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skrunksthatwunk · 1 year

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ok sequel post to the it's cool how obvious mako's crush on ryuko is from day one post from a couple hours ago bc I wanna talk about them more

ryuko takes a bit longer to warm up to her, but honestly? not by much. ryuko has a protective streak in her that lets her befriend people who need her pretty easily, and she's endeared to people relatively quickly if they don't piss her off (i.e. the mankanshokus, senketsu, maiko, eventually satsuki). she really does like people, even if she can be a little standoffish at first

ryuko's a little taken aback by mako's immediate strong affection, but she quickly adapts (very clear in how her approach to mako trying to tackle her changes from dodging to catching her and setting her down gently in only a few episodes). she doesn't get mako at first, but figures her out pretty quickly and adjusts. that's just mako, y'know? plus mako's just very kind to her in a way most people aren't. ryuko, too, wants company. she wants a family, she wants friends.

plus, her protective nature is fed a lot by the other students kidnapping mako so much and mako's dependence on her in those moments. mako is something precious to save and ryuko's weakness, but she also gives her strength. her support means a lot to her and mako comes to her rescue often (in the bathroom with tsumugu, de-monsterifying her, standing up to her family and fighting her demons in the fight club episode, etc etc). ryuko's fight against satsuki is one that feels very solitary. it's emphasized a lot just how many people satsuki has willing to fight for her, and there's just one ryuko. she has backup via mikisugi, mako, and senketsu, but what they can do for her is often pretty limited by their circumstances. again, mako's the one who calls her back from the edge multiple times. she's the key to calming her down. she's the one she staggers home to, the one she celebrates with, the one she spends her free time with. she chooses her company because she likes it. a lot.

there's a lot of moments where ryuko's like yep that's mako :) she's sillyyy. she brightens up immediately around her and often sours when other people enter the picture. she's the one good thing about honouji academy, y'know? she gives in to her a lot, letting her come along on her return to the ruins of her house, letting her come to honouji for the cultural festival, etc. she has an "aww i can't say no to you" thing going most of the time. mako's resolve and persistence is what bores through ryuko's walls and lets her get close to her. it's what she mentions when, after the wedding scene (and we'll get to that, trust me) she says mako and senketsu are more than friends. mako's surprised at her inclusion (again, she tends to slot herself as #2 to senketsu, her sunday best) and ryuko cites that persistence. mako was not only there for her, but stuck around, even when ryuko pushed her away, and that means something to ryuko. ryuko who people always misjudged or sent away or avoided or fought. ryuko who was lonely, whom no one fought for but herself. mako was there, and mako feels the same (as she says running in the naked sol's generator very near the end which. the sheer joy with which they say each other's names there is just. waaaaaaa)

ok the wedding scene. the wedding scene. not gonna go too crazy on this bc I don't wanna detail this but I'll say this: junketsu is frequently referred to as a wedding dress, and the fantasy/hallucination it forces upon ryuko (as the kamui itself was forced on her) is one of a normal-girl, average kinda life. one where she has a mother who's always there for her, she grows up normally, and she's happy. and she's happy because she has a family. she's not fighting all the time, she's in her place in society, she's having a wedding. of course, who she's marrying is irrelevant, even to junketsu. the man is faceless and unacting. he's not what makes this fantasy appealing. it's the assimilation, the acceptance of her by a greater society and authority structure (in this case ragyo). when mako and senketsu burst through the door, its handle flies off and knocks over the groom, stiff as a board, and he is forgotten. mako walks down the aisle to her, to call her back to her senses. ryuko says this is what she needs to be happy, that she'll kill mako to get it. mako says this isn't her or what she wants, pulling the "the ryuko i know" thing from before. but she's always been right. she knows her well. ryuko thinks she hurts mako/senketsu, and that realization lets her break out, lets her flay herself ripping junketsu off. she says she's getting out of that damn wedding dress even if it kills her. this is all to say that that scene is one of the most lesbian-coded things I've ever seen. mako's like you don't need to conform or marry a faceless groom or have a normal life to be happy, and i don't think you're truly happy or yourself like this. and ryuko realizes she's right. she doesn't want to marry a faceless groom, she feels trapped and changed by the wedding dress, by its ceremony and expectations. it's something that has a lot of similarity to a lot of lesbians' experiences of the expectations the world puts on them to marry men, to fit into this role. the joy of having a wedding vs the indifference to actually being married to someone. it's something that resonated with me a lot, having figured out i was a lesbian only a few months prior to seeing it for the first time.

it's after this that she says mako and senketsu are something more than friends. the exact nature of her and senketsu's relationship is unclear to me and debatable, but her and mako's take a very definite romantic shape by the end when mako asks her out, her hallelujah moment featuring them kissing and holding hands, with ryuko in a boy's highschool uniform, evoking heterosexual imagery to imply romantic intent ("I want to go on a date like a boy and a girl would go on a date" is kinda the effect). I think ryuko kinda figures it out then. she wants to go out with mako. she wants to be something romantic to her, something romantic with her.

ryuko lets her in. it's clear to everyone that mako's managed a closeness with her that no one else has (they don't acknowledge senketsu as a person/friend for a long time). they'd move mountains for each other. ryuko, who always had to fight everything alone, finally has someone who's willing to wade through all the bullshit life and ryuko herself give her because she believes in ryuko, because she thinks she's worth it.

my point is ryuko's into mako as much as mako's into her, she's just a bit quieter about it

#anyways. i love them very much #i dont tend to think about the ryuko side of it as much so this is partially me doing that #klk #kill la kill #ryumako #ryuko matoi #mako mankanshoku

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avonne-writes · 3 months

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hi! In a post about the relationship troubles fake and John have when they first start college you mentioned their sex life kinda falls off, that they don’t have sex as often, or that it feels off when they do. I would love to hear more about that,and how it effects them, Especially because they don’t talk about it so their minds just run

Thank you for the question! 💕 I'm not sure where to start so I'll just put this in bullet points 😄 I hope this makes sense, I’m sure I missed some explanations but I tried to summarize it.

Before college, their sex life was obviously limited because they didn’t have that much privacy and Gale refused to take Bucky to his place. So it was a mix of very careful and quiet non-penetrative sex if they weren't alone in the house and excited experimentation whenever they had time alone, usually during school holidays.

Basically, they had some habits together but in their new circumstances, these habits change. That means another transition period, on top of everything else. This is not a bad thing at all, but there are so many changes they need to navigate that the stress accumulates.

An example: whereas previously, they always tried to be super quiet, they can be as loud as they want now because they rent a small one-bedroom flat together. Except, Gale finds himself unable to stop holding back. He’s anxious about making possibly embarrassing sounds, especially because he realizes that Bucky has stopped holding back and yet he still isn’t very loud.

Then, of course, all their other issues have a negative effect on their sex life.

Getting used to college can be exhausting, so it's also natural that in the first semester, they don’t want to have sex as often as in the next one.

In this AU, they're not the kind of couple who get hot for each other if they're fighting. Gale can hold a grudge for a long time, but even if he doesn’t, after a fight, he usually feels drained and sad, which rarely leads to any kind of opportunity for sex.

Plus, Gale is anxious that he’s not enough for Bucky because "Bucky could have anyone and why would he settle for his first, he probably thinks that's boring." This idea makes Gale tense, hence the sex feeling off.

Meanwhile, Bucky notices Gale's tension and distraction, but he thinks it's because Gale is falling out of love with him. We know that Bucky always dreaded this moment, the - in his mind - inevitable drifting apart once high school is over. This makes Bucky anxious too, which makes him clingy, and that's enough to make the sex feel off from his side too.

So there's a whole lot of external stress and a self-feeding cycle of undiscussed uncertainties. They all exacerbate each other.

In addition, their new friends don’t help either, because they all think this relationship won't survive anyway and both Bucky and Gale would benefit from a new partner.

Thankfully, we know that this isn’t what happens.

Yes, it’s a rough patch, yes, it’s stressful, but as soon as they finally align again and all their discordant pieces slot back into harmony, sex gets better again. And this is an instant thing actually. Instant, because their sex life was affected mostly by their disharmony and not other things that are slower to heal.

They have a huge fight in which everything comes out, and it's just what they needed because they finally acknowledge all their issues but also share the fact that they both still want the other. That’s all it takes to turn the negative spiral into the first steps of revovery.

They make up and reach a hopeful, positive and relieved state that night, and they have makeup sex.

It’s the first time that they both feel that it's not teenage experimentation anymore. It’s more serious and mature, and when they say I love you, it feels deeper than ever before.

From then on, they get the same relieved-happy-loved feeling from physical intimacy and, well, let’s just say they make up for all the sex they missed in their first semester.

It keeps getting better in the next months, and it's during this period in their lives that they develop that deep and steady intimacy that makes them act like a married couple long before they even tie the knot.

♡♡♡

#mota #buck x bucky #clegan #gale cleven #john egan #anon #hs au #bedroom headcanons

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nondienary · 9 months

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i saw this post sharing designs of the infinights in GL2 and it inspired me to share my own! enjoy (i guess)

and obligatory spoilery rambling warning because character design makes me so happy

starting off strong with kyborg!

details i enjoy- his blue hairties and gold ear cuff are inspired by the ones he has in the picture on the home page of the stinky dragon wiki. im especially happy with the ear cuff because it turned out way better than i expected.

i also really like the arm (and yes i know he doesnt have the diagem in it anymore but it needed some pizazz! said pizazz made me temporarily hate myself because it used up his 4th face accessory slot but i don't even remember what other face accessory i wanted for him anymore :P)

also his boots. idk why but i like them

his hair!! i went through a bunch of styles and chose this one and i'm glad i did because this is a pretty accurate representation of how i imagine his hair, including the color! his mom was a redhead so ya boi is a strawberry blond (ish)

details i do NOT enjoy- the fact that gl2 doesnt have a hip quiver :( because i had to add the quiver to his back but that took up his second cape slot so he couldnt have his cloak of many fashions. and also even if i could give it to him w the back quiver i would still want a hip quiver because i imagine him with a hip quiver! because you can't do somersaults barrel rolls with a quiver on your back!

anyway

i probably should have made these separate posts but oh well you signed up for rambling and rambling is what you get!

next up: mudd!

loml

details i enjoy: his cloak, i spent ages on it because i was overthinking what to do with his cloak of billowing vs his cloak of the secret garden (?) but i'm very happy with what i settled on

the detail in the undercut drove me crazy because again, characters are limited to 4 cace accessory and i was using one for the runes in the undercut. which i obviously changed but that brought me so much pain and misery /lh

im so happy with how his face, especially his eyes turned out because again, i struggled with them for some time. but now his face is SO perfect. except the lack of sideburns.. maybe something with the side hairs? i keep forgetting that's an option in this game

the little daisy earring. spur of the moment addition, so glad i did it.

details i do NOT enjoy: his outfit :( for all the others i knew what i was going for but with mudd i had no clue other than the cloak. it's based off his puppet outfit because i legitimately couldn't think of what he'd wear. i like the shoes and choice of belt but between this and the sideburns mudd is definitely next in line for a redesign

ok someone who was just redesigned is gum gum!

details i enjoy: his face. that is such a gum gum face. wish i couldve added bigger tusks though. and the lil smudge of dirt on his cheek!!!

silly almost easter egg i added is that each of the colors of the rainbow is in his design at least once because dia's whole thing is rainbows and light and stuff. at first i just had it in the accessories and his whole outfit was blue pretty much but i looked at bart after completing all the accessories and i was like GODDAMMIT he has all the colors. and it's actually incorporated into the outfit AND it looks really good.

the fact that vee and i both designed his hat nearly exactly the same completely independently of each other is so epic.

i originally came up with the shoulder flower while working on mudd but i was like "oh wait gum gum's the flowers guy mudd's the animals guy." and gave it to him instead. and i'm very glad i did it fills in that space in the cloak very well.

speaking of the cloak, i very much enjoy it

things i do NOT enjoy:

honest, nothing comes to mind! maybe it's because he was the most recent to get revamped but its so wonderfully gum gum.

and last, and maybe least in stature but not in much else, bart!

things i enjoy about this design: the little thigh dagger. bart is totally the kind of man to strap a dagger to his thigh instead of just attaching the sheath to the belt like a normal person

i made him VERY visibly part dragonborn because it's honestly hilarious. because gum gum has known bart since he was a baby, he knows bart's just Like that. kyborg hadn't interacted with another person in like 30 years before he met them and mudd had probably never seen a halfling in his life, and even if he had, he wasn't just gonna have his first conversation with the guy be "i don't believe you when you say what race you are." tbh mudd's probably applies to kyborg as well. and bart assumed its just because of the different subraces of halfling. he's a stout halfling, alleve is a lightfoot halfling, no wonder she doesn't look like him!

also the hem of the pants is so fun and piratey and i love it and it's perfect.

i also gave him a crystal resembling his diagem, i haven't decided what's going on with that yet. i didn't give mudd one because no way in hell am i trying to make a ring WITH a diagem in it. how about no :3

things i do NOT enjoy: gl2 doesn't have enough curly hair options, specifically for rear hair. so bart's hair in this is not as accurate in this to my mind's eye as the others. its alright it does look good regardless

and that's all ive got in terms of commentary, please enjoy me talking about my silly little hyperfixation guys. byebye!

