#I love A!A but he makes me way too sad to be associated with unless I actively make art about him specifically

[theswedishpajas]

I don’t think I ever posted this but he’s here now about a week late 🦇✨✨✨

[reidsmanuscript]

Cooling love

Summary: Full of fear, full of love and wrapped in the feeling of safety and home, they say those three words for the first time. Pairing: Spencer Reid x lawyer!reader Genre: FLUFF! FINALLY wc: 3.2k! TW: reader does boxing and overthinks way too much A/N: it's inspired on "You are in love" by Taylor Swift, Mastelist! (it's not necessary to read the first 4 chapters!)

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The sky was turning orange, announcing the sunset. The sight of it excited you—maybe today wouldn’t bring rain after all. Maybe tonight, the date you had with Spencer would end under a clear spring sky.

Finishing the last motion of the day, you glanced up at the clock and realized you could leave in five minutes. You began arranging your documents, eager to get home and get ready, when your phone rang with Spencer’s assigned tone.

You had a rule with him—well, actually, a series of very clear rules both of you had established after a period of back-and-forth. They included "Do not lie to me" and "No calls during work unless it's absolutely necessary or an emergency." That rule had been established after he called you in the middle of a trial for, ‘What do you want for dinner?’ Everything else that wasn’t an emergency could be communicated through messages—something Spencer had gotten used to.

You let out a tired sigh, trying to keep your voice as neutral as possible when you answer the phone. “Hey.”

The sigh on the other end is familiar, the same one you let out earlier. “Hey, it’s me... We just had a case come up, I have to fly to Wyoming. I’m really sorry.”

Your suspicions are confirmed, and you press your lips together, trying to keep the disappointment out of your tone. “It’s okay, really. I’ll call the restaurant and let them know. Maybe we can reschedule within two weeks?”

“Yeah, that sounds good. Again, I’m sorry,” he says, and you can almost hear the pout in his voice. The sincerity behind his words makes your heart soften.

“It comes with the job, really,” you reassure him, offering him some comfort. “Just let me know when you land, okay?”

“I will. Talk soon,” he says, the relief in his voice a little evident.

You can’t help but smile a little, even if the evening you had hoped for is slipping away. “Talk soon, Spence.” 

He hangs up, and you allow yourself a moment to feel the sadness of the cancellation. You know it’s completely out of your control, but that doesn’t erase the bitter taste it leaves behind. You had planned a nice dinner with him—one where you might finally say the three words that have been sitting in the back of your mind, the ones that still scare you more than anything.

You had been dating for a while now, and it was so unexpectedly calm in contrast how you two had met. Things between you were nice and loving, but you wouldn’t call it sweet. Not because it wasn’t objectively sweet, but because sweetness wasn’t something you associated with good. Still, you knew that anyone looking from the outside would call you both sweet. Maybe even him would call it like that.

For you it was more like… peaceful. Calming. Yeah, that was the word. Like cooling, but not in a cold way—more like refreshing. Like taking a sip of water in the middle of the night from a bottle that’s been sitting there for way too long, yet it’s somehow the perfect temperature.

God, you sucked at this. Love was not your strongest field, truly. You could argue in court, you could come up with ways to convince people and even threaten officers and criminals with charges. But when it came to expressing your feelings with order and clarity you were… well dumb. 

Words got mixed up, emotions tangled into knots, and when he looked at you with those love-filled eyes, you wanted to grab him—hold him so tightly, so fiercely, that maybe then he’d understand everything you felt.

Because one of your biggest fears was that you seemed too cold, too indifferent—maybe even to him.

I mean, the man had just called to cancel a date, and you brushed it off, made it seem like it didn’t matter, just so he wouldn’t feel bad. But what if he thought you didn’t care? You did care. You wouldn’t have spent nearly two hours agonizing over what to wear, rehearsing things you wanted to say to him over dinner if you didn't. 

Sometimes, you felt so much that you were afraid of how it might come out—afraid that if you tried to express it, it would explode in the worst way possible. So instead, you held it back. Smoothed it over. Hid it.

But you did love him.

Because in a room full of people, the one look he gave was always just for you. Because sometimes, when your shoulders brushed in passing, that single touch was enough.

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Spencer was more than happy with the way things were between you two. He never felt unloved—not even for a second—because he knew you. He knew how you were when you were mad, how cold and detached you could be to people who didn’t matter. And with him? You were anything but uncaring or uninterested.

You let him ramble about whatever hyperfixation had captured his mind at the moment, listening not just with patience but with genuine attention. And sometimes, you asked hypothetical questions that completely blew his mind—because while he was good at following the book, tracing theories and established patterns, you were good at thinking of all the possible alternatives, the what-ifs no one had considered.

He would talk about, say, the fall of the Roman Empire, meticulously outlining every economic, political, and social factor that led to its collapse. And you—never content with the obvious—would tilt your head and ask, "But what if the Antonine Plague had never happened? Do you think Rome would have still fallen, or would it have held on for a few more centuries?"

Or he’d be deep in a discussion about the Voynich manuscript, running through linguistic theories and cryptographic possibilities, and you’d counter with, "But what if it’s not a cipher at all? What if it was written by someone whose brain just didn’t work like ours, someone who saw language in an entirely different way?"

And that was the thing—Spencer knew a lot, but you thought in a way that challenged everything he thought he knew. Like sometimes you would open doors to worlds he hadn't thought about. You didn’t just listen; you engaged, pulling him into debates that left his mind racing long after the conversation had ended.

It was exhilarating. And maybe, just maybe, it was one of the many reasons he had fallen in love with you.

So that’s why he was so sad when he had to call off the date.

It was hard enough being away from you for long stretches when he was working, constantly moving from case to case, city to city. That’s why he kept the photo you two had taken in a photobooth on your third date tucked safely in his wallet—the small strip of pictures worn at the edges from how often he pulled it out. A reminder. A comfort.

And that’s why, sometimes, when an unsub’s victim profile was too similar to you—too close to home—he felt even more driven to catch them as quickly as possible.

You could be in D.C., nearly 1,700 miles away from the crime scene he was standing in, and yet he still felt like you were in danger. Like he had to protect you, even from across the country. It was irrational, he knew that. Statistically, logically, there was no reason for the cases to feel so personal.

But they did. Because it was you. And when it came to you, Spencer had never been good at thinking rationally. 　

That’s why, when the approximately 3-hour flight came to an end, he needed to see you—personally, physically—to reassure his suddenly illogical mind that you were safe and sound.

He knew you weren’t working—it was 7 p.m. on a Wednesday, a day you started to set aside to exercise, claiming that by the middle of the week, you were already stressed enough. It was part of your new routine, something predictable in a life that often wasn’t, and Spencer knew you’d appreciate him remembering.

He told himself he was being ridiculous, that you were fine, that nothing had happened. But still, his fingers hovered over his phone, waiting—because knowing you were safe wasn’t the same as seeing it.

Because that’s what love does to a man like Spencer—smashes his brain into a puddle and makes his IQ feel like a useless number, proving his own disbelief in quantifiable intelligence.

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You saw him standing outside the gym, hands tucked into his pockets, and immediately walked out to meet him. A part of you felt gross—sweaty and disheveled from your workout—but the excitement of seeing him, of having him just a few feet away, overshadowed everything else.

“Hey, I’m really sweaty, so it’s oka—” you started, already thinking about his germophobia.

Before you could finish, he cut you off by hugging you tightly. The sudden warmth of him caught you off guard, but only for a second before you melted into it, sliding your arms around him and rubbing your hand along his back.

When he pulled away slightly, his expression was unreadable, almost hesitant. “Sorry, I—uh—”

You shook your head before he could finish.

“I really missed you,” he whispered.

Your breath hitched, and your hold on him instinctively tightened. “I missed you too.”

He smiled then, and for a moment, you swore you might die.

It wasn’t just the way he held you—like you were something precious. It was the way he clung to you, as if you were some kind of beacon in the middle of a storm.

The strap of your gym bag started slipping off your shoulder, and as you adjusted it, his gaze drifted downward. His expression shifted the moment he caught sight of your hand, brows furrowing at the faint bruises on your knuckles.

Without hesitation, he reached for your hand, turning it over gently. The contrast between his careful touch and the roughness of your skin made heat rise to your face—flustered, yet slightly embarrassed.

"You've been boxing," he finally said. Not a question, just an observation.

You smirked, tilting your head. "Yeah, Morgan recommended it. And I still haven't forgiven Austin for his attempted murder when I joined his Pilates class." You shrugged, trying to downplay the concern in his eyes. "It's really good, you know? Who would've thought that throwing punches actually calms angry people?"

