#but the story and feel was so very different from most of those

[theballadofharkness]

Housewarming

Pairing: Agatha Harkness x fem!reader

Summary: At your housewarming party, Agatha becomes overtaken with jealousy when she overhears Jen and Alice talking about how they wished it was them welcoming you into their home, not her.

Word Count: 2.3K

The cottage was buzzing with activity. Boxes were stacked high, the soft hum of chatter filling the air as Jen, Alice, Lilia, and Billy all pitched in to help you move into Agatha’s home. It wasn’t a huge house, but it felt like a world of its own, tucked away from the chaos of the outside world. It was warm, welcoming, and full of the kind of magic that only Agatha Harkness could bring. And now, it was even more of a home with you in it.

Agatha was lounging in the kitchen, a glass of wine in hand, while Billy sat at the counter, animatedly talking about his boyfriend’s latest driving test failure. He was always full of energy, and Agatha let him carry the conversation. For the most part, she was content to listen, her attention drifting from him to you. You were in the living room with Lilia, talking about her newest leggings designs, the quirky side hustle she’d been building. Your laughter rang out in the space, warm and infectious, and Agatha felt something stir in her chest every time she heard it.

It had been a few years now that you and Agatha had been together. You’d been through a lot—dark spells, moments of chaos, and quiet days tucked away in this very house, but now, with you officially moving in, Agatha was feeling a kind of protectiveness she hadn’t quite anticipated. Her feelings for you had always been intense, but living with you was a whole new experience. It made everything feel more real.

Billy’s voice cut through her thoughts. "…and then he showed up at my place holding the steering wheel in his hands, I’m still processing it, but you know how he is!"

Agatha couldn’t help but chuckle. Billy was a ball of energy, and she did enjoy his stories, but she was distracted now. Her eyes flicked back to you. You were sitting on the couch, legs tucked underneath you, looking utterly at ease with Lilia as they shared a laugh over some joke Agatha didn’t catch. You looked so at home here, and that feeling both thrilled her and made her want to keep you close.

Then she heard Jen’s voice from across the room. She had been sitting with Alice, both of them sipping wine and quietly observing the chaos of the move. Jen’s words made Agatha freeze, her grip tightening around her glass.

"She’s absolutely stunning, though, right?" Jen said, her voice light and teasing. "I mean, when I first met her, I thought for sure she was going to be this… intimidating figure, like one of those powerful, unapproachable types. But no, she’s just so sweet and… beautiful."

"Yeah, she’s gorgeous," Alice agreed, the admiration evident in her tone. "And honestly, I don’t get it. How does Agatha, the witch killer, land someone like her? Surely, she’s going to end up walking away one day. I mean, how could she not?”

Jen let out a soft laugh, but there was an edge to it, a kind of flirtation that made Agatha’s blood boil. "When I first met her, I’ll admit it… I was a little jealous. I wanted her all to myself. I could just tell she had that something."

"Same," Alice admitted, her voice light and casual, but Agatha caught the undercurrent of truth in her words. "I was actually thinking about asking for her number, you know? She’s just so easy to be around. But I didn’t. I figured it was too obvious. The way she looks at Agatha, it’s… different."

The words hit Agatha like a slap. She’s mine, she thought, her teeth clenching involuntarily. That sharp, possessive instinct surged inside her, mixing with the jealousy she didn’t like to admit was there. She wasn’t used to feeling like this—this insecure, this vulnerable. It unsettled her.

Her gaze snapped back to you. You were sitting on the couch, still talking to Lilia, completely unaware of the conversation happening behind your back. Agatha’s mind raced with thoughts of you and what Jen and Alice had said. The idea that someone else—anyone else—could want you, that they could see the same softness in you that she did, made her blood run cold. She had to remind herself. You’re hers.

She wasn’t going to stand here listening to this. Not when they were talking about you like that, like they could take you away from her. Agatha stood abruptly, cutting Billy off mid-sentence, her glass of wine abandoned on the counter. Without sparing a second glance at the group, she moved across the room, her steps purposeful, every inch of her body radiating a quiet intensity.

Billy looked up, but Agatha was already gone.

When she reached you, she found you laughing at something Lilia had just said. She paused for a brief moment, just watching you. You were so effortlessly beautiful, so completely hers, and the thought of someone else seeing you the way she did made her chest tighten with that possessive ache.

Without a word, Agatha moved closer, her presence almost overwhelming as she slid onto the couch beside you. She pulled you toward her with a firm but gentle hand on your waist, guiding you into her space. You blinked in surprise, but before you could say anything, her lips were on yours—firm, insistent, but not rough. It was a kiss meant to remind, to claim.

You gasped softly at the sudden intensity, but you didn’t pull away. Instead, you kissed her back, meeting her fervour with your own, even as her arms wrapped around you in a hold that felt possessive, protective. Her lips moved against yours, her hands threading through your hair, pulling you impossibly closer.

When she pulled away just enough to speak, her voice was low and thick with emotion. "You’re mine," she whispered, her forehead resting against yours, her breath shaky. "Don’t forget that."

You were breathless, but you didn’t mind. There was something intoxicating about the way she kissed you, something raw, and you could feel the tension inside her—the need to mark you as hers.

"Agatha," you said softly, your hands reaching up to cradle her face, your voice steady despite the rapid beating of your heart. "I’m yours. I always have been. No one else matters."

She sighed, a slow, almost contented exhale, her fingers brushing the side of your face as she gently cupped your cheek. Her eyes were softer now, but the intensity didn’t leave them. "I just had to remind myself," she murmured, pressing a soft kiss to the top of your head. "It’s just… hard sometimes."

You smiled, your thumb brushing her jaw as you gazed at her, loving the vulnerability she rarely showed. "You don’t need to worry," you said, your voice light but earnest. "I’m not going anywhere, Agatha. I love you." you breathed, your body stilling for a moment as Agatha settled you in, her fingers tracing small patterns along your arm.

"Agatha?" you asked, a soft question in your voice, though you didn’t pull away. You had learned by now that Agatha’s moods could shift quickly, but you knew it wasn’t ever about you. It was always a storm within her that needed quieting.”Are you okay?”

She leaned down, her lips brushing lightly against your ear as she spoke, her voice low but filled with affection. "I just needed to remind myself that you're here. You're mine."

Your breath caught in your throat, the sweetness of her words filling you with warmth. Agatha’s possessiveness was rarely explicit, but when it surfaced like this, it felt like a declaration. You turned your head to meet her eyes, soft and sincere.

"I’m yours," you whispered, your fingers reaching up to gently trace her cheek, feeling the subtle tension in her. "I’m not going anywhere, Agatha. My box of stuffed animals in our hallway are here to prove it” you teased.

She exhaled softly, the tension in her shoulders easing a little as she let her head rest against yours, her lips brushing against the side of your face in a tender, almost apologetic kiss.

"I know," she murmured. "I just… sometimes, it feels like I might lose you. Like someone else could…"

"Agatha," you interrupted softly, cupping her face in both your hands, pulling her attention to you fully. "You won’t lose me. Ever."

She closed her eyes for a moment, letting the words settle in, her hands moving to rest on your waist, pulling you a little closer. She didn’t say anything, just held you there in the silence, the warmth of your presence enough to calm the storm inside her.

Lilia, who had been watching the exchange with a raised eyebrow, finally spoke, her voice teasing but kind. "You two really are a sight, you know that? The way Agatha’s got you wrapped around her finger… she’s got the softest heart, when she lets it show."

Agatha rolled her eyes, though there was a hint of affection in the gesture. "Oh, stop. I’m just making sure everyone knows where they stand," she said, her fingers lightly brushing through your hair as if to emphasise her point.

You laughed softly, the sound light and easy, as you leaned in to kiss her gently on the lips. "I know where I stand," you whispered, your lips brushing against hers. "I stand with you."

Agatha’s hand slid down to rest on your lower back, the possessive streak never fully leaving her, but now tempered by the softness of the moment. She kissed you back, just as gently, a quiet promise between you two that no one else needed to hear.

"Good," Agatha said, pulling back just enough to look you in the eyes, her voice steady again. "Because you’re mine. And I’m not going to let anyone forget it."

Lilia snorted from across the room, clearly amused by the exchange, but she didn’t press the point any further. Billy, too, had caught wind of the moment and gave Agatha a playful wink.

"Alright, alright, you two. Enough of the lovey-dovey stuff," Billy called out, his grin wide. "Come on, let’s crack open that bottle of wine, yeah?"

Agatha, still holding you close, let out a small, almost imperceptible sigh of relief, though her fingers lingered possessively on your back. "Oh no, I’m not allowing the designated driver to get drunk," she said, her tone still a bit teasing. "You need to get these women home so I can give my girl a real housewarming."

