#as well as character growth and a shift and maturation in dynamics

[nellasbookplanet]

Do I actually think Imogen is going to turn on the party? No. I don't think it’s any more likely to happen than I did Fjord releasing Uk’otoa, or Caleb returning to Trent and the Vollstruckers.

Given the nature of the game, any character turning fully dark is unlikely, seeing as it would take them away from the party for a time or potentially even turn them into an npc, replaced by a new pc. So far the only time we've gotten close to seeing something like it happen was Yasha siding with Obann, which could only happen specifically because Ashley was gone from the table for a long time (it was also the product of mind control, not an active choice to turn dark, and as such still doesn’t really count as a pc turning on the party in my eyes).

But the possibility is there. The seeds planted. Travis has talked about how, after he threw the falchion away, he briefly considered having Fjord leave the party and retun to the coast and Uk’otoa. Liam has mentioned that, early on, Caleb returning to work for Trent was a very real possibilty. It can happen, if the players and narrative are open to it.

And now, canonically, Imogen is desperately and understandably searching for a reason not to have to fight her own mother. She is, however briefly, questioning whether the Ruby Vanguard might have a just cause. Much as she hates it, she also feels the allure of the power Ruidus gives her. Her closest ally is someone who has repeatedly assured she will stand by her no matter what she chooses, even after she voiced the possibility of letting Predathos get out. None of these parts of Imogen are evil, and all of them are understandable and deeply rooted in pain and ostracization, but they could very easily be turned into justification, were she pushed enough.

The seeds are planted. Again, I don’t think it will happen (she seems firmly against the evil plan when reminded of how evil it is), but there’s certainly nothing strange or hateful about engaging with and being interested in the darker possibilities as presented in canon. It isn't character hate to acknowledge that Imogen has the potential to go dark, much as Fjord and Caleb and Yasha. To me, it’s what makes her character interesting. I want to see her clash with the party, whether because she’s desperate to save her own mother or because she’s high off the power of Ruidus and lured in. I want to see Laudna have to choose between the world and her promise to stand by Imogen no matter what. I want to see the fallout, the slow healing and redemption and coming to terms with bad choices. I eat that shit up, and if it doesn’t happen in canon I'll probably go read some fic about it to get my fix.

[color-beyond-lines]

I have been thinking about the shifting dynamic between Qian and Yuan all week. A ton of people have written really insightful posts about these two, and I can’t get them off my mind.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again and again: the tragic backstory is not used as a shock factor or just to make you sympathetic towards a character. It is ingrained into Qian and Yuan’s thoughts, behaviors, actions, and responses. And it contributes to their compelling relationship.

Qian is hesitant around intimacy of any kind. Yuan is eager to care for the person who saved him.

We’ve seen from the beginning how much of a caretaker Yuan is for Qian. The vast majority of intimate physical contact Qian accepts is from Yuan (and by intimate I don’t mean romantic. I mean familiar, personal, etc.).

Qian rarely ventures beyond surface level relationships with people. His experiences growing up left him in a constant state of survival. He focuses on work as a means of survival and doesn’t consider slowing down as an option.

We see this at work, where he is often separated from his coworkers and rarely interacting with them outside of a professional capacity. He often stays late and arrives early at the expense of his own wellbeing.

It’s Yuan who bridges the gap. Who asks coworkers to take care of his brother. Who makes Qian sleep and eat right. Who is there at work and at home ensuring that Qian won’t overwork and exhaust himself.

But their relationship is not one-sided. Qian takes care of Yuan as well, making sure he’s able to take advantage of academic opportunities and clubs and things that Qian never had a chance to partake in. He gives Yuan a life where survival is a guarantee, not something to earn.

Qian protects Yuan through hard work. Yuan protects Qian through tender care.

When Yuan is sent away to study abroad, the time skip works because it isn’t used at the very end of the series to jump to happily ever after. Too often, time skips force us to miss important character growth and leave us unsatisfied and wanting more. By placing the time skip towards the middle of the series and using it as an actual part of the story and character development, we are able to see how Qian and Yuan live during the separation and the impact it has on their relationship.

And their reunion is more than one scene before the credits roll. There’s still many episodes for them to keep learning and growing together.

Once Yuan returns, the line between them has shifted. Qian actively seeks out Yuan’s care in a way he never did before. He’s always watching Yuan, reaching out for him, and aware of his presence. He had always welcomed it, but the separation forced him to feel what the absence of Yuan’s care was like. He was miserable.

Yuan matured on his own and still knows that he loves Qian. Being away only confirmed what he already knew. And Qian is starting to realize that he loves Yuan too.

Yuan knows exactly where the boundary is between them, but he’ll let Qian be the one to break it down. They have complex relationship, and it is being respected, not rushed. Moments are earned, not pulled randomly from the trope bucket.

[darlixg]

what is this type of character called?

As a start, these are some of my favorite characters that i think are similar in some way:

-Toph Beifong (Avatar)

-Lance (Voltron)

-Stuart Pot, 2D (Gorillaz)

-Mammon (Obey Me!)

-Damian Wayne (DC)

-Lee Ping (Detentionaire)

-Geto Suguru (JJK)

-Herrscher of Sentience (hi3rd)

-Testament (Guilty Gear)

-Ivan (Alien Stage)

-Suletta Mercury (The witch from mercury)

-Sunday (Star rail)

-Tweek Tweak (South park)

-Hong Lu (Limbus company)

-Go Bok-Su (married in red)

-Alucard (Hellsing)

-Allen Walker (D. Gray-man)

basically this^

I'm aware that some are more on the darker or religious way, but most of them seem to me like the sunshine character with deep depth hidden in them, acting tough but with a soft side to them, multifaceted and resilient taking on whether they are internal or external challenges, some being groomed and suffering because of other peoples choices.

I love when a charcter holds great complexity to them, have a strong sense of identity or they struggle with that identity and accepting it and having a meaningful build up growth and development.

-For example, one of my favorite character developments these characters go through, is Testaments from Guilty gear.

How Testament begins to reclaim their autonomy and struggles with the guilt and trauma of their past actions, trying to reconcile their existence as a Gear with the remnants of their humanity. They go through a journey of redemption and self-discovery, as they shift from a being of pure destruction to someone seeking to protect others and find a sense of peace.

-Or Damian Wayne's development. How he goes from a brash, arrogant child warrior to a more mature, responsible, and empathetic hero. His growth is marked by his struggle with his violent upbringing, his desire to prove himself, and his gradual acceptance of the values his father embodies. Despite his tough exterior, Damian’s evolution reveals a deeply complex character who cares deeply for those close to him and strives to atone for his past, making him one of the more dynamic and compelling members of the Bat-family.

Tbh, i could go on forever for each of these characters, some that have affected me deeply are Geto Suguru's crisis, Sunday's grooming and fighting with his beliefs, Ivan's character alone is the most fascinating thing for me, as well as Toph's strong independet personality that i just love so much!

I want to find more complex, sunshine, strong or weak but manipulative characters that strugle with life or however these kind of characters are described as. Smart and going after their beliefs without changing for the greater good but for themselfs.

[nicorobinphd]

Okay, I want to discuss Jimbei & Luffy for a minute because their dynamic feels weirdly under-analyzed by the audience?? Even though there is so much going on there??

Like, first off, it is a relationship that is very much rooted in a sense of shared belief, loss, & trauma. They are both members of outcasted social classes with very strong senses of justice, as well very deep-rooted ideals regarding freedom which are in many ways rooted in their experiences of marginalization. They are both very deeply connected to Ace- a character who is being penalized for a trait of his existence which he has no control over-, and would do anything in their power to save him. This is then re-contextualized for the audience when we learn that they met during what would amount to the prelude of Ace’s death. They’re both able to witness the other’s sense of care, conviction, & obligation throughout the war at Marineford, and they share the loss of Ace in a very specific sense due to being the characters who were directly present for the other as it happened, a fact which influences their understanding of each other into the Post-War saga & throughout post-time skip OP.

The sense of loss they processed & the trauma it caused them in the aftermath of Marineford is depicted as something they were only able to understand their ability to survive past through the presence of the other. We know nearly for a fact that Luffy would have died had Jimbei not been with him. And we as the audience can infer that Jimbei would have struggled far more intensely to regain himself (albeit likely not to the same extent as Luffy) in the immediate aftermath of Marineford without having Luffy to put his faith in- and to use as a means to, roughly paraphrasing Whitebeard, carry on Ace’s will, by protecting the person he died for- due to Jimbei’s strong sense of obligation. The way they came to understand each other was very specifically as a point of stability in a sea of grief, a point that allowed Jimbei to see a brighter & more autonomous future through Luffy, and Luffy to be able to reconcile with the present- and the people still with him in it- in order to chase such.

The roles they take on in the Post-War saga emphasize this point, with Jimbei reminding Luffy of his ambition & his sense of determination, but they also reinforce what each character then comes to mean to each other following the time-skip.

