#marriage-trouble

[thezodiacmagic-blog]

What does astrology say about relationship success? For 3 unlucky zodiac signs, the stars predict marriage strife in 2024. Can compatibility issues be resolved through compromise and effort? Follow Us For More🫶

[krn-art]

AU where I ship em as an old married pair who meet and realize their partners suck.

Also, that whole movie shoved in a series worth of plots into 2 hours.

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Two old farts in a haunted house? One has a kid from an old marriage, the other has a banshee x-wife who tried to kill him? Like, he meets her while trying to escape his ex and she agrees to marry him instead since her fiancé admitted to not loving her except for her money. But she needs to be married to keep the house and he wants to be human, so marriage of inconvenience but they end up liking each other and stage ghost stuff for her show. Something something he lives or she dies and we get a dramatic ending.

----

♫ I don't think that I can take it~ 'Cause it took so long to bake it~ And I'll never have that recipe again~ ♫

MacArthur Park by Richard Harris

[hinamie]

binding vow

[ahappydnp]

overdosing on yaoi cocaine? what about having to self regulate every time dan and phil open their mouths

[fictionadventurer]

This AV Club comment is making me so desperate to write a romcom, you have no idea.

[taub-truther]

Can we talk about Taub's Porsche for a second?

I read it as sort of a multipart symbol. First, his wife's love of him. The car is something that he wants as a fantasy, but that isn't even on his radar with all the shit House has been implying about Rachel's secret savings account. When she first reveals that he'll have a new car in a few days, Taub goes from expecting the worst to utter disbelief and joy that she would make that particular desire happen for him.

But we see some bitterness there too. That's because the car also represents the hill of lies on which Rachel has built her love. She sees Taub as someone who belongs behind the wheel of that car. But he has a moment of realization: I didn't trust her. I don't deserve this.

Third, I'd argue the Porsche Cayenne, as a classic "midlife crisis mobile," also at its core represents Taub's unfulfillment (or whatever you want to call it). It's pretty and shiny and impractical, very popular amongst middle aged dudes trying to feel young and cool, much like the younger women he can't resist. But even as a wish-fulfillment fantasy, it can't make him happy. He looks at the car and his expression is sort of empty, then guilt-ridden, almost pained. Beyond his betrayal of vows, he simply can't feel what Rachel wants him to feel. It's true of the car, and it's true of their marriage.

We find out later on that he wants to be a dad, but Rachel doesn't want kids. Looking back to this episode, we see that there's no room in his Porsche OR his marriage for the kind of life he wants deep-down. He knows this car is forever going to be a reminder of his failings as a husband, the love he really doesn't deserve, AND his longing for something he'll never have.

This is the moment where all his self-delusions (i.e., protecting Rachel's happiness by keeping up his lies) come crashing down, absolutely crushing him with guilt. Maybe he HAD hoped she'd been doing something underhanded so that he could forgive her for something... but no. All her secrets literally WERE to make him happy.

Taub simply can't live with that. He has to tell her the truth, come what may, because he wants to be the man who can deserve the car, the love, the life he needs. gee, let's see how long that resolve lasts...

[lady-corrine]

Viserys should have allowed Daemyra to get married from the moment Daemon asked for her hand and I'll forever die on this hill.

[expectiations]

Thinking of how "left me like a book on a shelf" is from River's POV and therefore does not mean it is the entirety of the story much like how "the Doctor does not and has never loved me" was uttered from a River who was grieving.

Like the Doctor could have spent a long time putting the TARDIS in stationary orbit around the Library. The Doctor could have puttered about with the Library from years before it was shut down to ensure that everything would go smoothly while doing his best not to change a single thing. And on days when it is too hard, he just stares at the Library from his perch on the TARDIS door. Waiting, hoping, thinking. Trying to find a way out for her. For them.

And he does!

He finds a hundred ways to get her out of the data core. But...something always goes wrong. It's somehow never good enough. She's back, but she's not entirely there.

So he scratches it out, slaps himself, and tries again.

And again.

And again.

But his plans always fail.

But they don't. Not really. His plans could work. Could have worked. His beloved Sexy would help him. She'd always help him when it comes to her Water. But he was too scared. Too frightened of failure. Because one single mistake. One. Single. Mistake. And she's gone. He can never get her back. Forever.

So he runs. And runs. And runs. Until centuries has gone by and companion come and gone. Until he met a younger, more alive version of her. And then they had Darillium. And oh the joys of wonderful joys, what a night that was.

But things end. Even for him. They had to part ways again. Had to say goodbye. So he tries again. Picks up what his previous self had shelved. He tries. Oh how he tries.

But still. That fear exists. Is it worth it? Can he finally accomplish what he'd started a literal lifetime ago?

(He doesn't.)

