#is anyone else excited for s4

[trentcrimminallybeautiful]

TED LASSO S4 ANNOUNCED BTW

SO I'VE HEARD.

[moonchild-in-blue]

Date concept: you come over, we get some snacks and a comfy blanket, binge The Umbrella Academy, we get absolutely turned up when This Scene happens, life is good 😌

Also we can sloppy kiss or whatever ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[cameronsbabydoll]

could you write a fic with S4!Rafe x Bunny!Reader where they go to Sabrina Carpenter’s short and sweet tour and reader wears this and she doesn’t understand why rafe was being so protective of her while they were in the pit?

SUGAR AND SMOKE — ໒꒰ྀིᵔ ᵕ ᵔ ꒱ྀི১

rafe cameron x bunny!reader

Rafe should’ve known better than to let you wear this in public.

The moment you stepped out of the bathroom, adjusting the delicate lace of your dress, he had felt his stomach tighten. You looked like sugar—soft, sweet, impossible not to touch. The pale pink corset hugged your body too perfectly, tiny rhinestones catching the light as you twirled in front of him, oblivious to the way his jaw clenched. The heart-shaped cutout on the bodice only made things worse, a teasing glimpse of skin framed by shimmering sequins.

“Do you like it?” you had asked, wide-eyed, your voice as light as the ruffles at your thighs.

Rafe had loved it. But he had hated the idea of anyone else seeing you like this

And now, in the middle of a packed pit at Sabrina Carpenter’s concert, he was in hell.

You, of course, were completely unaware of the attention you were drawing. Your fingers were wrapped around his wrist, your body pressed against his chest as you bounced to the music, lost in the dreamy atmosphere. Rafe, on the other hand, was hyper-aware of everything—the way guys kept glancing at you, the way some girl had whispered "she's so cute" while eyeing your outfit, the way you didn’t even notice.

His arm tightened around your waist as the crowd pushed in closer, and you looked up at him, confused.

"Rafe?" you murmured, tilting your head.

"Stay in front of me," he ordered, voice low, his lips brushing against the shell of your ear. "People are getting too close."

You blinked up at him, utterly clueless. "But—it’s just the pit, Rafe. Everyone’s close."

Yeah, and that was the problem.

Rafe exhaled sharply, his fingers digging into the soft fabric at your hip. He knew you didn’t get it, didn’t understand the way some of these guys were looking at you. The way they let their gazes linger a little too long, the way one of them had brushed against you just a second ago, his excuse hidden behind the sway of the crowd. Rafe had nearly swung on him right then and there.

Still, you just smiled up at him like nothing was wrong, letting his hand rest possessively on your waist as you turned back toward the stage, humming along to the music.

And then, of course, someone had to push his luck.

A girl standing next to you leaned in with a bright smile. "Oh my God, I love your outfit!" she gushed, eyes sparkling as she took in the rhinestones, the lace, the tiny details that made you look like a doll.

Your face lit up instantly, excitement bubbling in your chest. "Really? Thank you!" you beamed, your voice practically dripping with sugar. "I was worried it was too much, but it’s just so cute, right?"

"Are you kidding? You look adorable," the girl assured you.

Rafe felt his jaw clench.

You, completely oblivious to the way he was now gripping your waist a little too tightly, clapped your hands together. "That’s what I told Rafe!" you giggled, turning to look up at him. "I told you it was cute!"

Rafe, however, was too busy glaring at the girl like she’d just committed a crime. The compliment wasn’t the issue—it was the fact that now even more people were looking at you. Not just guys, but girls too, all admiring the way you looked like something out of a fairytale. His. Girl.

"You hear that, Rafe? I look adorable!" you repeated, bouncing slightly as you looked up at him expectantly, waiting for him to agree.

Rafe barely acknowledged the other girl before he was tugging you closer, his fingers pressing against your lower back. "Yeah, bunny. I heard," he muttered, his voice tight.

The girl giggled at his grumpy tone, shooting you a knowing look before turning back to the concert. You, however, were still staring up at him, pout forming at his lack of enthusiasm.

"You’re being all grumpy," you huffed, lips pressing into a soft little pout. "Why?"

Rafe exhaled sharply through his nose, his hand smoothing over your hip before tugging at the bottom of your skirt, as if that would make it any longer. "You’re really askin’ me that?"

You blinked, confused. "Yeah…?"

He sighed, leaning down so his lips brushed against your ear, his voice low enough that only you could hear. "Bunny, you’re standing in the middle of a packed crowd in that dress, looking like you were made to be touched," he murmured. "And you don’t get why I’m grumpy?"

Your cheeks warmed, a shiver running down your spine at his tone. But you still didn’t really get it.

"But it's just a cute dress," you murmured, looking down at the pastel pink fabric, fingers brushing over the lace. "It’s not that short…"

Rafe made a low, disbelieving noise in his throat before shaking his head. "Christ, bunny. You really don’t see it, do you?”

You peeked up at him, wide-eyed, and his grip on your waist tightened.

"Doesn't matter," he muttered. "You’re staying right here. No one’s touching you."

You blinked, then shrugged, satisfied with his answer. "Okay, Rafe," you hummed, pressing yourself against his chest, as if you weren’t already practically in his skin.

Rafe sighed, pressing a kiss to your temple before shifting his stance, his body forming a barrier around you. Because fuck no—you weren’t walking out of here looking like this for anyone else to see.

For now, though, he let you sway and sing as if the world around you wasn’t filled with people who didn’t deserve to even glance at his girl.

[sunsetmade]

Not Me Anymore

Rafe Cameron x Reader

Summary: After the turtle incident on the beach Rafe runs into you, a pouge. (Based on s4 scene)

Taking requests, DM me!!

After all the drama and tough decisions that had unfolded over the past couple of weeks, the Pogues all agreed it was finally time for a much-needed surf day. And, as luck would have it, the winds picked up, signaling the perfect beach day that only locals would pick up on.

With the Twinkie packed with all the essentials for a surf and beach day, you and the Pogues headed down to the beach, the car speeding as fast as it could go. The beach was practically deserted, the kind of quiet that felt almost perfect. Almost. John B drove onto the sand and pulled into an open space. We all piled out of the car, the excitement of surfing the swell already buzzing in the air.

I hopped out, unlatched my yellow surfboard from the side of the car, and carried it over to JJ. His expression was anything but thrilled. I frowned. "What’s up?"

He gave a sharp nod ahead, and I followed his gaze. There they were. The Kooks. My stomach sank, knowing this was about to turn into something less than ideal. Topper smirked, strutting over to John B and Sarah. While they talked, my eyes drifted to the other kooks with him and amongst them was Mr. Kook himself, Rafe Cameron.

He stood there effortlessly, towering over everyone else. His buzzed hair, freshly cut, and his tan skin on display made him impossible to ignore. I hated how drawn to him I was. Our eyes met, and for a moment, it felt like time stopped. I quickly cleared my throat and looked away, breaking the intense eye contact.

Rolling my eyes, I saw Topper and John B still in the middle of their argument. Annoyed, I walked over and gave Topper a shove. “We’re both here to enjoy the ocean, so let’s just do that,” I said, irritation clear in my voice. He scoffed.

Ruthie stepped up next to him, her voice seething. “Don’t push him, dirty Pouge,” she spat.

I just smiled, unfazed, and turned back to the Pogues. “Let’s go surf,” I said, motioning for them to follow. They nodded and started walking away, with John B trailing behind after one last intense stare-down with Topper.

Rafe, overhearing everything, chuckled softly. Her fiery attitude toward the Kooks only made him more intrigued—and he’d never, ever admit it.

The real fun began once I hit the water, paddling out on my board. It felt effortless as I glided across the waves. As one approached, I popped up onto my feet, riding the wave with ease. Kiara cheered from the shore as I handled the medium-sized wave. It wasn’t anything massive, but there was still something about it that made me crave more, the thrill of it always leaving me wanting another go.

Rafe stood on the shore, his eyes fixed intently on you as you surfed, unable to look away. "Those damn Pogues, always messing everything up," Topper muttered, grabbing a beer from beside him.

Rafe’s gaze shifted from you to Topper, and he let out a deep sigh before taking a sip of his own beer. "Yeah," he replied flatly.

Topper glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "What’s going on, man? You hate the Pogues more than anyone." Rafe ran a hand through his hair, trying to shake off the unease. "Yeah, I know... just a little buzzed," he said, offering a half-hearted excuse. Topper frowned and looked back at the water scoffing, “Fuckin’ dirty pouges.”

Rafes lips curved up into a smirk seeing you surf another huge wave with the biggest smile on your face. It was ironic hearing those familiar words from Topper. Words that he use to say endlessly. But somewhere along the way his feelings had changed, not for all pouges just one in particular.

