#but then the dynamic between the cats will be wildly different

[simplytemonade]

The cats you'll see at the nyAsakura Cat Cafe

[tasmanianstripes]

Maybe it's the result of my main fandom for the majority of my life being one where canon just genuinely doesn't exist, where there are so many different canons and literally any sort of interpretation of a single character is correct and can range from a moronic maniac with a chainsaw to a depressed old asshole boss, but

Literally who gives a fuck about canon?

Especially when the character is practically a blank slate or if it's an AU

Like, I'm sorry, but if you're butthurt about a mischaracterisation of a fictional character in an Alternative Universe then I don't think you understand what an AU is

[deconstructthesoup]

Just because I've been thinking about this, and because damn it I need to write this down somewhere, here are the family dynamics that appear in my Slay The Princess AUs (mostly the Enchanted AU, let's be real here):

-Thorn and Wild are Opportunist's moms and Witch's aunts, and Beast is either Witch's daughter or cat depending on the story. Either way, Beast is the youngest by far. (Den is always the family cat.)

-Cheated and Hunted are Paranoid and Broken's adopted redneck-adjacent dads. They've done their best to teach their kids about surviving in a harsh world, but one of them has anxiety and the other has depression.

-Cold and Spectre are always siblings, and pre-Pristine Cut, they were always raised by their grandmother, Wraith. Post-Pristine Cut, however, I've been debating figuring out some way to include Princess & Dragon as their mom.

-Fury and Eye of the Needle are Adversary's badass yet slightly scary moms, who also count Stubborn as their semi-adopted son due to him literally being Adversary's best friend. Stubborn's an only child with crust-punk parents.

-Nightmare and Tower are both only children raised by single moms (Moment of Clarity and Apotheosis, respectively), and it's definitely had an effect on both of them, just in wildly different ways. There is a clear difference between being raised by a goth and being raised by someone with a god complex.

-Razor and Stranger are adopted siblings with parents who are very, very loving, but very, very normal. God knows how they were able to raise a metalhead and a cosplayer.

-Damsel and Prisoner are always identical twins, and they are always raised by the Greys. With this in mind, I'd say that Happily Ever After and Cage are their older sisters.

-Smitten and Skeptic are those twins who are technically fraternal, but the differences are subtle enough that you kind of mistake them for being identical regardless. Whether or not their parents are still around depends on the story, but they are always Rich Boys.

-More often than not, Quiet and Shifty are Hero's parents! They probably have a lot of other kids besides him, but he's definitely the oldest.

-Contrarian's family, fittingly enough, differs wildly depending on what story he's in. Either way, he's a middle child.

[windybreeze12]

I am so very late sksksksk but you have asked, and I shall provide. Welcome to today's episode of A Fangirl's Analysis of DBD and today we have:

Edwin and The Cat King

okay now listen to me. I love payneland so much. I think they're amazing both romantically and platonically. BUT GOD THESE TWO.

I am very sick and tired of people trying to hate on this pair because honestly it's like we didn't watch the same damn show. Yes he's old beyond comprehension and yes he is very much attracted to Edwin (and to an extent vice-versa) but yall are completely overlooking the fact that without the Cat King and his infatuation with Edwin, most of the things that happened in DBD wouldn't have happened. Dare I say, all of the events of DBD.

Yes, it was the Cat King who was also the reason for the boys to go through all the events both good and bad but can we please stop forgetting that he also actively (actively) tried his best to help Edwin (and Crystal and Charles by association).

And can we also please stop overlooking the fact that even though Edwin is a teenager in a physical sense, he is very much emotionally, mentally, and in every other way, a hundred years old. Now, if Edwin were still as emotionally mature as a 16 year old, there would some ethical issues but we can very well see that this is not the case.

I find the Cat King to be a wildly interesting character. A fun sort of anti-hero if you will. A mischievous, fun-loving, playful and flirtatious character who's pining led to his boo being sent to hell (which honestly i find hilarious). Despite his sort of unpredictable nature, he still has a strong moral code and follows through with it. And we can also see that he is actively trying to woo Edwin like mans is showing up with vital pieces of information and saving Edwin just so he'll like him back. He's absolutely pathetic and I love him.

I love love love the last interaction we get between Edwin and the Cat King when he gives Edwin the lilies in honour of Niko. In that scene, it's subtle but clear that both characters have changed. It's obvious that Edwin has changed but it's also obvious that the Cat King has changed. Rewatching that scene i just keep finding new things and UGH. One important thing that stood out for me were the increasingly soft smiles he gave Edwin. These were less flirtatious and more understanding. Like he had already come to terms with the fact that Edwin would be leaving and mostly likely would have a different romantic path (maybe Charles) than him. Yes he is still very much a flirt and still trying to woo Edwin (because characters dont change like that overnight) but he does so with respect and boundaries. When Edwin didn't go in to hug him, he backed away. It's also super fun noticing how the Cat King kept freaking glancing at Edwin's lips when he was talking about how lonely they are.

And at the very end, when Edwin told him that he forgot to count himself, the smirk the Cat King gives Edwin is much less flirtatious and much more like the kind of smirk that someone would give when seeing someone as an equal.

Overall, I find Edwin and the Cat King's relationship to be extremely intriguing and very interesting to talk about and your honour, I love them.

Wanna see more interest dynamics like this? WATCH DEAD BOY DECTECTIVES!!! It's got dynamics like this and more and it DOES NOT deserve to be cancelled so please please PLEASE go watch it <3

[smokeybrandreviews]

