#as in i like that ship but i never for a second believed it'd be real

[justasmallbloginabigklainefandom]

Me, who's suspected from the very beginning that Ted would go home to Kansas and therefore never got invested in any ship involving him because I knew it wouldn't happen: sike

[ooffmlsorry]

One Piece Men Dealing with a Dangerously Reckless S/O

context: by dangerously reckless I mean someone who never has a second thought about throwing themselves in harms way and doesn't care what it does to them

t/w: passive suicidality, self harm? (better safe than sorry) angst. Mentions of blood, injury, and death

LAW

It'd probably lead to a big argument where he threatens to kick you off his crew because losing you would legitimately be the death of him. He can't lose anymore people he loves to violence. When Bepo tells Law you didn't even hesitate to plunge into a thicket of razor wire to help your crew mates escape, it doesn't read as admirable to him. It reminds him too much of himself on Spider Miles. After he gets your side of the story, which pretty much confirms it, he doesn't talk to you at all while he cleans the mud and blood from your skin and stitches the slashes that cover you from head to toe. Normally, even if you've fallen asleep, he talks you through your treatment, but not after your stunts. He's that...scared? Angry? Distraught might be the right word. Every time you do something like this, he's speechless because his thoughts are racing with the reality of losing you. He feels sick to his stomach. On nights like these, he doesn't know whether to sleep far away from you or hold you so close to him you can't breathe.

LUFFY

At first, Luffy doesn't care. He has the utmost faith in his crew, and they put themselves in harms way all the time! Getting injured is just being a pirate sometimes! That's pre-timeskip. Post-timeskip Luffy still has a lot of faith in his crew and a lot of faith in his ability to protect his crew, but he's...different. He believes things are always going to work out no matter what and if they don't he'll make them, but sometimes he wakes up in the middle of night and stares at you, tracing all the scars you've gotten from one fight or another. And then the what-ifs begin to creep in and the nightmares start. After literally diving into a sea king to retrieve Nami's log pose and Chopper has patched you up yet again, you wake up to Luffy calling out for you in his sleep, sweat dampening his hair and his face twisted in fear. You soothe and shush him until his breathing evens out, but he holds you tighter still. It's not in his nature to "bench you" or doubt your strength just because he's in love with you. That would be controlling and doubting you, and he would never do that. But that doesn't mean Zoro and Sanji don't take notice, even if Luffy won't say anything they make it extremely hard for you to pull off any careless "heroics."

ZORO

Much like Luffy, Zoro doesn't think much of it for a while for the same reason. This is the guy that was completely ready to cut his own legs off, after all. But that doesn't mean it doesn't concern him, especially because you don't seem to have a rhyme or reason for all the shit you pull. And he would say something to you about it. Maybe not directly after you jumped straight into Marine gunfire to cover a little girl, he just wants you to be alive at that point. But after days of taking care of you as your wounds slowly heal, after he's certain you're not going anywhere this time, he'd make sure the two of you are somewhere alone and quiet to talk. As far as Zoro's concerned not going down without a fight is completely fine, dying for your dream isn't considered giving it up, but acting like it isn't a possibility is stupid. And he'd tell you as much. For most of this he wouldn't be able to look at you, just because if he does fear is going to take hold of him, but for that last bit he would. Zoro would search your eyes hoping you understand what he's saying. He'll tie you to the ship if he has to, he'd do anything if it saves you from being so stupid as to forfeit your dreams.

SABO

Dying for the cause is par for the course. It's a grim reality that Sabo begrudgingly accepts, although he does have a bit of youthful naivety that it won't ever happen to anyone. He won't ever believe the revolution isn't worth it, but you do make him question it for the first time. He loves you so much he has to compare you to the whole world for a moment, and that's one of the worst thoughts he's ever had. Because the whole world still wins. The guilt would eat him alive until he blows up (somewhat literally) at you for drinking the last of a rare poison to keep it out of the enemy's hands. Angry tears roll down Sabo's cheeks. When he yells at you, he's shaking with anger and fear. It's not up to him, but he doesn't object when you're completely benched while you recover and for a little longer after that. It takes a while for him to no longer angry and scared out of his mind, but once he is he's back to himself. If can visit you every day he will. He has hope for the world's future, and hope for yours too. He's not leaving either behind.

[stubz]

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" whispered the Beerix.

"Your communicator doesn't have service on Earth and my phone is dead. I need to charge it somewhere and this is the closest place that won't ID us." the human looked through the window into the crowded pub searching for an outlet.

"Just...hood up, hat pulled down, and stay close to me." she whispered as they reached the front of line.

"How do you know they won't ID us-?"

"Two people? Alright, come on in!" smiles the doorman.

The human and beerix walk in and are hit with body heat, loud music, dozens of loud voices, and a wave of bodies.

"Told you, now come on, there's an outlet over there."

Pushing and shoving their way through the crow the duo makes it to the back of the pub where a table and some stools are. Quickly the human takes out a charger and plugs in her phone.

"Great, now we just need to wait."

"For how long?"

"At least 10 minutes so we'll make it to the nearest base."

"I hate it here. It's loud and...smelly." wrinkles the beerix's snout.

"I know...here I'll buy you something to eat. Want a drink too?"

"...fine. Just be quick."

"Alright, remember, hoo-"

"Hood up, hat pulled down, yeah yeah I know Kim, you only told me a hundred times tonight."

"...sorry, I'll get you that food and drink!"

He watched as his friend disappeared into the crowd and huddled into chair. Every couple of seconds he checked the phone hoping that'd it'd miraculously be fully charged so they could go.

"Come to Earth they said, it'll be fun they said...why couldn't we just have stayed on the ship and go to the new year's party like usual?"

"Excuse me mate? Can we sit here?" he whipped his head up to see three humans standing before him.

"Uh..."

"It's just that there's no where ta sit and it looks like it's just you and friend so could we?"

"...sure." he forced out knowing it'd draw more attention to say no and that more people would just ask this very same question later.

"Thanks mate! I'm Arty, this is Celia, and this is Sean. What's your name?"

"...Quip."

"I love that name! And your hat! It's so gorgeous, where'd you buy it?"

"Oh my god Celia look at his eyes! They're shiny like...like flashlights."

"Don't mind them, they're a bit drunk right now." Laughed Arty.

"No worries..."

"Real nice hat though, never seen a design like before."

"Thanks...it's foreign."

"From where???" lean in the two Irish.

"Knock it off you two or I'll knock some sense into you."

"I...it's from..."

"Sweden! Hi nice to meet you, I'm Kim. Got you fries and a Guinness." she slides over to her friend.

"Oh lovely choice! They got great Guinness here!"

"I know, got one for myself."

The three Irish began to talk amongst themselves while Quip grabbed the attention of his friend and crewmate.

"We gotta go, now." he hissed.

"We can't until finishing our food and drinks, leaving without doing so would raise suspicion." she whispers back smiling at the three other humans.

"Two of them are drunk and the sober one wouldn't care."

"Maybe or maybe he would since as the only sober one he's on high alert right now. Besides I only have 8%. We need to wait now drink your Guinness and eat your fries."

"...you didn't even get one of those tiny drinks I like."

"Those are shots and this will last longer and tastes better."

"Better..."

[Four Guinness later]

"HE WAS A SKATER BOY SHE SAID SEE YOU LATER BOY, HE WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR HER!

SHE HAD A PRETTY FACE BUT HER HEAD WAS UP IN SPACE, SHE NEEDED TO COME BACK TO EAARRTH!!" screamed Quip, Celia and Sean, the three drunkenly dancing and singing to the song playing in the pub. Somehow Quip's hat ended up on Celia along with his hood on Sean, his pointed ears, snout and grey skin out for everyone to see.

"I can't believe how good your friend's cosplay is."

"I know...he loves Dragon Ball." smiles Kim thankful that Celia thought Quip said he was Beerus instead of Beerix.

"Yeah killer Beerus cosplay, too bad he couldn't get purple paint though."

"MATE HOW DO YOU NOT KNUR DIS ONE?!"

"I KNOW IT NOW!"

"OI SHUDDUP IT'S THE BESHT PART!"

"CAUSE I'M JUST A TEENAGE DIRTBAG BABY! YEAH I'M JUST A TEENAGE DIRTBAG BABY! LISTEN TO IRON MAIDEN BABY!!"

Kim laughed as she watched her friend continue to poorly sing to the songs her and most of everyone else here grew up with.

"Quip! Quip! it's time to go!"

"Don't wanna! It's fun here!"

"Quip, Kal and Glip are probably worried about you! My phone is charged up, let's go!"

"Nooo!"

"Aw listen, listen to your friend mate, gotta get home to your family..."

"Yeah, don't wanna worry 'em. My girlfriend would call tha police if I didn't check in with her..."

After some more coaxing from Sean and Celia, Quip finally gave in and followed Kim out of the pub.

