#but then s2 became boring

[renniethedwstan]

Eleventh Doctor.

I have a hot take, I think Eleven is better than Ten.

Reason?.......I'm not telling you guys the reason because it's just my opinion, and everyone is allowed opinions, so please just be respectful.

Also, just to clarify, I don't hate Ten at all. I love the Tenth Doctor era so much because Ten is my first Doctor, and he introduced me to Doctor who. but Eleven is the reason why I'm still obsessed with Doctor who.

[mumpsetc]

You do not have to elaborate if you wouldn't like to but i'll admit i am very curious to hear your thoughts on balloon and nickel

My Favorite ii Character is Suitcase So You KNOW I Have an Opinion on Balloon and Nickel. In Fact, I Kind of Hate Them!

In S2 I Actually Do Really Like Nickel, I Think His Pure Horribleness is Pretty Entertaining and He's an Effective Antagonist. I Get a Kick Outta the Lil Fucker. Balloon in S2 is More Blah for Me, I'm Not Too Interested in His Own Pain When Suitcase is Infinitely More Interesting But He's Not Offensive, Just Kind of a Lackluster Prop to Someone Else.

When S3 Started and I Saw They Were Goin In for Nickel and Balloon Drama Again I Was Lil Interested. Unlike Other Returning Characters There Was Still Mineable Tension There Cuz the Conclusion of That Arc Was More Suitcase's Than Anyone Else's. and Also I Just Like Nickel.

They Have Since Become One of the Things I Dislike the Most About S3. I'd Go as Far as to Say Balloon Is the Most Thorough Character Assassination That Season's Produced. Granted It Is the Most Interesting He's Ever Been, But Him Constantly Turning a Blind Eye to Nickel Not Changing is so Frustrating. Further Still, When He Eliminates TK and Says That "I Don't Want to Play the Game With Backstabbing and Betrayal" Spiel While Allying With Nickel is an Active Insult to Suitcase. Him Calling Her Putting Her Entire Time on the Line for Him "Backstabbing and Betrayal"? Man I Can't Stand You!

Nickel I Still Think is Entertaining But Now Its Less Because I Like Him and More Getting a Kick Out of How the Writers Seem Unaware How Much He Hasn't Changed and How He's Still Just Blindly Horrible to Most People (Usually Women Honestly. His Pattern of Being Unrelentingly Horrible to Suitcase, TK, and Clover While Mostly Just Being a Bit of a Dick to Everyone Else is Like. Ok). Clover Giving Him Her Luck Powers After He Screamed At Her Till She Cried Was Very Much a "Lol Lmao" Moment for Me.

Also the Fact the Show is Definitely Doing Some Weird Shipbait With Them is Like. Whatever. Fine. Ok. Sure. I Don't Care Anymore.

[vlcimor]

I am not over (and probably never will be) these two parallels. And no one talks about it enough, so I had to draw it (forgot to post it, surprise) for my own sanity. Does it help? Absolutely not, not at all.

Let's talk about it for a bit, okay?

The first drawing is the scene from the end of the 4th episode of the 1st season, right after Ed's and Izzy's (first mate at the time) conversation about plans with Stede, the full crew of the Revenge, and the future. We can see Ed's expression and OH BOY. He is hiding under the mask of Blackbeard to survive. He is exhausted, bored, empty and so done being "The dreadful pyrate Blackbeard". He just wants to be Ed, who fancy fine fabrics and sweet and soft things. It's completely opposite to Izzy's expression, who is behind him and smiling, clearly delighted by Blackbeard's persona and his great plans. On top of it all, the song "The empty boat" by Caetano Veloso playing in the background (I love love love this song), and it fits so well with Ed's emotions.

The second drawing is the scene from the 1st episode of the 2nd season, right after Ed and Frenchie (now first mates) spoke about future plans. Ed let himself be soft and got hurt because of it. Now he's trying to be Blackbeard again, trying to fit in some "norms" of "manly man," trying to survive in a world where liking soft and being soft means dead, and he is failing miserably. He is everything he doesn't want to be. Also, even Stede's name is not mentioned, you know it's all about him. Ed is hurt, tired, and heartbroken. Ed is not the only one who see this. Basically, the whole crew can see how unstable he became after coming back to Blackbeard/ The Kraken persona. Frenchie´s expression shows it all. He stands behind him on his right side, the same spot where Izzy stands in S1. But his expression completely different from Izzy's - sad, afraid, unsure. Once again on top of the scene, the song "Pygmy Love Song" by Francis Bebey (one of my favourite songs from S2) perfectly shows all Ed's emotions.

I am so sorry for this long, boring post. I simply LOVE these two scenes and everything about them, and I needed to share my thoughts with you. I hope it makes sense and my grammar is not too bad.

[teambyler]

My response to "Will became less interesting and likeable in S4"

VERY interesting recent posts at the subreddit. One has people rank their favorite characters and Will is near the bottom of most lists. The other is screenshotted above.

A common complaint is that he had less to do. (That's for sure!) But another theme is that he is "boring" or "always crying" or "about to cry."

I left the following comment there:

Well, they've written him to be a closeted gay kid in a small town in the 80s. Struggling with his sexuality and coming out is going to be kind of... his everything. I went through it. (The 80s part at least.) And so no, he's not going to be as outgoing or "interesting and likeable" as a Steve Harrington or Dustin.

(Meanwhile, here is the current top post at the subreddit, with people going gaga in the comments:)

Instead, Will is incredibly awkward, reserved, closed-in, and does not project confidence and charisma that make people easily like him, because he hates and loathes and doubts himself. Every movement, every inflection, every look, every expression of himself, threatens his safety and well-being. He has been awkward and introverted and shy. But he has also been sensitive, caring, and empathetic. He was one of the more selfless characters this season. These qualities, at least the way he expresses them, don't win conventional popularity contests. Some people find that "bland." I find it to be admirable.

The Duffers have made clear that s5 will focus on Will:

“Will really takes center stage again in 5,” Ross Duffer told Variety. “This emotional arc for him is what we feel is going to hopefully tie the whole series together. Will is used to being the young one, the introverted one, the one that’s being protected. So part of his journey, it’s not just sexuality — it’s Will coming into his own as a young man.”

As he grows out of his shell and gets to assert himself more in s5, he probably becomes more "interesting and likeable" in the conventional sense.

==========

Anyway, just wanted to share. Will may not be the most "popular" character in the conventional sense, but he's won many hearts. Nor is he "bland" or just a "damsel in distress" (I saw those comments on the subreddit too ugh!) He's our original badass with a gun. Who cast fireball for his friends. He survived the frikkin Upside Down for one week by himself. He found the strength to communicate while being possessed that they needed to "CLOSE GATE" to defeat the monsters in s2, which would have killed him. He was willing to sacrifice his life. And in s3 and s4, he has been wanting to keep the party together and then put Mike and El's interest above his own.

Will is a hero. And heroes can be quiet gay boys, too.

-teambyler

[thecameronchronicles]

More Rafe Than Drew

TW: Dom!Drew. Degrading language. Smut. Language. Praise kink. 

SUMMARY: After Drew learns for your intrigue for his Outer Banks character, he decides to embody him for you...

WORD COUNT: 1700

REQUESTED

hehe you told us to send in requests so here's one for drew: drew and y/n are dating, and one day y/n is alone and bored in their apartment so she starts watching s2 of obx and gets really horny when she sees all of the rafe scenes so she starts touching herself and moaning, and right then drew comes home and sees her & starts teasing her and he fucks her kinda in a mean way like rafe would yk?? also happy new year ❤❤ i can't wait for your comeback!!!

More Rafe Than Drew

It was just one of those days where nothing sounded worth upsetting the peace of the day. Where productivity was not necessary to make the day full. And yet, it was also one where you were unbelievably bored. The FYP of TikTok having given you an idea once noticing your boyfriend's face upon several fanmade compilations. Having already missed him, even if you had spent the previous night with him and expected him home in the next few hours, you had Netflix to make his absence feel a bit less noticeable. 

But as always, Rafe Cameron had an effect on you. Specifically because you knew the man behind the disturbed character could not be anymore different. And yet, the contrast is what made watching him now that much more thrilling. You knew the passion available behind those soft lips as he delivered less than desirable lines to villainize his character even further. Those very same lips you craved now. Beginning at the part of your own, trailing down your jaw as it clenched beneath a new smirk, and continuing lower still. 

