#i love this panel of angel btw

[supercutszns]

luke castellan comforting his gf?

btw i love ur work 💗💗

wc + pairing: 0.9k, luke castellan x reader

oh i really needed this,,, if i stop writing comfort fics i’m dead i will literally write a thousand of them over and over they could be exact replicas and i would not care. sorry this took such a long time i've been in a big writing slump and i really don't like this but we have to start somewhere <3 every time someone requests a comfort fic i get very happy inside! i know this isn’t my best work like at all but hopefully it’s enough for now

Luke’s good at finding hidden things. A playing card wedged between wooden panels. A camper that always trudges at the back of the line. He can find something at its most sheltered and pluck it right back where it belongs. He’s good at that with you, too. When you wedge yourself somewhere tough, he slips through the cracks every damn time. 

You’re exhausted. You don’t know what time it is, how long you’ve been here, or how you can stop it. You just couldn’t get up this morning and your siblings let you stay sick. You imagine an alternate version of this day over and over, where you’re up and alive and contributing to something. But that’s not today. But it should be. You dream it until tears press against your eyes but you’ve got no energy to push them out. 

Feeling like this isn’t a constant occurrence, but it happens. Luke finds his way in each time, wedging open the slightest crack in your door or coming in through the window. He comes bearing gifts, he jokes. You don’t ask him where he gets the things he brings you—snacks, chocolate, plastic figurines to place on your windowsill. Menial things you like. Luke has his methods, and you know he loves you too much to reveal them. 

“Got some offerings for a goddess here,” he says when he sits down on your bed, knuckles brushing your arm. If you’re too tired to answer he never minds, he just crosses his legs and pulls your head into his lap. He smooths the hair away from your face to massage your scalp, and lets you rest. He doesn’t ask you for anything. Doesn’t force you to speak. You do when you’re ready. 

“I don’t feel good,” you admit hoarsely, blinking back tears. 

“That’s okay.” He leans down to kiss your forehead. “You just rest.”

It almost makes you laugh. “I’ve been in bed all day, Luke.”

“Mm, yeah, but you’re not really resting,” he says without judgement, letting you cling to his body as you pull yourself up to a seated position. “What’s on your mind, baby?”

You press your face into his neck so the warmth can distract you. Sometimes you say a lot, sometimes you say a little, like your mouth has separated from your body. It almost always ends with, “I feel like shit. I don’t know what to do.”

Luke is patient with you, but never overbearing. He knows you shut down when things are laid on too thick. “Want to take a nap?” He offers, threading his hands through your hair. “I can take you to my cabin, it’s cooler.”

He’s right, so you let him, and he steals you away without a fuss. The sheets smell like him, so even if you want to be alone, he still grounds you. When you fall into his bed you curl into a ball like an armadillo, like you can squeeze the rot out of your bones if you compress hard enough. Luke slots himself beside you after confirming it’s what you want, pressing kisses into your shoulder, until you turn into him and starfish over his body. “You let me know if you need anything, angel,” he murmurs, swiping your hair away from your face. “I’ve got you.” 

You manage to doze off, with his arms loose around your back and his chest underneath you. When you wake up later with a kiss of late afternoon breeze, you’re struck with the disorienting feeling of a good sleep. “Luke,” you mutter, digging your nose into his neck. 

He rouses too. “How’re you feeling?”

“Still bad.”

“Mm.” He kisses your forehead, squeezes you against him. “That’s okay. Want me to go grab you some food?” 

“Can we talk a little before?” 

“‘Course,” he says gently. He ghosts a kiss over your jaw. 

Sleep has pieced together some of the words you need, and Luke brings them out of you with hardly any effort. You have what’s probably a fragmented reason at best, but he doesn’t care. He keeps you anchored to him as long as you want him to, rubbing your back and letting you take your time. Once you’re done with the conversation, Luke diligently wipes your tears and kisses you. “Thank you,” you whisper.

“Anytime,” he grins. “I mean, I do love you. Nothing else I’d rather do.”

You let your forehead rest against his. Your throat feels thick but you get the words out, “I’m worried I’m going to feel this way forever.”

It doesn’t feel good to admit. Luke’s face softens, and he presses a kiss between your brows. “You won’t,” he murmurs, wrapping you in his arms. “You’ve got time.”

The length of the day moving around you matters a little less when Luke shields you from it. His knuckles rub across the ridges in your back until you’re sure the texture of his shirt is imprinted on your face. 

After he goes off to bring you some food, you find the strength to go wash your face in the bathroom. It’s practically nothing. Practically. At least you settle back into his bed, the blankets aren’t as heavy as before. You don’t feel better yet, but Luke’s got plenty of time for you. (He’ll pawn his kids off to Chris. None of them need this grilled cheese anyway.)

luke taglist: @sunniskyies @apollos-calliope @lillycore @sunny747 @m00ng4z3r @pabkeh @thaliagracesgf @theadventuresofanartist @bonnie-tz @ash-williamsss @sucker-4-angst @kitkat-writes-stuff @too-deviant @huang-the-geek @daughterofthemoons-stuff @jennapancake @idunnowhattonamethis @jarofshells @the-oracle-at-delphinitely-not @lauraisthebestyapper @nininehaaa

[snowyflare]

Hello night trolls! I'm back again with more supplies and THIS TIME its Hazbin Hotel >:DDD (I'll probably only post about Angel and Husk it's okay)

I redrew one of the panels from @celestialalpacaron's Overlord Huskerdust AU!! I am in LOVE with this comic and couldn't help but redraw one of the panels <333

Constructive criticism is very appreciated! Please PLEASE go check out the original comic because it is lovely<3

Btw I just gotta say I love the detail of Husker hating the colour blue and then proceeding to get shot by a blue bullet!! Love the irony

The original panel: (Celestia if you say this is reposting then dw I'll remote this part and just keep the link to your comic!!)

Before vs After

I genuinely regret not adding colours after playing with the filters 💀

!!WIP CORNER!!

BRo could be Kirby with a mouth that big. The flat teeth make it look more cursed tho 😭🤚

It looks so nightmarish... Why did I try giving him smaller teeth + the teeth and jaw didn't work together nicely the first few times >:[

I don't even wanna know what happened here....

Before I posted this I noticed that the eyes looked a little wonky. It's self explanatory really

Before vs after

Tell me if I should do another WIP corner!!

[writingonleaves]

just two hours to get there, babe (i can make it back about an hour or so) - reckless driving au

universe: reckless driving au

warnings: not much! some minor spoilers of things that haven't Happened in the au yet, a devils cup win sometime before 2029 lmfao

title: "jersey giant" by tyler childers

word count: 1.8k

author's note: got emo about stamkos' goodbye to tampa bay on the players tribune (its always the players tribune) and whipped this up!

important context!! amelie wins an award from World Sports Photography (a real award) along with some prize money, and she decides to donate all the money to Sports Media For Everybody, a (made-up) organization that supports queer media professionals. Below is her op-ed for SMFE, which ends up circling around hockey media circles / hockey twitter. i like to see it as the first real Public thing she's ever posted / written. this is published about a month before jack and amelie get married in 2029, btw. enjoy and lmk what you think!!!

A Photo Worth More

by Amelie Fishel

Background: Amelie Fishel is a photographer mostly known for her work in sports. She has photographed in the NHL, NFL, PWHL, MLB, WNBA, the Olympic Games, the World Cup and more. Her photos have appeared in AP, ESPN, Sports Illustrated and The Athletic. Her photo of New Jersey Devils alternate captain Jack Hughes (also her fiance) during the Stanley Cup Final won a World Sports Photography award last week. A member of SMFE for over five years, Amelie has spoken in numerous classrooms and at panels and workshops to share her knowledge. Alongside Jack, she is an ambassador for You Can Play. 

When I took a bow at my last dance recital with Michigan Dance Company, I thought I was done with sports. 

Don’t get me wrong. Dance had — and still has — brought me so much. It taught me a lot of things about myself, and brought me friends I still talk to today. But after blinking at the stage lights onwe last time to loud cheers from our family, friends and fellow dancers, I knew I made the right decision to stop my decade plus intense training. I would end up dancing recreationally throughout college, but nothing close to what I did at MDC. 

