#The Riddle Rambles On

[riddlebanshee]

Just watched Nope (2022) for the first time and thinking about how, when it first came out, I saw so much commentary on the theme of cameras and audiences to the point where I was completely BLINDSIDED by the way the movie went. It was amazing btw BUT LIKE There's a TON of overt themes having to do with animals and the way humans interact w them and I feel like all the posts I've seen about the cinema/production angle completely missed that?? Like. The main characters grew up working with horses, who, even tamed, are notably volatile critters who can and WILL smash you to a pulp with their hooves. And in the very beginning, we see one of those horses nearly harm people because they don't listen to warnings about keeping a safe distance and not spooking it-- we even see the opposite of this, good animal handling procedures, mentioned in brief with Otis and Em's dad, before he dies, when he's trying to break in a horse. Even with the Gordy incident, it all circles back around to the way animals are used in television and film and how it can break incredibly bad for the most mundane of reasons. A balloon pops, multiple pop, startling the chimp, and suddenly people are very badly injured or dead. And when we later see the same kid at the center of this incident, not having processed this trauma, interacting with Jean Jacket & thinking he can make good on the mistakes made without actually having any proper idea of how to interact with a dangerous animal?? We see that same theme pushed to an extreme!! First with the way the incident was satirized & made light of-- MAD and SNL-- and then when the stadium is sucked up and digested in frankly one of the most interesting and disturbing horror movie death scenes I've watched. Warning signs are ignored-- people fail to understand the signs of stress or aggression in an animal, and so people get hurt!! Vs. Otis who DOES recognize those things in an animal and who DOES know that certain things can't be tamed or reasoned with or truly controlled. And yes, he & Em have a goal (capture evidence of it) that incites them to interact with it, beyond living in it's territory, but they also recognize that it IS territorial, and it IS hunting within its natural environment, and it CANNOT be tamed simply by feeding it. OJ also recognizes, from working with animals, that making eye contact with a predator is a surefire way to draw it to aggression, and actively utilizes this knowledge both to avoid it and to lure it where it needs to be to keep people safe, and to predict its behavior, insomuch as an unpredictable animal can be predicted! Also, I think it's neat that the monster design clearly hearkens back to "primordial", invertebrate ocean critters like octopuses and jellyfish. Just to really drive home the fact that it isn't something to be controlled, especially not by the things it's hunting.

[dystopyx-blog]

Stuck in TWST without meds

and also they're yandere or something

@shironakuronatasa here you go pookie <3

Because everyone is different, I'm gonna be focusing on the meds I take and the things I experience! If you're inspired to write one of your own based on your types of meds, go for it! I'd love to see others' takes on this :3

I'm still writing in 2nd person, but you/mc is heavily based off of me!

(And if you still want a personalized one but don't want to write it, my commissions are open/hj)

Tw for one mention of suicidal ideation.

Imagine...

You don't quite have a clusterfuck of things going on in your head, but sometimes it can feel like it. Autism, Anxiety, depression, and ADD. Thankfully, you have access to medication, and they work well for you.

Although you can't keep the downward spiraling from the depression and anxiety away completely, it is far more manageable with your medication. You've found that when off them, you are far more prone to completely fall apart at even the slightest inconvenience. It feels like constant stormy waters, with stormclouds that only make the waves worse. But when on them, the storm disappears. Yes, the waves still get rocky and tip your boat from side to side, but you're emotionally stable enough to handle them.

Then the meds for your ADD. With them you have the razor sharp focus to not only take care of projects and work, but also to simply take care of yourself. When off of those, even simple tasks like taking out the trash can take hours, especially since you so easily forget steps, and will stop the chore in the middle, genuinely thinking it's complete.

But you have your meds, so you manage just fine.

Until you're sucked into Twisted Wonderland.

First of all, even if you had already taken the meds for anxiety/depression, there's not much they could do in the face of being transported and consequently trapped in a different dimension. But they do still help, and instead of bawling, you manage to keep a cool (enough) head and get yourself settled into Ramshackle.

But they don't last you long. They had built up in your system enough to last you a few days, but time and circumstances were not on your side.

