#honestly a lot of this goes for rachel too

[whichcouldmeannothing]

big big marvey fic rec list

marvey is currently my most bookmarked ship, so trust me when i say i've been around the bend for marvey content. i have dug through a lot of it the past few months, so trust that these fics have been highly rated!

fics are loosely grouped, with the summary and my thoughts under the cut :3 no spoilers ofc bc i love you

MY PERSONAL FAVOURITES

A Specter-Ross Affair by @frivoloussuits (15k+, au)

“You ordered an ‘extra-hot, extra-wet cappuccino, single-origin, properly layered, to-go and ready five minutes ago to make up for your service speed or lack thereof.’” In which Mike is a barista, Rachel is a lawyer, and Harvey is paid excessive amounts of money to plan their joyous Christmas wedding.

"Love is just a particularly socially accepted form of fraud. It's a series of increasingly complex and fragile deceptions between two or more people, and, more alarmingly, between each participant and their own deluded subconscious."

i literally cannot recommend this fic enough. this might be my favourite read of the entire year, dead serious. this sounds fluffy but trust me, the pining and the angst go well like salt on a chocolate chip cookie: extremely decadent. everything about this fic goes insane and this should be your gateway drug into marvey, im so serious about this. READ IT. (weddingplanner!harvey)

of all the gin joints by @frivoloussuits (10k+, au)

Hanging around a neighborhood bar one night, Harvey befriends a guy named Mike after realizing they can both quote The Princess Bride on demand. In the law offices of Rand, Kaldor, Zane and Pearson, senior partner Harvey Specter takes on an unusual case, representing his managing partner's daughter as she divorces a Michael James Ross. Harvey sees no connection until it's far too late.

"They’re playing a virtuosic duet with inhuman ease, as if the intoxication has broken their boundaries and blurred them into a single entity."

this. obsessed with fics that really use the law in their plots, and this is a prime example. a lot of chemistry in this one that is described in a way that makes you jealous of the bond they share and there are still lines in this fic that i think about almost everyday but honestly, such a top-tier read. PLEASE PLEASE IF YOU LIKE SUFFERING ANF REALLY REALLY GOOD CHEMISTRY PLEASE

5U175 by Closer (26k, canon-adjacent)

Harvey sometimes moonlights as a Star Trek BNF. Mike might have an attitude problem on the internet. TiberiusGhost is strangely compelling, for a recluse who never goes to meetups, and Harvey's finding this kid Photohead vaguely familiar…

i know that the terminology in this one is hella old-school but trust me. as someone who doesnt read a lot of fandom fics, this fic has changed it all for me (also bc the author replied to my comment hehehe) stick with this fic because the way fandom weaves with the character development is absolutely delicious, i remember saying this in my og comment but this fic was written with love for fandom and you should definitely read it too!!! you'd absolutely love it! (also ben stans rise up ^^)

fics to sink your teeth into (20k+)

needs must by @melthemagpie (98k+, au)

When Grammy needs an upgrade in care, Mike knows that the usual one-off gig as a paid submissive won't be enough. He takes a job he's been refusing for a while - a long-term, full-time contract. He expects his client to be a sadistic asshole. He expects not to like it. He's wrong on both counts.

this is a fandom classic, every fic rec has this on the list (cw for dom/sub and prostitution, so if you're uncomfy please dont read) but i swear there are so many romantic moments in this one that make me swoon and the smut is very good, i usually tap out in long fics really quickly but this hooked me the whole way through twice. thats my ringing endorsement, READ THIS

Lobster and Other Catastrophes by @andthetardis (21k, canon-compliant)

After months of silence, Mike starts texting Harvey again out of the blue. Funny thing to do on his honeymoon, really.

BRO PLEASE. this was so good. angsty and pining-y enough even though it's mostly a text fic. text fics to me are more like comedic, but this one had substance and heart (and funny and enjoyable btw). pulls you in and really makes you want to stick it out and get to the beautiful ending <333 (harvey being soft is probably a category on its own :3)

The Game by @frivoloussuits (27k, hunger games au)

Harvey Specter and Donna Paulsen are efficient and elegant killers. They have trained since childhood, mentored personally by Jessica Pearson and marked for years as District 1's Tributes for the Hunger Games. Mike Ross is an orphan from District 12, a drug dealer, and an underage gambler. After years of scrutinizing the Hunger Games on TV to make savvy bets, he finds himself on the wrong side of the camera, now playing the odds just to survive. Harvey and Mike cannot, should not trust each other. Still, they strike a backroom deal.

"Because he’s clever and quick-thinking and he’s learned her main lesson well– don’t love anyone you wouldn’t be willing to see dead. Ideally, don’t love anyone at all."

I READ THIS WHEN I WAS REVISITING HUNGER GAMES AND OHHHHH THIS HAS THE ANGST. absolutely riveting. ths is the third fic im reccing from them bc i love frivoloussuits. i would die for them HHFSHFHKSDGDHFG i love the angst and the life-threatening situations that the hunger games provide and harvey as a career is correct. its just correct. everything here grips my soul

Disaster Stories by agatestones (22k, canon-compliant)

"Hold on," Mike asked, "you made Donna come into work in the middle of a blizzard?" "I don't make Donna do anything. Haven't you learned by now?" Harvey gave Mike a mean little smile, but under that was relief for anyone to see. "You, I can make come into the office in a blizzard."

reads like a novella to me, and it's really good!!! very episodic and you really feel like these are things that have happened in universe. its very slice of lifey and i reread it a lot as a comfort read, its like a big hug to me

Pizza and a Movie by Closer (30k+, au)

In an alternate universe, Harvey's still a lawyer but Mike's not a pot runner -- he's a deliveryman for Rollo's Pizza and Ribs, which happens to be Harvey's favorite pizza place. Once Harvey finds out his pizza guy is a genius, Mike's life takes a few turns he would not have expected...

i swear this is the most rom-commy fic marvey has to offer. i like aus that slap me in the face more with the alternate universe, but this is such a rom-com plot. fandom classic as well and it really reads like a hugh grant 90s movie and if thats not enough to pull you in idk what will tbh

Imprimatur by Closer (22k, au)

Mike was raised to believe Imprint was a life-changing event for those few lucky enough to experience it. Harvey was raised to believe it was a form of mental illness. When it actually happened, neither of them noticed.

this goes absolutely crazy. one of those fics where you read it and you almost want to throw your phone at the wall because the characters could make it so easy if they werent so stupid (but in a good way of course) but the way it was written, you feel the depth of the soulmate bond and why its so important (which a lot of soulmate aus forget to do loll) but goes down like an expensive and delicious dinner :)

afternoon reads (10k+)

Sony SRF-39FP by @frivoloussuits (11k+, canon-adjacent)

Anita Gibbs won’t settle for Mike, not when there are name partners within her reach. She offers only one deal– two years, no other charges against anyone else in the firm, as long as Harvey Specter turns himself in. And even as Donna and Jessica and Louis and Mike beg him not to, he jumps on the grenade. “Time to get busy living or get busy dying,” he remarks, and Mike gives a small chuckle. Then Harvey smirks, straightens his suit jacket, and strides into FCI Danbury.

“I can’t believe they’re trying to lock you in a box and forget about you,” Mike sighs as he leaves.

“Well, as long as you don’t forget me, I figure I’ll survive.”

“Maybe you haven’t noticed, but forgetting’s never been my strong suit.

cw for depersonalization and desc of solitary confinement, very very heavy but the way mike is there throughout everything makes my heart twinge. i really dont know how to describe this fic at all but its really good. it makes me cry a lot. also made me start listening to jazz which- uh

Here at the end of all things by @tattooedsiren (10k, au)

When he arrives at the Pearson Hardman building the lights are dimmed and the floor is deserted. His feet carry him to Harvey's office even though he expects it to be empty. Because Harvey probably fled the city via helicopter or teleporter or sheer force of will. But when he approaches the office he can see that Harvey is there. He has moved the couch so that it now faces the floor to ceiling windows and Mike silently sits beside Harvey, joins him in looking down at the chaos engulfing the city below. [Apocalypse AU]

I LOVE APOCALYPSE FICS UP UP UP badass!harvey makes me bark, but im a really big fan of people who find happiness in the worst circumstances and this fic does it so so so well. reminds me a lot of tlou episode like 2? the one with the strawberries. please this is what i revisit when i miss marvey and i dont have a lot of time because the world and the characters are jsut so delicious!!!

quick reads (1k+)

This Love is Silent by kim47 (8k, canon-compliant)

She should have known. She had known, that something was off, at least. She knew he was hiding something. She just never imagined it could be this. Despite Harvey's warnings, Mike tells Rachel the truth about everything. She's shocked, naturally, and more than a little angry, but she agrees to keep his secret, and even to date him. So when they break up, Harvey goes into damage-control mode.

RACHEL!! HELLO RACHEL!! im always up for smart and discerning rachel (this shows up in of all the gin joints too btw!!!) this runs realistic to me because it shows that rachelxmike arent some hopelessly wrong for each other couple, they have good and bad times. this feels more real to me than other fics bc its not like the world conspires for marvey to be apart, its just life. i know this makes it sound so sad, and it is, but trust me: this is really really really good i love this so much

an archive of harvey specter's expressions by @frivoloussuits (2k, canon-compliant)

Five old expressions that Mike rediscovers in new contexts once he and Harvey are (finally) together, and one that he sees for the first time. Alternatively titled “An Ode to Gabriel Macht’s Face.”

this was written for me. this is literally me. writing fic because gabriel macht is too pretty, like this fic is literally for me. a lot of peering at him to get this fic as masterfully written as it is, and i thank you author everyday for it. to me, this reads like it's been written with love and care and true adoration (Truly, like Mike)

Coffee-Cart Client Privilege by @frivoloussuits (7k, au)

Mike runs a coffee cart. The coffee cart.

"Why not? They're too big and dense to be a snack." So are you, Mike thinks, and yet.

IM SORRY I KEEP RECCING FRIVOLOUS SUITS THEYRE MY FAVOURITE WRITER IN THIS FANDOM HFBKABFDKHFBHKDSA this has the hand-wavy logic the show has itself but mike's internal monologue in this one is one of the best ive ever read and the way mike's integrated in the offices is just so well-done ahhhh

Objection by yeah its frivoloussuits again i feel bad tagging them like 7 times (2k, canon-adjacent)

When Mike announces he’s leaving, Harvey plans to hide the jagged pieces of his broken heart deep inside, where no one will ever find them. His heart would like to object.

BIGG fan of physical hurt/comfort!!!! also big fan of people absolutely freaking out in the hospital in fics, it makes me bounce of the wall!! very short but the angst and love really hits you quick and leaves you on the floor gasping for air. very good (also cant prove this but im very sure this is a scrubs reference.t hanks)

Excerpts From The Gospel of Harvey Specter, edited by Michael "Forever Awesome" Ross, 2011, 1st Ed, by @rcmclachlan (7k, canon compliant)

Mike can totally read people. Well, most people. Some people. Or maybe just Harvey, who's pretty much an open book.

this one's really funny! it doesent follow direct prose and instead plays a lot with the setting its in (where mike's a documenter of harvey) and its just so funny and adorable. has a lot of heart too, it isn't just crack or anything but you really feel everything mike does as he writes all this, read this!!1

One More Sleepless Night by @sal_si_puedes (9k, au)

Soul Bonds are one-sided – there’s usually mutual affection, but only one party feels the crippling need to be together as often as possible. If separated at length from their love, that party becomes crushed by longing, panic, and sheer hopelessness, and so it is illegal to forcibly keep Soulmates apart. Some days, Harvey Specter hates the Bond that skews his judgement and weakens his resolve, and he fears what would happen if anyone in his world ever discovers he is so compromised. He certainly never planned to disclose the Bond for the first time in the middle of Anita Gibbs’ office, in a last-ditch attempt to invalidate the deal sending Mike to prison.

HSDGFHSDKGHRLKGHK THIS FIC. i love fics that use more than just prose to tell their stories (see above fic) and this does my favourite thing that soulmate aus do, which is where they integrate in-universe explanations for the phenomenon. the amount of work and dedication put into this fic makes it absolutely sing and was absolutely lovely!!

also pspspsps

golden like the daffodils by @mini-mart (2k, canon-compliant)

Poetry holds meaning, for anyone who reads it. It obscures and dances around the literal and metaphorical, because it’s imbued with so much of something that it overflows out of any definition. It can make someone mad, or lovesick, or aroused, and the reactions would be absolutely warranted. Mike is poetry, to Harvey. - Harvey Specter could be a good politician, as he believes in pragmatism over poetry. He won't let his progress fall apart, won't let someone knock it down. And then someone unceremoniously cracks open a suitcase at his feet. Or: Harvey, pretty boys and poetry.

yeah yeah i wrote this yeah yeah self promo smth smth

there's a lot more that isn't here but i'll probably write a new one when i go for a deep dive through the ship tags again :3

^^ ao3 etiqutte applies! if you like the fic, kudos and comment and bookmark!! show your love! happy reading marveys! my gift to u :3

[pjo-tvs-version]

So I I’ve been thinking about Percy’s relationship with masculinity, him being a male demigod and his relationship with male gods and the men in his life, how that can affect him, how he feels about it, Ect.

I wanted to ask what your thoughts are on with Percy and women, and the women in his life. Cause honestly while Percy’s relationship with older male figures in his life is complicated, some being abusive, neglectful, murderous, Ect.

The exception being Paul, but he’s limited in what he can help and guide Percy with.

Most of the guys he’s friends with have their own lives and complicated consistency in his life.

His relationship with the women is his life can take a different tone. Percy loves his mother but was always kind of afraid of not being worthy of her love or thinking she doesn’t want him around before he finds out the truth.

Then there’s Annabeth, Clarrise, Thalia, Rachel, Reyna, and Calypso. All very different relationships, but there’s always this subtle undercurrent of Percy wanting in some way or form their approval or acceptance.