#tftsd #stinky dragon pod #kyborg the mighty #mudd bramblecrack #bartholomew finn #gum gum tftsd #infinight interns

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kaepop-trash · 2 years

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Johnny+ "On Friday" for your now event please

Very late but can we just give me a free pass? I love you all.

This reminded me of one of my favourite movies, "His Girl Friday" so it is kind of inspired by that. Re-watched it thanks to this ask and I can see where the roots of my dialogue style lie.

Edit: About a week into writing this, I realised that this was probably a mean girl reference Sorry it's too late now. For what it's worth, I think Johnny would be the ideal candidate for high school mean girl.

Exes to Lovers Trope, Politics au

Summary: There were many things you let go of during a low point in your life. To live with that loss, you have pretty much convinced yourself that it was never meant to be. But when two of those show up in a package, you have to consider if one of those is worth the risk of the other. Alternatively, Johnny tests the limits of his convincing personality.

WC: 2.6

"Where are you going?" Paul pulled the phone receiver away from his ear, giving Johnny an incredulous look. "We have to prepare for the morning show tomorrow." He pointed at a pile of papers that probably meant something to him.

"We can do it later. I have an important meeting." Johnny spoke as he donned his outerwear.

"With who?" He asked.

"Whom." Johnny wrapped his scarf around his neck.

"Senator." Paul was exasperated, tired of the burden of his position. And because he was up since 3am trying to book a slot on local tv.

"(Y/N) (Y/L/N)" Johnny slid his coat on.

For a moment, Paul said nothing. There was a deceptive silence that settled between them before a crackle sounded. Whoever was on the phone asked Paul if he was still there. He answered a brisk no before hanging up and walking towards Johnny.

"Your ex, (Y/N) (Y/L/N)?" Paul questioned like there was anybody else.

"One and the same." Johnny finally slipped on his gloves, giving Paul a pursed smile, already uncomfortable.

"John." Paul tried to reason but Johnny shot him an impatient look.

"This wasn't supposed to be a negotiation. I'm going to be late." His words were curt, making his campaign manager take a step back.

"Just let me know when you'll be back." Paul sighed, dragging himself back to the phones.

Johnny walked into his old favourite diner, breathing out a sigh of relief once the warm heated air inside hit him. He squinted and browsed the joint, empty enough that he spotted (Y/N) easily. She was busy typing something into her phone while a cup of coffee steamed in front of her.

Johnny removed the hands in his coat and the growing smile on his face, stopping in front of her booth while he unwrapped his scarf.

“Ordered anything yet?” He questioned.

“I want chicken and waffles.” She answered while continuing to draft what he could now see was an email.

“Alright.” Johnny nodded, turning to spot the waiter and beckon him. After catching the boy’s eye, Johnny slid into the booth and seated himself. Only after that did (Y/N) look at him.

“How’s the campaign going?” She asked, lips pursed with impersonal neutrality.

“Fine.” Johnny answered absent-mindedly.

“Fine?” She winced, “Is that why you flew me down here?” She scoffed with a kind of haughty arrogance that would have amused him had she not been right.

“In a manner of speaking.” Johnny avoided her gaze, turning to the approaching waiter.

“Long time no see.” The boy smiled at (Y/N) before turning to Johnny. “The usual?” He questioned.

“Yes,” Johnny smiled back, “For both of us.” The boy wrote down the order and made his way towards the kitchen.

There was a momentary pause when Johnny sneaked a look at her. Brows gathered, she was grinding her teeth— deep in thought.

“You know what your problem areas are?” She finally spoke after breaking out from her thoughts. Johnny couldn’t stop his emerging smile, feeling hopeful for the first time in months.

He put his hands under his chin, smile lingering on his face as he asked, “Why don’t you tell me.”

“Your campaign manager is an idiot with no people skills. Smart on paper, but he doesn't understand the reality of campaigning to people." She waved the coffee stirrer in her hand like she was conducting a symphony.

"I thought smart on paper would balance me out." Johnny shrugged. "Worked well with you, didn't it?" He rested his cheek in his palm, "A little too well." His eyes gleamed, spreading over his tired features when her cheeks burner red.

"You still need someone to meet you halfway." She clicked her tongue, looking away from him to keep her reins in.

Johnny crossed his arms, sitting back and humming.

"You should have started your campaign in the rural areas since the city was already in the bag." She added like she was recalling the things off the top of her head. "You’ve always been good with improvised speeches so I don’t know why you waste time giving stiffly delivered soundbites on cable shows nobody watches anymore."

Johnny couldn't help his growing smile. She was clearly angry. There was the matter that his early run at catching eyes before the campaign cycle began was disastrous enough to warrant that anger. But Johnny didn't care when it was about to give him what he really wanted when he kept saying yes to morning shows.

You need to fire your campaign manager and hire somebody else immediately.” She finished just in time for their food to arrive.

Johnny didn’t say anything for long enough that she frowned, giving him an impatient look.

“Why are you smiling?” She asked.

“You made a list.” He bit his inner cheek this time.

She looked at him incredulously, “I’m telling you that you’ll lose and that’s what you say?”

Johnny nodded, “I’m not going to lose.” There was utter confidence in his tone. Before she could ask, Johnny spoke up again, “Not when you prepared a pitch to be his replacement.” He sat back, crossing his arms over his chest. The twitch of his lips was impossible to hide, something warm and familiar blooming in his chest.

Her forehead creased more than before, confusion mixing with flushed embarrassment.

“No.” She scoffed. "That's not what this is."

"Is it not?" His voice raised, looking relaxed.

"No. I just can't watch you in those awkward interviews where they ask you if you'll get a dog first or a wife." Her forehead creased with so much disgust that Johnny couldn't help but laugh.

"This isn't a fucking joke." She snapped before composing herself.

"I think the dog needs to come first." He kept it up.

"Or you could just get a little lap bitch and call her your wife." She mumbled.

The statement leeched the light hearted mood Johnny had tried to play up. His eyes lost it's glimmering smile, lips curling down, looking on the edge of anger. She sat back, crossing her arms over her chest and trying to feign ignorance.

"Of course I can't be your campaign manager. The optics would ruin you if people caught on." She looked away from him, suddenly detached. Yet she changed the topic swiftly.

"Caught on to what?" He questioned, almost amused at how she was avoiding the elephant in the room.

"Johnny." She sighed, sounding ready to reason.

"How's it going with being a press correspondence? I couldn't believe my ears when I heard that you work for the news.

She couldn't help her ensuing smile, acknowledging the irony of it. "It's nice actually. Something therapeutic about condemning politics without being at the center of it."

"Don't you miss it?"

"No." She spoke to soon.

Johnny smiled with a shake of his head. "Liar."

From late nights of exhausting crying to quick texts in the middle of the workday mocking their respective senators. Johnny had been the wall that had made it bearable to be backed into the corner by her career all those years ago.

"My job was thankless and tiring, and my boss was an absolute tyrant." She reminded him of it like he wasn't the person who knew that better than everyone.

"Do you miss it?" He asked again, unwavering in his belief.

She ground her teeth together, a habit Johnny hated above all else.

"Yes," She answered after giving in to the truth.

"Come back." His voice turned taut and he had to clear his throat to avoid the infiltration of sentiment.

"It's a terrible idea, Johnny." She sighed, a lot more regrettable this time. "You deserve to win and signing me on will just give the press the narrative they were looking for." She looked down at her plate to avoid his unfettered attention.

"Fuck them." He dismissed.

She looked up prepared to give more excuses.

"You said it yourself, didn't you? My image is too clean to hit the national cycle." He pursed his lips, eyes suddenly gleaming with some thought. "If they'll talk, we'll use it. Let's make headlines together, baby."

(Y/N) felt like someone punched her lungs from inside her stomach. While she tried her best to remain looking unaffected, she distantly wondered if it was worth the trouble when the man in front of her knew her too well— much to her horror.

"It won't be enough if that's what you're hoping for. It will be like petty gossip for the reporters in D.C. who knows us. They will try to involve the country in that gossip for a few news cycles. We will be mocked, then the country will get bored. All before the election." She urged him to understand her explanation.

"That's exactly what I figured. That's why I've started off a little early. We give them enough time and once they move on, the real campaigning can begin.

(Y/N) was speechless. A rare condition for anybody in her line of expertise.

Timidly, she found the words she needed to explain, "Look. It's not worth it. I have my strengths, but you can find a handful of people who can do a better job," She sighed, looking over to the window. The sun fell on her face, showing the unmistakable signs of woes.

"People without the looming threat of the baggage we have. I know someone who could really shake your campaign up. He was Senator Do–" She rummaged through her bag to look for something.

"Listen to me." Johnny cut her off. She looked up at him, visibly nervous now. "Your speeches got a man elected president."

"It wasn't just my speeches." She scoffed, still digging through her purse.

"Look at me." He demanded. To that tone, her body would listen without protest. "Look into my eyes and tell me that you don't know that you single-handedly got that man elected." He dared her.

She had no answer. Partially because he looked like he believed himself. And partially because she could clearly remember the last time they looked into each other's eyes this way.

"That's what you are, the kind of skill you possess. And you want to waste it writing puff pieces on bipartisanship and making podcasts?" He sounded, at the same time, confused and offended. "You are a force to be reckoned with and every single person who will cover my campaign will be compelled to see that."

Johnny felt a little winded after letting out his carefully worded statement. He had been waiting for this for months.

"I have the voice for podcasts I think." She tried to joke despite the deep red now coloring her cheeks.

"Take the job, (Y/N). You always told me that you wanted to make decisions."

"I don't want to decide on what tie is the best for an Illinois morning show." She matched the impatient frown on his face, "I've campaigned once, it's all promises before the election hands you bureaucracy."

"When I win," Johnny began.

"If you win," She interrupted.

"When I win," he repeated with a heavy exhale. "You can run my office."

She sat up and leaned closer, speechless and not knowing if it was in her to refuse that offer. In his eyes, she could see clearly that he knew that too. Bastard.

"Chief of staff?" She asked, not wanting to be sure till she heard him say the words.

"Is that enough to get you out of retirement?" He leaned closer. For a moment he was close enough to feel his breath.

Her eyes struggled to stay on his brows but it didn't matter when he dropped his gaze to her lips. Something sharp crawled down her spine and she sat back with a jolt.

"What's in it for you?" She asked while adjusting her pants, trying to hide her hot cheeks.

"You."

Her cheeks only turned hotter, fingers freezing on her thigh.

"I want to get elected and I know only you can do it." He added before the word lingered for too long.

"I know nothing about this state." She reminded him.

"You know how to play people's strengths. That's what I care about." He shrugged, still so certain that it was excruciating.

She hummed, not sure how to respond.

Johnny finally sat back, running his fingers over the lapel of his jacket. "And I want you back." He spoke like he was asking for something routine. Like a pair of keys before leaving the house.

"Excuse me?" She choked on her words, heart pounding loud enough to deafen her to all sounds but his voice.

"I want you back, (Y/N)." He repeated himself, unfazed by the weight of his confession.

She reached for her coffee, the room temperature drink unpleasant. With her throat coated, she felt okay to speak. "What are you talking about? Why?"

"What do you mean why?" He squinted at her, "Because I still love you." Johnny looked like she should have known that already, like it was apparent.

Her hand frooze with her cup against her lip, her fingers gripping the rim. The words had, it seemed, robbed (Y/N) of normal functions. She choked on her coffee, sitting back while hacking up a fit. After a second of indulging in laughter, Johnny got up to rub her back.

"That's not funny." She spoke after drinking down her entire glass of water, voice hoarse.

"There has never been a time when I said those words to you and didn't mean them. I don't plan on starting now." He nudged her in, sitting down beside her.

She watched him sit down, "Now that you've said that, what makes you think I'll say yes?" Her voice was heavy with caution.

Johnny smiled, "Because I know you, (Y/N). Like the back of my hand. The only thing you crave more than a challenge is to win." His brow raised, as if daring her to deny it.

His hand moved and she thought he would reach for her. Instead he stretched across the table to grab his own coffee. Distracted by his presence now, she couldn't process his bid.

"I'll think about it." She offered after trying for another stretch. Johnny rolled his eyes and sat back, making her frown.

“Just tell me now. Whether you want to take it or not, you already know what you'll do.” He sat back, clearly trying to hide how her dismissal provoked him.

He was right. But she wanted time because she currently wanted to say yes. And that to her felt like a hasty decision.

She missed her old life more than she expected. She missed the urgency of every task, how people spoke about her, to her. While it was minimal, (Y/N) knew a time when she had power in the Capital.

But perhaps most importantly, she missed him. Sitting here in front of him in his favourite diner, the one he'd bought her too plenty of times. She missed the way he was the only person who would look directly at her while she spoke. She still couldn't tell if he was just not one of the people unnerved by her, or if he knew how to hide it.

She missed him so much that she could not be certain that it wasn't clouding her current judgment.

