#its romantic aspect could be hilarious though

[slythmultishipper]

This feels like Chengxian and Sangcheng at the same time.

What about Sangchengxian

both of them are lockpicking JC's door. you wake up at 4 am to see NHS and WWX up and greeting you happily. after a few screams inside JC's room you see them dead asleep till like 1 pm if work allows.

JYL almost called the cops when she saw two suspicious dark figures fiddling with JC's door. NMJ almost beat them up. and JZX straight up bonked both of them on the head.

JC is very thankful to all of them for waking up normally on those days.

Person A: “Must you always wake me up like this?”

Person B: “If you didn’t want me waking you up, you should have locked the door~ ☆”

Person A: “I did.”

[happy74827]

Burning Bridges

[Dexter Morgan x Female!Reader]

Synopsis: Upon an incident that was out of your control, Dexter comes to the realization that it wasn't just a coincidence.

WC: 1951

Category: Slight Angst, Hurt/Comfort

I forgot how much I missed this show (him), so I decided to write another. It's been so long since I last wrote for him that I actually see the difference in my writing. It's wack.

『••✎••』

Dexter was many things… a brother, a son, a pro bowler, a serial killer… but what he lacked was being a good friend.

He didn't understand friendship or its value. It was something that he simply couldn't grasp. Sure, he was able to fake it well enough in order to make sure that people liked him and didn't find him too creepy or strange, but there was never any real emotional connection. In his mind, everyone was either someone he needed or someone he didn't need, and he would treat them accordingly. The only exceptions to this rule were his sister, Debra, and you.

The two of you had met back in college, having been assigned to be each other's partners for a group project. It was a poetry class and a course that Dexter hadn't really wanted to take, but a general education requirement and the promise of an easy A convinced him to at least show-up and suffer through it. Well, for a guy who had to fake every single aspect of his personality in order to fit in with society, it turned out that poetry didn’t come quite as easily as he thought it would.

He had always found the art form to be rather silly, with all the emphasis on metaphors and flowery language. There was no purpose or goal other than to be creative and artsy, and it bored him to no end. The first time you had sat down with him to discuss the project, you could tell how much he didn't want to be there, and the look of complete disinterest on his face as he tried to figure out what your poem meant was the most hilarious thing that you had seen in a while. You couldn't help but laugh, the sound of which made him sit up and give you a quizzical look.

"What?" He asked, tilting his head slightly, confused.

"Nothing," you replied, still giggling. "It's just that I can tell that you don't like poetry."

"Why would you think that?"

"Because you haven't said a word; you're just sitting there, staring off into space and twirling your pencil between your fingers," you told him, and he glanced down at the utensil as if he didn't realize that he was doing that.

"Oh. Sorry, I guess," he apologized, his tone making it clear that he was actually a little annoyed at having been called out on his inattentiveness.

"That's okay. I like poetry, so I'll be happy to do most of the work," you offered, smiling sweetly, and his eyebrows raised.

And that you did. In fact, you loved it so much that you majored in English and planned on getting your Masters, while Dexter got his degree in criminology. It was a nice trade-off because while he struggled in poetry, getting down into the debts of his feelings that were nonexistent, you struggled with chemistry, unable to wrap your head around the subject no matter how hard you tried.

So, the two of you had a mutually beneficial agreement. You did all the work for the poetry class, and in exchange, he tutored you in chemistry and made sure that you got a decent grade. Once the class was over and done with, the two of you stayed friends, though you had very little in common. Dexter had no interest in books, and you had no interest in criminology. He was a loner, and you had plenty of friends. You were a romantic, and he was completely unromantic. He didn't even have a girlfriend, and you had been in three different relationships over the course of the two years that you had known him.

Still, the two of you got along well enough. You were one of the only people that Dexter could actually stand for more than five minutes, and he was the same to you. So you went out to the bar sometimes, hung out with his sister, and did your best to keep him company while also doing your best to try to set him up on dates, hoping that one of these days, he'd actually find someone. It eventually did work out when you found him Rita, but as of right now, she had broken up with him, and he was back to being a lonely bachelor which it didn't bother him much until now.

You were in the hospital, your head wrapped and bandaged like a mummy. You were apparently attacked outside the grocery store, and if it wasn’t for the small instructions he had given you for self-defense, you most likely wouldn’t have survived.

At first, Dexter didn’t think of it as anything important in terms of his line of work. He believed it to be a coincidence, a random crime in the night. But it turned into something more the night he decided to visit with some cake.

“How’s the head?” He asked as he came inside, seeing you propped up reading. Of course, you were reading.

You shrugged. “Like I’m wearing a sweater hat, but it doesn't hurt, so there's that." You paused, setting down your book and glancing at him. "I’m still salty about my groceries. Almost two hundred dollars I spent on that stuff. Gone. Wasted. Poof."

Dexter had to chuckle a bit. "Hey, I can't do much about the food, but I brought you something," he said, revealing the white box.

"Is it chocolate? If it is, I love you," you joked.

"No, it's just vanilla. But, here."

He opened the lid and showed you, and you immediately lit up.

"Awww, Dexter! You are the best friend ever," you gushed, giving him a warm smile.

He smiled back. "It's the least I could do."

He was cutting it up for you when he noticed movement out of the corner of his eye. You didn’t seem to notice, but out in the hall, a shadow passed by the window. His body went on alert, eyes flickering towards the door. He couldn’t see much, but he could make out an elderly man with gray hair and a beard.

Dexter's face remained unchanged, though his body language betrayed him as he sat the cake knife down. He knew that look. That look in a man's eyes when he was looking at prey. This was a predator.

"Hey, uh, what was that description again? Of the man who attacked you," Dexter asked, his tone a bit distracted.

"You mean Santa Claus on drugs? That pretty much sums it up. Why?" You looked up, confused.

"I don't know. It's probably nothing."

But it was something. The man had apparently come back to finish the job, and Dexter's jaw clenched at the thought. He was already planning his death in his mind. It wouldn’t be pretty. He gave you a piece of cake, swearing that he’d be back soon before going after the man. He stopped at the lobby momentarily, informing Angel to keep an eye on you, which, of course, the cop complied with.

Angel was a good cop. He was loyal, smart, and a damn good shot. But there was one thing that made him a great cop. He cared about his city and the people in it. He would protect the innocent no matter the cost, especially when it came down to those he was closest to. He was the kind of guy who would risk his life without a second thought if it meant saving others.

This is why Dexter liked Angel and why he was the only one that he trusted with this job.

Finding the man was extremely easy on his part. Dexter already knew what the guy’s plan was, so he stuck around outside the parking lot, watching the shadows. After a few minutes, the man appeared, heading towards the entrance once again.

He never got that far.

A hand was clamped over his mouth while the other dragged him away from the double doors and towards the side of the building. Dexter didn’t pull out his knife, though, only resorting to his arms as he applied pressure against his throat. The man fought, trying to break free, but he didn't get the chance. Dexter didn’t kill him, no, not yet, but his arm was still strong, and he had no plans to let go.

“Listen closely. If you so much as look the wrong way, I will rip your heart out and shove it down your throat. Understand? Nod if you do," he threatened, his voice calm and even. The man nodded, terrified, his eyes wide.

"Good," Dexter replied, “Why are you here?"

The man was quiet, but he was breathing heavily, and his eyes were watering.

"Talk. That girl, why are you after her?"

"I’m not—”

"You attacked her, and now you came back to finish the job, did you not? Who sent you?"

The man was sweating; his face was flushed and red. Dexter was pressing too hard, and his victim was starting to lose air. He didn’t care.

"Who?" He repeated.

The man choked, unable to speak.

"Last chance. Who sent you? And don't lie to me."

The man didn’t answer, and Dexter tightened his hold. That finally did it. The man began to squirm violently, trying to break free, but it was too late. His face started to turn purple, and Dexter had to adjust his grip and pull him closer.

“It wasn’t personal! I had to! I didn't have a choice! It was just a job!" He gasped out, struggling for air. “I got paid to do it. I was just doing what I was told! Please, please, don't kill me."

"Who was it?"

"I—I don’t know. It was some lady. I met her at a bar. She didn’t give her name, but he wasn’t American. She gave me ten thousand dollars and told me that the job was to attack this chick in the parking lot and make it look like an attempted robbery. Said it had to be done in a couple of days. Listen, man, I didn't want to do it. But the money—"

"What did she look like?" Dexter cut in.

"Dark hair. Young. I don't know! I don't know, I swear. She wore sunglasses the whole time. Please, don’t kill me. Please."

Suddenly, it hit him like a ton of bricks. The Dark Passenger was roaring, the realization washing over him like cold water.

Lila.

Everything made sense now. The way she had suddenly showed up out of nowhere, the incident outside the bowling alley, her sudden interest in you. It all made sense. She was behind it. She had done it.

Dexter wanted to snap the man's neck. He wanted to rip his throat out. He wanted to take his knife and stab him over and over again, to punish him for what he had done to you, but he refrained. He had the answers he needed, and the cameras around were still running.

He dropped him and watched him collapse, gasping for air. He didn't move, too scared and in shock to do so. Dexter didn’t say a word; his anger was silent, but it was boiling beneath his skin.

He was going to kill her. He was going to hunt her down and end her, and there was no place on Earth where she could hide.

“You ever, and I mean ever, come near her again; I will tear out your spine and make you choke on it. Understand?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I understand."

Dexter didn’t say anything else; he simply walked off, his hands stuffed into his pockets. He had a lot to think about.

[pastorfutureletthembe]

Because of my brain's fucked up chemistry, I bring you bilibili's most hilarious (sarcasm) ploy. This is one of my favorite official artwork. The palette is simple and our beloved characters seem to have fun!

🙂‍↔️ Don't be fooled.

I'll start with the obvious, as always: red stains and apple knives. The pictures are telling enough.

Then we have the number 8. Which, I have my theories on, but nothing significant enough to make a whole post about it yet.

Let's start with the 8 of hearts. If you look carefully, you'll notice there are exactly 8 chandelier arms. 8 strawberries are visible on each cake (one is missing two parts and the other one is partly behind a shadow who must be Li Tianchen). Lastly, but Im not entirely sure of myself here, you can probably count 8 wine glasses (they are rounder than others).