Even though Grim is by no means an emotional support pet, and is by all means a little shit, he manages to push his pride aside when he can tell you really need it.

Especially the days where you wonder if death is what will bring you back home...

Grim will act as if he helps you for his own purposes, but he is genuinely there for you.

The others, however...

First of all, quite a few of them don't completely understand... you're extra sad and spacey, but you had some kind of magic to help with it back home, but you don't have them here, and without them you get... sad and spacey?

Riddle probably sees it as some pathetic excuse. It's not until after his overblot that his tune completely changes and he is giving you all the special treatment. Even if you mess up on purpose, even if it's something that really frustrates him, he'll justify it as you not knowing any better. Which is patronizing as hell.

Ace will use it to his advantage. Getting into trouble and having you take the brunt. And you play along with it, because, again, Riddle is treating you like an incompetent child, so you are all for raising Cain with Ace. What Ace really loves about this, though, is that it makes you more willing to hang out with him, and more likely to dislike Riddle.

I imagine Deuce has something going as well, though I don't quite know what, and neither does he. But he finds a kindred spirit in you. Study sessions with him are a MUST, and you share your different study and coping tactics, while he stares at your lovely face.

Trey relishes in caring for you. If you're having any kind of sudden increase in stress or sorrow, he is fucking there. He will scoop you up and take you to the kitchen and treat you with his home baked goodies right then and there. Same with your academics, if you need help with academics, it's to the kitchen for tutoring. And as bad as it is, he finds himself wishing you'd give in and lean on him completely.

Leona will also be there for you in depressive episodes. He sees how you always go to Grim when your upset, notices the little things that Grimm does that helps, and starts subtly using them whenever you're upset. Not even just if it's depression/anxiety related, if you're upset with him specifically he'll start purring in that low register that has your heart slowing. He'll rest his body on your chest as a weighted blanket. He'll let you pet him and comb through his hair. All until all you associate Leona with is safety and comfort–as you should from a mate.

Ruggie is SUCH a little meanie at first! Specifically regarding your ADD. Once he sees how much it genuinely upsets you, though, he'll back off. He does have a manipulative streak, though, and will use your anxiety against you. Any way he can get you to distrust others and seek him out is a good way.

Jack is one who does not fuckin understand at first, but once he does, he's supportive. He asks if there's anyway he can help and you offhandedly tell him about emotional support dogs, and he is locked on. He's embarrassed by it at first, of course, but he can tell how safe it makes you feel, and like Leona he is completely fucking for that. Though he won't just be emotional support, no, he'll be the guard dog chasing away anything that could possibly trigger you.

School is very difficult for you without your ADD meds. You can manage, but it is far more stressful and difficult than it needs to be. So, of course, you have those generously offering to help you–specifically Azul, who's more than willing to help... at a price, of course.

Floyd really likes when you daze off in class... When you're staring blankly, mind thinking about so many things except whatever the professor is droning on about. The way your eyes glaze over, the way you're so focused on whatever the fuck is going on in your head, the way your lips part ever so slightly... All your idle habits are endlessly entrancing to him. And, goes without saying, every single time you're especially depressed, he offers a good squeeze session.

Jade, the manipulative bastard, will purposely set you up for failure so that you feel like you need to go to him for help. Because lord knows Azul will make you pay for it, but not your good friend Jade. Plus, if you ever mention how hiking can help with mood, lord save your soul...

Jamil is such a DICK. He will be degrading you at every second, completely taking over whatever it is you try to do. Even if it has nothing to do with him. God, you remind him of Kalim, but at least you don't have the nerve to be so fucking happy all the time. A sick part of him likes when you're sad. You're less annoying when you're depressed, specifically, without little energy or motivation to do or be anything else. He'd happily take care of you then. He'll do whatever you need done. You'd probably do it wrong anyway.

Kalim feels so fucking seen and understood. He honestly felt like some kind of freak for so much of his life, but you... you're kinda like him! A lot sadder though. Your very existence brightens his life, so he's made it his mission to brighten yours. He also really can't stand it when you're with others. It's so obvious you two are meant for each other! He views your shared ADD symptoms as evidence of soulmateship.