His lips twitched, but he didn’t quite smile. "Statistically speaking, if you just started, your form probably still needs work. Which means you're likely—" he paused, his thumb ghosting over your knuckles, "—hitting too hard without proper wrist alignment. You should wrap your hands before training."

His worry was endearing, and something in your chest warmed at the way he studied you so intently, like your well-being was something that mattered.

“I do wrap them,” you admitted, then gave him a sheepish look. “Maybe… not in the right way.”

His gaze flickered up to yours, unimpressed yet undeniably fond. “That’s not exactly reassuring,” he murmured, still holding your hand like it was something fragile—something that deserved care, even if you didn’t always give it to yourself.

You huffed a small laugh. “Well, it’s a work in progress. Kind of like me.”

He didn’t let go. Instead, he ran his thumb lightly over your knuckles, his touch featherlight. His voice was quieter when he spoke again.

“I could show you.”

Because that was what Spencer Reid did for you—he didn’t try to convince you to quit if you said something was good for you. He didn’t attempt to control your anger or emotions in the way he thought would be most convenient.

If you decided you were going to throw punches at a punching bag, then he was going to make sure you did it as safely as possible.

There had been times in your life when you felt like a caged animal, constantly surrounded by people who only wanted to tame you. But he was the exception—the one who met you in the wildness of your own mind with nothing but patience and understanding.

It was terrifying.

“Maybe later,” you say, intertwining your fingers and lowering your hands out of his view. “I’m sure you’re really tired and hungry.”

He sighs, clearly recognizing your attempt to change the subject, but lets it slide. “A little,” he admits. “Do you want to go to dinner?”

The possibility of finally having your date—at a moment when you were anything but put together, still sweaty and dressed in gym clothes—made you glance down at yourself.

“I-uh, could we make a quick stop at my place first? I don’t think you want to take me out when I look like this.”

It was a joke, obviously, and he laughed softly. But all he could think about was how, to him, you were beautiful in any state, in any clothes. Still, knowing you weren’t comfortable, he considered an alternative.

“Why don’t we pick up some food and go to your place instead?”

You pause, looking up at him, and something in your chest tugs at the idea. You couldn’t ask for a more perfect moment to tell him you loved him—your apartment, your own world, with him existing in it.

You smile and nod, and he begins walking toward his favorite Indian food place, still holding your hand. His fingers trace the bruises gently, as though he's reading them like braille, trying to understand the thoughts that linger in your mind. The careful, deliberate way he does it makes your chest ache in the best possible way, a warm ache that settles deep and soft inside you.

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You were sitting on your couch, legs draped over his—not exactly in his lap, but close enough. His hand absentmindedly traced over them as you finished the last bite of your meal before setting the empty container on the coffee table.

He got up, murmuring something about the bathroom, but when he returned, he had the first aid kit in hand—the same one he had bought for you after knowing you didn’t have one.

You had already forgotten about the bruises.

Of course, he hadn’t.

He flipped it open, retrieving an antiseptic wipe before reaching for your hand again. “Just in case,” he murmured.

You rolled your eyes, but there was no real annoyance behind it. “They’re fine.”

He shot you a look that told you he didn’t believe that for a second. “Humor me.”

With a sigh, you let him clean the bruised skin, the antiseptic stinging slightly as he swiped it across your knuckles with delicate precision. He was so gentle with you, more than you probably deserved.

“Does it hurt?” he asked after a moment, voice softer now.

“No,” you admitted. “Not when you’re doing it.”

His movements faltered just slightly, and you watched as his ears turned pink.

Yeah. You were definitely dying.

He cleared his throat, recovering quickly, and reached for the roll of gauze in his kit. “Alright. Hands out.”

You obeyed, letting him take your hand as he began wrapping your knuckles with precise, deliberate movements. His touch was careful but assured, his focus entirely on the task as he spoke—low, measured, like he was reading from a well-researched textbook.

“The wrap needs to be snug but not constrictive,” he murmured, looping the bandage around your wrist first. “If it’s too loose, it won’t absorb impact properly. Too tight, and you risk compromising circulation, which can lead to numbness, tingling, or even long-term nerve compression.”

His fingers ghosted over your skin as he threaded the wrap between yours, securing it with mathematical precision.

“You’re not just protecting your knuckles; the metacarpals, tendons, and small intrinsic muscles of the hand all absorb force during a punch,” he continued, his voice steady. “Improper wrapping shifts that force to weaker areas, increasing the likelihood of a boxer's fracture—typically in the fourth and fifth metacarpal bones.”

You huffed a quiet laugh. “Only you would make first aid sound like a dissertation, Doctor Reid.”

His lips quirked, but his concentration didn’t waver. “I just think if you’re going to be using your hands as blunt-force weapons, you should at least minimize the risk of long-term structural damage.”

His voice was calm, steady—each word carefully measured, as if he knew exactly how to keep you grounded without even trying. You let yourself sink into it, resting your head against his shoulder, the warmth of him seeping into you.

He finished the last loop, pressing his fingertips gently against the bandage to test the tension. “That should hold,” he murmured.

You flexed your fingers experimentally, then glanced up at him. “Didn’t know you were an expert at this,” you teased.

He let out a small chuckle. “Not exactly. But I do know a thing or two about anatomy and injury prevention. And I may have… read a few sports medicine journals.”

Of course he had.

His fingers lingered—light against yours, tracing the edges of the bandage as if mapping out every careful turn he had just made. He didn’t look up right away, and neither did you.

The most comforting yet loud silence set between you, not loud in a troubled way, more in a full of emotions type of loud, the same feeling you heard on the way home.

You took the chance and intertwined your fingers with his, bringing his hand to your lips and pressing a soft kiss to the back of it. The sensation caused his stomach to flutter, the tingling warmth spreading across his skin.

“Thank you, Spence,” you said, your voice genuine, filled with all the gratitude you felt.

“It’s nothing,” he murmured, his hand drifting lazily over your leg, his thumb tracing soft patterns against your skin.

Remember that feeling of too much? The one where you were scared of exploding because everything inside you was just too overwhelming? Right now, your chest was filled to the brim, threatening to burst if you didn’t release it somehow.

“I love you.”

Your confession caused him to turn his head toward you. There was no disbelief in his eyes—only the quiet, profound gratitude of being the one you chose to share that with.

He had read about love in thousands of books, from poetry to neurological studies. He knew the chemical process behind it, the science of affection and attachment. But in this moment, he finally understood why some people lost themselves in love, why others fought wars over it, why people spent entire lifetimes trying to put it into words. For the first time, he realized there was no way to describe the depth of what he felt for you—not in any language, not through any scientific explanation. Some feelings simply defied words.

“I love you too,” he whispered, but even those words felt insufficient as they left his lips.

And that’s why his hand, still resting on your leg, moved up to your cheek, pulling you closer as his lips found yours. As if Dostoevsky was almost right when said ‘The darker the night, the brighter the stars. The deeper the grief love, the closer is God.’

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[thefiendio]

Romanced! Kokushibo Headcannons!!

Hi everyone! It’s been a really long time since I’ve updated something on this app, I’ve been really busy but I’m going to try and update as often as I can.

There are some fics and other things in the works right now for the SFW and NSFW lovers

To help get me back into the habit of writing, have some headcannons of someone Ilike to write for.

These are NOT cannon, however are just how I see him based on the manga and other things, he still has traits of cannon attitude, however he isn’t perfect in my mind

Warnings: None, but KNY spoilers on his lore and everything

Reader is gender neutral unless stated otherwise :)

Kokushibo is red

Gn reader is purple

Fem/specifically stated AFAB reader is pink

Masc/specifically stated AMAB reader is blue

I’m skipping a LOT of a timeline after he met you and abandoned his wife and kids, you both are dating in these

He was quite cold when you both got together during the start of your relationship because he didn’t know how to react, however you opened him up (he’s still not Mr. Nice Man all the time)

If he were to ever get you a non-stolen gift, it would probably be something homemade

No, he can’t cook, so it could be a piece of art he crudely drew himself, a poem that he wrote himself, or a wood carving that didn’t have every detail, however the shape is there and it was made by him

He’d get a little sad if you didn’t accept his gifts :( he really tried so hard even if it doesn’t look good :(( but he’d try better next time to make his gift better so you’d like it

He truly believes in “actions speak louder than words” so he’d rather show you that he loves you, rather than just tell you, however it is subtle

Like being in the same vicinity as you, making sure to take note of what you look at or mention so he knows to talk about it, paying attention to what you’re doing when you are doing a hobby so he knows what the actual fk you’re talking about when you rant on it, and just other things like that

He is a man of subtlety

He might not go all-out with lavish things and expensive gifts, however he does spoil you in his own way

There are times where he isn’t home for days or weeks on end, and that’s when he gets antsy to see you

