#its just so damn satisfying that the villain doesn't even get the defeat they would have wanted

[mamamittens]

Oh, Sweet Child of Mine (Pt. 12)

Platonic Yandere Whitebeard Crew (and others) & Reader-Insert

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Warnings: Yandere behavior, excessive use of force/fire, light injuries, and character death. At this point, need I remind ya'll to not tolerate possessive/toxic behavior in real life? Or murder/violence for that matter. If yandere content makes you uncomfortable, please do block the tag 'oh sweet child of mine' as well as any variation of 'one piece yandere' that you feel is necessary.

Ya'll about to lose your damn minds and I'm not sorry.

(also, this gif is baller)

Word Count: 2,439

Ace leaned back a little as Striker sped off across the water. Ocean spray erupting in his wake as he veered towards the shoreline. Marco was checking the other nearby island while he checked this one. Discreetly.

Well… as discreetly as he could manage.

After several months of riding Teach’s ass, he knew they were close. Several times they went into a port only to find out that Teach had left only days before. Whatever crew he managed to get on such short notice was competent, Ace would admit that much. But everything he heard only made his fire burn hotter in his chest. He’d been practically spitting sparks for weeks now.

Particularly what he’d heard from Luffy.

‘They look cool. Though really tired!’

Thatch had woken up a couple of months back, though he was still strictly on bedrest. He was able to provide a better picture of what happened. As they had all suspected, you didn’t have anything to do with it. As far as Thatch could remember while bleeding out, Teach had kidnapped you with a sack. Not exactly ‘accomplice’ behavior. Thatch had also been devastated to learn that you’d been taken when he was right there.

Ace promised to bring you back home. At this point, the only reason for Teach to return was so Oyaji could personally punt him into the sea.

Ace ran Striker onto the shore and leapt out, boots digging into the sand as he jogged up the slight incline. Shards of glass breaking under his heel as he took a moment to control his temper.

He just wanted to go home already. He wanted all of this to be over with. To go back to teasing you for dodging parties and Thatch’s attempts to befriend you. Hell, he’d even take your awkward, concerned smiles for when someone tried really hard to talk to you about joining. Like they were confessing their plans to marry a sea king—actually, you’d probably be offended they thought they were worthy of Mao.

Ace sucked in a deep breath and steadied himself. Stalking through the shadows towards the center of the town. Ears primed for gossip.

“—they think I’d pay for that! Ugh!”

“—get ahold of your sister after last week? What she say?”

“—Did you see those pirates? Dragging around a slave, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised—” Ace jerked towards the voice with narrowed eyes. An older lady gossiped with someone just a little bit younger, the two engrossed with their conversation. “—That Blackbeard fellow has no shame! All those rings! And his crew were just obnoxious! I feel so bad for that slave. I wonder if calling the marines would help or if they’d just be sold again?”

“I thought slaves just had the collar and brand. I didn’t even see a brand anywhere… do you think it’s a ransom?”

“Well, you’d think he wouldn’t be carting them around if that was the case! Poor dear looked exhausted!”

Ace grit his teeth, hissing as steam curled between his lips. After a moment, he put on his best, charming smile and stepped out.

“Excuse me, ma’am? I couldn’t help but overhear you… are they still here? My friend was taken by pirates and I’ve been trying to find them for months! Thick glasses, blue bandana around their wrist?” Ace asked with wide, sad eyes. The older ladies tittered at him as expected.

“Oh! Yes, actually, though it looked like they’re using it as a bandage now. That brute doesn’t look very gentle to me, you know. Last I heard they were readying for departure on the other side of town.” She replied. Ace bowed low.

“Thank you, very much, ma’am! Ah.” Ace looked up with a wry smile. “I suggest you ladies get a bit of distance. I’m afraid I’m going to make a bit of a mess soon.”

The ladies nodded and hurried off, warning others as they went.

Ace kept his smile for a few moments longer before settling his gaze in the direction they indicated.

Ace huffed, running up a wall and grabbing onto a rooftile. Hoisting himself up to run atop the buildings for a better vantage point. The colorful clay roofing blurring as he rushed.

