#can´t wait to see how this differences affect the characters of the show

[barbie0303]

One differences between the Invincible show and the comics that strike me the most is how mundane the day that Omni-man revealed the truth started for comics!Mark and Debbie. This two were completely blindsided

Mark wasn´t talking with Eve about being dumped by Amber or fighting the Hail Mary with his dad, he was at the comic book shop getting all his comics signed when he saw his dad fighting Immortal on a TV and went to help, only to arrive and see his dad murdering him

Debbie wasn´t aware what her husband did and being at the GDA with Cecil trying to see what to do with her husband, she was doing laundry when she caught on the news

Look at them they have NO IDEA how bad the day is going to turn out in a couple of minutes

[miraculouslbcnreactions]

Wait, I was reading your posts and came across something I've found confusing. How is Adrien asking Ladybug wth she is doing in Volpina a bad thing? From Adrien's perspective, Ladybug's a celebrity tracking down a middle schooler with zero clout and humiliating her for lying about meeting her before. That's, uh yeah? Imagine if that happened irl lmao. Millions of teenage girls would perish at 1D's hands. My middle school would be a horror story. And it's made clear multiple times in the episode that her motivation is jealousy. It's one of the few episodes where the lesson Marinette gets makes sense I think, because she was genuinely spiteful in shitting on this random girl in front of her crush. That's significantly different than Ladybug just asking for a retraction from the Ladyblog. It's also one of the few times when Adrien's celebrity background actually affects how he acts, and it makes sense that Marinette doesn't make the connection between superhero=celebrity=not allowed to scream at middleschoolers in public. If half the kids in her school didn't lie about meeting Ladybug before, my suspension of disbelief is gone.

I've seen this argument before and it makes no sense to me, especially in the context of the lie that Lila actually told and the way the Lila confrontation actually goes down. A lot of people who have this take seem to think that Lila's lie was, "Ladybug saved me," and that Ladybug made a big public confrontation which is not what canon actually gave us. The confrontation was done in a mostly private setting and, while we never see Lila's full Ladyblog interview, this is how Ladybug sums up the interview in Volpina:

Ladybug:(sarcastically) Well hey Lila! How's it going? Long time no see. I saw your interview on the Ladyblog, awesome job. Oh sure! I remember our instant connection when I saved your life and we've been really good friends ever since! Practically BFF's! Uh actually, when did I save your life again, Lila? I don't recall. Oh yes! Of course, now I remember. Never! And we're not friends either! Miss Show-Off here was trying to impress you and everyone around her.

Lila didn't just lie about meeting Ladybug, she lied about having an ongoing, close relationship with Ladybug, two very different things. And Ladybug isn't just a celebrity, she's a superhero who is fighting an active terrorist. If I had to rewrite this confrontation, I'd keep it pretty much the same and just change the "Miss Show-Off" line to something like:

Miss Show-Off here was trying to impress you and everyone around her, putting herself and all of you at major risk! You know that Hawkmoth would do anything to get these, right? (gestures at her earrings) Did you even stop to think about what he'd do if he learned the identity of my supposed best friend? Of course not. You were too busy trying to look cool to stop and think things through like an actual superhero! We keep our identities and relationships secret for a reason!

Is this the kindest, most gentle way to confront someone like Lila? No, but it's very in character for Marinette to be filled with righteous fury when she sees someone using her name for their own personal gain. I really can't blame her for getting incredibly angry at this total stranger presenting herself as a Ladybug authority and using that authority to manipulate Marinette's friends. As I've said before, take away the crush complication and Marinette's actions still make total sense to me.

I'm not a huge proponent of virtue ethics. That's the idea that you need proper motivation for an act to be morally justified. If you do the right thing for the wrong reason, then the act is bad no matter how good the results and vice versa. If you view the world that way, then sure, you could possibly argue that Marinette's actions were wrong just like you can also argue that Gabriel's actions were totally fine, but I don't view the world that way. Switch Marinette's motivation from jealousy and a little righteous fury to pure righteous fury and almost nothing changes. She'd still need to confront Lila, the words would just be a little different.

It's not like this confrontation stops Lila, either. Chameleon gives us this:

Lila: (in flashback) Not only did Ladybug save my life, we've become very close friends. Marinette: She lies with every breath. Nino: Wait. You eavesdropped on Lila and Adrien? That's not cool. Alya: A good reporter always verifies her sources. Can you prove she doesn't actually know Ladybug?

Quick mini rant before I give the next Chameleon quote: this isn't how verifying your sources works, Alya! You should be verifying that Lila does know Ladybug, not the other way around! Right now, Marinette and Lila have equal authority on the topic as far as you know and there is no evidence to support either claim, so you should be looking for proof that Lila isn't lying! Proof isn't a first come, first serve problem even though a lot of people fall into that trap. This is especially true since Lila goes on to make claims like this:

Lila: Of course Ladybug saved my life. She never misses an opportunity to rescue her best friends. Max: Didn't your tinnitus give you vertigo when you went up the Eiffel Tower? Lila: Oh no. Ladybug knows me so well that she brought me an earplug to stick in my right ear.

So Lila keeps right on lying about her relationship with Ladybug, presenting them as close friends, making it even harder for me to get on the "Marinette was in the wrong for privately confronting Lila" train. If anything, Marinette was too tame! She needed to go full scorched earth and have Alya post a public retraction that included a message about the dangers of claiming to be personal friends with someone you don't actually know.

If the show went that route and had Ladybug give an equally furious smack-down and Alya posted it without a second thought, THEN I'd probably be on team "Marinette needed to tone herself down because she went too far" because that isn't a heat-of-the-moment reaction. It's something Marinette would have time to think through. But Volpina didn't go there. Instead, we just get Marinette reacting live to someone using her name to flirt with her crush. Remember, this is the setup to Marinette transforming and jumping in to stop Lila:

Lila: Not only did Ladybug save my life, we've become very close friends because we have something very special in common- it's what I wanted to tell you about. I'm the descendant of a vixen superheroine myself, Volpina. Adrien: Volpina? Marinette: Volpina? Adrien: Wait a minute! I think I read about her in my book. Lila:(stopping him from grabbing the book) Of course she's in your book. She's one of the most important superheroes. More powerful and more celebrated than Ladybug. Between you and me Ladybug doesn't even make the top ten. My grandma gave me this necklace. [Marinette runs off to transform] Adrien: (holding Lila's necklace) Are you telling me this is a Miraculous?! (Ladybug lands in front of them)

This wasn't a planned confrontation. It was Marinette reacting live to some pretty massive lies. If Ladybug had been swinging by and just overhead this, then the scene once again wouldn't change much. That's why blaming Marinette for confronting Lila in the "wrong way" feels so victim blame-y to me. "How dare Ladybug not be perfectly poised at all times and react with grace when someone lies about being her close friend and teammate!" is not a take I'm ever going to agree with. And if you want to use the middle schooler defense? Then it applies to Marinette, too. She and Lila are the same age. Why the different standards just because Marinette has fame that she never asked for or sought out?

I've never been much of a fan of holding celebrities to an "always on" standard where their every interaction needs to be done with poise and grace even if the interaction happens out in the wild and not at a planned even where the celebrity can be mentally prepared for dealing with fans. That's extra true for accidental celebrities like Ladybug. Marinette didn't take up the earrings for fame and they certainly haven't brought her fortune, plus she has no PR training. Expecting her to be a PR master who knows how to handle her accidental fame is, once again, a little too victim blame-y for my tastes. Ladybug is here to save the world, not sign autographs. You can hold her to politician standards when you start paying her for risking her life on the daily.

There's a version of Lila where I would have a different take. A version where the lie really is minor and Marinette really did "overreact", but even there my lesson wouldn't be "Marinette was totally in the wrong" because I genuinely think that sends the wrong message to kids and kids are the show's target audience. Think about what you're actually saying here, "Because Marinette is famous, she needs to accept that people will lie about her and just ignore them even if people believe the lie."

While that isn't exactly a wrong take, it's still really messed up. It's not okay for people to use Marinette's name like that just because she's famous. The reason she needs to learn to let it go is because that's what's best for her mental health, not because her fame makes her lesser than others when it comes to things like personal privacy. The lies are not magically okay just because she's well known.

Remember, Marinette is a fictional character, but the kids watching this show are very real and they're way more likely to be Lilas than Marinettes. And the kids that do relate to Marinette in this episode? They'll be kids who have dealt with the rumor mill spreading lies about them or their friends without the celebrity complication. The show should not be telling either set of kids that Marinette is the one in the wrong here. That is the wrong moral and why I hate this episode so much. I might feel differently if the intended audience was teens and if this plot was allowed to be more complex, but none of that is true. The show is aimed at kids ages 5 to 12 and every episode is supposed to teach its own moral with Volpina's moral being "Marinette was explicitly and totally in the wrong here."

This is the age of internet personalities where there are more easily-accessible celebrities than ever and where many of them do not have the wealth needed to protect themselves from fans nor the PR training to know how to handle extreme fans if there even is PR training for that! That means that it's honestly really important for kids to learn to view these individuals as people who it's wrong to lie about and who deserve the same respect as non-famous people. Treating celebrities as public commodities is how we get things like the Kit Connor scandal where an 18-year-old actor felt forced to publicly come out because the internet wouldn't shut up about his sexuality. Oh, and since you brought up one direction, I'll also note that the band members have publicly stated that online shipping discourse has negatively impacted their relationships. So, yeah, I'm never going to agree that kids should be told that it's okay to lie about celebrities or treat them as fictional characters to play with and that the celebrities are the ones who are wrong if they get upset about that behavior. That shit is toxic.

If we go the "minor" lie route, then my version of this episode would be a very sad one where Marinette learns that people are going to ignore her boundaries and lie about her and there's nothing she can do about it. A lesson in mental health training that will hopefully help kids who are dealing with bullies, but that does not present Marinette as totally in the wrong. It just teaches her when to pick a fight and when to let it go, which is a very important skill to learn even outside of lies about your own person. There will be many times when you hear people say something that you vehemently disagree with and it's important to learn when to pick a fight and when to just let it go, knowing that no good will come from speaking up even if you're 100% in the right. It's a very sad, but also very necessary skill.

I think Adrien has a place in that story. A place where he still tells Ladybug to let it go, but it should NOT have been played the way it was in canon where he acted like Ladybug was totally out of line. He needed to be way more compassionate and understanding of her very justified anger. I've written Adrien giving advice on this topic before and it's always presented as, "people are going to be assholes and you have to learn to ignore them for your own well being," not as, "you are wrong to be upset about strangers telling lies about you. You agreed to deal with this when you decided to be a hero" because what kind of asinine lesson is that?

You could also keep Adrien's canon reaction and have the lesson be him learning that it's okay to have boundaries. That his fame doesn't negate his bodily autonomy and right to be treated with dignity. That people chasing him down, invading his personal space, and otherwise preventing him from living a normal life is wrong. I love it when fanfics take this approach to Adrien's part in the Lila conflict. It's very cathartic to see his friends supporting him and protecting him from Lila.

I really have tried to see Volpina from the "Marinette was totally in the wrong" perspective because I've come across it several times, but I just can't wrap my head around it. If you've got a counter argument, then feel free to try to change my mind because I've given you my full thoughts here, but know that I'm probably not budging on this one. You'd have to make some pretty dramatic changes to canon for me to feel like this take has a point. I think the only way that I'd be on Lila's side is if it was very clear that no one believed Lila and Marinette still had the same reaction that we see in canon as that does feel like going too far. But everyone believed Lila so that's not a solid argument and I'm just never going to agree that people have to be cool with others lying about them just because they're famous. I honestly despise celebrity culture so much and hate that people are basically forced to deal with that bullshit if they want to be successful in certain artistic fields.

[jinwoosbabyboo]

Him or Me?

LADS Men getting jealous over your latest hyper fixation. [Requested by: Anon]

Zayne

Who: Keigo Takami (Hawks) - My Hero Academia & Sanemi Shinazugawa - Demon Slayer

Zayne: You received another package today?

MC: Ahh my figurines!

You tear the box open in excitement while Zayne watches.

Zayne: You have quite a few figures of that red winged character

MC: He's my favorite

Zayne: He's your ... favorite?

MC: My favorite character from my hero academia yes

Zayne: and who is the bug eye'd one?

MC: Don't call him bug eyed

Zayne: Defending him now?

MC: His name is Sanemi he has a bit of a temper but he's really a sweetheart

Zayne: and he's also from your hero show?

MC: No he's from demon slayer

Zayne: Oh

MC: These two are definitely my top 5

Zayne: So there's a list

MC: A mental list

Zayne: Who is on this mental list

MC: Well number one is my red ear'd jealous boyfriend who's trying to hide the fact that he's jealous of these 2D characters

Zayne: I'm not jealous

You stand grabbing your figurines boxes as you move around him heading towards your room to build them.

