#but we both like honestly respect each other's opinions even if we don't agree

[creaturebloom]

idk i think a lot of people fail to realize that most other people are, in fact, just people also

[grison-in-space]

Hi! Just wanted to say, re:veganism discourse: Excellent Opinions, Great Delivery, Immaculate Vibes 👍 have a great day :)

cheers, ty! it is honestly sort of surprising to me that folks are reading along--as I said to someone else in DMs, I kind of figured that response was mostly something I was putting together in my own head, so I'm pleasantly surprised it's resonating with other people.

I am also just. :| not thrilled to have to be typing up all these "and here's how caring about animal welfare can radicalize you down all these shitty pathways if you add X and Y and Z" because at the end of the day I do think all species are worthy of basic respect; at the end of the day I do think there's nothing fundamentally better about me as a human than any other species. At the end of the day it actually matters a lot to me that my research mice are kept with as much enrichment as I can give them and that their lives and bodies and effort are honored and used wisely. It matters to me that the dogs I teach and the people I teach to train their dogs are learning with minimum stress and maximal confidence. These are all really important planks of my personal code of ethics!

It sucks to feel like I need to sit down and enumerate all the reasons that I think this other perspective of people who start in the same place I do--animals are neat individuals who encompass both the alien and the familiar, which share our lives in a multitude of ways--has developed in such a way that I think it encourages a really toxic way of relating both to animals and ourselves. In general I prefer to focus on places where I can agree with other folks, even if their opinions are different from mine. Someone in the notes brought up "struggle sessions," which are kind of the epitome of toxicity within the left: good values and a desire to help one another get so channeled through perfectionism and backbiting that you wind up with people gathering to literally torture and destroy each other. (Not just in China, either; it keeps happening, cf. Synanon in the US and the dissolution of the Japanese United Red Army.) That's not the kind of way I want to interact with people I'm supposed to be working together with.

So I try not to do that shit too much. I think about the places where people who have values just like mine go down rabbit holes and wind up in bad places, and I try and build barriers so I don't get burned out and angry and dissolve in a puff of flame. (I'm not directly engaging further with this anon for that reason, actually.) But just--aaaaaaaaauuuughhh, ARAs really irritate me because I can see where the roots are, and yet the entire ideology means that there essentially can't be listening. You can see that in the way I'm sitting here going "No, I know what your ideas are, here's why I have rejected them," and still I am getting exhortations to just listen and understand about ARA ideology. No. I did that, the last time there were protests about it in my workplace I went ahead and read the actual detailed IACUC reports released by FOIA that the protestors were shouting about, and bluntly it was a) not convincing and b) exactly the same appeals to emotional knee-jerk reactions and emotional flooding that I decried yesterday. Twenty years I have been checking my responses to these people, and it's never anything different.

I don't think that removing emotion totally from ethics and morals is wise or even possible--we use emotion for decisionmaking and encoding our values, after all, a person without emotion literally cannot decide things--but I do not like or tolerate subcultures that won't leave space to sit, think, and let the first knee-jerk rush of gut response die down. Sometimes, often, I do decide that my gut reaction is right! But I need the space to sit the fuck down and think about it, and if you take that to an ARA space you will mostly get flooded with more emotionally reactive imagery until you agree or leave. And that is coercive.

[ariddletobesolved]

of preferences and headcanons.

Hi! I know I haven't posted real content in over a year, but since I've been on Tumblr the past week, I can't help but notice a discourse happening on Helsa tag.

I believe as a community, we should all respect other people's takes and opinions, especially in a fandom, where everyone may perceive things differently. Everyone has their own preferences that not everyone could get or understand, and that is okay. For example, and also to address the elephant in the room, if you prefer a ship (in this case, Helsa) to not be canon, it's totally fine. And if you would love for it to be canon, then that is fine too. It's not okay when you try to tell people how they must feel towards a certain media (in this case, Frozen) and tell fellow shippers they're not a true shipper just because they don't share the same preferences as you do. Stating an opinion of your preference is not the same as telling others to change that preference to suit the one that you like.

"I would prefer to not have them to be canon."

"If you're a true fan, you would have done THIS instead!"

See how different those two sentences are? The first one is neutral, while the other one is more demanding.

Honestly, I want to respect both, but I believe respect is earned and not given, and if the person is being disrespectful then I will return the disrespect back to their faces. Treat people the way you want be treated, remember?

I've been in between fandoms for over a decade, so I've come across discourses over headcanons and preferences plenty of time. Here's a reminder: Be respectful! It's not hard if you recognise that everyone perceive things differently and that the world doesn't revolve around you and your opinions only. You can always agree to disagree.

Being respectful also means being respectful to fanartists and fanwriters. Have some decency and refrain from using someone else's works without their permission (it's not hard to ask!). Just because you found it on Google does not mean it's public domain. As for appreciating fanwriters, you can start by reading what you want to read. You can start by filtering keywords and tropes or genres that you don't like. AO3 has a tagging system for a reason. If you don't pay attention to the tags, don't blame the writer for writing what they want to write and not how you want it. They create contents for free and you are not the boss of them. If you want something that specifically suits your taste buds, you can commission them.

Learn how to differentiate between what's canon and what's your own headcanon and interpretations, what's canon and what's a mere concept. Maybe you're reading too much into it, maybe it's in your head. Headcanons are fun, being delulu is literally my middle name, but not everything that you perceive is canon. You can disregard canon (like I do, most of the time) but you have to be clear about it, and draw a hard line to separate them, label them with 'canon divergence' or 'canon compliance' (you can look up each definition). A concept that did not make into the final product can hardly be considered canon.

This fandom community is supposed to be a safe space for everyone regardless their reason in shipping Helsa (be it because of their appealing aesthetics or others) as long as they're being respectful to each other. I didn't think I would be here writing all these to address the bad apples. Sure, the bad apples are always there in every community, but when these bad apples are the loud majority, I feel like I have to say something to clear up some misconceptions about this fandom. Helsa fandom isn't exactly popular, even back in the day, and it's mostly because shippers of other ships and fandom purists have already assumed the worst when they interacted with the ship before they did the shipper, which once again is out of the shippers' control.

From my experience, name-calling fellow shippers over these niche stuff will drive people away and discourage some creators from creating content (I already am on this stage). So, in my opinion, let's just agree to disagree. It's probably just me, but it's not like we have the power to make the writers write what we want anyway (Frozen 2 is already a proof that they would write what they want to write).

[synnthamonsugar]

Sending an ask instead of commenting because I prefer to keep discourse away from my blog. but, I have to get some of this off my chest. it's bound to be lengthy, so don't feel like you have to read/respond. you just seem like maybe you'll get my point. Read this as one big I statement because of course it's my opinion and I'm not out here reading everyone's minds.

On that last post. I think a lot of people have gone and manic-pixie-dream-girl'd Eris beyond recognition, and that some of shippers (not all, ofc) have spent so much time with their own headcanons & fanfic that they've forgotten how their real dynamic is. It's easy to project a relationship onto them if you're already looking for one. People see them bicker and go "aw, they're arguing like an old married couple!" when, no. They're just arguing.

Drifter definitely flirts with her, but she doesn't reciprocate and I don't even think that it's necessarily serious. That man would flirt with a wall if he thought it would be funny. He seems like the type to tease people that way regardless of gender or attraction to them.

