#AARGH I LOVE COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIP LIKE THIS

[haleigh-sloth]

There's something that has been bugged me for a long time but I never have courage to utter it, because I am not a raw hero "LoV is total bad bunch" stan. I found you as LoV enjoyer but non-believer of 'found family LoV' so I hope you understand beforehand, I love LoV and adore their bonds, no matter how flawed it is. But like this, in fics I often find how they portray LoV time as the greatest time of our beloved 'abused kids' characters' lives. When it may be true for Twice, Spinner, and arguably Mr.Compress and Toga, but I feel like it's utterly wrong when that was applied to Shigaraki, Dabi, or christ almighty, Hawks. Shigaraki and Dabi won't ever forget or replace their feeling toward their respective families with LoV 'found family'. How much they tied to their families, how complicated their feelings, combination of intense love and hate, toward their families is like the core of Tenko and Touya's characters. Shigaraki cares for the League but I can't imagine any of his fun time with Spinner or other outweight his fond feeling and memories with Hana and his mom. He won't feel Toga is better than Hana, he was happier in LoV etc. Dabi is shown very obviously will put his family matters above everything. When he saw Enji, Shoto, Natsu, Rei, and/or Fuyumi he poured all of his thought and feeling toward them and, quite literally disregard everything else. Like, I feel like LoV never looks like second family to Tenko and Touya and it's emotionally not "strong" enough to replace their birth family. As for Hawks... sigh, I kinda suspect that was fanfic's easy way to make Hawks abandon hero side and join villains, but like Hawks is 99,8% stressed in MLA (He didn't even join LoV or interact with them before they merged with Re-Destro bunch). He was monitored constantly, he was separated from second work study with Tokoyami and express blatant regret for it, he saw how the 'enemy side' grew stronger and his inability to prevent it, even his time with Twice whom he likes best polluted with fear of Twice's high potential danger and how he subdued it. Tenko and Touya may occasionally feel content and/or at peace with LoV, but Hawks was shown screaming internally when they all show up so why...

I like LoV as gang of misfit, I like their relationship, conversation, banter, and all they did when they are together. I didn't like how some hero stan fics portray them as "lair of evil" without feeling except destruction, but I also feel LoV as "perfect found family, replacement for past shitty family" is wrong interpretation for Dabi, Shigaraki, ......and Hawks (this one shouldn't exist at all aargh seriously). So yeah, finding LoV fics that satisfy me is freaking hard. Any recommend?

Well, I agree with everything said here

But sadly I have no recommendations

I don’t read fics because I don’t really get anything out of them. It’s a rare occasion when a fic is captivating enough for me to want to read it til the end.

I’m literally the worst person to come to for fic recommendations 😭 however if anyone has what anon is looking for feel free to leave your own recommendations!

[heretherebedork]

(Not anon btw 🙆‍♀️)

Lmao, I tried to catch up with Gen Y -> or actually to start it altogether 🙈), but Pok & Tong are hilarious in their toxicity! 😂 They’re really making the viewers wait nearly 2 seasons for a couple that has touched all bases multiple times to have their first kiss? Only for that kiss to come when the person that used to be screwed over screws over the other one…in the biblical (rather than the literal) way? 💀 I mean should I even start this show, or should I blacklist it out of precaution? 😶

…or was the one that’s always screwed over, screwed over once again? 🤔 Aargh…! What is it with this show?! They should call it Gen Why instead of Gen Y! 😖

Is it Stockholm Syndrome perhaps? 🧐 If you keep staring it PokTong long enough, you just cease to notice that they’re pretty toxic to each other? 🥴 Or were the compilation videos on YouTube not enough to “capture” their essence? 🤠 bc so far I don’t see many differences with the likes of TT 🤭

I... okay. Look. Are Pok and Tong perfect? No. Are they what I would consider anywhere near as toxic as TharnType? No. Uh. Not at all.

I feel like we might have watched different shows, honestly?

If we go back to the beginning, this was about Pok having a crush on Tong and Tong not reciprocating. And then Tong, off-screen, slowly realizing that he cared about Pok and making a choice to cheat for him, which ended with Pok getting beaten up and pulling out the revenge card on a very guilty Tong.