A phone call and bus ride later the two were soon reunited with the rest of their crew and soon went back to their ship.

Tomorrow Quip will be banned from drinking for 3 months by his partners and the Captain as he was trending on social media due to Celia and Sean posting the selfies and videos they took with him...which he drunkenly agreed to while his hat and hood were down.

For the rest of the month #IrishBeerus was a popular post.

[whymustyouhurtmeinthisway]

I know it's all jokes and I'm taking this too seriously, but all those A.B.A. cheating/Paracelsus cuck memes going around on Guilty Gear twitter piss me off a little. Not because they're getting in the way of my ship or anything like that, but because they fundamentally misunderstand A.B.A. and Paracelsus' dynamic to a ridiculous degree

A.B.A.'s unstoppably obsessed with Paracelsus, her soul's consumed by almost nothing but the overwhelming desire to be connected with him at every single waking moment. She'd never even consider "cheating" on him for a second, and even if she did she wouldn't take it even the slightest bit lightly. If she were to ever feel even a hint of attraction to anyone besides Paracelsus, she'd immediately undergo spine-tearing amounts of remorse, inner conflict, rage, doubt, and a thousand other negative emotions towards herself for even thinking about "cheating" on her beloved "husband" for a millisecond. I'm not gonna yell at you for making lighthearted ship art between her and another character or anything, but to me it'd be pretty out of character for her to just casually love someone else without massive inner torment before, during, and after the fact.

All the Paracelsus cuck jokes don't work at all because Paracelsus would be nothing but overjoyed if A.B.A. were to move on from him and find someone who actually loves her back. To be a cuck you gotta be feel a) distraught that your significant other's cheating on you, and b) turned on by it despite the circumstances, and Paracelsus fits neither of those by a long shot. Though he respects and cares for A.B.A. as a friend, he feels absolutely no romantic or sexual attraction towards her, and wants more than anything for her to not be in love with him. 100% of the "marriage" stuff between him and A.B.A. was done entirely without his consent, he takes every opportunity to remind people that he's not actually A.B.A.'s husband and doesn't love her the way she does, and the only reason he sticks with A.B.A. at all is because he's literally incapable of moving on his own to get away (and also because she'd be devastated were he to leave and he's too nice to put her through that).

In conclusion, Paracelsus would be extremely happy if A.B.A. were to ever "cheat" on him, not because he has any cuckholdish or voyeuristic tendencies, but because the two of them aren't actually in any kind of romantic or sexual relationship at all in the first place (no matter how much A.B.A. believes they are) and he'd love for her to move on from him to someone who actually loves her back (both for her sake and his own)

[razzdazzledoo]

How do you feel about people roleplaying as MX?

Alright everyone, sit down. I've been waiting for this moment.

Welcome to

RAZZDAZZLEDOO'S QUICK GUIDE TO WRITING MX!!

For those who wanna be in-line with the character while still having the freedom of not being canon.

So first things first, let's get the ground basis with MX.

MX does what he does for the reactions it brings, that kinda stuff is his entertainment. So he plans ahead, hoping to find the best snowball effect for the strongest look of terror on people's faces.

Though he doesn't plan THAT much, he gets a ground base and then improvises the rest of it so it's hard to plan ahead against him.

He's also not meant to be intimidating all the time either, his playmates will get bored if it's the same song and dance so he plays into other personalities to throw them off.

When their guard's down? He strikes while the iron's hot. And that makes them terrified even more.

Second, how he interacts with other people.

It ultimately depends on what the other person's like. Are they exactly like him? Do they have the potential to be? Or are they like Lucas where they clearly fear him?

Those kinda aspects will play into the chemistry MX can have with a person. He's best friends with Executable M and Mr. Virtual for a reason, they're just like him in the sense of 'tormenting for their own entertainment' along with whatever goals they have.

If they show fear, he'll play into it. He'll show them reasons to fear him, and then the next moment deceive them into believing there's some good in his heart. Only to then tear down those chances, and watch them crumble.

"What if I wanna ship my MX roleplay with someone?"

You have the freedom to do that, don't let me restrict you from having fun. I'll provide how he would, in-character, respond to romance. But I wanna get some rules down first.

Do not be sexual with him. That kinda shit makes me incredibly uncomfortable, not to mention I don't see him ever showing interest to the thought.

Do not ship him in problematic scenarios. This can include: People in the victim role, like MX took their soul and put them in a vessel; Characters who are directly stated to be minors; And characters that use Luigi's likeness. I outright forbid this and will not hesitate to block you if I see it.

Build up to it. MX obviously isn't going to know what the hell a "relationship" is, he's never entertained the idea and so it's going to take some time for him to learn. He's gonna have to figure out why he feels the way he does around that specific person, whether with their guidance or not.

He knows that humans can feel love, and how they respond to it, since he's been around since the universe's creation; but he personally doesn't know much on the subject.

When he realizes he's actually capable of love, he's not gonna know how to respond to it. He might even outright avoid the person he feels those emotions to since he has not an iota of knowledge with relationships.

If your interpretation of MX has an actual friendship with other muses, and he gets along greatly, he might go to them about it as a show of trust and they can help him figure it out.

Otherwise, he'd try and leave "gifts" for his special someone. Like a cat bringing you a dead bird, for comparison. Most of his gifts are eldritch abominations though, like a smaller version of one of his clouds in his world as an example.

On the other hand, if his special someone went to him first about pursuing a relationship and he does feel love towards them as well; He'd go along with it, essentially being a big giant teddy bear for them if he thinks it'd be funny enough.

If someone tries to pursue a relationship with him and he feels no attraction, he just kinda messes with them about it. Poking fun that they'd fall in love with a monster like him, who'd never love them back.

There's no canon MX ship, I just personally lean more towards Powerforest since it's a comfort ship of mine.

"What are some other tips?"

If your interpretation of MX can frown, make it have impact. That brute smiles all the time, regardless of the situation; So if he frowns, that's gonna have to mean something.

Canonically if MX frowns, he's locked in. He's not gonna waste time playing around, he wants you DEAD.

Don't be afraid to be silly sometimes.

It'd get awful boring real quick if MX was one-dimensional in a roleplay scenario, having something like that can give him way more depth and I encourage it.

You don't need to follow this guide exactly, but please still be respectful of the boundaries I expressed in here.

This is not meant to be a rulebook on how to write MX, you still have the freedom to write him how you feel most comfortable with writing him. This is just how I go about writing the character in my own spaces.

[justafanofwhatever]

Jayvik ship<3

As an openly Jayvik shipper, I must admit I like creating stories in my head about them (and all my ships in any stories, truly). So I thought, might as well share!

Context: This is basically imagining if Jayce and Viktor got in a relationship at some point during the time skip between episode 3 and 4.

I'm pretty sure Viktor never had a lot of affection in his life, while on the other hand Jayce seems like an absolute teddy bear, especially if he's in a relationship.

So here's a little collection of moments I imagined of Jayce being sweet/worried, with a confused/flustered Viktor in response of it, because he's not used to it. (Honestly he probably would never get used to it, but at some point he'd most likely have less reaction, so I imagine this being more at the start of their relation)

(mostly all cute moments, a bit of arguing in the second stories, nothing too big though)

Flowers

Jayce always liked to give flowers to people he fell in love with, man or woman. It's classic, but it's always sweet, plus it brightens the space. So one day, as he passed by a flower shop on his way to work he couldn't help but think he should buy a small bouquet, or at least a rose for his dear Viktor, that they could put in their way too empty lab.

So he walked inside the lab, passing by Sky, who gave a sad smile. She had a crush on Viktor for a good time, but she knew he was with Jayce, but at least she was happy that he could be happy in love, even if not with her. Jayce passed the door and entered, walking to Viktor who was as focused as always on his work. So much that he didn't even realized Jayce walked in. Jayce gently placed his hand on Viktor shoulders to get his attention. As the other man turned around and looked at him, he presented him the flowers.

Jayce, handing Viktor the flowers - "There, for you V."

Viktor - "You got me flowers?" He said, a bit surprised. Obviously he knew giving flowers was a common way of saying "I love you" without words, but he still didn't really expect it, even less on a random day like this. If it had been his birthday or Valentine day he would've got it, but today? No, today was no special day.

Viktor - "Why? It's not Valentine day... Right?"

Jayce, chuckling - "No, no it's not. I just thought it'd be nice. You could place them somewhere in the lab" He suggested, before leaning down and pressing a small tender kiss to Viktor's cheek. The only answer he got was a small smile from Viktor, but he was more than satisfied by it.

Working late

(slight arguing)

Viktor always had this upsetting habit to come back home at crazy hours after work, or sometimes he doesn't even come back at all! This always worried Jayce, how much Viktor neglected the importance of sleeping. Today was no exception either, it was already passed midnight and he was still sat down at his desk, face in his book, where he was taking some notes. That is until he heard the sound of the door open, which was unusual, usually only Jayce and Sky would come here, sometime Heimerdinger, but never without a good reason and certainly not at this hour. He turns around to see Jayce walking in, to his surprise.

