook was feeling a mixture between relief and anxiety. He bowed slightly, promising Namjoon to teach the maid but in the end both of them knew that no one could make it the way the king wanted as Jungkook did.

The young man was sweating when he came out the chamber, rubbing along his neck with a tissue as he walked down the hallway. “I would never allow for you to leave,” Jungkook repeated those words in his mind like a haunting curse. He knew what he was about to do was the stupidest thing he had ever thought of. Namjoon would have his head for this, if he ever found out. So, Jungkook quickly went to the doctors first just like he had promised the king (he was sure Namjoon would ask if the young boy was there after all) and then made his way down to the visitors wing. If there was a slight chance for a better lifer, for love, for…everything that Jungkook had always desired with Namjoon and knew he couldn’t get, then he should take it. Taehyung had suggested it after all. And Taehyung was never wrong.

He always knew what was best for Jungkook.

“…he’s no use for us like that! I haven’t seen him in four days! I can’t even get close to him without at least three guards watching my every move! You were supposed to help me from the inside! But right now, you’re just as useless as him. Try to find out if there’s someone else who’s close to him. Not even he can be so secluded as to only let one person close. Ad even if the others need to know at least something. I’m sure you know how to be persuasive. So, use it. Come back when you know more!”  Hoseok sighted deeply, sinking down into the luxurious cushions. His whole plan was fucked. He had told the flower delivery boy to be unobtrusive and instead that total dumbass had managed to run into the king. The king of all people! And now he hadn’t seen Jungkook in four days and how on earth was he supposed to get the king’s secrets out of the younger if he couldn’t even meet up with him.

This was a disaster!

Jungkook stood frozen on the spot. He had hidden behind a veil so fast, right next to Hoseok’s room where he could listen to the last bits and pieces of what the prince had said and not be seen by the one he had been talking to when he came out. His hand pressed tightly onto his mouth to keep from breathing too loud, his eyes wide and mind not believing a single word he just eavesdropped on. Jungkook shook his head.

This couldn’t be.

This wasn’t right.

Hoseok couldn’t have meant him. It was an overall talk, this didn’t mean anything. The prince didn’t mean him. It was a simple mistake. Not everything was about him. Namjoon had told him that many times – to not overthink. Jungkook shook his head, raking a hand through his hair in a desperate manner and took a deep breath. Still, it took quite a while until Jungkook came out of his hiding spot. His heart was beating fast, palms sweaty when he knocked on the princes door. “It’s m-me,” His voice was shaky and Jungkook quickly cleared his throat and repeated himself.

Hoseok was at the door in a second.

“Jungkook!” Surprise and something else flickered over his face. Something like wariness. “How did you get here? I thought… I’ve been told the king wouldn’t let you out of sight since...” He stepped aside. “Come in, you better shouldn’t be seen with me.” He closed the door behind them, turning the key. “What happened Jungkook? I am so, so very sorry for what happened! The delivery boy was meant to give you the flowers with no one else noticing. I’m so sorry I got you into this mess. Are you alright?” He gently took the boys face in his hand, looking right at him.

Jungkook nodded, taking the prince’s wrists in his hands and pulling them away from his face a little. “I have to be back by lunch but…I needed to talk to you,” He spoke more confidently that he would have thought. Hoseok pulled him along and on the bed to sit and Jungkook was fumbling around with the hem of his shirt. It wasn’t about you. He likes you. He send you flowers. Jungkook’s mind was a rollercoaster of thoughts, Taehyung’s voice mingling in with his own doubts and fears. He didn’t know how to explain, so Jungkook simply began to roll up his sleeve to show a few of the bruises that clearly caused by someone and not an accident.

Hoseok’s face twisted in empathy. “Oh no, Jungkook, what… Did Namjoon do this? Because of...me? God, Jungkook, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean for you to get hurt!“ He gently reached out of the youngers hands. “Is there a way I could help? Do you want me to send Jimin to his quarters? Maybe he can take the king’s mind off of you a little. Are you hurting somewhere else? Do you want me to call my Jimin in here? He knows a lot about herbs and medicine.”

Jungkook shook his head, “I mean…there’s more but I don’t need medicine. It’s okay. It’s just.” The tears came falling all on their own and Jungkook quickly tried to wipe them away, hiding his face a little more. He was taking a deep breath, before he spoke again, “You like me, right? When we kissed…that meant something…the flowers and…”

“Of course, I like you! I didn’t do this on purpose, really! This wasn’t meant to make Namjoon hurt you, I wanted to give you a little gift, something nice, something to make you smile. You have such a beautiful smile Jungkook.” Hoseok gently wiped the youngers tears away. “Please don’t cry. Namjoon has so many difficult decisions to make and so many things he has to take care of, doesn’t he? He’ll forget about us. Besides he can’t even know that we kissed. No one was there. It was just flowers. He can’t be mad at you for that forever.”

Jungkook smiled at that, his heart skipping a beat when he heard Hoseok said that he liked him. Everything that he had eavesdropped on wasn’t about him. It must have been about someone else. Hoseok cared about him. When the prince talked about Namjoon not knowing though, his heart stopped for a second. “I…I told him,” Jungkook reached out for Hoseok hands to hold onto him, searching for warmth and that he would understand his situation. “He was…threatening me,” The servant explained and finally told the Prince all about the abuse. The way Namjoon had hit him, made him suffer, not eat for days because he was busy working so much that there wasn't time for that and keep him close by his side for whatever he needed. He showed a few more bruises here and there, hoping that when Hoseok saw the damage, that he wanted to help him. “Please, my prince, I don’t know what to do,” Jungkook looked at the other with tear filled eyes, “I’d smile forever if I could be by your side. T-take me with you. I can’t…” Jungkook’s body was shaking from the effort, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t say the words that he couldn’t stand being with Namjoon anymore. Because although his heart longed to be with Hoseok, to be safe and feel content, one part of him would always belong to Namjoon. His first kiss. His first love.

