#I apologize in advance for cipher :') he has a lot to say but just a mess DFfd 😭

[zpiderwebs]

A/N: it's literally 4am..HUZAHHH I wanted to write this soo badd mmnngghhfff..also, this is the first actual time I write in..a very long time that has to do with my own idea...sorry if it's not good </3

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𖦹[△"Who are you..?"△]𖦹

[In control! Bill Cipher (Ford) x GN! reader]

Summary: [Basically Bill in Ford's body. That's all. Reader witnesses it all and Bill is very...icky about his Sixer.]

Warnings?: Just kinda angsty and lots of swearing coming from reader and Bill just being a complete dick and doesn't care about hurting reader's feelings...guh..apologies in advance!

(;´∀｀). Enjoy!!

------------------------------------

Four goddamn months.

It's been four dreadfully long months since you've last had a decent conversation with him. He hardly pays attention, hardly even needs you down in the basement, and now his fucking home is full of..triangles. You thought it was another one of his little silly quirks..but no. "Meditating" sessions have turned into hours. Hours of him being locked down in the basement, refusing you to even take a peek down at the portal. What the hell were you even needed for anymore? Did he just need your damn help on the calculations and mathematic brain and that's all???

God, it all bothered you so much.

You felt like you were wasting so much time just sitting on your ass all day, not even having any type of interaction besides with yourself when your half asleep and mumbling whatever crosses your mind.

Ford. Ford was a great and smart man when you became friends through Fiddleford back at Backupsmore. But now, after he dragged you all the way to a small town called Gravity Falls that was nowhere near where you last lived...you've never felt so isolated and alone. The one man you once considered to be a great friend and a smart guy..turned out to be just a mess.

He barely eats anymore. Barely sleeps or even takes care of himself. Only ever coming up for more bitter coffee and heading back to the basement without a word to say, brushing pass you. He worries the hell out of you...and your not sure how long you could keep going at this, allowing him to destroy himself mentally and physically.

Well, you have hit your limit.

It was a late night. You had woken up to a loud sound coming from the basement. You didn't realize you had fallen asleep reading a book on the couch. You quickly sat up and walked towards the basement door. Reaching for the doorknob, it didn't stop when you slightly turned it.

It was unlocked.

Sucking in air through clenched teeth, you gripped the doorknob even tighter. You knew you shouldn't, but you needed to make sure your only friend at the moment was okay. Slowly, turning the cold knob, you pulled the door towards you. Once it was open, you heard Ford talking to himself and..laughing? That was..new.

You began to descend the stairs, slowly making your way down. Barely a few steps down, you heard another crash that was followed by another laugh.

"What the fuck..?" You quietly mumbled to yourself. Once you reached the ground, you quickly scanned the area and saw Ford hunched over his desk, writing something into his journal. You walked over, making sure not to startle him with your new presence.

"Ford? You..alright?" You called out. Suddenly Ford's body jumped as he dropped the pen he was writing with. He quickly flung his head to look at you with...weird eyes.

His eyes looked odd. Was the lack of sleep finally catching up to him? Then, a wide smile appeared on his face as his eyes stayed glued to yours. Creepy. That stare sent shivers down your spine as you swallowed hard and bit the inside of your cheek.

"Hey, toots. Didn't think you'd come down here." Ford chuckled, awkwardly standing up as he quickly made his way over. You took a step back.

'Toots'? Since when the hell did he start using nicknames like that?

"Uh, well, you were making a lot of noise and...I just wanted to check up on you. First..time you fucking speak to me in..months practically. What's up with that?" You rubbed the back of your neck, awkwardly looking away. Fuck, you sounded desperate...and you were.

Ford took some time to answer, like if he wasn't actually expecting you to keep a conversation going, hoping you'd just day 'Oh, okay' and scram.

"Oh well..I dunno. Too busy." Ford shrugged. Oh, that answer pissed you off.

"Busy? With what? Seriously, Ford. What possibly could you be doing down here, just hunching over your damn desk and writing in your journal. The least you could do is eat something. All you live off of is coffee? Don't you understand how bad that is?" You huffed. You haven't felt this..angry in years. The last person you wanted to upset you was Ford.

