#it was engaging i just wish it could've been done a bit better

[darcytaylor]

I am surprised Luke's team hasn't taken temp of the lukewarm reacting and lack of engagement on all things Luke + gf and worked to establish a new narrative for him. Even a lighthearted podcast guest spot would've made a big difference IMO. And if doing an appearance wasn't something he had in him, a few better instagram posts would've at least started setting up a new story around him and his career.

It took a bit for other season's leads to line up some projects, so they could've easily done a bit of a pivot in effort to clear up some of the subpar press around him in effort to set up whatever is up next for him.

Even his few posts since S3 came out don't seem to be well thought out, or that good of content.

I'm also desperate to know what the other Bridge cast thought about pap pics of him and his GF going out the day of the part 2 premiere lol. At best, it seemed sloppy and horribly timed, and at worst it seemed attention pulling and like he couldn't wait to get off the Bridgerton train.

It is a really sad situation to see play out if I am being honest. I just hope that his team do have a plan and maybe it isn't in motion yet. It could be that Luke's team knew he would be attending Rory's birthday party, so to wait it out just incase of backlash from that.

I don't think his team is stupid (and I know some people disagree), but they have been in the game for a long time. His team would know photo's would be shared on his friends social media accounts and I think it would be worse to have Luke make steps in a certain direction only to see a regression. I think that would have the potential to harm any plan that they may or may not have (while also making Luke's situation worse).

Luke's social media is interesting. I have said this before but I think that his decision to make it professional came a bit too late. He should have set it up that way long before the promo tour. But he probably wasn't completely sure until it was too late, and now it is clear he is having issues with his decision. He doesn't have jobs lined up other than Bridgerton season 4 (that we know of anyway) and his recent posts are subpar.

I also don't think Luke truly understood the potential for people to switch on his friend group (for the longest time people loved Rory, it's also been interesting to see that switch in the fans). He doesn't have the upper hand of his friends keeping his name out their, without it bringing drama and hate.

I am completely on Luke's side to want to distance himself from social media, but he's been put in a hard spot since his friends seem to be unwilling to not capitalize on him (even when they know it will not benefit Luke at this very moment). But I realize that they are also learning about the newfound fame of their friend, so it may just be a learning curve for them as well. (I do realize that their public persona's aren't doing them any favours and it's their actions that have made people come to this conclusion, but sometimes empathy is cool).

I do think that because of the backlash from Rory's birthday, Luke's team did contact him to make sure he is unseen in any of the photo's or video's. Or it's Luke's way of protecting his friends and asking them not to post any photo's or video's of him in them (does this make a difference at this point since they were caught by somebody else? Probably not).

I would assume that all of the Bridgerton cast mates think that the paparazzi walk on the night of the premier was unfortunate, and probably wish for it to have not happened. I agree with what you said - "At best, it seemed sloppy and horribly timed, and at worst it seemed attention pulling and like he couldn't wait to get off the Bridgerton train."

This was a very long winded response but I guess I had lots to say about this topic!

And as always, this is all speculation. I do not know any of these people personally. Could all of this be untrue, true or somewhere in between? Yes. So please keep that in mind.

[spillurhearts]

Not to be rude, but you say dni proship in one post. So, you’re opposed to “problematic ships,” not the right definition of proship but we’ll say it means that here. but then you make another post

https://www.tumblr.com/spillurhearts/760983725468221440?source=share

where the only thing you can describe the ship is as a problematic ship. I mean, ship it, it makes you happy and doesn’t hurt anyone, the real definition of proship. But I’m conflicted. Creepypasta yume/self shippers apply to proshipping, and often times problematic content.

first and last time i'll be involved in any type of discourse! i also apologize for any mistake i can make, english is not my first language. it is also late in france so i'm sorry if my thoughts aren't articulated well.

if i follow your reasoning, everyone shipping with villains then applies to pr.oshi.ppin.g? because of the problematic actions their f/o has done?

exploring darker themes in your selfship doesn't equal to being problematic as people like to over and misuse that term so much, especially if your f/o possedes a 'dark' canon. it's just exploring a more mature way selfship, including the obstacles it can entail: pr.os.hip.pi.ng actively encourages abusive relationships. in this post i said the relationship could be somewhat a bit 'toxic' mainly due to the enemies to lovers arc i have with the pr.o.x.ies but the relationship is nowhere near abusive, it's complex and layered, which is two different things and while my wording could've been better, the meaning behind it still stands. obviously it's going to be a bit dark, again, it's about the canon like most people with villain f/os. there is no issue with exploring it and toying with it. there is an issue when it starts involving downright concerning and disgusting content.

the pro.ship.ping community, in selfship or not, is problematic in the way that it actively encourages incest, pedophilia, abusive relationships etc, not in the way that they think villains are hot and want to kiss them/make them kiss each other. there is a difference in problematic behavior, views and impact and 'problematic' characters - and even then, there's a scale in characters deemed problematic, there's a difference between a canon r4p1st and a bad, way too edgy 2009 oc.

moreover, p.rosh.ipp.ing, which goes along with c.om.ship.ping, denies the fact that fiction has a drastic impact on reality by ignoring scientifical and real facts. the whole "ship it if it doesn't hurt anyone" thing is just plain wrong as it hurts your own perception of the world, of what's real and what's fake and encourages people that might stumble accross it to do the same. i am in no way part of that nor are my self ship which i use to cope, and will forever refuse to be a part of that community.

i feel like you were trying to prove a point, and if you did then you failed miserably. you were rude by trying to make me fit in a plain disgusting community. if you didn't and we're genuinely confused, then i'm sorry.

i'm guessing that you may be a pro.s.hipp.er due to the wording of your ask. next time, please refrain from asking - the only thing i know is there is a type of community that supports a certain type of content that i do not wish to see on my dash and that i do not wish to interact or engage in anyway with. i'm staying in my lane, so stay in yours.

i would also appreciage if there wasn't any follow up to this ask, whether it be in reblogs, ask, dms... whatever. i have made my opinion and stance clear.

[long-suffering-little-spoon]

I JUST REALIZED THAT YOU WATCHED THE OFMD FINALE

H-

How are you feeling 🥲🥲🥲

Pahaha not swimmingly, I'll just say. First I have been doing a bit of the ol' menstruating which means everything is immediately more extreme lol. I've been very conflicted and I'm still not 100% sure how I feel about *THE THING* especially, but this is where I stand right here right now at like 11PM lmao

Under the cut cos this ended up being exponentially longer than I thought it could ever be sorry

Overall I've loved season 2!! It has been so much fun to interact with the community and convert everyone to the Izzy hands cult engage with the fandom week by week. We've had some incredibly beautiful high moments and some lovely refreshing queer joy. I adore the new characters and the developments of our existing ones. I know my negative thoughts here are much more substantial than my positives but this doesn't mean I didn't like it!! I just don't feel the need to describe the positives because I feel like they're pretty obvious and universally recognised, agreed upon and beloved, y'know? (if you want a purely positive thoughts autistic happy flappy hands rant™, i can oblige dw)

Izzy's death is not the only reason I have mixed feelings on the finale. Obviously the episode cuts were a result of HBO'S meddling and isn't the fault of the crew, but the pacing still felt off and everything that happened just kinda washed over me like white noise (haha will wo-). The loose ends were tied up in wholesome ways and if we don't get a season 3 this would be a mostly decent way to end our characters' journeys, if a bit rushed. But then...

Izzy's death. A lot of people feel very very betrayed and hurt by Izzy being killed off, some people don't feel the comfort they used to from this show because of it and no longer want to engage. I don't wanna discount these people's views, more power to them; I cannot stop them from feeling what they feel and doing what they choose. I haven't given up hope on this show but Izzy's death just felt pretty unsatisfying to me?? Putting my bias towards him aside, I get the "killing off mentor at end of second act" trope but I just feel and wish way more could've been done with Izzy. I wanted to see more of him being happy and secure in himself and his found family and his queerness and his disability!! But now I don't get that and it very much stings. I think I could've come to terms more with his death if there had been more time to dwell on it all and get to see the individual characters mourn, but again episode cuts, thanks HBO!! /s. And I know they had the funeral but it still feels like we didn't really get a chance to mourn or treat Izzy's death with the weight it warranted. And I am far too tired especially right now to engage in "is this/is this not bury your gays/disabled character" but I will say I've seen pretty compelling arguments on both sides. As an able-bodied disabled person I don't feel it's fully my place to dictate, but I am upset Izzy was killed right after some big moments in his healing process and being a disabled person and in general just enjoying his life.

Personally I'm not giving up on the show as a whole because the finale left a sour taste in my mouth. I still very much like this show and I'm willing to stick around for a potential season 3 and on future rewatches I'll be able to see the stuff I loved separate from the stuff I didn't. But since looking back now, the latter is most recent, it kind of casts an unpleasant shadow on a very enjoyable season of television.

RIP Izzy Hands you deserved better sweetie, you would've loved Drag Race. And also shoutout to Con O'Neill for a fucking phenomenal performance last season, but especially this one. Izzy was absolutely iconic and a fan favourite for a very good reason, even if imo the writers did him dirty. He was hilarious and a petty little bitch man but then deeply broken and compelling and a genuinely beautiful character with a beautiful journey despite an unfortunate and unjust end?? He slayed.