“No, what… what are you talking about? You can’t just leave Namjoon like that. You’re his valet, the one who’s closest to him. What do you think he’d do if you wouldn’t come back to him? He would search here! And it would get us both in trouble. I can’t just let you stay here, Jungkook, as much as I wanted to.” Hoseok looked truly shocked. “Y-yes but you’re a prince, too. You have power, right? You could…do something? If you like me,” Jungkook stopped, his eyes flickering back and forth between Hoseok’s while the other was looking at him disbelieving. “You need to…I can’t stay, he will…he will,” The young man reached for the prince, “Please. Anything…let me go back with you.”

“Anything?” Hoseok licked his lips nervously. He would have prefered it if he’s had a little more time with Jungkook, maybe kissed him more or seduced him so that Jungkook was properly involved with  him. Though he had no idea if he would get another chance to pry and Jungkook was absolutely desperate so why not take the risk now? He could backtrack and say that it had been just a stupid idea if Jungkook would refuse him. And who knew, the younger might happily say yes after what Namjoon had put him through. Maybe all of this had worked out in his favour. “If I really take you into my court than I need to know that your loyalty is mine. So, it would be just fair if in exchange for protecting you you would give me the kings secrets. Tell me what it is he needs for his empire to work, tell me with whom he’s doing business and what kind of goods are exchanged for what price. What his plans are especially regarding my kingdom. Do you agree to this?”

Jungkook gulped heavily, when he heard what Hoseok asked of him. Suddenly, he was afraid. Shaking his head, he refused right away. “I can’t. I don’t know much about that anyways, my prince. And I can’t as much as I wouldn’t tell anyone on you…I just,” Jungkook was stumbling over his words, not sure what he was supposed to say and if this was a test or not. “Take me with you, please,” Jungkook raked through his hair, begging and pleading for Hoseok to just take him somewhere else.

“You’re right maybe this was too much of you to ask. Maybe you want to think about it though? Namjoon hurt you - and it’s not like you would belong to his court any longer if you are with me. Wouldn’t you want to get a little bit of revenge on him? Besides it wouldn’t really hurt him would it? It’s just business, simple business secrets to help with trading. Don’t you think it would be nice to help me in return if I help you? Just think about it okay?” He tried an encouraging smile, patting Jungkook’s arm.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. Jungkook was panting, his mind and heart fighting a war at the moment. Hoseok was blackmailing him. He didn’t want to help him because he liked him, but because he had information. Closing his eyes, Jungkook bit his lip so hard that he was afraid for a moment that he could draw blood, but instead he spoke in a shaking voice. “It’s true…what I heard? I am not of use for you, if I don’t…don’t give you information.” He opened his eyes and looked at Hoseok, his heart falling into a million pieces right now while tears burned behind his eyes. “You don’t want me, do you?”

“What… you heard us? What did you...,” Hoseok held him tightly on his upper arms, keeping the younger in place. He saw the recognition in Jungkook’s eyes and he realized that he had lost. “Damn, I’ve been doing so well and then everything goes to hell because I didn’t close the door!” He laughed. “It’s so stupid, how a little mistake like that can ruin everything. Everything else went so smoothly, I met you and you were shy and timid and starving for affection… Namjoon really keeps you at arm’s length does he? I wonder... would you have given me what I wanted if you hadn’t heard me talking? And... why did you still come in if you knew what I was planning? Where you trying to make sure? Did you want to get a confession out of me?” His grip tightened even though Jungkook whimpered unter it. Hoseok's fingers were digging into his bruises mercilessly.

“Don’t think Namjoon would believe you. If you tell him anything it will be your word against mine. And he doesn’t trust you right now, does he? Besides he wouldn't want to ruin his changes of trading with my kingdom just because some little servant couldn’t distinguish between fantasy and reality. You have nothing against me, Jungkook. Absolutely nothing.”

Jungkook’s whole body was shivering, but there was nothing else but emptiness inside of him. The tears fell silently, as he had listened to everything Hoseok had said. He was nothing. Just a figure in the game these kings were playing. He meant nothing to anyone and even Taehyung would be better off without him. So much Jungkook knew. The sob that broke through him was quiet, but it shook him to the core. Hoseok’s hold had hurt, but it only reminded him of his mistakes, of his failure and about his stupid belief that there would be more out there for him. Someone that could truly love him. Jungkook shook his head as if he was in trance. No one would believe him. He was a servant. His words meant nothing. It hurt. It hurt so goddamn much as if a knife was stabbing him repeatedly in the heart and Jungkook wanted nothing else but push his hands onto his ears and make Hoseok stop talking. He writhed himself out of Hoseok’s hold, his eyes empty, stumbling backwards. The prince had been everything Jungkook was hoping for. He had been golden to him. Full of warmth and care for him. But now, the one who was staring back at him, wasn’t the prince he had fallen for. How could Jungkook be so blind? So dumb? So easy to manipulate?

Running out of the chamber, Jungkook could barely see where he was going. Tears were clouding his view. He stumbled a few times, bruising his knees in the process but he didn’t care. Because Namjoon had been right about it all. Jungkook was pathetic. He didn’t deserve anything. Not even the king.

Hoseok cursed when Jungkook broke free from his grip and ran out onto the hallways. He couldn’t just chase after him or someone would notice. And then he had a problem. An even bigger one that he already had. He had lied. Of course Namjoon would believe his valet, the one person he had grown up with. And even if there were just rumours and Namjoon couldn’t directly act on it it would make the negotiations even more difficult. His father would be furious if he didn’t manage to make Namjoon agree to their receivables. This was his baptism of fire! His father had let on that if these negotiations went well he would get more responsibility, more official duties - in short he’d get even closer to becoming king. And maybe he’d even get the crown by the end of the year. But for all of this to happen it was crucial that this worked out for him. And he wouldn’t let some little servant ruin his chances of being king. If Jungkook had agreed on keeping his mouth shut they could have worked something out but the way he had fled, completely distraught anything was possibly. Maybe he told the very first person he met.

