#if none of them get to really SHINE in the season finale. it just felt rushed and shallow and so so disappointing.

[radiohostkevin]

Wtnv ep 250 spoilers:

The episode felt...shallow. They didn't explore the emotional ties between any of the characters, even when it was plot relevant. Tamika raised the Boy for a year and didn't even say goodbye or try to save him from Lauren. Carlos knew Kevin for a full decade and they didn't so much as speak to each other.

Then Carlos severed the portal between the Desert Otherworld and Night Vale just like that? Where is the emotional weight behind that decision? Even from a scientific standpoint, there's so much about the Desert Otherworld that we don't know, and that connection was just kinda casually cut. (Even though, as an aside, Desert Bluffs Too hasn't been a threat to Night Vale for years - decades, from their perspective - and so it feels hasty to cut off access to an entire town as a precaution.) It feels like that storyline might be done, and it's such wasted potential if so.

Speaking of wasted potential - Lauren's departure, and her lackluster interactions with Kevin. A few vaguely mean words, and she decides to leave? Why? We're not given any insight. Kevin and Lauren's vaguely antagonistic relationships was fantastic, and even that received little fanfare in the end.

This arc could have ended in so many different ways, and it was ultimately so unsatisfying.

[er-osion]

Enchanted

pairing: Nikolai Lantsov x gn!Reader

summary: A fic based on the song Enchanted by Taylor Swift. Reader is a leading grisha who ends up working with the golden prince of Ravka, how mysteriously enchanting it is that something so sweet can bloom from such terrible circumstances

word count: 2.1k

warnings: none, fluff

you can see the full taylor swift song-fic masterlist here

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The war-room of the Spinning Wheel was dimly lit and terribly furnished, considering its importance. The large circular table was covered from end to end with maps of Ravka. Voices swam furiously over one another, sounds layering in a way that made your skin itch. For all its space and all the people that filled it, the room felt uncomfortably vacant and stale. Your eyes shifted from person to person, each with their own opinions on what was the best next move.

Suddenly someone cleared their voice and all the noise in the room fell. Your gaze flickered up to the origin of the sound and found yourself staring at the Prince –or King, you suppose. All attention was brought to the blonde haired man, his hazel eyes shining in the candlelight.

“It doesn’t matter how vital it is to capture Krenyoska, if we don’t have the supplies to make the journey there and back, the point is moot. I agree, that venture should remain a top priority, but if the primary goal is to get there then we first must acquire all the necessary provisions.” The Prince’s tenor rang throughout the room, bouncing off the empty walls with authority. His face looked young, his skin youthful, but his eyes held the surety of a seasoned General, and his voice carried the insistence of a King. There was a murmur of agreement across the table, but some still took up to point out errors in the King-to-be’s declaration.

“And you suppose these supplies will just fall off a tree, Your Highness? How do we get the provisions we need? If the capturing of Krenyoska is really this involved, we should just focus our attention on another city.” A First Army lieutenant pushed. You watched closely as the Prince digested the lieutenant’s response, clearly putting together a rebuttal.

“Letting Krenyoska fall into the Darkling’s hands would be a grave mistake on our part. Securing the supplies needed for a mission to Krenyoska is not as involved as you seem to think, lieutenant, it would take barely half a week.” His blonde hair bounced as he nodded his head in agreement with his own assertion. Others in the room followed suit. The Prince opened his mouth to continue and his gaze suddenly flicked to meet your’s.

You felt your spine straighten, almost like you’d been caught redhanded at something you shouldn’t be doing. All the room felt dark, the only light present poured from Nikolai and his golden eyes that held yours in a battle of chicken. It was mere seconds, but the unexpected eye contact left you strangely shaken. Then he continued with his point and the moment ended. It was so brief, so inconsequential, but your heart had picked up speed. You hoped none of the corporalki in the room were paying attention to you. You fixed your attention onto your notes, determined to shake the strange feeling that had come over you. However, your eyes quickly found his figure again. Like a magnet, they were pulled to the young Prince no matter how hard you tried to divert them elsewhere.

There was something inexplicably enchanting about Nikolai Lantsov. You swore he sparkled in the poor lighting, exuding confidence and suave.

Throughout the rest of the meeting, you and Nikolai shared wary glances at one another. Your eyes danced around each other, daring the other to look away first. The damnable Prince kept up a smirk that had you questioning whether to throw a fist or a wink. You opted for neither, only keeping up the eye contact and taking notes on the important decisions made in the meeting.

Finally, you spoke up when some of the others at the table had gotten rowdy trying to determine order of operations. “We should send two platoons to our base near Lukinshya. While they’re on the move, the soldiers at the base can prepare for a campaign through the town and one of the neighboring cities, civilly collecting the supplies we’d need for Krenyoska. Once that operation is fulfilled, and the platoons from the Spinning Wheel have returned, the preparation for Krenyoska should be nearly done. Then we can quickly mobilize to take the target city.” You fought back the nerves of presenting your idea to the council. There was something weirdly vulnerable about offering a plan to your colleagues. You maintained control of your expression, hoping to demonstrate a confidence you may not necessarily feel but know you have earned.

Thankfully, Zoya spoke up first in support. “Indeed, if we go with that plan, the two operations could follow each other in quick succession which would give the Darkling less time to bring up any counter offensives.” You suppressed a proud smile at Zoya’s words. She met your gaze and gave the smallest of approving nods, and you returned one likewise.

“Agreed. I do believe that’s the most cohesive plan that’s developed this whole meeting. Commanders, get platoons 33 and 51 ready for departure as soon as possible and send word to the base in Lukinshya. Part A should be carried out no later than two week’s time. We’ll adjourn for the night, thank you for your time everybody.” Nikolai’s voice rang out strongly, wrapping everything up neatly in a bow. The room nodded their heads and uttered pleasantries as they collected their things and filed out of the door.

Your eyes snapped to the commanding figure across from you, not expecting him to already be watching you and drinking up your reaction. There was something in his eyes that seemed to say, ‘Have we met?’. There was a curiosity shining in his eyes, but you revealed nothing, not quite sure how to answer him anyways. Instead, you gave him a half smile, bowed, and left the room.

Nikolai Lantsov’s eyes followed you as you slipped out of the room. It took him a moment to realize he’d been holding his breath. The first time you’d met his gaze in the meeting he felt his heart stutter. There was something so gravitating about you. In the gloom of the war room and its subsequent discussions, your presence washed the loneliness away and replaced it with warmth. He’d tried to let it go, blaming this odd perception on the poor lighting and glum mood. But everytime your eyes locked, Nikolai felt himself gaining more and more consciousness.

Then you spoke. And Nikolai had never known a sound so pleasant. And as he absorbed your words, so smooth and well-thought out, your allure grew tenfold. He’d wanted you to stay in the room. He wanted to say something to you but he couldn’t find any words. You were simply enchanting, in the most confusing of ways. You were so familiar yet so distant at the same time and it was sending the poor Prince into a fit of dizziness.

The next time you saw each other was in passing in the upper halls of the Spinning Wheel.

Nikolai was making quick strides to get to an office of one of the First Army commanders when he caught sight of you. You were strolling past a window, reading a file regarding the effectiveness of last month’s training regiment. The sunlight streaming through the glass blanketed your figure in magical light and the young Prince was transported back to the palace, many years prior.

He saw you in your kefta, rushing through the gilded halls, slipping between guards and servants to wherever you had to be in such haste. This wasn’t the first time he’d seen you before. Only fleetingly, but he had seen you a handful of times making your way between the Grand and Little Palaces. You never failed to look radiant in your kefta. That was the conclusion Nikolai Lanstov had drawn all those years ago, and it was the conclusion he drew now.

You felt someone watching you intently and turned around to find the perpetrator to be none other than the man that had been haunting your dreams for weeks now. A flash of surprise rippled across your face as you caught the young Lantsov watching you. You tilted your head in confusion but didn’t do anything to suggest he’d put you off.

Nikolai took a deep breath and stalked over to where you’d stopped across the hall. The blonde Prince came to a halt in front of you, much closer than required for a conversation between acquaintances, you noted.

“Congratulations, by the way.” Nikolai started with satisfaction.

“I beg your pardon, ‘congratulations’ for what, Your Highness?” Your brows knitted in confusion.

“The success of your plan. I’m pretty sure Colonel Vrontresky turned as red as those tomatoes he loves to eat when he heard of the triumphant outcome.” Nikolai explained easily, as if it were obvious why he would be congratulating you.

You shrugged, brushing off his remark but appreciating his sentiment internally. “If you’re going to congratulate anyone, it should be the soldiers who took part, but I appreciate your compliments. And for the record, I believe Colonel Vrontresky’s red-faced complexion is more thanks to his undying devotion to kvas.” You returned coolly. You watched closely from the corner of your eyes Nikolai’s reaction to your last statement. You were satisfied when his pink lips pulled slowly into a mischievous grin, hazel eyes flashing with pleasant surprise.

“I’d say be careful with such a statement, should Vrontresky hear you, but I doubt his ears reach all the way from the bar,” You coughed to cover up a snort and the Prince continued proudly, “You’ll be attending the next war-council meeting, right?’

You nodded, and turned to resume your walk with the Prince keeping pace. “Unfortunately for all present, I will.” You joked and Nikolai chuckled but shook his head in disagreement.

“I doubt Zoya or David would agree with such a statement,” or me, he wanted to add, “but surely you’ll make a show of putting a few people in their place.”

“Do you hold some grudges against your commanding officers, moi tsarevich?” You teased coly, glancing up at the Price to find all his attention on you.

“It would not be very kingly of me to admit to such immature temperaments, but I will say that, should you decide to, I would take great delight in seeing a few men stuttering in submission.” Nikolai’s words were filled with mischief and you smirked at the picture he painted.

“Well then, I guess I must shoulder this burden, as it is my duty to serve the throne.” You responded with fake solemnity. “I only hope I live through their wrath.”

“Let me assure you, should you perish on this noble quest, I will throw the grandest funeral Ravka has ever seen. A true war hero, celebrated as deserved.” Nikolai responded with equally serious assurance, but his smiling eyes gave away the rascally theme of your conversation.

The two of you continued bouncing playful banter off of each other for the entire walk to the office you’d been originally making your way to. The conversation was surprisingly easy. You’d never warmed up to a person as quickly as you did with the Golden Prince of Ravka. You wanted to blame that on his characteristic charm and appeal.

The air between the two of you was alight with magic. There was so much electricity between the two of you, you were surprised your hair wasn’t growing staticy.