After he gets back, he gives you his undivided attention for a while

There are times where he wants to spend his time with you, but he also wants to meditate. His solution? Have you seated in his lap as he’s sitting cross-legged and he meditates with his arms around you

He’s tried to help you cook in the kitchen multiple times, that’s when you’ve found out that he is AMAZING at helping you, just not when doing it by himself

Whenever you get hurt, even if it’s as minor as accidentally bumping into a wall, he makes sure you don’t get hurt again for the rest of the day by keeping you beside him

If you’re a human: He truly believes in separating you from the rest of the demons, and makes sure that you do not follow him into any meetings, or have any association with demons besides him

The only demon that you’ve ever had any sort of interaction with was Akaza, and that was because you were dangerously sick, and Akaza got the fear of Yoriichi coming back put into him by Kokushibo, you’ve only seen him once though, and you don’t really remember what he looks like, besides pink hair

If you’re a demon: He’s a lot less hesitant to let you interact with demons, however he will try his best to make sure that you don’t get too close to the upper moons or Muzan in fear of your safety, you’re allowed to talk and interact with Akaza because your boyfriend is sure that he won’t do anything to harm you

I’m a firm believer that he either calls you by your name, darling, or some non-traditional name that sounds so nice whenever he says it. Those nicknames consist of: flower, little one, honey bee, or starlight

He also likes to call you nicknames that have “little” in front of it because, let’s face it, he’s taller and larger than you (I hc him to be around 228 cm or 7’6” (yes ik he’s like 6’3 cannon)) so you are little to him

He is a man of few words and rarely talks, however you fill the void of silence with your voice

If there are times where you don’t want to talk, then he will ask if you want him to start talking, or if you want to sit in silence

If you choose for him to talk, he will. His words will range from how his day was, to what he likes about you, to stories he read, to things he has heard about others in the towns he has been to

If you want him to not talk and be how he is, you both will be in a comfortable silence, with you leaning on his body, or laying on his chest

He likes to read, whether that’s to you, or by himself in your shared room, he even likes it when you read to him. He would even settle for both of you sitting near each other and reading the same book

In my opinion, I think he wouldn’t buy you flowers. HE WOULD GROW THEM HIMSELF

He isn’t very affectionate outside of when you’re tired and want him to curl around you

Not to mention that trying to get him to even kiss your cheek or hold your hand outside of your shared home is like trying to break a brick wall with a pillow

He acts kind of like a modesty appropriator to you, making sure your kimono, hakama, or other clothing pieces are covering you properly, and are not falling off of you, are fitting properly, and are comfortable on you

If you wished to go to a festival with him, he wouldn’t like to go however would make sure that you both stayed away from other people, because of his eyes and appearance

In my opinion, he likes the idea of having a garden and has done research on that sort of field, however he doesn’t have much of a green thumb outside of growing a couple easy vegetables and simple (but pretty) flowers

He likes to be alone a lot, and admires having his own space. If your shared home is big enough, he’d have his own room to himself that you are only allowed in with his permission. The things inside are plain, with a bedroll, a box for scrolls and books, a sitting mat, and basic sleeping room appliances. He keeps this area clean and is content as long as you respect this simple space as his

If you were to give him a gift, whether that be a new kimono, something you made or grew for him, or something you bought from the market, you can find it on a shelving unit in his private space, with other things of yours that you have used, but don’t need

These things of yours can be a hair stick, clothing item, hairpin, hair piece, piece of jewelry, or a gift he plans on giving you

He likes to watch you sleep, but not in a creepy way, he likes how peaceful you look

He notices things about you that you didn’t notice yourself

He might not understand certain words and cues relating, however he is a literal god at reading body language and expressions

Dating him at first can be a bit difficult because he most likely isn’t so easy to read, however the longer you both have been together, the more you pick up on his cues for each emotion he is feeling

Again, he is a man of few words and expressions, however he means what he says

He really does care about you and your safety

He loves you <3

———————

Hope you enjoyed! I’m going to try and post something at least once a week, and see how that works

Asks are open! Please give me ideas on what to write :)

Have a great day!!

[oil-rigging]

I want to rant about Psychonauts (2) again. I promise I love the first game too I just really like the second game right now. Spoilers under the cut.

LISTEN. (Get it?)

Maybe I’m just reading way too far between the lines here but Helmut really, REALLY knows his husband. It is SO important to me that Audie is the way he is.

1.) He’s blue. Helmut has synesthesia, or we assume so after using clairvoyance on him. It is very likely that Helmut associates the colors that he’s paired with the members of Feast with the members of the Psychic Six (Seven).

Blue represents tranquility (think of a garden), trust, protection, reliability. In Hinduism, blue is a color associated with Krishna, who represents love and divine joy.

However, it’s also associated most commonly with loneliness and sadness. And water. Think of Bob’s Bottles— how he’s stranded on an island of his own making. Think of how Bob was after Helmut’s “death”. Helmut knows, subconsciously, that Bob is out there, waiting for him, alone.

2.) He’s a drummer. I don’t study music or anything, but I’ve been playing instruments since I was a little kid, and anyone who plays, likes, writes, or listens to music knows that the drums keep everything together.

They have to be reliable, focused, and not let any outside factors sway or affect their ability to keep time. That doesn’t mean percussionists aren’t fun or anything, in fact, the best percussionists keep their time correctly and know how to keep things simple while also making it fun. They don’t steal the show with crazy fills, they don’t distract the other members by being hard to follow. They are in the background until they’re called forth for a solo, but background doesn’t mean boring. It fits Bob’s introverted nature.

In short, Audie being a percussionist is perfect. Equate the drum to Helmut’s metaphorical heart and we’ve got a cheesy greeting card in the making.

3.) He’s an ear. The most important sense for a musician to have unless you’re Beethoven, and the most important aspect of a relationship. To communicate, to be heard truly and to have your needs met, is to be loved properly, and Helmut’s mental image of Bob shows, at least to me, that the two were very open and communicative with one another.

Or, as an introvert, Bob was the listening ear for his husband. I understand the need to rant and ramble —I’m doing it right now— and to have someone willing to sit and listen is heavenly.

All this is to say that Helmut’s view of Bob is so darn sweet and I just love how he’s like ‘yeah my husband’s a self-isolating introvert but he’s also the best thing to ever happen to me.’

Also I audibly laughed when I saw how the Feast of the Senses’ color palette was ✨rainbow✨.

I know rainbows are hippie things too and that Helmut (and probably the rest of them if you look closely) is literally the dictionary definition of weed-smoking acid-tripping anti-violence hippie but COME ON.

[zukosdualdao]

the moon will sing a song for me (i loved you like the sun)

zutara month, day seven: divine intervention, @zutaramonth.

summary: when zuko takes the lightning aimed for katara, it takes a little more than her usual healing to get him back from the brink. feat. yue's words of encouragement and empowering influence on katara, medically necessary bloodbending, and a zuko who is too out of it to understand much of what is going on, but that's okay. katara has him.

content warnings: general references to violence and wounds, nothing more explicit than the show.

notes: title is from "the moon will sing" by the crane wives. yes i do too many lyric titles. no i will not stop <3. idk when sozin's comet officially ended but for fic purposes we are imagining the timing makes sense for the moon to be out after the agni kai. two pieces of dialogue were taken from the show.

Zuko groans as he's being turned over. His bones feel like liquid, his skin set alight, his heart like a crater in his chest.

Katara, he thinks, he tries to say, he doesn't know.

Katara looks at him with a worried expression, her lips turned in a frown, her eyes wide with fear and sadness as she presses a watery hand to his crumpled, prone form.

She is worried but alive. She is alive, and if she is here, then she must have defeated Azula.

Katara is alive. That is what counts. This was his destiny, then. To save her.

It wasn't a bad note to end on.

Zuko closes his eyes. There's a hammering thud in his chest. He is so tired. Normally, he'd associate the feel of it with exertion, or else desperation, and he would feel frantic. But he is so tired. He has been so tired.

"No," he thinks he hears Katara say. It sounds like she's underwater, or perhaps he is. "No, Zuko, don't you dare."

He struggles to open his eyes again because he doesn't want her to sound so angry with him and doesn't want her to be sad. It only feels like a moment has passed, or maybe it has been hours.

She is looking up. Pale, yellow light shadows her.

Katara is speaking with the moon.

The moon is also a girl.

Someone told him a story like that once.

A spirit, he thinks a little redundantly, with white tresses of hair and a glowy form and a gentle smile. The moon spirit?

Zuko jerks, a spasm of his body as he lights up again with the pain, and Katara looks back to him, alarmed.

"—but you know another way," the moon-girl insists softly to Katara, whom Zuko looks at as her mouth sets in a thin, determined line. Unless he's imagining it all, which is possible. "And I am here with you now."