"Rafe..." You moaned as your fingers trailed as your thoughts replaced the pads of your digits with his familiar touch. Allowing yourself the fantasy as you were alone, you pulled your fingers up to your lips before providing the unnecessary new lubrication to the wet part of your lower lips. Even if it wasn't his trained touch or tongue providing the pleasure, it was enough to hold you over until he could make your fantasy a reality. 

Just as he would have, you began slowly, envisioning the loving and tender yet equally passionate man on his knees before you. Sweet words of how beautiful pleasure read across your face and how he vowed to continue until you shook beneath him. Which you did each and every time. But as you thought of his hands drawing swifter across your clit, one finger bent to your g-spot, you became mindless to your surroundings. 

"Ahhh..." You moaned, a whimper more than a broadcast of ecstasy as a sudden hand wrapped around your wrist to still you. Your pulse paused as your eyes shot open and a blush filled your cheeks. 

"Is THIS what you do all day while I'm gone?" He questioned, more amused that antagonized. 

"Drew-" 

"No baby...I heard you clear enough. You want Rafe..." He controlled the motion of your hand, promoting you to pleasure yourself through his guidance. 

"Jesus, you look so good when you wanna come..." 

"Drew..." He paused, moving closer with a hand to the back of your hair. 

"You wanted Rafe. So fucking take him." He forced his way upwards, your body thrust to the edge of the sofa as he held you at his zipper. Your fingers gebgerly peeled the tab to a slow descent before his angry cock came to view. 

"Did I say to stop your fingers? I worked all day and you decided to have all the fun. I don't see why I need to do any more work than necessary." He tightened your locks around his fingers as he lowered just as you took a hold of his shaft. A flex felt in your grasp making you gasp to the uncharacteristic dominance he usually had solely in compassion. 

"Get yourself close. I know you're good enough to multitask for me..." He lifted his other hand to your jaw, the ringed finger tracing the curve towards your chin before retracting. 

"But you say any name but the one you want and I'll bruise that pretty little throat so deeply that you won't have to worry about getting it wrong again." With your understanding shown by the advancement made to his cock, he teased you with his tip. 

"You know better than to keep from answering me."

"Yes..." You spoke softly, almost fearfully, with gluttonous eyes returning to his cock. 

"You just can't wait for it can you? Then again, I already know that since you stained our couch being so ..." He scoffed. 

"Beg for it..."

"Please..."

"Like you want to please me...not just because you're a whore for it and want it to make you come...like it has every night you've wanted. This is for me...so ask for me.."

"Let me please you..."

"Who?" He asked, a grin and eyes synonymous with the mischief of his words. 

"Rafe..." He exhibited approval by the sudden thrust made into your mouth. But after only a few pumps, he directed himself to the couch beside you. 

"Yes...Just like that...shit..." He groaned in approval before striking your ass. 

"Why aren't your fingers working that little clit, hmmm?" But as you reached to amend this, he hit it away. 

"Lucky for you, I want to feel just how wet you got thinking about me..." He watched your eyes rose to him. 

"Keep taking me baby...might just come for ya..." You rolled your eyes in pleasure before returning to him. His expression altered to split focus as he looked for his hand and the way his finger glistened once pulling it from you, only to witness you shift everytime he set it back inside. He basked in this for only a handful of moments until directing his attention to your clit. 

"You thought you could come without me? We both know it isn't as good..."

You nodded. "If watching you moan like that didn't make me so fucking hard, you wouldn't be getting anything. But you know how it affects me...you're choking on the evidence…" He pulled you to his expression, cock left in only your hand. 

"Look at me..." He quickened his fingers, the perfect friction pulling your orgasm to the front. 

"Fuck!"

"You really are desperate for it, aren't you baby? You're dripping down your own thighs for me..." He pulled you teasing towards his lips to feel your breath against his mouth. His fingers ungodly in pace as he continued. 

"How about I make you pour down em...yeah?" Your eyes rolled as he offered the question just as Rafe would have, the clench of your inner walls making him scoff. 

"Ride me." You groaned in approval, hurrying to position yourself before he stopped you. 

"Drew-" He took hold of your hair. 

"Bad girl...your sweet little pussy is gonna ache now..." He took himself deeply inside of you, forcing you to take him at depth as you came almost immediately. And yet behind your high, he took you through that overstimulation. 

"It's too much!"

"You didn't want to listen...you keep coming until I tell you to stop-" He commanded with a slap to your ass as you whimpered and moaned beneath him. 

"Fuck-" he grunted, lifting you from the couch and onto counter adjacent the small living space. Bending you over it, he took you this way. 

"Ah!" 

"That's right baby...I want all our neighbors to hear you...so fucking jealous they don't get to make you sound this way..." He bit softly into your shoulder as he lost himself in the way you clenched around him. Another swat to your ass correcting you for him. 

"Oh baby...baby!  I'm gonna-" He slowed, edging you as you gripped your fingers around the island within the kitchen. 

"Not yet." He growled, lowering behind you and drawing illustrations with his tongue. 

"Drew!" He bit into your sensitive flesh. 

"Rafe…oh...Rafe…." He savored you completely, your clit swollen and left throbbing as he continued until that familiar orgasm came once more. Only now, he raised just before allowing you to wash over his tongue. 

"Please..." He ignored your plea with a chuckle before tearing the straps of your shirt low until it bunched below your breasts. He turned you to face him. 

"You got to play with yourself without me. Only fair I get a turn..." Your eyes rolled as he twisted and sucked each nipple. 

"Please..."

"We're gonna need a new carpet because of you baby...and you haven't even come yet..."

"I'm gonna..."

"Oh yeah? From this?" He pulled your breasts as you offered an orgasmic expression. 

"Oh shit, you could...maybe I'll let you..." You nodded. 

"Aww...you're so desperate..." 

"Ah...mmmm...Baby..."

"Tell me.."

"I'm gonna come...I'm gonna fucking come..." Your lips parted, a harsh grasp caused by his cock thrust inside of you once again. 

"On me. only me. My girl knows this..." He lifted you onto the counter, finally bringing you to that cusp alongside him. 

"Please! Don't stop!"

"Not this time baby...I'm not waiting another fucking second to come....and your gonna take it..."

"Yes!"

"Every fucking drop!"

"Yes baby!"

"Why? Because you're my little whore aren't you? Wanna be fucked everyday in anyway just to come."

"Yes...yours..."

"Then I know you aren't gonna be quiet...I wanna head you....I know it's fucking close..."

"Right...NOW! OoooH! FUCK! AH!"  You silenced as the orgasm took hold of every nerve until you were left trembling. His body set off immediately as he spurt into you, dripping as he pulled out. 

"Oh my God..."

"You prefer Rafe, huh?" He asked with a smirk. 

"Why decide when I can have both?" You teased, stroking him again. 

"Baby..."

"Now I want Drew...my sweet..." He collected your dual cum from his cock and sucked it off of your finger as his eyes rolled, "Sweet Drew..." He tightened his jaw, pulling you into the bedroom and reminding you why you favored Drew just a little bit more...

TAGLIST: @hopebaker @drewspisces @penny4yourthoughts @magnificantmermaid @pickingviolets @lovedetlost @trikigirl271 @maybankslover @slut4tangerine @slvtherinseeker @obxiskewl @bluesongbird @slut-era @ailee-celeste @camilynn @sweetestdesire @onmykneesforrafe @jjmaybanksangel @phildunphyisadilf @mashdan0916

MASTERLIST

DREW STARKEY MASTERLIST

MARCH MADNESS MASTERLIST

[imthepunchlord]

I'm with you on finding Nathaniel boring.

I really can't see any appeal to him if you didn't ship him with Chloe between S1 and S2 and built an entire character around him that isn't actually there, I was really hoping for Alix to pull ahead of him

Oh man the mention of Chlonath is a blast to the past.

Alix was the classmate I liked the most back in s1. I liked her design, and the little we saw of her was actually really cool. She was one of the very few that actually acknowledged her shortcomings, apologize, and learn a lesson.

Which is so freaking rare in this show.

And then she kinda fell to the wayside, and then Bunnyx showed up with freaking time travel and I didn't like Alix as much.

And the more we got of the Bunnyx, based on what I've heard, I hated it more and more.

So then Kim became my fav classmate as I love a good himbo, who was sweet and he was funny, and then I got to hear they ruined him.

I just can't enjoy things with show, can I?

Anything I like is ruined.

