#friend singular actually. there's one person and honestly at this point she has GOT to know

[nellie-elizabeth]

The Handmaid's Tale: Shattered (6x07)

This was... a singularly frustrating experience, I'm not going to lie. I didn't hate everything indiscriminately, but I was having such a hard time with a lot of what happened here. I'm going to try and untangle some of that.

Cons:

So, the Nick thing. The Nick thing. Ahem. Last week I worried that we were going to be asked by the show's framing itself to be anti-Nick after this, and what we got was such a weird version of that playing out. Here's the thing: Nick doing what he did, it had really bad consequences, and it would totally track for June to be mad at him for it, maybe even think that she hated him. But rationally, Nick is right that this isn't some sort of singular breaking point that's worse than all the other shit the two of them have pulled over the years. And I think the show wants me to believe that Nick is Bad Now because of this, and I just... I don't? I kept thinking about all the ways I could have bought into this more. One avenue would be to do an actual corruption arc for Nick, gradually over time. Show him actually liking the perks of being a Commander, show him enjoying having power, even if he doesn't agree with everything. But we never saw that. He's always been uncomfortable and terrified in Gilead. Another option, have his father-in-law have more explicit proof about the death of those two guards, that could point a finger at Nick, and have Nick explain to June that if he hadn't given up the plan, once the bombs went off Nick would be put on the wall for it if there were any survivors at all.

The framing of this whole scenario, the way June is processing it as this abject, unforgivable betrayal, all the bullshit about "I trusted him for so long that I forgot who he was" like... what do you mean, June? You forgot what, exactly? He's just trying to fucking survive in there. And Lawrence pissed me off saying that June was stupid to trust him all along, because again: footage not fucking found, Joseph. He's actually been incredibly trustworthy and done everything that's been asked of him, putting himself at more and more risk every time, and then when he was backed into a corner he found a way to get himself out of it. The consequences suck, yes, but this isn't some heel turn, and it was bizarre how the characters surrounding it treated it as if it was.

And don't get me started on Luke, calling Nick a Nazi, being all self-righteous and going off on June about the Nick situation. Once again I found myself thinking, well, if this show were going to develop and resolve these elements properly, this sign of simmering anger and resentment from Luke would be the downfall of their marriage at last. June would realize that being scolded back to back by Nick and Luke both, that Nick was the one who had a valid point, whereas Luke basically does not. But instead, it seems like the show wants to frame Luke as the objectively correct one in this scenario, and June has to apologize to him for everything.

I don't want to harp on too long, but it just felt like if this was the direction you wanted the story to go, it was such a weird way to handle it. Like, what was that scene with Nick and Rita? He's just a pouty little baby now? Is this a way to engender our sympathy, or to make us hate him? I literally couldn't tell, because it just didn't feel like the character we know.

I hate to say this, because I don't want Janine to die, but honestly if she had it would be a stronger emotional anchor for why June is in this headspace now, this idea that Nick is "unforgivable." Because it's not his fault all those women were killed, but if Janine had died, June having the irrational feeling that it was all on Nick would track a lot better, since that's a personal friend and someone she feels so much protective instinct for.

I also want to do a bit of eye-rolling about Serena. I feel like they have a charismatic actor who can imbue her performances with a lot of nuance and depth, and then a script that doesn't actually keep up with who the fuck this woman is supposed to be? Like, June says that Serena's narcissism is going to be the downfall of Gilead. Is that accurate? Is Serena not a True Believer but in fact just power-hungry? I mean, okay, I guess, but that doesn't exactly track consistently through the show. And that scene with the other wives was so weird, like she was trying to bring feminism to them. They're all saying "well, my husband thinks..." and then Serena is like "but what do YOU think" and it's just a little... like... girl, this is all far too little far too late. It's actually blood-boiling to hear her considering the Handmaid's fates now, baffled that these other women don't seem to give a shit, when it's like... Serena! You fucking helped set this shit in motion, and you're only now considering the broader consequences? I don't know what the show wants me to think about this character. Is she going to die in a fiery explosion on her wedding day? Is she going to discover the plot and then learn that her husband sucks and then do a last minute reversal and help May Day pull off the revolution? Both seem equally likely with what they've given us so far, and that's not a compliment. I don't understand her.

A smaller point that I want to make sure I address is that it feels like Moira has been totally wasted this season as a character. It's like they don't know what to do with her, she has to follow around in June's shadow and be pulled into her wake, and that's about it. Sure, we know she feels resentment, we saw that last episode with their fight. But here she is again, following June back into Gilead and then asking June to be the leader and give her inspiring words. I don't know structurally what should have been going on with Moira this season, but it feels like they just kinda stuck her into the sides of things to see if she'd fit, and it's a bummer.

Pros:

Okay, well, I think I need to go back to what I've been saying all season, which is that there are a lot of talented performers in this show who can really lock into some great dynamic moments. Bad architecture, good gargoyles. So if I can set aside the broader context that's bugging me so much, I can highlight some performance moments that I did like.

For one, I like that June didn't yell and scream at Nick, she was kind of cold and numb as she processed what had happened. She was a lot more hurt than she was angry, and I did like that in concept, like, the way it clashed with the May Day people when she gets back and she has to tell them that it's her fault the information leaked. She has to bear their understandable anger, and all the while she feels like she's grieving a breakup. And I like that Nick at least said his piece a little bit, reminding June of all the shit that she's taken for granted, seemingly. He's absolutely right that she's used his role as a Commander to suit her without ever grappling fully with the reality of that. I wish that I trusted the show to develop this idea more fully and have June realize that he's absolutely right, but I don't think that's going to happen.

I like that Lawrence is here to help, because honestly it tracks for his character that he'd only be motivated by his own well-being to do something this extreme, but he's been so uncomfortable and so unhappy in the world he created for so long, you do believe he'd find it worthwhile to tear it down if he can do so without incurring too much risk. It makes sense that we've finally reached his tipping point.

Janine... Jesus Christ. The moment where she comes to the window and Lydia sees her beaten black and blue... it's almost cartoonishly over the top, how much of a villain Bell is, but that small moment of Janine making herself known to Lydia was interesting to me. Was that Janine reaching out in the only way she could to ask for help or to form a connection with someone who, however fucked up it may be, seems to care for her? Or was that Janine's one and only way of telling Lydia: "I fucking told you so." Or was it both? I do like the nuance there. And I like that Nick tells June he's going to try and find out about Janine, and that Lawrence delivers the news to June about her being alive, it's such a weird network of secret-keepers.

I think that's about it for things I liked? I don't know. I wasn't miserable watching this episode, but I wasn't pleased either. This feels like the setup for an endgame that is probably mostly going to annoy me. And that's too bad, because I want a show like this to end in a way that feels big and bold. I'd rather they strike out trying something insane rather than trip and just sort of fall over the finish line. The latter is what I'm concerned is going to happen here. But I guess we'll have to wait and see.

5/10

[pilfappreciator]

Got an ask from @starzwithapen to write for how Viva would work around showing affection to a Reader with short hair BUT I FUMBLED AND ACCIDENTALLY DELETED THE ASK ASKLAJDLKJSD

BUT NO WORRIES BABE!! I got your message and I love the way you think, literally NOT ENOUGH Viva out in the world I swear 😤😤

Viva x Reader: love is in the hair

Includes: GN! Reader, Reader w/ short hair, LOTS of fluff, one singular use of the word "fantastamazing"

🌟 Hair is kind of a big thing for trolls— Viva especially. Like c'mon. Literally 5 seconds after meeting Poppy and this girl's first instinct was to style her hair?? Chances are she does this with just about anyone, let's be real. It's basically her #1 love language <33

🌟 That being said, she was probably like?? Super shocked when she first met you???

🌟 Pop trolls in particular traditionally have big hair, and I mean BIG as in it can basically be 3/4ths of their entire height lol. Of course there are some expections but Viva, personally? She's never met someone with hair like yours before... she's honestly in awe

🌟 But being the quirky girlie she is, this troll thinks your uniqueness is fantastamazing!! In fact your hair is probably what drew her towards you in the first place

🌟 But like I said before: this girl love love LOVES playing around with other people's hair! Elaborate hairdos are an art form and she's perfected it to a "T" uwu

🌟 But... your hair doesn't give her much room to work, now does it?

🌟 She's a little devasted at first ngl. I mean part of the reason she's so fond of styling hair is cuz she loves seeing her work on others (girl's a bit of a showoff ashdlajddds). Whenever she spots her friends and loved ones going about with their hair still done, she's never felt prouder. With your short hair that might be a bit of a problem...

🌟 But obviously she's not gonna let something like hair length stop her from showing how much she likes you! >:3

🌟 She'll still put braids in your hair, of course, but can't stop from feeling a little sad that they won't be as visible...

🌟 BUT THEN SHE GOES TO PUT THEM IN AND LIKE... wow she has to be awfully close just to get to your hair, huh? The two of you are sitting on the floor of her room, crisscrossed and facing each other... and the strands of your hair are so short that her fingers can't help but sometimes brush against your face... which is pretty close to her face, actually...

🌟 Expect to have this woman beg offer to braid your hair on the daily from then on

🌟 Much like Poppy, I like to think Viva is a Live, Love, Craft kinda gal. Better believe she's gonna be slaving away to make some DIY hairpins and bobs, maybe some ribbons or beads she can tie into your hair!! She's also taking into consideration your sense of style and what you like, so all these trinkets are gonna be personalized as hell lol

🌟 LET HER PUT THEM IN FOR YOU PLEASE SHE'S ON HER KNEES—

🌟 If someone else happens to point out/compliment your hair and Viva's within hearing distance? Girl is literally about to split her face with how wide she's smiling

🌟 This girlie is DEFINITELY making you two matching trinkets, don't even deny it. She adores the idea of having something to showcase your guys' bond. Just a little somethin special for the two of you <33

🌟 Also she just wants to show you off who are we kidding

🌟 Loves getting her hair done too, so definitely don't feel afraid to ask! I mean, good luck getting her hyperactive ass to sit still long enough but like!! She's just so excited to have you reciprocate her love language, can you blame her?

🌟 The feelings of fingers or a hairbrush running through hair is a HUGE stress reliever for her. Whether she's giving or recieving the action doesn't matter. It's just relaxing for her

🌟 Quickly learns to love your short hair for this exact reason because like?? The length just makes the whole process just SOOOO much simpler??? She doesn't have to worry as much about her fingers snagging in too many tangles which is a plus for her lol

🌟 Also loves being able to tuck strands of your hair behind your ears! She thinks she's so suave whenever she does ;))

🌟 Daily hairdo sessions quickly become a regular occurence between you two

🌟 Just hangin out in her room, doing each other's hair while you guys talk about your days. Running a place like Putt Putt Village is hardwork so definitely let Viva lay her head on your lap as you brush her hair, or the other way around if you'd prefer!! If you reassure her and tell her all her work is appreciated tho...

🌟 Your ass is gettin smooched. No way to avoid it <33

AKSJDHAHS SHE'S SO BEAUTIFUL I LOVE HER SO MUCH!! The people workin on Trolls 3 did not NEED to give us Viva... but they DID and I'm forever grateful 😔

[theresthesnitch]

It's about community, y'all.

I’ve found myself recently in a fandom interaction that has left me feeling very uncomfortable, and I want to talk about it. 

I will not be sharing usernames or fic names, so please do not publicly mention who they are if you figure out who this is. 

About a month ago, I was messaged by an account that doesn’t follow me, asking me to read their friend’s fic. The initial message was very flattering–their friend was a big fan of my work, and it would be so nice for them to get a comment from me on it. Honestly, it was such a sweet message, and I said I was busy right then, but I’d make time to read it.

When I opened the fic, it was a username that I didn’t recognize. Which is not terribly surprising, but I do recognize and notice regular commenters and people who regularly interact with me on Tumblr. (Which, by the way, is a good thing. These people all have a special place in my heart, and I love seeing their interactions.) This person also had no other fics published to AO3, and no bookmarks on their account. 

 I am an email hoarder, which means that every comment, kudo, and tumblr follow I get an email notification for is still stored in my email. I searched my inbox for the writer’s username, and nothing came up. I don’t mean nothing significant, I mean not one single comment, kudos, or follow from the account. I searched the account who messaged me, and got the same result. No one single comment, kudo, or follow. 

