#gibby deserved better

[ytcomments-archive]

[stusbunker]

Spotless: Larghetto

Chapter Thirty

Featuring: Dean Winchester/Reader, Dean/Bela

Other characters: Gibson child OMC, Lee, Sam, Pamela

Word Count: 3310

Warnings, etc: Mutual pining, angsty af flashback, Dean does Uncle things, apologizes, and makes up his mind-ish, still unbeta'd

Shout out to @lastactiontricia for her help talking me through this one

Series Masterlist

The moment Dean's ass hit his seat on the Proud Mary the following afternoon, it all clicked into place. They were back on the road. The apology tour was in full swing. Okay, no one actually called it that, but it was essentially that. Something settled inside him with the realization, his ribcage was suddenly spacious from the lack of shrapnel. Dean took a deep breath to adjust for the extra room.

Huh.

The rest of the band found their usual books and Kevin waited patiently until everyone seemed settled before he plopped down on the aisle seat a row ahead of Dean. 

The last ones on the bus were Gibson and Bobby, who no doubt was running the kid around the venue to burn off some of that unquenchable energy only children possess. 

“Alright, Gibby go find your daddy! I've got a bus to steer,” Bobby sent him off simply, before turning to the rest of them. “Everybody ready?”

“Sound off,” Pamela bellowed to make sure everyone who had to be there was there.

“Gibson?”

The little dude giggled at being first. “Here!”

Bobby smiled as much as he ever did and turned to the other side of the bus.

“Kid?”

“Present!” Kevin replied.

“And Dean's here I made sure of that already,” Bobby muttered, not letting Dean off the hook for yesterday so soon. Dean tried not to look too put out by it; he deserved worse. Everyone else sniggered and oo’ed at the burn. 

Bobby’s attention slid further back, eyeing people as he said their names. “Sam?”

He didn’t say anything, but Dean was pretty sure he caught Sam raising his hand in his periphery.

“Pam’s got her ducks in a row, I see. Trouble, you good, darlin’?”

“All good, Bobby,” you said somewhere in the back.

Dean tuned out the rest of the roll call, knowing between both buses everyone would be accounted for, scratch that the three buses now with Jodi and Donna’s crew. Hearing your voice reminded Dean that he still owed you an apology for his disappearing act. And to say he was nervous about it was an understatement, because he didn’t think he could tell you what actually set him off, not outright.

It wasn’t your fault, or Victor’s for that matter. But there was no way it came out without sounding like he was placing the blame elsewhere. No, it would be better to keep it short and cut his losses. Less is more and all that.

By the time he made up his mind to get it over with, the bus lurched forward into traffic and Dean knew better than to go walking around until they were on the interstate. As big as the thing was, standing while it kept stopping and starting could make even the most seasoned traveler queasy. So he stayed put and put on his headphones to let the familiar sensations distract him as he waited.

Before he knew it, Dean had nodded off.

April 2017

The curtains of his hotel room were pulled open and Dean groaned against the assault of daylight against his hangover.

“Bus is leaving in a half-hour. Get in the shower or I’ll get Sam to make you,” you didn’t beat around the bush.

Dean didn’t open his eyes. He felt you moving around the room, tidying while he stretched, yet remained stubbornly in bed. He had never had a handler, except for major events like public album releases. Your dotting made him feel important. Like he was above you, higher up than just from being part of the band that employed you. His festering ego drank in the servitude. 

His knuckles popped as he flexed his fingers, broken skin stinging as it stretched wide. He did not want to move. He wanted to see how far his skin could split and still stitch itself back together.

“I don’t know how you managed to make a hotel room smell so bad in less than two days, but I do not envy the cleaning crew,” you muttered as you shoved his dirty clothes into his duffel. “Dean!”

“What?!”

“Get up!”

“Fuck off.” Dean rolled over and cradled a pillow under his aching head.

Suddenly he was dragged down the bed, the comforter pulling him with it until he rocked onto his side and all of the bedding slid off his naked body and onto the floor.

A strangled sound came out of your mouth, an angry cousin of a gasp. “What the—- where did all those bruises come from?”

“Yeah, cuz that’s what you’re looking at,” Dean snipped, hauling himself upright, unfazed by the horror on your face. After a few moments of not meeting your eye, he couldn’t take your gawking sympathy any longer. It all made his skin itch. “I’m up! That’s what you wanted, right? Now you can go.”

Immediately he saw you fold, tuck away all that natural concern, and put on your business face. “If you’re not downstairs in fifteen minutes, I’m sending Sam AND Bobby to get you. And if that doesn’t work? I’m sending Pamela.”

Dean rolled his eyes and dragged his ass to sit on the edge of the bed.

“How’d you even get in? Jesus!”

That was the wrong question to ask. You stomped past him and made a show of swinging a very broken hotel room door back and forth. “How do you think I got in?! How’d the lock break, Dean? Hmm? Was it the cops or just security crashing the little mosh-pit-orgy combo you had up here last night?”

It was him. He kicked in the door because he couldn’t find his key. The girls he had picked up from the afterparty were starting to whine. And he really just needed the night to be over, but his damn thoughts wouldn’t shut up. So, he figured if he got his dick wet enough his downstairs brain would override all of that.

He told you none of this.

But by the smell, the mess, and the used condoms, you had figured out enough.

Oh, and by his bare ass, that too.

Dean stood up and blocked you from getting further into the suite again.

“Get out of my fucking room you fucking groupie! I swear to god I’ll call security. Send Sam, hell, send Bobby! I fucking dare you! They won’t care what you say. You little narc. I know how to do my job, maybe you should remember what yours is and stop shoving your nose in everybody else’s business. Christ!”

Dean had never seen hurt like that flash in your eyes, but it only added to his twisted vindictiveness. The rotten truth that he didn’t deserve you looking after him paired with the insurmountable belief that he could do it all on his own anyway had him continuing to push you away.

“Why don’t you go find somebody who gives a damn, huh? Cuz none of us need your sorry ass around, Trouble. I mean it. You're just a charity case for the band. Even Cas.”

You inhaled through your nose. Dean watched you darkly, waiting for the waterworks. You didn’t give him the satisfaction.

You plastered on a company smile. “Now you’ve only got ten minutes, Mr. Winchester. It’s a good thing you’re already undressed for that shower, isn’t it?” 

Dean watched as you stormed down the hall and jabbed the call button for the elevator. Before you could look back to see if he was doing what he was told, Dean slammed the broken door closed, forgetting the jagged frame, and watched helplessly as it simply bounced back at him.

Thankfully, the bathroom door still worked.

Dean’s nap was short lived. Instead, he silently berated himself for saving your apology for last. Though to keep from putting it off, he told himself it would only get better once he actually got it over with. Call that progress. He stared at the seat back in front of him and willed himself to move.

The thing about going to therapy and putting in the work, Dean now knew why he did a lot of the things he did. But that didn’t make any of the accountability easier.

   Dean hauled himself up and waited a beat for his bus legs to come back to him. He grunted as he stretched and glanced around the bus. Kevin had his head down and his arms crossed over his chest, while his massive headphones kept Dean from knowing if he was sleeping or just lost in sound. Annie was dozing draped over two seats on the other side of the space that was far too wide to be considered an aisle.

Dean leaned over and flicked Sam’s topknot because he could. Which earned him the finger, but the easy annoyance supplied him with just enough ease to let a grin slip onto his face. He spotted Lee and Gibson at the kitchen table playing cards.

“Playing Kings on the Corner if you’re up for it?” Lee mentioned as he shuffled. 

“Pssh! Gibson, I would have thought you’d be running a Blackjack table by now. Let’s put some money down,” Dean teased as he approached. That was when he spotted you with your nose in a paperback, sharing a row with an eye masked Pamela. 