Wow this was a lot!! Sorry if you were expecting silly goofiness lmfao I got very analysi-ish and a bit melancholic. Thank you so much for the ask JJ, it was a good opportunity to try and express all my thoughts and squish them into something cohesive for both you and me. (And thanks to my friend who I was discussing this with earlier; they helped me get a new perspective by sharing some of his thoughts. Dude, if you're reading this you know who you are, thanks a bunch!!!!)

[beauzos]

Books I read this July

Something I've been wanting to do but kept forgetting so here we are!! An overview of all the books I've read this month!! I don't know if anyone really cares but I love talking about books, so here we are. We have a couple more days of July, but I just started an 800 page book so no shot it gets done this month. I read 10 books this month, and I'm rather pleased about that.

The Wide Wide Sea by Hampton Sides | 4.5/5 stars

I started this in June but finished in July so I'm counting it. One of my favorites this month. I could conceive of it being slightly better or detailed at some parts, so it's not a 5/5, but it's damn close. Sides has a great and engaging nonfiction style that this makes book incredibly approachable for anybody. It's very well-researched and does a great job unveiling the final journey that Captain Cook took before his death in Hawaii.

I loved this book because it clarified a lot of things about Cook. Something I thought was interesting was how rarely he ever judged the Native peoples he came into contact with. Because of that, you actually get such an intimate feel for who these people actually were at the time because he just accepted their practices, religion, and so on. He's still a colonizer, don't get me or this book wrong, but I've never really seen a book about someone like Cook where they didn't immediately hate the people they encountered or tried to "fix" or proselytize to them. I found that to be a very interesting dynamic.

It was such a unique historical experience reading this book because he just observed and impartially participated in their goings-on. I've never quite seen anything like it.

I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Two Old Women by Velma Wallis | 5/5 stars

This one I loved. This is a telling of an Alaskan Native legend about two old women who were abandoned by their tribe in the winter due to famine, and how they fought to survive, eventually returning to their tribe and helping them survive in return.

Really short, very simple. I don't have a lot to say, I just thought the story was great and had really solid emotional impact for its length. Easy to breeze through, can read this in an hour or so. Definitely recommend checking out.

Antelope Woman by Louise Erdrich | 3.5/5 stars

I read this one after my best friend told me Stephen Graham Jones took inspiration from it for The Only Good Indians. I only read Tracks by Erdrich and that was back in 2017 and I did not love it, but I liked her style. I think this one is better. Something about it doesn't fully work, and I wish honestly the book had been about the family story that gets rushed through in chapter 1, but the premise is super interesting and Erdrich's style is incredible.

She writes in a way that makes everything feel incredibly mythic. The characters are interesting and the story is pretty good. I love Sweetheart Calico as a character and I see how she could've inspired Jones for Elk Head Woman in TOGI.

The amount of incest was a bit strange though.

Close Range: Wyoming Stories by Annie Proulx | 3/5 stars

This one I have mixed feelings on. Annie Proulx has a great style but I had trouble getting into a lot of the stories. A lot of the stories feel kinda samey with all the cheating, rape, and sexual harrassment. The best of those stories is the one about the rodeo bull rider, that was legitimately a great story. My favorite of the set overall is Brokeback Mountain. It stands miles above the other ones and is what makes the book 3 stars instead of 2. It by itself is a solid 5/5.

I would revisit some of these stories but I just struggled to get into the book overall. Not bad though.

The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry | 2.5/5 stars

Oh, brother. This one. I was really excited for this one because it's a new Western that's been getting a lot of buzz and then it was nottt good. Extremely rushed pacing early on, insta-love romance, terribly developed romance. Why would I even care about these two-levels of bad development.

The prose is fine. Very casual, kinda reminds me of a mix of Annie Proulx and Cormac McCarthy. It carries the book because there isn't much to get attached to otherwise. The ending renders the entire book pointless. If I care about their relationship then maybe it'd mean something.

Mid as fuck. Beginning is the worst bit but if the ending had stuck the landing it could have been 3 stars.

The Art Thief by Michael Finkel | 3/5 stars

This was the non-fiction pick at Barnes & Noble for July. I picked it up because this is new in paperback, and it came with sprayed edges, yellow with bats printed on the side. I read it, and it was fine. That's about all I can really say. There's something missing from this book, but as to what it is, I have no idea. It's readable and the story is interesting enough, but I guess I'm just more interested in hardcore history non-fiction books.

But I'd never heard of this guy before; he stole over 200 pieces of art from museums across Europe with his girlfriend and kept them all in his bedroom. The ease in which they managed to steal these artworks is incredible.

It's not my usual kind of non-fiction read. But it wasn't bad. It's interesting, it's a wild story, and it was fine.

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton | 3/5 stars

This one turned out better than I expected. I read it because I had a weird dream about being super moved by Edith Wharton's writing and then found out she did a novel on Gilded Age New York so couldn't pass it up. First half of the book is painfully boring. I don't like Edith Wharton's style of narration, but eventually, the characters start to carry it and you get invested in this stupid rich white people drama. I kinda loved the ending, though it also disappointed me-- but I think it was brilliantly done and I couldn't ask for it to be changed.

Newland Archer is so despicable at points yet terribly sympathetic as a protagonist, I find him SO interesting because of that. I really loved Ellen Olenska and Catherine Mingott too. The cast was honestly pretty solid. I'm glad I didn't give up on it, but it didn't wow me.

But it was enlightening to see the culture of the NYC elite during the Gilded Age. it's what I was there for. It's white people drama, and that's all, really, but it's good stuff.

West by Carys Davies | 2/5 stars

I found out about this one after seeing a customer come up with it in my line a while back. Found out it was a Western and ordered it for myself. Real itty bitty book, only 150 pages, and honestly, I think the book would be improved by being a full-length novel-- or, that it is to say, about double the pages, at least.

I thought the premise was interesting but it doesn't really go anywhere. The father goes West to find proof that giant beasts exist after dinosaur bones are discovered in Kentucky, searches fruitlessly for a year, then dies, and that's it. I wanted an actual journey, I suppose.

The way the daughter's half of the story veers into multiple pedophiles preying on her was weird as hell and I'm not sure it contributed very much beyond the ending. I think the inclusion is fine, it just feels super underbaked in a short novella like this and needs some tweaking.

It just kind of ends with a whimper and that's that. Woefully underdeveloped, but I didn't hate it. I just finished it and went "huh." and that was it.

Navola by Paolo Bacigalupi | 2.5/5 stars

Man what the fuck.

The book is both really bad and really good. Really boring, hard to get into, pseudo incest subplot making me want to DNF after the story started getting through. But I'd already read 300 pages, so I forged on and finished it. The book gets really good at the end, but at what cost to my sanity?

I did a whole review of this before. Look at it here. I don't feel like repeating myself. The book would be 3 or even 4 stars without the pseudo incest or the boring start.

President Garfield by C. W. Goodyear | 3.5/5 stars

This one took me a while to get through because I got sick in the middle of it. It was a bit dry, but not dense, but still took me over a week. I thought it was very interesting and informative-- Garfield's era reminds me, in some ways, of our current situation, so it's always neat to compare. He was a very interesting man, and I wonder what could've been had he been able to carry out his presidency; he died only six months into his term. Pretty good. Close to four stars but not quite. I felt some things could've been elaborated on more, but overall, it was well written.

The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris | tba

I have no shot at finishing this by the end of July, the fucker is 800 pages. But Teddy Roosevelt is one of the most interesting people to ever become president, so I look forward to learning more about him.

[heroes-in-the-dark]

You have been writing HitD for quite some time now. Is there any decisions you would have wished to change in the past but can't really do so now? Maybe in terms of plot/characters/writing wise?

That's a good question! I've wondered about stuff like this quite a bit in the past. I don't have too many regrets—more little things.

Off the top of my head, I wish I'd done more to explore the League and how they work together early on in the series. It feels like I didn't really get to work with the League as a whole until way late in the series, with the MLA. Early writer me was really focused on working off of canon content, so the jump from being part of the League to getting involved with the yakuza feels fast in hindsight.

That being said, im happy with how the Overhaul arc went. I don't think I'd change anything there.

The arc after that, though, with Dabi, mightve been a bit too long. I'm sure there were things I could've compressed there for better story flow, idk.

All the while, we really didn't get much on the hero side. I did briefly consider compiling the side chapters, expanding on them, and even making them into a separate story-ish thing that's connected with HitD, like how Ao3 can have multiple works in a collection. That didn't happen, but I do still have several side stories planned.

I wish... I'd done more with Shigaraki. It felt like there just wasn't enough time with him, and that he did so much on his own. Again, that's because I was so adamant about following canon, but I would've had fun exploring more of Shigaraki. I dunno, I wanna make whatever end he has in store for him more believable.

As for recent developments? It's a little thing, but I wished I'd had Tsuyu face Toga during the war. Because Tsuyu actually has a better understanding of Tokoyami, I feel, and she has about as much engagement with Toga as Uraraka.

