#don't get me wrong i'm having a great time watching it!

[potatoes83]

I appreciate the modifier "almost". Now, there was definitely a shift between the idealism of the white picket fence, the perfect family, Honey, I'm home world of the 50s and 60s, and say Married with Children, or The Simpsons. Both great sitcoms in their own right, but it was definitely a relatively new trope of the tit for tat between Peg and Al, or walking through the door to find Lisa on a hunger strike, and Bart smashing a hole through the drywall with a hammer, because reasons.

But there was this trope that definitely started more in the mid to latter period of our idealized Americana, and it most quickly comes to mind with The Flintstones. Now, I've opined on this before, but it bugs the hell out of me, because it's one we haven't yet been able to crack. It remains insidious. There's two sides to this. The first, and perhaps most obvious, is the fact that while Fred and Wilma love each other, one wrong move and she can be an absolute balls cutting bitch. Like seriously, if you have to sneak around to go bowling with the water buffalo lodge, crawling through the window of your own home because it's late and Wilma is either waiting to beat your ass with a cast iron skillet, or get pissed off and go to her mother's with the kid, what the hell is that? Like, living in the real non-idealized world, I don't have to worry about these sort of retributions. There is not going to be punishment or resentment because I want to hang out with my friends.

But then the other side, probably more subtle, is the fact that Fred is a freaking clod. And in this trope, the man always is. Wilma is pissed because Fred managed to forget their anniversary, went out bowling with the guys instead, said he'd be home by 8:00 to watch the kid because Wilma has a graniteware party or some shit that she told him about weeks ago, and instead comes sneaking in at a quarter to 12.

Now of course, the writing on this is just cheap humor. Supposedly relatable, one of those "uh oh, Fred's in the dog house again, we've all been there" sort of things. That's the point of a sitcom, it's idealized, dramatized, all sorts of other ized... but this thing started around that time, and it remains damaging to this day. Because if you look at male female couples as portrayed by the media, you see one of two things.

Going back to the age of The Flintstones, Fred is this big stupid blowhard popping off to anyone who will listen that he's the man of the house, he's not going to take no guff from Wilma for hanging out with the guys, and then comes home completely cucked both because she's downright vicious, but also kind of has a point because he's in the wrong, and is too arrogant to realize it because man. She's been cooking and cleaning all day, she asked him to do one thing, and he managed to screw it up because man. And you see that these days. Oh, she's pissed off, well he's just going to double down, he's going to tell her who the man of the house is, and then he gets the look. Granted, you see this one quite a bit less as time has gone on, because in general, you see strong men a lot less.

So then there's the other thing, and this is a more modern take, where the man is just a fucking idiot. I mean just this completely helpless man-child, thank goodness he is with this snarky judgmental always right woman, because if it wasn't for her, he wouldn't be able to tie his shoes. Anything more complicated than football, nachos, and grunting, he is invariably going to fuck up, so we need her to come to the rescue by clicking something on her cell phone and calling in professionals to deal with it. Of course, while giving a snarky comment, and a holier than thou look. Good thing he's busy watching the game, he won't be in the way when she's getting railed by the plumber she had to call because he couldn't figure out how to put soap in the dishwasher.

What It ultimately boils down to is partnership. I won't even say equality, because that word has been really somewhat co-opted, and wouldn't come across is what I'm trying to get at. Marriage is a partnership. And there are traditional roles. But that is certainly not to say that you are locked into them. Historically, the man does the outside yard work, maybe not the flower gardening, works and provides for the family, the woman takes care of the inside stuff, the cooking the cleaning the vacuuming and all that. He provides for the home, she makes the home. And there is nothing wrong with this, that was a big change with the radfem movement of the 60s, was this idea that so-called traditional gender roles were somehow subjugating to women.

So in our case, I'm the primary provider, I maintain the outside of the house, the home repairs and upkeep, let's call that the traditional masculine gender role. But then I also do most of the cooking. I enjoy it, and I happen to be a trained chef. I'm also home first by a couple hours. The laundry is, I would say, probably split evenly if not leaning a little more towards me, but then it's like I'll do the laundry, but she'll fold and put away all the laundry. Partnership. What It ultimately boils down to is what needs doing. If I'm in the kitchen and the dishwasher needs unloading and reloading, then I'll probably do it. Or maybe she will. She might vacuum, I might vacuum, it just depends who decides to take it upon themselves to do it.

So in a partnership, neither of you are stuck doing a certain thing, or more to the point condemned to do it because of some arbitrary rule. Like she has never mowed the lawn, but that's because it's something that I really enjoy doing. It's a great way to blow off the stress of the work week, it's something that I just really like. And I can't think of any chore around here that she's done that I haven't, but that's because I lived with roommates or out on my own for quite a few years.

I'm getting off on a tangent here, but the point is, we somehow went from an idealism that was based on a reality of partnership, to this almost him versus her scenario. If I had to sneak around and lie to hang out with my friends because she's going to be pissed off no matter what, I wouldn't have married her. And she is strong, intelligent, and beautiful, so if I was one of those "woman, I worked all day, get in that kitchen and cook me a steak" kind of lunkheads, I would hope she wouldn't have married me either. I recognize that. I'm 41 years old. And was raised with two parents, both of whom were in a partnership to run the house and raise a family.

