#i think the more their relationship will grow the more they will learn from and about each other

[buddiekinard]

i just want to say i love tommy kinard

i love him with buck and i love him as friends with eddie but also i just. love him. independently of those relationships. i love what he represents. someone who grew up with a shitty dad who then went on to be in a dadt era military and then had to work under fucking gerrard. someone who saw chim and hen defying that leadership and saw that he could also be a better person. who tried to be a better person and by the time he left the 118 for the 217 in bobby begins again, had really mended those fences and become friends with people who he helped hold back at his lowest moments because he didn't know how to NOT just follow rank and follow orders. someone who got to a new firehouse and jumped off the lessons he learned at the 118 and continued to grow and became a better person, embraced his homosexuality and lives life free and out and now has met buck and is continuing to relax (and i think that showed in 8x01, there was something about the presentation and the way he was dressed and made up that felt softer, younger even, than he seemed in season 7) and who clearly seems to be a place buck can currently land because he's done so much work on himself that he isn't guarded and stiff and hard anymore. idk i just love a character who hasn't always been *good* and may not be good every day but is actively working and trying to be good and doesn't spend all of his time thinking about the past but does acknowledge that this isn't always who he's been - and i feel like he does. his conversation with buck about gerrard last season definitely felt like him saying he wasn't good under gerrard, gerrard actively made him worse, was a regressive human being, and that he wishes he'd had more time under bobby. but you know what he got what he needed from bobby and now he's here.

idk i love tommy kinard. sassy, gorgeous, goofy, dorky, flirty, hot pilot tommy kinard and all the jagged pieces and mistakes it took to get him here.

[miukki960]

I'm gonna make this post before I go in the tag and see ANY God or Diew slander, because for me the conflict this episode not only made sense, but was necessary for their relationship to move forward.

The seed was planted long ago when God first found the picture of Diew and Dr. Asshole, and at first God handled it rationally (as expected of our Green Flag King). But the longer the situation went unresolved, the more doubt and insecurity began to creep in until it all came to a head in this episode, because all God needed was honesty and openness from Diew, but Diew has learned from past conditioning to lock those parts of himself away and only show a surface level of his personality and self.

I found that God's argument with Diew, while definitely escalated by emotion and insecurity, was justified at its core. We've learned throughout this story that God's main love language is Quality Time, and that most often is fulfilled by God genuinely enjoying doing anything and everything with the people he loves, so long as they are having a good time. But his conversation with Dr. Asshole put the idea in his mind that Diew has simply been going with the flow and doing whatever God suggested in order to make him feel good, that he hasn't actually enjoyed their time together. And while we as an audience know that's false, the idea is one of God's worst fears and most devastating nightmares.

But he loves Diew and doesn't want to believe it's true, so he gives him multiple chances to prove him wrong. And when Diew continues to reply with lies and deflection, it unfortunately proves him right. Because while the context is a bit off and there is definitely a misunderstanding at play, at the end of the day Diew isn't being honest and isn't trusting God enough to open up and show him the deeper, more emotional parts of himself. So God comes to the only conclusion he can see, that even if Diew is no longer in love with Dr. Asshole, their love was deeper and more meaningful than what he has with God now.

But don't get me wrong! Even though Diew was choosing the wrong dialog options during his argument with God, he was also justified in choosing to keep his secrets and emotions hidden. What God doesn't know is that Diew HAS opened up before, bared his heart and soul to someone he thought he loved and trusted, and what was he rewarded with? Disinterest, deflection, shame. As someone with major anxieties related to human interaction, you only have to burn him once to teach him to never play with fire again. And Dr. Asshole burned him deeply on multiple occasions.

No amount of kindness and sweetness and love from God was gonna convince him to play with fire again. In fact, it was reaffirming. Much like what we have been seeing with Wan towards Beer, I'm sure Diew sees how good and wonderful God is and is absolutely terrified to fuck it up. But just like Wan, his defense became his biggest downfall.

At the end of the day, rather than focusing on what happened, we should instead focus on why it happened and how the characters are going to grow from it. And we can see that how through the characters actions during the last few minutes of the episode. We see Diew, who's defense is to isolate, actively reaching out to God multiple times in multiple ways, ready to explain and open up and heal. And we see God going through the more nasty, volatile parts of his emotions alone, so he doesn't hurt Diew while he's in the wrong headspace, but also doesn't bottle the bad things to explode later.

I think what gets me the most is that in their very last conversation before the end of the episode, Diew was asking for togetherness and God was asking for space, and they were both upset on many levels, but they were still speaking to each other with love in their tone and words.

[lena-in-a-red-dress]

Musician Age Gap AU Pt 16

"AUNT KARA!"

Esme throws the front door open and sprints full tilt across the lawn to throw her arms around Kara.

"Hey there," Kara greets.

Pulling her face back to look at Kara with wide eyes, Esme gets straight down to business.

"Tell me *everything*."

----

Kara's exhausted on the couch by the time Esme runs out of questions. She softens the blow of having left Esme so long without updates by letting Esme watch her video recording of Lena's new song. Oh, Esme has already seen the bootlegs of the song spread online, but none of those were taken from backstage.

The hard conversation doesn't come until after dinner, when Esme goes upstairs to finish her homework and leaves Kara alone with Alex and Kelly. They both gaze at her with soft, but expectant eyes.

"I'm fine," Kara tells them.

"No one is saying you're not," Kelly assures her.

Alex is less gentle. "Doesn't mean we can't be worried."

Two days ago, Kara would have taken offense. Today, she recognizes the validity of Alex's concern.

She sighs. "I don't think it was the wrong decision."

"Neither do we," Kelly says. "I don't think choosing happiness ever could be."

"But going half the way across the world at the drop of a hat is bound to be jarring." Alex's voice isn't sharp at all. In fact, she's far more calm than Kara expected her to be.

Kara glances at her suspiciously. "You don't approve."

Alex shrugs. "It doesn't matter what I think. The fact you made the choice tells me it was the right decision in the moment." She lifts her glass of wine to her lips, eyeing Kara over the rim. "But is it sustainable?"

Biting her lip, Kara considers the question. She doesn't regret her choice, and the past few weeks have been a whirlwind of excitement and novelty on all fronts. But what happens when the shine wears off?

"I'm still happy," she says carefully. "And Lena has been amazing. I just... don't know what my role is."

Kelly offers a soft smile. "Growing pains is natural, especially in a situation like this where you've been thrust into an unfamiliar industry and an intense career like Lena's. And learning to navigate the personal stuff is requirement of any relationship. It's just going to be harder with Lena than with anyone else."

"Why?" Kara demands, defensive at the implication she would be daunted. "Because she's famous?"

"Yes, Kara!" Alex leans forward, features lined with concern. She sets her wine down, and scrubs her hands over her face. "I don't-- it's not that she's famous, it's the fact that she can't meet you halfway."

Kelly nods. "Successful partners find the common ground-- a spot where they can meet in the middle. What Alex is trying to say is that Lena can't do that."

"Look at what's happened so far," Alex elaborates, gesturing towards the door. "You uprooted everything and got dropped into her world. She hasn't-- she *can't* do the same for you."

Kara looks into her glass, pensive. Again, Alex isn't wrong. Lena's single foray into her life had been coffee in the park-- in disguise. Meanwhile Kara has been thrust into the deep end of Lena's own life. Her career, her family and friends...

Could Lena ever find the same kind of assimilation into Kara's life? Would she *want* to?

And does Kara care if she doesn't?

"I don't think it would be fair to either of us to end things before even trying."

Before anything else can be said, Esme's door slams open upstairs and teenaged feet pound down the stairs at a breakneck pace, only to screech to a halt at the threshold of the living room.

"Aunt Kara?"

