#I also love that like… she can clearly take care of herself to come extent- like she’s not completely dependent on someone else- but it’s +

[rotteneldritchhorror]

I will forever love Lydia barkrock as disabled rep in fantasy high

[qu0rky]

As much as i can understand where Via is coming from, and her feelings are valid, she doesn’t see her dad as a living person outside of just being her father. And that isn’t right. It’s especially not right seeing just how many people feel absolutely no empathy for him.

“She was just a child having to endure all that!!” Okay, and how old was Stolas when he had to marry an abusive girl and have a kid of his own, exactly? At least he gave Via a chance to have a good childhood, he didn’t have one. He didn’t have anything except for his duties to carry out.

And while it’s heartbreaking that Via sees herself as an obligation, that’s literally what she was supposed to be. Though that doesn’t mean that was how he saw her. She was what saved him, what made him endure all the abuse, what kept him going.

But sometimes that’s not enough, he had NO ONE to confide in and couldn’t put his frustrations on his own kid (because he’s a good father, despite what some of you would like to believe, clearly you didn’t grow up with a parent trying to guilt you by traumadumping when you can barely understand it), so he also NEEDED the pills.

The thing is, i also had that mentality towards my mom for dealing with depression UNTIL i started experiencing it myself. Because it’s so hard to realize that your parents are also human beings, since they’re supposed to protect you, they’re supposed to have everything figured out, to be the shoulder you cry on.

But if i see another dumbass claim that he CHOSE to leave and made the wrong decision in Mastermind, i need you out of this fandom. The whole point of that was that he had no choice, was he supposed to throw away the man he fell in love with, his first friend, his first time that wasn’t for procreation, and the one who liberated him? Stolas is allowed to care for more than one person, and he deserves to be loved romantically by someone.

You’re being too harsh on Stolas because for whatever reason you hate an abuse victim finally having a say in how to live for once in their lives, adding on top of that the weird, underlying homophobia in some of your criticisms for him.

Also i have a bad taste in my mouth from Via only seemingly hating Stolas, despite having SEEN how shitty Stella is. Sure, she doesn’t know the full extent of the abuse, but she’s heard the yelling, she’s seen the throwing, the ridiculing, the insensitivity. And most likely that woman neglected Via as much as possible, because she also didn’t choose to have her, but unlike Stolas she didn’t give a fuck to take responsibility regardless. (Reminding you of the “You get up” comment from Loo Loo Land). This was all happening before the cheating, so that’s not an excuse for her behavior (not that the cheating was, but at least Via would have been able to reason with her reaction to it).

It’s a complicated situation and it’s so shitty to put all the blame on Stolas, he tried so much for his family, but it was never going to be enough, because he’s gay. I’m glad he got out of that marriage.

Honestly, had i been given all those responsibilities at his age in a loveless marriage, i would’ve gone insane. I wouldn’t have been kind to my child, the cause of my shit life. But he never saw her as a weight on his shoulders, he has so much love for Via.

[artist-issues]

Snow White and Treasure

While I’m on her topic.

I noticed treasure in my re-watch of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Every key character’s treasure reveals their true nature on the inside.

Nowhere is it more evident than in the Queen herself, obviously.

Her treasure is holding the title of Fairest of All. That’s what she cares about. How she’s perceived. After all, why else does she sneak out of the castle through the catacombs? Why does she have the Huntsman do her dirty work—why not just kill Snow White on her own? She clearly gets way too much joy out of the idea of poisoning Snow White.

But she can’t do that. She has to hide her true nature, so she sneaks out of her own castle.

Ironically, her treasure is Being the Fairest—but she’s not beautiful on the inside. She’s ugly on the inside, like a rotten apple! And that fixation on getting her treasure eventually puts that ugliness on the outside, no matter how much she wants to look the opposite.

The next character we have who’s treasure reveals his true nature is Grumpy. (My favorite.)

All of the Dwarves treasure their own comfort to some extent. But Grumpy doesn’t just treasure comfort. He treasures his own safety. After all, what is grumpiness if not a person who has been afraid and self-protective all their life? He’s always defensive, always on the lookout for a scam.

Grumpy is the last to change…and the only one who’s true nature is revealed when he does. Also, Grumpy is the only character who’s treasure changes.

Grumpy starts out being the most against Snow White. All of them are, at first, until they interact with her and she shows them what she can do for them.

But Grumpy takes the longest to warm up, because he’s not just afraid that she’ll bring the Queen to the cottage and put him in danger. He’s afraid of feelings. They make him feel unsafe.

I know that sounds weird but seriously. That’s his big beef with Snow White. He clearly likes her in spite of himself, but he’s terrified of opening up, because she’s A) new and different and B) getting attached is vulnerability, and vulnerability is dangerous.

That’s the opposite of Snow White! When she’s being her most vulnerable about her wish, he’s meeting the whole idea with scorn: “Ha! Mush!”

But he can’t help feeling, anyway. Because Snow White is so pure, and so not defensive, she gets under his skin.

And his treasure changes.

He goes from saying “get rid of her, she’ll bring nothing but trouble” to LEADING THE CHARGE to save her from the Queen.

He goes from treasuring his own safety to treasuring Snow White’s safety.

And that new treasure reveals his true nature: Grumpy is sentimental, and feels things strongly. Who is the Dwarf crying the hardest when Snow White dies?

Those two characters show that one’s treasure reveals their true nature, no matter how they try to guard against it or hide it.

The Queen’s treasure of her own appearance reveals that she’s ugly on the inside.

Grumpy’s treasure of safety reveals that he is very vulnerable on the inside.

But Snow White? Snow White’s treasure is not defended. Snow White’s nature is not hidden. Because Snow White is utterly innocent and pure. She just is who she is, beautiful and simple, and that’s what so great about her. She treasures love—and she is loving. She tells the birds at the wishing well, and sings out her wish, for love. That’s rewarded; the Prince hears it and promises her his heart. (She’s his treasure by the way.)

She tells the Dwarves that she’s got faith in his love, and she knows he’ll come back, and they just adore her.

She’s every bit as beautiful and vulnerable on the outside as her treasure of love is on the inside.

When she encounters lost birds, what does she do? Love them. When she encounters orphans, what does she do? Love them. When she encounters Princes openly giving their hearts to her, what does she do? Love them. Her nature reflects what she treasures.

There’s no sign of anything but innocence, no hiding, no disingenuousness—because why should there be? The thing she treasures is a good thing. So that’s what makes her beautiful.

Beautiful enough to be the Fairest of All dressed in rags and dirt.

Beautiful enough to be granted mercy by a Huntsman who’s own life is on the line.

Beautiful enough to be buried in a glass coffin, instead of buried alive when the Queen’s plot succeeds.

Beautiful enough to be searched for and found, against all odds, by the Prince who fell in love with her at first sight.

Someone who values love highly, and lets that treasure shine out through every part of their nature, is powerful. They can strike fear and hatred into the hearts of the most self-absorbed, and transform the most stuck-in-their-ways, and inspire love in anyone who comes into contact with them.

That’s what’s wonderful about Snow White. She’s pure, from what she treasures to her very nature, and needs to hide nothing about herself.

[half-dead-writer]

hello I am in fact not dead I've been sick and lacking the motivation to write but hopefully I'll get into the groove again, I got so many requests I'm itching to get done but no strength to do it at all grrrr at first I tried to write a drabble but it just wasn't coming out right so I settled for the short headcanons - as a bonus you can see what I wrote for it below

Kim Pine with a shy and nervous S/O

character: Kim Pine (Scott Pilgrim Takes Off) words: 261 reader: gender neutral warnings: none

𝔯𝔲𝔩𝔢𝔰 + 𝔪𝔞𝔰𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔩𝔦𝔰𝔱 / 𝔖𝔠𝔬𝔱𝔱 𝔓𝔦𝔩𝔤𝔯𝔦𝔪 𝔗𝔞𝔨𝔢𝔰 𝔒𝔣𝔣 𝔪𝔞𝔰𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔩𝔦𝔰𝔱

she thinks your nervousness is cute, to an extent

Kim isn't nervous or shy herself, but she can understand where your worries come from

if you're visibly stressed during a social gathering, she won't make a fuss out of it, instead taking you somewhere where you can cool off

Kim having the patience of a saint plays a big role in your relationship

even if you ask her a lot of times whether you done something wrong (whether it's an issue in your relationship or during an event where you're stressed about something you did during interacting with others) she'll always calmly reassure you and chase away your worries

that doesn't mean she won't be blunt about it, though

she will point out whatever you did right (or wrong) in her usual flat fashion

she doesn't mind re-explaining to you her logical reasons, as much as your anxiety makes you doubt her words

at the end of the day, she loves you, even if your confidence is lacking at times

if your love language isn't as open and not easily perceived, little gestures like holding her hand, staying close, no matter how small it may be - she sees it and appreciates you

the type to come up to the McDonald's counter and ask for extra fries they forgot to pack into your happy meal when you're too shy to ask for them yourself

will argue for/defend you if you need it, but also makes an effort to slowly make you come out of your shell, one step at a time

Seeing the look of pure passion on the drummer's face was enough to keep you occupied throughout the whole session of the band playing. You didn't wanna be a creep, of course, so you kept your staring at a minimum. You couldn't deny Kim held you tight in her grasp, though. She just seemed so cool. Somehow, her sarcastic remarks did not push you away, even if they poked holes in your already weak confidence.

