#(he's the main character now he's allowed to be mean to his partner because her feelings no longer matter -- i mean)

[all-pacas]

thinking about my enemy (saviors) again

i think my problem/frustration in the episode is that it only last one episode, right?

so to recap, it's the camchase engagement episode. cameron is freaking out because she found the ring, and she's avoiding chase while she processes. the episode is very much on her side: it doesn't suggest she's right to do this, but it's sympathetic to her reasons: she's afraid for a number of reasons. she thinks chase doesn't "mean it", that it's a reaction to kutner dying and him being impulsive. that the relationship might not last ( l o l ). that losing people is scary and commitment is scary and she's just scared. and she does a very cameron thing and tries to extract herself entirely from the situation, push it away. she doesn't, she explains to house, want to say yes or no. she wants this situation to not happen.

cameron is also fairly clear that it isn't about not wanting to be with chase, both explicitly and implicitly (he dumps her in the episode, so there's that problem solved; she also makes it clear that her biggest fear is that he isn't serious, not that she doesn't want to marry him). and honestly? i get it! i am sympathetic! i think she goes about all this totally wrong, but the episode and house agree with that; cameron is fucking up. by avoiding chase, she's making the situation much worse. chase breaks up with her about it. she fucked up! so far, so good. and then cameron realizes she fucked up and goes to him to………………… apologize? you'd think, right?

meanwhile!

chase goes through like 8 stages of a breakup in this episode. at first, cameron tells him she has a really good, but secret, reason for cancelling their vacation. he is not thrilled, fair enough, but he gives her the benefit of the doubt. cameron says she just needs a day. a day passes.

chase realizes that she is still avoiding him, while also hanging all over house. the show tries to play this as ooooooh love triangle, but none of the characters really take this seriously; chase does go through the motions of jealousy but doesn't really seem that worried about the house part, just the cameron lying to him part. she promises him she has a very good reason for this. he confronts her about this: ("So you admit you lied to me. And now you’re asking me to trust you?"), but reluctantly agrees to keep waiting. clearly he's getting pretty stressed, but he's being a good boyfriend here.

cameron continues to lie and avoid him, and chase finds out she's been at work this whole time, that she's been kicked off house's case (thus lying about what she's doing), etc. he confronts her again and demands to know what's going on. she doesn't tell him. he dumps her.

so far? i don't have any issues. from either of them! they're both acting… maybe not rationally, but as you'd expect. cameron is trying to avoid confrontation and facing her feelings and got hit by consequences she wasn't expecting. part of her is trying to blow up the relationship because it's easier than doing something scary like talk about feelings. chase tried to give her space and time, drew a line, and broke up with cameron when she refused to meet him there. it's sad for them both; it's in character for them both.

so here's the problem. here's the big fucking problem.

cameron realizes, with help from house, that she fucked up. so she goes to chase to apologize (she never apologizes) and try to get him to take her back. she explains why she was freaked out: she found the ring and was scared, but she knows it was an excuse and does want to marry him. she then asks him to propose to her, i guess to prove that she does want to say yes, but cameron, get on your damn knee, come on, he dumped you.

here's the problem.

cameron has been promising that she had a really good reason why she was avoiding chase. she has insisted to him for days that it's a real reason and she just can't tell him: chase has no idea why she's been acting this way, just that she did. so he finally finds out, right? and the reason is: the sheer concept of marrying you made me ghost you.

i mean, yes. the reason is cameron was scared. in lockdown they subtly retcon this into i had cold feet, i say subtly not because that isn't true but it severely downplays the "ghost you until you dump me" of it all. but. can you imagine. can you imagine wanting to marry someone and finding out the big secret, really good, really justified, reason they've been avoiding you was they know that.

cameron never apologizes. the show treats her as wrong, in that her panic spiral was misguided and ended up with her dealing with consequences she does not want -- her actions bit her in the ass! oh no! -- but the show never really gives us chase's pov or chase's perspective on this. "i changed my mind! propose to me now!" it is considered a victory that he does. they are happy. they tell cuddy, holding hands. it is a happy ending.

from his perspective, he's looking forward to a nice minibreak, he's planning to propose, his girlfriend suddenly cancels but says she has a good reason for it, starts lying to him, he dumps her very reluctantly because she refuses to talk to him, and then he finds out that all of this is because she hated the idea of him proposing that much. she explains this to him and asks he propose anyway. she does not apologize or acknowledge he was right to break up with her or express guilt for her actions.

to be clear, it is not meant to be like this. from the way the episode never addresses this again to the way camchase are happy-go-lucky and happy going forward (the sperm thing, a relative non-issue in comparison -- they both compromise for the other immediately -- lasts two episodes and is given more weight), to the way chase apparently has no doubts or worries whatsoever two weeks later -- it is clear this is meant to be a sweet episode. we are meant to feel bad for cameron and happy she worked out her issues. this is a romantic proposal. did they have a long conversation about it off screen? who knows! i hate this episode so much <3

-

when chase, in lockdown, says that cameron never loved him, it's always struck me as a very silly little retcon. the whole conversation. the whole subplot. it's not bad, certainly not in the same way as saviors is, but it's different, because up until this point, we've always seen the relationship from cameron's pov: she's had all the agency and power. when she makes mistakes or has to learn and grow, it's always in a "she's being so brave about it!" sort of way: we never get to see chase Learn and Grow or make mistakes (and it isn't because he's so perfect and not a fuck up, it's because cameron is much more important to the show than he is). it's also a retcon because we see cameron fight for and make sacrifices/changes for the relationship, a lot: she quit in s3 out of loyalty to chase (as stated by house later). she falls over herself in the itch and both sides now to make chase happy.

as part of the you-never-loved-me exchange in lockdown, there's a very funny bit where chase is listing cameron's red flags and she protests each one. it's funny because there was no basis for this in the episodes we saw, but i actually do kind of think this was the intent: she called him over for meth sex because she already liked him (we see in s1+2 that actually they are friends, even if it's never underlined). she dumped him in s3 because she did have feelings and was scared (as chase himself points out in s3; as she agrees with implicitly in act your age and human error, but the show again forgot to underline the point). i actually think we were meant to see the relationship as cameron lays it out. i had cold feet, she says, to justify saviors. this is true. it also makes her behavior kind of not a big deal. this is exactly how the episode presents it.

chase's "you never loved me" rant is funny, because for the first time, the show is on his side. things that were genuinely not seen as issues or important when we were in cameron's pov are suddenly problems. chase is still on the show, and now his feelings matter. suddenly, saviors was grounds for divorce, and not the sweet music montage niceness it presented itself as at the time. suddenly their divorce is about cameron, when earlier in the season it was very much about chase.

[nthspecialll]

When it comes to Abigail Marston leaving John in 1907, a lot of people throw mean comments at her, say that she was unfair for doing so and a lot of other things, however I think that people fail to consider the time that this game is set. This is not our modern day woman, this is 1907, and it might sound like I am stating the obvious but by the hatred that she gets it I think it needs to be said again.

1907!

Do you know the rights that women had then? Or the lack of. Women were bound to their husbands, they weren't allowed to own close to anything and were only allowed to vote in about 4 different states, some women that is. Women were seen as a servant to her husband.

It was also hard for women to earn money, the average woman over 16 working in a factory (as the majority was) earned 5-6 or 6-7 dollars a week, a week! Eggs on average costed 29 cents by the doz, a pound of round steak cost 15 cents and half a gallon of milk costed 15 cents as well.

What about rent? New Austin, which Blackwater and the surrounding area is in, is based of Texas which in 1904 had a rent per room pr month of 28 dollars.

So why would Abigail ever go through all of that? Because of John, because of Jack. Abigail stuck around John for eight years, practically begging him to fix himself, to become better because she knew that she was pretty much dependant on him, because she needs his support to be able to live and she wants to give her boy a chance at a better life but she can't with John constantly picking fights and literally putting her and her son's lives at risk.

A lot of people make it seem like she just suddenly took that chocie, but she didn't, it was a choice that most likely took her years not just due to the financial burden but also the social burden that comes with being a single mom in a time where pre-material sex was seen as a death sin. She could very well be killed merely for being seen with Jack and without a husband.

And not just that, but it was probably also a hard choice because despite of everything she loves John, she really does, yes she screams at him for going out with Saide but who wouldn't. "She won't allow him freedom," no she is scared he is going to die, for us it is easy to say "he isn't going to" because he is a main character and we can just redo if we die taking on twenty skinner brothers or whatnot, but it isn't like that for her. I want you to imagine that your partner/friend/parent told you they were going to fight a gang of who knows how many, you are going to be scared no matter how skilled that friend is because you don't want to lose them. John himself admits it is dangerous work by saying "we always find a way to almost get killed, dont we?" Which Sadie agees to.

Abigail took the choice to leave, putting herself in a terrible situation, not for herself, but for her son. She gave up her one true love so that her son could have a chance at life, have a chance to be better than her and John. It was not easy and it is not something we should shame her for, if anything we should praise her for putting her son before herself.

I love John, I really do, but I think it shows just how shitty of a father he really was, and that Abigail leaving was exactly the push he needed to get himself together, it was the wake-up call he needed. He knew how shitty women had it, he would have to realize how terrible he must have been for her to prefer that over him.

Now am I saying Abigail did everything right? No, she did not. Although I understand her fustrations with him doing bounties she has to realize she is not in a place to be picky about jobs. She did ask John to take on a huge debt for the farm and John is right in one thing "it is legal work that I can handle," and while the farm is taking some time to get up and running it is the best form of income that they have access to.