[canonizzyhours]

i read more canyon fic than i should.

it used to be because i was interested in the actual canon edizzy dynamic some other posts here have talked about and i wanted to find good darkfic about izzy topping from the bottom. then i realized i was never going to find that and it became something i did in good faith hope that i would understand the canyon better, maybe i'd find some really good fic about their take on fanon izzy and i would finally get why they found this compelling. at this point it's something i do out of morbid fascination, i'm still trying to understand the canyon but what i keep understanding is that their perspectives are always worse than i expected.

anyway here's what i was thinking about today. at this point i can sort canyon fic into categories and there's this one subgenre that's always fascinated me - and it goes well back into the early post-s1 hiatus era - where izzy becomes a weirdly passive character who never really does anything.

you can see exactly why this is happening. the author is so immersed in canyon meta that they refuse to engage with any of izzy's canonical motivations from s1 - the craving for power, the homophobia, the fetishizing obsession with masculinity, the contempt for the crew who work under him, the cruelty, the sense of entitlement to control ed's life: they've been convinced that none of that stuff is a part of izzy's character. but when you take it all away, you end up with a guy who would never actually do any of the stuff izzy canonically does in s1. and if you gave him any other motivations that pushed him to do other stuff instead it would become really obvious this is just a completely different guy (there's several OTHER genres of canyon fic where they do exactly that and it is super obvious this guy just has nothing to do with izzy anymore). so you end up with a character who does absolutely nothing except stand around in the background of scenes gazing at edward thinking sad thoughts about their dying relationship and every once in a while the author remembers to have him say "fuckin' twats."

so i was thinking about this today and what hit me like a lightning bolt is this exactly predicted what would happen in s2. the writers wanted to redeem him in one season and since all his motivations in s1 existed to push him to be awful, they had to resolve all of them as quickly as possible. so within the first half of the season izzy had let go of his creepy psychosexual obsession with ed and belief that he should control ed's life and his homophobia and contempt for effeminacy and learned to respect others instead of needing to dominate or be dominated.

but just like in those fics, this turned izzy into a character who no longer had any real personality traits besides saying twat sometimes, or any reason to actually do much of anything at all. and since the traits they got rid of so completely defined who he'd been up to that point, giving izzy any NEW motivations or personality traits would just make it really obvious this was functionally an entirely different guy.

this is the exact reason he was so boring in 2x05-2x07. with those traits gone there is no longer any reason for him to do anything in particular. the only thing they can do with him at this point is demonstrate that his redemption arc is complete by repeatedly having him do the opposite of evil stuff he did last season, and once they've checked off every box on that list, they have to kill him off because there is now nothing else he can possibly contribute to the narrative.

it's so funny to me that if i had taken seriously the lessons i learned from reading canyon fic i would have been able to predict at the very beginning of the season, as soon as it became clear they were speedrunning the redemption, that he would be dead at the end of it. those fics showed me exactly why there couldn't possibly be any compelling reason to keep a fully redeemed izzy in the narrative.

#394.

[vidavalor]

Hello & welcome! You'll find my masterlist & snacks in here...

Hello, gentle readers, and welcome to my Tumblr thing. I write meta analyzing Good Omens with a special emphasis on its use of language. On this blog, we've also been decoding Crowley & Aziraphale's etymology-based hidden language, which we've dubbed Ineffable Husbands Speak, for a little while now. You'll find a compendium of posts related to that, as well as other theories and analysis, below the cut.

In this post, you'll find my meta masterlist. You can go to my original welcome post here to read more about the content of my blog. This post contains links to meta on language and characters. You can find story analysis meta here, theories here, and silly stuff over here. 💕

Meta on Ineffable Husbands Speak & Overall Use of Language in Good Omens

Crepes: Introduction to Crowley & Aziraphale's hidden language & an analysis of the 2008 minisode in 1.01 & how it shows the nature of their relationship

Fish: A deep dive into what the deal is with all the fish references and what the show seems to be suggesting about how sushi, Camelot, Rome and The Bullet Catch can tell us about how Crowley & Aziraphale first became lovers

Crowley and Plosives: Why Crowley pops consonants & what it has to do with his hiss

Non-Frozen Peas: First of two metas about Aziraphale's French in S2

Canapes: Homophony and what Aziraphale's French in S2 has to do linguistically with Vavooming and Crowley's couch in the bookshop

Bread: Ella Fitzgerald, Jesus and blasphemous innuendo

Tip Top, Thank You and Tickety Boo

The Yiddish in The Blitz, Part 2 & "No Nightingales"

Crowley calling Aziraphale "baby" in 1.01

The etymology of Aziraphale's name

Jiggery Pokery

Odegra & The Language of The Dark Priesthood of Ancient Mu

Grice: On the language in Muriel's notes

On the language jokes relating to sushi, pigs, and hat stands

Alpha Centauri

The romantic implications of the improper use of apostrophes

The OK sign's historical ties to Vavooming

"Wily and "Thwart"

"Technically"

"Bored" and "Board" and "Wrath" and "Wroth"

"Suspishous Ears"

Crowley's barely-coded "I love you" to Aziraphale in the Muriel scene

On use of "friend" in Ineffable Husbands Speak

On horses, The Arrangement and the innuendo in the 1601 scene

The hand flick that means 'couple'

The rubber duck

Vol-au-vents and nightingales

"Constitution of an ox"

On Aziraphale's magic words and why the antagonists are called the redundant-sounding Nazi Zombie Flesheaters

Aziraphale doing Bildad hands in Rome

"Quite sure"

Requested examples of references to Crowley by Aziraphale using language with feminine connotations

To "explode" a theory

"Put on the cuffs... I'll come quietly."

Flaming Sord

"Comes of putting it up your sleeve."

"The Amazing Mr. Fell"

Sleight of hand

Aziraphale petting Crowley's arm in 1827

Getting into a scrape

"Perfect" and "gorgeous"

Aziraphale booping Crowley's nose with the magic coin in S1

The Blitz, The B-Side and Baraqiel

"Perfectly safe"

The Arch Arch-Traitors, Err, Traitors Association

"Toss you for Edinburgh", salads, and wordplay around rings

Cobbler

"Come for me"

On 'The Maltese Falcon' & coded language

"Angel's Food Cake"

"You say 'potato' and I say 'eggcellent'..."

Aziraphale's hands are magic

"Help could come from an unexpected quarter"

"Will you get into trouble?"

"I opened the door for you."

"My dear fellow"/Mr. Fell

"PROF HOFFman"

On "Anthony" and Aziraphale getting used to it

On Professor Rossignol, nightingales, skeleton keys, references to the ancient Egyptian god Ra and the wordplay around freemasonry.

"Nice dress. Suits you."

Muriel and 'My Fair Lady'

Character Analysis Meta

If you're about to ask how Crowley & Aziraphale could already be together & your rationale for why they aren't is the 2.06 kiss, you should read this post

A short look at one of the reasons why Aziraphale keeps a journal

Aziraphale always open the bookshop door for Crowley

How 1827 explains why & how Aziraphale stopped changing his look

Crowley's smudged lipstick & walk in 1941

On Aziraphale in the 1967 scene and the Holy Water arc

Some thoughts on what The Serpent & the food kink suggests

A short look at Gabriel and Crowley parallels

In defense of Gabriel and on S2 highlighting his and Aziraphale's quiet depression

Shax, Crowley and the Hot Water Boiler metaphor

More on Shax's pash on Crowley & Crowley's big reputation

Mr. Brown of Brown's World of Carpets' pash on Aziraphale

Gabriel's use of 1950s-era American slang in S2

The Original, Original Sin Theory: What "I Forgive You" really means

Gabriel spending an episode in a blanket (this is not a deep analysis lol)

On how Maggie & Nina contrast with Crowley & Aziraphale

On the dessert choices during the body swap

Crowley using the evidence envelope as a frame

On Crowley & Aziraphale's paralleling scenes on buses in S1

On praise kink

Mrs. Sandwich's ball outfit & Before the Beginning

Aziraphale lying to Crowley about how he did the magic trick in 1941

"I don't think you understand what I'm offering you."

Tantric Eye Gazing

The Ineffable Husbands-ness of Gabriel's bookseller outfit

Suggestions in the story that Aziraphale & Crowley are using knowledge of The Proust Effect to try to minimize the risk of memory loss to Aziraphale

These posts contain discussion of SA:

Satan's attacks on Crowley and Crowley's PTSD

Lindsay doesn't just parallel Heaven but also Lucifer

Crowley, Lucifer & Mrs. Sandwich

Crowley, Aziraphale, possession and opera

[morganas-pendragons]

till we were too far gone | master chief

@empresskadia inspired me to continue writing this, on top of my recent rewatch of s2 -> so here's the next part of my series, which drops into parts of episode 2. the next part will combine 3 and parts of The Fall of Reach!