I mean, imagine being a young man today. If you have any kind of strength or self-confidence, you're told that's toxic masculinity, and you just can't be doing that. All your masculine role models in the media are cucks, and why would you want to date the judgmental trash that is portrayed as a woman. This shit needs to change, and I'm not talking a Hallmark movie script either; real, substantive change. Nuclear family, backbone of society, partnerships, in which both parties better each other. 🥔

[icaruspendragon]

At last, wars will be over and the fkin "democrats" will not pump people's money into other country's war just so they can watch from far away and play makeshift god. GO TRUMP GO COMMON SENSE FUCK LIBERALS

INT. WAREHOUSE – NIGHT

DEAN and BOBBY are seated on tables, swinging their legs and looking bored.

DEAN
You sure you did the ritual right?
(BOBBY gives him a look)
Sorry. Touchy, touchy, huh?

As if on cue, a loud rattling shakes the roof. DEAN and BOBBY arm themselves with shotguns and take positions at the far end of the warehouse.

DEAN
Wishful thinking, but maybe it's just the wind.

The door bursts open and a handsome man in a business suit and trenchcoat stalks in CASTIEL.

The light bulbs above his head shatter in a shower of sparks as he passes them. As he approaches, DEAN and BOBBY both open fire, but the shots do not even slow him down. Dean takes the MAGIC KNIFE as CASTIEL gets close.

DEAN
Who are you?

CASTIEL
I'm the one who gripped you tight and raised you from perdition. 

DEAN
Yeah. Thanks for that. 

DEAN rears back and plunges the MAGIC KNIFE into CASTIEL'S chest and hits heart without any effects. CASTIEL looks down, unconcerned, and pulls it out, drops it to the floor. Behind him, BOBBY attacks; without looking, CASTIEL grabs BOBBY'S weapon and uses it to swing him around. CASTIEL touches BOBBY on the forehead with fingertips and BOBBY crumples to the ground.

CASTIEL
We need to talk, Dean. Alone. 


END ACT FOUR

ACT FIVE

DEAN crouches over BOBBY, checking his pulse. He glares at CASTIEL. 

CASTIEL
Your friend's alive. 

DEAN
Who are you?

CASTIEL
Castiel.

DEAN
Yeah, I figured that much, I mean what are you?

CASTIEL
I'm an Angel of the Lord. 

DEAN
Get the hell out of here. There's no such thing. 

CASTIEL
This is your problem, Dean. You have no faith. 

Lightning flashes, and on CASTIEL'S back great shadowy wings appear, stretching off into the distance. The light goes out and the image disappears. 

DEAN
Some angel you are. You burned out that poor woman's eyes. 

CASTIEL
I warned her not to spy on my true form. It can be... overwhelming to humans, and so can my real voice. But you already knew that. 

DEAN
You mean the gas station and the motel. That was you talking? (CASTIEL nods.) Buddy, next time, lower the volume. 

CASTIEL
That was my mistake. Certain people, special people, can perceive my true visage. I thought you would be one of them. I was wrong.

DEAN
And what visage are you in now, huh? What, holy tax accountant?

CASTIEL
This? This is... a vessel. 

DEAN
You're possessing some poor bastard?

CASTIEL
He's a devout man, he actually prayed for this. 

DEAN
Well, I'm not buying what you're selling, so who are you really?

CASTIEL
(frowning) I told you.

DEAN
Right. And why would an angel rescue me from Hell?

CASTIEL
Good things do happen, Dean. 

DEAN
Not in my experience. 

CASTIEL
What's the matter? You don't think you deserve to be saved?

DEAN
Why'd you do it?

CASTIEL
Because God commanded it. Because we have work for you.

[love-byers]

I see byler. But it would make me feel so weird because Mike has liked a girl for four seasons and he has treated Will horribly, getting away from him because of a girl. I don't know, it would be pailful to rewatch the show and see all this ald later see byler being canon

i encourage you to rewatch the show because it is just flat out not true that mike "treated will horribly". if mike liking a girl for 4 seasons holds impact then so does the way mike has CANONICALLY treated will during those same seasons.

in s1 mike is determined to find will, believing he was alive even when dustin and lucas didn't. he defended will multiple times ("wait this is will's fault?" "i'm the only one acting normal here! I'm the only one that cares about will!", pushing troy down). he stayed awake in the hospital waiting room so he could go to will immediately when he woke up. he was the first one in will's hospital room and laid his head on will's chest. he breaks into a cheesy grin just watching will play dnd.

in s2 mike is extremely attentive and protective of will. he notices when will wanders outside the arcade and puts an arm around him to guide him back inside, he notices when will is being quieter than usual, he doesn't let anyone else touch will on halloween, he sees himself as will's protector, he comforts will by suggesting they'll lose their minds together, he jumps to will's defense over the dart stuff, he stands in front of will to protect him from dart, he is worked up over will missing school, he stares sadly at will's empty desk, he calls the byers house from a payphone because he's eaten up with worry, he goes to the byers house after school and bangs on the door calling for will, he holds will's hand and assures him all the terrible things he's going through are happening for a reason, he sleeps on will's floor to stay close to him, he sleeps in a chair next to wills hospital bed, he gets flustered when will remembers him despite having amnesia, he notices when something is wrong with will despite him not moving or changing his expression at all, he tearfully recounts the day he met will and describes it as the best thing he's ever done in his whole life.