Is it perfect? No. Is it the same as Tharn and Type and the literal rape scene? No. Tong sets limits, no kissing on the mouth. Pok pushes but very deliberately never breaks those limits AS SET and when Tong pushes him away he accepts it (reluctantly but he does stop every time.)

Then they move in together and when Pok feels like he can't take it he literally tells Tong to leave and Tong insists on staying. There is still no kissing on the lips because Tong has set that as a strict boundary due to his guilt and his inability to move forward in their love with the truth about the cheating hanging over their head.

Again, they aren't perfect but Tharn and Type's relationship was unsupportive, awful, filled with lack of consent and filled with a constant sense of unease and dislike. Pok and Tong are two young men in a complicated dance of friendship, love, cheating, revenge, hurt and pain.

I mean, I can keep going and explaining the relationship to you but, frankly, if what you've seen of them leads you to want to blacklist them... do it. They're one of my favorite couples and are in the process of what I consider a beautiful emotional maturation on both sides.

Honestly, I don't know which one of them gets 'screwed over' every time because they both have had issues with each other and with their relationship and their difficulties in speaking the truth. Probably Pok, who I do definitely sympathize more with because he lost that trophy and he's struggled so much and feels (understandably) betrayed and is now working back to trust with the understanding that Tong was trying to help... while, at the same time, Tong is learning that helping and kindness need to be wanted by the person he's trying to help.

I actually really love the way they waited for their first kiss and the pain it came out of because it came from the truth finally being revealed and Tong finally feeling like he can be honest with his feelings even as Pok's heart is breaking because it all feels like a lie.

I've never watched the compilation videos. I don't know. But, for me, they're two hurt and scared teenagers who are deeply in love but keep acting without thinking and acting on that hurt and that fright.

Tong was afraid Pok might not pass and be able to join him at University so he cheated.

Pok was hurt badly due to Tong's actions and missed his qualifying race and, out of that hurt but also that love, insisted on keeping Tong close to him.

Tong was hurt and in love and aching and when Pok tried to send him away insisted on staying because he does love Pok he just doesn't know how to say or to be forgiven.

The start of season 2 was beautiful, a veneer of love over their pain and their cracks and their lies. But it wasn't enough because there was no foundation. It wasn't healthy, it wasn't perfect... but as toxic as Tharn and Type? Not for me.

[nervousandstoned]

THOMAS: ??? 

THOMAS: What the...?

THOMAS: Oh wait! I totally forgot I nngh- AH SHIT- made an ask blog! 

THOMAS: I really like the series! It’s a horror-romance rpg. Kissy Kissy, Bang Bang! IV is supposed to be the most intense game in the franchise.

THOMAS: In the newest game, you play as Yuki Yamamoto, bi-gender dumbass who is in love with this guy named Kenneth Miller- but someone else is in love with Kenneth and that someone kidnaps you and locks you in her cabin out in the middle of the woods with like three- shit- three other characters and you have to escape before she catches you! I don’t know the full story since the game just- ah SHIT- came out, but it’s my favorite game franchise.

THOMAS: It’s the first game they’ve released with an LGBT+ protagonist, and the youtubers and game reviewers who- SHITBALLS- got it pre-release said it was really inclusive and awesome! Sadly... I will not be able to purchase it though :(

THOMAS: And yes, I do happen to play video games a lot. Usually horror games, but I own all the Viva Piñata games, I have Minecraft so I can- (squeak) - COCK- play it with my brother, and Overwatch. I’m a Junkrat main!

THOMAS: Anyways... Hey, I have an ask blog and they’re wondering how your day at the mall has been!

TWEEK: DKJSGKFDSJN OH SHIT THEY CAN SEE US? ABSKJDF AAAGH- HOW DOES THAT WORK MAN?! OH GOD HAVE THEY BEEN WATCHING ME THIS ENTIRE TIME? SHIT SHIT SH-

THOMAS: No... They haven’t, Tweek. I think the blog just started working right before I came in here- shit! And I think it only follows me around.

TWEEK: mMMM... Alright I believe you, Thomas...

MARJORINE: We’ve been having an alright day! I originally came to pick up a new set of drumsticks from the store Kenny works at.

KENNY: Yeah, because you snapped your drumsticks in half by playing your set too hard during our last rehearsal.

MARJORINE: You can’t expect me to not get excited! The song is a headbanger, honey. I just... I can’t help but get super into it! Anyway... Kenny had just gotten off work and Tweek got here half an hour ago to get new dice and such for our superhero game!