Viktor - "Jayce? What are you doing here at this hour?"

Jayce - "Viktor, I can't believe I'm about to do this, but I'll drag you home by force if I have to"

Viktor - "Slow down here, what's the matter?"

Jayce - "The matter? You never take care of yourself, that's the matter! You spend your nights here!"

Viktor - "And? I'm working on hextech"

Jayce - "Yeah, I know that. I know how important these discoveries are for you, but you should still care a bit more about your health!"

Viktor - "My health is as fine as it can b-"

Jayce - "Bullshit, and you know it! You have to come back home" He said, grabbing Viktor by the arm, his touch firm but not so tight. Viktor pulled away and frowned, with an irritated look on his face. As he was about to speak back, he saw Jayce placing himself down on his knees in front of him and resting his head on his laps, which certainly shut him up.

Jayce - "Look... I don't want us to argue about this... I just worry about you, and I want you to come back home with me after work. I... I miss having you at home with me" He paused, taking Viktor's hand in his own. "You're hurting yourself by doing this, you're exhausting yourself, and if I have to carry you home on my shoulders I-" But he was cut off by the hand of his lover gently caressing his cheek and answering.

Viktor - "Well, you might have to, more often than not... But I guess I could indeed take a break right now..." And at that Jayce smiled like a kid who just got given a bunch of candies.

Jayce - "Will you really?" As to which Viktor answer by a slight shrug and a smile. So Jayce finally got to convince his lover of getting a bit more sleep... For today at least, he knew deep down that this would be a never ending battle between the two of them.

Cuddles, kisses, soft touches and tender words

Jayce was affectionate in every way, but even more so physically. He loved to just come up to Viktor and snuggle in his arms, to wrap his arm around Viktor's waist as they were standing next to each other or to just lay his head on his lap, his chest, his shoulder, wherever he deemed would be comfortable truly. Viktor wasn't so surprised by it anymore, but one thing he'd never get used to were the small kisses left here and there.

He was just casually laying down shirtless on his and Jayce's bed, thinking about a multitude of things all at once, as usual. That is, until Jayce walked in and decided to lay down on the bed next to him, wrapping his arms around his waist and resting his head on his stomach. At first Viktor just moved a hand down and gently played with Jayce's hair, before he started feeling him leaving a few soft kisses on his skin.

Jayce - "Love you, V.."

Viktor wrapped both his arms around Jayce's strong frame and hold onto him tightly, slightly flustered by the kisses but enjoying them nonetheless.

The end!

Ps: Sorry if some sentences are weird or something, English ain't my first language.

[cleverusernameh]

Predictions for Buddy's Real Name

Hello Cinderella Boy enjoyers, how are we doing? Sobbing? Suffering? I can only imagine what emotional turmoil the fast passers may be experiencing right now. Well, to get our minds off of the impending Season One finale, I've decided to try and predict what Buddy's "real" name is.

(PS. You don't have to take this too seriously; I just needed some way to cope after the penultimate episode.)

(P.P.S This post is a pretty long read, so just stay with me on this, or continue on with your scrolling :))

First, I took some observations as to how Punko names her protagonists and compiled the following notes:

Punko has yet to name a main character anything starting with a vowel.

Punko's MCs have had names starting with either a stop/plosive or a fricative.

All of these names have had English, Latin, or Greek origins.

I also am taking the following assumptions into consideration when sifting through potential names:

I'm going to assume Punko will keep in line with all previous observations.

I believe Punko takes a bit of consideration of the meaning behind her characters. Deacon is the most obvious example, because he's like a friend and whatever and second in command to Chase. Prunella means "little plum", and yeah, I can see that. She is smol, and her temperament is... tart like a plum? But also sweet, like a plum? (I've never had a plum, I'm assuming this is what they're like).

I think her name choices skew towards a slightly older generation. Chase being an exception, but with names like "Frankie" and "Prunella" more commonly being given to children in the Victorian Era, apparently. Either way, I'll focus on slightly older names, like 90's and back probably.

I will be keeping a heavy focus on names that begin with the letter 'B' because the title of the series is "Cinderella" (Chase) "Boy" (Buddy/B-alternate name) and I personally think that would be cool.

Last thing is I'm gonna add names of Greek and French origin to the roster because I feel insane. My sources for searching mainly boil down to behindthename.com and the 2012 edition of this baby name book of 100,000+ baby names. That being said:

List of Potential Buddy Names

1. Beau

This is my personal favorite, which is why I'm listing it first, but I do have a few valid reasons for adding it here.

It means "handsome" in French

It plays into the "storybook/romance" angle of the series

Begins with the letter 'B'

Has been a relatively popular name since the 70s

2. Theodore

Kind of a weird 2nd pick, maybe, but hear me out.

Comes from Greek meaning "gift of God"

Could reflect that one theory that Buddy is not actually a human, but rather some creation that Ex Libris made

Was popular in 1915 and 2025, which is kind of silly

3. Vincent

Sounds regal enough, lol

Latin origin

Means "to conquor", so maybe he's gotta win something (like his freedom??)

peaked in the mid-60s and 90s

4. Connor

I have a friend named this, so it'd be really funny on Punko's part to name Buddy this

has like two roots meaning "desire" and "wolf"

he desires freedom, and is treated like a dog (they give him ZERO chocolate in Ex Libris)

of Irish origin, but idk, I still like it

5. Hunter

Okay this one has a single thing in it's favor criteria-wise (is of English origin), but this would be very cool considering Chase's name. Chase? and Hunter? Chase the Hunter? Hunt the Chase? Absolute power couple stuff here. Ship name could but C**ter---nevermind that censoring is actually worse

(maybe? comment down what the appropriate ship name for two characters names "Chase" and "Hunter"in case this is actually this poor man's name)

6. Victor

Some goober in the Webtoon comments section, like a year ago claims that Punko said this was gonna be Buddy's name in a Twitch stream, so maybe dawg?

Latin origin; also has to do with winning and victory of his rights or smthn

within the top 250 of baby names for Americans

V sounds like B when you think about it

7. Grayson

Will Grayson, Will Grayson? More like Will Gayson, Will Gayson. /j

another 'hear me out' of the tame degree

means "son of the grey-haired one"

like the "old man" in ex libris???

it's not unlikely *shrug emoji*

8. Sebastian/Bastien

Like that funny little crab man

sounds fancy

Latin/French

means "venerable", like "honored" and "worthy of respect"; i guess he needs some of those

9. bro just has no name

who am I to assume punko created Buddy with a "real name" to be discovered in the first place?

would play into that neglected/dehumanized lighting that he probably experiences in ex libris

would be an *incredibly* emotional scene if Chase asks for Buddy's name in some display of trust or frustration and Buddy has to confess that he's never had one

And yeah, those are all the options I'd be willing to place money on. However, I do have more names compiled from Webtoon's comments, my friends' suggestions and some wild guesses that I am placing below for funsies, with my favorites highlighted:

-benjamin -brayden -oliver -devin -caspian (has already been used in reference to a hot vampire guy from a franchise already; is this foreshadowing or means the name is off the table?) -jordan -kieran would be silly because of my OC :) -owen is another silly choice because of my OC :)) -whitney?? -did punko already name a character charlie? -someone in chat suggested jasper (also didn't get very popular until after 2000s) -"quinctilius asparagus" -beverly? -payton? - bobbie would be the worst way of doing this to me punko - ryder?? - blaine? maybe? - brennan? - casey? - cole - percival/percy sounds cool (historically older name; has literature background with being one of the round knights; just doesn't have a hard meaning i can pin to his character, unless we're deriving it from the knight percy, in which case uhhhhhhhhhh) - trystan would be a personal act against me - garreth (actually not bad with historically coming from the knights of the round table, but idk he seems too cool to have a dumb name like gareth) - "david" (he ain't "beloved" enough by anyone for that) - penguin - not penguin - ryan (suggested by ryan) - edward/eric/eli - demian - nigel - Rumpelstilksin - Aiden - Virgil - "Goth Twink" - Manuel - Two

Well, now that it's taken me about a week to make this create the text for this post, I'm dumping it all onto here roughly 24 hours before tomorrow's episode. Hope you enjoyed the silly fan rant, now if you'll excuse me, I have to copy/paste this into tumblr for realsies now, format everything the way I want them too, and add at least 15 tags. And drink water, that's also probably important.

sleep well young one...

[birrdies]

wpuld u consider “I can keep you safe, they’re all afraid of me.” For shadowrot? or really any Cleo ship. because she’s so scary…

Win Secret Life.