"Just let me think about it for a moment." She tried again. When it looked like he would insist she snapped, "Away from you." She specified.

Johnny's face fell. Clear as day, disappointment coated his pupils just as he averted his gaze. He looked like a puppy.

(Y/N) tried to swallow the guilt that stuck in her throat, shuffling in her seat and crossing her arms. "Why do you want to work with me anyway? It's historically been a terrible idea."

Johnny's lips twitched, fingers flexing to reach for his glass. "We make a good team despite our differences, (Y/N). I respect your ability to cut through bullshit and I know you have a soft spot for my convictions." His face softened, finally halting his wandering eyes to meet her gaze.

Johnny reached over the table, placing his hand just short of over hers. Despite not looking, her focus remained stuck in the gap between their fingers. "Look." He sighed, "This is a re-election, and I know you don't think it's challenging because I will win. But this isn't about this election. It's about getting my corner ready."

Her gaze narrowed, confused by his cryptic words. "What are we doing in the corner?"

Johnny's lips twitched again, a devious glint lighting his eyes, "Anything before the others show up." He licked his lips.

She rolled her eyes at the implication, hoping it would conceal the way she felt breathless and flustered at the words.

"What are you planning?" She questioned.

"A dream team. Much like the one you were in all those years ago. I need all the help I can get if I want to run one day."

She sat up, suddenly very serious. "Run for?" She asked carefully.

"You know." He played it off, yet keeping his gaze fixed on hers.

(Y/N) sighed, sitting back with defeat. "Fine, I'll do it." She picked up her coffee looking rather angry at herself. But they both knew that Johnny had just given her a challenge she could not refuse. Johnny smiled.

#johnny #nct johnny #johnny scenarios #johnny smut #johnny drabbles #nct scenarios #nct drabbles

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mintys-musings · 1 year

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rinne thoughts are strong rn hold on. like... agreeing to mutual free use for a few days...

NSFW under cut~!

rinne strikes me as the type of guy to really enjoy messy sex so expect to be cleaning up frequently or at least needing wipes nearby at all times if you both agree to this free use thing

his favourite thing would be prone boning or fucking you while you lay on your side, trying to do something else like watch TV or play games. just seeing you at your most relaxed while he fucks you senseless gets him going

its no surprise he gets horny frequently, but i dont think he's sticking his dick into you himself as much as you think

when he does, he'll leave you drooling, tear stains down your cheeks, sniffling, overstimulated- i mean... you both agreed to free use. he's gonna go all out

what he really likes is just having you sit pretty on his lap while he plays with your body. he'll get you off as many times as you can possibly handle if you get needy, but really he just likes groping you. he likes touching every bit of your body and just massaging you slightly. you'll end up feeling like both a fidget toy and a fleshlight sORRY SGDJDG

would love you overstimulating him. cocky bastard just likes to push his limits. and since you each have free reign over each other, he practically begs for it. please suck him off gently as he softens up again. he wont be soft for long and the feeling of your mouth is like heaven to him

if you somehow are more horny than he is on his most down bad days, he's gonna be the one mind broken by the end of this. he's in love with anyone that could challenge him like that and would keep going until his balls are drained and he's shooting blanks. delirious, drooling, fucked out of his mind rinne amagi is such a yummy image

wouldn't mind if you wanted to peg him, but he's not gonna make it easy. he will be annoying until you fuck him so good he's sprawled out, abs covered in his own cum, and ass destroyed

if you were comfortable with it, he's also the type to pull you to the side the moment he feels even slightly horny in public. fucking in dark alleyways and parks after dark turns him on even more

would encourage you to jack him off under the table if either of you felt the urge at a random restaurant and he'd gladly return the favour.

also adding, big fan of just grabbing your ass in public. has nothing to do with the free use thing. he just likes holding it and having other people see so they know youre with him. he's very protective/possessive hhhhuuuogghhgghmmmnngggh

if you can get pregnant, he's carrying condoms everywhere since ibara would actually kill him if he got someone pregnant. but if you were okay with it, you are getting bred during this free use period. there's no question. he jokes that he needs to make an heir to the village so raise your hips and make sure his seed takes

if you cant- he's still carrying condoms because it's convenient because lube, not leaving a mess in a public location, etc.

slots his dick right between your thighs at night when you both sleep and holds you close

very silly one: basically sometimes during this period you cant tell if he seriously wants to fuck because he'll act like he's in a porn vid. the ones with the bad acting. he's laughing the entire time, but christ you can tell he needs you by the boner he doesn't hide.

#Minty's Musings #rinne amagi thirst #im so down bad rn im sorry guys #im also sick #need him to eat me out to feel better #or just fuck me while i lay here figuring out data visualization things #wouldnt help me focus but itd ease my stress fr fr #also bc im sick pls look away if you see any errors i dont have my glasses on bc they give me a headache rn #i cant get outta bed hhhnnnghghhhng

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aprillikesthings · 7 months

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ugh my wired headphones are still hurting my head >:(

anyway

s3 ep2 huntara

ahahah I love this one

(if you're new here: i'm rewatching She-Ra for fic-writing purposes, and live-blogging my way through them making commentary and jokes and side notes about random shit. bc this is a REwatch there are many references to later plot points)

is that the Beta Kindergarten

(man I've been making a lot of Steven Universe references in these lately, but yeah I can't look at sandstone slot canyons without thinking "hrr hrr where's Jasper")

(wait has a Jasper cosplayer actually taken photos in one of these in like Utah? a quick image search says no. damn.)

how many times did I look at this establishing shot before I realized this part of the Fright Zone is the ruins of a ginormous spaceship

ALSO "day 135"? I noted yesterday that someone working on the show said sOMEWHERE that each season is about a year and I was like "ehhhh" but I guess that's not far off.

That makes the whole catradora arc even more angsty tbh. For some reason I thought the whole show took place over like a single year or so. But FOUR OR FIVE YEARS?? they pined for each other while trying to murder each other for MULTIPLE YEARS????

awwwwww

Listen. I love this ship. I'm always weak for "complete asshole with tough act is soft for one (1) person"

(tho lemme tell you. do not actually date those dudes irl. *sigh*)

why did so many 80's cartoons have extremely unrealistic quicksand scenes tho

gdi adora

The Crimson Waste is actually just a western bar full of furries. But seriously designing the characters in the bar must've been hella fun

AAHAHAAHH Adora being so, so blatantly gay for Huntara is one of my fave things

Did they need to establish that Adora is into women? Pfft, no. Did they still decide to show us Adora being absolutely smitten on sight for an older, big, buff, badass, butchy lady? YES.

Doesn't hurt that she looks likes this lol

like it's the least subtle thing on EARTH i love it so much

oh no now I want to look up fics

18 of them are explicit. well. I'm just gonna. leave that tab open.

ADORA. YOU COCKBLOCKED HER. RUDE.

lol there's a moment where Glimmer and Bow are like "ha ha we need to talk amongst ourselves" and turns around and Adora is still just staring at Huntara with googly eyes without noticing what Bow even said and lemme tell you, I've been that fucking obvious and oblivious

Huntara literally is like "oh my god you kids are gonna end up DEAD without me. FINE." Meanwhile, Adora:

Plot plot Huntara leads them to a trap and they get hit with tranquilizer darts and dropped into a pit.

that's just a nice shot tbh

EAT SOME DAMN SOUP your girlfriend spent TIME on that

she just refuses to be afraid of him

Anyway yeah this is when we find out he's just a clone of Horde Prime the Big Baddy of the series, Hordak is a "defective" clone, he was sent to "the front lines" to die and fell through a portal into Etheria. "with nothing but a broken ship, I built an empire..." the whole point of the portal is to bring Horde Prime through, which means that's what he was doing when he tried before and ended up with A Magic Baby (Adora) instead.

The animation in the flashback is clearly inspired by Lotte Reiniger which is super cool??

Back to the Crimson Waste, they've gotten themselves out of the hole, and Adora's upset because the whole point of this mission is her getting more info about Mara with the hopes of understanding her own past better

she's RIGHT

"...at least to me..."

LISTEN TO YOUR CUTE NERDY GIRLFRIEND YOU EMO BASTARD

She makes him a nice techy exoskeleton armor thingie

that's a start but c'mon I know you can do better than that

lolol the recorder baby critter KICKS HIM in an obvious "dude really????"

look at him!!! AAHAHAH

i'm gonna go over the image limit and tumblr's gonna cut me off and make me reblog this any minute now but this episode is jUST TOO GOOD

"I like being friends with you, too" ;_;

Huntara's "friends" make fun of her for being a softie while she swings the She-Ra sword around and then Glimmer drops in wooo

yeah I know this is a fight scene but eheheheh

and then they banged

okay they kept fighting but like, c'mon

the "sword point under the chin" thing is just so good and I loved the way they did the angles here

OH SHIT I forgot Huntara had heard of She-Ra

OH HO HO HOW THE TURN TABLES

Anyway Huntara does her little speech about how she also used to be a Horde soldier but left because Hordak was such a dick to his soldiers. "you would know, you were one of us."

called THE FUCK OUT

Huntara does her little "you can't defeat the Horde alone even if you're She-Ra" and she responds with "yah I'm not alone tho"

but also that shot is unnecessarily hot

....i've hit the image limit with two minutes to spare so I went back and deleted one because

hggghh

(not gonna get into how Shadow Weaver's face-touching thing is what made Adora do it here but yeah)

Huntara tells her minions to get lost, admits that the war scared the shit out of her and that's why she ran, but she knows that's bullshit and she promises to help Adora stop the war :D and then leads them to the place they were originally looking for: the ruins of Mara's ship!

AND EPISODE OVER

(gonna...see if any of those fics are any good 👀)

#april rewatches spop #huntara

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peace-coast-island · 30 days

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Diary of a Junebug

The power of music brought us here and it'll take us even further as long as we keep following our dreams

Never underestimate how freeing it is to express yourself through art and creativity. When my mind is loud with overwhelming thoughts or if I’m feeling sort of meh, I find that doing something creative often helps my brain unwind. Journaling’s an obvious thing, and maybe it’s because I’m doing it for years now, but I find it easy and therapeutic to just let my thoughts run wild on paper. It can help sort out your thoughts and feelings over things that you feel conflicted over. Or it could help organize your mind of you’ve got a lot going on and just need some time to settle down.

I don’t always have a rhyme or reason for writing in my journal, nor do I have a strict routine. Some days, I have a lot of my mind, and other times, it’s no thoughts, head empty. To be honest, I don’t really care much for routine or consistency, because to me, journaling’s like any other hobby I pick up. The point is to enjoy it, and if I’m super busy or just not feeling it, I could easily put it aside and focus on something else without feeling bad or guilty. I like routine for the stability, but I don’t want it to completely dictate my day to day life, so I try to aim for a balance.

For me, I like do do a mix of different things when I journal. It’s not the most cohesive thing, which is okay for me because it’s my creative space and I can do whatever I want with it. Diary entries, random pages of art, quotes and lyrics that have been living rent free in my mind - really, the possibilities are endless! Over the years, I have developed my own style of journaling, which I’m happy with, and as of this moment, I’m hoping to keep up with journaling for as long as I feel like it - meaning, for the next few or several years to come.

Songwriting’s another popular way of self expression, and it’s actually come up a lot in conversations, probably because we just attended a music festival and some of our friends who performed there are staying at the camp to chill for a couple days. We’ve got Ying, Hua, Desi, Dello, Donna, and Edie - all who came a very long way to attend the Dreamer Festival in Spectrum Falls. Basically, Edie came from the midwest, Desi, Dello, ands Donna all the way in the west coast, and Ying and Hua came overseas from Yuexing - so they came a really long way! At least by stopping by the camp, Ying and Hua are able to cut their travel time by a few hours, which really makes a difference.

The Dreamer Festival is one of those events that’s a huge deal, sort of like a pipe dream for many. It’s not one of those mainstream festivals that is well known outside of certain circles, which makes it even more special if you’re able to get in. Not that it’s like exclusive, or elite, or anything, it’s more that they try to be super diverse and aim to showcase a wide variety of music, and there’s only so much you can pack into one event a year. In other words, space is limited and invite only, which also isn’t always guaranteed because things can change at the last minute - though from what I’ve heard, if they reach out to you, they will try to give you a slot within two years.

So it really was a stoke of luck that this gang of musicians got in this year, months after the organizers reach out to them, which, again, doesn’t always happen for a variety of reasons. Even now, after the festival, they still can’t believe that they made it. Like, if someone came up last year and told them, “Hey, you’d be performing at Dreamer one day” they’d be like, “You can’t be serious!” And now here they are. Amazing, isn’t it? Even more so after years of being told that their music wasn’t going to get them anywhere.

Obviously, you can’t win everyone over, but it starts to get to a point where the naysayers aren’t being logical anymore, or are just jealous or petty. On one hand, it’s understandable why someone might be against pursuing the arts as a career because it’s not an easy path, and even if you have talent, a lot of it also comes down to luck - and money, and connections, which often serves as a barrier for many. That, I get, because it is a valid concern, and it carries a lot of weight on your decisions.

