#because this is Joker's reaction to their romance

[average-mako-enjoyer]

You know what the Citadel DLC party is missing? A scene like this:

[casscainmainly]

A Deep Dive Into Why Cass Threw Dick Out A Window

If you've been here long enough you've probably seen or heard of this moment, which is super hilarious and iconic. It's mostly discussed in reference to Dick and Cass' relationship. However, in my opinion Cass throwing Dick out a window had very little to do with her opinion of him, or even of Barbara; it has more to do with her understanding of romance and love. I briefly touched on this in my gender/sexuality post, but I'm going to explain more in depth my interpretation of how Dick functions in Batgirl (2000) as a whole. (This moment is very open to interpretation though, this is just my opinion!). So let's try to answer Dick's question: what was that all about?

Love, Language, and DickBabs

While Puckett's run is notable for not having Cass date anyone, romantic love does play a role in Cass' early understanding of the world. It's the impetus that spurs her to write: in issue 2, she sees a wife read a letter from her deceased husband, and her reaction affects Cass so strongly she immediately starts trying to write. (She also kisses the husband on the cheek earlier, which may or may not be a crush). Romance, and the ability to communicate your love, is a fundamental part of Cass' desire to learn language.

So we have Cass, who has experienced neither love nor language, living with Babs, who's in a relationship with Dick. This telephone conversation in #4 (the issue where a metahuman changes Cass' brain into understanding language) again links romance to communication. Dick and Babs are talking on the phone, unable to see each other but understanding each other perfectly; Cass and Babs, on the other hand, live together and can't understand each other at all.

"She can't talk, so it's not all that different [to living alone]." Babs is telling an eavesdropping Cass that her inability to speak prevents her from love and connection - a love and connection symbolised by one of the first romantic relationships Cass is consistently around, Dick and Barbara.

Dick as an Ideal

There's a debate whether Cass likes Dick or not because half the time they're friendly, and half the time she's punching him or throwing him out windows. This disparity makes sense if you consider that Cass strongly associates DickBabs with communication, understanding, love - very idealised notions - but she does not associate Dick as a person with them. Her interactions with Dick (sans Babs) are cute and normal - Batgirl #29 and Nightwing #81 feature some very adorable Dick-Cass moments, with no real tension whatsoever.

It's only when Cass sees Dick in a romantic light (as in associated with Babs) that she makes him into a symbol.

Cass often tries to copy Babs, thinking it's the 'correct' thing to do - in DC First: Batgirl/Joker, she goes after Joker because that's what Barbara did; later in Horrocks' run she'll wear Barbara's outfit. In a way, Cass' affairs with Tai'Darshan and Kon - as much as I do think Tai'Darshan was genuine attraction - is another way to 'copy' Barbara. In #42, Cass stares at a picture of Dick and Babs while asking if Babs likes boys. Obviously Cass knows the answer is yes, but see what she asks next, and how Barbara responds:

She shifts from 'like' to 'love', and Babs responds that she 'care[s]' about him. For Cass, whose arc in Horrocks' run is about parsing out the nuances of attraction, understanding the difference between like, love, and care is incredibly difficult. She struggles to separate familial from romantic (Bruce in #50) or romantic from platonic (Kon, and in somewhat the reverse way Steph). In this conversation, Cass comes to associate Dick with like, love, and care - DickBabs becomes not just a symbol of romantic love, but of any connection whatsoever.

The Old Costume

I've discussed elsewhere that Cass wearing Babs' old costume in #45 is a representation of her desire to be 'girly', and how she associates girlhood with someone other than herself, discarding her own costume for Babs'. But putting on a costume is not the only prerequisite for being a 'girl'. In Babs' speech to Cass, she emphasises being sexually attractive to men, with her final comment being about this "particular look Dick used to give [her]". For Cass, visual language is incredibly important; putting on Babs' costume is not about being or feeling like a girl, but about being perceived as one. Dick is symbolic of the perceiver: the one who can essentially 'grant' women their femininity.

But Cass is disgusted when Tim calls her hot, which adds to her confusion - why should Dick being attracted to Babs make Babs happy, but Tim (who's not a sibling at this time) perceiving her like that grosses her out? Cass' inability to feel good - to feel 'feminine' - through the male gaze is another sign, to her, of her failure to be a woman.

Which finally brings us to issue 46...

That Ableist Kon Comment

Cass finds out Dick breaks Babs' heart and then starts hallucinating on a drug. One of the things she hallucinates is Kon saying "who wants to date a cripple? Ain't that right, Nightwing?" and Nightwing responding "not me--at least, not anymore."

For the first time, we get to the heart of why DickBabs mattered to Cass: it was an example of a disabled person in a loving, romantic relationship. It goes back to that phone call in #4, where Babs implies that Cass is hard to care about because she can't speak. The Kon comment suggests Cass has carried that with her all this time, trying to find proof that she can be loved, no matter her disability. DickBabs showed her it could be done - the break-up shows her now that it can't be done.

Dick's hallucination mocks her disability: "look at her--she can't even read!" Attributing this mockery to Dick (whose real-life counterpart, unlike the other hallucinations, has never said anything remotely like this) shows that this 'Dick-as-ideal' is intrinsically tied to Cass' self-worth.

Honestly this whole post stemmed from me thinking about this one panel. There is no real reason, from Cass' view of Dick as a person, for her to think he's brave and noble and kind (more so than anyone else). But it's in the DickBabs context - that Dick seemed to love, wholeheartedly, a disabled woman - that makes Cass think this way. And now that DickBabs is broken up, it shows that she, too, is rotten to the core; that someone like her cannot be loved.

And so when Dick shows up, she throws him out the window.

Conclusion

In this moment, Cass isn't just reacting to Dick breaking up with Barbara, she's reacting to what it means to her. If Dick can't stay with Barbara, then that means Cass, as another disabled woman, is also unable to be loved. This all leads up to #50, which features another Cass punch to Dick's face, but more importantly is when Bruce and Cass reconcile through Cass' first language. It's a confirmation that though her verbal skills may not be fully developed, she still can communicate, and she can love and be loved.

I don't think a lot of the ideas I touched on here are fully developed, or conclude cleanly. For example, how does Cass' 'failure' to be a woman relate to her inability to be loved? Is she able to have a stable romantic relationship? There are lots more questions, but the role Dick specifically plays in Cass' understanding of romance is probably not going to develop further. I just think it's interesting how Horrocks uses the Dick-Babs relationship to explore Cass' identity.

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL - Weird Strange Warmth, Thailand

Organized, in each category, with ones I'm enjoying most at the top.

Sept 2024 Week 2

Ongoing Series - Thai

Jack & Joker (Thai Mon IQIYI) ep 1 of 12 - Oh it’s fucking great. What a fantastic start! It’s a fun cast too. I adore seeing all of the familiar faces. This is a lot more fun than Kidnap (sorry GMMTV, do better). I mean both shows are serving the same kind of concept but with completely different energy. I love that War is playing phi in this series. I think it suits him much better. In fact. I really like these rolls for this pair. I think they’re gonna knock it outta the park. I am so happy this is good. I wanted it to be good. And it’s good!

Monster Next Door (Thai Thurs Gaga ) ep 8 of 12 - Oh no! He read the journal. No snooping! Well I guess they needed to get some tension for these 2 from somewhere, otherwise they are too good to each other. Meanwhile, I’m not sure about the sides in this particular series. I don’t hate them. The laundry jealousy moment was pretty well done. But I'm not sold, either.

Addicted Heroin (Thai Tues WeTV) ep 5 of 10 - I forgot that we were already on the ICONIC kidnapping section of the narrative. I miss Gu Hai's OBEY sweatshirt from the original. (Someday I will own that sweatshirt.) Hero should at least be wearing an OBEY T-shirt. Frankly I miss the harshness of the original too. Johnny Huang was just so massive, August doesn't have the physicality to carry this scene off. Nor does Thailand have the guts to push it into the creepy obsessive territory that made the first version so thrilling to watch.

The thing about the original kidnapping bit was we could feel Gu Hai's vibrating need to possess overriding everything else (including his sense of humor and frustration with himself). Gu Hai KNOWS kidnapping was an over reaction, he KNOWS he is being absurd, he just doesn't care. Because he doesn't just want to fuck Bai Luo Yin he wants to consume him.

