#Would you believe I actually romanced Mal?

[bedtimegiraffe]

Time to be the kind of music obsessed fan I want to see in the world and recommend some songs! These are focused on Aerin leaving, staying away way too long, and coming back.

Aerin Perspective:

Vibes: Laying in bed wistfully, writing in your diary

No one believes in me except for you I'm losing everything except for you I fail at everything I can't do anything I fail at everything I'd die for anything Oh, how can you still love me?

Vibe: Sitting and staring at someone you really like from across the room

Sometimes I'm so cynical and self-conscious And sometimes I see that I'm bringing him down I stand in the mirror, hands in empty pockets And wonder why he even wants me around

So what do you give to the boy who has everything Now that you need him more than you knew What do you do when you finally get to him And you see he's better off without you?

Vibe: (Added a full day after the other songs because I just found it but it's a great 'Well, time to go fight the end of the world for the person I love' song)

Is this who I was always supposed to be? If I had met you Before they tore down the swing set Before all the bad things happened Before I chose my armor Bеfore I tried to tell thеm somethin' was wrong

I'm runnin' back into the burning house For you, for me, for us, for everything

MC Perspective:

Vibes: Pacing your room having an argument with someone in your head that keeps making you angrier

Go ahead, say it You're leaving You'll just come back running Holding your scarred heart in hand It's all the same

Vibe: You heart breaks a little when you wake up in bed alone again

Said you'd never leave Whether wrong or right You're every other thought Always on my mind You know you're bad at love, bad at love Seems as if you can't get enough

Vibe: Pleading with someone having a bad time and trying not to seem frantic yourself

It's okay if you can't catch your breath You can take the oxygen straight out of my own chest I know exactly how the rule goes Put my mask on first No, I don't want to talk about myself Tell me where it hurts I just want to build you up, build you up 'Til you're good as new

Duet, Chapter 17 (you know the one)

Vibe: Swaying along with someone until you spontaneously start to ballroom dance

I don't need you to sell me on reasons to want you I don't need you to search for the proof that I should You don't have to convince me You don't have to be scared you're not enough 'Cause what we've got going is good

I never thought there'd be someone like you who would want me So I give you ten thousand reasons to not let me go But if you really see me If you like me for me and nothing else Well, that's all that I've wanted for longer than you could possibly know

Bonus

'Noncanon' but reunion I wish we had where Aerin goes 'Wow, you're also barely holding it together.'

Vibe: Watching someone smile in conversation when you know they're faking it

Brave face, talk so lightly, hide the truth Yeah I'm sick of losing soulmates So where do we begin? I can finally see you're as fucked up as me So how do we win? I won't take no for an answer

[amandacanwrite]

Hazards of Endearment || Part Three: Home

Pairing || Cooper Adams (Abbott?) / Female Reader

Fandom || Trap (2024)

Warning || This is a slow-burn, dark romance. There will be lying, manipulation, infidelity, and eventual coercion and kidnapping in this fic. Cooper is not a good guy and brings out ugly sides of the reader's character. If that is problematic or upsetting to you, I encourage you to skip this one. In addition to that, the 'reader' in this fic is epileptic and there are mentions and depictions of grand mal seizures in this fic as well as allusions to parental mental abuse and munchausen's by proxy.

Tag List || @amethystblackkchaos @dirtylittlefairytales

There was something strangely comforting about being carried by him. It was like being a child again, carried to bed by your father or grandfather or uncle. Your weight easily buoyant in his arms as you drifted to sleep at his allowance. 

It wasn’t long after he set off down the flatter part of the path that you fell asleep, lulled by the gentle swaying and rhythmic sound of boots crunching gravel. The steady breaths of the man carrying you as if you weighed no more than a backpack. 

It was the best sleep you’d gotten in weeks and it wasn’t just because of the seizure you’d just had. As for what the reason for that was, you couldn’t be sure. Anything you guessed would just be conjecture. 

You didn’t wake again until you heard your name being said in a gentle voice accompanied by a jostle of your shoulder. Your eyes flitted open to find him only a few inches away from you, his large hand cradling your cheek. His handsome face broke with a kind smile. 

“There you are,” he said. “Was worried I was going to have to call an ambulance after all. You were out like a light.”

He leaned over you, unfastening your seat belt. You could smell the faint remnants of his aftershave and the barest tinge of perspiration. When you looked past his shoulder you saw your apartment building looming in the distance, the small windows glowing with yellow light against the twilight. 

How late was it? How long had you’d been asleep? 

And how did this guy know where you lived? 

“I hope you don’t mind,” he said. “You looked so tired when I got you into the car I just took the liberty of checking the address on your driver’s license.”

“My ID? I don’t have a driver’s license, remember?” you said. 

“Ah,” he said, backing away from you with an apologetic wrinkle to his brow; his lips tucking a little awkwardly. “Right. Sorry.”

“Don’t be, I’m just being pedantic,” you said. “Thank you for bringing me all the way back home…”

You paused trying to recall his name, realizing that you didn’t actually know it. You puzzled over how he figured out your name and then, with chagrin, realized he had gotten it from your ID. Obviously. 

“Name’s Cooper Adams,” he said, offering you a hand. “You feel a little less wobbly after a nap?”

“Cooper,” you repeated as you took his hand. “You look like a cooper.”

He chuckled as he helped you down from your seat in his black SUV. “Yeah? How’s that?”

“I dunno–like you’re…a border collie made into a guy,” you said as you swayed on your feet a bit. He caught you and stabilized you. 

“Easy,” he said. “Why don’t you let me carry you again?”

“No!” you said a little too quickly. 

He blinked a little surprised by your insistent refusal. 

“S-sorry–my neighbors. They’re nosy and they report everything to my mother,” you said. “I mean…it’s supposed to be for my safety and all, but my mother abuses the system. Makes them all think I’m one seizure away from needing a full-time caretaker. If they see me being carried by a strange man…”

He smiled, and you swore there was a bit of an edge to it. “Strange? I don’t think I’m that strange.”

“N-no! I don’t think you’re strange at all,” you insisted. “I just mean–”

“I’m kidding,” he said, placing his free hand on the curve of your shoulder and giving you a friendly jostle. “I understand overbearing mothers, believe me. At least let me walk you to your door. I’ve even got some of my bunker gear with me if you want me to look the part.”

“Bunker gear?” you asked. 

“Ah, the firefighter suit–you know; yellow jacket and all that.”

“Would you wear that as a paramedic?” you asked. 

“Do you really think they’d have the reasoning skills to analyze it that much?” he quipped back, quirking an eyebrow. 

You looked up at the building and considered it. You didn’t see any of the worst of your neighbors peering out of their windows. You fiddled with your fingernail a little as you chewed on your lip. 

You finally looked up at Cooper again and shrugged. “Can’t hurt, I guess.”

“Great. One second while I suit up,” he said. “Why don’t you just sit back in the passenger seat while you wait.”

He helped you back into the seat and, once sure you weren’t wobbling, he went to the hatchback of his SUV. You peered through the gap between the headrest and the seat as Cooper quickly pulled off his coat, then grabbed the neckline of his sweater. 

Your heart leapt into your throat as you realized you might see the man shirtless, but as the sweater came off over his head, you realized he was wearing a navy blue t-shirt with the logo for the Philadelphia Fire Department. 

“You always just wearing that stuff on your day off?” you asked. 

His eyes flashed to yours and he smirked. “You always just watching strange men get changed?”

You felt your face heat and you looked away from him. “Touche,” you muttered begrudgingly.

He chuckled, but something pricked at the back of your neck. He didn’t answer your question. Silence fell between you, the only sounds the faint hiss of clothing being changed. You tried not to think too hard about the zipper you heard. 

What were you doing? Talking to this guy like he could ever be into you. Aside from being at least ten years younger than him, he was wearing a damned wedding ring. You’d seen it. 

But could you be blamed, really? For enjoying even a little flirtation? It wasn't as if your mother would ever let you actually date someone. 

You rubbed your forehead as her words echoed in your head. 

With your condition? You’re too vulnerable! The only men who would ever try to go after you are the ones who have something they want to get out of you. Even if you tried to hide it, they would find out soon enough.

It was only a few seconds before Cooper appeared before you again, fully decked out in his suit, his jacket remaining open and showing that well-fitted t-shirt. “Alright, illusion in place,” he said. “Ready for our ruse?”