Vil is another case of not fully understanding. You're making excuses. Until he takes it a bit too far, pushes even more than what you can handle, and you fully break down in front of him. You're so completely and utterly vulnerable in that moment. He doesn't know if it's a very dedicated manipulation tactic to get out of his nitpicking, but... he becomes a little more sympathetic with you. Vil recognizes that, for whatever reason, you do in fact seem to struggle more with certain things. And yet, despite that, you still try. You continue push yourself, even if what youre pushing towards is, by other people's standards, the norm/mediocrity/minimum. And in you he starts to see a bit of himself. Especially since, let's face it, with depression, anxiety, and add, it is very likely you relate more to Vil than you do Niege. He helps you, and in turn you help him, though you don't even realize it. Helping you be happier with yourself helps him be happy with himself. And he'll fucking slaughter anyone who takes you away from him.

Rook, like Vil, is easily able to recognize how much you not only struggle, but how much you try. And he finds that incredibly beautiful. Needless to say, he is often watching you. Everything you do is enchanting. He memorizes every. single. stim. and habit. Sometimes when you get frustrated, he just wants to scoop you up in his arms and shower you in kisses, but then you'd realize he broke into your room...

Epel will see how much you get pushed around, and takes it upon himself to defend you. He also sees a bit of himself in you. Sometimes he purposely waits around you, and at the first sign of trouble, he'll attack.

Sometimes you just get too fucking overstimulated and you need a break. And in those times, you've found Idia to be the best person to go to. You both started off pretty distant. You approached him, upset, and asked for a quiet place. You put in headphones and just laid down right there. The two of you just sat in silence, with headphones in, doing your own things, blocking out the world. And, oh, how Idia came to crave those moments. He began to depend on you for comfort, ans hoping that you would similarly come to depend on him. You're different from those other normies, you're the only one who gets him so please just stay with him! He will start to modify his room to be the perfect sensory room, the only place in the school you can go to fully regulate yourself. He starts going out with you, acting as if you're really helping him step out of his shell, when really he just wants to spend more time with you, and will continue to shy away from everyone else and hide behind you. This man desperately needs you to need him as desperately as he needs you.

You are so. Fucking. Cute. Malleus finds your every single quirk so fucking attractive. He doesnt like, however, seeing you so upset. So sad. And the kind of sad where he is helpless to help you. He also really doesn't like it when you're upset at yourself. Don't you realize you're perfect? And who cares if you're not good at any of the school stuff? Malleus doesn't. You don't need any of those skills anyway, with Malleus Draconia here to always take care of you.

if you want the rest of diasomnia or the secret character I subtly didn't include lmk

part two out now!!

[artdolliewishes]

Heartslabyul x Yuu hits different. With every other dorm, I think Yuu’s connection to them is debatable as the main story usually only focuses on the conflict between the boys with Yuu being a vehicle to drive the main plot forward and let us watch it happen.

But, with Heartslabyul, even though the same thing could be argued here, because of Yuu’s connection to Ace and Deuce - who are the main focuses of the first chapter along with Riddle - it makes their connection to Heartslabyul as a whole more compelling.

It’s implied through Ace and Deuce’s voice lines(really the voice lines of pretty much all five of them) that Yuu regularly gets invited to their frequent Unbirthday parties. This plus the fact that Heartslabyul was the first dorm they ever had a proper encounter with just makes me think that Yuu is almost like an honorary Heartslabyul member.

Hell, one of Riddle’s dorm uniform voice lines is him instructing Yuu to respond to him with “Yes, Housewarden,” you can’t tell me he doesn’t unconsciously see Yuu as one of them.

[thegoldencontracts]

I don't really know how to word this but the idea of you giving a character a bracelet or some other matching jewelry and them acting flippant about it but secretly treasuring it... That's so nrc coded.

Like, Azul acts like he's amused, and he says he'll pay you back soon, really, with this airy chuckle. Afterwards, though, the twins spot him wearing the bracelet at work. It's hilarious.