He leapt on top of a house, crouched down low as he sneered.

Teach stood with his crew around him, organizing barrels. You swaying on your feet a little beside him. A dull, iron bracelet connected to a chain that ran all the way to Teach’s own wrist.

Luffy was right.

You looked fucking exhausted.

Ace cupped his hand, fire pooling between his fingers as he threw it down at Teach’s feet where it exploded. More light and noise than damage.

He didn’t want to hurt you.

It would be tricky to immolate Teach with you next to him, but Ace was clever. He’d figure something out. At the very least he could keep fighting until Marco arrives.

“TEACH YOU BASTARD!”

--*--

You yelped, startled by the sudden explosion just feet from you. Teach instantly backing up with his hand gripping your arm. His face turned up towards a roof.

You followed his gaze in shock as the figure stood up. Ace screaming furiously across the distance.

“TEACH YOU BASTARD!” Rather than be intimidated in the least, Teach laughed.

“Commander! Should have known it would be you.” Teach grinned, pulling you forward a bit. “Here for something? Why not join my crew? I’m going to be a warlord soon, you know. After I turn in Straw Hat, they’ll gladly give me the position.”

You couldn’t quite see Ace well, but he seemed more furious at the suggestion than before. His fruit flaring enough that even with your exhaustion you noticed. He’d clearly been burning so hot for a while now—your obliviousness to him was just further evidence for how weak you’d gotten over the past few months.

Teach had been getting a tad… desperate to outrun his pursuers until he could manage to get the warlord title. And it seems as though his luck had run out.

“I. Would. Never.” Ace spat, launching off the room in a hail of fire and landing several feet away. “Luffy is my little brother, Teach. You’re not hurting anymore of my family.”

Teach made a surprised sound and you couldn’t blame him. They didn’t quite resemble each other, nor did they share a last name. And seeing Ace now, face etched with fury, he looked about as far from the goofy, beaming Luffy as possible.

Teach clicked his tongue.

“What a shame. You’re pretty strong, commander. We could have done great together.” Teach bemoaned playfully, like they were still crewmates having a small argument over pie flavors.

“I’m not your commander, Teach. Not after what you’ve done.” Ace’s body lit up like a bonfire, flaring high into the sky and making you look away or risk blinding yourself.

The shadows beneath your feet writhed as the light flickered over them, powered by your fruit as a cold spot developed around you. Around Teach.

“Go. None of you are strong enough to fight him—” Teach warned before one of them shot a gun at Ace. The bullets flying through harmlessly, leaving only temporary holes in the blazing fire that constituted his body. Ace’s eyes were fixed on you like dying stars. “Now!”

The crew ran as a flashover spilled out across the area, scorching the earth and singing your lungs.

You wished you had the opportunity to run yourself. Never, have you ever, wanted to fight Ace. For a lot of reasons.

Mostly a lack of desire to know what being a burned marshmallow felt like.

Teach’s free fist was coated in smoke and shadows, curling around his fingers eagerly.

Ace reeled back his fiery arm, fist clenched tight as Teach mirrored him.

Fire and living darkness rushed across the space, suddenly not nearly enough space as they collided violently. Friction lighting where they clashed as it raced upwards and out, attempting to find a weak point. You felt your body being blown back, only held in place by Teach’s firm grip as his boots dug into the earth. Despite only being connected to Teach, you could feel how hungry the fire was. Eating away the oxygen as it exploded again and again, trying to outmatch the shadows.

The final detonation was high above your head and the shockwave took you down to your knees as you gasped for air. Shaking almost as violently as their first blow, your head ringing, skin tingling with light burns. You blinked hard, eyes crying out at the relief as you looked up.

Teach’s grip on your arm was the only thing keeping you from collapsing to the ground. Dust and debris clinging to your body.

You were horrified. Only realizing now that Teach fully intended to keep you right next to him for this fight.

And you genuinely wasn’t sure you could handle being this close to any of it.

Teach grunted, bending down to wrap his arm around your middle like a sack of potatoes. You didn’t even really have time to consider how painful the position was before Ace leapt forward with a feral howl of anger.