The thing that may not be immediately obvious from the outside is that many writers connect with each other as well. We share fic recs, snippets, and plot bunnies. We also talk about comments that we love, fans that we enjoy seeing in our notes, and significant interactions. 

Which is to say that the first thing I did was drop this fic with an explanation of what happened into the “fic recs” channel of our discord. Immediately, I find out that this is not a unique situation. Many of the writers in that discord were also approached, either by the actual writer or a friend, and asked to read it. 

I messaged the account again and asked if their friend was operating under a new username because I didn’t recognize them. Which is valid and I know people change their usernames sometimes. The friend responded that they did, but that the friend wouldn’t like them sharing it. I looked into the tumblr that messaged me then, and the account had been set up one singular day before they messaged me, with nothing more than a few art reblogs on their blog. 

At this point, I’m getting a really weird feeling from this, and I decide to just not respond anymore. I’m not going to call them out, but I’m also not going to engage. 

Yesterday, the “friend’s” account sent me another message, asking if I’d read it and telling me again that they can give their friend’s old account name if I really want it. They also mention that their friend read through and commented on a bunch of my older fics–which they did. Between May 24 and June 1, they left 17 comments on some of the very first fics I ever wrote and published. However, the way she tells me this feels very much like a quid pro quo - I commented, now where’s yours? 

I jumped back into the discords of some of my mutuals, and asked about this again. It turns out that all of us have gotten a weird vibe from them, and that this all feels like such a manipulative, creepy way to ask for exposure on your fic. 

And, because I’m me and needed more information, I went back to their fic and looked through the comments and bookmarks. 

There’s an ongoing discussion in many writer’s circles about interactions being lower, particularly comments, which you’ve probably seen crop up around Tumblr as well. While I don’t want to rehash this discussion here, the basic consensus is that most established writers are seeing fewer comments than ever, even when there’s a significant number of kudos. 

This fic has a not insignificant number of kudos, but a surprisingly large amount of comments and bookmarks, comparatively. Enough that just seeing the stats shocked me. I looked through the comments and saw lots of well known fandom writers, as well as some otherwise blank accounts. It strikes me as very odd–especially from a new, blank account and for a one shot without chapters to build up an audience. 

I jumped back in the discord and asked my mutuals about this again. Several people described really weird interactions with this individual. I heard stories about this person being really flattering when they initially reached out, vaguely complimenting the writer, then completely ghosting after the writer comments on their fics. 

I’ve debated for a bit about whether to post on this or not. The entire interaction has left such a bad taste in my mouth. I’ve no doubt that the writer and their friend are the same person, and I suspect some of their comments are fabricated as well. It’s elaborate, to a weird degree, and I feel so uncomfortable by it. 

The thing is, I love talking to people who have read my work. I love getting sent a fic rec. I read so little at this point just due to life and limited time that basically everything I read is something a mutual wrote or something recommended to me. I also really love the “it would mean so much to me if you read this” message, but only if it’s genuine. I have read first fics of new writers who sent me their own work, with their name attached, and asked me to. 

Fandom writing is a community, and that works best when we have a little give and take. But when you’re out there manipulating interactions, building up fake flattery to only not follow through, that breaks down our community. It’s unfortunate, manipulative, and honestly, a bit creepy. 

I don’t know if they just thought we (the writing community) wouldn’t notice, but we did. I’ve talked to other writers about this, and if any of my mutuals had a similar experience, I’d love to hear about it. 

To my “friend” who wrote this fic, I know you’re proud of your fic, but you’re not doing yourself any favors with this behavior. I will not be reading it. I also will not be responding to you or “your friend” any further. I wish you luck, and I hope you find what you’re looking for. 

[z0mbiekisses]

I can’t remember if I’ve requested anything so here I am!! Helloooooo 👋

I’d love a fic where it’s josh x reader and he notices she kinda changes her personality around her friends and confronts her about it at home. She breaks down explaining that she doesn’t really know who she is as a singular person and he offers to help her figure it out. They try lots of different hobbies (including making music ft Tyler hehe) and she feels a lot better. Lots of angst pleaseeeeee

Thank you bestie 🙌🙌

HAII BFFF!!! TYSMM FOR REQUESTING!! i LOVE LOVE this idea, this reminds me of a character arc ive seen in a show, so i was excited to write this!!

i’m so sorry for my inactivity 😣 life has been hectic as of late, but writing helps me escape for a bit<3. i hope yall enjoy this!

IM A MIRRORBALL !

me and josh have been going out for a few months now. i can confidently say he’s one of my favorite people ever. he holds the door open for me, he makes sure to always call if he’s not around. which is where because his favorite place to be is right beside me. josh always tells me i’m beautiful, everyday. he’ll dance around with me no matter where we’re at. there’s so many things about him i just adore. and there’s so many things about our relationship that brings me happiness. but one of the most important things is i felt like i could be myself around him. well.. mostly. i’m not too sure who i am sometimes. but josh always makes me feel safe. we’re getting ready to meet up with some of my friends to this farmer’s market. honestly, i wasn’t as i should be. i couldn’t exactly figure out why. but i pushed my feelings to the side and put on a cute outfit.

everything started off great, seeing my friends was always nice. and they all loved josh. one of the stands were selling cocktails. i didn’t like drinking, not to say i never do. but i tried to stay away from it most of the time. but my friends all got one, and i didn’t want to look like the odd one out, so i got one as well. despite it being strawberry, and me not liking strawberries. this earned an eyebrow raise from josh. i found myself trying to mimic their poses when we took pictures. i normally give a silly thumbs up or a peace sign while having a big grin. these photos i kicked my leg up and did everything to hide my smile. i didn’t want to look stupid next to my friends.

“come on y/n smile!” josh spoke from in front of us, holding the phone. all i did was a small little grin. there became a point during our endeavors where josh & i didn’t really speak to each other. i didn’t bother to say anything though, i’m sure it wasn’t a big deal. i was focused on my friends.

“y/n didn’t you hear sarah cheated on her boyfriend with her ex?!” my friend alana looked over to me. i didn’t like gossiping. especially about people i didn’t know. you never know people’s situations or what they’re going through. it’s something i always tried to stay away from. it was a quality josh appreciated about me. but in this situation, i suppose it was okay.

“what?! her ex of all people?” i gasped dramatically which made alana laugh.

“yes her ex nathan who posted that embarrassing video of her drunk dancing on a kitchen island.” my other friend emma chimed in. the three of us were walking next to each other while josh walked behind us. i didn’t even realize he was left out.

“did you ever see it y/n?”

“no i haven’t actually.” and with that emma pulled out her phone and showed poor sarah drunk out of her mind. sloppily dancing on the kitchen island while everyone had their phones out. until she slipped and spilt her drink all over herself. i felt awful, she clearly wasn’t in her right mind. that was actually the same night she found out her grandma was sick in the hospital with cancer. i could’ve stuck up for her, i should’ve. yet i found myself laughing along with them. nodding my head along to their insults. shortly after we all parted ways. the car ride home with josh was unusually quiet.

“josh are you okay?” all josh did was shrug and turn up the radio. i nervously fidgeted with my rings, which i left in the center console when we got to the farmers market because i didn’t want my friends to think they were ugly. when we got to josh’s place he finally spoke to me,

“what happened today?”

“what do you mean?”

“you were acting different y/n.” i raised my eyebrow. trying to play dumb, though i knew deep down what josh was getting at.

“i was just hanging with my friends-“ i tried to defend myself. but josh wasn’t buying it.

“which included making fun of sarah?” josh brought up. i looked away from him trying to figure out what to say.

“i wasn’t making fun of her, they were talking about i was just making conversation.” i protested.

“you could’ve stuck up for her, you know what happened that day y/n.” josh’s eyes weren’t filled with anger or anything. he just seemed.. disappointed. i didn’t know what to say.

“it wasn’t just today y/n, everytime we hang out with your friends it’s like you’re a totally different person.” i felt my hands began to shake. my heart was slowing beginning to move faster and faster.

“it’s because i don’t even know who i am!” i shouted. josh frowned. he walked over to me and held my shaking hands in attempt to calm me down.

“that’s not true y/n.” i cut josh off,

“it is. all i do is pretend with everyone in my life!” i pulled my hands away from josh. my self sabotaging mechanisms coming out. i couldn’t let him help me because i felt like i didn’t deserve it. i don’t deserve it.

“i act a certain way with everyone so i can fit in. so they can’t hate me.” at this point tears were falling down my cheeks and my voice was hoarse. josh’s eyes were watery. i could tell he wanted to help me. but for some reason i wasn’t making this easy.

“y/n you’re so perfect the way you are. i love you for who you are.”

“that’s impossible because i don’t know even who i am.” there was a moment of silence. you could hear a hair pin drop. yet my head was screaming. i couldn’t stand there any longer, i hauled out the door. slamming it behind me. the one person who actually had some of idea who i am i just shut out. i didn’t understand why i always did this? it never made anything better. i’ve lost so many people because of this. once they get close, i do everything i can to keep them out. ruining my own life everytime. it was always my fault.

that night josh & i didn’t sleep much. without each other knowing, we both looked at our phones. wanting to call or text one another. but we didn’t. too scared of what the possible outcome would be. i sat on my couch mindlessly watching some reality tv show. desperate to block out the mess in my head. until i heard a knock on the door, i opened it to see josh standing there, his eyes were tired and sympathetic. he pulled me into his arms. his warm embrace reminding me why i’ve been getting out of bed each morning. desperately trying to hold on to that safe feeling he brings me. i quietly mumbled a “sorry” in his chest while i sobbed. honestly, i didn’t think he’d show up. it was easy for me to shut people out because most people never tried to fight it. not even bothering to look back. i don’t blame though, sometimes i didn’t feel good enough to second guess. so the fact josh was here, it meant EVERYTHING to me. he held me on the couch. playing with my hair & rubbing my back until i could gain my composure. how’d i get so lucky i didn’t even know.

“i’m so sorry..”

“it’s okay baby we all get a little lost sometimes.” i looked up at him. josh smiled softly. he pushed back a strand of hair behind my ear.

“you know what’s really helped me figure out who i am is drumming.” i furrowed my eyebrows. josh wasn’t cocky by any means. but he was pretty sure of himself. and to think drumming was the solution kind of blew my mind.

“really?”

“yeah! maybe we can find something you enjoy doing, it won’t hurt to try.” i nodded listening to josh.

“you mean it?” i frowned and josh kissed my forehead mumbling a “mhm.” and that started our endeavors. who know hobbie hunting was so hard. i was a bit of perfectionist, so when i wasn’t immediately good at something i’d get discouraged. it was hard trying all these things while i still felt the same. i tried crocheting but it was a bit too complicated. me & josh would make jewelry but, everytime i dropped the string and the beads everywhere i wanted to slam my head on the table. josh took me to play basketball with him, but i was never too good at sports. and the heat made me MISERABLE. maybe josh was wrong, maybe i was too set in my ways to change. josh decided to bring me over to tyler’s studio. i loved hanging out with them while they worked on different projects. just watching them work was an amazing sight to see, they’re both so talented. this time around though i was more quiet. josh had went to grab some water when tyler approached me.

“you okay y/n? i don’t usually see you this quiet.” i let out a deep breath.

“yeah just going through some things.. midlife crisis stuff.” tyler chuckled lightly.

“that sucks you’re not even 40 yet.” i smiled at him. tyler always knew how to cheer people up, he was also very empathetic. i don’t open up easily, but with tyler it’s almost natural. and he actually understands, it doesn’t feel forced or complicated.

“do you sing by chance?” i shrugged my shoulders,

“a little. i used to do open mics when i was a teenager. back when i was more ambitious and talented..” i felt bad. i didn’t want to be a mood killer. but i felt like there was this constant rain cloud over my head, and i couldn’t stop it.

“i think you’re very talented y/n.” i rolled my eyes. i figured tyler was just trying to be nice.

“i actually asked josh if you could come today. i’ve heard you sing in the car before, you have a really great voice. i was wondering if you could do some back up vocals for us?” tyler asked softly. i couldn’t believe it. i’ve always liked singing, but i didn’t think i had much potential. and who was i to tell tyler no. so i walked in the recording booth, and put on my headphones. i could see in the corner of my eye tyler and josh smiling. not only that, i was actually happy. i forgot how much i actually enjoyed singing. all of those feelings i had in high school came back to me. when i walked out of the booth, josh hugged me.