We didn't get any of that from Hero. Hero, as a character, just isn't edgy enough to carry off a kidnapping, he's been softened too much in this new Thai form.

And then... An around the back of head not-kiss? Interesting choice. (Checks to see if BoomPeak are hanging out nearby.) Is that because the actor is under age? We in that head space for this whole show? (Pun intended.) Not sure how I feel about any of it.

It’s a much milder confession this time around, because it’s Thailand, but it’s still warped. So I’m still here for the weird strange warmth of this damn show. I did laugh a lot during this episode. 

Kidnap (Fri YT) ep 2 of 12 - Oh I am very much enjoying this.

"You’re the worst kidnapper I ever ever met" is an apt accusation.

Battle of the Writers (Sun YT) ep 7 of 12 - I kinda enjoyed the little side romance story (wealthy writer intellectual + poor local salt-of-the-earth boy = Love Seaing all over my damn screen). It came outta nowhere but... okay.

I honestly have no idea what’s going on with this show. But the kisses are nice. And I pretty much like all of the couples. It’s wild how disjointed it is but simultaneously how pretty. It’s like Star Hunter got hold of Mame’s budget and aesthetic. 

I Saw You in My Dream (Weds Gaga) ep 9 of 12 - Boyfriend era to the max. Production is still ignoring the whole "dreaming the future" POINT OF THIS SHOW.

The Trainee (Sun YT) ep 11 of 12 - Jane is VERY COOL. Like tay-style cool… as it were. I like their dynamic when they're given one to play with. It’s the rest of this show I don’t enjoy. 

Live in Love (Sun Gaga) ep 2 of 5 - It cute. Bit odd but cute. I like the language play, of course. It’s an interesting pair to watch flirt because it’s all language play so that's fun but otherwise, I'm not convinced.

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

The On1y One (Taiwan Thurs Gaga) eps 7-8 of 12 - This BL doesn’t drink from the water bottle to show off its neck. It quietly hands you the water bottle and expects you to understand that is not an act of generosity but of polite distancing. It's about the delicacy of the messaging, and the way themes are conveyed with such nuance.

This story is entirely about the two of them figuring out about each other, and then trying to be what the other person needs based on that information. It means they (and therefore we) are on this journey of discovering affection together. It's brilliant.

I must talk about the physical acting of these two for a second. That scene where they’re fighting over the book and then fall into the pool. That was one take. That’s amazing. These two are really fucking stellar not only at acting but hitting their marks. And let's be clear, that is NOT the same thing. I bet they both have stage training.

Define irony: watching two abandoned kids counsel their respective parents through abandonment issues.

Sugar Dog Life (Japan Sun grey) ep 6 of 10 - It is stupid cute and utterly charming. They are total boyfriends. It’s just that one of them wants to be and one of them assumes they already are. Actually, nevermind boyfriends, they’re married.

I Hear the Sunspot AKA Hidamari ga Kikoeru (Japan Weds Gaga) ep 12fin - It made me whimper a lot because they’re both hurting so much. But in the end it was... fine.

Summation

The compassionate story of a college kid going deaf and the one boy he can hear. I love this manga and was let down by the first adaptation (Silhouette of Your Voice), so I was expecting a lot from this BL. I expected the soundscapes in this one to be fantastic, and the were, but I didn’t expect the filming to be something special too. But it really is. The acting is great too. But the story? It was just fine. They spent far too much time on the build to a relationship, then wallowed in their separation and a problematic girl character, when they should have been showcasing Taichi's character arc and his capacity for connection. Perhaps Japan should pass this one off to Thailand, It's a soft story centering on "food as love" so they might do better with it. I am, yet again, disappointed. 8/10 but I want to give it a 7/10

First Note Of Love (Taiwan Mon Gaga) eps 9-10 of 12 - It’s fine. it’s cute. I enjoyed getting some backstory. More of the sides, please.

Seoul Blues (Korea Fri? YouTube) ep 7 - Honestly, why don’t they just call this entire series The Cheating Diaries and have done with it? I’m only watching it because there’s basically nothing else from Korea right now. But I’m generally mad about it. Including the fact that everybody is so pretty and the acting is so good in the series, but the stories are so terrible.

It's airing but...

The Hidden Moon (Sat WeTV) ep 1 of 10 - This is a supernatural romance (my ghost boyfriend trope) by Violet Rain (I Feel You Linger). A man is hired to write an article about an old mansion in Chiang Mai being converted into a café. He sees the ghosts of people who died at the mansion, falls in love with one of them. Was substantially recast. I loved IFYLITA except the ending so I think I'll let this one run it's course you can tell me if it's work tracking down... if they managed to land it. I have my doubts.

Happy of the End (Japan Tues Gaga) - A boy is disowned for being gay, dumped by his boyfriend, and ends up in a dysfunctional co-dependant relationship with his would-be kidnapper. We were due for another messy JBL and it's exactly as expected. I do not like it at all. And ya know what? There is plenty airing. DNF 

In case you missed it

The Time of Fever (Korea iQIYI & Viki) 6 eps - Side couple from Unintentional Love Story, HoTae & DongHee, return for a spin off backstory show.

It started out fantastic. And it was a relief to have a good Korean BL finally back on my screen, even a high angst one. But I did spend a lot of time trying trying to figure out whether they’re going to rehash or reboot from the previous series. Are we in Between Us territory or Don't Say No or (heaven forbid) To My Star 2?

None of the above, it turns out.

This was a pure prequel about lost first love. As such, it has no real finale beyond what we got in ULS. Which, for this pair, wasn't satisfying. Putting my disappointment over this aspect aside, it is enjoyable on the strength of the characters, actors, and chemistry (if not story). Yes I said chemistry, the kissing is fantastic, sometimes KBL can do that. This one featured the "teach me to kiss trope"!!!! Plus language play. Both favorites of mine. It is all angst, ache, repression, and miles of subtext. It did fudge the ending by not skipping forward and over the events in ULS to depict what happened next (what, no year long time jump when we actually need it, Korea?) It's a worthy companion piece, but should be watched BEFORE ULS for maximum satisfaction, and even then you're going to be left feeling like HoTae & DongHee's relationship was never adequately discussed or depicted in order to achieve resolution.

The little cameo of my baby in ep 5 was much appreciated. But the motorcycle should’ve been set up a little bit more. Of course I wanted it to be about them getting together after the events in the first series. But this was all backstory from start to finish. And while it was good backstory, it wasn’t ultimately satisfying for these characters. Still it’s a good little series. 8/10 

Meet You at the Blossom (China) - I'm eating crow, binging the fucker, and live blogging. It's just taking me some time. This isn't really a bingable show, not for me anyway. It's A LOT to take all at once. No new one this week.

4 Minutes (Gaga) Ended - Spies reported in to say the ending was not-exactly-unhappy and mostly lackluster. I'm torn over whether to watch. My natural disinclination to binge, meets my dissatisfaction with wishy-washy, is going up against my love for fabulous high heat and pretty pretty men.

Mitsuya-sensei no keimakutekina ezuke finished and it’s reported to be solid. Age gap treated with respect. I'm curious, so I'll check it out. Not doing very well on binging and catching up but it's on the docket...

Next Week Looks Like This:

Upcoming BLs for 2024 are listed here. This list is not kept updated, so please leave a comment if you know something new or RP with additions.

Still Coming Sept 2024:

9/15 Love Sick 2024 (Thai Sun iQIYI) 15 eps - Remake of the original. I'm scared too.

9/15 Bad Guy My Boss (Thai Sun Gaga) 10 eps - Assistant to a player boss who is in love with that boss decides to quit to save himself. The boss then makes a move. (A gay What's up with Secretary Kim?)

9/17 Love is Like a Poison AKA Doku Koi: Doku mo Sugireba Koi to Naru (Japan Tues Netflix?) 10 eps - Lawyer and a con artist meet at a bar, pair up, fall in love.

9/28 Teenager Judge (Vietnam Sat YouTube) ?? eps - oh I don't know just Ba Vinh doing his thing with pretty boys again.

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENTS

Love a teach me to kiss, teach me to fuck, whatever moment. (I Saw You In My Dreams sides)

Not gonna lie. I laughed. Addicted.