Sparks and flame erupting around you as you could do nothing but hold onto Teach’s arm and close your eyes. Your body jerking around as the two traded blows. Teach handicapped by you, as was Ace, who clearly wasn’t quite going all out like he wanted. The air was stiflingly hot and heavy as they clashed. Fire burning through your eyelids as you tried to focus on anything but the fight.

“Zehahahaha~! What’s wrong, commander? You don’t seem to be invested!” Teach cackled before he was cut off with a pained grunt. “I was hit!?” He mumbled just over the rippling sound of fire tearing through the atmosphere.

“You’re a fucking COWARD, TEACH! PUT! THEM! DOWN!” Ace screamed like he was possessed, explosions scorching you as Teach jerked around a touch desperately.

You gasped for air, lungs burning from heat and exertion. Exhaustion filling your head with cotton as tears slipped through your closed eyes.

You… you were so fucking sick and tired of this.

All of it.

Every last fucking thing.

Sick of the fucking pirates!

Sick of your fucking devil fruit!

Sick of the clammy, creepy shadows curling around your ankles every fucking second of the day!

Your senses focused on that sensation. How much you hated it.

Fire and shadows tearing up the earth as Teach occasionally pulled in debris to single-handedly hurl at Ace. Pulled in nearly the whole town only to eject it violently at Ace.

Every move taunting and teasing your senses as it pulled on your lingering energy.

“TEEEAAAACCHH!” Ace roared, the sound distant and dull in your ears.

Your heart beat in your chest. A distant drum that steadily grew closer. Louder until it vibrated in your blood and bones.

Ba-thump!

A mirage formed behind your eyelids. Less wavering and unsteady with every beat.

Ba-thump!

A dial. Almost like a pressure gauge. The needle vibrating near the red and jumping with every attack.

Ba-thump!

You felt a foreign vibration build in your chest. Your feet digging into the broken cobblestone, muscles screaming out as you forced yourself to uncurl from around Teach’s arm.

BA-THUMP!

Your nails dug into his skin as you pivoted. One hand curled around the illusionary dial before twisting. To. Zero.

“Dial DOWN!” You screamed, the pressure of his fruit on yours reversing.

Teach spun in your bloodied grip, body flying around as you threw him over your shoulder with more strength than you thought you’d ever have. Fueled by rage and desperation to make it stop.

The chain pulled taut. Yanking you with him as you screamed, the joint popping out of place from the force of your throw.

The electric pain made your hand spasm as you ‘let go’. Body pulled across the ground and nearly slamming your face into the ruined street beneath you. Your only free hand scrapping across the broken rock, leaving a trail of blood that was shared underneath your knees and side of your ribs.

You gasped, body jerking uncontrollably away from the taut chain but only abusing your dislocated shoulder further.

It was dead silent aside from your pained gasp and a low, startled moan from Teach.

He coughed.

“…zehahahahaha—"

Then he laughed. Shadows erupting around you both as he slowly sat up.

“HAHAHAHA! ZEHAHAHAHAHA! ZEHA—”

A burning, oozing hand slammed into his head, shoving him back down with a barely registered scream. The smell of burning flesh erupting as you looked up in shock.

Teach was dead in less than a second.

Admiral Akainu kneeling over him, one arm shoved to the ground where Teach’s head used to be. His foot burning through Teach’s arm, melting him slowly as lava pooled around him. The heat waving over you at a much greater temperature than all but the most devastating of Ace’s attacks. And he was several feet away.

“…S-Sir?!” You rasped, throat burning as you tried to sit up.

Admiral Akainu jerked at the sound of your voice. His stern features flickering for a moment.

“You did well, Ensign. We only have one last thing to take care of.” Admiral Akainu stated with cold eyes. Slowly standing before walking towards you. Deliberately stepping on the chain and melting it under his shoe.

“HEY! GET AWAY FROM THEM!” Ace screamed, throwing a fireball high. Admiral Akainu flicked his hand, batting it away as he moved to kneel before you. Gently helping you up.

Still in shock, you couldn’t say anything as he braced your back and shoved your shoulder into place. You screamed, startled as pins and needles went down your arm, though otherwise the relief was immense.

