#i can't stop thinking about this scene....

[ariaste]

@teaandcakewithdragons Think of those emotions that come with the Slough of Despond as a signal, a flashing light that's communicating information to you. A lot of times we interpret our subconscious frustration in quite bad faith -- that is, we subconsciously notice that something is wrong, we feel frustrated, the brain signals "Hello :) I'm frustrated" and this gets translated into the conscious mind as, "UGH!!!! This sucks and I hate it!"

First step to get through it is to take a breath and try to rewind. "This sucks and I hate it" is a signal. It's a signal. It's not the truth, it's just a signal. A little red flag that your brain is waving to say, "Hang on, something's off here." For me, the more I try to ignore the signal or talk myself out of it ("no, don't be silly, it's fine, you loved this last week") the more loud and insistent the signal gets until I CAN'T ignore it, and by that point I'm upset.

Here is the big secret: The opposite of anxiety isn't tranquility -- it's curiosity. If you want to beat the Slough of Desponds... Get curious. Stop trying to ignore the signals your brain is using to try to get you to pay attention to a problem. Stop as soon as you feel a signal, turn TOWARDS it instead of away from it, and think with loving curiosity, "Okay, what's going on here?" And then LISTEN to what you tell yourself with compassion and kindness--and curiosity, curiosity, curiosity.

If your brain is saying, "This is bad and I hate it," ask yourself: "Okay, good to know! What would I like more? What's the ideal outcome? What would be FUN?" Ask yourself, "Hmmm, what's bad about it? When did it start being ''''''bad'''''''? What is the source of the bad?" You will probably have to go back a few pages to figure it out -- usually between 5-20. Tap on the walls to figure out which one is hollow. Check the taps to see which one is dripping. Use the Rubber Ducky method that programmers know about -- get a rubber duckie (or a pet, or a very small child) and explain the problem in small enough words that a little rubber duckie could understand. Stay curious! If you can't figure it out, go have a shower, or a snack, or go for a drive, or sleep. Your brain will keep chewing on it. When you figure it out, you will KNOW, because your whole brain will light up like Christmas and you will feel a surge of delight and joy. "Oh! Of course! I forgot that she was supposed to be sad after her grandfather's funeral, so the vibes of this whole scene with her love interest are WAY OFF! No wonder I was feeling cranky! Hey, that's such an easy thing to fix, I'll just... [tinkers around in the scene, changes a few lines, tweaks the description, adds the poignancy of Grief] Oh that's SO much better!" <- Like that. That's how it will feel.

Another example of what your brain might say: "Ugh, why should I care, why should anyone care, what's the point", those are actually fantastic questions already! Yes! That is your brain telling you, "You know what, i think we need to make this MATTER more to the protagonist. We need to know why SHE cares. Why DOES she care? Why is this problem she's facing CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT, and what disaster will happen if she doesn't solve it?" If the main character doesn't have a reason to particularly care, neither does the reader, and neither do you, and since your brain is really smart, it already knows that. It is trying to help you. It's doing its job.

Listen to what your emotions are trying to tell you. Trust your gut. If the little cranky toddler of your brain tugs on your sleeve, give it your attention and ask it questions. It knows what is wrong and it will point it out to you if you pay attention. I cannot tell you how much easier writing got once I learned this skill. My god I have saved myself so much headache. These days, I do not hit the Slough of Desponds NEARLY so hard as I used to -- at worst I only dip a toe into it now and then. A few sighs and grumbles, sure, a little complaining in a friend's DMs, maybe setting the project aside to stew for a couple weeks and develop some depth of flavor... That's it. It has been YEARS since I had a "sobbing into a pillow that I'm a hack and I'll never amount to anything and everything I write is trash" kind of Slough of Desponds. Because I pay attention to the signals and I stop and do a systems check the moment something goes "BZZT!"

I hate I when I get an idea for a novel. Like oh no here starts the slow sad slip n’ slide to dissapointment again.

[secriden]

God, Fadel is just so helplessly in love and so painfully resigned to his harrowing existence that it just fully broke my heart.

Because Fadel thinks that everything Style has told him -- every single facet of Style's frustratingly fascinating character, everything he thought he knew about Style -- has been a lie from the very beginning. In his confession, Bison never clarifies when he told Kant to find someone to pursue him, so Fadel is operating under the assumption that Style is, and has always been, a stranger to him.

Which is why we see Fadel constantly trying to 'figure' Style out in the episode. We see it right in the first scene when Style jokingly snarks, "I'm just curious to know what to expect. It's not like I can just turn the switch on, you know?" Now this should not have thrown Fadel at all, because the joke and suggestive tone and sassy little head flick is very much in line with Style's personality and way of communicating.

But Fadel literally just stops and stares at Style for so long that Style even starts looking a bit confused as he blinks back at Fadel. Fadel has convinced himself that Style is some master manipulator, and he's trying desperately to figure out what Style's plan is (escape? another betrayal?) that he misses the obvious answer which is that Style is just casually making a joke/conversation because this is just how Style talks.

Look at the way he turns so sharply with this startled, confused look (that starts to turn slightly wistful at the end) when Style calls him faen. This wasn't in the cards for Fadel and it's so frustrating and confusing (and painful) to hear Style throw the lie around so casually when it was something that mattered to him. Fadel thinks this is Style playing an angle but he can't see what it is or what Style stands to gain from it, and it leaves him utterly unmoored.

And in all this searching for hidden meanings and new deception, Fadel misses that Style is acting very much in good faith: the story Style comes up with about why they're looking for a missing person on their own like this (instead of, y'know, going to the police like upright, non-hitman citizens would've) was really good to explain their urgency/frustration and preempt any suspicion so that the auntie is unlikely to report them to the cops. Style is actively, genuinely helping Fadel out and using his excellent skills at playing Asian aunties to full effect for him.

Ugh, just look at how earnest and worried Style's expression is!? He totally disarms the auntie while I bet she would've been a lot more suspicious and distrustful if grumpy face on the left had come asking questions alone.

And Fadel literally keeps missing when Style is being honest. Or rather, he is wilfully refusing to believe or trust in that earnestness. Style hasn't made any attempts to run away or even hint to the auntie that he needs help, but Fadel won't trust him (because he's still, even now, waiting for the other shoe to drop; for yet another betrayal).

And Style keeps doing and saying things that don't make sense for the role Fadel's assigned him because why would a police informant who is just trying to get evidence of your crimes say or do any of this?? What does he stand to gain by keeping up the pretence? Does he know that every word that dangles his love like an impossible temptation is more knives in Fadel’s chest? But Style is all earnestness and something in Fadel can still recognise that and that’s why Fadel is constantly swinging from anger and resignation to agony and hope. Just the look of sincere, wordless, helpless bafflement on Fadel's face!? The way it screams 'Why are you doing this to me??!??'

I think this is why we get silly-goofy-funny music for the first half of Style's harrowing confession. Because this scene is shot from Fadel's perspective and he thinks, at first, that this is yet other play or ridiculous attempt to get a rise out of him. And it's not until Style starts talking about his mother that the comedy music finally stops and turns sad. Because this -- this is something that Fadel knows is real (at least he should know that Style's mom really did die when Style was a kid; that would've turned up in the background check), and it suddenly becomes clear to Fadel that this time Style is serious.

And oh, this shakes Fadel like nothing else has since Style said the words "I really do love you". Because Style gives this to him without any hesitation, with full vulnerability. Style is so openly, almost brutally honest in this moment. He's terrified and sad and hurting and it's horrifying because this sincerity forces Fadel to face the bitter truth that the journey his rage and his anger has set them on leads to only one conclusion.

Fadel simply cannot handle that right now. He's not ready to face the reality that his only real option, the only logical choice is that Fadel must kill Style. Because Style has now seen the full extent of his darkness; Style knows and has been hurt and shaken and terrified because Fadel has repeatedly threatened his life. Style's very existence is now a threat to not only Fadel and Bison's continued freedom but also his mother and Keen and anyone else that Fadel has ever been trained to put first.

Style lies next to him in bed, sobs wracking his body, and Fadel cannot let himself reach out because to do so is to acknowledge the truth of Style's words again. To do so is to open the door to trust, to admitting that he still cares about Style, that Style's tears still have the power to hurt him.

That Fadel is still so painfully, hopelessly, terribly in love with Style.

Because Fadel still remembers the last time he reached out and held Style in his arms whilst knowing that he was betrayed and that their love was a lie. Fadel remembers that even then, all he could do was cling even more tightly to Style and hope that the music and their shifting footsteps would be enough to hide his silent tears.

And just as his heart froze his finger on the trigger, so too does his fear hold him captive here. Because Fadel knows, he knows, he knows down to the marrow of his bones that if he allows himself to touch, then this time— this time, he won't be able to let Style go.

[polarisjisung]

ꨄ X-O, KISS ME, DON'T SAY NO

KISSES WITH ENHYPEN

pairings: enha x fem! reader genre: fluff wc: 1k warnings: use of petnames, slightly suggestive notes: I wrote this for dream had to do it for enha too ! | LIBRARY

HEESEUNG — desperate, flirty kisses

A simple peck doesn't exist for Heeseung. You're like his drug, once he gets a taste, he's addicted. Quick morning kisses are impossible. One peck on your forehead easily turns into a full makeout session and suddenly you're late for work. And not for a second is Heeseung worried about your impending anger, instead he'll try and convince you to call in sick, no work meant more time for kisses, right?

“Heeseung, I have places to be” You know it's no use arguing but you seem to try anyway.

You'd been in this situation countless times before, and it ended the same way each time. In your defence, Heeseung was pretty good at convincing.

“Yeah, want me to list a few?”

Something about a kiss-driven Heeseung is so exceptionally flirty. You both know that you're never getting out of this your way. “My arms, the bed, against the wall if you're into that.

Okay maybe you didn't take much convincing either.

“All of the above?”

Heeseung can't dispute that.

JAY — forehead kisses

Jay's kisses are spontaneous, but so tender and loving, like a scene cut out straight from a high school romance.

You're perched up on the sofa with your nose stuck in one of those picture-perfect romance books you love so much.

Jay can barely make out your face from the material of the hood pulled over your head.

You look cute. There's a pair of blue light glasses resting on your nose and your eyebrows are furrowed with concentration. Jay couldn't help but leave a soft peck against your forehead. He takes a couple moments to just sit beside you and stare, truly wondering how he ever got so lucky.

Next thing you know, his hand moves carefully to tuck a stray piece of hair behind your ear, his thumb positioned just under your chin, guiding you into a slow, soft kiss.

JAKE — messy kisses

Jake kisses like a man starved.

Hands tugging at your hair, arms around your waist, loud, shallow pants filling the room. It's like he can't get enough.

He pulls back to stare at you, breathless. But only for a moment.

To Jake, catching his breath seems awfully difficult when you're staring up at him with swollen lips and a sultry gaze.

“I could kiss you forever.”

His words are more a promise than a statement, and how could you not believe him when he pulls you back in so impossibly close, letting his cold fingertips run across your skin.

Both his hands cup your cheeks, passionately. Lips moving over yours with an unsteady, fervent rhythm, and so much urgency, you swear you feel your heart beat out of your chest.

Each time you kiss is like the first, brash. But Jake always holds you so tight, like he's afraid you'll disappear the second he lets go.

When he does finally pull away, Jake exhales a soft laugh, giggling almost.

“You alright?”

You can only nod, burying your face in the crook of his neck.

SUNGHOON — distracted kisses

Playful fights or debates like whether orange juice is better than apple (it's not) or whether milk comes before or after the cereal always seem to arise with you and Sunghoon.

Part of it has to do with the fact that Sunghoon thinks you look so insanely fine when you're passionately arguing your point forwards.

But somewhere along the way Sunghoon stops listening to what you're saying, eyes zeroing in on your lips when he'd come to a sudden realisation. That shade of lipstick suited you, a little too well maybe.

“Hoon, are you even listening?”

He nods, he's not listening.

He wouldn't have this problem if the lipstick wasn't there. But you were still explaining in full detail, hand gestures and everything. And as much as he loved to hear you ramble, Sunghoon could not concentrate.

He was going insane— he needed to kiss you. Now.

You don't really know why you continue, seeing as Sunghoon's clearly not present, but you can't help but gasp when he pulls you in close and crashes his lips to yours.

“You're right, I wasn't listening”

JUNGWON — soft morning kisses

Soft and intimate, that's what kissing Jungwon feels like.

There’s quiet whispers of ‘I love you's’ and the sweetest compliments.

Even if you've just rolled out of bed, when your hair's a mess and your eyes can barely open all the way, Jungwon thinks you're beautiful.

“Good morning my love” he presses a kiss to the back of your head, just below your ear as he slips past you on the couch, making his way to the kitchen so he can check on breakfast.

But he can only stay away for so long, running back a few minutes later with your morning coffee and a couple kisses to keep you occupied while you wait for it to cool down.

“I love you.” he'd keep it short and sweet, holding your face in hands with so much care. By the time breakfast is ready, not a single inch of your pretty face remains unkissed and that's an achievement Jungwon is insanely proud of.

SUNOO — giggly kisses

You and Sunoo are like the epitome of PDA— cuddling, quick pecks on the cheeks, always holding hands— you have to have your hands on each other at all times. It's sickeningly sweet.

And matters only get worse when your behind closed doors, Sunoo would spend all his time with his lips glued to yours if he could.

He's obsessed with you, and your strawberry flavoured chapstick is anything but helpful. He needs kisses, no matter what it is you're doing.

“Sunoo, I'm busy.” You roll your eyes at him playfully, but he only shrugs, spinning you around on your desk chair.

“Too busy for kisses?”

When you nod, it's Sunoo's turn to roll his eyes.

“Wrong answer.”

And he crashes his lips to yours just as he had intended, illiciting a few giggles from you, laughing at his urgency.

NI-KI — kisses in the rain

Kisses never last too long with riki, quick pecks, passionate and loving but short. Long kisses, something you'd both be down to try but had never actually made the effort to. It's felt scary, awkward, maybe?

The two of you always had a more easygoing relationship, so your more affectionate gestures had always been kept to a minimum.

Until one night when your car broke down and you found yourself stranded in the middle of nowhere.

Rain pelted down from the sky and the wind whistled loudly, but even so, you'd be a fool not to step out of the car and watch the sunset in person.

You and Riki sat with your legs crossed, dangerously close to the cliff edge, bodies pressed against each other as an attempt to conserve heat.

There was something about that moment— maybe the soft glow of the sky as the sun dipped just below the horizon — or the way your eyes beamed and sparkled as each strand of your hair slowly grew wet. Something so raw.

Riki couldn't even bring himself to hesitate, pulling you into his lap in one swift motion and kissing you urgently.

One hand reached back to grip your hair, and another cradled your chin, guiding your lips further into his.