Jimbei, who is put in the position of both a rock & a caregiver, represents Luffy coming to a healthier & more mature understanding of what it means for someone to be a stable presence in his life, which is huge considering Luffy’s struggles with abandonment. Luffy strongly desires for Jimbei to join his crew from late into the Post-War saga & into early post time-skip op, and yet the narrative repeatedly creates obstacles preventing it. Luffy, as per usual, is not put off by this. What changes, however, is that he is much more accepting of the obstacles when faced with them rather than immediately trying to find a way to rid himself of them. He is able to accept Jimbei’s obligation to Fishman Island, and to those who served under him during the escape from Whole Cake Island. However, this shift toward acceptance isn’t complete until Jimbei joins the crew, as we see when Luffy makes a similar request of Jimbei to what he asked of Ace, stating that Jimbei is to return even if it means death. With Jimbei’s return in Wano, as well as the general theme of the crew splitting off in groups to do their own thing, Luffy is put in a position where both the source of his abandonment issues & the consequences he fears as a result of them are being directly confronted by the growth in his ability to trust those around them- it is Jimbei, however, that the narrative has chosen to use to emblematize as much.

And, to turn the tables, throughout the Post-War saga Luffy is a character that puts Jimbei in the position to act, and in the position to encourage prioritization of the self. This is also a theme that had been introduced prior to that point, with Jimbei initially refusing to promise to look out for Luffy for that very reason. This serves to emphasize what Luffy comes to mean for Jimbei insofar as the fact that Luffy is able to allow him a sense of personhood & a right to autonomy outside of what Jimbei views himself as owing to other people. A right to be selfish, if you will. Luffy’s determination & the conviction with which he chases after all which he wants opens a door that allows Jimbei to realize he’s allowed to have more say in his what forms his dreams, what those dreams are, & in where he throws in his lot in at the end of day than he ever thought possible. Being around Luffy grants Jimbei the understanding that, for all a person may have obligations, he is also allowed to live for himself- not revenge, or a cause, or a debt, or a service- just himself. Luffy is able to awaken Jimbei’s joie de vivre simply by viewing the world as something he has a right to- which starkly contrasts the more jaded way Jimbei saw things as a result of his own experiences. And it is foundational to Jimbei’s entire arc after his reintroduction in Fishman Island.

Also worth noting in this discussion is the fact that Jimbei joins the crew in the arc that finally starts to impose a sense of closure around Ace’s death.

But, yeah. Idk. It just seems weird to see people mostly talk about them through the lens of disagreeing somewhat emphatically about whether they fit more into the mold of Uncle & Nephew, or Older & Younger Sibling, or Father & Son when there’s so much going on with them?? Especially because it is very pointedly none of the above. It’s about what living can look like & what we hold onto as a means to survive it. Why are we trying to impose nuclear family roles on found family dynamics anyhow? We don’t need their framework, smh. (Tone indicator: tongue-n-cheek)

Also, super tangentially related sidetone but, in a way it is almost structurally reminiscent of Zoro & Chopper (for all Jimbei & Luffy’s dynamic is granted a much higher degree of gravity by the narrative) except Luffy is the Chopper in this context. Think about it. Jimbei is not only a former Warlord of the Sea whom the World Government felt the need to lock in the deepest level of Impel Down due to his singular opposition to a war, but he’s also a former Sun Pirate- a pirate group that specialized in picking fights with one of the three most powerful factions in the world. And, yes, Luffy is basically a god, but he is also Luffy. When it comes to Jimbei, with Luffy he is very much wearing the little-buddy goggles, albeit in a slightly more exasperated fashion than Zoro does with Chopper. I’d put that on Jimbei being more mature. But, like, there are dots to be connected.

[marvel-starwarsfangirl]

"The Bad Batch" S3 Review- Spoilers

Alright guys, we made it. After 3 years of this lovely show, it has finally come to an end. I definitely plan on doing a review of the entire show and see where it fits with the other big animated shows. However, that will come after my Crosshair Character Study. For now, let's focus on S3. Like Season 2, I'd definitely say it's a solid 8.5/10 for me. Although, S2 might still be my favorite. I honestly think Rebels might be the only show that has a 9/10 final season for me. Look, I loved CW and Siege of Mandalore is phenomenal, but that Ahsoka arc was not it. The final season of TBB has so much I absolutely loved and so much I wished it handled better. So, let's jump right into it!

This season felt so different for me and I definitely know why. The story is much more plot driven than the first two. In the first two seasons, the Batch were more worried about survival and kinda just went on adventures all around the galaxy. The Empire really didn't know where they were so the stakes weren't as high. Crosshair himself was stuck in the Empire meaning he didn't focus on the Batch as much until they crossed paths with him.

S3, however, sees the Batch and Omega specifically being hunted relentlessly. They need to figure out what's going on or else they will never be free. This shift from the Batch galavanting around the galaxy to a more plot driven narrative does change things up. Looking back, I think the creative team just needed more time. S3 has so much going for it and there just isn't time to flesh out the ideas to their fullest potential. That being said, I am overall satisfied with everything they pulled off, especially Crosshair. This show has solidified him as one of my top 3 favorite SW characters and fave clone. He's so well-written and I adore him.

What I loved:

The atmosphere this season was so dark and I loved it. There was a maturity to the ideas and threat level that I honestly really appreciated. Just like Andor, TBB really demonstrates just how monstrous the Empire is. There is nothing that Palpatine won't do in order to achieve total domination and subjugation of the entire galaxy for all eternity. And Hemlock is right there beside him. That man's passion for his craft knows no bounds; it doesn't matter who's strapped to his table. It's so horrifying to think how Tantiss is probably just one of the many, many inhumane and monstrous things the Empire has running. TBB, like Andor, is peak Empire imo. If there was any doubt that this monstrosity could last as long as it did, these two shows erase it.

I also really loved the character relationships, particularly Omega and Crosshair. Their bond is so beautiful and reminiscent of ones I see in my own life. There's nothing Crosshair wouldn't do for her and it fits really neatly with who he is as a person. Omega brings out the best in him, just as she does all her brothers. This season really emphasized how much Omega's brothers have influenced her. Their lessons really come into play by the end of the season. To see her grow from a naive young girl into a mature (but still childish) teenager/pre-teen was beautiful.

Crosshair this season was everything to me. I could be here for hours talking about him. I was beyond thrilled with how they handled him. He has changed so much and this season highlights that growth in every way. Crosshair remains to be the best written character and nothing about him felt OOC. I loved his dynamics with the Batch and Omega. (The hugs were perfect)! I loved how his struggle was something he worked on the entire season; it wasn't just one and done. I love how the themes of trust were woven so perfectly into his story. Crosshair was perfect (I'll touch on the hand thing later). I couldn't have asked for more (except just give me more Crosshair. I will never be tired of him. I could watch a whole show of just him doing stuff).

I don't have a burning desire to punch Hunter anymore. Yay! But in all seriousness, I have developed a soft spot for him. As much as he got on my nerves in S1, I really do appreciate him a lot more. He does care deeply and has a lot he's struggling with.

Echo showing us why he's the ARC Trooper. Seriously, those scenes of him will always live rent free in my head.

Emerie! Really great character and very interesting.

*hides in a corner* Rampart.

The music and animation were phenomenal. Honestly, both were flawless. The music in particular moved me to tears several times. Props to the animators and Kiners because this is some of their finest work yet. That one shot of Crosshair catching CX-2's knife was outstanding.

I also loved the action, seeing the boys fight together, and final shot of the Batch + the epilogue. There is so much I adored in those moments and the rush of emotions I got each time. The epilogue was so personal and I might do a separate write up on it.

The themes of family and hope were also front and center and I loved every second of it. If anyone asks why I love TBB, it's because this is show about family more than anything. The Batch are a family and seeing them learn to be one is so beautiful. It means so much that Hunter, Wrecker, and Crosshair got to settle down together and raise Omega. It's just beautiful.

What I didn't like:

I wanted more deep convos. Whether it was because of a preference for action or time constraints, the writers just needed to have more deep character emotions and let them sink in. It's why "The Outpost" and Tech's convo with Omega are so well loved; they let us really be with the characters. I wish S3 had more of those moments because they make this show that much better. I just wanted more. And I know this show is capable of that. It sucks knowing what it could've been. So many moments could've hit more had they been given time to breathe or worked in a bit differently.

The way Tech was handled. Hats off for actually keeping him dead. I just wish we got proper closure on that 😐. Although Tech's death looms largely over the Batch, it feels like the writers brushed it off. Why didn't we get a scene of Crosshair learning what happened? I know the time skip implies they all processed Tech's death, but it still felt like something was missing. It felt like the writers expected us to also process it like the Batch and move on. Except, we're not the Batch. We don't know what went on in their heads because they're fictional. The audience relies on the writers to show us that grieving process and we don't get it. It also didn't help that it felt like they were baiting us with CX-2 at times.

