#figuring each other out and attempting to love each other despite their flaws

[candyskiez]

so, you've heard shows be recommended because they had gay characters. you don't really know what they're actually about though, and don't know if they'd be something you'd be into and are worried about spoilers. here's spoiler free plot summaries of em!

The Owl House

The Owl House starts out as a typical teenage girl goes into a fantasy realm story, but with a twist. Actions have consequences. The protagonist is a girl named Luz Noceda, who was being sent to a camp to make her behave normally by her mother after causing too much trouble at school. She ends up finding a place she's always dreamed of: a fantasy world. A world where everyone's so much weirder than she is. And she thinks, maybe if I don't belong out there, maybe people will like me here. Maybe I can be special here.

It's a story about found family, propaganda, erased history, living with disability, religious trauma, and neurodivergence. It's fundamentally a show about people who's brains work differently finding each other and making a family that treats them right. Definitely my favorite of the ones on this list. It's about people who've been oppressed being pissed about it and about finding yourself again after giving up on everyone around you for so long. It's basically a show about being a minority and trying to be understood and to understand yourself in the process. It's about growing up neurodivergent and how isolating it feels and figuring yourself out. It's about repairing broken relationships and parents who fuck up. And it's just. Such a love letter to anyone who was the weird kid in school. It's sad and heartbreaking and also so hopeful, and it's wonderful.

Content warnings: Abuse, Death, Grief, Animal Death, Suicidal thoughts, Vague suicide attempts, Depression, blink and you'll miss it s/h, body horror, religious trauma

She Ra and the Princesses Of Power

Adora was raised in the Horde since she was a baby, being fed propaganda about how cruel the princesses were. After learning how the horde actually was, though, she defects. But there's one problem. Her best friend, Catra, stays behind. Adora finds a sword that can transform her into She Ra, and might be the key to figuring out who she really is, while Catra takes her place as force captain.

It's a story about abuse, at the end of the day. Adora and Catra were stuck in a golden child and scapegoat dynamic, despite how much they care about each other. This leads to them knowing everything about each other but not understanding it. There's a fundamental disconnect between them, because both of their traumas are completely different. They have complete misconceptions about each other. Even in their initial split, they both have completely different perceptions of what's going on and why the other is upset. It's not a story about magic princesses, it's about the cycle of abuse and what makes it so complicated. Does it have flaws? Yeah. But ultimately I really really enjoy it, and when it does something right it does something RIGHT. Get through season one, it starts kids show-y but it gets very good during later s1.

Content warnings: Abuse (obviously), body horror, gaslighting (and I mean actual gaslighting, not what the Internet thinks gaslighting is), suicide, depression, flashing lights and eyestrain during the finale

Steven Universe

Steven Universe is a sins of the father story. Steven is the son of the leader of the rebel group The Crystal Gems, who's name was Rose Quartz. He navigates the confusion of being half gem and half human, as well as trying to figure out the mess of the rebellion and what his mother left behind. He's constantly in her shadow, for better or for worse.

It's a story about grief. How it impacts relationships, how it taints history, how it impacts family. It has some definite flaws, but ultimately it's about very flawed people who have lost so many people in their life trying to cope with it. Trying to handle what they lost and trying to adjust to life without them. It's about how expectations fuck a kid up and about agency and just a show about complicated relationships in general, at the end of the day. Also, it has some FANTASTIC music.

Content warnings: Grief, Abuse, body horror, very creepy people I don't know how to tag, heavy allegories for homophobia

Nimona

Nimona is a story about a guy who gets framed for murder. His name is Ballister Boldheart, a commoner who hoped to become a knight. It seemed everyone was waiting to watch him fail, so it was no surprise when he was the immediate target. Heavily injured and away from the man he loves, he's left alone trying to figure out a way to prove his innocence- until a strange kid comes into his life. This kids name is Nimona, and while he is intent on proving his innocence, she gave up on being anything but a villain a long time ago.

It's about deconstructing the model minority myth, trans rage, propaganda, and with a healthy dose of "FUCK the police".

Content warnings: Heavy injury, on screen suicide attempt, flashing lights

feel free to add more shows! just remember to keep the summaries as spoiler free as you can and add content warnings!

[intimidating-fettuccine]

Hii, I hope you're doing well!! This is my first time requesting so I was REALLY nervous :")) I saw some posts about Y/N accidentally calling some of the creeps their "husband", and I was wondering if you could do one with Jeff? I'm really curious of how it would be like with him and I really like him ^^

Listen. Listen. This man has been wormed into my brain for the longest time and my softness for him came out today, and this became like twice as long as I originally meant to to be, because I love him. I honestly ended up wanting it to be longer, but this took me way too long to write, so I cut it short. I hope you enjoy <3

While Jeff would never, ever admit it to anyone, he has spent hours thinking about what it would be like to be married to you. To be married to you, live with you, be able to wake up to you every single day, for everyone around the two of you to fully know you belong to each other. The unfortunate downside to that fact is that Jeff doesn't think he deserves it. He doesn't believe he deserves to be so happily married to you with all of the horrible things he's done, with all the horrible trauma he regularly has to deal with and make you put up with (despite you routinely telling him it doesn't bother you at all and you love him all the same, flaws and all). He thinks you're just far too good for him, and so the bitter, depressed part of his brain constantly tells him that'll never happen.

So, needless to say, Jeff is about to get his shit rocked mentally. The two of you were out and about, and you'd bumped into an old friend (i.e., someone important in Jeff's eyes), and introduced them to Jeff. Jeff, in his attempt to seem like a decent person under the watchful eyes of someone you have known for such a long time, does pull himself off pretty well, at least until you accidentally slip up and refer to Jeff as your husband. He feels like you've just punched him straight in the gut. He can't breathe, his heart is hammering in his chest, and he feels like he's gonna vomit, but he carries on with a passive smile, hiding all of his inner turmoil, keeping it locked inside until the two of you can get away from all of the prying eyes in this public space. The entire way home he still feels like he's gonna be sick, trying everything he can just to keep it together. The second you're through your front door he's wheeling around and pinning you to it, arms beside your head as his chest heaves, eyes slicked with a mixture of tears, confusion, and desperation. You can't tell what's wrong with him, and he can't tell why he's reacting so strongly, his mind foggy amidst his air-deprived anxiety attack. The two of you stand there, your hands comfortingly cupping his face while you coach him to breathe, to calm down.

By the time he's caught his breath, he's leaning on you, his body weighing against you as you rest against the door behind you. His arms are tight around your waist as his face nuzzles against your neck, and you're overcome with intense worry, unaware of what got him like this in the first place. "Did you mean it...?" His voice eventually trails off, and the emotion in his voice is untraceable, his trauma brain overtaking as your words replay in his mind over and over again. Your brows knit together as you try to figure out just what it is he's referring to, and he answers the question for you, saying he meant when you referred to him as your husband. He looks absolutely broken in your arms, and a lightbulb goes off in your mind as you finally realize why. You've heard it, the things he says to Liu, or BEN, his words about how he doesn't deserve you, how you deserve to marry someone better than him, soon followed by their chastising words about how that's not true, and suddenly his worrisome behavior from the last few hours that you've picked up on (because you always notice these things) suddenly makes sense.

You reassure him that of course you meant it, why wouldn't you? Jeff feels like he's being chastised once more, his cheeks puffed out in a pout as he avoids looking at you as you lecture him about how you'd love to marry him one day, and how he absolutely deserves to have you, how you're not too good for him, a lecture you should have given him long ago. He ignores the tears streaming down his face once more, ignores the thudding of his own heart in his chest, ignores the dying voice of denial in the back of his mind, but what he can't ignore is your lips slotting so perfectly against his own, or your fingers stroking along his scars in the way that always makes him fall apart. He's still not completely sure he deserves you, but goddamnit, with the way you're looking at him right now, he's sure as hell not gonna let anyone else marry you and take you away from him. Not with how tenderly you're holding him, how gently you're pressing your lips across his scorched skin, not with how lovingly you're gazing at him, as if he's the most beloved person in your life, because of course he is to you, just as you are to him. 'Husband' ends up becoming one of your favorite nicknames for him following that day, a nickname that always has his skin flushing red and his eyes softening in a way they only do for you. A nickname for now, and a title not too far into the future that he wears with pride.

