#i think i like him in concept but i really hate him in execution.

[clownowo]

Teddie (Teddie)

[dykedvonte]

you make really good points, I think I used the term karmic wrong sorry. I think of it more as not how I personally think he deserved all that happened to him (which thinking back os exactly what karma means, I messed up sorry), but as his fate being directly tied/parallel to anyas. I handnt noticed the toxicity of jimmy and curlys relationship, from the first playthrough I watched and the first interactions I had w fandom I saw so many ppl just. dismiss the terror Anya went through and focus too much on him as the "ultimate victim" and that just didn't sit well w me. I really dislike seeing ppl go "oh well nothing could've been done" I think it's much more complex than that. also I forgot to mention in the last ask that I really appreciate you bringing the point that this game isn't just about the harm of patriarchy but also very very critical to capitalism, I haven't seen too many ppl touch on this. I hadn't thought too deeply about how it makes "he deserved to become disabled as punishment" come up and I agree that's really messed up. I'll try watching a playthrough again with all of this in mind. but either way thanks! I really appreciate your answer 🫶🏼

I guess this is just part of being in a fandom like this. I've noticed a lot of people don't actually see posts outside of their curated view. So some people only get like anya posting or jimmy or curly and it can make it seem like that is what is saturating the conversation.

I mainly just follow the general tags and look for anything new because I'm like obsessed but I know some are only looking for what they want or believe to be the case and can get weird about other ideas.

Sorry if I came off mean its just a last few of the asks have been like circular conversations like this and its not draining per say but seeing all the nuance and details get overlooked to fit a straightforward and basic narrative really sucks cause there's a lot to explore character and theme wise.

[laugtherhyena]

Actually i think this is a good time to let you guys know i never watched Sdra2 chapter 4 in full

[mxdotpng]

btw i know i have one or two mutuals who like arise i hope im not offending anyone too much. u like what u like. will not criticize anyone for that

[writeforthepeople]

Idk if this might be a silly billy request, but could I request something for my babygirl Damien x autistic!reader? Maybe a Board AF video or just something where they’re both talking about how hard it is to tell if someone is flirting, and the reader says something like “why can’t it be as simple as “I think you’re hot, wanna kiss about it?”

And they’re both kinda flirting and afterwards they do kiss about it?

Idk I’m rambling, but my autistic ass just wants to flirt and kiss a pretty boy lol. Thank you!

Ok Anon, I love this. As an autistic girlie myself this it is so cute!

Title: "Wanna Kiss About It?"

Summary: During a game of "Would You Rather", an autistic woman named Riley jokes about missing flirting cues, prompting playful banter with Damien. As the day unfolds, their chemistry builds, leading to an unexpectedly direct and heart-fluttering moment.

The lights were bright, the cameras were rolling, and the energy in the Smosh studio was high as filming started. Riley sat between Amanda and Damien, with Courtney and Shayne rounding out the group around the classic Board AF table. The game of the day was a classic game of Would You Rather. Simple in concept, absolutely chaotic in execution. Especially with this group of people playing.

“Alright, next question,” Courtney announced, reading from the card in her hand. “Would you rather always know when someone is flirting with you, or never be able to tell at all?’”

Amanda snorted. “Oh, I already know my answer.”

Riley let out a dramatic sigh, raising a hand. “I feel this card is just calling out my autism?” she said with a laugh “As someone who perpetually misses every single flirting cue in existence, I’d like to formally request the first option.”

Damien, ever the entertainer, smirked. “Oh, you think you miss every flirting cue?”

Riley nodded solemnly. “Absolutely. Someone could be full-on making heart eyes at me, and I’d be like, ‘Wow, their contact lenses must be really uncomfortable today.’”

Shayne chuckled. “That’s a skill, honestly.”

“OHHHH I don’t miss a flirt” Amanda said eyeing Damien

“I just don’t get why flirting has to be so subtle,” Riley continued, leaning back in her chair. “Why can’t it be as simple as ‘I think you’re hot, wanna kiss about it?’”

The table erupted in laughter. “For me it kind of is” Amanda shrugged “Being direct is actually the best method”

Damien, however, raised an eyebrow, a glint of mischief in his expression. “That’s actually a solid approach. Direct, efficient. I respect it.”

“Oh yeah?” Riley quipped, tilting her head at him. “You gonna adopt it?”

Damien shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “I dunno. Could be useful. Guess you’ll have to wait and see.”

Amanda and Courtney exchanged knowing looks, while Shayne fake-gagged. “Ugh, get a room.”

Damien playful rolled his eyes at Shayne “you get a room” he paused “WITH YOUR WIFE” he pointed in between him and Courtney. 

Courtney shuffled the deck and pulled the next question. “‘Would you rather only be able to speak in rhymes or only be able to communicate via interpretive dance?’”

Damien tapped his chin thoughtfully. “Rhymes. Imagine the sheer power of always having a sick verse ready.”

Amanda snickered. “Oh please, you'd turn into a walking Dr. Seuss book.” she paused for a moment “wait you kind of already do that though” and Damien shrugged at her comment “I will take that as a compliment, thank you very much.”

Riley smirked. “I’d pick interpretive dance. Imagine the drama I could infuse into every conversation.”

Damien gasped. “A whole performance just to ask someone to pass the salt?”

“Exactly.” She chuckled “Can you please pass me the” she paused, extending her arms out and back in, dancing in her chair a little “the salt”

Shayne wiped a fake tear. “Art.”

Amanda read the next one. “‘Would you rather have to loudly announce everything you’re doing before you do it or sing every response instead of speaking?’”

Riley immediately groaned. “Oh no. Singing. But I’d hate it.”

Damien waggled his brows. “I dunno, I think you’d be great at it. Want to give us a demo?”

“Absolutely not,” Riley deadpanned.

“Aw, c’mon, give us just one line?” Damien leaned in with an exaggeratedly hopeful expression.

Riley rolled her eyes but sang in an off-key tune, “This is a nightmare, I want to die.”

The table burst into laughter, Damien clapping in appreciation. “Beautiful. Stunning. Grammy-worthy.”

Shayne grinned. “I’d pick the announcement thing. ‘Shayne yawns! Shayne stretches! Shayne ponders his life choices!’”

Courtney groaned. “God, imagine doing that at a funeral.”

The table collectively winced.

“Next question,” Amanda rushed, shaking her head. “‘Would you rather always have to high-five everyone you meet or always have to call everyone ‘Champ’?”

Riley let out a snort. “I’d go with ‘Champ.’”

Damien leaned in closer, smirking. “What, you don’t want to high-five me?”

Riley tilted her head, pretending to consider. “I don’t know. Do you deserve a high-five?”

“Wow,” Damien clutched his chest dramatically. “Harsh.”

The game continued with more questions, but the subtle flirtation between Riley and Damien lingered, sneaking side glances. By the time filming wrapped, everyone was laughing and playful.

After finishing up, the group decided to grab lunch at a nearby cafe. Damien made a point to sit next to Riley, nudging her playfully whenever she made a sarcastic comment. Throughout the meal, he amped up the charm, throwing in casual compliments, exaggerated winks, and the occasional knee bump under the table.

On the walk back to the studio, Courtney nudged Riley’s side. “Sooo, Damien was totally flirting with you.”

Riley scoffed, her face turning red. “No, he wasn’t. He’s just like that.”

Courtney gave her an exasperated look. “Uh-huh. Sure. Just like that specifically with you?”

Riley hesitated. “…He’s funny.”

“Funny with you,” Courtney emphasized. “Flirty with you.”

Riley waved a dismissive hand, though her mind lingered on the conversation as they returned to the studio. Did he like her?

Later that afternoon, Riley found herself alone with Damien in the break room, recounting her earlier conversation with Courtney.

“She said you were flirting with me,” Riley told him, rolling her eyes. “I told her you were just being funny.”

Damien leaned against the counter, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Huh. That so?”

“Yep.”

A pause. A beat. And then—

“I guess I need to change my approach.”

Riley blinked. “Your approach?”

Damien took a step closer, amusement dancing in his expression. “‘Okay… I think you’re hot. Wanna kiss about it?’”

Her breath hitched. Oh. Oh.

He was close now, close enough that she could see the sincerity behind the teasing. For once, she didn’t miss the cue. She didn’t overthink it, didn’t second-guess.

She just grinned. “Yeah. I think I do.”

And then, he lightly grabbed her face, his hands sliding behind her hair before leaning in and closing the distance between their lips. “Can we keep kissing about it? He asked and she leaned in, not answering but choosing to do so in action.

[mindless-existence1]

Mha Valentines

Bakugo, Izuku, Denki, and Tokoyami x reader headcannons/mini fics for Valentines day!

(Sorry this is a bit late right before I posted this it got deleted so I had to re write the whole thing whoops)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~♡~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

♡Bakugo♡

~For past relationships (if he was in anyone but that's a topic for another day) he wouldn't make a big fuss about valentines day.

~He doesn't hate valentines days he just...hates valentines day.

~That being said I think he just never got the appeal before he got in a serious relationship with you

~All the sudden he sees a stuffed animal that reminds him of you and he cant just leave the store without it. So he goes up to the counter and awkwardly buys the plushie.

~After buying that for you, and keeping it hidden from you, about a week before valentines day he finds your favorite candy that normally is out of stock.

~So yeah sue him when he buys it for you. You'd get fussy if he didn't.

~But all the sudden he has a lot of gifts for you without even trying. So in the privateness of his dorm he gets out the multitude of gifts and your left stunned. Because just a week before Bakugo had made it clear he wasn't doing anything for valentines day.

~Before you can even say anything he blurts out "Jist shut up and accept it dumbass. And don't go run your mouth about it I don't want anyone thinking I'm getting soft."

~Despite his tough guy act yiu don't miss the brightness of his ears.

♡Izuku♡

~Of course the idea, the concept, of Valentines day was amazing to him. But actually execution was terrible for him.

~What was he supposed to do! Make a grand display? Huge fireworks and a large bouquet??