MC: Sure *Kisses his cheek* jealousy is cute on you but don't worry no one can take me from you

Rafayel

Who: Trafalgar D. Law - One Piece & Itsuomi - A Sign of Affection

MC: Raf have you seen my sketch book?

Rafayel: *Avoiding eye contact* Nope

MC: Did you do something with it?

Rafayel: Nope

MC: Found it. Why was it under the couch?

Rafayel: You're a silly girl with a bad memory

MC: RAF!

Rafayel: What!?

MC: I'm missing like four pages in here!

Rafayel: Have you tried not missing them?

MC: Very funny ... coincidentally its only the sketches of Law & Itsuomi

Rafayel: Why do you need to draw that taffy guy and umami dude? Draw meeeee I'm your boyfriend

MC: I've already drawn you before

Rafayel: I only had one page in your book they each had two that's not fair *pouts*

MC: You're such a baby if I give you a second page can you stop ripping up my hardwork?

Rafayel: Make it four pages and you have a deal

Xavier

Who: Kento Nanami - Jujutsu Kaisen & Vash - Trigun

MC: Xav?

Xavier: yes my love

MC: Would you like to explain what happened to my Nanami plushie?

Xavier: I don't know what you're talking about

MC: He has mysteriously gone missing

Xavier: Are you sure you searched everywhere? You did work sixteen hours yesterday It's common to misplace items when you're tired

MC: I don't know I never move him from the shelf .... have you seen him?

Xavier: I haven't sorry

MC: Interesting ... my phone case with Vash is also missing

Xavier: You seem quite smitten with those two lately do you like them more than me?

MC: Xavier they're 2D animations they'll never be better than you

Xavier: Promise?

MC: I put it on my pinky

Xavier: 🥰

MC: Can I have my phone case and plushie now?

Xavier: Absolutely not

Sylus

Who: Sung Jinwoo - Solo Leveling & Shinichiro Sano - Tokyo Revengers

Sylus: What's so great about that show that you need to go to four different stores to get the entire book collection?

MC: I tried to get you to watch Solo Leveling with me

Sylus: I'm a busy man princess

MC: I think you'd really like it Jinwoo looks like a cinnamon roll and is a cinnamon roll but could still kill you

Sylus: Are you implying that me and this 2D man are similar?

MC: Hell no you look like you can kill and could kill ... you're only a cinnamon roll for me

Sylus: How perceptive ... and what book is that

MC: It's a manga get it right ... its Tokyo Revengers I'm still waiting on the next season but I need to know what happens because I need to see Shinichiro

Sylus: Who is Shin and why do you need to see him eat a cheerio?

MC: Not Shin eat a cheerio ... Shinichiro Sano aka the weak king

Sylus: How can you be a king and be weak?

MC: Those around you are strong

Sylus: Sounds like a kingdom waiting to fall ... are you almost done?

MC: What's with the curt tone?

Sylus: No reason we just have dinner reservations soon princess

MC: That's in five hours

Sylus: *Grabs the stack of books from MCs hands* My how time flies lets go

[cheapshrimpysheep]

Meanwhile with Malleus

SUMMARY: You spent a lot of time with Malleus while the others fought ghosts. What could have happened in all that time? You needed to sleep before the party. And maybe he taught you how to play the organ.

CHARACTERS: Malleus Draconia x Reader 🐉🦐

TAGS: Fluff, GN Reader, Cuddles, Flirting, Kissing

WARNING: Spoilers from Twisted Halloween: Spectral Soiree

WORD COUNT: 2.830 words

COMMENTS: The truth is that I started writing this a few weeks (maybe months) ago and it has been on hold for a long time. As this event returned to the Eng Server I decided to finish it and post it in October.

I hope you enjoy 💚

After all that Halloween week, the Magicam Monsters and that parade, you were dead tired. You just wanted to rest after all that. But someone knocks on the door of Ramshackle Dorm.

“Tsunotarou?!” You didn't know whether to show that you were happy to see him or to ask if anything was wrong.

“Child of Man,” Malleus speaks with a smile “I'm here to invite you and the rest of the Ramshackle Dorm residents to an Halloween party at the Spectral Realm.”

You don't seem as happy about the idea as he thought you would be. And you were confused too. “A Halloween party? At the... what's the Spectral Realm?”

He briefly tells you about the ghosts and the party he plans to throw with the other NRC students at the Spectral Realm.

“I don't know if I can handle another party, Tsunotarou.” you say sadly “I'm really so tired.”

“Yeah...” Grim says “I mean, even if there's a feast, I still need to rest to have the energy to eat more.”

“Besides.” you look at the clock “Halloween is almost over.”

“Oh, don't worry about that little detail.” Malleus smiles and snaps his fingers. You stop listening to the clock ticking and when you look at the clock again it's eleven fifty-nine.

“Can you stop time?” you say almost in a whisper.

“You should know by now that I am capable of doing many things.” he smirk “But this spell is only affecting the Sage's Island. And about your tiredness, I'll let everyone else sleep until the party preparations are done, I can arrange a quiet place for you to rest in the Spectral Realm if you like.”

“We already sleep with ghosts so it shouldn't make much difference, right (Y/N)?” Grim says.

You sigh and end up accepting it. Malleus smile gladly and then looks at your tired posture.

“If you are also very tired from walking all day, I don't mind helping you.”

“Would you carry me in your arms?” you ask partly jokingly, partly hoping he would say yes.

He laughs, loving your boldness. “Are you sure you want to make such request?”

“Is that a no?”

“No, it is not a No. Fu fu. Honestly answering your question, yes, I would carry you if you needed. And yes, I would carry you to the Spectral Realm.” he smiles amusedly at you.

“Oh come on, just jump to his arms already or something!” Grim complains. “And do everyone a favour and get that room.”

You blush, Malleus laughs. “In fact, we should go. I don't want to keep Lilia waiting any longer. May I?” He asks you.

You nod and he picks you up, bridal style. One hand behind your knees and the other on your back. As easily as if you weighed nothing. Inevitably, you need to support yourself by putting your arms around his neck and your faces get very close. He’s smiling and his eyes looking at you affectionately.

“OI!” Grim complains again “My paws are hurting too. I also want to be carried.”

Malleus laughs again. “That can be arranged.” He turns his back to Grim and wraps his draconic tail around the little beast's waist. “MRAH!” And picks his up. “You are able to come by yourselves, correct?” he asks the three ghosts who have been watching in secret from you.

When you arrive at the Mirror chamber, Lilia was there waiting for you all. He just didn't expect Malleus to bring Grim with his tail and you in his arms. First Lilia worries.

“Oh! Did something happened? Did (Y/N) get hurt on your way here?”

You get even more embarrassed. Mainly because you knew that Malleus would tell Lilia the truth.

“Fu fu fu. Don't fret, Lilia.” Malleus smiles, like he's glad Lilia saw the two of you like this. “Child of Man is just really tired of walking all day and asked me if I could carry them.”

Lilia looks at you and gives you his sly smile. “Oh, truly? Fu fu fu. How daring for a human.”

“Can we go to that ghost world already?!” you hear Grim's voice complaining. “This is not that comfortable you know.” Malleus flicks his tail to the side, revealing to Lilia a Grim caught in a black dragon's tail. And Lilia starts to laugh heartily, almost bringing tears to his eyes.

Malleus only put you back on the ground when you arrived at the Sparkling Chamber. You took a moment to admire the place. But it didn't take long for you and Grim to start yawning.

“Ah, yes. I promised you that I would find you a place to rest.” Malleus remembers.

“Indeed, (Y/N) must rest.” Lilia says “I sure know how harmful lack of sleep can be to a human. If I'm not mistaken, I think there are some rooms beyond this Chamber that you can use.”

Malleus would go with you to find a room while Lilia started getting the chamber ready for the party.

You found a good one, but it had no furniture or what little it had was broken. You comment on trying to find another one, but Malleus says that won't be necessary. With a snap of his fingers the room is cleaned and the furniture repaired.

In one corner of the small room was an antique carved pine single bed. The sheets were white and the cover a pale purple. Similar to Malleus' own bed in Diasomnia. Grim jumped to the foot of the bed and was asleep in seconds. You, on the other hand, look a little unease.

“I can change your clothes to pajamas with magic if it makes you more comfortable.” Malleus suggests.

You say that would help a lot, so he gestures and your Halloween costume changes to pale green pajamas. It was comfortable, like the bed you sit on. But even so, there was still something that didn't leave you completely at ease.

“I know I sleep in a dorm with ghosts now.” You explain. “But I only sleep well today because I've gotten used to them and the dorm has had some improvements. But I almost couldn't sleep the first few nights. I don't know if I'll be able to fall asleep here.”

“I see. Would you feel more rested if I stayed by your side until you fell asleep?” He was smiling, like he was sure you were going to say no.

When you say yes, he is taken aback for a moment. His bright green eyes looking at you wide open in astonishment. But then he remembered who he was talking to and laughed with the greatest of joys. He smiled warmly at you. “You know, I believe some children want company to fall asleep so that person can protect them from me. This is... an interesting... no, delightful turn of events. I dare say”

You open the sheets and lie down. After placing them on top of you and settling down on the bed, Malleus sits down beside you. He could use magic to put you to sleep, but he didn't want to. He wanted to see if you genuinely felt comfortable around him to the point where you could fall asleep.

“Briar Valley has many lullabies.” He tells you, with the softest of voices. “Sleep and dreams are deeply embedded in our culture. Would you like me to sing you one of our lullabies? Allowed me to guess, your answer is yes.”

“You can't make a proposal like that and expect me to say no.” You say with a soft smile and already with your eyes closed.

Malleus chuckles and happily fulfills your request. He sings to you in a sweet tone, that becomes even more affectionate when he looks at your sleepy smile.

When he finishes, you are already fast asleep. He is smiling looking at you and take one of his hands to your head. But stop before touching you, hesitating. As if he's afraid that the moment he touches you, you'll startle awake. But even so, he took the risk.

He puts his hand on your head, stroking your hair. And you don't wake up. Actually, your smile comes back slightly. He is so happy about it. And he decides to risk it just one more time.

He leans over you and kisses your forehead. And you were still sleeping. “Dream of me. As I dream of you.”

He stayed with you for a while longer. Before he finally left to assist with the party preparations, he did two things. First, he cast another spell so that outside noises wouldn't disturb your sleep. And second, he put a paper on your bedside table in case you wake up earlier than necessary. It said that since you had no way of knowing if you slept too much or too little, because time was still, you didn't have to worry that he would wake you up when the time came.

And that is what happened. You feel a kiss on your cheek and a familiar voice in a sweet tone saying your name. You open your eyes to find Malleus's bright green ones looking at you, over a sweet smile.

“We hear that the other students have already woken up and are on their way here.” Malleus explains, sitting on your bed watching you stretch. “So we figured you should have gotten enough rest too. Did you sleep well?”

“I did. Thank you so much.” you sit on the bed.

“For asking?” He seems confused that you would thank him so much for something so trivial.

“No. For what you've done. For fixing the room, giving me a comfortable bed and mostly staying with me until I fall asleep. I probably wouldn't have been able to sleep here without you.” You hear snoring at the foot of your bed, behind Malleus who was facing you. “Unlike Grim.”

Malleus seems very happy about what you said. And there was something he really wanted to ask you. “Do you happen to remember what you dreamed? People dream every night, but sometimes they forget about them and that's why they think they didn't dream that night.”

A dream? You think. And yes, you remember! But you say it was a silly dream. When the truth is, you're slightly embarrassed.

“I've heard that the silly dreams can be the most meaningful.” Malleus says. “I would love to hear about yours. But if it's something you don't want to tell me, I understand. Dreams can be extremely personal.”

You think about it. It was no dream that I couldn't tell anyone. It was even...cute. So you decide to tell him.

You remember you were in a forest, for some reason. You lived there? You had lots of animal friends and you remember singing and dancing with them. What you were singing... you recognize... it was the lullaby Malleus sang to you. There was an owl wearing the cape of the Houseworden of Diasomnia, a rabbit in each black boot with green heels, and a squirrel with a small pillbox hat, balancing on top of the owl's head.

When you finish describing this part, both you and Malleus are laughing. “I wouldn't be surprised if I ever witness the same scenario with Silver's clothes.” Malleus comments between laughs. But you hadn't finished telling the dream yet.

As you danced with the animals, someone appeared behind you and continued singing and dancing with you, making that song a duet. When you turn around, you find Malleus.

“Did I scared you?” He asks about the Malleus in the dream. He was smiling, but you knew that wasn't his real smile. It was a smile that hid some apprehension.

“No, of course not. I was very happy to meet you there.” He looked like you had lifted a weight off his shoulders with just those words of yours. The next thing you remember is dancing with Malleus in a ballroom. and what you were wearing was constantly changing color because... Two Lilias? Were arguing about whether you should be wearing green or purple.