“Ready,” you said, standing up a little slower this time. 

He smiled and jerked his head over to your apartment building, as if saying lead the way.

You turned and started making your way to the apartment building. Really, it was more like a large home that had been converted into small studios, each one given brand new appliances and a fresh coat of paint as if that would replace the decrepit wiring that prevented you from running your air conditioner and your microwave at the same time. As if it would evict all of the mice making their own apartments in the walls.

The front door was always unlocked, you opened it and led him in. 

The foyer sported some glum-looking blue-grey carpet. That kinda carpet they put in office buildings because they were supposedly stain-proof by virtue of being multiple shades of that morose looking blue-grey. Of course, there were plenty of stains left on it since the carpet was placed lord knows when. 

The wainscoting on the walls had seen better days and the railing on the stairs was unstable at worst, obnoxiously creaky at best. 

When you looked back at Cooper, he was scanning the space, his brows raised, his eyes squinting skeptically. 

“You think it’s a dump,” you said. 

“I didn’t say that,” he said, lifting his hands in mock surrender

“Yeah, you don’t have to. I can read it on your face,” you said. “Come on, my studio’s upstairs.”

You approached the stairs with him and as you started making your way up them, you felt the faint hover of Cooper’s hand ghost over the small of your back. When you looked back at him he shrugged. 

“Just in case,” he said. 

He walked with you up the stairs and you waved at the door-bell cameras of the nosiest of your neighbors. You heard Cooper huff a breathy laugh and when you looked back at him, he gave you a knowing wink that left you feeling warm and tingly under your collar. 

Just as you neared your door at the end of the hall, the one directly across from yours opened up and your neighbor stepped out, seemingly unperturbed by Cooper’s presence. 

“Oh, you’re home,” he said. “Late night for you. And a paramedic? You didn’t have a seizure did you?”

“Good day to you too, Randal,” you said dryly. 

Randal was an older man. Older than Cooper. He had some obsession with you, or maybe your mother. Or maybe both. You’d caught him going through your laundry in the shared laundry room, he’d made the odd inappropriate comment or two about your habits or your body. Even asked you about the subject of your virginity once. 

He was also the number one ally of your overbearing mother. 

You felt your body tighten up with discomfort, the same discomfort you were used to with Randal. 

It always felt like he was leering over you. Like he was waiting for the chance for you to seize. For the chance to get his hands on your body when it was most vulnerable. 

You inhaled to answer his barrage of questions, but you didn’t get a chance to. 

You didn’t get a chance to because Cooper cut in. 

“Actually, we’re just repaying a good turn where one was given to us,” he lied smoothly. “It’s not every day that a good samaritan reports an arsonist and hangs around to try and stamp a fresh forest fire out. We were really lucky she was there. I’d never hear the end of it from my wife if I let her take the bus home after preventing a major disaster.”

You openly balked at Cooper at the same time Randal did, though for a different reason. 

That lie was…so convincing. So convincing that you almost believed it. 

Randal looked at you, his wiry brows furrowing. “Don’t you think that was a little risky?” he asked. “With your fits, and all?”

You found yourself looking up at Cooper, as if seeking guidance from him. His focus was on Randal, though–his lips curved in a tight smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “That’s a strange way to thank someone for protecting you,” he said. “And you know, I think she’s pretty tired.”

Cooper looked down at you, his smile genuine now. “You were just telling me how exhausted you were, right?”

“R-right,” you said, nodding up at him and looking toward Randal. “Goodnight, Randal.”

You looked up at Cooper one last time and smiled. “Goodnight. Thanks for all your help,” you said, hoping he understood that you really did mean all of the help. From the seizure to dealing with Randal in an easy way.

“Sure thing,” he said. “Oh, and–”

He reached into the pocket of his gear and pulled out a little pink sticky note. It had a phone number hastily scrawled on it along with his name. 

“If you ever have any issues–smell any gas leaks or have any concerns about fire code infractions, feel free to call me here. I’ll come right over,” he said. 

“O-oh,” you said, wondering when he got the chance to prepare the little note. Wondering if he did it while he was changing by the car. “Thanks Cooper.” 

He nodded. “Rest well,” he said, his eyes flicking over to your door. A silent encouragement for you to flee while Randal was busy being embarrassed. 

“Thanks,” you said, turning and fumbling with your key a bit before letting yourself into your apartment and shutting the door behind you.

[rose-of-oz]

𝗔 𝗪𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗘 𝗕𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗛 𝗢𝗙 𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗦 𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧 𝗕𝗨𝗡𝗡𝗜𝗘𝗦

Okay, so as I was talking to Evie about the other day, I was going through one of my old notebooks and found a whole extended universe of Descendants OCs I had planned from middle school. I obviously don’t plan on formally introducing or doing anything with all of these OCs, because there is a lot of them, but I still thought it would be fun to share them with you guys! They’re not all in their original versions from my notebook, because a few of them did require a little changing and revamping, but I still hope you guys enjoy these little ideas from twelve-year-old me’s brain.

Soha Pride, daughter of Simba and Nala, Carlos ship. Able to attend Auradon Prep thanks to a spell from Fairy Godmother that allows her entire family to shift between their lion and human forms. Very dedicated to her duties as a princess of Pride Rock, but sometimes feels overshadowed by her older sister Kiara because she’s the oldest and the heir. Doesn’t believe any of the stuff Audrey and Chad say about the VKs and makes it her mission to be friends with them. Formerly a Jay ship. I am going to be introducing her formally in a little bit, so look out for that!

Josie Sparrow, daughter of Jack Sparrow, Evie ship. Auradon kid because it could never be decided whether Jack was a villain or not, and now he sails all around the seas surrounding Auradon and the different kingdoms. Has the ability to visit the Isle in her dreams, and it’s later revealed that that’s because her mother is Calypso. A huge troublemaker and prankster who’s constantly in trouble with Fairy Godmother, and becomes quick besties with Mal because of it when the VKs first come to Auradon.

Jackson Kelly-Jacobs, son of Jack Kelly and David Jacobs, OC ship. Son of Jack and Davey because I am a Javid shipper for life. A dancer and gymnast who’s on the R.O.A.R. team, and used to be friends with Chad before he turned into a bully. Really flirty and charming like his dad Jack, but still a total sweetheart. He and Evie quickly develop a WLW/MLM friendship when the VKs come to Auradon, and he definitely punches Chad during the Family Day thing.

Steven Smee, son of Mr. Smee, OC ship (Jackson’s boyfriend). Comes to Auradon with the VKs even though he’s not friends with them after Ben lets his dad persuade him to invite the child of a sidekick along with the children of villains so the people of Auradon are a bit “more receptive”. A complete shy sweetheart who loves his dad and brothers and misses them terribly when he leaves (because Smee is actually a really good dad) and is the reason the twins get to come to Auradon in the third movie. Kind of sensitive because he got bullied a lot as a kid on the Isle, but still has an inner strength that not a lot of people expect.

Maile Montunui, daughter of Moana, Uma ship. President and pretty much only member of the Auradon Prep Sailing Club, which the Sea Three join after they come to Auradon in the alternate post-second movie story that I had in my head. Incredibly courageous and not afraid to speak her mind, but sometimes gets herself into trouble from being too confident. Frequently curses and insults people in Samoan. Bisexual disaster who falls in love with Uma instantly, even if it takes Uma a while to feel the same about her.

Haven Hearts, daughter of the Queen of Hearts, Harry ship. Member of the VKs who had a sort of Romeo and Juliet romance going on with Harry, but has to break it off when they leave to go to Auradon. She wants desperately to be good and break away from her mother’s reputation, and dedicates herself to being better once the VKs choose good at the coronation, which causes some tension between her and Harry when they meet again in the second movie. In the alternate post-second movie story after the Sea Three come to Auradon, though, they reconcile and get back together. She’s fierce and sarcastic by nature but not mean, and she shares Mal’s love for graffiti.

Cierra Chernabog, daughter of Chernabog, Ben ship. Outcast even on the Isle because her father is a demon, doesn’t come to Auradon until after the second movie because so many people were against bringing Chernabog’s kid to Auradon the first time. Super shy and doesn’t talk a whole lot, but incredibly smart and loving. Has a demon form that she isn’t able to access until leaving the Isle, but it’s big and terrifying and still kind of cool.

