#I'm not active in the fandom or even really interested in TD anymore but. Here. A concept.

[total-drama-brainrot]

So the general gist of this idea was just having Heather and Gwen plan out their rivalry in the first episode off-camera. Or, well, not exactly off camera but during the downtime between their introductions and the first challenge, when footage wasn't likely to be used in the in-universe show (since it's established in canon that the island is littered with cameras at every angle, so being off-camera is impossible). Because they pin each other down as Threats at first glance.

Granted, the two of them would be a little more conscientious of the fact that they're commodifying themselves for the sake of reality TV in this scenario, so the plan would be for Heather to lean into her pre-determined role of main antagonist - you can't convince me that Heather's blatant antagonism and plot armour wasn't a result of her being scripted to be a source of conflict in-universe - by harassing the "protagonist"; Gwen's a broody alternative girl in the 2000s, where influences like Teen Titan's Raven and Clone High's Joan and Daria's… Daria have rewritten the pop culture zeitgeist into adoring Gwen's exact genre of person. Of course she's going to be a major draw of the show and pseudo-protagonist, and of course both she and Heather are going to capitalise on that.

And the two of them get to know their genuine selves as they spend time together finalising their ruse, both in the context of actively annoying the shit out of each other on camera, and their late night outlining sessions for the next challenge's "script" in their shared cabin. Which is a loose plan for how they're going to act and keep their… I don't want to use the term "alliance" here, but it's the most apt description I can think of. It's a meta-alliance in the context of them playing above the game of Total Drama The Competition and into the metagame of Total Drama The Show, if that makes any sense.

It's like that one TikTok about being in cahoots with someone; Heather initially just clocks Gwen as a means to an end, a particularly useful pawn in the game of Total Drama Chess. In turn, Gwen recognises that associating herself with Heather, especially as a vocal force against her, would keep her relevant to the show. A secret deal to start a performative rivalry with each other is just a smart play.

Their deal is transactional, since they intend to use each other to guarantee longevity into the late stages of the competition. Until the feelings start to hit, and their business practice evolves into the two of them harbouring sappy crushes on each other whilst hopelessly maintaining their performative rivalry and metagame act. And, of course, believing that the other still sees their plan as purely tactical and removed from anything resembling emotion; consequently believing that their feelings would be at best dismissed and at worst rebuffed and mocked.

Maybe add into this Gwen's budding relationship with Trent, and her conflicting feelings for a Genuinely Nice Guy duking it out with her infatuation with The Meanest Most Ruthless Person She's Ever Met (/aff), and Heather's own jealousy towards Trent's monopoly on Gwen's time manifesting itself into her sabotaging their relationship.

You could make it a doomed relationship via Gwen realising she values her own morals and the genuity of the people around her over winning the competition, and exposing her and Heather's deal under duress from a guilty conscience. Leading to their pretend animosity becoming real mutual dislike - Gwen because she let herself Be A Bad Person under Heather's influence, and Heather because Gwen threw her under the bus for social brownie points.

Or they could both carry on their public rivalry through canon whilst being secret behind-the-scenes girlfriends who have a healthy relationship full of good communication and trust when they aren't pretending to hate each other to the public eye. Where said rivalry keeps them socially relevant outside of Total Drama, thus achieving their shared goal of being famous.

Just thought up a really good basis for a Gweather fic, but it's almost 7am and really need to get some sleep.

Making a note here for future me: Make an outline for this idea. You know the one.

[tbhimnoteasyonmyself]

9 Fandom Peeps to Get to Know You Better

First of all, thank you Mickey (@thisautistic) for tagging me <3. Super thrilled that you thought of me for this!!

Now...

3 Ships You Like

1. Kimchay (Kinnporsche)

My babies. I want to protect them both. They're precious and perfect to be put in situations. A force strong enough to have me cooking a longfic after years of not writing a single one. Do I need to same more?? Absolutely obsessed 💜💜💜.

2. Pangwave (The Gifted)

Obligatory mention to my special little ADHD x Autism duo. Don't even argue that they're not canon, if you think that it's bc you missed very significant subtext, I suggest you rewatch this series. Pls and thank you. I will NOT take any criticism.

3. Sandray (Only Friends)

I knew from their 1st sex scene that I was down bad but their trailer sex scene just completely rewired my brain. Is their dynamic fucked up? Yes. Will they hurt each other along the way? Absolutely. But they're on their path to something better and I believe in them. Bc if Ray is deserving of love even after everything that went down then so are all of us. And there's that.

First Ship Ever

Larry Stylinson! (from One Direction)

Straight back from when I was 13, going strong! kskskskssksk I'm not so much there actively in the fandom anymore, but know that I'm there in spirit. sksksksksks Could never abandon the reason for so much change in my life! Good memories!!

Last Song Heard

Nooit Meer Spijt by S10

It's such a good song! I'm not Dutch or Dutch-adjacent but I was introduced to S10 by a friend of mine who's Belgian and I fell in love with her music ever since!

Favorite Childhood Book

A Fada Oriana (The Fairy Oriana) by Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen.

It's about a fairy named Oriana that has to take care of a forest but one day, while looking at the river, meets a fish who talks her into neglecting the forest, which causes a lot of trouble. Then, Oriana, has to learn how to repair the damage she made.

It's a book about responsibility, consequeses, the importance of individual action and learning from one's mistakes.

Currently Reading

Património Cultural: Realidade Viva (Cultural Patrimony: Live Reality) by Guilherme d'Oliveira Martins.

It's a book about the preservation of patrimony in Portugal under the context of belonging in the European Union in the 21st century.

It's not a very interesting book nor scientific, just a summary of Portuguese and European laws for people who don't wanna read the laws (?). I wouldn't read it on my own but it's a mandatory read for one of my classes in my Master's so I gotta ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

Currently Watching

23.5

I didn't know if I was going to but since GMM seems to be finally trying out more for the GLs, I feel like I need to show my support in this direction so I made the moral choice of watching as it airs to make it clear to them the audience for this is here and we want more of it!

So far ep.1 was super cliché and silly but I liked it a lot!! I want all the clichés for the girls too! Tired of seeing queer women suffer and die on screen...

2. 3 Will Be Free

It had been sitting on my watchlist for a while but I never gotten around to it for some reason... Nevertheless, my latest Wheel Decide™ for what to watch next landed on it, so... I'm watching it now!

2 episodes in only but I'm loving it a lot!! The plot's super interesting so far, really like the way they're going about it. Let's see where it goes!!

Currently Consuming

I'm gonna opt to mention the game I'm currently playing (besides Bloons TD 6, but I'm always playing Bloons, so... not news), which is Heaven's Vault by Inkle!

It's an extremely niche game, focused on figuring out an ancient language and, with it, the history of the world it's set in. It envolves robots, space travelling, discussions on xenophobia and religious intolerence and a lot more. I haven't finished yet but I'm loving the experience so far!

I understand it's not for everyone but I'm loving it!! <3 (not a Mickey D's reference, fuck Mickey D's)

Currently Craving

You know, I could go with bibimbap bc I really want some rn but I'm gonna go a bit deeper and say: after the terribleness of my last 2 relationships, all I really want is one that's not enirely chatastrophic. kskssksksksk That'd be pretty neat. kssksksk

So yeah... This was a lot of fun, actually!! I love to share stuff about media I like!!

Tagging @jukain4216 @lost-my-sanity1 @anthrotmnt @shannankle @defomin @aiyui @fiddlepickdouglas @tinysandwichstudent @sicknsadsicknrad @itsamzz28 @whomanist and any other of my lovely moots that hasn't directly been tagged but comes accross this <3.

All the love! 💜💜💜