You flushed red, leaning into her embrace, feeling the softness of the moment between you. "Save the bottle, we can have it in bed," you murmured, Agatha’s eyes glinting with desire, her lips curving into a smile. You kissed her again, this time a little slower, a little sweeter. And Agatha, for all her usual fire, melted into you.

“Well,” she announced, her voice unusually chipper but with a sharp edge that made the coven shift uneasily. “This has been lovely, but I’m afraid the party is over. Let’s wrap it up.”

A collective groan rippled through the group, led by Billy and Lilia, who exchanged knowing smirks.

“Come on, Agatha,” Billy teased, folding his arms. “The night’s still young! Surely we can—”

Lilia cut him off with a laugh, nudging his arm. “Oh, don’t bother, Billy. You know why she’s kicking us out.”

Agatha smirked at them, raising a brow. “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Uh-huh.” Lilia gave you a wink. “Sure thing, Agatha.”

The group began gathering their things, murmuring and chuckling amongst themselves as they filed out the door. Agatha kept one arm loosely around your waist, her body language protective, as she nodded polite goodbyes.

Billy paused in the doorway, his eyes twinkling mischievously. “Have fun, you two,” he said, earning a swat on the shoulder from Lilia as she dragged him out.

The last to leave was Jen, lingering near the threshold with her purse slung over her shoulder. Agatha pulled her into a hug, her hands pressing firmly against Jen’s back as she whispered in her ear.

“Listen closely,” Agatha murmured, her voice low and lethal. “If you ever try anything with her—anything at all—you’ll live to regret it. Understand?”

Jen stiffened in the embrace, her eyes darting nervously to you before nodding quickly. “I wasn’t— I wouldn’t,” she stammered.

“Good.” Agatha pulled back, her smile sharp and unyielding. “Have a safe trip home.”

Jen mumbled a hasty goodbye and practically scurried out the door, her nervous energy almost palpable. Agatha closed the door behind her, locking it with a flick of her wrist before turning to you. The room seemed to settle, the heavy atmosphere lifting as Agatha’s shoulders relaxed.

She leaned against the door, crossing her arms with a smug grin. “Well, that takes care of that.”

You laughed softly, walking over to her and wrapping your arms around her waist. “What did you say to Jen?”

“Oh, nothing important,” she said breezily, pulling you closer. Her grin softened into a fond smile as she pressed a kiss to your forehead. “Now, let’s focus on us, babygirl. Tonight’s all about you and me.”

“Upstairs. Now.” She ordered, swatting your ass playfully making you squeal as you ran upstairs, Agatha hot on your tail.

And just like that, the world outside faded away, leaving only the two of you in the cozy warmth of your home.

A/N: So I’m thinking of making a part 2 to this including some possessive Agatha smut… let me know if that would be something you guys would be interested in 💜

Masterlist

[glitter-stained]

I know some people argue that robin!Jason and Dick were never close post-crisis pre n52 because they only interacted a couple of times in canon and I understand that due to Dick living away when they first met they wouldn't be as close as the relationship Dick has with some of his other siblings, but I would also wish we would take in account that for all three of Jason's years, we have like 30 issues of Jason's run. That's exceedingly small. We have batman #416, we have that one moment in teen titans (i forgot the issue) of jason working with the team, and i think the ski trip we found out later about was included in the same canon*. (also, i do feel like even if you didn't know/like eachother before going on a ski trip together by the end of the ski trip this will have changed, and the picture definitely felt like they were getting along even though Jason's face in the picture was comically weird.) I'm not sure if there were other interactions shown or mentioned, but hey, 2-3/30ish isn't a bad score at all! If we're going 3/30, that's a whole tenth of Jason's robin era.

(And I'm talking about their relationship from Dick's pov since it's the one in question here but it's clear to me in Jason's run, even post-crisis, that Dick is often on his mind and important in his life (with a certain inferiority complex the little siblings of very cool people know well) with stuff like I think Batman #410 or Jason is Legends.)

And even more importantly, 30ish is extremely short for three damn years. That's ten issues per year! Do we assume that Jason was sitting on a shelf for the whole time he's not working with batman in the comics? Do we assume batman was sitting on a shelf twiddling his thumbs all that time during those three years he appears, either? It's perfectly logical to make the assumption that Bruce and Jason were still going out as goddamn Batman and Robin even when it's not shown on screen and having a relationship and interacting together even when it's not seen. In fact it's the most reasonable and logical assumption even. It's obvious Jason and Bruce's interactions extend past what was shown on screen so why wouldn't Dick and Jason? We know from Dick's relationship to his death that Dick cared about Jason. We know how much his death impacted him. Regardless of the (now retconned) terrible mess that was their relationship after Jason came back, they had a relationship, and it was good, and how deep it went is up to interpretation but it doesn't cheapen or lessen any of Dick's relationship with his other siblings to acknowledge that (like, seriously, even though some of them might view it as such in the story, dick's love isn't a prize that can only go to the one blorbo to win the competition. Personally I don't see Robin Jason being his favourite, and that's fine. Probably since, as I only have one sibling to be weird about, this is one aspect of Dick and Jason's relationship that I don't project onto them.)

There's a difference between saying "those are the only canon interactions between Dick and Robin!Jason that we know of" and saying "those are the only interactions that happened between Jason and Dick when Jason was Robin", especially if the next sentence is going to be something like "read a comic". I want to insist that I'm not saying that they have to have been super close. All I'm saying is I don't see, with the knowledge I personally have of canon and the retcons I choose to disregard (because of terrible writing), why considering that they were close wouldn't be canon compliant.

Leeway, nuance and up to interpretation stuff are fun and should matter for evaluating the level of canon compliance of your own headcanons, and I think it's especially important when trying to police other people's interpretation of canon: are you certain their interpretation is fanon and you're correcting it with the right canon, or is it a case of two headcanons clashing in the blank space between comic pages?

I just found it strange to never see it taken in account in the sometimes pretty emphatic takes I saw on the debate around their relationship, so those are my two cents on the matter. All this to say, [theatre joke in coming], when it comes to Dick and Jaybin, we could all stand to be more chill.

* btw i'm excluding dixon's nightwing year one from this conversation because I hate how it manages to shit on every one of the characters i've seen him write in it so violently and also fuck dixon, my jason comes from post-crisis not that crappy weirdo retcon.

[lqtraintracks]

Writing Interview

Thanks so much for the tag @starquestingfordrarry! <333

how many works do you have on ao3? 337

what's your total ao3 word count? 1,454,047

your top 5 stories by kudos

Right Hand Red (with freakin’ 40,662; sorry, I just noticed that it had ticked over the 40k mark and I’m flabbergasted and so grateful as well <3 )

Hung Like a Horntail

Slip Into My Lover’s Hands

Weeds or Wildflowers written with sdk / @unmistakablyoatmeal

check this hand ‘cause I’m marvelous

do you respond to comments? Er… yes?? Like, very. verrrrry. slowly. But I’ll admit that some will never get answered because I lose steam and then when I start trying again, I start with the newest ones. This might sound horn-tooty, which is not how I intend it, but with the number of stories I’ve written, I get a lot of comments. I’ve found it impossible to keep up, but I do my best, even if my best is sometimes a bit crappy. I do read and appreciate every comment I get though!

what's the fic you've written with the angstiest ending? I don’t really do angsty endings often. When I do, it’s usually a Prongsfoot or something. Of the Drarry fics I’ve written, I have one open ending but it’s still pretty hopeful, and that’s Burning the Ground. 

what's the fic you've written with the happiest ending? All of them. :D My goal in life is to get readers (and myself) to cry with joy at the end of my stories. Some standouts just from memory are Heart Like Neon, Bolts, Take You Home, Jasmine in Bloom, Right Hand Red, Blood and Fire, and The Most Splendid Thing. 

do you write crossovers? Maybe one or two over the last 25 years. So, statistically, not so much. 

have you ever received hate on a fic? LOL of course. :D But I don’t linger on those comments. They’re quite few honestly. 

do you write smut? No, never. 

have you ever had a fic stolen? Yes. 

have you ever had a fic translated? Yes. Quite a few have been. Not even sure how many languages, but I know there are several in Russian, Chinese, and I think both Spanish and Portuguese. 

have you ever co-written a fic? Yes! With the incredibly talented sdk, @the-starryknight, and @nv-md! (And one round robin with like 552 people lol.)

what's your all-time favorite ship? Drarry, my beloved. <3

what's a WIP that you want to finish but don't think you ever will? I don’t really have wips. I’m a chronic finisher. I did start something last year for a friend’s birthday and then pooped out. I ended up writing her a completely different pairing months later. And then I took some of the vibes and ideas from that unfinished fic and wrote them into other fics that I *did* finish, so… Cannibalism. Yeah. 

