#i’m a sucker for an unlikely friendship

[teartra]

I think Darius and Eberwolf’s friendship is very underrated if we compared it to other like Hooty and Lilith

Darius literally went from being annoyed to “I’m going to protect you with my life” to Eberwolf

Also who could forget this scene?

[squidthusiast]

Ok, but why do I imagine Eight being the unofficial child of Pearl x Marina?

Because I imagine Eight was minding their business and all of a sudden, Pearl would slam the paper down and said “You’re adopted now”

Basically OTH at the start of their world tour haha, I love that they took Eight with them.

I have more detailed thoughts under the cut for those interested in my ramblings, analysis and interpretations of the characters.

Disclaimer: This is my own take on it, don’t let it ruin your fun!

I personally don’t really subscribe to the fandom’s ‘pearlina moms’ headcanon.

On the one hand, I am an absolute sucker for the ‘found family’ trope, and I definitely think Agent 8 and OTH fit in it!

On the other hand, I think people immediately put Pearl and Marina into the ‘parenthood’ box, a little too eagerly. Not saying this specific ask is that, btw, it just reminded me of some instances i’ve seen.

I personally think that the relationship between OTH and Agent 8 is a little more nuanced & sibling-esque, for the following reasons:

1. Within canon, we often see 8 being referred to as a friend by both Pearl and Marina.

Pearl does it more explicitly (see that one interview at her house), whereas with Marina it’s more insinuated (ex. In the Side Order dev diaries, she starts calling Agent 8 as ‘Eight’, which is stated to be a name used by their friends).

Pearl seems to be an accidental-duck-parent of sorts who haphazardly collects octoling teenagers & young musical talent. It goes in line with her whole mentor-esque leader personality, and i’m sure these disoriented teens find relief in an idol who seemingly knows what she’s doing (she really doesn’t).

However she doesn’t act in a parental manner. More-so like your estranged gay cousin who hit it big in another country and is down to show your queer little butt the ropes.

Marina on the other hand seems to have a more empathetic approach with Agent 8 (opposite to Pearl’s brashness). Marina clearly connects with Agent 8 through their shared experience as defected octoling soldiers, and probably sees her younger self in them. She’s already caring as it is, but this is accentuated during octo expansion given the circumstances.

I feel however that, unlike Pearl, Marina has a bit of a harder time actually forming a bond with Eight at the beginning. Their similarities (seemingly) end at their shared experience, and probably leaves Marina awkwardly wondering how to approach them further. What we can assume though is that they become closer friends during OTH’s world tour, given the events described in the Memverse Dev Diaries.

Meeting Eight during difficult circumstances (OE) and helping them get out creates a sense of camaraderie between them, which probably devolves into genuine care, established friendship and a strong bond amongst the three overtime.

2. Pearl and Marina are very career-centric both in Splat 2 and 3.

It is reasonable that the two young idols, who see their fame and musical recognition rise spectacularly & fast, are not particularly interested in settling down at this point in their lives.

Now entering her late 20s, Pearl is most definitely still interested in keeping the ball rolling with Off the Hook’s international success. Her character often points towards restlessness, freedom and discovery. There has definitely been character development in regards to her maturity in Splatoon 3, but these aforementioned traits are still ever present in her demeanour & decision-making.

Marina on the other hand can be seen slowly blossoming from a supporting character to being her own person. She definitely develops more self-confidence by Splatoon 3, but is still naturally bashful. It’s clear that she is allowing herself to explore & open up to new things for her own sake. She remains a caring and somewhat nurturing individual, but she is at a stage where she’s learning to live for herself and not for others.

Parenthood (and all the responsibilities and sacrifices it entails) at this moment of their lives would probably freak Pearl out, and stunt Marina’s personal growth.

3. The age gaps between OTH and Agent 8 are too close for it to create a parent/kid bond.

This makes their relationship a little hazy in regards to roles; 8 is still young enough that they may seek out rolemodels and mentors (still relatively influenceable), but they’re also nearing their 20s. By this point they are fairly self sufficient, have a sense of their personal values & identity, and they are relatively responsible & mature.

Pearl and Marina are 8’s seniors by approximately 4-6 years. However, in Splatoon 2 they’re entering their early 20s and their career has just begun to take off.

They are both still relatively youngsters, albeit older & more mature(? glancing at Pearl) youngsters than 8. This places them in a position where they can guide 8 and offer certain support and resources, but lack the maturity and experience of a full-fledged adult. This would approximate their relationship closer to that of siblings in a family setting.

Pearl & Marina are also less likely to feel a duty towards Eight as an adult would with a child. Instead, the latter’s circumstances are more likely to incite feelings of rapport and compassion as a fellow young inkfish.

Now, with all of this said, I will acknowledge that friendship/found family is MUCH more nuanced than a strict binary.

From personal experience in my last years of college, I did find myself caring for my fellow freshmen as though they were my kids, in certain ways. Hell, I called them my kids.

I acted as a proud parent whenever some of them achieved something, attempted to pass down my knowledge to them, and was protective of them to a certain extent.

They also annoyed me sometimes, like younger people do haha. And i’m sure I annoyed them too!

So I wouldn’t put it past OTH to call Eight their kid and have this mentor/parent-esque rapport with them in certain circumstances.

This is all based both on canon & my own interpretations of it, but still closely aligned to what has been shown in-game.

So if you have a different interpretation of Agent 8 and OTH, that’s great! I love to see people’s personal headcanons. Ultimately, Agent 8 is meant to be somewhat of a blank slate for the players to mold, with some hinted-at personality traits of their own.

As long as you have fun with these characters, that’s all that matters. This is just my personal opinion on their relationship in-game.

If you read all of this, you deserve the biggest golden star for listening to my incessant yapping 🤲⭐️

Feel free to bother me about this or other opinions you may have in my inbox, just be kind please!

[moonselune]

I'm such a sucker for soft men, it makes me sick. I need to see Wyll and Gale wedding day rq <3!!! Their Tav sitting in the room their getting ready in, so nervous about marrying into such a different life with people they are worried won't accept them (Like, maybe Drow or Gith Tav) and the boys comforting them through the door. Ughh so cute. Maybe friendship comfort, too, from like Astarion as a friend or something.

Omgomg yes yes yes yes

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Gale:

The room was small but beautifully decorated. Soft golden light streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the delicate flowers that adorned the walls. You sat before the mirror, heart racing, hands trembling slightly as you watched Shadowheart work deftly on your hair. Each braid she wove was elegant, smooth, and perfect—unlike the turmoil that was brewing inside you.

Your wedding day. The day you would officially become Gale’s partner, his wife, bound to him in a way that felt monumental and terrifying. You’d known love and affection in your life, but this was something altogether different. Gale, with his warm heart, brilliant mind, and deep, endless well of kindness, was a man whose life was so starkly different from the world you’d grown up in.

As a drow, you’d been raised in the shadow of Lolth’s teachings, surrounded by the constant threat of power plays and mistrust. And now, here you were, preparing to marry a man who believed in love, compassion, and the sharing of knowledge. You wanted this more than anything—Gale had shown you a life full of wonder and light—but as you sat in that room, your nerves began to overtake you.

“Shadowheart, this isn't going to work,” you muttered under your breath, barely recognizing your own voice. “What if… what if I don’t fit in with his world? With his family? His mother is nothing like mine. She's kind, compassionate, and welcoming. What if I disappoint them?”

Shadowheart gave you a calm look in the mirror, her fingers never faltering as she continued working on your hair.

“You’re overthinking,” she said softly, her voice a steady anchor in the sea of your doubts. “I’ve seen the way Gale looks at you. You won’t disappoint anyone, least of all him.”

But her words, though comforting, didn’t quite pierce through the rising tide of anxiety. Minthara, who had been lounging nearby with an almost amused smirk, decided to chime in.

