#and also I can't imagine robin in a romantic relationship

[strangersteddierthings]

ooo can i suggest prompt six? "Did you lie to me?" hehe

Thanks for sending a prompt, Nonny! It's my daily ficlet for today!

Daily Ficlet 6

Steve's never been a secret before. He's too likeable (or hateable) for that. He's never had to hide a relationship before because what girl wouldn't want to be with him? All his friendships are well known, or were, back when he was in high school. There weren't even secret rivalries!

So, it's an adjustment, keeping this thing with Eddie a secret. But he's trying. Even though all he wants to do is hold his hand every hour of every day he refrains because. Because?

Well, he's not really full on those details. He knows it's partially because Eddie isn't out to anyone in the group except Steve. He's not even out to Robin, and Steve thought for sure they'd figure each other out and bond over it but that hasn't happened yet. Eddie's also said something about keeping it to themselves so they can just be themselves, together, without other people. When Eddie had whispered that it had sounded so sweet and romantic. But that was, like, two months ago and it's.... it's still romantic, but Steve wants to ramble about how beautiful Eddie is to Robin.

Also! This secret keeping is causing Robin to worry! He can't keep secrets from Robin, he never has. He told Robin he thought he might like guys exactly 0.4 seconds after he'd realized it! In fact, he's so bad at secret keeping that he's told her he has a boyfriend. Won't say who, and Robin won't push. All he had to say was his boyfriend wasn't ready to come out and that was that.

He's out to the Party, too. Mostly as an accidental outing he didn't back down from even when Will offered him an out with his quick thinking. Jonathan knows, too. That was an on-purpose telling after Will came out to Steve when they were finally alone, and Steve learned Jonathan knew about Will.

Anyway. Steve's never been a secret before. He doesn't want to continue being one. He just wants Eddie's permission to tell Robin. He'll be fine with waiting even if Eddie says he's not ready for Robin to know, of course, but he just. He wants Robin to know who the amazing person he rants about is.

So, imagine his surprise when, halfway down the stairs to the basement at Eddie and Wayne's new house to talk to Eddie about telling Robin, he hears his name.

"-because it's Steve Harrington, y'know?" Gareth's voice floats up the stairs to Steve and he freezes. Is Gareth a goddman psychic!? How did he know Steve was here?

"That's your reasoning? Because it's Steve?" Eddie asks, and oh. They don't know he's here. They're talking about him. Steve should make himself known. He shouldn't just stand here and listen. But. Well, if Eddie's finally telling his friends about them, he kinda wants to hear it. Want to hear Eddie spill the secret so they can quit being so secretive.

"Well, yeah. You're the one who's always saying people don't change. Did you lie to me? To us? Has Steve changed?" That's Jeff's voice, and his questions make Steve gut twist. But Eddie's not Nancy. He's not- they aren't bullshit. Eddie knows that. He'll defend Steve. He'll tell them the truth. There's silence, though. Eddie doesn't defend him.

"What's with the silence?" Frankie asks, when Eddie's been quiet too long. Funny, Steve wanted to ask the same thing.

"I'm trying to not snap at you all," Eddie says, and he sounds angry. "I get that you guys might still be hesitant or whatever, but you don't get to come here and throw accusations when you haven't even tried to be friends with him! This is why I don't invite him to come hang out with us! 'Cause you can be a bunch of dicks sometimes!"

Steve feels a warmth bloom inside him. He knew Eddie would defend him, he did. It's just hard to believe sometimes, and he's not going to make that Eddie's problem. But hearing it. Hearing that Eddie does defend him even when he doesn't know Steve's around to hear it. Fuck, it makes him want to kiss Eddie so bad.

"Hey, man, I'm sorry," Jeff says, "you're right. We are being dicks, and pretty standoffish with Steve. We aren't giving him a fair chance."

"You're not!" Eddie agrees aggressively. "Even if he wasn't my b- my friend, he's still the reason I'm even fucking alive. So, respect that at least."

Steve stands at the midpoint of the stairs until the conversation turns to a different topic before he tiptoes back to the top of the steps to turn around and thunder down the stairs loudly, giving everyone in the basement a warning to his arrival.

He'll tell a lie, that he was driving around because he was bored and thought to stop and see what Eddie was up to, and get invited to stay and hang out. Eddie's friends are more open with him than they usually are and Steve doesn't waste the opportunity to try and really engage with them, get to know them.

He can be a secret just a little longer, he supposes, when he looks away from Jeff and catches Eddie staring at him with the same adoration he sees on Eddie's face when they're alone. And judging by the almost slip up earlier, Eddie might be getting closer to not being a secret, too.

[celaenaeiln]

C: Hi there! Even if I've been reading dick Grayson(and in turn batfamily) fics for a few weeks now, I've never actually watched/read DC stuff because even if I liked superheroes, I'm not invested enough to read the actual comics. The most I watched was the Teen Titans 2003 cartoon(which I love). I was brought into interest cause I was brought in through crossovers of other fandoms (which may be hated by some/many😅)

To give myself context, I tried to read around for Robin, and imagine my surprise there's more than one? Which, okay mantle thing I guess. But in the end, Dick Grayson caught my attention(not rlly for his looks and design, but more of his heroism and entire personality and affect in the DC world). Which leads to looking at other tumblrs and I love reading yours and when you answer the asks cause it's so much easier for me to understand the kind of person Dick is and how he interacts with the world.

Sorry for this long context, but I just want maybe your opinion, what if your opinion in the combination of how Dick Grayson should be written for him to Thrive

- Should he stay in Gotham, being in with the batfamily more? Soloing in Bludhaven? Staying with the titans? Or others?

- what about his romantic relationships? Who should be is one true one(based on canon gfs), or maybe stay single? (Just gonna be biased, but I've only knew about dickbabs and dickkory (but I heard he has other girlfriends and I've remember reading he was almost married...a few times??) but dickkory had always been for me)

- What about mentally wise? (Of course, I do think Dick needs a long vacation because of all the trauma that he has to go through), but even if I like the idea of Dick being admired for his looks because he deserves it, but I do rmbr posts that he is uncomfy with this(sexualisation, Def only staying true to the person he loves (then there's the whole...Tarantula and more thing)

Tbf, I do think is a little bit of all is what makes Dick, Dick. Haha

Sorry for the long ask, feel free to not answer because i just needed to get this out😅. I know it's actually bad I'm reading fics without canon knowledge for personality, but your posts makes me understand him more that I understand what's real and what's fanon in fics (that makes me..ugh.. but I read anyway for plot cause i don't know better)

But thank you anyway for reading this and I love your content!

(last one for this ask I swear: I've been seeing stuff where Robin name is actually Dick's mom calling Dick that. Then it's passed down as a mantle starting from Jason without Dick consenting. I tried to read at wiki, maybe I missed out but I can't find anything. Is it true? Does the other bats (except Bruce and Alfred?) know the actual meaning? Because as much as I love Dami, the whole bloodson, birthright to take the mantle of Robin beside Batman give me ugh feelings if it's true) :C

First of all, thank you so much!! I'm so happy to hear you like my stuff <333!!

I think it's fine that you started in the fandom since I sort of started out that way too lol. I had only watched Teen Titans Animated show and Young Justice before I got into fanfics and my first comic I ever read was actually Teen Titans (2011) which was Tim's run. It's been a journey.

Dick's personality was also what captivated me so here I am!

"Should he stay in Gotham, being in with the batfamily more? Soloing in Bludhaven? Staying with the titans? Or others?"