So, he needed to make sure that Jungkook wouldn’t talk.

Ever.

Jungkook was utterly confused, running along the hallways as if he was lost. He knew every corner, every step and way in this castle but right now, nothing seemed like how it was supposed to be. The tears were clouding his view, the sobs making him choke on the lack of air. He wasn’t sure for how long he was stumbling across the hallway, so Jungkook sat down on the cold stone stairs, trying to catch his breath and try to understand what just happened. His heart was aching and every breath hurt - but Jungkook knew he had to talk to Namjoon even though it meant telling him that he saw the prince again. It could ruin Namjoon if Hoseok knew too much, if the prince was planning to take away his power.

Jungkook stood up a bit too hasty, so he swayed a little. Just as he was about to walk ahead, Jimin turned around the corner and Jungkook stood frozen on the spot, watching the other’s expression turn from obviously stressed to a smile. Jungkook turned to look over his shoulder for a second, but there was no one else the dancer could mean.

“Hey. There you are. I saw you running down the corridors but you were so fast that I lost you for a second…,” He broke off when he saw the younger’s tears. “Are you okay?” He took in how distressed Jungkook looked, how he swayed from exhaustion, from stressing himself out, running too much, crying too desperately. The streaks down his cheeks showed pretty obviously that this wasn’t the kind of crying were a a few silent tears were enough to cleanse the heart of it’s pain, Jungkook had been crying his heart out. And from the hiccuping breaths his body was still trying to catch up with him. Jimin gave him a sad smile, one that said ‘I’m sorry you have to go through this. I understand.’ instead he asked him, “Do you want to talk about it? Or you could just catch your breath at my place. I have tea and it’s warm. And you can tell me what you want to say. Or just stay silent for as long as you need until you feel better.”

Jungkook just looked at the other in confusion, then he silently shook his head. Why did Jimin care about him out of a sudden? Offering him a safe place to talk about whatever was going on in his mind. “It’s alright,” He answered and showed off a faint smile. “I...I have work to do...gotta be back by lunch. Namjoon’s already waiting.” Jungkook kept his head low, his voice quiet when he mumbled another apology. He didn’t want to talk about why he was hurting. Maybe if he just pretend that it didn’t happen at all, then he could forget.

“It’s not lunch time yet. And… I’m sorry, Jungkook I don’t want to offend you or be impolite but... are you sure you want to go see the king like this?” He let his gaze wander over Jungkook’s tear streaked face. “You could use the bathroom if you want. While I make us tea. How does that sound?” Jimin smiled at him, nodding his head into the direction of where his room was. “Come one, Jungkook. Don’t be shy. I won’t bite, I promise.”

The servant hadn’t much to say against what Jimin had said. He was right. When he looked at his reflection in one of the mirrors in Jimin’s bathroom, he knew he couldn’t face the king like that. It would only make it worse. Make him seem even weaker than he already was.

Jungkook washed his face thoroughly, trying to get make his eyes seem less red and puffy. But everytime he thought he was okay now, he felt his bottom lip tremble again. So it took him some time until he finally walked back into the guest room that Jimin called his own for his stay. “T-thank you,” He smiled, when he saw the dancer pour in some of the hot beverage into a cup for him.

“Don’t mention it. We have to stick together, the ones who can’t drown their sorrow in wealth and power. We only have tea.” He held up his cup, “But it’s something.” Behind the dancer there were a few herbs and flowers hung up to dry, small posies and single leaves where it wasn’t obvious if they had been hung up for decoration or herbal purpose. He blew on his tea gently to cool it and looked at Jungkook over the rim of his teacup. “So... do you want to talk about what happened - or just sit in silence and drink tea? Both of it would be fine. I just want you to… to calm down. Relax a little. Collect your thoughts. I’m sure everything is going to be fine, Jungkook. “

The young servant chuckled low, his fingertips nervously tapping against the warm cup. “It won’t be fine. I ruined it all…but it’s all right,” Jungkook said quickly, hoping that Jimin wouldn’t start giving him more advice. He didn’t want to hear it. It was his fault for trying to live his own life, for wanting something that he knew, he could never have. No one ever loved him. Maybe his mother, but that’s it. Namjoon needed him, maybe. And yes, he was close and important to him and Jungkook had mistaken it for love so many times. He was nothing but a play toy. And one day, he would die as such. He sighed deeply, looking out of the window in deep thought. He was so deep in thought that he didn’t notice the way Jimin looked at him; attentive, searching, as if he wanted to see right through the surface and into Jungkook’s heart. “If you could change one thing about your life - anything really - what would it be?” Jimin suddenly asked, lowering his voice a little as if what he was saying was something heretical and forbidden.

Jungkook raised an eyebrow at Jimin’s question and shrugged his shoulders. “Was it ever my life?” He spoke quietly, “I never had much of a choice. I was born to be a servant and I will die as such.” The young man sighed, rubbing his hands over his face. His expression turned into a smile. A sad smile. One that spoke more than a thousand words. “I’d change the way my heart aches for love. It never brought me anything good. It’s my sweetest desire and at the same time it’s my curse.” Jungkook looked at Jimin with tear-filled eyes, “I wish my heart wouldn’t want something I can’t have.”

Jimin nodded, fingers tightening around the cup. “I know what you mean. People say that longing for something pushes you forward, makes you thrive for more. Though honestly, I think it rather drags you down. To see your dreams close but never close enough. You think you might make it - and then reality pushes you back. It’s cruel. Sometimes I think life would be better without hope and without dreams… but we can’t help ourselves, can we? You can’t force yourself to stop dreaming. And maybe… maybe the king will love you back one day. See you for what you are. He will regret so much when he realizes how important you are to him.” Jimin was still talking though his eyes were blank as if he wasn’t really there, lost in his own thoughts, “We only really know what someone means to us when we lose them… another cruel joke of life. Only when there is no chance to get back what you had can you see how lucky you were before.”

