#not romantic but they still live rent free in each others heads

[starcrossedandstupid]

Joel and Etho never got off that boat istg

[takaraphoenix]

I think the funnest thing about Teen Wolf is just how many non-canon friendships I have living in my head rent-free.

In most fandoms, I am very happy just building upon the canon friendships, strengthening and exploring those. But something about Teen Wolf and the whole pack concept makes my fingers itch to explore dynamics that were so vastly underdeveloped in canon, you really can't talk about friendships there.

Boyd, Erica and Stiles developing a deep bond after the basement and becoming close friends has genuinely become the most important dynamic to me, full-stop. Whatever romantic ship is going on, Steroyd are there and close and important to me, this is a three-piece set, do not separate.

Stiles and Jackson bonding over the Nogitsune and kanima experience? Understanding this in a way nobody else can? These two mostly hate each other in canon, but in my head, they are best friends and would kill for each other.

The Stiles and Isaac dynamic is one the fandom is deeply obsessed and it's hard to not jump onto that too. Stiles with a soft spot for Isaac, Isaac actually opening up to Stiles? Yeah, give it to me.

And now I'm developing a strong attachment for a Marin-Stiles mentor/mentee relationship. Because fuck Deaton, the day I write trustworthy!Deaton is the day you know someone hijacked my AO3 account, I do not trust that man and still think that the show dropped the ball after the s1 and s2 set-up to not make him a villain. But due to my current developing attachment to Deucalion and the Alpha Pack, I've grown fond of the idea that while the (good) Alpha Pack is in town, Marin Morrell becomes Stiles' mentor and teaches him to hone his Spark.

I would however like to point out that this attachment of mine isn't even limited to Stiles dynamics (shocking, I know).

I am beyond convinced that Erica and Jackson would hit it off like a house on fire, they have the potential to be devastatingly hot, judgmental and wicked best friends.

I've also decided that Erica is Peter's favorite (after Stiles) and that Erica is Peter's biggest fan. I want a deeply seated fondness there.

And due to Chris/Peter, I have also grown so attached to a sisterly Malia-Allison dynamic, often also including Cora because I like the idea of Chris/Peter getting to raise the Hale siblings together.

There are just so many good characters stored in this show and they didn't get to interact enough, so many good dynamics that could have been if the writers cared.

[olisephart]

Short ezkayn comic loosely inspired by the song "Figure you out" by VOÍLA. God they live rent free in my brain.

Details on the backstory and the comic under the cut <3

Starting pre-relationship, heartsteel is established. Ezreal and Kayn have been heavily flirting (maybe even friends w benefits) for months already, but always danced around actually saying anything. Both are too prideful to make the first step, because it's one thing to flirt or (want to) hook up and a whole other thing to admit you have actual romantic feelings for your friend/band member/prank partner.

After an Incident (whatever it was) that made Ezreal uncomfortably aware that he's In Love, he tries to distance himself from their usual flirtatious banter and starts publicly dating/fooling around with another guy; to distract himself from Kayn, to prove to himself he doesn't need Kayn, and though he wouldn't admit it, to make Kayn jealous.

Predictably, Kayn does get jealous but holds his tongue for a surprisingly long time, since voicing his jealousy risks showing his feelings go deeper than physical. Still, he can only take so many obviously staged pictures of Ezreal Definitely being Super Happy and Not At All Faking it with another guy before he confronts him. He swallows his pride and corners Ez, which is where the comic starts.

I didn't feel like writing dialogue, so here's the gist of what I was envisioning. Kayn confronts Ezreal, telling him to drop the sharade with the other guy. It's Obvious he's not genuine with it, the guy bought him (insert thing that Kayn Knows Ez doesn't like as much as another thing; ice cream flavour, flowers, what have you) which Ez would usually scoff at. Because it's Kayn, he can't help but tease with smth like "Just admit you like me and spare us this performance".

Ezreal, defensive, starts denying everything Kayn said, insisting he's dating the guy for real and bc he likes him, and Kayn's ego is just too big etc etc. Unfortunately for him tho, he's been missing Kayn a whole lot, so having grabbed Kayn's wrist, he can't help himself but caress it with his thumb. He stops himself the moment the realized, but Kayn noticed as well and takes that as the sign he needs that Ez is full of shit.