After a moment's hesitation, Katara nods and sets her left, water-encased hand against his chest again and raises her other in a motion he faintly recognizes.

"This is going to hurt," she says warningly, sadly. "But it will help. I think. It has to." She shakes her head, torn.

Zuko doesn't know what's going on, but if Katara says it will help, that's all that really matters.

"I trust you," he slurs. Is that him? Does he sound like that?

Katara blinks. Zuko watches tears slip from her cheeks.

And then, it starts. She did not lie about it hurting. Despite himself, Zuko feels his body rising from the ground in pain and panic, and Katara has to keep him pressed down. His blood is boiling, his chest swelling. This must be what dying feels like. But then, he's pretty sure he was dying before. He supposes it's a process.

"—sorry, sorry, I'm so sorry—" Zuko makes out the words, faint in his ears, though Katara sobs them out.

Eventually, though, the beat of his heart evens. His blood begins to simmer down. The pain melts.

He watches as Katara pulls back, resting on her knees. The moon-girl smiles down on them before fading back into being just the moon, high in their war-torn sky again.

Nothing that just happened makes any sense, Zuko decides dazedly. But it was Katara who saved him, and that made all the sense in the world.

"Thank you, Katara," he rasps, looking up at her through heavy eyes. Looking at her made everything in the world seem alright again.

She looks down at him with a soft expression and a watery smile.

"I think I'm the one who should be thanking you."

[miraculouslbcnreactions]

Ladrien and Marichat used to be my favorite sides of love square. I'm a sucker for superhero/civilian pair and the fact I could get two of this kind of ships out of one pair are actually my main reason being attracted to Love Square at the first place.

But the way most LS shipper go on and on about True Self bullshits and singling out Ladrien pissed me off. Adding that to how repetitive most Marichat focused fanfiction are make me hate it. Ugh, do you have idea to how to write Marichat that wasn't balcony meeting or film date and definitely not true selves nonsense? And maybe some Ladrien brainstorming too?

The thing about the love square is that it's not four separate ships. It's four different dynamics for the same ship. Ladrien is a mutual pining, forbidden/secret love dynamic while Marichat is a friends-to-lovers dynamic.

I've talked about this before, but the friends-to-lovers thing is why Marichat fics tend to feel very similar. Without a crush or other force driving them to take risks, there's simply no reason for Marichat to do anything more than casual hangouts on Marinette's balcony. Even then, that setup can be a hard sell because there's not a great reason for Adrien to seek Marinette out when he's Chat Noir unless you make Gabriel more controlling than he was in canon, driving Adrien to use his hero persona to see his friends. But in that scenario, you need to explain why Marinette is being picked over everyone else for these secret hangouts since she's not exactly Adrien's best friend on the civilian side. I can't think of a great reason to go with her over Nino in the context of canon.

All of this is why canon-compliant Marichat works best when it's not a thing that the characters actively sought out. Any setup that feels spur-of-the-moment works such as Chat Noir stopping to talk to Marinette because she looks sad. Without that spur-of-the-moment element, the ship doesn't work because there's just no reason for Marichat to happen.

If you don't agree with that statement, then before you send me an ask, consider all of the following: if Adrien actively wants to hang out with Marinette, then he can just hangout with her as a civilian. Their time together may be more limited than he'd like, but canon has not kept them apart! They have daily interactions at school and occasionally get to hang out outside of school, too. They have even successfully dated three times in canon without Adrien needing to use his hero side to supplement his girlfriend time.

There's also the risk factor to consider. If Adrien is hanging out with his friends as Chat Noir, then he has to be careful about what he says and does because his friends know him. That gives them a unique advantage when it comes to unmasking him. He's also putting them at risk because if it gets out that he's hanging out with a civilian, then that civilian is screwed. This means that he either needs a strong motivation to risk consistently hanging out with them or hanging out needs to happen in the previously discussed spur-of-the-moment way where it's easy to not think about the risk.

Similarly, Marinette cannot afford to be publicly associated with any of the heroes on her civilian side as that puts her secret identity at higher risk. For her own safety, it is better for her to date Chat Noir as Ladybug than as Marinette. It's also safer for her to hang out with him as Ladybug than as Marinette. Since there's no reason why Ladynoir can't hang out or date, Marichat once again becomes severely limited in how it can start and even what it can look like.

I was honestly stunned when canon let Marichat go out on a movie date and then an ice cream date because that was wildly irresponsible! There is no excuse Marinette can give as to why she was hanging out with a superhero and so going on those kinds of outings is putting her at a massive risk for no good reason! Once social media post and she's doomed.

The only reason Marichat didn't doom Paris in canon is because Gabriel conveniently forgot about Chat Noir's crush just like he conveniently forgot about learning the temp heroes identities, a fact that I find massively disappointing because Gabriel's final threat was the only good thing about Elation:

Gabriel: Ladybug, Cat Noir, the prospect of giving up your Miraculous to experience love left you cold! And yet, now I’ve discovered a burning secret: Cat Noir has feelings for Marinette Dupain-Cheng. I don’t know to what extent, but they exist. And they’re a weakness that I intend to exploit, and put an end to Ladybug!

Marinette and Chat Noir's asinine behavior should have had consequences and I was looking forward to those consequences! Yet another disappointment from season five.

This is why hanging out on Marinette's balcony or in other secluded places is really all that Marichat can get away with if they're being responsible and the fic is being realistic (no shade to self-indulgent, non-realistic fics! They're fine, they just don't fit the ask). There's just no such thing as a safe public outing for Marichat. The only way to get around that is if you make Marinette some kind of celebrity in her own right. Maybe age them up a bit and have her be a known fashion designer who attends the same events as Chat Noir or have her go to a Jagged Stone concert where Chat Noir is acting as security for some reason?

Even if you do manage to put them in a situation where they could publicly hang out with minimal risk, there's once again no real reason for Marichat to want to take that minimal risk. They know that they can just hang out as civilians or heroes later on and identities don't matter when they're just friends. Until they have active crushes that are openly acknowledged and tied to specific identities, we're back to the balcony issue because that's just how Marichat has to start in the context of canon. Something happens, Marichat starts casually hanging out in secret and love blossoms during those hangouts, turning them into a forbidden/secret love dynamic where risks suddenly have greater rewards. If you don't want to go that route with a hero/civilian relationship, then you're not looking for canon Marichat, you're looking for Ladrien or some sort of crush flip scenario which is Marichat in terms of who is in love, but not in terms of shipping dynamic.

Because Ladrien is already in love, they already have a forbidden/secret love dynamic meaning that there is something driving them to take risks right from the start. Those risks are also less risky because of who they are. They need to be cautious about being pegged as a couple, but they're both celebrities so they can find ways to go on "secret" dates in public or even just good excuses to be around their crush pre-dating. For example, they could have gone to the Ladybug & Chat Noir movie premier together and casually hung out without anyone thinking anything of it.

Their celebrity status also gives you a lot more room for getting them together because there are all kinds of reasons two well-known public figures might get thrown together without serious effort. Here are just a few setups off the top of my head:

Acting as hosts for some charity event where they have to meet up a bunch for the prep work

Ladybug agreeing to appear in a Gabriel commercial to spend time with Adrien under the pretense of Gabriel donating the money she would have made to charity

Adrien and Ladybug both attending some event like a fund raiser either by coincidence or with Adrien acting as her assigned escort

Adrien being threatened by some third party and Ladybug volunteering to act as a body guard

After the snake fiasco, Ladybug keeps trying to find the right Miraculous for Adrien as he has to do more and more ludicrous things to maintain his secret identity

Gabriel figuring out his son's crush and trying to create rumors about Ladrien to mess with Chat Noir

Chat Noir finding out about Ladybug's crush and "selflessly" offering to wingman

Marinette finding out about Adrien's crush and "selflessly" offering to wingwoman

I have said that Ladrien is the identity shenanigans side and I meant it as these ideas hopefully show! There's so much room for comedy on the Ladrien side that it's absurd how little canon used it. The Ladrien tag on AO3 may be tiny compared to Marichat, but it has a much wider variety of fics because of everything discussed above. Some of the ideas I listed even have fics out there!

This doesn't make Ladrien objectively better. Which dynamic is "better" is all a matter of personal preference re what type of stories you want to see. Having more options doesn't matter if you don't enjoy any of the options! If balcony hangouts and slowly developing romance are what you crave, then Marichat is the ship for you! If you want other things, then you're going to have to accept that Marichat can't give it to you and branch out into the other three dynamics or even dynamics involving full or partial reveals.

