#and there being good guys in one camp doesn't mean said camp isn't very bad as a whole

[justmenoworries]

"You just hate that Catra got a redemption arc!"

Wrong.

I hate that Catra got a bad redemption arc. Where everyone is just suddenly cool with her because she gave a very unconvincing and very unspecific apololgy. Once.

S1-4 actually did a good job of setting it up. It's made clear multiple times that, yes, while Catra did have a shitty childhood and most of her issues can be chalked up to Shadow Weaver being a horrible mother, it still doesn't mean she's automatically in the right. Both the narrative and the characters contiuously call Catra out on her actions and on her insistence that everything bad she does is actually someone else's fault. Adora literally gets a whole-ass speech in the s3 finale where she tells Catra that, no, the bad things Catra has done and does aren't on Adora, or Hordak, or even Shadow Weaver - it's on Catra. It's always been on Catra. She doesn't get to pretend to be a victim. She made her choice. And she has to live with that. S4 has Double Trouble repeat those exact same points word for word.

S5 is where Stevenson completely fumbled it. Because starting with s5, Catra is suddenly absolved of the most important thing in a redemption arc: Taking accountability.

"But Celty," I hear you say, "Catra does take accountability! She apologizes to the people she's hurt! She says she's working on her anger issues!"

Yeah, one measly "uwu I'm sowwy" isn't enough to make up for, let's see: kidnapping, torture, attemtped murder, actual murder, attemtpted genocide, actual genocide and years upon years of physical and emotional abuse.

Two characters in the cast react to Catra suddenly showing up in Camp Good Guy like they should: Frosta and Netossa. And both are immediately convinced that Catra is actually nice now, because Adora said so and so all is forgiven. No need for Catra to actually work to earn these people's trust. No reason to elaborate on how complicated Catra's sheer presence must make everything, because how are the Princesses supposed to feel about suddenly having to work with the ex-leader of the Horde? The woman who took an active part in attacking and destroying their kingdoms?

Other SPOP crits have pointed this out, but it's very convenient that both Scorpia and Mermista, two people Catra has hurt in a far more personal manner, (the destruction of Salineas and the continued abuse toward Scorpia) are chipped and therefor absent from the Good Guy team once Catra and the Best Friend Squad return to Etheria. Once again, Catra is absolved of having to put any work into redeeming herself. Even when everyone unites in the finale, Catra doesn't get to apologize to Scorpia because Scorpia forgets all her character development from s4 and just hugs Catra like nothing bad ever happened between them. Mermista meanwhile is stuck making a joke about Hordak just being let off the hook for war crimes, which is doubly ironic because Catra is right fucking there being portrayed as an uwu poor kitty-cat. We don't get to see how Mermista feels about the woman who destroyed her homeland suddenly being acquitted because she's She-Ra's girlfriend now. Let's not even start with the non-reaction Entrapta has to seeing Catra again. Catra, who Entrapta genuinely believed was her friend, and who not only had her shipped off to Beast Island and, in her mind, certain death, but also let Hordak, who Entrapta had a bond with, believe that Entrapta betrayed and abandoned him. Gentle reminder that Entrapta was so heartbroken about the fact that she really was abandoned on Beast Island by everyone that she started to succumb to the signal in an instant and would have actually died if Bow hadn't snapped her out of it with her hyperfixation. Gentle reminder that Entrapta is capable of holding a grudge, as in s3 she calls Adora out for seemingly having left her behind in the Fright Zone. But because it's Catra, suddenly Entrapta magically doesn't mind having to tend to the woman who shocked her unconscious and had her shipped off to a violent death.

Oh and let's not forget the elephant in the room: Not once, in the entirety of s5 does Catra ever take responsibility for killing Angella. Glimmer suddenly forgets all about Catra being the one who indirectly murdered Angella. She doesn't bring it up once and instead is slowly browbeaten into making nice with Catra through solitary confinement. The Glimmer/Catra friendship in s5 is so forced and so out of nowhere. Bow also forgets that Catra kidnapped him and his best friend/love interest to the Fright Zone and that because of her, Glimmer was suffering from her powers going haywire for quite a while, which, may I remind you, left her with spasms painful enough to have her writhing on the floor unable to move. What is Bow's reaction to Catra when she joins the team? To gush about how cute her sneeze is. I hate it here.

As for the whole "she's working on herself" - no she isn't.

S5 Catra is the exact same person as s1-3 Catra. Only now she gets away with her bs because the writers decided she's a good guy now.

S5 Catra is still a violent, self-serving, abusive asshole. She still blames others for her fuck-ups, still resorts to verbal and physical abuse to deal with her emotions, still would rather have the entire world destroyed than have Adora's world not revolve solely around her. Honestly, Catra saying that she always loved Adora is laughable, because like an episode earlier she left Adora in the woods, crying her eyes out and begging for Catra to stay, during possibly the hardest time of Adora's life. "But she came back!1!!" She came back after, once again, making Adora feel like absolute shit for trying to save people. Not to mention one of the reasons Adora was so deadset on stopping Horde Prime, even at the cost of her own life, was that Catra literally begged her to. Catra told Adora that if Horde Prime wasn't stopped, they'd all be looking toward a fate worse than death. Then suddenly towards the finale, Catra changes her tune and whines that Adora has decided to take the Heart, making it out like Adora just loves playing hero, when the show literally spells it out that Adora is the only one who can do this. Everyone else would literally die if they took the Heart. Adora/She-Ra is the last hope Etheria, no, the universe has at this point. Again, that's not just in Adora's head, that's something the plot itself confirms over and over again. But we're still supposed to side with Catra when she pushes Adora into the dirt and victim-blames her.

[scienceoftheidiot]

Me *likes a post about how USA was very close with nazis prior to WW2 and wouldn't have made a single move without Pearl Harbor, wanting to potentially correct a little and add what I know about this which is kinda true and very interesting

Tumblr : oh you are a communist. You love Stalin. You want more posts about how Europe is so bad for saying the USSR was bad to its people when it was in fact heaven on earth and we should all strive to bring back the glorious days of the USSR

I have a deep feeling the algorithm's name is Emmanuel Macron 😒

PS : I still hate the USA !!!! I hate my own colonialist country !!! That's not a good reason to glorify the USSR and lie about it !!!

PS 2 : I also hate the Nazis. I mean. Do I really have to specify this part.

[tohisprettyc00l]

celebrating your birthday

A/n: It's nowhere near my birthday but whatever

Amity: It's been a while since she's had a real birthday party. She used to get mager ones when she was friends with Boscha. In retrospect that was probably to impress Boscha's parents. But enough about all that it's your big day. And with money (that she totally didn't steal from her mom) she wants to make sure that you have a great birthday. She takes you to any store you want. And then gets you your favorite food.

Luz: She loves birthday parties so much!!! She goes all out. There's a bunch of decorations. And if you like having more people there, all of her friends are there. Which we know is a fucking lot. If you don't want a lot of people that's okay. She buys your favorite cake. You only turn whatever age your turning once. And now I've at least alluded to Boscha two more times than I thought I would.

Willow: She's never been one that likes big crowds. And no matter how many people are on your part she'd feel kind of awkward. So she hosts a party that's just the two of you. On the plus side, it's more special. Also, her dads make you a cake <3.

Hunter: The FUCK is a birthday? Yeah, I think I've made it clear the Empoer's coven and the Empoer himself suck. Like doesn't even know what that word means. But once he finds out he's determined to give you a good one. Despite never being to or having one himself. And it's very all over the place, You have no cake but do have ice cream. Not sure how he managed to mess up the biggest part of the birthday. He's trying okay? Also the number of gifts he good you was absurd.

Vee: She kind of knows what birthdays are. A few kids had them at camp (Which was probably sad as fuck.) So while the general decorations are kinda dull. The gifts are great! Most (affordable) things you want you get. Though there are a few oddballs in there. Like she just got you a straight-up weapon.

Raine: Pretty good birthday. The happy birthday song is 10x more awkward. Because they have a beautiful singing voice. Thankfully they also are an awkward mess when it comes to stuff like that. So they probably won't sing it (if you don't when them to.) All of the gifts they get you are sweet.

Eda: Never trust Eda to throw a party, worst mistake of my life. There are so many different shows and gamed-themed plates it's insane. The presents don't make any sense. Like a book about how to get better at abominations, while your human ass is just sitting there confused as fuck. She starts laughing and then just straight up gives you 250 snails.

Emria: She bakes the cake herself (and almost burns the house down.) She's not great at the whole planning the party thing. But it is still an enjoyable experience! While the wrapping job might have been so bad that you could see the gifts, said gifts were still great. Is her lacking ability in making birthday parties just a her thing or is her mom also at the core of this? I don't know, you decide.

Edric: Dude was stressed. He wanted it to be perfect! But, just like his siblings, he had no clue what to do. I mean he'd had birthdays, but he's not known for excelling. And with his mom being Odaila there was no chance of him getting a proper birthday. Cue the googling! The birthday isn't very extravagant, despite his wealth. But it is a fun time. He did end up getting pin the tail on the donkey. So that's pretty fun.

The Collector: Any chance to throw a party is a chance he'll take! And it was about you? That's twice the fun. He can make you the biggest cake with just a snap of his finger, not sure how good it would taste but that's beside the point. Also, the presents are great, obviously. You guys have stereotypical "girls" birthday parties. You have a slumber party, eat pizza, play truth or dare, and stay up all night.

Lilith: She probably wouldn't do anything major for your party. A slice of a cake and a small gift or two. It's not that she doesn't care about you, she does a lot! She doesn't really celebrate her birthday. (Sorry boys it's not angst this time I just don't think she likes celebrating her birthday.)  That being said, if you want a bigger party she's not totally against the idea. But the only people she has the confidence to ask are Hooty, Luz, and Eda (King probably tagged along.) It's pretty hectic, as all things with the owl family are, but it's honestly the best birthday you've had.

Gus: Gus is almost the biggest overachiever out there (second only to Hunter.) So he's more than excessive. He takes all his past parties and parties he's been to and combines them into one big party. He invited Willow over to make sure it looked okay (bless her and the crap she has to deal with.) She tells Gus in the nicest way possible that you'd probably have a heart attack from all the colors. She quickly helped him fix everything up. When you do come over it's overall presentable. It's a far cry from what Gus had planned but it is chill.

[barbiegirldream]

Related to Q/T (not very Dream sympathic even though I'm a big fan) : I doubt it's for clout, Tommy has always been pretty consistent about doing what he likes.

I think it's just simply what happened for all the streamers (Q, Slime, Phil, Tommy...) and that's why the skit is like that, bc it's what happened for them. Because I really don't see Tommy just switching on his friends, especially not for clout.

BUT, and that's what is so terrible about this situation, they just don't get how much hatred is throwned at dream fans and Dream himself ? Like, for them it was a "Q didn't say anything bc he doesn't have to say anything. Dream copied, he deal with the accusations it's his own bed." So Q not saying anything is OKaying the USMP and Dream is a drama queen for airing public messages and overreacting. In that vision, Dream is the one breaking the friendship, creating drama for nothing, and overreacting. Not continuing the USMP is Dream's decision (and that's something so many people are saying against it !).