~OK yeah absolutely not he couldn't do that. But something small he could do. Like a dinner or a peice of jewelry.

~He'd spend a long time writing in his notebook the perfect way to ask you out and anything and everything that could go 'wrong'

~Acting like you aren't already together and he hasn't asked you out before and it's worked.

~Day of Valentines, good old February 14 rolls around and with his amazing luck almost everything goes wrong. The store he had a reservation over booked and the delivery service lost your jewelry in the mail.

~Luckily for him you rescue him from his sulking with the suggestion of a picnic. During said picnic the two of you make eachother flower crowns and all he can think is 'this is the most perfect day ever, what did I do to deserve this?'

♡Denki♡

~Very firm believer he loves being over the top.

~Firm believer that he's a form believer no matter how long you've been together you need to re ask to be your partners valentines every year. (Just to make sure of course)

~So he plans and plans and it's really the only thing he's ever truly thought out.

~Learns your favorite flowers (if he didn't already know), makes a big sign with some sort of electricity pun to ask you to be his valentines.

~Forces Gets Sero, Kirishima, and Mina (bakugo would refuse) to keep you out of your dorm so he can prepare it for you and when you finally see all he set up its perfect every year

~One of those guys who gets like a gigantic bouquet just because

~Honestly just he's the opposite of nonchalant, he's a chalant king

~He set up a dinner date and a night in the dorm lego date or smth cute like that, just for the two of u.

♡Tokoyami♡

~This beautiful man doesn't really know what to do.

~To him Valentines day is so funky

~In my mind he's a gift giver and has a love langue of acts of service and quality time man so when valentines comes around he's like....this is what I do all the time?

~Buuuuuuutttttt he'd write a poem for you. I've said before he likes writing stuff about you but this time he actually give it to you

~He writes it all fancy and on some nice paper and gets all flustered when he hands it to you.

~The amount of love he puts into that note nearly bring you to tears.

~Jewelry. He's a bird obviously he likes jewelry. No fr he'd take you to a bead store and you guys get the colors of eachothers eyes.

~So you can go home with your favorite snacks and make bracelets for each other. Yours with a F and his with the first letter of your name.

~OK so dark Shadow might get a little in the way of the date but it's kinda just like if you had your little siblings tag along or smth

[momo-matic]

why I think that the “uncorrupted/redeemed” Shadow Milk costume is not well designed. Please keep in mind these are my opinions, and this is just for funsies

Okay, let’s just get this out of the way, I think the costume is very pretty but. Like, hello?? I cannot be the only one who thinks this costume is too on the nose?? In this, I’ll break down all of the issues I have with the costume!!

I hate that they gave him the same colored eyes as Pure Vanilla. I hate hate hate it, I think it’s playing too closely to “oh we’re one in the same,” but we can have that without being *that* similar, you know?

I think the colors don’t mesh all that well together. For one, gold has NEVER been in Shadow Milk’s color palette, it has always been shades of blue, white, black, and some silver-ish shades. Putting gold there instead of silver I think just disrupts the whole feel of the costume. And again, with being *very* similar to Pure Vanilla’s color palette, gold has pretty much been in all of Vanilla’s costumes and designs, but now all of a sudden we’re adding it to Shadow Milk?? Hello?? It doesn’t really make sense for this to have a gold theme all of a sudden

I think the design patterns (sleeves and such) are too similar to base Pure Vanilla, same reasons as stashed above

why is his staff a key now?? We’re really pushing the “Shadow Milk and Pure Vanilla are the same!!1!1” in game, huh? Like, don’t get me wrong, i am I big fan of ShadowVanilla and parallels and such, but like.. this is too much. Just look at Awakened Pure vanilla, who also has a key, but that makes sense for Pure Vanilla.

I don’t think the hat looks good at all, the eyes on it are weird, the brim of the hat is again VERY similar to PV’s, it just feels like they were just throwing design elements together and hoping we would like it. I just think his whole design looks sloppy.

the puff on the cape. Let’s think back to who had always hand one.. hmm… almost like it was PURE VANILLA. Oh my god, it never stops.

tldr: I just think it is sloppily designed, and they’re trying way too hard to make Shadow Milk look more like Pure Vanilla to push “we’re one in the same.” Which is a good concept, just needed better execution.

[armageddon-generation]

Empire of Death was bad and cemented several fundemental flaws in this season.

I watched this in the theatre, and the contrast between everyone's excitement before Empire, and their universal disappointment leaving the theatre was super disheartening. I'm gonna try to articulate my problems with episode, and how they're linked to fundenental structural issues of this season.

SPOILERS BELOW:

Sutekh

The moment the UNIT characters died the story was robbed of any stakes. (Also? Kate and Ibrahim?? During Pride month?? Disgusting)

Sutekh was pointless, big CGI spectacle who was barely there. Saying he's been latched onto the TARDIS since Pyramids of Mars was such an asspull. Why couldn't he have latched on during Wild Blue Yonder? wouldn't that make much more sense??

You're telling me the guy who holds all life in contempt is invested enough in learning the identity of Ruby's mum he willingly reveals himself??

And then they defeat him by dragging him through the Vortex just like before, which it's been explicitly stated *didn't work* last time? He just *lets* Ruby leash him??

The 'death of death is life' bit, and the idea of the Doctor representing life as a Ying to Sutekh's Yang, is a cool concept just jammed in there with no real buildup or depth.

The issue is bringing Sutekh back takes so much effort- a literal, clunky clipshow of Pyramids of Mars, a whole episode spent building up to the reveal of a silly anagram entirely unrekated to Sutekh's previous appearance. And it just... amounts to nothing. What a silly way to cap off a season meant to be jumping-on point for brand-new viewers.

Mel was just takingup space. Pointless.

Ruby's Mother

I don't have a problem with the *concept* of Ruby's mum being normal. I really like the idea thematically. The execution was terrible.

First of all it leaves so many unanswered questions (why the snow? Why was time changing? Why was she shadowed? Literally just for the sake of the mystery-box?) and represents the worst thing about this new era- RTD using fantasy logic to handwave any logic at all, and just do whatever he wants without properly justifying it.

Second, I *hate* how easy and simple and neat the reunion is. Ruby seems incapable of getting angry with anyone. She has never once argued with 15, or Carla, or anyone besides that one moment in 73 Yards. She has never expressed any kind of negative feeling towards her mother for abandoning her. And it's fine for her to reach that conclusion! It's just bizzare we never see Ruby struggle with her feelings beyond the shallow goal of wanting to find her.

(Also Carla? Has nothing to say?? Just welcomes that woman in with basically no comment? Carla is a 2D cutout of a person, used as a plot device and otherwise relegated to the single character trait of I Love My Daughter. The children yearn for the ilk of Jackie Tyler, Sylvia Noble, even Francine Jones.)

15 & Ruby

The emotion behind 15 & Ruby's split felt entirely unearned because we've never seen their bond develop. They never argue, never disagree, Ruby hasn't learned anything about herself or grown or changed. The closest we got to that is 73 Yards, which was undone. She was already brave and kind and musical and sure she loved her adoptive family when we met her in Church on Ruby Road.

Similarly, 15 tells us Ruby encouraged him to talk about family in a way he never has, but that was in what, two moments across the season? And they seemed random, unrelated to Ruby being with him. New viewers will assume 15 is just that open anyway- he was discussing fatherhood with a dead man's hologram- and old viewers assumed trauma-dumping was just a new trait of 15's personality, not Ruby-specific.

The problem is we're told Ruby & 15 are best friends but it isn't earned. I liked 15 crying initially but both he and Ruby do it so much (15 cries about 5 times in this one episode) it loses its impact and I'm becoming numb to it. There is no contrast, no downtime.

Season Structural Issues

I think the biggest problem is Season 1's storytelling priorities. It's much more interested in selling *the show* (look at our big budget! And guest stars! And how flexible our format is! Musical episode! The Beatles as props! Bottle episode! Indie folk-horror! Black Mirror! Gay Bridgerton!) it forgot to put effort into developing and investing us in its characters. I liked a lot of the individual stories this year but in retrospect a lot of them feel like they're wasting space that needed to go to essential character and theme setup.

These skewed priorities, combined with the cut down episode count, really impact the pacing of the season. Ruby and 15 were barely together! Even in Rogue they were seperated for most of the story!! We only loop back to a flashback of 15 meeting Carla in Rogue!

This is made worse by the baffling insistence on a 45-minute runtime. We know key sequences were cut from almost every episode, with highlights including:

The Gobin King invading Ruby's flat and her banishing him with scratchcards in The Church on Ruby Road: Her missing 'companion saves the day' moment!

Refrence to the Toymaker in The Church on Ruby Road, which was itself referenced in The Devil's Chord. 'I told you about the Toymaker when we first met' sir, objectively you did not.

The TARDIS jukebox playing the Sugarbabes' Push The Button in the opening scene of Space Babies, hastily cut around in the final edit. This is the setup of a running joke still in the episode, and part of the story's climax. The first encounter with the Bogeyman was also longer, with 15 taking particular interest in its skin

Extended scenes in Abbey Road from The Devil's Chord, including an apparently significant speaking role for Cilla Black, according to her annoyed actress.

Cut dialogue from The Devil's Chord explaining the musoical number was caused by Maestro's power lingering, and that banishing them undid everything they'd done. Fans inferred thos based on the rules established in The Giggle, but again, new fans haven't seen The Giggle and were left clueless.

An opening sequence for The Legend of Ruby Sunday where 15 & Ruby meet Susan as a nanny in 1947 America, a blue-skinned waitress, and an astronaut meeting a colony of giant, sentient ants. At the end of this we actually see 15 decide to go to UNIT for help. In the broadcast version he just sorta shows up.

Really what Empire of Death exposed to me is how emotionally hollow the season was. I enjoy the exoperimentalism, but not at the cost of character. And then in the finale Russell reverts to almost a parody of his RTD1 finales, with the nonsense logic and lack of consequences. All the worst bits of Last of the Time Lords and The Giggle put in a blender.