Alternate universes are another solid option that deserve a shout out. Those can do friends-to-lovers in ways canon-compliant fics can't because AUs can do things like removing the other sides or adding non-canon complications that make the other sides a no-go. This is where you get stuff like Adrien being turned into a cat, Adrien being a Prince who sneaks out in disguise, Adrien never meeting Marinette on the civilian side, or even just Adrien and Marinette no longer being close as civilians because they're not in school anymore! All good times, but clearly not canon compliant and also not exactly the canon Marichat dynamic which are understandable turn offs to some.

AUs are the Marichat fics I tend enjoy the most so I recommend giving them a look even if you're usually a canon-or-bust fan. They may just surprise you! Partial-reveal Marichat is equally good, but we've already acknowledged that partial-reveal Marichat isn't really Marichat so I don't think it counts.

Quick reminder that all of the above was in reference to the following question and is not meant to be read as criticism of Marichat. I was just explaining why anon came to the wrong ship if they want strong story diversity. Marichat is primarily a ship for people who enjoy reading 1001 takes on the same very specific trope. If that's not you, then you're probably going to bore of it pretty quickly:

do you have idea to how to write Marichat that wasn't balcony meeting or film date and definitely not true selves nonsense? And maybe some Ladrien brainstorming too?

[ourloveiselectrifying]

How would he react if as soon as mc was kidnapped they completely shut down out of terror, and for like long term, trembling and crying and flinching at his every move. What if they became absolutely obedient but to a degree of worry, agreeing with him about everything, never sharing preferences or complaining, silent unless spoken to. I mean like mc doesn't even move an inch from the same spot on the floor unless told to, not eating unless given permission for each bite, not evan going to the bathroom or moving at all until he gets home if he's going to work, doing almost everything less then breathing on his command all in pure absolute terror of being punished or doing something wrong that makes him mad (bonus points if even dogo mode doesn't help cause now they get scared cause he can't talk or communicate to tell them what to do or what he wants). Sorry if this was too long or this ask makes you uncomfortable, don't feel pressured to answer please, i love your writing and art style!!!♡♡♡ i can't wait for the game and more of your characters and art!!!♡♡♡

:3c I love this sskfsldjfl

He'd be really into it in the begining but then it would make them really sad that MC is genuinely so terrified of him to the point they'll just sit in one spot for the entire day until Kev comes back from work. Kevin wants them to still do things, be themselves and be atleast somewhat happy (just also while forever by his side and under his control) They'd definitely try to find ways to make MC feel normal and comfortable again. More dates and normal couple stuff, relaxing fun activities, watching comfort shows/films with MC, and other nice stuff to make MC associate pleasant and normal things with Kev, not all the horrible things they've done to MC- although they'd definitely make sure to just swap the behaviour of MC being motionless and nervous the entire day to "Wait for me by the door like an excited(and nervous) little puppy only when you can hear my motorcycle coming up the road." Because Kevin really likes having MC "looking forward to them returning home" just as much as he does! :3

RAAH thank you!! ehehe ;w; ♡♡♡♡♡♡

[spade-riddles]

"She's a crook who was caught" isn't even difficult, anon. Taylor and her lover are both cowboys and con artists, "telling the rich folks anything they want to hear". But behind the lies is their true love, which they would do anything to protect. "Forever is the sweetest con."

Karlie is "a crook who was caught" because she got "caught" or trapped in the con. Karlie's beard seemed like the safe choice initially. I don't think Karlie or Taylor realized how toxic that association would become, when they decided to go down the lavender marriage route to protect their relationship. They wanted certain things the lavender marriage could give them cover for, and Karlie paid the price for that.

Also, jumping on the Karlie hate wagon because of this lyric is truly mind boggling, when you consider how many times Taylor refers to HERSELF as a criminal, in her own body of work. Cowboy Like Me we've talked about, but Fresh Out The Slammer? "I did my time"? Marking the end of the Toe relationship, which Taylor introduced to us with the lyrics, "He can be my jailer" years before?

Who gets jailed? What type of person? What is Taylor saying about herself with that line? Criminality = bearding in Taylor's world.

She keeps using this as a metaphor. How about the entire conceit of Getaway Car? Who drives away in a getaway car with a bag of money, being chased by sirens? A criminal. Who flees to Florida waiting for the "heat" to die down, because outlasting scandal is the only way to "beat the charges"? A criminal. Who has a boating license and knows "how to cover up a scene"? A criminal. Who "masterminds" and does "vigilante shit"? Who sinks men's bodies into the swamp???

If "she's a crook who was caught" is such a Kaylor kill shot, then Taylor should probably stop writing songs that cast her as a criminal too.

The fact is, Taylor isn't casting judgement on Karlie with that line. She's lamenting the loss of what they had together. She's SAD her fellow crook was caught, not angry at her. She wishes she could go back to a time when the whole world thought Karlie was just "a twin from [her] dreams". Aka when they could glass closet together. Now the truth about Karlie - that she's "not what she seems", aka, not any of the things the PR narratives claim she is these days - can only be shared in whispers. The true story of who Karlie is and what she sacrificed for Taylor, can only be hinted and whispered at. And in the meantime, Taylor has to "go". To move forward without Karlie.

I don't see "you know when it's time to go" as a final goodbye, but a "goodbye for now" representing how Taylor can't stay stuck and wait out Karlie's sentence, without making PR moves of her own. She has to beard as well. She has to appear to move on too. Go on with the show. Even if she hates it, it's time to suck it up and leave behind her fantasies of how it all should have been. The simplistic interpretation is "they broke up", but so much evidence defies that, that it seems obvious to me the song is in fact a metaphor for Kaylor's pretend estrangement.

If Karlie had genuinely wronged Taylor, then lyrics like "soldier down . . . looked up at me with honor and truth" or "put you in jail for something you didn't do" or "your integrity makes me seem small, it's like I'm wasting your honor" would be pretty confusing. Unless we're talking about an honorable person whose only "crime" is bearding. To protect Taylor. Then it all fits just fine.

[deobienthusiast]

your name hurts | eric sohn

• pairing: eric sohn x gn!reader

• word count: 1.1k words

• genre: straight angst, college!au, frat boy!eric

• warnings: yall it’s just insanely sad. like there is no happy ending so don’t even expect one

• rating: PG

• notes: i’ve been on an early hailee steinfeld kick so this is based off of her song your name hurts. fully recommend listening to it while reading this

• tagging: @deoboyznet

we’re a half written story without any ending

you left me to figure it out

filled me with ecstasy, left with the best of me

but where’s the rest of me now?

Your life was so simple before Eric Sohn. You could make it through the day without daydreaming about the what ifs. You didn’t have to worry about your heart being broken. But after experiencing life with Eric, you weren’t sure how to survive without him. Eric was one of the popular ones. Striking good looks, loud, contagious demeanor, the perfect fit to The Boyz fraternity. You wished you had taken a different way to your classes freshman year because the moment he laid eyes on you, looking lost outside the frat house, he knew he’d found his next victim. He walked you to class, told you all you needed to know about the school and about himself. He sunk his teeth into your heart, and you let him.

honestly i don’t regret you

i just wish i never met you

part of me wants to upset you, ah-ah

every single letter’s killing me

don’t know why it gets to me

every time i hear that sound

Your time with Eric was nothing short of magical. At least that’s how it felt at first. He made you happy, always bringing a smile to your face. He wasn’t huge on pda and showing his emotions, so i love you’s were given in the form of doing little things. He was a giver, that much was for sure. you loved every minute, but wished you had just kept walking. Why did you let his voice coax you into the frat house? When he broke up with you, you felt like your whole world was crashing down. How could he just end things without feeling anything? How could he be so cold? You thought of all the ways you could get him back. All the ways you could break his heart the way he broke yours. Bringing yourself to hurt someone you loved so much, despite them pretty much proving in every aspect that they didn’t love you the same, was something you could not do.

your name hurts (your name hurts)

i don’t say it no more

it’s like the worst of words (worst of words)

you don’t even know

You stopped hanging out with mutual friends. you kept to yourself, and stayed inside the small circle of friends you had outside of Eric. you begged them not to mention him, not wanting to even continue to be associated with his name. The looks of sympathy were too much. You felt like a wounded soldier anytime someone brought him up. like his name was a bullet being fired from a loaded gun, straight into the already gaping hole in your heart to kill you even more. You knew no one was doing it to be mean or cruel, but it felt like you couldn’t escape him anytime his name was mentioned. You wished he’d become nameless. Maybe then you’d be able to actually move on with your life. Go back to the way things were before him. But honestly, you weren’t sure you even wanted that either.