And with that the two of you started laughing again. Malleus said you should tell that last part to Lilia, he'll love it.

“I dreamed of flying tuna cans.” Grim said, to prove that he too was already awake. "But I couldn't catch any. It was a nightmare.”

“Fret not, Grim. There will be plenty of food for you when everyone arrives and the party begins.” Malleus assured him. “And now that you two are awake, I should change your clothes back.” He wave his hand and Grim's hat and cap come back, but this time they're green instead of purple.

He gets up from your bed and holds out his hand to you, like one of those gentleman helping you out of the carriage. You give him your hand and get out of the bed. Then he surprises you by spinning you, like the dance move.

When the spin ends your clothes have changed. But not like Grim's that stayed the same, just changing the colour. Your clothes were also green now, where once were purple, but they weren't the same as the ones the ghosts gave you. It looks like an improved version, with more details and accessories. Malleus looked at you as if admiring you and proud of his work.

“How do I look?” you ask.

“Wonderful.” He simply says with a smile, as if it were an obvious truth.

He offers you his arm for you to walk arm in arm into the Sparkling Hall. He tells you about the plans for the party as you walk down the hall and explains about the mirror ball. And when he tells you that he plans to play the organ during the party you are so excited and curious that you ask him if he could play something for you.

He smiles. “I think there will be no problem. I may even take this opportunity to practice.” He takes you to the organ and asks you to sit next to him while he plays.

It's no surprise that he plays beautifully. You look at him playing which practically hypnotizes you. Your ears appreciate music while your eyes appreciate him.

He looks at you smiling, as if he knew you were looking at him the whole time. He lets you get flattered, he loves seeing you like that, before asking you: “You can play?”

“Organ? Oh no, I don't.”

“Would you like to try? We have plenty of time until the guests arrive. I can teach you a simple melody.”

You accept his offer. He smiles happily.

“I'm glad. I'm eager to hear you play. Even if it is a basic song. However, forgive me if this is an impolite question, but would you mind sitting on my lap while I teach you? it will be easier for me to show you the keys and the correct way to move your fingers from a similar perspective as yours.”

You try to say you don't mind without showing how happy you really are. However, it's not that easy, and he laughs with delight that you not only don't mind but are happy with the suggestion.

You sit on his lap and hear a soft sound on the floor behind you. You glance back and Malleus tries to hide his draconic tail whose tip was happily wagging. You don't hide your giggle. Your back finds his chest, his hands cover yours to indicate the keys you should play and he begins to teach you a simple but beautiful song.

After a few minutes, you forget the world. It's just you, Malleus and the organ. You fail a few notes and he corrects you with a laugh. When you get it right you hear him congratulating you and saying you're doing well. And all the while you can feel the affection he has for you, the gentle way he holds your hands, the sweet way he talks to you even when you miss the notes. Until you end up reaching the end of the song.

“Wonderful.” Malleus says with a sweet and dreamy voice “That was the most beautiful play I ever heard.”

“But I failed so many notes.” You remember him, smiling.

“I'm very aware of that. But it was the first thing I heard you play. So it will always be special to me from now on.” he takes his hands out of yours and hugs you around the waist. And lay his head on your shoulder. “You will always be special to me.” he whispers in your ear, and kiss your cheek.

You hear that sound of his tail wagging happily on the ground behind you again.

If you decide to tip your head back, tell him how you feel about him and allow him to kiss your lips, you will receive the most loving kiss and he will hug you tighter.

If you would like to read more from me, you can find it in my pinned post: INDEX

[eldritch-spouse]

hey Pinniee.......so i recently stumbled across a new..........certain interest of mine.... and that may ormay not be gettting exteremely turned on when i drink and am encouraged to drink.....I feel like Gallon would like this for obvious reasons but....are there any others that mayhaps....indulge this certain interest of mine? the remasters are brilliant!!!! by the way! you're truly an amazing artist and i find myself thinking of your characters and world semi frequently (especially in unrelated situations and im just like????okay but theyd match my freak<3)

TW: Noncon on most of these

Who likes getting you stupid drunk?

Fank-e is an unlikely candidate, you'd think. But this robot has a particular obsession with seeing squishies out of their mind. That's why he always has stashes of psychostimulants and boosts- Generally many mind-altering substances. Logically, the machine doesn't do drugs, it can't. But it likes seeing you tripping the fuck out of orbit, and stuffing his hands everywhere while you're at it. Alcohol is really no different. Even when you get sick form it, Fank-e's still hovering over you in excitement.

In the same way Jayde doesn't mind buying affection, he also doesn't mind buying you a few drinks for it. Are you sure you can handle Hell's alcohol? Are you? Then show him. Take a few shots with the imp. He's got less body mass than you, so surely... Jayde loves the way you get sloppier with each sip, when you can barely hold yourself together and giggle at all his lame jokes. He likes how he can slide a hand into your shirt and you barely care. You're so pretty like this, letting him take you anywhere, touch you anywhere.

Lacai can and will use pheromones often, but sometimes, it's a bit of a challenge to use other means of getting someone into his hands. Drinks? Oh, he can afford some of the best, he knows places where the ambiance is just right and every glass is served to aesthetic perfection. Oh, just another one, Lacai promises that next one looks even more gorgeous. Take a photo of it, post it somewhere. Not many people get the privilege. One moment you're looking at your drink, the next the world is spinning and his tongue is inside your mouth.

Fasma is a bum. Misery loooves company. He's such a piece of shit for dragging a pretty thing like you down with him. Really, you've got a lot to look forward to, kid. You're not like him. But if there's anyone he'd love to have some drinks with, it'd be you. You're just too gorgeous, let him treat you to the finer stuff, make this old man some company. He's totally not grinning watching you get wasted, totally not going to slip his fingers into your skirt and watch you slump all open. Yer such a lightweight, he'd feel bad stealing from you even if he didn't like you.

Liter is heavy into alcohol. You're talking about the slime that got Gallon into his craft. Liter plies anyone he likes with drink and good vibes, he's a great talker too, so you're bound to stick around. While he's careful not to give you something crazy, what he does offer is sure to have you blackout hammered. It burns your throat but it burns so good, doesn't it? Yeah that one gets him in a mood too. You poor thing, come closer, he'll hold you so you don't fall, inside him...

Shags isn't a drinker. Buuuut, he shares a similar fascination to Fank-e, in a less intense manner. There's something about seeing the way you transform before his very own eyes, Shags always stocks up on the drinks you like, excitedly following your drunken rambling and engaging in your shenanigans. Please, have all you like, he can afford it, and it makes him so happy to see you so satisfied. Even the way you hold the glass is beautiful... He waits until you pass out somewhere, and promptly lets all his built up arousal seep off him like waves. You're in good hands, rest well...

Caius does enjoy getting blood drunk. And here's a funny thing- You don't even need alcohol to get drunk with him. Just let him feed a little too long and you'll see, that funny little lightheaded feeling that takes you over. He does so love caressing you in that state, singing your praises. Caius does, however, like joining festivities with his own drink, though always encourages you to have more with a blood-soaked grin. Oh what a joy you are like this! He loves jolly people- You're a magnet. And may the heavens damn him if the Magister isn't making the most out of it. Dance, dance with him...

Vorticia is a refined woman -When she's not pigging out at the table- She's incredibly fond of Gluttony's wines and whiskeys and all that good stuff. Flavored alcohol is especially to her tastes, and she knows you'll enjoy it too, you have an eye for this after all. There's nothing like long conversations across the halls, watching you stumble on shaky legs like a doe, until the Queen is carrying you to your chambers, still holding a glass to your lips. Doesn't she spoil you? Don't you like this?

Dishonorable mentions

Mooncalf. Everyone knows fae are indulgent, trapping you with food is common, but so is offering good alcohol. While Mooncalf is not typically the fae type you'd associate with liquor and such, he still delights in occasionally getting you drunk. You already belong to him, so why not celebrate, always?! Be jolly, be wild, be crazy with him, dance like a butterfly under the moonlight with him!

Rinx. He loves to watch you eat, he also loves to watch you drink, no wonder he likes watching you get drunk too. He's more excited and curious than aroused, but it's only a matter of time until he starts pawing at you, particularly if you're the type of drunk that gets a little frisky.

Patches and Stitches. One is a desperate opportunist, the other just likes to embarrass you, a match made in anything but heaven. Patches will subtly keep edging you new drinks, Stitches sloshes shots in his head and dunks them into your mouth like a horror show. You're wobbling your way into their hands regardless of who's piloting....

Cero doesn't so much enjoy the drunk part as he does the wardrobe malfunction that follows. Your helpless state as you slump there barely capable of making a phrase, dress askew, bra peeking, hair unkempt. You're hopeless. And he's steaming alive.

[scoobydoodean]

how much do you think chuck was actually affecting the movement of the plot throughout the series?

personally, i think he was just observing them from season 6 to season 10, but then he actually had to get involved upon amara’s return. and i do like the theory that he was responsible for the “vision” that cas thought he saw from jack, and that he kinda let mary get killed after cas’s prayer in 14x17, before again becoming fully involved throughout season 15. but for the other seasons 1-5, most of 12-14, and really for the overall universe, idk how much can, or should, be ascribed to chuck’s machinations. like i can never decide which route would be most satisfying for me as a viewer, and so i’m just curious as to what your opinion might be :)

Jack visions theory

Probably helps just to say starting off for anyone who might be coming from a different perspective, that my own understanding of Chuck's machinations in Supernatural (at least when it comes to Sam, Dean, and Cas) do not involve directly violating their free will. Chuck's machinations involve shaping the experiences around our characters to convince them to make the choices Chuck wants them to make. For example, when Dean tosses the gun aside in 14.20 and refuses to kill Jack, Chuck shouts "Do it!" instead of putting some kind of mind whammy on Dean that makes him kill Jack because Chuck either can't do that or won't do it because it wouldn't get him off. Chuck needs Dean to do what Chuck wants him to do (kill Jack) because Dean was brought to a point psychologically where he chose it. The same thing is true of Sam in season 4. The demons or the angels or Chuck don't operate Sam like a robot—they slowly convince him to take one turn after another based on the psychological state he's in, the things happening around him, and the things being whispered in his ears until he's killing Lilith and Lucifer's cage is opening, and Ruby says,

No. It wasn't the blood. It was you... and your choices. I just gave you the options, and you chose the right path every time. You didn't need the feather to fly, you had it in you the whole time, Dumbo! I know it's hard to see it now... but this is a miracle. So long coming. Everything Azazel did, and Lilith did. Just to get you here. And you were the only one who could do it.

I refer to Chuck's influence on the narrative as causality rather than fate. I have a tag for this called #spn and causality. 4.18 goes to great lengths to show how difficult it can be to subvert causality. For example, Dean tries to defy the writing by moving himself and Sam to a different hotel than Chuck wrote them to be in, but the motel's neon sign goes out, causing the name of their motel to "change" to "The Red Motel"—the motel Chuck wrote. ("No matter what details you alter, we will always end up here" etc etc). However, this episode goes on to show that it is possible to leap out of causality's flow. Chuck's control of the narrative ultimately works via anticipation. If he can anticipate his creations choices, his writing realigns everything with the narrative. If they do something he is unable to anticipate? They can leap out of his narrative just long enough to make a difference.

How do they leap out of causality's flow? Two things together: Dean and Cas. Quoting myself here in this post:

Leaping out of causality is something Dean and Cas do together in 4.18, 4.22, and 5.22. In 4.18, Dean pleads with Cas to help him save Sam, even though Cas thinks what’s going to happen is fate and can’t be subverted. Cas doesn’t personally act, but he gives Dean the idea that Dean then executes, leading Chuck to say “What are you doing here? I didn’t write this.” In 4.22, Dean pleads with Cas again. They again fight about the inescapability of destiny. This time, it’s Dean’s pleading but Cas’s actions—flying Dean out of the green room (somewhere Dean is incapable of escaping from on his own). Chuck says when they pop into his house, “Wait. T-t-this isn’t supposed to happen” and then “Yeah, but you guys aren’t supposed to be there. You’re not in this story”. In 5.22, after Lucifer takes Sam over (something that was foretold to happen in Detroit), Cas and Bobby despair, but Dean refuses to give up and calls Chuck, who says, “Oh, uh, Dean. Uh, wow. I, uh, I didn’t know that you’d call.” Then Dean goes to Stull Cemetery alone. However, the moment that Michael begins to walk up on Dean and says, “You little maggot. You are no longer a part of this story!” Guess who suddenly appears with a holy oil Molotov cocktail?