Since you started working at No-Account Video, you made it your goal to get to know her better. Learning Kim was in a band was your best chance at showing your eagerness, as awkward as it was from your side. Your attempts at being social at work usually fizzled out after a few minutes, right after you used all of your small-talk dialogue options. Interacting with people didn't come easy to you, but you had to learn somehow, right? Thankfully, Kim accepted your request of seeing her playing live. Perhaps she took pity on you, seeing how hard it was for you to even utter the question.

The girl lowered her drumsticks, wiping the gathered sweat on her forehead. She grabbed the leftover soda from the nearby table, taking a sip. Briefly acknowledging your presence, she glanced your way.

"So? Do you think we suck?" Stephen asked, furrowing his brows with anxiety and hope, trying to gauge your reaction before you could even respond. He assumed the worst, per usual.

"I think- I think that was awesome." You hoped your smile, even if a bit shy, conveyed your excitement clearly.

"You don't have to be nice just because you don't wanna hurt Stephen's feelings." Kim commented with her usual flat tone, not bothering to sugarcoat her words. She knew they most likely sucked.

"No, no, I- I really think you're cool. Um, all of you." You clarified quickly, obviously overthinking your simple words.

"That's a relief." Her tone was ambiguous, most likely sarcastic, but somehow you managed to pinpoint a bit of sincerity in her words. Perhaps she did care at least a little bit of the opinion of her co-worker.

[lipstickchainsaw]

Do you have any thoughts on the Burning Grey or Damsel routes? Because I found them both fascinating with the themes of agency and denial of agency, plus with how your shaping of the princess is most clear in the Damsel’s chapter.

I do think it’s very cool that Burning Grey somehow manages to be less creepy than normal old Damsel. Because yes, she’s trying to kill you, but also she appears to have thoughts and feelings and that is significantly less creepy than the hollow shell that is the Damsel.

I think the Burned Grey is fascinating for very much the reasons you describe, but let's talk Damsel first.

Because the Damsel is incredibly unsettling and it's a route that leaves a bad taste in my mouth (in a way the game intended, I mean).

I think a lot of the routes in Slay the Princess explore the theme of agency, especially how unequal power dynamics shape people involved in those exchanges, what resistance looks like in the face of someone having power over you, and whether any real respect or relationship can follow from it.

And the Damsel says 'no, it can't'.

Oh sure, it seems like she says 'yes, it can!' with all the enthusiasm of a chivalric romance, but it can only exist insofar as the Damsel stops existing as a person, only to the extent that she can sublimate her agency, her personality, her wishes, dreams and desires by fully giving into what the person who's there to kill her wants.

(You kill her with one stab, but she has so little power that in Chapter 1 she has to stab you countless times to finally end you.)

The Smitten doesn't care about this and is happy to fully dominate her personality away (which is why he's awful), until she becomes but a prop in the story he wants to tell, an endlessly adoring maiden who hangs off his every word but will, crucially, never express any desire or opinion of her own.

Basically, she doesn't exist.

(And when you try to discover what she does want, what person does exist underneath the adoring accommodation, her physical body becomes as well-defined as her mental existence.)

And you get there by trying, at every turn, to save her, by not considering her enough of a threat to take the knife, and not even bothering to let her try to free herself.

You have denied her any agency in Chapter 1, and thus you get the Damsel.

Crucially, she doesn't even resist when you kill her.

Instead, you then get the Burned Grey, and here's where things get interesting.

You see, the Damsel thought you loved her, and so she became the prop to your story, but you killed her, so clearly this isn't actually what you want.

But that doesn't make sense, because you loved her enough to try to save her the first time!

These contradictions finally spark a degree of agency once again, and the Burned Grey concludes that something is off. She loves you, and she knows you love her, but you keep killing each other.

So it has to be the location itself! It has to be the cabin itself, the entire thing set-up that is setting you at each other's throats even though you don't want to, and the only way to escape this cycle of violence and abuse is to destroy it!

And she's right! The cabin represents the Construct within itself, and the Creator specifically set it up for the Long Quiet to kill the Shifting Mound, and destroying it together is the only way for this to stop!

I think the only other Princess that comes this close to understanding what's actually happening might be the Wild (and possibly the Moment of Clarity, but I am not playing through the Nightmare again to figure that out, thank you).

And so, in a statement of love, empathy, finally finding one's agency, the Burned Grey tries to end this cycle.

By burning you to death.

[blacklister214]

4x06: Patrick and Eliza: Game, Set, Match

It's funny because when I got on this ship Season 2, I legitimately didn't believe it had a prayer. The title is Miss Scarlet and the Duke, for heaven's sake. Now though...any ending that isn't Eliza and Patrick is crap. As for the title...the Duke was always in small letters. He's in the background, BEHIND her. He is an important part of her backstory. That doesn't make him her future.

SPOILERS BELOW!

Let's just go over some of the stuff from the episode.

More Partner Power in the cold open. The sound like an old married couple. They prepare to fight the criminal together.

Patrick staring at Eliza center stage taking applause from the men with so much damn pride.

Eliza demonstrating a willingness to share credit with him and the men. She is absorbing Patrick's lessons like a sponge, both there and with Potts later.

He takes her to the race track and she agree with almost no cajoling needed. This is so much cooler than dinner with William, because dinner is a traditional female outing. Patrick is sharing his hobbies, and not giving a damn about societal convention.

Eliza says the thing that has always made Nash such a favorite of mine: He has faith in her when no one does. Not her father, not Ivy, not William.

She is able to stop Patrick from murdering his brother's killer with the simple words, "You are my friend." Eight years of waiting and planning for this moment, and the knowledge he is important to Eliza is enough to stay his hand.

He apologizes to her. She interfered with his plan when he asked her not to. Prevented his revenge and escape to the continent. He is facing jail time. He just saved her life. AND HE APPOLOGIZES TO HER! Try to imagine William doing that. I dare you.

He tries to make HER FEEL BETTER. Once again he is IN JAIL facing serious prison time as a PRIVATE DETECTIVE who has put men in there. Yet, he puts on a brave face and assumes an optimistic air. He uses his old joke about his good looks and her brains. All to sooth her as much as he can, while he can.

Her thinking him a good person is desperately important to him.

He'll "always keep trying." Patrick never quits, his commitment is absolute. That is what Eliza needs, because life with her will never be easy.

She takes his hand. Eliza isn't much of a comforter, and as she looks at him there is grief she can't or won't speak. So instead she take his hand to tell him without words how much she cares.

I'm sorry, but William on his best day, will never top this. Some people might say that the writers have clearly written Patrick off with this storyline. I say however the writers have perfectly tee-ed up the end of the love triangle.

William will return next season to a changed Eliza, one that has learned, thanks to her growth with Patrick, how to function as a PI perfectly well without him. Detective Fitzroy won't need him anymore either, having finally stopped caring about his father and earning the respect of his fellow officers. The icing on the cake though I think will be Patrick's trial.

I suspect Eliza is going to perjure herself to get Patrick released, possibly even blackmail some people. She going to 1) risk her license and 2) offend William. William as a police office takes the law very seriously. Eliza, when push comes to shove, is going to save her partner by any means necessary. Patrick, I further predict will also discourage her from involving herself and risking her future as a detective. More over I think he will try to get William to stop her, hopefully resulting in a frank discussion during which William will release the extent of Patrick's feelings for Eliza.

William will finally realise the truth, that though they may love each other, they don't belong together. To Glasgow or back to America will go William. Patrick will be released and from there onto more Patrick/Eliza investigations.

[moonspirit]

hello moon. i’ve been lurking on your page for a long time, never interacted. maybe i can become a regular on here, who knows?

i was hoping you’d do that send a ship thing for aruani.. i found it strange you haven’t done them yet given how clearly obsessed you are with them. you’ve already done them for the lock screen thingy but i wanted to see the rest, it’s like 5AM for you rn.. but maybe your best thoughts are at the ass crack of dawn?

yours truly, behyuu.

Hi behyuu!

Haha, feel free to become a regular on my blog, no problem xD But I had received more than one request for Aruani, so I thought I'd do them all together.

Who said “I love you” first

I think it'd be Armin. From the boat scene in 131, when Annie asks him why he kept visiting her, he really could've said any number of things that wouldn't technically have been false, like "I wanted to make sure you were okay," or "I wanted to tell you what was happening," but he very clearly says "I wanted to see you, Annie." He was blushing like a ripe tomato, and yet he chose to say the one thing that would leave no room for any doubt as to what his feelings were. Armin doesn't hesitate to express himself through words, and with Annie, I believe he'd only take this a few steps further to tell her clearly that what he carries for her is love, nothing less.

Annie herself would not say "I love you" until a long time after they're comfortably together, I feel. She's been denied love all her love, deprived of it to the extent that Armin's barest hints of care were enough for to cling onto, and so being loved and loving back is all going to be so very new to her. She will express it through her body language, but not in words; not very early on in their relationship anyway.