[yanderes-galore]

If you're comfortable, could I request a romantic concept for Adam from Hazbin Hotel?

Here you go... Sorry if the execution wasn't great. I wasn't sure what direction to take him? Writer's block also hit midway through 😮‍💨.

Yandere! Adam Concept

Pairing: Romantic

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, Manipulation, Possessive behavior, Jealousy, Crude behavior, Trauma, Fear of abandonment, Isolation, Threats, Adam breaks, Forced relationship.

Adam, despite being intolerable, has pretty decent reasons for being a yandere.

He's known as the first man yet he has had two wives, who were made specifically for him, seduced away from him by some demon.

Nowadays he just comes off as an arrogant misogynistic angel who tends to flirt around and take what he can get

Essentially... not the best person.

Ironically for being someone in heaven... He's quite the piece of work.

I can see an obsession starting over a new angel arriving in Heaven.

Someone he wants to charm enough to entertain him like most new souls.

Adam definitely comes across as an insufferable yandere.

His obsession is definitely not charmed or interested.

He just comes off as hard to deal with….

Apparently his charm works on some angels... Not you.

Let's be honest, he probably enjoys the challenge.

Adam doesn't seem like he'd give up trying to court his obsession easily.

He definitely starts off obsessed with the idea of just... making you accept his presence?

After all, he's the first man.

Don't you think you should give him more respect?

He's definitely a man/angel that's easier to hate than love.

His behavior starts off as arrogant and entitled... However, I don't think he's always that way.

Don't get me wrong, man's an asshole.

Yet he's also a man quite used to any long-term relationships he has being stolen from him.

To him he thinks just a physical relationship with you will be enough to satisfy his desires.

Yet the longer he chases you...

He comes to the unnerving conclusion that he wants more than that...

But you won't give it to him... Not willingly.

Adam is a prideful man.

He doesn't want to beg for things.

He tends to expect what he wants to be served to him.

However, when it comes to you... Someone he soon realizes he needs...

Perhaps there's some vulnerability in him that makes him beg a bit.

Adam is a yandere who is hard to like... yet I also can see why he'd turn to such a form of love in the first place.

Well... desire is the better term....

Does that mean anyone should condone his actions, that they should excuse him?

NO.

He is indeed a broken man who is trying to hide how vulnerable he actually is.

Yet once he's introduced to you, a new form of temptation... a chance to love...

Is he really supposed to pass that up?

Adam's behavior is a contradiction.

He keeps driving you away with his behavior, when all he wants is to try and court you.

He isn't good at it.

To him he thinks one night of passion will make you adore him.

Instead you're disgusted... a prude....

Adam works hard to try and at least befriend you.

Yet it's really hard to see past his arrogance.

Part of him no doubt feels like he's meant to own you in a way.

But another part of him does yearn for what he had before.

He tries his best to convince you to see him as a guide.

He wants to help you settle into Heaven... the whole time he's flirting and making crude comments.

He's hard to get along with but maybe you will eventually.

Adam's no doubt possessive and easily jealous, feeling entitled to your attention.

Oh... So other angels get your attention... but not him?

He's not violent towards other angels since he knows that will bring trouble.

I can see him hovering around you though, trying to use his presence to intimidate others.

When you accuse him of isolating you, he plays dumb.

Why would you think he'd do such a thing, hm?

This is Heaven, sweetheart....

You can have your friends.

Yet they'll know to keep their distance with him watching them like a hawk.

Another side of yandere Adam is the vulnerable side he tries to hide.

This side yearns for your touch and affection...

He'll do anything for it.

He'll beg to you in private if he has to.

Adam does have a big ego... although it appears his craving for companionship tends to outweigh it.

Only when it comes to you.

There's a side to Adam he doesn't like acknowledging.

It's the side that yearns to treat you like a proper lover, not a fling or pet.

For a supposed angel, Adam can come off as demonic.

In a way he does respect his obsession.

But he doesn't like to admit it.

Adam is a yandere more complicated than you think.

If he ever managed to drag you into his grasp, he isn't letting go.

Due to Heaven's rules, it's not like Adam can kidnap you.

He's still meant to be good.

Although, the second he wins you over, probably after he breaks and gets all pathetic...

He refuses to lose you like he lost his past relationships.

You can't be seduced if he prevents that from happening by keeping you by his side.

If you allow him to get close, he'll take everything you have to offer.

Ironically, Adam is a greedy man.

His biggest fear is most likely being alone, being unacknowledged, being hurt....

He tries to cope with such insecurities by manipulating you.

He attempts to make you only rely on him, saying he'll take care of you.

In reality, he needs you to himself.

He can't handle the idea of losing another one.

Flings only do so much for him.

He needs something more.

He plans to get what he wants... what he craves... from you one way or another...

Even if he has to force it.

Adam will find a way to cheat the system, to be a bit bad and get away with it.

He'll isolate you, manipulating you into trusting only him.

He's obviously the best angel there is.

He may act intimidating and egotistical.

Deep down though... and he's actually a man tired of being hurt.

He needs you... At this point he feels he has to beg for you in order to feel good again... His pride shatters at your neglect...

Perhaps you can use that to your advantage to keep him under control?

[sandsoftide]

Haven’t seen enough people talking about why timebomb and specifically ekko also suffered from arcane s2 being bad. Spoilers and crit

I’ll say more in depth later when I have gone back and revisited it with a clearer head and let me make it entirely clear I LIKE timebomb in concept. Much like caitvi. Like I see the vision I just don’t like a lot of the creative choices

Ekko in s1 was a REVOLUTIONARY he built the firelights w his own two hands and was sort of a foil to jinx and silco, he hated them but he wasn’t going to roll over to piltover either. He wanted independence but not through exploitation. He was a leader and a caretaker and mature beyond his years bc he was forced to be. And he hates Jinx bc she reminds him of that trauma and he’s betrayed by what she became like there’s SO much there look at it

In s2 he goes “hm my tree is being weird” and then gets sucked into the timey wimey thing and disappears for a whole act and the firelights aren’t even MENTIONED (and ik he wasn’t a major character in s1 either but like, he was still important and relevant to the plot throughout bc of the firelights?)

Then he gets sucked into this au portal (cool concept and cool execution) and falls in love with powder or whatever. And she ISNT JINX. SHE IS NOT THE JINX WE KNOW BC JINX IN MAIN TIMELINE IS FULLY BUILT FROM HER EXPERIENCES AND TRAUMA AND MENTAL ILLNESS. Like what Jayce said to viktor that’s part of her whether it hurts her or not. Her trauma doesn’t define her but it’s a part of her! And then all of a sudden Ekko’s sad bc he misses jinx (who iirc last time he met they had the whole I hate you and I miss you talk and they fought and both thought the other dead or whatever?) and then he’s talking her off the ledge even though he has absolutely no reason to! Because he DOESNT KNOW HER he knows literally nothing she’s done since s1 finale!!! Even the “jinx as a symbol for revolution” stuff from act 1 that went nowhere he would know NOTHING ABOUT bc he basically immediately went to Jayce? And they never did the revolutionary jinx stuff that was implied w the flag waving either so there’s no connection there either

Like a full episode was spent developing timebomb and it was interesting but also contributed nothing bc that is not jinx. She just feels like a mpdg and he doesn’t feel like ekko bc he needs to be in love w her for the plot? So they do absolutely nothing interesting they could for timebomb and still make it the entirety of ekko’s plot while tossing out the firelights and the zaun v. Piltover plotline as a whole

i mean again its hard to say bc this is right. objectively. like the stuff w timebomb was objectively well written. i just feel like it doesnt give ekko the space to be his own character outside of the ship? my point isnt that the stuff was poorly written i actually enjoyed it a lot and i think they did a good job w it i just also feel like it does ekko a disservice to have that be his only plotline and how it doesnt feel like it connects to his character in s1

i feel similarly about other plots in s2, like mel's. like yes this is good stuff! i love seeing mel in the spotlight the black rose magic stuff is interesting in a vacuum but also its totally separate from the interesting thematic roles in s1 that dealt with AGAIN THE CLASS CONFLICT AND POLITICS and dropping that for something different feels. like its a disservice to the characters, i guess?

also by having the timebomb development take place primarily in an au with powder and NOT jinx we dont really get to see jinx's thoughts at all. it feels like a repeat of s1 where someone is trying to save POWDER and not jinx, they dont see her as who she is now but rather who she was or could have been. which couldve been interesting to explore but they clearly werent interested in that ANYWAYS

[kalinara]

So there's this interpretation that I have, I'm not sure how common it is, that when it comes to the X-Dream, the person who tends to embody it the most is Scott Summers, rather than Charles Xavier.

For once, this isn't meant to be a Charles Xavier hate post. Because I do think the mutant dream is important. And while I definitely have my share of "Magneto was Right" moments, especially with the world as it is right now, I do think that the dream of co-existence is, at heart, a good one.

Mutants and humans are not a separate species. While the "mutant gene" has a clear genetic component, something that's come up more and more often. The vast majority of mutants are born in human families. They have human lives. They belong to human countries. They have human racial identities and sexualities. They belong to human religions and subcultures. I don't think it's wrong to want acceptance, even given everything stacked against them.

Magneto's right. Sometimes. But Charles Xavier isn't wrong.

That said though, I don't think Charles himself really serves as an example of the Dream. For one thing, for the vast majority of X-Men canon history, Charles Xavier kept his mutation a secret. To the broader Marvel world, Professor Charles Xavier was just a very mutant-friendly rich, brilliant baseline human guy.

I'm not saying this as a criticism to Charles. I think that pretending to be a baseline human for so long is what allowed him to be able to raise, train and protect mutants in relative safety. It does, however, mean that he isn't an example of what he preaches.

Scott Summers, on the other hand...

One element from the original X-Men run that gets a bit lost nowadays, I think, is that (since it's before Hank turned blue), the two characters who really didn't pass as humans were Scott and Warren.