[theweirwoodfiles]

The Weirwood Files: Rhaewin (Rhaenyra x Harwin)

Subject: A defense of Harwin Strong and an analysis of his relationship with Rhaenyra.

I want my first real post to be a deep dive into the beautiful relationship that is Rhaenyra x Harwin, a relationship that team green considers shameful, while team black (mostly staunch daemyras), finds it shallow and boring. I believe both interpretations are incorrect, as even with their limited screen time together, Emma and Ryan managed to tell a beautiful love story, even in just the way they looked at one another. With a single look, so much was said without a word being spoken. 

One thing that Rhaewin has begun to get criticism for lately, is the idea that Harwin is no better than any other man in Rhaenyra’s life, that he too has groomed and taken advantage of her, that perhaps he is no “saint” as he seems to be treated by the fandom. 

The truth is, there is nothing within the canon to suggest this. The first moment we get between them is when we see Harwin giving Rhaenyra an encouraging look after she returns from killing the boar. Nothing here implies he is lusting after her. Instead, Harwin merely just stands out as being the only one at the hunt to look at her with admiration while everyone stares in confusion or judgment. 

The next two scenes we are given of them also definitely don’t have any hint of predatory behavior from Harwin. He runs into her after she snuck out with Daemon and presumably decides to keep her secret, and the one after that he carries her away out of the chaos during her wedding after being given permission by his father, the hand. 

There is no canon evidence to support Harwin groomed her. Grooming implies a pattern of behavior over time that we do not see from Harwin. He and Rhaenyra have no pre existing relationship before they conceive Jace, Harwin does not even put himself forward for her hand during her marriage tour. Harwin does not commit any predatory actions towards Rhaenyra. 

This quote by Sara Hess is the closest we have to an official canonical description of Harwin, and while granted, Hess has said her fair share of questionable things in the past, there is nothing in the canon that disputes what she said. 

“He’s one of the more unambiguous characters, he’s just a good dude. You don’t see him off doing morally questionable things, which almost everybody else is doing. They’re so flawed and human and messy. He was able to be a paragon of decency and generosity and handsome strength. He’s one of the guys you could just love and feel great about loving and then he’s ripped from you too soon, before he does anything that could fuck that up for you. He’s our perfect angel.”

With this settled, I want to move on to their actual love story. We know they did not have much time together before they conceived Jace, considering the timeline of events. What we can put together at least, is that Rhaenyra was in a vulnerable position with Laenor. After they tried several times to conceive and failed, she needed to secure her position quickly and found solace in Harwin, who proved himself to be one of the only trusted figures she had in court. 

The next time we see Rhaewin is after the time jump. They have already had two beautiful sons together and another has just been born. Despite this implied intimacy, they have to hide their affections, only able to give each other coy smiles and a playful line here and there. Harwin holds their newborn son and Rhaenyra looks at the sight with adoration, yet also a hint of sadness, as if she is thinking of a world where they could be open about their love. In the night, they are in each other’s arms and make sons, princes of the realm. Yet in the day, these stolen moments are all they can afford.

The next time we see Harwin, he points out Criston Cole’s lack of care in his son’s training. He attempts to teach Jace as distantly as he can, and it is very clear he is increasingly frustrated with only being able to go so far in his son’s teachings. In the end, Cole still provokes him, and Harwin unleashes his anger on him. All the pain and frustration of only being able to love Rhaenyra and their children from afar is let out in the form of this beatdown on Cole. 

It would not follow without consequence however. Harwin is ordered to leave his position as Commander of the City Watch and go back to Harrenhal, away from Rhaenyra, away from their sons. Ryan Corr does an amazing job in this scene and you can just feel his utter devotion when he says one of my favorite lines from the show “you have your honor, and I have mine”. 

In a world where conceiving bastards is considered sinful and shameful, Harwin sees their union as one of love and honor. His sons are not treacherous reminders of sin and lust, but worthy princes born of love.

Rhaenyra and Harwin’s final scene together is one of the most heartbreaking scenes in the show. Rhaenyra is losing one of the only trusted figures she has in court, the man she sought comfort in and who fathered her three sons, and Harwin is losing everything that means the most to him. And once again, despite the privacy, despite the fact that this is their last moment together, they still cannot be open about their love. There is no final kiss goodbye, not even a hug. There is only a single look between them that says all we need to know, and a hopeful promise that Harwin will return. 

One of the most tragic things about this scene is that Jacaerys picks up on everything between them. He sees the looks shared between them, the desire for a hug or a kiss, he sees it all and he knows what it means. His mother and father have a love story that they can never tell anyone about, not even their own son. 

TL;DR: Rhaewin is a beautiful yet tragic twist on the knight and princess love story trope. Those that see this relationship as shameful have had their brains rotted by team discourse who buy into the “bastardphobia” present in universe (despite the fact that that is constantly criticized by the narrative itself), and wave it away as a “mistake”. There is nothing at all shameful about their relationship, and their sons were not made of sin, but of love. Rhaewin is also far from boring or shallow, to say this is to insult the work done by Emma and Ryan. There is a very beautiful, and rich love story between these two characters for those that have eyes to see it.

[fricc-darn]

More dating B.E.N hcs but sprinkle in some love

(some BEN angst if you squint n slight warning for toxic relationships)

When it comes to BEN and affection it's a tricky situation. It only cares about other moon children in the network. For other people, the concept of love is not on their mind. Due to that, it's not often you'll experience loving moments with them.

Their love is rare and will take time to form as this is reserved for a specific kind of person. Someone who it enjoys the presence of. A person who's a pleasure to mess with but isn't too easy. Someone who keeps things interesting. The perfect toy? In a sense yes! This type of love is genuine. It's truly a weird scenario because BEN continues to be a menace while attempting to be sweet.

Of course, these acts should be appreciated to some degree. At least attempts are being made. Despite how flawed these acts are, it's treatment others don't see. You should feel lucky that you're an exception. The last thing BEN wants is for you to end up dead. Though if you have gotten this far, you'd certainly know to appreciate these moments.

BEN's words of affirmation are just as concise and vague as their regular speech. When it compliments you at worst it's backhanded. At best they come off as someone talking to a beloved pet. Occasionally, it'll complement you in an odd amount of detail. Pointing out quirks that you don't even notice.

Now, if they really like you they have a tendency to info dump. Though they try to keep it at a minimum. They wouldn't want you getting too curious and becoming nosey.

For the most part; simple phrases like "I love you." or "Cute." work fine. It'll take time for you to figure out whether or not BEN is being genuine. Even when you get the hang of it, there's still a nagging uncertainty present. This process would be much easier if they weren't so deceitful. The first time BEN loosely said the words 'I love you' it was out of the blue during a flurry of obsessive messages and threats. They refused to elaborate until much later and took whatever response you had as a yes.

At first, it only communicates with you online or through poltergeist-like activities. They'll even appear in your dreams as individual moon children. These dreams are surprisingly pleasant in comparison to the nightmares. With a substantial amount of trust, you learn more about the spirits as individuals.

Hearing the bits and pieces of what they remember about their past really makes sense of their behavior. Just don't even think about pitying them. Even if its well meaning, the outcome won't be in your favor.

None of them can stand being vulnerable. Especially if they don't have the means to take over the situation. In those almost unthinkable scenarios, it would trigger them into emotional distress. Which isn't something you'd expect from BEN of all people. To avoid that, they lead you to the information with breadcrumbs.

When BEN decides to appear physically, things really get fun!

They aren't too fond of physical affection. You can ask, but it will often result in a no. They have to be the ones to initiate it. There are plenty of reasons but it's mainly for the comfort of each moon child. You'll quickly learn who hates being touched, who doesn't mind, or who enjoys it.

