#ch: rid

[fchcnfj]

WHY DOES HE TALK AND MOVE LIKE THAT I HATE HIM

[its-elioo]

Ratchet: How many times do I have to tell you?! We are NOT a kindergarten! You can't adopt every human you see!

Optimus: I'm sorry old friend. ><'

[galedekarios]

the thrilling sequel to gale killing himself is right ending actually: why doesn't wyll enjoy being treated like a dog by a sexy demon lady

[galaxythedragonshifter]

If I were y/n in LDR, I'd be (metaphorically) smacking ldr Sun upside the head like "you think acting like this gonna win me over? Smh"

[llama--plumbobsims]

evergreen harbor - day 7

[evil-mcytblrconfessions]

im ctommy irl (/nsrs) i have cardboard i cut and painted to look like tommys discs from 2021. i still havent thrown away even though im no longer associating myself with that fandom because they remind me of the better times. also i have a red and white shirt that looks exactly like his but that was from a homestuck cosplay i made before the dsmp so im not counting it

.

[brw]

Hank and Simon get married. Who's the best man, who's the maid of honour, who's drunk at the reception, who makes a scene, who (jokingly or not) speaks up or forever holds their peace?

Vision to all of the above.

Okay in all serious I do think Simon would bring Vision as his best man/maid of honour (I believe in Vision's ability to do both), but Hank is more complicated for me because he has sort of become separated from all of his friends over the past 10 years, even outwidth of Krakoa. His relationship with Bobby has long since fallen through. I don't need to explain him and Scott. Warren also has become alienated from his friends throughout the years and I don't think he and Hank have ever really reconciled. Things with Jean are difficult. Ororo electrocuted him in the back and helped set up that stupid trail thing. Like, who are Hank's friends? Actually??

I don't really have an answer, but I am leaning towards Kurt, or maybe Rictor; him and Hank were close during X-Factor. I also quite like the idea of Laura being a maid of honour, as Hank is one of the very few scientists she trusts.

Drunk at the reception....... Janet definitely feels like the type to drink too much at weddings, to me. But she's having fun, so it's fine.

Who makes a scene? Logan, I feel. Either because he doesn't think Hank should be able to experience happiness or because he doesn't like Simon very much. Both feel like they make sense. Bobby, possibly, because how the hell did Hank get gay married before him???

And I think Eric would time things to burst in at that moment if they did do a "speak now" thing. Because he has no sense of self preservation and simply must ruin Simon's day. They'll have a fun team up beating whatever rag-tag group of villains he's assembled this time, I'm sure.

[ofrandomthought]

it feels insane that I'd say this about anything that happened in this chapter but

this? oh this felt so fucking good to read. almost as good as I imagine it'd feel if I got to scream these exact words at soowon in person

[seeinganewlight]

i'd be respected if i couldn't be loved

[perhaps-in-anotherdream]

[CN] Victor x MC – S2 CH 38 (Eng Translation)

“You only need to remember that from beginning to end, we are always walking in the same direction and are destined to meet at the endpoint.”

⌚ This post contains detailed spoilers for a chapter that is yet to be released in the global server. ⌚

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

[Anika’s Note]: I’m really short on time and exhausted. So, my prime focus will be on Victor x MC’s crucial interactions, and I won’t be explaining the plot specific details this time~ ♡

–

✧ [CH 38-1] ✧

The chapter batch starts with a vision of MC in the Black Cabin and MC declaring her determination to the mysterious guy, “All her efforts so far have been for this moment. She wants to be with the person she likes, protect the world she likes.”

Upon this, a door opens in front of her in the vast space.

–

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

–

✧ [CH 38-2] ✧

Six days prior on the skywalk—

After the gunshot rings out, MC finds herself still being steadily held in Victor’s arms and notices the bullet that had fallen to her feet.

Following this, a transparent barrier appears in front of her, and another “bang” cuts through the air from a distance. MC feels a slight pain and loses consciousness.