There's a certain peace that should come with knowing you'll lose. Etho's not fool enough to believe it's feasible to win; for him, anyway. But that does nothing to dampen the panic, burning bright through him and setting every nerve-ending alight. It's a familiar panic that slips back into his bloodstream, almost like it'd never left. The fear that comes with dwindling numbers, rolling thunder claps, and each audible heartbeat pounding in Etho's ears.

A wild animal that knows it's about to die won't just take it lying down, even if it knows fighting is futile. It'll still gnash its teeth and swipe its claws at anything that moves in its periphery, anything that gets too close or backs it into a corner. And Etho can't help but shake like one, pacing in the same stretch of grass until it flattens to dirt, churning every possible move in his head. A chessboard only Etho's been dropped in halfway through the game and he doesn't know where half the pieces are.

The task book weighs a million pounds, strapped to his waist, where the words taunt him again and again.

Win Secret Life. Win Secret Life. Win Secret Life. Win Secret Life.

"Hey—"

Their base had been overrun, what little defenses they'd managed to build ripped to pieces. It's not safe there, really, but it's not safe anywhere. Least of all out here in the open, the night sky an oppressive, suffocating weight draped over him, rivaled only by the silent stone statue at his back, hands outstretched, non-existent eyes cold and empty. This place is crawling with red names, it'd only take a second for them to come raining down upon him like hellfire.

"Etho."

Grian's gone, too. Not gone gone, but somewhere Etho can't see him, which is almost just as bad. That panic is an unfamiliar one that sinks its teeth into him, like the cornered animal is trapped somewhere inside of him instead, desperately trying to chew its way out. It's always been just him, by the end. He's had allies, sure— beneficial things to have, like weapons or gunpowder or redstone— but if he'd end up alone that would've been fine.

Would have been.

Where the hell is Grian?

"Etho!"

He stumbles, ripping from his mindless pacing by a pair of wide, heavy hands gripping him by the shoulders. Pale, green fingers twist into the fur lining Etho's collar. He stares at those hands, taking longer than it should have to remember that they belong to someone. He lifts his head, eyes suddenly heavy and tired as he faces Cleo whilst simultaneously avoiding her gaze.

With nowhere to go, his legs stagnant, the anxiety festers. A burst of kinetic energy bubbling underneath his skin like a boiling pot with the lid left over it. He tries not to shake. He doesn't know if it works.

"Cleo," he says, swallowing a gasp his body tries to force out. "We've gotta— We need to find somewhere to set up, fortify. Maybe team up with Bdubs and the others— we're outnumbered. They're stacked, they've got Gem, Joel, Scott—"

"Etho, stop." Cleo jostles him by the shoulders, pulling him in close enough that he couldn't squirrel away even if he tried. Her eyes are red. Nauseatingly red, so deep Etho can't believe he hadn't noticed them before now. "Stop, you need to calm down."

"If we don't act now it will be too late," Etho says, reaching for Cleo's wrists, though he's not confident whether it's to push her off or steady himself. Either way once his fingers have found her pulse point, he can't bring himself to let them go.

Cleo's face, usually stone carved sharper than any sword's edge, softens. Her eyes dim, her mouth tilts up at the corner, and she loosens her grip on his collar. The only thing keeping her hands there at his neck are Etho's. Now he's shaking.

"It's already too late," she says, and its the kind of news that should be delivered with a somber, hung head and the unspoken apology too dense to ignore, let alone breathe through. But Cleo's not sorry. She's smiling at him and he's never seen her more relaxed.

It terrifies him.

"No," he says, shaking his head. "No, it's not. We're still here. We can— We can do something, we just gotta find Grian."

"And do what?" Cleo says, raising an eyebrow at him. Her heartbeat is steady. Calm. Everything a red name at the end of their rope shouldn't be. "Aren't you tired of dying scared and alone and desperate?"

I'm tired of dying, Etho can't bring himself to say. I'm tired of trying and it never being good enough.

Instead, all he can do is nod.

"Then let's go out our way." Cleo grins at him, and it's the first thing to loosen that iron-like grip his ribs have on his heart. "Y'know, causing mayhem, being nasty."

It's tempting. There's few others (if any) Etho'd rather spend his final hours with. Because these are the final ones, if they even have that long, and no amount of panicking or planning or trap-setting will undo the scales that've been tilted against them from the beginning. But the thing about scared animals is that they're stubborn. And no matter how much he wants to give in and let go, he'll never be able to rid himself of that instinct. Not to win, but to survive.

"But the others— They'll be on our tail the whole time." What if they don't have the time to do anything? To live their final moments how they want; just because you don't want to fight doesn't mean everyone else will spare you the same courtesy.

"I'm not scared of some bumbling red names," Cleo says, her words as vicious as they are confident as she finally lets him go, forcing him to drop his hands down by his sides. But she doesn't leave him. She stays right there, within arm's reach, as she tugs free a flint-and-steel from her pocket. "I can keep you safe. For now, anyway. They're all afraid of me."

The laugh that bubbles out of Etho is a quiet, private one that hurts coming up. But he wouldn't have it any other way. "You are pretty scary, Cleo," he says. "What do you wanna do?"

"I think burning Scar's house is a good start," she says, flipping the flint-and-steel in her hand before activating it, watching the small flame dance.

[exo-raskreia]

i know you probably hear this all the time but your blog is so on point on the horrendous ending of bleach and the endgame couples.

tbh i don't even care that ichigo and rukia didn't end up together... okay after all these years i still give a huge damn that these two aren't endgame. but seriously idc that much that they aren't together. but what i'm so pissed is who ichigo ended up with! be so fr! orihime and ichigo... i could and would right an essay on how they are so incompatible. i would've prefered if he ended up with tatsuki or even some rando. he waited until they were married for him to say her first name... like i get that he wants to be respectable and they weren't that close but ichigo barely knew rukia for a week and he was already down bad for rukia. i still believe to this day that ichigo doesn't look at orihime the same way he looks at rukia. actually he SETTLED for orihime since rukia was already locked down with renji ‼️i will die on this heal. and also the ichihime shippers are scraping for their ship moments while we, ichiruki stans, are eating so well with unlimited supply of ichiruki moments lmao

I would've been fine with the ending simply having Ichigo & Rukia standing next to each other happily (maybe a little too close?) as they look over Soul Society. Leaving the possibilities there. Narratively, such an ending would've made sense. I don't think even non-shippers would have batted an eye. No typical "timeskip married with kids" ending. It didn't make sense for it to end that way.

Even if I was a non-shipper, Ichigo ending up with Orihime goes against the narrative & is one of the major issues with the ending, since there was never an inkling of chemistry between them. No special moments. No interest nor special thought from Ichigo towards her. I literally never thought IH would have a chance; it seemed that unlikely 💀. I never doubted an IchiRuki victory (even if they wouldn't outright get together, like I said, at least that it'd be implied that they will in the future). Most of the shipping fandom thought the same or similarly, I believe... Most ppl shipped or could see IR happening... Kub0 had developed it enough to have most of us thinking this way...

IR had the potential to be the best-written M/F canon ship in a battle shounen & yet... 😮‍💨

I don't believe for a second that Kub0 had "always" intended for IH/RR endgames. To this day, he hasn't said anything meaningful about either pairing. He did absolutely nothing to imply them throughout the story. He put no effort into them. At every opportunity, he would always make it about IchiRuki...

Dudebros & IH's fail to see that IH/RR as endgame makes no narrative sense. If I was an IH/RR shipper, I'd be upset with how Kub0 handled them. They have no development, no official content, no merch, no proper validation from Kub0... He still can't even bring himself to give them a family color spread 🫢. Saddest endgame ships in a battle shounen...

About Ichigo finally saying Ori's name in the last chapter, there's a funny post on that here. 🤭

And yeah, Ichigo definitely settled for her, cuz the fact he waited until Rukia was unavailable will always be laughable... He tried dating Ori once then broke up for a while then tried again... wow, he was really "in love" with her from the start, huh? He was just putting off the inevitable cuz he had to seek unhappiness in order to stop Ywach from returning at his happiest moment... 🤷‍♀️

[cataclysmiceuphemism]

For the prompt list: Torksmith, 24 or 54? Love what you’ve written so far btw !

Thank you!

a list of 69 kinks– send a prompt and a ship–

24. Bondage/Restraints 54. Control/Loss of Control (both but..mildly lol)

"I know how to breathe, Peter," Mike said, "Been doing it since I was born."

"That's the point," Peter said, in a tone Mike found about as patient as it was condescending, "You've been doing it unconsciously." He laid his hand flat against Mike's bare chest, fingers spread. Mike looked down at Peter's fingers and found himself wanting to compare the breadth of his own; he was taller than Peter, but Peter was heavier than he was, and none of it mattered except that it sort of did. He couldn't, though, not in any kind of a proper way; Peter had tied his wrists together, tight in front of him on one end of rope. The other end was bound around his neck, keeping him from lowering his hands past his chest. "Have you heard of Leonard Orr?"