With Thalia and Clarrise it’s more combative and aggressive but you see him despite their strained relationship try and make peace.

Then there’s his relationship with the Goddesses Athena, Hestia, and Artemis. Lots of times Percy is on guard or inherently suspicious of gods, and with Artemis and Athena that’s true too, but he seems to take special not of when they approve or disapprove of him.

All this is to say while has a more strained relationship with masculinity and men, Perhaps he has the opposite problem with women. A need to seek their validation or approval.

Obviously it’s not overt, if a goddess or older demigod woman hates or wanted him dead he’s gonna meet fire with fire, but I do think he has a unconscious habit or need for that.

What do you think?

I apologise for answering this ask after such a huge delay. The thing is that life goes on and I really wanted to think before answering this.

Okay, seriously, this whole take on Percy's relationships is chef's kiss. You've dug into something really core about his character arc, especially that whole dynamic between the guys and girls in his life and how he navigates seeking... well, something from them. Let's unpack that vibe a bit more, going deeper.

First up, let's talk about the male figures in Percy's orbit, because honestly? It's kind of a mess a lot of the time. When you look at the powerful dudes, especially the gods, the pattern is pretty stark. You've got Poseidon, his dad, who clearly loves him but is also super distant, bound by ancient laws, and often feels more like a powerful, occasionally helpful, enigma than a present father figure. Then there's Zeus, who basically radiates suspicion and hostility towards Percy from day one. Hades starts off firmly in the antagonist camp, representing death and grudges. Ares is just a straight-up bully, embodying the worst kind of aggressive power. Even figures like Hephaestus are more gruff and preoccupied than supportive. And Apollo? He’s a whole chaotic vibe unto himself. The overwhelming energy Percy gets from these divine masculine figures is that power is dangerous, conditional, neglectful, or outright hostile. Trust isn't freely given; it's barely earned and easily broken. This is reinforced by the sheer number of male monsters and antagonists he has to face, from Luke's betrayal to Kronos's manipulation to Gabe's abusive behaviour back home.

Sure, there are exceptions, but they often highlight the rule or exist outside the main power structures of his demigod life. Chiron is an incredible mentor, wise and caring, but he's not human, occupying a different space. Paul Blofis is a gift – a stable, loving, supportive human stepfather, and a genuinely positive male role model. But his influence is largely anchored in the mortal world, separate from the godly drama and life-or-death quests. Then you have his peers like Grover, his absolute best friend, but their relationship is built on mutual support and shared chaos, not mentorship or authority. Jason Grace offers a parallel, another leader and son of the Big Three, but again, it’s a relationship between equals navigating immense pressure. So the overall message flashing in neon lights for Percy? Powerful dudes are often dangerous, unreliable, or just plain absent when you need them.

But then you look at the women in his life, and it's like stepping into a whole different universe, even with all its own complexities. It starts, obviously, with Sally Jackson, the absolute queen. She is Percy's bedrock, his moral compass, the reason he keeps fighting. His initial fear in this new world isn't just about monsters; it's about protecting her and understanding the massive secret she carried for his sake. That drive not to disappoint her isn't just seeking approval; it's rooted in profound love and respect for her sacrifices and unwavering belief in him. She's his rock, his 'why,' and letting her down feels unthinkable, like failing everything that truly matters.

Then there's Annabeth Chase, and let's be real, Percabeth is foundational. Initially, yeah, maybe Percy is looking for her approval. She's smart, experienced, knows this world inside and out, and maybe seems a little intimidatingly capable to a newbie like him. But that dynamic evolves so quickly into this deep, powerful partnership built on mutual respect and absolute reliance. He doesn't just want her approval anymore; he needs her insight because he genuinely believes in her strategic mind and trusts her judgment implicitly, often more than his own. They become this incredible team, equals who cover each other's weaknesses and amplify each other's strengths. He values her opinion not just for validation, but because he knows it's valuable.

It plays out differently with other powerful young women like Clarisse and Thalia. With them, the dynamic is initially pure rivalry. What Percy seeks isn't warm affection, but their respect as a capable warrior, someone who belongs on the battlefield alongside them. He wants them to acknowledge his strength and competence, especially Thalia, who shares that unique, heavy burden of being a child of the Big Three. Making peace often starts pragmatically – they need to work together to survive – but it grows into a genuine if sometimes grudging, respect for each other's power. He respects their strength and wants that respect mirrored back. Later, encountering Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano, the Praetor of Camp Jupiter, brings another dimension. Here, Percy needs her trust and acceptance primarily as an ambassador and potential ally. Gaining her approval is crucial for bridging the gap between the Greek and Roman camps; it’s about proving his worthiness and reliability to a strong leader representing a whole different culture. It's strategic respect he's fighting for.

Even his interactions with goddesses carry this undercurrent, though warped by their immense power. Athena's disapproval is a huge deal, partly because she's Annabeth's mom (talk about scary MIL vibes!), but also because she represents wisdom itself judging him. He desperately wants, if not her blessing, at least her tolerance. With Artemis, a figure of immense power and independence whom he respects deeply, gaining her respect feels like a validation of his honour, especially after his interactions with Zoë and Thalia. Her disapproval would signify a major moral failing in his eyes. And then there's Hestia, the quietest goddess, representing home and hope. Percy treats her with innate kindness, and her gentle, often silent, approval feels like a profound confirmation of his core decency, something fundamental he strives to maintain amidst all the fighting and godly politics. It just hits differently.

So yeah, is Percy seeking approval or acceptance from these female figures? Definitely. But it's not some generic neediness; it's nuanced. With Sally and Annabeth, it's woven into love, loyalty, and deep personal connection. With Clarisse, Thalia, and Reyna, it’s about earning respect as an equal, a capable fighter, or a trustworthy leader. With the goddesses, it’s often about proving his honour, his worthiness, or his strategic value against the backdrop of immense power and ancient biases.

And honestly, this whole pattern makes SO much sense when you remember the male side of the equation. With positive, powerful male role models being so scarce, unreliable, or downright dangerous in his world, it feels natural that Percy gravitates towards seeking stability, wisdom, reliable strength, and moral guidance from the women around him. He learns through experience where he can find trustworthy anchors, sharp minds, and dependable allies in his chaotic life, and surprise! It's often with the formidable women he knows.

The amazing thing is, that this doesn't make him weak or lesser. It actually shapes Percy into a kind of hero and a kind of man that's... genuinely good. He learns to value partnership, to respect female strength and intelligence intrinsically, not as an exception but as a norm. He isn't afraid to rely on others, to show vulnerability, or to admit when someone else (often Annabeth) has the better plan. It’s a stark contrast to the often toxic, distant, or power-obsessed masculinity displayed by many of the gods and monsters he encounters. He's not threatened by strong women; he partners with them. That's a strength, not a weakness.

So to wrap it all up, your observation is spot on. Percy's constant navigation of approval, respect, and acceptance from the major female figures in his life feels absolutely connected to the often negative, unreliable, or dangerous landscape of the male figures he encounters. He finds his strength, his counsel, and his most reliable partnerships there, shaping him into the loyal, respectful, and ultimately heroic figure he becomes. And honestly? It’s one of the best parts of his story and his character.

Also I truly am sorry for how late I am to post this @darkmist111

Edit: This comment by @intellectual-punk has to be shown up here too because every single word of it is 💯💯💯

[darkspellmaster]

I have a couple questions if you don’t mind?

1. Why do you ship Lizzy n ciel?/gen. I personally don’t ship them since they’re cousins and it could be considered a proship based on that-

2. Do you believe in the r!ciel is the mastermind theory?/gen

As interesting as it is, I don’t personally believe in it. But I’d love to hear your thoughts!!

I'm gonna answer two first because I thought a lot about it.

2. I think R!Ciel is and isn't the mastermind. What I mean is that I think he was part of the reason for the death of Vincent and Rachel, and why it happened, but he's also the victim of his own hubris and his actions as a child.

I honestly believe that R!Ciel has some sort of brother complex with O!Ciel. Every line he says regarding O!Ciel has an undercurrent of something being not okay with him allowing his brother space to be his own person. He's codependent in a lot off ways. When O!Ciel said he should play with Lizzie, R!Ciel basically told him he'd rather stay in and play with him. The going to the lake, it was clear that R!Ciel wanted to stay home too and felt sad when told to go with the family to have fun. He goes out of his way to get him stuff to help his cough (though that could also be him trying to make O!Ciel sick, but I doubt that), and we've seen that he insists on taking pictures and doesn't like it when O!Ciel leaves his side. The two biggest ones though is the Chapter where Dee is making food with R!Ciel and Vincent and when Vincent mentions Weston and having house brothers, R!Ciel gets this look in his eyes that is just blackness as he says that he doesn't want fake brothers. Then there was his whole freak out when O!Ciel told him he wanted to be a toy shop owner in London and insisted that he was going to do it too. My honest to god guess is that R!Ciel was convinced somehow, probably at a party, that the best thing to do was get rid of his father so that he could be Earl and order O!Ciel to stay with him. As he told O!Ciel even if he has Lizzie there he would rather be with him. Because Sebastian, the dog, was tied up, I think it would have had to have been R!Ciel, or someone the dog trusted and clearly he was locked up so he wouldn't be hurt. This is where I think R!Ciel comes in for being the Mastermind. My guess is that after his talk with Rachel, he realized that the only way to get what he wanted was to get his father out of the picture. He probably didn't want his mother to die, but she seems to have gotten in the way of the attack. I don't think he killed the dog either. What I think is that our main big bad came up with a way to kidnap Vincent, or told R!Ciel that was the plan, or at the very least intended to harm Vincent. The deal probably was that the person would make sure he and his brother would be together forever. So R!Ciel agreed, let the persons in, after locking up the dog, and probably attacked Tanaka when Tanaka caught him and realized what was going on. The person I think behind all of this is Viscount Druitt. He's in every important arc, either in person, a part of it, or mentioned. In the Red butler arc he was a suspect, in Curry arc he's a judge, in the Campania arc he's part of the Aurora society and tries to become an emperor. In Weston he's the way that Derrek Arden is alive. In the Green Witch he's show to be a Prefect and went to school with Vincent, Dee and the mysterious Violet House Prefect. (By the way Yana tends to like to hide things behind word balloons I've noticed or covering the eyes). We haven't seen him in the Blue Revenge or Blue Memory arc yet, but he'll likely show up at some point. So my money is on him manipulating everything from behind the scenes for some reason. 1. There's a lot of reasons I ship Lizzie and Ciel. The main one being I actually like how their personalities click. Ciel respects and cares about Lizzie. He's amazed by her and probably was a bit jealous of his twin due to their relationship, though he never seemed to show it. We know Ciel can get upset and jealous when it comes to Lizzie as he broke a damn vase when he couldn't draw her into the show. He's gone back for her and protected her a number of times: The bear, and the boat are the top two in the manga. Plus standing up for her at other points too.

Not only that but he also helped her to come out of her shell after the Campania and be her strong self as well. He lets her hug him and Sebastian pointed out that he only sleeps well when she's around.

Lizzie has shown protection for him too. In the Campania, rooting for him during the cricket match. And in the Demon Six issue she fought with Charles Grey to stop him from going after Ciel. So we know that she cares deeply about him. She brings out the best in O!Ciel and in turn he brings out the best in her.

Another reason I'm okay with the shipping is that traditionally in nobility it was common place to marry your first cousin. Queen Victoria and her husband Albert were first cousins. Several members of the royal family have married distant cousins over the years, even the late Queen Elizabeth and her husband prince Phillip were cousins. So that isn't something that bothers me. The way I see it it's following the tradition and it makes sense for the siblings to have Lizzie be with R!Ciel since the boy doesn't seem to be able to defend himself very well . And it would make sense for Lizzie to protect O!Ciel from others due to his illness. She nearly beat Sebastian until he had to go harder on her and she held up to one of his punches well enough that she was able to speak before passing out. The Girl broke glass with her sword going through it! I think she'd be a good defender to him. Lastly, I sort of see the pairing as maybe yana's way of doing the snow Queen. In a side chapter we've already seen Lizzie as Gerta, who is looking for her best friend Kai, who was taken by the snow Queen. Kai in this case, is Ciel, and the Queen is Sebastian. If you know anything about the story then you know that part of the tale is about two friends growing up to be adults through various adventures to find one another. Or Gerta to find Kai. Also Ciel has the mark on his right eye, the same place the Queen put an ice shard in Kai's eye to make him follow her. There's also the fact that Sebastian calls her the child of the sun, and one of the aspects about her is that Lizzie melts Ciel. So that's another reason why I ship them. As for the pro vs anti shipping thing, I tend to stay out of it. I'm not a fan of Ciel x Sebastian because he's a demon that wants to eat him, and it's strange to pair them up. But I'm not going to dictate to anyone who they can and can't ship. I'm very old school in the ship and let ship mindset. If I'm not a fan of the pairing I just move on, unless the story is just that good and then I'll skip over the pairing I don't like. Simple as that. I have nothing against people that don't like the Lizzie x Ciel pairing, just as I hope others don't have issue with my liking of it. Hope that answers your questions.

[sidekickjoey]

"If I'm really, really quiet, will you stay?"

I wanted to take a moment to give flowers to one of my favorite, quintessential Eric Matthews lines from S5E23 "Things Change" -- and no, it's not the 'duckies' joke (though I do love it).

In a period of the show where the character of Eric changes a lot and eventually turns, to quote Will, 'completely dumb,' I find this scene, and especially this line, so telling of why so many people go on to love and empathize with him even when he makes that final turn into complete silliness in S7.

For all the times Eric is or is at least perceived as not being all that bright, he never once loses or betrays his kind soul. He might make some snide jokes here or there, and early on he had dumb boy moments™ with girls, but when it comes down to it? His gentleness and kindness always wins out.

