#i realize i should make her a promo too but we'll see if i have that in me later

[fatelcved]

we turn the page to a new chapter | mutuals meet chiyo ♡

music blasts within the artist's apartment as she twirls around the living room, a blanket billowing around her and slipping off her shoulders altogether. what a sight she is, all smiles and breathless high notes. " heartbreak is one thing, my ego's another-- " and chiyo trips skips over to them to grab their hands in a dramatic, silly plea ( she nearly laughs before she's done; chiyo realizes she's being a big goof, but she doesn't care ). " i beg you, don't embarrass me, motherfucker. "

[perfectarmony]

I think ep 10 of TCL is called "Trust." I'm excited to see if the writers use this ep to finally address the crux of Arman & Nadia's problems (lack of trust) plus dive deeper into Nadia & Robert's relationship (will she be on team Robert for real?). And what about the current tension between Arman & Thony and their conflicting priorities? It will be interesting to see if the truth about Maya comes out and the fallout from that. I suspect Arman & Thony won't have much screen time together in ep 9 since she will be in Manila with Robert so fingers crossed there will be some good Armony scenes in ep 10. I wonder if we will get any "do you trust me" parallels - it would be great to see them moving closer together after being pulled farther apart in ep 8. What would you like to see? Thanks.

Hi anon! 😊

Episode 10 is indeed called Trust 👀 I'll put the rest under the cut because spoilers + speculation

~ A ''quick'' bit on 2.09 before I get into 2.10 - there's a lot to cover in this one, but I think we'll still get some good scenes between the two, anon! Arman's face in the promo when he has to stay at the airport and watch Thony leave with Kamdar is already 🤧

And with everything going on, I don't know if we'll spend that much time in Manila after all 🤔 Bosco getting attacked, Arman and Thony talking after that, then the talk with Robert, Thony meeting Fiona and Luca at the Buddhist temple, the airport scene, Garrett (I think) also has an FBI operation planned (could be for 2.10 though), Arman is getting everything ready with his contacts for when the shipment comes to the U.S. - and the rest we know nothing about 👀 and she should be right back, so maybe half of the episode max is spent there?

But I really think this episode is going to be a goldmine of information with the talk between Arman/Nadia, Robert is most likely also going to allow us to get more insights into Thony's past, we'll hopefully meet people she worked with in Manila, see Lolo again (nice episode choice for tonight's rerun by the way - 2.02 Lolo and Lola 👀), and even though Robert is the one calling the shots, she'll be the one in control once they step out of the plane - so I'm really looking forward to this one!

~ About 2.10 - I'm with you on that prediction for Robert and Nadia, anon! I doubt Nadia will be on his side, as I already said in previous posts - and we witnessed it a couple times now - as soon as one of them is in danger, Arman and Nadia will try to help each other, even if their marriage is in pieces.

I'm glad that we can take that for granted and focus on the rest - though they might still have doubts. I'm really hoping that we'll get to hear more about the moment that made her leave and realize that it was getting too much for her. I'd like to see Robert make a wrong move in front of her, one that will maybe remind her of why she left him, that he hasn't changed. But this time, she doesn't have to run - as she said, she has grown and is aware of the power she has over him - so I really want to see her start to use that against him, make him drop his guard and slowly weaken him, which would ultimately help Thony and Arman bring him down.

~ About Thony and Arman, for some reason I have some trouble speculating right now - I think I need to see what happens in 2.09 👀 but I'm always down for parallels and I'm with you on that!

With Arman confronting Nadia about the marriage certificate in 2.09, we could already have that big talk between them there, and there are chances that she finally finds out about the FBI. If Arman can't find a way to protect her without having the entire story and knowing how deeply she's involved with Kamdar on paper with his criminal organization - which she may not even know herself - he will have to tell her the truth so that she'll find a way out herself.

~ About Garrett, I can't really see him finding out about Maya until the very end of the season. They are slowly building up the tension, and I feel like the betrayal would have an even bigger impact on Garrett if Kamdar wouldn't be there anymore (and the frustration will be even worse if he's not the one to pull the trigger). That way, when he thinks he can finally start to move on, he somehow finds out that Arman and Thony also played a part in her death, and he spirals down again. But that's just how I see things, he might end up being more understanding than we think 🤷🏻‍♀️

~ Luca is really getting worse - so unfortunately, Thony was either too late to give him the medicine she brings back from Manila, or it simply didn't have the effect she had hoped for - and if she's forced to bring him to the hospital, I think Trust could also refer to that part of the story. Fiona was already nervous (and for good reasons) in the pilot and 1.02 when Thony was about to take Luca to the hospital - ''you talk to the wrong person and you're screwed''. And I don't think they have the contacts or money necessary right now to be as safe as they were at Dr Saroyan's clinic or in Mexico...