"Why does that concern you so much? Your so concerned over him that you can't even think straight, toots." Ford chuckled, his...weary yellow eyes looking into yours as he took a step closer.

You huffed. His way of speaking sounded off. "It concerns me because you can get yourself killed this way, Ford. How am I supposed to know if you do drop dead when your always locked down here? I wouldn't even know if you hardly speak to me anymore in the first place!"

Ford groaned and rolled his eyes. "God, you humans and your dumb relationships and emotions. Boring! Your all so clingy, depending on attention and empathy from others. It's pathetic."

You raised a brow. Ouch? What the hell was he talking about now? "Ford, seriously, just talk normal. And..I wanted to ask you, what's up with all this stupid triangle worship stuff and..all this 'meditation'? Your really worrying me."

Ford only sighed before pinching his nose and looking at you dead in the eyes. "Alright listen, toots. And listen good because I'm not repeating myself. I'm not Ford. I'm Bill. I'm his biggest and only muse. He doesn't need you or anybody anymore. He has me and that's all he needs. You were nothing but a pure tool for him to use until he didn't need it anymore, and that'd be..now! So, you've been doing nothing this whole time while me and little ol Sixer have been having a blast." Ford..or..now Bill that was in Ford's body, chuckled.

You were..dumbfounded. What..? "H-huh? Okay, Ford, is this some sick joke?"

Bill chuckled and made his way closer to you, causing you to back up..only for your back to hit the wall.

"Oh, no I'm not joking, toots. I'm in control of Sixer right now. And right now, I'm telling you to leave. He doesn't need you anymore. He doesn't need anyone. Your just a waste of space and a mere tool he used and doesn't need anymore. Back into the tool box!" Bill laughed.

As he continued to laugh at his own words, your mind was trying to comprehend what the fuck was going on. "Who are you...? What are you...?" You murmured out. Bill only chuckled against.

"I'm Bill Cipher. I'm this man's muse."

"What do you want with Ford? Were...you the reason we started building that dumb fucking portal!?" You snapped but suddenly a six fingered hand was slapped onto your mouth.

"Now, let's not disrespect my work or insult it with that dirty mouth, toots. Watch your words. It's simple, really. Ford is what I've been looking for, and I'm what he's been needing. He doesn't need a pestering worthless being like you around him. Your always nagging, begging for attention like some lost puppy. It's pathetic, really. Don't you have anything else to do in your sad life?" Bill's smirk widened, letting out a laugh.

"Of course you don't. You've been thrown under the bus and now your trying to crawl your way out, but that's not possible. He doesn't want or need you anymore, face it. He used you for what he needed. For that smart little brain of yours and that's all. He didn't actually care for your friendship, he was just playing along."

You felt a lump build up in your throat. That's not true..or is it..? Well..he is in Ford's mind. Is that what Ford really thought of you and only needed you for..? You pulled away from the hand before speaking up.

"That's not true-!"

Suddenly-- the hand slapped against against your mouth, shutting you up. "Yes it is! Just accept it already! Your worthless. All you'll ever be good for is to be used and thrown aside. Ford never gave a single shit about you. Your nothing." Bill frowned, speaking through gritted teeth as he glared.

"Now...you can leave his sight, leave him alone. He doesn't need you anymore."

Bill then let you go. You didn't say a word as he walked back towards the desk and sat back down. You wanted to bash something into his head..but that'd mean hurting Ford's body in the process too. His words had already stabbed way too deep into you.

Fuck, you felt like crying...it hurt. It all hurt. Was that really what Ford thought about you? All he ever needed you for? You felt your eyes sting.

You simply wobbled upstairs without another word. You laid awake, starring at the ceiling until you felt hot tears stream down the sides of your face. Everything hurt.

The next morning, you left without word. You thought about leaving a small note or even a letter..but if Ford never said those things and Bill was just lying, he knew where to find you and tell you the truth or write...

But it hurt that 30 years later,

he never wrote to you.