in s3, yes mike is not a great friend to will all of the time, but it wasn't specifically targeted at will. he and el were being bad friends to the whole group over the summer. and despite that, mike is still attentive to will, noticing when something was wrong in the theater despite the fact that he's supposed to be paying attention to the movie like everyone else. he double checks that will is okay. he immediately back tracks and tries to keep playing dnd when will gets upset, even forcing lucas to backtrack as well. he follows after will when he storms off. he doesn't want will to bike home in the rain. he continues to apologize even though will is ignoring him. he compliments will's campaign and assured him he doesn't think its bad. he's extremely regretful after snapping and saying something hurtful to will. he calls after will, begging him not to leave. he bikes to wills house in a rainstorm and bangs on his door, apologizing and begging will to come outside and talk to him. he doesn't just accept that will doesn't want to talk to him and instead searches through the forest in the dark rain for him. he jumps to defend will and encourages the rest of the group to believe him about the mindflayer. he sticks close to will during the sauna test. he worries about will leaving him behind when he moves to california. he is delighted when will assures him thats its impossible. he tearfully hugs will goodbye. im not gonna go into the byler coding in hop's letter because some would say it's speculative, but yeah. mike was fucking devastated at losing will.

between s3 and 4 mike is eaten up by the idea of will not reaching out and making new friends. he feels like he lost will. he openly complains about joyce's job holding up the line because he wants to talk to will. he mopes in his basement and plays nintendo because he misses will. to him everything feels weird because will isn't there. hawkins no longer feels like home because will isn't there. he loves his other friends but finds that there's something different about what he feels towards will.

then in s4 mike does start out being a dick towards will. or at least it looks that way. it seems like mike doesn't want anything to do with will, but later on he flat out admits that that wasn't the case at all. he was still being highly attentive to will, analyzing his facial expressions and demeanor and hoping will to talk to him. will didn't ruin mikes day by being too involved in his date with his girlfriend, he ruined it by not being involved. he stays close to will after el hits angela, literally shoulder to shoulder with him. he seeks will out to apologize to him and let him know he didn't deserve the way he'd been treated, and goes on to tell him how much he'd missed him and how he was afraid he'd lost him. he wants them to be best friends again. he wants he and will to be a team through whatever happens next. he is overjoyed when he thinks will made a painting for him. he assures will that they will kill vecna together and puts a comforting hand on his shoulder (despite the fact that he was too s scared to hug will 5 days earlier). he stays at will's side when the world is ending right before their eyes.

i truly truly do not understand why people say will deserves better than mike because the entire fucking point of their dynamic is that he handles will with much more care than he does others. im sorry but it really just sounds like an excuse to say byler bad without sounding problematic because the truth is that you just don't want mike to be queer. mike is very tender and caring with will and trusts him above anyone else. will is the same way towards mike. and he is devastatingly in love with mike. mike who has done everything stated above for him. why would they not be a good match? why does will not deserve the person he feels understands him better than anyone else, the person who makes him feel loved and special in a word turned against him? bffr

and about mike getting away from will because of a girl, this is a very common trope in childhood friends to lovers stories. that is what deepens the relationship between the two friends. the jealousy, the pining, the emotionally charged arguments. one of the friends usually doesn't realize what they have until they are faced with losing it. hello, s3 epilogue! the love triangle dynamic has already been used multiple times in stranger things. nancy genuinely did have romantic feelings for steve even when she got with jonathan. joyce had genuine romantic feelings for bob despite the fact that she was clearly in love with hopper. the writers have clearly shown that love is something entirely separate from attraction, and that it's easy to get lost along the path to it and get those feelings mixed up. why would it be any different for mike? especially if he's queer and in love with a boy? that makes everything 100x more confusing. especially if he's bisexual because the world back then conditioned people to think there was only homosexuals and 'normal' people. it would be so difficult for mike to figure everything out if his romantic feelings towards el are very much real, because he doesn't think he can have both. he feels caught between two slides, as one might say.

so yeah rewatch the show with an open mind and i promise you it will not make you feel weird, it will actually make a whole lot more sense. and if it does make you feel weird then i think you need to address an underlying attitude towards gay people. im not flat out calling you homophobic, it's very easy to be biased and not even know it when the world is as heteronormative as it is. just try to have an open mind

[strawberrymoosetracks]

I read this as if it were in the modern day, and that the aforementioned God of War has taken on the modern form of someone who would be consitered the most powerful soldier, or the epitome of modern war. To me, the epitome of modern war is just a relatively fit guy who sits in a room with a PC. Heres my take on it, I didn't put much effort into this so sorry if it sucks :)

I've got to hand it to humans, they are great at making things efficient. Their innovation is beyond any other species I've encountered. One of their favorite things to make more efficient is war. Back in the old days, they trained young men, put them in armor, gave them a sword, and marched them thousands of miles for a fight against other young men who were similarly armed.

They started including horses, which sped up the transportation process. Then they came up with guns. A marvelous invention really. It made war much quicker, but it also forced armor to get better. As much as I liked the shiny armors, it was always too loud. It was nearly impossible to sneak anywhere, and seeing was a nightmare.