He pins Ezreal's hand above his head and starts teasing him in earnest. Listing all the little tics he noticed about Ezreal, embarrassing things he likes that no one outside of Heartsteel (or maybe even just Kayn, since he's paying extra close attention to Ezreal) ever gets to see, how easy it is to get him hot and bothered and how cute he is when he's flustered like this. He keeps going until Ezreal, overwhelmed with this barrage of confusing emotions (Kayn is paying attention to him, he remembers what he likes and dislikes, he just confirmed all his teasing are On Purpose to fluster him-), decides to bring it back to familiar ground. He grabs his jacket, pulls him close and tells him to shut up.

If they have hooked up before, Kayn knows what comes after he says "make me" - the kiss is expected but simultaneously way more emotionally charged than ever before, because they have essentially both admitted their feelings. Post comic, they make out/hook up and then confirm it in actual words. They like each other, theyre going to be exclusive (bc I love them being possesive over each other) 

If they haven't hooked up before: Ezreal would usually find a comical way to shut Kayn up once he says "make me" - be that smothering him with a nearby couch pillow, pulling the leash on his stage outfit, etc. Kayn feels the electricity between them but this hasn't happened before. He leans in and says "make me", but he leaves the ball in Ez's court. Once Ez grabs the back of his head to pull him closer, Kayn shifts his other hand to hold onto his waist in turn.

[iamnmbr3]

Lord Voldemort <- break his ass down, please. (Love you blog, btw! 💖)

How I feel about this character

One of the characters of all time. I find Tom Riddle to be an absolutely fascinating character who is so fun to explore. I think he came out a lot more 3 dimensional than JKR perhaps intended (I say this because a lot of the backstory we get on him makes him a lot more nuanced than the narrative seems to acknowledge) which I absolutely love. His complexity, intelligence, creativity, self sufficiency, determination even in the face of impossible odds, ruthlessness, penchant for drama, and the tremendous amount of adversity he has to overcome provide a lot of richness that is fun to analyze and read about. I mean, without him we wouldn't have the story.

All the people I ship romantically with this character

Alphard Black. Yes, I wouldn't have called it either not too long ago but now this ship lives rent free in my head. (If you want to read about why you can look at this post here). All hail the dysfunctional, hilarious, and emotionally compelling mess that is Alphalord - which I ship both in serious incarnations and also for the crack humor potential; truly the versatile ship of all time that gives me way too many feels but also is very fun to make crack humor posts about. Also, although it's not my OTP, I think there's a lot of interesting potential - all of varying degrees of darkness - to explore pairing him with Regulus as well.

My non-romantic OTP for this character

I talked here about how fascinating I find Voldemort's relationship with Snape. He does genuinely seem to like and respect him - to the point that he is actually willing to do favors for him and expresses regret about killing him. Though also...on the flip side, he doesn't like him enough to not murder him (although interestingly from an in-universe perspective we could even read him using Nagini to kill him as him not being able to use the killing curse against Snape due to feeling conflicted). I really like the idea though of him destroying everyone who he feels even somewhat close to.

Which leads me to my actual answer to this question since I already wrote about him and Snape in the Snape ask (linked in the previous paragraph) which is - Hagrid. In the book 2 flashback Tom and Hagrid are on a first name basis. And Tom clearly already knows that Hagrid has an Acromantula because when he gets the unexpected and unwelcome news that the school is going to be closed he immediately knows just where to go to find someone to blame. This suggests that he and Hagrid had a preexisting relationship where Riddle gained Hagrid's trust enough to learn things about him.

It's notable that they would have probably been the only 2 orphans at school (after Hagrid's father died.) I can imagine them running across each other during holidays when everyone is home. (They also both had a nonstandard accent - though Riddle has succeeded in mostly getting rid of his own accent by the time the memory takes place - that might have been looked down on by some of their privileged pureblood peers).