During my first week at the University of Michigan, I was timidly walking around the overwhelming Festifall, which happens every year at the school. It’s basically a club fair to showcase everything you can do at Michigan. Whether by happenstance or something else, I locked eyes with Jenny DeAngelo, who is currently the social media coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers. I still remember — she had the cutest bob, a camera around her neck and the friendliest smile.

“Are you interested in working for the Michigan Athletic Department?”

Looking back, vaguest question ever. They could’ve been asking for equipment staff or helpers for ticket sales. But I walked over to Jenny, and that was it. 

For my whole four years at Michigan, I photographed almost every sport. Football, swimming, soccer, gymnastics, field hockey, you name it. I gave up a lot of weekends and school nights when I could’ve been out partying (let’s be honest, knowing me, I wouldn’t have been anyways) to stand at the sidelines of a field or court. I always knew I wanted to do photography, but the sports part of it all caught me off guard. 

Photographing hockey was almost a different skill set. I never played and didn’t really know anyone who did. But hockey at Michigan is sacred. I felt it the first game I shadowed, with Yost Arena filled up to the brim. I remember panicking because the sport was so fast. How could I ever keep up?

But I’ve never backed down from a challenge. 

I started being placed on the hockey beat more and more to the point where the guys started knowing me by name. I found myself at Yost pretty often during the season. And with my love for photographing hockey came my love for the actual game of hockey. Michigan hockey, in a way, was where another very important branch of my root love for photography started. I will always be grateful to Kristy, Maggie, Lauren and all the players and staff I worked with there for the encouragement and setting the expectations astronomically high for how a photographer is part of the team’s DNA.

I’m so grateful that my first gig after graduation was with the NHL. Being trusted to photograph the Philadelphia Flyers, the New Jersey Devils, the New York Islanders and the New York Rangers as an inexperienced but eager 22 year old was such a pleasure. I learned a lot and I still look upon the early years of my career with so many good memories. 

Since then, I’ve been lucky to continue doing what I enjoy on stages I could’ve never imagined I would even have a seat at the table at. From the world stage with the Olympic Games and World Cups, to Stanley Cup Finals and Super Bowls, to junior and high school sports Every sport at every level has taught me something new, and I feel so grateful that holding a camera still feels fresh. 

I’m extremely honored to receive this award for a photo that personally means so much to me.

When I took that photo of Jack during Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, I honestly don’t remember what I was thinking. I was a ball of nerves that entire game — that entire post-season, to be honest with you — and I was purely doing everything out of instinct. I was urged multiple times by many people to not do my job. Go be in the crowd and enjoy it as a fan, everyone told me. But I couldn’t. I would’ve rather been working with the safety net of the camera around my neck because that would calm down my nerves. So they let me do it, more for my sake than anything, I think. What I do remember is when the final horn sounded, because everything leading up to that point flashed through my mind like a movie. Like a supercut, as Lorde would say. 

An image of when Jack and I first met flashed through my mind all those years ago in Michigan (the state, not the school). An image of the first Devils game I shot flashed through my mind, where he, of course, scored. An image of me crying in a conference room in Madison Square Garden flashed through my mind, when I felt so burnt out and questioned if I wanted to even do this anymore. It wasn't the first time I felt that way, and it certainly wouldn't be the last. An image of Jack coming into my office and waiting for me to finish editing photos flashed through my mind, the quiet hum of The Rock as our soundtrack. 

I remember when family and loved ones were shuffling onto the ice and I saw Luke skating up to me, the cup in the back and the biggest smile on his face. All I could think of was him in the Michigan maize skating up to me all the years prior. It felt like the most full circle moment. 

Basically, it felt like a movie, where everything that led up to that point came crashing down on me and all I could feel was pure joy and pride.

To me, that’s it. Photographing people is about capturing the pureness of emotions. Joy, sadness, frustration, anguish, confusion. I hate to use a cliche, but it’s true. A snapshot of a moment in time can say so much. That’s what keeps me going. That’s what motivates me to keep trying when the last thing I want to do is click that damn shutter. 

Recently, I was asked last minute to shoot a Devils game. It had been over a year since I had done so, so I jumped at the chance. I didn’t realize until I walked into the familiar hallways that it was Hockey Is For Everyone Night. Chris Sccopetto, one of the equipment guys (more commonly known as Frosty) tossed me something when I walked in. I looked down and teared up. It was a roll of rainbow ribbon. 

When I covered the NHL on a consistent basis, I would tie a ribbon in my hair, the color matching whatever team I was working for that night. It was a little thing I did just for fun. During the Hockey Is For Everyone nights, I used to always put something rainbow in my hair. I was honored that Frosty remembered. 

At that Devils game, I was shooting pre-game warmups, and a young woman was against the glass. After she got a puck from Dougie Hamilton, I went up to her, showing her the picture and asking if she would want a copy. I don’t always do this, but the picture was too good and I felt like she’d appreciate it. Just as I was about to leave, she told me she liked the ribbon in my hair. We got to chatting, and I found out that she had just come out as bisexual to her family, and she had looked forward to being at the game tonight for a long time. I offered her the roll of rainbow ribbon and went on my way, but that interaction will stick with me for awhile. From one bisexual woman to another, we’ve found a common space in a sport we love.

In light of recent events, nights like Hockey Is For Everyone are more important than ever. I have been lucky that my sexuality hasn’t been an issue in any workplace I’ve been a part of, but I know that I am so lucky it hasn’t been. As a photographer, I feel the energy of the fans at every game I shoot. For all fans, staff and players to feel included and to feel like they belong in a world that they love is crucial. It’s how the sport will be sustained. I know how important that feeling of inclusion is. It’s not just rainbow ribbons and tape — it goes beyond. It must go beyond. 

Hockey Is For Everyone, and similar events to it, is a start. But that’s just what it is. A start. It’s through actions small and large where the work continues. It’s through just telling someone that you hear them and support them. It’s through donations, no matter how big or small, to organizations that do incredible work. It's through offering a shoulder to cry on and being the loudest to voice support in triumphant moments. Allyship exists in so many forms. 

In the corner of the photo that won this award, if you look on the top right, you see a fan waving a rainbow flag, by the way. 

I’m so lucky that the passion for my work led me to do what I love alongside the love of my life also doing what he loves. People say working with your significant other isn’t ideal, but now that I don’t do it as much anymore, I can say that I miss it greatly. Jack, you make me laugh and feel so incredibly happy. I love you. All the friends and colleagues I made through my work have been the greatest blessings and deserve all the thanks. My friends outside of work who remind me that life is more than just a camera, you deserve all the gold stars. Thank you. My family - Mom, Dad, Colette, Kaiden, Charlotte and Xander, thank you for all your cheerleading. 

But lastly and mostly importantly, thank you to everyone who has let me point a camera at them. The way I’ve been included in vulnerable, intimate and beautiful moments just by simply being there and doing my job — it’s a feeling that never gets old. Thank you for letting me into your life. I look forward to continue doing it with integrity and love for as long as I can.

yours,

amelie fishel

~*~*~

tag list (lmk if you wanna be a part of it!!): @ru-kru , @bunbunbl0gs

[nightsinbluevelvet]

Dear, my thirst was quenched after weeks and months when I saw Matt and Jonathan together today. How handsome they looked, did they not? I am so eager to hear what you thought of their interactions, their glances at the other and the way they seemed so close😘

Dear Anonymous, thank you for your message.

I'm still high on cloud nine from last night, and I suspect I will never shut up about the event, or our boys/men/babygirls/babyboys/angels/what even are they?? I will never get over Fellow Travelers, Hawk, Tim, Matt, Jonathan or any of it, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I didn't dare to dream we would see them like this again - happy to be together, both with arms around each other, Jonny even holding Matt's hand. Ahhhhhhhh!! They look so good together. None of the doubt and torture of the past months matters now, because they were home together. I'm more convinced than ever that their bond is rare, undeniable, eternal and unbreakable, and they will be like this even after outliving Hawk and Skippy.

As for their looks, Matt's look wasn't my favourite ever (although it was amazing), and poor baby looked extremely sleep-deprived. But he looked genuinely happy, and that's all that matters. Jonny looked slutty as fuck in that sage green shirt + trousers and brown shoes + white socks outfit. His beauty was dazzling, and this was one of my favourite Jonny looks ever.