“Trouble! Why don’t you get in on this game, huh? I’m sure—.” Dean bent over to read the cover. “I’m sure Hoover, the writer, not the vacuum, wouldn’t mind if you took a breather. It’s for a good cause! That being Gibson’s college fund,” he trailed off.

Lee just smirked at him.

God, he felt so obvious.

“Does Gibson even want me to play?” you said knowingly.

“Sure does, don’cha, buddy?!” Lee swooped in and helped Dean save face.

Gibson knew when to lay it on thick. “Please?! It’s better with four people!” 

Dean’s chest thrummed with the look you gave his surrogate nephew, equally attentive, exasperated, and amused. 

“Is that so?” you asked, waiting to hear out a six-year-old’s reasons.

“Yeah, cuz it’s Kings on the Corner. And there’s four corners,” Gibson summarized beautifully, pointing to each spot someone could fit around the table.

Dean looked at you and shrugged. Who could argue with that logic? You held Dean’s gaze and smiled secretly, so as not to let Gibson think you were laughing at him. Which made Dean feel warm, and so very grateful that he could still share that kind of smile with you. 

You set your book down and Dean eased into the bench seat to make room for you. “And how is this helping Gibson’s college fund exactly?”

Dean ducked his head. “Well, not THIS game, but I was thinking, uh, maybe after a few rounds we put a little cash on the table. A little five card stud or blackjack maybe?”

Lee chuckled. “Gonna let him have the real tour bus experience?”

Gibson worked on shuffling the cards as the adults held their breaths over that clearly downplayed idea of what goes on on tour, especially on the bus in question. God, Dean was gonna crack at any moment, between the warning in Lee’s eyes and the mischief in yours.

You rolled your eyes and cleared your throat. “Need help?” you asked the now struggling child with hands too small for a proper bridge shuffle.

“Eh, he’s doing alright.” Dean exhaled, letting the adult humor fade out of the conversation naturally.

“Yeah, I got it,” Gibson agreed, tapping the edges to get the cards to line up smoothly.

You all made it through three hands of Kings on the Corner before switching to a very mild game of BlackJack. Dean took the pot of a cool fifty bucks from Lee just as Bobby pulled up to their next hotel. He helped Gibson clean up and put the deck of cards back in a basket the band kept underneath the bench seat along with a few other games and puzzle books.

Pamela, still groggy from her nap, called Gibson over to grab his backpack as everyone started gathering their things to check in. Dean ruffled his dark hair and thanked him for a good game as he passed by you both.

“That was fun— he’s such a trip,” you said fondly.

“Yeah, ‘s probably my favorite kid ever. Way less of a whiner than Sam ever was,” Dean agreed. 

“I should probably get my shit together,” you said, clearly not in a rush to move.

“Yeah— it’s not like the hotel is going anywhere.” Dean just needed to get this over with. “Hey, listen, about yesterday—.”

“Yeah what was that, mister?!” you tried to keep it light, but something in the tone of your voice told him it was a bigger deal than you were putting on.

“I’m sorry. I just—.” Dean wiped his hand down his mouth and thought about how he was going to explain himself. “I had to work through some negative energy. I should have told somebody where I was going and that I was okay— I just saw red and needed to move before I did something stupid.”

You listened, clearly worried, but didn’t press him for more than he wanted to give. “Is everything alright now? I mean, the show was great— nobody would have known.”

Dean thought back to the show the night before, so much came to mind, but also hundreds of shows before it filtered in to muddle the fresh memories. “I’m good. And next time I need to take a breather I’ll let somebody know so I don’t freak anybody out. I know better— that was all on me.”

“If you’re sure—”

Dean knocked your shoulder with his. “I’m sure. Thanks for lookin’ out. It means a lot.”

“Of course!” Your brow furled like he was an idiot to expect otherwise. 

Maybe he was.

He definitely didn’t want you asking more into it. He glanced around the bus, half the band had already cleared out, but Bobby was still helping Annie get her bags together before they’d head inside to confirm all of the reservations.

“I guess we better scoot before they lock up.” Dean stood hunched over, waiting for you to let him out of his spot.

“Yeah, god I hope I’m by the elevator this time. My legs feel like cement blocks today,” you confided, slowly getting up and letting Dean stand to his full height.

“You were rocking some serious heels last night—- your knee isn’t acting up is it?”

You glanced at him with a curious tilt to your head, walking back to tuck your book in your messenger bag. “You saw my boots? Why— Um, no, knee’s fine. Well, as good as it ever is.”

Dean burned as he realized he had admitted to checking out your legs, which really was the least of his recent sins, but still shouldn’t have slipped out. “Oh, okay— that’s good. I just know some docs in Vegas if you needed some pain relief or needed it looked at—- or anything.”

 You shrugged your bag onto your shoulder and grabbed your phone from the ledge by the window. “I’ll keep that in mind. Hopefully I won’t need it though.”

“Right.” Dean exhaled and stepped back to let you head to the bus doors.

Before Dean could even remember to grab his own stuff, a gruff voice broke through his brain fog. “Real smooth.”

He spun to see Sam smirking at him beneath his stupid hair and oversized headphones. “Shut up, bitch.”

“After you, jerk.”

The next afternoon, Dean had Gibson on his back as they made a mad dash for the bathroom in the Children’s Zoo area at the San Diego Zoo.

“Excuse us, emergency,” Dean said as he dodged through the crowd of strangers and more strollers than he could count. Didn’t these people have something better to do on a work day?!

“Uncle Dean?” Gibson sounded worried.

“Almost there, little man,” Dean reassured. He was the one who had stuffed the kid full of slushies and cotton candy, so he said he’d be the one to make sure he didn’t have any accidents or stains on his clothes.

He might live to regret that promise.

Finally they rounded a corner and Dean spotted the little peg people and an arrow towards a set of doors. The family bathroom was locked when he tried to yank it open. He grunted and bent down to set Gibson down.

“Alright men’s room, this way—- told ya we’d make it,” Dean ushered Gibson inside and followed to guard him while he did his business and make sure he washed his damn hands. They were heading to the Safari park next and he didn’t not want to worry about letting the little gremlin sit on his lap with bathroom germs all over him.

“Okay! Let’s go find Uncle Sam and your mom, huh?”

“Do we have to?” Gibson whined.

Dean chuckled. “Come on, they’re not that bad!”

“Uncle Sam keeps reading to me about the animals and Mom just wants to pose for selfies with the mama and baby animals.”

“So?! At least they like hanging out with you! Could be a lot worse,” Dean suggested, directing Gibson through the crowd with a hand between his little shoulder blades. He tried to remember if his dad had ever taken him or Sam to a zoo, but all that came to mind was his mother chaperoning a field trip to a pumpkin farm once upon a time before Bush Sr. had taken office.

The Safari Park was pretty cool. Dean got stopped by a couple of employees for selfies before they were through the line for the jeeps. But they made up for it with letting them skip to the front. There was also the few minutes he had to hold Gibson’s head away when they happened upon a rhino trying to mount a female. The thing’s dick was longer than Dean’s arm.

“It’s okay, Sammy,” Dean placated. “Anybody’s gonna have an inferiority complex compared to that. Not me, but anybody else.”

“Bite me, Dean,” Sam muttered, remembering not to swear in front of the kid.

Dean cackled as Gibson huffed in boredom.

The day was just what Dean needed after the extreme highs and lows of the weekend, relaxing with low stakes. They grabbed a late lunch at a deli down the street from the hotel and made plans for the Midway Museum the following day, after Dean’s therapy call. He wondered if you’d be able to join in on the fun. Bobby had gotten the tickets, so Dean guessed you wouldn’t have any conference calls either. Or he hoped.