Now to talk about her annoyance with John going after Micah, it is understandable as it could trigger a decline to their former life of crime or just lead to straight up death. It is unnecessary, revenge is unnecessary, meaning that John is risking their entire life for "nothing." He argues back with "I am doing it for Arthur" but again, yes Micah killed Arthur but killing Micah wont change that, killinh Micah will not bring Arthur back nor put him in a better situation, it is revenge, it is not nessesary, it doesn’t do any good.

If John had died she would not only have lost her husband but also the farm, as women could not own property. I am not that knowledgable on debt laws in 1907, but I would imagine that in some way or another the massive debt John got would end up with her or Jack either way, putting her in a terrible situation.

@heavenlymorals made a similar post back in may 11th where they also explore and explain Mary Linton and Abigail in 1899, it is really amazing and also puts some other light on it.

Sources:

Rent, page 369: https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/title/annual-report-commissioner-labor-6306/eighteenth-annual-report-commissioner-labor-608452?start_page=370

Food, page 233: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=umn.31951000014585x&seq=233

Wages, page 15: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nnc1.cu56779232&seq=15

[dwarfhorse]

p 1/??

Rune factory Guardians of Azuma

alrighty so this is gonna be a little lengthy because a lot was shown recently! however I'm typing on my tablet which is dying as I type and the sites won't load, forgive me for image sizes as I can't make them smaller.

first off, here's the new rune factory guardians of azuma trailer. accompanied with a release date of May 30, 2025. the game alone is 60$ USD while the limited edition is 100$ USD.

I'll get into characters in a minute, but we are seeing town building as well as being allowed to pick NPCs jobs (im assuming they're just store running NPCs with no storyline). and the trailer kind of gives pokemon graphics with genshin inspired mechanics. some mechanics also remind me of Pokemon legends Arceus. Keep in mind this is a sideline game, if I remember correctly they are working on 6, a mainline game. They are trying a totally new formula with this game and farming will still be included but not a main focus.

It seems there will be 2 romance routes locked behind dlc, and for the first time in a long time, the mcs will have their own distinctive personalities and the opposite of you pick will be romanceable.

Story: The Celestial Collapse — a calamity caused by a colossal object crashing into the eastern lands known as Azuma. The devastating impact sent fragments of terrain to the skies above and the seas below. With the earth shattered, the power provided by the runes ceased to flow. The gods of nature vanished soon after. Mountains crumbled and fields withered, leaving the people with nothing…not even hope. You awaken, startled by a dream of dueling dragons. You don’t remember how or why, but a voice resonates within you. "Accept the power of an Earth Dancer. Use this power to save the land.” Thus begins your lengthy journey to restore the gods…

now for characters:

Subaru (male mc) and Kaguya (fem mc)

Left his cold village in the northern part of Azuma on a mission to save the land. Childhood friends with Kaguya, who hails from the same hometown. Usually relaxed and easy-going. Enjoys gazing at the sky. While generally not a fan of battle, he has a strong sense of justice, and will fight fiercely to protect his friends and loved ones.

Left her cold village in the northern part of Azuma on a mission to save the land. Childhood friends with Subaru, who hails from the same hometown. Loves being in nature, especially interacting with animals and observing flowers. Although usually calm, she despises evil and resents any acts of injustice.

Woolby (mascot /sidekick)

The protagonist's loyal partner and guide. A bit of a braggart and a klutz. His gluttonous nature makes him susceptible to sweet bribes, especially dango.

Romance options, there are 16!

Iroha

The owner of Iroha's Teahouse in Spring Village. A friendly, caring young woman who dreams of revitalizing Spring Village and returning it to its former glory.

Murasame (they beefed him down in game sadly)

A samurai who wanders Azuma with the goal of becoming the world's greatest swordsman. Master of the Munen Muso sword style, which means "free from empty thoughts." Spends his days training and keeping his sword in good condition.

Hina

A half-human, half-fox were-animal who arrives in Azuma on an airship with Mauro. Claims to be an archaeologist. Childhood events instilled her with a strong desire to help others.

Mauro

A self-proclaimed treasure hunter from a foreign land who came to Azuma by airship in search of a legendary treasure. This sentimental soul is easily moved to tears.

Ulalaka

Azuma's kind, gentle god of spring and merriment. Her benevolence knows no bounds, and she simply wants everyone to live happy, peaceful lives.

Matsuri

Azuma's carefree god of summer and swords. Enjoys physical activities of all kinds. Despite being a master of the blade, she tends to solve problems with brute force instead.

Unfortunately I've hit the picture limit, so I'll have to make a part 2.

[lucysarah-c]

Do you think that Canon Levi (While he is in the scouts, not post-war) would want a serious relationship or even a family? I love reading fanfictions about him falling in love with someone who is also on the scouts and even having a wife or kids, but he canonically is not a huge fan of marriages and Idk, maybe he doesn't like the idea of putting children in such a dangerous world, you know what I mean? What's your opinion? 

Hi, sweetheart! How are you? Ah, first of all, thank you for stopping by my inbox and asking for my opinion. I always get a little giggly when people ask for my thoughts on anything haha. I promise to do my best to reply to everything to the best of my abilities!

I agree with you to a certain degree, especially since you mentioned not "post-war Levi." I think post-war Levi is a completely different story, you know? This man sat down with two kids to tell them about his childhood and mother. Let's remember that Hange didn't even know about Kenny's existence during the Uprising Arc, which leads me to think that Levi didn't speak to anyone about his past before. Now he does? I mean, yes, it's a literary device—using characters completely alien to the idea to present a first-person POV of the character telling their past. I've used it myself in my main fic. But let's say that's not the case, and Levi is opening up like never before. He seems to be redoing his life and living happily after the war. I wouldn't be surprised if he decides to pursue a partner and kids for himself (if he wants, as kids and romantic relationships aren't necessary for happiness).

But Canon Scout Levi? Let me tell you, first of all, I don't think Levi really "believes" in marriage per se. I think he would treat his girlfriend as if she were his wife; he doesn't think of marriage much beyond "a tradition." Now, I do see him getting married if it would enhance the life or rights of his girlfriend. What do I mean by this? Let's say there's "social judgment" if his girlfriend is publicly in a relationship with him and "being with a man outside of wedlock" causes her social scrutiny—he may marry her. He knows firsthand how women are judged based on their "status" by his mother, so if he can step up and do the right thing, he will. For example, if he were to die and his partner couldn't land jobs because people judge that she's unmarried at her age, he would marry her. Or if she could get a pension from being married to a soldier, and every coin counts, Levi wouldn't mind it. That's what I personally think. Levi knows he won't be the one getting the sour end from not making it official, so he sees it as beneficial to make it legally official.

Then about kids, I don't see Levi "seeking" kids while he's in the Scouts. It's rather clear that Levi likes kids across the story, but he probably wants to give his kids the childhood he didn't have. And yeah, "kids only need someone who loves them, etc.," but the truth is kids need time, dedication, and MONEY. Three things that Scout Levi doesn't have lmao. So I don't see him canonically "seeking to become a dad." If there's contraception in Paradis, he's for sure using it. If there isn't, or accidents happen, and his girlfriend ends up pregnant, he would probably state that it's not the best timing for kids (especially if she's a Scout, as I doubt a woman would be allowed to be a soldier and also raise a kid. She would lose her job and stay behind to be a mother, which was usually the case back in the day). But if she decides to carry on, Levi, being an adult doing adult stuff, will take responsibility and be the best father he can given the circumstances.

Finally, about relationships… I'm a firm believer that you don't truly choose to fall in love or not haha. Like when it happens, it happens, like the cat distribution system lol. Once it knocks at your door, it's your time. Once again, I don't picture Levi going out of his way "searching" for romance. But if he slowly gets to know someone and likes them, and that person likes him back, then well… I don't know. Now that I'm rereading the manga, I'm more sure about this. Levi hardly seems "unapproachable," like "I'm so hurt, I don't want to let anyone in." On the contrary, you see he has good relationships with almost all the Scouts, even telling Nifa about Kenny out of nowhere. He's not one to fall easily, but if it happens, it happens.

I hope this was a good enough answer <3 Thank you so much for your ask.

Have a lovely day!

Stay safe!

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: Exposition

Exposition - a literary term that refers to the background information the reader needs to know for the world of your story to make sense.

Also: The technique of providing this kind of information in a story or film.

It includes anything from character introductions to dialogue, and is most common at the beginning of the story.

Exposition Techniques

There are several ways to use exposition to convey the background of the characters and events. Some of the most popular types:

DIALOGUE. A conversation between two or more characters allows for simple and effective exposition in a single scene.

NARRATION. A way to communicate a character’s true thoughts and desires, or give omniscient insight into a situation.

FLASHBACK. This places your character in context.

Writing Tips

You know the world of your story inside out, but now it's time to put it on paper and share it with audiences. If you're struggling with finding a good starting point or balancing how much information to present, try the following tips for effective expository writing.

SHOW, DON'T TELL. This means that you should always “show” things to the reader through action or character behavior as opposed to simply “telling” them. If you “show, don’t tell” well, you might not even need an exposition.

Weave exposition into the RISING ACTION. Good exposition is laid out without impeding the story and is seamlessly embedded within a scene. Move the central dramatic narrative forward at the same time that you lay out exposition. Describe how a bomb works at the same time as the hero is trying to detonate it. Explain how evil a bad guy is as the hero is actively running away from him.