Jimin’s words pained him, so Jungkook just nodded, taking a sip from his cup of tea. He eyed the dancer from the side, wondering what he had meant with his last words and if Namjoon would really miss him if he was gone? But he wouldn’t be. He would never be able to leave the king, his only attempt had failed and it had ripped him into pieces. His whole body was aching and Jungkook felt awful. If Namjoon ever found out that he had tried to get away from him again, it would be over for him. Jungkook coughed, his cheeks heating up at the horrible thought of what could await him. He could feel the sweat at the nape of his neck, the fear creeping up his bones as a shiver ran down his spine. When Jimin noticed that Jungkook had emptied his cup he finished his own tea in one go, wiping his mouth. “Don’t mind me. You’ll be fine. You’ll see there’s nothing you have to worry about. It’ll turn out okay.” He smiled at him encouragingly although there was a sadness hiding behind that kind of ruined it. Again Jimin had fixed his eyes on Jungkook, not uncomfortable but gentle and empathetic. As if he didn’t want to leave the younger unguarded for even a second and it made the younger uncomfortable, feeling as if he was gazing into Jungkook’s soul. He jumped up from his seat, swaying a little as he blinked his eyes repeatedly to get rid of the dizziness. With a faint smile, he thanked Jimin for his kindness again, walking out of his room moments after. He didn’t want to go back up to his room and since he didn’t need to be back with Namjoon soon, Jungkook made his way outside and into the garden.

The garden was still one of his favorite places after all.

Jimin looked after him, knowing that this would very certainly be the last time he had seen Jungkook alive. It was a lucky coincidence that Jungkook hadn’t run straight to Namjoon and that Jimin had been in his chamber or else this wouldn’t have worked. But as soon as Jungkook had left Hoseok’s rooms the prince had sent a messenger to Jimin with a very short, very urgent message.

“Jungkook knows. Make sure he can’t talk. Ever.”

So, he did what he had to. Even though he had kind of liked the younger. Despite everything he had been through he still seemed hopeful. Soft. As if he managed to preserve a little piece of his innocence. And now he would die like this, hopeless and alone, somewhere in the halls of the castle. He hoped Jungkook would be too exhausted to fight. If he didn’t hold on to life choking wasn’t even that bad. And he wouldn’t feel any pain. Not really. He would get dizzy and then collapse and before he would really know it he would lose consciousness. Hastily Jimin closed the door and got rid of the herbs he had used. He didn’t think that any of Namjoon’s people would know the herbs of Hoseok’s kingdom, let alone which of them were poisonous and what the symptoms would look like but he was better safe than sorry. He didn’t want to risk losing his head here. Not even for Hoseok.

And he would do anything for Hoseok.

Anything for his love.

Jungkook leaned his head back, letting the cool wind soothe over his skin making it feel like it could take away his worries for a moment. He let his feet take him, not really caring about where he was going as he strolled through the garden deep in his thoughts. When Jungkook gazed up, he could see the stables from a far and a faint smile appeared on his lips. His unconsciousness brought him back to Taehyung. Maybe his friend knew what to do now? Though he had been the one sending him to Hoseok, Taehyung never had done it if he knew. Tae was the only one who had never hurt Jungkook.

Stumbling along, Jungkook felt the dizziness creep back into his body, making him blink his eyes a couple of times to shake it off. He groaned painfully, when he felt something burning and itching down his throat. Coughing violently Jungkook held onto the wooden wall of one of the stables, that's how hard the coughs shook him. For a second he thought that he caught a cold, but then he saw the blood. It wasn’t much, but there were droplets of red on his palm. His heartbeat quickened right away, his eyes widened in shock as he wiped over his mouth to see if it came from him. A shuddering breath took hold of him, wracking his body. A spasm shook his torso and more blood oozed out of his mouth.

“J-jimin,” He whispered to himself, stumbling forward when the tears fell onto his cheeks. He laughed once, cold and harsh. A cruel joke of life. Jimin’s words repeating itself in his mind, as he let himself fall into the haystack, sinking down and curling in on himself. It had been so easy for Jimin to poison him. His whole being longing for someone to understand, to emphasize, to hear him. It made him weak. Easy to lure in. And now he would die. Turn into what he had been all along. Nothing. Jungkook was shivering, every cough shaking his body while he tried to take deep breaths. He had managed to get away from the door a little more. No one would see him now. It was pathetic. Even the way he would die was pathetic. A painful cry escaped his lungs and Jungkook wished for nothing more to feel safe again.

Taehyung had just finished preparing one of the horses for one of his knights and came back to the stables to clean up after himself when he heard it, a sound, painful and miserable. “Hello? Is anyone there?” There was no real answer but he could still hear something. It sounded uncomfortably close to someone fighting for breath, like troubled gasps and fruitless gulps of air. “H…hello?” When he rounded the corner he something lying in a stack of hay. He rushed over - and then froze before he could touch the figure. Because he knew him.

“J...Jungkook?” The shock loosened his limbs and he scrambled to get towards him. “Are…are you okay? Can I help? What happened?” Jungkook coughed again and there was blood sprinkling the hay. Jungkook's eyes swam in tears and he looked so hopeless, so pained that Taehyung made a bold decision. Whatever this was it was serious. So he would not waste time to find out what it was while Jungkook was suffering. He kneeled down to pick Jungkook up so he could carry him and then ran off as fast as he could to see the king. At first Jungkook had tried to keep Taehyung from lifting him up, but he had been too weak, his words slurred as the other carried him easily. “’s prince, he’s…bad,” Jungkook mumbled, holding onto Taehyung as tight as he could, “J’min…I thought he was nice.” A painful cry escaped him and Tae quickened his steps.

…

“The wedding is in a few days and the queen arrives tomorrow and you still haven���t seen the priest or ordered your shared chamber to be prepared?” Yoongi sighed and threw his hands up. “I am not the one getting married, my king. Where is your mind?” Shaking his head, he walked over to Namjoon, lowering his voice, “I know it is a lot, but it’s going to be over soon. Then it’s almost as if you have your old life back. So, please. No more distractions.”

