#as a character i love mari but realistically i would only agree with her on this

[heavenlymorals]

How would you describe Mary’s personality? I always feel like this fandom portrays her to be this very classy, serious, goody-two-shoes but I think she has to have some form of rebellious nature in her considering she’s a “high-society” girl that fell in with an outlaw and brought him home to her daddy. Yeah she may not be as free and spirited compared to the camp girls, but everyone always talks about Arthur’s type being a woman who’s sophisticated - but on a general scale comparing her to the women of her social status, she must fall more on the rebellious side of things no?

Mary is many things. She is melancholic, feisty, calm, rational, thoughtful. She's a person with many emotions and dreams and honestly? She's a delight in the little time we got to know her, even if the circumstances were rather sad. But mostly though? I think Mary is a woman who grew up.

She met Arthur when she was young, super young.

"Oh, we were so very young. Think of how different life could've been."

I mean, she doesn't even look at day over 18 in that pic she had with Arthur. In fact, Arthur looked to be a couple of years older than she was, but that's neither here nor there. The fact is that she was probably way over her head when she fell in love with Arthur and when she agreed to marry him. She realized that love wasn't going to be enough for her in that society and that's a very realistic approach to it, honestly.

If she married Arthur, she'll probably be ostracized from her family, from society, from the people she knew. She'd most likely also be shamed for dishonoring her family and shame back then was no joke, especially for women. People tend to forget this. She'll lose any connections she might've had and that's not even mentioning the lifestyle upheaval because what's the likelyhood that Arthur, still young and foolish, would be able to settle down and live a normal life instead of this nomadic, dangerous lifestyle?

Mary had to think about all these factors. People end relationships for less.

When it comes to fandom, people are too in love with the idea of love that a real reaction to such a situation backfires on the character and strips them of their personality.

Is Mary classy? Sure she is, but she can also be crass ("Don't be a pompous ass, Arthur, it doesn't suit you."). Is she serious? Yeah, she is in serious situations, like all people, but she is playful and joyful with Arthur ("It's sort of beautiful in a tasteless and gaudy sort of way." "That's the only way I know." "Thank you." "Oh I didn't mean it like that-" "I'm sure. You silly man."). Is she a goody two shoes? Most people are, but she also defies her father in the end despite knowing that her entire life would flip upside down if Arthur does decide to run away with her.

She's definitely a high society girl- her family is rich or at least well off, she has servants, she dresses nice. She isn't as "free spirited" as the other girls but why would she be? She didn't have to go through poverty, or her parents getting killed, or having to live an unconventional lifestyle with a bunch of hucksters. She was a law abiding citizen who lived a normal life where culture, etiquette, and roles mattered.

So is Mary rebellious or sophisticated or any of that? Not really. She's just a normal woman. I don't like putting her into a box of being sophisticated or whatever because that's just a disservice to the very realistic writing of her character.

She's just a woman who our main character fell in love of with for one reason or another who is still her own person. She's not a "type" or any of that because she is many things and a realistic woman is one of them.

Thanks for the ask anon 🥺❤️🫶🏼

[esther-dot]

imo it would be very sad if sansa thinks “no one will ever mary me for love” and then is just… right 😭 for a girl who dreams about love and having a family to just never get either like in the show is just a very sad and hollow ending for the character because like what’s the message? it’s weak and girly to desire a family, that the desire for love is naive and something you must grow out of? it doesn’t sit right with me, idc if it’s jon or someone else, she deserves to be loved!!!

I completely agree. I wrote about hating her show ending a few years ago because everyone got a romance except the girl who longed for one. That and the pointed Elizabeth I vibes and “Last of the Starks” stuff were upsetting, especially after what they did to her in s5.

As for book Sansa, I've said in the past that losing faith in heroes, true knights, and in ever being loved for herself (rather than her claim), only for the reader to see that Brienne exists, Jon has done the very thing Sansa wanted a hero to do for her, indicates that the author has brought her to a low point only to restore her faith. The reader knows that even as Sansa despairs, her prayer is being answered. Dragging Sansa into Theon's ADWD chapters with a reference to her beloved heroes and via that specific "life is not a song" line only for Theon to go ahead and help save the girl, become that hero himself, supports that hopeful interpretation — rejection of it all as a silly story precedes living it in a darker, more realistic way (talked about this more here).

More than any other character’s desire for love, Sansa’s dream is paired with certain overarching ideas Martin is discussing. Sansa must be loved for the author to complete his thought. He finally carried through on if there are heroes (goodbye Slynt’s head), imo, he’ll have an equally satisfying answer for Sansa’s longing to be loved. I believe it has to happen in canon and that it will be Jon because it needs to be someone who the reader knows loves her (not her claim) and since Jon has already shown us he could but wouldn't usurp Sansa, since he is already her longed for hero, it seems in all likelihood it will be him.

Not saying it will happen in the way I want or end how I want, but I do think it’s gonna happen!

[peach-fiz]

I actually didn't even bother watching the second season of Loki because of the cheap marketing and inconsistent storytelling.

It just felt like the plot was lifted off somewhere it would have made sense, and a character with a similar ego was replaced with Loki and goes through an arc that might have made sense for a blank slate character, but not someone who already has a backstory.

Loki doesn't even feel like Loki after three episodes in S1. The whole point of having a show like that just seems to be about the TVA and Sylvie.

Also the whole genderfluid thing. They 'confirmed' it in the promo and had a line in the script that went completely against anything they just said.

I knew at once that the writers, directors and other parts of production were really just pulling it in different directions and it would probably sound like a jazz trumpeter and a metal guitarist trying to improvise after knowing each other for 15 minutes.

I've been meaning to watch it just so I can have educated opinions on all of it but it's just,, so hard to get into. I definitely agree the marketing was cheap, they did with the 80s McDonald's like they did DB Cooper!Loki and made it centric to the advertising because McDonalds was also getting something out of it which is kinda ass seeing as realistically Loki Laufeyson would burn 6 of them down before he ate in one 😭

I personally don't like either of the major ships in the show but the forced Sylki shit in season 1 really got to me. Like not only did she completely replace him as the main character in HIS show, she's also a variant of him who he wants to make out with and overall it just reads as lazy writing and it's extremely disappointing that Mike Waldron has been put in charge of Multiverse of Madness and The Kang Dynasty since, due to the popularity of the Loki TV show. I was talking to my boyfriend about this last night but it kinda reminds me of the complaints people had ab the last Indiana Jones movie but opposite? Like everyone complained his best friend's daughter was gonna replace him bc she's a Mary Sue and she rlly isnt, she's more reminiscent of Marion in Raiders of the Lost Ark she just doesn't wanna fuck him. But the difference is Indy is a character who's majorly blank for little boys to project themselves onto. Which is great!! It works for those kind of movies, but they're not character development centric like the individual mcu movies tend to be. Loki is characterized in a way that he's drowning in identity issues and family problems and he experiences growth in every installment whether it be positive or negative. It doesn't make sense to take the formula of an Indidna Jones movie where he meets up with a woman who's typically a love interest and has her own issues that are only slightly touched on because that's not the focus, and they go do the plot.

Sylvie is not an Indy Girl, they straight up are trying to replace Loki with Sylvie. And you can tell the character wasn't supposed to have as much importance as she does in the show bc the character was worked on more after the actress they chose was buddies with a producer ( and this is no hate to the actress I'm sure she's delightful everything I've seen her in in terms of interviews has been lovely ).

I also absolutely agree they should've just made a tva mini series to introduce the tva rather than bringing back a dead character who soon will not make much sense anyway because Tom Hiddleston is getting older (and also he deserves to branch out in his career).

The genderfluid thing was a cash grab and it sucks ass, they just want money for acknowledging things already canon in the comics, same with confirming him as bisexual.

My boyfriend is actually writing a fic on ao3 called Find Me that's rlly good if you want Loki content that isn't related to the show.

(YES this is shameless promotion sshhhhshshsh) but fr the loki TV show makes me more confident in my screenwriting bc t h a t got put on disney plus. I'm also working on a Loki show rewrite in my spare time!!

[pollsonmorenichetopics]

Disproportionate Retribution Poll Round 4 Side A:

Albedo's (Ben 10: Ultimate Alien Force) Disproportionate Retribution:

"So he was one of the research assistants to azmuth, creator of the Omnitrix, the alien watch Ben has, and he helped him make it. After completing the Omnitrix, azmuth decided it was too dangerous and hid it. Albedo didn't agree, and when he found out a ten year had it with azmuths permission, he swiped and old prototype to use for himself. It was incomplete though, and changed his body to match that of the current Omnitrix wielder, Ben. So he started as a little frog alien, and was turned into a human teenager. He hates it. So he goes to earth to steal the Omnitrix to fix his own to get his body back. He does a little impersonation, but ultimately fails. Azmuth shows up and admits that he could totally fix albedo but decides not to and that his body is his punishment and then also drags him off to space jail. And like, that's terrible. Being stuck in this stretched out, giant, heavy, hairy, sweaty, monstrous body when your former mentor is fully capable of putting you back to your rightful form? Not to mention the very reduced lifespan, his original species lives for eons and he's seemingly pretty young. And he hates it, like he keeps showing up to try and be himself again, and Everytime he fails, and in his last appearance he just breaks down sobbing. One episode, he makes a device to change him back, no underlying evil scheme, no harm to anyone, and they still break it and leave him trapped in his own body. He doesn't ever get to be himself again. Sorry if this is too long."

Jeff and Pam McKenzie's (Home Sweet Home Alone) Disproportionate Retribution:

"Unlike the original Home Alone villains who were burglars for a living and tried to KILL a child for getting in their way, these two ordinary people only tried to break into a house to retrieve property they thought was stolen from them, so that they could sell it and not lose their home (Jeff recently lost his job and they can't afford mortgage). They are not violent or malicious in any way. And yet Max tortures them in such painful ways even the original burglars didn't experience, and they have realistic reactions like literally SOBBING in pain, but it's meant to be seen as funny and vindicating. Horrible."

Snow White/Mary Margaret Blanchard's (Once Upon a Time) Disproportionate Retribution:

"The "crime" was telling Regina's mother about her secret boyfriend when she (Snow) was ten, under the mistaken belief that Regina's mother would help her. This led to Regina's mother killing said boyfriend, and Regina ending up becoming the Evil Queen. Regina then began an extensive vendetta against Snow, including but not limited to multiple murder attempts, the infamous sleeping curse via poisoned apple, and a curse to erase all of Snow (and every other fairytale character)'s memories, trapping her in an alternate existence where she was doomed to be miserable and separated from her true love (and child) for 28 years. This I believe to be an over-the-top response to a ten-year-old telling someone a secret, even if it did have dire consequences unbeknownst to the child in question."