In the long run, I really think this spoken-aloud form of reaffirmation from Armin would be the most beneficial for Annie. As much as physical touch is her way of seeking security, safety and comfort from him, it's also very crucial to be reminded that yes, the person kissing her and loving her body also really does love her, the way he never forgets to say in words.

Who would have the other’s picture as their phone background

I answered this one here!

Who leaves notes written in fog on the bathroom mirror

Both maybe! If Armin's the one taking a shower first, then he leaves a little "I <3 U" on the mirror for her to find once he's done. Nevermind the fact that by the time she does find it (say she wakes up late and he's already left), it's all maybe mostly gone and runny around the edges, but she knows he left it there for her, and it makes her feel all warm inside.

What if Annie's the one taking the shower tho? In that case, she's brushing her teeth in front of the washbasin and the mirror, messy haired, sleepy eyed and lethargic. As she works the toothbrush between long yawns, she doodles a cat on the mirror that's steaming up from the hot water she's left running in the tub. Later on, Armin finds this cat when he comes in to shave, and he finds it to be the cutest thing ever. Maybe they name each cat she draws.

Who buys the other cheesy gifts

I have a hc that Annie's really awkward with gift-giving, so while this doesn't translate into "she doesn't pick good gifts", what it does mean is that her gifts are funny, bordering on cute-as-fuck.

Armin is good with gifts. He buys her things she needs, and throws in some flowers, some chocolate, maybe a plushie and a picnic date. He pays attention to what she likes, what she doesn't like, and this generally means Annie's going to get some of the best gifts ever, whether or not his planning and execution goes to shit because he's so nervous about everything being perfect.

So the one giving him cards with cliche quotes and a leather wallet that the seller tells her is a trendsetter with men, are some of the things Annie gets him. Cut the girl some slack. Her gifts don't suck, they're just cheesy. And he finds it so fucking cute how hard she tries.

Who initiated the first kiss

Armin. It's the pounding heartbeats in their chests, synchronizing. It's the static in the air, sparking and tingling. Her wide pale-blue eyes atop blushing cheeks, locked onto his own in baffled surprise, because he's just told her he loves her and she doesn't understand - why her? Why her, of all the other girls? But that's what his heart wants - her - and he's told her as much and all he can do is hope she feels the same.

But she does. She does, he can see it, right there in her eyes, when her gaze drops lower. She feels the same, he can see it, as her lips part, just a bit, ever so slightly he can almost touch her breath. Then she looks up again, searching his eyes.

He sees his chance, he takes it. Because who knows if there'll be another? He kisses her, long, and slow and sweet, until she's kissing him back with the same longing.

*Aherm* Okay, I got carried away. Basically he kisses her first, but the next time he loses his confidence and doesn't, and then because Annie's impatient as hell, she kisses him second.

Who kisses the other awake in the morning

Annie. I hc that she's the early bird while he struggles to wake up in the morning in general, so naturally being up first, she gives him a little peck on the nose or on the lips. Sometimes he's so deep asleep he doesn't stir at all. Sometimes he's half-awake and drags her closer for longer kisses, and the hope of sleeping in late with her. Sometimes she kisses him short and brief, when she's aching from dealing with something she doesn't like and hasn't told him about; other times they are fluttery, airy, open mouthed kisses, offering silent, sweet promises of love and happiness from between her lips.

Who starts tickle fights

Armin. He reaaaaaaaalllllyy likes teasing her. Whether that's because she's scowling to hide her embarrassment, or refusing to tell him what she's finding so funny in the magazine she's reading - he's always got his hands ready to grab her around the middle and invite her into a tickle fight. The thing though, is that Annie's laughter isn't because of his actions--she's NOT ticklish by any means--but because of the whole play-fighting itself. His laughter is infectious, and she can't help but follow with her own giggling until she's snorting at his stupid jokes and bright eyes.

Guess who's ACTUALLY ticklish? Him. Once she gains the upper hand and squirms away to straddle his hips, it's all game over.

So he may be the one starting the fights, but he's not the one winning them.

Who asks who if they can join the other in the shower

Annie. I just find it more in-character for her to blurt out that he's welcome to join her in the shower. Say they've just come back home after a long and tiring muddy hike, and they're so exhausted they might not have the energy to take showers after each other. It's a casual suggestion, quick and without much thought to it, when Annie says, "Join me then. It'll be quicker."

She might've said that, but once they're actually stripping in the bathroom and getting into the hot waters of the bathtub, Annie's the one burning to the tips of her ears. Doesn't help that Armin's lost all his initial embarrassment and inhibitions and is welcoming her to sit between his legs, pulling her back flush against his chest.

The rest belongs in a smut fic.

Who surprises the other in the middle of the day at work with lunch

Annie. Armin forgets to eat, especially when he's drowning to his neck in documents piling up on his table at work. He's studying up for a meeting on his morning transit, signing off agendas and rescheduling appointments, making six dozen phone calls, holding talks with important people... ugh. He has barely any time to breathe, so his eating habits at work are basically non-existent. During such times when things are more hectic than usual, and it's often a familiar sight to find him coming home with a loosened tie and exhaustion on his face, Annie's the one heading to his workplace with lunch and coffee in her arms. She makes sure he eats, and also eats her own lunch with him, so he's kept company by the only person he can be his silly, goofy self around.

Who was nervous and shy on the first date

I'm inclined to say both, it's just that Armin would express it more openly than Annie would. What Armin would be fretting and worrying about is how perfectly the date is going, how smoothly his plans are working out, and so on. He'd be so bothered about every teeny tiny detail and Annie's enjoyment that he wouldn't really be able to relax and enjoy it himself.

Annie on the other hand, would be nervous and scared about disappointing him. It would warm her heart how he sweetly switches to her more exposed side as they're walking down the street, but it also worries her about how expressive she's being, or rather, how much she's lacking in that respect. Disappointing Armin is probably her biggest fear.

Who kills/takes out the spiders

Annie. Armin hesitates too much. He looks at the mama spider, looks at her eggs, looks at her babies, thinks of the consequences, thinks of their extended families and their ancestors, their futures, their pasts, their presents, and so on and so forth. It's been six hours and he's ignoring the spider in the bathroom because he's conflicted over killing them.

Annie would kill them (she doesn't like bugs), but because she knows it'll break his heart, she traps them in a special plastic cup she keeps for the spiders and lets them out somewhere far away.

Who loudly proclaims their love when they’re drunk

Armin. Even sober, he's always running to give her a big hug with a stupid wide smile on his face, going "Aaaanniiieeeee!!". The happiest golden retriever in the world. Now get that golden retriever drunk to his eyeballs and he won't fucking shut up about how beautiful she is, how big her heart is, how soft she is, how her eyes are like the sky and the sea and other fantastic imagery. He tells her he wants to marry her (even if they're already married), and how he wants to wake up to her presence everyday. In a crowd, it's fucking embarrassing for Annie. Secretly though? She loves it. Replays it in her head over and over again.

[stevie-petey]

hello your honour (m), me and my partner, val @southelroy would like to take this opportunity to defend our client, one steven marie harrington. we intend to prove, beyond reasonable doubt, that his behaviour and actions are born from a place of genuine trauma, that his intentions, while marred in teen angst, are clear, and finally, that his bearing is better than certain past, shall we say........bonds.......cough johnathan cough.

idk how longer i can keep this bit going, but seriously, guys c'mon cut the guy a break, all steve and bug have been doing since midway season 1 is drive their car to struggle citadel and pray at its pews. Also m this season is so crazy delicious i will get into singing your praises in a minute, after i prove my case with evidence. thank you.

firstly, i'd like to establish a baseline from which we can work upwards from. frankly, steve clears. he has been worshipping the ground bug walks on since the day he saw her, and he made clear his high regard of her the moment he got to develop some sort of friendship/relationship with him. even just taking these last three chapters, the amount of outward steve shows bug, completely unabashedly, is ridiculous. it was the most physical, outward admiration bug has gotten out of her peers, aka, the teen boys her age. I'd like to point to one moment in particular, "You exhale deeply, wrapping your arms around his body, and Steve nuzzles his face into your neck and presses a gentle kiss there.". This parallel to johnathan and bug ending their closeness at the end of season 2, as well as the phone call/car ride johnathan takes in season 3, posits steve as the new "love interest", the new What-if/maybe of bug's love life. However, his romantic intentions are much more straightforward than johnathan's ever were. The end of season 2, he very clearly stated that he wanted to, eventually, be in a relationship with bug, that he would need some time before it happened, and bug understood this, and agreed to it. This is drastically different from Not Talking About It for years on end. I would argue that bug herself knows, at least to some extent, steve's feelings for her. She certainly knows the care he feels for her, "You know he doesn’t want to scare you, that he’s always trying to make things easier for you, so you tilt your head at him and nod slightly; you want him to tell you." The ease with which they kiss each other's cheeks is an openness bug did not experience in season 1, especially when shit with nancy and johnathan started becoming #real #deep. there is a certainty that is present in these interactions that bug and johnathan did not have until they were literally doing a friend break up.