“you guys are evil.” i chuckled pulling away to look at him.

“y/n you killed it! thank you again.” tyler smiled. i nodded my head,

“of course, thank you guys for being there for me.” i had not only found my spark again. but i’ve found people who knew me for me. i didn’t have to act a certain way to please them or try to fit in. they loved me for me.

[mushygreybrainmatter]

Started playing The Cosmic Turnabout!

Got through all of the prologue bit that's the lead-up to Turnabout Countdown and then played through Investigation - Day 1!

Now, before I get started, it's worth noting that a lot of the reveals in this case have already been spoiled for me. I was playing with my roommate, though, and those reveals have not, in fact, been spoiled for her so I did get to sit there smugly and knowingly while she had her mind blown which was, in my opinion, equally entertaining!

I am happy to say that Simon Blackquill is still the goat! Also highly amused by the fact that he finally actually gives an opening statement four cases into this game. Bro has not given a single shit about any other trial up to this point and I think that's so real of him.

Following logically on from there--Aura Blackquill?!?! Queen?? Has definitely committed crimes and plans to commit more of them. Also, if she's like that, no wonder Simon turned out the way he did. Woman hates lawyers--especially prosecutors, she says--meanwhile Simon's just standing there doing absolutely nothing wrong.

Kind of silly that the prosecution was trying to cover up the bomb threat through the whole prologue trial segment. I picked up on that shit right away and it took a while to actually get that part of the investigation. Also, Fulbright's singular personality trait finally becoming a point of tension! He's goofy and gimmicky, but I'm glad to finally see a little more depth given to his character.

ON THAT NOTE TOO THOUGH I MISSED YOU MAGATAMA

The way I gasped when this came up on the screen. Very excited! I feel like Phoenix's characterization is better in this case than it was in Countdown. Countdown was really weird and shaky because it confused the mentor/mentee roles between Phoenix and Athena which made the trial feel clunky and it made no sense to play as Phoenix when we were supposed to be learning Athena's gimmick. Anyway, Phoenix feels a bit more like himself here. Granted, older and still learning what it means to be a boss and a mentor, but still himself.

Finally, let's talk about Apollo. Man is going through it. I feel really bad for him, honestly. He's already not had the greatest time working for Phoenix at the Agency, is kind of sticking around because what else is he supposed to do, takes up showing Athena the ropes even though she was sprung on him last minute, and then his best friend is murdered the day he was supposed to achieve his lifelong dream of going to space. To make matters worse, one of Apollo's childhood heroes is arrested for the murder, so of course Apollo takes up the defense, but during that trial the way Apollo is struggling is very obvious. It's taking him longer to make connections, to find contradictions, and he's taking a lot of pointers from Athena. Something is wrong with his eye which is clearly bothering him, and then he gets blown up. He signs himself out against medical advice to attend Juniper's trial (Turnabout Countdown), ends up in the hospital AGAIN, signs himself out against medical advice AGAIN, and then takes a leave of absence from the Agency to conduct his own investigation into Clay's murder. I feel for him, honestly. We spent an entire game following him through one of the worst years of his life, and now the rug is pulled out from under his feet a second time, and in arguably worse circumstances. Knowing that Clay was around informs the player to the fact that Apollo must have been leaning on Clay a lot during everything with Kristoph, and now Clay is gone, a pillar of Apollo's support system completely shattered. It'd be a lot for anyone to handle, and we know Apollo doesn't have the best coping mechanisms ("I'M FINE" anyone?).

I'm looking forward to seeing how the rest of this case plays out. Sorry I don't have a lot of thoughts about many of the new characters thus far. I think Solomon Starbuck's haircut is funny (peak character design actually). I wish we got to examine the Space Museum (the flavor text could have been so good). I have some ideas about what else is going to come up, but there's still 5-5 ahead of me, and I'm not sure what will come up in which case. Anyway, have some baby Clay and Apollo!

[xplrvibes]

Have you seen the crazy person on Twitter claiming that Colby's using Sam and that Sam is carrying the channel and Colby's not doing his job because he's not posting on instagram.

The guy is fucking editing, leave the man alone, go touch grass.

Need you and Golbrocklovely to state how hard Colby works again so bitches can understand the man works soooooooooooo fucking hard to the point he actually needs to take a break!

I've heard a bit about that. I also saw quite a few problematic shenanigans happening on tiktok and instagram recently, so I know this isn't a problem singular to one crazy person on twitter.

Before I say anything else, let me say that shit like this really drives home the point @golbrocklovely and I have been saying for years: people afford Sam a general sense of respect that they simply do not afford Colby. Colby is their little punching bag, rage room, therapist, fantasy boyfriend and Sim character...but he certainly isn't a human being who they feel deserves privacy, common respect, happiness, etc.

So, thanks for proving us right. We love that lol.

Back to the main point: let me take this opportunity to point out the obvious, here. When Colby was posting on instagram, people were pissed cause he was posting his girlfriend instead of working or sitting around like an unplugged toy waiting for Sam to have use for him or whatever it was people wanted (cause I guess only Sam can have a life and hobbies outside of the snc collective). Now he's stopped posting, and they are *checks notes* pissed because he's NOT posting, so therefore he NOW he ISN'T working?

Pick a lane, I am begging.

As far as the editing goes, they literally just spoke about this in the Quackity stream last week. Colby takes all of the raw footage - HOURS upon HOURS of raw footage- and cuts it down and arranges it into a story, after which it is handed over to Sam and the other editors to gussy up and make presentable.

In Colby's own words (starring at 1:15:40 in the Quackity stream vod on YouTube, for those who would like to experience it for themselves): "We have our own roles...so I cut everything, so I like assemble it and make the story, and then [Sam] does everything else," and my favorite part:

"We have an editor right now that helps out with Sam's job; but I can't give up the assembly, the cutting part."

So, please understand what that means. This man spends HOURS per day meticulously cutting up raw footage and turning it into a 1 hour story. And he does it BY HIMSELF.

You are lucky you see and hear from him at all, quite honestly.

And I mean that. This shit with Colby has been going on for YEARS. He said it himself once: he gets judged for everything he does. Every move he makes (or even doesn't make) is dissected to high heaven and used against him. He gets death threats for growing a mustache. He gets canceled for wishing women a Happy Women's Day. He spends 8+ hours a day editing, only to be accused of not working...while Sam can go off and post about riding in private jets and getting haircuts and training for a marathon and golfing and STILL SOMEHOW, Sam is carrying the channel and Colby is apparently spending his days doing nothing but fucking his, what was she being called again? Plastic Chucky doll of a girlfriend, was it?

I'm telling you this right now - Colby has one foot in the grave when it comes to interacting fans and it's because of this bullshit. Who would want to deal with this? Especially when all around you, your friends are being celebrated for being in openly cheesy relationships and having free time to explore hobbies?

He isn't a perfect human, nobody is. But holy shit is the shit that gets shoveled at him not warranted.

Also, because I have seen this going around tiktok and I have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to this: anyone who thinks wishing a cancer survivor would get cancer again or makes degrading and offensive comments about said cancer survivor's body or health all because he's got a girlfriend and you can't handle that - put all of your money into therapy. Seriously. You need the most professional help money can buy, and then some.

Anyway, I think that about covers the situation.

(And since I know, I KNOW, the only problem people will see with this is that I singled out poor Sam, the patron saint of dealing with lazy partners: I'm not saying Sam can't have hobbies. I'm saying it's ridiculous to compare the content both are posting on social media and come up with the idea that only Sam works. I'm also saying it's ridiculous to act like Colby can't have hobbies or days off while praising Sam for...having hobbies and days off).

[myburntwritings]

Day 27: The most special visit to the City for you.

I had great shows. I had some truly incredible shows. But honestly, I don't believe I had a singular 'most special' show. My special moments were so split across various visits that I don't think I could choose between them.

Perhaps, if I'd had a singular special show near the beginning of my visits, I would feel differently. However, honestly, I'm almost glad I didn't. I know me, and I would have been chasing that 'special show' again, and that would have led to constant measuring against a likely unattainable goal. I'm glad my special moments were spread around, because that made them more special in my mind and not comparable to the others.

If I'm having to pick a singular show, the only reasonable answer for me is the final show, 24th September 2023. We're now over a month after the show closed, and I still haven't spoken publicly about why this show was so incredibly special to me. This is in part due to the personal nature of what made it special, but also because I didn't want to brag. I didn't want to upset anyone who perhaps didn't get the same level of cathartic gratitude that I was lucky enough to experience.

My desire not to upset others is not down to reactions from other people. I have never received anything other than excitement and joy when I have been gifted an interaction they perhaps didn't get while on the same loop. Everyone I know in the Burnt City community has been unwaveringly supportive of the spread of love when it comes to special moments. This is my own internalised fear, baseless given previous interactions with fellow fans. But, things get bigger when we internalise them, don't they?

Everyone who knows me personally, who met up with me before or after shows, who were the recipients of my 'Burnt City Story Times' (actually only one person, but she knows well enough.) knows without a doubt who my favourite performers are. Standing in the queue before the show, when someone would inevitably ask who I planned on following, there was the 'of course you are' response when I told them I planned on following Georges, Seirian, Milton, or Tim. I so enjoyed their performances that I followed them repeatedly. And if I didn't know who I was going to follow, others would invariably find me following one of these talented performers at some point during the show.

It also helped that these performers held roles of some of my favourite characters, so if I wanted to follow a favourite character, there was a good chance I was following one of these performers.

For my final show, I wanted to split my time between my favourite performers, as much as I wanted to see favourite characters. I had planned on doing Apollo, Kronos, Apollo so I could see both Seirian and Georges in the role of Apollo, and follow Milton for his final loop as Kronos.

I had a premium ticket, so got into the building reasonably early (that VIP/Premium queue was LONG) and as I was having my ticket scanned, a FOH black mask gently gripped me by the elbow and pulled me aside. She told me that she knew I'd been to the show a lot, and if I wanted to skip the museum entry, they would be letting some people in through one of the side doors in Peep. The queue was huge, I think they were trying to relieve some of the pressure of people getting in. She told me where to go in Peep and left it to my decision.

Once in Peep, I asked one of the FOH staff if I was in the right place. I didn't need to go through the museum again, and the crowd around the entrance was already getting unmanageable for me to stand in that crush for an extended period. They said yes, I was in the right place, and if I wanted to grab a few friends who also wouldn't mind skipping the museum, that was fine. A few, mind. Don't go around telling everyone.

I grabbed three friends and told them about the side entrance. They all happily joined. There were maybe a dozen of us waiting in the side area of Peep. As the first group were let into the mask room, we were ushered to the door and handed stamped masks. We were told we could keep these masks, and they opened the door Apollo and Artemis usually enter Peep by, six of us let through. The next group would be let in as the second main group entered the mask room.

The first group were still in the mask room, or maybe just being sent through to Hades. We six were the first people in the space; an incredible privilege.

I went into the Town Square, and found Louis J Rhone as Polymestor stood in the centre of the square, taking a moment to himself. He noticed my arrival, nodded, and walked away. I was practically floating that I was so lucky as to be one of the first people in the space, and I decided that I wanted a final moment alone in the Tenement Square, one of my favourite locations. So, I headed straight there.

Only, I wasn't alone. I wasn't the first into that space. Milton Lopes was already stood in the Tenement Square. He was stood next to the pillar, not doing anything. I went and stood in my favourite spot (see Day 9 answer) and Milton and I just watched each other. Gods only know what he was thinking, but we both just stood there, letting it all soak and sink in.

Tenement Square slowly filled in around us, and when he moved to start his loop, I knew I couldn't stick with my plan. I currently hate Hades for being right that words cannot describe it. The feeling that went through me at that moment. I couldn't not follow Milton into the Cyclops room. I wouldn't be able to leave his loop until he did. I knew I would regret it if I did anything else. I would never stop regretting it if I didn't go with my instinct to follow him after that moment, the two of us reflecting in the Tenement Square.

Now, it's worth noting here that I have not been the recipient of any interactions from Milton in any role for some months at this point. The one scripted interaction I received was that he threatened me with the chisel maybe a month or two before. He knows how many times I've followed. He knows I've had all of the interactions before, and Milton was always so good at choosing new people to interact with where he could.