Dean really didn’t know what to say to that. Bela had been prickly early on during the last afterparty, but neither you nor she had said anything that gave him any idea what was going on between you two.

And he wasn’t sure he wanted to get in the middle now.

But Bela wouldn’t have said something unless she was genuinely worried about you. Or about your friendship at least. Dean sighed and said he would tell you to call her. He just didn’t specify WHEN was all.

He got a couple of hearts and a ‘thank you’ text back.

Dean couldn’t help but feel like this was backwards. His loyalty wasn’t with Bela, especially not when it came to you versus her. And unless the next few shows bombed, he didn’t think there was any reason to keep playing pretend. He was back. The band was thriving, as the kids said, and he was completely in love with someone else.

So, yeah, Dean might check in and see if you were pissed at Bela. But he sure as hell wasn’t going to do anything more than that. Unless you needed him to.

Tagging:

@deans-spinster-witch

@mrswhozeewhatsis

@cosicas-cuquis

@fics-pics-andotherthings-i-like

@suckitands33

@ladysparkles78

@deans-baby-momma

@stoneyggirl2

@sassy-pelican

@leigh70

@globetrotter28

@winharry

@lastactiontricia

@rockhoochie

@brightlilith

@coldhearted93

@djs8891

@beautiful-places-blog

@n-o-p-e-never

Chapter 31: Ziehen

[oh-three]

Station 19 S7E5:

Oh, Maya, we love you.

The way the crew didn't respond to anything until Andy announced that Theo resigned.

Nooooo, not Crisis One.

Maya apologizing to Beckett (ayyy, we love character development) >>>

"Just because your last name is Herrera doesn't mean you have to lead from his shadow." I missed this side of Maya. Also, what an awesome quote. I miss Pruitt, but she's right.

Warren, you are not going the Sullivan route. Warren, tell me you're fucking not. I never thought he'd do this. Maybe he does need to take a step back.

Ayyy, Dispatch Jack!! Good for him. He still gets to help people, even if he's not in the field the way he used to be.

Never occurred to me they'd take a call in this tower.

I do not want to be Vic right now. I could never do that job.

Y'know, it's been a while since we've had such a big fire. I do miss those episodes.

And there goes the fucking medkit.

Ayyy, Theo got a new job fast. And in the same field. Good for him.

Beckett, give a warning next time, man. Like, sooner. What the fuck.

Travis having a moment and being scared for Warren, regretting fighting with him. I knew he wasn't really upset with him. Because he's right, they never fight. I hope they don't kill Warren off like this. He's earned the right to be able to retire/

Not Carina being reminded of her brother 😭

Warren asking how Sully wants to propose, because he wants to talk about something exciting in what might be their final moments 😭

Stu is great, just wanted to say. Best person to have with you in this sort of situation.

"Hey, Gibby…I'm gonna need you to help look after our little girl. Alright? And tell Miranda…she was worth waiting for." 😭 😭 😭

EXPLOSION, NO.

Please, please only be unconscious.

Damn, those extinguisher spheres are fucking neat.

AYYY, THEY MADE IT. THANK FUCKING GOD.

It's hasn't been long enough since Dean for us to lose someone else.

Oh, fuck, the ring. Why did you even take it on call.

Oh, neat, Ross found it.

Beckett and Maya having a heart to heart >>>

"I will always have your back." 😭

Vic having a freak out on camera…that does not look good.

Andy having to play bad guy and send Vic home is rough, and definitely hurts everyone a bit, but it was the right choice. She is lucky she didn't get fired on the spot.

hugs Carina

God, Sully's hands are huge.

LMAO, SHE STILL LET HIM PROPOSE. The fact that she knew the ring came from him in the first place is fucking hilarious 🤣

AYY, SHE SAID YES.

Theo still coming to the ceremony despite resigning says everything. He didn't resign because of Andy, not at all. He's one of her biggest supporters, has been since they met, always will be. ❤️

Vic better not do a spur-of-the-moment thing and quit. I don't think she would, but people do things unlike themselves when they're emotional.

Ayyy, Jack's there. And he's recording it 😭

looking back on the series with nostalgia on how far the station and Andy have come

She deserves this. I'm so happy to see her here.

Fuck, the flashbacks read my mind. 😭

THEY'VE ALL COME SO FAR.

[generalgibby]

Majin Gibby having a bad day. 😤

Maybe treat yourself to make yourself feel better, you deserve it. 🥳

[wheelermike]

The poetic fuckery cinema of Gibson saving Tommy and Alex from drowning after the torepdo and then Alex leaving Gibson to drown in the boat.................................

[deadliestnat]

crying because the all the trios w matching skins have ~connections~ or whatever but gibby is placed w rev and cuckstic like nooo >:((

[exauhstedsunflower]

My brain went down a rabbit hole ignore this unless you like to overthink inconsequential shit like kids shows.

Anyways I really like how in I Carly the kids all gravitated to Carly’s apartment. And, like, that was for a reason, right? Carly lived with her brother, who has his own issues but basically moves heaven and earth to raise his little sister since her dad isn’t there to do it. Thats some unconventional shit right there.

And Carly doesn’t mention it often but we do see that she’s missing her father, doesn’t have a mother figure, and really looks up to Spencer, who is trying to give her a stable life while also figuring out his own life.

And this man who is raising his sister since their parents aren’t there sees Carly’s friends and basically raises them too.

A girl that comes from a neglectful mother, no father to speak of? Fits right in, she’s welcome any time. There’s food for her, he’ll buy her whatever she needs, there’s always room for her for the night. She even shows up without Carly, she has a key. Sam basically lives there. And Spencer is okay with, if not entirely encouraging, of Sam being around more often than not. Vacation? Sam’s there. Out to eat? Sam’s there. Art event? Sam’s there. Spencer is Sam’s adult in any way he can be without scaring her off.

And a boy who has an extremely controlling, neurotic mother, no father figure either? Right across the hall? He makes nice with the mom, invites Freddy in. Soon enough Freddy’s there all the time. He listens when Freddy complains about not being able to so much as bathe without his mom breathing down his neck. He gives Freddy freedom to roam with the girls when he’s supposed to be in charge of them. He includes Freddy in reckless endeavors, lets him make mistakes, encourages and praises his ideas because this kid’s practically a genius.

He’ll do anything for them. He does ridiculous things on their web show and faces down with people who should intimidate him and tags along as an adult when needed. He even lets them help him, whether it be artistically or an actual problem, because they’re family and he’s a good role model like that. But mainly he just, lets them be kids. Because they deserve to be. Because he had to grow up quickly so that Carly wouldn’t have to.

And that’s not even mentioning Gibby sticking around since clearly that kid’s a bit weird so what better place for him, honestly?

I just love Spencer Shay and no I have not watched the reboot let m have this.

[bonschai-moved]

i want to punch my anxiety!!! in!!! the face!!!

[theroyalmisfitmess]

i really liked pete as well he's legit the most accurate teenage boy in the show while still being a good guy probs one of the best love interest in the whole show for realism lmao. also shane being literally just being freddie if he didn't tolerate the girls bullshit is lmao hilarious and never thought about that might actually have foreshadowing in a way.