Ahhh, but let's just see what developments unfold from here! Thanks for the ask!

[taegularities]

ah Rid Rid Rid i missed you 😭🧡 there's so much i wanna cover, i tried do catch up on all you've been up to and my god honey i'm so sorry that you were feeling down 🫂 it's absolutely okay and understandable because tumblr is not the same, engagement is not the same and it does get lonely here, i wish you wouldn't have to encourage anyone to give feedback for what you post, for teasers or ideas but i'm really hoping that it did and does help 🥺 I AM ABSOLUTELY 100000% EXCITED FOR CMI AND YOUR WIPS, there're so many times throughout each day when i think about you and your stories and lately cmi has been really occupying my thoughts bc i try to imagine what's gonna happen 🥹

and happy birthday to taegularities 🧡🎉💫 i'm so amazed that you've done so much, wrote so many stories and have this community here, love, you deserve a huge applause for those 2 years and i wish you all the years to come (as many as you want) to be happy, colourful, full of lovely messages and feedbacks, and the least lonely, like at all 🫂 I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY IF I FOLLOWED YOU AFTER READING JUST CHANGES IN BETWEEN OR RIGHT AMOUNT OF WRONGS TOO but i felt so much in my heart, i was hit instantly with this sense that my heart knows your type of storytelling as if it was my own thought, emotion, i'd never felt this much connection with any writing ever before and i instantly followed you, i knew i had to eat up every word you'd written and i'm on this journey ever since, following taegularities back then was the best i could've done on tumblr but months later i set up this new blog and decided to show myself to you and it's the close 2nd place 🥹 as for many it took a lot of courage but you know it already i adore you and you're so amazing and lovely and so worth leaving the comfort zone to be able to show you the appreciation and love we have for you 🧡

ah godddd with that being said i'm so so sorry that i've been mia so much, and not responsive to what you've been putting up, i have to catch up on the 2nd cmi teaser and i'm waiting for a better time to write you a feedback of silk&stones that it deserves BC IT DESERVES A LOT OF AMAZING WORDS 😭 it's just a rough time for me in every aspect bc i'm moving this week (and i always hate doing that) and i'm managing my last days here with my mum that i love dearly, andd.. i'm gonna start a new job that i got, in a week and a half... it's not exactly in a place that i've wanted but it is the new profession that i said i wanted, so i'm excited that i can start working in that new field and learn and maybe later end up in a place that i'd want 🙏 but i'm also extremely nervous bc it's very new and not what i've studied for all those years 😂 so i'm just very overwhelmed but i know that i will come back as much as possible and try to be active (lowkey i'm checking if you're alive daily 🫶) and catch up and also be here to support you 🧡

I'M ABSOLUTELY NOT GOING ANYWHERE

so sorry for this being so long to everyone, love you Rid so so much 🧡 i missed you really, how's the situation with your new job? and how're THE DATES??? I'M SO NOSY AM I NOT 😈

C! HI, I MISSED YOU, TOO !!!!! ahhh, thank you 🫂 things (not just on tumblr, but irl, too) are still not the way they should be, but i've decided to not be too negative about everything and just vibe. i want to show y'all my best side, but i'll still always be honest about everything. i've also been talking to my mom a lot and doing stuff irl, so that helps a bit. you do so much for me, though, c !! i'm so so thankful for every message, every review and every lovely comment from you. and i know how much you love cmi, so that's definitely inspiring and helpful when i lose faith in myself or my writing 🥺

gosh, yes happy birthday to taegularities 😭 !! i'm genuinely so thankful for this lovely community... i don't think i'd still be here without you guys <3 so thank you. and gosh, whether you came after cib or raow, i'm just so damn thankful that you're here. your presence has been a great comfort. i'm worth leaving the comfort zone? i'm so so happy to hear that, and so happy i can provide such a safe space for you 🥺

and don't apologise about being mia at all !!! god, you've been doing so much, i'm so proud of you for powering through it all. a new place to live, a new job, are you kidding, that's amazing !!! please take your time with the teaser, feedback or any writing at all, you sound hella busy 🥺 i hope you get to relax properly very soon, and that you rest and hydrate enough. manifesting a good time at your job and an even better place later on !! thank you for checking on me btw 😭 i'm, surprisingly, still alive :') </3

my new job is probably going to start in april! i sent an email accepting it just today, so i'll see how that pans out. and the dates ugh. we went iceskating last week and it was genuinely beautiful. but rn, tbh... we're on a break, and not really talking to each other, bc he said a few things that don't align with my thinking and mentality at all, so... no particular updates so far. i'll let you know what happens in the future, though :') i love you, dearest c <333

[more-than-a-princess]

Continued from here for @scarlxtleaves (I can't edit the previous post because I think it was done with legacy editor and I use beta editor)

"I'm not sure if I'm an efficient ruler yet," Sonia admitted, switching lanes in order to pass a particularly slow truck on the highway. There were speed limits of course, but they were more like guidelines. And the more distance they put between the car and the manor, the greater chance they had of not getting caught. Or at least, not getting caught for a few days, until the group found some way to track them, reach them, and likely be torn between relief and berating the two of them for running off.

Sonia cast a quick, sideways glance to Lupin: considering how he had plan A and contingency plans that often didn't look like contingencies at all, surely he must have considered what would transpire once their holiday getaway ended. Whether they'd seen everything they wished to or they were uncovered early, what did he plan to do? How did he plan to explain it? Or would that task be put squarely on her shoulders? Smoothing over conflict was part of the royal skillset, and while she could do it Sonia still wondered how he'd steer the situation into some sort of resolution.

Preferably better than her own steering, at least where the car was concerned: it was precise and no one was hurt, but with Tokyo well behind them, she could now drive as if she were on a simulated battlefield: carefully weaving with both hands on the wheel and adrenaline in her veins. "I suppose others would be impressed by our fluency in Japanese, but I feel that's almost impolite in a way. Whenever you visit another country where the citizens speak in foreign tongues, it is most appropriate to learn as much as you can so you might communicate more efficiently. Novoselic is a bit of an anomaly: Japanese is the fourth most popular language at home, with French and Italian, and then English, that are spoken more frequently."

But she paused her criticism of tourists to laugh at Lupin's warning. Maybe if she hadn't needed both hands to drive, she could've hid her amusement behind a feminine giggle and a well-placed hand over her mouth. But his advice came years too late, and she was both less-naïve and far more experienced in the exact issue he'd put forth. "I think the term you're searching for is 'gaijin-hunter,' Mr. Lupin!" She told him, as soon as she'd been able to take a breath. "Truthfully, I had a boy stalk me for the greater part of three years in high school, and he was a classmate. And it's not just boys, either: women can be equally interested in, as you put it, 'beautiful foreigners.'"

She grinned as she switched lanes, moving the car into the appropriate exit lane. "Should I look out for you too then, as we obtain food and petrol?" She asked playfully, turning at the light and stopping at a nearby station attached to a FamilyMart. With a 7-Eleven across the street should they need it, it looked like the small town they'd chosen would serve them well. It was only when she'd put the car into park that she'd realized what she'd done: she'd inadvertently called him a beautiful foreigner.

That wasn't exactly a lie.

"Shall we go in and find something to eat?" Sonia asked him in French, quickly getting out of the car. Hopefully she changed the flow of the conversation just as quickly: the last thing she needed to do was make him feel uncomfortable. "I've always seen on television programs that sandwiches are best whilst engaging in long drives, but I've never had the opportunity to indulge in such things." Not when hampers had always been prepared for her, or she ate on the train or plane.

[numericalbridge]

TOH rewatch semi-liveblog. Season 1 part 4

episodes 16-19 + overall season 1 thoughts

Episode 16

- Ok, actually a pretty good and fun episode. But alas Willow is barely there, and i wish Gus and King's subplot was more focused on Gus since King has plenty of development.

- King saying that Luz is doing a favor for Camila by keeping the truth from her... considering the season 2 revelation about him... Yeah, the show is good with cool parallels and calls forward/back like this one, but really not great with the pacing of the character arcs or balancing the cast.

- Nooo, Amity beating up Hooty, lol

- Eda having a watch with a picture of King is cute.

Episode 17

- Also a pretty good episode, but has a bit too much silliness for my personal taste. When Amity admits to being like Bosha in the past it fits the first episodes much better, and it should've been brought up earlier.

- Not sure how i feel about this 'Willow became more popular because she felt more confident after patching things with Amity". I guess if we actually saw how the majority of the students were treating her before? Or if in this epsiode she was shown reaching out to less popular kids, or if Amity was shown helping her a bit in the previous episode (would work better with the Labirinth Runners too). Yeah, i think Understanding Willow should've been placed earlier in the season.

- What's with the random demon kid who is Willow's biggest fanboy?

i think Hunter has a tough competition there.

- Gus should've had more moments in this episode too, especially in the regards of his friendship with Willow. And Amity's sports backstory was again kinda just there for the sports episode meta joke, but the time could've been better spend on other things.

- Why are they so mean to Hooty yet again.

Episode 18

- First mention of the Day of Unity. I think this intro to Belos and his ideology and DoU works just fine, but if there were whispers about DoU earlier in the season it would've been cool too.

