#also the public vs private reactions

[bleh1bleh2]

Having a crush IS a competition, sorry i doubted you keith

I read "is there any better feeling than coming clean" by maveisher (@leenfiend) and ive been thinking about it so much,,,, so i made a little comic based on the beginning :)

[chemicalarospec]

I was thinking about dispassionate romance, where they're just in love as a matter of fact, when sparks don't fly when they touch but it's casually intimate -- y'all know I love passionate 'bloodlust in multiple ways' romance, but dispassionate romance is severely underappreciated!

And I was thinking that I would even be interested in a straight dispassionate romance (straight romance genre generally holds no appeal for me whereas queer romance does), but I realized I was only imaging a very old-fashioned and formal period piece couple, so I tried imaging a modern straight couple, like normal people I would see around campus, being sweet and casually intimate, just leaning into each other (way more high contact that historical couple's hand-kiss cause Change of Society Norms) and y'all, I gagged.

So it's shaping up that I definitely have some romance-aversion/repulsion xoxo couples stay away!

[mountainficss]

Which svt members do you think would most likely to have a praise kink? I think Josh would be definitely on the list 😫

praise kink

!! mentions of: unprotected sex, oral sex, handjobs, scratching

ooo i like this question it’s such a good one! it made me think for a bit. i think quite a few of them would have praise kinks honestly. it just seems so fitting for a good handful of the members (and by handful i mean almost half).

and yes, i do think joshua would have a praise kink! i feel like sweet joshie would be so sheepish when you give him compliments in public, a gentle smile adorning his face each time you complimented him. he might even seem a bit bashful, maybe even reluctant to have all the attention on him. but oh it’s all just an act. in bed, his bashfulness would be nonexistent when his head is between your thighs, pressing light kisses against your inner thigh teasingly. he’d touch you and feel you up with absolutely no shame, just taking in your cute reactions. you’d be shocked at the stark contrast between his behavior in public vs. private. you were so used to observing him being so modest, even shy when you praised him in public. now joshua would be a completely different person, and any praise from you would just encourage him to pleasure you more. “please, shua! want your tongue…you’re s-so good with it! feels too good…” you’d babble, a desperate attempt to get him to fuck you like you want him to. he might act like a little shit, teasing you for a bit longer just so you beg for him, but he wouldn’t be able to resist you for long. joshua would simply take the bait if you continuously praise him, thriving on your whines alone. “i’ll give it to you. just keep telling me how much you love my tongue. i like hearing you say it.”

i felt the need to put wonwoo in this post too! i have some (partial) backup for this as well :) when asked if they’d rather have a subordinate who tries too hard to flatter or a subordinate who only talks about work, wonwoo picked the subordinate who flatters! he said that he wouldn’t hate being complimented constantly and that he “likes being flattered” (from ep. 49 of going seventeen at approx. 29:59 <3). knowing this, i felt like i should include sweet wonwoo <3 he’s so very quiet and shy, but he’d melt internally at any praise you give him. he’s such a secret softie. outside of the bedroom he’d respond to your compliments with a soft smile and a timid “thank you.” in the bedroom he wouldn’t be able to take them though, having to literally take a deep breath so he doesn’t accidentally cum on command. any words from you just get him riled up, especially praise. “you’re so fucking perfect wonwoo,” you’d mumble in his ear as you thread your fingers through his hair. you’d wrap your legs tighter around his waist while he buries his head into your neck, letting out a pathetic whimper. you’d feel his hips stutter against yours, and you’d clench around him just to make things worse. “always fuck me so good, pretty boy,” you’d smile, pressing a hot kiss against the shell of his ear. he’d moan quietly, feeling his cock throb angrily inside you. he wouldn’t want to cum so soon, but your praises just did that to him :(

believe it or not, i also think woozi belongs on this list <3 jihoon is a bit prickly, he seems really finicky when it comes to affection. he’d act so nonchalant when you compliment or praise him in any way. he’d pretend like your words didn’t affect him, but his face would be flushed a cute pink every time you so much as smiled at him. would love to bring you along to the studio just so you could be there, and you’d watch him work diligently at his computer doing whatever producers do <3 and oh you would admire him. you’d think he’s the most talented and attractive person you’ve ever seen when he’s in his element. you’d have no problem telling him this either, and in return you’d get a cute flustered jihoon. he might try to downplay his skills at times, brushing your praise off out of shyness. “it’s nothing much,” he’d mumble, flushed cheeks illuminated by his computer screen. “just doing my job.” his reserved nature would almost completely evaporate when you’re riding him though, letting out quiet moans as you use him for your pleasure. “a-am i doing good? tell—please tell me i’m g-good,” he’d plead between pants, and the desperation in his voice would make you coo. “always so good for me, jihoonie,” you’d sigh, cupping his face gently as he leans into your touch. “taking me so well. you were made for me.” he’d just whine and nod in mindless agreement, his hips bucking up and helping you reach your climax </3

seokmin was another obvious choice for me too. it seemed to fit his personality. he’s just such a happy and kind individual, and i think he’d probably be the one to enjoy compliments and praise the most. i feel like he’d yearn for it, and any sweet words from anyone would just make his stomach twist in excitement and happiness. he’d definitely value praise from you the most though. you’d constantly tell him how handsome he is, and every time you tell him he’d just beam at you. and every time you say something sweet to him or praise him, he’s doing it right back to you! he’d make it almost like a little competition. as soon as you call him handsome, he’s grinning like a lovesick fool and trapping you in the biggest hug ever. “thank you. but you’re absolutely gorgeous today. and always.” he’d respond cutely. you’d find him adorable wanting to match you with praise, making you feel loved inside and out. and it would be so fun to worship him in bed. just having him lay there, long limbs sprawled out on the mattress while you feel him up would be a dream. running your hands over his smooth skin and lightly stroking his throbbing length. he’d be so sensitive, moaning at any slight touch to his body. “so handsome, seokminnie,” you’d smile at him from above, gazing lovingly down at him. his eyes would roll back at your words, struggling to respond with a compliment for you like he always does. “let me take care of you, minnie. you’re doing so good for me.” he’d just nod breathlessly, letting you praise him and touch him all you want.

and finally, i am a firm believer that jun is a switch with a praise kink :) i feel like he’d looove the compliments you give him, the prettiest smile adorning his face when you even slightly praise him. any little thing you’d compliment him on he’d be so smiley. you’d compliment him when he wears a stylish outfit, telling him how good he looks and trailing your eyes all across his body. you’d compliment him when he makes a delicious meal for the two of you to share, giving him the most support and praise on the new recipe he tried out for you. and you’d definitely compliment him when he’s fucking you so well, raking your nails down his back as he pounds into you. he’d feel so jittery when he felt his skin on yours, so eager when he’s buried inside of your clenching heat. any moment with you he cherished greatly, so your sweet words would mean the most to him. “ah—junnie,” you’d whine at him, your face pressed against the curve of his neck and kissing the skin messily. “feel so full. love how you f-fill me up. want you to fuck me every night,” you’d ramble, receiving a muffled groan from him. he’d slow down his pace, your lewd words almost tipping him over the edge. he would never even consider finishing before you, and he’d do his best to ignore the desperate need for release. “you know you’re mine, r-right? my junnie that fucks me so good. ‘m addicted to you, baby,” you’d whisper in his ear, enjoying the way he moans your name and grips your body tighter <3

taglist: @jeonghanpill , @bangantokchy , @caratboy , @bewoyewo , @luvseungcheol , @wonvsmile , @haolovre , @aaniag , @writingbarnes , @dokyeomkyeom , @allieyaaa