Off on another lifetime with a new body. He's a...she now? Oh and shorter! Wow. That's new! I wonder what Ri–

On the rare moments she allows herself to succumb to sleep she goes to their his her study. She takes a moment to take everything in. It's unrecognizable now – the study that once was theirs filled with warmth and laughter and-

Every single space was taken. Covered by plans of plans of plans spanning...two...lifetimes now. Sexy still kept it just as it was the last time he she had been in there.

Their His Her favorite throw was still where it was – on their his her favorite corner of their his her favorite couch.

Nothing had changed but everything had changed.

She curled up and buried her face hoping it would still smell of her (It did. They never knew how it worked but somehow her smell still lingered anyway. They thought they were hallucinating at first but other people had been able to smell it too. Sometimes they forget but Sexy also lost her too).

She was a he again. The same face they had four lifetimes ago. The same face who was the first to keep the memory of their meeting.

But wh- what? Why? How? Is this it? Is this the body that finally brings her back home? A fitting act really. He put her in there and so he'll also put her out of there.

But... she wasn't there. Nothing was there. Nothing but chunks of debris and ashes and smelted...somethings.

When he blinked his eyes open (when had he closed them?), Donna's worried face greeted him. He blinked again and blinked. Nothing changed. Everything has changed. He had waited for far too long. He had made her wait for far. too. long. He feared of failing her but now he actually has failed her.

Everything was bland now. Was it just him or is everything a bit...on the side of grey? Donna looks at him like he might break. (He won't. He's a Time Lord. Time Lords don't break.) Even Sylvia had taken to treating him a bit more kindly.

He goes off alone with Sexy. His return to the Noble-Temple (Temple-Noble) household becomes fewer and further in between. One day he finds himself in Venice. Wonderful Venice. His Pond and her Roman (who wasn't yet a Roman) had gone here. There were vampires. And running and –

River?

No silly. River wasn't there.

He blinked. And blinked again. Made sure the sky was blue and the clouds still fluffy white. But was that his leather jacket that just whizzed by past him? Wait. Hold on. That was... Was that? Oh no. It wasn't. It couldn't be. Did they? No. They couldn't have.

But of course, apparently they did. Because that was actually his leather jacket wearing self that just passed by him again(?) tugging along his very-much-not-dead wife along running from... Hold on. Why are they running? What- Who's shooting at her?!

[braxix]

Glorfindel: Wait! Elrond! You swore a healer's oath! You can't hurt me!

Elrond: I never swore that oath! Everyone took one look at me and said I couldn't do it!

[smittenskitten]

MOM! Do you see this?

[greenleaf4stuff]

Of Convenience 4

(all previous parts of "Of Convenience")

Adar x Celebrimbor (silverscars) political marriage AU, 4th snippet. The freshly wed husbands have a little dispute about how to enter negotiations with the approaching Lindon army. Thankfully, Celebrimbor can convince Adar of a less aggressive approach than the one he���d originally planned for. Maybe Galadriel will even thank him for it.

I actually wrote part 2-4 in one sitting, so this is the last one of that batch. I have ideas for two or three more parts, already wrote some of that and got a bit more lined up to post but – I am flying by the seat of my pants with this fic/collection of snippets tbh. However, it’s been great fun so far! Not fully convinced yet that I’ll be able to bring this to a meaningful end, so no promises, but we’ll see what happens. Thanks again to everyone who has commented so far, you people are lovely! <3 (Also, check out this lovely chapter 1 addition by @plotdesigner right here, it's from Adar's POV)

"You are not sticking Galadriel in a cage!" Celebrimbor exclaimed. He didn't care that he might come across as agitated – with all that had happened to him in the last few weeks, he had a right to be as emotional he wanted to be, in his opinion!

Also, his new husband – it was still making his head spin, to use that term when referring to Adar – threatening to stick one of his best friends into a cage and then dramatically reveal her as his captive while Lindon's army charged at the uruk’s forces was an idea that warranted some hysterics. Not just in his specific situation but in general.

Adar looked quite unimpressed. "It will ensure that the army stops their attack, leaves my forces unharmed, and sends one of their leaders to listen to my proposal."

He made it sound so reasonable, when Celebrimbor could find nothing reasonable about the other's plan. The smith sighed and ruffled his own hair in frustration.

"A proposal that they will reject because you put their best commander in a cage and placed her in harm's way!" Why did he feel as if he were talking to a child? Was this how Gil-Galad felt when he argued with Celebrimbor?

The smith certainly hoped he wasn't wearing a mirror of the expression Ereinion so graciously bestowed upon him every time they had a dispute. The one that practically dripped of disappointment.

"What show of good will could they possibly expect after something like that?!"

Adar seemed taken aback more than anything else. He studied Celebrimbor critically, as if trying to figure him out, before he walked and sat down in the improvised throne in the middle of the tent they were in. He seemed...tired, all of a sudden.

