#it could’ve been so different but the writers just didn’t care enough?

[mochi-kitty]

Being an impulse fan is like walking the edge of a knife sometimes

Rant about cartoon impulse that morphs into complaints about the young justice show itself.

Please scroll I just needed to complain a little

cuz on one hand that’s my boy. My complicated driven and violent creature who sometimes doesn’t understand that danger is realTM… and to see him animated is a dream but the only place he’s really animated is in a half anime half cartoon low effort art style series that sorta got him right in the season they introduced him in but then when the show got rebooted they turned his cringe dial allllll the way up and it’s kind of painful to rewatch because they didn’t hold onto a single bit of his story in the reboot after season 2 and if you thought they hated writing him in the newer comics well they also hate to do it in animation (as said previously they just never know what to do with the flashes hence why Wally barely appeared in Justice league unlimited). Season 2 impulse was okay, I was happy with what I got. Season 3 kid flash was unbearable. Season 4 kid flash was better but not as good as season 2 and they brushed over his involvement like nothing.

It just sucks so much because an impulse series is never going to happen. The TV Industry is too far into other genres like Harley Quinn and kiteman to even attempt spending money on adapting the impulse comics even if it would find a small audience, the fandom is just too divided between the multiple interpretations that were created for Bart Allen over the years. From aging him down when he shouldn’t have been to making him more adult and then never using him or killing him off to make him young again.

And it SUCKS so much because was keeping his comic personality in the young Justice show too much to ask for? Could the writers really not find any use for him past season 2? Could they not be bothered to read up on his lore? Not even from the wiki?

I keep thinking of what it would be like if the show directors had just a little more wiggle room to work with. Like if they didn’t HAVE to keep a central plot involving 30 different characters to wrap up a 24 episode season with a big battle at the end only to remember in hindsight that they A. forgot some characters still had holes in their plots and B. no one got character development that was substantial enough to matter. We had up to nearly a decade between season 2 and season 3 and it was a miracle in itself that it even got this chance in the first place. Even I admit I was too excited to care at the time but now it’s kind of painful to find all the faults in it when it’s been left again on the back burner of a greedy studio. From the time skips to introducing SO MANY new characters all in one season,,, the show practically dug itself in a hole and I will die on this hill. I understand the time constraints, the money issues, the audience reacting to a new season years after the last one when we’ve turned the internet into a harsher judgement zone. They wanted to include every character DC ever created, if only to please that one DC fan who even knew about Halo or dolphins existence and then add in real world issues on top of that to make it relatable.

IMO they bit off more then they could chew. Despite what redditers will tell you, the time skips were a cheap way to avoid certain parts of the characters development and they hindered more then they helped. Not only did we not get to grow with our original team of hero’s, we had to accept that we wouldn’t get to see 7 years of their growth (not even in flashbacks). And it just kept happening in a lesser volume with each season. Add on top of that we had the 20 new people they’d introduce who’d get the same no development treatment. Season 4, of course, tried to course correct and made little arcs for the original characters to get developed. Almost 9 years within the story later and with one of the original dead for no reason.

I just keep wondering if they hadn’t done any of that, what it would be like. Even the big rolling up hill plot of 24 episodes that crests 14 minutes into the last 20 minute episode with the remaining 6 minutes being the down time. If we had it more like the original Justice league cartoon with part 1-2 episodes focusing on one major plot or issue with all or most team members showing up. Or if we had kept it like season 1 with the monster of the week style of episodes (see supernatural season 1 to know monster of the week better) would we have gotten better character development? Would it have paced out the big bad reveal at the end more efficiently? Would it have forced the writers to actually read up on the characters they were adapting past their surface level personality? We’ll never know.

I can’t even hate the young justice plot that much either because it’s not terrible, it just the way they play dolls with the characters that hurts because I want to love it. My fav has been animated and I can see them move past their still comic pages and hear them actually talk on screen, that alone should be enough but it’s not.

Not when I can’t rewatch any of it without the high chance of getting second hand embarrassment if I don’t pay attention to when I have to skip ahead. An issue that wouldn’t even be a thing if the writers had JUST ORGANIZED THEMSELVES A LITTLE BETTER AND READ THE DAMN CHARACTERS COMICS A LITTLE.

I can’t even talk about the outfits or art style or the battle animations or the relationships or the specific character based plot holes or the change of priority the reboot brought or idk maybe Wally’s death??

[dreamingonclds]

Unintentional | FA14

Summary: Y/n and Fernando Alonso were both professionals, both only seemingly having time for their careers. They both have had their fair share of relationships but they’ve never become serious for either of them. Y/n is an A-list celebrity, a highly respected actress and Fernando a champion athlete, a Formula One driver. Nobody could’ve ever imagined both of their paths to cross but, they do. It was said that their relationship was destined to fail, their 16 year age gap being too large to be sustained. But, to everyone's surprise, a blessing they created without intention was just enough to fill that gap, like fate.

Pairing: Fernando Alonso x Reader

Word Count: 2,722

Warnings: None

Chapter 1

Note: If you would like to be added to the taglist, please @ yourself in the comments!

As you meticulously applied your lipstick, your mind couldn’t help but wander to the thought of who you would meet tonight. Your stomach bubbled with nerves, a sensation you always got with meeting new people; despite how long you had been in the industry for. You met new people almost weekly, nothing new in the entertainment industry. You were used to meeting wealthy business people and pretending to care about anything that came out of their mouths. But you were genuine about meeting new directors, writers, and filmmakers; you genuinely cared about what they had to say.

Tonight was no different, you had been invited to a dinner by some friends. It just so happened that those friends were in the industry too and it just so happened that the dinner would be in Beverly Hills. So, you knew that tonight would be a night of pretending to care because the people who actually cared for the artistry of entertainment would never choose to dine in Beverly Hills. And you were a professional, so you sucked it up, put a smile on your face, and decided to have a good night.

So, you decided that to have a good night you had to have a good outfit. You were a public figure, a very popular one at that, so you did have to dress to impress. And you didn’t mind, you loved fashion and you loved to shop so it all worked out. You also cared about your appearance and wanted people to like you, but not for how you looked. You wanted people to like you for the person you were and what you brought to the table. And unfortunately, that goes hand in hand with physicality in this world. So you slip on a back silk dress because those always do the job.

Arriving at the restaurant, you thank your chauffeur as he helps you out of the car and guides you to the entrance. Stepping into the restaurant you’re immediately greeted by your friends and introduced to all the unfamiliar faces. Soon enough you're all making your way through the restaurant, several diners turning their heads to you all, some trying to sneakily snap pictures which you notice every time. Once you're seated at the ridiculously large table, you notice the empty seat beside you and around the table.

“People missing?” you ask your friend sitting right across from you.

“Yeah, they’re running a little late but they should be here very soon.” she answers, giving you a small smile.

After a little conversation, you all turn your heads to the chatter that is seemingly making its way towards you all. Sure enough, it’s the missing half of your party and as you scan your eyes through all of them, one catches your eye.

“Here they are!” your friend announces, standing up to greet them and everyone follows.

In the midst of the commotion, bodies moving left to right you hear your friend declare seating arrangements.

“Fernando, why don’t you sit next to Y/N, she speaks Spanish too.” she says pointing you out so he knows who you are.

You see a man nod and begin to approach, you notice the brunette with semi-shaggy hair and a short beard. Sure enough, it’s the one who caught your eye earlier on. He greets you with a kiss on both cheeks that you reciprocate and helps you into your seat.

“What a gentleman, thanks. Fernando, right?” you look towards him, wanting to start a conversation like the rest of the table is doing

“Of course, Y/n?” he nods in response and you do the same, noticing his accent. As you make eye contact, you begin to note the faint lines around his eyes and the maturity of his face. Your mind begins to wonder, whether he’ll take you seriously noticing the lack of physical maturity on your 26-year-old face. Usually, men over 5 years older than you never took you seriously, their conversations always started professional but quickly turned to comments about your body and sexual experience.

Before either of you could get another word in, the waiter begins to ask for your drinks of choice. Usually, you would go for a beverage that would liven you up but, you had a rule that you only drank at dinner when everybody at the table were your friends. So, you asked for the next best thing.

“I’ll take a coke please.” you tell the waiter, who quickly jots it down and looks to Fernando next

“Uh, I’ll take the same please” Fernando turns to look at you with a confused look

“Oh, I don’t know everybody at this table so, I’d like to get to know you with a sober mind.” you tell him matter of factly, hoping that was the explanation he was looking for. Although it was the truth, you did want to get to know the rest of the table; but specifically him. In what seemed like record time, the waiter comes back setting down all of your drinks.

“Igualmente” Likewise he nods towards the brown beverage in front of him.

“I thought maybe you were still too young to drink, you look young, why do you want to get to know me?” he asks, bringing his glass to his lips.

“I’m 26, not that young. And you're sitting right beside me, we have a long night ahead. Why not get to know you; your friends.” you add the last part in, trying to deflect and hide your interest in him; hoping he doesn’t catch on.

“Why’d you copy me, I mean no offense but, you don’t look like you just turned 21?” he brought up your age first, two can play at that game.

He chuckles, still looking at you.

“I’m 42, not that young either.” he says in truth. And before you can respond he speaks again.

“Pretty girl, pretty dress.” he brings his glass to his lips, looking away nonchalantly.

“And you’re sitting right beside me.” he states matter of factly, using your own words against you.

Your jaw drops the slightest and your eyebrows scrunch in surprise. His confidence, so abrupt it takes you a few seconds to bring your face back to its natural resting place. Despite your efforts to look cool and unaffected, you can see the pride your reaction gives him. With a teaseful look in his eye, he offers you a smirky smile that makes your stomach erupt in butterflies. Your cheeks and ears go hot, and you now find it hard to sit still or contain the smile pulling at your lips.

The rest of the night goes exactly as expected, the two of you deep in conversation and completely ignoring the rest of the table. There’s a tension that's rising that even the others can feel. Neither of you even realize how many times they’ve teased you two or tried to get you to join their conversation. You’ve also failed to notice the pointed phones from other diners and sneaky restaurant workers.

As you all are ending your dinner, restaurant patrons and workers start making their way to your table. Asking for pictures and autographs from you and your party alike, both separately and together. Little did you know that those images would lead to a whirlwind of speculation, the world seemed to spiral at the thought of you together.

Your group converses outside the restaurant for a few minutes, a back and forth of what the plans for the rest of the night were. You stood there to yourself contemplating whether you wanted to continue your night. You had a fitting in the morning and a couple of online meetings you had to prepare for. Considering it was nearing 1 am, you decided to head home with a professional attitude to your day ahead.