[koinotame]

yan twst characters... and their willingness to let you bite them

content warnings: this is yandere stuff so plenty of relationships and mindsets of questionable healthiness. reader implied to be yuu. this wasn't meant to be nsfw and was just meant to be (albeit a little unhinged) nonsexual intimacy. "marks" here refers to any residue from prolonged biting/gnawing on skin, not hickies

the title speaks for itself. whole main cast is included, under the cut for length!

ace: reacts kind of nastily the first time you do it, and then sorely regrets it when he sees you biting someone else. gets really huffy for a while until you pick up that he’s trying to convey that he doesn’t mind being bitten. only if it’s you though. likes it a lot more than he’s willing to admit. traces any marks you leave in a daze in private. 5/10, he’s not actually that nice to chew on though deuce: turns red and rigid the first time you try, but gets more relaxed the more it happens. brags about it to others (see! aren’t the two of you so close! who else will let you bite them?). 6/10 all things considered, he’s probably the most casual and normal about it

cater: oh, is this a new magicam trend? he doesn’t see your phone though? haha, should he film this in your stea—oh. oh. something about the intimacy of it all really gets to him. gets very quiet when he realises. might record you doing it occasionally, but don’t worry ♪ this cute (and maybe a little possessive) side of yours is only for his eyes. 6/10 he enjoys it more than you trey: teases you about it, but will also unbutton his shirt and pull it to the side to "invite" you to bite him completely unprovoked. 8/10, points deducted for the teasing, but he's actually really nice to chew on otherwise riddle: is having an internal battle on whether it's presentable and appropriate for you to bite him, especially in public, vs his need to make you happy at all times. will turn red and freeze very cutely and won't scold you, but his actual skin doesn't feel great. 7/10 for the cute reaction

jack: really likes it. will insist he doesn’t and he’s just being a good friend by allowing you to chew on him, but his tail gives him away immediately. never really tells you no and will let you bite him pretty much anywhere. looks really ruffled afterwards and gets embarrassed when others bring it up, it’s cute. 8/10, lots of muscle so lots to chew ruggie: gets surprisingly smug about it. has a busy schedule so he might not always be available for biting, so it makes him really, really happy when you wait for him to have some free time instead of going for someone else. it also really fuels the part of him that enjoys you being possessive over him, even if he knows that’s not quite what you’re doing. will cover up any marks, but really likes looking at them in private. 7/10 also enjoys it more than you leona: won’t really say it out loud because of his pride, but he does really enjoy the moments where you’re in his arms or on top of him while he’s napping (or trying to) and you sink your teeth into him. especially enjoys it when it’s the nape of his neck. will scold you if you leave a mark, but won’t really bother to cover it up or try to stop you either… as long as you’re picking him and only him. 7/10 firm but in a very nice way

floyd: very much enjoys being your chewtoy. you might have to be upfront about how his teeth are going to do too much damage to you if he tries to bite you back though. encourages you to bite harder. 6/10 because he enjoys it so much but chewing on him for long periods hurts your teeth jade: teases you about it, but also treats it like his moral duty to provide proper chewing enrichment for you at any time you see fit. also encourages you to bite harder. might tease you about biting you back… but would never actually do it. probably :) 4/10, points deducted for the mind games azul: absolutely NOT in public. in private however he's absolute putty in your hands. will cover up any markings you may leave though because he has a reputation™ to upkeep. 7/10 for the cute reactions, is surprisingly chewy

jamil: please no. wait wait don’t go to anyone else though, he’ll let you bite him. just maybe more in private…? finds it a little weird but is (not so) secretly also very happy that you’re seeking him out specifically. actually really likes it when you leave marks, but maybe keep it to areas where he won’t have to cover them up, ok? 8/10, starts taking extra care of the areas you like to bite most for absolutely no reason. none. kalim: is this a normal thing people do? sure! he doesn’t mind at all. kind of really happy you’re coming to him specifically for this. will let you bite him anywhere and everywhere; any shame he has about it gets thrown out of the window because it’s you. try to avoid biting him too hard though, because jamil is going to have something to say to you if he finds your marks on kalim. 9/10, great attitude

epel: being your chewtoy makes him tough, right. yeah he'll be your chewtoy. wears the title with honour and gets annoyed when others poke fun at him for it. is curious if this is something normal in your world, or if it’s just a you™ thing. 6/10, vil is not happy about this rook: probably has some concerningly accurate model set of your teeth. will frequently offer to let you chew on him, and he's very good at guessing when you need to do some chewing. actively takes care of the areas you enjoy the most. doesn't have a huge reaction unlike some of the others? but clearly enjoys it. 8/10, very satisfying to chew on but the creepiness is constant vil: no. just no. skincare is important and you biting into him is not part of that. he'll get you some good actual chewtoys however, which makes up for it. later gets jealous of the chewtoys and regrets his decision, but his skin… perhaps he could be convinced. occasionally. in private and with you on his lap. perhaps. 5/10 for the shenanigans

ortho: why would you chew on him. why would you do that to your teeth. 0/10 he's made out of metal (he'd find you the best chewtoys that fit your exact preferences as soon as he realises you just enjoy biting things though… or direct you to idia if he's playing wingman) idia: ceases functioning the first (and every subsequent) time you stick your teeth on him. absolutely does not cover any marks up. won't say it but really loves when you do sink your teeth into him, both because it's you and because it satiates the part of him that really wants you to get more possessive over him. 9/10, his only issue is that he doesn't have much meat on him

sebek: not really sure what to make of this at first, but quickly realises that he's Being Of Service and Good and thus is suddenly very happy with the situation. doesn't really care for the teeth on his skin part, but is otherwise very enthusiastic about the whole thing. 6/10, his skin is a little too firm but he's very cute about it silver: stares when you bite him. it’s a little offputting, but he mostly just wants to commit the sight to memory. is happy you trust him enough to come to him for this. he doesn’t like straying too far from you anyway, but he makes it clear he’s always available for biting time. 7/10, being woken up by true love’s your bite is kind of romantic, isn’t it… lilia: finds this really funny. he doesn't mind though! go ahead and sink your teeth into him. assures you that you can be as rough as you want with him. enjoys playing with your hair and making the whole thing more intimate than need be. no no, he's not teasing you. really! no don't leave, he hasn't had his fill of your teeth yet… nooo, come back! 6/10 once you get past the teasing malleus: recalls that human joke about licking something to claim ownership of it and assumes this is something similar. looks and feels very gloaty for at least the rest of the day every time you do it. he’d never allow anyone else to do this, so you better take full advantage of the situation. he’s not fragile either, so feel free to be rougher if it pleases you. once he gets over the initial euphoria, enjoys the moments of domesticity more than anything else. 4/10, not actually that nice to chew on

[keepmycandleburning]

There's such a difference between the way Bellatrix talks to Voldemort vs the way the other Death Eaters talk to him.