Financial stability’s one thing, burnout and stress is another that’s a huge concern for many. A good support system can help with that, but that’s also not guaranteed, especially when it comes to factors that are completely out of your hands, which is the unfortunate nature of the music industry. Mainstream music, I can definitely see a lot of behind the scenes stuff happening, though that and smaller labels or independent have their own challenges too. Please note, I know absolutely nothing about the business side of the music industry except that like any other job, it has its problems and whatever.

For Dello and Donna, they acknowledge the fact that they had an advantage because of their connections because their uncle is The Kent Clanwing. However, everything else like finances and such, that was their own hard work and effort, partly due to Clanwing not being involved in that at all. Even now, his support still sends mixed messages to the family, which is something they’ll just have to accept. Not ideal and could be a lot better, but that’s just how it is.

Dello had always been into music, so he’s had a bit of experience with the industry, though it was more of a side thing. Clanwing never exactly discouraged him from pursuing music, but it was kinda implied that he felt that Dello didn’t have the chops to survive the business. Sure, he had the talent and artistic merit, though that can only take you so far, especially if you have other factors working against you.

The biggest obstacle was Dello’s stutter, something he’s struggled with all his life that he still gets self conscious about from time to time. It’s gotten better over the years, but it’s still there, and he knows how to live with it. Of course, Clanwing would never admit that he considers Dello’s stutter a flaw that should be hidden away out of shame. There’s no doubt that Clanwing holds his nephew in high regard, but even then, there’s always gonna be that catch, which is also something Dello has long accepted.

One thing that Clanwing always enforced on his family is to know how to roll with the punches, and so that’s how Dello chooses to live. He knows he can’t control his speech impediment, so he’s not gonna let that control his life and stop him from living. Why let that stop him from singing? Or in his case, why let that stop him from writing and producing music?

It wasn’t until he, Donna, and the others moved out of the manor when he decided to pursue music seriously, forming Ocean Winds with Donna. Dello knew from the start that he didn’t want to sign on with a major record label, choosing to go independent instead so he’s have more artistic control over his work. For them, that was a viable option, and I think they made the right choice to go down that route. They didn’t want to be big stars, they just wanted to make music and share that with the world.

Shine Within You, their debut single unexpectedly rocked the charts, because A, it’s a good song, and B, it has a reassuring message that spoke to a lot of people. And not surprisingly, the song’s message resulted in some “controversy”, which to me is more like pointless discourse, mainly by chronically online people who have nothing better to do. Really, how do you interpret the message of the song - that it’s okay to be yourself and you don’t need to be spectacular to be worthy - and say shit like it’s promoting laziness and being a burden to society?

I think more people need to hear that it’s okay to be mediocre and live a mundane life that makes you happy rather than constantly feeling the need to climb the ladder and aim for perfection in order to prove yourself. After all, it’s not healthy to be always pushing yourself, to be beating yourself up if you fail to meet the high expectations you’ve set for yourself. To always be aiming higher, never feeling satisfied enough with what you have because of the belief that there’s more.

The way I see it, it’s kinda like a never ending cycle - like, what’s the point in always aiming higher if you know that you still won’t be happy with what you’ve got? What’s the point of measuring your self worth with things like how much money you made, or if you did anything groundbreaking, or if you managed to climb to the top, if it brings you stress?

Maybe I’m kinda jaded because I know some people who treat life as some competition to see who’s the best of the best, either constantly beating themselves up for failing to meet their often unrealistic expectations, or acting like they’re superior because they’ve accomplished a lot and so everyone else is just lazy for not being able to reach the same level as them. I get being pressured to succeed and be on top of everything, but it becomes a problem when you force your views on others to the point that you end up being an unpleasant person to be around.

If anyone knows what that’s like, it’s Edie. She and her siblings always had a difficult relationship with their father, who seemed to disapprove of everything they did. He saw Edie’s venture into music a waste of time, saying that she needed to take life more seriously or that she didn’t have what it takes to be a good musician. By that, he meant that she had to be groundbreaking, a game changer, a prodigy - someone. She couldn’t just be a musician - she said nothing was ever enough for him, which was the main source of frustration between them.

I can’t imagine what it’s like growing up with someone that insufferable, especially a parent. Sure, he had his reasons, like the fact that he never really had a childhood because his father died when he was young and as the eldest he was responsible for the family. Still, that doesn’t excuse being a stuck up bitch who thinks you’re better than everyone. It’s even worse when they go out of their way to put others down so they look better in comparison.

Edie’s long accepted that she and her father will never see eye to eye. Aside from his disapproval over pretty much everything she does, he was also a manipulative liar, which is a whole ‘nother thing. He would basically tell people that Edie’s a struggling, disgruntled artist who’s failing to find an audience, and then get defensive when they find out the truth, that Edie was doing well and she was happy with her life.

However, the most telling thing about her father is his comment on her song Cloudy Roses, which was basically what he thought of all her work. Out of all the songs he chose to listen to, he chose the one she knew he was going to hate due to the fact that it’s about two women falling in love, something he considered blasphemy. His response? Telling her that back in his day, she would be murdered for writing something like that. That was really the only direct comment he had over her music. What the fuck? Like, what kind of a thing is that to say to someone? Edie knew he never thought highly of her work, but to basically straight up tell her that she should be killed for expressing herself through her art is going too far.

The others can relate to being told weird and unprompted comments regarding their music, though not on the same level as Edie’s father. Clanwing seems to support Ocean Winds in general, but he appears to have issues with the messages behind some of the songs. Donna said that he has a tendency to overreact to anything he perceives as criticism, so songs where they talk about their struggles - like mental health issues, for example - he can’t help but see that as a personal attack. She and Dello speculate that maybe part of it has to do with guilt, especially for someone like him who has a tendency to blow things out of proportion. On the other hand, it’s like yes, their songs tend to be more personal and inspired by their own life experiences - the key word being inspired - but it’s not 100% true to life, like pretty much all forms of art.

Ying says it’s similar with some of her more conservative relatives too. She doesn’t mind them listening to her music, but she knows that they’ll take issue with some of her songs that touch on subjects like being queer and dealing with mental health struggles. she won’t stop them from checking her stuff out, but at the same time she isn’t up to explaining herself when they demand an explanation, which has happened a couple times. They’re like, “We want to support you, but we don’t agree with your art and the messages you’re conveying through it and we don’t like that.”

Her father and grandparents are also the kind who take it as a personal attack when she opens up about her struggles growing up, specifically what it’s like to be a kid with undiagnosed ADHD and feeling like something was wrong with you, as well as dealing with those who aren’t always supportive of what you do or who you are. I guess it’s uncomfortable for them to accept that someone you grew up with or raised will never fit into that mold you had in mind for them and your expectations mostly succeeded in hurting them instead of helping.

It really sucks when there’s people close to you who refuse to accept you as you are, whether it be your sexuality, identity, if you’re neurodivergent or have a physical, or mental, or chronic condition - anything that makes you different. They’re like, “We don’t wanna hear any of that shit, so suck it up and suffer in silence.” Some people don’t want to admit it, but what they’re really thinking is, “We’d rather have you live in shame and suffer in silence because who you really are makes me uncomfortable,” and it becomes more apparent when other people are able to accept you without reservations while they keep insisting that you’re wrong and they’re right.

The mental health/ADHD stuff continues to be a touchy subject in Ying’s family as there’s still some who don’t believe in that kind of stuff and don’t want her to be associated with those types. At this point, the way she sees it, they’re entitled to their opinion, she’s entitled to her life - if they can’t see eye to eye, then so be it. Some battles aren’t worth fighting. Better to leave it as is rather than waste your energy trying to prove yourself to someone who won’t listen.

For Desi, most of her naysayers are, not surprisingly, people she worked with during her days with Too Cool and the Shayne Brothers, who are known for being cookie cutter mainstream pop - the kind that are stuck reliving their past in a bad way that makes them look bland and uninspired. These days, their songs are too formulaic and predictable, a far cry from their past when they actually put effort in their music rather than pander to what they thought would make the Top 40. I have no idea what they’re up to now, mainly because I’m not interested, though it’s likely the same old stuff.

Although they openly showed their support when Desi decided to go solo, she said it felt sort of backhanded, kinda like they were hoping that she’d reconsider her decision. It became even more apparent when she decided to embrace her Cuban roots, blending elements of traditional and pop rock, as well as incorporating Spanish lyrics. Some fans weren’t too keen on that, which wasn’t a surprise as they expected her work to be more like Too Cool, something she wanted to break away from. Looking back, her only regret was that she hadn’t left earlier once she realized that she was stuck in a rut.

I guess one of the biggest takeaways is that you can’t please everyone. Some people will always find something to criticize no matter what. It sucks to have someone you trust not give you their full support, it really does. But you shouldn’t let that stop you from achieving your dreams. After all, this is your life - you’re the one who calls the shots, not them. Maybe they don’t see eye to eye right now, but that doesn’t mean things won’t change for the better in the future.

Just focus on the present and do what feels right for you. In time, as long as you keep working at it, everything else will fall into place. I know from experience that things will work out in the end, often in ways you least expect it.

Read on AO3

#animal crossing pocket camp #animal crossing #headcanon ramble #diary of a junebug

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adviserbabycom · 9 months

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Infant Optics DXR-8 vs DXR-8 Pro? Compatible accessories