“You’re right to worry, you know,” Minthara said, her tone casual but dripping with the pointed cruelty she so often wielded. “You and Gale—worlds apart. He’s soft, pampered. His life is cushioned by a love you’ve never known. Do you really think you’ll fit into that? His mother is practically the embodiment of everything we were taught to despise. The very antithesis of strength.”

Shadowheart shot Minthara a sharp glare. “That’s enough,” she snapped. “You’re not helping.”

Minthara merely shrugged, unbothered by the reprimand. “Just stating the obvious. Our dear one may be all loved up, but that is no reason to be naive.”

You clenched your hands together in your lap, trying to steady yourself, but Minthara’s words had found their mark. As much as you tried to tell yourself that this day was about you and Gale, the doubts gnawed at you. Your upbringing, your nature, your past—it all felt like a weight you couldn’t shake. What if, in this world of love and family, you simply didn’t belong?

“I can’t do this,” you whispered, your voice cracking under the strain of your emotions. “I don’t fit in. I’m not… I’m not like them. What if I can’t be what he needs?”

Shadowheart paused, her hands falling still for a moment as she exchanged a glance with Minthara. Then, without missing a beat, she said, “Minthara, go get Gale. Don’t let him in—just have him speak through the door.”

Minthara arched an eyebrow, clearly not understanding the custom, but she didn’t argue.

“Very well,” she said, pushing herself off the chair with an elegant stretch. “I’ll fetch your anxious groom.”

As Minthara slipped out of the room, Shadowheart turned back to you, her gaze softening.

“You need to hear his voice,” she said quietly. “He’ll remind you why you’re here. Why you’ve made it this far.”

Minutes passed, though they felt like an eternity. The quiet buzz of nervousness grew louder, and your heart pounded in your chest as you stared at your reflection in the mirror, your eyes filled with doubt.

Then, there was a knock at the door.

“Love?” Gale’s familiar voice floated through, rich and warm, laced with the same magic that always soothed your soul. “You’re probably overthinking again, aren’t you?”

A small, involuntary smile tugged at your lips. Gale always knew what was the matter with you, even if he couldn't see you.

“Listen,” Gale continued, his voice gentle but firm. “I don’t care if you were raised in the Underdark or on the surface. I don’t care if our pasts are different. What matters is that you and I—we chose each other. I’ve seen every part of you, your strengths, your struggles, your moments of doubt… and I love you. All of you. There is nothing about you that I would change.”

Your eyes began to sting as his words wrapped around you like a warm embrace.

“As for my mother,” Gale went on, “She loves you, because she knows what I already know: that you’re an incredible, strong, brave woman. You don’t have to fit into some mold for her or for anyone else. Just be you. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

Tears pricked at the corners of your eyes, and you took a shaky breath, your heart swelling with love and gratitude. You felt the weight of your doubts beginning to lift, replaced by the warmth of Gale’s unwavering belief in you.

“And if you’re still unsure,” Gale added, his tone playful now, “just remember this: you’ve survived the Underdark, countless battles, and gods know how many ridiculous adventures with me. If anyone’s lucky in this relationship, it’s me. You’ve already given me more than I could ever ask for.”

You let out a soft laugh, wiping at your eyes with the back of your hand. His words were exactly what you needed to hear.

“I love you, you know,” you said, your voice hoarse but steady.

“And I love you,” Gale replied, his voice filled with warmth. “Now, get ready and come meet me at the altar. I’ve been waiting a lifetime for this moment.”

The connection between you felt palpable, even through the door, and with a deep breath, you finally let yourself relax. The doubts that had plagued you moments before seemed distant now, overshadowed by the love and trust you shared with Gale.

When Minthara returned, she raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by the change in your demeanor.

“Are you ready now? Or is there some other strange ritual we must partake in?” she asked, her tone dry but teasing.

You nodded, standing up from your seat. “I’m ready.”

Shadowheart smiled softly as she finished the final touches on your hair, and as you took one last look at yourself in the mirror, you knew—no matter what, you were exactly where you were meant to be. Today was your day, and no doubt or fear could take that away from you. Gale was waiting, and you couldn’t wait to meet him at the altar.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Wyll:

The air in the small dressing room was thick with tension. You sat before the mirror, your heart racing as you stared at your reflection. The soft fabric of your wedding gown hugged your form, delicate embroidery cascading down the dress in intricate patterns. Astarion fussed with the final touches, straightening the neckline and smoothing out any wrinkles, but you could barely focus on the details. Today was supposed to be the happiest day of your life. You were marrying Wyll, the man who had shown you more love and compassion than you had ever thought possible.

But instead of excitement, your mind was consumed with doubt. You were Gith, after all—your life, your culture, everything about you was so different from Wyll’s. He came from a world of nobility, of grand gestures and diplomacy, while your world had been one of war and survival.

And then there was Ulder Ravengard—Wyll’s father, the Grand Duke of Baldur’s Gate. No matter what Wyll said, no matter how much he reassured you, you couldn’t shake the fear that Ulder would never approve of you. Could you ever truly be accepted in this world?

Astarion must have sensed your spiraling thoughts. His hands paused for a moment on your dress, and he gave you a sideways glance through the mirror, his eyes narrowing slightly as he assessed your expression.

“You’re overthinking again,” he said, his voice smooth but tinged with concern.

You opened your mouth to respond, but before you could, Lae'zel, who had been pacing the room impatiently, interrupted. “What is the purpose of this ceremony again? Why do humans insist on this ritual? Should you not simply bind yourselves through combat or trial? This waiting and dressing—it’s inefficient.”

Astarion rolled his eyes, clearly irritated. “Lae’zel, darling, could you be quiet for just a moment?” He turned back to you, his fingers adjusting the fabric at your waist. “You’re going to be a vision, I promise you.”

Lae’zel crossed her arms, her brow furrowing in confusion. “But why—”

“Shhh,” Astarion said sharply, cutting her off. He turned back to you with a sympathetic smile, but the next words out of his mouth, while meant to reassure, sent you spiraling further. “You’re about to be the daughter-in-law of the Grand Duke. It’s not every day one marries into such a prestigious family.”

Your breath caught in your throat. Daughter-in-law of the Grand Duke. The weight of those words sank deep into your chest, and suddenly, everything felt too much. Your hands trembled, and your mind raced with thoughts of Ulder, of the expectations, the pressure, the looming fear of rejection. What if you failed? What if you weren’t enough? What if Wyll’s father looked at you and saw nothing but a warrior from a distant realm who didn’t belong in his son’s world?

Your heart pounded, and you could feel panic creeping in. The room felt smaller, the air thinner.

“Astarion,” you whispered, your voice barely audible. “I can’t do this…”

Astarion, who had been focused on fixing your dress, snapped to attention as he realized just how deeply you were spiraling. His eyes widened slightly, and in a rare moment of genuine panic, he shouted, “Karlach!”

The door flew open almost immediately, and Karlach’s tall, imposing figure filled the doorway. She was dressed in her finery, and was on her way to fulfill 'Best Man' duties.

“Hey, hey, hey, what’s going on?” she asked, her eyes flicking from you to Astarion.

“Go fetch Wyll,” Astarion ordered, his voice sharp with urgency. “But don’t let him in—he’s not supposed to see her before the wedding. Just have him speak through the door.”

Lae'zel, still standing in the room, blinked in confusion. “Why can he not enter? This human custom makes no sense.”

“It’s tradition,” Astarion snapped, clearly on edge as he tried to manage both your rising anxiety and Lae’zel’s questions. “Just let me handle it, all right?”

Karlach gave a quick nod and disappeared down the hall, moving with purpose.

You sat there, feeling utterly overwhelmed. Your hands gripped the edges of your chair as you tried to steady yourself, but your mind was racing. What if this was a mistake? What if you couldn’t live up to the expectations of marrying into such a powerful family? What if Wyll realized that, too late, he had made the wrong choice?