That's a really good question and a complex one. Ironically, for being such a people person, Dick seems to be doing best when he's by himself. When he's soloing, he has a sense of freedom and independence that he's been craving for a long time. The whole reason he left Bruce was because he felt like Bruce was suddenly treating him like a kid, like someone to look after, when he had been treating Dick like a partner the whole time. When Dick feels like his independence is being stepped on, it unsettles him. This is another reason why the Tom Taylor run and Dick's relationship pisses me off but that's for another time. As much as he likes Gotham, he loves Bludhaven. He thinks it's a dirty, crime-filled city, sure, but he loves it there.

He's a little crazy like that.

He doesn't have the same attachment to Gotham that Bruce does. Instead he feels that for Bludhaven.

The only reason I'm saying Dick is better off staying alone than with the Titans is because of his leadership mentality. There's a comic that I forgot the name of but Dick teams up with members of the Justice League and they trapeze through a jungle under the orders of this corrupt military general. He teams up with Arthur and automatically starts commanding people to which Aquaman tells him off, saying this isn't the Titans. Dick is genuinely sorry and backs off. For a minute. But immediately goes right back into command mode but Arthur lets it go, realizing that Dick's not conscious of it and that his behaviour is automatic. "Too many leaders" he calls the situation in his head. For Dick, the Titans have become a responsibility now. He loves them like crazy but they look up at him automatically for directions and order and he's gotten so used to leading them that it's his go to mode.

He just likes doing stuff without someone hovering over his shoulder or having to take care of others.

"what about his romantic relationships? Who should be is one true one(based on canon gfs), or maybe stay single? (Just gonna be biased, but I've only knew about dickbabs and dickkory (but I heard he has other girlfriends and I've remember reading he was almost married…a few times??) but dickkory had always been for me)"

Yeah, I've actually loved almost all of his romantic relationships. I hate Dickbabs but every other one has been fantastic. Kori was great for him.

Action Comics (1938) Issue #618

Dick says it again here. He used to envy Roy's freedom. He's also said in another comic that he fell in love with Kori for her freedom.

Secret Origins (1986) Issue #13

You're right, he has gotten almost married a few times

The first time was with Kori

The New Titans (1988) Issue #100

But then

The New Titans (1988) Issue #100

their pastor gets vaporised and body-controlled Raven feeds the soul of one of Trigon's children into Kori and she goes crazy but she recovers but it's a whole ordeal. In the end they don't get a chance to complete their marriage. They were spectacular together though. The only reason their wedding didn't go through is because the Batfam writers wanted Dick back so they took him from the Titans' writers and they needed a big dramatic scene to cut him off from the Titans. Another reason why Barbara was deaged and created as a love interest- to gatekeep him in the family.

He's also gotten married to Barbara before the retcon though.

Batman Family Issue #11

But here they were forced to by Maze and they went along with it and tricked him. At the end though, they just grab a bite to eat.

Ngl I actually would've supported this marriage. I really love this Barbara. Yes the age difference is a bit much but whatever, I still like them.

Dick and Barbara have gotten married in an alternate timeline.

Convergence: Nightwing/Oracle Issue #2

yeah, definitely didn't like this one.

Dick's also gotten fake married to a woman because Batman and Dick thought she was killing her husbands after marrying them so Dick married her to see if it was true.

Nightwing (1996) Annual #1

I liked her. She wasn't the killer and Dick did a fantastic job raising her son but even though she loved him, he didn't love her and they divorced amicably. I wish I could see more of her and her son though.

To be completely honest, my favorites for Dick are Kori and Bea.

Bea was a fantastic partner. She was understanding, loving, caring, and responsible. She was there when he was Ric Grayson and just loved him for who he was.

Nightwing (2016) Issue #53

If Kori's truly out of the picture, then Dick really should've settled down with her.

Nightwing (2016) Issue #57

She and Kori, they don't tell Dick what to do or who to be. They let him be free which is why I loved them an extraordinary amount. I'm a sucker for soft moments and Bea and Dick are couple goals.

Nightwing (2016) Issue #62

They give him the freedom he craves.

"What about mentally wise? (Of course, I do think Dick needs a long vacation because of all the trauma that he has to go through), but even if I like the idea of Dick being admired for his looks because he deserves it, but I do rmbr posts that he is uncomfy with this(sexualisation, Def only staying true to the person he loves (then there's the whole...Tarantula and more thing)"

I think Dick does need a break. His life has been a series of unfortunate events but despite all that, I think he loves it that way. Dick loves the thrill of adventure. It's the heart of who he is and why he became robin. The excitement he gets when fighting or doing crazy stunts - he loves all of it and that is his coping mechanism. I guess in order for him to thrive, Bruce needs to stop dumping all his trauma and stop expecting him to be there for him at all times of the day. Dick keeps getting dragged back to Gotham to take care of Bruce and his problems and he would go in a heartbeat but he's much happier wacking his own goons in Bludhaven. But since Bruce is so codependent on Dick, this pattern's not gonna stop anytime soon.

Truth be told I also like Dick being admired for his looks. I don't like him being called out by it though. First of all why would you comment "hot booty" to someone? It's degrading and humiliating even if you think it's a compliment. Some things are better left untold. But regardless of what people think, Dick will always be pretty and everyone in the DC universe knows this. Heroes, civilians, villains - they're all attracted to him on some level because he's so beautiful. And honestly? I'm all for it! Because that boy is the prettiest human in existence and he deserves that recognition. Just not vocally or physically.

The best thing is that Dick's beauty has no bearing on his mentality toward people. This man will choose one person and stick with them forever. He values intimacy and trust and love in his relationships which is why he's so attached to each one. This plays a massive role in his relationship with Kori. He would never cheat. Actually in all the future comics, after his spouse passes away or leaves, he never remarries. The only one exception was Batman Beyond (2016). The only one and he remarries Barbara after his wife passes away. Aside from that he remains a single parent. That's how dedicated he is.

"I've been seeing stuff where Robin name is actually Dick's mom calling Dick that. Then it's passed down as a mantle starting from Jason without Dick consenting. I tried to read at wiki, maybe I missed out but I can't find anything. Is it true? Does the other bats (except Bruce and Alfred?) know the actual meaning? Because as much as I love Dami, the whole bloodson, birthright to take the mantle of Robin beside Batman give me ugh feelings if it's true)"

Yup Dick's mother called Dick Robin.

Nightwing (2011) Issue #0

Robin (1993) Annual #4

Here's a couple but there are more instances of his mom calling him Robin.

Dick had no idea Bruce passed on the Robin costume. He finds out through the newspaper because Bruce is pissed at Dick. Like he's so mad that when he told Dick to leave, Dick actually left.

You know how there's a saying about not being able to take back words of anger? Bruce is feeling that heavily. He already had suspicions that Dick wanted to leave but before Dick could tell him, he fired him so he wouldn't have to hear those words. But Bruce is super mad that Dick left anyway. So what does he do? He makes the first boy he sees Robin.

And Jason finds out Dick was Robin when he confronts Bruce why Nightwing knows Bruce's identity. And that gets Bruce more mad because he's now feeling guilty which is when Dick comes to confront Bruce.

Batman (1940) Issue #416

But instead of meeting anger for anger, Dick expresses his hurt. About how they were partners and then talks about his life after leaving Bruce.

And Bruce loves Dick. His best friend, son, brother, and partner for nearly 11 years. They raised each other and despite his anger, he smiles in pride and love.

Batman (1940) Issue #416

Look at his smile!! He's so proud of his son.

And that's when Dick stops pulling his punches.

Batman (1940) Issue #416

Bruce looks so wrecked. The guilt and sorrow is tantamount to his pain.

Then Dick asks Bruce why he choose someone new.