I was listening to Cassandra by Taylor Swift (this series is based off of You're Losing Me by Taylor Swift) when I wrote this lol SO if there's references to that in here, oops

***

You cannot help the urge. A natural human urge, a desire, to meet him in his spot on that bench where his soul calls to yours. You can't help it.

If only John would take it.

"What are you doing here? How did you find me?"

"Like I said," You removed your hood and slipped inside the room. "I know you. We need to talk."

There were so many things you could've said in those few minutes that passed after the door shut. You knew he had questions about Ackerson, about what Ackerson had asked you and what he'd said to you in that initial meeting following your return from Sanctuary.

Do you think that, at his core, The Master Chief is broken?

The longer you'd looked between John and the AI that bore a remarkable resemblance to Cortana, the more you were beginning to question if he was.

"I don't know what Ackerson said to you," You said quietly, gaze averted to the floor as you fidgeted with your fingers in your lap. "Or why you've been so on edge recently. You haven't breathed a word. I don't expect you to. I just... I need to know."

"Know what?"

"When did you stop trusting me?"

His form is imposing as he stands, green eyes shifting to the side to stare at the dormant AI. Your breath catches at the sight. There hasn't ever been a time where you've found yourself intimidated by John, much less afraid of John. That was then.

This was now.

"When you became one of Ackerson's lackeys and refused to tell me what he was saying to you!" John hissed. "Why wouldn't you say anything after you left his office when we debriefed from Sanctuary? What did he ask you? Why were you in there so much longer then the rest of us?"

You almost want to hit him for the clear implication behind his questions. John, the man you have loved for so long now, either thinks you are a liar or a spy for ONI. It's enough of an implication for you to retaliate. To lash out. To use your own anger and do something about it.

You don't. Instead, you reach outward to cradle his hand in your own and press his fingers against your cheek. You don't speak for a long minute.

"You've been angry since they took Cortana out," You said. "I used to be someone you trusted. Someone you confided in." Your lips are poised to say someone you love, but you're a little too hesitant in that thought because he's never outwardly confirmed it for you. Better to deny than assume. "I am capable of many things, but containing that fire that's been building in you.... I don't want to be burned."

All of the rage and defiance that's made him imposing in these precious moments of privacy deflates as soon as John recognizes the fear behind your words. He willing to be perceived as many things by the people around him, by the public eye.

He is not willing for you to see him as someone to fear, as a threat. Not when The Master Chief still struggles with comprehending the way he feels about you.

"Soles," John started, swallowing the knot in his throat as he moved his fingers to tangle in your hair at your temple. "There are alot of people I would burn without fear of repercussion. Most of them deserve it. But you-"

"What about me?" You interject.

I would burn down entire galaxies if it meant that you were kept safe.

John doesn't give voice to those thoughts though. He can't. Not with Ackerson sniffing around, not with the two of you in ONI's crosshairs. He will not risk you.

Before he can give some kind of sufficient answer, the door is opening with another client wanting to come through. Your hood rises on instinct before you are disappearing out the door as fast as you came, leaving nothing but the phantom feeling of your warmth under his fingers.

***

"And you're sure?"

"Of course I'm sure, Kai. Have we met Mr. Emotionally Repressed and Has a Death Wish?"

Kai snorted as you narrowly blocked her attack and pivoted your feet to navigate across the gym floor. You'd spent the last few days actively avoiding The Master Chief unless you had a reason for direct contact. Kai had been a welcome reprieve from the constant torment of your thoughts. She provided plenty a distraction from them veering back toward John.

That was where they always went.

"You know him as well as I do, Soles," She murmured lowly, grunting as she blocked your own strike with both of her gloves. "And you know he cares. Ackerson coming in to take over for Halsey is a problem. He's just trying to keep you safe."

"He doesn't need to keep me safe. He needs to stop treating me like I'm the enemy! Or even worse, a liar. I may be many things. A weapon, sure. A soldier? Yeah. A liar? Not to him. Never to John."

Little known to you, Kai is incredibly aware of the actual reason John is trying to keep you off of Ackerson's radar. He and Parangosky could collaborate and have you sent back to the Headhunters without a beat of hesitation if they believe you could be an asset to the war elsewhere. With his reawakened affection and desire to protect you, he won't be risking it.

"Sierra-343," You turned your head toward the door of the gym where a crew hand donning UNSC blues stood with a cradled datapad in her arm. "Colonel Ackerson is asking for you at the ONI building."

Dread flooded your veins as you relaxed your body and began removing your gloves. That was twice now. What on Earth was Ackerson so insistent in getting out of you?

"Duty calls, 025."

"Give him hell, 343."

You dressed back into your flight suit and took the quickest route to Ackerson's office in the ONI building. What you found waiting for you was John, who seemed to be in heated conversation within Ackerson's office. The person in question who was looking for you was lounging comfortably in his chair behind his desk.

You jumped out of sight before either man could see you.

"She has no recollection of what you say you encountered on Sanctuary."

"That's impossible. Did you ask Silver's newest member? Our Headhunter can tell you. They were there with me on the ridge."

"I haven't. They're far more loyal to you than I anticipated. Regardless of whether or not they were to agree or disagree, that's not the point." Ackerson waved a dismissive hand. "Put yourself in my position, John. Given your recent behavior... would you trust you?"

"You can't win this war without us, sir."

"And you're right!" Ackerson exclaimed. "We need The Master Chief. I need that Headhunter. We all do. But John, at the end of the day, you're both just people in suits."

You slipped out of your corner by the wall and folded your hands behind your back as you approached the office. The impassive expression on Colonel Ackerson's face shifted into something warmer as you approached, beckoning you deeper into the office.

Things were beginning to make more sense. Ackerson was the problem. He was far too interested in you. In what you knew about John.

If distancing yourself saved him, you'd risk it.

You'd rather him be alive and hate you than love you and be dead.

"Sierra-343, thank you for coming to see me. Please." The Colonel extended a hand before his gaze fell back to John. John had not moved since you'd entered the room. "Master Chief, you are dismissed."

Unease licked at the corners of John's mind as the two of you met eyes, if only for a moment, before you were turning back to the chair offered to you and sitting in it to speak to the Colonel directly.

Whispers of disbelief echo in the back of your mind.

It's Ackerson. He's the problem. He and Parangosky are going to be the end of you.

"I'm assuming you heard the duration of that conversation." Ackerson idly remarked. "And I come to ask you this question again now that I am aware you have. The Master Chief has made it clear that you were present with him and Perez during this supposed attack on Sanctuary."

You leaned forward and pressed your elbows into your knees, expression impassive. "No matter what I tell you," You replied gravely. "You would not believe me. Why would you? You have no concrete proof, so there's no reason for the UNSC or ONI to take up arms against a threat. You'll just do it when it's too late and Reach is a graveyard." You nod. "Yes, I was there on Sanctuary. The Master Chief and I directly encountered Covenant Sangheili and were overwhelmed by the mass of them. We do not know why we made it out, but we did. Are you inclined to believe me? Unlikely."

"It sounds like you blame ONI for the losses The Covenant caused. I would expect you of all people to comprehend the magnitude of what they can do, as you suffered and survived it first hand during your time on The Exalted. Your team did not."

Ackerson wants you out.

You slammed your hand against his desk and shot upward. "The losses I endured were because the UNSC did not do anything. You had your best weapon in your own grasps with Cortana and John being a singular unit. You botched that." Shrugging, you sat back in your chair and crossed your arms over your chest. "I'm going to be frank with you. I do not care what happens to ONI. Not you, not Halsey, not Parangosky. The only thing I care about is that your continued pursuit of my past is causing my team leader to treat me differently, and your continued denial of The Master Chief's recounting of Sanctuary is sowing doubt among Silver Team. We are supposed to be unified, not disjointed!"

He smiled. That Colonel, damn him, looked up at you and smiled.

"You've given me quite a bit of information that will prove vital to my investigation, Sierra-343. Thank you. I can certainly ascertain the extent of what he sees in you." Ackerson extended a hand towards the doorway of his office, and you felt your heart sink as your eyes followed his clearly offered exit. He had gotten exactly what he wanted. "Dismissed."

You did not allow your head to hang until you were alone in the elevator. You would not give Ackerson the satisfaction of knowing how defeated you felt.

***

"We're being called out for a mission? Seriously? To where? I thought Keyes had grounded us until further notice."

Kai tossed you your helmet as the two of you stood at your lockers. "Visegrad Relay. Chief says that's Cobalt's last known location. He wants us to find them as a way of preparing for when The Covenant land on Reach."