So, by the time we get into the tenement rooms for what I call the 'forwards backwards' sequence, I am comfortable with the fact that this would be like every other show. He would give interactions to the people he didn't recognise. He takes the seat in the first room and picks up the litter-picker device. There are a lot of people behind me trying to see, so I skirt around the edge to stand behind the chair and watch the interaction.

Only, he looks over his shoulder at me and snaps the picker in my direction. I cautiously step forwards, and he takes hold of the rim of my mask with the picker, lifting it up onto my head. He throws the picker aside and approaches me. He puts my mask back in place, he holds my shoulders tightly, and leans in towards me.

"Thank you."

Another thing you should know about me at this point is that I am an emotional sap. I cry at anything. I'm crying writing this. But those two words from one of my favourite performers in a show that I have loved so fiercely, broke me into pieces. Milton moved off to the continue through the rooms, and I was frozen, tears streaming down my face as the rest of the sizeable group of people on the loop filed past me after him.

A number of people passing by me were friends, and each of them grasped me by the arm, by the hand, by the shoulder. A squeeze of understanding, perhaps of recognition that they would be exactly the same in my situation.

I stayed at the back of the group. I waited for the backwards portion, and to see the Kronos wall crawl from the far end. We went into Klub, and I watched that scene from behind Polymestor's desk so that I could see Polydorus dancing in the office while Polymestor, Kampe, and Kronos performed in Klub. My favourite position to watch that scene.

We returned downstairs, and through the rest of the loop, as expected, a variety of people were chosen for each interaction. I'd had my interaction, my gift. I was exceedingly happy with that. But I had always known I wanted to follow Milton for his final loop, so I stuck around in the tenement square over reset as he took someone for the 1:1. I watched Apollo and Cassandra dance with Seirian as Apollo, so I was thrilled I got to see that.

And onto loop 2 we went.

This time it was as we were leaving Klub. In the Elysium hotel corridor, Milton's Kronos would storm back through the crowd and then find a spirit to sniff as he tries to work out what is following him. I've had this interaction on many occasions, (I sometimes joke that I was sniffed so often, Milton could probably pick out my perfume at the Boots counter) and knowing I'd had my moment in loop 1, I was not expecting for Milton to slam his hand against the wall right next to my head. He sniffed me, and then pulled back to look me in the eye.

He nodded and set off again. And once again, I found myself frozen for a moment as my brain caught up.

In loops 2 and 3, it is directly after this interaction that Kronos goes down and selects the mid-loop 1:1. The crowd around Kronos was huge at this point. Going down the stairs, I was at least a dozen people back, and there were at least another dozen behind me as he did a backbend on the banisters and stared up the stairs at us.

I was easily in the third row of the circle of people around the 1:1 door. There were people who had been around since the beginning of the loop, and those who had started following as we left Klub. Milton shone the torch around people's shoes as he always did, and there was a lot of shuffling as he moved around the group. Then, very suddenly, he turned the torch back, thrust his hand between two other followers, and held it right in front of me.

We went into the room, and he locked the door behind us. I am on the verge of laughing with the absurdity of it, and crying with gratitude. By the time we lay on the trolley under the car, I was emotional.

"I'm going to tell you the story of your life."

I was openly sobbing again. Tears streaming into my hair as he told me of the labyrinth. A very wet laugh as he remembered an out-of-show conversation we'd had almost a year earlier and reworded it into the text.

I'd had this 1:1 twice with Milton. Both times were before the change where the performer would put the minotaur head on. As such, I never saw the Minotaur with Milton, as he would tell you to close your eyes back in the early days, and apparently I do what I'm told.

I didn't see it this time either. Instead of putting the head on, he invited me into a hug which I gratefully accepted. I never saw the Minotaur while with Milton's Kronos. This fact amuses me.

We left the 1:1 and went straight back into the Tenement Square. Milton performed a crucifix aerial move against the wall, went into room 8 and closed the door... and he was done. The next time the door opened with Louis' Polymestor carrying Polydorus into the room, it was Nick's Polymestor who emerged afterwards, and Louis Kronos.

Milton's performances were done.

Obviously, I can't speak to Milton's reasoning for choosing me, or his feelings about that final show. All I can do is be incredibly grateful that he chose to share some of these final moments with me. That his performance (and I have said that it was never about the 1:1s, it was always his performance that kept me coming back) that Sunday afternoon was so deeply emotionally impacting on me. I don't think I will ever forget it.

I left Kronos behind to go and find Apollo.

I found Apollo in Peep, and followed Georges as he went through the Troy backstreets to his reset. I was stood beside one of my best friends, the person who introduced me to Punchdrunk, and an equal Georges' Apollo fan as he laid on the ledge over the door and reached a hand out to the both of us. I nudged her forwards to take his hand.

Every performer in that final show was giving it their everything. Georges Hann was incredible as he went through Apollo's story one final time. He beamed bright as sunshine when happy, and was entirely devastating when he wasn't.

I've said before that Georges was my Apollo. One of my favourite performers in my favourite role, and finishing this incredible, emotional rollercoaster of a show with him was perfect. It was absolutely everything I could have asked for, and I can't imagine spending that final loop with a character other than Apollo. That it was Georges in the role was as devastating as it was wonderful.

After the show ended (yes, with lots of tears during the finale from me) most people were filing out. I hung back, letting the majority go through first so that I wouldn't be stuck in tight spaces. Across no man's land, I saw a friend, @my-burnt-city (thankfully dressed in a furious pink dress, so easy to spot) also saying goodbye to the space. We clocked each other, and without a word, we both practically ran into a tight, emotional hug.

As we left, we got one final drink from the crate room water cooler (best water in show) and went around the crate room toasting everything from the best water cooler to Sallie the horse to the 1:1 crate. A final little ridiculous moment shared in this fabulous space.

And that is what makes this particular show so incredible. Not only the perfect gifts of performances and interactions from personal favourites, but the inexplicable understanding that everyone is feeling such similar emotions. That we all fell so deeply in love with everything this show gave us, and as it came to the end, we were supporting each other.

I think I hugged more people in that one show than I have any other combined. I like to think the performers were grateful for our love of them and everything they gave us.

And that's something truly special.

[everybuddiewantssome]

I Knew I’d Like You

(AKA Sam and Daniel, season 1)

@fighting-naturalist you asked for the essay, here it starts

She thought he was dead, everyone did (except for Jack's team and well, Hammond (see 1969)). But she knew how important he was to the program, to her work. But she never knew how close they could be. 

When they arrived on Abydos again, she was instantly geeking. And Daniel, for maybe the first time ever, was the one left confused and speechless. But then he gave her the one answer she hadn't found in two years, in a field he "doesn't pretend to know anything about." Suddenly, she had a partner in crime. Another doctor in a sea of hardcore military men. Then she’s pulling him out of the line of fire and doing her best to keep him comfortable when he comes to. They come through the gate together, synchronised in their defence of his people. They instantly bonded over nerd behaviour, but it quickly went deeper. “You can’t just stay awake forever.” She was understanding of his position but caring, and honestly I don’t know if Jack would’ve got him to go to bed (He might have, but it probably would’ve been more of a fight. At that point anyway.) There’s other little moments like Daniel being the one to come get her in the tent when she’s singled out in emancipation.

Jack, under the influence of the touched virus mind you, sees Daniel’s care for Sam as something more, even though Daniel was insistent on Sam being a friend he cared about. (Although Danny boy was giving Jack some looks in that scene but he’s just like that). 

Onto Thor’s Hammer. They capture the Goa’uld. She knows what Daniel’s thinking about doing with the rest. She tries to stop him. She almost gets through to him, not wanting him to tarnish his character. But he turns around, shooting the tank. And she just falls silent, carefully taking the weapon away. She knows exactly why he did it, as unwarranted as it was in her mind. She knows she couldn’t have stopped him, not really. And she never judges him for it, never brings it up again. 

Fire and Water. They all think he’s dead, but Sam has the most immediate difficulty. She’s the one in his diary, personal effects that everyone else was avoiding. She was the one that went forth with the hypnotism, not dismissing it in hopes of answers. Then she’s immediately guilty when she realizes they left him behind. Then the way she finds him in Hathor, brainwashed and defenceless, she can only watch in pain and walk away, there’s a mission to complete.

Jump to singularity, very well thee Sam & Daniel moment of the season. She’s the most attached to Cassandra, but he’s second in line. He’s sitting outside the girl’s room, where Sam also is, almost as a guard. He assures Sam she doesn’t have to do it alone.  He’s right there in her corner. She’s distraught, saying she shouldn’t be so attached. She’s become so used to having him around (For what, maybe eight months? Maximum?) That she’s lost full sight of the fact that he’s not actually military. (Not to mention the look on his face in that scene geez Danny do you understand platonics?) And when she’s in the General’s office giving her stance on Cassandra’s situation, Daniel’s right there in the doorway, backing her up. Daniel does have every reason to be there, he knows what Cassie is going through, he was an orphan too. But it’s just as much about Sam to me, he’s been there the whole episode, this was no different. 

Obviously in the alternate reality Daniel is thrown to, Sam is with Jack, they’re engaged. But she’s the one that jumps on board with Daniel’s theories, trusting him, sympathising. She’s mixed right into the charge that eventually gets him home. And the Sam of our reality is the same, the first to acknowledge the possibility that he actually did experience an alternate universe.  

Couple this all with the fact that Daniel has zero definition of personal space (with anyone but especially with Sam) and the seeds were planted for their bond from the get go. The friendship lines were always blurry, not just with them. Though Daniel wasn’t about to get into anything consensual until after his wife was gone for good, he found an undeniable beautiful relationship with Sam, starting mere seconds after they met.

[sweetenerluvss]

The fairytail fandom is honestly one of the most toxic I’ve ever been in, which is really sad because the show was all about uplifting friends and supporting one another despite our differences. The main part of the fandom that really grades me are the Lucy stans and the main shippers.

They are by far the most toxic and obsessed. I remember one chronically online lucy stan getting so mad at me for actually analysing Lucy’s fights narratively and not just seeing them as perfect god sent media by the gods above. This man will not take any slander against his girl. Honestly it’s really creepy and disturbing. Seeing the way this fandom treats Lucy. The obsessed guys treat her like some kind of god and stuff it’s crazy.

I know it’s very mean of me to vent about this kind of thing, but honestly I’m not name dropping so who cares. We’ve all had our experiences with a crazy stan, and there’s nothing wrong with me venting on my own page so if you’re feeling called out then maybe it says more about you than it does me.

Anyway, could’ve worded that better but my point is… I really can’t stand Lucy stans. Ofc there are really nice one’s I’ve met, and I adore them but the loud bunch I see online really grind my gears. They won’t just accept other people having different opinions to them, they simply MUST hear you bow down to them and praise every hair follicle on Lucy’s head.

It doesn’t help that I already hated Lucy’s character ever since I was little. Back in 2017 when I first picked up the show at twelve years old, her character always graded me. I always worried it was out of misogyny or something as the Lucy stans got in my head with their gaslighting, but that doesn’t make sense because I have my reasons. She’s written inconsistent, and borders Mary Sue making her imo hard to watch. But I adore Wendy, and Mirajane, and Lisanna, Cana too, Selia and all the other interesting female characters this show has to offer. I would add in Erza but I have some issues with how Erza’s written too. Specifically relating to Juvia…

But I realise I love the female characters in this show, and that Lucy stans are just trying to get into my head. I don’t hate her because she’s a girl. I don’t hate her because I’m ‘misogynistic’ quite the opposite actually. I love that Lucy is a female MC, we desperately need more of them in shonen, my issue with her is how she is written because of Mashima. Which I will get into in another post. So Lucy stans, please stop taking a page out of Juvia’s book. Let others have opinions different to you. You can still love your favourite character, one singular person having an indifferent opinion to you does not affect you. So leave it be.

[bisexual-magneto]

almost like people can have a "my blorbo can do no wrong mentality" about their favourite media

Like people still OFMD or even harry potter because BLORBO UWU

Beau DeMayo is white-washing apolgist but we still watch x-men 97

(...I also found some...other unsavoury stuff about Beau DeMayo a few weeks ago. Which might be a rumour but I was curious why Disney fired him and why it was kept under wraps and then I found a reddit post where people...talked about it. And again, it's a rumour. But if it's true, it's pretty bad).