When the two of you reached the doors of your destination, the atmosphere suddenly grew heavy. The banter died out and for the first time there was silence. It wasn’t uncomfortable, but it was still an unfortunate reminder that your moment together must come to an end. You straightened in front of the Prince and searched for the proper thing to say but came up with nothing. Damn him and his distractingly enticing face, which you swore was crafted by the most skilled artist. You were struck with the realization that being with the Prince was a disarmingly pleasant experience, and you suddenly hoped he knew that.

Nikolai cleared his throat and you just barely missed how he momentarily bounced on the balls of his feet. “Well, I must say, it has been enchanting to meet you. I’ll be looking forward to seeing you soon.” Nikolai smirked triumphantly and pressed your hand gently before turning and leaving you at the door. You didn’t know this, but his own destination had been in the opposite direction.

You felt your face warm and butterflies erupt in your stomach, tickling your heart. You spent that night rolling over his final words, your smile widening with each remembrance. You were certain all the world sparkled when he was around. And Nikolai was equally sure that he’d never met someone as dazzling as you.

[theplatypusblue]

I’ve been thinking about the similarities and differences between Skybound and Seabound lately, especially in their endings. The strengths/drawbacks of each, plus what each ending says about Nya and Jay’s characters.

In both seasons, Nya and Jay are forced to make really shitty decisions. In Skybound, Jay has to choose between making a wish to save Nya, or making a wish to stop Nadakhan and save Ninjago. However, rather than choosing either of those options, Jay (albeit accidentally) opts for the Secret Third Thing™ — wishing to go back in time so that none of this ever happened lol.

And while you could read this as an instance of Jays character shining through (he cares so much about Nya, he refuses to accept a future without her), I think it’s fair to say that this ending fell flat for a lot of people. It made the entire rest of the season pointless, it felt like a total cop out, you get the idea. These weakness only get more clear when you look at it in comparison with Seabound’s ending.

In Seabound, Nya has to choose between sacrificing herself to save Ninjago, or, I guess, not doing that and watching Ninjago fall. The key difference here is that there’s no Secret Third Thing™ for Nya to fall back on. This idea is made very explicit throughout the season: sometimes there are no good choices, “that’s the way the cookie crumbles” and all that. She resists this notion at first, but ultimately, she makes that hard decision. She makes the choice to sacrifice herself.

Contrast this with Jay, who basically… doesn’t make a choice at all? He just ~follows his heart~ and then… gets to have his cake and eat it too????

And it’s frustrating because there’s something interesting here, right? We get to see the differences between Jay and Nya when it comes to making those kinds of tough choices, and what that says about them as people. Push comes to shove, Nya will do what it takes to protect the world at large. She matures and grows from where she was at the beginning of the season, and the finale reflects that. On the other hand, Jay is the type for guy who will fight tooth and nail until he gets a happy ending. It’s pretty simple-minded, and it’s not something he really gets challenged on in a meaningful way, but it’s an appealing character trait in its own right.

The contrast between these two traits is pretty cool and interesting in my opinion!! Especially when you take into account that it’s Nya’s life on the line in both instances!!!! But then you gotta contend with the fact that Skybound’s ending is kinda…. mid as fuck? And it’s just like??? We were so close yknow soooooo close like this close, but no it’s all weird and stupid now I guess.

So it’s like TLDR: Jay and Nya are super interesting together, but Skybound is so damn weird that it makes the whole thing difficult.

[im-just-a-mississippi-girl]

Pumpkin Picking

Pairing: Wheeler Yuta x female!reader

Category: Fluff

Word count: 845

Summary: You take your boyfriend to pick out the perfect pumpkin for carving.

Warnings: None, except one swear word at the end

A/N: This is Day 1 of the Season of Fluff 2023 prompt list that @katries created with the help of @mrsmatt

Masterlist

Taglist

Autumn has finally rolled around once again and you couldn’t be happier. The cool crisp air, the gorgeous trees in their red, yellow, and orange leaves. The pumpkins and the hot chocolate, soups and sweaters were a must. You had your own little fall traditions and one of them was pumpkin picking. You loved searching the fields for the perfect pumpkin to carve or paint, depending on your mood. This year your sweet boyfriend was partaking in the tradition. To say you were excited was an understatement.

“What about this one?” Wheeler asked as he lifted up a tall medium sized pumpkin. You looked up and grinned as you made your way towards him, abandoning the pumpkins you were examining to get a good look at what he found.

“It’s nice, but it’s too tall. It has to be round and little bigger but not too big.” You explained, putting emphasis on too big. You went back to scanning the ground for what you called the ‘perfect pumpkin’.

Wheeler let out a sigh as you turned away from him. He sat the pumpkin back on the ground. Standing up, a pumpkin caught his eye. It was bigger than the one he just had and it was round, just like you wanted. Wheeler made a beeline for the pumpkin and proudly carried it to you. “This one. This is your perfect pumpkin.” He beamed.

You spun around caught off guard by his sudden proximity to you. You took in his appearance as he presented you the pumpkin. His hair was starting to stick to his forehead with perspiration, his eyes shined bright and his smile was one of the widest you had ever seen from him. His Blackpool Combat Club jacket was half zipped and one of the sleeves had fallen off his shoulder. This was hands down the cutest he had looked since arriving at the pumpkin patch. You finally looked at the pumpkin in his arms. It looked perfect!…. except for the big dent near the bottom. You didn’t have the heart to tell him. “It looks perfect babe!” You did your best to give him a convincing smile.

Unfortunately, at least for this moment, Wheeler saw how your smile didn’t reach your eyes and how your eyes didn’t light up like they do when you’re happy or excited. “There’s something wrong with it, isn’t there?” He let out a breath and hung his head, closing his eyes in the process.

“I’m sorry Wheeler. It is perfect, there’s just a dent at the bottom.” You genuinely felt awful for taking so long. “I’m sorry I’m being so picky, I just want this pumpkin to look good so it will look even better when I carve it. I have this image of what I want and I really want it to match the vision.” You explained, taking the pumpkin away from Wheeler and setting it down. You slipped your hands into his and gave a little squeeze. “Let’s just go home. I’ll figure something else out.” You said as you began to tug him in the direction of the car.

“Wait.” Wheeler stopped in his tracks causing you to stop as well. “We’re going to find you that perfect pumpkin.” He stated matter-of-factly.

You looked him in the eyes and you saw the determination in them. “Really it’s fine. We’ve been here for two hours and I’m not happy with any of the ones we’ve looked at. I don’t want to waste anymore of your time. It’s silly anyways.” You pulled him by the hand once again to get him to start walking.

“No.” Wheeler’s voice was stern and he had a serious look on his face, one that told you he was dead set on finding you this pumpkin. “You’re not wasting my time and this isn’t silly. This is something you love doing and you have a really cool design picked to carve. I can see that it means a lot to you which means it means a lot to me too.” Wheeler tucked your hair behind your ear and rested his palm on your cheek. “I love you and I will always help you with anything you need even picking out a pumpkin.” He placed a gentle kiss to your forehead and pulled you into a hug.

You wrapped your arms around him, breathing in his natural scent mixed with his cologne made you feel at home, loved, and safe. It always grounded you ever since you first met.

After some time in your boyfriend’s embrace, you finally pulled away. Your eyes trailed up from his chest to his face, your eyes locking with his. “Can we get hot chocolate after this?” You grinned knowing Wheeler Yuta never turns down hot chocolate.

“Hell yeah!” He exclaimed, a smile spreading across his face. “Let’s check that patch over there.” He said, pointing a few feet away.

“Race ya!” You laughed as you took off towards the next pumpkin patch. Wheeler just laughed and shook his head at your little trick, racing after you.

General Taglist: @legit9thlunaticwarrior @plentyoffandoms @1dluver13xx @sunshinevirus @wwenhlimagines @crowleysqueenofhell @jackson-nickthedate13 @omg-im-such-a-masochist @kmc1989

Wheeler Yuta Taglist: @sheinthatfandom @gaysimpingmess @legit9thlunaticwarrior @morgan-bucks @rubyred1980 @writtingrose @jennifuz

[blues-valentine]

this might be mean but i am glad nini was off the show and a lot of characters were taken off regular status because the show needed fresh story lines after season 2

This is going to be a long answer and probably a controversial one too but I feel now that the show is over I can finally say it. I really agree. And this is in no way shade to the actors but how things were constructed in the show. I feel like it helped the show to just focus on other dynamics and characters. If you take the S1 nostalgia aspect, Season 3 and Season 4 were such a massive improvements after Season 2, which is undeniably their weakest season of all.

I liked Nini, but as a character I feel like she wasn’t giving “main character energy”. It didn’t help either that most of her arcs were individual or about Ricky or Miss Jenn. So when you took her out, she wasn’t really missed in terms of the dynamics with other characters because those improved so much after she left. On Season 3 and Season 4 the group dynamics finally felt like a family and solid friendship instead of separated groups with separated plot lines.

Also, character arc wise, I feel like Nini’s arc ended on Season 2. Her arc has always been about spreading her wings outside of East High and finding what makes her happy. She got that at the end of Season 2 so it feels like it came to a natural conclusion. Nini’s send off on Season 3 was beautiful and a nice tribute to her character and her relationships. Even now, the small details that keep Nini’s character alive are sweet. I like Olivia but Nini as a character just wasn’t memorable enough for me to care. There's not "void" to me because the show has so many great actors and vocalists that were able to shine in Nini’s absence and I am glad. I would have hated if they Rachel Berry-ed her.

A character that benefited the most from Nini’s departure was Kourtney, who was perpetually stuck in the “black best friend” stereotype. Season 3 was such an improvement because Kourt was given an individual arc that wasn’t about Nini and her issues. Plus, Gina and Kourtney’s friendship felt so much more natural and reciprocated as well and her interactions with the whole group, especially with Carlos.

Gina always felt like the hidden female main character to me because her character had so many emotional layers. I’ve always said Sofia is the best actress the show has and is constantly rising the bar in scenes with her other co-stars. Anyone that's not giving her the flowers she deserves for this last season are just crazy.

Now, one of the biggest issues with Season 2 was adding new characters while also trying to handle plot lines for the established characters. It was messy. None of the plot lines were resolved and it was too crowded with most of the new characters staying as one dimensional and stereotypical. The season was dragged out and boring. The best choice this show made was to cut down on some of them for Season 3. I like Big Red but I don't think he was neccesary as a regular at camp. I am glad he wasn't there because it gave Ashlyn space to explore herself and get one of the best character arcs on this show. Same goes for Ricky. He needed new friendships and Jet was a great one to have. I liked Big Red's cameo and it was well placed. Same goes for Seb, I like him but I am glad Carlos was able to have a solo storyline about his own insecurities and also develop stronger dynamics with the group. His friendship with Ricky was great. Seb’s cameo was well placed.