It's also not even clear if Tom intended for Hagrid to be expelled (though he certainly was willing to risk it in order to prevent the school from closing and to avoid incurring any blame himself) given that he seemingly intends to kill the spider and say that it got loose by accident rather than as some sort of intentional plot. He also doesn't kill Hagrid when he has the chance in book 7. This is probably just for plot reasons so JKR can have him carry Harry's presumably dead body back to the school, but in-universe it's interesting. Maybe Tom thought he could still turn Hagrid into a useful servant (which I don't think would have gone well). Either way, the fact that they seemingly had a sort of friendship at one point is very interesting and lends an added layer to Hagrid's assertion in book 1 that Slytherins are bad and not to be trusted.

While Tom likely viewed Hagrid with a certain degree of disdain right from day one, it's up to interpretation whether he ever also felt any positive emotions about his relationship with Hagrid or if the friendship was purely a one-sided farce. I prefer the former because I think it adds more depth and complexity to the characters and relationships if Tom ended up having some feelings of genuine camaraderie with Hagrid but was still willing to sacrifice him to protect his own interests. It makes the moment even more interesting if he did not specifically intend for Hagrid to get expelled and thus ends up losing one of the few people who, unlike the majority of his housemates, doesn't look askance at his presumed lineage as a muggleborn and his utter poverty. And this also adds interest to his decision in the end of book 7 to capture Hagrid rather than kill him.

Though of course, neither Snape nor Hagrid hold a candle to the true Tom Riddle BROTP of all time - Tom & Nagini. I love the way he is generally very touch averse but likes to hold her and pet her like a very terrifying therapy animal.

My unpopular opinion about this character

There's a lot I've talked about before like the fact that I think Tom really did want the DADA job and I also think he's a lot more emotionally intelligent than he gets credit for and the people he seems to enjoy hurting most are actually monied purebloods and the person who behaved most unreasonably in the orphanage memory was actually not Tom.

So for this I'll go with the fact that I view Tom as a much more tragic character than the narrative seems to frame him as. It's weird that so many other characters who do bad things get framed as a tragedy not an inevitability - something that is closely linked with the idea that even for characters who have gone down the wrong path there can be redemption. We see this with Snape, with James Potter, with Regulus, with Dumbledore, arguably with Grindelwald whose last act is to lie about the Elder Wand, and sort of even with Peter Pettigrew.

In contrast, Dumbledore always acts as though it's a forgone conclusion that Tom was going to turn out evil and ignores the way wizarding society and even he himself failed to ever do anything meaningful to help Tom or try to guide him onto another path. That doesn't mean he might not have still become Lord Voldemort. But it's never treated as something that even might have been avoided. There is no discussion of what a loss it is that his talent and power and intelligence and creativity weren't used for good. But it is a loss.

It's not inevitable that Tom turned out the way he did. It's not inevitable that he lived a life where he never knew what it was to be loved. It's not inevitable that the first person to ever offer him mercy is Harry Potter and by that point it's far too late and he doesn't even understand what Harry's trying to do. It's not inevitable that because the wizarding world has no concept of social services he grew up in a muggle orphanage without any knowledge of who or what he was, hated and feared by all, and in turn learning to hate and fear them in return. It's not inevitable that Dumbledore immediately gave him up as a lost cause and he never had an adult in his life who could provide support and guidance and a sense of safety. It's not inevitable that upon arriving at Hogwarts he got sorted into a House with people like Walburga Black who would have called him mudblood and hated him for his poverty almost as much as his bloodline, breeding further anger and resentment. And it's not inevitable that he made the choices that he did to kill and to maim. It's SAD. He could have done and been so much more.

I mean, to be clear, from a reader perspective all of this makes Tom an interesting and fun character. It's not bad from a storytelling perspective that these things happened. But nonetheless, it's a tragedy. And I think that gets very little play in the narrative. Yes, Harry tells Tom to try for remorse, but it's framed by the story more as an instance of Harry being ridiculously decent. When Dumbledore discourages Harry from feeling pity for the horrifying state Tom will find himself in the afterlife, there's nothing in the narrative framing that suggests the readers are meant to view Dumbledore's callousness as awful.