Lack of Conviction

Episode five of Ahsoka really hammered home how goddamn ridiculous the entire Clone War situation truly was. Watching Ahsoka on the front lines of that Geonosis battle, a fight where she was canonically fourteen or fifteen, was ludicrous back in the original show, but seeing the character in that situation portrayed by the age appropriate Ariana Greenblatt was f*cking jarring. Greenblatt is sixteen years old, splitting the difference of Aksoka’s age range throughout the Clone Wars. She’s as close to a real, teenage, Tano, that we’re going to get and it is wildly apparent that she is a CHILD. The goddamn Jedi Order, was sending child soldiers to fight in a trade war against an analogous Sith overlord and his army of drones. I don’t care how good at space wizarding your teenager is, they are still just a goddamn teenager! And Ahsoka wasn’t the only one. Barris Offee immediately comes to mind! The age you become a Padawan Learner to a Master Jedi is around twelve. That means there were children as young as twelve taking laser shots to the face, not to mention the wholesale slaughter of these cats during Order Sixty-Six, because of a goddamn trade dispute. How f*cking ridiculous is that? Anakin even said the quiet part out loud when addressing Ahsoka’s hesitation. He told her that Obi-Wan trained him to be a peacekeeper, but Anakin was training Ahsoka to be a soldier. That sh*t was the intent. That was the plan. That was the whole dynamic; Train an army of child astro-sorcerers in the ways of war, by throwing them headlong into one. From anyone’s point of view, that’s f*cked up and lends credence to everything Poppa Paps was talking about. Imagine trying to convince the ludicrously powerful Chosen One you’re in the right, when the only other person outside of his mom and wife whom he genuinely loved, was put in his charge to turn her into a weapon. And then when she turned out to be a fantastic one, they cast her aside the second someone gets murdered in those hallowed Council halls. Cats give Anakin sh*t for slaying them Younglings but how are the Jedi any goddamn different? They literally use children until they are used up. I can only imagine the trauma the kids who survived will have to endure. Hell, we’ve seen a few of them already. Ahsoka, Cade from those absolutely dope games, Hera's dead baby daddy, and that one chick from Kenobi; None of who are healthy, well adjusted, stand-up adults! Absolutely emotional train wrecks, the lot of them!

More than that, this episode proved to me just how much of Anakin is in Ahsoka. They mirror each other as much as Ahsoka and Sabine. It's wild to see in live action, especially getting that from Hayden who finally got to play a complex version of Anakin. Clone Wars went a long way to redeeming that character but seeing him actually force a catharsis in Ahsoka was rough. I've seen them cross lightsabers before and it broke my f*cking heart. I've spoken at length about that, but seeing it here? Knowing this is training from a fully fledged Jedi Master Anakin? I cannot articulate how amazing that is. He pushed Ahsoka to her limits. Forced her to confront the grief and guilt she had for being a weapon, for abandoning Anakin. Hayden gave this role so much depth, so much emotion, it was just breathtaking to witness. Seeing him flit between Vader and Sky Guy was almost too much but it very necessary. It was necessary for Ahsoka. She had to see that, to come to terms with that, in order to move forward. She is everything Anakin is, even Vader, as demonstrated by those Sith eyes when she contemplated the unthinkable. Interestingly enough, even channeling the Dark Side like a champ, you can tell Anakin was concerned for his Padawan. Not that he would be killed, Anakin is beyond even that at this point, but that his Padawan, would fall like he did. Ahsoka did not. She chose life and Sky Guy gave her that smirk, telling Snips there was hope for her yet. F*cking everything. That last exchange was f*cking everything. Especially when you take into account that Anakin pulled her into the World Between Worlds to save her life. As a goddamn Force Ghost. What the f*ck does THAT even mean??

[hulloitsdani]

Okay so the idea of a Kiran and Grima friendship dynamic is honestly one of my favorites in FEH.

Grima as a character was always intriguing to me, but he only became downright fascinating in retrospect of FE: Echoes. Seeing where he came from made his rather two dimensional villainy in Awakening gain a surprising amount of perspective and depth. This is a creature made purely out of a man’s insane hubris and was cursed to walk this earth for thousands of years as a result. He’s essentially Fire Emblem’s version of Frankenstein’s monster. This gave Awakening’s nature vs nurture narrative a significantly more fascinating base to stand on. Made it a bit more character driven, as you can begin to see why Grima holds the perspective that he does. However, there has yet to be a proper scenario in which we get to sit with him and explore the ideas that promises.

Which is exactly why I love the idea of Grima and Kiran. I do not think their dynamic should be dedicated to redeeming Grima via the power of friendship, as that’s more Awakening and Chrom’s brand. But rather, I think Grima getting summoned to Askr would shift the focus of nature vs nurture away from Robin and onto Grima himself. Robin got the chance to question this via their amnesia and now Grima gets to question this via this second start in a world wildly different from the one he walked for lifetimes. And Kiran acts as the off putting yet well meaning embodiment for what that could possibly mean. They are a weird, pitifully weak creature who has somehow succeeded where the scientist that made him and no doubt countless others after him have failed: They have the capacity to control Grima. This automatically means Grima has no intention to let them live for long, but they hardly have the same goals as those ambitious fools. Outside the demands of every conflict the Order finds itself caught up in, Kiran only uses their power to have interesting conversations with weird company. And when I say “use their power” I mean have tea with malicious dragon deity without loosing their head.

It’s hardly enough to get him to stop him from plotting a murder, as it’s only a matter of time before this goes south in his eyes. But it’s… intriguing to see such a comparably unmotivated individual in a position of such extreme power. The piqued curiosity leads to a the formation of a genuine bond as Mr. Wings of Despair Breath of Ruin realizes, “oh shit, I’ve encountered a being I don’t want immediately dead” and has a major existential crisis about it. It’s adjacent to Power and Nyaako from Chainsaw Man, but instead of a cat is Grima is watching this chaotic tactician earnestly fumble their way through this position thrusted upon them. And despite the light years of difference between the both of them, these two come to an understanding of one another that isn’t quite feasible by anyone else.

Meanwhile cut to the outside looking in perspective and this all looks downright insane. Kiran has befriended Fire Emblem satan. Has tea with him sometimes. It’s chill. Don’t worry about it. They say to Alfonse, who is realizing there is something not quite hinged about his tactician. Anna is crying because how the FUCK are they going to house a dragon the size of a mountain range. Sharena has been making cookies to go with the tea to give to the god of ruin this whole time.

[lollytea]

what's a thing you love and don't talk too much about it as you would like?

Agsvdjnk I think I talk a lot about everything I love

Lets see, stuff I love but don't talk about every single day?

I love tigers!! They're one of my favourite animals I think they are so gorgeous. I also just love cats in general, they make me so happy.

I really really really love the late 90s Disney channel cartoon Recess. It's so well written and underrated and the characters are so much fun and well rounded. And it's sweet and down to earth and funny and AA!! I think more people should rewatch.