Maddox and Jet were the best additions this show has ever made. And I don't take anyone seriously if they think otherwise. After season 2, the show needed changes. A new enviroment and characters that added value. Maddox and Jet gave us a new dynamic and instantly felt like a part of the group because they weren’t there to just exist temporarily, they pushed the story lines of the existing characters forward. The show needed a canon sapphic character and Maddox was perfect and relatable. Her arc with Ash goes down as one of the best on this show. Jet was great and Adrian's vocals are show stopping. Not only did the siblings added a much needed representation but were very easy to love. Even Val, in her minimal screen time, added actual value to the story lines.

And now goes to EJ, he was not going to be a regular part of Season 4 since he isn’t in East High anymore. It was the natural progression of his character. His appearance this season felt very well placed with where his character was. It would have been very weird to find an excuse to keep him at the school just for the sake of keeping him as a regular. Glad they didn’t do it.

So yes, I think a lot of the changes were necessary and made this show better.

[keen-eye]

my thoughts on eps 6-10 of cobra kai s6

good

silver smoking a cigar in the hot tub. it's all i've ever wanted

much better than eps 1-5. although it wasn't hard to beat, it was setting up for the more exciting part. but 1-5 were still weak compared to other seasons

robby's time to shine. his fight scenes solid as always. his rivalry with kwon. loved robby being a leader even if he's still disrespected

robby and sam's maturity. they're under a lot of pressure and they're doing their best

kenny showing up and kicking ass. more people should flip silver off

chozen and kim da-eun, interested to see where that goes. i like kumiko but chozen seems like he'd want a partner with the same fire in them

the kids heartfelt talk in the locker room and the love between the characters and the actors. although none of their conflicts were really resolved…

silver and kreese trying to kill each other. i hope they do it at the same time and die holding each other

personally did not see the sekai taikai brawl coming, big "oh shit" moment. the sheer amount of bloodthirsty people ready to throw their karate futures away just to freely attack each other was very outlandish but that's the show lol. the school brawl had more impressive direction and higher emotional stakes, but the ST brawl upped the danger level a ton and kwon's death was a great cliffhanger

tory's "is it worth it" conversation with kim da-eun. after the death of her mother she feels so defeated, her anger at the world was her motivation but she lost a lot of it once she saw her friends again, and deep down tory knows winning won't make her happy

silver and sensei wolf scheming

irish music playing every time the dublin dojo is fighting

amanda's outside perspective of the karate drama never gets old

hmmm

johnny and miguel flying back home just to find carmen okay and then immediately flying back to spain. there needed to be a reason to get kenny into the competition but using carmen like this was so wrong

hey johnny? father your son. no not miguel, the other one. yes, robby. do you remember him

miguel telling robby he believed in him as their leader felt insincere because it was after johnny explained that it was all robby had going for him***

daniel and johnny didn't try to talk to tory***

kwon and the rest of cobra kai are written to be very two-dimensional. this was probably to be expected

please can johnny finally stop acting like a fool. he and daniel still can't work well together because johnny keeps jumping back and forth between being a reasonable adult and a juvenile idiot

too many romance plot lines. miguel-sam-axel, kwon-tory-robby, tory-robby-zara. tory and zara had a decent rivalry without having to make zara try to steal him just to rub it in tory's face. and implicating her in whatever happened the night robby was drunk

demetri and eli's continued squabbling. demetri cheating on yasmine. them questioning kenny's true allegiance for it to be resolved in like 5 minutes

daniel acting pretty nonchalant about being locked in a cage lol. is this going to be brought up again

still finding the miyagi storyline to be unnecessary

*** robby & tory injustice

[thatgirlinskullz]

The Acolyte SPOILER THOUGHTS after the s1 finale

okay, now that the season is over, i guess i can try and sum up my thoughts on the show overall..

is it a perfect show? absolutely not. but what Star Wars is perfect? NONE OF IT. and i say that as someone who LOVES all the star war i've consumed so far.

wonky dialogue and delivery IS an essential part of sw at this point, starting with the originals and don't even try to argue with that. no point. but we love sw anyway, right? because of the overall story, the characters and the messages it tries to convey.

so yes, the acolyte does have some weird dialogue in parts, delivery is not always perfect, seems a little.. unnatural? might be the best word i can use for it.

there's also pacing issues, which can mostly be attributed to the UNBELIEVABLY SHORT episode runtimes.. most episodes were 30-35 minutes EXCUSE ME???? of course they can't fit in story, character moments and scenes that set up the world/environment they're in. omg that annoyed me so much. establishing shots have ALWAYS been a huge part of sw, showing the scenery, the sky, multiple suns or moons, showing space, the area in which our characters will appear, showing the animals and people of the planet, etc. that has always been important to make the galaxy feel real and lived-in, but this time, with the short runtimes, unfortunately it all feels like wasted time, that we could instead be spending with our characters and progressing the story. and i kinda hate that. don't get me wrong, i loved all the establishing shots but i couldn't help but feel like "damn, move along, i wanna see the story, we only have 10 more minutes left". and i think that's one of the biggest issues with the show. not the wonky lines or their deliveries, but how it feels like it didn't get enough time to shine, and some parts feel unnecessary, while others feel rushed. and i'm about 90% sure that this is NOT on the writers but the executives who only gave them 8x 35min episodes....

but i don't want to just focus on the """bad""", because the show IS GOOD!! firstly, all the actors are gorgeous, talented people, and imo gave the best performances they could given all the above as their circumstances, i wouldn't be surprised if some of the deliveries felt off because cuts were made. the actors all embodied their characters fully, they made you fall in love with them right away, and THAT is an accomplishment.

Lee Jung-Jae is a phenomenal actor, who stole my heart immediately as Sol, and i was 100% convinced he's like Qui-Gon, BOY WAS I WRONG. but he made me believe in him, and love him. all his lines carried so much weight, because he IS JUST THAT GOOD! he sold me on Sol with his first minute on screen and i didn't want to believe he could ever do anything wrong. I loved this character and Lee Jung-Jae's portrayal deserves awards imo.

Amandla Stenberg has been someone i've admired for years now, they are such a talent, so underrated and underutilized in film. they can evoke such emotion with just one look, it still blows me away. i really like both Mae and Osha, tho i wish they had more time together so we could have seen more of their dynamic, instead of just misunderstandings, fights and running away from each other - but i guess that's part of their dynamic too. Amandla did a great job with the emotional scenes AND the fights (tho i'm never sure when it's them or a stunt person), and i can't wait to see more of Mae and Osha's story. I am so happy Amandla is in SW.

Manny Jacinto is one of the most beautiful men on this planet, AND he's talented, and i am so happy people are finally realizing it! he pulls you in no matter what version of his character he's playing. he just makes you want to know more and spend more time with his character, and i find that incredible. The costume department also knew what they were doing cuz DAMN that outfit showing those arms and his physique. DAYUMMM. (i'm sorry) I don't think i've had such high interest in a dark side user since Maul, and that's saying something. i really hope to see more of Qimir in SW and Manny Jacinto in more films/big shows because HE IS SO GOOODDD. he deserves the recognition he's finally getting 100%!!!

some other things i loved about the show that are very spoilery:

more force witches because the nightsisters can't be the only ones!!

the returning idea of twins, possibly a force dyad.. love how twins are utilized throughout sw, kind of showing the duality of a person in a more physical way.

the use of "a certain point of view" was incredible in this show. i loved how they showed different perspectives of the same events, and how they emphasized that the jedi are not always the "good guys" if you're looking at it from the outside. i dont think this undermines anything about the jedi, only expands on the idea of the jedi imo.

a wookie jedi swinging a lightsaber -- we've only seen Gungi until now as far as i know, so having Kelnacca actually do stuff, (even if not exactly the way i wanted it to happen), was such an amazing experience. GIVE MORE WOOKIES LIGHTSABERS PLEASE!!

bleeding the kyber crystals. OMG I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FOR SO LONG and it was beautiful. they did such an amazing job with putting it on screen. what a time to be a sw fan.

lightsaber throwing!!!! OMG THAT'S MY MOVE IN ALL THE GAMES!!! no, but seriously, that's such a cool thing to see in a canon sw show, i don't think we've seen a lot of lightsaber throwing in sw outside of the games, and it was so fun to see on screen!

lightwhip?! hellooo??!! i really wanna see more of it, and i wanna learn how and why it exists and how it works (i guess i need to read the books, huh?)

a variety of saber designs for all the jedi to signify their personalities and styles, AND cool-ass lightsabers like Qimir's???? omg that was was a really good design, how he could pull it apart into a big and small saber.

possible plagueis cameo??? idk if its him but damn that was cool. would be a shame if we didn't get a s2....

yoda in high republic era???!!! i knew it would just be a cameo, and i knew it would be right at the end, but it was still nice to see his lil green head

i've had the whole day to process the episode and think this over, but overall, despite its issues i loved this show.

i think they had some really great ideas, amazing actors and costumes and sets, the only problem is, the show was not given enough time. and i don't know what the problem was - highly doubt the writers or showrunner wanted it this way but i could be wrong.

i think this story, this era in SW has a lot of potential, and if/when we get a season 2 i really hope the creatives are given more freedom and more time to delve into more aspects of the world and characters. this COULD BE one of the greatest Star Wars stories IF given enough care and time. idk if it will be. so far so good, in my opinion, but there's definitely room for improvement, and i just hope they will take all the actual valid criticism from the actual fans, and make this a SW story that will live on for generations.

anyway, I LOVE STAR WARS

i did not come here to fight or argue, so if you don't agree or don't like the show, good for you, just let others enjoy it and share their opinions.

be nice to each other please.

and watch more star wars.

[joju-but-trek]

Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2, Episode 11: Last Flight of the Protostar, Part 1

Finally, we get Star Trek: The Last Jedi.

It feels good to be back to the reviews, and I'm glad my schedule worked out that I got the break when I did. This didn't feel like as much of a midseason premiere as it could have, but it worked as one. It felt a bit like this episode worked to set up the new premise, but that wasn't the main objective. Where this episode really shines is in a lot of the animation details, but getting into that is for the spoiler section. 9/10

The animation was the star of the episode. There was so much work with the body language and the planet as a whole that sold the emotion here. Chakotay was the main example through all the times he dawdled or looked distracted during the first half, but it was some excellent body language designed in animation. The team has been phenomenal the whole season, but I do think the way Chakotay moves and interacts with his environment is the star of the episode. Especially the starting montage. It's gorgeous.