Sometimes Namjoon would have loved to just get up and leave. He didn’t want to see a priest nor to share a chamber with anyone but the partner he willingly chose. His arranged marriage felt choking already and it hadn’t even started. Still he knew Yoongi had a point but he was sulky, a last bit of childish stubbornness left in him. “Well I am busy with other important matters - but if you start getting nervous then how about you arrange everything. I don’t need to be present for every little detail and I trust you to make good choices.” And even if Yoongi didn’t it wasn’t as if he cared. God he couldn’t wait to get into bed tonight after this stupidly long day, call for Jungkook and then bask in the other’s warmth and softness until he had drowned everything else out with kisses.

Yoongi sighed, raking a hand through his hair in a desperate manner. He nodded at Namjoon’s order and turned on his heel. “Then don’t whine if it’s not like how you wanted it to be when I am choosing everything,” He teased the king one last time, but before he could reach for the door handle it busted open. Yoongi was just about to scold whoever was barging in like that into the king’s chamber when he froze completely.

With shaking knees and tears in his eyes, Taehyung sunk down onto his knees in front of Namjoon, holding onto Jungkook tightly. “K-king, I…I found him,” A sob broke out of him, helplessly trying to soothe the younger while explaining, “Sh..it’s going to be…the King will…” The servant whimpered, when another cough shook him hard and his blood covered hands tightened around Tae’s neck, trying to keep close to his body heat. He just felt so cold.

“Taehyung what the…,” The reprimanding words died on his tongue when he saw the state Jungkook was in. Taehyung wasn’t rebellious. He would never break the rules if there wasn’t a very good reason for this. Jungkook’s wheezing and coughing told him right away that it was serious. And then he saw the blood.

“Get the doctor. Now!” He sent Yoongi away with a look that told him he’d better hurry if he didn’t want to be on his bad side. He got up and over to Taehyung giving a damn about keeping his distance. There were way more pressing matters at hand. “Did he eat something he shouldn’t? Drink the rusty water from the rain gutter behind the pavillon?” He refused to see this as serious as it was as long as there was still hope left. Taehyung shook his head violently, “N-no. He said something…I didn’t get it, really. I don’t think it’s just that. Please.” He was pleading, hoping that Namjoon could help them. Make it all alright again.

When Jungkook heard the familiar voice, he snapped his eyes open looking at Namjoon. Silent tears fell down his cheeks, when he realized that it was fault, and his own fault alone. He had been dumb enough to think that he could be more than just a servant and now life was paying him back. Reaching out for the king, Jungkook tried to put on a smile, before another spasm shook him and he fell out of Taehyung’s grip, holding onto Namjoon’s shirt tightly.

Namjoon didn’t care about what was appropriate, that he was kneeling on the floor besides the stable boy or that Jungkook was getting blood all over his blouse with his coughs. He stroked back Jungkook’s hair which was matted with sweat. His eyes looked glassy. Namjoon swallowed harshly when he realized that it didn’t look good. There was a cold hand reaching for his heart and it caught him completely unprepared. Jungkook was his, he had always been. Never in a million years had he thought that he could lose him.

“’m sorry,” Jungkook mumbled, pulling himself closer to Namjoon. He felt a lot warmer, his body being warmed up from the fireplace inside his chamber. “’s my f-fault,” He choked on the words a little, letting Namjoon’s arms wrap around him to hold him tight to him. “shouldn’t trust,” Jungkook’s voice was barely audible as he spoke with his eyes closed, hoping that the pain would be gone soon. He cried out, coughing up more blood until his body shook with how cold he felt.

“Hey.. hey!” Jungkook’s voice got more and more breathy and he could hardly understand anything that the younger told him. “Don’t fall asleep! What did you swallow? You have to tell me so that I can tell the doctor. He will have an antidote and then you can rest. I’ll.. I will take you off duty for the rest of the week for you to regain your strength. And I will send you over to Jin so that he can teach you about herbalism.” His voice wavered but he refused to let it break. Jungkook was awfully pale and his lips were turning blue. This couldn't be. He wouldn’t allow this! He was the king goddamnit! What worth did his power hold if he couldn’t protect the one he…

… the one he loved?

A faint smile was visible on his lips and Jungkook shook his head, “Tea. S…some tea with J’min…I.” He coughed again, but even those were sounding weaker now. As if his body wasn’t even trying to fight anymore. It just hurt too much. Reaching up for Namjoon’s face, he traced over the king’s cheek. A tear fell down his own and Jungkook took in a sharp breath. “Don’t b’ scared. I’ll be…m’okay. I…I…mak’ your ba-bath later. J’st not now,” He closed his eyes tiredly for a moment, opening them again took a lot more strength than he remembered. But he did it anyways. He wanted to remember Namjoon’s beautiful face. Wanted it to be the last thing he would see. There were tears dripping down onto Jungkook’s face and Namjoon angrily wiped them away until he realized that they were his own. He was crying. Crying for his servant. Who was dying in his arms.

“Where.. where the fuck is that doctor?!” He screamed but absolutely nothing changed. When he looked down at Jungkook’s face again the younger had closed his eyes and it was like a stab right in the heart. He felt scared, so utterly, terribly scared of losing Jungkook. He shook the younger, desperately and way too rough but it made Jungkook open his eyes again. He wasn’t coughing anymore. In fact his breath had died down to something fleeting, barely there and Jungkook’s body laid so motionless in his arms that he felt already dead. “Don’t… please! You can’t leave me! You are mine! You hear me? You are…you are… Jungkook, please, please don’t go!” There was a smile on the younger’s face as if he wasn’t hurting any more. As if being in Namjoon’s arms was all he wanted.