I have a long running special interest in Peter Pan. At least the idea of Peter Pan. There's plenty of elements of the adaptions that I am very fond of but I've spent my life on the hunt for a twist on the story that scratches my brain in a very specific way, like the 2003 version did. And one day I'll either find it or I'll make it myself.

Fairycore/fairytale/princess vibes stuff makes me very happy.

Anne With An E gave me intense brain termites it's so good!!! I've never read the original green gables books, but I'm really really attached to this show and their own take on the story. The bonds that are formed between the characters are the main draw for me, especially the friendships and found family.

I've seen Malcolm and the Middle so many times that its bascially just brain sedatives for me. I am so attached to that chaotic idiotic asshole family.

The Six of Crows duology!!!! Those books are SO good, I recommend to everybody who wants a series that will put their heart in a headlock. (There are more books in the series but personally I like to end the story with the duology. I've seen enough.)

It's not for everyone but I also love the Folk of the Air series. Just cuz I love toxic unhealthy insane dynamics, and also biblically accurate faeries.

Bojack Horseman is another comfort show, like Malcolm, except the vibe is wildly different. I love shows with an almost whiplashy balance between silliness and raw bleeding devastation.

Cardcaptor Sakura but everybody already knows that

FRUITS BASKET!!!! BRAINROT BAIT IF YOURE NOT NORMAL ABOUT CHARACTERS 🗣🗣🗣

Craig of the Creek!!!! Cutest cartoon I've ever seen, I love it so much :D!!!

There's this one show called A Man Who Defies the World of BL that I think is so so funny and I've watched it many times. It's about a guy who has discovered he's a background character in a yaoi manga universe and he's fighting for his life not to become a main character. Dodging hot men's advances left, right and center.

Lilo and Stitch is one of my favourite movies of all time!!! Especially Lilo and Nani!!!

[theclearblue]

For the ship ask : ZoSan - Zoro & Sanji and MobRei - Mob (aged up) & Reigen and SatoSugu - Gojo and Getou.... Thx

Thank you for sending this is in!!

Zosan

Ship it

Fun fact I was pretty against this ship at the beginning when I first started watching (now it's my fave op ship lmao). I think the turning point for me was maybe Water 7/Enies Lobby when they really start working together, and Zoro worries about Sanji on the sea train. But when it became my favorite was probably the Nothing Happened scene and also when Kuma is chasing the strawhats in Sabaody. Just the way they clearly care so much for each other and their dreams where Zoro first protects Sanji in Thriller Bark, and then Sanji is worried enough about Zoro in Sabaody to protect him over Nami??? Yeaaaahhhh I started falling down the Zosan well pretty deep after that lmao

I think what makes Zosan fun is that they fight ALL the time but it's like...play fighting lmao?? If you've ever had cats where they just bat at each other and wrestle but they don't really hurt each other, it's all in good fun and then they snuggle up to each other? That's the Zosan dynamic to me lmaooo. But also under that I think they trust and respect each other more than anyone, both in a fight but also with what they view as the worst parts of themselves. Lots of potential with them I think (also VERY interested to see how the Wano oath will come back around because it will...)

Hmm I think sometimes when people write Zosan they either lean too much into domestic sappy lovers or just straight up toxic lmao. They are the pinnacle of cranky old married couple so when they don't make fun of each other anymore or playfight well..that's not Zosan lol, but then sometimes people go way to far the other way where they don't like each other at all and scream at each other and miscommunicate and that's just not any fun either, there's a balance.

MobRei

Don't Ship It

Usually I don't like an aged up ship unless you're aging up both characters, it's hard for me to get past an age gap that big because it colors so much of the dynamic. Even aging them up I think I couldn't stop imagining Reigen as the cringefail older brother/mentor type of figure to Mob.

Hmm honestly maybe aging Reigen down to Mob's age might be ok? As like a childhood friends kind of thing instead? I still don't think I would see that as romantic though.

Hmmm I think this one just isn't for me sorry

Satosugu

Ship it

God, what doesn't make me ship it? I know Ij ust made a post yesterday where I was like "You could interpret them as brothers!" and like, you COULD but this feels like the most obvious romantic subtext of all time with every scene they have. But I started shipping them when I read Hidden Inventory/Premature Death, and then the ship became really solidified with a JJK 0 reread and with the Gojo sealing scene. Gay disasters of all time.

I've talked about this a bit before but just the way that there is nobody else for them, nobody will understand Gojo like Geto does and vice versa. They are a pair, until they suddenly aren't, and neither really know how to navigate that. I think they embody a lot of the core themes of JJK really well, about love and death and corruption and loneliness. I think there are just a lot of different avenues to explore them, from pre HI arc to Geto's descent to the 10 years in between to JJK 0 and to Shibuya. They really do it all lmao, and of course, I am tragedy enjoyer first and foremost and they deliver.

Geto gets woobified waaaayyy too much by satosugu lovers. He is undeniably a victim under the jujutsu system and his struggles are very painful and even sympathetic, but I think some satosugu fans really erase his flaws way too much and end up blaming Gojo for everything? Which I think is wildly unfair.

[neerdokells]

In With the Old, Part 6

The first week or so was a bit awkward. We used to live together, briefly, but the dynamic was wildly different back then. Neither of us seemed sure now what the nature of our arrangement was. Were we friends? Roommates? Was I something of an employee, working off my room and board? We would hang out and chat and joke, sitting close together, and one of us would rest their head on the other and it felt almost like we were still together. Then we’d be trying not to run into each other in the kitchen. Then I’d be asleep on her lap in cat form as she read a book, and then she’d give me a list of tasks to get done around the cabin that day and we wouldn’t speak the whole time. It was confusing, and I wasn’t sure how to ask about it.

But, gradually, we fell into a rhythm. She was growing more comfortable with me being around, and even started asking me to shift in certain ways for her. Cat came up frequently, either because there was a mouse that got in or because, as she explained, she was used to the cat she had at home lounging on her desk and my presence helped her write. But then there was the time she asked me to become a horse and rode me into town when she needed to get a new battery for the car, the time when I was a wolf to walk with her through the woods at night when she was afraid of what was out there, even a weighted blanket to help her through a panic attack one day after she learned inanimate objects were an option. But, most of the time, I was either in my natural form, or a human shape of my choosing.