But that's completely disregard the amount of hate and vitriol the USMP got because they can't know, you don't know how hard someone can be harrassed. The space with at least 1k of people doxxing Dream ? The ss where there was a coordinate effort to attack him ? I remember externs mocking us for speaking about "sending assassins" before realizing that oh, actually it happened.

So I do get Tommy's video : Dream should have stayed silent about everything and just went "the USMP will not happen yet, wait for it". But I dislike how that take completely disregard that he was pressed by very real hatred both online and IRL, and that's something that people love to ignore about Dream and his stans.

So yeah. Dream made his bed, but I'd like for once to have those guys have the same pressure put on them and see how they react.

PS : absolutely hate to see people discard that T made his own reputation and that he should be thankful for Dream's friendship. I can't bother to watch him anymore, but he is talented and has always been pretty straight about himself. It's also more than getting on the QSMP.

Sorry if it cloggs for asks, it was a bit long and not very positive. Feel free to ignore, your blog just made me feel free enough to share this.

None of this is true tho... like no one thinks Dream aired private messages there were no private messages. they made fun of the long twit longer because they can't genuinely comprehend someone stalking and committing crimes bad enough for the FBI to get involved. They genuinely think Dream is lying out of his ass unaware this isn't even the first time it's happened to Dream. You know who's more than aware? Tommy more than any other random CC on the internet knows exactly what happened to Dream because Dream talked Tommy through the same debacle. Tommy just had an entire livestream tour around England telling everyone how Dream protected him and prepared him because of Dream's experience with criminals trying to ruin his life. This round of doxxing happened because they wanted Dream scared enough to not do the USMP which it worked he didn't they won. But it's still not enough. These freaks spend all their time tweeting about Dream because he's all they care about. QSMP is just their new camp from which to throw grenades at Drean.

Tommy's reputation is as a Dream SMP streamer it's all he ever wanted his reputation to be. Tommy's youtube channel is based off the DSMP. Tommy literally said with his own mouth you can thank Dream for everything about his channel because Dream told him how to do everything from thumbnails to video descriptions. I remember during Minecon Tommy going I had a brilliant idea and by that I mean Dream had an idea and I went oh yeah that's good. Tommy has never ever in the past shied away from giving Dream and anyone else who inspired him their flowers. The simple truth is he probably thought he could get away with the joke and being a teenage boy comes with an inherent cruelty to it 🤷‍♀️

[shardsofswords]

When it comes to antisemitism among western gentile antizionists (and I'm making it very clear i'm not talking about palestinians themselves here. I'm not demanding scholarship from people who are actively being bombed. I don't feel the same about those of you who are fine and safe and simply not willing to acknowledge your own bigotry) there is a common throughline in the belief in the myth that israelis are all just wealthy americans/europeans/have dual citizenship and can leave anytime, and the vehement opposition to both the idea that jewish people are in some way indigenous to the Levant, and that a non insignificant of people genuinely fled antisemitism and would have died if they hadn't left for Israel.

And I think these things come from the same root. Which is the desire for a narrative where there's foreign bad guys colonizing a land, who could leave anytime and have no reason whatsoever to be there.

And underneath that narrative is a silent assumption, one that confuses me greatly. Namely, that if some portion of israelis did have a good reason to want to go to Israel, both because of a longstanding cultural and historical connection to the land and because they were escaping antisemitism elsewhere, that would somehow make the act of mass murder and supression of palestinians... less bad? As if the existence of jewish people living in the region of palestine, and the state of israel carpet bombing gaza are inevitably connected, and the first can't happen without the second, and therefore, if the first is in some way justified, the second must also be. Except it very clearly isn't justified. It's an active genocide, and for that to be true israelis must have no reason for living in israel at all. The problem becomes not the ongoing mass murder of palestinians, but the presence of israelis, because these two are now one and the same.

Now, it has to be said, a big driving factor of this sentiment is because this narrative, that jewish presence in the middle east recquires that mass murder of palestinians, is one the Israeli government has pushed itself for decades. It justifies its horrific violence by saying that this is absolutely necessary for jewish people to exist safely in the middle east. Or in fact anywhere in the world, because it's also a core zionist idea that jewish people will never be safe anywhere but in a jewish state. This conflation of two seperate things wasn't invented by antizionists.

It is, however, not true. when the israeli state says this, they're lying. And just because antizionists didn't invent the idea doesn't mean we don't need to unlearn it. Acknowledging that jewish people are connected to israel doesn't make what is happening to palestinians not genocide. Nuance doesn't mean "well I guess now it's a little bit okay to bomb refugee camps and cut an entire region off from water, electricity, and the internet" Genocide is bad. Always. Unambiguously so. No matter who's doing it.

"jewish peope are indigenous to israel" also, in fact, doesn't make it inaccurate to call what is happening in palestine "settler-colonialism" because it is. A lot of people- understandably, considering history- have a purely racial view of colonialism. The idea is that there is an ethnic group of people who is indigenous, and therefore has rights to the land, and another ethnic group who isn't, and therefore is an invader who has no right to the land. What this ignores is that what defines colonialism is the material and political reality of one group being pushed out by another. What is happening in israel is settler-colonialism because the state of Israel is, in fact, trying to permanty replace palestinian society with an Israeli one. That's what settler-colonialism is. Their ancestors living on that land centurie and millenia back doesn't change that.

This answer by user starlightomantic explains it better than I ever could. "they locate the crime not in the invasion but in the foreignness" is basically what I was trying to say a few paragraphs ago but way better. But basically, under this purely racial framework of colonialism "jewish people are indigenous to israel" sounds like "the land rightfully belongs to jews (and therefore pushing palestinians out is fine)"

And once again, of course, "jews are indigenous to israel" IS also being used by zionists and the israeli state to justify the ethnic cleansing of palestinians. And they're wrong. But part of antizionism is countering this kind of propaganda and in this case the part that's wrong isn't "jews have a special historical connection to israel" or "a lot of people came to israel because they were facing life threatening antisemitism elsewhere" but "jews being indigenous to israel/facing antisemitism makes the displacement, oppression, and mass murder of palestinians okay"

You don't have to try and prove that jewish people don't have a connection to israel. Because it doesn't change the fact that a genocide is happening and it needs to stop. Trying to argue these points does nothing for palestinian liberation and only helps to fuel the propaganda that all antizionism is antisemitim, or that the ultimate goal of antizionism is to drive all jews out of the middle east.

Stop wasting time falling for repackaged conspiracy theories and continue boycotting, protesting, and speaking out for palestinians. The genocide HAS to end.

[watching-pictures-move]

Movie Review | The Octagon (Karson, 1980)

This isn't very good, but maybe worth seeing for the cast. First and foremost, you get Art Hindle, who just a year earlier played the most divorced man in Canada and in this one treats his girlfriend abominably, which makes you wonder if he was more at fault for his marriage falling apart than the other movie let on. (Whaddya mean he wasn't playing the same character...) You get Lee Van Cleef, who is gruff and steely but with a twinkle in his eye as always, but given that his character doesn't meaningfully contribute much to the plot, you wonder if he owed somebody some shooting days. You get Tadashi Yamashita AKA Bronson Lee, who I suspect was brought over on Chuck Norris' insistence, given his background in Japanese karate films, but mostly makes you appreciate Sho Kosugi's star vehicles all the more given how little he has to do despite playing the main villain. You get a few recognizable faces in smaller roles, like Tracy Walter, Brian Tochi, Ernie Hudson, who's really jacked in this and is really jacked now and was probably more jacked in Ghostbusters than anybody realized, and Richard Norton, looking like the porn parody version of Norris with an even worse moustache and mop haircut.

As for Norris, who falls flat as always when playing heroic and is not at all helped by the echoing narration that probably sounded in the theatre like he was sitting behind you, whispering sweet nothings in your ear. But he has good chemistry with his co-stars, and one wonders if he'd be better respected as an actor if he'd instead made a career out of good ol' boy supporting roles, stepping in for a few minutes to back up the boys and mack on some honeys while opening a can of whoopass on the bad guys. I'm thinking like Bo Hopkins in The Killer Elite. Certainly he would have proved more engagingly threatening to the ninja villains in that movie than Burt Young, whose easy elimination of countless ninjas in the climax provides an embarrassing low point in Sam Peckinpah's filmography.

Anyway, the plot involves a ninja training camp in which an international assortment of terrorists, mercenaries and other nogoodniks attend to learn the ninja ways. This thankfully avoids most of the racism of other movies of this era in its depiction of this lot, although the diversity of the villains means that this probably reflects Norris' views on DEI. Norris and Hindle also bitch about their government being unable to stand up to said international threat, so there's probably some stuff to unpack if you're looking for it, although it's less blunt than his movies for Cannon. (Also, given that some of the characters include Canadian terrorists and it takes three ninjas to take down Art Hindle, this is the most fearsome Canada has ever been onscreen.) This is also firmly a product of the Carter era, in that it has that extremely brown look and a generally low energy level. I guess the Crisis of Confidence extended to ninja movies. There isn't very much action until the last twenty minutes, and while those come up short against pretty much any of the Cannon ninja movies, they're an oasis in the ninjitsu desert of the rest of the movie. That being said, given that Carol Bagdasarian's character spent a good amount of time in this ninja training camp, it's a little lame that she spends the climax shooting people with an assault rifle. That is not the ninja way.

[ramblings-of-a-mad-cat]

Ragnok's backstory is actually revealed in one side quest where we rescue a student's uncle. He says that when Ragnok was young he came across an illegal dragon camp, and he was impressed with the dragons. He wanted to join the wizards there, and when one of them dropped their wand he saw his chance to give it back to him. But seeing the goblin with his wand angered the wizard and they attacked him. That's why he hates wizards. Also, haven't saw the whole story yet, but there is a goblin character that is on our side, we help him get a goblin helmet for him so he can gain Ragnok's trust. He says he doesn't fully agree with him

You mean Ranrok, right? I'm pretty sure Ragnok is a Goblin from the original books. Either way, that's definitely interesting.

Honestly, that story is a tragedy and it only serves to remind me who the real villains of this conflict are, and it sure as well isn't the Goblins. This is an almost textbook misunderstanding, fueled by bigotry and archaic institutions, that create a situation where Ranrok was just being polite but was immediately treated as a criminal. If one of the other Wizards had picked up the wand to return it, no one would have batted an eye. But nobody trusts Goblins and it's literally illegal for them to carry wands. (Or at least it is 100 years later, but I bet that law is already in place during HPHL.) That's one of the most blatantly racist details about the wizarding community that no one else ever seems to notice. They hold other creatures accountable to their laws, which obviously favor them and exclude said creatures. They have official designations to determine what counts as a "being." Honest to god, it's no wonder the Goblins fucking hate us. Humans really are trash sometimes.

I've gotten way off topic. Everything I've seen of Ranrok makes it difficult to sympathize with him or believe that the game is trying, but I have to admit that this backstory does help. In before Tumblr adopts Ranrok from Rowling and tweaks his character with the proper head-canons. Up to and including fanfics where he's the hero. Wouldn't be the first time we've woke-ified a problematic aspect of the potterverse...(I expect the same thing to happen to Sirona, by the way.)