SUPPLEMENT THE VISUALS. Use narration to add to the action that is taking place. While some imagery are better left for the reader to interpret, others can benefit from the clarity or context that your narrator can provide with supplemental information.

Create characters who act as a “STAND IN” for the reader. One way to get through exposition in your story is to have at least one character early on who is a stand-in for the reader; because they ask questions of the main character that the reader might have. He or she will help introduce the characters and the world without causing readers to be bogged down with excessive or conspicuous exposition.

Use ARGUMENTS to your advantage. In real life, arguments naturally escalate and romantic partners often bring up past events during fights making it an ideal scene to slip in background information. A fight about household duties between lovers can escalate to the point where the wife brings up her husband’s infidelity from 15 years earlier. This exposition feels natural because we believe that the wife may not be over the past infidelity and would mention it in the heat of the moment.

Be BRIEF—less is more. Only say as much as you need to for the reader to understand the story. Try writing a monologue for your character, exploring his or her entire background and back story. Then, start chipping away at it. How much of this information is important, and how much is ancillary detail? How much can you show in the scene versus having to say out loud? For example, does the character need to tell us they went to university, or can they throw on a college sweatshirt or stand in front of a framed diploma?

Give your characters SUBJECT-MATTER EXPERTISE. Let’s say you need to explain how a virus is slowly decimating the entire human race. Instead of having a lay person google the information in a scene, write a dynamic scientist character who has been researching this virus for years, is an expert on the topic, and whose job it is to provide information about the virus to others. For example, you could write a scene where the scientist explains how the virus works to the U.N. or has to go on CNN to explain it to the masses as this feels like an authentic thing that would happen in the world of the story.

Source ⚜ More: Writing Notes & References

[miraculouslbcnreactions]

Last post you talked about your ideal version of canon, I was wondering could you share it with us? If not, that's ok

Oh man, I could go on about my dream version of canon for ages! I've talked about various aspects of it on here with stuff like my "sugar" posts on Nino and Alya, but the broad strokes are:

Serialized story where it's basically one large narrative told in chunks

A true teams setup where Adrien, Marinette, Alya, and Nino feel like this amazing, tight friend group who grows into a found family as they get older, giving platonic and romantic love more equal billing

No guardian order, just have it be a single-person role that gets passed on from person to person

Kagami and Luka in supporting roles that have nothing to do with being love interests

Sympathetic Gabriel who feels like a truly tragic figure, but who does NOT get redeemed

Emilie gets an actual character

No sentinonsense

Revised miracle box that is way smaller and that has strong lore

The Agreste's aquiring the miraculous is far more morally complex, makes sense, and was not done for explicitly selfish reasons

Reverse the love square right from the start and never have the crushes flip

I've talked about all of these things on here, but the one thing that I've only briefly touched on is my love of a reverse square setup. I am passionate about that one, so let's take a moment to talk about why since it's probably going to be the most interesting to read.

I don't hate the canon setup for the crushes, but also I don't think that they're the ideal crushes. When it comes to romance stories, you want to design your love interests around each other. You want them to feel special and like they bring something unique to the table. Canon doesn't really give us that. There's nothing all that special about Adrien that makes him feel like the person that Marinette would be drawn to above all others. Same goes for Chat Noir and Ladybug, but we'll get to them in a second.

What is Marinette's biggest struggle? Her role as Ladybug.

Who is her main support in that role for most of the show? Chat Noir.

Who is her main support on the civilian side even before the reveal? Alya.

So why is Marinette's crush on Adrien and not Chat Noir? I don't know. It's the lesser setup by far and that goes beyond just the logic elements of who it makes the most sense for her to fall in love with. A lot of Marinette's worst behavior actually feels justified in a reverse crush setup, allowing you to write her without major changes to her character.

For example, Marinette keeping a chest of gifts for Adrien is kind of pathetic. She's friends with Adrien and she gives her friends gifts all the time, why can't she give him gifts, too? Reverse the crushes and suddenly this behavior makes perfect sense. Marinette isn't storing up gifts because of overblown fears of rejection. She's storing up gifts for legitimate fears about how her partner will explain these random gifts, thereby risking his identity, meaning that she has a sold argument for waiting until the time is right (post reveal) to give them to him.

There's also the legitimate fear that confessing her love could ruin their dynamic and put Paris at risk. Keeping her feelings to herself is now an act of self-sacrifice and not just an act of nerves. Basically everything about Marinette's hesitance just makes so much more sense if it's on the hero side.

But what about Adrien? How does this fix him?

I love the idea of our male romantic lead falling for our female lead because she's bold and brave, but it honestly doesn't fit Adrien's character. He is surrounded by powerful, confrontational women. Nathalie, Chloe, Kagami, Amilie, Audrey, and Tomoe are all no-nonsense women who get what they want. This means that Ladybug doesn't bring something unique to his life. She fits the standard mold. Adrien falling in love with her after she talks down Hawkmoth doesn't feel like the right choice for his character because it doesn't feel like something he'd be wildly impressed by.

Meanwhile, Marinette is shown to be a generally wonderful friend. She cares about others and will do what she can to make them feel welcome and accepted. That's a much more unique thing for Adrien to experience. Think about the umbrella scenes and imagine if it was Marinette apologizing. Marinette owning that she treated him poorly and asking his forgiveness. How often do you think Adrien gets moments like that? Doesn't it make more sense for something like that to make his heart flutter?

We see Marinette doing things like making banners to celebrate her friends (Timebreaker) and making sure everyone feels included (Reflekta). Imagine her giving Adrien that kind of treatment because it's just who Marinette is. She shows up to his fencing matches to cheer him on. Brings him his favorite snacks as a treat just because, surrounding this poor boy in honest, genuine love and support. Add in respect, too, and he'd be a goner because those are the things that he's not getting anywhere else! The things that make Marinette unique.

This brings us to our new civilian dynamic. In canon, it's Marinette failing to confess in ever more spectacular ways as Alya tries and fails to help. In a reverse crush setup where everyone is friends without gender barriers, it's things like Adrien coming up with his canon confessions and then watching Alya and Nino react with genuine horror because, dude, you're going to give her a panic attack! No! Bad kitty! Stop that! No confessions until you come up with a plan that we approve of and read at least five books of dating advice because holy shit did homeschooling do you dirty in this area!

Then, while Adrien is working to learn how dating works, he learns that Marinette is in love with Chat Noir and, oh no! He thinks she's into his public persona, totally unaware that she knows the real Chat Noir and loves his dorky self. So he tries to emulate his sexy alter ego while Nino and Alya suffer and Marinette is just generally confused because she doesn't think of Chat Noir like that, so she doesn't even notice what Adrien is doing.

This also adds a nice mitigating factor to Adrien's unwillingness to give up even though it's pretty clear that Marinette isn't interested in his civilian self. If he knows that she loves him, then his persistence is less concerning and more comedic. It's not that he can't take a no, it's that he honestly knows with 100% certainty that the answer is NOT no because she's told him that to his face. He just needs her to realize that the guy she's in love with is right here, ready and willing!

The potential for comedy is just so much more broad and so much less mean spirited because Marinette has none of Adrien's reserved nature, so her friends would totally know about her massive "celebrity crush". Adrien comes over for school projects and just stares longingly at her Chat Noir posters, wishing he could tell her his secret, but knowing that he can't.

In my world, that is so much more fun than canon's setup where Marinette has no reason to hope. I also wouldn't draw the crushes out anywhere near as long as canon did. I like getting couples together in the mid-game. It's a nice early plot to hook you in, but defeating the villain is the end game, so we don't need to draw the romance out that long. Romance isn't that special. It's not all that different from an arc about two characters becoming friends.

That's far from the only major change I'd make to shape canon into my ideal version, but it is the probably the change that I love the most. It's also the change that requires the least context to explain, so there you go!

[im-a-hoping-beetch]

Many people genuinely get confused when we, native people, get uncomfortable when Katara, a native character, is reduced to a mom and her canon relationships with characters are put down in favour for a boy who lived in a society that benefitted from her oppression, antagonised her and her friends for most of the series and was even racist at times. But because he's hot and had an episode with katara, everything should be forgiven, because god forbid a native girl gets with anyone who isn't from a group of people who aided the genocide of her people. God forbid two characters who experienced genocide have a relationship and connect over this shared trauma, in favour for boy who also has mom trauma

Look, while I can understand your feelings of discomfort towards the ship, I’d still like to put certain things into perspective.

Now, I don’t really know what you meant by her being “reduced” to a mom. Do you mean that her relationship with Zuko would confine her to such a role? Which, by the way, is absolutely laughable, since one of the main reasons why so many ppl ship these two is bcz unlike every member of the gaang (aside from Suki), Zuko is the only one with who she doesn’t have to act like a surrogate mother. Katara is allowed to be angry and be vulnerable with him. All things that we rarely see her be able to do with the rest of the bunch, let alone her own brother.

Actually, one of the main appeal of the two is bcz, both have the same level of of maturity and similar way of interacting with the members of the gaang. Which is why so many ppl label the two as “parents of the group”.

But, if you’re talking about how, we zutarians usually talk abt the intricacies that come with her being a motherly person, I’ve got some news for ya. Most of us, usually, never fail to highlight how much of a tragedy, her being pushed into a role of adulthood at such a young age is. Also, on how, ironically, her canonical partner (Aang) has never really helped with that phenomenon, actually he perpetuated it even further.