Some of the plot lines being dropped for plot/time reasons. Look, I know that it's about the Batch and their journey on becoming a family. However, it felt like more was being set up and it might go no where. One thing I love about TBB in general is how it showed us how the Empire began to change the galaxy the moment Palpatine got what he wanted: total dominance. Clones began to take a stand. Talks of rebellion were already being whispered. I just hope that these storylines revolving around Rex, Riyo, and Echo don't wither away because TBB has ended. Or the Ventress thing. I know they said she'll be back but who knows when that'll happen. I also wanted to know more about the CX Program. That’s what fanfics are for, am I right?

The pacing was brutally fast. This ties into my points about the narrative being more plot driven and lack of time to fully flesh out ideas. It felt like there was almost no room to breathe at times because we jumped from plot point to plot point as each episode progressed. Don't get me wrong, TBB handled this way better than Ahsoka, but I just needed like two more episodes of the boys and Omega running around, ok?

Overall, this season just needed time.

What I am neutral on:

Scorch. Man was done dirty, but I didn't know who he was til this season. Sorry guys. Including him and not giving him anything wasn't a good idea imo though.

Crosshair's hand. I get both sides of the argument, I really do. First off, I'm a sucker for whump. I can't help it. Also, you can say that him losing his hand connects to him severing himself from Tantiss and the pain he went through. But at the same time, Crosshair's trauma isn't going to magically vanish by just chopping off his hand. If anything, it'll just add to the trauma. I applaud the writers for dealing with such a sensitive topic, but from a certain POV the hand chop is a quick fix to a storyline that could've had more substance with another season. I'm neutral on it because again, I see both sides of the argument. I think if we got more of a reaction from Cross, the situation would've been more clear (he was doing some crazy compartmentalization during the back half of the finale, let's be honest here).

Anyways, that's my review of S3 of TBB. Despite it's flaws, this little show still went out on a high note and I am very pleased with it. I love TBB with all my heart and I will hold it cherish it forever. Until next time everyone. I will still be talking about Crosshair and this show, don't worry. No matter what, I will never tire of this beautiful family ❤️

[lethaloptix]

Ending a toxic relationship, whether platonic or romantic, does NOT make you a bad person, no matter how much they try to shift the blame and say it's your fault. The pain and guilt you feel when second-guessing yourself or questioning what you did wrong are a result of the manipulative behaviors that conditioned you over time.

Toxic behavior is designed to harm your self-esteem, your character, your sense of independence, your relationships, your mental health, your confidence, your decision-making abilities, your trust in others, your emotional stability, your sense of security, your motivation and ambition, your physical health, and your overall happiness and joy. It aims to wear you down over time to maintain control over you.

Abusers need to have a sense of power and control over others, no matter the cost. When you start to recognize the patterns and become aware of their behaviors, they often escalate their tactics, become more manipulative, or intensify their efforts to regain control.

Toxic behavior doesn't always look the same from one victim to another. Each person may experience different forms of manipulation, control, and abuse depending on the relationship dynamics, the personalities involved, and the specific tactics used by the abuser. This variability and subtlety can make it challenging to recognize toxic behavior and understand its impact on the victim.

Perhaps you stayed so long because you loved them, cared about them, or hoped they would change.

Remember, abuse is NOT your fault, and there's nothing wrong with the word 'victim.' You were a victim because what happened was very real, no matter how much they tried to make you doubt your reality. No one should ever have to endure abuse. You deserve better—kindness, respect, maturity, and genuine effort.

You are heard, no matter how much they try to play the victim themselves. You are seen, no matter how much it hurts or how afraid you are. You are NOT alone. It's okay to grieve their loss, to miss the good times, and to feel anger or bitterness. These are natural responses to the injustice done to you. You might feel a desire for revenge, but seeking payback can prolong your pain and keep you emotionally entangled with the abuser. Instead, focus on your own healing and growth, which will help you regain your power and move forward in a healthier way. Revenge may also lead to further conflict or legal issues and can prevent you from finding peace and closure. Prioritizing your well-being and working towards positive outcomes is more beneficial in the long run.

If you have ended a toxic relationship, remember why you made that choice—you took a significant step in the right direction. If you are considering leaving a toxic relationship with a friend, relative, or significant other, remember that you deserve to be treated with respect and kindness. Seek support from trusted friends, family, or professional counselors, and prioritize your own well-being and safety.

[scarlet--wiccan]

What would be your ideal dynamic for wanda and vision in a current comic? I like both characters and I appreciate their relationship in the past but I don’t like the thought of them being together again (not just because of Jericho but because of all the baggage). I wish they could be good friends. They have a history but it’s not who they are

Well, I definitely don't want them to get back together as a couple. There are many reasons, but in terms of Wanda's characterization, I think that it would undermine her growth and maturity.

Wanda's publication history is pretty clearly divided into two periods-- before Disassembled/House of M, and after. Her character, post-HoM, has been defined by regret and trauma in way that she never really had been before, with her primary motive becoming redemption. The traumatic events and the layers of sexism, ableism, etc. in her writing had been adding up for years before Disassembled, but that event took things to an unprecedented level of cruelty, in both the treatment of the character, and in the message it sent about... basically everything Wanda represents.

In my mind, the only way to move forward from that is to textually acknowledge and interrogate all of the ways in which that storyline was messed up. That still hasn't happened, at least not in a way that is fully satisfying to me, but writers have certainly tried. I think, for Wanda, the most important thing is to let her acknowledge the injustices that she was subjected to, and show that she has chosen to seek healing and restitution.

In other words, she needs to have a marked shift in growth and maturity. She cannot ever be the same person she was in the 70s, 80s, or even the 90s. To be clear, Wanda's redeemed herself several times over, but I believe that the weight of her experiences and the strength gained from her survival need to remain at the core of her characterization, especially for all of her recent magical prowess and personal victories over her past abusers-- namely Chthon-- to feel earned.

Obviously, it should be possible for a character to reunite with an old lover and lose all of their personal growth, but this is Marvel Comics. Characters cycle back to older character treatments, older relationships, even older personalities all the time. I mean, a huge part of the early Krakoa era was about gently resetting characters to their most evergreen iterations. That's fine, it's part of the medium, but I think Wanda needs to stay out of that cycle, and I just don't have faith that the writers and editors will be able to put her and the Vision together without giving into nostalgia, to say nothing of the M C U synergy.

I have loads of other objections, but here are the main two--

1) Wanda and Vision have a ton of recent baggage, from just the last decade. Vision was cruel to her in AvX; he went through something very heavy and traumatic with Virginia, which was also kind of messed up for Wanda; and— this is the big one— they were mutually raped in Secret Empire. The text does not properly acknowledge that fact, but that's because Secret Empire was a really fucked up book in the first place.

2) I think the fact that Wanda and Jericho's relationship never got any serious page time or development after Uncanny Avengers is a crying shame, and I think that it is in part due to racism. Breaking them up before they get their time to shine would be a huge disappointment, and I feel like doing it so unceremoniously just to pander to Wanda//Vision fans, let's be honest, would feel kinda antiblack. To me! I'm just saying!

Anyways, here's Vision, Wanda, and Jericho (& Clint!) having a lunch together in Avengers: No Road Home. They're pals, Wanda and Vision are friendly exes who care about each other a lot, but they're just very different people from who they were back when they were together. That is exactly how I want their dynamic to be written in the upcoming Avengers.

[ramblingaboutglee]

As a non-Klaine fan I’m just curious, why do you think they work well together?

I think it depends on the season you're asking about - it feels like klaine never really have a set dynamic, and charting that course is part of what makes them interesting to me.

In season 2, realistically speaking the plot was "The only other gay kid they know that's not kinda a jerk," and it was a cute first love dynamic, but half the drama in S2 was the fact they didn't really know one another at all. It's not, at that point, the bedrock of any long-lasting relationship.

So for me, it's interesting to see how they shift? Like, honestly to begin with, they seem to like the idea of the other more than the reality. Which, it happens - you've got Blaine trying to be more mature and wise than he actually is, Kurt clearly buying it, etc. Then Blaine's uncertainties rear their head in a way no one's ready for, and they have a lot of adjustments to make. And then, four/five years later, they're married.

So that development, honestly, is a compelling one to me.

I've rambled about this before - when it comes to Glee, I feel like most of the early-season ships were never viewed by the writers as epic love stories for the ages, but rather as temporary relationships that would likely end with graduation. From that perspective, there are kind of two iterations of Klaine to talk about. Pre S4's break-up, and post.

Before, they were a mess. Neither of them knew how a relationship really worked, both of them struggled to act sensibly, both of them could be dumbasses at points, and honestly it's generally endearing - they're navigating unfamiliar waters, with the extra dose of queerness thrown in meaning they're much more on their own. I think it's a good journey for both of them individually, though Klaine was more a vehicle for the two of them than something with its own life.