Glad to hear that not all of the Goblins are depicted as villainous. That's a genuinely good thing, and I also appreciate that he doesn't "fully" agree with Ranrok versus just thinking he's flat out wrong. This does help, a little, but...to be frank, the issues with Ranrok's depiction go right down to the roots and can't really be solved by just including other Goblin characters. Because the Goblins are, deliberately or not (and it's looking more deliberate with each passing day) a caricature of Jewish people. So depicting them as the villains is already difficult to come back from. But, the way they do it is just so...typical.

Stop me if you've heard this one before. The villain of the story actually makes some very good points. They believe themself to be a hero, fighting injustice. Realistically, they're not wrong about anything they say. The only problem is that they're an extremist. By all rights, they could have been a good guy if they weren't causing so much damage in the name of their cause. So the heroes still have to stop them and uphold the status quo. They express disgust with the villain and the story suggests they have become as evil as what they were originally fighting. After the heroes win, they acknowledge how the villain may have had a point, actually....and proceed to do nothing about the injustices the villain brought up.

It's such a classic way of vilifying people who stand up against corruption and speak truth to power. People who take a stand and refuse to tolerate oppression, exactly like what the Goblins are doing. But oh, they're killing people and doing evil things. See? If you rise up against the institution, you're the bad guy. And in this case, villifying an extremist like Ranrock goes hand in hand with this game's antisemitic subtext. He didn't have to be the villain, he shouldn't be the villain. Because the Goblins, for so, so many reasons...should not be the ones we consider the villains of their conflict.

[shelbbswrites]

Do you feel the writers didn't do justice to what they built up in season 2 in season 3 when it comes to portwell? Don't you feel their reactions were out of character at times, just so they could show Ricky being the one "showing up" for Gina? And also Gina not getting over Ricky is one thing I can accept to an extent but I felt like she genuinely was pretty much over him when she was getting so excited when EJ just said the word love.

I wrote A LOT about this in my reviews of HSMTMTS Season 3, so I'm going to shamelessly redirect you to those if you want to read them.

But I will answer your question here, too! Though, I am apprehensive because writing critically about HSMTMTS and its relationships tends to open the floodgates for unnecessarily hateful messages solely because people have differing opinions.

I like the writing of Portwell in the first two episodes of Season 3, but their relationship falls apart a little too quickly after that. The issue lies in HSMTMTS picking up with a time jump from the Season 2 finale, so we don't get to see Gina and EJ in that relationship that they both say is so good. Instead, we only see (very sweet!) glimpses of it when they get to Camp Shallow Lake.

Then EJ is saddled with directing an entire musical that will stream on a global service. To make matters more stressful, he receives little to no help and is granted little to no slack.

Season 3 shows EJ and Ricky showing up for Gina. EJ is so determined to do well with Frozen because his dad will let him stay in Salt Lake so that EJ can be closer to Gina. He knows how much showing up means to Gina, and he's willing to do whatever it takes to ensure he can still be that guy for his girlfriend.

However, it's not enough.

By episode 3, there's a visible shift with Gina. And this isn't to say that Gina shouldn't be annoyed that EJ isn't capable of hanging out all the time. She's entitled to those valid emotions. It's more that Gina doesn't seem to consider the weight on EJ's shoulder.

That's a massive workload for a young kid, no matter what. Especially one who is in a transformative period in his life -- that space between high school and college. In fact, that space could have been reason enough for EJ and Gina to grow apart. Instead, HSMTMTS plays it as a contributing factor after pushing EJ away and making him the bad guy to pull Ricky in, which isn't necessary because it always feels like HSMTMTS would circle back to Ricky and Gina's connection.

Because Season 3, for the most part, shows me that Gina has moved on from Ricky and is invested in EJ (like in "The Real Campers of Shallow Lake" when she does the whole flirty musical number to bother EJ), but Ricky is starting to realize his feelings for Gina.

As long as Ricky has those feelings, HSMTMTS will come back to them, and I expect that. I'm actually very curious to see how Season 4 deals with Gina and Ricky's story now that they've kissed.

And I really enjoy Ricky's independent arc in Season 3 and how it coincides with his realization that he has romantic feelings for Gina. Again, I find it very well done.

I wish that HSMTMTS gave EJ and Gina more time and didn't villainize EJ in the process, especially after his impressive character development in Season 2.

I hope this answers your question. Apologies for writing a book. I really love this show and the characters.

[talkingbl]

KBL v. Thai BL: My Two Cents

So, I see the Thai BL v. KBL discourse on twitter and thought I'd chime in on it.

Most common KBL stan arguments I've seen:

Thai BL is bad. Bad acting, bad direction, bad editing, etc.

Most, if not all, Thai BL actors and stories are problematic.

Thai BL is just porn with no plot.

Thai BL actors are 70% jumpscares.

Most common Thai BL stan arguments I've seen:

Most KBLs are boring.

KBL stans are xenophobic and/or fetishize the Korean look.

Even if some KBLs are good, they're not all that much better than Thai BLs.

KBLs are just het kdramas w/2 men instead of a het couple (i.e., little actual LGBT representation).

Arguments I see from instigators who're pretending to take the high road:

Taiwanese BL better than them all.

"Only good LGBT content out of Thailand are the ones starring [insert their favorite femme actor here]."

My Take.

Both sides have some decent points and some completely idiotic takes. I agree with KBL stans that a lot of popular Thai BLs feature terrible acting and plot. Not all, but maybe 7 out of every 10 Thai BLs I've watched (mostly popular ones) either lack significantly in the acting or the editing department (with some lacking in both). Few are outstanding pieces of cinema (though I don't think those ones that aren't are meant to be).

Not only are so many Thai BLs just poorly made (and no, I'm not talking about looking expensive, I'm talking about hiring looks/nepotism/name recognition over talent), so many of them are just ill-conceived to begin with. Most popular Thai BLs are adapted from light novels which are just straight up erotica. And when you take the sex out, there's nothing of substance left. Nothing wrong with that (IMO). But I do see the argument from KBL stans as I, like many others, watch media to immerse myself in an entertaining and sometimes profound story (not necessarily just to get my rocks off). Obviously, a story can do both but it needs to be done well and be well-balanced.

Next, relative to actors in other industries a lot of Thai BL actors have been exposed for being homophobic/rape apologists/colorist/etc. Thai BLs also feature harmful tropes such as making darker skinned characters the bad guys all the time (while pale-skinned characters are innocent angels who can do no wrong), or actively shun darker/less eurocentric features. THAT BEING SAID, there's a couple of caveats I want to point out with this line of thought:

Thailand is by far the biggest producer of live action BL content and is simultaneously the most visible. Of course, there's going to be more instances of abhorrent behavior that make it to the twitter trends than that of any other industry.

Korean men are also not angels? Lol. Like did we learn anything from all the one hundred eleven million times kpop idols have been exposed for racism, anti-semitism, homophobia, and all the other -isms and phobias out there? Just because your fave KBL actor isn't hitting the media circuit like the Thai BL actors are (thus, giving more opportunities for them to expose themselves/be exposed), doesn't mean it's not happening or that they don't think that way.

Point is, both can be horrible with regard to the problematic aspect lol.

As for the Thai BL stan arguments, I agree that most KBLs I've seen are not that interesting beginning-to-end. Many of the ones I've watched are either just as bad as the worst Thai BLs plot-wise or horribly mid with no camp/kitsch factor to save it. Very rarely do I come across a KBL that gets me hooked either due to outstanding production or outstanding story (or both, ideally). A lot of this, I think, is because I hate the kdrama-style of production/directing that can suck the soul out of a heartwarming story.

Now, don't get me wrong, I hate the Thai rom-com style of production/directing with the heat of a thousand suns but the rare saving grace is usually its camp "so bad it's good" value. Either way, both take many Ls in the production department, regularly.

That said, I agree with a lot of Thai BL stans that a lot of KBL stans are reformed kpop warriors who simply prefer the Korean look (which is where we get so many KBL stans calling non-kpopified Thai actors "jumpscares"). I want to be clear here that I don't think all or even most KBL stans are xenophobic, but I said this a long time ago that many KBL stans who talk about the superiority of KBLs and the "inferiority" of Thai BLs move weird to me. You can like something and not use xenophobic dog whistles basically calling Thai BLs (and, come to think of it, even Filo BLs) poverty content and Thai actors ugly for looking too non-Korean.

Please understand, I'm not saying folks can't like what they like. It's about how you express that that changes things (e.g., saying X actor is not attractive is very different than roasting a certain skin tone or virtually unchangeable physical feature across swaths of people). Also, I hate when Thai BL stans use this argument as a way to get out of addressing poor quality we get from Thai BLs that prefer a marketable face/name over good acting/story. Exposing latent Korean superiority complexes is not the way to win the argument about Thai rom-com quality being piss poor.

Finally, the so-called bench riders who are really just anti-Thai BL (rather than pro-KBL): Taiwanese BLs are not magically superior to all just because you want to pretend to be better than the other KBL stans while also simultaneously hating on Thai BLs. Don't get me wrong, I love some Taiwanese BLs but 1) those folx using Taiwanese BL as a crutch are usually not being genuine, and 2) Taiwanese BLs have the most suspect incest relationship-to-socially acceptable relationship ratio of all time lmaoooo. Taiwan is not stranger to terrible concepts and questionable acting. We cannot continuously pretend that all non Thai BLs are the Citizen Kanes of our time whilst this fact persists.

Worst of all are those who stan ITSAY/BkPP (claiming that it's not BL and they're ~serious actors) but roast every other Thai BL (and hell, all BLs in general). Like girl sthu, ITSAY is a BL and BkPP are full time singers now. /j but forreal, I have a lot to say about this group of stans that I'll save for another post. (a/n: I adore ITSAY and am seriously impressed with BkPP but some of their stans are just...yeah)

[trans-pickles]

ok now i'm thinking more about this, so have some more disjointed thoughts.

isaac hasn't had a stable father figure for much of his life at that point. he's gone from seeing arthur every few months, to being kidnapped and raised under colm's thumb, to later in his teen years being brought up by kieran. there's two ways this could go, because if kieran had been the one to actually pull the trigger on eliza there's no way isaac would be okay with him.

either kieran came into the gang when isaac had been there for a while and isaac glommed onto him as a person who would not hurt him, or colm just walked into kieran's quarters one day, dropped off a sobbing twelve-year-old isaac, and said "make sure this kid knows how to work worth half a damn". isaac is very used to kieran being the only one he could rely on in the gang, and he isn't super apt to trust this new gang that kidnapped his only friend/surrogate father. i mean, if he hadn't come along kieran would be dead, and he's supposed to trust arthur just because he fucked his mother years ago? he's the one who left them to colm!

arthur, for his part, does not even do a single thing to try and justify himself. he's carried that guilt for so long and even imagined that eliza and isaac would hate him for abandoning him that he just won't refute it. if isaac snaps at him that kieran is more of a father than he's has ever been and arthur was ready to kill him, arthur won't exactly just take it on the chin, but he will uncomfortably say he's trying to make things better, and isaac can take his time, and then walk off to drink maybe a little too much whiskey. obviously their relationship gets better over the course of kieran's recovery, especially when arthur himself starts to care for kieran. it starts as just feeling like he has to be nice to this guy or else his son will never love him, but as kieran gets better and is able to do more things around camp they realize they have a lot more in common than they thought, and hanging out isn't so bad!