The evening wore on and I became tired of surfing going back onto the shore. I dragged my board up back to our spot looking over at the kooks. They were blasting music and drinking beer as if it was a party. What a waste of a perfect beach day. My eyes drifted subconsciously to Rafe. He sat father from the rest gazing out into the sea, beer in his hand. I smiled slightly liking the way he seemed to be disinterested in the normal kook behaviors.

Rafe's head turned, and for a moment, our eyes locked. We stared at each other, the world around us fading into the background. I couldn’t tell if he was actually looking at me, but just as I started to doubt, he flashed that signature cocky smirk of his. I rolled my eyes, the corners of my mouth betraying me as I looked away.

"Ready to leave?" Sarah’s voice broke through my thoughts, and I nodded, shielding my eyes from the sun with my hand. "Yeah, I’m worn out from the waves," I said with a contented sigh.

Sarah grinned, shaking her head. "We’re putting the boards away. Hopefully, we can get out of here without any trouble." I nodded in agreement, already over the noise of the Kooks and ready for a quieter end to the day.

“Alright, let’s head out!” JJ yelled, and I stood up, brushing the sand off my legs. I made my way over to the van and helped John B lift the last surfboard onto the roof of the Twinkie.

“Guys! Guys! There’s a turtle hatch!” Kiara called out, her calm voice tinged with excitement. “What?” I asked, rushing over to her. She pointed, and I gasped. “Oh my god!” I laughed, totally caught up in the moment. Kiara’s face lit up with a bright smile.

They’re so tiny!” Sarah cooed, coming to stand beside me. I smiled as I watched the baby turtles making their way down the beach, struggling to crawl toward the water.

“Let’s clear their path,” Kiara suggested, her voice so confident it almost made me believe she was a professional. John B and JJ dashed ahead, clearing rocks and trash from the turtles’ path.

The sound of an engine revving pulled my eyes away. I turned to see Topper’s milatary looking black jeep parked nearby on the sand. The Kooks were packing up too, it seemed.

“This is awesome,” I whispered, my eyes glued to the tiny turtles. Kiara nodded, and I could tell she had been waiting for this moment her whole life.

Then, that same engine sound I’d heard earlier grew louder and closer. My head snapped up, and my eyes widened. “Hey! Hey!” I called out, walking toward the jeep as it sped down the beach. My heart raced, watching the vehicle zoom toward us. “There’s a turtle hatch! Go around!” I shouted, waving my arms frantically.

Kiara quickly saw the jeep and rushed closer to the turtles. “C’mon, c’mon!” JJ urged, his voice urgent as he helped clear the way.

“Stop! Stop!” I screamed as the jeep barreled toward me. I had to leap out of the way, feeling the rush of air as it sped past. My body slammed into the sand, and I winced at the impact. The pain in my leg faded quickly as adrenaline took over, and I scrambled to my feet just in time to see the jeep drive straight through the hatch. My heart sank, and I rushed over to join the other Pogues. “What the hell! Are you okay?” JJ asked and I nodded dropping down to my knees

Rafe watched the scene unfold, a wave of nausea creeping up on him. His anger spiked when he saw Ruthie nearly run you over. "Fuck!" he muttered, his hand running through his buzzed hair in frustration.

Ruthie hopped out of the jeep, with Topper trailing behind her. Her laugh echoed through the air, reaching the ears of the Pogues. I scrambled to my feet and stormed over to her. “What’s your problem?!” I yelled. She just flashed a smug smile. “Aww, did little Pougie get hurt?” she taunted in a mocking, whiny voice, pouting her lip for effect.

“What is your fucking problem Ruthie?” I asked genuinely confused. Her eyes rolled and she scoffed, “My problem is that you pouges never know how to mind your own business.” I stared at her like she was crazy. “Ironic.” John B coughed.

Kiara stepped in front of me, taking over the yelling at Ruthie. I took a step back, my gaze shifting to the baby turtles making their way into the ocean. But the sense of joy I’d felt earlier was gone, replaced by the weight of knowing one wouldn’t make it. I glanced behind me at the Kooks, laughing as if they'd just witnessed the funniest thing in the world. Rafe stood off to the side, and I couldn't help but huff in frustration. To think he was any different...

Rafe noticed your reaction, his brows furrowing in frustration. He hated that his reputation had become his entire identity. In truth, it had defined him for a long time, but recently, he’d started trying to change—for the better. Out of everyone he wanted you to see that, to notice the difference. But, of course, Ruthie and Topper had to fuck it all up.

“What’s up with you?” Kelce laughed, but Rafe shot him a glare. “You guys are fucking idiots,” he muttered, brushing past him and deliberately bumping his shoulder into Kelce’s as he walked away.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

I sat on the beach, the sunset painting the sky in shades of orange. Sunset was always the most beautiful time in the Outer Banks—at least, it was when you weren't thinking about how messed up everything on the island really was.

I sighed, pulling my knees to my chest and running my fingers over the bruises that had formed since my fall. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore filled my ears, drowning out my swirling thoughts.

I closed my eyes, letting the wind pull my hair to the side. I could have easily fallen asleep like that, and I almost did. But then someone cleared their throat behind me, and my eyes shot open. I turned to see Rafe Cameron standing there, his hands shoved into his shorts, looking uncharacteristically nervous. I swallowed, caught in the pull of his intense gaze.

“Mind if I sit?” His voice was soft, but it had a depth to it that caught me off guard.

"Enjoying the sunset?" he asked after a moment. I glanced over at him, and he did the same. I studied his eyes, trying to figure out if this was some kind of joke. He raised an eyebrow, a quiet challenge in his gaze. I sighed, finally responding, "Yeah, it's pretty today," and turned my attention back to the sky.

This didn’t feel normal. With a frustrated huff, I asked, "What are you doing here, Rafe?"

He shrugged and let out a deep sigh. "I guess I just wanted to make sure you were okay after today." Suddenly, he seemed too nervous to meet your gaze. It wasn’t like he had confessed his undying love, but for Rafe, this admission meant more than it appeared—and you knew it.

"And I’m sorry for what happened. It was fucked up," he said, finally meeting your gaze.

My eyes softened as I moved a little closer, until our shoulders were right up against each other. "It's not your fault, Rafe. You didn’t do it. But I appreciate it," I said quietly.

He nodded, offering a small smile, but it quickly faded when he noticed the massive bruise forming on my thigh. His hand, the one not resting beside me, gently touched it. "It doesn't hurt," I reassured him, noticing the concern in his furrowed brow.

"Yeah, but it's still there," he said, clearly frustrated with both Ruthie and himself.

"Why do you keep hanging around them, Rafe?" I asked. He looked down at me, his hand still resting on my leg. "They're the only people I have," he replied quietly. I shook my head. "They’re not good for you, Rafe. I know you're not like that anymore."

His heart swelled a little at the quiet confirmation that you had noticed his changes. "I know that, but if I don't have them, who else do I have?" he said, almost with a scoff.

I looked up at him with sad eyes. "You’ll have me, Rafe," I said softly, unsure if he'd even heard me. But he did. I saw it in his eyes. His eyes were glossy, somehow making them even more blue. I leaned my head against his shoulder, slipping my arm under his.

Neither of us spoke, but there was an unspoken understanding between us. I wasn’t going to let him face this alone.

[coffeegnomee]

No I'm just so obsessed with Spoke talking about his time in his second season, how that was the first season he found what completed him, made him feel whole.

How minutes before he said SPOKE: “i wanted to make sure that there was someone that was gonna [end the season]"

His primary goal, core ideology, is world ender.

And it got solidified in his second season.

I've been talking forever about waiting for the new members to get to the end of their first season, that's no mystery. But I've also been sooo excited and delighted watching the s5 additions take on their second full season and thinking back I actually don't think I've ever written about it, whoops.

They were just getting so comfortable with lifesteal and with themselves. And so much of their ideologies just finally came through in the final weeks. Like unironically I've been excited for s7 since like one month into s6: All the s5 adds on their 3rd season, all the s6 adds on their 2nd. That's the kind of shit that made s4 imo.

And to list them out, Minute, obviously, just posted that video and it's looking like his ideology has solidified into basically what he said that one day early season when Zam asked him his goals MINUTE: "I want two things. I want fun. And I want hearts” 

And backing it up with the theme of the whole video of reconciliation with Clown, and Clown having his own growth moment realizing lifesteal without teammates is really lonely. And that both of them loved hanging out in the finale.

Minute isn't one to be perfectly good, but he isn't one to crave after the evil. He wants fun. With hearts. Friendship and redstone machines and some cool fights and small heavy hitting lore moments.

But destroying spawn, using exploits; that's not him.

But he gets blinded with the goal of hearts, loosing sight on the having fun. Oh my goodness seeing the clip again of him killing Rekrap when Rek was so clearly excited, how much time there was between Rek's excitement and when Minute loaded the cannon. Only realizing after that he regretted it. Offt stab me in the heart bro.