Dealing with BEN is like dealing with a cat with an awful attitude. A spiteful shithead to its core. When they're not toying with your stuff, they'll come up to you whenever they feel like to bother you. From hugging, breathing down your neck, or maybe even biting you. The ladder isn't always ideal since BEN has way too many teeth. When this happens, it doesn't have much of a care for what you're doing or if you want to be bothered. BEN has some major cuteness aggression towards you. They play rough and oddly enough they're pretty strong.

Hugs and hand holding are the most common form of affection you'll get. When you're asleep they might even decide to cuddle with you. Be warned, BEN will take up most of the bed for no good reason. You also have to be prepared for potentially getting scared half to death in the middle of the night. Besides the distorted whispers, it's uncanny generated face will stare at you while you sleep. When you sleep with them it doesn't feel like a person is sleeping next to you. It's more like a general presence. BEN's skin is cold more often than not. Its skin seems to get warm off of your body heat or if there's something going on inside of its head. At least they're soft and squishy.

Can BEN kiss? Sorta. Its kisses are chaste and usually on the cheek. They're a prude, and a super hypocritical one at that. If they happen to kiss you on the lips it's essentially like kissing a mannequin with synthetic skin. It's cold and awkward. They're artificial in almost every sense of the word. Its mouth is the texture of gooey silicone with a long tongue and plenty of teeth. Kissing it is an experience that only you get to have. BEN really tries to be a good kisser but it just doesn't work out. It may be a questionable kisser but it's not sloppy. For that has no appeal, BEN prefers kisses to be simple and clean.

[cursedwithwords]

Okay, who fell first and who fell harder? For everyone.

You said everyone so I'm including ocs in TBOTS 🫰

But starting with jeddy, I used to say James fell first and just didn't realize it but honestly I think they both fell at the exact same time and equally as hard. Like they're fucking obsessed with each other. The moment they see each other again on the platform it's instant sparks, but they're both damaged so they didn't realize it until much later. James has the baggage of "I can't be loved" while Teddy has the baggage of "I can't love", so. God I'm obsessed with them. ANYWAY, NEXT!

Scorbus is also a hard one cuz I sort of see them falling in love pretty slowly through years of friendship. Like they sort of slip into it so slowly and effortlessly that there's no sudden "oh" moment between them. It's something obvious and inevitable. It's not so much "oh" as it is "duh". "Duh of course we'd fall in love". I think Scorpius fell first, though, realizing it while he was in the alternate verse without Albus and having it hit him that he just can't live without the guy. Albus falls harder, a little bit later. He is VERY protective, which I think he inherited from both his parents tbh. I kind of imagine him being the most protective person out of all his siblings because he's got such an equal share of their parents, but anyway.

Lilyander is an easy fun one. Lily fell first, though she hid it way better. She thought Lysander was super fun and super silly. She thought he was interesting and always felt comfortable around him so at some point she's like "I think I could be with this guy forever". Lysander falls harder. Like HARD. Lily is one of the only people Lysander feels at ease around. She's someone he's never felt the need to impress because she's so open about insisting she likes him exactly the way he is. She makes him feel more comfortable in his own body despite all his perceived flaws. She makes him feel like he's worthy of his family name.

OC time 😌 cuz you SAID everyone!

Imamu fell for Roxanne first, and has been attempting to court her and ask her out since the moment they met despite her constant rejection. Roxanne falls harder, once she gets to know Im a little better and discovers what kind of person he actually is; because he comes across as very suave and savvy, he's charming and very good with his words. He's a remarkable pianist and drummer, good at writing music and a born performer. He seems perfect at first glance, which used to irritate Roxanne. Overly confident men bothered her. It's only when he let's down his guard and is vulnerable around her that she starts getting interested in him. He's a mystery to her, she can never figure out what he's thinking, and that's both fascinating and infuriating.

Louis fell for Julian first. First from curiosity and fascination, then because he genuinely thought the man was handsome. Jule consistently pulled away and avoided Louis, though it was obvious he felt SOMETHING along the lines of interest for Louis. Something held him back and that immediately drove Louis to pursue him. Julian fell harder. Way fucking harder. He thought Louis was gorgeous from the moment their eyes met, but he's a cautious person by nature and was scared to get too close to him. It's actually Louis' persistence, kindness, and fearlessness that had Julian finally bending.

Last but not least, my lesbians. Adrien fell first and Malika fell harder. They were hard to decide on because I think they loved each other pretty quickly and simultaneously. I think Adrien was drawn to Malika's courage and cheerfulness, the fact she seemed like a crazy bright light, but she held back because of some personal issues, worried about pursuing something for fear of hurting Malika. Malika had no such fears. She thought Adrien was gorgeous, literally stunning, and was surprisingly protective of her despite the fact she was a squib while Adrien was more than capable of protective herself. She liked making Adrien blush and liked to hold her. They compliment each other almost too well as silver and gold. Malika is the only sunlight that doesn't burn Adrien.

Fuck I'm obsessed with all of them fr.

[artbybai]

Do Bulma and Vegeta know about Baiya's crush on the kaioshin of their universe? And how "stupid"(or no) would this girl act around Shin during her crush phase before it passed? Your girl watches Goku grab the god of the universe like a little chihuahua dog, has she ever done the same?

Omggggg this is the funniest thing ever

Gosh… If I think abt it, honestly, I imagined that Baiya would’ve mostly been around Shin in the Sacred Lands during her training/studies under him and Kibito (let’s roll with it for now since I still need to bang out the how and why lol) so Vegeta & Bulma probably wouldn’t really be aware of what their interactions/Baiya’s attitude towards Shin would be like.

I think, at first, Baiya would be at least a bit nervous when she meets Shin and Kibito (bc holy shit, the Kai, and the SUPREME Kai, at that!) She’d likely default to her usual (attempted) diplomatic persona that Vegeta’s tried to train her for, as a Princess.

As Baiya eventually spends more time around Shin, I think he’d mention something along the lines of, “You don’t have to hold yourself back to appeal to me, as either a student… Or a friend. I can hear your thoughts, anyways, so there’s little use in denying them.” Baiya slowly gets more comfortable around him, seeking his counsel for even minor things, involving him more in her personal life (and… Learning to think a little quieter, lol.)

Of course… This eventually leads to Baiya getting her lil crush on Shin.

He’s got poise and tact, eloquent, traditional… Honestly, Shin could very much pass for a Prince himself! Along with his gentler approach to encouraging Baiya to reach her full potential, and to embrace her flaws and work with them instead of around them, she’d absolutely develop a strong attachment to him.

They’d have teatime in the Grand Temple Gardens. They’d stroll the grounds side by side, with Shin proudly showing her off to the other Kai as yet another of his various mentees, their arms linked together. Shin would teach her Kai history and language, their traditions, invite her to join him in various ceremonies or rituals… Inviting her into his world, literally and figuratively. That’d be pretty important to Baiya, who’s felt like a bit of an outsider since her creation, despite her loving family and friends.

Baiya would teleport to the Sacred Lands, happily running to join Shin in his study for their next week of training and studying together, joking and gossiping together, with Baiya informing Shin in return about life on Earth as a mortal…

And, maybe this would lead to Shin occasionally visiting Earth more often than most other Kai ever had before.

The first time Shin pays a visit to the Capsule Corporation household, I believe Bulma would treat him like most any other guest, or how she’d behave around Whis. Vegeta may not pay him as much attention at first, but he’d be respectful as he would be towards any of the gods. Then… Shin and Baiya greet each other with a hug, and she grabs his hand as they run upstairs together, and they dash out the door moments later with Shin dressed as “incognito” as he possibly can be for a day out and about in West City.

Bulma and Vegeta look to each other, slack-jawed. Bulma would probably laugh it off as “puppy-love”, something sweet and innocent but destined not to last. Meanwhile Vegeta’s white as a sheet and can hardly believe his eyes. “She’s flirting with a god. My sweet pea dressed up a God of Creation like a legally-distinct Ken doll, to go out for whatever the hell “boba” is. How.” I have a feeling Vegeta would feel a mix of pride and mild fear.