[lemonhemlock]

before I ramble about this Just want to say it's in no shape or form a hate message to any fic or fandom writer just my personal observation lol

Reading stuff through the hotd Fandom and noticed how almost 90% of Daemon fics are Daemon x niece who's sister of Rhaenyra and the reader or oc is oh so lovely and kind and Daemon loves her so so much he basically now abandoned his thirst for the Iron throne ( which to me doesn't make sense since Daemon as a character is a power hungry individual who groomed Rhaenyra and married her to get closer to the throne so i don't see him ever giving that up ) there are also ones that have Daemon x daughter of Otto kinda enjoy them but again I would say it'll be dd coded given Daemon / Otto rivalry so there's the possibility if Daemon taking out his frustrations on reader / oc just to get back at Otto but I never see Otto agreeing to marry of a daughter to Daemon unless let's say Daemon knocks up reader/oc that way Otto will just be helpless and to save his daughters honor he'll agree.

And then the Aemond fics are all mostly Aemond x Niece who's the firstborn daughter of Rhaenyra 🤡 ( I just want to say in my opinion there would be no way realistically that Aemond would love a daughter of Rhaenyra mainly due to the fact that he was brought up to despise Rhaenyra and her bastard kids so chances of him loving his bastard niece and abandoning his whole family for her ....yea I don't see it ig )

Idk why but overall feels like people don't try to step outside the uncle / niece or sister / brother tropes when it comes to the Targs like I get it would be simple but again I mean it would be refreshing to read idk just putting it out there lol Lannister reader/oc x Aemond because this would 100% make sense given House Lannister's relationship with the greens and Jason Lannister definitely will try to have his daughter marry either Aegon or Aemond especially seeing how he himself wanted to marry Rhaenyra to get close to the crown.

Also just another tropeof fanfics when the Targaryen reader bounds with three dragons 💀 I mean I'm no lore expert but it's very clear each person can only bond with one dragon ( Daenerys is the only exception ) and I might not be the biggest Daenerys fan out there but just feels like a rip of of her character when people write their oc/reader bonding with three dragon lol

Again all of the above is just my personal opinion and rambling in no shape or form an I wanting to send hate to anyone who writes or enjoys the troupes we all have different taste and I respect that !

Hi, anon, I think that's just a testament to how popular certain tropes are, like forbidden romance (Daemyra) or enemies-to-lovers (Aemond x Rhaenyra's daughter) or Mary Sue characters. It's also possible that the people writing them are generally young and that's why they haven't become bored of these clichés already.

I also wish there were more Aemond x Lannister OC fics!

[otakween]

One Pound Gospel - Volume 3

Another volume, another chill read. In the end, I haven't learned much about boxing or being a nun lol. The strengths of this series are the cute characters and nice art. It doesn't take itself too seriously.

Ch. 20

So far the formula for this manga has been: new opponent introduced, Kosaku struggles to prepare for his fight with said opponent, and Angela struggles with her desire to cheer Kosaku on. Rinse, repeat. I predict Takahashi will just cruise with this pattern until the final arc of the final volume lol. Very repetitive.

Lots of extremely dumb characters in this series. New kid doesn't seem to understand you're not supposed to go around punching people outside a match, for example. I get that they're trying to establish his character as a naive, spoiled brat, but if this was the real world it would be weird he keeps making the same mistake.

Ch. 21

Oh, I guess I misunderstood. Yoshihiko made a promise to his parents that he'd knock Kosaku out. I thought he meant in a match, but I guess he just has to knock him out in general lol.

It was funny seeing Kosaku through Yoshihiko' lens as a cool role model. He did look pretty cool blocking his punch at the end there.

Ch. 22

A very silly and pretty racist chapter. Kosaku's next opponent is Mexican, so of course his name is "Tako," he's a taco chef and they imply he's a dumb bumpkin. -sigh- At least his relationship with Kosaku is pretty wholesome? Them bonding over being Christians and Kosaku showing him his church was sweet.

Sister Angela agreed to that Christmas date so easily...I guess Kosaku didn't say the word "date," so maybe that made it easier

The weeping Mary joke was very similar to a joke made in Derry Girls lol

Ch. 23

Oh alright, they kinda won me over. The Spanish was actually pretty decent (in the version I'm reading anyways) and it was nice to see Kosaku make an effort to speak some too. Also, Xavier (Tako's real name) going from making tacos to takoyaki was a clever pun.

I guess opponents only get two chapters now? At least I won't get bored.

Ch. 24

I was thinking "everyone in this manga has the same hair" but then I just realized, they just don't have anime hair. They have realistic, Japanese hair lol. Funny how rare that is.

New girl is cute! That scene where they were vowing to diet together while stuffing their faces was adorable. I wish Kosaku would genuinely have platonic feelings for her instead of being his usual horndog self. Oh well.

Ch. 25

Gasp! Non-Barbie anatomy nudity! I guess that's to be expected tho considering Ranma 1/2.

Kana really has zero self preservation instincts lol. If only the real world was safe enough to act like that.

The misunderstanding stuff is annoying, but at least Sister Angela took the "acceptance" approach to thinking she's being cheated on instead of getting angry and making a huge thing out of it. That would have been tiring to read lol.

An abusive boyfriend being played for comedy feels...wrong.

Ch. 26

IDK if the reveal that Kana got her black eye from being smacked into a chip container was supposed to make things alright. Her boyfriend still hit her upside the head!

This whole arc has just been the misunderstanding trope over and over again. Nobody likes that trope.

Ch. 27

So Kana wants to go back to her abusive boyfriend which...okay, realistic. But Kosaku telling Hiroshi to make up with Kana is not good advice!! He should be telling him to leave her alone >:/ I watch too much true crime for this shit.

Kana's a real one to swing by the church and clear up the misunderstanding. We love to see clear communication.

Ch. 28

Damn, didn't expect the pregnancy announcement. And Kana's actually physically abusive too (in a slapstick way)...good luck to them, I guess.

Wait, this is the 2nd boxing match to end with pregnancy lol. I guess boxers get all the ladies.

Only one volume to go and not much has happened. My prediction for the final volume is that we'll get more one-off stories and then maybe it will end with Kosaku and Sister Angela's first kiss. We'll see!

[winchestergirl2]

I really enjoyed the horse riding (imagine getting taught to right by Beau 😍). Also, I really liked how it was an opportunity for them to get to know a little more about each other.

I'm also tired of being afraid of what I can't control.

I feel her on this!

It just made him wonder what he was doing here with you. Was it just because he knew you were having a hard time, and he wanted to cheer you up? Was it because you were Denise’s family? Or was it because…he just wanted to see more of you?

I would imagine that it's a combination of all three. Beau is a sweetheart and would absolutely want to cheer her up, especially as she is Denise’s family. However, if he's being completely honest with himself, I think it will largely be the last one!

At this point, he wouldn’t exactly consider himself a catch.

Aww, Beau honey, you absolutely are a catch.

“I just…I still feel so damn stupid,” you muttered, wiping under your eyes.  

I can relate to that one!

I like the pacing of this it feels realistic, slowly revealing bits about their past without over sharing to someone that you haven't known very long.

The man was #1 on Beau’s punch list, and it was only getting longer.

No surprise, Avery is number 1 on that list.Is the douchecanoe (love that phrase) Michael on his punch list now, too?

Haha, Denise and Cassie picking up on his not too subtle enquiry and his reaction to finding out she's coming back!

She could be a strong, even-keeled kid, mature for her age, but Denise saw the rare vulnerability in the girl’s eyes.

Ah, yes, the duality of Emily's character on the one hand she is sensible and mature for her age, but on the other hand, she is still a young teenager with everything that goes along with that.

That’s where Michael tried to corner you to hash out what would’ve been yet another argument, at the burial of all things. You had to restrain yourself from making a scene in front of Mary’s entire grieving family, as well as yours.

Urgh... really?! Guy really can't take no for an answer and move on can he? Why would he feel the need to act like that there?

Ooo early morning texts from the Sheriff and an invite out for drinks - what a good way to start the day.

Aw, I like the idea of the art lessons and the bonding session she and Emily had. You've managed to capture Emily so well I can hear her voice as I'm reading their conversation. And it's interesting getting her perspective on everything.

Oh, agreeing to be a guest on Em's podcast... that could be interesting (especially if Beau joins in 😉).

The more you thought about it, the more interesting it might be to see Beau answer some of those kinds of questions. It wasn’t at all because you were curious about the man yourself…

Oh, of course not 😉😂

Cassie whistled lowly when she saw you walk into the bar from her seat in one of the booths. She smiled and nudged Beau, whose face slackened when he saw you. 

God help him, you were sexy as hell in black.

Oh, Beau's in trouble here. I can just picture his reaction.

“It sure doesn’t,” Jenny agreed. The women laughed and clinked their drinks together, leaving Beau with a warming face under his beard. He once again chuckled, conceding defeat. 

Hahaha... Oh Beau, there was no chance you were going to win against those three!

Aww Jenny...

He likes her

That's got to be hard for her to watch

“He deserves something good,” Jenny said. Her smile was a bit more genuine this time. Cassie nodded in agreement.

But she's conceding gracefully.

Wait, what?! Michael! Why is he here? Should have known he would crop up after the trip to Chicago. He seems just the type to do something like this!

Take Me Home - Part 4

Pairing: Beau Arlen x F. Reader 

Summary: You are another lost soul at Sunny Day Excursions. You’re aiming to settle in Helena, Montana, where Beau Arlen is the new sheriff in town. But you’ve both got a past you’re running from. 

AN: Ready for a riding lesson? 😏

Song Inspo: “Sunshine on My Shoulders” by John Denver

Word Count: 6K

Tags/Warnings: Fluff, angst, hurt/comfort, mutual pining, and a cliffhanger...

❤️ Series Masterlist

Part 4: A Past & Future Thing

You gasped and gripped even tighter with your thighs. With almost everything you had.

You were still far too unsteady for comfort on this damn horse. The poor animal whinnied, tossing his head back with a huff. Unfortunately, that just made you tense up even more as you held onto his neck. 

Beau tried not to laugh. You looked like a cat clinging to the edge of a bath.

“Okay, you needa relax a little,” he said. “He ain’t gonna buck you, long as you don’t give him a reason to.”

You shot him a narrowed look. He was sitting all calm and natural on his own horse, a chestnut brown beauty of a stud. Apparently, his name was Clyde. You were riding his brother Dale, who was supposed to be the older, gentler of the two.

Beau was right next to you, since he was the one holding the reins. You two were still just a little way off from the stable as he guided your horse with his, letting you just get a feel for the ride.

“I’m sure you’ve heard that animals can sense our vibes,” he said, giving you a look that tipped his Stetson forward. “So if you just take a few deep breaths, I promise you, it’ll get easier.”

You met Beau’s gaze. You didn’t know if it was the smooth, steady tone of his voice or the sincerity in his eyes, but you did as he advised. You made the effort of exhaling slowly, and you began to relax.

“Okay,” he nodded with a smile. Then he gestured ahead. “Now, look forward for me. Try not to look at his hooves, though I know they’re pretty.”