Dean and Cas are something Chuck seems to have a lot of trouble anticipating. I think this is true both individually and as a unit. Individually, Dean is the narrative heart, to an extent that his capacity for love is always exceeding the bounds that Chuck anticipates, leading to confounding leaps like showing up at Stull in "Swan Song" and dropping the gun in "Moriah" and saving the world with the power of love in 11.23. Dean in turn pleads with Cas with that heart, and Cas is angel with a crack in his chassis straight of the line. Naomi/Chuck cannot get Cas to do what he's "supposed" to do no matter how many times he's reprogrammed. He has Loving Dean Winchester/Humanity (same thing) Disease and it's incurable no matter how many lobotomies are attempted.

In the season 1-5 setting, Chuck is actually fairly hands off despite all of this being his prophecy foretold. He told the archangels that everything would end with Sam and Dean as the vessels for Lucifer and Michael (5.08) and Lucifer passed these stories on to his princes, and the angels and demons brought that prophecy to fruition—including with deliberate meddling in the Winchester/Campbell bloodline (5.13, 5.14). Heaven and hell act as Chuck's hands and feet, carrying out his plan out of desire and (in some cases) religious fanaticism. Because Chuck's so painstakingly worked on this narrative and everything is set up in advance, he can just watch it play out. When he interferes directly, it's actually to give Team Free Will a better shot at subverting him. Chuck only directly interferes in

4.22/5.01 to transport Sam and Dean to the plane, un-demon blood Sam, and resurrect Cas

5.22 to resurrect Cas again

All that said, I think season 1-5 is the original Chuck canon, which is subverted by Team Free Will working together, and most specifically, by Dean and Cas interfering in ways Chuck did not anticipate. And Chuck was fine with this. His narration at the end of "Swan Song" reveals that he's pleased, even if the story turned in a direction he didn't anticipate (maybe the Michael and Lucifer story started to bore him—they bore me, and him wanting Sam and Dean to mirror them so rigidly was rather uninspired).

I get the sense that Cas is probably a good litmus test for whether Chuck's entertained or not by the story subverting his expectations, because Cas is not "supposed" to be a part of the original story, but Chuck keeps bringing him back anyway. And yet, somewhere down the road, Cas falls wildly out of favor with Chuck, and Chuck is hurling rage at him for never doing as told—the very thing he seemed to like about Cas at first.

Maybe I'll see things that will make me change my mind as I work through seasons 7-10, but so far, I agree with you that season 6-10 seems to be a mostly "hands off" period, with Chuck only arguably interfering once, to bring Cas back a third time in season 7, depending on how seriously/literally you take Daphne's recollection of events in 7.17:

EMMANUEL/CASTIEL A few months ago, she was hiking by the river, and I wandered into her path, drenched and confused, and... unclothed. I had no memory. She said... God wanted her to find me.

It's not necessarily clear exactly where Chuck loses interest (or if for example, Cas might fall out of favor with Chuck before Sam and Dean do). Chuck shows up in season 10's "Fan Fiction" to see a play of his work, so he was clearly feeling fond enough to celebrate his handiwork in an very non-prestigious but intimate setting. But when Chuck shows up in season 11's "Don't Call Me Shurley", he talks to Metatron about traveling (to his other universes, perhaps?). Chuck's writing his memoir, and Metatron claims it's full of self-doubt and nebbishness. Chuck's apathy jumps out to Metraton quick too. Metatron criticizes Chuck for writing only two paragraphs on the archangels in his memoir, lending to the notion that Chuck had come to a point where they bored him. Metraton tries to remind him that Lucifer was his favorite because he rebelled, but Chuck then denies that Lucifer was ever even his favorite! He doesn't like this rebellion thing so much anymore... which might also tip his hand as far as how he's beginning to feel about Team Free Will. I think it's likely that Amara is the catalyst for his change of heart, but I'll have to wait until I circle back to season 11 to have a fully formed conclusion on this.

Then we get seasons 12-15 where—at least arguably—Chuck begins planting the seeds for a new final ending, trying to force Dean into the role of Michael—the son so loyal to him that he killed his own brother. The problem is that Dean's never really been like Michael, and that's the whole reason season 5 never worked. It's also the reason "Moriah" doesn't work. Lilith claims in season 15 that Chuck has a creepy obsession with Dean—Dean specifically. Dean whose loyal love fills Lucifer with such seething jealousy in "Swan Song" that he loses control of Sam's body just as Dean's pleading brings Sam's consciousness to the surface to fight. That same loving heart thaws Amara toward Chuck in 11.23, and I think Chuck... decides that he does not like this. It is something beyond his capacity to express or to anticipate and write around. It is transformative, causality-defying love, that ruined his original ending (and he's BORED and TIRED). And has given Cas Winchester Derangement Syndrome so he can't be controlled. He decides that he hates Dean Winchester's heart, and he tries to obliterate it out of existence and force Dean into the Michael role once and for all.

[splashstar01]

MBTIs of BBC's Merlin & Arthur Pendragon

Arthur Pendragon (ISTJ)

Introverted (I): Now I know many people see him as an extrovert. I argue he plays extroverted out of necessity. Although Arthur is often in the spotlight due to his royal position, he tends to process emotions and decisions internally. He’s reserved about personal feelings, often keeping a stoic exterior, particularly in moments of vulnerability. His introversion explains why in season 4 finale (the show only has 5 seasons), he told Merlin that Merlin was still his only friend, despite the fact that all the Knights of the Round had already been established! He clearly differentiates knights who would willingly give their lives from real friends. Arthur is so private that he doesn't even tell his wife things. In season 5, she casually said, "Arthur never tells me anything." Arthur only really lets Merlin in. (Because he loves Merlin, duh. lol)

Sensing (S): Arthur is pragmatic and focused on the present. He has a strong sense of duty and tradition, often valuing tangible results and sticking to established systems, like the chivalric code and the duties of being a king.

Thinking (T): He makes decisions based on logic and duty rather than emotions. Arthur strives to do what is right for Camelot and tends to focus on rationality when dealing with political and military matters, even if it means setting aside personal attachments.

Judging (J): Arthur values structure and order. He is disciplined, prefers routines, and is committed to fulfilling his responsibilities as a king. He can be strict, both with himself and others, expecting everyone to uphold the same level of duty.

Merlin (ENFP)

Extraverted (E): I have heard some parts of fandom say Merlin is introverted.... But Merlin has to be the friendliest, most outgoing and open character on the show! Merlin effortlessly connects with others. He’s warm, often initiating interactions with various people across all social classes, and enjoys forming deep bonds with those around him. Basically, the complete opposite of Arthur. Arthur's top knights, Lancelot and Gwaine, became knights for Merlin, because of their friendship with him! Merlin at his best is a happy, bubbly dude!

Intuitive (N): Merlin looks beyond the surface and sees potential and possibilities. He is often focused on his vision for the future, specifically the destiny he believes Arthur must fulfill, and tends to think about the broader implications of events.

Feeling (F): Merlin makes decisions based on his emotions and values. He is compassionate and deeply cares about the people he loves, even risking his life to protect them. His empathy drives many of his actions, as he is guided by his heart rather than just logic.

Perceiving (P): Merlin is adaptable and flexible. He thrives in chaotic situations, often relying on his quick thinking to solve problems on the fly. Unlike Arthur, Merlin isn't tied to structure and routine, preferring to go with the flow and adjust his plans as circumstances change.

Even being complete opposites (they don't have a single common letter in their MBTI), Arthur and Merlin's personalities complement each other in a way that makes their relationship dynamic, powerful, and balanced. Despite their differences, these contrasts are what strengthen their bond, making them effective as partners and allowing them to grow as individuals.

How their MBTIs shaped their love story:

1. Arthur (ISTJ) – Duty vs. Love

Arthur’s ISTJ personality makes him deeply rooted in duty and tradition, which often conflicts with his personal feelings. As a king-in-waiting, he’s bound by the rules and expectations of Camelot. This sense of responsibility prevents him from openly expressing his affection for Merlin, a commoner and servant.

Suppressed feelings: Arthur’s introversion and thinking function push him to hide his emotions, especially his care and affection for Merlin. His loyalty to his role as prince often conflicts with his deeper, unspoken feelings for Merlin. Arthur’s rational side forces him to focus on the kingdom, keeping his emotions hidden beneath his duty to the crown.

Traditional values: As an ISTJ, Arthur’s sense of tradition keeps him from crossing the boundaries of class and status. His love for Merlin, if fully acknowledged, would defy these societal norms, and his reluctance to embrace that love fully reflects his fear of breaking those structures.

2. Merlin (ENFP) – Love as a Driving Force

Merlin’s ENFP personality is more openly emotional and driven by personal values. His feeling and perceiving traits allow him to express affection, even though it’s subtle and often masked in humor or banter. Merlin constantly shows his love and devotion to Arthur by risking his life to protect him and ensuring Arthur’s destiny as king.

Boundless loyalty: Merlin’s deep emotional attachment to Arthur is clear, as he constantly sacrifices his own desires, hiding his magic and risking his safety to ensure Arthur’s survival. His ENFP idealism drives his belief in Arthur as the Once and Future King, and this belief is tied deeply to Merlin’s personal love for him. The idealism of an ENFP is evident in how Merlin sees the bigger picture of Arthur’s destiny but is also fueled by his personal love and emotional bond.

Unconditional care: While Arthur struggles to show emotions, Merlin’s extraverted nature makes it easier for him to express affection through acts of service. He remains unwavering in his commitment to Arthur, which highlights the ENFP’s ability to love deeply and unconditionally, even when the other person may not fully reciprocate outwardly.

3. Their Banter – The ENFP vs. ISTJ Communication Style

The teasing and banter between Arthur and Merlin highlight their different communication styles. Merlin’s ENFP warmth and humor frequently bring out Arthur’s softer, more human side. Arthur’s ISTJ personality makes him reluctant to openly express affection, so their teasing and sarcastic exchanges become a way to communicate affection indirectly. The playful insults act as a cover for their deeper bond.

Arthur’s respect for Merlin grows over time, despite his reserved demeanor, and Merlin’s ability to challenge him emotionally helps Arthur soften. Their banter is more than comedic relief; it shows how they communicate their care for one another in a way that feels safe and acceptable.

4. Trust and Emotional Vulnerability

Arthur (ISTJ) is slow to trust others with his vulnerabilities, given his reliance on structure and duty. But over the course of the series, he opens up to Merlin more than anyone else, showing a side of himself that he hides from everyone, including his wife and family members (like Morgana and Uther). Merlin’s warmth and loyalty gradually create a space where Arthur can be emotionally vulnerable.

Merlin (ENFP), in contrast, is more expressive and emotionally open from the beginning. His challenge lies in getting Arthur to see past his role as a servant and accept him as an equal in friendship—and potentially in love. Merlin consistently puts Arthur first, and Arthur, in return, eventually trusts Merlin above all others, including knights and advisors.

5. Protectiveness and Sacrifice

Arthur’s ISTJ sense of duty makes him protective of those he cares about, even if he doesn’t vocalize it. His actions speak louder than words, as he consistently risks his life for Merlin. This protectiveness is a manifestation of his deep, unspoken love for Merlin. However, Arthur often couches these actions in the context of duty—saying he would do the same for anyone in Camelot—when, in reality, Merlin holds a special place in his heart. He was about to abort a mission, causing hundreds of deaths, all for Merlin. Also, in one scene, as they were fleeing from a monster, Merlin fell and Arthur went back for him, a mere "idiot" servant. In that same scene, a knight fell (knights are the bread & butter of Camelot), but Arthur just kept running with Merlin....

Merlin (ENFP), with his focus on emotions and the bigger picture, sacrifices everything for Arthur. His feeling-based decisions make his love for Arthur a central motivation for everything he does, even if it means hiding his magic and true self. This constant self-sacrifice for Arthur’s sake is a key expression of Merlin’s love, a classic ENFP trait—giving up his own needs for those of someone he cares deeply about.

6. Destiny and Fate – The ENFP Belief in Idealism

Merlin’s ENFP idealism sees Arthur as not just a king but the Once and Future King, destined to unite Albion. This belief in Arthur's potential drives Merlin’s unwavering devotion, and his love for Arthur is inseparable from his belief in their shared destiny. Merlin’s visions of a better future are rooted in his love for Arthur, and it’s his idealism that keeps him fighting for that future.

Arthur (ISTJ), being more grounded, is less concerned with abstract concepts like destiny and fate at first, but over time, Merlin’s unwavering belief in him helps Arthur grow into the king Merlin always knew he could be. Arthur begins to rely on Merlin’s intuition and instincts more and more, eventually embracing the destiny Merlin foresaw for him. Though Arthur may not openly express it, he comes to understand that Merlin’s faith in him is born out of deep love.

7. The Final Goodbye – An Emotional Climax

The emotional 'I love you': In the final episode, Arthur’s ISTJ stoicism breaks as he finally acknowledges the depth of his bond with Merlin. When Merlin reveals his magic, Arthur is hurt and betrayed at first (typical ISTJ reaction to broken trust), but eventually, he softens, realizing that Merlin has been protecting him all along. In his final moments, Arthur shows his vulnerability, thanking Merlin for everything—a rare moment of emotional openness for him. He simultaneously mouths 'I love you.'

