#It was weird but also kind of nostalgic

[t-n-c]

The sexual/sensual coding in Aaravos and Viren's interactions: The Sequel

Also known as "Why I don't like the revelation in s5."

Trigger warning--This discussion is going to mention manipulation/coercion, homophobic stereotypes, and sexually-charged abusive/invasive behavior under the read more so please proceed with caution.

Alrighty so before I start talking about tdp s5's major reveal in the Viren + Aaravos relationship I'd like to discuss the interactions they had with each other before and after the reveal and my thoughts on them. Here we go:

First thing I'd like to note is that Aaravos is still showing the creepy, invasive behavior that concerned me in my original post. Throughout the scene he and Viren share he:

Touches Viren

Invades Viren's space

And manipulates/controls Viren's body

And in addition to controlling Viren's body, we've also find out that Aaravos can straight up move Viren's very soul if he wants.

And like I addressed in my previous post, he does all of this without asking for Viren's permission and/or showing any care for Viren's wishes--hell, he explicitly ignores Viren when the latter says he doesn't want to be in the prison with him.

That being said, these actions alone aren't the most concerning issue for me; that isn't to say that they're not concerning to me all, but it's nothing that hasn't been done before in their relationship--it's nothing new is what I'm trying to say.

However, the revelation about Sir Sparklepuff being their child is new--and imo it adds a whole new level of creepiness to the relationship.

Allow me to rehash what went down a bit:

Aaravos reveals to Viren that in order for his resurrection to be permanent, he needs to preform a spell that requires the "blood of his child"--Viren protests and claims that he'd never sacrifice his children.

Aaravos responds that he never expected him to hurt Claudia or Soren and reveals that he has a third child he can use--

Viren is confused and claims he doesn't have any other children--then Aaravos reveals that Sir Sparklepuff is his and Aaravos' child

He tells Viren that Sir Sparklepuff is there for him to use for the spell and that he will teach Viren how to use his "living essence" to reclaim both his life and his "future."

There's a lot (and I mean A LOT) of things about this scene/reveal that worry me; I'll try to sum it up neatly, but it's probably going to be pretty lengthy regardless. Here we go:

Concern 1) Viren had no idea that Sir Sparklepuff with his child, but Aaravos did

No matter how many angles I try to see it from, this feels violating to me; considering how Viren didn't know what the spell would do and how desperate he was at the time, his willingness to perform the original spell is dubious enough already--to then have it revealed that the spell produced a child that's biologically his really disturbs me. It might just be my opinion, but I feel that it adds a level of predatory to Aaravos that's unnecessary at best and horrifying at worst.

Concern 2) The lengths Aaravos has gone to keep Viren alive (and presumedly on his side).

This includes:

a) Telling Claudia the spell that would resurrect Viren.

b) Preserving Viren's body for 2 years while Claudia gathered everything necessary

c) When they first met, he chose a spell that would create a being that would not only allow them to communicate, but could also be used to resurrect Viren if the need arose.

Now assuming the writers planned this all from the beginning (I have my doubts, ngl) this shows a great deal of effort and premeditation on Aaravos's part to make sure Viren sticks around--whatever his plans may be, Viren must play a pretty big role in them or else he would have just moved on when Viren died the first time. (It's either that or he has some strange sort of fondness for Viren, which leads me to Concern # 3)

Concern 3) As of now, we have absolutely no info about how their relationship is going to be portrayed going forward

While Viren's fate is a bit ambiguous at the end of s5, I'm 90% confident that he's going to live through s6 in one way or another and assuming I'm right and that happens, there are a few paths the writers could take in how they depict the relationship

Option A) They sweep everything under the rug and pretend the sexual coding in the relationship never existed.

Option B) They portray Aaravos as a complete monster who was just using Viren for one thing or another and has now discarded him since he got what he wanted from him.

Option C) They portray Aaravos as having some dark sort of attachment to Viren--one that won't allow him to let Viren "leave him"

All these possibilities are iffy imho, but I'm honestly not sure which would be worse.

Going with Option A feels lazy--like the writers don't want to deal with the dark themes they chose to put in and decided to take the easy out.