From an in-universe perspective we can talk about the strange bias Dumbledore had towards Tom from the moment he met him, but from an out of universe perspective it's more about the author's bias. Yes Dumbledore is meant to be flawed and imperfect, but we readers are not meant to think his treatment of Tom is an example of that imperfection. We're supposed to think it's just fine that upon learning that Tom has lived a lonely and miserable existence where he is constant mortal fear of being declared mad and forcibly locked up, Dumbledore's first act is to use magic to frighten and to punish. Partly this is just because that scene is a flashback about the villain of the series and JKR kind of forgot that from an in-universe POV he wasn't the villain of the series yet.

But also maybe it says something more profound - because in the end of the story the narrative declares "all is well" and yet none of the factors that led to Tom Riddle's rise have actually changed. As Harry is sending his children off to school 19 years later in the accursed epilogue, nothing has actually changed. It's fine to have a story that doesn't have a happy ending. But the narrative frames the ending as a black and white "everything's fixed now and they all lived happily ever after" sort of ending and...no. And this stems, I think, from the failure to engage with the elements that make the main antagonist a great tragedy rather than a cartoonish inevitability. This all makes the story much more interesting, but I'm not sure JKR is fully aware of what she wrote.

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon.

I wish we saw more of him in book 7. The opening scene at the Manor in Deathly Hallows is really tense and gripping and interesting...and a lot of the wedding planning and camping stuff in my opinion...is not. More scenes of the Death Eaters and Voldemort (delivered via Harry's visions) could have been very engaging. Furthermore, Harry could have actively explored Tom's mind and/or widened the connection to try to figure out where the Horcruxes were. This would have added drama, made Harry's connection to him more central to the plot, and allowed us to see more high stakes and interesting scenes.

[whenthegoldrays]

TOP TEN EUNEUN MOMENTS (according to me)

10. Festival scene

The perfection of this scene, Eun Gyeol at his down-baddest and Eun Yoo putting on a brave face while literally going through some of the most distressing moments of her life, and their being kept apart by the (very understandable) misunderstanding and just. wanting to reach out and be comforted but staying behind those barriers. Chef’s kiss.

9. “Tears in Heaven”

The significance of his singing to her, singing this song specifically because it’s part of the connection they share and don’t realize yet, plus the lyrics being so peculiarly perfect for their situation. And the tenderness in his eyes! (This scene is also enhanced by Eun Gyeol’s later conversation with Mr. Choi.)

8. “You’ll be born just fine”

A tiny moment but so perfect because not only does it show off Eun Yoo’s slightly unhinged sense of humor, it’s also a perfect establishment that they are, in fact, on the same page now. And their facial expressions absolutely sell it.

7. “Under one condition”

This is technically a moment between Eun Gyeol and Yichan, but the fact that Eun Gyeol told Eun Yoo he hated her all of three minutes ago and is now publicly declaring his love for her in front of the whole school (and exposing himself to everyone’s anger in response) is simply too iconic and hilarious and to me, wraps up the essence of the show’s character dynamics flawlessly.

6. “Ajumma???”

Their delivery lives rent free in my head, and they just. hate each other so much right here. Kind of a delight.

5. Once more around the block

Am I overly attached to this scene because of the soundtrack playing over it? Maybe. But the way he cares!!! They’ve had the most emotionally and physically exhausting day and then they get this moment to calm down, for Eun Yoo to lie her head on his shoulder and for him to let her rest undisturbed for a few extra minutes. And!! she goes along with it, because she likes his nearness.

4. “You have three seconds”

The layers and layers to this scene. Both of them pushing their own agenda, both of them wary of the other, both of them YAPPING. The way Eun Gyeol goes from oblivious to apologetic to scared for his life to flustered to baffled in the span of like 45 seconds. And the chemistry is chemistry-ing.

3. “That’s the real me!”

My deep and abiding love for this exchange. Eun Yoo calling back to the pool scene and possibly expecting another fake answer, and Eun Gyeol answering her immediately. He doesn’t have to think up an answer anymore, he knows when he started liking her, he knows why and how, and the truth — that he likes her for her, not for her assumed identity — is so blindingly beautiful to her that she can only shout for joy.