-----

[ruinlost]

Cipher shifted quietly where he stood looking down at his hands rather than making eye contact with the balladeer , this certainly wasn't a conversation he expected to happen today outside of the routine he usually was given truth be told he didn't even know how to respond (considering they were not on the best of terms now) ["I wish it were that simple ,but I doubt I could just walk out that easily"] (would they even really let him?)

Or at least without it becoming a major issue for him and possibly for some others and who knows what would even come after the fact .

His eyes close with a sigh ["I.. do not really have anywhere else to go anymore, and I am told I am of some type of use here"] that was only partly true however, there is a big part of him too ashamed to say the full extent of why he's sill here ,["otherwise I do not think would have been here or that is what I think"]- if at all he'd possibly still be offline wherever that was ,he cant fully recall .

❝  the  cage  is  open;  you  can  walk  out  anytime  you  want.  ❞  in  a  manner  of  speaking;  kunikuzushi  knows  leaving  the  fatui  is  hardly  so  SIMPLE  —  particularly  when  one  happens  to  be  such  a  valuable  resource.  were  cipher  to  try,  he  thinks  he  would  at  least  have  the  courtesy  of  giving  him  a  head  start.  not  out  of  a  sense  of  CLEMENCY,  but  rather  because  his  presence  alone  is  enough  to  act  as  a  thorn  in  the  balladeer's  side.  ❝  ...  why  are  you  STILL  here?  ❞

@ruinlost &&. liked for a SMALL STARTER.

[vespertine-legacy]

As I said, I have A Problem, and I made a Watcher Two|Keeper|Shara Jenn playlist. Information about the playlist in general and the tracks below the cut.

Apologies if you’re looking at this on mobile; I found out with my description of my Lana playlist that the formatting gets fucked on mobile, so hopefully it’s at least navigable.

This playlist was compiled with Watcher Two|Keeper|Shara Jenn/Female Imperial Agent|Cipher Nine (OC: Vero’razimiri’vosis aka “Raz”) heavily in mind. Frankly, it was a travesty and a crime that my Raz could not romance her. Also, yes, I will forever and always call her Watcher Two probably, because that’s just how she kind of got stuck in my mind, and because I have adorable tags for her (like “#watcher two where are you” for all the damn times that it would be like “Go to Intelligence HQ and see Watcher Two,” you get there and someone tells you “sorry, she’s busy, you can’t see her,” and “#watcher two i love you” which should be obvious. I may or may not sing those tags to the Scooby Doo theme song; you are not allowed to judge me for that here in my own house).

Without further ado, the tracks:

I Will Follow You Into the Dark - Death Cab for Cutie

If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks Then I'll follow you into the dark

[Are you kidding me, Watcher Two would follow Raz anywhere (figuratively, at least - she can’t really leave her station much, but she is only a holocall away and following Raz as best she can through the metaphorical and literal dark on every camera and satellite she can slice)]

Hardliners - Holcombe Waller

Now don't laugh 'cause I just might be The soft curve in your hardline There's no doubt that you are mine, babe There's no doubt that you are mine

[“I don’t get close to my agents, they tend to die on me.” Yeah, okay, Watcher Two, you tell yourself that. We all believe you.]

Nobody Does it Better - Carly Simon

I wasn't lookin' but somehow you found me It tried to hide from your love light But like heaven above me The spy who loved me Is keepin' all my secrets safe tonight

[Watcher Two opens herself up to friendship with Raz while the Cipher Agent takes down the terror cell on Balmorra, and doesn’t even realize she’s open to it being more than that until it is too late (but she’s not going to tell Cipher Nine that]

Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps - Cake

So if you really love me, say yes But if you don't, dear, confess And please don't tell me Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps

[Yeah, this one is Raz to Watcher Two. Maybe after fighting Jadus. She gets it - it’s dangerous for someone in their positions to have too many attachments that can be used against them, but still, just say it.]

Love me Like You Do - Kurt Hugo Schneider, Madilyn Bailey, MAX (cover)

What are you waiting for? Fading in, fading out On the edge of paradise Every inch of your skin is a holy grail I've gotta find Only you can set my heart on fire

[Fantasizing (・ω<)]

I Summon You - Spoon

All that you can give is a cold goodbye The law enforcement's impressed you've survived to this age Strapped-up soldiers They'll lock you in a cage without a goodbye

[Why Watcher Two can’t just say it. Not only is she too Imperial/British, she’s worried about the consequences for her Cipher.]