Celeste Frollo, daughter of Judge Frollo, Audrey ship. Claudette’s twin sister, very religious and God-fearing due to her father’s teaching, so she has a lot of Catholic guilt over liking girls (picture, like, Carrie White with no telekinesis and if she was a lesbian). Gets to go to Auradon after the second movie, when Audrey’s slowly starting to reform herself and be more accepting of villain kids (we’re pretending the third movie doesn’t happen, I guess), and at the same time my girl slowly starts to overcome her guilt and they fall in love!

And there are even more, but I’m gonna stop there (😅). Hope you guys enjoyed this little look into my crazy little middle schooler brain!!

Tagging some of the Descendants moots: @ginger-grimm, @dancingsunflowers-ocs, @ginevrastilinski-ocs, @auxiliarydetective, and soft tagging @manyfandomocs!!

[goblins-riddles-or-frocks]

Grishaverse Reread Thoughts

Shadow and Bone, Chapter One, part 3

Despite just saying that Alina’s background doesn’t sufficiently inform her character, I do like that, ostensibly, her proximity to— but fundamental separation from— wealth in the Duke’s estate means that she’s not as dramatically dazzled by it as she could be. I think it’s an interesting beat when everyone is badgering her about having witnessed the Grisha carriages (a telling detail of how little the First and Second Armies interact) and she just does not care.

You’re not going to believe this…

I like that he gets tents plural lol. Generally I think it’s interesting how the trilogy frames the Ravkan Grisha as a distrusted and marginalized upper class. The fandom cannot seem to fathom that dichotomy though!

Sigh. They’re genuinely cute. I honestly think that through the first couple chapters, the dynamic between them is actually a pretty deft way to establish a romance! It’s clear Mal knows a lot about and cares about her, though he’s not wording it in a way that Alina is clocking as romantic— though imo that is very clear, without also hitting the reader in the face with it. I think it gets severely muddied by… Mal’s everything later, and just the book-long framing of Alina constantly holding herself back because of her feelings for him. But their introduction is good.

That being said, I do find it interesting how Alina closes off the chapter thinking about how she and Mal have been on different paths for awhile, and if they’ll ever end up strangers to each other. She thinks his star is rising and she’s the one who’ll be left in the dust, but obviously it’s foreshadowing for her turning out to be the sun summoner and being whisked away by Plot to save the country. I do feel like the most satisfying conclusion to this would have been to either accept that they’re strangers to each other and that’s fine lol. sometimes you outgrow some people, or that they bridge that gap *despite* all the circumstantial differences. Basically: here’s why even from a Malina perspective, the ending still sucks.

[qiqi-media]

I know Mal was meant (imo) to be the creator's pet who got away with everything but OMG she deserved better. Like why was she written to spell Ben in the first place?? Mal didn't need romance she needed someone to teach her better morals, and therapy lmao. I'm anti mal bertha but the way she was written just messed up descendants for me...like couldn't we have had her struggle with not using magic in D2, and still actively being good. I also wouldn't have made Hades her dad in D3. Wouldn't have her rule either, why was she even becoming queen at such a young age?

I have mutuals that re write Mal all the time and I can see how they could've made her likeable. Most common one is she's an edgy art student. A character that wasn't perfect, made past mistakes but ultimately ended up being a good well rounded character. Honestly if descendants was a stand all film I could get liking Mal (even though in D1 I still didn't like her) but we see that this was meant to be her journey to good not her actually being good. But in D2 and D3 we see that she doesn't do any actual growing she just gets worse. If we didn't see how everything was supposed to be in Mal's favor, you would think that the writers hated her because she just got worse and worse. You could see the downfall of Mal actually being a good person or taking accountability for anything is, the only reason she became good is because she was 'loved' by the most powerful person in Auradon. There was never any actual reason why she wanted to become good all on her own, the others did she didn't. Her goodness was directly linked to wanting to be with Ben and we see how that turns out. She basically switched Ben for her mom but Ben is a major pushover so she's the one in control. As for Hades being her dad, a lot of people hate that because it was just not needed and Evie fit the bill more. I think Dove had something to do with that honestly, because I remember seeing an interview right after D1 before D2 was even confirmed I believe, and she was saying things about wanting Mal to go back to the Isle and struggle with good and Bad and wanting to know where's Mal did was and all that basically happened. As for her ruling, she wasn't supposed to be, that was supposed to be Ben's job which is was too dumb and young to do (I love Ben but he was such an unfit king to the point people look at her to rule Auradon and not him) She only got put into a 'ruler' position because Ben let her pretty much, had he not proposed she wouldn't be ruling anything. Other than that only reason would be is that horrible dragon that never actual won a fight and even then her being a 'protector' still wouldn't give her reign to speak up over the king. So her 'ruling' is Ben's fault in my opinion.

[a-cloud-for-dreams]

Ok ok here are my ramblings about the reunions with the Blades LIs (mostly Mal) off the top of my head, like immediately after finishing the chapter.

I feel like they could have rearranged it so that we reunite with Tyril/Nia in one and Mal/Imtura OR Tyril/Imtura and Mal/Nia (since the two are working together with the orphanage) in the next so each LI gets a fair half. I find it weird that Tyril basically got an amazingly cute whole chapter reunion (and Imtura too probably but female LIs deserve more attention so good for her!) while Nia and Mal romancers have to share one lol. I know I sound childish but I kinda expected...more

Is Mal corrupted or something because there's no way he would be so chill about us returning? Like it's not as bad of a reunion as others are making it but it felt really lukewarm. I wanted more anger or pain or sadness of some kind. I have to do the scene with Nia but from what I've heard, it was really sweet and she actually cried when we disappeared lol

I think it would make sense for Mal to not be super vulnerable and rebuild the walls around his heart because he didn't want to think about what happened to her. I just don't think this chapter conveyed that super well or did it halfway between Mal and MC. Like where was the intensity of "I did everything I possibly could to find you and when I thought you were gone forever I just had to do whatever I could to take my mind off you," pause, "It was like you were taking over my every thought and I distracted myself by helping the Whitetower orphans it's... what you would have wanted" like COME ON. Also, could he be that closed off if he was taking care of them? Like being a parental figure means having to open yourself up a lil but wtvr

My lil headcanon was that Mal actually did do the depression haircut but he didn't want to admit that so he made up some excuse about it being too hot in the summer because I find it hard to believe that wearing all-black armor isn't equally as hot as having long hair

Stan Imtura for having the most iconic reaction to our disappearance like I was mad too bestie

If Aerin becomes an LI I would say we had the best reunion scene tbh he wasn't corrupted and still helped propel the story but was also checking in w MC and clearly worried about them

yeah yeah ik it seems like i'm super mad, but it's more so disappointment. i do still have hope for the book, maybe their just getting their footing again

[keldjinfae]

these are a few (12) of my favorite things

Twelve characters from twelve fandoms, twelve tags. Nobody tagged me, but I have been agonizing over this damn thing for about five hours now, so I feel I owe it to myself to give it a go anyway. Some of these characters really did come out as a draw because I love them equally and I could not decide.

Teen Wolf - Derek Hale and Stiles Stilinski

It took me an hour of trying to pick one of them before I decided "fuck it, they're a unit." They're two sides of the same coin, they're my OTP in a way no other pairing has been, I love them both equally for similar and different reasons. I identify with both of them so much that making a choice is like disregarding a part of my own thought process.

2. John Wick - John Wick

Curse this 'verse, seriously. Every character is so nuanced and interesting, even the despicable people (and really, they're all despicable people), and it was ridiculously difficult to choose between people like Sofia, Gianna, Caine, Winston, Charon, Nobody, the list goes on. But. John Wick is what binds them all in this particular story. And then there's the fact that Keanu Reeves made John Wick interesting--this is a character who had the potential to be buried in Main Character Energy, but instead, there are all of these subtle moments where you see John's underlying rage, his gallows humor, his fallibility, etc. He views the stories (legends) about him as running jokes; they happened, and they weren't even exaggerated, but he is annoyed that people keep talking about them.

3. Inception - Arthur

Again, it was so hard to choose between Arthur and Eames. Actually, I also had to watch Mal be sad and neglected in a window. Again. But I ultimately went with Arthur because he's my deadly cinnamon roll. I'm making myself want to binge-read Inception fic again, send help.

4. Supernatural - Dean and Sam Winchester

Like, even the overlying message of the show was literally "these two do not know how to exist without each other." Their codependency made me feral from the get-go back in 2005. The amount of meta I have written about these two, on top of all of the fic, just. Chuckdamn.