In this example, Eric sees Mr. Feeny, a person who's honestly been more of a guiding rock for him than his own parents, no longer set on being a teacher and wanting to go away to Wyoming, so he can relax in peace. Eric, knowing all the times he's caused Mr. Feeny chaos, including in his silliness right before this, immediately takes this to mean he is driving Mr. Feeny away or at least contributing to it and goes right to asking if he can make it better by being quiet, if he alone can fix this thing troubling his mentor and make everything go back to normal.

Now, one could read this as naive, or as Eric being too reliant on Mr. Feeny, but it also can be read as incredibly selfless and kind of him to have even offered, given how it'd mean he'd have to change a lot about himself around Mr. Feeny for a long period of time. We see him do this a bunch later on when he moves out (with nowhere to go) to not impede Jack and Rachel's relationship, when he becomes all business-y and strict after Jack comes down on him for being silly at work, and when he almost uproots his life to become Tommy's adoptive dad. He's very quick to push his own wants/comfort aside to make sure he doesn't let down or hurt those around him, and it's moving to watch/think about sometimes. You really start to just feel for him.

That's why he ends up being such a beloved character, even then. You can't help but root for someone who cares that much about others.

[brbsoulnomming]

Tell Me Sweet Little Lies Part 23

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | AO3

-----

They're on the front page for about a week.

They run the stories of Hopper and Henry Creel simultaneously - honestly, Eddie kind of thinks the fact that Hopper was presumed dead and is now back makes it easier for people to believe a previously assumed dead guy is the top suspect for the murders.

Eddie gets barely a mention clearing him of all charges. There's a couple of articles about him and Steve fighting off Henry Creel, but the focus is more on Steve than anything else.

Steve bitches about it, about how they did the same thing after Starcourt, but Eddie's kind of glad his name isn't plastered all over the place anymore.

He and Steve are down in the kitchen scrounging up celebratory snacks and beers - Steve has a clean bill of health, and Eddie's stitches are coming out in a few days - when the phone rings.

"Harrington residence, this is Steve speaking," he greets.

Eddie barely has time to decide he's absolutely going to tease him about that later when the response comes - loud enough for him to hear it.

"Steven, my boy!" the voice booms, spirited and affable.

Steve closes his eyes, the muscles in his jaw tightening. "Hi, Dad."

"We just heard the news!" Steve's father says. "Why didn't you call to tell us? Did the earthquake damage anything?"

Part of Eddie thinks he should leave. Or at least back away, so he can't hear everything that's being said - but the other part of him thinks that Steve'd push him away if he didn't want him here, and with how tense Steve's gone next to him, Eddie can't bring himself to pull away.

"The house is fine," Steve says. "Loch Nora didn't get hit at all."

"Good, good," Mr. Harrington says. "Your mother hears you and Rachel have been volunteering with the relief efforts?"

Eddie didn't think it was possible, but Steve goes even stiffer.

"Robin," he corrects, his tone smooth and entirely void of inflection. "Yes, we've been coordinating donations."

"That's what I want to hear!" There's a sound like a loud clap. "I'm glad to see you're taking this seriously. You had a lot of ground to make up for, but it seems giving you a dose of reality has paid off. We'll be able to have some real talks about your future soon. What? Oh, your mother wants to talk to you."

There's a shuffling noise, then a quieter and much less friendly voice greets, "Steven."

"Hey Mom," Steve's posture relaxes a little. "I told Dad we made it out okay."

There's some kind of response, but Steve's mom is too quiet for Eddie to make it out.

"No, of course I didn't file charges. I knew you'd want to handle it if anything else happened." A pause. "Yes, that Carver. Mom, it's not - yeah. Yeah, okay. No, it's just him. I think he's just mad that people listened to me and not him. Yeah, I - all right. Bye."

He hangs up the phone, leaning in with one arm braced against the wall, a long line of tension.

"Steve?" Eddie says quietly.

Steve turns to face him, giving a little crooked smile. "You can ask if you want. I don't mind you and Robin knowing. It's… easier sometimes, if she expects it, and it's probably the same with you."

Eddie aches a little. "What was your dad talking about? What ground to make up for?"

Steve makes a face. "I did a lot of damage to the Harrington image the last bit of high school, you know. Stopped caring about my reputation, didn't get accepted into any of the colleges they wanted me to go to, kept getting into fights."

"But that wasn't - did they even ask you what actually happened?" Eddie asks.

"They don't care what actually happened," Steve replies. "Just what it looked like. Like I said, it's all about appearances with them. My dad's the main reason I worked at Scoops instead of being a lifeguard again last summer - he says it's because I needed a real life experience, learn what it means to work at the bottom, but he was just pissy and trying to humiliate me. He talks a big game about working hard, but all he really cares about is how I make them look. Now that I've gotten good press twice, he's happy again."

Eddie's mouth opens, then closes, then opens again. "He didn't even ask if you were okay."

Steve shrugs. "I looked fine in the papers."

Right.

Appearances.

"Will you be mad at me if I punch your dad if I ever see him?" Eddie asks.

Steve laughs, a surprised little sound like he's startled by it. "No," he says. "But only if I get to punch yours for leaving you."

Oh.

If Eddie was thinking about it, he'd have moved slowly, making sure to telegraph what he was doing so he didn't startle Steve, but he reacts on instinct and pulls Steve into a hug.

Steve doesn't even flinch at the sudden motion. He just melts into it, letting Eddie wrap him up and hold him tightly. His arms come up to cross over Eddie's shoulder blades, the placement automatically mindful of his injuries in the way only someone who's bandaged them multiple times could be.

"Sometimes I wish they just wouldn't call at all," Steve admits, face buried in Eddie's neck. It comes out in a rush, like he hadn't really thought about it before he said it, but he's getting it out anyway. "That they'd just cut me out of their life, instead of stringing me along."

"Fuck them," Eddie says. "I've got you."

He can hear Steve swallow, and Steve hugs him tighter.

They stay like that for a long while, until Eddie finally pulls back.

"Hey," he says softly. "I'll get the food and stuff. Go upstairs and see Robin."

Steve looks uncertain. "You sure?"

Eddie hugs him one more time. "You've got two soulmates," he murmurs. "Let us take care of you a little, okay?"

Steve squeezes him tight, then lets go with a nod before heading upstairs.

Eddie dithers in the kitchen for a bit, taking an extra long time. Whatever his complicated feelings are, it doesn't bother him at all to give Steve and Robin some space like this.

They're talking when he comes back, which isn't a surprise, and he hears his own name as he gets closer to the bedroom. Eddie pauses, even though he shouldn't, listening through the cracked door. He'll feel worse about it later, probably, but right now the masochistic side of him can't resist the urge to know what they're saying about him.

"I want him so much, Robs," he hears Steve saying, low and soft like he's trying to be quiet.

"I know," Robin replies, her tone somehow managing to be both gentle and snarky at the same time. "It's kind of pathetic."

Steve lets out a muffled groan. "Not helping. I don't exactly have the greatest track record at being able to get over people! I thought, with my soulmate-"

He cuts off, and Eddie can't help the bubbling anger that springs up. Steve thought? Has he stopped for one second to think about how Eddie might feel, only ever having a platonic soulmate? Wanting him just as bad and not being able to have him, not being able to have anyone?

"-someone else?" Robin is saying, like she's reading his thoughts, and Eddie has to hold his breath as he makes sure he hadn't accidentally said that outloud.

"I don't want anyone else," Steve says miserably. "Just him. I think - I think it's always going to be him. Fuck, why does this have to be so complicated?"

There's a heavy, thick silence, and Eddie's anger simmers and crackles under his skin, the way it always does when there's a hefty mixing of guilt in it.

"Do you think-" Robin starts, then stops. "Do you wish-" She stops again, voice thick with emotion. "Would it be easier if we-"

"No," Steve says, cutting her off at the same time that Eddie realizes what she's probably trying to bring herself to ask.

There's the muffled sound of shuffling, quiet hitching breaths - probably the motions of Steve trying to reassure one of his soulmates that he wants her, and he imagines him gathering her close, pressing soft kisses anywhere he can reach, cutting off anything she tries to say with a deeper, fiercer kiss.

Eddie bites the inside of his cheek so hard he tastes copper to keep himself from making some kind of sound to give himself away. He hates that he doesn't know what he's feeling - hates that he thinks he's jealous of Robin just as much as he doesn't feel jealous of her, not really. He's jealous of the images he conjures when he thinks about them together, but he's never actually jealous when he's with them, when he watches them.

That reminder makes him shift, peeking through the cracked door so he can see them. They're sitting facing each other, legs all tangled together. One of Steve's hands is covering Robin's heart, and the other is curled around one of Robin's hands, pinning it to his chest over his own heart, and their foreheads are pressed together.

Something in Eddie settles in a way he can't explain, all thoughts of jealousy gone.

"There's no me without you," Steve is saying. "You're a part of me, Robs, I can't do this without either of you."

She says something too muffled for Eddie to make out.

"I'm happy. I really am, I promise. I love you, I love us, exactly the way we are. And with Eddie-"

Eddie leans forward, too desperate to know what he's going to say to worry about being caught.

"I don't need anything else other than just him. However I can have him. If it's never romantic, if this is us forever - it doesn't matter, not really. I just need you and him, and the kids, and I'm good."

There's silence, the two of them just completely wrapped up in each other, and fuck, Eddie - he thinks you know what, if this is it, if what he has is Steve and Robin and the kids forever, then he's good, too.

"I love you, Robin Buckley," Steve says. "In a way I never realized was possible, until you and that dumb kid showed up in my life and taught me that you don't have to do anything to earn someone's love. That sometimes, it's just unconditional."

Steve was sixteen when he fought his first demogorgon, Eddie remembers that. Which means he couldn't have been any younger than that when he started really spending any time with Dustin or Robin, which means - the same thing that Eddie went through when he first moved in with Uncle Wayne, the thing that was so impossible for him to believe at twelve, Steve wasn't shown until he was probably seventeen.

Fuck, his heart aches.

"Does Henderson know he was your first true love?" Robin asks, her voice a little wet, but obviously trying to make things a little lighter.

Steve laughs, the sound just a bit thick. "No, and he'd be insufferable if I told him."

There's the faint sting of a new lie being written on the back of his calf, and the second he registers it, he hears Robin's startled laughter. Eddie pulls back from the door, sucking in a deep breath and letting it out, trying to get himself back under control.

"Oh my God, Steve, you did tell him! When?"

He can hear Steve sputtering and deflecting, the sound of Robin smacking him and Steve scrambling - probably trying to avoid them - and if there was ever going to be a good time to announce his return after shamelessly listening in for too long, now is probably it.

Eddie pushes open the door, six pack under one arm and bags of popcorn and chips under the other as he shoots a hopefully only slightly manic grin at them. "What's Steve lying about now?"

"Nothing!" Steve says too quickly.

Sloppy, for him, considering Eddie knows how good Steve usually is at using sarcasm or half truths to avoid telling lies, so Eddie tosses the bag of popcorn at him.

He catches it easily, of course, but it means he's now vulnerable to Robin's attacks, and he has to swerve to avoid another slap to his shoulder.

"Steve's trying to pretend like we both didn't get that lie, too," Robin says.

Steve groans. "Fine, Jesus. It was back when we were waiting at the camper, and Dustin was upset. I told him that he was the first person who was ever just - there, in my life because he wanted to be, even after he didn't need me to fight demodogs. No one could ever replace him."

"You're such a sap, Steve," Eddie teases him as he comes to sit next to him and Robin.

"Shut up," Steve grumbles. "That's it, I'm picking the movie."

—

The next day, Lucas and Max swing by. Steve hauls a basketball stand out of the garage and sets it up in the driveway, and Eddie sits at the kitchen table, eating a bologna sandwich while he watches them play.

It's safer inside, where there's no one to see if he gets affected by Steve's tank top and shorts.

Or at least, he thought it was safer inside.

"Do you love Steve?" Max asks, plopping down beside him.

Eddie chokes on his Coke, and she stares at him unsympathetically until he manages to breathe again.

"He's my soulmate, so." Eddie shrugs.

Max gives him an unimpressed look, and yeah, okay, he figures they both know soulmates aren't a guarantee of anything. Eddie's parents were soulmates, after all, loved each other more than anything else in this world, and that still hadn't been enough.

"I wanted him to be my soulmate before I knew it was him," he admits, because that's a more true answer without actually having to say yes or no. "Nothing's happened since to change that."

She gets this look on her face like she's trying to decide if that's an acceptable response. After a moment, she rests her chin on her knees, staring out the window, and Eddie figures he's in the clear.

"Steve has two soulmates," she says after a while. "You don't. Doesn't that make you feel - I don't know, like you aren't enough?"

"Jesus Christ, Red, you're not pulling any punches today, are you?" Eddie swears.

He doesn't actually want to have this conversation. It's not something he's completely sorted out on his own, yet, even though he's done a lot of thinking on it, and he's tempted to tell her to mind her own business.

But she won't look at him, and he knows why she's asking. She's not talking about him and Steve and Robin, not really.

He thinks about telling her something standard about soulmates, or maybe even the advice that his uncle gave him, but it doesn't feel right.

"It's not what I always imagined," Eddie admits slowly.

Max doesn't say anything, but he watches the way she starts to unwind a little, how she doesn't hold herself so stiff, tilts a little to actually listen to what he's saying.

"You know Steve and I talked to each other when we were younger. We thought the same way about a lot of stuff, and I had this idea in my head that he was some little outcast like me, in another small town somewhere out there, that we'd move to a big city and find each other. But then we stopped talking."

"How come?" Max asks, looking caught up despite herself.

Eddie grins at her, wide and self depreciating. "I found out he was probably some rich, popular jerk, and decided I hated him."

And there's that unimpressed look again.