2. “I’ll take my time figuring it out”

Obsessed with everything about this scene, from the callback to the last lightning storm, to Eun Gyeol’s promise to both help Eun Yoo get home and also make sure to draw out their time together as long as possible, to the tension. The longing. And the way the scene is structured around what you’d expect to be the most important part — but instead it draws a curtain of privacy around that moment and leaves the emphasis on his promise and how important and heart-fluttering it is to her. Add to that the beautiful OST and Eun Gyeol dancing down the street in joy and you’ve got a perfect scene to feed my mental illness.

1. “Let’s just stay together”

You knew it was coming. I love few things in this world more than a romantic rain scene, and this one deserves the world for so many reasons. The bigness of their emotions leading up to this moment — her whole plan and perception of her past has been shattered, and she runs away in distress, and he runs after her! He runs through the airport in desperation, he can’t lose her. They’ve been yelling and fighting and sobbing and everything feels like so much, but when he finds her everything slows down, everything can be still and he can just speak honestly. He wants to stay with her. The objections don’t matter. What matters is he wants to be by her side. He wants to shield her from the storm. And she takes his hand and stands up again and suddenly everything is a little less bleak, a little bit warmer. Plus Master watching them in satisfaction that they’ve found their helper? CHILLS.

[noob-with-a-shitty-computer]

Secret Romantic (Grell Sutcliff x gn!artist!Reader)

A/N: I’m still pretty new to black butler but this woman has been living in my head rent-free for the past few weeks, which fortunately has given me a bit of inspiration to write a fic :> hope u like it and i hope it isn’t too ooc.

Summary: You were not really known to be a hopeless romantic, unlike your flamboyant companion. However, she wasn’t expecting to see a different side of you on the night you dropped your sketchbook nearby…

In the midst of another work-filled night, you quickly flipped through the to-die list one last time. “I think that’s about everyone tonight.” You let out a sigh of relief in unison with the red reaper in front of you, “What a night. I’m so glad that Phantomhive got this case closed rather quickly.” A bit of awkward silence passed until you heard a few quiet giggles, which made you turn to your friend who’s green irises were swinging left and right to each picture she had in her hands.

“Grell, are you listening?!” You raised your voice enough for her to let out a yelp as if she was a frightened puppy. “‘Bassy’ caught your eye again?” You scoff. “Come on, can you blame me? He was ever so graceful, how could I not take a photo or fourty~? Especially when he was wearing that ridiculously handsome suit~!” She dreamily sighs and you do nothing but roll your eyes. You never liked demons, always thought they were a hassle to deal with. It didn’t make it any better that a certain demon butler just so happened to steal the doting heart of the woman who stole yours.

“Well, I’ll head off now so you can have your little fun, I suppose. See you at work, my lady.” You greeted nonchalantly as you quickly jumped out of the scene using your reaper agility. Before Grell could glue her eyes back to the photos, she heard a thud nearby, finding a familiar book on the stone ground. It was the sketchbook you always brought around during work to draw on whenever you had a bit of time on your hands. She remembered the times you refused to show her your artworks, hiding the pages against your chest as a faint but cute blush creeped onto your cheeks.

It seemed that curiosity killed the cat (much to Sebastian’s dismay) as Grell approached the sketchbook with a smirk, letting go of her precious photos for the time being…

“Let’s see what you’ve been hiding from me, darling.” She mutters to herself as she slowly flips through the sketchbook, admiring every image. There’s a sketch of the town you recently visited in the view from a tall building, doodles of a couple of dresses you saw from a store window, and other random things. You were quite talented, she thought, curious if you happened to have a doodle of dear Bassy as well~ It only took a couple minutes until she flipped through a page that caught her off guard.

Several doodles of the red reaper herself were presented to her, some smiling, some frowning, some drawings ended down to her head or bust and there were a couple of full body drawings as well. She flipped through more pages and found herself again. There was one drawing where she was wearing a beautiful dress and another where she and you dancing together, she was wearing the same dress while you wore your own outfit with a similar design. It was like an illustration from a fairytale book, the you in the sketch revealed a big smile that your colleagues don’t often see on you in real life.