Three months in, while I was washing the dishes in my human-sized fairy form, I felt her hand rest gently on my shoulder. I hummed and leaned my head toward it, and felt her other hand grip my side. She kissed my neck just beneath my ear, then lower, then my shoulder. She pulled me in tight against her body, and I felt her hand slide up my side and over my breast. “Portia,” I moaned. She shushed me, then turned my head toward her and kissed me on the lips. I closed my eyes and followed her lead as she turned me around and pressed my back against the pantry. She kissed me deeply, her mouth pressing into mine almost as if she intended to eat me. I went to reach for her, but she grabbed my hand and pinned it against my side, lifting me off the ground and pressing her body into me. I gasped for breath as she lifted me higher, her mouth moving down my neck to my collarbone. She stopped at the collar of my shirt, then looked into my eyes.

“I…I’m sorry, I,” she set me down and stepped back, “I shouldn’t just assume–”

“Please,” I whispered, stepping forward. “Portia, I know what I want, what I have always wanted. My path led me here, even though I didn’t know it.” I took her hands in mine. “I want you. I want my life in your hands.” I stepped forward again, wrapping her arms around my waist as I closed the distance between us. “I will be what you want me to be. I will be used how you want to use me.” I rested my head against her chest. “Do what you set out to do.” She squeezed me tight.

“Ever since you turned up at my door, I have wanted you.”

“Then have me.” She pulled back, took my hand, and led me to the bedroom until she had me positioned with my back toward the bed.

“Sit,” she said. I sat on the bed. “Lose the clothes.” I exhaled, and the outfit I was wearing evaporated into motes of light, drifting away from my body before fading into nothing. She knelt in front of me and took my cock in her hand. As she slowly began to run her hand up and down its length, she peeked beneath my balls. “And what do we have here? This was nicely hidden last time I saw you naked.”

“I told you,” I said, between deep breaths, “I don’t have a single sex anymore.”

“No, I guess not.” She ran a finger along as much of it as she could reach as I quivered. “And how does this work? If you cum, do both places react together?”

“No, they’re…they’re separate.”

“Fascinating.” She leaned forward and took my cock in her mouth, slowly working her way along its length as her tongue flicked around it. I moaned and fought to stay sitting upright as she worked, bringing me close and then backing off just enough to tease me and keep me on my toes. When I thought she would finally bring me to climax, she pulled away. “Lay down.” I let my arms give out and flopped onto my back on the bed, my legs still hanging off the side. “You were always so sexy when you were riding the edge,” she said, slipping two fingers into my pussy. “I can’t wait to see how this body squirms.”

She began to rub my clit carefully, intentionally, slowly. The few times I had masterbated in this way were fledgling attempts, unskilled pawing that got the job done without grace or a planned attack. But she knew what she was doing, and gave my cock just enough attention as she went that I stayed on one edge as I felt the pressure building toward a different one. Soon she was using her tongue and lips, sucking and kissing, moving carefully between the two centers of sexual pleasure. I couldn't keep track of it, after a while. I could barely think, my whole world compressing to her touch. I was at her mercy, completely. I was gone, absent, replaced by a moaning, dripping, shaking mess, a puppet being controlled fully by her hands and mouth.

Then she was on top of me. I felt her suckle on my breast, biting on my nipple and flicking her tongue over it. I bucked and begged, the noises coming out of me barely sensible as speech. Then her voice, clear as a bell, cutting through the fog of my brain. “Stay.” All the sensation stopped. I didn't know why, I didn’t know what she was doing or where she had gone. Just that last word ringing in my ears, as I desperately moaned but dared not open my eyes or move so much as a finger.

I gasped in shock when she slid the vibrator into me, and screamed when she turned it on. I had, to date, never been filled; nothing but fingers had been inside my new pussy, and all my imaginings of what it would feel like were crumbled to dust in the face of the overwhelming power of it. She climbed onto me again, kissing and fondling my breasts as she eased herself onto my eager penis. The vibrator got me first, and I heard her cry out as its movement transferred shook my own member inside of her. She was slow and deliberate, but had toyed with me for an exceptionally long time by this point. Shortly after the vibrator gave me an orgasm, I shot my load into her, and felt her clench around me as she took her climactic prize. “Stay hard,” she hissed, and my body obeyed.

I don't know how many times she got me off, or herself. I was lost in the bliss of it all, of being used by her, and just rode out wave after wave. When she rolled off and laid beside me, I couldn't summon the strength to move even enough to turn and face her. She leaned in close, her hot breath on my ear, and whispered, “good girl.”

I felt like I was melting as I passed out.

[smokeybrand]

Lack of Conviction

Episode five of Ahsoka really hammered home how goddamn ridiculous the entire Clone War situation truly was. Watching Ahsoka on the front lines of that Geonosis battle, a fight where she was canonically fourteen or fifteen, was ludicrous back in the original show, but seeing the character in that situation portrayed by the age appropriate Ariana Greenblatt was f*cking jarring. Greenblatt is sixteen years old, splitting the difference of Aksoka’s age range throughout the Clone Wars. She’s as close to a real, teenage, Tano, that we’re going to get and it is wildly apparent that she is a CHILD. The goddamn Jedi Order, was sending child soldiers to fight in a trade war against an analogous Sith overlord and his army of drones. I don’t care how good at space wizarding your teenager is, they are still just a goddamn teenager! And Ahsoka wasn’t the only one. Barris Offee immediately comes to mind! The age you become a Padawan Learner to a Master Jedi is around twelve. That means there were children as young as twelve taking laser shots to the face, not to mention the wholesale slaughter of these cats during Order Sixty-Six, because of a goddamn trade dispute. How f*cking ridiculous is that? Anakin even said the quiet part out loud when addressing Ahsoka’s hesitation. He told her that Obi-Wan trained him to be a peacekeeper, but Anakin was training Ahsoka to be a soldier. That sh*t was the intent. That was the plan. That was the whole dynamic; Train an army of child astro-sorcerers in the ways of war, by throwing them headlong into one. From anyone’s point of view, that’s f*cked up and lends credence to everything Poppa Paps was talking about. Imagine trying to convince the ludicrously powerful Chosen One you’re in the right, when the only other person outside of his mom and wife whom he genuinely loved, was put in his charge to turn her into a weapon. And then when she turned out to be a fantastic one, they cast her aside the second someone gets murdered in those hallowed Council halls. Cats give Anakin sh*t for slaying them Younglings but how are the Jedi any goddamn different? They literally use children until they are used up. I can only imagine the trauma the kids who survived will have to endure. Hell, we’ve seen a few of them already. Ahsoka, Cade from those absolutely dope games, Hera's dead baby daddy, and that one chick from Kenobi; None of who are healthy, well adjusted, stand-up adults! Absolutely emotional train wrecks, the lot of them!