Nowadays, the most powerful warmonger is a guy at a desk. One may think that is crazy, but in all fairness, that guy has the ability to shoot a thousand suns at whoever they want to. I've had this job for eighty years, under three seperate faces.

I love efficiency...but the God of War gets bored when the people capeable of war are too scared to fight eachother. The Cold War ranks the lowest out of all the fun wars. Sooo, I look for fun in other ways. I started in the eighties when I could find someone who wasn't an anti-war hippie, but wasn't a complete jerk. That was when I realised my love language. I love physical touch. It's like my kryptonite. Maybe it's that it's been years since any soldier was willing to hug, especially in high war time. I had forgotten how great it felt to hug.

And now we get to the modern day, I have a girlfriend. She's super sweet, but sometimes she has some...interesting ideas. We get into conversations and find out that she has the strangest ideas. We go to the bar with friends and get into conversations about the romans, and as someone who was there, I have to set them straight. They always brush me off, saying that it can't be true. Maybe in my next iteration I can become a historian and set these lies straight. Anyways, we were at a bar with some other soldiers, and we were talking about Ares. That used to be my name, but I have been though too many lives since then.

"You think you can buy the loyalty of the God of War with something as small as affection? Don't be stupid." Leah said, taking a sip of her drink.

As the others seemed to agree, I just had to intervine. "As the aforementioned God of War, she's wrong you can absolutely do that. I'm basically a cat; pat my head and l'l be your loyal servant for... five minutes, give or take?"

The group was completely silent. They all stared at me, trying to work though it. Leah started laughing, "You're funny, Levi. You don't even get in real combat. Like come on." She slowly stoped laughing as my face continued to be serious. "You're not joking? You really think you're the God of War?"

"I don't think, I know." I said, staring into their blank faces, "Ok watch." I looked around the bar and eyed two guys who were friends. I pointed at them, and they immediately became enraged. They yelled at eachother, mostly nonsense. There was no real greivance, just some pent up anger I was using. One was about to swing when they suddenly stopped, sitting down and continued to talk as normal. I turned back to my drink and took a small sip.

I took a deep breath in and out, my shoulders dramatically rising and falling. It had been centuries since I told anyone I was the God of War. Since the romans went out, people stopped believing in pantheon gods. I would have shown the middevial europe my real self, but I had inconveniently been turned into a woman at that time. Calling myself a God was an easy way to get burnt at the stake, and getting out of that was too much work.

"No way..." My girlfriend muttered, staring at me.

I slowly turned to her, "Well, do I give loyalty for head pats?" She nodded slowly, her mouth agape.

My buddy next to her slowly leaned over and patted me on the head, "Please don't kill me."

I smirked, "Wasn't planning on it." I drank the rest of my drink and set it down, not really knowing how to start back up the conversation. It just became dead silent, everyone grapling with my revealed identity. Well I just ruined the night with this again, teaches me to never reveal myself with my close friends. So many centuries into this, and I apparently still have many things to learn.

—"You think you can buy the loyalty of the God of War with something as fickle as affection? Don't be foolish." —"As the aforementioned God of War, she's wrong. You can absolutely do that. I'm basically a cat; pat my head and I'll be your loyal servant for… five minutes, give or take?"

[sirxlla]

Such an Integral Piece

----------------‐-------------------------------

Warnings: Fluff

Prompt: introducing your cat to Dick's dog Haley (request: @runnergirl234 also I love this idea it's the cutest thing ever and I hope you also have a great day)

Notes: female reader, italics are actions and thoughts.

-With that said it's all under the cut-

The idea of you both moving in together was obvious, most nights one of your guys's apartments was empty because you would sleep over with the other person. It wasn't entirely ideal because of the animals but both of you didn't want to move too quickly in your relationships. That was nearly a year ago before you knew he was Nightwing.

Now Richard was staying at whatever apartment was closest after patrol and unfortunately that meant it was usually his. Sleeping in an empty bed just felt wrong at this point.

"Why don't you just move in? You shouldn't have to drive so far after a long day of work, I know the traffic in the city is not great around this time. I mean it's never great." Dick rubbed your back as you both laid in bed together.

"You're sure?" You asked as you played with his silky soft fluffy hair.

"I mean it would help me keep an eye on you but if you don't want to I entirely understand, I don't want to pressure you into anything." He leaned into your soft touches, closing his eyes with a groan.

"I mean I've been meaning to get away from the other job for a while anyways, If we can figure something out I wouldn't mind moving." Absentmindedly staring at the ceiling in the almost pitch black room.

"You mean that weirdo, David? Is he still coming around?" He asks about the weirdo that used to work at your job that kept stalking you.

"No, I think you scared I'm off but I'm really tired of looking over my shoulder and hoping that he's not there."

"I can find you a job pretty easily I mean hell you could probably work with me if you wanted."

"Isn't that like conflict of interest?"

"Not if we are actually working."

"I'd be down." Haley jumping on the bed to curl into your side.

"Then you're moving in." Cuddling into your chest, his face squished against your boobs.

"I am moving in" You smiled as sleep started taking you.

It was a bit of a process going through everything that you had acquired over time. You had that apartment since you were 18 so there was a lot to go through. It took about a week but you were getting everything settled and moved into Dick's place.

Once everything was in it's rightful place at his apartment the last but most important piece was your cat Frodo. Frodo is very affectionate and loving.