Safe to say, kissing in the rain might just be his favourite.

taglist: @chenlezip @nanawrlds @mystverse @jenobubbles @flaminghotyourmom @lotties-readings

[e-vay]

SONIC 3 REVIEW

I wanted to wait a few weeks to give many people the chance to see Sonic 3 before I wrote a review, but of course I'll keep it under the cut for those who still haven't seen it.

DISCLAIMERS!

I acknowledge that the Sonic Cinematic Universe is a SEPARATE interpretation of the Sonic franchise so I will never dock it points for doing things different than we've seen in the games. These movies are inspired by the Sonic the Hedgehog video games, they are not direct adaptations. I have no sympathy for anyone who complains these movies get things 'wrong' about the games.

I acknowledge that the Sonic movies are family films marketed towards children, so some of the writing and plot devices are simplified or toned down for younger audiences. However, that won't stop me from pointing out some plot holes.

My review is just my opinion. I'm not saying I'm right or that you're wrong if you disagree.

I'm so damn excited to finally talk about it and I have SO MUCH to say, so buckle up!

TL;DR: I give Sonic 3 a score of 9/10, just barely shy of being an absolutely perfect movie! There were some editing choices and some plot holes that made me dock minor points. These nitpicks are small and almost insignificant compared to the whole of the film, but they stood out enough to bother me and they're why I can't give it a perfect rating.

Let's start with the positives.

CAST & CHARACTERS - 10/10

TL;DR - With a star-studded cast, it's almost impossible to say any one actor/character outshined the others. Every single person was on their A-game for this movie and gave emotional, hilarious, all-out performances.

Jim Carrey as both Ivo and Gerald Robotnik is genius! He plays both characters so differently that you could almost believe they were being played by two different people -- minus the tongue-in-cheek way the movie reminds you that they're the same person.

This iteration of Gerald is unlike any we've seen before, which kept me on my toes the entire time I was watching. He comes onto the scene fully claiming that he's a villain, but still he manages to suckerpunch you (and Ivo) with the final reveal of his ultimate plan. You would think that the same old man who was just doing a choreographed dance performance 20 minutes ago couldn't tear your heart out without even the use of words when we see him mourning the loss of his granddaughter, and then fill you with spine-chilling terror as he uses his whole chest to exclaim he's going to 'burn it all down!', but damn did Jim Carrey do that and more! This movie (and Jim Carrey alike) managed to make Gerald both the major comic relief of the movie AND simultaneously made him one of the most despicable villains in the franchise so far. His utter lack of compassion for Shadow or Ivo, using both of them as his puppets, really shows you how little this man values even those who are supposed to be closest to him. I encourage you to rewatch the movie and really appreciate the dynamic range we were given of this character in under a 2 hour window.

Ivo is back and better than ever, baby (despite what Tails says)! Though I liked the initial, unexpected take on his character in Sonic 1, it has been beyond satisfying to see the evil doctor's descent into madness, all culminating into THE Eggman we recognize from the games! Seeing him in the iconic Eggman suit was like seeing my baby in her gown for prom. I was one proud mama! Sonic 3 sends Ivo on an emotional rollercoaster and we not only get to see him the silliest he's ever been, but your heart truly breaks for him by the end of the film. Honestly, I'm still gutted over Gerald's "Ivo, you're no Maria" line! One thing I particularly loved is that repeatedly throughout this franchise, Ivo has mentioned how society has always rejected him, he's had nobody who loves him (except Stone ofc) and he's repeatedly reminded he's a failure. Yet at the end of this film, he's given the chance to live up to his real potential and Team Sonic (and Shadow (and all of Earth while we're at it)) wouldn't have stood a chance without him. With Ivo seemingly dead, this was a heartfelt, tearjerking, beautiful sendoff for Eggman in a way that doesn't feel forced and gives Jim Carrey the chance to excuse himself should he decide he no longer wants to be a part of the future movies. BUT if he does decide to come back (and it's sounding like he does) -- c'mon, y'all don't really think Shadow would have just left Eggman to die, do you? He absolutely could have teleported them both outta there at the last minute.

SHADOW. 👏👏👏 This was without a doubt, the BEST depiction of Shadow I have ever seen! Keanu Reeves and the animators put everything into this rendition of Shadow and I was moved to tears on several occasions. This movie gave us an emotional, heartbroken Shadow who doesn't mask his feelings. Even before losing Maria, we see that Shadow is someone who struggles with understanding who he is, where he comes from and what his purpose is. He's subjected to constant testing and when he's not 'in use,' he's seemingly stowed away in the dark for later. It isn't until Maria shows up and befriends him that we get to see that he's just a regular person. He's curious about music and dancing, he enjoys play and stargazing, he's self-conscious. And then the transformation he takes after being betrayed and losing his loved ones, UGH! Keanu Reeves freaking NAILS it in every single scene! One of the moments that stood out the most to me and physically gave me goosebumps was when Shadow begins to question if destroying the planet is what Maria would have wanted and Gerald convinces him to focus on the pain that was left from her death. When Shadow's charging the Eclipse Cannon and reliving the most devastating moment of his life, you can hear his rage just in the way he's breathing! Keanu Reeves doesn't even speak any words in that scene but I could feel every drop of anger and regret and hatred in his performance. But also he delivered some very funny lines too and at least to me, it didn't feel forced. I also really liked that Keanu Reeves did research for this character and actually 'created' a voice for Shadow instead of using his normal voice. (I strongly recommend watching this clip where he talks about how he came up with 'the voice'. It's fascinating and such a delight). I think a lot of people might have initially thought having him voice Shadow was cool but kind of a joke, but he took the role very seriously and I feel he made an effort to separate himself from Shadow. His voice scratched my brain in the most satisfying way lol. I wish he could permanently voice Shadow from now on, but at least I can always imagine his voice whenever I read or play any Shadow content. Also, Shadow's character model was GOR-GEOUS. He was so handsome and badass and also I love, love, LOVE the amount of contrast between him and Sonic. EVEN DOWN TO THE DETAILS IN THE TEXTILES OF THEIR GLOVES. Sonic's gloves appear to be cotton so they're soft and warm and porous -- a fabric that comforts and lets things in. Shadow's gloves are leather -- a fabric that's firm, resistant, impenetrable. SO MUCH thought and detail went into designing Shadow. AND SUPER SHADOW OH MYGOOOODDDDDDDD. He looked like an angel! I have always loved Super Shadow's platinum design in the games, but giving him the extra detail of iridescent and rose gold quills in the movie was so freaking beautiful. I truly can't fault a single thing about him in this movie. A thousand kisses to Keanu Shadow.

TEAM SONIC. That's right, I'm addressing the group here because this movie really treated each member of Team Sonic as equals and I loved it. Sonic may be the leader, but Knuckles packed this movie full of action, heart and laughs. Idris Elba and the writers found a great balance for Knuckles in that he delivered what I thought were some of the funniest lines of the film, but it didn't lessen the impact of his more serious scenes. When Knuckles is arguing with Sonic about using the Chaos Emeralds, there is so much tension and I feel like they really nailed the gravity of that fight. Knuckles ultimately chooses not to battle Sonic, but I felt that him reminding Sonic of their oath and pointing out that Sonic is breaking it was actually MORE of a punishment than a punch to the face. We also really got to see Knuckles 'THE GUARDIAN" in this movie which I greatly appreciated. We see a lot of Knuckles "the fighter" where he's quick to throw fists, but there were many moments in Sonic 3 where he got to serve as a proper protector. I cried when he caught Sonic and Tails and even after they're safe he's just holding them, the three of them a battered mess in the cornfield! AH MY HEART!

Speaking of my heart-- Tails you good boy! Tails showed so much growth between Sonic 2 and Sonic 3 and I was so proud of him! He's still cute as can be and still has moments of childlike wonder, but he played a significantly larger role in this movie and showed a lot of maturity. He's quick to come up with plans but he is also actually in the action instead of shouting from the sidelines. I also really liked that during the bleakest part of the film, it's actually Tails who is trying to console Sonic about what's happened to Tom. You know things are bad when it's the baby sibling who attempts to be the emotionally strong one and comfort the older sibling. And I love that it's Tails and Knuckles who help Ivo to steer the Eclipse Cannon away from the Earth. It would have been easy to just sideline them and have them hope that Super Sonic and Super Shadow could handle things, but that diminishes the value of Team Sonic. The movie made it very clear that their teamwork is what made them so strong and it was through all of their combined efforts that the Earth was saved in the end. Sonic and Shadow could not have done it alone, even with the combined power of the Chaos Emeralds. I feel like a broken record by saying this but it has to be said: Colleen O'Shaughnessey killed it as Tails yet again. Go queen!

This might come as a surprise to some, but the Sonic in this movie is my favorite we've seen throughout the SCU franchise so far. I have heard people criticize that Sonic was a little 'boring' or 'underwhelming' during the first 2 acts of the movie, but I actually perceived that as intentional by design. At this point in Sonic's life, he's used to the whole hero thing. He's saved the world multiple times by now so it makes sense to me that he's become complacent and doesn't really take the time to consider how potentially dangerous a threat can be (I mean think about it, he nearly gets lasered-to-death via the forcefield at G.U.N. Headquarters just because he had to be a silly goof and do a tour of London NOW of all times! Yes it's funny and in-character and I still loved that scene ((and loved that it gave Tails a shining moment to save him)), but c'mon Sonic you almost fucked up the entire plan because you just had to do your goofy thing!). So when Shadow shows up and kicks his ass not once, but MULTIPLE times--and then he nearly loses his father figure TWICE--it serves as a rude awakening. He learns that there is a price to pay for being blasé, underestimating the gravity of a situation and not sticking to a plan, and that's where he dramatically overcompensates and goes on a vengeful arc. And vengeful Sonic is FUCKING. FANTASTIC. I think we as an audience can forget how lethal Sonic can be because he's normally so playful and silly, so to see him lock in and not hold back is actually pretty terrifying (but in a great way!). Ben Schwartz was AMAZING in this portion of the movie. I find him to be one of the funniest comedians on the planet, but I couldn't believe it was the same guy during this act. He dug deep and gave such a compelling performance full of anguish and hatred that I honestly didn't realize he was capable of. But most importantly--he was able to rein it in when it mattered most and Sonic didn't lose himself before it was too late. Sonic is not a perfect character, but one of the things that makes him such a great hero is that he always manages to hold on to the light that's inside of him. I always appreciate Sonic's motivational speeches and I loved that when he's having the heart-to-heart with Shadow, the emphasis is about who you are and the good that comes from the love you have for others. It's heavy and important but was delivered in a way that was easily digestible for younger viewers without diminishing the meaning of the message. However, what I found even more moving in this scene was the moment of silence that Sonic and Shadow share on the moon. It was so poignant and I'm glad they held that moment of stillness and quiet. By the end of the movie, we do get our loveable Sonic back but he acknowledges the mistakes he made and regrets putting everyone in danger because of his reckless decisions. Each movie builds up his character more and more and I think as long as they don't backpedal, Sonic's in store for some incredible things! ALSO! Just like I said with Shadow, I freaking LOVED Sonic's character model in this one! I love that we are seeing him physically growing up and maturing instead of being forever stuck in place (no shade to the games). This character model is SO much taller and stockier than the model in Sonic 1 and is evidence that not only is he emotionally maturing, but he's physically aging up as well. It's just so cool!

I absolutely adored Alyla Browne's portrayal of Maria in this movie! She was so charming and instantly loveable the moment she was onscreen. I've noticed many people highlighting the part where she draws the bunny face on Shadow (which I love) but even the seconds before that where she mocks his scowl INSTANTLY won me over. And she even gets Shadow to smile because of it! The smile is small and only visible for a few frames, but it's there! It was clear that this girl saw more to this alien than a menacing, dangerous little space demon and wasn't gonna put up with his charade. It's no wonder the two of them became fast friends. I don't know about you, but I have been STARVED of ARK Sibling content since Shadow's very first introduction so I was obsessed with every single scene we got of the two of them actually getting to spend time together. I do love drama but so far all we've seen is the ARK tragedy and rarely any of the highlights before that event. Yes the SCU is a different universe, but this filled a hole in my heart that I've been waiting on for years. It did not disappoint!

I also want to highlight Agent Stone. Listen, I've loved Lee Majdoub since Sonic 1, but his character is at his best in this movie. Agent Stone was proper badass in Sonic 3 and proved that he's far more than just a simple henchman. It's revealed that with Ivo sulking and remaining in hiding, Stone has stepped up and is constantly monitoring what's going on in the outside world and immediately jumps into action when he notices the doctor's tech being used by someone else. Eggman wasn't even aware of it and yet Stone is out there shutting it down and bringing back reinforcements to clear Eggman's name! That super suit?? And those MOTORCYCLE TRICKS?? And him dodging a freaking ROCKET like it ain't no thing??? Hell yeah, Stone! Lee Majdoub is so funny and I love how he can be so quiet and stoic around Eggman ( "Resourceful.") but he can also be so over the top like when he's mocking the hell out of Knuckles ("Įt'Ŝ 𝕋𝒽𝒆 ⓖ𝓸Ａ𝐓 𝔪𝕀ŁҜє𝓡!... Relax.") and both just work so well! I think it's further evidence of why he makes such a good partner for Eggman because they're both capable of some intense power but they're also both such weirdos. I loved the amount of emotion and vulnerability Stone had in this movie. He's always had an allegiance to Eggman and even in Sonic 2 we saw how much he missed the doctor while he was away and how enthusiastic he was when he learned he was alive, but it went a lot deeper in this film. We got to learn that there's a much stronger affinity there and Stone legitimately cares about Robotnik and supports him through thick and thin. Personally, I ship Stobotnik, so this movie gave me plenty of delicious food! But even if you don't ship it, I think it was so significant to show the depth to Stone and Robotnik's relationship and I believe that it was Stone's affection for the doctor (romantic or platonic) that ultimately made Eggman save the world in the end. Though I'm still hoping for Jim Carrey to come back, I think they set things up so Stone could take up the EggMantle in a seamless way and I sure wouldn't be mad about it!

[Allow me to pause for a deep inhale of breath...]

Ä̷͇̰̞́Ȁ̷̭̩̰̔͐Ấ̶̝̗̠A̴͉͗A̵̳̠̚ͅA̵̫̋Ḿ̴͕Y̴̨̯̆Y̷͖͍̜̓͝Ỹ̵͍̺͑̕Y̸̜̫̆͋͋Y̶͕̫̱̾̐!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😭💖💖💖💖💖💖😘😘😘😘😍😍😍😍😍😍🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖 My beloved! My most darling angel! My reason for waking up in the morning! SHE MADE IT! Amy is my favorite character of all time and I told y'all I was gonna throw up if she wasn't in this movie, so you'd better believe I SCREAMED when her hammer appeared in the post-credits scene! When she walked up and pulled back the hood of her cloak I was in tears and I was TREMBLING! I'm sure they're going to make changes to her once they finalize her design for Sonic 4, but this reveal was so freaking good and got me so excited for the next movie. Her character model is already so beautiful and I love that they turned the tables and have her rescuing Sonic this time! I cannot wait to see what they have in store!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Metal Sonic was cool too btw)

ACTION - 10/10

TL;DR - Highspeed fun that has you on the edge of your seat for every single minute of screen time!