(Last week)

Streaming services are listed by how I (usually) watch, which is with a USA based IP, and often offset by a day because time zones are a pain.

The tag BLigade: @doorajar @solitaryandwandering @my-rose-tinted-glasses @babymbbatinygirl @babymbbatinygirl @isisanna-blog @mmastertheone @pickletrip @aliceisathome @urikawa-miyuki @tokillamonger @sunflower-positiiivity @rocketturtle4 @blglplus @anythinggoesintheshire @everlightly @renafire @mestizashinrin @bl-bam-beyond @small-dark-and-delicious @saezurumurmurs

Sigh, Tumblr in its infinite wisdom doesn't like too many at-ings.

[thefloatingstone]

It's interesting how people have different reactions to Liara. I never even once considered her to be anything else besides Shepard's ride or die and borderline adopted sister.

I remember Liara as the person who saved Shepard's life between ME1 and ME2, I remember her as the person who basically pushed her desk out of the way to hug Shepard after not seeing her for 2 years. and most importantly, I remember her as the person who would more than once come to Shepard's cabin for something unrelated, see Shepard was in a bad place, and put everything aside to take time and ask "Are you ok?"

VERY few characters do the "Are you ok?" moment with Shepard because most of them just take it for granted that she is. Garrus does it more than once because he's an awkward nerd who worries. Joker does it because he's Joker and he's awesome (and because he has EDI monitoring Shepard's sress levels because he's worried about her but has no social skills to try and speak to her until those bottled up feelings finally burst). But Liara is the one I remember coming to the cabin and spending LONG moments with Shepard, in her own space, talking her through a lot of her stress and sadness.

My point is, I am NEVER the person to point and go "No! Your experiences are WRONG actually!". Because like ????? uhm ????? HOW??? 'I experienced something." "lol no you didn't"

Yeah I don't play that way.

I just find it very interesting how some people see Liara as uncaring and having no empathy for Shepard, whereas I remember her most impactful moments are spending time with Shepard in the most intimate ways without romancing her.

It's just interesting to me what sticks with different people. I think it's a sign of good writing. Because it's one thing to write a character everybody likes because they were written to be likeable. And it's another thing to have a character with a fleshed out personality that is SO well written that some people dislike her because they'd dislike her if she was a real person too, and some people REALLY like her because they'd get along with her if she was a real person.

And I think that's actually pretty neat.

[innepttia]

@spookyvalentine has FOUR sets of “50 questions about Shepard” list and this is the third!!

Maeve Shepard

First 50 Questions | Second 50 Questions

TW: mentions of alcohol abuse & canon typical death

(Art by tumblr: @/milton-chamberlain)

1. How often does Shepard use the omni-blade?

Omni-blade, not a lot but it’s her favorite weapon to use (ok I know this is contradictory but just go with me). Omni-tool – ALL THE TIME.

2. What does the Virmire Survivor think of Shepard?

Ashley! I think she wishes they were closer, because they really would get along if they both gave it a shot. If Shepard didn’t die, they’d probably have become besties at some point and perhaps Shepard could have still soothed over some of that xenophobic nature of Ashley’s.

3. Top three comfort movies:

Howl’s Moving Castle

Princess Bride

Shallow Grave

4. How many languages can they speak (without the translator)?

Oh, I love that Spooky has asked this in the Mass Effect discord we’re in because I already know the answer now!!

English, ASL (which doesn’t really count for translator-use), and – in my own HC – spacers have a language similar to The Expanse’s Belter Creole.

5. Does Shepard keep a log/journal?

No. Which is a boring answer, but no.

6. What kind of driver is Shepard?

I like to HC that she actually would rather have others drive so she can tinker with something. So, instead of driver, she’s a passenger princess.

7. Shepard witnesses a petty crime. What is their response?

She ignores it! Maeve really cultivates an air of: “If this doesn’t affect me, then I don’t care.”

8. Revenge, or the high road?

REVENGE, BABEEYYYYY – but only in her head because she’s a busy lady and doesn’t have time to really properly act out her revenge.

9. What will always distract them?

Thane, Thane, Thane, Thane, alcohol, Thane, Thane, Joker, Thane, Thane, Thane, etc.

10. Does Shepard ascribe to any sort of faith?

No, but she becomes interested in Thanes.

11. Fondest childhood memory?

By ME2, she isn’t sure her childhood memories are really hers, so she tries to forget them.

12. Most embarrassing adult memory?

In ME2, before Thane’s romance was locked in, she got so drunk one day and drunk-messaged Ashley trying to flirt with her. Then when that was completely rejected, she went straight to Zaeed to try and flirt with him, but she became so distracted in the garbage compactor that she missed her one chance with that old merc. Joker was 100% watching the vid feeds and EDI was monitoring her messages to Ashley.

13. What does Shepard choose to do about Gavin Archer?

THIS mothafuckin guy THIS GUY ohhhhh my god. I think canon choice was “your brother is going to Grissom Academy and you can fuck right off” but the unhinged, more correct choice is: iron pressed against his temple and ending it all then and there for Gavin.

14. Is Shepard the type to gossip?

If it’s gossip with Kasumi, yes, because Kasumi has the best tea and tells the best story. Anyone else, probably not.

15. How does Shepard react to Garrus’s Archangel reveal?

I’m just going to go with the canon-neutral reaction.

16. What was the N7 program like for Shepard?

This was when she was A Good Soldier and A Good Person (pre-ME1), so it went pretty well, all things considered. She was focused and driven and wanted to be the best she could be.

17. Go-to karaoke song?

ANOTHER ONE I CAN ANSWER BECAUSE OF DISCORD thank god. This song because it’s mostly shouting instead of singing:

Fire Woman – The Cult

18. What choice does Shepard make on Rannoch?

Okay so, this one might get me a lot of hate BUT I’ve always accidentally (I’m so serious about this) picked the option here Tali throws herself off the cliff. Like, I’m not joking. It doesn’t matter how many years are between play throughs, or if I’m like, OKAY THIS TIME…!!! I always manage to pick that option. In an AU, I’d really like for the Geth and the Quarians to make peace and build the planet together and I’m just inept at making Good Choices.

19. Which kind of reaper do they think is the ugliest?

That stupid Human-Reaper from ME2.

20. Can they dance?

She can sway to music really well.

21. What is Shepard’s relationship with Hackett?

Mostly annoyed at him. In her eyes, Hackett is up there with TIM.

22. What’s their alignment? Paragon, renegade, a mix…

Renegade all the way. Light up her face with scars.

23. Got any allergies? How bad?

No, because I honestly just won’t remember she has them.

24. When’s their birthday, and how old are they?

Canon birthday and canon age!

25. Trash talk or potty mouth

BOTH!

26. What’s their temper like?

Flares hot, but then it dies down pretty quickly because she’s either smothering it with alcohol or she’s already moved on to the next crisis.

27. What does Shepard think of Bakara?

EVEEEE and not my clone named Eve!!!!! She adores her and will do anything for her.

28. A reoccurring nightmare:

Indoctrination. She can’t shake the feeling that, even after everything, she’s indoctrinated.

And Moon’s Haunted fic.

29. Which news correspondent/journalist does Shepard bring on the Normandy? What’s their relationship like?

Diana Allers and it’s a relationship of: Maeve forgets she’s there until Diana reminds her.

30. Who’s got the biggest crush on Shepard?

Ummm ME!!! Hmm definitely Joker in all 3 games, Garrus in 1 and 2, (and finally a HC) the Geth (and OC) she messages all throughout ME3.

31. What kind of relationship do they have with Dr. Chakwas? Which doctor do they bring her on board for 3, and why?

Good! They’re drinking buddies, except Dr. Chakwas is obviously less unhinged about it.

32. Who has Shepard’s grudging respect?

Javik & Zaeed.

33. Reaction to the window over their sr-2 bed

Kill Bill sirens.

34. Does Shepard want children?

Not just no, but hell no.

35. What does Shepard consider their greatest mistake?

Joining the Alliance.

36. Did Shepard enjoy the heists with Kasumi?

Yes, this was her favorite mission. I think I mentioned this in one of the previous 50 questions, but she was excited for the heist. She was excited to dress up and to have even the slightest potential to not kill anyone.