Batman (1940) Issue #416

So Bruce tells him. But Dick and Bruce's relationship go way deeper than just friends or family. They know each other. They revolve around each other so Dick calls him out.

Batman (1940) Issue #416

And out comes the truth

Batman (1940) Issue #416

But Dick has always been the bigger man and instead of letting Jason become some sort of spite move, he turns Robin into a legacy.

Batman (1940) Issue #416

He passes it down like it was meant to be passed down. Because let's be honest here. The Robin name and costume is Dick's. If he wanted to, he could've taken it back, Bruce be damned. And that was one of Jason's fears.

Batman (1940) Issue #416

But despite Bruce's words to Jason

Batman (1940) Issue #416

He's not sure himself.

Batman (1940) Issue #416

But it's only with Dick's approval that he becomes Robin which is what Bruce is thanking at the end.

Batman (1940) Issue #416

And this has been a sort of tradition.

Dick approved of Jason being Robin, he endorsed Tim, and he made Damian Robin. The only exception being Stephanie. This is why Dick feels a heavy sense of responsibility over the robin predicament. He created the tradition. He approved, supported, and mentored every robin that walked in his colors and name. That's why he feels the burden of it.

I don't think any of the other robins know the meaning behind the name. Maybe they do. But ironically, the one who wasn't robin is the one who knows the meaning of it.

Duke.

[b1tcht0p1a]

Monster Trio realizing they have feelings for you headcanons.

Written with a female reader in mind. (Also had some relationship headcanons.)

Luffy - Luffy isn't clueless per se, but he definitely doesn't know platonic feelings from romantic feelings. Definitely just thinks liking your presence means y'all are closer friends. - I imagine he would realize that his feelings aren't purely platonic when he notices he 'misses' you. Even if you're just sleeping in another room or when you're out shopping with the girls. - Eventually, he would either just straight up ask you about it or go to someone like Sanji or Robin. I imagine he goes with the latter though. - While Sanji is a huge simp, he would still know what Luffy is feeling. Robin would too, but is the better person to ask. Especially with how Sanji is. - Now understanding what he's feeling; Luffy is very straightforward with telling you. He doesn't like to beat around the bush. - If you reject him, he would flatten for a fat second but quickly gets over it. It's better to have you in his life than not at all and he doesn't want to lose his friend - If you share the same feelings then this man is immediately grinning wide and wrapping you in a hug. - 100% running around with you still wrapped in his arms so he can tell everybody about it. - Clingy in the sense he likes holding or being held by you. Not in the way he has to know what you're doing at every second. - Buries his face in your chest when yall start dating. He's not completely clueless and does know some boundaries.

Zoro - This bitch is so emotionally constipated that it hurts but he would at least know his feelings for you aren't completely platonic. There's something there that he can't completely put his finger on. - Would push you away at first because he doesn't understand these feelings. - But he can't shake this feeling in his chest when he does this. It's uncomfortably tight anytime he makes up an excuse so he doesn't have to be around you. - Would let up a little so he doesn't have to deal with this uncomfortable feeling, - He could realize that he likes you by himself but it's more likely that someone told him. Someone, probably Robin, noticed his actions and at least hinted at what was going on. -Wouldn't tell you right away. But it would come out because he probably told Luffy who then let it slip during a meal with everyone. - Everyone is shocked, Sanji would probably start ranting that Zoro doesn't deserve someone like you and that you probably don't like him back. Robin is just smiling to herself. -There's a chance Zoro might lightly smack Luffy in the back of the head, and Nami might too. - But there's a chance he is just continuing to eat like nothing happened. - If you ask him, around the others, he'll just shrug his shoulder and continue eating. If you do it in private, then he'll give an actual answer, a simple blunt 'yes.' - This man is unreadable sometimes, so if you reject him then he'll shrug his shoulders and walk off. He's a private person so he doesn't want to show his disappointment. Def sulks for a bit but eventually comes around. Just not as close as before. - If you return his feelings, he's happy about it even if it doesn't look like it. Maybe a smirk or slight smile. - Not a huge change from being friends and now being in a relationship. Maybe more touching but he doesn't strike me as a huge PDA man. Occasional arm over the shoulder or head in lap. - Fights with Sanji a whole lot over his behavior towards you now. Probably already did before y'all started dating.

Sanji - We are already well aware he's a simp and blindly does anything for women. However, he isn't completely clueless. - He thinks all his feeling towards women are genuine but with you it's different. -He's nervous around you, less confident. He still comes to fulfill your every need but is much more cautious. - It's worse if you willingly hug or show affection to him. 100% leans his face into your hand if you touch his cheek. - He does say things like "I love you (Y/N)-chan!" often but they didn't seem very serious so nothing happened of this. - He probably likes to reflect on his feelings at night when he looks out into the vast blue sea. - When he does work up the courage to confess, it's over a private dinner with you. Everyone has already been fed but he sets up a table just for the two of you on the deck somewhere. - He's so clearly nervous and very much not himself. This is different than randomly saying "I love you" to every woman he sees. -He was rightfully nervous if you reject him. He's so disappointed at this and it shows. Might beg a little but will flatter once you put your foot down. - 100% would occasionally try and convince you to change your mind. It will probs never be dropped. He's still attentive to your needs but there's some strain there. - Over the moon, if you return his affection. Yelling in joy and spinning you around in a hug. - Very loving and pretty clingy. - Please hold this man, he needs it. 100% little spoon.

This is my first actual post here after lurking for years on this and various other accounts. I haven't written fics since I was like 12, and that was super cringy. I hope you enjoyed and I won't mind some feedback.

[just-an-enby-lemon]

BatFamily and Their Batman Ship:

Alfred - BatCat. Even though he disaproves of Selina's criminal life he enjoys her company enough it doesn't really matters. He thinks Selina and Bruce are perfect for each other.

Jim Gordon - BatCat and BruHarvey before discovering that Batman and Bruce were the same people he kindda just belived Catwoman was Batman's soulmate and Harvey was Bruce's tragic soulmate. Is more inclined towards Bruharvey because he thinks Bruce is the only one who can get Harvey's back and he and Harvey really bonded working together and he saw Harvey as an younger brother before Two-Face.

Dick - BatCat or SuperBat. He loves both Clark and Selina and both were basically parents for him in a way or another. He is very disapointed in Bruce for never acting on either of his two very obvious crushes. He is even more disapointed after Khoa breaks Bruce's heart.

Dick is an anti-GhostBat and Khoa will have to do a lot of work to prove his worth to Bruce's eldest child. He also disaproves of BruHarvey.

Barbara - BruHarvey or BatCat, just like Dick she grew whatching Selina sending Bruce the heart eyes and also respecting Selina as the ultimate girlboss. But while Dick was seeing Superman sending his dad love eyes, Barbara was seeing her uncles Harvey and Bruce weirdly pinning. And while Dick and Harvey never got along at all, Harvey was very close to the Gordon family as a whole and used to babysit Babs a lot.

Jason - Brutalia and WonderBat. He accepts some of Bruce's other love interests, but he doesn't like them. Talia means to Jason the same that Selina means to Dick, she is basically his mother and he adores her.

While Jason would support Wonderbat as well is important to add that he thinks Diana could and should do better. He thinks the same of Talia, but he also knows how much she likes Bruce and believes Bruce does act better when with her. He is starting to think BruHarvey is also not that awfull of an idea.

Cassandra - She saw most of Bruce's romantic phases with people and she has no fix idea. She just wants Bruce to be happy. If she had to choose one option would probably be Talia, but in parts is because she has a tiny crush on Talia.