Before you can interrupt the group to bid your goodbye, Fernando makes his way to your side.

“Are you going out for more drinks too?” he turns to you.

“I have meetings in the morning, I think I’m just gonna head home.” you nod your head.

“Me too actually, I drove here by myself. Let me take you home.” he points at himself.

“Yeah, that’d be nice actually; thank you.” 

You both take a few steps forward towards the group, ready to bid your farewells together. But before either of you can mutter a word, your friend's chatter amplifies into a passionate discussion about who knows what. Fernando turns to look at you, an amused smile on his lips that turns into a chuckle after noticing your surprised expression.

“Mejor nos esperamos.” We better wait, he jokes, and you giggle looking towards him, only to realize his eyes were already set on you.

“Buena idea” Good idea,  you say with a smile, continuing the playful vibe of the setting. You two carry on with your light-hearted conversation. Unconsciously backing away from the group until your back hits the restaurant's ornate rail. Fernando holding on to the rail on your right side, halfway caging you in, seemingly protecting you from passersby giving you questioning glances; realizing who you were.

Your conversation continues and you two get lost in getting to know each other. You learn that he’s a champion F1 driver and he learns the movies he’s seen you in, not knowing it was you. Before he can finish saying where his next race will be, you're drawn out of your heart to heart by shouts from your group.

“Hey lovebirds, you guys coming?” your friend shouts pointing down the street, implying a prolonged night out.

A sheepish smile forms on your lips and you shake your head, “We both have busy mornings tomorrow. We’re gonna skip this one!”

“Alright then, don’t have too much fun!” someone teases, causing the rest of the group to laugh.

Fernando smiles and shakes his head at the joke, “I’m just going to take her home!”

You all exchange thank you’s and appreciation for dinner before saying your goodbyes. Then begin to make your way down your respective sides of the street. He leads you to his car, not in front of you but by walking closely behind you, guiding you with a light touch to your back. He helps you in, chivalrously, taking your bag from you, opening the door, and taking your hand to help you in. You take notice of what car he drove, a luxurious sports car, that to you matched the reputation of an F1 champion. You questioned yourself on if you wanted him to live up to the reputation of a man like him.

Before he can drive off, he makes sure you’re both buckled in and asks for your address. You give it to him and then you're off to your luxurious hotel, which the movie you were in Beverly Hills for set you up with. You two continue your conversation the whole time, only stopping when Fernando gets out of the car first to open your door. He walks you to your room, as he insists on “dropping you off”. But really, you’re more than happy to oblige to his request as you didn’t want the night to end.

“No paps.” Fernando blurts randomly, as you both make your way through the lobby.

You scan the room and realize he was right, you only saw the employees and the occasional normal guest.

“Oh yeah” you acknowledge, normally every hotel in Beverly Hills was swamped with paparazzi no matter the time. So you worked it up to luck, you two got lucky tonight. Little did you know that this would foreshadow the rest of your relationship.

You make it to your room and unlock the door, stepping into the doorframe and turning to face Fernando. You two stand there for a few seconds, just staring at each other, Fernando's hands in his pants pockets and your hand on the door, an undeniable tension lingers between you two.

“Do you want to come in?” you suggest hesitantly, pointing inside, ready to face rejection.

“Uh yeah, can I?” he answers quickly, surprising you and catching you off guard. 

“Come on in.” you say, widening the door and stepping back, letting him inside. He makes his way towards the living room area of your massive hotel room and you follow him. Before you can sit down on the couch beside him, you notice the complimentary bottle of champagne in the ice bucket, now sitting in water that was ice a few hours ago. You go to the table and pull out the bottle from the bucket, wrapping it in a towel to prevent it from dripping.

“Quieres?” Do you want some? You offer him, showing him the bottle.

“Por favor” Please He stands up and heads towards you, taking the bottle from your hands to open it himself. You hold up the two glasses, also on the table, for him to pour into. After pouring, he sets the bottle down and you hand him his glass.

“Gracias” Thank you You both say at the same time, which causes you both to giggle.

“Let's go to the balcony” you suggest and head outside, he follows you but, not before grabbing the bottle to take with.

You lean on the rail, one forearm resting on it while your other arm brings the glass to your lips. Fernando places the bottle on the small table conveniently outside and then he goes to stand in front of you. He halfway cages you in again, one arm holding the rail close to your side, and you notice this protective pattern of his. Both of you stand there, not saying anything with words but instead through the looks you’re giving each other.

“You are very beautiful.” he blurts out, scanning your face with a pensive expression on his face.

You scrunch your eyebrows in confusion for a quick second before smiling and meeting his eyes.

“Thank you, you are very beautiful too.” you respond in honesty and nod your head when he looks at you confused. A shy smile breaks onto his face and he looks at the ground stepping away from you. 

He looks back up, licking his lips ever so slightly and takes the glass from your hand. He goes to place yours and his glass on the table while you stand there confused. He comes back to his original spot in front of you but this time way closer than before. His hand comes up to cup the side of your face and your eyes look deep into his as his thumb caresses your cheek. You go to say something but are cut off by his lips pressed against yours. You quickly catch on and move your lips with his. His hand comes off of your face and moves to your waist, you step away from the rail to try and get closer to him. He wraps both of his arms low around your waist and his fingers dance right above your bum. You instinctively bring your arms up to wrap around his neck and your fingers go to dance in his hair at the nape of his neck.

He smoothly turns you both around so now he is against the railing. Your makeout continues for a short minute until you realize something and your eyes open.

“I don’t kiss on the first date.” you say exasperated, pulling away and trying to catch your breath. He leans back trying to get a look at you, breathing heavily, eyebrows scrunched in confusion.

“But I’ll make an exception tonight.” you say quickly, he smiles before you lean in and desperately attack his lips again. He grabs your thighs, wrapping your legs around his waist and walks inside towards the bed. He gently lays you down and stands back up separating your lips, he swiftly removes his shirt before hungrily coming back down on top of you.

The rest of the night goes as expected and contrary to your usual experience with men, he stays the night. You both sleep comfortably in each other's arms, not even wondering how it all led to this moment. Although you were both trying to figure out why this all felt so natural, you both knew one thing, this was the start of something special.

Taglist:

@minkyungseokie

@ursforever129

@thatchickwiththecamera

[oursecretways]

Deus ex machina I.

idol!Minho × fem!Reader note(s): I was listening to the song while I struggled to write and the idea came to me. Might be a bit shorter AND a two parter. genre(s): fluff, slice of life, little angst word count: 736 warning(s): reader thinking badly about themselves

master list ║part 2

where you're stuck on writing your book and Minho just tired and worried.♡

You’ve been sitting at it for hours at this point. Somehow nothing fixed it; you’ve done research, watched your current drama, drew your OCs, watched streams, ate, everything someone can name for writer's block, you did. It has been going on for weeks, at this point you considered writing an email to your publisher that you are giving up. You’ve been beating yourself up constantly, how bad of a writer you are, that you are a failure and that you will never be able to achieve your goals. It didn’t help that your boyfriend, Minho, is in Japan with his boy band doing promotion work for their next comeback. You wanted to be finished by the time he will be home, so you two have time, since the boys got a couple of days off in their hectic work schedule. 

It was passed 4 am when the front door opened — which you did not realize since you’ve been rewriting the same thing over, and over again — Lino quietly walked into the room after he got himself sorted out, thinking you might be asleep, but he was wrong. All he saw that you are slouching in front of the laptop, earbuds in, probably listening to one of your playlists, writing a paragraph, then deleting it, then writing it again. He knows that you always tried to solve the problem like this: going at it until it is solved, although maybe this time you should approach it differently, and he just knew how to. 

He tapped your shoulder, making you jump slightly. You took your earphones out as you looked behind you, shocked. “Min! Wait, what is the time? Oh god, I am so sorry babe, you could’ve called me!” He just chuckles and caresses your face, “I figured that you’d be sleeping, but I was wrong. Why aren’t you in bed? And don’t try to tell me you were just finishing up, I’ve seen you deleting and rewriting the same paragraph.” Minho knows you like he knows the back of his hand, you cannot escape his all-knowing gaze. “Okay, let’s go, we’re going to bed. You can save your progress, but you cannot do anything else, c’mon.” You stare at him in awe — after a while you pulled yourself together, saved your novel, and turned off your PC. He unloaded his dirty clothes into the laundry bin, and got ready for his bedtime. Once you finished packing your thinking, and putting your dirty dishes in the kitchen sink, you joined him. You brushed your teeth, did your skin care, and brushed your hair out; you massaged your neck and shoulders as you walked into your shared room. The smell, and the calming sound of the storm outside hit you just in the right spot; you felt your body starting to relax, as you climbed into your bed, finding a perfect spot in your boyfriends arm. You said your good nights, and you drifted off, not feeling the kiss he gave you on your head nor his worried words.

Your dream was horrible: you couldn’t finish your book, so everyone hated you. Minho was disappointed to the point he broke up with you. Minho woke you up, looking a bit worried, “Y/N! Y/N? Are you okay? What’s wrong?” You felt like it was silly, so you just shook it off. Couldn’t believe that you would make him wake you up just after a couple of hours of sleep, because you’re incapable of doing your job. You took a shaky breath trying to fight off the thoughts that yelled how worthless you are, or how you just got lucky, but you don’t deserve any of this. Minho made you turn to him, “Okay, this ain’t funny anymore, let’s be honest with each other. I see that you are stuck with your book, I assume you got into a slump. I will help you with it once we slept enough, but it is time to tell me what’s wrong, Missy” His firm, but kind voice is what broke you: you started crying talking about how you are a horrible person being for not waiting him more appropriately, how you cannot just write what you need to write and so on. When you looked up, you anticipated a disapproving Lino, but all you saw is concern. He pulled you closer, and hummed you sweet melodies until you fell asleep. 

🏷️(open)

[lauraneedstochill]

I've never liked to think that Aemond is evil, just someone who's been hurt too much time and time again and saw no justice for it; do you think he's evil? or that there's more to it than simply that? That he genuinely cares about people, his mother, his family?

I do not consider show!Aemond evil — I’d like to believe that, as the definition of the word suggests, you have to be more immoral and wicked, perhaps even a bit sadistic to be downright evil. I see him as calculating, emotionless, cold, and that paired with everything he’s done makes him a villain but not necessarily evil (…yet?).

his current feelings, though? I have no fcking clue because the show is doing a very poor job of explaining them properly. to me, Aemond from Season 1 and Aemond from Season 2 are two different people.