Ughhh I'm excited to see those last couple episodes, and yet I'm so nervous for them to have go through this mess - and so not ready for it to over again 🤧

Thank you anon 😊 I'm sorry I couldn't give you more speculation time on Armony though 😔

[malexfan10]

What is it about Malex?

I was playing around on my phone at work (when I should have been working lol) and came across some article about the best TV couples. It was published in 2018 so Malex wasn't in it lol

But I was going through the pictures in the article and I saw a lot of the couples I've liked & enjoyed over the years listed. Pacey & Joey, Captain Swan, Haleb, Stydia, Kurt & Blaine etc.

I started thinking...what is it about Malex that makes them extra special for me? What is it about them that made me join Tumblr and Twitter for the first time? I never had either before this year. What is it about them that made me write more fan fic in the span of 3 months than I have in years of watching other shows? And I'm someone who studied English Lit in university and have written many novels, hoping to finally pursue publishing this year with one of them. But the amount of fan fic I've typed out the past 3 months? My hands seriously hurt!

So why is Malex so special?

(I made a collage below)

Is it because they're an LGBTQ pairing? There have been other LGBTQ pairings I've rooted for. Malex isn't the first and they won't be the last. Times are changing in TV land and we're seeing more and more representation. It's progressing slowly, but it is changing.

Is the reason Malex is extra special a shallow reason? The actors are both incredibly good looking. No getting around that. But I loved Haleb too and Tyler was one half of that ship. I adore Joshua Jackson and Dylan O'Brien. I think Holland Roden is beautiful. In the couples I've followed over the years, all the actors & actresses have been attractive in their own ways.

-- side note -- I know I put Destiel (SPN) in the collage below even though technically they're not a couple but some of their lines over the past decade, I mean come on! It's so obvious! --

Anyway...

Is it the chemistry between Tyler & Michael? I thought Katie & Josh had amazing chemistry. Only reason I watched PLL was for Haleb and the friendship between Tyler & Ashley. Some of the couples I've rooted for really sizzled on screen. Do I think Vlamburn has better chemistry than all the others? Not necessarily. I think they tie for first with some of my other faves (although I would probably rank them above right now just because they're current).

So what is it about Malex that made me so emotionally invested that I joined social media like this? That I've written a bunch of fics and have so many other concepts cooking in my head.

I think it comes down to the angst at the end of the day and how the story has been written.

I've directed a lot of disappointment and anger towards Carina and the writers since that finale because I'm afraid the triangle will grow and span multiple seasons. I'm afraid the writers will show Michael really starting to have deep feelings for Maria the longer M&M exists (I know Vlamis said in those last interviews that his feelings for her are already very deep but sorry Vlamis. I love you but I don't see that yet.) I'm afraid now that they know they were renewed, they'll drag this storyline out, pursure M&M and then Michael with other relationships if/once M&M ends with Alex just waiting in the sidelines, moping and heartbroken.

But despite all my fears and disappointments after that craptastic finale (seriously, I can write a 20 page essay), I have to give the writers their credit.

The story they wrote, the beauty they created in Malex, with that amazing angst and history and love is the reason I'm so invested.

"Where I stand, nothing's changed"

"I never look away"

"That I loved you and I think that you loved me."

"Cosmic"

"But you are mine"

"I don't look away Guerin"

"I love him. I probably always will"

I mean, these lines all exist. No one can take those words away. Yes, the writers can try and diminish it by shoving another relationship down our throats & attempting to give that relationship the same level of meaning and importance (sorry, not buying it. Hardly anyone is). But those lines will always be there.

The epicness of Malex will always be there.

That beautiful first kiss in the reunion will always be there.

Their connection in senior year, bonding over their painful childhoods and living situations will always be there.

Caulfield, although bittersweet, will always be there.

Michael Guerin wanting to be Alex's hero will always be there.

The angst and love between them is just unbelievable. I don't think any other couple I've rooted for over the years has had the same amount of angst or history. Their story is just beautiful.

I don't cry too much in movies or TV shows unless there's a really sad death that hits me hard. LOST was one of those shows where I sobbed constantly (Jin & Sun's death, Juliet's, Charlie's...I could go on).

But I cried after that last scene in episode 6, when Jesse destroyed such a beautiful and pure moment 🥺

I cried at that moment in Caulfield 🥺

I cried at the finale, watching Alex just waiting there while Michael....let's not remind ourselves 🤨

So yes, the chemistry is unbelievable between Tyler & Michael. How close they are offscreen shines through their performance and this is in a cast where everyone's close. But with Vlamburn, especially from Michael, he's so unfiltered when he talks about Tyler's eyes or the way he kisses or just how much he loves him. What can I say, they make me love Malex more ❤

Yes, they're both incredibly good looking but that's a miniscule, shallow reason. How good looking a couple is in no way compares to how much their emotional connection matters, at least for me.