You panted, utterly confused as he picked you up with one arm under your thighs, pinning your face into his suit as he sneered.

“I haven’t forgotten about you, Fire Fist.”

You trembled as the air grew hazy with an overwhelming amount of heat. The edge taken off due to your devil fruit connecting with Admiral Akainu’s.

You were so tired.

You managed to look back at Ace, worry dragging you from the edge of consciousness. He looked horrified and infuriated all at once.

You felt the tears slip down your face, almost ice cold in the heat.

There was no way Ace could survive against Admiral Akainu with his devil fruit.

Even before you got involved, it simply didn’t burn hot enough.

[rachelsshowerthoughts]

Gosh, sorry just had a thought on that previous ask I sent you, sort of a book end,-ish.

Basically, when Ladybug arrives to confront Fable, 'Adrien' checks out.

Adrien: Whether I want to help you milady, my friend or even myself doesn't matter, I'm only here to buoy people's spirits and be passive.

IE, a commentary on how he feels he lacks agency, especially fitting as this is in S2.

Kagami: Whether I want to watch her kill herself by your hand is as irrelevant as to whether I want to be free, treated kindly, or so much as rest. My duty is to play my role.

Chloe (Hysterical) Whether I want to be a hero, to have even one person love me or even as for help doesn't matter, all I know how to be is a monster!

Of course Ladybug wins, the story demands a satisfying conclusion.

When everyone's trying to piece themselves back together, Adrien is checking on Plagg, Kagami is closing off and Chloe is... Scattered.

"I.. We. am. I... Leaving. Leaving now."

Then Ladybug just pulls her into a hug, "You aren't a monster, you're a young girl whose hurting more than she realizes, but I've seen before underneath all that fire is a hero."

Suffice to say Chloe just breaks down sobbing in her arms, but gets it under control by force when she hears Ladybug's earrings beep. "I'm not going not be selfish now of all times."

Before leaving Ladybug says she'll be checking in on the others too.

Kagami: You don't have to-

Ladybug: I'm not getting permission to treat you kindly, and Adrien, you're stronger than you realize, you got this far after all.

(Then she leaps away)

Notes:

Also, it occurred to me that this could actually take place in regular S2, or early S3 without needing Kagami in the same class as them. She just needs to decide she's sick of Chloe's attitude and Adrien's passive attitude after all.

I think I see the Final Confrontation as . . . a bit of an anti-climax? Like. They know how the story goes. They know they are going to be "rescued", that Ladybug is going to win. But also, I feel like their "curses" keep them from doing much, cause part of it is that NONE of these kids really have a lot of agency.

Adrien's vines have drained him so much he can barely move. Kagami's crystal form keeps her rooted to the spot. The one most able to move is Chloé, and I could see her actually fighting HERSELF rather than Ladybug. The Masks would make her fight, but Chloé doesn’t WANT to fight Ladybug, she just wants everything to STOP. So, actually, I see her finally ripping off a Mask, then covering her face so none of the others can attach themselves. All any of them could do is talk.

Chloé: "And so, the hero arrives at last."

Kagami: "And so, the hero arrives to save us from our fate."

Adrien: "And so, the hero arrives to save the damsels in distress!"

Kagami: "To save the prince, who thinks his vines a gift, not a curse."

Chloé: "To save the warrior heir, who sees her crystal form as strength, not a curse."

Adrien: "To save the princess, who has worn masks so long, a curse they've become!"

Ladybug approaches the Writing Desk.

Fable(all three): "Our story is told, our story is written. Our curses are cast, our Savior arrived. So tell us, oh Hero of this Tale - are we villains or victims? Architects of our own misery, or merely locked in its halls? Is the moral a farce, the message unclear? Is Ever After to be joyous or damned? Our story is told, but its ending is not. Are we to be saved, or defeated? Tell us The End."

Ladybug breaks the desk, purifying the Akuma.

Fable, fading: "Ah, a fitting End to our Tale."