what are your writing strengths? LOL finishing things! :D Also: smut, for sure. Humor. Sort of achy, hot romances? My trademark is writing tenderness and filth simultaneously. I’ve gotten good at pacing things well, so that beats and arcs feel well-rounded and satisfying, I think. 

what are your writing weaknesses? Ugh, plot!!! Specifically non-romance-or-pairing-based plotlines are difficult for me. Heavy angst. Also stakes. I struggle to up the stakes for my characters enough to give a big payoff. I struggle to make my characters change enough or to effectively write that change in a satisfying way. (This applies more to my original writing than to fic, I think.)

what are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic? I’m not sure what the hot take here is and if there is one I’m missing it. My original novel has a Spanish speaker and he will sometimes slip into Spanish during conversation. I wanted to get that right, so I had a native Spanish speaker (hi @capipuff!) read it to correct my bad Google-translated Spanish. So I guess my thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in fic is, do your best to get it right?

what's a fandom/ship you haven't written for yet but want to?  If I want to write something, I write it. :D 

what's your favorite thing you've ever written? Oof. Wow. I want to say my original novel, even though it’s also more flawed than my fic tends to be. It’s certainly one of the things I’m most proud to have written. <3 Usually my favorite fic is the last thing I’ve written and that’s true right now as well. I love The Most Splendid Thing. But before that, my favorite was probably Jasmine in Bloom, and before that it was Take You Home. Bolts is for sure in the running. Heart Like Neon is way up there as well. As is My Name in Your Mouth, because I love that Teddy Lupin with all my horny heart. 

Okay I'm going to tag some of you fine folks now: Ali, you're it! Also, @writcraft @shiftylinguini @phoebe-delia @wholahoop @saintgarbanzo @academicdisasterfic @citrusses @corvuscrowned @lettersbyelise and @magpiefngrl

[genderqueerdykes]

I'm half convinced that most people do not think about east asian people in their activism. Like at all. So being east Asian and trans* (and I say east Asian because I know that south-east Asian/south Asian people experience different things then I do) people (even those in our community) just don't think about us at all and it is very frusturating.

very true, i think a lot of people of color are completely left out. it's not right for anyone to be excluded for any reason. i do believe a lot of people are dealing with internalized racism & sinophobia. i think a lot of people are scared of certain Asian countries and as such don't really care about the feelings and lives of east Asian people of any kind. the way Americans view Asian people is horrible.

now that i think about it, i do agree. i very, VERY rarely see any kind of east asian representation at all. i think racist white people assume the politics aren't progressive enough for queer people to be accepted there, or something along those lines. which, we are seeing changes in real time in many asian countries and that's huge. i love finding out when queer rights take a huge step forward in other countries. but im also very interested in elarning about the specific struggles people in other parts of the world face

i'm USAmerican. i only know my experience. i'm mixed race, but i am not asian. i cannot and should not speak for you or anyone else, but what i can do is give you a platform to speak and spread your thoughts, and if you'd like to do so, feel free, because i also accept messages of other queer people telling their stories from their own perspective. i am always happy to hear from people in other parts of the world. i only know what it's like where i live. but i can help you shed light on what it's like where you live, and i hope that helps somewhat. you deserve to have your voice heard. you have rights too. you're a person, too

[akashirl]

1. (most prominent quirk [it was hard picking just one]) his eyes mirror his emotions perfectly. he did not grow up being a very expressive person overall but his eyes speak for him. they soften when he's feeling vulnerable or charmed, and his gaze hardens when he's feeling conflicted. his eyes can tell stories.

as for me, he often mentions my smile. i think he took a special liking to my dimples...

2. the gym / basketball court. it's where we met, it's where we're together most of the time, it holds a special place in our hearts.

3. (⸝⸝๑ _๑⸝⸝⸝) it's still a bit early for that...we're high schoolers...

4. he'd be the vocalist and i'd be a guitarist (frerard who.)...

5. it was so difficult for me to say those words for the first time because of something that happened to me in the past -- and due to how strong the words are. sei says them more often, and it melts my heart everytime.

6. he does! he communicates his care for me on the court, by offering me tips / fixing my posture / engaging in duo plays with me when passing me the ball...he also always makes sure that i'm feeling alright, due to how rocky my mental state is; making sure that i take care of myself, take my medicine on time, all that...

7. i have. saying "interesting" often and caring about grammar when texting are some of the habits i have picked up...

8. i wouldn't have to say anything. he would find me anyway.

9. both! dancing in the kitchen sounds cozy and intimate but honestly i would really like to go to a karaoke bar. sei is an extremely good singer so he wouldn't have a problem with it either.

10. pumpkin bread with nuts and hazelnut milk...

11. in public, we call eachother by our names (i call him "captain" too). in private, we use pet names...

12. well, i know for a fact that sei wants to become a profession athlete but we're still in process of getting there...(his father wants him to inherit the family's business). but our main goal for now is just become public about our relationship...

13. when we were playing against eachother during practice and he pulled an ankle breaker on me and i fell on my ass. that was crazy. but also "wow, i need to marry him."

14. he has disassociative personality disorder and has an alter (the fandom calls him "bokushi". i call him "aka-chan"). i'm with both of them, but sometimes it's difficult to get through aka-chan's hard shell. i know it's all new to him though, and he needs time to reflect on his feelings...

15. he's good at redirecting my focus from the bad thoughts. and no, it's not just because i find him utterly hypnotizing. he reassures me that everything is alright and encourages me to view the situation differently. and of course, suggests that we play a bit of 1v1.

16. the first song that came up was "amor de ganga" which is our main song, strangely. needless to say that it fits us like a glove...

17. let's just say that red is my favorite color.

18. we're somewhere in the middle. we've been close for a long time but my heart still flutters and my cheeks still flush whenever i see him. the sparkle in our eyes isn't dimming at all...

19. a portrait he keeps in his pocket of us when we were younger and everything was alright...

20. probably someone stubborn, whose feet are never really touching the ground, has an "unique fashion sense", hardworking...a little silly, always flustered..."once, we were having a matching during our first year in the basketball team and he scored a three-pointer. but guess what? it was an own goal." he still teases me about it till this day.

Selfship Ask Game

❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜🩷❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜🩷

What would your f/o(s) say your most endearing quirk is? What would you say their most endearing quirk is?

Do you and your f/o(s) have a special place that you go to be alone together? Does this place hold a specific treasured memory?

Are you and your f/o(s) interested in marriage? If you're already married, who proposed and how?

If you and your f/o(s) were in a band, which band members would you be? (lead singer, drummer, guitarist, etc.)

Who says "I love you" most often?

Does your f/o(s) have a way of saying/showing they love you that is specific to them?

Have you picked up any of your f/o's habits or sayings?

If your f/o(s) had to find you quickly in a large crowd, what would they shout in order to get your attention? What would you shout in order to get their attention?

Would you and your f/o(s) rather spend your evening dancing together in the kitchen or out at a karaoke bar?

What would your f/o(s) order for you at a bakery or café to surprise you with later?

Do you and your f/o(s) use pet names or terms of endearment, or do you only call each other by name?

Do you and your f/o(s) have any dream goals to achieve together?

Was there a specific moment with your f/o(s) where you thought, "Yeah, this is who I want to be with forever"?

If your f/o(s) have an alternate version of themself (such as an evil clone), do you/would you have any romantic interest in that version of them?

If you needed a distraction to get out of your thoughts, how would your f/o(s) humor you?

Pick a random playlist and hit shuffle. The song you get is your selfship's theme song. How well does it fit?

Have you changed any of your preferences or opinions of anything at all because of your f/o(s)?

Would you say you and your f/o(s) are still in your "honeymoon phase", or are you more of an "old married couple", or somewhere in the middle?

If you had to be away from each other for a long period of time, what item would your f/o(s) stare at longingly in the middle of the night while thinking of you? (ex: locket, framed photo, a sentimental gift from you, an article of your clothing or accessory, etc)

How would your f/o(s) describe you to someone who hasn't met you? What memory of you would they readily share in conversation?

❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜🩷❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜🩷

[fatcatlittlebox]

I had an ask about why there is a difference in the scene where Halbrand returns Valandil’s sword vs the scene in the forge that I just analyzed and I think it’s an important answer. Firstly, shots of hands always signify something in cinema. Where they are placed, who they belong to, what is being exchanged and even the movements. I could write a whole thesis on Spielberg’s use of it in his films. And it’s no different in TROP. Hands convey intention, intimacy, ownership, emotion. Alot. Charlotte Brandstrom was even asked about the closeup shot of Adar's hand in an interview. The reporter asked her specifically about the scene where Adar is planting seeds in season 1 and this is what she said:

CB: I always start, I mean, first of all, visually, I always like to start with a character moment and not with a geographic moment. I don’t like to find out where I am, but I want to know what it is about. So by starting on a very tight insert of the seeds, I make it mysterious, and I think it’s more gripping because you want to find out more, and it says something right away about the character. And then I cut to wide, and it’s a tendency that I’ve developed more and more, always starting small and going wide, because I feel you sort of grab the audience’s attention and you also, I mean, as I said, you create small character moments, and those are the moments that most important I think in the story. (x)

So there you have it. The director is straight telling you that if you seek insight into these characters, it’s in these small, close details. And they purposefully edit it to keep it ambiguous. Not because they want to keep it vague. It's because there is the suggestion that there's probably more than meets the eye. There are multiple clues and multiple layers at play. These visual clues are supposed to be revisited and reinterpreted.

