#and not have it be questioned by the writers or the audience

[breakingthepage]

Miraculous Ladybug: A Fan Rewrite EPISODE 1! (1 - 1)

I was told there was a big Miraculous fanbase here, so I hope this reaches the right audience! XD This blog is run by me, Momo, the artist and mostly-writer. In casse you have questions yk

[brujahinaskirt]

It's not even about the vindication of calling a ship, okay. It's that the supposedly anti woke studio wrote about 3 million words of medieval fiction centering the relationship of the two main characters who are in most ways (or in all ways if you follow the obvious canon momentum of the story) meant for each other, as counterparts who help each other survive the great travails of their lives and who challenge/complete the other to become fuller, braver, kinder people. It's so clear these two people are soulmates, platonically or romantically, something observed consistently by the world around them and by themselves.

Except their society (feudalism, Catholicism) dictates that they are intended to be completely incompatible by nature and divine law. Not just for the obvious fact they are both men, but they are separated by what is arguably an even steeper chasm of social class. Their existence even as friends utterly spites, interrupts, and threatens feudal order right down to its theological and philosophical roots. They should not see each other as human and yet.

It's the fact that they do. The fact that the entire story has been about this--that these two protagonists fit together, undeniably, and grow to love each other fiercely (a love that deepens superbly from their knee-jerk playful puppy-friend-love in kcd1 to something selfless and mature by the end of kcd2). And they do so despite the immense opposition by their world, their social circles, their faith, and indeed their fandom.

And yes, it really does fucking matter that all of this culminates into a deep onscreen romantic love (if you get out of the way and allow it to) between two fandom-beloved male main characters (not just side characters rammed in for an optional gay romance but THE main characters of the duology; the "you" as in the player character and your erstwhile dick-jokes bro you have perhaps grudgingly at first been invited as the audience to love) in a historical fiction story that has been wrongly touted by the worst of our contemporaries as the holy grail of cultural conservatism.

Holy shit. Warhorse -- y'all. I'm sorry I doubted you. So few game writers understand how love works and indeed how people work, let alone translate it so well onto the screen.

Calling this an "optional romance" is not technically incorrect, I suppose, because it's true you can opt out and choose to remain platonic friends. But this language feels like a disservice, as if Henry & Hans's romance is a typical RPG wham-bam fanservice makeout with a minor fan fave character who never interacts meaningfully with the player again. Or as if it's a Bioware-style "give this NPC the right gift and do their side quest and you get to see a jankly ugly-bumpin' montage" situation.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance is so very much not that. The "main, optional" romance scene in question is just one consummation event of two people who have been growing up and falling in love in front of us over the course of some 200-300 (or god knows how many) hours. The fact these protagonists openly love each other is very much not optional.

This is, sincerely, groundbreaking storytelling in this medium and this genre. How fucking cool that we all got to see it now.

[miwiheroes]

If Will were a girl, how do you think the average audience would react? Would they say she's also a homewrecker or a slut? Or that her and Mike make much more sense and chemistry?

I think there would still be a shipping war, like there is with Jancy and Stancy. Therefore, toxic people on the Mileven side of things would likely call her that yes -- but I think that's not the issue brought up by people who are asking the question of : What if Will were a girl?

If Will was a girl, people probably would see Byler as having more of a chance, people would be more receptive of the idea of it happening because it's straight. People would be much much more likely to see their romantic scenes as romantic and the showrunners and interviewers would definitely be asking the actors more about this love triangle.

But a lot of the reason why so many people , including queer people, think that Byler won't happen is because it's a queer ship. These are the common doubts:

Will's unrequited love is realistic. Many gay boys have crushes on their straight best friend.

Will's sadness is realistic because he is a gay person in the 80s.

Mike loves El meaning he is straight and can't love Will who is a guy.

The showrunners can't make a gay love story the main focus of a huge show like Stranger Things.

The showrunners might be queerbaiting like a lot of other shows.

Doubt number 1 is eliminated if Will was a girl because straight unrequited love is not seen as realistic.

Doubt number 2 is eliminated if Will was a girl because she would be straight and not discriminated against for being gay in the 80s.

