#and he also likes acts of care being validated and valued.

[altered-morty]

I think Jerry like bee keeping cuz he likes feeling like the God over a colony of creatures tbh

[luffydotcom]

love languages

synopsis: what i think the love languages of different one piece characters are (platonic/romantic)

feat: luffy, zoro, usopp, nami, sanji, ace, law

notes: i feel like love languages can be interpreted in both platonic or romantic ways, so i tried to mix it up, but feel free to interpret it how you will!

warnings: slight spoilers for sanji's (full) backstory (?)

luffy

physical touch. LUFFY is big-hearted and compassionate, sending love to everyone he comes across on his journey often without even meaning to. he is very attached to the people he loves - and very much physically.

luffy is always seen hanging off the arms of zoro, wrapping himself around nami, sitting close to robin when she reads, it's his way of making those around him feel loved and protected.

although he isn't massively clingy to the point where he won't allow you to have your own space, expect a degree of clinginess! physical affection is how he expresses his love towards others as well as what brings him comfort. he is a huge hugger: hugging comforts him when he feels sad, but also helps him comfort those he cares about.

zoro

quality time + acts of service. due to ZORO being reserved, he doesn't often say much - these love languages don't often require words for showing and receiving love.

quality time matters a lot to zoro. even if it's just sitting in silence, a small conversation, training together, or walking outside, he enjoys having someone by his side in these moments as the time spent together shows a level of love and commitment in the friendship or relationship.

zoro strongly values loyalty. spending quality time with him shows that you care strongly about being together and genuinely enjoy being next to him even in the smallest of moments. he likes that he doesn't always have to say things to keep it interesting, sometimes just having someone there can feel very loving and he appreciates that.

zoro is big on actions - if he seriously loves you, he's always got your back and would go to the greatest lengths to show it. he would practically level an army for someone he loves and then act like it's nothing at all. he treats people he loves with a priority and wants to ensure that they are safe and protected.

nami

giving/receiving gifts. for NAMI, i feel like this is a given, but this doesn't mean she is ultra-materialistic and that gifts are the only way to her heart!

when nami was young, she never asked for or expected anything, and lived in a life of poverty. to receive gifts from someone she loves would make her whole world, as it's something she was never able to experience when she was younger. she loves receiving gifts especially when they are well thought-out and gifted with love and consideration.

however, she also expresses love through giving gifts. although nami always jokes about the crew owing her money and needing to pay her back at high interest, she seriously would never trade friendship or love for money. if it's for someone she loves, she would gladly use the money instead to help them or spoil them affectionately with gifts.

usopp

words of affirmation. USOPP feels loved by hearing words that make him feel grounded and secure.

usopp is insecure, unsure of his place in the crew as well as insecure of his lack of strength compared to those around him. he has an inferiority complex - hearing words of affirmation remind him that he is good enough and that there is no need to compare himself to others.

usopp is a liar, yes - but he just wants to be believed in. words of affirmation make him feel sure of himself and that there is no need to lie about who he is. he feels the most loved and validated when someone accepts him for his true self underneath the lies, as this allows him to become more confident in his own skin.

however, he also uses words of affirmation to show his support and care of others. usopp is full of stories (although most of them are fictional), and would use his words to cheer you up in your hardest moments.

sanji

words of affirmation + acts of service. SANJI expresses love by giving his all, but never expecting to receive any love in return - words of affirmation and acts of service give him the love he never knew he needed.

sanji's traumatic childhood of being told that he was a failure and that he shouldn't have been born by his biological family caused him to feel unworthy of love. words of affirmation make him feel deserving of love and care after feeling worthless all his life.

sanji is extremely selfless, going to great lengths to protect and give to the people he loves. he goes out of his way to do acts of service for his friends but feels selfish asking for anything in return. acts of service give him the love he has been missing - going out of your way to do things for him, big or small, makes him feel loved as he feels reassured that his existence is not a burden and that it's not selfish to want things for himself, like favours or help.

sanji will always offer words of affirmation and shower you with compliments to remind you of how much he loves and admires you. he is also very emotionally aware and highly sensitive to the needs of others - he expresses this through acts of service (especially with cooking!) to show his care to who he loves, especially if they need it.

ace

physical touch + words of affirmation. ACE resembles luffy in many ways, he is very physical displaying and receiving love. but besides affection, he needs assurance through words that he deserves love.

ace loves physical touch and is very playful when displaying affection. he loves a good hug, kiss, tickle fight, cuddle, hair ruffle, you name it - he finds it fun and feels like it's the easiest way to let someone know he cares about them or loves them. although he is well-mannered and not as rowdy as he was when he was little, he can be when he's affectionate.

however, ace is also similar to sanji in the sense that he is extremely self-sacrificing and would put his life on the line for those he loves. he needs words of affirmation to remind him that his life is valued and that he shouldn't throw it away selflessly because he deserves to live and be loved.

ace also cares deeply about others' happiness, he would definitely use words of affirmation to comfort you during hard times or to build up your confidence and remind you of how much he loves and cares about you.

law

acts of service + quality time. similar to zoro, LAW s very reserved and introverted. he isn't so sure how to show or receive love in the typical way, and has his own ways of doing so, mainly based on actions opposed to words.

law is very practical. he cares a lot about being efficient and doing things right because of his role as the captain (and doctor) of the crew. acts of service such as favours or giving him a helping hand mean a lot to him as someone who is always busy and working. he also expresses his love towards others through acts of service, such as protecting or aiding others when they are injured. he is not the most emotionally expressive, so his love language is deeply rooted in doing opposed to saying.

law also highly values quality time as he feels as though meaningful interactions with a friend/partner make the relationship strong and connected. having deep, meaningful conversations with him or supporting him in difficult moments let him know that he can trust you and that you care about him.

[ulteri0rm0tives]

I still think about my mutuals tag where he said that he thinks Johnny feels so much and so deeply that it literally drove him crazy. And yeah. Just think about it constantly. It's. The statement I associate with him. The first thing I think of when I think of him.

I really, really, really dislike when people paint Johnny as this totally unfeeling asshole. Or at least, I heavily disagree with it. That's not to say he isn't an asshole, he 100% is. He's a jerk to the people around him, and of course there really is no excuse for how he treats people. But explanations =/= excuses.

I feel when people try to paint him that way, it comes from a place that lacks understanding or even an unwillingness to understand. This goes hand in hand where I'll see these people call him an unfeeling asshole while using terms associated with cluster b disorders and using the social weight they carry to demonize him, a very prevalent problem reflected in society and internet pop psychology culture.

They'll take the fact he's a 'narcissistic junkie', and not only at the same time use it to demonize people with NPD, but also drug users. It's just a very lazy way to paint a picture of his characterization, by using loaded terms as a crutch and letting their social weight, using yours and others people's biases, do the job for you. Like man, if you're going to make a critique of his character can we at least actually put some effort behind it.

Like. They think he's a user who's an unfeeling asshole to people just for the sake of being one. They see him engaging in these self endangering, self harming, self sabotaging behaviors and brush it off as nothing more than him being like that simply because he likes it, that he relishes in it even. Simply because he wants and chooses to be like that.

They don't see him using as a way of numbing himself (this especially with the fact drugs are the first thing he goes for when Alt breaks it off with him). They don't see that constant toxic push and pull in his relationships as self sabotage. They don't see the fact him going on that OP was a suicide mission. Literally.

I truly believe he never intended to come back from that mission, evident in his last exchange with Kerry, evident in a LOT of his own lyrics. (Black Dog, Ballad of Buck Ravers.)

Johnny clearly is passionate. He clearly has things he cares about. He clearly feels.

I'd even go so far as to say he genuinely does care about the people in his life, he just simply doesn't know how to show it properly or in a way that's healthy for anyone involved. Even when Alt breaks up with him, and he pushes her away for it, he still ends up chasing after her before she's even left the venue. He still tries to protect her. When Alt gets abducted, and yeah, he's being a leadheaded stubborn idiot about it, he still goes after her.

And even if it's self aggrandizing in a lot of ways, he still cares about her life enough to raid a whole fucking tower for her. Even if it's more in the view of what Arasaka took from him, than what it did to her, he still cares about her in his own way. He still grieves her. He's still broken up when she dies right in front of him, and he still acts out even if it's violent and angry. His grief has ALWAYS manifested this way.

When he sees the headlines about Kerry, he asks V to check up on him, to visit him. He even asks Kerry about it because (I think) it came from a place of genuine worry shown the best way he can show it, a straightforward question and dropping it when he gets an answer, no matter how truthful the answer is. When Kerry gets the idea for a one time reunion, Johnny agrees to it because he thinks 'Kerry needs this'.

I also think people see that he's a very angry person and attribute 'unfeeling' to that. Because to them, to a lot of people, anger isn't a valid emotion nor one with as much value as happiness or sadness. That's it's something less than. Even if anger was all he felt, it's still a feeling. He still feels it. He still feels.

His anger, though it's execution is obviously a problem, it's extremely fucking justified and valid. It's born from the mistreatment of a system that only destroys people's lives. Born from a system that only knows how to take, how to hurt, how to kill.

The same system that took, not just a literal piece of Johnny, but so many pieces of his identity and his life that he literally tries to project himself as an entirely new person to escape this.

Johnny cares about how the system treats people, especially people like him. How it uses people and chews them up and discards them when it's taken all it can from them. Johnny cares so much he becomes not just a voice, but thinks he is- and in a lot of ways he does really become one- a symbol for people like him.

That OP functioned as another rescue mission for Alt, another statement for his ideals, and his blaze of glory to go out on his own terms.

Johnny cares about things. Johnny cares about people. He has feelings. Complicated, convoluted, deeply traumatized feelings. Feelings that are so intense, that it harms him. Feelings that are so intense, that it bleeds from him and harms others, too.

And honestly, I'd say the one and only person he stopped truly caring about was himself. A long, long time ago.

[mudelebentru]

Men don't care about the facts

I once met a die hard misogynist who also hated men

He refused to date women and made a lot of efforst to not have any kind of relationship with them. To talk to him I had to wait two weeks since he was doing a vow of silence to not talk to any women.