He teased a smile out of you as you did what he said, casting your gaze up ahead to the horizon. It was a beautiful day. A wide expanse of terrain laid out ahead of you, with green grass mottled with some brown, and a weather-beaten trail clearly carved by horses and lessons given.  

“And like I told you,” he added, “Try not to squeeze so hard with your legs, or he’ll think you’re rarin’ to go.” 

You blushed, and relaxed your thighs enough so you were just supporting yourself on the horse, not giving yourself a leg cramp. 

“Okay, I think you’re ready for me to let go. Wanna keep going on your own?” Beau suggested. 

You were wary, but you tentatively nodded. “Yeah, sure.”

“Are you sure?” Beau asked. Again, his eyes met yours. “I’ll keep guiding you the whole way if you want. Either way, I’ve gotcha.”

You swallowed down a bit of nerves. “Yeah?”

He smiled, and you noticed how it crinkled the corners of his eyes.

“Trust me,” he said. “You’re not gonna fall on my watch.”

Warmth coiled its way around your heart. You let out another deep breath, and you agreed to have him hand over the reins to you. You were nervous at first, but Beau reminded you of how to guide Dale with subtle movements.

The old horse plodded forward without incident. When you gave Beau a triumphant look, that answering grin of his warmed you down to your toes. The two of you rode together more as companions while making your way across the grassy plain.

“So of all the things, why’d you wanna learn to ride a horse?” Beau asked.

“Because it terrified me,” you replied honestly. “I love animals, don’t get me wrong. Riding one though? They’re unpredictable…but I’m also tired of being afraid of what I can’t control.”

Beau nodded. He could certainly understand that.

Together, you traveled up a roaming hill. Once you reached the peak, you marveled at the view. The afternoon sun was bright and golden above the mountains and the distant line of trees.

Meanwhile, Beau glanced at you. You’d gotten more confident and comfortable in what you were doing, and it was endearing to see. You were cute, he could admit. Beautiful, as a matter of fact. You had the sun shining in your eyes, and on your hair getting tousled by the chilly breeze.

You also seemed to have a kind heart. He’d seen it in just how hard your friend’s death had hit you. He saw it again when he helped you move into your apartment. He saw the joy you took in cooking dinner for all of them after a long-ass day, even though you could’ve just ordered a pizza.

It was the little things, he thought, and the more he saw of you, the more he liked.

That thought also made his heart twinge, and not in a good way. Carla reared up in the back of his mind. He wasn’t sure if it was more with annoyance or guilt at this point, but she’d moved on a hell of a long time before he had anyway. (Beau could admit that point, just to himself.)

It just made him wonder what he was doing here with you. Was it just because he knew you were having a hard time, and he wanted to cheer you up? Was it because you were Denise’s family? Or was it because…he just wanted to see more of you?

“You don’t get this view in the city, huh?” Beau asked. 

“You do not,” you replied. Your smile grew, making his do the same without him realizing.

Inside though, he wanted to shake his head at himself. You were a bit younger than him. Maybe not by all that much, in the grand scheme of things, but he was in his mid-forties, divorced with a sixteen-year-old daughter, and a somewhat unpredictable, occasionally dangerous job. At this point, he wouldn’t exactly consider himself a catch.

You were also dealing with a complicated past of your own. You’d been through a lot, especially in the past couple of weeks.

And yet, Cassie’s probing questions circled through his mind, invading his thoughts every time he found himself looking your way. 

Your face slowly dimmed. “Next week is Mary’s funeral. I’m going back home for a few days.”

Beau processed that with a nod, but he could guess why you looked worried. 

“And your ex?” he asked.

“He’s going to be there for sure. We were all close.” A deep breath rushed out of you. You peeled your eyes away from the view and looked over at him. “God help me, I don’t want to go home…does that make me a bad person?”

“Nah, I get it,” he said. He regarded you with more weight in his gaze. “But this guy. Is he the aggressive type?”

“No,” you assured. Then more wryly, “He’s only dangerous to my mental health.”

You contemplated that reality for a moment, and you shook your head.

“You know how I found out about what he was doing?” you asked. “He sent me a Happy Birthday text…a spicy one, you could say. But it wasn’t my birthday.” 

“Damn,” Beau said, grimacing in sympathy. 

You tried not to, but you began tearing up. Beau wanted to brush them from your cheek as he drew closer on his horse. Instead, he settled a hand on your shoulder. 

“Hey,” he said, quiet and placating. “I’m thinking you’ve cried enough over this.”

“I just…I still feel so damn stupid,” you muttered, wiping under your eyes.  

“What, are you a Professor of Cheatin’ Bastards too?” Beau quipped. You smiled reluctantly.

“That’s not funny,” you complained. 

He flashed you a grin and allowed himself to tuck a strand of hair behind your ear when a breeze of wind blew it into your face.

“Come on. You know I’m funny,” he teased, but then, he became more serious. “It’s not your fault. Trust me, I know something about being the problem, and it’s not on you.”

Both your interest and concern were piqued.

“You and Carla?” you asked. “You’re telling me it was all on you?”

“Well, maybe not all. But like you, my ex-wife ain’t a fool,” Beau said. His eyes lowered, along with his hand from your arm. “Let’s just say, it was justified.”

Let’s just say, you contemplated. That seemed to be his favorite catchphrase.

You didn’t know if you altogether believed that. He was going to grief counseling for a reason. You wanted to ask why, more than anything, but you also didn’t want to press him on something if he didn’t want to talk about it. If he felt comfortable enough with you, someday, maybe he’d open up to you. 

So after a few minutes of savoring the view, and the moment, you returned to town together.

A few days later, Beau still had a bad feeling about Avery.

His company was being investigated by the SEC and was threatening to go under. Apparently, Avery had made “friends” with Luke on the trip, who according to Avery, let it slip that he and Paige had $15 million in cryptocurrency.

The passcode to that $15 million account was missing. Beau had more than half a mind to think Avery had made a play for it during that camping trip. Carla hadn’t known her new husband’s company was being investigated. She’d put her foot down with Avery about the lying, at least.

As a result, Beau’s only consolation in all this was that she and Emily were back in their house, while Avery was living out of a hotel in town. Beau might not be able to pin him for the stolen crypto right now, but he knew where to look for Avery when the evidence came.

The man was #1 on Beau’s punch list, and it was only getting longer.

Instead of letting those thoughts fester, he decided to actually take his lunch break, and go check in on his daughter. Denise and Cassie told him she was doing well as their summer intern.

Emily seemed to be enjoying her time helping the private investigators. She showed him her small workstation beside Denise’s desk, where she was organizing old and new files, inputting the hard copies into digital ones on Cassie’s spare laptop. Emily was also helping out with some database research on existing cases.

Satisfied that she was helping out, but wasn’t doing anything too close to actual police work, Beau took the opportunity to lean over to Denise and discreetly ask about you.

Namely, how you were doing, and if you’d called her from Chicago. He managed to hold himself from asking when you were coming back to Montana, at least.

Denise still gave him a certain smile.

“Yeah, she called yesterday. She’s coming back today actually,” she replied. “I’m planning to pick her up in a few hours.”

Beau’s lips twitched at a smile, and he nodded. “Good. That’s uh…that’s good. Tell her I said ‘welcome home.’”

Denise and Cassie shared a look, one that drew even Emily’s attention. She shot her dad a glance and noted the dumb smile on his face. One that he tucked away when he met Emily’s gaze.

“Anyway, looks like you’re doing all right here. You’re coming to stay with me tomorrow, right?” he asked her.

“Yeah, sure,” Emily agreed.

“Okay, kiddo. See ya then,” Beau said. He gave her a hug and kiss to the side of the head. Though she gave him a hug back, she watched with a bit of suspicion after he said goodbye to Cassie and Denise, strolling out the door like he was making some kind of escape.

The adults again shared a look of mutual understanding. Then Cassie smiled and grabbed her work bag.

“All right. I’ll be back in a bit. Need to check on a few leads,” she said.

After Emily and Denise waved her off, the latter made some tea and returned with a mug each for her and Emily. Denise reclaimed the seat behind her desk, but she turned towards the girl beside her.

“So, hun, how’re you doing?” Denise asked. “I mean, I know you’ve gone through a lot these past couple weeks, and we’re happy to give you a little distraction here. But are you okay?”

Emily bit her lip and turned her rolling chair towards Denise. She had to take some time with her answer. Ever since coming back from that camp, she didn’t know if she’d really answered that question honestly—not for her mom, or her dad.

“Well, on one hand, Mom kicked Avery out. Or, I guess he kicked himself out,” she said. “On the other hand, my mom and dad are getting along better than they have since before the divorce, so…there’s that.”

Emily rested her elbow on the desk in front of her, head in hand. Denise gave her a sympathetic half-smile.

“I don’t hate Avery,” Emily admitted. “I actually like him a lot. He made Mom happy again. But would it be nice if she and my dad…if we could be a family again? I mean, yeah.”

Denise was patient as she listened. She tried to keep her true thoughts on the matter inside as you came to mind, though she pushed all that into the background in order to give Emily her undivided attention. 

“At the same time, I don’t know,” Emily shrugged. “My dad’s a great person, but he’s not good at letting people in. I don’t think Mom could go through that again.”

“Go through what?” Denise asked. 

“The way my dad shut us out, after what happened to his partner,” Emily explained. Her face went from slightly sad, to wry. “Okay, yeah, my mom’s not the most patient person. But Dad still doesn’t talk about it, not even to Mom. Or to me.”

Denise had heard some small thing about Beau’s former partner from you, and even Jenny, but she didn’t know the specifics there. All she knew was it laid at the heart of Beau and Carla’s divorce.

“Well, he’s your dad,” Denise said with a sigh. “He wants to protect you, even if that means protecting you from himself.”

“Sure, okay, but he doesn’t have to though. Not all the time,” Emily said.

She could be a strong, even-keeled kid, mature for her age, but Denise saw the rare vulnerability in the girl’s eyes.

“Sometimes I wish he’d just talk to me,” Emily said. Her eyes fell away.

Denise’s heart broke for the girl. Not knowing what else to say, she scooched her chair forward and pulled Emily into a warm hug.

By the time Denise picked you up from the airport and dropped you off at your apartment, you were beyond exhaustion. Coming home from a week in your hometown in Chicago left you feeling drained. Physically, emotionally, down to your toes.

At least you were home.

It was a surprising feeling—the feeling that this was your home now. Already it felt real.

Seeing your ex will do that to you.

“So how was it?” Denise asked. She’d graciously made you dinner as well, so you didn’t have to cook or worry about eating out. You two sat on the couch in your living room while some romcom played in the background.

“Everything I thought it would be,” you replied, around a mouthful of meatloaf and mashed potatoes. You let out a heavy sigh.

It had been good to see your parents, you explained, and you’d finally been able to give your condolences to Mary’s parents in person—at the funeral.