She starts every single one of the conversations they have. They have five total direct interactions: in the Ministry, at the meeting at Malfoy Manor, in the Forbidden Forest before Harry appears, in the Forbidden Forest after Voldemort falls over, and after they come out of the Forest and Neville throws himself at Voldemort. In three of these five (Ministry, first and second time she tries to interact with him in the Forbidden Forest), Voldemort tells her to stop talking to him. At the meeting he mocks and manipulates her, and at the Battle of Hogwarts he responds with four words. These are not particularly unusual reactions for Voldemort; he tells multiple people to stop talking to him including Wormtail in GoF Ch 1, Nott in GoF Ch 33, and Yaxley in DH 1.

Also notably, Bellatrix uses one of his titles every single time she addresses him. Other Death Eaters who have a similar amount of lines like Lucius, Wormtail, and Snape skip the title on occasion. Bellatrix never drops this respect. (DEs who only have one interaction/conversation with him tend to do it every time.)

With all the other Death Eaters besides Bellatrix, the way Voldemort speaks to them makes sense with the additional information we know about that person and the relationship they have. With Bellatrix, there is a huge misalignment with the way we see them directly interact and the additional information we have about them. Voldemort tells Bellatrix to stop talking over half the time she talks to him publicly, yet he has given her a piece of his soul. He tells her 'be quiet' and then immediately follows it up with a nickname we only see her family call her. She fails him and he immediately saves her anyway—which I have always read as him physically reappearing after possessing Harry and therefore being seen by multiple Ministry officials in order to do so.

Bellatrix speaks critically of Voldemort and his judgement to her sister; when there's something else they're not supposed to say (talking about the plan with Draco) it gets acknowledged by the characters multiple times that they're misbehaving, yet Narcissa doesn't question Bellatrix making this very bold and actually rather blasphemous statement. Snape brings up Voldemort multiple times to mock Bellatrix, and she cuts herself off mid-sentence multiple times ('his most precious—' and 'he...lately we...') from speaking about it. She says he shares 'everything' with her and yet will not say what that is (his most precious what?). Bellatrix confidently speaks for the absent Voldemort at Malfoy Manor, telling Greyback she's 'sure' the Dark Lord will be alright with him taking Hermione. She is more willing to speak for him than she is to speak of what relationship they have privately.

When the cup is stolen and he loses his temper and is killing everyone in the room, he notes where she is and that she's leaving. She places herself in his close physical proximity—almost immediately after the cup was stolen from her vault—in public and he allows it. She talks to him with so much affection that even Harry can note it with his eyes closed, and he declines it and immediately moves on. Her comfort level to physically touch him is so high that she continues trying to do so after he tells her to stop. Her death is the third time he experiences a major loss in a matter of hours (cup, Nagini) and the third time he screams, but the one and only time he loses control of his magic (if he was consciously capable of sending all three of those people flying through the air, he would have done it already).

Compare Bellatrix continuing to try to physically touch Voldemort after he directly tells her to stop to Rookwood cowering on the floor and staying in a partial bow when Voldemort tells him to stand up, or Bellatrix initiating every single conversation she has with Voldemort to Draco being so afraid to speak a word to him that he does not talk at all and just shakes his head or does nothing. Rookwood is clearly terrified that Voldemort is going to physically hurt him for simply providing him information that will upset him, while Bellatrix is so sure Voldemort will not hurt her—again immediately after the cup is stolen—that she sits next to him, talks to him multiple times, and touches him. Bellatrix leans toward him, for mere words can't demonstrate her longing for closeness, and the Malfoys won't even make eye contact.

There's a major disconnect with what they're directly saying and the whole picture. These are two people who very clearly have on off-screen relationship that is substantially different from their on-screen relationship. One that Bellatrix believes she needs to keep private even from other Death Eaters. One that has caused her to believe she has the authority to speak in his place when he's not there. One that has led Bellatrix to believe it is alright for her to initiate conversations with him, to be physically close to him, to touch him. One that has given her some reason to believe she should—even, perhaps, that he wants or needs her to—continue to try to touch him after he declines it.

On-screen he places her halfway down the table, off-screen he gives her his soul to keep safe. Off-screen he's telling her she's his most loyal, his most faithful, he's sharing everything with her, while on-screen he tells her 'that will do.'

The word 'lover,' while it's used in the series a handful of times in the context of 'Mudblood-lover' or 'cat lover,' is used in the context of an object of one's affection once and only once.

[bella-goths-wife]

So I’m not sure if you’ve ever thought about this and it’s ok if it’s too awkward but…since Velvette is the only female Vee- does that mean she’s the one who takes care of Pet during her “time of the month”? Maybe the only one who can actually understand her.

How do the Vs handle pets time of the month

Warnings: weird dynamics, abuse, power imbalance, menstruation talk, sexualisation of pet reader

You knew how to handle periods pretty well

Sure they were different because of your new form, but it was still the same principles as before

It used to be a real problem back when you were first brought to hell and living on the streets

You had to do anything to be able to get some product to help with the bleeding, literally anything

So you’ve learned to suck up pain pretty well and you’ve definitely learnt to tough out your time of the month

But you also learnt a thing or two about how to manipulate men on the streets, and your period became a handy tool in this effort

If you told Vox that you were on your period, he would act like an embarrassed dad who just wanted to get rid of the conversation in any way possible

He found that your period gave him a reminder that you weren’t a child and he found it to be a constant reminder of your sexuality that he tries to desperately block off

Your menstruation is just another reminder that your an adult demon and not a childlike pet, and Vox almost sexualises you when it comes to your period

His first thought that comes to mind when you bring up your period is that you could possibly be having sex, instead of acknowledging that this is just a biological process your body goes through

So he allows you to get away with much more then usual and will sometimes allow you days off to spend in your room

Valentino has an opposite reaction, your menstruation actually humanises you to Valentino in a way that disgusts him

Your menstrual cycle reminds Valentino that your not just one of his toys and that your a undeadly living demon

Your real and not just made to fulfil his needs

So he’d start up his usual routine of inappropriate touches despite never being sexually attracted to you, and you’d mention your period and that’s all his interest lost in you

He’ll wrench his hand back like he’s just touched hot fire before looking at you with disgust, only seeing a person instead of his personal plaything

He’ll make some kind of fetish joke that will undoubtedly make you uncomfortable before sending you to your room for the day off under the guise that he’s such a good boss and he doesn’t want you to work while in pain

But the real reason is that he cannot stand being around you when your humanised in his eyes, when he can smell the blood on you and know that even his toy has a biological component

Velvette does not let your menstrual manipulation fly though

As she’s also a female, she also experiences menstruation

And when she’s on her period she will expect for you to dote on her like she were a sick person in private while keeping her tough girl act up in public

She’d have you absolutely pamper her and even hold her for a while when she feels emotional

So when your on your period you sometimes expect the same treatment, until you are reminded once again that you are not an equal to velvette

She’ll work you the same amount and will work you even harder if she hears any complaints

If you do complain you’ll be reminded of your time in the streets and velvette will remind you that you managed to overcome that so working for her while menstruating should be no big deal

The other two would try and get her to calm down on you but she’ll only double down and claim that your manipulation tactics don’t work on her