Kara sits up from her slouch, concern leeching over her. "What's wrong?"

"Yeah, you okay sweetie?" Kelly asks.

Esme's features crease in apprehension, her anxious gaze flicking between Kara and her phone.

"Um... there's something you should see."

Kara reaches for Esme's phone when she offers it. She shoots her sister an uncertain glance, then turns her attention to the glowing screen.

She blinks at the list of breaking news results on the search screen, jaw tightening. She clicks on the first. A photo fills the screen-- and Kara's heart plummets.

[cosmicconversations]

Pick-A-Card Tarot Reading: What Have They Realized About This Connection? 💛

It is Pick-A-Card Friday again here on my blog and I am back with another relationship reading. It is intended to be primarily love-related but there could be some messages about platonic connections, too. In the end, every relationship has something for us to learn from. In this reading, we will see what the person on your mind or the person who comes through has learned and realized about your connection.

In the extended reading on Patreon, we are going to flip things a bit and see what you have learned or realized about this connection and the impact it has had on your life.

So, pick the pile or piles that you feel most drawn to. Then, keep reading to see just what that pile has to say. Also, you should know that it is okay to choose more than one. There could be multiple relationships that the Divine or your guides want you to know about.

PILE 1

PILE 2

PILE 3

PILE 1

Knight of Swords

clarified by: Ten of Wands (reversed)

Six of Wands

clarified by: Nine of Wands (reversed)

Six of Pentacles

clarified by: The Emperor

King of Pentacles (back of the deck)

Pile 1, this person is realizing that they have some growing up to do! Now, I am getting two different possibilities here. This could be someone who was a significant other or romantic interest. It also could be someone who has played a platonic role in your life. I am getting an older figure, maybe a boss or a mentor. It definitely could be a father figure, too, with not only The Emperor but the King of Pentacles coming out, which are the dad cards in Tarot. But, it could be both cases. Maybe it’s a love interest and a father figure coming through and the romantic option reminds you a lot of your dad or the dynamic with them heavily mirrors the one with your dad.

Depending on your relationship with this parent, that might be scary but it could also be very eye opening for you. That was a side note but I am curious as to what you have learned here, which we will see in the extended. As far as this person, whoever they are, they are someone with a more masculine energy. To give you some confirmation, they could have chart placements in Aries and/or in the Earth element (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn). They can be very narrow-minded and ridiculously stubborn and I think they are seeing how their closed off perspective or inability to give in hurts themselves and hurts their relationships. I do think they know they didn’t treat you the way you deserved. Either they haven’t reciprocated the same love you gave or they didn’t take responsibility for something huge that they did.

For some of you, this person may be getting pretty emotional about all of this, which is interesting because there are no Cups in this spread. But, I just feel the feelings rising up. The lack of watery energy here indicates how emotionally distant they can be. It is very hard to know how they feel and you may often be convinced they don’t care or don’t have any feelings. They do this not just out of defensiveness but because they can be preoccupied with having the upper hand. Winning arguments between you two or feeling in control became more important to them than doing right by you.

They may not have actually told you this but they know this. There is a desire within this person to be better for you. One strong message that is coming through is that they know they need to stop taking their insecurities and problems out on you. Your person has a pattern of projecting their issues on to others and looking for someone to blame. They have an Airy side to them and may have Gemini, Libra or Aquarius placements. So, they can be very contradictory and have a penchant for manipulating situations to their advantage. This is something that you have always observed about them and it makes you want to keep your distance.

Although there is this desire within them to be the kind of masculine figure you can rely on, I don’t know how much actual substance or consistency is behind them. They may want to be solid for you. But, can they actually do it? If this is an older masculine individual on the job or in your family, they may try to prove themselves by showing up in practical ways, like helping you out financially. This could be a bit of compensation for a lack of a deep emotional connection between you two. If this is romantic, they may also want to provide for you monetarily, especially if you are struggling in some way. I am also seeing that they have been feeling very burdened by their desire to be with you and make things work. They may not have shared any of this but it has been weighing on them very heavily. So, they could act out impulsively. They may rush in, trying to ask you out or make other advances, and while this may be a thrill to them, it is not a guarantee that you will reciprocate.

I think they are still going to be things they need to realize here. They have to realize this connection goes both ways. This was a problem when they weren’t putting in enough effort. Now it might be a problem if they are putting in too much effort or even if they are trying to control the outcome. They do have some controlling patterns. Just because they want things to work out doesn’t mean that you automatically do. Things have to go both ways. Getting a grip on these extremes is important. Before, they were being a little too defeatist about this situation, not even trying when they had the chance. But, they may turn around and get too possessive or insistent about being with you. They are gradually going to realize what it truly means to be in sync with someone else.

Also, for some of you, whoever this is, they may have this fixation on the idea of “saving you” and are recognizing that you are more capable than they are giving you credit for. This can obviously play out with a father/mentor figure or also with a romantic connection who is a bit too intent on being your knight in shining armor. At the same time, this is kind of good for their self-esteem, to believe they can be the hero. I don’t think they have had that kind of confidence before. But, they don’t have to project on to you to play that out.

EXTENDED READING FOR PILE 1 (what have you been realizing about this connection?)

/////////

PILE 2

Eight of Pentacles (reversed)

clarified by: Six of Cups

Seven of Pentacles (reversed)

clarified by: Three of Pentacles (reversed)

Ten of Swords (reversed)

clarified by: The Moon

Six of Pentacles (back of the deck)

Pile 2, what immediately came to mind when looking at this spread was that this is someone who prioritized practicality over you in the past. In some way, they were more focused on getting ahead or getting the bag or creating some kind of lifestyle for themselves. Just like with the previous pile, I feel like this can go two ways. This might be someone that you dated or were romantically involved with before. But, they were too “busy” for you and didn’t make you a priority. I also am getting the impression that this could be an old friend that you fell out of touch with or grew apart from because they weren’t making enough time for you.

Somehow, you took a backseat to this person’s pragmatism. It could have even been that they didn’t think you had enough status or money. But, I feel like that is for a select few of you. If this is romantic, maybe they didn’t know if you would fit into the lifestyle they were trying to build. Well, guess what? That life of theirs has come crashing down. They could have lost that job they loved so much or put so much time and effort into. It could also be that they are just very dissatisfied with their career right now. Even if it’s making them good money, it’s an empty feeling. It is also possible, for some of you, that they chose someone else over you. In relationship readings, any Three cards could possibly represent a sort of love triangle or third party. (Not always, though!) Maybe they chose another partner who they thought looked better on paper. Or it could be that they wanted to rub elbows with certain people in a certain field.

Whatever the case, things have not turned out the way they wanted. This person is realizing that a five-year or ten-year plan a) is never going to turn out exactly the way you expected and b) doesn’t mean as much if you don’t have someone worthwhile to share the rewards with. There is also the possibility that they seriously underestimated you. Maybe they didn’t think of you as someone who was going places or doing something significant with your life. But, it’s possible that you have achieved many impressive things lately and that more great successes are in store for you. If so, they may be watching from the sidelines and feeling regret that they didn’t invest in you when they had the chance. Yes, I am getting major Earth energy (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) from them because I just got an analogy that you were like a little start-up company that they didn’t see the value in and now you’re a huge corporation. They could have invested in you early on and gotten rich but they didn’t take the chance.

I also feel like they have been absolutely pushed to their limit lately. If they haven’t hit rock bottom because of hardship, it has been because they have just been overwhelmed with anguish over everything in their life. Things can be relatively fine on the outside and you can still be at rock bottom. I am kind of getting spiritual awakening vibes here from them. It’s not Judgment card energy. But, the Ten of Swords in reverse, clarified by The Moon, makes me feel like that many of life’s mysteries are becoming clearer to them, in the aftermath of this mental spiral or breakdown. They once believed that all they needed to do to be happy and fulfilled is work hard and make good money. Now, they are seeing that there are more elements at play in life than practical or material demands.