For a long time, the only choice for parents who wanted to invest in an infant monitor with video was the DXR-8. The Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro is a newer version of this product that offers some new features and improvements over its predecessor. Quick to "Infant Optics DXR-8 vs DXR-8 Pro" - the DXR-8 Pro offers better night vision quality, audio quality, and battery life along with HD camera, two-way talk, temperature readings and a higher range compared to DXR-8, although it's slightly more expensive. Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro vs DXR-8 Features Infant Optics add-on camera unit for DXR-8 PRO Monitor for DXR-8 PRO without camera unit & battery Infant Optics add-on camera unit for DXR-8 Monitor for DXR-8 without camera unit & battery Obviously, the Infant Optics DXR-8 has been a hard-working monitor for many parents. But now the original DXR-8 Pro is kicking this monitor up a notch with its HD 720P resolution and quality memory card slot to help you find those awesome moments with your little one again. The perfect balance of convenience and design, we all know that they will make life just a bit easier for mommy (and daddy!). The Infant Optics DXR-8 PRO has an HD camera, two-way talk, and temperature readings The Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro has an HD camera, two-way talk, and temperature readings - A large, high resolution touchscreen display which is night vision compatible and can be viewed from any angle; - Infrared technology for nighttime viewing, also called Night Vision (NV) mode- A temperature sensor so you know your baby's room temp at all times without needing an extra device like a thermometer; - The DXR-Pro gives clearer sound and better reception than its predecessor DXR-8 or DXR Series monitors because it has more advanced digital signal processing capabilities as well as enhanced frequency control circuitry. The price of the DXR-8 is $150 while the price of the more advanced DXR-8 Pro is $200 The DXR-Pro gives clearer sound and better reception than its predecessor DXR-8 monitors because it has more advanced digital signal processing capabilities as well as enhanced frequency control circuitry. The DXR-Pro monitor is also an HD camera, two-way talk, and temperature readings while the DXR-8 only offers a standard speaker with a limited range for audio. This new model of baby monitoring device can be used at all times without needing an extra device like a thermometer (like you have to on some other products). One downside of this product is that if cellular service goes out or there are any bugs in your Wi-Fi network, then the baby will not be able to communicate with anyone outside either by voice or video call. The best review Optics DXR-8 Pro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsv6LIhHFhg&ab_channel=DadVerb Infant Optics DXR-8 PRO Unboxing & Review The original Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro is one of the best-selling monitors ever made toughing, multiple baby registries on the baby to Amazon and other retailers. Now, when I talked about it a couple of years back, it was great, but it felt that it could use an update. Well, the update is finally here, but the DXR-8. Let’s check it out.Andrew, here with dad verb up until now. The only non-connected monitor that I’ve recommended is the UV space view. I haven’t really changed my stance on that for like two years or so, but I can honestly say that the new Optics DXR-8 Pro is my new favorite non-connected monitor moving forward. I do have to know that this monitor was provided to me by infant optics. And I’m actively trying to get the brand to sponsor more videos along with this entire channel. Infant Optics DXR-8 PRO: Unpacking But it’s because this is something that I genuinely believe in. And I think it’s something that parents will scoop up and enjoy. So to start, let’s take a look at what’s inside the box. Really. It’s pretty simple, which is a good thing. You’ve got the camera and the accompanying parent unit, uh, the power supply for both nicely labeled to limit confusion, a zoom lens, a USB plug to connect it to a computer or a power bank, and a screw to mount it for a top-down view. So first let’s go over the camera off the bat. The biggest improvement here that we’ll notice from the original Infant Optics DXR-8 is the quality. We’re not looking at a 720P picture, which in comparison to other non-connected monitors in the category is among the best that you’ll see. It’s much less muddy, not nearly as choppy, and yields a pretty crisp image. Infant Optics DXR-8 PRO: Difference from the previous model No, this isn’t a 4k image, but guess what? It doesn’t need to be for parents looking to just drop in on their baby. This delivers exactly what you need it for. And it’s far better than what was previously available to other parents comparing the image to UV. They are quite similar, but I would give the edge to infant optics here. The camera comes with an interchangeable zoom lens and for a little extra, you can actually get a wide-angle lens to add on.It’s pretty neat to be able to adapt it for multiple fields of view because you know, every nursery is going to be different, but personally, for our use, we didn’t need any of the other lenses that were available. We just liked the standard events at it came with a lot of connected monitors are locked into a crib view, but here you actually still have pan tilt and zoom functions, which is great, particularly, uh, when you get into the toddler stage and you want a broader view of the room. So that about covers the camera. Next, let’s move on to the parent unit. Uh, in addition to the 720P display, the screen size has also increased to five inches, which is a lot more convenient at the top is the power and sleep button along with dedicated buttons for brightness and volume on the right, are your buttons for panning and tilting zoom, uh, the push to talk function, and then your menu where you can set alarms at cameras and more, and I haven’t tested it yet, but you can connect up to four monitors here. Infant Optics DXR-8 PRO: New features So that is great for twins are monitoring multiple rooms on the left is a light indicator that reacts to sounds and crying. It’s always nice to have visuals paired with the sound. And lastly, at the rears, a stand, which you can open up and wrestle on your nightstand or any other surface. I do want to make one quick note here. That’s always bugged me about the UV space view, and that is the volume button. Oddly enough, intuitively you want to go this way to make it louder and this way to make it softer with . They actually always had those buttons flipped, which I never got used to. So thanks to infant optics for getting that right. I mean, overall, this is a great parent unit. There’s, there’s nothing really to complain about here. Uh, the last thing that I do want to highlight though is the increased signal range, which can now go up to a thousand feet compared to the 700 feet of its predecessors.So that’s a good jump and testing it. I was actually able to maintain signals throughout my house. I had to walk a bit down the road before I started to actually lose that signal. And by the way, I’ve got the monitor linked below buying through that link helps support this channel at no additional cost to you guys. So if you do end up pulling the trigger on the Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro, please consider buying through the link in the description. Thank you. All right, battery life. Infant Optics DXR-8 PRO: low battery That’s another thing that you’re going to be considering when buying a monitor with a dedicated parent unit during testing, I accidentally forgot to plug the Jack in all the way I woke up the next morning to find that the battery wasn’t dead, but it had been, uh, reduced quite a bit. Uh, and it continued to run for me actually it later throughout the morning, uh, before it started giving off this chime, uh, warning me of a low battery.So if you need it to, I think it can give you probably around 10 hours or so, probably even more as it did for me, as I’ve mentioned in a lot of previous videos, background, audio monitoring is a very important feature that I look for. Um, when the video feed is asleep, I still like to listen to the baby, but unique to the Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro is a new feature called active noise reduction. Now, this is really interesting because one issue with some audio monitors is that sometimes it blends the background sounds with the sounds from the baby, making it kind of hard to hear. And I particularly found that to be an issue with the hatch rest. Plus, as we used it for sound monitoring with the pro, you now have the option to enable the active noise reduction feature to filter out the background sounds like fans or purifiers can clearly hear the baby.Yeah, you can just leave that feature off, but it is nice to have in your back pocket. So who is this monitor for as many monitors as I’ve reviewed, I’ve come to find that a lot of parents just don’t have an appetite or need for the features of connected monitors like a Nanit or Miku or any of that bunch. They don’t need breathing, monitoring, or sleep analytics. Infant Optics DXR-8 PRO: camera overview They just want something simple and reliable. They just want to hear the baby and they want to see the baby. And that’s what you’re getting here from a brand that is trusted within the baby product space. I’d say the only downside here is there’s no remote monitoring. Other than that, it’s a pretty perfect monitor. Also for anyone who has fears of security or privacy. This is going to be a monitor that you want to pick up simply because it’s not connected via wifi.The box itself actually declared it as hackproof, which may be something that parents can take comfort in. Another thing to know is that you’re going to get a lot more reliability out of a monitor like this compared to any other connected option. Even my Nana, that a hell of so dearly, even that is susceptible to occasional connection drops as not going to be the case here with infant optics, that that’s just the advantage of the non-connected option. And lastly, while this is a great monitor for home, it’s also a perfect companion for travel set up as easy as it is, plug and play. And you don’t have to go through the trouble of logging in through an app and doing the whole pairing process. You can get your portable crib and your monitor all set up in a matter of seconds to round it out.I will say that, yes, this is a pricey registry item at 199, but it is on par with other options that you’re going to find around, BuyBuy Baby and Target, and Amazon. I understand that it might be hard to pull the trigger on just on any pricey monitor, but I will legit say that if you go with this one, this is definitely going to be a nursery staple that you will not regret. Final thoughts on purchasing a monitor for your baby The Infant Optics DXR-8 vs DXR-8 pro will also depend on what features are most important to you. If advanced temperature readings are something that would make life easier for caring parents, go with the DXR-8 model as this feature cannot be found anywhere - If you want high-quality video and audio for your child's room, go with the more expensive model DXR-8; - if you're just looking for basic features like sound and motion alerts, then go with the cheaper model DXR-8 pro. I couldn't find any .gov, .org, or Wikipedia sources specifically comparing the Infant Optics DXR-8 and DXR-8 Pro baby monitors. However, I can still recommend a list of authoritative sources for your website, ParentalPicks.com, to provide credible and useful information on these products. - Infant Optics Official Website: This is the manufacturer's official site where detailed specifications, FAQs, and support for both the DXR-8 and DXR-8 Pro models can be found. Infant Optics Official WebsiteConsumer Reports - American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): While they might not have specific product reviews, AAP offers guidelines and advice on safe baby monitoring, which could be relevant for users considering these products. American Academy of Pediatrics - National Institutes of Health (NIH): As a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NIH might provide research or articles related to infant care and the safe use of baby monitors. National Institutes of Health - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC): They offer safety information on a wide range of children's products, including baby monitors. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission These sources will provide your readers with comprehensive, reliable information relevant to the Infant Optics DXR-8 and DXR-8 Pro baby monitors. Read the full article

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qichin · 1 year

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Core Mechanic

Many games tend to revolve around a specific theme, be it a genre, a feeling, a question, or a specific experience. And games being a collection of interconnected mechanics, one of these (or perhaps a small number) might end up as the core mechanic (CM) to promote engagement with this theme.

A CM can literally be a mechanic, or it could be a gameplay element, or perhaps a process within the game. Something the rest of the mechanical design revolves around and drives player engagement with it in a specific way. It might encourage player actions or force players to make certain considerations in tune with the theme, thereby reinforcing it within the play experience.

Quick aside: the CM is not the core resolution mechanic (CRM), which is the main method the game uses to randomize outcomes. The CRM can be related, but often, the CRM is separate from and in service to the CM.

This makes the CM a powerful tool when implemented right, but like any tool, it can be misused. A game might have a certain theme, but no CM to support it. It might have a CM supporting a different theme than the one intended or claimed to be the design goal. Or it might have so many other (complex) mechanics around a CM that it gets diluted.

Let's look at the example of D&D and what I believe to be the CM of that game: Hit points.

First, lots of mechanics are tied to it. They either reduce hp (or support actions that do), help prevent hp loss, heal hp etc. These mechanics include such varied things as gear, character abilities, spells, GM tools (traps, monsters), the entire process of combat, resting, contingency mechanics (death saves) and so on. It's also one of the consistent rewards for getting stronger.

It also informs gameplay decisions. Playing to the mechanics influences anything from party composition (needing a breaker) to character builds to moment-to-moment choices.

In theory, it also helps shape rising and falling tension throughout the game, with a fresh party on full hp being able to take more risks and a party on low hp needing to be more careful. The fact that the long rest problem (where parties rest to fully heal overly frequently to maximize freshness, made possible by a lack of built-in mechanical restrictions or limits on long rests) is such an issue is directly tied to its effect on hp as a pacing tool.

Other examples would be aspects and fate points in Fate, inventory slots in Mausritter, Endurance in The One Ring, Madness in Don't Rest Your Head.

But Qichin, you might say, loads of games use hit points. Does that mean they all have the same core mechanic?

Well, that depends. Remember, hit points are just a tool. How central are hp to supporting the main theme of the game? Super Mario 64 uses hit points to differentiate between instantly lethal and partially lethal obstacles, but the main theme is still movement, platforming, and overcoming/avoiding said obstacles in general.

But recall also what I said earlier about misaimed design. Hit points are a simple tool to implement, and many games use them, so why shouldn't yours? But that might lead to a different CM taking precedence in your game, and a new theme to emerge beside the one you intended. This can be a consequence of lazy design (using hp because everyone else uses hp) leading to your design being pulled into unintended directions.

In conclusion, if your game wants to portray or encourage engagement with a specific theme, a well implemented core mechanic can be a powerful tool to achieve that. Not every game needs a CM, but it's good to have it in your toolbox. Equally important is to not accidentally have a CM emerge out of the dynamics in your design that might communicate a different theme than what you were aiming for.

#game design

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geldiaries · 1 year

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[NOV192022]

Yes, it's another meet up sit back and relax because I have sooooo much to say. I have a lot of kwento because I want to keep this as a fresh memory because it's one of the best days.

And I know, I despise November 19 just as much as I despise men, lol. But that day was different. Surprisingly, I did not lock myself inside my room and cry all day because I was with Ate Dane enjoying the JiKook Cupsleeve Event; enjoying the aesthetic cafe; enjoying walking under the rain to go to another cafe.

Honestly speaking, I was anxious that time because I got scared that Ate Dane would cancel our plan last minute but *deep sighs* I'm really grateful she didn't.

This event was really planned weeks ago before the actual one. We even fill out forms for it that was really hard to secure! There were limited slots for it so we were kinda nervous for it but I'm glad we got slots.

So during that day, I was nervous because as I have said, I was thinking and worrying what if she cancel it last minute because of some uncontrollable circumstances; she was busy and/or something happened that made her cancel the plan. I mean, I fully understand that but you know, I can't help but feel that way and I feel sorry for Ate Dane for thinking that way.

But hey, that did not happen! She was a bit late because it was raining and so that one made me anxious too! Lol. But then, she came and I was really happy. One stan twitter friend that I also met there really thought we're sibs! HAHAHA She said my face lightened up the moment Ate' s there. Of course! She is the only person I am really comfortable in that room.

We enjoyed playing games and being in the same room with Jimin and Jungkook lovers who genuinely love them. I feel so at ease knowing we love and support the same people with our whole being.

After that we went to the cafe beside the event place and there, Ate Dane and I talked and talked and talked. It does not feel like we've only been friends for months because it feels like we know each other for a long time. I asked her to go to Purple 7 Cafe because it's just walking distance and she agreed immediately, lol! She's a kaladkarin friend just like me. So we went out and walked under the rain still talking about so many things but to our dismay, the cafe did not allow walk-ins and so we just looked for a resto so we can eat dinner. Of course, we talked a lot there too even on our way to MRT 3. I feel like we got to know so much about each other during that day. I hugged her so tight twice, afraid of letting her go and afraid of the thought that that would be the last.

But heh, just wanna thank Ate Dane because this was the first time I did not cry during my birthday. I love you, Ate!

I'll be putting here the letter I made last Nov 20, 2022 for myself:

Hello! I am writing this letter because of three things; 1. It is because we had so much fun yesterday during our most hated day. 2. We had good memories with Ate Dane yesterday that we became scared. 3. Beechesas' very own au that was made for you.

It is really our tradition to just stay in bed, cry, feel the relapse and attacks all at once, but yesterday was different. If I can only show you how happy we were yesterday, November 19, I bet you would not believe me. We seized our day and enjoyed it with the people you call your "family". We were with Jikookers yesterday that made it a lot special for us. Oh if I could only explain it with words, you would want to go back to yesterday and just stay there at that moment, because same. Because if I can only do it, I will. We would definitely do it. Krystin accompanied you during those days where we felt anxiety and cathartic feeling, she was there. I hope you know that. She was always there during your most hated day but November 19, 2022 was different. She waited for you for a whole damn month. Jikookers made you happy and gave you a good time too. It was.. really fun.

I am going to be honest, I am scared that she might leave us too so I am going to tell you the story that I want to treasure forever. Ate Dane and you talked about meeting each other again for the second time after three months by attending the Jikook Cupsleeve in Tomas Morato. You were so happy when she came, even though you doubt and thought she would cancel, but she did not. We found out that she doesn't like people cancelling plans with late notice too. And I am going to start with the event, no surprise, you guys did not join individual games and just joined group games because you and Ate Dane can't stop talking and making chikahan with each other. It was good though. You were laughing a lot even when you guys changed venue from the bar to the cafe next to it. We can't stop the kwentos and tawanans there. Truth be told, it was a relief that both companies were interested in each other's life stories. Walang ere. Masaya lang. We didn't expect it to be like that until we walked to Purple 7 Cafe and while walking we were still talking and talking; even when we got there. It was so funny because we cannot go inside fully as there was an event and we were just walkins. Until we decided to eat somewhere, we shared more than 30% of our life to a friend we met 9 months ago. It was nice. We did not expect this kind of friendship because the last one was traumatizing. During the night that we had to separate our ways to go home, you hugged her so tight like you were so afraid of letting her go. We actually did it twice, we were really that traumatized, right? But self she's such a good friend, a good sister to us. It is unfair that you'll always doubt the friendship, she's way different. I hope she is still your friend, your twin, your ate while reading this. We treasure her so much that's why I am telling you these. We agreed with her to make it a tradition to see each other in person every 3 months. Shocking, right? We didn't get the same treatment before but you see, she's treating us like a friend that's important. So I wish, I hope we're still friends with her.