Baiya would go so stupid for Shin at first asdfghjkl

AND she’d jokingly hoist him up and carry him around sometimes (…if Shin lets her. I kinda imagine that Kai can simply choose to be Immovable Objects™️ when it comes to mortals weaker than them, so… Technically, that’d mean that Shin would play along with it to an extent)

I imagine Baiya to be a “harmless prankster” type; bubbly and sweet with a dash of mischief. A playful older sister that’s still figuring out how the world works and how she fits into it, essentially. She’d enjoy teasing Shin, talking him into silly ideas, maybe even flopping onto her bed after a visit, hugging her plushies and kicking her feet excitedly, etc. So basically, Typical Girly Stuff™️.

Eventually, I imagine that Shin would recognize that Baiya’s caught feelings for him, and as much as he might even be flattered at her affection, he probably would let her down as gently as possible, or encourage her to pursue other potential suitors. Mortal suitors. Suitors that she might get to grow old with, even as a Saiyan, and have a “proper life” with… As much as it could pain Shin to admit. Baiya knows it, too, though.

Baiya & Shin would still absolutely be on excellent terms afterwards, and she’d continue to seek his advice and company. Tbh, this is the one friendship I think she’d build that rarely ever would have actual rough patches or strains between them… :)

Thanks for asking & thanks for listening/reading my ramble!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Made my day to gush abt them asdfghjkl

[waddledoodledee]

Day Seven: Love Language

Decided to write some ficlets for this one! Hope you enjoy :3

Words of Affirmation

Shadede watched fondly as Meta sparred with his crew. It always amazed him that he could never find flaws in Meta’s form- the knight seemed to be a master, well-trained and easily the best swordsman the king had ever seen. He continued to watch, Meta currently sparring with Trident Knight. The two patiently danced around each other, looking for the perfect opportunities to strike.

“You’re doing great, Meta!” Shadede called out. Meta’s wings morphed from his cape, fluttering- a surefire way to tell he appreciated the praise, even if his mask hid his blush. Unfortunately, the distraction provided the perfect opportunity for Trident to disarm their opponent, leaving Meta to surrender the match.

Meta retrieved Galaxia from where she had landed and stepped over to join Shadede, mumbling. “Mi amor…”

Shadede chuckled. “Sorry, Meta. I didn’t mean to cost you the match.” He gently brushed down a patch of messed-up fur with his hand. “If it’s any consolation, you did great. Easily one of your best matches lately.”

“You really think so?” Meta asked, poofing up a bit before attempting to smooth his fur again.

“Of course,” Shadede said. He smiled. “Here, let me see your face.”

Meta removed his mask and looked up at Shadede. His face was painted with sparkly purple blush, and he had figurative hearts in his eyes as he looked up at his partner. Shadede leaned down and pressed a kiss to his forehead.

“You’re so handsome,” he said. Meta’s blush grew stronger, eliciting a snort from Shadede.

“You are… handsome as well…” Meta stuttered out, putting his mask back on. 

Shadede continued to brush Meta’s fur, humming. “I love you so much, Meta.”

Meta leaned against him with a smile under his mask. “I love you too, mi amor.”

Physical Touch

Despite how stoic Meta and Shadede seemed on the outside, it didn’t take long for the two of them to realize they were both extremely touchy people.

It started subtly at first- lingering a little too long on the pats Shadede gave on Meta’s head and back, Meta brushing Shadede with his wings during a spar, Shadede taking Meta’s hand as the two of them read in the library. It wasn’t until the two of them decided to start sleeping together that they each realized just how touch-starved the other was.

The brief hugs they shared before getting in bed had evolved to Meta lying on top of Shadede, sleepily kneading biscuits in the heavy blanket. Purring filled the room as he got comfortable.

“Meta?” Shadede said.

“Yes, mi amor?” Meta groggily responded.

“Come under the blanket, I want to hold you.”

Meta nodded and got up, settling back down under the blanket. In only a few seconds, Shadede had wrapped his arms around the knight. Meta closed his eyes and breathed in, relaxing with a sigh in his partner’s arms. “I agree, this is much nicer.”

Shadede smiled and pressed a sleepy kiss to the top of Meta’s head. “Good night, qíngrén.”Meta nuzzled Shadede’s chest. “Goodnight, mi amor.” And with that, the two of them drifted to sleep, smiles still present on their faces.

Acts of Service

Shadede stood at the kitchen sink, washing the bowl of peaches and apples he had picked earlier that day. As he worked, he picked out the fruits bearing bruises and holes. He wanted this to be as perfect as possible.

Once the fruits were washed, he dried them off and got to work, pulling out a knife and making quick work of the peaches’ peels. Fruit after fruit, a small pile of peach cubes rose on the plate next to him. The apples took more work. Coring and slicing was quick enough, but Shadede wanted to make it special. With a little extra knife work, Shadede was able to cut away part of the peel, creating an illusion of bunny ears on the slices. He smiled to himself, hoping Meta would appreciate the gesture. After washing juice from his hands, he grabbed a handful of blueberries and put them on the plate.

He went up to the study with the plate of fruit, quietly opening the door. Meta sat at the desk, tiredly filling paperwork. Shadede walked over and placed the fruit in front of Meta with a hum. “How’s the work going?”

Meta sighed. “Tedious.” He eyed the plate of fruit, before pulling up his mask and taking a few blueberries. “Did you have this already prepared?”

“Nope. Just put it together now,” Shadede said. “Thought you might need a pick-me-up, especially since you stubbornly refuse to get up until you’re done.” The last part was said teasingly, with a hint of exasperation.

“My apologies, I didn’t realize just how much work I had,” Meta responded. He took an apple slice, smiling at the bunny ears cut into the peel. “How long did this take you?”

“About forty minutes. I cut a few extras for Skirby as well.”

Meta looked up fondly at his partner. “It’s delicious, thank you.” He gestured for Shadede to lean down. Upon complying, Shadede was gifted a kiss from the grateful knight.

Shadede pulled away, smiling. “You taste like blueberries.” 

Meta laughed. “Well, I’d certainly hope so. If I tasted like strawberries, there might be something wrong with the fruit you gave me.”

“I suppose so.” Shadede leaned down again to kiss Meta on the top of his head. “I’ll leave you to finish your work, okay?”

“Sounds good, mi amor. I’ll see you at dinner.”

Shadede smiled and left, quietly closing the door behind him. Meta took another apple slice, smiling as he thought about his partner. The fruit was sweet, just like Shadede. Munching on the fruit, Meta started getting back to work.

[caspersickfanfics]

aoxlfkakgjqkksajflqakahskcjabsjc

I am. Undone. I need 10-12 business days to recover from your fic 😭😭😭 (but like in the best way possible!!!)

angst like with partners fighting is Honeslty so scary to read sometimes!!! But!!! SOMEHOW you paint this beautiful picture of real and RAW upset and hurt and flaws AND ITS STILL OKAY IN THE END!!! there’s something so healing about that??? Like hello????? Because their bond is so much deeper than moments like this. I LOVED how vulnerable Tighnari was, his high standards for himself and his really VALID frustrations!!! Fuck that guy that sabotaged their letters that’s so (clever of you) but EVIL!! But also like, I loved his very human mistakes too! And his even more human break down 🥺🥺 he sounded so terrible and Just sooo defeated. I like to think Cyno stayed for days just silently but very specifically doting on him, making sure he had gentle foods to eat, extra protective, extra silly, and super reluctant to leave.

speaking of I know Tighnari is our caretaker king but I think cyno simply excels at creating safety and holding space for Tighnari. Cuz the anxiety he must have felt was so real!! I was feeling it as a reader lol 😂 but he trusts nari and chooses to breath and wait and meditate- like that’s so honestly goals and such a healthy response!!’ And then after that he’s just more than anything ready to hold Tighnari and meet him wherever he is and protect his heart and - GAAAAAH I can’t!!!!!! Like he may need a bit more instruction on how to heal people in the literal sense but I’m convinced he heals Tighnairs heart over and over again. 😭😭😭😭 this was so good- OH and the ENDING!!! so sweet and fluffy 🩷🩷🩷 I was so glad that nari was able to begin to relax a little, and make a joke WITH cyno aaaaaaahhhhhh!!!! My HEART!!! and just nari scooping Cyno back because he demands more cuddles. Beautiful. I’m so proud of them I love them. I want what they have 😭😭 I LOVE your cynari fics!!