Doubt number 3 is eliminated because both El and Will would be girls, meaning Mike can equally have a chance of being with either of them.

Doubt number 4 is eliminated if Will was a girl because the writers would not need to make as big of a social leap to make Mike and Will in love.

Doubt number 5 is eliminated if Will was a girl because.... well it's obvious.

I kind of don't like this argument. Yes, if Will was a girl, people would probably be more receptive to the idea of Byler happening. A lot of the reason people don't see it is because of heteronormativity. BUT a lot of the reason why I think Byler is happening is because MIKE IS QUEERCODED not just because Byler have romantic chemistry. Part of Mike's arc isn't just realising that he's in love with Will, it's realising that he's queer.

This is a gay love story, don't try to water it down by simply asking questions like:

"What if Will was a girl?"

"If Mileven were gay would you like them?"

Ignores the queer building blocks of the story. Byler is the dynamic that it is because they are queer in the 80s. Mileven is the way it is because they are a straight couple pushed together by trauma and guilt.

EDIT: GUYS LOOK IN THE REBLOGS

[sweetenerly]

Girl Byler is CLEARLY queerbaiting, this kind of thing happens and will always happen, actors, writers and directors KNOW what they're doing, it's just MANY bromances we have in the movies/series...

I wouldn’t be so sure about that anon.

The story is written in a way that doesn’t give any space for queerbait to occur without leaving major plot holes and unanswered questions. And i just don’t think the Duffers would risk their barely established filmmaking career for the sake of appealing to the straight audience. Stranger things is the show that basically made netflix, they don’t have to worry about engagement anyways.

Also how can you say that byler is just one of many bromances…please name one platonic duo in this show with the same dynamic as Mike and Will. You can’t because it doesn’t exist. Even the actors themselves acknowledge that their relationship is very special and different from others, quoting Noah himself:

”You could never really tell if it was something romantic or just a very close friendship”

On that note i also don’t believe that Noah, a gay man, would be so invested in the promotion and hyping up queerbait.

But obviously we can’t be 100% sure until the season comes out.

[00valentina-writes00]

how are you able to write so much?? i feel like i see your works everyday (and im not complaining) btw i love your fics

bestie i am simply possessed. there is no other explanation. words? they appear. coherence? questionable. but the key is to let the brainrot consume you. no thoughts, just vibes, just pure unfiltered delusion. i write like i’m running out of time and also like i have a gun to my head.

In all seriousness though here’s some things that I do on a daily basis that might help me be a fast writer:

word vomit first, edit later – don’t let your inner perfectionist ruin the flow. get the skeleton down, flesh it out later.

set a timer – sprint like ur life depends on it. 10-15 min bursts. no distractions. pure chaos. (I have note books on top of notebooks since middle school of small drabbles that I’ve written, I write SOMETHING every day- no matter the quality)

skip the hard parts – don’t know how to transition? just write [insert cool shit here] and keep going. past you can suffer later.

channel raw delusion – convince yourself you are the best writer alive. manifest that shit.

Dialogue first, details later – if your brain is spitting out conversations, just get them down. You can add actions/descriptions after.

Use brackets like a menace – [describe the room] [make this sexier] [cool metaphor??] – slap those in and keep MOVING.

Write out of order – got a banger ending in mind? write it first. connect the dots later.

Music & ambiance hacks – write a fight scene to heavy metal. write angst in the dark. become one with the mood. (For some reason my hand moves faster depending on what I’m listening to)

Use a fake audience – imagine you’re being watched by 1000 screaming fangirls waiting for your words. let the pressure fuel you.