He told me he left an english academia, because a woman started to talk to him and trying to hang out with him. Of course, I don't talk to him anymore.

He was and as far as I know still is, a genuine MGTOW. He just left women alone and minded his business. But he wasn't a high IQ successful six figures as MGTOW swear all men can become if they stop dating women. He usually drove while drunk, didn't had a career or a real job, lived with mom and dad and had a family completely progressive and contrary to his values. He also used to bet.

His misogyny was rampant, inflammatory and sophisticated. But he also seemed to hate men. He had a huge prejudice against men, he said that they are predatory, inherently selfish and violent.

But there was a major difference, he also believed that men are superior, that men are smarter, more beautiful, with mind and soul. So every bad characteristic had to be forgiven, while women had to be tightly controlled and punished.

And he acted accordingly, when I showed him a clip of a woman being harassed, it was her fault. If the woman rejected the man and the man exploded violently, it was her fault for not rejecting him nicely. If the woman tried to be polite and still molested, it was her fault for not being more clear.

He was aware of the constant damned if you do, damned if you don't rethoric and didn't have a problem with it. It was part of the principles, because women had to be punished and put on their place. Logic and fairness were not a problem for him, in fact, I believe that for him women had to endure the mistreatment since they were inferior.

Nowadays, everytime I see men talking about women online I see that man talking. It's always the same, doesn't matter who say it, with what words, the nuances of it. It all comes from the same place and it's the same game. Logic doesn't matter, facts don't matter, fairness doesn't matter.

I feel frustated everytime I see women online trying to educate men and respond to them. I understand the importance of counteract male bullshit stories, but everything seems to operate from men's frame. It's us responding to them, instead of them trying to convince us.

For example, the idea that men are entitled to fuck around a lot of women and demand a virgin bride. Everyone ask, well if all women have to remain virgin till marriage, with whom those men will have sex? And I can't help but feel that this is a loser move.

Men don't care about the maths, they care about what benefits them. If when young they feel like fucking around and then later they feel like settling and don't find the promised virgin wife, then it's not "my behavior was wrong" or "I have contributed to the problem", is a "women are the problem and society has to fix it for me". They are not thinking long term, they think it what they want now.

It is not a lack of math what makes them think this way, for them the pieces of the puzzle are fitting perfectly. Women have to gatekeep, be submissive, not think in their own desires and try to please them. They have a whole fantasy around being a kind of predator or a seductor who has conquered the virgin innocent women and has corrupted her, making her impure and damaged. They want to spend their lifes doing that and then settle with women who could not be conquered before.

Their whole self steem and validation relies on that. If a woman wants it and seek it, then they are not worth as much, since they don't have to put any effort or force. It's cheap and easy. If a woman has been with others before, then he is below those men.

It's perfectly logical for them, actually. When they become fathers, they still see themselves as part of the puzzle. Men who want to conquer his daughter have to conquer him too.

Of course, this take doesn't apply to all men perfectly, but all of them have a version of this idea. It seems inherent to men. Men who are succesful with women are sexist but benevolent and men who are not are hostile and misogynistic. Men who are good with women are good because they are getting validation from them, not because they are moral deconstructed people with strong feminist values.

They can't think of women as people by default, their view on them is conditioned on how they see themselves and what they have obtained from women. Their narratives and ideas stem from this, they don't respond to any external logic, their internal clock is right everytime of the year and your facts and math can't and won't change that.

It is said that if women would start act differently, men will act accordingly. I see more truth on it, but it won't solve everything. Not only because of the male allies, but because men will still act whitin their frame. If all women start to reject men, an unknown number of men will act from their entitlement and could literally kill us before seeking inside or listening to women about what they actually want. If women start to set the standard high and only reproduce with decent men, a lot of men will be excluded and will protest and sabotage.

Their firmware remains the same, they are superior, they worth more, they are entitled to you, you owe them something. It's not possible to reason a man out of that, so stop trying wasting your time and mental health on it. If they wanted to reach out, they would and they don't.

[bibibbon]

Moon and wreck

Both Wreck and Moon are there to prop up nice and make him look cooler or much more perfect to the public. Moon acts as Nice's girlfriend, and she feels like an accessory to Nice. She feels and knows that she is just there because the believers want it, and it helps with Nice's popularity. Wreck, on the other hand, acts as Nice's nemesis. He is there to take punch after punch and be defeated over and over to make sure Nice looks perfect, powerful, and strong. All of this for both Wreck and Moon to essentially act as trust value boosters for Nice.

Both moon and wreck are one's to initiate a food/drink fight with Nice and Lin Ling. They seem to be enjoying their time and actually show that Nice and Lin Ling reciprocate and happily join them in the fight even as those two are in their hero outfit.

Both moon and wreck being in their own personal clothes and having the benefit to be relived of their duties while Nice and Lin Ling are still in the hero outfit, the idea of perfection looming over them.

Both Wreck and Moon absolutely disliking Nices perfection. Wreck calls him a hypocrite because he knows that Nice isn't perfect, but he still cares and loves him with all of his imperfections while Moon grows to feel trapped and relentlessly annoyed at keeping everything perfect now matter what which is why it's such a breath of fresh air when Lin Ling joins her in destorying the statue.

Wreck discovering that Lin Ling isn't nice the minute he interacts with him and having a major reaction to it asking where the real Nice is while Moon realises a bit later and her reaction is why she still has to be stuck doing a job she doesn't want to (valid)

Wreck 'dying' with no one caring about him and only moon and Lin Ling looking at him as he falls while Moon's 'death' televised and has everyone's eyes on her

No one mourns the wicked?

Also, both of them fall in very similar ways, except no one catches Wreck as he falls.

When asked if Moon liked Nice, she says that she simply views this arrangement as just "work." This is simply all but a job for her. A job that she couldn't escape for 3 years while Wreck actively describes this as a shared dream and desire that the two of them had and that Nice was his best friend.

Wreck's love vs. Moon's job and duty

Lastly, Wreck and Moon realise that their dreams were broken long ago. Wreck realises he can never truly be a hero while Moon realises that being Nice's accessor will never be for her and that her travel blogging days also aren't really her. One dies before figuring out what they now want while the other has the future in store for them.

The main difference that truly separates moon and wreck is that Moon simply views this as a job to which she isn't emotionally attached to while Wreck views this through a very emotional lense that causes him to play the part.

[sweetmage]

Once again thinking about the fact that Anders probably didn't want to die (he seems damn happy and thankful when his life is spared) but he just accepted it as a fact, a natural consequence of seeing plans through. His life forfeit so that other mages could know freedom and flourish. So that some day they'd never have to face the isolation, the abuse, the utter torment that he and so many others did. He wouldn't be around to see it, but it was never for him.

He spent years upon years being opposed and dismissed, being told he's crazy and exaggerating while mages are being subjected to cruelty and lead to slaughter right before his eyes and no one cared to look or intervene.

It's no wonder he thought this would end in his death. It's no wonder he never told anyone. They never validated him or saw what he saw even when things were at their worst, why would anyone stand beside him for this?

It's sad that it extended to a Hawke who loved him, who truly did see the same things he did, maybe even experienced them firsthand.

Come act 3, nearly all of his "friends" had grown tired of him, preferred him when he was masking and fun and wasn't so preoccupied with the mounting oppression and injustices. What's to say Hawke wouldn't do the same?

The least he could do was spare them from being complicit, place the knife in their hands and let them make their innocence known, let them have the catharsis they'd likely crave if they were anything like the bitter others.

This is why I love a fugitive Hawke who sides whole heartedly with Anders. It tells him not only "I see the oppression you saw, I see your cause" but also "I see YOU".

Anders had worked himself to near collapse running a free clinic and aiding refugees, distributed words of hope and revolution, suffered immense loss and tragedy of own, and it was all for something greater than him.

But Hawke saw that, they saw his passion and the suffering beneath it. This was for all mages and Anders is as worthy as any to see the end of it, to be loved and valued and protected as he has done for others.

[ladyloveandjustice]

I'm responding to a post regarding Marcille having conservative views about gender role, linked HERE (which I also responded to in the replies, but it's an interesting enough topic I want to make my own post). I think that post's point about not sanding off characters' flaws is good, but I do think the reasoning for Marcille is missing something.

I honestly don't think Marcille wants men to be masculine and in strict masculine roles. Look how femme (and long haired) the guys in the Daltian clan are and she WORSHIPS them. If you interpret the person she sees in the succubus bit as male, they are extremely femme.

She just wants human men to look like male (and female) elves, which means androgynous. Kui said the clothes elf men and women wear don't look super different, they all wear simple, pretty outfits and all look pretty. I do think female elves are expected to be slightly more femme and male ones can be a bit more masc (see Otta being mistaken for a man) but there's still an androgyny to everyone and appearance wise, both men and women have long hair and wear clothing other races would see as feminine.

(Elf men and women also aren't very different physically, as seem here in the canary genderbend where they switch sexes and literally look exactly the same. Boobs are given or removed and that's it)

Remembering elf beauty standards makes a lot of Marcille's opinions make sense.

Remember that she was super shocked Laios didn't look similar enough to Falin and exaggerated his masculine qualities to a unflattering, buffoonish degree in her mind, implying she finds them unattractive? She thinks Falin should wear feminine things and have longer hair because elves do. Laios having long hair is weird to her because he's not androgynous like she thinks he should be... so she just thinks it clashes and does nothing for him. I don't think she would care if Laios wore a skirt or something.

We don't really see her ever exhibiting any regressiveness about gender roles outside of people's appearances, and you'd think she would if it were about that right? She never says anything about gender roles in the story. She never says Falin shouldn't like bugs or be how she is because she's a girl, or that Izutsumi should act more feminine. Significantly, she also tells the guys in her group that the should pay as much attention to their hair and appearance as she does, rather than going "of course men don't understand hygiene and hair!" Or even bringing up gender at all.

Marcille does definitely have some regressive opinions and prejudices though, as seen with the orcs. She's a mess, and not seeing Falin's discomfort with femininity and imposing her own values is a serious flaw.

