#THIS SHIP IS VERY UNDERRATED IT'S A CRIME

[froggiewrites]

i read every single one of your works in one sitting and oh my god. your mind. your words. you're easily one of the best writers on this hellsite. it should be a crime you don't have more followers because your writing is criminally underrated

i saw you were taking requests and i don't want anything too specific but there isn't that much ace content and i really miss my man. a bit of hurt/comfort bc i love pain and then kissing it better

i was thinking something along the line of your Follow Through work (sorry if it feels repetitive but i live for this type ace content) but really I'll be happy with whatever you put out just have fun and go to town with it <3

Ahhh thank you so much this is so sweet 😭😭 I only started posting really recently so receiving sweet messages like this feels so unreal honestly, it just makes my heart so full. I loved writing this, I always love writing sweet stuff for Ace, so thank you for giving me an excuse to write something in this vein again! I hope you like it 💙

Blinders On

Pairing: Ace x Reader

SFW

Summary: You're in love with Ace. Everybody seems to know this but him. Warnings: Fluff, Miscommunication, A Little Self Loathing, Very Little Hurt/Lots of Comfort Word Count: 2.2k

You really can’t tell if Ace is politely rejecting you, or if he simply doesn’t understand your advances. You’re being terribly obvious, enough so that the rest of the ship (and probably the entire rest of the fleet) are well aware, teasing you for it at any given opportunity. If you have to hear one more man making obnoxious smooching noises whenever you two walk past you’re going to throttle someone.

“It’s honestly getting pathetic at this point.”

“Yeah, it hurts to see someone put their pride on the line like this with no reward in sight. Bring a tear to my eye, really.”

Their voices are teasing, not cruel, but your shoulders tense anyway. You hate feeling pathetic. If he just turned you down, you would be more than willing to just lick your wounds and move on, no matter how hard it hurt. But he never did. He never pulled away, or pushed you further from him. He just never pulled you closer, either. You were left in limbo, treading the line between friend and lover, never crossing to either side.

“What’s got you frowning like that?” You jump when you feel two fingers at the edges of your lips, gently forcing them into a smile. Ace is in front of you, nearly nose to nose, and you can see the candlelight dancing in his eyes and painting his cheeks a gentle orange. He looks beautiful, as always, as he grins at you. “That’s better. Now you try again without my help.”

You force your mouth into a smile despite yourself.

“There we go.” He laughs quietly, and you can feel his warm breath on your face. He’s horribly, unbearably close, close enough that you would barely have to move to feel his lips against yours. The urge is overwhelming, but you can’t let yourself, so you scoot back slightly, smile growing a bit shakier.

He frowns a bit, something unnamed flashing in his eyes, before he leans a little further back as well. “Care to share what made you so upset? You were glaring a hole into the table.”

“Oh it’s…it’s nothing big. Don’t worry about it.” You frankly would rather throw yourself overboard than look Ace in the eye that you were sitting here pathetically pining over him.

He frowns deeper. “You know you can always share with me, right? I’m a good listener, I swear.” A mocking laugh explodes behind him from a nearby eavesdropper, and he leans forward before muttering, “I’m good at listening to you, at least.”

Your cheeks heat. You don’t want to embarrass yourself like this, but he’s looking at you with those sweet puppy dog eyes, and maybe this could be a chance for you to finally figure out how he feels about you. “Well…it’s just…” your eyes slide to the several crewmates visibly listening in. “Can we talk in private?”

“Of course!” He’s on his feet instantly, offering you his hand to help you up. He pulls you up as though you weigh nothing, and while that makes your stomach flutter a bit, it’s nothing compared to the way he keeps a hold on your hand while leading you away. You can feel the heat radiating from him, every callus on his hand, the way his fingers lightly rub against the back of your hand. It takes all of your self control not to melt.

He leads you to his room, leading to wolf whistles from some passersby, and you internally groan at all of the comments you’re going to get after this. But he gently sets you on his bed before kicking off his boots and sitting next to you, on his knees, looking at you expectantly. “Is this good?”

“Yeah, thanks, Ace.” He gives a blinding smile at that, terribly pleased to have helped. “So I’ve been dealing with…an issue, lately.”

He nods, urging you onward.

“So there’s this guy…”

He winces, the expression so quick you almost miss it. 

“And I’ve been trying to figure out how he feels about me.” You curl in on yourself a little tighter. “But I genuinely can’t tell if he’s noticed how I feel and he just doesn’t…feel the same, or if he somehow doesn’t know.” This is terrifying, laying it all bare, but if it leaves a chance for something else, something better, isn’t it worth it to be brave?

But Ace remains silent. His face is frozen halfway between shock and despair, staring at you with wide eyes. You blink at him, confused, and gently reach forward to take his hand. “Ace?”

He flinches when you touch him. “Ah! Um, sorry. Advice. You wanted advice.”

“If you’re willing? You don’t have to.”

“No, I–I can.” He seems flustered, but you can’t really tell which part of this shook him. You try to brace yourself for oncoming rejection, just in case. “...You really don’t know if he feels the same?”

“I have absolutely no idea. And nobody else I’ve asked does, either.”

Another flash of hurt, the frown of a kicked puppy. “You went to other people before me?”

You rush to correct. “They came to me. I think they felt bad for me, honestly. The entire ship has noticed and they can’t tell if he likes me either, and a lot of people have been making fun of me about it. So a few people asked me if I was alright.”

He furrows his brow. “People have been making fun of you? Who?”

“Almost everyone, really. You didn’t notice?”

“No, I didn’t.” His expression shifts to something close to guilt. “How long has this been going on?”

“About…a year or so?”

“You only joined the crew a little more than a year ago.”

“Yeah.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.” You can’t keep the exhaustion from your tone. You want to say it hasn’t taken a toll on you, that you let it roll off your back, but the weight has been resting on your shoulders, dragging you further and further down. It’s only a matter of time before you snap entirely. “It’s…it’s a bit much, sometimes. But the only way to get them to stop is to stop trying to get him to notice me, and if I stop that he never will. And I think he’s worth all of it, really.”

“Hm. I’m…sure he is.” You can hear the sting in his voice, like cold water on an open wound. “He has to be, for you to want him so badly.”

“He’s the best man I’ve ever met.” You can’t keep the affection from your voice, or the warmth from your cheeks as you shyly peer at Ace through your lashes. You can’t place the faraway look in his eyes, hazy and unfocused.

“He better be.” He clenches his jaw briefly before relaxing it, closing his eyes and shutting you out. You see his fingers digging into his thighs as he turns away from you and takes a deep breath. “You should just tell him, I’m sure he’ll reciprocate. He’d be an idiot if he didn’t.” His voice is strained, sounding like there’s an unshakable weight on his chest.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, sweetheart. Don’t worry about it. You should tell that bastard how you feel.”

“Bastard?”

You can see every muscle in his back tense as he continues to face away from you. “Did I say bastard? I meant lucky bastard.”