Don't get me wrong, they don't have the same difficulty as Kurt or Beak or Glob Herman. They have ways to mask as human in a pinch. But it doesn't take much to blow their cover. Warren can strap down his wings, but he can't get rid of them. And Scott's glasses fall off so often that it became his iconic image in the animated show's opening theme.

So that means, ultimately, that Scott really doesn't have a choice about it. He's pretty much got to live publicly as a mutant - with all that entails.

The funny thing about Xavier's Dream, I've always thought, is the best examples of it actually working aren't actually the X-Men. Something about the fact of a uniformed child army appearing out of nowhere to fight bad guys and then disappear after proving they can cause massive amounts of damage (...mostly Scott, admittedly, but sometimes Bobby too) tends to make people more freaked out rather than less.

Whereas Pietro and Wanda lived fairly openly as mutants in the Avengers and were actually pretty beloved. And during their respective stints on the Avengers, Hank, Storm, even LOGAN, tend to get positive press and reception. A lot of that, I suspect, is because the Avengers is a different kind of entity and folks didn't so much accept those mutant characters as just not think of them AS mutants. But it does indicate both that Xavier's onto something with positioning his students as heroes, and fucking up the execution somehow.

It does get interesting to see how other teams and characters tackle the idea. The Original X-Factor concept was fascinating. An obviously absurd and terrible idea that was as counterproductive as it was well-meaning, but also fascinating. Secretly training mutants while publicly acting like "mutant hunters".

Most of the time though, the X-Men basically followed the Xavier formula, even when Xavier was in space or otherwise on the outs. But it gets kind of interesting in the mid 00s, when we go through that spat of Xavier's the Worst (which I enjoy but also think gets a little over the top even for my Xavier-hating taste.) When he gets booted off and Scott (and Emma, but she's more in charge of the school side of things) takes over completely, we see a shift.

Whedon's Astonishing X-Men is really interesting in this context. I've seen folks dismiss it as some kind of "conservative" attempt to go back to a status quo that never really existed. (And honestly, I wish we'd stop calling story arcs that we don't like "conservative". It's always a story about a oppressed minority trying to exist in a world that despises them, even if we don't necessarily agree with the way they do it.) I don't see it that way. Whedon's X-Men is specifically presented as a strategic attempt, by Cyclops, to present a specific superheroic face to the world.

It's basically the same as the later X-Tinction Team, but in the opposite direction. And this isn't me putting my meta hat on, this is expressly the reason given for the team in the first couple of issues.

It does get a little funny then that half the run involves internal X-Men issues and then adventures on another planet, but there you go.

Then of course, we get the Decimation. We get the move to San Francisco, where, even then, Scott Summers's primary strategy is to make friends with the Mayor and try to have them live openly as part of the community. And it seems to even be working, to an extent, until Civil War and Dark Reign put the kibosh on that. Then we get Utopia, and the mutants under attack.

We do tend to lose the co-existence thread at this point, understandably. Though you could make the argument that Logan's team going back to the Mansion was an attempt to return to the Xavier-style status quo. While Scott's X-Tinction team was meant as a return to the Astonishing style superhero team, only this time scary and a clear lightning rod distraction from the Mansion folks.

Post AvX gets interesting, because you have Logan's team openly working with the Avengers. Scott's team is of course hunted, but somehow the guy still manages to be on every college dorm wall and get a cover of Rolling Stone. The Mutant Revolution at this point is oddly friendlier than Utopia when you get right down to it, and more about trying to set up a place where OTHER mutants get to live in their homes, with their own lives, even if Scott and his team get to live in a Weapon X facility. Even when he abandons the Dream, he really doesn't.

As much as I dislike Death of X and Inhumans vs. X-Men, the Xavier-hater in me gets unpleasantly smug by the idea that the "X" in Death of X does NOT refer to Xavier. Because Xavier is the dreamer, not the dream.

(That may also be why people tend to react really badly when Scott falls off his pedestal. Milquetoast Revolutionary Scott didn't really say anything all that different from his Claremont era characterization, but they act like he's a monster because his edgelord presentation is not the Dream they signed on for.)

It does make Krakoa even more interesting though, because we've got Xavier back. He's back being the architect and the Dreamer. But Krakoa is, when you think about it, the complete antithesis of his own dream!

There are definite good parts to it. Safety, resurrection, the chance for mutants to develop their own individual culture and identity. But it's not an idea that works for everyone. Not everyone WANTS to be separate from human society. And we see that, I think, in Scott Summers.

The Summer House is the gift that keeps on giving in terms of sparking meta. This time though, I think about its location. And where it is NOT. It's cool, it's fancy, it's built with Krakoan plant technology on the moon. But it's not on Krakoa itself, and the more I think about it, the more I think that's significant. During a time that the Council wouldn't even let Scott bring the Champions - superhero CHILDREN to Krakoa for safety, he's having his very human dad for family visits. (I wonder, if Kitty and the Marauders weren't available, would a space ship have been plan B?)

Later, we have the X-Men back in the Treehouse in the middle of New York City, helping the mayor and engaging in all kinds of outreach. Xavier's got his Camelot, so Scott gets to indulge in his own version of the Dream once more.

It's interesting actually, how the From the Ashes version seems to be an interesting amalgamation of vision. In many ways, it's like post-Schism Utopia or even the Revolutionary era - a repurposed base that once belonged to the enemy. A stripped down team focused on tactics and missions. No students at all, this time, except maybe the new mutants they've accumulated accidently.

(I realize it's funny to call the Adjectiveless Team "stripped down" when it's probably got the biggest cast of the X-books so far. But it definitely feels like Rogue's team is the catch all, for any former X-Men to just drift in and out as the writers see fit, while Emma's is basically Generation X, anew. It definitely reads like each member of the Adjectiveless team was chosen for a purpose)

At the same time though, they're not as isolated as Utopia. They're working with the locals. I know some folks were pretty bitter about the idea of Scott courting the local police chief, and I get that, but I also think it's completely in character. They're making a presence for themselves in the town rather than isolated from it, and it'll be interesting to see how that all works together.

[ginxyy]

Love&Hate

The cliche of loving your enemy and that enemy happens to be Seungcheol.

Every time I step into the magnificent, yet intensely competitive world of HYBE, I can feel my heart racing. I’ve always admired the bright lights of K-Pop, the perfect harmonies, the thrilling choreography. But among all that beauty, there’s one person who brings me…exasperation. Seungcheol. The leader of SEVENTEEN, and my self-appointed nemesis.

Let’s rewind a bit. I’ve been working at HYBE for a little over a year now, assisting in music promotion and marketing, but somehow, my job seems to always orbit around SEVENTEEN. And to make matters worse, I’m good friends with Seungkwan, who insists on dragging me along to their practice sessions. I get it; they’re great, talented, and sometimes even ridiculous, but the chaos that seems to follow Seungcheol and me? Infuriating.

At first, I thought it could evolve into an amicable working relationship, an understanding between two driven individuals. In fact, I remember the first time Seungcheol and I crossed paths. I was in the studio, going over some promotional material, when he barged in, demanding to know why the latest music video concept looked like “a toddler’s art project.” I shot back, "Maybe if you spent less time flexing your ‘leadership’ skills and more time appreciating the creative process, we could actually produce something worthwhile."

From that moment on, our relationship became an absurd contest of wills. I got smarter with my jabs, and he doubled down on his mockery. He would careful to find faults in my work, and I would promptly point out how clueless he was when it came to anything outside of being on stage. The tension was electric; I watched the way his jaw tightened whenever I called him out, how his expressive eyes could smolder with irritation, and bells seemed to ring inside me whenever I bested him in a particularly volatile argument.

It became a running joke among the other members when they found out I had a penchant for clashing with their leader. “You two should just date already,” Seungkwan teased, while others laughed along. I’d always rolled my eyes, but secretly, part of me thought they might be onto something. I mean, in a wild, ironic, twisted kind of way.

But there’s a line between attraction and annoyance and I was doing everything in my power not to cross it. Instead, we fanned the flames of our animosity when everyone least expected it. The insults were sharp, quick, and laughter always followed, but beneath that raucous exterior, simmered a tension that was impossible to ignore.

Then came that fateful night.

All the members had left the practice room, the thunderous claps of the beat fading into an eerie silence. I stood at the rehearsal studio, reorganizing some props and papers, trying not to think of the looming deadline but also of the contained fire that was Seungcheol. Just as I was eliminating the last of our remnants, I heard footsteps echoing on the bright wooden floor.

Seungcheol stepped into the room, his face blank, eyes scanning for some sign of my impending doom. “What are you still doing here?” he asked brusquely, a sharp edge slicing through his usual tone.

I could feel my irritation rising at his condescending demeanor. "Some of us actually take our jobs seriously," I snapped back. "Unlike others who are just a pretty face on stage."

“Are you really going to bring that up?” he said, stepping closer, his voice thick with disbelief. “I'm leading a group of talented individuals! What exactly is it that you do?”

It was becoming all too familiar, our daily sparring sessions. “Executing poorly planned promotional strategies does not entail standing and making grand gestures, Seungcheol,” I shot back, barely noticing the way his breath quickened at my words.

“You wouldn’t get it,” he yelled, the sound cutting through the silence like a knife. “You're just some marketing assistant trying to impress your favorite idol.”

And that was it. Something snapped within me. That was the final straw, and I could feel the anger coursing through my veins, clouding my judgment. “And you’re just a glorified performer letting your ego inflate to dangerous levels,” I screamed back, absolutely done with his arrogance.

There was a moment of silence thick, heavy, and swirling with palpable tension. I thought I could throw a punch at him, maybe grab an object and hurl it in his direction, but instead, I found myself mirrored in Seungcheol’s eyes. His expression shifted, a flash of intense emotion swirling as he stood still, almost contemplative.

And that’s when he did something so astonishing, it sent shockwaves through my body. His hands shot out and grabbed my shoulders, drawing me closer, our breaths coming together in sync. “You’re infuriating!” he growled

seconds before crashing his lips against mine.