YES! pete was such a sweetheart to sam 🥺 and since he gave a speech at sam’s party (alongside gibby and wendy), is it safe to assume that he’s also a close friend of the gang? i truly hate how the og writers kinda forgot about him and wendy. he deserved so much better and i wanted to see more from him. i think he could’ve been a nice recurring character.

shane and freddie are different fonts of each other LMAO but kidding aside, he truly is a more assertive freddie. freddie didn’t deserve the treatment he got from the girls, but i guess he loved and cared about them both too much to actually leave their friend group—good to see that in the revival they’re all equals though. also, nice mention on the foreshadowing. we didn’t exactly see carly and sam fight over freddie, due to the weird brush-off-at-once writing in the og show, but they eventually both dated him at different times. it’s just funny how they instantly fell for shane’s looks. i know that the friendship probably overshadowed the possibility of them liking freddie when they were kids, but it’s hard to believe that they didn’t even find freddie objectively “good-looking” (because i’d honestly have a crush on him in high school if he were my schoolmate, if it was just based on looks alone LMAO).

side note: if shane returns there should be a joke that he looks like james diamond from big time rush

[maileman]

This game has reminded me that I’m still mad that Estrada didn’t get a complete game in game 1 of the ALDS last year

[rashavince]

The Legends As Musical Characters I Think Deserved Better

Bloodhound: Heather Chandler from Heathers. This was easy because both characters had v good one-liners but speak v little otherwise.

Gibraltar: Chad from Highschool Musical. Don't @ me, Chad was gay for Ryan, and also from what I remember Chad deserved more screentime AND SO DOES GIBBY.

Lifeline: Fantine from Les Mis. This is solely based on the fact that I feel like Fantine deserved to like,,,live longer than the first like 30 minutes of the musical. And I feel like Lifeline deserves more time in the spotlight (like Fantine!)

Pathfinder: Glinda from Wicked. LOOK technically she did have a kind of good ending but I still think she should've ran off with her girlfriend friend instead of stay behind. Also, both are v cheery characters.

Wraith: Éponine from Les Mis. Wraith gives me the vibes that she would never actually pursue someone she loves and would eventually watch them fall in love with someone else. I'm still mad that Éponine died for a really sub-par dude who fell in love with a girl he met for 20s INSTEAD OF THE WOMAN HE'S BEEN FRIENDS WITH FOR YEARS.

Bangalore: Enjolras from Les Mis (leader of the rebellion). I feel like both these characters have v strong moral codes - even if Bang's is misled by the IMC - AND ULTIMATELY Enjolras didn't deserve to die! He was deadass fighting for what was right and he died while Marius didn't (i don't like Marius lmao). Bang would probably die for a cause she truly believed in BUT DESERVE BETTER nonetheless.

Caustic: Oh my god all of these are from Les Mis Jean Valjean from Les Mis. 1) Both are dads. 2) I feel like despite moral,,,shortcomings (granted, i don't think stealing a loaf of bread warrants 5 years in prison but the "justice" system is shit so) both men are very good people.

Mirage: Ryan from Highschool Musical. Both are very much people that like the spotlight, and honestly probably deserve to be there more than they are.

Octane: Christine from Phantom of the Opera. You might be confused. Lemme explain. Christine kinda had two shitty options (Raoul and Erik did not deserve her) and I feel like the one thing that both Octane and Christine want is freedom. Freedom from obligation and past mistakes to just be who they are (a singer and an entertainer respectively).

Wattson: Meg from Phantom of the Opera. Both support the main cast but ultimately get like. No respect, in terms of chatacterization. Yes we did get Wattson dealing with trust issues but we need moreeee (also Meg was supposedly Christine's friend but the two interacted twice the entire musical???).

Crypto: Elphie from Wicked. Both have green aesthetics. Both are wrongfully persecuted by the law because people hate them. Need I say more?

Revenant: Erik/The Phantom from Phantom of the Opera. Do I condone his actions in the musical? Absolutely not. Do I wish he had a better upbringing to prevent the events of the musical from ever happening? Yes. Same energy with Revvy boy, I feel like he deserved to remain a human merc instead of a simulacrum. So I don't condone either characters current actions, but they deserved better in their pasts.

Loba: This was easy, Sharpay from Highschool Musical. The number of video essays pointing out how much Sharpay deserved what she was auditioning for but ultimately lost it to Protagonist Plot Armor is astounding. Also, both are kinda villified by their respective stories but I love them all the same. im biased tho im a loba stan lmao

[puppyandrade]

SORAYA BARBOSA-NAZARI

GENERAL INFORMATION

Born in Malta, on Psamathe, Soraya is a 27 year-old make-up artist who has been working on the Apex Games since their creation. She was raised among the rich elite of her planet and has always managed to get what she wanted thanks to her parents' connections — though both of them were extremely disappointed to see her choose to work in the hair and make-up department of the Games. She started low in the food chain but has risen to the top and recently become the Head of the Hair and Make-up Department. Soraya is also known to get involved in the designing of costumes for certain Legends, like Loba and Rampart.

PERSONALITY

"An enthusiastic and stubborn sweetheart who doesn't let anyone step on her feet". This how many of Soraya's colleagues perceive her, and it's extremely close to be exactly what she is. For most things in life, Soraya tries her best to be optimistic and to spread positivity around her, even if it can he complicated when you work at the Games, where people chase each other, guns in hands.

Soraya is known around most of the cosmetic departments of the Games as a very kind and generous person who can appreciate a good joke — good jokes, as well as the bad puns Wattson can come up with. Her smile and laughter are contagious. But the hair and make-up department also knows her as someone who can be strict and demanding when it comes to respecting schedules; Soraya is a kind boss, but she is a boss who wants things to be perfect. She can be a friend to co-workers, but she remains the Head of the department, something that she refuses to let others forget just because she is understanding and nice.

APPEARANCE

In spite of a personality that can appear imposing to many while Soraya is at work, she is far from having an imposing physique. She is a petite woman, not even visibly taller than Wraith, but she wears heels so often that she can fool people into thinking she's taller than she actually is. Soraya is a put together person who makes sure to look nothing short of perfect whenever she gets out of her apartment. She takes great care of her appearance, as her job relies solely on looks. Her go-to make-up is a natural look, but she will never be spotted outside without it.

Soraya has an unexpectedly toned body. Most people don't realize how much effort she puts in her looks and health. She has had to work out a lot to be able to put up with her crazy schedule and her late fiancé, and she has created a workout routine for herself that she enjoys. Soraya doesn't have the rippling muscles of a Legend, but she still manages to impress some people with her biceps.

In spite of an attractive and toned physique, her defining features remain her high cheekbones and strong jawline — many say that her light green eyes are what caught their attention the most. Soraya takes great care of her naturally tan skin and keeps her wavy black hair shoulder length, as it is easier to maintain it on a tight schedule.

FAME & GLORY

Soraya doesn't need to be a Legend and participate in the Games to be famous among fans (as well as the general population). With her father, Barbosa, being the CEO of a company responsible for the creation and production of weapons of all sorts, and her mother being a renown journalist, it is no surprise that she would have gathered attention. But while her parents' fame is partly to blame, the main reason why Soraya's name can be seen on TV and in magazines, is her former relationship with a man more famous than her parents. The fame has allowed Soraya to become Head of her department faster than she would have, had she been a nobody, but she often catches herself thinking that she would rather nobody knows her name. She is tired of being "the draughter of" and "the ex-fiancée of". Fame is nice, but Soraya would rather be her own person.

JAMES "THE FORGE" MCCORMICK

Rocky would be the perfect word to describe a large part of Soraya's relationship with Forge, but nonetheless, she loved the man, in spite of his many faults. Their meeting was far from romantic, as she was introduced to him by her father, a fan of his combat skills and a firm believed that he could offer "The Forge" a great sponsorship. Soraya thought that he was an arrogant jerk (she wasn't wrong), and he thought she was a spoiled brat (he wasn't exactly right). But Soraya was surprised to find that Forge was a man who could treat her like an equal, and not a rich little girl whose feelings needed to be spared — it led them go on several dates together, dates that were, of course, made known to the public. When Forge didn't deny being the source of the rumors, Soraya decided to break things off with Forge.