This video is everything! It's easily as good as the Maestro premiere videos. Seeing them this content and comfortable... I'm actually at a loss for words. If you look really closely, you can see that Jonny is stroking Matt's back again. I don't care what people say anymore, he is NOT like this with others. And Matt is so much more open than he's appeared to be recently. It's rare to see this kind of public display of affection from him - like when he smiles, gazes at Jonny and puts his arm even tighter around him. He also has this particular micro expression he does when Jonny looks at him, I've seen it before.

Then there's the sweet video of them walking away from the stage. I can't upload another video here so here's a gif of it

I love how happy they look, and how Jonathan waits for a hug/touch from Matt, like he needs it.

I'm so grateful that we got the Ron/Matt/Jonathan only combo yesterday. Ron is the one person who loves and misses Matt & Jonny even more than the fans do. He loves them so much that he started to cry when he talked about their zoom chemistry read.

And speaking of that, this is how Jonny and Matt looked at each other when Ron mentioned the chemistry read:

The panel was incredible. I'm in awe of the three of them, and I wish I could thank them personally. They spoke so eloquently and passionately, and I think they gave an extremely good impression. Jonathan's dirty joke was the icing on the cake.

Favourite moments from the panel:

Jonny saying he feels it in his stomach, when he talks about watching the emotional clip they showed during the panel. He says there's a real emotion that has not left him, that is still present. How they've had six months to get on with their lives and try to say goodbye to the characters, but so many people are talking to him about FT, even crying, and it feels amazing to be back and celebrate it. "I know what pride means now." Oh Jonny!!

Ron talking about the chemistry between Matt and Jonny (that I already mentioned above)

I love and adore Matt beyond measure, so I'm allowed to say this. He has a tendency to go into professional/autopilot mode sometimes, and he does just this when the interviewer (who was great btw!) asks him about the sex scenes. He starts repeating things he's already said in dozens of interviews. But then Jonny starts talking, with much more candour, and it's glorious. And you can see, at least in some angles of the video, that Matt starts to blink and swallow a lot. It's like Jonny unlocks him, like he always does...

Jonny's joke: "Obviously you'd want a scene partner like Matt, because he never put a foot wrong..." Nobody makes Matt laugh like Jonny does. I wish their chairs had been just a little closer, because Jonny really tried to put his head on Matt's shoulder.

Yeah. Yesterday will stay with me for a very long time.

[arkhamjack]

EDIT: Ok so originally I reblogged this post -> https://www.tumblr.com/madnessmadness/720786271203655680/trigun-like-many-apocalyptic-and-wasteland-epics?source=share

with a very very lengthy response and thought I'd make it a post on its own, so before you read on please read the original post!! Thanks

-

I LOVE this analysis and the Mad Max examples! (biased as I am an inhabitant of the cursed land Down Under myself) and I would like to indulge in some further analysis of outfit (or lack thereof) symbolism!

I'll mostly be talking about Knives and there's also some SPOILERS for Trimax Vol. 7 and 13 (discussing the twins' childhood, Elendira's outfits and Legato).

Knives' getup here reflects the fear that drives him. He is completely covered - he is safe and protected from the outside world. There's even spikes protruding if anybody dares get too close. It expresses his need for safety but also reflects his need for control.

His nudity during the Fifth Moon incident is also interesting. If he's so hung up on protecting himself, why is he waving himself around on a mountain butt ass naked in front of his employees? 

(I love the hair flip panel lol) 

It's a display of power. He's just been reborn and he's all giddy. He's putting the fear of his divine angelic form into them. However, Vash is there too.

His nudity is NOT SEXUAL IN ANY WAY - it's a reflection of his plant PURITY. 

Knives makes himself an example to his brother. He's saying, 'Why can't you be like me? Why are you dirtying yourself with human contact?' (Despite Knives' whole thing being, yknow, wanting connection and understanding blah blah blah)(also plantc*st FUCK OFF)

The rest of Knives' wardrobe consists of lost tech exploration era space suits. They're not too bondage adjacent, but still cool and cunty imo. Though why is he hanging onto wearing shit from a very shitty time of his life? Simple: it sustains his drive for vengeance. 

These type of clothes were worn by those in a position of power who abused him, or more accurately, abused and eventually murdered Tesla.

In contrast to Knives' all or nothing approach to power dressing, Vash's underclothes expose his scarred skin, reflecting his willingness to degrade himself so openly to such a degree (remember the shit he pulled as Eriks?). However, the clothing that does restrict his body - his chest, the high collar, his shoulder, his right arm, his pants/boots - look... awkward? Uncomfortable? Idk but it SLAYS. 

My point is, Knives' clothing reflects a need to protect HIMSELF, whereas Vash's odd restrictive gear (particularly looking at the covered angel arm) reflects his need to protect OTHERS at the expense of himself. And of course, the suggestion of deviancy that OP mentioned. To Knives, Vash's deviancy is his love for humanity. It's fascinating visual coding and I love it. 

(This collaged pic from cellois on Pinterest)

On the subject of deviancy/perversion/queerness, I find Nightow's depiction of Elendira pretty well handled. She's trans and a villain yes, and she's a bit flirty with LR, but ultimately, he doesn't lean into portraying the transfem character as deviant/perverted/hypersexualised/fetishised. 

It could've been SO much worse.

We unfortunately don't know much about her backstory, but the fighting outfit she reveals during the fight with LR in volume 13, I believe mirrors the symbolism of Knives' suit. 

She's loyal to Knives (in which she beefs with Legato about lol there's also a lot of BDSM stuff goin on with that guy..(not referring to his SA at all btw)) and his 'all humans are trash' ideology which is so rooted in fear of being hurt, I can't help but see this reflected in her own character, for reasons we may never know. (I have theories) (I'll get to it at some point)

Anyway back to the outfit - it's very armour-like. It's also reminiscent of one of Knives' outfits, and dare I say they're a little yonic near the crotch and lower back. Their clothing expresses a need for self-protection, and by extension a reclaiming of power. 

I started talking about Wolfwood's deal but I think I'll leave it for another day tee hee I LOVE TRIGUN feel free to add ur own thoughts ok bye :))))

[sharkjumpers]

[ID: a comic panel of a computer screen that has the illusion of wings stretching out to either side of it so it looks like an angel. a voice from the computer reads, "Then it falls to you, young Bruce. You are of the house of GeVain. It is a blood duty you take on. Your line has borne this responsibility many times." End ID.]

this is from Batman: The Chalice. i'm pretty sure that Gevain is a corruption of Gawain, but i don't get why... "gawain" already sounds a lot like "wayne". BTW, i don't believe gawain is typically shown as achieving the grail in english... usually it's percival (originally) or galahad (later), though there is at least one german poem where it is gawain.

though quite frankly the waynes being guardians of the grail going back hundreds of years seems to imply that they're descendants of the fisher king, not an arthurian knight? i'd have to actually read Diu Crône (the german poem where gawan achieves the grail) to be sure, though

the basic plot of the comic is that the previous grailholders are being killed off or something, so they send it to bruce wayne for safekeeping. here's him + alfred looking at the engravings on this weird bowl and realizing what it is:

[ID: a comic panel of batman and Alfred Pennyworth analyzing something. Batman says, "The first name is Josephus. The next is Brons and then Alainsohn." Alfred says, "Oh my-- oh, my." End ID.]

(BTW, one of the things i like about this comic is that the grail isn't a goblet. a grail is just a serving vessel, but "really fancy cup" is generally how people picture the holy grail.)

once people, like ra's al-ghul, realize that bruce has the holy grail, they start attacking him for it. he spends most of the book trying to verify that it's the real deal IIRC, and once he does he gives it to clark to keep in the fortress of solitude.

i don't like this comic. i'm pretty sure it's not canon though

this is so fascinating i love learning information genuinely. thank you for sharing this with me jamie. Obsessed with this random writer just deciding to give batman what is presumably the holy grail for some reason and also possibly changing gawain to... gevain? why...... commit to the bit. be brave.