"Yeah, yeah," Eddie grumbles. "Let's just say there might be some truth to not talking with your soulmate before you actually meet them. Point is, for almost five years, I hated my soulmate. Thought the best I could hope for was that we'd meet when we were thirty and ancient, and maybe then he would have changed. Then a little while ago, I met Steve."

Max's brows furrow. "You met Steve way before that."

"Nah," he says. "I knew of Steve. I had a lot of assumptions about him, knew what I thought he was, but I didn't know the real Steve. That Steve I met when he helped explain all of this to me and didn't make me feel stupid for not picking up some of it right away, even after I held a broken bottle to his throat."

She snorts, but looks like she's considering that. "I met him when he was putting himself between me, Lucas, and Dustin and a hoard of demodogs, a couple of hours after calling them dickheads and me some random girl."

Eddie salutes her with his can of Coke, half in understanding and half to cover the way his heart wants to melt again. "That Steve was nothing like I imagined my soulmate to be, when I was daydreaming about him or hating him. But I knew I didn't want anyone else, and Steve having another soulmate doesn't change that. I don't think it makes what he feels for me any less than what I feel for him, and I don't think it means I'm less important to him than he is to me."

Max frowns. "Really, or are you just saying that?"

"Really," Eddie says, though he hadn't actually been sure it was true until he heard himself say it. "I'm not saying it's not hard sometimes. And sometimes I get in my head about it. But I wouldn't change it. Steve wouldn't be the same without Robin, you know? He wouldn't be the Steve that made me want him to be my soulmate so bad."

There's a long moment of silence. Then, "Would you be saying that if both of his soulmates were romantic?"

Eddie's glad he stopped drinking, because he knows he would have choked again. For a split second, she wonders if she's picked up on - but no, that still isn't what this about. "Are both of yours romantic?"

Her jaw juts forward, arms hugging tighter around her knees. "What if they were?"

Fuck, he doesn't know what to say to that. "It's okay to like both guys and girls," he says, because he feels like that's the most important bit. "I do. I mean, mostly guys, but sometimes girls."

Her grip loosens a little, but she still doesn't say anything.

"It sounds like maybe I'm not the one you should be talking to about that," he says carefully.

She scowls. "I talked to Steve already."

Right, of course she did.

"What did Steve say?"

"Steve said he thinks the line between platonic and romantic soulmates isn't as straightforward as people like to pretend it is. That sometimes what you might think should be romantic is actually platonic, and sometimes what you think should be platonic is romantic, and sometimes there's going to be things that blur the lines and you don't really know which one it is. He said it was okay to have two platonic or two romantic or one of each or, like, any combination." She makes a face here, like she's not entirely sure what he meant by any combination - or like she was sure, and didn't need that much detail. "That as long as everyone was communicating, it was okay to do whatever worked for us."

Eddie swallows. "Steve sounds pretty smart."

Max rolls her eyes. "He has his moments."

"So… are you communicating with Lucas and El?" he asks.

She picks at a rip in her jeans. "I talked to Lucas."

He waits, but it seems like that's all he's going to get. He starts to ask what Lucas said, but… he gets the feeling that it's not necessarily about what he said or not.

"But it's Lucas," Eddie says. "And you wanted to hear how someone else in a familiar situation felt."

Eddie gets that familiar, itchy feeling that he does when he wants to run, and he only barely resists the urge to bounce his leg up and down. It's not that he wants to run from Max, or even from this conversation, it's just - it's starting to make him think about things, and he really, really doesn't want an audience for this. He wants to lock himself in a room and pace, listen to some music, maybe scribble out his thoughts, something to get his hands moving and his brain in some kind of order -

"Even if Steve wanted both of us romantically," he says, knowing it's close enough that it's not a lie. "I would still rather be his soulmate than anyone else."

Max looks at him with narrowed eyes for a long moment. "I'm gonna ask Steve if you lied about that."

Eddie fixes her with an unimpressed look right back. "You think I'd do that to him?"

"You better not." There's an edge of menace in her tone, but she lets it go, so Eddie figures she doesn't really think he'd lie about something like that knowing it would be etched on Steve's skin forever.

Silence stretches between them, and Eddie follows her gaze out the window, watching Steve and Lucas playing basketball.

"I've put him through so much already," Max says, so quietly that he can barely hear it.

Fuck, Eddie is so fucking soft for these kids.

"You have not," Eddie says immediately. "You haven't done a goddamn thing, Red. Both of you have already been through so much, and it's not because of something either of you did. It's fucking Hawkins."

She doesn't look convinced, so Eddie pushes his shoulder against hers.

"Lucas is smart. He's more emotionally intelligent than I am-" Max snorts at him, and he's reasonably sure he hears her mutter something along the lines of like that's hard, but he ignores her. "He knows what he can take and what he can't. All you have to do is believe him when he tells you it."

She's quiet for a moment, looking contemplative. Then she asks, "Does that work for you?"

Right, yeah, okay, he deserved that one. He thinks about deflecting, but -

"I'm trying," he admits quietly. "What do you think, huh, you gonna let me beat you there or are we gonna do this together?"

Max glances out the window again, then turns to look back at him, her chin jutting out. "Steve loves too much, and he gets it thrown back at him too often. I don't think he really believes that we love him as much as he loves us, even though we do."

She says it like a threat, like she's saying if you tell him I said that I will kill you or maybe if you hurt him I will kill you. Either way, he'd be dead.

"I'll talk to Lucas and El, and you make sure you don't disappoint him."

Goddamn if that doesn't stab right to the heart of him, lodging itself beneath his ribcage and sticking right into the parts that'd already made him want to run from this conversation.

"Okay," he manages to get out, because he's not sure he'll survive any other answer.

Max nods. "Good talk," she tells him, and then she pushes herself up and she's gone.

Eddie stays there, mulling all of that over. He doesn't think she'd actually tell Steve anything they just talked about, nor does he think she really has any idea that Steve had asked him to make their bond romantic and he'd turned him down. Honestly, Eddie could probably get away with patting himself on the back for actually managing to give some decent advice and be the person she'd needed him to be for just a little while, then go on being a very devoted platonic soulmate for Steve.

Except even if Max doesn't really know, Eddie does. And now Eddie's thinking about things he doesn't want to, and wondering how much of a hypocrite some of the advice that he gave her makes him, and -

"Hey," Lucas says, and Eddie yelps.

Lucas raises his eyebrows at him.

"Jesus Christ, don't do that," Eddie bitches.

There's a little smirk, but fortunately, Lucas doesn't actually comment on it. "You talk to Max?" he asks instead.

"Yeah," Eddie replies, narrowing his eyes at him.

Lucas lights up, though, his whole face practically beaming with his smile. "Good. I figured it'd help her to hear that your soulmate cares about you no matter what from someone who wasn't me."

Eddie raises one eyebrow. "How do you know that's what I said?"

Lucas rolls his eyes. "Because you're Steve's soulmate. If that wasn't the way you felt, Robin would know, and she'd have already murdered you."

Eddie considers that. "Okay, fair."

Lucas makes his way over to the fridge, yanking it open and standing in front of it as he peers in. "So what did you tell her?"

Eddie sits back, waiting until Lucas turns to look back at him so he can shoot him a wide, smug grin. "If she wants you to know, she'll tell you."

He gets a glare in return, but Lucas doesn't protest that, just leans back in to grab a pair of Gatorades from the fridge. He twists the top off of one, taking a long swallow before he shuts the door and starts back out of the kitchen, giving him a little nod as he passes.

"Hey, Lucas?" Eddie calls before he can leave.

Lucas pauses, looking quizzically at him.

"I'm guessing you talk to Steve like Max does, about all this." Eddie makes an exaggerated gesture between them and out the kitchen window, meant to loop all of them in together. "But, uh. You know. If you ever want a different perspective, from someone in kind of your position."

He motions to himself, then splays his hands out all ta-da.

Lucas hesitates, lingering in the middle of the kitchen before he seems to make a decision.

"I was kind of upset about it when I first found out Max's other soulmate was El," he admits. "It was right after Billy died, and their soulmate bond was new, and Max kept letting El in while she was shutting me out. And I was angry, and jealous, and then when El had to leave and Max kept pushing me away, I just kept thinking that if El was here Max wouldn't be by herself so much, that the wrong soulmate got to stay in Hawkins."

Lucas pauses, twisting the Gatorades in his hand, but Eddie gets the feeling it's a gathering his thoughts pause more than a waiting for Eddie to say something pause.

"Eventually I realized that El could help Max in a way that I couldn't, and that maybe that was the point. I started calling El a little, too, when the phone wasn't busy, and just - El was grieving, too. I didn't want to feel jealous over something that helped them both anymore. It's been good with El back, really good. I don't know if I like El like that, but if Max does-" he shrugs. "I guess I kind of already got over the jealousy bit. It doesn't really matter to me if they kiss while they're having sleepovers or not, as long as they don't exclude me."

Now it seems like a waiting for Eddie to say something pause, so he gives a soft little hum. "What do you do if you end up feeling excluded?"

Lucas blinks, like he wasn't expecting that question. "Uh. Well, before, I talked to my parents and sometimes to Steve or Robin or Dustin. It's hard talking to Mike or Will about it because they're not all that objective about El stuff. I don't… really know if I want to tell my parents about Max and El like that yet, so I guess… talk to Steve or Robin or Dustin." He pauses, then, more tentatively, "Or you?"

Fuck, these kids keep getting to him. "Or me," he agrees easily. "But you should probably also add talk to Max and El to that list."

Lucas makes a face, but doesn't disagree. "I don't think a lot of the others know about Max," he says instead. "Just me and Steve and Robin, and now you."

There's an edge to his voice, like he's pretty sure Eddie must be safe if Max told him, but he's ready to fight him about it anyway.

"Max knows about me, now, so we're even," Eddie replies, pleased that the effort he puts into making sure his voice sounds steady pays off.

"Yeah?" Lucas asks. "Who else knows?"

"Steve and Robin. And now Max and you," Eddie replies.

Lucas lights up a little. "Cool."

"Cool," Eddie echoes, even though he feels a little shaky from the fact that he's now said it twice today, which is double the amount of times he's ever said it before at all.

There's a comfortable silence for a moment.

"It's complicated, being in our position," Eddie says after a bit. "I think it's always going to be complicated. But if we let it - I think it could be really great, too. Most people only end up in pairs, but us? We get a whole damn party of interconnected soulmates."

"A party of soulmates," Lucas says thoughtfully, then grins. "Yeah, I like that."

"You're a good kid, Lucas," Eddie tells him, not sure if he really needs to hear it, but he still remembers the way it made him feel when Uncle Wayne said it.

Lucas ducks his head, looking a little pleased, even though he follows it up with a sidelong look. "Even though I'm kind of a jock?"

Eddie shrugs. "My soulmate is a whole jock. I guess that means I've got a little jock in me, too."

Lucas's expression shifts, turning mischievous, and suddenly he looks like the fifteen year old boy he is, and not a world-weary adult. It's nice, it's wonderful, Eddie loves to see it, except it makes him realize what he just said far, far too late to do anything about it.

In his defense, they were having a serious discussion, and -

Yeah, he's got nothing.

Maybe it'll be fine? Lucas is probably the most mature out of all of the boys, maybe -

"I don't know, man," Lucas says, slowly, like he's actually considering that. "We've all heard the rumors about Steve. I don't think it's something little you're gonna be dealing with."

Eddie gapes at him.

"I said you were mature," he bemoans, flinging his upper body over the top of the kitchen table just to make Lucas laugh harder. "I told Max you were emotionally intelligent! Begone from my sight!"

Lucas takes his Gatorades and leaves, still laughing at him.

—

"Max cornered me in the kitchen to threaten me today," Eddie says.

Steve snorts. "Of course she did. What about?"

Eddie shrugs, waiting for Steve to look at him so he can waggle his eyebrows at him. "She also threatened to kill me if I told you."

Steve shoves him, and Eddie falls back dramatically, sprawling out on the couch. He props himself up on his elbows to look at Steve, but he doesn't seem inclined to actually push him to reveal what he and Max talked about. Instead, Steve goes about shutting down for the night, checking to make sure all the windows and the sliding glass door are locked.

"Soulmate stuff," Eddie says. Or more like blurts out, before he can change his mind, to force himself to have to keep going. "She told me what you said about the line between platonic and romantic soulmates. Made me think about some things."

"Yeah?" Steve asks, stopping by the couch to look at him.

"Do you still want me, Steve?" Eddie asks, his heart in his throat.

He isn't prepared for Steve to shut down, for the way his face goes cold and hard and blank.

"Not cool, Eddie," Steve says, turning away and going back to the windows in the living room.

Eddie pushes himself up off the couch, then immediately doubts himself and sits back down. "Steve, what?"

Steve won't look at him, and he can hear the window locks rattling with the force that Steve's using to check them. "You're being a dick, man, come on. You can't ask me stuff like that."

"I-" he starts, then stops, his mind scrambling a little. Is he too late? Did Steve move on already, even though he told Robin that he wasn't going to? Is Eddie so easy to get over that even his fucking soulmate couldn't keep him? "What happened to it's always going to be him, huh?"

"Jesus Christ," Steve says, incredulous, and Eddie kind of wants to cry a little because he knows that Steve has started saying that more because of all the time they've spent together. "You were listening to me and Robin? What the fuck, man, you still think it's fair to throw that at me?"

"Fuck you, Steve, I know it wasn't a lie when you said that. Am I so fucking easy to just stop wanting, or are you that fucking fickle?"

"Eddie, goddamn, is this - were you testing me? Is this you lashing out at me again? Because I can't, okay, not about this, I can't-" he cuts off, one hand scrubbing over his face. "I told you, I can't."

Oh.

Oh fuck.

"Steve, no, I wasn't teasing, I - it was a real question."

Steve stills, pausing right by a window. The light of the moon catches on him, highlighting parts of him in pale silver while the rest of him is warmed from the soft yellow of the living room lamp. "Seriously?"