They found their way back together several months later, after it was revealed that her father was the one who had revealed to several news outlets that she was seeing Forge. They had many arguments about Forge covering Soraya's father being a shitty person to spare her feelings, something that Forge had never done, something that had made Soraya enjoy his company in the first place. They got engaged two years laters. Not too long after, another event almost broke up their relationship: the revelation of Forge's treatment of Bangalore. Soraya thought that his macho attitude was just an act for the public, as Forge had assured her so often throughout their relationship, and the reveal felt an absolute betrayal. It was the fact that The Forge himself swallowed his pride to apologize to her and promise that he would apologize to Bangalore that convinced her to stay.

Sadly, Forge's life was ended brutally, under her eyes, before they could even plan their wedding.

[ RELATIONS WITH LEGENDS UNDER ]

BANGALORE

Because of their link to Forge, Soraya and Bangalore had very tense moments. Until Forge was announced as a future Legend and Bangalore revealed how he treated her, they weren't particularly close or distant, but they later had arguments. Bangalore believed that Soraya was just a naive kid and a jealous girlfriend who couldn't handle the truth, while Soraya thought that Bangalore was unnecessarily rude to her over what her fiancé had done. They have found ways to communicate with each other, and Bangalore is impressed with how much Soraya wants to believe in redemption and see good in people. They have grown close to each other and have built a mutual trust and admiration.

BLOODHOUND

Because of Bloodhound's mask, those two don't really have reasons to spend time together. Bloodhound remains one of Soraya's favorite Legends in the Games, and they are someone that Soraya respects. They have brief but amicable conversations when Soraya helps the costume department.

CAUSTIC

Soraya has only worked with Caustic once. Since then, she has refused to take care of him. Being optimistic by nature, Soraya can't handle Caustic's scientific views on humans — she admires his brains, but she would rather be as far away from him as possible.

CRYPTO

They don't get along, and they don't not get along. Soraya doesn't often work with Crypto, but when she does, they know how to enjoy each other company in silence. Crypto doesn't care much for her, but he likes that she can do his hair and make-up without desperately trying to initiate a conversation like some of the other make-up artists do.

GIBRALTAR

Because he's a giant, sweet teddy bear, Gibby reminds Soraya of both her father and her maternal grandfather — both being two men that she loves with her whole heart. She rarely gets to work with him, but she really likes him, and she always makes time to talk to him, even if for just a minute, and wish him good luck before games. Gibby appreciates Soraya for her optimism and kindness, as well as their common need to see the good in people (even those that might not deserve it).

HORIZON

Horizon hasn't been around long enough for Soraya to have a proper opinion of her, but she is definitely intimidated by her intelligence. Soraya struggles to understand Horizon's accent a lot of the time and spends too much time asking her to repeat herself (until she gives up and pretends to have understood Horizon). From what she knows, Horizon is a good person and she can't wait to get to know her better.

LIFELINE

The first Legend Soraya worked with. Lifeline will always have a special place in her heart — she made her feel comfortable and at ease from the start. Soraya loves working with Lifeline more than anything else because it just feels easy, no matter how complex things can get when it comes to makeup. Her favorite thing is to compliment Lifeline on how pretty she is and to thank her for taking such good care of her skin, unlike some other Legends. They can enjoy chill conversations pre-games and sometimes even hang out outside the Games for a restaurant "date".

LOBA

Refusing to let anyone do her make-up because she couldn’t trust them, Loba originally avoided the hair and make-up department staff, but Soraya’s (very expensive) engagement ring caught her attention. While she only wanted to steal said ring and started to act friendly towards Soraya for that reason, Loba grew attached fairly quickly. The two of them now love their (not so) playful flirting and are unnecessarily touchy with each other all the time. No matter how much they appreciate each other, neither of them thinks that they can, or should, allow things between them to grow any further — though for the most part, it is Loba being worried for Soraya’s safety and believing that a thief isn’t good enough for ray-of-sunshine Soraya.

MIRAGE

Theoretically, Mirage and Soraya should get along well. Things aren’t bad between them, and Soraya loves that Mirage can be eccentric and enjoy crazy costumes and styling, but their personalities aren’t as compatible as some would expect. Mirage’s self-confidence can easily get on Soraya’s nerves, and Soraya’s strict work policies are far from being something that Mirage likes. 

OCTANE

As a Legend, Soraya absolutely loves Octane and his constant excitement and his daredevil attitude. As someone to work with, Soraya absolutely hates Octane. He can't sit still for more than three seconds and it makes it really hard for her to do her job — but she has figured out ways to keep him still enough, by telling him about all the new explosives and crazy weapons her father has been working on.

PATHFINDER

For obvious reasons, Pathfinder doesn’t require hair and make-up time, so they don’t get many opportunities to hang out. Pathfinder calls Soraya his friend, and she calls him her friend in return because she knows that it makes him happy. They have brief conversations in the corridors of the ships 

RAMPART

They have been on a first name basis since the day they met, even if they aren't the closest of friends. Soraya respects how strong Rampart is and her modder brains, being constantly impressed by her. Rampart isn't a big fan of the make-up team because they all can be fussy, but at least Soraya knows weapons and they can talk before matches. Just like with Horizon, though, Rampart's accent often leaves Soraya confused.

REVENANT

It's safe to say that everyone at the Games tries hard to make sure that Soraya won't end up in the same room as Revenant, or even see him in a corridor.

WATTSON

Nothing can ever stop Soraya from thinking that Wattson is an absolute sweetheart and an angel. They don't have deep and long conversations or anything of the like. Whenever Soraya works on Wattson's make-up, she just listens to her ramble about all her inventions. It's quiet and relaxed for the both of them. Soraya occasionally flirts with Wattson because she thinks that she's adorable when she gets flustered. They love to share jokes and puns together.

WRAITH

It took a while for Soraya to be able to approach Wraith, as there was no trust between the two of them. It took months of trying for Soraya to be able to approach Wraith, but they are finally going somewhere. They spend most of their time together simply quiet and enjoying silence. They have a mutual understanding: no personal questions, no long conversations.

[lif3y-stuf1]

So i came up with more interactions between mila and other legends for my legend concept , wanted to share them and maybe get some thoughts about them , the basic idea is that mila is a person that doesn't takes stuff as serious as others and likes to joke about the other legends , not all of them tho

Btw i know that most of them probably aren't good and most likely cringe

For bloodhound some comments about his look and artur (their raven) 

Like " what's with the bird?" And something like " that outfit isn't really fashionable" 

For gibby she doesn't say anything really bad since gibby is to kind for this and doesn't deserve it 

But stuff like " you are pretty heavy " when reviving him or " i don't know if your full of kindness or strength, but it sure as hell is a lot " 

For lifeline something like 

"Makes you kinda useless " when pinging a medkit or " that drone is kinda cute" when pinging her health drone

For pathfinder nothing to bad since pathfinder is to pure but some comments about how he is too kind 

Like " you are disgustingly nice " or " did they forget to put anything else than kindness into you " 

For wraith stuff about her being paranoid like crypto 

For example when wraith says she's being targeted by another player 

You know this " i think someone is aiming at me" 

A nice little quirp like 

" you remind me of my brother" or " my brother would like you" would be nice since crypto is all paranoid and shit 

For bangalore there's a easy thing to go for , the whole military additude ,  stuff like " you ever chill out? " , " are you always so serious?" Or " did you ever spend time outside of the shooting range?"

For mirage lots of comments about his selflove but also jokes about how his clones look better than him 

Like when he deploys a decoy she says      " wow it looks actually better than you " 

Or when he says how awesome his decoy looks she says " you ever actually looked in a mirror?" 

For caustic just some quips about his gasmask 

Like " did i miss when gasmasks became popular?" 