and this half-written story is horror at best

the kind where the hero still dies in the end

and god only knows, maybe this is a test

‘cause i kinda wanna mess you up

but i won’t, babe, not yet

You felt like you were trapped in a never ending cycle. you’d wake up, barely eat, drag yourself to class, avoid any sort of interaction with anyone unless you needed to talk. Eric had plagued every part of your life. Everywhere you looked, he was there. Every turn felt like he was constantly next to you, watching you, taunting you. It was hard to focus, and you so badly wanted to scrape your mind of the memories. You wanted to shave off the portion of your life Eric was a part of. He had made such a mess of you, that you just somehow wanted to do the same.

wouldn’t say that i regret you

but man, i wish i never met you

that your mama never even had you, oh-ah

every single letter’s killing me

don't know why it always gets to me

every time i hear that sound

The day Eric broke up with you is still burned in your mind. You remember it like it was yesterday. You replay it over and over and over like a broken record constantly skipping and never moving forward. It felt like a continuous time loop that you couldn’t get out of. How could he? He was so calm. So emotionally void. He didn’t seem fazed by the words he was saying. So nonchalant, like it was no big deal. You couldn’t believe it. Someone you trusted so dearly, had looted your entire heart out to. Someone you shared your darkest secrets and deep insecurities with. How was Eric able to just say it meant nothing to him, that it was all for fun. That it was ‘nothing serious’ to him, and he was certain you felt the same. You couldn’t believe what he was saying. Never in your life had you ever wished something bad on someone before, but sometimes you just wanted to go back in time to change certain things.

feels like burning on my lips

the ones that you used to kiss

no way you ain’t feelin’ it too

Eric would be lying if he said he wasn’t heartbroken. He fell for you in ways you couldn’t even begin to imagine. You were his everything, but so was his reputation. He had built up a strong resumé of girls who had fallen for the baseball star, only to have their hearts broken. None of them affected him the way you did. After almost two years together, it was either choose you or choose popularity. Now he’s wishing he would have chosen you. You mean more to him than any level of popularity. Now he can’t think straight. He can’t focus. He’s been benched on the baseball team, frat parties don’t hit the way they used to when he had you with him. But the peer pressure of living up to the name he had made for himself was too much. He collapsed under the pressure. “I’m surprised it’s lasted this long Eric”. “When are you going to end things Eric”. He didn’t want to disappoint anyone, and in the end he disappointed the person that means the most to him.

i hope my name hurts, my name hurts

my name hurts you (you, you, you)

Just like you, he can’t stand to hear your name. Because all it does is remind him of all the pain he caused you.

[bitchkay]

When you really think about it

Guy, Aquia, and Zev are perfect examples oldest–middle–youngest sibling syndrome

Cus first of all Aquia gives such middle sibling energy

People really do not pay him no mind💀

If Aquia wasn't such a sweetheart he could really be out here in these streets and nobody would know and possibly not care and that actually kinda sad

People pleaser, especially in regards to Guy, he really just wants Guys attention and approval SIMPLY AS A BROTHER but doesn't think hes worthy of Guys attention because he admires him so much, hes really independent but hes good at making good friends/companions, he's something of a peacemaker I guess hes good at being a mediator I thinks, Aquias actually kinda shy and pretty complicit so he doesn't fit into the 'act out for attention' stereotype unless someone can prove me wrong

Aquia is quiet too, like have yall clocked how invisible Aquia would probably be without the Avari name attached to him

I think Zev is the only one that's really ever given him a chance to talk but at the same time Zev loves to talk and loves the attention

Zev annoying Guy and Jasper in the short stories

That literally has youngest sibling written all over it

I would know.

Definitely spoiled, just wants attention bruh, will annoy talk to his older brothers at any opportunity, very extroverted, open(bro has no filter), sense of humor of the family-- "You've gotten so big, how old are you? 18?" "I'm 23." feels like hes been the same age for too damn long

Also Zev is a whore(affectionate but also derogatory but in a "I care about you" criticism kind of way) the youngest child is often never truely seen as full grown or able to reach the same level as their older siblings and while I think theres other things going on in there as well as think it could be completely unrelated, I conspire that Zevs "leisure pursuits" are a way for him to 'grow up' a little faster

And then we have Guy

Specifically oldest son cus oldest daughter is a WHOLE different category.

Indifferent to most things at this point, stubborn, not very expressive, domineering, more or less tolerates his younger brothers but wont go out of his way to entertain them, but were the opportunity to arise and he thinks they deserve it hed take them out just for a brief respite cus they're still his baby brothers, entitlement, old enough to drink around parents and know the juicy family gossip with older folks, shows signs of narcissism, "When are you going to get married?"

Being a child prodigy of some sort dosen't help his case either💀

Like ok gifted kid😋😋

Let's be honest all three of these boys need to go to therapy💀

Well I think everyone can benefit from therapy--

But this family INCULDING RAHM AVARI‼ ESPECIALLY RAHM‼‼ they need some group therapy, family therapy in here

I feel like I have to talk about ages again💀

I've probably made 3 posts about how the fuck do you even perceive how old they are now I'm thinking about yk these three and what their age differences are implied to be but that in relation to the lore associated with this corner of Avari-- yall lemne stop before I go off on a tangent hold on

[thoughts-on-bangtan]

Love in the Air (2022) - Review

When clouds in the sky and falling rain tease the two close friends in trouble, Rain and Sky, it takes them to meet Payu and Prapai, who are not only cunning saviours but also guys making storms in the two best friends' hearts. The war of love is about to take place in the warm spring, hot summer, lonely autumn and cold winter. How would the atmosphere of love be? Which way would their hearts wave and the air full of love take them to? (via MyDramaList)

Where do I even start with this one? Maybe with the fact that the synopsis only loosely relates to the story you actually get? Or the fact that unless you're a fan of the "pushy rich guy pursues shy/naive younger guy" trope this series definitely isn't for you. I normally don't mind this trope but something about the way it was executed in Love in the Air just rubbed me the entirely wrong way.

The series itself is basically split into two, the first half following the romance between Rain and Payu and the second following Prapai and Sky. In theory that's great especially because there isn't all that much plot that happens so why stretch it out more than necessary but somehow it still manages to fall flat anyway. Mostly because I felt like the writers were only able to write two kinds of main characters--pushy rich guy and naive, somewhat whiny, younger guy. The problem though is that in the first half where we focus on Rain and Payu, Sky is Rain's best friend and is set up as more of a voice of reason, levelheaded, smart and rather confident type of character, which is all fine and good until we switch to Sky's story with Prapai and his character changes entirely. Instead he quickly turns into the same character as we previously saw in the first half from Rain. And while the writers tried to explain that and gave him a very sad backstory that affects him a great deal still (I so dearly hoped that would make him a more interesting and layered character than Rain...it didn't), it still didn't really know how to make that work anyway.

The story between Rain and Payu starts out fun with Payu, as is typical for the trope, being "obsessed" with Rain and trying his darnest to get Rain to become equally as obsessed with him, fall in love with him, and just to play with him. They kind of bond over architecture, since that's Payu's day job and what Rain studies at university, but it's mostly just Rain making a fool of himself trying to get Payu, even though Payu has been his since the start since he'd already had an eye on him before they even met at the beginning of the series. Payu also works as a car mechanic and owns a shop with his brother, and he also works as mechanic for a rich boss and his bikes for illegal street races. I thought the street racing would play a bigger part in the story but besides being used as crutch for the third act drama in Rain and Payu's story, it wasn't all that important, at all. There was some character growth on Rain's part and overall their story was fine and sweet. Nothing too exciting or new, just fine. Visually the actors playing them fit together so that added to the enjoyment of watching them together.

Then we have Sky and Prapai. Their first encounter led to them hooking up and then having no contact for two months after. Much like with Payu, Prapai developed a "obsession" with Sky in that after their hookup he couldn't forget about him and couldn't hookup with anyone else anymore cause he kept on thinking about Sky and their magical encounter. So, perfectly timed, once the RainPayu storyline finished, Prapai asks Rain for Sky's number and their story begins. For most of their story Sky is not interested in being associated with Prapai whatsoever, constantly tells him to leave him alone, rejecting his advances and attempts to bond. (Trigger warning for SA) This is explained by the fact that Sky's previous boyfriend was a illegal racer as well who used Sky as a toy and eventually started to abuse him and ended their relationship by basically allowing his besties to SA Sky for his amusement while telling him just how bored he is of him and how useless he is. Understandably Sky still has horrific nightmares about it and doesn't trust Prapai even if solely because he is a racer as well. And because we're all adults here, no conversation about this happens until the last episode. After Sky gets nearly SAed by his ex once more. (Trigger warning over) How did the writers choose to deal with Sky's obvious trauma? A five minute conversation with Prapai afterward and voila, problem solved. Yeah I don't think so buddy.