Lastly, Beechesas. Not a shocking moment but I just want to remind you again that they are so special to us. They are the people I know would really stay with you for good, through thick and thin, through worse or worst days of your life. They made an au for you this year, it was so touching. We were moved by it. We're really so loved by the, Gela. I hope you know that. Despite the busy schedule and college life, beechesas never made you feel less. In fact, they always make sure to tell you and remind you that you're doing great. These people are your solace and home. Always in all ways, with Beechesas.

I am telling you all these because you were so happy. November 19, 2022, a year you thought it's just another mundane, boring, scary, and anxiety day on your most hated day.. it's different. You were happy. So I hope, I hope for the next years to come, it would be like this again.

Write and write and write to remind ourself please.

I am happy for us, Gela.

[Ate Dane edited the pic <us holding a jikook banner> because we do not have a decent pic lol]

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andrewskennedy50 · 2 years

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Blog Post #1

Emma Rathbone’s article and Max Stossels's lecture brought some very interesting perspectives to the topic of social media. I appreciate Mr. Stossel’s approach to the topic of social media because it focuses on how human psychology, particularly in the developmental period of people’s lives relates to the effects of social media.

In Mr. Stossels’s lecture, his slot machine analogy helped me conceptualize how the effects of getting a “rush” from anything involving dopamine can all be extremely addicting. When I think about how social media affects me daily, I would be foolish to assume that this “rush” does not affect me somehow. Even on an app like Instagram, I find that sometimes when I make a post, I frantically return to it several times over the next few days to see how many likes it gets. Another example is that when I use Twitter and I reply to another user about a specific topic I disagree with, I feel anxious/excited feeling and check for a reply from them every ten or so minutes until it arrives. When social media gives me that “rush,” I find it hard to put my phone away and be present in the real world, even to watch a movie or share a meal with a family member.

Even though it is difficult at first, forcing myself to take a break ends up being really rewarding every time I do it by about the 3-day mark. I do this every year when I sail on a 3-day sailboat race from Port Huron, Michigan to Mackinac Island. On this race, I am on a sailboat with seven other people without internet access. The small space on the boat forces us to interact, whereas taking a “social media break” in your regular life you might do other introverted activities. On these ventures, it becomes much easier to get into the moment of things and I feel more clear-headed, but the sailboat race ends, and social media seems to always creep into my life again in one way or another. Giving up social media entirely would be difficult, and it would likely hinder access to people I have connections to, but I no longer live around.

Limiting social media in a logical and intentional way would likely be the most beneficial change for me. Some examples I would like to implement are removing all social media use before 9:00am every day and removing all social media from 8:00pm until bedtime. The time periods I mentioned are the times when I honestly would like to be relaxed and clear-headed, so that is why I chose them specifically. Mr. Stossel seems to suggest the reason that I might become more clear-headed is that we are constantly attempting to multi-task when we are glued to our phones. Once humans are forced away from their phones, they even score better on tests and retain information in general. As Ms. Rathbone puts it, “before the internet” people were allowed to be completely in the moment, even lost in it. Her article nostalgically paints images of inner peace, moments where we were all ignorantly bliss to the future where we no longer can be completely lost in the place where we are. Reading her article makes me ask questions like “if life was clearly so much better when social media was not in it, why are so many people unwilling to give it up?” and “what kind of harmful psychological effects could this bring to a species who have not had this tool for more than 30 years to adapt their brains to this type of connectivity and communication?”

How would you respond to those questions yourself? I would love to hear would you might have to say, so feel free to reply!

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thechroniclesofhadi · 2 years

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Movie Tropes

2D Visuals, 3D Effects: The guardian of the Chamber of Parisa. The Horse is slightly less conspicuous, as its movements were traditionally animated, while the baroque design on it is CG.

Abnormal Limb Rotation Range: Jinda takes off her head and turns it around twice in her first scene.

Anachronism Stew: Mostly in Jinda's gags. She makes many references to modern-day movies and has a lot of props that are out of the time period, such as slot machines, top hats, etc.

Ancient Tomb: The Chamber of Parisa, whose guardian will only allow entrance to a Chosen One. For the one that it does let in, there are two rules: only touch the ring, and get out before the time limit is up.

And Now You Must Marry Me: Kofir threatens Yulia’s mother to cause a Please, I Will Do Anything! reaction and force her to marry him. He does so to make sure the former Sultana will greatly suffer seeing him take Yulia as his wife.

Answer Cut: After Kofir's line "I must find this... gilded-hearted one.", the scene cuts over to introduce the "street urchin" Hadi.

"Arabian Nights" Days

Award-Bait Song: “Here with You”.

Back from the Dead: Defied with Rule #3 of the Code of the Djinn. The phrasing of said rule suggests that it's not impossible, but that Jinda refuses due to the results typically being unpleasant. Played straight when Jinda has Ashraqat revive Giola instead.

Badass Boast: "Brand-New Friend" is part Jinda showing how powerful she is and what she's capable of, also part showing the group how lucky they are to have found Jinda.

Bait-and-Switch Character Intro: Giola the parrot is first introduced by having her spend a few moments repeating things like a normal parrot... and then say in a more humanlike voice "This biddy’s more of a nut than a know-all", revealing that she has a smart mouth and can talk properly.

Because You Were Nice to Me: Giola feels bad about continuing to help Kofir because she’s falling for Mamun. It's why she ends up switching sides.

Becoming the Mask: Giola originally pretended to be a normal human named Halima in order to steal the ring for Kofir. She later ends up actually becoming a true friend for Team Hadi after falling in love with Mamun.

Bedlah Babe: Yulia, complete with sheer veil over the mouth.

Berserk Button:

Giola: If I have ta eat those rancid crackers one more time, Imma bite SOMEBODY’S head off!

Beta Couple: Mamun and Giola. They continue their relationship after The Reveal of Giola being a parrot and not a real human as she’d presented herself to be.

Big Ball of Violence: When the guards are after Hadi for stealing fruit, they jump onto him, creating a dust cloud and when the dust clears they are shown to have incapacitated each other instead of Hadi who slipped away before the scuffle happened.

Big Damn Heroes: In the midst of the Final Battle, when Team Hadi is trapped over a pool of lava, unable to save the crystal, Giola pulls a Changed My Mind, Kid and comes flying in to help.

Big "SHUT UP!": From Giola to Kofir. "Hey, Kofir! SHUT UUUUUUP!"

Black Comedy Animal Cruelty: As a parrot, Giola endures a lot of violence from Kofir. However, Kofir never seems to have the intent to hurt Giola per se, it's more that he, out of his narcissism, doesn't care about Giola at all and treats her recklessly.

Bonding over Missing Parents: When Hadi and Yulia first talk properly in Mamun’s house, she talks about losing her father years ago, and Hadi in turn opens up about losing his parents at a young age. Both their respective parents also taught them each the same piece of music.

Came Back Wrong: Implied and defied — when Jinda says she can't bring people back from the dead, she adds "It's not a pretty picture. I don't like doing it!", implying that she actually is physically capable of bringing back the dead, but the results are... unpleasant.

Changed My Mind, Kid: Giola. She opts to bail just before the final confrontation with Kofir. Just when things are looking bleak for our heroes, Giola comes charging into the fight and manages to snatch the crystal egg before handing it off to Hadi.

Chekhov's Skill: Like some other kinds of birds, Giola is an impressive vocal mimic. In the movie, she introduces her ability to impersonate Yulia while the bird's making fun of the princess, then uses it later to trick Hadi into leaving the ring unprotected. (In her human form, no less!)

Child Marriage Veto: Yulia adamantly sticks to her guns on this.

Clockwork Creature: The Mechanical Flying Horse.

Cosmic Keystone: The crystal egg.

Cool Toy: The Sultana of Bajida collects mechanical toys.

Creepy Cute (In-Universe): The homunculus.

Curse Cut Short: When Giola spots Hadi and Mamun in the palace, she says "How in the he- uh, AWKKK!"

Darkest Hour: Kofir has usurped the Sultancy, become a powerful sorcerer, disposed of loyalists in the guard, and coerced Yulia to marry him. As Yulia's about to say her vow, she sees the others booking it from the dungeon... and then Yulia seizes the moment to renounce the vow, swipe the ring, and jump off the balcony to be caught by Horse.

Deadpan Snarker: Giola is an obvious case of this, especially in contrast to the considerably less sarcastic Kofir.

Design Student's Orgasm: Everything around the characters is stylized to the point of being abstract. Word of God says that the setting design was inspired by the works of Vittorio Zecchin and Errol Le Cain.

Destroy the Villain's Weapon: Hadi’s well-timed throwing of the crystal egg ends up knocking Kofir’s staff into the lava. Which is very unfortunate for Kofir, who had earlier bound his soul to it.

Disney Acid Sequence: “Brand-New Friend”.

Disney Death: The movie loves this. Jinda gets chucked across the garden but she's just unconscious, Horse gets demolished but gets better, and Giola is Killed Off For Real, but Ashraqat makes a quick trip to the underworld to revive the parrot.

Earn Your Happy Ending

Establishing Character Moment: Hadi’s entire introduction. He dodges the palace guards with cunning and trickery, always way ahead of them. Along with his subsequent display of kindness to two children by giving up the fruit he'd just worked so hard to get away with.

Falling-in-Love Montage: “Here with You”.

Fatal Reward: Kofir and Giola’s plan is to backstab the heroes and take the ring back to Bajida. Luckily, Giola falls in love with Mamun.

Feedback Rule: In her introductory scene, Jinda poses as an entertainer with a mic which gives off a feedback.

Felony Misdemeanor: Hadi steals a bagfull of fruit and gets a squadron of imperial guards out for his blood.

Hadi: All this for fruit?

Flat "What": Kofir’s reaction when Giola first offers to steal the ring.

Flight of Romance: “Here with You”, the mechanical flying horse ride.

Forbidden Fruit: The group comes across an ancient building full of treasure, with a sign warning them not to take anything within. Then Giola steals a giant pearl from the loot. This awakens the Living Statue who was guarding the tomb.

Freeing the Genie: At the end of the climax, the ring is destroyed in lava. Jinda is ecstatic, as this means she is now free.

Full Moon Silhouette: Hadi and Yulia pass in front of a giant full moon during their Flight of Romance.

Furry Reminder: Giola the parrot can actually speak instead of just copying people, but she keeps it a secret from all but Kofir, her evil owner, so when other people are present, she squawks and copies people.

The Genie Knows Jack Nicholson: Jinda is this to the max.

Gold and White Are Divine: The palace is decorated in these colors.

High Heel–Face Turn: Giola.

Humanity Ensues: Kofir turns Giola into a human girl to snatch the ring once Hadi retrieves it. Initially, she's not happy about this turn of events. (And she's none too fond of the whole walking thing either.) She gradually adjusts to being human as she undergoes her Heel–Face Turn, and even starts to fall for Mamun.

Hypercompetent Sidekick: Jinda. It's not that Hadi is incompetent; he just can't hope to compete with a girl who has "immense magical powers!"

I Can Explain: Giola’s “Mamun, honey, I can explain!” after she is exposed as Kofir’s parrot.

I Just Want to Be Free: Jinda.

The Imp: Giola, at first.

Internal Reveal: When “Halima” is revealed to the heroes as Giola the parrot.

In the Hood: Yulia's hood, when she's disguised as a peasant, and later a peasant boy. Human!Giola dons a hijab to hide her key necklace, which would identify her as Kofir’s parrot.

Interspecies Friendship: Hadi and Jinda, Hadi and the Horse, Yulia and Giola, Kofir and Giola. (if you consider them friends...)

Interspecies Romance: Mamun (a human) and Giola (a parrot turned into a human).

Island of Mystery: The Island of WaqWaq has ancient architecture full of treasure and a giant brass statue that comes to life.

Isle of Giant Horrors: The Island of WaqWaq is inhabited by giant brass statues that would come to life if anyone trespasses in the buildings they were guarding. Giola inadvertently ends up awakening one when she steals from the crypt he was guarding, who nearly kills the group.

I Will Punish Your Friend for Your Failure: Kofir threatens to kill Mamun unless Giola finishes her task of stealing the ring.