37. Does Shepard ever play matchmaker?

Ngl, I like Liara and Javik together so I’d like to imagine she helped with that somehow.

38. A silly daydream:

While she was on house arrest after ME2 and before ME3, she daydreamed that Joker would come visit her and they’d rekindle whatever they had before.

Or, she’d imagine Thane would come rescue her like a damsel in distress.

(god these aren’t really “silly” are they?!)

39. What kind of media do they consume the most?

Tech news, but she’s pretty off mainstream media content. She prefers to spend time with her crew in person.

40. Favorite ice cream flavor

Cookies and cream.

41. If Shepard has a LI, what would they say are a couple of Shepard’s flaws? And strengths?

I think we all like to imagine our LI’s being over the moon about our Sheps, and my HCs are no different.

Thane sees her as the spitting image of one of his goddesses. She’s strong, relentless, ruthless, and determined, which are all qualities he admires. In private, she’s soft and a puddle of mush most of the time. I like to think he enjoys taking care of her (e.g. blanket over the shoulders, a good cuddle session, sharing food).

Her flaws come through pretty starkly in all these sets of 50 questions: she can make REALLY poor choices, she can get tunnel vision on certain missions, she can be too brash.

42. Are they quick to laugh, or slow to smile?

Okay, I’m probably going to be annoying with this but I’m going to say both to this one too (like the potty mouth or trash talking one). I think she’s quick to laugh, but it isn’t always genuine. She’ll laugh when she feels like there’s a social cue she needs to meet. She’s slow to smile because those would be her true, genuine feelings.

43. What does it take to earn Shepard’s trust?

Most people have her trust from the beginning. She doesn’t feel like she has time to be untrusting, so her initial trust is easy to get. As long as that isn’t broken, then all’s golden. If the initiate trust is broken then it’s near impossible to get it back.

44. Top three people Shepard thinks are hotties:

Samara

Nyreen

Zaeed

+Thane because he’s her Li so that’s a given

45. What’s the easiest way to gross them out?

Throw up. THAT’S ALL hahahaha but fr gross.

46. What are some of their favorite combo moves with team members out on the field?

Oooohh this is embarrassing for her and me. I always forget team members and Shepard can do combo moves together, so I never do it. So lets go with: she’s a lone wolf who likes to do her own tech combos herself.

47. Can they forgive easily, or are they the type to hold a grudge?

Neither! She’d rather just forget.

48. Does Shepard have a good sense of direction?

She relies solely on her HUD that she doesn’t know anymore!

49. Did they enjoy their party on the Citadel?

Yes, it was nice getting everyone together, but she really missed Thane.

50. What is Shepard’s ending?

Maeve, beloved, goes full destroy ending, which includes destroying herself. I’ve talked about this a lot in the server so I’m not going to get too much in the weeds but… she’s very content with this choice.

+1 …got any kinks?

*looks back at question 33* yes – a choking kink whoops

[supervillain-smut]

Top five sexiest gotham rogues and why?

I had two reactions upon reading this request. 1. YES I love being asked my opinions and I love doing top 5's. 2. GOTHAM??? Ya couldn't have asked Central City? /joking.

WARNING: Opinions and biases ahead lmao. In no particular order, btw, just 5 I can actually list lol. Below the cut so I don't kill your dash lol.

Jonathan Crane AKA The Scarecrow

Cillian Murphy Scarecrow my beloved... For a screen adaptation. My favourite is actually Year One Crane. Why Crane? IDK honestly. I have a few theories, not all of them solid. Blue eyes? Tall? (optional for a favourite of mine tbh) Just crazy? Probably, I mean look at the others I write for lmao. Definitely have a thing for smart guys. Brain > Brawn, but a nice mix of both doesn't hurt. Confident in most universes, submissive in others. He's so fun to daydream about.

2. Edward Nygma AKA The Riddler.

Best design was his New 52 Riddler #1 look. Always happy to see the Arkham versions, too. Not Knight though, They did him dirty in Knight. Paul Dano's Riddler does nothing for me either, no offence to those that like him. Why do I like him? BRAT. Absolute brat. That's all.

3. Harleen Quinzel AKA Harley Quinn

A hot Harley is a confident and Joker-free Harley. Harlivy for the win. Love her animated series look. Favorite on-screen version is Birds of Prey Harley. Honestly, picked Harley because 1. Pure vibes alone and 2. You gave me GOTHAM. To pick from. Of course she was going to be here. There's something in the water with the women in Gotham, as you shall soon find out.

4. Selina Kyle AKA Catwoman

MEOW IS RIGHT. Michelle Pfeiffer Catwoman For. The. Win. Not really a fan of the BatCat romance, but I don't exactly have any better suggestions. Love her cunning, independence, and her skill with a whip.

5. Pamela Isley AKA Poison Ivy

Honestly, like I said, you gave me Gotham, lol. Of course she was going to be here. But it's not for naught! Her levels of confidence are SO HOT, her designs are top tier like 90% of the time. Also, we love an eco-friendly gal. A little overboard with it, but this is Gotham. That happens like every Tuesday.

Okay, I love and appreciate you so much for this ask. Thank you x1000. If you want to add on, or make your own, feel free to!

[icespur]

(I apologize if someone already had this idea)

So Akechi's Metaverse attire gives him a bird like mask and his codename is "Crow".

I propose two funny ShuAke scenarios....

Did you know that birds have a special mating ritual? Where they dance?

So 1: Akechi embracing his codename and performing a Crow mating dance to woo AkiRen

Or----

Akiren/Joker performing a literal Crow dance in front of Akechi for either pure funzies just to see his reaction if they are just Friends/Frienemies

Or the Romance route, Joker having feelings for Akechi, does a dance because "I will confess my feelings in your language!"

And Akechi is just---

"What the hell are you doing?"

The rest of the Phantom Thieves are equally bewildered, frozen, just silently in the background while watching their leader Unapologetically make a fool of himself, dancing in the middle of what was originally a battle.

[akechi-stole-my-heart]

If I may ask: how would you have written/rewritten Sumire's confident story? 😊 Unless it's too close to what you did in code violet, sorry 😂 Personnally, I thought the first half wasn't THAT boring, she was endearing but I felt like she was either in denial or hiding her grief about her sister's death - and then I got the truth 😂 I've become a shusumi fan quickly but I still think there's *something* lacking for it to click. And the last scene we see Sumire was underwhelming imho 🥲

yeah! there are a lot of similarities to what i do in code violet, but it's not identical, since I have a lot more freedom in my fic than there is in the game.

i wouldn't change much if anything about the first half. i agree it isn't that boring, what really makes it seem that way are (1) high expectations for the New Special Girl to be exceptional since she wasn't in the original game and (2) comparing her to the other team members who you're already invested in, her conflict just isn't as interesting (at least to me). basically, you start out every other thief confidant already knowing the core of their conflict because of their palace, so you're already invested in their arcs, while with sumire that is reversed, where you don't learn what's actually going on with her later. so, the "boringness" of the confidant is really exaggerated by that. if you didn't like the way they inserted her into the opening sequence (i never had an issue with it, but royal was my first experience, though i did know the stuff with her was added in the rerelease) so she made a bad impression on you, then it's understandable why people wouldn't like her (at first, anyway)

but let's get to the point. my issues with her confidant. they can basically be summed up in 2 points, and the two of them intersect quite a bit (1) the way she idolizes both kasumi and joker and rely on them for her self worth is not properly unpacked and (2) her role as the waifu REALLY impedes her arc.

basically, sumire idolizes joker. her outfit mirrors his exactly, and her arc in third sem is all about...learning that since joker loves her, she wants to both rise to his expectations and can learn to value herself. and that's not bad, but certain lines about how she wants joker to see her really rub me the wrong way. specifically in her rank when they go to the mall and she picks an outfit for herself. i like the part about her wanting to be seen as herself, and the part about joker's reaction ultimately being irrelevant to whether she likes the outfit, and i would emphasize those points more strongly. but the parts about her wanting joker to see her feel a little like she's trying to be a person he will like? rather than being the person that she is. some of the dialogue is pretty meh, and it feels like she's getting her self worth from joker.