[The narrator’s POV] A large white fabric appears out of thin air along with the gunshot, and the girl disappears, leaving everyone shocked while Victor is utterly unfazed.

*Entry of the other three boys, and delicious back and forth haha* This sub-chapter ends with Victor demanding an answer from Poseidon regarding the mechanical box.

–

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

–

✧ [CH 38-4] ✧

MC finds herself waking up in the silent and solemn, splendidly magnificent BS Hall, realizing that the BS Building has also entered the space-time overlapping area.

While MC is trying to figure things out, i.e., Victor suddenly holding her “hostage” and the sudden gunshot, she sees excited Zehn running to her—

–

Zehn: Boss, you’re awake!

MC: ...Zehn? What are you doing here?

Zehn: It’s a long story. In brief, the BOSS notified me a while back that I had to carry out a mission and asked me to be on standby on the rooftop of the skyscraper across the skywalk when you guys go to the Land of Advent.

Zehn: I thought I wouldn’t need to come into the play. But then, I suddenly received the signal from the BOSS to fire. So, I transferred you over without delay.

MC: ...signal? Transfer?

I realize something in hindsight as I recall the last fragments of my memory. Thinking back to the flash of white that appeared in my field of vision, my chaotic thoughts gradually become clearer.

Zehn: Yeah, BOSS said that if I see you appearing on the skywalk, I’ll move you over as planned beforehand.

Zehn: As expected of BOSS. He already calculated everything that you’d appear there.

Zehn’s sentiments, although somewhat neither here nor there, confirm my vague conjecture.

As expected, even if the disclosure of my identity was an accident, Victor had already prepared backup plans ahead of time.

But there is inevitably something baffling about it, as though I’m overlooking something important.

I remember that a fleeting barrier appeared after Victor fired the gun��� did I see it wrong?

Or is there something else in this plan, something in the arrangement that I don’t know about?

Pondering for a while, I look at Zehn again.

MC: Did BOSS say why he asked you to bring me here?

Zehn: No. He only asked me to tell you–– the flight of steps is probably the final step for your power.

—

MC recalls what Victor told her about the “flight of steps” being only open to the carrier of the CORE. MC realizes that because of completing the steps earlier and the golden dagger that appeared in her palm — she now has the full power of the CORE.

Recalling the last time MC was in the BS Hall (S1 CH 36)-- how she entered the Black Cabin with the full power of the QUEEN and prevented the doomsday— MC realizes if she enters the Black Cabin with the full power of CORE now, she will be able to find a way around the space-time overlap.

At this moment, Zehn gives MC the black box Victor asked him to give her, leaving MC utterly speechless about how Victor prepared everything, and how his foresight is like a god~

Zehn tells MC to call him if she needs anything as he’ll be on standby, then leaves.

Though unsettled about the overlapping incident, MC steels herself as Victor has paved the road for her, and she must live up to his expectations.

Using the black box as the key, MC enters the black cabin.

–

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

–

✧ [CH 38-10] ✧

[Skipping two non-Victor sub-chapters here]:

MC is on the rooftop of a tall building, shockingly finding a comet hanging in the sky and a countdown timer. 

At this moment, she notices some strangers appearing on the rooftop, seemingly trying to overwrite the errors as the piano music keeps playing in a regular pattern. 

Eventually, the reflection of the two “Loveland City” flicker alternately, the piano strings snap, and the overlapping zone takes over.

–

Amid the long and tedious silence, a man slowly walks out of the shadows.

The colors of the night distinctly outline his striking, tall, and straight physique, bringing me an ineffable sense of familiarity.

?? (Victor): It seems this is no longer within the category that Space-Time Bureau can resolve.

?? (Victor): Zero, you should know more clearly than I do what all this means right now.

The deep, low voice falls steadily into my ears, causing me to freeze.

What is Victor doing here?

What did he mean by that? Are these people here to solve the overlapping space-time issue? Are they from the Space-Time Bureau?

The sheer volume of information in these few sentences leaves my brain muddled.