This movie is NONSTOP. I wasn't bored for a single second and by the time we hit the credits I couldn't believe how much time had passed. Every fight scene was so perfectly choreographed and so RAMPED UP that it had me stunned. There's a joke early in the movie that Sonic/Tails/Knuckles' antics are capable of cataclysmic events but the movie delivers on that promise a multitude of times! From city-wide power outages to mini-black holes to volcanic eruptions, there's no shortage of chaos and action in this movie!

You guys. The first time I saw this movie, I was at a prescreening so I was among critics and people from the media instead of a group of fans. It took EVERYTHING WITHIN ME to contain my glee. I was PHYSICALLY BALLED UP, knees pulled to my chest, palms pressed to my face to try to stay quiet. My heart burst through the roof of my skull! Even when I went to go see it for a fourth time, my heart was still racing. I actually had my friend feel my pulse as proof. This movie just gets you so excited it's insane!

The fact that the movie BEGAN with Shadow's breakout... god bless it. God bless everyone who worked on it. It was so intense and heartpumping! And I loved the choice to have little-to-no music during Shadow's fight with the soldiers. It just added to the tension and didn't give you any hint of when and where Shadow was going to teleport next. This was basically a scene from a horror movie! It set the entire tone for the film and showed that Shadow was NOT to be messed with.

I seriously could describe how much I loved every action scene but I will be here forever so I won't, but I have to say-

THE ✨SUPER✨ SCENES. OH. MY. 🎶GO~~~~OD🎶!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had high hopes and expectations we were going to see Super Shadow in this one, but never in my lifetime did I think we were going to finally see Super Sonic VERSUS Super Shadow!!! Holy hell, what a fight! We get to finally see what two god-mode characters are capable of when they're out to kill each other and aren't showing any mercy. EACH PUNCH LAUNCHING THE OPPONENT ACROSS THE FREAKING PLANET?!??!?? That editing choice in particular is one of my absolute FAVORITE things about this movie. There's a million ways this fight could have been done but showing just how fast and how strong these two are--- even causing the earth to split open and erupt just from one of them pushing off the ground--really shows just how minuscule and inferior us humans are hahaha. We wouldn't stand a freaking CHANCE. AND SONIC PUNCHES SHADOW TO THE MOON?!

ALSO THEY EACH TOOK TURNS PUNCHING THE SUPER OUT OF EACH OTHER!???!!!

I'm having to pause as I'm writing this because even though I've seen this movie four times I'm still getting so worked up just thinking about these action scenes again that I'm struggling to breathe omg

Even better than Super Sonic VERSUS Super Shadow was that final team up. That CLAP and they both turn super had me WEAK. I just about fainted right then but thank god I didn't because that entire sequence was INCREDIBLE. That little exchange of Sonic saying "Ready to recycle some tin cans?" and Shadow rolling his shoulder and saying "Try to keep up" before launching into a flurry of attacks is TATTOOED ON MY BRAIN. It will never leave my mind. It gave us SA2 and MORE. The battle was a masterpiece and it's something that words truly can't describe, you just have to witness it in all it's glory. I will never be normal about that fight scene.

One more moment I want to highlight because it shows action in nontraditional ways -- I am infatuated with the way they depicted Eggman and Shadow's last moments of saving the earth from the Eclipse Cannon. There was just something in the slow, labored movements that Jim Carrey made to show him attempting to block the explosions with shields, and the quietness of Shadow pushing the exterior of the ship with his hands and the metal is just crushing under his palms from the force. It isn't a moment of fast punches or flashing lights but it was so damn powerful and I absolutely loved it.

VISUALS - 10/10

TL;DR - Stellar effects and cinematography not only make for a delightful experience for your eyes but further immerse us into this fictional world.

WOW! I already touched on this in my above notes but seriously this movie was just beautiful. The character models were so good and felt real despite being cartoons (which goes to show you don't need them to look hyper-realistic to convince me it's a living creature). The lighting and the framing of shots were not only visually appealing but helped further the emotions of the scenes. The neon lights bouncing off Shadow in the rain as he's slowly walking down the streets of Shibuya was a WORK OF ART. Even all the moments of chaos and destruction were portrayed so well and so crisp that not only were they beautiful to look at -- I could actually tell what was going on! I watch a lot of action films and it gets so frustrating when there's so many explosions, lens flares, camera whips, etc that I can't actually make out what's happening. I never had that problem in this movie!

FAN SERVICE - 10/10

TL;DR - No, not that kind of fan service. This was a film FOR the fans!

I already said that the cinematic universe is clearly separate from the game universe. However, there were so many delightful little treats for fans of the games that felt like all the creators of this movie reached out and hugged me and said "This is for you!" BLESS! I won't list out all the Easter eggs and scene-recreations because there are too many, but man the joy I felt in sitting there and thinking "I KNOW THAT REFERENCE!" was healing to my soul. I figured "Live and Learn" was going to show up in some way because we heard the tune in the trailer, but I didn't realize how often and in how many different ways it would play throughout the movie! Starting out the movie with a memory of Maria playing "Live and Learn" on the guitar had me clutching my chest and I knew I was gonna be emotionally wrecked by this film! I loved the orchestral version of the song during the final battle which took an already badass theme and made it even more epic, but I do love that they included a snippet with the original lyrics too.

I don't know why people get so upset with these movies not being 100% like the games when it's clear that the people who work on these movies care so much about the games and want to reward us fans who love the games, too. Think about the scene where Shadow goes to push the Eclipse Cannon and he removes his inhibitor rings. That was specifically for us fans. The movie never explains what his inhibitor rings are or what they do or why he's removing them. Not knowing what the inhibitor rings are doesn't detract from the movie--but if you play the games you KNOW the significance of that moment. That was written and animated FOR YOU to enjoy. What's not to love about that???

DRAMAAAA~

Again, I know these SCU movies are marketed as family films and are more aimed for children, but I love that the movies are evolving and 'maturing' over time instead of repeating the same simple formula of some children's movies. With each Sonic movie that comes out, the themes and story are getting deeper and heavier without losing it's whimsy and fun. It's done in a way that feels like a natural progression and growth and I don't think the heavier subject matter will deter anyone who watched the previous two movies.

⭐BONUS POINTS!⭐

This is a hot take and I know many people are gonna disagree, but I was so pleased with there being LESS focus on the humans in this story (minus the Robotniks+Stone, of course). I do not care about the Wachowskis. I do not care about the Whipples. I understand why they were initially in the movies and I understand that Sonic considers the Wachowskis as his parents now, but I don't go to these movies to see the humans attending weddings or doing other sideplot shenanigans. I'm here for the aliens, damn it! So to have the humans' appearances mostly diminished to scenes that specifically related to the main plot was a huge relief to me!

THANK YOU SONIC 3.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

I could talk endlessly about this movie and even though I've written what feels like an entire essay there's still tons I'm leaving out, but to try to move this review along I'm going to move on to the negatives. Again, none of these below items were enough to ruin the movie for me and individually they aren't even worth a full point as far as a review. But ultimately these are things that I couldn't shake after watching and it's why I felt I had to dock the movie a single point in total.

EDITING WHIPLASH

I've already complimented this movie by several of the editing choices that were made, but there's one moment in particular that totally took me out of it and I'm sure you can guess what I'm going to say... Yes, it was the frequent cutting between the Super Hedgehogs and the Robotniks. Don't get me wrong -- individually these scenes were great. Ivo versus Gerald was hilarious and I did enjoy it and yes it was important to the plot -- but how DARE you interrupt my Super Sonic and Super Shadow fight with mustache wrestling! Whiplash is the best word I can use to describe how I felt in this moment. Sonic and Shadow fighting all of the robots and lasers to get to the Cannon was so dynamic and so intense and so spectacular, that when it suddenly cut away to Eggman getting spanked by a giant mech hand, I felt like I just got slapped across the face. My heart had just been racing so fast and then you cut away? Then I'm starting to calm down and just enjoy the Robotnik fight for the silliness but then it cuts BACK to the epic power of Sonic and Shadow --- and you do it AGAIN?! It just killed me!

I saw an edit somebody made where they spliced all of the super fight scenes together and removed the Robotnik fight and as you can imagine, it was infinitely better. You actually had the time to be fully enraptured by the battle and get to absorb every awesome second of it.

The Robotnik fight was still necessary (and yes, even the way they killed Gerald was hilarious to me and I still laugh even now) but they really should have edited this part of the movie better in my opinion.

PLOT HOLE -- ARE WE MISSING PART OF THE SCRIPT?

Although I think the writing for this movie was overall great, I felt there were key elements missing from the G.U.N. plot line that was meant to drive the narrative. This led me to think... was there a deleted scene and the filmmakers thought nobody would care/question it? Here are the things that I felt the movie did not clearly address:

1: Why are Team Sonic and Commander Walters close allies now? G.U.N. and Walters were previously antagonists in these films. Yes, at the end of Sonic 2 Commander Walters gives up his goal of capturing Sonic, but surrendering isn't the same as forming a partnership. Why is Team Sonic on-call for G.U.N. missions at Walters' requests all of a sudden? Then there's the scene in the Chao Garden. Why do Team Sonic and Walters meet up without anyone else from G.U.N. knowing about it? Why does Sonic trust Walters more than the rest of G.U.N.? I understand Sonic is a hero and especially in these movies he likes to see the good in people, but throughout these movies Walters ALWAYS lies. In Sonic 2, not only does Walters/G.U.N. fabricate an entire wedding as a sting operation to capture Sonic, but Walters lies when he claims that G.U.N. was formed because of Sonic's misadventures in San Francisco. In Sonic 3 we learn that G.U.N. was around for Project Shadow in the 70s. Nobody calls him out on this. Even in the Chao Garden scene, Walters is lying to Sonic about Shadow's history! He tells Sonic that Maria was killed in a terrible accident and Gerald was blamed for it. It was no accident! Soldiers showed up with guns and when Walters tried to stop them, they said "We have our orders." Sure, shooting the canister of chaos energy was not the intention and so the explosion itself was an accident, but those soldiers had every intent on taking Maria and Gerald out (if not Shadow as well). I'm sure Walters left that detail out to keep Sonic from asking further questions, but that makes him all the more of an unreliable storyteller and someone Sonic should NOT trust.

2: Why doesn't Walters trust G.U.N.? When Walters is injured in the Chao Garden attack, he gives Sonic one of the keys to the Eclipse Cannon and tells him that Sonic's the only person he trusts to keep it safe. Walters is the commander of G.U.N. -- surely he would trust a member of his team to hold onto the key, right? And if he doesn't, WHY? If you watched the Knuckles series then you know that there are indeed rogue members of G.U.N., but people watching the movie don't know that. Walters telling Sonic to keep the key safe from everyone suddenly puts Sonic on heightened alert and makes him believe he can't trust anyone, but we aren't given a reason why. Even if Walters simply had a line saying "I worry there's corruption in G.U.N." then I would have been satisfied.

3: Why is Team Sonic stealing the second key? Once the Team learns that there is a second key to the Eclipse Cannon and that the Robotniks are planning to steal it, they devise a heist to steal the second key themselves. Why? Walters didn't tell Sonic about a second key or tell him to retrieve the second key. Doesn't that mean Walters believes the safest place for the second key is where it's currently stored: at G.U.N. headquarters? Team Sonic knew Robotnik was en route, so the wisest option would have been to alert G.U.N. so they could heighten security and be on the lookout (which turns out, they already were). Again, all of this would make sense if Sonic was given an explicit reason to not trust G.U.N. and was specifically told to keep the keyS away from them, but at this point he went from trusting them to suddenly trying to take both keys from them. I loved the heist scenes and I don't want them removed, I feel they just need justification.

4: What is Director Rockwell's problem? It's clear that Rockwell is not a fan of Team Sonic (some people just can't trust aliens) but it seemed her character was going a certain direction and then just... stopped. After Walters is killed, the first thing she does is check his pocket for the key. Surely Walters would have known that Director Rockwell would have checked his pockets, especially since she was in Tokyo at the time of his death, again going back to my question of why he wouldn't trust her to retrieve the key instead of handing it over to Sonic? I was fully expecting a reveal of her being a rogue agent, especially because Team Sonic was still trying to take the second key even after the Robotniks had been thwarted. Think about it -- G.U.N. has stopped the Robotniks (and Team Sonic) from stealing the second key. That was the whole point, right? So why is Tom now trying to take the key FROM Rockwell? Isn't the key safely where it belongs and the Robotniks are supposedly in custody? So again, was there a reason Rockwell wasn't meant to be trusted, but we just don't know? I really felt like she was being set up to be a villain, but it led nowhere.

Now a lot of the elements I just addressed can be inferred and we can use context clues to guess, but I think it's the writers' job (especially in a family film) to make it clear why characters are making the choices/decisions they're making, at least by the time you reach the end of the movie. I know some stories are more ambiguous than others, but to me it felt like something was missing. I guess we'll see if there's anything hidden in deleted scenes.

FINAL THOUGHTS

As a whole, I absolutely loved this movie and I am so thankful it exists. I can't wait for Sonic 4 and I hope it receives just as much hype, love and attention that this movie did! If you read my entire review, thank you! I hope you enjoyed it, even if you didn't agree with all of it :)

[syoddeye]

Idk if you take requests, but I am ✨obsessed✨ with davey jones Ghost and was wondering if you have more thoughts about him? Esp if you have Ghoap or Ghoap/Reader thoughts 🙏👀

well, i didn’t have any thoughts until now! i mean. yeah. imagine the ten year curse cycle inflicted on both of them. lightly edited.

cw: blood/violence, non-consensual touch, implied but not depicted eventual noncon

they don't think much about the drawbacks of immortality or their land-based limitations. they don't consider the madness that gnaws at the edges of their minds or the insatiable hunger that regular slaughter can't satisfy. how the blood sours in their mouths after years of excess.

not soap, with his appetite for violent spectacle, or ghost, who savors it like a gourmand. no. they careen through decades, gleefully unmoored from consequence.

then they see you.

the ship is anchored in the bay of your coastal town, rocking gently in the waves despite the atmosphere. lanterns swing in the breeze, casting light across the deck as the sun sets. the crew drinks and gambles away the hours until the decade burns out when their leaders can, at last, join them on land, chomping at the bit for their share of blood and gold.

a few shots ring out as they pick off the fools attempting to escape by boat. on shore, a harried militia fumbles to barricade the town, a pitiful display that amuses soap to no end.

he paces, barking laughter, the row of spines down the center of his skull rippling with the sound. ghost leans against the mast, idly loading his pistol. he doesn't join in on the festivities, though soap knows he's just as eager for the bloodletting to begin. it's what sustains them best, after all—carnage.