Besides, wanna talk abt canon relationships being put down for a boy, well, look no further than canon itself, anon. I’m guessing that you’ve probably read this post, due to the phrasing at the beginning of your ask. One thing I specifically touched on, was how much of Katara’s existence seems to revolve around Aang, the biggest example being, the comics. In them, we do see the creators ready to strain Katara’s established relationships with the gaang (aside from her brother) in order to shove kataang down our throats. Cuz if you think abt it, Toph and Katara’s interactions are heavily reduced, let alone meaningful ones and do not even get me started on Zuko or Suki.

Yes, Zuko lived in a society that benefited from her oppression. He has antagonized her and her friends. But Zuko is also made to recognize the harm his actions have caused. Additionally, at no point is he not faced with the consequences of what he has done towards the gaang. Every single member gets to express anger or/and resentment over what he’s done in the past, Katara is no exception. Actually, she’s the one who’s given the most leeway in terms of doing so. Even for things he had no control over such as her mother’s death and the fire nation raids. However, instead of whining about how he’s not responsible for all of this taking place, something he could’ve easily done, he makes it up to her. He helps her seek justice for her mother while her canonical future boyfriend is out here reducing her righteous anger to blindsided revenge.

I don’t know what you mean by “Because He’s hot and had an episode with her, everything should be forgiven.” To me, that last part owed to make me scratch all the dandruff off my braids. Language is a powerful tool, but often than not, people don’t really know how to use it nor seem to understand the ramifications of their use. When you say “everything should be forgiven”, you are framing forgiveness as something passive, when, here, it is active. Someone does the action of forgiving Zuko, Katara does. Katara forgives him, because he earned it.

Right now, I’m assuming that you thought you were in defence of Katara, but the truth is that you are actually perpetuating an habit that many have had when it comes to the Southern Raiders. Which is to perpetually strip any agency Katara has in an episode literally centered around her character!?!

Nobody forbid anyone from anything. If people don’t feel comfortable shipping these two, so be it. However, to act as if Zuko hasn’t actively fought against the system that has led to those atrocities being done or like he hasn’t used his position of power in order to make actual change or/and retributions, is simply disingenuous.

Aang and Katara did have a relationship, but have never connected over their shared trauma. More specifically, Aang failed to connect over their shared trauma, when he should have and instead used as a way to silence hers. @sokkastyles makes a very good point about it in this post.

[archivedblog16]

part of the reason i won't watch s2 of hazbin hotel is because of the vees. and no, im not talking about how they're all accomplices to valentino raping/drugging people. i think that's actually the one bit of subtle villainy i appreciate, even i can't fully appreciate it because of the creators barely disguised rape fetish. i really just think were done so dirty compared to their fun instagram versions that were allowed to be terrible and a cute found family all at once, and pretty much everything added to their canon selves goes against what their appeal was before to me.

valentino? a charming and suave, but manipulative pimp who rules the porn industry in the ring of pride, and who's been ruling said industry since he died in the 70s, making him a powerful figure with history in hell AND with one of the main characters, his abuse victim angel dust who's been there longer than him? what great potential!

the monkey paw finger curls. valentino is now a stupid bitch who needs vox to put him in his place and treat him like a violent overgrown toddler who's never heard the word no. makes shitty porn no one actually likes despite supposedly being super duper sexy and the playbill claiming everyone wants a piece of him, made his very first porno with angel be titled "my cousin and me", (even though it would've been a great chance to show val and angel bonding over porn and sex in the begining when angel started working for val and THEN have it slowly devolve over time, but fuck you we need more sex jokes, clearly,) and is implied to be not well liked by even the other vees. tries to seduce the princess of hell by drooling all over her arm and is given quirky habits like arts and crafting while he talks about all the people he's tricked into working for him. totally not a weird or lame or inappropriate way to portray a pimp at all, shut up and buy the 300 dollar three vees print,

velvet? a fun, bright, but chaotic force that holds the vees together due to having died recently with a good understanding of social media, who dominates the fashion industry in the pride ring and doesn't take shit from anyone, especially not the men she's working with? what great potential!

the monkey paw finger curls again. velvet gets the bare minimum attention needed to acknowledge her existence as another vee and not just an assistant, gets one song that doesn't mean jack diddly shit to the story at all and just gives her an excuse to be a bitch, then doesn't even have enough budget to sing in the finale. is implied to also hate the vees because she never enjoys spending time with them seemingly unless she gets to film her old toxic yaoi dads making out for clout and nothing else. will probably continue to get the bare minimum treatment for a female character in one of vivs shows with no interesting personality like she had before, (which was all just given to nifty in retrospect so she could be a joke character, but it makes even less sense because nifty doesn't even act like she's from the 50s so what's the point of making her drool over bad boys and bdsm other then for the Funny,) and MIGHT get redeemed, but who knows and who cares anymore,

vox? a business man who's been around since the 50s and has a business partner valentino who he's implied to have a relationship with, along with the addition of velvet to give him some modern day help? what great potential.

the monkey paws finger goddamn motherfucking curls. vox is a pathetic bitch who beefs with alastor and does nothing else so alastor can look better and cooler and goes "YES IM SO FUCKING HARD RN. THIS IS BETTER THEN SEX" in a way that's so fucking obnoxious that it gives s1 blitz a run for his money. also the leaks revealed that the only reason he was given hypnotism powers is so he can really just hypnotize angel into being a brainless obedient employee that can't consent to ANYTHING if he ever steps out of line, (theres a s2 leak where angel has red hypno vox eyes, another where he's tied up to a chair, and in the red smoke comic that masquerade references during the abuse sequence with val and angel, ex; "ive killed bitches for half the shit you've pulled!" "when i say cum, you say, yes, val.", ends, with vox hypnotizing angel into submission while angel begs to val to be spared.) like i realized before anyone else that they only gave him hypnotism powers for that reason and nothing else; why else would you give a business man, who can use his charm and voice to trick people into trusting him, a power that FORCES people to trust him anyway?

i feel like half of these issues might be excusable if any of them even actually liked each other like how velvet used to enjoy the other voys, even if it was at their expense some of the time. but no, they all just work with each other because they have to and that's it. fuck the found family, only the main characters get that! the main characters, who's characterization is slowly being butchered too, if al and pent are anything to go by. not even the s2 leaks i did see of the vees interested me; the s2 leaks feel like an excuse from god to give me a glimpse of what i'll be missing out if i don't stick around for vivziepops shows in 2025. and boy, i won't miss it.

if i wanted to watch rapists get away with heinous shit and be rewarded for it, i'd turn on the news and see who's about to rule the United States of America. it's why i won't stick around for helluva either - the obsession the creator has with these terrible characters who have no concept of consent, to the point they poison the narrative and become creators pets, has become so gross and draining to watch. i just can't anymore tbh! because if you told me 4 years ago that valentino and stolas would've been treated this way by the stories they're in, i wouldn't have believed you.

its not even that i want them to be changed or "less problematic", no, i WANT them to be problematic, and interact with a world in hell that treats them as such. i want to see sinners talk about them honestly in private, or express dislike they can't be too upfront about, or even have other overlords and powerful people (like the main fucking character) point out and try to punish their actually vile behavior in an understandable, but comedic and hellish way. because this is hell - so why shouldn't bad people who do bad things suffer for them in some way socially if they can't suffer in hell the traditional way?

but that's the kind of thing you'd expect from a show made for adults. this wasn't a show made for adults, it was made for teenagers, kids, and 30 year olds with zero critical thinking skills when it comes to media and enough disposable income (and need to escape from reality due to likely poor mental health because of the way the world is rn,) for them to not give a shit to develop said critical thinking skills, and just buy the shiny new merch of their problematic favs when they drop. the audience they write for gives them money and praise, not feedback on a story.

in conclusion, the vees are just wasted potential and creators pets to me at this point, thank you for reading my big ass rant because i hate their canon versions sm 😭

I am curious and interested how far the enabling will go. Vox and Velvette seem like the type of people to be “ride or die” for Valentino for the worst reasons. Valentino got can rant about Angel Dust for ignoring him for 5 seconds, then proceed to reveal to his team that he raped and physically abused Angel Dust as punishment. Then Vox and Velvette would cheer him on for doing said action instead of calling him out or distancing themselves, continuing to proudly hang out with him in the public eye and calling everyone haters. At the same time, I feel like Vivziepop will double down on the Vees somehow.

While, I still am interested how Vivziepop writes Valentino in season 2. In season 1, he feels so downgraded and is only “intimidating” to Angel Dust’s perspective. I feel like it could’ve worked even more if Valentino was this uncharacteristically nice, charming boss everyone in the pride ring respected and was enchanted. Valentino having a large fanbase too and everyone wanted to work with him because he’s just so darn nice and talented! But obviously, there will be subtle creepiness to him that the audience can’t put their finger on.

For example, Anon: Valentino’s debut episode could’ve been about Charlie going into the porn studio to check up on Angel Dust only to be suck into Valentino’s charm. He doesn’t lick Charlie but respects her ambition and creativity regarding the hotel even if he doesn’t personally agree with Charlie’s ideals, being the first person to treat her with the highest respect. We the audience, see the two bond as artists. How artists are treated as scum and how artists must stick together. The audience along with Charlie would see how the porn studio would work too, Valentino would conveniently treat his sex workers including Angel Dust with respect since Charlie is in the room.

Charlie (ignorantly) and Valentino would mention and joke about how Angel Dust doesn’t know what he is talking about since he is a druggie. The episode would end on Charlie leaving the porn studio on a happy note, not knowing and ignorant about Valentino’s true intentions. I would’ve written it as a slow process as abusers aren’t always in your face especially when a friend is involved.