I’ve heard Victor mention the Space-Time Bureau once before. It was a very long time ago when he disappeared for a month, and when he came back, he told me that he had gone there to take care of some business.

I even feel like I’ve seen that place.

On that eternal night before doomsday, I saw a fantastical space with a shimmering river of stars, and I saw Victor sitting there, gazing fixedly at the passage of time.

I have no idea why I’m making such a decisive connection. It’s as though… I’ve actually been to that place.

I try to contemplate it more deeply. But it seems as though something is blocking my thoughts, my brain faintly becoming a space of primal chaos.

–

[Tidibits]: Refreshing the callbacks here: one-month disappearance, i.e., the 10K years (S1 CH 36), the eternal night paragraph (S1 CH 37), MC being unable to remember that she’s actually been to Space-Time Bureau (S2 CH 26)~ ;-;

–

An extreme quietude hangs in the air. And the silent rooftop seems to be enveloped with an impenetrable net.

I can’t help myself from taking a step forward. At this moment, Victor’s figure also turns around, and his heavy gaze inadvertently seems to land on me.

The instant our eyes meet, I feel as if I see him gently closing his eyes.

MC: !

…Victor knows I’m here?

I blink. But before I can pull myself together to confirm it, Victor has already withdrawn his gaze.

Zero: When the deviations affecting the course of history are destined to be not adjustable, even if the trajectory is changed, the rules of the world’s functioning will not be applicable either.

Zero: Civilizations have fallen, and the universe is unbalanced. This world…

Zero: There’s no longer any possibility for this world.

A hint of non-acceptance plays across the corners of Victor’s tightly pursed lips.

Victor: In the 1908 White House explosion incident, you guys erased the existence of all survivors in order to conceal a certain fact.

Victor: You could say that this is the job of the Time Observers, to maintain the so-called stable functioning of the world.

Victor: I’ve never denied the necessity of the existence of you guys. But from beginning to end, I’ve never believed that rewriting the ending will inevitably bring a negative effect. It’s merely a subjective assumption on your part.

The other person’s expression remains unchanged as he slowly opens his mouth.

Zero: Observation and revision, by their very nature, cannot alter the rules of the world.

Zero: The world will move forward, and it can only move forward. After the extinction of one civilization, new branches evolve, and new civilizations are born, following the same pattern as before.

Zero: Even if you’ve seen all the futures, no one can rewrite fate, let alone the fate of the world.

There is not a single ripple in his tone, revealing a calmness born from scrutinizing. Yet, it strikes me as cruelty beyond one can endure.

Victor doesn’t speak and only pulls his gaze away into the distance, resting it on the stream of light emitting from the comet. The long tail streaks across the clouds, reminiscent of a passing cluster of fireworks.

It has brought destruction upon the world and turned everything upside down, but it also paints an unforgettable splendor.

I can’t help but gaze at Victor. His tightly pursed lips are clearly defined into a fierce line, and his deep eyes are surging with dark and gloomy emotions that I’m unable to discern.

In the end, as usual, he lifts his chin arrogantly.

Victor: The world admittedly has its criteria.

Victor: But the people who live in this world carry their cherished desires in their hearts.

Victor: You guys have been observing for too long. I’m afraid you’ve forgotten what it feels like to actually live in this world and what significance it carries.

Victor: So, no matter what outcome it brings, I will find a way to keep this world’s trajectory moving forward according to the expectations we harbor.

Victor’s back is upright. Each of his words blends into the depth of the night, and they seem to carry the weight of ten million.

Zero doesn’t seem surprised to hear these words, but his expression still reveals regret.

Zero: You could have chosen not to carry everything.

Zero: I believe I don’t need to remind you of the price of doing this.

The price? What does it mean?  As I stare at that nonchalant face, my heart can’t help but tighten.

Exactly how much has this man taken on alone that I don’t know about?

While my thoughts are running wild, the halo of a huge clock dial suddenly appears beneath the feet of those people, its second hand rapidly speeding backward.