Crossed theory: the missing pieces of the cakes are exactly between IV and VI of a clock. V is hinted yet again 🤌✨ but there are two cakes... making cakes... Yep, you guessed it: one entire Curve, as described in Rick and Morty:

The curve basically walls off the infinite number of universes, in which INSERT IMPORTANT CANONICAL NODE happens, from the rest of the infinite multiverse. A model often used to explain is that the definition of the Central Finite Curve has no set parameters; it's just wholly random and infinite therefore can be represented as a repeating, immeasurable shape modeled with a circle. The Central Finite Curve would then present a finite collection of dimensions.

(Gosh, I do have a lot of meta planned for this show, kill me now // Edit: DONE)

STEPPING AWAY FROM THE LYING CAKE-

For archives purpose, I'll just point out that two Aces of Hearts probably means there are two of the same while there should be one. I don't know if this was a clue already or yet to be resolved. They're both near a candle, a glass and a bottle. It gives the whole table an odd symmetry. Like a mirror you cannot see the frames of. The 8 on cards are also symmetrical + the placement is repeated with both chandeliers. The symmetry of the table implies there is a fourth cake off-screen.

There is one mistake though, I don't know if it was made on purpose or not: none of the hearts are upside down. The 8 of hearts is wrong: there is supposed to be symmetry on the card itself!

Since we already got a tarot reading in the chibisodes, here we go: (a quick google research for this one)

"In divinatory tarot, it could be a mix between the Lovers and the World. Indeed, the ace of hearts relates to the World as it represents the triumph of the individual on the elements that surround him. It also relates to the Lovers thanks to its romantic attributes and consequences."

- latincards

THE DARKER SIDE OF THE ACE OF HEARTS MEANINGS: EXPLORING CONTRASTING While predominantly seen as a symbol of love and positivity, the Ace of Hearts can also have darker or more complex meanings. In some interpretations, it might signify heartbreak, emotional manipulation, or unrequited love. This aspect reminds us that the heart's journey is not always smooth and that love can sometimes lead to challenging or transformative experiences.

- thedopeart

(Sidenote: You should be aware that the LOVERS doesn't exclusively concern romantic aspects of life in our modern world, but life partners in the general sense, people deeply tied to you.)

As for the 8 of Hearts:

The Eight of Hearts is often associated with emotions, love, and relationships. It signifies deep connections, harmony, and positive energy in matters of the heart. When this card appears in a reading, it suggests that love and emotional fulfillment are on the horizon. This card is a symbol of balance and stability in relationships. It indicates that there is a strong foundation of trust and understanding between partners.

Hearts are a recurrent shape used in Qiao Ling's artworks but I'll make another post for shapes/characters related stuff.

For the record, Cheng Xiaoshi isn't drinking red wine on the Halloween poster. Doesn't know where this is going but I've done my share of meta for today 🙂‍↕️

>>> In conclusion,

RED is the real clue here. May it be to indicate the presence of Li Tianchen or VEIN. The same shade of red is all we see, as if a filter was used, and since Li Tianchen's eyes glow red, I guess it's related somehow (metaphorically speaking). The fact everything is the same color was also designed to trick us about the blood on the knife. The aces could be CXS and LG... or LG and Liu Xiao (he seems to be obsessed with him so why not.) In any case, I do see a paradox hidden in plain sight here.

The cards are there as a positive outlook: they are together in this, their friendship is what will thrive on the dark side of the clock! It encourages them to open themselves to others and trust their bond.

[ma1dmer]

Cyberpunk - Goro Takemura NSFW

i might revisit this ,i have too many thots on this man but not enough brain for them

A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex): he is very thorough and he doesn't let you slack off on aftercare, he finds something to wash both of you off and something to eat and drink, he doesn't talk a lot but he is still very gentle and cautious to how you are feeling, if you complain about just wanting to sleep he chastises you to not rush him

B = Body part (their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s): tech, he really really loves and takes pride in all the tech he has acquired due to his job, he love the strength it gives him, a testament to his hard work, skill and of course loyalty. he loves when you pay extra attention to the implants he has, when you run your tongue over the synthetic skin, metal and cables as if you could taste his actual pulse beneath everything.

C = Cum (anything to do with cum, basically): pull out king, he doesn't enjoy the clean up and the mess, but he'll deal with it if it means feeling you wrapped around him fully, with no barrier, whether its possible to get you pregnant or not, it is a thought he lingers on when you two are getting hot in the comfort of your bed, he'll throw a few comments here and there, push down on your stomach imagining breeding you before he quickly snaps out of it and pulls out, pumping his cock a few final times to the image of you and your possible family

D = Dirty secret (pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs): he loves stockings and tights, he loves the sleek look of stockings on your legs. in general he is a man that can appreciate lingerie, he loves the effort you put for him, it's like a gift, you coming to him like a gift to unwrap, if he can he'll tear a single hole in the tights and pull everything aside, running his rough palms over your nylon clad thighs as he enters you he's the happiest man alive

E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?): he seems like a man who prefers long term relationships rather than one night stands, not just for commitment, nor out of any particular shame or something, but because one night stands are never as satisfying in his opinion, you can't teach someone new what gets you off as easily, he likes spending time finding what makes his partners tick , loves the satisfaction of knowing someone so well inside and out that he can get them to cum in seconds and he likes the comfort of someone who knows his body equally well

F = Favorite position (this goes without saying): the very very very classic missionary, he lets himself get lost in your embrace, burying his hands in your hair and his face in the crook of your neck as he pushes his hips against yours

G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.): he is surprisingly easy to convince to take part in shenanigans, his humour is delivered with deadpan dryness but he is still hilarious and enjoys watching you relax under him, watching you pause and try to figure out if he just made a joke or not and then grinning once you get it

H = Hair (how well groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.): he keeps natural mostly, he is not opposed to shaving or trimming if you want him to though, he might complain in the beginning but will fulfill your request even if it was just a passing comment you didn't think much of

I = Intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect): he takes a second to get there, to properly warm up to you and be a bit more affectionate and romantic, but when he gets there, he gets there, suddenly melting into you, he enjoys eye contact, he enjoys holding your hand and holding you as close as possible, he loves kissing every part of you he can reach too

J = Jack off (masturbation headcanon): always behind closed doors ,he isn't kind to himself when he indulges like that, he doesn't drag it out ,he knows what gets him off and he does it as clinically and roughly as possible, a tight fist around his cock, muffling his groans behind his other hand, he'll pause when an image of you pops up in his head, frustration distracting him briefly from his goal, how did you manage to get under his skin like that

K = Kink (one or more of their kinks): clothed sex, edging, ropes, scent etc

L = Location (favorite places to do the do): he'll always prefer the comfort of your bedroom, why go anywhere else where it might get uncomfortable or it might stink or you might get caught

M = Motivation (what turns them on, gets them going): authority, he enjoys seeing you put people in their place, it makes him smile to himself proudly, now direct that sort of attention to him and he flushes, embarrassed to realised that it's not just pride he's feeling when your voice takes that sharp edge, or your eyes zero in on him harshly

N = No (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs): he's possessive and really not keen on the idea of bringing anyone else in your bedroom not only that but he will get spiteful and petty if you suggest it

O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.): he is a giver, he likes the control of it and he definitely uses his hands a lot, pushing his fingers inside of you replacing his soft tongue with the rough pad of his finger as often as he can

P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.): he starts off slower and gets more frantic the closer to his release he gets, grabbing you, holding you closer, pulling your hips to his urging you to meet his thrusts, cursing in every language he knows

Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.): he warms up to them very easily, in the beginning he thinks he'd hate them and openly sends you off whenever you try to initiate them, but it only takes one-two times before he is convinced on them, he even finds himself enjoying the idea of leaving you with a few reminders for the rest of your day

R = Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.): not very into risking things, he does not mind experimenting, but expect him to do as much research as possible before diving in to try whatever odd kink you suggest, he'll definitely judge you but never seriously if you want to try something

S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?): he has incredible stamina, but never pushes himself more than he thinks necessary, if you ask him he'll indulge you, one round two rounds three rounds, but when he is done, he is done and satisfied

T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?): only if you want them, he doesn't need them to get himself off since he's very particular on what he likes, but he's not intimidated by them either, he'll definitely leverage them against you in his dirty talk though, greedy

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease): he is direct, he isn't good with teasing you it feels like a front and he's always giving in way too quickly, but he does enjoy when you tease him, you frustrate him to no end when you do so, but he'll never stop you, if you want to play he doesn't mind playing, he finds himself enjoying getting edged, he always moves to grab your wrist when you pull away from his cock, but he never fully commits to pulling your hand back on him, reluctantly letting go and letting the game continue

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.): he is not particularly loud, he mostly huffs and grunts, when he cums he does so with a loud groan and his noises oddly enough always borderline on animalistic, more growly and deep

W = Wild card (a random headcanon for the character): i think he'd enjoy rope play or shibari, placing your full trust in him, letting him push the limits of your body, letting him map out where he wants the rope to go, researching new positions, it's almost not sexual in the way he gets so absorbed by it, a real artist with it too

X = X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes): average lengthwise but its quite thick, the crown is smaller and it thickens at the base, darker than the rest of him

Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?): he does not have a high sex drive, he's used to putting his needs aside for his job. what his body wants comes second to everything else, in the beginning he lets you and needs you to initiate things and to remind him that he can let go and relax in your presence

Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards): it's actually difficult for him to fall asleep after everything is said and done, ideally he wants you to fall asleep first, get the rest you deserve, he will never ask you to stay awake for him, however the truth is he can't fall asleep by himself, he needs your help, talk to him, play with his hair, anything, its a long road before he admits it to you and actually asks for your help, but eventually he does get there

[multidimensionalguidance]

SR Chart in-depth Analysis Part 1 🗝️

I thought it would be a good idea to write down an interpretation of how my 2024 SR chart might develop during this year, forget about it, and then revisit it during and/or at the end of the year! A fun experiment for me, even though I can honestly say that I've already been seeing the way it has been activating.

Note: please keep in mind I use sidereal and whole house system.

Libra ASC: this was the first thing that stood out to me when I saw the chart. I was already feeling an "upcoming glow up" vibe, and confirming it was hilarious. Even though Libra and Venusians in general are not just about appearance, they value aesthetics A LOT. I've already received comments on how my skin is looking amazing, and overall, just a lot of attention from others being thrown towards my appearance. So, aside from that more obvious aspect, I would say that this rising sign makes one feel more keen to developing and/or creating relationships of all kinds, meaning, that it is expected to become a tad more social during this year. Romantic relationships, creativity, arts, a need to be more diplomatic or neutral, and communication with others will become themes I will engage with a lot.