Valentino is the show is basically a manchild that is treated as the toddler in group which makes it extra hard to him seriously. There are times where I question whether to take him seriously or laugh. I think that’s the reason why I appreciate and like Paranoid DJ’s version of Valentino as he is an authoritarian figure who is treated serious and is self ware about his actions.

Vox is such a mess when Alastor is in picture or involved. Like if you cut of all the parts of him bitching and screaming about Alastor, and it only showed him and Valentino in episode 2, you at least see the business man in Vox and how much control, influence and power has in the Vee team.

That scene when Vox tells Valentino “yo Angel Dust is your slave and you got him on contract, so chill out. We have a reputation to keep together.” All logic goes out the window when Alastor has 5 seconds of screen time. It’s interesting in the comic that follow Alastor, it was the exact opposite. Alastor was pissed the moment Vox was on screen and swore. Vivziepop achieved her goal, she got many people to side with Alastor in comment section on YouTube. In the Instagram posts, it was showed that Val would physically abused Vox, soo take that as you will.

Velvette, the backbone (apparently) of the Vees (the only female in the trio who doesn’t do much). Crazyyy, totally not a repeated pattern in Vivziepop’s works where the females barely get any attention. It’s so funny because, it mentioned that Vox/Val saw Velvette as a daughter but now it’s crickets. Nobody knows what to say about Velvette’s involvement. The annoying part she has so much potential. Velvette could’ve been a great foil to Charlie, the one who teach her (in Velvette’s own ways) how to be a leader, that you must take charge no matter how rude you are.

Without “Respectless” no one would remember Velvette. Like sure, maybe 1-2 scenes where a fan could quote a line but compared Vox/Val, it is no competition. As vile and controversial as Val is many can bring up memorable aspects he has done throughout season 1 (I’m sure even without looking it up). Same with Vox even his moments can be cringey. But Velvette is just crickets, her entire “iconic” hinges on Respectless.

The writers make it sound like she will do something impactful or big later but 5 episodes later and no Velvette. I mean she does appear in the last episode, doing nothing. And, Vivziepop sucks at budgeting soo of course she doesn’t say anything. They should’ve cut out the Vees in episode 8, they didn’t do anything of worth.

I will admit, Raph’s involvement is hard to ignore. It’s like an equivalent of a bug consistently buzzing into your ear. Raph isn’t just a simple fan of the show, they are a storyboard artist and he has a big influence (whether he knows it or not). Especially, when Vivziepop has this annoying habit of make fan related stuff canon without adding her own twist to it. At first when that scene of Val threatening Angel Dust with the whole dick scene.

I got deju vu, I immediately went to Paranoid DJ’s comic dub of it and my suspicions were correct, even the other commenters noticed. I chalked it up to a coincidence/pure inspiration and nothing more. Then when I watch Raph’s Valentino’s animatic, the background scenes were very similar to the official episode. Then there is the infamous dance scene. And, I couldn’t ignore anymore, once you see certain aspects of Raph’s work you can’t unsee it. To be fair, even before Raph’s involvement Vox did have the hypothesizing eye but yeah I did see the leaks when it shows Angel Dust being hypothesized and does happen in their rape comic. But, I’m a bit hopeful that Vivziepop won’t completely copy Raph’s comic to a tee, just take inspiration and a few ideas from Raph here and there.

Either way I don’t blame you not wanting or planning to watch Season 2. I will be honest, I’m sure you won’t miss too much Anon. I can definitely see more drama and controversy coming from season because of Vees (mainly Val).

[the-batcomputer-project]

Batfamily (and other) Headcanons that will be canon in my DC timeline:

-Dick is Pansexual. Show me this man in romantic relationships with more than just woman. I also feel like he has potential to be a sex positive icon which I feel is important. Sex portrayed as something that can be fun and casual, not explicitly reserved for romantic partners and situations.

(edited to rephrase and remove offensive language towards the pan community)

-Jason is Asexual. Get some ace representation but also give him some healthy romantic relationships where sex is not the center or a necessity. (I’m partial to Jason/Roy but to each their own)

-Jon Kent is dyslexic. Insert Percy Jackson reference about his brain being wired for kryptonian, but no, the dyslexia comes from Lois.

-Jason was absolutely theater kid before his death who managed to get the lead role almost every time, and somehow maintained a healthy schedule of theater rehearsals, good grades, and patrols.

-building off of the last one, Jason is Bruce’s favorite allowing him to get away with pretty much anything, but no one notices this because Jason is convinced Bruce hates him, and everyone else (understandably) believes Cass is the favorite.

-Cass took up gardening after watching Alfred tend to the rose bushes out front, and is now responsible for the very impressive garden on the Wayne Estate. She loves being to create and nurture life instead of kill, like the was born and raised to. Jason also taught her the language of flowers and she has little flowerbeds for each member of the family. Only Jason knows what they mean (also Alfred but he knows everything)

-Tim isn’t a caffeine addict, but he does have severe insomnia and ADHD. Because of that, caffeine typically has the opposite effect on him, hence why he always seems to be drinking a cup. Either for the placebo effect to stay up and finish a case, or to make him tired enough to fall asleep.

-Damian struggles to connect with people and express gratitude, appreciation, and love. He asked Cass about her garden one day and very intently sat and listened while she taught him about the language of flowers. Each family member woke up the next morning to a drawing of a bouquet of flowers pinned to the door with a knife (Jason has his framed in a safehouse he is fairly sure none of his family knows about)

-The batcave has a secret vault of “bad ideas” which was started by Dick as a child with the original Robin suit Bruce designed (it had pants) along with videos of Dick wearing said costume and falling off of gymnastics bars. (Think of the video explaining why strippers don’t wear clothes with the person falling off the pole over and over)

-Bruce is autistic. He gives off tism vibes (you’re trying to tell me that a man who dresses up as a bat and fights crime as a trauma response to watching his parents be murdered in front of him is neurotypical?) and I also want to see more a positive autism representation in main characters in media.

-Dick’s use of made up words such as “aster” and “whelmed” come from the fact that he spoke very little English when he was first adopted by Bruce, and decided that using obviously made up words made his slip ups less noticeable, or people would assume he did it on purpose. Even after he mastered English, he continued using his made up words because they just made sense (the batcomputer and jl database have a hidden file called the “DICKtionary” unlinking all his words and their meanings)

-Jason can’t drive. He died when he was 15 (you have to be 16 in Jersey to get your permit), was revived in Nanda Parbat so there was no need to drive, and was too embarrassed to mention it by the time he returned to Gotham and the Batfamily. This is his deepest, darkest, secret.

-As a child, Dick was convinced Batman was a vampire (and still isn’t entirely convinced otherwise)

-Tim collects little trinkets. Dick noticed this early on, and made sure to get a little souvenir trinket for Tim every time he went on a trip. Bruce noticed and started doing the same thing, and so did his friends after a while. Tim proudly displays his collection, because to him, each trinket is a reminder that people are thinking about him and care about him. (Most of his possessions in Drake Manor were necessities like clothes, or things he had bought for himself. Barely anything was a gift)

-Jason has OCPD, and needs things to be an exact certain way, and struggles when they aren’t. It’s one of the biggest reasons why he is often so frustrated with Bruce, who tends to do things in a different, certain way.

-Cass is actually the most neurotypical in the family, though because she has learned how to be a person through observing, she has picked up on many neurodivergent traits, specifically stimming.

-Steph’s aesthetic is retro pastel pop, mixed with maximalism. She loves bright colors and loud designs (though purple is still her favorite by far)

-Alfred keeps guns stashed all over the house in case of emergencies. Bruce hates this and has tried to remove them, but has given up as he can never seem to find them all. Alfred also brought up the good point of “I am not a vigilante like you, Master Bruce, and I am not quite as young as I used to be. If there is ever an invasion of the manor, I would quite enjoy the security of being able to protect myself.”

-There is a list of who is banned from the kitchen. Bruce is at the top of the list, Tim isn’t allowed to make anything more complex than instant food, Cass and Damian aren’t very good, but at least make an effort to learn so are therefore allowed with supervision. Dick has a partial ban. He is an absolute disaster in the kitchen, except for soups, and sarma (his mother’s recipe was one of the few things he brought with him from the circus and was obsessed with perfecting it as a kid, leading it to be one of the only things he can actually make) Steph isn’t allowed to cook, but she is a proficient baker. Duke isn’t a horrible cook, but mainly avoids the kitchen, preferring to stay out of Alfred’s way. Jason is the only batfamily member who is not banned from the kitchen under any circumstances. He has a tendency to stress cook, and likes trying new fancy recipes, because on the streets he only ate what he could find. This gives him a sense of control.

-Superman wasn’t a great dad to Connor at first, opting to send him to the farm to stay with Ma and Pa, but after a stern talking to from Bruce, came around started making an effort. Connor is an excellent big brother to Jon.

[assholeinahat]

You know what? I'm going to introduce all my characters! It's not very professional, but how can I share my art when no one knows what is is art of? So here's a basic list of my original characters! (The ones I have art of anyway)

Enjoy!

Victoria Ace:

Victoria is my favorite OC. She started out as a creepypasta self insert but evolved beyond that. She is stuck traveling to different dimensions (different prices of media I like). In most realities, she keeps her memories, but it's different in every reality. Her main goal is to make a life for herself while also not forgetting who she is and was. (Her biggest fear is losing herself and forgetting everything that makes her her)

She's cocky, sarcastic, and a bit reckless, but she is also deeply troubled and understanding of others. And yes, she is a cat girl.