(Granted, it wouldn't be the first time the show has dropped important plot points/developments--no one seems to have found out that Viren and Aaravos sent the assassins at the end of s2, for example--but it would still feel cowardly to me)

Going with Options B or C both feel gross--with Option B it feels like Aaravos would be the epitome of the Predatory Queer-Coded Villain--he would have effectively used and abused Viren in a violating way (i.e coerced/forced him to bear their child) and abandoned him once he was done with him. It would be pretty hard to make a case for him having a "kind side" after that.

That being said, Option C isn't really any better--Aarvos would still be following the "Predatory Villain" stereotype, the only difference would be that he'd fall more into the role of an abusive partner than the "pure evil" role that some older queer-coded villains were placed in.

TLDR: I don't like the revelation of Sir Sparklepuff being Viren and Aaravos' child because I feel it follows the reoccurring theme of possessive/violating actions from Aaravos toward Viren that I've worried about all the way back in s3.

[hum--hallelujah]

the THING about Disloyal Order Of Water Buffaloes is that, #1, it is one of the most melodically satisfying songs I've ever heard and that's why it was one of the first FOB songs I actually listened to of my own free choice, and #2, it makes people crazy insane bc so many of the lyrics simply make zero sense on a surface level EXCEPT "I'm half doomed and you're semi sweet" which IMMEDIATELY gets across its point and acts as a thesis statement to the song, thus allowing an understanding of the rest of the lyrics to fall into place

[herrscherofmagic]

another WIP!

anyways, when I was going into Part 2, I was not expecting a bunch of generic-model NPCs (albeit very pretty ones) to end up being some of my favorite characters of the story

I'd do anything to protect these silly little goobers!!!!

THEY'RE SO ADORABLE!!!!

[r0semultiverse]

It’s wild running into a mutual again after you’ve changed your name & became a completely different person. I’ve been through entire character arcs since the pandemic started basically! Like hey yes you may or may not remember me but it’s wonderful to see you again! 😸💜

[thethingything]

"why do I feel so weird and awful" says man who already made a post half an hour ago that included the reasons he feels weird and awful

[petr1kov]

godzilla nes is the only creepypasta i unironically think is cool like fr. the ending is very cheesy and out of place but overall i love how surreal the whole thing is and how it slowly escalates from pretty minor and even fun changes into progressively more bizarre territory, not to mention how amazing the spritework for it is

[rathockey]

since i've gone on T i sweat more and i stink more and that's all expected yeah. but what i DID NOT expect was for my new Guy Stink™ to smell EXACTLY LIKE THE GUY I HAD SOME KIND OF SITUATIONSHIP WITH IN COLLEGE

[robinsnest2111]

winx club number 1 comfort media to me when I was a weird preteen and was ugly and was acting strange and all my peers hated me and bullied me and shunned me and my friends dropped me because of signs of mental illness and no one knew how to handle me, least of all myself ✌

[shmaptainwrites]

rereading old fics can be so personal

[finishercar]

it’s officially “you will be exhausted and have to shower again if you go out” season

[timeisacephalopod]

Watch "A Brief Look at Harry Potter" on YouTube

If you're feeling nostalgic for harry Potter watch this delightful breakdown of JKR's world done by a trans creator- seriously the breakdown of the politics of HP is brilliantly done. Watch it and let me know what you think of economagics 😂😂

[wereh0gz]

feeling vibes. not sure what kind of vibes but they sure are vibes

[slugsinsuits]

Parkour civilisation is a thing that I have now watched.

And the cuts to summary always feel like... When you were watching TV as a kid and the adverts came on, then you got a recap when you got back to the show.

I usually hate adverts, but it feels weird that parkour civilisation doesn't have them.

[luckylunatix]

The nonbinary struggle for me is not wanting to be femme because it's physically and emotionally uncomfortable for me but also kinda wanting to be femme at the same time cuz it feels like I'm missing out on something really great and fun and that maybe I'm just rejecting it cuz I'm afraid I can't pull it off

[quarterprioritymidnight]

Doom Days was a grower album for me. Idk what didn’t click immediately but the more I’ve listened the more I’ve fallen in love with it

wish i could say the same bestie 😭

[saturnniidae]

No but like genuinely seeing httyd1 era Hiccup next to rtte or httyd2-3 Hiccup I know it's the same character but it like won't connect in my brain. Who is that man. What.

Ngl Hiccup's 'glow up' was a tragedy. KEEP HIM SMALL AND UGLY!!!