"Come on, Steve. I just picked a fight with you instead of asking what you meant, and you're surprised I'm not sure you still want me anymore?"

Eddie can hear Steve breathing out, then in, then back out again, watches as he lets some of the tension bleed out of his body. "I think I picked some of that fight right back. I'm sorry, I just - all right, let's go back, and I'll listen without making assumptions, okay?"

Yeah, okay, Eddie can do that.

"Max told me what you said," Eddie starts again. "And it made me think about how smart you are." He wishes Steve were closer, so he could see his face better, at the same time as he wishes he couldn't see it at all. "How brave you are. How when you know what you want, you go for it, how you fight to keep it, how you own up when you make a mistake, how you work so hard to make all this work."

This is Eddie trying to be brave, he thinks. Trying to go for what he wants, to accept that they're going to have to work at this, that he's probably going to get hurt, that he has to trust that Steve will be willing to work past whatever it is that springs up.

It takes him a little too long, though, because after a few moments, Steve gently prompts, "Eddie?"

"Do you still want me?" he asks again. He didn't mean to, but it comes out anyway, all small and tentative.

"Eds," Steve breathes out. "I'm always going to want you."

He loves too much, and he gets it thrown back at him too often, Max had said, and Eddie swallows down the urge to ask him if he means it, if he'll still mean it the next time Eddie picks a fight, or every time he's an ass.

"I'm always going to want you, too," Eddie says.

Steve's hands twitch, and he looks like he's waiting for something - for a lie to show up on his skin, Eddie realizes, and Eddie knows he's going to have to do better than that.

"I want you," he says again. "Steve, I want you. I'll take you any way I can get you, but I just - this is stupid, I'm stupid. I'm making us both miserable because I was scared."

He's not surprised that's what gets Steve moving, and he comes over to sit by him on the couch.

"You're not stupid," Steve replies. "Not for being scared."

Eddie shakes his head. "No, but I am for giving into it. So I might get hurt, so what? I'm already hurting, wanting you so bad and not getting to have you, knowing you'd probably let me kiss you and not letting myself go for it."

Steve's looking at him, eyes all sharp and intense, like he's really listening to Eddie's every word, and hell if it doesn't make him feel just a little bit drunk on it.

"Talking with Max made me realize that I trust you. I trust you, with my life, with - fucking everything. I trust you to work through this with me, to figure out what works for us."

Steve runs a hand over his jaw, going up to pinch the bridge of his nose. "Yeah?" he asks after a moment. "You really - you want to do this?"

"So fucking much," Eddie says.

Steve's whole face lights up in a smile, and he leans in, one hand resting on Eddie's knee. "That mean I can kiss you now?"

Eddie barely manages to get out a please before Steve's other hand is sliding over his jaw, slipping back to push his fingers into his hair and cup the side of his face. Steve holds him there as he kisses him, and it's-

It's not Eddie's first kiss. But it's his first kiss that's ever really meant anything, and the soft brush of Steve's lips against his makes his heart stutter in his chest.

Steve gives a little hum, low in his throat, and then he's tilting his head to get a better angle, and holy shit.

Eddie pushes forward eagerly, deepening the kiss until they're both panting for breath, and even then they don't pull away. Their foreheads press together, lips parted and just barely touching as they share the same air. His eyes have closed at some point, but now he opens them to find Steve looking back at him, and Eddie smiles.

"How long do you think until Robin notices we haven't come up?" he asks.

"I'm okay with figuring that out," Steve replies, closing the tiny bit of distance between them to kiss him again.

I've got a pretty good handle on the outline for the rest of this now, so I'd say we've got about four more parts left!

-----

Part 24

Tag list (always happy to add more): @vampireinthesun @koibug @estrellami-1 @mentalcyborg @allbimyself26 @questionablequeeries @the-s-is-silent @whimsicalwitchm @a-gae-af-racoon @tinyplanet95 @n0-1-important @velocitytimes2 @swimmingbirdrunningrock @newtstabber @jcmadgirl @roblingoblin285 @lexyvey @paperbackribs @goodolefashionedloverboi @evix-syne666 @raisedbylibrarians @stxrcrossed186 @nightmareglitter @greekgeek24 @starman-jpg @crazyhatlady86 @imfinereallyy @manda-panda-monium @deleataecount @prideandsensibility @chaoticvictorianspirit @maydillydally @disrespectedgoatman @scarlet-malfoy @i-less-than-three-you @hbyrde36 @hallucinatedjosten @dragonsandgayships @arepaconchocolate @g4ys0n @novelnovella @bisexualdisastersworld @ghostofyourvampiregf @scarletyeager @pettrichore @nerd-and-nervous @hiimlevi @queenie-ofthe-void @cinnamon-mushroomabomination

[ewingstan]

Halloween and cringetober may be behind us, yet I remain, coughing this up onto your back porch. Alec Lisa and Aisha were the only ones who enjoyed the costume party. Individuals and costume explanations below the cut:

Aisha and Brian: Power and Aki Hayakawa Chainsaw Man

This one goes out to the nine-year old I work with who wore a Denji costume for the school Halloween parade. Shoutout to you guy I don't know how you're allowed to watch that its the blood and sexual fantasies show.

I feel like miss suiciding-baiting-people-on-4chan would like Power. Aki works for Brian as they carry the "supposedly normal responsible one of their batshit group who very clearly has something wrong with him" niche of their series.

I feel like CSM is something that Brian and Alec would put on in the background when they were hanging out together. It's not really either of their thing, but it good pizza night fodder. Brian freaks out when Aisha mentions watching it.

Brian agreed to be Aki after he learned he could just wear a suit instead of making a real costume. Brian obviously likes objectively ridiculous costumes but it has to be something strained through 5 layers of machismo and a 17-year-old's idea of professionalism. He'll dress like something that gets painted onto a van but if there's too much whimsy or fun he'll start to freak. So halloween costumes would be weird for him. Aki just wearing a suit and a sword seemed like a good solution for this right up until the point where he had to explain what it was. Its from, hm, y'know, uhhhh this anime that my sister likes I'm just here to match with her.

Whenever he pulls the "I'm just in costume for my sister" thing Aisha makes everyone forget she exists. No escaping the weeb allegations for you Brian.

Taylor and Lisa: Madoka Kaname and Homura Akemi, Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Don't know if I need to explain this one, Worm/Madoka comparisons are almost cliche at this point

The costumes were Lisa's idea. Obviously.

The costumes were also Lisa's purchases, and enough was spent on them to make a veteran cosplayer weep. Her refusal to die her hair black would also make them weep but for different reasons.

After taking a look at herself Taylor enveloped herself in a particularly dense bug swarm for the whole night.

She eventually retreated to some side-room she found Brian hiding in and chatted with him for the rest of the party. On the condition that he make a darkness cloud for her.

She started choking on a prawn half an hour in after remembering he could see through his darkness clouds.

Rachel and Alec: Jade Harley and Dirk Strider, Homestuck

They are not going as a matching pair. Rachel does not know that she and Alec are wearing costumes from the same comic. She does not know what Homestuck is. This is one of the many ways she's better than us.

Rachel thinks she should've just been able to wear her usual dog mask for this party. Its a costume. What do you mean it doesn't count.

And why is her usual mask not enough, but the dog ears Cassie was really excited to loan her are fine? Aren't ears less costume than a full mask?

Admittedly apart from the pseudo-mind-control Alec and Dirk don't have a lot in common. Alec probably thinks he's more like Dirk than he actually is.

Dirk is if the concept of being in your own head was a guy, nay several guys, while Alec literally has to outsource getting in touch with his emotions to other bodies. Honestly the closest worm character to Dirk would probably be Krouse, considering the whole "chessmaster-manipulator who puts everything on himself and overmanages all his relationships while self-identifying as the person who can handle being the bad guy" thing, which Alec doesn't have going on at all. However:

It let me put Alec in a silly little fancylad outfit.

(Also they're both SB&HJ fans, so honestly I think its the perfect choice).

[spicyrouletteburrito]

People are sleeping on this scene cuz I think it really highlights Endorsi’s understanding of Bam’s character and does a lot for their relationship

I do think the writing of Endorsi is kind of all over the place at times but she just like the rest of the cast isnt ignorant to who Bam is as a person or to what he wants.

And I really liked that she was the first to speak because well idk up until this moment it felt like we werent getting anything showcasing that Endorsi actually understood Bam’s character. We kind of do in that she’s always hesitent to leave him in battle, she checks on him anytime he interacts with Rachel, we know she cares but its another thing to see her vouch for Bam like this.

On Bam’s side I dont think he expected her to speak out like this either, I dont think anyone did, but it really shows that even though she does do as she pleases she does pay attention to her party and to their present dangers.

Now that I’m writing this its actually incredibly in character as she did this with Anaak too. Despite getting into fights with her sisters she still chooses to stay with Anaak, even goes back to Anaak when everything is said and done. She never hides that she’s staying by Anaak’s side, even when her life is on the line. Thats how loyal she is to the people she cares about.

She tries to reason with Shilal, idk the blonde twin i get their names mixed up, and actually understands that she cannot be hyper focused on Jahad’s princess system if she wants to make real connections with everyone, she literaly tries to tell Shilial this.

She was like this with Khun too, when Khun’s heart exploded shes the one who finds a way to tell Bam what happened, she tells him she felt responsible, she helps Bam deal with Rachel and White after it. She actually does stick her neck out for her party and I think this kind of gets lost when people think of the NHS arc and the times she’s opposed Bam’s decisions. Her anger in the NHS honestly quite justified, their execution of it was the problem but I’m glad they came to their senses in the end and figured it out. Anyway, thats a whole other tangent.

[plague-karm]

Sonic 3 Spoiler Post Wheyyyyy

I’m gonna talk about literally everything so if you still haven’t seen the movie then scroll away, I will be adding images a week after this post goes up as well so yeah. This is NOT going to be well thought out at all it’s just going to be a ramble fest because why not shejsjjejejs

The fact that they made Live And Learn a song Maria wrote gives it SO much more meaning and a reason for the song to be included in the movie (besides fanservice lmao), a story line centred around the process of grief culminating with a grandiose reprise of a song made by the person one of the characters is grieving? CINEMA

The third act was incredible of course but god I wish they stopped going back and forth with the Robotnik stuff, the switch ups between the immaculate fight choreography and the slapstick bullshit really began to run its course and I was just waiting for peak to start again

Speaking of those fight scenes OH MY GOD THE FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHY IS SOME OF THE BEST THIS SERIES HAS EVER HAD IT WAS ON SOME DRAGON BALL TYPE SHIT. When Super Sonic and Super Shadow were beating the everloving fuck out of each other in different countries I was stimming like crazy

Knuckles is the unsung MVP of this movie and I’m so happy they got to show his character development in a really natural way, he’s really become a big brother figure for the other two and the way he tried to talk Sonic down after Tom almost died really got to me he’s come so far 🥹

When the trailer fakeout shot came up I was LOSING IT 😭

Also I want to know what the cinematographer was smoking because some of the shots in this thing are BEAUTIFUL, especially the ones in space (when Sonic and Shadow enter their super forms and go around like blazing comets I was going crazy)

The colour grading is a huge step up from the last two movies as well, you can tell the budget went up because the models here are stunning (especially Shadow’s)

I wish Live And Learn got to play a little longer but I’m just happy they included it either way (when the vocals came in so did I)

Agent Stone continues to be one of my favourite human characters in the entire series, I honestly wouldn’t mind them adding him to the games because his dynamic with Eggman is way better than whatever Orbot and Cubot have going on

They definitely listened to the critiques for the second movie as well because the human stuff has been very toned down and I honestly think it’s for the better (and this is coming from someone who actually really likes Rachel idk man she’s just fun)

I’m pretty satisfied with how they handled Gerald outside of the usual Jim Carrey shenanigans, portraying him as a madman so consumed by grief that he’s completely willing to let Earth and himself die out of pure spite was crazy, I saw someone say that this is how he’d act if he didn’t get executed 50 years ago and I can see that pretty clearly. I loved the glimpses of humanity we get of him as well (the way he referred to both Maria AND Shadow as “kids” in the flashback made me feel like he genuinely did care for him at that point and the death of Maria just threw him off the deep end)

The scene of Shadow and Gerald finding Maria’s body was DEVASTATING, the way Shadow didn’t know if she was dead at first and all it took was to see how heartbroken Gerald was to figure it out killed me 😔

Speaking of which they actually did a rewrite for Shadow’s backstory while keeping a lot of the same elements and I’m pretty happy with it for the most part, him coming to earth in a comet is black arms foreshadowing 100% and the flashbacks of him and Maria just hanging out and having fun like normal kids was really nice (the inclusion of the biolizard being the monster in the movie they were watching was really cool too I didn’t even notice that at first until someone pointed it out)

Despite these changes he was handled SO well, Keanu did a great job voicing him and to hear that he actually wanted to play the character made me so happy, it’s almost like getting people who give a shit about the source material is a really important factor of making adaptations succeed idk

The reason why Maria’s around though is kind of weak? She isn’t ill in this version and the only reason she’s in the lab is because Gerald takes her everywhere? That’s it? Why couldn’t they have said that he adopted her or something? (Or maybe her parents had an incurable illness that Gerald tried and failed to help with so he took her in after the fact idk)

Ben Schwartz popped OFF in the third act god I love it watching whimsical characters completely losing their shit after they’ve been pushed too far

The fact that the iconic “announcement” was changed to a tragic yaoi send off is beautiful, I hope Agent Stone comes back in future movies his dynamic with Tails was really cute

Pansexual Eggman is now canon we are so back

Loved the brief snippet of E.G.G.M.A.N, it played for five seconds but I was stimming anyway

The soundtrack is also a huge step up from the first two movies as well (also Throw It All Away is one of the song titles holy shit)