"Oh, God. I'm nervous."

"It's okay, Honey. Haley's got her mask on and I've got a hold of her." He's almost 100% sure she won't do anything to her but he wants to be sure.

"Well, here goes nothing." You brought Frodo's carry case over to Haley to let her sniff him. Frodo started hissing as Haley got super excited and playful which prompted Dick to make her sit.

"Be gentle Haley." He said to the sweet pitbull that listenss to every word that came out of his mouth.

"I guess we'll just have to give them time." You stated to Dick. After about 20 minutes of him in the crate you decided to let him out. Dick told Haley to come sit on the couch with him and she very quickly listened being such a well-trained dog. Once everyone calm down they seemed to as well.

The three of you saw on the couch and watched a movie while Frodo decided to go explore the house. After about an hour Frodo came back and surprisingly curled up next to Haley. You were half asleep against chest so you didn't notice but he sure did, he took a photo and posted it on Snapchat with the caption "my little family" which was a photo of you laying on his chest and the animals cuddling together. This was all that he hoped for when he was so happy that everybody was getting along.

[lurkingshan]

The other day in a conversation about I'll Turn Back This Time, @troubled-mind asked me about my favorite dramas that show the same couple falling in love multiple times, in different iterations.

So of course, I am now here with a list! Takes on the fantasy trope that ITBTT uses--an alternate universe and/or time travel mechanism that sets up the protagonist to fall in love with the same person, or different versions of the same person, more than once--is actually not super common in dramas, but there are a handful of shows that do something like this:

Triage 

If you ask me what is the best QL with this trope, I don't even need to think about it: Triage is the answer. I love this show, and alongside its masterful suspense plot you get to watch these two try (and fail) to get the other to fall for them over and over again. It's a great time.

Someday or One Day 

If you ask me what is the best drama with this trope, period, I have to hand it to Someday or One Day, a Taiwanese drama that is probably my favorite time travel alternate universe romance of all time. In this one you get multiple versions of the same characters falling in love with each other and traversing time and space to find each other. It's so good that a Korean production attempted to replicate its magic. An absolute must watch for people who love this trope!

Every You Every Me

Now we're getting into some with asterisks. In this show you get to watch the same two actors play multiple different pairs who fall in love with each other in different universes--kind of. I can't say more or I will spoil it for those who haven't seen it yet! It's not a perfect show by any means, but it's a lot of fun.

4 Minutes 

This show is not a great example of this trope IMO, but it sort of gets at the experience, as you see a few different versions of the lead characters and their relationship through various narrative turns. I'm keeping it vague because saying much more would be spoilerific!

The Legend of the Blue Sea

A mermaid meets a conman, has a whirlwind romance, and then deletes his memory. But oops! They were already lovers in a previous life, her mermaid powers are not working quite as planned, and she can't stop herself from finding him again anyway. It's all a bit more complicated than that, but the point is you get to watch these two find each other and fall in love several times in multiple lifetimes. And damn did I love it every time.

Until We Meet Again 

In this drama, the story is about two souls who meet again in another life after a tragic end in their first. So it kinda fits here, but their reincarnated souls go into new characters played by different actors, so the experience of watching it is a bit different. This one is less about time travel and choice as it is heavy on the red string of fate.

Extraordinary You 

In this fantasy drama, our mains are side characters in a manwha who gain sentience and start trying to change their story together while an omnipotent writer keeps shuffling them back to where they think they belong and deleting their memories of each other. It's definitely a unique twist on this trope, and you get to watch them fight to remember and fall for each other and find a way to take control of their destiny over and over again.

In addition to narratives with a fantasy construct that resets or produces multiple iterations of the core relationship, I also thought about second chance romances where you get to see both the original and the second chance love story in full, giving you the experience of watching the same two people fall in love twice. Some noteworthy dramas in this category:

Lighter and Princess

This drama centers on two tech genius types who originally fell in love in college and started a company together before something went very wrong, resulting in his incarceration. The story picks up when he gets out of prison and sets out to reclaim his legacy, and you get to live both their first and second love stories in detail. One of my absolute favorites and permanently in the rewatch rotation.

We Best Love 

This story is told in two parts, with the first focused on their original enemies to lovers romance in college, and the second their reunion after a confusing and closure-less break up. It's honestly kind of a mess but I love it so much anyway, in no small part due to the actors.

The End of the World With You 

And now for something a little darker! This one is heavy on the toxic psychosexual vibe, and all the more fascinating for it. Two former lovers meet again at the end of the world, and we see what went wrong for them in college and watch them sort through the wreckage as adults and try to make something of the time they have left.

First Love: Hatsukoi

Two high school sweethearts get separated by life circumstances, and meet again twenty years later to realize they are still not over it. I was charmed by the teen love story in this one especially.

Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo

Let me end on a note of excellence and take this opportunity to again implore everyone to watch this beautiful show. Both iterations of this relationship are compelling and complicated and full of deep feeling; it's one of the most satisfying second chance romances I have seen, and after everything they've been through, it's so rewarding to see these two get the chance to fall in love again.