A few moments later, there was a knock at the door.

“My love?” Wyll’s voice came through the wooden barrier, warm and full of concern. “Karlach said you needed to talk. What’s wrong?”

You swallowed hard, not sure if you could find the words. But just hearing his voice made your chest tighten with emotion. You pressed your hands to your face, trying to calm yourself, but the words came out in a rush. “I… I don’t know if I can do this, Wyll.”

There was a brief silence on the other side of the door before Wyll spoke again, his voice tender and understanding. “What’s making you say that?”

You took a deep breath, trying to gather your thoughts.

“I’m Gith,” you said, your voice cracking. “Your life, your family, they’re so different from mine. What if your father never accepts me? What if I’m not enough?”

Wyll’s voice was full of warmth and love as he responded. “You are more than enough. My father may be the Grand Duke, but I don’t care about titles or prestige. I care about you, the woman I fell in love with, the one who has fought by my side, who has shown me courage and strength unlike any I’ve ever known. My father will come to see that, in time. But even if he doesn’t, it won’t change how I feel.”

Tears welled in your eyes as his words wrapped around you like a blanket, offering comfort and reassurance. He had always known just how to make you feel safe.

“I know this world can feel overwhelming,” Wyll continued. “But you and I—we’re a team. We’ll face whatever comes our way, together. I’ve never had any doubts about you. I love you, all of you, and I can’t wait to marry you.”

A soft laugh escaped your lips despite the tears. He always had a way of cutting through the noise, of making everything feel simple and clear.

“I love you, too,” you whispered, your heart swelling with affection and gratitude.

“Then meet me at the altar,” Wyll said, his voice light with a touch of playfulness. “I’ll be waiting, my love. And I promise, everything will be just fine.”

You took a deep breath, the weight of your fears lifting as Wyll’s words anchored you back to what mattered. You loved him, and he loved you. Everything else would fall into place.

Astarion let out a dramatic sigh of relief, stepping back from you with a pleased smile. “See? You’re going to be fine. Now, let’s make sure you’re the most stunning bride Wyll has ever laid eyes on.”

Lae'zel, still perplexed, simply crossed her arms and watched, but she said nothing more.

With newfound resolve, you stood up, wiping away the last of your tears. Today was your wedding day. You were ready.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

so wholesome oh my god i love it and i hope you guys did as well! -Seluney xox

If you want to support me in other ways | Help keep this moonmaiden caffeinated x

[luckout22]

Total Drama World Tour AU where Lindsay is the first person to figure out Alejandro’s game.

This idea was inspired by how much I love Lindsay’s development in Action and think she deserved better in World Tour.

In this AU Lindsay immediately flags that somethings up with Alejandro. She might not be a super genius like Courtney but she’s had a ton of experience with guys trying to take advantage of her so she can spot a manipulator a mile away. Alejandro? Red flag city.

Lindsay tells everyone who will listen that Alejandro can’t be trusted (hush hush strategies and counter-manipulation is just not her style). She does everything she can to try and out Alejandro for the manipulative creep that he is.

At first Alejandro panics, he didn’t expect to be found out (certainly not this early) and is desperately plotting how to do damage control and get Lindsay eliminated before she ruins everything.

But the thing is, nobody actually believes Lindsay. I mean, the idea that Lindsay of all people saw through an act that fooled the rest of them? Just not possible. Like, the rest of the cast disbelieve her so hard, if anything her accusations are actually helping Alejandro’s cover (cue him plotting to keep her in the show as long as possible because she’s obviously not a threat and actively helping his strategy).

It’s to the point that even Heather is doubting her suspicions about Alejandro. She doesn’t know which option is worse: that Alejandro is actually as suave and perfect as he appears, or that Lindsay was actually right about something.

Noah would still figure Alejandro out, he’s basically a genius and (unlike some of the other players) not egotistical enough to ignore the evidence just because he doesn’t want to admit Lindsay figured something out before him. Also I think a Noah/Lindsay alliance (friendship) has great comedic potential.

It would somehow all come down to Alejandro, Lindsay and Noah as the final three.

I don’t love Tyler, but I think Tyler/Lindsay would actually work well in this AU because Tyler makes a good narrative foil to Alejandro (and every other guy whose ever tried to take advantage of Lindsay) because he’s just so sincere, and genuinely likes her.

Also AleNoah because I’m a huge sucker for those losers lol.

[nuzipilled]

Have you watched the film Arashi No Yoru Ni (One Stormy Night), it's a sweet film about a wolf and goat becoming friends?

You can watch it for free on YouTube.

i have. its been a long time but i remember it as being a very lovely watch. i’m always a sucker for unlikely predator/prey dynamics where despite everything, the love they share for eachother is strong enough to overcome their instincts/impulses.

brainrot time because thats what im here for; the idea of uzi and n sharing a similar bond, especially near the beginning of their friendship establishment, (im imagining post episode 1 & 2) with uzi attempting to unlearn the fear of disassemblers that’s been socially instilled in her since birth and n in turn actively resisting against cyn’s programming to kill, consume and destroy someone he now holds very dear to him.

n i think struggles with it psychologically alot more than uzi does, i’m sure for her it’s more of a gut reaction. their body language is subtle, uzi tensing up just slightly if n makes any movements that appear to be a little too sudden for her tastes, or n catching fleeting, candid glances of uzi, usually when she’s in a position where she seems vulnerable and her suddenly looking *incredibly* appealing—not necessarily in the romantic sense (yet) and more like the framing in episode 3 in doll’s apartment—and having to struggle with his own impulses as well as the fear of/hangups on potentially hurting her.

[3hks]

Hi! So I’m working on a romance book where the trope is “he fell first, she fell harder” and the dynamic is the usual cliche of she’s the popular girl, he’s the edgy loner. And I’m honestly just stuck on how to SHOW that dynamic well while maintaining the semi-slow burn direction I’m looking to towards (honestly I’m scared to do anything besides slow born just because I know people prefer it over the opposite yk?). Ultimately I was wondering if you had any tips on how to write that kind of dynamic?

Thank you so much xoxo

Hey! Thank you so much for reaching out! I absolutely LOVE this trope because it's so cute! There's a ton a freedom that follows this dynamic, but understandably, there's also a bit of difficulty that comes with it. So, let's get started!

For the record, I'll be giving overall advice about this topic too, so the boy will always be considered "he fell first" character while the girl will always be considered the "she fell harder" one as of this post. I know it might not make much sense now, but it will later!

1. BEGINNING/MEETING

The boy should fall in love with the girl near their first meeting. This could be before, during, or shortly after they meet. He falls fast. If they already know each other, then I suggest establishing his crush near the beginning of the story. This helps with the pacing and obviously, it's part of the dynamic. The girl, however, may have a bit of interest, but not necessarily any romantic ones.

Simple, right?

2. DEMONSTRATING THEIR DYNAMIC

Next, let's talk about how to properly depict their relationship! Typically, they'll start off as friends and despite the boy's crush on the girl, he's really good at hiding it. Again, this will be big help with the pacing and will emphasize the "she fell harder". The girl, on the other hand, slowly develops more interest as she gets to know him.

They stay really close for a while, but purely as friends.

Eventually, she starts liking him and quickly realizes her feelings. Unlike the boy, this realization should be a huge BOOM. She falls hard. It's dramatic, it's important, and she's going to do something about it.

3. PACING THE SLOWBURN

You want a semi-slow burn, correct? Well let's explore a few elements that'll bring it to life.

Boy falls in love fast - As expected, this is going to help your story move faster and now, the readers are just waiting for the girl.

Boy hides his feelings from her - This will assist you with the slow-burn because he's willing to stay as nothing more than a friend and doesn't attempt to make a move other.

They stay friends - This blends in with the last point; it slows the story's pace, and they happen around the same time (he hides his feelings as they become friends).