That’s where Michael tried to corner you to hash out what would’ve been yet another argument, at the burial of all things. You had to restrain yourself from making a scene in front of Mary’s entire grieving family, as well as yours.

Denise shook her head. “That guy ain’t got an iota of shame.”

You snorted. “You’re telling me?!”

You shook your head and speared at your green beans with your fork. You couldn’t even mourn your friend in peace, for God’s sake.

“Did your parents try to get you to stay longer?” she asked.

Again, you scoffed. “Oh, yeah. They actually tried to use Mary’s death to get me to think Helena was more dangerous than Chicago.”

While you’d understood their point to an extent, your home city still maintained one of the worst crime rates in the U.S.

“Still think you made the right decision?” Denise asked. “Whatever’s in your heart about it, just know that I’m so happy to have you here.”

She took your free hand and squeezed. You managed to smile, if just a little.

“Yeah. I think so,” you replied.

Chicago would always have a place in your heart, but for better or worse, this was your new start. And you were taking it.

You woke up the next morning to a shiny new text message. Still bleary-eyed, you unlocked your phone, and you just had to smile.

It was from Beau Arlen, you were pleasantly surprised to find.

Hey there. Heard you were back in town. (Welcome home, by the way.) Just wanted to let you know that me, Cassie, and Jenny are hitting a bar tonight after shift. You’re welcome to join in. Say around 8?

Without even really thinking about it, you typed out your reply:

Sure! I’ll be there. (And thanks very much. It’s nice to know the county sheriff rolls out the welcome mat for all of Helena’s returning citizens.)

You got up and started your day. You were midway through brushing your teeth when your phone buzzed on the bathroom counter. Your lips curved into a smirk when you read Beau’s reply.

Sounds good. (And I’m happy to oblige. 😉)

You shouldn’t have been blushing at such a simple message, but it set off the butterflies regardless. You huffed and set down your toothbrush.

Damn it.

You were in trouble.

With such a nice start to your morning, you were smiling all the way into town. The place you were headed to was just down the street of Dewell & Hoyt, so you knew you had to stop in just to say hello. There you found Denise and Emily.

“Did you have a good trip?” Emily asked, after you let her go from a hug. You gave your aunt one next.

“It was…good,” you replied, with a sigh. “Mary’s at rest now.”

Your eyes stung at the thought, but you tried to blink past it, taking in a breath to steady yourself. While Denise rubbed your back, Emily squeezed your arm in comfort, leading you to give her a smile. She was a sweet girl.

“What brings you over?” Denise asked.

You shook your head to come back to yourself. You showed them the large bag you carried on your shoulder. It was full of your painting supplies.

“Well, I’m actually headed to an art studio just down the street. I looked up the lessons they were offering this week, and apparently today it’s painting on glass. Like a bowl, or a mug, or a little stained glass window. They’ve got different options.”

Emily looked intrigued. “Ooh, that sounds cool.”

“Yeah?” you said, raising a brow. “You’re welcome to come with me if you want. Unless my aunt can’t spare you, or you’d rather not. It’s fine.”

There was no pressure to your offer, but you remembered Emily being somewhat interested in your painting endeavors while on the camping trip. With everything the girl had been going through, you thought maybe she’d like something creative and fun to try to get her mind off things. You knew it was doing the same for you.

“No, that would be fun, I guess,” said Emily. She looked to Denise in askance, who waved a dismissive hand. 

“It’s okay, hun. Take the afternoon off,” she said. “I’ve got things here.”

Emily smiled and nodded.

“Okay. Let me just grab my stuff.”

You and Emily ventured together right down the street to the art studio. You paid for the $40 entrance fee each for you and Emily into the class.

You could see that she felt uncomfortable with that when you two took your seats near the back of the studio. It was pretty full, and neither of you wanted to be right at the front, preferring to hang out more chill-like in the back.

There at each long table was an easel each, after you chose what kind of glass you wanted to paint on. Emily chose a funky looking bowl, while you chose a rectangular piece of wood-framed glass.

“I’ll pay you back,” Emily said, once you two were comfortable in your respective seats. You waved her off.

“It’s okay, honey. I invited you,” you said. Then you gave her a conspiring look. “Here’s my rule of thumb, especially on dates, for example. The person who invites you should shell out.”

Emily smiled. “That makes sense to me.”

You saw the gears in her mind turning, and it reminded you of her little “summer project.” She’d told you about it a couple of times on that camping trip.

“How’s your podcast going?” you asked. The girl sighed; she chose a brush and started painting blue stripes across her glass bowl.

“Slow,” she admitted. “I’m lacking interesting subjects.”

You hummed at that. “Maybe you need a guest to help kick things off.”

Emily smiled at that. She turned to you with a gleam of excitement.

“Would you do it?” she asked.

Your mouth fell open in surprise. “Me? I think I’d be too boring. Isn’t your podcast about relationships?”

“Well, yeah, but that was a good bit you just had,” she said. “Who pays on a date?”

You thought about it with another hum of contemplation. Suddenly you could start to see the potential in her idea. You still didn’t want to be a subject of inquiry, but you didn’t want to dim her spark either.

“Well, it would be fun if you got a man’s perspective too,” you said.

Emily brightened. Finally, someone who cared about her side project. 

“What about Dad?” she said. “He’s a guy.”

You chuckled. “Well, yes.” 

Though you wondered about the last time he’d been on a date since his divorce, or if he even was dating right now. 

The more you thought about it, the more interesting it might be to see Beau answer some of those kinds of questions. It wasn’t at all because you were curious about the man yourself…

“Maybe you’re onto something there,” you said, a smile growing on your face.

“I’ll ask him,” Emily vowed. “Maybe he’ll actually open up for once.”

She sort of muttered that last bit. It caught your attention with a wry brow raise.

“What? Your dad is as chatty as they come,” you said. Emily rolled her eyes.

“Yeah, about dumb stuff,” she said. “Try to get anything serious out of him. He’s like an old clam.”

A snort of laughter escaped you. “Old clam. That’s nice.”

Though you saw that there was something deeper there for Emily. You’d seen these kinds of moments in some of your students before. Sometimes, they felt comfortable enough with you to share what they were going through at home. In Emily’s case, it seemed like she was hurting about something, maybe for a while now.

You continued painting on your glass project, but you offered her a look of understanding.

“Remember how I told you that my dad used to be a firefighter?” you said. Emily nodded.

“Well, your dad sounds a bit like mine. He’d rather consult a bottle of Jack Daniels than anyone else, really,” you confessed. “He saw a lot of things on the job that were hard. Too hard to explain. Possibly too hard to even work through. It made him…distant, when I was a kid. I don’t think we really connected until I got older.”

And even now, your relationship with him was rocky at best, after he’d suggested you try to work it out with Michael. You and your father hadn’t truly spoken ever since.

You still gave Emily a look of encouragement.

“But, it seems like you and your dad have a better relationship than I did with mine at your age,” you said.

That fell between you both while Emily ruminated in it. She started adding gold strokes to her bowl alongside the blue in swirling patterns, and it was a really nice touch, you told her. She thanked you with a little smile.

“Did my dad tell you that he lost his partner on the job?” she asked.

You sighed. “Yes, he told me some. We didn’t go too deep into it.”

“Well, for a whole year, it was like we barely existed,” she said. “Mom tried to help him. I tried…but I guess he was a lot like your dad.”

Your lips pressed together. You were sad to hear that, but it did remind you of what Beau told you that day, when he took you horseback riding.

“Well, maybe not all. But like you, my ex-wife ain’t a fool,” Beau had said. “Let’s just say, it was justified.”

You now nodded in understanding as you hummed. Let’s just say.

“He seems better now,” you remarked. 

“Yeah. He cleaned up when Mom left him,” Emily said. “I guess that’s what it took to snap him out of it.”

You shook your head, and you kept painting.  

You could understand Carla, all too well. It just hurt you, now that you knew what a good man Beau was. Your sympathetic heart said he didn’t deserve to get left behind when he needed his family the most.

However, the more logical part of you knew that sometimes, love just wasn’t enough to keep you tied to someone who didn’t seem to want to help themselves. When it felt like they were giving you no choice.

“Anyway, you’ll be my other guest, right?” Emily asked with a smile. “For the podcast.”

You barely resisted the urge to groan. As much as you preferred not to put yourself out there, you didn’t want to discourage the girl in her project.

“Well…okay. If you get your dad on, I’m sure it’ll be interesting,” you said, your lips forming a grin. You two continued to paint while chatting about Emily’s favorite subjects in school. English, sadly, was not one of them, but you weren’t offended by it. Shakespeare wasn’t for everyone.

“I’m actually meeting your dad for drinks tonight. If you want, I’ll ask him about being on the podcast, try to soften him up for you,” you offered. “Though I’m sure he’ll do it if you asked.”

Emily considered you with a bit more scrutiny. “Are you…seeing my dad?”

“Oh, no,” you said immediately. Just the suggestion had your cheeks warming. “Cassie and Jenny will be there too. It’s nothing like that.”

“Sure,” Emily said. She gave an awkward laugh. 

“Really, Em. He and I are just friends,” you promised. 

Even if that thought stung a little.

Despite what you told Emily, you did put a fair amount of effort into your appearance to meet your new friends that night for drinks.

You even put on your favorite red lipstick with some dark wash jeans, a black pair of ankle boots, and a black lace top to match, complete with off-the-shoulder sleeves. 

Cassie whistled lowly when she saw you walk into the bar from her seat in one of the booths. She smiled and nudged Beau, whose face slackened when he saw you. 

God help him, you were sexy as hell in black. 

Black lace, he corrected himself. Your hair was a bit wild and teased out. The flash of red was a pleasant surprise, momentarily drawing his eyes to your lips. He felt the back of his neck heat up, but he tried to hide it all behind a friendly smile. He found himself sliding out of the booth to hug you in greeting. 

Goddamn, she smells good too, he thought. Was that your perfume, or your shampoo? Whatever it was, he liked it more than was good for him.

He managed to let you go though, and he grinned at your somewhat shy smile. You moved on to greet Cassie next, then Jenny, before you slid into the booth next to her and across from Beau and Cassie. 

“How was Chicago?” Jenny asked. It brought the mood down some. You gave a true smile, however tinged with melancholy. It was still very difficult to talk about Mary, but since everyone at the table knew the full story, it was easier to be honest.

“Chicago was needed. It was good, in a way. I got to lay her to rest,” you replied. “But I’m glad to be back.”

“Glad to have you back,” Cassie said. She passed you a tequila shot. 

“Ooh, nice.” You weren’t usually one for hard liquor, but tonight, you thought you could let yourself go a little. You downed the shot in one. 

“Eyy, good job,” Beau said, raising his whiskey with a wink. You laughed in slight embarrassment and wiped the corner of your mouth.

While Cassie called over the closest server to get them started with some appetizers for the table, you turned to Beau.