I don't deny that there's something between them. knowing the lore as I do I think it's safe to say that they're somewhat close, whatever that can even mean for either of them, but for fucks sake close isn't always romantic. Are they friends? Maybe. Can either of them have friends at their level of stability? I genuinely don't know. I don't think that we've been given enough to go off of, honestly. I don't like the idea that they're going to magically have their trauma cured by dating each other. She doesn't need him to "file down her teeth", and I don't think that he would. He definitely seems to benefit from her input, though. I don't feel like their relationship is very balanced in that. There's plenty of lore to back up him getting and using advice from her, and it being helpful to him, but I haven't seen much the other way around. He's immature in a way that she isn't, and people seem to think she's going to settle for that.

I don't care who people ship or what their headcanons are, that's all their own business. If I don't like it, it's not like I'm going off on their blogs in the space they've made themselves about why I don't agree with them. I prefer to just back off a bit, let them have their space and I'll have mine. But I don't always see that respect going both ways, and it starts to really bother me when people try to project their headcanons onto other blogs and onto the developers. Almost anything I see of them independently, it seems someone has to show up with "but where's [the other one]", and I've seen shippers go after multiple people for asking that their fanart of the two isn't tagged as ship art. It's just overstepping at that point.

Of course, I don't like lumping a bunch of people under the single label of drifteris shippers and calling them all a problem, I'm well aware that it's probably a loud minority silent majority type situation and I'm not going to assume someone's like that just because that's their content. But a lot (that I've seen) are.

On the misogyny part, I've definitely seen it in some. I'm a guy, so I'm probably not going to have the world's best explanation of why, but what gets to me is mostly the over-romanticism of Eris as his quirky goth gf. It's dumb and often comes off as objectifying. Sometimes it's like people think she's some edgy egirl twitch streamer. I find it strange how much fanart of her changes her appearance too, given we can barely actually see her. And sometimes it winds up painting Drifter as this douchy dudebro that he just isn't. One of the best things about his character to me is that he has his attitude without the shit treatment of women that comes along with it with most similar characters in games. I don't understand the need to turn around and twist him into someone that pushes her boundaries, which is pretty necessary to read their arguments as flirting.

I don't know what else to say, it's late and I'm tired and I'll probably feel stupid for letting myself get wrapped up in fandom discourse but I might as well say it while the conversation is happening.

(adding in case you do post this) v

No shade to shippers that don't fit the description I've put here. If you're reading this and go "Hey! I don't do that!" then obviously I don't mean you. You're all just doing what makes you happy and, hey, go for it. Tumblr is a great place for that. It's only an issue (imo) when that crosses the line into expecting everyone else to have the same headcanons or ignore what is canon. Go make art and fanfic and whatever you want, there's plenty of people who will appreciate it. I'm glad the positive side of the ship fanbase helps boost both of their stories, I hope it winds up driving Bungie to put more content in of them, together or apart.

Thank you for the thoughtful message Anon. Honestly I cosign all of this and wish I could respond to each of your points, but will at least try to cover a few of the ones that hit most with me.

Replies under the cut, since this is a long one ...

I think a lot of people have gone and manic-pixie-dream-girl’d Eris beyond recognition

I've thought about this for awhile. Eris is frequently written as a Manic Pixie Dream Girl insofar as being the offbeat catalyst for a jaded man's journey to a better version of himself.

He seems like the type to tease people that way regardless of gender or attraction to them.

Whether you ship them or not, it's odd seeing Drifter's canon characterization as a recklessly charismatic flirt lost in fanon. That special significance is placed on his flirtation with Eris, and not with the Guardian, Orin, Efrideet, or Rahool, or the others I'm probably forgetting.

Of course, the Guardian is a blank slate the player can project motives onto, and the others are characters whose interactions with Drifter are limited to lore. His & Eris' interactions stand out. That still doesn't mean it's inherently romantic; I've platonically flirted, held hands, snuggled, danced, bed-shared, and other things fans would dedicate thousands of words of shipfic to were I a fictional character.

Though reading it as such is fine (and I'll concede, probably lines up with the authors' intent, since we know some of them are shippers), nothing in the lore is explicitly romantic. Note, authorial intent, word-of-god and canon are all separate things, as much as fandom conflates them.

An aside, it's interesting how fanon surrounding Drifter paints him as socially anxious, touch starved, romantically awkward ... until he meets Eris. While I understand the utility in shipping — to emphasize the One True Love aspect since serial monogamy, much less polyamory, is unknown to most, especially F/M, shippers — it also comes off as "did not read the lore" at best, and "perpetuating negative stereotypes about Asian men" at worst.

Can either of them have friends at their level of stability? I genuinely don’t know.

This is why Eris' and Drifter's dynamic peaked in Arrivals & Beyond Light. The tenuousness of their alliance, the acceptance and rejection of each other's flaws, the trust between them that wasn't earned but necessary to survive. It was fun, tense and compelling and I wish more of the fandom focused on this era of their relationship.

I don’t like the idea that they’re going to magically have their trauma cured by dating each other.

Cosigned. The idea that love can mend any wound, heal any trauma, or fix any flaw is textbook amatonormativity, and has unfortunate implications when applied to Eris' story. I shouldn't have to detail why "woman overcomes trauma with the affection of a man" leaves a bad taste in my and many other fans' mouths, especially when it's favored over her longer-standing relationships with other characters. Why is her bond with Ikora ignored? Zavala? Asher? Mara? Why is so much of her growth pinned on one man, when there are other, deeper relationships that have existed since practically the beginning of Destiny's narrative? Why is there so little shipping surrounding Eris and these other characters?

Almost anything I see of them independently, it seems someone has to show up with “but where’s [the other one]”, and I’ve seen shippers go after multiple people for asking that their fanart of the two isn’t tagged as ship art.

I don't typically engage with popular Destiny ships, but I draw Mara Sov frequently. By herself, and, frequently, in non-Marasjur pairings. Not once have I gotten a "Where's Sjur?" comment, or even a "Where's Shaxx?" for that matter, as pushy as the "helmet stayed on" bros are. Meanwhile, I expect these comments when posting Eris art, particularly Eris F/F. I've had this happen in art I've drawn of her and Drifter with a disclaimer that the art is platonic/not to tag as ship! At that point it's not misunderstanding, it's entitlement.

I don’t like lumping a bunch of people under the single label of drifteris shippers and calling them all a problem

Agreed. I'm technically an Eris/Drifter shipper in the sense of consuming and producing art & fic for them, though I've pulled back from interacting with that part of the fandom because [waves hands generally]. I have no issues with drifteris as a ship, nor enmity drifteris shippers as a whole, but the individuals who engage in rude behavior.

what gets to me is mostly the over-romanticism of Eris as his quirky goth gf.

I'm going to repost what @/unsaelig said, since it's a salient point:

"I have no actual way of proving this, but given how much it’s been a staple, for the past 9 years, to speak of Eris as an unpleasant, unstable, worrying, suspicious individual, and given how much people like to fixate on how Eris & Drifter’s dynamic “softens” her and makes her more palatable and conventional, I do strongly feel Drifter is probably brought up with her as a “package deal” so often because in their eyes he “defangs” her & makes her much easier to take."