“I’m yours,” Jungkook whispered weakly, “Always loved you.” The younger one tried to soothe Namjoon, reach for his cheeks and shushing him quietly. Namjoon’s comfort was way more important to him than his own. It always had been. He hissed painfully, when his breathing got more shallow, more constricted. With wide eyes and shivering hands, Jungkook was realizing that he hadn’t got much time left. Even if the doctor would arrive soon. There was nothing they could do. Hoseok had wanted him to be dead. To take his knowledge of his plans to die with him. But Jungkook didn’t want to give in to that, so he reached for Namjoon’s neck, pulling the king down to him. “P-please…shhh, it’s okay, Namjoonie,” The cute name slipped from his lips so easily, one that he hadn’t used in ages but only when they were younger. “…please.”

Hearing Jungkook tell him that he loved him even after everything that happened, even though he was dying and probably dying because of him being king broke Namjoon completely. He couldn’t stop the tears anymore nor the sobs but he tried to push both of them down, if only for long enough to kiss his servant, his confidant, his love. “I’m sorry. I’m so... so very sorry… for everything I did to you… for punishing you for my own emotions… for taking you for granted… for ... for hurting you… I’m so sorry Jungkook. So sorry.” He placed little kisses on the younger’s face, fleeting, like butterfly wings caressing his skin. He leaned down, so close that only Jungkook could hear him before whispering, “You’re going to be the only one who ever owns my heart. You were… the only one I ever really trusted. Even if I didn’t act like it I love you just... just as much. And I always will, no matter what.”

For a moment, Jungkook thought he was already in heaven. The words too good to be true, but when he saw Namjoon’s expression, he knew he was speaking honestly and from his heart. The king’s eyes were full of tears and Jungkook ached with the thought that he couldn’t soothe him, that he could never be there for him again. “I...love ‘u,” The young boy mumbled, pulling Namjoon in for a kiss. One that left him gasping for air, but he didn’t care. He would waste his last breath for him.

Jungkook’s lips tasted like blood and his kiss like death. Nonetheless Namjoon kissed him with all he had. It was like time had been slowed down after that. It was pulling on his mind, stretching and straining like rubber.

“Hoseok,” Jungkook whispered with the last bit of his strength, holding onto Namjoon tightly to keep upright. His knuckles turned white from how tight his grip was. “B’ aware of him. It…it was…he needed,” Taking in a shaky small breath, Jungkook’s voice wavered and he wasn’t even sure if Namjoon could understood a single word he was saying. “…me to be quiet,” He let go of Namjoon’s shirt, falling back into his embrace. Fighting the pull that was trying to lure him into the darkness, Jungkook’s eyelids fluttered as he forced to keep his eyes open. “I…don’t want to…be alone,” Jungkook shook with the sob that broke through him. He was scared, so so scared of dying and being without the one he loved. The one who always kept him warm. “’m so..c-cold.”

Jungkook told him something but he only really got Hoseok’s name out of it. Although he didn’t want to think about anything further than those seconds. The last seconds that Jungkook was still alive. Namjoon could almost watch the last bit of life drain from him, how the air fled his lungs. Jungkook sobbed, one last, final time. He mumbled something, about being cold, so Namjoon held him closer, tried to keep him warm. He didn’t realize that Jungkook couldn’t feel it anymore. In a last desperate attempt he held onto the younger’s body as tightly as he could. Something whispered to him, sweetly, something that felt like hope and that told him that as long as Jungkook’s body wouldn’t get cold the younger wouldn’t be lost. He couldn’t… he couldn’t have died! But no matter how close he held him or how gently he rocked him Jungkook didn’t move again.

He was dead.

Taehyung had watched the scene in front of him like a puppet. It all happened so fast and at the same time everything moved in slow motion. He wasn’t sure how that was possible, but he didn’t even jerk when the door busted open again and the doctor finally came but Jungkook didn’t move anymore. His hand hanging loosely from his side, his eyes closed while Namjoon was rocking him back and forth. Never before had Taehyung seen tears in the king’s eyes. The king didn’t let go off him, even when the doctor asked to try and attempt to reanimate him – but it would be no use either, Tae realized that now. The words had made no sense to him before but now.

“They poisoned him,” He breathed out, reaching out for Jungkook with shaking hands to caress over his hair one last time, “Jimin. Jungkook said something…Hoseok is bad, that’s what he said and Jimin must be the last person he saw, because he mumbled something about a tea.” Looking back and forth between Namjoon and Yoongi, Taehyung was frantically searching for one of them to get what he was trying to say. His gaze fell back onto Jungkook’s lifeless body and a tremble went through his own. They had played with him and Jungkook, poor, naïve, sweet Jungkookie had thought he would find love or something alike. All that the younger had wanted had been those words that Namjoon only had dared to say when he was dying in his arms. Pressing his hand onto his mouth, Taehyung’s body shook with his cries. “He didn’t,” He choked on his words, “He didn’t deserve this.”

It took a lot of (absolutely inappropriate) manhandling and persuasion from Yoongi’s side before Namjoon finally let go of Jungkook’s body. He knew that Yoongi had always frowned upon his close relationship with the younger but there was nothing that showed it now. He was respectful, gentle almost when he picked the lifeless body up. “God, he barely weights anything…,” The words were whispered to himself and Yoongi paled when he realised that he had said them out loud but neither Namjoon nor Taehyung were in a state of mind where they could register anything besides their loss and hurt. Jungkook looked relaxed, like he was sleeping, nothing but the specks of blood telling that he had slowly died from asphyxiation. When he tried to get up Namjoon’s hand closed around his wrist so quickly that Yoongi startled. “Don’t take him away. Please don’t take him away from me.” It hit him hard to see the king like that; so vulnerable and broken. He had seen anger on the king's face, disgust or hate, boredom, amusement and numerous other emotions - but he had never seen him like that.

Heartbroken - that’s what he looked like.

Yoongi bit his lip heart to keep his eyes from tearing up. He had still seen Jungkook grew up, had seen him try to get Namjoon’s attention over and over again, only to fail. He had tried so many times to tell Jungkook that the king was playing games and that was just how he was, but in the end – Yoongi had been wrong.

There was always more between them.