"you'd think they'd learn," soap clicks his tongue, watching through a spyglass as another group tries to skirt past their ship in a dinghy, wailing as they slump one by one. his cloudy eye rolls loose in its socket as he pans toward shore, looking for the tortured faces of their loved ones and—

he freezes.

"steamin' jesus."

"what?" ghost doesn't bother looking up.

soap lowers the glass just enough to flash him a grin, a different sort of hunger glinting in his eyes. "you've got to see this." he tosses the scope.

ghost catches it with a bored grunt. he expects the same old scene: villagers sobbing, soldiers struggling, someone drowning themselves in the shallows. instead, he finds you.

stockings and shoes stripped off, skirts gathered high to keep them dry, showing your bare legs braced in the surf. you stand alone, a fair distance from the panicked men crowding at the docks. one hand flat over your eyes, shading them, as you strain to get a better look at your town's doom. pretty mouth curved into a worried frown.

"what do ye think she's doin'?"

"don't know." ghost adjusts the focus, trailing the glass down to your bare, breakable ankles, the way the water curls around them, before dragging his gaze back up. "doesn't matter."

maybe you're overly confident in your soldiers. maybe there's nowhere to go inland, no path that doesn't end with their blades at your back or another tide. or maybe it's much simpler than that—maybe you have a morbid curiosity, something only they can sate.

you look soft. smooth. utterly defenseless, a lamb right before its throat is slit. fearless or stupid. ghost hasn't decided yet.

behind him, soap mutters a low curse, leaning over his shoulder like a child begging for another turn. "she's perfect." he murmurs, his tongue flicking over his sharpened, brine and rust-colored teeth. 

ghost lowers the spyglass, gripping it tight.

"think she'll run if we call out?" soap asks, already moving toward the longboats. "might be fun to chase her down."

"no."

soap stops mid-stride, turning with a hollow-eyed grin. "what d'ye mean, no?"

ghost doesn't answer immediately. his gaze drifts back to the shore, to you, alone in the surf, transfixed by the evil before you. oblivious to what you've done. to what they are. the sort of personal attention you've invited. 

he knows in the marrow of his bones. the way hunger knows the taste of meat.

"no," he repeats, jaw clenching, reaching down to adjust himself. "you're gettin' ahead of yourself. we've got 'ours, still."

soap huffs, bleeding anticipation and impatience. "what if she runs for it? we cannae—"

ghost cuts him off, taking a single step to hook his good hand around the back of soap's neck. he drags the other man in close, pushing the cold metal of the spyglass's eyepiece into the soft spot under soap's chin.

"if she runs, then we catch 'er. bring 'er aboard. simple as that."

soap stares for a moment, the muscles in his jaw working like he wants to argue. wisely, he does not. "fine." he concedes, though he looks to the longboats again. "we wait."

"good lad. now," ghost squeezes soap's neck, fingers pressing flesh and carapace, and then he pushes, guiding the man to his knees. then he lifts the spyglass again, fitting it snugly against his socket. you're out of the water now, seated, hurriedly rolling your stockings up. he wets his cracked lips at the brief flash of the underside of a thigh. you really think no one's watching. "we've plenty of time to warm up."

they leave the pillaging and razing to their men, the chaos in the town spreading behind them like fire on dry grass. smoke rises in thick, black columns, and the screams of the dying and the terrorized carry across the streets. they don't care for riches or ruin, not tonight. they're hunting for you.

every house and hovel is torn apart by their hands, windows shattered, doors broken off their hinges. soap, wild-eyed and feral, tears through the streets like a storm, leaving splinters and wreckage in his wake. ghost grows just as frenzied as him as the hours march toward dawn. 

but, as it turns out, you truly did believe in the uniformed men of your town. your first mistake. your second was that you did not run far enough.

they find you.

tucked into a cramped hiding space of what must be your home, they pry you out like a pearl from an oyster. it's soap who finds you, his grin splitting wide as he hauls you up, your face tear-streaked, a laugh rattling out when you lift your chin.

"better up close," soap says, pressing his nose to your temple and inhaling deeply. he spins you to face ghost, his damp cheek pressing to yours. sea salt mingling with the scent of sweat. desperation. "smells good enough to eat."

ghost draws a line from the curve of your cheek down to the hollow of your neck, fitting his thumb to the divot of your throat. how odd it is to feel a heartbeat he does not want to immediately stop.

"then let's have a taste 'ere," he murmurs, voice rough as your pulse kicks up. "then a feast on board."

[mrnightingale]

DBDA Character Appreciation Week: #4 Niko Sasaki

I love her sm!!! Outfit ideas here by @katygorl

The yellow one is w a pastel highlighter, and the other two w colouring pencils and greyish purple and violet highlighter. I really like this one, I think I'm starting to find a colouring technique I don't completely hate!!! Whoohoo! (Btw in the purple one, the flowers on her top and boots are two different types of Violets, and she's holding a pink sea glass bc palasaki my beloved ones, they're matching ✨✨✨).

Words can't explain how much I love Niko, she's incredibly sweet and friendly and empathetic, and I love her dynamic with practically every character in the show, but what I love the most is that we can actually see on-screen how much she grows through the chapters, how stronger she's getting. I love DBDA because it portrays how different people deals with their feelings in a realistic way, how every teen has their own problems and it takes them with the care it deserves, it doesn't feel exaggerated but every topic is given the adequate seriousness it requires, and honestly is such a masterpiece in the storytelling and pacing through the chapters between the cases and their own character arcs that their evolution doesn't feel rushed at all, but then you look back and see how much they changed, and is really heartwarming.

I love Niko because at first she's locked up in her room and doesn't talk with anyone, and slowly starts opening up with Crystal, and the boys, and then you think she's okay, but she's not. Dealing with depression and mental health issues it's much more difficult than it might seem from the outside, because one day you're feeling Good Enough to go and talk to people with a smile on the face, but that doesn't mean you're really okay. That just means you're feeling Good Enough to keep the mask on through a conversation. And Niko feels pretty realistic and natural to me because healing requires time, and support, and the agency is supporting her but they're not rushing her up to join on cases until she's ready, and that's beautiful. I think it's beautiful bc it shows a healthy environment that provides comfort and support and she's getting better thanks to it, and thanks her own hidden strength, and they're helping her realize where that strength comes from.

And, idk, as I have already said millions of times, I really love Niko and Edwin's relationship, it feels so genuine and heartwarming and bro I want the Niko to my Edwin soooo bad. Help. But my point is. I think the best word I could find to describe their relationship is "comfort" bc they can be themselves with each other, talk about their problems without pressure, knowing that the other will accept them no matter what and will help and support them and, idk, the scene when they're watching Scooby Doo while Niko writers the letter to her mother and Edwin is just there, not intervening but just saying there so she's not alone, idk, it spokes so deeply to me. Like if they could face everything as long as they have each other. I know there's always been Charles and Edwin, and they fighting together against everything, but the relationship w Niko is set in a different emotional basis and I think that's something Edwin needed, being able to talk about his feelings, and the same with Niko.

Brooooo help I love this show so fucking much, it's a masterpiece in every aspect but I'll never stop rewatching and looked amazed by the characters. They're unapologetically queer, and real, and they deal with the Life, and oh fuck, Life is hard as hell, Life is a kick after kick and punch after punch and somehow we have to keep living through it, and I feel so seen when I look at the screen and I can relate with some things that I used to think they were so personal and that I was alone w that, only bc there wasn't any representation of it. We're not alone dealing with Life, and this masterpiece of art that it's Dead Boy Detectives shows it perfectly.

It's queer and flamboyant and bizarre, you have ghosts running for their afterlifes, you have a psychic dealing with her toxic demon ex-boyfriend, and a quirky witch and her familiar twink that actually shows real abusive relationships, you have a Cat King whose only relationships are shallow, and a Night Nurse that knows everything about everything and still has a lot to learn, and you have Niko, a lonely, aloof girl with two dandelion spirits in a bell jar in her room, a girl who grew up with the support of their friends and started to live again, and love again, and love Life, and still, she gave her life for their friends.

And her death matters.

[hwaslayer]

wildfire (cs) | eleven.

—spotify playlist | series masterlist

—summary: assistant professor in bioengineering, incredibly attractive, lonely and divorced; that’s how most people describe san. but despite the events that have happened in his life, san has a lot going for himself. he’s a successful, sought out professor due to his brilliant contributions to science at just an early age of 32. he worked hard to get where he was now; head deep into his research, his publications, building his lab and creating a name for himself. everything was good and smooth sailing— until it wasn’t. because when he meets you, a bioengineering grad student interested in rotating in his lab, he finds himself ready to risk all the blood, sweat and tears he put in throughout the years just to keep you close— his need for you spiraling out of control like a wildfire.

—pairing: asst. professor!choi san x grad student!f. reader

—genre: (18+ - minors dni) strangers to lovers, grad school au | fluff, angst, smut

—word count: 6.1k

—chapter content/warnings: cussing, mature language/sexually implied content, san x oc talk a bit, talking also leads to other things 🤭, a quickie in san’s office, riding him on the chair hehehe, covering his mouth cause he gets a lil loud, flashback scene is just ppl talkin about this whole thing and switching up 😭, san x iseul x yunho moment, the start of namjoon’s stress chronicles pt. 2, some overthinking and pondering decisions

san: goodmorning my love. i hope you slept well. i'm sorry to upset you last night, and i'm sorry i put you in that position. i wasn't thinking and acted impulsively. let me know if i can get a few mins with you at some point - i still wanna talk to you. i miss you, baby. have a good day today, okay?

You wake up a little later than expected, and it has you rushing out the door before you can even respond to San's text. You do feel bad for not responding right away but truthfully, you just needed to get your mind together and be in your own space to try and figure out what the hell was going on.

You were starting to get scared and you weren't sure where this would lead you and San. You knew what you were getting into, but the last thing you wanted was for San to get in trouble— especially him, not you.

"Hey ma." You answer the call on your way to class, tugging your bag strap up on your shoulder.

"Hi lovey." She says cheerfully even though she's coming off of a shift.

"Did you just get off of work?" She sighs as she slams her car door and hops in, the call being picked up on the bluetooth.

"Yeah, we're a bit short-staffed so I picked up another shift. I came in around 7pm last night." You nod.

"Well, try to take it easy."

"I will. Are you on your way to class? How's it all going?"

"Um." You pause. "It's alright. But, yeah. I'm on my way over."

"Uh oh." She teases. "Wanna come home this weekend so you can tell me all about it while we get our nails done?"

"Actually, yeah. That sounds nice."

"Okay, babe." She chuckles. "You sure you're okay?" You nod even though you feel your heart drop, tears threatening to spill this early in the morning.

"Yeah, I am. I just have lots of stuff to update you on."

"Okay. Can't wait. Have a good day, hun. Make sure you take your breaks properly, eat and hydrate well."

"I will, mom. I love you."

"Love you too!" The call ends and you suddenly feel alone although the campus has moving parts, bodies floating around to move from point A to point B. You tuck your phone into your bag, fully deciding you'll get to San in between classes today. You do plan to stop by the lab to wean your mice really quickly at some point; maybe you'll deal with San then.

Which is crazy to think about cause that's exactly how things unfold.

Your first class of the day drags on, the lecture today being packed with a ton of overwhelming information. You've already got a few assignments for this class alone, causing you to huff out a heavy sigh when you write it all down in your planner and try to organize your to-do list. When class finally wraps up, you take your time packing up before heading to lab to work on the mice. You grab a parfait to go, quietly eating away as you make your way to the basement. The very back door to the west wing basement is the closest to the café you grabbed the parfait from, so you easily make your way over and toss your empty cup into the trash just as you tackle the steps and head downstairs to the door. When you pull out your badge and get ready to tap it against the reader, the door swings open and causes you to jump aside to prevent yourself from getting hit.

"Oh, I'm sorry—" San stops in his steps. "Y/N?"

"San." You breathe out, clutching your bag tighter. You weren't expecting to run into him now, but you suppose the universe had other plans for you.

"Hey." He fully steps outside and lets the door shut close. You can't help but automatically glance at him from head to toe; he's wearing denim on denim, and you realize he's the only person who could truly pull off the look. He's got on a denim button-up and jeans, chucks. Sleeves are rolled up halfway. He digs his hands into his pockets, soft black hair framing his face. You can smell his cologne from where you stand.

You're not standing very far from him when you should be creating more distance.

"Hi."

"Going into lab?"

"For a second, yeah. I gotta wean my mice before my PI gets mad at me." You look up at him and he chuckles a bit, biting onto his lip.

"For the record, I could never be mad at you." You slightly scoff and playfully roll your eyes. 

"Sure, Professor Choi." You pause. "I'm sorry I haven't responded to your text. I was meaning to come see you later, but I guess now is a good time, too?" 

"Uh, yeah. I gotta meet Jongho and Namjoon to plan out this proposal for the space in the new building." You nod. "But, it's not for a bit. Was just gonna grab some food before heading over."

"Goodluck."

"Thanks, love." He clears his throat. "Wanna give me a quick run down of what happened yesterday? With Yunho and Iseul?"

"Don't let me get in the way of you getting food."

"You're not. I can always grab some after."

"Are you sure?" He nods.

"You're more important." He lets out a breath. "So, what happened?"

"Yunho said he thought he saw me at the conference, that's all. I know he was gonna try to get it out of me, but students started walking into class."

"I didn't even know he was there."

"Well, I clearly didn't either. He said he stopped by last minute cause he was in the area." San sighs. "Iseul knew about it, too. I saw the way she looked at me when I walked out." You look up at him with innocent eyes, and it makes him weak. "San, we need to be more careful and this isn't helping."

"Well, that's why I wanted you to come over so we could talk about this in private. Why haven't you texted me back, angel? I know there's a reason. Are you still angry with me?" He asks so gently and so sweetly it makes your knees buckle. But at this very moment, Iseul is passing by the stairway, on her way back to the office after a meeting in the west wing of the Harvey Center. She doesn't typically pass this way but today, the conference room was closer to the back end, and she wanted to stop by the nearby café to grab another cup of coffee— excited to try the seasonal flavors on the menu that just arrived.

As she passes the stairway that leads towards the very back west wing basement door, she hears muffled talking echoing from below and can't necessarily help herself.