So really, it's the story. It's the history. It's all that profound, made for each other, soulmates love that they share. It's the incredible angst that makes me root for them even more.

And yes, as much as Carina and crew have angered me after that finale and after their insistance of shoving this triangle down our throats and in our faces, they did create Malex so I have to be grateful for that. Vlamburn perfected it and made it epic but the concept came from Carina (trust me, it hurts to give that credit).

So as much as it still hurts with what happened, as much as seeing the M&M promos bothers me, as much as I'll be a sobbing mess once season 2 hits and Alex realizes what happened, I have to believe that this much care and heartbreaking angst was given to this couple for a reason. That reason has to be that Malex is endgame.

Can Carina change her mind about Endgame Malex? Sure she can, if she wants to lose a substantial percentage of the fandom. But I can't believe she'll do that.

I can't believe that Malex is anything but each other's ending.

I can't believe that this beautiful love story we've seen between 2 men who started as scared, lonely boys and are now broken men trying to put themselves back together is anything short of EPIC.

I can't believe that M&M, however painful and ridiculously unnecessary, is anything but a bump in this road for Malex.

All that matters is how the writers take us from point A to B.

Does their separation last for 4 more seasons (pending renewals) and Malex reunites in the series finale, season 5? God I hope not. I need to see them existing as a couple together on screen, not just a kiss and makeup moment last episode and assume they made it. So once this teenage level of triangle nonesense has been dealt with (please let season 2 be the end of it!!!!), I really hope the writers realize the amazing couple they created and give them their due justice by bringing Malex together for good.

Episodes 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, last Malex scene of 9, beginning of 10 and all of 12 point this show towards one inevitable ending with Malex and that's reuniting (did I get the episodes right?). Just keep your fingers crossed it happens sooner rather than later. Right now, that's where my main fears lie.

This fandom has been super great about lending support to one another when things get tough. Unfortunately, things will get even tougher next season so it will be good to have this great support.

As far as the promos and interviews we'll be getting between now and 2020, I'll try to only watch interviews that Michael & Tyler give together and avoid anything that seems like M&M promotion (outside of full cast interviews or festivals etc). I love all the actors on this show. They're all wonderful and talented and deserve our love and support (not commenting on that Nathan instagram thing).

But as a Malex fan, I have no place in my life for unnecessary stress from a TV show because honestly, as invested as I am, it's still just a TV show. No need to give myself more heartbreak before season 2 even airs by watching pro M&M interviews like yesterday. I'll just stay in my happy Malex bubble until then (and then die when I see M&M next year 😭).

In the end of this long post, all I wanted to say is that Malex is extra special, head and shoulders above others ships I've rooted for and that's mostly because of the beautiful story I've seen on screen but Vlamburn defintely plays an imortant part in making it epic ❤

I'm a Malex lifer. Nothing will ever change that.

❤

[existentialstatesofmind]