Zero: Time is not tolerant of those who betray it.

Zero: Victor, I hope this won’t be the last time we meet.

The clock hand of the halo turns faster and faster, and the piano music reminiscent of whimpering gradually reaches its climax.

A gust of cold air sweeps across my back. Shuddering, I silently walk out of the corner and look at Victor, who’s standing not far away.

In the darkness, he seems to fuse with the heavy ink-black color of the sky, ice-cold and alone.

He doesn’t come over. He just stands there and looks at me.

Victor: Heard everything?

MC: ...Mm.

Victor: So then, tell me about what your thoughts are.

–

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

–

✧ [CH 38-11] ✧

Countless questions flood my mind, and I can’t help but lower my head, not knowing what to say.

I want to ask him, “Why were you with the people of Space-Time Bureau? Have you been there again?”

“Rules,” “amendments,” “fates” – and those things that you guys were talking about, what do they mean? Were those people here to solve the space-time overlapping incident?

And the pretense of “taking hostage” in the Land of Advent, when did you start planning all this?

I don’t know why but my heart suddenly turns sour. In so many places I don’t know about, he’s been standing in front of me from beginning to end, removing the obstacles for me.

Victor: Lift your head. The floor isn’t gonna talk.

Victor: I know you have many questions. So now, ask them one by one. Don’t let your imagination run wild.

Victor releases a sigh as though he’s already seen through me long ago.

I purse my lips, lift my head, and look straight at him.

MC: What’s the price that man from the Space-Time Bureau talking about just now?

Victor: [helplessly]  That’s your first question?

A trace of astonishment streaks through his eyes, and his tone is a little helpless.

MC: Mm. This is what I want to know the most.

Victor: It’s nothing.

Victor: Appropriate threats are an important step in negotiations between the parties.

Victor: You don’t need to take every word he said seriously.

Victor: Next.

MC: …

He says it casually, his serene tone carrying the same certainty as any time in the past.

Victor: Don’t have any more questions?

MC: …no, no, I just didn’t expect the answer to be like this.

Victor: If not, what did you expect?

MC: Who asked them to talk like they were taking the matter very much in earnest? I thought you were keeping me in the dark and were off shouldering something alone again without letting me know.

Victor: It seems the dummy habitually only listens to half of what she’s being told. I told you, no matter what you want to do, I’ll face it together with you.

MC: Says the man who pulled a gun on me before on the skywalk without saying a word and almost scared me to death…

Victor: …I can hear you.

Victor breathlessly interrupts my little muttering and walks up to me. Then, extending his hand, he nudges my head.

Victor: You heard just now that, from the standpoint of the Space-time Bureau, the current space-time overlap ought to be corrected. Otherwise, the world’s development process will be affected.

Victor: But it’s evident that this matter is beyond the category of their capabilities.

I nod thoughtfully.

MC: The torrent of history, as they put it, will always surge forward. Everything is already set in stone. It can only be complied with, not altered…

I subconsciously think about the comet, about everyone’s great efforts before the arrival of doomsday. I think about the choices I made in the Black Cabin and these renewed 17 years of “moving forward.”

I take a deep breath and look resolutely at Victor.

MC: Even if the world does have a fixed trajectory, any minute variable might still bring about a huge difference.

MC: Such as CORE.

MC: The space-time overlap came about because of it, and perhaps I’m the only one who can settle this.

MC: From acceptance to learning to control it, I’ve already had mental preparation for a long time now.

MC: Isn’t this what you said just now?

MC: “The people who live in this world carry their cherished desires in their hearts.”

MC: “So, I will find a way to keep this world’s trajectory moving forward according to the expectations we harbor.”

I deliberately imitate Victor’s tone of voice and see an imperceptible smile dancing across the tip of his brows, causing me to be filled with gratification and relief.

Victor: [suppressing laughter]  Parrot.

I restrain my smile and gaze earnestly into his eyes.