Throughout the series, Arthur’s ISTJ sense of responsibility made it difficult for him to prioritize his personal feelings over his role as king. But as he faces death, duty and love become inseparable. His final act of trying to kiss Merlin shows that, even though he had been bound by the expectations of the crown, in his last moments, his love for Merlin overrides those constraints. His inability to express affection easily is part of his ISTJ personality, but in his final moments, he sheds that restraint, finally allowing himself to express what he’s likely felt for a long time. For Arthur to mouth 'I love you", even silently, is monumental. It’s a complete surrender of the emotional guard he’s maintained, signifying not just love but trust, vulnerability, and a breaking of the social norms and responsibilities that have constrained him. The fact that he chooses to say it at the very end shows that he always cared deeply for Merlin, but only now, when there’s nothing left to hold him back, can he express it.

Arthur, having always struggled to communicate his feelings, finally mouths the words "I love you" when it’s too late to make a difference. This is reflective of his ISTJ personality—he needed to be pushed to the very brink of death before he could allow himself to be emotionally vulnerable and express his love. The timing makes this moment all the more tragic because Arthur had to die before truly opening up.

The almost-kiss: Arthur’s instinct to pull Merlin in for a kiss reflects the ISTJ desire to do things physically, practically, and decisively, even in the most emotional moments. It also shows how Arthur, who had been in control of so much of his life, wanted to take control of this final expression of love. Yet, his inability to complete the kiss mirrors his inability to fully express his love for Merlin throughout their time together—blocked by the weight of his responsibilities as king.

For Arthur, to attempt to kiss Merlin in his final moments is a gesture of complete vulnerability. An ISTJ like Arthur rarely breaks emotional barriers, but in this moment, he lets go of everything—the crown, his duties, his stoic exterior—and reaches for the person who has always been there for him. It’s the ultimate sacrifice of his own emotional walls.

Arthur’s attempt to kiss Merlin shows that he is finally willing to defy the traditions and expectations that have held him back for so long. As a prince and then a king, he was expected to follow societal norms, but in his final moments, he’s free of those chains and can express his love for Merlin without fear of judgment or duty holding him back. The kiss is the ultimate acknowledgment of the love he had hidden behind his royal duties.

Throughout the series, Arthur has hidden his true feelings for Merlin behind duty, status, and responsibility. His inability to express affection easily is part of his ISTJ personality, but in his final moments, he sheds that restraint, finally allowing himself to express what he’s likely felt for a long time. As he faces death, duty and love become inseparable. His final act of trying to kiss Merlin shows that, even though he had been bound by the expectations of the crown, in his last moments, his love for Merlin overrides those constraints. Arthur, true to his ISTJ nature, often preferred action over verbal declarations of emotion. By attempting to physically pull Merlin in for a kiss, Arthur shows that his love for Merlin transcends words—it's something he feels deeply and wants to express through connection, even when he doesn't have the words to say it outright.

Merlin's internal turmoil: As an ENFP, Merlin had always worn his heart on his sleeve, even when his love for Arthur was expressed through loyalty, service, and protection. The fact that Arthur finally mouths "I love you" just as he's dying would shatter Merlin’s heart, as it represents the culmination of everything Merlin had been hoping for but never dared to fully expect. Merlin, the dreamer and idealist, had believed in Arthur’s greatness, and now, in this moment, Arthur’s love is revealed, only for it to be taken away immediately in the "bury (or kill) your gays" trope.

For Merlin, the attempted kiss is heartbreaking because it represents the closeness and intimacy they could have had if circumstances were different, as Merlin said, "I always thought if things had been different, we'd've been good friends." ENFPs, with their emotional expressiveness, seek connection and intimacy in their relationships, and Arthur’s attempt to kiss him in his final moments is a bittersweet acknowledgment of the love that Merlin had always known was there, but could never be fully realized. The fact that they were so close to expressing that love makes the loss all the more devastating for Merlin.

A Tragic Love Story Cut Short

The final scene where Arthur mouths "I love you" and attempts to kiss Merlin before dying is the ultimate expression of their hidden, unspoken love. Arthur’s ISTJ personality, which had kept his emotions guarded for so long, finally breaks, allowing him to express his true feelings. Meanwhile, Merlin’s ENFP nature, always driven by emotion and idealism, is left devastated by the cruel timing of this revelation.

Their MBTI types add layers to this tragic love story. Arthur’s love, expressed at the very end, shows how hard it was for him to balance duty and emotion, while Merlin’s eternal grief reflects the ENFP’s idealistic belief in love, crushed by the harsh reality that they were too late. Their love was always there, simmering beneath the surface, but in the end, fate allowed only a fleeting moment of acknowledgment before tearing them apart.

After Credits/The Once & Future King:

1. Merlin’s ENFP Hope and Eternal Longing

Driven by Idealism: Merlin’s ENFP personality is defined by hope and idealism, traits that keep him believing in Arthur’s eventual return. Even though Arthur died, Merlin’s unwavering belief in the prophecy—that Arthur will rise again—fuels his determination to keep waiting. For Merlin, his love for Arthur and his faith in the prophecy are intertwined, so he continues to hold onto the belief that their story isn’t over.

Endless Loyalty: ENFPs are known for their loyalty to people they care deeply about, and Merlin’s waiting for over 1,500 years is the ultimate expression of that loyalty. He never moves on, because his heart and soul remain connected to Arthur, and he believes that their bond transcends death and time itself.

Living in Grief and Hope: As a feeler, Merlin experiences the full emotional weight of Arthur’s loss, but his belief in Arthur’s return sustains him. The fact that he has to wait so long makes his grief even more intense, but the hope that Arthur will rise again keeps him going, even after centuries of loneliness. His ENFP nature ensures that his love for Arthur never fades, and he continues to hold onto the possibility of their reunion.

2. Arthur’s ISTJ Rest and Duty to Return

Waiting for the Right Moment: Arthur’s ISTJ personality means that, even in death, he is waiting until the precise moment when he is needed most. His sense of duty to Camelot and to Merlin persists, even after death, as he waits for the time when his kingdom—or Merlin—truly requires him. The prophecy reflects Arthur’s ISTJ nature, as he will return to fulfill his duty, not a moment too soon or too late.

Faith in Merlin: Even in the afterlife, Arthur’s deep trust in Merlin remains. Although he is resting, there is an unspoken understanding that when he rises, Merlin will be by his side, just as he always has been. Arthur’s loyalty and sense of responsibility mean that he trusts Merlin to carry on until the moment of his return.

The Final Act of Duty and Love: Arthur’s rise will be his final act of duty as king and as a friend and lover. His ISTJ sense of purpose and structure drives his eventual return, knowing that Merlin and the kingdom will need him again. When he does come back, it will be out of love for Merlin and a deep sense of responsibility to his people.

3. A Love That Survives Time

Merlin’s Endless Vigil: For over 1,500 years, Merlin has waited, watching the world change, but his love for Arthur remains constant. His ENFP personality clings to the belief that the prophecy will come true, and when Arthur finally returns, it will be the culmination of centuries of waiting. Merlin’s idealism, rooted in his deep emotional connection to Arthur, sustains him through time. He doesn’t seek out other connections because, in his heart, Arthur is the one he’s waiting for.

Arthur’s Timeless Love: Even though Arthur is resting, his love for Merlin isn’t diminished by time. When he returns, his ISTJ loyalty will kick in, and he will fulfill his promise—coming back to be with Merlin and to save the kingdom when it’s needed most. His return is not just a matter of destiny, but also a testament to the bond he shares with Merlin, one that surpasses life, death, and time itself.

4. The Ultimate Reunion

The Prophecy Fulfilled: When Merlin and Arthur finally reunite after over a millennium, the moment will be one of overwhelming emotional release for both. Merlin, with his ENFP emotions, will have spent centuries holding onto hope, and Arthur’s return will be the answer to his deepest longing. The reunion will allow Merlin to finally let go of the grief he’s carried for centuries, knowing that Arthur is back by his side, just as he always believed he would be.

Arthur’s ISTJ Return to Duty: Arthur’s return will be a moment of intense duty and purpose, but also of love. His ISTJ nature ensures that he will rise again when Merlin (the last remaining piece of Albion) needs him most. Their reunion will be both the fulfillment of a prophecy and the completion of their love story.

5. Symbolism of Eternal Love

Waiting as a Form of Love: Merlin’s long wait for Arthur shows that love isn’t confined to one lifetime. His waiting is a manifestation of his deep, undying love, and it reflects the ENFP’s capacity for emotional endurance. Even though he’s spent centuries alone, his heart remains tethered to Arthur, and when Arthur finally returns, it will be a moment of profound emotional catharsis.

Arthur’s Duty Transcends Time: Arthur’s ISTJ sense of duty extends beyond the grave, showing that his bond with Merlin is eternal. His return will not just be about fulfilling his destiny as king, but also about being reunited with Merlin, the person who has always been by his side. This reunion will be the ultimate proof that their love and duty to each other cannot be broken by death or time.

Conclusion: A Love That Defies Time

The prophecy of Arthur’s return turns their story into an eternal love saga. Merlin, driven by his ENFP idealism and emotional depth, waits for centuries, believing in the prophecy and holding onto the love he has for Arthur. Arthur, waiting in Avalon, as the prophecy foretold, remains loyal to his duty and his love for Merlin, waiting for the moment when he is needed most.

When they are finally reunited, it will be a moment of ultimate emotional release, where centuries of love, hope, and loyalty finally come together. Their story is one of timeless love, with their bond surviving beyond life and death, waiting to be fulfilled in a future where they can be together once again.

[golmorehotgirl]

I remember you mentioning not wanting him to be another young viera, but how old do you headcanon Dancing Green to be? I'm curious to hear all your headcanons about him tho (about his age *and* anything else).

Sorry it's taken me so long to answer this!! At first I wanted to marinate him a little longer but then I decided to just wait till the spoiler ban was up so I could talk freely without worry!! That said all information proceeding is going to be all my own headcanons! Also want to give a big shout out to my friend Manda who listened to me blab nonstop about this Green menace and I owe so much to for their input here and there!!

I've kinda spoken about this before but I don't tend to really give exact ages for my viera characters because after a certain point of living for centuries I imagine it all starts to blend and they themselves would have a much different viewing on it then we would. I tend to think of it more in terms of like infant/child/teen/young adult/adult/elder like phases of life. That said, after thinking a lot on it I like the idea that if he were a pre dome baby (I'm coming around to post too negl..) I would say probably in his 30's. I don't think he was too old when the Dome appeared around 7 or 8 at most. I say this because I would like him to be old enough to remember what life was like before as it's important to my characterization of him and who he is/what shapes him. I'm coming around to post dome for the simple fact rotating him and Eren together in my mind, and especially with Tavi thrown in there, there's so much room for exploration!! I was talking to my friend Manda the other night and was formulating this idea of using the three characters to show the effects of losing your home to an imperialist machine like they all three did. Tavi who lost it metaphorically because she left to fight against Garlean occupation in whatever way she could and in so doing, though her home was saved from it she lost it all the same as she can never go back. She's in a sense the "pre" person who's experienced this and knows the sacrifice and trauma of it. Erenville is really the "present" as he's in real time lost his entire home and we see the trauma unfold and how it affects him and essentially in a blink of an eye makes him a relic of a bygone era and how he would cope with that. Then you'd have DG who's the "post" he's the product of growing up in a society that's been alienated and fractured. Like I said there's so much to be explored there!! But, but, but! On to other stuff lol

In my Headcanon city his town was lost during the merge and he only has a few surviving members (I like the idea of him having a younger sibling left tbh) and grew up in the Outskirts and left when he became old enough to go live in Solution 9 due to there not being many opportunities out there. I imagine he felt very isolated and lonely and was taking whatever work he could find and while walking through True Vue passed by a disco and saw these people congregated together in this space that was so lively and focused solely on the now and joy and was enraptured. After going there he starts playing up his persona in a bid to fit in due to not wanting to feel alone anymore and it being a great outlet for his love of dancing. I like to think that since he was a young child he loved to dance and that he was nicknamed "frog" due to his leggy stature (he's max height after all!) and (this one goes specifically to manda bc it's just so cute) and he was always "dancing and hopping around." This is why he chose the toad for his feral soul! We can glean from his clothes he's obviously quite proud of being Shetona and wears it in the most flamboyant colors possible which I love. I do think he’d keep some off the shetona housing items mentioned in game during the DoL quests in his home. When I finally got my hands on crimes and popped open the hood on him I noticed they gave him the eye option that gives a smoky look around his eyes which I think is a very smart choice as it looks like dark circles around his eyes and could give off the impression of someone running themselves ragged to maintain the lifestyle he is. I do think it's that but also as I noticed when I was looking at him in gpose it looks a lot like smudged eyeliner too

so I was like "hell yeah add that to the list." I also think he paints his fingernails (metallic green ofc) I also knew from the start his hair was from the new neon colors they implemented in Sol9 and got curious on what his natural color is so played around and I really love a darker green for him tbh!