I do think there's a popular fandom read on Drifter as a funny, quirky guy who's a little out-of-pocket, an edgier fandomified-and-flanderized Cayde-6, if you will, and that Eris has to naturally follow by being an inoffensively gothy dommy mommy. It's perplexing, it's objectifying, and it makes me wonder what people are actually shipping them for if they sand down their characterization so much.

I don’t understand the need to turn around and twist him into someone that pushes her boundaries, which is pretty necessary to read their arguments as flirting.

The misogyny - amatonormativity combo again. Before anyone comes for me because I like enemies-to-lovers: sword-fighting your beloved to the death over a pit of lava isn't normalized, but saying that boys who bully girls are "just flirting" is. "I hate my wife", "I wish my husband was dead" and "ol' ball and chain" 'jokes' are. The patriarchy instructs men to disrespect women, and tells women to be flattered by the disrespect of men because at least you're receiving a man's attention. It's neither cute nor funny, and I equally dislike it when empoweringly reversed so that the man is the target of the insult.

No shade to shippers that don't fit the description I've put here. If you're reading this and go "Hey! I don't do that!" then obviously I don't mean you.

Cosigned completely. I know I have reputation as an arch-hater, but I have nothing but respect for people who are shipping them in ways that don't play into tired stereotypes of M/F relationships. (Or misogyny, or racism, or...)

Sometimes I wonder if I should try to put more good Eris/Drifter out there, but most of the time I fear I would only be stemming the tide; I am just one person with limited resources, and there is so much out there that my work will go unnoticed and my time is better spent boosting small ships that need the help.

Mostly I wish there was more focus on Eris and Drifter as individuals, in the game and in the fandom, further exploration of their bonds with other characters, and an environment where a wider range of gen and ship fic/art could flourish.

[pjo-tvs-version]

Here is a little rant about the judo flip scene in the Mark of Athena. Please don't be offended by this because I just wanted to express my views. I respect all opinions till the time they make sense.

At the time I read the Mark of Athena, I wasn't really into the pjo fandom. Honestly the time period from when I read the Son of Neptune to reading Mark of Athena was by far the most stressful and I finished Mark of Athena in just one day! I was soo looking forward to reunion and was flipping the pages and enjoying it as everything came by. I reached the judo flip scene and just read it like it was nothing though I found it surprising and amusing for a short period of time. To be honest I was mentally obsessing over percabeth's reunion kiss not their judo flip. I want to be honest and in this post so I will say that I had literally no issue with the judo flip. I didn't even think about the judo flip after I finished the book (albeit my brain was too busy digesting the ending of the book but you know....)

Flash forward to me now. I am a part of the pjo fandom and like to keep myself updated with everything. In the fandom, the judo flip is unarguably one of the most controversial topics. I was so surprised that there is so much of debate on this one incident to be honest. It shocked me soo much that went and reread the scene again and then thinking to myself - was it that weird?

Now whenever I make an opinion I try my best to hear both sides. People find it toxic and abusive and others find it cute and adorable. Now I will like to remind you that this is strictly my opinions on the topic so please do not be offended if you do not agree with me.

Percy and Annabeth are characters who are fictional. Their relationship is adored by many and a few dislike it which is completely alright. However I would like to point a few things. Annabeth and Percy have known each other for about 4 years. They have been trained in battle and have fought a literal war side by side. Plus they are demigods. Annabeth is a warrior and we know she loves Percy because even if you don't ship percabeth you have to agree with the fact that the girl was seriously concerned when Percy went missing and searched for him for 6 months. Would she do that if she didn't love him?

They are very close and have even dated for 4 months. That is when Percy disappears with no fault of his. But I urge you to just imagine Annabeth's situation a little please. She is seeing her boyfriend, her best friend after legit 6 months of searching, not knowing whether he is alive or not, not knowing whether he remembers her or not.

Obviously her emotions are running high. Their is relief, joy and anger too which is understandable. However this anger is directed to the wrong person and that makes this scene debatable. Annabeth had no right to blame Percy for his disappearance but she did. But now just see her situation too. Like girl was going through a bad phase too and her anger did evaporate when Percy smiled because he too understands what she must be feeling.

What she did was not right but it is understandable too. It depends on perspective. In my eyes I would say that this scene was a failed attempt at humour by Uncle Rick. There were other ways about how he could have gone with this scene.

In the end, do I hate this scene? No. Do I like it? Also No. To me it's just an incident which occured and that's all. I don't really think about this scene often but the fandom has amplified it a little too much ( I know this is so ironic because with this post I'm just adding on to the already multiple discussions on this topic but let's just ignore that fact). One should be free to interpret this scene in the way they want but without insulting the other side. I wish to do the same too...

[i-heart-hxh]

i want to thank you for talking about the doomery takes about Gon and Killua's separation with the level of patience & respect you do. i think people sometimes believe they parted on worse terms than they really did and it leads to people asking questions like "why would Killua say that to him?" or "why didn't Gon give a 'proper' apology?" with a preconception that the situation is irreparable. theyre intelligent kids who love each other a lot, so these things can feel really mean or insensitive to us because we see it as such a high stakes situation when in actuality, the characters kind of know what's happening already and can intuit each others feelings or intentions to a reasonable degree.

like, ex: Killua calls Gon stuff like an embarrassing moron frequently and Gon sees its because he's emotionally constipated and not because Killua actually thinks he's stupid. conversely, Killua knows that what Gon said to him in the palace came from an irrational place of lashing out at the only safe person in the room, and the reason why he can make fun of Gon later for it is because its clear he regrets it. they understand each other quite a bit and though the separation makes them really sad, i'm sure they both get, on some level, why it has to be like this for a bit

Thank you very much for the sweet message!

I honestly get exhausted by how many doom and gloom takes exist about HxH in general, and especially around Gon and Killua's relationship. I hope that by talking about my own perceptions of the series after spending all these years thinking about it and pulling it apart, more people can come to the side of having hope about it and being excited about what's ahead for them.

What they went through was immensely painful, and it certainly hurt those of us who love their relationship, too, but there are far more reasons to believe they have a path of healing and reconciliation ahead of them than all the angsty alternatives. They may have more to go through first before they reach that point, but in my opinion it would contradict the themes of the series for them not to have a second chance to rebuild their relationship even better.

That's a good bit of insight about them and how their interactions are much more than just what they're literally saying! I totally agree that they're quite perceptive about each other and aware of at least some of each others' feelings below the surface. There are actually several scenes where they explain things about the other with a surprising amount of insight--for instance, when Killua is talking to Wing about Gon's tendencies after the Gido match, or Gon knowing Killua will reluctantly fold to him if he insists on something when talking to Meleoron. Their relationship is complex and they both have areas where they need to improve with regards to communicating and understanding each other (especially how they see themselves and the way that warps how they see each others' feelings), but they deeply love each other and I'm sure they're going to want to make the changes needed to fix things between them and not have something like Chimera Ant Arc happen again.

The separation has a lot of layers, but it portrays them both as sad to split up even though it's what's needed for now, still hurting about what they went through but grateful for each other nonetheless, comfortable enough with each other still for Killua to tease Gon and Gon to openly mope about it, and they make it clear this isn't forever. Even with the various subtextual things going on (like Gon's use of "nakama" after Killua had a crisis about that very word and Killua saying Gon is now number 2, for instance) don't erase the overall tone of the separation. It's bittersweet and hard for them both, but not on bad terms!