the bones of the confidant are good. great, even. but there's just subtleties in the execution that make it not quite land for me. choosing the romance route ends up feeling unhealthy for both of them, where sumire is putting too much of her worth in someone else and joker is entering an unequal relationship where sumire doesn't give him as much as he gives her because he just isn't in a place to. and i think that's a shame.

for me to get behind shusumi, sumire needs to be on equal ground with akira, and she just isn't. and the game is even aware of this--sumire says on white day that she isn't, but that she wants to be someday. and like, it could be her being self deprecating, but either way it's not what either of them deserve. i wish we could get a moment where she's there for akira like he's there for her, but atlus is allergic to joker's friends being there for him so we never get that.

so honestly, i really wouldn't change much. i'd leave the first half how it is, tweak some dialogue in the second half so it seems less like sumire is getting her self worth from joker, and add a moment where sumire explicitly says she's there for joker and wants to be there for him as much as he's been there for her, so they're on emotionally equal ground with each other.

finally, i do wish we got to see more of her journey, since she really is just at the very beginning of her arc of recovery at the end of the game. but i think it's okay that we don't. there is only so much time allotted to watch her grow, and we see her grow a lot in that time. there's questions she could ask herself that she doesn't have the time to get to, like if she really wants to be a gymnast for herself, or if she's just doing it for her sister. that sort of thing. but again, i think it's okay we don't get to that. i might add a line or two where she says she wants to be a gymnast for herself because she enjoys it, though.

and i guess that's it? i'm sorry for how disorganized this answer is. i haven't really thought in depth about what i'd change if restricted by the confines of the game, and so it's kind of difficult to do a rewrite when that's different than just having problems with what exists. a lot of what i would change can be found in code violet, like how i emphasize that it's "joker makes me want to be seen for who i am, and see him in return" rather than the one-way dynamic of "joker makes me want to be seen and so i will try to be a person he likes" which some of her lines really come across as sometimes. honestly, i think the entire confidant could have been improved by leaning more into the rivalry dynamic. sumire and akechi already have plenty of similarities/parallels, and joker kind of inherits kasumi's role as sumire's rival. so i think it'd have been really powerful if they leaned into that and made it clear that this time, sumire and her rival are equals.

but yeah! sorry this is so rambly. i'm going to end the post now

[phantom-chirp]

Oh sorry the last part was exaggerated as a joke I didn't mean it in like, a combative way? Idk if It came off that way I also like Crow btw fhfjdkfkf. But I mean I do strongly feel his det. Prince teen idol persona is nominally "supposed" to encourage the public to Support The Police's Valiant Fight To Capture Those Evil Phantom Thieves (TM)! (and increase support for shido but when the PT enter the scene those become intertwined). of course we later know that akechi doesn't really give a shit about the police as anything more than a stepping stone for his eventual revenge against shido (he calls them incompetent), but I mean, the public is supposed to think he earnestly believes in his justice as a police detective, aren't they? And he makes some comment in his first TV station appearance about how he's helping the police to capture the Phantom thieves because their existence is a threat to society or something (I'm sorry, I don't have the exact wording on me) and I dont think fact that he is technically using the detective position to cover up crimes changes the fact that it's his day job or anything yknow? But that's because they had to have made him part of law enforcement in some sense since he's joker's rival and at some point plays the part of an antagonist, and joker is a criminal rebelling against the justice system etc (even if akechi doesnt like that system in the end – the Detective Prince has to)

So I also do think that the police, who don't KNOW who akechi really is, are using him and his prettyboy persona to appeal to the public and to a teenage demographic in particular (though we know that some adults supported akechi as well, of course). The phantom thieves case IS a police case, after all. It's because they need to sway the public to their side and away from supporting their thieves – even when that stops being necessary after okumura, they can still take advantage of akechi to generate more hype for the arrest

W/ the romance thing, it makes sense to appeal to his fans there because it makes him sound like someone who’s knowledgeable about romance. I hate what im about to say but it feels like. Kind of supposed to mix the princely goodboy act with an undercurrent of like. "oooooh he'll play with your heartstrings isn't that spicyfjekgkfk I hate typing that I hate thinking about teen idol tropes /lighthearted. I mean I don't Think that to be clear that's the reaction I think the TV show is trying to provoke augh. But anyway I'm not trying to say this is the only interpretation or that he's not gay and sad 24/7 LMAO, it just works for me because especially after killing joker he has to establish himself as a hero and an icon and. The whole celebrity thing of a desirable/unattainable boyfriend to keep appealing to that audience... Oh my god is this too many words I'm so sorry

(ask related to this post and this post)

The amount of words is fine no need to apologize, honestly I like longer written things in discussions like this because it leaves less room for misunderstandings. I also write a lot often so I don't mind

Thank you for clarifying. Specifically in relation to the Phantom Thieves it makes more sense to me what you were getting at, I see. The distinction between the Detective Prince and Goro Akechi is important here, because personally those wouldn't be his motivations and his personal feelings regarding the Detective Prince thing play into his childhood and such so that's why I had a more negative reaction to that part of your original ask so I apologize for that

With the romance thing, again I can understand that reading of those lines but it still isn't an interpretation that fully makes sense in my brain? The idea that it's intentionally meant to play more into the... as I can best word it right now, badboy-esque behaviour (I understand anon I hated even typing that lmao) but that's also never really an aspect of his Detective Prince persona that he ever actively played into before I don't think? Might be forgetting and even if I'm not it doesn't mean it's impossible for him to ever actively do so, but still

The public opinion of the Phantom Thieves had already gone basically fully down by the time that interview happened so I just don't see how likely it is for Akechi to play into an aspect of his fame he himself didn't even seem to like from what I recall since I feel like it would be easy to get the public back on his side and all that without doing so. Though Akechi's emotions were probably all messed up after killing Ren so it's hard to say, Akechi is a real difficult character to try to look at analytically because we get very little insight into some of the aspects of his character and he's really complicated

As I said in the tags of the original post I do have an interpretation of it that I think somewhat works and can explain why he made that connection but I do worry it could just be because I'm biased towards shuake. Despite all I've said I will say that your interpretation does make sense as a way to view why he said that, especially with the added information from this ask, but personally it just doesn't click with my brain for some reason

[lucius-the-sinful]

been kinda chewing on some of my problems with baldur's gate 3 recently as im wrapping up my durge playthrough. i took a bit of hiatus from the game for about a month but ah, there's still just some things that kinda bum me out. and i know i just usually reblog silly goofy things and draw my edgy d&d characters but i think i need to post about this. it is my blog and i decide when its time for some serious discussion (we will return to your regularly scheduled silly goose hours later) (yes this post will contain spoilers throughout the entire game. i think)

Its time for proper capitalization and punctuation because I am wanting to get a bit serious for a minute. I want to start with my biggest issue, the thing that turns me off from the game from time to time. What I truly desire in a video game with significant characters and story is for those characters and story to feel like they co-exist with one another, instead of within their own vacuums. I think Baldur's Gate 3 is decent at this, but it leaves so much to be desired. One thing that really bugs me is it feels less like this is a group that was haphazardly thrown together with similar goals to which they are very desperate to complete (removing the tadpole, stopping the spread of the Absolute), and more like each character is an outside observer to the other's struggles. Even when the struggles of these characters intercept, such as Karlach and Wyll, we get mere morsels. Karlach says she is Wyll's friend, but outside of the few times they speak to one another in the overworld, and the few cutscenes we have in camp... how can that constitute friendship? Seriously, its great Wyll can be convinced to stick his neck out for Karlach, but that alone doesn't build a friendship. Am I supposed to believe there are conversations between characters happening off screen? Perhaps. However: there are ways to sprinkle in characters directly interacting with each other without involving the player character. The conversations in the overworld, for one, are great. I just wish there was more. I deeply desire banter, I desire for these characters to develop relationships on the same level with one another as Tav/Durge does with them.

I always find myself comparing BG3 to the Mass Effect trilogy. One thing I love about Mass Effect 3 specifically, is that Shepard can walk around the Normandy and run into the crew in the middle of their own conversations. One of my favorites is if you have Kaidan and you're able to recruit him, he can be found in a poker match with James and they reference playing with Joker. I love it! I wish that sort of thing was in BG3. You wander about camp and find some of your party members playing a game (I'm imagining Wyll and Karlach trying to teach Lae'zel a game of Faerun, and she compares it to "games" of her cresh... it would be an interesting look into Lae'zel's culture and what the gith would consider "games" plus we get to see how the others would introduce their culture to her). I just kinda hate going to camp, exhausting dialogue with each other the companions and then there's really nothing else to see or do beyond that.