I’m not sure how long we stayed like that. It was the kind of kiss that felt like a call to arms, a challenge, and an unbidden attraction igniting like gasoline, burning through every confrontational moment we’d shared before. My anger dissipated, melting into something far deeper, something I hadn’t been prepared for.

But reality crashed back in. I pushed him away, panting, desperately inhaling the scent of adrenaline that lingered between us. “What the hell was that, Seungcheol?”

He looked just as stunned, mouth slightly agape, unsure of what to say. “I don’t know,” he finally confessed. “I—”

“Think this is funny?” I interrupted, my heart pounding in protest. “Is this how you deal with all your enemies?”

“No! Not like this,” he retorted. “I don’t know what came over me. But you have to admit there’s something here.”

The realization hit me like a lightning bolt; I wasn’t ready to dissect, to label it, to change the dynamic we had. “This is a disaster,” I finally said, locking eyes with him for only a heartbeat.

But before I could formulate another coherent thought, he closed the distance again. “Or it could be the beginning of something incredible,” he said quietly.

Seungcheol’s words hung in the air, sending a shiver down my spine. The intensity in his eyes was unmistakable, a fiery determination that seemed to flicker and waver with something else something that mirrored my own unspoken desire.

I felt my pulse quicken as he closed the distance between us again, his gaze dark and unreadable. There was a magnetic pull between us, as if some invisible thread was pulling us together, and I could feel his breath, warm against my skin, stirring something deep within me. My fingers clenched at my sides, grappling with the sudden, intense proximity. But it was futile.

“Fine,” I whispered, my voice almost betraying me. His eyes widened slightly, as if daring me to say more, and a soft smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. But before he could respond, I reached out, grabbing his collar and pulling him to me in a move that surprised us both.

Our mouths collided with a hunger that was barely contained, fierce and fervent, as though we were both trying to pour weeks no, months of pent-up tension into this single moment. His hands slid down my arms and found my waist, pressing firmly, possessively, as if he had no intention of letting me go this time.

The soft glow of the practice room mirrored on the walls seemed to dim as everything narrowed to just the two of us, locked in a dance of passion that was far from choreographed. His touch ignited a fire beneath my skin, his fingers finding their way to the small of my back, pulling me closer still until our bodies were flush against each other. I could feel every inch of him, every breath and every heartbeat as we continued to tangle together.

“You drive me crazy,” he murmured, breaking away just enough to look into my eyes, his gaze hazy yet intense. I could feel his grip tightening on my waist, like he was afraid to let me go, like he was anchoring himself to this moment.

“You think I don’t know that?” I shot back, breathless, trying to muster any trace of the snark I’d used as a shield around him for so long. But it melted away the moment his thumb brushed the side of my face, gentler than I’d ever expected from him. I leaned into his touch instinctively, feeling my own barriers begin to crumble.

His hand found the back of my neck, drawing me to him again, and we crashed together, this time slower, more deliberate. His lips softened against mine, the ferocity giving way to something unexpected and infinitely more dangerous. The world outside faded, and all that mattered was the steady rhythm of his breathing, the warmth of his body pressed against mine, and the realization that this dance was far more potent than any words or glances we’d exchanged before.

He let his hands roam along my sides, his touch searing through the thin fabric, and I felt my own hands glide up his chest, feeling the rapid rise and fall as he struggled to catch his breath. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew this was risky, that there would be consequences for crossing the line we’d so carefully toed all this time. But for once, I didn’t care. This was exactly where I wanted to be ost in the intensity of his embrace, caught in the electric pull between us.

With a smirk, he leaned in close, his voice low and rough. “I knew you couldn’t resist me.”

“Oh, shut up,” I shot back, before pulling him down to me once more, determined to silence him. And this time, neither of us held back.

Our bodies melded together in the soft glow of the practice room, each movement deliberate, each touch and kiss uncovering something we’d both hidden beneath layers of irritation and competition. It was a rush, a heady mix of passion and release that left me breathless, caught up in the warmth and weight of his touch, the way his lips explored mine with both urgency and reverence. There was no longer any room for words; this was the language we spoke best in that moment raw, unfiltered, honest.

And then, just as quickly as it began, we found ourselves pulling apart, the intensity simmering but settling into a heavy, charged silence. His face hovered close to mine, his breaths mingling with mine as we slowly came down from the shared high, both of us wide-eyed, still caught in the disbelief of what had just happened.

I swallowed hard, staring into his dark, penetrating gaze. His lips parted as if he wanted to say something, but I couldn’t wait to hear what he’d come up with. The reality was creeping in too quickly, and I needed space to think, to breathe, to process.

So, I slipped out of his grasp, muttering something about needing to go. He didn’t stop me, only watched with that same stunned, contemplative look as I grabbed my bag and left the studio, practically running down the hallway as if to escape the whirlwind of emotion left behind.

The next morning, I made my way to HYBE, a tangled knot of nerves twisted inside me, still replaying everything that had happened in the practice room. I tried to brush it off as an anomaly, an impulsive mistake, but even I couldn’t deny the way my pulse had quickened just thinking about it. Worse still, I had to act normal and pretend nothing had happened. And, knowing Seungkwan, that was going to be harder than ever.

True to form, he found me almost immediately, waving me down with his usual bright grin and practically skipping over, somehow managing to radiate sunshine and chaos before even 9 a.m.

“Y/N!” he called, bounding up to me. “I heard you were working late last night. Everything okay?”

I hesitated, my eyes darting down the hallway. “Um…yeah. Just, you know, a lot to handle.” I attempted a smile, desperately hoping he’d buy it and let me go before I said something incriminating.

But Seungkwan’s brow arched, his curiosity piqued. “Oh, really? And how did you handle it?” He leaned in, his voice dropping to a mischievous whisper. “Maybe with a certain leader we both know?”

I froze, my heart dropping straight to the floor. He couldn’t possibly know, could he? “What are you talking about?”

His grin widened, sly and all-knowing. “Come on, Y/N. You think I haven’t noticed the way you and Seungcheol are constantly butting heads? That kind of tension has to come from somewhere.” He poked my shoulder, his eyes bright. “So…what happened last night?”

I sighed, glancing around to make sure no one was in earshot. “Seungkwan, you can’t tell anyone, okay? Not even the guys. This…this is huge.”

His eyes went wide, practically sparkling with excitement. “I swear, you have my complete and undivided attention. Now spill!”

Taking a deep breath, I leaned in and whispered, “Seungcheol and I…we kissed. Well, more than that. It was… intense.” I felt a flush creeping up my neck, recalling the way his hands had felt on my skin, the way he’d looked at me with that fire in his eyes.

Seungkwan’s reaction was instantaneous. His mouth dropped open, his eyes widening in shock before he broke into an ear-splitting grin, grabbing my shoulders and shaking me excitedly. “Oh my god! You and Seungcheol? I knew it! I knew there was something going on with you two!” He released me, practically dancing in place with his glee. “I am so proud of you! My best friend is finally seeing the light!”

“Seeing the…Seungkwan, calm down!” I hissed, glancing around as he continued his celebratory mini-dance. “It was just one night. It didn’t mean anything at least, I don’t think it did…”

“Oh, it meant something, all right,” he said, waggling his eyebrows at me. “You don’t just spend months bickering with someone and then share a random kiss like that.” He crossed his arms, looking me up and down like he was putting together a master plan. “You two are soulmates in denial. This has been a long time coming.”

I rolled my eyes, though a part of me couldn’t deny the flutter in my chest at his words. “Please, Seungkwan. Just because we kissed doesn’t mean we’re destined to be together.”

He shook his head, clearly not taking no for an answer. “No, no, no. I refuse to let you brush this off. I mean, do you know how rare it is to find someone who gets under your skin in just the right way? Who challenges you, makes you better, forces you to be honest?” He crossed his arms, as if daring me to argue with him. “You’re both too stubborn to admit it, but you’re into each other. And now that I have confirmation, it’s my mission to make this happen.”

“Oh, really?” I asked, raising an eyebrow skeptically. “And how exactly do you plan to do that?”

Seungkwan’s grin turned devilish, his eyes glinting with a gleeful determination. “Easy. I’ll make it impossible for you two to avoid each other. Oh, trust me I have ideas. Lots of ideas.”

Before I could protest, he clapped his hands, already deep in thought, and practically skipped away, muttering to himself about “love at last” and “a love story for the ages.”

I watched him go, a mixture of exasperation and amusement settling over me. But even as I tried to brush it off, I couldn’t ignore the small thrill of excitement tingling at the thought of what lay ahead.

And despite myself, I couldn’t stop the smile that spread across my face.

Over the next few weeks, Seungkwan’s “mission” played out with a maddening intensity. If there was a strategy meeting, Seungcheol and I somehow ended up seated next to each other. If a team was needed to coordinate with SEVENTEEN, Seungkwan somehow made it so that I was the only person available to assist. Even after-hours gatherings were no longer safe. Seungkwan took every possible opportunity to shove us into each other’s orbit, and each time, the tension between us seemed to double.

What began as a flurry of heated glances and subtle touches soon turned into an unbearable itch. Each encounter seemed to build upon the last, a constant, simmering tension that left me on edge, aware of every one of his movements, every fleeting look he’d shoot my way. Seungcheol, for his part, seemed to be caught in the same push and pull, always finding reasons to be near me, to brush past me, his hand grazing my arm in ways that felt anything but accidental.

Then one evening, after another long practice session where Seungkwan “accidentally” forgot to tell me that I was the last one needed to clean up, it happened.

I was gathering my things, mumbling under my breath about Seungkwan’s meddling, when I heard a low voice behind me.

“Y/N.”

I froze, recognizing that voice instantly. Turning slowly, I met Seungcheol’s eyes, dark and intense as they locked onto mine. There was an undeniable heat in his gaze, the kind I’d grown all too familiar with over the past few weeks but had tried my best to ignore. I felt my heart hammer in my chest as he took a step closer, his gaze searing and unyielding.