And she and Falin definitely have very different interests, with Marcille valuing all thing femme and Falin not at all being interested, and Marcille is repeatedly disappointed she can't share stuff with Falin (see her in the makeup comic) ...but Marcille loves her anyway, I agree completely on that.

She's a complex, flawed character, but I think my interpretation is not only valid, but makes a lot of sense with what's been shown in the manga.

[majycka]

Megumi stans....we won, I guess? maybe just for now..

JJK 266 THOUGHTS AND SPOILERS AHEAD!

Aight megumi enjoyers, at least one of us has been in the trenches when Megumi was getting SHOVELED PILES OF SHIT ON for losing his will to live when he's a traumatized 15 years old boy having a valid reaction to a death of a loved one (aka who may I repeat, HEAVILY REITERATED in the manga is someone whose his entire desire to live hinges on). As of from the currents chap, I'm considering Yuuji's acknowledgement/understanding to Megumi's actions a W for us or idk maybe that's just me because he gives Megumi the empathy and understanding he needs in his crazy ass suicidal life, and it raises the question of whether this is gonna fully push Megumi for his comeback moment?

More yapping under the cut

In order to explain why the magnitude of this chapter is such an important development for Megumi, his trauma needs to be discuss first and, there's four people we need to go through to reflect his stages of life. Toji, Tsumiki, Gojo, aaaannd Yuuji! :D

TOJI, the dad who left for milk.

Although we barely see any interaction with these two (only one fight scene from them), Toji no doubt kickstarted the trauma of Megumi the moment he decided to left for milk and never return again. He's traumatized by the Zenin's which explains why he acted out in that way and abandoned his child. All he's life he's treated as the outsider for being the odd one out. He lashed out from it as he got stronger, calmed down when meet Meg's mom who then died, and went back to lashing out again, forgetting that he has a tiny son waiting for him at home. Big L for Toji.

I know that Gege reiterated in his interview that he wants to craft a story where there's no right and wrong people, but I'm gonna proceed to be harsher towards Toji here because he's the ADULT situation. Yes, a traumatized adult who's fucked up and not perfect, but I still hold him accountable in perpetuating Megumi's trauma because Toji proceeded to repeat the cycle of trauma that moment he decided to leave, thinking that turning over Megumi to the Zenin is the best option cuz he got The Ten Shadows Technique. From Toji's perspective, it seemed the better option because he was raised knowing his no cursed energy made him an outcast in his family. It's drilled to him that cursed technique was everything for Zenins, so of course, he thought that his son with a valued technique will make the Zenins, olympic gold medal holder of abuse, treat him better. But, heck no! Just look what happened to that Naoya, who despite being raised differently as Toji or Maki and Mai, ended up as a piece of shit. In the end though, I gotta give him the bareeeessst minimum because he kinda pushed Gojo to interfere with Megumi being sold off to the Zenins(which has another set of problems discussed for the later part of discussion).

I try to stay true in including Gege's intention in writing here, and also other nuanced perspective cuz that's the type of series JJK is that yes, Toji DID care for his son in the barest minimum and in his most emotionally stunted way.

However, the damage is done, and Megumi is left with no prime adult caretaker to protect/guide him with only an older sis to have any resemblance of it .

2. TSUMIKI, the manic pixie dream girl sister.

To define the term (as I've stolen from Google) , manic pixie dream girl (MPDG) means "a type of female character depicted as vivacious and appealingly quirky, whose main purpose within the narrative is to inspire a greater appreciation for life in a male protagonist." They are often associated as love interest in movies, BUT I AM NO WAY SHAPE IN FORM ENDORSING MEGUMI SEES HER THAT WAY. Instead, I am using MPDG as a loose term to describe Tsumiki because like most MPDG, we barely know ANYTHING about her actually and we only saw her through the eyes of Megumi which is being pretty and dead.

Not essentially dead and not essentially just pretty because Megumi described her to be the model of a kind person and someone that Megumi wishes to protect, aka his greater purpose of life, which is yah, great, but we are stuck with this perception of Tsumiki. We don't know her, and I think the closest thing we got an unbiased perception of her is when she chucked a cartoon of milk to Megumi (she will call out his BS). This connects back with Megumi's trauma because who else are you gonna hinge your will to live on when the prime adults in your life failed you? He sees her in a brighter light in order to survive. A way of coping mechanism even.

AND YET, despite all his talk appreciating her kind traits and killing people in the culling game to get back to her, you would be surprised that instead of apologizing to her that he was all emo about, he was a dick to her when they reunited. 💀💀

And in fact, the narrative punishes him for this flaw.

To the point that when Sukuna took over his body, he "killed: Tsumiki in his hands which didn't just left Megumi the guilt and shame of being a dick to his sister before she dies but also the impression that Megumi was the one who "killed her." This makes Megumi an active participant to his own tragedy, and it serves a big slap on his face that he's also at fault here.

3. GOJO, the traumatized bro who tried his best.

This is definitely the raging hot debate of the fandom which is their dynamic, and my take breaks this perception of the uwufied Gojo a lot of the fandom seems to like. Yes, I do see Gojo as another perpetrator to Megumi’s trauma, another adult that failed him but not in such of a black and white way thinking of Gojo’s the wholly bad guy here. Believe it or not, he’s still a part of the chain of generational trauma, being a "chain" as in he's a victim AND perpetrator of the system. I called him the traumatized bro who tried his best here because as much as Gojo knows how cruel the jujutsu system is for the kids, he still unintentionally passes over the core mindset of such cruel system to Megumi since Gojo still did grew up in this system normalized in his eyes.

"Jujutsu Sorcerer is an individual sport."

I say "unintentionally passes" because no, Gojo doesn't have the same intention as Zenins/majority of the system who drills "strength is everything" in the most fucked up way possible. Yes, he enjoys Megumi’s company and treats him nicely. Yes, he sticks his neck out for him. Yes, he wants them to be strong so they can change the system. But this isn't about Gojo. It's about Megumi who still undeniably suffered from the accumulation of the few adults in his life failing him which includes Gojo. Gojo offers protection to Megumi. KEYWORD: Offers. It’s in exchange for Megumi working under Gojo as a jujutsu sorcerer. Now, for smol Megumi here, who truly going through the horror show of abandonment from his dad, agrees to it because apparently, according to Gojo, it’s the only way to protect his sister.

"I'll take care of things! But you're gonna have to work extra hard. I'm countin' on ya."

Annnd thus the cycle repeats! Although it wasn’t as bad as Zenin’s abusive environment Toji was raised, Megumi is still pushed in the same cutthroat environment of the jjk world that Gojo believed he can survive just because Megs has a valued powerful technique if only he himself fullfills his potential, like Gojo’s Six Eyes. BUT Gojo, who delights in his power, forgets a crucial part that…..Megumi isn’t like him!

Check out what Megumi has to say. (aka bud doesn't want any of that sorcerers shit and just wants a domestic life)

So the thing is, was Megumi ever asked his input in choosing to be a jujutsu sorcerer? Well, yah….and all it circles back to just protecting his sister and people like her. There’s a set of problems that comes with this mindset though that Gojo was valid to point out and that is Megumi doesn’t think about himself enough. “It’s ok to be selfish!” Gojo said in the context of being a stronger sorcerer.

But at the same time, he also gave Megumi the idea to that if he doesn’t work as sorcerer, then he won’t be able to protect his sister when he was a mere 6-7y/o boy.

You know that circulating meme of Megumi pulling Mahogora for minor inconvenience? Well, guess what that tells his suicidal tendencies in protecting anyone but himself. Kid got no sense of self-preservation because his self esteemed has completely tanked itself due to his abandonment issues, and now that he’s expressing how it emotionally and physically paralyzes him, he has every valid reason to do so.

Why, yes, Gojo was 19/20 at the time he first met Megs, still a kid, doesn't know shit, and has unaddressed issues being treated as The Strongest Weapon(here’s a dedicated gojo-centric meta I wrote previously about Gojo and his issues cuz he's one complicated fool). I describe this whole situation as an unaware traumatized kid taking in another traumatized kid which is not a fun mix to have, and I understand that Gojo ain’t exactly prepared for that kind of job.

HOWEVER, I’m way harsher to point out Gojo’s failure as an adult in Megumi in the later part of the series because at this point, Gojo's a grown adult, he waxes poetry in being responsible for the next gen , and we get to see his priorities throughout the series especially with the Sukuna’s fight, like seriously he had one legitimate fun fighting someone on par with him.

Gojo DELIGHTS in power no doubt, he chooses kids with most potential, he gets excited finding those kids, and this is the type of the closest dependable adult Megumi has in his life.

Yes, financially supported but Gojo isn't around much when he's working and on demand sorcerer almost 24/7. That's why growing up sure do sucked ass for Megumi especially when no one’s really there to guide and to keep an eye on your development AS A PERSON AND NOT JUST A SORCERER which the latter part is what unfortunately Gojo’s more eager to do.

4. YUUJI, the guy who just wants Megumi to know he matters to him as a person.

Yuuji and Megumi were definitely the highlight of this chapter because in the bleak world of JJK where everyone seemed to be succumbing to the repeated fuck ups of the previous gen (like that Yuta-Gojo situation), this chapter actually offers that THERE IS HOPE that the new gen can do better like what Yuuji just did that the adults in Megumi's life are too emotionally stunted to do. Yuuji take the time to listen to Megumi's emotional thoughts, what he feels as a person, and not just listen, but to understand and empathize. It even took lots of attempts for Yuuji to make Megumi open up.

He responds to Megumi's vulnerability with care and love, and Yuuji understands the pain Megumi is going through from losing his sister. With someone in pain like that, Yuuji knows he can't just go around saying "just live" to someone who's practically suicidal.

The treat of this all is when this scene comes next. Yuuji also shows his vulnerability and expresses that Megumi matters to him!

"It's lonely without you..Fushiguro."