And 4c. In January he said “I feel like deep down i don't trust anyone completely, but i feel like to an extent i choose to trust people anyway. Because on lifesteal i feel like i have more joy of putting myself in those positions of trust because by the end of it you get to see people’s real characters”. And he did that with PRISMS, right until the end though it was a bit scuffed with him not being in the country. And he did it with the tunnel rats. But he will always be the player who puts his trust in others just to see what might happen down the line.

And Jumper, settling quite nicely into the role of psychological tormenter. Like need I say more.

By the end of their second season each one has staked a claim in what they are on lifesteal.

And then Wemmbu, since he banned himself off mid season 6, I count that as completing his first season, since he was added mid season 5. so he begins his second in s7.

Pentar was also mid season s5, so he's at 1.5 seasons and I think we're getting a really interesting look into his mind. I mean for goodness sake did anyone else watch the SB mace video and see him offer Ecorridor as his payment for the mace. What the fuck is wrong with him. But like... no, i don't have thoughts haha. I love him. Taking a separate plot point with Zam and presenting it to SB. like he's too ridiculous /pos I'll probably need 3 full seasons before I understand Pentar.

And then there's Squiddo, once again running the ring of a handmade hacked client, searching and testing and finding exploits. And in the end embracing it to cause chaos, but not necessarily the end of the season. She's also at 1.5 seasons, and I'm so intrigued where they'll go. She's definitely more teammate focused (lol) and oriented to silly things over anything else.

But then to go down memory lane, like Spoke was saying, his season 2 had him doing everything for his team but in the end he found himself in ending the server.

Planet was added s2, but only logged on at the end, so s3 was his first full season, and s4 his second. In both you see an embracing of being a chungus, 3ht, girl talk, changing the trajectory of player's lives through talking. There was so much subtle talking, so much passion for content that is effective. That changed s5, until he banned himself in the Abyss, and then changed back in s6.

Bacon was added halfway through s3, and you can see how by halfway through s4, which he talked about earlier this season, was the time when he got really really invested into lifesteal and started caring, like, a lot. Bro got passionate about the wormhole. But then it wasn't until season 5 that we really saw Bacon become Bacon, when he really started being the critiquer of plots and did his first patented do my tasks plots, when he got passionate about players caring about the server and and wanting to log on and putting in so much effort to make it happen.

Zam's second season was s3. Running from the PrinceZam Empire to Cleansers to the iconic season 3 finale with Spoke. Establishing he's the one who will repair spawn when nobody else does. Accidentally falling into being the hero and never giving up no matter what.

Rek's second season was also s3 which is when his trap escaping and paranoia really kicked off, as well as his willingness to be involved regardless of the moral tilt of his teammates (the cleansing/decimation). He just has a tilt of wholesome chaos that is very rekrap.

ok so eventually we get too into nuance based on player activity and if they skipped a season or not ect ect. but i love this trend. I love thinking about what shaped the lifestealers into what they are now, i love watching them grow and change. Normally in like normal tv/movie content I'm one to love an origin story, whatever the first movie is in a series or the first season of a show. But on lifesteal it genuinely gets better the longer they're online.

[markantonys]

I've really liked your analysis of the season so far! I'm actually shaking with anticipation for the finale tomorrow (loved the show since season 1, and I've thought this season was amazing). Is there anything in particular you're most looking forward to?

aww i'm glad you've been enjoying reading all my posts on the season! i briefly, BRIEFLY, considered waking up at 3am to watch the finale right on time, which is how you know i'm excited haha but i could never do that to myself!

let's see, i think i'm most excited to see rand! we left him in such a heavy place at the end of ep6, i'm eager to catch up with him and see where his head's at. i really really hope we'll get one last solo rand-avi scene to discuss the alsera fallout since avi was the main person who witnessed rand's relationship with her, and also to tie off the little arc they've had this season. will avi give him her official stamp of approval as car'a'carn or will he have to keep working to earn her good opinion next season?

and of course, i can't wait to see his big Desert Presentation! rand wearing a slutty sleeveless shirt and screaming unhingedly is everything i could want.

i'm also curious to see what deaths we may or may not get! i'm holding the unpopular opinion where i lowkey hope we get some good big deaths/exits this episode just because the stage has been feeling too crowded for me this season and i want it cleared out haha as long as my EF6 are safe, they can purge almost anyone else they like and my reaction will probably just be "phew, that'll free up some space going into s4". watch me come back in 12 hours howling over how upset i am that they killed off some character or other djkfgjh

happy WOT Finale Eve to those who celebrate!!!!!

[berzaitto]

anyone else sad over the fact that we aren’t getting any promo for s4 yet? like i know were gonna get it eventually, but since s4 is allegedly the last season, then it just doesnt feel as exciting as its meant to be, yk?

[loki-is-my-kink-awakening]

Seven Sentence Sunday

Radskier. Back to them getting busy in the shed fic.

The groan Radovid made, the way his cheeks were flushed and the flustered look in his eyes, hooked Jaskier in. He needed to take this man apart piece by piece, but first, there was the problem of too many layers between them.

“Remove your clothes, your Majesty,” Jaskier purred, licking his lips.

Radovid took a sharp inhale, then gave a slight nod. He propped himself up on an elbow and began undoing his doublet. It took a little time and all Jaskier could do was watch and smile, squeezing Radovid’s inner thigh when he pulled the shirt over his head. It was tossed to the side onto the cold floor.

Passing the tag for Seven Sentence Sunday or Sketch Sunday onto @underthebluerain @dancingwiththefae @jayofolympus @janjan-the-ninth @ialwayscomewhenyoucall

Those behind the scenes filming pics really got me excited for them again. S4 and S5 be kind to my radskier heart plz.

Tagged by @elodiah @insomniaflarrow @distracteddream @wolfpup026 @mobiusismycomfortcharacter

@thosegayoldmen @blackbirdofasgard @cha-melodius @in-my-loki-feels @insert-witty-user-name-here

@boredintjqueen @tealdropsworld @lgwilt @megglesthegeek @ghoulehhh

And anyone else who wants to do it

[hkthatgffan]

Do u have any criticism of the owl house?

Well, I've never made it that big a secret I'm not personally the biggest fan of The Owl House. I mean, back in 2018 when it was greenlit, I was actually more excited for it than I was for Amphibia, but in the end, I came to love Amphibia more so. That's not to say I dislike TOH. Compared to SVTFOE, I love it. But it never really was my cup of tea.

I mean, I never personally to begin with was a big fan of the whole magic, witches and wizard stuff. No prizes therefore for guessing that I never grew up watching Harry Potter as a kid. I mean, I never even finished watching all the HP movies till years after they came out. I just never have been a fan of that kind of stuff (and quite frankly these days with Harry Potter at least, that's probably a bullet fucking dodged so, thank you 8 year old me for being more into planes, Top Gear and Phineas and Ferb instead of anything JK Rowling made).

But seriously, I can love and appreciate TOH for the show it was and all it did. Plus, there's no denying it was a beyond important show for what it did with Lumity and LGBTQ+ rep in Disney cartoons. No matter what else, to have gone from Alex Hirsch being told he couldn't have a lesbian couple in Gravity Falls to Luz and Amity dancing in Grom and becoming girlfriends is a massive achievement and something that no one can ever take away from TOH, Dana Terrace or her crew (though, also credit to SVTFOE for being the first DTVA cartoon for having a same sex couple kiss, Jackie having a girlfriend by the end of S4 and Star even once being implied as bi, as well as Gravity Falls for Wendy who is technically also bi as we now know and Mabel too as it's been theorized)!

That said, looking back, I find some of the episodes to be somewhat forgettable and boring. In fairness, Amphibia had some like that too, but whereas I've found rewatching Amphibia episodes from season 1 for example to be pretty fun, I don't as much see so with TOH. But that's just my personal nitpicks and quite frankly, the overall show is solid...even if season 3 and the ending felt super rushed, though that was more so the fault of the show being cut short than maybe problems the writers didn't address.

And speaking of the cut, the way it was handled is quite possibly, my single greatest piece of critique for The Owl House. In case you don't remember, the very same day the trailer for season 2 was released, Dana and other news sources revealed TOH was greenlit for season 3 and it was a shorter order due to the show being cut short.

Now, I get that Dana announcing it the way she did was partly out of frustration and tbh, I'm sure I'd think the same if it was my show on the chopping block, but the choice to say that so early on before season 2 had even started opened a sorta pandora's box that TOH fandom still suffers from today.

Suddenly the focus was not as much on season 2 and what would happen in it and more on the cut and anger at Disney about it. I mean, we had TOH fans bombarding the comments section of DTVA posts about it, changing their pfp's to be anti DTVA, etc. It was crazy. And I mean, I get it. I was frustrated too when this was revealed. I still am. But I wish they had announced this not before season 2 had begun, but closer to season 3 starting.