[kindaoptimisticsquirrel]

Trigun Bookclub Trimax Vol12 Part3

Vol01: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3  | Vol02: Part 1 | Part 2

Trimax: Vol01 Part 1Vol01 Part 2 | Vol02 Part 1Vol02 Part 2 | Vol 03 Part 1 | Vol03 Part2 | Vol04 Part1 | Vol04 Part2 | Vol05 | Vol06 | Vol07 | Vol08 Part1 | Vol08 Part2 | Vol09 Part1 | Vol09 Part2 | Vol10 Part1 | Vol10 Part2 | Vol10 Part3 | Vol10 Part4 | Vol11 Part 1 | Vol11 Part2 | Vol12 Part1 | Vol12 Part2 | Vol12 Part3

Final Part! Let's get this party started for chapter 7-9 of Vol12!

Chapter 7:

MILLY AAAAAH

hngng the way tiny Meryl is desperately trying to drag Milly away...oh my poor heart Oh look another asshole. You can step right over there to the guys-we-have-no-sympathy-with-couch and have a seat. I see there's still some free space next to Chapel.

Oh you mean he's awfully quiet for a guy who just lost his love, who realized his brother wants to kill him and all his friends too, who you have personally mutilated, who basically is leading the streak of shitty-days-in-a-row?? I'm not sure but maybe it's not completely unthinkable that he might not be up to conversation.

Also THAT.

Man, that panel.

That's Vash's bullets, right? Sweet. (also not cool because it's draining him, but the concept? Sweet.)

Btw I'm listening to the Stampede soundtrack while doing these chapters. Nearly every soundtrack is a perfect fit for the scenes one way or the other :D I fricking love the stampede ost

Livioooooo!!! Aaah our big cuddly cowboy has returned!

He's so cute!! Wanting to make a good first proper introduction and being nervous about it! Awww <:3

He's so cool!

I wonder if Vash knows how his ideals live through Wolfwood and in return, in Livio. He has just joined the crew but is already fully comitted to live by the credo to not kill. Livio's not half-assing things! Wolfwood would be so proud of you.

Although Knives was resoluted earlier, it's maybe one thing to end things in a quick swift strike, or see your brother slowly falling apart beneath you. Bit late to start caring now, Knives :( Do you, though, Vash?

Chapter 8:

oh no the playlist switched to the song I used to listen over and over while reading Wolfwood's last arc (it's this here. I never watched the show but it made me sad enough while reading).

Awesome Chronica Angel/Plant panel

Aaand we're getting some more plant knowledge! Well, the Independants though DO have a concept of self, right? The others are more like a hivemind.

(Comparing them to bees in my head caused me to ask the very interesting question: what if Vash, much like bees, communicated information by moving in special ways? I'm imagining he has his own special dance for "donut in northeast direction at 360m" that he would sometimes do in front of Wolfwood and Wolfwood just stands there perplex while Vash is hopping in loops and 8 figures. Hihihi)

Thank god Vash is so concentrated or he would end up destroying the northern hemisphere.

There's a lot to analyse in the way the blood is closing in on him and caging him in. But mostly we're feeling he's getting close to the end of his powers, mentally and physically.

While the page before has been very cruel I am laughing at what appears to be the opposite of a yaoi hand.

In a twisted way I believe Knives fully means what he says here. To him, Vash and him can never have peace in a world with humans. So the only peace he can get is being dead, since Vash will never accept Knive's ideas and path.

Trimax pages that would be pretty cool to have as posters, #34378

(they're not dead though, right? In the background?)

This panel is Nightow creeping up at us readers from behind and kicking us in the shins with a roundhouse kick

Before I just read these panels as Vash lying there, near-dead, but now I think these lights are the lives he's sensing in the city below! Plants or humans alike maybe?

And that tiny bit is giving him the strength to carry on...!

Heeey!! Hii!! Hi! <3 Hiiiya!

And woaah is that Vash's black hole bullet ripping through the clouds?? It could be that, but also Chronica established a connection at this precise moment, so that could be it, too.

I am not ok, look at how desperate my boy looks.

Noooo go awaaaay

Chapter 9:

Oh dear god it's Legato's backstory. I'm not sure how many screenshots I'll post...I like the title of the chapter though. "Two people against the world". That's Legato and Knives. All throughout Trimax, Knives never really seemed to care much for Legato though? I read in another post that this could have been different, before Knives met Vash again and became kinda obsessed? And that this could also explain Legato's complete hate for Vash! I like that hypothesis, but I can't recall who wrote that sadly!

Anyway, he knows how to make an entrance for sure. And he brought a friend to the party! Big iron lady...thingie...?

And I can't deny that it's a bit badass to directly stare into the eye of a laser of a big powerful space ship.

If that was even possible: Legato's admiration level for Knives has just risen another 100 points.

There's not really an explanation why Legato, as a human, has this power, is there? Let this be another myth that Stampede might unreval in their series for us to enjoy!

We are skipping the next few pages that we have all read to jump right to this spread here:

Because it's a pretty beautiful double page. If not for the cut off faces, this could look pretty peaceful!

This is...aw man. Legato's story is really cruel. I hate him but I also love his character. The perfect adversary for Vash, too. And Knives is smiling?? I'm sure it was Knives that gave Legato his name then. Must have been the best day in his life.

Phew!! Done with Vol12! Lots of great panels and pages to look at, again! Two more to go, then we're throught. I'll be a bit sad when it's over :( The bookclub has been a wonderful constant these past weeks!

[zeroducks-2]

I hope you don't mind me asking but did classic Slade in orginal comics did anything to Terra? I mean I know he used and manipulated her and i know it's hinted that they had sex in later versions/reboots, but does anything like that happened in the original story?

I don't mind at all! Funnily enough I have received a very similar ask a while ago, but I feel I haven't answered exhaustively so here's a more complete breakdown of Slade and Terra's relationship.

I will assume that with "the original story" you mean the very first time Terra, or Tara Markov, ever appeared - which would be in New Teen Titans (the run from 1980), specifically in the story known as The Judas Contract. And as far as I know, this run is the only one in which Slade actually had sexual intercourse with her.

This is what George Pérez had to say about Tara:

(...)when you see her for the first time wearing full-make up and dressed in a provocative outfit, where you know she's just been in bed with Deathstroke, it does jab you a bit. "Whoa, good God! This little girl is a slut!"(...)

Wolfman and Pérez never had an ounce of sympathy for her, and aimed to portray her as a psychopathic teenage "little slut" that "used and seduced" Slade Wilson the Deathstroke. Baffling (and imo quite ridiculous) as this take is, this is roughly how it went:

Tara was born from the King of Markovia. She obtained earth manipulation powers through serum experiments, but then was sent to the US to prevent a scandal because she was an illegitimate daughter of the king. There she started selling her services as a hitman and a spy, and that's how she met Deathstroke - Slade was looking for a way to gain information and the upper hand over the Titans, to avenge his son Grant's death and fulfill his contract with HIVE, so he and Tara staged a fight in which she helped the Titans and got accepted among their ranks. She started feeding Slade info through cameras she had on herself, and through first hand recounts of their missions and trainings, and that is how Slade originally came to know the Titans' civilian identities. The reader finds out that they are in fact allies by being shown a panel of Tara half naked and smoking, with Slade nearby getting dressed.

(here's some of said panels)

Her death is her own doing: she feels disgusted with Slade after he shows his paternal love for Joseph when shit with HIVE hits the fan, and in her rampage and attempt to kill the Titans alone, she pulls the HIVE complex down upon herself with her powers.

Basically the fact that she sleeps with Slade is supposed to serve as a reminder of her low character and moral depravity, and to shock the readers that thought she was a cute little angel. This is Tara in a random scene with the Titans:

(Dick just announced that he's not going to be Robin anymore, and he's not wearing part of his suit hence the weird all-green look. It's so cute how physically close he is with the other Titans btw, and Tara has just been elected as one of them, so she's included in the group affection smooches)

There isn't a real judgement of Slade in the text as far as I remember, not even from Adeline (whose role in the story is to provide Dick the info he needs to understand who Slade is and why he does what he does), and the only time the situation gets talked about is in a later issue, during a conversation Slade has with Garfield who brings up how Slade slept with Tara. I can't find the panels at the moment but I recall that Slade's reply is more or less "does it change anything considering what happened?", and there isn't any real rebuttal from Garfield's part.