5. Dawson's Creek - Pacey Whitter

He's the mouthy, oft-overlooked son of a sheriff. He was my precursor to Stiles. Actually, he was my precursor to Derek as well, given how he fell for an older woman and the relationship wrecked him (not the same as what happened to Derek, but it still screwed him up for a while).

6. Song of the Lioness - George Cooper

Okay, he's the King in the Court of the Rogue--of course he's going to be my favorite. That's not to say that this choice wasn't also nigh impossible, considering the wealth of fantastic characters in this fandom, but George outclassed everyone in charisma. George and Alanna were also the first "age gap" teenage romance I ever read, so. That was formative as fuck.

7. Dragon Age: Origins - Zevran Arainai

Look, I'm basically here because otherwise I'd have to pick a favorite in the entire series, and that's just not happening--having to choose between Zevran and Morrigan was already difficult enough. If there's a personal avatar for me in this whole franchise (other than the player character), it's Zev. He's the one who hides in the open, who tells nothing but the whole truth, but tells it so abrasively that nobody listens to/believes him.

8. Dragon Age II - Fenris

If Awakening were also in this list (I figured that would be pushing it), then that would be a toss-up between Nathaniel Howe and Anders. As it stands, this one was a toss-up between Fenris and Anders. The only reason I went with Fenris is simply because I prefer his rivalmance over Anders's romance. I still have to clench my teeth to get through Anders's second act resolution without romancing him because it is good, but Fenris's rivalmance is delicious. That being said, both boys have that deep-set, impotent rage against the whole world, and I love how both of them deal with it. But. Fenris is voiced by Gideon Emery, and his romance cutscenes are all kinds of fantastic in their physicality.

9. Kingdom Hearts - Riku and Sora

Yeah, again, just like with Derek and Stiles, or Dean and Sam, these two boys don't like it when they're not together. The entire series is about the two of them trying to save or find each other. They also have one of the most awesome limit breaks in the entire series--I spam that one even when there aren't any enemies around.

10. Captain America - Bucky Barnes and Steve Rogers

Same as above, but over the course of an entire century and more. They are each other's entire world, and *feral noises* Like, do you realize how many times I went to see TWS and CW in theaters? Do you? All I have to do is hear "End of the Line" and I go into a fugue state for hours just thinking about them.

11. Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Spike

I'm cheating again here, thanks to the spin-off, and even then choosing between nearly every single member of the cast was a brutal death match. Cordelia and Oz and Giles came so close, and honestly, Giles should get honorable mention status. What I loved about Spike most was how he was unapologetically and unabashedly himself. He wasn't a mastermind, but he also knew just where to push to drive the Scoobies apart. He didn't mind being overlooked, unless it was Angel, and then he was all but compelled to get up in his face like "Genghis Khan" just started playing in the background.

12. Angel - Angel

Thank fuck there's a spin-off to choose from. I love Angel at his best (when he's with Buffy or Cordy), I love him when he's at his worst (also with Buffy), and I love him the most when he's petty as fuck, and nobody brings that out in him more than Spike. Out of the entire series, my favorite episode is "The Girl in Question" because it's one of the most perfect examples of their centuries-long relationship. They go seamlessly from fighting each other to fighting everyone else, and it just humanized Angel in a way that few others did. Like, yes, he has a soul, and yes, there's a prophecy that he will become human again. But in the meantime? Spike makes him fall back on his human nature just by being in his proximity.

As for the 12 tags... uh... @nerdherderette @greyhavenisback @ephemeronidwrites @ice-mage @jacyevans @twistedamusement @wildamongwolves @renmackree @allybugg888 @caseyvalhalla

And then anyone else actually reading this, if you want to play then consider yourself tagged.

[eclipsecrowned]

Ship bias for GALE // anonymous

Gale/Karlach. I believe the exact trajectory of my shipping this was me and Ax seeing what intermuse ships might work, thinking it'd be interesting for the two walking time bombs to try and navigate a relationship and to see how Gale would try to outsmart her physical limitations -- And then we blacked out and woke up surrounded by lore for the next few decades in-universe. But that's the free space in bingo, shipping with Ax. Went in-game. Gale says he can be 'smooth enough for two' when he meets Karlach and I blacked out again. I'm never recovering from these two. The fleeting flicker of their lives, raging against the dying of the light. The juxtaposing aesthetics of jacked girlboss and plush malewife. How they only need more time. How this can end in either tragedy or triumph with no middle ground for them. It kills me this is as near as I can tell a rarepair.

Bloodweave. I love the cat and mouse of Gale trying to get to the bottom of Astarion in Act 1 only to realize he keeps getting closer and closer to bedrock. Both so clearly struggling with self-worth and being 'enough' for someone else. Gale who wants something real off of Astarion manipulating whoever romances him from day one. Just the hilarity of Gale refusing to play into his dramatics and Astarion getting slowly more hissy about it. Besides, my boy loves cats, and Astarion is just a feral cat who needs some domesticating -- and therapy. So much therapy. Also, catch me with that narrative foil of both seeking to ascend, to become something more, to become something worthy and never having to worry again, never realizing it will be their ruination.

Gale/Halsin. Listen I just think they both need a soft place to land after everything they've been through. I enjoy the parallel of them both being their god's special guy -- Gale for the worse with Mystra and how he was used, and Halsin being strengthened for his oaths to Silvanus. Also I think their personal lives would be interesting, given Gale is so modest he made Tara leave the room if he was changing and other characters noting Halsin might outlaw clothing if he was capable. There's some interesting compare/contrast between them that I'd like to dive into regarding both their larger and personal lore. The fact they are both huge brained nerds and that Halsin would patiently endure Gale's 'Um Actually' infodump of the hour and provide feedback/engagement just sweetens the deal for me. The tism4tism Old Man Yaoi I can believe in.

Gale/Mal. Yes I am including my ship with @umbralined's oc. And you will like it. The way Gale gets manhandled and challenged by this tiefling with a horrible attitude. The way his magical theory falls on deaf ears. The way Mal makes him reframe the world and society and a hundred other things that frankly were beyond his notice. Also he deserves to be topped as only Mal can top him. There's some interesting give and take in this dynamic that I think can really help propel Gale forward, and also maybe be... if not a positive influence, than at least an influence on Mal.

Gale/Raphael. Listen. God Gale said 'once more with feeling' and got so deep under Raphael's skin that I never fully recovered. The way they're both playing with ambition and tipping the scales. The way Gale would so easily fall prey to Raphael in the right set of circumstances. I've never fully played with this one but the concept gnaws at me, for better or for worse.

[but-first--tea]

G - Growing - How have they changed over time? How has their self-image changed? Are they more or less of a risk-taker? Has their approach to romance changed?

P - Philosopher - Are they particularly philosophic? What do they believe is the purpose of life? Do they have any particularly strong convictions or ideologies?

R - Rebel - Do they follow rules, bend or break them? Do they find rebelliousness in others attractive? - Miqojak!

One, two, thr-- NINE? Well, pull up a chair, and I'll put on a pot of tea 'cause I've been writing this character for three years and this is going to take a while. (I think I'm going to have to put the second two in their own posts LOL )

How have they changed over time? How has their self-image changed? Are they more or less of a risk-taker? Has their approach to romance changed?

Once upon a time, Ferthur was a little girl without a name of her own, and who loved to dance… but was trained in combat and deception, instead. That's what you do when you're raised by shinobi after all, and disobeying her mother who sacrificed everything, including honor, to keep the two of them alive… well suffice it to say that honoring and obeying her mother in all things was the only true north her moral compass pointed to. It was them against the world. Her mother became an Imperial Shadow to keep them alive when the first Doman resistance failed, and survival and deception became the only things she knew. Never leave evidence. Never be prey. Never become attached to anyone, or anything you can't carry on your person if you have to swim across a river in the dead of night and disappear.

Everything changed when her all too inquisitive fingers curled around a soulstone she should absolutely not have known about, much less stolen, and definitely should not have unlocked. Fane lux Verinus [NPC] was intelligent, charismatic, ambitious… and, unfortunately for Ferthur, quite the manipulative narcissist. He earned her trust and affection by covering up her theft, encouraging her growing obsession with the magic within, and twisting her still-young and idealistic mind with rhetoric shared by Aulus mal Asina: that if Garleans possessed the capacity for magic, the division between Garleans and Eorzeans could be broken down, and the world would be a better place. Ferthur foolishly believed that this might mean Garleans would no longer feel compelled to conquer, and things might actually change for the better. Once Ferthur had reached a key point in her research, Fane promptly stole it and used it to further his own ambition by contributing it to the Resonant project.