Well, too bad for him, because Celebrimbor felt ready to continue arguing his case.

"And what guarantee do I have, otherwise, that they will not simply try and overrun my children before I get a word in?" the uruk spat. "Elves are not practicularly fond of listening to 'orcs' when my kin try to reason with them. They'd rather attack first and ask questions later."

"Funny, I should think the elves see it the same way in regards to the uruk," Celebrimbor replied, then held up his hands in supplication as Adar threw him a baleful glare in lieu of a verbal response.

Sighing, the smith tried a more delicate approach. "You can take me and Galadriel to the front with you. Have us walk up in front of the army, so Gil-Galad and his forces can see us. They won't attack their own people, or those who are by their side."

Adar looked sideways at the smith, but at least it didn't seem as if he would dismiss the idea outright. Celebrimbor decided to consider it as progress.

A loud exhale of air through Adar's nose and the uruk leant forward, bracing himself on his elbows on the table before himself. He fixed the smith with his gaze. "So the two of you can run to safety, once the attack starts, leaving me and my children vulnerable? I don't think so."

"I meant what I said," Celebrimbor cut in, and this time, he truly was getting heated. He stepped right up to Adar's side, slammed his hands on the table, and leant into the uruk's space as he continued. "When we took our vows. I will uphold our marriage, and our alliance. I still intend to save those I consider my charges. I will not abandon you, nor will I abandon a chance for a peace between our people, even if hope is a resource we have preciously little of at this time."

Adar had slightly widened eyes, but otherwise, nothing about him betrayed any kind of emotion. Slowly, he leant back, until elf and uruk could stare each other straight in the eyes.

There was a long beat of silence, and Celebrimbor almost felt himself falter in his conviction, until-

"You do mean what you say," the uruk confirmed. He sounded...wondrous, almost. Celebrimbor would have been insulted if not for the fact that he, too, was surprised by how much he wanted to believe in this peace, this alliance. "You would not betray this arrangement even if you were given the opportunity for it."

"Yes," the smith replied, simply, and allowed himself to soften. He leant his hip against the table to better face Adar. "I intend to see this through to the end. Which is why I am asking you to trust me, and let me help you with your plan. Let Galadriel and me join you at the front as you greet Lindon's army. Bind her, if you must, though I'd ask you strongly to reconsider that option. She won't do anything that could put me in harm's way. She wants Sauron dead as much as you do – and I."

"She and I both have a good relationship with Gil-Galad, and his herald, Elrond, who might accompany him. They will be wary, but they will listen to our words and agree on a temporary treaty at least, to discuss how to help Eregion. We can work from there I believe."

He wasn't a politician, at least not a natural one, but he knew Gil-Galad and Elrond. None of them had as much hate for the uruk as Galadriel had held, and even she was currently trying not to cause trouble in the camp. It would take time, and Celebrimbor would have to remain close to Adar's side to make sure none of them tried an ill-fated 'rescue' attempt on his behalf, but the smith was positive that they could find a solution. They had to.

It felt like so more than just Eregion and Mordor were at stake here. Especially with the foe they were up against.

Another moment, and then, to the smith’s great relief, Adar nodded.

"Very well. But you will get some armor fitted and wear it before we do this – just to be safe. Might be these elves will not deliberately attack you, but accidents are bound to happen when tempers are enflamed."

To the smith's surprise, this did not sound like a ruthless warlord contemplating that, as long as he was alive, Celebrimbor would do as a husband even if he was hurt. Or even that the chances for negotiations were better if he was in good shape once the elven high king saw him.

No, judging by how much Adar already let Celebrimbor get away with in terms of talking back at him, how he let him roam freely about his tent and the immediate vicinity (even if he was accompanied by guards at all times, for multiple reasons), didn’t bind him and hadn’t even put Galadriel back in chains again, well.

Maybe Adar truly did not just care about Celebrimbor’s wellbeing because it would yield him better results, but because he wished for the smith to be - and remain - unharmed.

Whether out of simple, common decency or some kind of genuine care for his new husband, that might remain to be seen. But it was a start. One that Celebrimbor could work and live with.

[starryalpacasstuff]

Knock Knock Boys: A Queer Asian Lens

I didn't watch Knock Knock Boys as it was airing, because it didn't really seem like the kind of show I'd be into. However, this post by @lurkingshan and @waitmyturtles' enthusiastic recommendation convinced me to give it a shot. Having binged the entirety of the series in a day, I can say that the show was an absolute delight to watch.