- First time i've watched i thought Hooty straight up murdered most of those scouts and then played the tea party with their corpses. It was even shocking/unpleasant to watch because of it, lol.

(also i was introduced to toh through a gifset of the Eda vs Lilith fight in the Convention episode, and it initially gave me an impression of a much more mature show because from the gifs i assumed Eda killed Lilith there too, when the Hooty looking spell 'ate' Lilith, lol)

- Maybe i've missed something, but how is Eda's gem actually linked to the curse? What even is that gem?

- Eda vs Lilith fight is A+ and Belos' moments are also great.

Episode 19

- I really like the detail that officially this is supposed to be the first petrification in 30 years, yet we see that the wild witches who were brought into the Castle earlier are already petrified.

- I was actually kinda intrigued by the 3 wild witches/demons who were petrified, especially the one in the classic witch hat who seemed quite defiant in death.

- Eda tries to convince Luz to go to the Human Realm, but what about King?

- Belos vs Luz fight is also excellent.

- The Blights' mild reaction to Eda's transformation in the flashback is so funny in retrospect (obviously they couldn't animated the background characters, but still funny).

- Such an important moment for Willow and Gus to interfere and try to save Eda, and yet, nothing is done with the aftermath of it or with their relationship with Eda that was subtly present through out this season. Like, grrrrrrrrr

----

Conclusion:

Episodes 16-19 are actually good again, especially episodes 18-19 are great and gave hope for better developments in season 2.

----

Season 1 thoughts:

Just writing wise it is mostly fine. Most characters are really good or have potential to be good with deeper development. Luz and King, Luz and Willow and Gus when they are allowed to interact, and Eda and Lilith are really good character dynamics. Humor is probably more engaging for the target audience, but there are moments that are funny even for an adult. The worldbuilding is not the strongest, but i think it's ok for what it is, since the show's storytelling is very stylized. I don't think we needed the full map of the Isles or anything like that. Some things about the schooling system and the coven/goverment system and propaganda are pretty well done for a cartoon.

But there are already problems with certain racist character designs, shallow attempts at body diversity, with sidelining Willow and Gus, especially Gus, and not allowing Luz to have deeper moments with them, and with prioritizing of the white characters; and in general the pacing of the character arcs and balancing the cast are not great, and sometimes it feels like the writers had big episodes and moments planned and perfected and invented some clever call backs/call forwards, but actually connecting those big moments isn't that interesting to them so many of the character arcs end up unfocused and disjointed. Relatively minor complain compared to the rest, but most of the season 1 villains and one-off antagonists are less humanoid demons or creatures and that kinda goes against the lore and the bigger picture of the show. (In retrospect there also seems to be quite a lot of 'missed opportunities' to introduce season 2-3 lore and characters or dynamics but i wouldn't hold it against the show).

Tbh if the rest of the show was like the first season i would've watched it casually, but wouldn't care about it very much.

Best episodes: 18-19 The worst episode: 11

[october-faye]

I love you, Victoria St Clair. I can absolutely handle a woman's success. I get off on it, even. Please marry me after you're done divorcing your husband. 😍

Rachel agrees to help Victoria get her soon-to-be ex-husband to stop holding up the divorce. There's no pre-nup, so this is going to take some finesse. Rachel plans to sue the man's gambling problem and love of quick fixes against him.

Ingrid is eating by herself. She sees her mentee from the retreat laughing and joking with two friends. They look like a younger version of the Ingrid-Tyler-Rachel trio. It's sweet and a little sad. Her friendship group is one of the better things to come out of the show, so I miss it, even though I know the rift is temporary.

Dan shows up and is, once again, surprised when everyone hates him. Ingrid spots Jeff, and they're both called over to the boss' table over a work matter. They have a clever bit of banter on the way up, but I'm still leaning heavily towards 'eh' on this storyline.

Blah, blah, law talk. I didn't pay attention.

Rachel tricks Victoria's husband into thinking the property he hopes to get in the divorce is full of mould, bugs and slime. It works because the man's head is also apparently full of mould, bugs and slime. Rachel has Season 1 Veronica Mars energy. This must be why I like her so much.

Jeff and Ingrid finally get time to talk. They do this by the elevators at work because, as we've established, they're both kinda stupid. He opens by telling Ingrid she's right, which probably makes her instantly moist.

They have a thinly veiled discussion about Jeff needing to be more cautious and less flirtatious. Jeff apologises for his part in kissing Ingrid at the retreat. He tells her she makes him a better lawyer (and one day, maybe even a better man). It's touching, but I don't trust this man one bit. They part on friendly terms.

When Ingrid gets to the office, she's found that Nick has sent her a dress. It's not the pink one she asked him to send. It's lovely, but not her style.

Still, she looks great in it once she gets to the Gala. I love the hair - Princess Leia vibes.

Tyler loses his cool during his interview and openly calls his old firm 'racist'. Then he storms off.

Z turns up at the Parsons, Valentine and Hunt Diversity Gala. I missed that guy! He and Ingrid have some good banter before the event begins.

Marty gives Ingrid a special achievement award for her commitment and hard work. It's pure posturing and PR to divert attention away from their recent bad press courtesy of Tyler and their firm's culture of racism and exclusion. They've even written Ingrid's acceptance speech for her. In it, she has to refer to what happened with Tyler and Dan as a workplace 'kerfuffle' and not something that reflects on the firm.

Then they make her say that the firm is a great place for people of colour and that she's a 'proud Asian American female lawyer'.

I feel genuinely bad for her. The whole thing is so degrading. Z realises what they're doing to her, and he's not impressed. Nick and her parents coo over the award, but Ingrid storms out.

Tyler and Rachel have drinks at their favourite bar and hey make a point of checking out the friendly gay bartender and... oh, no.

Paralegal Justin comes in to drag Rachel to her interview. Tyler already guessed the two were hooking up. Heh.

Rachel and Paralegal Justin leave. The bartender sits with Tyler and you know where this is going. Damn it.

Ingrid has a nice scene in the women's bathroom with her mother. She admits that her life isn't what she thought it would be. She's wearing a dress she didn't pick and reading words she didn't write. When her back is turned, her mom spots the engagement ring box and just opens it. Her mother pretends she didn't see anything and encourages her to be true to herself.

I wish we had more scenes with Ingrid's family. Her sister has been pretty pointless to the plot, unfortunately, but I wish we could've seen more from the family Yun.

Paralegal Justin gives Rachel a pep talk outside her interview. I'm getting high off second-hand validation.

Tyler cheats on his boyfriend with the bartender. My feelings are mixed.

The cheating sucks. I don't think it's in character for Tyler, considering he's usually the voice of reason and the only one of the three in a stable relationship. Tyler is also the one who makes the first move. Are they maybe doing this to knock the character off his high horse?

On the other hand, the scene is well done. Props to Tyler's lovely singing voice. He plays piano and sings Stay by Rihanna (love that song) and I don't blame the bartender for being enamoured.

I also appreciate the show having a scene with two black, gay men kissing and getting all hot and heavy. Shows like this often include gay characters, but rarely let them be passionate and sexual with each other the way the hetero couples are in nearly every episode. Though, I do note that I don't remember Tyler and Anthony doing more than share the occasional peck, which is disappointing.

Episode 7 of Partner Track.

I'm okay. I am o-kay.

So, Ingrid said yes to Nick's proposal. Of course.

The engagement ring has been in his family for a century, which I suppose means his mother wore it. He mentions her in this scene, so I'd assume so. But his parents were apparently very unhappy and chronically unfaithful. I'm getting some foreshadowing.

Ingrid refuses to wear the ring to the office because she's worried it might hurt her chances of becoming partner. It's a valid concern due to the workplace discrimination experienced by women once they get married/have kids. But I do desperately want to see Jeff's reaction to that fuck-off huge diamond.

Ingrid is sad about the rift between her and Rachel and Tyler. It's even worse in the office, because Rachel is giving her the cold shoulder. Ingrid talks it out with her secretary, Margo. Margo knows about the engagement and about Ingrid's hot smexy tension with Jeff. Ingrid admits she isn't sure about Nick, but didn't feel like she could say 'no' to the proposal because he's so nice, and she was swept up in the moment.

Fucking Hell.

I love flawed characters, but she's an idiot. There is literally nothing to lose by asking Nick to slow things down, and everything to lose by letting this car crash play out. It's not even interesting stupidity.

Things are going better with Rachel and Paralegal Justin. She's planning to wear glasses (with clear lenses, her eyesight is fine) to her interview with the theatre company. Paralegal Justin encourages her to just be herself.

Tyler is trying to decompress at home. His Instagram Live where he quit the firm went viral, but he's had no job offers. His boyfriend Anthony has arranged an interview with the press on the subject of racist microaggressions at work.

Ingrid and Rachel have to work together on a case. Rachel is refusing to forgive Ingrid for her (admittedly small but still relevant) role in the firm screwing over Tyler. Rachel accuses Ingrid of being self-involved, (which... I mean yeah).

Rachel then blurts out that she's sleeping with Paralegal Justin just as the man himself walks in escorting Victoria St Clair. Victoria has a funny reaction, looking Paralegal Justin up and down, and telling Rachel she could do worse. LOL.