“He will stay close to you forever, my king,” Yoongi’s voice broke a little, “L-let me clean him up and we will bury him with the most beautiful flowers. Please, my king.”

Taehyung shivered at the thought of burying his friend, feeling completely out of place. The anger inside of him was raging. He wanted revenge for whatever the prince had done to Jungkook.

Finally, Yoongi could take Jungkook away. He draped his silken coat over the youngers body to shield him from people’s eyes but he couldn’t bring himself to cover up the younger’s face. It would have looked too much like a shroud. Therefore, even though it didn’t take him long to bring Jungkook’s body from the king’s quarters to Jungkook’s room, the news about the younger’s death spread like wildfire. Jungkook had been well beloved by the other servants because he had always been kind and showed them a smile no matter how much stress he was under and so it went like a collective outcry through the castle.  

Taehyung was still on his knees on the hard floor, his hands closing into fists, his knuckles turning white repeatedly. “He didn’t deserve this,” He mumbled to himself, shaking his head as he still couldn’t believe what had happened. Tae’s eyes flickered around the room, when it fell onto something. The lowering sun was reflecting on the shiny metal of the king’s sword making him blink his eyes furiously. His chest was rising heavily with every breath he took as he slowly got up. He was almost a knight. And this right here didn’t need any status.

It needed rage.

A low growl escaped him, when Taehyung reached for the king’s sword, his eyes red with the anger burning inside of him. “What do you think you’re doing?” The king’s voice sounded brittle, like something fragile that was streaked with cracks and could crumble any moment. Nonetheless he was still the king and his words exuded power. He reached out for his sword, but Tae had already taken the sword and he didn’t look like he was keen on giving it back. “For taking my sword alone I could have you beheaded.” There was no threat in that sentence, just an emotionless statement. Namjoon was tired. He wanted to lay down and forget what happened and wake up to Jungkook by his side and the youngers beautiful smile that reached his eyes that made him look so happy and so... alive… Namjoon got up, shaking the memory out of his head. He would lose himself in them if he gave in. And he would lose another servant, because Taehyung would never even make it close to the prince or Jimin or whoever else he tried to attack. He wasn’t wearing a knights attire. People would see the sword and hold him back.

“You should have protected him!” Taehyung yelled at Namjoon furiously, “Because of you he is dead. It’s your…your fault! All he wanted was your love and you made him fear you! Made him run to someone who used his weaknesses and still…” He choked on a sob, sinking down onto his knees, while he desperately held onto the sword. His blood covered hands shaking with the weak attempt to keep himself upright. “They killed him, because he was yours,” He gulped heavily against the lump in his throat, his teary eyes gazing up at Namjoon, “He deserves revenge! His death shouldn’t be for nothing!”

Namjoon let the servant scream at him, had him yell those words that spoke from his heart. Because Taehyung was right. Jungkook had always been starving for his attention, his affection, anything that made him feel like Namjoon could possibly love him in a way. And he had known it - and used it against him, to manipulate Jungkook, to keep him in check and keep him for himself. Maybe Taehyung was right that none of this would have happened if he had only shown Jungkook a little more kindness, a little more love. Because the saddest part of this was that he had loved Jungkook. He just hadn’t let him see in fear of seeming weak or being at Jungkook’s mercy.

“What will you do Taehyung? Will killing someone bring Jungkook back? Do you think he would feel better if he knew that his best friend got himself killed as well? Because they will get you and then they will put u to death for murder, no matter if you made it to the prince or got caught on the way.”

Taehyung stern gaze was piercing through Namjoon. “I don’t care! I can’t go on and pretend like nothing happened,” He spat at the king not caring about any finesse or any rules, “What do I have to lose?” For a moment, both of them just looked at each other, tears flowing from their cheeks. “He didn’t deserve to be a part of yours and Hoseok’s games! He deserved more! He deserves to be remembered!” He paused, shaking from the effort it took from him. “I promised to protect him, my king,” Taehyung finally broke as the sword fell onto the floor and the stable boy barely held himself up on his hands. The sobs shuddered his whole body. “I promised,” He whispered repeatedly.  

It felt strange, to show his ‘weakness’ so openly but he figured with the salty streaks still over his face he didn’t have much to lose. So, he reached out for Taehyung and pulled him close, embracing him like he should have done with Jungkook everytime the younger was hurting - instead of using his ache against him to bind the boy further to him. “Jungkook will never be forgotten. Not ever. Even if I tried I couldn't. And Hoseok will pay for this. He and everyone who was involved with this. I will make them pay with everything they hold dear until they regret that they ever even thought of hurting Jungkook. And Jungkook he... he will get the most beautiful grave. With white marble and the flowers he liked so much. And I promise to visit him regularly so he’ll never be lonely. We can make picnics on his birthday in the garden under the willow were you two played hide and seek. I’ll give you the whole day off and we can fill the day with memories of Jungkook until it feels like he was still alive. I… I told him that I would never let him go. And I won’t. He’s gonna stay with me forever and I won’t… I won’t let anything come between us. Not even death.”

Taehyung held onto Namjoon’s shirt tightly, sobbing into his shoulder but listening to every word he said. He nodded, soft little hiccups coming from him in a weak attempt to speak. Leaning back, Taehyung’s expression turned stern and he looked up at the king. “Make me a knight,” He spoke softly, “I want to stand up for him, stand by your side if you fight. I want to be able to protect him.” Taking in a sharp breath, his voice cracked a little, “I…I learned everything already. Jin taught me everything. I only need to receive the accolade from you. Let my rage be your weapon.”

Namjoon laughed, humorlessly so at the way Taehyung’s eyes had changed. He had always looked so innocent despite his age and his training. Now the innocence was gone, and he could see the same expression that a few of his other knights had; the ones that were the first to fight and the most difficult to be killed: a recklessness that went beyond his own physical integrity, a hint of madness born from pain - and last but not least a pure hunger for revenge that would only be sated with blood.