It was like all anyone ever talked about after that in relation to TOH was always in the shadow of this. Even as season 2 improved in quality more and more and I too found myself being interested in TOH again after taking a break from it to focus on the end of Amphibia the following year, this was still a huge chunk of the conversation. Hell, in some ways the cut even became a good scapegoat for a lot of shortfalls with season 2, even though S2 probably had already been in production before the cut and many issues or plot holes in it may have been resolved with a full season 3.

What I'm trying to get at basically is that announcing The Owl House was ending before season 2 had even begun, when the fandom was as mainstream and popular as it was, just caused a shift in tone with fans not as much seeming to enjoy, theorize and watch the show and instead be left with the impending knowledge that it was nearing the end.

Comparably, Alex Hirsch did not reveal that Gravity Falls would be ending until November 2015; when there were just 2 episodes left. I go on about this in my video back in February about Alex's Tumblr post but I said basically that compared to TOH, it was a better way of announcing the show was ending.

Announcing Gravity Falls was ending when only 2 episodes were left meant fans had time to accept the end was coming, while also being made clear that there was nothing that could be done to reverse this. And even if fans before hand had assumed GF was nearing the end, they couldn't say so with assurance as Alex had not said anything confirming or denying it. Simply put, GF fans until the very last second, watched the show as if it was ongoing and not nearing a close. There was no worry about how many episodes were left or begging for season 3 to the same extent, given fans didn't know if this was it or more was to come. They just enjoyed the show and not worried. At most, if there was a season 3, it would be a longer wait. I mean, that was the mentality I had with DuckTales season 3 and thinking season 4 may be a longer wait until they finally revealed S3 was the last just a few episodes before the end.

Of course, I'm saying this all from what limited knowledge I got from GF fans who were there and my personal experience with DuckTales and TOH, but comparably, TOH fandom knowing it was ending so early on left them a lot more angry and upset. Now anything that happened in S2 was overshadowed by the impending end. And while much of what I said here is based on what I saw in my experience, it got tiresome real fast to see TOH fans complaining about the show ending and yelling in the comments of DTVA posts about it, as if any executive at DTVA who really could reverse that choice would see that.

Should be clear, I'm not saying I have issues with Dana telling TOH fans the show was ending and being upfront about it or her critique of Disney and how they treated the show. Nor am I saying I dislike that fans were angry about it. Both had every right to be so and I would probably be as upset myself if it was Amphibia instead that got this treatment.

But IMO, it should've been revealed AFTER season 2 ended or just before the season finale. Maybe there was a hope the fan reaction would make Disney change course. Maybe it was just a case of announce and get it over with. I feel personally that TOH fandom would have benefitted from learning season 3 was the last season a lot later than when they found out.

For me, it made the fandom experience less enjoyable and made me not as interested in TOH probably in turn. After my bad experiences in the Star fandom, I had a feeling TOH fandom would have similar issues once the show began to get more popular post Grom. So, I jumped ship off it and chose to be more a fan on the sidelines and enjoy it on my own. And I have no regrets about doing that. I'm a GF fan first and foremost and I ended up having fun being able to work on my GF projects more so without having to commit to another show's fandom and instead enjoy it at my own pace. But I always heard stuff and what I did see was what I've mentioned here.

Maybe you disagree and your TOH fandom experience was better and not as full of this type of stuff. I've heard this was more so a TOH fandom on Twitter and Instagram issue than say, Reddit TOH fandom. But IDK enough to make a firm answer so, I'll just say what I know from my own experience.

Long story short, Alex Hirsch made the right call announcing Gravity Falls was ending 2 episodes before the end instead of just before Scary-Oke even began. I mean, imagine going into GF S2 in 2014 knowing you had just this season and no more after that. Easier as a post finale fan but maybe a shocker if it was back in the day.

Then there's Matt Braly who did the best of both worlds and announced Amphibia would end after season 3 in 2021 too on his Reddit AMA but with fans knowing it always was gonna end that way.

Long story short, of all the criticism I have for TOH, that's probably my main issue that I feel I can at least explain. Anything else is just personal preference I have for Amphibia more so over it.

Still, all this to say, The Owl House deserved better. Fans should've gotten a full final season just like Amphibia got.

Also, I miss Hooty!

[trentcrimminallybeautiful]

GERT!! how do we feel about season 4?

EXTREMELY ANXIOUS !!!

[ambiguous-avery]

Heyy Avery, so here's my first request ever hehe! Hope it works for you <3 I was thinking of the time after Dean's back from Hell and he and Sam part ways because they think it's better this way. So, heavy angst! Dean goes on solo hunts and even though things go well for a while, he one night almost gets himself killed. Bruised, bloodied and desperate without his little brother's usual backup, he finds himself knocking at some random stranger's door moments before collapsing, which happens to be readers house!

You can ofc just tweak and change everything if this idea doesn't resonate with you! I'm curious what you're gonna cook up 'cuz I know you get Dean's angsty side 😭

Nowhere Else to Go

Dean Winchester x fem!Reader/You | WC: 1757

Summary: Fresh outta hell, Dean finds comfort in throwing himself back into hunts. But he’s not the only one who’s changed. Sam’s different. Too different. Not the Sam he sold his soul for. They just need some time apart. A few solo hunts. Then things will go back to normal. He’s capable of that. But it doesn’t change the fact that Dean’s grown used to having his little brother around.

Tags/Warnings: No use of Y/N, angst, s4!Dean, detailed talk of cleaning and stitching wounds

A/N: Ahhh first request! I’m so excited, and I hope I did your idea justice!

Everything hurt.

God, he felt like h–no. Guess he couldn’t use that phrase anymore. Not now that he knew what hell was really like. He might have laughed at the absurdity of that revelation if he didn’t think it would make him pass out behind the wheel. He needed to get back to the motel room. Needed to get patched up.

“Hey, we got–” The passenger side of the bench was empty.

Right.

No Sam.

How had he forgotten?

He might’ve hit the curb. He hadn’t hit the curb since he was a teen. He blamed the blood in his eyes. Or the metallic taste in his mouth. Or the sound of his own heart pounding in his ears. He tried to bring his focus back to the moment, but everything seemed to blur together in a dizzying swirl of colors and lights. His hands tightened on the steering wheel, knuckles turning white as he fought for control. This wasn’t the motel’s parking lot. Dean couldn’t remember where exactly he was. Or how he got there.

He stumbled out of the Impala, barely catching himself from falling flat on his face. His boots dragged on the sidewalk of the quiet neighborhood. How late was it? Too late. Houses were dark. Except one. One still had lights. He needed it. He knew he did.

His knuckles were too raw to knock, so he pounded on the door with the butt of his fist instead. It was harsh. Too harsh. If anyone answered the door, they would likely shoot him on the spot. Oh well. Wasn’t like he hadn’t died before. The door opened. A pretty girl stood in the doorway. He tried to smile.

“Don’t suppose you could spare a bandaid?” 

He wasn’t sure how he managed to talk you out of calling the police or even letting him into your home. But he wasn’t complaining. In the moment, his survival depended on your kindness, and he wasn’t about to question the lifeline. Your couch was soft and plush, and he should’ve felt guilty about bleeding out on it. He couldn’t muster up the energy to care. Exhaustion sank its claws deeper into him with each passing moment.

Pills rattled nearby, and next thing he knew, you were pressing tablets into one hand and a cool glass into the other.

“Come on. Advil and Tylenol. Both of them together are basically Vicodin without the high,” you said softly. He swayed slightly, and you placed a hand on his shoulder to steady him.

“I could use a high right about now.” Words felt heavy on his tongue. Maybe you’d let him sleep here. Just for the night. Even if it was only on the couch. It would be nice to sleep somewhere without a shitty mattress. You laughed, the sound light and tinkling.

“Couldn’t we all?”

You helped him down the pills and water. It was cold and went down like a balm that could soothe his very soul. He looked at you. Even with one eye swollen shut and the other one with blood crusted around it, Dean could clearly see that you were out of his league. Too good for a stray dog like him. Who was he to steal a night from someone so pretty?

“Y’know how to stitch someone up?” he asked as you pushed something cold into his hand. You helped guide it to his face, and he realized that it was a cold press wrapped in a towel. It felt good against his heated skin.

“Not well. But since you insist on not going to a hospital, I’m sure it’ll be better than nothing. I’ll be right back.” Your touch left him, and he found himself missing it immediately. He wished you would touch him more, just so he could remember what another person felt like. He closed his eyes. If it weren’t for the gash across his back, Dean was sure he could pass out right then and there on the couch.