something interesting that i didn't touch on in the last post was how the rest of the gang might react to kieran after this revelation. it does not at all change sadie's opinion of him, to the point where she's even MORE anti-kieran for a long time. the way she sees it, kieran helped kill arthur's lover and turned his son against him. to her this is just more evidence of how the o'driscolls destroy peoples' lives. she would only ever warm up to him when it becomes clear exactly what he shielded isaac from, and the abuses he himself suffered at colm's hands. dutch is still just about as suspicious of him as he is in-game. he might even think that he's "using" isaac to worm his way into arthur's good graces.

hosea and susan, however, are perfectly willing to look past all that. they saw firsthand how destroyed arthur was when he lost isaac, and if there was one single o'driscoll that kept isaac alive through all of that then, well, he must be at least a little trustworthy, gang rivalry be damned. susan certainly shows it less than hosea, but she makes sure to mention to dutch how much more convenient it is to have someone who specializes in horse care on site ("get him some farrier's tools and maybe we won't have to head into town nearly as much"), and hosea is fully ready to take this nervy little loser fishing the same way he has all his boys!

the relationship between arthur and kieran only really starts to develop when arthur (somewhat drunkenly) confesses to kieran that he doesn't know if he even deserves to be in isaac's life. kieran is dumbfounded and immediately refutes him by telling him how much isaac used to tell him about his dad, how much he missed him, how he taught him to fish. he tells arthur that despite all his anger isaac really is happy to have his "real" father back in his life, and he doesn't want to replace him. arthur says he might have already done that, and it might be for the best.

kieran just gets frustrated with him, tells him to stop feeling sorry for himself, and says the boy needs a father, dammit. arthur is so caught off by this that he just laughs, and when kieran angrily asks what all that's about he says he never knew kieran had it in him, that it's obvious kieran cares about isaac. if kieran thinks it's good for arthur to push for an involvement in isaac's life, then he will, but he'll need his help.

idea that i've been brewing but probs won't have time to write but based off my terrible kieran was part of the gang/it was the o'driscolls that killed eliza and isaac - isaac lives but is raised as an o'driscoll with a sort of paternal relationship with kieran and tries to rescue him from the vdls - which is when arthur finds out he's alive. kieran and arthur awkwardly forced into co-parenting situation and fall in love along the way

tbh it makes sense to me, from what kieran says in game colm is no stranger to pressing prisoners into service. love the idea that it's almost this dark mirror of arthur's situation with dutch, where colm would act like isaac is a son to him but only when he really needs something from him which is actually almost exactly like dutch oops but it's this sort of implicit threat that with the o'driscolls, you pull your weight and make yourself useful, otherwise, you know...

isaac doesn't exactly have anywhere to go so when kieran "joins" he immediately finds a kindred spirit. maybe colm has taught him to shoot and fight and kill, but kieran teaches him about horses and fishing and bird calls. at this point isaac doesn't remember much about arthur. maybe he resents him for leaving him and his mother to die. maybe he kind of holds him on a pedestal and keeps this childish idea that someday his dad is gonna save him but he's starting to get a little too old to believe it as much as he did. maybe it's all just foggy in his mind. either way, after kieran is captured isaac is furious. colm shows no intention of going to save him and isaac is STEAMING when colm has the audacity to say that kieran better not talk.

if colm isn't gonna do something then isaac sure is, so he susses out where the gang is holed up and does his very best to free kieran. but obviously he can't get far with a malnourished and somewhat delirious straggler and he refuses to leave him behind. he's caught obviously, and in the scuffle kieran calls his name, and of course when something goes wrong arthur needs to be called over, and through a whole bunch of shouting (and afterwards, some awkward conversation) everything is pieced together.

isaac being an o'driscoll is kind of what clues them in to the fact that kieran wasn't really lying about not being a huge fan of colm himself. i mean, if they would kill eliza and keep her young son prisoner then they'd certainly keep kieran on after killing his old gang. he gets cut loose without even being threatened with gelding! and by now he's more willing to talk anyway - isaac being under the vdl's protection and thus unable to be caught in the crossfire makes him more willing to sic them on the o'driscolls. he barely even processes the REASON they've suddenly started trusting him until he actually listens to some of the breathless questions arthur is asking as he practically shakes isaac.

as soon as he hears isaac's name arthur is struck with a pang of sadness. but then he sees the kid, does some quick math in his head, remembers how there was only the one grave... it's seeing isaac's face that clinches it for him. dark grey eyes like his mother's, a scowling mouth that must look just like arthur's as he shouts at bill to let him go. arthur realizes just in time that oh yeah, this guy is invading their camp and he's dangerously close to losing his son again so he screams at everyone to put their goddamn guns away and immediately just assaults isaac with a barrage of questions.

it's a very long night for everyone. when everything is cleared up and after arthur has finished crushing isaac in his giant hug he has to accept the fact that someone else raised his kid. he doesn't know whether to resent kieran for having isaac's affection or just be happy that at least in these past few years he's had a better role model than colm (depending how long kieran has been with the o'driscolls... idk what's better, him joining up when isaac is already a teen or him being colm's whipping boy when isaac is first encountered). but arthur of course has to play nice with kieran but he slowly grows to appreciate the calming influence he has on isaac.

kieran for his part is having mixed feelings on actually meeting arthur for the first time. whatever feelings isaac had about arthur, kieran DEFINITELY was told about them. it's odd to finally meet the man in the flesh, especially since he's the one who KIDNAPPED him and threatened to kill him!!! but he kind of starts seeing how hard it is for arthur to accept the whole situation and starts tentatively trying to get closer to him. he doesn't want to... give him pointers, exactly, for fear that arthur will think he's being patronizing, but he'll sort of gently mention things isaac likes, and in turn arthur starts to swallow his pride and seek kieran out for these things.

the funniest thing is isaac seeing the two of them slowly start to get along and realizing exactly what's happening. i imagine he'd get into some kind of parent-trap shenanigans to try to speed things up and they somehow work despite them being horrendously planned.

[meloneta]

Do Revenge-on who? jews?

The newly released netflix-original "Do Revenge" is, in my opinion, actually a good movie. It's fun, it's interesting, it's kinda camp, it's good. It has a diverse cast, it's pretty gay, and it examines the gray-area of morality. Throughout the movie you can notice some very nice little details. For instance: a woman with lipstick carries a cup with a straw-there's lipstick on the straw. A couple plays around in colors-there's a finger-drawn heart on the guy's cheek by the end of the montage. Two besties wear a school uniform, one in purple one in green-they each have the other girl's hat. Then there's one detail-one that's quite easy to find and frankly hard to miss-that...has no explanation whatsoever.

The BIG BAD™ of the movie is a guy named Max. Max is everyone's favorite. Max controls the school in every way. Max has the richest, most politically connected family out of them all. Max manipulates everyone, especially women, throughout the entire movie. Max manages to convince every person at school that he is a "woke", kind, caring guy.

Nothing is mentioned about Max's origins/religion. At no point of the movie does it become in any way relevant (nor is it being mentioned, at that) what Max's religion is.

Almost.

Because there's one little detail they decided to integrate into the movie.

[ID: a picture of Max from Do Revenge. He's wearing a halfway-unbuttoned shirt, revealing a golden Magen-David necklace. End ID]

This is max. The necklace he's quite lavishly wearing is a Magen-David (Star of David) necklace. In case you're unfamiliar with it, the Magen-David is a jewish symbol. The main symbol of judaism, in fact. Many jewish people wear a Magen-David necklace, just like many christians wear a cross necklace.

The necklace is never discussed. It only hangs very prominently from the main villain's neck.

And I just don't know what to do about that. There was no reason for this detail. There is no possible explanation for it other than antisemitism.

"It's the actor's personal necklace"-That's not how movies work. That doesn't exist. If you make a movie and you have a decent enough budget for it, there will be NOTHING in the frame that you didn't intend to be there. I mentioned the cute, nice details earlier to show exactly that. They noticed every little detail. They PUT every little detail into the movie.

"It's a part of the character's aesthetic design"-Okay. Use a different necklace. I agree, many douchebags do wear necklaces. JUST NOT THAT NECKLACE. A necklace with any other, meaningless, pendant or a necklace without one altogether would've served the exact same aesthetic purpose.

"So what? Are you saying there aren't any jewish people who are also assholes?"-No. In fact, I happen to personally know quite a few of them. But that's a movie, not real life. If you make a movie and the only objectively, unredeemably evil character just so happens to also be the only visibly jewish character-that's not random.

The necklace means Max is jewish. The necklace serves no purpose other than letting the viewer know Max is jewish.

Then there's the Yiddish thing. Max randomly integrating the words "I'm kvelling" (in Yiddish-feeling happy, proud) into a sentence. Something that also serves no purpose and could've been very easily replaced with multiple different, english, words.

Of course, there's Max's sister, who i guess is jewish by-proxy. She's presented as a morally good character, so that's nice. Only that-just like with Max, it's never said that Gabbie's jewish; but unlike Max, Gabbie doesn't have any jewish atributes or wear any jewish paraphernalia. nor does she say anything in Yiddish.

She also isn't as main a character as Max is, since he serves the role of the main antagonist while she serves the role of the love interest of one of the protagonists. Anyway, that part is more individual. Anyone can decide for themselves if Gabbie's character brings them any comfort in the matter, all i can say is-it didn't for me.

In conclusion, antisemitism is nothing new. This isn't the first and it won't be the last Netflix Original with antisemitic aspects. But I'm especially unpset by this one because that little detail robbed me of having Do Revenge as a favorite. I loved the movie, and it so easily could've avoided all that. But for some reason they chose to undermine the main, feminist, message with an antisemitic one. And that's just...too bad, if you ask me.

[justonemorechapternicercy]

Could you do any yandere nicercy?

Hey, anon, let's pretend you sent me this ask a few weeks ago, and not more than a year ago, okay? Okay. ❤️

Also, I just want to let you guys know that I'm going through some things, and I'm not that excited over PJO - or any fandoms, really - nowadays. So, as a personal challenge to get me back to writing and reading PJO content, I'll try to answer the asks in my inbox, writing those prompts. I'd like to ask you, not to send me any prompts for the next... Uhh... Until the next time I post something about it, okay? I'm in two PJO projects that are very important to me (one with Fee, the other with the Camp Elysium server), that I just couldn't touch, so I'd like to be able getting back to them.

Thank you ❤️

Now, back to the story-

Spreading out on the satin covered bed, still a bit breathless from their previous activities, he could hear them talking. He didn't appreciate when people stole Nico from him, when he had to leave their bed so soon after completion, but he couldn't complain. It was Hazel, after all.

Nico would do many things for his step-sister, even leave him all alone in their bed.

Their conversation was quiet before, but now they raised their voices enough he could understand the words they were speaking.

"I'm taking Percy with me," Hazel stated firmly.

He felt his heart drop. The chains around his left leg rattled as he moved, but it didn't bother him. The words, on the other hand…

"No, Nico, you can't keep him here like this! It has been years since he was seen! He wasn't even on his sister's Dark Baptism! This is not right."