Girl realizes her feelings - This could be somewhere in the middle; she might take a bit to fully comprehend that she likes the boy, but it generally shouldn't take too long because of how hard she falls.

Confession - Like the first point, the confession happens fast, almost right after she discovers her feelings.

4. KEY POINTS

And lastly, let's talk about some key points regarding the "he fell first, she fell harder" trope!

Switching POVS: Not necessary, but I definitely recommend it! Switching point of views from the two characters offers both sides of the mirror, allowing the readers to see how long the boy was in love for while revealing how the girl also fell in love. Definitely helps when exhibiting their dynamic!

Boy is willing to stay friends: I mentioned this in the last point, but typically the boy doesn't try to advance their friendship because he doesn't want to ruin what they have and is fine with remaining as friends. However, he DOES show a bit of his love through actions, gifts, and words!

Girl confesses: Normally, the one who falls harder is the one to confess. This is because well, they are IN LOVE and are willing to take the risk and confess!

The crush is obvious: This is just a fun and fluffy incorporation that I'm a sucker for. I absolutely love it when the boy's ("they fell first" character) infatuation is so obvious to everyone (passerby's, their friends, etc.) EXCEPT the girl. It's honestly so cute!

Different types of love: Keep in mind that just because the boy is good at hiding his love and didn't act on it doesn't mean his admiration is any weaker than the girl's!

In some sense, this trope is basically friends-to-lovers but they start of halfway to their relationship. This post is a bit messy, but hopefully it helps!

Happy writing~

3hks <3

[cinnamon-won]

Potential Series? I need opinions please

I had a Yeosang fic on wattpad that was taken down. I was completely fuming because these things take a lot of time and effort to write. Of course, I lost those chapters to wattpad and it's very unlikely that I'll get them back, which is honestly so irritating because there were like 30k words worth of work in them :(

My question is: Is this something people will find interesting? Should I repost it here? (Poll at the end)

⊱•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱

⚠️Content Warnings: Minor x adult relationship (not romanticised), MxM, grooming, drug consumption, depression and anxiety, s*** h*** (not described, just mentioned), extreme bullying and cyber-bullying, homophobia, potential dub-con (implied, not explicit)

These were the most triggering things in this fic that I could think of off the top of my head. If any of these things upsetting I'm not asking you to continue reading - your content consumption is your responsibility.

Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old Yeosang has always struggled to find his place. Ever since coming out, he’s been tormented by relentless bullying at school, and his mother’s rejection at home leaves him feeling even more isolated. The darkness of his depression and anxiety threatens to consume him—until he meets Hyunjae. Charming, attentive, and much older, Hyunjae becomes Yeosang’s escape, showering him with the love and affection he desperately craves. To Yeosang, Hyunjae is a lifeline, the one person who makes him feel seen and valued.

But not everyone is convinced that Hyunjae is what he seems. As Yeosang falls deeper under Hyunjae’s spell, his best friends, Seonghwa and San, grow increasingly concerned. They see the subtle signs of control that Hyunjae hides behind kind gestures and sweet words. Determined to pull their friend from a dangerous relationship, Seonghwa and San risk their friendship to open Yeosang’s eyes before it’s too late.

Don't Let Go is simply about how someone can take advantage of vulnerability and meddle with the blurred line between love and manipulation. Yeosang desperately struggles with himself as he tries to discern who has his best interests at heart whilst battling with the darkest parts of himself.

⊱•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱

I have read a variety of things on here before, so I have less worry about losing this here. And I know that a lot of people do end up enjoying these disturbing things.

I think the story didn't meet wattpad guidelines, which I probably should have guessed before posting it there. Luckily I have the first draft for all the chapters saved. It just means I don't have the final product. I'm trying to see the positives - maybe now when I go back to edit it, I can change it a little to fit my style of writing now, since this is like 2-3 years old.

I'm only putting this here because it's a fic I really enjoyed writing since I'm a sucker for angst. But I do want to point out that I wrote this a couple years ago, so some parts will feel amateurishly written. Yes, I could go back and improve it but I don't have a lot of free time and there's something sentimental about keeping it as it is.

[shitpostingkats]

Yu-Gi-Oh Review Roundup: GX!

Favorite main character: Chazz Princeton

The Chazz. The yugioh rival who, barely five episodes into the first season, gets fed up with being in the show, sails away on a yacht, shipwrecks, is rescued by card game playing russians, gets adopted by said russians after beating all of them back to back in a 50 man gauntlet, and returns to the main plot triumphantly riding a submarine with an entire crowd of slavs chanting his name.

In, uh... *checks watch* episode 25.

Chazz is one of those yugioh characters who’s just always doing the most he possibly can, and you gotta love him for it. And unlike some prideful anime rivals, he actually has the skills to back it up. Skills you actually get to watch him build himself, from the ground up, after having his fall from grace/russian sabbatical. Which just makes it even more satisfying to see him tear into duels, because his archetype of choice, and his whole arc in general, is about using the most unintimidating, unwanted, and least powerful monsters. It’s like the pokemon trainers who threaten to beat you into next week, and then bring out. A magikarp.

Except he then absolutely trashes you with said magikarp. And clomps away in his big goth platforms, loudly proclaiming that magikarp are annoying, and stupid, and he definitely doesn’t like them. Nu-uh. Ignore the maxed out friendship stat.

Up until the heavier plot kicks in in season three, Chazz has hands down the best character arcs of GX. His fight to break free of his abusive brothers’ control, his crabby assimilation into the Slifer Squad, his brief stint and subsequent escape from a Literal Cult (yeah that happens in gx don’t worry about it). Chazz is such a charismatic and well developed character that, when he kinda vanishes for like a dozen episodes, only to reappear, having won an entire tournament offscreen, being heralded by banner-bearers, and carried on a freaking PALANQUIN

I stood up and CHEERED.

Favorite antagonist: The Dark King

The most stunning of trope subversions in a season chock-full of them. Yes, Yubel may be a more threatening and complex villain, but they have so much going on between the dub vs. sub battle, they may get the final save-the-world card game at the end of the season, but the Dark King is such an equally nuanced and menacing antagonist.

Because he’s the protagonist.

 The dark king is every concept I loved about the Yamis in DM, the idea that parts of ones soul aren’t wholly power of friendship goodness, the idea that you can still choose to be an anime protag even if there’s darkness living inside of you. Because being kind is hard. And the act of pursuing it hits so much harder when we see how much it costs to turn down the other path.

Again, I’m a sucker for any character arc even remotely analogous to mental illness. If you see a pattern in the way I review media, I wholeheartedly claim it. I am a simple creature.

But the Dark King also functions so fantastically as both a metaphor and a subversion because we’ve seen the trope of a Superpowered Evil Side before. The show is betting on that. The twist comes in that the Dark King is not some malevolent, foreign entity. That it’s Jaden. Just a scared kid, lashing out at the world and forced to deal with the consequences. And he’s not evil.

Whereas Marik shows with dealing in the part of yourself that wants to commit atrocities, Jaden takes it the next step, and has to accept that you can’t just get rid of it. You have to live with it. Rein it in. But be kind to it. Because it is you, and it just wants to keep you safe and it may be wrong and a base impulse but punishing your worst instincts is not only self harmful, it is impossible.

You may have instantly internalized any negative emotion out of shame, and yes, you may somedays even be controlled by it. But do not fear it. Learn to work in tandem with your rage. Do not let it possess you, but do not imprison it either.

The Dark King is one of those stories that I really think I needed to hear as a kid, but even now, consuming the series as an adult, doesn’t make that message any less impactful.

Favorite side character: Tyranno Hassleberry

Back in the early days of 2021, before the first season of yugioh dm was even a passing consideration of a thought in my mind, I decided to poll my online friends and determine what they thought the Best Worst Name in localized yugioh.