(In-show anyway. Hard to deny the real life impact)

Then we have the break-up, and ooh I really want to ramble that episode at some point. The short version is, for Klaine, Blaine switched schools for Kurt, Kurt graduated, and he's left alone without most of his old friends. he's isolated, Kurt's distracted and struggling to relate while dealing with adult life drama, Blaine messes up. (Which, I am so curious to figure out the fandom view of that. I have one friend who mentioned she thought it was OoC because she viewed Blaine as someone who needed an emotional connection, while to me he'd always seemed more sexual, so idk. I think Glee definitely runs into fanon taking on a life of its own which makes untangling everything trickier)

If we fast forward to when Klaine end up together again, it makes for an interesting contrast. By that point, Kurt is much more sure of who he is, and presumably Blaine is as well, if to a lesser degree. They always had a vague 'first crush' thing, but for me it is this point where Klaine start being a relationship that functions well as, like, a relationship as opposed to just mutual character growth. They chafe, a ghost of their old 'Sometimes they, Blaine especially, focus on an idea and misses the reality' (which is suchhh a throughline to so many people on Glee) but they're much better at working through it.

Even then, it's not perfect, but even what we see of the break-up seems to be handled much better by them compared to S4.

And then there's the terrifying Sue robot. Ah, Glee.

All that to say - for me, Kurt and Blaine individually are good characters. Kurt, the quieter gay kid growing in confidence over years, and Blaine the optimist and daydreamer who sometimes spirals out when things inevitably don't go to plan. Kurt makes for an interesting counterpoint - to begin with, he's the one who almost looks up to Blaine, only to find out that most of Blaine's confidence is an act. It's a relationship where they both draw one another into unexpected territory, good and bad, and have to work out how to navigate it. If nothing else, Klaine is something that pushes both of them forwards.

I don't necessarily view it as the be-all and end-all of ships, I don't think it's the most compelling dynamic in the show, nor necessarily the sweetest - though they do have cute moments - but it's a relationship that helps draw out two characters, and gets rooted in surprisingly grounded drama of two people in a relationships learning to, well, share space. Especially in late S5, that serves to play off of Blaine's tendency to romanticise, and then Kurt's inherent defensiveness, so they end up as a ship that definitely have things to overcome. But then, that is part of what can make a dynamic interesting.

No idea if I put my view well but hey, you ask this blog a question and you get a ramble I guess.

[infinitiresearch]

Board Games Market| Analysis, Growth and Forecast, 2023 – 2027

Originally published on Technavio: Board Games Market by Product, Distribution Channel, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2023-2027

The Board Games Market is currently undergoing a comprehensive analysis for the forecast period from 2023 to 2027, focusing on key factors such as products, distribution channels, and geographical considerations. This research aims to provide insights into the evolving dynamics of the board games industry, considering factors such as changing consumer preferences, technological advancements, and the increasing popularity of board games across various demographics.

**Product:** The Board Games Market encompasses a wide array of products designed to cater to diverse preferences and age groups. Common product categories include strategy games, family games, party games, educational games, and role-playing games. Strategy games often involve complex rules and require critical thinking and planning, appealing to enthusiasts who enjoy tactical challenges. Family games are designed for a broader audience, encouraging social interaction and entertainment within family settings. Party games focus on group play and are characterized by their easy-to-learn rules and humorous or competitive elements. Educational games aim to combine entertainment with learning, targeting children and adults seeking educational value in their gaming experiences. Role-playing games offer immersive storytelling experiences, allowing players to assume fictional characters and engage in collaborative storytelling adventures. The market dynamics are influenced by the continuous innovation in game design, themes, and mechanics to cater to the diverse tastes of board game enthusiasts.

**Distribution Channel:** The Board Games Market utilizes various distribution channels to reach consumers, including specialty stores, online retailers, mass-market retailers, and crowdfunding platforms. Specialty stores, such as board game shops and hobby stores, provide a curated selection of board games, often appealing to avid board game enthusiasts seeking a diverse and unique collection. Online retailers, including e-commerce platforms and dedicated board game websites, offer convenience and a broad range of choices, making board games accessible to a global audience. Mass-market retailers, such as department stores and big-box retailers, provide a wide selection of popular and mainstream board games, targeting a broader consumer base. Crowdfunding platforms, like Kickstarter, have become instrumental in bringing innovative and niche board games to market by allowing creators to secure funding directly from consumers. The choice of distribution channel often depends on factors such as target audience, marketing strategy, and the nature of the board game being offered.

**Geography:** The Board Games Market spans various geographical regions, including North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. North America, particularly the United States, is a significant player in the market, driven by a mature board games industry, a large community of board game enthusiasts, and the presence of influential board game publishers. Europe has a well-established market, with countries such as Germany known for their strong board game culture and hosting major board game events. Asia-Pacific is experiencing growth, fueled by increasing interest in board games, rising disposable income, and the adoption of board games as a form of entertainment. Latin America and the Middle East and Africa regions are witnessing developments in the board games market, driven by cultural shifts, urbanization, and a growing appreciation for recreational activities.

The forecasted period from 2023 to 2027 is marked by an industry-wide emphasis on innovation, inclusivity, and the integration of digital elements in the Board Games Market. The industry is evolving to cater to a diverse audience, including both traditional board game enthusiasts and individuals new to the hobby. Board game publishers are expected to invest in creative game design, thematic storytelling, and digital enhancements to enhance the overall gaming experience. As board games continue to be a popular form of social and recreational activity globally, the Board Games Market is anticipated to remain dynamic and responsive to evolving consumer preferences.

To Learn deeper into this report , View Sample PDF

In conclusion, the Board Games Market is poised for continued growth, driven by the enduring appeal of board games as a social and recreational activity. The industry's evolution aligns with broader trends in experiential entertainment, social gaming, and the integration of traditional and digital elements in board game experiences.

For more information please contact.

[terrahlee-cup]

Yes exactly! Raph using Leo’s katanas for the first time during a major fight gone (very) wrong where he’s the only one able to keep going. Raph’s stubbornness not always being a negative trait my beloved. Alternatively, a villain who can read their fighting styles a bit too well until Leo silently hands off the katanas and lets Raph just go.

You described my exact thought process with giving Mikey access to dangerous chemicals lol. It forces him to assess the area around him, not fighting purely on natural instinct. Suddenly he has to use his head and how does he handle that? Maybe it doesn’t go very well at first, one or more of his brothers getting caught in the crossfire. It would be a rough way to learn that lesson, but also gives Mikey a chance to show a real difference in maturity after that point.

I’m all for Mikey and Donnie bonding over different scientific interests. Referencing my own iteration for a second here lol, but that’s a big part of why Lost Project Mikey and Donnie are so close. They create stuff together all the time! (Poor Leo deals with the consequences.) Mikey generally seems to be pretty creative, so he could have plenty of ideas that Donnie never would have thought of. They’d be such a dangerous combo. This addresses one of my… pet peeves I suppose with the different tmnt iterations. Donnie often has a very specialized skillset, and Leo is ‘the leader’, but Mikey and Raph sometimes end up just… being good at fighting? If that (see Leo seemingly getting the role of best fighter in certain parts of the series). Let the boys have their own specialties! People have different skillsets, and rarely just one.

Ohhhh yes, Mikey being more willing to go all-out in a fight while Donnie prefers to hang back. (Actually kind of applies to Leo and Raph too, which is interesting. The cooler-toned brothers are more reserved.) Also the kusaragami has more range, and if Mikey is tossing chemicals around he would want a better view of the fighting. Perhaps he really starts working with that weapon more when a misjudged throw gets one of his brothers hurt— Mikey’s growing maturity showing in his weapon as well as his general attitude during fights.

Shifting roles would definitely cause a bit of friction at first, but the healthy kind. Everyone’s growing and they’re going to step on each other’s toes a bit until they all adjust to the changes. Leo and Donnie getting encouragement from Mikey and Raph as they get used to having/sharing so much more information. Raph learning to maybe rely on his brothers a bit more as he doesn’t have to be a kind of last line of defense. Mikey getting that extra trust from his brothers and then being motivated to put in more effort. Donnie wouldn’t be the only one finding his thing!

This gets especially fun if you extend the timeline of the 2012 series— start them out at 15 (or, perhaps, even younger hehe), but by the end of the series they’re young adults. From what I found it seems like they would have been around 17 or 18 by the end of the show, but with the sheer amount of stuff that happens in that series they could get an extra year or two on top of that. People change a ton in 3-5 years, so of course there’d be a different team dynamic by that point. These aren’t necessarily kids anymore, so then you show that difference with their weapons and team roles. (Lol basically going from high school to early college years.)

I got a bit sidetracked, but all those changes making Leo a much better leader would be great. He has more to work with! At the same time he can’t just shuffle his brothers into whatever spot and make it work. If someone goes down strategy has to change. Also, it gives more value to his role as leader. I mean, if you can stick whoever wherever it… doesn’t mean as much to lead (and it seems like Leo may also struggle with his place on the team, just differently from Donnie). There’s just so much room for character growth here.