[hansmic]

𝕤𝕟𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕕 𝕠𝕦𝕥 ❄️

bangchan x gn! reader

summary: chan ends up calling you to keep him company at the studio while he works but what happens when you guys get snowed in? will it cause welled up feelings to be unraveled or will it be awkward. read to find out :)

warnings: kissing

word count: 2.2k

————————————————————————

Chan was sitting in the studio, staring blankly at his computer screen. He couldn't focus on the music he was supposed to be working on. He felt lonely, despite having his friends and family close by.

He picked up his phone, scrolling through his contacts until he found your name. He bit his lip nervously, contemplating whether to call you or not.

With a deep breath, he tapped on your name and hit the call button. As the phone rang, he felt a sudden wave of anxiety wash over him. He fidgeted with a pen on his desk, hoping you would pick up quickly.

You were in the middle of watching a movie when your phone suddenly rang. You checked the caller ID and saw that it was Bang Chan.

Curious, you picked up the call. "Hello?"

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line before Chan spoke up. His voice was slightly shaky, as if he was nervous.

"Hey, uh, sorry to bother you. Are you busy right now?"

You muted the TV and smiled at his apology.

"No, I was just watching a movie. What's up?"

Chan let out a sigh of relief on the other end.

"Good, because I need your help with something. I'm at the studio right now, working on a song, but I'm feeling kinda alone. Wanna come keep me company?"

You chuckled at his honesty.

"Sure, I can come over. I was getting bored anyway. I'll be there in about twenty minutes."

Chan's face lit up, a smile spreading across his features. He couldn't help but feel relieved that you agreed to come over.

"Great, thanks! See you soon. And, it’s cold, wear something warm."

You assured him that you would, and after exchanging a few more words, you ended the call. Quickly, you changed into something comfortable and grabbed a warm jacket before heading out to the studio.

When you arrived at the studio, you found Chan sitting at his desk, headphones on, working away at the computer. He looked up when he heard you enter and immediately stood up to greet you, his face brightening at the sight of you.

"Hey," he said, his usual bright smile appearing on his lips. "Thanks for coming. I really didn't want to be alone here tonight."

You smiled back at him, noticing the exhaustion in his eyes. You could tell he had been working hard all day.

"No problem. I'm happy to keep you company. You look like you could use a break, though."

Chan chuckled weakly, running a hand through his hair.

"Yeah, you're not wrong. I've been stuck on this song all day, and I can't seem to get it right. It's driving me crazy."

You glanced at his computer screen and saw the various files and programs open, each filled with different lyrics and sound files.

"It seems like you've been at it for a while. Maybe stepping away for a bit would actually help you," you suggested.

Chan sighed, acknowledging your words.

"You might be right, but every time I try to take a break, I feel guilty for not working. I just want to finish this song already."

You could sense the frustration in his voice and sympathized with him. You approached him and gently placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, it's okay to take a break. You can't push yourself too hard or you'll burn out. Why don't you show me what you have so far? Maybe I can offer a fresh perspective."

Chan glanced at you with a grateful look on his face. He appreciated your support and the way you seemed to understand what he was going through.

"Thank you," he said softy. "I'll show you what I have so far."

He sat down in his chair and pulled up a file on his screen, playing the unfinished song through his headphones.

As you listened to the track, you could hear the potential it held. It was a beautiful melody, but you could also sense the stress and pressure Chan was under. You could see his frustration growing as he messed up a few notes.

"So far, it's amazing," you told him gently. "But you seem so tense. Maybe you just need to loosen up a bit."

Chan ran a hand through his hair again, frustrated with his own performance.

"I know, I just can't seem to get it right, and it's driving me crazy. I want it to be perfect, but nothing I do seems good enough."

You squeezed his shoulder reassuringly.

"You're working too hard on this. Remember, perfect is subjective. You're allowed to make mistakes, you know. What you have so far is already incredible, and it's only going to get better once you stop being so hard on yourself."

As you and Bang Chan continued working on the song, you became so engrossed that neither of you noticed the heavy snowstorm getting outside the window.

After a while, you suddenly glanced up, noticing the thick snowflakes falling outside. You stood up and went closer to the window, watching the intense snowfall, suddenly realizing how bad the weather was getting outside.

Bang Chan looked up from the computer, seeing you standing by the window, and also noticed the intense snowfall.

"Damn, it's getting pretty bad out there," he remarked, standing up and walking over to you.

You nodded in agreement, still watching the storm outside. The wind was picking up, and the snow was falling heavily. You turned to Bang Chan, a bit worried.

"I don't think I'll be able to get home tonight. It's getting too dangerous to drive in this weather."

Bang Chan frowned slightly, his expression reflecting your concern. He hadn't considered the possibility of you being stuck in the studio due to the storm.

"You're right. It's not safe to drive in this snowstorm. You should probably stay here at the studio tonight."

You glanced around the studio, taking in the surroundings. There was a small couch in the corner of the room, and you knew there was a shower and a small kitchen in the back. Besides, you were happy to spend more time with Bang Chan.

"I guess I don't have much choice," you said with a small smile. "At least I've got good company."

Bang Chan chuckled, seeming relieved that you didn't mind staying over. He patted your shoulder gently.

"Well, you're welcome to stay here as long as you need. I'll make sure you're comfortable, don't worry."

Bang Chan led you to the small couch in the studio, where he had a stack of blankets and pillows sitting. He tossed a few blankets on the couch, making a makeshift bed.

You couldn't help but notice how sweet he was being, taking care of you and making sure you were comfortable.

