#I just want cozy friendships and canon queer relationships

[infiniteaugends]

Does anyone else find most romantic subplots in movies formulaic, pointless, and annoying. I hate that it’s so hard to find movies and Tv shows with well written romances. What I hate more is that almost every movie and show has a romantic subplot even though it would be unchanged if the romance was removed.

I can understand it more with Tv shows as romantic relationships serve to eat up time and make for easy drama, but I still find myself being annoyed by the many badly written and pointless romances in Tv shows.

For movies I don’t understand it at all. So many movies would be unchanged or even better without romance. Sometimes it makes sense that romance is involved and that’s fine I’m not against it. However, when a romance doesn’t add anything or takes away from the movie’s plot I just don’t understand why it was included.

I think one of the most egregious examples in film was the Boys in the Boat adaptation. The focus on romance messed up the pacing and took substantial time away from developing the rowing team as characters with back stories and motivation. The only real development in that movie was the main character and his romance. I really enjoyed the book because it explored who the team were as people and that made me all the more invested in their victories and struggles. The romantic subplot of Boys in the Boat literally ruined the movie for me.

The most egregious example for Tv shows is Rizzoli and Isles. None of the relationships last longer than a few episodes. The constant introduction of a new love interest is tedious and often interrupts the story of the week. It feels pointless to even like any of the love interest because you know their not gonna make it to the next season. I found my self becoming annoyed every time either Rizzoli or Isles met a new handsome guy they were gonna go on maybe three dates with. The relationship between Frankie and Nina was alright because it was well developed and felt like a decent resolution to Frankie’s worry about becoming his father.

Overall, I prefer most stories to focus on plot and character development and friendship over romantic interest and sex. I find my self shipping very few romantic couples and most of the time they are not the canon romantic relationship. I wish that there were more stories with well written male/ female friendships and more canon queer relationships. Ultimately though I wish there was less media and social expectation of romance as the only happy ending. Romantic relationships are not the only way to find fulfillment and media should mirror that.

For these reasons, I hope that Top Gun 3 follows in the footsteps of Top Gun Maverick with limited focus on romantic relationships. I hope that Elsa does not get a love interest in Frozen 3. I hope that friendship becomes more valued outside of children’s media and that more movies take the route of Barbie and focus on self discovery and self love outside of romantic relationships.

Please can we get some more unique stories and characters relationships in movies and Tv Shows (if you have any recommendations pls I am desperate).

[findroleplay]

seeking ... 🪶

(laying out all of my ideas like a street merchant) it’s me again…

a group of vigilante thieves of various cultural backgrounds stealing cultural monuments and treasures from museums, personal collections, etc and redistributing them to their respective locations of origin. delving into the themes of decolonization, cultural reconnection and such.

a silly supernatural horror plot set in small-town americana concerning a group of college students returning to their hometown where they've all befriended each other. preferably set in the 1980s.

plot set in ancient egypt, persia, greece, etc about two very ordinary people, mostly to research their daily life, traditions, conditions and other things. could be a cozy romance, two soldiers off at war, but whatever it is, no supernatural elements, just realism.

an art restorer and a historian team up to uncover the secrets behind a painting.

less specific cravings ;

i want to start a worldbuilding project with other worldbuilding enthusiasts ! i have many many ideas for this so we can discuss things to make something that caters to us both.

i don’t usually ask for this, but i have two (2) premade ocs i would love to build a plot around with a partner :] one is more for gritty settings & the other is for my film noir luvers

rules & preferences… 🪶

ocs only.