MC: Victor, my heart’s desire is the same as yours.

He quietly looks back into my eyes, the light of his pupils profound and knowing.

Victor: I know.

Victor: Dummies have always had the courage to put all their eggs in one basket. But remember, you’re not alone.

Victor: I’ll be by your side.

He says it in an understated manner, but his tone carries the certainty of a commitment. My heart suddenly feels as if it’s been stuffed, feeling heavy.

Vaguely, the response of something else seems to come over me.

MC: What happened at the Land of Advent…?

Victor: A number of plans were deployed at the time to be prepared for anything unexpected.

Victor: But the prerequisite of all of them was so your safety comes before anything else.

He doesn’t explain much more, but I’ve already tacitly understood everything he meant.

I stand on tiptoes and gently smooth the creases in his collar.

MC: And did you deal with everything smoothly?

Victor: Everything is proceeding according to the plan. Unfortunately, though, Poseidon ran away. But that won’t hinder the investigation into finding the people behind him.

MC: Poseidon ran away? Why did he run… wait a minute, what do you mean by the people behind him?

Victor: BS has too many rotten parts embedded inside. It’s time to weed them all out one by one.

Victor gently pats the back of my hand, lowering his eyes to look into mine.

Victor: The most important thing right now is to clear a part of the way for you.

The temperature on the back of my hand is so fervent that it travels straight to the bottom of my heart. As though knowing what I’m about to say, he adds.

Victor: This is not helping you out. I’m only giving you the energy to do what you’re supposed to do.

He pauses, his gaze straying far into the distance. I also follow him and look along his line of sight.

Beneath the entire city shrouded with the gem-like dazzling comet, the stars in the sky sprinkle themselves into Victor’s deep eyes.

The high-rise buildings are lined up one after another, each with different lives on the other side of their window frames. Each of those lives had once done their utmost to live life earnestly in the last seconds before doomsday.

This time, however, we don’t know yet what we are about to face. Perhaps it will be an existence even more severe than doomsday, or perhaps the comet will make a comeback again.

In the distance, a white building resembling a lighthouse is glowing with an eerie light, and the digits that have enveloped the horizon are still counting down, akin to some kind of ominous omen.

Fate, as it appears, has changed nothing. And instead, it has become even more cruel.

My heart floods with countless emotions, and I squeeze Victor’s palm.

MC: Although there are still many notions that are yet to be disentangled, I more or less have got an idea of what I have to do.

MC: Don’t worry, Victor. I’ll definitely stop that countdown.

Victor appears slightly stunned, his inquiring gaze circling over me.

Victor: Countdown?

His slightly puzzled expression makes it clear that he seems to have no idea about the countdown. My breath faintly stalls in my throat, and suddenly an understanding dawns on me.

…could it be that I’m the only one who can see that dreadful countdown?

I purse my lips, wanting to say something to Victor. But I’m surprised to find that I’m not as shocked and incredulous as I imagined I would be.

MC: Yes, it’s something I’m trying to figure out.

MC: I don’t really know how to explain it to you right now. But I’ll find out the meaning behind it.

Victor: In that case, go find it quickly.

Hearing my words, Victor doesn’t ask me any more questions despite the inquiries floating in his eyes.

At this moment, a gray-green circle of light suddenly appears next to him, and a man in a white mask steps out of it immediately afterward.

MC: Poseidon? How…

But I soon realize that something is amiss. Although this man is wearing the exact same mask as Poseidon, his figure and appearance are nothing like Poseidon’s.

Victor doesn’t seem surprised at his arrival. Wasting no time, the other person turns around and whispers something to Victor.

A moment later, Victor nods.

Victor: Continue with the task, Poseidon.

Slightly stunned, I size up the man once again. Seeing my puzzlement, Victor speaks in a profound voice.

Victor: He succeeded in Poseidon’s place.

Victor: Next, I will lead the new Twelve main gods to fulfill the true prophecy.

The look on Victor’s face isn’t heavy, but carries an air of authority. It’s as though he is taking a solemn oath.