To give dept to this house, I pay attention to the where Libra sits in my natal chart and where it goes on the SR chart, also, where the lord of the SR ASC sits (strength, aspects, etc.) in the chart.

Example: Libra sits in my 12th house, and becomes the rising sign for SR chart. This tells me that a lot of my subconscious patterns will become more noticeable, particularly for relationships, and that those matters that are usually hidden about me are now put on the spotlight. Now, it's very interesting that the lord of my SR ASC moves to the 12th house, so its like there will still be things that are still kept hidden. Knowing me, I will be content with spending time alone and/or in foreign places, so I don't mind. Venus is debilitated, and I'm assuming that keeping to myself will partly occur from difficulties with possible insecurities, being overly critical or focused on self reflecting. Themes of feeling unworthy, and healing it. A great amount of attention being placed towards looks could definitely make one feel uncomfortable or unsure of why you're receiving it so much, and if it has to do with superficial reasons it can makes you feel unseen, as if others ignore your depth.

Scorpio stellium 2nd house: a focus on transformations occuring around money, resources, values, face area, food or products consumed, luxury, comfort, sensuality, and romance. I would expect a highlight and plenty of motivation to pursue all of these topics, since the Sun sits there conjunct Mars. Scorpios move quietly and under the radar, so there will be lots of secrecy on how I will exercise my power/drive, and also on communications around how I'm making money or managing my finances. Money from others moving directly into my pockets from foreign matters, contracts, writing/communication (9H ruled by Mercury), networking, social media, creative pursuits, romantic partner (11H ruled by Sun), somehow losses that turn into gains, expenditure, spirituality, and foreign residence (12H ruled by Mercury). In general, major important upgrades to the way I relate to Venusian matters.

Sagittarius 3rd house: even if houses are empty in a natal or SR chart they still hold meaningful information, but will of course be felt less in comparison to the houses that have planets. I see that my mindset, near environment, and communication will be a lot about/with foreigners, spiritual topics, traveling, and philosophy. The ruler sits in the 7th house, so it will also be mixed with my romantic life (with a foreigner), business, contracts, and other type of close relationships.

Capricorn 4th house: I don't usually pay much attention to Pluto unless its close to ASC or inner planet (Sun, Moon, Venus) but I will now for the sake of giving more context. There could be a major change of residence occuring or renovations of some sort. Home environment could be a bit chaotic or under frequent changes. Part of Fortune also sits there, so all of those transformations might actually be aligned with blessings or for a better outcome. The ruler sits in the 5th house with the moon, so it will definitely make me feel anxious and emotionally restricted or numbed. Luckily, I've had enough experience with Saturnian energy, so I know how to work through it until I find balance.

Aquarius 5th house: as I already mentioned above, with Moon and Saturn conjunct here it is likely that I will be feeling as if my emotions are harder to access which could cause anxiety, creative blockages, frustrations, or depression. Definitely will incorporate lots of yoga, nature, and emotional regulating activities during this year to keep that on check.

Pisces 6th house: with Rahu sitting there, I could see that my attention will gravitate around how I incorporate work, daily routine, health, and exercise with spirituality, creative endeavors, and abstract thinking. I had already experience gut health issues and almost all of those topics shortly after my birthday, so I can see how wherever Rahu is placed in a SR chart, there is a lot of movement for good or worse. With the ruler of 6H going into the 5H, I could see how work and health matters could exacerbate my emotional challenges.

Aries 7th house: Jupiter is siting here, and even though it is retrograde, the functionality of the planet doesn't suddenly stop occuring. It makes Jupiter have a more inward expression if anything. There will most likely be expansion or growth of romantic suitors (specifically male, since its in Aries), contracts, business, relationships of all type of relationships being upgraded somehow, and in general lots of luck with interpersonal skills. Those with whom I develop close relationships will become like teacher, or enjoy providing protection to me. The ruler sits in the 2nd house conjunct with the Sun, so others will either expand my resources or simply have an influence in it. Since its with the sun, it should be beneficial or empowering.

Alllllriiiight, I shall stop here for now and release the 2nd part at another moment!

[ecargmura]

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Episode 15 Review - Sein's A Healer, But...

Wow, is December a month of romance or something? Last week’s episode had some Stark x Fern moments and a huge Frieren x Himmel moment and now today’s episode has a huge Stark x Fern moment. What’s hilarious is that while the Stark and Fern moment may be the highlight, it’s actually not the focus of the episode. In fact, this episode mainly focuses on the male party members with Sein focusing on the first half and Stark on the second.

Sein’s love for MILFs is hilarious, but the first half of the episode mainly focuses on his capabilities. He’s a priest, which means he’s a healer, but how does he fare in combat? Surprisingly, Sein’s very capable with offensive magic too. He’s not just a healer as holy magic has its offensive skills too. I like that! Sein fighting the Chaos Flower may be reckless on his part, but it does make sense as he hasn’t built trust with Frieren yet. However, this was a lesson on Sein’s part as even if he hasn’t gotten to know Frieren yet, he still needs to trust in her capabilities. He definitely deserved that head pat from Frieren onee-san. Also, the Chaos Flower is really gross-looking; it kind of reminds me of that monster plant from Jumanji in a way.

I like how Stark was mainly used as a sort of mouthpiece for the world building aspect of this half of the episode. The usefulness of priests hadn’t been in the spotlight much, so it was nice that Frieren explains everything to him without shaming his lack of knowledge. It’s cool knowing the types of magic and why Frieren never sought to learn the Goddess’ Magic—it’s too intricate and she doesn’t believe in the Goddess. This does worry me, however. If Sein is only a temporary party member, how will Frieren’s party deal with curses in the future?

The second half of the episode focuses on Stark. A Lord notices Stark and has a request for him; he wants him to fill in for his late son for the upcoming soiree just to build up morale for the military. Surprisingly, his late son looks identical to Stark. Because the party lacks money, they decide to accept the request, begrudgingly on Stark’s end. It was cool knowing that Stark has distant relatives as Orden was once from the same village. Though, it’s sad learning that the entire village was wiped out, meaning Stolz, Stark’s brother is most likely dead.

I do like how this portion is like a mirror of Stark’s past with his father and brother. Lord Orden is a kinder version of his father and Stark could see Mut, Orden’s second son, in himself. I believe it’s like a closure in a way. While Orden did seem to grow attached to Stark throughout the three months of having him stay at the manor, Orden and Stark are still strangers at the end of the day. Orden will never be Stark’s father and Stark will never be Wirt, Orden’s late eldest son. Though, it was sweet that Orden was considering adopting Stark.

The highlight of the episode was definitely the ballroom dancing scene with Stark and Fern. The animator for that segment, Myoun, stated that everything was animated by hand without the use of CG. They got the help of a dance school for the movement! That’s amazing. I especially loved the way the skirt of Fern’s ballgown twirled. Frieren’s animation team never skimps with fabric animation. My favorite part of that scene is the moment Stark, who’s normally passive, takes the initiative and leads the dance after seeing how nervous Fern was. I was also gushing at how beautiful both of them looked in that scene. Stark looks great with his hair brushed back and Fern is so pretty with her hair styled in a bun. The music was beautiful. It was so romantic; it also gave me the same vibes as the dance scene from Anastasia where she sang Once Upon A December.

Overall, this was a very good episode that gives insight to the male party members. It feels like a matter of time until they reach Auberst. What will happen before they get there? What will happen once they reach there? What are your thoughts on this episode?

[jamesmmorgan]

GRANTATHON DAY 1: Privileged (1982) - Cloisters and Cucking

Genre: ‘Psychological Drama’

Starring: Robert Woolley, Diana Katis, HUGHIE Grant, Victoria Studd, James Wilby, Imogen Stubbs, Mark Williams

‘I demand satisfaction.’ - Lord Adrian

As films funded by the same university they are set in go, you could do a lot worse than Privileged. Our boy Mungo is credited here as little ‘Hughie Grant’, appearing in the supporting role of ‘Lord Adrian’, a legacy student who wants to get sent down from Oxford. The cast features a few noteworthy names besides Hughie: James Wilby, who we’ll be seeing again in our next film as a romantic lead alongside Grant in Merchant Ivory’s adaptation of Maurice by E.M Forster; and Imogen Stubbs, who I first saw in Frantic Assembly’s Things We Know to Be True (though I can forgive her for that).

Grant’s screen time here is limited and his character matters very little to the central plot up until the second act climax, when Adrian discovers Edward (Woolley) and Lucy’s (Studd) affair. Adrian confronts Edward at a party and hilariously challenges him to a duel, in which we get this breathtaking screengrab of Mungo:

Whoever said his earlier films didn’t showcase Hugh Grant’s range as an actor? (He did, actually)

The cinematography is very standard for low-budget films of the time, perhaps even above-average; we are treated to borderline pornographic shots of limestone structures drowned in that characteristically bleak English sunlight and the composition of much of these shots is perfectly adequate, although the quality of the picture on the copy I had when there are humans displaying a lot of emotion onscreen does sometimes result in slightly terrifying frames as above. Whenever the camera manually crash-zooms in on someone’s face in a mirror after they overhear something disconcerting, I am reminded a little of the Tales of the Unexpected series, which does befit the ‘psychological drama’ genre the film is seemingly going for. However, I would classify this more as a romantic drama, as the psychological aspects are somewhat obscured by the narrative’s indulgence in the love triangle between Edward, Anne, Lucy and Clive Durham’s special friend (portrayed by Wilby, whose character is also called 'James' -- great name).

***SPOILERS AHEAD***

With its many wide-shots of old academic buildings, play-within-a-play storyline and climactic scene of a reluctant scion turning a pistol on himself, it is very tempting to point to this work as a major influence for Peter Weir’s 1989 film Dead Poets Society, presumed zeitgeist of the ‘dark academia’ genre. But the similarities end there, to be quite frank, and I point them out only to irritate anyone reading this who thought they were clever for identifying them themselves.

I was disappointed by the lack of Mungo content overall, and especially puzzled as to Lord Adrian’s motivations in taking his own life. It’s not a student film without random suicide, I suppose, but it’s also never properly established that he is prone to self-destruction nor that he has been really backed into a corner emotionally by this point. Moreover, his death is framed with almost callous indifference by both the characters and the narrative itself. Understandable, given the cast and crew is made up of Oxford students, but dramaturgically uninteresting nonetheless as there is insufficient build-up and seemingly no fall-out. We get a few somber-ish shots of buildings (limestone is to this film as feet are to a Tarantino flick) and a line from one of the other students asking how Adrian’s cheating girlfriend is holding up, but that’s about it. The characters don’t seem to care that much that Adrian’s gone and neither does the spectator, brief as Mungo’s cameo was — that is, unless they are like yours truly, watching exclusively for Hughie and thus saddened that he was both heterosexual AND dead by the end of the film.