!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU?!?!? give me some days to cover recover from this ask please i have melted into a teary-eyed puddle

Okay, attempting to be coherent - I'm really glad you enjoyed it despite the extra tension of arguments. I had points while writing this where it was very stressful because of that, but I honestly just wrote and re-wrote until I found the words to make it comfortable for me, without taking away from the bite and the conflict. It ended up being surprisingly healing. I like the idea that emotions, even when they aren't expressed in the best ways, exist to inform us about ourselves and the people around us in a way that words sometimes fail, so I wanted to make sure something good would come from the conflict, in the end. I'm not sure I'm expressing this well, but - they care about each other enough to see bad behavior and go "that was wrong, but I still care about the hurt that's behind it because I trust your goodness and love your whole" and I think they are stronger for it (both individually and as a unit).

And yes that evil guy is not gonna have a fun time when Cyno's back at work 😈

Tighnari 🥺 he had such a rough time, our little fox guy. He was under so much stress already and the migraine and the storm on top of it :( If I were a fluff writer I'd absolutely write a whole extra chapter of Cyno coddling him, because he deserves it. They'd also figure out an actual plan for getting both of their needs met - Tighnari needing support with Collei, Cyno balancing that with his job demands. They probably set up weekly check-ins, so that if the communication is ever disturbed again, they'll know right away.

Regarding Cyno - outside of the unresolved trauma (it's there, but not always making itself known), I guess I headcanon him as being quite emotionally healthy! He doubts himself a lot because the trauma bits feel uncontrollable, but he's a good listener, and he cares, and I like to think he had to learn a pretty extensive degree of emotional control to manage Hermanubis at a very young age. There are some complexities there, where his initial instinct for himself is to numb or push the emotions away, associating strong feelings with danger and damage, but he has to have some logical understanding that emotions become dangerous when they're ignored for too long. So he tries to keep things unpacked, even if he prefers to do that when he's alone. Of course, he misses things sometimes.

All this to say - I agree!!! I think he manages his own worries and concerns and even grief really well in this fic. He knows they're there, takes a step back to check himself, and either embraces the feels or sets them aside for later based on what's most needed and productive for the situation. It goes along with "endurance vs. patience" - endurance relating to withstand poor circumstances (which is how he (correctly) interprets/internalizes Nari's temper); patience relating to response to wrongdoings (why the evildoer will have a Very Bad Time with Cyno). (No one asked but I interpret Tighnari as someone with a great capacity for both of these, but who is selective with when to utilize them)

Ugh the ending - I was cringing at myself and them but I now have a Need to include a bad Cyno joke whenever I write him 🤣 I am glad it added a bit of fluff and healing as well though!!

Wow I apologize for such a long response and like, an entire unsolicited character analysis, I think I'm still processing my own feelings about this fic 😂 😭 If anyone reads this far... thank you for your time?? ^^;;

[night-market-if]

Hey Zinnia, I just received a very bad news to day (my childhood dog died 💔😭) and Milo (despite his flaws and all) have become one of my favorite fictional characters because I could relate to him a little emotionally. Can I request some fluffy/hurt/comfort moments with him (or if you can with Malcolm too? because he's a sweetheart and I'm def doing that poly). Thank you 🥺 I love Night market, it's so unique and refreshing. Thank you for creating these amazing and lovely characters! Much love and hope you'll continue creating more amazing projects in the future 💕

Malcolm's hand ran up and down my back in an attempt to soothe me. I didn't know when we had moved to stretch out on the couch, or how I landed on top of him with a soft blanket encompassing us both, but I wasn't complaining.

"Get some sleep," he was murmuring to me. "We'll figure out how to make this better tomorrow." But sleep of course wasn't going to come with the way that Milo burst through the door. He was a singular gunshot that echoed for miles.

"You are never going to guess what I just found down in Feebus's workshop," he was saying as he kicked off his boots and made his way inside. He stopped when he spied the two of us, tilting his head to the side instead. "I take it the news of the small mouse mafia beneath the floorboards is not going to be a welcome one."

Malcolm was giving him a look. A look that Milo was giving Malcolm right back. I sighed tiredly. "It was a bad day, Milo. Just a bad day."

That softened him. Coming over to the two of us he flung off the blanket and laid himself on top of us. Malcolm grunted beneath us, shifting so he could breathe. "You are the heaviest one here. You should be on bottom if we're gonna do this."

Milo ignored him. Instead, he placed a gentle kiss against my back. "Anything I can do, darlin'?"

I felt tears spring to my eyes, his voice suddenly so soft. "Make today go away?"

"Wish I could," he told me. Scooting so he could roll between Malcolm and I's connected form, and the couch cushions, he wrapped his arm firmly around the both of us. It was a precarious position but I knew neither of these men were about to let me fall. "Mal used to do something for me that always made me feel calmer when the world got too much," he whispered.

"What was that?" I turned, peering at him, willing to try anything at this point. Malcolm raised a brow, as if he was curious too.

"He used to do these camp outs," Milo said. "Bring every blanket from the bedroom and pile it on top of me. He then would buy me all the junk food and let me boss him around for a full twnety four hours."

"I never once did that."

"Shh," Milo said. "This is about your Lamplight. Not your addled brain."

I laughed a little, burying my face in Malcolm's chest. "Think you two could just do this for a while?" I asked.

Milo grinned, his freckles looking deeper in the soft light of the room. "Anything," he told me. "I'll do anything."

I let them shift around me, the two of them murmuring curses as knees and elbows banged into each other, but it was oddly comforting. Like a slow rock that lulled away the bad feelings of the day.

And for now, that was enough.

🪷✨🪷✨ If you want to support me 🪷 ✨🪷✨ 

Demo 🌿 Patreon 🌿 Ko-fi 🌿Discord

[motherstone]

Do you have any Emily thoughts?

This ask made me realize why I struggle so hard trying to revise Emily and why I'm probably the last person who is qualified to tell her story. Y'see, while Kazu lost the ball early on, the entire point of Amulet that he's established from the start was supposed to be about loss. Loss of innocence, loss of comfort, loss of a loved one. It's about grief, it's about loneliness, it's about not letting it destroy you and it's about letting people in.

So to like, achieve the good ending (to me anyway!), Emily has to like, learn how to deal with loss and let people in her life and form connections with others! Except like, w the story in my head that I've been sharing with you was like the worst-case scenario and she failed at all those things so it's up to the people around her that's left to pick up the pieces themselves and attempt to succeed where she failed :P but tbh it doesn't have a set ending bc mostly the Story In My Head is just me messing around having fun with scenarios, not necessarily sending an important message.

Half bc me, frankly I'm still figuring out my own personal flaws that I haven't really resolved, so it's a lot like a fixing someone else's problem similar to mines when I haven't solved my own, so I can't solve theirs either. Half is my being a lil cynical and enjoying some tragedy. Yummers.

But also like, Idk. If I were kazu I'd make her more human and flawed. We barely know her and understand her. I really wish Kazu didn't write Supernova 💀 character assassinated her ass and gave her all the powers instead of sticking wo what he established, and her powers doesn't feel like there was any build up. Call me petty, but it was insulting af that Kazu made her perfect at barriers and nerfed Trellis in the same book by Trellis creating a half-baked shield, like are you shitting me? Where the FUCK did that come from? We see Trellis able to generate barriers sturdy enough to crack the earth and withstand deep ocean pressures but can't stand the pressure of a flamethrower, meanwhile despite defense established as Emily's weakest skill, she's able to create one that doubles as a magical oxygen tank 💀 fuck that. have these two extremes of each other. It would be so fun if these two developed their own fighting styles and that they eventually trained together to develop their own that could compensate for each other's weaknesses. I have more thoughts, but this is what I will say for now.

[isobelleposts]

What I’ve Been Watching This Year

by Isobelle Cruz [April 13, 2023]

March has passed and I figure it’s too late to follow through with a post on the female directors I love, so instead, here’s a short list of the shows and films I’ve been watching this year in no specific order.