I've also given praise before to Dal and Gwyn and how they interact, but this episode has several great examples of them making physical contact or even just looking at each other to convey exponentially more than any words they share do. Also, the set design was amazing, with extra kudos to the rusted Protostar.

In terms of character beats, the crew (especially Rok) reuniting with Hologram Janeway and falling back into their old pattern was sweet. I like that this version of Janeway senses where things are going, even if she doesn't actually remember season 1. We didn't get the payoff of the crew realizing that Admiral Janeway isn't the woman they know, but we do get them finding their Janeway again and it's nice.

There are a number of great lines in the episode, but my favorite is Chakotay mangling the "Needs of the Many" line. It works as a great example of how he's turned his crash and exile into a martyr complex, and on top of that the way Ma'jel's face contorts in irritation is delightful. One of the things I liked about season 1 was how none of the crew were humans, but now that we have humans and Vulcans back for them to bounce off of it's a good progression.

I made the Last Jedi reference because Chakotay in this episode does remind me of Episode VII Luke. The resignation, the self-sacrifice, and the disinterest in doing more than what he already is all remind me of how Luke carried himself in that movie. I really liked The Last Jedi, it's one of my favorite Star Wars movies, and putting Chakotay through Luke's arc in that movie isn't something I would have thought to do. I hope it's more than a superficial coincidence and a shared sense of fun beards. Chakotay'd better end up drinking blue milk.

[indigovigilance]

S3 Epilogue

tags: Comfort, Fluff, South Downs

rated: PG, 1654 words

Crowley & Aziraphale finally get their resolution.

Edit: now published to Ao3: S3 Epilogue - Sunset in the Garden at South Downs (1654 words) by indigovigilance

This is my first adventure in publishing fanfic. I'll go back to meta soon. Good Omentober, y'all.

Aziraphale sat on the bench that overlooked the garden. The sun was beginning to dip low in the west, shining on the clouds that gathered over the channel, tinging them orange and pink. Sitting propped up in his lap a well-worn book; none could guess, not even Aziraphale himself, how many times he had turned the beloved pages, the edges worn soft by his touch. His heart fluttered as he turned to chapter 58: his favorite part. He glanced up at Crowley, who was still mucking about in the flowerbeds, as he usually did at this time of day. Aziraphale returned his attention to his book.

Now was the moment for her resolution to be executed, and, while her courage was high, she immediately said: “Mr. Darcy, I am a very selfish creature; and, for the sake of giving relief to my own feelings, care not how much I may be wounding yours.”

“Oh, my dear girl,” chuckled Aziraphale, “you do care. You care a great deal. But I wouldn’t worry about hurting his feelings: quite the opposite, in fact. Oh Jane, you really did have such a gift with words. And robberies, apparently.”

The angel heard Crowley throw down his gardening tools. In the years since they’d moved into the cottage together, autumn had become Aziraphale’s favorite season; as the days got shorter, their sunset ritual came earlier and earlier each day, and the nip in the air was just enough to draw them closer together, but not enough to send them into the warm shelter of the indoors before the stars came out.

He did not look up as he felt the temptress of Eden lower himself down to the bench to the left of him—always on the left—and began to wind serpentine limbs around his soft, strong body. Long legs curled over his wide lap, snakeskin-shod feet dangled off the end of the bench. One arm slithered over his shoulders, the other across his chest, ensnaring him with practiced precision. He felt Crowley nestle his head into the cradle of his shoulder, exactly where he always was. Wordlessly and without looking up, Aziraphale wrapped an arm around Crowley’s back and pulled him close. They fit together like lock and key.

Aziraphale tilted his head to nudge the serpent, who nudged him back, signaling that he was ready.

“You’ve come at the best part.”

“Have I?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Well, then. Don’t keep me in suspense.”

Aziraphale began to read aloud:

“You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever.”

“Oof. Jane really didn’t pull any punches, did she?”

“Indeed she did not. Now, hush.

“Elizabeth, feeling all the more than common awkwardness and anxiety of his situation, now forced herself to speak; and immediately, though not very fluently, gave him to understand that her sentiments had undergone so material a change since the period to which he alluded, as to make her receive with gratitude and pleasure his present assurances. The happiness which this reply produced was such as he had probably never felt before; and he expressed himself on the occasion as sensibly and as warmly as a man violently in love can be supposed to do. Had Elizabeth been able to encounter his eyes, she might have seen how well the expression of heartfelt delight diffused over his face became him: but though she could not look she could listen; and he told her of feelings which, in proving of what importance she was to him, made his affection every moment more valuable.”

Aziraphale closed his eyes, taking a deep breath as he felt a swell of emotion surge through his body. He felt Crowley stir as one sinuous limb unwound from around his chest and plucked the book from his hands, setting it down on the bench beside them. Aziraphale’s eyes flicked to the shock of red hair that was pressed against his cheek.

“What, you don’t like it?”

“I didn’t say that.”

The ginger head lifted up. Aziraphale turned, and in the fading shades of sunset, Crowley’s yellow eyes seemed to shine with starlight. He was very close, so very close. Sky-blue eyes flicked down hungrily to apple-red lips, then back up. He swallowed: he couldn’t help himself. But he didn’t speak. Didn’t dare to move. He knew how badly he’d hurt Crowley, the day that Gabriel and Beelzebub had gone off together, after only a few short years of courtship, merely the blink of an eye in the existence of an immortal, and when Crowley had asked him to do the same, after millennia of surreptitious companionship, he’d hadn’t. Worse, he’d betrayed him, and gone back to Heaven. It had all worked out in the end, but he was still gnawed by guilt for what he’d put his demon through. He could never ask for forgiveness, because in his own heart, he didn’t believe he deserved it. He hadn’t forgiven himself.

But he could still want it.

He could still long to taste his lips again.

Yellow eyes watched him, unblinking.

Aziraphale wanted to say something, but none of the words in any of the languages that had ever been spoken on Earth tasted right in his mouth. Any sentiment of regret, longing, or affection seemed to turn to sand on his tongue. Jane Austen had made it seem so easy. But it was different when it was someone you knew. When it was the someone. Your only someone.

“I’m not mad at you.”

Aziraphale blinked. The yellow eyes still held him, entrancing and impossibly close. The setting sun caught in Crowley’s red hair, setting it ablaze. The demon continued:

“I think you think I’m mad at you, for how things went. But I’m not. I know why you did what you did. If you’d done anything different, you wouldn’t be the angel I fell in love with.”

Aziraphale’s breath caught in his throat. He’d imagined those words, coming from his demon, for so long, but he’d never dared to hope he’d hear them again, after that day.

“We’ve been together a long time,” continued Crowley. “Longer than either of us can remember, and I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember. I’ve loved you since before I can remember…”

The demon trailed off and his yellow eyes grew dim as he retreated into his mind, looking at the places where the furniture used to be. Tears welled up in Aziraphale’s azure eyes, his chest tightening with sorrow and grief for the time that they had lost together: not just the time that they’d been forced into hiding, but the time they’d been forced to forget. The time that had been ripped from their bodies. Aziraphale had found that difficult to forgive, if indeed he’d ever forgiven Heaven at all.

The demon returned to the present.

“…and I have loved you every moment since then. Nothing you did has ever, could ever change that. Do you understand?”

Aziraphale swallowed the lump in his throat but, still unable to speak, nodded.

“We spent our existence letting Heaven and Hell keep us apart, keeping ourselves apart, and I… I want to be with you from now on. Completely with you. Do you understand?”

Aziraphale didn’t dare speak, but felt his lips twitch as Crowley’s eyes flicked down to his mouth, and he felt the light caress of fingertips on his cheek, drawing him in. Crowley was leaning closer, lips parted, lids falling over slit amber eyes…

“Can I just say—”

“Are you serious?” The demon snapped, letting go of the angel’s chin. “Are you being serious right now?”

“Crowley, I just need to—”

The demon threw his head back with a groan, spindly limbs flying in every direction as he splayed across the bench in a dramatic show of exasperation.

“It’s just that, I—”

“I am trying to have a moment here!”

“I need to tell you—”

“What? What do you need to tell me?” The demon sat up, staring down the angel.

“That I’m sorry, and that I wish I’d done so many things differently.”

“Angel, I just told you, I’m not mad at you.”

“But I can still be sorry. I can still wish I hadn’t hurt you. I do wish it, and…” the angel took a deep breath, grabbing one of Crowley’s hands and holding it in both of his.

“I’m sorry for every time I offered you forgiveness. You never needed it, not from me, or Heaven, or anyone. There was nothing to forgive. There was never anything to forgive. I should have known that, and I regret that I didn’t realize it sooner.”

“They made me a demon, they took your memory. It’s not your fault.”

“Still. I wish I’d been better, for you.” The angel squeezed the demon’s hand.

“I’m just going to have to let you be sorry, aren’t I?” said the demon flippantly. The angel nodded, staring down at their enjoined hands.

“I forgive you.”

The angel looked up; the demon was smirking.

“See how it feels?”

“That’s not funny.”

“It’s kind of funny.”

“It isn’t!”

“Come here, angel.”

“No.”

“What? What do I have to say so I can kiss you?”

“It’s not like that, it’s just…” Aziraphale sighed. “I didn’t want to have our first kiss, our first proper kiss, without you knowing that…” Aziraphale searched for words.

“Aziraphale, I know,” said Crowley quietly, lifting his hand to the angel’s cheek. Aziraphale met his eyes in the final dying light of sunset and understood that, yes, he knew. They both knew, and had always known. The Angel of the Eastern Gate wrapped his arms around the Serpent of Eden, drew him in, and once more tasted the sweetness of forbidden fruit on his lips.

[razorblade180]

To Be.

Nahida:It’s finally nice to be able to speak to you all!

Zhongli:The pleasure is all mine.

Ei:Likewise. I think we all needed a chance gain new perspectives.

Venti:Some more than others. Which reminds me, it pains my heart to know that after all the trouble I went to traveling to celebrate the cultures of my friends, none of them dared to visit my own during the festive season.

Zhongli and Ei: We never asked you to visit.

Venti:You shouldn’t have to. That’s the point!