“It…doesn’t sound like you did.”

“How could he be anything less than lucky, to have someone like you?”

He really isn’t getting it. Even now, he just doesn’t fucking get it. “Are you mad at me, Ace? Or him, I guess?”

“I’m not mad,” he snaps, unconvincingly. “I’m not…I’m not upset. It would be ridiculous for me to be upset, I have no reason to be. Not with you, or with whoever it is. That would be silly. And I’m not. Silly.”

“...Right.”

Are you going to have to spell this out for him?

“And since I’m so definitely not-at-all mad, can I know who it is? So I know who to congratulate later.”

You sigh. “You really have no idea?”

“...I think I might have one.”

You lean forward a bit, trying to angle around him to look him in the eye, but you accidentally brush your chest with his back and he jumps, scrambling away before turning around to face you. “Who do you think it is, Ace?”

“Is it Marco?”

What?

“What?”

“Is it…is it not Marco?” He furrows his brow.

“I–no. It’s not Marco.”

“Thatch then?”

“No! Oh my god.”

“Izou? Or–”

“It’s you, Ace!”

His eyes go wide and he freezes. “It’s…me?”

“Yes.”

He absolutely lights up like a firework with the biggest, most sincere grin you’ve ever seen. “It’s me?” He leans forward, close enough that you can see every fleck of color in his dark eyes. “It’s me? Really? You mean it?”

“Who else could it possibly be?” You can’t keep the hint of laughter out of your voice at the idea you could love anybody but Ace, as though any man you had ever met could beat him for best. 

Before you know it, his arms are around you, his comforting weight pressing you into the bed beneath you. “I didn’t think it could ever be me.”

Your arms wrap around him in turn, pulling his head into your neck as he presses his nose into you. “Why couldn’t it be you? You’re amazing, Ace.”

“I can’t believe you believe that.” His voice is soft as he pulls himself apart for a second, allows himself to fall into your embrace and forget the world. “I didn’t think you could want me. I already didn’t get how you could like me, let alone more. You’re so…everything and I’m so…me.”

“I don’t think there’s anything in the world better to be than you.”

There’s a wetness pressing into your neck, but you don’t comment. “No one has ever said that to me before. I don’t…I don’t understand how I tricked you, but–”

“Portgas D Ace. You didn’t trick me. I just saw you for who you were, and I loved you because of it. Not in spite of it, not because I somehow didn’t see it. Because you’re you, and I don’t know what could be better than that.”

“Almost anything else?” He mutters it weakly. “I really hoped you would…would think about me like I think about you. I just didn’t think it was possible. Was it really that obvious?”

“Every single person on this ship knew before you did. Someone was making fun of me for it at breakfast, directly in front of you, and you still didn’t notice. It was really just because you didn’t think I could like you?”

“It genuinely didn’t seem like a possibility to me. I figured I was just going to be pining after you for the rest of my life, y’know? Have to see you find someone else as wonderful as you are and run off together, and pretend I was happy for you. Which I sort of would be, I guess. I want you to be happy. And I didn’t think I could do that for you.” He pulls out of your neck, and you can see his eyes are glistening, a few stray tears making their way down his freckled cheeks. He looks you in the eye, while his own filled with a strange mix of affection and self loathing. “Still don’t, really. But I’ll try.”

You cup his cheeks in your hands, gently brushing away his tears. “No one else could make me happier than you, Ace. I know that for sure. You are the kindest, brightest, most wonderful man I know. You have no idea how amazing you are, how you inspire the people around you. You’re so loved, and it’s not because you managed to pull the wool over everybody’s eyes, or anything silly like that. It’s because you deserve it.” You lean up, lips brushing softly against his before you pull back again to speak. His lips chase yours, making you giggle. “You deserve every bit of it, Ace. And if you don’t believe me I’ll just have to show you. Every day, until it sticks.”

“And if it does?” His voice is nothing but a whisper as he stares at you like you’re the greatest treasure on the seas. “Will you stop if it sticks?”

“No way in hell. I’ll double down. Triple down, even.”

He gives you a shy grin. “Guess I’ll have to figure out the truth pretty fast, then. I’d like to see what double this looks like.

“I guess you will.”

The next kiss takes your breath away. It makes the teasing you and Ace are sure to receive when you leave the cabin worth it a million times over. But right now there isn’t a crew jeering at you. The only thing in the world right now is Ace, on top of you, his warmth enveloping you as he kisses you like he’s been waiting a thousand years to do it.

[biscuitboba]

I'm somewhat new to your account, i know that you are obsessed with zolu, but may I ask what are your top 5 ships from op👀?

Hiii! I will gladly answer your question loll🤩

Zolu/luzo 👒⚔

This one is so obvious, i know, I literally only talk about them here, so- 😭😭

Acedeuce/deuceace🎭🔥

God i am begging people to read the ace novel pls pls pls, these two are so beautiful they are so devoted (im gonna reblog this post with something them related later.. probably) i luv them so muchh, but they are so underrated:-( i don't really talk about them much here (shame on me)... but i always think about them!!

Saboala 🎩🐨

I'm literally insane about ASL? luffy, ace, and sabo are among my top favorite op characters, so of course i'm gonna list the asl and their bf/gf first, lollxD Saboala is such a soft and wholesome ship?? it is so obvious that they care so much about each other even with their very limited(?) moments, but i ate those moments up!!

Namivivi🍊👑

I've talked about them a few times, but the way they are very protective of each other?? They care so muchh about each other! like when nami was sick and vivi putting his head on the ground to beg for nami's sake.. Also thinking about how nami is like a sturdy pillar for vivi at times... so many moments between the two of them tbh, i literally want to puke because i love them so muchh-

Frobin🤖🌸

Literally the closest thing to canon (among all the other mugiwara ships). They are very close? And naturally comfortable with casual touch between each other. Like frank carrying robin (in various ways) plenty of times throughout the entire series, or robin letting franky to sleep on her lap... and let's not talk about all the op color spreads or op movies with all of the frobin crumbs (franky holding her whole body, robin touching franky's face, et cetera) also god... sometimes i really want to dissect frobin in thriller bark (or frobin throughout the whole op) all the subtle/micro interactions, and like the iconic "it is never a crime to exist!" line?? I have so much to say about them, but the most important thing is they are very dear to me!!

(I'm sorry i think i ended up rambling😭)

EDIT: Yesterday i said "i'm gonna reblog this post with something them related later.. probably", and i've done exactly that... so you can check my reblog for more deuceace/acedeuce:D

[do-you-ship-this-comic-ship]

propaganda:

This is for all of my fellow Two-Face and Gilda lovers out there! Personally I think that BruHarvey as a ship is underrated because of how much more popular other Rogues are (especially the Joker and the Riddler), and the prominence of ships between Bruce and various members of the Justice League (and of course the various comp het ships DC keeps trying to force Bruce into).