And the most cliche thing? Practice practice practice - like I’ve said before, I’ve been writing things like this since middle school, and writing is my hobby (one that I love tbh), I’m always typing SOMETHING out. Like how some people who can draw really well in a short amount of time, or people who can read really fuckin fast- it depends on the person. It think writing so much (no matter the quality) has definitely helped with my writing speed-

[demadogs]

Why byler? Is my question what is it about them that’s so popular

ooo this is a fun one. im assuming you may be one of my newer followers who didnt follow me when i was in the byler trenches. welcome. let me explain.

i think probably the biggest reason people gravitate towards byler is that its extremely fun for people who love film analysis because most of us genuinely believe it will happen in s5. for me specifically, this is the entire reason im here. i first started liking byler when s2 came out but it was casual. i just thought they'd be cute together. once s3 came out and i saw someone point out that mike was framed perfectly in a closet, that was my turning point. thats when i got insane about them because i actually believed its where they were headed.

its always fun to ship your favorite characters and engage in fanfics and fanart, but when theres a genuine belief that this is the direction the story is actually going in, its just a completely different experience. its a whole other world. its no longer about the characters themselves anymore. its about the cinematography, the props, the color palettes, the music choices, the blocking, the lighting. all of these things and more have provided evidence for why we believe byler will be endgame. its the perfect ship for people who are really passionate about filmmaking as a whole. 

many of us, including myself, got our degrees in film or have a background in filmmaking. ive made my own films and i plan to make more. one of them was screened at a festival. ive written academic papers on shows and movies. i've taken college film classes where my professors talked about stranger things. im a professional photographer which coincides a lot with film. i have this blog to talk about my favorite fictional media online. every time i watch something new i read long analyses on the media. if they dont exist, i write them myself and post them here. i love talking about and learning about and watching cinema on a much deeper level than someone who just throws on a show when theyre bored. so watching two complex characters not only have romantic tension in their actions and dialogue alone, but also have enough depth to analyze the practical filmmaking choices that prove they are going to end up together…. well its like fucking cocaine to me.

another reason is that mike wheeler, in my opinion, has the potential to have some of the most well written internalized homophobia ever. and i think he differs greatly from a lot of other characters with internalized homophobia because the writers have had the patience to not fully confirm his sexuality until the final season. many other queer characters who struggle with their sexuality come to terms with it over the course of one season or less. or they write it with dramatic irony so the audience is always well aware they are queer from the getgo, even if the character doesnt know yet. while theres nothing inherently wrong with any of these choices, i think having a more outside perspective on internalized homophobia and having that perspective be told slowly will make for a much more authentic and powerful queer coming of age story. i think all of mikes flaws and animosity towards both will and el will pay off so much once we know what hes been going through. i believe this character actually has the potential to reach people who arent accepting of the queer community right now.

byler also just resonates with the queer community so much. a lot of queer ships, especially mlm ships, are dominated by straight women, sometimes to the point where the ship doesn't even feel like its a part of queer culture anymore. its just nice to have a gay ship that feels like its for gay people. and as much as i love a really well written tragedy, its also nice that we can see a happy ending so clearly.

in short, its just fun. the whole "will they/wont they" element is fun as hell. ive never had that with a ship before. i tend to lean towards slow burns that i know will be canon (snowbaz <3) or tragedies that are so gut wrenching i dont even WISH they got together (jackieshauna <333) byler however just speaks to my film loving soul on such a deep level. its perfect for me. its so fun to analyze and read other people's analyses. i cant wait to see how it unfolds in s5.

[xi-xi-chen]

We're do you get the Motivation to create this amount of great art?? I love every detail in it, it's so fun and romantic! The way you portray affection is so sweet I love it!

Aw, thank you. I've never really tried to explain it before, so please bear with me on this haha.

My motivation does come from my love of drawing in general, I've been drawing since I was a toddler, but without any proper training/practice, so my art wasn't anything great, I just loved to doodle. But it does also come from my audience.

I'm forever thankful to my lovelies that share this mutual liking of this particular ship and content.

But if we're speaking besides that, then it's due to my own whims of wanting to convey the feelings of a moment.

So an example, hmm, if you can imagine....let's say, hugging a warm pillow close to your chest during a cold night, snuggling into your favorite spot on the bed, you've had a stressful day, the sun's gone, and the world is coming to a still at last it seems, maybe you're sad about what you did that day, maybe you felt accomplished, but this is a moment of silence, the moment of every night in your life that you need...just a moment to settle again, your anchors are returning from the depths, releasing the binds before they have to plunge again. This can play in many different ways, of course.