But she will insist on you sleeping in her bed while your menstruating

She becomes overly protective of you when your on your period, she claims that men will sense it on you and take advantage of you

It almost made you laugh how she practically facilitated Valentino’s sexual assault but became overly concerned with your well-being from other demons

So it’s almost like she becomes more clingy to you once your on your period, especially if you two sync cycles

If you two sync she’ll be working you to the bone and expecting you to pamper her while also being overprotective and not letting any men around you

And she’d also be emotional so the nights that your sleeping in her bed she’ll demand you hold her for hours on end despite usually hating affection

She craves the warmth and acceptance of a female companionship and relationship, but does not want to put the work into building a friendship

And your right there, her little obsession

You can fulfil her social needs and her cravings of a connection while being sworn to secrecy and programmed to answer her every command

And your menstruation reminds her that someone could try and take you, in a similar way to Vox she associates your menstrual cycle with sex and sexualises you with more fear then discomfort like Vox

She fears that you’ll enter a sexual or romantic relationship and she’ll lose you to someone else, despite her never craving a sexual or romantic connection with you

She wants to be your friend but that would mean acknowledging you as an equal which is something that she refuses to do

So you’ll remain her pet, her loyal mutt

Her little obsession

Tag list :)

@perkypeony @the-faceless-bride @lilyalone @buttercupfangirl @corvid007 @fandomaddict505 @hazbinhotelxreader @sparkleyfishies @repostingmyfavs @aroomofmyown24 @ivebeenthearchersstuff

[moutheyes]

gelboys cinematography go brrr: episode 4

sorry this is a bit rushed but here were some of my favorite moments from episode 4, aka sad boy club hours.

previous posts: episodes 1-2 | episode 3

the agony and the ecstasy of baabin

same doorway + shop, same splash of pink to center the eye on baabin's signature color, but vastly different moods. lighting slightly darker, baa in motion vs baa standing still, the absence of decoration as a motif showing emotional exuberance. (also wanted to point out that they used some of the stickers on baa's guitar, love the consistency!)

three's a crowd

this episode hurt me in a lot of ways, but the camera framing was especially cruel to baabin in this scene:

baabin thinks he has nearly succeeded in pulling fourmod back from the depths of his obsession with chian, only for the man himself to show up and interrupt their nail art (friend)date. at first we see the three of them in the same frame; baa is physically situated higher than the other two, positioned to be "above it all"—it's the role he's chosen to take when it comes to this mess, even if it's a lie on his part. although he wants to remain in between fourmod and chian (as in the first frame), he's forced to the outside by the reverse shot.

the camera goes on to cut him out entirely, keeping only fourmod and chian in frame in the ensuing conversation. but when fourmod addresses baabin directly, the camera emphasizes, with a slight re-angling of the shot, that baabin only sees fourmod—chian is the one cut out. it felt like a subtle nod to the way fourmod has kept baabin dangling this entire time. just a little dagger of a scene, both in the dialogue and in the visual framing of these three.

more shot-reverse-reaction

this is a variation of the episode 3 ending scene, so I'm not going to break it down further except to say ow. the successive cuts between the dirty framing (establishing context + conflict), baabin's pov shot (audience participation), and baabin's reaction (audience empathy) is just so effective.

the little heart sticker on his cheek the entire time his actual heart is breaking, oh I'm unwell.

"you don't have to be exactly like him. just a little bit is fine."

I sucked in my breath when fourmod said this, because the show has consistently demonstrated just how similar yet different they've been, using slight adjustments in framing, positioning, and actions. here are three examples:

1. the train car (their positions are swapped)

2. the dressing room (different shop, fourmod helping chian take off a hoodie vs. fourmod helping baa put on a hoodie)

3. the lap sprawl (public vs. private space, indicated by the length of the shot)

fourmod is still hiding

this boy, I swear to god. the way he has to physically remove himself from chian's sightline in order to go spiral, the way he still can't lay himself bare because his want is like an open wound, so he has to partially put a visual barrier (the pillar) between himself and chian. the way they both would have kept on like this were it not for baabin's selflessness.

miscellaneous cool shots

loved seeing the bts of the overhead shot—it's not a shitty rig if it works!!!

the static shot through the window of chian approaching the nail store and seeing who was inside. did it fill anyone else with dread.

loved the over-the-shoulder focus through bua's arm, and the way this shot was held for so long, insinuating that bua had to have seen baabin, but chose to ignore him until baabin made the decision to approach him first.

the concert lighting made me clap in delight (I'm sure there was some non-diegetic lighting but they made it look natural, also brilliant use of cell phones and lightsticks).

[what-shitfuckery-is-this-ew]

What is the dream smp drama ?

tl;dr called all Tommyinnit fans the r slur, deleted the tweet and didn't apologise till waaaay later, before which he made multiple streams and all the shit about him started coming out again (because his streams made everything worse). Tubbo made a stream about it in a very mature way by asking to talk on stream (Dream has a history of cutting private conversations up to make other creators look bad) and eventually it just turned into Tubbo vs Dream because Tommy blocked him, and Dream started being a shit to Tubbo. Most of the dsmp, some outside ccs, and editors/twitter folk who were in the fandom got involved revealing more stuff about Dream and how shitty he was.

Full timeline + ~16 hours worth of Tubbo stream below

BOO. This is gonna take too long so i'm posting it before it's finished and gonna edit it over time. As Tubbo himself said, this situation is a death by a 1000 cuts (small problems which kinda blew up recently)

Dream and Quackity had drama. That's a whole other thing and i'm not sure we can really go into it without this being comparable to Do you love the colour of the sky so we'll assume you know what happened there. (~April 2022)

A little after this were the first set of grooming allegations against Dream, made by Alexandria (October 2022)

This just caused the dsmp to kinda just fall out

Tommy made a video entitled "If Youtubers were Honest" which included a part on the Dream vs Quackity (5 Aug 2023)

Dream texted Tom's mum, bro literally harassed Tom's mum

fast forward to 2025:

Tommyinnit calls Mizkif the worst person he’s knows

Mizkif calls Tommy cringe and annoying which xQc also does in his reaction to Mizkif's stream

Tommy called xQc a trump supporter (true)

xQc had a public meltdown saying Trump is cool and that Tommy is dickriding Dream (but he does this by giving free promo to Tommy's show)

Dream quotes with the following meme.

This is where our path also diverges because there are so many streamers. Everyone reacts to the tweet and Dream deletes it.

Then Dream ranted to reddit saying he didn’t understand cause he’s autistic so he should be able to reclaim it (stupidest thing i’ve ever heard). It was meant to be his "apology". He also mentioned that the public’s reaction to Nicolas Cantu doing the same was generally positive (while i do agree most of the public went overboard in terms of support for Cantu especially when he used slurs as insults - most people only focused on him calling out Dream for covering up assaults and being weird around women and children + after the initial hype died down most people did agree his use of slurs and harassment of the driver was horrible - hence why he’s literally gone. He has no upcoming roles and he's def not coming back for the tmnt sequel). The biggest issue here is how instead of taking accountability he’s pulling this whataboutism card.