The next page had sketches of her in other fancy outfits, the page after that had sketches of her doing her signature pose, the page after that was a drawing of you and her, hand in hand and looking at each other fondly while the moonlight illuminated your figures. She didn’t realize you were so observant over her. It was a bit unsettling, but it also felt endearing to her that you put in so much effort into capturing her beauty on paper. Her mind was filled with different thoughts, the memories of you and her training, laughing, smiling and spending time together all those years ago up till now. She couldn’t deny that it made her heart flutter.

Meanwhile, you were panicking in your room trying to find that lost sketchbook, worried that Grell had caught it first. You dejectedly rushed to your door only to find said reaper in front of your doorstep, causing you to stumble backwards. “Gah! G-Grell, what are y-you doing here..?” Your heart was pounding as you looked over to her hand which was holding very thing you were looking for over the past several minutes. Grell chuckled a bit as she handed it back to you. “Darling, I never thought you felt this way about me~” She stepped closer with a smile.

“I-I’m sorry, I can explain-“ “No, I’m sorry for pulling on your heartstrings like that, my dear.” Grell’s eyes softened as she apologized. “The drawings are gorgeous as well. I didn’t know you were such a romantic~!” She smirked and you huff your cheeks, “I guess you just rubbed off on me, my lady.”

“No worries, it’s cute.” Her smile grew as she watched your cheeks flush and eyes widen. “Aww, look at your cheeks! They’re covered in such an adorable shade of red~” She failed to supress a cheeky giggle. “Stop teasing me!” You quickly protest before she held out a hand to you.

“Heh, well I must admit, you were always dear to me, darling. I guess I was too occupied with my own obsessions to realize it sooner… But since you seem to be interested in a dance, may I take your hand tonight~?” She stated flirtatiously, causing your cheeks to grow hotter. You were a lot less experienced in the world of love compared to the reaper in front of you, causing you to hesitate taking her offer…

But then again, who are you to refuse a lovely lady such as Grell Sutcliff~?

A/N: i need sleep. why must motivation show up during midnight T_T anyways hope u like it :P

[lostyesterday]

My top ten favorite B7 scenes

B’Elanna/Seven is my current favorite Star Trek ship, so I wanted to make a list of my personal favorite scenes featuring the two of them in Voyager. These scenes aren’t necessarily good (although I do think some of them are), and they’re not necessarily the scenes that provide the best “evidence” for B7 as a ship (which isn’t something I care about all that much to be honest). These are just the scenes that I personally enjoyed and have thought about the most.

10. Someone to Watch Over Me

This episode is terrible, but given how much I’ve thought about this particular scene, I couldn’t not include it. This is the Voyager scene that most clearly demonstrates how obsessed Seven is with B’Elanna and particularly with her romantic relationships. To me personally, this screams oblivious gay crush taking the form of jealous obsession. Obviously, B’Elanna is right and Seven is stepping way out of line here. This is probably the worst thing Seven ever did to B’Elanna and she’s so justified in being mad about it.

9. Survival Instinct

I really enjoy this scene because it’s an example of both B’Elanna and Seven trying to change the adversarial nature of their relationship. B’Elanna is trying to help Seven here even though she has difficulty with her. Seven immediately regrets her defensive response to B’Elanna’s attempted helpfulness. I think it’s interesting to see how the two of them have fallen into a pattern, responding defensively to each other because they’re used to their dynamic being adversarial, when they both theoretically have the capacity to understand each other better than most other people understand either of them.

8. Infinite Regress

The infamous cheek bite scene. Is this scene good? No, probably not. Has it lived in my head rent free since I originally saw it? Yes, absolutely. Technically, you could call this the only intentionally sexually coded Seven/B’Elanna scene in the show. Mostly, the thing I can’t stop thinking about is the two of them joking about it afterward. B’Elanna jokingly asking if this qualifies as their second date… I will think about that line forever.