Victor: Together with the QUEEN, we will walk side by side into the new world.

With his words, the original prophecy that echoed in the Land of Advent comes rushing into my mind, and I stand frozen in place.

Victor’s expression is calm; his serene gaze is akin to a ray of light piercing through the darkness.

Victor: MC, run forward without any hesitation.

Victor: Do whatever it is you want to do. Even if the sky falls, I will hold it up for you.

Victor: You only need to remember that from beginning to end, we are always walking in the same direction and are destined to meet at the endpoint.

These resolute words fall into my ears, bringing me inexhaustible reassuring power, and the pupils of those eyes gazing into the depths of mine are shimmering with the light of having victory within grasp.

The neon lights stretch his shadow very, very long, enveloping my figure tightly within it.

My heart continues to pound in my chest, and I can see the countdown in the sky ticking away incessantly, reminiscent of a silent mockery and threat to me. But I don’t have the luxury of being afraid.

I look steadfastly at the white building in the distance, and Victor’s gaze also falls in the same direction as mine.

MC: Victor, I have to leave now.

I turn back to him, smiling as I look at him.

MC: You must keep your word. I’ll be waiting for you at the end point!

Hearing my words, Victor’s grave and stern face is tinged with an imperceptible smile.

He gazes at my figure quietly, his eyes shining with the very same unwavering tenderness and pride, just like the certainty within them with which he has watched me run forward every time.

I know that as long as I have the light of these eyes, I will forever have the strength and courage to run into the distance and into the unknown without any apprehension.

I look deeply into his eyes one more time.

Then turning around, I run with all my might.

—

⏳ S2 CH 39 (Victor x MC): Here!

—

[rox-reads]

omg bully defeated? that's so nice of you, thank you alec :)

[its-elioo]

Look at him go

[taegularities]

I’m writing this for Rid 10 minutes after reading CMI 11 omg how dare Rid to play with my feelings like this 😭 I have so many favourite moments in this chapter okay lets go —

1. JK calling her baby constantly “Baby, babe, my baby, angel” yes im so weak for this shit🤯

2. Girlfriend - Boyfriend 🥳🥳🥳 fucking finally!!!

3. So so so proud of my baby oc standing up to her mum!! Bring it on! Though i hope down the story that they’ll reconcile!! Just like what cmi jk said, i think deep down her parents do love her. Its not just enough or maybe shown in different ways. Even parents and children irl have different love languages. But I want this to happen for them. I know they are at peace but having both their families by their side as they go through their relationship will be so reassuring and special ❤️

4. Mama Jeon 🥹 I feel like oc will get the love and comfort she craves from a mother from JK’s mum 😭 i already love her character!! And when Jk called her “Mama” I FREAKIN SWOONED

5. My favourite part of all this madness was the pregnancy scare. JK looking for her all over and his panic state, crying and his line “I’m gonna kill someone if I don’t find her..” oh my heart broke because he just wants to know she’s okay and she’s safe. It is sad truly that his first thought was he fucked up, when he didn’t. If I were JK, I would think its oc who did something wrong but I’m not wired like cmi JK, i have evil thoughts and trust issues 😐🤣

6. When oc said “You’ll leave me, because you’ll be mad.” I just wanna hug her so bad :( the trauma of people leaving and her experience of jk leaving her the first time 😭😭😭 my heart broke for the both of them tbh :((

7. I understand oc’s fear. Things are just looking up in both their careers and they are only starting their relationship. Not saying a baby is unwanted and will jeopardise what they have atm, but the arrival of a little one will surely change some things. BUT I WANT A LITTLE ONE SOON! A mini oc to give jk a heart attack 😌😌

8. The way jk reassured her - how you wrote jk seeing her face and he just rushed to her and hugged her without knowing what the heck was going on. 😢