These were people that had never watched yugioh, never so much as glanced at the card game.

We started with 32 names.

After five rounds of voting, only one was left standing.

Tyranno Hassleberry beat Maximillion Pegasus, and thus was crowned the ultimate champion of Best Bad Yugioh Name.

Some might say this championship gave me a bit of a preemptive bias towards the funny dinosaur man.

They’d be right.

Imagine my delight, however, when this already-primed-for-stupidity name got a face, and we learn that big, dumb, real himbo of a yugioh name is attached to an equally big and dumb himbo of typical yugioh absurdity. I mean, truly, Tyranno Hassleberry is everything I love about yugioh worldbuilding, personified. In a series that takes an up close examination of the partnerships between man and monster, and the terrible psychological effects thereof, Hassleberry stands as the shining example of a character so full of love and stupidity that he is immune to the horrors.

While Jaden “What is attraction” Yuki is off getting ptsd from his partnership with a dragon demon that hyperfocuses on relationships so hard that it has put people into comas, Tyranno is also there. Just vibing. Hassleberry, do you have such a strong spiritual connection to your ace monster that you might be genuinely inhuman? Do you also have special anime eyes and mild superpowers? How’s that going? Good? Good!

The world of yugioh not only can provide rich, nuanced explorations on mental wellness and the very idea of identity, it can also provide a man who is half dinosaur and it is only ever lightly remarked upon. Apparently, the solution to surviving an ever expanding universe of unreality and cosmic horrors beyond your imagination is just. Be kind. Be happy. Talk about dinosaurs.

Favorite duel: Yubel vs. Zane

A masterclass on how non-plot-relevant duels can still contribute SO much to the show and its characters.

Zane is a funny little weirdo. The walking personification of Gifted Kid Burnout, this dude graduated valedictorian and then immediately proceeded to get kicked in the ribs by the realities of non-academic living, causing him to sink into a deep and self harmful depression spiral, obsessed with pulling others down to his level and proving to them that happy go lucky positivity is only a naive shield in the face of true adversity and cruelty.

*Laughs a bit too forcefully* What a funny dude!

Zane has basically been on a downward slide in mental wellbeing since season two, and at this point, seems to have reached a natural stopping point in his corruption arc. Tired, washed out, and pessimistic, but at least comfortable in his status quo of being An Absolute Mess. He’s teamed up with Aster as sort of the token chaotic neutrals of the party, the only ones edgy enough to do things like casual torture and murder, but he’s attempted to reach out to his brother, and has even begrudgingly been roped into protecting the gang as they make their final stand against Yubel. He seems to be operating under the belief that while he no longer has to try so hard to rid the highschoolers of their delusions that the power of love and friendship will save the day, he’s still a depressed snot rag wrapped in a black leather overcoat.

That fantastic bit of ex-villainous personality gets to go head to head against the current villainous personality, and it is a treat. Yubel and Zane carry entire scenes through sheer force of presence, and seeing them snark and attempt to out edgelord each other is a delight.

But it also is a very pivotal point for Zane’s character because, for once, he is not the most mentally unstable person in the room. That honor goes to Jaden, newly traumatized, and about to start rolling down the same hill. Zane recognizes those self destructive behaviors, even attempts to warn Jaden that refusing to acknowledge his actions will only lead to further harm, but before he can properly sit down and explain to Jaden that self harmful behaviors are bad actually, and that electrocuting yourself to feel any semblance of emotion is actually a massive holy shit red flag, Yubel interrupts them.

So now, Zane, Failure Big Brother Extraordinaire, has to come to some semblance of peace with his own emo demons, while battling Jaden’s for him (both literally and figuratively).

The sheer panache of two of the most wonderful anti-heros of yugioh, the emotional turmoil of Zane’s inner conflict, the realistic portrayal of how we process trauma, plus the absolute YUGIOH MOVE that is choosing to die of card game induced heart attack. Honestly, I could go on about this duel forever.

Favorite arc: Quest for the Rainbow Dragon

I mentioned previously that I started watching yugioh as something to have on in the background, usually while I sewed. The Quest for the Rainbow Dragon is the arc that made me put down my needle and actually devote my full attention to watching the show.

GX is a show full of subverting audience expectations. I have my own opinions on the prioritization of shock-bait over consistent plot writing, but I also can’t deny that when Adrian Gecko just shrugged off his shirt and engaged in freaking fisticuffs, I was speechless for a whole five minutes.

In between one blink and the next, GX went from a weird early 2000s merchandise advert that occasionally had character writing and the oh-so-rare taste of legitimately serious writing, to a full on survival horror anime. The surreal, empty desert environment of the spirit world, the main cast slowly whittled down and frequently split up, the eerie monologues of Yubel and their legitimately unnerving horror visuals; all contribute to this claustrophobic feeling of dread. The panic of the students feels real.

And QftRD, despite being the first entry in GX’s much darker and grander second half, makes wonderful use of smaller scale episode plots. Entire episodes are devoted to the struggle of moving from one room in the school to the next, or negotiating for enough food to survive just another day. Every main character gets to shine in aspects that we’ve only seen hints of in their lives of status quo card games: whether it’s Alexis’ natural leadership, Hassleberry and Axels’ military skills, Crowler’s actual want to protect the students’ well being, or Jaden and Jesse just finally getting to explore their connections with duel monster spirits. Heck, even the unnamed students get to shine, using their knowledge of the school to navigate through hidden passages.

It’s such a shock to the system, after two and a half seasons of decidedly not small scale apocalyptic survival. The transition from Saturday Morning Cartoon Weirdness to PTSD War Crime Hours is very jarring and unexpected, even if you know it’s going to happen. But the duel zombies arc goes a long way to make that pivot feel deserved, to give actual weight to the sacrifices and choices the characters are about to make.

Also, I somehow managed to write this entire thing without realizing this is my second time my favorite arc in a ygo show has been the one with the word ‘dragon’ in the title.

Greatest strengths of the series:

The slow burn from shonen cartoon to cosmic horror trope subversion.

Truly, I can only compare GX to a handful of other shows that have ever come within the same ballpark of a viewing experience. The closest I can get is maybe relating it to Red vs Blue: One of my favorite shows of all time. And one that it’s absolutely impossible to get into.

See, with both GX and RvB, they’re shows that start out silly, unconnected, and (don’t worry, I love both of these shows with almost my entire heart), bad. Now, an impatient viewer might be tempted to just skip to the point where the show takes off, where it quote unquote “gets good”. But the problem is, if you attempt to cut out all the chaff, you lose what fundamentally makes the sudden spike in writing quality so compelling: the unexpectedness of it.

GX grabbed my attention by the throat in Waking The Dragon, because, up until then, I’d been using it as chill background fodder. Jaden felt so real to me as a protagonist and a person, because I’d spent fourty hours watching him be a normal protagonist/teenager. The previous episodes might not have done much to advance in terms of the plot, but they delivered something equally important: A status quo.

And when that status quo is broken, it feels much more powerful to the audience because it feels so fundamentally wrong. Just like it’s insane to watch in real time as RvB goes from being a bunch of outdated loosely strung together skits to a military drama waxing poetic about morality, GX spins on a dime from “Saturday morning cartoon” to “Cosmic horror meta tropefest”, and every episode you want to look up from the screen and go “How. Wh- Who let them just... do this?” Who let them set out to write one kind of story, and then not bother to correct them when they started doing something completely different? And why is it so good?

That is a very rare feeling in media, I think. To be so truly and utterly thrown off guard by a change in story direction, yet having more fun than you possibly could with some so-called “good” stories. And I think it’s a feeling worth cherishing.

Weakest points:

The slow burn from shonen cartoon to cosmic horror trope subversion.

The other reason I compare GX to Red vs. Blue is the fact that they are both shows that I cannot in good conscience recommend to friends.

“Here’s this show I like,” I say.