Somehow, you were responsible for this realization. If they haven’t had it yet, then they are still “in the dark”, so to speak. But, they will be recognizing it. It is possible that many of you do something spiritual as a line of work. You might have been this person’s introduction to the metaphysical and they could have laughed it off before. But, your words stuck with them and now they are exploring spirituality and seeing the value in it. This could also be because you have made a great living for yourself off of your spiritual work. Maybe you have a big online platform or something. But, you have proved to them that this path is legitimate and does yield results. And since they are this very earthy person who needs to see it to believe it, they may not have been able to take you seriously until you had stable income or a certain following.

It’s funny because, even if this is romantic, I am not getting strong romantic vibes. That’s why I feel this may be platonic for a lot of you. If this is a romantic interest, I feel like it was short lived and there wasn’t much depth there. I do think they made an impact in the sense of possibly making you doubt yourself or feel like you were on the wrong track in life. They could have made you feel not good enough. But, now, they are seeing that the track they were on wasn’t the right one for them, especially if it has involved some sort of major financial loss or limitation. I would definitely say this person has been humbled and seeing you stabilize and legitimize yourself yet do so in this high-vibrational, highly intuitive way they can’t understand is even more humbling. They are realizing that many of their previous strategies to lead some perfect life aren’t as valuable as they once believed.

EXTENDED READING FOR PILE 2 (what have you realized about this connection?)

/////////

PILE 3

The Hermit (reversed)

clarified by: Six of Wands

Page of Pentacles

clarified by: The Fool

Six of Pentacles (reversed)

clarified by: Strength (reversed)

The Lovers (back of the deck)

Okay, so this is one of those piles! Pile 3, this definitely feels romantic in nature. I am not getting platonic vibes from this pile. So, if you’re looking for that, you might want to choose another pile. Also, while this is about your person, you could also feel like I am describing you. That’s kind of funny because we are going to be delving into your point of view in the extended. But, I guess that will be mirrored, too! Just take it how it resonates.

So, I feel like, first of all, your person is recognizing the strength of their connection with you. This isn’t a lightweight thing. This definitely gives me divine counterpart energy, with The Lovers as the back of the deck. Now, you can call it what you want. Maybe they are a soulmate. Maybe they are that famous term that rhymes with “schwin shlame”. However it resonates for the both of you. But, this feels like a big realization because I don’t think you have reached a point with them yet, on the physical plane, where that’s obvious. Maybe it’s because you just met or maybe you haven’t even met them yet. If you haven’t met, they are aware of you and vice versa. And it might seem crazy to believe you’re so deeply connected to someone that you barely or don’t even know. But, that’s what their soul is telling them.

This spread is kind of telling me the story of how everything in their life led to them (or is destined to led to) meeting you. I think they have spent a lot of time alone; not just single but relying on themselves, dwelling in isolation, getting lost in reflection. They could have chart placements in Virgo. They feel pretty (or very) introverted; if not introverted, then definitely ambiverted (a mix of both). While all of their alone time and self-sufficiency may have put some people off or even made them feel lonely at times, they are seeing how it has all paid off. Now, they know themselves on a very deep level and they especially know what they need out of a relationship. They are very prepared for something healthy because life forced them to be their own significant other for so long. As painful as that was, it was also a valuable lesson.

Your person is also realizing that they aren’t shut down, in terms of love and romance, and never want to be. They never want to stop trying or stop taking risks (the good kinds of risks) in matters of the heart. This is beautiful because so many people let life turn them cold or make them no longer believe in love after getting hurt or heartbroken. But, your person is a person of unyielding faith and I think this greatly stems from a spiritual or esoteric practice. Their spiritual growth has allowed them to remain open-hearted and to look forward to actually meeting that special someone who they are destined to meet. They have always had a sense that this kind of love was their destiny and they haven’t given up on this. Like I said, this may sound very familiar. If this sounds like you, then you and your person’s life experiences are heavily mirrored.

At the same time, even though this individual wants to stay open, they have also learned to be more practical with their heart and their energy. They are recognizing that they have to be more discerning about who they invest that affection of theirs into. Their love is the kind of love that can change someone’s life. Yet, they have endured a huge lack of appreciation in matters of the heart. There are one or two connections, in particular, from their past that were very non-reciprocal and unbalanced. They just gave and gave of themselves to the relationship because that’s the kind of loving divine soul they have. But, the love was either unrequited, with the other person refusing to commit or express their true feelings, or they were treated very poorly in the connection. It was very hard for them to let go of this relationship, as well. In fact, this could be something they are still trying to put an end to or something they just recently released for good. A part of them was hanging on due to pride. They didn’t want to feel the embarrassment of a “failed” relationship that they put so much of themselves into. Also, they felt like this person they were with was their world and their future and they couldn’t find anything more special.

I think they needed to see just how much they were being unappreciated or disrespected to recognize that this relationship wasn’t worth it. They always knew that they were not getting what they were putting into it. But, they didn’t fully register just how much they were getting the short end of the stick. It is possible that this person thought who they were with was their true soulmate or divine counterpart. In the end, that connection was just a catalyst, a karmic lesson. They had to come face to face with certain issues of theirs through this relationship, particularly their pattern of over-giving. They had to realize that you don’t need to give of yourself endlessly in order to receive love. And even if you try to do that, it is never going to be truly fulfilling or fair to you.

Ultimately, your person is recognizing that those challenges and lessons have led them to you. Even though they are having these divine epiphanies about you, they are still a little hesitant. The Page of Pentacles is committed yet tentative. It’s about baby steps. So, they have learned the importance of not wildly jumping into a connection and getting hurt. But, they are still willing to give this a try and see where this goes. I feel like they may be purposely underplaying this situation so they don’t get their hopes up too much. But, at the same time, they intuitively know that there is something here, that this is a worthwhile opportunity they should explore. I also have to mention Leo, Aquarius, and the Earth signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn. These may be influences in either of your charts, especially the sign of Virgo, which is doubly present here.

EXTENDED READING FOR PILE 3 (what are you realizing about this connection?)

[randomness-is-my-order]

another thing that always struck me about jiang cheng and wei wuxian’s relationship is how little jc actually seems to understand wwx and where he was coming from and this is not just an empathy problem (though that is entirely present, too) but also the lack of effort to truly open up to wei wuxian’s pov and seek it from the source himself.

this is possibly the randomest example i can give but during their chat in the burial mounds, jc comments on the situation with the food and whether crops would even grow in the burial mounds and whether people could even live there and it’s just...even if he’s not sure about wwx spending months in the burial mounds, he KNOWS wwx lived in the streets in his early childhood and nothing gives people the mentality of “survival before all else” than that but jc had either never bothered to learn about wwx’s past before he came to lotus pier in all the years he’d known him or he did know and never bothered to contexualise things so he didn’t have to wonder whether a comfortable lifestyle was truly a valid concern for wwx. here’s the passage if anyone wants to read the exact phrasing:

Jiang Cheng was incredulous. “You’re planting things on a mountain made of corpses? Will anything that grows even be edible?” “Trust me. Anything is edible when you’re hungry enough.” “Do you really plan on settling here for the long-term?” Jiang Cheng asked. “Can people even live in a hellish place like this?” “I lived here for three months before,” Wei Wuxian stated.