Our First Christmas

Clare: wasn't easily deterred. Once she had an idea in her head, it was hard for her to let go of it. "Of course she can pick the movie. I do want to find out what she likes. But just wait until Erika sees my chipmunks animated Christmas decoration." She nodded about the park. Clare returned the gentle kiss and started running her fingers through his hair in a soothing motion. She welcomed the change in subject not wanting to think about any family tonight except the one she was starting with Drew. She laughed joyously as Drew picked her up and spun her around. "Yes! We can have as many little Torres as we want!" Clare said with a lot more enthusiasm now that she knew it was welcome news. Maybe that wasn't entirely true. A tiny voice in the back of her head tried to remind her. Drew's kisses and her reaction to them drowned it out. "Well the doctor suggested I go off birth control a few months before we start trying, and I want to make sure I can fit into my wedding dress. So lots more practice until our honeymoon." Clare kissed him again before leaning back against the couch. "I'm glad I saved it. I wanted to tell you right away but it was too good of a Christmas present not to wait a day." She figured she'd savor this moment for awhile then tell him the doctor's words of caution. She was surprised by the knock on the door too. If it were Audra, the door would be open before they even had a chance to say come in or please don't. "I don't think it's my family either." Clare whispered, tensing up. She'd asked them to come over tomorrow. Who else would show up on Christmas Eve uninvited? She sunk lower into the couch while Drew investigated. Clare instantly felt transported to last year when every knock on the door sent a tingle of fear down her spine. What if the robbers finally found out where she'd moved to and came back? It was a silly irrational fear. Most likely it had been a crime of opportunity. Clare needed to remember she wasn't a target. She took the phone from him. "If who gets in? Who is he Drew?" When the man started yelling, it was a stranger's voice. To her. He seemed to know Drew and there was a look of recognition in her fiance's eyes. The banging on the windows scared her more and she punched a 9 and 1 on the phone's keys while Drew spoke to him. Clare saw the man through the window but she still didn't have a clue who he was. Her finger hovered over the 1 key, uncertain if she should punch it again. How dangerous was this guy?! What if he had a gun? Her palms started sweating, her breath became ragged and shallow. She wanted to call the police and run upstairs to check on Erika. She gasped and almost dropped the phone at the first revelation. Wait a minute? This man was Drew's dad?? Clare supposed it made some sense to want to reconnect with your son on Christmas Eve but there was obviously a reason he'd lost the right to be called 'Dad'. Threatening to break into their house obviously wasn't a good start to fixing their relationship! Clare was still in the dark about what had happened between Audra, her ex-husband, and Drew. Until Drew revealed something she'd never guessed, wasn't prepared for, and made her blood run cold. She didn't finish dialing 911 even though her desire to continued to grow as Drew reminded his abuser exactly what he'd done. Tears gathered in her eyes. Clare had seen Drew struggle with PTSD and concussions, she'd feared for his life before. However, this was the worst. His own (supposed) father put him in the hospital, almost killed him, and was trying to blame Drew and Audra for leaving? Was that really what she was hearing? He was crying and she wanted to go to him. Clare scoffed as the man claimed he wouldn't leave without meeting her and Erika. This was as close as she was getting to him and no way would she let him around a child. She was glad Drew called her his girlfriend. She didn't want this monster to know there would be a wedding to crash. He'd put Drew and Audra through enough already. Her heart ached at the realization that Audra's first marriage was abusive. Thank god she was strong enough to leave her ex-husband to save her son's life. This must be why Audra still checked up on Drew. She shuddered as Drew's 'dad' begged not be kicked out of his life, again. He wouldn't get another opportunity to hurt her Drew. Not ever. She was beyond scared but she'd be brave for him. When Drew walked over to her and sat down, Clare immediately wrapped her arms around him holding him tight. She shook her head as he spoke. She was glad she hadn't pressured him. Understanding Drew's past wasn't worth him rehashing it. She wished she could've prevented this ugly scene. "No baby. He only ruined his own Christmas, all of them." Clare said firmly. "One way or another he'll be leaving and then we'll do whatever you feel like doing." She promised kissing his cheek. It didn't matter if they skipped some of the traditional Christmas stuff. Spending the holiday together was what she really wanted. “I love you.”

Drew: smiled at Clare after she told him she loves her and that his dad didn't ruin their Christmas. He kissed her sweetly and smiled at her. "Ok, Erika picks the movies. If she wants to see the Chipmunks Christmas, we will. However when Deadpool comes out on video we're buying it and watching it in the bedroom. I seen previews and there is a lot of violence and probably sex. I saw a girl's breasts in it. Don't worry I saw the promos before Erika came into our lives and when I was alone." he assured. "Oh, and I'll cover your eyes when Deadpool goes on his killing spree. He turns someone into..." he thought for a moment. "What he said a human shish kabob, there's no blood, but I know it still may freak you out." he added and soon heard a knock at the door. "You're not getting in dad." he yelled out. "No it's the police the neighbors called due to a disturbance." he heard back and stood up to open the door. He explained the ordeal and how his dad already left and how he was going to see them after Christmas for a restraining order. The cop took the description of Drew's dad as well as the cop took notes. "We'll keep someone here and at your mom's just in case he comes back and tries to break in. We've been searching for this guy for years." the cop said. "What did he do?" Drew asked. "What didn't he do? Robbery in Vancouver, grand theft auto in Ragina, he's even wanted in other countries. You don't get on the World's Most Wanted list for nothing." the cop explained. "World's most wanted? Is that probably how he found me?" Drew asked. "We don't know he hadn't been active for about two years anywhere so we assumed he died, hid really well, or something." the officer explained. "But don't worry we'll stake out here and we'd like to keep police on both of you if that's ok?" he asked and Drew looked at him. "We won't go inside, we'll just stay out front of your places of work in our cars and keep a look out." he assured and Drew looked at Clare. "I don't have a problem with it." he assured and gave the cop what he needed to keep them safe. After the cop left Drew looked at Clare. "I hope they give him a taste of his own medicine when he goes to jail." he stated and looked out his window to see a van now parked across the street from his house with a cop drinking coffee. "At least we know we're extremely protected?" he shrugged trying to make light of the situation.