Estelle? It was already Estelle's sixteenth birthday? She had her Baptism? That's nice… but that didn't mean Hazel had any right to tell Nico what he could and couldn't do. She had no right to want to take Percy away from his dark angel.

Nico was saying something he didn't hear, and then, "... you're wrong! I love Percy and he loves me! I'm taking care of him, I'm not letting anybody use him."

"THIS IS LOVE TO YOU?" Hazel shrieked, causing Percy to jump again in fright. He didn't like loud noises. They were… not good. "This isn't love, Nico. He doesn't deserve it, you can't force him to stay with you."

Percy furrowed his brows, not understanding what she was insinuating. He loved being with Nico. He loved Nico. He wasn't forced to stay there. He quite liked it, actually. After all what happened with the Dark Lord Kronos, and his servant, Luke… Percy didn't like going outside. Being in a crowd, meeting with people… no, it was not for him. The bed was very comfortable, safe and secure. And he had Nico.

"I'm not forcing him. He loves being here," Nico drawled. His voice relaxed Percy. Nothing bad could touch him if he was there.

"Why are you doing this, Nico?" The witch asked, voice trembling. She just didn't understand it. She didn't understand them.

"I can't lose him. I won't lose him," Nico answered. Percy's heart ached for him. He didn't remember much from before, but Nico told him what it was like. How reckless he was. How stubborn, yet easy to manipulate. How he almost died more than once without Nico to help him. He knew how much it still pained the other warlock. "I love him too much to do that."

"I know you love him, but you can't keep him chained up. It's not right!" Percy started to feel more and more uncomfortable. What right did she have to judge them? To judge Nico?! She knew nothing! It was for his own safety! Nico did everything he could to keep him safe, and Hazel had no right.

"And it's right to send him out to die? No. I won't let him die, not if I can help him." Percy smiled, caressing the black iron around his ankle. Nico would keep him safe.

"You aren't helping him. He is barely living; you are killing him in a different way!" Hazel said sadly. Percy huffed, he hoped Nico wouldn't listen to her. He didn't want to leave. He didn't want to part from Nico. He needed Nico.

He loved Nico.

"Stop lying!" His love shouted angrily. Percy shuddered. Shouting wasn't… It wasn't good.

"Nico…" Percy could barely hear her voice as she whispered. For a few seconds the only thing he could hear was his own heartbeat. 

Then, Nico. "No. I don't have to listen to you anymore. Leave." Percy unconsciously nodded. Hazel had to leave. Before she could change Nico's mind. Percy had to stay with Nico. He needed it.

"Nico…" she whispered. Percy could hear Nico walking, stalking his prey. He knew those steps by heart, he could not mistake them with anything. He was pissed.

"I. Said. Leave." His voice was hard, devoid of any emotion, but it was clear he was at the edge of his patience. Percy could picture him, his face set in hard stone, eyes blazing, mouth pressed in a thin line. He was glad the expression wasn't aimed at him.

"I just want to help! You are killing him, Nico," begged Hazel.

"Don't come back again. You won't like the consequences."

Even Percy through the closed door could feel Nico's power. His eyes rolled back, his body tensed, both with phantom pain and arousal. Nico liked to use his powers on him on some occasions. Percy both dreaded and loved those times.

He could hear Hazel leaving, then footsteps nearing the room. Nico stopped outside of the door, and Percy felt a sudden dread in his stomach. Why was he waiting? What was he waiting for?

His breath catched when the door slowly unlocked, creaking as it opened. Years next to Nico go by a second when you live as long as witches and warlocks did, but Percy found himself waiting impatiently, his body knowing when its owner was nearby but not close enough.

"My good boy," Nico smirked, eyes ranking over Percy's naked body sprawled across their bed, his voice rich and lovely, nothing like the one he used with Hazel. It wrapped around Percy like a lover's caress, so intimate, he could almost feel it.

"She is gone, right?" Percy asked, reaching a hand out, touching those brunette curls, dark enough they might even be considered black. But he knew Nico was a brunette; he could vividly recall any and every part of his lover's.

His skin was soft, Percy loved to touch it, to taste it. He wasn't sure when and how it all started, but he could honestly say he could no longer live without Nico di Angelo.

The warlock leaned into Percy's touch, his lips brushing against his palm in a barely kiss, before knotting Percy's long hair between his fingers, and pulling him up in a bruising kiss.

It isn't sweet. It isn't nice. It's nothing that sort, but it is wonderful and Percy could feel the sparks of their mixed magic dancing across his body, burning him up, like a cauldron bubbling inside him. Their bodies fit together well, like a puzzle's missing pieces. It feels right, like they were made for each other.

Nico moved to suck at his neck, harsh and painful as his sharp teeth grazed at the sensitive skin, but pleasure soon took over with his tongue as a soothing counterpoint. He gives himself wholly over to the sensations, to the pain and pleasure, to the sweet whispered words and razor-edged dark magic that ran through his body.

Nico's nails clawed against his shoulders, pinning him in one place as if he could ever run, his mouth exploring Percy's exposed pale neck as if he's never done it before. 

"Always so lovely," he murmured. "Always mine," he growled, digging his nails deeper, tearing into Percy's soft skin, drawing a few drops of blood.

They stared into each other's eyes; he could see nothing, but swirling blackness, deadly pools of poison, the literal abyss. He wondered what Nico saw in his. He wondered if he was mirroring Nico, or he still had his soul, that thing he signed up to Dark Lord Kronos with his own blood.

But those fleeting thoughts flew away when their lips met again, Nico biting Percy's lips, hard, and the coppery taste of his own blood filled Percy's mouth. It was a familiar taste, welcomed, even.

He just took whatever Nico pleased to do with him; taking the marks he left on his body, the curious fingers creeping down on him to their hidden destination.

"Mm, you are still so open for me," Nico hissed, his lips curving in a lascivious smile, fingering Percy's still loose hole. The slightly older warlock nodded, legs unconsciously opening wider. "You are so good for me," he murmured. He waved his hand, and immediately, his previously hot fingers turned into almost like icicles. Percy shuddered and whined; it was bordering unbearable, yet the contrast between his heated, slick hole and the ice-cold touches could have been enough to send him over the edge if Nico would have allowed it.

His fingers were nimble and sure, painful and pleasurable, knowing how to cause the maximum at both. But they were nothing compared to his cock, thick and long, so big Percy always questioned how it fit into him. But it did; he could feel himself stretching and expanding, accommodating to the girth. His ears were ringing, he could only hear his begging through a thick layer of fog. His cock was throbbing, his hole was stretched to the limit, and he could do nothing but take and take and take.

Nico always knew better than him what his body could take. After all, he could take anything Nico wanted him.

The brunette captured Percy's mouth one more full force, his tongue sliding in and out, in parallel how he was fucking Percy into the mattress. Percy felt devoured, completely at Nico's mercy. He was at his mercy.

Nico's hips continued their rhythmic, mind-blowing movement, back and forth, slower, faster, deeper, shallower, making Percy's body thrumming with restrained power. His eyes were closed as he came, giving himself over to the feeling. He was probably saying something, praises or unintelligible words, but he didn't care about that. He only cared about the feeling of Nico's release deep inside of him, his alluring powers filling him up to the brim.

Opening his eyes, there was a long moment where they stared into each other's eyes, and Percy was falling, and falling, unrestrained into the deep abyss. He found himself learning towards Nico unconsciously, who kissed him once more, their lips moving in tandem, their breaths mixing, limbs tangled together until they were one.

One kiss, another, then Nico moved away, pulling his clothes without speaking, needing to go, do his own thing.

He left Percy splayed out on their bed, naked and beautiful, knowing he can't go anywhere, even if he would finally take off the chains on his leg, he wouldn't run.

Percy was his, forever.

[noisyalmonddreamer]

Halloween Special

Wanna spend Halloween with some cuties?

Percy:

-This boy LOVES Halloween

-Doesn't matter what you're gonna be doing he just likes the Halloween feel

-Buys so much candy and hoards all the blue ones

-He want's to go trick or treating but you tell him that he can't go

- "But WHY?"

-"You can't"

"Why?????" looking like a baby seal with his sad face

-You have to explain he's to old to go, which he's very upset about. And I mean very

-he sulks for like a good 20 minutes while you're standing there like '-_-' because he's a 17 year old boy being upset about not being able to go trick or treating (Sad though ngl)

-He get's over it but then insist on having matching couples costumes

-He also likes Halloween party's though I don't see him staying at them to long, maybe an hour or two. That is if there was a lot of people

-If it was like with the seven, Nico and maybe their s/o's then he'll chill for a while, since they'll most likely watch some movies or play games or something

-Also think ones his sister get's old enough he would love to take her trick or treating

-His favorite candy is sour patch kids, of course the blue ones are his favorite, he'll eat any of them though. Other then orange, he hates those

-He loves decorating a lot

-the Poseidon cabin, his moms house, just camp halfblood in general

-He carves like 30 pumpkins and puts them around his cabin

-he also buys fake skeletons and have them doing dumb stuff

-Like having a tea party or going for a swim

-he prefers funnier Halloween movies

-he get's pretty scared at horror movies

-Sally never let him watch them so he isn't the best with them

-he hides behind you, under his blanket, behind his stuffed animals

-he'd want to dress up as something super cheese

-I also feel like he would dress up as the little mermaid and you're prince eric

Jason:

-He's pretty neutral about Halloween.

-If you enjoy it he'll dress up with you and everything but I see him as more one of those dudes who genuinely enjoys giving candy out to kids

-He loves to see the little kids being happy and yell "Trick or treat!" he get's like a giddy expression on his face, it's so adorable

-He individually says to each kid "Oh that's such a nice costume!" or "You look great!" Something like that, a lot of the time having to do with the kid's costume

-voted most likely to give out way to much candy to a single kid

- "Okay so we're out of candy."

- "How there's only been like 3 kids?"

- "I know but the last kid that came our said he loved me so I gave him the whole bag."

-I don't see him as a party guy (Obviously)

-If he goes it's because his friends or you wanted him to go

-I see him as the friend that stands in the corner and makes sure his friends don't make any bad decisions

- "That's your 20th piece of candy. You shouldn't eat anymore you're gonna get sick."

- "PLEAAASSSEEE"

- *Sigh* "Fine you can eat it but no more after that."

-He secretly has a sweet tooth

-He LOOOVES chocolate

-If there's a kit kat bar near him, he is going to eat it

-he also is the parent friend so he watches his friends carve pumpkins to make sure no one gets hurt

-Of course knowing the seven plus you plus Nico plus all their partners something happens

- "I looked away for a second how did you get a pumpkin stuck on your head???"

- "Well it all start with an idea-"

- "I don't want to know"

-He's pretty okay with any movies

-he doesn't have any real preference for them

-with horror movies he get's scared in the moment but he doesn't carry it with him or anything

-you guys dress up as ghost sheet ghosts

-Didn't get much time to do Halloween stuff as a kid

-So I think he'd really want to dress up as a ghost sheet ghost

-he has so much fun as a ghost sheet ghost

Leo:

-Leo goes HARD for Halloween

-He loves the excuse to eat a shit ton of candy, to prank and scare people

-This boy loves it all

-He would turn the arts and crafts building into a haunted house

-He tries to make it scary, but ends up making it more funny so the little kids can go in it

-Master at decorating

-as soon as it turns September he starts to make decorations

-One of the things he makes is a skeleton that dances

-the kids love it

-He will also try and watch scary movies to prove he's brave

- "Pfft the Conjuring isn't even that scary! It's okay babe I'll protect you!"

