#SJJKDKJSDJKSDKJSK😭😭

[poisonousquinzel]

also clarifier skdjsksks regardless of how I'm currently feeling about the relationship writing for Harley and Ivy, it changes nothing when it comes to me shipping them in general.

I don't think they're being super well written when it comes to their relationship side plots as of this moment. I think a lot of narrative steps have been skipped or ignored, and in Ivy's case my issue is primarily with Janet, how Janet is written and how others are written specifically when in a scene with her.

@harlivycentral has a really really great post about Ivy's characterization, in gen and in these situations. It's a good read! The bit about the stuff with Bella really makes sense and personally I could definitely believe that, I just struggle to fully believe it's an intentional writing decision. 😭 (But as we all know there's a lot of great comic bits that're definitely not intentionally written skdjdkks)

So regardless of the creative intentions, it does make digesting and even understanding why Ivy may be reacting in certain ways a lot easier. so like truly, ty

Creative intentions wise though, it never feels like the narrative treats the "romance" infidelity side plot in her comic with the severity the actions would realistically cause. Harley doesn't react in character most of the time and frankly she's not really well written in #14/#17.

And personally for me Janet comes off as having a lot of biphobic stereotypes in her characterization thus far, characteristics that gww has had sole control over since her creation, Janet is her original character. And it makes enjoying her overwhelming presence more and more agitating to experience the longer I think about the fact that she's perpetuating harmful stereotypes about my sexuality, and no one seems to give a damn outside of folks here.

The way gww has decided to write her up until this time (regardless if she fully realizes it or not) is that of an irrational, pushy, promiscuous and impulsive bisexual woman who continues to romantically pursue and kiss the people around her without them giving any indication that they want her to and being self-assured that these mostly nonconsensual encounters were legit Romantic Moments between herself and these people. (this view is not challenged by the narrative)

She has described herself as a seductress, a femme fatale and a homewrecker. And apparently believes her relationship with Ivy can be partly summed up with "person you sleep with when you're bored".

This line from the chapter released a few days ago continues to give me no hope that the writing is ever gonna acknowledge or have Janet acknowledge that nothing that's happened between her and Ivy (or her and Harley) have been real Moments in the published product we have been presented. This was an issue in #23 when Janet said as much, to Harley's confusion.

Ivy did not sleep with Janet because "she was bored". She was High. She unknowingly consumed drugs and said herself that she "stopped resisting" the hallucinogens and JANET. the idea that what happened in #10 was because of boredom is actually absurd tbf.

the next kiss in #11 is unsolicited. her kiss with Harley in #14 is unsolicited, one that she does after immediately insulting Harley. and Harley makes it clear in #17 that that is exactly how she views the interaction.

but even that rude, unsolicited moment in #14 was mentioned in the summary with the statement that it was potential cheating.

BACK IN GOTHAM CITY! As Poison Ivy investigates the inner workings of a strange new skyscraper in Gotham, she finds herself up to her neck in a surreal and slimy mystery. And at its center? A brand-new villain in the Poison Ivy pantheon of rogues! Plus…is Janet-from-HR cheating on Ivy?!

even her kiss with Croc was unsolicited, and I'm glad they seem happy and all, but Janet is acting like she's gotta hide this from Ivy as if they're not just friends. Why the hell would Ivy care 😭

The overall idea from the post linked above about Ivy potentially self sabotaging after the reunion and thats why she slept with Janet is a really good one that I think could have worked in the published product if the narrative was treating the encounter as just that. If it spent more time with Ivy's personal inner workings, feelings and thoughts about the situations, and less time focusing on Janet and attempting to legitimize her factually incorrect takes about them having a Thing when Ivy told her minutes after their hook up that it was a mistake sjdjjdksksk 😭😭

I also don't think that this thing between Janet and Croc is going to end happily :(( given the way gww has talked about it on her bluesky. she's also kept silent on anything about Ivy's relationship with Harley despite people asking.

So I wouldn't be surprised if DC is pushing to have them in a very separated, "open relationship" again.

Thankfully comic characters and ships always tend to have great highs and low lows, unfortunately I think we're just dipping down again.

And, remember it's been a very good few years for them, having their relationship be made more public and irrefutably Romantic. they've been allowed to kiss on the lips countless times now and be openly gay and in love on comic covers. Harley has said the actual word bisexual in reference to herself!!! We've had a lot of incredible progress.

The main timeline harlivy is also not the only one that's canon, so while this may be coming into an arc / few years we're not gonna particularly enjoy writing wise, there's still numerous other universe harlivy's to appreciate and latch onto in the meantime if the current writing is making enjoying the harlivy ship difficult for you. ❤️

BTAS, DCeased, Injustice (comic) Bombshells, DC Superhero Girls, The Strange Case Of Harleen & Harley, Wayne Family Adventures, etc. I'm sure I'm forgetting some skdjsksks