THOMAS: Well, you see... It’s actually not too complicated.

THOMAS: Marjorine, Tweek, and Kenny are all in a band. Everyone in town knows who they are... However, I- FUCK- guess I befriended them all in different ways outside o-of the uh... Band thing they have going.

[Thomas has blocked out any background noise while he answers the question]

MARJORINE: What if HE shows up to the game, guys? And if HE shows up, what if HE brings his gross boyfriend? I can tolerate Corey. He’s Thomas’s brother, he’s a good kid! but... Not him. He brings out the worst in him.

THOMAS: Marjorine and I actually met at the library through a Dungeons and Dragons club that Kyle had started-(squeak)- in middle school, before she came out as a girl. She wanted to be a classic human paladin and I was a cool homebrew faun bard. She- shitfuckass- and I went out for a bit until she came out, then we kinda just went our separate ways since I’m gay. Although, we’re- COCK!- definitely still friends.

KENNY: I doubt they’re gonna be there, sugar. Besides- if he is, Kyle, Scott, and I will keep them in check. Plus, if Thomas is coming, we’ll have him as backup too. There’s no way they’ll fuck us over if we have four of us who know how to kick ass.

THOMAS: I met Kenny through Kyle. He uh.... He introduced me to Kenny when I invited him and his family over for Hanukkah back in the fifth grade. He’d brought Kenny and Kenny’s siblings along with his family since Kenny had been spending the holidays with- shit- them that year due to some issues back home. 

THOMAS: ... Kenny’s the whole reason I actually came out to my mom if I’m being completely honest. He’s awesome.

TWEEK: Make that five, Ken. Let’s not aargh- forget you’ve been teaching me self defense... And I know how to box.

KENNY: Oh yeah, you’re right, huh?

TWEEK: Yeah.

TWEEK: Anyway, Thomas, you got anything in mind for your character?

THOMAS: And then there’s Tweek. Man, uh, I actually met Tweek when he and Craig were a thing. After they split up, I dated Craig for a while, and then Tweek. Then Tweek and I separated again and he went back out with Craig up until last year. I... I actually fuck- I actually uhm... I never stopped having major feelings for him, if I’m being totally honest.

THOMAS: But I’d never have a chance with him now that he’s fully dedicated and in a relationship with Marjorine and (squeak squeak) Kenny. Plus, unfortunately, we just stressed each-other out 24-FUCKINGCOCKASS-7...

TWEEK: Thomas?

THOMAS: Huh? Wha-...?

TWEEK: I asked if you had anything in mind for your character, man. Since, ya know, Kyle used to yap all about our superhero game and franchise bullshit all the time to you when we were younger.

THOMAS: Oh- uh, yeah, I kinda do. I have a bunch of doodles and notes in my sketchbook out in my truck.

TWEEK: That’s good. Anyway, uh. We’re gonna meet up at my ngh- parents’ coffee shop tonight for the superhero roleplay. Bring dice and that sketchbook of yours. I think we’re expecting a total of 11 people tonight, counting ourselves.

TWEEK: Are you okay with that? You don’t personally know three of them, but they’re all super cool.

THOMAS: O-oh, yeah that’s just fine! I’ll uh... I’ll see you there at...?”

TWEEK: Aah-! Just be there by 4 o’clock, okay? I’ll- 

[GROUND BEGINS SHAKING VIOLENTLY]

THOMAS: What the fuck-?

KENNY: Guys, what the hell are you standing around for?! Get under something!

[LIGHTS GO FLICKER AND GO OUT]

TWEEK: GRAASALKF I CAN’T SEE ANYTHING!!

THOMAS: I can’t either!!

KENNY: Wait- what the fuck- is that a light?!

THOMAS: L...light?

[... CONNECTION TO ASK BOX LOST ...]

[... RECONNECTING ...]

[... PLEASE WAIT MOMENTARILY ...]

[... ... ...]

[... RECONNECTED TO ASK BOX ...]

[... THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE ...]

[mcl-pauly]

when do you think ezarel started ~liking~ gardienne?

(i love the ~~)

Ezarel… is hard to analyze. Mainly because we don’t really know anything about him but also because… he’s the literal embodiement of “tough love”, which makes it hard to differentiate whether he’s being mean or sarcastic at times, to differentiate the belittlement to the teasing.