Also just a note that he claims he saw the meme, but people did the reverse image search - he created it.

id: Genuinely still confused on what the "rules" are. Honestly not trying to be obtuse, multiple people go viral calling me the r word and everyone explains that its ok because they're neurodivergent, so then I see a meme that uses it and post it and get absolutely throttled for it. Obviously it's the internet being disingenous, but that doesn't completely invalidate anyone that might be upset by it. Most of the people calling me ableist for using it are the same people that lit off fireworks when Nicolas Cantu was the slur slinging slasher (including Tommy's closest friends). it's either okay or it's not okay, the double standards are infuriating. I have my own reasons for having a problem with Tommy going around being the "internet police" and was expecting to get a lot of shit for going after poor Tommy that lies about me constantly, but obviously i had no intentions of attacking every Dream SMP fan or being ableist lmao. It was a dig at Tommy fans, because somehow the worst of the ex dream smp stans have congregated all to make up lies and shit on other creators and Tommy feeds right into it to promote his patreon, shows or wharever else he's currently promoting, because he has absolutely no backbone. Either way, my lesson from this is that twitter is somehow even less reasonable than i thought in the first place, oh and don't use the r word under any circumstances even if you see a funny meme and you're autistic. Lesson learned, hopefully i can be forgiven. Back to coding

Tubbo did a 1 hour stream on this. Technically he did a 7 hour stream he cut into bits, but for the sake of the timeline making sense, he made a 1 hour stream. He was gonna talk to Dream on stream. He agrees that his friends do shit talk more than he's comfortable with BUT

Why is Dream only getting involved and doing this much when Tommy insulted xQc and not you know when he called Dream a pedo

You can't reclaim a slur if you use it as an insult

He thought this entire thing was Dream ragebaiting to get people ready for a new song or smth, and he reminded the audience of Nicolas Cantu being drunk.

"If you don't want to be made fun of for doing shitty things just stop doing shitty things"

Tommy in this time released a video saying he blocked Dream and that it was horrible that Dream used the r slur. From this point Tubbo decided against calling Dream, instead watching Dream's 3 hour stream on the topic and reacting to it.

[laura1633]

You can tell when other fans are being obtuse or don't pay attention to a specific team or driver. I felt like I was banging my head against a brick wall last week with the number of people who didn't seem to get Charles had finally cracked because of a pattern of behavior going back years, not just because Carlos didn't get out of his way in one race.

Anyone who pays attention to Max would know that he doesn't normally go off on other drivers because they snitched on track or went to the stewards. Like he said, he's been back with the stewards a lot in his career and getting heated like this is not his normal reaction. He's also very blunt and honest, so if he said he's angry about George being two faced in public vs private, then that's why he is angry. I also suspect that just like with Charles last week, based on the severity of the reaction, there's a longer story here, but this time we just have fewer details.

You are absolutely correct. I have almost fallen into this myself in the past when I have seen a headline or something about a driver and almost jumped to the wrong conclusion before actually looking into the bigger picture. 

I am probably going to annoy some people with this answer so I will put it under the cut (plus it turned into a long response!) . If you are going to read it then just know that I am not going to start hating on other drivers all the time but I am upfront about this being a primarily Lestappen blog so I think its clear where my loyalties lie. If they do something absurd and awful then fair enough I will point it out, otherwise those are my drivers and I am defending them. 

This is all my opinion on my blog, I am happy to discuss anything respectfully but I don't want to turn this into anything hateful. We all have our favourites and we all like to defend them.

With the Max and George thing, you are spot on. Max is blunt and honest, I don’t even think he was being particularly mean about George. People are talking as if they know exactly what went on in the stewards room which they don’t, clearly whatever it was was enough to upset him. I have never heard him talk like this about another driver and this wasn’t even in the heat of the moment, this was after he had won. 

The thing I dislike most is when somebody purposefully plays up to the “I am the innocent party”, “I am the nice guy”, or “he is the unreasonable one” to the press when it’s not the case. Max tends to get the brunt of this because he is just straightforward with what he says and doesn’t try and make people like him. I have seen it happen a few times to him now. I am sure this will drag into next weekend and there will be an effort to make Max look like the unreasonable one. 

That pole position belonged to him and his team who were able to fix the set up of the car, it wasn’t just being taken away from him it was being taken away from all of the people who had been able to turn things around so quickly from the sprint. 

The Charles thing drove me insane and I tried not to get into it too much because everybody was fighting online and I was trying to just enjoy Max’s championship win. In my opinion people absolutely misunderstood the whole context of what has been going on. It was definitely not frustration at just that one race, what happened in that race probably encapsulated a lot of the issues though. 

The comments about Charles not wanting to race and wanting Carlos to not fight him infuriated me for so many reasons. 

Firstly, neither Carlos or Charles are winning the drivers championship so there is only the constructors championship left so the expectation of working as a team should be there. Now I know people will then argue that Carlos was let go by Ferrari but to me that shouldn’t mean he automatically doesn’t care about the constructors. In fact I feel like only an idiot would not care. He could be part of the team that finally brings the constructors back to Ferrari, he would be cemented in the history books. Yes Lewis will get the benefit of it next year but Carlos would always be in the team that brought glory back. 

Secondly, and this is the bit I think people just outright ignored - Charles was annoyed because they had discussed the race and agreed on a plan before the race and that was not followed. To me that is pretty significant. 

If you agree to a plan before the race then that is ultimately going to influence the way you race. The fact your teammate then uses that against you puts you at a disadvantage immediately. It’s hard for me to explain what I mean but for example (and I am not using specifics of any race here, just something to illustrate my point); 

If you are both told to preserve tyres in the first stint of the race and also told not to fight each other aggressively on track then you will race a specific way to adhere to that. It might not be the way you would have raced if the plan had not been agreed to. If your teammate then shreds their tyres to get past you or is overly aggressive with you they are effectively using their knowledge of the plan against their teammate and ultimately costing the team points overall. That would infuriate me, especially if it was not the first time and especially if said teammate then goes to the media and talks about how they are doing everything to help the team. 

Again, its the annoying thing of doing one thing behind the scenes and presenting a false narrative to everyone else so the other person looks like the unreasonable or crazy one. 

Oh my god I am sorry for ranting under your ask but I have been trying not to say too much about the Ferrari situation but I needed to say something 😂 

I will turn off reblogs to hopefully limit the amount of people getting angry in my inbox!

[iamnmbr3]

I hope you don’t mind if I bombard you with ask game questions 🫣♥️

May I request Remus Lupin/Severus Snape - 2, 6, 7, 10, 11, 14, 18, 19?

I most certainly do not mind! *Rubs hands together* I love this ask so much. What a disaster ship. I am SO here for it.

2) Which one proposed? Was it grand and public? Discreet and private? Was it expected?

Lupin proposed by mistake by blurting out "marry me" during sex. He tried to take it back which led to a massive fight in which Lupin's self hatred met Snape's insecurities and rejection sensitivity - compounded by their school history - and caused fireworks that culminated in him proposing again, half out of spite and Snape saying yes also out of spite.

6) Who were the first people to find out about the engagement? How did they react?

Voldemort checks Snape's mind, decides this is probably some sort of convoluted revenge plan, and is so sketched by the mess that is Snape's emotions that he nopes tf out. Meanwhile Dumbledore is doing some stealth Legilimency on Lupin because it's a habit of his (though he denies it strenuously) and nearly dies trying not to show any reaction on his face. He believes in the power of love...but not like this. Never have Tom & Albus been so aligned in their feelings about an issue.