In comparison Harvey just doesn't really capture the fandom's imagination as much. Therefore BruHarvey isn't super popular because they don't consider it as an option a lot of the time. But that being said, I also find that a lot of people when presented with BruHarvey as a possible ship will be pretty amenable to it! It's just a fantastic ship if you want some old man/toxic/tragic yaoi! The ship has so much going for it! Childhood friends to lovers. Enemies to lovers. Friends in their civilian identities, as they try to pursue justice for Gotham together, and even friends after Harvey becomes a villain too! It's SO juicy and has SO much unexplored potential if DC weren't COWARDS and would just let Brucie kiss men already! Each of their themes of justice, duality, and redemptive love mirror one another in such an exceedingly tantalizing way that I could write a whole college thesis on it! But I'm not just here about them. I'm also here for my girl Gilda too!

Now BruHarvey may be an underrated ship... And Two-Face as a character is just about rated as a character (not underrated. Not overrated. Just rated). But Gilda...? My poor, poor girl Gilda! Writers never know what to do with her and refuse to give her the justice she deserves!!! Gilda is a big part of the reason why Two-Face was able to work so well as a character and concept all the way back in the 40's in the first place! I don't think that Harvey would have been as iconic of a character with as much staying power as he does with just... SO MANY imitators if it weren't for Gilda's presence and ability to help Harvey redeem himself! The whole point of Harvey as a character is that while he might be a villain, he is never too far gone as to not deserve a chance at redemption. He genuinely cannot help himself when it comes to the compulsion of doing crime. And in his original stories, he was able to redeem himself and reach a happy ending with Gilda helping him, supporting him, and loving him through that journey.

The reason that Batman doesn't kill is largely because of Harvey himself! His childhood friend that he deeply cares about, and who, no matter how much society at large, and even Harvey himself tells Bruce that he is beyond saving, that he still cares about nevertheless and will NEVER give up on! And Gilda was the first person to never give up on Harvey and was the one to lead him back to the light! In a time where Batman might still occasionally use a gun and where the punishment most criminals would recieve in the comics was death or a lifetime of jail, never to be seen again, Two-Face stood out because of his redemption! A redemption that the writers of the comics stuck to for decades in spite of a clear demand to have Two-Face back as a threat! (Hence the many, many imitators.) And sure, the helpless damsel who saves the bad guy through the power of love may be a tired trope these days, but it's still one that can work very well, and as a woman first written in the 40's Gilda actually has a surprising amount to her that later writers would forget or just outright ignore! Gilda clearly was a female character who had more going on in her life other than her boyfriend at the time she was first written. She was actually a sculptor!

A woman with her own well-respected career entirely divorced from her DA boyfriend's! And while Harvey was her primary muse, I have doubts that her career just stopped when he turned to crime! After all, she seems to have been a woman who owned a house and lived on her own and had enough wealth to spend her free time going to the movies (and apparently buying herself mysterious cloaks). In the 1940's! We love a woman who can get everything on her own without needing a man (though it is a nice bonus) in this household! And she was doing it as an artist when that stuff was less common! And her other biggest trait is her unshaking love and loyalty for Harvey. I think that it's genuinely interesting how the crime and murder matters very little to Gilda (and similar characters that fill her role in stories). What she doesn't like is how he lies and tries to decieve her specifically. She would die for Harvey. She would kill for Harvey. She will stay with and help him through thick and thin. No matter what.

And very few pieces of media do her character justice! The Long Halloween may ostensibly be about her, but they gave her nothing in her life other than the men she associates with, a desire for children, and murder. Not even a hint that she was a sculptor, barely a hint that she studied law or anything that other iterations offered! She's my girl! And she could honestly offer a number of very interesting story posibilities, if only writers saw her potential! But clearly they don't given that for the last several decades, they've been writing her out of stories, or killing her off in brutal fashion so that they don't have to deal with the question of what she's up to while Harvey is doing his crime stuff. Hell. Gilda was the catalyst for the Long Halloween, so why isn't Dark Victory about nor even include her in person!??? Why not explore her being Duela Dent's mother!? Why not show her standing by Bruce's side while the both of them try to help Harvey recover!??? Why do the writers try to make Harvey NOT a wife guy!? Why can't they let Gilda be around and Harvey's wife that's cooler and more chill than him!? Why must Harvey be single!? By far he has the best romantic chemistry with (out of anyone who isn't Gilda) Bruce and no other major character! But if you stick Harvey and Bruce together for that sweet, sweet tragic yaoi and angst... Well... First of all DC are COWARDS who refuse to let Bruce be into dudes. And second of all, why not just let Bruce, Harvey, and Gilda be together and poly!!!? But I'm no coward! Double the partners means double the chances for tragedy and angst! (Or comedy if you'd like!) And double the possibilities for love, recovery, and redemption! Gilda wouldn't and shouldn't give up on Harvey!

And Bruce and Gilda cheating on Harvey without his blessing!??? BROKE! Them being in a polycule? Excellent! And if you need any proof that Bruce, Harvey, and Gilda could be a functional polycule, you should read the daily newspaper Batman comics as archived on @daily-batman! Because they make a GREAT case for it there, and seeing their relationship develop in that story is just delightful! Harvey watches Batman (that he's half figured out is Bruce) kiss his wife (named Alice but like... She's CLEARLY just Gilda with a different name!) and isn't bothered by it AT ALL other than it giving her hope that he can get better! Kissing his wife? That he understands and is perfectly fine with. But giving her HOPE!!!??? Now THAT'S a line too far! Sounds like something someone poly might do! And also... That series finale!!! Lol. Harvey getting jealous of and trying to kill Bruce for thinking that he's stealing his girl? Nah. Broke. Harvey being a-okay with Bruce smooching his wife because he's already in love with Bruce too...? HELL YEAH! Let's do it! Who needs love triangles when you can have power throuples instead!??? Join the few of us that enjoy the ship! And give Gilda and BruHarvey the love they deserve!!!!

Also just LOOK at the image I sent and tell me that it DOESN'T look like Bruce, Harvey, and Gilda are getting poly-married! BruHarvey is juicy and even more juicy with the added DLC of Gilda in the mix! And Gilda deserves the whole world! Give them the world!

[albondiguilla007]

So:

I mostly opened this account to talk about Harry Potter with other fans. I need potterhead friends I’m begging you, take pity on me.