But yeah! I think there is a big irony here, where every time a new show or book or game or movie is recommended around here, the fans try to wring ANY bit of progressiveness out of it so, so, so hard because THAT’S how you get people watching: By insisting how diverse it is, how modern it is, how ethical it is, by interpreting anything that can somehow be interpreted as leftist as leftist, even blatant misinterpretation (no, the misogynistic male white leads who are best friends are not the writer’s attempt to write a queer love story*)

So every time it turns out that the writers do suck or that the show does have a horrible message, it just kind of splits into 3 crowds

“The show/film/movie sucked anyway and I hate it now!” (which honestly, this one I have the least issue with. But I feel like it’s a bit dangerous to just do a 180° instead of admitting that horrible people can write good stories or that a well-crafted story can rope you in to accept a fucked-up core-message.)

“We have to separate the writer from the work!” (which is the old problem of making sure they don’t still get fucking money from you.)

What they’re doing with Neil Gaiman now: Angrily trying to argue his case and disprove the allegations, usually peppered with some weird sweeping statements acting like there is now a hate-campaign against the fandom and ‘everything is so toxic now!’)

And I think the flipside of this – of this kind of personal moral investment on why this video game is the Morally Superior Video Game or why Harry Potter is the answer to all life’s questions or committing to supporting Neil Gaiman’s victims – is that they seem to feel like if they would admit that the creators are horrible people, they would also be forced to give up the kind of moral superiority high that they got from pretending their fandom was the most superior, most moral fandom to ever exist in the first place.

By the end of it, they just act like every alt-righter and conservative when a rich white person receives backlash: Try to smear the victims, try to use singular statements and aspects of the culprit’s past behaviour to show what a Nice Little Dude he is (“here’s Johnny Depp visiting those kids at the hospital again!”), make up some fake alternative universe where victims (especially members of marginalised groups) are actually taken super-seriously by some Dangerous Woke Mob while innocent rich men have their careers ruined all over  their place and are dangerously oppressed. They’re not so different from the people who claimed Bill Cosby was being falsely accused even after he fucking confessed.

And the thing is…Hollywood is extremely fake. Rich people are extremely fake. They have agents and stuff managing their public appearances and reputations and statements. And the thing is, that doesn’t necessarily mean someone is bad – I would do the same if I were a public person. I would also manage which parts of me the public sees and gets to react to and relentlessly talk about online and in insipid tabloid articles and so on.

But the point is, that we don’t know these people. No one knows these people just based on their tumblr or twitter or anything. I remember for how long there were ‘first glimpses’ of JKR’s transphobia and tumblr kept explaining it away, usually arguing that it is misinterpreting or that she didn’t know who she was sharing or that being suspicious of her for liking 1 post is disingenuous. While she has been friends with the likes of Emma Nicholson since at least 2005.

Anyway, if anyone around here hasn't already, please read I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy.

(*this is more a general statement, not a comment on the fandoms you mentioned, obviously stuff like OFMD does have queer love stories. Before anyone gets in my business.)

[misha-moose-dean-burger-lover]

microdosing on coming out to my friends by recommending them one queer lit after the other

[theres-an-impulstor-among-us]

3rd life Villain!Impulse perhaps? Reasoning because he's been so nice to all factions and appears very harmless...until he kills Tango in the firing squad scenario. Do with that as you will :3

honestly i think the villain 3rd Life AUs are some of my best writing. also i’m pretty sure i’m gonna end up writing everyone as a villain at some point lol (villains so far: Scar, Etho, Tango, Grian, Ren, Martyn, now Impulse. Joel too if you count that fic where he kills Jimmy)

…

A feeling of dread hangs over Impulse as he makes his way up to Tango’s base. Getting a private message from his best friend, simply saying “we need to talk”, has highly unsettled him. He has absolutely no idea what Tango could want to talk to him about.”

As he gets to the hill Tango calls home, he spots Tango himself standing at the top, arms folded, clearly watching him. A shiver running down his spine, Impulse slowly climbs up the hill. Tango watches him all the way.

Finally, he gets to the top. Keeping an eye on the sun, which must be about an hour away from setting, he gives his friend a wave. “Hi, Tango. What’s… What’s going on?”

Tango’s looking at him with a narrow-eyed expression of distrust. “I know your game, Impulse.”

“Huh?” Impulse blinks. That’s not what he was expecting. “What?”

“Your little game of pretending to be allies with everyone so nobody will ever turn against you. Etho, Dogwarts, the crastle folk. You’ve got them all wrapped round your little finger.”

Impulse frowns. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Tango rolls his eyes. “Uh huh, ‘course you don’t. You change the sheet music for everyone, don’t you? Everyone believes they’re the only one getting your support. Well, not me. I know what you’re up to and I’m gonna make sure you stop getting away with it, starting today.”

As Tango turns to start walking away, Impulse grabs his wrist, stopping him from leaving. “Please don’t, Tango,” he says calmly.

Tango scoffs. “Let go of me, Impulse. I’m gonna expose you whether you like it or not.”

Impulse hangs on to Tango’s wrist. “I’m giving you one last chance to back down. You’re red; if something happens to you, you won’t come back.”

“You’re not gonna stop me,” Tango retorts. “I know you. Your niceness has always been your biggest weakness, and in this case, it’s gonna be your downfall.”

“You’ve misjudged me.”

Impulse abruptly seizes Tango’s lapels and roughly swings him closer to the edge of the cliff, holding him dangerously close to the precipice. “I‘ll do anything to survive,” Impulse says coldly. “Anything.”

Tango’s eyes widen with shock. “Impulse-!”

But Impulse shoves him off the top of the cliff.

He waits for a few seconds, listening to Tango’s screams get quieter and quieter, until they’re abruptly cut off.

Tango fell from a high place

Taking a deep breath, Impulse takes off running. He doesn’t know if there’s anyone nearby but he can’t risk it. If anyone sees him here, he’s done for. Absolutely done for.

The chat is filling up with confused and concerned messages but it doesn’t matter now. Tango is gone forever. Nobody ever needs to know what happened.

Impulse dashes back towards the wool castle but as he passes Tango’s still-gushing lava minigame, he bumps into Etho, who’s running the other way.

“Impulse!” Etho breathes. “Gosh, you scared me. What happened?”

Despite internally panicking quite hard, Impulse manages to stammer, “I-I dunno, I was just going to Tango’s base to talk to him when I saw the message. I thought he might have been somewhere around here but I couldn’t find any dropped items or anything. He must’ve been somewhere else when he died.”

“Tango doesn’t just fall from a high place like that,” Etho says. “He’s careful. Impulse, I’m worried that someone might have murdered him.”

“What?!” Impulse gasps. “Who would do that?!”

“I don’t know for sure, but my prime suspect is the crastle alliance. Bdubs had it out for Tango for some reason so I’m sure he knows something.”

“Oh no…” Impulse stares at his friend with wide, innocent eyes. “Bdubs wouldn’t have taken TWO of Tango’s lives… would he?”

Etho slowly shakes his head. “I don’t know. I thought I knew our friends really well but lately, I…” He sighs quietly. “Let’s just say I wouldn’t put it past him. But it’s getting late; I’ll go talk to him tomorrow.”

He turns back towards the castle. “You coming?”

“I‘ll be there later. I’m just gonna go check on my villagers.”

“Gotcha. And Impulse…”

Impulse pauses as Etho glances back at him. “Thanks for being the only person on this server I can really trust.”

Impulse smiles back. “No problem.”

…

Under the cover of darkness, Impulse makes his way to the crastle. He can see Cleo up on the roof, aiming a crossbow at him, but thankfully, she lowers it when he gets close enough for her to see who he is.

Cleo and Bdubs let Impulse into the crastle. “What’s going on, Impulse?” Bdubs demands. “Nobody seems to know what happened to Tango!”

“Nobody’s owning up to knowing, anyway,” Cleo adds. “I don’t suppose you do?”

Impulse shakes his head. “I’ve no idea. But I’ve heard rumours going round the server and I thought I should come to you directly to let you know.”

“Let us know what?” Bdubs says.

“That Etho suspects you guys had something to do with Tango’s death.”

“What?!”

Bdubs and Cleo exchange a shocked look.

“Why would he think that?!” Bdubs snaps. “He has no evidence!”

“That’s why I thought I should come over and warn you,” says Impulse. “He’s gonna come over here tomorrow to confront you about it.”

“Oh gawsh…” Bdubs groans. “Thanks for telling us.”

“Oh, but this is just to give you some warning to prepare. You can’t let Etho know I told you, okay? Otherwise he might not tell me other stuff that concerns you guys.”

“Don’t worry, we won’t,” Cleo says. “If we’re your secret girlfriend, does that mean Etho’s your… uh… spouse?”

“I don’t really have a singular “spouse”,” responds Impulse, making air quotes over the word “spouse”. “More like the rest of the server is my “spouse” and I can’t let them know that I favour you over them.”

“Riiiight, gotcha. Guess you’d better head home before your “spouse” misses you.”

Impulse nods. “Yeah, I gotta go back to Etho. See you guys later.”

As he leaves the crastle and starts to head for home, he spots a figure watching him from next to one of Bdubs’s tall spruce trees. When the figure comes forward, Impulse recognises the person as Joel.

“Hi,” he says, giving a friendly smile. Joel isn’t one of his official allies at the moment but that doesn’t mean he can’t be nice to him. “What’s up?”

“I heard Tango died,” Joel says, eyes sparking with interest. “Do you know what happened?”

“No, I don’t. I just saw it in chat.”

“I think you’re lying.”

Impulse blinks. “What?”

Joel grins as he senses he’s caught Impulse off guard. “I said I think you’re lying. I think you’re manipulating everyone into believing you’re their friend when in actuality, you don’t care about any of them. And I think you killed Tango when he confronted you about it. Am I wrong?”

Impulse stares at him, unable to say anything in his defence.

In the ensuing pause, Joel takes a sudden step towards Impulse, who backs up a few steps, his hand automatically flying to the hilt of his sword. But he pauses. He has to be extremely careful here; Bdubs and Cleo may be watching him. If they see him put a single foot wrong here, it’s over. He has to let Joel make the first move.

“Would you kill me?” says Joel challengingly. “Would you kill me as callously as you killed Tango?”

Impulse carefully turns his back to the crastle and narrows his eyes. “Come and find out. Or would you rather die stupidly and pointlessly because you forgot about FIRE DAMAGE?”

That does it. Impulse knew exactly how to rile Joel up and it works. Eyes flashing red, Joel growls and lashes out with his fist.

Impulse allows himself to be hit in the chin, narrowly avoiding biting his tongue. Joel’s second blow, this time to the stomach, winds him and causes him to drop to his knees, vulnerable. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Joel drawing his sword. This is it; this is the moment. Either his position on the server will elevate… or he will simply die.

He holds his breath and squeezes his eyes shut.

“GET AWAY FROM HIM!”

An arrow flies out of nowhere and buries itself in Joel’s chest, causing him to stagger back a step. A split second later, a second arrow hits Joel in the neck, and that’s all it takes.

SmallishBeans was shot by BdoubleO100

Impulse stares at the ground where Joel had landed, a second before he died. He can’t believe his plan worked so well.

“Impulse, are you okay?” Bdubs appears at Impulse’s side, discarding his crossbow. “What happened?”

“He… He was gonna kill me,” Impulse chokes out. This isn’t entirely an act; Joel’s unexpected hit to his stomach has completely snatched the wind from his sails.

“Why? Why did he wanna kill you?”

“Did he really need a reason?” Cleo says. “He was red and Impulse is green. Nuff said.”

“Wh-Whatever it was, you guys saved my life.” Impulse gives them a smile. “Thanks. If Etho or anyone else asks what happened, you guys spotted me getting attacked by Joel on my way back from checking on my villagers. Okay?”

“Ooh, good story,” Bdubs says approvingly. “But are you sure you’re okay? You’re not hurt, are you?”

“No, no, I’m fine. Thanks to you guys. I should probably head home, though.”

Bdubs pats him on the shoulder. “Yeah, go get some rest. Thanks again for… um… coming past and not visiting.”

Impulse nods, knowing exactly what Bdubs means. “No worries.”