HxH is a story about human connection and second chances and how love transforms people. The two characters at the center of the story epitomize these themes, so having a cynical view of their bond and future feels like having a cynical view of what the series as a whole is saying. There's nothing wrong with exploring or thinking about angsty themes, of course, and I truly love how much darkness, sadness, and trauma HxH explores throughout, but I don't believe the ultimate trajectory of the series is one of hopelessness or cynicism.

I hope those who are concerned about their future can zoom out and look at the series as a whole and see how many reasons there are to be hopeful for them.

[fire-fira]

IDK if you've been keeping up with the Trujillo Blue Beetle run, but they put Jaime with some random Horizon girl named Oo'li and it really feels like some half-assed attempt to prevent him from ever falling in love with Khaji, I don't know, maybe I'm running on some insane troll logic here, but the writers really put Jaime with a girl who's connected in some way to the Reach, when Khaji Da is RIGHT THERE! Do not ignore please, I really wanna hear your opinion on this.

While I will agree that the relationship with Oo'li feels shoe-horned (and that detail honestly isn't helped by the breakneck narrative pacing, which may be reflective of a time crunch those involved with this most recent run might be dealing with), I think it's important to step back and take stock of some things.

The vast majority of comic writers-- and presumed comic readers-- aren't likely to even consider Jaime/Khaji Da as a ship because they're sharing a body. For better or worse, there are a looooooot of people out there (both in fandom and outside of it) who can't or haven't wrapped their minds around the concept of a ship where one character is the host body to the other; if they've put any thought into that kind of ship at all, they may have difficulty conceptualizing how a romantic/queerplatonic/committed relationship of that type can even work when the characters involved technically can't do things like hold hands, kiss, or sit across from each other while having a candlelit dinner. (Yes I realize that example may be a little cliche in this instance, but I think it's the best way to convey one of the big stumbling blocks for some writers when it comes to this kind of ship.)

It's fandom where these concepts have really been hashed out and played with, so of course as fans we're going to see the obvious potential and the ways it could work, but writers for officially published works generally should not read fanfiction-- especially of anything they're actively working on-- because doing otherwise invites the possibility that someone might feel their own work is being stolen and repurposed by a company to make money, which can lead to a lawsuit. Ergo, if they're not already familiar with the concept of how such a ship could work (or they haven't come to that concept on their own), then the chances of them even thinking to do so in their writing for DC is slim.

And for as much as Eddie Brock/Venom has put forward the idea of a host/symbiont ship more broadly in the public imagination, that reach is still limited by who would be interested in seeing those movies, and if those people were or are able/willing to recognize the host/symbiont ship as even being a possibility. And even if they did, Khaji Da is a dramatically different character than Venom in temperament and personality; we also have no guarantee that anyone looking at the movie/various-tv-series Khaji Da has been in will think to consider Khaji Da as a fully realized character instead of an AI-that-is-maybe-'sub-human'-in-personhood-but-more-advanced-than-anything-we-have-and-so-should-be-respected-as-'kind of'-an-individual (and the siri-voice in the movie probably won't have helped change that perspective). The point is, with that dramatic character difference, it might not even occur to any of them that Jaime/Khaji Da as a ship would be believable or that the characters could even have the potential motivation to share that mutual interest.

We also have no clue if Trujillo or anyone else currently working on Blue Beetle have seen any of the Venom movies to even plant the idea of a host/symbiont ship in their heads. We literally have no idea if they're even aware of the concept. And even if they are, they're in the business of trying to sell comics. I don't know the ins-and-outs of the comic industry by any means, but I think it's fair to assume that introducing a host/symbiont ship in canon might be a risky venture-- even without the breakneck narrative pacing they currently have going.

I'll be honest, with the current pacing trends I don't think they'd be able to do justice to the Jaime/Khaji Da ship in building it up into something that would make sense and have readers-- who weren't already-- get invested. Host/symbiont ships are a hard sell, so there HAS to be a believable buildup, but when the pacing's shooting by like the reader got fired out of a cannon and has to rapid-fire take notes about what they pass within seconds so they can only record the broad strokes and nothing in between, then all of that buildup crumbles into nothing. (Case in point with relationship buildup crumbling into nothing: the whole thing with Oo'li.) Physicality can kind of override some of that in a narrative, but that requires the characters to have separate bodies so they can externally interact and separate from time to time-- and Jaime and Khaji Da, by the very nature of what Khaji Da is, don't have access to that narrative override.

In terms of them trying to sell comics with the lack of decent pacing and time that DC is pushing, it's probably financially safer for them to not put the effort in to try for that kind of narrative buildup; it would take time they don't have to do it justice, and trying to force it anyway might lose them buyers due to said buyers getting put off by poorly done stories.

Yeah, as a fan to whom the possibility seems obvious and who is heavily invested in these characters, it's frustrating. I get that, and I don't blame you. But on the flip-side, DC has made plenty of wtf decisions of late (don't even get me started on the absolutely ridiculous number of Batman or Batman-adjacent books they're currently putting out right now, to the point where Bat-everything is drowning out damn near everything else), and with the lousy pacing and quick turnaround on comics they currently have going I'm honestly glad that they're not currently tackling a Jaime/Khaji Da narrative. I don't want to see what they would do to it at this time, I don't trust them to do it justice.

And speaking as someone with at least one fave DC character who has shown up in all of 94 issues total, sometimes you're honestly much better off looking to fandom and fanfiction for what you want to see. At least then you know you have a solid chance of seeing it done really well rather than getting hit with frustration or disappointment over not seeing it at all.

[disinherited-dornishman]

It feels like they lacked closure to be fair. Personally I don't ship them anymore, maybe the young versions though. But I do believe they need another meet up atleast.

I apologize, I probably didn't make myself clear. I ship Criston and Rhaenyra in fanfiction.

Show canon, with all due respect to any who disagrees with the following opinion. is dogshit. Every pairing depicted is inferior to GRRM's version or depictions you find in literal fanfiction I've read on the internet.

The writing is both biased and idiotic. Logic and emotional causality (x feels this way about y because of z) is thrown completely out the window for the writers to tell their own incompetent version of a story where emotional complexity is replaced with black-and-white emotional handholding where you're told what to feel and think.

This includes Criston's fallout with Rhaenyra. Instead of respecting his humanity and acknowledging Rhaenyra's betrayal of his trust, and vice versa, the writers paint him as villainous for respecting his own sexual autonomy and not wanting to be her side piece, feeling conflicted about breaking his vows (which in his own words is all he has to his name - and he's right, that's unfortunately the world he lives in), and for being bitter with Rhaenyra, instead of using these themes to explore what could've been exquisite character-and-political drama.

Everything about the show's so dumbed down for the masses that I honestly elect to ignore the show completely except when it comes to criticizing it, because goodness does it deserve to be criticized.

All of this is to say: I agree with you completely. They lacked closure and then some, and show canon Crisnyra is plain awful, simply because it doesn't even exist anymore. Which hurts because Milly's Rhaenyra with Cole had some of the sweetest scenes I ever saw on television. They were ADORABLE.