I also wish there was more reaction to the romance from the others. I mean, maybe I'm just silly and haven't gotten the proper triggers but in each of my playthroughs no one has anything to say about it. I absolutely do want to sit there and give Shadowheart the details of my night with Halsin. I don't know just, give me a little something.

Speaking of the wild-shaped elephant in the room. The poly relationships. Look, I am personally monogamous, I am in a monogamous relationship and my partner and I will likely remain monogamous until our deaths. That being said... ugh? And I mean ugh in the sense these don't feel like they could be real relationships. If Halsin is truly the best we can do then I think we're doing pretty mediocre. I think its a step in the right direction, we get our other partner's consent, Halsin is respectful of you and your partner's boundaries and from what I have seen, your other partner respects your identity and boundaries (no, I do not buy that Astarion specifically is "coerced" into the relationship, this is not what this is about but I have seen that particular line of thought. Also, if you want to read a pretty good post that sums up the Astarion-Halsin polymance debate, I recommend this one by veilkeeper, I don't agree with every point but it's pretty well written). There's just something odd about how all of it is written, again pointing to how some of these events and characters feel like they exist within a vacuum and I think that is why the "poly" relationships feel very... ugh. I'm a little on the fence about this particular post, but if you want to read how a non-monogamous goober (like myself) views the poly non-relationships, I recommend this one by hungerofhadarr.

Okay so, last little thing. This bothers me in a much more obvious fashion, but, hi, I play D&D 3.5 homebrew. I am actually not super familiar with Faerun before I played Baldur's Gate 3, as my group mainly plays in original settings created by my partner/our DM. I have been a part of the same group for about four years now, and we have actually managed to complete a campaign this year. So I understand that the way me and my group play D&D is very different from how most people play in 2023. That being said: what the fuck is with the fantasy racism? Why do fantasy worlds keep relying on it so heavily to propel how cultures interact with one another? Has anyone else played a drow, or even a half-drow? Oh my god. I don't really feel like I should comment too much on this other than, um, yikes? And, I'm not going to act like I don't know about D&D's history with fantasy racism. I am a little familiar, but I just feel like Wizards, and now by extension Larian, cannot disconnect themselves from this.

this is about as articulate as im going to get on all this but uhhh yeah. screaming into the void and hope it doesn't breach containment lmao

[thevindicativevordan]

Comics this week ?

Very light week, but I made up for it by ordering some Superman trades.

Superman ‘78: The Metal Curtain #1 - Sad to see Torres go, but Guidry is a solid replacement. Extremely decompressed, to the issue’s detriment I think. Could’ve trimmed the amount of pages used for the rescue scene and put some pages towards building up the new Metallo. Enjoyable despite that, I smiled at the Bizarro World cameo, and there’s an interesting premise here. Venditti seems to have gone with Lois’ father being a General here, and he may even have been the one to commission the Metallo suit in the first place given the Soviets stole it from the Americans. Since the Metallo suit has the Luthor “symbol” on it, perhaps Sam even recruited or pressganged Lex into working for him to build anti-Superman weapons. If so, Venditti might be setting up a conflict where the Soviets want to bring down Supes because he’s a symbol of America, but Supes is pissed off at the feds himself because they’re working with Luthor and view him as a threat too. Superman caught between the Soviet military and the American military, each viewing him as someone who needs to be taken down, is a great concept.

Batman #139 - Seems DC has decided to designate Three Jokers as non-canon and do another story in-canon to address that plot thread with Zdarsky. Probably played a role in why Johns departed again (unless they did this in reaction to him leaving?). Hope whatever Zdarsky is doing is less stupid than what Johns did, maybe the Three Jokers are just the three personalities in Joker - similar to how Batman now houses multiple Zurs? Least Jimenez makes everything gorgeous to look at.

Blue Beetle #3 - On one hand it was nice to get some acknowledgment of the Traci 13/Jaime romance as being a thing that existed. On the other hand it’s frustrating that they don’t say *why* they broke up. Did Traci realize she was gay or is she just bi and they split for another reason? The Blood Scarab having ties to Dan Garret is neat, they rarely explore that far back into the Blue Beetle legacy. Guessing Scarab is the Pharaoh who was imprisoned long ago.

[average-mako-enjoyer]

Or Mordin (for the character ask) since we're having Mordin feels this morning.

From the character ask game.

This is very, very interesting, thank you! Finally, I have a chance to talk about him.

Favorite thing about them He's one of The Characters. One of my top 3.

He's so complex, so morally ambiguous, so intelligent and yet so short-sighted at times.

He heals and he kills, but not with medicine.

He has to see the results of his actions for himself, to see with his own eyes the people whose lives he has impacted.

He's passionate, he's asexual, he's ruthless, he's one of the most compassionate people you'll ever meet.

He's everything at once.

Love him, love him, love him. Least favorite thing about them Don't get me wrong, I like his redemption arc, but it feels half-baked and toothless to me.

He's the best damn character in ME2, and I feel that ME3 kinda forgets how badass he actually is. So he takes a back seat in his own ME3 story until the final climactic moment and that's it.

I think this is the only instance where making completely atrocious renegade choices (killing or betraying Wrex, killing Maelon, destroying his data and thus killing Bakara, and pushing Mordin to sabotage the cure) feels more rewarding because it has the same moral ambiguity that is an essential part of Mordin's character. Favorite line "Life is a negotiation. We all want. We all give to get what we want."

"No tests on species with members capable of calculus. Simple rule, never broke it."

"Hard to see big picture behind pile of corpses." brOTP Bakara, obviously.

I think their relationship is incredible. It's based on mutual respect and care, and I think it's one of the rare cases where Mordin doesn't just see her as a patient or a curious piece of research, but as a person, and that person interests him as much as her genetics and physiological reactions. OTP I've seen someone suggesting Aria/Mordin, and yes, this sounds like FUN.

But realistically? Mordin/Immortality. Just give my man all the time in the universe so he can continue his studies.

I think he would have been fascinated by the post-control ending Shepard. nOTP Mordin/Shep.

I've seen some cute art, but… how about no? He's clearly not interested in romance or fucking, leave him be. Random headcanon He's also a painter and he does abstract art with names like "The Presumption of Anger p.3", and you look at it and it's just a long vertical black line on a purple background. And he's very serious about this stuff. Unpopular opinion I don't think it's that unpopular, but Gilbert and Sullivan plus the seashells quote did some irreparable damage to his image in the eyes of the fandom.

Yeah, the games portray him as this quirky, babbling genius. Oh, he tests biological weapons, but not on the crew, of course not, why are you so nervous, Joker? But that's just the surface.

There's so much to Mordin behind his mannerisms and behind his sweet relationship with Bakara. There's really so much darkness in him. And all that just gets ignored, and it's so shitty?

He gets babyfied a lot, and considering the fact that he's also a positive autistic+ADHD rep in these games, it's a little insulting tbh. Song i associate with them I don't really have one, but in the spirit of pulling random indie music recommendations out of my ass, I think he would've enjoyed the sheer ridiculousness of Hydrogenuine by USS Favorite picture of them This one.

[joker-daughter]

I think a lot of fans want Tom to have his 'Heath Ledger Joker moment,' but I’m not sure if he’s either being offered or actively looking for villain roles. The irony is that Heath was also accused of being just a pretty face, even though he’d been in several critically acclaimed movies before The Dark Knight. The biggest misconception about him came from starring in a gay romance (Brokeback Mountain), and 99% of the hate he received when cast in the Batman trilogy stemmed from blatant homophobia at the time.

Looking back, before his untimely death, Heath had tackled a variety of genres, and his résumé was, in my opinion, far stronger than Tom’s. So, I get the comparisons and why fans wish for that moment for Tom. But, one, I don’t think the general public sees Tom in the same light as they did Heath, it’s not the same situation. And two, while Tom has the range, I don’t think he has the same passion Heath had for his craft 🤷‍♀️. Because of that, I don’t expect The Odyssey to be 'the' role that changes everything for him.