now, ik jc’s headspace at the time was focussed on detracting wwx’s resolve to live in the burial mounds but my point is moreso that jc actually did not comprehend who wwx was as a person in the books, ever. he literally never came close. and this isn’t even about the missing information like the golden core transplant or the true circumstances of wwx’s three months disappearance. it’s jiang cheng thinking wwx always wanted to show off, linking his actions to a hero complex, thinking wwx was needlessly arrogant, not understanding why wwx would stick his neck out for the wens. it’s the way jiang cheng rarely, if ever, gave wei wuxian any grace in his reading of his actions–always looking at wei wuxian through a lens that was inherently unfavourable and thereby, never allowed him to truly view wwx for who he is.

in contrast, wei wuxian always understood jiang cheng in a way i don’t think jc knew he did. the way he knew where jc’s cutting words originated from, the way he could read jc’s insecurities, the way he could empathise with his grief and anger, even after everything went to absolute hell between the two. i’m not claiming wei wuxian understood jiang cheng like no other or had some uniquely profound insight into his mindset but there is enough content in the books that makes it clear that wei wuxian saw jiang cheng for the person that he was and gave him more grace (than he deserved, imo) and that this understanding was not at all present in jiang cheng’s perspective of wei wuxian.

which brings me to another observation: jiang cheng may or may not have loved wei wuxian but he sure as hell never respected him. because when you respect someone (and i’d argue there is no real love without respect), you try to get to know the person, try to see their side of things, try to assemble your opinion of them after informing yourself about their life. jiang cheng, for me, never exhibited the interest to go even slightly out of his way and gain a better understanding of wwx. wei wuxian wasn’t someone he wanted to spend that kind of time on – be it because jc had internalised the social hierarchy separating them, had never liked wwx for being better than him in various fields or because he was simply not the kind of person who would be emotionally even a little generous in his relationships. it doesn’t matter.

the point for me is that this give-and-take was never balanced. it was always wei wuxian over-extending his internal resources while jc never realised or refused to. some say their relationship only became worse/toxic after the wen remnants were rescued but the seeds were there since their childhoods. their circumstances exacerbated the issue tenfold, yes, most definitely, but that issue was always present and would blow up their relationship sooner or later, as long as jiang cheng didn’t have substantial growth. jiang cheng continuing to live was worth the sacrifice for wei wuxian (be it from a source of affection, obligation, duty, anything) but staying by wei wuxian’s side after the shift to burial mounds was not worth the trouble for jiang cheng. and yes their personalities have alot to do with their individual decisions in these pressing matters but i’m sure that were it jiang yanli who had taken wei wuxian’s spot, jiang cheng’s actions would be far different but do the switch with jiang cheng, and wei wuxian would still make the same choice. because jiang cheng’s relationship with wei wuxian was undeniably unbalanced to begin with. he never did consider wwx his equal and so, never tried to put in the same effort that wwx did. it’s as simple as that.

[totallyjustabunchofhocuspocus]

i'm amazed by the energy that antibucktommy people bring to this show like one of the most beloved characters and one of the biggest storylines in the very first season wasn't bobby and the fact that he murdered 148 people including his wife and children and is trying to rebuild his life. it's almost like this show has been saying since the beginning that people can grow and be better and maybe we should give them the space to do that.

anyway buck and tommy were really cute this episode. and there's something so teenage giddiness about them hiding behind a couch for a fake surprise party and flirting that just makes me so happy for the sheer queerness of the experience for buck

This is honestly why I stopped interacting with a lot of segments of fandom over the summer and started curating my fyp and tumblr follows a little more intensely. All of the characters have done horrible things (some more recently than others), things that are usually regarded as unforgivable. Bobby's story is the big one, but Hen's cheating storyline, Athena's many and varied abuses of power as a cop, Chim's really pretty sus relationship with Tatiana, Eddie's fight club era and his treatment of the women he gets into relationships with, Buck manipulating Taylor (like, kind of a lot)...like they've all done terrible things and we have watched them come back from it and learn and grow and change, and love them for it.

I think a lot of it stems from the fact that the horrible things they did were not done to our faves (I'd argue the fandom didn't know Karen well enough during the cheating storyline to not feel inclined to forgive Hen for it) and the fact that the racism and sexism displayed by Tommy at first are such lightning rod issues anyway (as well they should be). And, yes, let's be real, the majority of it is what I'll kindly call disappointment that we got Bi!Buck after all this time, but not Buddie. And that's fair (to an extent...there's NO excuse for the kind of harrassment we saw over the last few months).

But the vitriol displayed towards BuckTommy and the people that ship them is just really outsized in my opinion. The show is going out of their way to show us that Tommy is good to Buck (and friends with Eddie), and that they are enjoying each other. Whether or not it leads to Buddie, don't we WANT Buck to have a good relationship for his first as a queer man? Everyone talks about representation being SO important--we have an extremely masculine characater (who has canonically been presented as a playboy/heartthrob type) discovering a new facet of his sexuality when he's nearly in his mid-thirties, and exploring that facet with a love interest that is EQUALLY as masculine. This storyline is important! It's breaking a lot of new ground and doing it in a really nicely done way.

And in regards to Tommy...I dunno, maybe it's because I've grown up in an environment that pretty much BREEDS men like BeginsEra!Tommy. Yes, they have a choice not to be the way they are--but unless you live in it, it's hard to understand how hard making that choice, or even recognizing that you DO have a choice, really is. I think it's also important to show a character who didn't remain a piece of trash human, and was able to accept that they were wrong and CHANGE. If the only way you can ever be defined is by what you were at your very worst, what is even the fucking point of changing? No one owes you forgiveness, even after you do the work to change...but nor do you deserve to be punished forever.

I dunno, I just wanna enjoy my weewoo show and I'm tired of people harshing my buzz (heh, see what I did there?) I still ship Buddie. I ship BuckTommy. Most of all I ship Buck/Happiness and I am eager to see if he finally gets some that lasts.

[glagger-true]

Not really an analysis post like I promised yet, but I really just wanna ramble about how much I like that Dave both shares a struggle with and integrates an aspect of whichever love interest he chooses.

Both Dave and Sal deal with the survivor's guilt of losing a loved one and it's effects. So Dave becomes introspective and patient like Sal as they grow close to both support Sal and cope with it himself.

Both Dave and Orlando have parents who failed them. In opposite ways. And Dave becomes stubborn and attentive about protecting the feelings who he loves like Orlando does to understand that he can move past that shadow and help Orlando do the same.

Both Dave and Dean have a trauma that makes them feel like they need to overcompensate all the time. And act in harmful ways a result. Dave gets confident and mature like Dean as they grow closer and more honest with the other to tackle that issue together better.

Both Dave and Hoss struggle with being open about their feelings and trusting people with their struggles. So Dave is taught better self-care and how to be more perceptive about himself and others through Hoss to learn how care for himself better and deal with his feelings. As well as inspire Hoss to open himself up more.

Both Dave and Tyson deal with self-loathing and emotional disconnection. Which makes their usually positive bond toxic for both oftenly. Dave becomes more assertive and direct like Tyson as their relationship gets more intimate and that helps both him and Tyson acknowledge and accept their feelings. Helping them become healthier partners.

Both Dave and Roswell deal terribly with the idea of losing their loved ones. Feeling responsible for any harm that befalls them. It's by learning from Roswell's perspective about life and death, as well as accepting to love him knowing his death is unavoidable, that Dave learns how to cope with loss better. Giving himself and Roswell the opportunity to focus on and value themselves and their feelings first for once rather than thinking just about everyone else's.

Funnily enough, most of these are likely all unintentional. But I still think it's cool that they're there anyways because it shows one my favorites traits about Dave. Which is how full of potential for learning and growth he is.

He might be the same person in all routes, but the paths he can take as he develops and grows with his loved ones are limitless and unique.

I just think he's neat.