…

“Joel just attacked you?” Etho frowns. “Why would he do that?”

“He doesn’t need a reason,” responds Impulse, recalling what Cleo said earlier. “He was red. I guess he just saw an easy target and couldn’t resist.”

“So he attacked you on your way back from the villagers, huh. And you’re okay, right? You’re not hurt.”

“No, I’m fine,” says Impulse. “A little shaken and tired from everything that’s happened, though.”

“Oh yeah, you should get some sleep.” Etho smiles at his friend. “See you tomorrow.”

“Night, Etho.”

As Impulse gets into bed in his room, he can’t help a small smile. He took a big risk today but it has really paid off. Getting rid of two red lifers in one day is enough of an accomplishment in of itself, but doing it without arousing suspicion on himself AND managing to turn Etho and Bdubs further against each other? That’s something he can be proud of.

All he needs to do now is make sure he’s in the right place at the right time for Etho’s confrontation with Bdubs tomorrow and perhaps he can be there for another red life death. Bdubs may be one of his strongest allies but if Impulse sees a chance to get another player out of the game, well…

He’s going to take it.

[thedelusionreaderbitch]

Inej Ghafa x fem! insecure! Reader - Arms Of A Saint

A/n: I know this came out of no where but... Here it is! I promise that dancing eyes part 2 is coming out soon I just had an idea and I couldn't get it off my mind. Plus! Cause I just watched Cruella recently I will be making a Kaz Brekker fic based off of that ish!

Warnings: Body dysphoria, the reader thinks she's ugly, blood, guns, mentions of wounds, YOUR ALL BEAUTIFUL REMEMBER THAT!!! I think that's it? You have been warned!

Summary: You get the Wraith hurt, and your insecurities get the best of you

(image not mine)

You sighed and rested your forehead against the cool glass of the window. You considered bashing your head in too, maybe this feeling would go away then.

Tears started to build up in your e/c eyes and you couldn't stop them from falling down your face. Of course, you were crying - not being good enough fucking sucked.

Brushing your tears away angrily, you stomp over to your dresser. Why couldn't you just be good at your job? It would make everything so much easier if you could just be as good as the others. At least then you would be competent at something and your looks might not have mattered that much then.

You bring out a small bag and start shoving some clothes in the sac. More tears start to drip out of your eyes and you can't seem to stop them as you pack up everything (which is very little).

Stop being weak Y/n.

You hurry and run out the door with your bag in your hands. Your lucky it's a Sunday because most of the dregs would be out at the bar or on a job. You almost start running down the stairs but the window seems like the better option. And the Wraith wouldn't be out tonight.

That was completely your fault too.

Starting to climb out of the window and you land on the ground with a thump. You groan in pain, great you probably bruised your bone. Fucking fantastic.

You double-check you have everything and that your katanas are on your back. Tracking your path back towards the harbour where your boat would be there always waiting for you.

It always knew you were going to run back to it. You always did, in the end.

You were blind, naive even. You've always been running your entire life, running from your abusive parents. Running from sick men, running from your insecurities. You were good at it too, Inej may have been good a disappearing in plain sight but you could travel across the world and no one would be able to find you again even if they had the exact coordinates to where you were.

Inej, oh Inej.

Leaving your friends was going to be hard, but leaving Inej? You almost wept at the idea. She was your moonlight, yet she was your sunrise. Your moonrise, your little nickname for her.

She was always so amazing but you never envied her, no. You embraced her and all that she was, her bad parts and her good parts, Inej Ghafa was a saint if you ever saw one.

And the fact that you love her may also be another reason.

You run down the harbour trying to reach your boat before anyone would catch you. Although you did have a seeking suspicion that they would be secretly glad you left. No one screws up as many times as you do, and this was just the breaking point because you screwed up big time.

You had nearly gotten the Wraith killed.

You were with the Crows on a simple job, get inside the house that had ten security guards and kill the sleeping man and get out. Simple. Really you wondered why Kaz even needed the crows for this one.

Then how did it go so wrong?

You were all running, they knew you were going to be there but they didn't even double their guards. No, they thought someone was going to be there, singular. Nevertheless, they still knew. So you kill the sleeping man, you all are running but as it turns out what they told you was true. As soon as you would kill that dense man they would (try) and kill the Wraith.

They almost did.

Two bullets landed in her chest, it's a miracle she survived really. Plus that was three days ago and no one would talk to you, you had realized then that you had to leave. What were you worth if they couldn't trust you? You remembered the harsh words they had said, and you don't blame them Inej is their best friend. That didn't mean it hurt any less.

"What will happen the next time? And the time after that? You are suspended for a few weeks, we just can't trust you to do the rational thing as of right now."

Ouch.

"Y/n?"

You whip your head around and you go to reach for the katanas on your back but then your eyes land on Inej.

Your hands fall from your back and you can't meet her eyes. How could you? Not while you were going to leave to the only person who could even come close to a living saint. Fuck Alina Starkov no one could ever beat Inej Ghafa. But that's not why you love Inej Ghafa and there would never be one reason, but hundreds that you could list off for all of eternity if you wanted to.

Unfortunately, you didn't have that type of time, did you?

"What are you doing?"

Your eyes finally meet her and your breath catches inside your throat. The moonlight shines on her skin making her look like she's glowing and it accentuates her eyes making them look like they're dancing moons.

Like you yell to the world every night, a living saint.

Quickly you look down again not wanting to have to see her face when you break it to her.

"Leaving." It's one word with two syllables but it still makes tears come to your eyes. Or maybe it's just the person you telling it to. But you force the tears down but you don't even bother with the neutral 'I don't care' face. Your not Kaz Brekker and Inej would see right through that. Maybe that's why you always liked her, she could understand you.

To a point obviously.

"That's all? You're leaving and that's all your going to say to me! Leaving!"

You throw your hands up in the air. "Well, I can't stay here! Not in Ketterdam! I almost got you killed. You don't come back from that! I just can't bear the thought that-" You cut yourself off not being physically able to finish the sentence. How could you not though? You had to make her understand why.

"That maybe next time you would be gone, and it would be because of me."

Shock adorns her face. "You see why now? I can't stay! Everyone is already mad at me as it is! I just am tired of not being enough and getting people killed."

You take a deep breath trying to steady your breathing. "And I would be damned if you got caught up in my web of screw-ups, you don't need that." You shake your head to put emphasis on your words. "It would only get you killed and the world needs Inej Ghafa."

"By the saints Y/n! What the fuck are you talking about!"

Jumping startled at her outburst you realize then she might not just let you go like you were hoping for.

Well... Shit.

Honestly, this was not part of the plan.

"Of course you're enough for our little group of friends! Your a valuable team member who can slice people in half, and no one has the same knowledge of ancient to new languages as you! You blend in so well in a crowd it's scary! But we don't just keep you around because your good for jobs you brighten everyone's day by taking time for all of us, we need you!" Inej sighs and takes a step forward. She takes her hands into mine.

"I need you."

You breathe out a stuttering breath as she says the words. I need you. Although the words brought fields of hope into your heart, the doubt was still in the back of your mind, why would she need you? And for sure the Crows didn't want or definitely need you! But Inej wouldn't lie!

"I think-" You take in a breath and look straight into her eyes. Her eyes are the night sky. They're brown almost black but they have flickers of light like the stars in the Zemni farms. It hits you with full force and you nearly stumble over. You force yourself to look and pull away from her arms and those beautiful eyes.

"I don't think you get it Inej."

"Then explain it to me."

You close your eyes. How could you explain it to her? That every moment you look in the mirror and you feel disgusted with yourself. That you feel like your skills could never match with the ones of your friends?

"I'm just not enough, okay! I look at myself and I see these tiny flaws and they slowly just get bigger, and bigger. And every time I attempt to make them go away it just gets worse!"

You let out a choked-on-sob laugh. "And then my useless skills! Don't even get me started on that! Maybe looks don't matter that much, and I can suffice without looking even a bit fucking pretty but my 'talents' made up for that! But I look around at everyone else and I just can't seem to see why anyone ever keeps me around!"

Tears finally fall from your eyes as you sob and your knees wobble and they go to give out, but Inej catches you.

"I wouldn't lie Y/n, you are my everything."

The words were simple, yet they held so much weight of what they actually meant.

"You will always be enough for me."

And the Saint takes you into her arms.

Words 1605

-thedelusionreaderbitch

Shadow and bone taglist: @kaqua @rika90 @thefandomplace @musical-theatre-obsessed-dumbass @gallysonegoodlung @navs-bhat @sumsebien

(I do not own six of crows or shadow and bone!)

[mysterioushogwartsrequests]

Hey i wanted to ask if you could write a reader x fred fic where they learn about the mirror of erised in class and then the reader has to step in front of it to say what they see and they say smth like "fred could you step aside" or "could you get out of the frame, you are in the way" and it turns out he wasn't even close to being in the mirrors view and so they just announced that their deepest desire is fred, ik it's very specific but please🥺❤

I’ve actually been thinking about writing something like this so I am very glad you sent this in!!! And, honestly, really specific requests are always welcome because I know exactly what you all want! I love any request you send my way :).

Title: The Desired Slip-Up

                                         ϟ ϟ ϟ

Fred and George’s Sixth Year at Hogwarts had already started off with a bang. The announcement of the Tri-Wizard Tournament had everyone in high spirits, and they all waited impatiently for the Winter holiday celebrations. Sure, they were dealing with an unpleasant scammer by the name of Ludo Bagman, but the Twins were certain they would get their way eventually.  

Like any other year, Fred continued his usual school-yard scheming with his brother, occasionally stopping to view the petrifying tasks of the Tri-Wizard Tournament where Harry Potter managed to avoid the clutches of an irritated Hungarian Horntail. Despite having excellent marks, the Twins often found themselves bored with the courses at Hogwarts and were often discussing ways to avoid attending them. However, the possibility of their mother finding out about their misbehavior urged Fred and George, despite their grievances, to attend their classes.

Professor Moody currently held the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and often introduced unorthodox items in his teachings. Well, what could really be considered unorthodox at a school for Magic?

On a particularly cold Novembers’ day, Fred sauntered into the classroom, tailed by his brother, and at once caught sight of the ornate mirror at the front of the room. The students were gathered around each other’s desks, exchanging whispers as to what the mirror could do. Waiting for his students to settle, Professor Moody rapped his fingers against his desk, his blue eye ardently scanning the room as two more girls trailed in.  

Fred and George took their usual seats at the center, roughly setting down his belongings behind Angelina Johnson, who turned to face the noise with a hint of annoyance.  

“Making sure everyone hears you arrive?” She asked teasingly, swinging her legs over the empty space beside her.  

“You know us, Angelina-” replied George with a thumbs up  

“Always putting on a show” finished Fred, shooting his friend a wink before acknowledging the empty seat, “And (Y/N)?” asked Fred, earning a shrug from Angelina. However, before Fred could ask anything else, Mad-Eye Moody rose from his seat and tapped the edge of the mirror with his wand, effectively silencing the class.  

“Now, I’ve prepared a very special lesson for you lot and I expect your undivided attention” Moody declared, his good eye trained on Fred Weasley, who was doodling product designs on a spare bit of parchment. George, noticing Mad-Eye’s intense stare, jabbed Fred’s side and gestured for him to look forward.  

Begrudgingly setting his quill down, Fred rested his cheek against his palm as Mad-Eye cleared the first row of desks nearest to the mirror. It wasn’t that he wasn’t interested in Mad-Eye’s teachings, Fred just found it rather difficult to concentrate when he was plagued by thoughts of (Y/N)’s absence. Although (Y/N) (L/N) was quite the prankster herself, she was not one to miss classes, especially if the Professor was known for dealing out harsh punishments if he caught you.  

“I want a nice, clean line facing the mirror” Mad-eye announced, gesturing towards the empty space he had cleared, “This isn’t your ordinary, everyday mirror so don’t let me catch you fixing your hair and makeup in front of it” He warned, eyeing the group of giggling girls lining up beside him. With a sigh, Fred pushed himself off his seat and followed George and Angelina towards the front of the class, gaze trained out the window as he wondered what it would feel like to fly through the cold-wind at this very moment.  