I think Riddle would also at first be like "this is childish", only for him to wear the bracelet during Unbirthday parties. It's so cute, and so fun to tease him about.

Leona acts nonchalant, confused, even. "...What's this, herbivore?" Except he's constantly wearing the bracelet. Ruggie jokingly calls him out on it, only for Leona to tell him that he—just forgot to take it off. Like anyone believes him.

Idia jokes about this being a typical deredere moment and whatnot, but then he's wearing the bracelet all day long. Ortho notes that his heartbeat is faster than normal when he looks at it? He's probably just— scared, or whatever, yeah! Perhaps the real anime trope was the Tsunderes we made along the way...

Jade laughs about how amusing this little creation of yours is. He also refuses to roll up his sleeves, for some reason. I do wonder what he's hiding? Surely not the little bracelet you made?

Ace snickers as you hand him the bracelet. It's so cheesy! He's treasuring it forever, though. It's so funny when you call him out on it, he gets so flustered, and it's the funniest thing.

Sebek says he "supposes" he's willing to accept your gift. It's really hard to believe his supposed lack of enthusiasm, though. Especially when he's showing that bracelet to Lilia the moment he thinks your back is turned, constantly wearing it underneath his sleeve. Worry not, though, Lilia's sure to let you know how much he liked it.

[mochinomnoms]

add your duo in the tags

[sweetbunpura]

The boys at NRC sometimes forget that Yuu is a girl. So they'll say some things they used to say to the others and then turn to her 100% forgetting she's not a guy, but then Yuu rolls with it.

Ace, listening to Yuu get overexcited about something while at an unbirthday party: Oh my seven, calm your tits.

Yuu, looks at Ace:

Deuce: Uh...

Trey, pauses.

Cater, recording the moment.

Riddle, face is getting red: Ace.

Ace, realizes: Oh shit.

Yuu, smiles: I personally prefer "Undo the calamity that is your mammaries" but I know you don't know two of those words.

Deuce: You...don't care?

Yuu: If I cared about every little thing like that that came out of people's mouths around here, I wouldn't have survived an hour.

[ventique18]

Room temperature IQ

[imnotditzy]

I know I’ve been just posting about Fawcett recently but wait.

Fawcett with Bridge Trolls.

Hear me out.

Every once in a while a random troll will take up shop on a bridge in Fawcett, demanding people to answer their riddles. Failure results in death. (Unless, they can work something out.)

They stay there until someone can answer their riddles, which disrupts the flow of traffic so severely that all broadcasts warn about them the same way they go about bad weather or a traffic jam.

I imagine Captain going up to the bridge troll of the month, trying (and failing) to answer the riddles then getting flattened to the ground so many times before relenting and asking Solomon. But he never learns his lesson.

And he never gets it right.

Once he tried 78 times and only relented because he had monitor duty. He left a crater in the bridge to the point the thing was split in two.

How I imagine it would go:

Troll: You must answer my riddles three, if you wish to get past me.

Cap: Three? Last troll only gave one!

Troll: The rise of riddles is your fixation, but I propose you look at inflation. Cap: Oh. That makes sense, but uh— I need you to leave.

Troll: From this bridge you ask me to cease, but I shall’t leave without my peace.

Cap: *sigh* Okay, hit me with it.

Troll: Answer the riddle you must do stat, or else you will end up flat. Riddle one I will declare, for time I wish to spare; With a mouth but unable to digest, with a bed but not of rest. 

Cap: uh…

Cap: A blanket?

Troll: Wrong!

captain is crushed by the trolls fists and is pummeled into the bridge.

[sinfullyrosey]

[You were helping with deciding the prizes for the next croquet match by writing down the proceedings when Riddle decides to check your notes]

Riddle: Y/N, you’ve been writing in red ink! You’re supposed to write it in blue ink!

Y/N: Sorry, I’m colorblind.

Riddle: Oh, I’m terribly sorry for the misunderstanding. I’ll go find a blue inked pen for you then. *leaves rather embarrassed*

Trey: You’re colorblind?

Y/N: No, I just forgot the rule and didn’t want to get yelled at today.

Alternately, if you really are colorblind:

Trey: You’re colorblind?