Footsteps padded back into the room and all at once, Sam was at his side, gently wiping away the blood from his face with a warm washcloth. He didn’t remember Sam’s hands being this soft. Or soft in general. Or maybe he had just forgotten how hands that didn’t want to hurt him felt on his skin. He leaned into the warmth and felt the tension slip away from his shoulders. He wasn’t sure where you found Sam or how you knew that he was who Dean needed at the moment. But he didn’t need to know the details. Sam was here, and everything would be okay.

“Could’ve used your help on this hunt,” he mumbled as Sam pressed a piece of alcohol-soaked cotton against his cheek. He hissed in pain and flinched despite himself. It was fine, though. Sam had seen him in much worse states, and at the moment, Dean could go for some brotherly ribbing. It was normal. He liked normal. Normal was good. Sam’s usual tough love never came, though. No “you’ll be fine”s or “quit whining”s came. Instead, it was just a quiet,

“Hm?”

“Son of a bitch had backup when I ganked him. Never realized that a goddamn camel could have a ghost too.” Sam paused in what he was doing, but Dean didn’t need to look at him to know that Sam was looking at him confused. He continued. “Yeah. A camel. Damn thing trampled me.” He adjusted the ice pack in his hand to more firmly press it against his swollen eye once Sam had finished cleaning the blood from his face. Sam gave a quiet noise of acknowledgement. 

Alright maybe Sam was still pissed about Dean calling him a freak. That was a low blow on his part. But was it really if it was true? Making a deal with a crossroads demon was very different than utilizing a demon’s psychic powers. They were supposed to be a force of good in the world. They were no better than the creatures they hunted if they resorted to the same sort of dark shit their enemies used. He could forgive Sam for it. He always did. He just needed Sam to stop using that weird demon mojo.

With most of his face cleaned up, Dean set the cold press down for a moment before grabbing the back of his shirt and tugging it up and over his head, groaning slightly as it dragged uncomfortably along the dried blood.

“What’re you doing?” Sam sounded appalled. His voice sounded strangled, higher pitched than usual, and Dean could’ve rolled his eyes at him if he had the energy to look at him.

“Need you to stitch me up. Guy had a damn bayonet.” Dean turned and laid down on the couch. He probably should’ve put a towel down so he didn’t bleed on it. Oh well. The motel took a deposit for a reason. They could keep it.

Wordlessly, Sam set about cleaning the long gash across his back, and Dean grit his teeth, readying himself for the familiar sting of a needle through flesh. The scent of disinfectant registered in his brain, and he realized that he had barely felt Sam cleaning the wound. It stung, but he needed it. Needed the pain. It reminded him that he was alive. That he was here. With Sam. With family. All he needed was family.

He never thought he would find comfort in the pain. It cleaved his flesh. It ached in his bones. But that’s as far as it went. It wasn’t deep enough that it scarred his soul and left marks where only he could see them. It didn’t leave anything behind that time couldn’t heal. He was sure that time couldn’t heal a soul. The years there had rended his soul, leaving it in tatters he didn’t even know was possible. But better him than anyone else. Better him than Sam. 

The first pinch of the needle through skin pulled him out of his thoughts. The world came back into focus. He wasn’t used to being treated so gently. It was a nice change. He’d never say it out loud, but it was nice to be the one being taken care of for once. Sam’s touch stayed soft, even going so far as to gently pull the skin taut so the needle didn’t needlessly pull. At this rate, the tenderness was enough to lull him to sleep. The cold compress against his cheek as he rested his face against it was a better pillow than nothing. He had had worse.

Sam was quicker than usual, or maybe the pain meds had kicked in enough that he hadn’t noticed every pinch. That was a nice tidbit of information. Where had Sam learned it? Probably Stanford. Would’ve been nice of him to impart that information earlier on in their hunts, though. He could’ve used some Vicodin-level pain management much sooner in life. But hey, better late than never. The presence at his side moved.

“Sammy,” he called out, hand reaching and grabbing. Sam’s wrist was so thin. What had happened to him in Dean’s absence? Sam must’ve not taken care of himself. He hadn’t been around to take care of Sam. He cursed. Stupid. He was so stupid. Even sacrificing himself for Sam didn’t feel like enough. He needed to be the responsible one. Against his body’s protests, Dean tried to push himself up from the plush of the couch. A hand pressed to his shoulder stopped him. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for all of it. Please. Don’t leave again, Sammy. I just can’t see you go down that path. I lost you once. I can’t lose you again.”

“I’m sorry. I’m not Sammy. But I won’t go anywhere.”

And suddenly, the illusion shattered. 

Sam wasn’t there. 

Sam had never been there.

You were.

He blinked, looking over at you. Your eyes were so kind. Had anyone ever looked at him so sweetly before? You were worried. He could see it. No one worried about him. He was supposed to worry about others. His hold on your wrist loosened. He wet his lips, tongue ghosting over the dried blood there, and Dean suddenly felt more exposed than he cared to be. He sat up despite your insistence and reached for his bloodied, discarded shirt. He needed to leave. Get back to the motel room. Your gaze was too curious. Too probing. Too innocent. It would be a tragedy if you cared for him.

---

Likes, reblogs, and comments are greatly appreciated!

Dean Taglist: @aylacavebear @globetrotter28 @jollyhunter @bettystonewell

Drop a comment, ask away, or add yourself to my taglist!

[paladinsbrainrot]

hello just wanted to say I think you’re really cool and I love your art!! I also LOVE romike too, super excited for their dynamic in s5

I’d love to hear your thoughts on them and if you have any predictions/theories/things you’d like to see with them next season :]

OHHHHH MY GOD thank you this is such an amazing question !!!! so sorry it took me so long to answer however i have very many Thoughts™

the idea of robin and mike being friends is soooo dear to me you don't even understand. romike has been on my mind since before s4 even came out #Tbh I just think that they are so similar and tethered and it's just so shocking that they haven't properly interacted yet!!!

obviously I think romike first came to fruition through the idea that robin would act like a gay mentor to mike and kind of guide him to realize his feelings for will, but they're so much more than this mentor/mentee relationship. not only would it be an interesting dynamic to explore as they have barely interacted, but they are literally both Anxiety As A Person and their personalities would compliment each other so well. mike's reluctance to open up to people & robin's willingness to ramble to anyone she meets? sign me up. both are bottling up their emotions in totally different ways. i would live for them awkwardly bumping into each other and mike finding her annoying at first but then realizing she is literally his carbon copy and that they are so much more alike than he first thought. (I would argue that they are literally madwheeler 2.0 sans the bitchiness.) them both bonding over the fact that they have trouble expressing their emotions and that they feel like outsiders????? them both realizing they are stuck in the same boat and using each other as an outlet to open up (+ it would be way easier for them to talk about these things because they aren't super close)????? hEllooooo duffers Are u seeing this?????? their dynamic would be so interesting if they don't write it I'm going to have to do it myself.

as for general predictions/theories..... oh boy I have Lots!!!!

I think that the writers are leaning more towards a rowill focus than a romike one this season so I don't think we will see as much as them as I would hope for. BUT this post gives me the idea that we will get a bunch of romikewill scenes on the farm with maybe a dash of one-on-one romike content sprinkled in there for the wellbeing of the people (the people being me and the other two romike fans on this app). as much as I love romike I think will and robin are the characters who Need to talk to each other the most because they're both still closeted. though as I said before I pray that the duffers will realize the potential that romike has as well 🙏

so I've basically done a whole lot of rambling and haven't even answered your question so I'm just gonna get straight to what I want for them this szn if this were my perfect world 🎉

I have this one recurring dream that mainly only exists because of a fic I wrote an extremely long time ago but basicalllyyy the essence of it was that mike and el were in this weird phase in their relationship where they were distant, awkward, and were almost uncomfortable around each other? so mike, incredibly frustrated and fed up with this, starts acting moody and withdrawn from everyone else. also bc this is s5 lets just add the fact that his sister is missing, he just got beat up by the school bullies, and maybe he and will got into the painting fight or something. so just imagine mike being almost reclusive and reserved on the farm set. maybe robin notices his lack of exuberance (that's probably not the right word but whatever) and decides to take matters into her own hands. she asks what his deal is and if he's doing all right with everything going on. mike pretends he's super annoyed by her because of all the questions she asks him but maybe she makes some offhand remark about how they're stuck on this stupid farm and it'll only get worse if he keeps acting like this. (and also, they have bigger issues to worry about!) so mike, quickly realizing that robin is literally the only person on this farm that is there for him to talk to, opens up to her a little reluctantly about everything going on with him. it's important that this is a slow process and that he doesn't dump everything on her at once. maybe he says that he doesn't know what he's doing with his and el's relationship and how will's not talking to him and that he feels he keeps screwing things up with the people he cares about the most. insert moment of robin being robin and clearing up the air, relieving the tension off mike's shoulders, and also giving him some very valuable advice!! obviously there's much more here to explore upon but the general gist of it is that they become much closer after this. robin learns that she can open up to mike too, about how some "person" that she's interested in is giving her mixed signals and how she is actually very scared about the end of the world but feels like she has to deflect everything with humour. they learn they are able to confide in each other and boom romike world domination!!!