Also! Throw out the whole Leo having to act as a parent and teacher to his brothers thing! Everyone shares the burden more evenly, Raph acting more as a teacher, Mikey handling medical issues perhaps?, Donnie taking care of maintaining things around the lair. Leo gets room to breathe and everyone gets their chance to be focused on. So much stuff could be done!

I have a Thought/question I want some opinions on. I have some of my own ideas, but if any of the turtles (particularly the 2012 versions) were to switch or learn to use a different weapon what would that weapon be? This doesn’t have to be limited to weapons we’ve seen used in tmnt before, go nuts.

[trulyinspiringmovies]

Regular Show: The Movie

“Regular Show: The Movie” just feels like a longer episode of the show and misses a great opportunity to make something truly meaningful.

Mordecai and Rigby are late to work again, but this time they’re really about to be fired. Luckily, Rigby manages to calm Benson down enough to let them keep their job. While working, a spaceship crash lands in the park. The park crew goes to check it out and finds a future version of Rigby badly injured. He explains that the timeline is being threatened and the only way to save it is if Rigby is honest about something he’s been hiding from Mordecai for the past six years.

“Regular Show” was a show that I grew out of fairly quickly. I was more interested in the other big Cartoon Network shows like “The Amazing World Of Gumball” and especially “Adventure Time”. “The Amazing World Of Gumball” had extremely clever writing and “Adventure Time” had amazing, likable characters. “Regular Show” had neither. Even as a child I didn’t really like Mordecai and Rigby. I thought they were jerks. Their stories were monotonous at a young age as well. I also had a problem with them overhyping anything mundane. I see now that they’re supposed to be depicted as losers, but it didn’t really change how I felt about them. It’s supremely surprising to me that out of the three big Cartoon Network shows at the time, this show was the only one to get a movie. I started binge-watching this show to catch up with what I missed. At first, the experience was okay. I was nostalgic about most of the episodes and I thought some of the humor was funny, especially the jokes that flew over my head as a kid. Then the show started hitting a wall. Mordecai and Rigby were becoming straight-up detestable people. Then the grand supernatural/sci-fi plots were replaced with more mundane plots. I was losing interest in the show quickly, but then something interesting happened. Rigby started becoming more mature. I would’ve never thought that I would actually start liking him, but he’s shown some serious growth in the last few seasons. I was genuinely becoming proud of him. Mordecai started falling from grace too. There’s this paranoia that starts setting in on him that he’s stuck with his life and he became more relatable. He makes a lot of missteps in his romantic life, which got a bit tedious, but ended up making me feel bad for the guy when he ultimately gives up on it. I think the most interesting part is how the roles slowly start to reverse. Rigby is becoming the achiever in the group and Mordecai has to deal with the fallout of that. This movie would’ve been the perfect way to really explore this new dynamic and shape how the two would go into their final season. Instead, this movie has Rigby regress for the sake of the plot. A really messed up decision from his past has come back to haunt him. The new Rigby would’ve owned up to the mistake and reflected on how far he’s come, but we get the old Rigby in this movie. The old Rigby tries to shift blame and cover up as much as possible. The twist in this movie is obvious because it’s built on something that’s completely out of character for Mordecai and Rigby’s dynamic. The villain’s motivations for the show have been dumb for comedy, but I feel like it shouldn’t have been the case for the movie. Injecting real drama, real goals, real aspirations, and real feelings of resentment could’ve elevated the movie and have it stand out from the show. It could’ve justified the medium and actually showed me that this show is more than the formulas and tropes it sticks to. Instead, it doubled down and proved to me that it isn’t more than that.

★★★

Watched on November 2nd, 2022

[sol-flo]

alright berserk final thoughts: i really liked it overall!! it really does have its high and lows, what with 30 years, of course

i think there's a clear division to me, between the golden age arc and the post-schierke / berserker armor stuff. the tone shift, the decrease in sexual violence, more female characters, huge improvement in artwork and super interesting creature designs... it just gets more mature and pleasant, it's nice to see guts' growth. i also really like the berserker's design..... but there's also casca as a fucked up vestigial organ; idk to me it felt like entirely breaking her was a mistake miura had to just deal with as he kept going with the manga

but as i said, i also really love the golden age's story, i love the guts/griffith dynamic. in a way i kinda started to miss the griffith-obsessed guts which uh. kinda goes against the healing i also liked but i contain multitudes. it's just kind of a beautiful tragedy or whatever. it could of course have used more homoeroticism and way way less sexual violence though

and um. yea i think that about covers it? not much to say about the conviction arc specifically. the kushan racism sucks so fucking bad. i hate the way he drew nipples and how he only drew them on women (he didn't draw dicks either). i wouldn't say the sexism here is "i hate women so much it's unreal" and more "it's medieval fantasy so...". which is still bad mind you but it's kinda like asoiaf

i'm really glad it's being continued, i'll def keep reading as chapters come out, and it's nice that casca has recovered at last and griffith and guts are......... well something's gonna happen in august

[tarzinnia]

Well now. That comment from the Chapter 8 reblog regarding a writer tossed plot hand grenade is looking a little prescient now that I've read Chapter 9. You've got quite a few of those in your arsenal I suspect! I really liked this chapter and I'm really sorry for the length of the following. I managed to use the KR insert (at least it worked for me on the reblog) because I have thoughts...

Peter Parker vs. Angel is an interesting dynamic you're laying out. I read your A/N with each chapter, and I like how Angel vacillates between vulnerable and steely-eyed practical because Peter does likewise. I much prefer writers who recognize that most individuals emotions are on a spectrum unique to them (with universal similarities) and Peter and Angel are great examples of that. He's barely holding it together, anger at what he wants to say simmering at the tip of his tongue but recognizing that to lose control in front of others is a perceived weakness--in his world, and in our world as well. However, Felicia made a rather handy target for blowing off a little steam. (That really mirrors the real world--often it is women and under-represented groups that receive the shrapnel when those in power are raging). Although, I am aware that Felicia's comment made her an easy target. I'll get back to Felicia in a mo, but for now, Peter. His fear(s) are a powerful motive, and Angel is showing him that she has agency. She's changed while away, and Peter isn't quite sure if he likes that. (hello real world again and what patriarchal societies view as shifting sands under their feet when those groups push back).

This is going to get really interesting (for me) as your plot and dialogue progress. Angel seems to understand that while she experienced events during her time away and also growth from those events, her underlying bond with Peter is still based on her feelings for him and those feelings are (to this reader) overwhelmingly positive. She shouldn't have to subsume her personality just because things changed, the adjustment must come from both partners, recognizing (as she does) that he changed as well. Perhaps I'm reading too much into this, but that is where I see her mentally right now. She is a strong woman, (with her father I expect there would be limited avenues for options--you either fold, break, or develop the strength to stand) and she shouldn't have to apologize for it but she sees Peter struggling with his own demons (related to her and everything else) and her own fears (his rejection of her due to those changes, etc) are also simmering right there. But to sum it up, I liked how she handled herself in the room, in front of Peter (and the rest of the group).

Back to Felicia. I love her. She may have slept with a married man, (hey takes two there Peter) but she has her own code and damn if she didn't have a great line: "She bakes and she’s a good shot. Anyone would think it wasn’t everything you looked for in a wife." The TASM fandom is where I tend to reside, and we only got a glimpse of Felicia with Felicity Jones in the second movie, but that is who I picture in your character. The kind of character you should never ever underestimate. Lot going on there. (side note: if you ever decide to write her as lead in a story, I am here for that).

And Miles, I love him too. Preternaturally mature, empathetic, smart, what is not to love? He has so much potential you half want to protect him and half want to let him go because he is meant to soar to the stars.

Finally, (again apologies for the length but this chapter had a LOT going on) back to the plot machinations. Someone is watching their movements pretty closely. I mean it makes sense to hit the hub as that is the heart of the community and Peter is involved with it, but the timing (thank heavens for a spot of tea and a bun and I could write another paragraph on that) has me guessing there is perhaps a mole? Only you know, ha! But the tragic circumstances (loss of life isn't explicitly stated other than bodies on the floor but severe injuries regardless) is going to be a powerful driver of a lot of things. Speculating that Peter is going to freak OUT a little and want to take control because he fears a lot of things are out of control. That alone (fear as a motivating factor for character's actions) could take up chapters (if that is your plan) and lord knows I love that kind of in-depth development and layering of people's thoughts, personalities, and actions. We're complicated and I adore it when writers just go for it and take up that adventure. It's a wild ride but it's not my first roller coaster ride, so hand me a ticket and open the gate cause I'm onboard.

Well done and cheers!

*This was a great reward for getting a project out of my hair, thanks for writing!

The Angel In The Garden of Evil | Chapter Nine: An Explosion In Chinatown

Summary: It's just one thing after another for our couple and the Vulture isn't making things any easier.