The post credits scene was PEAK I love Metal Sonic and Amy’s designs so much, Im really interested to see if it’ll be a loose adaptation of Sonic CD or it’ll be its own thing (maybe Amy and Metal are originally from the games’ bad timeline and that’s how Silver shows up later? I’m not sure, I just want Silver fans to get SOMETHING they’ve been fucking starving bro I feel bad for them 😭)

[infravioletsea]

Anyways, my bestie and I have been discussing how to cast a Muppets adaptation of Chicago:

Roxie Hart: Miss Piggy This one's a no-brainer. The leading lady, an ambitious aspiring star, a surprising temper, the blonde curls? The "They love me" bit from Roxie's song? Plus, Fred Casely getting porkchopped to death is just so funny to me Velma Kelly: The Human When you look at the difference between the way Zellweger and Zeta-Jones dance the same choreography as their resepctive characters in the closing number, what sticks out is the difference. Where Roxie is extravagant and slightly messy, Velma is far more polished, experienced and precise. A chorus girl and a headlining act. A human and a muppet. I'm not too sure who exactly would play her. Maybe Rachel Zegler, since she's expressed interest before and she's proven to be a good singer and dancer already. Either way, Veronica (Velma's twin) is played by a muppet version of the actress. Billy Flynn: Fozzie Bear Can you picture failed standup veteran Fozzie telling Miss Piggy how he's going to get her acquitted? Can you picture THAT GUY playing the lawyer that's never lost a case? Here's a relentless optimist who's always looking for new ways to deliver old material and never lets anyone get him down. Now he's going to defend a woman who DEFINITELY comitted that murder. Which of course brings me to- Miss Sunshine: Statler and Waldorf The back and forth during We Both Reached for the Gun. The hounding questions as thinly veiled insults. Yelling from the Jurors' bench in the middle of the trial. You see my vision. Mama Morton: Sam the Eagle He keeps the law, and runs a tight ship. He's a shoe-in to play a prison warden, even one that does a cabaret number in a fancy dress (which Sam would also perform, dressed exactly like Queen Latifah was in the '02 movie) Amos Hart: Kermit the Frog Finally he shows up. A big part of this casting choice is my friend doing a cover of Cellophane in his voice. For the face of the Muppets as we know them today, Kermit is a fairly understated guy, and I think he could give a lot of depth to Amos as a character. I especially love the idea of him scrunching his face while Miss Roxie sings Funny Honey about him, and him flailing as he goes on a rant when he realises that she killed Fred.

Fred Casely: I wasn't sure which would work better for this one: a human actor sleeping with and getting murdered by Miss Piggy would be funny. Alternatively, Link Hogthrob. He's a smarmy git. He can play another smarmy git. Katalin Helinszki/The Hungarian: Swedish Chef I just really need to hear this guy explaining how he ended up in jail for murder in "Swedish". Plus a Muppet getting executed is so darkly funny to me for some reason.

The Emcee: Rowlf the Dog Honestly I can't explain this one, it just feels right. The Mayhem are the band still, and Rowlf and Teeth split the songs between them. BONUS: The Murderesses Depending on how faithful the adaptation is, it could go either way. An all-human cast save for Piggy and Chef would work if the song was kept the exact same. But I do also like the idea of an all-muppet version of Cell Block Tango with new murder methods: Gonzo (stunt gone wrong) Bunsen (his experiments finally finished off poor Beaker) Crazy Harry (self-explanatory) Animal (starts telling the story of how he went on a homicidial rampage before he's promptly dragged back to the orchestra pit by Floyd)

Anyways, there you have it. That's my pitch.

[genericpuff]

Hi! I came here from your "lore olympus biggest whiff" blog about the finale... I've never read LO but I was always interested in it. However, after reading a few paragraphs of that blog (I didn't read all of it because I didn't want to get too many spoilers), it doesn't seem worth it. Would you recommend it up to a certain chapter? If yes, until which chapter should I read?

Honestly, if you want to read LO, I absolutely highly recommend reading the whole thing, or at least trying to. Not just to give context to the things we're all talking about in these communities, but also because it's about to go behind the Daily Pass wall on August 29th and it'll become even more inconvenient to do so.

I'm personally still a huge sucker for the first season myself because it just has that magic that LO used to have that a lot of us fell in love with in the first place; it still has its flaws, it's definitely the worst of the "Persephone looks like a toddler" era, but the characters feel a lot more real and a lot of the best, most iconic panels from the series come from S1. The first half of S2 also isn't awful, though the art does start to get a bit rough around the edges. It wasn't until the last half of S2 that I personally started to go , "Wait, I don't think Rachel knows what she's doing." That said, I didn't become a full-blown critic of the series until the S2 finale, which is where I firmly believe the comic should have ended (that is, if Rachel had structured the story better to allow for the S2 finale to be the overall series finale).

But you should read as much of it as you can anyways. Even if you can't get through a certain part of the story and decide to DNF, that's fine, but I personally don't want to be the one deciding for folks what they should be reading or how much. I also definitely don't want people forming their opinion of a work like LO entirely through my criticisms of it - the best way for you to form your own opinion, regardless of whether or not it aligns with my own, is to simply read it yourself. I know where I started to lose interest in the series, but you might not feel the same way when you read it yourself. It's definitely happened in the past that people have gone to read LO to "see what all the fuss is about" only to wind up loving it haha and that's great, honestly, I don't want anyone to wind up missing out on something they might like just because of my own opinions about it :' )

Honestly it seems daunting but you can easily read all of LO between today and the 29th, a lot of the earlier S1 episodes are relatively short and the actual pacing of the comic itself throughout the second and third season makes for a very quick reading experience, text bubbles usually aren't too wordy so depending on how fast of a reader you are, you can usually blitz through each episode within 2-3 minutes (that said, I'm also a bit of a faster reader so your reading time may vary). Plus the episode count on the app is also thrown off by several episodes that are purely dedicated to Q&A's, hiatus notices, etc. So it's about a 12-18 hour reading experience give or take, which sounds like a lot, but if you're able to read several chunks of episodes at a time in bursts, it can be done by the time it goes behind DP on the 29th :' )

So yeah ! I do hope you read it for yourself if you're really curious, and if you do, feel free to come back again and tell me about your experience! Did you get through all of it or did you DNF? Did it put any of my own criticisms into better context for you or did you wind up enjoying the series regardless?

Best of luck!! <3

[synthapostate]

The Predator: I read this book for the first time in the back of my grandparents’ car on my way to spend the weekend with them. I was excited to have a Marco POV book at last. “Oh boy,” I thought, “Marco’s humor is so great! This book is going to be so much fun!”

Let me tell you, the TEARS I CRIED right in the middle of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

- My name is Marco.

I can't tell you my last name or where I live. Believe me, I wish I could. I would like nothing more than to be able to tell you my name is Marco Jones or Williams or Vasquez or Brown or Anderson or McCain.

Marco McCain. Has kind of a nice sound, doesn't it?

But McCain's not my last name. I'm not even going to swear to you that Marco is my first name. See, I'm hoping to live awhile longer. I'm not going to make it any easier for the Yeerks to find me.

I always did wonder what Marco’s last name actually was. We do eventually learn Jake’s, and by extension Rachel’s, since we also know that their dads are brothers. We know Tobias’s, unless that was magic-retconned by spacetime weirdness. We don’t know Cassie’s, but I feel like she might have dropped some hints. But Marco is the one I think would throw out a lot of false leads, and play his real cards close to his chest.

Even though. Marco. Baby boy. Given the way this book goes, I don’t think it’s going to make a difference if we don’t know your name. Visser One knows exactly where to find you.

- Three punks. Each of them probably twice as big as I was. I'm not exactly Arnold Schwarzenegger. I'm not even average height for my age, although I make up for it by being incredibly cute.

And charming. And witty. And modest.

But I was pretty sure the three big gang members in that alley were not going to be very impressed by my cuteness.

Fortunately, I have other abilities.

Marco is the smart one. The careful one. The one who is trying hardest not to get himself killed. But he does have the capacity for heroism, just as much as any of the others, even though he’d be the first to pretend otherwise. And he is not about to let a bunch of assholes beat up some old man, so in a move worthy of Rachel, he morphs gorilla (in broad daylight, dammit kid) and kicks their asses. Unfortunately, he also scares the hell out of their intended victim, who steals a mugger’s gun and tries to shoot Marco. “Which just goes to show you why you should never get involved in other people's problems.”

- He describes Cassie as “like sincere or something.” Adorable.

- Ax’s big plan in this book is to steal a Yeerk spaceship so he can go home. Ax may be tech savvy, but he is very much not the brains of this operation. It’s a good thing he’s named Jake his Prince, because Ax should not be making his own plans.

- “According to Cassie and Rachel, Ax is cute. I wouldn't know, being a guy.”

Marco sometimes makes statements like this, but he is the most queercoded character in this admittedly very straight series. It was the ‘90s and he’s twelve, so I don’t expect him to come out as a genderfluid pansexual, but. You see my vision? I see my vision.

Also, he’s talking about Ax’s Andalite body, not his human morph, so either the girls are both into that, or Marco thinks boys aren’t supposed to understand even the concept of cuteness. Honestly, I want to go ahead and say Rachel and Cassie are tumblr-level monsterfuckers, decades ahead of their time.

- <Fear is unworthy of a warrior.>

He seemed a little too determined for me. I don't know much about Andalites, but I had a feeling I understood this one, at least a little. See, he was alive. But every other Andalite who had come to Earth, including Ax's brother, the prince, was dead.

So I took a shot. It wasn't fair, maybe, but he'd made me mad, acting like I was some kind of coward. "How many times have you fought Hork-Bajir? Or any other Controller?" I asked him.

His stalk eyes drooped. He pawed the ground with one hoof. <Never,> he said.

I nodded. "I thought so. So let me tell you something, Ax. It's scary. It's so scary that some times you wish you could just go ahead and die because it's easier than dealing with the terror."

Ax is so young here. The kids went to rescue a stranded Andalite thinking they would find someone who could take the responsibility of fighting a war off their shoulders, and what they found was a half-trained cadet who has never even seen combat. The five of them are far more experienced than he is. They already understand war. They know that Ax’s ideas about fighting for “honor” are bullshit.

There are no adults coming to their rescue, just some dumb kid who insists on calling Jake his Prince because he needs to follow someone’s orders. And the Animorphs, who in comparison are practically hardened veterans, are going to have to look after him.

- So anyway, we get some wacky hijinks at the mall.

- "So far, so good," Jake said as we headed into the mall.

I rolled my eyes. "Jake? Do me a favor. Don't ever say 'so far, so good.' The only time anyone ever says 'so far, so good' is right before every thing blows up in his face."

"So far. So far. Farrrrr. Faaaar," Ax said, trying out the sounds. "So. Sssso far so so so good."

"Oh, man," I said.

Andalites don’t have mouths in their own bodies, so speaking is weird for Ax when he morphs human. But mouths can do more than that! Ax ditches the guys and goes straight to Starbucks. Apparently he understands waiting in line to order, so Jake is forced to pay for his double latte.

- "A hole! In the lid! No spills! Ills!"

This was the coolest thing Ax had ever seen. I guess coffee cup technology hasn't advanced very far on the Andalite home world. Probably be cause they don't have mouths, and so drinking is not a big concern. But whatever the reason, Ax wouldn't shut up about it.

I love when Ax is blown away by mundane human technology, although when it comes up in the future, it tends to be alien fish out of water stuff just for the sake of silliness. This one actually makes sense.

- "Ahhh! Ohhh! Oh, oh, oh, what? What? What is that?!"

"What?" I asked, alarmed. I swiveled my head back and forth, looking for some danger.

"A new sense. It . . .I cannot explain it. It is . . .it comes from this mouth." He pointed at his mouth. "It happened when I drank this liquid. It was pleasant. Very pleasant."

It took a few seconds for Jake and I to realize what he was talking about. "Oh. Taste! He's tasting it," Jake said. "He doesn't normally have the sense of taste."

"At least he stopped repeating sounds," I muttered.

"Taste," Ax said, contradicting me. "Aste. Tuh-aste."

Jake never should have bought him that coffee. Opened a whole can of worms there.

- Ax was nowhere to be seen.

But then I looked down at the lower level. There was a crowd of people kind of surging. All moving in the same direction. Like they were running to see something.

"They're heading toward the food court," Jake said.

"Oh, I have a very bad feeling about this," I said.

At least he’s not hard to find…

- And there, all alone - because all the sane people had pulled away - was Ax.

He was racing like some lunatic from table to table, snatching up leftover food and shoving it in his mouth.

As I watched he grabbed a half-eaten slice of pizza.

"Taste!" he yelled as he scarfed a huge bite. He threw the rest of the pizza through the air. It just missed the mall cop who was closing in on him.

Ax couldn't care less. He had found a piece of Cinnabun. "This was the smell!" he cried. He jammed the roll in his mouth. "Ahhh! Ahhh! Taste! Taste! Wonderful! Ful. Ful."

"They do make a good sticky bun," I muttered to Jake.

So it’s understandable that Ax is overwhelmed by his new sense of taste. The kids often have trouble controlling their instincts in new morphs, and this is something completely unlike anything he’s ever experienced. It also makes sense that he doesn’t understand the idiom when Marco tells him to “throw away” his trash, and it’s just good comedy when he throws away the cinnamon bun and hits the nearest cop in the face.

But then he demorphs in the middle of a crowded food court. This kid is dumb as a rock.

- They escape the cops by running into the grocery store, jumping into the lobster tank, and morphing lobsters, a morph that is described as horrifying even by their standards. Then they’re purchased, and put on ice, which makes them zone out to the point that it doesn’t occur to them to demorph until the two hour time limit is almost up. And what is it that finally wakes Marco up? Steam.

- And maybe it was because I was so desperate to scream, or maybe it was just the luck of the morph, but my human mouth was one of the first things to emerge.

Small, open lips appeared in place of my lobster mouth.

I didn't have normal lungs or vocal cords yet, so I couldn't make a sound.