He would feel it needed to be more flamboyant and go neon lmao man who moved to da big city and bleached his hair ....

For the reason he joined Arcadion I think he'd play it off as like wanting to be rich and party the rest of his days away but the promise of having a set future and one he could take care of what remaining family he has left in the outskirts (as it's very dangerous out there and wants to get them out of there) with it. I do wonder what makes him feel as though he's not enough on his own though!! I really hope we'll eventually get a bone thrown to us someday on that. I do think he tends to be rather lonely and is actually quite quiet when out of "performer" mode. Also I love the idea of him being very into music and he makes it himself although he's too insecure about his original stuff to put it out there but he does mix his own music for his fights!

And I think that's about all I have outside of ship stuff so I hope you enjoyed!!!(You when you ask for headcanons and I throw a dictionary at you ...LMAO SORRY!!)

[thatanimewriter]

BEAR HUG.

➳ request: Hello! Can I request Ruby, Blake, Yang, Weiss, and Neo with either a male or gn!reader (whichever is more comfortable for you) s/o who is tall (Not that tall, I’m talking like 6’0) and normally very stoic but absolutely melts when shown any affection at all from the girls and turns into a massive cuddle bear. Please and thank you! Have a wonderful day!

➳ character/s: ruby rose, weiss schnee, blake belladonna, yang xiao long, neopolitan

➳ warnings: you're a criminal (neo)

➳ notes: 6'0 feels tall for my little 5'2 ass LMAO thanketh for request :)), also sorry these are kinda short-

𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬 / 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭  / 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 / 𝐰𝐢𝐩 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

── 𝐑𝐔𝐁𝐘 𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄.

no one knew why y'all were together initially, it was weird

why is this energetic child with this sophisticated partner????

but everyone knows you have a soft spot for ruby, because even if she's annoying you, you'll be less harsh with her

and if she ever clings to you, a nearly invisible smile rests on your lips

she could use her semblance to sit on your shoulders or cling to your bicep, yet you never pushed her away

if anything, the people saw how you kind of craved it

people wouldn't believe their eyes when they see you with your head atop hers and your arms wrapped around her waist

especially with the big, innocent looking eyes rather than your usual half-lidded gaze

they would think someone is a photoshop wizard if they showed them a photo of you cuddling in your sleep

who knew someone could have such different sides to them??

── 𝐖𝐄𝐈𝐒𝐒 𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐍𝐄𝐄.

what a strict couple istg

you're both so serious most of the time, if weiss wasn't so dramatic at times, people would think you were the same person

not a big affection person, but only because she's touch-starved

when she starts initiating, she's very nervous to because she doesn't know if you want her to

but then she sees the way your face relaxes and your body slumps a bit

and now shes gonna be initiating a lot more, but mostly in private or in times of high stress

if anything, you want hugs all the time and she's the one telling you to chill out (pun intended)

she'll never reject you though, but she will look annoyed

often forgets you're perceived as stoic, because she's more accustomed to cuddly you now

wishes you weren't so tall so that you could cuddle easier though-

── 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐀.

another stoic girlie

she probably purrs if you give her cuddles and scratch her head and behind her ears

rubs her head against you when she wants attention (only in private)

found out how much of a cuddle monster you are because of it

probably complains a little when you don't let go of her in the mornings and hug her tighter

gets whiplash from soft you and serious you all the time

the moment you're alone with her you're being all pouty and making grabby hands for hugs

secretly loves it, but she also has a reputation to uphold

has a lot of photos of you being cuddly on her scroll

you're 100% mor affectionate than she is, but it's fine

── 𝐘𝐀𝐍𝐆 𝐗𝐈𝐀𝐎 𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆.

you'll never be perceived as a stoic person ever with her around

she's constantly coming to give you affection, so you'll have to give up the serious thing

she always teases you about being soft around her

you'll never escape her snide comments about how you're not as stoic as you want to be

you're the one being hugged, not doing the hugging

and she'll secretly film you every time-

hidden scroll on the bookshelf waiting for you to come in the room and get hugged >:((

when she feels sad she always reviews those videos to feel better about things

and she never tells you she's filming :))

── 𝐍𝐄𝐎𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐍.

is small enough to dangle from your arm as well

constantly clinging to you

she's very mischievous, but i think when she sees you melt a bit at any semblance of physical contact, a genuine smile would cross her face

you being softer also encourages her to be more vulnerable and less performative

she lives for the height difference though-

she won't be too affectionate in public when y'all are criminals

will let you keep the stoic facade when wreaking havoc for sure, won't jeopardise that reputation

but in private, only soft times, never serious times in the scary sense

serious times in a loving, deep talk way ;v;

she also has lots of photos of your sleeping face while you cuddle her

[dreamersparacosm]

can you give us tpod oc’s corporate character traits and tips. i need to be like her honestly..

ABHHHGLGGKGLGK i’ve been waiting for a question like this.

welcome to tpod!oc’s inner workings!

closet confidential.

You’ll rarely catch her without a blazer on.

Structured. Sharp. Tailored. Best believe that thing is freshly ironed.

It’s not just a style choice, though; it’s armor. It says: I control the room before I even speak. As a woman, I know how cutthroat this industry is and especially in large fashion houses. Marketing sounds willy nilly but it’s NOT!!!! The silhouette is intentional: broad shoulders to stand taller, cinched waist to remind them she carved her own shape in this industry. It’s all some lil strategy.

Her wardrobe is her fortress. She doesn’t just dress to impress men (ew.)

Each outfit choice in this story is a…. wait for it… a choice. She wears different things based on what she’s feeling.

Ex: Hotel lobby in sweats = my vulnerable angel, burnout, white flag of surrender — do I even need to go on???

Teaser, spoiler (kinda): in part 9, her outfits scream her mental state.

Clothes are the last line of defense. And when she strips the armor off, even just once, even for him, it means something.

ALSO!!!! Peep the heels in the corner? Yeah those are the heels. You know.. part five? Rides him with heels on? There they are in the flesh 🫶 (we all know my girl will only ever wear Louboutins)

who the fuck is she?

You want to be like her????? Okay. First, set your alarm for 5:45 a.m., not to meditate or journal but to literally just check your inbox before anyone else does.

Hyper-competent to the point of obsession

She doesn’t do ‘good enough’. She doesn’t even do ‘exceptional’. She does ‘perfect’. This shows up constantly: her all-nighters, her need to review every detail herself, the way she micromanages launches because she doesn’t trust anyone else to care like she does.

Strategically guarded

She doesn’t let people in easily. Emotion is a liability. Vulnerability is a breach in protocol. This is why she’s ice-cold with Jungkook at first, and why she flinches away when he gets too close, and also why she tells herself their hookups mean nothing (or any hookups. My girl is every fuckboy’s wet dream.)

Painfully self-aware (but still stuck)

She knows she’s emotionally constipated. She knows she pushes people away. She just doesn’t know how to stop. We see it every time she tells herself to stay away from Jungkook, and then shows up at his door anyway. Every time she feels something and shuts it down with logic. She’s not necessarily cold-hearted, just exhausted!!!

Sharp tongue, even sharper instincts

My girl has the mouth of a sailor. Or something way worse. Maybe a misogynistic 40 year old man who only gets away with everything because he has an AMEX (she has a gold AMEX too, don’t worry.) but she’s smart and witty so it makes up for it!!!

tips n tricks for the average corporate woman!

Ah, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s her handbook on success (ripped straight from my life!!!! From a girly who’s climbed the corporate ladder for so long I am starting to turn into one of the rungs)

Be early. Be prepared.

You don’t walk into a room hoping to be respected. You walk in already knowing you deserve it (because you do, DUH.)

Silence is not a weakness!

You don’t need to raise your voice when you’ve mastered the power of a well-timed pause. Let them ramble. Let them reveal themselves. You’ll speak when it matters, and when it lands, it lands.

Always look like you have somewhere more important to be.

Because you do. (Even if it’s just pretending not to be affected by Jungkook in a t-shirt.) People trust what looks effortless, so make exhaustion look elegant.

Keep your secrets.

Don’t tell them you cried in a bathroom stall after a campaign delay. Don’t tell them you miss your parents. Don’t tell them you feel safe when Jungkook makes you eat fries and finish your wine. Feel it, but never say it (only think it in your nut brain!)

Most importantly…. (Words from TPOD!oc herself)

Do not fall in love at work.

But if you do? Make sure it’s with someone who can take a little heat. Someone who sees your ambition and says yes I would like more of that. Who fucks you like he wants to ruin your life but has a great aftercare technique. (Still. Probably not a great idea.)

Ok onto my grand unveiling..

(Please do not come for my neck on my photoshop skills. I am just a girl. A girl who has a very important corporate job and does not have time to actually make it work. But also — I don’t even know how to do anything fancy. So this works.)

Zoom in to read our girls fake LinkedIn page! It would be VERY professional. I mean.. she’s CMO for crying out loud?!!!?

[howtodrawyourdragon]

Dad December 2024 Day 5

Born For This

Summary: Set long after THW, set after 'In A Different Form.' Five years after their birth, it's time for their litter to meet the Surface World. It's just a shame that the Night Fury will never be able to enjoy it with them.

Warnings: /

Rating: General

Words: 737

Prompt: Stars

Fandom: How to Train Your Dragon

Characters: Hiccup, Toothless

Pairing: Toothcup

Author’s Notes: Saw that prompt and thought of this Toothcup fic that I wrote a few months ago.

Not edited, I am too tired and saw that I completely forgot to post Day 3. Didn't even remember I wrote it. :')

Enjoy!

-XOXOX-

It was time for their litter to catch a glimps of the surface world. They're almost five years old, they're good fliers, Runt taught them well. Now it was time for them to find out about the world beyond the Birthplace.

It's a long trek for the Night Fury, who hasn't been able to fly for a very, very long time. He's missing a tailfin and the human who used to make it died many years ago. Not that his old age helps matters. Even so, Runt is patient, as he always is. He needed to have patience with his mate, too. When he knew something for a while that took him some time to figure out; that they belonged together.

Their four kits are not as patient, much too eager to get going every time their birth father tells them it's time to let their father catch up. It's not often that they're allowed to leave the nest, let alone be allowed to travel for this far. It doesn't matter that their wings aren't used to this kind of distance yet, they want to keep going.

The Night Fury catches up for the final time, hating how he can't keep up anymore. Climbing up on the cliff they're waiting at him for, he hangs his head, sits and pants. While his daughter and sons are playfighting, Runt comes over to him to lick his crown and nuzzle him. He's telling him that he did a good job making it here, knowing that his mate is older than he can ever dare to fathom. He knows he once knew a time when the humans still used boats made of wood.

He grumbles like the grump that he is. Not that he doesn't appreciate Runt's affection, he loves him more than life itself, he just also wishes he was still as young as he is.

Runt nuzzles him until he nuzzles back and then the two of them lie down and take a breather. Cuddling up, his head on the Night Fury's. Seeing an opportunity, the Runty Son worms his way between his parents and finds the warmest spot that he can get.

They rest for a little while as their litter keeps themselves busy. When Daughter comes to pull on her birth father's earfin to get him up and going, Runt figures it's time to go.

Stretching before rising to his three feet, he accidentally wakes the Night Fury up. He stretches and struggles up, too, many of his joints popping with every little move he makes. Runt whimpers for him, but the grump, grumpy as per usual in his old age, doesn't want his sympathy.

Afterwards, they both look up towards the hole that is their destination. It's one of the ways out of the Birthplace and into the Surface World. Hiccup's world, even though Runt can never remember.

Beyond it is the starry night sky and they've chosen the perfect night. There are no clouds in sight and the moon is full. If there is ever a night to chose to give them a taste of the world above theirs, this is it.

The Runty Son is nervous, but Daughter can hardly wait and her enthusiasm infects her other two brothers. The Night Fury leans down, snips her in the butt and causes her to startle. With a grumble, he reminds her to listen to her birth father and she meekly concedes. She'll listen or be send right back down.

Runt licks the Night Fury's crown as a goodbye and he returns it, licking his chin. Then he does what he usually does to show their litter it is time to take off. He stands near them, looks down at them and spreads his wings. Their offspring follows his example, dutifully standing next to him, their big eyes moving from him to the sky, two butts wiggling in anticipation. They can feel the breeze and they want to soar through it.

He takes off with a strong beat of his wings that almost knocks the four kits over. Luckily, they know to brace themselves and expect it. A moment later, they all follow, Runty Son included, and they leave the Night Fury behind.