Keep Away: The climax has Hadi and his friends trying to get the crystal egg away from Kofir, as well as snatch his Soul Jar-converted staff. The game ends with Kofir trapping the heroes above a pit of lava, with the crystal just out of reach. Fortunately, Giola shows up in time, grabs the crystal and throws it to Hadi, who uses it to destroy the staff. Cue Kofir suffering a very Family-Unfriendly Death.

Keep the Reward: The Sultana offers to make Hadi her royal vizier because of his heroics. Hadi turns the offer down, because he wants to have adventures and see the world. (Setting up the events of the series.)

King Incognito: Yulia disguises herself as a commoner to enjoy the city.

Living Statue: WaqWaq has them. And they will kill you if you steal from them.

Lost World: WaqWaq has shades of this.

Love at First Sight: On seeing Yulia in the market-place, Hadi is immediately smitten. After he rescues her from trouble, Yulia isn't too far behind.

Love Redeems: Giola redeems because the group (especially Mamun) showed her true love and friendship, whereas Kofir just barked orders and intimidated her.

Love Theme: “Here with You”, Hadi and Yulia’s song during their Flight of Romance.

Ludicrous Gift Request: Invoked by Jinda at the end when she tries to prove to herself that she's been freed by asking Hadi to wish for the Nile. Hadi does so and she says, "No way", proving that she can refuse wishes and has therefore been freed.

Make a Wish: Anyone who gets ahold of the ring can be granted wishes by Jinda.

Medium Awareness: When Kofir has the ring:

Jinda: (after being summoned and realizing that Hadi isn't the one summoning her, with a Playbill and Opera binoculars) Tonight the part of Hadi will be played by a tall, dark, and creepy old man.

Meet Cute: As soon as Hadi sees Jinda at the marketplace, he's instantly smitten with her. Mamun and Giola too, after he encounters her human form in the hold of Daud’s ship, though they take a bit longer to become a couple.

Missing Mom: Hadi has neither a mother nor a father, which is why he lives on the street with Mamun as a thief.

Mythology Gag: Contains some references to stories from the Arabian folktale anthology, Arabian Nights.

Non-Human Sidekick: Giola to Kofir. Jinda to Hadi also, seeing as she's not really human (as well as Horse who is a sentient automaton).

Noodle Incident: When listing her rules, Jinda states "I can't bring people back from the dead! It's not a pretty picture, I don't like doing it!!!"

Nothing Can Stop Us Now!: Near the end, Kofir has Hadi and his friends at his mercy hanging over a lava pit. "Give it up, boy. There is no one here to save you now." Cue Giola arriving to save the day.

Non-Human Lover Reveal: Mamun learns that “Halima” is actually Giola the parrot. They make it work when she gains the ability to change into human form at will.

Obfuscating Stupidity: Giola the parrot pretends to be a dumb animal to everyone but Kofir for a while, but drops the façade after Kofir changes her back from human to parrot.

Oh, Crap!: Tons.

"Oh, Crap!" Smile: Human!Giola when Mamun discovers her in the hold.

Oh, My Gods!: "Allah" is inserted into various expressions.

Only the Worthy May Pass: "He with the Gilded Heart" is the only one who can enter the Chamber of Parisa.

Opposites Attract: Hadi and Yulia seem to be this at first, what with Hadi being a street urchin and Yulia being a princess, but it turns out they're actually a lot alike.

Orphaned Etymology: The name “Giola” is of Italian origin, which makes it out of place in a medieval Arabian setting.

Our Homunculi Are Different: Kofir has one, which he uses to communicate with Giola.

Over-the-Shoulder Carry: After finding Human!Giola in the hold, Mamun carries her out onto the deck of the ship for the others to see. Needless to say, she is none too thrilled about this.

Parents Are Wrong: The sultana insists that Yulia must marry a prince, in keeping with law and tradition. But Yulia falls in love with Hadi, and at the end of the movie the sultana changes the law to allow Yulia to marry whoever she wants.

Pilot Movie: The movie is essentially structured as a 3-part pilot to the series.

Primal Fear: Naga!Kofir.

Puppy-Dog Eyes: The hungry street children.

Rebellious Princess: Yulia.

Redemption Quest: Giola goes through this throughout the film.

Reptiles Are Abhorrent: Naga!Kofir brings out the only significant snake imagery in the movie.

Rescued from the Underworld: Ashraqat travels to the Underworld in order to retrieve Giola's spirit and reunite it with her body.

Rescue Introduction: Hadi meets Princess Yulia when rescuing her from a street vendor who she accidentally stole from. Leading into a mini...

Rescue Romance: Do you notice a pattern here? Hadi and Yulia first fall for each other after the rescue, and they connect further afterwards. However, while they each clearly begin to have a thing for the other, before the spark can grow the guards raid Mamun's place and cut it short before it can really start. The rest of the movie and some magical intervention is needed to continue things along.

Riding into the Sunset: At the end Hadi and Yulia ride their mechanical horse into the Gigantic Moon who turns out to be Jinda.

Scenery Porn: The film has this in full.

Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right!: The captain of the guards switches loyalty to Kofir after he makes himself the new sultan, as required by law, but after Yulia calls to him, he decides to support her mother.

Sealed with a Kiss: Hadi and Yulia seal their love with a kiss at the end before embarking on another flying horse ride.

Sea of Sand: The Arabian desert as portrayed in the movie seems to consist almost entirely of dunes.

Shout-Out: Damn near everything Jinda says or does.

Siding with the Suffering: Giola spends the beginning of the film on Kofir's side. After she’s turned human, Giola slowly turns face over the course of the movie. Not that Giola's all that heroic, but her conscience tends to get the better of her.

Soul Jar: Kofir’s fatal mistake is to bind his soul to his staff.

Stealth Pun: After gaining her freedom, Jinda hurriedly tells Hadi to "Wish for The Nile", and yells "NO WAY" when the latter complies. Hadi actually got what he wished for...DENIAL. It ain't just a river in Egypt.

Suddenly Suitable Suitor: Solved by the Sultana changing the law.

Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: Kofir realizes that while he may have become Sultan, he hasn't earned the loyalty of the guards or anyone else for that matter, so they can just stage a coup to put the Sultana back in power. He's only able to stop them by wishing for stronger magic and using his new abilities to physically banish them.

Sweet Polly Oliver: Yulia passes herself off as “Yusha” the second time she sneaks out of the palace.

Take Over the City: For all he wants power, Kofir never seems interested in political power beyond Bajida. Given how power-hungry he is, though, he probably would have gotten bored and/or ambitious and tried to go further if he hadn't been stopped pretty quickly.

Talking Animal: Giola. Justified in that she is a parrot.

To Be Lawful or Good: When Kofir uses the crystal egg to work his way into the Sultancy, he demands the guards serve him as the law demands. Yulia enters and calls out to the head guard and essentially poses this question: will he follow the law and obey who ever the Sultan is (even if he's a tyrant), or will he remain loyal to the well-being of Bajida's people? The head guard chooses loyalty to Yulia, the Sultana, and the people of Bajida, which spurs Kofir's Villainous Breakdown.

Tyrant Takes the Helm: Kofir briefly becomes Sultan.

Villain Reveals the Secret: Played straight when Kofir reveals “Halima’s” true identity.

Why Won't You Die?: When Hadi returns to the palace in the climax, Kofir retorts "How many times do I have to get rid of the SAME BLASTED YOUTH?!”

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writer-monster · 3 years

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11 reasons why cap 4 should reintroduce Bucky Barnes as the love interest, an essay

to start this off, i am not writing this essay from a shipping place nor do i believe that this would have any influence at all over the upcoming movie. i expect nothing. this is simply something that i would personally like to see. (of course no hate to anybody who thinks differently)

here are 11 reasons why i think making Bucky into Sam Wilson's love interest in Cap 4 would be a good move for Disney.

1. on the Chinese film market - and why it's an irrelevant argument against the inclusion of homosexual themes in Cap 4

the Chinese film market is something that has been blamed for a lack of diversity in Hollywood films a lot lately. many people claim that this market with a lot of buying power has been responsible for the lack of gay and black representation in particular within Hollywood films.

and we have certainly seen Hollywood treating it as such, going so far as to cut gay scenes from movies for their Chinese releases, and vastly minimising John Boyega's (a black actor's) presence in the Chinese poster of Star Wars The Force Awakens.

[image ID: on the left is an image of the American poster for Star Wars The Force Awakens, featuring John Boyega prominently on the right-hand side. And on the right is the Chinese poster for the same movie, in which John Boyega is barely visible.]

so we know at the very least that Disney believes this through their own actions and efforts to self-censor for the different markets.

but Captain America 4 is a black-led movie, don't you forget. and Disney can't minimise Sam Wilson/Anthony Mackie in the movie or the poster because it's his movie and his poster. and no amount of creativity in the editing room can change that (thank God!).

so if by their own argument the film is already going to be either banned, panned or slammed in China... then what do they have to fear from making it a gay movie too?

2. oh, the queerbaiting

queerbaiting is an unusual cultural idea. and sometimes i find myself thinking that the term is far too easily used, but then all of a sudden i will stumble upon a movie or show that is so quintessentially cruel and overt in it's... well... queerbaiting that i will start to wonder what the hell kind of a bizarre relationship all these straight people seem to have with their friends. take Troy and Abed from Community or John and Sherlock from Sherlock as the perfect examples of this. (in which my reaction to the show's creators saying the show wasn't gay was to ask so then why did you make it so gay?!)

i felt that Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes in tfatws were getting quite close to this level of queerbaiting.

there was the field scene, the couple's counselling scene, the boat scene, the couple's counselling scene, Bucky going with Sam to face Karli when she told Sam to come alone, the couple's counselling scene, ALL the staring scenes, Sam checking out Bucky's ass here as they said goodbye, the "i would move in with him but" hidden scene, "Uncle Bucky" showing up at the cookout scene, the romantic walking off together into the sunset together ending scene, and the couple's counselling scene. did i forget anything? but i mean seriously, the couple's counselling scene!!! that thing they did with their legs and their crotches while staring deep into each other's eyes, would any straight guy willingly do that? do straight guys crotch-snuggle now?

[image ID: an image of Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes during the therapy scene with the quote, "Isn't anybody going to drag me into impromptu couple's therapy and slot my legs firmly between theirs before staring deeply into my eyes?"]

(yeah i stole this image from a buzzfeed article on the fan reactions to the couple's therapy scene. but given that they stole 80% of the content of that article from fandom tumblr, i think it's pretty even-steven.)

there's also the fact that people started talking about bisexual Bucky Barnes a lot after the tiger pictures line, and the lead writer Malcom Spellman responded to the talk of Bucky's bisexuality with "just keep watching". well we watched, Malcolm. but it's beginning to feel like you were just jerking us around.

3. the writing

seriously though, what else is Bucky Barnes doing right now in the MCU? his only remaining connection to anything going on right now is through Sam. there is literally nothing else established that's left for him to do that doesn't involve Sam. he moved to Louisiana to be closer to Sam (canonically), he hangs out with Sam's family (canonically), and Steve is presumably gone and is definitely not coming back for more adventures.

he has no villains or loose ends left. he has no other superheroes that he appears to be in contact with. he has no girlfriend or potential love interest, or even other friends or family. he is living in a tent that he has secretly set up in Sam's backyard and is mysteriously appearing from the bushes when it's time for dinner like a stray cat.

in my opinion there is no other meaningful and pre-established progression for Bucky's character that wouldn't just feel cheap.

plus, i don't think the general audience would be all that surprised if they kissed. i think a LOT of people picked up on all that tension. i think a lot of straight people picked up on all that tension too.

4. the chemistry between the actors & the chemistry between the characters

the original pitch for tfatws was essentially just this, it was the chemistry between Sebastian Stan and Anthony Mackie and their respective MCU characters of Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson.

now obviously Anthony and Sebastian are simply friends, and i wouldn't mean to imply anything more. but they are also not their characters.

Sam and Bucky's scenes together before tfatws were both limited and short, and yet audiences still fell in love with the dynamic between the two characters.

in interviews, these two actors are constantly slipping into character and flirting with each other and frankly it's adorable. plus it's really entertaining. i'd love to see that dynamic, unfiltered, in a movie.

because believe it or not the flirting is actually even more open in their interviews than it was in tfatws. and i'm leaving some links as proof.

this here is known as the "married" compilation

and here's a "lucky dip" selection of interviews - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,

and here's Anthony trying to get Seb to take his jacket off.

i'm just saying, why not let their chemistry shine? these two are so talented and so entertaining, especially when you put them in a room together. and can you imagine how absolutely hilarious and brilliant it would be to watch them navigate being a couple?

(and for those who bring up the "friends would be uncomfortable pretending to be dating" argument, i'm not here asking for a sex scene or anything. i don't think anyone would expect them to show any more intimacy (physical or emotional) while playing a couple than what they've already shown together in say... tfatws or in their own interviews. not that i actually expect anything regardless.)

5. if they were a man and a woman they would've gotten together in tfatws

i have no more to add here. just that... yeah, they would've.