Yet Cole isn't anything more than an enemy of Rhaenyra now. Not once do we see her even think of what could've been or see so much as split-second look of regret or guilt or pain in Criston's direction - or the other way around. Hell, it doesn't even have to be positive - have them fucking curse each other out, but do it because they're hurt! Because they're human beings and gave a shit about each other and now they hate each other because they feel betrayed!

Instead we have Modern White-Woman Power Fantasy for mainstream TV audiences to Self-Insert and Ser Incel. Rhaenyra is now above feeling angry in any way that can be ugly (she should have bit Daemon's head off for Blood and Cheese, or ordered it herself in revenge for Luke), and Criston exists to be hated.

But honestly, if I went by the show, I would lose all motivation to write for this world and these characters. That's how boring I find it. And I certainly won't hold out hope for a meet up between them, much less a satisfying one. And that honestly depressed me to think about...

Oh well, guess I'll write my fanfics instead😊

[majaloveschris]

I’m highly concerned regarding people’s selective memories.

Like clockwork every time something new happens with these two people “magically” forget all the crap that happened prior and they then go…..omg you all are crazy to think this is Pr…..are we? Nah.

Look at the FULL scope and picture and even those who believe him claiming to be married will realize……something is off.

I’m over this because I believe 100% this is PR and will sit and wait on that hill by myself, even though I’m know I’m not alone 😉

But in due time…..Chris can only fake shit for so long before he completely unravels and honestly I hope it doesn’t get to that point but we clearly see he’s looking like a shell of his former self.

But hey, what do I know. 🤷🏻‍♀️🫠

Interestingly, I've talked to a lot of people here who think this is real, and most of them think that it's not a healthy relationship.

I've always said and will say that I respect everybody's opinion. If someone thinks it's real, then that's their opinion, and nobody knows what the truth is. However, I agree that something is off. I can't see the love or happiness some people talk about. I can't. And people can say he is happier than ever, or that she is the love of his life, or that behind closed doors they are all over each other, but I don't buy it. Neither of them looks happy, especially when they are around each other. And I also don't buy that when nobody is looking at them, they look like the happiest couple on earth. Sorry, but you can see the love in two people even if they want to be lowkey (which they never were), and I can't see anything like you should on two people's faces who've just gotten married and are supposedly so in love. No comfort, no love, no happiness, no intimacy. Nothing.

People are not crazy for believing this is real or for thinking this is PR. There are things out there (from both sides) that, in my opinion, are out of reach and prove nothing. So yeah, there are people who take it too far.

I feel like this whole wedding thing changed a lot of people's minds about the situation. A lot of people who thought this whole thing was PR started thinking it was real, which I totally get since that's what they want you to believe, and I also get that a lot of people were just tired from the mind games and were like, "Okay, then it's real; I don't care about it anymore."

I think until people on both sides can express their opinion in a respectful way, make good and relatively sensible points, and don't take things too far, we can all "live" next to each other, because if somebody is waiting for the day when everybody is on the same side, don't hold your breath.

I agree that he doesn't look the same, and maybe this sounds weird, but he doesn't feel or hit the same. And it's not about the fact that he got married or has a "wife." He's had other girlfriends too, but he's never been like this. Something is off.

[sizzlingpatrolfox]

Honestly, what’s so bad about caring about and loving Jimin only and not the others though? I respect and admire them all, I just don’t love the others as much as I love Jimin. OT7s seem to love crucifying “PJMs” or “solos”.

This is an old ask but everything is still valid today.

There's nothing wrong about it. Armys are just entitled and they want to control everything people do and say. Trying to dictate who you can love/like it's plain insanity. Even in a real life group of friends you don't care about everyone in the same ways.

Same goes for shippers, because they can wholeheartedly believe one member cares about other the most, but get angry if someone else believes a different thing? Either we all agree that they all care for each other the same or we're all allowed to have our own opinions about it.

They have it against Jimin solos probably because they've always made themselves known and spoke out. Also, because most of them are taekookers or JK stans or Taehyung stans, and that's self explanatory. Most of them are literally solos of taekook, but of course they have their little armys accounts and pretend that they love all of them. Then they log in to a different account and write defamatory pieces on Jimin. How many of those accounts lately haven't been exposed for liking a tweet from a Jungkook akgae?

The truth is that 90% of the people that like Jungkook, hate Jimin. And that's just how it is. Be it because they're taekookers or because they're JK akgaes, they have ALWAYS been the most hateful towards Jimin. But they pretend and make everyone believe their little ot7 act because they know army is Jungkook's only and biggest fan base. Even as solos they lick armys ass because they know who's pulling the weight. Pjms have never begged armys for nothing, and I really mean nothing. If they're calling them out about something, it's because army is supposed to be Jimin's fandom but not really because pjms like them or need them.

I'm not saying alllllll armys are bad and I actually defended them plenty when face came out because they also supported it, though only for a week and their support has never really been for the right reasons but well. Don't look a gifted horse in the mouth, I guess.

However, they can't see how much space they're giving to other solos to thrive in the fandom because they're only looking out for pjms. 90% of those "JK biased" armys and even jikookers are literally Jungkook akgaes.

I've talked a lot of times about the way jikookers have weaponized Jimin's love for JK; they used it to fight taekookers and others and Jimin only got hate in the process because it was an easy target, I mean it was already a weapon anyways. You only use a weapon to defend the person behind it, which was Jungkook in that case. They still do that, "Jimin loves him how could you hate him!1!!1". What does that have to do with anything.

They couldn't and can't use Jungkook because his "affection" was so easily debunkable. For most of the decade, they barely even had moments they could use of Jungkook being nice to Jimin. Jimin's travelling with him to his debut and posting about all of his releases and chart positions. Jungkook: one (1) single weverse live is all they got in 10 years lmfao.

And got hate too because I will keep saying it, people who like Jungkook, don't like Jimin. Pjms realized this long ago, that's why they're so against jikookers. They knew that nobody who liked Jungkook would ever be their or Jimin's ally. As opposed to Jungkook and Taehyung akgaes who have each other's backs -because they're both the same.

Armys have also weaponized Jimin's love for the members but against pjms. They use it as a reason for pjms to not love him, that's madness???!?!?!!?! All those tweets the last couple of days basically going "do you really love a person as kind and supportive as Jimin? Ha! It must suck for you." Do they even hear themselves.

By their logic, shouldn't they support Jimin the hardest? I mean, he's literally the only one who's supporting the members they love, so why the resentment? Why use that against Jimin and not use it in favor of Jimin? Let's not even go on what does that say about the other members support for Jimin. Which is close to being nonexistent. No, Jungkook watching lives to an audience full of armys and his own akgaes that despise Jimin wasn't support or promo either.