Even more puzzling is the loose thread of the masked attacker. At the beginning of the movie, Edward is accosted by a man in a mask; this sets up the supposed overarching mystery of the film, as a series of attacks primarily targeting women at the university continue to occur without much consequence. By the end, there is no resolution and also no reason to ponder one. A member of the main cast — Imogen (Stubbs) — is eventually attacked during a performance of The Duchess of Malfi, and there is a crumb of symbolism in how, at the very moment she is being attacked by the masked man, Edward is creeping onstage also clad in a mask to perform a scene in which the character happens to be attacking a woman. But if this is meant to say something about the covert (or, you might say, ‘masked’) violence of the upper classes, it falls dismally flat.

The hermetically sealed bacterial culture that is Oxford University is perhaps this film’s biggest hindrance. In a better script, whose title is The Riot Club, the focus would have been on the decadence and lack of empathy in the eponymously ‘Privileged’ main cast, rather than on the sexual exploits of the deeply unlikeable protagonist. Katis’ character is seemingly meant to provide an outsider perspective to the elite social circle that the ensemble occupies, but to a middle-class ruffian such as myself she seemed no less posh than the rest of them. Perhaps the scene where she is slightly disapproving of Edward when he is rude to a waitress was supposed to be this film’s equivalent to the bit in Riot Club where working-class Northerner Lauren gets to see Alistair and his mates’ true colours when she arrives at the Club’s annual dinner. But if that is the case, Anne doesn’t seem terribly deterred, and this is also quite literally the only scene in the film where we get to see actual members of the working class in the form of the waitstaff, who have a momentary exchange of commiseration about the students’ behaviour. I quite enjoyed this scene, to tell you the truth, and I wish there had been more like it.

I have visited Oxford only once in my life, but I remember enough of it to have recognised many of the locations in Privileged. As I said before, there are lots of sexy shots of limestone cloisters and grassy quads, all blanketed in the hazy glow of VHS generation loss, and I’m sure anyone who has studied or lived there will feel a great sense of nostalgia watching this film. I think perhaps my potential enjoyment of what is otherwise a fun campy time was marred both by the actual lack in Hugh Grant and my general dislike for the place. That doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate all the things this project has achieved: Mungo’s cinematic debut, Hoffman’s directorial debut, sweet Wilby sporting some serious Diana-grade golden curls, Imogen Stubbs in something where the writing doesn’t make me want to go the way of Lord Adrian, the list goes on.

Oxford students and alum will enjoy this film for the history and nostalgia. Cambridge students will enjoy this for the terrible acting. Mungo fans will enjoy this for the hair (I see now why the French kept calling him Mademoiselle). Would I recommend seeing it? If you can appreciate low-budget charm and a plot that meanders at the pace of a Teddy boy through the gates of one of the women’s colleges, you’ll find it entertaining enough. If, like Lord Adrian and I, you demand satisfaction, I’d say maybe watch it once for the novelty of seeing Hugh Grant in his first theatrical release.

OVERALL FILM RATING (/5): ⭐️⭐️; Entertaining, if a little muddled

HAIR RATING (/5): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

MUNGO FACTOR (1-10): 3 (Points given for hair and general foppishness; points deducted for the cucking and the killing him off)

See you tomorrow for my review of Merchant Ivory Productions' romantic drama Maurice.

[p1x1x]

asking out of curiosity, you describe your headcanon for saya and vitas relationship as a mostly one sided crush, right? do you also hc saya and vita around the same age or does saya not reciprocate at all because she's older

saya’s definitely older, i read her as an adult… doesn’t reciprocate in the same way vita feels, but still cares for her. if you want whatever’s running around my head though… its delusional

vita -> saya: a “crush” of sorts happens as a result of saya being the only other person that shows a semblance of care for her. with the feeling of “missing connection” and not wanting to be alone (somewhere in 12-4 and 12-5), she wants to be with saya in a way? she confuses these feelings as just “romantic” simply because she cant remember wanting such things before (a given since memories gone and all) and not knowing any name for them other than romantic since she’s young. then there’s just the simple fact that saya is pretty (lol), but in a world with so few, saya’s really reliable and… basically a pillar in vita’s life here? (first meetings in arcaea are always significant tbh)

how it develops later? honestly i’m fine with vita’s crush being laced with actual romantic ideas, childish curiosity and perhaps having seen love shown in a couple memories. but i like thinking the root of it all is just a desire to be cared for really, relating to the whole “missing connection” with others aspect. though she can’t remember her guilt and what she’s done, those last few moments of her life definitely had an impact (maybe enough to carry over as a part of her personality, given the way everyone in arcaea has their personality in tact despite missing memories). combine that with waking up and being alone for a month’s time, it makes sense for her to be more sensitive and clingy than a normal child. so even though she can’t find/remember the reason why, she’s afraid of losing saya, which inadvertently makes her want to be closer : P

saya -> vita: saya doesnt reciprocate those types of feelings exactly, but she isn’t as much of a jerk as she might appear to lethe. she chalks up vita’s clinginess as her just being a sensitive kid, and not wanting her to cry, she doesn’t outright push vita away. but i do think she does grow very fond of vita at the very least, with the way vita is an earnest assistant and just a cute kid. saya doesn’t really show it in any words or anything, but just… actions. still letting vita blow her nose with her cape (other hc, even though vita has her own cape lmao), implied to have carried vita (probably got tired on their travels), letting vita cling to her in her sleep (leading into another hc of vita having nightmares (probably of losing saya or something related to World Goes Wrong whatever), in which saya might hold her closer as comfort)…

headpats are cute. in the case of vita growing clingier or wanting more affection? just solve with headpats really… cuddles are super rare but that’s probably just times where vita remembers being alone or stuff like that and decides to be a little prickish. saya kinda finds comfort in it as well, it’s cute. human contact and connection here is rare after all, saya’s not as cold as she seems and lethe isnt giving her any in this moment of time unfortunately

the way i like lethesaya working kinda depends on vita and saya having a close relationship so yeah i think they Care about each other. and it also means lethe has to reevaluate her opinion of saya lol (and end up learning how saya really is…)

but i do think divorced lethesaya and adopted kid is hilarious so you could kind of throw some parts of this out .i kinda just hold different configurations of them in my head. everything’s subject to change anyway… idk i think they can be sweet at least… i just like seeing vt happy and cared for tbh

i dont think you were asking for any of this but i yapped because i think theyre both neat. now imagine how long lethesaya post could be if i typed here instead of twitter…

[munsonshire]

Hello! Can I please get a matchup for supernatural?

I'm a straight female and my pronouns are she/her

I'm 5'9 and I have long and curly dark brown hair and brown eyes. I have a fair skin tone, I'm slim and I've got full lips and fairly large eyes. I also have these dimples that I really like!

I love reading, my favorite genres are poetry, Russian lit, and mysteries! I love learning about new things and knowing a little bit of everything. I adore adventures, witty and playful banter, joking around and having indepth discussions on anything and everything! I adore all forms of art and I have quite a few creative hobbies! I listen to a lot of modern/indie rock and I love watching films very much! It takes me a while to feel comfortable around new people but once I do, I become really talkative and outgoing. I love helping out and I'm the therapist friend, people come to me to vent or for advice and comfort. I'm smart and ambitious; I love being the best at everything I do. I'm quite the hopeless romantic and I love being in love! I adore big and small romantic gestures and I love domesticity sm!! My love languages are acts of service and quality time. I'm a ravenclaw, my mbti is infp and my enneagram is 4w3!

Thank you very much!

Anonymous x Supernatural Matchup

Hello there!! Here is your request, I hope you like it!!

Disclaimer: its been a long LONG time since I last saw supernatural, so keep this in mind hehe.

I believe you would match pretty well with Castiel.

Learning and knowledge

Castiel shares your intellectual curiosity and thirst for knowledge. We is constantly learning about the human world, pretty much like you enjoy knowing about different genres and subjects.

Also, his vast knowledge of everything, having been an angel that has lived for thousands of years would be amazing, he'd talk to you about so many topics most would include angel themes such as celestial lore or even the intricacies of angel weapons and so on.

You two would always (playfully) challenge each other on knowledge of different things

You'd also tease Cas a lot because of how outdated some of his information about human history is.

You'd provide a grounding presence for Castiel as he tries to understand and learn human emotions and relationships. While he would introduce you to the Supernatural aspects of the world (lets be honest, you'd be a hunter and his tips would be useful)

Potential Banter

Castiel's literal interpretations and occasional social awkwardness could lead to some truly hilarious moments.

Imagine trying to explain sarcasm or a pop culture reference – the possibilities for amusement are endless!

Also his straightforward nature and close to no filter when he talks would bring so many funny moments between you two, especially due to your playful personality. Also, expect the most unhinged comments ever

Your playful personality could help him loosen up and discover the joy of wordplay.

Artistic connection

Being an angel, Castiel's appreciation for art may not rely on human traditional art forms, though he does marvel at the complexity of human creations

You say you're interested in poetry and I can imagine Castiel asking you to recite one of your favorite poems to him. Then him being awestruck by the emotional depth of the poem you just read to him.

I believe he would be very interested in painting and sculpture, especially the ones based on angels and god (cuz he's an angel), enter The Piety by Michaelangelo or Crucifixión de San Pedro. Caravaggio (1601). He'd also be amazed by modern ways of painting, such as digital art, he can't quite grasp how it works but he likes learning about it.

You two go to a lot of museums

His ability to transport everywhere is beneficial, he'd take you to all the different libraries, museums, and historical buildings that you might want to visit

Challenges to overcome, growth Together:

Castiel's angelic nature can be a double-edged sword.

His loyalty to Heaven could create conflict if it ever clashes with your values

However, open communication and a willingness to understand each other's perspectives could lead to a deeper bond and a stronger relationship.

Your nurturing personality could be a balm to Castiel's struggles with understanding human emotions

As he opens up (slowly, but surely), you'd be there to offer support and guidance

In turn, his unwavering loyalty and angelic perspective could provide a sense of security and stability in your life.