Chameleon Boy - Blue October

Stand by for another break down. Sound off the alarm. Is this the chameleon boy I swore I wouldn't become? So now we've come upon the hardest thing I've ever done. It's telling you that I'm a mess. What sort of mess I mean is self destructive gasoline... The kind that strips you of your best. While I play instead... The way that most would end up dead. You sleep alone at home and wish that I were in our bed. With this I'm telling you my color changes back to blue... How do I ask you this? Will you help me through?

[Another from Raz to Watcher Two. Being a double agent is hard on Raz, and they both know it. The “my color changes back to blue” line is possibly supposed to be a bad thing, but in this context, it’s good. Raz is becoming herself again (come on, she’s Chiss, she’s literally blue), it’s Raz finally being able to fully shed the “defector” cover. “It feels good to be Imperial again” - “You were always one of us.”]

Winter - Joshua Radin

Your voice is all I hear somehow Calling out winter Your name is the splinter inside me While I wait [Just in general because names are so important and change so often in this storyline.]

Heartbeats - Jose Gonzalez

One night to be confused One night to speed up truth We had a promise made Four hands and then away

[Has there ever been a time when Raz had a full night to recover from a mission, and actually got to see Watcher Two, for them to have spent a night together?]

One More Night - Stars

When she's breaking his heart she still fucks like a tease Release to the sky, look him straight in the eye

[Look, I’m gonna be real with you. Raz got a fade-to-black with Vector, and I feel like there’s no way that Watcher Two didn’t know about it. Raz doesn’t actually have feelings for Vector, but he made advances at a time when she was just having a lot of feelings in general that she wasn’t letting herself deal with, so they banged. She fixed things later, but it wasn’t a good thing for Vector or for Watcher Two (or for Raz, honestly).]

Polaris - Jimmy Eat World

You say that love goes anywhere In your darkest time, it's just enough to know it's there When you go, I'll let you be But you're killing everything in me

[Watcher Two has feelings after sending Raz off to become a double agent.]

Think I’m In Love - Beck

I think I'm in love But it makes me kinda nervous to say so What if it's wrong?

[Well, duh.]

How’s It Going to Be - Third Eye Blind

I wonder is there anything I'm going to miss I wonder how it's going to be When you don't know me How's it going to be When you're sure I'm not there

[Hi, I hurt myself again and imagined that she was still fully aware but just locked-in while the damn holoconference was overloading her brain. You’re welcome.]

Nicole - Hotel Books

I think I'm losing you, but I will never regret choosing you Because I am in love, and for now that will be enough And the ones around me convince me that I was the only person who was dumb enough to believe that you and I had hope But now I know even after you began to let your emotions slow the only reason I stood alone was because I was the only one who knew our love was never going to let go

[Raz, while Watcher Two|Keeper is comatose.]

Somewhere Out There - Our Lady Peace

I'm waiting for this sky to fall I'm waiting for a sign

[This one is Raz. The Wellspring on Voss did some things she didn’t expect. It’s more hopeful than it might sound.]

Desperately Wanting - Better Than Ezra

Take back your life and let me inside We'll find the door if you care to anymore

[Corellia. The distortion on the voice isn’t enough. Raz’s heart knows that voice.]

Your Guardian Angel - The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

I will never let you fall I'll stand up with you forever I'll be there for you through it all Even if saving you sends me to heaven

[Corellia. They both know the plan is terrible, but it’s all they have, and Raz will do anything for her.]

Demons - Kurt Hugo Schneider, Sam Tsui, MAX (cover)

Your eyes, they shine so bright I want to save their light I can't escape this now Unless you show me how

[Getting ready to take down the Star Cabal, babey. The Minister can get fuckt, but Watcher Two and Raz have got each other.]

Tell Her This - Del Amitri

Tell her what was wrong I sometimes think too much But say nothing at all

[If this isn’t our Watcher Two, I don’t know what is.]