“Oh, cool, I’ll check it out!”

They return, minutes to hours later.

“So, I started that show you like and uh. Are you aware it is? Bad?”

“Yeah, don’t worry, it gets better-”

“Oh, sweet, cause I was really worried-”

“-Just give it a couple seasons!”

“I, uh.” They tug at their collar. “Can I skip the bad parts?”

“No. :D”

Hours and hours of time sunk into a mediocrity on the off-chance it “gets good” is a tough pill to swallow for most people. It’s a tough pill to swallow for me, and I willingly aspire to watch every yugioh anime. Add on top of that poor production quality,  bloated plot bunnies, and some writing that has aged like milk, and you have. Well. A benign watching experience, at minimum.

And like I said, there’s good ingredients to the final storyline buried in all that early stuff! Just skipping directly to the middle in a hope to reach “the part everyone talks about” fundamentally waters down the experience, leaving you struggling to understand what has fans going bananas.

Why does the show hit you on the head 200 times with a hammer? Cause it feels so good when it stops!

Now, I’m not your parent, and you can watch tv shows however you want. If you only watched seasons 3 and 4 of GX, then by god, you watched GX, and you are welcome at the discussion table. Get in here, amigo. Your opinion matters just as much as mine.

GX is very difficult to review, in comparison to all its other sister shows, because the aspects some people praise are the very aspects others could never really get into the show because of. Its greatest strength as a story and its greatest weakness as a show are one in the same. It’s sort of this weird child of the family, unable to be talked about without a lot of contradiction and conversational backtracking. Is GX the best show of the three? Maybe. Is it my favorite? No, with an asterisk. Is it some people’s favorite? Absolutely.

If you changed it, made the plot tighter, the writing more concise, had a planned narrative from the beginning and slowly worked in elements of the larger endgame, would those same people still like it, in the same fervor?

I don’t think so.

Most yugioh moment:

YA SEE, A FEW YEARS BACK, ON A ROUTINE DIG FOR DINOSAUR FOSSILS, A LANDSLIDE BROKE OUT AND NEARLY BROKE MY LEG IN TWO. THEY HAD TO OPERATE QUICKLY, SO THEY USED THE DINOSAUR BONE I FOUND TO SAVE MY LEG. EVER SINCE, I'VE HAD WHAT THEY CALL DINO DNA. THE DOCTOR SAYS IT MAKES ME STRONGER THAN THE AVERAGE JOE.

[ihernglass]

writeblr intro

hello, writeblr!

been on tumblr and in and out of fandoms for a looong time but only recently discovered this community and wanted to introduce myself!

about me

i’m August, she/her, 30+, poc, lesbian

i love to read and write sapphic stories of all genres, especially with poc rep, and very much a sucker for slowburns

my hobbies include writing (lol), reading, hiking, walking my dog, gaming, and a lil kpop

i’d love to make mutuals and friends so feel free to send me a message or interact; happy to talk about wips, plot ideas etc.

if you write sapphic stories of any genres also do interact so i can check out your blog!

i currently post my work on ao3 which you can find here

my current wip

House of Flowers: A sapphic slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance featuring an asian cast and many queers and female friendships. You can read the ongoing chapters here. Summary and details under the cut.

Genres: Sapphic romance, mystery, sci fi/fantasy Status: Posting 2nd draft chapters 1-2x weekly on ao3 Note: Concept of Flowers heavily inspired by Moonlight Garden (Manhwa) but characters, world, and plot all entirely mine. Summary:

2212. In a world rebuilt after the climate catastrophes, wealth and power separate the governed territories from the lawless colonies. And nothing is more extravagant and coveted than the Flowers – women afflicted by a condition that causes flowers to bloom across their skin like moving tattoos for several days a month, bringing them unbearable pain and arousal that spells death for them unless satiated by another woman. Unlike the public who worship the Flowers or the wealthy who pay exorbitant prices to watch the spectacle, Dr Aden Masters is determined to cure the condition. But the Houses that sell the services of the Flowers are understandably uninterested. And so, Aden strikes a devil’s bargain with the most powerful House, the House of Flowers, to gain access to the Flowers while keeping her true purpose a secret. When Aden is assigned to work with Spring, the most popular and expensive Flower in the world, she finds herself entirely captivated by the Flower. But as they become closer, and the pressure to find the cure increases, Aden learns that the machinations of the House and those who inhabit it go far deeper than she can imagine.

Link

[an-ivy-covered-summer]

911 for the fandom questions!

omg thank you! 💖 i was thinking this for a while 😂 overthinking is my talent lol

favorite male character: buck, my most beloved <3 i wanted to punch him for about 2 episodes at the beginning, but we got over that pretty quickly and ever since i’ve been a buck girl through and through.

favorite female character: maddie! she got me since the first time i saw her, and all her arcs have been incredible. gotta love a big sister.

least favorite character: hmmm well. there’s quite a few i obviously hated bc they were just horrible people, but that was their only purpose and we don’t get to see them that much anyway lol so, honestly? i’m going to say it’s claudette. sucks that she died the way she did, but she was overall a very unlikable person. she was pretty much just a bully to may and none of what happened to her in the past excuses her so-above-everything behavior. she was just awful.

favorite ship: bobby x athena! as kids nowadays say, they match each other’s freak lol. but i also love maddie x chimney very much. and buddie.

favorite friendship: BUDDIE. listen. even if we left it to be platonic no, they’re in love, they’re simply a perfect match, and that is why they would work as a couple, and i don’t wanna crowd this post with this so let’s leave it there lol. ACTUALLY, i want to add something else. bobby and michael’s friendship was something great to see and i loved their shenanigans. a truly blended family!

favorite quote: i’m actually kinda bad with quotes, but the whole “because, evan, you came in here the other day and you said you thought it would have been better if it had been you who was shot. you act like you’re expendable. but you’re wrong” is a big contender.

worst character death: kevin, absolutely. i know it technically happens pre-show, but still. the repercussions keep haunting the narrative.

this made me so happy you have no idea moment: this question has made me realize that 911 is usually more heartwrenching/happy sobs for me than anything else lol but right at the top of my head? any and all happy buck and maddie moments. i’m a sucker for sibling storylines <3

saddest moment: omg i don’t know. there’s been a few calls that have been too heartbreaking, but my brain has kinda blocked them bc too depressing lol. from the main characters, though? i think the “the devil you know” episode, with all the flashbacks to tanya kingston’s case and all we learn about it.

favorite location: call me basic, but the firehouse lol also athena’s house RIP

[dr-fic-recs]

Soudam Fic Recs

Happy Birthday (Soudam) Series by PekoIsBaby [CW for discussions and vague depictions of child abuse] is a mix of fluff and hurt/comfort detailing the blooming of an unlikely friendship and then relationship between Souda and Gundham. It contains two fics, one for Gundham’s birthday and the second for Souda’s. The first is roughly 4k words while the second is roughly 9k. I’ve read these two fics more times then I can count and if you’re looking for some amazing Souda characterization these fics are it. https://archiveofourown.org/series/2387599

Always Like This by In_a_Mossy_Grove [CW for detailed depictions of child abuse and violent drinking] is a hurt/comfort roughly 13k one shot that shows Souda dealing with his parents who are visiting the Hope’s Peak area and finding support in his friends. The Soudam is already well established here. This is another fic I’ve reread a number of times and it’s one of my favorite examples of the Soudam dynamic. The other characters, particularly Fuyuhiko, Sonia, and the tag team of Komahinanami are also all portrayed really nicely and their friendships with Souda are valued just as much as the romantic relationship. https://archiveofourown.org/works/32262595

i want you to stop insisting i’m not a lost cause by secretly_a_savior [CW for discussions of child abuse] is a roughly 5k hurt/comfort one shot that shows Gundham helping Souda get back on his feet after falling into a mental decline. The Soudam here is already established. I like this fic particularly for it’s depiction of the struggles a relationship can have, particularly when mental health is involved. If you’re looking for a more complicated or realistic dynamic this fic is likely for you. https://archiveofourown.org/works/18055313