"I just.. don't know right now, San. It feels like everything is crumbling and I don't know how to feel. Jiung knows, and he thinks you forced me into this for the lab—"

"What? You told him that wasn't true, right?" His tone rises slightly, but it's enough for you to remind him to keep it down. It's also enough for Iseul to just slightly peek over the edge to confirm who is speaking near the back end basement doors;

And of course it's you and San.

No one ever passes through this way, and of course San would be taking that opportunity.

"Obviously." You sigh. "I'm just saying, people are onto us. The happy hour thing was probably the cherry on top."

"I got angry and I acted on impulse, I'm sorry." He reaches for your hand and as much as you wanna hold onto it tightly, you can't. You just let him take it in his, his lips lightly grazing the surface of your hand. "Can we take this to my office?"

"I thought you were on your way out."

"And I told you I've got a few minutes to spare. Please?" He pleads and you simply nod, removing your hand from his hold just as he badges in and leads the way to his office. Iseul lets out a breath as she continues on her way, texting her husband the exact scene that just unfolded in front of her.

iseul: i just saw san and y/n talking by the basement doors. he was holding her hand and kissing it.

yunho: so what now?

iseul: i told you i'm gonna try to catch san later. if he doesn't wanna admit to it then i'm going to namjoon.

yunho: iseul.

iseul: yunho, no. i can see the look you're giving me already. they're being way too obvious on campus now, and he better be grateful that i'm just trying to look out for him.

yunho: okay.

That's all Yunho replies with because what else can he say? He knows Iseul is stubborn, and he knows she won't change her mind. He agrees that it's wrong but he's not sure if they're overstepping.

Maybe Iseul really was looking out for him. He'd like to give her the benefit of the doubt because she's right.

This is wrong.

He's convinced this is all wrong because of her.

When you get to the basement, it's as empty as can be and you couldn't even be more relieved while trailing behind San. He looks down at his watch again, fiddling with the door lock and handle before he swings it open.

"Are you sure you even have enough time to spare?" You ask as he locks the door and makes his way over to you.

"Swear."

"We should make this quick before people come back to the basement."

"You know people are always in and out of here."

"Still."

"Why are you upset, love? Talk to me."

"I just don't know what to do. Your ex seems to be onto us the most, and they probably saw the whole thing go down yesterday. You were like.. angry-angry, San, and it was obvious—" You don't even realize you're going on and on about the same thing until San cups your cheeks, softly shushing you; trying to keep the peace by easing you.

"Baby." He says softly, his eyes looking into yours. "Baby, don't worry about this right now. I'm sure it will all blow over—"

"And if it doesn't?"

"Then, I'll face it when the time comes but—"

"San."

"We'll figure it out." He reassures again, even though truthfully and honestly, he's not sure what that means. He's not sure what he'll do if it actually unfolds out of hand, he's not sure what he'll tell you if things do go wrong. He's not sure how he'll be able to salvage everything even if he wants to more than anything in this world 

He just doesn't work on empty promises like that.

"I'll never let anything happen to you. I'll take care of this." He adds.

"I don't want anything to happen to you, though." He sighs and shakes his head.

"Nothing will. Just— just trust me like you've already been doing, okay?"

"Okay." You respond softly, hands resting on his wrists as he continues to cup your cheeks— thumb caressing the surface while his eyes roam over your features.

"I'm sorry for yesterday and I'm sorry you've been upset."

"It's alright."

"I missed you."

"I'm sorry, Sannie. I just needed a moment."

"You don't have to apologize, sweetheart." He kisses the tip of your nose before chuckling. "Although, I'll still beat his ass for trying to put his hands on you the way he did."

"He was such a dumbass." You roll your eyes. "I am grateful for you being there in time, though."

"Yeah, well. Couldn't really do much, but I'm glad you ended up okay." He's still looking at you, his thumb now lightly tracing your bottom lip. He looks deep into your eyes and he can't help but feel like mush; knees getting weak, heart melting at the way he looks at you. He prays to God nothing happens with all this going on because he's afraid to lose you.

He's afraid he can't lose you.

When he looks at you, he feels a sense of calmness. He sees the affection and adoration swirling in those orbs of yours. Your entire being radiating warmth and love. He'd hate for Iseul and Yunho to take away the one thing that has finally kept him grounded. But, he wouldn't put it past them and that's what scares him the most.

They hadn't stopped to think about their actions before. And for someone like San, who loves so hard and trusts wholeheartedly, he just didn't think the love of his life and his bestfriend would ever do that to him.

This is how everything has unfolded and he'd hate for them to be the reason behind all of this, too.

"Baby." He calls for you, and you don't respond verbally. The way he's looking at you, the way he's holding you, caressing you and keeping you close, is enough for you to dip forward and meet him in a sweet kiss. You hear him exhale as he cups your cheeks and takes the kiss, deepening it as you stand in the middle of his office. Your hands grip at his sides as your tongue fights for dominance with his, the kiss easily turning into a sloppy, wet mess. "Fuck, baby." He sighs. "Need you."

"Here?" He nods. He rushes over to his chair, bringing you onto his lap. His eyes are full of desire, lust— pleading for you to give him all of you. "Sannie."

"We'll make it quick." He smirks, hands coming up your thighs to hike up your maxi skirt just enough; thumb immediately finding your clothed core. "No one's around. Just us." You shut your eyes in pleasure, already aching, craving, for him bad. "You do know how to keep quiet, right?" He teases, watching as you continue to react to the way he's touching you.

"Mm— shouldn't I be asking you?" You tease back, fiddling with his belt and undoing his jeans to release his heavy, hard cock. 

"Brat." He chuckles. "Ride me." 

"So demanding." You playfully roll your eyes the moment you position his cock at your entrance, shutting them close when you ease down his length. He lets out a soft, breathless groan, head cocked back against the chair as he tries to adjust to the feeling. "Fuck, San."

"Yeah, baby. It's all yours." He whispers, looking at you through hooded lids. You pick up your pace, working your hips back and forth; dragging your walls against his member. You let out a quiet moan against his lips, San whispering a string of cuss words as you roll your hips—

Driving him to insanity.

"Missed you so much. My perfect girl." He mutters. He can't even help himself when he feels you tighten around him, letting out a moan that might be a little too loud for your liking. 

"Sannie." You whine a bit, covering his mouth with your hand as you continue to push and push towards the edge, clit rubbing against him so deliciously you feel like you'll come undone sooner than later. You watch as San's face contorts in pleasure— pretty brows knitting together, tightly as his eyes shut close. He's murmuring small moans against the palm of your hand, whining and begging for you to cum first because you always come first.

And it doesn't take long before you do.

Your movements become sloppy while San continues to grip your ass in an attempt to help guide you; his cock filling you up perfectly as you bounce up and down before resorting back to rolling your hips against him. It takes two, three, four turns before you press your forehead against San's and unravel in his hold. 

"Ohhhh—fuck—gonna cum—" You gasp just as San fucks upward into you once, twice— releasing his load into you and filling you up with every last bit. He lets out choked moans against your hand, panting and heavily breathing when you feel like it's safe to finally remove it.

"Good god, sweetheart." He breathes. "I'll never get tired of this." You giggle, kissing him sweetly on the lips before slowly removing yourself from his length. You both let out small breaths, San keeping you near so he can wipe you down with a napkin before tending to himself. 

"Hopefully no one's in the basement still." You fix your skirt and get yourself together.

"Uh, not like you had anything to worry about. You seemed to have that under control the entire time." You laugh.

"Taking precautionary measures since we need to."

"That was kinda fun, though." San smirks. "Maybe we should do that more often." He stands to adjust his jeans and fixes his belt.

"Did our little fight just go over your head?" You joke and he sighs.

"Fine." He playfully rolls his eyes. "We'll just keep it to the bedroom."

"You're so annoying." You smile. "You should get to your meeting before you end up being late."

"I will, boss lady." He puckers his lips. "Just one more." You shake your head and meet him for another kiss.

"Bye Professor Choi." 

"Bye baby." He smiles, subtly biting onto his bottom lip as he watches you sway your hips and walk out. As soon as the door shuts, he feels empty. He misses you already and he can't wait to spend time with you again.

"Oh shit—Sunwoo!" You almost shriek just as you come out of San's office. You're afraid he might've heard something, or that he might even sense it, see it on you, with the way he cocks a brow up and tilts his head to the side. "You scared me." He laughs, though it's obvious he's kinda confused as to why you're so startled by his presence.

"You okay?" 

"Mhm." You hum.

"Meeting with Professor Choi?" He gives you a look again and you feel like your ass is on fire. Sunwoo has probably gotten wind of the whole thing and now he's trying to read you.

"Just a quick last minute check-in."

"Oh, that's nice he let you pop in. Everything all good with your progress and stuff? Think you'll stay so you can continue being my right hand?" You laugh and shrug. 

"Maybe. We'll see. But yeah, all is well!" You look at your phone. "Anyway, gonna run off to wean the mice before class." He nods, watching as you hurriedly drop your things off at your desk and scurry along without looking back.

—FLASHBACK

"So, did you hear about Professor Choi getting hella angry over some postdoc at the happy hour event? I guess he was getting handsy with Y/N and was being a total dick."

"Okay? So, he deserved it."

"Yeah, but people there said it was weird."

"How is sticking up for someone weird?"

"No like, guys. He was angry. Like the type to get angry over your girlfriend, angry."

"What are you insinuating?" Belle cocks a brow up.

"I'm so surprised you guys haven't heard about it. It's like the talk on campus right now. People think Professor Choi and Y/N are a thing. Professor Lee and Professor Jeong are also apparently fueling hella shit behind it."

"That's ridiculous, Y/N would never. That'd never happen." Belle tries to laugh it off until she sees Sunwoo sitting quietly in his chair. "Right?" Sunwoo looks at her and shrugs. "Sunwoo."

"Dude, I don't know. I've just seen Y/N go into his office a few times and I thought they were meeting about projects. But, now that I think about it.."

"Are you serious?" Belle furrows her brows. She's slightly annoyed that you'd actually take it this far, and she's not sure how she feels about it if it were true. "Is she trying to secure her spot in lab that bad? She wanted him to like her so bad she had to sleep with him?" Sunwoo knits his forehead at her.

"Yo, hold on. You don't even know if it's true. Even if it is, I'm sure there's a story behind it and not just that. Y/N wouldn't do that."

"We didn't expect her to be wrapped up in rumors like this, too." Belle scoffs. "Wow. If their so-called relationship ends up being true, bet it was because Y/N threw herself on him."

"That's fucked up. She's your friend, Belle."

"Not really, we just knew each other because of school and now we work together."

"Belle."

"What? You really can't tell me you don't think that? You're lying."

"No?! Belle, what?" Sunwoo's tone grows. "I'm saying they're two grown ass adults who are capable of making their own decisions. I'm not dismissing it or saying it's right, but I'm saying there could be more to it than that. Why are you assuming that so quickly?"

"Whatever, Sunwoo. It's gross, regardless. Especially for her as his rotation student." She rolls her eyes. "God, can't wait for it to be over so I don't have to deal with her." Sunwoo starts packing his things and shaking his head.

"That's crazy." Sunwoo chuckles a bit. "She was your friend before anything, bro. I'd expect you to at least have her back." He scoffs a bit. "I gotta go, I got shit to tend to with Y/N. Cause you know, I don't just switch up on people without having my facts straight." He almost mocks Belle's attitude as he throws the peace sign up to his other friend and starts walking off.

—END

After you tend to the mice, San gathers himself and heads out of the basement to head to the bathroom and freshen up before grabbing a quick snack on his way to Namjoon's office. On his way out, he didn't see anyone in the basement; Sunwoo must have gone to hide in one of the rooms to do some work. He's able to whisk himself away without any issues, prancing into Namjoon's office in a better mood.

Jongho definitely picks up on it, but doesn't comment on it. So doesn't Namjoon, but he needed to make use of his time wisely since he's got a busy ass schedule today.

They have a good conversation and are able to draft out some very good points about letting Jongho and San take some real estate in the new building. Namjoon is always good with words and although he's taking quick notes on his laptop, he's making a mental note on how they should present this to the dean. He has a good feeling about it, and he thinks it's perfect timing because the dean has been wondering about other ways to foster good collaboration between schools and departments and how to make their programs a little more unique and prestigious compared to others.

San is coming out of his day way better than yesterday, way better than he expected this morning.

Too bad it's all about to go out the window again.

When San heads back to his office, he powers through his check-in meetings with a select few postdocs and grad students— discussing different avenues they could take with their projects and what their goals should be by the end of the quarter. Afterwards, he finishes the remaining items on his to-do list before sending out his last emails of the day and packing up.

you: can i come over tonight?

san: course you can, baby. you don't have to ask. lol

you: yes, i do. lol. okay, see you later? i have office hours then i'll wrap it up for the day.

san: sounds good, beautiful. i'll have dinner ready for us, k? just come over as soon as you can.

you: ☺️

He smiles to himself as he slings the bag strap over his shoulder, excited to tell you about how the meeting went today and how optimistic he's feeling about everything despite the chaos that has ensued.

Maybe things will be okay after all.

Right?

"San. Can we talk?" Iseul catches him as he steps out onto the first floor of the Harvey Center from the elevator. He furrows his brows at her, unsure what in the hell she could possibly wanna talk to him about right now.

Well, scratch that— he knows, but he's also not sure why she's the one doing the talking on this. It's kinda ironic coming from her. But, San isn't gonna be rude nor is he gonna be a dick to her, especially on campus grounds. 

So, he lets out a sigh and shrugs.

"Sure." He plainly says, leading the way to one of the empty conference rooms down the hall. He sets his bag down on a chair before crossing his arms to his chest, distancing himself from Iseul on the other end of the room. "What's up?"

"You're seeing her, aren't you?"

"What are you talking about?" Is all he can defend himself with because he's truly appalled she's doing the talking on this when it shouldn't be any of her business—

"That's crazy. All this time and effort to keep her around and you couldn't even do that for me." San's brows knit together so tightly— he's not sure what the fuck he's hearing right now.

"We're bringing this up because why exactly? Even if we hadn't worked out, you still found your way with Yunho." She rolls her eyes.

"You're being so stupid, San. How are you so comfortable dating your student? You could lose everything if anyone found out."

"I don't see why this is any of your business."

"Because if you aren't gonna get your shit together, I have no choice but to go to Namjoon—"

"You can't actually be serious—"

"Ask yourself that! You're so hung up over her that you're willing to give up everything for your little relationship." She pauses. "She's young, she's got the doe-eyed look going on. Seems sweet, but she probably doesn't even actually care about you. Get real, San. Wake the hell up!"

"Iseul, you're treading on very thin ice." He warns. "You still haven't told me what any of this has to do with you." He steps forward.