But I guess I didn't have to.

I guess suddenly having lips appear on a lobster was enough to make the woman drop me.

Lol Jesus Christ. They traumatize this poor woman who’s just trying to cook a fancy dinner. They traumatize themselves, too. Marco has a nightmare that night—shockingly enough, this is not something that occurs in every one of these books—and wakes up with someone holding him. He then further upsets both himself and his dad by saying, “Mom?”

They have a moment where they try to talk about her, but in the end it only reinforces how much Peter has been broken by the loss of his wife. Tragically, Marco thinks that when his dad looks at him, he’s only seeing “a picture of someone else.”

- "Two years, to the day. Two years since my mom died. And I don't know what to do. I don't know whether I should talk to my dad about it, or just let it pass. But I know one thing - this would be a really bad week for me to turn up dead."

Marco often makes this kind of argument in the early books, when he’s (rightfully!) concerned about a mission going bad. I really like the way Marco’s grief over his mom’s death is handled. His reactions when he’s reminded of his mom are often more mature than you’d expect from a twelve year old who acts like such a little shit most of the time, and that’s because he’s been put in the very unfair position of having to take care of his dad, who has completely fallen to pieces and shows no sign that he even wants to get his life back together. Out of all the kids, Marco is the only one who has lost a family member, other than Ax, who hasn’t had to deal with the aftermath of his brother’s death (and, being considerably younger than he was, doesn’t seem to have known him very well.) Marco has seen firsthand what grief can do to someone. More than any of the others, he understands what they’re risking by fighting this war.

But he also understands what it will do to Ax’s parents to have two sons go off into space and never come home, and never even know what happened to them. So Marco agrees to another dangerous mission, just like he always does.

- They have to sneak back into Chapman’s house to steal a very small piece of Yeerk technology, and in order to do this, they decide to morph ants. Ants. ANTS. Which they all ASSUME will go just FINE, NO BIG DEAL, WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG? IT’S JUST ANTS, GUYS. NO PROBLEM.

- It’s not okay. It’s not okay, it’s not okay, it’s not okay, it’s not okay, it’s not okay.

No other morph of the series will ever top the horror of ant.

I have been, at times, tempted to use this book as the inspiration for a kaiju hivemind fic, but I simply don’t have the stomach for it. No ants. NO ANTS.

No ants.

- Ax looked at me and smiled in that way Andalites have of smiling with just their eyes. He touched a small cube I thought was a paperweight. The paperweight lit up and projected a picture into the air in front of me.

"Cool," I said. "A computer, right?"

<Yes. A computer.>

I poked the air, pointing at a symbol that looked like it would be a folder. It opened. The document was written in some totally alien alphabet.

<You can use a computer?>

"Sure. Why not? This is a few hundred years more advanced than ours but - "

Haha, interesting given what we’ll later learn about the guy who invented Windows.

- <It is an announcement. The Yeerks have an important visitor arriving soon. Visser One.>

"Visser One? That would be like Visser Three's boss?"

As a kid, I was a little confused that some Yeerks were called by ranks—Vissers and Sub-Vissers all numbered to indicate their place in the hierarchy—and others used personal names, which were still numbered, but don’t indicate hierarchy? Iniss Two-Two-Six is supposed to be a high-ranking Controller, but he doesn’t have a rank. I don’t understand how their military works.

- “Everyone, morph back. Let's bail."

It was the moment I dreaded. I didn't want to return to that ant body. It made me want to cry, just thinking of it.”

Me, too. ANTS ARE NOT OKAY.

They are not okay. They make it out alive, but they are not okay.

- I saw Jake in the hallway at school. I pretended not to notice him.

I saw Rachel, too. She had a dark look in her eyes. Like she hadn't slept. Like something was really wrong.

Even Cassie seemed grim. It had gotten to all of us. It's not so easy to just forget terror. It's not easy to just ignore the memory of your leg being ripped off.

Of being dismembered. Torn apart.

One of these days, I thought, one of us is going to go crazy. Totally, lock-me-up-in-a-rubber-room nutso. It was too much. This wasn't how life was supposed to be.

One of us would snap. One of us would lose it. It could happen, even to strong people.

War is hell.

Sometimes it’s war against the Yeerks. Sometimes it’s a rival ant colony.

Either way, war is hell.

- "Yesterday . . .last night . . .it got to me," she said. She shrugged. Then she smiled her supermodel smile at me. "You grind my nerves sometimes, Marco, always joking the way you do. But keep it up, okay? We need a sense of humor."

"Humor? You thought I was kidding? You mean, you and Jessica aren't both insanely in love with me?"

"Dream on, Marco," she said.

A rare moment of bonding between Rachel and Marco, when he tries to stop her from fighting with a normal human girl at school. “And you, Rachel, of all people!” Assistant Principal Chapman exclaims, because at this point Rachel is still Miss Perfect—this is the first, but not the last, instance of her failure to compartmentalize the violence that becomes more and more a part of their lives. Marco tells Chapman the girls were fighting over him, which Rachel finds funny, and she compliments him for being so cool and in control. Rachel knows she’s losing control, but she’s still trying to fight against it. Just like Tobias in #3, Marco makes her feel normal.

Rachel/Marco is my favorite non-canon ship, by the way. They have a lot of friction, but when they do get along, they’re great together.

But in spite of Rachel’s assertion that they need him and his sense of humor, Marco decides to quit the team. This is going to be his last mission. Jake is surprisingly understanding, telling Marco he’s done more than enough.

I love that he’s given this opportunity to back out, and not shamed for it. These children have taken on the responsibility of saving the world, and that responsibility is far too much for them. They shouldn’t have to deal with any of this.

"But I'll tell you one thing, Jake. A year from now I don't want my dad going to leave flowers at two graves."

I’m not crying, you’re crying—okay, I’m crying.

- So yet again, the mission goes bad! Ax tries to steal a Yeerk ship by sending out a distress signal on what turns out to be an outdated frequency. Visser Three immediately spots that this is a trap, because Ax is dumb as a rock.

The kids are captured and brought aboard the mother ship to be shown to Visser One—who Visser Three clearly loathes. Yeerk politics! I’m so happy. The Yeerks are not a monolithic sci-fi race, they have factions.Finally, we find a weakness! The kids rarely score a major victory in battle, especially this early on, but they tend to see better results when they play the Yeerks against each other.

- Below us, blue and white and so beautiful it brought tears to your eyes, was Earth.

Sun sparkled off the ocean. Clouds swirled over the Gulf of Mexico, a big spiral, maybe a hurricane.

<Look,> Cassie said simply.

We looked. Through the eyes of the animals of Earth, but with the minds of human beings, we looked down at our planet.

This series is so full of hope, and so much love for our beautiful world. :)

So anyway, they meet Visser One.

- They marched up to the bottom of the ramp. A dozen soldiers leveled Dracon beams at us, just in case we wanted any trouble.

Then, in thought-speak that all could hear, Visser Three turned to the woman beside him. <You see, Visser One. I have taken the Andalite bandits. The crisis is over. Your trip here is wasted, and you can return to the home world.>

Visser One nodded. She looked up at us with those dark brown, human eyes.

Eyes I knew. Eyes I remembered.

The same eyes that watched me sleep every night from the framed picture beside my bed.

My mother.

Visser One.

(The tears I cried in the middle of the Sunshine Skyway.)

- When had it happened? Had the Yeerks taken her much earlier? Had she already been a Controller for those last years when she was with us?

When she had come to my bedroom to say good night, had that been a Yeerk slug, just playing a part, like an actor?

When I tried to fake sick to get out of school, had it been a Yeerk who saw through my story and kidded and joked me into admitting it?

Was it a Yeerk, handing out the presents on Christmas morning? A Yeerk, singing in the church choir? A Yeerk, pulling the puppet strings of my mother's body when she dragged me through J. C. Penney's and made me buy school clothes I didn't really like?

Was it a Yeerk I used to find making out with my dad like a teenager when they didn't think I saw them?

All of it an act? All of it fake? For how many years?

How much of what I'd thought was my mother, had been . . .one of them?

The tears I cried all the way across the Sunshine Skyway. My grandparents had no idea what was wrong with me.

- Marco comes up with a plan to escape their holding cell. It’s not a plan that will get them back to Earth, but it would let them get free and possibly disable or destroy the Yeerk mothership. It’s a good plan, even though it would mean leaving Tobias behind, and EVEN THOUGH IT INVOLVES MORPHING ANTS AGAIN. But before they can go through with it, Yeerk politics! Visser One’s people help them escape, which will be very embarrassing for Visser Three.

And they go home. Leaving Marco’s mother behind. Only Jake knows. Marco’s dedication to the mission, his personal reason for fighting the war, comes in the form of a secret he keeps from the rest of the team.

- <No one ever finds out. No one can ever know.>

<Okay, Marco,> he said.

<My mother died two years ago tomorrow.>

<That's how it will be, my friend.>

<Yeah. But someday . . .> Someday, somehow, in some way that I could not foresee, we would win this battle. Humans and Andalites together would defeat the Yeerks. And we would free all of their slaves.

All of them.

<Someday,> I whispered again.

<Someday, Marco,> Jake said.

I miss my mom.

[seriousbrat]

Just want to say that over time, I have come to empathize immensely with Lily- like she really had to adjust to another world in terms of magic, social class, mannerisms etc. Just thinking about the mental stredd of it all plus how horribly Petunia reacts to her magic makes me feel so much for. Being pretty and liked in a general sense really doesn't make up for the emotional stress, burden, and isolation she probably experienced.

Yes! ❤️ I'm sure it wasn't a particularly easy time to be a Muggle-born. The Petunia situation is really sad too because you can understand both of them. Neither is at fault (at least at first) and there's just nothing that can really be done about it.

And I mean, honestly, I don't personally think Lily's time at Hogwarts was like, wholly a terrible experience haha. Hogwarts is a fun place to be for most children, and we know Lily had friends so realistically speaking I'm sure she was generally happy there! But that doesn't mean she didn't also face certain hardships-- and I think her experience with Sev was certainly one of them. I titled my SWM chapter 'Lily's Worst Memory' because while obviously (and understandably) a lot of the focus in that scene is on Snape's feelings, I think it was also incredibly painful for Lily.

And like you say, being pretty and well-liked just doesn't mean that she just coasted through life lmao. While it's probably true that conventionally attractive women have an easier time in some (SOME) aspects of their lives, I'd be willing to bet that there's not a one who hasn't personally experienced misogyny, for instance. And that goes doubly for women who also experience racism, or homophobia, etc. Rachel Zegler is absolutely gorgeous but that hasn't stopped people from subjecting her to the most vile racist and misogynistic vitriol online. Amber Heard, also incredibly beautiful, still violently abused by her husband and then on top of that subjected to one of the worst targeted hate campaigns I've ever seen, culminating in very real legal and economic repercussions for her.

[ja9-animations]

Here's my personal ranking of the TGS chapters. Disclaimer this is just my opinion and if you disagree with me on something that's complete fine.

1. Army of Nightmares- The art style was my favorite and it has some of my favorite and most iconic moments in the comic. We got green eyed Jekyll and the nightmare scene that was pretty cool. I also love the side plot of Lanyon, Rachel, Jasper, and Lucy trying to find Hyde which I really wish we got to see more of I loved that plot point.

2. The Bandit's Cavern- I love Hyde's monologue banter it's so funny. Also Hyde and Jekyll's argument at the end of the chapter is so awesome it's one of my favorite moments in the comic. I only wish we got more from this chapter since it was very short.

3. Shatter Me!- I love Green eyed Jekyll and Red Eyed Hyde so much in this chapter it was so fun and entertaining to read. It has some very iconic moments including the reveal to Frankenstein.

5. Prince of Disaster!- Hyde going around blackfog was entertaining and fun to read! The art style if the chapter was great and I loved the colors in the chapter.

6. At the Good Intentions Paving Company- I love Jekyll and Lanyons dynamic as friends I'm so sorry I don't really ship them 😭 The earlier version of Lanyon was more theatrical and I honestly liked his character more at the beginning. I like this chapter a lot because we get fun Jekyll and Lanyon moments, and their reactions to the Frankenstein stage show was so great. We also had that iconic scene of Jekyll transforming into Hyde which really solidified that the plot was picking up and now that we met all the main characters, we can get to the story.

7. We're the Smoke City Reception Committee!- The battle was great and fun to read. Jekyll and Hyde bonding for one scene is wonderful and is my favorite scene in the entire comic.

8. Until the Horror Goes- This chapter is still updating, but based on what we have I think the plot is starting to get interesting again. I honestly don't mind Lanyon being supportive with Hyde and I will admit it is pretty wholesome, but the side plot with the Lodgers talking about Jekyll's reveal is not really interesting. The parts with Hyde going through the mind scape is exciting and I love reading it, but if new pages update and it switches to the Lodgers or something else, I'm gonna be kinda sad cause itll probably be a couple of weeks until we see Hyde/Jekyll and Lanyon again 

9. The Hall of Memories- This chapter was alright. I like the visual of Hyde snooping through his memories, but if I'm going to be honest, I am not a fan of mind!Lanyon or any of the mind!characters in general. It was just kind of bizarre and hard to separate them from their real life counterpart. This continued the side plot with Lucy which I love so much.

10. The Modern Prometheus- It was funny when the Lodgers just abandoned Jekyll to hear Frankensteins stories, but honestly the entire plot point of the Lodgers deciding to not prepare for the exhibition got very annoying after this chapter. It made it seem like EVERYONE was against Jekyll and I started to dislike the Lodgers. Every scene with Frankenstein afterwards was kind of just the same thing with Frankenstein hurling insults at Jekyll until he eventually snapped as green eyed Jekyll which was the only good scene with them imo. I did like the scene with Jekyll and Hydes conversation about Frankenstein. It seemed like a small break from the chaos and I appreciate that. I like the side plot with Rachel, Jasper, Lanyon, and Lucy a lot.