“Seungcheol,” I murmured, my voice coming out in barely a whisper.

“You know he’s doing this on purpose,” he said, his voice low, rough around the edges. His lips curled into a faint smirk, though his eyes held nothing but intensity. “Our dear friend Seungkwan.”

I nodded, swallowing hard, trying to ignore the butterflies that his proximity was stirring. “Yeah, well, he thinks he’s a matchmaker or something.” I attempted a laugh, but it sounded hollow.

He took another step, and suddenly, I found myself pressed back against the cool wall, his body close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from him. My breath caught, trapped somewhere between excitement and anticipation, my heart racing as his hand found my waist, holding me firmly in place.

“Maybe he’s right,” he murmured, his eyes dropping to my lips for a split second before returning to meet my gaze. His hand came up, his fingers brushing along my neck, leaving a trail of warmth in their wake. I could feel his breath, warm against my skin, as he leaned closer, his lips ghosting over the curve of my neck. “You’ve been driving me crazy, Y/N.”

I shivered, his words sending a spark through my veins. “You’re not exactly innocent either,” I managed, though my voice betrayed the effect he was having on me.

He smirked, and before I could utter another word, his mouth found the curve of my neck, pressing a searing kiss to my skin. My hands instinctively found his shoulders, my fingers digging into the firm muscle as he moved his lips against my neck, marking me with a possessive intensity that stole my breath away. Each kiss felt like a claim, a silent declaration of everything we’d been holding back.

“Seungcheol,” I gasped, my fingers clutching him tighter as he continued, his mouth tracing a line from my neck to my collarbone. The world around us faded, and all that remained was the press of his body against mine, the feel of his hands roaming along my sides, the way he left my skin tingling with every touch.

His hand slipped beneath the hem of my shirt, his fingers splaying against my waist, his touch igniting a fire beneath my skin. His eyes met mine, dark and burning with an intensity that mirrored my own desire, and without another word, he crashed his lips against mine.

The kiss was fierce, filled with all the frustration and want we’d kept bottled up for so long. Our lips moved together in a heated dance, desperate and hungry, as though we were both trying to make up for every second we’d spent fighting the inevitable. His hands roamed over my body, pulling me impossibly close, and I melted into him, letting him take control, letting him show me exactly how much he wanted this wanted me.

Time seemed to blur, and before I knew it, he was guiding me toward the nearby couch, his movements deliberate, his touch electrifying. I followed him willingly, lost in the heat of the moment, in the way his hands gripped my waist, his mouth leaving a trail of kisses down my neck, over my shoulder, igniting a blaze that I couldn’t extinguish even if I’d wanted to.

We stumbled onto the couch, a tangled mess of limbs and breathless laughter as we surrendered to the pull that had been building between us for what felt like forever. His hands were everywhere, his touch searing into my skin, leaving me breathless and aching, as though he was determined to memorize every inch of me. Our movements grew frenzied, each kiss deeper, each touch more urgent, and I felt myself getting lost in him, in the way he seemed to know exactly what I needed, in the way he murmured my name against my skin like a prayer.

And in that moment, nothing else mattered no titles, no rivalry, no tension. Just us, tangled together, lost in the heat and intensity of something that had always been there, waiting for the right moment to explode.

The next morning, as the early sunlight streamed through my window, I lay in bed, my mind reeling from everything that had happened. I could still feel the ghost of Seungcheol’s touch, the warmth of his skin against mine, the way he’d held me as if he never wanted to let go. A part of me wanted to overthink it, to analyze every detail, but another part of me the part still basking in the afterglow of last night wanted nothing more than to hold onto the memory for as long as possible.

I didn’t get much time to dwell on it, though, because my phone buzzed with a message from Seungkwan:

Seungkwan: Y/N! You won’t believe what I dreamed last night. You and Seungcheol FINALLY got together! Haha! Just imagine if it were real.

I groaned, burying my face in my hands. I had a feeling Seungkwan wouldn’t need to imagine for long.

I stared at Seungkwan’s message, feeling my stomach twist into knots. My heart pounded as I remembered every vivid, heated detail from last night, and I knew it was only a matter of time before Seungkwan pieced things together. It was as if his sixth sense for drama was on high alert. I bit my lip, hesitating before typing a response.

Me: Um, Seungkwan… about that “dream.” It wasn’t exactly a dream…

There was a moment of silence—too long a silence—before my phone exploded with rapid-fire notifications.

Seungkwan: WHAT

Seungkwan: ARE YOU SERIOUS??

Seungkwan: Y/N, this is HUGE. WHERE ARE YOU? I’M COMING TO YOU.

Before I could answer, my door burst open, and Seungkwan, looking entirely too wide-eyed and dramatic for this early in the morning, practically lunged into the room. “Y/N!” he gasped, throwing his hands up in theatrical shock. “I cannot believe this. YOU AND SEUNGCHEOL HOOKED UP?!”

I grabbed his arm, trying to shush him as I dragged him inside and shut the door. “Seungkwan, can you not yell that out loud? We’re not exactly trying to announce it to the world.”

“But, but…” he stammered, his eyes practically sparkling with excitement. “How am I supposed to stay calm when my two best friends just hooked up? This is epic! This is legendary! How was it? Was it magical? I need every detail!”

I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms. “I’m not giving you details, Seungkwan. Just know… it was intense.” I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks, and Seungkwan’s grin grew even wider.

He let out an exaggerated sigh, clapping his hands together. “I knew it. I knew it! All that unresolved tension finally had to go somewhere.” He grabbed me by the shoulders, shaking me gently. “Do you know what this means? This is fate, Y/N! You two are meant to be together!”

“Seungkwan, please,” I said, half-laughing, half-panicking. “It was one night. It doesn’t mean anything… at least, I think it doesn’t…”

He shot me an exasperated look. “One night? Are you kidding me? This is just the beginning. We are not leaving this as a one-night thing. Nope, not on my watch.”

Before I could stop him, he grabbed my wrist, practically dragging me out of the room. “Wait, where are we going?”

He turned, a glint of determination in his eye. “To the practice room. We’re going to put an end to this ‘maybe it’s nothing’ nonsense, and we’re going to do it in front of everyone.”

“Seungkwan!” I hissed, trying to pull back, but his grip was surprisingly strong. “You can’t just march me in there like this!”

“Oh, yes I can,” he replied, a wicked grin on his face. “Trust me, you’re going to thank me later.”

A few minutes later, we reached the practice room, and I could already feel the nerves building as I saw SEVENTEEN’s other members scattered around, talking and stretching. They glanced up as we entered, and I tried to shrink back, but Seungkwan had already caught their attention.

“Attention, everyone!” Seungkwan announced, his voice ringing out dramatically, his expression far too smug for my liking. “I have important news!”

A couple of the members groaned, while others raised curious eyebrows, clearly intrigued by Seungkwan’s antics. Then, I saw Seungcheol look up from across the room, his gaze meeting mine. My stomach flipped, and I was sure my cheeks were already burning.

“Seungkwan, what are you doing?” Seungcheol asked, his brow furrowing as he took a step toward us.

Seungkwan threw an arm around my shoulder, pulling me forward. “Our dear Y/N and your fearless leader here had a little rendezvous last night!” He grinned, looking between us like a proud matchmaker. “And I’m here to make sure they take the next step. Seungcheol, ask her out on a date. Properly.”

The room went dead silent. My eyes went wide as I looked up at Seungcheol, my pulse racing. I could feel everyone’s eyes on us, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Seungcheol looked as stunned as I felt, his mouth slightly open, clearly trying to process what was happening.

“Seungkwan!” I whispered, feeling both mortified and strangely thrilled. “You can’t just… make him do that.”

Seungkwan crossed his arms, looking every bit the proud mastermind. “Oh, I think he can. In fact, I think he wants to.”

Seungcheol seemed to snap out of his shock, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at Seungkwan, then back at me. I could see a mix of emotions flashing across his face surprise, amusement, something that looked a lot like determination.

Finally, he let out a small sigh, rubbing the back of his neck as a faint smile played on his lips. “Guess there’s no getting out of this, huh?” His gaze softened as he looked at me, the teasing edge in his expression giving way to something far more sincere. “Y/N,” he began, taking a step closer, his voice dropping so that only I could hear, “will you go out with me?”

The room collectively held its breath, and I felt my heart stutter in my chest. I wanted to smack Seungkwan for forcing this situation, but I couldn’t deny the thrill that raced through me at Seungcheol’s words, the gentle, honest way he was looking at me.

“Yes,” I managed, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’d love to.”

Seungkwan cheered, pumping his fists in the air, and the other members burst into laughter and applause, some clapping Seungcheol on the back while others teased me with exaggerated winks and thumbs-up.

Seungcheol leaned in, close enough that only I could hear. “Guess we have Seungkwan to thank for this,” he murmured, his lips brushing my ear.

I shivered, feeling a familiar warmth flood through me. “Yeah,” I whispered back, my heart fluttering. “But something tells me we would’ve found our way here anyway.”

He smiled, his eyes glinting with that familiar mischievousness. “Then let’s make it worth the wait.”

[misty-memories09]

Incoming rant about Muzan's backstory because it's continuously bugging me. I can't stop thinking about how flat it falls. It's not good at all. It could've been so much better...like you know the feeling when you see a concept that's good and interesting but the execution makes you want to just throw yourself out of the window? That's how I feel about kny sometimes, you know.

Honestly, I genuinely can't believe we weren't given a more fleshed out backstory for Muzan. The other demons had interesting enough backstories (but they were brief...not like any other characters got that thorough of a backstory either) but Muzan's just fell short. He's definitely a horrible person (kind of. Y'know because he's a demon so that's why kind of), but like we had this glimpse on the fact he's absolutely delirious about control/power/conquering the sun, we know that and we were shown that he was weak as a human...and then what?