More than that, this episode proved to me just how much of Anakin is in Ahsoka. They mirror each other as much as Ahsoka and Sabine. It's wild to see in live action, especially getting that from Hayden who finally got to play a complex version of Anakin. Clone Wars went a long way to redeeming that character but seeing him actually force a catharsis in Ahsoka was rough. I've seen them cross lightsabers before and it broke my f*cking heart. I've spoken at length about that, but seeing it here? Knowing this is training from a fully fledged Jedi Master Anakin? I cannot articulate how amazing that is. He pushed Ahsoka to her limits. Forced her to confront the grief and guilt she had for being a weapon, for abandoning Anakin. Hayden gave this role so much depth, so much emotion, it was just breathtaking to witness. Seeing him flit between Vader and Sky Guy was almost too much but it very necessary. It was necessary for Ahsoka. She had to see that, to come to terms with that, in order to move forward. She is everything Anakin is, even Vader, as demonstrated by those Sith eyes when she contemplated the unthinkable. Interestingly enough, even channeling the Dark Side like a champ, you can tell Anakin was concerned for his Padawan. Not that he would be killed, Anakin is beyond even that at this point, but that his Padawan, would fall like he did. Ahsoka did not. She chose life and Sky Guy gave her that smirk, telling Snips there was hope for her yet. F*cking everything. That last exchange was f*cking everything. Especially when you take into account that Anakin pulled her into the World Between Worlds to save her life. As a goddamn Force Ghost. What the f*ck does THAT even mean??

[kayasurin]

Granted, most of the romance novels I read are formulaic and from this one publishing house whose name I don't remember (Silhouette?), so this may be wildly off compared to self-pub romances and other publishing houses, but I agree with OP.

I think it's because (again, limited exposure to the genre) in romance novels, they tend to be very formulaic. Character A and character B tend to have a lot of similarities between one book and the next, even when they don't have series to run off of. There's always one person who's got a hardened shell due to past issues, and a second person who can bring them out of that shell and be vulnerable or whatever. Doesn't matter if they're out west, east, fighting fires, running a casino, whatever, and usually they're fighting each other like grumpy cats until they give in and inevitably end up agreeing to marry.

And also, this again may be because I pretty much only read romances published by one specific publisher, the plot beats tend to be nearly the same for every single book. Meeting, establish interest, usually sex, second doubts, feelings realization, lashing out because feelings oh no, usually sex again, resolution with confession and marriage proposal.

While with fanfic, we have a whole host of different characters. Sure, you can have trends like "the grumpy one is soft for the sunshine one" or whatever, but you can't switch one grumpy character for another and have it stay the same, because they're different characters that you're borrowing for the fanfic. Plus you already have the characters' backstories in fanfic, since everyone reading it is (presumably) already familiar with the character history you don't have to bring it up, ever, if you don't need to. While with romance novels, even when it's a series, you pretty much always have to establish that history somehow.

You have a lot more room to play with the different dynamics, and the fanfic doesn't (have to) follow established romance beats.

TLDR: I agree with OP, and I feel the difference is that published romance tends to follow established plot beats and character beats, while fanfic has a lot more room to spread out and have variety.

Is it just me but I feel like the way romance is written in fanfics feels like an entirely different genre of romance than the ones in books? I’ll die on this hill. Someone explain this phenomenon to me bc it makes no sense. Fanfic romance > book romance

[esther-dot]

I really liked your post on supposed sex life of Cat and Ned. I wanted to ask you about your headcanon for jonsa intimacy. I know you are weirded out by it because they are kids and even I am uncomfortable. Hypothetically what would be the scenario? I think Sansa while more romantic she is still wary of sex considering her encounters. Still she would like cuddling like Ned. While Jon did have experience, he would still more careful to Sansa.

(post being referenced)

Thank you! I love NedCat <3

I'll put the rest under the cut :)

So far the men who want Sansa are adults who have molested or assaulted her which means it isn't that Sansa is adverse to sex, just those men. Sansa is very innocent in this regard, but we haven’t seen her interact with someone who she has an interest in who reciprocates. She’s been the object of unwanted attention, and been infatuated with guys who aren’t interested, but we’re waiting for a mutual, non abusive, possibility.

I have written about her romantic quotes I think, but tumblr being tumblr, I can't find them! However, I had an anon recently who pointed to several quotes to indicate that Sansa does have an interest in sex. They mention several pertinent quotes, the way she is "wildly" in love, the idea of touching a man's skin, how even after she has been assaulted by the Hound she thinks that being undressed by friends on her wedding night as part of the bedding would be alright (link). So, while she is inexperienced, if she were with someone she trusted, it would make all the difference. NedCat has so many pivotal moments that you can kind of…map out an emotional journey for them, and I tied their sexual relationship to that, but we don’t have specific points for Jonsa yet? I mean, is Jon KitN or does he refuse and Sansa become QitN earlier? Or, is he king and they have a political marriage? Will Jon go South before or after the Others are defeated? Without knowing what our turning points are, it’s hard to know how their relationship will develop.

There was a lot of debate recently about the nature of their relationship as children and depending on how we read that, the dynamic is very very different. If you use the Sansa is a bully narrative, you’d expect Sansa to misidentify the tension between them as Jon not fully having forgiven her for childhood things and Jon misinterpreting certain inexplicable behaviors of Sansa (blushing, distractedness when he’s talking to her and lapses in conversation where she just doesn’t speak....) because he thinks Sansa looks down on him when in reality we know this is just Sansa when she is crushing on someone. If that were the story, there would be something simmering there and it could morph into a mild form of belligerent sexual tension all building up to Jon post parentage reveal saying something very bitter about how at least now he isn’t her brother and she can stop tolerating him which leads to Sansa trying to explain and inevitably kissing him. That got kinda fic-y 😆 Usually with that trope, frustration/anger turns to passion. You build until the tension breaks and parentage reveal works very naturally as that breaking point.