Now, and again this is only as far as I know, there isn't any other version of Tara that canonically slept with Slade.

In Teen Titans 2003 (the animated series) Slade manipulates Terra into leaving the Titans in favor of joining his side, preying on her insecurities and need for guidance. Now I personally believe that they indeed had a sexual relationship which couldn't be shown, due to tt03 being a show for kids and therefore heavily censored, but that's just my personal opinion and the canon of the animated series is that Slade did not indeed sleep with her.

In Deathstroke Rebirth (2016) there's a flashback regarding Tara and how Slade used her to further his own goals, and they're shown kissing and exchanging love vows but it is made abundantly clear that Slade was toying with her and manipulating her. What exactly happens between them is left vague on purpose, but upon getting asked, Christopher Priest (who wrote the story) said they never had sex despite Tara's insistence.

In Teen Titans: The Judas Contract (animated movie from 2017), which is a (very) loose adaptation of the comic issues from 1980, Tara is again born in Markovia but not as royalty. Due to her powers, that are innate in this case and not a result of experiments, the townsfolk label her a witch and would have killed her if not for Slade's intervention. He saves her as a child and what happens next is unclear, but at some point she's shown as a teen, on a mission to infiltrate the Titans and feed Deathstroke information on their real identities and how to capture them, as both her and Slade are working on behalf of Brother Blood. She's desperate to gain Slade's affection and approval, and as such she falls for his manipulation when he promises her they will be together after the mission is complete (which is also what keeps her in line, being that she grows fond of the Titans in the meantime, so Slade manages her by promising her a life together). Despite the grooming, he also rebukes all her attempts to have sex with him, and it's clearly stated that no intercourse happened between them.

I believe these are all the instances in which Tara is shown in any relation to Slade, and again the only time they actually had sex was back in the 80s in The New Teen Titans - but that's also the only time Tara got so overtly and wholeheartedly villainized. In every other story she appears as a troubled individual with a dark past, and it's textbook that Slade used her youth and naivety to further his own goals.

[comicavalcade]

Submariner Summer 34

Ay Namor Nation, this is a big one! #SubmarinerSummer part 34, and we are doing one of THE comics of all time, Tales To Astonish #100: Let There Be Battle! After sharing the title for dozens of issues, we finally get the Astonish crossover of Namor vs. Hulk. Behold the cover!

Stan Lee is scribing this one himself, and lets us know our sense will be shattered. The great Marie Severin on pencils and Adkins on inks, Sam Rosen lettering. Title page has our Prince contemplating Hulk as he falls into a predicament, thinking of making him an ally

Namor recaps his predicament, being banished from his people after being falsely believed a traitor (thanks to Plunderer, and a shitty screen). But since he's matchless in the sea, and Hulk is Strongest One There Is (on land), and they're both outcasts...well, the logic is clear

So off Namor goes to make an ally and make the surface pay. Things go smoothly right away (/s), as the second he surfaces, someone shoots at him. 'Merica. Turns out, old foe the Puppet Master was in the middle of a heist, and now Namor has spoiled it.

This throws Puppet Master into a rage, but he soon stumbles on an idea...since he can't strike at Namor directly, how about using *Hulk* against Namor? So, one radioactive puppet later, Hulk bursts out and is sent to destroy Namor! Namor's plan of alliance is now sunk

From here? Its game on, as Namor and Hulk descend into all out battle on Miami beach. Let me tell you, if you're unfamiliar with Marie Severin, she is absolutely one of the Silver Age great artists. This woman was highly underrated, and this ish a shining example

Excuse me if I gush, but the scenes deftly show the two fighters' power, their figures bold yet fluid with the motion in the panels easy to follow. And there's plenty of motion as Namor seeks to take the battle to the air, then the water, and Hulk accidentally obliges

The oceanic recharge brings Namor careening back; IMPERIUS REX! A quick dip in a pool gives Namor a clear advantage but ends with a Hulk leap.

I'm just giving some highlights of the tussle, btw, there's a LOT of action packed into this 22-pager The military's called in, though they don't actually do anything as the titans clash; love how often Hulk or Namor burst out of the panels in this issue, too powerful to contain

And in one excellent page we get the obligatory moment to remind, Namor has his own code, his own honor, and foreign though it may be at any moment in the midst of destruction he might just come and save any or all of us; that's just how he rolls

Namor finally maneuvers Hulk into the sea, and from there...well, Hulk continually loses ground 😁

Hulk is also getting sick of the voice of the Puppet Master in his head and that isn't helping either, a distraction that isn't even properly feeding his anger

Namor launches a colossal assault using his speed and strength to toss Hulk around helplessly; that's right, mi gente, we have reached the "going in circles for the win" stage of Silver Age fights

And, this also spells doom for Puppet Master, as the giant waves wash his whole hideout away; double L for Puppet Master, double W for Namor, who doesn't even *know* he's defeated Puppet Master along with the Hulk

And yes, the fight is finally over; the last relentless assault has left Hulk washed up, and only Bruce Banner remains, unconscious on the sand. Namor doesn't know from Bruce Banner, though, and so confused he wanders back to the sea. So much for his plans for alliance against the surface

You all might have guess that I love this issue, so I am in no way impartial. But listen, this is peak superhero action. Nay, peak heroic epics: its Herakles vs Triton, Gilgamesh vs Enkidu, Jacob vs the Angel, Krishna vs Chanura. Lee and Severin were both firing on all cylinders

If you agree, feel free to let me know; if you don't, drop a line as well and let me where you think it falls short. We're about to come to a great transition for Namor (and Marvel) so things are about to shift, and I'm interested in where we're all at on Tales to Astonish

But we're not *quite* there yet, although we are at the beginning of something new, so NEXT we cover Tales to Astonish #101: ...And Evil Shall Beckon!

[tutuandscoot]

Ice Dance Falls, Fails and Flubs

Part 2

1. The Aboriginal Dance

Cultural appropriation at its finest. Seriously. How was this not banned??? VM’s Carmen gets banned but not this??

Points for not going with the standard ol’ Russian folk dance but this should never have been allowed. Aboriginal dance is an ancient tradition that dates back 60 000 years, it is a religion for the aboriginal people. There were once over 700 different tribes across Australia, each with their own unique storytelling. It is part of Aboriginal Dreamtime culture and is a way of passing down legends and stories through generations.

So, what specifically is wrong with this above, well other than ALL OF IT:

The music: this is not Aboriginal music, idk what it is but it is not utilising traditional instruments, the “singing” is not culturally accurate.

The costumes: this is just so offensive and inappropriate. Yes, aboriginal culture and dances use face paint (oca to be exact) but not like this. They do not where leaves all over themselves, nor do they wear strings. At one point in the season, he was dressed in a darker unitard and black face- AT LEAST that was banned.

The choreography: this is just not the kind of dancing that can be done on ice. Flamenco, yes, waltzs, yes, country dance, sure. Not this. This Russian team makes it out as though Aboriginals are Neanderthals. They are not. Their dances are are pieces of art and communicate 10s of thousands of years of history. The nose rubbing is not aboriginal but more a Māori (new zealand/ pacific islands) custom.

How this wasn’t deducted all the component scores I have no idea, it’s a disgrace this won an Olympic medal

2. Yuri Balkov: Human Turd 💩

Partly responsible for the shit show that was 1998 ice dance. Banned for a year then back on the panel several times again, and was up to his same shit once again here in 2002. Spineless turd with no respect for the sport he is.

3. Nailed the Ending

This is much better with volume (timestamp 1:11:00 on the Beijing FD video).

Point 1. The lil ‘sexy time’ moment 😖

Point 2. Why is it necessary to put a move like this right at the end when you have just done a lift?

Point 3. Who came up with this? Of course he was gonna dropped her! She has no point of contact on him so how is she suppose to get upright again when she does not have Tessa Virtue’s core of steel??

Point 4. Obviously on the first watch you notice the drop first, but just before that you get an elbow to the face- lovely.

Point 5. The perfectly timed crash drop on the music. Art. I hope she was ok, this is a horrible thing to happen, but the musically comedy of it is just gold.

Also this was a very bad fd.. so boring, bad music.. this ending kinda came par for the course.

4. Weapo’s Twizzles

Bobble bobble bobble bobble fall over bobble bobble

5. FP/M Salt Lake City Edition

Splat.