Tim - None. Tim doesn't think anyone is good enough for Bruce. Or better put he thinks Bruce is too emocionally fragille for a relationship. Anyone who dates Bruce will have to deal with an overprotective Tim.

He specially distrusts Selina. The closest to a Bat ship he has is BatLatern cause Tim was the Robin during the time Bruce and Hal were having the weird "chair" friendship and it kindda reminded Drake of him and Kon. Still he is very anti Batman dating and will make a PowerPoint presentation of "things I'm going to do with you if you ever hurt Bruce."

Stephanie - Thinks Bruce is too much of a loser to date. Does ship BatCat. She likes Selina and like all Robins saw her and Bruce weird flirt, she thinks they match. She also supports Brutalia, mostly because Damian convinced her. She just really doesn't care. Will write trash fic about Batman and his Rogues. When Riddler was living at her home she would specially make fun of his crush on Bruce. But is more her being a little gremlim than anything else.

Damian - Brutalia. Duh. He wants his parents to be an item and he wants it now. Will do a parent trap if necessary. Sees good points in other ships, he actually gets along well with Selina and with Clark, but I mean, he is on his mother's side.

Duke - Coudn't care less. There is only one superhero love life he cares and it's his own. He loves Bruce but that man's love life is just too messy for him to have an opinion on and my man knows his priorities. While not as protective as Tim, Duke is still very protectice of Bruce.

Bao - GhostBat. This child of divorce just wants to see his parents get back together and he will fight the other child of divorce (Damian) over it.

[I can't imagine neither Kate nor Helena even participating on such debate because both are really not intererested in Bruce's weird love life. I also have no idea what Harper, Cullen, Maps or Luke would think].

All members of the batfam hate BatJokes.

Disclaimer: there is very specific situations with different ships, for example I personally believe that Lego Dick does shipp BatJokes and Unburied Babs ships RiddleBat. But this are very specific versions of the characthers and not the general norm.

[fandomsfordays21]

Important detail about Sebastian from Stardew Valley.

So I noticed that in my playthrough of Stardew valley (Romancing Sebastian) that when you give Sebby the bouquet and officially become his romantic partner, only Sam and Abigal have something to say about it. Meanwhile, pretty much the whole town has something to say once you get married to him. This is really in character for Sebastian because he seems like the kind of person who would tell his best of friends about his relationship and not tell his mother or anyone else. This is also funny because I can't help but imagine that once you give him the Mermaid's Pendant that he just goes up to Robin with it in hand and is just like, "I'm getting married, and you're invited to the wedding. I also need help planning it." And then Robin is just like:

[graytodd]

Hi, hello (,, ･∀･)ﾉ゛!! Just wanted to write and tell you what a joy your art is; it's absolutely gorgeous and always so lovely to see! ♡♡♡ Also, I was wondering if you have any favorite dickjay tropes or headcanons? Your dynamic of them in your art is always so appealing so I'm very 👀 !! about any thoughts you have (୨୧ ❛ᴗ❛)✧

Hi !! thanks for this message, you're my favorite writer and let's face it, the only dickjay juicy source here ~ thank you for inspiring me daily ! and thanks for appreciate my art, it really means a lot to me 🙏 I do love drawing dickjay, especially soft/cuddling tropes, trying to catch an hidden romantic/sexual tension between the lines. I try my best lol I'd say that my favorite tropes/headcanons are mainly based on the introspection into their dynamics and the misunderstanding! hate to lovers fits them so well ❤ come on, they do not 'hate' each other: Dick was an only son who finds himself to be the older brother and mentor of a little punk lol when his attraction to jaybin grows to such an extent that Dick feels like a deviant, a creep, he pushes Jay away and loses him definitely (at least he thinks that). A good one is also Dick losing it over Jay from your #monstrous!dick grayson agenda // Self-control is a characteristic of Dick's character, getting his hands dirty for Jay, beating the shit out of Joker and challenging B's authority, must mean a lot. Dick being a jealous, possessive shit! the urge to remind people he is the only one who can take care of Jay, the only one allowed to cuddle, kiss, fuck his little wing and Jay inexperienced (a virgin? maybe??) in dating, too focused on anger and revenge after returning as Red Hood to worry about sex, which was never his priority until he met Dick again, and memories and desires have resurfaced; from his huge crush on a young!Dick when baby!Jay saw him at the circus, to Dick as mentor to become Robin ❤❤❤ I refuse to think of bottom!dick, because Richard Grayson is the most experienced, cocky, sensual man Jason has ever dealt with. Jason just acts like it, flirting back with sarcasm without pushing himself too far: many are his insecurities, his desire to be loved presses as much as his fear to open up, which is why I can't imagine Jay randomly hooking up with strangers, especially women !! I like to think hookers as those who Jay occasionally chat with, to feel some 'motherly affection' he never had as a child. Yes, I am dramatic af. I've many other tropes I love about dickjay, like age gap !! Jay is a baby ;w: and must be protected and pampered by proud daddy!Dick hu-hu and there's also something about Dick's perfectionism and the pressure to achieve those too-high-standards he set for himself to become 'the hero' that fascinates me! maybe his failed relationships are also due to his fear of being judged, seen as who he is, as a man who considers sexual chemistry too important in a relationship. But Jay is free from these imposed constraints, free to be and Dick admires him for this (and wants to be free, like with him huhu) I went on a bit too long, maybe lol I'm not a good writer but I hope I was able to explain my intentions whenever I draw dickjay ❤

[coralcatsea]

Can't all of that usuk things be seen as brotherly love or someone who is important in your life but not in a romantic view? Not hating, honest just thinking

Your ask is about this post, right?

So looking at my examples, you can interpret it that way with some if you want, but with others...not so much.

I hope you actually want to hear me out, because this might get a bit long. Apologies in advance. 😅

-I can't imagine how awkward it'd be to view them as sıblıngs considering some of the suggestive things they do in canon. Personally, I think it'd be pretty weird to grab/tug on a sıblıng's apron when there's nothing underneath and say it "matches them well".

-If someone talks about your sıblıng being good looking, I don't think most people would get flustered enough to start sweating and trying to play it cool. I feel like the sıblıng equivalent would involve something more like eye-rolling.

-For the cake one, sure, you could interpret it as them being goofy in-universe, but from a meta perspective, putting an item that is so heavily associated with you on top of the cake seems to me like putting the wedding figures at the top. It comes off as intentional fan service, which Hima often likes to include.

-For Valentine's Day, the scene with Alfred and Arthur is paired narratively right alongside the shippy GerIta stuff. Additionally, there is a note that says this:

"In Europe, it's traditional for lovers to give gifts to each other."

"In America, giving gifts is also mainly done between lovers."

It does indeed mention male to female, but only to give cultural trivia about the difference between Europe and America. The important part is the emphasis on lovers, and we all know Hetalia doesn't shy away from same-sex shippy moments – as evidenced by Germany proposing to Italy in the very same strip. Speaking of proposals, one dynamic that closely parallels Arthur/Alfred is that of Antonio/Lovino, and Antonio tried proposing to Lovino in the manga.

I digress.

-Sıblıngs typically don't suggest ideas like dressing in sexy outfits and swaying their hips provocatively. Which reminds me, I forgot to include a similar scene in my post where Alfred intentionally has Arthur wear a Robin costume that shows off his legs. Yes, intentionally.

"Also, didn't you notice your costume is from the movie and mine is from the comic?"

Of course Alfred would notice. There's no way a big Batman fan like him would've chosen Arthur's costume carelessly, but instead of answering why Arthur has the skimpy version of Robin's costume when it doesn't even match his, Alfred instantly deflects. He then proceeds to tell Arthur to stop crouching and show – ...something. Based on what Arthur is covering, the logical assumption is that Alfred is telling Arthur to show off his legs.