As I mentioned before Sky quickly devolves into the same naive and kind of whiny character that Rain was previously, and the amount of times that Prapai touched his head in a way that I know was meant to be tender and sweet yet to me it just came across as almost patronising or like a older brother/father petting their younger brother/kid on the head. Generally I also didn't really feel their chemistry which was a shame.

Overall once the series finished, I was relieved that it was over. There was too little plot to fill 12 episodes despite the material they had and could've used. There were a lot of missed opportunities and some of the behaviours and tropes just drove me up the wall more and more as the story progressed. In short I, as well as Admin 2, did not have a fun time watching this and if it weren't for the fact that we watched it together and commented and laughed at it together, I would've probably not made it past the first or second episode on my own.

I'm really sorry to the person who left a comment that this is their favourite BL but for me/us it was unfortunately a miss.

From Admin 2 - I won't hide the fact that I like BL because there's a lot that's pleasing to the eye, it you know what I mean, and that BL as a whole showed me something I'd previously not seen/gotten from Western media to such an extent when it comes to queer stories. As proud ally I'd glad that we have something like this.

Because of that the first half of this series was fun for me since the actor playing Payu, "Boss" Chaikamon Sermsongwittaya, is really hot and handsome and in the car mechanic uniform with his half tied up hair he just looked wow, for a lack of better word. In contrast with the good university student Rain, they seemed exciting and believable and it was nice to look at them act together. They have chemistry. Their interactions seemed comfortable and looked natural so they weren't embarrassing/uncomfortable to watch which I can't say about Sky and Prapai.

After researching the world of BL I know that pair is very popular as BL ship but personally I don't see it and I'm not a fan. In my eyes they don't fit together and I also felt like both didn't enjoy playing these roles and especially the more intimate scenes. But I only talk about my own thoughts and I don't want to ruin anyones fun or anything. Without that feeling of believability and chemistry between the actors, I can't call the series good even if I thought the plot was good or whatever else. The choice of the actors for the main couples makes up a big portion of the success or failure of a show. Even if there wasn't that chemistry between them in the intimate scenes, it could've been remedied with other scenes that could've made watching more enjoyable overall, but unfortunately the focus was put more on the former and so it wasn't convincing at all to me. From research I also know that some fans have a ranking of best BL kisses that acts as almost like a way to decide whether or not a series was a success or not as a whole, and to me Sky and Prapai wouldn't rank anywhere on that list.

I haven't watched that many BL series yet and maybe my mistake was starting out this journey by watching series that set the bar quite high when it comes to the chemistry between the main pair (KinnPorsche) and now I automatically look for the same level of chemistry in other series and their actors as well. Because in these types of stories the chemistry is an extremely deciding factor.

They touched upon a very deep psychological issue in Love in the Air but it was shown in a very naive way and also acted very naively where Sky's trauma manifests in Sky acting naively like a child. It comes across too cartoony for both the severity of the issue and also his visuals as actor through behaviours. Likewise Prapai who's supposed to be the person to help him "solve" or overcome his trauma didn't convince me either. For me the trauma and issue they tried to touch on exceeded the skills as actors that the two actors have as well as the abilities of the writer. Which is a real shame because they could've done something really interesting with this.

And I agree with Admin 1 that we surely only had fun watching the show because we were watching it together.

[wavesoutbeingtossed]

Suddenly thinking about how “lose something babe, risk something” screams of a person urging their partner to step up to the plate and get out of their own way to move forward in the relationship and in their lives.

It’s not just the narrator imploring the partner to take action to stop her from crashing, to shelf their inhibitions and hangups, to bring her back from the brink, to give their relationship the metaphorical paddles. It’s also about jumping into the unknown, taking a gamble on them to see where it leads. It speaks of someone who doesn’t want to rock the boat, who wants to keep playing it safe to protect themself, sticking to their principles or their habits or what have you to a fault. The narrator is begging them to take a chance, do something differently and see where it leads. They may not know the answer, but surely taking that chance to change their current course is better than their assured demise as it stands.

Not to bring too much discourse or speculation into the lyrics analysis, but to me it also ties into what so many have said in the last year: that the thing that made them work so well in the beginning (he don’t try at all though, you don’t really read into my melancholia, you weren’t even listening, I loved you in secret, etc.) — the hard split between private and public, the lack of public association (eg showing up), the general ignoring of the elephant in the room of their lives, and so on — is what brought about their demise. The song seems to be a plea for him to stop expecting that doing the same thing over and over again will bring about a different result, as it were. (The definition of insanity etc.) It’s a plea for him to take a step, accept some sort of change and get some sort of forward momentum going before the crash. (IRL, whether that means showing up, not being afraid of being associated with her public image, career choices, getting married, etc. Well probably never fully known unless she shares it in her music, but it’s easy to make inferences.)

It’s just so desperate and sad and painful. Especially because we know that in the end of the song (and the relationship), it’s too late.

[agirlwholovesrockstars]

The greatest was so sad, I'm just going to pretend that in my mind she moved on and was so unbothered and Found Love and Happiness, maybe in Steve just for some extra spice, and they get to have the life of their dreams and get married and have cute little babies, and Eddie is just lonely and single and then they meet up maybe by bumping into Steve and her, or she comes with Steve to a thing he's invited to by Eddie, and Eddie is like wow I never should have let her go and she's like so unbothered by being in love with Steve and having moved on years ago.

Anyway feel free to add on, this was just brainrot though so not an official request, unless you want to aha *lip bite emoji*

AYE YO ‼️‼️‼️‼️

Y'ALLLLLL THIS IS VERY TEMPTING 🫠

don't give me ideas or I'll start impulsively writing this down 🫡

"The Greatest" was truly heartbreaking wasn't it? I know it's not exactly the "Eddie Munson" that we love but yeah I literally wrote him like that to make it more regretful and despairing, so, I am so sorry that I made you feel that way, I really don't know why I am into angst lately lol- I think I haven't told anyone yet but angst is like one of my favorite things ever lmao maybe I just love to feel the pain and the hurt HAHAHAHAHA I'm evil, I know, Thank you so so so much for reading and I appreciate you liking it so much that you wanted to know what will happen to them if they ever crossed paths again, now you got me thinking about it and only for you I'll do it omg- I ALREADY ASSOCIATED A SONG FOR IT TOO! 🤣💖 you made me laugh at the end tbh- WHOEVER YOU ARE I LOVE YOU DEARLY! 🫶🏻

[minjaefreedom]

I got a like a news notif from Google about his death so I went on twitter to see if it was true bc i honestly couldn't believe it and I see jonghyun trending

and it's so weird to me and tone deaf to me like the fact that he's trending means that a large amount of people are bringing him up like id bet money that most of the people who bring up him sulli and hara when ever a kpop idol dies or talks about depression are just doing it for the likes and I know I shouldn't be gatekeeping grief or wtv and I'm not trying to but I just think it's disrespectful to all of them including moonbin

Idk the jonghyun thing is rlly grating on me bc like this is the reason he's trending??????there are this many tweets being tone death????

Oh and now moonbins part of that list too of people who they're just going to bring up like that and it really doesn't feel good thinking about that like they'll make a bullet point list about 2023 being a bad year for kpop or why the kpop industry is bad and just bring him up and like most of the people who do this won't know anything about him

your last point especially is such a good point and it's really like a second death honestly...........like it just really sucks that most of the time when a celeb dies young it almost immediately eclipses everything else about them. and that's even more true if it's suicide :(

and i saw jonghyun trending too, and didn't even click on it bc i knew why. i think it's natural to think of jonghyun in times like this, and i'd like to believe that most people mean well. but i do think that some things don't need to be said, especially when you know everyone is already thinking it. but many people post without thinking, and as much as it sucks, most people honestly aren't going to think about it unless they're a shawol </3

i think it was someone on twt who said this but all of them are their own people in their own circumstances. moonbin lived about 9,213 days. jonghyun lived about 10,115 days. sulli, 9,329, and goo hara, 10,551. it seems sad to only associate them with one of the worst days of their lives. the day you die is only one day amongst the thousands that you will live. they were all more than their mental illnesses and/or traumas when they were alive, and they STILL are. they lived and laughed and loved and breathed -- they are more than a statistic, more than a tally mark in our list of dead kpop idols. they are more than the day they died. thousands of days more! i think it is those thousands of days that they lived that should be talked about and celebrated.

it's a big wish, but i hope one day to live in a world where people aren't remembered for the ways that they died, even if they died young or by suicide. i want to live in a world where they are remembered for the lives they led, instead.

and i hope, with time, that moonbin's memory and love is something that his family, members, friends, and fans can think about with warmth. i hope, with time, every one can remember him at his happiest <3.