For wattson not anything to bad but maybe one little joke when pinging enemy fences like " carefull you don't want to refresh those scars " 

For octane stuff like 

" is that stuff really good for you ?" Or " can you get there without blowing your legs off ?" When pinging somewhere far away

For crypto lots of stuff to annoy him , jokes about him being paranoid (like mirage already does) and some casual stuff like "remeber back at that chinese resteraunt ? Would love to go there again " 

Or " when this is over we have to visit mystik " 

For revenant she isn't afraid like some other legends (mirage) but rather makes jokes like 

" i bet you looked better when you were still human " or " did they model that creepy face after your old one?" 

And for loba stuff like " your heels really aren't the best choice here " or " carefull , in that shoes you might trip " 

And altough her dead parents would be a possible chance for jokes i Think mila wouldn't be that mean 

And btw if anyone thinks like she couldn't know some things , yeah she might but shes also a hacker and while crypto may has respect for other legendy privacy she doesn't really care and looked for everything she could find 

Note: i don't know if crypto already knows much about the other legends

[aerascreamer]

Only if I’m with you

A Miragehound fic

Fandom: Apex Legends 

Genre: Slice of life (?)

Word count: 1343

Warnings:  A little bit of angst but mostly cuteness and comfort!

Additional note: My first fanfic for the Apex Fandom !! I hope you’ll like and maybe consider checking my ao3 and wattpad (@ aerascreamer) (I didn’t post this fic on these accounts but if you want, I’ll be glad to do it!)

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The dropship landed on the small spaceport next to the Legends' dormitory.

Octane burst out of the exit without waiting, followed a few meters behind by Gibraltar and Wraith.

Everyone joined the building by groups of three or four, Crypto being the usual exception.

When he finally got out, Mirage stretched his arm to greet the bright sun and the clear azure sky.

"Oh, sweet home! Good to see you again! Talos's not bad but-"

He didn't even finish his sentence that Artur smashed on his face.

"What the- HOUND!!!"

A powerful whistle echoed in the air, forcing the crow to perch on Bloodhound's forearm, cawing.

"He's glad to see you, they translated with a serious tone

-How can you deal with him so easily? The trickster asked as he rubbed his scratched nose.

-Artur likes nobody except me, the hunter chuckled. And he can be very territorial.

-More like jealous of my perfect face!" he joked.

Bloodhound approached him and gently took Mirage's chin to examine the tiny cuts.

"It's nothing, your wounds already started to heal, they declared.

-So... Can a kiss speed up the process?" the trickster begged with puppy eyes.

The tracker let go of an amused growl and stepped towards the dormitory.

"Only if you catch me inside mo mhuirnín, they teased as they sprang.

-Come on !"

~~~

The night fell quickly and spread its darkness on the landscape.

Despite the late hour, some rooms still shined through the windows, with silhouette moving behind.

Scrolling down on his phone Elliott read some "juicy" pieces of information (as the journalists claimed) about the competitors, with ninety percent being speculations and false rumors.

Like on this page, some people said about Bloodhound that they are "fabulously wealthy" " a bloodthirsty murderer", "a Goliath whisperer", "a former slave", "half-bat"... Seriously? Half bat? Why not half-dog or half-Leviathan? Wait did that guy misgender them? And Hound never killed someone, just animals.

The trickster looks down to see his partner sleeping peacefully on his lap, inoffensive as a cat. No, the definition he would give to "bloodthirsty murderer".

He couldn't believe he was in a relationship again, especially after how the last one ended.

Even more incredible, he dated a competitor from the Apex Game while playing in this game where you basically shoot freely at each other throat.

And that competitor is none other than BLOODHOUND. Or the one who became Champion FOUR times and killed a Goliath with ONE KNIFE. HOLY F***** BALLS

But the hunter always listened to him, spend time in his company and took care of him so gently, with such patience while being the most humble person he ever met.

Elliot would often ask himself if he deserved someone like them as well as wondering how to give back the generosity Bloodhound offered to him.

But that kiss... The first one... The one where they took off their mask and pressed their soft lips on his...it brushed away all his doubts and strengthen even more his love.

"Hey birdie, wake up! I have to go now."

Bloodhound slowly sat on the couch, half-asleep, and curled back in when Elliott stepped away.

"You don't want to go to your room? he asked.

-I'm good here."

The trickster chuckled as he couldn't help but compare again his love one to a cat.

~~~

Silence.

An absolute silence ruled on the room.

And the temperature fell to the ground.

Only disturbed by the few little lights on the holo-tech devices, the darkness filled the narrow space in each of its corners.

Elliott couldn't sleep, lying on his bed eyes wide open.

Folding between his hands a corner of the blanket, his thoughts pushed each other in his mind without giving him any rest.

He sat on the edge of his bed.

A weight and a hole growing in his chest.

The world felt cold without the consent chatting of the Legends or all these sounds everyone is so used to that they fade into the background...

The TV, the people's walk, the glasses on the table, the clicks of a phone keyboard, the floor cracks, the seat movements, the kitchen growls...

Elliot felt the need to see someone... Not necessarily to talk to. Just having another person in the same room as him would be enough.

But everyone is sleeping and seemed so far from here... as if they were in another reality.

Maybe calling Mom? No, she's asleep too. Knock at Hound's door? They need to rest from the previous match... Same for Gibby, Bang, Ajay, Nat... Everyone!

H*ck, he would have spent the whole night awake with Pathy if this one didn't turn off to charge his batteries or the kid if he wasn't such a d*ck when woken up in the middle of the night.

Hesitant hits brought him back to earth.

He walked to the door, unlocked it and found Bloodhound in front of him.

Without their mask, Elliot could see the panicked expression painted on their pale face, their messy hair covering their right eye.

They nervously rubbed their finger, the short sleeves of the shirt letting their irregular scars on their arm exposed to everyone's view.

"You... You alright?" He stammered, shocked to his partner losing their composure.

They opened their mouth but couldn't say anything.

"Come in, everything is OK birdie."

Legs shaking, Bloodhound entered the bedroom, climbed on the bed and hide their face in their arm crossed over their knees.

Their chest moved up and down quickly.

"Can you breathe? Do you need your mask?" Elliott asked with worries.

One day, the hunter nearly blacked out in the middle of a gunfight because their breathing device shut down all of a sudden... He felt horrible at this moment, totally useless, only able to see his love one suffering.

Bloodhound shook their head, tightening their grip on their pant's fabric.

Elliot sat next to them, a hand on their shoulder, waiting for them (and him) to calm down.

Their breathing went back to normal slowly, the trickster's company reassuring them.

And when Bloodhound finally looked at him, he whipped out a tear holding on their eyelid.

"Feeling better?

-I guess..." Their low voice cracked "Thank you, Elli.

-No prob! I'm always here for you."

A weak smile appeared on their lips...

a smile so rare and so precious that Elliott always felt his heart melting when they appear.

This one making no exception, he wrapped his arms around their chest and pulled them closer.

Bloodhound closed their eyes and started counting the strong beats of Elliott's heart while this one brushed their silky smooth hair.