11. Sad People Dance, Too- I like this chapter for sentimental reasons because this chapter was updating when I first discovered TGS and I have a lot of fond memories of looking at the new pages with so much excitement and hype when they came out. If it wasn't for that though, I would probably rank it a little bit lower.

12. The Wolf on High Street- The first chapter isn't bad by any means, but since it's just a setting up the plot and world building, its kind of forgettable compared to when the plot picks up. It does it's job as a first chapter and doesn't try to cram rush through the introduction and I like that.

13. Being for the Benefit of Dr. Jekyll- I know a lot of people like the Lodgers, but they are kind of just background characters to me (except for Ito.) I understand they have to have their introductions, but it seems like so much information at once when you read it. I do like the ending scene of the chapter where we are properly introduced to Hyde though, that scene is iconic.

14. Tea with the Queen- Honestly, I feel like this chapter went on for too long. I liked moments between characters, but sometimes I feel like it just went on for too long. The chapter ending was cool though.

15. We Both Go Down Together- I was really excited for this chapter but it was kind of just eh. I had my expectations pretty high, and when Jekyll and Hyde's reveal happened I felt like it was a little underwhelming. The beginning with Frankenstein curious about Hyde was fun though.

16. A Spectacular One-Night Engagement- This chapters slow a first but it picks up. One thing I will say that I really hate is how the exhibition was building up the entire comic and we finally got there and we get like a 5 page montage of the Lodgers showing off their inventions and them Jekyll passes out and it's over. And then it didn't even matter cause Jekyll was ok with it failing anyways??? Idk it certainly was a writing choice.

17. Just a Song at Twilight- I'm gonna be completely honest, I forgot about everything in this chapter until I looked at it again. I had a hard time recalling anything that happened probably cause I don't really ship Jekyll and Lanyon so it wasn't that memorable to me.

[pinksilvace]

Sonic Movie 3

Thoughts under the cut

Semi-critical, but more in the analysis than tearing things down sort of way? Idk man I had a good time. Peace and love on planet Earth

I have to preface: I liked it. I liked it a lot. I was giggling and trembling with excitement in that theater the entire time and I look forward to seeing this movie again eventually

oh my GOSH the pacing was fast. I understand why - they tried to fit a pretty meaty story in under two hours - but MAN. In terms of being a sonic fan, I've had more fun with these movies as they go on. In terms of cohesive films, I think they've been declining (AGAIN I LOVED this movie it was FUN but there were many plot gaps)

Opening with Maria strumming Live and Learn was such a good choice - not just as a callback, but because when the song reappears later, it's as a motif of hers. I think that makes it quite a bit more powerful here than it was in SA2.

Is Walters dead??? I assume he isn't because Rockwell wasn't too-too surprised to see "him" and she'd probably know the best of anyone how grievous his injuries were, but we never actually see him again after the first 20 minutes or so

The Maria segments were So Good. Easily my favorite parts

Actually the first act in general was probably my favorite part of the movie

Internal battle between "Shadow's voice acting is kind of flat" and "Shadow's autism has never been stronger"

A lot of the lore changes make sense! The game lore is very fun, but it's needlessly complicated, especially for something in film format. From the sound of Shadow's new background, this means a) Gerald did NOT make shadow (sidesteps the question of "why is shadow a hedgehog"), b) there is no biolizard (would have made this movie very overstuffed and is such a specific thing), and c) no Black Arms (allows the movieverse to sidestep the weird racial implications of All of That).

I don't think I'm a fan of living Gerald. He was fun, he just wasn't really Gerald. He didn't match Shadow's freak :(

Honestly very impressed with the VFX work on Gerald and Eggman

Agent Stone I love you. I'm so happy you'll get to play a bigger role now

Some of the Tom and Maddie choices were... hm. Don't think I like how "Rachel" was used, though I'm not the best person to speak on that. There surely could have been better ways to demonstrate GUN's incompetence.

Actually wait I did have something to say about Agent Stone. I'd really thought he'd be the one to give Shadow The Talk. Not only would it be funny, but he was one of the few characters close enough to Shadow to get a read on him (ily Sonic but I don't think Shadow ever actually told Sonic Maria's name??? their bonding was cute but it was definitely another plot gap). During the guac scene, I kept waiting for Stone to say something that would prompt Shadow's "Is this really what Maria would have wanted?" later on. Oh well

For that matter, I'm really looking forward to seeing what deleted scenes didn't make it into this film. There must have been so much scrapped content and different iterations

LOVEEEEE that Gerald and Shadow were both very explicitly willing and eager to die. Wish the emotion of those revelations could have carried through the rest of the movie a bit more or had a few more moments' rest to marinate

If Eggman is gone for good then that means we'll need other villains. It is time to Bring Back The Sonic Pantheon (I am dragged offstage)

As soon as they mentioned multiple post-credits scenes, I knew it'd be those. Very satisfying to be right.

My theater was completely full with 8-12 year old children and they had a blast and I'm very happy for them all

Knuckles stole the show for me. He was perfect. No notes.

Very excited to see where Shadow's character goes from here now that he's past his revenge arc. I wish he'd gotten more screen time; the first two acts almost pushed him into side character territory.

[allwormdiet]

Shell 4.2

Yaaaaaaay more market time

This is a really fun scene actually. Lisa is being honest but not hurtful, which has to be a certain kind of cathartic for Taylor, even if she's still terrified of Lisa being a killer or, maybe worse, knowing she's planning to be a traitor.

I really really really wanna see Brian pop off and go crazy. I know him being boring is an effort on his part which means that at some point he's gonna slip up, and I am going to watch him like a fucking hawk until I see it happen

I've also had very similar conversations as Taylor and Lisa are having about clothes (I'm Taylor in this situation)

Lisa just like "man I wish I cared about my dad" lmao

Little fucked up display of power on Lisa's part. Taylor clearly feels like this is a violation of her privacy as the conversation goes on

Also I like how she's still providing input on the clothing in between all of this

Never fun to know for certain people are talking behind your back, and I'm sure Taylor's already sick to death of that shit, so it can't be great to know it's happening in her cape life too. Small comfort that it's because she seems interesting, if any.

I'm immensely curious why Taylor doesn't want the Undersiders involved in the bullies. Does she think they'd "realize" how much she sucks? Does she think that they'd leave a swath of blood and screams across Winslow High in their quest to avenge a comrade? Or is it that setting someone like Tattletale loose against her tormentors would be as bad or worse than the things she could do with her bugs?

I admire the strength that she holds this line on, even if I continue to fail at understanding it

This is funny, and kinda sweet. I wonder if it'll end up biting them in the ass, though. I feel like a lot of things are primed for ass-biting in this story so far

Fascinated that someone managed to get away with naming their business Fugly Bobs, what a coup

Honestly I get where Taylor's coming from, a bank robbery is such a wild introduction to crime, taking things easy would be nice

Is this Alec trying to bond? I think it might be, considering that Rachel's nickname for him is "runt"

Friends <3

Ahhhh yes, and now we get into this particular minefield, don't we

That'll be fun

Current Thoughts

Most chapters where it's hanging out with the Undersiders is going to include a part where I gush about how much I love the Undersiders. I would kill for these kids if they wouldn't all point and laugh at how terrible I am at killing, and they have a shitload more money than I do, so really I don't have anything to offer except my ongoing adoration and sympathies

I'd still pay good money to see Lisa destroy Emma and the crew though, there'd be a splash zone I'm sure of it

Anyway: powers next, can't wait

[thedramabinger]

Falling Into Your Smile (你微笑时很美) 

Finally back to writing reviews. I’ve watched many shows since the last time I wrote a review but I was just too lazy to take notes on the episodes and how I felt. I re-watched this show a whole month ago but didn’t get to write the review because I fell into a slump. I’m back though. This show is super popular because it has Xu Kai as the male lead, and honestly, I enjoyed this show a lot the first time I watched it. However, after rewatching the show I can say I still enjoyed the show, yet, I wouldn’t say it was super crazy good like how I felt watching Amidst a Snowstorm of Love and Love Me, Love My Voice, etc. The characters were fun to watch, the plot was all about e-sports (which I actually really enjoyed), but I felt like it was missing something to make the show better. 

My Rating: 7.5/10

Episodes: 31

Country: China

Genre: Romance with E-Sports

Aired: June 23rd, 2021- July 15th, 2021

Cast:

Xu Kai as Lu Si Cheng

Cheng Xiao as Tong Yao

Zhai Xiao Wen as Jiang Yang

Yao Chi as Lu Yue

Rachel Wang as Chen Jin Yang

Zhou Yi Ran as Ai Jia 

Sun Kai as Xiao Peng

Gao Han as Lao K

Xiao Kai Zhong as Lao Mao

Merxat as Yu Ming

Cui Shao Yang as Xiao Rui

Wang Yi Jun as Lee Kun Hyeok 

Synopsis:

All-male ZGDX e-sports team loses a player due to a hand injury. They need to choose a replacement for the team. 

Tong Yao is a popular female gamer who is known for her skill but also recklessness. She got into gaming through her ex-boyfriend who ended up abandoning her for the OPL world. The manager of ZGDX, Xiao Rui, messages Tong Yao an invite into recruiting her for the team. At first she is not welcomed by the team, especially Lu Si Cheng. However, as they continue to interact and live at the base, she forms a closer bond with the team and an even closer bond with Lu Si Cheng, the captain of ZGDX. 

This drama was adapted from the web novel “You’re Beautiful When You Smile” (你微笑时很美) by Qing Mei (青浼). 

Beware of Spoilers Moving Forward!!!!!!!!!

What Episode did the Main Couple Start Dating?

OMg. They literally take a whole third of the show just to establish the fact they are dating. They are officially together in Episode 21.

I don’t mind slow burns, and in this case it was fine because there is a lot of plot in this show in terms of gaming and the e-sports world. There is also just a lot of hesitation between the two, as her ex-boyfriend, Jiang Yang, was also an e-sports professional gamer and they lost contact because of it, and therefore, she originally didn’t want to have a relationship with anyone in the same field. She also hesitates as the fandom is highkey crazy and a lot of people were convinced they were already dating before, and were already shit-talking Tong Yao for “seducing” Si Cheng. 

Si Cheng asks Tong Yao very casually in episode 20 if she wants to try, and she asks “try what?” and he says, me. LOLOLOLOL I almost died here. In episode 21, she thinks he was joking, and was very indecisive on what to do but she almost confessed in a previous episode so I don’t know what she was hesitating for. She then accepts him later in this episode. 

Misunderstandings?

They have a misunderstanding in Episode 17 after Tong Yao gets into a fight at an event with another lady who was in charge of that event. She pushes the lady and that lady makes a whole video accusing Tong Yao of physically hurting her and it goes viral. Tong Yao gets banned for one game. During this time, Si Cheng isn’t talking to her and Tong Yao is butt- hurt about it. He explains later on in Episode 18. 

There’s also another time in Episode 26 where Si Cheng is acting cold and distant with Tong Yao after the harmful package incident with Tong Yao. He ignores her and acts cold with her for days. In Episode 27, Tong Yao asks Si Cheng if they’re breaking up because he’s been cold, however, he consoles her and tells her he’s just angry at himself that he can’t protect her. 

Love Triangles?

LOOOOOOOOOL This show is essentially a harem. Every captain from almost every team loves Tong Yao akjsndkfjsdfs. It was kinda funny. But jokes aside. There really isn’t a love triangle at all. 

Jiang Yang tries to get Tong Yao back, however, she was very set in stone that she wouldn’t take him back. She explains to Jiang Yang that the reason she doesn’t want to get back with him is because he never treated her as someone who could walk alongside him. 

Another funny character who was obsessed with Tong Yao was Kun from FNC, he was soooo funny. I laughed the whole time his character appeared on screen. He just felt like comedic relief tbh. 

Second Leads Romance

OMGGGG. Ai Jia and Jin Yang were so fun to watch honestly. Zhou Yi Ran. my love. My obsession. My fav c-drama actor. Akjsndfkjsnkdfs. Zhou Yi Ran playing Ai Jia was a delight to watch. The first time I watched him was in When I Fly Towards you and his character is so different in Falling Into Your Smile. Their romance was different, but honestly, very true. Jin Yang had no interest in the world of e-sports but she supported Ai Jia throughout it. She ended up buying his team too LOL. and she helped him reconnect with his mom again after she kicked him out for wanting to be a professional e-sports gamer. 

Falling Into Your Smile Ending

Falling Into Your Smile has a happy ending where they win at the finals thanks to Tong Yao. Then, we watch Ai Jia and Jin Yang get married and Tong Yao catches the bouquet. It was a typical sweet ending. 

Falling Into Your Smile Review- A Fun Romance between Gamers

I gave this show a 7.5/10. I enjoyed it thoroughly as it was a fun show to watch with e-sports, friendship, romance, conflicts, etc. If I’m being completely honest the reason why I can’t rate the show any higher is because I just felt the show was mediocre at best. I don’t know how to explain it. I was happy when the main leads got together, and honestly, some of the conflicts were fun to watch and I understood how they dealt with it. However, it was just a fun watch. I can't say that I was obsessed and eager to finish the show. I think the reason I couldn’t enjoy this show to the fullest was because Cheng Xiao’s acting in this show was mediocre at best. She kind of always had a poker face throughout the show aksjbfksds.

The e-sports plot was fun to watch and I did really enjoy that part of the show as this was my first time seeing a plot like this. The fandom being crazy for the guys were super real, the chronic injuries that professional e-sports gamers face was shown, the stigma of being a professional gamer was also explored. I really appreciated and enjoyed these arcs in the story. 

Falling Into Your Smile is a fun watch where you see pro-gamers explore the world of romance, team bonding, dealing with societal stigmas on gaming, etc. I did enjoy the show and it was a cute, fun watch and I didn’t regret the time I took to watch it.