Warnings: 18+ Only!, mob/mafia/gang violence typical of the genre, guns, blood, bomb, explosion, death, angst, grief, arguing

Word Count: 2.2k+

A/N: Okay so the drama is ramping up here, you thought chapter 8 had a twist well chapter 9's is even bigger. We are about to touch on a possibly more sensitive topic for the next couple of chapters but I will be very clear to note when and where the details of our plot are so you can pick and choose which bits you read if any of this is gonna trigger you but you want to carry on. It will mostly be in the next chapter which will come with its own authors note but seeing as this is a mafia/mob/gang story it's not an out of character plot twist for the narrative. Anyway, if you struggle with the end of this chapter I advise skipping chapter 9 and just picking up with our story in chapter 10, I promise things will still make sense.

NINE

Peter stormed back into the apartment thirty minutes later followed slowly by Angel, Eddie, Harry and Felicia, Miguel being left downstairs to clear up the mess that was now Jackson Brice. Whether his resolve was stronger than they realised or he really wasn’t the fountain of knowledge they’d expected, was still yet to be determined, but they had learnt one thing before his body gave out, The Vulture was planning on something big.

“What the fuck was that?” Peter suddenly blurted out as he doubled back to his wife. She simply stared at him, her eyebrows raised, egging him on to do his worst. He quickly checked himself, taking deep breaths as he stared her down, unwilling to play her games.

When he seemed to calm a little she finally spoke. “Were you or were you not gonna tell me to go back upstairs after you dragged me all the way down there to make a show of IDing your little plaything for your own game?” she calmly threw the ball back into his court. 

She watched him closely as his nostrils flared, his pupils dilating as he began to feel his rage course through his body. He was acutely aware of their fight the day before, not wanting to prove her or her Father right, he could keep control of his anger, he could. She was just making it really hard for him right now. 

“Well?” she pressed. He growled under his breath as he turned away from her, confirming what she already knew to be true. “Look, I was the one who was hurt, it should have been me who exacted justice.”

“So you just shot him.” He turned to face her again, his hands sitting firmly on his hips in an attempt to feign a stance of control.

“I shot him in the leg Pete, I didn’t kill the guy.”

“It was a pretty good shot.” Felicia chimed in with a smirk of admiration that got her a harsh look from Peter. “Jeez bug boy,” she chided, “She bakes and she’s a good shot. Anyone would think it wasn’t everything you looked for in a wife.” she continued to jest as she slinked across the floor to the living room and took a seat on the sofa, leaning back into the cushions ready to watch the drama unfold. It was short lived though.

“GET OUT!” Peter shouted, finally blowing his top. “You know what you need to be doing today, so go do it.” he commanded her. 

“Come on now, Pete.” Eddie said, stepping forward to mediate again.

“No!” Peter said firmly to him. “All of you out. NOW!”

They all slowly filed back out the door, Harry placing a tender hand to Peter’s shoulder, urging him to try and be lenient. “I’ll meet you downstairs in a minute.” Peter muttered under his breath. Harry nodded in acknowledgment before leaving, closing the front door behind him.

The door closing acted like the fall of the curtain at the end of a performance. Peter turning his back to her and finally getting a hold on himself, able to finally let down his guard without prying eyes. Just him and his wife and their…issues.

He rested his head in his hands as he sat himself down in a boxy leather armchair. She watched as his breathing gradually slowed and began to step forward towards him, attempting to bridge the gap between them that kept getting wider, every time they tried to meet in the middle.

“Just when I think I understand you,” he huffed, still unable to look at her. “What happened to you?” He finally lifted his head to meet her eyes and she could see the pain clear on his face. His inner conflict that she was causing him.

“I had to adapt without you.” she said quietly. Peter watched as her own pain and realisation began to fall over her like a dark cloud. “I guess when you are in it, you don’t notice it as much. Until…” her voice trailed off as she tried to find a way to rationalise things. 

“Do you know how dangerous that is?” Peter finally said, breaking the silence that had fallen between them once more. “How am I supposed to deal with the threat out there if I’m always watching over my shoulder for you because I have no idea what you’re going to do or say next. What other secrets you’re hiding from me?”

“Peter I-”

“No. I can’t do this right now.” He said, getting up from the armchair, his hand running through his hair as his thoughts raced around in the small space.

“Peter, please.” Her hand reached out for his as he passed her. There was so much pain in his eyes when he looked at her.

“I’ll get Miles to come pick you up and take you down to the hub.” he said quietly as he slipped his hand from her grasp. She couldn’t help but stare at his back as he made his way to the front door, the latch closing behind him syncing up with the first tear that rolled down her cheek.

******

Miles picked her up an hour later. After Peter had left she made her way upstairs to finish getting dressed. She had kept on the trousers and the vest, choosing to layer over the top a light blue pinstriped button up shirt that sat oversized on her frame.

“Hey, you ready to go?” Miles said as he knocked on the door of the bedroom. He had let himself in. He had expected to find her sat waiting in the living room for him or even in the kitchen, he hadn’t expected to find her upstairs on the bed staring blankly at the wall.

“Umm, yeah, let’s go.” she said as she stood and started gathering the last of her things into her handbag.

“Hey, you okay?” Miles asked as he stopped her at the door. She looked like a ghost, not at all like the woman he had met the day before who was so sure of herself both when they had first been introduced and she was a fireball of rage or later, when they went down to the shelter and she was all kindness and smiles, showing him around. Now she was just a shell. He watched closely, the flash of change in her eyes as she suddenly put on a smile and a show to him but it wasn’t going to work.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” she chirped as she breezed past him and headed for the stairs down to the main floor of the penthouse apartment.

Miles didn’t want to accept that answer. His Mom had raised him well enough to know when someone was hurting and needed help. Taught him how to talk, to be compassionate, but in the 24 hours he’d come to know Angel, he knew if he pushed her too hard she might just snap at him and it might make things worse. He hoped once he got her down to F.E.A.S.T and she started to soften how she had yesterday, she may be more willing to talk about what’s happened.

They both sat in silence in the car as they made their way to the hub. “Did you want to pick anything up on the way?” Miles asked, attempting to make conversation and see if she wanted to get anything to bring to the shelter as an offering.

“No, it’s okay.” she said quietly before turning her head to look out the window. “Wait!” she exclaimed as they turned down a particular street.

“What? What is it?” Miles responded, suddenly on alert. But when he looked over to her in the passenger seat, there was a sudden softness to her, a feeling that wasn’t there before.

“Can you stop up here? There’s a little cafe I want to pop into.”

Angel told Miles to wait in the car for her as she made her way into the Lucky Cat Cafe, the little bell above the door jingling as she entered. As her eyes scanned the walls with their many quirky and colourful pieces of cat art, a feeling of nostalgia and peace washed over her.

“Good Morning?” a little old Chinese lady greeted her from behind the counter.

“Good Morning.” Angel smiled back. 

She took a seat at one of the empty tables and let out a sigh of relief as she sat back into one of the old wooden chairs. 

“Can I get you anything?” the old lady asked in her heavily accented english.

“Umm, yes, can I get a green tea and one of the coconut buns please?” she asked, the familiar order returning to her and falling from her lips as easily as riding a bike.

“One green tea, one coconut bun coming up.” the old lady repeated with a smile as she went back towards the counter.

It had been so long since she had last been here. It used to be a place her and her mother came to regularly before she passed. They loved nothing more than stopping in on a saturday morning and talking for what felt like hours about school and boys and family history, the ludicrous tales and adventures of her Grandmother being recounted to her over a cup of tea and a coconut bun.

“Thank you.” Angel said with a smile as the little old lady sat an ornately decorated cup, saucer and teapot in front of her along with the coconut bun on a small octagonal pink plate.

“Enjoy.” The lady smiled before returning back towards the tiny kitchen bakery in the back.

Angel poured herself a cup of tea and as she did so a small ray of sunlight suddenly shifted, shining through the little tea shop window to illuminate the chair beside her. The warmth of the light comforted her, a familiar presence at her side. 

As she sipped on her tea and nibbled on her bun, the little flakes of desiccated coconut on top dropping back down to the table and into her lap, she was reminded of a scene in a movie she loved to watch when she was younger. Her Dad had bought her the Charlie’s Angels movies on dvd as part of her Christmas present one year. She had watched them religiously, wanting to grow up to be just like the strong, courageous women in the movie. As she sat there now, the stream of light beside her, it reminded her of the scene in the second movie, when Dylan goes into a bar in Mexico and talks to a seemingly passed-on Angel of the past, Kelly Garrett, one of the angels from the original series. 

She looked to the stream of light beside her, felt the comfort in it and knew her Mom was sitting with her. ‘I miss you.’ she thought.

‘I know.” a little voice in the back of her head said.

When she returned to Miles 40 minutes later she could tell he was anxious about having left her in the little Chinese cafe alone; but the moment he saw her more present and relaxed, she saw him breath out a sigh of relief.

“You feeling better?” he asked.

“Yeah.” she smiled at him with a small nod of her head.