I kind of want them to be like a mix of steve & robin and mike & nancy and mike & max, if that makes sense. like steve and robin's closeness, mike and nancy's worry about each other, and mike and max's bickering and (loving) malice. Idk mike is very irritable and snarky and robin is very direct and straightforward and also very tentative so I think their dynamic would just feel natural and compliment each of their personalities!!

I also think their dynamic could be veryyy beneficial to discovering the key to destroying vecna once and for all !!! these two are arguably the smartest characters on the show and work in very like minded ways. robin figured out when blue meets yellow in the west (cough) and that music is the key to getting out of vecna's mindscapes. mike has had wayyy too many clutch moments during the show that I can't mention here otherwise this post would get too long, but you get the point. putting both of their brains together might help our characters figure out how to end this battle. this script that maya hawke posted a while back that features both of mike and robin's names makes me very hopeful that this will be a possibility in s5. (potential st5 spoilers incoming ->) my current running Theory is that mike and robin discover that the military or hnl (is it still running in s5? idk) are running experiments on kids again and use the mccorkle farm and subsequent tunnels underneath to help the kids escape. (mayhaps this is how derek ends up on the farm after being spotted with the military??? idk.)

I am trying not to get my hopes up about robin and mike being spotted at hawkins lab together (potentially with el and will too 👀) but I have a feeling that this is related to whatever was going on in the tunnels. I have No Clue about what is going down at hawkins lab but one can only hope that they are there because the gang realized they needed two of the smartest people as well as the two strongest/most powerful to figure out the situation with the gates. great minds think alike or something like that!!!

this is more leaning towards romikewill territory but Idk I would just liveeeee for a scene of robin picking up on the labyrinthine circumstance that is will & mike's relationship and teasing mike about it !!! and in return I would like a Lot of mike teasing robin about vickie. I think (key word Think) vickie is on the farm with them so I need lots of scenes of robin not so subtly flirting with vickie and vickie flirting back and giggling like a maniac and mike noticing out of the corner of his eye and smiling. i want him to go up to robin later and just whisper shout that vickie is soooo into her. something similar happening with byler and robin noticing would also be very plausible. i just think it would be so sweet for mike and robin to see themselves in their friends and the people around them to help guide them towards their self-acceptance arcs, and learn that there is some hope for them after all ☹️ the only thing I don't want to see is only one of them being used just to further the romantic advances in the other's story. like I don't want the only reason robin interacts with will and mike in s5 to be to help guide byler towards e/o or for mike to do the same thing with rovickie!! it's important that they both realize that having queer friends is just as significant, and that they both are able to confide in each other about their struggles and worries, whether it's about their relationship or not.

there was also this one leak from early 2024 (another leak warning if you haven't clicked off this post already) that stated that mike and robin had a few scenes together because mike was worried about will, and robin was worried about vickie, and bonded because of this. I think this is a much more plausible way for them to start talking to each other than that scenario I mentioned earlier lol. I really hope that vickie is related to derek or the turnbows in some capacity; it would make her such less of a random character and also give robin a reason to be worried about her (and would also tie into them helping derek escape and the fact that he's on the farm with the rest of them). romike confiding in each other about the fact that they feel like they are useless/can't save the people they love AUGHHHH give it to me now . (edit: the leak is mentioned somewhere in this post you just may have to dig for it)

this post is very long and a total incoherent ramble so I am Very sorry but unfortunately I will never be normal about romike a day in my life. @willelworld (my lovely fellow romike enthusiast!) made a very great point in this post that I would like to end off with because it just sums up what is so perfect about them:

I really hope that my favourite adhd losers will be able to bond over their social incompetencies and sexualities and suppressed emotions and so much more in st5!!!! they just have such best friend material so I hope the duffers do not waste this absolute perfect opportunity to write a queerplatonic friendship ^_^

[pepstarvanmoon]

ST & Bully Storylines (Part 2)

Part 1 Please ignore my descent into sarcasm. I can’t be professional and analytical, it doesn’t work.

The beginning of S4, for El, plays somewhat similarly. She’s constantly being bullied (harassed, really) by Angela and her friends.

In a way, El and the party were treated this way because they were ‘weird’ and ‘different’, but El doesn’t have the same support system. Will is there, of course, but he hardly stands up for himself, and, as mentioned in my last post, is known to freeze up when it comes to confrontations like this.

It’s also clear in S4 that El wants more friends outside of him, to be accepted and to live as a normal girl. Maybe she thought she’d finally have a chance at it, moving out of Hawkins and losing her powers, but being raised in the lab has stunted her personal and emotional growth, and she’s not on the same academic level as everyone else either.

So, of course she’d be excited to see her boyfriend! He accepts her and he must like her a lot, they wouldn’t be dating otherwise. Sure, he’s avoiding the word love and El is starting to feel a little self-conscious about their relationship, but that’s bound to get cleared up once he gets there.

Right.

Alongside the bullying leading up to a more direct confrontation, they’ve decided to make Mike a variable in this. The same way El was a new addition in S1.

But instead of making us feel confident that the bullies will get what’s coming to them, this set-up is just uncomfortable.

Mike is acting distant with Will, El is disappointed in his gift, Argyle doesn’t like his shirt!

And how could I forget, El has been lying to Mike through her letters. It’s not just the confrontation to (not) look forward to, but the reveal that El has been lying and Mike’s reaction to what life has actually been like for El.

But wait, should we really be worried about that? Mike has always been… sweet.

… Truthful?

Available. He’s always been available, uh, physically. Like his presence, y’know? And that means a lot!

Anyway.

As an audience, we should expect Mike to be a good support system, I mean, they should be in a good place! Just look at how S3 ended!

We should really be asking why El is so worried about telling Mike the truth. It’s not like they have a history of being dishonest with each other, that’d be crazy.

The inevitable confrontation is going to be fine. Actually, that must be why they added Mike to the mix! Just like El, he’ll lead us to the triumphant end of the fight. El is without her powers this season, so obviously she needs someone to save her this time.

So guess what doesn’t happen?

Now, not to get on Will, we know how he gets around bullies, so he’s not about to step in. If Ms. I-want-today-to-be-about-me-and-you wants to lie all morning then she can deal with the consequences that come with it.

Of course, Will (being better than my petty ass), isn’t going to just sit around while his sister gets bullied, and I assume Mike has always stood up for him in the past (he’s also the only one there who can help since Angela somehow has the whole rink in her back pocket. All this just to torment one girl? FAN BEHAVIOR) so he decides to tell him the truth.

Mike doesn’t believe him, which… okay I know you’re mad that Will has been rolling his pretty eyes while you’ve been trying to get lost in them, and I know the whole “friends don’t lie” thing has started to mean less and less every season, but seriously?

Will can’t even bear telling you that he didn’t get higher than a seven! He went to you about the ‘shadow monster’, and asked you not to tell anyone else. Yeah, he blew up at you in S3, but he was still honest. Even when he’s pissed and doesn’t want to talk to you, he still tells the truth. To you more than his own mother like I need you to bffr.

This unhelpful back and forth only serves to keep El in the line of fire as the music changes.

Michael… WHAT DO YOU THINK?! Did the unobstructed view of Will’s mouth knock your brain loose?!

Sorry. Let me give you the benefit of the doubt. Maybe you trust El. Maybe you were blind to her obvious discomfort because she told you Angela was her friend.

(or maybe you were barely paying attention because you were too busy trying to figure out why Will wasn’t talking to you. You should already know why, but whatever.)

I’m well aware of El’s visible sensory overload in this scene, but lowkey this is the the least helpful thing you could be doing rn, and ik Will ain’t doing shit so it’s no wonder the situation kept escalating.

(Not gonna talk about the actual humiliation ritual, it’s not good for my psyche. Just think about El having a horrible time being mocked for attempting to use powers she no longer has, and how someone she loves who’s accustomed to her saving him is seeing just how powerless she’s become, thanks.)

Troy suddenly going still was a surprise. Mike didn’t expect El to fight in his behalf, but he was happy that she did. This time, nothing can be stopped because El has no power to do so, and instead of two jerks it’s an entire roller rink.

I genuinely don’t understand why they did this. I guess they wanted to keep Mike from interfering, but they just let El leave? These scenes are literally seconds apart. If they were done ruining her day then they shouldn’t have an issue with Mike running in.

Whatever. It’s probably just because they wanted El to run from Mike, prolonging the bullshit. She doesn’t see Mike as ‘safe’ because she’s afraid his image of her has changed.