[fanfictionismyaddiction]

A Tyrell in the Lion's Den (Part 3)

Part 1 Part 2 Part 4

Word count: 2.4k

Pairing: Tywin Lannister x Tyrell!reader

Summary: Y/n grapples with the precarious balance of power in her dangerous relationship with Tywin Lannister, questioning her role as a pawn or partner in his world while secretly desiring control over her own fate 

_________________________________________________

The air in King’s Landing felt different after Joffrey's death—tense and brittle, like a string pulled too tightly. Whispers filled the halls of the Red Keep, and every conversation seemed to carry a hidden meaning, a layer of subtext that only the most cunning could untangle. As I moved through the court, I felt the weight of Varys’ words pressing on me. His warning lingered in my mind: 

Tywin’s power is built on fear and manipulation. What happens when you’re no longer useful?

I had always known the danger of my relationship with Tywin. It had started as a distraction, a game to break the monotony of court life. But over time, it had turned into something far more dangerous. Our secret meetings, the stolen moments of intimacy, had slowly given way to deeper conversations. Tywin was different with me than he was with others—still cold and calculating, but there was a vulnerability that he kept hidden from the world. I had seen glimpses of it, in the quiet moments when we were alone.

But now, with the political landscape shifting beneath my feet, I wasn’t sure where I stood with him. Was I merely a tool, a means to an end? Or had I become something more? And did I even want to know the answer?

A few nights after my encounter with Varys, I was summoned to Tywin’s chambers once more. The fire crackled warmly as I entered, but there was a chill in the air that made me pause. Tywin was seated at his desk, as always, his expression unreadable. His gaze flickered over me as I approached, and for a moment, I thought I saw something in his eyes—something softer, almost tender—but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared.

“Sit,” he said, his voice steady.

I took my seat, my heart pounding. We had shared so much over these past weeks, but tonight felt different. The political tension weighed heavily on us both, and I could sense a shift in Tywin. He was not a man prone to displays of emotion, but I had learned to read the subtle signs—the way his jaw tightened when he was agitated, the brief flicker of doubt in his eyes before he steeled himself once more.

“Have you gathered the information I requested?” he asked, breaking the silence.

“Yes,” I replied, handing him a small scroll. “There are murmurs of sympathy for Tyrion among some of the lesser lords. Nothing concrete, but enough to be wary of.”

Tywin unrolled the scroll and scanned it, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Good. This will be useful.”

I hesitated, the weight of Varys’ warning heavy on my tongue. Should I tell him? Would he dismiss my concerns, or would he see it as a betrayal that I had even listened to the spymaster? I had to choose my words carefully.

“There’s something else,” I said slowly, watching Tywin’s reaction.

He raised an eyebrow but remained silent, waiting for me to continue.

“Varys approached me,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “He warned me that I don’t understand the game I’m playing. He said that those who stay too close to the Lannisters might be swept away when the winds of change come.”

Tywin’s expression remained unreadable, but I saw the way his fingers tightened slightly around the edge of the desk. For a long moment, he said nothing, and I could feel the tension building between us. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and dangerous.

“Varys is a master of manipulation. He thrives on sowing doubt and confusion. You would do well to remember that.”

I nodded, but his response did little to ease my growing unease. “And yet... what he said made me think. Am I truly playing the game, Tywin? Or am I just a pawn?”

Tywin leaned forward, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my breath catch. “You are far more than a pawn, Y/n. But the game we play is not for the faint-hearted. It is ruthless, and it requires more than loyalty. It demands cunning, patience, and an understanding of power that few possess.”

He paused, his gaze softening for the briefest moment. “You have that potential. But you must never waver.”

I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. “And what if I do?”

Tywin’s expression hardened once more. “Then you will fall, like so many before you.”

His words sent a shiver down my spine, but they also stirred something inside me. For so long, I had been content to play my part quietly, to remain in the background, supporting Margaery and navigating the court without drawing too much attention. But now, I realized, I needed to be more. I needed to take control of my own destiny, rather than relying on the whims of others.

“I won’t fall,” I said, my voice steady.

Tywin regarded me for a moment, as if weighing my resolve. Then, unexpectedly, he reached across the desk and took my hand in his. His touch was firm, but there was a tenderness there that I hadn’t expected.

“Good,” he said softly, his thumb brushing lightly against my skin. “Because I cannot afford to lose you.”

The admission hung in the air between us, and for a moment, I wasn’t sure if I had imagined it. But the way his grip lingered, the way his eyes softened as they met mine, told me that it was real. Tywin Lannister, the most powerful man in Westeros, had just revealed a vulnerability that I hadn’t thought him capable of.

As the days passed, I found myself thinking more and more about Tywin’s words—and his touch. There was no denying the connection between us, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was dangerous, that it would lead to something neither of us could control.

I threw myself into my tasks, gathering more information, carefully navigating the dangerous waters of the court. But Varys’ warning lingered in the back of my mind. I began to be more cautious, more strategic in my conversations. I no longer trusted blindly, not even in my dealings with Tywin. I kept some of what I learned to myself, uncertain of how much to share with him, or if I should share it at all.

And yet, despite my growing wariness, I found myself drawn deeper into Tywin’s world. Our meetings grew more frequent, our conversations more intimate. He was careful not to reveal too much of himself, but there were moments—fleeting, but undeniable—where I saw the cracks in his armor. Moments where he allowed himself to be vulnerable with me, to let his guard down.

It was in those moments that I realized something dangerous: Tywin Lannister had started to care for me in a way that went beyond mere strategy or convenience. And I, in turn, had started to care for him.

But love, in King’s Landing, was as dangerous as any weapon. And I was beginning to wonder if, in playing the game of thrones, I had already lost.

______________________________________________________________

The fire in Tywin's chambers was burning low, casting a warm, golden glow over the room as I lay beside him. We had just spent another night wrapped in each other’s arms, where the heavy burdens of court politics and the games we played were momentarily left behind. In these moments, Tywin became someone different. The hardened exterior of the man feared by kings and lords softened, and I, too, found myself unraveling—becoming something more vulnerable and honest than the sharp-tongued woman I was during the day.

His fingertips grazed my bare shoulder, absentmindedly tracing patterns on my skin. Neither of us spoke for a long time. We didn’t need to. Here, in the stillness of his bed, words were unnecessary. This was the only place where we could be ourselves, where the pressures of the court and the expectations of others couldn’t touch us.

But eventually, I broke the silence. “Do you ever think about what it would be like if we didn’t have to hide?”

Tywin’s hand stilled on my shoulder, and I turned my head to look at him. His eyes, always so guarded, flickered with something I couldn’t quite read. “In another life, perhaps,” he said quietly. “But we live in this one, and we must play the roles we’ve been given.”

I sighed softly, leaning into his touch. “You make it sound so simple.”

“It is not simple,” he admitted, his voice taking on a rare softness. “But it is necessary.”

I shifted in the bed, propping myself up on one elbow to look at him more closely. “And if we didn’t have to play those roles? If we could be just... us?”

Tywin’s gaze held mine for a long moment, and I could see the conflict there. He was not a man accustomed to letting his guard down, even in private. But with me, he had begun to show glimpses of the man beneath the armor. “I would choose that life,” he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. “But we don’t live in a world that allows such choices.”

I nodded, though his words sent a pang through my chest. I had known, from the beginning, that this affair was dangerous—that it was built on fragile ground. But I hadn’t expected the pull between us to grow so strong, or for the emotions to become so tangled.

“What about you?” Tywin asked, his tone shifting slightly. “You’ve played this game longer than you realize, but you’ve never told me what you truly want. Not as a Tyrell. Not as someone bound to court. What do you want, Y/n?”

I hesitated. No one had ever asked me that before. Not my family, not Margaery, not the court. And certainly not Tywin. He had always been the one with the plans, the strategies. I had fallen into his orbit, drawn by the power and intrigue he exuded. But in this moment, stripped of all pretense, I realized something.