7) Who are the maids of honor and/or best men? Why and how were they chosen?

Listen. I can't really see them having best men/maids of honor in most scenarios. But I absolutely insist on it in the following two situations because the absolute chaos entertains me. A) An AU in which this happens while the Marauders and co are still all alive and free and they each have their respective exes, Sirius & Lily, in the role of their best men bc I think it would be hilarious. (And yes it goes just as badly as you'd imagine). Or B) a dark AU in which the role is filled by Fenrir Greyback for Lupin and Lucius for Snape and Voldemort presides (and it's still kind of a mess, but somehow less of a mess than the first scenario).

10) Do they get married through court? Church? Third secret option?

Secret third option - highly traditional wizard style marriage that actually doesn't feel right to either of them because both grew up with way more muggle influence than they let on.

11) When do they get married? Night or day? Any specific reason for either?

In the daylight. Lupin's not into seeing the moon for obvious reasons. Neither is Snape, due to the trauma of almost getting eaten that time in the Shrieking Shack - though he'd never admit it.

14) Do they follow any familiar, cultural, and/or religious traditions at any point of the wedding?

No. Not even basic decorum is respected. The guests are scarred. Is this a revenge thing? A hate thing? A fetish? Are they just like that? Who's getting revenge on who tho is not clear and frankly everyone is too afraid to ask questions.

18) did anyone oppose the marriage? Did they speak then, or did they just forever hold their peace?

If Sirius is invited or knows about it he definitely speaks his mind...a lot. If this takes place after the first wizarding war and the public gets wind of it then 'ex death eater marries werewolf' is not exactly a headline that precedes kind coverage.

19) What was the ceremony like? Any highlights?

Imagine the hilarious crack potential of Lupin inviting his friends, who hate and are hated by Snape. And Snape inviting HIS friends who are all Death Eaters. Everyone is looking daggers at each other across the isle. A full on Death Eater vs Order member brawl is only avoided due to the fact that unbeknownst to them Snape slipped a few drops of Calming Draft into all their drinks.

Send me a ship and a number.

[thatsoheeron]

Yesterdays Paper: A look at a (bad) reaction to Brown Vs. the Board of Education TW: Racists from 1955 in Richmond, Virgina

So the powers that be have decided to put an "end" to Black History Month, which is obviously unambiguously awful. I deeply care about history and have for the entirety of my life, and I also happen to have a podcast. So I decided to take one integral moment in Black History and look up what was being published in the newspaper at that time.

This week I chose Brown Vs. the Board of Education (1954) and some articles from The Richmond News Leader in Richmond Virginia (Thursday, June 2nd, 1955) and the narrative described was something I found incredibly interesting.

In reaction to the Supreme Court's decision to integrate all segregated schools, bonds already donated to Richmond schools were revoked on the simple premise that they did not want to pay for integration. What was once $600,000 to be donated to new school constructions had dropped to a measly $150,000, and many individuals called the ruling "vague" in it's wording, a sentiment reflected on the ruling's archive.gov page.

They also criticized the "social psychologists" of which they claimed the ruling was based off of. Which I am assuming is because of the idea that *shocker* black people are not inherently inferior. They also commonly cite Plessy Vs. Ferguson, the Supreme Court ruling that claimed that Black Americans were inferior to the white race, and also set the precedent for Jim Crow laws.

Something I found interesting was a small article claiming that a few teachers did not return to their positions and instead decided to leave the profession, which will come up later, of course.

Then the editor of the Richmond News Leader essentially puts it all out there, and writes up a dissertation about what segregationists have to do to keep segregation in schools. Either the government needs to comply with segregationists or there will be no school. At all.

But no school for whom? The entirety of Prince Edward County in Richmond, Virginia? No!

Otherwise he claims that they need to force the Public Schools to sell the buildings for pennies on the dollar and then white benefactors will rebuild private schools for their children to learn.

Huh. So... segregation.

There's also another editor who expands upon the school board meeting and his similarly racist thoughts as well as an article I couldn't even read entitled "The White Race Has Built Great Civilizations," (read at your own risk)

Oh also, the teachers are quitting because they do not want to teach black students, and this complete racist cowardice is being used by politicians to dig their claws into and tear apart integration.

But Sarah why the hell would you do this weird thing? You may be asking yourself, well I believe as a white person that we shouldn't just be fed a white-washed child-friendly version of America's horrible racist past and move on about our lives. That's how you get people who misquote MLK or think that "racism is over," which we all know it very clearly is not.

I also have a podcast and a platform (and a majority white audience) and if the government is going to abandon the public then the first thing we should is educate each other.

If you are one of those white people that think "Well that's old, racism is over," Keep in mind this was only 70 years ago, and the first black student to attend an integrated school, Ruby Nell Bridges Hall, is still alive today. So, no, it was not that long ago.

Keep in mind, this is one school board in one county in all of the American South. Thurgood Marshall, leader of the NAACP is quoted in the above articles saying that they would sue any school that did not comply with the Supreme Court's decision, and whose work was so incredible that segregation can seem like a thing of the distant past, even though capitalism wielded as a tool to enforce white supremacy has been here all along.

Next week we're going to look at the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and will continue to look at more big moments in Black History for the entirety of February. If you want to know more of mine and Josh's opinions, we talk about it on this week's APWSTR ep. 224 'Know Your Enemy (Greg)'

Take care, and happy Black History Month!

[doberbutts]

Why do people act like their public blogs are private places? I've seen others make posts name dropping urls and then they get upset if you talk to them about it or there's backlash. Like?? It's right there for most tumblr users to see its not behind a pay wall or a server its...out in the open.

I think the honest answer is that a lot of people, especially people with a small amount of followers OR with a relatively tight follower/mutual circle (so they may have a lot of followers but only actively see notes from like 10 of those people because the rest mostly lurk or are follow-for-follows) get used to this idea that they're mostly just screaming into the void.

And I mean. They kind of are. So am I! But at 9k followers I have to be a bit more careful and cognizant of any public disagreements I involve myself in than someone with like. 50. Because of that 9k. even if 10% of those people are actively watching my blog, that's still 900 people that will dogpile whoever I disagree with if the fight is explosive and public enough. vs at 50 followers, even if half of those people are actively watching that blog, that's 25 blocks and then the problem stops.

That's why I carefully avoid naming names unless it's actually necessary, because I know my followers will dogpile that person and I don't want that to happen. I've been dogpiled before and I've also witnessed my followers dogpiling someone well after I told them to knock it off so I definitely don't want to go through that again or see anyone else go through it again.

But I think that a lot of people have not had that happen and thus have not yet learned that as long as you're posting something on a publicly accessible place, especially with tumblr's brokenass blocking system that I just demonstrated does not adequately hide posts from blocked users, other people will always have a chance to see it and react to it. Which also means the person you're posting about has a chance to see it and react too. And that reaction's not likely to be positive if you've been really negative about them.

[thedragonagelesbian]

5. 7. 11. 13. for the rook and love interest asks

rook li asks! tytyty <33 Answering for Cyrus & Lace!