“Ready to go help some people?” he asked as she reached for her seatbelt and buckled herself in.

“Let’s do it.”

They pulled up on the other side of the road to the hub a few minutes later, Angel letting out another sigh of contentedness as she stepped out of the car and looked at the building. “You good?” Miles checked in with her as he looked at her over the roof of the car, the driver's side door clicking closed.

“Yup.” she turned and smiled at him.

They checked for cars before they started to cross the road, but as they got closer to the other side, Angel saw a flash of light through the glass doors of the hub before-

She was knocked off her feet as a blast of energy burst from the building, a large boom echoing out onto the street in its wake. Her back collided with the side of the car behind her and everything went black.

“Angel? ANGEL?” Mile’s voice sounded muffled, almost like he was talking to her underwater and there was this ringing in her ears. She opened her eyes, trying to see him, trying to understand what was happening. Her vision slowly cleared enough for her to make out his face as he hobbled towards her, leaning over her body.

She tried to move but her body was so heavy, everything felt numb. She managed to prop herself up on one arm slightly, though her ribs protested. 

“Angel?” Miles continued to say her name, trying to ground her, to focus on him but she couldn’t stop herself from looking past him at the clouds of black smoke that billowed out of the blown out windows and doors of the shelter. Small flecks of white ash came down like snow as people ran and screamed around them. There were bodies on the floor. Bystanders quickly got covered in dust as they ran in to help.

She tried to move again but it was difficult, like trying to pull her body out of quicksand. “Hey, hey, hey, don’t move.” Miles’ muffled voice said through the ringing still in her ears.

She thought she felt her chest groan as she finally gave up, her body relaxing back onto the concrete, her eyes closing, darkness dragging her under.

-----------------------------------------

New chapters go live on Wednesdays and Fridays! If you want to be added to the tag list make sure you put it in writing for me. Also if you are enjoying the story don’t forget to tip me like you would your waiter by reblogging and leaving feedback and letting me know what you think!

@scmdsblog @angiexsv @thef1nalgirl @did-someone-change-my-name @sincericida @tarzinnia @liz-allyn @blacksoul09 @humxncrxvings @sunnycolors @suicide-sweetheart636 @ahryi @ms-wild-card-56

[thevindicativevordan]

You did one for Hulk (incredible btw). Got any thoughts on Spider-Man?

He used to be one of my favorites.

It's easy to see why Spidey took off as Marvel's premiere character, and competitor with Batman for the most popular superhero ever. If you'll indulge my DC bias, Spider-Man sits at the intersection between Superman and Batman. Like Superman, Spider-Man never knew his birth parents, and was instead adopted and raised by an elderly couple. Uncle Ben and Aunt May are the people Peter thinks of as his mom and dad, and it's their lives that help shape Peter. Both Superman and Spider-Man wear colorful red and blue costumes, both have iconic jobs working for newspapers with cantankerous bosses, and both have a lot of Jewish DNA in them because of their creators. Like Batman however, Spider-Man has a tragic parental figure's death to motivate him, he has a very poor reputation with the public, they both style themselves on animals, and both have strong roots in the cities they protect. That Peter's greatest foe, the Green Goblin, also stands at the intersection between Lex Luthor and the Joker makes for a great parallel. Add in that Spider-Man has the second best Rogues Gallery in comics, and it's clear Peter drew on the best attributes from his predecessors as a foundation.

What separates Peter from them though is that he was the first hero with real problems. Neither Superman or Batman had to worry about paying rent regularly like Peter did. Both stood apart from their peers by choice, while Peter wanted to make friends but wasn't able to do it. Krypton and the Waynes died through no fault of Supes or Bats, but Uncle Ben's death was something Peter was at fault for if indirectly. Then you had Gwen Stacy killed as a direct result of Peter's superhero career, introducing the idea of heroes who could fail. Spider-Man was pitched as the flawed hero, the human hero, the guy you could think of yourself as being if you got superpowers. You would screw up and make mistakes, but you'd try your best regardless. Of course the readers would be drawn to, and identify with him, and that's both the secret to his success and what keeps fucking him over. A lot of guys see Peter as their self-insert, so they keep trying to return to their youth through him which keeps derailing him as a character. My entry into Spider-Man fandom came during one of the brief lulls from Marvel trying to reset him to what they see as his "roots".

I remember seeing the Rami Spider-Man movies in the theater and being utterly entranced. I played the first Spider-Man movie tie-in game pretty religiously as a kid (fuck that level where you infiltrate OsCorp, those robots were insane), as well as other Spider-Man games such as Web of Shadows. Can still hear the theme song of the 90s animated Spider-Man show in my head, that show's versions of Green Goblin and Venom are still my favorite takes. All this is a rambling way of saying that "my" Spider-Man was formed during a period where Marvel seemed ok with Peter being more adult, something they've been trying to roll back ever since.

Peter was a college student in the 90s cartoon, the comics had him and MJ married (my first Spidey comic was vol. 1 of JMS' Amazing Spider-Man run, so Peter and MJ being married is the "default" for me), the video games were set in the Ramiverse so he was a college student there as well. It's such a weird era to look back on in retrospect given what's to come and what came before. Peter had problems and was flawed, but he was also so much more mature and thoughtful, intelligent in a way beyond just being a science whiz. He and MJ had a great dynamic as a couple under JMS. They were so clearly in love and also utterly unwilling to take each others shit that it was just a joy to read. That relationship really was something I dearly loved, and of course I took it poorly when Marvel broke the two of them up. Making it a plot where not!Satan comes down and takes their marriage away only rubbed salt in the wound.

Suddenly Peter was a lot more immature and stupid, and Marvel was insisting that this was "how he should be". Marvel was claiming that Spider-Man was all about youth, thus he needed to remain young and marriage free in order to work, which flew in the face of the character as I understood him. To me, Spidey was a character about the opposite, he was about growing up.

More than any other character in the MU, Peter was the guy who embodied character development. In his early years under Lee and Dikto, Peter was an asshole with a chip on his shoulder. Far from being the martyr figure everyone sees him as today, Peter initially just kept trying to make money with his powers. He was constantly moaning and bewailing his lot, because he was a fucking teenager! EVERY teenager treats ANY setback like it's the end of the world. Yet over a period of years, both in universe and out, Peter grew into the great hero everybody sees him as today. He became kinder, more charitable, and made friends with his peers. He acquired a steady stream of super hot girlfriends, ultimately marrying MJ. Peter married MJ before Clark Kent married Lois Lane, that's a huge freaking accomplishment! Totally makes sense that Peter would get married first because while Superman was more or less frozen in place like all DC heroes, Spider-Man was the one who embodied the Marvel trait of growth and change. The world kept throwing shit at him and Peter dealt with it as best he could, and that gave me hope because if he could overcome the forces arrayed against him to find some degree of happiness, so could I.

One More Day completely obliterated all of that. I didn't recognize this character anymore, I didn't care about the shallow relationships they teased him entering, relationships we all knew didn't matter. If Peter couldn't stay married to MJ, he wasn't going to last in a relationship with Carlie Cooper or any of the girls Slott set him up with. Peter being immature worked great when he was actually in high school and college, but Marvel wanted to write him as a high schooler without actually deaging him. The contrast between how he was characterized before and after OMD was just too jarring for me.

Ultimately I left for a while. I read Superior and Spider-Verse, but I was no longer religiously following Amazing Spider-Man any more. Checked out Ultimate Spider-Man which I had never read, and I enjoyed it, but I also held a grudge against it's success. Clearly this was the series that enshrined high school Spider-Man as the "ideal" status quo for a lot of people, and I couldn't help but blame the series for Quesada's successful torching of a more mature Peter Parker. I also read Spider-Girl which took place in an alternate continuity where Peter was still married and he had a daughter with MJ named Mayday. I loved that series a lot, and Mayday became my favorite Marvel superheroine. Eventually I came back to ASM with Spencer because a few of my fellows told me he reminded them of JMS, and I've enjoyed his characterization of Peter. Doubt the marriage will be coming back any time soon but it's nice to read a more adult Peter after how he was characterized under Slott.

Hard to say what the future holds for Peter. Tough to say for certain but with the end of high school Peter in the MCU approaching, it feels like we're on the edge of another shift in status quo for Spider-Man. May be that the creation of Miles is allowing Peter to finally start to mature again since Miles can be the corporate wet dream of an eternally young "diverse" Spidey. The insistence on putting Miles into more and more of Peter's stuff, with Peter mentoring him, makes me hope that Marvel is becoming more ok with Peter growing up. The Insomniac Spider-Man is a college graduate, he feels the closest in tone and character to the Spider-Man I grew up with under JMS and Rami. They even got to kill Aunt May off, something Marvel is still terrified to do in the comics, and the relationship between Peter and MJ is portrayed as crucial to both (as it should), even if MJ is a little too Lois Lane lite for my liking.