🔪 S1 Aemond, yes, he cared about his mother (she sought justice for him when no one else did, she offered him comfort even when she couldn’t fully understand his struggles), his family (he’d grow up thinking he had to step up and be the responsible one — to eventually take pride in becoming someone his family can rely on), and he knew what loyalty was, despite not being ecstatic about the order of things (Alicent did drill “in the world we must defend our own” into her kids' heads, and you bet, he was the fastest learner). the real tragedy of Aemond — to me — was about his deepest desires and his arrogance clashing with the picture-perfect image he’s grown into and didn’t mind portraying as it got him the love and trust of the ones he cared about, the approval and respect of everyone else. but his desires are too big and burning, and his arrogance is only fuel: of course, he deserves it all and he should take it — and he can take it BUT it will ruin the image he’s crafted and the bonds he’s formed. raised by the woman who put duty above all, can he betray everything she taught him to believe in? there are a few ways things can go from there but all the paths lead to his self-isolation and his downfall, although he keeps trying and trying to prove something till the very end, and it’s sad because it’s relatable — we are all trying, we all hate feeling that we are capable of more but simultaneously aren’t enough. if only he put all that effort somewhere else, maybe he could’ve been happier but we will never know. he dies young.

🔪 but S2 Aemond? they packed his character development in the tiniest bag and it’s never been opened once. the writers are so keen on blaming Aegon for everything, they don’t realize that making Aemond do a 180 because of one unfortunate joke is a disservice to the character. him deciding that regicide and fratricide aren’t a big deal is as wild as it is dumb: there’s no way he didn’t know it would damage his relationships with the very few people who loved him. how long can you milk “he was bullied as a child” before it bites you in the ass and makes your super-cool-much-wow character look like a thin-skinned boy who holds on to every offense instead of idk MOVING ON? because he did get his justice — he got the biggest dragon as a fuck you to the people who made fun of him for not having one, he only got stronger despite losing an eye, he got to be his mom’s most precious son and he DID get Luke killed (even if by mistake, the result is still the same — the bastard who maimed him won’t ever make fun of him again). how is that not enough? who and when decided that Aemond becoming a bully himself would be a great achievement? why holding him accountable for what he did isn’t fair but him being vengeful left and right is praised and cheered for? and he is not complex, I’m sorry, he just isn’t. he’s been robbed of proper reasoning and conflict, and I am getting tired of trying to peer into his one eye to get a hint of emotion while S1 Aemond could at least grant us little outbursts here and there to confirm that he is a human being and he can successfully keep his facade up while also having feelings.

S1 Aemond was many things, all of them fascinating. S2 Aemond makes me want to skip to the scenes of Daemon getting high and scared in some leaking castle (and I’m starting to wonder if maybe that’s the point?).

anyways, I hope Ryan Condal will be out of job when the show is over.

[rockinlibrarian]

Post-Umbrella Academy S4 Reaction Part One: Reacting More to the Fandom than the Show (only vaguely spoilery)

I would like to state for the record that I enjoyed The Umbrella Academy Season Four. I had plenty of issues— things that weren’t to my taste, abandoned or neglected plot or character threads, plot contrivances and wasted opportunities— and I wasn’t satisfied with the ending AT ALL (it COULD have worked if done…completely differently?)—but I enjoyed myself, minus the downer at the very end (and I mean VERY end, I was hoping for more post-credit redemption than we got, and that could’ve fixed it for me). It’s like that post I reblogged this morning goes— there’s enjoyment, there’s in-universe sense, and there’s art-of-storytelling sense, and they can all stand separately.

I’d love to chew over the stupid bits and gush over the brilliant bits, but it’s kind of hard right now, because so much of the reactions online are not, well, objectively balanced discussions? People’s issues erased any of the enjoyment, and now the whole thing is trash and I think we all agree this never happened.

I’m not writing this post to call anyone out for that. All our reactions are valid. It just feels like the angry voices drown out the other voices, and it’s made me uncomfortable, and that is ALSO a valid reaction to have, so I just want to put my voice out there, too.

The weird thing about me and The Umbrella Academy is that this is the first fandom where I’ve ever been more invested in fanworks of it than in the original show (and in the comics, not at all. Though I still want to see Viktor and Diego start a punk band). So I think that’s why I’m not Ragey. I wouldn’t say I COMPLETELY didn’t care what happened in the show, but I know that there’s a thousand other AUs of it out there ALREADY. So I honestly went into it almost as if reading a fic of it. In fics there are inevitably interpretations I don’t agree with, ships I don’t care for, things I would have done differently, but the writer loves the same characters as me so let’s see where they go.

And then I leave a comment about all the positives. “Oh, I love what you’ve done with Viktor!” (I won’t MENTION that I think you should have let him get back into music and spend a LOT more time with Five, because it’s not my story, and hey, you have done some LOVELY, thoughtful things with one of the characters that is dearest to me so let me tell you that in this comment!) “I’m REALLY enjoying your Allison-and-Klaus partnership, we don’t see enough of that but it’s so obvious in retrospect that they should be friends. They probably bonded over fashion as children when Viktor was like ‘Sorry Allison you know I REALLY DO want to be friends with you but I JUST DON’T GET IT’.” (I am thinking about how you never really resolved the huge emotional thread between Allison and Viktor in your last chapter, but that’s not what we’re talking about here). “This is admittedly not my ship, but you’ve successfully captured my own beliefs about HOW this character would behave in this situation” (shouting out to @stephsageek for that one, who did it, and did it well, before canon even thought to attempt to. ;) ) I could write lots more in my theoretical Comment on “Season Four of the Umbrella Academy” on AO3, but I don’t want to be too spoilery in this post and I’m just being metaphorical.

Honestly, I’m more upset now after a day of discourse than I was about the ending, and I think it’s because I’m afraid of people rage-abandoning the fandom. Because Legion, the show that started me on Seriously Writing Fanfic, was a mess after season 1. I personally didn’t enjoy MOST of season 2, but I DID enjoy season 3 even though so much of it made no sense, and I can rant about it (Legion did a variation on the same terrible ending as TUA, actually! I have to say that the emotional beats were handled better, but the plot itself was way way stupider). But I didn’t start writing fic until after the dreaded (but not without redeeming qualities) season 2, when quite a lot of people had given up on the show. I’ve written fix-its, mostly ones that embellish on the canon of the later seasons, fixing it without actually throwing it away. I’ve been playing in the whole sandbox for six years now, and “Magic Man of Oz” uses like every grain of sand in it, and it’s my favorite fic I’ve ever written, and I am genuinely sad about all the people who rage-quit that show so will never read it. I am mostly sad that the person who got me on AO3 to begin with abandoned the Legion fandom the moment they finished their epic How Season Two Should Have Ended fic (or before— pretty sure the last few chapters were written with gritted teeth determination to just be Done with the whole thing) and so THEY never read “Magic Man of Oz.” And they were my biggest cheerleader when I started posting fanfic! Honestly, is this whole paragraph just me freaking out about TUA fandom just because not enough people read a fic of mine from a different fandom that was fairly cult to begin with? It might be. Sorry. I apparently have issues?

(That first sentence is really the thesis statement of this post now. The moment I wrote it, I reread it and said, "Oh. THAT'S what's happening with me, isn't it?" My 11th grade research writing teacher is yelling at me in my head to move the dang thesis statement to earlier in this essay, but too bad, this is Tumblr).

I can’t help comparing Legion and TUA, not least because the latter only got bumped up my watch list by someone describing it as “Legion-Lite”— and it really is, in so many ways! But they’re also my top two most-written-for fandoms, and I’ve been toying with a crossover or two— which I feel even more compelled to write now, because it’s post-canon for both shows (even though both shows claim there IS no post-canon— I have found the way!) And it honestly helped ME emotionally to accept the end of TUA when I could immediately say, “OH, well actually, that flows right INTO how I was already going to start working-title A Legion of Umbrellas!” I originally started this paragraph in parenthesis because it seemed like an aside, but it’s really not, because all I’m saying is fanfic flows eternal! and so forth.

So, hi, out there. Just letting out my feelings and hoping someone out there feels the same way (maybe not about Legion— I keep TRYING, but can’t find any takers), and I may still write a more detailed and spoilery reaction post to the show ITSELF, but I had to get this off my chest first.

[byclairs]

Lucas's arc seemed like he deserved to be put in his place and recognize that he was wrong for believing he could hope for better? And they did not even focus in his character that much. Most people say Mike has a spectacular forced conformity storyline waiting for s5 when we had a forced conformity storyline for Lucas but it was so sloppily written. I thought the forced conformity narrative is suppposed to be written good in any case for poc too, not just for your white character that you send a message with.

it feels like the duffers just don’t care enough to convey a cohesive message for lucas’ arc and/or don’t know how because on the one hand they’ve acknowledged several times the racism he faces both on and outside the show so they can’t even play dumb and yet they then constantly downplay what he goes through and so you end up with scenes like the end of s4 where he basically learns to know his place or whatever like..lucas is not in same boat as someone like mike who’s mainly bullied for being a nerd. he’s ostracized in a way that mike and dustin will literally never understand but the show almost never makes any attempt to show how he deals with that yet it’s explicitly talked about in an official book from his perspective (and i know lucas on the line is not technically canon but it’s still tied to netflix/st and if they had someone in the writer’s room who could’ve incorporated even part of the type of material from the book into the show i think it would’ve done wonders to flesh out his story) like i’m sorry if you’re gonna acknowledge that his situation is different than the rest of the party’s then you need to put more care into following through with that because the whole “i thought i wanted to be like you—popular, normal” scene was just..it felt like they were insinuating his main reason for joining basketball was just to be cool when we know it’s a lot more complex than that; he was trying to protect not only himself but his friends too even though they don’t face the same shit he does. and possibly even enjoy something new in the process god forbid. and you would think that he was ditching his friends and other interests for the basketball team when that’s not what happened at all? like he never started acting aloof with them or ignoring them, he was still very much in hellfire and he never turned his back on them he even used his status on the team to lure them away from where eddie was hiding even though everyone was saying he killed chrissy and lucas didn’t know what was going on yet. he never let his desire to fit in turn him into someone unrecognizable who needed to be taught a lesson and that’s why it pisses me off so bad that he was made to feel this deep regret in the end as if he made some huge mistake that he learned from because in reality he’s never been anything short of a loyal friend or strayed from his morals. and to top it all off mike and dustin get off the hook without having reflect on how they hurt lucas because apparently you should never support your friends unless you fully understand and agree with the things they want 👍🏼 idk.

i also think his conflicting feelings about helping his (ex) girlfriend deal with her grief for her canonically racist brother who traumatized and literally almost killed him would’ve been really interesting and important to explore especially since that most likely relates to the reasons he started feeling like it was urgent to fit in more in the first place but. none of that because this boy’s feelings are never taken into account

i also think everyone should read all of this

[amyrlinegwene]

Maybe this is just my personal preferences coming through but I really wish the show would dedicate more time to channeling/the channeling fights. Now two disclaimers: 1. I know that many of our channeling protagonists are in the beginning of their channeling journey 2. I did always find the channeling fights to be more interesting than the physical fights in the book.