Now that we've established the evidence of steve's background, i'd like to move the jury to view evidence of motive, with your permission your honour (hi m <3). As stated in the opening statement, bug and steve are getting stamps on that struggle card like their featured on tlc classic, extreme couponing, and baby they are making cashback! Bug's daddy issues are well documented, as are steve's. In fact, they are so well established, that the defense would like to claim that throwing a gren@de at mr. harrington's car would be an all round net positive to society. We know that steve thinks highly of bug, including post spring summer of '85, and that while they have moved past it, o would argue that a fear of abandonment is not unfounded in the young man's mind, particularly when his own self image is currently being shredded by a medieval torture device known as mr. harrington. Steve is being beaten down, it sounds like quite frequently, "He hadn’t turned into who had expected to become, something that you know his father reminds him of every time he comes back from some business trip. ", and it's showing in his relationship(?) with bug, "Steve leans into your kisses and smiles at the praise, relieved that you don’t think he’s some idiot." We see this when he rants to robin in episdoe 1, he is an, ultimately, scared and insecure teen, who is getting requited affection for the first time in a long time, from a person whom he deeply respects, admires, and holds dear in his heart, and, unfortunately, was unable to maintain a relationship with him during the beginning of their friendship. I ask you, the court, were we not understanding of bug then? Could we not see the place where she came from? While we disagree with her actions, did we not see the ultimate place she was coming from? Surely we can extend that grace to mr. harrington.

I'd like to perhaps bring in a new angle, that steve and bug's tiff at the end of episode 3 is not their fault expressly. We know bug has a giant guilt complex that makes my religious background look carefree. We know she has a very real fear of having a relationship pass you, due to someone whose name rhymes with bonathan, and is perhaps more sensitive to being strung along than she otherwise would be. We know steve's battling daddy issues, a need to prove himself with a great opportunity right in his lap, and a fear of relationships changing because of someone noticing his inadequacy (very incheresting to me that he's relieved that bug doesn't think he's an idiot.........he's my unmedicated undiagnosed adhd baby.....we're twins in that sense. also in the sense that we like women :P), which could happen when they are in a full blown relationship. Him not knowing how to ask bug out is valid, he's on a new man journey of shedding his old self off, he feels like he's batting way out of his league (he is), and he has a girl who fell out of love with him on his scoreboard, and a girl who used to be in an intense codependent friendship with a boy who is now currently dating said ex. That is a situation to be in!

While me and my partner understand bug's frustrations and empathise fully, and make clear our support of her, we only ask the jury lay the blame not at our defendant steve's feet, but rather the circumstances that have brought them here. And if they really want a target, feel free to aim towards one johnathan byers and mr. harrington, local triple f, (flop failure father).

The defense would now like to play offence. Johnathan, what the hell are you even doing here???? Get out of our family's business! What in the good lord's name are you doing ringing up a girl's number in the dead of the night??? The one you were a hair's breadth away from dating if you hadn't strung her along for a marathon length of time at that???? And then venting YOUR relationship problems, the very relationship you strung her along for, about a girl you left her for!!! The audacity of mr byers!!! While we understand this to be an affront to Ms. Henderson, we posit this is an affront to Ms. Wheeler as well. We ask you, the jury, how comfortable YOU would feel if the guy you were dating, told HIS ex best friend-turned-complicated-situation-turned now friends with boundaries all about your relationship problems while driving around at night, a deeply date like activity? While you may posture and say "oh, well, if it's a girl like Bug!". Girls..... That would make it worse. AS IT SHOULD! We maintain this isn't bug's fault as it isn't her relationship to protect, but mr. byers!

Okay we rest our case.

M, I apologise for this stupid essay above, but omg omgo omg omgogkogmogmgomgm I am EATING!!!!! YOU ATE!!!!!! This was so crazy delivious yummy!!!! Love love love the way steve and bug are interacting, all the casual affection has me giggling and kicking my feet like they're everything hehehehe. All the cheek kisses are so so so cute and making me crave affection like a motherfucker. All the flirting vibes between them is driving me up the wall...."So you admit you're flirting with me?" BITCH! I MIGHT BE!!! I am cheesinggggg. I remember you said that season 4 is going to be stug struggle era and my stomach is in knots already becasue the brief glimpse of unhappiness they experienced at the end of episode 3 made me want to cut my heart out of my chest, you have made them too lovable i fear.

SPeaking of cutting my heart out of my chest, may i say, you served with robin. Like. The struggle of being a closeted person really hit well. Not to get heavy, but the crushing weight of it was so subtly put into robin, it got to me alot. "She hates that you’re purposely excluding her and taking Steve’s side in this. You wish you could tell her the truth." This genuinely is sooooo fvnnvbvknsnbfe. I want to shake her through the screen like girl do NOT fall for your friend whose attracted to boys that is NOT a situation that ends well and you will NOT leave unscathed!! It felt like a lot like high school, when its a big thing you have no one else to tell, and there's too much at stake to say it. and omg. this part, "When Robin sees his wink, she only clenches her jaw and turns away before releasing your hand.". Devestating. If I were robin, i would have had a crush on both bug and steve and witnessed carousel kissy face gate, it would have turned me into the joker, i would have no choice but to pull the nastiest stunt this small town has ever seen. I feel absolutely awful for her, and it makes me kinder to my younger self. Just, omg, really excellent work.

Apologies for the length of this, but just on a final note, i really wanted to say thank you for writing this great story. it's been a tough couple of years, and my brain has gotten worse on me and i really have a lot of trouble concentrating on anything, including things i enjoy, and your story is one of the few guaranteed things i know i can sit down for and fully because i know i will love every minute of it. Wishing you luck and love wherever you go and always rooting for you <3!!

u bringing up bug abandoning steve first ,,, oh ur so right and i WILL be addressing that (steve finally asks for the entire reason ,,,, trust)

and ur so right about how grim of a situation it is. steve and bug reflect the hurt nancy and jon gave onto them. steve is afraid of being lead on again and not being enough (nancy lied about loving him and he wasnt enough in the end). bug is afraid that love itself isnt enough, that theres more than just loving one another that goes into a relationship (jon loved her and yet in the end it wasnt enough).

both babies are hurt :((((

LEAVE JON ALONE THO MANS NEEDED TO VENT TO HIS BESTIE AND BUG WAS ENTIRELY OK WITH THIS !!! SHE NEEDED TO VENT AS WELL !!! (nancy wont be ok with it tho lmao)

and im happy everyone is loving robin <333 i have a cute and sweet scene planned between her and bug later that im so excited to share :')

the final part of your ask, im so so so happy my story means that much to you and i am sending you a million kisses my love <3333 im always rooting for you as well and youre such a sweetheart

[wherevenusholdssomeofficespace]

About Sara being the Murphy kid without Murphy's law. I think we could all talk all day on how Milo deals with Murphy's Law. How that effects him. I mean that is what the show is about. But, in a show that takes care in the statement that everyone should help shoulder Milo (and Orgaluth's) burdens as best they can, how DOES someone whose spent their whole life doing just that, do that?

We're introduced to Sara as a Doctor Zone fan, in an episode about how she handle's Murphy's Law. Where she is obsessively preparing for the inevitable Murphy's law, trying to prevent this thing being ruined for her, but ultimately makes it very clear that she cares more about including Milo than she does anything else. We do later see her taking measures against dealing with Murphy's Law by avoiding Milo and Martin when it comes to things. Her and Brigette both loving Milo and Martin, but taking every opportunity that they are gone to try and get stuff done. And they do enjoy their absences. In other words: they're accustomed to Murphy's Law, just as appreciative of the chaos it bring to their lives (train through their backyard). But also, they actually know what its like not to have constant disasters, and so can indulge in more fragile activities… and then be concerned about those activities getting messed up.

I think Sara's perception of Milo in the episode "Milo's World" says a lot too. She just sees him as a person. Unlike everyone else, Milo was not the first Murphy she ever met. That would almost certainly be her father, and she probably knew her grandfather, uncle and cousin before Milo came around. By the time Milo was born, Sara clearly already had an understanding that "stuff goes wrong around dad", which certainly lead into her later "keep fragile stuff away from dad and Milo". And was already handling disasters calmly and offering assistance to her family. (At the very least, She already knew how to call 911). By all accounts while throughout their lives Milo has certainly handled Murphy's Law more, and is definitely the expert, no doubt about it, Sara's handled it longer. Murphy's Law had been in her life longer than Milo has. She sees it not as a Milo quirk, but as a family quirk. Her dad and Milo have the same condition. But they aren't the same people. They don't handle it the same way. To everyone else, Murphy's Law is synonymous with Milo. To Sara, Milo comes with Murphy's Law, but the two aren't the same.

And I think this also contributes to her sort of blase attitude about things happening to Milo. She trusts him. She doesn't baby him. She's not overprotective as you might expect an older sister to someone who is the target of a lot of people's vitriol, or gets hurt a lot to be in a show like this. But she builds him up. I think the one time we see Milo struggling with something (shoelaces) what she says is "you just have to try". She calls him "wizardy" in regards to his skills. But she's not immune to concern for him, as when she realizes he does not have his backpack. I'd say her attitude is born of a mix of her genuinely knowing Milo's capabilities, that other people with Murphy's Law can take care of themselves just fine, she's dealt with it herself (to a smaller extent) and been just fine, and having parents who you know. Parent and support Milo themselves. He's not really her responsibility. Though we don't see it, this isn't to say she's incapable of stepping up if needed, just that in show, we never see her need to.