And so, I want whatever that feeling is to be visually seen in the art, so that's what I typically try to convey when I draw embraces of any kind.

But it's either I have an experience on my own, or I dwell into the theory of an experience and feeling, I then try to translate that into art.

When I say this aloud now, it seems quite silly to me, and I imagine other artist are also doing the same with their own unique works.

But it's just the truth from me, at least. It's like taking the writer's descriptions and morphing them to either their exact words or turning it into the hidden message of the piece.

I suppose this is how I'm able to (or at least trying to) draw the story in the eyes. I focus a lot of my attention on eyes and posture (not full body, not very good with that yet). I try to exaggerate a tiny bit on expression as well because it can make a difference for a blank face towards someone they don't like and emotion to the one they love.

I hope that makes sense and if that sorta answers your question. But thank you if you read this far, I know it was quite the ramble.

[sneakyboymerlin]

It appears that a CERTAIN INDIVIDUAL (said with love) has taken Merlin’s immortality into doubt… Once again I find myself burdened with writing beautiful Merlin analysis.

Merlin’s lengthy longevity is, of course, visually confirmed at the end of 5x13 when we see him alive and well in the modern day, making him approximately 1,500 years old now. This is, however, not the sole factor that implies his immortality.

Physically, Merlin has had many “near misses” with death which were likely actual deaths he and others (the audience included) dismissed due to plausible deniability. In 1x04 for example, Merlin stops breathing and his heart stops shortly after Gaius and Gwen administer the potion. Gaius does not attempt to resuscitate him, yet Merlin comes back fully cognizant anyway, with no external influence.

He is also struck directly by the Dorocha, a spirit whose touch no mortal has ever survived. Again, there is plausible deniability here due to Merlin’s powerful magic. However, the writers chose to specify that no mortal has ever survived their touch. There are other ways that the Dorocha’s death-touch could have been communicated, but it was instead made plain that there is no history of mortals specifically surviving the onslaught.

This is not the only instance where human mortality is mentioned only for Merlin to be excepted from the given conditions. Cornelius Sigan is another foe who cannot be overcome easily. However, Gaius chooses to express this in terms of mortality: “Sigan is immortal and you [Merlin] are not.” Miraculously, Merlin survives their standoff. Further, in 1x07, Merlin sees Avalon, which apparently cannot be seen by any mortal until death. Merlin says outright, “I’ve seen it and I’m still here.” In hindsight, it becomes clear that these hints are intentional foreshadowing and teasing hidden in idiomatic language. Lancelot also tells Merlin that his magic “doesn’t make [him] immortal,” which in itself means little in regards to Merlin’s mortality status, but in context brings to light further evidence of authorial intent: Merlin is the only character to be on the receiving end of such lines where his mortality is questioned or otherwise put to the test. No other character is subject to this dialogue full of double meaning.

Aside from these and similar examples, the nearest verbal confirmations we receive actually begin quite early on. In 1x08, Merlin is referred to by the name “Emrys,” which translates directly as “Immortal One,” though Merlin himself does not know it. Again, plausible deniability allows for other interpretations of this description; however, since Merlin happens to carry multiple of the defining traits of immortality (extreme longevity and improbable survival, especially after death has occurred), it is likely that this correlation lends credence to causation.

Most forgotten, and perhaps most importantly, is Balinor’s motivational speech to Merlin in the Crystal Cave. His revelation that Merlin “always will be” is of course another implication of immortality that is soon clouded by Balinor’s comparison to his own spirit’s unending life; however, this is not the key factor in understanding Merlin’s immortality. It is only one half of Balinor’s statement. The full line is: “[That] you have always been�� and always will be.” This implies that not only will Merlin live infinitely into the future (as seen in the following episode), but that he has existed since the dawn of time, even prior to his human incarnation. Merlin is magic itself, which cannot be made or unmade, just as energy cannot be created or destroyed — only transferred. His human form is essentially a transference of magic from the cycles of nature to a single rigid life form.