7. The Voyager Conspiracy

I love everything about this. Seven immediately calling B’Elanna as soon as she thinks she’s found a problem with the ship’s systems regardless of how early it is in the morning. The tone of B’Elanna’s response implying this probably isn’t the first time this has happened. B’Elanna actually investigating the problem even though she’s rightfully irritated at Seven for being so annoying. I love them.

6. Course: Oblivion

It’s so, so easy to interpret this scene as Seven being jealous of Tom’s relationship with B’Elanna. Me when the person I have a crush on just got married: Monogamy is stupid, and it would make way more sense and be better if everyone (you) would have sex with anyone they want to, whenever (me, right now).

5. Human Error

Ignoring my issues with this episode, it’s so interesting how one of Seven’s major attempts to become “more human” is to try to connect to B’Elanna in this way. I think she chose B’Elanna here because she’s someone Seven genuinely wants to connect with at this point in the series, but she still struggles with how to make that connection. Also, I cannot stop thinking about Seven thinking in detail about how B’Elanna does her hair. Given the rest of the scene, I think it makes sense to say that she didn’t choose this question/compliment/terrible flirtation randomly and has genuinely just admired B’Elanna’s hair a lot. Which sure is something. And of course I love B’Elanna’s confusion here. She can tell Seven’s trying really hard to be nice, which is so not like Seven that she can hardly believe it.

4. Message in a Bottle

I love how these two scenes represent both the adversarial tension between B’Elanna and Seven, and the potential ways they could relate to and understand each other with time. B’Elanna is clearly deeply frustrated with Seven, and yet she still tries to explain to Seven why people (not just B’Elanna) are reacting negatively to her. And B’Elanna can obviously relate to being perceived by others as rude, which makes her statement that she doesn’t expect Seven to change overnight, with the subtext that she understands deeply how difficult this situation is for Seven too, really fascinating. Seven initially appearing to ignore B’Elanna and then later saying thank you to her compliment is also great. Also, B’Elanna’s reaction to Seven shocking that guy is so fun.

3. Extreme Risk

This is a short interaction, but it’s so interesting. Seven initially tries to engage in their ordinary adversarial back and forth, but when B’Elanna doesn’t respond in the typical way, immediately asks if something is wrong. I love that Seven is the first person in the episode to notice that there’s something wrong with B’Elanna. It’s so interesting that Seven seems almost disturbed by the lack of any hostility in B’Elanna’s responses and by B’Elanna immediately putting Seven in charge of something she was going to do. I think that, in a way, Seven has grown comfortable with her adversarial dynamic with B’Elanna because it’s familiar. Maybe B’Elanna has grown comfortable with it to, to a certain extent, and her lack of willingness to engage in the typical verbal sparring of their relationship in this episode comes from the same place as her lack of desire to participate in the normal routines of her other relationships. I guess I’m suggesting here that maybe Seven and B’Elanna are both more important to each other than the show explicitly portrays.

2. Hope and Fear

The iconic “we’ll be outcasts together” scene. This is probably the single scene that best illustrates the parallels between Seven and B’Elanna – how both of them have been treated like outcasts and deep down expect to continue to be outcasts forever. How both of them feel deeply ambivalent about belonging – desiring it desperately and yet pushing away from it because they believe they can never have it. Also, B’Elanna’s defensive excuse that she was “joking” two seconds after she realizes she was accidentally way too vulnerable is so good.

1. Imperfection

Thinking about this scene makes me want to scream incoherently, but I’ll try to summarize my main thoughts concisely and analytically. This is probably the scene where B’Elanna and Seven genuinely connect and relate to each other most strongly. B’Elanna understands better than anyone else in this episode what Seven needs, and Seven trusts B’Elanna of all people to ask these questions to, to be vulnerable with in this way. B’Elanna saying that Seven’s made an impact on every member of the crew is… a lot. B’Elanna truly listening to Seven here and understanding what it is that’s bothering her and saying the exact right thing in response. The whole framing of this scene with the close-up shots on faces, the softness in B’Elanna’s voice. Fuck.