"It has nothing to do with me. It has to do with the fact that I'm trying to do the right thing. You know this is wrong." San scoffs and pathetically chuckles, hands dug deep into his pants.

"Does it make you happy, Iseul?" San almost corners her. "Does it make you that fucking happy to keep destroying everything for me?"

"No one destroyed anything for you, you continuously do that for yourself!"

"You're the only person who has ever painted me as a failure and disappointment. You don't get to do that now, you don't get to have a say in any of this!"

"She's a fucking student, San. What's wrong with—"

"And he was my bestfriend!" San finds himself seeing red as his tone grows. All of the happy, good luck shit he was feeling today went out the window in one swift motion. He should've known Iseul would've taken this road. He should've known she would've done this.

For some reason, Iseul continues to be the reason why he can't be happy.

"Hey." Yunho walks into the conference room. "You two are gonna need to keep it down." San can't help but roll his eyes because of course.

Of fucking course.

"Great to see you've been invited to this unnecessary discussion." San looks at the both of them.

"Unnecessary?!—" Iseul fires back.

"Iseul." Yunho calls for her sternly.

"Whatever, you know what? I tried. You do whatever you want, San. Risk all your shit for some student who won't give a damn once it's all been taken away. All she wants from you is your resources and to move up, but I guess that's what you wanted—"

"You know nothing about her!" San growls back. "You know absolutely nothing about her." He repeats.

"Iseul." Yunho calls for her again. This time, there's a lace of anger because this was not what he wanted out of this. He warned Iseul about getting into San's business and she wouldn't listen— now they were all here, arguing over shit when there's already so much bad blood and tension between the three of them. "Can you please just wait outside?" She huffs and clicks her teeth, grabbing her things before storming out.

"Yunho, honestly. Save it. We don't have to do this."

"San, she's right. You could get into a lot of trouble if people start putting the pieces of the puzzle together. People are already onto you after the happy hour event, and I can't exactly say you two have been the most discreet."

"What are you even talking about?" San asks, exasperated and completely over the conversation.

"You two by the basement doors?"

"Oh, so you guys are just spying on us?" San cocks a brow up. "Really makes it better."

"It could have been anyone."

"Could it have been? Exactly how long were you guys watching us?" Yunho sighs.

"I'm only looking out for you—"

"And what makes you think I want you looking out for me, Yunho?" San's tone grows. "Hm? Cause last time you ended up looking out for me, I found you tangled up with my wife." Yunho's jaw ticks, but he doesn't say anything else. Because what can he say?

"You know this will fuck up everything for you." Is all Yunho responds with. "Everything."

"So be it. Sorry, but I literally have no reason to listen to you. Or her." San pauses, his jaw clenching as he swallows thickly. Borderline aching from how hard he's been clenching. "I hope that one day the both of you will finally learn how to mind your own business. Stop coming into mine. We're not friends, we're not acquaintances, we're nothing. We haven't been anything for a very long time and I'd appreciate it if we kept it that way." San grabs his things and rushes out the door, the force almost causing the door to hit the wall on his way out.

"San?" Namjoon comes from around the corner as he watches San walk out of the conference room, loosening his tie as he tries to gather himself. To be honest, he had been standing there for a good minute trying to make sense of the arguing and loud talking going on within the conference room. It didn't take him long to realize who was inside and what exactly was being discussed— especially when Iseul storms out, mumbling a few cuss words and San slander to herself. Luckily, not too many people were around, and if they were, they didn't try to focus much of their attention on their whereabouts. Namjoon is lost because he doesn't have any actual concrete facts to have a say in this. Maybe the happy hour event. San’s little antics.

He does need to get to the bottom of it, though.

Before it all goes south and it comes raining down on San, on him.

"Not right now, Joon. I'm sorry. I gotta get home." Namjoon doesn't say anything else as he watches San hurry off, needing to take a break from this place and get some fresh air ASAP.

"The hell is going on?" Namjoon mumbles to himself before nodding to a few oncoming students when he slowly walks back to his office and pulls out his phone to send a few texts.

If not today, he sure as hell is getting to the bottom of all of this tomorrow.

San hasn't felt this angry in so, so long, and quite frankly, it scares him. He's afraid of reverting back to his old self, his old way of coping. He's afraid of taking the wrong step forward that'll undo all the progress and work he's done on himself.

But truthfully, he fucking hates this.

He fucking hates this because at this point, he feels like it'll only bring more anger. Sadness. Hurt,

He hates that Yunho and Iseul are getting under his skin this way, he hates the predicament you're both in, he hates that Namjoon was there. He hates that he knows this is wrong but he absolutely refuses to let you go—

Even though, he's starting to feel like he needs to rethink those choices.

Mainly because he doesn't want anything to happen to you, mainly because he wants you to succeed and be happy. Mainly because he wants to protect you and keep pushing you forward; even if that means he has to support from afar.

He fucking hates this.

San drives with one hand on the wheel, finger brushing against his bottom lip as all the thoughts run at a thousand miles per hour in his head. He knows it's wishful thinking to assume it'll all blow over and be yesterday's news that didn't really mean much. He feels like it's far from that, and he knows Namjoon is eventually going to talk to him about everything.

He wishes he can hold on for a little longer, push it out a bit more.

Despite his feelings and how shot his mood is, San still manages to stop by for some aburasoba— remembering how you've mentioned time and time again that you had been craving it. He makes a pitstop at a random flower shop nearby, grabbing a small bouquet of baby pink roses. He gives the florist a small smile when she asks him if it's for a special someone, his dimples poking out; heart fluttering, butterflies swarming his tummy when he thinks about you.

And only you.

He wishes he could give you the world without having to hide it. There are so, so many things he wishes he could do or say that don't involve him acting behind doors or away from people.

This shit truly is hard.

When he finally pulls into his garage and parks, he sits in the seat for a little and huffs out a heavy sigh. He grabs his things and sets the food and bouquet down on the island counter before heading upstairs to shower. He gets comfortable in sweats and a matching crewneck, heading back down to the kitchen to get everything set up and ready for your arrival. You let him know you'll be over in the next few minutes, so he lights up a candle and gets the TV going— leaving it on the home page so that you can freely choose what you're in the mood for.

"Hi!" You greet in a sing-song tone as you let yourself in and walk into the kitchen. San is washing some dishes, which gives you the opportunity to hug him from behind and place a chaste kiss to the back of his neck. He chuckles, sinking into your hold before you pull away. "Aburasoba?" You gasp. "And pink roses?" You turn again just as he wipes his hands down and faces you. "Thank you, Sannie." Your bottom lip pokes out in a small pout.

"Of course, baby." He playfully runs a finger down your bottom lip and smiles. "How was the rest of your day? Sounded like you ran into Sunwoo after you left?" 

"Oh my god, yeah. But, I don't think he really caught onto anything. I just told him we met real quick then left, and he didn't question it." You sigh. "But otherwise, the rest of the day was good. Exhausting. I had tons of students coming into office hours so I ended up being done a little later than expected."

"Planning their proposals for finals?" You nod.

"Yup!"

"I know the feeling." You laugh, helping him grab the bowls and taking it over to the living room. You plop next to him on the couch, already flipping through options for tonight. You settle for rewatching The Walking Dead, San chuckling at your pick to sit through while eating dinner. You manage to yap away in between bites of your aburasoba, San only humming or giving you short answers in response.

At first, you don't think much about it. You assume he's exhausted and he's trying his best to keep you company like the good man he is. But then, you turn and he's not really watching. He's kinda scrolling through his phone, setting it aside then blankly looking at the TV. It's obvious San isn't entirely present. It's obvious he's got things in his mind, and you're not sure if you did anything wrong or if something happened in between the time you two were apart—

But, he seems unhappy and you wish you could fix whatever it is.

"Babe." 

"Hm?" He hums.

"What's wrong?" You turn over to look at him, cupping his cheek while you crawl onto his lap.

"Nothing." He chuckles and rubs your back, eyes looking deep into yours. All he sees is a personification of love, comfort. And nothing is harder than fighting the 'what if's' in his head when you look at him the way you do, when you touch him the way you do. "Nothing baby, sorry. I'm just really exhausted." He doesn't like to lie, but he sees the soft smile that grows on your face when you receive his reassurance and he can't help but brush it under the rug.

"You sure?"

"Yeah." He nods. "Yeah, baby." Though, he isn't. 

"Okay." You kiss him on the lips and caress his cheek, smiling at him. His heart aches because he thinks about all the moments you've had to share secretly or behind doors, not being able to put your relationship out there like you both wish to. He finally lets the 'what if's' free, thinking about how this could affect your future, you;

He can't help but feel like, maybe, you deserved better than this.

—read 11.5 here

—taglist: @asjkdk @interweab @woojirang @svintsandghosts @cheolliehugs @persphonesorchid @mxnsxngie @jycas @cowboydk @vcutparis @chngbnwf @struggling101 @sanhwalvr @angelqueendom @barbielibra @brown88 @choisansplushie @yunhoswrldddd @hyukssunflower @vickykazuya @lucid-galaxys-world @jaytheatiny @pommelex @thechaotictheoryy @vixensss @santineez @nopension @domfikeluva @in-somnias-world @my-atiny-kookie-rkive @mountiiny @naoristerling @onmymymyway @thecutiepieme @wyrated

[redpool]

I can't stop thinking about that feeding scene between Orlok and Thomas, where it's a wide shot and Orlok is straddling Thomas and arching his back every time he takes a mouthful of blood.

[dakokopop]

Guy s help I can't stop drawing this dumb ass cart

[changetheprophecy81]

Why do people make it look like it's Sirius who goes along with whatever james wants when it's clearly the other way round?

In the one scene we get from their teenage years it's pretty clear that james is the one who keeps trying to get Sirius's attention. He looks for Sirius's reaction after he yawns hugely and ruffles his hair in the exam hall, then stops showing off only for Sirius (despite his inflated ego being a huge part of his personality at the time), and bullies Snape because Sirius just says he's bored. Personally I see Sirius as having a more independent personality that doesn't rely on external validation, given that he rejected his family's pure blood ideology and ran away at 16, while james at that age was ruffling his hair to look like he just got off his broom, showing off with the snitch, enjoying wormtail's admiration, constantly looking to see if lily was watching him, etc etc(and all of this is just from 1 memory lol).

Also Sirius has no qualms about disagreeing with him (unlike how he's portrayed to be james's yesman in the fandom), he asks james to stop showing off and points out that he's conceited when he wonders why lily is turned off by him. I just can't see Sirius blindly following someone even if it is james, because I think he would have learnt early on that he couldn't blindly trust the people he loved, so while he would trust james with everything, he simply wouldn't be inclined to behave that way. Even so he's way too independent for something like that. The real simp was the spoilt and pampered guy tracing the initials of his future wife lol

[jd-loves-fiction]

CONGRATS ON 1.3K !! for the event, could i have leona and when the time comes for him to choose between you or his arranged marriage partner and family ? tysm in advance :D

💐ANGST OH GOD!!! See if you spot the Lion king reference (hint: that scene when Scar’s playing with a mouse)

Second-born prince, whom you come upon, sleeping by a river and decide to recruit him to help you loot the royal palace. He agrees, solely out of spite for his brother… and hopefully to delay his arranged marriage. Which becomes even more of a problem the more time he spends with you…

❧ Wc: 1.2k

❧ How life could be

❧ He owes them nothing. No, less than nothing. Less than the dirt beneath his boot. 

How dare they force every decision upon him since his birth and then expect him to choose them once given the option to do so freely. Not a chance.

‘You’re my brother, I wouldn't want to force this onto you.’ Falena had told him. As if him preferring to act more as his king than his brother most days hadn't forced most things in his life onto him already.

Even if Falena didn't wish that, everyone else certainly made it clear they did.

Neji was very adamant in reminding Leona of all he hadn't done for his kingdom and how this was the perfect opportunity to make up for it.

As if he hasn't been trying to make himself useful all this time.

Fuck him. Him and the whole system that made this happen. If only he'd been born first…

“Look who wandered into my lair,” you greet him cheekily, barely taking note of the frustrated look on Leona’s face. Since your little heist you’d grown closer, but he mostly retained his sour demeanor, so you pay it little mind, “can’t get enough of me?”

He chuckles through a scoff, moving to mirror you by leaning on your open door frame, so close you can feel his tense huffs against your face, “I’d have no other reason to linger around these parts otherwise, now would I?”

“Oh, I don't know, you could be visiting your favorite girl!” Leona glances behind you at the courtyard behind your house, where a myriad of children play in the shade. Among them is a small beastgirl, no older than five and struggling to keep up with her larger peers, but no less entertained as them. When you’d returned from the palace with your loot, she’d immediately glued herself to his side, thanking him for helping you with large, watery eyes. “She’s been asking about you.”

He sighs, what the little girl saw in him, he can't imagine but it’s sweet nonetheless. “How’ve you been?”

A flash of surprise passes through your gaze, before you stretch in exaggerated exhaustion, “It’s been so tiring being the most popular person around – everyone wants to greet me in the morning, the kids wanna know how I did it… and then they start asking if you and I–”

What started off as a lighthearted joke unknowingly almost spiraled into a confession, before you smack your lips closed with a guilty look on your face. He definitely notices.

“‘If you and I…?” Leona leans even closer, eyes glinting like jewels in the midday sunlight, breath hot against your lips just like that night, hiding in a closet from the palace guards… that night you haven't been able to stop thinking about.

“You know…” You look down, confidence gone in a second when faced with such an intense gaze. Leona reaches to grasp your face to make you look back at him, but he stops himself, why does he feel this way? This should be an easy decision!

At his silence, you look up at him again, eyes lingering on the furrow of his brows, the downwards curve of his lip, the shiftiness of his eyes, “Is everything alright?”

He looks off to the side, “No, very little is, in fact.”

“Wanna talk about it?” In the back of your mind is the insidious little thought of your uselessness when it comes to matters of royalty, but it doesn't hurt to try. Clearly, having someone who actually listens to his troubles is enough for Leona.

“...Not here.” He relents, looking around for a less obvious spot for trading such secrets. 

Without another word, you grab onto his wrist, pulling him up the stairs to your bedroom, the only room in the house with an actual door. You pointedly ignore the stutter in his heartbeat against your fingers. “This good enough?”

He looks around for only a moment (not that there's much to look at), before moving to sit with his back to the window, “Sit down, it's a lot.”

A part of you wants to scoff – such a princely thing to do, telling someone to sit down at their own house. But his expression turns somber in a way you've never seen it, so you as he says without complaint.

“I'm to be married soon, to a woman I've never met.”

You swallow thickly. Of course, he’s a prince! Not to mention handsome, intelligent… Of course. How silly of you to indulge your own delusions to such an extent, “That’s great–”

“Don't start. It's not great, it's not what I want and I know it's not what you want either.” He interrupts you firmly, unwavering gaze pinning you to your seat.