Come on man! How hard is it to stay up right? (ice skating is very hard but these are Olympic level athletes… supposedly).

It truly does not surprise me it was considered taking this “sport” out of the Olympics. Thank god they didn’t and two precious bby angels came among to rescue it.

Oh yeah btw.. this won a medal 🫣😵‍💫🥴

6. 22 year old high level athlete doesn’t take responsibility for her own costume; chaos ensues.

I was always taught from starting dance at 3 years old- your costume is your responsibility. If it doesn’t feel right, you get the safety pin or needle and thread and you fix it, or you at least make sure someone else does it up for you PROPERLY, obviously no one wants this to happen to them esp not on global television but it was solely her responsibility to fix it (things are different in shows/companies where you have costumers , but you individually- your own costume you are responsible for). To continue complaining about this for the next 4 years is a childish joke and even if the hideous green dress had stayed together you still shouldn’t have won 😘

7. ISU after 1998: “We’re gonna fix ice dance judging”. ISU in 2002: “Psych”.

I hate this and love this an equal amount.

The synchronicity of Rod and Tracey: “They’ve been beaten, by the Israelis”. (Pls don’t take that out of context rn). Tracey was just 100% DONE with all of this.

From Margarita and Povilas in their crowns, her throwing hers off and storming out. Jeff Buttle shouting ‘WHAT THE FUCK??’ Iconic.

8. Scooter’s Nose Bleed

Poor bby. Iconic way to finish off your first National Championships win. Then they make you go out and do an encore 🤦‍♀️. I love in the first gif how Shay pops into the shot 😂

Also ironic thinking about a certain team at 2017 worlds getting blood on each other and their reaction… do you think T even blinked twice at getting S’s nose blood on her?? I don’t think so..

[fairycosmos]

I may be late, but this is my ESA, a mutt who (we think) spent her first year of life wandering the streets in PR, Brie, and she loves you!!!

She is the sweetest, cuddliest, friendliest, quietest little lovey in the WORLD. I’ve never encountered an adult dog as insanely soft as she is. She’s 21 pounds and almost 8.5 years old (approx.). Her wisdom panel shows four breeds in double digits in her DNA: basset hound (34%), chihuahua (16%), cocker spaniel (12%), and chow chow (11%). The basset hound makes sense for her, but only personality-wise.

I’ve had her almost 7.5 years now; she’s my first dog ever. I always begged for a dog growing up, and every single moment of the nearly 20 years I waited before I got Brie were worth it, because she was my reward for the waiting.

Btw I meant it when I said she loves you. She LOVES humans, so much. Loves best of all to be held like a human baby on your lap, back paws in your right hand and her head on your heart, tucked below your chin. She’s the light of my life!!!

graceeeeeeeeeee i cant believe you just casually have the most angelic little being on the planet as a pet ❤️ like WHAT!! look at this absolutely gorgeous little baby i literally feel like i can see the kindness in her eyes.....she looks so soft and beautiful and amazing.....the perfect friend TBH. i would honestly love to give brie the biggest hug in the universe <3 you'll have to do it for me for REAL. it hurts my heart to know she was a stray but im so so glad she found you and that you have each other now - the fact that she's still so sweet after all of that is amazing. most special baby on planet earth award goes to miss brie for sure!

[capybaraonabicycle]

7, 11, 12, 15 for... Fugitive maybe? 😊

Thank you so much, love <3 I very much enjoy talking about her, indeed.

Let's put it under a 'read more' to hide the pictures I took of Origins. Not quite sure how legal that is, actually. I'm ready to take the images down in any case.

7. the moment of theirs that made me the happiest

See you around, see you around, see you around!!!!

Listen, I just want more fugitive Doctor <3 Always. This promise of hers was so, so sweet <3

Generally, that whole scene was a TREAT. I nearly screamed when she walked into the room (okay, maybe that was the moment that made me happiest, actually) and then her roasting the Master was *chef's kiss* (btw I am very sure that the fugitive Doctor does not know the Master and simply drew from the rest of the hologram's information to pick on him <3). And then we get 2s of Yaz x fugitive Doctor interaction?!

Amazing scene, loved every second of it.

11. my favorite relationship they have with another character

Hm, that's difficult. I do love Gat x fugitive a lot. I like to think of them having been very close while working for the Division - seldomly of the same opinion, but with huge mutual respect and trust. I imagine they liked to rile each other up with their contrasting views and enjoy the bickering, but have each other's backs when it counted.

And then, as we know, the Doctor and Lee left Gat behind - which in this case I am convinced was deliberate (Karvanista being left behind was an accident, I believe, at least on the Doctor's part). I think it was a difficult decision for the Doctor but in the end she decided, Gat would not be okay with the disappearing act enough for it to work with her involved.

And then Gat is hunting the Doctor. And the Doctor kills her (or does she?) because she has to. Because there are two versions of herself she has to keep safe and Gat killed Lee and she is cornered and she has to. And then she spends her time on the run mourning all of her friends.

Like, there is so much tragedy in that relationship that we can fathom even though we only saw the broken remnants of it.

(This is a little contradicted by Origins btw, where it is implied Gat doesn't think highly of the Doctor, but I like to imagine one of Vinder and Yaz was Gat in that scene in Once, Upon Time.)

And I feel like I also need to mention Taslo, because contrarily to Gat, we do see a lot of their relationship developing. And A) I love mentor/mentee relationships and B) the fugitive Doctor is like the perfect incarnation to have an apprentice??? (she's so much like 12 in vibes, she needs her own Bill Potts) (Also Taslo is a tiny bit Mels!coded so, yeah...) Just, like, look at this:

teaching her valuable life lessons <3

while being slightly condescending <3 (look at her smug face <33)

the GRAB (Ma'am, what are you doing?? are you going to walk her out there backwards?)

and then the development!!! the handholding!! the softness!! looking out for her mentee!! look at them 😍😍😍 (also the division trauma TM)

The above two panels are the best thing ever. Together with the weeping angel they are totally worth the comic alone. And the rest is amazing too btw 🥰

12. what i like about the way the fandom portrays them

Hm. I like that we as a fandom generally have a lot of love for the fugitive Doctor and look up to her. I have rarely seen anyone portray her as anything other than the (slightly morally ambiguous, perhaps) hero, the badass, the one who calls the shots. I also do like that we seem to agree on her glasses being perfection <3

I actually also enjoy that people keep mentioning her in the same breath as the war doctor. But I like him a lot and they have some similarities (beyond being the 'extra Doctors'). Also when people do that it tends to be opposed to those who forget about both, so -

Not really the question, but just in case you would like some recs on good fandom portrayals:

Art: 1(this one is by Roz :) ), 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Fic:

The Cul-de-Sac (the fugitive Doctor arrives late but there is thasmin to tide you over and the wait is so worth it),

picking up a penny with a press-on (I really need to reread it because I barely remember what happens, just that it hurt in a really good way and made me wish Yaz would leave 13 for her in the end of potd before the episode aired),

Softness (Do you like good omens? This one is short and fluffy and bittersweet. Slight Lee slander if I remember correctly),

the wild ones (perfect, favourite fugitiveRiver fic <3 I think I still haven't left a comment here but I keep telling the author how much I love it on tumblr instead 😅),

Gorgeous (not sure whether you like reader inserts but this was written for me and it basically inspired the comic I made for my mum)

And this (puppet stories featuring the Doctor x dhawan!Master and others - like here Karvanista <3 (pure fluff, this is so wholesome, let me tell you - maybe you already know?))

Also Pine coming up with the perfect ship name for fugitive Doctor x Mels

15. what i dont like about the way canon portrayed them

Maybe the fact that she killed Gat? But like, that's because I believe there would be a lot more potential for stories if Gat and/or Lee were still alive. (also I want her not to have lost all her friends but, well, yeah-) I do believe the Doctor might be ready to kill her friend in a situation as extreme, like I explained above. So, like, the portrayal is fine, the decision simply does not please me.

Also, generally, we don't see enough of her. But it's the 13th Doctor's show, so that's fine? Like, I want to see her grieve her friends and meet Karvanista again and fight with Tecteun and talk to the fam and explain why her TARDIS looks like that and that it's the same ship... but I get why there's no time for that.