Mike thought it would be funny to lie and say he had, because he thought he'd be able to bullshit an answer. He could work it out, from context clues, what Leonard Orr believed in, at least close enough he thought he could make Peter buy it for a while. "No," he said honestly, anyway, "I imagine he's got a lot of thoughts about how a guy breathes."

"What you said," Peter said, like he wasn't paying attention, like he wasn't even acknowledging what Mike was saying now, "About doing it since you were born. Leonard Orr believes that birth is a traumatizing act. We learn to breathe screaming, in pain, and that instinct never leaves us. Breathing consciously lets us get rid of the pain, and undo our trauma. He has this technique— Rebirth breathing—"

"Man, if I tell Bette I'm the one traumatized by my birth…." Mike said, laughing, disdainful.

Peter paused. Considered Mike a moment, then asked, "Why is it you think there can only be one victim?"

"Why does good Ol' Leo think everyone is?" Mike countered.

"Not everyone," Peter said, "But many people."

"Lucky me, I'm not one of them."

Peter gave Mike a wry smile. "Breathwork is all about control. I'd think you'd enjoy that."

Mike laughed. "Peter," he said. And instead of saying everyone wanted control, he just had the balls to admit it, he pushed his bound wrists out, let the rope tug on his throat, to let Peter know the pot was calling the kettle black.

"I wasn't saying it as an insult," Peter clarified, "This time, I wasn't."

"Tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow, we'll see." He kissed Mike's neck, and Mike tipped his head to indulge it. "I'd like you to practice breathwork with me, Michael."

"Rebirthing?" Mike asked, "Oh, I'm not here for a baptism."

"Not Rebirth breathing," Peter said. Mike could feel Peter's nostrils flare against his jugular, could feel Peter's mouth get rougher, like it might bruise him; could tell the comment annoyed him. Mike sucked his lips in for a second to keep from smiling on it. "That's only one of many things. Pranayama, I suppose, if you'd like a name to it."

"It's all the same to me," Mike answered, because the name wasn't the bit that mattered. And that part was just the truth, really not meant to annoy Peter at all. But it did and he could tell it did, after he'd said it, so he placated, "What do you have to do?"

Peter stopped kissing him, and looked at him. He reached down, grabbed his cock firm, grip around the head. "Breathe in," Peter said, and Peter breathed in, too, guiding Mike with it, as his hand slid down to the base of Mike's cock. "Breathe out," Peter said, and Peter breathed out, too, as he slid his hand back up. "Every time I do that, breathe with it. I'm going to be doing the opposite— out, when you're in, in when you're out— but I think it'd be harder for you to keep time, just going by my breathing."

"Yeah. Only musicians know a thing about keeping time," Mike said.

Peter's face pinched up. He stared at Mike, then asked, "Do you think I was insulting you?"

"Is that what you think I think? Sounds like your hangup, Peter."

"I wasn't," Peter said, "I'm sure you could do it. But it'd take you out of your own body, focusing on mine. I'd like you to be focused on yourself."

"Usually the opposite of what you want."

Peter laughed. He understood it as a joke, but answered seriously, "I always think you should focus on yourself more, actually." But Mike wouldn't like the fact he thought he ought to be more introspective. That he ought to focus more on the impact he was having, than the impact things were having on him. That he only thought he was aware of himself, but was really was ignorant to many things about himself. Peter had said it all before and would probably say it again, some other time. Mike couldn't understand his argument just as much as he couldn't understand Mike's, and he made himself bite his tongue on it. "Just breathe."

Peter didn't return immediately to stroking Mike's cock. He angled himself first; pushed inside of Mike deep. The breath Mike took as he was filled was definitely one of impulse instead of mindfulness, a quick inhale, a brace as much as it was an eager response, and Peter said as much.

Mike gave him a look that said something that Peter thought, at once, was disdainful, except it was one that he thought Micky or Davy might take as a tease. "I never agreed, for a start. But if I had, you aren't holding up your end of the bargain, Peter. And, well, I'd do it for you, but my hands are tied."

So Peter touched him again. He stroked Mike's cock in time with the thrusts of his hips, and with his own breaths. Slow, steady, purposeful. He watched as Mike, agreeably, paced his breathing right along with his, staring right up into him with a razor's edge of a gaze, dark, sharp, cutting. He had the thought, that Mike was in fact taking stock of his body, was aware of his breaths, was breathing in as he was out, out as he was in, purposefully rather than incidentally by basing it off the pleasure Peter was giving him as Peter had suggested. It felt at once contrary and intimate, and something very difficult for him to prove.

Except that when he said, "It's like we're on one life cycle, this way. My inhale is your exhale, together," Mike kept on holding his breath while he talked, and only joined the rhythm again once he was through. And he wanted to ask if Mike understood that, felt that. He was certain, really certain that Mike would give him an answer that disappointed him. That was meant to disappoint him, probably, meant to keep him in his place. But he wanted to know, so he asked, "Do you feel my life with yours?"

Mike didn't answer No like Peter had expected, nor Yes like Peter had found himself hoping for. What he said was, "Peter, live faster, would you?"

And that felt like a yes. In Peter's bones it did. He stopped a moment, stopped moving altogether, stopped breathing and Mike stopped breathing with him, and kissed Mike open mouthed and eager, tasting him, tongues moving against each other. Mike grabbed at him almost like he was using his hands to scoop a cup of water from a pond, grabbed at Peter's throat awkward to keep him close, the heels of his palms pressed together. They were already breathless; kissed past breathless. Peter's lungs were hurting and he was sure, secretly pleased and positive, that Mike's were hurting even more, because he didn't do this like Peter did, had no real interest in it even if he understood it in the moment. He wouldn't care to meditate and breathe in deep, breathe out slow, tomorrow. He wanted, he realized, for Mike to gasp for him again. For Mike to fail for him, even though it undermined all that he'd said about it. But Mike kept pace, right to the edge of dizziness, and Peter gave in; he went back to stroking, to fucking, to breathing.

It was hard to tell who had won the brief show of wills. Peter had caved to Mike's asking, but only after Mike had indulged his own. Maybe it was a draw, if it was anything at all.

He went faster— Mike accepted him faster, breathed quick on every thrust, with purpose. He paused only once, to suggest, "Breathe through your nose." Mike had been breathing in through his nose, but out through his mouth, and again he stopped both to listen to Peter talk to him. "Through your mouth, that way, it can feel like hyperventilating, if you do it quickly."

Mike listened to him. Took the suggestion without arguing it, and that felt like something. They breathed together, fast, with intent. Even as they drew closer together, they resisted the impulse to cave to the ever-quicker pants at the approach of orgasm. They felt it all, each stroke, each thrust, each inhalation, as if it were a place they were going to together. As though they were walking together, and working to keep stride, instead of one being pushed by the other. And when they held their breath for each to come in turn, it was to enjoy it, to be all the more aware of the other effects orgasms brought to the body. The tightness of their muscles, the flush that went across not only Peter's cheeks, but across his ears, and across his shoulders, too. The way Mike's fingers, hands bound as they were, curled into each other. The fact that Peter's eyes drew shut tightly enough that the corner of his eyelashes—in his right eye, only— grew damp. The sweat across Mike's brow. They were aware of it all; conscious of the things they were often unconscious to, and aware of what they could have controlled, if they'd put their mind to it.

They laid together close, and didn't quite kiss, their lips touching soft without meaning behind it.

Peter breathed out, slow, steady, deep, pushing all of the air out of his lungs to leave them empty.

And Mike, just as slow and steady, filled his lungs with Peter's breath.

[kathbunny]

Request from SpectacuStarr on the discord!

Some hurt/comfort for the au™ where VR-LA gets cursed or debuffed or otherwise hurt! I went for MR-SN as the one doing the comforting here, as he'd be more likely to be present for VR-LA to get absolutely fucked up.

He gets turned partially to stone, as a warning. Also: choking (due to stone),

VR-LA's legs couldn't move anymore, he had one arm over his eyes, but that didn't seem to have been enough to keep the effect from hitting him. That meant it wasn't applied through seeing the target and most likely couldn't be reflected with mirrors, so-

"VR-LA!" MR-SN shouted from ahead of him, finally looking back to see the mage partially turned to stone, the monster's head already on the ground. Or, that. MR-SN rushed to VR-LA's side, sheathing his sword and kneeling before VR-LA to examine the stone. It was still spreading, reaching up to VR-LA's stomach now. It wouldn't be long before VR-LA would have trouble breathing. "How do- how do we fix this?"

VR-LA hadn't dealt with this status effect personally yet, but he did remember it from the game. "It'll wear off after 30 seconds or so on its on- maybe sooner." VR-LA thinks that math translated well enough, in terms of rounds to real time. "I can't remember what else. It won't harm me permanently! Just a bit of labored breathing after and then I'll be back to normal, based on what I've read." VR-LA assured.