This scene clearly parallels Gojo and Megumi's first meeting, so I'm gonna try to throw my two cents here and explain why Gege choose this direction. Remember what I said about Yuuji giving us the hope of the new gen escaping from the shackles of generational trauma? Well, I think this parallel is a way in saying that what Megumi needed when he was so young was someone to see him and his pain who's just a kid abandoned and forced to fend for themselves because the prime adults decided to to dip out. This is Megumi we are talking about here who's unaddressed issues stays hidden beneath all the pressure of him being The Ten Shadows Technique. He's valued for his technique. That's why Gojo showed up to meet him in the first place. That's also what the jujutsu system looked after for their child soldiers. Yuuji tries to break this chain of trauma their mentor unknowingly repeats. He'll show up for Megumi again and again because he's his dear friend even if Megumi's being difficult to be pulled out of Sukuna. And the beautiful thing is Yuuji didn't had some grand inspiring speech or grand offer to convince Megumi, he wasn't even sure Megumi will be up for it. Yuuji simply want to say that he matters to him. That understands him. That he's important to him so much he'll be sad when he dies, and it mattered.

"This is...Fushiguro Megumi's...!!"

And now that Megumi is showing signs in taking his body back, it's now his turn to save himself. Yuuji did his part, and for someone whose future has been controlled by everyone but himself, this time Megumi gets to decide what comes next.

[cottoncandythunderhead]

aiura mikoto analysis!!

i feel that theres a big lack of miko analyses in this world and its bc ppl usually ignore or justify all her character flaws bc they js wanna see her as “the better teruhashi”, so here i am to right the world and attempt 2 do an in-depth analysis on miko!! pls forgive if im missing things, i will edit this as i get a better understanding of her character. and yes i mostly focus on her relationship with saiki soz abt that :p (this is NOT a saiura post tho and ull be disappointed if u go in thinking that)

aiura mikoto is a kindhearted and mostly selfless character who goes out of her way to help ppl, usually for no reason other than she cares, and shes willing to put herself in danger for the sake of others. shes blunt and knows the value of herself and her powers- though this can go a bit too far at times…

she plays the role of kokomis love rival which makes sense since her genuine desire to help others and expect no personal gain and her upfront and honest attitude sharply contrasts kokomis ingenuity and tendency to be kind to others for personal gain (at least as far as she believes)

miko is honest to a fault, blurting out whatever she thinks, while kokomi speaks carefully to curate her image. miko has a tendency to act first and think later, while kokomi thinks first and acts in a crafted way that aligns with her goals.

and they also have things in common like both being very self-sacrificial and being kind to others at their own expense, but again kokomi does this more out of desperation for validation while miko does it out of genuine kindness

their crushes on saiki r also a bit similar, ill talk abt this more but aiura goes into her crush not bc she genuinely has feelings for saiki but bc she believes hes her soulmate and so she makes up a personality for him that matches her desires while kokomi goes into her crush not bc she was actually attracted to him but bc she was confused abt her resentment towards him and wanted him to be infatuated with her. tho, we get to see teruhashi develop past and acknowledge this while aiuras misunderstandings r consistent until the end

then theres the chapter where they switch styles and we see how their typical selfish vs selfless bit can also be reversed in ways bc the main reason for their differences is that miko is so blunt and open while kokomi hides her feelings, bc although we do see kokomi thinking badly abt miko, shes never anything but kind to her aloud while miko despite thinking so highly of kokomi, ends up being the 1 who does something to directly affect kokomi negatively

its a little hard to tell whats going in this scene but by my pov it seems like the 1st part is what saiki wanted miko to tell kokomi, with how serious it is and how thats the main focus b4 we go into kokomis own thoughts and saikis reactions, and so the 2nd thing is NOT a part of saikis objective and is miko trying to take advantage of the situation bc its her going on and on in the background while the focus has already changed. by this point kokomi has already begun to move on from her jealousy and the little freakout she had, while miko is stuck in her jealousy and seeing kokomi as "the final boss" and trying to change kokomis feelings. tho her feelings r much milder than kokomis ever were, her approach is blunt and an attempt to effect kokomi while kokomis was quiet and would only affect herself. this is why their rivalry is so important, they represent the "good" and the "bad" that the other doesnt have

as for mikos relationship with kusuo, they have a good bond thats highlighted pretty immediately when they meet and they work so well together to keep chiyo safe. bc of this, hes able to trust her (and toritsuka) to help him out with things involving his powers that at this time he cant trust any1 else for

the chapter with meras dad has them clashing a lot, but it does end up working out. the chapter highlights mikos stubborn and reckless nature clashing with saikis pessimism and tendency to refuse to look past the badness of a situation

mikos intentions r entirely selfless, but her reaction here is stubborn and unreasonable :p saiki was also not entirely reasonable, and this shows their opposite values that clash so much yet come together in the end to get the best outcome for mera. in this moment tho, it feels hurtful that saiki genuinely confides in her his hesitations and concerns for others and specifically meras health after something miko did ended up hurting her and miko responds like this and only rethinks when saiki leaves. in the end she does show that shes thought abt what saiki says, so its not a “half-hearted attempt” anymore and she goes into it knowing itll be okay bc she saw that it will

but despite this, miko doesnt learn her lesson abt recklessly using her powers nor does she think past her misunderstandings and realize saiki does care abt ppl, she still moves past this believing she was right the whole time and saiki is unreasonable and selfish. imo these chapters were a chance for them to have a way better understanding of each other especially since saiki opening up to her abt his hesitations was such a rare moment but unfortunately she didnt understand and never rlly ended up doing so beyond having a doki doki moment abt saiki caring abt her after she was the one he had to save from the consequences of her actions

tho these chapters highlight how off her perception of him is their relationship is still furthered by them bc of how wonderfully they worked together even when they werent getting along, saiki clearly trusts her a lot since this ends with him asking her to help him stop the volcanic eruption

however when it comes to romance... for all my love for miko, im never ever gonna ship saiki with someone who tried to sexually assault him :p n yes, ik its a gag manga, thats not relevant :p if ppl can like and understand toritsukas character without shipping him with ppl he sexually harassed, i can do the same with miko!!

she was genuinely surprised when he caught her here which tells me despite knowing abt his powers she didnt think he would catch her, so if he were powerless or otherwise hadnt caught her she wouldve simply sa him here. ive seen some ppl say "she realized he wasnt into it after this so shes very respectful of his boundaries" and im kinda baffled at that interpretation :p its not a flex that she realized he didnt wanna be sexually assaulted. idk guys maybe sexually assault is js generally bad??? besides, even beyond the fact this shouldnt have to be an established boundary in the 1st place, it seems way less likely that she understood a boundary here and more likely that she js realized that strategy wouldnt work on him bc of his powers :p

the one where she undresses in his bed is more of a genuine misunderstanding but it still shows how badly she misunderstands him. she ignored most of his message and only read the part she wanted and expected and had clearly been waiting for, and immediately jumped into his bed and took her clothes off, ending up in him almost kicking her out

despite these situations where he clearly expresses disdain at the idea of sexuality, this misunderstanding of hers is consistent throughout her character :p the overwhelming evidence to the contrary never makes her stop assuming that he secretly wants it or smth

i think despite being into other men, she put a lot of stake in her idea of soulmates :p she scryed it and transferred schools to find him after all, and she has a lot of trust in her own self and power, so i think she made a lot of untrue assumptions abt soulmates and how perfect they are and thought she and saiki would immediately click and get along and thered be 0 incompatibilities at all- as if finding her soulmate will fulfill all her romantic n sexual desires. this is why she makes 0 effort to build a romantic connection between them b4 declaring them soulmates and lovers, several times claiming theyre already dating, she assumed itd already exist. therefore she thinks that since SHE is very sexual, her soulmate must be as well. they seem to have nothing in common besides powers and the drive to help others which she isnt aware of, especially in what they want in life and from a partner, which i think is another reason she decided early on based on no evidence that hes a very sexual sadist and latched onto the idea, unable to believe anything else despite all evidence otherwise, for the entire show. 

shes obviously wrong. shes js too fixated on her own desires and expectations to realize that.

she originally claimed to have “fallen in love” with saiki only after seeing his powers and deciding that his mild sassiness was somehow indicative of sadism or sexuality. in the same breath she expresses disappointment in who her soulmate is and doesnt like his personality, so its pretty clear she cooked that up so she could have something to latch onto. from that point forward, i dont remember her showing attraction to anything abt saiki beyond his powers and the sadism/sexuality she misunderstood.

miko deserves some1 she doesnt feel the need to project onto js to feel like her desires r being fulfilled, and saiki deserves some1 who doesnt continuously expect from him what he doesnt want to give and has expressed that.

the thing is they have WAY better chemistry when she ISNT trying to force romance or sexuality into their relationship and she tends to misunderstand every platonic situation with him as that so it makes it a bit hard to see past her misunderstandings and see their friendship through it

at the very end of volcano arc she ALMOST ruins the moment by misunderstanding the situation as romantic and asking to kiss him but the hug she ends up giving him after is much sweeter and more emotionally impactful. its ofc not wrong for her to ask honest questions, im not saying she was wrong for it and its also not wrong 4 her to want to kiss him in that moment, but it does show her inability to read him and the situation and how this limits the chemistry between them. her stubborn nature still came out here when instead of simply accepting the “no” she said “AT LEAST let me give u a hug then” as if he owes at least something to her, but i dont fault her for this bc they both def needed and deserved a hug in that moment. saiki himself has also generally never been averse to platonic physical touch, often letting nendo or toritsuka etc to touch him without protest so this isnt any kind of boundary being broken. funnily, miko is the only person i remember him refusing to let touch him like him making her sit on the other side of the table and teleporting away from a hug but that seems to have changed by the end, or at the very least hell allow it from her in certain situations

miko is overall a good and genuine person, most notably how despite her jealousies of kokomi she still admires her so much, her defenses of kumi who was being bullied in a clothing shop, her expressing she doesnt mind helping kusuo for nothing in return (despite saying this immediately after implying she still wanted a favor after he didnt want to have sex with her, honestly not sure abt this part), and her mostly genuine intentions with her clients

this post will serve as my miko reference from now on and is subject to change!*

[silent-sanctum]

You know in honor of Valentines Day, how about I make a list of Valentines headcanons about Jotaro Kujo:

♡ When someone asks what flag color he is, one would most likely say red because of his rude, standoffish, and aloof personality (mostly seen in his teenage years)

♡ However, if you think about it aside from the rough exterior, he's actually a subtle green flag. Let me explain-

♡ This is one of those instances where you have to look past his awkward loner-esque personality and observe how he treats people that don't constantly piss him off.