Just a little bit about him being born and also being desperate to continue living...when we join that to him being too weak to live as a human, it kind of makes sense. So it's a real let down that we didn't see Muzan dig himself a grave in 4k — go absolutely mad, crazy, craving to be strong because he was born weak — and honestly I would LOVE to see that. More than anything, we know for a fact no one's always "morally correct" or "morally incorrect".

It would've been so much more interesting to see the villain having tread this path for so long but there were so many ways it could have gone differently, that there was a possibility that he might've not turned out so horrible. Because other demons get to be human before being turned into demons and Muzan doesn't get that. Why? Why not? Why can't he become horrible, why can't we see him hating his weakness and going absolutely crazy?

He's the main antagonist, yet he doesn't have a backstory nearly fleshed enough. Shit, could've been poetic: he's so desperate for conquering the sun, to become strong unlike his human self, he hates humans too...but he feels the human emotion "desperacy" so much — he's damn intimate with that feeling! A human feeling which shows that he still has the human "flaws" — just like the rest of the demons, and inevitably he's the cause of his own downfall. Like picture it as domino pieces and he stomped on like forty on them which made them all fall down so much more fast than nudging a single one.

Actually, not a single backstory satisfied me, as I am a person that needs to look at all the origin stories. I need more fleshed out stuff this really isn't enough, I'm starving.

I typed this so fast btw, please ignore any and every typo.

[nyc3]

hello I recently and after going through it I would like to ask some questions if that’s ok of course and sorry if you perhaps got one of theses questions before

1.what is your general opinion on Shigaraki cause I’m curious as a shiggy fan and just curious in general what other people who don’t like him as much or just in general don’t like him think of him

2. How would you write/rewrite shigaraki just in general or if nine was the main villian and Shigaraki was like a secondary villian and or maybe him joining up with nine

3. What do you think would have happened if nine found tenko

sorry if this ask comes off as annoying or rude I’m just general curious hope you having a good/night

Hello!

It's ok, I would try to answer the question the best I can as english isn't my first lenguage so sorry if you find errors here and there. So let's go:

1_ This may sound strange as my constant comments and critiques about Shigaraki may make look like I hate him, but isn't really the case.

I think is more he's a frustrating character to me because while on paper his concept is fine, I feel his presence ends up being detrimental to the quality of the story because the mangaka didn't know how kept Shigaraki relevant and his solution was artificially increase his status sacrificing other more interesting characters with potential just to elevate Shigaraki, especially Nine and Overhaul.

2_ Honestly I never thought on an in deep rewrite of Shigaraki overall character.

But If I have to say something he did works as a early antagonist considering the initial states of MHA and while I'm not fan of having a singular main villain (because in my ideal story multiple major villains should fight for the power) I think Shigaraki and Nine surely can coexist in the same story. They can even influence each other in fact.

After all an important part of Shigaraki as a character is how he develops a sense camaraderie and tries to became a better leader (even if there's a lot of problems with the execution if that idea in canon).

But Nine already had those qualities since the beginning, he's a good leader who always cared about his teamates and tried his best to protect them. He was a hero for them basically.

So why not make Nine a figure which inspires Shigaraki rather than his rival and Tomura attemps to became a better version of himself while looking what makes Nine a beloved leader, while at the same it time creates a contrast with AFO who was the only prominent figure on his life before.

It would also be funny if AFO didn't see coming how his two attempts of "successors" would became closer allies rather than rivals and join forces, eventually opposing him. Nine would never follow AFO selfish ideals, and he probably will fight to free Shigaraki from his control.

3_ This one is interesting, because I don't think Nine and Shigaraki have a big age difference in the first place.

Despite Nine got a more adult vibe he probably is at best middle 20s, which would make him 4-5 years older than Shigaraki in terms of canon age.

So in a scenario where Nine found Tenko after what happened to his family that day they both will still be kids.

But despite Nine seem to only care about people with stronger quirks and you can think "why he would care about a random kid in the streets?" I actually think Nine has this unconsious instict to protect others in a vulnerable situation regardless of their actual power. After all how he could guess people like Slice and Mummy were strong but he helped them anyway?

That being said I think Nine would do exactly the same for Tenko if he found him that day, extending a hand to him (metaphorically at least lol) and both would escape together while trying to survive on the cruel world of the streets as two orphans without any place to go.

Think about it as Nine being the big bro who tries to protect Tenko the best he can, because he knows Tenko can be a really strong person and both could take on the world someday. Of course Nine won't try to fuel Tenko's trauma unlike AFO, perhaps he will attempt to heal him and Tenko will recover a bit of his own selfless and sweet self with time.

While they grown together as a found family they eventually will meet Chimera, Slice and Mummy like Nine did in canon.

Idk how their lives should continue from there, but pretty sure all them will still fight for create the ideal world Nine always wanted for all of them.

So that's it, I tried my best to answer each question but probably I could've added a lot more but didn't want to make this too long either.

Perhaps one day I will do more post with ideas about how I would like the story to be. It's very fun write about Nine and Shigaraki actually.

Thank you for ask and read!

[here-for-eddie]

rating the possible solutions to the bt problem in s8

according to my very specific and arbitrary criteria: likeliness of the solution, in-story satisfaction (how would it work in the show) and pettiness factor (how much would it piss off the bt fandom/tommy fans)

Tommy stays, bucktommy endgame

Very unlikely (thank god)

Storyline satisfaction 0/10

Pettiness -1000/10 (they would become insufferable forever)

Buck is single in 08x01, Tommy is never mentioned again

Unlikely

Storyline satisfaction 3/10 (would mean we suffered through 7b for nothing)

Pettiness 10/10

Buck is single in 08x01, bucktommy breakup only mentioned

Possible (happened with natalia)

Storyline satisfaction 5/10 or more (depends on how it would be discussed, what did Buck learn from that relationship)

Pettiness 9/10 (bonus points if it's not due to unavailability of lfj, just Tim deciding he has enough of That Mess)

Buck is single in 08x01, confirms they were only on a few dates and were never in a relationship

Possible

Storyline satisfaction 5/10

Pettiness 11/10 (bucktommies would explode)

Buck experiences buddie summer of infidelity

very unlikely (fortunately for me, because I love this concept in theory but would hate it in the show 🙃)

Storyline satisfaction 2/10

Pettiness 5/10 (would make Tommy the wronged party here, so I'm not vibing with that)

Tommy dies

Unlikely

Storyline satisfaction 0/10 (buck would have to mourn him)

Pettiness 6/10 (their fave would be gone forever but bt would be immortalised as a tragic romance)

They split up because of their incompatibility

likely

storyline satisfaction 7/10

pettiness 7/10 (would mean that Tommy is not the perfect partner they claim he is, but the solution itself is a boring as Tommy)

they split up because Tommy behaves like a jerk to Buck

possible

storyline satisfaction 9/10 (his behaviour in s7 is not brushed aside)

pettiness 9/10 (would contradict all those baffling interpretations of tommy's behaviour being peak romantic in s7)

They spilt up because of Tommy's past and/or present attitudes towards the Gerrard problem

likely

storyline satisfaction 10/10 (it would mean his past behaviour is not brushed aside and forgotten)

pettiness 10/10 (would contradict all those baffling theories and his fans ignoring his past behaviour)

They split up because Buck learns that Eddie was Tommy's first choice

unlikely

storyline satisfaction 9/10 (it would play into Buck's issues)

pettiness 10/10 (as an Eddie fan, I love it when everything is about Eddie)

they split up because Buck realises he is in love with Eddie

likely

storyline satisfaction 13/10 (a logical conclusion to everything that's happened in s7, especially 07x04)

pettiness 7/10

They split up because Tommy realises Buck is in love with Eddie

possible

storyline satisfaction 3/10 (it's something Buck should discover for himself, not have pointed out to him by anyone)

pettiness 5/10 (would mean that Tommy is forever intertwined with the beginnings of buddie, which I'm not vibing with)

They split up because of a threesome with Eddie

very unlikely

storyline satisfaction depends (could be 10/10 if they executed a very specific scenario but I don't really trust them to)

pettiness depends (could be 10/10 hilarious if they managed to convey that Buck was only ever crazy about Eddie)

They split up because Tommy is moving away

possible

storyline satisfaction 8/10 (buck would get to realise there are more important things in LA for him than his relationship with Tommy)

pettiness 4/10 (their relationship would have to be quite serious first)

They split up because Tommy doesn't want children

possible

storyline satisfaction 9/10 (buck would have to think about what he wants and maybe that he already has it)

pettiness 5/10

if you have any more scenarios, let me know!

[helenofsparta2]

kind of related to your post about zoe just now but: what do you think of the hunters in general? I've got a lot of thoughts on them myself.. most of them not that positive lmao lots of "could have been good, but very poor execution" and "sounds cool on the surface, but very questionable when thought about more"

First of all, thank you for the question :)))

Oh god, this might become a slightly longer post, because I have a lot to say about the hunters of Artemis.

From what you’ve written, it sounds like we might have a very similar opinion. I personally think they are one of the worst-written parts of the original Percy Jackson books. I love their idea, I love their basic concept, but their execution was pretty atrocious.

There are four main points regarding them that I want to talk about.

The portrayal of Artemis (though this one is by far not as bad as the others)

2. The behaviour of the huntresses

3. Bianca

4. Lacking Development

Artemis

Now, I know that the gods and goddesses of the Riordan verse, are sanitized caricatures, and shouldn’t be compared to their actual myth versions. I think everyone in this fandom has at least heard some well-founded criticisms regarding the portrayal of Ares, Athena, Aphrodite, Apollo or any of the other gods.  

I even understand why Rick Riordan made most of the decisions that he did. Obviously, the gods had to be sanitized for a book series primarily aimed at children, and, to be fair to him, even if their characterizations are a far-cry from their myths and sometimes overly stereotypical (Aphrodite), they are fulfilling the roles they have in this story as deeply flawed, but powerful individuals, because of whose careless mistakes and pride demigods, and other ‘lesser’ beings have to suffer.  