[getosugurusbangs]

Do you mind if I ask your top 10 favorite characters (can be male or female) from all of the media that you loved (can be anime/manga, books, movies or tv series)? And why do you love them? Sorry if you've answered this question before.....Thanks....

thank you for the ask! and no, i haven’t answered this question before, i rarely get asks so it’s never come up lol

a couple disclaimers before actually getting into the list 1. these aren’t in any particular order, more just in the order i thought of the characters. 2. from most of these, there are other characters that i love just as much if not more than the character listed, i just put a certain character on this list for more specific reasons, or because i have a better understanding of them. 3. i tried to refrain from adding too much jjk, but it still happened so… i apologize 😔 i can’t help myself (and also, all characters listed are from anime/manga)

list under the cut!

satoru gojo from jujutsu kaisen. what hasn’t been said about him at this point? he’s a very lovable and endearing character in general (obviously) but one thing that’s very cool to me about him, is that a lot of his character is left up to the viewer’s imagination. he’s definitely a character where you can project a lot, and make really whatever you want of him. it can be a double edged sword sometimes, but i still think it’s something cool about him.

suguru geto from jujutsu kaisen. can’t have gojo on the list without his soulmate. there’s so much to me that’s interesting about him that it’s hard to narrow it down enough for this list. as sad as it is to watch, i do really like his spiral at the end of hidden inventory arc. i think it’s very neat how his mental decline really shows more of the true nature of the jujutsu society they’re part of, and how cruel it is to it’s own people. on a similar note to that, it’s very interesting seeing the way geto truly is (his mentalities, his personality, etc. not his morals) get continuously revealed during his defection and post jujutsu high.

maki zenin and mai zenin from jujutsu kaisen. if i was already putting multiple jjk characters on this list, they had to be here too. i looooove their arc together, and everything they’ve (whether on purpose or not) done to each other. i honestly do just think the concept of two cursed twin girls coming from a horrible, at the top of the food chain clan, and attempting to thrive outside of it despite everything, is super cool. i love them separately as characters, but them together makes me even more deranged…

nicholas d. wolfwood from trigun/trigun maximum. apparently i have a thing for dudes who have big tits, are doomed by the narrative, and are associated with a religion 💀 also whenever i talk about trigun, unless specified otherwise, i’m specifically talking about the manga or og anime, not the reboot. anyways, i really like his development as a person over the course of the series. and how in the end, he ended up adopting more of vash’s ways than he may have anticipated. vash and wolfwood’s relationship, considering who they are as people and what they have going on, is crazy to me ngl

anna/nina liebert from monster. i love naoki urusawa’s portrayal of women, and just people in general in his work, and how realistic it is. if you haven’t read or watched monster, GO DO IT!!! it’s one of the best manga i’ve read so far. i haven’t seen any of his other works yet, but i’ve heard good things. i love how she’s an overall badass, kind and compassionate person, while still working towards her goals and simultaneously working through her trauma. she’s just a very neat character to me!

shinji ikari from neon genesis evangelion. i may sound insane saying this depending on how you feel about him but hear me out 😭 he gets a lot of hate, which i do understand, but i do like him, okay? (i’m not going to acknowledge the end of evangelion movie. i will NOT watch it) i think with him, and other teenage characters going through very traumatic situations like him, people forget that they’re literally children going through that? and treat them like they’re adults going through it when they’re absolutely not, and that really bothers me!! despite how he can come off as pathetic sometimes, i do appreciate the way he’s portrayed. he’s overall a very relatable character, and is (at least to me) pretty endearing at times. i like how in the endings of both the anime and the manga, it’s pretty open-ended for him. most of what i say about his character could be applied to asuka, too.

hitori gotou/bocchi from bocchi the rock. she’s just a teenage girl who loves music and has social anxiety and she’s so real for that!!! it’s been a while since i watched bocchi the rock, and i also just don’t have a lot to say here, i just really like her and the way her social anxiety is portrayed, as someone who goes through it myself.

reki kyan from sk8 the infinity. again, i don’t have a ton to say here honestly. he’s very personally relatable to me, especially in his relationship with langa and such. as a queer person who skateboards, sk8 the infinity is the shit!!

yatora yaguchi from blue period. i love his character development in the beginning of the series, but in general too. i just love how he goes from a (slightly boring) respectable highschooler, on his way to a normal job and life, to then suddenly having a passion for art ignited within him, and changing his entire life’s path. i love how his art’s progression is shown, and various other conversations about art. blue period is one of the reasons i never want to go to art school lol

reigen arataka from mob psycho 100. what can i say, he’s just a goofy con man!! i love the additional comedy he adds to the series, despite his character being a little… sad and pathetic all things considered. he’s a wet cat of a man, but i love him for it, yknow? i also love the voice acting for him in the japanese dub of the show. (sakurai takahiro kinda sucks as a person, but he’s still a talented voice actor) there are also certain things about him that are kinda hilarious ngl..

i hope this is what you were asking for, or at least that you enjoyed this because this took a while to actually write out LMAO

[crescenthoax]

Hi I’m that anon who sent you the GOT quote and I just wanna say to this beautiful bit 😭 “As for Floris and Aemond I know [my] Aemond is not everyone’s favourite but I don’t know… I feel like the lore about them I think every night before falling asleep is too deep and complex to even begin with. I adore them, even though he’s terrible and she deserves so much better, and yes, I see everyone pointing out that he’s not exactly mourning her but I think he is in his own way -and I will write about it. Just because.”

GIRLLL YOU DONT KNOW HOW MUCH /I/ LOVED THEM. They weren’t the main couple but I feel like all your side pairings are so much full of intrigue and drip with life. But yeaaahh um I loved them, I loved the whole “they prefer to look at each other than touch each other” thing and how less physical They were, I loved their opposite personalities, and I loved how they kept their relationship to themselves and away from prying eyes of not just the other characters like Annika but to the reader as well (unfortunately I’m a nosy bitch who wanted to see) They also reminded sooo much of Joanna and Tywin “Only Lady Joanna truly knows the man beneath the armor, and all his smiles belong to her and her alone.” LIKE.. ugh my heart.

I definitely overromanticized them to a problematic degree in my head 😭 I’m an optimist but I was so excited for the Christmas au bc I thought they’d get the happy ending they’d been robbed of by the Caswells in the main verse, I thought starting with them being broken up meant that their arc would be them getting back together so imagine my surprise and heartbreak when I read part 2 😭😭😭😭😭

I definitely feel more than a little silly for misinterpreting their relationship so much and hearing that they don’t actually “belong” together in that way, Idk. I don’t hate your Aemond but I do want to shake him and scream that he needs to get his act together and BECOME BETTER AND BECOME DESERVING of her because in my head, she was all he wanted. Idk. It’s stupid but I wanted them to be happy together so badly. I still really ship them even after alla dat which makes me a little bit of a 🤡 but I LOVE pain if I didn’t, I wouldn’t have made it this far into Aegon and Annika’s story.

I think so many of the readers associated the found family with all three of the couples just being siblings together so it’s easy to forget how much Aemond loves our girl Annika, if he’s disloyal to his wife which I think is sad and a little unfair but a valid reading. I’m also not ready to let go of this familial dynamic, it was definitely my favorite. I just hope for the best for all of the Targtowers and their remaining wives especially Aegon and Annika, but I know whatever you come up with, I’ll be happy with even if I’m sobbing on the floor.

Jeez that Tywin and Joanna’s comparison was truly something.

And, to be fair, I don’t think there’s such a thing as 'misinterpreting them.' I believe you can interpret their relationship however you want and also perceive the characters alone as you please. That's what's fun and magical about reading. As a writer, I would never say, 'no, actually…' when someone tells me their views on a character or a pairing—unless you're saying something absolutely out of context, like when someone said Annika enjoyed being with Jacaerys or that she didn’t love Floris. I want people to feel a genuine connection to the story and perhaps find themselves in the characters, to relate to them. I also love to see how what I’ve written is interpreted because it helps me a lot to see if people understand where I’m pointing. So, if you think they were in love (they were, I just think that if it were up to him he would’ve never taken a wife at all), then it’s okay. Aemond is a complicated dude driven by duty and greed, but yes, he loved her, and he’s in pain right now though he doesn’t let it show. Modern Aemond and Floris, however… I don't know I feel like modern Aemond would be so insufferable about women. Love him though.

On a side note, of course he loves and deeply cares about Annika too. I think I already talked about this, but he cares about her as an individual and also as an extension of his brother’s honour. That's why he’s mad and upset about the entire baby situation, perhaps even more than Aegon. I think Aegon feels guilty, and he’s sick with worry thinking about everything Aemond is pointing out. But I believe we can all agree that we are all going to miss this family so much. I even have to confess that I wrote that Christmas au because I was too depressed about the main fic and I missed Floris and the six of them and I wanted Helaena to be happy lol.