MR-SN didn't seem to believe him, but did nod. The stone was creeping up over his chest now, forcing his breath to be shallow as he was kept completely still. It'd creep down his arms and face at the same time from there. MR-SN stood up, watching VR-LA's face with furrowed brows and worried eyes.

The panic hit VR-LA as the stone creeped up his neck, it felt like he was choking, but it was over his mouth before he could cough or do much else. MR-SN seemed to see the panic in his eyes though, saying something VR-LA couldn't hear. Then there was nothing, complete black.

And then something again as the stone disappeared all at once, sending VR-LA falling into MR-SN's arms, coughing and desperately gasping for air in a way that seemed to still leave his lungs empty. It felt like no time at all, but that just meant VR-LA couldn't feel it in that state. His limbs ached with dull pain, but there were no injuries left on him from the stone.

MR-SN held him loosely, only enough to give him support, seeming to immediately recognize any squeezing wouldn't do any good here. "It'll be alright- I'm here, slower breathes, you won't get anything like this." He said, slowly lowering back to the ground and taking VR-LA with him so that VR-LA could lean against him. The effect in the game was never described as feeling so horrible, characters always hopped back into the fight immediately. VR-LA didn't get it.

VR-LA's coughing took a few moments to come to a stop, and his breathing slowing into heavy, deep breaths soon followed.

"There you go, you've got it, north star. You've got it, you're doing great." MR-SN reassured, one hand gently rubbing VR-LA's back. "How are you feeling? Can you talk?"

"I-" VR-LA's words caught in his throat for a moment. "I can. I can talk. That hurt far more than I expected after."

"Does it hurt still or only immediately after?"

"Still hurts." VR-LA answered.

"Do you think you can stand? Your limbs were stuck in place, maybe stretching could help you." MR-SN suggested. "I can help with that part."

VR-LA nodded, letting MR-SN pull him onto his feet. MR-SN kept holding his hands, gently guiding him through a hand stretch, which did somewhat relieve the aching. "There you go, my dear, you're doing great." MR-SN said as they moved onto the entirety of his arms, and then his neck. His legs were last, MR-SN's words not ending as they went. It was almost embarrassing to be praised so much just for stretching. "Let's get back to the ship. We shouldn't continue with the location for today. And we shouldn't be alone next time."

VR-LA nodded. "Yes... Let's go back, please."

MR-SN took a second, seeming to contemplate something, before scooping VR-LA up off the ground and into his arms. "And you're resting."

[weepingalaxy]

i would like to hear your mossman essay... always looking to appreciate more women (especially the half life women. god bless alyx but i think she's the only one not relegated to an expansion or trapped by Misogynistic Writing)

TAKES A DEEP BREATH. anon youve opened the flood gates with this one i have so so so many thoughts about her. these may not make sense because english is my second language and i have probably some form of dyslexia But. i hope. itll make enough sense to offer something interesting to the table

so. judith mossman. aka the perfect example of learned helplessness and how it makes you look to the past

..i have no idea how to start this in a way that isnt kinda forced so youll have to bare with me okay.

i think the core of judith as a character can be summarized by those guys who look at something in history and say "if i was there i wouldn't have done that, rip to you but im different". there's been a misunderstanding about judith in that she "glorifies" the black mesa incident, when thats never what she does or what i understood alyx's comment about her as? see, judith doesn't say it to gordon in person, only talking about the science of teleportation with him (which i'll get into), it's alyx saying how judith has gone on and on about how it should've been her in the chamber that day.

that's not a "i wish i couldve been the one to cause the incident" or glorifying what the incident did or anything, that's a "if i was there it wouldn't have happened" as frivilous and ridiculous that is to imagine for us, the players, as people who saw what happened. but she didn't see it, all she knows is something happened in the test she applied for, and gordon's at the center of it

i believe judith resents gordon. not only because he took the position she wanted/applied to, but because she blames him for the incident happening in the first place. why else would she believe things would've been different if she was there? the way she talks to him is with this surprise and focus on what eli is going to feel about gordon's arrival, then talking about her own knowledge on the teleportation technology, it feels almost like... what would i call it. showing off? but not by saying "i" or "me", but by saying we. yes it's kleiner's technology, but imagine what they'd do if they knew what we've been doing with entanglement. she's the only one who talks to him about the technology like that, and it's like she's trying to prove she's as capable as him? i guess? especially when she still props up gordon's intelligence and says she's happy they get to work together. she wants to prove even more she could've been the one at the chamber but never saying it outright to his face.

and of course, this resentment is why it's easier for her to work with wallace breen to bring gordon to him. if you had a way to ensure the safety of the people you care about, and it'd require the capture of a man you believe was the catalyst for the end of the world, wouldn't you at least like... consider it?? not to mention the way she acts with breen is very... submissive, like maybe she's been with the combine for a specific reason that he can dangle over her head that makes her unable to go against him. the safety of eli, a way to live somewhat comfortably if her wearing a pristine off-white turtleneck is anything to go by, god knows what else.

augh. sorry my brain's losing steam but like. i need to at least mention: her going after the borealis after she breaks free from combine (and, most of all, breen) control is something i took as not just her trying to find something useful for the resistance, but also like... a way to apologize/make up for what she did? but without asking for forgiveness? she went to the fucking arctic to find one of the most valuable pieces of... tech? ... most valuable artifact? Important Ship, specifically so she can fix everything. and how will it fix things?

the borealis has weird temporal elements that lets you go back in time.

of course the woman who's focused so much on the past and the "what-if"s would go looking for something that would let her fix things in the past

[salt-cedar]

I'm rewatching 1899 now for the 3d time and my brain is spitting theories that are all 100% valid now since we'll never know, ok?

🜃 This theory, that the show is heavily influenced by Jungian philosophy, is still what I believe is the core of the story. However I'm now leaning towards thinking that Virginia is Eyk's wife. She is much closer to him in age and the role of a mistress also can leave a wound of being not chosen (yes I'm thinking of Hannah from Dark).

🜃 I think that, for the second season and the second level of simulation, the earth symbol means Earth. Something happened to it, and the Prometheus is maybe one of the ships destined for another planet(s?). That' would explain the persistent motif of betrayal and taking a dead man's name and place -- people would do a lot in order to get on a rescue ship. Notably, the stories of Julien, Olek and Lin Yi could be explored deeper here.

🜃 Based on the visual emphasis on the episodes' titles and their weird simplicity, I decided that it'd be cool if for every season the names of every episode were the same. Like, s2e1 - The Ship, s2e2 - The Boy, etc. The events in an episode would not be the same (that would be a very boring show) but would have references to the previous episodes, building up layers of meaning. Idk if the showrunners actually planned that, I just think it could be a very neat idea for such a cerebral show.

🜃 Following this, I think it's pretty obvious that the second season would be in another layer of simulated reality which is the space ship. The first episode of the second season, titled "The Ship" would be about the space vessel Prometheus, the second, titled "The Boy" -- about the ship's computer, probably modeled after Eliott (see another Eliott crack theory below). The last one, "The Key", would be about another key to get out of the simulation -- which is Ciaran (KEY-ran). The third season would take place in a real reality, with the last episode being the key to complete understanding of the story in all three layers (and it has to do with Eyk).

🜃 The Eliott crack theory that was promised is that he is made in the image of Ciaran. Yes, I am the one who said that Eliott is Maura's inner Child in season one, I stand by that. Maura identifies with men a lot, both in relationships and on a deeper personal level. In the 1899 simulation she has studied for a masculine profession, wears pants, has no particular sentimentality towards children, etc. In the 2099 she is the only woman in the chamber with hair cut short, which also makes her stand out. If her family story is true, she was probably raised without a woman's influence, making her identity lean masculine. So her Animus is a guy and her inner Child is a boy, that's fine. But upon rewatching now I am not 100% sure that Ciaran is alive. The question: "What have you done to my brother?" was poignantly repeated twice. Maybe Ciaran is dead and papa Henry made him into Prometheus' board computer (and that makes him capable of knowing what did he do with the people on the ships!). That could also help with not explaining why Eliott's/Ciaran's actor grew up between the seasons, as he is made in the image of Ciaran at different ages.

🜃 With that said, I don't think that we wouldn't have seen more of Daniel in seasons 2 and 3. Aneurin Barnard is too much of a cutie pie and a talented actor to not hire him for later seasons. Maybe we could get cool scenes with Maura visualizing him at the time of need and maybe even conscientiously going back into 1899 simulation to learn or find something. After all...