(kinda want to mention how she got through the crowd on her own, Mike didn't need to reach her for her to move. I know it’s because he’s there that she leaves, but just a thought.)

I mentioned this in another post, but El’s desire to be loved affects a lot of her decisions. For her, being loved doesn’t necessarily mean knowing you’re loved (in fact, she hasn’t been able to tell for a while. From Mike). It’s a frantic attempt keep love, or preserve a love she thought she found at the end of S2, which circles back to her insecurities.

(I’d like to mention that the gym fight was resolved by this point. The writers just wanted things to keep getting worse from here. Not that this wasn’t a good way to establish conflict between these three characters, but they could try leaving my daughter alone. Just a suggestion.)

Also, El tries civility first too!

It feels less out of fear here than it did for Mike. The whole point of this was to show Mike how cool she was, and that backfired so horribly she’s one step from the edge at this point (kinda like Mike was). Like Troy, Angela feels no remorse and doubles down, even mentioning Hopper (seriously, who raised these children), and El has this girl on the ground literally 25 seconds later.

And we know where it goes from there.

(Now, El has hurt and killed people before, but it was always with her powers. I can’t remember a time she drew blood with actual physical contact.)

“What did you do?” Like shut up don’t you have eyes? YOU SAW WHAT SHE DID. Make like your bf and be quietttt. He repeated the question too like she was actually gonna answer 😭😭

I have my own mixed feelings about El hitting Angela, but Mike, angel, how is that the first thing out of your mouth? (tbh we shouldn’t be surprised he’s been hitting her with “what’s wrong with you!?” since S1, but you can decide which is better or worse lmao)

Literally what happened. Someone tell me right now. We’re back where we started except Mike was unable to reassure her this time, someone needs to come get me.

I can’t help but see her accusation as a bunch of questions. When did things change, Mike? When did you stop loving me? When did I stop being your hero?

When did this stop working? Has it ever?

It all just hits me with Will parallels. Both feeling like they don’t belong in different ways. That they were made wrong. They were never meant to be loved, and they were stupid to ever think so.

All of this to say, the fact that Mike and El are IN a relationship, is the worst part of their relationship as a whole. Elmike solos Milkvan every time and it doesn’t even have to do anything. They're as flimsy as Mike’s notebook paper letters, the tiniest gust of wind blows them straight into the nearest mall fire.

That last one might’ve been in poor taste, my bad. (but Hopper’s alive, so it’s fine)

[phxntomhives]

P4 headcanons

Because I just realized this is my blog and I can do it lol.

Edgar Redmond

He learned how to dance when he was little and always loved it.

His favourite author is Jane Austin but won't admit it to anyone.

Puts a lot of effort into becoming a better person but tries to hide it because it should be something "effortless".

Flirt with women but will panick if they flirt back and he would run away.

Hasn't slept for a while after Maurice's "accident" wondering how he could not see the truth .

Lawrence Bluewer

Has tried to read all the books of Weston as a personal challange

Secretely likes coffee.

His sisters dressed him up more than once as a girl.

He has, unwillingly, learned how to put on make-up, and he is good at it.

He wouldn't have minded to become a professor, and Professor Michaelis was his role model for a while.

Herman Greenhill

Loves dogs. Has many of them at home.

The cricket bat he carries is a present from someone he cares about and that's why he always bring it with him.

Adores sweet but has to pretend he doesn't.

His favourite sport is horse riding.

If something is too difficult to understand at school he goes to discuss it with Lawrence and pretends that he just want to exchange their opinions on the topic Lawrence knows and just helps him without pointing it out.

Gregory Violet

He makes his own lip-stick. It took a lot of effort to reach that color and he is proud of it.

Sometimes he looks at the other three and wishes he was taller.

His hair were longer but he was forced to cut them.

His hair are actually white, but he prefers black so he dyes them. He leaves the white strand because it looks cool.

Needs glasses but refuses to wear them.

Slight angst version + Ship discourse + Spoilers of future arcs hidden so you don't have to see them unless you want to

Edgar Redmond

It needs him a while to fall asleep because he keeps thinking of the last Midnight Party and his expulsion from the school.

After Maurice's accident he had a breakdown in his room and broke some stuff while crying, thinking how he could make the same mistake twice.

He was the most excited about the Starlight 4 project and couldn't wait to get on stage.

He couldn't drink tea for months after the midnight party without throwing up.

Lawrence Bluewer

Didn't sleep for a week after the expulsion and ended up collapsing in Edgar's house.

Herman Greenhill

He was depressed after the midnight tea party and thought of killing himself to atone for his sins. Gregory noticed and slapped him before hugging him.

After the creation of the S4, if bad memories/thoughts get to him, he start training one of the song.

Gregory Violet

Wanted to run away from Blavat the moment he noticed O!CIel.

All P4 (poly because I can't separate them)

They accidentally all fell for each other and tried to keep it a secret, it soon failed as everyone was getting jealous of everyone.

It was awkward at first, no one knew how to act.

The Edgar and Gregory accidentally teamed up to act like everything was normal and they slowly found balance.

Edgar thinks it's his duty to maintain them together and happy

If Gregory scrap a drawing, the others just sneakily take it back and keep it safe somewhere else.

Any drawing Gregory made of the other is also extremely well preserved by that person. And the other three friendly argue on who has the most drawings/who has the prettiest ones.

Edgar cuddles anyone. Doesn't matter where or when, if he wants to cuddle he will find someone. His favourite victim for this is Herman because he gets flustered the most.

Lawerence's sister are always casually the companions for everyone is there MUST be a female companion at an official event. (They want to tease their brother)

Herman refuses the others to lift anything.

Lawrence started to read out loud when he noticed that the others fell asleep faster if he was talking.

Herman is the first to wake up and force himself to be as quiet as possible to not wake the others up.

They wait untile veryone is present to start eating.

Lawrence is the most possessive of the four.

Do I have more? Yes, but for now just take my small offering.

[6rookie-writer0110]

Until the nights turns away

Cate Dunlap x Male Reader

Request - hello well i just saw the boys s4 ep 5 and wanted to request if you could do a Cate Dunlap x Male Reader, based on the V52 Expo, Y/N is a fan who has a crush on her, he's watching the event on live and Cate can't stop staring at him when she is presenting Flipped with Sam, Cate calls Y/N to come to the stage with approvation of Homelander and then Cate kisses him in front of all the people and live television?

I would like this one to be a short one and a wholesome one :), please and thanks!

You went to The V52 Expo and you are feeling excited. You did buy some merch and T-shirts. While walking around someone accidentally bumped into you. You dropped your phone and she started to apologize.

“I’m sorry, I didn't mean to bump into you”

“It's- Wow, you are Cate Dunlap. I'm a huge fan. My name is Y/N” You smiled.

She smiled and she did give you back your phone.

“Thanks. Again, I didn't mean to bump into you” Cate smiled.

“Don't worry about it. Can I-”

You were going to ask for a picture but couldn't, someone told Cate to hurry and get to the stage. She said bye and you couldn't stop smiling and you watched her walk away. You are hoping later you will get a chance to ask her for a picture or an autograph.

You couldn't stop thinking about Cate. But you head to the panel room and you manage to get a seat in the first row. You sit there and you notice the room is starting to get packed fast. You and everyone started watching the trailers for new shows and movies.

Much later, Cate and Sam walked on stage. She has on a different dress and you can't stop looking at her, you don't care about anyone else. Cate noticed you and is happy to see you again. But Homelander is watching from the side of the stage. Cate and Sam started to talk about the upcoming film "Flipped” but most of the time she only stared at you. People started to clap after they finished talking.

“I would like to call Y/N onto the stage,” Cate said

Then she looks at Homelander, he nods for approval. Suddenly you feel everyone’s eyes on you and your heart starts to race. You stood up and the security walked you to the stage. And you walked towards Cate now your heart started to beat much faster. Now you are standing really close to your crush, then she puts the mic toward your lips.

“H-Hi” You stuttered

Everything is live on TV because you see the cameras on the side of the stage. Cate started to talk but you really didn't pay attention, because you are not used to attention being all on you. You looked at the crowd then you looked at Cate, then you felt her lips and her tongue going into your mouth. Her hands are behind your neck and you start to kiss her back. I can't believe you thought this in your mind and she read your mind.

She pulls away and you are feeling flustered. You couldn't form a word, you just smiled and you didn't hear what Cate said, and the crowd started to clap. Then you walked off stage with Sam and Cate.

“Did that just happen? It felt like a dream” You said.

“It really did happen, Y/N. And it was live tv” Cate said.

You like how she says your name.

“Wow,” You said.

Cate gave you a piece of paper then she had to leave. You stare at the paper and it's her phone number.

“Best day ever” You whispered to yourself.