I've spoken before about her an Milo's relationship, but ultimately its significant for how normal it is despite their extraordinary childhood. Her establishing moment isn't something with Murphy's Law, it's her and Milo getting excited together about something they both like. They tease each other ("I'm behind backpack?"). They hype each other up ("You're Wizardy" "It runs in the family" or Sara supporting Milo when he was doubting himself for getting the family together). Sara tried teaching Milo to tie his shoes, and Milo's shared his ice cream with her. A normal, non-antagonistic sibling relationship.

Melissa and Zack are along for the ride. But the state of being "on" or "off" the ride bleed into each other for Sara. As we can see Murphy's Law sometimes effects people who aren't nearby, and the Murphy's house (and Sara and Brigette) are its biggest secondary victims. (Toboggan of Love specifically). Sara will join Milo without a second thought (unlike say Melissa whose been shown to skip Murphy's Law related shenanigans for a bit of peace). Not to say Sara never avoids it due to that, but Sara never lies or avoids saying as much to Milo's face while Melissa will be misleading or lie about what she's actually doing. And when Melissa's frequency of shenanigans when away from Milo is still less than Sara's when away from Milo (though not non-existent... it's still Danville).

But, when Sara ISN'T trying to prevent something important to her from going wrong, she's consistently some of the better backup Milo could ask for. (She got him an extra comic, she doesn't even flinch when learning that something has gone wrong. She's accustomed to Murphy's Law in a way that even Melissa isn't quite). Really, Melissa and Sara I think take up complementary roles in Milo's life. Sara has been with him throughout his home life, and Melissa's always been there at school. As Milo's grown, he's probably just spent more and more time hanging out with Melissa, and less time at home. It's just part of growing up.

She has a skewed idea of what is worth freaking out over. She reacts to (what others perceive) as high danger, or extremely inconvenient situations with an almost boredom (Dr. Zone Files, Family Vacation, A Christmas Peril, need I go on). But freaks out a lot over things that she sees as important getting ruined. (Dr. Zone files, We're going to the Zoo, Toboggan of Love). Usually doctor Zone related. She knows that getting lost or buildings and delays can be fixed and sees them as part of life. They're somewhat expected, planned for and are easily fixed (at least on her end). But ruining rare merchandise or giving a bad impression on a first date are unfix-able, and she reacts accordingly. Though never seems to hold it against Milo if the worst comes to pass and it usually works out just fine anyway.

Her third appearance emphasizes just how obsessed she is with Dr. Zone. She found something important to her, lost something important to her (respect of other fans), but was satisfied with being right the whole time, which seems to be what is really important to her. The knowledge of the thing itself, not (so much) the community. After all she has Milo. The episode also features a gag about them forgetting Sara.

I don't really think this means Sara is less loved. It's probably the fact that Milo due to his condition (and being the younger child) usually requires a little more consideration than Sara (only natural), but that even emotionally Milo himself is a little less emotionally independent, often engaging with his parents and their interests while Sara is much more independent, often caught up in her own thing. It's just as much Sara forgetting to communicate with her parents as it is their parents forgetting her. Sara wasn't there to be picked up because she was busy with her Dr. Zone drama, and Milo WAS there WITH guests. And unlike Milo and his friends who ARE more dependent on their parents for things like transportation, Sara usually drives herself places and just… does her own thing. I don't think its favoritism by any means. Some kids are just needier than others. Sara doesn't seem upset with her family, understands her brothers needs are a little more intense than her own and is also just has a fairly independent personality. Also she's just older. As such, it's only natural when Sara's not really engaging with the family herself, it's natural to forget that she came along. After all, Milo and his friends ALSO forgot her and she was TECHNICALLY left at the farm with them. Not that Sara isn't close to her family, aside from Milo she's shown to be able to go for her mom for help and we know she does spend some one on one time with her dad (and he introduced her to Dr. Zone). It's just she's an older teen with very insular interests and a very intensely focused personality. While I think you could make the argument that her parents focus on Milo contributed to her independent personality, it's really a chicken or egg question. Life is just like that sometimes.

I think Sara perceives herself and Milo as normal kids. She's dealt with a lot of second hand Murphy's law, to her annoyance and appreciations. It informs how she interacts with her family, how she prepares, when she enjoys time away from them, and what kind of nice things she does for them. Her relationship with Milo isn't unlike other older siblings with a significantly younger one, just perhaps more pronounced due to Murphy's Law. It also informs how she reacts normally (in what little we see of her life without Milo). Sara is someone passionate, creative, capable of leadership and inspiration. And due to her childhood, she is someone who may over-prepare and worry excessively about certain things, but who ultimately takes catastrophe in stride.

[sparkthespork]

Mistylot Headcannons for your day

(Just doing the adults for today, if this gets enough “buzz” tho I might do the teens!)

~ Misty starts making phone calls to Lottie’s ward whenever she’s available. The other Yellowjackets try to be supportive while she grieves, but still want to keep her at an arm’s length. Walter also tries to help, but can’t fully understand her. Lottie’s the only one who’s always there to talk.

~ Misty doesn’t even talk about Nat most of the time, she just wants to hear the voice of another Yellowjacket. It’s Lottie who more often brings her up, along with their time in the wilderness. But being lonely in the ward, she’s also fine listening to Misty explain the most recent broadway show she saw.

~ Eventually when Lottie gets out, arrangements are made so she can live with Misty. The alternative is moving back in with her parents, and Misty’s got plenty of extra space and is a certified medical professional who’d probably have an easy time convincing whoever she needs to that she’s an adequate caregiver.

~ The rest is history lol

~ The other Yellowjackets start visiting more often (totally not because they need to make sure Misty hasn’t killed Lottie or the two haven’t fled for the wilderness yet) and are surprised by how well they get along at first, not knowing about the extent of the phone calls. They’re not as surprised by the time they declare their relationship.

~ They’re such a good height difference ship!!! Lottie kisses Misty’s forehead a lot since it’s so easy for her. Misty comes up from behind and kisses Lottie’s shoulder because that’s all she can reach.

~ Lottie absolutely loves Caligula and treats him like the pampered prince he ought to be. She generally has a liking for animals and sees a person bonding with one like that as very special.

~ They go outside a lot and find cool rocks and leaves for each other, just to admire for a bit (and every once in a while find a certain plant that one can infodump about to the other)

~ Misty is a morning person who gets breakfast ready for the both of them before Lottie wakes up. Lottie is a night owl who whispers sweet nothings to Misty while she’s falling asleep.

~ Very cuddly couple which I could make an entire separate headcannon list about

~ Also surprisingly good at comforting one another. Misty read up on her psychology and knows what to and not to say to Lottie when she’s obsessing over the wilderness. She never falls into Lottie’s delusions herself but still works hard to understand them.

~ Lottie’s the one comforting Misty when she freaks herself out thinking she’s going to hurt someone she loves again (or worse). She reminds her that all she’s done is try to care for her since she got here, and once Misty’s thinking clearly enough she maybe brings out the birb as an instant calming device.

~ Misty said “I love you” first, and says it a lot to make sure the person she loves knows it this time.

~They don’t fight a whole lot, but it gets really bad when they do. Their main source of conflict is Misty’s continued malpractice at the nursing home, to which she’ll argue back that Lottie’s compound was basically a cult that was not helping anyone, either. Things immediately get personal and then they might act like ghosts around each other, not speaking for ages.

~ They never really solve their fights, just cool down and then continue being affectionate with each other again. I can imagine though that Lottie eventually gives Misty an ultimatum on the home and Misty decides to change careers or somethin,’ she was only ever really caring for anyone else because she wanted to take care of another Yellowjacket. And now she has that, so what’s the point of staying?

~ The two of them do eventually move somewhere a little more rural, not so much as Lottie’s compound but much more outdoor space than Misty’s suburban house.

~ If Misty feels a little down Lottie will make up some random chore she needs to do, often with the garden. Misty does start to catch on but nothing makes her feel better than being helpful, so she lets it happen.

~ Hence when Lottie just isn’t feeling it Misty will let her rest and take care of everything, all the chores, indoors and outdoors. Then of course talk to Lottie later that night so she can get her thoughts out.