Gently he wiped the tears away from Taehyung’s face, a sad smile on his own. “Yeah, you look ready. Don’t get yourself killed please. He would never forgive me if I let you get killed. And I need you to remember him with me. So, if you can guarantee both of that, then I will grant you your wish. And then we will come for those who hurt him.”

Neither of them had anything left to lose now as silly as that sounded coming from the king. But he had never felt as whole and real and alive as he could with Jungkook so now that the younger had died taking that spark with him he had no idea how he should be able to stand the fake wedding and the nonsense meetings and the repetitive, exhausting and boring conferences that had become his life. If this was what was awaiting him - then he didn’t want it. There was no worth in living for glory or wealth or all those other empty promises. He had them and they only made him feel empty. It was the people that filled his life with meaning.

But he had realized that too late.

And it had needed a piece of his heart dying to teach him.

A/N: I am sorry for any minor mistakes since I cried while editing it again lmao. Anyways, We hope you liked the story although it was a sad ending for a change ;; There are more smaller stories coming soon and we’re already working on a Sequel to the ‘Mile High Valentine Club’ Minjoon story for you guys! Thank you so much for every comment and the love you sent to Cat’s and my stories. 

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[ambitionsource]

002, Riley matthews , Esther & Maggie

Riley Matthews ( Esther )

How I feel about this character: she’s awesome and I like her a lot

All the people I romantically ship with this character: Lucas

My non-romantic otp for this character: either Charlie or Zay

My unpopular opinion about this character: I prefer her with long hair than short? idk

One thing I wish would happen: if I was watching the show rn I’d want her to Go Off at topanga and like just let everything she’s feeling abt the divorce and stuff out

My otp: riley & lucas

My cross over ship: uh,, I ship her with Lucas from girl meets world? idk NKCLDJD

A headcanon fact: she reads Shakespeare not just for school but bc she genuinely likes his plays and people expect her to be like “oh Romeo and Juliet is my fav” when they learn that but in reality she just goes off about Macbeth and othello and all the deep shit

Riley Matthews ( Maggie )

How I feel about this character: starshine girl, relatable queen, the audience conduit for stepping into the world of AAA, really far more scrappy than people give her credit for, a genuinely good sweet person who is trying her best in every capacity. also probably my fave female character on the show

All the people I romantically ship with this character: Lucas James

My non-romantic otp for this character: Zay is up there of course, although I also have to say Charlie bc… whew! and we’re gonna be seeing more of that soon yes we sure are yes we sure are!!

My unpopular opinion about this character: hm… i guess sort of like i said above, i don’t think she’s nearly as innocent or like… Darling as her classmates (and likely a real fandom) paint her out to be. she’s considerate and thoughtful and always striving for good, it’s true, but she’s got a hard edge to her that shouldn’t be overlooked. where she and charlie are VERY similar personality wise, i think one thing that sets them apart is that riley has this sharp backbone to her and it’s one of my fave things about her

One thing I wish would happen: hard to answer this since we make the show fkdjshgkdhgf but i think similar to es i’ll just go off what i’d want as a viewer. since she’s so focused on tackling other people’s problems, i’d love some time spent once the dust settles where riley just gets to consider and explore what she is passionate about, what she cares about, and really step into center stage (as far as she’s comfortable with ofc)

My otp: riley x lucas… yeah… they

My cross over ship: honestly es’s answer is hilarious FJDSKGJDFLGJFDH but i’m gonna like axe this question after this bc i dont care about other shows FJDSKLFGKLDSG sorry not sorry!!

A headcanon fact: she is the queen of hairstyles. she can do like any braid, any sort of cute casual up-do. she’s got that realm of cute out of her face hairstyles on lock. if we were watching the show fr, the amount of riley matthews + hair gifsets that would exist… beautiful lit rally beautiful y’all. i love her!!!!!!!

send some winter hiatus asks !! or try this one

[lynne-monstr]

I was tagged by @lakritzwolf

Rules: Answer seventeen questions and tag twenty-one blogs!

Nickname: Lynne

Star Sign: pieces

Last Film I Watched: that’s a very good question. i watch movies so rarely that i don’t even know what the last one was

Fave Musician: toss up between billy joel and queen

Song Stuck in my Head: i was going through my old gifsets and so now i have whitney houston on the brain

Other Blogs: i have a twitter now!

Do I Get Asks: i get a steady trickle of them and it’s lovely!

Blog Followings: I follow 227 blogs and have have 2311 followers (and i had to look up both these numbers lol)

What am I wearing: jammie bottoms (with pockets!) and a soft t-shirt with a crow design on the front. also my work-from-home bathrobe

Dream Job: retirement. i’m so done with corporate bullshit. i want to sip rose champagne on the beach with my toes in the sand while i write fic

Dream Trip: i feel awful in saying that i don’t really have one at the moment. i’ve really scratched the travel itch with my job - i’ve lived in london, tokyo, amsterdam, singapore, and nyc. i should probably go and do some research - i’d love to do something more rural, i guess, maybe with hiking and nature. and wineries, of course, but i don’t have anywhere specifically in mind.

Play Instruments: I was a percussionist in my student days. if i hadn’t gone into technology, i would have wanted to be a solo marimbaist

Languages: English. my japanese used to be just barely decent enough to at least order food in restaurants and buy tickets in the train station, but that was a long time ago. i can still mostly read a restaurant menu in dutch though, so i guess that counts for something.

Fave Food: there’s no way i can pick just one. though there was a place in singapore that did the best curry chicken with rice that i haven’t been able to find since i left, and i think about that dish all the time.

Fave Songs: nothing can ever top downeaster alexa and that’s a fact (hm except maybe vienna). honerable mention to the entire jagged little pill album

Random Facts: i’m left handed!

Also my fave emojis are: 🐙 (is anyone surprised lol)

I’m going to tag (sorry it’s not 21 but i am a rule breaker lol): @tidalrace, @humanformdragon, @junemermaid, @gaywoodandbine, @intezaarlily, @magnusandalexander, @lutavero