Phil (he doesn't have a last name, suggestions would be appreciated):

Phil is a man struggling through the Zombie apocalypse. His sister died 11 years ago at the start of the outbreak, and he had been aimlessly wandering since. At least until he found Mark.

After getting kicked out of a survivor group, the two of them are making their way to the fabled survivor camp, a camp rumored to have completely rebuilt society. The only problem? Mark isn't being entirely honest about who he is.

Phil is standoffish and rude upon first meeting, but the more you get to know him, the more you realize he just wants companionship and purpose. He's a bit rough around the edges, but at his core, he is a very kind man.

I don't have a design for Mark yet, but fun fact, he used to be the main character of my story before I got incredibly attached to his boyfriend, uh, friend, and made Phil the main character.

Evagline:

This is Evaglin! A fairytale obsessed creature who spent most of her life completely isolated, no plants, no animals, nothing. She spent her days collecting small trinkets and any remnant of the human world. Her favorites are a cute flower necklace, the dictionary, and a partly burnt, big book of fairytales.

Eventually, after years of being alone, Evagline runs into two idiots who accidentally lose their portal travel gun. This allows Evagline to start traveling the universe! Unfortunately, her unauthorized use of portal travel does not go unnoticed by the company the two idiots were working for, and to keep their job, they have to track down Evagline and bring her back to her old, lonely life.

Evagline is sweet and kind, if not a bit neive. She loves learning and starts taking notes on her travels! She also loves art and she makes her own clothes. She communicates through strange noises, which can be understood by anyone, much to their confusion.

She had always wished she could have a knight in shining armor come save her, and to her, the two idiots did just that.

I love Evagline! She's s just a fun little character I made, and I love her so much!

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE HAVE...

Berry:

My profile picture! Now, it's no secret that I hate the Helluva universe, but did you know I created my own self insert to beat up Stolas and "fix" problems in the show? Well that's what Berry is!

Berry is a creature created by the Angels to "enforce the law" in Hell after Lucifer locked himself away. She was created without morals, so she would do her job without the risk of turning against the angels. She was also assigned two partners. Former humans that were chosen for one reason or another. It's these two former humans that show her the meaning of living, but also just how tight of a leash the angels have her on.

She hates the sinners, and she is very vocal about it. She is incredibly violent and has a punch first question later mentality. And over her time in Hell, she has to learn that not all sinners are as bad as she was made to believe (because in this version, some sinners are actually worth saving). She also falls in love with the Princess of Hell. But that's a story for another time.

She is violent, grumpy, and angry. But with the help of her companions, she might just she able to change for the better.

Her main goal is to beat up Stolas, something she is not allowed to do because of his status.

Berry is actually another dimension traveling self insert, but instead of being one person traveling, like Victoria, she just has alternate versions of herself. And most of the time, she is horrible. (She actually started as a Princesses Jules self insert, made to assure Aria actually faces consequences. Basically, the mean girl stereotype, but who is actually the hero.)

.......................................……………………………………………………

That is all for now! Thank you if you got this far!

♡♡♡

[take-it-on-the-run]

A Pearl

Fox Mulder x Dana Scully

No matter how desperately he hung onto her cross around his neck, praying to a God he didn’t believe in, she was still there—sleeping, so gently, despite the devices hooked on and through her.

Word Count: 1.7k

Tags: ANGST, loss, not comfortless, but not exactly outwardly comforting, set in season 2's coma arc, implied depression, Mulder and Scully both need hugs, mentions of hospitals, comas and medical devices, brief mention of killing and death

Characters: Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, Margaret Scully, Melissa Scully, Duane Barry (mentioned)

Read it on AO3!

Taglist: @somethingsomethingcranberries, @sst4r-ddu5t, @ghostlyaccurate, @butterclove

Want to join (or leave) the taglist? Click here!

A/N: Mitski Title! Thank you for checking this fic out, as it's my first MSR/TXF-related writing! This idea mainly came from a post talking about how Mulder not taking off Scully's necklace before he gave it back would've been feral, and I completely agree. Set in Scully's S2 coma/post-abduction arc, Mulder is just a sap who can't help but be in love with Scully. Unbeta'd, every mistake is mine, and I hope you enjoy!

MSR Masterlist | The X-Files Masterlist | Main Page Masterlist

Dana.

He liked that name.

It thundered against his mind constantly, pruning memories drenched in sadness.

It fit her well. He’d searched it out in a book of baby names and their meanings while sitting in a waiting room during one of their first cases.

Wise. Generous. Brave. A pearl.

Maybe, years and years down the line, he’d give his daughter the same name.

He wouldn’t have the heart to tell this hypothetical girl’s mother where the name came from. That, while he was at the FBI, he had a partner he would kill and die for. Because of his inability to let sleeping dogs lie, she was attacked in her home, kidnapped, and never woke up from the coma she was found in.

He could lie and say it was a family name.

But that wasn’t a lie.

She was family.

No matter how desperately he hung onto her cross around his neck, praying to a God he didn’t believe in, she was still there—sleeping, so gently, despite the devices hooked on and through her.

He could barely look at her without wanting to sob, the guilt and rage rushing to him all at once.

If he’d only picked up his phone.

Now, every time it rings, he jumps. He doesn’t mean to, and it gets him more looks than before, but he can’t help it. He cranked the ringer after he missed her call. He wasn’t going to miss anyone’s call ever again.

When he first saw Mrs. Scully and Melissa perched over her for the first time, he could barely get his feet to move. He was shocked he was allowed back into the hospital after the scene he caused when he first came.

All of the bitter sleepless nights he spent thinking of her had come to a rolling boil, sputtering out of the pot as he tugged his shoes on. Sleep-deprived, unshaven, and clutching her cross on his neck, he shot up the highway at Mach speeds, only to get carried out by two security guards as he screamed obscenities and threats at the hospital staff.

Remaining cemented to the ground, he watched her family mourn. Mrs. Scully was holding Dana’s hand, resting her head against her gently rising chest as she muttered prayers under her breath. Melissa’s eyes were closed, and her hands hovered above her sister’s body, moving slowly. Her family, however different in their beliefs, had come to her side, praying in the way each of them knew how.

If either noticed he was wearing her necklace, they didn’t mention it. He’d tried giving it back to Mrs. Scully earlier, but she told him to keep it for when he could give it back.

When he thinks of those weeks he spent searching for her, finding Duane Barry on the mountain, and nearly killing him on the spot, all he can feel is an empty hole where his emotions should be.

If there was justice in the world, Duane would’ve served his sentence with a bullet to the skull the moment they met. If there was justice, he wouldn’t have had to hear that the ventilation she was on wouldn’t likely support her much longer.

He was invited to stay and discuss the matter at hand, but he knew his heart would collapse in on itself if he even thought about it.

He drove home slowly, cruising through different side streets he’d never taken. His apartment was always within reach, but he could barely bring himself to turn into his parking spot. The longer he drove, the longer he could delay the inevitable.

His resignation letter sat askew on his desk, matching the rest of his living space that had been ransacked by the Cancer Man’s men. Skinner refused the letter and told him it was no use giving up on the bureau now.

Mulder didn’t tell him there was no use in the bureau without his partner. Even when Skinner reopened the X-files, he couldn’t get himself to go through them as he had when she was at his side.

Slinging himself on his couch, he could smell the days without showering or sleeping radiating off him, but he could barely get his suit jacket off, let alone drag himself to the shower.

Crushing his body against the worn leather, staring blankly at the disconnected television, he could almost close his eyes and pretend he was in a motel with her again. He tuned the sound of his radiator running to become the soft snoring she would always insist didn’t happen, the wind batting against the windows as her tossing against the lumpy motel beds they frequented, and the pounding of his heart as hers.

Barely a year as partners, and yet he would break, bend, and bleed just to hear her say his name one last time.

She’d only called him by his first name once, while they were on an off-the-books stakeout. He told her to call him Mulder, and that he even forced his parents to call him by their last name.

Every time he heard it, he was suddenly twelve years old, watching his sister scream out his name as he stood still and couldn’t do a thing to protect her like he promised he always would.

But when she said it, he was no longer trapped in his memories. He was just Fox.

If she said his name enough, maybe he wouldn’t hate it as much as he did.

His phone rang, sending his heart to flutter like a bird in a cage. He knew he should answer it, but his body was clinging to the couch harder than gravity was clinging to Earth.

“Mulder.” He answered flatly, stretching his body off the edge of his couch to hold the phone to his ear.

Electricity shot up his spine and down his legs, slinging up to his feet before Mrs. Scully could finish what she was saying. Life bubbled into him as he dropped the phone in its dock.

Mulder’s feet echoed in the sterile hospital hallway as he walked, his steps slow, almost mechanical, every inch of him unwilling to face what he knew was waiting for him behind that door. But he had no choice.

He didn’t want to see her like this again. He didn’t want to walk into that room where she was tethered to life by machines, her body so small and fragile, and the world outside buzzing with life while she remained suspended in an unnerving limbo. But she was there. And he had to be there too.

Her family had gathered around her. Her mother, her sister—the ones who had the right to be there first. But it was his presence that had been permitted, allowed to enter into that sacred space where the woman he had spent endless nights sleeping beside was now lying in a hospital bed.

He stepped through the door, and there she was.