The hopeless romantic meets the loyal angel:

Castiel, despite his initial awkwardness, is a deeply devoted being.

His angelic expressions of love might not be what you see in human relationships, but his unwavering loyalty and willingness to protect you speak volumes

Together, you could create a unique and beautiful love story, filled with grand gestures and quiet moments of domestic bliss.

I really hope you liked it, if there's something you'd like me to add, anything you don't like of somewhere where you want me to in-deep more just tell me!!

[thewanderingace]

I FINISHED!

I'll put all my ramblings under a read more because of spoilers.

I am heartbroken but OH MY GOD THAT WAS SUCH A GOOD SEASON!!!!

I want to immediately rewatch it all again and I definitely will many more times. I loved it all. Yes the ending broke my fucking heart but its such a good and intriguing story line to take! The writing of the whole scene in the bookshop was stellar and the acting by both David and Michael was so so so good it had me crying. I can't believe it was Crowley who put himself out there first!! I always pictured it being Aziraphale but upon reflection it does make sense. Especially with everyting that happened this season and the fact that Aziraphale is still struggling to unlearn things. Crowley just, to quote Aziraphale, "moves too fast." for him.

But oh my god the ANGST!!!I love angst!!! A lot!! So yeah it hurts me but I love it! Angst gives such great plots and emotional aspects. I know a lot of people are gonna be angel but I love it. I will say though, we better fucking get another season because it CAN NOT end like this . You hear me Amazon! Don't you end it like this!

I want to see Aziraphale in season have a terrible time in heaven and realize that the only thing that matters is being with Crowley and I want him to apologize to Crowley and ask for forgiveness and do the "you were right" dance for him and then I want to the two of them to move to their cottage together and just be happy together.

Some other random thoughts I need to get out:

Oh my god Crowley as an angel killed me. He's so full of light and happiness and all he wanted was to make his stars and see them thrive. God i love him

Omg Crowley spending this whole season as an overprotective "don't touch him!" boyfriend SENT ME! And David clearly had just a great time. Crowley was so funny and the bits he he did were the best. Like the laudanum scene.

"You don't know anything at all and yet you're sure that everything would be better if you were just near one particular person?"

"No. Certainly not. I have no idea what that feels like. What makes you say that?" LIAR! You thought of Crowley!

Crowley's outfits this season were SO GOOD! I also loved how much less he wore his glasses especially around Aziraphale since he's so so comfortable in his presence he doesn't feel like he has to hide but then after the confession and rejection HE PUTS THEM BACK ON AND DOESN'T TAKE THEM OFF AND I AM UNWELL.

All the Jane Austen this season is my favorite thing ever and the fact that Crowley thinks it's romantic to get caught in the rain with someone. I'm just saying if Aziraphale and Crowley don't have a romantic reunion/apology/kiss in season 3 i'm gonna be very upset. I want a huge romance movie style make up where the two of them get caught in a huge storm, there's yelling, apologies, and then longing staring followed by a mutual kiss. I want it. I never thought I would but god damn do i want this.

The Bentley loving Aziraphale and changing itself for him was so freaking cute. "Our car" MY GOD

Everything in the Edinburgh flashback was hilarious but I especially loved David enjoying using his Scottish accent and then the whole chugging laudanum thing. So funny.

Muriel is adorable and I love them to death. They're so funny and I hope they'll be in season 3.

Homeless Crowley, living in his car with his plants. Oh my god imagine if Aziraphale had told him he could live at the bookshop with him.

"When you told my only friend to shut up and die. I did not care for it." Oh my God he's so angry when is your first behalf and I love him for it. "You're making him risk his entire existence for you."

"rescuing me makes him so happy."

"I remember hearing you and Crowley were an item."

THE JANE AUSTEN DANCE!!

I LOVED EVERYTHING THIS SEASON!!!

[lamalamam]

thinking about the animal motifs in this show, particularly animals that are let loose: fleabag helping the pet cat escape from her parent's house, Hilary the guinea pig constantly running out of the cage and being restored in place, the wild fox appearing out of nowhere... obviously, the animal motif supersizes fleabag's loneliness and her inability to form genuine connections with human beings, but it’s also interesting how each of these animals corresponds to an aspect of fleabag’s life. Hilary was a gift from boo (friendship), the pet cat lived in her parents’ house(family), while the wild fox’s always in pursuit of the priest (romantic love).

it may be a reach but fleabag’s interactions with the animals reveal how she deals with these different types of relationships. if Hilary represents friendship, then fleabag’s constant act of returning it to its cage could be read as repression of guilt & memories (see: how we only know what happened between them at the end of S1).

whereas fleabag helping the pet cat escape from her parent’s house is a projection of her own desire to be free from her family. she feels trapped by them, especially in the presence of her stepmother. Hence, her coping mechanism is to isolate herself (see: fleabag stays in boot camp and avoids her family in between S1 & 2).

the fox stands out from the rest of the motifs because for once the animal isn’t on the run, instead, it is the one playing the role of the hunter (though running nonetheless). and it pretty much encapsulates fleabag’s attitude towards romantic love & sexuality-the only aspect in her life she is confident about. But it’s also special because fleabag realises this relationship isn’t one which she merely tolerated, so she’s taking the active role to chase after what she wants.

[sil-and-seals-blog-something]

I AM INVESTED IN THIS AND HAVE THOUGHTS-

Okay so like. There’s many ways this can be interpreted. Is Wally actually being slower? Or is he actually processing things faster which makes him feel like he’s going slower? Is Danny doing stuff to the Speed Force or becoming the Speed Force or fueling a spatial aspect of the Speed Force? Is Danny and the Speed Force just indefinitely making each other more powerful over time? How does Wally find out or meet him? Is it even Danny we’re talking about here? It could easily be Dan and/or Ellie as well!

But, personally? I like to think that the Speed Force used to have an ancient. Yet that ancient faded away, and now the Speed Force has been left to sap off of the Ancient of Time. Twisting its abilities into something more unstable. Hence the fucking up of time. Danny, as Clockwork’s mentee and a budding ancient, is slowly becoming the Speed Force’s new attachment, and since his concept and role as an ancient isn’t defined yet? Yeah, yeah. The Speed Force is gonna latch onto him. All this weirdness going on to the speedsters, and specifically with Wally (the most connected to the Speed Force, if I remember correctly), is because the Speed Force is finally stabilizing again after so long. It’ll take time for the speedsters to realize that the Speed Force is healing, that the buzzing of a new awareness of something is fine, and that this parasite isn’t a parasite. But Wally? Wally is most connected. He might even feel a pull towards wherever Danny is.

And Danny? Probably doesn’t realize what’s happening until he can start precisely saying where and WHEN the speedsters are. Can feel WHO they are. Can feel them to varying strengths. Can feel that he can take their connection to the Speed Force, to him, away. Or give someone the connection. Can feel the Speed Force’s desire to connect to something, someone, for even an ounce of stability. And he’s left to know that he can get rid of his own connection to it before it’s too late to do so. But he could also use this to… monitor the speedsters, stabilize the Speed Force, prevent universe ending time fuck ups. He could. He really could. Maybe he should… spend time with the one he can most clearly feel, for advice, maybe help in deciding what to do? It’s not like they’ll be able to lie to each other at this point with how connected Wally is to the Speed Force and how far along Danny is to becoming the Speed Force.

Danny did not account for them getting side tracked in scientifically figuring out how Danny stabilizing and becoming the Speed Force is changing it (and him). It’s kinda hilarious to watch the spatial and temporal aspects growing to balance each other out. And watching Wally accidentally fling himself too far with the spatial aspect of the Speed Force catching up to the temporal.

Side note 1: the reason why Danny doesn’t just take the Speed Force from the villainous speedsters is because he can see a purpose in having them {via Clockwork telling him future stuff}. They have a function of helping strengthen the heroic speedsters’ connection to the Speed Force and their resolve. This also means- though- that Danny absolutely shows favoritism. Helping his favored ones out in sticky situations.

Side Note 2: Fenton Luck is now becoming apart of the Speed Force.

Side Note 3: I’d love both queerplatonic and romantic routes for Danny/Wally. We need more of these two. I’m expressly saying that Danny’s absolute favorite who gets the most favoritism from him is Wally.

Side Note 4: I only realized after writing side note 3 that Danny is basically being a sugar daddy. I stand by it, but I need people to realize that that wasn’t my original intention when writing that note. Just a… pleasant oopsie.

Short DPXDC Prompts #886

Wally has some trouble figuring out why he’s been slower than normal. He thinks there’s a new speedster somewhere but it doesn’t feel like a new speedster. It feels more like a parasite. But a symbiotic one, that both benefits the speedforce and itself. He’s much more refreshed every day he wakes up and feels a strange sense of purpose now. He didn’t expect that parasite to be the mentee of the physical embodiment of time.

[hirugaymi]

Romantic Killer is a great and wholesome romcom!!

I finished the anime in one sitting and all my friends have actual lives to be lived this weekend so Tumblr will be the one to hear my thoughts on the new Netflix romcom

first things first! I know the premise of the show could be somehow seen as controversial but it was the very thing that attracted me to it. I'm a big fan of shows like Kaguya-sama e Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun, that have this meta commentary on romance tropes and innuendos. Romantic Killer plays safely when it comes to cliches, it doesn't exactly twist them like the aforementioned, but if you're a Shoujo fan or familiar with these concepts, it feels very refreshing.

When you're halfway into the show, the premise and the "forced" aspect subtly give way to this very organic and natural construction of a friendship between the characters, even if the circumstances that led them to that point were unusual. Absolutely none of the events that occur between the "love interests" happen without consent. These characters have agency and when you open your eyes to that, it's so nice to see that they get along well!!

This show twists the idea of a reverse harem by asking "What if instead of fighting for the MC, they were all friends?" And it gives you this sweet giddy feeling in your chest by the end, and makes you crave more interactions between its very endearing characters.

Though you should not only expect the comedy and the romance, but a bit of very well constructed drama by the final act. It was surprising to me, but a very welcome surprise, considering how heavy the topics the show handled were and how fantastically they delivered, without ever making the change of tone feel jarring or uncanny. And, of course, it all feels nice and good at the end. It's the kind of show where they make you want to hug a certain character at a moment, and then they actually hug them.

And talking about characters, the main character Hoshino Anzu really is a delight to watch

She's relatable without being a self insert, quirky but not annoying and HILARIOUS. This girl made me tear up from how much she got me laughing every time she was on screen.