Comforted in each other's warm, the two back went back to sleep.

~~~

Elliott woke up next to Bloodhound nested against his chest.

It took him some time to first remember the event of the previous night and then calm down after seeing his partner's lovely face under the morning sunlight.

"How did I end up with someone so beautiful they seem to have been literally sent by the Gods?" he thought while rubbing their cheek.

Eyes half-closed, the hunter grabbed the trickster's wrist and intertwined their fingers.

Both remained silent and simply listened to the other breath while the outside birds began their songs.

Then Bloodhound noticed the worries that tinted their partner's eye.

"You seem troubled, they whispered.

-Well... I'm just concerned about what happened last night, he answered.

And especially what made you so upset...

But if you don't want to talk about it that's totally fine I understand!

-It was a very bad nightmare." Their eyes darkened.

"So confusing to explain... And to even remember in detail. I... I just want to forget it."

The hunter shook their head as if a bug landed on top of it, feeling again tension in their belly.

Elliott approached them and kissed his partner on the forehead.

Bloodhound purred with relief and pressed their lips against his.

"Maybe a walk around the woods would help you?

-Only if I'm with you."

[mycarlydotcom]

Top 10 iCarly Episodes:

Well, coming off the heels of re-watching iCarly in it’s entirety, again, I feel it suitable to reflect on what I feel are the best episodes in the series. Keep in mind, these choices are just my personal opinion. This is all in good fun, so if you disagree, share what your favorite episodes are. I’m not gonna break down everything that happens in each episode, there’s no need. If you’re reading this, you’re already an iCarly fan, and know the episodes. I’ll just be listing my choices, and discussing why I chose each one. So, lets get started…

Honorable Mentions: iFence, iBloop, and iLost My Mind

There are honestly plenty more episodes that can be talked about here, but for the sake of keeping things as concise as possible, I narrowed this section down to three.

Season 1, Episode 22: iFence

This was originally in my top 10 when I was choosing my list, but in the end, it was edged out by what actually made the number 10 spot. This episode is funny, charming, and all around enjoyable. Even this early in the series, it was a nice change in formula to see Freddie take center stage. I’m also a huge a sap for any kind of heartfelt interactions between characters, and there is a brief, platonic one between Carly and Freddie during this episode that totally hits that soft spot for me. I’m also the biggest supporter of the Sam and Freddie pairing, so the moment where Sam is cheering on Freddie while he’s fencing his rival is my favorite thing ever.

Season 3, Episode 14: iBloop

Just a fun watch. I honestly wish they did more of these throughout the series. One per season would’ve been a nice treat for the viewers. I know there is a squeal in the latter seasons, but it’s not quite as good. Regardless, seeing the actors who play our beloved characters, goofing off on set, and flubbing their lines is just fun. I love it.

Season 5, Episode 1: iLost My Mind

This last honorable mention is probably not gonna be a popular choice, but it’s my list so whatever. I know, the “Seddie” arc is not remembered fondly by most iCarly fans. Heck, even some of the biggest “Seddiers” out there don’t like it, and I agree that the arc is poorly executed; but, I don’t think the whole thing is bad. It spans across five episodes, from iOMG to iLove You, and in my personal opinion, the arc is good until the third episode, iDate Sam and Freddie. It falls off a cliff from there on, but I’m adamant in my choice to include iLost My Mind as an honorable mention. All in all, this is an overall cute episode, with a sweet ending, and like I mentioned earlier, I’m a total sap for that stuff. That said, it could be a lot better, and that’s why it didn’t crack the top 10.

Alright, now that we’ve gotten the honorable mentions out of the way, let’s move on to the top 10…

10. Season 6, Episode 10: iRescue Carly

I know, I know, this is an odd choice to include. It’s one of the last few episodes in the series. Around this time it was very apparent that the show was winding down. The episode plots were weaker, the bloom was off the rose, and iCarly’s best days were admittedly in the rear view. That said, the show was still one of the most popular shows on Nickelodeon. It may not have been in it’s prime anymore, but it still delivered an enjoyable product to the fans that loved it. But why did I choose to include this episode specifically? Why did it edge out some arguably better episodes from when iCarly was at it’s peak? I’ll tell ya why. Sam Puckett.

It’s no secret that I love the Sam Puckett character, and this episode is nice culmination of the wonderful girl we get to watch her blossom into throughout the series. When we are first introduced to Sam, she is essentially an irritable bully who is mean to most people, except for Carly. At first, it’s even questionable as to why Carly considers this troublesome delinquent to be her best friend; which Carly even acknowledges in the very first episode. But as the series progresses, we learn that Sam isn’t a bad kid, she’s just a little rebellious is all. It’s acknowledged that she grew up without a father, a dysfunctional mother, and a perfect twin sister that most people prefer over her. Her attitude and demeanor is the byproduct of the surroundings in which she grew up, but underneath that rough exterior, Sam has a heart of gold.

The aggressive behavior she often displays can easily be interpreted as a defensive mechanism to protect herself. She has plenty of acquaintances, but doesn’t truly let many people get close to her, and that’s by design. At the start of the series, Carly, and by association, Spencer are the only ones shown to have a legitimate connection with Sam. Freddie would forge that connection shortly thereafter, as the two transition from enemies, to frenemies, to friends, and Gibby would also follow suit later on; but Sam’s inner circle doesn’t really stretch beyond that.

As we follow the rebellious blonde throughout the series, we are made privy to a plethora of moments where Sam drops her guard and displays her compassionate side. This episode captures that side of her beautifully, as she goes to extreme measures to protect her friends, especially Carly. It’s a nice bow on top of her character arc, as we see just how much she’s grown.

9. Season 2, Episode 7: iChristmas

Carly’s miniature arc of taking what she had for granted in this episode is wonderfully told. It has a good message while still skillfully sprinkling in the comedy the show is known for. My favorite thing about this episode is how it displays just how important Carly was to everyone around her. She is the literal glue that holds everyone together, which is made very apparent at the end of series when she leaves for Italy.

8. Season 2, Episode 20: iTwins

Turns out Sam has a twin sister who doesn’t live at home. She is the opposite of Sam in every possible way; she’s well behaved, gets good grades, she’s super friendly, and is a total girly-girl. Honestly, based on what we know, she is the total antithesis of not only Sam, but their entire family.

In this episode we are introduced to Melanie Puckett. What a totally fun concept this was. It’s honestly baffling that they never revisited the Melanie character. She is seldomly mentioned after this episode, but we are never graced with her presence in the series again. I would’ve loved to see her to become a reoccurring character. There was so much potential for fun plots involving her; but even in a one off episode, she left a lasting impression, and secured this episodes’ spot in the top 10.

7. Season 2, Episode 17: iReunite with Missy

Much like I mentioned during number 10, there are a plethora moments in the series where Sam drops her guard, and this episode is chock-full of that. It’s heartbreaking when Sam realizes she can’t do anything to stop Missy’s evil plan to steal Carly as her best friend. The “I’m her best friend,” line Sam shoots in response to Missy during the Groovy Smoothie scene gets me every time. She legitimately sounds upset, and is practically helpless in the moment. Then there is scene towards the end where Carly finds out the truth about Missy, and reconciles her best-friendship with Sam. It’s there we are shown again that Sam has a huge heart buried beneath her attitude when she forgives Carly despite having every right to be upset with her.

This episode is also a total smorgasbord of Sam and Freddie moments too, and I can’t help myself, I love it. From their little spat at the start of the episode to Sam at her most vulnerable when she comes to Freddie for help with the Missy situation, it’s just swimming in cuteness between them. Then of course, it’s revealed at the end that Freddie did help Sam without telling her, and it gives me all the feels. The “You care about Sam,”  moment in which Carly calls him out for helping Sam is just my favorite thing.

Maybe I’m a little bias because this episode is so centered on my favorite character, but I don’t care, it’s just great.

6. Season 1, Episode 5: iWanna Stay with Spencer

Starting to notice a trend? Like I mentioned earlier, I’m a sucker for the episodes with sappy, mushy, heartfelt moments in them, and you’ll see that continue throughout this list. This episode hits me right in feels as we just how strong the bond is between Carly and her brother, Spencer. It’s incredibly touching when Spencer is giving his Granddad the rundown of how to properly take care of Carly, and I always get a kick out of the “dinosaurs are cool,” line when Spencer mentions he only gives Carly dinosaur shaped vitamins.