I bring this up because those close up details are a key difference in the scenes. So, let’s contrast the two: one in which Halbrand returns Valandil's sword to him. It may seem the two scenarios are very similar but there's more to it. As I said --it comes down to the details. In this case, their hands. Notably, you never see their hands in the same frame of this scene. Not in a close-up. Not when the sword is exchanged. There isn't anything sinister about it. It's just not emotional or personal. There is no subtextual communication here between the Valandil and Halbrand. Because this gesture isn’t meant for him. It’s meant for the elf standing behind him. And Galadriel in the background isn’t coincidental. You see the camera subtly shift from right to left to catch Galadriel witnessing Sauron offer the sword. Again, this act is meant for her.

Later, with Galadriel in the forge, the context changes the whole subtext of the knife exchange. First, Sauron can’t help but draw her closer. So he feigns dropping the sheath of the knife so she rushes to his side. The proximity is intimate, charged. Then, there is the act itself of placing the knife in front of her. In the context of Galadriel pleading with him to join her cause, this gesture can be interpreted as symbolic of his acquiescence. A sign of his allegiance, his loyalty and ultimately a pledge of his life. But an added layer to this (after it is revealed that Halbrand had been Sauron), is the deeper, more earth-shattering meaning: he is offering to pay his penance. Sauron, repentant, apologizes in this scene. And this act is subconsciously meant as proof of his contrition. He was this close to facing judgement. Hers. He was this close to telling her and putting himself at her mercy, as if to say, “Here it is. The peace you seek. Seize this dagger and end it all. Take your revenge.”

Between this knife, Valandil's sword and all the way back to when Sauron returns her brother's dagger, he has been telegraphing his loyalty and allegiance to Galadriel every step of the way. That was no ruse. It was not a ploy. Whether this was subconscious on his part or not, his intention had been consistent and genuine. He was offering himself.

Instead, she counters his offer with one of her own. Not knowing she was increasing the stakes. “Bind yourself to me.” No peace shall be found except at her side. And Sauron foolishly convinces himself into believing that this will balance their scales. It is his arrogance (somewhat delusional) the idea that he could be the architect of her pain, and the author of her deliverance. And yet that is very in keeping with his hubris.

[thebreakfastgenie]

I elaborated more in the notes so you wouldn't have seen it, but I'm not saying it doesn't hurt or people should say it doesn't hurt.

My insertion was bad. Not as bad as some stories I've heard, but bad. Not nearly as easy as some stories I've heard either. The vaccine comparison in that comment surprised me because it was a much bigger deal than a vaccine, and I say that as someone who used to get panic attacks when I got vaccines and had to be restrained. My doctor thought my insertion was bad. I was whimpering in pain by the end of it. I just didn't think it was that big a deal and was surprised it was enough for the doctor to mention it later. The main reason is it wasn't that bad for very long. I said at the time, kind of as a joke but not really, that my metric is "did it take two hours?" I probably felt some mild soreness afterward but I really don't remember, but the pain I had trouble dealing with ended as soon as the procedure was done. I got some really horrible cramps the next day, bad enough that I had to go home (though whether I would have left work if I wasn't already done with classes for the day idk) and enough to make me worry it wasn't placed correctly, but they only lasted a few hours (I think, honestly I don't remember). They were also different in type but not intensity to the worst period cramps I've had, which I was getting the IUD primarily to avoid ever getting again.

I think I went in with a different perspective than most people do because of my medical history. I thought of it as a minor but not trivial medical procedure to place a device in my body that would have a long term benefit to my health (mirena lasts 8 years). It wasn't my first or even second time doing that. I also probably have a different concept of what constitutes "not easy," which is why I was so surprised when my OB/GYN described my insertion that way. I've done a two hour cardiac MRI three times, my references are a little different than typical.

But I've been feeling for a little while now like the conversation has shifted in tone from "be prepared, ask for pain relief if you can" and advocacy for providing pain relief because some doctors don't like to offer it to this characterization of the insertion as a nightmarishly painful process. The horror stories get the most attention, which skews the perception. It's unpleasant and even painful, but it's not excruciating for everyone. I'd be surprised if it's excruciating for the majority. I know there's a narrative that it's no big deal, but that isn't universal from doctors either, and a lot of people already have normal anxiety around gynecological care and medical procedures in general that affects their expectations. I've been keeping sort of quiet about my concerns because I have a bit of a toxic "grit your teeth and get through it, that's what I did" mindset about it that I know I need to keep in check. I absolutely think pain relief should be offered, but if it had been offered to me I would have refused it.

I was finally pushed to say something because I was on twitter this morning and people were talking about IUDs in a way that equated them with pain. I think of the freedom it gave me from monthly pain. Someone actually described them as "pain for women" while claiming to be in favor of them. When I think of my IUD, I don't think of the pain of the insertion. In that thread women were expressing terror--not apprehension, not anxiety, terror--about their upcoming IUD insertions. It made me think at this point, hearing all these horror stories might be doing more harm than good. That same thread also included people who are fully opposed to birth control peddling the usual "hormonal birth control is terrible for your health" line. I know the people talking about the pain can't control this, but I worry about those messages appearing in the same place and what people will take away from that. There are so many more forces trying to talk people out of using birth control than into it.

I don't want people to stop sharing their stories honestly, but I don't like that IUD insertion being the worst pain ever has become a meme in certain circles. I just want to shift the tone of the conversation to focus on education and advocacy--giving people accurate expectations and teaching them to advocate for themselves, and educating providers and advocating for a better protocol--and away from negativity and fear, especially with the current political climate about reproductive health.

Okay I’m about ready to say I’m opposed to the whole “IUD insertion is horribly painful” thing. I keep seeing examples of women saying they’re terrified before their appointments and I think there’s a very really concern that talking about it this way will scare women off.

[everestgale]

Spectre from STP

With pleasure :]

[Send Me a Character and I'll List Ask Game]

favorite thing about them

Her contrast, the different facets of her personality that make her, well, her. She is kind, cheery, and understanding, but she is also firm, can be threatening, and takes absolutely 0 of our bullshit. And the best part is that all of these make perfect sense - she is kind because she is hopeful you'll repent and help her leave (and perhaps because your perception skews more positive of her, after learning of what the Narrator puts you through as a "reward"), but she also never lets you forget that you still killed her in cold blood.

least favorite thing about them

This will probably be true for most StP characters, I can't think of any specific that I dislike about pretty much all of them. So most of the time, if it's going to be anything, it'll be something very minor and silly - in this case, it's Spectre's tattered skirt on her dress (it's hard to draw, that's literally it)

favorite line

"All I know is there's a hole in my chest, and not the big obvious one that you put there. There's something older and deeper. A nagging reminder that I'm not where I'm supposed to be."

...honorable mention goes to: "But if you're just leaving me then... then I'm really just going to be stuck here forever. Th-there's nothing I can do, it's just going to go on and on and on and on, lonely and sad and hurting and empty."

brOTP

I like to imagine a close friendship between Nightmare and Spectre! No particular reason (besides them being a shared pair routes), but there is something fun about them hanging out and chatting while drinking some nice tea :]

OTP

Definitely SpectreCold! There is just something really beautiful about how much they contrast each other and yet, ultimately, both yearn for similar things, it's just all feelings, connection, longing. I started really, really liking them after this post by @/wintergrofyuri. Go read it! They explain my own feelings on this ship way better than I ever could (T v T)

nOTP

Don't think I really have those for her <3 Or honestly, in general, I have very few nOTPs :]

random headcanon

I kind of mentioned it in the first question, but I think that part of the reason why she's so kind and understanding is because your / TLQ's perception of her changes as a result of the Narrator trying to shove you into the Good Ending™. Up until that point, you follow the Narrator without question and so when he essentially betrays you... you begin to see him as the "villain" of this story. And since you didn't have much of a chance to really get to know the princess before you killed her... I'd like to think that this shift in perspective also contributes to Spectre's cheery and hopeful attitude :]

unpopular opinion

I don't think it's all that unpopular, but we need more sassy and threatening Spectre <3 This is a self-callout more than anything because I'm very guilty of drawing and writing her as too kind and sweet ^^;;;

song i associate with them

"earth child's lullaby" by TOFIE fits quite nicely :]

"Close your eyes Breathe the night Come home, return Be held by the earth, now"

favorite picture of them

Look at her! She is so pretty :]

[shmisky]

Me, after finishing watching Gravity Falls and seeing the Stan twins sailing away together: The beginning of a dream! 🙂😀😃😄😆

Me, after finishing your meta about how Ford just dragged Stan back to their extremely codependent dynamic and Stan never goes to therapy to get help to deal with his inferiority complex: Everything went wrong! 😟😩😫😣😭

OH NOOO 🥺 Poor anon!! I’m sorry!! 🫂

Is this you? shejdkj

I was going to just comfort you a bit but then it got somewhat long again (I’m HOPELESS 😭), so... Under the cut.