9. “You’re not gonna leave me, right?” Yes this line again 😭😭

10. Eun as usual, BEST GIRL FRIEND AWARDEE OF THE YEAR 🍾🍾

11. “I love you.” “I love you, angel. Saying this isn’t enough, and I can’t word it anyhow else, but. I love you… I love you, fuck.” ENOUGH SAID. I said enough. 🥹🥹🥹🥹

We finally got the Gf-bf conversation and the I Love You!!! God knows how long I pestered Rid to finally give this to us!! Wohoo wohoo!! Week is complete!! Rid you’re the best ❤️ My favourite chapter yet. No kidding, my heart was beating so fast towards the end! Also the chapter beginning in smut?? Hello!! GIMME!!! 😋🙊

Rid i freaking love you. Mwah 💋

I said what I said, you’re not going anywhere! We’ll keep you here ❤️

the way i'd been looking for this ask bc it wouldn't show up and finally found it in my inbox on mobile 🤣 THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INCREDIBLY KIND WORDS.

now that they're warming up to that relationship (and have finally made the status of it official 🥺), she'll be hearing so many petnames from him!!! the baby and angel ones will always give me heart palpitations, but also munchkin.. </3 and yes!! we are the proudest!! she's inspiring bc she had the courage to do what a lot of people can't. and i want to hug her for standing up for herself and trying to make herself happy. but reconciliation, you say? that'd be wonderful, of course 🥺

EEHEHEHE mama jeon is the sweetest and we will definitely see more of her (and him calling her that 🤭). the ending was my favourite as well! from the moment he started looking for her till the very last sentence.. i cried a lot writing it :') so i'm super happy you enjoyed that bit, too!! oc worrying all the time, i know 😭 she needs the tightest hug!!! but yeah, her worries were why she didn't want to go home, like she was so terrified he might leave or make her leave bc yeah, they're young and as you said... a child would change a lot. but at least now she knows he'll be by her side, no matter what <3

ENOUGH SAID INDEED 🗣️ i know a lot of people were waiting for this and i really hope i put it into words well. it was such an important one. so so thrilled you loved this chapter (and that it's even become your favourite? AHHHH!!), and i appreciate your feedback so much 😭 hope you enjoy the next one just as much. i love you, and.. yes ahhh do keep me here hehe 🥹🤍

[apollorobin]

Kazuichi for the Character Bingo

THANK YOU FOR ASKING ME ABOUT HIM AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA literally my favourite character of everything ever he is my special guy he is everything to me

under the cut for a non kaz thing:

yeah, they're my cats, and thank you!! and lola says thank you as well 🐈‍⬛

[tuiyla]

"#and people can be so fucking performative about mertina but that's another topic"

can you talk more about that? I have noticed some people on reddit resenting Faberritana’s popularity because three of them are white (and one is viewed as the epitome of pretty privilege) and another is a slender, lighter-skinned and mixed-white Afro-Latina (aka Hollywood’s “acceptable” version of a black woman, akin to Zendaya) and while that’s a discussion to be had, imo some in the fandom take it too far and suggest that racism, colorism and fatphobia are the main reasons why they're the four most popular female characters on Glee in general and idk that also rubs me the wrong way.

Yes of course, because it can be a controversial topic but honestly fuck whoever takes issue with me saying this.

Like, let's start off with this: I get that the Faberritana thing can be annoying. I myself find it grating, particularly when I see stuff from the height of the Glee fandom 2011-2012 and it's very clearly centering on Faberritana, at the expense and exclusion of the two other main girls who are less conventionally palatable for, let's be honest, racist and fatphobic reasons. And Glee itself was very, very bad at centering them. So like, I Get It. Faberritana feels like elevating the three white ladies of the group and "allowing" Santana to also take on that fan favourite role. I'd wager, because of the queer storyline and yes, Naya's undeniable conventional attractiveness. Although I do take issue with the baffling backlash people like Zendaya face because shifting the blame onto women of colour for Hollywood deeming them more screen appropriate is in itself fucked up. Particularly in Naya's case because her mixed heritage was constantly ignored to boil it down to something more easily consumable, such as in the context of Glee her being the token Latina and her Blackness all but erased. But anyway.