-"Are you fighting like an old married couple again?" Self-explanatory. If they were sıblıngs he could just say, "Are you having a brοthεrly quarrel again?"

-Cardverse is a canon AU by Hima, and Alfred and Arthur are the King and Queen. Magical Strike is also a canon AU, in which Alfred has a fαthεr who is the company president. No other fαmiliαl relations are given. Arthur is a salaryman who simply works for the company.

-There's the scene where Arthur is dying that plays on the "near-death love confession" trope.

-Other characters comment on their relationship...

Again, if it was brοthεrly they could just call it a brοthεrly quarrel. It comes off to me more as teasing friends who could potentially have romantic feelings for each other.

-Tony sees it, too, teasingly commenting "Love me bubu. Kiss me bubu," in reaction to Arthur and Alfred's conversation. He doesn't normally say things like that, either.

-Terms like "big brοthεr" in Hetalia shouldn't automatically be taken literally. They are used in a more Japanese sense (e.g. calling a somewhat older person who isn't related to you "big brοthεr" out of respect). France calls himself "big brοthεr" to literally everyone and even Norway refers to Denmark as "brοthεr".

-Regardless of how you interpret their usage of "big brοthεr", Arthur decides against being called that right away, Alfred himself rejects the idea of it during the Revolution, and Arthur later claims their relationship is "not like that" and fumbles for a way to describe it, mainly considering himself as more of a former mentor or boss.

So I believe that after the Revolution, it's most accurate to consider them as coworkers or friends (who may or may not be attracted to each other).

_____

At the end of the day, you can interpret it however you want. But with how often USUK fans are given a hard time for liking this ship, I wanted to point out that we're not pulling this stuff out of nowhere. It's hinted at and given shippy fan service moments just like several other ships.

I only really disagree with people constantly insisting they MUST be fαmily. Romance vs fαmiliαl are NOT the only two options. I would honestly like to see more non-shippers just let them be friends. Just because I ship it doesn't mean others have to, and just because some perceive it in a fαmiliαl way doesn't mean everyone else must view it like that, either.

And to those who do decide to hop aboard our ship, welcome! We have lots of variety to offer and are always glad for more people to have fun chatting about ideas with.

[thestobingirlie]

your one of the few bloggers in this fandom whose takes i agree with, so i wondering if you could elaborate on something stancy-related?

my issue arises with her more selfish tendencies. i think nancy causes a lot of hurt without ever learning from it, nor without anyone acknowledging it. she can cheat (steve), completely disregard others issues (jonathan), and treat people terribly (robin) while still thinking she’s right. i think her selfishness would be an interesting character trait if everyone acknowledged it, but since no one does, it just makes her incredibly unlikeable.

how this translates to stancy is that i don’t see how nancy can be a good friend or a good girlfriend, while being as selfish as she is. she’s fine when things are good, but the second things are difficult, she completely disregards anyone else’s thoughts or feelings, and is only focused on what she thinks, no matter who gets hurt in the process.

the only time i can think of where nancy somewhat thinks of others while she’s struggling is when she wanted justice for barb, but even then, she only cared about what she wanted and not the fact that her actions were likely to get people killed. again, i think this could be an interesting character trait, but it’s also not someone who’d make a good friend or partner, which is why i can’t enjoy stancy, jancy, or robin/nancy friendship becasue i can't think of a single time nancy puts effort into her relationships, platonic or romantic, while the other characters do.

i know you’re fine with stancy and i like your takes on st, so i’d love to hear your perspective on this.

i think with nancy what it comes down to for me is her potential for change. sure, she’s a little selfish, and can get short-sighted (absolutely agree that this isn’t recognised within the show, and that’s what makes them kinda annoying, but still interesting! it gives her character a lot of potential in fanon), but she’s also just a teenager! she’s gonna grow, she’ll figure out relationships in time.

i totally get struggling with her character/relationships purely because the duffers just don’t really invest in it. and it’s sad!! because nancy really is such a complex character, and all her relationships have so much potential, but they’re just left in the dust.

i think with stancy specifically, i really just think reuniting with steve would encourage a lot of growth in nancy. a lot of her more negative traits contributed to the breakup, and in getting back together, i like to imagine they’d have the discussion about the breakup and who they were etc.

so yeah, i guess i just think more about where stancy could go than where they are now. nancy’s a bit of a selfish teen, but she won’t always be. i also think it’d be kinda cute that it was nancy’s presence in steve’s life that made him want to be a better person, and then steve being in nancy’s life would do the same for her.

[stevie-petey]

I bet bug feels so bad for leaving Robin in the dark. She knows exactly what that feels like, I can tell it eats her up inside. All this guilt is going to start affecting that poor girls health, if it isn't already. I thought that Steve was gonna kiss bug in the elevator shaft since they were alone, but it may not have been the best time since she was crying like 30 seconds prior. Bug spending her birthday trapped just stings. She doesn't like her birthday, but that doesn't mean she doesn't deserve something nice that might help her begin to like her birthday.

Bug forgives Steve so quick it's insane, yes he's pretty but jesus bug can't seem to hold a grudge longer than a half hour before giving into his charms. That being said Steve is a quick learner and genuinely wants to do right by bug and that makes me happy.

I feel bad for what Steves about to go through but I know he's going to relish in bug doting on him. Steve throwing himself to cover bug at the slightest hint of danger is just so romantic, it shows how much he's grown since last season considering he used bug as a human shield when Max was driving. In his defense he was concussed, and later made up for it. Bug always puts Steve in his place and I respect her for it. Her tripping Steve was just beautiful.

The fact that bug was cranky and upset but Steve just ignored it and held her hand because he knew it wasn't her fault. Imagine when they finally escape Steve has nowhere to go so he goes with the Hendersons. He's in the back seat bickering with Dustin until Mrs. Henderson shoots the boys a glare through her rear view mirror.

I can't imagine the fear Robin's feeling. She's being met with the end of the world for. The first time in her life, completely oblivious that her friends know everything already.

Thank you so much for the chapter, you are so lovely and talented. You can make any bleak day shine with your updates. I'm so grateful for your creativity, this is such a beautifully written story and I can't wait to see what you do for Steve and bugs relationship (and their kiss). The hits keep on coming for them, I hope they have some happy moments together before things go to shit again.

bug n her guilt :( its always going to be so heavy within her

and she hasnt necessarily forgiven steve yet, they just currently have much bigger problems. she takes care of him post fight with the russian because its in her nature to, same as steve taking care of bug up on top of the elevator despite her being furious at him. its just what they do <3 however, bug also just cant hold a grudge. she never sees the point holding in resentment like that

also i still giggle at steve using bug as a human shield in the car season two LMAO. mans was so real for that honestly. n bug does indeed always put him in his place ‼️

as for robin ,,, poor girl has a storm comin

and i LOVE U !! thank you for the kind words <333 i appreciate it immensely

[creative-soul-22]

I watched all 3 Night at the Museum movies!

1. I liked all 3 movies, they were all good!

2. They were all really funny, I laughed a lot!

- Favourite movie:

Hard to tell, but I maybe the second one. Yeah I guess I liked that one best.

- Favourite Character(s):

Jedediah! He's such a cool cowboy and such a buddy you could hang out and really have a good time with him. He's def the one who invites his friends to the saloon (imagine him and Octavius at the Saloon). And of course, I know he hates it (sorry, Jed) he's tiny and cute and I would totally cuddle and kiss him and adore him because he's a small figurine! (@professional-termite would snatch him and run away because tinyyyyy boiiii)

Very close second is Akmenrah! He is a very distinguished, elegant son of a pharao and he is really kindhearted. I like him.