The boys are more than just the embodiment of a trope, too. I do think that the development of one of them is kind of predictable, but they feel unique in the show, not like cardboard cutouts. Kazuki in particular, as he is pretty much the male lead, is such a nice little guy to watch.

This is the kind of romance anime that doesn't make a big deal out of it and recognizes the importance of every kind of human connection. If you're into that and a lot of comedy gold, you're gonna have a great time!

[wheelsup]

coffee is the sixth love language | part two

Summary: Over three cups of coffee, Spencer realized his feelings for you. And over three cups of coffee, he acts on them. gn!Reader.

A/N: the italicized this time indicates Spencer’s thoughts, not reader’s. part of this story is inspired directly from these comments made by @doctorthreephds on the reblog! thanks for letting me incorporate them :)

category: fluff, sfw

warnings: technically none, but the “profiling” part is kind of a reach.

word count: 3k

     Once Spencer was firmly resolute on asking you out, he knew he wanted it to be special in a way that only the two of you could appreciate. He realized that he had yet to be the one bringing you coffee, and so it felt only right that it should be how he makes his first move. He woke up extra early on a weekday morning to stop by your favorite coffee shop on his way to work because he knew you loved their banana nut muffins and double-brewed coffee. It was an extra twenty-five minutes out of the way for work each way, so you only got to go there on the rare occasion that you had a day off and were not out of town on a case. It might have been ridiculous to drive fifty minutes for a single damn muffin, but Spencer wanted to make this perfect for you by any means necessary. This was one of the special times that Spencer drove his car, needing the extra speed in order to complete his mission.

     He picked up your regular drink order and the muffin and was anxiously on his way back to Quantico. As per his plan he arrived at the office before you did, though not too much earlier because he wanted to make sure your coffee was still hot by the time you got it. If Spencer’s calculations were correct - which they almost always were - you would arrive within a two to four and a half minute window from when he did. Spencer took out a sharpie from his desk drawer and delicately scrawled a message onto the top corner of the pastry bag holding your muffin. He thought it felt like something out of a cheesy romance novel, the kind of novels that you could find in the fifty cent clearance bins, but dammit if Spencer didn’t deserve a little cheesy romance in his life. The other benefit of this was that he thought he would almost certainly choke on his words if he had to ask you himself. He set the two items on your desk and returned to his own to sit and observe. Spencer hoped it would be the first of many coffees he could buy you.

It wasn’t until you had already walked into the bullpen and were halfway to your desk that Spencer realized he had forgotten to sign his name to the bag. How were you supposed to react to him asking you out if you didn’t actually know it was him? And oh God, he left unsealed food on the desk of an FBI agent, with no indication of who had put it there. That is infinitely more suspicious than it is romantic. He wouldn’t be surprised if she took it straight to the trash can. So long for cheesy romance, Dr. Reid.

     But Spencer was absolutely elated when your first reaction was to peek into the bag and gasp out of joy at what was inside. He watched you break off a piece of your beloved banana nut muffin and chew it gleefully, and all he could think of was how cute you looked when you were happy. Shortly followed by concern that a federal agent would so readily eat unmarked food that could have been tampered with. That’s something I should bring up to her on the date. 

     Spencer’s stomach was in knots not knowing if you would pick up on the message. You swallowed that chunk of the muffin and turned the bag over to find an almost illegible black script that you had nearly missed: Would you like to have coffee with me? It just felt like all of the air had been knocked out of your body. 

     It didn’t even take you half a second to know who this was from; there were so many tells it was Spencer. Before you even noticed the note, you knew it was from him when you saw what was inside the bag. The whole team knew what your favorite coffee shop was because you had talked about it enough times. Hell, you even owned a oversized tee with their name on it that you kept in your go bag as a sleep shirt. But nobody knew what your favorite muffin was because you never mentioned it. In fact, if you thought about it there were maybe only a handful of times over the six months you’d been at the BAU that you even elected to eat this pastry in lieu of a real breakfast. But if anyone was going to detect a pattern, it would have been Dr. Reid. Of course he would pick up on the fact that you only picked those out at cafes when you felt like having a sweet treat, or that when Penelope brought in baked goods for the office you would only indulge if you saw your favorite item in the lineup. 

     You already knew it, but in case you had any doubt, the note itself confirmed your theory twice. One indicator was the phrasing choice would you as opposed to will you. Use of would posits a hypothetical, as in hypothetically, would you have an interest in drinking coffee together, rather than a hard, come with me to get coffee. The hesitance in the tone came off as if the sender were testing the waters, wanting to put the idea out there without coming off as too strong. Because it was reserved, it gave you room to think if you would genuinely enjoy doing so as opposed to making you feel like you should oblige. That level of respect screamed Spencer to you. And though it was so glaringly obvious, if you needed some concrete evidence it was the fact that nobody else had such endearingly atrocious handwriting like Dr. Reid. It was something you always found hilariously ironic for a man who often analyzes other people’s writing styles for work. You wondered what his way of scribbling said about him, and hoped he could tell you on that date of yours. 

     You looked straight at him, finding that his eyes were already fixed on you.

     “Yes.” 

     One word was all you had to say to make the lump in Spencer’s throat disappear, replaced by the sensation that his heart was leaping out of his chest. He was going to keep that memory stored in his brain forever, just to replay the moment when the future of your relationship changed with a simple word. Little did he know that when you finished that muffin, you neatly folded the pastry bag and tucked it into your desk drawer, saving it for the exact same purpose. 

_____

     Spencer had gotten to see your favorite coffee spot already, so for your date you requested that he take you to his to make it even. It was small, but incredibly cozy under the soft ambiance provided by string lights and charm of their mismatched furniture. There was one exposed brick wall adjacent to another that was a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf; it housed copies that loyal patrons left behind for others to pick up. All of those books had different colors of post-its peeking out from the pages. It was almost too eclectic and disorganized for what you would expect Dr. Reid to be into, but at the same time it made perfect sense to you.

     “You know, I think I just learned something about you.” You leaned gently into his side to tell him, both hands wrapped around your coffee cup because you were too nervous to know what else to do with them. Spencer was the kind of guy to sit adjacent to you at a table, rather than across, and you loved that about him. You loved having him as close to you as possible. 

     Spencer’s lips pulled at the edges to form a perfect, lazy smile. “What did you learn about me?” The team had an agreement not to profile each other, but under your gaze, Spencer never felt the kind of scrutiny that came with picking people apart. He trusted that whatever you had to say was going to be kind.

     “I think this place says so much about you. Something about how all those books are donations passed on from locals, and that people feel comfortable taking a book off the shelf and opening it up to read what others recommend. The fact that they leave little notes in it for the next reader to share what those stories meant to each of them. Nobody asked those people to do that, but they all chose to take part in these small actions that ended up creating an entire community.” It was one of the most beautifully human things you’d ever witnessed. A group of people engaging in understated and innocent gestures of love between perfect strangers, completely unprompted. “I think you value simple acts, the kind that can take on profound meaning without even intending to. Like when silence feels so comfortable when you’re with the right person.” You paused to take in his reaction as a gauge for how right or wrong you may be. He gave no objection to what you had posited, eyes simply glued to you in intense focus. Spencer was hanging on everything you said, wordlessly encouraging you to divulge more theories you’d developed on him.

     “And, visually, this furniture reminds me of a family home. The kind where some items were handed down for generations, some bought new, and others gifted by a distant relative who has no idea what the family likes.” Spencer’s soft laughter mirrored your own at your very accurate description of the shop’s decor. The room truly could not be more disjointed in its aesthetic, but that was entirely its charm. “It probably reflects that there are some aspects of your life that just don’t make sense to you, that almost seem to conflict with each other. For a guy so smart, I’m sure it’s scary to feel like you don’t understand something, and there are probably dark spots in that brain of yours that you try to hide from the world. But in this room, these things that don’t seem like they work together actually amount to something so lovely. And just like the charmingly hideous suede couch and the oddly fur-covered armchairs, every facet of you deserves appreciation because without them you wouldn’t make up to be the beautiful person you are overall.” 

     Neither of you could pinpoint the moment which your hands had drifted together, fingers loosely intertwined in gentle embrace. There was too much to unpack in what you had said for Spencer to know where to begin. The only thing he could say for sure was that he was astounded by how deeply you understood him without him ever saying any of those things. He considered that maybe you understood him better than he did himself and wished that he could spend his whole life observing the world through the same rose-tinted lenses with which you viewed him. At a loss for words, Spencer chose not to say any right then. The silence I have with you is the most comfortable I’ve ever had. 

_____

     After each of you consumed one too many caffeinated beverages, you still were not prepared to let the date end. You were willing to sit there and have as many espresso drinks as you could to keep talking to Spencer. 

     The universe must have been in support of your romance as the overcast skies broke and began to rain just minutes after the two of you had left the shop. Spencer was walking you back to your apartment, clearly forcing his long legs to slow down their naturally fast stride so to extend how long it took to get there. He could get an extra thirteen minutes with you this way. Spencer was given his perfect excuse to keep the date going in the form of heavy downpour; his apartment was far closer than yours, and he proposed you two should seek shelter together until it stopped. I hope it never stops. 

     Spencer held tightly onto your hand as he ran with you through the rain, giggling all the way to his apartment. He may not like wet, cold climates, but he sure did like holding your hand. Being next to you made him feel incredibly warm somehow when the temperature outside was very much not. And you felt completely at peace sitting on Spencer’s couch wearing one of his sweaters that he lent you. Truthfully, your own clothes weren’t so wet from the rain that it was necessary, but you both pretended it absolutely was just to be able to experience this. 

     It was clear that the rain would be going for a while and all you wanted to do to pass the time was continue listening to Spencer talk. You discovered that when he’s not interrupted, he loves to go on runaway tangents, often bouncing between different trains of thought as one idea sparked him to remember another. It was almost a sport to keep up with him, but it was perhaps the only one you’ve ever enjoyed. It was so easy when everything he said interested you. You loved that Spencer taught you something new every day, but no matter how niche a piece of trivia or shocking an unknown fact was, it could not beat the things that he taught you about himself. He was letting you in on so many unseen dimensions of himself whether he knew it or not, the explicit ones revealing implicit ones. 