"He's getting more reckless," Your eyes slowly shifted to the other side of the room in search of John. Part of you, a deeper part you would never allow to see the light of day, was wondering if he'd finally had enough and went AWOL. "I miss Cortana. She kept him far more in line than any of us ever could."

"You severely underestimate your own role in his life, Soles." Kai called over her shoulder.

"This is the same man who implied I was a liar and a spy in one breath!" You whipped around to face your sister in arms, eyes brightened by the ever-constant anger you've felt begin to settle itself into your bloodstream. Spartans are made of quite alot of things. Part of you wonders if your child counterpart was as fueled by their anger as you are. "I don't know what they did to him, but that is not the same man I treated on that medical table. Ackerson is trying to warp the story and turn us against one another. Don't let him ensnare you too, Kai."

There's not much left to say after that. Kai wants to encourage you in remembering who John is as a man - someone who would always put the betterment of his men ahead of himself, a soldier who saw very little importance in his own life and would always go to great lengths to ensure everyone else made it home.

You had been the one to ensure he came with them. The one to remind John that there was someone to come home to. To drag his bloodied body back in your own arms, determined to keep him alive and to teach him the importance of his own life alongside his men.

You needed him alive. Not because the UNSC did to fight their war, but to continue to walk this path as a Spartan and allow yourself to love in the way you believed he loved you.

Maybe that too was just another dream. Everything he'd done prior to Cortana being removed felt as if it were a dream, slipping out of your fingertips before you could grasp onto such precious memory.

"Do you know what happened to Cortana?"

The question in itself causes you to pause. Now that it's been asked, you realize that you don't. You don't know what happened to Cortana.

Why? Why was her location so secret, especially given the fact she was such a crucial asset to the UNSC's intelligence network?

Where are you, little love?

***

"Copy that, Bravo. 3-2 out."

You peered at the cockpit from where you sat in the bay with Vannak, Riz and Kai on the Pelican that John had commandeered. "No training?" Vannak called out. "I thought we were going to Longhorn valley."

"Sad." You pouted playfully, laughing when Vannak turned to glare at you. "I was looking forward at pounding all of you into the dirt."

"Change of plans," John interjected. "We're going to Visegrad Relay. Riz?" With a motion of his head toward the cockpit, Riz nodded and stood to her feet to take the pilot's seat in the front of the Pelican. "The comms array on Sanctuary went down just before The Covenant attacked. Visegrad went down a few days ago. They sent Cobalt. We're going to get them back."

"Chief, with all due respect, I really hope you are not sending us in blind." You replied uneasily. "Are we cleared for combat?"

"Affirmative."

Something tugged at your stomach as you watched his eyes deliberately avert yours. Liar. You are a liar, and a hypocrite, and I will never forgive you if this goes south.

For someone who had shown and claimed he cared so much about you, it felt like the two of you were standing on opposite ends of the chasm waiting to fall. Too far gone to attempt to reach the other on the other side.

It was just a matter of time before the darkness took you both.

You and Kai were ruminating on too many questions that both of you knew were going to be left unanswered.

"What exactly is the mission?" Kai asked.

"The Covenant is on Reach."

part three?

[samiwife]

Hi dear ... could you write something in honor of Devon's birthday, since he's one of our favorite guys ... It's nice have someone with the same taste. Devon it's soo cute S2

Yeah of course <3 Thanks for the request <3 (Sorry for the slow updates, life stuff)

The Idiot Savant ੈ✩‧₊˚ (Devon Bostick X Reader)

𓆩♡𓆪= Smut

ੈ✩‧₊˚= Fluff

⋆ ★= Angst

𓆩⟡𓆪 = Headcanons

Devon has always been an idiot. He did things that always resulted in him always getting in trouble or hurt. Sometimes even both. You never knew why he did this but you always assumed it was because he was bored and he just wanted to entertain himself. The past weekend was Devon's birthday. You and Devon had a party with a bunch of friends. Things got insane fast. People were breaking stuff and being loud. Not for long, Devon became part of the chaos.

"Devon stop! you're going to hurt yourself!" You yelled at Devon who was standing on a fragile table. Devon didn't listen to you, he was clearly drunk. You quickly grabbed Devon by the arm and led him down. Devon groaned and grabbed a few more beers. You gave Devon a terrified look. Devon smiled faintly and began laughing.

"Sorry babe, but let loose. I'll be fine." Devon said holding you tight. You let go of Devon and sighed. You were afraid that Devon would do something more stupid than before.

"Okay just be careful. I don't want you in the hospital on your birthday." You said concerned while letting go of Devon so he can run off with his friends. You watched him wander off to his friends who gave him more beer. You sighed and walked to your friends. They noticed you looked worried.

"Hey Y/N, are you alright? You look worried." One of them asked you. You looked at them and sighed in worriedness. You sipped your beer and cleared your throat.

"Yeah I'm alright but I'm just worried about Devon. He always does some dumb shit and I'm afraid he's going to get hurt." You explain to all of them. They all comforted you saying it would be alright since you knew Devon knew better to not hurt himself. Which is right. Devon wasn't a complete idiot. He was smart but sometimes his common sense wasn't there. As you slowly began to worry less, your sense of concern grew bigger when you heard a loud crash from downstairs. You and all of your friends rush downstairs to see what happened. You saw broken glass everywhere and a broken wooden chair. Then to your horror, Devon is on the ground bleeding from his fragile hands. You rushed to his aid, trying your hardest not to cry.

"Oh my god! What happened?" You asked while laying Devon in your lap. "We dared Devon to do a handstand while drunk to see if he could do it. But he fell off the chair and broke his fall on a vase." One of Devon's friends explained. You took a huge breath to calm down.

"Okay thanks for telling me, come on Devon let's see how badly you got hurt this time." You said while lifting him up. You carried Devon to the bathroom as everyone else continued to party. You placed Devon on the toilet seat as you searched through the bathroom cabinets for a first-aid kit. As you searched, you could hear Devon's slurred words.

"I'm s-sorry Y/N, you were right. I am an idiot." Devon said through slurred words. You turned your head to face Devon. Devon's face was sorrowful and he began to cry. Your face fell soft from Devon's tears.

"No Devon, it's okay. You're not an idiot. You just make bad decisions that's all." You said facing him. You caressed his face while wiping his tears. Devon smiled faintly and closed his eyes.

"If you hurt yourself, I will always help you." You said smiling and gently stroking his face to calm him down. Devon opened his eyes and stared at you faintly. You let go of Devon's face and opened the first-aid kit.

"Now, how about I help you like what I promised." You said grabbing injury tape for Devon. Devon smiled and nodded. You grabbed Devon's hand which was injured and began wrapping it up. Devon winced at the pain from your wrapping. You became a lot more gentle.

"Sorry Devon, tell me if it hurts so I can be gentle." You said to Devon. "No, I'm fine. Thank you Y/N." Devon said with a weak smile. You finished up wrapping his hand and when you were done. Devon looked so happy. Devon grabbed your hand gently and pulled you closer.

"Y/N, you are always so kind. How could you be with an idiot like me?" Devon said looking down at the ground. You sighed and gently grabbed Devon's chin making him look at you.

"Devon, you are an idiot but you are my idiot that I will forever take care of." You said reassuring Devon that you do love him no matter what. There was a silence until you leaned closer to Devon. Laying your lips onto his. Devon closed his eyes and fell in your kiss. You ran your finger through Devon's hair as you kissed him. Eventually, you pulled away.

"Don't ever think that I don't love you. I love my goofy boyfriend who is my little idiot." You said smiling at Devon. He looks down and blushes brightly at your words. Soon enough, Devon was strong enough to go back to partying his little heart until the next morning when he slept on the sofa. The next morning you walked past the sofa where Devon was and kissed his forehead as he slept.

"I hope you had a good birthday." You whispered as you gently ran your fingers through his hair.

[melissa-titanium]

ok funny thing id like to say about mp100 before i finished it. i genuinely thought s3 was gonna end in tsubomi being the most powerful esper / some kind of evil spirit.

i didnt realize that the conveyor belt rejection scene was just part of mp100s senseof humor i was like fully convinced tjere was some underlying crazy shit there. also tsubomi's anime girl aura in s1-2 vanishing in s3 i thought was because mob absorbed toichiros powers in s2 and became more powerful THEREFORE not being under tsubomis psychic influence.

also all the digs at being able to cloak ones aura. like how being able to hide your psychic aura/trace was something only incredibly powerful espers could do . the factthat mob never noticed tsubomi as an esper being that she always cloaked herself.

also tje scene with mezato in s3 where she goes up to mob and is like. why DO you like her? and he cant answer. i was like. OH MY GOD GUYSSS ITS BECAUSE SHE'S PSYCHICALLY INFLUENCING PEOPLE TO THINK SHES COOL AND AWESOME AS FUCK BUT FOR NO SPECIFIC REASON AND MOBS GONNA REALIZE IT. GUYS. GUYS!!!!!!!!!