“It’s not what you want…?”

“Why would I want to marry someone I’ve never met for the benefit of a kingdom that's never even given me a chance. Especially when there’s already someone I want.” His stare turns pointedly towards you and your spine stiffens as if you’ve done something wrong. It should serve as a confession and yet the way he says it makes it sound like an accusation.

“And who would that be, I wonder…” You can't resist teasing him, watching him bristle like the upset kitten he is.

Immediate regret washes over you like a bucket of cold water once his expression turns positively devious, getting up from his princely perch to lean over you, “You can't possibly be this dense, little mouse.”

You chuckle nervously in response, “I just had to be certain, you get it.” all you get is an indulgent sigh.

“Shouldn't it be easy then? Just tell them you don't wanna get married, and if they have something to say about that, you can just come live with me until they calm down.”

“It should be easy but it never is with them. They’d search for me everywhere, unlike usual – I can tell they're serious about this.” He seems to deflate with the heavy sigh he releases, dejectedly sitting next to you.

“Leona,” you call his name sickly sweet, hands enveloping his mopey face to bring it in your direction, “we've already had some experience hiding from guards…” you get a low chuckle in response, just as expected.

“I won't make that decision for you but, it seems pretty clear to me when you think about it – they've denied you every opportunity to make a difference and yet they expect you to just accept this? No way. Blood has nothing to do with it. You owe them nothing and that's that.”

Perhaps that's all needed – for you to tell him what he already knew. Sounds a lot less self-serving coming from your lovely lips.

“And you'd hide me here?” He humors you, doubts still very much on his mind, but maybe for a little while, just for today, he can put them to the side and just be here with you.

“Of course! They'd never find you if I had anything to do with it!”

Life isn't simple at all for a second born prince, never has been, never will be. But you sure make it seem like it could be.

[sundae-meringue]

"your eyes are like mine now"

fuck fuck fuck this is it this is the line that BROKE me like I can't stop thinking about it it gives me such intense chills, just how fucking dark it is to intentionally strip a man down into the same soulless husk that you are, to make him abandon the morals he held fast to for decades, to lose all hope and see nothing but rage and hatred, to abandon any hope of a better life, a peaceful life by the ocean writing fanfiction of his favorite book series, just for the fleeting satisfaction of vengeance

Oda Sakunosuke shooting up Mimic's headquarters and killing their leader might just be the most powerful scene in the show, it's the one that affected me the most, and I think about it all the time

[katatonicimpression]

so my whole "we need more olrox story" thing goes something like this:

the god mythology in the show is only lightly touched on so far. there's clearly more to it

specifically, the idea that olrox is not just a vampire has been hinted at a bunch

some of his conflict with mizrak is theological, and unresolved.

Mizrak calls him a coward, and while this was mean of him, he's not entirely wrong:

so far, olrox hasn't been physically challenged. the two fights he participates in never seem to cause him any trouble. he's branded by drolta and it clears up as soon as he transforms. he hasn't been physically tested yet. In a show focused on choreographed action scenes, this is important.

(the times he's emotionally challenged are more concrete. Mizrak accusing him of not being capable of love (and of turning his ex without his consent), the death of his ex, the possibility of mizrak dying, and being humiliated by drolta and erzsebet... although given the above point, he does seem to kinda let that last thing happen)

olrox is set up in s1 as admiring those who fight for a noble cause, but not doing so himself. he helps a little, at the end of s1, with no risk to himself and entirely to save mizrak. in s2 he helps more, but only after it's clear that the good guys stand a chance of winning. and he was entirely prepared to just run away before that. So we haven't seen a resolution to this beat yet. We haven't seen him put himself at risk for a good cause.

That's, narratively, where this should go. Olrox joining the fight in a big way, a way that challenges him, a way where there's no easy option for him. And we'd need a backdrop of bigger bads, more gods, in order to do so.

and

the other unresolved thing is the nonconsensual turning thing. mizrak accuses him of doing it to his ex, and olrox's defensive response heavily implies that this is true.

olrox saves mizrak by force at the end of s1 and gets yelled at for his trouble. does this stop him? no. he spends most of s2 stalking mizrak, including once again physically preventing him from fighting. and then, at the end, he turns him without asking, knowing that he doesn't want to be a vampire

there's an interesting edge to it, where mizrak has been talking about the nobility of self sacrifice, of dying for a cause, but at the end is weeping and scared to die. olrox seems to take this as begging to be turned, which it isn't. But there's something interesting to how olrox seemed to know that mizrak was posturing when he said he didn't fear death.

it feels like this needs a 3rd act, though. even if the final beat they land on is "olrox is just kinda a dubcon guy i guess", there should be a underscoring of that. Although I would personally like it if there was a smattering of something not entirely toxic in this lol

for mizrak's part, the thing that we, the audience, know for a fact he is wrong about is this idea that vampires aren't people and can't love. him being made a vampire is an obvious turn for his story to take, proving himself wrong. And again, this feels like it needs a final act to meditate on it, and shouldn't just end here

I don't know if this makes sense but it feels like, narratively, we are so not done with olrox as a character and we need more of him. We need gods stuff, resolution to what he's done to mizrak, and olrox really seriously showing up for a good cause

I'd also, personally, like to see something from mizrak showing his coming round to some of olrox's way of thinking (vampires can be people too I guess, and other religions are valid) and also I really want a moment that demonstrates that he loves him back, you know? A real "that's my boyfriend" moment from mizrak. "My boyfriend the large snake creature"

[will80sbyers]

It's funny that not only your posts but other bylers' posts always talk about how much Will does for Mike, how much he loves Mike and how much his actions say that vehemently and I absolutely agree with that. But when it comes to Mike's part, there is absolutely NOTHING to prove that Mike loves him back, where did you guys get that from? Will always sacrificed himself for Mike, always tried his best to protect him, but Mike never did much for him. Yes, I know you will deny this with some passive aggressive response, deep down you know this is true, Mike does not respond to Will's feelings, much less to the same extent. Just as you say El is unhappy with Mike, Will would be too, you should also want someone better for him.

Bestie I wrote a 20 pages document about Mike's thought process and made 300+ power point slides about Mike's character and Byler, I love Mike Wheeler with all my heart and he would be the best boyfriend to Will and he will be 🥰

Mike has been the heart and fought more than anyone else (except maybe his family) to get Will Byers to safety and he loves him with an intensity that you can only have in your dreams because someone that actively spends their time sending annoying asks about a fictional ship can't be a good person in my opinion

YOU are the one that has such a low idea of Mike Wheeler and you still want him with El?

You're not watching the show correctly if you think that Mike is anything else than a boy with the biggest heart and the bravest behaviour on that freaking TV show

Mike Wheeler is the reason why they got Will back in season 1, he never gives up on his friends and wants them all to be happy and he loves and supported Will through his difficult time in season 2 and even in all the other seasons, he's always there for him when he needs him the most and without him Will would be literally dead, Will's speech in the van talking about how Mike inspired him to be brave and keep going was not just Will saying random shit, we have multiple moments between them since season 1 where Mike shows his love for Will

It's not Mike's fault that he doesn't know about Will having feelings for him, it's not Mike's responsibility to make Will feel better for his jealousy or heartbreak and it's not his fault if WILL decides to lie to him about the painting, Will is completely aware of that, you apparently are too stupid to get it

Mike being a dumb teenager a few times in the show doesn't make him enemy number one, all of them have been dumb teens because it's normal that they are while dealing with all of the big feelings they are all experiencing, as is normal that they will all grow up and change and learn how to deal with them in a better way

Believing that Mike doesn't love Will is the real delusion ❤️

Some examples of Mike loving and deeply caring about Will:

I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO CARES ABOUT WILL to his family after Will goes missing

Fights for him in season 1, convincing the others to go out in the woods just to have Will back with him

After he thinks Will died he goes home and cries to his mother, desperate

Has a whole scene where he's focused on caressing the drawings Will made because he misses him so much

Convinces El to use the radio so that they can find him, bringing her to school just for that reason

Beats up a bully that would have 100% kicked his ass twice harder if it wasn't for Eleven, just because he insulted Will

Is Will's best friend since kindergarten and Will made him stop feeling alone and scared, they found companionship with each other since they were basically infants

In season 2 when Will is showing signs of not feeling well he's the most worried for him and he said so to his friends

Takes care of him when he has the Halloween episode, brings him to his home and they talk and share confidences and Will feels understood by Mike and opens up to him, Mike never judges him for "being crazy" and actively wants to go crazy together with Will, they do this for each other again and again and again during the whole show and during their whole friendship

He listens to him when Will talks about Dart being from the upside down and immediately believes him

When Will is missing from school he's so worried that he decides he has to go to his house to check on him after seeing him have the episode on the school field

Stays with Will and reassured him and gave him courage and strength and made him feel like he has some agency in what's happening to him by telling him that maybe he can spy on the monster and he's not completely powerless

Stays with Will in the hospital to support him through everything.

Mike saves his life again in season 2 with his speech btw and he also saves him by having a plan to fight the mind flayer with the fire and also understands that they can't close the gate if Will has that inside him still, he is the first one to think about Will's wellbeing again and worry about him...

In season 3 he's a dumb teenager so yeah, he's distracted by his brand new relationship and hormones, but when Will actually opens up to him about the fact that he's hurting their friendship because of that Mike IMMEDIATELY takes action and changes his behaviour, he takes Will's opinions in such high regards and takes them to heart and acts accordingly

He apologizes to him for being dumb and acting out FIRST thing and then he changes for the rest of the season and goes back to being the best version of himself ( his relationship with El is part of what is making him act like that btw, like Nancy was acting like a dumb teen in season 1 because of Steve and Barb told her but she didn't listen and then Jonathan told her and she did listen, they are kids that's what kids do because of peer pressure and wanting to fit in, it happens since the dawn of time )

When Mike loses Will we have a whole ass scene dedicated to that showing Mike's internal thoughts even if we don't hear him say what he thinks yet he's devastated again

He's suffering as much as Will is.

In season 4 we are given hints that he even tried to call Will and WILL was the one really pulling away, he's not "the bad guy" he was 100% right here. Will is speechless because he is in the wrong here, Will was pulling away and feeling jealous and feeling abandoned because he has feelings for Mike but Mike felt the same exact thing, he felt like he lost Will too, they understand each other on a deep emotional level, they have a bond that El and Mike did not really show on screen imo

Will feels comfortable opening up to Mike and so he is always ready to do the same for him, he sits down and listens to Mike's fears and feelings because he loves him, exactly like Mike listens to Will again and again

They make each other feel loved, all the love Will felt from him in season 2 Will is now giving it back to him in season 4

It's funny that they were still in a supposed fight in this scene lol they are such simps for each other!!!

Mike Wheeler's love for Will is like breathing, he doesn't realize but he's doing it at all times 🥰

There's more reasons and more scenes but I can only put 10 GIFs so I'll stop here, I'm sure you won't even read this because you're just that type of person that doesn't even have the balls of having a real conversation with someone instead of attacking them randomly just because you feel insecure as fuck 🫶

[miwiheroes]

Dropping Byler Evidence Every Day Until Season 5

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁ Day 13: El's Letters vs. Will's Drawings . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁

Got this suggestion from @petrichor102, and I genuinely think this parallel is very intentional.

It's insane, insane that they actually included the fact that Mike doesn't visibly keep anything to do with El in his room throughout the show. This would probably be normal enough if it wasn't for El doing the exact opposite.

Her room in S4 is a great example of this, because we literally get full shots of El's room, and specifically her whole self-made box for him which shows just how much she has kept from Mike (pictures of him, his letters etc).

THEN straight after, we get a full shot of Mike's room, almost as if it's to show how different their attitudes are towards this relationship. They show you shots of both their rooms back-to-back for a reason.

We also get the record scratch moment, where Mike literally crumples up this letter that he's reading. Yeah, he's in a rush, but they really didn't need to do this.

This is further done again when we get a very clear shot of Mike crumpling up the LAST LETTER he could ever get from El and throwing it in the trash. We get a full on separate camera shot of it landing in the trash, it's clearly supposed to be something that the audience has to take note of. Later on, the military people find it in the trash, but the writers didn't have to make Mike throw it in there to make them find it.

He's sitting here thinking:

Me and my girlfriend are probably going to break up, she gave me a note that she's off to do something dangerous and has thrown my words back in my face. This note is so important to me that I just keep on staring at it.

Then Will says something about how the note will never change, and that there's no point in staring at it for so long. With that simple sentence, Mike BALLS IT UP and THROWS it in the trash.

It's a very interesting scene to me because he clearly has cared about this note and it's so important to him that he keeps on looking at it in the morning after she gave it to him. BUT only one thing said from Will and he just decides to commit to throwing it away. He could have kept it but just stopped looking at it, or he could have left it lying around, instead they made him throw it away as if forever.

ALSO at this point, they aren't actually planning on finding El. Jonathan, Will and Mike actually plan on going to Hawkins straight after this scene, so they have no plans to find her themselves right now. So he doesn't just throw it away because he'll see her again soon. IN FACT when Will reminds him after he throws it away that he will see her again, he gets really weird and quiet:

So he just treats their relationship so weirdly here. This is an 'I'm not going to revisit this' commitment. It's like he doesn't want to think about what she's angry about anymore, so when Will reminds him that he'll eventually have to say 'I love you', he's a little surprised.

Read this post for more development on that front.

In Comparison to El's Letters...

This is how Mike treats Will's drawings in S1 when he thinks that he'll never see him again:

Instead of having a 'book of letters', he has a binder of Will's drawings. Also instead of crumpling them up (can't believe I have to say that), Mike gently caresses them 😭

Of course, that's just S1, but in S4, this kind of contrast is also apparent if you look closely.

I've already talked about the contrast between El and Mike's rooms because Mike has nothing of El's anywhere in his room, but there's also the matter that Mike has Will's drawings on his notice board and still has them all over his basement walls. Yikes.

(Also some people have suggested that this binder under Mike's bed is the same binder that he has in S1, though it's not obvious. Would be interesting to have it symbolically buried under his bed though)

So what if Will's drawings are still on Mike's notice board? That's just meaningless details right?

The other things on his notice board are also actually clues to what are going to happen this season as well, so it's not far-fetched to think that Will's drawings being on there mean something too.

All of these pics are obtained from @/nataliaslovebot on tiktok btw :)

So YEAH, I think the evidence is OVERWHELMING here that Mike doesn't value El's letters as much as she does. When he's away from her, he feels less pressure to keep up the image of a happy couple and can be himself, unlike when he arrives in Cali where he instantly shifts behaviour. Having the image of a 'perfect' couple where one of them is overly obsessed with the other while one of them is negligent is never ever a sign of an endgame couple.