Nahida:Maybe if it’s at all possible, I could join along with my citizens. They seemed happier after returning from Windblume.

Venti:Mondstadt welcomes you with open arms and smiles! I can already tell we’re gonna be wonderful friends.

Nahida:Hehe, I think so too. I also believe I can learn a great many things from each of you in the ways of being an Archon.

Zhongli:You give us way too much credit…

Ei:I’ll go as far as to say I myself am in a way…relearning that responsibility.

Nahida:Oh, you misunderstand. I’ve learned quite a bit about each of your nations overtime, and my goal isn’t imitation. We’re all different and so are our problems. I suppose…what I hope to learn is the resolve of an Archon. I’m aware it’s a difference of experience and time, but the way each of you are spoken about; it’s quite beautiful.

Venti:Hehe, aww, that’s sweet of you. Personally I think you’re doing a good job.

Ei:I’d have to agree. So young, yet already so determined to protect your people; to understand them.

Zhongli:It’s no exaggeration to say you are wise beyond your years.

Nahida:Me? I…I feel like I’ve been doing what I wanted; more or less. I can’t say for certain if that’s good or wanted by my people.

Venti:Much like apples that have fallen from their trees, citizens in one way or another embody their god. Even if they aren’t aware of it. My personal opinion is if you really want to learn about yourself and your people, then take a look at vision holders in your nation.

Nahida:Really?

Zhongli:Hmm, that little belief of yours again?

Venti:Oh come now, don’t act like it’s not something you enjoy.

Ei:It pains me to admit but Barbatos’s view on this is something that I both agree with and find uplifting.

Nahida:I’m not quite sure I understand.

Venti:Next time you get the chance, close your eyes and try to feel the presence of your vision bearers. The criteria is always vague of getting one and so many of them live such different lives. However, I find that if you take the time to listen to them, a similar feeling comes from each of them that I like to attribute to why they gained one.

Nahida:So what you’re saying is you believe it’s more than the just a matter of coincidence that leads to a person being in Mondstadt getting a Mondstadt vision? Much like how many seeds don’t grow in every soil. Some plants are only meant to grow in places that give them exactly what they need to bloom.

Venti:Wonderfully put!

Nahida:If you don’t mind me asking, what do you all believe what it means to be given a vision in your respective nations? It would have to be more than ambition.

Zhongli:When I think about those who have been seen as champions in the eyes of the divine, no matter the era or the subject, I feel their discipline; a fortitude harder than any stone. From the adepti who conquer evil, uphold the laws, or the common man dedicated to cooking, music, healing, or burying; their discipline shines through. I myself never described myself as such. At least not as more than any other person.

Venti:Don’t listen to him. Fortitude might as well be his name.

Ei:Generals, priestesses, honored house holds with high responsibility, humble firework owners, even wandering samurai and the must unruly of individuals; overtime as I felt their ambitions and saw them with my own eyes I kept witnessing the same thing. No matter the lifestyle, they all carry themselves with a passion and elegance to do what they must. I admire that greatly and I am a little ashamed to admit I wish I noticed that sooner. I believe that is why Inazuma has both endured internal and external struggles through the ages.

Zhongli:You could say in a way, you’ve kept your promise to make a nation of eternity. The environment may change, but the passion and resolve remains.

Nahida:That’s a beautiful way to look at it.

Ei:Now if only all that passion didn’t clash with others. *sighs* They really are my people.

Nahida:If I had to guess Mondstadt’s it would tie back into freedom, right?

Venti:*smiles* Such a simple yet powerful thing it is. When I close my eyes, I hear footsteps. The unlucky adventurer heading out, the librarian making another cup of tea, an outrider patrolling, a knight getting back to work, an angry bartender making questionable drinks, and even the sound of kind man striking out on his own. I hear all these footsteps, walking down paths they’ve chosen to make for themselves their way. To be in Mondstadt is to be free to play the ballad of your life in the way that’s music to your ears. Others shall surely dance to it.

Nahida:Hmm I think…I’m starting to understand. I haven’t gotten to chance to visit any of your homes, but I’ve met plenty of your people before; vision holders and regular citizens. I can now see that in all of them…there was glimmer of what makes the three of you who you are. We really are the tree in Venti’s analogy.

Venti:It’s a real shame not all apples are sweet. Bad apples exist, but that’s unavoidable. Much like with Ei said earlier, when everyone is free to sing their own tune, harmonizing becomes that much harder. Still, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Far be it for me to tell people how to sing.

Zhongli:Doesn’t stop you from intervening on occasion.

Venti:Not every song needs to be performed on stage. Especially when the crowd clearly hates it. A swan song is a song all the same. Isn’t that right, Ei?

Ei:Precisely.

Zhongli:Do try your best to be…fair and gentle whenever possible.

Nahida:Violence isn’t a thing I appreciate anyways. As well as needless cruelty.

Venti:You make it sound like I’m evil when you phrase it like that! I’m pretty fair. Certainly more so than certain places where terms such as “wrath of the rock” and “divine punishment” exist.

Zhongli and Ei: Would you like to experience both?

Venti:See!?

Nahida:Haha! I guess passion and discipline wouldn’t flow the way it does for their people and land without such intense archon personalities. I am rather curious now. What would I feel inside from my champions and citizen. What does it mean to be in, or rather be apart of Sumeru? What’s the part of me inside all of them?

Venti:When you find out be sure to tell us!

Nahida:Thank you for your guidance.

Ei:No need to be so formal.

Zhongli:Pleasure is all ours.

Venti:It’s only natural for friends to share life experiences and lend an ear.

Zhongli and Ei:Friends?

Venti:See what I deal with. They act like they won’t miss me but I know the truth.

Nahida:Yeah, I can tell you all have been through a lot together and that they cherish you.

Zhongli and Ei:Maybe we should call it a day.

xxxxx

After a long day of laughter and new friendships, Nahida returned to Sumeru. As she sat atop The Great Tree overlooking her vast nation, Nahida watched as the final rays of sunlight kissed her home goodnight. Night time in Sumeru at last. It had a certain charm she’s grown to love. The air was crisp, her heart at rest in her beautiful home. Now was as good as any time to take the advice of her fellow Archons. Nahida shut her eyes and searched for her champions graced from above.

It was faint at first; difficult even. Then…like a flower, a feeling in her chest began to take root and bloom from those around it. One was a boy adrift in the endless sky. Another was a girl absorbed in making sure her earnings were accurate one final time before resting. A man peacefully in his own world as he flipped a page in his book, two more people deep in the process a discovery of their own projects; while a third was hard at work putting pen to paper while their gaze greeted the stars. Nahida could sense the fluttering heartbeat of a girl following her own rhythm, as well as the calm and steady heartbeat of three individuals who separately traversed the shifting sands of the desert calmly into the unknown. The presence of a boy sitting in the dense forest around all he knew and have yet to uncover was next. Lastly…there was girl in the secluded hollow tree that was hard at work studying and letting her thoughts roam freely while some of them became etched in the bark.

All these walks of life and people. So unique and their own, yet a common threaded them together and Nahida found her own heart connecting to them; or rather…to all of her people. It reminded her of the endless days she traversed dreams. In that moment she realized something about herself. The centuries of confinement may have initially on the path of dream walking, but it wasn’t what kept her going back in. It was the wonder and comfort that pulled her into going deeper until she was all but lost in it; a drift in sea of her passion.

Nahida opened her eyes slowly, her chest feeling heavier than before but also with a warm smile on her face.

Nahida:Ah, I see. To be in Sumeru is to…

[lunar-writes-things]

26) Ending: A Finished Symphony sounds best with people who love you

"I'm sure nothing will go wrong Y/n," Impulse stepped closer and gave Y/n a hug "We're in this together and We'll all be safe." 

Y/n stayed quiet for a moment before nodding. 

"Okay," They said softly, feeling familiar arms wrap around them "I'm just..." 

"Worried?" Grian asked 

"yeah," Y/n murmured  

"We will be fine," Scar said "I made sure the rocket is the safest place possible for us. I made sure of it." 

"We love you Y/n," Pearl said and pressed a gentle kiss to their lips "and if you need us, we'll be right by your side." 

there was a moment of quiet before Y/n spoke up and asked "Can you all stay with me tonight?" 

"Of course Angel," Mumbo answered "Let's go get some sleep." 

The next day, Y/n was packing necessities like food and a blanket for the ride on the rocket. They carefully placed their pickaxe, axe, sword, and shovel in the chest along with their armor that had fallen to the boatem hole multiple times. On the wall behind the chest, Y/n wrote a message into the book in quill on the lecturn beside them 

Dear star, 

Take care of my things, please.

I'm sure you will, but truth be told, I'm terrified of leaving each season. Leaving memories, hard-earned items, and sometimes even friends. Change is hard. 

But this season, I might be leaving behind something even more special. 

Boatem

A village I helped created and even found love in. I don't want to lose the memories I've made here, especially not those that kept me going when things were hard. 

This village is nothing but that, a village, but to me, it will always be the place where I finally allowed myself to heal, to love, and even to find my happiness again. 

Change is difficult, yes, but change is good.

If fate aligns perfectly, the stars will shine for us once again and We will stargaze upon the memories like they are the brightest stars in the galaxy. 

Til we meet again, Your angel, 

Y/n'sharmony

Y/n wiped away their tears as they closed the book and grabbed the space suit. 

They had to leave... tonight. 

Y/n sighed as they moved to their balcony, watching the boatem members scramble to get everything they needed ready. from this angle, they looked tiny. 

Y/n didn't want to leave, but for the sake of their life and her friends? She would do anything. 

She put on the suit as the sky began to bleed navy and as twinkling stars appeared with the ginormous moon peeking over the horizon. 

As Y/n reached the door, they stopped and took a deep breath. They walked out and stopped at the edge of their cloud before turning around and looking at the full glory of their building and the village.

"Til we meet again My Boatem, My symphony," Y/n whispered before taking a step back and falling off the edge before opening their wings, the wind catching and slowing their fall until they reached the ground and were able to join the other in front of the rocket. 

"Well," Grian said with a forced smile "This is it guys, How are we feeling?" 

"Scared," Impulse said and there were murmurs of agreement 

"I don't really wanna leave my home." Pearl said, tears brimming in her eyes behind the helmet "It was the first place I truly felt like me." 

"We all feel that way Pearl," Mumbo said and wrapped an arm around her 

"I don't wanna leave the memories we made here." Y/n admitted a sad smile on their face "I mean, I realized I had fallen in love with all of you in this very area. Why would I want to leave something so beautiful?"