“I want power,” I said, my voice steady. “Not the kind that comes from sitting on a throne or wearing a crown. I want control over my own destiny. I want to stop playing the part of a pawn in other people’s games.”

Tywin’s eyes darkened with interest. “You’ve always had that potential. You just need to harness it.”

“And what if I don’t want to be bound by anyone?” I asked, my voice a little sharper than I intended. “Not even by you?”

Tywin’s lips curled into a faint smile. “I would never bind you. You’re too valuable to be controlled. But you must decide where your loyalty lies. In this game, alliances are everything.”

As the trial of Tyrion Lannister unfolded, the court buzzed with anticipation. Every word spoken in that courtroom carried weight, and every movement was watched with scrutiny. Tyrion, as always, defended himself with sharp wit and intelligence, but the evidence against him was overwhelming. The court was rigged, and we all knew it.

Margaery was restless. Though Joffrey’s death had been a blessing in disguise, it left her future uncertain. Tommen, the new king, was kind but weak, a boy easily swayed by those around him. Margaery’s ambition burned brighter than ever.

“I must marry Tommen,” she told me one afternoon, her voice filled with determination as we walked through the gardens. “It’s the only way to secure our position. The Lannisters hold too much power, and we cannot afford to lose our standing.”

“You’ve always wanted to be queen,” I said with a small smile.

“Of course,” she replied, her eyes glinting. “But not just a queen. The queen. I want to rule, Y/n, not just sit beside a king. And with Tommen, I will. He’s young, malleable. Cersei won’t know what hit her.”

I watched my sister closely, admiring the way she played her cards so carefully. She had always been the more charming of the two of us, the one who could disarm anyone with a smile. But I knew her well enough to see the ambition lurking just beneath the surface.

“And what about you?” she asked, turning the conversation back to me. “You’ve been spending a lot of time with Lord Tywin.”

I raised an eyebrow, feigning indifference. “I have my own ambitions.”

Margaery smiled knowingly. “You always were more cunning than the rest of us gave you credit for.”

I shrugged, not giving her more than that. Margaery was my sister, but even she didn’t know the full extent of my relationship with Tywin. She didn’t know how deeply I was embedded in the Lannisters’ world, or how much I had learned about playing the game in my time by Tywin’s side.

That night, in Tywin’s chambers, I decided to test my newfound resolve. As we lay together, our limbs entwined, I turned to him, my voice soft but clear.

“I want more than just to be a piece in this game, Tywin. I want to be part of the strategy. I want power, and I’m not afraid to take it.”

He turned to me, his expression unreadable in the flickering firelight. “And what do you propose?”

I smiled, a slow, deliberate smile. “You’re the most powerful man in Westeros. And I... I have access to places and people you can’t always reach. Together, we could control more than just the court. We could control everything.”

Tywin’s eyes narrowed, but there was a glint of intrigue there. “And what is your price?”

I leaned in closer, my lips brushing his ear as I whispered, “I want to stand beside you—not behind you. If we’re going to play this game, then we do it as equals.”

For a long moment, Tywin said nothing. Then, slowly, he nodded. “Very well,” he said, his voice low and measured. “But be careful what you wish for, Y/n. Once you step into the game fully, there is no turning back.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” I replied.

In the days that followed, I threw myself into my new role, carefully gathering information and strengthening my position within the court. Tywin and I became partners in more than just secrecy—we became a formidable force, each using our unique strengths to maneuver through the treacherous waters of King’s Landing.

But as the trial continued, and Tyrion’s fate hung in the balance, I couldn’t help but wonder: How long could I play this dangerous game before it consumed me entirely? And would Tywin, for all his power, ever let me walk away?

The answer, I knew, lay in the game itself. And in King’s Landing, the game never truly ended.

[fumifooms]

What if we were both magic prodigies and it otherized us in different ways and we devoted ourselves to protecting a family member who has general other goals & priorities. What if we both did self-sacrifical devotion in opposite ways.

What if we were dark mirrors of each other and where I've grown overcontrolling you've grown complacent. What if, bought as a servant into a pretty loving home, ownership and control is what love looks like to me, and to you neglected and lonely growing up, love is gratefully taking any scraps of it you’re lent.

By belonging to someone, even if she comes back injured or fails at finding Delgal, she feels like she belongs and is cherished, by owning someone he feels safe in them not leaving him.

She’s what’s tethering him do you see… And he’s the only thing giving her direction and purpose in her state. She needs a compass and he needs a support.

They’re both so out of it 😭 It’s the weirdly intense and unearned mutual trust and reliance on each other?? They’re each other’s weird little comfort codependent teddy bear. Or at least they were headed towards that before SHE DIED THEN HE DIED THEN THEY BOTH FORGOT ABOUT EACH OTHER AND NEVER MET EVER AGAIN. Though she’s also the guard attack hound keeping him safe… And vice versa he heals her and can rewrite her very being with just one wave of his hand. They’re both so so mentally and physically vulnerable both but they cling onto each other. They can’t perceive things accurately but despite it all someway somehow they stumble into something closer to resembling companionship just before they both die. Falin is just that kind and Thistle is just that lonely. Overworked. We both haven’t lived for ourselves in a very long time, haven’t we.

They both have a similar devotion to the people they love but again the difference is that Thistle starts overtsepping while Falin is self-effacing. The other difference between them is that people care about Falin <3 People have given up on Thistle long ago, and he has given people reasons to, while people refuse to give up on Falin. Yaad has a mini arc about it dw about it it’s ok he’s not all alone in the end 😭😭 He reached out for Marcille’s hand but they already all wanted to help him, they just had to be given the chance to, Yaad just had to be given the chance to, it’s okay I’m okay

Hey what if we learned to get in touch with our own identity and the world around us and living in the present again through being in the worst codependent situationship ever.

Falin and Thistle sitting in a tree, sucking on flowers together because they’re h-u-n-g-r-y 💕💕💕

I bet he’s only ever thought of flowers as useless ornaments. Weak weeds. But she shows him they’re tasty and useful and good and pretty in their own right too and deserve existing without proving their worth and waaa <33 Thistles…... Did you know thistles taste sweet if you remove the thorns and eat them?

"Even as a chimera, her kind nature remains" you can’t suppress her in the way that matters. You can’t soothe him in the way that matters. It’s doomed. You’re doomed. It’s all doomed. Save me.

[puppyeared]

i feel like im not making any sense but does anyone else feel like there are stories that let u run with them and ones that spell everything out for you

[dungeons-and-dragon-age]

solas approving of june's constant questioning is so funny bc he Will be regretting all his life choices about it later

[ohmigoshiloveu]

Okay so like. I still haven't managed to get myself to finish episode 9, so I don't fully know how Theo's glow up finishes, but regardless I fucking love relistening to Emizel's section of episode 1 and like. Fuck man Theo does a lot of growing. Like he's a little bit pathetic at the beginning of the series. He's so, so brave during the alleyway fight, but he sounds shaky and scared and like a sopping wet pathetic baby the entire time. Charlie specifically describes him as not very alert, not a great fighter, and gives him this little moment where it takes him a second to manage to crush a soda can. He botches the check to beat Emizel in Smash Bros so there's a chance he sucks at the related skills (dexterity and computers I think?), but also after he loses Charlie specifically has him sound super frustrated and conclude that he should've 'stayed in his lane'. When Emizel says 'We'll do what we do best,' and Theo immediately responds with 'drink soda?' so fast that the other players notice it. Charlie might've had that as a predetermined character thing. Theo drinks soda. There's not much else to him.