But in 2x05 I was really disappointed in the difference in time dedicated to Aviendha’s physical fight vs the time given to Egwene’s capture/Elayne and Nynaeve’s escape.

Aviendha’s (and Perrin’s) fight sequence (not including the scene leading up to it) was 2 minutes almost exactly. In contrast, from the time we hear Suroth say ‘get them’ to the time the scene ends and cuts away after Egwene has been captured is 51 seconds. In total. And there was not that much action in it.

Now this is not saying that Aviendha (plus Perrin lol) got too much time. She got the right amount of time for the introduction to an important character and being the introduction to Aiel as great fighters, even if I don’t really appreciate a two minute fight sequence, I know other people do and it was well done for the most part and it also gives us so much info about Avi and other Aiel.

My problem is the episode didn’t give us a sufficiently satisfying capture sequence. 51 seconds for the whole beat. We get Elayne channeling once and then Egwene channeling once, the Seanchan channel three times. Now in the books Egwene was taken before she could react at all, which did add to the shock of the sequence, but I was glad that we got to see her trying to fight back. My real problem is with the escape sequence, after Elayne and Nynaeve pass a few trees that’s it? Why wouldn’t the Seanchan who were expecting at least two marath’damane be prepared to go after them?? They are only a few feet away?? Especially since the show had Nynaeve be unable to channel in the moment.

Speaking of which, we also don’t get to see Nynaeve channel like she did in the books, did the writers feel like they wrote themselves into a corner, that they thought if Nynaeve could’ve channeled then she would have been able to free Egwene due to the way they’ve portrayed her channeling thus far?

I feel like the scene could have benefited from using more of Elayne and Nynaeve’s escape from the book, the calling lightening, being separated and finding each other again. Nynaeve being able to channel enough on instinct to escape but not having enough control/knowledge to save Egwene, and Elayne being prepared to protect herself with her knife. It would have been exciting and interesting and shown us more about how Nynaeve and Elayne react under pressure.

I just feel like this pivotal scene almost felt like the show didn’t care about it, and I feel like the channeling this season has been treated with less reverence than season 1 in the way they film/edit channeling scenes and certainly in comparison to physical fight scenes in s2.

I don’t even think it’s budget because while editing in weaves is probably expensive, I imagine choreographing, training/teaching actors, and filming a 2 minute fight sequence with 10+ actors is equally or more expensive.

And I know that the damane plotline will be getting much more time in the coming episodes but I don’t think that that takes away from the fact that this scene/sequence deserved more time. I believe it is the first multiple person fight between two groups of channelers in the show but we didn’t get to see much channeling and it was less than a minute long.

Like I said I’m obviously not a neutral observer and I know the girls are still beginners but I feel like both as an adaptation of a scene AND as a stand-alone scene the show didn’t do it justice like they did with Avi’s introduction.

[coycorry]

Sinedd’s redesign tw: HUGE OOC (canon sucks)

we all should agree that Sinned’s character is a huge waste of potential and, oh lord, I have so much to say that I don’t even know where to begin…

first of all why his writing is so poor? almost random I must say. he’s a person who just happens to be in all places at all times, making a conflicts happen for no particular reason EVEN WHEN THEY DOES NOT MAKE SENSE FOR HIS CHARACTER. for example in season 2 he runs “the sphere” himself (he obviously shouldn’t have a basic knowledge of how to do that) and writers just saying that his interest in it is money?.. like wtf why should HE care? why should he wants a dirty money like that, if he’s a freaking football SUPERSTAR. he have a reputation to destroy, you know. apart from that, he never appeared to care that much about his finances, even in 1st season when he steals m-ice’s football tickets they never let us know why he does that. if he wanted some easy cash, why wouldn’t steal some cash? so this thing must’ve been something personal, isn’t it? instead he steals those tickets, that are obviously shit and everybody knows that. sinedd could never manage to sold them, because even m-ice (mr. social butterfly who managed to bring tons of people to try Aarches football simulator) couldn’t do that. my point is that sinedd could never risk that much doing something obviously illegal like running a freaking fight club without strong motivation. and if he needed money THAT bad, then why they didn’t show us WHY.

all his 3rd season arc is a complete nonsense: why they ended up with mei? how did they started to date? for what reason? hating d’jok? is that even a reason? I wish I could forget this poorly written “family reunion arc” who just happened to not know that their son is a freaking football SUPERSTAR. and then he all suddenly changes for the “good guys” and becomes besties with d’jok who was bullying him for years (they were bullying each other). unbelievable. also, can you please remind me why they became enemies in the first place? ah, you can’t! because they never showed us WHY. how can I give a single fck about their cute little make up, if I don’t know how and why it went wrong?

I would absolutely love if he just makes a bit more sense in the show, and stop being stupid (not)evil dude for no reason. In season 1 I LOVED how he had a break down because his parents died in a war, and it’s very painful for him, even after so many years. that’s a very important message that writers could put in this character: some things just can’t be undone, but you need to let it go, so you can move on your life…

but sinned can’t, and this is his real conflict. not some stupid money.

he can’t live with his past, but can’t accept it, and as a result he can’t accept himself and how great he’s doing. he’s an orphan that become a football freaking SUPERSTAR. he’s a talented player, a genius in some way, that have mastered 2 fluxes in record time. he made it to final and semi-final of GF. but no matter what he achieves - that’s not enough because he still hates himsel. he’s worst than d’jock. he have no family or friends. he can’t get this freakin cup. and he can’t even destroy it, because he’s a coward… and then pirates strikes Shadows planet and he loses his flux and gets trauma in the sphere, so he can’t even play anymore. imagine HOW MUCH of a damage he got at this moment. like man he should’ve been mentally destroyed.

and I wish we could’ve seen that.

2nd season was the perfect time to show us sinned at the lowest point in his life. he was damaged by his loss in the end of 1st season so got depression. maybe he met a bad company, and he started to run “the sphere” with someone who claims to be his friend. they obviously using him, but he’s following them anyway, because he can’t stay alone with his thoughts anymore. he trying to fill this emptiness in a different ways, and that’s doesn’t help. obviously. until he meets rokket. not like they never met before, but in a new context, where they started spending lots of time together, both depressed and having good/bad time together. they get to know each other and open from a new side. they gain some sort of connection because they are compatible, they understand each others trauma and for the first time in his life, sinedd faces true understanding. then rokket quits, and it feels like betrayal, but the true betrayal only comes when he realises the truth about his “new friend” and “the sphere”

then he loses cup again and guys this is the real drama here, he should’ve been perished by that…

but.

instead he understands that he NEEDS to change. he NEEDS to get some help, because he can’t live like this anymore, and really, he doesn’t want to. that’s why he’s coming back to rokket after final, to congratulate him with his victory and apologise. for the first time in his entire life. if he can change it, it means that sinedd can too! (and rokket is literally the best person to help him with that, because how much empathy and patience he has). and then all the 3rd season sinedd, step by step, trying to change from what he was, but not everyone believes in that, because how much bad he did. but he will do it, by working hard on himself and his mental health. yes he won’t get his family back all sudden, but who knows, maybe after he change he will find a new one?

I changed his hair colour not only because it looks more cyber-y2k-ish, but to the show how unnatural he is in the beginning, and how he’s doing all this way to who he really is, accepting himself. no friendship with d’jok tho, NOW ROKKET IS OUR BEST FRIEND. I don’t want him to make up with d’jok, I want him to let go this childish rivalry and understand that he’s not worse or better, he’s just another. that’s it.

updated uniform for “the shadows”

[golvio]

Thinking about how one of the reasons I was so disappointed by TotK was because I’ve been spoiled by more narrative-driven indie games lately. Even if TotK Ganondorf was only played like a villain resembling the scariest versions of The Princess when he was threatening to break his seal, we still would’ve gotten a character with way more depth and opportunities for emotional attachment/sympathy.

Like…I don’t want Ganon to be a cute, cuddly, super-palatable and marketable same-aged bestie to the teenaged protagonists. I want to have that same pathos and emotional connection that I felt with his Wind Waker incarnation. That guy may have still been a child-punching jerk who was desperately trying to justify himself, but he was also lonely, maladaptive, and struggling with having lost everything partly by his own hands. Out of all the incarnations of this guy, he felt the most human, even if it was the more self-serving, self-pitying, self-destructive parts of humanity. If we must fight him, I want to feel that same uneasy emptiness where I’m left wondering if things could’ve been different and he didn’t have to die instead of a simpler, “Yay!!! U Beat Da Gaem!!!1!!” sendoff.

And if there’s anything Slay The Princess taught me, it’s that you don’t necessarily need a super complex motivation to tell a compelling story, or to start spinning more complex conflicts and narratives outward from that origin point. Sometimes “Let me outta this basement!” is enough. Especially when the character in question is so driven that they don’t care what they have to do or who they have to steamroll to finally reach freedom. Even if all the prisoner does is vindictively torture the player instead of auditioning for their sympathy in their attempts to escape, you can’t help but develop a strange sort of admiration for their tenacity and resourcefulness. Not to mention that, even in a purely antagonistic relationship, such a motive is an easy “in” for emotional connection to a character. Nobody likes being trapped against their will. Everyone forced into imprisonment would want to be free. Also, solitary confinement in particular sucks, and eons of that would be enough to make anyone ornery and desperate.

They didn’t even need to do much to reimagine Ganondorf for a new audience. Just give him a more realistic response to the archetypal Zelda Series situation that he was forced into like BotW’s Link and Zelda. The Holy Maiden is made to suffer, the Hero is made to grow up too fast and put through grueling challenges, and the Monster is made to be imprisoned and be cut down after he escapes because his mere existence threatens the Holy Maiden. (And even if he suffers just as much as the Maiden, it’s all his own fault because he’s Evil, so don’t you dare feel sorry for him!)