"You wouldn't," Scar spoke up "truth be told, I don't think any of us would want to leave because of that reason. I know I don't." 

"None of us do," Grian said "but we have no choice and we can't prolong any longer. Into the rocket, we go." 

The rest of boatem followed Grian's lead and stumbled their way into the rocket. Some looking over their shoulders to give a silent goodbye and others never looking back so as to not cry. 

Y/n was the last and behind them all and Y/n had looked over their shoulder and questioned their decision...

Do they really want to leave?

Yes, they had to

not just for themselves but for their friends, their partners. 

they looked forward and walked into the rocket with the others and grabbed the rope supplied to tie them later in space. They were given there were six drop-down points. 

five around the outer ring and a huge one in the middle. 

"well, Y/n how do we drop?" Scar asked, "Inner or outer?"

 

"Inner," Y/n replied immediately "I want to be near all of you guys." 

They all smiled and stepped on the dropdown point before tying a rope around their waist and grabbing their lover's hands. 

“Y/n, before we drop,” Mumbo Spoke up “Will you tell us who you're choosing?” 

“I want all of you,” Y/n stated softly and grabbed Pearl and Impulse's hand, the two that were to their left and right "and not even years in a void will ever change that." 

"Well," Impulse smiled and looked at everyone "It seems like we have a lot to talk about while we're in the void."

With those words, the boatem members soon were doused in darkness with smiles on their faces and no fear to be seen 

 And with this, our Season 8 was done. 

crushed into oblivion by the beautiful moon Y/n once admired and is now terrified of-

well- the moon in the sky was the one they were terrified of

but the one currently curled in Y/n's arms had Y/n swooning with her messy morning hair and dried drool on their chin. Y/n smiled as they pressed a gentle kiss to Pearl in their current starter base. 

there were three months in the void until all five of the Boatem members fell into a bright clear sky and hard stone that killed all of them on impact. Other members began to pop up again too. soon within a few minutes, the entire cast was in the new season of Hermitcraft. 

Season 9

and this season, Y/n was starting off the season with something they never had before. 

Their partners. 

During the three-month wait, they had discussed how it would work between them and some other confessions had come out as well. Apparently, Both Mumbo and Scar had a crush on Grian that they thought was just bromance. Impulse was slowly sneaking around Pearl with subtle glances and longing looks. Pearl had her eyes on both Scar and mumbo and of course Y/n's attraction to all of them and their attraction to Y/n. 

Now that was an interesting talk but that would be saved for later

Right now, Y/n's door opened, and through groggy and closed-looking eyes, they saw Scar, Impulse, Grian, and Mumbo sneak into the home and look at their girlfriend and partner, pulling out their comms to take pictures with huge grins and quiet coos. 

"Come here," Y/n whispered and raised an arm, the boys grinned and set down their comms, and got into bed with their partners pressing soft kisses to both of their lips "You guys were gone before I woke up, what's going on?" 

"We'll tell you two when both of you are up at the same time," Impulse murmured "For now, however, I would love to cuddle and sleep?" 

"Of course Impy," Y/n murmured "Let's sleep." 

getting on that ship was the best decision Y/n had ever made. 

Even if they had to leave behind the physical memories, they always had the mental memories and those can last a life time if Y/n always had their Boatem, their symphony, around them. 

After all, A finished symphony sound best with people who love you

Masterlist

[not-krys]

9. Old [Ophelia, Abby, Miri]

This was more or less my excuse to make some of my characters elderly, which also means also some of the baggage that comes with it. And no, I'm not ashamed of making characters old.

Raw, unedited writing featured below! In these entries:

-We explore a scene from Ophelia's past, which was a journey through description for me, personally. -A bittersweet moment between an elderly Abby and Theo. Heavily implied/referenced major character death -An elder Miri and Simeon reminiscing about the past. Spoilers for OG Obey Me seasons 2 and 4 (somewhat, I'm still early in season 4 but I have seen one particular spoiler about Simeon and decided to run with the concept. Sorry if later lessons make this idea moot, but I just really wanted to explore the idea).

------

Ophelia

It was for the others. It was always for them. That was the mantra Ophelia repeated to herself over and over again. For Cordelia, for Rosalind and Portia. For Nicolai and the twins. For Frederick and little Viola. She was doing this for them, so they wouldn't have to suffer the poor life any more.

For them, she would become this old man's wife. No more would anyone go hungry or have ill-fitting clothes. The estate could be fully staffed, the entire house finally cleaned, fixed, and polished to a decent shine. She didn't need to rely on her capricious parents anymore.

The price didn't matter to her, so long as her younger siblings got a better life than she ever had.

She clutched her bouquet closer, the floral smell a little strong for her nose, and stood taller, like a soldier heading towards a battle that they weren't sure they'll be returning from. Her heels clicked on the wooden floor, hollow and ominous with each step. An organ nearby played the typical wedding march of Revaire, a happy little jaunt common in church halls. To Ophelia's ears, weighed down painfully by heavy gems, it sounded shrill and piercing. She could imagine this song being her welcoming tune into hell, fittingly enough. Her dress, heavy and scratchy, was also what she would imagine being pulled into hell felt like too.

Ahead of her was the head priest and beside him was the man who was to be her husband. He was slumping forward on a wooden cane, smiling at her with several teeth missing and most of his hair wispy under his hat. At one point he might have been handsome… maybe… but he more put her mind of the gargoyles on the big church in the capital, but not in the frightening way they were supposed to be. Or maybe of a goblin merchant in the fairy stories Viola loved, but with none of the personality to match. He might tumble over in the slightest breeze, he looked so frail.

Still, she held her head high, swallowed hard, and continued walking to her wedding dirge. Whispers of how beautiful she was bounced off of her, how lucky she was. It was all for her family, she repeated in her head. They were getting a better life because of her. That was the only thing keeping her sanity intact.

At last, once she was close enough to the altar, she nodded to the priest, her breath shaking in her chest. She held her bouquet closer to her nose, hoping to mask a smell that she just noticed and it was all kinds of unpleasant. The priest looked a little envious of her, not having his own escape from the putrid odor.

----------

Abby

Theo sat by Abby's side, her small hands covered in wrinkles and a little stiff, holding a long paintbrush. Theo, still as youthful as when she had met him, untouched by two hundred years, brown hair and blue eyes unchanged by time, watched patiently as her hand moved, graceful in memory but a little clumsy now with age.

"Just a little more," Abby said, her voice cracking.

"Take your time," Theo said gently, far more kind than he had sounded in her youth.

Silence overtook the two of them, sunlight peeking through the nearby window. Where she needed it, Theo held up her elbow, keeping her arm steady.

"…Talk about him, Theo." Abby asked, squinting her eyes. "Please…"

"Hondje… Are you sure?"

"A happy memory… for me, please?"

Theo closed his eyes and breathed out a sigh.

"Back when we used to live in Comte's mansion, he often painted outdoors. He loved being in the sun. He… sometimes I thought he was the sun."

"When you came around…" Theo continued, "Well, he was happier. More than I had ever seen him. He shined brighter than before. Blindingly so some days. I was a little jealous… Very jealous, actually. How this scared little pup that came out of nowhere had managed to capture my broer so completely so quickly… Maybe it's not what you want to hear, but any truly happy memory I have of him, you're in it too."

Theo touched her elbow again.

"Remember when I came to the house the first time? Because your auntie had sent those pictures of his paintings?"

"Yes," Abby said, "I showed you all those pictures of Vincent and me… of the children… of his life ever since we left."

"You showed me that he had lived a good life and that's something I can't thank you enough for. I had failed in that regard, even in our second lives."

"Your wish allowed us to meet, Theo, so… don't sell yourself so short. My happiness… was thanks to you, after all."

"Hondje…"

"A-anyway… you were talking about how he loved painting outdoors?"

"Yeah, he'd taken you with him. By all accounts, it should have been sunny all day. But, there was a pop up shower."

"Ah, yes. He wanted to teach me about nature painting. But then it started raining suddenly."

"It was a little late in the day, so I was just getting back from selling some of his work. I got caught up in it too. Soaked to the bone."

"So were we. We had to pack up in a hurry, the paint hadn't even dried properly, both of canvases getting smeared together with the rain water. I was so upset because I was so proud of it and thought I had ruined it."

"Broer just smiled, I remember." Theo said, "and told me that they were twin paintings now. Sebas even came by to tell us about how in the future, there was this movement in art where you don't really paint forms like normal. Sometimes, people would splash paint onto canvases without rhyme or reason. Abstract painting, he called it. I wouldn't have believed him if I hadn't lived through it myself."

Abby smiled a little.

"Vincent held onto those paintings for a while. I was a little embarrassed on how long he held onto them, messed up as they were."

"From what I remember, Comte had them put up in the parlor after you two left."

"That's even more embarrassing!"

"Even had them framed."

Abby lowered her elbow, setting her brush down.

"Thank you, Theo. For cheering me up. For staying and putting up with me."

"You'd be lonely if I didn't, and Broer hated leaving you alone for long."

"…I miss him. So much."

Theo reached up to her cheek, wiping away the falling tear with his thumb.

"Just remember that you had a hand in making his life as good as it could have been. Now I'm making sure yours is just as good in his honor. So, no more tears. You have a portrait to finish, after all."

Abby took a breath and nodded, looking at Theo, determined.

"R-right."

They both turned back to the canvas, the image reflected in their eyes of a younger Vincent, smiling as both of them had remembered.

------------

Miri

Miri sat on a bench overlooking the city, her magical staff now getting more use as a walking stick in her old age sitting by her side. Older humans weren't as common a sight in Devildom as youthful wizards and sorcerers were more common, but all them knew the sight of the elder sorcerer. It was her that helped the exchange student program at RAD flourish after all. She helped to expand it and make it the respected practice it was now. Miri had even had a hand in teaching some of the younger generations, both as a student council member and teacher. But she was older now, older than she had ever expected be, reaching her 990th birthday a few months prior. Or was it her 991st? Solomon had lost track of his actual age eons ago and Miri felt she was starting to slip into the same mindset.

Though, age really was just a number, a measurement of time really, her body was starting to feel the effect of almost a thousand years, something a normal human wouldn't experience naturally. She blamed her ancestor for her prolonged longevity, and the effects of her pacts likely didn't help, but still, time was finally catching up to her. Her vibrant pink curls had turned gray over the years, her hands now crinkly like wadded paper, her bright eyes now surrounded by wrinkles. Her mind was still plenty quick as it was when she was young and her heart just as kind.