Which creates this interesting dynamic between him and Emizel, because Emizel is so much better at him at all of these skills that the people around them (a FUCKING GANG) value. Emizel's perceptive, and agile, and strong, and a great fucking fighter irl and in videogames AND he always sounds badass. He's the top dog, the apex predator in their social circle. And I think that colors their relationship a lot? Like Theo has to look up to Emizel. I bet that Theo's looked up to Emizel since they first met, maybe Emizel came crashing into his life doing something epic and Theo thought it was the greatest shit ever.

On the flip side, I was getting a few hints of resentment? Hear me out! It's that 'should have just stayed in my lane' line. He's painfully aware how great Emizel is, compared to how much he's (from his perspective!) just a one trick pony. He's here to drink soda and say funny things, that's all most people want from him and he fucks up whenever he tries to do anything else!

And later in the segment Theo snarkily brings up a medicine check that Emizel had just fucked up in like this super backhanded, super passive aggressive way. That could be him wanting to rub Emizel's one singular fuck up in his face (especially because Theo was having a Moment about how he feels like people only see him as the soda guy, so any feelings of inadequacy would've been dialed up to eleven, so if there was any time for him to resent Emizel it'd be then), but it could also be that he was frustrated with Emizel being an ass (Emizel had just guessed that Theo's dream was to be a nurse, which was flat out wrong, and that's literally what set up the backhanded comment. Theo was saying something like 'thank fuck you don't wanna be a nurse cuz you sure fucked up with nursing that guy earlier.' It could also be that Emizel literally almost forgot Theo's name. Theo literally gave him the 'th' sound, it might've just been a bit Charlie was doing or it could've been Theo being AWARE that Emizel almost forgot his name. Or! It could be that in this moment, where Theo was confiding in Emizel about feeling like being the soda guy was all anyone ever saw in him, Emizel said something to the affect of 'well yeah Soda's the fun one.' Emizel doesn't think before he speaks and literally has a 1 in empathy. Just because he loves Theo doesn't mean he's not gonna blunder into being a complete and utter asshole to him. I'd hazard to say Emizel accidentally being an ass to people he cares about is a running theme).

But also all of that might come down to Charlie still getting the character down. Or, because I've theorized before that Theo might not've been supposed to survive the first Gabriel fight, the little hints of bitterness might've been intentional (even if they were completely improvved and Charlie didn't mean to add that to Theo's character) because Charlie was trying to shove as much character into this character before he was gone, but once it became clear that Theo was going to stick around longer he dropped it. As far as I remember, that bitterness is completely gone in all later interactions we see with Theo. OR! It could be that the bitterness drops because they've both got bigger fish to fry from that point onward, what with Theo's Shilo Incident TM, Emizel's vampirism, the Weylin twins. He doesn't have time to be bitter, he's too busy worrying about losing a cornerstone of his identity or helping his best friend adjust to being a fucking vampire now. And then after he learns to live without soda that basically negates his feelings of inadequacy- like, getting over the idea that he's nothing if he's not the soda guy would be required for him to give up on being the soda guy. And then Emizel would drift back into JUST being a guy to aspire to instead of also being a reminder of Theo's short comings, and then drift even further down into being 'guy who is actually going through it and has to overcome his own demons just like I had to overcome mine'. Like, I think we got to watch Theo slowly start to take Emizel off this pedestal in real time (he still definitely thinks Emizel's hot shit tho. Emizel's his boy, after all.)

Regardless, even if Theo did resent Emizel a little in the beginning, it's so fucking clearly overshadowed by how much he fucking loved him. And like, how could he not? Imagine you're Theo, critically low self esteem, and the literal coolest guy you know fucking LOVES you. Like, Emizel keeps consistently going out of his way to pull Theo up to his level and to treat him as an equal (mostly. Sometimes protectiveness bleeds through, like in his hypothetical fang scenario in ep 1 where he predicts there being five Fangs to fight and he says he can take three and Theo can take two (which in itself is still incredibly kind to Theo. Like, boy, you thought Theo was gonna be able to take out two whole guys? Hell no.) But that could also be chalked up to Emizel just being a cocky ass who wants to show off). Like dude, c'mon. Emizel might be a reminder of everything that Theo's not, but he's also probably Theo's biggest cheerleader. He wholeheartedly thought he was being supportive when he said he thought Theo'd make a great nurse! In all seriousness, though, even if it ultimately discourages him, Theo playing that Smash game against Emizel was at least a little bit of proof of him decidedly not 'staying in his lane,' and Emizel seems to inspire that! Later in that segment he challenges Theo to see which of them can break one of the Fangs kneecaps first! I bet Emizel challenged him to stupid competitions a lot, and that got Theo fired up and competitive in return!

And even when Emizel's not building Theo up, he's still giving Theo special attention, or readily receiving any attention Theo gives him. If nothing else, even at his lowest points that might've made Theo feel cool by association.

On Emizel's part, I think he's like, possibly completely oblivious to any turmoil Theo's going through? Like he thinks Theo's the shit and genuinely sees him as an equal. I'm 99% sure that Theo being his right hand man happened because Theo would've put himself into the role (in episode one before he gets all of his character development he's pretty much always looking to Emizel for what to do, and still more or less does whatever he says up to where I'm at in the series, with refusing to leave the alleyway being the only exception I remember). I think if Theo'd had higher self esteem or been less eager to defer to Emizel, Emizel would've happily gone about his business slotting Theo into more of a partner role. He tells Theo to run from that alleyway because Theo'd taken a fucking devastating hit and Emizel was sure he could handle himself, not because he knows Theo sucks at fighting. He tries to turn Theo into a cool vampire. He convinces Shilo that Theo'll be a valuable asset to raiding the Weylin warehouse and they take Theo with them instead of having him stay behind with the car like Grefgore, despite Theo being the one who actually knows how to drive. He tells Theo about being a vampire even though he keeps it a secret from everyone else, confides in Theo that 'yeah he might absolutely be susceptible to going into a frenzy like Shilo did.'

When you get down to it, Emizel pretty much tells Theo everything he would think is relevant, with two notable exceptions. Maybe three if you count him not telling Theo he has nine lives like a cat but tbh I think he might've just forgot. Or maybe he gets to it later, or maybe he did tell him and I forgot! idk man! But! Those other two things. First off, he like. Pointedly does not tell Theo that he's a prince. Like when they were doing the recap on the way to the Weylin warehouse, there's like. Charlie gives Condi an opening to say it, a little 'is there anything else?' and Emizel just. Doesn't. And the second one is that (at least where I'm at) Emizel never comes clean about bloodbonding Theo. Maybe it just hasn't come up yet, but still. It fits a pattern of Emizel not wanting to admit something that makes him, like, ABOVE Theo somehow. He sees Theo as an equal, and a precious one at that, he doesn't want things to get weird between them because he's literal royalty, and he doesn't want Theo's life to literally revolve around him like it would under a level three blood bond- and doesn't want to admit that he even considered it, even if he did it without really understanding what it was.

And Emizel backing off from ghoulifying Theo after Arthur explains what it actually entails kinda leads into a far more headcanon-y relationship analysis thing so um. Feel free to skip the next paragraph.