Perhaps it helps to know that, when I said things would inevitably blow up here, I didn’t mean that in an ominous, dark way! I read a looot of fanfic, and in fanfic, the point of conflict is the climax of the story!

So, basically, in my head I imagine that once Stan accidentally makes his inferiority complex/feelings of worthlessness very, very clear in the worst way and moment possible (sorry, I just don’t have much faith in the communication skills of those two 😔), Ford would absolutely, firmly, and sexily shower him with love 😏 Like in those fanfics in which he worships Stan’s body to help with his insecurity 😳

And you don’t have to subscribe to my interpretation, btw! Not even Alex’s! That’s the fun of fiction! If you want to imagine them as more wholesome and functional, of course you can! 💕

I happen to love the codependency/most toxic aspects! It’s SO juicy for me 🧃

This actually reminds me of many people’s expectations and reactions to the finale, with Stan accepting Ford’s broposal being a big surprise! I’ve seen before fans saying that they genuinely thought Stan would reject it, after all what he went through, or that it would’ve been way healthier for Stan if he had rejected it.

I agree that this could have been healthier for Stan, and even, perhaps, the more predictable ending...? I don’t remember what I thought because I was a kid way too invested in Dipper and Mabel and Bill to care much about the Stans back then. But I think that it would’ve been a pretty classic ending!

They could have leaned on the “found family” trope. That even if Stan isn’t with Ford, it’s okay. Blood isn’t everything. Stan realizes his true family was there all along, valuing and loving him: Mabel, Dipper, Soos, Wendy... (never mind the fact Mabel and Dipper are still his biological family 😅) He realizes it’s time to step out of Ford’s shadow and be his own person (especially after he saved everyone in Weirdmaggedon and proved himself), that it was wrong of him to cling to Ford so desperately, and it was time to... finally let go...

I can easily picture it: Ford invites Stan, hopeful, but Stan looks at the horizon as his hair is tousled by the wind. After all the adventures in the summer, Stan learned so much. Stan is wiser now. “Nah, Poindexter...” [says some deep stuff about never realizing how dependent he was on Ford] Ford hesitates for a moment, then smiles sadly but somewhat proud of his brother, says he understands, apologizes for taking so long to understand Stan’s value. He also learns his lesson, one very different but no less painful than the one Stan had to learn. About humbleness, the consequences of the choices you make, etc.

He then stays in Gravity Falls as the local authority on anomalies whose help people can always count on as the Author of the Journals, while Stan, Soos, and Wendy take care of the Mystery Shack. I think it would be too sad to make Ford sail away on his own in a show about the importance of family so they likely wouldn’t go there. Or would they...? Ford could just permanently assume his narrative role as the Author of the Journals and keep sending the kids’, especially Dipper, updates on his new findings. They show Dipper receiving one letter from Grunkle Stan, and one letter from Grunkle Ford, separately. Their relationship with the kids (the protagonists) ends up as more important than their relationship with each other.

I don’t know about you, anon, but I think we did get the happier ending 🥺

Yes, according to Alex, they are both so damaged that they desperately need each other. But according to this same Alex, Stan and his brother are meant to be a parable that show what can go wrong in a family relationship, but also show that, with hard work and sacrifice, the rift can be repaired.

Also, to be honest... I just pity Ford 🥺 His pitiable regretful peacock swag unfortunately works on me. I want them to stay together codependently and kiss codependently on the mouth!

[wosoafc]

Sarà Perche ti amo

Alessia russo x Leah Williamson

summary: Where Leah meets Alessias nonna for the first time

warnings: none

Leah was nervous—no, more than nervous. Today was the day she would meet one of the most important people in Alessia’s life: her nonna.

Alessia had always spoken about the special bond she shared with her grandmother, one that remained unshaken by distance or time.

Everyone who saw them together could sense it—their love was palpable, almost sacred. And now, Alessia was eager to introduce Leah, another very important woman in her life, to her beloved nonna.

For Alessia, the idea that her life would look like this now was almost surreal. Signing with Arsenal had been a dream come true, but never in her wildest imagination did she think it would lead to this—love.

Sure, she had known Leah from national camp, where they had always gotten along well. But everything changed when Alessia moved to North London. She hadn’t even known she was into women back then.

Her life had always revolved around football, and the idea of exploring her sexuality had taken a back seat. In the heteronormative world she lived in, Alessia simply assumed she was straight and hadn’t met the right person yet.

It wasn’t until a few weeks after joining Arsenal that she began to question herself. Losing the World Cup and getting knocked out of the Champions League early had been tough, and in her search for clarity, she decided to visit a sports psychiatrist.

Ironically, it was Leah who had recommended the woman Alessia would now see weekly. Those sessions helped Alessia realize that there was more to her life than football. Yes, it was her passion, but she played her best when she felt whole—something she hadn’t felt in a long time.

Slowly, the psychiatrist helped her uncover truths about herself, one of which was that she wasn’t just attracted to men. And when that realization hit, so did another: she knew exactly who she was drawn to.

Leah.

From that moment on, Alessia’s world turned upside down. Leah, who always seemed so confident and assured, was a revelation. What Alessia didn’t know back then was that Leah, despite her outward composure, had been equally smitten.

Leah later confessed that she couldn’t think straight from the moment they met. Though she had managed to keep her feelings in check while Alessia was at United, her move to Arsenal made it impossible to ignore the connection between them.

The rest, as Alessia liked to joke, was straight out of a rom-com. During a team night out, after one too many of Kyra’s cocktails, Alessia—tipsy and flushed—blurted out her feelings for Leah.

And now, here they were, driving through the golden hills of Tuscany on the way to Alessia’s grandmother’s farmhouse.

Meeting the English Russos had been a breeze. Leah already knew Alessia’s parents from England, and they didn’t bat an eye when Alessia told them she was dating a woman. When they found out it was Leah, their joy had been palpable—they adored her.

Her brothers, on the other hand, had been a different story. Protective and mischievous, they had subjected Leah to what Alessia called the “Russo brother interrogation.” Once Leah passed with flying colors, they became inseparable, much to Alessia’s dismay.

The trio’s favorite pastime quickly became teasing Alessia, leaving her to wonder why she ever introduced Leah to them in the first place.

Still, nothing compared to the pressure Leah felt today. Alessia had talked endlessly about her nonna—the warmth, the wisdom, the unwavering love.

Leah had spent the entire morning agonizing over her outfit, trying on countless combinations while Alessia watched in amusement.

Now, in the car, Leah’s nerves were impossible to miss. Usually, she loved road trips. She’d blast music, singing along with Alessia in their own little bubble.

But today, the music was barely audible, and Leah remained silent, her fingers anxiously twisting the rings on her hand.

Alessia, sensing her unease, reached over and took Leah’s hand in hers, offering a reassuring squeeze. No words were needed; the gesture alone steadied Leah’s racing thoughts.

As they pulled into the driveway, Leah’s breath hitched. The farmhouse was even more stunning than the pictures Alessia had shown her. Rolling hills stretched into the horizon, kissed by the golden glow of the Tuscan sun.

“Lee,” Alessia said softly, holding Leah’s arm as she moved to get out of the car.

“Yes, baby?” Leah asked, her gaze fixed on her hands.

“Don’t be nervous,” Alessia murmured, tilting Leah’s chin up so their eyes met. “She’s going to love you, and you’re going to love her.”

Leah sighed, her chest tight. “But what if she doesn’t? What if she tells you to leave me? You’ve always said her opinion matters the most to you, Less—”

Alessia silenced her with a gentle kiss, her hands cradling Leah’s cheeks.

For a moment, Leah forgot her worries, focusing solely on the warmth of Alessia’s lips and the certainty in her touch.

“Leah,” Alessia said firmly, pulling back just enough to look into her eyes. “Nonna is important to me, yes. But so are you. Nothing—and no one—is coming between us.”

Leah nodded, her nerves easing slightly. “Alright, thanks, Lessi. Now I’m actually excited to meet this famous nonna of yours.”

Alessia laughed, her grin lighting up her face.

As Alessia and Leah stepped onto the terrace, the air was filled with the scents of fresh basil, rosemary, and roasted garlic.