     You had happily stayed in his home for hours, absorbing every word he spoke. What entertained you the most was the ability of your conversation to jump from deep, serious places to lighthearted stories filled with jokes and teasing and back again in a way that felt completely natural. Your favorite anecdote of his was the story of how he got addicted to coffee. It was the BAU’s favorite inside-joke that Spencer liked his coffee sickeningly sweet and you always wondered how he could tolerate it. Just looking at it made your teeth ache. When he told you why, you thought that the backstory was even sweeter than the coffee.

     As a twelve year old college student, Spencer found himself experiencing sleep deprivation for the first time in his life. The course load was more rigorous than he had in high school and even the boy genius needed to readjust to the new expectations of college. More importantly, he needed to cope with pulling late nights at the library if he wanted his first degree by the time he was eligible for a driver’s license. The Red Bulls that the other kids seem to gravitate to seemed far too aggressive for Spencer, their potent smell of chemicals a huge turn off. They were definitely not for him. 

     He remembered how often his mom used to drink coffee, always in the morning while Spencer got ready for school. Being at CalTech and away from his mother, who remained in Las Vegas most of the time due to her condition, made him so homesick that he took up a coffee habit as a reminder of her. He loved the way it smelled like every comfort he had ever known. 

     Though he appreciated its smell, Spencer, of course, was not ready back then to love the way it tasted. He was still after all a twelve year old boy who had a sweet tooth like any other kid. The bitter drink was almost offensive to him, so he always made his coffee with extra, extra sugar. He was a menace to the baristas at the campus coffee cart because they would have to refill the shaker every time he stopped by. As it turned out, Spencer was actually a little troublemaker in his youth. 

     You utterly adored this story and the way it humanized Spencer in a way that other people did not consider often enough. Yes, he was the genius in incredibly advanced classes for his age, but he was also a little kid who behaved as all little kids did. He also experienced struggle and had to cope with it just like everyone else. He was not, as some chose to believe, a complete anomaly beyond understanding. Those many misunderstood idiosyncrasies Spencer had started to feel grounded as you learned more about him and could appreciate how and why they came to be.  

     But the night was dwindling down and two of you had gone through many stories since the start of your day together. Hitting a caffeine crash, you found yourself unable to keep some rogue yawns at bay. It was only eight o’clock in the evening, not an unreasonable time for you to ask Spencer to drive you back home. The rain was letting up to a mellow drizzle. Spencer was running out of excuses to keep you here.

     But you thought about how still hadn’t heard about his first pet lizard, which he caught in his backyard, and you didn’t yet know what kind of music he listened to when he was fourteen. And you no longer thought you needed to make excuses to stay with him longer, so you told him honestly that all you really wanted was to stay the night with him and keep hearing his stories. So you asked him if he would set on a fresh pot of coffee, just so you both could sip at it, staying awake all night together.

     He happily did so, and while he set the large coffee pot on and took out two cups from his cabinet, he thought, this is the first of many wishes of yours that I’d like to make come true.

______

PART THREE

Tag list: @rexorangecounty @rachel-voychuk @snitchthewitch @spencer-blake-supremacy @happyreid187 @rainsong01 @librarymagic 

[burningvelvet]

Thank you for the reply!! I agree that most people are way too squeamish to discuss Heathcliff & Cathy II or Heathcliff & Isabella — because most people have this whitewashed (in Heathcliff's case, literally whitewashed, though that's another topic altogether) romantic idea of Heathcliff/Cathy I so popularized by the media, and also since Heathcliff is described as being handsome, they don't want their liking for him to be ruined by the reality of his villainy. To me he's fascinating because he's all of those things (romantic, handsome, villainous, sympathetic).

When you said Cathy II is a worthy opponent for him, YES!!!! This! This is why I love their dynamic and wish it was explored more. The scene where he invites her into his "wolf's den" so to speak, with Nelly trapped on the other end of the wall as Heathcliff and Cathy II talk, is one of my absolute favorite parts of the novel because it's so dreadful (we feel Nelly's panic) but also kind of hilarious how naïve yet brave Cathy II is and the way she sasses him. My other favorite scene with them is the tea scene (his joke [I'm paraphrasing] "yeah, I made this tea for you guys and I DIDN'T even poison it this time either :)" always kills me) — where Heathcliff pulls her onto his lap and then slaps the shit out of her, although she tried to give him the benefit of the doubt and come through to him. It's jarring and shocking and we feel her disillusionment but she's still so brave.

And when Nelly points out there being a little resemblance between Cathy II and her mother... it kills me! Also: Hareton is said to resemble Cathy I as well, and I can't help but secretly believe that may be partly why Heathcliff likes him (aside from Hareton's love for him).

Here's Heathcliff shortly before death talking about his feelings for Cathy II & Hareton (the angst!):

"'Nelly, there is a strange change approaching; I'm in its shadow at present. I take so little interest in my daily life that I hardly remember to eat and drink. Those two who have left the room are the only objects which retain a distinct material appearance to me; and that appearance causes me pain, amounting to agony. About her I won't speak; and I don't desire to think; but I earnestly wish she were invisible: her presence invokes only maddening sensations. He moves me differently: and yet if I could do it without seeming insane, I'd never see him again! You'll perhaps think me rather inclined to become so,' he added, making an effort to smile, 'if I try to describe the thousand forms of past associations and ideas he awakens or embodies. But you'll not talk of what I tell you; and my mind is so eternally secluded in itself, it is tempting at last to turn it out to another.

'Five minutes ago Hareton seemed a personification of my youth, not a human being; I felt to him in such a variety of ways, that it would have been impossible to have accosted him rationally. In the first place, his startling likeness to Catherine connected him fearfully with her. That, however, which you may suppose the most potent to arrest my imagination, is actually the least: for what is not connected with her to me? and what does not recall her? I cannot look down to this floor, but her features are shaped in the flags! In every cloud, in every tree—filling the air at night, and caught by glimpses in every object by day—I am surrounded with her image! The most ordinary faces of men and women—my own features—mock me with a resemblance. The entire world is a dreadful collection of memoranda that she did exist, and that I have lost her! Well, Hareton's aspect was the ghost of my immortal love; of my wild endeavours to hold my right; my degradation, my pride, my happiness, and my anguish —'

'But it is frenzy to repeat these thoughts to you: only it will let you know why, with a reluctance to be always alone, his society is no benefit; rather an aggravation of the constant torment I suffer: and it partly contributes to render me regardless how he and his cousin go on together. I can give them no attention any more.'"

I feel like he must be referencing Cathy I when he says about Cathy II: "About her I won't speak; and I don't desire to think; but I earnestly wish she were invisible: her presence invokes only maddening sensations." And of course his dynamic with Hareton is also just as interesting (if not more so) and worthy of its own analysis.

But I personally love Heathcliff's more neglected dynamic with Cathy II. She is the closest thing to a daughter he has, his daughter-in-law, the being that "killed" his favorite person, the direct product & living embodiment of his life's greatest tragedy, and the symbol of renewal and hope (and therefore the symbol of his own death/demise/expiration) alongside Hareton, who reminds him of himself; they are his usurpers, Cathy II is the usurper of his love.

I hate how all the other characters are often overlooked and that Heathcliff and Cathy I get all of the attention, because I could write whole essays just about Mr. Earnshaw, Cathy II, Hareton, Hindley, Linton H., Isabella, Edgar, Nelly, and even Lockwood, the most overlooked character who happens to be the main narrator, lol.

Also: I have edited the original post & corrected the slut part with an explanation — I knew that "slut" had an alternative non-sexual meaning, but after reading a bit about the history of the term I was surprised to find out how recently it came to be strictly sexualized! I was curious about the usage because I know the Brontës were often censored. It's also frustrating that because it's slang, the etymology isn't totally clear, and apparently Chaucer used it to refer to a man, but since then it's mainly been used for women, so has still been a pretty gendered term since then, and probably would have been gendered in the Brontë times. In Anne's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Arthur calls Helen a slut, and since his whole thing is being a misogynist/womanizer/abuser, it reminded me of that.

My analysis on Heathcliff and his relationships, and some interesting excerpts from Juliet McMaster's "The Courtship and Honeymoon of Mr. and Mrs. Linton Heathcliff: Emily Brontë's Sexual Imagery" via JSTOR (TW: abuse, sa/sexual violence, generally graphic and potentially triggering content)

*note: I've had half of this in my drafts for a while. My last reblog, which discusses Heathcliff's lack of attraction to Cathy II, inspired me to finally expand on & post it. That reblog is here: https://www.tumblr.com/burningvelvet/738896230943522816

Cathy II is one of my favorite characters and I think her dynamic with Heathcliff is fascinating. I would say that while he may not be attracted to her (indeed, he sometimes seems repulsed by her) his behavior toward her IS explicitly predatory as it includes lying to her, manipulating her, physically abusing her, kidnapping her, and forcing her into a marriage in which he helped to seduce her with love letters under his son's name.

Combine this with his behavior toward his wife Isabella, in which sexual violence may be easily inferred as he says Isabella hated him a day into their marriage (and sure, some people conceive on the first try, but what are the odds? and the concept of marital rape didn't legally exist back then) — not to mention Heathcliff calling her a slut (sexually violent epithet), and both of them vaguely referring to heinous abuses she undergoes in private. With how determined he was to get a male heir, and that being the whole reason why he married her, it is not much of a stretch to assume that he bedded her multiple times until she showed signs of pregnancy. It is a very easy thing to infer actually.

He was probably as insulting and as violent with her in bed (or at the very least, cold) as he always was in every other aspect from the very start of their relationship. As they both confirm that she receives his abuse openly (until her escape), and as she wishes to be a "good wife," she likely did not struggle to avoid her "marital duties," but again, she clearly hates him for most of her marriage, and we learn that she despises him immediately after their marriage when the veil finally fully drops. And with how upfront with her he initially was about his intentions, and how his verbal admissions failed to quell her desire for him initially, what more than physical and especially sexual violence could have led Isabella to despise him so soon after their consummation? It couldn't have gone splendidly for her.

Yet, while Heathcliff is violent and predatory (in the colloquial as well as the primal, animalistic sense, as he is always related to nature even in his very name), he also contains hints of a long-buried goodness, as we all know, and this is what makes him a fascinating protagonist. He has a capacity for strong feeling, a deliberate if not faulty moral code, and he sometimes shows kindness accidentally.

This is why Heathcliff catching baby Hareton is such a pivotal moment in the story, because it is only after he saves his life that he actually realizes what he's done and then muses that he should've let the child die. This scene shows that his natural subconscious instinct is actually good, and that his external situations are what have shaped his darker impulses on the conscious level. In other words, he causes us to examine the nature vs nurture debate.