~ They do a lot of stargazing, and have fallen asleep together in the grass before <3

[iccarian]

okay bc i figure it’s safe enough now to post about it…here are my tentative canon divergences from the finale until i flesh them out fully <3

agatha does not die, period. she stated explicitly clearly herself that she will die a long long long x2 time from now, because she’s a witch, and because these are the years she can take back after centuries thrown away to grief, to the darkhold. ( she doesn’t see it that way, at least not yet. but she is adaptable and she doesn’t entirely mind not having the darkhold anymore — even if it was the one thing numbing her grief. ) it wouldn’t take a single day of knowing a boy that reminds her of her son for her to become self sacrificial when she has been self preserving to a cruel & selfish extent her entire life. do i think she’d bargain with rio? absolutely. i don’t think agatha has never particularly cared about what’s supposed to be right in the cosmos because she, herself, has always defied all odds and rules. ( that’s what makes you a witch. ) i frankly do not care about comic book easter eggs etc, she didn’t have to die to become billy’s mentor, which i think is a role she secretly would have loved! she’s at her best when she’s teaching, we even saw this with wanda to an extent. give me agatha living her life and popping in to help billy at certain times and also drive him up the walls.

onto the topic of rio: i think agatha’s anger makes sense in that it is her desperate way of not acknowledging the love and heartache she’s been burying for centuries. it’s easier for her to act like she hates rio, to ask never to see her again ( or as in the original script, for rio to retire her form because it’s the rio she fell in love with ohuuhuuhuuu that fucking wrecked me ) because agatha doesn’t do vulnerable, she doesn’t do emotions, not when she has a task at hand. and it’s a hell of a lot easier to pretend rio is simply death, that her grief never had a stake in this. but. the very end, taking one last kiss from her love as she siphons her power to die — that wasn’t it. there was no reconciliation. no true conversation. no resolution for the end of agatha’s path as the three of swords, where she is supposed to face and accept her grief. and i genuinely don’t think it was her time yet lmfao like come on!! neways, i think the fight could have ended in a hundred different ways, one that i like in particular in which agatha acknowledges rio’s hurt, and they like idk. talk. like ex lovers. in their own very messy and begrudgingly communicative fashion.

slightly on topic, i was incredibly unsatisfied with the lack of actual agathario backstory in episode 9. it’s all but confirmed that nicky was their child by some stroke of a cosmic occurrence. i’m willing to explore rio leaving them in peace to give them time, time they never should have had, but i personally like the idea of rio still being there with agatha because hello? they’re wives???

and onto the darkhold! i think agatha acquired it for a multitude of reasons. after nicky, the only thing that made sense to her was power. it was a sound place to bury her rage and heartbreak and also, we know she’s a knowledge seeker. that she’s probably tousled with the sorcerer supreme. she goes places she shouldn’t because she wants to know, because what could possibly be of consequence now? she probably acquired it sometime in the early 1900s, and made a deal to keep it satiated: power and knowledge ( and hiding her from her only love ) in exchange for it siphoning off her own memories of love, of sorrow, etc: it didn’t take them necessarily, but it numbed them. she enjoyed that at the time. she also didn’t let it take her over completely: her soul is most definitely tainted and she dabbled in forbidden magics, relentlessly searched for ways to bring back another soul that didn’t shred it, but she was still largely herself. so, wanda! the scarlet witch! a being of spontaneous creation of chaos magic. how could agatha not crave her power? how could a part of her still not rage against the fabric of the universe, demanding magic that could stitch souls together, fix the dead? and then she was gone, and so was agatha’s magic, and the darkhold, and suddenly for the first time in hundreds of years her grief was palpable and overwhelming. it’s no wonder she projected it onto a young boy with his heart on his sleeve the moment she woke from wanda’s spell.

as for the witches' road con, she definitely knew there was a real one but even that wasn't something agatha dared to dabble in. she let the word spread, though. the song written by her and her son sung by hundreds of witches throughout the centuries. it was a nice little sham to get juice.

anyways all in all! the finale left more questions and i hate it. WHAT’S THE SIGNIFICANCE OF JUNE 2ND? WHEN DID AGATHARIO MEET? HOW LONG DID THEY LOVE EACH OTHER??

[mdhwrites]

How would you write Amity, Hunter and Lilith to be good while still having their edge?

Shoot Hunter in the face, give Lilith the anger she needed, and let Amity be bad at being a girlfriend.

...

If you're expecting me to apologize for being harsh, don't. Even the writers to some extent recognized the case for Amity and Lilith but instead time and focus was diverted to Hunter and Amity was decided to be the ULTIMATE GIRLFRIEND who never makes mistakes except that she cares too much which is something you say during a job interview so you don't claim to have no faults but don't actually seem like trouble. Meanwhile, Stranger Tides admits that Lilith's ambition and inner rage wouldn't go away after losing her magic. At least then she's trying to help the house but you get the idea that unlike Eda, who submitted to her life long ago, she isn't going to sit there and take it.

And then... She sits there and takes it. And Amity, despite only knowing transactional and manipulative love up until now, who overthinks and worries about everything, only doubts herself during Eclipse Lake and then doesn't even decide "Wait, what has Luz upset might be me and her phone might tell me what I've been doing wrong" and open it up. It would be a different angle on the same problem that would be absolutely in line with her character, especially if Willow is going to decide to be OOC in order to let Amity make the decision all by herself when there is NO reason she should make the right one.

But for Lilith to actually strike back at Belos, or at the Isles in general, to prove that even without her magic she deserves respect, going back to those initial motives that led to her cursing her sister but now with supposedly 'noble' goals, would have taken time. To have Lumity have a push and pull in their relationship where they both make mistakes and both learn from it, something Luz explicitly NEVER DOES because she never stops lying, would have taken time. Where do you get that back?

Kill Hunter. Just remove him from the story. He is absolutely redundant as just a second Amity who is filling in the obvious narrative role that Lilith should have had. After all, he is meant to eventually rebel against the EC. Lilith also clearly had that potential in S1 and was primed for it in S2. He is our connection to Belos as someone who was by his side for years. Lilith was the EC COVEN HEAD. He is meant to have a rivalry with Kikimora. Lilith also had a rivalry with Kikimora. He is meant to be disempowered due to a lack of his own magic and must embrace wild magic and the Isles in order to get stronger when he is without the support of the EC. LILITH. LOST. HER. MAGIC. And befriended a demon. And needed to find other ways to deal with problems.

When I say TOH REFUSES to actually start using the elements it has setup and instead introduce new, worse, redundant ones, Hunter is THE example while Lilith breathes. Worse yet, Lilith then takes King's spot as a dedicated comic relief character in a series with already too many comic relief characters, too few jokes, and VERY few good jokes, especially when they're losing one of their only straight men by Lilith's change in attitude.

And what do we gain with Hunter? An allusion to a backstory that doesn't matter? The one straight ship in the show allowed to be alive? A sad emo boy for the Hot Topic crowd? A lot of this stuff doesn't add to the story and while Eda was a compelling way of redeeming Lilith without discrediting the EC, Hunter CONSTANTLY discredits the EC, Kikimora, and pretty much every threat in the show, including Belos to some extent for the sake of his half assed redemption that comes down to the moment he's told Belos lied to him... AND LILITH DID IT ALREADY AND BETTER.

The show reveals all its concepts in S1. Almost everything is shallow recycling and frankly that goes to the edges of characters. Keeping those edges means exploring their redeemed selves. Removing them? Means you can make a joke and then wave them into the cameo cast as you move on to make a new character who is going to do them worse.

And Hunter's greatest sin, above anything else, is being the embodiment of this. I am curious though: Who would have been the replacement for Hunter in S3 if we'd gotten a full one? Food for thought.

Edit: Btw, being a troublesome girlfriend, needing to learn, is a concession to time. If theoretically I only had like two half episodes to explore her edge more and keep it there, stuff with Lumity, and real stuff unlike the B plot in Sport in a Storm, is your main option. Her relationship to her old desires, her parents, the coven system, etc. like that in a way that would have been in keeping with her desire to be the best and what not, the effect her parents had on her and more, would simply take too much time and Lumity was the most important thing to the show when it comes to Amity so making Amity an interesting love interest, one that makes mistakes and could maybe call out Luz during her mistakes, like ALL THE LYING, is the main reasonable way to have kept her edge, just like 3-4 episodes/half episodes dedicated to Lilith's rage at Belos and about her magic beyond just Stranger Tides and KIND OF Affearances. That is also about as many storylines/episodes (though most of Hunter's plots are full episodes or 75%) as Hunter got. I try to keep this stuff in mind with these blogs so as to try to be reasonable to a show's schedule.

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

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

And finally a Twitter you can follow too!

[sorcerous-caress]

You said we don’t talk about Jubilee’s assimar ex enough ai here’s the tea on that. You are right on the money with your assumption that Jubilee doesn’t get believed at all. Fun lore tidbit canary’s are scared birds to Bahmut so I imagine this particular assimar takes after a canary soft round shapes and golden wings and hair making jubilee’s sharp horns and tail looked even more fiendish by contrast. Jubilee is pretty naive and when a pretty angel lady told her she was special for her magic of course she was all over it. It stung a little when people at the church said goodness of her gold dragon magic helped her over come her “evil nature” but Jubilee was pretty desperate to learn anything about her powers and was fairly smitten with the assimar who saw her as useful and as she didn’t have a grasp on human emotions like love didn’t really realize she was leading Jubilee on romantically. The assimar did have some care for her as someone blessed with Bahmut’s/Metallic dragon magic and that made her useful and as close as the assimar could find to someone that understood them. The romantic feelings though completely one sided on Jubilee’s end.