[voxofthevoid]

Hey, Ukrainian follower here. Big fan of your goyuu works, they are delightful 😊. A bit weird to introduce myself like that especially with such sensitive topic I'd like to bring on here, but I couldn't help myself when I stumbled upon this weird interaction between you and the anonymous person, who wrote that hell of a text about being against Russians on ao3 and you being anti-censorship regardless of what is discussed (at least that what I've got from it, correct me If, I'm wrong), then scrolled to the post about Ficbook just to understand the context. While both of you went really harsh on each other, I think it does bring an interesting perspective on that matter in general. See, I'm a little bit torn between "ban privileged russians from everywhere" and "no content should be banned, if we want to live in a democratic world". I try to be open-minded towards civilians in Russia, even if sometimes it's a very hard thing to do, because I can speak Russian and I see pro-war channels on Telegram cheering on bombing children cancer hospital with thousands of comments supporting that, even among younger generations (and no, those are NOT bots unfortunately and it's honestly heartbreaking). I kinda see what that person tried to convey in your anon requests - that basically every Russian content creator is essentially a thief (?) or pro-war supporter, thus should not be allowed to have a platform, which is a big stretch in my opinion. On the other hand, I fail to understand and completely agree with your anti-censorship point, too, because Russia is a country that build itself historically on a imperialistic basis, culturally appropriate and conquer indigenous peoples culture and traditions of Central Asia and Far-East. So, essentially, it's not really Russians, who are silenced, nor their culture, but people who are still fighting for their independence: Crimean Tatars, Chechens, Belarussians, Ukrainians included. We should not support a state, that basically has the permission from the whole world to do such awful things and I personally think it's okay to separate yourself from it by any means necessary. Another problem with censorship is that by now even the most liberal anti-war Russians are no longer active, oppression got to the point where the entire topic about Russian invasion in multiple countries is no longer discussed and now it's just silence. My Russian moots are no longer in contact with me or acting like nothing is happening anymore. They chose to keep on living their ordinary life, while soldiers of their country bombing my hometown every day, but I am not allowed to mute/block/censor it, because any form of censorship is bad? It's really hard to judge from far away, and I get it, but the nuisances in such matters are really important. It's a shame, really, that we live in such times, where authoritarian states are now more common and have more support each day, but it's important to not lose our heads and empathy towards struggles of the real people. I have no ill-feelings towards Russian civilians, who just want to share their art and fanfiction on whatever existing platform, but for me it got to the point of no return I'm afraid, and I don't feel anything towards those people at all. Russian language with each passing day associates with more violence and misery and it's really frustrating or more like a reality check, when not all people think that way. Honestly, I experienced a catharsis while writing this, so If you're still reading it, I just want to thank you for your time and patience to read another monstrosity of a text from your random reader. Regardless of your stance, I respect your work and admiration for art and creativity. I hope your inner kindness towards people will last much longer, than mine, unfortunately, did. Have a great day!

Yo 👋

Honestly, I have no idea where that other anon came from or how they found me. They're 100% certainly not one of my followers, and the post they were talking about is a reblog essentially informing people that Ficbook has been banned in Russia and that Wattpad has been banned in Turkey. The other anon apparently took issue with the final reblog encouraging Russians to migrate to Ao3. They also helpfully came back and showed that it's not that they care about queer people or the sanctity of Ao3 or whatever.

My personal feelings toward Russia as a state is the same as yours, though I'm geographically and culturally too removed from the situation to be affected the way you are. And I am genuinely sorry about the horrific things you're going through, for what it's worth.

You're allowed to mute or block or entirely avoid anything you don't want to see; that's not censorship in any sense. A person enforcing their personal boundaries and ensuring their comfort does not amount to censorship in any way. Similarly, if you were to create a fanfiction archive and disallow Russians or Russian-language works, that would also be well within your rights.

State censorship is a different beast, regardless of who's the target. I live in a country where that's rampant, and while it's not to the extent of, say, China, it's still pretty bad and getting worse, so I have been seeing my entire life what happens when the government is allowed to censor things for the apparent moral good. It's not the privileged majority that gets fucked over, it's the marginalized, always: women, queer people, racial minorities, etc.

I will always be staunchly against state censorship regardless of the country and the target. That's all.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this, and I'm glad getting it out could be a form of catharsis for you.

Take care ❤️

[transsexualraskolnikov]

I saw your crime and punishment fic, I have an essay on the book, can you help me understand the relationship between Raskolnikov and Razumihin?

quite honestly i consider this one of the biggest honors...... the fact that you consider my writing good enough to hear my opinion on the canon characters just makes me go insane.

okay so let's get to it! i'm gonna go on a brain-vomit here so sorry in advance if it's all over the place and doesn't make sense, i'll try to keep it as concise and logical as possible. also this is all just my opinion and interpretation of their relationship so it's completely okay if you don't agree with me!

i think it's clear to anyone who has read the book that raskolnikov and razumikhin's relationship stands and falls completely on razumikhin's will to stay by rodya's side. his deep-rooted belief in the inherent good of people (and therefore of raskolnikov) is what perpetually keeps him in the story. there's this certain air of all-consuming hopefulness and refusal to give up following razumikhin all throughout the book that cements him as a stand-out among the calculated, always-looking-for-the-worst-in-others characters of the novel (such as raskolnikov, porfiriy, svidrigailov as so on). he stays despite rodion's repeated attempts at pushing him away, despite outright TELLING him to go away simply because raskolnikov doesn't find himself worthy of such tenderness and patience from another person - herein lies their core difference in my opinion. where rodya believes a person must DESERVE their place in the world, there dmitri accepts it as it is - we are here because we are and that's it. this is further proven in the way rodya tries to constantly find a reason behind his existence and in the way he begs his mother's forgiveness in a scene that, at first glance, eludes to the murder, but i believe it goes deeper. i believe he seeks her forgiveness for his very existence.

i think their relationship shines the clearest in two specific moments - first, when dmitri takes care of rodya when the latter's bed-ridden and second, when dmitri stands for rodya's innocence regardless of proof for or against him. and, well, as much as i would like to interpret their relationship as purely platonic - and i think you could, because you can always use the argument of them loving each other as brothers - i can't help but feel much more beyond that. there is a certain tenderness to their scenes, this head-strong determination in razumikhin's refusal to give up on raskolnikov even once rodya confesses to the murder, the way he's just always there, the way he leaves the party for him, the way he gets him a doctor, that's just absent in any other character. it's as if razumikhin lacked this critical thinking of rodya, something that dunya for instance is way too capable of. both love him deeply but dunya is able to see his flaws - mitya doesn't seem to. (and if he does, he tries not to). whether romantic or platonic, it's an infatuation. many analyses of the book describe their respective characters as "foils" to each other but i've never been strong on that. i mean, i can see where they are coming from, but i don't think razumikhin is raskolnikov's opposite. he is his admirer, in my eyes, the same way raskolnikov is his. in a way i think they want to be each other as much as they idolize each other. they are both untouchable in the other's eyes. (that's also what i've tried to convey in that fic of mine - rodya believing he's not good enough for dmitri, and dmitri feeling like rodya is miles out of his league - it all comes down to the nearly-otherworldly adoration of one another)

i have so much more to say but i already feel like i've written too much. if you or anybody else would be interested in hearing more on this topic, i could put it in a google doc and share it because i don't want to spam anyone's dash lol. just let me know!

hope this has helped in some way and that my answer wasn't too late (i tried to reply as soon as possible while also making sure i've said it the best). good luck with your essay, let me know how it went and what grade you got!! also thank you so much for the ask, this was so much fun to write and you wanting to hear my opinion has made me insanely happy!!!

[clonerightsagenda]

lucy carlyle for the ask game!!! :)

(Ask meme here)

We are 2 for 2 for teen girls hanging out with the dead tonight huh. Maybe Aradia should be Lucy's next dead girlfriend.

First impression

Stroud likes his scrappy teen girls, huh? I respect that. A man can have worse stock characters.