Once the couch was made up, you sat down and wrapped yourself in the blankets. Bang Chan sat down beside you with a small smile.

"How's that? Comfortable enough?" he asked, his eyes scanning your face.

You nodded, feeling a sense of warmth from the blankets and from Bang Chan's concern. You smiled back at him, feeling grateful.

"Yes, it's perfect. Thank you, Chan. I really appreciate you letting me stay here tonight."

Bang Chan's eyes softened as he looked at you. He could see the sincerity in your eyes, and he felt a pang of something he couldn't quite define in his chest.

He reached out and touched your hair gently, tucking a strand behind your ear.

"Of course. I couldn't let you go out there in this storm. Your safety is more important to me than anything else right now."

A blush dusted your cheeks at his touch, the sweetness in his voice causing your heart to flutter. You could feel a sudden intimacy in the air between you two, the situation making it feel as if it was only the two of you in the world, stuck together in the studio for the night.

As you two settled into a comfortable silence, a thought seemed to cross Bang Chan's mind. He turned to you, his expression suddenly serious.

"Hey," he began, his voice soft. "Can I ask you something?"

You looked at him, your curiosity piqued. You nodded, signaling for him to continue.

"Of course, what is it?"

Bang Chan sighed, gathering his thoughts for a moment before proceeding. He turned his body towards you, his eyes fixed on your face.

"I've been thinking about something for a while now, and I just need to get it off my chest."

A sense of nervousness washed over you as you heard the seriousness in his voice. You shifted in your seat, turning to face him as well, giving him your undivided attention.

"Sure, you can ask me anything."

Bang Chan took a deep breath, as if steeling himself for what he was about to say.

"Sometimes, I feel like... I don't know how to describe it, but I feel like there's something more between us. Something more than just friendship."

You were taken aback by his words, your heart racing in your chest. You hadn't expected him to bring up something like that.

You looked at him, your mind racing, your feelings for him suddenly surfacing in your heart. Could it be that he felt the same way about you?

Bang Chan noticed your surprise and quickly backtracked, feeling uncertain.

"I-I'm sorry," he stuttered. "I shouldn't have said that. It's just, being here alone with you... it's making me feel things I've never felt before."

You couldn't help but feel a pang of hope in your chest. You took a deep breath, trying to steady your nerves.

"You don't need to apologize," you said softly. "I feel... something too. I can't explain it, but being here with you, it feels right. Like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be."

Bang Chan's eyes widened at your response, his heart skipping a beat. He looked at you, searching your face for any sign of doubt, but all he could see was sincerity and affection in your eyes.

"Really?" he whispered, leaning closer to you. "You feel it too?"

You nodded, your heart racing in your chest. Your feelings for him were suddenly clear to you, and you knew you couldn't hide them any longer.

"Yes," you replied, your voice barely above a whisper. "I feel something for you, something strong and undeniable. I don't know what it is, but it's like my heart is drawn to you.”

Bang Chan's face softened at your words, relief and happiness washing over him. He reached out and touched your cheek, his touch gentle and tender.

"I've felt it too, this pull towards you. I just didn't know how to express it. But now, I know. I know what this feeling is, and it's so much more than just friendship."

You leaned into his touch, the warmth of his hand on your cheek making your heart flutter.

"Yes," you agreed. "It's more than just friendship. It's something deeper, stronger. I just didn't want to acknowledge it because I was afraid of ruining what we have."

Bang Chan shook his head, his eyes fixed on yours. He caressed your cheek with his thumb, his touch gentle and affectionate.*

"No," he said softly. "You could never ruin what we have. If anything, this feeling between us... it's only going to make us stronger."

Bang Chan's breath caught in his throat as he gazed at you, his eyes locked on your lips.*

He slowly leaned in, his body moving closer to you. You could feel his breath on your face, his proximity making your heart pound in your chest.*

He gently cupped your face in his hands, his touch sending shivers down your spine. He titled your head upwards, his lips millimeters away from yours.

But the moment your lips met, it was like a spark ignited between you two. The kiss grew deeper, more passionate, as Bang Chan's hands moved to the back of your neck, pulling you closer to him.

You wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him even closer. Your bodies meshed together, your hearts beating in sync with each other. The kiss was a mixture of tenderness and desire, your feelings for each other pouring out into the kiss.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, you both pulled away, gasping for air. Your foreheads touched, and you could feel his breath on your face, ragged and uneven.

Neither of you spoke for a moment, both of you just basking in the aftermath of the kiss and the realization of your mutual feelings.

"I guess I just needed a good snowstorm and a locked studio to finally confess my feelings to you," he murmured, his breath warm against your skin. You chuckled softly, your heart fluttering at his words. You gently ran your fingers through his hair, enjoying the closeness between the two of you.

"I guess we were just in denial about our feelings for each other," you replied, your voice low and intimate.

Bang Chan pulled away slightly, his eyes meeting yours again. He took your hand in his, intertwining your fingers.

"I don't want to be in denial anymore," he said, his voice firm. "I want to be with you, officially. If you'll have me."

You felt your heart swell with happiness at his words. You gave his hand a squeeze and nodded, a smile spreading across your face.

"Of course I'll have you," you replied, unable to keep the joy out of your voice. "I want to be with you, too. Officially."