Calamity Ganon wanted out of that basement, just like Zelda wanted out of her role and the pressures that came with it. You’re really telling me Nintendo couldn’t have done something more compelling with that? It’s absolutely possible for a character whose history has expanded him to a near-eldritch multiplicity and timespan to still feel human and relatable. You just have to be willing to look at that character with genuine affection as a writer, even at his absolute worst.

[deleahtarte]

Hii!! I love your works especially Young God and Lemon Muffins and Apricity (a normal amount...) and I wanted to ask if you had any writing tips? You inspire me a lot and I wanted to know if you were willing to share some! It's totally alright if you don't want to 😊 but if you do thank you it means a lot!! Thank you, bye have a good day / night!! :]

I would LOVE to share my writing tips!! And thank you for the sweet compliment!

For a little backstory, I’ve been writing for 4 years, and have been committed to one other fandom that is not South Park. Now, as a warning, beware these are just all the things that I, Deleah, personally find to help me write. I truly believe it is different for everyone, and some things here might not work for you, and that’s alright! We all learn eventually what makes us tick, and I’m here to share mine!

1. Commitment!! I think one of the biggest factor in writing overall, the one that will help you the most is commitment. You have to write. Commitment is how you get better at everything. You have to write when you’re not in the mood to, you have to keep writing on those days where you feel like nothing is coming along, and you have to keep writing even when you don’t know exactly what you’re writing about. Sometimes when I write I think “this is it, this is max I can write it” but then I go re-read my previous works and realize wow, I actually improved!

2. READ BOOKS!! Personally, I cannot write unless I read a book. Observe how different authors write. See what you like about their writing style and what you don’t. For instance, I think this one writer could improve on the depth of their explanations but I think they have the most wonderful metaphors. Learn from them. When I find an author with amazing writing, I read all their books—regardless of whether I take interest in the actual story or not. I hope by doing so I learn and absorb their writing, like how people try to learn a specific artists art style.

3. Listen to music! To get myself into writing certain scenes or characters, I listen to songs that help invoke whatever I’m trying to write. For instance, when I write Kenny I listens to Young God by Halsey. But when I write Butters thoughts about Kenny I listen to Ceilings by Lizzy McAlpine. Basically, let the music put you in the mood of whatever it is you’re trying to convey. If you’re writing a sexy scene put on sexy music, etc, etc.

4. Have an outline! I know some people like to write stories just as they come, but I found that I when I did that in my first fandom, I miss out on so many things. I’m never satisfied with the story because I feel like things don’t connect. No foreshadowing, why did this happen here instead of there, what about pacing? Overall, every time I did it, the story turns out a mess. I believe that if you have the story outlined from beginning to end, everything will tie together like a well formed bow, ready for the taking. Because of this, I have every chapter planned out. All I would now need to do is write it.

5. This is the most important tip of all, you have to love writing. There’s no other way around it. It’s hard to get committed to something you don’t love. It’s hard to put time and effort into something you don’t care for. So unfortunately, you will have to love writing, or at least like it enough to be committed. I use to draw, thought I was decent at it, but I didn’t love it enough to fully pour my heart into it. I draw sometimes now, but I know if I put in the hours and work I could’ve become someone decent with art. But I didn’t, because as stated, I didn’t love it enough. I liked drawing, but I love writing. That’s where my heart is.

That’s it for just general tips overall!! If anyone has any other questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!! 😄😄

[littlemisssquiggles]

So miles did another cameo video about a week ago someone asked him what it would have been like if Oscar had gone to the ever after and Miles confirmed that if Oscar had been there with Ruby she wouldn't have gone through the conflict and trauma she was going through and volume nine if he had been there cuz Oscar would have been the one to notice it instantly unlike the others who didn't notice it till after she snapped at them

You can even see hints of it in the episode were they meet John again and they're at his house where Ruby sitting at the table and across from Ruby is an empty chair while Ruby sits there and look at Yang and Blake happily celebrating their new relationship Ruby sits there if so she's missing someone and that someone is Oscar I think

Hello anon-chan! Pardon the late answer to your inbox.

Do you mind linking me to this specific cameo you mentioned pretty please? Because I would honestly loved to listen to it.

Funnily enough, you’re the second person to bring up the theory that the empty seat across from Ruby at Jaune’s home in the Ever After during the scene before Jaune returns Crescent Rose to Ruby could’ve easily been filled by Oscar.

It makes perfect sense that Oscar would’ve been the one to notice Ruby’s depression if he were there since he has been shown to be weary of that in previous seasons such as the infamous dojo scene. Oscar noticing Ruby’s change in demenour is what initially prompted him to push her to admit her true feelings about everything that happened during the Fall of Beacon.

Not to mention that when Ruby was shown to be overwhelmed at the Cotta-Arc during the moment when Jaune exploded after JNR learned the truth about Oz and Salem, Oscar was the one to take notice of this and even did his best to help quell the situation.

Oscar has always been observant of Ruby’s feelings especially when she is at her lowest. It’s one of the reasons why I love their dynamic so much. Ruby has always been protective of Oscar since the moment he joined the team, looking out for him in her own way just as much as he looked out for her.

Oscar should’ve been there for Ruby in the Ever After just as how Ruby should’ve been the one to lead the charge to save him from Monstra instead of Jaune back in V8.

I absolutely hated the fact that Ruby was omitted from Oscar’s side of the story back then and this is one of the reasons why I didn’t enjoy that season.

The CRWBY showrunners spent the last few seasons continuously building up this shared sense of caring and protectiveness as the basis of the Rosegarden friendship and yet…there was no payoff?

They showed prior moments of Ruby protecting Oscar yet…she was completely absent during his most dire time of need---being a prisoner of Salem and brutally tortured by her and Hazel for hours. Ruby was not allowed to protect Oscar from that.

They showed prior moments of Oscar being a voice of wisdom to encourage Ruby to open up and be honest with herself and those around her yet…he was absent during her darkest emotional moment yet---her literal breaking point where she committed the Ever After equivalent of suicide.

You see the pattern?

Neither Ruby nor Oscar were present during each other’s worse moments.

They weren’t allowed to because the writers knew, canonically, these two would be each other’s true savior---their beacon in the darkness to get more metaphorical.

Because they needed the story to go a different way to get the ending that we actually got in V8 and V9, that’s how it had to go.

If Oscar has gone to the Ever After then Ruby would’ve never had her whole arc which…needed to happen. Although, some might argue that the whole point of Ruby’s journey in the Ever After was ultimately made pointless by her going from “no longer wanting to be Ruby Rose anymore” to “being Ruby Rose just as I am is enough. I’m Ruby-nough! I don’t need to change at all. I’m perfect just the way I am even with the flaws that I still possess that led me down this path in the first place”.

Sarcasm aside, I don’t dislike the fact that Ruby chose to be herself in the end. Being yourself and having yourself be enough is a good message. I just wished the showrunners had allowed this concept to cook more. While I’m aware they were pressed for time given the fact that no V10 was greenlit, nevertheless, I would’ve rather a twist where only Weiss, Blake, Yang and Jaune were able to return home while Ruby remained in the Ever After to complete her transformation.

We spent nearly an entire season building up to Ruby’s breakdown. It took 8 out of 10 episodes to have Ruby fall apart only to have her have her big revelation in the last episode. That makes the whole thing seem almost flat so I don't blame some fans for being disappointed with the conclusion to Ruby's Ever After story being concluded that way.

I dunno about you anon-chan but this just makes me disappointed that Oscar wasn’t present for the Ever After Arc because all cues prior to V9 hinted that he could’ve easily been added to this season and worked.

Oscar was the one who first introduced the audience to the fairytale of the Girl Who Fell Through the World.

Not to mention the whole theme of the Ever After being about embracing change---Oscar SHOULD’VE gone to the Ever After. Part of Oscar’s journey is about him coming to terms with the Merge with him either losing himself completely or becoming a new person entirely.

Seeing Oscar going through his own arc while trying to help Ruby with hers could've been great to see. But alas, that's not what we got.

I will give the showrunners this though---if Oscar had gone to the Ever After then we probably may not have gotten the clue that Ruby cares deeply for him.

It is very evident after V9 that Oscar's life is precious to Ruby. Shipping and romantic implications asides, you can't deny the fact that Oscar's wellbeing is important to Ruby.

Much like characters such as Penny and Pyrrha, Oscar is someone who Ruby doesn't want to lose.

Better yet, he is someone precious to Ruby that she doesn't wish to lose as a result of her failure.

Take a look at the deaths of Pyrhha and Penny. What do those deaths have in common?

Ruby failing to stop it from happening in the first place.

Ruby was present for Penny's first death but arrived too late to stop it from happening.

Ruby was present for Pyrhha's death but arrived too late to stop it from happening.

Ruby was present again for Penny's final death but got tossed into the Ever After before she could do anything to help stop it from happening.

Once again, Penny died and Ruby failed to stop it from happening. This is why the words of her illusion cut Ruby deeply during the Mad Tea Party fight.

"...Just like you were too late to save me at the Vytal Festival. I died in Atlas too, didn't I? Could you imagine what that's like? To be completely and utterly failed time and again by someone who meant the world to you..."

Similar to Penny, Ruby is someone who Oscar has been shown to care deeply for and Ruby, in turn, cares a lot for him. The evidence of that has been shown sprinkled throughout the seasons. There is no denying that these two smaller, more honest souls care very much for each other.

While there has yet to be any payoff to the development in their relationship as yet, one thing's for certain is that Oscar is a person of importance to Ruby.

He is someone she doesn't want to lose. He is someone she doesn't want to fail.

He is someone she can't stand to watch die because of her own inability to protect him.

Not again after she's failed others like him in the past.

Overall, I guess the point I'm trying to make here is, while it would've been great to see Oscar in the Ever After with Ruby (since he definitely would've prevented her breakdown), at the same time, the showrunners did still found a way to use his presence as part of the narrative to signify something about his connection to Ruby.

Oscar needed to be absent in order to Ruby to have her arc yet ironically, he was the reason for Ruby's breakdown in the first place. While Little's death was the final straw that drove Ruby over the edge, before that moment, it was actually the imagery of Oscar's death caused by HER HANDS that drove Ruby to her final breaking point.

While it would've been nice to see Oscar there with Ruby, in a way, he was still there with her---being used by Neo to indicate to the audience that Oscar is a person of dear importance to Ruby.

Moving forward, I expect the events of V9 to have some kind of impact on Ruby's overall relationship with Oscar. I want to believe the events of the Ever After would make Ruby more overprotective of Oscar; possibly hinting at much deeper feelings. That's how I see it.