I've seen plenty of people talking about how wonderfully sex positive the show was, so I'm not going to bother with going too much into it, but I will say that the drama clearly showed the kind of sex education and awareness that is desperately needed around the world. I also really liked how Lukpeach and Latte were the ones responsible for pretty much all of the sex education in the show. It was very realistic in that, in my experience, it's extremely common for teenagers and young adults to get a majority of their knowledge about sex from their friends and the internet. The show had a very clear message about the importance of talking freely about sex with younger generations, because the taboo on the topic only harms teenagers in the long run.

Now, besides that, there was one more issue that I thought the show did wonderfully: it showed how asian kids are often hesitant to discuss things with their parents because they assume the worst in the beginning. I'm having some trouble articulating this, because it's such an abstract, ingrained concept to me, so forgive me if this is incoherent. I'm also generalizing my experience as an Indian, so please do correct me if I'm wrong here. That being said, having been raised in a society that values respect and listening to elders without question, discussing alternate ideas with parents can be a very difficult thing for most of us. It's easy to assume what parents would say to an idea and decide that trying to convince them otherwise is a task that is either futile or requires too much energy.

The best way I can describe is that the mindset becomes "It's better to ask for forgiveness if you get caught instead of asking for permission straight away". For example, had Almond asked his mother if he could stay with three other guys, she would've most definitely flat out refused, since she would've had a lot of preconceived notions about the idea. But, because Almond is able to show her that he's happy as he was, she was perfectly fine with him continuing to stay with the others. I think that's the hallmark of most asian parents, they want us to be happy but they're convinced that they know what kind of life will make us happy. They did something similar with Peak and his father, but my feelings on that are a little more complex, so we'll come back to this.

Peak and Thanwa, man. I loved Latte and Almond but these two just stole the show for me. I know some people felt frustrated with Peak's dallying and hesitance, but I just felt so sad for him, and something about his situation just hit very close to home. And Seng, the actor that he is. One particular moment that stuck with me was the scene when he leaned against the door while Jumper attacked Max. I must've rewatched that moment half a dozen times, because his acting was impeccable. I will say, I wish that they'd given us a better resolution on the arc after Max, but those are mostly minor quibbles. What I really wanted to talk about was the arc with Peak's father. Peak gathering the courage to tell his father with the support from his found family was beautiful. The scene at Knock Knock House the day before Peak left was one of the most magnificent, emotionally charged scenes I've seen in asian ql in a while. Coming from a societ wherein arranged marriage is the norm, the storyline hit hard in all the right places.

But. I did not love the resolution of the arc. I think we've had some conversation about how some shows try to be both in the bubble and out of the bubble simultaneously, and the last two episodes of the show felt a little like that. From what we knew about the father, it felt almost too easy for him to simply accept everything right away. There should have been some struggle for reconciliation. I know that the show has a theme of assumptions and lack of communication disrupting parent-child relationships, but in this case how fast they move on just seems unrealistic. My cynicism aside, even if we assume that the father wasn't homophobic, there should've been more of a conversation on the breaking of the engagement! The social implications, the father asking him why he didn't say anything for so long, Jane's involvement (how did the father know that she knew about this?). The only argument I can see against this is that the father, while initially put off by the revelation, chose to act otherwise to support his son. But then, he most likely wouldn't have insisted they take his car. And there still should've been some sort of a conversation about the engagement. Arranged marriages have a purpose; it's to provide financial and social security. I find it extremely hard to believe that a father who arranged a marriage for his son wouldn't have so much as discuss the implications of being gay with him. They tried to have the engagement have consequences with the wedding banquet, but the resolution for that really only made it worse. This is cynical of me, but I simply cannot suspend my disbelief enough to believe that the entire wedding party was perfectly happy with the turn of events. This whole resolution just seemed out of place in a show that was otherwise so wonderfully grounded in reality while still being absolutely hilarious. I think, if the show had done something a little more similar to GAP, it would've felt more realistic.

All of that aside, I really did enjoy watching the show. It was hilarious and heartwarming, and the characters were absolutely wonderful. The resolution of the final arc did drag it down a little, but I would be lying if I said that watching two queer couples get to celebrate their relationships with their community didn't warm my heart at all (Also, side note- Jane having a girlfriend was a brilliant subversion). All in all, it's a great series. It definitely felt like something new and fresh compared to the kind of qls that I've been watching lately.

[bloogers-boogers]

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[sixxysidepiece]

yknow for all the brother's faults give credit where credit is due they're self-aware enough to know that it's their own fault whenever a relationship sours.

'S just nice that they acknowledge that instead of going "idk man women be crazy amirite"

[spider-man-sass]

Peter Parker & Miles Morales: Spider-Men Double Trouble (2022) #4

I now need Spidey and Venom as roommates in the main continuity. If Peter can room with an obnoxious scrub like Boomerang then why not with Eddie and the symbiote.

[worstloki]

the idea that Sigyn was roped into marriage with Loki to settle him down but it was all actually them both getting away with marriage by making people think it's arranged seems appropriate on both their parts