🜃 ..."What is lost will be found" is about integration and wholeness. Jungian philosophy and art based on it is often about going into the depths of madness/subconscious to the point of seemingly losing all sense only to come back out of it healed and wiser than before. I maintain that probably all the characters experienced some sort of disintegration of psyche due to trauma and had the misfortune to experience that disintegration in the collective subconscious on the 1899 level. Remember how in Dark the triquetra was not only a cool symbol but also a graphic expression of oneness of past, present and future; the loop itself as it is a knot; and the entanglement of three worlds/timelines? Maybe the Earth symbol also stands for multiple things at once, one of them being a broken whole? The slash cuts off one of the corners of the triangle, after all. And I believe that, at the core, this story is about healing that cut and becoming whole again.

🜃 The third, "real-real" season would probably take place in 1999. Though it might contain flashbacks, too. The abundance of references to 70s and 80s is fine because that would be the time of most characters' childhoods and youth. My pet theory is that the simulations are to stimulate character's brain activity because they are all a part of human supercomputer program. It's a rarely explored old-fashioned sci-fi idea, that people can solve problems and work through data in their sleep which produces intense dreams as a side effect. My strongest argument for this? All the references to "Alice in Wonderland", a book that is notoriously all about math under the guise of nonsense adventures.

🜃 Of course, there is going to be something even more sinister about the whole putting people to sleep to see nightmares scenario but as per tradition, the twist is that all the horror was for love. And we would cry about it, and never feel normal again.

?? The one thing I really can't decipher is what's up with all the Alien references. Like, what are they about.

[jeanie-g]

ohhhh spotify wrapped!! how about nicojack and 43?

[#43] Kiss Me (Pt. 2) (Cast of Sweeney Todd)

the first (of many) sweeney todd songs on my wrapped lol. but jack and nico as our johanna and anthony is so fun!

We'll go to Paris on Monday / What shall I wear? I daren't pack! / With you beside me on Monday / What will I care what things I lack?

They didn't have much time at all. Their ship was scheduled to leave port in an hour, and if anyone saw Nico loitering the church steps might longer, they might've called the beadle called on him.

Nico'd instructed Jack to meet him outside the church at midnight, but it was nearly a quarter after and he's seen no sign of him anywhere. Did he get caught upon exit? Was he en route to bedlam already, where the Judge threatened he'd send him if Jack ever acted out of line?

A thousand possibilities flooded Nico's mind, every one worse than the last. His hands started to shake; he couldn't lose Jack, not after he just found him.

Nico was only supposed to visit London for a fortnight, do some business with trade clientele off the continent before returning home to Switzerland. But then he'd spotted a man walking about the Sunday marketplace. He wore a dark cloak, and his head was slightly bowed, but his beauty shone off him like a beacon. It'd made Nico halt in his tracks and almost get trampled by a horse.

Clearly, this man didn't want to be followed, so Nico pushed aside his desires and moved along. So it must've been fate then that caused him to wander into a local tavern and sit at the bar that night. It had to have been destiny that pulled his eyes up to see the man sitting across from him on the other side of the bar. He'd brought a pint of beer to his lips, and Nico couldn't drag his eyes away from his pale, lithe throat as he swallowed.

Nico never had qualms about approaching attractive men, but he needed some liquid courage before he could approach this one. There was just something about him—his aura, his glow. He had the appearance of an angel, though Nico could sense that he wasn't quite as innocent.

When he did finally find the stones to approach him, his nerves were only amplified. Until the second he stood before him, the man met his eyes, and he smiled. The sight would make an atheist believe in Heaven. Nico swears that the world stopped for just a moment before starting again.

And then the man opened his mouth, and Nico thinks that's the moment his life changed forever.

That was four months ago. Nico had wrote his father to say he was extending his stay indefinitely—that there was a new business venture he wanted to keep an eye on. In reality, he was spending every free minute he had with Jack, falling deeper and deeper in love with him.

Jack was the ward of one of London's highest judges, but he wasn't allowed much freedom. He was 23, but was forbidden to live on his own or become employed. It wasn't necessarily legal, but the only man who could challenge these rules was the one who made them.

Jack could go about town unattended only on the weekends. He spent his weekdays cooped up inside, reading or playing one of the various instruments he'd mastered, and caring after the birds the Judge owned. Jack never knew his father, and only had vague recollections of his mother before she passed. He never even had a person he could call a best friend.

So, after a few weeks of rendezvous on Sundays after Mass, they analyzed the Judge's schedule, and Nico stole Jack away when they were guaranteed not to get caught. It was thrilling—horseback riding in the fields and catching theatre shows in the Square, attending cricket matches and even traveling to the summer fête by the sea.

They also spent time at Jack's residence, this grand place Nico had a hard time hiding his awe of. To Jack, though, it wasn't a home; it was a cage. Still, there was only so much romping in public they could do before word would get back to the Judge. Here, they could lie low without fear of persecution. Jack was incredibly close with every member of the Judge's house staff, and they swore to keep quiet regarding his "guest."

They spent hours talking about their passions, their fears, their dreams. Jack taught Nico how to play piano, and in turn, Nico taught Jack how to play chess. They were both competitive, and simple matches would end in bouts of wrestling more often than not.

And in Jack's chambers, on his plush bed made for a king, Nico made love to him. Nico was as far from a virgin as someone could be, but he'd never experienced true intimacy like he did with Jack. With every kiss or touch or gasp, Nico could feel his chest cracking open to let him in even further, an ethereal brand of one name being seared into his heart: Jack, Jack, Jack.

Which brings him to now. Thirty minutes past midnight, waiting on the church steps with bated breath for Jack's arrival. It all moved so quickly. It was only Friday when Jack had rushed to him, crying, saying the Judge intended to marry him off to some nobleman south of London.

Nico'd immediately jumped into action. There had been no hesitation, only absolute clarity. He never loved anyone like he loved Jack, and he would do absolutely anything to ensure his safety and happiness. So, he connected with one of his father's business allies to ensure transport for two to Switzerland, went to a jeweler and purchased a ring, and proposed to Jack that night.

By the time Judge Turpin discovered Jack's disappearance Monday morning, they'd already be on a ship bound for the continent. And right when they arrived home, they were to be wed.

It was a plan contingent on punctuality, which Jack had never shown signs of lacking. But just as Nico started to wonder if perhaps Jack had simply changed his mind, he appeared from the shadows, out of breath and empty-handed.

Nico rushed to him, enveloping his small frame and bringing Jack's chest to his.

"Nico, my love, I'm so sorry I'm late," he said, still breathing harshly against Nico's neck. "I was just hopping out of the window when the Judge—"

Nico pulled him back, fear seizing his heart as he held Jack's arms. "The Judge saw you?"

Jack nodded. "I... He was screaming at me. He called me a whore like..." Jack swallowed, and a tear slid down his cheek. "Like my mother."

Nico shook his head. "That man must bite his tongue so hard it breaks off." He squinted his eyes to look behind Jack. "Is he after us then?"

"No," Jack managed, a lump in his throat making it difficult. "I...took my fabric scissors from my desk and I..."

Nico's eyes bulged. "Jack..."

"I didn't kill him," Jack rushed out. "I stuck them in his thigh. The shock made him faint. I was shaking so badly I couldn't hold my bags, so I just ran."

Jack tucked a hand into his front pocket, bringing out a small, red box. "All I have on me is my ring." Jack bit his lip so hard it began to bleed. "My purse, with all the funds I stole... I left them, Nico. I'm so sorry."

Nico rushed to put his hands on Jack's cheeks. "No need for apologies, love. You're here, and you're safe—that's all I could ask for.

"But the money—"

"We'll be alright, darling. I have some funds with me, and once we make it home, we'll go to my parents for help."

Jack exhaled a shaky breath, eyes darting between Nico's. "Are they going to like me?" He asked, so small.

Nico had to let out a fond chuckle. "They are going to love you, mein engel. I'm sure of it."

That made the corners of Jack's lips turn up, and Nico took the opportunity to capture them in a kiss.

The distant, echoing howl of a drunken man interrupted them. Someone stumbling out of Mrs. Lovett's pie shop no doubt. Nico looked up at the large clock on the church's exterior.

"We have to go now, Jack."

Jack nodded quickly, stepping out of Nico's hold. He turned to grab Nico's hand, looking at him with a kind of reverence that made Nico's chest flutter.

"Thank you," Jack whispered, squeezing Nico's hand. "I love you."

Nico swallowed down a lump before he, too, started crying. "I love you, too."

Jack smiled, and Nico picked up his bag from where he set it. They both took a deep breath and set out for the south dock, the light from the near-full moon illuminating their way.

[toyouhellohowareyou]

Here's your ⭐

Director's cut!

Okay, so I pestered Dark to pick a fic and we're going with

Mandatory Puppy Pile

So let's get to it.

So Depletion was the first fic of @somer-writes I can remember reading. Halfway through reading I started leaving dumbass comments and getting dumbass replies.