Ingrid leaves the office after giving Paralegal Justin some side-eye. Sit down, girl. Their office romance is only about 2% as destructive as what you've got going on.

[disconnected-dragon]

So I watched Eternals. Finally got around to typing my thoughts up.

The instant I saw Ikaris I thought "oh, knockoff Homelander from The Boys!" Because they can both fly and shoot lasers out of their eyes and have super strength and my untreated ADHD is weird about connections like that.....so when he turned out to actually be knockoff Homelander from The Boys, I was not shocked in the slightest. Go fly into the sun you bizarro creep.

Ezra Miller was good. Liked him. His costumes were mmm gender perfection. I didn't like how he basically made Jonestown over 20 generations and then just abandoned those people, leaving them with no survival skills or knowledge of the outside world at all, so they were probably picked off by wild animals or hunger or thirst. But I'm probably just thinking too hard abt this. Though I do wish tumblr would stop filling the tag with him a bit. I wanna talk about other characters, like--

Sprite wasn't robbed, they were mugged in broad daylight on a crowded intersection. They were a prime they/them transmasculine icon and they just make them evil and she/her them? And then try to be all like "ohhh I just wanna grow up" because "ahahaha, Peter Pan!" after comparing them to Tinker Bell, breaking the fucking metaphor BEFORE THEY EVEN MADE IT EXPLICIT?! And shoehorn this creepy age gap love relationship with Ikaris in when they're clearly sapphic coded-- I mean what else could could expect from Marvel, but still! C'mon! I can't have one nice thing in a movie unless it's named Dune and directed by Denis Villenuve, can't I?

Sirci was ok. I still don't know how to spell her name tho. It was nice to see an Asian American actress leading the movie, but-- tbh she was kinda bland. Her pushed romance with Ikaris sort of irked me, and she didn't seem to really be defined beyond her romances? Like she had Kit Harrington or knockoff Homelander from The Boys and she killed a god somewhere in between with her poorly defined powers. She fucking killed a god and I can't say anything about her. Great. Love that journey for us.

Mekkari my beloved. My HOH beloved. She's such a massive dork, with her collection of antiques and amulents and so many cute fangirl shit I love her. I wish we'd seen how she got that Jade Tablet instead of Ikaris and Sirci time. (Her relationship with Druig actually had more chemistry then Sirci/Ikaris but that's besides the point....) Also, she wasn't seen as a burden or lesser then because she was deaf, and the others signing to her-- ok this might be me misremembering, since I did watch this movie a few days ago, but I think the characters also made an effort to look her in the face and make eye contact with her. IDK I thought that was nice.

I like how Thena and Gilga's relationship wasn't explicitly romantic love. There were some undertones of romance, but it could be read as queerplatonic or parental. Gliga took care of Thena because he loved her like a friend, and she loved him like a friend. And then that platonic love was what motivated Thena to retake her mind and slay the Deviant. I like that. That was really cool. Speaking of the Deviant--

I wish we'd seen more of it. Why'd it get like that? Who made it like that? Was it the Red Guy God playing like 4D chess to test his Eternals, was it because humans' thinky energy had gotten so strong it warped it? Why did it look human, how was it able to mimic Mom Eternals'/Gilga's voice? Should I just read the zillionth run of comics? What's the point here?

Overall, it was a ehhhhh Marvel movie. I liked the characters, but it was sort of-- rushed? I think it would've worked better as a miniseries instead of a two hour movie, since it was trying to juggle all these things at once. The director seems like a nice lady, but she just tried to do a bit too much at one time I think.

The end credits scene with Harry Styles was a....trip tho.

So, just, TL;DR: Sprite deserved better. #LetSpriteUseThey/ThemPronouns.

[weakforarwen]

More fic recs! I have to share them before I forget what I read. Arwen fics are usually so short that I can read many of them in half an hour...

A Time of Joy by Nebula5030: This is a baby fic, but it's very cute! It has Gwen and Merlin plotting together, an oblivious and stressed out father-to-be Arthur, Arwen (they're very cute but honestly not super prominent), uncle Elyan!, and the other Knights as well. It's very well-written, with great characterization.

say it first by sadpendragon: I don't read a lot of modern day Arwen fics but I liked this one. Gwen was a bit OOC (on purpose, I believe), but modern day Gwen would probably be like this Gwen anyway. I liked that Arthur was aware of how shitty Uther was and chose to free himself from his father's influence.

The Rising Sun by AliveandMel: Another modern day fic. As it often seems to be the case, Arthur's characterization was better and more accurate than Gwen's imo. I think fic Gwen is usually more aloof and assertive than real Gwen, specifically in her relationship with Arthur. But the story's very sweet from Arthur's pov.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place by 1917farmgirl: Gwen isn't even in this story though her and Arthur are mentioned in the beginning. It's kind of a dark fic and it's just Merthur (platonic). I'm not sure how I feel about it, but it was interesting, engaging, and well-written.

What the Heart Wants by 1917farmgirl: By the same author, baby fic, interesting to read, well-written, Merthur-centric, again not sure how I feel about Merlin's characterization, Gwen appears in the beginning, I liked Gwen, Arthur, and Arwen's characterizations.

Please Believe That I Speak True by Moonflower999: I branched out with this one. There's only a trace amount of post-5.09 Arwen (but it was very much appreciated), a good scene between Gaius and Merlin (spot-on characterization) - the rest was Merlin and Mordred. I liked that Merlin was a bit angry Arthur forgot about him after Gwen was freed from Morgana, and that he felt torn between just being happy that he helped his friends and wishing for acknowledgement of some kind - and also torn between wanting to trust Mordred and thinking he shouldn't. I think Mordred's characterization was pretty good and I liked that he was given a chance to change his fate; I liked that Merlin decided to trust Mordred. Honestly, Mordred and Merlin had many similarities and an interesting dynamic that the show did very little with (some of the most interesting parts of season 5 were Mordred, Mordred and Merlin, and Mordred and Morgana - but, unsurprisingly, the writers fucked it up). Merlin and Mordred had good chemistry, some good scenes together, and Mordred clearly admired Merlin a lot, so it wasn't a stretch to imagine he could've felt more for him. The romance in this fic happened a bit too abruptly but it was very well-done, in a way that felt truthful to both Merlin and Mordred. I enjoyed this fic a lot. It was one of the best and most memorable Merlin (the series) fics I've read so far. I wouldn't mind reading more fics like this. I don't care for Merthur-centric fics, but maybe fics with Merlin and Mordred, Gwaine, or Lancelot could be interesting.

The Queen and the Frog by writerwriting: This was the craziest yet most brilliant fic I never expected to read, my second favorite after the previous one. It's crack but so well-done and thought-out it could almost be canon. I loved Merlin's characterization, loved the humor and genius of the plot, loved Gwen's characterization though it was crack in many places, loved Gaius's characterization, loved Gwen and Merlin's friendship, loved the more serious ending and how the writer chose to make a statement that wrapped things up so beautifully and made the whole fic feel even more like it should've been canon.

Naming Contest by silence_since_silence: Super short but cute and sweet. Just read it. It'll only take a second.

A Golden End by tailysnaily: Uncle Merlin... that's it. I don't know how I ended up reading so many Arwen baby fics, but, yeah, this was cute and super short.

Please by BlackMamba: Just well-written Arwen smut, that's all.

There's a lot more Merlin than Arwen on these fics, but I still enjoyed them and wanted to rec them. I think my recs are pretty diverse this time so there's probably something in here for everyone. Maybe the Mordred/Merlin fic isn't for everyone, but please read The Queen and the Frog at least!, and A Time of Joy.

Dunno if these fics are massively popular and everyone's already read them, but I'm sure I'm not the only newbie to Merlin.

[jakeperalta]

what would you have done with ayitl? or what would you have liked to see?

i mean i'd love to see all the characters just happy and thriving but obviously there needs to be some level of conflict. generally, the biggest issue is that it's treated too much like a replacement season 7, which means the characters and plotlines are sort of stunted at where they're left a decade earlier, often with little explanation. i don’t have many specific ideas of what i would have included, more just ways i would want to change what we got. i've only watched it once (besides seeing gifs/rewatching the rogan scenes for gif making purposes) so i don't remember that many exacts, but some big things i would've liked to have seen done differently:

not making rory into a total failure. like fair enough show her struggling with something but to just bring all her worst traits to the forefront is so frustrating. i didn't watch seven years of her being hardworking and passionate and caring only to lose all that as an adult!! i remember reading dan palladino said something about how rory's career in ayitl reflects the struggles of print journalism like i don't care about that! literally no one watches gilmore girls for the realistic takes on society! ideally, i would've had her have a successful career and then i can allow her love life being a mess.

on a similar note, logan not being regressed to his university self for no good reason??? like, where is the guy who stood up to his family and walked out when they said rory wasn't good enough, who literally proposed to rory, who rejected his family business to go out on his own?? he could still have his flaws but reducing him to just being the huntzberger heir who does everything his family wants makes absolutely no sense.