18+

talk ooc + be communicative

preferably advanced lit.

characters… 🪶

i require characters that come across as authentic, human, and individuals with real agency. i'm not fond of characters that are excessively naive or perfect. i love characters that are distinctive, unconventional, well researched and resonate with specific interests, evolving in step with the narrative. if you're not inclined to explore a range of diverse sociocultural backgrounds and settings, it's likely that we won't make a good match.

genres & themes… 🪶

i love slice of life, historical realism, and social realism. period pieces captivate me, regardless of the era. i'm particularly fond of plots that explore characters and themes in depth and including fun symbolism. i absolutely adore discussing head-canons, scenarios, and themes, as well as create pinterest boards and playlists for our characters.

communication… 🪶

i thrive alongside enthusiastic writers who bring decisiveness and a strong passion for the rp. collaboratively shaping ideas and themes before and during our discussion sessions is crucial. i do not mind getting to know each other before plotting. connecting beforehand allows ideas to organically flourish, ensuring an enjoyable story for us both!

on that note, connecting outside of the rp holds greater importance to me than any other aspect. if there's a lack of enthusiasm or engagement, or if we only interact during plotting, our compatibility is likely to be compromised. establishing a friendship with my partners ensures my sustained interest in the rp.

as you can probably tell by this ad, i’m planning to put a lot of time and effort onto our stories, and i fully expect my partner to have the same gusto !!! i want us to have and make something fun !!!

pairings… 🪶

i handle all character pairings with a focus on characters’ agency. my roleplays often prioritize a variety of relationships, veering away from solely heteronormative ones. crafting intricate dynamics involving characters of different backgrounds and sexualities is my forte. trans and non-binary characters are wholeheartedly welcome, if not preferred. i have the most experience with queer pairings (mlm, ww, t4t, etc.)

( interested ? leave a note or leave your discord username and i will reach out! )

-

[scraregenrecs]

Rec Roundup - April 2021

Can you believe it's May?! Now that @sctropefest​ has run its course and so many people in the fandom are catching their breath – your rare & gen reccers included! – it's time to look at some of the fics we enjoyed from April 2021. As a reminder, we will be posting a master list of all of the Tropefest rare & gen fics once reveals are out, so stay tuned

Afternoon Delight by IAmHereIRL, Jake/David, rated E, 8652 words

Summary: This is the story of David and Jake's encounters from the end of season two to the start of season three

Rec [written by yourbuttervoicedbeau]: I think it’s fairly obvious by now that I’m a Jake Fan first and a human being second, so you KNOW anything with Jake’s name in the relationships tag is going to grab my attention. This is the author’s very first fic they’ve posted, and it’s just a delight — and the ending made me laugh out loud. 

Basically His Only Friend by jmda4, Alexis & Johnny (background Alexis & Roses, and Alexis/Ted), not rated (we'd call it G), 1414 words

Summary: Minutes after realizing that she'd miss her family, Alexis feels her stomach drop when she checks her phone and sees a stream of missed texts from Stevie.

"Your Dad's in the hospital. They don't know what's wrong."

"We're at Elmdale Hospital. He was having chest pain and couldn't breathe."

"Alexis?"

Rec [written by doingthemost]: I will forever be salty that Alexis wasn't involved in Johnny's hospital scare, and I'm also a complete sucker for Johnny's relationships with his children… so this fic was a delight to stumble upon. I'm happy to consider this part of canon from now on! 

coffee and catching up by @sarah--tonin, Patrick & Twyla, rated G, 535 words

Summary: patrick goes to the cafe the day after twyla gets back from nyc and wants to hear how it goes. because he and twyla are friends. :)

Rec [written by samwhambam]: I ALWAYS enjoy a good Twyla is friends with people fic. I love seeing her build friendships with members of the Rose family, and this fic shows a little friendship moment between Twyla and Patrick and it is so lovely! (with a little hint of Alexis/Twyla. It’s inspired by the fic Got You by colourcodedbinders

I would be complex, I would be cool by @yourbuttervoicedbeau, Alexis/Ruth, rating, 2220 words

Summary: Ruth doesn’t ask to stay the night, which is good; it saves Alexis from the awkwardness of coming up with an excuse for why she can’t. Ruth is gorgeous, and lovely, and fantastic in bed, but Alexis just isn’t looking for her next big love story right now. She’s not sure she’s over the last one.