✨ First though, here’s a Marauders playlist:

✨ Profile pic by sophitil

Ok, so a bit about me and this blog’s contents:

✨ We don’t judge here, every ship is welcome

✨But if it’s gay better

✨ I love the golden trio, I won’t stand for ANY kind of SLANDER, not of Ron, not of Hermione, least of all Harry. They are human, and they are good friends with flaws who love each other very much. They are growing up, grieving, taking care of each other and learning about life. I adore their friendship, and fanfics that realistically explore their relationship will always be a soft spot of mine. (wholesome one shot)

✨ Hot take: If you have any fanfic recommendation where they are romantically together (the three of them, as in an actual relationship), I would appreciate it very much

✨ Drarry (please)—I live for Drarry, I breathe, think, dream, eat Drarry 🙏🏻 They’re my babies

✨ Draco Malfoy is a power bottom, fight me

✨ Lily Evans is my queen and goddess

✨ Tomarry? I’M A SLUT FOR TOMARRY (please I need more time travel fanfic recommendations) Some very good ones tho:

Terrible, but Great.

you belong to me (i belong to you).

Of Kings, of Pawns, and of Men. (This one is not time trivel per se but its AMAZING I’m telling ya)

Wear me like a locket around my throat

(all of them are in ao3)

✨ My boy Harry is incredibly underrated on his own book, like...? He is amazing, I love him, I wish him all the happiness in the world. WE NEED MORE FANFICS WHERE ALL HIS MENTAL STRUGGLES AND GRIEVING PROCESSESS ARE PORTRAYED. (He’s gone through so much, I don’t buy the way canon just swept everything under the rug and moved on)

✨ Another soft spot of mine? Fanfics where Harry time travels to a time where his parents are alive or a different dimension all together.

To make it better

Devil’s White Knight

Across the universe

You’re somebody else

(all in ao3 except Across the universe, that’s a short story in fanfic.net)

Other recommendations

✨ My bedtime readings are hardcore Drarry smut with some very questionable dom/sub dynamics. RECOMMENDATIONS PLEASE 🙏🏻

✨ Jegulus (depending on the mood) Jegulily thooo 👀

✨Canon James Potter was a dick, but I forgive him. He did change a bit after Hogwarts, but I keep hoping he would’ve matured more if he’d had the chance to grow up into an actual adult

✨ Aaron Taylor Johnson and every other version of James Potter is mine, no arguments

✨ NO SNAPE SLANDER. He is an amazing character, and a very complex one at that. He is not supposed to be a good person, but a complicated one with a gray set of values. Y’all do not understand that, and I’m tired of watching Marauders stans be so fucking hypocritical when it comes to him.

Crime and Punishment (an amazing severitus fic on ao3)

✨ August, Cardigan and Betty are about these three idiots (Lily, James and Regulus) and you can’t change my mind. If you have any fanfic recs I’m all ears.

[marauderseraconfessions]

Bartylus makes so much more sense than Rosekiller (who on earth is Evan Rosier? And why did the shippers collectively decide to erase Barty's blonde hair and freckles?)

Regulus and Barty are canonically around the same age (potentially in the same year at Hogwarts).

They both canonically love quidditch (so it makes sense to assume that Barty is on the quidditch team, like Regulus).

And the forbidden romance element!! Regulus is the last heir to one of the most notorious and shady dark wizard families (after Sirius is disinherited), meanwhile Barty's father is the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, very outspoken against dark magic and dark wizards! And yet Barty somehow becomes absolutely obsessed with Voldemort. Guess who else is obsessed with Voldemort? Regulus "I have a vision board of Voldemort's most heinous crimes on the wall above my bed" Black.

Barty Crouch Jr about himself: “It was my dream, my greatest ambition, to serve him (Voldemort), to prove myself to him."

Kreacher about Regulus: “and when he was sixteen years old, Master Regulus joined the Dark Lord. So proud, so proud, so happy to serve…”

And Barty is sooo salty about Death Eaters who turned their backs on Voldemort… like Regulus did.

Mmmmmm. The sheer potential for angst. Why is this ship so underrated??

ᯓ★

[chaitantei-ao3]

just going over the season 16 scripts but do we see how that scene in 'frank v. russia' has dennis becoming more and more upfront about being johnny - dennis has been hinting that he is johnny to mac in private over months but then he is angry enough to confess that he is johnny in front of everyone

dennis is synonymous to rage in the show (with waxing and waning cycles) but he's been generally mellow post s12 hate crimes... (notice that he wasn't the sin of wrath but lust in the s11 finale cause he reached his apex point in mac and dennis move to the suburbs, this continues through seasons 11 to 14... rising slightly as we reach the castle in s15 but still... pretty mellow) dennis has generally been on the mellow path and the best evidence of this is in 'the gang inflates' where he is willing to share an inflatable bed with a man actively trying to off himself by being completely unaware of his nut allergy despite the obvious evidence (as mac cycles through cycles of being deeply unaware of himself to being somewhat aware), dennis's mellow moments are sadly layered with moments when mac is The Most Unaware person on the planet, he has always been delusional, but when dennis is the most accessible and not clouded with wrath, mac just happens to be the most unaware person around him (notice how he is deeply unaware of what dennis thinks about him in s12 the gang tends bar, so much so that charlie is trying to tell him what dennis feels, yes he knows how dennis might be feeling in general (by getting him what he wanted) but he fails to understand dennis's feelings when he himself is involved

there are moments where they are in the same orbit so to speak, where dennis is mildly annoyed at him (and doesn't push him away) and mac is a bit more aware (of his importance to dennis) and these moments are the ones where we see their friendship, so underrated, shine in the very early seasons (season 5 and 6 especially)

these ships keep passing each other by... and now well, we are on another turning point as s16 finale actually saw dennis's rage simmer after reaching another apex (not in mac's presence this time, though he is halfway there, seething in 'frank v. russia') as dennis reaches the apex of his rage, mac says this to dennis in the episode before it happens, "yeah, we're hoping that you get mad out there and then you come back and you're happy."

[scribblinartist]

rating every smiling critters ships (rare pair included)

okay remember everyone these are just my opinions please don't harasse me for it-

from 6 to 10 : I like it or it's one of my favorites

from 5 to 0 : I dislike it or it gives me the ick

first off I'd like to start with the ships that includes my favorite boy, Dogday, our very good Boi

Catnap x Dogday :

the classic sun and moon ship

the ship is good if we're talking about the cartoon version of this ship, because the gameplay version is... ick.

I like the dynamic but the ship isn't really my favorite since I mostly see them as friends than lovers

I'll give it a 6/10

Craftycorn x Dogday :

one of my favorites

I like the dynamic these two has

shy x energetic dynamic

kinda reminds me of Fluttershy x PinkiePie

it's a 9/10

KickinChicken x Dogday :

both are stars.

the true rare pair, haven't seen anyone ship them

don't have much to talk about the dynamic, it's kinda cool tho

I'll give it a 7/10

Hoppy x Dogday :

does anybody even ship this-

idk why but I always saw them as siblings figures so this ship isn't really my favorite, still a good one tho.

I'll give it a 4/10

Bubba x Dogday :

gives me the nerd x tiger vibes somehow

I see them more as friends so... yea no.

4/10

Bobby x Dogday :

your honor they are underrated.