(personally, as a fan of them, i'd be very interested in seeing the development of them reconnecting as opposed to the affair)

let paris and doyle stay together! that just felt like an added unnecessary way to be like "yeah life is actually a bit worse than it seemed on the original show"

i don't have specifics about what i did want from lorelai and luke but i guess just.. better communication? that was never their strong point in the main show and if anything they've somehow got worse?? it makes no sense that they've supposedly been together for a decade but have never got married (despite being engaged the first time round) or discussed having more kids

the final four words!!!!! i don't mind rory being pregnant but i wish it could've been done differently. the whole full circle single mum thing is just kinda depressing (and, again, doesn't make sense when logan has had three previous seasons worth of character development to show that he's no christopher). maybe the four words could've been the ending to the first episode and then we see rory work through her love life issues? or even they're still the final four words but in a happier context (she and logan are properly committed again or even someone else) and it feels like everything has been a culmination towards this final happy moment

oh and no stars hollow musical. nobody needed that.

[jay-zzz87]

Prompt: Luz comes back

I feel angsty today so have some hard written angst. I tried not to hold back so if you cry, whoops. Don't worry, there's other stuff at the end.

3 years

It's been 3 years since Luz left the demon realm, and now she's making her way back. Camila was stern on when Luz could return, but after some discussions, she allowed Luz to go back after she graduated. Luz was now 18 and ready to go back to the Boiling Isles. Luz couldn't believe it's been 3 years since she left. She grabbed the key from a drawer in her desk and pressed the eye. The portal unfolded and in she went. Luz felt tears in her eyes as she look to the side to find the owl house. She immediately ran to the front, only to be greeted by the infamous bird tube.

Hooty: LUZ

Luz: HOOTY

Hooty wrapped around Luz and squeezed her a bit too hard. He quickly released her and Luz caught her breath.

Hooty: IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU. WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU EVERYDAY. I CAN'T WAIT TO SHOW. THE COOL THINGS I'VE DONE.

Luz: I can't wait to here all about it but where's Eda and King?

Hooty: THEY'RE INSIDE

Luz swung oppen the door and took a peep inside. The place almost looked abandoned. She walk in and the lights suddenly came on.

Everyone: SURPRISE

Luz screamed. She didn't expect to see everyone in the house.

Luz: Hi everyone. You almost scared me to death.

Eda: Sorry kid, we just wanted to give you a warm welcome.

Luz rushed over to hug everyone. She noticed that all was here except for one person.

Luz: Hey guys, where's Amity.

Willow and Gus looked a each other nervously.

Willow: She's...uh...busy.

Luz: Of course she is. What's she up to?

Willow: She still does abomination magic

Willow looked over at Gus for help.

Gus: She's better at it

Luz could sense something was wrong, but didn't really question it.

Luz: Is there a chance that I could see her

Gus: NO

Luz stared at Gus who just realized he might've made the situation worse.

Willow: She's probably really busy and doesn't want anyone to bother her. You know how she can get.

Luz: I'm sure she wouldn't mind seeing me though?

Willow and Gus forgot how stubborn Luz can somtimes be. Willow gave in and sighed, hoping she wasn't gonna need to deliver the news.

Willow: Look Luz, I didn't wanna say anything because it's not my place but there is something you should know about Amity.

Luz got worried. Really worried. She started thinking of what horrible things could've happened while she was gone.

Luz: What happened to my Amity. DID SHE DIE?

Willow: NO. No. She didn't die. She's just... engaged.

Luz was stunned. Amity? Engaged? HOW? Luz remembered the promise they made before Luz left.

-Flashback-

Amity was sobbing loudly into Luz's chest. She didn't want to let Luz go. She was too scared too. Luz held onto Amity and tried to calm her down. This wasn't easy for any of them, but they knew this would happen eventually.

Luz: Just because I'm leaving doesn't mean this is goodbye forever. I will always be with you and I promise I'll come back.

Amity: But what if something happens. What if you lose feelings and fall for a human. Or what if you get hurt. I don't wanna lose you.

Luz: You won't lose me. I would never fall for someone in the human world. You will always be my cotton candy haired goddess.

Amity looked up to see Luz's golden eyes. Luz pulled Amity into a long passionate kiss. The two girls savored the kiss, for it felt like it would be their last.

Luz: I love you Amity Blight. Nothing will ever change that

Amity: I love you too, Luz Noceda.

Luz: I promise I'll come back

Amity: I promise I'll never love another.

-flash-forward-

Luz couldn't find the strength to move. She was distraught. Did Amity really move on? No. There has to be an explanation. Right? Luz couldn't feel the hot tears falling on the side of her face. Willow felt terrible. She should've never told Luz about Amity. But she was bound to find out eventually.

The welcoming party ended shortly after and everyone went home. Luz laid on the floor in her room. She didn't feel like eating or going outside for the rest of the day. She couldn't even sleep at night. She just stayed awake thinking about Amity. After some time, Luz decided to head into the woods to clear her mind.

Luz walked around the woods and observed the scenery. She picked up a stick and begin to play with. She remembered the time in the woods when she decided to stand in Amity's place as grom queen. Luz immediately dropped the stick like it was burning her hand. She kicked it out of the way and kept moving foward. Luz realized she had no way of getting back but kept walking. She stopped after she heard a twig snap nearby. She grabbed a glyph from her pocket and proceeded cautiously.

Luz: Ok Luz, it's probably nothing. You're ok.

Luz prepared herself. She let out a war cry and threw out a plant glyph. Vines shot out of the paper and captured a young witch by the leg. Luz lit the forest with a light glyph and guided the light towards the witch. Luz stumbled backwards after seeing who the witch was before her. Luz caught Amity Blight.

Amity struggled to get down. She drew a circle and cast fire magic to burn the vines that held her captive. Amity fell to the forest floor. Luz was hesitant in reaching her hand to help the witch. Luz lifted up the witch and they met eye to eye. Amity's eyes widened at the sight before her. Her eyes were filled with tears.

Amity: LUZ?

Luz couldn't do much. She wanted to run away but she knew she couldn't. Luz looked at Amity's finger and sure enough, there was a golden ring present. Before Luz could do or say anything, Amity wrapped her arms around Luz to hug her. Luz didn't know how to respond. There were many mixed signals her. Luz pushed off Amity which left Amity confused.

Luz: Why are you happy to see me?

Amity: What? Why wouldn't I be.

Luz: Because I know you don't love me anymore.

Amity: What? Of course I still love you

Luz: THEN HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THIS

Luz grabbed Amity's hand with the ring on it and held it up. Amity was shocked to see Luz noticed. But she couldn't hide it.

Amity: Luz, please let me explain.

Luz: EXPLAIN WHAT. You don't love me anymore. I thought you would've kept your promise, but I guess that was just wishful thinking. Either way, I should've known you would've found someone better than me.

Amity: Luz, you don't know the whole story. Just let me explain.

Luz didn't wanna hear it. For all she knew, the situation could've been worse. Luz tried walking away but Amity held onto her arm. Amity cried for Luz to stay.

Amity: Please Luz. Just hear me out.

Luz turned around and faced Amity.

Amity: Thank you. Luz I promise I still love you, but this marriage was not by choice. This was an arranged marriage set up by my parents.

Luz couldn't say anything. She felt bad for yelling at Amity. She let her emotions get the better of her. Luz looked at Amity. She reached out to caress Amity's cheek. Amity leaned against her touch and purred. Luz giggled at the sound the Blight made.

Luz: I missed your purrs.

Amity blushed.

Amity: I missed you.

Luz pulled Amity into a passionate kiss. Luz and Amity's tongues danced as they were hungry for eachother. As they pulled away, Luz whispered into Amity's ear.

Luz: So who were you supposed to marry?

Amity: Boscha.

Luz: WHAT

Amity: I know it's bad, but I'm trying to find a way to escape.

Luz thought for a moment. She knew the perfect way to get Amity out of this.

Luz: I could help you.

Amity: It's no use. My parents hardly let go out and they're always watching me.

Luz: How did you escape this time?

Amity: I had Em cover for me.

Luz: Then lets run. Right now.

Amity: I can't leave Em by herself.

Luz: Then we'll go back for her. Is she allowed to leave?

Amity: She doesn't live with us anymore. So maybe?

Luz: Then we can tell her to leave right?

Amity: I guess. But what if she gets in trouble and gets hurt or something because I'm not there.

Luz: Don't worry. We can work this out.

Amity: Thank you Luz

Luz: Also, why were you in the woods at night?

Amity: I heard you came back

Luz: You really waited for me after all this time?

Amity: Of course I did my love. I promised, didn't I?

Luz smiled and gave Amity a peck on the lips. The two were happy to be in each others arms after 3 years.

[jtgunner]

Every New Year's Eve, I always feel a bit of anxiety. A worry that I didn't do much this year, and that I probably won't do much next year. Sometimes I even worry that I'll never do anything with my life.

This year is a bit different though, in that I know that I have done something. Namely, start my YouTube channel (or perhaps more accurately, make use of the YouTube channel I've had).