I’m sure he’ll be great, but I’m not confident this will be the defining moment some fans are hoping for.

yeah, I personally was comparing the reaction to his casting to Heath’s but now knowing more about the movie and potential role…I kinda agree which is unfortunate 🥲

[spyridonya]

When people say humans are boring this is likely what they mean: the VS is boring. And here's why.

Mass Effect 1

It's true that all the aliens but Liara and Wrex were pretty boring. Wrex has a distinct personality connects quickly to the plot and Liara is an LI so she's more forgiving by fans. Ashley is young, impulsive, and has anger issues that she projects on aliens more so than the military that actually blacklisted her family, but she's passionate and loyal and she's a great character for it. Kaidan is clearly one of the two adults in the room who has his shit together, and straight dudes don't like him hitting on their Lez Shep or have an issue with his VA.

Mass Effect 2

This part of the series is Character Development the Game. Almost the entire squad has a life changing field trip with Shepard, and everything we love about the characters comes from this game. With most of the new cast, the writers learned to develop the characters far better and that holds true with everyone save Jacob and the DLC additions - the DLC cast have to deal with programming limitations and Jacob suffered from bad and timid writing due to his race.

Of the original cast, Tali and Garrus continue to be loyal companions that you can romance. Wrex gets a wonderful placement as a secondary character and Liara is central to the most popular DLC of the series. They all are delighted to see Shepard again. In contrast VS survivor is the only one of your companions from ME1 who has a negative reaction upon seeing Shepard again and their personalities get mushed together so the plot can follow the same beats. And then they fly off. You barely interact with them for five minutes in the game.

Mass Effect 3

This is likely the game when people complain about the humans. The VS didn't get to have the life changing field trip with Shepard, so they feel out of place and their personalities are a little more grey because the writers want them to follow the same story beats even though it doesn't quite fit either of them. Kaidan loses a little of his chill while Ashley becomes more placid.

The new cast is something of a mixed bag: James is fantastic, but he misses out on two other games of development and used for the introduction for new players, not to mention not everyone saw the OVA giving more to his background. EDI is honestly a bit bland despite her Pinocchio plot and serves more as a satellite for Joker than herself. Javik bucks the trend because he's such an authoritarian asshole that no one in or out of universe expected and the writers make fun of the walking alien encyclopedia moments of ME1.

Of the returning cast, Garrus, Tali, and Liara have major screen time in all three games and all three can be LIs. Wrex continues to have major development as a character despite still remaining secondary in appearances because his writing was so damn good across the trilogy without being an LI. Almost all the characters from ME2 get really interesting secondary moments, save the DLC characters and Jacob - who is absolutely done dirty by the writers.

It's really not as simple as 'humans are boring' or 'aliens are boring'.

It's 'who was in Mass Effect 2 longer than five minutes' with Javik and Jacob being the exceptions to the rules.

[swings a baseball bat directly into a hornets nest]

[whatifyoulivelikethat]

joker | myg

pairing(s): yoongi x reader

summary: We all know the story. The jester and the shrink. A helpless, toxic thing. It can hardly be called a romance. But Min Yoongi has been manipulated for far too long and will not allow himself to be turned into the harlequin of of this joker.... right?

warnings: language, mentions of death (including death of family), female!Joker is insane and her behavior is not condoned, ok? ok; Yoongi's POV; a (very) loose role-reversal of the classic Joker story; 2k drabble

--

“Pain.”

Don’t let her manipulate you.

“Have you ever felt pain?”

He put a smile on his smile. “Everyone has felt pain. Emotional and physical.”

She smiled at him.

It made his skin crawl.

“No. Have you ever felt pain? Not willed it to go away. Not desperately clawing for a solution.” Her eyes stared into his. He had to purposefully force himself to hold the gaze. “Not erotic pain either,” she chided as if she was slapping a wandering wrist. “That is a means to an end. No, have you ever felt pain for pain?”

He furrowed his brows, frowning. “I’m afraid I don’t follow.”

Behind the thick centimeters of plexiglass, the body was sitting down. Arms pinned against the torso, in a white straightjacket with threads poking out at the thick seams, the straps hanging limply at the sides. He knew she would have tried to rise if she didn’t have those shackles on her ankles and calves firmly pinning her legs to the metal chair.

She tiled her head at him.

A full forty-five degrees.

Grinning slowly.

In the past six months, twelve psychiatrists had given up on this case.

His was lucky number thirteen.

“When you feel pain,” she breathed. Hot and heavy. Exhale like a rattlesnake. “You learn that there’s nothing negative about it. To be honest, pain is a rather weak, simple feeling.” The sides of her mouth turned down, a mocking pout that sickened him. “It’s purely one-dimensional. A bodily reaction. It has no complexity of anger. It’s even more pathetic than fear.” She shook her head. “Isn’t that sad? Humans spend so much time running from pain, forgetting that what they’re really running from is what’s behind it. What it means.”

Yet another pointless, meaningless speech. He did not want to lose his temper. He couldn’t. He had to be objective and calm. That was his job.

“Ah. Is that what you wanted to tell me today?” he replied, shifting his hands on his clipboard.

The smile returned.

It made him sick because he was beginning to realize why she drove her psychiatrists insane.

He returned that smile with a faint one of his own. “When are you going to ask about me, I wonder?”

She tilted her head, corners of her lips still curved upward. “What do you mean?”

“Isn’t that how you made all the others crazy? You got into their heads and mentally fucked them until they were either too scared to be in your presence anymore or too messed up to treat patients. So? When will you try to get into my head?”

Her smile morphed from aggressive mimicry to unveiled predator.

“When you become invested, of course.”

She stared and he stared back.

“I am invested. I am your psychiatrist.”

“As you stated, you’re not a comedian. Let’s not tell jokes, Min Yoongi.”

She purred his name liked a savored sweet, pink tongue licking her teeth. He could almost feel them scraping against his skin and he couldn’t shake the feeling.

“You’ve been sitting there, day after day, keeping a measured mental distance between you and I because you find me repulsive,” she hummed, swaying lightly in her chair. “It’s futile, you think. Whatever makes this chick tick, whatever has happened in her past, who gives a fuck? Just kill her. She’s clearly a threat to society.”

“I do not think that,” he responded calmly and evenly.

She chuckled and it was eerily ominous. “Oh, you don’t? You thought me enabling the downtrodden lowlifes of this shit city was a good thing? You thought me giving those poor fucks the tools and the plans to take out their anger on those that screwed them over was a magnificent gesture of rightful ethics?”

He clenched his jaw.

She continued, giving him that fake look of concern, pitching her voice and writhing in the chair. “Look at you, sitting there. A harlequin of the city, so, so worried about those poor shitheads nibbling on their handfuls of dog food and hoarding coins in coffee tins,” she seethed, wringing her stringy, over-processed hair. “I just gave everyone a fair shot in displaying their concerns, you know. You can’t have that unless everyone has the tools at their disposal to make things right. And we all deserve what’s right. Equal opportunity. Don’t we all deserve that?”

He gritted his teeth.

“Your followers blew up the city hospital and killed every single person inside.”

She stared at him with hollow eyes.

“But that’s the thing. They’re not my followers.”

One by one, her words sank deep into his ribcage, needling closer and closer to his heart.

“Civilians of a city are just like the subjects of a king,” she drawled. “A jester is just entertainment.”

“Killing people is not entertainment,” he spat.

She leaned back in the chair, the overheard lighting leaving harsh, inhuman shadows all over her angled, pale face framed in bright acid-green hair.

“The people were in pain,” she said softly. “They wanted the city to feel pain too. What better way to do it than to take away those committed to making the pain go away?”

He shot out of his chair, throwing the clipboard and knocking chair aside.

“You killed my parents.”

She tilted her head.

“You mean the ones that you’ve been leaving on life support for over two years now?”

His eyes widened and his skin crawled with goosebumps, realizing his anger had flooded to the surface, composure broken. No. Shattered.

No.

Blossomed.

Like a flower opening to the sun.

“The parents you always hated because they killed your dreams of composing music and forced you into the sciences, so you spited them by becoming a shrink instead, and then they got in that horrible, terrible car accident, leaving them in a vegetive state, and you, guilty, leaving them there for years because even if you hated their guts for taking your dreams away, you didn’t have the balls to pull the plug?”