Despite later abusing him, Heathcliff sees Hareton as a son-like figure in his own twisted way, and in the end as he loses his life forces, he gives Hareton and Cathy II his blessings like a father would — he essentially is Hareton's father, and he is legally Cathy II's father-in-law, first through his son Linton and then we could say through his unofficial adoption of Hareton, who he says he would have preferred as a son. So Cathy II has Heathcliff as a sort of double father figure, though of course she would never accept this.

At one point, Heathcliff notes that he takes good care not to do anything that could be proven to be criminal or illegal. In his usual exactness, he was pretty much right. He is always tip-toeing the line of immorality: in the gothic literary tradition, his relationship with Cathy I has incestuous undertones, but they are not legally or biologically related, and so he skates by.

He declares that he has no regrets and that he's done nothing wrong by technical standards. Manipulating, lying, mental and physical abuse of one's financial dependents, and marital rape (hypothetical or not) were all within legal bounds for the most part, and even the forced marriage of Linton H./Cathy II was done through the process of emotional blackmail (and physical evidence in the form of her love letters) so that in his mind, he wasn't actually responsible.

However, Heathcliff may have reasoned that sexually abusing one's daughter-in-law in revenge may be in violation of the law; that he would gain severe detraction from his "slaves" Nelly, Hareton, even Joseph; and that if such a huge scandal broke out, he would have a harder time finding tenants, etc. — also, I don't think Heathcliff would have felt like he "needed" to sexually abuse Cathy II to get revenge against her/her family, because as he says, at that point he already has his revenge and his victory; he already has her lands, and degrades her every day by forcing her to be a servant and a slave, and by abusing her in every other way. Sexually abusing her would be an extra effort on his part.

And I don't think he would gain anything out of it aside from revenge. I don't really think Heathcliff has much sexual interest in anyone at all, probably not due to inborn asexuality but due to his depression, trauma, emotional repression, and general issues. Although he and Cathy I have an extremely passionate spiritual relationship, I can't say that I believe he ever experienced fully actualized/conscious sexual feelings even for her. Considering their youth and rocky position when he leaves her for his hiatus, and the very brief period of their reunion, their relationship was likely never "consummated" — or at least I see no hard textual evidence to suggest that it was, although I'm sure many people could probably argue against this. And regardless of whether or not he and Cathy I ever had a physically sexual relationship, I don't think he could ever really be seriously attracted to anyone but her.

But in order to get his revenge, he did bed Isabella likely multiple times until her pregnancy. And as McMaster demonstrates below, by encouraging Cathy II to marry his son — and quite literally seducing her himself by writing love letters to her under his son's name — Heathcliff essentially beds her by proxy, if not in actuality. He wants her property, and he wants her, and because his son is the same age as her and dying, he decides to use him as the perfect pawn to access her by

If Linton H. died before he could be married to Cathy II, would Heathcliff have attempted to marry Cathy II on his own? I think this is a fascinating topic to theorize about, and I can only assume the answer would be yes, because Hareton wouldn't have worked as a pawn, though perhaps Heathcliff would have simply manipulated Hareton to sign over Cathy II's inheritance to him instead (as the laws of marital coverture meant husbands were entitled to 100% of their wives money/property/inheritance). But at that point Heathcliff was still looking for revenge (and therefore may not have been adverse to getting it like he did in his first marriage with Isabella), and he may not have wanted to be financially responsible for the newly weds and their potential offspring, or to suffer legal repercussions if Cathy II or someone else convinced Hareton to hire a lawyer lol. But I digress.

And as the last quote in the following list demonstrates, I think it was not only a touch of the gothic incest theme that Emily was going for by having Lockwood assume Cathy II is Heathcliff's wife, but that it was intentionally symbolic of how weird and difficult-to-define their relationship is: they don't act like father and daughter in-laws, but he is legally her provider and in-house patriarch, and she is the lady of the house, and she is the closest thing to her mother he has. I could write whole essays about that last point & the similarities of both Catherines, such as their fearlessness, particularly toward Heathcliff (and I believe this makes him uncomfortable and even scares him at times).

---

Excerpts from Juliet McMaster's "The Courtship and Honeymoon of Mr. and Mrs. Linton Heathcliff: Emily Brontë's Sexual Imagery" via JSTOR:

"Linton is called at one point 'only a feeble tool to his father' (205). In the sexual context he becomes a sort of human dildo, which his father uses to rape and degrade the second Catherine, the child bride whose birth caused the death of the Catherine whom Heathcliff loved."

"'Making love in play, eh?' says Heathcliff of the young couple, with grim jocularity (188). And that is the way in which Bronte develops this courtship of juveniles."

"Heathcliff even writes half of Linton's love letters for him, so that they turn out 'singularly odd compounds of ardour and flatness,' 'copious love letters, foolish as the age of the writer rendered natural, yet with touches, here and there, which I thought were borrowed from a more experienced source' (182), records Nelly. Catherine is being wooed by son and father together. And when the time comes, the marriage is consummated by the same team."

"[Linton] takes his pleasure, when Catherine pushes him off, in summoning his father and in witnessing the physical domination of his bride [..]"

"After Heathcliff abducts and incarcerates young Catherine and her attendant, he keeps our narrator, Nelly, imprisoned for 'five nights and four days' (220). Meanwhile the marriage ceremony is performed, but we have no one to describe it for us."

"'She's not to go; we won't let her' [..] Now more than ever Linton's life and opinions are ruled by his father: he can do little more than parrot what 'he says.' If Linton's satisfied mein suggests the happy bridegroom, his role as husband, lord and master is shared with his father."

"Heathcliff testifies, 'I heard him draw a pleasant picture to Zillah of what he would do [to Catherine], if he were as strong as I. The inclination is there' (228). Linton evidently has a conception of himself and his father as complementary in this sexual context, part of a team."

"Heathcliff's appropriation of the property and physical abuse of the bride leaves her in effect deflowered. His brutal blow that makes the blood flow recalls his symbolic defloration of Isabella, Linton's mother, when he hurls the knife."

"[Heathcliff] won't listen to Nelly's pleas that since he hates the young couple he may as well let them stay at the Grange. 'I want my children about me, to be sure,' he answers with chilling irony; '—besides, that lass owes me her services for her bread' (227). One wonders what sort of 'services' he has in mind. He apparently intends to prolong the honeymoon at which he has assisted. And as he takes her away, there is some doubt, as in Lockwood's mind at the beginning of the novel, whether Catherine is Heathcliff's daughter-in-law or his bride [..]"

Source: McMaster, Juliet. “The Courtship and Honeymoon of Mr. and Mrs. Linton Heathcliff: Emily Brontë's Sexual Imagery.” Victorian Review, vol. 18, no. 1, 1992, pp. 1–12. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/27794707.

[fincalinde]

☕️ jin guangyao needs more friends who can help him self-actualize

This ask is hilarious why would you send me this ahaha

But ok, I googled self actualisation to get a better handle on what is a really vague concept and I'm going to give you an answer.

Self actualisation is 'the complete realisation of one's potential'. Let's go through some aspects of JGY's potential one by one:

Education

On his own with only the support of his indigent mother he still receives an education and is known in adulthood as a clever person. However he does lack the full scholarly education he might have expected had his father recognised him. I can't see how having friends in his childhood would have helped with this unless they had resources or rich parents who might have paid for his education, and that falls more under 'benefactor'. However if he had friends he might have been able to spend more time learning at the library without getting bullied and/or threatened so badly he wasn't able to return.

Verdict: having more friends would help JGY further actualise his intellectual and academic potential.

Music

He is entirely self-taught as a musician and is praised by LXC as 'quite good outside Gusu'. A short period of education by LXC furnishes him with the ability to play one of the more difficult Lan techniques consistently and well. Having LXC as a friend clearly benefits him here, but would more friends have helped him more? Not when your one friend teaching you to be a better musician is Zewu-jun himself.

Verdict: having more friends would not help JGY further actualise his musical potential.

Cultivation

Because he started so late JGY's foundation is poor and this limits his potential. See the point re: intelligence regarding additional friends in this scenario not necessarily helping although a benefactor might have. However JGY does have the opportunity to learn from Wen and Jin and Lan (and possibly Nie), furnishing him with a broad range of techniques to compensate for his lack of strength. His varied techniques cannot protect him against very powerful cultivators, but we know he fought and survived on the front lines during Sunshot, and subsequently under WRH he used Hensheng to destroy famous swords. JGY actually has several 'friends' who assist him with learning cultivation techniques, if you choose to define his relationships with other clans that way, and he makes the most of what is offered in order to maximise his potential.

Verdict: having more friends who could help him with cultivation techniques would help JGY further actualise his cultivation potential.

Height

If he had more friends they might tell him he looks great just the way he is and doesn't need those lifts in his shoes.

Verdict: having more friends would be actively detrimental to helping JGY actualise his full potential height.

Romance

Though JGY is forced by circumstance to marry his sister, not even LXC could extricate him from the situation even if he had told him. The wedding was too close and to call things off at such a late stage would have demanded an explanation; a lie or the truth would have destroyed him and/or QS alongside him. No amount of friends could get JGY out of that one. He is also not able to act on any potential romantic feelings for LXC considering their respective positions and commitments, and even if he had friends earlier on in life they would likely not have encouraged him to make a move on the Jade of Lan he was sheltering from the Wen.

Verdict: having more friends would not help JGY further actualise his romantic potential.

Position in society

Despite his many disadvantages and the constant mistreatment and abuse he suffers for the misfortune of his birth, and despite his only consistent loyal friend being LXC (and debatably SMS although he is a subordinate), JGY rises to the position of Chief Cultivator.

Verdict: having more friends would not help JGY further actualise his potential to rise higher in society, as he reaches its pinnacle through his own hard work.

Lifespan

JGY has many powerful political allies at the time of his death. Doubtless some of them by that point are friends of a kind, even if it's a situational friendship. They all turn on him as soon as they scent blood in the water. True friends such as LXC would have at least tried to get explanations or context in order to make a balanced judgement.

Verdict: having more friends who handle the revelations about JGY's past actions by insisting on evidence and explanations would not help JGY further actualise his potential to die of old age because they would still be shouted down by the mob and at the temple NHS would probably still trick LXC into stabbing him.

Conclusion

JGY could really do with some more friends.