5. Do they have different cultural backgrounds (e.g. a Rook who was raised in Antiva with Harding who was raised in Ferelden)? If so, do they ever share parts of their culture with each other? If they're similar, how do they celebrate their culture together?

Somewhere deep down they're both still Fereldan farm kids! Obviously there are some differences in their backgrounds re: being an elf vs being a dwarf (and Cyrus was technically not so much a farm kid as a farm adolescent/teen, having spent his childhood in a city), but there's a baseline shared understanding of one another's cultural background. Also they both made Being Helpful to the family the cornerstone of their personality in their developing years. Lace is definitely more certifiably Fereldan, having been there recently, still having family there, and possessing the nation-defining trait of loving mabari. Still, her favorite parts of it--the wilderness, the camping, the quiet--are things that Cyrus loves & misses most too. He loves listening to her talk about their home, it creates a real sense of nostalgia for him, you know, this fabled, innocent time in his life before Kirkwall. Before everything.

7. Are they a physically affectionate couple? Are they fine displaying those affections in public or do they prefer to be in private? If they're not, how do they prefer to show their love instead?

Once they get the lyrium poisoning thing sorted out... absolutely! Cyrus really loves/needs physical affection, always holding hands or curling up together or giving little kisses, and given that Lace's other potential LI is also very physically forward, I think it's fair to say that she's also a fan. They don't have any qualms about PDA either, life is too short to not be in love loudly

11. Who says "I love you" first? What is the other's reaction? Who thinks it first?

I have to give the caveat that I'm still mulling over the timeline of their relationship, trying to work things out with Cyrus still thinking that Varric is alive and discovering that he's not earlier than in canon.

That said. I can't imagine it's not Cyrus. This man has never loved with anything less than his whole heart, and he uses those words freely, generously, with everyone he cares about, regardless of the specificity of the relationship. And Lace is such an unshakeable anchor for him, as unmovable as any titan, of course he loves her, not like falling but like cradling, and the lyrium is so sweet in his skull and so is she

He probably says it as soon as their first kiss. Mind melting out between his ears, heart full to bursting, while Lace is too horrified by what she's done to him (by the fact that Cyrus isn't horrified) to process it until much later. Alone in her room trying to put off going to sleep because who knows what she might see when she closes her eyes (but maybe she'll see Cyrus and that wouldn't be so bad would it to dream of him and all the things they could do together if she could only touch him and wait what was it that he said earlier oh shit!)

As for who thinks it first, it's probably Lace! For like the first half of the game she's nursing a crush she's trying to repress because it seems selfish to have feelings for a man who (a) just lost his husband and (b) does not even seem to be conscious of that loss. And it's not a big moment. They're in her room together, maybe after Kal-Sharok or Weisshaupt, tending to some of the non-Fade plants they've brought in, Cyrus is indulging her with some of the gory bits & details of his past reaverisms, and Lace is struck by how much tenderness can coexist with such a capacity for protective, loving anger & violence-- a balance she's still very much trying to find herself

She thinks it once. And she immediately swallows it down and tries not to think it again.

13. What song(s) do you associate with them?

I'm in a music listening rut rn 😭😭😭 I haven't added any new Veilguard-era specific songs to Cyrus' playlist, I've just been listening to I'm Not Calling You a Liar over and over and over again and crying about the new thematic layers...

But I have been thinking about Hozier & Bedouine's That You Are with them, the senses of steadfastness, wanderlust, wholeness (the prayer is all of me/that i'd be/anywhere that you are) very much remind me of them. Especially bc it's a promise/hope they have to work so arduously toward-- whether it's Cyrus losing her to Ghilan'nain (and in my head/heart as another idea I'm workshopping, to whatever primordial thing of the Stone she has to become to survive that) or Lace losing him to the regret prison-- and the uncertainty of whether it's really him that's walked out this time.

[eph-em-era]

OFMD intimacy breakdown eps 6-7

Oh hey, it's me! Back again with an intimacy breakdown for episodes 6-7. prefacing this, once again, that I'm not a certified intimacy coordinator, I'm an IC in training, choreographer and director. I'm also not affiliated with the show, just have interest in the subject.

Check out episodes 1-5 here.

Massive spoilers so it's under the cut.

(I do note that there's not an IC credited in these episodes - I know there's one attached to the project so perhaps they weren't utilised in these ones, or were uncredited. Who can say!)

Let's start with - I don't know why these two episodes were so deliriously fucking fast. Potentially scheduling issues with Taika? Alternatively I heard that they lost some budget, which would have cut things a bit.

HBO Max I am in your walls.

regardless, not a fan! I think the acceleration of the relationship worked, just because of what we know about their characters, but the wider plot was too fast for my liking. Hoping in the event of a season three they take that to heart.

Anyways, onto the intimacy!

Calypso's Birthday

On a whole, I found this episode deeply charming. I love a bit of whimsy, and the ep felt like a tribute to their queer audience. Felt very seen!

It's quite challenging interpreting intimacy in these scenes as an interloper, cause I don't know how much is purposeful, vs how much is staging. Regardless, we will forge on.

One -

I would have loved a little more closeness during Izzy's first singing scene! There's what feels like a metre of space between them; something as simple as arms brushing or leaning against each other helps build that intimacy. I am guessing the gap is for shooting space - you need to see what's going on behind them - but it really loses something. It's not bad intimacy, I just would have liked more.

An alternative character interpretation is that Ed & Stede are still trying to fumble their way through things and public displays of intimacy are too much for them - which could also be the intended effect.

But as we all know - a hand touch can ignite a thousand feelings, and I would have liked a little more.

Two -

Lucius and Black Pete emerging after their day-long fuckfest. I've said it in the past and will happily say it now - I think Matthew Maher and Nathan Foad have the best chemistry out of this entire cast. It's so sweet, and so honest in a way that's very grounded compared to the rest of the cast - which is surprising considering who their characters are!

Lovely positioning! Very simple staging but effective, it makes the moment feel so, so private and intimate. It's really lovely.

Three -

Ed and Stede finally get it together and have sex. Okay, so this is obviously intercut with Izzy singing, so I'll lay it out in stages.

First, the jacket grab.

What does this say about Stede? He's been buoyed by his weird night and he wants to do something about it. What does this say about Ed? He's willing to go along with it, but it is not necessarily his first reaction. He's clearly feeling qualms about something - whether that's his relationship, or being a pirate - and he's not the one to initiate. This comes back later.

Regarding the staging, more technically - this is pretty common. A grab using the lapels or jacket is a very easy way to show intensity and passion. Does Ed respond with the same passion? Not quite.

Oh hey, an up against the wall kiss! Very fanservicey, consider me impressed. I think this is a fun bit of staging, I suspect they were given very strict hand placement, cause nothing moves that much, it doesn't look particularly improvised.

Rhys Darby does something very specific with his hands when kissing that I've noticed now and I will never not notice, which is deeply annoying.

It's a very nice moment, but honestly, I would have loved a pause? There's something very sexy and very charming in a scene like this where one character makes the other character wait for it. A little holding back, breathing together, finding the moment. More of a seduction than this brute force omg we need to do this now thing.