What’s very fun is how this affects her dynamic with Dame Alyin and to a lesser extent Isobel. She frees Alyin obviously she’s aware not all assimar are one and the same and she refuses to stoop to the level of those who were awful to her. It’s very interesting because she clearly cares for and feels a lot of compassion for the both of them but also seems terrified of Alyin. It’s very funny because she like dose a nice gesture for the both of them and then runs off before she can be thanked. Like she packs a little picnic for them both says “you guys have been working hard you deserve a break” then promptly shoves the picnic basket at them and bolts. Eventually the fear slowly gets replaced by jealousy/ wishing that this was how it was for her. Eventually Isobel and Shadowheart corner her to try to figure out what the hell is going on and she reluctantly explains the situation with her ex. One of them ask why she didn’t mention it and Jubilee just says in a really resigned tone “why would anyone believe me.” however with everything on the table she manages to settle into a more normal relationship with the moon gals.

I also keep debating whether or not I should have Jubilee be followed by canaries as they are Bahmut’s sacred bird and she was at one point pretty devout to him. It would also contribute to the facade of cute because haha princess girl with birds following her but surprise the birds are a reminder of religious trauma/a reminder to act properly. But also like I’ve put her through enough as is and I also sort of like the Jubilee as a canary metaphor not only are they Bahmut’s bird and jubilee feels as if she’s Bahmut’s property before the three selenites convince her that she dose have free will and the Selune is way cooler but also canary’s are used to warn miners if poison gas but die in the process and the way Jubilee burns herself trying to help people matches it. Either way the song Canary in a Coal Mine (https://youtu.be/37iREbROyb0?si=DJ33WR5OjgUSm4qd) is the most Jubilee song ever.

When you mentioned the assimar resembling a canary, all I could think about was that line, "but a crow doesn't know the smell of carbon monoxide." How people's favouritism for canaries and hatred for crows could apply for Jubilee and her assimar ex, what is her name btw?

But also in how only canaries can spot it. So the miners don't have any other choice but to trust it. Even when that canary lies or exaggerates, people will always believe an assimar crying wolf because only they can see a soul as it is.

"Why would anyone believe me." Why would anyone believe the crow's cries over the canarie's songs? At least that's how they look like on the surface, the people can't see past the exterior to Jubilee's warnings of dangers that they brushed aside.

There is also Jubilee's morals demanding nothing less than perfection of her. She scolds herself for even considering thinking of Dame Alyin badly because of her ex, yet deep down she still fears her all the same. Because she is a person with flaws and emotions that can't always follow what's morally right.

She survived a cult like church but not without scars in the way she expects every pleasure to be accommodated by eventual pain to repent for it. Or how she does good deeds but can't handle being thanked. Aware of it or not.

Jubilee wanta to join them but she doesn't feel like she deserves it, or maybe she doesn't think they deserve someone like her, a "fiendish tiefling."

That deep down she is secretly afraid that she really is as bad as those churches said she was. So she overcompensates with kindness to make up for an imaginary monster inside her. Avoids Dame Aylin in fear that canary could also spot the carbon monoxide inside her.

[shrinevandal]

thinking about how like, okay obviously she's not actually in touch with her emotions because none of them are, but d-ne is by far the most emotionally intelligent and self-aware member of the occult club. and don't get me wrong, she isn't succeeding on that front in any means, but the other three are just that much worse. she knows what she wants, she knows (to an extent) who she is. she still has identity issues but they come in a fairly confident form of her obsession with b-ko. if we look at it through an overcoming heteronormativity lense my point becomes really clear i think, like she insists over and over she's in love with b-ko, she knows that it's true, and she's confident in that fact. she doesn't try to hide it, in fact patiently tells b-ko over and over and patiently waits for her to understand. d-ne is very aware that she is a lesbian and is proud of it, even if she doesn't assert it in the same way that you might think of someone who is out and proud. she doesn't try to hide it or anything, and she doesn't try to accommodate other people's feelings, not just about her being a lesbian. she explicitly states after confronting c-ta that she doesn't care what others think of her as long as she can be with b-ko, and that only b-ko's opinion matters, above even her own. so while she is rather timid to an extent, and also has plenty of issues, at the same time she is actually rather stable (bet y'all never thought you'd see someone call d-ne stable lmao)

the other members, in comparison, are incredibly emotionally repressed in a way that d-ne isn't. for example when d-ne tells b-ko she loves her, b-ko just like, absolutely does not get it. it doesn't even occur to her that d-ne's feelings could be romantic. b-ko's whole arc feels incredibly closeted, the duality of being "correct" in the eyes of her peers vs being herself. d-ne has the confidence to be herself that b-ko doesn't. she cares too much about how the people around her view her. it's clear she's some sort of closeted sapphic, she talks about d-ne much more than she talks about a-ya, and c-ta points out that b-ko has a soft spot for d-ne, which we also see firsthand in their interactions. coupled with the fact that b-ko's "crush" on a-ya feels much like comphet, b-ko's general issues with identity and being herself vs being how society wants her to be absolutely comes off as being closeted amd unaware

c-ta also is incredibly closeted, he straight up denies his obsession with a-ya despite it being the one thing he ties his identity to. and him being popular and sorta dual-identity thing similar to b-ko but not quite as extreme serves as a good parallel. the main difference between them is that c-ta cares more about flying under the radar that being respected outright; he maintains a balance between being cool and popular without seeming too smart or too intimidating. he doesn't want people to hate him of course, but if he had to choose between someone being neutral on him/not knowing who he is vs being very aware of him, even if it's praise, he'd choose to be hidden. he cares more about protecting a-ya than gaining recognition, and that comes with him also wanting to make sure a-ya doesn't stand out either

and then a-ya is. woooo god damn this might be a hot take but honestly i think he's just as emotionally repressed as b-ko is. kinda like d-ne, he doesn't really care how people think of him, but it's less pointed like how d-ne goes out if her way to antagonize c-ta, and it's more like it just doesn't occur to him that other people perceive him. he kind of exists in his own little world in a way. he chooses isolation and fear above his friends, and insist he doesn't care about them yet clearly very much does, especially when it comes to c-ta. he is constantly acting like he's annoyed by him but internally longs for the time when they were children and despite wanting to be closer he is still closest to c-ta than anyone else. when b-ko and his classmate grab him he gets uncomfortable but c-ta is just as touchy if not more and a-ya seems completely neutral on it, which is kind of like his way of accepting it. mundane everyday gives a lot of insight into how much a-ya truely does care about c-ta.

this post got about 20 times longer than i expected when i first started writing it but yeah, this is not at all a comprehensive analysis on all their characters, because obviously there's way more to shuuen than the questionable LGBT rep (which is so fun actually. i think gay ppl should be allowed to commit murder once for free) and even when it comes to said rep there's more to it than this. d-ne being trans allegory is one i think about a lot but anyway that's a post for another day. thanks for reading if you made it this far

[possessionisamyth]

Given what Lily Gao has said about Ada, do you think Capcom is becoming aware of the criticisms regarding Ada's "dragon lady" persona and is working to correct it?

I'm going to preface this with I am not Chinese nor Chinese-American. I'm black, I taught english in Japan, and knowledge on this kind of racial stereotyping is growing at the same rate as my knowledge on antisemitism, AKA I know some but am still learning. So sorry again for this being long, but my answer will focus on how I look at writing/story analysis.

To be honest, for me when it comes to critically thinking about and analyzing media, I don't really care about what people say in interviews. I don't even look for them. The first exception I make to this is if someone has made enough of something that I can catch the patterns in their story-telling/depiction, and I have a desire to know where that comes from. That desire to know is also extremely rare, because there isn't a piece of written work (sans music) I don't analyze to some extent, and I've gotten great at guessing where ideas sprout from. Too good actually.

I say this not because the information is irrelevant, but because if what they're saying is true it will be executed well in the piece. If what they're saying is true, it will have met the goal whether or not they explicitly tell me what their goal is. I don't look at voice actor interviews, screenwriter interviews, or director interviews, and I haven't since my university classes. The other exception to this are blooper reels and director cuts with commentary. It's a shame many pieces no longer do these because they do highlight the goals of the movie better due to being in the moment with reels or by explaining why things were removed instead of why things were there, which is also more valuable to me.

I'm much less inclined to take Resident Evil voice actor opinions because I do not know how long they'll have that job. On top of that, IF we get Separate Ways DLC, I want how they took her lines in RE4R to make more sense as a result. I have a voice acting friend who loves Ada's new voice, but had problems with the direction they took her lines in. I didn't really hear it. I'm not experienced in that avenue. Me and my friend already have proven to have different opinions since I like when VAs voices crack or sound weak or warbly because it makes the scene feel more real to me. Voices aren't always perfectly practiced sounding without error because it veers too far into the uncanny which is why I stopped listening to ENG dubs of anime.

I love Ada talking to Luis and Leon like they're her subs. I love how bored and uninterested she sounds. It's a million times better than the "don't you want to fuck me" voice because anime has rotted the brains of many, and I'm a stupid gay who think women with deep voices can say anything so there's clearly a bias here! Yet until we see that DLC, which I'm praying we get, I can't tell you if Gao's words are true or not. Japan has a nasty history of being super xenophobic towards chinese people, and their xenophobia has been horribly normalized to this day. (I lived there, and I'm going back, and how nonchalant people were about it made me sick.)