Paying no attention to the lesson, Fred narrowed his eyes at the shape whizzing meters from the window. “Is that a person? Flying towards the castle?” he thought, subtly inching towards the glass to get a better glimpse of the robed figure, but they had already vanished. Scratching his head, Fred directed his attention towards Mad-Eye Moody, who was pointing at the calligraphy above the mirror which read:  

“Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi” or “I show not your face, but your heart’s desire” as Mad-Eye translated.

“When you look into this mirror,” Mad-Eye began, stepping in front of the line so the students could only see his reflection, “You will see what your heart most desperately desires, but be careful” He added with a wicked grin, his eyes trained on his reflection, “Some of you may go mad if you stare for too long…”  

Fred eyed Moody suspiciously, it seemed like he himself was transfixed with what he currently viewed in the mirror, only stepping away after giving his head vigorous shake. Bearing the same wicked smile, Professor Moody gestured towards the mirror, “Any volunteers?” he asked nonchalantly, but the prospect of going mad spooked the usual eagerness to participate out of his students. The Sixth years looked around at each other, trying to see who would be brave enough to face the Mirror of Erised.  

At that moment, the door to the classroom slammed open and the sound of running footsteps filled the room. Gasping for air, (Y/N) (L/N) looked up at Professor Moody with disheveled robes and a broomstick gripped in her right hand, her satchel hanging loosely over her shoulder as she set her broom against the wall.  

“Professor, I am so sorry. I lost track of time while at the Quidditch Pitch and—” but Professor Moody cut off her rambling excuses with a swift raise of his hand.  

“As a result of your tardiness,” Moody growled, his good eye trained on (Y/N) as the other whizzed from her broom and back to her, “And flying around the grounds without permission” he added and (Y/N) bowed her head in shame, setting her satchel down beside Angelina’s before walking towards the front of the classroom.  

“You will be the first to demonstrate the effects of the Mirror of Erised,” Moody finished, his eyes glinting with anticipation as he urged her in front of the mirror, “I’ve already explained what the mirror does, but unfortunately, you were late so you will find out on your own” he explained, looking back at the group of students behind him, “And none of you runts will tell her, got it?”As he snapped, a couple of frightened Ravenclaw girls nodded intensely causing Fred to roll his eyes for the third time in the hour.  

Feeling increasingly nervous, (Y/N) looked towards Angelina with a sheepish smile, then towards the Weasley Twins. George shot her encouraging thumbs-up, but Fred only grinned at her, urging her forwards while mouthing, “This is your punishment.” She and Fred had not always been great friends, she actually despised him during their second year when a balloon full of ink fell on top of her head, spilling its contents all over her new robes. Despite being increasingly furious that day, (Y/N) found herself laughing at the prank after Professor Flitwick removed the stains of her clothes and Professor McGonagall scolded the Twins in the middle of the Courtyard. After seeing the embarrassed looks on their faces, (Y/N) went up to them and declared the beginning of a prank-war, therefore igniting the first flames of the friendship.  

At the end of their second year, (Y/N) was crowned Prank Champion, complete with a parchment crown and colorful ribbon Lee Jordan had prepared for the winner. The summer after that, the Twins invited (Y/N) over to The Burrow where they spent the hot months of July playing Quidditch in a clearing and enjoying Mrs. Weasley’s delightful cooking. It was not until the 1994 Quidditch World Cup that (Y/N) realized her feelings towards Fred were more than friendship. She often recalled the late-night talks they would share in the Astronomy Tower, neglecting the homework they promised they would do that evening. But she really couldn’t help it, Fred was so easy-going that it was no arduous task to get lost in conversation with him. Now, they were in their Sixth year and she had collected an assortment of sweaters gifted to her by Molly Weasley, as well as many joke-shop prototypes from Fred and George.  

With the announcement of the Yule Ball, (Y/N) immediately imagined herself in a beautiful gown, circling a ballroom with Fred Weasley at her side. As she stepped up to the mirror, she took a deep breath with her eyes closed, the image of Fred’s infectious smile fresh in her memory as she opened her eyes. 

Well, it was not difficult for her to imagine Fred’s wide grin because it was staring right back at her, standing beside her with a singular rose extended towards her. Blinking rapidly, (Y/N) leered at the mirror, stepping towards it with her eyebrows furrowed, frustrated by Fred’s overconfident grin shooting towards her.

As the minutes passed, her annoyance only grew. Not only did she not know what the mirror was supposed to show, but she also had Fred’s playful gaze trained onto her. With a large huff, (Y/N) crossed her arms over her chest and moved towards the right, trying to cover Fred’s presence in the mirror.  

“Something the matter?” coughed Mad-Eye, whipping the droplets of his drink away from his face and stuffing his flask into his robe pocket, “Tell us what you see.”  

Without taking her eyes off the mirror, (Y/N) clicked her tongue in frustration, “I really can’t see anything with Fred in the way,” she admitted, “Can you get out the way? You’ve been grinning at me like a mad man”  

Fred registered George’s snort of laughter beside him, his ears flushing red as he replayed (Y/N)’s words in his head, “(Y/N), sweetheart” he spoke up, raising his hand up in the air to show how far back in the line he was, “I’m over here, love. How could I possibly be blocking your view?” teased Fred, stepping out of the line as (Y/N) whipped around to face him. 

With her mouth agape, she locked eyes with Fred and realization dawned on her, it was impossible, Fred was too far away, and he was the only one the mirror was reflecting... She should’ve at least seen the rest of the class or even Mad-Eye!  

Turning back towards the mirror, (Y/N) noticed Fred’s smiling face again, but also noticed the green dress robes he was wearing and how she was wearing the most magnificent purple gown she had ever laid eyes on, “I don’t understand” (Y/N) uttered out, turning her head towards Mad-Eye, “I- only see Fred and I… going to the Yule Ball together…” she admitted, lowering her voice as she did so.  

“Well, Mrs. (L/N),” Moody began, “The Mirror of Erised shows your heart’s most desperate desire and it seems yours is to be Mr. Weasley’s date,” he said matter-of-factly. (Y/N) blushed furiously at his words, her eyes darting towards the real Fred, who bore the same smile as his reflection. She could verbalize the relief that washed over her when the bell, signaling the end of class, rang and immediately taking the opportunity to bolt out of the classroom, leaving her broomstick in her wake. The rest of the students exchanged whispers as Fred and George exited the classroom, making jokes about what they thought they would see in the mirror.  

“Would you like some alone time?” asked George mischievously, handing Fred (Y/N)’s forgotten broom, “I’m sure there’s plenty the two of you should talk about” George then waved his brother off and ran down the corridor to join Angelina.

Fred looked down at the broomstick in his hand, his thumb trailing over the initials she had carved into the wood. A small smile appeared on his face as he caught sight of his own initials in her broomstick, the ones he had carved during the summer after (Y/N) lost the bet at the World Cup. With a newfound sense of courage, Fred strode down the corridor in search of (Y/N), determined to find her before she could hide in her common room.  

                                        ϟ ϟ ϟ

(Y/N) halted once she reached the Training Grounds, her hands placed over her knees as she took deep breaths, the crisp, frigid air filling her lungs, “Way to go!” she exclaimed angrily, stomping her heel against the ground out of pure embarrassment. Sinking down onto the snow, (Y/N) covered her face with her hands as she racked her brain for any sort of excuse she could give to Fred, but ultimately came up empty.  

“You know,” called a familiar voice behind her, “If you wanted to go to the ball with me, all you had to do was ask…” stated Fred, stepping towards her curled up frame. Jumping at Fred’s words, (Y/N) pushed herself off the ground, wiping the snow off her robes before pointing a finger towards her crush.   “Listen here, Fred” she stated defensively, “I-I have a perfectly clear explanation for this…” (Y/N) tried to explain, her voice wavering as he stepped closer to her, the scent of his cologne mixing with the chilly air, effectively weakening her resolve.  

“I’m all ears, love” He added, a playful smirk playing at his lips as he stuck out her broomstick, “You forgot this on your way out, it’s nice to see my initials are still there” Fred winked, letting his hand rest above hers as she attempted to retrieve her broom.  

“W-Well, I did lose the bet after all” muttered (Y/N), the blush returning to her cheeks as their fingers brushed together.  

“And I’m sure you’ll lose this one too” added Fred casually and (Y/N) raised an eyebrow at him, “What do you mean by that?” she asked cautiously as he laughed.  

“Well, I bet that you want to go to the ball with little old me, but you’re too afraid to ask” Fred stated confidently, smiling at the look of shock on (Y/N)’s face. He was not surprised by her reaction, not at all, it was what he had expected to see, to him, she was so easy to read. Fred understood what it meant when she scrunched up her nose during their late-night study sessions, how her leg would bounce underneath the desk when she was itching to go play Quidditch or the cute frown she bore when something did not go her way. It was not difficult to understand that this expression of shock meant he had been right on the mark.  

“Am I wrong?” He asked, his hand snaking around her waist, pulling her closer to his taller frame. Closing her mouth, (Y/N) looked down at their closeness and then up at Fred, “You’re not.” she admitted, swallowing her pride for once in her life.  

“Then, allow me,” whispered Fred, stepping back, and pulling out his wand before uttering the word, “Orchideous.” At that moment, a large bouquet of roses popped out of the tip of his wand, which Fred then took and dramatically brought himself down to one knee.  

Clearing his throat, he raised the flowers up and said, “(Y/N) (L/N), would you do me the utmost honor of accompanying me, Frederic Weasley, to the Yule Ball?” he asked, his grin growing wider than she ever thought possible.  

She would be lying if she said she had not imagined this moment playing out in her head, but never thought about it actually happening. However, there was no denying that the real thing felt better than her usual daydreams...  

With her heart beating against her rib cage, (Y/N) delicately wrapped her fingers around the bouquet and brought them up to her nose, the intoxicating smell of roses easing her nerves, “I would be delighted to accompany you to the ball, Mr. Weasley” she replied with a grin, slipping her hand into his extended one as he stood up.  

“Brilliant,” He whispered, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear, “But you know, you did lose a bet…” Fred muttered, his thumb trailing over her cheek as a faint tinge of red appeared over them once again.  

“Yes, that is true,” (Y/N) admitted with a nod of the head, “I suppose there is something you want me to do?”  

“I wouldn’t say that,” added Fred, stepping closer to her, and placing his other hand on her cheek, “I think the winner deserves something sweet” He stated huskily, his face dipping closer to hers, “Don’t you agree?”  

(Y/N) nodded, their proximity sucking the air out of her lungs and her blush darkening as their lips brushed against each other, “I do, why don’t you show me then?” she asked teasingly, a smile appearing on her lips as the smirk on Fred’s face grew.  

“Alrighty, then” With that, Fred closed the distance between them, one hand cupping her face as the other pulled her towards him by the waist. This, too, was better than anything Fred could’ve daydreamed, and he wondered why it had taken him so long to finally kiss her. He recalled the many occasions he could have kissed her, but never committed to it, afraid she might turn him down to preserve their friendship. But after the altercation in Mad-Eye Moody’s class, he knew there was nothing left to lose.

Fred Weasley had always loved (Y/N) (L/N), but it took a magic mirror for him to realize that… Not that he was complaining, better late than never.  

Pulling away from their first kiss, Fred tapped his finger against his chin, “You know, I don’t think just one was enough” he admitted, sliding his arm behind (Y/N)’s knees and scooping her up into his grip, “Wouldst the fair lady grant me one more?” He asked, wagging his eyebrows at her, making her burst out laughing.  

“As many as you want, My Lord,” giggled (Y/N), placing her hands on his cheeks and pulling him in for another passionate kiss.  

As the snow began to fall around them, Fred carried (Y/N) out of the training grounds, both bursting with excitement for the upcoming Yule Ball and the new memories they would make together.  

[sunnysviolin]

Hey! I think that Kel would wear some unique types of bottom's like Sweatpants, Palazzo's, Cargo pant's, and etc. I also think he would also have his hair in a small ponytail. (That's right, I'm back.) - 💥/ Genderfluid!Kel anon

Sorry 💥! This had to wait for Shan’s birthday!!! But Yes I love the idea of weird fashion icon genderfluid Kel 0-0 They rock every outfit they wear. Also the back end of this just turned into Kel loves skirts the deep dive...sorry 

Kel has always had an....eccentric fashion taste but honestly once they start high school they just go feral with it. 