In a way, I still have the old New Year's Eve anxiety of not doing anything. After all, I didn't really start my let's plays until June, a month before my 30th birthday this year. Sometimes I wonder why I didn't start earlier. I had planned to start the channel back in January or February, but I just put it off until June. It's just like some of my other hobbies, I couldn't find the motivation to just do it, and that would depress me. I found myself in a dark, depressive state because I couldn't just engage in my hobbies and passions, and I'd be stuck in this vicious loop. I'd be sad that I wasn't doing what I enjoy, and I didn't do what I enjoy because I'd be too sad.

But earlier this year, around late May, early June, something happened that made me realize something: If I want to do this thing I said I wanted to do in the beginning of 2021, if I wanted to try out doing let's plays, I'd better start now. Didn't matter if I was almost 30. I figured it would be now or never. So then I decided to record two episodes of playing Star Fox for the SNES, and see where it went from there.

And it's been fun. I've enjoyed recording videos of me playing games and providing commentary. It's been fun teaching myself how to edit. It's especially been fun drawing my video thumbnails, because my inability to make myself draw more had been a point of anxiety I've felt, too. But thanks to this, I've been able to engage more in my hobbies and passions, and I feel like I've accomplished something this year.

Do I wish I could've done more? Sure. Do I wish I should've done let's plays and art earlier in my life? Definitely. That's something I've always wanted to do, and even though it's taken a long time, I've done it.

I'm certainly not where I thought I would be in my life at age 30, but at least I've finally found something I enjoy, and I hope to continue doing that.

So in 2022, I plan to make more content. More let's plays, more art (and even art that has nothing to do with my videos), and other stuff I've just been putting off. There's lots of stuff that I enjoy doing, I just need to actually do it.

Dunno how 2022 will be as a year. You never know which years will be good or which years will be bad. But regardless, I'm gonna do what I wanna do.

Happy New Year's, everyone! And make sure whatever it is you wanna do in the upcoming year, that you just go out and do it.

- JT

[sometimesrosy]

I just saw your tags on the crows gifset about being halfway through shadow and bone. I'm excited to hear your thoughts. What did you like, what are you looking forward to? What did you think could've been done better?

I finished it last night. I loved it. I’m gonna have to read the books now. I already bought them when I heard the show was coming out and I was trying to decide if I should read the books first or watch the show first. I’m kind of glad I just watched the show first because I got to see it all new and I didn’t know what to expect.

Now I want to know more and I can read the books. Plus I want to know what happens next. 

I don’t know if I have any ideas on what could have been done better. I enjoyed it, so it worked for me. I only think about what could have been done better when something took away from my enjoyment. I just read about some of the character changes from book to show, and while I can’t say if they were better changes, I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed the show as it was, and it was all cohesive and exciting and engaging, so the changes were good ones. Are they better or worse than the book? Don’t know until I read it.

I’m gonna have a hard time not saying spoilers. So, spoilers ahead.

I LOVED the crows. Jesper was amazing. What a great character, I mean he’s annoying and a jackass but that adds to his character. He was funny, while Inej was great in a mysterious, tragic kind of way. Completely different, but just as great. Multi layered character. Kaz was also great, but I kinda wish he would let us into his character... although that’s his character. I mean with the way he couldn’t look at Inej anytime he was having feelings, he’s clearly terribly repressed. 

Alina was a little bit bland, but that’s pretty common for an ingenue. She’s too young. She hasn’t learned who she is yet. And Alina literally doesn’t know who she is or where she’s from because she’s an orphan who refused to be separated from Mal and the whole season is really about her learning who she is. She makes some typical young girl mistakes when whisked away into a glamorous setting and I myself had a hard time watching those scenes with Kirigan. I was like, come on girl. Don’t you realize Mal would never give up on you? But she didn’t. Her head was turned by a powerful older man. *gag* I cannot believe people ship that. Can we say “grooming?” How he finally entraps her was *shudder* a nightmare. 

Now the Darkling was a good antagonist. I was a little worried that he WASN’T being portrayed as an antagonist, because I saw the grooming and hunger for power but Alina didn’t and he was also played as charming and enticing. And we know how some narratives LOVE them an unearned redemption. But no. He turned out to be thoroughly as awful as I thought he was going to be. Making the antagonist enticing DOES offer an extra level of tension that I’m not mad about, I’m just glad he wasn’t romanticized in the story, although of course some fans will. 

The fold is a little odd at first. Like what is it? But the explanation for it and the flashback about how it was created made it both logical and horrible. And Kirigan’s plans for it brings the tension up nice and high in their final battle. 

I liked Mal. For some reason he kept reminding me of Viktor Krum from Harry Potter. That may not be fair. Not sure he was really allowed to show his personality that much because he was so focused on Alina. That was his main story, right? Getting back to her. Not that I minded that story. I wanted them to be together. And that was one of the reasons I hated how Alina was falling for Kirigan. Because I liked the connection between Mal and Alina. Malina I assume. So I like that romance. I didn’t like how Mal kept getting beaten up. Like. Shot, beaten, grabbed by monsters, shot again. Poor Mal. 

When they finally got back together, I was so happy. And then of course they were separated again, but then he hooked up with The Crows and I was like YES. Because even though they’d been hired to kidnap Alina and should technically be the antagonists, no way. Clearly they are the found family we need Alina and Mal to join. 

I did find Nina and Matthias’ story to be a little confusing. I couldn’t figure out how they were connected to the main story, but I figured that was set up for following seasons/books, so I just let go of the confusion and went with it. Otherwise it was good. 

So I loved it and now I have to read the books. Is it true that The Crows aren’t in the first book? If so, I might find that a bit boring, as I loved them. But maybe not. I’ll have to read it. 

[punkscowardschampions]