Teddy Rosewelt! He is so caring and such a father to everyone it's heartmelting. Robin Williams, may he rest in peace, was the perfect cast for him because, well, that's how I always saw Robin Williams. As a loving, caring father who encourages others and wants to make everyone feel special and who is there for others when they have a problem (maybe because he was always casted for these roles?).

- Favourite relationship(s):

Larry's and Jedediah's friendship! They are such bros and they really care for each other, it's so cute!

Jedediah's and Octavius' friendship! I know you ship them, and I totally understand why. I see it. But for me it's more like Jed and Octavius ARE a little in love with each other, and maybe would want to make out BUT also don't want to change their relationship so they decide to be bros. It's bromance. Brotherhood with a romantic touch (That's just how I see it please don't kill me!!!).

The exhibits and Larry growing to a big found family!

- What I liked:

The opening scene of Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb

How natm 3 adressed the "returndiscussion" (as we call it in Germany). It might never went beneath the surface (which is indeed a bit of a pity but it's okay), but still it adressed and paid attention to it. And that's important because this has become a thing for museums nowadays (gonna put this in a seperate post for further discussion/explanation)

The whole lore/story arch about the tablet

Jed and Octavius in Pompeii (I just wish it wouldn't have been by the time it went down because they were finally in a place in the right size for them and they would have really enjoyed Roman citylife, especially Octavius, he almost felt home there)

The opening show for the new planetarium because it's magical (I just wish it wouldn't have been interrupted by the tablet loosing it's magic causing everyone to glitch)

Amelia Earheart's adventurous spirit (she's just an AU Giselle, not only, but mostly because it's Amy Adams)

Abraham Lincoln (I wish he and Teddy had met!)

Dick van Dyke! It's always a pleasure seeing him so this was a nice surprise. Pretty sure it was the best day of their life for the residents of the retirement home when Dick van Dyke came in to dance with them to "Shake your booty".

Everytime Dexter was cute with Larry or anyone else (hugs!!)

Akmenrah's mum, she is pretty

Ben Kingsley playing Akmenrah's dad (that wasn't the only time Ben played a pharao, right? He played a pharao in another movie? Can't put my finger on it rn)

Akmenrah being together with mumy and daddy after 4,000 (?) years

All 3 movies ending with a party - creates a full circle

The Night at the Museum main theme (epic!)

The little bird-thingy before the xiangliu (forgot it's name but it's cute)

Somebody listening to Abba's Dancing Queen on the bus

Jed and Octavius using the internet/phones (the machine for the comments! Commentmachine!)

- What I didn't like:

Everytime Dexter was peeing on somebody/something (Ewwww!)

Everytime Dexter was mischivious

The way the museum director was depicted (seriously, what was that? Messiest character arch ever - if there even WAS a character arch?)

The solution to the problem with the tablet (for real guys that thing looses it's magic and all it takes to fix is to put it in MOONLIGHT?! Okay then how about you put it on the roof of the museum like a solar panel so it can charge like a glow in the dark sticker everytime the moon shines on a starry night?)

The museum director holding the tablet at the end of natm 3 whilst grinning like Dexter (seriously, after what we've seen from him, he knows what the tablet can do - which is no longer in HIS museum - and you're telling me he's not up to SOMETHING?? I'm not buying it.)

The tablet staying in the British Museum (I know they want Akmenrah and his parents to be together and I really like it BUT how do you explain this to the Museum? "Oh, we're leaving the mummy and it's tablet here, you know, the mummy's their son so we think it's nice for the family to be united. They might be very precious artefacts but we'll present them to you. You can have them.")

The ceremony being interrupted by the corroding tablet which caused the exhibits to glitch (this was the ONLY! moment of glory for Larry and the exhibits in public and it turned into a disaster - heartless filmmakers!)

Tilly's and Larry's cringey talk when we first meet her (annoying! Also, her name is Tilly... Jennifer Tilly namedrop here!)

Jed being picked up like a kitten (ruuuude!! And humilliating!)

- What I found hilarious:

The notion of dinosaurs just being doggos who want to catch sticks might not be historically accurat but it's totally funny

The cuts everytime Jed and/or Octavius did something epic to demonstrate how small they actually are (although it's a bit rude)

Octavius in the pillory and Jed watching it like "ooh"😎 by the time the sun has come up so they stand there until the sun goes down

Abraham Lincoln snatching Kamunrah's army as if they were pigeons and them disapearing to where they came from just like "Nah. We're out."

Jed in the cage like a little birdy (although I feel sorry for him but he looks just like a little titmouse in there - yeah, @professional-termite : snatched again!!)

[lavenoon]

Since I can't read yet I come here with a question instead! (And if this wasn't already planned and won't spoil anything, of course). Because I'm an absolute sap, how does the first kisses happen with each of the boys?

So, the truth is, nope no kisses were planned - because while I am absolutely a hopeless romantic, I often forget there's a part after the mutual pining. Whoops!

But our idiot trio... They grow closer and don't even really notice. Like walking a mile and just thinking about each individual step, then looking back and going "Oh"

The reveal is a midpoint for that - they grew as close as they could for the roles they occupy in each other's life, and afterwards have that relationship as solid base to build even more on top of it.

Now for the actual kisses?

It's Y/N who takes initiative in both cases - the boys are a little more aware of how down bad they are, desperately trying to flirt while a lot of it either flies over Y/N's head or they interpret it as "normal" behavior (which it is, but still, way to miss the point, dear). So the little bird is the one who has to have their "Oh." moment!

I think. Well, this is me, and on the fly adaptations are the norm, so yes.

This realization comes late (because I am a whore for mutual pining, even though it's not quite self-aware in Y/N's case), after HQ finds out that they know each other's identities.

In the end, our dear star agents are let off the hook easy, due to some combination of "Well, we kind of knew this was going to happen sooner rather than later, our mistake to not separate you immediately", Dawn being a convincing bastard along the lines of "Knowing each other's identities can be quite the advantage, actually. We can join each other's long-term missions without any risk to our civilian identity, and you know how effective we are in the field", and also some bit of plot armor, I suppose (lmao)

But I've mentioned it before - they get one "test" mission to see just how efficient their trio is, and if it's worth looking past the (unintentional) breaking of rules). I still kind of want this to happen on a cruise? For Reasons(TM)

Robin poses as a high-standing trust fund kid, a role they despise but which explains both the need for a bodyguard and why no one has actually seen them before when they introduce themself. They play the role decently well by simply channeling their snappy attitude they used to show towards Dusk back in the day (and of course, still sometimes do, but much much more affectionate these days)

Dawn is the daytime bodyguard, mostly present for the afternoon meetings and keeping Robin from just. Mauling the sleazy business people they're forced to mingle with. They get flustered more than enough, still more used to the nice neighbor, so to be out of their comfort zone within the mission and then kept off balance by their way too smooth rival/ bodyguard?

It gets worse when they just feel that twitch in their fingers, watching as illicit deals go through, and they can't do anything yet. Sun makes sure to hold them back, a firm but gentle hand on their shoulder before he takes their hand to brush over their tensed knuckles. Signals them that yes, he saw, too - and it'll be okay. They'll take care of it together as soon as they can, and there's absolutely no doubt about that in his mind. The confidence is infectious, and Robin has a small moment of realization just how much they trust and understand Sun, and how much more they want to learn - they couldn't imagine a life without him long before already, but this makes them aware of that terrible need for more, still. All this condensed in the short thought "God, I want to kiss him."

They need to process that.