Y/N: Yeah. Looking at your dorm is a nightmare.

[deadcaralarm]

i wish there was a radqueer discord server that didnt make me read 58 essasys the length of the declaration of independence to find a codeword or make me write several paragraphs on how i found the server and how i became a radqueer and what a radqueer is

[riddlebanshee]

The nature of ur 20s is sometimes u hang out with someone a few times and find out they Suck 😔

[dystopyx-blog]

inspired by this post (cw it's a teeny bit nsfw)

Imagine going to a park or zoo or aquarium with your yandere twst bf... something where are there kids running about. The baby fever hits HARD for them then.

There are kids running about, clearly not following rules, which upsets Riddle. He thinks he could never deal with that... He ends up yeling at a couple of kids, and really upsets them. But you get right in there and comfort them. You tell them what they were doing was bad, but you also tell off Riddle. You get the kids to calm down and behave. He can't help but think how good of a mom you'd be. Very different than his mother, but maybe that'd be a good thing.

Leona takes you to Cheka's birthday party. No way he could handle it on his own. You're mostly there for emotional support for him, but at some point Cheka and his friends pull you away to play with them, and you just shrug and laugh as you apologize to Leona and go along. He's incredibly annoyed at first, his annoying nephew dragging off his girlfriend when you're supposed to be there with him. But you're so good with them... and then his sister in law goes up to him and tells him what good parents they'd both be, and all he can think is "yeah, of course we would."

You thought a good date with Azul would be the aquarium. But while you enjoyed looking at all the colorful fish in large tanks, Azul was mostly just smiling and nodding along with you. In all honesty when you checked out the fish, he'd rather check his investments. But he loves you so he humored you. And then he saw a child pressed up against the glass of a tank. He cringed slightly, but you walked over to them and started talking to them. Curious, he approached the two of you, and realized you were looking at an octopus. And he realized, with a blush, that you were telling the child all about them. The child is in awe, and you turn around to him with a loving smile, and he knows right then what you two are doing when you get back home.

All it takes for Kalim is bringing you back to his home and watching you get along with all his little siblings.

You're out walking with Jamil when you see a bunch of kids dancing around a fountain. You laugh and join in, dragging Jamil with you. You insist he show off, and after you praise him and inflate his ego, he does. The kids are incredibly impressed to say the least, and you continue to praise him, even after you two are finished dancing with the kids. And suddenly he's entertaining the idea of giving you children of your own.

Vil is treating you to a shopping date when bunch of children approach you. They noticed Vil and, just like the kids from his youth, thought of him as the villain he played. But you immediately set them straight, telling them how wonderful Vil is. The kids look at Vil with a whole new perspective. And they even tell them how cool it is that someone so cool can even play evil characters! "Niege can play a good guy, but only Vil can be the villain!" You giggle as you send them along, and Vil is looking at you and the idea of children in a whole different way.

Idia already knew you were great with Ortho, but this was different. Idia finally had someone to go to a convention with, an emotional support person aside from Ortho. He was baffled when he saw children there, but you were quick with a positive spin, as you so often were. "Look at the baby nerds, Idia! Awww, that nervous one kinda reminds me of you." While checking out a booth, the same kids show up, and you all, Idia included, end up talking about your favorite games and comics. Of course, Idia always knew Ortho was really cool, but he didn't realize other kids could be cool, too! He's hesitant to bring another Shroud into the world, along with a metric shit ton of other concerns, but he's starting to consider the idea of introducing a player three....

Malleus is one who already has massive baby fever no matter what as is. But then you walk with him around a beautiful park, and insist on swinging with him. There are children there, of course, and some want to swing as well. And you and Malleus, of course, offer up your swings. A lilltle one is struggling to swing as high as the other child, so you offer to push them. And Malleus, the show off, uses magic to help the child. You and Malleus end up spending a lot of time playing with the kids, Malleus using his magic and you teaching them games from your world. This doesn't introduce the idea to Malleus, but it does make him decide that you are going to start trying for kids right fucking now. ... I mean once you're alone. Probably. ...... at least away from any kids. He has that much self control.