He watches, proud with a bittersweet aftertaste, as the five of them take to the starry night sky and disappear. Blending in perfectly with the night, like they were born to do.

[judjira]

heyo it is ur friendly neighborhood joo !

it has been Quite A While since i last posted anything, whether on tumblr or ao3, but worry not! i am not dead yet, and i have no plans on being dead. i've been stuck for a while on writing, but i'll get to that in a bit.

for some reason, now that it's the end of the year, i took a moment to sit down and really just think about things, and i've come to one conclusion.

god, 2024 really sucked for me.

now, i know mindless rants and thought dumps like this aren't why you follow me or anything, but honestly, this is a writing blog, so i'm going to write. if you don't like that, boohoo (jk feel free to stop reading and go send that ask about when im going to update (fic) haha)

a lot of my friends like to say i give main character vibes, and that's not me boasting. genuinely i wonder what it is they see in me that makes them think that. maybe it's the way i tell stories about what happened to me, or how i can manage to keep up a conversation and seem like an extrovert, or just genuinely the way i live my life.

for context, i'm a freelancer doing events and theater, which means i have really, really strange work hours, and even stranger income. i suppose, to someone else, my life seems cool, leaving for work at 11 pm, going to different cities for shows, getting to meet celebrities in the industry and whatnot. and yeah, if i didn't work in this industry, i'd think that's pretty cool too.

but i do work in this industry. and god does it suck so bad. i try a lot to find the reasons why i keep doing my job, and it happens a lot like this:

i do a gig with a lot of hiccups, problems in management, toxic people, underperformance, and i consider quitting. then, something really great happens at the end, and i gaslight myself into ignoring my imposter syndrome and i keep working, waiting for another job.

so it's a lot like someone only giving me food when i'm desperately starving, just enough to keep me going for one day.

do i enjoy it? hell no. is it worth it? somehow, for some reason, at the end of it all, yes.

but the one thing i really don't like about it all is how it's affected my personal relationships. i take all responsibility for the way i act and the way i behave, but i'd be a liar if i said my workplace didn't influence me the way it did.

this year has been so full of ups and downs with my parents, my siblings, my girlfriend, my friends. i feel like, somehow, in gaining independence for myself financially, i somehow realized in the first place what i was so dependent on in my relationships. which sucks.

and to make it full circle, another thing i really don't like about it is how it's taken me away from my favorite hobby, which is writing.

i have missed out on writing for so long that it physically pains me sometimes that i'm away from my laptop and clicky keyboard, unable to pour my heart out onto some weird ass twice fic that barely anyone's gonna read. it might seem shallow to someone else, hell, probably to most people, but damn if writing isn't the one thing i come back to each and every year.

which, i think, brings me to my next point, which is i think i have to apologize for not being so active. i've made a lot of promises that i haven't been able to keep with my fics, and i have so many drafts that haven't seen the light of day. and i don't think it's just you people who read my fics that i have to apologize to, but also myself. i think i took writing too seriously and ended up having it weigh down on me more than it should have.

the whole point of this damn thing is to have fun, and to make sure other people have fun, and i don't think i've been having a lot of fun recently, honestly.

so, yeah. an apology. to you guys. and to myself. i think. im a fuckin weirdo.

but yeah, that's it for this rant. if you made it to the end, congrats! i'll be posting a s'agapo update soon, and i'm also working on the next out of bounds. after that, god knows what i'm updating. i'm gonna stop lying to myself and saying that i have an update plan when in reality i just write whatever's on my mind.

anyway, thanks for reading, and i hope you all have a very happy new year. love ya

[thatseventiesbitch]

That '90s Show Part 2 Review

Overall, I'm giving Part 2 4.5 Stars out of 5!!!! I completely loved it, and thought it was an improvement from last season. I am now all the more excited for part 3, given what I know is still coming. 😜

If you're interested, here's my real-time reactions thread from Twitter (pinned to the top of my bio).

Stay tuned for my breakdown (warning: there be spoilers here):

The Good

The H U M O R continues to be the brightest spot for me. This is a genuinely funny show - I laughed out loud (okay, closer to howled if we're being honest) several times. It feels similar (though not identical) to T70S' brand of humor. I can tell it was made by the same people. This season, like last, Ozzie was my main man and had the one-liners that sent me the most but I can say the same for Jay, Gwen, Nate, and Leia too. And Bob. Oh hell, all of them! I'm sure I'll be reblogging my favorite moments for months to come while we wait for part 3!

The C H A R A C T E R D E V E L O P M E N T is the other shining star for me. The first season was limited (disappointing?) in this regard - to be fair, they only had 10 episodes to introduce us to a whole new handful of characters and make us care about them, and they mostly did. But this season brought the depth I was looking for - and we're only halfway through! 🤯 We learn more about Jay's playboy past, and see how he's actively working to grow and change and do his relationship with Leia differently. Ozzie is humanized when he has his heart broken - and his friends are there to pick up the pieces 💔. Nate struggles with his feelings and relationship with Nikki all season, and by the end of episode 8 he seems to be grappling with still having real feelings for her that he can't move on from. Nikki's pregnancy scare really affected her, and not in the way one would necessarily expect. She ended part 2 feeling lost and unsure of her direction, or what she truly wants (and not her parents), for the first time in her life. Gwen's storylines were perhaps my favorite of all (I'm a big Gwen stan, okay?). I was impressed that they decided to 'go there' with the racism plot, and even more impressed at the frank conversation she had at the end of the episode with her white (and well-intentioned, but bumbling) mom. Was it perfect and resolved? No. I think that was kind of the point. Not to mention her navigating her first real feelings and her relationship (?) with Cole. And Leia, my lovely Leia - she is learning about communication, forgiveness, honesty - all with the gentle guidance of her family and her friends. And that's not to mention Red and Kitty, who had sweet, plot-driving storylines of their own. I loved their realization that they like their rut - but loved even more when Red was inspired to live every day like it's his last and pushed through his fears to go to Paris with Kitty 🥰. This longer season has afforded more 'filler-like' episodes for us to just hang out with the characters, and get to know them more intimately. What are their wants, fears, insecurities, innermost thoughts? We are getting there. We are really getting there. Let's see what 8 more episodes will bring!

BOB! Bob gets his own point, because I enjoyed him so much (and seeing him and Red eventually come together to be overprotective grandpas 🤣. I laughed so much at his relationship with Leia, how they were just chilling in the basement, how he wanted all the teen gos. And Gwen's "What the heck, do you tell your grandpas everything?" 😂

DONNA! I adore Donna Pinciotti (Forman?), always have, and I adore her even more in the '90s than I thought possible. I love seeing her as a mom and her relationship with Leia. More pls.

This season felt more '90s to me! They incorporated more '90s references and brought back the regular fantasy sequences that always set the original apart. Off the top of my head, I loved: Kitty's Carmen Electra fantasy/nightmare (😂), Leia's Lisa Loeb fantasy (🤣), the Macarena (that shit was e v e r y w h e r e in the mid-90s, man), the Mentos commercial, Jay and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith cameo!!! also, Leo's son???) and all of Kitty's '90s slang that she picked up from the kids at school 😂👏🏻

The guest stars! Mitch and The Angel returned from T70S, and I am a big Will Forte/that era of SNL stan so I thoroughly enjoyed his appearance, too (and know he's been involved on the OG series on the writing/production side).

Red's trains (callback to season 1 of T70S - whoa!!) 🥰

I thought they struck a good balance this season between those heartfelt, 'very special episode'-type moments that '90s sitcoms were infamous for, without actually being too sickly-sweet, ala a Full House or Girl Meets World type moment. Donna and Leia's interaction in Nikki's bedroom regarding the voicemail comes to mind, as well as the is-Nikki-pregnant storyline and Nikki and Nate's celebratory dance at the end 🤣.

Which reminds me - I thought Nikki and Nate's storyline was intriguing. I have always been sort of a fan of their relationship - I don't think it's as bad as some others seem to - but remain unconvinced that they're 'meant to be' or endgame or whatever. But I enjoyed watching them navigate their break-up this season and then reluctantly find their ways back to each other, though. We'll see where it goes in part 3!

I immediately noted (and was pleased!) that there was a Laurie mention and a Midge mention this season. Both very off-hand, but it was something I was curious about. Who will be next? Betsy Kelso? 😮

The Bad

For me, ngl, Topher Grace's (Eric) absence was really felt. It is definitely the kids' show now and a substantial storyline isn't one I'd ever expect, but gosh I missed him from the family scenes at the beginning (both those with Red & Kitty, and those with Donna & Leia). The silver lining is how the other characters continue to reference him - almost in every episode, really - and so we still learn things about him and his relationships to his wife, daughter, and parents through these mentions from other characters. There will always be a part of me that is crossing my fingers for another Eric appearance, though, and I think there always will be.

Kitty's characterization as an overbearing mother was overdone. To be fair, this isn't a deviation from the original show. This is how she was often written towards the end of T70S - overbearing, possessive of Eric, lashing out at Donna or feeling in competition with her. It was done for laughs, but it wasn't particularly funny to me (and never was) 🤷‍♀️.

Not enough Geia content for my 'shipper heart 😩. We got one boob touch 😂, and it is clear that Leia still prioritizes her friendship with Gwen above all else (I lol'ed when she worried Gwen was in jail and that she would have to commit a crime to join her) but I want more, damn it! Part 2 solidified for me that Geia is never going to be anything more than a crack!ship. 😰

Which reminds me - Jay and Leia are kind of 'meh' for me. They're fine, I don't dislike them together, and I do like how we're seeing them both learn and grow through their relationship but... it just inspires kind of lukewarm feelings, I guess.

There wasn't a lot of Sherri in part 2. I love Sherri. Hope to see more of her in the next part.

The Ugly

I am pleased to say that I can't think of anything!!! Fez was absent (although they didn't directly reference their break-up, Sherri is clearly single and on the prowl all season) but I didn't miss him (🤭). Ditto to Kelso and Jackie - although we did get one reference to Jay's dad and the Kelso family heirloom (aka porn). I would say the ugliest part is that I now have to wait until October for part 3!!!

[crystalmaiden77real]

Which of Sonic Underground's Adaptational Changes are Good? A Lot actually.

There’s 21 changes I noticed, 12 good ones and 9 bad ones. Imagine there’s a T chart below. With the most confusing ratings I’ll explain why I gave the rating below this.

Underground adaptational changes:  Rating:

Sonic’s group of friends are his           siblings, instead of Sonic presumably thinking he’s an only child                      Good!

Eggman rules the world and you see  Good! how that affects those under his rule

Roboticization is common                     Good

Sonic’s looking for his mother             Bad because he knows she’s alive and constantly finds out where she last was but she keeps fleeing.

No continuity past episode 3 in a show whose dark premise wants to be taken seriously!                  Bad!

Sonic meets other heroes in his           Good travels who fight Eggman

Eggman sends organic henchmen      Bad after Sonic every episode who are always the same two and neither one of them is Fang

Shapeshifter ray’s used on one of Sonic’s main enemies a lot, just to fool heroes too easily               Bad

Eggman’s not usually the villain taking action against Sonic himself with a different method daily,               and instead it’s people who make deals with him out of fear, but those people’s ways of bothering are repetitive, forgettable/uncreative compared to an invention of the week formula that could be done instead.    Bad           

Disguises keep being necessary due to the types of plots told so I don’t always see Sonic looking like himself                                                 Bad  

The heroes have an elemental power each, with Sonia being able to make a smokescreen with her keyboard            Good

and Manic being able to make quakes Good? strong enough to destroy buildings.          

Sonic can fly with his medallion, to compensate for Tails’ absence, so he starts flying much faster instead of us boringly having to wait    Good

The main heroes have laser-shooting musical instruments the whole time, instead of no weapons.                            Good

Sonic’s in a rock band where he’s not the only singer, so he’s not respected enough for there to be a point.                   Bad Badly sung musical numbers shoehorned into each episode                  Bad

Knuckles isn’t the last of his kind, so he’s not doomed if he got sick or hurt. So he’s not someone only still alive because he’s lucky. It’s realistic, and has actual story potential.                    Good

The only other echidna there is a Flat Character who just gives him bad advice which he takes, betraying Sonic.      Bad

Knuckles says sorry nervously after he betrays Sonic and clearly feels guilty.          Good

Sonic and Knuckles don’t have a rivalry so they’re good pals instead of bringing out the worst in each other. They only fight once Good and it was wonderful with variety/traps.    

Knuckles had a dinosaur pet in one episode. The pet was cool, new, sweet and smart.    Good

The first point is rated good because for one Tails was never an inventor in non-Eastern media in the Classic Era so if he was in the show he’d have been bad, so it’s for the best that he isn’t in the show, and Sonia and Manic are surprisingly good characters. They were not Flat Characters for once and they’re likable personality-wise, and their personalities aren’t centered around a joke, which would get stale. It’s also more realistic that Sonic’s friends would all be his OWN age. Knuckles shows up anyways in the show, but doesn’t join their team. Why would he?