Impression now

While she clearly shares DNA with Kitty (insert the 'he she lost her whole squad' meme) she is her own character and I like that she's petty and irrational and unfair in ways that make sense for her age. Honestly she is so extremely 13-15 it is hard for me to imagine what she will be like once she is an adult. But yknow. Tossup whether she'll make it that far anyway.

Favorite moment

I go on about all the CEOs she kills but siccing a guy's dead ex-girlfriend who he murdered on him after he threatens to kill you because he thinks you're the weak link was a great move. Really set my expectations.

Idea for a story

While I respect Stroud writing technology out of the world because he simply does not want to deal with it, I would love to see Lucy Carlyle unleashed on social media. I think she'd do numbers (derogatory). She'd write lengthy screeds about ghosthunting procedures and then tell people disagreeing with her to kill themselves. Meanwhile Lockwood has a google alert for his name and George is on fantasy Sci Hub. They can still have their intervention like 'Lucy you are putting too much trust in mysterious beings whose true faces and intentions you can't ascertain, it's drawing you closer to a realm inimical to human life that will warp you beyond all recognition if it doesn't kill you outright' but it's just because she has some weird tumblr mutuals.

Also don't think I didn't notice that when Lockwood goes "yeah I told Barnes there's no way we're doing anything with the other side ever again" and the rest of his team loudly agrees with him Lucy is conspicuously quiet. She's keeping her options open. Maybe she wants to go beat up Marissa Fittes again. She deserves to.

Unpopular opinion

Leaving the agency when she did was probably the right call. She and Lockwood's clashing personality traits and priorities were bringing out the worst in each other and making everyone else miserable. (I am so sorry Holly.) They didn't really resolve everything either, so if that workplace relationship is going to work out they should probably get therapy. Bright side is there must be loads of child therapists in this universe right. They'd probably have to be dragged kicking and screaming though. Maybe if you told them the office was haunted and then locked the door behind them.

Favorite relationship

If Lucy and Lockwood have clashing traits that bring out the worst in each other, Lucy and the skull just share a lot of their worst traits already, and I think that's very funny. Instead of saying she is so empathetic and pure of heart that she can befriend sinister ghosts Stroud was like yeah they just both suck in similar ways and thus get on, to everyone else's confusion and dismay. Honestly surprised they got anything done during their flatmates era besides coming up with mean burns about their neighbors.

Also this is a hostage situation. I appreciate Stroud's willingness to make his leads complicit. Marissa delivers the classic "we're not so different you and I" villain speech, but she has a point. They're both trapping and exploiting the dead to protect their lives and careers; it's just a difference of scale, and once you've justified something, scale is negotiable.

However I'm very invested in Show!Lucy's doomed girlfriend so watch this metaphorical space for whenever I finally meet her.

Favorite headcanon

Talent seems largely random but Lucy is described as being connected to the other side even before she crosses over, so I think maybe she was a preemie or almost died some other way as a child and that's why she's Like That.

[lnkedmyheart]

To be honest, I feel like Oda is more of a mentor type of figure to Dazai. He is someone he looks up to and respects a lot (and even loves because surprise surprise we can love more than one person that too in different ways). It is like having a senior in college. He is someone Dazai cares a lot about and wants to keep safe and sound.

The only reason we don't see him being like that with Chuuya (people actually pointed out him not caring about Chuuya getting hurt) is because he knows of Chuuyas strength. We know that Dazai is flawless. For some reason there is a deep belief in him that Chuuya can overcome whatever is thrown at him. He believes in Chuuyas' physical and mental strength as much as he believes in his humanity. For him I feel like Chuuya is someone indestructible especially physically.

Why do people compare them I have absolutely no idea.

On that note thought normally as a curiosity what do you think about Odazai ship like would they work (if Oda was alive)?

I sort or struggle to fully put Oda in a mentor position for Dazai. Still for me they do fit several mentor parallels. They fit the Fukuzawa and Ranpo parallel cause of the intensity with which Dazai latched onto Oda is similar.

They fit the Adam and Chuuya parallels in that there is obvious affection there. And their final words and opinions on Chuuya/Dazai matter to them a lot. The difference being that Adam reaffirmed that he was gladly willing to die for someone like Chuuya and Oda reaffirming Dazai's belief of never being worthy of being happy.

They fit the Kouyo and Kyoka parallels a LOT because both Kouyo and Oda heavily project their own experiences onto the kids and sort of refuse to accept that they have a future actually doing good or getting out.

They fit the parallels with Dazai and Atsushi as well except that in Atsushi's case he is idealistic like Dazai, sort of puts him on a pedestal but is not above calling out Dazai's bs while Dazai was very blinded by his idealistic view of Oda to the point that he refused to acknowledge Oda's faults.

Oda can be seen as a mentor figure yea, but I think he is more of an ideal that Dazai views as untouchable and perfect.

I personally don't care if people ship Oda and Dazai, it's just not for me. I personally think they lack that spicey toxicity that makes ships work deliciously while also lacking the core understanding that makes skk click for me. I do see it as a one sided crush on Dazai's side but more on the platonic side. Dazai's little shippy jokes about Gide and Oda sort of cement in my head that he wasn't particularly interested in Oda romantically but he did love him, or rather the idea of him. Oda shows absolutely no romantic interest in Dazai whatsoever, often viewing him in a light similar to the kids he took in while simultaneously denying him the benefit of the doubt of being an innocent stuck in a bad place. Like...Oda doesn't view Dazai as a good person, he thinks Dazai is meant for bad things and that he needs to supress that bad side when in actuality Dazai was just a child being influenced by his negative circumstances and failing mental health.

For me personally, oda and dazai would be a ship that sort of starts strong in that both have this flawed idea of each other and then soon after it just fizzles out cause of the realisation that they never actually knew who the other was.

Dazai's feelings on Chuuya are far more complicated than Oda so honestly comparing the two feels pointless cause those two dynamics are not comparable. But I agree that Dazai genuinely sees Chuuya as untouchable too. Atleast until sb when they find out about corruption, the one thing that can take Chuuya out, logically speaking nothing can touch Chuuya. He is smart, agile, strong and insanely powerful and he doesn't need Dazai to get him out of things. That being said, Dazai not caring that Chuuya got hurt is such a weird take cause when did he not care about Chuuya getting hurt? Is it the torture thing? Dazai explicitly says he knows Chuuya won't break but he also is obviously stressed about the torture going on too long. That man never tells the truth when it comes to his fears so obviously he made up some bullshit about deliberately waiting after. As for him claiming that he found Chuuya struggling under corruption entertaining in the lovecraft fight, Dazai said that TO CHUUYA. The entire time he kept talking about how Chuuya didn't have much time left, never took his eyes off the guy and they couldn't really stop corruption till lovecraft was taken care of which was taking a while till Dazai found out about Lovecraft's weakness and set off the bomb inside. And it's not like getting captured and tortured is not SKK strategy 101. Bro has done it multiple time.

[dearweirdme]

Hey I'm back a.k.a the "I will open your eyes" person🧍‍♀️I have noticed that I'm now known for that😂....(P.S people in the comment section I'm not trolling). I don't have much since I have been busy but I decided to watch Jk weverse (where V commented) and V-Jk instagram live together to gather valid evidence to back me up.