Hey Ya! - The Blanks (cover)  no I will not apologize for including this song don’t even @ me

My baby don't mess around 'Cause she loves me so This I know fo sho!

[Raz is a goddamn dork, can you imagine her damn face when Watcher Two finally actually says the words “I love you” out loud?]

Songs I was going to include but they aren’t on spotify:

Snakes & Ladders - Basia Bulat

When only you could be the one To win out over me, When it isn't just a game; i's the way we come undone

In My Lady’s House - Iron & Wine

There is light in my lady's house And there's none but some falling rain This like a spoken word She is more than her thousand names

[waitmyturtles]

@twig-tea, you summed it up beautifully for me: the TELLING, and not the SHOWING, of the “love” between TopMew, which many of us are questioning as unbelievable by way of chemistry.

Earlier last week, after the GMMTV2024 upfronts, a bunch of us were talking about GMM’s adaptation of Kieta Hatsukoi/My Love Mix-Up, and what the difference in communication will be between the two countries and how they’ll handle Ida’s inquisitive demi identity and Aoki’s zaniness vis à vis Gem and Fourth. @shannankle (you will be cited by me a LOT for saying this, apologies in advance!) brought up how Japan has a unique way, culturally and artistically, to differentiate between implicit and explicit communication. KH, as with innumerable other doramas, specializes in implicit communication that viewers who are either Japanese, or familiar with Japanese dorama art, can understand by way of silently reading the lines of non-verbal communication between characters.

@fromthedepthsandbeyond brought up in a reblog other GMMTV pairs who could have been considered for these roles (sorry, Depths, you were talking specifically about SandRay, but I’m extrapolating to discuss TopMew here), and I’m thinking about what I’ve learned about acting through @airenyah and her incredible posts about how successful actors LEAD, not just with verbal communication, but with clear and implicit communication of looks, body language, pacing, timing, etc. To Twig’s point — the telling, not the showing — we haven’t been SHOWN the love (or, I’d argue, even the attraction) between Top and Mew. What Mew originally got, way back when, was an explanation from Cheum that Top was top-tier. I don’t think I still exactly know why Mew cares about getting a top-tier guy.

And I like that we’re puzzling on whether or not it’s a writing thing or acting/chemistry thing (I see you, @he-is-lightning-in-a-bottle, in the reblogs).

Because (and I know this is making the FB girls hurt — please remember that I TW’ed my original post) I honestly think what’s happening with TopMew is a both and. I don’t think the script has explained why I should care about these characters who are caught in a vicious cycle that Top himself identified, and whether or not the actors themselves have carried through, with implicit communication, the reasons THEY THINK, through their ACTING, why Top and Mew keep coming back together. Force and Book need to be convinced about this, too.

And that’s why I bring up TopMew and ForceBook together — because ForceBook are our ciphers for understanding and communicating why TopMew are compelling for us to care about and watch. And I’d question if they’ve done that from an implicit and leading perspective.

THE MORNING AFTER: ONLY FRIENDS, EPISODE 11 -- 1 OUTTA 3 AIN'T BAD

Preamble! I had a HELL of a day yesterday, woof. So if this comes out garbled, y'all will know why. I'll try to keep this short, but... I'm likely lying to myself, let's see.

TW: FORCEBOOK -- I'm going to say a few words about ForceBook below, so if words about ForceBook are not your thing, please move along!

I'm gonna start this post with thoughts on the three main pairs, and then get some last little thoughts out at the end.

a) I have a feeling that I don't need to write THAT much, because the lovelies @lurkingshan (here), @neuroticbookworm (here), and @chicademartinica (here) all covered the top points of this episode nicely: this episode was a BostonNick WIN. On Nick, dear Chica nailed it so hard that I will have to link AND screenshot her m'fucker:

And Boston, BOSTON, MY MAN! MY MAN! MY MAN!

(Nick says the first line below, with Boston saying the second:)

Fuckin' a. There are two reasons why I STANNED BostonNick in this episode.

1) First of all, as you see above, Nick still had to be a tiny bit of a shit. Nick was in Atom's shoes once. Nick remembers the feeling of having feelings for someone who didn't have feelings back for him. So Nick took a little passive aggressive dig at Boston by calling Boston's sex and predilections "terrible."