Then, after. Well, most people don’t remember what they did as Akuma. This is true for the kids, though they are still affected by what happened in different ways. Adrien is - physically, mentally, emotionally - drained and EXHAUSTED. He wants to eat for three and sleep for a week. Kagami feels stiff, tense, but weirdly wired. She wants to stretch, to run, fence until her muscles ache, she needs to MOVE. And Chloé. Chloé may not remember it clearly, but she just spent the past two hours cycling through every emotion she could possibly have at a rapid, ever-changing pace. She just breaks down in tears because she is so overwhelmed, the tears are her body trying to release that pressure somehow. She is feeling WAY TOO MUCH, she needs the world to STOP for a second so she can find her bearings again. Again, it’s the emotional equivalent of a thirty car pile-up during rush hour traffic on a twenty lane highway. Ladybug hugs her, and Chloé is clinging to a single point as she tries in vain to wrestle her emotions into something she can actually DEAL with.

@tumblingxelian

[egg-emperor]

Eggman is a villain. Remember when Eggman dominating the world was a thing in Sonic Forces? Pretty sure many suffered for that. He's really a menace like he had Sonic as a prisioner and didn't bother to unalive him IN THAT MOMENT just because he enjoyed more the idea of making others lose hope via him? Or the time he didn't care that Infinite dissapeared and instead get full mecha not giving a damn about his "indestructible invention". I don't think he even saw Infinite as nothing more than a weapon this is why I believe he was actually a sentimental creature with his memory completely erased, similar to Surge and Kit but this is more of a headcanon than a fact lol. Whatever the true is this only shows what you have said earlier about Eggman, that all his inventions are disposable no matter what

To know this isn't the worst he has done is something that shouldn't be ignored lol

YEAH Forces got it so right... It got absolutely everything right about Eggman and its only flaw is for such an important and significant role to the plot. He deserved way more screentime to see the full extent of his actions and plan on screen and spotlight in his temporary glorious victory and progress in taking over- but his characterization was perfect.

Forces is an example that Eggman is smart and capable and despite his massive ego, he has very real reasons to be as proud and confident as he is with his real 300 IQ genius and skills. It also shows that he has a reason to be so determined to win because he CAN in fact accomplish his goals, he just can't keep it as long as Sonic is around but it counts.

But I also like how he kept Sonic alive and imprisoned for six months so he could finish and show off his completed empire to him and break his last bit of hope and fully prove his victory and superiority over him before "banishing him" (definitely killing him lol) because it would've been much more satisfying to him than just killing him immediately.

Also while only present in English and people have their different opinions, I like the idea Sonic was tortured and that it's said to be Eggman specifically and not Infinite. I'd like to believe he would be delighted to toy with him in a few ways once he gets his hands on him, primarily psychologically. Love to imagine him having his fun with him.

He only saw Infinite as a tool and a weapon he'd use up for all he's worth and drop the moment he no longer needed him because he doesn't share, or failed him before. Proven by how he didn't care he was gone even despite his loyalty, he said victory would be sweeter to defeat Sonic himself and was delighted to surpass Infinite in power with the ruby.

Everyone has always been vessels for Eggman to manipulate and use for selfish gain and later discard like they're nothing, while others are enemies and obstacles to be destroyed, and everyone else is so worthless and insignificant to him that all they should be are mindless slaves to the empire. Everything is his to use and destroy as he pleases.

I adore how Infinite is yet another example, even despite his loyalty to him the whole time. It never makes Eggman see them as anything more, doesn't make them any more worthy, and still don't deserve a fraction of his power in ruling the world in the end because everyone and everything is beneath him and disposable no matter what.

That's a cool idea for Infinite! What also works is him being heavily manipulated by Eggman after discovering their shared desires through the phantom ruby, and maybe the Jackal Squad's doom and his hatred to Shadow was yet another way to take his devotion to the empire further and allow him to use the phantom ruby on him.