However, to me, Sansa was always the perfect little lady, detached from reality by virtue of living in her dreams and songs, disconnected from Jon’s world by virtue of gendered education and Cat's feelings regarding him. So I think to Jon, as much as he cares for all his siblings/cousins, Sansa is less a person and more an idea. The distinction between knowing about someone and actually knowing them. You can feel that discrepancy in how he thinks of his siblings, I think. There’s physicality, a tangible reality to his connection to them that simply isn’t there with Sansa. He fishes with Bran, fights with Robb, ruffles Arya’s hair, he watches Sansa. So, I think Jon views her very much as the princess in the tower who he would never be allowed to touch which means that he would have a sort of reverence for her that goes beyond his normal courtesy. 

We’re talking several barriers to physicality here (the above + incest angst) which is why I think Sansa would likely have to be the one to initiate anything. And, the reason she would feel free to is that by this point, they would have developed emotional intimacy. For NedCat, the sex came first, but I think we will have Jon and Sansa meeting each other’s emotional needs before they know the truth about his parentage, and because of their lack of relationship, Sansa’s romantic nature, and Jon’s ideals, they’ll be interacting in a non-sibling-y way without fully realizing what they’re doing. I think there would be touches that leave them both flustered, and then when the truth comes out, the emotional groundwork plus their physical comfort with each other will allow a healthy sexual relationship.

Ygritte’s personality manifested in the J/Y sex scenes/how they kissed. As a rule she was in charge, demanding, forceful. Jon isn’t that way on his own. His nature is manifested in how he gives Ygritte pleasure, rather than forcing her to please him. I talked about that a bit here (link). But, even though Jon has had a sexual relationship and Sansa hasn’t, I really do think the odds are that Sansa initiates. Martin likes writing women who are very comfortable with their sexuality/pursue guys they want, so I imagine Sansa is the one to kiss Jon, and that he is the one who protests at the idea of having sex before they’re married while Sansa (gently) insists that they absolutely should.

I am pretty adamant that nothing happens until they know about his parentage though, which, as I mentioned above, works as a turning point that allows Sansa to do something because she is overcome with relief. So, unless we get a political Jonsa wedding to unite their claims in the North, I think this happens purely because Sansa wants it, not as a matter of duty (again, a contrast with NedCat), but solely because she is in love. This would be true for Jon too. In fact, this is a nice contrast to both his and Sansa’s previous experiences in which Jon must have sex or risk death and Sansa is molested against her will, in that here, they have a lot of reasons not to give in, not to act, but their love will compel them to. This would be entirely about want.

But in contrast to some of the other relationships, the focus isn’t so much on the sex itself; it’s on their feelings. So, being near each other, making eyes at each other, holding hands, all the sweet beginnings of a relationship that neither has experienced would be focused on. All the giddy, sweet stuff would be what overwhelms, anything that allows them to just bask in their love, would give them a high. I think they would both love making out, a lot. And it would be difficult for them to ever just give a quick kiss because no matter their intention, it would just hit Jon, “Sansa loves me,” which is why they would be late to everything because let’s be real, will it end with kisses? No. A lot of Jonsa fic writers have imagined stolen moments in closets and empty rooms, and I think that’s pretty damn accurate!

And yes, I do think Jon would be careful with her, but I think this goes back to who she is to him. Sansa is the daughter of a great house, meant to marry the future king of Westeros, and Jon has lived his entire life believing he is her father’s shame, having to live with the pain of being a bastard and every idea that follows, and here, Sansa wants him, wants to be with him, purely because she loves him. The boy will be in awe. The idea that Sansa wants to touch him, that she wants him to put his hands on her...I think Jon would be mesmerized by every detail to try to assure himself it is real. And Sansa, because she is finally safe, free to choose what she wants, would finally have a time when her habit of romanticizing things dramatically undersold the experience.

I’m sorry it isn’t very detailed, anon, but I think that’s all I’ll say about it rn. Thank you for the message!

[squadrah]

ship ask - prosciutto/formaggio/ghiaccio :3

Send me two characters and I will tell you what my ideal ship dynamic is for these characters!

Oh, hell yeah! This has to be my favorite OT3 to think about because 1) these guys are my top three favorite members of La Squadra, hands down; and 2) I actually enjoy the idea of each possible pairing in this poly triangle. I have only written about Promaggio to date, so if anyone is curious, send me a ship ask for Prosciutto/Ghiaccio and Formaggio/Ghiaccio - but especially the former, because my vision for Proghia is wildly different from everything else that could be going on in Forghia, or in this three-style for that matter.

To my mind, this ship starts with Prosciutto and Formaggio having already hooked up, and Ghiaccio gravitating towards each of them for totally different reasons. On the one hand, to my mind Ghiaccio craves the sort of validation that actually means something, and Prosciutto is exactly the type of professional whom he could respect enough to actively seek his approval… and on the other hand, Formaggio is the sort of casually charismatic wild cat that someone like Ghiaccio would begrudgingly acknowledge to be "cool" because he himself struggles with presenting as self-confident and laidback in public. Now, Ghiaccio is self-conscious about all of this; there is no guarantee that he can get what he wants, but he can't help himself, so he starts awkwardly hanging around the charcuterie board. He might be observing them a little too obviously, he sometimes tries for conversation… and since Formaggio likes to tease and Prosciutto is so blunt, things would progress really fast once the two of them realized that Ghiaccio wants a bite of their Croque Monsieur.

And then I want Formaggio and Prosciutto to pair up on Ghiaccio and praise kink him into oblivion, but not in that "good boy" sort of way. I see that too often and I personally don't enjoy it. No, I want straightforward praises about his body and his endurance, about how good he feels, how strong he is, how great this is, on a very equal footing; remember, this is between three regular members of the team. The point is that Ghiaccio is completely melting from all this, he is absolutely putty in their hands all the way. From then on, he becomes this welcome addition to the fooling around, and gets more comfortable due to all the positive feedback and attention he is getting. Hell yeah.

[absolutebl]

This Week In BL

May 2021 Wk 2

Being a highly subjective assessment of one tiny corner of the interwebs.