The answer to this being this, like you say, taking it too far and creating a counter movement is just all wrong. To me. Not only because putting some women down to elevate others NEVER should be the fucking case oh my god it's 2023, but because appreciation for Mertina being born out of spite towards Faberritana enjoyers is... not real appreciation. I could start stanning St Berry sooo hard but if it's just because I find Finchel more and more repulsive, that ain't gonna be the great win for St Berry I sometimes see people posit Mertina appreciation as. I know this sounds strange but it's the fandom equivalent of trying to make an ex jealous via your rebound. You're not actually taking the rebound's feelings into consideration. Alright okay out of left field simile but you get where I'm coming from.

I think that's what annoyed me the most in my reddit days, which, *shudders* are thankfully over. This childish need to counterbalance to take extreme. X ch is popular? Well I don't like them so there must be a moral reason as to why they're The Worst, actually. Y ship is well-liked? I'm going to passive-aggressively show appreciation for Z shit all while implying that all who support another ship hint hint wink wink are Wrong and basic. I think all who spent time on the sub will be able to relate to this. But like I say, that's not real appreciation. If you feel like showing appreciation for, say, Mertina because they're statistically less like to be talked about with the same fervor, good! Please do that. But make it come from a place of authenticity or I, for one, will not be able to get fully behind it.

It's slightly different on tumblr. One, because you curate your own dashboard and experiences and I've fortunately seen the love get spread around a lot more. There are entire blogs I associate with loving Tina (hello tumblr user @tina-cohen-chang) and though Mercedes love is less "centered", I guess, it's ubiquitous as far as I see. And sure, some chs will always be more appreciated than others, but I don't see people throwing a hissy fit about Artie not being even close to being as popular or Klaine, or similar things. Liking the Glee boys is basically synonymous to liking Klaine + Sam + Mike but people never used the term Klainesike so I guess that's okay. And to be clear, it is okay! Like who you like, call it what you want. I'm happy to see things like Tina week or the relatively smaller but constant portions of Mercedes love. It's never the people complaining about Faberritana supplying it, though, which is why it's so performative. You don't have to be a content creator, no one does, but also no one owes you anything and supporting less fan favourite-y chs out of pure spite just makes you look like an ass.

Circling back, even with all this said I too find the unironic use of the Faberritana portmaunteu cringe and I do think Mertina deserve more appreciation. And I think there are layers of racism as well as the show's own issues playing into why that isn't the case. They were less featured and that in itself is a problem. And that's worth investigating within fandom circles. But that's never what happens when the people of reddit complain about Faberritana's popularity and instead it just becomes this resentment party where no one wins but they give themselves brownie points for even pretending to like the Black and Asian women of the show. Congrats I guess, real win for intersectional feminism right there. Really kicked racism in the gut with that.

Basically it just becomes grating, far more grating than unironically using the term Faberritana, when people get into petty passive-aggressive counter-movements in fandom. It becomes not about love for Mertina but bitterness that chs they happen to not like are popular. And I know I just said in my reply that I don't vibe with what I perceive to be inauthentic appreciation of chs, but I also don't like when fans start policing within fandom. So I'm not doing that with anything I'm saying, in fact what I'm trying to get at is to enjoy and let enjoy. Heaven knows I don't have the energy to spread all my Glee love equally and that's okay. I do try to express the love I have for chs other than Santana, or other than my usual suspects but at the end of the day, I know what I like and I like it because I want to enjoy it. Getting sort of off topic, anyway, so just like stop be an ass about people's love for things and mind your own business. If your own business is liking thing X then that's great, enjoy the fandom content and create your own if you wish, but why be mad about what people like about a 10 year-old show, particularly if you're too lazy to actually have those discussion about race and gender and other larger societal issues. You know?

[curapicas]

nothing to see here, just two intensely charismatic leaders taking turns at gaslighting the group and each other into bad ideas