When the scope of how deeply Ferthur had been used and manipulated became obvious, it also became obvious that Ferthur was now a loose end for Fane, and no longer safe. Unfortunately for everyone involved, Ferthur's mother was overprotective, ruthless, vindictive, and capable of extreme violence-- especially when it came to the safety of her child. Under cover of Doma's liberation, she targeted the Omori Clan, who had made their fortune providing highly conductive ores used almost exclusively for Garlean magitek weaponry. With the entire clan assassinated and assumed casualties of war and rebellious Doman retribution, Ferthur's mother gave her the identity of the family's sole surviving daughter, Omori Kaya, who 'managed to escape the rest of the Omori Clan's fate by being away from the city when Lord Hien liberated Doma.'

So it was that 'Lady Omori Kaya' took refuge in faraway Ul'dah. Obedient as always to her mother, Ferthur kept up the act as Lady Omori to the best of her ability. Faced with the guilt and deep regret for the series of events her obsession with magic had put into motion, she set aside her magic and fell back to her shinobi training. She became an angry, thieving magpie trapped in a gilded cage, hiding behind the mask of a perfect, demure Doman noblewoman afraid to go home. It went about as well as you'd expect.

Somewhat free for the first time in her life, half a world away from her mother, she was both exhilirated by possibility and desperately unsure what to do with herself. So, she decided to do what she thought her mother would have wanted her to do: utterly destroy the next man who tried to bully her and help the Doman refugees still adrift in Eorzea in the process.

She convinced, bribed, or outright bought and paid for a team of people [various OCs] to help her topple a kingpin name Eadmund Fowler [NPC] who had not only been preying on refugees, but had also (and maybe more importantly), been an absolute asshole to her. Once motivated by curiosity and idealism, the woman was growing more and more motivated by anger and spite. Once trained for calculating caution, she now wielded chaos as weapon and shield. Once completely under the control of others, taking impulsive risks for no other reason than because she wanted to felt like retaking ownership of herself. She was, after all, very much her mother's daughter, and becoming more and more dangerous in her own right.

Ferthur succeeded in toppling the kingpin. However, nearly the entirety of the team she'd recruited to help her betrayed her immediately after. Rather than a fellow comrade, the saw her as Lady Omori Kaya, just another rich noblewoman playing power games at the expense of everyone else. She'd hid her true self too well.

However, the high-profile fall of Eadmund Fowler, and the name Omori Kaya being tied to the scandal, brought Fane back into her orbit. When Fane's next ambition required access to the Omori mines and he sought out Lady Omori Kaya… only to find Ferthur, instead, things became… complicated. With Garlemald's destabilization, Fane tried to use his leverage over her to force her to help him become a Resonant himself. Ferthur's refusal prompted him to provide proof that he had captured her mother, and she was within range of the towers that had tempered so many Garleans, and her mother was very likely one of the tempered herself. He offered to return her mother to her, but of course he'd need to become a Resonant in order to do it. Fane, however, was unaware of two things: firstly, just how angry and dangerous Ferthur had become, and secondly… that she had another skilled magitek engineer in her pocket: Eligos Venator. When she asked him if, provided the plans, he would be able to build the Resonant machine and he admitted that he could, Ferthur's course of action became clear. It was then that Eligos gave the woman who had never had anything other than aliases her own name: Ferthur. It was then that she became far more than just a contract to Eligos.

Her morality having been influenced by Eligos, Ferthur killed Fane and turned over the plans to Eligos. While he worked, Ferthur meticulously hunted the shinobi that had been working for Fane, collecting their aether to fuel the Resonant process. Having never killed anyone herself at all before, much less over a dozen, Ferthur recognized that something in her had changed, even though she hadn't known the precise nature of what Eligos had done. She only knew that these were her actions and she felt… nothing. It was then she let go of much of who she had been, let go of the foolish idealistic girl who thought she could make the world a better place and had only gotten played by everyone around her over and over again.

She had Eligos turn her into a Resonant and went to Garlemald to extract her mother her damn self. Aided by an Ala Mhigan named Valentin Greywolfe, she fought her way through the wreckage of Garlemald and hordes of tempered… only to find that Fane hadn't mentioned one detail: he'd turned her mother into a biomech war machine out of spite. Ferthur was forced to kill her mother to free her from her torment and return her soul to the lifestream.

Having to kill her mother wasn't the only loss she would face in Garlemald, however. Eligos Venator's other contracts called him to Thavnair, where he met his apparent end upon a Blasphemy's claw. Due to their connection, she felt his violent death even a distance away. Crushed by grief, Ferthur went to the worst place she could have possibly gone: the Omori estate in Doma, where any number of people could easily out her as a fraud. If nothing else, she knew that sheer survival, as well as wanting to unravel the mystery in the Omori mines, would be something to focus her mind on other than grief.

What she hadn't expected, though, was a viera showing up at her front door a few weeks later. Having barely survived due to unforseen circumstances, once Eligos had recovered enough he had begun looking into any and all leads in order to track her. He refused to give up, and eventually found himself on her doorstep with a briefcase full of contracts, and and a bottle of soup stock from Pennyworth. The pair were reunited, and settled into recovering from all that had happened and figuring out what their life was going to look like moving forward. Since then, Ferthur has begun to fight some of her fears, and some the instincts to run and hide that her mother instilled in her for the sake of survival alone. Both of them finally began to truly live, and slowly Ferthur has begun to believe that he is hers to keep, and not everyone would betray her in the end.

Although she's still very much an oft-impulsive risk-taker, Eligos's consistent presence tempers that to a certain degree, and grounds her with his calm practicality. He is the one thing she will NOT risk, and Eligos's own cautious and long-term approach has seen him carefully snipping loose ends where Ferthur has simply left them and vanished. How things might continue to evolve as the two begin to work together more going forward remains to be seen!

Wow, did someone actually read this whole thing?

Thank you for the Ask!

[fateviled]

full spoilers for s2 under the cut so don't perceive if you haven't watched but-

i spent the first half of the season thinking 'if i just don't think about it in terms of the books, but as it's own stand-alone thing it's fine, right? im being nitpicky about it because i want what i already know, right?' god i really wish that was the case. there were things about it that i really liked, and things that made absolutely no sense, and things that just felt insulting to watch with my own two eyes.

unfortunately, right now i can't think about what i did like because im just so disappointed lmao, so what i hated:

everything, absolutely everything, felt rushed. they didn't give you a second to breathe before throwing in the next plotline. what do you mean the pekka rollins plotline was fixed in 3 and a half episodes when that was supposed to be kaz's big bad to overcome? the fun moments between alina and mal where they feel like they're believably, fully in love? never heard of them. who is the suffocating feeling of mal being trapped in a palace watching the girl he loves pass him by? i heard of her but i never saw her!!

it escaped my view the first few times it happened but it genuinely felt like they threw in book quotes blindly just for fan service in places where they didn't fit, and in turn we lost all meaning of what the quotes are supposed to mean. it happened more times than i can actually look back and find a specific one, but specifically, mal's lines declaring his love for alina just felt... god, flat? forced? i'll get into that more later.

we got to see more of zemini and shu han cultures, and that was great for the few seconds it lasted... but why were our actual shu han characters reduced to mere two-dimensional characters? what was the point of making tolya's love for poetry nothing more than a gag for laughs? tamar was missing for so long in the trilogy sequence that i entirely forgot she was with nikolai and the gang and couldn't remember if she'd gone with the crows or not. her and nadia's romance? if you can even call it that. these were supposed to be integral characters to the og trilogy and they were so completely absent that they might as well have not been cast.

david. i'm not saying anything else. just. david?

jesper's trauma over hiding who he is is solved by a hallucination sequence and his mom saying it's okay, following a short conversation with a saint who didn't even get an ounce of his life story, and just immediately rushing into 'being grusha'. like, damn. i need me therapy that effective.

speaking of jesper, please dear god that wesper felt entirely like fanservice and bait and not at all the vibes of the book version of what they are and? also felt like a slap in the face considering the lack of tamar and nadia content we received. once again, just say you hate lesbians and like to use gay men to sell.