And Boston shot back at Atom -- and maybe indirectly at Nick -- with his perspective on sex: "[h]ow can you love me after sleeping together just once?"

I've written before (and forgive the foggy mom brain, but I believe @emotionallychargedtowel has also written on this), that the hormonal experience of sex can impact people in incredibly different ways. Some people, like Boston, feel no connection with the person he's slept with after sex; other people, like Nick and Atom, catch feelings. All of it is normal.

What happened in the dialogues that we were privy to earlier in the series vis à vis Nick and Atom was that WE, the audience, heard THEIR perspectives, and the narratives allowed US to contemplate sympathizing for them -- by playing off of a general assumption that an audience would JUDGE people like Boston for having casual sex. Boston's positions on sex (heh) pissed off people like Nick and Atom! So Boston got fuckin' wiretapped and smeared by these dudes.

However: BOSTON REMAINED CONSISTENT, CONSTANT, AND ACCOUNTABLE to his position, AT ALL TIMES, that he wasn't someone who caught feelings after casual sex. I am sure for many sectors of the Only Friends audience, that this may not have been easy to parse, especially considering the very early and popular judgements levied against Boston. (For the record, I never took Boston as a predator, and I established my thoughts early in the series run on this as rhetoric about Boston's "badness" around sex was flying around. I'm a Khai girlie. Boys, girls, and non-binary friends can be playas, too, and deserve to enjoy their sex lives without judgement.)

What I UTTERLY admire about the pace of this series vis à vis BostonNick is that it took its TIME in establishing Boston's AGENCY to be able to LEVY his position on sex SO STRONGLY and CLEARLY, with Nick's support. While much of the series allowed the popular and condemning rhetoric to swirl around Boston, this scene put a fuckin' NAIL in that coffin. I believe this scene said: you can't only listen to one side, the crying, sobbing side of a person who wants another person after a one-night stand. You HAVE to listen to both sides. The hormonal aspect of wanting to be close to your sex partner is valid, but also -- if the other side is talking, you MUST listen to what the other side is SAYING.

Boston was always clear about his position -- and Nick and Atom HAD to take responsibility for their unreasonable demands from Boston after their one-night stands with him; unreasonable, because Boston CLEARLY stated to the both of them that he wasn't a relationship guy, and would not be forced into it. And both of them ignored those statements, and all hell broke loose, TWICE.

2) HOWEVER! Boston realized, after spending more time with Nick than with any other sex partner, and after he lost his friends, that he HAD caught feelings for his fave, his Nick! Remember last week, when I got all mewdy that MONOGAMY might be the dramatic device that the show would use to "redeem" Boston? BLECH.

DAMN, did this episode SPIN THAT AROUND for me. GOD, I LOOOOOOOOOOVED THAT CONVO WITH NICK AND BOSTON ABOUT FIGURING OUT THEIR STATUS!!!!!

Paraphrasing! "I want to spend the next few months loving on you," or whatever Boston says?! FUCK, YES! Nick, all OVER this, setting boundaries, allowing himself TIME and SPACE to figure out what's best for him, with both Dan and Boston! SHIT, MARK PAKIN SHOWED UP! Omg, BostonNick for the win.

My head's spinning, because that was seriously one of the BEST conversations I've seen written in a drama about the consideration of a relationship and a status check. That impressed me as much as Pharm asking Dean for a break in UWMA -- and then Pharm straight up LIVING HIS LIFE, BBQ pork grills and all, without Dean for a few months.

And. Boston was cool with Nick's boundaries and thoughtfulness. Boston knows what he wants, but he's not gonna push Nick into anything. Boston knows time is ticking, but will wait for Nick's answer.

It was so cool to see. My heart was full.