Ongoing Series - Thai

Lovely Writer Ep 12 fin - that was a long arse final ep, but solid performances. I liked that we focused on the fallout amongst the side characters. (Very clever of them to depict Chap with Tae, his Y-Destiny pairing. Especially as both actors are slated for new BL roles with different partners again, The Tuxedo and You’re My Sky.) The camera certainly enjoyed wallowing in Sib & Gene’s separation, but that’s an Asian drama for you. They like to DWELL. (Frankly, I like a bit of wallowing myself.) I thought the inclusion of the “actual” writer at the very end thoroughly unnecessary. I don’t think they had to beat us over the head with the 4th wall meta quite that much. Still, this is probably one of the best BLs we’re getting from non-GMMtV Thailand this year. RECOMMENDED 

Y-Destiny Ep 8 - (Thurs) I found the first half uninteresting but once Casper the Friendly Gay showed up it was fine. The ghost reminded me a bit of Fuse from MIR. 

Close Friend Ep 4: (Just One Life) - is it just me or is Talay insanely charismatic? Anygay, the director got ahold of a drone for this one and would like us to KNOW ABOUT THAT FACT. Look, I just don’t think YoonLay have great chemistry but this was alright, cute enough. 

Fish Upon The Sky Ep 6 - This was a better installment than we’ve had in a while. I like the obsession vs love explanation from Mork, insightful if creepy. Meen & Duean are okay, I guess. A bit annoying. Everyone in this show is a bit annoying. But the wipe toothpaste then wipe eye crud got to me. Toothpaste in the eye, yech! And then I was all, oh that’s basically this show: toothpaste in the eye. It just reviewed itself. (Also why do they keep switching aspect ratio between the two pairs? It’s like they were filming with two completely different camera types... oh. ah. Weird, GMMTV usually doesn’t make mistakes like that.) 

Call it What You Want Ep 6 fin - I skipped to the last ep on this, I told you I do that sometimes to find out what happened. So CIWYW ends happy for the main couple, but trigger warnings on: eating disorders, suicidal thoughts, depression, mental abuse, and a few other things. If you don’t mind your BL dark, gritty, self aware, and honest then you should be okay with this show. But if your preference is for fluff, then there are other fish in the sky. Speaking of... 

Nitiman Ep 2 - Giving me My Engineer vibes. This is OLD school Thai uni BL. I kinda feel like it was meant to come out in 2018, the gap year that was, but I am SO GRATEFUL we’re getting it now. Pay TF attention FUTS this is how you redeem a tsundere uke. Also I love that Bboom is just a terrible flirt and the football match twist was great. I love this show.  

Top Secret Together Ep 1 - it’s out there but no eng subs. It’s an office set romance with multiple couples all tangential to one building. A bit stilted and low production values but I’m intrigued. I hope we get subs... eventually.  

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

HIStory 4: Close To You (Taiwan) Ep 9 - gets the safe sex gold star for lube + condoms AND a verse discussion? Not to mention asking for sex advice from queer fam? Is this a first in BL? Might be. (I still think it’s weird that product placement hasn’t jumped on the lube bandwagon, too slippery perhaps?) I like the embezzlement drama. I always enjoy good outside conflict playing to setting, and this is the kind to be easily resolved in next week’s finale. What a roller coster this series has been. 

Papa & Daddy (Taiwan) Ep 5 - I LOVE THIS SHOW. A heartbeat after i thought, “they better address what he’s doing to the girls he’s dating,” they did it. Clever scripting that. The messaging is gorgeous, the idea that pride and media coverage and knowing about a changing world can broaden minds and lead to acceptance was basically Taiwan making a case for itself paving the way for marriage equality in Asia. Genius. 

Most Peaceful Place 2 (Vietnam) Ep 1 (AKA 4) - dropped with subs and improved production values, someone is learning (or got more dough). The younger brother’s drama is a bit confusing, but I am here for cute boyfriends being cute boyfriends together. And I love that they took the seme’s previous pair (from Nation’s Brother) to be the faen fatale, very crafty of them. Even though it’s not a trope I like, there’s great chemistry all around. 

My Lascivious Boss (Vietnam) Ep 6 - I weirdly love this show, okay? I’m just hoping Long has known Minh’s secret all along and is playing a reverse long con cat & mouse game, waiting for Minh to tell him the truth. Because that would be THE BEST. I could do without the faen fatale but ya can’t have everything. (I’m so glad it’s not the standard 6 ep arc, MOAR!!!) 

Gossip 

Rumor is GMMTV Thailand started shooting Baker Boys (here’s the teaser trailer). This is a remake of Antique (AKA Antique Bakery) a 2008 Korean movie (you can watch it on Viki) which is a remake of Antique (a 2001 Japanese series) with is an adaptation of wildly popular manga Antique Bakery. Knowing the plot I’m not sure this will qualify as BL. I’m still predicting Lee gets his first gay kiss in this series from Singto. More details about this series here. 

Breaking News

Love Area release pushed out, reportedly due to C19. (source DramaCool) 

Be Love In House: I Do (Taiwan, of course, with that title) got a new softer trailer (no subs). It drops next week, May 19, 2021 on Viki. All the information I have is here. 

Tangential to BL 

Two BL-adjacent shows, both from Taiwan. 

I’m watching Love is Science? on Viki which has a het foundation, but it’s a good one. There’s a BL side couple who are on an enemies to lovers slow burn trajectory; featuring a disaster bi slut meets elegant bad ass super gay. So there’s THAT. The mains are an older career woman and the sweet boy from her distant past who has pined for her for years. (He is the softest sweetest service sub you ever saw.) Props to Taiwan for a seriously underused het dynamic. As usual in Asian rom coms the straight boy love interest is a Perfect Cinnamon Role (yes I’m looking at you True Beauty & Love O2O) but I find Taiwan’s version more palatable than Korea’s or Mainland China’s. It’s not finished yet but... RECOMMENDED. 

Starting this week is Love Outlet a 50 (?!) episode show about a mall that sells relationships. It is supposed to have a main gay romance, but it might be a side dish. Very little else known about it. Coming to Line TV.

Honestly, I’m at the point where if Taiwan makes it, I’ll probably watch it. 

Next Week Looks Like This:

Some shows may be listed later than actual air date for International accessibility reasons.