PLEASEEE LEAVE SUGGESTIONS BELOW FOR MORE POSTS :))

[earthlyangelbby]

Cupid's Curveball

Chapter 2: The Mixtape

2.7k words

Sfw Chapters: 1 2.5

Summary: Eddie is determined to help you win "Silas" over. While the two of you brainstorm on how to do that, you can't help but wonder if Eddie will pick up the big hints you drop and realize it's him that you want?

Authors Note: There is a mini chapter after this one ! Don't miss it! Also I love these losers.

February 8, 1986

Eddie’s van pulled into your driveway with its signature sputter, the sound echoing through the quiet morning. You watched from your bedroom window as he stepped out, his leather jacket catching the pale sunlight. For a moment, you debated pretending you weren’t home. This plan felt more ridiculous by the second but then you heard your mom opening the front door.

“Good morning, Eddie!” she called out warmly, coffee cup in hand.

Eddie grinned, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. “Morning, ma’am. Hope it’s alright I stopped by this early. Your daughter wanted some help with, uh, something she’s working on.”

Your mom raised a curious eyebrow, stepping aside to let him in. “Of course, come on in. You’re always welcome.”

Eddie stepped into the foyer, looking around like he’d been here a hundred times but still wanted to make a good impression. Your mom gave him a once-over before asking, “So, Eddie, who’s the lucky girl you’re taking to the Cupid’s Ball?”

His grin faltered for half a second before he recovered. “No one, ma’am. Don’t think those things are really my scene. Pretty sure no one’s expecting me to show up, anyway.”

Your mom frowned, clearly not a fan of his answer. “Oh, nonsense! You’d be a hit if you went. Why don’t you take my daughter? She’d have a wonderful time with you.”

Eddie chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his neck. “Ah, I don’t think that’s gonna work. She’s got her eye on this guy... Silas, from the animal shelter.”

Your mom blinked, tilting her head as if she hadn’t heard him correctly. “Silas? Who’s Silas?”

At that exact moment, you appeared at the top of the stairs, overhearing the last part of the conversation. Panic set in immediately, and you rushed down, your cheeks already heating. “Mom, Silas is no one! Stop asking about it! Eddie, let’s go upstairs.”

Your mom smirked, clearly entertained by your flustered state. “Alright, alright. But don’t hide him from me forever. You know I like to meet your friends!”

You grabbed Eddie’s arm and tugged him toward the stairs, ignoring his amused expression. As soon as you shut your bedroom door behind you, you let out a groan and flopped onto your bed.

“She just had to ask, didn’t she?”

Eddie leaned against your desk, arms crossed, that infuriatingly charming smirk still on his face. “To be fair, you did mention Silas to me first. Not my fault, it’s a mystery she wants to solve.”

You glared at him, though your heart was racing a little too fast to keep up the act. “I swear, if you tell her anything else, I’ll make you regret it.”

Eddie raised his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. But, uh... just curious.” He paused, his gaze flickering over you, his smirk turning a little more knowing. “So, what’s the plan for impressing this guy?”

You exhaled, relieved the moment had passed, and gestured for him to grab the notebook on your desk. “That’s what you’re here for, remember? Let’s figure this out.”

As he settled into the chair, jotting down ideas with more focus than you’d expected, you couldn’t help but wonder if he was just playing along for your sake. Or if his thoughts were elsewhere. He’d seemed a little off when he mentioned Silas, but you didn’t know if it was just your imagination. Either way, you were grateful to have him here, even if your heart wasn’t quite sure how to handle it. Eddie leaned forward, resting his elbows on your desk as he tapped the pen against the notebook with a look of mock seriousness. “Alright, so I’ve been thinking,” he began, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Option one: we train a dog at the shelter to walk up to him with a note tied around its neck. The dog’s gotta be cute, all sad-looking so it tugs at the heartstrings, you know?”

You stared at him blankly, not even trying to hide your skepticism. “Eddie, you do realize training a dog like that would take forever, right? And where exactly am I going to find the time?”

He waved a hand dismissively. “Details, sweetheart, details. But imagine it! A dog with a note. It’s cute, it’s original.”

You shook your head, chuckling despite yourself. “That’s your idea of romance? No thanks. I don’t even know if I could train a dog that well, let alone have it deliver my love note.”

Eddie grinned, completely unbothered by your rejection. “Okay, okay. Option two: you bake him some chocolate chip cookies, BUT  now hear me out…you slip little notes inside each one. Like, a fortune cookie situation. And the last one says, ‘Go to the Cupid’s Ball with me.’”

You burst into laughter. “Oh my god, Eddie, if I wanted to choke him maybe. Who’s gonna eat chocolate chip cookies with paper in them? You do realize that sounds like a disaster, right?”

Eddie chuckled along with you, hands raised in mock surrender. “Yeah, yeah, I guess that one’s a bit too… crunchy.”

He shifted in his seat, tapping his chin thoughtfully. You could see the wheels turning in his head as he came up with something else. “Alright, new idea: How about I make you a mixtape?” he said, eyes gleaming. “You said Silas is into metal music, right?”

Your expression softened a little, intrigued. “A mixtape? What’s that gonna do?”

Eddie leaned in, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips. “You bring it with you, give it to him, and just… leave it. At the end, you can leave your number. If he’s into it, he’ll call you and bam You’ve got yourself a date to the ball. It’s low-key, personal, and you don’t have to go overboard.”

You blinked, taken aback for a second. The simplicity of the idea actually kind of appealed to you. “Huh. That could work. It’s not over the top, and I’d get to share some music with him.”

Eddie's grin widened. “Exactly. Plus, you know I’m the master at mixing tapes. I’ve got all the good stuff.” His tone was playful, but there was something about the way he said it that made you feel a little warm inside.

You paused for a moment, considering. “Alright, Eddie. Let’s do it.”

Eddie nodded, clearly satisfied with the plan. He grabbed the notebook and scribbled a few things down. “I’ll make sure it’s got all the best tracks. You’ll win him over in no time.”

That makes you smile but you can’t have Eddie make the tape. “Actually Eddie, I think I want to pick the songs, you can help me though. Do you think I could just borrow your double cassette player?”

Eddie’s eyebrows shot up in mock offense. “My double cassette player? You think you can just waltz in and borrow my pride and joy?”

You rolled your eyes, crossing your arms. “Yes, Eddie. It’s not like I’m going to break it. And I’m picking all the songs. No way I’m leaving it to you. You’d probably sneak in something ridiculous, like the ‘Muppet Show’ theme song or something.”

He gasped, clutching his chest as though you’d wounded him. “First of all, that’s a classic. Second, you wound me! I’d never sabotage your masterpiece… unless it’d be hilarious.”

“Exactly why I’m doing this myself,” you replied with a smirk. “So, hand it over. I’ll take good care of it.”

Eddie sighed dramatically, leaning back in his chair. “Fine, you can borrow it. But only because I’m curious to see what you put on this thing. If you botch it, though, don’t come crying to me.”

“I won’t botch it,” you said, sticking out your tongue as you grabbed the notebook from him. “And thank you, oh generous mixtape master.”

He grinned, shaking his head. “You’re lucky I like you, you know that?”

You ignored the way your stomach flipped at his words, instead focusing on jotting down your song ideas. Eddie watched you, an amused glint in his eye, but he didn’t say anything else, letting you take the lead.

Eddie leaned back in his chair, watching you scribble song ideas in the notebook. “Alright,” he said, tapping his fingers against the desk. “How about this: we hit up the music store. They’ve got a bargain bin full of old cassettes. Might find some hidden gems for your little ‘Silas seduction’ tape.”

You glanced up at him, arching an eyebrow. “Silas seduction? That’s not what this is.”

“Sure, sure,” Eddie said, smirking. “Anyway, I’ll let you go through my collection too. Between the two, we’ll have this mixtape done in no time.”

Later that afternoon, the two of you were sprawled out on the carpet in Eddie’s room, surrounded by borrowed tapes, album covers, and a rapidly growing pile of discarded ideas. Eddie was leaning against the edge of his bed, notebook balanced on one knee, while you lay on your stomach, sorting through his collection.

“Alright,” Eddie said, tapping the pen against the paper. “We need songs that make a statement. Stuff that says, ‘I’m cool, I’m mysterious, and I’m totally worth taking to the Cupid’s Ball.’”

You snorted. “Is that what this is supposed to say? I thought it was just supposed to be good music.”

Eddie’s grin turned devilish. “Good music is subjective. But trust me, we’ll make this tape unforgettable.”

“Okay, first track,” you said, pulling a cassette from the pile. “‘Take It Easy’ by the Eagles. Classic, laid-back, and a good opener.”

Eddie jotted it down, nodding. “Good choice. Alright, how about ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ by Guns N’ Roses? Everyone loves it.”

You smirked. “True. Add it.”

Eddie glanced at you with a raised eyebrow. “You’re really going for the ‘romantic and edgy’ vibe, huh? Are we still gonna hang out when Silas falls head over heels for you?”

Rolling your eyes, you leaned forward to grab another tape. “Yes. How about ‘I Want You to Want Me’ by Cheap Trick?”

He chuckled as he wrote it down. “Subtle. Real subtle.”

You ignored him, reaching for another. “‘Take My Breath Away’ by Berlin. It’s a classic for a reason.”

Eddie hesitated before writing it. “Alright, but don’t blame me if Silas thinks you’re about to propose.”

You threw a pillow at him, laughing. “Shut up, Munson.”

Next, Eddie held up a tape. “‘Somebody to Love’ by Queen. Bold, emotional, and shows you’ve got taste.”

You grinned. “Perfect. Write it down.”

He added it to the list and teased, “You’re really swinging for the fences here, huh?”

Your next pick was ‘You Really Got Me’ by The Kinks. You held up the tape with a grin. “This one’s a no-brainer. It’s catchy, confident, and says, ‘Yeah, I’m amazing.’”

Eddie smirked as he wrote it down. “Bold move, but fine. We’ll give Silas the illusion that you’re all that.”

You rolled your eyes. “Oh, please. He’s lucky I’m even considering him.”

Next, Eddie picked up ‘Let’s Go’ by The Cars. “What about this one? It’s upbeat, fun, and very you.”

You grinned. “It’s our adventuring song! You know, the one we blast whenever we’re cruising nowhere in your van.”

Eddie raised an eyebrow, fighting back a smile. “So, is this tape for Silas or for us?”

You shrugged playfully. “A little bit of both. Write it down.”

The debate over ‘Crazy on You’ by Heart took a while, with Eddie rolling his eyes at your insistence. “You’re really going for the drama, huh? Is this a tape or a soap opera?”

“It’s a great song,” you argued. “If Silas doesn’t get it, that’s his loss.”

Eddie sighed and wrote it down. “Alright, but you owe me for adding this.”

“I’ll buy you a soda,” you shot back with a grin.

Eddie smirked as he wrote it down. “This is starting to sound like a love letter.”

You grabbed a Led Zeppelin tape and held it up. “‘All My Love.’ It’s perfect.”

Eddie raised an eyebrow, his grin turning sly. “Oh, really? He has all your love now?”

You threw the tape at him, your cheeks burning. “Just write it down.”

He laughed, catching it easily, but there was a flicker of something in his expression that you couldn’t quite read.

When you picked ‘I Was Made for Lovin’ You’ by KISS, Eddie gave you a knowing look. “Really? Trying to send a message with that one?”

You grinned mischievously. “Maybe. If Silas thinks I’ll put out, he has to say yes, right?”

Eddie raised an eyebrow, leaning forward with a teasing tone. “Oh yeah? You’re gonna put out to a guy you haven’t gone out or spent time with outside of cleaning up after dogs for taking you to a ball?” His tone was light, but the words tasted bitter.

You rolled your eyes. “Well, no of course not.”

He chuckled, but his grip on the pen tightened slightly. Of course not, he thought. You’re your own woman, he reminded himself. You can say whatever you want. But the words still stung. The idea of you joking about putting out for Silas it pissed him off in ways he couldn’t quite explain. He didn’t have a claim on you, and yet the thought made his chest tighten. Shaking it off, he forced his usual grin back in place, determined not to let you see how much it got to him.

He smirked. “Exactly. But since you’re trying to send a message, how about ‘Hot Blooded’ by Foreigner?”

You laughed, shaking your head but relenting. “Fine, add it.”

The list continued with ‘Whole Lotta Love’ by Led Zeppelin and ‘Walk This Way’ by Aerosmith. Eddie’s grin widened as he wrote the latter. “Classic. Silas better be impressed.”

Finally, you gasped, holding up a tape like you’d found treasure. “I found the perfect closer!”

Eddie glanced up, curious. “Oh yeah? What is it?”

“‘Nothing Else Matters’ by Metallica,” you said, smiling.

Eddie’s hand froze for a split second before he forced a grin. “Yeah. Perfect.”

Eddie’s pen hovered over the paper, his thoughts swirling. He forced himself to focus, but the ache in his chest lingered. He couldn’t help but wonder if, somewhere deep down, you’d meant it for him.

“Hey, Eddie,” you said, pulling him from his thoughts. “Would you come with me tomorrow after school? I need to go dress shopping for the ball.”

His eyes widened slightly, and his heart skipped a beat. “Dress shopping?”

You nodded, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear. “Yeah. Diana’s coming too, but... I kind of want you there.”

Eddie raised an eyebrow, his voice softening. “You want me there?”

You met his gaze, your smile genuine and warm. “Yeah, I really want you there. But... if you're offering your expert bag-carrying services, that would be an added bonus.”

Eddie chuckled, a playful glint in his eyes. “So you want me there to hold your bags, huh?”

You shrugged, eyes twinkling. “I mean, it would be helpful, wouldn’t it?”

Eddie grinned wider, leaning back in his chair. “Well, princess, if you're asking, I wouldn't wanna be a mule for anyone else. But for you? Sure. I’ll carry those bags like a pro.”

You laughed softly, the teasing in your voice evident. “Good. As long as you promise not to make fun of my choices.”

He gave a mock-serious nod. “No promises. But I’ll carry your bags without complaining. Maybe.” He winked.

You rolled your eyes playfully. “Thanks, Eddie. It’ll be fun. Plus, I need someone with taste to keep me from making bad decisions.”

He couldn’t help but feel a rush of excitement. “Deal. And just remember, if Diana picks something ridiculous, I’ll be brutally honest.”

“Wouldn’t expect anything less, Munson,” you teased, your smile brightening.

As Eddie finished jotting down the last song on his list, he couldn’t help but look forward to tomorrow, eager for the chance to spend more time with you.

Have a mini chapter 2.5 The Journal Entries as a treat!

Thanks for reading! Are you excited for dress shopping? What do you think so far?

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