“You know, I did a painting class with Emily today,” you told him. “She did great! Has a nice little bowl to put her jewelry in.”

He raised his brows, smiling. “Is that so? What do you know. My little girl’s a budding artist. Is she gonna go all broody and steal even more of my vinyl?”

You shook your head in amusement.

“She’s a teenager. They don’t need any excuses to be broody,” Jenny remarked.

“Fair enough,” Beau chuckled.  

“Actually, she asked me to be on her podcast,” you said. “She wanted to see if you’d join in for a segment.”

The man looked uncertain at that. You understood his reservations, because you had the same ones. Cassie and Jenny looked amused by the idea of him getting recorded and put on social media by his sixteen-year-old.

“Look, I know, but she just wants to ask us a few questions,” you said. “Like who should pay on a date, that sort of thing.”

Beau rested his elbows on the table and folded his hands. The humor in his green eyes shone under the soft gold lamplight.

“Well, that’s easy. I was raised to be a gentleman,” he said. “I wouldn’t feel right letting a woman pay for me.”

You tilted your head in interest. A smile started to play on your lips as you leaned forward on your folded arms.

“Huh. Well, I think whoever asks the person out should pay,” you posed. “That doesn’t necessarily mean the man pays every time.”

Beau’s lips twitched, but there was a subtle shake of his head.

“I don’t know. That just doesn’t sit right with me for some reason,” he said. 

You turned to Jenny and Cassie for some support, and they both gave Beau an unimpressed look.

“You mean to tell me you wouldn’t let me pay for my own drinks?” you asked. “I have a job. I make money, same as you.”

At that, Beau chuckled. “Hey now, I didn’t say you couldn’t pay for your own. But you’re certainly not paying for mine.”

“So in your world, I can’t ever treat my man if I want to?” you challenged.

“What, you mean to tell me you don’t like getting spoiled?” Beau countered.

When you smiled, it had an amused, almost flirtatious edge that began to make him hot under the collar. 

“Occasionally, sure I do,” you replied. “But then again, who doesn’t like getting spoiled now and again?”

“Doesn’t have to be about who pays either,” Cassie interjected. 

“It sure doesn’t,” Jenny agreed. The women laughed and clinked their drinks together, leaving Beau with a warming face under his beard. He once again chuckled, conceding defeat. 

Conversation spiraled from there, in which Jenny mentioned something about her and Beau’s latest finished case about Brett, a skydiving, former firefighter’s murder.

It was a coverup for a larger scheme within his old firehouse—where firefighters had been looting homes after they’d been cleared out of a fire. Brett’s friend had been killed on one of those jobs, and not by accident either.

“That’s awful,” you said with a frown, once she finished explaining.

Against your will, it made you think of your ex-fiancé, Michael. He was still an active firefighter. While he had been a shitty boyfriend, at the very least you’d never had reason to question his integrity as a first responder.

“Yeah, it was hard on the father too. He’s the unit chief, and the whole operation was happening on his watch,” Beau said. “One of his own firefighters killed his son. It’s damn near unthinkable.”

Beau’s mood had shifted the moment Jenny brought up this case, you noticed. He was staring mostly into his half-empty whiskey glass, as if contemplating a refill.

“We said we wouldn’t talk shop tonight,” Cassie said. She seemed to notice his downshift as well. She got up out of her seat in the booth. “Let me get the next round. Another tequila?”

“Sure,” you shrugged. You’d probably pace yourself this time.  

“Not for me, I’m good with this,” Beau said. 

He held that whiskey between his hands, and you were glad that he was going slow. Your conversation with Emily about his own bout with grief and loss was still fresh in your mind. While your heart broke for him, you were also a little worried for him. Had this latest case opened up some old wounds?

“I’ll go with you,” Jenny said. You slid out of the booth so Jenny could as well. It left you and Beau to talk, while Jenny and Cassie went up to the bar together.

Cassie tried to get the bartender’s attention, but she glanced at her friend out of the corner of her eye.

“You okay?” she asked.

“Fine. Why?” Jenny replied. But she wasn’t meeting Cassie’s gaze. She was watching you and Beau, almost in melancholy.

Cassie’s brows furrowed as she realized what was happening. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t noticed it before, considering both of their professions. 

“Aw, Jenny…” Cassie breathed. She wondered just how long her friend had been harboring some feelings for Beau Arlen.

Knowing she was “caught,” Jenny gave a wry smile.

“Don’t. It’s not a big deal,” she said quietly. “He likes her.”

Cassie sighed. “I think so. Even if he doesn’t realize it yet.”

“He deserves something good,” Jenny said. Her smile was a bit more genuine this time. Cassie nodded in agreement.

“So does she, after what she’s gone through.”

“So how are you doing?” you asked Beau. It was the first time you’d been alone with this man since that horse riding lesson last week, and part of you was feeling a bit nervous.

Just friends, like you told Emily. You had to remind yourself. Just friends…until evidence points to the contrary.

At your question, Beau heaved a sigh, running a hand over his face. Suddenly he looked more tired than he did before. The laugh lines around his eyes looked more like the telltale signs of stress.

“Well, first off, we found the missing backpacker,” he said. “It seems the poor young man fell down a cliff while hiking.”

Your brows furrowed and you covered your mouth with a hand. “Oh my God.”

Beau nodded in grim confirmation. His gaze met yours.

“But I also wanted to tell you this in person when you got back. I’ve also got a silver lining on our mountain man, Walter,” he continued. “He confessed to murdering Paige. He’s keeping tight-lipped about Mary and Luke, but we’ve got him dead set to rights on at least one of the murders.”

You processed that with a shaky breath. Then you nodded.

“We’re gonna keep working on him from every angle, I promise,” Beau said. Just like he’d promised you before—that he would get justice for Mary. You believed him.

“Thank you,” you said. Your gaze softened, and you contemplated laying your hand over his on the table. You just barely stopped yourself.

Instead, you cleared your throat and swiped some of your hair over your shoulder.

“Any other news, hot off the press?” you joked, trying to alleviate the heaviness in your heart. Beau quirked a smile. He leaned back in his seat and carded a hand through his hair.

“Ahh. Well…you know I’m investing my ex-wife’s husband,” he said drolly, sipping his whiskey. “And that’s going about as well as it sounds. I can’t get into the details of course…but he might be dealing in something shady.”

Your eyes widened. “Shady, or dangerous?”

Beau realized how he’d let that last bit slip out. He wished he hadn’t. Not only did he not want to worry you, but he didn’t want you anywhere near his open cases.

“I’m keeping close tabs on Carla and Emily just to be safe,” he admitted. 

Your face became the picture of concern. But before you could respond, a man approached the table, tall and lean, with a shaggy cut of dark blonde hair. He wore a pair of faded jeans, boots, and a gray and red Chicago FD shirt. 

Your face paled, and your mouth parted in surprise. 

“Hey there, stranger,” he said with a smile. 

“Michael?” you gasped.

AN: 🫣 Yep, we're going there lol. But how did you like the horseback riding lesson? Or her little day out with Emily? Or the bit of fun at the bar, before Michael showed up?

You'll definitely be seeing more of that guy in Part 5...

Next Time:

“Michael?” you gasped. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Beau’s eyes widened. Michael was younger than him, closer to your age. And cocky too.  

“Hey, baby,” Michael said. His smile quirked with charm, but his next words were anything but charming. 

“We need to talk,” he said, raising his brows.

“We actually don’t,” you retorted in a firmer voice. Cold even. You straightened in your seat. 

Beau saw none of your softness and good humor from earlier. This was a different woman, and he was actually proud of you for standing your ground. Though he realized then that he’d never gotten on your bad side. (He hoped he never did.)

Ko-Fi Me ☕

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[chatonnoir]

while i agree generally with your takes on miraculous, i don't think it's in completely bad faith to criticize aspects of marinette's character that were clearly created by a male writer. marinette is still a character written by a male perspective, not a real person. her story toes the line of what is assumed to be stereotypical behaviour of teen girls and prioritizes her romantic relations and her connection to the main boy over most things. i don't criticising that aspect of the show is bad faith or salty.

I don't know where this ask is coming from because I haven't said anything remotely related to anything you're saying here today?? But ok, I guess we’re having this conversation now

I HAVE criticized the way the writing falls in to men's stereotypes of women plenty. I've made it no secret how much I hate the fact that all of the girls who like Adrien were shown to be catty and jealous with each other while the boys who liked Marinette/Ladybug were for the most part able to be nice to each other (though I have more thoughts on this I won’t get in to here). I can ALSO criticize the way the majority of fandoms see the realistic failings and flaws of a female protagonist, especially when a fan favorite male character is involved, and point out how the criticism would be far more lax if she was a male character and how insane it is of the fandom to attribute things to the writers having a personal bias against the male character. That has nothing to do with forgetting Marinette is a fictional character written by a man, and everything to do with fandom biases and perception, because I've been in fandoms long enough to see the patterns.

Then there's the opposite end of the spectrum where people want Marinette to be less "boy crazy" because that's a teenage girl stereotype, want more focus on her fashion design career, want the show to be primarily about her #girlpower with the romance as a side dish, like Mary Jane to Spider-Man, etc. As usual those people are completely missing the point.

Marinette is written to be a very fleshed out and human teenage girl character, “stereotypical” traits included. Sorry to say that even though it doesn’t fit some people’s #girlpower ideal, having her focus so much on her crush is pretty realistic to the teenage experience, since romantic love is such a new and big and exciting and overwhelming feeling when you’re young. Maybe your experiences were different, but Marinette’s antics definitely remind me of how most of my friends were at 14. It’s also not only one way, so while it might be a “teenage girl stereotype,” the teenage boy is shown exhibiting the same traits. She's shown sighing dreamily out of windows over her crush, and her crush is shown sighing dreamily out of windows over her the same way. She has a stash of pictures of him, and he has a stash of pictures of her. His story prioritizes his romantic feelings for her just as much as her story prioritizes her romantic feelings for him --- enough that plenty of Adrien fans also complain about everything “always being about his feelings for Ladybug,” as if it doesn’t go both ways. If that weren’t the case, you might’ve had a point here.

And sorry but I do think criticizing the fact that the show prioritizes her romance with the male lead is idiotic. The argument that "a male writer writing a show prioritizing the female protag's romance with the male lead is bad" sounds true enough by itself, and might mean something if you applied it to a completely different show, but it's complete nonsense when you apply it to Miraculous. As I've said before, ML is first and foremost a ROMCOM whose plot revolves around the love story and the power of love itself.  If I hit play on a romcom/romance, I want it to prioritize the romance.

If someone walks in to a romcom and then complains about it focusing too much on the romance because it’s unfeminist .......... there’s no helping them. They either missed the memo on what they're watching or they just want a different show. Idk how to make this any clearer for y’all. ML is a romcom. It was intentionally written to be a romcom and focus on the love story. That is literally the point.