♡ There's a reason why some of us compare his "heart of gold" to the Amazon Forest that is Jonathan:

♡ Jotaro respects boundaries. As someone who's space often gets violated by unwanted fangirls, he's very aware of the importance of personal space. He won't force you to do stuff you don't want to.

♡ Jotaro is open-minded. He likes to explore his surroundings a lot and isn't exactly rigid with preferences or routines. He's willing to accompany you to wherever you want to go and would try out stuff you'd like for him to try out. After all, he did surprise Joseph when he said India was a neat place to be in.

♡ Jotaro is an active listener. Unlike Jonathan, he can't really offer you solid words of comfort. It's not his expertise. But to make up for that, he'd lend a ear to whatever you want to say to him. Sure, he won't talk much but at times, when you really need someone, he'd be there for you- help you out by giving advice on how to not get hurt again, and help provide you logical reasoning that validates your feelings.

♡ Jotaro is loyal and caring. Yes, he's all "mean and grouchy" no one's denying that, but behind that tough skin is someone that loves his friends and family. He values their security above all else and is willing to put his life on the line just to keep them safe from danger. He also isn't one to condone cheating as evident by his statement about Joseph's infidelity.

♡ Jotaro's love languages are Acts of Service and Quality Time. He likes company but he just can't express it well. At times, he'd spend some of his free time just being by your side, lowkey glad seeing you happy with him around. He can tell when you're upset just by reading your body language or can tell what you need from piecing together recollections of your words. As a result, he'd find ways to make you happy using the methods he can do. He'd buy stuff you like, offer you dinner dates at a restaurant that serves your current cravings, put on your favorite movie or music etc.

♡ Jotaro isn't as possessive as you'd expect him to be. He's very aware he's shit at being an entertaining guy, so he isn't in the position of being all high and mighty of wanting you to just be with him. If anything, he likes seeing you enjoy your day hanging out with friends... but he'd really appreciate it when you'd often have him in mind and you invite him to hang with your friend group. Whether he accepts or declines, he's happy you considered inviting him. But if he sees someone blatantly trying to make moves on you, then he has to intervene to remind everyone that you're taken.

❣️ When Valentines arrives... ❣️

♡ Honestly, don't expect him to show up in public being head-over-heels with some grand display of affection because he's not Jonathan nor Joseph.

♡ Instead, you'd find him waiting for you to finish your tasks and either tells you ahead of time where they're going to spend the day or asks you where do you want to go.

♡ Either way, you engage in usual banter and conversation, just how you both liked it over the months, and continue to do so even when dining or spending time in said place.

♡ You both don't show much PDA as an average couple would, and you didnt mind it one bit. But there are times where Jotaro wouldn't mind holding your hand in public. He'd slowly reach your hand, hold it, and place your interlocked hands in his pocket. And you find that genuinely endearing.

♡ Depending on his impromptu plans, he'd either bring you out in a quiet area of a park or ask you if you'd like to hang in his place or yours. And when reaching somewhere private, it's only there that you find out he actually bought you a bouquet and a gift containing something you wanted.

♡ With the way he approached you all bashful under his hat throughout the entirety of the day, you're reminded why you fell in love with him despite the awful first impressions.

♡ To end it off, you both finish the day either by cuddling to sleep or having an intimate session before going to sleep.

[jermer10]

Could you perhaps do some seperate romantic headcanons for Jyushimatsu (⚾️) and Karamatsu? (🕶)

OSOSAN general romantic headcanons

gn reader | wrote for all 6 of them since this is my first ososan post!

drabbles under the cut :P

Osomatsu: - Oso is a bit of a show-off, so he’ll pull out all the stops for grand romantic gestures - Expect surprise dates to places like fancy restaurants or amusement parks, and he might even plan elaborate, spontaneous adventures (bring your wallet - he can't be trusted to actually pay for any of this) - Whenever you have a late-night craving or just need some comfort food, Osomatsu is always ready for a food run, whether it’s your favorite midnight snack or a meal from a distant restaurant, he’s up for the adventure - He enjoys being the center of attention, but he’s also really affectionate in private - His love language is acts of service - he’ll go out of his way to do things that make your life easier, whether it’s fixing something that’s broken or handling chores to give you a break - Despite his usual cocky demeanor, Osomatsu has a surprisingly soft side - He’s genuinely caring and will occasionally get sentimental, especially when he’s alone with you

Karamatsu: - Kara is all about classic romance - He’ll write you heartfelt letters or poems and make sure to remember and celebrate every little milestone in your relationship - He’s the type to serenade you under the stars or arrange a surprise candlelit dinner - Karamatsu plans elaborate themed date nights, one week he might take you on a “retro” night, complete with vintage clothes and an old-school movie marathon, another could be a “Parisian” evening with French cuisine and a faux Eiffel Tower setup at home - He’ll shower you with compliments and make sure you always know how much he appreciates and adores you - He’s also a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to planning romantic moments - he wants you to know how much effort he's willing to put into your relationship - Underneath his cool, 'painful' exterior, Karamatsu is deeply sensitive and thrives on validation - He values deep, emotional connection with you

Choromatsu: - Choro is thoughtful and detail-oriented - He’ll plan dates that cater specifically to your interests and preferences - He might also create personalized gifts or surprises that show he’s been paying attention to what you like - Understanding that you sometimes need to study or work late, Choromatsu sets up a cozy, candlelit study session for you, bringing snacks, drinks, and ensuring that you have a comfortable space to focus while he quietly works on his own projects nearby - He loves spending time with you, whether it’s an elaborate date or just enjoying a quiet evening at home - Secretly he LOVES the dates where the two of you get to lounge around your house watching anime or reading manga - He’s all about making sure you have meaningful, undivided attention - Incredibly supportive and always wants the best for you - He’ll be your biggest cheerleader and offer a listening ear whenever you need to talk about anything

Ichimatsu: - Ichi is much more reserved and subtle in his romantic gestures - He might surprise you with something small but meaningful, like your favorite snack or a handwritten note, showing his affection in understated ways - Brings you along to the local cat shelter, to the alley with the cats, to the local pet store to play with the kitties- if it's not obvious he wants to adopt a cat with you - He curates spotify playlists with tracks that have special meaning to your relationship or songs that you’ve mentioned enjoying, playing it while you're over at his place (given his brothers aren't around) - He’s not overly expressive verbally but will often show his love through touches, hugs, or holding hands - He finds comfort and connection in these small physical gestures - Ichimatsu values quiet, peaceful moments with you - He enjoys being in your presence without the need for constant conversation, finding solace in simply being together

Jyushimatsu: - Jyushi takes you on fun, spontaneous dates - Like an impromptu picnic or a surprise beach day trip (be warned his brothers are going to come with 9/10 times) - He’s all about having a good time and making you laugh - Always invites you to his baseball games, dedicating every home run to you and running up to kiss you after his inevitable win - If you're not a fit person, you will be - this guy walks EVERYWHERE, your poor legs will not get a break, and if you can't walk long distances (or at all) he'll just carry you - He’ll go out of his way to make sure you’re happy and comfortable, and he’s big on physical affection, like playful nudges or holding you close - Jyushimatsu is incredibly supportive and loves to see you happy - He’ll be your number one fan, cheering you on in everything you do and encouraging you to pursue your passions

Todomatsu: - Toddy is a social media addict, so expect stylish and trendy dates - He might plan outings to the latest hot spots or give you fashion advice - Gives you customized gift baskets with high-quality treats and ingredients that you love - He often organizes self-care days for you both, setting up a relaxing environment with face masks, soothing music, and your favourite snacks - he even coordinates a mini spa experience at home - He loves to compliment you and give you little presents that show he’s thinking of you - He also enjoys sharing and receiving sweet, romantic texts - Todomatsu enjoys being the center of attention but also values having your undivided focus - He’ll often seek out your approval and wants to know that you’re proud of him

[ven0moir]

Let's talk about Bychance's significance for Mike's arc.

alright, time to unpack this. i'll just go ahead and say it: the duffer's biggest challenge to land a Byler endgame, is to believably show--and prove to--the audience, that Mike's feelings for Will are sexual in nature.

throughout their text, the duffers have treated sexual intimacy as a natural part of growing up, and have made that known to the audience textually in s4 via Argyle and Jonathan's speech at the very start of the season.

Argyle doesn't even use the word 'normal', which the idea of normalcy is such a HUGE theme of the show--he uses the word 'natural'.

the truth of the matter is, that at this point in the game, and given how they have written Mike and Will so far, there is very little the duffers can do to convince a GA that mike's feelings for will are romantic without integrating sexuality in some form.

in fact, i can't think of anything. because whatever way you wish to spin this, ( Mike confessing at the nth hour, Mike confessing to his mom first, someone helping Mike see his own truth, some other option we don't see coming at all )

SOMETHING needs to trigger these.

Bychance is that trigger.

It literally cannot be anything else, ( in fact, I dare you to give me an alternative that feels as deserved as this ) because ST is NOT Sex Education. I,e, we're very unlikely going to see Mike just ... 'playing' with himself while he looks at the painting or whatever something like Sex Ed would do, and even if we did, it needs to feel natural AND deserved, not gratuitous or something added there just for shock value/bc the duffers couldn't think of a better way to show this to the audience.

ST is NOT high art, but the way they've set up Bychance/Byler feels elegant and REAL. It just fits the show seamlessly.