Now, there are other questions on limits and constraints that the show does not touch on. For example, since Merlin was not formerly human and is — essentially — magic that was transformed into a human, could he be transformed back to a prior, unconscious state, returning to nature and therefore fulfilling “death” by human terms? Is he forever trapped in this human form by whatever gods confined him to it, or is his form more fluid than his consciousness? Regardless, these do not negate the fact that he is immortal by human standards.

It can be inferred that the writers had planned this from the start. They had certainly planned for Arthur to find out about Merlin’s magic in the series finale, Arthur’s death, and the sugarcoating that he will rise again when Albion’s need is greatest. The finale implies that Merlin will be reunited with Arthur again someday, even if that day is centuries away — though I do believe fandom often exaggerates his desperation. Merlin is not single-mindedly thinking of nothing but Arthur: in 5x13, he just happens to be walking by and pauses briefly (indicating that he remembers) only to lift his head and move forward with his own life. It serves primarily as a confirmation that he has found peace and is no longer tortured by it. And how could he be after over 1,000 years?

I delve more into specific examples that prove Merlin’s immortality here and here for those interested in further ✨ research ✨

[idlingintheimpalapodcast]

New Episode Alert: What is going on with SPN? A discussion about fandom spaces with Nicole, a real-life anthropologist

Got a really interesting one for you this week folks ('They're all interesting episodes, Kasey'. Excellent point voice in my head)

Okay, we've got something pretty different this week. A little while ago our lovely Sandra was interviewed as part of someone's dissertation research. A few of you probably remember Nicole, the lovely researcher who was in some fandom spaces learning about our crazy lil world.

Well her dissertation is finished now & she agreed to come have a chat with us about her process (heh), her findings and her experience.

If you love hearing Kasey trip over themselves with questions, then get frustrated at the lack of solid answers then this is the episode for you. (So many questions y'all. But no answers. I was going crazy)

But far more importantly, a really great look into our fandom ecosystem and how it all keeps working & balancing & growing. Absolutely fascinating stuff, give it a listen! Listen on Spotify Watch on Youtube:

Chapter Timestamps

00:00:00 - Intro

00:02:28 - Meet the researcher behind the study

00:05:07 - Nicole’s personal fandom and fanfic journey

00:06:56 - The struggle to break out of lurk mode

00:10:08 - Lurking and the methods of anthropology

00:11:32 - Ethnography = radically hanging out

00:16:30 - Fanfic spaced use and user migration

00:17:46 - Why observe a SPN FanFic Discord server?

00:19:39 - Had Nicole read SPN FanFic prior?

00:22:32 - How the server research was conducted?

00:28:23 - Can passion allow you to be objective?

00:33:09 - The art of researching people

00:36:06 - Getting permission to study and entire server

00:40:36 - The outsiders looking in on fandom

00:42:34 - Digital anonymity

00:44:43 - Are subject details not as important in anthropology today?

00:48:01 - Wholeism

00:50:13 - A disconnect between who you are online and in real life

00:54:54 - How the research changed?

01:00:32 - Relationship between the body and what we read

01:02:50 - Collective cognition

01:08:50 - Being creative with others

01:10:25 - The different levels of sharing in the creative process

01:11:46 - What things are needed to keep a fandom ecosystem healthy?

01:16:57 - The change in how readers engage

01:18:57 - Learned ways of being social are not the same on all platforms

01:22:25 - The self-promotional aspect of creating

01:27:14 - How fanfic writing can lead to original publishing?

01:28:39 - Reader norms and culture

01:30:30 - Writer and reader clashes

01:35:36 - How important was feeling safe for members of the server?

01:39:09 - Knowing when to leave a space

01:42:26 - Finding a nice space to share in creativity

01:44:45 - The energy of the fandom

01:46:18 - The collaboration of fanfic creation

01:52:38 - How much agency do fanfic writers have over their blorbos?

01:55:23 - How do writers write for their reader insert audience?

02:00:23 - The magic of reality in fiction

02:02:39 - Is Dean Winchester running the show?

02:07:57 - Who has ownership over a fictional character?

02:13:24 - How fanatical is the Supernatural fandom?

02:18:33 - The conundrum of collaborative storytelling

02:21:27 - Who gets to say if they’re gay?