Hopefully Spider-Man can shake off Quesada's lingering influence and start being what he was created to be: the guy who moves forward rather than running in place.

[mrs-nate-humphrey]

What do u think of the “in order to like dair u have to reduce Blair to her interests” and “matured Blair had no agency and wasnt the real Blair”

I think you can say things like that for any ship? Ultimately, people act different around different people. That doesn't mean they're being fake or that it's inherently reductive, different dynamics just bring out different parts of people. The kind of things Dan speaks to with Vanessa aren't going to be the same as what he'd discuss with Nate, for example. That doesn't mean Vanessa's Dan is fake or Nate's Dan is fake or There Is Only One Dan. Humans don't work like that. We're all vast and we contain multitudes!

Chuck's girlfriend Blair and Dan's girlfriend Blair may have behaved in different ways, but that doesn't make one Blair more canon than the other, lol. It was different stages of her life! Her perspective would have changed because that's what happens with time, the longer you live the more you learn, etc etc.

I like Dair because I think Blair looked REALLY happy with Dan. Happy and comfortable and safe in a way she never seemed with Chuck. Dan was her best friend! They had a real connection. Other people may not agree and may not feel this way about the Dair arc, I think that's fine! I've never insisted that people ship the things I ship or claimed to understand why people ship what they do. I'd much rather psychoanalyse fictional characters from the show than pretend I have any claim on psychoanalysis of real people who engage with fandom differently than I do.

As for "matured Blair had no agency".....I don't think it was her maturity that resulted in her being in so many situations of powerlessness?? I think it was the people around her not listening to what she needed and denying her any space, as well as Chuck and Louis being ....terrible? Not saying this to diss chairs or anything but Chuck canonically breaking glass right next to Blair's face is the scariest shit to me, and I think claiming that Blair got treated badly by people around her because she was trying to be mature and kind and a better person is shifting the blame? A violent man is a violent man and is never a woman's fault. "if blair hadn't tried to leave chuck he would not have broken glass next to her face" is not the hot take people think it is. It's not Blair's fault.

so yeah! also reiterating that Real People have depth and nuance and are multifaceted. saying that some version of blair "wasn't the real blair" ignores that blair does have a lot of canon growth, and not everyone is going to stan S1/S2 blair more than S4/S5 blair and that's fine??

also hate to break it to y'all but there IS no real blair. like. she's fictional. whenever people are like "my blair is more real than yours" im like. uh. this is objectively untrue. she is a fictional character!! the way we all interpret her is varied and subjective and honestly Not Worth Fighting About.

hope that made sense!! again, nothing against 💺 shippers (if chuck and blair make you happy i don't want to take that happiness away) but that one specific scene is just too violent for me personally to gloss over.

[veilder]

When you think back, do you remember what made you ship Convin in the first place? And can you tell me a bit more about the relationship you headcanon for them? (@connor-sent-by-cyberlife)

Gosh, okay, this is such a loaded question for me, lol! Because I love them so much. It’s gonna be hard to try and distill that into one post. But I’ll try my best! XD

So, right off the bat, there are the canon characters. And, while I find canon!Gavin pretty awful and think a relationship between him and canon!Connor would be a bad idea, there’s still a very real tension between them. It’s not rooted in anything positive, for sure, but there is a lot of passion behind it. They both fill the classic enemies/rivals roles for each other and, well... I’m a really big fan of the enemies (to friends) to lovers trope. So right off the bat, they’ve already kinda sparked my interest, yeah? There’s something there, something not fully formed, but dang, it has a lot of potential! Which is where fanon comes in. I think it’ll come as a surprise to absolutely no one that I absolutely adore a fanon Gavin Reed. A more nuanced take on him where he’s not just a racist caricature and is instead a real, human person with thoughts and feelings and motivations. And, while I don’t really remember my actual introduction to fanon!Gavin, one of the earliest things I read that I remember really sticking with me was the amazing fic, Mind-Blowing, by  Redd000. That fic had such a wonderful iteration of a Gavin who not only had a very complicated backstory and a lot of interesting interpersonal relationships, but also a dynamic character arc that brought him from the canon douchebag we all know and hate to a more empathetic character who could learn and grow and admit that maybe he was wrong. Another very early fic I read that made me really fall in love with fanon!Gavin was A Scratched CD by consecrated. It was one of the first Convin fics I ever remember reading and just... really falling in love with. And it really went a long way toward making me just adore the potential relationship between the two of them.  Now, this was still back in the early days when I was still giving other ships a try and seeing what I liked and didn’t, but between already having a sort of bias for the enemies to lovers dynamic and now seeing the absolute goldmine of potential that a relationship between them could deliver on, I was kinda sold. And I think maybe the final nail in that coffin was the esteemed Traces by berryblonde. It was... such a memorable fic for me. The twists and turns of it were amazing. The backstory the author built up. The slow paradigm shifts happening throughout. The case and the way all the players fit together. It was just... It was and is still one of my favorite fics on the Archive. Highly recommend to anyone looking for not just a good Convin fic, but a great casefic/mystery/drama in general.  But the thing all of these had in common was just such a wonderfully built Gavin Reed. Seriously, I was quickly at the point where I couldn’t even read him as a villain anymore, it just seemed so strange to me. Because all of these fics painted such a nuanced, complicated man. One capable admitting he was wrong and doing his best to right his wrongs. Whether platonic or romantic, it was his interactions with Connor that always drove him forward towards becoming a better man. And, as a flawed human being myself, there is something so appealing about that. Of seeing a redemption arc play out like this again and again, of seeing that second chances can be had, that even the worst people can turn themselves around and get back on the right path. It was so... affirming. And it all just kinda tied things together in my mind, too. That Connor was this catalyst, this reagent that burst into Gavin’s cozy worldview and shook him up enough to have to reevaluate himself in the upheaval.  But what’s more than that, I also think Gavin is a great catalyst for Connor’s character growth, too. Because, much like Hank, Gavin is someone who’s character growth and dynamic shift would be such a positive influence on someone like Connor. Connor, who spent so much of his short time alive being the villain. Doing bad things for bad people. Doing his best to shut down a movement that ultimately granted him and all his people freedom. I feel like Connor wouldn’t be a stranger to regret, to that urgent desire to change, and to the fallout left in the wake of that. I think, ultimately, Connor and Gavin’s arcs would almost mirror each other. That there’s a lot both of them could take away from the other in regards to forgiveness and maturing as people and second chances to do what’s right. I think Connor needs to let go of his hatred of his machine self just as much as Gavin does. And there’s something in that symmetry that just... It speaks to such a deep understanding between them. A shared experience between a human and a machine. Something they can both empathize with in each other. And that, more than anything, is the basis of a good, healthy, long-lasting relationship in my opinion. I think they would be very good for each other once they both move past their hangups. Two people who can grow both together and as individuals. I just think it’s a beautiful dynamic and such a strong foundation to base a relationship on. It makes me believe that they would be a couple who lasts.  And then there’s the fact that they both are very competent people, too! (In fanon at least, lol! XD) I absolutely love that sort of buddy cop vibe these two would have (sometimes literally) where one of them is super analytical and the other is reckless and spontaneous? While being total badasses, too! But both working together would balance each other out perfectly. I feel like Connor would help make up for Gavin’s tactlessness while Gavin helps Connor feel more human. They’d both shake each other up, help each other out of their comfort zones and into a fuller experience of life. They’re such great foils for each other and I think it makes them so balanced in terms of a relationship, too. And that goes for the banter as well. They can both be sarcastic little shitheads and omg, it’s so funny the way some authors write that! Top tier banter is a sign of a great Convin fic imo, lol! They’re just the perfect characters for that sort of humor! XD But I really believe having a sense of humor you can share with a partner would be such a boon to a romantic relationship, too. And, y’know... seeing them laugh at and with each other just makes me smile. I love knowing they enjoy each other’s company so much and that they’re so happy together. Gah, it makes me absolutely melt. Ultimately, this is how I love to both read and write them. As two flawed individuals trying to move past their past transgressions. Growing. Changing. Learning that they’re not so dissimilar. Understanding each other more fully than they’d ever expect. Bonds deepening, affection growing, a language of their own developing between them. And then, the pin dropping. The realization. And a love that can and will last. All the while being quippy little badasses, lol! (And if you want a great example of all of this, I’d be remiss not to recommend perhaps my favorite Convin fic of all, Mission: Unexpected, by J11nxed. It’s so good. It’s the fic I always go back to when I need cheering up. And it’s absolutely the dynamic I try for when I write Convin myself. It’s a long fic but it’s so worth reading!)  So yeah... That is... the most basic answer I could give to this, lol. I just... really love this ship a whole lot and I’m actually so glad you asked about it because I love sharing my thoughts on it with others. And, y’know, hoping that maybe my words would get them to give it a chance if they haven’t before. Hopefully, there aren’t too many typos, lol! There’s no way I’m going back through this freakin essay, omg. XD But yeah, hope this answered your question sufficiently, friend! :D