6. and i'm not talking about the comics here, i'm talking about the MCU.

i understand fully that none of what i'm saying here falls in line with these characters from the comics. but the mcu itself doesn't fall much in line with the comics either, and these two characters especially are very different from their comics counterparts.

i'm not asking for these two to get together in the comics. tbh i don't think that it would work.

but the mcu Sam and Bucky are different and closer than their comics counterparts. they've got different histories, different backstories, and a very different dynamic. please rest assured that i am only talking about them in the mcu.

7. Bucky Barnes is believably bisexual. and Sam Wilson has never been proven to be straight in the mcu, nor has he had a love interest.

(now please continue to keep in mind that these points only stand for the mcu versions of Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson, and not at all for their comics counterparts.)

Sam Wilson has never had a love interest, which is crazy because have you seen that man! he has had two blink and you'll miss it moments of verbal expression of attraction to women, both in TWS. and that's the extent of it, through his entire history in the mcu.

Bucky Barnes has had a number of surface-level female love interests, but none of them even came close to the level of connection and chemistry that Bucky shares with Sam.

and i'm sorry SarahBucky fans, but i just don't think there's very much to their relationship either. i love Sarah, i really do. but it's Sam who shares all the meaningful moments and history and chemistry with Bucky. and i don't see what making her into a love interest would do for Sarah's character either, what would that add to her story?

[Picture ID: Bucky at the cookout with Sam, Sarah, Cass and AJ. Bucky and Sam are looking at each other and smiling.]

and also there is the whole tiger pictures thing... again. which does strongly suggest that Bucky is bisexual whether this was intentional on behalf of the writers or not.

8. it's representation... AND it feels natural

marvel hasn't had a lot of queer representation that's been noticeably present in the MCU at the time of writing this.

there have been a lot of failures so far, from the bisexual erasure of Valkyrie in Thor Ragnarok to the wlw erasure in Black Panther.

there was queerbaiting almost identical to the bisexual Bucky baiting for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2. when asked if he had considered featuring a gay hero in gotg2, director James Gunn stated that "We might have already done that. I say, watch the movie." after the movie's release audiences were understandably confused about the lack of queer representation. To which the director followed up his comments with, "But we don't really know who's gay and who's not. It could be any of them."

there is also Loki, considered by most fans after the airing of his six episode series on Disney+ to be both a poor attempt at both genderfluid representation and bisexual representation. with both attempts being summed up fairly well by the term "blink-and-you'll-miss-it". (also it's just terribly written and Loki doesn't wear any interesting clothes! fanficcers are a Goddamn blessing in this hard time!)

and let us not forget that Andrew Garfield was apparently FIRED for pushing for a bisexual spiderman. a bisexual spiderman within an interracial mlm relationship no less.

so for all these failures, marvel, why not allow us queer fans this? two brilliant and heroic men in a loving interracial relationship. two heroes that we can look up to.

now, one of the biggest detractions from the argument for representation is the idea of "forced diversity". and some poorly written characters certainly do end up feeling forced into the narrative. take Iceman in the comics for example, with Jean Grey just straight up suddenly telling him he's gay. like, marvel, sweetie, that's not how this works! and i don't know a lot of queer people who thought much of that "representation".

but the crux of the "forced diversity" argument is almost always that it feels unnatural within the story, right? and i don't think that anyone could say that about MCU Sam and Bucky ending up together, given these characters' existing chemistry and their history. they've both played characters in gay relationships before so we know that it's not outside of either actor's wheelhouse. and y'all know that Anthony and Seb can act, people. if it's in the script i believe that they'll make it seem like the most natural thing on earth.

9. it'd be a nice change

there's been an ongoing meme lately about "Disney's first gay character", the joke being that they continually announce gay characters without really ever including gay characters in their films.

this is to the point where Disney has formed a reputation amongst queer audiences of being homophobic.

if Sam and Bucky were to become a couple, then Disney could have its first actual gay character within a gay relationship. AND have him be in the lead of his own movie, no less.

it's also worth keeping in mind that there's likely an overlap between the people who were outraged by a Sam Wilson Captain America, and the people who'd be outraged by a gay Captain America. and if they were already not seeing the film, then i don't think much is gonna change that.

queer audiences would definitely love it, and the media attention would be guaranteed to be huge. i mean, simply look at the amount of media attention mere rumours of a character's queerness gets you and multiply that by a canon confirmation of said rumours.

but i'm pretty sure that Disney already knows this.

10. and yet, in truth, it's not about the representation

in truth i've never felt that i had any trouble relating to characters of any sexual orientation, race, gender, sex, body type, etc. (although that is not to throw any shade at all on people who do wish to see themselves represented) but for me, i think it's more about the story than the packaging.

and yet, a love story is still just a story. straight or queer, monoethnic or interracial. when two characters have chemistry and history and have sacrificed for each other time and time again, and they also can't keep their hands or their eyes off each other, then i'm pretty sure that that's a love story.

straight or queer, monoethnic or interracial, it shouldn't be about these simple labels. it should be about how well written the relationship is. it should be about chemistry, and history, and sacrifice.

because i'm fucking sick of all the hollow, forced romances in media no matter the genders of the participants. i'm sick of lazily written, shallow relationships where any two people sharing the same space for any extended period of time will simply fall in love. it's boring, it's repetitive, and as a writer myself it drives me up the wall!

romance stories suck! and everyone knows that romance stories suck. between twilight, and most of the entire YA genre, and love triangles (so boring), and romance used as poorly-written throwaway subplots in Hollywood movies, the world is in agreement that the romance in western media is simply dreadful. and yet we still want love stories. it's an entire genre that sits at the heart of the human experience (<3), and yet one which so few of today's best known writers seem truly able to capture.

i don't think that i'm the only one who feels this way, either. i suspect it's actually a large part of why fandom is so romance-centred in the first place, that we're all just starving for a good love story.

(btw i think fandom has a reputation for being something that as a whole that it is not. it has this reputation for straight up demanding things and harassing people until they get their way. while unfortunately there are a few people who do this, they're fucking annoying and i swear that they're far from the majority.

in my experience fandom is mostly about writing a five thousand word story at three am while drunk off your ass because it might make someone whom you've never met smile, editing it in the cold light of day, and then posting it. expecting nothing. sometimes getting nothing. and sometimes getting someone send you kudos or a comment so heartbreakingly wonderful that it makes you smile in return.)

11. so once again, it is all about the writing.

i want to see Sam and Bucky get together in the mcu, not because they would be a gay couple but because i genuinely believe that their story has potential to be an amazing love story.

and i know the mcu isn't about the romance. it's why in my personal opinion we haven't gotten a lot of good canon romances besides Peter Quill and Gamora. and i don't think that the mcu should be all about the romance either. i fucking love the action and the fighting scenes. i love the comedy. Captain America: The Winter Soldier had no romance and it was a fucking treasure, it was an amazing spy-action-thriller and it made my little gay heart dance. Thor Ragnarok had no romance, and it was an utterly brilliant comedic spectacle action film. not every movie needs romance.

but mcu Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes were doing couple's therapy and fixing a boat and walking off into the sunset together in tfatws. they were inseparable on the battlefield. they've got a dynamic. it's beautiful, it's romantic, and it's gold.

a budding relationship between them in the next movie would be a good way to explore both characters more without the narrative feeling too stilted and separate. at the end of tfatws, both Sam and Bucky fans found that their respective fave felt somewhat underutilised and that their characters were underexplored.

now, that problem would be even more difficult to remedy in a movie, because the plotline of a movie needs to be really tight to work (giggity). and we know that the central conflict of the movie is gonna be action-based (which is good), but we still need each character's personal journey and growth to tie into the main conflict. (which is another issue that some fans found with tfatws, that these characters didn't really feel connected to the action-based plot on a more personal level.)

if Sam and Bucky are already in a relationship, however, this whole dynamic changes. first, their relationship has already been set up for nicely since TWS and through tfatws and they would officially be the best-fleshed-out couple in the mcu. but most importantly, a relationship gives them a perfect vehicle to explore both of their pasts comparatively and connect them personally to the action-based plot.

do you want to establish that Sam is a little too trusting and naïve? then establish this through his relationship with Bucky, and through showing his placing his trust in Bucky. (rather than through having him sympathise with a villain who threatened to murder his sister and his nephews).

perhaps you want to show Bucky recovering from his trauma? show us how comfortable he is with Sam. they get along, they're enjoying each other's presence, we see more of Sam's life and of his family, and then let Bucky tell Sam something that's raw and dark and honest about his life as The Winter Soldier. something about a memory, one that he only just recalled. he's opening up. and maybe what he tells Sam is even something that sets up the future action-based conflict, to ground that in something real.

you want to explore that Sam has trauma too? do this through Bucky. he tells Bucky a story about his time in the military. in the form of a flashback, he shares his own story of loss to evoke before the audience the shared theme of feeling at fault even when you're simply a helpless bystander to an act of pure destruction.

then, action sequence! and it's directly connected to Bucky's time as the Winter Soldier. explore the grief of someone whose life the Winter Soldier tore apart manifesting into a villain perpetuating the cycle of pain. establish your villain.

Later, Sam is dragged into battle against this villain for protecting Bucky. But Bucky doesn't want Sam to protect him. He feels guilt for what he can't control and he doesn't want Sam getting hurt because of him. Bucky reminds Sam that he has a family, one who needs him and who loves him. He tells him to go home.

Sam reminds Bucky that he's a part of that family. And that sure Sam's a hero and his job is to protect anyone and everyone, but that he's doing it because he wants to. It's not simply to prove that he can, or to prove that he's not a bystander (this connects to Sam's trauma here), but that he's doing it to help people.

and this gets Bucky thinking about who he is and what he's doing here. is he a hero who stands by Sam's side? or is he an ordinary man who stands aside? or perhaps, does he stand alone? what does he stand for? Maybe Sam knows. But does Bucky?

Sam and Bucky fight off the villain again, and for the first time Bucky meets this adversary face to face. And Bucky recognises this villain, and has a flashback to the genuine pain that he inflicted upon them in the form of the Winter Soldier. Bucky freezes mid-fight, he almost dies, and Sam has to save him.

Sam chews Bucky out for almost getting killed because he was afraid for him. but Bucky takes this the wrong way and goes off to fight the villain alone, or perhaps to die alone, he's not quite sure.

He puts up a half-hearted fight. He apologises for what the Winter Soldier has done, and he waits for the killing blow, when Sam swoops down and he saves him. He asks Sam why he saved him and Sam calls him a moron. And then, Sam asks him what sacrificing himself would solve. He tells him that you can't choose your past but you can choose your future (connecting to his own experience of loss and guilt and grief). And that no matter what Bucky Barnes still has a future, whether that's as the Winter Soldier or the White Wolf or just some dork with a day job. And that he has a future as a part of Sam's family too.

Sam fights the villain, and it's toe to toe. He delivers a few good blows, but receives a fair few himself. And then the villain tears off his wings, first one and then the other, in a manner reminiscent of what the Winter Soldier did to him in TWS. Through Bucky's eyes there's a flashback to highlight the parallels. Sam gets back on his feet and he fights his best fight, but is now losing.

And then the heavily injured Bucky steps up and fights by Sam's side, and only together do they take down the villain.

"So... I inspired you, huh?" Sam teases with a smile, utterly exhausted. "With my heroism and-"

"You inspired me." Bucky said, equally exhausted. "Let's leave it at that."

Together, Sam and Bucky go back to the safety and warmth of their family. Sam fixes his wings. Sam goes back to being Captain America. And Bucky... he's around, but it's unclear what he's doing.

That is, until the very end. When Sam is in a fight, and suddenly Bucky shows up and helps him out.

"What are you doing here?" Sam asks.

"I've made up my mind." Bucky says. "I'm the Winter Soldier. But now I'll save lives, Sam. Now, like you, I'll be a hero."

Sam smirks. "So does this make you my sidekick, then?"

Bucky smiles. "C'mon, at least make me a partner." He says.

"How about co-workers." Sam says (in flashback, he remembers back to the death of his last on-the-job partner).

"How about friends." Bucky says, with a wry look.

"Bucky... I don't want to see you put your dumbass self in danger." Sam says.

"Oh, and it's ok for you to go running off into danger on your own all the time?" Bucky asks.

"Yes." Sam says stubbornly. "Absolutely it is."

"Why?"

"Because I'm not a dumbass?!"

"Sam, if you think I'm not gonna be watching your back for the rest of time... then you're the biggest dumbass I know. And I don't care if you need me or not, I will be there for you."

"Because Sam, you're more than Captain America. You're more than a good soldier. You're a good man. And I think sometimes, the world forgets what the difference is."

...or something like that.

(i only spent like 15 minutes on that. you know if i were actually writing this movie i would come up with something much better. and if anyone from marvel is seeing this, yes i can come work for you. i will make the time, let's do this thing right!)

finale

at the end of the day, whether or not the mcu chooses to make Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes a couple, it's their decision. and they don't owe me anything.

i'm just some random person on the internet. who thinks that Captain America 4 should #givecaptainamericaaboyfriend

#givecaptainamericaaboyfriend #meta #analysis #captain america 4 #caatws #fatws #tfatws #captain america #cap 4 #sam wilson #bucky barnes #sambucky #marvel #mcu #mcu phase 4

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