- "I don't know it's pretty intense."

- "Oh please I fought Gaia! This movie isn't going to scare this bad boy!"

-get's scared

-get's really scared

-he ends up hiding his face in the crook of your neck while gripping onto your shirt super tightly

-He spends a long time making his costume

-which is a replica suit of iron man's suit that actually works

-he also might make you one

-Really likes hanging out with people on Halloween

-Be it with the seven plus who they bring, a camp party, or just his siblings, he just really likes it

-I feel like his favorite would be Reeses peanut butter cups

-He would also end up eating WAY to much candy because you made a passing comment about how it's better for your teeth to binge eat your candy rather then eat it piece by piece over a long period of time

-he crashes way to early into the night from his sugar rush and you need to take him to bed, but he begs for you to stay with him

-Ends the night cuddling with him

Nico:

-he umm is confused

-most of the time he's tired around this season because the ghosts and spirits are more unruly and everything so he's pretty tired trying to control them

-Takes lots of naps with you (Idk why I added this i've been in a nico mood)

-he also doesn't understand all the funny/fun stuff behind the Halloween season

-from his understanding and memory of the holiday it has to do with spirits and ghost and getting them not to haunt you

-So when someone blasts 'Spooky scary Skelton' or 'monster mash' he's like "???????"

-You explain everything to him and he still doesn't get why Halloween is the way it is but he's okay with it

-He loves horror movies

-He watches so many

-Never forces you to watch them but if you do he'll try and make sure you're not scared

-he hates party's

-Doesn't want to go to them

-If you really beg he'll go but not for long

- "La mia vita can we please leave?"

-"Soldatino we've only been here for 30 minutes are you sure?"

- *Nervously nods while rapping his arms around you* "yeah"

-You guys end up cuddling in his cabin while watching some movie's and eating candy

-Speaking of candy-

-This boy likes black licorice and caramel...what can I say he's an old soul (hehe)

-he also has a secret sweet tooth so if you like licorice or caramel watch out because he will eat them

-Doesn't really decorate at all

-His cabin always looks like it's ready for Halloween

-He also doesn't have extra energy around laying around so he doesn't decorate

-Might carve a pumpkin if you want him to

-I think he didn't want to dress up

-But I really want to see him in a no face costume

-which he would agree with because it's all black and just a sheet and mask

-secretly loves doing couples costumes

Frank:

-Bby boy really loves Halloween

-He has so many good memories of it as a kid!

-Baby loved trick or treating as a kid and I could see younger him in a bed sheet ghost costume

-He still really loves Halloween and loves dressing up

-Absolute no for horror movies, I mean like have you MET him

-His favorite Halloween movie growing up was "it's the Great pumpkin Charlie Brown" he's just a big fan of Charlie Brown in general

-If he had to watch horror movies he would end up hiding under a blanket or behind you

-which is funny because he's a big dude

-He likes party's actually!

-He get's nervous about party's and everything but he kinda likes hanging out with people

-he also likes handing candy out to kids

-If he sees a little kid dressed up as something he ones dressed up as he get's so excited

-"(Y/N) look! look! That kid is dressed up the same way I was when I was 7!"

-he also LOVES decorating for Halloween

-he's so good at it too

-Like knows how to make everything look good but not overboard or cheesy

-He LOVES carving pumpkins

-He's kinda bad at it and cuts himself but the smile on his face when he finishes makes your heart flutter

-dresses up like beast boy from teen titans

-says you should dress up as cyborg because beast boy and cyborg are best friends

- "Did I just get friend zoned???"

- "n-n-no! That's n-not what I meant!!"

-His favorite candy is almond joy's

-he'll gobble up so many at one time

-But he forgets he's lactose intolerant and get's a really bad stomach ache

-Don't worry you're there to comfort him

-Ones he get's those stomach aches he's done for the nights (They hurt so bad my dude)

-You guys end up watching old Disney Halloween movies/ tv specials

Will:

-This boy LOVES Halloween

-he want's to somehow go out tricker treating and give out candy to little children

-You have to explain to him 1. he is to old to trick or treat and 2. even though his face could pass he's a tall boy. he's 6ft so...he can't go trick or treating.

-Bby cries *Commence cry*

-So he settles for giving out candy in costume and binge eating candy

-He then regrets this decision and saying something like "why did I just eat all that candy????" and get's you to take it away from him because he can't control himself

-He likes butter fingers

-But he knows how unhealthy they are

-he feels so bad when he eats them all

-he would also like going out and taking one of his younger siblings out for trick or treating. with you of course.

-he really likes horror movies and he really likes funnier movies

-either way you guys will be cuddling under a blanket

-Also of course he likes party's

-He sings if they let him, or even if they don't

-he's a social dude so he's talking to people, playing games, taking pictures, dancing, y'know all the fun stuff you do at party's (I've never been to party's other then school ones so I, in fact, don't know)

-he help's decorate camp for Halloween

-he also want's to see peoples costumes, he's interested in what they dress up as, and if it's appropriate, also safe

-he also want's you to be wearing a jacket or sweater

-even if it disturbs your costume

- "Here wear this."

- "Will this is a hoodie! It's gonna hide my costume!"

- "It's chilly out and I don't want you catching a cold!"

-Listen I know this makes legit no sense but

-Will dressed as sailor moon

-gets you to dress up as a sailor scout, probably Jupiter

Magnus:

-He's pretty neutral about Halloween

-He hasn't celebrated properly in years, since before he was 14. Plus he hasn't trick or treated since before that.

-Ones he got a partner that likes Halloween he would participate but would preferer to stay in or hang out with friends while eating candy and watching movies but he'll dress up if you want him to

-Also for some reason I see him as the type to blast spooky scary skeleton at night in the halls of floor 19 (Why do I headcanon magnus much more of a dumbass then he acts???)

-He also doesn't like horror movies. Like he's so scared of them he really can't take it

-He prefers the funnier ones like hocus pocus, Nightmare before Christmas, Halloween town, It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, stuff like that

-If he does watch them he screams like a little girl then later asks if he can sleep in your room because he's scared. even though you're both died...

-on those nights he cuddles a lot

-his favorite candy is candy corn, judge or agree with him he's doesn't care he just thinks it tastes really good

-he's also dumb and sticks the yellow side into his teeth to pretended to be a vampire

-he can't take to many sweets, except he thinks he can

-So then he will eat way to much then complain about his stomach hurting

-When that happens he ends up laying his head in your lap while everyone watches movies

-he would really prefer not going to a party

-he would REALLY prefer to just hang out with his floor mates and you

-but he does like playing Halloween games

-he thinks he's the funniest person ever because he suggests a Ouija board

-But if you move he will get scared

-he learns the spooky scary skeleton dance

-"(Y/n)! (Y/n)! Look look look!"

- "What is it maggie?"

- "Look at what I learned!" *Proceeds to do skeleton dance very poorly but looking really proud*

-easy to say the two of you dress up as skeletons

Hearthstone:

-confused baby he doesn't know what Halloween is

-Sure he's been in this realm for a long time and have seen multiple Halloweens he knows it's a thing but he doesn't understand it

-He's really only seen them during the day and stuff so he's never had the Halloween feel

-When you explain some stuff he asks so many questions as to why. Like just why in general.

-Once he understands he would sort of enjoy it, in the sense he likes the feel of Halloween

-He ends up helping you and Blitz decorate the store, he gets in all the places neither you nor Blitz can reach because he's a tall boy

-but he really enjoys decorating like for real

-he also feels super proud when he decorates his pumpkin for the first time

-I think he'd like any Halloween movie, horror or funny

-Though I feel like he'd really enjoy the Headless Horseman from Disney (you can fight me on this but I think he would love animation and find it really interesting)

-Fight me on this but I think he'd like pumpkin flavored things.

-When you gave him a pumpkin spice latte for the first time his eyes LIT UP

-He gulped down the entire thing then burned his mouth and cried

-Asked you to kiss it better

-This boy also can't take sweets, if he has to many he gets headaches and kinda whiny for the rest of the night

-Obviously wouldn't like party's, he just finds them really stressful

-So he prefers dressing up with you, in a couples costume might I add, and watching movies,

-you guys end up wearing thing 1 and thing 2 onesies

-he's so happy about it (You don't understand how much I wanted to dress him up like where's waldo)

-Maybe even giving out candy to little children

-he's lowkey a softy for children

-so he really loves seeing kids all happy with their parents and stuff

-gets sad for a little before you kiss him on the cheek then he blushes and continues giving out candy

Alex:

-Alex really loves Halloween

-s/he loves dressing up

-s/he hasn't had a real Halloween for a very long time

-Decided to got trick or treating in Hotel Valhalla ( A/N Convince me they don't trick or treat in hotel. TRY)

-S/he picks out the costumes, obviously

-S/he also plans a party for floor 19

-S/he ALSO shape shifts into a black cat and scurries around and try's to scare people

-Really enjoys scary movies actually

-If you don't like them it's an added bonus that you'll hide your face in his/her neck or chest when your scared

-If you do like them then the both of you will comment about how dumb the main characters are for doing something they shouldn't have

-If you can't watch scary movies s/he'll watch the more funny ones.

-Hocus Pocus is her favorite, s/he's got the song 'I put a spell on you marmorized' and performs it

-I think his/her favorite candy is...skittles. I don't think s/he likes chocolate that much. Like s/he'll eat it but not his/her favorite

-S/he would plan a party on floor 19

-Would also force you to help him/her decorate and is very specific about it

- "No no you can't put pumpkin lights here this it’s bobbing for apples!"

- "Does it matter???"

- "Y E S"

-S/he would also pull you into a closest to make out when s/he's getting bored at the party (With your consent)

-S/he acts like S/he doesn't care about couples costumes but really want's to do them

-you guys dress up ad toad and toadette

-Alex is toadette

[crossdressingdeath]

#also like that would mean 6 months for Jason with Nico pretending he doesnt know him#and the betrayal that Nico who knew him before never helped his revovery#and never helped his disorientation or checking on New Rome for him#like the kid knew#and left Jason dangling#(or that could be an added subtext)#especially if Nico sees Jason and Piper start dating#AND NEVER MENTIONS THAT THEY WERE DATING (tags via @overanalyzer)

To be fair, it's a little more complicated than just not telling him. First off, all the original points re why Nico wouldn't tell anyone still stand; it's especially unreasonable and slightly funny that Percy gets all fussy about Nico keeping his mouth shut when they aren't even friends, but no one could reasonably expect him to share this secret that even the gods have kept completely silent! And while we don't know when exactly Nico was told about Jason's arrival at Camp Half-Blood and the whole Camp Jupiter thing I'd argue it likely wasn't until at least after Jason, Piper and Leo left on their quest, and probably not until after they got back; the Camp Half-Blood cast probably wouldn't want to distract him from looking for Percy until it became clear that Percy's situation was tied into the whole thing. (It's actually possible he was never informed at all and just has a really good poker face when Percy shows up, but that's unlikely.) We can also be pretty sure that at least in canon Nico didn't return to Camp Half-Blood at any point between TLH and SoN, since Piper and Leo first meet him in MoA. That means that Nico wouldn't have gotten the chance to talk to Jason until after he started regaining his memories and after he started dating Piper at the earliest, which would very much complicate the situation! Especially if it then became clear that Jason wasn't regaining his memories of Nico, because the Camp Half-Blood cast tried everything they could to get Jason's memory back right at the start of TLH and accomplished jack; what could Nico have done, walk up to this guy who sees him as a total stranger and say "Hey so you don't remember me and you have a girlfriend now but we were totally dating before you lost your memory, trust me"? Jason wouldn't actually have any reason to believe him, and if he didn't remember the whole situation it would just be super uncomfortable for everyone involved either way. And re recovery, every time Percy sees something that reminds him of his past it seems to more cause splitting headaches and nausea more than it helps him remember, and seeing Nico just gives him the sense they've met before rather than reminding him of anything; it's the gorgon's blood that heals him. So it's entirely possible seeing Nico would've caused more problems for Jason than it solved.