DOES ANYONE EVEN KNOW THIS SHIP EXIST???

idk why but this ship gives me butterflies its just cutie potato

8/10

Picky x Dogday :

we all agree that nobody ship this

they just food buddies

2/10

now with ships with our secretly William afton- I mean Catnap.

Catnap x Bobby :

underrated.

HEAR ME OUT THEIR DYNAMIC

they need more fanarts yall

moon and cupid

8/10

Catnap x KickinChicken :

MOON AND STAR? YES. YES THEY ARE.

gays. my beloved.

Cool x Chill.

8/10

Catnap x Craftycorn :

I love how yall decided that they're enemies to lovers

bro stole his best friend's girl-

I mostly see fanart of this ship with Dogday being included, never seen any where its only the two of them

7/10

Catnap x Picky :

would yall be surprised if I told you that this ship actually exists? (it existed right after chapter 3 release)

they give the "partners in crime" vibes

8/10

Catnap x Hoppy :

they have something special yall I'm not insane

underrated

again, Cool x Chill.

10/10

Catnap x Bubba :

never seen any fanart of this ship

idk I can't see them in any way being romantic w/ each other

2/10

time for our sporty girl to shine

Hoppy x KickinChicken :

Cool girl x Cool Boy

the ship cool but I see them more as friends

yall already deciding that they're frienemies

7/10

Hoppy x Bobby :

lesbians.

8/10

Hoppy x Craftycorn :

haven't seen any fanart of em

they are the ultimate girlfriends yall

7/10

Hoppy x Picky :

I see them more as sisters

their dynamic is cool

6/10

Hoppy x Bubba :

I don't think this ship even exists-

3/10

the nerdo has came.

Bubba x Kickin :

the classic nerd x jock

the gays are being gays and I'm here for it

7/10

Bubba x Crafty :

left brain right brain, brilliant.

I mostly saw them as friends

6/10

Bubba x Picky :

yall can already tell the amount of fanart I saw of these two

they're like siblings to me so..

5/10

Bubba x Bobby :

this exists?-

idk their dynamic isn't really that much

4/10

our beloved yandere

Bobby x Kickin :

they are inlove you can't tell me otherwise.

LISTEN SOMEONE NEEDS TO HEAR ME OUT

10/10

Bobby x Crafty :

so we all agree that Bobby is definitely a yandere in this ship right?

I don't see it often but I like the dynamic

7/10

Bobby x Picky :

okay listen to me these two are lesbians who give each other goodnight kisses you can't prove me wrong

underrated af

I NEED TO KNOW IF SOMEONE SHIP THIS PLS

8/10

the artist has come to the show

Crafty x Kickin :

OKAY LISTEN YOU-

they are so inlove and they give each other hugs and cuddles

this ship exists because I said so.

10/10

Crafty x Picky :

they buddies

6/10

Time for some food.

Picky x Food :

this ship is very underrated

yall need to pay more attention to it

10/10

okay hope yall enjoyed reading this

[sorcerous-caress]

Wyll has been overlooked in the fandom a lot, that gentleman is very underrated and that's a crime. I love the other companions too but Wyll deserves to have the spotlights for a week.

Details below!

The event focuses on celebrating Wyll, his storyline and characters as a whole.

Event duration: from December 1st until December 7th.

Make a Wyll focused work at least once every day of the week of the event. It can be fanfiction, ships or reader insert, character studies, fanart, ingame screenshots and edits!

You can include other companions as well, but the focus must remain on Wyll as a main character.

Have fun! Really this is just about showing Wyll more appreciation. Even a doodle or a short drabble would be appreciated.

Alternative universes are allowed, Vampire Wyll? Demon Wyll? Go wild.

Make sure to use the event tag #Wyll'sWeek

Feel free to reblog this and share it outside of tumblr!

As for my own writing blog, I will be re-opening requests again but only for the Wyll event. Thank you for reading I hope you have a good day.

[arabriddler]

Gotham Fic rec list

A Modicum of humanity makes everything harder

Fic AO3 description :

Bruce Wayne first donned the cowl ten years ago, vowing to protect Gotham's citizens from crime, but who protects him?

Jim Gordon is called upon by an unlikely set of people to find Bruce Wayne aka Batman, solve the case he was working on before he disappeared, and find him before Gotham gets wind that its caped protector is missing.

my notes :

this is an incomplete series of stories set post-canon. It’s great because it offers a variety of characters and interactions. Tbh I only read up to Evol Love but it’s very fun. Ties gotham and comic Batman together nicely ! I personally consider it canon.

The Edcubus

Fic AO3 description:

Edward Nygma attempts to live his life well under the guise as a normal, human forensic pathologist. He just likes human souls as a side dish now and then. It's what an Incubus does.  So when he sees a dapper looking fellow at a club, and how well they hit it off together, a soul seems guaranteed.

my notes:

This fic made me laugh and cry and giggle and smile and cry again and it’s just. A journey. It’s sort of a Gotham rewrite but with a twist ( Ed is an incubus ). Ed’s DID is written very well here as well as Oswald’s disability and the way his mind works and runs Gotham. The relationships are very light and the dialogue seems very authentic and the highlight of the fic is Zsasz. I loved hims so much here. Also, Tabitha is written so well here. I loved her

The Fox and The Scorpion

Fic AO3 description:

Ed and Lucius both think they can help each other, and maybe in doing so help themselves along the way. But the more time they spend together, the more the line between help and harm begins to blur.

My notes :

If you know me you know that I constantly talk about this fic. It’s just. So good. Had to stare at the wall after it for such a long time. The way Ed and Lucius mirror each other? Their conversations and interactions ? The plot twists? Moreover, Lucius is underrated across all Batman media. This fic really gets in depth when it comes to him and I appreciate that.

4 am

Fic AO3 description:

Oswald Cobblepot works in the campus cafe of Gotham University where he meets Edward Nygma, a student looking for a quiet place to study.

my notes:

college AU! That’s also a coffe shop AU! It’s so cute. Oswald and Ivy are sort of siblings here and I love that so much. Ed is adorable, and I loved the way Jim’s written here ( we have Ed and Jim as roommates ! ) I’ve reread it so many times.

On the corners of neibolt and Waterbury

Fic AO3 description:

There were many stories about the monsters that lived beneath Gotham. People always assumed that they were harmless stories, but the children of Gotham knew better.

my notes:

IT AU!! It’s set in Gotham verse BUT it’s also an IT AU I don’t know how to explain it but it’s so fun. We also have Ed and Oswald and Jim as childhood friends and it’s adorable. Made me want to read my IT book gathering dust on the bookshelf

Avast!

Fic AO3 description:

Oswald Cobblepot is the proud captain of the pirate ship Iceberg. He crosses paths with the surgeon Ed Nygma.

my notes:

pirates AU with supernatural elements. Complicated Ed Oswald relationship we just love to see it. The writing is so good It makes you picture everything in your mind. There is a laviathan and a kraken.