Nonna sat in the shade of an old olive tree, her silver hair loosely tied up, her hands gently working on a piece of knitting. It was a sight Alessia loved—so full of peace and tranquility.

"Nonna!" Alessia called with a smile that came straight from the heart as she approached her grandmother.

Her Nonna turned around, her eyes lighting up when she saw her granddaughter. There was a mixture of love and joy in her eyes, the kind Alessia always felt when she was with her.

"Alessia mia!" Nonna slowly rose, her movements graceful despite her age. She opened her arms and pulled Alessia into a warm embrace, the kind that spoke of home and comfort. "Quanto ti ho mancato!"

Leah stood a little back, watching the moment unfold with a mixture of awe and a slight sense of nervousness.

"Vieni qui, bambina!" Nonna called, her eyes fixing on Leah with a warmth that instantly calmed her nerves.

"Nonna!" Alessia gently tugged Leah forward and introduced her to her grandmother. "This is Leah," she said softly. "My girlfriend," she added with a smile that she reserved just for Leah.

Leah stepped forward hesitantly, extending her hand. "Hello, Mrs. Russo. It's so lovely to finally meet you."

Nonna took Leah’s hand but instead of just shaking it, she pulled her into an unexpectedly strong and warm hug. "Chiamami Nonna, tesoro," she said with a gentle, welcoming voice, holding Leah close.

Leah smiled, feeling a wave of comfort and affection that she didn’t expect from someone she had just met.

She hugged her back, feeling the warmth of the embrace seep into her heart. She hadn't realized how much pressure she'd been feeling until now, but something about Nonna's acceptance, her gentle words, made all of the nervous tension melt away. It was as though this was where she truly belonged.

"Alessia talks about you all the time," Leah said, her voice soft but sincere. "She’s told me so much about you."

Alessia leaned in and kissed Nonna's cheek, a tender gesture that spoke of years of love and shared memories. "I’ve missed you so much, Nonna," she said in a quiet voice, as if savoring the moment of being home again.

As they walked into the house, Alessia and Nonna fell into easy conversation, laughing about small things, with Nonna teasing Alessia in the way only a grandmother can.

Leah, stayed a little behind, trying to soak in everything around her—the rustic charm of the house, the warmth of the kitchen, the sound of Nonna's gentle voice.

Soon, Alessia was preparing the table, her movements fluid and practiced, while Leah was put to work helping with the food. But it wasn't long before Leah noticed something surprising.

Alessia was speaking Italian to her grandmother—just a few words here and there, but enough to sound beautiful. It was different than the way she spoke English, a softer, more melodic tone.

Leah found herself captivated by the sound of her name in Alessia's language, even more so than she’d imagined.

"Nonna, this lasagna smells incredible," Leah said, genuinely impressed as she took a seat at the table. Nonna beamed with pride.

"You’ll see for yourself, tesoro," she replied with a wink, bringing out a large dish of steaming lasagna. "Buon appetito!"

As they dug into the meal, Leah couldn’t help but smile—this was by far the best lasagna she had ever tasted. Alessia, seeing the satisfied expression on Leah’s face, couldn't resist teasing her. "Told you," she whispered, leaning in.

Leah chuckled, taking another bite. "You weren’t exaggerating. This is unreal."

The evening passed with more laughter and good conversation, the kind that only happens when families are together, sharing food and stories.

But eventually, Alessia excused herself to help clean up the kitchen, leaving Leah and Nonna alone in the quiet of the terrace.

Nonna leaned forward, her hands clasped together as she looked at Leah with a knowing expression. "Leah, ascoltami, per favore," she said, her voice low but firm.

Leah looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Yes, Nonna?"

"You must know, Alessia mia is my… angioletto." Nonna paused, her eyes filled with a deep, maternal love. "I can see how happy she is with you. But you must promise me something."

Leah’s heart thudded in her chest. "What’s that?"

Nonna looked into Leah’s eyes with a serious expression. "Promise me you will not break her heart."

Leah nodded immediately, her voice steady. "I promise, Nonna. I would never hurt her. I love her so much."

Nonna’s expression softened, and she reached out, giving Leah’s shoulder a comforting pat. "I know. I know. You’re good for her."

Leah smiled, feeling a rush of emotion at the acceptance from someone who mattered so much to Alessia.

What neither of them knew was that Alessia had been standing in the doorway, listening to the conversation.

Her eyes were glistening with unshed tears, touched by the love and the words exchanged between Leah and her grandmother.

She quietly stepped forward and without a word, wrapped her arms around Leah from behind, resting her chin on her shoulder.

Leah turned around, meeting Alessia’s eyes, and in that moment, everything felt right. She kissed Alessia gently on the cheek, feeling the weight of the moment—this was more than just a visit. This was the beginning of something beautiful.

And as they sat there, surrounded by the love of family, under the Tuscan sky, Leah knew—this was just the start of their story.

—

hope you liked it, feel free to leave requests!

[nordicfiord]

Do you have any other dynamics between the voices that you like,besides Cold and Contrarian?

Love your art,by the way,especially Contrarian!I love how soft and puffy he looks!

Ohhh, thanks for the question! And thanks for the kind words!! Have another Contrarian – he is pretty sure his friendship with anyone would be good!

it also would consist of bullying half the time but if everyone is content that it can lead to some of the best friendships out there!

And now… IT’S RUMBLING TIME!!

tldr: I am semi-interested in most dynamics, but am currently obsessed with just one. Crossovers and AUs make dynamics more fun for me to think about because of backgrounds.

So! Voices, huh? What a wild bunch.

I love those little guys. I love that mostly here at the stp fandom we are just interpreting them through our own lenses of understanding – through our own perspectives. It is very fitting, and it allows all of us to view these dynamics in many, many different situations.

Honestly, my brain is a mess. It is a giant cauldron, where everything at once is boiling and twisting and turning. That’s why everything is mixing up into lots of crossovers and weird ideas. 

Can I say that I like voices dynamics in canon? Sure! I like that one Adv-Fury route with Stubborn and Contrarian having the “I may not have a brain, gentlemen, but I have an idea” moment. I like that Hero tried to stand up for us in Cage and Paranoid helped Skeptic to insist on his solution by “physically” restraining him?? What a power move. Pretty much every interaction between voices is something interesting to think about, honestly.

But, uhh…

My brain just chose two random clowns and said “Them. I wanna rotate them.”

Honestly I don’t even know why he (my brain) did it. Maybe he just projected my favourite dynamic (clown and clown enabler). But I like other dynamics too??? Why not them???

Genuinely don’t know.

BUT!

Remember I talked about AUs, crossovers and stuff? Those are bigger dollhouses for my brain. There he can assign some dynamics to characters and watch them unfold.

Examples? Sure!

Skeptic being “the mom friend”. Originally it went from the need to have anyone that could control ContraColdChaos. But when I thought about putting voices in my old Steven Universe AU (I will talk about it here I swear it is just too much to unpack….), it all just made so much more sense. Because there Skeptic was the one responsible for revolution and leaving their home world, ended up on an unknown planet with some very troubled teammates (traumatised disabled leader, “I-died-so-many-times-I-can’t-be-stable” general, repeated killer of said general, army refugee and a high-quality spy) and he HAD to take responsibility and make sure nobody dies. Also that created a very interesting dynamic with Hero, because Hero is basically a young abused ruler who doesn’t believe he has any autonomy… and here Skeptic is, his subordinate, who literally is making all the decisions. Like, it’s clear that Skeptic cares and wants the best for Hero… but he is pretty much adding to a family emotional neglect.

And there’s more. Opportunist feeling like he owes Smitten for saving his life. Cold and Skeptic trying to process that they’ve killed and revived the very same person. Smitten being this person and trying to live a normal life with his murderer and resurrector in the same home.

I guess I just… Can’t operate inside of the canon universe with the little outside influence there is?

Maybe in my head-universe, when TLQ left, he left the voices a big fun playground, where they can put various masks and play many, many different stories. They need something to occupy their “forever” too, after all.

Anyway thanks if you’ve read this far!! I appreciate it, really. Sorry if it’s not uhh… organized? Like I said, my mind really is a mess, haha.

Have a nice day everyday!~

[ask-rain-world-characters]

Scugs, how do you feel about iterator siblings? 👀

Survivor:

Monk:

Hunter:

Watcher:

Gourmand:

Artificer:

Rivulet:

Spearmaster:

Saint:

Enot:

Transcripts:

Survivor: "If you're talking about the pink and the blue ones (who I have unfortunately not yet learned the names of), then I know who you're talking about at least! I feel a little bad about the blue one since, well... I tried eat her white floaty things a couple times. Keyword being 'tried'. Monk stopped me before I even got to taste one. Apparently, eating the white floaty things hurts them. The smaller pink iterator, on the other hand, I feel no remorse for. I mean, he tore open my buddy Spearmaster's chest! That's freakin' bonkers! I don't like that guy."