And honestly I don't think Jason would feel betrayed by Nico not saying anything, for the same reason Percy doesn't feel betrayed by Annabeth not running to New Rome the moment she found out what was going on even though if she had she could've already been there when Percy arrived: breaking the silence between the Greek and Roman camps is considerably easier said than done. Not even gods can just tell people about there being two camps! No matter how much Nico wanted to tell Jason, he probably couldn't! Even if he didn't swear a binding oath to keep the secret until/unless it came out on its own (which is pretty likely considering everyone else who knows the secret seems to have done so), the odds of a demigod Zeus already hates for being the son of Hades getting smote for spilling the big secret are... quite high. I feel like the feelings involved would be less betrayal and more Everything Is Bad For Everyone And No One Is Happy, since there was basically no way for anyone to get mad at Nico for keeping quiet that isn't wildly unfair. ...Plus. y'know. the first time Jason saw Nico again after regaining his memories would still be MoA with Nico immediately post-jar, so getting mad at him wouldn't exactly be top priority.

After reading that bit during the Tartarus flashback where (in classic Riordanverse fashion) they forgot the timeline and had Nico thinking about Jason as a close friend even though canonically they were only vaguely acquainted at that point I've been thinking... why weren't they friends before Nico's first trip to Tartarus?

I mean, both of them have very good reason to want to be on the other's good side: as praetor Jason would logically want to be on good terms with the direct ambassador of a god, and Nico would logically want to be on good terms with the leaders of the group he's lowkey spying on. And we know from canon that once they start actually interacting they get on super well! And it would help explain why Nico could just show up at camp with Hazel like "Hey so this is my sister don't mind how she has no records and acts like she's from the '30s she's one of you now 'kay bye" and that was just accepted if he was close to the praetors instead of canon's impression of him being vaguely tolerated in New Rome at most and only respected at all because fucking with Pluto's ambassador would be... unwise. It would just in general make more sense for them to be at least friendly acquaintances, and given Nico's canon relationships with both Jason and Reyna "friendly acquaintances" would absolutely quickly transition into full friendship.

And honestly Jason and Nico being friends pre-TLH would make the bit in MoA where the Seven argue about whether or not Nico can be trusted so much more interesting and so much less infuriating. As it is in canon it just feels super unfair, because the only evidence any of them give for him being untrustworthy is "Well he knew about both camps" when all the gods and Chiron and Lupa also knew about both camps and also said nothing despite them being at a much lower risk of being smote for blabbing than Nico would be, and it's confirmed that Chiron at least swore to keep the secret and there's no evidence that Nico didn't. The only character who actually has the right to feel at all betrayed on a personal level is Hazel, and she doesn't because she loves and trusts her brother and also seems to grasp that the secret wasn't actually Nico's to share; even with Percy (and Annabeth, although unless I'm forgetting something she never really comments on it), Nico's never actually willingly confided in him even about minor things so I don't see why he's getting so butthurt about Nico not telling him one of the biggest known secrets of the modern age that the gods have. Percy and Nico aren't actually friends, they're friendly acquaintances at best, I don't see why Percy gets so pissy that Nico didn't break what is clearly a pretty major rule (given even the gods follow it without any fuss until it becomes obvious that the secret's going to come out anyway) for him. But if Nico and Jason were friends that would open up a much more interesting angle for the argument than just "How dare he keep this secret that literally everyone else who knew about it has kept for over a century"! "I thought he was my friend and he was lying to me about who he was the whole time" is a much more understandable and interesting reason to question someone than just him not telling everyone something that he wasn't even supposed to know! Hazel knew that there was something up with Nico from the start and Percy and Annabeth at least knew he was a son of Hades rather than Pluto (and again were not his friends and so shouldn't have expected him to confide in them anyway), but if Nico had actual friends in Camp Jupiter who really did think he was an ambassador from Pluto they would have every right to feel at least a little betrayed and question what else he might have been hiding from them. Jason absolutely wanting to save Nico but also feeling betrayed that his close friend had been lying about who he was the entire time they'd known each other would be much stronger and more compelling than canon's "He did this thing that basically every immortal we're on speaking terms with also did but he is uniquely untrustworthy because of it".

Also it would open up some fun possibilities for scenes. For example, I love the idea of one of the Greek cast mentioning Nico after Jason regains his memories and Jason just going "Wait you mean Nico like our Nico?" and everyone else going "What do you mean your Nico?" It would also give Nico friends and a place where he felt reasonably welcome, which would be nice and could've been used as evidence for the "You pushed away people who wanted to be your friend" angle Rick went with from BoO onwards, since him having people who cared about him (who he initially was friendly with primarily because he kind of had to be, which would justify what made Jason and Reyna different from everyone else he interacts with) would show that yeah, Nico had proof people wanted to be around him which he very much does not in canon. Plus it would be an opportunity to get into what Nico was thinking and feeling re knowing this huge secret that he couldn't tell anyone and having to keep it from people he cared about and didn't want to lie to (side note, I am now wondering if Rick didn't go into that because there was really no way to interrogate a traumatized fourteen year old in terms of "Why didn't you share this huge secret that not even the gods breathed a word of in over a century" that would make the interrogators look good and none of the Seven show any interest in the matter outside of those terms).

...Also. y'know. a Jasico fic featuring them dating prior to TLH and Hera wiping Jason's memories of having a boyfriend and still giving Piper and Leo false memories of Piper and Jason dating would both be very fun and angsty as a concept and would play very nicely into the themes of comphet in Jason and Piper's relationship. And would fit the way Hera very openly thinks that Nico isn't part of "her family" in BotL! So there's that also.

[mallowstep]

I read a whole analysis on Hawk and Moon and I can say with certainty that both were in the wrong but Hawk more so. Sorry I know you don't like discourse but my blood boils when I see people defending Hawk. I like him in Tallstar's Revenge but during BP he didn't have Hopkit around to mellow him out and he was absolutely a bad cat (naughty kitty lmao). Don't feel pressured to post this, I just wanted to say it

finals are finally (heh) done so...

it's been a while and i've had a lot of time to think about it, and i want to lead with:

i categorically think hawkheart's actions wrt moonflower are wrong. he did not need to kill her, and he was unnecessarily cruel to bluepaw.

i also don't think that moonflower and hawkheart are actually good characters to compare. they have ONE MOMENT of interaction, and moonflower isn't really making a moral decision. she was chosen to attack hawkheart's den, what else can she do? i won't hold that against her.

[brief aside who those who've forgotten/weren't here when this topic was first introduced, i reblogged a post wrt moonflower being in the wrong. sue me, i don't think every post i reblog needs to perfectly align with my nuanced and complex fandom opinions.

i jest, but also, it's definitely a post where it's like "the words it says aren't exactly what i mean, but the emotions are good." bc like i think most people as kids goes "o moonflower!!!" and it's like well yeah but she was trying to destroy windclan's herbs she wasn't like. thunderclan was NOT the good guy. but i'm getting into the main topic of the post.]

we ought to compare goosefeather and hawkheart, because they both have agency.

and while both are wrong here, i think the fact that goosefeather chooses, while hawkheart reacts, means in a direct comparison i lean towards saying hawkheart was "in the right."

(that said i'm notably biased against goosefeather, so take that as you will. i only claim to be correct about mistystar.)

HOWEVER as i got into in my aside, i think like. at the end of the day, the attack thunderclan did was wrong. YES it was not unprovoked, but attacking other clan's camps is pretty much always wrong. even in the old era of good battles, i feel raids on camps are wrong. dgmw i LIKE them bc they're always fun and tense battles, but the raiding clan is in the wrong, categorically. that's a war crime, and war crimes are wrong.

so like. from a, say, american legal perspective, in like. a stupidly high number of states with. what's it called. castle laws? anyway in those states (iirc texas has one?), hawkheart would be in the right.

and (to a certain extent*) i do try to judge clan cats thru their eyes, and i think the fact that he's defending his clan/camp, and moonflower was attacking his den...

*this is really complicated tbh just like. if i judged this by my moral standards i'd go "this is violence basically for violence's sake," and that's not fair to them.

yeah, if i'm forced to choose between moonflower and hawkheart, i'm going to say "hawkheart was in the right." but really, moonflower is a stand-in for "thunderclan/goosefeather," and again, she has no authority, i don't think it's fair to put her into this position.

like at the end of the day what is she going to do if pinestar tells her that's what she's doing in the attack? yes, she COULD not listen, but that's like. a huge law breaking. so. like.

at the end of the day, i just don't think comparing hawkheart and moonflower is fair, because as you zoom out of the one fight, you see that moonflower didn't have very much agency, and hawkheart did. so moonflower, in a sense, is only in the wrong because THUNDERCLAN is in the wrong, and goosefeather is the reason thunderclan is in the wrong.

and when you compare goosefeather and hawkheart, yeah, i think hawkheart was in the right.

but that doesn't mean...like. like i still think his actions were unnecessarily harsh. he did not have to kill her. but i think in the context of "attacking a medicine den, an action which he can reasonably assume WILL kill kits and elders," i can't say, "oh, hawkheart was in the wrong because he didn't need to kill moonflower."

uh. yeah. i hope this is coherent?

[jaedreaminn]

Final Part

Characters: Taeyong, Ten, Mark, Jeno, Heachan.

Theme: Family bonding, humour, crack, fluff,angst, happy ending.

Parings: «mentioned» someone x Haechan, someone x Ten.