[hostelsbigbro]

my opinion on the lookism characters expect i am brutally honest bc these are just little fictional characters !! pixels !! deadass !! do you need to agree? no !! it will not change anything, i am open to hearing your opinions as well !!

daniel most realistic personality wise and i slowly forget more and more about him because we are straying away from the main topic

zack best boy, he might not be everyones favourite but he has always been doing his best to emotionally become more intelligent and aware, he has so much potential and is the most loyal friend ever, i really hate how ptj dumbs him down bc lookism fans obviously go 'oh haha he is dumb!' bitch no he goes out of his way to love people and no one really seems to love him the same way give him a fucking break

vasco i really loved him but the more they show him the more unbearable he becomes like bro the FUCK they make him boring and cold for? dude is on the road of slowly becoming what he hates the most in this world, a bully.. like i know he is dumb but that much? bro

jace he used to be so smart and so sexy and honest to his mistakes but now he is an irritating jay park look alike that pretends he knows what he is talking about !!! he isnt a genius everyone around him is just dumb as hell

mira does she have a personality besides weak, controlling and easy to make sulky if things aren't exactly how she wants them to be?? no?? i thought so

zoe literally best girl she has grown so much as a person i am so proud of her i would kill logan for her <3

mary not gonna lie i dont remember much about her personality besides anger issues, cursing and insecure but she is beautiful and honestly whoever puts up with vinjin for years without going insane deserves a praise i am convinced she is incredibly patient

jerry does this bitch have a personality outside of jake, i wanted to like him but i fr cant whenever he comes in frame it will always turn into a dramatic soap opera about his love for jake and promises

jake actually the funniest AND kindest person bc how does anyone know Jiho and still try to see the good in him? he is better than me for sure because he can see the good in everyone no matter how irritating the person is

samuel my one and only precious lovely diamond baby <333 did it make sense? no ! however i would protect this wounded person with my heart no one ever seems to treat him nicely expect eugene who is a literal monster

johan this is my child and i am convinced he has never done anything wrong not once in his life time every crime he commited was justified, he is just a baby who has been alone for too long !! imagine trying to figure out how to be an adult from age 12 bro that is exhausting he needs a break

eugene a fucking bastard however.. he could manipulate you to love him !!! bro got shipped with his own brother i feel like this fandom is going to hell bc they did the same with jake and samuel anyway eugene is a bitch but one that will make you question yourself

vinjin i want to like him but then he opens his mouth

sally i love her !!! she has so much potential but lately ptj makes her be nothing else other than a weak crying brat!!! i wish they would just make her strong, smart and emotionally intelligent just like when she got introduced!!! still funny tho 10/10

heather fuck this r*pist! I have no sympathy for her

yenna best baby, bet she is kind

eli i want to write a book about my love for him

i got tired tbh thats it

[thephantomcasebook]

Hey There,

Hope everything is going well for you! I wanted to thank you for stating in an ask from a previous anon, about the idea that Aemond could have 2 loves in the HOTD TV series, in Heleana and in Alys. The former being his light and the latter, leading him into darkness and deception, and his demise. I really, really hope the show really strikes home to casual viewers to that perspective. I really want Aemond to have someone to genuinely care for him on the show in a love interest type of way. I jprobably am jumping to conclusions but Alys is really trying to insert herself in the game of thrones type of power situation, by having his child, but I don't trust her at all. At least that's how I read her character in the book. Also, I want and hoping that Helaena finds genuine love before everything goes to crap for her.

I think this is uniquely a show thing.

In the book, Aemond has no scenes or interactions with Helaena. He really only interacts with Aegon and Criston. Though, to be fair, Daeron doesn't have any interactions with his family in the book, beyond being stated as Alicent's favorite person in the world and her sworn shield for most of the war - so you can infer that Alicent and Daeron are very close and spend most of their time together.

So, speculation being what it is. I would say that judging by the show, and not having any knowledge of how Alys is gonna be handled. I can only infer from what I know about her in the book that she is darkly ruthless and becomes ambitious. Which matches well with Aemond who is the polar opposite of his show counterpart in the book - loud, boisterous, and slightly unhinged.

They're kinda perfect together in "Fire & Blood".

But now, with the change of Aemond's character in the show, I'm not sure how good he would be with Alys, cause how they meet in the book, and how they became lovers, is not at all in Aemond character in the show. Show!Aemond states that he doesn't enjoy depravity, but how he gets with Alys is the soul of depravity. So, I really can't see Aemond and Alys relationship working in the show unless she is the one that encourages it. Or if Aemond snaps after "Blood and Cheese" and turns more outwardly villainous.

Thus, my speculation is that Helaena and her love ennobles Aemond and once she reverts to madness and he loses that centering that her love for him gave, he goes looking for another outlet and finds Alys who is darker and more suited for a war time wife than the fairy tale princess Helaena who was tarnished forever by being good and clean in an ugly world.

Of course, the trade off is that Alys plays on Aemond's worst instincts while Helaena always encouraged the best in him. But the question is that when the world is afire, is his love for Helaena nothing but naivety and childhood nostalgia? And Alys more a realistic and better partner for this dark life they now lead?

Those are the kinda questions I think would be prevalent going forward between the two women that Aemond loves.

But it really depends on how they portray Alys in the show and what her motivations are. I've got a buddy who got to see some of the Alys audition tapes ...

And from what I've been told, she's kinda a run of the mill 2023 insufferable 'stong" female character that is mouthy and girl bossing in an age and environment in which she'd get her teeth knocked out or raped for sassing a Lord that just took her castle. She's absolutely not in character with the book - who was incredibly cunning and reserved in dealing with her captors, including seducing one of them into marrying her.

From what I understand, Alys is being used as sort of a mouthpiece by Condal to take big swipes at Daemon and Team Black Stans. And, while I usually welcome that - God Knows the blackcels need a good ass kicking - I don't want a Mary-Sue strutting around Harrenhal running her mouth consequence free. Just because I agree with her anti-Rhaenyra and Anti-Daemon dialogue, doesn't mean it automatically makes her a good character.

But we'll see.

[matherofdragons]

can't believe that mika keeps getting called shitty despite the major character development she got from S2 until now. she's a character with flaws (which makes her way more realistic than the others) and wasn't made perfect like someone else. it bugs me how this toxic fandom wants the perfect character handed to them on a silver plate, like- then it's just an overpowered mary sue/gary stu no? anyways, this fandom was so fast to excuse any other character in the serie that has messed up, but God forbid mika from mistaking 🙄

and to those who said that in S3 she's still a shitty heartless btch i would like to show how she went from complaining day and night about her former team

to miss it with such a saddened, hurt and bitter expression.

how she used to have a visceral hate for enforcers

to work amicably with them and care for them. on God i still can't stress enough how she got upset the moment she saw Ginoza was hurt, GINOZA, we all know how she used to treat him in S2 and yet he's one of the few peoples she keeps on being in contact even outside of work. And her fist bumping with an enforcer? AN ENFORCER GUYS.

And are we seriously gonna act like she wasn't sad when Kasei (at the end of S3) hinted at wanting to remove Arata and Kei from their positions, but then when she choosed not to

she was ✨sparkling✨ with happiness? FOR REAL???? (plus Kasei having a soft spot for sad Mika still sends me sdjksxjskxjk)

Not liking her is okay, but saying that she's still "shitty as ever" when it's not true, that she doesn't deserves anything and that the only thing she deserved was Togane supposedly raping her so she'll get put on her place, is seriously disgusting. After this I realised that this fandom has no morals whatsoever and I toxic af, reason why I distanced myself from years aback...

Sorry for my long ass rant, but I had to get this off my chest for real 😩

Preach sis💁🏻‍♀️

I definitely agree with what you have said. And I want to add that I also don't see why people say Mika is toxic or an awful character, when we saw that she's actually a very well developed character, being a tsun tsun like Gino was a plus.

Mika deserves more love ❤️

[historicfailure]

Maybe an unpopular opinion, but: I actually prefer OCs over y/n, because 1) I fucking hate the you perpective with a passion (i.e. you looked into his eyes... ) 2) They're supposed to be blank slates so readers can project themselves onto them, but like... 100/100 times they act in a way I personally never would and find rather unrelatable 3) I feel like most y/n characters are OCs in the wirters heads anyways (at least reader insert fics), so like, don't give them a physical description if you don't wanna, but like at leats give them a proper name because I find y/n really disrupts the reading flow and maybe don't use the fucking you perpective. Also sorry for the rant, but also your reader insert fics are some of the ones I actually do enjoya, but generally? Always searching the OC tags on ao3 and ff.net first before I look for reader inserts. Also, when and why did OCs start to get so unpopular?? I feel like all the older fics till like maybe 2014 were a lot more oc centric rather than y/n??

Hey there! :D

That is so valid tbh. Generally, I also "only" started writing you or y/n perspective because I felt like my oc wasn't good enough and a bit cringy tbh. Also, I was annoyed with most y/n reader fics as well and wanted to make them more realistic for myself, so I could enjoy them outside of oc content.

I don't know how exactly I got that perception that ocs are bad, but somehow along the way of interacting with fandom (even way before I started writing) I managed to have the mindset that ocs are automatically cringe as they are mostly seen as wish fulfillment on the writers part... A rather unhealthy way to think, so I'm trying to unlearn that.

And true, yes! I definitely see my reader inserts as their own characters, as each and every one of them would react differently to a given situation. I just didn't give them a physical appearance because... well, see above.

I have no idea when OCs became unpopular, I can only reach back to the mary sue argument as a whole, as well as the fact that most fandom was built by women and then slowly overtaken by men as well (best example is Star Trek, the very first fandom, its foundations with mail-chains and fanfics and meetings built by women, only for these women to be pushed aside). Most women would have liked to see a women also succeed in fanfiction, be admired and loved by everyone, do everything on their own, with the world on her shoulders...

Which sounds very Mary Sue like, but if you think about it? Every "successful" male superhero nowadays (and even before that, lets be honest) is a Mary Sue archetype. Batman. Superman. Ironman, just to name a few. There was a wonderful essay about that exact problem I read once and I couldn't have agreed more. Let's see if I can find it when I'm home, I know I have it somewhere in my bookshelf xD

But the Mary Sue "problem" started way before 2014, so idk what the then decline caused.

Thank you so much for your ask! That was a wonderful insight and definitely a great opinion ^^ ocs for the win! :D

[animorphsficcommenter]

I want to preface my reply here with the understanding that I agree with you on how a lot of these *are* double standards. But at the same time… I think there is a *legitimate* criticism laid against Cassie that I feel is being brushed off here. And when I say “criticism” I mean “character flaw she has”, in the same way that one could criticize Visser Three for being evil; it makes her character more complex, makes the book better, and it’s not bad to have!