BONUS

Going to the beach with Floyd, and you both end up playing with a bunch of kids. Floyd is in pure bliss and he wants nothing more than to start a family with you right then and there the sooner the better.

Staying in Harveston with Epel. You're helping out some of the youngins and it has Epel contemplating about continuing the family business and the family name.

Thing is that you don't even genuinely have to like kids in these scenarios... you could just be being a responsible and respectable adult, but the point is you're being good with kids and all of a sudden these guys are imagining you with their kids 🙄

This was very soft barely yandere I'm sorryyyyyy

[yumeurl]

still find it hilarious that one of the few photoshoots with COS tom and coulson gives the most pien face ive ever seen to depict voldemort

the furrowed brows, the glistening eyes?? are you about to cry?? he looks so lost gmemgfmdgfd

[buggachat]

To be clear, I goddamn hated the finale on first watch. I was withering in my seat. My heart had dropped to my stomach. I had no fucking idea what I was watching in that final scene lmao

and then Adrien said "when Ladybug gave me the rings—" and I was like— wait. LADYBUG? LADYBUG STILL EXISTS?

I THOUGHT THE ENTIRE TIMELINE HAD BEEN REWRITTEN 😭😭😭😭 I THOUGHT LADYBUG AND CHATN OIR DIDNT UFCKING EXIST uNTIL ADRIEN SAID THAT I WAS SO SO SO SCARED

and then I realized, oh wait. This isn't a complete utopian timeline rewrite. This is just a timeskip of a few months and Mme Bustier is just a kickass mayor. In fact, she's only mayor BECAUSE it's still the same timeline. And then I realized, hey, wait, if they didn't rewrite the timeline, then how tf is Emilie casually there with no questions?

And then I realized she was wearing black. And Félix was there. And I remembered Amelie exists.

Basically, I went into the finale chanting to myself "it's okay, it's okay... they probably wont bring Emilie back... they probably won't rewrite the entire timeline permanently.... right? please....", even though I didn't actually expect it to happen, but just because I was terrified that it could. And apparently that fear actually got to me so much that I misinterpreted the episode as being everything I didn't want it to be... when... it actually wasn't that at all

anyway, all of this is to say, everything in the episode happens so fast that it confused and terrified me at first. And when I realized what had happened, my opinion went from "my year is ruined" to "oh. well. okay. kind of disappointing, I guess". And then I kept thinking about it, and the ending, and all that is set up and rewatching the scenes and all the loose ends still in place and.... i realized I loved it?

like, every time I think about this finale, I love it more. every time i rewatch a scene, I get a little obsessed. this episode went from my nightmare to actually really really cool to me, and I'm still kind of reeling from it

Basically, this is why I've been kind of passionately defending the finale— not because I think people who don't like it are """dumb""" or anything, I don't blame people at all for that, and I totally get the confusion. I was confused too. And I know I'm not the only one who went in preparing themselves for the worst, or went in with very specific expectation on what will happen, because this finale has been long awaited for so long. I think everyone was shocked with how it ended. I think most people probably startled at Amelie's face (it's so easy to forget she exists....)

Anyways, I started this post basically as an apology for if I seem too aggressive or defensive about the finale. Because I get it! I get hating it! I get being disappointed or frustrated or confused! Part of why I'm so defensive is because I have all the arguments so ready on the tip of my tongue because I had the very same argument with myself already 😭 So I'm sorry if any of my posts came off as too aggressive and in advance for any future posts that might. I promise promise promise I'm not trying to make anyone feel bad for having bad opinions on the finale! I just think this episode is really cool and the fact I related to a lot of the nay-sayers makes it easy to feel so impassioned about it.

But this post is getting off the rails and I'm just gonna let it, because some of my regrets w my participation in fandom is that I find myself chickening out of actually talking about my thoughts on episodes a lot. I get kind of overwhelmed and overthink everything after I've posted it and I'm a shy person. But my inbox is closed and this is the season 5 finale and I want to ramble and ramble so I will allow myself this

Basically, I went in with some very specific expectations for this episode. We all know about the Hawkmoth defeat story. Many of us have read it in fics over and over again, it was teased in Chat Blanc, we all know what we expect, we all know our favorite beats from it.