Unfortunately, Dusk doesn't help. Smug as always, he's their escort for any of the evening activities, more focused on the social aspect and having fun. Some dances, smarmy cocktail parties, plays - you name it, there's something going on, and for the sake of information Robin has to attend as much as possible.

They try to interact with everyone else, but truly just cannot stand these people, and are too unused to playing nice. They regularly tap out, and just go back to their bodyguard - scary guy, really, don't they mind? "Not at all, he's a sweetheart! (:" *cut to Moon standing near the wall, glowering with thermal vision and sharp teeth, arms crossed to hide the twitching fingers* "... Right." But they go back, and notice that it's reassuring for them both. They drag him onto the dance floor at some point, missing steps and dancing out of tune, because they just get so caught up in their usual banter. One comment just nearly breaks them, and they fear they're threatening to burst their cover with how loudly they want to laugh. If only they could shut him up with a kiss -

Wait.

Again?

And thus the crisis begins. They bide their time for a day or two, just processing that yes, they're in love with their - their.

Their everything sounds so incredibly cheesy - but they are, aren't they? Neighbors, rivals, friends - they touch each other's life on all accounts.

Theirs, they settle on. That's what they want the boys to be, anyway.

They don't know when it started - they just look back, and it looks like this was always the way things would have gone. Of course they ended up here - every step only took them closer to this point.

It's time for the next one, then.

Turns out they're just a bit of a romantic sap, and they look for "good" moments. Fortunately for them, I am also a romantic sap, and will god mod their universe to fit my cheesy needs.

They get Dawn first. They have a moment to themselves, after a long afternoon of boring meetings, and Robin stays behind in the room for a moment to breathe. Dawn waits near the entrance, glaring at a few people that just carelessly shoulder check him. Lets out a noise of disgruntlement, then crosses the room to check on Robin. They assure him they're fine, they just need a moment without this stuffy atmosphere. They glance up at him - and the amount of brain cells that activate in that moment is unheard of for them.

Perfect opportunity. "Lean down", they ask him. "Your tie's messed up. Let me fix it?" And Dawn - well, he's positively surprised for sure, that's a bold step for his little thief! So he is not complaining! He obliges, so so happy and confident that they finally started making some advances! He does not expect that they are about to just skip a couple steps entirely. Tug him down by his tie, the other hand settling on his shoulder, but the kiss itself is surprisingly delicate after the startling force to get him there. They pull back after a moment, trying to assess - and Dawn is just completely stunned. Well. They were pretty sure, but... "I didn't misunderstand, right?"

That's when Dawn snaps back to reality, and just cups their face with both hands, widest grin on his face before he mimics that first kiss again and again. But it's too passive for him, and they got their human kisses, so now he's adding a good nuzzle into the mix, all while Robin starts giggling. He's a little eager, after months of pining - so the two of them may stumble into the chairs and desk behind them. The noise does startle them out of their little moment, but then Robin looks at him, and just entirely deadpan says "Don't tell Dusk. I'm going to get him."

Dawn loses it, which is saying something, and they join in immediately after. He does promise to not snitch, though.

They don't have to wait long. Another on deck cocktail party, and they end up staying late long after the staff cleaned up the last of the drinks and snacks. The night sky out at sea - that's a view even Dusk will let them stay up for. They just lean on the railing, listen to the waves crash against the ship, and crane up their necks to look at the stars. After a while Robin does feel that, so they crack it. Dusk, very much interpreting that as "that sounded bad", just immediately looks down to check on them. They blink, surprised, when he's all worried with his hands near their neck, just fluttering and checking for an injury that isn't there. Yup, they think. This idiot gets it, and now. So they cup his face, resulting in a surprised little jolt when he locks eyes with them. Idiots already getting kissed. A little more insistently than Dawn, perhaps, but also over just as quick. They pull back again, look at his stunned expression, and grin. "Yup, been wanting to do that for a while."

Dusk... Appalled. Offended. Insulted to the core. He grabs them by the lapels of their suit, dragging them forward, and just shakes them (gently). "Then why did you wait this long?" And they're just holding onto his wrists and giggling, going "But this was perfect!" "I'll give you perfect -" "Like right now?" "Right -" And he blinks at them, and yeah, actually - like right now. Some of the remaining staff do remind them they aren't alone at some point. They just kind of slink back to their room then - giggling to each other like the fools they are.

They do kind of agree to leave any further new PDA for after they return home, and somehow the pining becomes much more bearable with the thought that it's only a few more days. There's a date - and then they'll discuss going on one <3

[into-september]

So the REAL reason I don't care for "Frozen" is about the way it goes about romance, primarily because this

is not the face of a master manipulator scheeming to get to the throne. Her back is turned. He's alone, after having just lived throught the cutest meet cute in animated history. There is no reason for him to pretend; Anna put that look on his face. I'm absolutely stumped on why they left that shot in the final product; it has absolutely no bearing on the rest of his presence in the film, but it DOES tell the audience that he is as besotted with Anna as she is with him which makes the later claims of his "true character" simply insincere. That moment isn't "misleading" the audience, it's lying to our faces.

(particularly when you know that Else was originally intended to be the villain. I can't imagine that that was changed at a point so late that they'd completed animation for other parts of the film, and even if they'd lose nothing in cutting that second of him under the boat, compared to how it breaks the rest of what could have been a truly great story)

Also "Love is an open door" is a better sell for cute couples than any soppy romantic duet preceeding it except that one with Robin Hood and Maid Marian

imagine a world where these two dorks were to be marketed as an official disney couple.

I wonder if the reason I shipped Anna and Hans so hard wasn't if "Frozen" was always sold as the Anna-and-Elsa show. Any love interests would be a side dish to the main relationship; I knew from the outset that there would be no huge moments of romantic love saving the day, and Anna and Hans' instant jump into absolute fucking idiots in love was cute and it was funny and it was such a refreshing change from what felt like decades worth of couples that either started out bickering and learned to love each other, or had some kind of conflict they had to overcome by the climax of the film.

I wanted cute. I wanted simple. I wanted silly.

By god, I wanted someone who simply loved each other and where this love was just joy and not another story about how romantic love is the force that saves the world or at least a driving element in motivating people to do it.

Kristoff and Anna have that same dynamic that I'd grown tired off years before they hit the screen, with the added insult of existing solely for the sake of the climax being a Shocking Suberversion™.

Hans could've filled the exact part Kristoff does at the climax, but Hans becomes a villain because every film needs a villain, because bad things happen because of Evil, not because of we're all of us imperfect and prone to being stupid, believing our own prejudices, giving into temptation

(I love you, Studio Ghibli. I love you, Princess Mononoke and Howl's Moving Castle and Arrietty and all the other films where the antagonists are either petty people with power or misguided people believing they do good, and where they are either forgiven or forgotten by the end, where audience catharsis never comes by their punishment)

My point is, "don't go fall in love with a man you haven't at least had a fight with first" was a lesson since outdated already in 2013 and I did not appreciate that this film became another one in the a long line of stories telling children that the real problems in the world come about because of cackling villains, and not because the people with power are human beings no better than any of us

[carolperkinsexgirlfriend]

Thank you for your post about amanormativity in fic. I like to read romance but often I find it frustrating to see romantic relationships prioritised above all others. Even in soulmate AUs like you said I find it frustrating that platonic soulmates are still kinda pushed aside. Like it ST, I’ve seen a lot of Steve and Robin as platonic soulmates but as soon as Eddie comes into the picture it is that relationship that becomes Steve’s most important instead of recognising that they’re separate dynamics that fulfil separate things for Steve’s personal needs.