Words: 2.3k

~~~

"You're the first one here" Ten smiled at Jeno who had just walked into the bar.

"I've always been on time and you know that" Jeno smiled sliding into the booth, sitting next to Ten.

"God knows who you got that good habit from because no one in our family is on time unless it's absolutely necessary" Ten teased and Jeno's eyes disappeared into half moons. "And from what I remember you were always late to school."

"I wasn't late hyung I skipped school" Jeno deadpanned and Ten cringed, "Yea the Jeno delinquent phase was definitely.... interesting"

"Ahh I miss those times because atleast my friends-" "Can you even call those people friends?" Ten interrupted and Jeno glared at him, so he simply mouthed an apology and went back to sipping his water as Jeno continued to speak, "Atleast my friends then were scared of me so they never said anything. Now if I'm late I have to deal with an angry Renjun and his wrath is the scariest thing on this planet." Ten cringed silently at the mention of the smaller boy as he remembered experiencing Renjuns anger first hand and it wasn't pretty.

"Thank God for that though, otherwise I would be sitting here alone on my bachelor party"

"True that" Jeno said lifting his glass of water and clicking it with Tens glass.

"How boring, you guys are only drinking water" Donghyuck said as a form of greeting sliding into the booth, sitting on the other side of Ten.

"I'm waiting for everyone to arrive before ordering the food and drinks" Ten said rolling his eyes and then flicked Donghyucks arm, "And I wouldn't have to wait so long if you were on time"

"Ow!" Donghyuck whined rubbing his arm as Jeno chuckled.

"So how are things going for the two of you" Jeno asked eyes grinning mischievously as Donghyuck sighed and dreamy sigh, "Better, I think I want to make it official soon"

"About time!" came Taeyongs voice and all three of them looked up to see him walking towards the table.

"How did you even hear what Hyuck was saying from so far away" Jeno asked and Ten chuckled when Taeyongs face scrunched up in judgment as he took of his coat, "I raised you people, I just know"

"That doesn't make sense" Haechan frowned and Taeyong glared at him as he folded his coat and sat down.

"I've been raising you since I was thirteen I would be damned if you doubted my super hearing"

"Fine fine Whatever you say" Haechan lifted his hands up in surrender and Taeyong grinned scanning the table, "Where's Mark?"

"He isn't here yet" Ten said and Taeyong frowned.

"You're telling me these two have been here before Mark?" Taeyong asked pointing at the two youngest at the table earning protests from both.

"Yep" Ten said popping the 'p'.

"But dont worry he should be here soon" He added, reassuring Taeyong.

"Right, we're here to celebrate you getting married" Taeyong cheered changing the topic and Ten grinned like a fool in love.

"Yeah I can't believe the wedding is so close" He said smiling excitedly.

"About time you two have been engaged forever" Jeno scoffed but the smile on his face showed how happy he was for his brother.

"I know we're basically married" Ten chuckled as the others cheers'd to that.

"Ahhh sorry I'm late" Mark said rushing in sitting on the chair opposite Ten.

"What's with all the bags Markie?" Donghyuck asked curiously looking at the the five small paper bags in his hands.

"Well I remembered something from when all of us went camping and I thought now was a good time to do this" Mark said laughing nervously, "But I'm not sure if you guys would really like it now" he said handing everyone a bag.

Ten peeked inside and immediately smiled, "Oh wow I forgot that we wanted to do this" he said pulling out a cap with the words 'The Lee brothers' written in neat cursive.

"Oh yea we wanted matching caps for the five of us because we thought shirts were too tacky" Donghyuck chuckled holding onto his cap as of it was his greatest treasure, while smiling brightly.

"Wow we really love these Mark, can't believe we almost forgot about this" Taeyong chuckled looking at his cap with awe and then his eyes brightened "It even has my name on the back"

"Yea it does and I also almost forgot about this too" Mark smiled brightly as he saw his brothers looking at the caps with smiles on their faces.

"Our family isn't very normal is it?" Jeno smiled and the others nodded.

"To think we were this close to being eachothers worst enemies" Ten laughed and Taeyong frowned, still not able to joke about it.

"Yea that was crappy of me" Taeyong said looking down at his glass of water as he remebered how he treated Ten and Donghyuck.

"I can't believe you still beat yourself up over that hyung you were a kid! You were allowed to feel angry and be defensive and irrational" Donghyuck said grinning brightly and a small sad smile graced Taeyongs face because a smile from Hyuck was contagious, "And at the end of the day you came around and now we've got such a strong bond. And you did a lovely job as an older brother I mean look at how I turned out" Donghyuck smiled proudly.

"I thought we were making him feel better not worse. You turned out to be a pain in the ass" Jeno said with a playful smile on his face and Donghyuck pretended to be shot, looking at Jeno in betrayal as Jeno smirked proudly like an evil villan.

"We really need to seperate those two because Jeno has been catching on to Donghyucks dramatic attitude" Ten said watching the two youngest judgingly and Mark just drank (his water) to that.

"Please you're one to talk Ten" Taeyong scoffed rolling his eyes, "You're the one who taught that brat how to be dramatic"

"I object"

"Hyung that's not how it works" Mark sighed, smiling at Ten.

"Ahhh I agree with Taeyong, I am who I am because of Ten" Donghyuck chuckled and shifted away from Ten quickly as the other tried to hit him.

"Ya come here I'll show you dramatic" Ten yelled, trying to attack Haechan who was hiding behind Mark.

"You always hide behind Mark as if Mark would fight for you" Jeno rolled his eyes and Donghyuck stuck out his tongue.

"If I think any of you would attack Mark I wouldn't hide behind him cus he's a weak little baby but I know none of you guys would hurt a hair on Marks head so he's the safest to hide behind"

"He's not wrong" Taeyong shrugged.

"That and Donghyucks favourite is Mark" Ten complained and Donghyuck grinned nodding his head and Mark just sighed trying his best to order drinks for everyone with Donghyuck standing behind him and Ten ready to pounce in their direction at any moment.

"When did he even get so attached?" Jeno asked latching himself onto Tens arm. Ironic.

"Probably the first time Mark spoke during dinner without us having to ask him anything" Taeyong chuckled at the memory and everyone smiled.

"I was so amused that he was an actual person with feelings" Donghyuck perked up from behind Mark who glared at the boy and flicked him on the head.

"I'm not safe anywhere" Donghyuck whined running to Taeyong and dramatically falling onto his lap.

"I was just excited about a song I liked that day and I felt so concious the way all of you looked at me with big eyes" Mark said recalling the memory with a frown.

"Yea it was a quite dinner that day because Jeno and Hyuck were fighting at it got awkward to talk and suddenly out of the blue YOU, of all people spoke." Taeyong said smiling looking at the two youngest who just stuck their tongues out at eachother at the mention of their 'fight'

"Yeah I remember, they were fighting over something very stupid and they got so excited that Mark had spoken that they completely forgot about their fight" Ten chuckled whole heartedly joined by Taeyong and Mark.

"Now that I remember we left our fight half way I'm not talking to you anymore Jeno" Haechan said, puffing his chest and pouting.

"You're really high maintenance you know" Jeno said coking an eyebrow and Haechan just laughed at that statement, not denying it.

"Yeah you are. You once tried jumping out of the second floor window because someone told you you were to much of a coward to do so" Mark said with a frown, accusingly pointing his finger at their youngest. Jeno wasn't wrong, dealing with Donghyuck wasn't an easy task.

"Oh yea I remember Jeno couldn't stop Hyuck so he ran to Mark's classroom which was closest and then came all the way to the other building to get us" Taeyong said with a lopside smile.

"Ahhhh yess I remember you people scolding me so much and Jeno refused to speak to me the entire day at school and then cried when we got home" Donghyuck chuckled as Jeno blushed.

"I'm sorry I was scared that you were going to die!' Jeno yelled defensively and everyone laughed.

"Mark yelled at me so much and scared everyone in my class and then oh god when Taeyong and Ten walked in angry I almost shat my pants"

"Angry Taeyong is a scary Taeyong" Mark shuddered.

"Even your mother was scared of you angry and you were only thirteen back then" Ten smiled at Taeyong cheekily and the boy just sipped on his drink that arrived a while ago looking elsewhere.

"Well I was pissed that they kept dragging Hyuck into their petty arguments. God I hate that woman so much." Taeyong said, getting angry.

"I feel bad that I haven't invited them to the wedding because at the end of the day they took me in when my parents died but I just hate them so much" Ten frowned and Mark patted his brothers back.

"Dont worry we all hate them, they would have spoilt everyone's mood." Mark said and then scoffed, "Dad's finally given up on trying to persuade me to steal your business" Mark chuckled and Ten smiled at him.

"Yea now he's trying to persuade me." Jeno rolled his eyes and Ten chuckled.

"Like, as it is we have stability because of our shares now he's being greedy again? Didn't his greed ruin our lives enough" Mark said clutching onto his drink angrily.

"The only good thing that came out of his greed was Hyuck" Taeyong said hugging the youngest who just looked sullen.

"I wouldn't say good thing... their fights got worse because of me. I mean I don't blame Mrs. Lee for hating me" Haechan said eyes downcast.

"No don't make excuses for that woman" Jeno growled.

"But I'm the reason her marriage was compromised." Haechan frowned.

"She compromised her own marriage because she was an awful person no one wanted to spend the rest of their life with and she had no right to take it all out on you" Mark said angrily clutching onto his drink.

"No Mark you don't get it, it was only fair to hate me" Haechan said with a frown and Ten and Taeyong looked at eachother with worry, patting the yongers back.

"She had no right to hate you" Mark said getting angrier by the second and Jeno tried to calm his brother down. This always was a sensitive topic.

But Heachan nodded his head in disagreement, "I was born because her husband cheated on her"

"And I was born because she cheated on her husband" Mark yelled and everyone at the table looked at him wide eye'd.

"This is one hell of a bachelor party" Jeno said reaching for his drink, still shocked at what Mark had just said.

"Mark what are you saying..." Taeyong asked, placing a hand on Marks knee as Mark tried his best to avoid evryone gaze.

"I didn't know how to tell you guys but that's why dad stopped bothering me, because he recently found out I'm not his son" Mark said eyes downcast and then scoffed, "So now he's cut all ties with me"

"Oh I'm going to go punch that greedy old bastard" Jeno said with a growl to his tone and his fists clenched.

"Dont waste your time I don't care but it hurt how easy it was for him to drop me and now I hate my mother even more considering she knew about this since I was born but still fought with dad over him cheating and gave Hyuck crap for it" Mark frowned.

"Ugh this is so fucked up" Ten said taking a chug of his drink.

"I'm not a Lee" Mark sniffed, "I'm not your brother"

"Ahhh thats bs we're all brothers" Haechan said hugging Mark from behind.

"Yea and we've been through hell and back together" Ten grinned.

"And we'll always have eachothers backs and there's no easy way for you to get out of being our brother" Jeno said lightly punching Mark on his shoulder.

"I haven't raised you all my life for you to think I'm not your brother" Taeyong smiled and Mark chuckled slightly at that.

"Taeyong you're not their brother you're basically their mother" Ten said and everyone chuckled.

"Yea the constant nagging and the obsession with cleanliness and Febreze" Haechan said with a laugh and everyone chuckled.

"Yea so I don't know why you thought anything would change Mark" Jeno chuckled and Mark smiled.

"Yea we had messed up parents but luckily we have eachother" Taeyong said and Mark smiled.

"Yea we're definitely all Ten has" Haechan said wiping a fake tear, "No friends, just his brothers to have his bachelor party with"

"Okay now you're dead" Ten said chasing Donghyuck around the bar.

It resulted in them getting kicked out but they all laughed as they made their way to cafe moon, talking animatedly and happily.

The night was long and their futures prosperous.

~~~

The Lee Brother's- A mini series

Previous Part: Lee Donghyuck