Monk: "I-I'm not sure, the iterators kind of scare me a little bit."

Hunter: “If you mean Looks To The Moon and Five Pebbles, then you’re in luck! For I, the great and wise Hunter, have met them both!” “Pebbles was always a little stick in the mud, but I’m sure he meant well! I mean, why would he help me all those cycles back? When I was sent to revive Moon?” “And as for Moon… she was the kindest soul I’ve ever known! Sweet and elegant, and her lessons are a joy to listen to as well! Survivor also likes to visit her from time to time, and I can’t blame him! I just hope she's doing ok…”

Watcher: "I never met them before, but if the stories that I heard from others are true... I feel sorry for them. One wanting to escape the cycle, hurt the other in the process. Now he regrets what he did to the Moon, while rotting inside. Although both of them try to fix their relationship, the scars left from the past won't disappear so easily..."

Gourmand: "Siblings? You mean the two neighbors near the eastern shores? I only recently heard that Moon referred to herself as 'Big Sister'. Somehow, I doubt that they were created by the exact same people, and that they're siblings for real. But I have a feeling it wasn't meant to be understood literally, and was just a nod to how close Five Pebbles' structure was to hers. It seems like iterators use words a lot differently, than us. Which does make sense. We are very different, after all. And in terms of my feelings, I don't really have many, at least not towards them. I met Pebbles once, and he ushered me out rather fast. And I don't really plan on returning, with how dangerous him and his chambers were. Moon is a lot safer, and acts a little more mellow. Likely because she lost her powers. My clan needs me, and she lives quite far from us, so I can't do much for her - but I'm thankful there are other slugcats who can offer her company and aid. She does look like she needs it."

Artificer: "I've never seen the iterators as siblings, Pebbles is like family to me in a way but that's it, really. Besides I haven't really met the others, only slightly heard about them."

Rivulet: “Well, I like Moon, she’s fun to be around cause she listens to me a whole lot! Pebbles, I have warmed up to more recently especially after realizing how dire his situation was, however I remember being very upset with his mean demeanor before, especially towards Moon. Though in hindsight I understand where he was coming from, and well, that’s all I can say, since I don’t have many of the exact details and I've realized it isn’t really my place to speak. For me, if Moon forgives Pebbles, then he’s good in my eyes for the most part.”

Spearmaster: "Iterator siblings as a whole is a nice idea. They need that sort of thing for how lonely they can get. If you mean the specific ones I've met before? I couldn't tell you many positive things. Five Pebbles was heartless and cruel to me, and I won't forgive them for what they've done. Looks to the Moon was a more pleasant experience, even if bittersweet. Even still, climbing up to her chamber was a dreadful experience. I'd much rather stay with Suns for now."

Saint: "Looks to the Moon and Five Pebbles? I haven't met the former, and I'm not too fond of the latter. But...I feel as though it's only a matter of time until our paths, or rather, our fates collide. Whatever that feeling means I'm not sure, but we'll see."

Enot: "I dunno, the only iterator I've seen is pebbles and he doesn't talk about his family drama or anything." "Speeeaking of which, I need to get my next order of Pebbsi."

[vidavalor]

Hmm! Quite intriguing. I can see where you're going with that and I love how we all can have such different ideas and sometimes arrive at similar conclusions, like the trial bit. Shows how varied the paths in a story can be & how imaginative we all are. 😊

If you'll humor me, I think there's at least two reasons for the flipping back and forth between Aziraphale recapping the offer and the offer scene. We'll have to see what ends up coming of it in The Finale but you've got me musing on that scene & the memories aspect a bit. One reason is the language reason I went into in The Kiss, if you're interested in that. The other one's below.

The other reason could just be that it's actually a screenwriting/story technique to build & maintain tension in a scene. To see what I mean by that, imagine for a moment that everything in The Final 15 happened the same way that it did happen but, instead of having the back-and-forth flipping between the offer scene and Aziraphale recapping it to Crowley, we had two, separate scenes.

When Aziraphale left the bookshop with Our Villain, we then had the Crowley & Muriel scene, and then jumped over to Marguerite's, where we watched the offer scene unfold in its entirety. We would then know what was happening in the plot when we followed Aziraphale back into the shop. We'd know what it was that he'd have to recap to Crowley. The entire season is building towards this scene between our two, main characters and us knowing what Aziraphale has to tell Crowley would have zapped all the tension and all the energy out of this entirely.

There wouldn't have been any surprise for the audience here, if we knew this in advance. We already know that Crowley isn't going to love what he hears here because we know Crowley so his reaction wouldn't really be surprising and our engagement would waiver. While the actors involved here could make watching paint dry interesting, this scene would not have worked this way because it's not just any scene but the big scene. It's the one that needs to be firing on all cylinders because the whole story is riding on it.

Recapping dialogue is really tricky in a tv series because there's nothing that can make the audience start to zone out more than this. Even the least complicated plot has to have some scenes where characters are learning information that the audience already knows from other scenes but the way to deliver this to the audience is to deliver the recap in the midst of other things happening. The recap can be one reason why the audience is watching the scene but it cannot be the sole purpose for the scene in the story.

An absolutely excellent example of recapping dialogue in tv is actually in Good Omens earlier and it's this:

From a technical standpoint, this line of Crowley's is serving the purpose of explaining to the audience (or reminding them of) what the conflict over Gabriel is. Maybe they only casually saw S1 and can't remember what the deal is with Jon Hamm's character or maybe they stumbled into S2 without having seen S1. Most of the angel and demon stuff can be understood by just watching the rest of the plot unfold but there needs to be some kind of context for some viewers to explain the Gabriel situation, which is the big source of tension in the episode.

To do this, they have Crowley recap Gabriel's prior plot from his own perspective so we can remember or learn enough about Gabriel to get the gist of what's going on. But look at where they put this line-- in the middle of an absolutely pivotal scene.

There is so much happening in this argument scene in 2.01 that the recap line doesn't stand out to anyone who doesn't need it. It doesn't even stand out to those who do lol because they get the necessary info but there's so much else to engage with here that it doesn't feel awkward. This is very good technique-- the opposite of what we're saying would have happened if they had done the offer scene reveal differently in 2.06.

If you ever watch a detective series, for example? You know how you never have a pair of scenes where the lead detectives show up at the crime scene, gather all the clues there is to gather about the murder, learn what the pathologist knows... only to then have a second scene shortly thereafter in which they repeat every detail of that information to their boss when she arrives on the scene.

She's forever showing up with 1-2 questions, tops, about the info the audience just learned alongside the lead detectives. It's always something like "Frank got me up to speed on the phone on the way over here. Do we have a time of death yet?" because the audience is going to mentally check out from boredom when there's nothing happening but scene after scene of repeating facts.

Later on in the detective series, once stuff has actually started to happen in the mystery, there are definitely scenes the ultimate purpose of which is to recap for the audience what's going on. When all the detectives and the big boss are at the murder board and doing things like moving pictures of the suspect around while repeating their names and their actions, they're really helping remind the audience of what's going on in the story to keep them engaged with it.

A scene like that doesn't need to exist in The Final 15, though, because we're not midway through a crime drama, we're in the final act of a season finale that is actually unfolding basically in real time. All of the suspense is derived from how fast everything is moving and how that's impacting everyone's ability to communicate. All of the tension is from the fact that our main characters are trapped and trying to communicate while being stalked and watched by Our Villain. All the scenes from The Meeting Ball forward are going up the rollercoaster towards the top before we crash it entirely down in the final moments so if the audience already knew in full what Aziraphale was about to say to Crowley, the bottom would have fallen out of all of the tension in the most pivotal scene in the series before it even got rolling.

But, if we're then taken in and out of the scene and treated to more Derek Jacobi and watching the offer unfold at the same time that Aziraphale is recapping it, as we were? It has the opposite effect. It's now really engaging and helping to up the tension even more and we're now on the edge of our seat. It's a more interesting scene-- as we can probably see, since we're still looking at it ages later. 😊

As for the filters in the Job minisode and stuff-- doing things to homage to different periods of time or different bits of cinematic history doesn't seem indicative to me of narrative shenanigans. It's just another way to allude to films like The Ten Commandments that inspired things. It also allows them to do a couple of things visually that are interesting that they couldn't otherwise do, like the dust. There's a whole dust thing happening in S2-- to bite the dust (some Queen for you lol) is to die but to kick up the dust is to cause an uproar/start a revolution. And what's our guy doing in the bookshop?

They get to play with that visually in the Job minisode group scene where Gabriel is with Crowley and Aziraphale in a flashback in a way that's tied to the story in the present and they're all surrounded by the visible dust particles that used to be a more common aesthetic feature of some kinds of films.