AND I DON'T LIKE THIS:

Like, great that she's there. (She better be if you put dt twice but anyway.) But HOW. Jo is TALLER than Jodie. And you couldn't like, put anyone else behind the arm? Or use a 13 who doesn't point the sonic? Why. Who did this? I just want to talk

(also is it me or does Jodie look a little weird here? just - not like Jodie?)

Also - not actually canon but close enough - I hate that she is still The Doctor | Ruth Clayton on ao3. That's not what we call her! That's confusing, because Ruth is a different person! I love you so much ao3, but make two tags for them! - I actually wrote a request about that quite some time ago but nothing has come of it yet. Maybe I'll have to ask again.

[whateverthedragonswant]

*logs in and sees even more anti-destiel posts*

Must be a day ending in Y.

Here's the thing: ship what you want, don't ship, whatever. That's your right. You also can have opinions on said ships or not shipping something. But for the love of God, can we please stop misrepresenting supposed facts and outright lying? Just because you don't want to acknowledge something present in the show? Or because one of you is super obsessed with Jensen while at the same time hating him because he married someone else and didn't come to sweep you off of your feet because you're his supposed soulmate? (which btw, while very weird in general, what does that even have to do with destiel? why are you even weighing in when it's clear that you're only saying what YOU believe while trying to speak for him as if you two are a single unit? It's creepy and makes no sense. Keep your obsession in check, please)

Alright, let's get started:

1) Jensen's actual words:

Firstly, if you're going to quote someone and state their opinion on the matter as FACT, let's not only get the source right but also list it so people can see what the person had to say for themselves so they can not only get the actual facts but come to their own conclusions (critical thinking, remember?). It's literally a link you can put into the post from YouTube, it's not rocket science last I checked.

29:35 is where it starts

A woman asks when did Jensen know about Cas' "romantic, deep love" for Dean before 15x18. Meaning when he did know bts as an actor.

Jensen's answer: "I don't think Dean ever really knew until the very end there." -- not only does he not answer the question in its original form (and hey, it's a con, it's loud, tons of people there waiting for his answer, he probably wasn't prepared for this question, etc - so I get it, I'm not criticizing him, I'm just stating facts), he responds initially for Dean, not himself.

But in this initial answer, he even acknowledges what the woman just said. "Romantic, deep love" -> "I don't think Dean ever really knew until the very end there." LITERALLY RIGHT THERE - Dean didn't know it until it was said

No matter what comes after this from him, Jared, or even what Jensen has said at cons afterwards, his answer literally confirms what she just said, and that answer is what popped first into his mind.

Then, prepare to have your mind blown antis, he confirms it AGAIN: "In fact, I know he didn't, because I didn't play that." -> he played Dean as not knowing about Cas' "romantic, deep love"

Only then does he start to delve into talking about the term romantic with Jared interrupting. But he confirmed it TWICE with his own words. That doesn't nullify his opinion or his perspective on the relationship, but it does confirm that was the intention of the scene.

And again, the question was about when they knew bts about Cas' "romantic, deep love" for Dean, not what Dean felt, not what type of love Jensen considers it to be (or Jared), not whether romance was meant to be in the show or not. Through his own words, he confirms it. Twice. (watch it again)

2) Types of love:

I can't believe this is even a point some people have tried to make in attempting to invalidate the scene from 15x18 but it's 2023 and here we are.

Philia love is platonic/friendly love. (click on the links - since it was mentioned that Cas only has angelic/heavenly/brotherly love for Dean and Castiel's angel character is loosely based on Christian traditions, I chose the same Christian perspective in these links) Storge love is the love of family or brotherly love.

Agape love is NOT brotherly love. (if you're going to use these terms and claim you're an expert, perhaps learn what they mean first?) Agape love is a God-like love of humans, completely unfathomable.

All of this is easily searchable. Google is your friend.

Now agape is the closest to what Jensen says later in that panel (though it changes to philia mixed with storge in a later con) though he did not use that specific term. However:

The scene was written and performed with romantic intentions from Castiel's side. This is confirmed time and time again.

And since a lot of anti-Destielers tend to be anti Misha as well (and accuse him of placating, lying, and being downright manipulative when it comes to this topic), here are some other confirmations:

The script is available online (again, Google is your friend) and you can read it for yourself. Robert Berens, the screenwriter, wrote the script (and it was greenlit by Andrew Dabb, the showrunner, and kept in the episode with the network, Singer, and WB giving it the green light after reviewing it before it aired) with Castiel's confessing his romantic love for Dean. It's right there.

If it's not romantic, then why can't Dean "recriprocate"? Why is he shocked at the "declaration from his best friend"? Why is it Cas' "hidden truth"? If it's just platonic from Cas' side or familial or even a God-like love of a human then why all of these factors mentioned in the script to help guide Jensen and Misha in performing the scene? You know why. And one of these antis is the supposed acting expert in the fandom? Puhlease.

How's that for "script analysis"?

Not to mention, since it's clear these same antis don't know a thing about writing and how it actually works, why was this scene a part of Castiel's arc that connects back to his arc in season 15?

3:49 - "I know who you love"

Yep, they weren't planning the confession back then, but when the showrunner and the writing team did start planning the end of the character's journey going into season 15, this ties up Castiel's arc neatly and it's perfect foreshadowing. Right down to The Empty's involvement. And they tied it up this way why? To make sense with events that came before it so a visible narrative is present for this character's journey as well as showing his development. (that's literally writing 101 btw)

There's a shit ton more I could throw into this post but I think I've made my point. So the next time antis decide to sit there and scold people who ship/celebrate Destiel and tell them that they don't understand "script analysis" like you do or how dare they twist Castiel's love for Dean into something it's not because you're playing megaphone-turned-into-a-wannabe-parrot for Jensen (aka your point of unhealthy fixation) because Castiel only meant it as an angel, perhaps don't. Or at least look up the facts first before you spout off any of that nonsense. You've had no problem saying Jensen needs to take an acting lesson or two because he's basic and dilutes his characters while also having one note acting, so maybe you should take a writing lesson or two. 🤷‍♂️ Seems fair.

Think whatever you want about Dean and how he regards Castiel's romantic confession, or how Jensen sees it, or whatever you need to tell yourself since it was left ambiguous, but don't you dare sit there and tell people they're wrong for reading Castiel's love the way it was written, performed, and intended to be perceived -> romantic. Or imply that they lack a basic understanding of love, condescend to them to have to explain it to them as if they're idiots, and falsely accuse them of maliciously twisting your fantasy beloved's Jensen's words. Especially when it's very easily proven that the only ones in the wrong here are you, and this is very clearly a "you" issue.

It happened.

It was romantic.

Get over it.

[sarahtheconjurer]

@ghosttmachine tagged me in a get to know you meme thing (tyyy!!)! So. Here i am posting for oncce lez goooo

Last song:

Technical answer is post traumatic blues by corey taylor, bc ive been using the spotify dj thing and it keeps giving me metal that i o ly kinda like. The funner answer was rhe barbie movie ost since me and my friends literally just got back from it n my friend mariana had me play it in the car. Not rlly my thing was catchy (barbie movie was good btw! Posts abt it being like. Not the deepest critique of social issues and the like are correct but it was a fun time w a lot of heart + rlly great production value + honestly. Very funny. And i watched it w two of my best friends so :})

Currently reading:

For books:

When the Angels Left the Old Country

I haven't touched it in a hot sec, but its a queer, historical fantasy ya book based in jewish folklorex about an angel and a demon that leave europe, after a girl goes missing from the village they've set up shop in. It's very light and whimsical which is not my usual fare, but I'm enjoying it! Its very heartfelt and the two main leads have very good chemistry. And its always cool to see angel/demon lore outside the usual christian sphere.