this list could really go on forever.

no because i'm mad about the disrespect put on tamar and nadia's names and it felt like tolya was purposely given more screentime with the crows while the only lesbian rep was left out of the process altogether.

the mal specific issues, which we all knew were coming.

i didn't hate the ending of his arc/beginning of his new adventure. in fact, it felt like a necessary step toward who he is as a person and giving him that choice felt like understanding his character. but it felt like understanding book mal, not at all the show's boy we see who would just choose alina over and over again. we were robbed of seeing mal at his most comfortable on the ship to novyi zem, about how naturally he fits in around people and how trapped and stifled he was in palace life. in rushing everything, we weren't given characterization that is integral to understanding who mal is. what drives him, what he was giving up. what he gained by getting that choice in the end.

just slap me across the face with a brick that says 'mal is the amplifier.' really, it would have been more subtle than everything the show did. i know a lot of people complained about how it came out of nowhere in the books but, really? there was no suspense, no crushing realization when baghra reveals it. even if you didn't know, you would have known well before that.

i still don't get why the mal/zoya stuff was removed. explain that to me. why could this man not have a relationship with someone that wasn't alina? and what was so wrong about letting him be flawed like he was throughout s&s?

i hate to say it but it felt like malina just wasn't the vibe here. with the quick pacing of everything, these two didn't get to have any actual intimate moments that weren't forced to include book quotes, and maybe there was a reason for that. but why give us s1 malina if you were just gonna disappoint like that? i genuinely don't get it.

there's still so much i think about it but it's making me more upset so i'll leave it here for now but GOD.

tl;dr the lack of tamadia was purposeful homophobia, the pacing wasn't it, and i think i'm entitled to financial compensation for what i just experienced.

[amosdeleon]

"I'm fishing for compliments? You literally called me hot a minute ago. And adorable. And now you're trying to act cool but that's fine, that's good I'll survive." Amos bit down on his bottom lip to stop his smile from showing up on his lips as if that would prove her point. He chuckled when he noticed her stumbling a little bit, reaching over to steady her a little bit since it was his doing, a hand on her back just momentarily. "Ow. Wow. First date isn't over yet and you are alreayd friend-zoning me? I can't believe you just called me buddy. Unprovoked." Amos was joking, but he also wondered if that was their best option. Deep down, he knew that he probably wasn't ready for anything very serious. He was going through a lot of changes and he liked Malia. He really, really liked her. So maybe she was right to bring them back down to earth from all the flirting.

Amos' eyes almost pop out of his head when she explained what the book series was about, clearly clueless. "Fairy, what?!" He looked at their daughters who were barely paying them any attention and then looked back at Mal. "Rewind. Fairy smut? How was I supposed to know that?!" He whispered, laughing almost nervously. "That's actually funny. Uh, Cece's mom is a romance writer. It's one of the few things I know about her." Amos tilted his head to the side, his attention on the kids again as they reached a house and they went to ring the doorbell, Amos and Malia staying a safe distance away from them to keep an eye on them. "What is it about? I need a warning if you're recommending fairy smut to me, I feel like I need something a little tamer to begin with." He teased lightly and then raised an eyebrow at her words. "Didn't we do this the first time we met though? I guess I'll agree, I don't normally talk to people as much as I have talked with you, stranger."

Malia felt her cheeks burn hotter as he kept up the flirting. She wanted to blame it on the autumn chill, but who was she kidding? He was so goofy, it was impossible for her to keep a straight face. "How dare I? Boy please, you're the one who's out here fishing for compliments," she shot back, trying to ignore how her stomach fluttered when he called her hot. She hadn't felt this way about anyone in ages. When he nudged her shoulder, she stumbled a bit, laughing at their height difference. "Non-stop thinking about you? In your dreams, buddy. I've been way too busy reading about witches and watching Bluey with Leilani to obsess over anyone." The lie tasted sweet on her tongue … she had definitely thought about him more than once since their first meeting. But he was just fun to hang out with. That’s all. His comment about making him laugh caught her off guard. "Well, someone's got to keep you entertained," she retorted, but inside she was glowing. Making someone laugh felt good, especially someone who seemed to get her weird sense of humor.

"Oh my gosh, ACOTAR? You did not just bring up fairy smut in front of our kids!" she whispered, fighting back a giggle. "But yeah, I've read them. Multiple times. Don't judge me." She couldn’t lie, she was touched that he looked up books after their first meeting. "And Stanley Tucci? Good choice. That man could read a phone book and I'd listen. But maybe start with something fun … have you tried The House in the Cerulean Sea? It's like a warm hug in book form." It scared her how easy this felt - walking together, trading book recommendations, watching their girls become instant friends. Easy was dangerous. Easy made you let your guard down. She shut that line of thought immediately. They were friends. Friends. FRIENDS. "You know what's wild? Here we are, talking about books and parenting like we've known each other forever. The universe has a weird sense of humor sometimes."

[bedtimegiraffe]

I'm on a Valleros family dynamics kick again!

I really believe they had to nerf King Arlan in Book 2 to make him worse, and by extension make Aerin look better. You can of course put in some work and make it make sense in-universe (I certainly tried here), but that sure feels like the meta reason.

In Book 1, honestly, outside of Aerin's account (which is not spectacularly credible given his corruption/ motivation to seem sympathetic/ generally poor mental health), King Arlan seems pretty good, if negligent when it comes to his kids. He:

Seems to genuinely worried about Aerin's safety in the Shadow Realm despite the murder

Looks at Aerin if you bring him back with "rage, pity, and sorrow"

Defends you from the (very powerful) Temple pretty immediately

Pardons Mal from a big enough bounty to 'buy a villa' with a wink.

Overall, pretty decent dude in a terrible situation. If one of my kids killed the other, I'd be pissed too! Aerin comes off like a self-interested ass, while King Arlan looks like a good guy.

If they wanted King Arlan to look awful, they could have easily let him respond to Baldur asking if he should 'rough Aerin up.' King Arlan could have said, "Go for it son, beat up your younger brother to teach him a lesson!" It would have quickly established him as a problem. But that doesn't happen. I'd guess Arlan was supposed to be a classic, good, helpful fairytale king in the first book.

But Book 2... King Arlan becomes drastically worse from his first conversation. He says this out loud! About his only living child! (As far as we know. Never can rule out bonus kids, especially with kings.)

Then in the epilogue (portals or merged realms), if you romance Nia, your MC says, "I really don't like that guy," in response to basically nothing. And Nia agrees.

So Book 2, King Arlan is supposed to be a ruthless, awful person your whole party hates by the end. Why?

Because Aerin has a lot of sympathy to build back up, which is way harder if his father was actually a good guy who cared about him and tried to connect. There are tons of decent people who lack the ability to connect to their kids for one reason or another. But can you imagine Book 2 playing out the way it did if the king was like, "I visit Aerin every week. He still refuses to have an actual conversation with me, but no matter what, he's my son and I won't give up on him"?

(Ok, now I kind of want a version where they both realize they have some responsibility for their current bad relationship and slowly forgive each other and get better. But that's not what we have, so moving on!)

If you captured Aerin in Book 1, as far as MC is concerned Aerin was always supposed to go back to prison. If he was with the goblins, MC still has some motivation to turn him into Morella's government. You know, for all the treason and almost (or, actually?) causing Nia's death.

But Aerin spending the rest of his life in a cell doesn't work for his redemption arc/ is a huge downer. So King Arlan has to be so awful and dangerous to Aerin that it feels irresponsible to turn Aerin in. So Aerin gets to go live his redemption arc and MC gets to feel like they have the moral high ground releasing a man who almost ended the world.

[ayoitspatricia]

Hii, can you do a descendants headcanons, being chad's younger sister and dating Evie would include please ?

Being the younger sister of Chad and dating Evie would include :

Nah so Evie would be totes smitten

Like she convinces herself that she is interested in Chad

And then has a full on gay crisis when she meets you

You both would get together almost immediately

Both of you having lots in common!!

She likes fashion, you like fashion

She wants a happy ending, so do you

Literally all Evie wants in life is to settle down in her cottage with you and a bunch of kiddos

Letting Evie make you a bunch of dresses

+ modelling them

Or you would help her in your own special way

“Ta da! The mice helped me, do you like it?”