Puzzled

Fic AO3 description:

After Oswald saves Edward on the pier he tells him that he's going to take Martin with him and leave Gotham forever. Shocked by this sudden turn of events, Ed finds himself unable to let Oswald go... So he decides to go with them.

my notes:

road-trip with Ed, Oswald, and Martin. It’s simply wholesome.

Seizing My Guts ( he Floats me with dread )

AO3 fic description:

Oswald awakes from a coma with a bullet hole in his stomach and no recollection of how it got there. With his sight impaired, the task of finding his would-be killer seems to be impossible. Luckily for Oswald, Ed Nygma, his Chief of Staff, is there to lend a hand.

my notes :

went through so many emotions reading this. Complex nygmobblepot vaguely toxic ? Perfect.

Love is a four-legged word

fic AO3 description:

"It's a Maltese Shih Tzu," Ed says. "If there's a dog in the house, it shouldn't be a breed that generates puddles of drool."

"I thought you didn't like dogs," Oswald says, still cradling the ball of fluff.

"I don't," Ed agrees. "You do."

my notes :

a one shot that has it all! Dogs! Growing old! Post canon! Insane amount of fluff! This is such a comfort read I’ve re-read it so many times

Unexpected Visitor

fic AO3 description:

Oswald and Ed receive an unexpected late-night visitor.

my notes:

Oswald and Ed being uncles and it’s so wholesome I just love it. It’s part of a series which I recommend reading it all ( this is the second story ) I read it a long time ago so I can’t remember it well but I remember this part because it was so wholesome

I’d want to be felled by you

Fic AO3 description:

"We would be stronger together. No one could stop us."

They’re in love with each other, and he’s the only one that knows.

My notes:

Set after the season 5 knife hug, a very wholesome one shot with a hint of angst and lots of feelings. Ed nurses Oswald’s eye and they talk

We should be a settled argument

AO3 fic description:

Who would have thought Blackgate Prison and No Man's Land would have so much in common? Restricted food choices, unreliable air conditioning, and surrounded by gangs that can easily be bought, albeit for cigarettes rather than bullets. It's the same posturing and negotiating, and Oswald could do it in his sleep. It's almost relaxing, if you ignore the bounty on his head from the Russians and the grumbling from the Irish.

my notes:

I’ve read this so many times, it’s set post No-Man’s land and catches up with the finale, it’s basically the ten year period where Oswald’s in prison and his handling of black gate is written in such an Interesting way, and Ed and Oswald’s interactions are perfect and fun to read.

Russian Roulette

AO3 fic description:

Edward and Oswald find themselves captured by the Court of Owls. It will take the two of them working together to escape, but not all is as it seems. Escaping their prisons is only the beginning and survival depends on their all too fragile truce. In the end, will it be enough to save either one of them? And are they even capable of maintaining it?

my notes: this is the kind of fic that makes you bite your fingernails and stay up reading it and walk around in circles because it drives you insane. It also has lots of horror and tense elements that make it captivating

Point D’ Amour

AO3 fic description:

Oswald and Edward finally accepted their love for each other. Edward is the happiest he's ever been. Until an incident at a warehouse sends him spiraling. He loves Oswald, so why does he want to hurt him?

my notes: I received this fic as a gift and it’s so 😵‍💫😵‍💫 makes me insane !! Was reading it like :0

[lamialamia]

a, g, i, and o for hbo war ask game <3

a. make a moodboard/edit/headcanon for who you think is underrated for any of the shows.

Bill Leyden is so underrated! I love that little man who just don't know how to quit. My HC for him: Leyden loves melodrama, after he gets a tv, he would be an avid watcher of soap opera.

g. masters of the air and generation kill both seem to have more discourse surrounding them than the other two. which did you enjoy more, and why?

oh this is a hard question. Because I enjoy the writing of GK a lot, it's so fantastically written but i'm not very fannish about it (i do ship BradRay and read their fics, but overall probably not that fannish). On the other hand, MOTA frustrates me with a lot of its writing decisions (enough for me to write meta analyses for it), but I definitely I'm more fannish about that show.

In conclusion: MOTA wins 'being entertaining'. GK wins 'satisfying writing'. Which make them both enjoyable lmao

i. tag some of your closest mutuals and choose a show portrayal from any of the miniseries' that reminds you of them.

ashdsahkj

@blood-mocha-latte Ray, with a little Roe in the mix. fun-loving but also intense and dedicated ;)

@ewipandora is it weird I think you are quite Talbert? idk but i see it

@gorgeousundertow i know you think you are similar to Nix, but I actually give you the joy of reminding me Burgie haha, with some serious Lipton vibe uwu

@screwby straightforward and very awesome. Doc Bryant. No doubt about it.

@ep6bastogne Malarkey! but maybe more introverted haha

@the-cinnamontography-is-amazing my partner in crime and other stuff. keep fighting the good fight! and for that, I see ack-ack in you, especially with his speech about 'war worth fighting for' xD

@staud harry welsh. he's fun, you're fun. such a darling, the both of you :D

o. say something nice about a ship that you don't understand.

this is hard, mostly because ship I don't understand i would just don't remember. but i guess i don't really understand Speirs/Nixon? however, goddamn those two are hot together, like their genetics might make some crazy out-of-this-world beautiful kids.

Ask me anything from this cool thing

[aethon-recs]

January 2023 Tomarrymort One-Shots

I wasn't planning to do a month-by-month rec list, but my god did January deliver on one-shots — so many showstopping works were published this month that these 10 fics deserve their own post. And what a variety too(!), with fics ranging from A/B/O to love potion mishaps to fem!Harry, and even canon-compliant(-ish) Harrymort.

Criteria for this list: one-shot, complete, published in January 2023 (yes, in the last month alone!)

Why one-shots?, you may ask. The majority of what I read is chaptered works and longfics, but I think one-shots can be a bit overlooked and underrated — they don't have ongoing updates on AO3, and the first rec lists in this ship that I encountered were dominated by longfics. So I wanted to celebrate and highlight the amazing work that the writers in this fandom are doing in short-form writing. Also, one-shots tell a full story arc in one go — and isn't that wonderful to get plot resolution and closure in a single sitting?

(Thank you also for dropping recs into my ask box! Please keep them coming!!)

*

Tomarrymort Recs (January 2023)

a dream is a wish by @funkyatheart (E, 5k)

This was such a delight to read from beginning to end. Cleverly weaved in between the canon events of book 5 are SUPER HOT dream-sharing sequences that show the escalation of Harry's increasing fascination with Voldemort. And we're gifted with hemipenes and consciousness-sharing through their mental link — what more can I can ask for from a Harrymort smut scene??

A Special Day by @vdoshu (E, 3.5k)

My jaw was ON. THE. FLOOR. for this whole fic. Grumpy old man Voldemort with all his old man habits was such a delight to read about — I don't think I've ever seen this concept done before. And when Harry shows up, the narrative tension is so good and kept me on the edge of my seat. I can't say much more without giving things away, but I definitely recommend this as one of the most unique and twisted concepts I've ever read in Harrymort.