She smiled at some passersby, some she had taught personally in her teaching days saying hello, some she still saw frequently enough on her outings around town. A familiar face soon sat beside her, a hand just as wrinkled as hers resting on top of her own hand on her lap. She smiled gently.

"Simeon." She said simply, seeing the return gentle smile.

"Hello, Miriam." said Simeon. "Everyone was starting to get worried, so I came to look for you."

"Luke let you out of his sight?" Miri giggled.

"Well… I might have sneaked out without his notice."

"He'll be so worried about you!"

"He'll understand. I wanted to see you, so I did." Simeon's eyes, wrinkled just as hers and almost hidden behind thick glasses, were just as bright as hers and full of innocent mischief. "I'm surprised Lucifer or one of his brothers isn't nearby."

"I… may have used a little magic to help me escape. I can still have my own life, you know."

Simeon laughed. "They all mean well."

"I know. It's just frustrating to be treated fragile, that you'll break at the slightest little thing."

"It is a strange thing. I tried to stretch my back this morning and it made such a loud crack, it startled Luke and Raphael. Solomon just laughed and said 'mood'."

Miri sighed.

"Mammon refuses to let me take stairs by myself anymore. I'm not that helpless!"

"It is their first time being around elder humans regularly. Be patient with them, Miriam."

Miri sighed again.

"You're also taking aging well. I mean… do you miss being an angel?"

"Sometimes," Simeon shrugged. "But I don't regret becoming human."

"For… because… because of me."

"To save the three realms, and for you. Saving you I'll never regret, no matter the consequences to me. Growing old with you has been a treasure I've never thought I'd ever experience."

"Simeon…"

"Living life with you, really, I wouldn't trade it for anything."

"You're making me blush…"

"You always did look cute when you blushed."

"I'm too old for that kind of stuff."

"You're still cute, you know."

"Flatterer."

"Not if it's true."

[crystalelemental]

"megazardx2: I’m so glad you enjoyed it, especially since you didn’t like the Gen 7 games much at all. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts!"

Then this is as good a time as any! Pokemon Sun and Moon anime thoughts, as much as I can stuff in there.

As mentioned in my last recap, the only history I have with the anime is vague recollections from the original seasons, and XY which we watched just before this. And of them, Sun and Moon pretty quickly got itself into top spot. I really like the friend group, and I think Ash works best as just some kid with the others. It feels much more natural to him than the big hero thing of XY, which was overplayed and frankly silly.

This hasn't really gone anywhere. The friend group remains the strongest aspect, I love them. Mallow's probably the favorite of the bunch, but there's not a single one I disliked. Lillie and Sophocles precious, Kiawe and Lana are hilarious, Mallow just vibes the hardest with how I am as a person so like...I get it girl. Even Team Rocket was far more tolerable this season, back to being mostly ineffectual villains with more mild goals and significantly fewer war crimes committed. Bewear helps a lot. I think the decision to swap out their old blasting off routine to Bewear's myriad entries was divine.

Nanu and Acerola had a great little arc. They were a ton of fun while present. I didn't really click with Olivia but she's fine. Same with Hala, who felt like he could've done more. I did wind up liking Hapu, which is very unexpected. Faba's alright, Wicke doesn't really do much, and I have many thoughts, none of them particularly nice, about Lusamine. That leaves the last two clusters.

Kukui and Burnet are a delight. They're adorable, they're hilarious, big fan all around. I am very glad they ditched Kukui's secret just before the final match, I don't know if I would've been able to stomach it through that. The Masked Royal thing was always a bit goofy, and this is naturally no exception. But their whole dynamic is cute.

Guzma. Ooooh Guzma. You got hit with the same bat as Lusamine. From a character in the main games with a lot of going on that you could infer, to...literally just some pissbaby loser who's mad he can't win. Dude, this is like the least compelling villain story. I do like the attempt to use Golisopod as a sort of showcasing of that same mentality, but it's a nice artistic touch on a generally bad approach. I do not like Team Skull at all in this. Or, for that matter, Ilima. Who I legitimately forgot about until this moment. Ilima just doesn't do much of anything. Oh, he's just soft-spoken and nice and talented and all the ladies love him. Sure. But he's no Ryuki. Who wins the award for funniest one-shot character in the series.

The Ultra Beast episodes were solid. I generally like the idea behind it. It's goofy, but it fits functionally. I don't strictly mind why they function in the way they do, but I'd be lying if I said the explanation being "It's the kid in Lusamine coming out" didn't rub me the wrong way given everything else about her character. Mostly I think what the anime nails are character moments. Sophocles getting over his fears and starting to appreciate battles, Mallow getting established as a talented chef in her own right with a strength in reading people's wants, Lana being...genuinely just talented at everything? Like, girl doesn't get enough time to shine because they often pass it off to Kiawe or Ash, but she's legitimately good at like everything they wind up doing.

The tournament was...interesting. I wasn't sure how much I'd like it, given how quickly they belted through top 16 and top 8. But admittedly? It works. It truncates a lot into the critical moments. Watching XY, the battles could be interesting, but often it's sort of a...going through the motions? Like okay, yes, Ash vs Sawyer was generally a good time, but there were plenty of matchups that amount to very little in the grand scheme. Ash vs. Alain, I would be willing to argue, is largely forgettable. Nothing all that interesting happens until the final Greninja vs. Charizard matchup, but I don't really respect Charizard, and I hate Ash Greninja, so it's not like I cared. But it's telling that the entire match and all the episodes in it could've been boiled down to about those 5 minutes with little lost in terms of impact or importance.

I think that's what Sun and Moon nailed best in this arc. The battles are just the parts that matter. Ash's Rowlet has one real rival, and that's Hau's Decidueye. Just do those two, and it's a nice, condensed fight. That ends kinda lame because man it really kinda feels like Hau should've won that, or they should've waited to call it a while so it didn't feel like taking something from him. Mallow has low confidence in her battling and tries to shy away from a battle she expects to lose, and Lana calls on her to make an effort. We only need the one Pokemon for that. Sophocles is learning to put his all into battles and wants to stand his ground against Kiawe, and again, we can do that in one. We need a showing of Guzma being a vicious trainer in how he battles, and boy do you get the point in the 1v1 with Lana. They do really well at linking up just the emotional connection part of the battle. Even in 2v2 matches this holds, as they quickly get to Kiawe's ace in Turtonator, and eliminate Scizor in two seconds for a story beat. It's well done! Even Kukui and Ash, which is a much longer fight, leads off the the big emotional showdown of Torracat vs. Incineroar, but both are recalled before a victor is decided leaving you waiting for the return and how that'll play out. Even after that, they manage to pivot into Tapu Koko vs. Pikachu, which was another battle that needed to finish (though I am slightly sad we don't know Kukui's actual sixth Pokemon).

The Pokemon just feel like they have real connections, not just within their team but with their rivalries. Which is...more than I can say for XY. Every major rivalry in Pokemon was Greninja vs. someone else's ace. None of that team mattered otherwise. They had cute dynamics, I really liked Hawlucha and Noivern. But what role did Talonflame play once it evolved? It ceased to matter. Why bring Goodra back? Ash just needed a sixth Pokemon, no other reason. Comparatively, when Naganadel comes back, it doesn't have a strict rival, but it's the first time it's battling and it came back through dimensions to see them again, and you get how much that means. This season did really well with connection and emotional impact for pretty much everyone involved, and it did it in a cute slice of life-y way rather than trying to big up drama to make someone matter. Which I generally vibe with a lot more.

I'm trying to think of other things to talk about but am kinda running dry. I'm sleepy, we did a lot of chores. The point is, Sun and Moon was really good. Big fan. Unfortunately, my wife and I discussed where to go next. And we have reached consensus. My wife never watched anything before this. And Journeys is more of a recap thing from all accounts, visiting characters and places from everywhere. So we will, unfortunately, be going all the way back to the beginning. I have acquired veto power over episodes if I remember them sucking shit. The original Kanto stuff is only two seasons, so hopefully this will go quickly, but from here it's sequential. I think the intent is to actually go through everything. Brace for impact. And salt. Because save for exactly five episodes I look back upon fondly, I don't know how I'm going to tolerate original Ash, or Brock and Misty.

[puppy-phum]

~ getting to know your BL mutuals ~

got tagged by @wanderlust-in-my-soul​ ♥ thank you so much and sorry i’m so late!

rules: answer the questions and @ some people. Include the tag 'g2ky BL mutuals 2022' on your post so we can find everyone's answer.

What have been the BLs that took you by surprise this year?

i’ve watched so many bls this year it feels a bit insane but at least i have stuff to choose from! all those shows have also brought me amongst a large group of amazing ppl here :’) i wish i could talk about all of them bc of that but well.

Bad Buddy - when i got into this one, i did not expect it to fill my mind, heart, and soul the way it did. the title made me expect something very silly, especially knowing how ohm and his roles are. but i am incredibly happy we have something like bb, it means so much to me ♥

Blueming - i remember seeing snippets of this one and semantic error around the same time. the general feeling i got was that ppl preferred semantic error, or that there was more talk about that one. personally, i prefer this bc there’s something in it that made me fee extremely seen ♥

Enchanté - didn’t really expect anything from this show once i finally got into it. i basically went there just to get a bit more of jimmy content (which i did. my boy ♥). but jokes on me, i adored akktheo too. the ending could’ve been different but they had one of the best slow burns i’ve seen in a while ♥

You’re My Sky - i will never get over how good this show was. i was very surprised bc i didn’t think a sports bl could do something like this. but this one just feels like there’s been a lot of thought put into it and it managed to get under my skin in similar ways as blueming did ♥

Triage - expected something as wild and kind of silly as manner of death was as these two happen in the same universe. also exected something very aesthetically pleasing once i learned who the director was. got both but on top of that triage was an interesting look at life, death, and everything in between ♥

Color Rush 2 - i was very into the first season but saw other ppl being kind of let down by this second one. i was also a bit confused about the second main lead getting changed/left out but then decided to just watch this one night. was very happy with everything i got and despite the runtime obviously being a bit too short for what they were attempting here, i got filled with a lot of love and some heartache ♥

Bonus: The Shipper - i don’t want to label this strictly a bl bc this doesn’t feel like it belongs there. but i still want to mention it here bc it totally blew me away. after i go over the cringe at the beginning of this show and settled into its humor, i adored this show to bits. i will always think about this one very fondly, even after all the heartbreak it gave me ♥

What have been the BLs that you felt a bit disappointed with this year?

none of this is intended as hate, just saying

KinnPorsche - don’t get me wrong, kp is one of the most stunning shows i’ve seen in a while. their cinematography was amazing, they had obviously paid attention to detail, and i liked many of the characters. i just thought the plot fell a bit flat and some of the characters didn’t make sense as the story developed. maybe i expected too much or just wanted something different from what i got? vegaspete still makes me insane tho, god bless. 