And even despite his lack of genuine long term respect and value of any of his lackeys and how they'll always be temporary and worth nothing more than what they can do for him no matter how badly they get hurt is bad enough, it is indeed not even the worst thing he's done and that's why he's a magnificent evil bastard through and through! 💜🥰

[familyagrestefanblog]

Let's talk about Hawkmoths facial expression that is in the trailer for like a millisecond

I'm not joking, this facial expression scares the hell out of me right now. The expression I'm talking about is this one right after Fu transforms

Because why, WHY by Gods name is Hawkmoth looking like this after Fus reveal? There should be no reason for him to look so sad and concerned. I mean he now knows the identity of the guardian of the miraculous and its not like he cares for Fu as a person. He would wreck that old man in a second if he'd get the Chance. Plus HE has the miracle box in his hands! He should be thrilled, ecstatic even, right?

I fear not

I fear that now that Fus identity is out Gabriel could EASILY figure out that Adrien is Chat Noir in this episode without Adrien even having be around or actively having done something that causes his identity to be revealed to his villain family (also without his knowledge btw)

A while ago I made a quick small post about exactly this here and how I fear that this is how Adriens reveal would go down and now I think I actually was on the right track. Now let me add to it.

For Gabriel side we have the episode "Syren". When Fu comes to the Agreste Mansion to teach Adrien about the miraculous secrets, it is Gabriel himself who answers the door when Fu rings

And Gabriel was straight away suspicious of him because of episode context that I won't repeat now since it isn't important here

Keep in mind that these episodes are written in a way that scenes and little moments like this for example make (more) sense the further the plot goes on and the more the viewer knows looking back at them. There is forshadowing everywhere. So maybe this moment didn't mean as much back when it first aired but when I'm right and Gabriel will figure out Adriens secret through Fus revealed identity then THIS here was straight up forshadowing.

But that doesn't mean I think that this face here

Means Gabriel figured out Adrien is Chat Noir, ALL IS OVER! The facial expression doesn't fit that. Again, he looks sad, hurt and concerned but I believe finding out Adrien is FOR SURE one of the two heros he's been trying to destroy on his mission for power would get much more of a shocked face (though to be fair we don't have the moment of Gabriel realising who the Master is, just the aftermatch is in the trailer. The actual moment this sad face belongs in before this, so who knows).

No. What I believe is that through Fus identity reveal Gabriels suspicion of Adrien that was explored in the episode "Gorizilla" will return again but he has once again no proof and since he's facing the miraculous Guardian right now he quickly plays it off to not endanger HIS OWN identity.

But if I think that Gabriel is only suspicious of Adrien then why do I think Gabriel will definitely find out that his son is Chat Noir you may ask now. And I will answer

Remember who's with Hawkmoth in this scene facing Fu

Exactly, Mayura.

And holy damn Natalie had quite some important moments when it comes to this topic.

Okay first, in "Syren" she was the one who led Fu to Adrien.

Meaning not only has she seen Fu but she, just like Gabriel, know of the suspicious visit the guardian Master paid Adrien.

But not only that. Let's get back to the post I mentioned earlier.

Because in the origins episodes, when Fu tested Adrien if he's worthy of the ring, NATALIE IS THERE

She was there at the one moment Adrien could have been tested for Chat Noirs ring, before he was immediately brought back home. And in this one moment Fu was the one who Adrien helped.

When Mayura joins the Fu vs Hawkmoth fight it seems like she only does so after Fu transforms, so his identity could possibly still be save from her (which would explain her lack of shocked "holy shit Adrien is Chat Noir" face). But what if they manage to defeat Fu and take his miraculous from him (which is anything but far fetched imo. Fu is too old to really fight, that's what we're being told over and over)?

The few but important moments Natalie has seen civilian Fu with Adrien in combination with Gabriels suspicion against Adrien could make Natalie easily connect the dots, finding out that Adrien is Chat Noir and confirming his suspicion to Gabriel.

ALSO

In the very beginning of "Queen Wasp" we have the little scene of Adrien, Gabriel and Natalie driving home. The topic of Ladybug and Chat Noir comes up and the moment Gabriel says "Chat Noir" Natalie does this

This little moment and it's implication isn't brought up again in the episode but just like with the Gabriel is suspicious of Fu moment in "Syren" , this moment here is once again forshadowing.