His breath caught in his throat.

“Or?”

Her voice was gentle, coaxing his terrors to the surface.

“You left them there out of spite. If they killed your dreams, then you were going to let them dream forever and ever, until they wasted away, husks of their human selves, just like how they make you live this life until now.”

No.

He opened his mouth but he found he couldn’t speak.

Yes.

He stared into that pale face framed in green hair, those eyes like black holes, sucking him in.

I didn’t… It was an accident. I was being a good son. There was hope. That’s what the doctors said. They could wake up and live their normal lives again. Twenty percent chance. I shouldn’t give up on them, no matter how resentful I am. They gave birth to me. They wanted the best for me. No, they didn’t. Those selfish fucks wanted a trophy to put on a pedestal and tell everyone they had a prestigious son that made enough to fill their wallets, they didn’t give a single fuck to what I wanted, they never did, a child is a product, as parents we have to make sure you are used well, that’s what they always said, fine, if I’m a product then you’re the outdated model and about damn fucking time you become obsolete.

“So funny that the reason you’ll become famous is because of their death.”

He broke out of the spiral of his thoughts, panting. Eyes shifting up, staring into hers. Tilted his head, his neatly parted hair broken, leaving black strands floating over his right eye.

“What are you talking about?” he snarled.

She smiled.

It was strangely serene.

“Me. I’m going to give you the prestige your parents were always going on about.” She laughed, harrowing and raspy. “Not anymore, of course. They’re dead.”

I didn’t kill them.

He narrowed his eyes.

It wasn’t me. I didn’t do anything but be a good son.

“No one is accusing you, Yoongi.”

“There’s nothing to accuse me of,” he spat back. “I didn’t do anything.”

She smiled at him, soft and serene.

“You’re a manipulative sociopath and your silver tongue won’t work on me,” he panted, his throat feeling rough and painful.

She shrugged.

“I know.”

Tension seeped into his veins. He sharpened his gaze, wary.

“I have no desire to manipulate you, which is why I haven’t tried yet.”

She sighed, falling back in her chair, her legs spread as wide as the shackles would allow.

“You’ve had enough manipulation in your life, I think. Let’s face it, your parents are dead. You could quit right now and go do whatever you want to do. In fact, you should. Why stand here and talk to me? I’m crazy,” she cackled, roguish and lively, shaking her head. “Dream your dreams. You’re wasting your time here.”

Min Yoongi could feel each breath sinking into his lungs, burning him with oxygen.

Those eyes watched him, the jester of this city.

He bent down and picked up the chair. Straightened it. Picked up his clipboard and sat down. Inhale. Exhale. Burning. Looked into her eyes. They looked back. They did not pity him. They did not gloat. They did not glitter in triumph.

They did not expect anything at all out of him and that was somehow a relief.

“How did you know about my parents?”

The side of her lips quirked upward.

“This is my city.”

He didn’t know why he bothered asking. She could probably squeeze information out of a crack in a concrete wall. Those were plentiful in this maximum-security prison.

He cocked his head. “Did you always own it?”

Her chin rose, lazily tipping her head back. “The jester owns nothing. I was appointed for entertainment, remember?”

He found himself observing her face. Every curve and corner, memorizing the shape. Could almost feel his fingers grazing across her jaw, caressing the near-white skin with his fingertips.

Is her skin cold or hot?

He raised an eyebrow. “Who appointed you?”

Her gaze darkened.

“Those that needed to be entertained.”

She leaned forward again, slowly, her head turning. Surveying him closely, looking him up and down. He waited, calmly holding the clipboard. The tip of her pink tongue darted out and licked her dry lips, making them glisten in the ugly overhead light.

“You haven’t taken a pen out to write on your clipboard, Yoongi.”

She kept calling him by his given name to mock him and his authority. He didn’t care. It was a childish action that was meant to rile him up. He knew how this worked.

“I remember what you say to me.”

“Are you holding it so I can’t see your hands shaking?”

He frowned. Then he raised one hand, relaxing his fingers in the air.

“My hand isn’t shaking.”

Her eyes slid.

“But it is.”

He turned his head.

His fingers twitched in the air, moving as if they were on piano keys.

One, two, three.

He lowered it, shifting his eyes back to her, saying nothing.

She smiled.

The hanging overhead light was harsh, casting hideous shadows. Her face was pallid, her dyed green hair poorly taken care of due to prison showers, and yet there was something undeniably enticing in that small smile, an expression that injected a dose of bravery into his veins, murmuring to his blood, you can do anything.

And maybe he could.

He just needed someone to believe and, those eyes that watched him now, well, they believed that he could do anything. Ah, yes. He could feel it.

“If you are a jester,” Yoongi found himself saying., slow and deep. A low, coaxing purr. “Entertain me.”

She grinned.

Insane and alive.

“Sure, puddin’.”

--

drabbles masterpost | masterpost

[batjokesbrainrot]

batjokes fic rec [international edition]

Hey guys. In this post, I am going to recommend some of my favorite batjokes fanfictions. Wait, you've it seen all? This is getting redundant?

Then worry no more, Because I've brought you probably underappreciated fictions (to English readers) written in Chinese, Korean, Russian, and Spanish!

+ btw, the list will also include shameless smuts because there's not enough to be put in another post

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Translator recommendations

Russian - Yandex (and sometimes Google translate/Deepl)

Spanish - Google Translate or Deepl

Korean - Google Translate

Chinese - Deepl (and sometimes Google translate)

Japanese - Deepl & Papago (Yeah this one is tricky. Don't ever use GT)

Tip: You can copy/paste URL into Google Translate and Papago. You can also upload documents for complete translation in Deepl. (For NSFW works on Pixiv, I usually use this site to extract links).

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Ashley777

Batman/Joker stories are romantic that squeeze your heart. All plots are elaborately written and all of them come to a full circle. Their characterizations and interaction are amazing.

Five times Joker died, one time he didn't (Arkhamverse)

Joker dies the same way in Arkham City, but each time Bruce's reaction is different. Joker remains in character but the story gets very romantic. And the stunning imagery.. don't get me started on it.

Gotham Disease (#48 verse)

Two amnesiac patients entered the hospital. They are briefly interviewed and they describe their strange dreams.

Other fics that are not mentioned are also strongly recommended!

Alex

Her fics are well-written that left me emotionally devastated for months.

H (Telltale: The Enemy Within)

John explains to Bruce why he is special to him.

The Good Old Days (Batman Beyond)

Joker finds Bruce in his most vulnerable state.

"If it weren't for you, my old age would have been much less depressing." - Bruce

A late-night guest (N52, amnesiac!batjokes)

Batman appears at Jack's house at midnight with severe wounds.

Diseazhaze

She understands Batman and Joker very well. Her character analyses are comic-accurate and inspiring.

Twelves Steps to Quit (post-Joker War)

After the last incident, Joker disappears completely. Bruce, somehow conflicted, follows the trace to Joker's hideout. A story consisting of 9 chapters.

Diseazhaze also has NSFWs in her AO3 account and other fics that I have not yet read in her lofter blog.

F*ck you, Bat by mariferlafuria

Omegaverse batjokes. The way the writer brings Bruce's struggle and his identity as alpha together is brilliant. Non-con is from Joker's flashback, so keep that in mind.

only had an eye for that which was evil by muerteporagua (N52)

Joker POV. Character study fic. The fic's main focus is not romance, but I had to include this one. It's about Joker's despair and his choice.

There is no immortality by Jenny_Ien

The Laughing Batman takes over Joker's universe and tries to persuade him to see the world his way.

This is non/dub-con. And their interaction is violent. However, I want to point out that the writing is mesmerizing. So, so, beautiful. I'd have believed if I saw colors bleeding through texts.

Union of Strong and Independent by Браво (The Harley Quinn Show)

Joker is very towards Batman and Bruce takes it. Harley and her gang, unfortunately, walks into their affair.

This is Harley POV. Joker is very narcissistic and has a disturbing moment with Harley but this is hilarious. If you liked or hated the show, read this. I still remember the members' reactions, haha.

HIBANA by 桐野

Joker wakes up in a hospital room, and with his memory missing, he gladly accepts B's declaration, "I will personally watch over you," but his severely injured body has undergone certain changes.

+ I will be keep making changes!