Dana Scully. Her name felt so wrong, so small, in this sterile, whitewashed room. She looked almost ethereal in her hospital gown, pale, the skin of her face so sunken, and yet, there was something about her that still made his heart ache—still made him wonder how he ever got so lucky, or cursed, to be in her orbit. Her lips, usually full with that determined set, were now parted slightly as she lay motionless beneath the rhythmic beeping of the machines keeping her tethered to this world. The familiar weight of her presence was missing, but the quiet strength still lingered there, just out of reach.

“Hello Fox,” Mrs. Scully said, not moving as her hand laced with her daughter’s.

“Not Fox—Mulder.” Her cracked lips quirked as she quipped at her mother. She gently turned to face him, raising her eyes to his.

In the second she corrected her mother, hearing her say his name was enough to make his throat tighten. She looked over her shoulder at her family, and without a word, they silently left the room.

She was alive and awake in front of him, and as drained as he was, he wanted to scream thanks to her God. Her hand reached out to him, and for the first time in the matter of Dana Scully, he hesitated.

She was here because of him.

“Scully…” he trailed, fighting the urge to let her first name slip out. He took her hand in his, so cold comparatively, and brought her knuckles to his lips. She didn’t do anything to stop him, and he felt her stare drop to her necklace hanging on his neck.

“You kept it,” she whispered, bordering on a question, as she touched it to his chest. He felt his face flush as her delicate fingers played with the pendant, watching her twist and turn it.

“Yeah,” he croaked, looping his hands behind his head to unclasp it, “your mom—Mrs. Scully—told me to keep it ‘till I could give it back to you.” He gathered it in his hands, offering to put it on her, “Here, let me.”

It looked better fit on her, dainty and gilded against her throat, proclaiming her differing beliefs in the mysteries of the world and the myth of creation. It was as if her faith in God had taken him to the ends of his limits and then pushed him even further for the sake of her name.

He’d never called her by her first name. Dana. It had always felt too soft, too familiar, too fragile. She was always Scully. And it wasn’t just a title; it was a shield, a boundary they had created together, a wall that kept everything unspoken but understood. To call her Dana would have been to acknowledge a vulnerability neither of them could afford to expose.

For a long time, he thought about the meaning of her name. Dana. A pearl. A symbol of something precious, something rare, something born of pressure and pain, and yet, something more beautiful than anything else. She had always been that to him. Something he could never hold in his hands but could only try to protect from the world that wanted to break her.

But she had never needed to hear him say that. She had always known. She was a pearl, too beautiful for him to touch in the way that he longed to, too precious to be made vulnerable by his words, a testament to the definition of her name. And so he had kept it inside. The ‘Dana’ he had never called her. The pearl he had never acknowledged aloud.

[tulipscomeinallsortsofcolors]

Good morning (or other appropriate time-related greeting) Tulip!

I was rereading Fish (because Emmy is fantastic) and I had a question-- in your fic The Butterfly People Effect, would Emmy's story be different?

At first I was just going to ask you, but then I started gathering evidence as a bit, but then it spiraled a little and now I have a Theory.

My gathered evidence is as such: I believe it was Roman who was approached by the pixies who took her in the main storyline, but I can't remember where in the story that was. If I remember correctly, the pixies asked Roman about her and if she was happy, and he said yes, but left out that she was happy because she was away from them. This means they were still around, and is also confirmed in Fish, when Emmy a. can see flashes "of small yellow wings" and b. tells Virgil that she wants the pixies to leave her alone. In TBPE, Logan is able to be less at-odds with his status as a fae and is more confident because of it. While he doesn't interact with the pixies who took her, he does have a lot more interactions with other fae, and I don't think it's outlandish to assume he might know who they are and what they did. Finally, in Fish there's a bit about Emmy not being allowed to talk about fae things, including Logan, but that she had watched him when she could, but could never "work up the nerve" to talk to him, implying that she really wanted to.

My conclusion based on this evidence: I think, in TBPE, Logan might have reached out to Emmy first (maybe as a 'Offering an apology from my season to you, because that was Not Okay'?), and because Logan is Logan and Emmy is Emmy, eventually gained a little sister out of it.

My math: Emmy was 10 when she was taken, and she was gone for 7 years, and 16 when Fish takes place and based on the other fics in Epilogues & Emmy saying they live in a town she couldn't have imagined three years ago, I think Fish is about 3-5 years after the main storyline. This would put Emmy at about 11-13 when Shit Hit The Fan, and makes she between 3-6 years younger than Logan, which is prime little sister age.

From this, I raise: Logan getting a little sister means Thomas also gets a little sister, and I also think Greta and Emmy interacting when they are hanging on to her while trying to finish the cloak would be fantastic. Thomas is the only sibling of LAMP in LAOFT present at the time of them getting together, which is very unfair to him. In TBPE at least he's gotten to know Greta a little and therefore has backup from her, but adding Emmy to the mix would be a. good for Thomas and b. excellent for the audience to witness.

Anyway, hope my rambling was entertaining for you. Emmy will now forever live in my heart as Thomas's partner-in-crime in TBPE's storyline. (*Cough* Any Emmy Trout crumb you will drop to us is fantastic *cough* she's such a cool character idea *cough*)

(Also, unrelated, but started TBPE with "Let's tell a story. No, not that one." lives in my head RENT FREE and I love it so much.)

this is so cute believe it or not ive never thought of Emmy's place in TBPE and this is so so good, love the concept

[depressopax]

LCDP NSFW Alphabet

Part 5 - T-V | Multiple characters.

Fandom - La casa de papel

»» Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3 || Part 4 ««

OMG it's been ages! 😭

I missed posting fanfics :(

So here we go again! 🫶🥳

Pairing: Multiple LCDP characters x gender neutral reader Genre: Smut, headcanons Warning(s): Sexual content. MDNI. Insults, overstimulation, semi-public, dom/sub dynamic. Reader is gender neutral! I only read this once before posting - if you find spelling errors LMK! Words: 1.4K Summary: Part 5 of my LCDP NSFW Alphabet! T-V (Toys, Unfair, Volume) English is not my main language, if I make any spelling mistakes please let me know so I can improve my writing! <3

Nairobi 

T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)

She has some (a lot of) toys.

Most of them are for solo play, but now that she has you, it’d be a shame to not use them together, yk… 

If you’re comfortable with it, she can and will use them on you. 

Her favorite on herself being air pulse once

For her partner? Vibrators and stap-ons 👀

And she has more than one of them. Some of them are thin and only a few inches, and… Bigger once. 

Not a toy - but she also has lube etc. - You know what I’m trying to say…

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

Oh she’s a teaseee

It turns her on to make you beg 

Or just to mock you (in a loving way tho) for being “sensitive” or needy during sex. 

Nairobi likes keeping you on edge, only allowed to cum when she tells you too

But this is only when she’s feeling a bit mean lol

Other times, she’s very loving and giving, not teasing you a bit 

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

She’s not scared to be loud 😼

If you’re making her feel good, why hold back?

She likes moaning your name loudly, sometimes hoping someone will hear it just to embarrass you a bit

She has no shame when it comes to volume, and wants to hear you scream too

Berlin

T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)

I feel like he either has some toys, or that he’s the guy that doesn’t own toys and refuses to use them on his partner, since “he’s better than some stupid toy” 

The toys he has are some vibrators, handcuffs, blindfolds etc… Maybe a whip too, who knows? 🤭

…Bonus point if you switch it up and use them on him

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

UNFAIRRRRRR AF

Will have you on your knees in the end, only because “it’s funny” to see you beg. 💀

He likes turning you on and leave you begging for more

But he won't give it to you that easily…

He also loves making you flustered - you blushing is the cutest thing to him. 

Good luck ;)

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

He is LOUD and without shame

Grunts, growls, moans

Cuss words, praise, degradation… You name it.

He talks shit in the show, and so he does in the bedroom LMAO

…And whimpers, too - if you fuck him good enough…

He likes dirty talking too.

He actually doesn’t mind if the neighbors hear his moans, combined with the sounds leaving your mouth - he wants everyone to know he’s yours, and that you’re his. 

Denver

T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)

He likes toys!!!

Very experimental and open to trying new things, if that’s what you want.

But he prefers using toys on his partners, or watching them satisfy themselves with a toy 🤭

He’s not picky with what toys to use! Anything that excites you excites him.

If you were to use toys on him, he’d be like: “Ew, no!”

…But eventually be too satisfied to complain ;)

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

Oh he’s a MEANIE

Edging you and overstimming are his favorite things. 

Using his fingers or mouth on you until you practically cry from the intense pleasure

He’ll even tease you in public - rubbing your ass or thigh, standing close behind you - so you can feel his clothed bulge against your jeans… You name it.

He likes it when you get mad at him. It even turns him on 

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

The scene where he had sex with Monica during the heist and Arturito heard it?

Yea. That’s the answer.

He is LOUD and PROUD (...sorry, had to)

He moans your name, cusses, whimpers… Everything all at once.

But how could he not? “You feel so fucking good babe…” Is his excuse. 

People hear it alright… Especially when he fucks you in some public restroom

But he just ignores everyone that stares at him. At least he gets laid-

Tokyo

T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)

She owns like 1-2 toys, for her own pleasure.

Not really the type of person to share her toys with a partner

But she’ll make an exception of you - if you’re into that. 

She prefers it when you use toys on her, and will specifically guide what you do, to bring her the ultimate pleasure.

Sometime, she def buys you a toy as a gift “I can show you how to use it tonight…”

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

She lovessss being a tease

Turning you on during the “wrong” moments, wearing revealing clothes and bending down to pick something up… A bit cheesy, but she looks good doing it.