/ALSO/ tsubomi getting bored with mobs powers being "wow another esper as powerful as me!" and then her powers surpass him without him noticing and shes like aight thats enough.

again this was everythng i thought before the actual s3 ending happened . which was bomb as fuck i wouldnt give it up for the world but i think tsubomi most powerful esper is a cool au idea i might expand on it cause i was like. GENUINELY fully convinced that was gonna happen. i usually peg endings pretty well but i was so off mark its hilarious. i thought we were gonna get a typical beating the epic supervillain we didnt know was there all along!!! ending like most animes (mp100 is actually the first anime ive watched so dont fucking trust me on this LOL) but i was sooooo so off the mark. and im glad i was. ok im done gn

[beevean]

Rewatching NFCV with @woodchipp and @the-crow-binary has been miserable so far.

Not because of them, of course: we all need each other to bear the Peak. but holy shit I forgot how mindnumbingly boring the show is. it's way worse at a second watch because now I know how much it falls apart! We're only at S2E3 as of this post!

S1 is the best season, and even that is largely forgettable, especially S1E3 which wastes 22 minutes of my life to say "here's the bishop. he's proof that CHURCH BAD". But S1E1 may be the best or second best episode of the whole show thanks to Dracula and his performance... and isn't that sad, that the show peaks at the very beginning? The rest of the show is just... Trevor doing his stuff (while the framing mostly makes fun of him), talking, some fighting, and CHURCH BAD. As positives, I still like Trevor's mini-arc in this season, and the vague effort to be faithful to CV3 (Sypha being petrified by a cyclops, falling down a chasm to find Alucard).

S2 is terrible. Yes we're still less than halfway through. I already hate everything.

I hate Alucard becoming a legend to the point that the Wallachians name his Alucard (as in, Dracula's opposite) after only a year - why couldn't he name himself Alucard? Why complicate matters so much? Isaac calling him Alucard, and Dracula recognizing the name, makes absolutely no sense: how do they know about it? Dracula lost contact with his son one year ago and I doubt Wallachian human legends have reached him. And Isaac was in the Sahara until sometime after Lisa died!

I hate Alucard himself. He's a cunt. He does nothing but insult Trevor and the Belmonts without provocation, and it's not funny banter, he's mean! He's genuinely cruel! He hears that Trevor lost his family at 12, and he can only say "lol and lmao I had more of a childhood than you. anyway they were mentally ill and child killers, they sacrificed chickens and hoarded dead cats". And this piece of shit is the most popular character of the show??? he's not even pretty what are y'all seeing 😭

(it's also weird how he's all angsting about killing his vampire father, but he hates the Belmont for being vampire hunters. bro. bro you're also about to hunt a vampire. why are you defending a race of monsters so staunchly. not even a hint of, I don't know, a Belmont hurting him when he was a child because he was confused for a full vampire? Remember that logically, a vampire child is a child turned into a vampire, we have no other indication that dhampirs are running all around the world. I know that in the games he seems fully on board with "vampires bad and me bad for being half vampire", but you have the chance of making it better and you squander it?)

Sypha is also ruder than I remembered. I think she suddenly became more cheerful in S3 and that's why I liked her, but also girl, you keep criticizing Trevor for being rude and not consoling you, but you look at him with a perpetual resting bitch face and insult the Morning Star calling it an "ugly thing"? Why does Trevor even bother with the likes of you? How is Trephacard the most popular ship in the franchise?

I hate Isaac. Oh, I gave him the benefit of the doubt back then, because I really wanted to understand why he became the fan favorite. But now? No, I'm sorry, he's overrated as fuck. He's so damn pretentious, his speech about how he wants a pure world without love is terrible from the lens of him being a Muslim who is devoted to the Devil, and his backstory is so tryhard and historically inaccurate that I almost prefer Hector's past being exposed through voiceover.

Oh, and Hector, I hate his scenes. Because he's actually treated with dignity. He's fine! I actually like the guy! I like the scene where he rebukes Godbrand (who as a character only exists to attract infodumps and to question Dracula) because "I have to work" - he sounds actually proud of his role, if not even competent, perish the thought. Also by reading the scripts online I forgot that he was the one who yelled "you do not question my loyalty!". Which I like a lot? I can hear the real Hector protesting like that out of pride, even if in private he would admit that he disagrees with the bloodshed. And the scene where he soothes the newborn Night Creature... yeah, this character used to be written with respect, and knowing how he gets tortured and disrespected and used for rape apologism by a sex pest hurts even more. Also, in retrospect, the scene where he stares at the fire while reminiscing about the day he set fire on his own childhood home doesn't go anywhere, even as the finale of S3 echoes it :^)

And Dracula, oh my poor man Dracula. He's already being presented as an ineffectual depressed old man spending his time staring at a fireplace, who can't even command his presence in the war room, who allows Carmilla to insult him and Lisa in front of everyone - it's so embarrassing how he gets the Red Eyes of Fury and then he simply... lets her go after he gets the flimsy explanation of "yeah I humiliated you because everyone is asking themselves the same question. I wanted to help <3" girl (Dracula), she's a mere regional ruler, as she herself said??? why do you need her so much that you allow her to do this shit??????? oh but then you posture to godbrand, he gets to be threatened because... he's not relevant to the plot i guess. fucking pathetic. what have they done to my man.

(and I hate Carmilla. but that has never changed. annoying smug ass #girlboss with the charisma of spoiled seafood. her way of manipulating Hector isn't even manipulation, it's just her telling him very plainly what she wants him to do. She and Lenore utterly suck at their job, and they only get their way because muh plot)

And then there's the infodumping. Oh my god these people won't shut the fuck up. Godbrand is like "why should we listen to two humans?" and Dracula dumps twice that he trusts Hector and Isaac for their human nature (which, again, it's a decent reasoning, but it goes on and on and even they should know, I get it). Alucard dumps about the apocalyptic scenario where Dracula wins and rules over a world without humans... but he only describes it as we look into his ugly face, instead of doing something more creative like actually showing what would happen. Hector gets this random flashback-through-sound, shoved there as if Ellis didn't know where to put it in the script; later on he explains to Carmilla the origin of Night Creatures, as if ever remotely matters. Isaac dumps about his jihadist philosophy about how by killing humans he and Dracula will create a pure world. Carmilla randomly reveals her Tragic Backstory after kicking Godbrand down the stairs, another scene I can't stand because it's all about what a #queen she is and how she's better than Dracula. At one point they seriously discuss about the myth of vampires unable to cross running water, which is a moot point anyway because Carmilla resorts to using a zombie bishop to bless the river!! No I will never let it go!!!

(also I love that in the one occasion where Alucard has the chance of describing his childhood, he retells the tale of Lisa meeting Dracula, something we've already seen and he was also obviously told about, not something he experienced himself. They couldn't even come up with another anedocte to actually tell us what kind of mother Lisa used to be. so lazy)

This show is half people sitting in a circle and talking, and half average fight scenes. Yeah at this point not even those impress me anymore. I'm serious when I say that Knuckles' fight scene in Divergence, also animated by Powerhouse Animation Studios, is of a better quality than what the show has offered.

And this is why I'm so reluctant to watch Nocturne. If the best seasons of this highly acclaimed show are so painful to sit through, how are we going to survive a sequel series that not even the fans liked it as much?

[a-cloud-for-dreams]

Okay, I caved and downloaded Romance Club😭😭 Does anyone have any good story recommendations? I'm still gonna be on Choices and post Choices content (and finish off the books on my reading list). I just feel like I need to stop relying on one storytelling app

Ugh, this is such a weird feeling! It reminds me of when I switched from Episode to Choices and I had to acclimate to the better quality of stories imao. I just wanna ✨expose myself✨ to more interactive apps and since Storyscape or wtvr doesn't exist anymore this is the closest I can get

And The Haze Will Take Us (UP TO DATE)

Kali: Flame of Samsara (UP TO DATE)

Astrea's Broken Heart (UP TO DATE)

Heaven's Secret: Requiem (UP TO DATE)

Chasing You 2 (UP TO DATE)

W: Time Catcher (UP TO DATE)

Love, Sin, and Evil Vol. 1 (UP TO DATE)

Garden of Eden (UP TO DATE)

Soulless (UP TO DATE)

7 Brothers (UP TO DATE)

Song of the Crimson Nile (UP TO DATE)

Legend of the Willow (NEXT DIAMOND RUSH)

Heart of Trespia (NEXT DIAMOND RUSH)

Psi (NEXT DIAMOND RUSH)

Chasing You (STARTED...)