Banish Me to the Garden of Eden by @contrarywiseizybel (M, 7k)

Rich, sumptuous descriptions run through this entire fic and bring to life — very vividly — the entire story arc of Harry locked up in a tower as Voldemort's captive and how he gradually comes to make the best of his fate. The author's writing is so poetic and lyrical and makes really good use of repetition, which gives the whole fic a very fairy-tale-like quality (including the happily-ever-after ending!)

Bruises Like Violets by @noumena-writes (E, 3k)

A forbidden romance between Tom and Harry who are on opposite sides of the war makes their last tryst VERY high-tension and fraught with danger. As always, noumena's writing is full of so many gorgeous and richly detailed phrases, like "The raging fire that burnt through every angry spell was slowly eating away at Harry, leaving a battle-weary shadow in his place." Absolute 🔥 writing.

Cherish by @amors-mordre (G, 1k)

This fic gave me the absolute chills in just 800 words. Voldemort is at his manipulative best here, as well as absolute peak possessiveness. The dynamic between Voldemort and captive Harry is delightfully creepy and leaves you craving more.

his lady in crimson (who reaches through time) by @ellorypurebloodculture (M, 5k)

This was such a cool non-traditional time-travel story! All the descriptions of fem!Harry and her outfits are absolutely gorgeous — I don't think I've come across this level of detail to costuming in very many other fics before; it was one of those really nice details that you can tell the author put a lot of work into and that really made the fic very memorable for me. And oh god, I felt every moment of Harry's heartful yearning and desperation and urgency in reaching out across time to Tom, and how much she loved him already — an absolutely beautiful love story.

never a victimless crime by @duplicitywrites (E, 7.5k)

Someone doses Tom with a lust potion keyed to Harry — and an absolutely wild, chaotic, wet, filthy hot mess of a shower-scene PWP ensues, featuring Tom who's been drugged out of his mind and Harry who's trying to do the right thing but is similarly incapacitated by a mild concussion. This had so much sexy chaotic energy, and is definitely one of the best things I've read on AO3.

Serendipity by @lissiamoonstone (E, 6.5k)

SO MANY LAYERS OF DUBCON. SO MANY LAYERS. And combined with super possessive Alpha Tom and Harry being in heat and somnophilia as the icing on top!? This was such a delicious mind-fuck — I reread it a few times and kept finding new things to notice, and I know I'll come back to reread it many more times.

They, of Riddle Manor by riddlereading (M, 16k)

I think this is one of the most unique Voldemort-wins story arcs I've read in Tomarry. Just one thing goes differently when Tom goes to Riddle Manor for the first time, and he doesn't end up killing his muggle relatives, which then sets off a sequence of events that result in Lily not dying and Harry growing up (with a happy childhood) in Riddle Manor. It's absolutely adorable from start to finish, and I had a huge smile on my face when I finished.

Tom Riddle’s Guide to Repeatedly Failing to Get Laid in the Restricted Section by TheOnceandFutureQueenofTarts (M, 3k)

I jumped to open this fic when I saw some of the tags here — dubcon, amnesia, mind manipulation(!!) This was such a fun and snappy read, featuring one of my favorite things — Tom repeatedly fucking with Harry's head to get what he wants (in this case, getting laid). He is absolutely undeterred and plays dirty, and we would expect nothing less of our favorite babygirl dark lord in training 💕

*

[simorys]

Thoughts on Jalph / LOTF ships? I love your art and super curious about your thoughts and feelings!

Hii!!

I love when people ask me things about lotf so i can go on a rambling spree sjdkjalk

I do ship Jalph somewhat. I don’t think they’d ever realistically get together but sometimes when I want them to be happy I'll ship them together. However I see it more as a mutual pining for each other. (Unrequited love my beloved)

I do have other ships too! Most of them are just one sided things though. I don’t usually make ship content but if yall really want some you can ask :) 

My other ships :^]

Ralph x Simon; Simon mostly having a one sided crush tho (which is canon pretty much), but I think it’s a really cute pairing

Ralph x Piggy? (kinda), I see this more as a QPR (Queer Platonic Relationship) rather than an actual romantic relationship tho. 

Jack x Roger, be gay do crimes. This one is more one sided on Roger’s part, though I can see Jack liking him back at some point.

Roger x Simon, I really love the yin and yang trope. This one is heavily influenced by my pre island hcs tho (I have so many). I feel like this is more mutual pining and I don't think realistically they’d ever tell each other </3 (I also think Roger is very embarrassed about him liking Simon)

Jack x Simon, again this one is more a one sided thing for Simon. A pre Island hc i have of them is that Simon gave him a “secret admirer” note one time (he slid it in his bag when he wasn’t looking) but Jack, being an insecure dumbass, thought it was a joke.

Also my favorite ship! Jack x Ralph x Simon, this one is more from like a happier au though/if i want them to be happy. I really wish more people had poly ships (not just for lotf, but like in general), they’re underrated frfr

(Also I ship all of these in a poly way too, if that makes sense)

this may be a little cringy but whatever 😭

[crystalsword]

My Top 5 TV Ships (Established by Canon)

5. Sheldon/Amy- I never finished the last few seasons of “Big Bang Theory,” but I loved Shamy. They were so well-suited to each other, and they had great slow development.

4. Danny Messer/Lindsay- I was so glad that a crime show actually showed two characters meeting and getting together, and then allowed them to be happy even through the difficulties. “CSI: NY” is a very underrated show, and this pairing deserves way more love.

3. Peter Burke/Elizabeth Burke- The best established relationship (married couple) I’ve seen on a tv crime drama. “White Collar” did such a great job writing them.

2. Monroe/Rosalee- Cutest couple ever! I loved the developing of their relationship, and how sweet they were together. They were also the only endgame couple in “Grimm” that I actually liked.

Teresa Lisbon/Patrick Jane- My all time favorite tv pairing! I shipped them from the first episode of “The Mentalist” that I saw, and I will always be grateful the writers gave them a happy ending!

[make-friends-with-the-rats]

For the ask game, what about Snitch and/or Spot? Not much is said about Snitch but I’d still like to hear your opinion on him anyway

neva fear, Brooklyn is here!

and Snitch is here :)

How I feel about this character: It's Spot frickin Conlon, y'all. The legend him/herself! 92sies Spot specifically has some of the best one liners in the entire movie and I think it's really interesting that Spot Conlon is given such a larger-than-life reputation. What really makes Spot so influential? Does Spot have a 'escaped on the back of Roosevelt's carriage' story? Spot respects Jack and sees him as a brother. That's what makes Jack's betrayal so hard on Spot. (I seriously think we need more Spot and Jack sibling dynamics, come on y'all.) Spot is also a very strategic thinker and would kill you at chess. 92sies Spot reminds me of a chihuahua.