Beef (2023)

Directed by Lee Sung Jin

My most recent and favorite watch…lo and behold, Beef. A show about two extremely vulnerable and flawed people masking themselves through pride and borderline pettiness. Beef has it all from road rage, heist, and arson, to child abduction.

The Netflix Original starring Ali Wong and Steven Yeung features some of the most lonely characters I’ve seen on film. Danny Cho is a struggling self-proclaimed contractor that works every opportunity he’s given to keep him and his brother afloat while also standing by his promise to buy their parents a house in Los Angeles. With all of that weight at hand, Danny resorts to attempts at suicide and at the perfect time, meets Amy Lau—a woman just as lonely, struggling, and desperate at life as Danny.

But I promise you, it is not as touching as I made it out to be.

Danny and Amy take turns attacking each other after a road rage incident—pissing in Amy’s bathroom floor, vandalizing Danny’s truck, breaking into her house, fucking his brother, kidnapping her daughter—it never seems to end. … Until it does, in the middle of nowhere. The final episode of Danny and Amy in the Deserts reminded me of animals in the wild, a representation of what humans are in the grand scheme of it all. Beef is a must-watch for the hot-tempered, prideful Asians out there who are looking to see themselves on screen

Aftersun (2022)

Directed by Charlotte Wells

Aftersun was an experience. It was uneventful yet somehow spoke so much to me about the joys I’ve been holding myself back from and continue to do. I’d say that Aftersun is so well-loved because of how much it’s able to connect with its audience, despite their varying experiences in life.

It reminded me so much of a trip I had gone on with my father when I was about the same age as Sophie. It’s happened, it’s passed, and I can’t say it really made a drastic impact on my life. But it was there. It is now a memory—which is exactly what the film was. Instead of showing a major turning point in the protagonist’s life, it showed a memory, and it was enough for me to love.

Daisy Jones & the Six (2023)

Directed by James Ponsoldt, Nzingha Stewart, and Will Graham

Let me start off by saying how rich the production for Daisy Jones & the Six was, firstly through their music. I still remember when I first got my hands on the book and searched the band on Spotify, knowing very well that no results would come up, but now there they are—-with 3 million monthly listeners and 24 songs released.

Although the production and marketing went beyond my expectations, the writing seemed to lack, unable to show depth and establish the characters’ relationships with each other. The show went straight to the point, as though the writers had been scared of losing the audience’s attention by putting more focus on the little things, which I would doubt. It lacked the craziness that was found in the book. It lacked the drugs, women, fans, and the skyrocketing feel of their career that were always present in Reed’s works.

Nonetheless, these things never dragged down my rating of the show. It was interesting to finally see what Daisy and Billy’s chemistry looked like on screen and hear their lyrics come to life, which were, oh, so difficult to read on paper. Amazon Prime did its job to reach DJATS fans’ expectations and to entertain newcomers to the fictional band. — Let’s just hope Netflix does the same for Evelyn Hugo.

Suzume (2023)

Directed by Makoto Shinkai

My first anime experience in the cinema. Suzume’s soundtrack blasting from the speakers and Makoto Shinkai’s breathtaking art displayed before me brought this urge to jump through the screen. The atmosphere his art carried through the room was something I wish I could do with my own works.

Throughout the whole watch, it didn’t come to me that this was a love story between two people. There was that obvious crush Suzume had on Sōta, but it surprises me to hear a few people refer to this film as romance. It was moreover an emotional adventure, shining light on the lost souls that have made inches of the world alive.

My favorite scene, before Sōta is turned into a keystone, wherein Tokyo is shown in slow-motion with people going through their everyday lives—eating, shopping, and commuting–-while not knowing their world was on the brink of end, made me ponder of the unseen things that make life the way it is. Everything that has brought everyone to where they are.

There had been times when Suzume and Sōta would prepare to lock up a door once again and I’d think to myself, when will this end? It was as though listening to a song that would repeat the same line over and over again, but besides that, the pacing was captivating---had my eyes stuck to the screen the whole time.

Suzume is exactly what you would expect from Makoto Shinkai. Beautiful art, music, and an okay story.

Babylon (2023)

Directed by Damien Chazelle

Ask me if I’m tired of watching films set in Hollywood and I would likely say yes. But that doesn’t stop me from doing just so over and over again. It surprised me to see how negative the reviews on Babylon have been and almost allowed myself to be swayed by them, but thankfully, had chosen otherwise.

Although I do see where some of the negativity comes from.

The film has been branded as “ Chazelle’s attempt to pander to the Academy for another best pic nomination” by audiences, and as yet another film showing off the lavish and wild lives of Hollywood. Inequality, drugs, women, abuse, and everything. What’s new?

Well, I don’t really care about what’s new or what makes Babylon a poorly-made knockoff of Cinema Paradiso or Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Chazelle was able to keep me entertained and laughing throughout its 3-hour duration, and sometimes it gets really tiring trying to make cinema a technical experience. I can proudly say (shaking as I type this) that I loved Babylon.

[fryandleelasbigfling]

Amy and Leela relationship?

i think about amy and leela a lot because the show is really weird with them due to the fact they are usually two women written primarily by men, and that can be quite evident -- usually in the form of gratuitous fanservice (albeit usually self aware), but also in their catty dynamic. "butterjunk effect" is the most infamous instance of this so i like to ignore most of what it says about their relationship cuz it falls into tropes i hate.

personally i actually laugh a lot at amy's passive aggression towards leela. i know it falls into misogynistic tropes and i'm not gonna give the writers Credit for it, but as someone who struggles with femininity, some of amy's digs just resonate really hard as an exaggeration of what it feels like to deal with internalized misogyny.

it's also interesting because amy suffered misogynistic emotional abuse from her parents her whole life, so i think even though she knows their rhetoric is wrong, she internalizes a lot of beliefs about what womanhood should be and ends up projecting them onto leela. she rarely actually sounds malicious towards leela -- in fact, several times she insults leela ("a leela of her own," "anthology of interest 1") with a tone that sounds complimentary or at least like an attempt to "help." and i think she does genuinely want leela to lower her standards and have fun and find love, and she's a genuinely good wingwoman in "bender's big score."

this is falling into pure headcanon but i think amy's slightly fascinated with leela, how she can push forward and -- on the surface -- take total control of the situation, coordinate herself, (seemingly) not care about her appearance and take a more practical approach. their interactions in season one are more friendly while the writers were still figuring out their personalities, and amy even seemed to initially try to respect leela as a captain. yet in later seasons i think amy got caught in in leela's more "pathetic" attributes and found it pitiful, but a little funny too. amy does seem to understand leela's grief to some extent ("xmas story") but generally has trouble empathizing with people. (i attribute this to her upbringing -- her parents seem to dismiss any genuine emotion she has, even telling her to get over it when her husband died.)

(i also headcanon that amy had a bit of a crush on leela when they first met, which faded / was repressed over time because she started noticing more of leela's flaws. however "bender's game" and a few other homoerotic jokes suggests that there's something weird between them sometimes. idk i think amy having a crush on leela despite everything she says about her is just funny and compelling)

on the flip side i think leela genuinely does dislike amy because of her insulting nature, but also i think leela would be a little resentful that the only other girl in the company is rich and beautiful and sexually active. leela has a problem with comparing herself to social norms and trying to please people / prove she's better than they thought she was, so amy is almost like, a manifestation of her own insecurities, especially after she gets with kif since leela doesn't find true love for a while after that.

but she can put that aside and reach out to amy when the latter's having issues, because she is responsible and kind. she's literally amy's shoulder to cry on in "beast with a billion backs" which means a lot more when you remember the love of leela's life (well one version of him) offed himself about a month ago.

i think their most solid dynamic is in "murder on the planet express" because they fight over shit besides their sexual prowess and femininity, but also work together well. they have such a funny sisterly dynamic and i'd love the revival to lean more into that instead of that "all women passive aggressively hate each other" bs, especially with their more diverse writers' room which has more Women in it.