And what actually happened....... met virtually none of those beats. (For me, at least).

Like, Adrien wasn't there for the final episode. At all. He was completely absent from the confrontation. He never found out his father was Hawkmoth. He got his rings, but he never found out he was a sentimonster. He is living in the dark.

Ladybug confronted Monarch... alone. Which is sad, when so much of the series is dedicated to the partnership of her and Chat Noir. Them against the world....... and Monarch was "defeated" with nary a Chat Noir in sight.

The whole entire "Gabriel is known as a hero" thing. I don't think anybody was expecting that. Absolutely shocking.

The fact Marinette would lie to Adrien like that. The fact she's keeping so much from him. The fact everyone is. SO MANY people in Adrien's life (Marinette, Plagg, Nathalie, Felix, Amelie, Kagami, probably Alya, maybe more I'm not thinking of....) are just... lying to him, now. He is so in the dark. He knows nothing.

But.........

I kind of like that I didn't predict nearly any of this. I like that it caught me off guard. I love how this show just completely baffles me at every turn, how it will present concepts and ideas to me that I've never read a fic about.

In retrospect, Chat Noir being absent from the final battle... makes sense. It actually makes a lot of sense, if I think about it, because... there is only one possible way that could've gone, right? Chat Noir would not be allowed to have the emotional implosion that he would have to have. This is devastating. This is SO devastating. This is the entire shattering of Adrien's entire world we're talking about, and Chat Blanc is the only real way for that to end. Adrien has an emotional implosion in front of Monarch, he gets akumatized, it turns into an emotion explosion, extinction event. The end. We've already seen it.

And........ even if it didn't end that way, even if he managed to avoid akumatization...... how could the finale satisfyingly end on that note? How could it end in any semblance of a "wrapped up" way, at the very start of Adrien's emotional breakdown? It couldn't. I wouldn't WANT it to. In retrospect, Adrien finding out his dad is Monarch and then.... what? The season ends on a close-up of him crying? The season ends with a time-skip to the new school year where they skipped his entire grieving period!? I would HATE that, actually. I would hate that. I thought I wanted it, but I would hate it. I would hate it so so so much.

What's kind of amazing is that the finale ended with Monarch being defeated.... but Adrien still has those realizations to make. He still has those betrayals to come to terms with. There is time for him to make these realizations, for him to come to these conclusions, perhaps one at a time, perhaps in a more controlled environment.... and that gets me far, far more excited for the seasons to come than an episode that tried to wrap it all up in the last 5 minutes.

Also, the reason Adrien didn't go to the final battle was because he feared becoming Chat Blanc. He didn't know the truth to it, didn't understand that literally, yes, that's what would have happened if he was there, even if he hadn't been under a nightmare curse. But he still knew. He still expected it. He willingly chose to sit it out, no matter how much he hated it, because he knew. And there's something kind of powerful to that, I think, of Adrien making a choice that is so unequivocally the Correct choice, even more than he realized. And the strength it took for him to make that decision...... damn.

As for the lies and the Gabriel statue? I... it's upsetting, but it's supposed to be. And I believe it. I absolutely believe it. I 10000% believe Marinette would keep the secret of Monarch's identity to herself to try to save Adrien the pain. I 10000% believe that the population could easily be led to believe a famous billionaire is a hero. I 10000% believe that Adrien would WANT to believe it. I 10000% believe Tomoe would take advantage of it.

And I can't wait to see that illusion crumble.

Also.... this is the beginning of The Lila arc.

And the Lila arc begins on........ Marinette telling the biggest, boldest face lie she ever told. The Lila arc begins on the most extreme city-wide illusion we've ever seen. It begins on such a huge fabrication and....

..... it's Marinette's lie.

............ and Lila knows that it's a lie.

I'm

!!?!?!?!

This is so fucking cool???? The irony here??? the deceit???? All these loose ends, all the possible confrontations, all the ways this could GO. I don't know where the show is taking this, obviously, because nobody ever can predict where this show is going apparently (and I love it for that), but oh my god. I'm imagining all the fics I could read about this. all the fics I could write. all the thoughts and scenarios that this finale has provided me with to daydream about as I go to sleep.