02:25:22 - How fanon influences canon

02:30:20 - Nicole’s final research thoughts

02:33:45 - Closing thoughts and outro

We'd really appreciate it if you could support us on ko-fi. It helps massively!

[firehananas]

Okay, now the poll is done, my explanation on this!!

So first of all, I again apologize for the lack of not true "no answer" because it does influence the results, so this poll should really be take with a grain of salt :/ but the discussions on it were interesting, so I preferred to keep it online... sorry orz

Now.

This questioning started for me after reading a fanfic from a Mylo's POV. This fanfic explore the whole idea he doesn't felt special for Vander, especially compared to Vi. It was really done well, and he also criticizes the partial attitude of Vander (from his POV, again, so he his himself not really lucid on this) but what surprise me is the author giving Mylo reason to the whole thing.

Then, as I interact with Arcane's fanbase, I feel this was a sentiment shared with a lot of people.

I insist it's not necessarily who Vander loved the most contest. It's more on who he feels affinity to, on who he'll be more indulgent. Because, thinking about it, I understand why some people think that way.

Arcane is a short series, and Vi is one of the protagonist. Her and Vander feel a lot of kinship, and the show illustrate multiple of time. But in doing so, Jinx/Powder much less (and let's talk about the boyssss) since she has a father-daughter relationship with Silco more exploited on screen.

The S1 did a OK job for me regarding this. OK, but not great tho - he show some privileged time with each, but the boys was either informative (Claggor) or because if he doesn’t fucking do it, he would have died (Mylo). It does show he trusted them and it was reciprocated, but it kinda lack tenderness compared to the girls?

And with Warwick in mind, it really pains me how much Vi is shows playing with him in his memory (despite Jinx being the trigger to regain his humanity), while the boys just show up... and that's it. It really feel like they were important, but not as much as the girls and mostly Vi. Heck, even Felicia is more shown in his memory than his sons. And in the S2E7, he feels more distant to the kids (you can argue it's because they are adult and from Ekko’s POV but... a little “good luck” or “you rock boys!” Wouldn’t have hurt you know?)

I don't think it was the intent of the writers — they had to make choices to make so the audience relate to the protagonists first above all. I do strongly believe Vander loved all his children equally (which, again, WASN’T the question for this poll), but the lack of time and Vi exposure as a protagonist make feels he put her (unintentionally) on a pedestal regarding the others imo.

In conclusion: for logistic reason, the writing can definitely make believed Vander favored Vi (and Powder to some extended) and I don’t blame people for this. While the direction of focus on Vander/Vi and Powder/Vander over the boys where understandable, it’s sometimes feel sloppy/lazy, especially in season 2.

And I fucking hate it!!!

I'm curious about how the community feel regarding this 🤔

Feel free to develop in comment and/or reblog!!! (and say WHO is your favorite kid too, I think it might be interesting!)

*I insist on favored in the sense he might be partial regarding the same mistake the kids can make, or how much he would praise them for the same task.

EDIT: you may put your “he doesn’t favour any of them” into the last option too because I’m a dummy who forgot the “no” answer 💀

[eradicatetehnormal]

New approach to feminist media discourse: "Scenes such as James Bond seducing Pussy Galore and Thor's abs being touched by Jane Foster all perpetuate toxic matriarchy and the idea that the female gaze is something to be uncritically accepted despite its demeaning effects on men."

[deoidesign]

Time and Time Again comes back tonight!

Thank you all for being so patient with me, I know it was a long hiatus.

My health was struggling, my arm was (is) hurting, and I decided it wasn't worth it. I'd rather be slow!

So thank you for giving me that grace, and I hope you'll be there with me for the rest of the series.

[roz-ani]

CAN WE PLEASE MAKE UP OUR MINDS ABOUT VIKTOR AND JAYCE (NOT) BEING DEAD?!

[mikodrawnnarratives]

Everytime I think I've calmed down about Jinx's ending I get reminded how infuriated I am by it

[sincetheducksleft]

I respect this man and his one-sided beef with his audience so much

[fadetouchedsilk]

i know in my soul the solavellan pandering is about to be off the Charts but im wondering if it'll even be enjoyable for them lmfao