And I actually do not hate Artemis’ portrayal that much, if we exclude the behavior of her hunt, and the initiation of Bianca. Her taking Annabeth’s place in holding the sky and her loudly arguing against killing Percy and Thalia at the winter solstice was a great portrayal of her being a patron goddess of children, and the idea of including the hunters of Artemis as a group of girls, both from mortal and immortal parents, who have been hurt by the world, and found a safe place with one another is actually really great. Generally, whenever she appears in the books, I have the feeling she is handled with far more graze and respect than a lot of other godly beings.  

However, as someone who very much loves Greek mythology, I just want to point out some small parts, which are not entirely accurate, though, again,  I understand Rick’s reason for omitting them in the context of what he wanted to do with her character and the hunt , and I acknowledge that even in ancient times, there existed a variety of different interpretations of the gods.

(Please note, that while I read original sources like the works of Diodor, Apollodorus, Hesiod, and Euripides, I am not a classicist, and that my knowledge of the greek gods primarily stems from personal research and my own interest. If anyone knows more about Artemis, please feel free to correct me if necessary)  

While Artemis is primarily the goddess of the hunt, and in later interpretations of the moon, she is not only the protector of girls, but the patron goddess of children in general and a goddess closely linked to childbirth.

Yes, she expects her followers to remain chaste, but to say that she is completely against men would be a grave mistake. Male followers of Artemis did exist in mythology, most famously Orion, who later became a constellation, and Hippolytus, the son of Theseus and the Amazon Hippolyta.

So, her cold behavior towards Nico and her degrading words towards boys in general is an attribute primarily added by Rick Riordan.

Though, like I said, I understand making certain changes to gods and goddesses, or rather choosing different interpretations of them to have them fulfill a certain role in a book series, so Artemis portrayal itself doesn’t bother me that much.

But if we’re talking about the hunters themselves, things easily take a turn for the worse.  

The behavior of the hunters

Now, I understand the hunters point in the story.

A huge theme of Titan’s curse is to explore the difference between old ideals of what heroism entails and the modern take on it, represented through Theseus and Herakles on one side, and Percy on the other. The hunters, and especially Zöe, represent a group, who have suffered through the actions of those old, primarily male heroes, and have developed a strong bias against all boys and men as a result. A bias, Percy is supposed to break in this book.

This, in itself, is a pretty awesome concept. But, like I said, the execution mostly failed.

Most of the Hunters of Artemis in Titan’s curse were written without any nuance, without development and without any sense of self reflection.

To express it plainly, they completely suck. And that hurts to say, especially as someone who is asexual-sex-repulsed and aromantic, because, like I said, they could have been an absolutely amazing part of the overarching story and theme of the book series, but with the way Rick Riordan wrote them, they suck. They’re insufferable.  They’re a group of immortal teenagers with a superiority complex, who act the way right-wing republicans and trump supporters think feminists act like.

They’re completely antagonistic towards the campers at camp half-blood for absolutely no good reason, act really childish and immature, and their overwhelming bias against every male character, especially Percy and Nico, is just plain annoying and goes to a point, where it makes them act like absolute idiots and assholes.

Zöe’s behavior at the meeting to decide who should go on the quest to save Artemis is a pretty good representation of everything I dislike about the hunters.  

She doesn’t want to take campers with her on the quest, even though the oracle plainly stated that them working together was the only way for them to succeed:

“You’re missing something as usual,” Thalia said. “Campers and Hunters combined prevail. We’re supposed to do this together.”

“No!”, Zoe said. “The Hunters do not need thy help.”

Immediately afterwards, she makes fun of Silena Beauregard (who is around 14 or 15 at the time, might I add.):

“Percy is right,” Silena Beauregard said. “Two campers should go.”

“Oh, I see,” Zoe said sarcastically. “And I suppose you wish to volunteer?”

Silena blushed. “I’m not going anywhere with the hunters. Don’t look at me!”

“A daughter of Aphrodite does not wish to be looked at,” Zoe scoffed. “What would thy mother say?”

And then, she decisively refuses Percy’s help for the quest, even though he is objectively the best person for the job. I really can’t reiterate enough that Percy is the most accomplished hero present at that meeting. He has successfully led two quests, one to stop a civil war between the gods, the second to recover the golden fleece. Even in comparison to Thalia, Percy is more accomplished and has gained more respect within the mythological world.

As I walked back through the city of the gods, conversations stopped. The muses paused their concert. People and satyrs and naiads all turned towards me, their faces filled with respect and gratitude, and as I passed, they knelt, as if I were some kind of hero. (The lightning thief)

Yet Zoe refuses his help to save the goddess she serves and increases so the risk of failure, simply because he is a boy.

“Oh,” Grover said, suddenly aware of the problem. “Whoa, yeah. I forgot! Percy has to go. I didn’t mean… I’ll stay. Percy should go in my place.”

“He cannot,” Zoe said. “He’s a boy. I won’t have Hunters travelling with a boy.”

Another huge problem in their characterization is their immortality. Here I want to focus again on their ongoing beef with camp half-blood, because, yes, while the campers also act pretty antagonistic in return, I think it’s important to note that most kids at camp half blood are between the ages of 10 and I’d say maybe 17 years old, while the huntresses are immortal.

Now, it’s obviously possible that most of them are still teenagers and haven’t been part of the hunt for that long, but considering the fact that Zoe is over 3000 years old, and could very well be older than most Olympians, the chance of most hunters being older than at least 30, is pretty high, which makes their behavior seem even more ridiculous.

And obviously the whole situation with Bianca paints the hunters in the worst light possible.

Bianca

There are already some pretty good and detailed posts on tumblr regarding the subject of Bianca and the hunters, so I don’t want to dig into this subject too deeply, because this post is already way too long, but you can’t possibly write about the hunters without mentioning her.

The hunters, especially Zoe and Artemis convinced Bianca to join them in a moment of huge distress. Bianca was a twelve-year-old, vulnerable girl, who just found out she was a demigod, almost got kidnapped by the manticore, and watched a girl fall down a cliff, yet they expect her to swear allegiance to them after only a couple of minutes of knowing them.

They paint her this beautiful picture of having no responsibility and a new family, telling her exactly, what she wanted to hear without giving her even a moment to breathe or give her time to talk to her brother or fully think this through.

I want to point out that at this point in time, Artemis had already decided that she needed to go after the monster alone, and knew, that her hunters would spend some time at camp half-blood. But instead of giving Bianca these couple days/ weeks to accept this new reality of the mythological world and get to know both camp half-blood and the hunters, she wants an answer at this very moment,

Yes, Bianca’s answer was rash, and yes, I do think it’s rather cold that she didn’t first talk to Nico about it, but it’s pretty plain to see that she was overwhelmed and pretty much manipulated during this entire conversation.

Later, Zoe decides to take her with her on the quest, even though Bianca is completely unprepared for it. She is probably, aside from Nico, the most unprepared person in the entirety of camp half-blood to go on a quest.  

I don’t think I have to explain how terrible of a decision that was.

The hunters are objectively the worst thing that could have ever happened to Bianca and the main reason why she died.

Lacking Development:

Now, all of this, every single flaw I just pointed out, could have actually worked out, if there would have been some sort of change in the hunters’ way of thinking and an acknowledgement that their opinions on boys and males in general are misguided and lead to more harm than good during the course of the books.

Especially after their actions led to Bianca’s death.

Them seeing how much love Nico had for his sister and how much he suffered from her death could have been a great moment for some character development.

But nothing happened.

Camp half blood and the hunters grieving together at the end of Titan’s curse for both Zoe and Bianca could have resulted in a genuine moment of friendship between the two groups, leading to understanding and change.  

But nothing happened.

The only person who took responsibility for Bianca’s death at the end of Titan’s curse was fourteen-year-old Percy. The only person who cared enough about Nico to search for him and make sure he was safe, was Percy. The hunters didn’t care at all. Took no responsibility whatsoever.

All that happened at the end of that book was that Thalia became a huntress, and that Zoe and Artemis acknowledged Percy as a hero.

This, while admittedly, a great moment for Percy’s characterization and also somewhat for the character development of Zoe, had very little effect otherwise.  

Because, in the end, Zoe and Artemis treated Percy as if he was the exception. As if they had been only wrong about him, and not boys in general. They didn’t revisit their line of thinking, they didn’t self-reflect and they didn’t acknowledge that their bias was utterly flawed, and that they should treat male demigods generally better.

She (Zöe) grasped it contently. “You spoke the truth, Percy Jackson. You are nothing like… like Hercules. I am honored that you carry this sword.”

Then, she (Artemis) turned to me. “You did well,” she said. “For a man.”

Percy Jackson is fundamentally a story about the circle of abuse, and, Percy specifically, breaking that circle, but nothing of note happened with the hunters.

Because even if Zoe had confronted her own bias, (and there is admittedly an argument to be made that she did) she would have been the only hunter to do so. And she died.

Thalia becoming the lieutenant of the hunters as someone who is best friends with Percy and Grover, and who misses Jason more than anything, could have confronted this distorted line of thinking, but the other hunters remain pretty much unchanged in the last Olympian and The Lost Hero.

There were hugs and greetings al around- or at least Thalia was friendly. The other hunters didn’t like being around campers, especially boys, but they didn’t shoot any of us, which for them was a pretty warm welcome. (The last Olympian, chapter 10)

“Oh, no way,” Leo said. “We’ve been sitting in a cave and you get a luxury tent? Somebody give me hypothermia. I want hot chocolate and a parka!”

Phoebe sniffed. “Boys,” she said, like it was the worst insult she could think of. (XXXVI Leo, the lost hero.)

Conclusion:

So, yeah. They had huge potential, both as individual characters and as part of the overarching plot and theme of Percy Jackson, but their execution was absolutely abysmal.

The only possible positive thing I could say about them is that they are at least better than the Amazons (though that is not particularly hard)

I hope my rambling was understandable, it's already pretty late:')