Mal threatening you

She means well but it just comes out aggressive

Evie’s friends actually liking you a lot despite being an AK

When Chad found out about you both dating he hit the roof istg

He doesn’t trust her and thinks she will break your heart

Bro just has to be dramatic all the time

Audrey (your bff) would try to sneak insults but you always throw a slipper at her if she attempts to do so

Since Evie’s mother was not all that, you and your fam welcomed her into your home

With the exception of Chad but Cinderelly knocked some sense into him

Ahhh she would definitely make you dance with her all the time

Girl just wants her typical fairy tail romance

Just like she deserves 😍

And let’s just get one thing clear here

Evie loves to hold you and snuggle you tight until you beg for mercy

Your warmth gives her comfort

Since we all know that physical gestures are Evie’s love language

You also love her head kisses

I feel like Fairy Godmother would be like a protective aunt

An aunt who would always check up on you both to make sure you’re not up to trouble

She just smiles through the pain of seeing you all grown up :(

You wanting to open a shoe shop and Evie supporting you

Showing her all of your drawings of dream carriages which she found adorable

Evie always knowing how to paint your cheeks red

Having a debate on whether apples or pumpkins are better

Her making sure that you are always protected when you go to the isle

If something happened to you she would take the full blame for it all

Evie believes that it would be the right thing to do

Whilst many of your friends are still skeptical of your relationship, you are too busy enjoying life with Evie

[sashimi-time]

Completed BL Manga/Manhwa/Manhua Recommendations (1)

I was bored, so I decided to make a list of all the BL mangas/manhwas I read that I absolutely loved and enjoyed! I'll probably update this soon!

Here U Are (157 chapters)

Plot (MAL): Yang Yu is a second-year university student who seems reliable and pleasant. With the commencement of a new term, he is tasked with orienting every freshman he sees on campus. Eventually, his duty leads him to meet Huan Li, a new student with a fairly oppressive height. Besides his intimidating physique, he is taciturn, aloof, and often gives Yang Yu the cold shoulder.

Yang Yu, who has done nothing but assist him, immediately grows frustrated by this treatment. However, despite his initial impressions, Yang Yu believes that his chance encounter with Huan Li will transform his future outlook—perhaps even on the prospect of love.

Note: It is one of the best BL comics that I have read. Seriously, you should give it a try! Huan Li is one of the best bois, and Yang Yu is seriously too freakin' cool.

Doukyuusei (6 chapters) + ALL THE SEQUELS

Plot (AP): Rihito Sajou is an honor student with perfect scores in every subject on his high school entrance exam. Hikaru Kusakabe plays guitar in his band that performs at live events and is popular among the girls. These boys would have never crossed paths. But one day Hikaru offers to help Rihito prepare for their upcoming chorus festival and the two begin to talk. As the two meet after school, they bond through songs and begin to harmonize as their hearts beat together.

It starts out slowly but soon their feelings for one another grow and suddenly they both realize that they are in love. Hikaru's emotions are frivolous, pure and direct causing Rihito to hesitate at first, but he gradually opens his heart. The boys learn about each other, as well as themselves, as they support one another during this difficult time in their youth. As the time to start thinking about their futures approaches, what do these young men find as they try to move forward...

Notes: I actually watched the movie first (which you should also watch hehe). It got me hooked, so I ended up reading it and all the sequels. Much adorbs. Must read.

Cherry Blossoms After Winter (153 chapters, Tappytoon)

Plot (AL): Once young friends, Haebom and Taesung have grown distant after tragedy brought them under one roof as family almost 10 years ago. Things get more complicated in their last year of high school as now they’re... classmates too?!

Notes: This is a very wholesome, well-known manhwa. It's cute and light, and it was an absolute delight to read. Warning tho, S3 and S4 are NSFW! (Tae-Seong is a horny b*tch. (/ω＼)). It actually has a drama adaptation! However, I ended up not finishing it. As cute as the main actors were, there was just something...missing in the adaptation. The manhwa is great tho!

Sign (115 chapters; Lezhin)

Plot (AL): There are a few unusual things about Cafe Goyo. Number one, their coffee sucks. Number two, their customers never order off the menu. And number three, Yohan, the cafe manager, is deaf. So when Soohwa joins as a part-timer, though he is not expected to learn how to make good coffee, he is asked to expand his sign language vocabulary beyond the words, “higher,” “pay,” and “please.” But when Yohan offers to give him private lessons, Soohwa is reluctant. Not because he doesn’t want to study, but because he has a “hard” time around Yohan. Like, literally. He gets hard. Whenever he hears Yohan’s deep, sexy voice.

Notes: This is a very cute read. Warning though, it is also very NSFW. (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)⁄

Love Tractor (80 chapters; Tappytoon)

Plot (AL): When family obligations force Sun Yool, a stressed-out law school student, to the countryside, it seems like a great opportunity to escape the chaos of the city. After all, the great outdoors promises fresh air, sunshine… and a new romance?! Soon after arriving, Sun Yool is thrown into a series of strange encounters and misunderstandings with his 20-year-old neighbor, Yechan. But in spite of Yechan’s bumbling first impression and Sun Yool’s prickly exterior, the two find themselves drawn to each other… Will this tractor-driving stud's rustic charm be enough to melt this cold city boy's heart?

Notes: I know all I've been saying is that these manhwas are a cute read, but I can't really help it because they are. HAHAHHA. This is another adorable manhwa to read, tho it does get spicy near the end (this is my warning!). Ye-Chan is an adorable baby. Also, I heard this will have a drama adaptation soon! I'm super hyped!

The Big Apple (65 chapters; Tappytoon)

Plot (AL): Joachim Hjerpe is the one and only sniper of the Secret Intelligence Agency, an organization of individuals with very special abilities. The life of a sniper is extremely stressful, but quitting is not an option, as doing so could mean his own death. His only reprieve is meeting with his seductive and handsome lover, Juergen Eisler, who knows exactly how to fulfill Joachim’s needs. But when the dangers of his professional life threaten to invade his personal life, Joachim decides to part ways with Juergen before it’s too late. Juergen has no idea why Joachim suddenly wants to break up, and he’d sooner keep Joachim in shackles than let him walk out of his life. Will Juergen be able to persuade Joachim to tell him the truth?

Notes: I really enjoyed reading this. It's really steamy, and some people might not like what Joachim and Juergen do to each other lols. They're both kinda effed up, but I guess that's what made it an interesting read? (〃￣ω￣〃ゞ

Heat and Run (102 chapters; Tapas)

Plot (AL): It’s a world filled with sex, sweat, and pheromones. Alphas and omegas sexually rule with betas getting what’s left. Ian Joo is a presumed alpha, who’s really an omega. Jae-Ho Ro is a dark-haired alpha. They come from proud families and were good friends until Jae-Ho abruptly leaves Korea for the U.S. Five years later, the two reunite with Jae-Ho discovering Ian’s burgeoning omega scent that’s just begging for hot bedroom fun! Will these two give in to the sexual tension heating up between them?

Notes: If you haven't caught on from the plot, this is a very NSFW manhwa. ( ⸝⸝´꒳`⸝⸝) Okay, so to be honest, the first few chapters confused the heck out of me. I couldn't make out who was who because it was black and white, and everyone. looked. so. alike. But when they added the color, the whole thing made sense, and I absolutely loved it! Matthew can be cray, tho. But Ian and Jaeho are so cute.

Wolf in the House (79 chapters; Lezhin)

Plot (AL): After ending an on-again, off-again relationship of 10 years, Minsuk decides to foster a Siberian husky named Bexan to mark the start of his new single life. He can’t wait to cuddle with his new furry roommate, take him on walks, and play fetch. But Bexan is no ordinary dog...and when night falls, Minsuk is in for a surprise.

Notes: I enjoyed reading this one, though I guess it can be a bit weird because of Bexan. But yes, you should consider giving this one a try. Warning though, it's 18+. ૮⸝⸝> ̫ <⸝⸝ ა

Blood Link (135 chapters; Lezhin)

Plot (AL): A human, lycan, or a vampire - what am I?! Completely unaware of the existence of these predators, Hwa-Gok goes about his everyday life... That is, until Lee-Bin turns his life upside down by biting him on the neck, setting off a whirlwind of events neither of them could foresee.