[nikofortuna]

The Legend of the White Snake (2019) First Impression

I would like to preface this with the information that I am only somewhat familiar with the original tale and the only other retelling I have experienced thus far was the White Snake animated movie of 2019. For this series I’ll be going off of the English subtitles from Netflix. Additionally I am a queer individual, so expect some queer reading on my part. Mild spoiler warning for the first twelve episodes of the series!

In light of Netflix removing the series soon I have decided to sit down to watch it before then and ended up binging the first twelve episodes in one day. Needless to say I really enjoyed it and would like to get my thoughts and appreciation out here.

To briefly touch on the visuals before getting into the characters and story, the overall vibe I got is comfortable. Like it is colourful but not oversaturated. The costumes are pretty but not over the top, similarly the makeup is clearly there but looks simple enough to not be distracting to me.

The CGI is stylized. It doesn’t try to bend over backwards to be photorealistic and I personally like that. It work for me, it’s, again, comfortable to watch.

Continuing with the characters, the one that stood out to me right away and who I grew to like very quickly is Xiao Qing.

She reads very queer to me starting off with her cultivation of a male human form for so long despite being afab. Now this was due to a desire to protect her mother and attempting to follow established gender roles thusly in a way, though she also had no apparent personal issue with it other than the transformation being a little more difficult, likely because it is a bigger change.

Then she basically flipped to a female human form on a dime out of convenience, so she could accompany Bai Suzhen. Her gender non-conformity persist in that form and all this combined to me paints a picture of her not quite caring about her own gender as such. Nevertheless I wouldn’t put any specific label on her, both because it would not be my place to do so and because I don’t see any for her other than maybe gender non-conform in a general sense.

However you cannot tell me she doesn't have a small crush on Bai Suzhen at least in the beginning.

Aside those things, the small quirk of her enjoying food is very adorable too. So far she has undergone some good character development as well becoming a better person and learning from her elders while still being true to her personality, I quite like that. One would think she’d be an annoying character at first, but she grows into a solid and likeable person.

Now to actually start from the top in terms of characters, beginning with the strong female lead Bai Suzhen.

Not only kind and compassionate, she gained enlightenment through the presence of Guanyin go figure how that might have factored into this, she is also very educated and skilled in martial arts. She is kind but not a pushover, strong willed but not obnoxious. Both a healer and a fighter depending on what is needed at the moment. Capable of handling herself, but not rejecting help when offered. All in all she’s just a great person and a highly likeable protagonist in my eyes.

The supporting ladies like Xu Jiaorong are wonderful as well when they come up, being very helpful where they can.

The male protagonists are nothing to sneeze at either! Of course our male lead Xu Xian is a kind and caring physician already making him quite likeable.

Additionally he falls in love with Bai Suzhen specifically because she is his equal and shares his values. Seeing them work together and help each other as physicians is so cute and really makes you root for them.

He is not without flaw however, much like the rest of the cast, and I am not just referring to his health troubles. While not being a particularly big character arc so far he does grow as a person and his past thus also his past growth is revealed, making his a well rounded character.

Then we have Li Gongfu.

He might not be quite as bright as our leads but is still capable in his job. He is also aware of his own shortcomings and accepts help and advice. And of course he is very loyal to his wife and clearly loves her, which is just so nice to see.

And the four immortals, which are initially with Qing and then Bai Suzhen as well, are great support characters. Funny, caring and useful! The one fight scene where they displayed the abilities of their animal forms was particularly enjoyable to watch.

So far the antagonists have been well balanced usually through an antagonist lady being paired up with antagonist men and both taking equal part in causing trouble. They have also been fleshed out rather nicely with motivations and goals as well as personal grievances.

Plus some were even somewhat sympathetic, particularly the mother who yes has done very bad things undeniably so, but has been pushed to a degree to act like that to begin with. Really a more tragic character than outright evil in my opinion.

Then we have Jin Ruyi of course, who is the classic jealous love rival.

Rather early on I developed hopes for her undergoing character development. Not necessarily in the direction of outright getting along with Bai Suzhen, but maturing, learning to see Xu Xian as his own person and subsequently letting those two be even if she might not like it. And I was pleased to see such an arc beginning towards the later end of the first twelve episodes.

She is not quite where I would like to see her yet, but she clearly has undergone development becoming less spoiled after tragedy struck her. And she can’t be blamed entirely for still being stuck to Xu Xian given how she has been strung along for a scheme by the Hu Kexin.

When speaking about character development we cannot forget about the monk Fahai.

In previous iterations he has been mostly an antagonistic force, but this time around he is here to learn! With a kind master to start him on his journey he still had to make the decision to follow his instructions of not harming the demons if his cane does not deem it necessary. Thusly he is gradually unlearning his prejudice and seeing the nuance in the world more instead of viewing it purely in black and white.

Jingsong, oh Jingsong, he messed up and he messed up big time, a supporting character turned antagonist in my eyes.

If he had decided to help with Xu Xian’s poisoning, like I believed for a moment he might, I could have seen him getting redeemed. But now that he is still so stuck in his ways and completely disregarding Bai Suzhen’s agency, no matter how ‘well meaning’ he might be, he has lost me. His mouse form is still funny though.

Last but not least shout out to Guanyin, my favourite bodhisattva, always happy to see her.

On the story overall there is not much miscommunication being the cause of problems, it is mainly other people deliberately trying to keep our two leads apart. However the two physicians have clearly growing wise to this and do not trust other peoples’ words about each other so easily anymore.

The theme of nuance is woven throughout those first twelve episodes and I am expecting this to continue. The protagonists have their flaws, some technically good people are shown to do bad things for one reason or another and some antagonists aren’t all bad either and generally have a motivation behind their actions.

In summary while it is mainly a romance drama, there are also plenty of funny moments, intrigue and suspense. I would definitely recommend giving this series a try if one has even a modicum of interest in it.

[cozypancakes]

I'm the lengthy anon from yesterday. I'm so glad you didn't mind me rambling in your inbox. I have no one to talk to about this show. There is no real fandom, and my friends haven't watched it yet. :/

But yeah, if I think too much about Peter's and Jim's relationship, I want to cry. Obviously, from Peter's point of view, Jim writing the article was utter betrayal. Peter idolized his dad, and Jim was so right when he said Peter hasn't even gotten to know his dad or see his flaws. I would personally also cut ends with him. He was the only adult figure left in Peter's life, and just like his dad, he betrayed him, not even privately, but he dragged his family in public.

But I can't fault Jim too much for it, his best friend did something terrible and he tried to cope with that in the only way he knew, by writing this article. I don't think he regretted it in the beginning. He probably thought Peter would come around later, but after years passed by, I do believe he would have done it differently. I think he also reached out to Peter after the Metro Bombing. He wouldn't have his number, but he would have sent a card at least.

What I find the saddest part is that both of them believe Peter Sr dying in a car crash that could have been a suicide attempt. I don't doubt Jim was angry at his best friend taking the easy way out. He was already convinced Pete was guilty. And now his best friend's son was all alone. They only had each other in that time, and then bam, the rift happened because both of them are too stubborn to see the situation from the other's perspective.

When Travers revealed that it was an assassination, you could see it on Peter's face that he had a moment where he was relieved, I guess. Despite strongly believing in his fathers innocence, there was probably doubt in his mind, and that doubt got louder and louder over the years. Him getting the closure his dad didn't just leave him alone because he was guilty. It must have been such a relief. I know Travers told him that the fate of his father will never reach the public, but with Jim back in his life, sorta, I want to believe he told him about it. Jim deserves this closure as well, despite him telling Peter his father's actions don't matter when it comes to Peter, but that was his best friend.

I also think Peter's blind idolization is the reason he became a night agent in the end, despite not really wanting to. After getting the confirmation his dad wasn't the bad guy, Peter felt like he had to continue his legacy. Making his dad proud, continue what he started. His dad was the reason he joined the FBI, and he's the reason he's a night agent. I just hope he won't face the same fate as him. (Sorry, this was even longer than yesterday)

OH MY GOD! I love you and all these night agent thoughts anon!!! I feel the exact same way about not having anyone to nerd out about this show with. Please, either keep the anon messages coming or reach out in DMs. I'd love to discuss more.