✯ ✫ ✯ ✫

Cate has been texting you for a week. She is always smiling at her phone and she likes getting to know you. And you made a bold move and asked her out on a date through a text. When she said yes, you got excited and you couldn't stop thinking about it all day.

You did pick her up and you bought her flowers. She smelled the flowers and she smiled at you.

“You look beautiful, Cate,” You said.

“Thank you. And you look handsome. So where are we going?” Cate said.

“I thought we could go somewhere and just have fun,” You said.

“Oh, what is that?” Cate asked.

“A carnival?” You said shyly.

“I have never been to a carnival. I only saw it in movies” Cate said.

“Oh. I went before with my family when I was a kid, i won a pet goldfish but it died a few days later” You said.

“That’s sad,” Cate said.

“I guess. Let’s go” You said.

She wrapped her arm around your arm, she left with you. You opened the car door for her and she couldn't help to smile. You get inside and you start to drive and you ask about her interests.

You and Cate arrived at the carnival. You explain the games to her and the first game she wants to play is to pop the balloons. You and Cate started to play and she is starting to have fun. You let her win and you started to cheer for her and she started to giggle. In the next game, you and Cate play basketball and you are starting to get a high score. Cate is cheering for you and you won the game. You pick a dolphin plushie and you give it to her.

“I won that for you, Cate,” You said.

“Oh, Y/N that is so sweet. This is the first time someone won something for me” Cate said.

She gets closer and she kisses you on the lips. You and Cate hold hands and start to walk around. You and Cate played another game, pop the ball on with a water gun. You won again and you win for her a plush sloth, she puts it around her neck. Then you and Cate went to get snacks and shared cotton candy together. It's starting to get cold and she doesn't have a sweater on. But you notice she is feeling cold, you take off your hoodie and put it around her.

“Aren't you going to be cold?” Cate asked.

“The long sleeve will be fine for me. It would be rude of me to let you be cold all night” You said.

She gives you a peck on the lips. She only saw it in the movies, where the guy gives their hoodie to their date so they won't be cold. She moves closer to you and you put your arm around her lower back. Later, you and Cate went to walk around the carnival, and then sat on the grass to watch the fireworks.

[irrealisms]

it's different this time, there's water liner notes

fic here if you haven't read it!

the original title for this fic was the (possibly) last summer, from this margaret atwood poem. this has been true for a couple months, since it was just a fic idea that i probably wasn't going to write. i was so excited for it! i love They are hostile nations & i haven't gotten to use it for a fic title yet! and i Do still very much recommend it both qua poem and as a pairing for this fic

(i got the fic idea after the first vitalasy stream on s6; it changed from "fic idea i probably won't write" to "yeah okay i need to write this" after the second one)

but then i was struggling with Writing Happy Things and batting around ideas of what specifically they're doing in the fic and got the idea for a Funnest Room Competition Take Two, and soooo recently i had been thinking and talking about the vitalasy & zam conversation i transcribed, where zam is convincing vitalasy to come down a 1x1 hole and vitalasy mentions the moment from s4 where zam jumped down a similar 1x1 in order to kill herself on dripstone and vitalasy followed immediately and died as well, and zam says It’s different this time, there’s water and I’m down here. the way that this is a physical representation of the ways it's different: in s4, when zam wanted to prove her love to vitalasy, she killed herself, in a microcosm of so many of the problems in their relationship. in s6, she tries to recreate something that vitalasy loved. it's safe; there's nothing there to kill herself or anyone else. you can't take fall damage or die on dripstone. there's water. and-- in the original Funnest Room, vitalasy's room had a secret entrance which led to a room with a lectern. the room with the lectern (and what was hidden behind the lectern) is, i think, familiar enough to all eclipse fans that i don't need to belabor the point too much, but it's a similar concept: making their base again, but it's different this time. no dripstone, no secret passages. they're trying again, but this time they're doing it without the problems that tear them apart. so. new title

btw have new fans seen the OG funnest rooms. they're so incredibly ugly. i love them so dearly. look at these and know that they all three have even more details that i couldn't get in the screenshot, such as "an end crystal" and "concrete powder being repeatedly shot up and then falling back down"

look at them. aren't they wonderful. anyway back to the fic

i...sort of considered either "zam-and-subz conversation about eclipse" or "zam coming out" having more of a presence. but it was never more than sort of; i was pretty solid early on that i didn't want this to be a reconciliation fic, i wanted it to be a post-reconciliation "tentatively learning to love each other again" fic. all the big dramatic moments are in the past. now: a moment of happiness, together.

something i wanted to make clear is that it's a very temporary moment of happiness. vitalasy is only on the server for very short periods of time. zam and subz have other plotlines and alliances going on (or, in subz's case, lifesteal public) that they can't & don't want to drop. the server itself is going to end. but....it's still real? and what it symbolizes in their relationship, that they're repairing it and getting closer as friends again, is going to keep being real.

the idea to intersperse some of the most painful moments of s4 is one i went back and forth on a bit but eventually decided in favor. they have a lot of very genuinely hurtful history that is sort of coloring every interaction. in the present day, they're able to move forward from it, but it's not...small? it was really bad, they all hurt each other a lot.

related to moving forward. something i said on discord about this fic: "i have written two Not A Fix-Its that do canon divergence from s4. i have broadly maintained my stance that they are doomed from the moment they got together & you cannot fix them. but it turns out that you can fix them and the way to fix them is by going forward instead of backwards."

uhhhhh i'm not sure how obvious this is but all three of them are sort of on high alert trying to Be Careful and Manage everything so everyone stays happy and nothing explodes horrifically. this is most obvious from vitalasy bc he's the one whose pov we're in but rest assured: zam and subz are doing it too. this will get better with time as they get used to each other & nothing continues to happen.

which: i do think that in fact it will not explode horrifically! not only have all of them grown as people since s4, there's also a thing of... eclipse federation only went as bad as it did in s4 because their long-term season goals were fundamentally opposed and vitalasy had important reasons that he could not tell zam the full truth about things. neither vitalasy nor subz have long-term season goals in s6; none of them have material reasons to lie to each other or keep secrets. i think they'll be fine.

change vs staying the same is another big thing. subz isn't a builder anymore, zam is. zam's a girl. but also there's the same hammock, the same familiar friendship. the things that are the same, the things that are different. once again this ties into the title & where it came from & why it applies to the fic.

uhhhhh zam gives subz slime blocks bc they were the walls of subz's funnest room. what zam may not know is that they were ALSO the walls of the post-s4 vitalasy&subz house. anyway that's a thing

vitalasy's cat isn't referred to by name because its name is vitalapuss and vitalasy is a PG streamer who tends to avoid the name. sorry vitalasy.

vitalasy smiles a LOT in this fic and there are two references to vitalasy's face hurting from smiling. this is because i watch vitalasy pov when he streams on s6 and when he puts on facecam he is ALWAYS smiling so so so big and occasionally mentioning how his face hurts from smiling so much. lifesteal makes him happy 🥺 (this in turn makes me happy)

similarly: vitalasy cubito often spins when Particularly happy and i so rarely get to include this bc i usually write vitalasy miserable. but he gets to spin here!!!

behind the scenes fact: i wrote the entire first draft of this fic a week ago in a single 6-hour sitting, from 11pm to 5am, while incredibly sick and off-and-on feverish. and then a week later (today) i did a bit of vod review, did 50 words of edits, and posted it. halfway through writing the first draft vitalasy tweeted that he was going to upload again accompanied by a gif of eclipse federation. i take nothing but Ws forever

discord message by me at 3am: "i cant believe he did this. he Heard me writing eclipse federation happy ending and was like Not to worry. i will make this real for you"

also i mentioned this earlier but i struggle SO MUCH with writing happy things. i'm proud of myself for both this fic and my previous one (memory foam, the tgcf fic, not the previous lifesteal fic) for being happier than my usual? in both of those fics there's still very much The Past Horrors but i'm expanding my repertoire! and from the reaction i think i did a good job of it ^w^

for eclipse fed particularly though there's also a thing of.... the reason i didn't see myself writing happy things for them wasn't just bc i'm bad at writing happy things, it's also bc they were doomed when they were together and incredibly unhappy when they fell apart and i couldn't imagine a path from where they started to a happy ending. certainly not in s4, and s5 didn't really give me hope there, either, with zam refusing to talk to vitalasy about the previous season, and then with subz and vitalasy both banning themselves off the server and quitting content creation (cutting off the possibility of any future reconciliation or even further interaction within the context of the lore). and then, well, s6 happened. vitalasy and subz are back; vitalasy and zam had a genuine conversation about s4 which went better than i could have imagined. this happy ending hasn't happened for them, and it may never, but i have genuine hope for them and the future of their relationship on lifesteal in a way i never have before, even when they were together the first time. i'm-- genuinely, truly so glad to have been wrong.