MY OBSERVATION:

When V first commented, Jk was rude in my opinion.

Evidence 1: Jk's reaction to Tae's comments.

"Hold on for a minute I’m talking about something important here." (I honestly excused this because I cannot multitask as well) And then, when he's done answering the fan, he follows with: "Tae's here? WHY ARE YOU HERE?" (In caps for emphasis) (Also he shows no change in emotions) 🧍‍♀️🧍‍♀️🧍‍♀️🧍‍♀️🧍‍♀️ Where is the respect?gratitude? I decided to visit your live and you have the audacity to say why are I am here??? I understand some people might excuse this as they have a very casual relationship but honestly that's not the cause.

I decide to watch his reaction when other members comment...I was disappointed. (I honestly didn't want to compare🥲but i wanted to see...)

Evidence 2: His reaction to Nj and Jm.

First reaction when JK sees Njs and Jms  comments on his live is shock and excitement. He's all smiley, giddy even shy to an extent. Like literally his face lit up like Christmas lights....🧍‍♀️🧍‍♀️🧍‍♀️....no comment.

Back to the live where V commented... They chat here and there about not so important stuff then V asks for Jk to do a instagram live with him. JK asks Tae laughingly if he can handle the consequences of doing the live (as they were not supposed to be doing lives on IG), to which Tae answers he’ll take the responsibility. Jk shows hesitation at first but later agrees.

JK wasn’t forced into it.  It’s not something he really wanted to do either though, and it felt like he really wanted Tae to give up on the idea. 

I decided to watch a jk live where he was asking jm for a live...🧍‍♀️

Evidence 3: Jk wanting Jm to do a live with him.

All I can say is the man was practically begging jimin to do a live with him. He even asked army to beg on his behalf🚮 (non-verbal of course). (he didn't ask namjoon to do a live with him)

If this was your bf, how would you feel? I don't understand how you guys are convinced that they might be in a relationship...I hardly think they even have a friendship.

Evidence 4: Jk-V instagram live.

(The network was terrible. It was a bit awkward too. Why are they so awkward??) They talk about the option to do the joint live – quite a bit of talk about that and the possibility of adding the option to Weverse;they talk about about Bam – Tae saying how big he's become, JK saying he's just as big (why didnt tae know that?). They talk about the comments, a lot about them being flags; We have talk about the conversation JK had in his live with a fan about getting tattoos and the 7 tattoo – what Tae told his parents about it.....Tae pouted🥺...he was so cute🤧Jk found it endearing (I can admit that interaction was semi-cute).

At some point JK brings Bam over, uses him as a buffer, or maybe a conversation starter/ice breaker. JK was going to town with Bam.  

Tae later turns to playing with filters, and then I guess just gave up cause JK was focused on bam🧍‍♀️🧍‍♀️🧍‍♀️(at this point I have tapped out). At the end Tae saying he’s sleepy, for JK to go back to his Weverse live.

What I gathered from both lives:

Wait a minute I can't pay attention to you yet, I have something more important to do;  Then – nonchalantly asking: why are you here? (🧍‍♀️);  Ok, I’ll do the live you wanted, just as long as nothing big happens.I’m going to get alcohol; Here’s Bam; Let’s talk about the live options on IG and how we should make them for Weverse too; When are you going to bed? Aren't you going to bed already?(🧍‍♀️).

Tae is too sweet for his own good, he should go to places in this cases members where he is loved and welcomed. I'm sure they love each other but I feel like they have no deep connection...its all surface. I'm not gonna lie to you I'm hoping that you can change my mind cause I do not see what you see.

Hi anon!

I’m not gonna lie, I don’t even know how to respond to this without being too much of an ass.

So I’ll keep it short and say: please just look at the smiles on Jk’s face when he sees Tae.

Seriously, I think we just have very different ideas about how people interact and what’s normal behavior. I see no disrespect, have never seen any disrespect between Tae and Jk. Maybe just read through my blog a bit or follow along if you want to try and see how I view them.

[alphinias]

If you accept a different argument for Chenford ;) - I actually don't agree with you and your anons about Chenford. Sure Tim almost dying in the last episode was anticlimatic and it had big potential but the scene that followed where they went into a flirty banter with smirking was top notch and showed their chemistry and their good old banter really well. I also think they used that scene to show Aaron's mind and character. He seems to be the one who's clearly onto them, whether he thinks they're together or just have feelings for each other. They've established similar reactions from Tamara and Angela and i think they'll play important role in the upcoming episodes when they'll either come out with the truth or be exposed by someone else.

I also think not all love declarations in fiction need to be big and dramatic. I think fans often want stuff that come across as too dramatic or fanfiction-y. And in Chenford's case they have years of friendship going on. They don't need to dramatically explode, telling each other they're in love. They already know they the other one has feelings based on ep1 and2 when they were about to have sex and then acknowledged it, followed by all the angst in s5. They're actually really good at communicating. Even when Tim doesn't want to show his vulnerability, Lucy always gets it out of him. He doesn't share his stuff with anyone but her. They know each other inside out. So I don't think they needed a more dramatic first kiss. That whole last scene was the sweetest ever - they were both just really content and secure with each other. Could they have done with more angst in the previous episodes? Sure. But i think that's because it's an ensemble cast and there's not enough time (i wish there was less Nolan scenes lol). Right now, let them have a few episodes of pure bliss. Drama will hit them soon enough. And it may not just be work related - there's also Chris, her past relationship with Nolan, Isobel could come back, Lucy could go UC for a longer period and it'd mess with Tim's head due to his history... Also, people want slow burn but this is season 5 already. There's nothing worse than waiting for this long for a ship with the best chemistry to finally happen only for it to be canceled/actors leaving with hardly any happily together time :)

Sure- and honestly I’m happy that the people like you who love it are satisfied and happy with the result of the slow burn they’ve been waiting on. I mean that. I like to see people happy with their ships. And I realize I seem to be in the minority with being underwhelmed with Chendord’s canon. That’s fine. I’m happy for the fandom that I am.

Most of this stuff we just have different opinions on and that’s not gonna change. I have mine so I’m not gonna yammer on for too long about what I think and all the things I think could’ve been better because I already have. I think the scenes needed to have more weight, and you don’t. We just don’t agree. But imo (okay I guess I am gonna yammer a bit) BECAUSE we waited so long for the slow burn, we deserved something more substantial and not just “cute”. They could’ve gotten together at the exact same time and it could’ve been ten times more satisfying, easily. It’s CHENFORD. They deserve a memorable canon scene/turning point and not to get together basically like any old ship on the show.

I respect your views but the only thing I’m gonna totally call BS on is the ensemble cast not having enough time thing. That’s just an excuse and they DID have enough time, had they used it in a different way. Plenty of my favorite ships do not involve the main character and had huge emotional arcs to getting together, like Stydia. It’s the writers’ job to utilize all their characters and scenes in efficient ways.

And just to make it clear, I do think the chenford scenes are cute. Their chemistry is excellent so of course they’re cute. It just feels unsatisfying to me in the lack of impact and fulfilling storyline. You see it as not needing to be fanfic-y, and I see it as it’s a television show and the whole point is to be entertained. These emotional moments between your biggest ship should be a little more magical than real life, and it doesn’t have to be fanficy and stupid to reach that.