Let These Wounds Heal First by strawberrylemonade1225 [CW for non-violent drinking, alcoholism, smoking, internalized homophobia, detailed depictions of panic attacks, and vague references to child abuse] is a roughly 40k angst and hurt/comfort multi-chapter fic that takes place seven years after Class 77 has graduated from Hope’s Peak, following Souda and Gundham’s complicated blooming relationship after accidentally running into one another again. If asked I would say this is the best Gundham interpretation in a Soudam fic I’ve read- though both he and Souda are depicted highly in character. The story focuses heavily on their relationship with one another and their internal issues so if you prefer a slow burn with a lot of emotional conflict this is right up your alley. Sonia and Hajime are also written very well, particularly in their friendships with Gundham and Souda respectively. https://archiveofourown.org/works/28450578/chapters/69716862

Was/Is by Idnek83 [CW for vague references to child abuse and non-malicious misgendering] is a roughly 5k angst one-shot with a happy ending where soulmates are colorblind until they hold eye contact. Souda meets his soulmate really young and afterwards he can’t find her, convinced she’s dead. Fortunately, there’s a chance he may be wrong. I’m a sucker for soulmate AUs and this one in particular is really great because it explores how easy it could be to lose/miss your soulmate when the sign isn’t super obvious. Also, trans Gundham and Hajime being the best as always. https://archiveofourown.org/works/30465303

[i-have-one-braincell]

Do you ship anyone else with Peter?

I kind of ship him with Ava, but not really? If Ava was a man, or Peter was a woman, I would totally be going bonkers on them! In their original genders I either see them either as siblings or very close friends who are touch affectionate.

I like the idea of Ava being all straight-laced and Peter (years down the line and not spider-man anymore, also kind of feral/crazy-party kind since he's finally free to do what he wants) crossing paths occasionally. Ava's exasperated but fond "Did you fuck a priest again?", and Peter's all "You know me😜🤩🥳". They're still friends, even if they do butt heads because of his destructive lifestyle and how he no longer cares about certain things, but he still helps her out whenever it looks like she needs it and gives her tech. She, in turn, doesn't tell anyone about him, his whereabouts, or if he's alive, and gives him the occasional heads up if SHIELD or anyone else comes too close to where he is.

I LOVEEEE shipping Peter with Johnny Storm😭😭

I also ship the two of them with Bobby Drake since I read the Ultimate Spider-Man comics and their friendship is just sooooo pure??

I mean, look at them. I’m telling you that usm missed their chance to have Johnny on the big screen with Peter in the show. At some point I had enough and added a few spideytorch moments in my ‘Call You Mine’ fic and I don’t regret it🤷‍♀️😭.

If I had to ship with Peter from anyone other than Danny in the show, I would say Harry since I’m a bit of a sucker for best friends-to-lovers tropes🤧😭. I do love their friendship in the show and see their relationship progressing to something more than friends.

I do have to say that I see Ava and Peter as close friends, almost siblings, as well. Both of them have gone through the same experiences and Ava is a tough nut to crack when it comes to wanting to let her guard down. She’s a really determined character unlike Peter.

I feel like no matter what gender they are, they’re sibling relationship would remain the same in my eyes. I am leaning towards Ava and MJ being a couple considering their personalities.

[alexsfictionaddiction]

Review: Your Place Or Mine? by Portia MacIntosh

It would seem that I am a sucker for these cute cartoon covers. I am literally a magpie for them and I really need to start being more selective with them because they often end up not being as great as they appear.

When Serena’s boss Diana dies suddenly, Serena’s living and work situations are both in the hands of Diana’s children. It quickly becomes apparent that Serena doesn’t have long to move out of the flat she inhabits and her job at the tea room is also gone. So, when her friend calls her looking for a housesitter for a while, she jumps at the chance. Only when she gets there, it appears that her friend’s husband also arranged a housesitter. A handsome musician called Ziggy. Can Serena stand to share a house with this loud, sociable, messy stranger?

I honestly don’t think I’ve ever read a love interest as cookie-cutter as Ziggy. The reason for his name is mentioned (his parents were both Bowie fans) but I’m afraid that I do know a Labradoodle who shares his name, so I couldn’t help but laugh. He’s hot, he’s edgy, he’s talented, he’s (probably) misunderstood by everyone who knows him. You know the type!

Of course, Serena fancies him. After all, women are ‘genetically programmed’ to find lead singers of rock bands attractive. Despite the fact that she is a clean freak who appears to have such little personality that it has resulted in her having no friends at all, Serena sees Ziggy as a reminder of her past when she was apparently an alternative angel (there is no evidence of this in the woman that she has since become). It takes her a long time to admit the glaringly obvious fact that she likes him though. This is enemies to lovers but I’m not sure that the trope really needed to be here. The story could have been told just as well if there had been no friction between them at all.

Serena is seeing a guy called Dean, who is a sleazebag gaslighter. There were several times at the start of the book where I wanted to shake Serena into seeing what was clearly happening. Thankfully, when it’s spelled out for her, her attitude changes but Serena is a complete sap for Dean at first. ‘Am I stupid for apologising?’ Yes! Yes, you are!

I didn’t really understand the beef that Diana’s daughter Agatha had with Serena. I get that Diana probably preferred Serena to her own daughter but Agatha is a woman in her 40s. Her actions towards Serena were very much the behaviour of a woman in her early 20s and I was astounded at the pettiness.

Your Place Or Mine? is a light-hearted romance with a few moments of comedy, although it wasn’t laugh-out-loud. I did enjoy the scheming that Serena and Ziggy got up to and I actually think this could have been a great unlikely friendship story. However, I didn’t really believe that they’d date in the real world, so the romance aspect was lost on me. Serena did also make some questionable decisions throughout the book and I struggled to connect with her. There are some great side characters though!

[moorheadthanyoucanhandle]

CAUGHT ‘22

2022 is unlikely, it seems to me, to go down in history as a banner year for popular movies. But even in less auspicious years, there are always some good flicks, and some good or even great scenes or performances in movies that aren't so great overall.

Out of what I saw, here are ten movies that stood out as best for me this past year:

Nope--Jordan Peele's latest is probably the best UFO movie since Close Encounters, though it has a more sinister edge. It's wildly original, funny and creepy sci-fi/horror, yet it also carries the heroic charge of a good western.

Good Night Oppy--This documentary about the Mars rovers Opportunity and Spirit has interesting information about the Red Planet, but it's really about the way the NASA nerds anthropomorphized the robots and fretted over them and cheered them on and ultimately grieved over them. In an entirely unpretentious way, the movie hints at the question of where sentience comes from.

The Duke--This pandemic-delayed release was, I thought, perhaps the most overlooked and delightful movie of the year. Jim Broadbent is splendid as Kempton Bunton, a cab driver, factory worker and anti-television fee protestor who in 1965 confessed to stealing Goya's Portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London; Helen Mirren is his fed-up wife. The direction, by the late Roger Michell, is warm, graphically lively and period-rich.

Everything Everywhere All At Once--Family drama, immigrant saga, sly comedy, martial arts actioner, Matrix-style sci-fi adventure and more are mashed-up in this freaky yarn from writer-directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert that tries to live up to its title. It's epic, intimate, silly and profound. All at once.

Thirteen Lives--Dramatizing a technically complicated rescue mission in detail, Ron Howard is in his element in this moving account of the rescue of twelve Thai kids and their soccer coach from a flooded cave in 2018. A little tough if you're claustrophobic, but a true feel-good movie.