Not Me - the show is a masterpiece and i am very, very happy we got it. it was a blast to follow it all way through and it has some of my fave scenes, themes, and characters ever. but then the obvious issues they had with the writing and especially the ending of the show kind of took away some of the shine. i know it was not the team’s fault entirely bc they weren’t given much but i still mourn a type of loss, even more so when over half of the show promised so much. also am still somewhat bitter about gramblack. 

The Eclipse - i looked forward to this one a lot once i watched most of the gmmtv2022 trailers at the beginning of the year. this, vv and never let me go were the ones that drove me insane. i had a lot of theories about how the plot for this might go and i was very on board with what they did until like. maybe ep 7? i cannot remember. but at some point the plot just totally flew out the window and i was not satisfied with how things ended :/ i still love that we got both akkayan and kanthua. they are very important to me. 

What has been your favorite BL this year?

The two bls that became my personality for a while aka Bad Buddy and Vice Versa. I know I am very biased. I do not care. I adore both to bits and find such comfort from both of these shows and their characters ♥ I can also thank both from various amazing friendships on this site plus a lot of inspiration I still keep treasuring and using every day. 

(is it even me if i don’t somehow make it about vice versa?)

Favorite BL couples (not just of 2022)?

i have waaay too many but let me list a few then (hopefully i can remember any from other years bc it’s been so long):

PatPran (but also WaiKorn)

PuenTalay

SeanWhite

KanThua

FahPrince (from Sky in Your Heart)

PureFolk (from My Gear and Your Gown)

WinTeam

MingKit (from 2Moons, speciafically 2Moons2)

Haoting x Xigu (from Make Our Days Count)

KornKnock (from Together With Me)

NubsibGene (from Lovely Writer)

What's your non-BL favorite this year?

i think it’s a tie between 55:15 Never Too Late and My Dear Loser: Edge of 17. i dunno what it says about me that both of these are nanon led series but this is where i am at the moment :’D 

i haven’t watched that many non bls this year but both of these left an impression. 55:15 was amazing, both with the plot and the characters. i kind of want to watch it again just to see more of the details. both the older and younger actors were acting their asses off, and i enjoyed the whole experience down to every emotion the show tore out of me. my dear loser then again surprised me by being super sweet but also very rough. young nanon as oh is a treasure (i wish i could just pat his head and pinch his cheeks), but i can also see a lot of pain in there under his goofy smile. he and his personal journey made me feel a lot, and the show also brought up some issues that hit close to home. 

thank you so much once more for tagging me into this ^^ i dunno how many ppl have already done this but am still tagging a few! feel free to ignore, or just link me your post if you’ve already done this! also wishing everyone very happy holidays, may it be warm and cozy ♥

@oswlld​ @dimpledpran​ @stormyoceans​ @nongnaos​ @snimeat​ @thanawins​ @phukaoapologist​ @winmon​ @machikeita​ ♥

[darlenicy]

worst part of canon

part of canon you think is overhyped

your favorite part of canon that everyone else ignores

there should be more of this type of fic/art

ship you've unwillingly come around to

9. worst part of canon

Already answered here.

17. there should be more of this type of fic/art

Driven!

21. part of canon you think is overhyped

Oh, like everyone I have to say season 3. I will never argue that it is an exiting season with a good villain and a good concept. But it feels like by the middle of the season the writers themselves didn’t know where to go. It really feels like they did not imagine the end yet and this is why it feels so rushed and why Valtor is suddenly so boring and useless. I miss the epic finale. It also handled the different stories very badly. The fact that it starts with all the mess on Solaria and then it goes on for several episodes not being mentioned again. It just doesn’t make sense, that Stella would easily give up on her father no matter if Valtor on Andros and later in Magix was the bigger threat at the moment. While I rewatched it I waited desperately for the things on Solaria to get fixed. But it didn’t happen until episode 19? Wtf. It’s also a shame that besides Stella, none of the Winx really has a lot screentime like in season 2. We got the Enchantix arcs, yes, but they only lasted on episode each. The Crystal Labyrinth was such a good idea to show the different characters and their problems again but then again it only lasted one episode and the other characters were just left out. It was just too much Bloom, Bloom, Bloom to me. Talking of Bloom: Tecna just “died” and Bloom goes to Pyros to earn her ego-Enchantix and the Winx are SOO worried about Bloom and don’t waste a single thought on Tecna? Wtf, girls? If Timmy hadn’t been there, Tecna would still be in the Omega Dimension.

22. your favorite part of canon that everyone else ignores

SEASON 1?!?! Everyone just forgets it or claims that it’s only about Bloom? Like, yes, the focus is on Bloom because she is the fkn main character, but we see a lot from the other girls too. Especially Flora and Stella have their moments and episodes they shine in. In the other episodes every character is very strongly portrayed as well. They are all individuals and act as those, not like in s5+ where everyone is just a long-haired glitter babe. Season 1 built up a very good fantasy world and had a red string when it comes to storytelling. It was all about exploring Magix and Bloom’s origin and one was curious to find out more and more things! It is also the season of the Trix, come on. Those bad bitches have their golden moments in there and nearly take over the whole magic dimension. They are cunning and clever and know what they do unlike the later seasons where they become first minions to Darkar and have only few episodes in s2 and later have their thing with Valtor. They had a goal, which got lost in the later seasons. What was exactly their goal when working with Darkar and Valtor? A place in the bed of the latter for sure but come on, they are the heirs to the ancestral witches. Someone like that shouldn’t be reduced to a minion or bed-bunny. So back to season 1: We also had morals transported through the story as well. We had real problems, be they interpersonal with the Winx actually being allowed to argue and making up with each other again or moral questions like the thing with the letter in 1x15. So to sum this up:  Strong characters, strong story and the best part of my childhood. *applause*

23. ship you've unwillingly come around to

This won’t surprise anyone. It’s Rivusa. Since my earliest childhood, I never got why they had to become a couple. I felt uncomfortable watching them. It is just too much arguing to me and I also have to say, they are very poorly written. We know, that Musa had a crush on Riven early in season 1 but Riven wasn’t into her. She was just that one of the fairies he found the least annoying but then turned to Darcy because of….reasons. This “betrayal” Musa had to face was a total punch in her face. (It was no betrayal, we all know that, they had nothing ongoing and all blah blah. It is just from her point of view of course.) She felt left alone and even worse didn’t receive help from Riven when the witches were hunting her. There have to be so many, so deep scars left in Musa’s soul that I don’t get what s2 was doing with them. It would have been logical, if Musa had big trust issues now, like BIG trust issues from the beginning. But she seems just happy to finally have his attention. And Riven himself should have trust issues too after all the stuff that happened with Darcy. They are both broken souls who need fkn therapy but for sure not each other. Because when they are together, they argue. The whole time. It’s always Musa expecting the world from Riven (where from, Musa? Where do you take this right from? I just don’t get it) and Riven being unmotivated and either impulsive or hides his emotions completely. They are just no healthy couple. Look at brella. Look at them. This is how a healthy relationship works. Look at Helia and Flora and Tecna and Timmy. Both couples have communication problems, but they always find a way (talking of s1-3). I won’t keep on bitching over s4 now because that made Rivusa even more problematic (on both sides, Riven might be a jealous jerk but Musa is a bitch who wants to betray him with her music producer?? Wtf rainbow?? Why???). So all in all: I just think the writing should have focused more on their healing process and when they have to couple them up, then write it in a better way.

[cartoonfangirl1218]

Mbav dreams

There’s something about this show that is so iconic that I don’t have not one, not two, but three surprisingly coherent dreams about it. All of which dream there’s a season 3 suddenly appearing because it was so cruelly cancelled.

Anyway the first dream was the usual episode plot where they have to fight monsters. This group of monsters were called the Majesticas and they were occupying a The Shining-esque hotel. And the Majesticas were basically vampires/yetis even though they didn’t look yeti like at all. And in this hotel they were cursed to relive the same violent parties and events from years ago in a Groundhog Day loop.

So Erica and Benny infiltrate and get bitten by one. Rory and Ethan are on the outside and electrocute themselves so Sarah has to go infiltrate next, and then Ethan wakes up and is trying to desperately get back in contact with them and that’s about it.  Weird but kinda cool because it really felt like I was seeing a new episode. 

So next was another third season episode and it was somehow darker and more serious than the previous seasons. It was an Erica centered one in where she meets a reincarnated vampire (idk how since vamps are immortal but whatever dreams are weird) and he was all handsome and evil like Jesse, and teaching Erica more advanced vamp skills like mass hypnosis and time traveling and stuff.  And the rest of the group are like “Careful! Why is he trying to train you? He’s corrupting you more” etc.

And Sarah asks the big question of why does she even want more power?

And for once Erica reflects in her bullied nerd past that she avoids thinking of especially as it’s not so bad as compared to something like death. But it represents a time when she really felt worthless. Like depression level worthless.  It also involves a flashback where apparently Erica was also in band on the flute and she got a major flute solo but somehow the popular kids got the teacher to pull out her performance, leaving her to stare at the wall. 

Anyway she decides she doesn’t need to be a powerful vampire. So hot evil guy tries to keep her in the deal because it turns out he was trying to use her body as a vessel for his reincarnated lover. There’s a weird spirit fight with mirrors, red eyes and all that. Plus the appearance of a dark Erica like dark Sarah from season 2.  Then she wins, he turns ti dust and Erica victoriously returns to school to do the lead flute solo in front of a mass hypnotized audience (cuz who’d voluntarily choose to watch a flute recital?) 

The guys and Sarah understand none of this change in Erica’s personality and she’s pretty secretive about what happened. She just enjoys the applause of the hypnotized audience. 

Finally the last dream was the other night and it’s blurry and chaotic now but it was like some sort of What was Sarah doing in between season 1 finale and season 2 premiere called Sarah Alone as she come to terms with her new life interspersed with scenes from the movie and Lawn of the Dead. 

So yeah, that’s about it. My dreams are surprisingly coherent but now it makes me wish even more for that third season of Mbav because the writers would have made it cooler and we could see more of the characters and even more depth of the lore and their growth.