So! Like. Why the fuck was Emizel so attached to Theo being Soda. Like he gets over it decently quick, cuz that's his buddy and it's what Theo wants, so like. Whatever. But like, if I'm right about Theo always looking up to Emizel from the moment they met, there might've been some wiggle room between when they first became friends and when Theo became Soda. And like, before Theo became Soda, being Emizel's buddy would probably be the only thing he'd feel he had going for him? Which would've made it even harder for Emizel to get them both on equal footing, and I think that's just... really unappealing to him. Like! Don't get me wrong, I'm sure Emizel loves having people kiss up to him and respect him and blah blah blah, I just think Theo being his boy and Emizel treating him like a partner go hand in hand. Either they weren't best friends yet or Emizel was just. Kind of uncomfortable and eager to push Theo into growing into something more than a hypeman. And then the soda incident occurs, and it gives Theo SOMETHING to define himself by, something people like him and know him for that's got nothing to do with Emizel, and maybe the initial soda incident was bad, but having that sense of identity and falling into what kind've feels like a class clown kinda role might've helped get Theo over his self esteem issues long enough for Emizel to go 'oh you're actually super cool. sweet.' and then blah blah blah they get super close like they are in canon. And then whenever Theo seems like he's backsliding into what he was before the soda incident, Emizel tries to course correct not because he doesn't think Theo's any fun without soda, but because he's made the mental connection that Soda without soda turns into less of a best friend and more of a follower, which as stated before he probably really doesn't want from Theo specifically. but idk. pure conjecture here.

Anyways, above all else, Theo's important to Emizel. I really, really like the idea that Theo was supposed to be like a brother to him (which. Again pointing at my 'Theo was supposed to die in episode 1' theory, can you IMAGINE the angst Emizel could've had about that? Lose one brother and then someone else claiming to be your brother shows up? It would've felt like some hellish, not-worth-it trade. Like a betrayal, like accepting Shilo might mean replacing Theo, and how could he ever?)

And Emizel's important to Theo! But unlike Emizel (who I'm 99% sure is gonna have some kinda moment with Theo but I genuinely cannot see him loving Theo in any other way than the way he does now), Theo has the bonus of having his view of Emizel have a clear trajectory to evolve over the course of the campaign. Like I said, he seems to be getting more confidence in himself and like, not gonna get into the stuff I've had spoiled beyond episode 9 but it seems like Theo's gonna get a lot more comfortable being a proper leader and not just a number two. He's gonna have an easier time seeing Emizel as an equal, and I think that's fucking awesome!

I could be completely off base, but if I never watch another episode then I'll never be proven wrong. So. Ya know.

[crunchycrystals]

i did not realize going into this season i would come out shipping gorgug with three different people i was coming into this with the biggest donospring mindset and yet here we are

[suffarustuffaru]

What If Julius and Subaru both met when Julius was a commoner and Subaru got transported Sooner

fun stuff im sure !! but haah okay given julius was a kid when he was a commoner - yeah theyre both kids here!! not sure how old but definitely somewhere before the age of ten. and i think theyd be up to some shenanigans together im sure!! theyre both very mischevious kids (or from what little we know of little kid julius, given iirc tappei hasnt specified just How Much of a "delinquent" little kid julius is okay. but hes definitely the type to sneak out past curfew or something. stay up late reading too, probably. that sort of thing). and also subarus a kid and no way he ISNT missing home poor guy T^TT getting ripped away from home like that is bad enough at seventeen, getting ripped away from home when you are like. no more than eight or something is Bad. but luckily!! im assuming subaru gets found by the juukuliuses (julius's parents probably?) and thats how julius and subaru form their friendship / long-term yearning for each other (if you so desire that) (okay but no way subaru ISNT gonna form long-term yearning for julius flajsdlf). but yes i think julius and subaru would be silly happy kids together and julius's parents would be like oh no this other kid is so lost where is he from :(( but hes so loved by julius already too... well we got another kid under our roof now.

except. julius's parents die in a flood. so i mean. Hypothetically.... either julisuba survive this one first try or subaru dies for the first time. which. ohh god. oh god. oh g -

[lenteur]

random thoughts about tell me that you love me, episode seven

(the rest is under the cut because i'm worried about your eyes having to read ALL OF THAT and this post might contain spoilers)

Putting mo eun's confession at the start of this episode? They did this FOR ME :D

Biting my hand so hard right now because look at mo eun's change of expression when she finally realizes she has feelings for jin woo ❣️

If mo eun's confession doesn't win confession of the year award, i will riot!!! I think it's so cute how she's stumbling with her words, both spoken and signed. She's taking the first step and it's really courageous of her because she doesn't know if he will return her feelings and also she doesn't know what it's like to live with a deaf person. So yeah, I find it incredible that she was confident enough to know the only thing that matters is she likes him and she wants him to know that.

And jin woo's reaction! You can see how shaken he is. Just like he mentioned earlier, he's always been torn between wanting to be found and not wanting to be found. So, to have the person that has triggered such ambivalent feelings in him is like a big wave crashing down on him.

Add on top of that all the conversations he's had with his best friend and how jin woo always mentioned being scared of being in a relationship because he doesn't want to be a burden, he doesn't want his partner to sacrifice too much for him and his well-being. Jin woo has a hard time understanding that people are willing to love him no matter what. I can understand where he's coming from though because we all want some independence (at various degrees depending on the individual but still) so, as a hard of hearing person he knows he won't have as much independence as able-bodied people. He'll always need help and that's something difficult to process. I know I've said this enough time already in all my random thoughts about tell me that you love me posts but each episode brings us a new depiction of what it's like to be in jin woo's shoes when it comes to relationships so yeah I needed to write that down.

A feeling that hasn't left jin woo is guilt. He feels guilty because he's always had to rely on his friend and classmates and now he feels guilty because mo eun is making efforts to learn sign language for him when he can't speak her language. It's so sad to see that he's feeling this way because it's not his fault. He has accumulated years and years of guilt and feeling bad for others that now I don't think he's able to fully comprehend that he can still get into relationships despite him being hard of hearing. I'm just sad man

But then we have jin woo wanting to start anew and only do good things with mo eun. He wants to do things SHE likes and SHE wants to do. That's so thoughtful!

"Please don't be so considerate of me" Mo eun's behavior towards him might have added to the guilt jin woo has felt ever since they met each other. She's been so considerate and that has weighed jin woo down. He knows she didn't have any bad intentions but sometimes being too considerate or walking on eggshells around someone might make that person feel even worse than they originally felt. Important note: It's not because you're taking care of someone that you have to forget yourself. Don't get lost in taking care of other people. You should take care/think of yourself as well.

The sunrise was stunning 😍

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH THEY KISSED AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHKNCFVEHBJ.HKFJ/.ZKJNE2HBAJFNCBNZ?

THE CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT IS SO CUTEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE :3

Okay so we're starting eating breakfast/lunch at each other's place I see 😏😏😏

(Why do I sound like that annoying nosy friend?)

Girl stop interrupting him! He's trying to eat his watermelon in peace lol

THEY HELD HANDS!!!!

Ji yu running on the treadmill. I relate. You relate. He/she relates. We relate. They relate. Everybody relates </3

"She found me when i was hiding" AJSHGDFAZJKXKKJFHVGCBN I CAN'T

Seeing them get so close to each other and having all these little dates makes my heart beat a little bit faster than usual 💓 I'm so happy for them :(((

Just because we've had so many main couple scenes, I'm giving this episode a 9.5/10

The preview for the next episode makes me both curious and fearful. I want them to be happy together but I know they'll have to face obstacles on the way so yeah, I can't wait to see what happens next.

[moonsmultimusings]

♪ (Yuki & Tohru)

Send a ♪ for a short playlist - Accepting ☾

OKAY i'm normal about them, i promise- that's why i have compiled three songs after careful deliberation ^-^

^ ❝ i used to hear a simple song, that was until you came along you took my broken melody, and now i hear a symphony ❞

^ ❝ thought i had it all just figured out, but i'm slowing down with questions now it's okay to step back and look around! it'll just take time, be patient with yourself there's more room to grow if you leave your worries on the shelf! ❞

^ ❝ what if who i hoped to be was always me? and the love i fought to feel was always free? what if all the things i've done were just attempts at earning love? yeah 'cause the hole inside my heart is stupid deep ❞