As an ace person who has a complex relationship to romantic attraction it would be nice to see non romantic relationship dynamics that are not seen as lesser or placeholders until the ~real thing~ comes along

Yeah, I entirely agree!! I also read/write romance, but the focus on it above everything else can be aggravating. I can't even imagine how hostile fandom spaces are to romance-repulsed people.

I feel like a lot of platonic stobin is used in fanfic to show that Steve has friends but it often doesn't get beyond like, a throwaway line about them being friends, and then the entire focus is on the romantic pairing. Don't get me wrong, there are definitely quite a few exceptions, but it's a trend I don't love.

It's especially irksome in a show where the platonic relationships are doing most of the heavy lifting in the show, and then we see them as background filler, at best.

[thewrongmoon]

honestly season one of stranger things really stumps me. because i know what the duffer brothers have said and very much want you to believe that they've had the whole story figured out since season one but part of me just goes "yeah that seems like bullshit"

like el and steve were originally supposed to die in s1. and yet they have plots centered pretty closely around them in the following seasons. and this was a GOOD change that they made btw, i can't imagine the story without either of them.

but when it comes to byler, i honestly have no clue if it was something that was planned from the beginning or not. like, i'd LOVE if it was, don't get me wrong at all. the idea of swindling netflix into publishing your 5 season slow-burn gay romance is the most amazing thing i can think of.

BUT... i think that it would also be okay if it wasn't planned from the beginning, and if the duffers just saw the potential for mike and will to be romantically involved later on in the making of.

i know that will has been planned to be gay from the beginning. however, the duffers love their angst. like. they wanted will and el to kill their paternal figures in cold blood in s2. i think that it is possible that they didn't consider the idea mike actually returning will's feelings until later on.

they could have planned on mlvn being canon, but saw a better, more compelling story in byler. and i know mlvns like to use the "mlvn has been together since the beginning, they're the show's first and main couple!" argument, but really that means nothing.

the duffer's "planned" relationships don't always pan out. and it's usually for the better. steve and robin were supposed to be a couple. and they ended up changing it, and getting a way more interesting story out of that.

byler isn't any less special if it wasn't really "planned from the beginning."

if it was only found out later that this relationship was more interesting, more unique and more gripping than mlvn was supposed to be... then it's special in a whole new way, isn't it?

in all honesty, i hate the idea that byler being planned since day 1 is a foregone conclusion. like could it have been? absolutely! could it have also been something that was discovered later on? 100%!

i've said this many times, but you and i do not have free access to the duffer brother's brains. like. i have no fucking clue what their thought process is or what ideas they have. so i personally cannot say for certain what was actually planned and what they literally just made up on the spot.

i think this is why it's important to explore a multitude of other ideas and possibilities. usually when i do this, i still find that byler is the most logical answer, no matter how i really get there.

[frobin]

FINALE!

EDIT: I messed up! The other poll was only for a day so I had to redo the poll! Please vote in this one again! Sorry to the seven people who already voted!

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Listen to "WALK THE MOON - Shut Up and Dance"

Propaganda:

Vibe+lyrics (sry i'm too tired to elaborate)

Further Propaganda by the mod:

When I first listened to this song I was absolutely imagining Franky and Robin. As the person who submitted the song said, the vibe and the lyrics they are just them.

Especially the chorus and the last verse are perfect for them. But I can't quote the whole song here so let me just:

Deep in her eyes I think I see the future I realized This is my last chance She took my arm I don′t know how it happened We took the floor and she said Oh, don't you dare look back Just keep your eyes on me I said you′re holding back She said shut up and dance with me This woman is my destiny She said Ooh, ooh, shut up and dance

perfect.

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Listen to "Greenday - Extraordinary Girl"

Propaganda:

This song about the difficulties that a romantic relationship is going through after the infatuation subcides and Frobin face the day-to-day routine of each other's lives. They realize that love isn't just enjoying the good sides of each other, but also compromising and accepting everything in your loved one.

The lyrics reminds me of Robin the way it describes a woman who struggles to live in an ordinary world and is often left alone or neglected. Despite her hardships, she remains strong and determined to make her own way in life. The chorus also expresses her resilience, as she still tries each day despite the difficulties she may face.

From Franky's point of view, there's a part of the outro reinforces her strength as she is called an 'Extraordinary girl'. That's something Franky would describe her, besides 'our super archaeologists'

[dairy-farmer]

just had thoughts of timsteph, maybe if they were obsessive over e/o things might've been great

it's possible but i still wouldn't have really been into it- maybe if their dynamic was more reminiscent (and this is going to be a weird example but they're what i think of when i imagine a couple that's equally obsessed with each other) but candace and jeremy from phineas and ferb. now THERE was a couple that truly had mutual feelings for each other. candace had a crush but wasn't disturbingly obsessed and jeremy was very clearly interested and invested in her so nothing really felt onesided like how often those situations tend to be.

but, that's not what panned out with tim and steph. regardless of any character adjustments for one or the other they just weren't good for each other. and one of the major reasons for WHY they didn't work out was because steph canonically does not trust tim in a romantic sense.

she was always very willing to make the "logical" leap that he's unfaithful the moment he hangs out with, smiles, laughs, or is worried about any girl that isn't her. (ex: star who taught tim how to skateboard got shot and steph was SO huffy about him being worried about her, continuously interrogating him when he was trying to monitor the situation). and okay i guess jealousy and envy could be a major character trait for her, something she needs to overcome, something like that has been done for other characters but...idk whoever was in charge of writing her didn't really do a good job because even in red robin she's still very petty and jealous over women tim has anything to do with, leaping to conclusions about him and them despite the fact that she claimed to trust him. it didn't really show she had any growth in an interpersonal sense there despite how much she changed and learned to become batgirl.

and this is a repeated problem in their relationship where steph will automatically think the worst of him, tim will be hurt and offended, he'll call her out on it/or be forced to just suck it up, rinse and repeat.

and on top of that, it's not just the assumption that he's cheating on her if he so much stares as a girl and wonders where she got her shirt from- but when canary and barbara stopped training her she assumed he had something to do with it and shut him out not letting him know WHY she wasn't speaking to him. and that's another very clear pattern with her: when she's upset she cuts off all communication with him no matter how desperate tim gets (like when she ignored him when she became robin after seeing darla kiss him, once again, assuming that he was complicit in cheating on her- at that point it marked the 3rd time in the Robin comics where she assumed he was cheating and this is also, notably, tim's final straw with her pulling that stunt. but then she dies and comes back and he can't REALLY hold her accountable for any shitty thing she did before she died). because in the comics he's forced to call her again and again, call her mother, go to her house, and basically take every single measure to try and see and communicate his confusion and hurt to her. could you imagine if tim did that to her? he did a few times and oh how angry she was with HIM for having the audacity to do what she does to him (which she does as a punishment. the whole 'ignoring tim's existence thing' where she removes her attention and affection is something she does to punish tim when he's done something "wrong" which is...gross).

now steph, as a character, is brought in as someone who has every reason in the world to not like and/or despise men (her shitty dad, her shitty boyfriends, her dad's shitty/rapey friends). so you can understand why she's like that: why she's suspicious of tim and willing to think the worst of him despite saying she thinks the world of him. she's been burned before, especially by shitty boyfriends. and so tim pays a price because of the things other people in steph's life have done wrong.

if tim and steph were equally as obsessive over each it would get like...ugly toxic really fast. and that's not to say i dislike mutuallly obsessive dynamics. i like seeing that dynamic with brutim but the difference is that there's a kind of mutual understanding of obsession and that eliminates any insecurity- for stephanie's character, i don't think there's anything tim could do to prove to her he loves her and only her because she wouldn't believe him even when given every reason to.