Actually both forshadowings fit perfectly into my theory here in the way and amount either Gabriel or Natalie find out in those moments.

Just like in "Syren" Hawkmoth doesn't outright find something out, both times it is the connection between this old man and his son that makes him suspicious. Just now in "Loveater" this suspicion is taken further by combining it with Gabriel direct suspicion of Adrien being Chat Noir in "Gorizilla"

And the way that Natalie inmediadly looked to Adrien in "Queen Wasp" when hearing the name Chat Noir, implying once again HEAVY and much more direct suspicion against him, parallels her possibly being the one who reveals Adrien. Or at least she will figure it out but maybe she'll keep it to herself for a while just like she did in "Queen Wasp". What she does with that information? That is beyond me right now. I don't think I could come up with a theory in the next 24 hours that I'm confident and satisfied enough in to post

[schmirius]

damn your sherlock blogging is giving me ~the feels~ again. here's a question: if the show comes back for a fifth season what would you like to see in it?

I AM VALIDATED lmao.

Man, that question about s5 has me stumped. Because on one hand, my niche (and obvs correct) opinion on the series as a whole is that it thematically ended at s2 -- if s1 is about Sherlock (+ John) (both) on the brink of suicide and making something weird but workable out of his situation (with the help of a new and equally lonely friend), then the foil is very much Jim Moriarty who's been on the brink of suicide his entire life and unable to find purchase anywhere in the realm of the living. No matter how hard he courts Sherlock, Sherlock still doesn't completely understand him; Sherlock's ultimately taken by surprise when Jim shoots himself right in front of him.

How delicious it would be for s2 to end with Sherlock actually having to kill himself to change John, making his and Jim's suicides mean exactly opposite things -- Jim died to kill Sherlock! Sherlock died to save John!

Equally delicious, and would give s3 a reason to exist: Sherlock, in the moment of Jim's death, finally understands him; and, faking his death so that he can dismantle Jim's web, comes back *really* in Jim's head, and so Sherlock "alone protects me" "gonna fake my death and hang out on the continent mimicking the spider in this web" Holmes comes back truly in Jim's headspace and needing to be Stopped

On the other hand, having said that, I definitely did watch those 7 dumbass episodes which came after s2, basically on the strength of Jim marketing all by itself. Of the post-Jim's-death Jim episodes:

3x01 features the Jim/Sherlock makeout and was just candy

3x03 features the unbelievably gross and lazy bit where Sherlock's internal conception of Jim is a dribbling asylum patient

The Special undoes this and makes Jim explicitly Sherlock's "fly in the ointment"/"virus in the data", the one whose suicide so obsesses him that Sherlock shoots up and has gayass Victorian fellatio fantasies about him. then the episode fizzes out at the end and has Jim cower before John's gun whining about how the power of friendship has defeated him

I honestly have no idea how Jim's 3x03/Special "did you miss me??" viral marketing in-universe meme manages to wait til 4x03 for its embarrassing payoff, but it's pretty embarrassing that 4x03's payoff is "Jim recorded reaction gifs for Sherlock's secret mad sister who is somehow now the ruthless one and Mycroft is not." It's pretty embarrassing that he just showed up in a flashback and rolled his neck around a little and I had to lie down for a week, but it can happen to a person.

There's a lot that the show will never deliver explicitly which I will rely on fandom for, like the Holmes family actually being significantly, richly Badbrains, or even just as morally gray as they were in s1. Show's never going to throw in anything more explicitly queer than big gay villain Jim leering about his bodyguard, or Molly Hooper doing drag but two steps removed from reality.

So I think what I'd really hope for from a s5 would be, like, get Andrew Scott, and Jim's dead in continuity, and I will enjoy new gifs of his wolfsmirk in flashback. Maybe the writer’s room could get wise to the untapped lode that is "I'm you/you're me" and give Sherlock flashbacks to previously unseen Moriarty cases he solved which relate, thematically, to whatever the frame story case is?

Give me an episode like that for the finale, and for the beginning of the season I'll take a couple non-mytharc episodes like 3x02 and 4x02 -- which could both plausibly be read as stand-alone cases -- and you will find me satisfied.