Ava & Nancy

Ava: Has he told you? Nancy: Yeah Ava: How are you holding up? Nancy: better than he is Ava: Not saying much but Ava: that's something Nancy: how are you holding up then? Ava: It's been, a rollercoaster implies that it's in any way on the rails so not that, something as up and down and side to side Ava: tornado, perhaps Ava: but it's far from about me so I'm just here, you know Nancy: I know what you mean Ava: It's more to do with you than me Ava: so, what did he say exactly? Nancy: You know what he's like, just coming out with it Nancy: there's nothing for me to argue with Nancy: maybe if I had a clue then but now Ava: Yeah Ava: but none of us did Ava: I think mum was probably right, even if that's fucked Ava: taking it to the police wouldn't have done anything Nancy: She'd had talked her way out of it, his word against hers and he doesn't come across well when he's upset Ava: Exactly Ava: it's one of those legal grey areas Ava: morally black but you know Ava: can't get charged for that Nancy: I feel like shit, if I hadn't left it wouldn't have been her and none of this would be happening Ava: I know, but you have to try not to think like that Ava: she picked him, really Ava: he was angry and upset, with you, yeah, but Rio too and you know, everyone and everything Ava: but I don't think he would have pursued her, if he were in any state Ava: and she had her problems with you, but I don't think that's solely why she did it either Nancy: I know but he could've used any girl in Chelsea to get back at Rio, it was her because of me, that's all my thoughts keep coming back to Nancy: and no other girl would've used him like that for any reason Ava: We all let each other down Ava: sometimes you have to do what you have to do Ava: and then sometimes bad shit happens because of that Ava: Chloe wouldn't have felt the need to drop this if I weren't with James Ava: we could all just keep on not knowing Nancy: It's not your fault, Av, she hated you cos she hated me first Nancy: it's not like she's heartbroken over James Ava: Still, it wouldn't have happened, you were never going to be dating him Ava: but none of us can live beholden to her and the things she has over us, we shouldn't Ava: at least now, we aren't, she's played all her cards Nancy: Did Buster tell you she's already engaged? Ava: I heard Ava: I looked on Gen's profile and he's like her dad's age Ava: and really stereotypically Italian Nancy: Gross Nancy: I swear to god, she's not a real person Nancy: who does any of this? Ava: I think she does her hardest not to be Ava: fuck everyone else Ava: her parents are just Ava: at a total loss Ava: we say ours are ashamed of us but this is so real Ava: they've had more to do with James than her for years now Nancy: At least he's got their support Ava: I think they're just as scared that they'll lose contact as he is Nancy: Yeah, of course Ava: Did he say if he'd told Ri yet? Nancy: I asked, when I was at my angriest, before I really understood what the circumstances were Nancy: He wouldn't talk about her which either means he has and it didn't go well, or he's still working up to it Ava: She's going to know something is wrong, he can't hide anything from her Ava: and the test takes as long as it takes, I know he was waiting for that but I don't know how Nancy: Right now, I'm selfishly glad that she knows we barely talk so she won't ask me Ava: That's going to be Ava: not fun Ava: never mind how pregnant she is Nancy: Oh god, don't Nancy: I was going to come back for a while but maybe that'll make it worse Nancy: Like he'll think I'm just there to oversee his downfall or something Ava: You don't think that will happen, do you? Nancy: I don't think she'll leave him Nancy: But the old wounds this is gonna open up, even though nobody's disputing he didn't actually consent, when they're still dealing with everything that happened with Venus Nancy: add her hormones in and his way of reacting to literally anything Ava: Fucking hell Ava: you should come back, if you want to though Ava: regardless Nancy: Ri might need me Nancy: not that she'll admit it, obviously Ava: 'course Ava: I don't think it would hurt Nancy: I'm a crap babysitter but I'm a great person to vent at about him so Nancy: if I slag him off enough she'll start leaping to his defence automatically Ava: An evil-good plan Nancy: something good needs to come out of all the evil Ava: We can but try Nancy: Yeah Nancy: I know I need to Ava: Does feel better than doing nothing Ava: only a bit but Ava: still Nancy: I wish there was more I could really do, but it all just feels too late Nancy: inventing a time machine feels very above my capabilities, if I'm honest Nancy: Feel free to tell James I'm here if he ever wants someone to talk to about his monster of an ex Ava: I will Ava: you might have to open a hotline, by the sounds of it Nancy: That'd be a decent earner while I'm back Ava: Time is money, like Nancy: exactly Ava: Wonder what the wedding will be like Nancy: what I remember hearing about hers and James' sounded awful Nancy: but of course this one will have to be more stereotypically Italian Ava: fucked herself on flower girls too Nancy: unless he's got a big family she can insert herself into Ava: Heaven help him Ava: or she's already knocked up, the only way she does it is with a gun to her head and the groom's Nancy: has anyone checked he can speak enough English to know what's going on, like? Ava: I don't know if we've got the welfare team on that Ava: he looks pretty pleased with himself Ava: the pictures would really confirm your homosexuality for you tbh Nancy: Well that's disgusting Ava: If he was the teenaged pool boy, be all over that, obviously Ava: can only hope she's met her match this time Nancy: Even if she hasn't, like you said, there's no more she can do to any of us Nancy: And she'd never get the kids back if she wanted to try that as a last resort Ava: Not putting anything past her obviously Ava: but yeah, I can't see her trying and failing at that any time soon Ava: it's a small mercy Ava: she was no mother Nancy: Imagine having her as yours, oh my god Nancy: it makes me wanna hug mum Ava: Let's not get too crazy Nancy: the urge will have passed by mid-flight, don't worry Ava: Unless you have too many complementaries, of course Nancy: well yeah Ava: No one would blame you on that score Nancy: it doesn't help though Ava: The drink or the lack of blame? Nancy: Both Ava: Yeah Ava: not much in the party mood myself Ava: pity or otherwise Ava: though being forced to 'focus on my schoolwork' like that's remotely important right now is getting me close Nancy: Is there a brochure for the planet mum and dad live on cos I'm really intrigued by it? Ava: They really think they can keep me out of it Ava: Like I'm not the one who did the DNA test, like I'm not the one who got James and Buster to talk Ava: sure, I'll forget about that and write my politics essay, hold on 🙄 Nancy: I'll do your essay as long as you leave enough time for a thorough spell check Ava: You really wanna keep busy, yeah Nancy: Yeah Ava: You are allowed to be angry with him Ava: you know Ava: because he was a victim too doesn't mean you're not allowed to feel that Ava: even if it means you don't direct it at him, you don't have to try and repress it Nancy: I am angry at him, but I'm also so tired of being Ava: Damn genetics Nancy: He can't forgive me for going and I can't keep defending why I had to Nancy: cos he'll never accept that it's not entirely my fault, that I needed him to help me and he wouldn't Ava: He does though Ava: he's told me Ava: like you said, it's too late Nancy: He'll never tell me, so we'll only ever talk when he has good or bad news to give me Ava: Yeah Ava: it's because it doesn't change it Ava: like you said, no time machine Ava: getting him to admit that he wasn't there doesn't change that he wasn't, even if you want to hear it Ava: just like you explaining why you had to leave doesn't mean you stayed Ava: it's all just words, you know Nancy: Then how can we ever? Ava: Maybe you can't Ava: because that isn't a truce Ava: if neither of you is willing to leave your post there is no middle ground Ava: you actually have to be ready and willing to drop defending yourself and blaming each other Ava: and neither of you is, so Ava: that's that Ava: you can't make yourself give it up, clearly Nancy: It's so unfair Nancy: that everything turned out like this Ava: It just is Ava: you have to get to a place where you can just say that's what happened Ava: not attribute why's and who's to it, see it entirely objectively Nancy: maybe if I fly to Tuscany first and murder her Ava: Maybe Ava: you'll still hate yourself though Nancy: Thanks for the reminder Ava: Like you forgot Nancy: my phone alarm is set for hourly bursts of self-loathing, of course Ava: That'll be why you're tired Ava: can't even put that on him, eh Ava: unlucky, like Nancy: I'll have the luck of the Irish and all that good craic to fall back on soon enough, like Ava: 'Course Ava: be a blast Nancy: It always is Ava: It's been a while Ava: things might have changed Nancy: This family would have to catch some kind of break first Ava: Naturally, when I finish this essay, it'll all be worth it Nancy: Just make sure it's worth sticking on the fridge Ava: 'Cos that wouldn't fuck with the aesthetics Nancy: It's no finger-painting, sure Nancy: But if anyone needs the reminder that you're not a toddler it's mum and dad Ava: Really surprising they're not more elated to gain a ready-made grandkid Nancy: If the mother was anyone else, they'd be jumping for joy, no doubt Ava: Unless that mother was me Ava: of course Nancy: James has probably been well and truly scared off Ava: I reckon she's a pretty strong contraceptive Nancy: I'm in no danger but if you put me in a room with her I'd take the pill Ava: 💀 cyanide Nancy: or whichever colour gets you out of the Matrix Nancy: bye babe Ava: Careful Ava: that's what 'woke' lady and minority haters call themselves Ava: don't wanna get in that camp Nancy: is it? Ava: yeah, they're 'red pilled' 'cos they know 'the truth' Ava: the truth that feminism is a lie and all women are evil bitches, like Nancy: Oh great Ava: You accidentally been making loads of enemies over there? Ava: Whoopsie Nancy: I'll say that's the reason now Ava: Go the whole hog and call yourself an incel Ava: when any of the fam asks you how your love life is going Nancy: 😂 Nancy: Don't make me laugh though, my head is killing me Ava: I feel you Ava: the only pills I've been popping are paracetamols Nancy: Nurofen express 💚 Nancy: my actual true love Ava: so rock and roll Ava: shame even by American standards, that's no bitch's name Nancy: Read it in your best impression of the accent if you wanna swoon though, obviously Ava: It clearly does it for you, like Nancy: It's a very diverse place, thank god Ava: Sure babe Ava: the fashion industry is known for it 😏 Nancy: 🙄 Ava: Thanks for not trying to deny it Nancy: I'm not their spokesperson, pros or cons Ava: Not part of the job description of photographer or girlfriend then? Nancy: No Ava: Phew Nancy: Find a way to include it in your Politics essay Ava: Alright, mother Nancy: Never call me that again, please Nancy: if I didn't have a headache before Ava: Yeah, we didn't reckon you'd be next Nancy: Weird that you've discussed it, but okay Ava: The heat needs to be taken off somewhere, like Ava: What about Billie and her fella, do you reckon they'll go for 👶👶? Nancy: No Nancy: they barely see each other at the moment Ava: I won't put my money there then Nancy: You'd be better off keeping it on Buster Ava: I think he's disqualified by default Ava: obviously Ava: don't need no 🔮 Nancy: This one better not be born early cos of the drama Ava: She's getting out of the danger danger zone at least but still Ava: having babies is like what they were born to do Ava: missed those genetics, clearly Nancy: Lord Ava: 😂 You're so squeamish Nancy: I don't like babies, excuse me Ava: I didn't mention anything about the miracle of childbirth even Nancy: thankfully Nancy: cos it's not a miracle, it's a 🤞 & pray for the best kind of situation Nancy: you might tear open or get cut open and you get off lightly if you only 💩 or 🤢 everywhere Ava: 🙄🙄 the dramatics Ava: I've had worse nights out Ava: and I didn't get a cute kid at the end of it so 🤷 Nancy: it's not me that you need to convince so Ava: I don't think I know anyone else so definitely anti-child Nancy: I've got nothing against children, I just don't want any Ava: uhuh Nancy: It's only considered weird cos this family is so obsessed with having as many as possible Ava: Nah, it's not that Nancy: Like I said, reserve the soapbox for someone who wants to hear the pros and cons Ava: Okay Nancy: Okay, I've got loads to finish up before I can leave Ava: 'course you do Ava: I'll let you go then Nancy: I'll talk to you soon Nancy: without time zones to factor in Ava: Cool Ava: no worries Nancy: Let me know if you wanna meet up, who knows where mum and dad will decide to base themselves and when Ava: Regardless, I don't have time to come over there so I won't Nancy: Yeah, exactly Ava: Focus on what you need to do Ava: I was just checking you were okay Nancy: And I wanna check in on you too, so let me know, okay? Nancy: It's the shortest flight ever Ava: Seriously, there's no need Nancy: Alright Ava: Just focus on helping Ri, if that's what you're going to do Nancy: I'll do my best Ava: 👍 Nancy: Later then Ava: Bye Nancy: 🧡 Ava: Is Billie coming over too? Nancy: I don't know Nancy: I'll ask her when she gets home Ava: She should Nancy: I'll do my best with that too Ava: Alright Ava: that's all then Nancy: Okay, bye