~LMS (2023)

[whatsyourcolor]

This is a weird ask but is there any reason JP kouaka fandom is so convinced of Kouaka post PPP?After Ubukata and Fulani doubled down on the fact they are nothing more than comrades fighting a shared enemy and they are nothing special to each other.And they said it right before PPP release as well knowing people would speculate heavily(which they did and still doing regardless).The whole thing is so confusing to me.

I think the writers and animators taunted that poor fandom so much with Kokane, that the fandom couldn’t give two craps about what they say anymore. Also, they understand Japanese so there may have been pieces of dialogue in the movie that fueled their resolve. In the Psycho-Fed there was a little keychain with Akane and Kogami. I think it’s the first time we get merch that is just the two of them in the same piece.

The live reading was about Akane and Kogami talking too. I know none of this is explicitly romantic, but in PPP their dynamic is different. Most of the time Akane seems pissed at Kogami while Kogami seems cold. Some people may have interpreted this as something personal going on between them. In the end, he rescues her and he also gets super pissed and worried when he reads her letter.

Overall, it’s like they’re past the point of formality and are now involved with each other in some new way. Or the writers just didn’t study these two characters enough. Akane taking Kogami’s cigarette right out of his mouth means they’re closer in a way. I can’t imagine her ever doing that before. Kogami from S1, the one who told Akane to kill Makishima, wouldn’t give two shits if Akane set Nona Tower on fire. But now he cares and is clearly upset.

It’s the beautiful closing of a circle. Akane is making a stand and Kogami disagrees and wants to stop her, but he can’t. Kinda how she tried to stop him before. In a way he has to “lose” her now.

Interesting too that she waited until he went to the isolation facility before she did what she was planning to do. Maybe he’s the only person who could’ve stopped her.

Again, they leave these things in the air… people will make conjectures. What can we say? The PP fandom is full of hopeless romantics.

[harukamitsuki]

Hello, I’m the anon that apologized for implying that Keith was “spoiled”

I wanted to come back and talk to you because I wanted to discuss some points!

I made my Keith statements without really explaining what I meant and I wanted to try again.

I don’t want Lance to be the black paladin and I just need to state that now. However, I also didn’t want Keith to reside as the permanent black paladin.

I know that his color palate and clothing have black in them but shiro is also all black. In my opinion I would’ve preferred Keith to be the substitute black paladin.

Ryou (the clone) should’ve never been able to pilot the black lion because he’s just a copy of shiros face not him. Making Keith stay within the team and allura going to red (because I really don’t know how they thought allura in blue was a good idea, love her but what?)

(I want Keith to stay with the team and not go to the blades as I would prefer the paladins sticking together)

(Also because the plot line for the altean colony is ridiculous)

I would’ve loved to see ryou find out he’s a clone along with the paladins and not just kill him off. I think it would’ve also brought some realization into Keith about shiro and such.

The way I think of the paladins and their relationship to the lions is that the lions physically created the paladins.

The reason why it took 10,000 years is because earth doesn’t have quintestance, so the lions had to basically build their paladins from the ground up by creating generations of humans with it.

Because earth doesn’t have it, it takes a long time until there’s finally enough for the paladins now!

Which is why I don’t think Keith should continue to be the black paladin. Because he belongs with red just as Lance in blue, pidge in green, hunk in yellow, and shiro in black.

and because Shiro never gets to go back to being the black paladin his character gets reduced to cardboard.

which is the reasoning for my initial comments that I couldn’t describe clearly.

I didn’t mean to come off as a black paladin Lance supporter or that Lance was the best option. Because he isn’t.

There are things with lances character that I feel as though could’ve been worked so much better. (I saw a previous post of yours discuss lances having altean markings and your so correct, honestly they feel like fan service since the fandom goes nuts with altean Lance and honestly I can’t understand why)

I’m far more a shiro fan. In all honesty he has done a lot for me. I don’t like that he was just meant to be thrown away.

I mean the writers created an entirely new character for crying out loud!! Shiro didn’t exist in the other versions. Technically he is sven but sven was always the blue paladin.

Shiro has obvious PTSD and has a genetic disease that needs his arm forcefully removed from him. He fights so hard for his lion and his teammates.

My feelings on Keith are in fact very biased but it feels like a lot of Keith’s character completely erases all of shiros.

With ryou and the paladins finding out that shiro is in the black lion i would’ve loved to see them search desperately to find where the clones were made to see if they could bring Shiro back.

My thoughts are a little all over the place I apologize for that.

Hello again!

This is a bit awkward because I basically agree with almost everything here so there's not much for me to dissect haha.

If anyone's been reading my past, PAST, posts, you'll have probably seen my post as to why Lance never should have went to Red, and why it should have been Allura. I can understand why Allura is Blue and Lance is Red in the ORIGINAL series, but this is a rewrite where the characters are basically completely different.

Which also means that, no, I will not be using the original series to back-up my belief that Keith is a great Black Paladin.

Like I said, I basically agree with everything you wrote, except that I didn't personally care for Ryou. I felt sorry for him and was kinda shocked when they just used his body for Shiro's soul, but I didn't care about him.

I do think it would have been interesting to see Ryou be a little stinker and try to manipulate everyone, due to him being a sleeper agent. Like, in canon, when Ryou apologised to Keith, he says "I'm sorry I had to step in there" instead of "for stepping in there". He's still putting the blame on Keith. He says sorry without truly saying it, if you get what I mean.

Then, one day, he goes a little too far. Like, I dunno, he calls Lance useless or Hunk cowardly or something, and Keith immediately goes: wait. That's not right. Suddenly, Keith's a lot less willing to take Ryou's 'advice' to heart and things pile up until he realises Ryou is a clone.

I think that kind of story line is much more interesting that what we got. Of course, if you care about Ryou and are horrified at his death, there are others ways. Ryou slowly learning he's a clone and hating himself until the paladins make him realise that it's not his fault and he can choose to be his own person. Heck, he kind of already is.

Of course, another option is just to not kill Shiro off? Like, put him in a coma or reveal that Haggar yoinked him from Black with quintessence magic and he's been captive this whole time. Keith would still have to pilot Black but, because Shiro isn't a clone, when he gets back Black opens up immediately.

The thing is, Shiro and Keith's style of leadership is different. Very different, meaning that they're suited to lead different kinds of things, with varying efficiency. What I think would have been cool to see is them changing the roster (Shiro leads, Keith in Red/Keith leads, Allura in red) depending on the mission. Which can mean that, if you decide to keep season eight for some reason, Shiro or Keith can lead them into the final battle. Shiro leading them might make more sense.

I've heard a lot of people say that Shiro is boring and it's like– why do you think that? I kind of wanted to see more of his character arc, wanted to see Keith, Coran and Allura take care of him when he's too high strung. I wanted to see him be there, actually there, when Pidge saves Matt. I wanted to see him accept that he may have been hurt, but he is not broken.

I think that those people who think Shiro is boring just weren't watching the same show, or only remeber him from season 7-8 where he does basically nothing. Season 1-2 Shiro are great. He feels so human, scared of the world but pushing himself through for the sake of others and to not seem weak. He makes bad gun noises, immediately denies Coran trying to feed him like a baby with "no. Just– no.", displays some dark humour when he's alone with Keith and bleeding out. He's terrified of being seen as broken, because that's exactly what he thinks of himself.

So. Yeah.

Either make Ryou more interesting or don't kill Shiro off. It would still let Keith become his own Black Paladin, and it would let the group change members depending on the situation, which would make it less jarring if Allura was the one to pilot the Atlus, as was originally planned.

I can understand why you believe Keith's character erases Shiro's. Because, in all honesty, it kind of does. Of course, that is mostly DreamWorks' fault because they just can't give Shiro any sort of happiness? Like, Keith has also been hurt over and over again, but at least Keith has his mother.

Shiro was supposed to gain the ability to teleport. HE WAS REPLACED BY KOSMO - HE WAS REPLACED BY A DOG. Shiro didn't even get to end Sendak! Even if I adore Keith, I was so baffled when Keith made the finish blow, because that was Shiro's fight! Shiro has nobody to go home to, only returning to find that his ex-fiancé is dead, and it's just– I know that gay characters tend to suffer the most, but come on DreamWorks! Give him SOMETHING!

From my perspective, I've always noticed the difference between Keith and Shiro's leadership styles, and just in general. But DreamWorks is so allergic to giving any of them anything, so they wrote in the Broganes bond, tore it apart, then played a darts game to decide their traits after Shiro's death. It makes it especially worse when they decide to make Keith go through development off-screen, so he comes back when he's become more mature like Shiro, but it gets no explanation so it feels like he was just given more of Shiro's traits.

Alas, we get no explanation, so it is jarring. Which is another reason why making Ryou unable to pilot Black, or Shiro still being alive, would have been much better. Keith had a point about leaving, but Shiro, the real Shiro, never would have let him leave, and Keith wouldn't leave if Ryou couldn't pilot Black.

I would still make it so that Keith stayed with BoM just for the sake of meeting Krolia, but nothing else much.

So. Yeah.

I do agree with basically all of this, only I wouldn't have Keith be just a sub for Black. I think he and Shiro should have used it interchangeably, or at least provide an explanation for why the real Shiro, the one who bonded with Black the most, couldn't pilot her.

AND SCREW KOSMO– GIVE SHIRO HE TELEPORTATION BACK! GIVE HIM HIS RELEVANCE BACK!!

(Sorry if there's any mistakes, I just woke up haha)

(Also, Keith's colour scheme fits Black more than Shiro's did, mostly because of the accent colours that Keith had. Other than that, yeah. I agree.)

[larkspur777]

Monster High G3 Romance

First of all I just want to say that if you ship Cleo x Frankie and Clawdeen x Deuce then I totally understand that as some people are just able to enjoy G1 and G3 for the separate generations that they are, or maybe never even saw G1.  That being said.

Monster High G3 is honestly so frustrating to me because on the one hand I’m so glad they decided to have a canon queer couple!  But I’m just . . . so baffled by their thought process and line of thinking.  They could have chosen literally ANY OTHER GIRL to pair with Frankie and I would have been deliriously dancing for joy.   And it’s bad enough they broke up Cleo and Deuce, but then to pair Deuce with Clawdeen, of all people!?  It just doesn’t make any sense to me whatsoever.  I feel like it was a mistake to break up the already beloved, established couple of Deuce and Cleo, and that they should have chosen different ghouls to pair with Clawdeen and/or Frankie.  A lot of people already got to thinking of Clawdeen as being queer, since the creator liked the idea, and I think the G3 writers could have done better at reading the room (or they did and just didn’t care about G1 fans.)