For manga: steel ball run (part 7 of jojos bizarre adventure) its. A story about a cross continental horse race to find the body parts of jesus. Which is the most coherent way i can put it. Im rereading it w two of my friends rn and im enjoying it! It isnt my favorite part, but its up there, and features some of the best stuff in the series. This is. Also a story featuring a pair of ride or die protagonists with a very strong dynamic and chemistry (honestly, best 'set' of protags in the series) and so much comes from their bond. Its at the point in the series where it started getting a monthly release and it shows, w some rlly gorgeous art. Gyro and Diego are highlights artwise because the former doesnt have a stand he just. Has these steel balls he spins and throws around, so you get very dynamic shots of him just. Chucking them that the author uses in super creative ways to lead the eye and compose panels and the latter. Can turn himself and other things into dinosaurs. Have you ever seen a dinosaur ride a horse? Its fucking sick. It also has some interesting themes of american imperialism and christianity, of all things, which i think are done, well in some respects, esp given the authors track record. IT ALSO HAS SOME OF THE WORST STUFF IN THE SERIES THAT MAKES ME WANT TO KILL HIM W HAMMERS.

Currently watching:

Nothing in particular, but ive got a p big to watch list (Trigun, mob psycho, etc) and i just watched the barbie movie, like i said.

Current obsession:

Guess. Take a guess.

Jfc jojos bizarre adventure is holding me at gunpoint. Its not good its not bad (besides when it is) it its own tier of media. I forgot how much 15 year old me was obsessed w it and so i foolishly rewatched it thinking id be. Normal. I was wrong. God. I've never seen anything like it! It's so clearly a passion project from someone who's very eccentric and so it goes from absurd and stupid and comedic to circling right back to being very human and poignant. Like, it's about love! And familial trauma! And prevailing in the face of great tragedy! And also killing the president because jesus told you so! It's got a myriad of flaws from technical writing issues to genuinely tasteless/bigoted content, so its not some untouchable media, but ive been enjoying it a lot.

Part 5 and 8 are my favorites for very different reasons.

Part 5, Golden Wind, is abt a bunch of weird mobsters on a roadtrip through italy to kill their boss. It has a very charming supporting cast who are a sort of found family of societal rejects, brought together by this guy named Bruno who acts as a leader + mentor + sort of dad? To them. They're all surprisingly fleshed out characters, esp for this early on in the series, and their group dynamic, combined w some of the best fights in the entire show, really sell this part. The main character and main villain are. Not good. Sans a few aspects. Tho. Like i forget giorno is there half the time. (Giorno is my beloved stale cracker of a character but hes MY stale cracke, tho)

Part 8, Jojolion, is uh. Hm. It follows this amnesiac dude who wakes up in the dirt, as he tries to piece together the person he was. It's set in an au version of the town from part 4, w some characters being spins on old ones. Its the most recent part, and it shows. Its a lot better structured, paced, and developed compared to earlier parts. The mystery running through it has a lot of fun twists and turns, the themes are coherent, and the pace is slow, but not meandering. The supporting cast is fun (the lead's romantic interest is an actually decent jojo woman and they have a very cute relationship, and the family the main character is sort of adopted into are all fucking insane) but the real draw for me was the main character. Josuke (the second. Theres another josuke from an alternate universe in part 4, anyway) is probably my favorite jojo. I could go on about him, but compared to the others, he feels the most real? Theres this very grounded sense of frustration abt him as he tries and fails to piece together who he is, while everyone around him seems to have somethimg they need from him, or an idea of who he SHOULD be. He isnt a hero, he isnt even all that noble, hes just trying to find himself and if anyone out there loves him. He's blunt, one track minded, and is doing the jojo equivalent of spamming x to skip through all the dialogue bc hes not here for anyones shit beside his own. Jojolion somehow captures the feeling of being a weird, displaced pseudo adult trying to piece yourself together, while everything Keeps Fucking Happening. I love it so much. But by god does the ending suck hoooooly shit oh my god dude jesus christ. Fucking. I hate tohru i hate tohru i hate tohru fjcjendnxzlzm. Anyway jobin sweep

OTHER OBSESSIONS INCLUDE OCS AND DND.

Im currently running a csm tabletop n curse of strahd game, and am in a ravenloft game. They're all very different but i love them all.

Ravenloft game is a sort of sequel to the curse of strahd game i was in a while bsck

I play pageturn (kenku paladin) and coda (changeling flavored as fallen angel, bard). Ones a 13 year old w a kill drive going through a double crisis of faith while somehow being the heart of the group and the others a shapeshifting corrupted celestial, whos trying to find themself. we are currently exploring the fomain the latter was imprisoned in and have found the eye of vecna and. I am. Excited and concerned for what our wonderful dm has cooked up.

Chainsaw Man game is a high stakes office drama following the worst group of devil hunters youve ever seen. Its more episodic and light than my other games which is a nice change of pace, and i rlly like the energy our group brings to the table. I am always horrified and surprised by whatever new government supplied human rights violation they commit next! Every character is uniquely sad, while still maintaining the token csm dark comedy abt them. We are currently revisiting a mystery allll the way back from our first session and im stoked for some stuff i have planned.

Sippy Crew (curse of strahd game) is drawing to a close and ahh i could make a whole post abt how much these guys mean to me. Its been a joy dming for this group of freaks and watching as they come together not into a found family, but a group of distinctly doomed, but fiercely loyal individuals. They've had two pc deaths, even more close calls, and have lost so much, but they're pushing through like dandelions in concrete. Its genuinely the most emotionally invested ive been in a ttrpg, and am so excited, to see their journey come to a close, and will miss them dearly.

Both jojo and ttrrpgs have been a way to reconnect with friends i dont usually talk to as much, and strengthen the bonds of the friends that i do, which is why theyve hit so hard, haha.

anwyaY this turned out way longer than it needed to be bUt.

@turtleslothart @500sunstone you. Do this.

[betawooper]

Do you have any unpopular csm opinions and can i ask abt your favorite and least favorite moments?

warning for mentions of grooming bc makima is a creep, also regular csm cws and spoilers for anime-onlies

havent read csm in a hot minute but i do still have some opinions that may not be everyone's cup of tea jsdhjfhs (btw ill only be talking about part 1, none of the asa yoru stuff)

most favorite moment: the train makima scene where she looks creepy as shit, i liked the plot twist of everyone dying in general but the way fujimoto drew her in that specific panel was so good

(alternatively, i loved every moment kobeni showed up, the looping hotel arc or whatever its called did wonders establishing her character)

least favorite moment: not sure if i necessarily have one, i did get bored during one of the arcs prior to the gun devil arc while binging but that isnt necessarily a moment i can say is my least favorite?

unpopular opinions

im conflicted about quanxi being given a lesbian harem essentially, bc like shes cool but there was that one spread where fujimoto drew that whole orgy and i wondered why he drew that bc,,,, there was no reason to do that? and the explanation ive come up with isnt too pleasant

i actually like makima, she is an amazing villain, i came into csm already knowing the twist of her being evil and a groomer but what i didnt expect was for fujimoto to make her so effectively creepy, she is so excellently written and drawn yet i always hesitate in saying that i like her bc people would assume that im a weirdo and explaining my reasons will get tiring very quickly

i wish there were more scenes of makima and denji doing activities like that movie watching marathon bc i personally feel like fujimoto really could have pushed the creepy makima agenda a lot more if makima was more present in denji's life

more of the masculine devils shouldve been shown as sluts more, like the feminine ones (think bomb devil and power) were mostly scantily clad but i dont remember angel devil or any of the other devils showing that much skin, this is also one of those things where if i explained my true thought process its gonna be a whole 1500 word paper which i dont have the energy to do (lets just say im tired of seeing women lose their clothes in fights especially when men get to keep theirs)

and last

im uh

not a fan of ak*ang*l

at least how the fandom portrays them, like i can understand the appeal but its Everywhere when i just want to see more art of the hayakawa trio being siblings [sob]

[gayhoguns]

fell from heaven no it didn't hurt (oh this one is a bit ironic in this context

some panels i took out of order but that i'd still like to comment... zazie being a nonbinary monarch

vash making meryl fire her derringer to start the shooting? i think? i don't really know if it's just her or him making her in this scene btw i am inclined to the former bc it's metal and fucked and i like it

wolfwood's horror upon seeing vash's angel arm... did i say how much i love when he's scared as hell of vash already. did i

then vash trying to regain control... and seeing all the scared faces around him... scared of HIM... thinking he's sorry... regretting who he is, trying to shove it away. he can't. and now it's finally out there, his memories back and the reality of who he truly is dawning on him and everyone else at the same time.

i love vash's angel arm btw the design is very cool