The Whale--Brendan Fraser gives a luminous, possibly generational performance as Charlie, a morbidly obese English teacher trying to reconnect with his furious estranged daughter. Directed by Darren Aronofsky, the movie is a little heavy and one-note aside from the star, but Fraser's radiance shines through the prosthetics.

Gabby Giffords Won't Back Down--Infuriating because of what Giffords lost when she was shot in 2011; inspirational because of how much she got back, and how courageously she refused to give in to despair. Directors Julie Cohen and Betsy West build the movie around how central music was to Giffords' recovery.

The Fabelmans--In Steven Spielberg's loosely autobiographical coming-of-age yarn, scripted by Tony Kushner, the focus is largely on the parents, beautifully played by Paul Dano and Michelle Williams. The movie isn't a grand slam, but it's fascinating, and it has the best final shot of the year.

Marcel the Shell With Shoes On--This feature expansion of the 2010 viral short by Dean Fleischer-Camp, with Jenny Slate voicing the tiny title character, is sunny and hilarious, but with improbably dramatic and poignant undertones. Isabella Rossellini is exquisite as the voice of Marcel's "Nan."

The Banshees of Inisherin--Martin McDonagh's black comedy about the agonies of friendship goes so sour in its later acts that I almost didn't put it on the list. But the brilliance of the initial conception and, especially, the magnificent acting of Brendan Gleeson, Colin Farrell, Barry Keoghan and Kerry Condon demand its inclusion.

One more list, while I'm at it; for anyone who might unfathomably be interested, here is the embarrassingly short list of books I read this year (as always, it doesn't include short stories, poems, comic books, essays, articles, reviews, automotive manuals, skywriting, menus, fortune cookie fortunes, etc etc)...

The Silent Gondoliers by William Nolan

Sucker's Portfolio by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

Orphans of the Sky by Robert A. Heinlein

Saturday Night and Sunday Morning by Alan Sillitoe

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein

The Spread by Barry Malzberg

Ben by Gilbert A. Ralston

Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

The Investigation by Stanislaw Lem

The Werewolf Principle by Clifford D. Simak

Destry Rides Again by Max Brand

[klonoafan5]

okay i was going to talk about one au, but looking back at an sonic au i've kept in indefinite hiatus reminded me of another au that i've also orphaned because i got too wrapped up in trying to figure out the timeline instead of having fun with it

and that au is the fusion au!

more under the cut

to make a long story short, the fusion au is a canon divergent au inspired by steven universe (and also nazo unleashed /j) that splits from the canon timeline at the iconic moment of SA2 - that being shadow's sacrifice and fall

unlike most aus set at this point, sonic actually manages to save him in the nick of time BUT when he catches him something happens and the two end up becoming fused together

said fusion is received the name shade by amy before defusing back into two unconscious (but alive) hedgehogs

after their recovery, things turn out relatively fine until the two start showing signs of new abilities (feeling each other's emotions, being able to use the other's powers, sensing each other's presence, etc)

the others who were there in the ARK get a feeling that these changes have something to do with what happened back there so sonic and shad go to tails to go through some tests and they were right

turns out sonic actually gave his chaos energy to shadow in order to help him stay alive and shadow, not wanting another person to sacrifice their life for him, gave his energy to sonic so that he wouldn’t die. 

basically they created a literal mental bond with the power of ‘friendship’ (and by friendship, i mean love but these two don’t know that yet but they will. eventually. why? BECAUSE I’M A SUCKER FOR SLOW BURNS BABY)

[theofficialdramallama]

Dear Festividder... (Festivids 2023)

Letter under the cut!

First off - thank you so much for putting your time and effort into making a vid for me~! <3

I love pretty much all aspects of all the fandoms I’ve requested, so I’m sure I’ll be so happy and grateful for whatever vid you create, but here’s some stuff to help if you want a little bit more to go on! My suggestions are just that: suggestions - I love to be surprised! <3

Music:

I would love it that the song is the right one for the vid - I have pretty broad musical tastes and there’s not a lot I don’t like, although I’m less keen on the more electronic/dubstep-y side of dance music. I really like folk music, pop-punk, 90s/00s boybands/girlbands, pop-rock, rock, pop (80s, 90s, 00s and some modern pop), 80s power ballads, singer-songwriters with their own instruments, some country, musical theatre soundtracks, K-Pop and J-Pop… I’m pretty old-school with my music tastes, but honestly I’ll listen to almost anything and if it works for the vid - that’ll make me love the song anyway! A lot of my favourite songs have come from vids <3

General:

I love my ships xD <3 However, general fandom vids are great too <3 Character studies, friendship vids, found-family trope vids, cute vids, sad vids, silly vids, bad-ass vids… They all warm different parts of my heart <3 <3

On to the individual fandoms:

~ Dramaworld (TV)

If you know and have watched this show, I salute you! <3 Any vids related to Claire x Joon will be loved <3 <3 S1 vids are welcomed~ I know a lot of people might have simply seen s1 and not s2, and if this is you - go watch s2! It takes everything from s2 and turns it up to 11 with a bigger budget, more ambitious storylines and twists! <3 If we’re including s2 eps, [SPOILERS] angst-filled Claire x Joon break up vids, humour vids, dark vids based around the destruction of Dramaworld itself/Evan’s deception, Joon/Claire character studies... Anything goes!

~ Fools Rush In (1997) [SAFETY]

An underrated classic~! <3 I love the development in Alex and Isabel's relationship - from the one-night stand, to the surprise pregnancy, to the Vegas wedding, to falling in love, and all of the rest of it! <3 Matthew Perry and Salma Hayek both smash their roles! As for the video, I'd love to see an Alex x Isabel vid, maybe focused on the themes of the film, or the concept of signs in the universe, or just their relationship in general~!

~ If Only (2004) [SAFETY]

Time loops are one of my favourite story tropes, and I love the unique take of having just one loop in the film -  Paul Nicholls and Jennifer Love Hewitt were brilliant in their roles! For the vid, I'd love a Ian x Samantha vid - something focusing on the bittersweetness/angst of Samantha's death and Ian having to learn to let her go by sacrificing himself in her place </3

~ The In Between (2022) [SAFETY]

I love this film with a passion~ I’m a sucker for cheesy/overly-dramatic/romantic ghost stories, and this ticks all the boxes. Angsty Tessa x Skylar vids would suit me perfectly, but if you have any other ideas for vids, feel free to make it~! <3

~ Just Like Heaven (2005) [SAFETY]

A 00s classic~! <3 Elizabeth x David vids would be great - angstier or light-hearted takes on their relationship throughout the film~ <3

~ Leap Year (2010 USA/Ireland) [SAFETY]

Cheddar cheese, but I love this film so much (my Irishness strikes again xD) <3 Declan x Anna vids would be perfect - from the fluffy humour to the realisation that they both love each other, to Declan’s backstory... Anything would work! <3

~ The Upper Hand (TV)

Highly unlikely, but if you do know this 90s UK adaptation of Who's The Boss, congrats! As such, I feel I'm slightly repeating myself - I love the will-they, won't-they aspect of Charlie and Caroline, so I'd love the vid to be a showcase of their relationship development, and all the ups and downs that came with it <3

~ Who's the Boss? (1984 TV)

I love the will-they, won't-they aspect of Tony and Angela, so I'd love the vid to be a showcase of their relationship development, and all the ups and downs that came with it <3

~ 开端 | Reset (TV 2022)

Fun fact, I discovered this drama through the Festivids Google Sheet for this year~! Time loops are one of my favourite story tropes, so I was immediately hooked by the premise, and loved the show~! For the vid, I'd love a Li Shiqing x Xiao Heyun vid, or something focusing on the timey-wimey time loop aspect of it all~!

~ 神様、もう少しだけ | Kamisama Mou Sukoshi Dake | God Please Give Me More Time

Super niche, but I recently watched this show and loved it for how real it felt </3 Give me all the angst and heartbreak between Masaki x Keigo </3