Notes: I have to admit, I'm a sucker for lycans and vampires. This one was really fun to read, and I absolutely love that we get to see what happens ~after~. Warning, it's NSFW. (〃 ω 〃). Also, random share, but I love that the lycans have only animal ears when they transform. Not the weird animal/human ear combination that's popular in most mangas/manhwas.

H&H Roman Company (52 chapters; Lezhin)

Plot (AL): With rapid developments to the human civilization, the need for God and his angels have decreased at a significant rate. Thus, the angels are experiencing a historic unemployment crisis! With this problem in hand, God decides to start a company that will reduce the unemployment rate in both Heaven and Hell. He hereby founds the company, H&H Roman Company!

Notes: Who doesn't want to read about a company made of both angels and demons? Amirite? It's mature though! (๑>ᴗ<๑). Also, all the characters are hella cute. :3

Walk on Water (64 chapters; Tappytoon)

Plot (AL): Ed, a broke bodyguard in search of some fast cash, enters the world of porn by applying to the adult film company McQueen Entertainment under the alias 'Tommy.' He originally planned to just perform as a top. But one day when his partner couldn't make it on time for the shoot, Ed ends up playing bottom to the charismatic owner of the company himself, Glenn McQueen!

Notes: I liked this one. If I remember right, it was very realistic. The art is fantastic, and the story is great. Give it a try if you haven't read it yet! And yes, it is a spicy manhwa. (❁´◡`❁)

Keeper of the Pearl (49 chapters)

Plot (AL): This is the story of two lovers, Jae Moon and Ji Yeon, fated for each other as a dragon is to its pearl. Their love overcame the barrier of hierarchy, but the star-crossed lovers were torn apart when one of them was killed in a tragic incident.

The reincarnated Jae Moon and Ji Yeon are reunited once again in the present time. With such a tragedy in their past lives, will the two be able to rekindle the feelings they had for each other from a happier past?

Notes: I'm pretty sure I breezed by the middle of this manhwa. Lols. But I loved the ending so much, I'm gonna recommend it! It's also 18+. Wahahaha. (ˊ•͈ ◡ •͈ˋ) Wow. I'm a pervert. Lols.

Angel Buddy (82 chapters; Lezhin)

Plot (AL): To others, Soo-Ho might appear a little strange. But to Soo-Ho, there’s much more to “life” than the average person may ever know. And that’s because Soo-Ho sees spirits. At first he thought his “abilities” were limited to the average ghost-y here and there, but one day he witnesses a real life angel floating in midair and staring at him. And then he promptly breaks said angel’s wing on accident. Soo-Ho's had many a ghost follow him around in his short life, but he’s never had to take of an angel… nor a spirit quite so handsome as Taker.

Notes: When someone loves you so much... hehe. This is a cute (18+) read. :3

Unromantic (66 chapters)

Plot (AL): A stunningly beautiful and filthy rich omega suddenly appeared in my insignificant, average life?! "30 minutes. If you can keep yourself from begging for that long, then I'll let you go home." Is he looking down at me because he thinks I'm that kind of alpha? I... I hate people like him! ...I... I really hate him, but...?! Is this type of romance okay?!

Notes: This is very cute and wholesome and mature. :3 You should most definitely try to read it! o(〃＾▽＾〃)o

Kirai de Isasete (4 volumes, 6 chapters each)

Plot (AL): Koga Naoto is an omega who was raped by his alpha classmates and got pregnant. Due to that traumatic experience, he came to hate alphas and told himself that he doesn't need a lifemate or a bond, but even with that incident, he insisted on keeping the child and raised her, and an angel named Shizuku was born. She became his strength and center in this cruel word that treats omegas unfairly. But his life suddenly changed when he met an alpha named Tsuchiya Hazuki from the matchmaking party he forced himself to attend.

Notes: I'm pretty sure this one is pretty well-known, and like most of its readers, I do believe it is one of the best omegaverse stories there. It's wholesome and a really sweet read. Shizuki is da best.

What are your thoughts on them? Do you know any other completed BLs? Please share if you do! I love discovering new things to read!

૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა

Part 2

[firelxdykatara]

I wish the show didn’t have to repeatedly use the mal and Alina meadow scene. It was overkill

i mean, the really petty and mean side of me wants to say they kept using the meadow scene because it’s the only thing they could use >.>

but honestly, that’s really the whole problem: there’s nothing else there. which, for what i’m supposed to believe is the central romance of the series, the true love of alina’s life, is really not a good look. and it’s because they spend so much time beating us over the head with the fact that mal and alina are in love (like those letters, which... i have so many issues with), and very little time showing us why. the only thing we’re really shown is that alina is unhealthily dependent on mal for her own sense of self, to the point where she mutilated her own hand to prevent even the possibility of being separated from him. which makes a depressing amount of sense--when you traumabond that intensely to someone, being separated can be extremely traumatic itself--but the problem is that the show never grapples with this.

in a better written series, this would be a relationship that alina grows out of. when she discovers her powers and sees a whole new world available to her, when she grows into herself and develops an identity separate from mal and learns to love herself and want more from her own life, she grows out of this need for mal to be there to stave off the nightmares and bad memories. instead, though, this traumabond is presented as True Love (again, without actually showing us why they’re in love), and a moment that should have been empowering (alina asking genya to heal the scar on her palm) is framed as a bad sign and explicitly paralleled to mal’s desperation to get to alina for fear of losing her. it’s seen as part of alina losing herself to the darkling’s charms, rather than finally doing something for herself and moving on and growing up.

so they keep hitting us with the meadow scene, hoping that’ll make us believe in their undeniable connection and convince us that They’re In Love, Really! and i’m sure it worked for some people, but it just doesn’t work for me.

[thetimelordbatgirl]

Do you have any hope in the spin-off? The pocketwatch I mean.

I mean....ehhhhh? I really don't know. A new director and new writers could mean hopefully we get actually good writing and good characterizations instead of the mess we got in the last three films, but at the same time, the plot so far seems to go with Uma having unfinished business and...yeah, its on sight with Disney if Uma's the villain.

And I am a firm believer in if you can't write it well, please for the love of all things holy never use time travel in your story, and from the first announcement we got told that they for some reason made the white rabbits pocket watch capable of time travel (makes zero sense when you consider that the white rabbit's whole thing is being late to stuff), so like....really wary, given last time Descendants used time travel, it was Mal and time magic and it...wasn't that great and just used as a cheat against Uma when she actually got the trident.

And I am really hoping that the royal baby doesn't happen because like, Ben and Mal are not only a toxic couple due to how Mal acts, but on top of that, they 18 in D3 so a time skip would be needed fully but Descendants has literally never been good mentioning time skips, leaving it to the viewers to guess. And if the royal baby happens, then you know in this Mal worshiping franchise, that kid won't be allowed to have anything from Ben cause takes away from being like Mal then.

And like, the two new characters we got so far...I do think they got good actresses for the roles at least, I remember watching Kylie Cantrall in Gabby Duran And The Unsittables and she was pretty good there, and I haven't seen HSMTMTS, but Dara Renee seems to be a good actress from clips and such. But not gonna lie, do wonder how the Charming family now works with Dara being casted as Chloe Charming, since that implies either Cindy or the prince or both are now POC, which would be cool...if Chad whose white, hadn't been introduced prior, so dunno if that implies Chad is either white-passing or just adopted. Would depend on if we see Cindy or the prince really in Pocketwatch, but Descendants never really showed the parents beyond backgrounders at the coronation so... And also still with Chloe, I really don't get how it's gonna work with her being athletic when Chad basically hated the idea of girls in sports in D2. Like, did he just not say that shit around her or again, if this is a time skip, was she in a younger school and therefore never aware of her brothers opinions there? Plus don't get how Chad got away with being a bitch to girls like Evie with a sister around but again, if a time skip happens, that could maybe explain stuff if Chloe was simply in younger school at the time and is now starting Auradon Prep or something and Chad's already graduated so....

I really have nothing to say on Red beyond....why the name Red??? Did they really not find any heart themed names or any queen themed names or whatever??? I know the villains were as lazy as the heroes with their naming of their kids, but RED?!

So like, I'm very mixed on this??? Again, I do personally think Descendants should just end, but its Disney- they gonna milk the shit out of it until it just runs its course. So we can only hope really that it's you know, actually good in comparison to the past three films and that they can handle everything well, especially cause I have a feeling a-lot of prior characters will be absent due to their actors not returning. Oh, and if they can avoid a main romance without love spells, that would be a win really.