5. Season 4, Episode 9: iOMG

Oh the “Seddie” arc…yes, it’s bad. There are just so many issues with how Sam and Freddie’s relationship was written. If you’re a supporter of their romance like myself, you know how unbelievably frustrating it was to see how terribly the writers fumbled their story. It was exploited merely for shock value, and the actual story that deserved to be told was never a priority. But despite the major issues within the arc, this episode that kicked everything off was wonderful.

In the honorable mentions section, I stated that I think the arc is actually good until the third episode, iDate Sam and Freddie, where everything starts crumbling apart, and iOMG is a testament to that opinion. I absolutely adore the subtle attempts from Sam to get to closer to Freddie, and how awkward she gets she finds out the PearPad app revealed her mood as “in love.” There are definitely minor flaws in both this episode, and iLost My Mind, but they don’t deserve the bad reputation they have simply because the episodes that followed them fumbled the ball. The cliff hanger at the end of this episode and the mere potential it had for a great story to be told is enough for me to include it on this list.

4. Season 3, Episode 3: iSpeed Date

If you haven’t noticed yet, beyond the trend of mushiness that is apparent on this list, there is also a trend of episodes that involve some kind of heavy implications with Sam. Here’s another one. 

I love and hate this episode lol. I love that we get more glimpses of Sam’s vulnerable side, but I hate how sad I feel for her as the episode plot plays out; which is a testament to the episode. Not only does she embarrassingly get turned down by Gibby, who she never wanted to ask to their school dance in the first place, she also walks in on Carly dancing with Freddie, unbeknownst to them. That dancing scene at the end has so many implications, and is surprisingly heavy for a kid’s show, honestly. You are left feeling so many emotions for the main trio as the episode concludes. There is a sense of pity for Sam as it is very clearly implied that she’s bothered by what she sees, but happiness combats that feeling as you proudly watch Freddie share that intimate moment with Carly he so desperately wanted for so long. It is happiness, sadness, confusion, and suspense all wrapped up into one scene, and it is fantastic; as is the entire episode.

3. Season 3, Episode 9: iSaved Your Life

Surprised at all? Why would a Sam and Freddie supporter, like myself, rank an episode centered on the pairing of Carly and Freddie in the top 10? Well, simply put, it’s a fantastic episode regardless of personal preference, and I cannot ignore that. There is a reason this was the highest rated episode in the series when it aired, and it’s because it’s fantastic. It scored an enormously high, record setting, television rating for the premier and that is nothing to scoff at. But beyond the record numbers it scored, I chose this episode because I honestly like it. There is a lot to unpack when discussing this episode…so strap in.

Yes, this episode revolves around Carly and Freddie, but it is still an integral part of Sam and Freddie’s relationship in major ways. As the plot unfolds, Freddie goes through a miniature arc in which he finally obtains what he craved for so long, a romantic relationship with Carly, but he ultimately decides to walk away from that relationship when it doesn’t turn out how he envisioned it. This is a crucial moment in Freddie’s overall journey as his character slightly changes from here on out. He practically abandons the constant adoration for Carly that was a staple of his character until that point, and we don’t see it again until Season 6, where it begins to be teased that those feelings still linger; but before the “Creddie” resurrection of Season 6, this episode essentially served as the metaphorical shutting of the door on his childhood crush that never felt the same for him.

Now as one metaphorical door shut, another was opened, one that led to a potential romance with Sam. Obviously, this romance had already been seldomly teased several times in prior episodes, as well as this episode itself, but it was now free from the shackles of its opposition. This admittedly has a lot to do with my personal enjoyment of the episode, and I’ll probably discuss the implications it has between Sam and Freddie in another post at some point. That said, I still enjoy the story told between Carly and Freddie, and I won’t pretend not too. Couple that story with the subtle allusions to Sam and Freddie’s possible romance, and I can’t help but love this episode.

2. Season 2, Episode 8: iKiss

Well, if the last episode I chose came as a surprise at all, I’d be willing to bet that this choice is the exact opposite. What can I say? I love Sam and Freddie to pieces, and this is the first episode centered on their connection. I’d venture to say this is my most watched episode of iCarly. I always re-watch the balcony scene, and it gives me all the feels. That kiss the two characters share at the conclusion of the episode is so well done, and captures the awkwardness of adolescence brilliantly. You literally feel their confusion as they lock lips with each other. The tension between these two constantly argumentative characters is released into a kiss, and you witness them subtly realize there might be a reason behind their sometimes hostile behavior toward one another. Of course, this is not stated outright, but it is absolutely what you’re intended to infer from the scene. It is shot in a way that makes it clear that both Sam and Freddie want to say something more after the kiss, but just don’t know how, resulting in awkward banter before they ultimately retreat into their own solitude. I could honestly write an essay breaking down the every little minute detail in that scene, it’s just so wonderfully done.

The general arc Sam goes through in this episode is also wonderfully told. Early in the episode there is a moment where Sam refers to herself, Carly, and Freddie as all being “friends,” before immediately backtracking and saying that Freddie is merely a “coworker.” There is an obvious denial of any kind relationship between them, even platonically, but we as the audience know better than that. Then of course, Sam later finds out that Freddie has never had a real kiss, and publicly shares that information on iCarly as a prank, but it practically ruins Freddie’s social life. That moves us into the second phase of this arc, in which Sam realizes that her actions have consequences. Carly berates her for being so harsh to Freddie, in a moment that terrifically displays why Carly is such a wonderful character, and Sam is left to harbor the guilt of her choices. This carries us into the third phase of her arc where she faces her emotions head on, and apologizes to Freddie. Even without the kiss that follows, this arc Sam goes through is a tremendous display of growth for an otherwise, closed off, defensive, rebellious teenager. That alone is testament to the excellence that is this episode.

Like I said earlier, I could write an essay on this episode. There is just so many little details that make it so great, and I absolutely love it,

1. Season 6, Episode 13: iGoodbye

So, here we are at number 1, and it’s the series finale, iGoodbye. Is this even a shock? This final episode of iCarly is so freaking good, and there was no way it wasn’t going to claim the number 1 spot for me. Even with the fact that Sam and Freddie get no closure, and just have a general lack of interaction at all during the episode, I still rank at number 1. That’s how good it is.

So, I guess I’ll start with the Sam and Freddie issue since I mentioned that first, just to get the one negative out of the way. This is single flaw this episode has, but it is a major one, and I have to acknowledge it. While they may have a few little moments here and there, Sam and Freddie have an extreme lack of interaction throughout this episode, and it’s incredibly disappointing as a viewer. Of course, to a fan like myself, these two ending up back together would’ve been the ideal outcome, but I digress. Even disregarding the idea of them getting together, the simple fact that they don’t even have a final moment together, even just as friends, is criminal.

But, I ranked this at number 1 for a reason, and it’s because it is fantastic even with that flaw. This finale is a love letter to fans of the series, and is an emotional roller coaster throughout. There are numerous tear jerking moments that tug at the heart strings amazingly hard for a kids show. From Spencer forsaking his long lost love, Audrey, so he can take his little sister to her last dance, to Carly and Sam on the elevator during the final scene, and everything in between, this episode is emotionally beautiful. Both of Spencer’s moments with Carly and Sam respectively are two of my favorite moments in the entire series, and they give me all the feels. The goodbye he and Carly share before she leaves for Italy genuinely makes me cry every time I watch it, and the moment where he gives Sam the motorcycle before telling her she has “a good heart,” is so touching. I adore that “good heart,” line so much, as it validates my favorite character as a good person deep down. 

I could go on forever about this episode, but I actually plan on reviewing it as a standalone specifically, in a follow up to myreview/look back at the whole series. So for now, we’ll wrap this list up. iGoodbye is a beautiful finale to a wonderful series, and easily secures its spot as the best episode of iCarly for me.

[pillowprincessshaxx]

Ive been knocked down by my own defensive bombardment more often than the people I’ve thrown it at and honestly gibby deserves better than to be played by a loser like me