All the people I ship romantically with this character: Race and Spot because 92sies Spot (kinda) canonically thinks Race is pretty. It's just silly and they are partners in crime. Plus, why are you going all the way to Sheepshead Bay every day to sell papers Race? Aren't you a Manhattan newsie? Uksies Sprace is also so special to me. [fanart!] And for your consideration: Sarah and Spot! Most underrated pairing of all time both romantically and platonically. I need more people to talk about them. [fanart!]

My non-romantic OTP for this character: SARAH AND SPOT!!! You can't tell me that Spot wouldn't love Sarah Jacobs. Spot meets Sarah at the rally and is immediately impressed by Sarah "my father and I are socialists" Jacobs and they bond to David's utter bafflement. Spot and Sarah are literally going to take over the world together guys, I'm telling you. Spot and Race is also great platonically. And then there's uksies Spot and all of her girls. I just love them all so much and they have each other's backs.

My unpopular opinion about this character: Spot Conlon and Brooklyn being girls adds so much depth to Spot as a character in the stage musical version of Newsies. I honestly don't know how Spot could be better improved upon given the musical script as it is. Long live the Brooklyn girlsies!

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon: The real Spot Conlon may or may not have been a leader of the Brooklyn newsies at some point, but he was definitely from Brooklyn and he wore pink suspenders [x]. I wish that they'd kept those pink suspenders in the movie. Granted, the red suspenders are meant to distinguish leadership/power (like Jack's red bandana), but arguably his pink suspenders would have served just as well as a symbol of leadership in historical context. Give him back his pink suspenders! In the stage musical version of Newsies, I really, really, really wish they'd adapted Spot's character better. There's just so much of Spot that we lost in adaptation.

Thank you for the ask! And let me know if there's anything I missed that you wanted to know in my Snitch opinions post :)

ask game

characters answered: David Jacobs, Jack Kelly, Blink and Skittery, Bumlets and Swifty, Sarah Jacobs, Specs and Dutchy, Les Jacobs, Crutchie, Snitch and Itey, Mush Meyers

[ivyial]

RIGHT SO

after my previous reblog, i feel compelled to write a "short" post (love letter) about (to) this game

so for those of you who haven't played it, or never even heard of it, professor layton vs phoenix wright: ace attorney is a crossover game between the two franchises (you'll have guessed it from the title) and it is PAINFULLY underrated :,) (i also hear that it is now hard to get physical copies of this game at a decent price so i'm glad i kept mine)

essentially used to be my favourite game of all time before it got dethroned by the resident evil 4 remake (but i will forever remember it fondly). i remember my parents gifted it to me for easter back in 2014 (so i was around 12 back then) and i don't think they realised how much this would change me. like this is one of the reasons why i started thinking about studying law later LMAOO.

essentially layton and phoenix both end up helping this young girl, espella (i played it in french back then and her name is aria so their english names are a struggle for me) who is being hunted by witches and then put on trial in london for the assault of a ship's crew member. then the wildest thing happens and they get sucked into a book and are sent back to medieval times. yes it sounds insane. but in this small town called labyrinthia, witches are real, and so are witch trials (DOESN'T IT SOUND COOL AS FUCK??).

they've all forgotten who they are, though. phoenix doesn't remember being an attorney and layton doesn't remember anything either. they find espella again, and she's put on trial AGAIN, for witchcraft this time. the game alternates between the usual layton riddles and ace attorney's investigation/trial phases. the odds are high this time around, because those found guilty of witchcraft are shoved into a metal cage and plunged into a pit of fire. they're not messing around.

of course, it wouldn't be layton or ace attorney without a massive plot twist at the end. i'd argue this one is probably the most insane out of all layton games (it's even a bit far fetched tbh, but just saying, you do not see it coming) (okay it's even full of plot holes and i haven't revisited the ending in years but if i did, i think it would be detrimental to my mental health).

the art style is amazing - i'm in love with the later ace attorney art styles, starting from dual destinies and this game, and particularly the latest great ace attorney chronicles. here are a few of my favourite character designs from the game:

but overall, one of the best things about the game has to be the soundtrack. it is the perfect mix of both franchises' music and it is a CRIME that neither level 5 nor capcom have released this on spotify (capcom i know you have all other AA soundtracks on this app. add this one. i am begging you). if you've never played an ace attorney game before, then you do not know the sheer adrenaline of phoenix shouting OBJECTION and the music speeding up. here's one of my favourite tracks:

tell me this doesn't make you immediately want to confess to 47 crimes you haven't committed.

it's kind of the perfect crossover game if you're into the genre, it's perfectly balanced between riddles and trials. the stakes are also a lot higher and there's actual executions. maybe i shouldn't have played this at the age of 12 actually - at some point (spoilers ahead), maya is wrongly executed and the scene will forever haunt me for some reason:

(go to 18:06 if the youtube timestamp doesn't work) i chose the french version of the cutscene because it's the one i played back then and i find that the french dub is a lot more compelling than the english one (somehow? the french haven't produced a good dub in decades so). also maya's screams are downright heartbreaking and the scene was traumatising asf when i was a kid

ANYWAY. please play this game, it's so much fun. for the AA enthusiasts, there's an edgeworth cameo at the very end. i very much fear that this game will be forgotten eventually, but it warms my heart to see that there are still people talking about it on the internet.

[some-pers0n]

Saw some Winter/Turtle art (or Wurtle as I insist on calling it) and it reminded me of why I feel Turtbli and Wurtle are superior in every regard to Qinter.

I've talked about it before, but I like it when ships like Qinter are treated seriously. Yeah yeah, it's funny when the sand dragon makes a haha goofy joke and the snow dragon blushes and gets flustered (very original and funny), but have you ever considered 'Qinter but angsty'?

Think about it for a minute. Qibli and Winter had awful childhoods. No short of completely terrible. Winter was raised under the intense rules and expectations of his tribe while Qibli had to make a living on the streets with his crime family. They're both traumatized and have a ton of issues to sort through.

Now, while you could explore it though Qinter, I feel it's even better if you replace one of them (or just simply add because poly ships are neat) with Turtle.

Turtle is...not exactly a character who's goofy or extremely angsty like Qibli and Winter respectively. His issues and troubles are front and center with his anxious personality and shy demeanor. When you ship him, you more or less have to work with that.

I find pairing him up with Winter or Qibli helps bring out that aspect of him a lot more. All three of these dragons are unwanted children in some way or form. They're undesirables who have been more or less shaped by their childhoods into who they are now. They cope with it by burying it and trying their best to hide it. Winter develops a hard exterior to mimic the rest of his tribe. Qibli has a 'cool guy' persona that's likeable and friendly. Turtle is socially awkward and doesn't want to talk with anybody. Yet, they all share a common desire: wanting to be loved and accepted by their friends and peers.

These three work so good together. It's a crying shame how underrated their dynamics are in the fandom.