She knows what buttons to push to either turn you on or make you annoyed - maybe both. Actually… - Both works. 

A bit of a “brat” when she teases you. She likes it when you eventually take control and give her what she wants

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

Not that loud, really. 

She moans and cusses, but only loud enough for you.

She doesn’t want everyone to know what you two are doing - it annoys her when other people do, and she doesn’t want to do the same shit. 

She doesn’t mind you being loud, tho…

Only means she’s doing a good job. ;)

Professor

T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)

He hasn’t really considered it, before meeting you.

Probably got embarrassed when you brought it up, but also aroused. 

He once agreed to use some toys on you during sex - and he LOVED it.

The sounds you made, how you squirmed, the vibrations from the toy that numbed his hand when holding it… 

It was addicting.

He probably looks online for sex toys, fantasizing about which he’d use on you, and what you would look like when he satisfied you…

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

He is not that much of a tease.

Only during foreplays

He is good with his fingers and likes being praised for it

…But also loves the power he holds over you when he pleases you with his hands. 

The way he can make you beg, and cum multiple times amazes him. 

So of course he uses your pleasure as a way to tease you sometimes… 

Having you beg for more, or just stopping before you climax, looking down at you with a cocky damn grin. 

Oh but you will get your revenge later… And he’ll enjoy it.

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

He is embarrassed about the sounds he makes

At first he was quiet during sex

But it created awkward tension. 

Last thing he wanted was to make you feel like you didn’t do a good job. Because oh, you did…

With some reassurance, he dares to make sounds.

And eventually he moans and whimpers without shame.

He’s not that loud, but he does sound hot when he cums… ;)

Alicia Sierra

T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)

Oh boy… Y E S.

She owns toys, alright.

Strap-ons, vibrators, handcuffs, buttplugs, you name it…

She only uses those you’re comfortable with, ofc.

But she is a bit… Kinky 🤭

She uses them on herself, especially when she was single.

But using them on her sweet partner? That's another level of pleasure…

Giving you that amount of pleasure makes her smile like an idiot.

Oh she loves slutting you out with her toy collection…

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

She’s very unfair and teasing.

She wears provocative clothes, whispers dirty things to you, and sends lewds… Whatever, and whenever. 

And it works every damn time. 

She likes frustrating you with not giving you what you want - unless you beg for it…

And trust me, she’ll make you beg. 

She loves you dearly, but this woman is a meanie.

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

Shameless when it comes to how loud she is

Because she is loud

Like in the show, she’s a bit… Unpredictable sometimes. So ofc she will scream and moan loud enough for people to hear her

And she definitely makes you moan just as loud.

AHHH I hope this was good! It's been a while since I wrote fanfics on here 😭

Please reblog and share if y'all liked it and THANK YOU for reading!! <33

[ahhvernin]

Betty Grof's character has always nagged me in a certain way. I always liked her but at the same time she troubled me.

I watched this latest episode several times and I finally know why. Betty comes off as a people pleaser, her interests aren't taken seriously by others or others use her. She doesn't allow herself to be open to anyone. She's aloof. But to her, Simon is the center of her world. His research interests her. He values her opinions, that even when his comments are in such a mundane and casual way, she finds so much value in it, that she drops her own plans not just once, but TWICE especially after he confirms that he also feels the same way. The woman is smart, intelligent, but also very impulsive. She is straight forward and will do just about anything to ensure her most treasured person is safe and the goal is met. She comes off as the sort of gentle person who is quietly planning to the ends of the world make sure the one thing that makes her feel loved and valued and seen does not go away.

Their relationship has its problems. Simon is suffering and strife due to lost. Betty is suffering and strife in fear of having something lost.

Betty I feel also has always let Simon take the lead, but still shows a sliver of her own way of doing things, but also in a rather risky potentially dangerous way, like jumping directly into a river, running screaming across snake infested rock field, becoming partners with a suspicious magic man, sacrificing her own existence to become a god of chaos. The woman prioritizes the goal over her own wellbeing. Which makes me feel that she was lacking something in her life prior to Simon. That she was just drifting along, picking up "oh this sounds good, if I have nothing to do' opportunities, then Simon came along and all the motions felt like they had more meaning, and she latched onto that because she finally found IT. Simon is now going through the same motions Betty was in the main series proper. but Simon was always driven by his own research, and his own decisions, despite what other's said and thought of him. He was moving along through life with a purpose, his research even if not found physically still had value. Simon already found value in intangible things. Betty enhanced everything he was doing, and all the things he enjoyed in life. He loved her because she shared the same interests as him. In Fionna and Cake, he's lost the motivation and self driven passion, and is drifting along and is now willing to self sacrifice for single goal.

[hey-haven]

Consider this ask as an opportunity to ramble about anything related to your crossoververse you want (whether it be POP members you haven't discussed yet in detail, any plot ideas you have, whatever). I LOVE this big au thing and your art so much I just wanna stuff it in my cheeks like a hamster istg.

Ah geez, I prefer y’all being more specific because idk what aspects you guys are interested in, but I will figure something out here! I’m just gonna give random facts about the characters

_________________

- Princess developed an interest in robotics in high school. Her dad cut her allowance after her villainous deeds put a bad name to his business. She was beyond pissed about it at first, but she learned the importance of reward through hard work. She would rebuild her power suit herself and realized she actually likes this tech stuff. She’s now a member of the Support Guild with Dexter and Zim

- Buttercup is in a long distance relationship with Marie Kanker. By long distance I mean she needs to fly like another two extra seconds to reach her town and they hang out.

- Dipper and Pacifica had a long and annoying “will they won’t they” thing until he moved into the city. Even now his crushes are messy cause he likes Dib who’s already in a relationship, so he dated Princess BRIEFLY both to ignore his feelings for Dib and because Princess reminded Dipper of Pacifica. It’s a mess dude, MESSY

- Mabel will have at least two partners cause she’s poly and deserves it, but I still don’t know who her partners will be (I am open to ideas)

- Spoilers but Mac and Bubbles will be the first of the main couple to get married. The wedding’s at Fosters, Bloo is the ring bearer, Blossom and Buttercup are bridesmaids, Dexter and Dib are the best men, Terrance is not invited

- Mac uses his sugar rush as a power boost on the off chance he’s called into the field, but it’s a “use for emergency” kind of deal cause he’s also a loose canon when on sugar and could cause more damage on accident.

[lych33dragoncookie]

Lychee Dragon for the ask game? :0 or Pure Vanilla if somebody asked already lol

Well, Lychee has already been covered, soooo!

Sexuality Headcanon: This is the most wet pathetic bi man you've ever seen in your entire life. He can date anyone of any gender so long as he's close enough to them, but rest assured he will be the one sitting on their lap. Gender Headcanon: Transmasc; specifically, a really cute idea posed by one of my partners is that he and White Lily came out to each other during their early years at Blueberry Yogurt Academy, and thusly transitioned together there

Ship: It is my sincere belief that the Ancients are all basically just one big polycule. However, my personal preferred picks are PV x WL, PV x Hollyberry, and PV x Dark Enchantress (NOTE: THE LAST ONE WOULD TAKE PLACE ENTIRELY AFTER THE MAIN STORY. read my WL x DE fic for what that after-story would look like <3 specifically in that fic's continuity I think DE would eventually get comfortable enough that she'd begrudgingly allow him to visit and end up getting closer to him again, thus WL and DE can share him between each other :o3) BROTP: Starting to get sick of this category (i can't come up with anything) /j NOTP: Ok this one is harsh but. I'm not outright displeased by seeing it, I just don't think Shadownilla can happen like... At all. With what we have on Shadow Milk right now. No amount of kindness could save that strange sadistic jester man and it would ultimately be absolutely horrendous for both of them, PV would eventually realize he's being played and SM would realize he's not getting anywhere here, they're both kind of just too smart and completely opposite in their intent to work with each other, in my opinion. So while I'm putting Shadownilla here, understand that it's not from a position of "IF YOU SHIP THIS I WILL MURDER YOU IN YOUR SLEEP" or "this is problematic" or whatever, it's simply from the angle that I can't really see it happening with what we have on both characters right now.

Random Headcanon: There's the one I mentioned above in the Ship segment about he and WL coming out to each other at the academy, but I also 100% subscribe to the idea of PV being like a strange little old man who can't really maneuver modern technology all that well and his phone would probably be a complete mess. He's written more letters in his entire life than he ever will text messages, and will continue to be this way. My man is singlehandedly keeping the carrier pigeon economy alive all on his own.

General opinion: I WANT HIM.

He's genuinely so fucking cute. I swear to god. Everything about him. I'm a sucker for somewhat effeminate men with long hair, for one, and he's also just... Come on man, have you read his letters?!

He's actually adorable it drives me insane. His demeanor, the little details of how he talks, him doing stuff like feeding the birds and trying to make sure they're happy, the way he talks about his friends (lovers, if we're being realistic), he's just so. Man I would do unspeakable things to him but also I would give him the best aftercare of his life because he deserves it. I'm a sucker for characters whose primary motivator is an unrelenting, constant, fierce urge to care for others, the type where their kindness is primarily protective in nature, and they're more than willing to get under someone's skin or beat them at their own game if it means both protecting those he cares about and at least partially defeating a threat before anyone has even delivered a single blow. You can just tell his conversations with Dark Enchantress are a 50/50 split of genuine love and kindness and doing things he knows will get under her skin, and I love it.

God I love this whimsical little twink. He's just so. <3333