For the byler reveal to feel deserved, they can't take the GA into it cold turkey. Instead, imagine this--they make it feel natural. Initially, they get us to SUSPECT Mike likes Will by allowing us to SEE MIKE'S REACTION to Bychance. we would be like "wait woah ... woooaahh woah why is he acting like that? that's sus af"

I keep saying this over and over because Mike won't be devastatingly crushed and jealous at this reveal. He would be if he sees Will with a girl, sure. Bc that'd mean all hope is lost, Will is straight. But with a guy? Not only would that mean he has a real chance ( lol ) at being with Will, he also has legitimate EVIDENCE in his hands ( LITERALLY ) that Will loves him. HE HAS THE UPPER HAND in this situation. He has a) the letter El gave him and b) the actual painting. We also need to consider this is a BULLY that Will is with, so ofc he'll be angry af about it ... but ...

Let my boy react in a low-stakes situation that FEELS high-stakes to him. Let my boy bring out his strategic mode, let my boy BREAK THE FOURTH WALL by throwing HINTS at Will throughout the season and validating Bylers by telling us that "yes, in retrospect, this is the way you should be observing the text. Because Mike is the MC and the way he thinks and acts/behaves is integral to the show and it mirrors the way the subtext is designed."

Let my boy SHOW us, NOT TELL US that he loves Will.

And I'm still developing this idea but hear me out:

Imagine it, post Bychance reveal to Mike, he didn't confront them/Will and Chance have no idea Mike saw them. But due to how he reacted, we assume Mike's going to confront Will at some point, but instead, we see him get slightly closer to Will, tell him things like

"You know I ... did call you ... back when you were in California? But your mom was always on the phone ... Idk why i didn't tell you back then but i just thought you should know. That I care." and he shrugs it off and seems casual about it, which matches his behavior when he told Will 'hawkins is not the same without you' but he also seems more visibly nervous due to the context of this situation

and Will's like "omg is he--?" like he was back then,

but he's SO heartbroken after hearing Mike tell El he's loved her since the first moment he saw her that it literally hurts him to hope so he quickly shuts the feeling down and just goes.

"Yeah ... I know you care." And smiles, and looks down kind of like he's thinking 'yeah he cares as a friend, ofc he does, it's mike. he doesn't mean anything else by it'. Kind of like yknow, how non-byler believers rationalize Mike's behavior.

And Mike looks disappointed like how he did when he told Will that he and El had a 'real fight' and Will was like 'you'll see her again and you'll be able to tell her what it is you didn't'

like look at that face man, as if what will said wasnt what he needed/wanted to hear. Maybe he thinks he's too late now.

LIKE CAN YOU JUST IMAGINE???? Bc atp we, the audience, KNOW MIKE SAW BYCHANCE TOGETHER but Will doesn't KNOW. THAT.

so we're like "WHAAATTTT THEE HEECCKK!?!????!?! WOAH WAIT WAIT WHAAATTTT ... WHAAATTTT THEE HEECCKK!?!????!?!? WAIT HE LIKES WILL? OMFG WAS THAT A HINT???? HES ACTING SO WEIRD"

and then this all culminates in whatever fight they have later in the season at lover's lake, likely involving the painting etc. bc, and that's another thing,

when in the timeline does it make sense for the painting to be revealed if we assume mike is completely clueless??? it just doesn't make sense for it to be revealed at the START of the season bc of the build-up, it feels like something that's been set up to be huge.

but in-universe, it doesn't make sense for mike to wait sooo long to bring up the painting to el, unless HE NEVER DOES BC HE FIGURED OUT WILL LIED BEFORE HE HAD TO. Kind of like how it took him a bit to figure out the pen in EP5 had that hidden number. That's the way I picture it. He didn't realize Will lied in the moment, but he did/does later. On his own. Bc he's smart.

And man, the type of dialogue I imagine, I'm assuming by the time their fight happens, mike just gets so damn freaking angry at one point, he's just BLURTS OUT something like ...

"why don't we quit the bullshit and you just tell me what it is that you're REALLY saying, Will? That i'm an idiot for bringing this up now? that it's too late for us? That you're drawing for him now?? Painting hearts on him?!?! On that asshole?! That bully!?"

and THAT is how it is revealed that Mike: figured out he likes Will, figured out Will likes him, figured out the painting lie, and knows about Bychance. LIKE OH MY GODDDD CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT ?!?!?! MIKE WHEELER, TURNING OUT TO BE SMARTER THAN WE THOUGHT? OUTSMARTING THE AUDIENCE?

yeah can you just imagine my favorite character is done justice like that ... one can dream, huh?

and we KNOW via this picture, that Will HAS been drawing for Chance. Or at least, attempting to, bc i already said before that Will is just NOT going to be himself, and his art will reflect that. he's BARELY surviving emotionally, so whatever he does draw is, well ... a reflection of that.

look at that sketch of a car and lets imagine it was done by Will ( that signature in the corner notwithstanding bc idk what it is yet ) for Chance.

the lines are wonky and insecure and there's no color, and it doesn't feel like something will actually likes to draw, but he's still doing it/forcing himself to.

MY POOR SON

so yeah, bychance to me feels way too strategic, intentional and downright genius for it not to play a huge part in the byler arc.

[blackbullet99]

Why SOME Zutara shippers personally disgust me (as a Person of Color).

⛔️WARNING! I’m gonna get into some pretty heavy subjects.

This should go without saying, but I have nothing against most people who ship Zutara. I take no issue with Zuko, I love him, I love his story arc, I love his an Katara’s relationship and if they did become a couple at the end of the show, they wouldn’t be toxic IMO, they’d be crazy rushed and forced, and it would be a prime example of the writers giving into fan-entitlement, but Zuko and Katara don’t have a toxic relationship, at least by the end of the show.

No, what really pisses me off the the racist, sexist, genocide downplaying, colonist supporting stuff some of the loudest Zutara shippers say, and for one anyone who says “it’s just a cartoon”, yes that’s true, but to things depicted are very serious issues, genocide, abuse, imperialism, colonization, slavery, these are issues that I feel strongly about, a majority of the reason being that as a PoC my family, my ancestors went through a lot of this stuff and seeing people online dismiss and downplay these issues all for the sake of a ship is pathetic and can easily reflect their issues of subject matter in real life.

Additionally, I’m aware “Bryke” are white, they have also done plenty of problematic things (and even some episodes), but that’s a story for another time, I’m not here to defend THEM specifically. ZKs always defend Zuko, even though they created him and did a good chunk of his story, so it is what is.

The main issue here, are the Zutara shippers, who claim to be Pro-Katara, the people who whine about Katara deserving better (even though to them Better=Zuko) and act like Aang was a horrible abusive 12 year old misogynist who never respected Katara and sexually assaulted her. Looking at you the-badger-mole / Miss Anthropy.

I’m all for criticism, the issue is, almost none of the criticism regarding Aang are valid, and even the one’s that have some validity grossly villainize the character. What’s even worse is some of these people downplay the effect of Aang’s genocidal trauma, they straight up act like it didn’t effect him, or it shouldn’t effect him, these people blatantly downplay genocide can effect someone all for the sake of some lame-ship.

It isn’t real-life genocide yes, but the issues and trauma that come from genocide are all to real and effect people in real life in many different way. Aang generally tries to enjoy life and remain positive despite what happened, but it effects him regularly, it’s comes up multiple times, he has survivor’s guilt, it something he has to live with for the rest of his life, it’s why he was generally so crestfallen when Appa was stolen, why he tries to preserve his culture. He’s 100 years removed from it, but to him it’s all to recent. If you generally don’t understand the effect of his trauma, then your stupidly braindead, if you dismiss it all for the sake of hating on Aang for some dusty-@$$ ship, your a heartless scumbag, no debate about it.

And despite what these people say they don’t care about Katara at all, they literally only care about her if she’s Zuko’s accessory, Zuko’s prize. Her whole story essentially has to be tied to Zuko, they don’t care about her otherwise. Without Zuko, she’s nothing to these people and they clearly don’t respect her, or value her.

They adultify her, they sexualize her, the create this false narrative that she let people walk all over her and never expressed herself, they invalidate her trauma, they invalidate her accomplishments later it life. They invalidate her canon feelings towards Aang and her initial hatred of Zuko and the Fire Nation. They straight up call her a baby-maker.

The worst of it all, the stuff that gets me the most is how, the act like a dark-skinned girl, becoming an accessory to the nation that colonized her tribe and killed her mother is a positive empowering thing.

The think THIS would be an impactful ending for Katara.

People like sokkastyles actually think imperialist propaganda supports Katara, because it means Zutara.

People will say the Water Tribes were never colonized and once again downplay genocide because it means Zutara.

People will write a young person of color becoming a slave to an imperialist nation and falling in love with their oppressor if it means Zutara, what the heck is wrong with these people?

They think Katara should’ve married Zuko solely because of what Zuko would have to gain, even though he already has a father figure in Uncle Iroh (how do you miss a plot-point that major) and ignoring that fact that Ozai would essentially become Katara’s father in law, and Azulon her grandfather in law, these are literally the people who colonized her tribe and killed her mom. I know you shouldn’t judge people by their parents, but they’re making such a big deal in-laws that Zuko would gain and bathmouthing Mai because of her relatives (even her infant brother) that this just screams hypocrisy.

And of course the racist colonizer supporters are offended that people don’t like this stupid-@$$ take. longing-for-rain actually dismissed a legit indigenous person and called them racist. F*ck these guys.

They can’t handle any acknowledgment that the Fire Nation was an imperialist nation, to the point where people like this spider guy and “lie about Aaron Ehasz Araeph” actually believe the nation that committed mass genocide is more altruistic and innovative than the nation that suffered from genocide. Araeph, the guy on the right even says Sokka and Katara would gain more from Zutara because Fire Nation looks to the future, but the Air Nation is frozen in time. The Fire Nation’s idea of looking to the future literally cost Sokka and Katara their mom and is the reason why Aang’s Nation is sadly “frozen in time”. Sure you, you imperialism supporting dicks

People who downplay very serious issues such as genocide, colonization, trauma and slavery all for the sake of some lousy Wattpad self-insert ship are pathetic loser scumbags. They’re not real fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender, they don’t care about the themes or story, just Zuko and Katara being his accessory, the fact that they downplay and ignore all of Zuko’s actions and villainize Aang is beyond stupid and media-illiterate. I love Zuko because he was both antagonist, but also a sympathetic, he’s often temperamental and imature, but gradually matures and becomes kinder, he perpetuates the violence and colonization of his nation, but learns that they were wrong and HE was wrong, he makes a genuine effort to change himself, the world and his nation. If he knew you actively supported the colonization and violence of his nation he would torch your @$$€$.