As long as the DLC doesn't half focus on Luis, who Leon/Luis shippers are doing their own "latino papi" racist takes on link included check out the article, we'll have to see. I want to see the Remake Separate Ways DLC put in the work of departing Ada from the dragon lady stereotype. I want to know the writers and directors behind it realized how bad the original RE4 made it via making the remake DLC simply showing Ada as a woman who puts herself and her beliefs first no matter how gray those beliefs are. If it accomplishes that goal narratively, then I can assume whatever Lily Gao said is correct because other people will be talking about it. If it doesn't, then it doesn't regardless of the actor's interpretation of the piece.

Personally (this is related to the racist stereotype topic though veering off topic) If they do RE5 Remake, I will be flooding the tags with either praise or vitrol because jesus fucking christ the african stereotypes in the original? Painful. Physically painful for me. If they don't fix it, you all will know. In the meantime, praying we get that Separate Ways DLC. Really hoping to hear chinese voices who either enjoyed or felt neutral about Gao's acting on the DLC if it drops.

[technically-a-writer-technically]

Uh, I'd like to add. From my perspective as a black adult.

Because, yes, I think they were grooming them, but like all of them, even the adults to a certain extent. How long have all the Spider's even been there? It's all very culty, in the sense that these are grown ass adults hunting a 15-year-old, trying to keep him caged up so they can "save the world." And then calling themselves heroes.

They want him to wait out his father's death, because that's what's supposed to happen, while simultaneously believing that he is undeserving of their support as Spiderman, and their community, because he is not supposed to be Spiderman, and he is an anomaly, a mistake that they can't rectify.

Not only do they take Gwen, who's a child that just had her Dad, someone she clearly loves, effectively treat her like a criminal and then some.

It was one thing when he didn't know that his daughter was under the mask, but it was another when he did, and he pointed a gun at her anyway. To what end? She didn't kill Peter, and he looked her in her eyes, and maybe he believed her, who cares. She came to him as a daughter, and he responded by telling her to put her hands up.

So, from the start they've taken an emotionally vulnerable 15-16, with no support system, and then they provide one. Of course, it includes some of her old friends, and she makes new ones.

However, these are pure friend, good ones, that aren't mistakes, people who were meant to wear the mask, instead of ones that aren't: Miles.

Miles is also fifteen, and he's about to be whammied by a canon event, and no one's allowed to reach out. He's not allowed to be a part of the multi-dimensional web of spider people, because Miguel insists, and others fall in line.

She's punished when she goes to see him, despite the fact that she's a fifteen or sixteen-year-old kid who cares about her friend, one of the only people who get it.

Despite the fact that Miles is smart enough to immediately understand what Spot was doing with the reactors, despite the fact that if he'd been a part of the club, he probably could have captured Spot, since he did it twice.

Of course, I think I understand why he wasn't and why Gwen wasn't being welcomed with open arms either. I'm sure the hesitancy is that they make sure people experience their canon events first, and then they can come, and Gwen hadn't, but she'd lost her dad in that moment, and they are still heroes. No way, the vast majority of Spidey's just let everyone die. So, they're recruiting traumatized, vulnerable, and lonely individuals and they give them a family. Knock cups with anguished, share food, commune with, until they don't question them anymore.

Yet, they send Gwen because they think they've trained her well enough that she won't sneak away to see her friend, that they've beaten the bigger picture into her mind; her loved ones are the friends who agree with them, a father who's marked for death, and someone she can never see again. She's saved the world with Miles, he's someone who gets it. And despite the fact that, if they'd let Miles in on their little club, they wouldn't be here right now. It's still her fault that Spot is dimension hopping to become some great big bad.

Why even work alone, if enough of you dorks are just around. Some of these people are full time Spiderpeople, and they still send Gwen alone because ultimately, they were testing her. What else could it have been. They weren't waiting for her to fuck up, I think they were waiting for her to succeed. To ignore even the idea of Miles.

She must figure out how to stop, Spot. By herself, and Jess can't help her, and if Miguel finds out, she'll be tossed out of the group. Discarded by the people who get it. The ones with the shared trauma and bonded by their canon events and not a mask or a moral compass. She's willingly accepted that her father was just going to have to die for the greater good of the universe because they made a home for her, and that was under threat if she fucked up, if she stepped out of line.

They don't make mistakes, they're the clean-up crew. The consequences of their decisions aren't now the multiverse is fucked up because a bad guy stole a spider and figure out how to kind of cross dimensions. It's 'Miles fucked up the multiverse' because he got bit by a spider from Earth-42, and Miles fucked up because Peter died, and they didn't do a bang-up job of preventing the Hydron Collider from being misused by King Pin. Something, Peter could have stopped, because someone how he would have figured out how to stop it all from happening, quicker and better, than the multiple spider-people it took to manage it alongside Miles.

The hydron collider isn't Peter B. Parker's mess, or Gwen's mess, or Spider Noir. Although they were there, they aren't being held to this regard, they aren't thought of as fuck ups.

More importantly, Miguel says catch Miles, and only Hobi really wonders why. I mean, yes, in their safe Spiderpeople Sanctuary. Miles is an anomaly, but he still has canon events that he must adhere to. He's still beholden to us even though we don't want him here. Even though, he's only even in on the canon event spiel that Miguel gives to every inductee because Spot poured all his plans into his head.

Even though he is not one of them, he is forced to conform to their standards. I'm not sure if the animators showed Blood. But Miguel beats on a 15-year-old boy with claws that tore through metal, and he calls him: mistake. He's got a 15-year-old boy's skin and blood under his fingernails, and he'll still call himself a hero. He's saving the world after all, because that's what this looks like for them.

All the inter-dimensional spider people have just given into the idea that their grief and loved one's death, is what defines them, what makes them, and so they are all bound together by agony.

This isn't just saving the world. This is I got mine, so you'll get yours. And when people question you, they're out, and you'll send them to the wolves or homes you're not sure still love them. Because they're either with you or they're out.

Miguel demands their individual stories in return for a collective identity. When they won't adhere, they're the problem.

Miguel fucked up tremendously, and that became Miles Morales fault instead of his own. He tried to live another life. And it's Miles Morales' fault the spider was plucked out of Earth-42 by scientist on the payroll of a grieving villain. And everything after, that's Miles Morales fault too.

Earth-42 is also Miles Morales fault because there's no Spiderman to protect it.

My point is, this was god-tier (pun kind of intended) grooming. And right now, they think they're right. This is what they think and who they are. And they are doing this because they are good people. They think they are admirable. The ultimate, dare I say divine, authority. Which means they comfortably hurt and maim, and catch kids in the crossfire, of their beliefs.

Tossing kids to the wolves feels like justice to them.

Because what were they going to do. Have Miles wait in a cage while they let his Dad die? Were they going to let Spot devour his universe? What was the endgame for them, and the more you think about it. The bleaker it gets for me.

Because yeah, they were probably just going to hold him hostage and then let him go. The think grief makes great Spiderman, not their choices, not their personal metal, their experiences are what defines them, and Miles, although he wasn't supposed to would have been fine because it's a canon event, and they thought they had too. That they had the right too.

One of the darkest aspects of atsv is how Gwen was groomed. When Jess and Miguel took her in, I got "vibes," so to speak. The trailers obviously didn't help, but those painted Miguel in a bad light, unlike Jess.

Gwen, a 15-16 year old, goes with these two in the heat of a tense moment. I don't think anyone had ill intentions, but that doesn't negate the results.

I was shocked when we learned that Gwen hadn't gone home in months. Jess and Miguel become her whole world and take on the roles of her parental figures. In this time, she has become emotionally dependent on them and their approval. Gwen is scared to disappoint them. She's threatened with being returned to her dimension with no support, a place where last anyone saw, her father was trying to arrest her for murder.

Jess uses Gwen's admiration and dependence to manipulate her. She knows Gwen fears letting her down. She goes from being smiley and supportive to blunt and cold.

Gwen is scared. Whether they intended to or not, Miguel and Jess essentially groomed and emotionally abused her. The second she justifiably makes a mistake or just acts like a normal teen who lacks interpersonal relationships, they send her home.

At any point did they try to help Gwen reconcile with her dad? What did they tell her so she'd be fine with her father dying?

I know the dictionary definition is more of a nsfw nature, but I do believe it can occur in just a manipulative manner. They took in a vulnerable child, manipulated her, and threw her out.

Her whole arc reads like a kid disowned for coming out.

Note: I'm a black woman. It's not my job to make you guys feel comfortable with a clearly uncomfortable topic. Complain to the studio who wrote the film. I no longer argue with people who assume the worst of my posts or misinterpret what I painstakingly try to clarify. I don't care. It's my post, and I shall delete and block whoever I want. I'm not the government.

Like it or not, Jess and Miguel, grown adults, take a child with them. They are responsible for her. That is how that works. POC aren't free from criticism. POC can be evil to white women. This is a fictional movie, bitch to the studio who made them the obvious bad guys.

Thank you 😊