You are so right about Jim having a lot to process. I'd need to go back in the show, but it sounds like Jim became Peter's guardian after his father died. And if the article came out when Peter was about to go off to college, that would put them at 2-3 years of having lived together when Jim published that article. Like, yeah, I'd be a pretty pissed at Pete too, especially if he suspected it was a suicide. Not only is your best friend gone but now you're solely responsible for taking care of this teenager who had already lost his mom. I'm sure Jim started off investigating with the desperate hope that he would find proof that Pete was innocent, as much for Peter as for himself. But then he found the exact opposite and felt duty bound to report it. Like, hello Peter, you're both so honor/duty bound to your profession or your own idea of justice and don't even realize it!

(oh god, oh god, super sad, random thought but...no one was there to see Peter graduate college...I mean, Jim probably went and watched from afar but for all Peter knew, he was all alone that day).

I agree that Peter must have felt a little relief knowing it at least wasn't a suicide. Even knowing that it wasn't a random chance accident. Like there's a clear bad guy in this story now. Someone Peter can channel all his anger towards and take down.

I know the show will probably go down the patriotic, propaganda line of "no, it's just a few corrupt people. The institution is great. USA rules!" But, realistically imo, being a full night agent would just bring Peter face to face with more of the US's shady business and inhumane actions across the world. I really hope at the least S2 makes Peter confront his instinct to obey orders blindly with his need to do good and be good.

[darkmasterofcupcakes]

Violent Ask <3

Total Drama Island

13. worst blorboficiation

16. you can't understand why so many people like this thing (characterization, trope, headcanon, etc)

3. screenshot or description of the worst take you've seen on tumblr

Charmed

18. it's absolutely criminal that the fandom has been sleeping on...

9. worst part of canon

Total Drama

13.) I'm not really bothering to break down what I consider the "sub-types" of blorbo here, so please don't come at me with if this character is actually a "little meow-meow" or a "scrunkly" or whatever, because I've actually still never figured out the difference.

And as for the actual answer...I'd probably say Ezekiel just because I've literally never understood why so many people decided they loved him. I mean, he didn't have much of a personality in the first season, and in the few appearances he got, the most noteworthy thing he did was be sexist. And considering he attempts to get handsy with Bridgette despite the fact that she's clearly happy with Geoff at Playa Des Losers, I'm not sure if he actually learned to respect women, or just learned to keep his sexism to himself to avoid making the girls angry. But, despite this, so many people who were writing fanfiction after Island decided to make Ezekiel into this ultra-talented guy who had no real flaws to speak of and who literally everyone in the cast either loved, or if they didn't love him, they were clearly an antagonist.

16.) All the ships that are borderline, if not entirely, crackships. I mean, to be real, I don't understand why a lot of ships in this fandom get so popular, but looking back at the really popular fanfics from back when the first three seasons were airing (and looking at the fanworks page on TV Tropes), so many of the pairings in those stories involve characters who as far as I'm aware....barely ever even stand next to each other, much less actually share any line of dialogue? And half the time, their personalities are written in a way that I can't even use the logic of "Well, if they did interact, they'd probably get along great"; hell, in some cases, I think it's pretty clear that canonically the best some of these popular ships would do is barely tolerate each other. Admittedly, part of my salt for this also comes from the fact that a lot of these crackships involve breaking up favorite ships of mine, which combined with the factors mentioned before obviously wouldn't endear the pairings to me in the slightest.

3.) Okay, so this wasn't something I saw on Tumblr, but I heard about it via Tumblr so I'm counting it. But apparently some people on Twitter actually think that the love triangle from World Tour had no cheating involved? Which genuinely made me do a double-take when I read that post because even though All-Stars apparently either forgot or tried to retcon it away, it was very clearly established that Duncan and Courtney were still a thing when he started hooking up with Gwen. And even though I stopped watching the season before it got to that point, I definitely remember how badly the fandom reacted, with a big factor in why it was so reviled being because it involved cheating.

Now for the Charmed questions....which might be a little harder to answer because I'm actually not super familiar with the fandom, and I've only ever actually seen about half the show and read a couple issues of the comics a while ago.

18.) I feel like I never really saw any fanworks or anything like that that really address the whole fact that after Prue died and Paige joined the family, the dynamics for all the sisters had to have changed a lot? Granted, the show never really seemed to do this either from what I remember, but I'm so used to fandom taking advantage of the relative lack of limitations to address things that canon never could. But I don't remember ever seeing any fanworks or even posts addressing stuff like how Piper would have to adjust to suddenly being the eldest, Phoebe going from being the baby of the family to suddenly being the middle child and having a younger sister; or Paige going from being an only child to finding out she has sisters and learning to adapt to the fact that I'm sure this would effect her life even outside the magical aspects.

9.) The way it seemed like everyone got over Future Chris's death super quickly after Baby Chris was born. It's sort of alluded to in the first episode of the next season as implicitly being part of why Piper is so protective of Wyatt and Chris, but effectively it comes across like everyone just forgot that the Chris they knew for...what, over a year or so, died, and even if they have the comfort that Baby Chris is still around and that means that Chris didn't "really" die....the fact is that because they seemed to have succeeded in changing the future, that Chris they knew really is gone for good. Making it worse is the fact that I feel like they could have done something to explain the relative lack of apparent concern - maybe something related to the whole time travel/changing the future timeline thing.

[just-some-castaways]

Broken Things pt. 2

It was Christmas morning, 2024, 5am.

I was awake, again, far earlier than I would've liked. Something about sleep apnea, or anxiety, or a head cold, take your pick. Point being, I was awake, I was anxious, and I was upset. So I did what I always do when I can't put words to my feelings.

I played a game.

(Reader discretion advised: the following contains spoilers for Inmost, an indie mild horror game, as well as topics such as suicide, abuse, trauma, and violence. If you've struggled with mental health, I highly suggest looking into Inmost, at your own discretion) (Also, it's midnight and I'm sleep deprived, so no, I didn't re-read what I wrote, best of luck to those who attempt to)

These games come in many forms, and not just the ones in boxes, or the ones on the screen. The way I play games goes far beyond that. I play with truth, with reality, with my understanding of existence. What if I hadn't grown up in a loving family? What if that friend had stayed? What if everything I know is just a false perception, but it's all I'll ever know?

What if this was my last day on earth?

I'm well aware these are dangerous questions to ask, so in an attempt to curb my addiction to games with tragic endings, I opened up my laptop, and clicked on a title that caught my eye.

Inmost.

I had played a few hours of the game and was intrigued, though confused. The gameplay switches between a seemingly worn out man in a world that's ending, a knight who battles darkness- yet serves it as well, and a girl who's home and family are hopelessly shattered in the wake of tragedy.

When you begin, it seems to be a simplistic platform horror game, with varied characters and abilities to spice it up.

When you end, you watch the credits roll by as you process the meaning behind what seemed so insignificant at the time.

Around 8am on Christmas morning, I was sitting in a dark living room, controller still gripped tightly in one hand, while the other was covering my mouth as I withheld sobs. I had finished the game, the narrator had done his bit, the closing scenes had faded, and I was left with my thoughts. In just two hours, I had seen a man become disfigured with the darkness he had fought to destroy. I had seen a mother kill herself in front of her daughter. I had seen a bystander helplessly bang on a window as he watched a teen be shoved from a balcony by shadowy figures that pointed and jeered. I had seen a child, rescued from a flaming building and stolen from their charred parents, only to result in their growing resentment for their adopted parents. I had seen a little girl, struggling to find joy in a house full of broken things with a mother who was dying from heartbreak.

I saw in each of those scenes, a reflection of my story, and of the stories of a selection of my friends and family.

See I already knew the story that was told in the game, but I knew it free of emotion. It's one of my flaws, a result of my own brokenness. I remove emotion from things that scare or hurt me, to avoid crumpling under it's weight.

But on that Christmas morning, I experienced the story as if for the first time, as silent tears ran down my cheeks.

I collect broken things. I collect stories. I collect hurting people.

But now? Well, despite the fact that Inmost is a game of black and white, I can see colors in my broken things.

Because without emotions, what's the point of the story?

-Katie/Nate 2024