But her decision to put Aftran in her head, to let Tom escape with the morphing cube, genuinely do put the whole world at risk. More than anyone else on the team, she struggles to set aside the close-to-her people instead of the world. In Percy Jackson, his fatal flaw was supposedly “loyalty”- he’d let the world burn for his friends. I don’t think that flaw was managed well there, but it reminds me of Cassie in theory.

Putting Aftran in her head to save Karen was a bad decision. It worked out really well, and I understood why she did it, and I don’t think that it makes her a Mary Sue that it worked out. That’s one of my utterly favorite books in the series. I love its message. *And* I think it was a bad decision. I think it put everyone else at risk, and the correct thing to do with the information she had at the time would have been to let Karen die rather than become a controller herself, and I think Cassie is the only one of the Animorphs who would have made that decision at that point in the war. Brushing this off as “The alternative was killing a 6-year old girl, and that tells us more about you than it does about her” is disingenuous, I think. Killing Karen *would* have been deeply deeply unpleasant, I’d have hated it, all of them would have hated it. But between “killing a six year old girl” and “exposing my entire team so that the whole planet falls to a life in slavery”, I know which one I’d pick, even if I *really wish a third option existed*. It’s a very legitimate thing to be upset with a character about, *even if* it’s incredibly realistic and very hard for anyone to do.

Similarly, the decision in book 50 to let Tom get away with the morphing cube- it worked out well, but it put the whole war at risk, and with the information she had it was the wrong decision. I think she is a *better character* for it; I think the story is better for it; I love Cassie. But I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say that at that point in the war, no other Animorph would have taken that risk, and I don’t think it’s sexism to say “I think that that was a bad decision and this is my least favorite character as a result.” (And side note, she isn’t my least favorite character.)

They need her. They need someone to stand up for what’s right, to keep them from going too far. But she is *more likely* to go too far in the opposite direction than any of them. And that’s not a double standard; I’d be upset with any of them who knowingly took an action of that magnitude of risk. The others didn’t- except Jake, who gave up on the war in MM4, and I’m upset with him for doing that for exactly the same reasons. (With the exception of Nice Rachel in book 32 and Marco in book 42, both of which get passes for being literally brain damaged at the time.)

A similar thing goes for Rachel too, but a more interesting one here. Ax absolutely is bloodthirsty, and I’d even say *more* bloodthirsty than her. But the *narration* calls out Rachel as being the bloodthirsty one, over and over again. “Ax, get Rachel”, not “Rachel, get Ax”. Book 48 (which I love as a character study) is all about how Rachel reacts to the constant way the others treat her as bloodthirsty; we don’t get a similar book for Ax because they *don’t* treat him that way despite him being the one to suggest, e.g., flushing the Yeerks in 53, letting them starve in 7 without concern for the hosts.

So I think there absolutely is a sexism of sorts going on here, but I think it’s happening *in-universe too*, and I think a lot of people *out-of-universe* form their opinions based off of what the characters themselves think without doing deeper analysis to see what biases the characters have. And so I don’t think a discussion about this is complete without mentioning that aspect too.

So I'm putting together an In Defence of Cassie PowerPoint for a PowerPoint night with friends. Do you have any arguments for or against her? I trust your opinion and am curious.

Let's see.

"She's too powerful, too unique, too far-seeing, and not good enough for Jake! What a Mary Sue!"

Counterpoint: May I introduce you to the reigning champion fan favorite, Sad White Boy Tobias?

Only nothlit ever to regain the ability to morph

Only known human-andalite hybrid ever to exist

Regarded as savior by entire hork-bajir species

Entire existence is a time paradox the war hinges upon

Pulls the canonically "most beautiful girl in our grade", who turns down 6 or 7 other offers in favor of Bird Boy

Correctly predicted planetary ecology 65 million years in advance

Believed to be immune to 2-hour limit

In conclusion: y'all wouldn't be crying "Mary Sue" if Cassie was a sad white boy, and I can prove it.

"She's too weak and hand-wringing, and she never helps the war effort!"

Counterpoint: First of all, the fact that the same people say this in the same breath as "she's too powerful" is... telling. Secondly:

She saved the entire team's lives in #24, in #29, in #44, and in MM1, among others.

Specifically calling out #44 — that ending shows she is willing and able to be ruthless when her friends are in need. She doesn't like slaughtering human-controllers, but if the alternative is everyone she loves dying, then she'll fucking well do it.

Much like Jake (see: Sad White Boy), she's more willing to risk herself than her friends, hence the end of MM1

Her medical knowledge saves Marco from rabies, Ax from brain!appendicitis, and Tobias from bird flu.

Her survivalist knowledge saves everyone in #25 (the Arctic), MM2 (Cretaceous Era), #11 (rainforest), and #14 (desert).

In conclusion: Cassie's only idealistic-looking by the standards of this extremely morally gray team.

"She's so unfair to Jake!"

Counterpoint: Jake? The Jake who refused to speak with her for weeks? Jake who proposes marriage while they're still broken up? Jake who announces he'll never trust Cassie again because she [checks notes] saved his brother's life? That Jake?

Also:

She gives him tons of emotional support in #16, #21, #47, and other times he's feeling low.

They have a healthy argument where they air differences and come to an understanding in #9.

Did I mention he doesn't just dump her but ghosts her in the middle of the war's endgame?

They're teenagers. Their relationship isn't perfect, but it is built on open communication and mutual respect which is more than Rachel and Tobias can say

She's fighting a war, and PTSD for that matter. No, she doesn't have infinite emotional bandwidth.

In conclusion: Their relationship is fine, their breakup is mutual, and her behavior only looks bad if, once again, you're holding Cassie to a different standard than you are Jake.

"She shouldn't have trusted Aftran!"

Counterpoint: friendly reminder that the alternative was killing a 6-year-old for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. If that's what you think Cassie should've done, that tells us more about you than about her.

"She spends too much time moralizing!"

Counterpoint: this is a book series about war, not a friggin' video game. If you want moral pornography, go play Call of Duty. If you want sci fi realism, then you're going to have to accept that a majority of humans prefer not to kill their fellow humans if at all possible.

"She's a ripoff of [insert character here]!"

Counterpoint: literally every single one of these says more about the commenter than about the source work. "Every dystopia is set in the U.S." is the kind of thing only people who only read books by American authors would think. "All epic fantasy is Eurocentric" => tell me you only read books by white people without telling me. I'm glad you think Cassie is too similar to Willow Rosenberg, but there are at least 6 other stories in the known world, and I hear some of them even feature sweet/dorky/caring characters who are secretly ultra-powerful.

In conclusion: You don't have to like Cassie as a (fictional) person, but 85% of criticisms directed at her are bad-faith attacks on one of the 1990s' only fat Black female gnc ultra-powerful superheroes.

[animechristi]

Akudama Drive: Where does our happiness lie?

I place this work in Mary’s hands that she make it acceptable to Jesus Christ.

Sirach 11:28 “Call no one happy before his death; a man will be known through his children.” 

First, disclaimers:

Akudama Drive was first brought to my attention because of its animation quality and fight scenes. While I agree these are fun to watch, I don’t think you should just jump into the show based on that alone. Akudama Drive is violent and gruesome. Some of this is completely unnecessary while other actions, like characters’ deaths or wounds, are part of the plot. This is my personal opinion but I wouldn’t recommend it to those under 16. As is usual with a write up like this: there will be spoilers - you’ve been warned.

Second, basic info:

Akudama Drive is an anime original story written by Norimistu Kaiho. It’s about a group of highly skilled and dangerous criminals, called Akudama, that are each hired by the same employer to take on the same grand heist. Sounds like a story we’ve all heard at least once, right? But a nice catch is that each character is only referred to by their job. It’s a helpful way for Kaiho to draw our attention to what he wants to get across in the show: why each of the Akudama has come to be called what they are. 

Brawler is a brawler because he lives to fight strong people and win. Hacker is a hacker because he lives for a new challenge and a harder problem to solve. Doctor is a doctor because she wants to control life and death. Make sense so far? It’s a way to show us what these characters live for, i.e. what their purpose in life is.

Of course, this is where the character Swindler comes in. She isn’t someone who has devoted her whole life to one thing like the others, she’s not even a convicted criminal to begin with - she’s a civil servant who gets swept up in all the drama of the story and serves as someone we can relate to. In other words, everyone’s purpose is clear to us except hers. 

And now for spoilers!

Now people may disagree about this but I think one of the best things about Akudama Drive and what keeps us hooked as viewers is that all the main characters die. Remember what I mentioned earlier: each character lives for a very specific goal and regardless of how it’s done, they only act for themselves. Brawler wants to fight strong people not for any noble cause, it’s just what he likes to do. For example, the only reason all these criminals work together in the first place is because they have death collars put on them by the man who wants to hire them so they’re forced to cooperate. 

They’re all selfish, and thus when they die, we may be sad they’re not in the story any more but we can also see that they got what was coming to them. Another way of putting this is:  a character’s intention can impact our response to their death. E.g. If Brawler’s goal was to stop the executioner from reaching the rest of the team and kidnapping Brother and Sister, then we would see his death as a valiant sacrifice. In contrast though, he simply fights because he wants to. The mission of Brother and Sister doesn’t gain or lose any momentum from his death because he didn’t die for them. He dies and we soon forget him as the story continues.

How do we treat death in pop culture?

I said before that I like that all the characters die. I suggest two reasons for this:

1.) Not many franchises do this today. They want to keep people alive and want to keep the option of making more movies, and selling more merchandise open for the future. 

2.) Having characters die is completely realistic and reminds us that we too will die and we should live with that fact in mind.

Now back to Swindler

I want to argue that what makes Swindler such a great character and makes us cheer her on throughout the show is her selflessness. While everyone else is concerned for themselves, she is concerned for others. In other words: she is the only one who loves. As St. Thomas Aquinas would say she desires the good of the other. 

Everyone else is helping Brother and Sister because they see some gain for themselves. Swindler helps them because of their dignity as human beings. Now if you’ve seen the show you may bring up the character Courier who dies helping the siblings escape. But here I would point out that Courier can’t bring himself to help anyone out of love, Swindler has to pay him and make it a duty or contract in order for him to help. 

SAC-RI-FICE!

Now this isn’t just me drawing out some Christian themes. Akudama Drive knows exactly what it’s doing. Notice when Swindler is killed towards the end, her death is broadcast across the city and portrayed as an innocent woman getting cut down by cruel authorities. If that wasn’t enough, she dies with a stone cross behind her which gets splattered by her blood. It screams Christian in our face because the cross is the ultimate image of love. It is a love that is willing to lay down its life for the other person. Some people may say Swindler’s death serves to undo the corrupt executioner system. Are they right? Sure. But that isn’t her main goal. Rather her primary goal is to let Brother and Sister get away safely so they can live in freedom (shoutout to Galatians 5:1).

So what’s the point?