Starting:

Be Loved In House: I Do (Taiwan) 

Golden Blood (Thailand) we think, like Love Area this may be delayed due to surging C19 cases 

Love Outlet (Taiwan) we think 

Upcoming 2021 BL master post here.

Links to watch are provided when possible, ask in a comment if I missed something.

[animagician]

AAAA OHMYFUCKINGGOD THEY ARE

RUINING

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON

WHY

WHY

WHY

OH MY FUCKING GOOOOOOOOOOOOD

DREAMWORKS I FUCKING RESPECTED YOU

Let's fucking break this shit down, piece by piece:

we're gonna absolutely take a massive fucking dump on the end of the hidden world, with which the ENTIRE POINT WAS THAT DRAGONS WERE INDEPENDENT

NO MORE HUMAN RIDERS

THEY CAN COEXIST ON THEIR OWN, THEY'RE NOT JUST STEEDS ANYMORE

WHICH IS UNDERLINED BY THE FACT THAT TOOTHLESS (for whom it was a MAJOR plot point that he couldn't fly) BECAME THEIR FUCKING KING, AND CAN NOW FLY ALONE!

but No! we are going to first destroy that,

then come back with animation that is fucking lifeless as all hell and does not have ANY of the distinctive sweeping motions and exaggerated flight paths that MADE HTTYD's dragon's so beautiful.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1448287508173926412

LOOK AT THAT TURN

IT LOOKS LIKE THEY JUST FUCKING ROTATED IT IN BLENDER

WHY??? GIVE THE ANIMATORS MORE TIME TO ACTUALLY MAKE A PRODUCT DESERVING OF THE SERIES YOU ARE CONTINUING???

THEN!!!! We are going to get RID of fucking

VIKINGS

THE MOST IMPORTANT PLOT POINT OF THE ORIGINAL SERIES

and sure, ok, maybe that was getting worn out. let's replace it with something cool then! maybe a take where it's set in south america, or even asia to play off of dragon myths and folklore in that region (while still undermining THW's ending, but we'll let that slide for now)

ACTUALLY NO

WE'RE SETTING IT IN FUCKING THE MODERN ERA AND USING THE STUPID FUCKING "MISFIT KIDS BROUGHT TOGETHER BY FATE" TROPE

so they are taking what made how to train your dragon amazing (all of these kids who are so wildly different interacting)

and making it the most BLAND shit possible

instead of them being cousins, or childhood enemies, forced to grow up with each other hating each other and now working together, ANY of the actually interesting dynamics from HTTYD

you are making them be the kids of Scientists. Who Come Together To Investigate Something and Suddenly have to Work Together!

fuck off dude

THEN

FUCKING THEN

THE CHARACTER DESIGN

ONE OF THE BEST PARTS OF HTTYD

gone.

reduced to atoms.

hello, generic white boy no #31232138912371. i think it is very cool that you have near perfect features and no discernible flaws or fun things to mess around with in animation!

i also enjoy the fact that this series (which hinges so much on the fact that hiccup ISN'T the cool kid) is making chad mcfuckface over here the protagonist. compare the picture you have just seen

to this

THE ONE PERSON WHO HAS NO DISCERNIBLE FLAWS (tuffnut) is INHERENTLY SET OFF BY THE FACT THAT HE HAS A TWIN

fucking TRAVESTY

then there's the dragon design.

i don't really know how to put the dragon design into words, and why it feels so wrong.

but there's a MARKED difference between

this toothless knock off with fucking cat ears

and the SKRILL

the THUNDERDRUM

the SCAULDRON

the TIMBERJACK

i can't add any more images because of tumblr but

JESUS CHRIST MAN

they are taking a series that defined my childhood.

deliberately setting it in the exact same universe and thereby affecting canon.

and fucking ruining it.

i am not excited.

oh well.

in my heart of hearts, this will always be the pinnacle of how to train your dragon, and anything that they make from 2021 onwards can fuck right off if it doesn't agree with it.

[bonesandthebees]

Ask game: 7, 15, 23, 43!

<3

- ❄️

snowflake!! ty for these they seem so fun!! also, i'll get to your analysis asks about stars soon, i've actually been busy writing the next stars chapter for the past few days but i'll make sure to answer them before i finish and post the chapter

7. Any worldbuilding you’re particularly proud of?

literally all of the worldbuilding in stars which I think is obvious lmao. I think some of the aspects I'm most proud of for that though is just how well everything fits together? like, how the backstory for zephys iv and the antarctic empire influences the personalities of phil and techno and how the changes the entire dynamic of how sbi interacts, or the contrasts between eldingvegr and zephys iv in design and atmosphere because of these differing histories, etc etc. also just the science behind a lot of the planets, especially eldingvegr. like the way the winds work because of the temperature contrast between the night and day side of the planet is super cool to me (and although we don't know it for sure, could be hypothetically scientifically accurate!) my fixation on astronomy i had when i was 15 really helped me out there lmao

15. What’s your favorite AU that you’ve written?

this is so hard because all my aus are soooo different. like if we're going from a worldbuilding standpoint? probably either stars or the someone else's dream universe because that's some of the most unique and creative worldbuilding i've ever done. if we're going from a storyline standpoint i'd probably say stars. if we're going from a self indulgence standpoint then i'd say honey and tangerines. so it depends on the criteria for favorite au since all i write are wildly different aus lmao

23. What’s a trope, AU, or concept you’ve never written, but would like to?

well, i technically HAVE written a soulmate au before with the goose fic, but I haven't ever sat down and written a legit soulmate au before—at least not for this fandom—and i'd really like to! I actually have a one shot idea in the works for a platonic soulmate au with crimeboys, so we'll see if i end up finishing it :D i just love soulmate aus in general so idk why I don't write them that much

43. If you take/write prompts: what’s your favorite prompt fic that you’ve written?

this is a boring answer but i've never written from prompts before really. I guess I have in past fandoms when I've written for exchanges? but I've only done a few of those over my 7 years in fic writing. for one exchange years and years ago (not for dsmp) my only prompt was 'summertime' and 'it has to involve an animal' so i wrote a fic about the main ship running around a city at night trying to return a lost cat they'd found on top of a roof. it was very fun and i was super proud of the end result lol

ask game!