As of recently Knuckles and Amy are part of Game Sonic’s main group of friends. So when it comes to the difference of Knuckles and Amy not being in the show’s Team Sonic, I don’t have to ask every single time on Sonic Underground why one of the main members of the team isn’t guarding the Master Emerald and why the other main member isn’t hugging and flattering Sonic anymore. Sonia has more depth than Amy, as a former rich girl who’s shown complaining about getting muddy and lectures against doing stupid stuff like running into a trap just to show off and wears a facial mask at night.

  Eggman ruling the world makes him a competent badass and the story shows how that affects the citizens’ lives and the choices they make. While it is depressing and Eggman doesn’t deserve to be a tyrant morally because he’s evil, the huge amount of varied ideas and plots that result from him being in such a position of power make up for any of the minor criticisms I have, that it’s dark and makes him more like Bowser, because it’s more interesting to see MANY stories about what a world run by Eggman is like than to see a world that’s either a nature utopia with a few cities in the background or like Earth anyways.

The real problem with him ruling the world, is that the writers kept writing Sonic to be face to face with Eggman, so there kept being situations where Sonic could’ve started beating him up and then carried him to a cell in his van or try to at least put him in a coma and he morally should’ve swallowed his pride and done that because Eggman’s a world ruling tyrant! Who cares about ego at that point? Sonic in the games was fine with Super Sonic-ramming into the Eggmobile at the end of Sonic 3 to send it falling, and stealing a part of his jetpack in Lost World to send him falling off Lost Hex. Sonic canonically wants to kill Eggman in the games.

I got impatient with the status quo of the show like ten episodes in because the writer kept making these situations he should never be allowed to have happen because it makes the audience ask why Sonic cares more about not making himself feel bad than doing something about this tyrant. This isn’t inherently a problem with Eggman ruling the world. It’s a problem from bad writers and the absence of a mandate against Sonic being face to face with Eggman while Eggman’s defenseless.

If that rule existed, I’d say yes Eggman should always rule at least one inhabited place. I was just as mad at AoStH Sonic just leaving Eggman in his base trapped in ice instead of taking him to jail. So it wouldn’t be fine with me that he essentially lets Eggman go in a continuity where he doesn’t rule the world or even kill anyone.

Roboticization being common is good because it’s impossible to undo so not only does it make Eggman look very competent and scary but it forces you to care about it. You’re not gonna think that it doesn’t matter because Sonic could just undo it with a Spin Jump. It gives the main villain permanent wins.

Sonic looking for his mother all the time is bad because it always leads to failure and she never explains why she keeps avoiding him despite loving him, so it got boring very quickly. Sure it’s got novelty value but that wears off fast due to its cons.

Sleet and Dingo are bad because I keep wondering why they don’t die from slapstick in-universe and why they aren’t getting roboticized for trying to betray or failing Eggman, and they’re overused to the point where I got mad at seeing lookalikes of them in the Rome episode as I thought I’d get a break from them when they're not superpowered or interesting enough as people to be recurring character material.

The shapeshifter ray is cool in theory because of the huge variety in what Dingo can get turned into and the potential for that to be a big threat to Sonic, so I love that, but usually all it does is have the heroes looking stupid because they never recognize the paper-thin disguise. I think it’s worth it because I love the sheer variety in what it gets shapeshifted into, but that’s because of how much I respect creativity. It depends on whether getting really mad at the heroes for getting fooled by his disguises too much and not getting suspicious of everything orange is worth that. Sometimes the variety doesn’t matter as either way it’s just Dingo tricking them.

  Manic making earthquakes sounds cool in theory, but it doesn’t combine well with plots about one of the heroes slowly trying to take out a building of Eggman’s for a while. So they shouldn’t have them take forever to do that instead of just using his quake power, problem solved. It also makes me wonder why Eggman still has a home base for Sonic to know to go to; logically he should take out his house right away. But Eggman could still rule the world without his house by just giving orders to people and robots willing to take them. So it doesn’t matter. It’s just bad because it brings up questions like this.

[iamquiantrelle]

i have a LOT to say

- you write cute / domestic moments so wellll it all feels so real! the bit with the brothers babysitting aura was adorable and funny

- someone else has said it but i honestly dk if i’d rather be april or trent in this fic LOL she’s so fucking hot. the mocking when she was hitting him with the crop was chefs kiss. the dirty talk whilst riding him? the reach around to play with his balls? fantastic 💋 (also i noticed how you mentioned that she got close to his hole and i’m super curious to see how far this fic will take these kinky activities 🌚)

- i’m honestly surprised the team haven’t suspected any types of bdsm activities are going on because my man is coming into training every damn day lookin like he’s been through a paper shredder LOL but anyway i love how you show the difficulty that exists in these types of sex relationships because they don’t stop at the bedroom, the affect everything in your life, even the way you act around people

- a loved the part were trent realised that the whole being a pleaser thing isn’t actually new to him. he has been doing it his whole life and just never really came to terms with it. part of the reason this all feels foreign to him is because he’s never actually let himself just have what he really wants, he’s been putting on a show. he’s not used to his own authenticity

- another part which i saw as important was when you mentioned that T has to beg for the kiss he got from april in the paps. kind of hints that even though he’s loving the dom- sub relationship, a part of him wants more and craves loving affection from her. i’m wondering if this will cause problems for them later on in the plot if their expectations of the relationship aren’t adding up. i think april wants more too but is probably scared herself. i’m excited to find out lol

- talk about a plot twist with sophie coming back 😭 what a loser lmfao sis that’s not your man anymore

- the part with the family dinner was hilarious 😭 it was the kicking under the table and aura pulling the sweater down for me lmaooo. april really don’t gaf because those types of texts during a family gathering is crazy 💀 idk how he will survive her meeting the fam

- i loved how you included april caring for him when he needed it after the bad match. it shows there’s so much depth to her character- she’s not just some controlling dominatrix and is capable of emphathy which creates a good balance.

- okay can i just say the fixture recital punishment was SO smart how did you even think of that 😩

10/10 and well worth the wait thank you!!!!

omg i don’t know where to begin with this so my answer is under the read more

- first off thank u for reading this omg this is so wonderful to get & i really loved that readers are coming out and telling me how much they love this - i love the engagement and really want to hear y’all thoughts

- we have to have baby aura she is the people’s princess okay? 💅🏽 and I think this happens irl like liv and ty go out and drop aura off at her uncles place 😂 but yes his and marcel’s banter are also so cute.

- we might have more freaky activities 👀 but we shall see if trent is a good boy to get stuff like that

- trent is such a people’s pleaser like the whole thing with his dreads and how he told robbo that “this is what you wanted right?” when he came in after cutting the off made me heated 😡 like wtf - anyways yes trent is starting to understand that he likes these things and being freaky/taking a different in role is okay, especially during sex. this will be explored more in later chapters

- trent is really feeling for april and we will see if him being affectionate/wanting more will cause issues between them

- sophie will be back!!!

- the family dinner was my fave scene - love that fr

- april can be caring and controlling - the duality of her 😮‍💨

thank u again for reading! ❤️

[payattentiontothescreen]

Bridgerton Rewatch S1E4 - An Affair of Honor

Here we go with episode 4! Just as a warning before getting into this one, I was kinda high when I watched this episode so my notes are pretty incoherent. I’ll do my best to interpret them.

When Daphne and Violet go to the palace, there are those upper-crust dumbasses calling Daphne a commoner. Obviously that’s a pretty crazy thing to say about the Bridgertons but that’s how everyone at court sees them. Once you get to the absolute top of society, the family of a viscount is basically destitute. It just proves how Daphne would never have fit into this part of society.

I’ll talk more about the necklace later but for now I just need to say that it looks insanely uncomfortable.

Alice Mondrich comes in swinging during Simon’s pity party before the boxing match. She’s so great, I can’t wait to see more of her in season 3.

It’s funny but also sad that everyone is so confused when Mr. Finch comes calling for Philippa. It’s like no one actually believed in the girls’ abilities to attract anyone. It’s not unfounded, but it still sucks.

Some of the greatest dramatic irony in this show comes when you watch the first season after learning Lady Whistledown’s identity. Eloise talks about how much she admires LWD because she doesn’t spend her nights “simpering at the edge of a ballroom” (not the exact quote but still). Little does she know that LWD/Penelope does exactly that almost every night, which is why she has the information she does.

I have a feeling that there’s gonna be one really strange outing per season. This season was the boxing date with Daphne and Friedrich. Like, it makes sense in context but imagine having a conversation about kids and what kind of family you’re looking for in the middle of a boxing match.

Daphne staring at Simon’s forearms will always make me chuckle. Those forearms got my girl dizzy, it’s hilarious.

I will be saying this a lot but I think Benedict and Henry should have kissed. I remember watching the show for the first time and being very disappointed that they didn’t kiss. Every time I go back, part of me hopes that it’ll be different this time but I know it won’t.

The art of background acting is so underrated. I had this noted at the point when Anthony tells Daphne that Friedrich asked for permission to propose. Claudia Jessie isn’t technically a part of the scene but she is still in character, acting her heart out as Eloise. The facial expressions are killer, it’s amazing. 

The scene where Daphne admits to Violet that everything between her and Simon was “fake” is so good. You can tell that Daphne is trying to convince herself of everything she’s telling her mother as if it’s fact. The hurt and desperation is so present, it’s crazy.

I have a lot of thoughts on high society racial integration part of Bridgerton’s world but writing about it here would completely derail this post. That’s gonna have to come later.

The mood whiplash coming for Benedict after Henry tells him that second sons have all the fun is gonna hit him like a freight train.

I get so much secondhand embarrassment from Eloise confronting Mrs. Wilson about Lady Whistledown. I take my headphones off during that scene, the cringe is too much.

Colin is so in love with Penelope and so clueless about it. I am so looking forward to him finally realizing his feelings.

So we have made it outside of the Trowbridge Ball and here is where I talk about the necklace. This gift absolutely had to be a necklace. Nothing else would have shown how suffocated she felt by Friedrich’s affections. When she took it off, she breathed like it was physically choking her. That imagery is so powerful, especially with Simon watching Daphne release herself from the grasp of the prince.

Simon here bugs me because he’s practically talking Daphne out of marrying Friedrich when he knows it’s the best course of action. He’s getting in her head while ignoring the fact that he will refuse to marry her. Like, what was he actually trying to accomplish? I understand that this is why Simon and Daphne get married but he gets under my skin a little bit here.

Quick little side note, I don’t know if this is a cinematography thing or weird direction that didn’t play out on camera but Simon and Daphne getting it on in the garden looks so awkward and uncomfortable? To me, at least. I didn’t find it very sexy, just awkward.

And thus begins my favorite part of season one, the wild melodrama of the duel. I don’t know how they managed it because the situation is bad and the stakes are real but it still plays out very over the top. I love it so much.

We have made it to the point in the first season where Marina becomes kind of shitty. It gets worse later on but here is where we start to see it.

“Not everyone can be a pretty Bridgerton” may be harsh, but it’s true. It’s more present in the second season but Eloise doesn’t actually understand her position. She is a member of the family with some of the most social capital in the ton and it is largely because of their looks. All this to say that the Bridgertons are pretty privilege incarnate.

Something I love about Simon and Will’s friendship is how much is said without words. It shows how well they know each other in such a great way.

This is what I wrote down: “Addiction is a disease but Lord Featherington is a fuckhead.” I don’t think I need to elaborate on that one.

I’ve been trying to avoid talking too much about Siena because I’m not a fan of her storyline but it’s wild to me that she gets upset when Anthony leaves for the duel. He literally told her that he was dueling at dawn. That’s why he was there, that’s why she let him in. Why is she making a face about it now? This is something else that I could be misinterpreting but it just stood out as I was watching.

The duel is so good. It’s so extra and overdramatic. I know it wasn’t meant to be but let’s be honest, no one was gonna die. So it just reads as so over the top to the outside observer. At least to me, it does.

I don’t know how much there actually is to say about it but something that stood out to me was the way the conversations with the seconds went. Anthony has very clear instructions for Benedict and makes sure that he knows them, even once they’ve already gone through the whole thing. When Will asks if Simon wants him to make any arrangements, Simon tells him that his affairs are in order and nothing else. If that doesn’t say a lot about their family lives, I don’t know what does.

Something that I always notice when I watch Daphne getting shot at is the reactions. Simon runs for her as soon as the horse bucks. Anthony runs for her when she falls. There’s a lot of things that could say but I’m not gonna assign a specific interpretation here because I can’t decided on one.

My final note on this episode was “gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss” and I think that’s a very fitting end to this notes session.

As we get closer to season 3, I'm concerned that I won't be able to watch the whole thing beforehand but let's see.