Depletion is about the Chain being so damn hurt and exhausted and filthy they're all ready to strangle each other. Twilight, in his sleep deprived state, drags everyone together while they're sleeping despite the fact some of them very much want to not be around anyone else right now, and waking up to find you've been moved is a bit not good.

The Gang Discuss ✨Consent✨

The non-consensual puppy pile joke was born somewhere in the comments there, and eventually I had enough material to do something with it, it was also a couple of weeks after Somer's birthday and Skip (hi Skip!) had gotten us on a server together by this point. The fic summary is almost word for word the first thing I said about it in the chat.

This thing went through a lot of names, the original was Non-Consensual Puppy Pile, but it was also 'enforced', and 'compulsory' in various versions. Title change to avoid misunderstanding lol.

This one's kinda hard to breakdown because it's comedy lol. This is the funniest thing I've got published for sure. It's my second most popular by most metrics after Moon Pearls.

Okay!

The reason I did most things is "because I thought it'd be funny"

Fake out intro? 'cause I thought it'd be funny.

Four's the main narrator as I needed someone who was going to observe without getting involved in things too much and I was comfortable writing him.

Wars is the main secondary because somer ships 'em lol.

I mostly plotted this cackling to myself in my car during my commute.

The boys are jetlaggedddddddd. I couldn't use the word 'jetlag' but that's what it was.

Sky is sleeping because it's in character and cuts down the number of characters. Similar to Time faking it, the man cannot be fucked with this. He is eepy, let him rest.

Wars thinks being boring when it’s perfectly acceptable to be losing your shit is what makes you an adult. He's not entirely wrong though.

Legend tries to escape by playing fetch. There's a 'Legend tries to make fetch happen' tag no one has ever commented on but I like it.

“LEGEND TURNED INTO A RABBIT!” wails Wind.

Legend looks at himself, looks at them, runs some calculation in his head, then joins in the wailing, “TWILIGHT CAN TURN PEOPLE INTO RABBITS!” Legend immediately throwing Twi under a bus to protect his secret. The gang now believe Twilight can turn people into rabbits. This is never questioned.

Twi refusing to stop staring at Wars as he tries to take a leak and everyone giggling about it. I have no excuse.

TWILIGHT POV This was fun and is most people's fav bit. He's a good boy mmmk? He's a good provider. He loves them so much. This was the original premise. He's such a dumbass, I love you wolfbrain Twi.

He leaps on it, sinking his teeth into the back of its neck. His teeth are so bad at this today! He picks up a rock and hits it many times. So noisy! But it works! I love this line okay? The mental image, he tried to chew through the back of it's neck then bludgeoned the poor thing to death when that didn't work. The boar is screaming, the children are screaming, the tone is so casual and simplistic. lol

The puppies scream in delight.

“TWILIGHT, WHAT THE FUCK?!”

They are not eating? Ah. They are too little. He needs to break it up for them. He grabs a leg and wrenches it.

“GODDESS’ MERCY AT LEAST LET ME USE A KNIFE, TWILIGHT!”

More delighted screaming.

This is most people's favourite bit including mine. Twi brain says one thing, dialogue says another lol.

Smallest puppy takes it delicately, “Thanks, Twi. Good boy.” Four just runs with it

Four is secret MVP in a lot of my stuff including this because he has The Braincell and a bit of chill. In love the boys being friends and bouncing off each other and knowing each other. Them plotting revenge against each other constantly is part of this.

Again it's Wars with Twi for the shippin'.

Wind's “This group is a nightmare, I haaaaaaate you!” Is another Depletion joke, but it was about Legend in that.

How to end it? We go full circle, Twi wakes up and is told not to let any of them leave by Sky who missed all the drama and the reason why.

He loves them so much ❤️

[nemoys]

a very long messy review of link click (season 2)

alright so reading through a bunch of (mostly negative) reviews of the season thus far i've come to my own conclusions over how this season felt, and i really feel like addressing them since i personally feel like it deserves recognition (and rightful criticism) within certain aspects. really interested in everyone's takes so lmk whatever you think about all these aspects i'm about to gloss over.

NOTE ; i'm not going to be talking about the art direction or OSTs . i believe those have been nothing short of phenomenal and i feel like we can all universally agree over that

1) tonal shift : from a more emotionally driven s1, coupled with sprinkles of slice of life moments, we turn to a mostly thriller/mystery plot line. personally, i've always seen this coming. the tonal shift really didn't take me by surprise. with the lg stabbing at the end of season 1 it almost seemed inevitable that the more light hearted aspects of the first season weren't going to happen. more importantly, it was very clear that there was always a higher presence to fight. link click was always meant to be a thriller, this was always the plan, and so i suppose logically i assumed the second season would follow that path. i understand how people might've felt disappointed, or 'robbed', but i don't think the shift was all that shocking quite honestly, it was always set up. link click was never light hearted, even at s1.

the more shocking shift has to be the shift from an emotional, to suspenseful change in writing. the emotional writing in link click has always been the best part of the show and that hasn't changed, the emotionally driven plot lines of s2 (chen bin, ltc/ltx) have been written very well. the suspenseful writing also works. replaces the tear jerkers with an unsettling anxiety, and it's executed relatively well. you can clearly tell that the crew's been experimenting quite a lot with this season, and yes, that's usually what season 2 is for.

2) pacing : now i totally get the criticism in this aspect. in my opinion, the weakest part of s2's been the pacing. with overly drawn out fight scenes, and unnecessarily long recaps, i think the issue has to do with the fact that lc just has a LOT to address, and so it makes us feel less inclined to sit through longer scenes that don't directly advance the plot.

obviously i get that the fight scenes show off a lot of the animation budget #tm and they do look great but the fact that we had way too much time dedicated to a five minute long fighting cutscene in the FIRST episode just made me feel impatient.

3) red herring endings: alright this might be an unorthodox opinion but, aren't red herring cliff hangers a norm in general with these kinds of shows lol. idk i've come to expect the total opposite every time so it doesn't really bother me i guess i'm just used to the medium. not really a lc problem it's a story telling problem in general but that's just marketing i don't know what else to say.

it'd be nice if they followed through but some part of me thinks they're pulling a whole boy who cried wolf situation, eventually they'll pull the trigger when we don't really expect it.

4) shipping/ main trio reconciliations : it's a really serious ongoing situation. i kind of get why the main trio/shiguang don't get a chance to talk things over amongst themselves, it just isn't the time. keep in mind everything that's happening rn is happening continuously, there are no gaps within the days or anything, kind of makes sense that they don't really talk about it. they probably will get to once it's all over, which might be well into s3. again, this was always meant to be a thriller more than it was trio focused. also idk about you guys but i think we actually did get a lot of sweet moments within the trio, cxs and lg, even the sibling dynamic with ql and cxs were really lovely this season.

5) the women: okay i REALLY don't understand the problem here. the women are written well. ql is written FANTASTICALLY and all side characters like ltx and that one red eyed lady i'm forgetting the name of were great too. hell even chen bin's wife was great. i think for a donghua/anime where women are usually given dirt in terms of actually strong writing, lc has always been very solid. their lives do not revolve around the men in the show it just happens to be that men are a part of their lives. they have very distinct personalities and aren't treated like weird objects to gaze at (what a bar lol) but yes i do think the women are written quite dimensionally.

6) unanswered questions : when have linear shows ever answered questions (especially mc based) in season 2?? when has season 2 EVER tied loose ends? when it comes to linear television, season 2's purpose almost always build towards a greater evil/climax. there's a reason why season 2 hasn't answered questions we've had, season 2s in most shows rarely ever do. from what i can tell, with a confirmed s3, i've always expected s2 to simply do its job as a second season and further raise stakes and raise even more questions. i do get the frustration, i get the lack of any backstory, but i want to refrain from making any actual comments over that till every episode's aired ahah, however, im not too mad at it. i just think this show's ride is currently still at an increasing accelerated pace (guys i'm sorry i study physics), things will only be explained once we've once hit the climactic point or go downhill right after. time will tell i guess

Conclusion

overall, i think this season was actually pretty solid. s1 set a very unrealistically high bar, as s1 in my opinion is one of the best seasons in television period. but s2 and s1 shouldn't be compared in the same way, their tone is quite different, and needs to be analysed individually instead. i'll make a complete review once the season is over, but honestly i've come to enjoy the season most when i stop expecting too much out of it. i think people had way too many things they've expected from s2, that were bound to simply never happen.

that said, i do hope the crew takes the valid criticism regarding the pacing (and ig the character focus?) into consideration and implements it well into s3. it's worth noting that i believe nothing was meant to be complete with s2 in the first place.

i've really enjoyed this season, and i'm beyond ecstatic to rewatch it all once it's done airing, in order to properly take it all in. it's had its flaws, more than s1 has had (let's be real s1 had little to none). but that's bound to happen to shows when they head down their linear routes. currently sitting at a 7/10