Rec [written by doingthemost]: I'm absolutely enchanted with this world and the thought of these two confident, radiant characters getting theirs and more – and the reason why things shift from casual to the potential for more is so hilarious, I literally LOL every time I think about it. This is inventive, fun, sexy, and an utter thrill to read.  

Learn To Live On Less by @chronologicalimplosion​, Alexis & David, Ted & David, Ted/Alexis, rated T, 4509 words

Summary: For the first month and a half, even with the lists and the challenging reality of tailgates and homemade cheese balls, it doesn't even occur to David that his health might be affected by the move. His small black medicine clutch, already pre-packed in case of an Alexis emergency, had been practically the only nonissue the day the feds stormed through the house racing to touch everything of value in the house before the Roses could sweep it into their own arms. The bag had been solidly in-hand right after he emptied his cabinet of hair products haphazardly into a duffel and right before he chewed a bloody hole in the side of his mouth from the stress of having to manhandle his precious wardrobe in the name of expediency.

And then he wakes up--at a respectable 10:32--to an email from his old pharmacy notifying him that his automatic prescription refill date is coming up.

OR

The one where David Rose is a trans man and it's a little complicated transferring your HRT prescription to another country when you've lost all your money and are living out of a motel.

Rec [written by yourbuttervoicedbeau]: This is such a wonderfully done layer over canon that just fits. Both the ‘real time’ and the flashbacks are visceral and wonderful. David and Ted’s interactions are so, so funny, and I can’t wait for more of this series.

never thought i’d meet you here by @thankstwy and @landofsonlali, Ted/Alexis, rated G, 3716 words

Summary: David doesn’t know I’ve been writing you these letters though so this can be our little secret. One teensy little letter can’t hurt right?

Alexis and Ted exchange letters after he moves to the Galapagos.

Rec [written by yourbuttervoicedbeau]: Look my Ted/Alexis feelings are… too much for this forum, so let’s just say they’re a lot. Also if you’ve read… anything I’ve written you’ll know what a sucker I am for epistolary. Basically, even though this was a birthday gift for someone else entirely, it FEELS like it was made for me. There’s such a gamut of emotion in the letters that Ted and Alexis exchange, and you really feel what the characters are feeling. Also the choice for how to structure the two chapters (which I’m not going to spoil) is SO effective. And the ending! The ending. You’ll see.

Tell it to the Goats by @kindofspecificstore, Heather/Rachel, T, 23,318 words

Summary: Rachel loves chocolate cake, her houseplants, and Patrick Brewer. She's not a fan of her car breaking down on the drive out of Schitt's Creek. Thankfully Warner Farms comes to her rescue in more ways than one.

Rec [written by doingthemost]: I don't know what to say about this fic other than: READ IT! It's captivating, enchanting, and delightful, packed with lots of enjoyable Rachel introspection and queer feelings. I love how fic gives us an opportunity to expand on characters we barely get to meet and give them new life, and this is no exception. It's tagged "the wlw Hallmark movie we all deserve," and it's absolutely true.

The Seasons of Our Life by @treepyful, Stevie/Twyla, rated G (MCD warning), 666 words

Summary: Stevie used to know nothing about plants. (Stevie thinks about the late love of her life as she picks flowers)

Rec [written by samwhambam]: Beware: there is a MCD warning on this fic, but that happens before the store begins. Grief is hard and never ending and this fic perfectly describes a moment of peace after a death, where you are able to think of their memory and remember them as they were and their impact on your life and just love them. It’s short, and beautifully written and perfect and I just want to give Stevie a hug. Highly recommend.

Wake Up, Sunshine by @fraudulentzodiac, Stevie/Ruth, rating, 407 words

Summary: Stevie wakes up to Ruth making breakfast.

Rec [written by doingthemost]: This is the perfect, bite-sized fic, full of fluffy, wonderful domesticity. Despite its short length, their personalities ring true in every word. This fic is like a warm hug, just like the cozy morning it depicts.

Happy reading, friends!