Sails in the Fog (STARTED...)

Dracula: A Love Story (STARTED...)

Rage of the Titans (STARTED...)

Hell and Highwater (STARTED...)

Shadows of Saintfour

COMPLETED

Kali: Call of Darkness: 9/10; love the MC, the characters, the story progression, the Dozen lore, replayability, etc. but gets a point off for its problematic depiction of Indian culture and Hinduism) tbh it deserves an extra point or two off because I despise the way Remy clearly wrote from a Eurocentric perspective, but this is also the first RC book I read after the slew of mid Choices books so I got attached unfortunately

Theodora: 9.6/10; I got the ending where I was only able to save my soul and it made me sad 😭 the story was well written but there were parts where I was just a lil bored. At least, that’s how I felt initially before I became obsessed with the book. It's objectively amazing etc. but I feel kinda robbed from screentime with the OG characters if that makes sense? Either way the writer did a great job writing them into the plot in later seasons and the MC is so amazing I love her <3 it’s not easy to write the progression of multiple relationships already but to have a different set of likable LIs every season is incredible!

Arcanum: 9.8/10; THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD omg I love how the plot came full circle and the MC was interesting and well-written (her character design was also top tier). It's such a unique concept for a book I love it. I feel like S3 could have gone by a lil quicker (along with a couple of other nitpicky things) but that could just be because S2 was so full of action

Heaven's Secret: 9.9/10; I just started its sequel, but I was pleasantly surprised at how engaging this book was! I like the gradual progression from being a new student to slowly learning the truth behind your death and about the academy. The final battle scene was super cool, and I feel like everything had a logical explanation (ex. Shepha only having power over light). I also like the different pathways of being an Angel, Demon, or Harmony Bearer (which I was!) it was really fun and seems like a replayable book <3

The Desert Rose: [review pending, check later]

The One Volume 2: [review pending, check later]

Vying for Versailles: [review pending, check later]

Sins of London: [review pending, check later]

Heaven's Secret 2: [review pending, check later]

[queermediaanalysis]

What the hell happened between the production of American Gods s2 and 3? Like it started with the reveal of Wednesday being Shadows dad, and I read the book, so I already knew it, but I was so confused by the reveal, went back to the s2 ending, and it came out of nothing? in the series. (They hinted at it, throughout, but Shadow didn't have a revelation) Also the plot turned into a romance hallmark movie. I know the lakeside part is kind of dull in the book as well, but the show had introduced soo much interesting sideplots than dropped it. Killed them with Mad Sweeney tbh. Laura and him were such a strong pair in terms of storyline and now they just ended that in the most boring way. (I liked the Romeo and Juliet paralel in the cemetery tho) Also I feel like they don't know what to do with Salim but made him even more of a central character anyway. It is so frustrating, because the first season was so strong, and the third could have redeemed the smaller problems with the second. Like... it became cheap? Is that the right word? I'm hoping the Anansy boys can revive it, so the story can be finished. Because it had so much potential.

Also the fuckin fan edit type montage of Sweeney when Laura is remembering him, with the romantic music... that made me laugh, I'm sorry xd

[avelera]

OK, so, I have now seen Good Omens Season 2 and had a moment to muster my thoughts after binging it.

SPOILERS below the cut, if that needed saying.

--

Let's start with the good.

Loved that Beelz/Gabriel became canon. What can I say? I love stories about immortals falling in love over the course of several meetings at a pub ;)

John Hamm in general was fabulous

I cackled at the fact we were getting an actual fem Aziraphale/Crowley, human coffee shop AU running parallel with the absolute fanficciest of justifications that Aziraphale and Crowley HAD to make them fall in love in order to *mumble mumble* something plot whatever, lol

I loved the bits of lore flashbacks we got about Aziraphale and Crowley first meeting when they were both angels and I found the whole Job encounter overall charming.

I was deeply fascinated by the fact that Crowley consistently performed selfless angelic acts while Aziraphale consistently needed to learn and grow around doing the right thing. Even to the end he remained, for the most part, a good little soldier. Aziraphale thinks the system can be fixed. Crowley "knows" that it can't. Presumably, Crowley is right. More on that later.

Muriel was adorable

Loved that we got the kiss. Also, huge shoutout to the fandom that I genuinely went in unspoiled on that front after the whole trailer debacle. I SUSPECTED based on the reactions that the spoiler was a kiss, but I was able to successfully forget all about it so I genuinely gasped when they kissed.

I'm not really all that bummed by the ending. It's so obviously a "temporary breakup so we come back together stronger" moment so I was largely unbothered. I actually want MORE angst, not less, in fic after that, please and thank you.

Unpopular opinion praise for S2, but I'm glad we didn't get more of The Them, or Madame Tracy (though the recasting of the actress in another role puzzled me?) or Anathema/Newt, or any of the non Aziraphale/Crowley, Heaven/Hell stuff. I found all those plotlines hugely boring and I'm glad the story moved on from them.

Did I mention I adored Gabriel/Beelz? Loved that plotline. Might rewatch that bit again just for that. I SORT of suspected it was happening but was still delighted by the confirmation. I couldn't BELIEVE this minor ship got made canon, but along the way I was sort of side-eying Beelz's reactions through the lens of, "Wait, what if Beelz is WORRIED for Gabriel?" and it worked very well so I was tentatively *glad* for the shippers who might view it that way and NEVER guessed they'd make it canon this season with more than a few tidbits for those shippers to cling to. Wow. Whole-ass parallel instead of what Aziraphale and Crowley COULD be if they actually 1) communicated and 2) understood each other's values and valued the same things.

Truly, it was a love letter to the fandom I found that to be very sweet as a choice made by Tumblr Girlie Neil Gaiman.

H'ok, now let's get into the negative. To be clear, I enjoyed the season! A lot of room is left to explore stuff in Season 3! And I'm not a deep Good Omens fandom person, I didn't read much fic after S1 dropped, I was more of a book fandom fic person for it. So my level of investment isn't such that I'm *crushed* by any of this, these are just more things I found a bit "meh"?

I really thought we were heading to a side-swap story about Aziraphale and Crowley and I was little bummed it didn't happen, though there's still room for the possibility in S3. The whole "maybe I did the good thing and you did the bad" taken to the max. I really wanted the angst of them finding each other only to end up on opposite sides again and opposite-OPPOSITE sides of where they'd been and been comfortable up to this point. I really wanted to see IMPACT and SUFFERING and DISCOMFORT and... idk, more drama? Than we got?

Like, there were SO MANY references to Crowley being selfless and doing the RIGHT angelic thing while Aziraphale did a lot of HORRIFYING things, including all the mind-fuckery stuff he did around the ball, totally insensitive to the needs and wants of the humans involved, only seeing them as tools, that REALLY made me wonder if we were getting a swap by the end.

The fact we saw SO MANY ominous references to Aziraphale FALLING because he was tempted by Crowley, over and over, because he questioned God, over and over? I thought something would come of that! I thought Crowley would get through to Aziraphale just in time to have Aziraphale fall and for Crowley to do something truly angelic, to have Aziraphale get through to HIM at the same time so they'd swap sides officially, against their will, the same way Crowley never meant to fall. It seemed like falling was something that COULD HAPPEN TO YOU AGAINST YOUR WILL and I wanted REDEMPTION to work the same way, AGAINST Crowley's will. I wanted them to get absolutely FUCKED by the moment they finally got through to each other and swapped philosophies.

So that was a bummer. Could still happen in S3 but...? I'd be a bit surprised at this point given I think it will instead focus on (*sigh*) averting the Apocalypse again.

I thought the pacing was fucking atrocious. There was so much dead time. So many scenes that were simply *not* needed and didn't add anything. So much meandering script with darlings that desperately needed to be killed for the sake of a snappier story. So much that felt like padding. With a better editor and 2 fewer episodes, I think it would have been a much tighter, better, fast paced show.

S2 recalled with a problem I have with Neil's writing in general - he's a short story writer/comic issue writer at heart. I, personally, am a long-form novel writer. Neil is not great at writing novels, he's a novella/anthology/short story person and it shows when he so often, so consistently, fails to pull a long-form story together in a satisfying way (to me, and this is just my subjective opinion).

It shows up in so many ways with how, in my opinion, S2 seemed to flounder with how to fill 6 episodes. The flashback to the Resurrectionist stuff could have been half as long and I found much of the writing pretty awful and cliche in it.