I get that this is a new generation and that some things are obviously going to change.  And that G3 is supposed to be for a new audience.  These are just my thoughts as an OG fan, and I feel like the G3 writers didn’t take the time to appreciate and understand G1 dynamics, and that they didn’t really care how G1 fans might feel about this.

I want to end this by saying that I think there are some things that were done well with G3 and some positive changes.  (i.e., Twyla being ND, Frankie being NB, and I think some of the music is pretty good.)  But the romance to me was a letdown and I feel frustrated for being so disappointed when this is supposed to be such a positive thing (a canon queer MH couple.)  I’m happy for all the people who do like Cleo x Frankie, I just wish it could’ve been a queer pairing that I could have gotten on board with as well.

[buckybarnesss]

me, in the year of our lord 2023:

i am still angry about the teen wolf timeline because it made zero sense. 

i went through all 208 pages of my teen wolf tag which goes all the way back to the end of season 2 (2012). i spent significant time trying to work it out and failed because it contradicted itself and contained so many holes it legally could’ve been called swiss cheese. 

i am angry about it because it represented the lazy way the creator and writers handled the show. show bible? what show bible? teen wolf’s plot was written on a disintegrating napkin. 

jeff davis and the writers treated the fandom with such contempt despite the sheer level of investment and enthusiasm that the fans brought. they begged us for engagement, for votes, for our artwork to hang in their office, the ability to capitalize on our fanfiction and sneered at us anyway. 

there is a reason so many people are angry about the movie and not all of it has to do with shipping. though people are entitled to also be mad about the shipping aspects because sterek and the use of stiles’s sexuality is the blueprint for queerbait. 

i always see people wonder the reason people shipped sterek despite the age difference? we had no idea how old derek actually was and the show didn’t care to commit to an answer. was derek 19? was derek 23? was derek older in that tropey werewolf way because of the bullshit the occurred in visionary? we will never know because the show didn’t care about it so we didn’t either. 

like, i just looked at the wiki and it has his birthday as nov. 26th 1988. they released “official” birthdays around season 3B that had his birthday on dec. 25th. what is the truth? the answer: we don’t know because the show never cared enough about it. 

teen wolf time line was a scribble of soap scum on jeff davis’s shower wall and it was a futile task in figuring it out. ask me how i know. 

[ilarianae]

— 10 Reasons to Share a Bed with Hoseok

pairing. hoseok x reader (modern au)

wc. 3,700

note. back from vacation! divided a list of 50 prompts; the final 10 reasons will be for seokjin, so stay tuned for that! as always, thank you for reading, and the writing below is inspired by the list of prompts provided from the tumblr @promptful. check their blog out, fellow writers!

cw. — just a mix between angsty and fluffy.

Because you both made a mistake.

His breath was hot against your shoulder. Bare flesh with bare flesh, and the mix of sweat and intimate satisfaction. It was enough to make your heart jump and crack simultaneously: the realization that you and Hoseok did it again. You had sex when you shouldn’t have.

Hoseok was quiet as he rolled away from you on the bed. He sat up, having the shame of at least hiding his nakedness with your sheets, refusing to look at you. He seemed distraught, and you knew the feeling.

“We need to stop doing this, Hobi.” You softly spoke, grabbing your discarded shirt from the floor.

“I know… I know.” He hid his face in his hands, muttering a swear.

“This is the last time.” You declared, knowing well in your heart that it won’t be.

Hoseok knew it too, facing you with an unbelievable look.

The two of you were cursed, forever haunted by what wasn’t but what could’ve been of your past relationship. Every time you tried pulling away or Hoseok did by meeting someone new or different, you’d always end up back at the starting line, back in your bed, naked, full of bite marks, and disappointed. Sometimes, you wondered what would’ve happened if you simply returned together. Yet, the thought of the toxicity and arguments made you hold your tongue.

Hoseok frowned, and you braced yourself for the start of your usual dispute— the same one that occurred every time you two returned to your senses. But his look fell, and he pulled you into his bare chest. With a gentle grasp around your chin, your lips met in a soft, chaste kiss.

Hoseok sighed sadly. “Knowing us, it won’t be.”

You nodded.

It would be you and him and this, now and forever.

Because this is the first time you’d ever seen him cry.

He was initially quiet when he first received the news on your couch.

Hoseok didn’t say a word, but his silence spoke volumes, and you understood what had occurred. Someone passed away. You could hear his mother’s panicked gasps through the phone, yet the boy you loved remained quiet and still. He only flinched when you touched his shoulder, taking the phone from him.

“I’ll take care of him, Mrs. Jung.” You spoke to the phone, watching Hoseok with careful eyes. “Yes, I’ll send him over as soon as possible.”

Ending the call for him, you rose to quickly pack his things. Hoseok was known for staying over at your place, his little impromptu sleepovers, so it wasn’t surprising to you to see all of his items in your apartment. You stuffed his extra clothes in his bag, moving to your entryway to grab his shoes so he could get ready to leave.

“Hobi,” you started with a gentle voice, “come on, you need to get ready.”

“…No.”

“Hm?” Turning around, the sight that greeted you made the backpack in your hands drop.

Wetness surrounded his eyes, and he shook, holding his body with his arms as if he was afraid of falling into pieces the moment he’d let go. Hoseok’s face was crumbled entirely, but he couldn’t look at you or show you how badly he felt.

He whispered your name softly. “I don’t want to go home, not like this.”

“Hobi—”

“Please.”

You neared closer to his seated position on the couch, hugging his shoulders tightly as he hid his face in your stomach. This was the first time you’d ever seen him cry; Hoseok was always the happier of the two, bringing sunshine to any damp situation. The wet evidence of tears on your shirt broke your heart, and as much as you loved his mother, you knew you couldn’t let Hoseok leave.

At least, not tonight.

“Come on,” you pulled him up, raising your hands to wipe away his tears. “You’re not going home.”

“I—”

“Don’t worry, I understand.”

Turning off the tv and discarding the movie the two of you were watching, you led Hoseok to your bedroom, allowing him to sleep with you tonight. He instantly melted against you, keeping his face hidden against your neck. You softly began to play with the little hairs at the base of his nape, and sometimes, he’d shiver from your featherlike touch.

“Thank you,” Hoseok murmured.

“Always.” You wouldn’t dare let him mourn by himself, not Hoseok.

Because he’s the savior to your sleep issues.

Namjoon let you in without hesitation, immediately understanding the drained look in your eyes.

“Another rough night?” he said as you nodded in thanks and entered the apartment. “You should really see a sleep doctor or something for this….”

“Please, Joon. Let’s save the lecture for tomorrow morning.” You shrugged off your coat. “Where is he?”

“Where do you think?” Namjoon nodded towards Hoseok’s bedroom. “He’s already asleep, but knowing him and knowing you, I don’t think he’d mind your company.”

“Thank you, honestly.” You gave him a tired smile.

“Goodnight.” He patted your shoulder as you passed by him and set towards Hoseok’s room.

Hoseok had always been the one to help you with your irregular sleeping patterns. He was never judging or misunderstanding, always keeping his door open for the nights you suffered immensely. And those nights were many; it was almost a nasty habit at this point. You felt somewhat guilty about the ordeal, knowing that Hoseok barely had girls over because of you or would’ve at least slept more peacefully with his bed to himself. But every time you brought up the topic due to your concern, Hoseok would shoo your worries away.

“I heard you come in,” he mumbled as you entered the dark room.

“I’m sorry….”

“Don’t be. I’d do the same if I was in your shoes.”

You heard shuffling and knew he raised part of his comforter to allow you in. Darkness surrounded you as you stepped up to his bed, knowing his bedroom layout by memory. You quickly entered under the sheets and were wrapped in everything that smelled like Hoseok, like your protector and favorite comrade of the night. He pulled you close with an arm around your waist, his muscular body almost resting on top of you, and you let out a soft sigh.

Hoseok kissed the side of your head gently and spoke so quietly you thought you imagined his words: “I’m glad you came. I’ve gotten so used to sleeping with you, now I can’t without.”

Because everyone else left you.

The fighting match was over, and you lost. You frowned as your friends rolled their eyes at you and left your home, the last one making sure to slam your front door harshly enough to prove their fury. A portrait of you and your cherished pet fell from the wall, the side of the frame denting from the impact against the floor. You didn’t hesitate to pick it back up and put it in its original place, your fingertips caressing the ruined side with the calmness and gentleness you didn’t have during the argument.

Then, you turned to face the remaining person in the room. “I think you should go.”

Hoseok didn’t waver. “Why?”

You glared at him, at his stupid question. “You heard them, what they said. I don’t want to have company over anymore, so just head out.”

Hoseok shook his head, refusing to leave you with your negative thoughts. “They were just angry….” He stood from his position at your dining table, towering over you with a look of care and sincerity that almost made you want to cry. “Things were said that weren’t meant. I don’t want to leave you here alone.”

You couldn’t keep eye contact with him anymore, turning away to hide your wavering lips and the familiar sensation of tears tickling your lashes. “Oh, they meant it. I want you to go too. You’ll be better off without me, so they can at least remain friends with you.”

“No,” he placed his hands on your cheeks, raising your head to meet his eyes, “I could give less of a shit about what others think. You were always the one I cared about the most.”

His following kiss to your lips was longing and full of desire. Hoseok caressed your jaw softly, moving his hands down to rest his thumbs on the pulse points on your neck. His kisses made you swoon as he directed you back toward your bedroom. He didn’t care about your friend group; he chose you over them in a heartbeat. You pulled away for a moment, feeling your bed touch the back of your knees. Recognizing your surroundings as your room, you marveled at how dizzy Hoseok made you with just a few kisses.

“So, you’re not going to leave me?” Your question sounded shy and worried, as if he was about to sneer, and this could’ve been a cruel joke.

Hoseok let out a small chuckle. His hands on your shoulders pushed you down onto the bed. “No. I’m not going anywhere.”

You both landed on your sheets.

Because he doesn’t trust anyone else to take care of you like he can.

“He already left.” Hoseok’s emotionless voice greeted you from behind.

Turning around with unfocused eyes and crinkled brows, you whispered a soft “what?”

Your boyfriend was not the type of guy to leave you behind like that; you wanted to argue. But your drunken, hazy mind thought otherwise. Drunk body, true thoughts had never felt more accurate. If he wasn’t the type to abandon his girlfriend at random parties, your current boyfriend would stick around and whine— a manipulative tactic to convince you to have sex whenever you were dangerously tipsy. Hoseok knew this; hell, you knew this, even if you continued to deny it.