So that pairing, the NeoMark/BostonNick pairing -- SOLID.

b) Moving on! Thanks to @lurkingshan, I got clarity on what the fuq was happening with Sand and Boeing. At first, I thought Boeing was a little SHIT for showing up to Sand and stirring unnecessary drama in his ex's life after getting rejected by Mew. (Mond, though. 🤤)

But, as Shan pointed out to me in my insane day yesterday: Sand has a problem saying no to dudes. (Homey, RELATE.) So like, then they all go back to Ray's place, and Ray KNOWS that Sand has trouble setting boundaries and saying no, because that's what Sand's mom said to Ray, but also, that's the way Sand's been engaging with Ray himself, and Ray will DEF know what will be up if Sand gets closer to Boeing again, and Ray's like, uh, come into my pool so we can nip this in the bud?, but no, we know what Jojo's thinking, so.

I mean, have sex already, you three, chop chop. I see the FirstKhao gworls on my dash not happy about not having a complete episode of SandRay peace, which I get, but also, this continues to reiterate my bleh on Sand, which like -- get a backbone, Sand. You have a literal boyfriend now, and you're still not saying no to dudes? What if Mild strolled in for a foursome? (NO, DON'T TURN THAT DOWN, SAND, DON'T.) But I'm just saying -- maybe listen to a person in your life, like your mom, to set some boundaries, like your roommate. I'm throwing my hands up in the air on this one, but at least we may get our threesome, and, Mond.

c) Okay, last pair! TopMew. For a hot second, I was impressed with Top.

I liked this, ::waves index finger in a circle::, this worked.

But I have decided. I'm done with ForceBook. I just -- please remember the TW, FB girls. I'll get back to TopMew in a second as characters, but this was my first ForceBook show, and it might be my last. Watching them is as exciting to me as breaking down Amazon boxes.

We have seen Mew waffle this whole dang series. (WELCOME BACK, THE ONLY FRIENDS VENGEFUL WAFFLE! HEART YOU, @starryalpacasstuff!)

And there was more Mew waffling, more talking to moms, and Top is just like, I'm gonna peace out, DEUCES, and then, OF COURSE, HE COMES BACK INTO THE KITCHEN, LIKE HE NEVER LEFT THE HOUSE AFTER SAYING HE WOULD (I cackled), and then they're together in bed. And now they'll move in together.

This was a BIT of a storyline ride. But -- and I HAVE TO ADMIT, part of this is my tiredness talking -- I'm just kinda bored of ForceBook at this point. Do I actually get the sense that Top is *excited* about Mew moving in? Do I get the sense that Top and Mew *love* each other? I.... don't! Is it the chemistry between ForceBook? I.... I think so? I think so!

And, so... Mew will try to convince Ray to accept Top in the next episode? I dunno. (Episode 12 previews, we've learned to distrust them.) As much as I want to try to sit here to analyze TopMew at this point, I kinda just wanna throw my hands up in the air and be like, I'll leave these characters to fiction. And I think it's because I was unfortunately spoiled by the FANTASTIC chemistry emanating out of Neo, Papang, Mark, First, and Mond in this episode (MARK! MONNND. PAPANGGGG.).

I have to admit it, and I'm sorry to admit it. ForceBook do nothing for me, acting-wise and chemistry-wise, and I am done struggling with analyzing TopMew. I'll let 'em be.

d) Last thoughts! Bye, Cheum. We haven't had enough of Nonnie in this series, and I wanna see Nonnie as April dump Cheum's ass and break shit in episode 12, the way Nonnie's real-life brother goes and breaks shit on social media. Way to hold no one, including yourself, truthfully accountable, Cheum.

(What in the. I would love a Soonvijarn episode on Jojo's thoughts on Cheum one day.)

Anyway, bye, B.

THAT'S ALMOST IT! Ephemerality? I hope Boston makes a whole bunch of righteous new homies in NYC. This whole series has made me sick and tired of proximate friends, lol. We'd better see Mond suck face with Khao and First. Andddd, bleep, bloop, that's all I got!

HOME BASE NEXT WEEK, FAM!

[EPHEMERALITY SQUAD, second-to-last weekend meta for ya! @slayerkitty (SK... I am so tired, lol), @ranchthoughts, @chickenstrangers, @twig-tea, @neuroticbookworm, @lurkingshan, @distant-screaming, @clara-maybe-ontheroad, @thatgirl4815]