I liked Aziraphale learning that morality is complex, truly, but that was all I really liked of that bit of flashback and it could have been much shorter. I found everything around Elspeth exasperating and on the nose. It was a short story straight out of a random issue of "The Sandman" and sometimes it really feels like Neil has never managed to break out of the same stories, plots, and themes, with a dash of horror as he did from that era. He's always, always, still just writing either 1) fanfic of another person or mythology's work or 2) an original Sandman short stories/issues with no long-form plot. In his defense, they're always COOL and have an interesting VISUAL or IDEA but these stories aren't very... good? Writing? Or rather, he tends to just do the same things over and over again. Nifty idea that don't actually really *gel* into anything more complex than a single storyline?

I felt the same way about the Nazi Zombie plotline. I found that entire story beat EXCEEDINGLY tedious and pointless except to fill airtime, not to mention a bit gross to watch. I found the Magician Aziraphale plotline in general EXCEEDINGLY pointless and tedious to sit through. I thought it added absolutely nothing and was incredibly dull for 99% of the story.

Everything with Shax was exceedingly tedious and boring to me. The fight in the bookshop felt nonsensical and poorly choreographed. That needed to be a 2x speed to feel any sense of peril or urgency at all, and not knowing where it was going, or if anyone was actually really threatened at all just robbed it of any real sense of tension.

There was just... zero sense in general of important stakes in the Shax storyline or really in the season because there was no Apocalypse to build towards, no event that we knew about to worry about.

The world wasn't ending. Shax didn't seem empowered to actually do anything or hurt anyone. They were just a random action plot for... reasons? To make the climax in the bookshop come together so we could have a Jane Austen ball at the same time as 69 demons (heh) invading? There were so many logical leaps there to make that happen and the pacing/editing being garbage just... robbed it of any feeling of importance except as a time waster of a plotline. The actress is great and all but dear lord was that plotline dull.

A lot of the flashbacks in general just felt like... padding. Yes, we got a bit more Aziraphale and Crowley but they never quite... worked for me in those. It was always pointless STUFF they were doing rather than anything that contributed to the plot or even to my sense of them being in love or working towards becoming a couple! They were just... there, a lot of the time, sitting next to each other.

Some of the script pauses were SO BIZARRE. Like as if they'd just written the script and not realized how bloody often Crowley is given NOTHING TO DO in the background so he just... stands there, waiting for his next line, or taking a nap, or observing random stuff. David Tenant in the Resurrectionist bit with all his theatrics felt, again, pointless and tedious but also the best the poor guy could fucking do to fill out this incredibly boring story with any sort of entertainment. Bless them, the actors worked their ASSES off to get some fun and excitement into huge swathes of this script.

Maggie and Nina's relationship was cute but ENTIRELY pulled off by the actresses, the story was again, incredibly tedious and pointless otherwise, as many coffee shop AUs are in my opinion. Their personal charm elevated the material but it all felt like more stalling tactics with a wink-and-a-nod at fic writers, with this entire season was stretched out to justify, presumably, Aziraphale being in Heaven after being promoted to Archangel while Crowley is on Earth and they're fighting.

Quite frankly, if the "real" sequel, which Pratchett co-wrote, just opens with Aziraphale thinking Heaven's shown up to destroy him, only to promote him on the spot, basically the last scene of S2, you actually don't need 99% of this season at all to get there. In fact, it's a pretty fun comedy beat to do quickly. Basically, "Oh shit, the cops!" then "Actually, we're here to promote you!" and boom, we've reached the same spot as we got to after 6 episodes of S2.

Not that I didn't enjoy many of the character moments! But overall, it felt like stalling for time to make it a trilogy series, since only a few plot threads had any longer term importance to anyone who isn't a fanfic-writing super fan who knows what a coffee shop AU is and can giggle over there being one in the actual show.

Basically, it was very lacking in the strengths of the story that I attribute to Terry Pratchett - like the ability to pull a long-form story together, and certain clever turns of phrase.

There were so many lines where there was a pause where it was as IF they were going to say something clever, and then they just... didn't? And the line was just another cliche or a trail-off of someone mumbling "comedically"? That's where I very much felt Pratchett's absence. It indeed felt like half the writing duo was missing in many ways. And I'm not personally... all that convinced of Neil's chops when it comes to long-form stories or romance, two things that this season kinda relied on pulling off right that I was left feeling pretty tepid about after.

Look, overall, I did like it! I'm really excited for how the fandom will run with what happened and make their own stuff with it. I'm very excited for Season 3, whenever we get it, and the return of Terry Pratchett's fingerprints on the story. I think it's going to be great!

It's not that I think my time was wasted so much as I thought places where *I* would have done things differently, which is not a fair criticism of any work. From a technical perspective, really I just think it needed a tighter script or tighter editing, and they just might not have been able to do that if they were contracted for 6 episodes when they only really needed 3. Oh well. Onward and upward!

[dramalets]

2024 Watch List pt2

Mr Unlucky has no choice but to kiss - Very, very cute and silly without being slapstick. This gets a bit lost in its own soup and after about episode 4 it drags some. Also just a bizarre and somewhat anticlimactic ending. The leads are lovely though and they do work well together. 3/5 (22/2/24)

What did you eat yesterday S1 - Just perfect. Watching Shiro & Kenji grow together over the episodes is a treat. This is as warm and tender as it is brilliantly observed and funny. A true must watch. 5/5 (24/2/24)

The Sign - This just got lost in itself. It had moments of absolute perfection but there were, for me, too many threads it didn’t tie up. Personally I liked this show the most in its procedural show parts and less in its fantasy elements, where I feel it had the most work to do. This isn’t one I’ll rewatch but I did enjoy the journey. 3/5 (25/2/24)

If it’s with you - Lovely is the best word for this. Just a little warm hug of a thing. A sweet story of first love. 4/5 (26/2/24)

I became the main role of a BL drama - Very soft and silly. Not much happens but the leads are lovely and fun to watch. Would kind of love a spin off about the managers if I’m honest. Zero complaints. Just a cute, easy, quick watch. 3/5 (27/2/24)

Kabe Koji - Very enjoyable. Absolutely loved the manga come to life concept of this one. It was super fun to look at. Personally, I think this could have done with maybe 1 or 2 more episodes. Neither character felt as explored as I would have liked. A nice watch nonetheless :) 3/5 (27/2/24)

The Man who defies the world of BL s1 & 2 - This is so unbelievably funny and well observed. Atsuhiro is a master at comedic faces and they never feel slapstick or overdone. Loved every silly second. 4/5 (28/2/24)

Candy Colour Paradox - This isn’t the best acted thing and the chemistry is only so-so it also really starts to drag in places. (Inserting Izuka Kenta into a multiple episode arc was a choice because he’s incredible and it only serves to highlight the so-so of the leads.) Having said all these things it still has a charm and I still enjoyed watching it. Just perhaps not one I’ll be itching to rewatch or suggest to friends. 3/5 (28/2/24)

Perfect Propose - A sweet six episode watch that’s really all about being human. Kai has to realise that being part of peoples lives is both terrifying but necessary and Hiro must learn to value the role he plays in the world. Just a gorgeous little watch. 4/5 (1/3/24)

Kei x Yaku - Is this a BL? Not really? It’s more like gay romance is heavily inferred but here is a messed up, lovely little found family so enjoy that. This is so much fun and I can’t rec it highly enough. Very much just tune in and have fun. 4/5 (1/3/24)

Cherry Magic - Zero notes. Absolute perfection. TayNew supremacy. 5/5 (2/3/24)

My Personal Weatherman - Just bored me honestly. It’s not bad but it’s not as good as some make it out to be. I think if I’d watched this before the novelist I might have liked it more? Not something I’ll reach for again. 3/5 (3/3/24)

My Beautiful Man s1&2 - This is very Japanese and, on paper, should not have worked for me at all. In practice tho? I loved this. I understand the reasons this is controversial but I also think if you go into this without any of the disk horse you’ll just see it for what it is; a love story between two broken boys with piss poor communication skills and self esteem issues. 4/5 (5/3/24)

My Beautiful Man Eternal - This movie is the third part of the beautiful man series. I genuinely think you could skip s2 and go straight in for this. It delivers what I would have wanted, but was impossible to give in four episodes, from s2. We see Hira and Kiyoi’s growth as individuals and also together and we finish with them as equals, with Kiyoi speaking to his king Hira. Beautifully shot, excellently acted. Will watch again. 5/5 (6/3/24)