We have a lot of focus on memory happening, for sure, and we have a new way of viewing the past in S2 a bit, with memory often prompting the flashbacks being shown. I'm not sure that the flashbacks are exactly meant to be considered 'untrue' or 'not real' or especially subjective more than usual because of that, though. I think it's more just the conceit that helps explain to the audience why were just in the present and now we're in the past.

The Ineffable Bureaucracy flashback, for example, might be using the conceit of Gabriel's memory to show the scenes to us but the perspective of each of those scenes is more-- heh-- fly on the wall than actually being his direct memory. The C&A flashbacks play out like this too to me but who knows. We'll have to see how it all comes together in The Finale. In the meantime, I enjoy reading all the different ideas people have as there's so much fun stuff to think about! 😊

The Trial

Short thoughts on how Gabriel & Beez could fit back into the story in The Finale & on how Aziraphale's fall would lead to the collapse of the current Heaven/Hell system, as requested by @zenkitty714.

Whoever the guy with the coffee in The Final 15 is, he didn't exactly say that there was a Supreme Archangel job vacancy because Heaven was down for giving Gabriel a watch and telling him to bugger off and go tend to his marigolds. At no point does Our Villain ever actually express one shred of intent to leave Gabriel alone. He simply says that he feels there's a job opening... which all feels a bit sinister since it suggests that there is one because our villains still plan on trying to kill Gabriel.

The Metatron's response to Gabriel mutinying on Monday morning was to try to murder him and we saw exactly nothing in the course of S2 that would indicate that his plans have changed where that is concerned. In order to get Aziraphale into the lift, Our Villain had to lead him to believe that there was a chance-- a remote chance but a chance-- that The Metatron was willing to change and let Heaven reform. Letting it seem like Gabriel and Beez were safe was part of that deception.

Gabriel and Beez were only safe for the brief moment until Aziraphale got into the elevator because our villains needed to pretend like they didn't care about revenge against them in order to sell the idea that Heaven could reform to an understandably doubtful but desperate Aziraphale. Now that they have Aziraphale, though, and have accomplished their goal of going after him first to divide and conquer our main characters, our villains have no need to keep up this charade.

That's why it's a damn good thing that Uriel is on our main characters' side now because she'll be there when Aziraphale falls. She won't be able to stop it without following him to Hell, which wouldn't help either of them or anybody else. What she can do, though, is then be the one to go get to Gabriel and Beez and tell them what's happened to Aziraphale. Uriel on the run from Heaven as a result of this and the need to find Crowley will then give them all reason to go to the bookshop, where Muriel will serve her purpose of having witnessed basically all of The Final 15. They'll be able to tell Ineffable Bureaucracy what they missed, with Uriel confirming the bit of what she herself saw before the angels left whom they're now realizing was Satan's command to leave.

Wherever Crowley is at the start of The Finale's story in the present, I bet hard that it's going to be Gabriel who goes to get him. It's going to be Gabriel who tells Crowley that the reason why he can't feel Aziraphale anymore isn't because Aziraphale was Book of Life'd-- that's not a real thing. (Notice how the one character who could have answered that question in S2-- Gabriel-- is prevented from even knowing it's a question for the entirety of the season.) It's going to be Gabriel who tells Crowley that he can't feel Aziraphale because Aziraphale fell and Gabriel who talks Crowley off a metaphorical and possibly literal ledge when, at some point, Muriel confirms that Crowley sat there in a chair and told Aziraphale to go alone with a being they all will by then realize was Satan.

What our working-together-on-this-one villains of The Metatron and Satan haven't counted on is that the revolution they're trying to nip in the bud has actually already started. They have overlooked Uriel entirely and didn't anticipate that her response would be to side with Gabriel and help him and Beez over Heaven. They didn't count on Gabriel and Beez helping take care of Crowley. They didn't count on Muriel agreeing to help by giving the bookshop to the revolutionaries. They didn't count that it wouldn't take much for the rebelling angels and demons to get Furfur and his miracle blocking skills involved or Dagon and her Dark Council power on their side.

What our villains really haven't counted on is that Aziraphale is the bridge too far. The angel whose life taught all these other angels and demons how to live is going to be the one to break the system oppressing all of them by having inspired in his own struggles everyone to come together and fight Heaven and Hell for him.

What kind of fight, you say?

One of the Powell & Pressburger films referenced a bunch in S2 and playing on the tv in The Resurrectionist Pub behind Gabriel during the Ineffable Bureaucracy flashback is A Matter of Life and Death and I think a plot like this film is basically where The Finale is headed. You can see it on the tv here as Gabriel does the "Everyday" miracle:

The basic plot of that film centers around a trial where a man who has been outrunning a clerical mistake that caused him to live when he should have died fights to stay alive on Earth to be with the woman he fell in love with. He was a RAF pilot during WW2 whose plane went down. He was supposed to die but a mistake had him live and he fell in love with the air traffic control operator he was talking to on his way down-- the character of June, whose look in the film is the inspiration for Crowley's look in the Before the Beginning scene.

Our hero in the film gets some help from someone who knows how to wrangle Heaven, launch a trial, and who acts as a defense lawyer-- something that I think sounds a lot like a perfect role for Gabriel.

There's also that we now have that we know that Gabriel knows for sure about the body swap in S1 which means he knows that, technically, Aziraphale did get a trial because that's really who Hell put on trial. We had the scene of a drunk Crowley telling Jim this in S2 to show us that Gabriel knows beyond a shadow of doubt that Aziraphale kind of already had a trial so that we can appreciate it when he then lies his ass off to The Metatron for his friends and claims they never gave Aziraphale a trial. 😉

Trials are a big thing in Good Omens' Heaven & Hell and in its finales in both seasons so far... even if they've been sham trials so far... but there's one of our main characters who hasn't gotten one yet, right?

Gabriel's trial was shown in the S2 finale and, back in S1, Hell gave whom they thought was Crowley a trial. However, Heaven never actually gave who they thought was Aziraphale a trial in S1 and they won't before sending him to Hell at the start of The Finale, either.

Gabriel and Beez know how to work the system and I think that they are going to lead an effort to challenge Aziraphale's status as a demon by filing a challenge to it that forces Heaven to give Aziraphale a trial. (Aziraphale is going to insist as this goes on that he goes nowhere without Crowley and it might result in them both being on trial.)

What will really be on trial, though, is the system of Heaven/Hell itself because, if our characters can win the trial, it will mean that they have proven that Heaven isn't infallible in their assessment. That would collapse Heaven and Hell because all the demons would challenge their own statuses and all the angels would realize that Heaven can make mistakes and this is all bullshit, which is likely what happens when all is said and done.

One part of the film is that one of the lawyers also demands a trial by jury with a diverse jury pool to ensure a fair trial, which would be very different from what we've seen happen with the characters in Good Omens so far. It would have to happen in The Finale for this plot to exist.

I think one of the results of the trial is that this group of angels and demons challenging Heaven here wind up demanding that The Metatron produce God and exposing him as a fraud when it's revealed that he can't, actually, because he doesn't speak for God and all of Heaven and Hell is a sham.

Satan figured it out long ago but cut a deal with The Metatron to stay quiet in exchange for having his own kingdom down there in Hell. The two of them are in a bit of a mutually-assured destruction pact where they co-exist to use the threats of one another to control the angels and demons they're oppressing.

When the trial leads to the overthrowing of The Metatron, the demise of Satan might be an actual battle of sorts but the end result is that both of them will be gone by the end and the angels and demons will be set up to form an united, more democratic form of government. The threat of Armageddon will be over, allowing for Crowley and Aziraphale to South Downs Cottage it in peace.

That's how Aziraphale's fall can be the thing that brings down the whole house of cards... as S2 seemed to possibly be suggesting:

[imabiscuitinthousandworlds]

i just read treacle walker all in one go and i couldn't tell you what exactly it did to me but. it sure is gonna stay with me. it felt like my childhood came back to hug me and fill the dirt with wonder.

[caligvlasaqvarivm]

wanna ask how you feel about the eridan bpd headcanon/theory(?? not sure what to call it!) you're so good at your character analysis and i'd love to see your outlook on it

Since I don't have a degree or any formal training in psychology, I feel deeply uncomfortable diagnosing characters. I've made an autism joke before but only because I'm on the spectrum. He's definitely traumatized and anxious, but I mean those as descriptors of his behavior rather than capital-D Diagnoses. I try to focus on those when I can - the cause and effect of cognition, self-image, and behavior - and those factors may very well match up with DSM criteria, but I try not to touch an actual diagnosis with a ten foot pole unless the author has explicitly stated that X character has Y condition.

[crossbackpoke-check]

yOu'Re gOiNg fOr a LiTeR? | "Habs react to Quebec Maple facts", 10.22.24