“Why would he do that…?” You let out an embarrassed laugh, rubbing the back of your head uncomfortably.

“Because he’s a piece of shit,” Hoseok didn’t miss a beat, crossing his arms in displeasure. “Abandoning his girlfriend at a party and place like this… says a lot about the boys you choose.”

You glared, your drunken stupor making you bold. “Well, I chose you once, didn’t I?”

His face fell, only for a split second. “Yeah… You did.”

The two of you stood uncomfortably in the kitchen, surrounded by others focused on having fun rather than your little spat. The lack of space brought you close to each other, and if you wanted to, you could run your fingers down his clothed chest like you used to when you were his. When he was yours.

You almost did, catching yourself and dropping your hand before coming into contact with his person. Hoseok didn’t let you though, grabbing you with his own, pulling you close.

“What… are you doing?”

“I’m not going to leave you at this shitty party because you can’t seem to choose a good guy.” His response was swift and slightly damaging. “Come on, you’ll just sleep over at mine tonight.”

“Why with you, though?” You allowed yourself to be directed out the front door and into his car with a short huff. It almost felt like home, being with Hoseok, bickering, being his passenger princess. “I’m sure Jin or Namjoon can help take me home too.”

“Because no one can take care of you like I can.”

“But you only have one bed in your apartment, so… you’ll take the couch?”

“Hell no, we’re sharing.”

Because there’s nowhere else he’d rather be.

Legs intertwined. His hands around your waist. His face buried in that delicate space between your neck and shoulder. There was nowhere else Hoseok would rather be.

Pulling his face back to lightly rest on your shoulder, he watched as soft puffs of air left your open lips. He could feel your slow heartbeat, how soothing and lulling it was to him. His fingers played with the frayed endings of your sleep shirt, sometimes wanting to touch skin and slipping under to caress your hips and stomach. He liked how it made you shiver, how goosebumps rose on your skin due to his ghost-like caresses.

Hoseok scooted closer, placing his lips firmly against your neck. He quickly glanced to see if he woke you up and smirked when realizing you were still sound asleep. Choosing a perfect spot for his love mark, Hoseok gave your neck a swift kiss before wrapping his lips around your skin and sucking. Once he pulled away, a soft pinkish-red formed around the spot he targeted, making the vexatious boy smile brightly.

“Perfect,” he whispered, about to add more, but you pushed him away.

“Hoseok, stop…” You chided sleepily, sighing in annoyance as he chuckled mischievously and kissed up your neck, away from the newly-forming hickey he made.

“I’m doing nothing wrong, babe. Just proving to myself this isn’t a dream.” Another kiss to your lips. “Proving to myself you’re finally mine.”

Because you fell asleep on his shoulder, and he carried you to bed.

Your week drained you immensely; that much was true.

Hoseok smiled awkwardly as Jin and Namjoon sent him questioning stares, having noticed your soft snores during movie night. “Should I wake her up?” He whispered to them after making eye contact for the third time.

“How in the hell does someone fall asleep during a horror movie?” Jin marveled, raising his finger to poke your cheek.

“Don’t.” Hoseok glared, smacking Jin’s hand away to protect you from his annoying antics. You remained in your deep sleep, blissfully unaware of your surroundings, and snuggled close to Hoseok’s side. Your head rested on his right shoulder, and if it wasn’t for his phone on the dining table far away, he would’ve already taken a photo of you. “Leave her alone.”

“You should take her upstairs, Hobi,” Namjoon suggested, placing the movie on pause. “So she doesn’t end up with a sore neck when she wakes up.”

“To my room?!” Hoseok whisper-shouted in alarm. The thought of you sleeping in his bed made his heart clench. He wouldn’t know how to handle such a situation. “Wouldn’t that… be weird? I don’t know.”

“What, you’d want her to sleep in our beds?” Jin smirked at Hoseok’s instant frown. ”Didn’t think so.”

“I mean, she fell asleep on you,” Namjoon added with a shrug.

Hoseok glowered at them for a moment, at the truth behind their words. Then, he caved. “Okay, I’ll do it.”

“Attaboy,” Jin said as he clapped Hoseok on his free shoulder.

He was careful in his movements, holding your upper back with one arm and the underside of your knees with the other. Hoseok allowed you to rest against his chest, ignoring Jin and Namjoon’s interested stares digging into the back of his skull as he took you to his bedroom. He hoped his actions weren’t seen as weird once you woke up— but you were never the type to be untrusting of Hoseok. He was one of your closest friends for as long as you can remember, and falling asleep against him only proved it further.

“There you go,” he whispered as he rested your body against his mattress.

Hoseok fluffed the pillow under your head and brought his blanket to your chin. He thought you looked absolutely perfect, which tugged on his heartstrings. He let out a humored sigh when noticing a strand of hair covering your face and gently pushed it away.

“What are you doing to me?”

Jin and Namjoon can wait. Hoseok laid down beside you, intertwining your fingers with his own.

He was too infatuated; Hoseok wouldn’t dream of leaving you by yourself in his big and empty room.

Because you help with his nightmares.

A cold sweat ran down his back.

Hoseok paid it no mind as he tried his best not to throw up in bed, his heart racing a mile a minute. He could feel himself shake, and the thought of a simple nightmare having this much of an effect on him made him furious. It was always the same dream too: a flash of shadows surrounding him, screams and blood, and… you, unsurprisingly. You were the focus of his daydreams, so why wouldn’t you be the focus of his nightmares?

It made him sick; how dangerous his mind was to his body.

He became lost in his thoughts, shivering silently, trying to calm down well enough to return to sleep and not disturb you. The latter failed, however; Hoseok almost jolted out of bed at a feather-like touch caressing the ends of his damp hair.

“It’s me, it’s me.” You instantly soothed, running your fingers through his hair. “Another nightmare?”

He didn’t trust himself enough to speak, simply scooting closer to you and hiding his face in your shoulder. You were always patient with him, wrapping him closer to you and whispering sweet nothings to calm him down. Sometimes, you spoke about your dreams and what you wished to explore with him. Other times, you simply sat there quietly, letting out soft hums and eased breaths he could follow until his heartbeat returned at a regular pace.

“Do you feel better?” You asked once he pulled away. “What happened?”

“It’s always the same damned nightmare,” he sounded like he could cry. “I can’t do this anymore.”

“Shh,” you climbed into his lap, wiping away the sweat from his brow line. “Nothing is unbeatable for you, Hobi. And I’ll always be here to help you out every step of the way.”

He leaned forward to rest his forehead on yours. “Thank you.”

You left a soft kiss on his lips. “I’ll stay up with you until you fall asleep.”

Because he’s scared to lose you.

He couldn’t get close enough.

Hoseok was two centimeters from crawling into the hospital bed you rested upon. He cringed as his eyes raked over the tubes and wires going in and out of your body, slightly grateful for your medical coma so you wouldn’t feel the discomfort of them prickling your skin. Bruises and cuts littered your person. A cast covered your left leg and arm, reminding him of the brutal state he found you (and your car) in when receiving the call. His hand grasped your pale one tightly, almost as if there was a risk of losing you if he let go.

He didn’t like it; he needed to be closer.

Hoseok whispered your name. “Please… wake up.” But you didn’t move, not even a twitch to show him you listened. “Please…”

He dropped his head softly against your chest. The thumps of your heart echoed throughout his ears, and Hoseok breathed a sigh of relief, tears slipping from his eyes and onto your hospital gown.

Hoseok knew he would get scolded by your assigned nurse, but at the moment, he frankly didn’t care. He climbed onto the hospital bed, shrugging off his jacket and shoes, keenly aware of your wires and IV drip.

His hands were gentle, loving, as he wrapped you into his arms and breathed in your scent. You didn’t smell of your signature perfume; you reeked of sterile, disinfectant, and metal— hospital. Knowing this almost made Hoseok cry harder. Instead, he made sure every part of you was protected by him: his hands covered your hands, his chin rested upon your head, and his body spooned you and granted you comfort.

Hoseok leaned down to leave a kiss on your cheeks.

“Whenever you want to wake up, Sleeping Beauty, I’ll be waiting.”

And wait, he did. Your nurse didn’t have the heart to wake him when finding his position in your bed the following day.

Because your room is flooded.

“Oi! I don’t even know you!” Your upstairs neighbor, Hoseok of Apt. D403, snapped in shock.

With a huff, you turned around to face him, having barged into his apartment the instant he opened the door. It was a lovely apartment, clean and tidy, but frankly, you would’ve preferred the comfort of your own. “Hello, delighted to meet you, D403! I’m D303, the victim of the apartment you flooded!” You quipped sarcastically with a dangerous amount of charm.

Hoseok’s face fell in recognition. He gulped. “Oh, it’s you.”

“Yeah, it’s me. What, you thought I wouldn’t knock on your door?”

He rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. “Listen… About that, I’m sorry. My pipes are finicky if you turn on the high pressure, and my cat—”

“No need for excuses,” you held a hand up, stopping Hoseok in his tracks. It was insanely amusing how your movements kept him on edge, even if you were a whole head shorter than him. “You flooded my bathroom and bedroom. I’m here for compensation.”

He blanched, his angry demeanor shifting to terror at your words. “I don’t— I don’t have any money right now, though. I’m just a college kid. I barely get by as it is!”

“D403, I’m not asking for money to replace my furniture. That’s what home insurance is for, duh.” Your statement took away the tension from his shoulders. “Buuut,” tension returned, “I don’t have a place to live in for a couple of weeks. So, I’m your new roommate.”

“Oka— wait, what?”

“It’s only natural, you fucked up—”

“Technically, it was the cat.”

“—right, right, your cat fucked up, and now you need to compensate me.” You crossed your arms.

Hoseok shook his head, displeased. “There’s only one room in my apartment.”

“Perfect, I’ll take the bedroom, and you can sleep on the couch!”

Hoseok allowed you to lean around him to pull your luggage into his apartment. He made a face at your words, coughing twice to gain your attention before raising his arms to demonstrate his living room. “Are you blind, D303?”

You finally took in the room you stood in. It was neat and tidy because it was absolutely empty: no couch in sight, along with no tv, no end tables, no lamps, no rugs, etc. Oh my god, you thought, D403 had nothing. And you were just like him, most of your things downstairs still wholly drenched in water.

An awkward silence filled the empty room.

But you didn’t let it waver you. “Right… then I suppose we’ll share the bed, then.”

Oh, if only you were able to record the look on his face.

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