Why do some characters rile us up with enthusiasm while others don’t? It’s because we see something good in them and want to support it and even imitate it. We were made for love and so seeing someone love so much appeals to us on a fundamental level. No one cheers on Brawler or Doctor when they die and celebrates saying “hey! they went out with a bang!” Instead, we all root for Courier and Swindler when they choose to persevere until the end. Love stirs us to action. It’s the same reason Mother Teresa of Kolkata strikes us as a bit of a crazy woman, but all of us admire her straightforward and simple goal of caring for the poorest of the poor, for loving them. She’s not doing it for herself, she’s doing it for Jesus Christ.

As St. John writes: “In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 Jn 4:10-11)

God has loved us so much! What is our response? “No thanks I’m good”? Or maybe “I really appreciate it, now can I get back to work”? No, rather Jesus Himself has told us what to do: “love one another, just as I have loved you” (Jn 13:34). And how has Jesus loved us? He laid down His life for us. So why do I think Swindler is such a good example of this? Because we have been told: “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (Jn 15:13).

Concluding remarks

If there is one thing that can motivate us to do anything or get us through anything, it is love. This love is not just a feeling, but a greater desire for things to be set right, for good to triumph. Therefore, let us love our good God and thank Him for all He has done for us, and let us imitate the love Jesus shows toward us. We are all capable of it, and only this type of love will fulfill us. If we live only for ourselves – if we do not love – then when we die, we’ll be incapable of receiving any love. Recall that Dante’s ninth circle of hell is a frozen wasteland where those incapable of love are locked in ice and almost nonexistent. So let us love in a radical way even if it kills us because only love of God will ever truly satisfy us.

[orthodoxydaily]

Saints&Reading: Mon., July 18, 2022

July 18_July 5

MARTYR ST. ELIZABETH (Romanov_1918)

Grand Duchess Elisabeth Romanov was a loving wife who served her husband in good faith as a true Christian. After her husband's tragic death, she continued to advance in Christ, dedicating herself fully to the service of God and the neighbour. We talked to historian Dmitry Grishin, about her two principal roles - spouse and alms giver. Dmitry is the author of a literary biography of Elisabeth Romanov published in Russian as a part of the book series "Outstanding People".

What made you interested in the life of Grand Duchess Elisabeth Romanov and motivated you to write a book about her?

I found it an immense challenge to trace the evolution of her personality throughout the greater part of her biography. From her arrival in Russia in 1884, she placed herself fully in the shadow of her husband Sergey Alexandrovich. She dissolved herself in him fully. He was an immense influence on her person, her ideas and her worldview. Her husband was her window on Russian culture, tradition and the people; through his eyes, she saw her world. From this perspective, I explored her character and person in my book.

I did not model the narrative of my book on the somewhat distant and reserved style of the lives of the saints. I portrayed her as a living person from a realistic perspective. My idea was to write a secular biography of an outstanding person with her unique strengths and weaknesses, virtues and character flaws. Yet, the more I worked on the book, the more it became clear to me that this kind of approach was problematic because I was writing a biography of a saint.

How would you describe the role that faith played in her actions and life choices?

Progressively, I came to see her life as her ascent to sainthood. In her childhood and adolescent years, she developed her character, and eventually, she began her ascent on a spiritual ladder, knowing very well about the sorrows ahead...continue 

SAINT  BARBARA NUN, NEW MARTYR OF RUSSIA (1918)

Barbara Yakovlena was a maidservant to the Grand Duchess Elizabeth of Russia and her husband, Grand Duke Sergius Alexandrovich. When the Grand Duke was assassinated in 1905, Elizabeth founded the convent of Saints Martha and Mary in Moscow. On April 15, 1910, Mother Elizabeth became the superior or abbess of the convent. Barbara, whose nickname was Varya, also took the vows of a nun and became one of her novices. Together the women of the convent devoted their lives to prayer and fasting, as well as helping the poor and sick. Their charitable work, begun with the blessing from St. Patriarch Tikhon, was wellknown and spread throughout Moscow and Russia from World War I through the Bolshevik Revolution. They took food to the poor, opened a home for women with tuberculosis, founded a hospital and school, and set up homes to care for those who were disabled, widowed, or elderly. They also founded an orphanage to care for homeless children. The Bolshevik Revolution began in 1917. All members of the Tsar's family and other royal family members were arrested or exiled (sent out of Russia). Tsar Nicholas and his family were sent to Siberia. In April of 1918, Patriarch Tikhon paid a visit to the convent. Mother Elizabeth, her fellow nuns, and other members of the royal family were rounded up and arrested. The nuns who were not royalty were to be released. Nuns Barbara and Catherine begged their captors to allow them to accompany Mother Elizabeth, but were refused. These two brave women got on their knees and begged to be with their superior. The soldiers allowed Nun Barbara to join her beloved Mother, but only after signing an agreement that she would be willing to die with her. She did, saying, "I agree to give you the requested signature, not only in ink but, if necessary, in my own blood." The soldiers, stunned at this loyalty in the face of possible death, allowed Nun Barbara to join her beloved Mother Elizabeth, and Nun Catherine was released. The two women, Mother Elizabeth and Nun Barbara, were reunited and sent to Ekaterinburg, and then to Alapaevsk, in Siberia. While imprisoned, Mother Elizabeth and Nun Barbara prayed and ministered to the others. The members of the royal family as well as the soldiers who guarded them were deeply impressed by their constant prayer, many times finding them in prayer all night. The two women also impressed their captors by their dignified manner and their care for the other prisoners, who all knew they did not have long to live. On July 18, 1918, Mother Elizabeth, Nun Barbara and members of the royal family were awakened, and taken by cart to a deep, flooded mineshaft. They were thrown down the shaft, and thought to have drowned. Instead, the soldiers heard hymns sung from the bottom of the shaft! Despite agonizing pain and suffering, their singing continued for many hours, to the amazement of their captor

MATTHEW 15:21-28 

21Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon.22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed."23 But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after us."24 But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."25Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!" 26 But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs." 27 And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." 28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

ROMANS 16:17-24

17Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.21 Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you. 22 I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord. 23 Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother. 24The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

[woodchipp]

Taking everything straightforwardly and not thinking about it deeper is just going to lose you in this rabbit hole of emotions that eventually ends up in you hating on the game with no real reason.

You do understand you're stating that I have to pretend the game has good writing lest I hate it, right?

however, your points are extremely contradictory, and the majority of your arguments are based off of pure bias.

I love the smell of psychological projection in the morning!

you can’t simply look over everything in OMORI as bad because you simply don’t like the creator,

I also love when people make up a guy in their head to argue against!

and you can’t use other people’s analysis’s and reviews as some sort of leverage to your argument.

You used a screenshot of one of your own essays, that’s a perspective that is irrelevant to OMORI.

So I can't use other people's analyses, and for some reason I can't use my own analyses either. lmao

But sure, it's my arguments that are contradictory and based off pure bias just because you can't properly refute any of them XD

In a reply, you stated that Mari was blocking Sunny’s way, and yelling at him. Seeing as you agree that she was in fact blocking his way, meaning he couldn’t ‘retreat’ to his room, so what other then pushing her away could Sunny do? Also, yes, blocking someone’s way is getting physical. How would you block somebody’s way without contact?

1) Mari blocked Sunny's path to the staircase's narrow passageway by just placing herself in front of him. That's all. There's no indication she grabbed him to restrain him from running away.

2) She was blocking his way downstairs. Two other rooms on the 2nd floor were behind him, and, as I've said, there was nothing preventing him from doing what an average 12 yo in a such a situation would do - running away from Mari since he perceives her as distressing, locking himself in either of the rooms and waiting until she calms down.

I think it’s a little ridiculous to be so contradictory and hateful in every single interaction you have.

All I'm doing is laying out the facts the game provides the player with, so hateful towards whom, exactly? Your favorite fictional character? :)

And no, this doesn’t make him a stubborn and selfish guy, it means he’s twelve.

A 12 yo kid wouldn't feel "at peace" upon seeing his sister's dead body desecrated to look like she killed herself. The usage of Sunny's age as an excuse for his behavior is invalidated by this.

If Sunny was more mature, and could express his indifference towards his personal time being taken away via rehearsals, then none of this would’ve happened.

No, none of this would've happened if Sunny reacted to the argument like a realistic 12 yo kid and simply fled.

You also stated Sunny isn’t a good guy because helping people in FARAWAY is optional,

That is not the only reason I think Sunny is a horrible person, but nice try.

Sure, maybe helping the residents in FARAWAY might not change your ending, but it is something you can do

If the town's sidequests were as worthy of consideration as you argue them to be, they would've factored into the game/story beyond being "something you can do" (e.g. they could've been made into one of the requirements for unlocking the good ending)

So yes, he would help others, because it’s something that he would do.

He would not if I, the player, don't direct him to. Also,

You can hate SUNNY as much as you want, but at least make your arguments coherent and logical instead of dishing out insults and close-minded nonsense.

Not my fault you apparently count facts as "insults" too.

Alrighty, so since the user I reblogged earlier apparently doesn't want to engage in any conversation with the people they're lambasting, I'm making my reblog a separate post. I'm nothing if not willing to talk :)

learning to forgive yourself even after seeing the full weight of the consequences of your actions, and realizing that you can still be loved and relearn how to love despite everything

1) "forgive yourself" I am not Sunny, and Sunny is not me.

2) Why should I be inclined to forgive an unlikeable asshole who killed his own sister because he's too self-centered to consider her feelings, lied about it to his friends, did next to nothing to show he cares about them during the game's events (the only time he tries doing anything for anyone is when he stops Basil's suicide attempt, and even then he contemplated ditching him again as a legitimate option) and then left them after revealing he lied to them for the last 4 years while bitching about how hard it is for him to live with the guilt?

Why should I root for him? I'd love to hear a reason other than "He has trauma!" or "He's the protagonist!" or "His love for his friends is shown via the dream world he has in his head!" or an ad hominem attack.

overcoming grief and realizing the world still moves on, with or without you, whether or not you think it's fair or if you blame yourself

OMORI isn't a game about overcoming the grief of a loss. It is a game about a character who's grapping with the well-earned guilt for taking another person's life and then lying about it. Those are quite different things.

Such an argument would've been applicable had Mari actually turned out to have killed herself.

You still have responsibility over your actions, and everything you do still matters,

Which is why the gang's reactions to what Sunny's done didn't matter enough for the game to show them, I suppose.

You still can change people's lives for the better or worse even if you think you aren't worth a second thought.

Sunny changed his friends' lives for the worse. And then he left.

I really enjoy this game can you tell.

Good for you! Doesn't mean others can't point out the main character is a nasty piece of shit and the writing has more holes in it than Swiss cheese, though.

I do think some people need to retake basic literature classes or touch grass perhaps

How classy. Is it because "some people" are not reading the game the way you want them to? :)

Look. You're well within your right to shove your fingers into your ears and go "lalalala I'm not listening!" when someone tries to explain their point of view to you and you don't like it. But you can't criticize people for different opinions when you refuse to listen to any explanations.