Adrien, going through the motions of life. Looking up to his father as a hero, despite the fact the last time he saw him, Adrien was sobbing, in tears, and cursing his name. Adrien, after all the abuse he was subject to, having to look up at a statue of his father and...... be forced to think that maybe he was wrong about his father. But he's not wrong. He WASN'T wrong. He just THINKS that he is. His father is going to continue to loom over his life in ways I never expected post-hawkmoth. Adrien's relationship with Gabriel has not ended, a new and terrifying and horrible new chapter of it has simply begun, and Adrien is still as manipulated by his father's ghost as he was by his father himself.

THAT'S. WILD!!!

also, Adrien now believes that MONARCH MURDERED HIS FATHER. Chat Noir now believes that his greatest nemesis KILLED HIS FATHER. CHAT NOIR, resident self-sacrificer, believes that HIS FATHER was a HERO who DIED FIGHTING MONARCH. Adrien thinks that maybe he should be more like his father— more like his father who died in battle. This is. Not Good. For Adrien.

And it's Marinette that started this. Well intentioned Marinette, who doesn't really understand the extent of the horrors. Marinette, Adrien's girlfriend, the person he trusts most. She did this.

And, I mean.... god. I totally get how this sucks for a lot of people, because it's objectively upsetting.... but I LOVE lovesquare tension. Season 4 is probably my favorite season for that reason alone (still mulling over if season 5 beat it for me). I love the relationship drama, I love that it's in character drama, I love how it fits everything we know about them sososo well, I love that it's horrible and it's terrible and it's awful and it's all because Marinette loved Adrien too much to want to hurt him.

I was worried no reveal would mean that season 6 would just be... what? adrienette fluff? not that I don't love that, but where's the drama? well. there it is. that's the drama.

I need to stop typing this. I know this is abysmally long and ranty and if you read all of this then I'm sorry. But I wanted to get some of my thoughts out.

But basically, I was expecting a lot of things for the finale.

In my best case scenario, it would somehow, miraculously tie up and address all the loose ends with Adrien's angst and character arc in two episodes.... and then end with me totally satisfied, ready to only half-heartedly watch season 6 like it was just a small dessert after the main course.

And I already described my worst case scenario (my first impression of the episode lmao)

But it wasn't that. I was expecting a series finale, but I got a season finale. And I love season finales. I love how they keep me wanting more. I love how excited I am for season 6, because in both my best and worst case scenarios, I honestly didn't expect to be. I love all the new ideas and thoughts and scenarios swirling around in my brain. And even if season 6 doesn't address some of the things I want addressed, I'm so excited to see the creative content in this fandom that DOES

[skyenish]

JAMIL VIPER HALLOWEEN SSR I LOVE YOU IM ON MY KNEES FOR YOU YOU’RE PERFECT I LOVE YOU SO MUCH YOU DESERVE THE WORLD

The other cards are neat too

[sweetbunpura]

The Stitch Event with Floyd and Yuu being a couple lives rent free in my head. They get to do couple things while everyone but Ace, Jack, Grim and Lilia look surprised and confused by it. Floyd is kinda handsy, he really likes the summer outfit Yuu has on. Yuu, in turn, can't keep her eyes off Floyd and his outfit. The others are seeing, technically, a very docile Floyd with a very relaxed Yuu.

Azul has caught the pair dancing on the beach at night, and it's not a high energy dance, it's a soft slow dance with Yuu laying her head on Floyd's chest and Floyd has his head on top of hers. Riddle caught Floyd in the room Stitch built for Yuu (per Riddle's request), but they were both cuddling on the bed and fast asleep. Lilia caught them sneaking around several times. Jack once found them in the morning swinging on the hammock together. Ace saw them surf together, with Yuu teaching Floyd a few tricks. Grim, to combat Floyd being all over Yuu, has worked his way between the two while pouting.

Everyone can agree on the same thing tho, Floyd and Yuu were weirdly cute during the vacation.