So all in all, if you wanna downplay genocide and support colonization and slavery just for the sake a of mid non-canon ship because you haven’t matured since middle-school, you’re a dumb@$$ racist b!tch plain and simple, no debate about it. And if any of you toxic idiotic ZK come across this post, go f*ck yourself.

[strxwberrychocolate]

˗ˏˋ realistic hi-lo the worst shitty dating canons࿐ྂ

notes: this is just for fun(fiction), plz don’t take is seriously. inspired by this post cuz me and my fellow delulu moots need to get it together, might do a pt 2 if I feel like it

warnings: some mention of nsfw, mentions of cheating, friends with benefits, mentions of choking, brief mention of kinks, toxic behaviour, periods, mentions of gaslighting and emotional manipulation, major delulu behaviour for the sachio one(I failed I’m sorry), I think I did Ryo and Kōhei dirty in this one but who cares

-ˏˋ fujio ˊˎ

He’s definitely a “where’s my hug at” kind of guy even after you both start dating

I’m just gonna say it right now, Tsukasa knows too much about your sex life

you got some weird kink?

called him “sir” by accident or like being choked or some shit like that?

Tsukasa knows (he doesn’t want to know but that’s beside the point)

He reminds me too much of my crush so this guy will definitely be flirting with everything and anything with a beating heart even if you’re dating him

Playboy fr

While you guys are in your lil talking stage he sends your picture to the gc for validation that he’s dating a pretty girl

They all want to warn you cuz you look nice but bro code comes first

Would definitely buy you menstrual products without batting an eye

His mom taught him better than to be grossed out

She’s a single mom which makes Fujio probably more respectful than the other guys around him

Does those cute couple tiktok trends with you

Talking to a bunch of girls while dating you

I don’t mean like cheating but he’s flirting too much with other ppl

Fujio doesn’t mean to flirt but he’s like super fucking friendly for no reason and is genuinely really nice so it comes off as flirting

Calls you baby, babe, princess anything really

Doesn’t look like he can keep his hands to himself

Spends time staring at you cuz you’re really pretty

Definitely the kind of guy that acts tough in front of his friends but is actually the little spoon

Unlike most the characters in this, he’s actually really sweet

But he enjoys his freedom

Is NOT the kind of guy that will let his friends make fun of you

He’s actually a pretty good listener

Will not help you with your homework cuz he didn't do it and wasn't paying attention

Has a very subtle couple picture of both of you as his lockscreen

Would 4.5/10 listen to his friends if they tell him to break up with you

-ˏˋ tsukasa ˊˎ

Cold, like super cold brrrrr kinda cold

Also a playboy like Fujio

I mean come on, look at him

Everyone loves pretty guys that look like girls with deep voices

Pretty privilege and he uses the fuck out of it

Definitely not a cheater but kinda toxic

Lies when he doesn’t really need to

Unironically calls you “pretty girl” when you’re mad

Does he actually like you?

You’ll never know

Honestly he seems like the kind of guy that’s only ever had like 1 girlfriend and all the rest are his hoes

He gets away with so much just cuz he’s good looking

I feel like he’d have your location but you don’t have his

Probably only started dating him cuz he’s pretty and he only dated you cuz he’s bored

He gives you skin care tips

Pretty guys are usually pretty freaky if you know what I mean

Doesn’t look like he can keep his hands to himself just like Fujio

He’s very mysterious and that’s what attracts people to him

Probably gets bored pretty quick tbh

You’re not gonna see him often because “bros before hoes”

But he values his private life so if he does genuinely like you he will only later tell his friends about it

Unlike Fujio, no one will no about your sex life

I think he’d be more on the possessive side tbh

So he won’t keep you as his lockscreen or ever post you (cuz why tf does anyone need to know who you are?)

If he actually wants the relationship to be serious, that’s when he’ll drop his hoes

Spends time staring at you like Fujio cuz he thinks your pretty

Will 1/10 breakup with you if his friends told him too

-ˏˋ todoroki ˊˎ

worst bf in existence (1/3) I’m (not) sorry

Probably hasn’t dated a lot but has a lot of hoes if you get what I mean

Tbh I’d be such a whore for Todoroki

He doesn’t think he’s all that good looking but girls seem to like him a lot and he takes advantage of it

Doesn’t really need his friends validation nor does he date because everyone else is and he doesn’t wanna be the one left out,, he doesn't give a fuck if he is

Mfer dates cuz he’s bored

if he actually likes you, no one will know who you are so forget the whole aspect of being shown off

you're basically his secret

You post him, he won't post you (lol tbh I wouldn't post my bf either,, maybe a pic of our hands but never his face)

Probably won't call you a pet name but maybe call you the nickname you're called at home if you have one or the same nickname your friends call you if they call you one

Definitely prioritizes fighting and the fucking Oya High leader ship more than you

You hate it but he's hot

does he actually like you?

You probably won't know

rarely actually pays attention to you

but when he does you have ALL his attention

tbh I see him dating someone low-maintenance where he doesn't have too put much effort in

not that toxic, just doesn't know how to fucking communicate

1/10 would breakup with you if his friends asked him too (doesn't need to validation)

-ˏˋ sachio ˊˎ

definitely an actual good boyfriend

I get major husband vibes from him (maybe cuz I'm super delulu for sachio but that's not the point)

not a red flag or toxic at all but somethings can be questionable

NOT the type to talk shit about his exes because he's mature enough to know problems can come from both sides

Yes I am picking favourites, my babes satchi can do nothing wrong

definitely gave you flowers the first valentines day you two were together for

honestly though,, like Todoroki, I doubt this guy would show you off too

Satchi seems to paranoid for his own good so don't expect to be going out in public with him

He's got a sister and I'm assuming(from popular headcanons) his dad passed away so his mom is alone,, therefore he had to be the man of the house

So he doesn't really give a fuck about periods

very knowledgeable about them tbh

seems like the kind of boyfriend that will gladly drive you and your friends around because he genuinely wants to be a part of your life and he thinks all of you are shitty ass drivers

friends with your friends because he wants to be apart of your life

Also takes what your friends say about you with a grain of salt because he knows all of you are ride of die type of ppl and they'd gladly lie for you to him

family oriented fr

went to ikea with you

you both are basically married

I'm so delulu for this guy omg

I don't see him as flirty

Doesn't pick up the signs when another girl is flirting with him and sometimes you think he's playing dumb on purpose

clingy mfer

you have each other's locations on

his contact name for you is just "♡" cuz no one needs to know your name

I'm not even kidding none of his friends will know who you are until maybe a long long time later

possessive but on the lowkey cuz he knows you value your freedom

Tbh I'm not even being delulu here, Sachio just genuinely seems like a really good guy

(not saying the rest aren't they're just very questionable)

long story short, I am his whore and I couldn't write anything actually realistic for him

0/10 would breakup with you if his friends asked him to

-ˏˋ yuken ˊˎ

I see him very similar to Fujio

Excpet Yuken knows he's being flirty

he flirts with other people on purpose cuz it's a bad habit now

also has major pretty privilege like Tsukasa

also uses the fuck out it

Jinkawa or maybe Shidaken or Sachio also know too much about your sex life

Like about that mole you got on your ass or some weird shit

they also unfortunately know about your kinks

It's like Fujio but in a different font

lets you do his hair and in return gets to do yours

doesn't know the definition of toxic masculinity so he will very gladly let you do his makeup

and sometimes his nails

Once again, not a cheater and actually not toxic

I already said he's like Fujio so this guy is gonna just be super flirty with everyone and everything with a beating heart

If compulsive flirting is a disorder then Yuken suffers from it

I wouldn't say he's a bad boyfriend but he flirts too much with other people and a lot of people consider that as cheating

Yuken seems like a pretty good listener

But he also likes talking a lot so be prepared to listen to his problems

lets you wear his glasses sometimes

When he's not busy he comes to your school to get you so you can go on dates

likes having all your attention

arcade dates are probably the most common

but he outshines out girls boyfriends ther by getting those girls stuffed animals and shit like that

I would say he's really a lot like Fujio

4/10 would breakup with you if his friends told him to

-ˏˋ kōhei ˊˎ

worst boyfriend in existence (2/3)

I doubt he even actually likes you

A complete asshole but you love that cuz you’re a lowkey masochist and red is your favourite colour

Randomly turns off his location and tells you “don’t worry about it” when you ask

Red flag (but in my culture we wear red at our weddings)

Doesn’t give you the time of day

is probably only dating you cuz you're hot and give him head or some shit

idk this guy is just really shitty

He's hot tho lol

gives me group leader kind of vibes

you never wanna date the leader of the group, they're always the shittest

his friends will never ever tell you the truth

I lowkey see him as a cheater tbh

and a gaslighter

"It was such a small thing and now look you've turned it into something huge when it doesn't even matter" type of guy

Just a fucking asshole

If you're with him I'm just gonna assume you're into pain or something

Or using him for his money (if yes then get that bag sis)

He also thinks you're with him for his money

If you actually aren't using him, it doesn't matter he just has major trust issues

good luck actually getting through to him

In the hypothetical situation where he actually likes you, prepared to be shown off

I see him as a very pda type of guy to show off how hot his girlfriend is to make others feel inferior

Probably won't give a fuck about what you're wearing if that is the case

he's also toxic asf idk if I mentioned that

Probably doesn't call you petname unless you're mad at him

7/10 would breakup with you if his friends told him to

-ˏˋ ryo ˊˎ

worst boyfriend in existence (3/3)

i did him and kōhei so dirty I'm not sorry

Loves Kōhei more than you

As hot as he is, let's be fucking honest with ourselves because part of the reason Kōhei thought he was so unbeatable was because of Ryo

Ryo let Kōhei get away with so much shit

and this hot ass mfer jsut seems like the type to listen to his friends and constantly need their validation

as hot as he is, plz don't date a guy like this

But unlike Kōhei, he's not a cheater

but he's pretty toxic

like he needs to know where you are all the damn time

crazy paranoid too

doesn't think you'll actually cheat but it's more his friends telling him you would

for him too be a good boyfriend he need to get new friends or like idk transfer schools

he definitely likes you, it's just he's so emotionally constipated that you can't tell if he actually does

only calls you petnames in private

I don't see him as the type to have hoes or flirt around

But that doesn't mean he'd be a good boyfriend

He lives for his friends validation

So if his friends make fun of you or talk shit, don't count on Ryo to defend you cuz he'll be laughing too

not a gaslighter but doesn't admit to the things he does and just tells you to leave it in the past

pisses you off but he's hot asf

tries to spend time with you but would leave your for his friends fr

102902/10 would breakup with you if Kōhei his friends asked him too

[inamindfarfaraway]

why do you ship poppy and sparrow from eah?thoughts on duchess swan and sparrow?