I saw someone on Twitter say "Ed and Stede fucked but haven't made love" and that's the vibe I'm getting off the scene. Both of these characters have had a weird day, they're probably tipsy, there's been a lot of emotions and this is a desperate spilling over I need to feel your skin against mine now thing, from two people who don't really know where they both are yet. There isn't seduction cause it's not the place for seduction, cause no-one here properly knows how to communicate yet! They're saying everything but saying nothing.

I hope, in the event of further scenes like this, they have the moment to breathe.

And finally, the third piece - the closing of the curtains.

What does this say about the characters? Hey this is a private moment, you're not allowed to witness this. It's the same as Ed/Stede other moments of intimacy. Everything is private, it's hidden, it's on a remote beach on an island or unobserved under the moonlight.

These dudes might talk about each other constantly and are unashamed to say they like each other, but they sure as shit can't show it publicly. There's also clear reticence within Ed - which echoes him saying he wants to take things slow, as well as his hesitance in the next episode.

This reticence is also shown in their costuming. This isn't a we spent care and time taking each other's clothes off energy, this reads more like Stede Bonnet is emboldened for one of the first times in his life and got naked way too fast. Hey, he's the one taking charge. He's the one closing the curtains.

Man On Fire

Not a whole lot of intimacy in this one. I'm not going to spend long on it, because it's not particularly meaty, but I think the Olu/Zheng hand grab over the table is adorable and a perfect way to show two people on the same page after going through it. It's balanced and sweet.

Now, the other thing:

This staging is suuuuuuch a missed opportunity, but I also think it works considering the later context of the scene.

Y'know how you'd usually show a morning after? Snuggling up together, shoulder to shoulder, legs intertwined. Hazy and precious and lovely.

It's a bit harder with this particular set piece - you can't shoot them from the reverse, cause of the window, so everything needs to be pointed out towards the camera, making snuggling side by side harder to shoot. In theatre you'd just angle the prop differently, but you can't do that on film in a room that has established locations.

Initially when I watched this, I was like "okay rookie move, they've missed the obvious".

But.

It makes sense with the characterisation of this episode. Stede's killed a guy. He's had probably the first bit of pleasurable intimacy in his entire life. Man's ego's the size of the room. He's got his chest out cause he feels good.

Ed, however. He's fully clothed. He's doing the good thing, doing the right thing, getting breakfast in bed but it's still not quite right in the way "it should be" (the twine), and he's buttoned up to the neck. No swagger, no body showing. What does that scream? Avoidance. Weirdness. Maybe even a bit of discomfort.

Keep in mind that in the last 12 hours he's seen Stede, who he fell in love with because of his whimsy and difference from other pirates kill a guy. He's seen him threaten other peoples' lives. He expressed the desire to take things slow and instead, in a feat of piqued emotion, they hooked up, and they probably shouldn't have.

They're not cuddling because it's weird. The whole moment is weird. It's almost a walk of shame but they're on the same damn ship together. They might have hooked up, but the pair of them clearly still aren't on the same page.

I doubt we'll see it next week, but I hope these two can find their peace. This is a genre comedy, not just a romance, so I doubt it'll be anything explicit, but I would love to see a scene that's deeply passionate, building the intimacy without building the pace. Take us in closer, let us feel what the characters feel without immediately cutting away.

Loathed as I am to link some of these clips because of their nonsense dialogue, here's some moments in other mlm media that do well at building that intimacy.

This Bill/Sam clip from True Blood that doesn't even have a kiss but holds the tension really well. Another nonsense dream sequence scene from True Blood that still has nice staging. Agron and Nasir from Spartacus have incredible chemistry with a variety of clips to choose from. There are so many options and I would love love love to see them explored in the final episode of S2 or in S3. Very excited to see them both on the same page - ENTHUSIASTIC CONSENT FOR THE WIN.

Thanks for reading! Reblog if you liked. If there's anything juicy in ep 8 I'll cover it as well.

[seth-burroughs]

I don't think Yomi smiles a lot outside of public/whenever he's got any sort of an audience. Like as soon as everyone leaves he just immediately reverts back to -_- and becomes that one "nothing to smile about in my life" facebook dude until he notices another guy to torment. He just feels kinda stupid making Expressions while alone like it's embarrassing for him. He rarely if ever actually smiles or laughs because he's happy, whenever he does is during the most inappropriate of circumstances that he really shouldn't laugh but can't help it & doesn't care, or when he's nervous/stressed and that's his default reaction. Also he gets really really mad when it happens and people are around to see it he thinks it's embarrassing and that people are judging him and overanalizing everything he ever does every second of his life so they can better orchestrate his downfall which is actually true. How he acts during work vs outside of work vs with people he somewhat trusts or likes vs in private with no one to watch him is generally pretty different

[darcytaylor]

The part that bothers me is that, seemingly, this might be the person he actually wants to be, and it seems like a lot of “fans” hate it and I can’t imagine at least some of that hasn’t gotten back to him. Like, we have to be honest, by his own words he seems to have a lot of love for his friends and for A that he might not be saying in the same way he was willing to talk about the cast and Nic, but he hasn’t not made it somewhat clear that there are people in his life he loves.

Like, yeah, he probably does feel shitty right now because he’s getting hate online that is somewhat a bit unfair and it probably is effecting how he is acting with his private life. I mean, he did say he was somewhat concerned about what coming down from the promo tour was going to be like. It’s clear that whatever happened post break-up changed him in a lot of ways, and I’m starting to think the Luke he is/was around Bridgerton is just another character for him.

I just don’t think I’ve ever followed a celeb with such a clear disconnect before in terms of their personality/image in public vs private. Like, I see more fans trying to wrap their head around him or justifying him than actually just enjoying his work. It’s truly bizarre.

A lot of people are trying to come to terms with the devision of Luke's public persona and his private life. I am sure that fans reactions impact him personally and professionally. I also think it's completely understandable to feel conflicted about this, especially when it seems like there's a disconnect between the way he presents himself publicly and how he might actually be feeling or living his life privately.

Luke definitely faces scrutiny and criticism that can be harsh, which I am sure is challenging to handle (and I'm sure he sees some of this). I think because of the negative feedback, it has affected how he chooses to present himself publicly. I'm sure it explains some of the shifts we have all observed in his behaviour and public image.

I think it's also correct to say that people are multifaceted and evolving. What you see celebrities put out into the public is just one aspect of their identity, and their private lives can be VERY different. I'm sure Luke is trying to navigate public expectations and personal realities (and it may seem like he is not doing a very good job), but life it nuanced and I'm sure it's hard to align professional and personal when millions of people are watching.

Your observation about fans trying to justify or understand him more deeply rather than just enjoying his work (like you said, so many people are doing this, me included) shows how invested people can become in the lives of celebrities. I think this level of engagement can sometimes blur the lines between personal and public, making it challenging to separate the two.

I think it's important to remember that while Luke does share a small part of his life with the public, he is still an individual with private experiences and emotions (we don't actually know him). Balancing respect for Luke's personal space and having appreciation for his work could probably help navigate this situation, that's what I'm trying to do.

Is Luke handling things perfectly? Probably not (and hindsight is 20/20, I'm sure there are things Luke would like to change in regards to how things have been handled). But like I have said before, I don't have millions of people watching me, so I can't judge too harshly.