At the beginning of the game, he is downright mean to her. He says she’s useless, weak and he is the one who is the most opposed to her being in the El Guard. And I feel like it wasn’t because he disliked her personally (she had just arrived, they didn’t know each other at all. episodes 1-6 happened on the same day) but more because of her human status.

Okay so this is speculation but something definitely happened between Ezareland a human girl. Maybe she got hurt, maybe she even died, maybe she betrayed him, we don’t know. Anyway, because of that he thinks humans are no meant to be on Eldarya, that they can’t survive for… whatever reasons.

So when it was confirmed that she was half-human half-faery, I think that he was relieved… in a way. That’s when he stops being so rude to her. Kinda. I mean, he did tell her that she didn’t have the presence to be a faery and he ask her to take the test again to make sure she wasn’t totally human.

(IIRC Gardienne can even ask him wtf is his problem with her, to which he doesn’t respond but still says that he is gonna make an effort to be nicer to her.)

Then comes episode 5 and the kappa rescue mission. This mission is a way for them to reconcile and also to just spend some time together and learn about each other. That’s when we learn that Ezarel doesn’t like to be touched and that’s when the teasing starts.

“I adore you”, “you’re sweet”, Ezarel starts using those expressions -sarcastically- at the end of episode 5 and he uses them more and more as the story progresses. It’s his way of showing affection, while still being the asshole that he is. But still, to me, that’s not when he starts ~liking~ her. More like… “tolerating” her and “oh maybe you’re not so bad after all-ing” her.

In episode 7, he worries about her because “why the fuck did we send the human girl to the other end of Eldarya”. He starts taking an interest in her and her safety and saves her (if you’re on his route) but he still doesn’t ~like~ her. He gets to know her more in the episode 8-9 and then they start becoming more than acquaintances.

Okay okay so when does he start ~liking~ her (i know finally) ?

To me, that would be episode 10. When he takes her back to her room after spending time with her willfully and admits that “your company is actually nice even when we’re not on a mission or in a life threatening situation (episode 5 and 9) or when I’m ordered to take care of you (episode 8). Who would have thought !”.

(Yes I know he said that he accepted to “take her under his wing” in episode 8 when he could have just refused to. That he did it because he wanted to. But it was still an order.)

And after that, everything quickens, the Hug happens and episode 12 happens. At this point of the game, Ezarel definitely ~likes~ Gardienne. Even if this “relationship” is quite fragile imo, because it’s based on a game of “i like you, me neither”. Ezarel uses sarcasms as a way of teasing her but also as a defense mechanism which makes it difficult (for Gardienne mainly) to understand if he appreciates her or not (”you never stopped belittling me!” in episode 15).

Then episode 13 happens and all that hard work goes to waste :)

Even if he said that he was against it, even if he told her that it was for her own protection… he still did something so horrible to her and… in the most cruel way he… he… *has a breakdown in the middle of her essay*

*coughs* ANyway in episode 14-15 (but mainly 15) Ezarel is so nice to Gardienne. In fact, he has never been so nice to her. Things became awkward between them after all. He never teases her iirc, he doesn’t react negatively to her jabs, he compliments her TWO TIMES in one episode and then, you know, the whole apology thing happens. Because Ezarel ~likes~ Gardienne.

Now I think it’s time that I explain what I mean by ~liking~. My meaning may be different to yours anon, but to me, it doesn’t really mean “to love”. Gardienne became an important person to Ezarel, a person he likes to spend time with, a person he trusts and a person he wants to protect. I’m not saying love isn’t there… but it’s not quite “there” yet. It’s… complicated, especially after what happened. He cares for her and he doesn’t want her to hate him. But idk, I feel like it’s still too soon to call it “love”. It’s close. But. Not really. aargh.

Finally, from there… I’m not really sure of where the love plot in Ezarel’s route (or in any route at all) is gonna lead us. Even if Ezarel’s feelings about Gardienne were revealed in episode 15, everything’s complicated and awkward now between them. It’s gonna take time but Gardienne seems more than ready to move on from what happened to her. And there’s still the question of whether or not Ezarel is married or whatever. But still, love will happen (because it’s a dating game) and I want to see how and be happy about it.

*me at episode 57 : it’s not love guys trust me*