————————-———————————————-

masterlist is here

[mjdrawsalot]

was-

was x-men 97 on some sort of challenge to cover as many landmark x-events as possible??

it's only been 10 episodes and they've covered at least 6 of the most well-known TPBs

[miss0atae]

Random Thoughts about High School Frenemy (EP 4):

This episode was so satisfying because we got answers we were waiting for (some we kind of knew, but it's good to be sure).

Of course, Saint is the real Tsunami. I think everyone knew he was "stronger" than what he pretends to be. I think in the past he did questionable things which lead to the fall of his friendship with Shin. Since that time he tried to redeem himself by stopping fighting, but the past won't let him go. I really like this type of character. I'm all for the redeemed "bad boy" that is trying to be better and will do everything to make amends. Saint has such soft eyes when he is talking about or to Shin, but when shit happen, you can see how they change so fast.

It was sure that the Dragon Fang gang would have no chance in their plan to hurt Shin, because everything related to him is sure to trigger Saint's desire to protect. They failed at capturing his little sister and they failed at making him cry. I think what he has been accused of is in fact Saint's doings in the past. However, I still don't understand why Saint is clueless about it. Does the Dragon Fang didn't exist 3 years ago?! So why are they convinced Shin killed Jom?! I get they mistook Shin for Saint, because people kept saying Shin is the Tsunami. However, if Saint killed someone he must remember, no?!

Which leads me to another set of questions. I also want to know why is Shin not letting people know it's untrue. He could easily blame Saint and that would go well with his supposed hatred for him. He claims all the time that he hates Saint, but he still kept until now the real identity of the Tsunami. Does he need the "aura" of being the leader of the Tsunami? For which reasons? He doesn't seem to particularly like fighting.

I also wish we learn more about the other characters. Shin and Saint's relationship is really interesting, don't get me wrong. I'm always waiting for their interactions. It's just sad that the rest of the cast remains background characters. I want to know more about Chatjen, how did the Udon Phithak's students became a tight group of friends, why is Ken having such an inferiority complex, is Eve going to kiss Airy (okay this one I made it up, but I wish to see another gl series with View and June, okay) and how Cable is fitting in the middle of all of this drama. I think if they get more time for these other characters to interact, it would lead them to find more similarities and maybe have a good impact on their strained relationship.

Will 10 episodes be enough to give all the answers I'm looking for? Sigh. We'll have to wait 7 days to have some answers.

[compassmili]

I kinda really hate how I've been treated throughout my life

[a-url-that-exists]

hot take Deadpool and Wolverine wasn't that good it was sort of just Ryan jacking off about how much money Disney was giving him, fanservice, and comic book/tv show references that only the most hardcore nerds would get.

[spaceoddeity]

the magnus archives is great because I just want everyone and everything to be ok and it won't <3

[thevegetablewhichnoonedaresname]

tonight I go to bed grateful not to be in my bnha phase right now

[eclarinet]

same soup... different day

[edwardallenpoe]

being young, black and queer (particularly butch and lesbian) online (but Tumblr specifically) is like rummaging and searching for somewhere you're fully welcome and seen but only finding places that accept parts of your identity or the places that were there that fully accepted you have been quiet and abandoned long before you even came along. You go on blogs that say they welcome queer black people or people who have weird identities but they never talk about the things that affect you or (even unkowingly) shut you down when you bring it up. You find blogs that say they accept queer black people or people who have weird identities but they're making blogs targeting and harassing transfems. You find blogs that say they accept queer black people or people with weird identities but their blog isn't safe for minors. You find blogs that say they accept queer black people or people who have weird identities and the person who runs the blog is queer and black but the last update was 2016. It's incredibly lonely.

[bar-les-coucougnes]

i just watched the queen's gambit and i didn't really like it but i feel bad because i really wanted to, and the worst thing is i can't really pinpoint why i didn't like it

the acting is good as far as i can tell, the settings are beautiful, they put a lot of thought into the clothing and fashion and it looks great. i remember people gushing about their representation of female depression (or whatever you call it when she's drunk and not put-together at all) because it shows how messy women can also be, instead of a glamorized version of it, and i get that. the main character is flawed in ways you generally don't see, and i like it? and you can see some character developement over the years

i just didn't feel much of anything while i was watching it. it wasn't boring or anything, i never found myself skipping forward, but nothing about it made me excited or look forward to the next part. even just a simple "i wonder what's going to happen next!". there definitely were some sad and some funny or happy parts but nothing actually made me sad or smile. it felt like i was watching snippets of this woman's life in the mid 20th century but i didn't really feel any story underneath, the overarching plot felt weak, i didn't feel like anything had any importance. maybe that's the point? maybe i'm eating a pear and complaining that it's not an apple, i don't know

one thing did i notice is that, for a show about chess, they sure seemed to skip over the chess parts a lot. maybe they're trying not to bore their audience or maybe the parts they showed are enough for actual chess players to enjoy it? maybe i'm used to anime like hikaru no go where players will overexplain their moves and even as a total amateur you can follow what's happening and why they're doing this or that move and you get invested in it. here it's just... 90% of the time, they greet each other, they start the clock and white makes a move, and then cut to her winning. i get that she's a genius and everything and i get that she had the power of friendship in that last match, but even in that last match, i didn't feel any tension at all