Kel tends to wear the same five tshirts and tank tops with the same two sweatshirts, but bottoms? That’s her shit. He has everything

Sweatpants are a must. He has three pairs of the same exact ones that are his favorite. Each pair is rattier than the last. They are obscenely tie dye and they usually pairs them with an orange tank top. Various people have tried to stage an intervention to no success

Kel is that person who has something in every pocket of their cargo pants. Need a tissue? A mint? A calculator? Exactly 42 cents? A granola bar? She’s got you. It becomes the joke to ask if Kel has X and watch her unzip one of her pouches. 

Palazzos are special af. It’s one fo the first ways that Kel can play around with their gender expression before they fully commit to doing so. Palazzos are closer to being feminine, but due to Kel’s unqiue style, no one bats an eye when he comes in in a pair of black and white checkered harem pants. They feel perfect

But once they feel comfortable enough to add more feminine clothing to their wardrobe? Oh all bets are off. 

Skirts? Coolest thing ever. Kel really likes a skirt/shorts underneath combo because its the most comfy option ever. The ease of shorts with the fun swishy feeling of skirts. 

The first time they wear a skirt out is....nervewracking. He doesn’t wear it to school, just to an outing with him, Basil, Aubrey, and the hooligans, but it’s still scary. Angel gets to make one singular comment before Aubrey hits him upside the head and tells them not to treat Kel like a joke. Ever. 

(Don’t worry Angel definitely apologizes later that day and Kel accepts. Angel is very particular about getting Kel’s pronouns corrrect after that) 

There are a lot of people who do end up teasing her for what she wears, but between being a pretty popular basketball star and Aubrey just being...intimidating, the supporters drown out the haters. 

Basket Ball Team Solidarity. That’s all I’m gonna say. Kel wears a flouncy full skirt and someone just won’t shut up about it. Aubrey ends up getting suspended for getting into a fight with that person, and then the school tries to suspend Kel for being the “instigating force” They manage to give him two days. 

The basketball team finds this out and they all collectively wear skirts together. It’s not something they necessarily like but nobody gets to fuck with their point guard. Kel finds this out and she def cries but it’s okay. 

Kel usually uses they/them pronouns for convenience, but his closest friends always make sure to double check what pronouns would be most preferred. Aubrey makes Kel two more friendship bracelets (one blue and one purple) so she can choose which one to wear to indicate which pronouns she wants and when. 

It’s a bit of a learning curve for the hooligans, but they are trying because Kel is actually pretty cool once they get to know him. 

So many of his teammates get very confusing crushes on Kel. Really confusing and self realizing crushes. It becomes the things they talk about when Kel isn’t around because it’s so hard to not have a crush on them? 

Kel wore a pleated mini-skirt of Kim’s with galaxy leggings underneath the other day, and the team had an entire group phone call about it just to discuss. Kel is blissfully unaware of how many sexuality crises she is causing, she just really liked that skirt. 

Aubrey absolutely knows what’s going on, and she thinks it’s really funny, so she encourages her best friend to wear even more fun skirts. 

[katnissmellarkkk]

Andddd here’s my chappy three thoughts 🥳🥳🥳

Hmmm Katniss saying that her mother has a dress made of velvet is actually really interesting because it shows that Mrs. Everdeen Lily-Rose really was well-er off before she married Katniss’ father Hunter.

Or did she get the velvet dress from Maysilee? Oh well, who knows.

Aww, Katniss’ nervous habit of touching soft things repeatedly to soothe herself 🤧🤧.

“Crying is not an option. There will be more cameras at the train station.” — someone tell that to Peeta 🤣🤣🤣.

Okay I gotta stop picking on Primmers, I know but like. How small is she that she sits on Katniss’ lap like a toddler but then in the following year is the same height as her? Doesn’t matter I know but still I wonder.

Okay so Mrs. E is the doctor for the people of the Seam? Idk I never thought about this but who does people like Peeta or Madge or Delly go to if they’re sick or hurt? Is there a still running apothecary shop that Katniss never mentions? Are her grandparents still running the family biz?

Also okay, I gotta stop having so many thoughts on all the lil details I know but like. Katniss says here she’s familiar with the herbs her mother doesn’t grow on her own so like a). Katniss is more of a healer than she leads on because no average person knows what kind of plant is medicinal and b). Her mother is just growing herbs and Katniss never mentions it again in the whole series? Or I just missed it.

Okay imma move on from this one singular paragraph but Gale and her made a pact a year ago that they’ll supply each other’s family with game if they were to be reaped... I’m feeling like their close friendship is probably only one year old then? Idk. Just my interpretation.

Honestly I love Katniss getting mad at her mom here.

She’s sixteen, for God’s sake, of course she’s angry at what her mother’s illness put her through.

Also I lowkey like that her mother got mad back because that lady in the movies had zero personality.

“Boys who are two to three times my size.” She sounds so little, omg 🥺🥺🥺.

“I don’t care if we’re rich, I just really want you to come home” 🤧🤧🤧😩😩😩😩 okay Primmers, you got me here.

“the Peacekeeper is at the door, signaling our time is up, and we're all hugging one another so hard it hurts and all I'm saying is ‘I love you. I love you both.’ And they're saying it back...” this is so sad leave me be 😫😫😫😫

Katniss is burying her face in a pillow to block out her emotions this is too much for me 🥵🥵🥵

Omg I forgot Peeta’s father visits Katniss 😅

Why does he visit Katniss?

She describes Peeta’s father as a “big, broad-shouldered man.” And then describes Peeta as stocky. Idk the comparison of the two descriptions has always led me to think Peeta is gonna be a big dude when he grows up like his father. This made no sense and had zero correlation but I thought, so I said it, no regrets

Oh he brought her cookies 🤧

WAIT WAIT WAIT. I just had a new thought, y’all. What if instead of the baker bringing cookies being a thing he does for all tributes, what if he’s bringing the cookies because Peeta asked him to, because he made them and wants to give them to Katniss and knows she’ll never accept / trust them coming from her competition? What if that’s the real reason the baker visited her in the first place? Because Peeta asked him to? This was such a shipper comment but idc, no regrets, remember?

Omg Peeta’s father is just mute 🤣🤣🤣

Between an abusive, angry mother and a mute for a father, the Mellark brothers must have had a fairytale of a childhood 😅😅😅😅.

But seriously #PoorPeetaMyBaby

Aww Peeta’s father is gonna help keep Prim alive 😭

Omg I just remembered he’s her mother’s ex boyfriend. Haidon Mellark, as I named him in my fics.

That one fic where he was thought to be Prim’s real father is just playing now in my head, rent free.

But does Katniss not realize that he may be offering to help Prim as a favor to her? Like she claims Prim is just so wonderful people adore her but there’s like zero evidence in the text that make her endearing? Okay I need to turn this bus around, I need to find a love for Primmy Deen.

Madge is not one for preamble apparently. No “hi, how are you? I’m sorry you’re gonna die? What will your last meal be?” Just right to “here, wear this family heirloom of mine, k thanks.”

I like that Madge had to kiss her cheek for Katniss to realize they were friends 😅😅😅.

I remember always loving her and Gale’s hug here. I’ve always felt like it was platonic, but especially when I first read the books and had zero preference one way or another for Gale or Peeta, I really liked how she said even with nothing romantic between them, “when he opens his arms, I don’t hesitate to go to him” or something I’m paraphrasing ok I’m lazy

Also though, this is the first time they’ve ever hugged? Idk why that surprises me? It shouldn’t because where is a hug gonna fit into a hunting trip 😅🤣😂 “I just caught a deer!” “let’s celebrate with a hug!”

I like that Katniss remembers how her father even failed to make a good bow sometimes. Random, I know.

I like that the Capitol weren’t entertained by the people freezing to deaths because it wasn’t bloody enough 🤭🙃

“How different can it be [to kill a human vs an animal]?” She’s about to find out, Gale 🥺. And when she comes back you won’t understand 🙄😔

What did Gale want to say before the Peacekeepers dragged him away?

I used to think it was a confession of love but I’m actually sure it wasn’t now? Just the wording “remember I-“ doesn’t sound like it, considering he never confessed anything prior to her coming home.

I’m assuming now he was just gonna give her some more advice to stay alive 🤷🏼‍♀️. Clearly if it were relevant it would have made its way to the others books.

Aww, she’s never been inside a car before 😭😭. I didn’t even know they had cars in this universe but okay.

I notice though how she says “In the Seam, we travel on foot.” So is Peeta just riding his trolly down the street every day with the other merchants then? 🤣

Peeta just openly crying on camera 😅😢.

I like how Katniss is like “ooo is this an act to get sponsors?” when in reality Peeta’s like “no, I’m just a soft and genuine boy ™️”

Omg I just realized this totally goes along with Peeta’s thing later on “I want to die as myself”

He’s refusing to hold back his emotions because he thinks he’s doomed to die and he’s already refusing to pretend to be or feel something ingenious.

But a Johanna mention in book 1 chapter 3 woohoo 🥳🥳🥳 also Katniss comparing Jo and Peeta is kind of like foreshadowing of their shared torture in book 3.

Omg she just called Peeta broad-shouldered and strong. 🥰🥰🥰 my headcanon for his post-canon body is confirmed

Also why does Katniss keep allotting his strength to carrying bread trays around? Are they heavy? Why have I never once heard of people who carry bread trays being strong? I always thought Peeta was really strong because he learned to fight in order to defend himself against his mother but that’s probably wrong.

But if a mother is abusive, it can lead to one of the kids being physically violent as well and we know Peeta isn’t but he has two older brothers I’m gonna cut myself off now but I think we all smelled what I just stepped in.

Also I just find it so fascinating now how she regards herself vs Peeta here.

When talking about herself, she says, “The competition will be far beyond my abilities. [...] Oh, there'll be people like me, too. People to weed out before the real fun begins.” But when she talks about Peeta, she immediately says, “It would take an awful lot of weeping to convince anyone to overlook him.”

It’s just funny how she discounted herself right from the start but thought he was a real contender and then come to find out, Peeta believes it’s the exact opposite 😂🙃. They’re both so stupid I can’t even take it.

Wait did they actually give the location of the Capitol and the location of District Twelve in today’s world? And I just overlooked it? Brb I’m gonna go to google maps right quick.

Okay so basically what I gathered is the Capitol is probably in New Mexico and District Twelve is somewhere between Kentucky and Alabama. Irrelevant I know. But just a reminder now to everyone that Katniss and Peeta are literally speaking, crying and screaming in thick, backwoods southern accents.

It’s literally so sad how everything for Katniss is about food. Like every motive she has, every action she does is about preventing starvation ever again. 🤧🤧🤧

First mockingjay mention 🤭🤭.

“My father was particularly fond of mockingjays” 😭😭😭 I bet he was 😭😭😭😭

We always go on and on about how Katniss is a mockingjay or her children are mockingjays but Katniss herself here says mockingjays represent her father imma cry, y’all 😫😫😫😫

“It’s like having a piece of my father with me, protecting me” shut up shut up shut up shut up

Awww, Katniss has never had food like this before 😔😔😔

Neither has Peeta 🤧🤧

Katniss disliking the way Effie put the two kids from the year before down and so began to eat like a pig just to prove her point, is so her. And the beginning of her fighting for the underdog.

Omg the Rue introduction 🥺🥺🥺

Bahahahaha the commenters calling District Twelve backwards but charming 😅😅😅 they really are the hillbilly district

Peeta’s unexpected laugh 🥺🥺🥺 I love you, baby

“He was drunk. He’s drunk every year.” “Every day.” Katniss and Peeta are already finishing each other’s sentiments and teaming up to get on Effie’s nerves I love them so much 😍

Oh my God, Effie, you selfish jerk. They’re kids having fun for like one second, no need to throw in their faces they’re gonna die if the drunk won’t help them. I’d forgotten why I don’t really like the book version of her. I actually prefer her as comedic relief in the movies.

I actually just realized I really dislike Effie Trinket, I hope they never speak to her again Post-Mockingjay. Idc how you’re raised you don’t need to treat teenagers who are sentenced to a probable death badly just because they laughed at you 🙄🙄🙄😡😡😡😡. They didn’t even really laugh at her, she’s just annoying and awful, we don’t stan Effie in this household.

Okay, that’s all for my thoughts on chapter three! Until next time, y’all ! If anyone actually read this long mess of a post.