I have nothing against shipping Duchess and Sparrow! I just slightly prefer to think of them as best friends. Honestly, considering how she’s lived in the shadow of tragic doomed romance her whole life, I think it would be really nice for Duchess to find her happiness without any long-term romantic partner. I feel like she’d have anxiety about romance ending badly for her. Yeah, it turns out destiny is fake, but fifteen or so years of having the inevitable narrative of your future drilled into you and knowing that you are meant, you exist, to be hurt and betrayed and doomed by your romantic partner? That’s gonna mess your attitude to dating up. And since destiny is fake, non-doomed lovers are just one bad day away doom. There is no permanent happily ever after. Anyone could hurt her for any reason; and as she hopefully matures to be nicer and more moral, she could be afraid of hurting her lover too based on her past actions. But to learn that she doesn’t need to be anyone’s love interest could be empowering and liberating. She and Sparrow are definitely each other’s true loves in some way. I personally enjoy the platonic sense better, but the romantic option is just as valid an interpretation.

Okay. Duchess tangent over. Now, as for what I like about Poppy/Sparrow.

Poppy says in her bio that she finds Sparrow cute, but would like him more if he weren’t so arrogant. That’s a good foundation on her part. She sees worth in him, but also his flaws. If he ever wanted to play around with her, her standards and boundaries (and Holly) would force him to get his act together at least a little, which could be a catalyst for his character development.

They both have themes of freedom and rebellion. Sparrow is a Rebel more because he values his personal freedom than because he’s invested in human rights, refusing to conform to the law by stealing, his story by keeping the gains for himself and social norms by being an ass. Poppy loves not having a predetermined future and officially becomes a Rebel to avoid being the next Rapunzel and queen. Her least favourite class is Princessology, where you learn to be a responsible, respectable princess. Sparrow gets that. But she can show him how to express himself and defy social mores without being obnoxious about it.

They’re both creative types with unconventional styles and adventurous spirits, Poppy’s medium being hair and fashion while Sparrow’s is music. However, Poppy is a great, popular hairdresser. She’s good at listening to her clients’ input and giving them what they want, without sacrificing her own integrity. Sparrow is technically a skilled guitarist, but he hasn’t bothered to become as good a singer, only cares about what he wants and is terrible at responding to criticism. He could learn from her to be a better artist. And I think their alternative aesthetics (I know Poppy’s is still pretty tame and feminine, but that feels more like Mattel being Mattel than the ultimate expression of her alleged personality; fanart that depicts Poppy with a wilder fashion sense my beloved) could complement each other really well.

Conversely, Poppy has sometimes been known to be unsure of new situations or herself, like that whole time she was on the fence between the Royal and Rebel ideologies or when she was nervous about ice-skating for the first time. It’s easy to extrapolate that being raised as the spare to Holly’s heir with the glaring lack of a destiny could have given her some identity issues in general. (Canon doesn’t really show that, but canon shows us so little depth that we have to fill in the blanks.) Sparrow does not have that problem. Ever. He knows who is and what he wants in life, and he’s gonna take it. Maybe he could influence her to be more confident.

It’s less much less obvious because Poppy is genuinely kind and morally principled and socially competent to balance it out, but she has a selfish streak too. She regularly cuts off her magically strong, long and fast-growing hair and sells it. Why sell it? Why not just donate it? Because despite having all the money she could ever need, she wants a little more for herself. She makes a steady profit by selling something she doesn’t have to work for and doesn’t want. That’s a shrewdness and initiative Sparrow can appreciate. I think her choosing centrism wasn’t as callous or stupid as some fans have made out; the Royals have a lot of understandable, sympathetic arguments, the Rebels at this time can’t prove that the other shoe won’t drop and with a Royal sister who’s probably afraid of her going poof, it would realistically be an emotionally fraught political debate for a teenager. But her “Roybel” identity is still a safe position where she tries to have the best of both worlds and can feel vindicated no matter which side wins. And it’s interesting that for as good a person she is and as many friends she has with Rebel stances and/or tragic fates, what drives her from “The face-eating leopards have pros and cons, let’s see how things go” to “Face-eating leopards are bad and need to be fought” is literally “Wait, the leopards want to eat my face?” If anything, I think her selfishness is wiser and more effective than Sparrow’s - she stays inside the law and benefits others enough to have strong friendships and a glowing reputation.

We also see in the ice-skating webisode that Duchess develops respect for Poppy and her courage after initially viewing her as a rival, setting up a friendship and a fun dynamic as Sparrow’s two true loves. Especially if, as I suspect, Poppy wouldn’t make a half-bad partner in crime herself. And on the other hand… Sparrow and Holly. Sweet, gentle, polite Holly who finds nothing more exciting than reading. And Sparrow Hood. Needing to coexist and learn to get along. That’s hilarious. Imagine the wedding speeches.

In the original Rapunzel tale, she was born to poor farmers and married into royalty, so an O’Hair falling for a commoner is at once a reversal and a return to form. It feels fitting.

Likewise, the original Robin Hood was in some versions a nobleman who abandoned his decadent lifestyle to serve the lower classes. (They weren’t always comfortable having a true peasant hero.) So I like the idea of Sparrow inverting that with his journey, being a greedy, selfish scoundrel as a poor kid and then only gaining riches after becoming equally rich in compassion and generosity. Only once he’s ready to share the wealth does he get access to a royal treasury. Legally, even!

Thanks for the ask! It was very fun articulating my thoughts and feelings about these characters, I’d never done that before and I thought of a few new arguments while I was writing this. I love all of them even more now.

[storytellerslense]

JJ Maybank Character Analysis

Why a pairing of Kiara and JJ would hardly work under real-life circumstances

Screenwriters love messy romantic storylines because drama sells and keeps us all on the edge of our seats. Complicated relationships filled with "OMG, did that just happen?" moments push characters to grow and show off their deeper sides, making them more relatable. Plus, they mirror our own love life dramas (or lack thereof) and give us an escape from reality. The whole "will they or won’t they" vibe keeps us binge-watching season after season, completely invested in their rollercoaster romance.

But let's get real for a sec—these chaotic love stories shouldn't be your blueprint for a real-life relationship.

That being said, it might not be the popular opinion, but Kiara would be the worst match for JJ. In real life, their relationship would quickly go downhill, and here's why:

JJ's been crushing on Kiara since Season 1. His feelings have been solid, even while she was off exploring things with John B. and Pope even though she often treated him badly, commenting on almost all of his actions with sarcasm and disregard.

There are a lot of examples, especially in the first two seasons, where Kiara is being disrespectful and sarcastic towards JJ. It actually seems like she doesn't care for him at all

That's why Kiara’s sudden interest in JJ, after her flings with the other guys, raises some eyebrows. Is she really into JJ, or is this about rebelling against her parents or wanting a “fixer-upper” project?

JJ and Kiara would make a perfect example for a toxic relationship

Kiara's and JJ's core personalities and backgrounds clash in fundamental ways. JJ, with his ADHD-like tendencies, impulsive nature, and carefree, rebellious attitude, often acts without thinking, seeking thrills and living in the moment. This behavior is in stark contrast to Kiara’s strong morals, rule-following disposition, and the disciplined upbringing she received from her wealthy household and good education. While JJ's spontaneity might seem exciting, it conflicts with Kiara’s structured approach to life.

Kiara is feeding into JJ's insecurities

She tends to be judgmental, especially towards behaviors that deviate from her values, which can make it hard for her to fully understand or accept JJ’s way of coping with his challenges.

JJ grew up in an abusive household with a neglectful and violent father. This messed up his self-esteem, emotional health, and understanding of relationships. He’s conditioned to accept unhealthy dynamics and put others first, often at his own expense.

Kiara, on the other hand, had a cushy, stable upbringing with overprotective parents. This gave her strong convictions and a clear sense of right and wrong but also left her with high expectations and a need to maintain a certain image.

Kiara’s strong will and idealism can sometimes make her judgmental and inflexible, especially toward those who don't see things her way.

Opposites attract: the more differences, the better the story

She might struggle to fully get the depth of JJ's trauma and how it shapes his behavior. His impulsiveness and reckless behavior, driven by a need to survive his trauma, often clash with Kiara's moral convictions. His actions aren't about seeking admiration but about finding safety and acceptance.

JJ's and Kiara's values are constantly clashing

JJ’s low self-esteem, need for validation, and history of emotional neglect make him vulnerable to falling into the same victim role he’s known all his life. Kiara’s strong personality and occasional self-righteous streak could unintentionally exploit JJ’s compulsive selflessness and lack of boundaries.

Is there really more to the chemistry between JJ and Kiara other than just physical attraction?

So, unless JJ takes some serious time for personal growth, gets to know himself and his boundaries, and learns what healthy relationships actually look like, jumping into a romance with Kiara too soon is basically setting himself up to fall right back into the emotional traps he’s trying to escape.

So, what do you think about all this? Would you disagree or do you have another constellation in mind that would suit a character like JJ better (Sarah?). Let me know your thoughts!