[hikakaomybeloveds]

✨️my favorite hitachiincest moments✨️

these ridiculous homos (affectionate) are living rent free in my head and i *need* to rant abt them, so without further ado, here are my favorite hitachiincest moments, in episode order! ohshc spoilers abound, etc., etc.

warning for a LOT of yap about my favorite brother kissers below the cut

ep. 4

the fucking. the basketball AU scene. THE BASKETBALL AU SCENE. they took an extremely homoeroticized genre of anime and plopped the twins into it with immense amounts of romantic tension and i'm just supposed to be, like. completely fine???? well i am not fine. i am in fact writing basketball player! hitachiin twins hitachiincest fanfic in my head as i type this.

ep. 5

THE ADMISSION THAT THEY SLEEP IN THE SAME BED. THESE BOYS ARE, WHAT? 15, 16ISH YEARS OLD? AND HIKARU IS TALKING ABT HOW KAORU SLIPS INTO BED W/ HIM EVERY NIGHT BC NEITHER ONE LIKES SLEEPING ALONE. Y'ALL. *Y'ALL*.

THE FACT THEY WERE FAKING THEIR WHOLE FIGHT. honey mentions he's known them since pre-school and they've never fought, and once they actually do, THE FIGHT ISN'T EVEN REAL.

the fact that they do the whole "brotherly love" bit when they apologize abt what they said to each other when they were "fighting" but there are literally NO guests around. like. these boys absolutely just enjoy the ridiculousness and performativity of making their relationship look like that lmao

ep. 7

no hitachiincest moments here for me, but i am putting an honorable mention for honey and mori. like. this was so their episode, guys. (i ship them too, which should be a surprise to absolutely no one)

ep. 12

again, no hitachiincest here bc the universe hates me ig, but another honorable mention for honey and mori. like. *them*. *their dynamic*. aughhhh akdrjwgwusjags *THEM*

ep. 14

this episode has what is singlehandedly my favorite "brotherly love" moment in the entire anime. like. that shot of kaoru's neck as hikaru tilts his chin up will live rent-free in my mind forever.

ep. 15

the start of this episode. oh my god. THE START OF THIS EPISODE. sleepy kaoru in bed with hikaru trying to wake him up. both of them in bed shirtless. kaoru DRAPING HIMSELF OVER HIKARU AS HIKARU ANSWERS THE PHONE. i- dear lord they starved us hitachiincest shippers for a bit but by GOD did they make up for it

"i guess you guys really are always together" "always" HIKARU. HIKARU YOU CAN'T BE DOING THIS TO ME.

hikaru's reaction after kaoru gets hurt!! it's just a minor scrape but hikaru is so worried abt him!! the "don't scare me like that"! HIKARU'S HEAD RESTING ON KAORU'S CHEST!

the scene after that, where they're alone in their room in the bed and breakfast and hikaru is actively SHAKING because he's so scared abt what could've happened to kaoru, and kaoru reassures him that he's fine, and everything's okay. like. my god. i love them sm

ep. 20

i love this episode if only bc we get twin lore. like. i love their lore sm. ALSO. the usage of the word "twisted" in regards to them meaning both "wrapped together/entwined" AND "abnormal"? like YES. they ARE twisted and i'm obsessed with it!!

ep. 21

when hikaru and haruhi get trapped together and hikaru's first thought after complaining about them being trapped was "where's kaoru, i *have* to find him", freaking out enough about where he was to literally immediately start trying to escape the net so he could go find him!!! like!! we're in the middle of the codependency arc and this man STILL cannot stop. (and i love him for it)

them reuniting!! kaoru blushing the second he sees hikaru!! the hug!! the fact that hikaru was so worried abt finding kaoru he LOST HARUHI?? like!! no one will ever be as important as kaoru to him and that 👏 is 👏 a 👏 fact 👏

KAORU'S FACE WHEN HE REALIZES THAT HIKARU SPED OFF TO FIND HIM. LIKE. THAT MAN IS *THINKING*. HE HAS SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS.

KAORU'S LINE ABOUT HOW "EVERYTHING'S FINE" BECAUSE HIKARU RAN TO HIM. HE'S STARTING TO REALIZE HE DOESN'T WANT TO LOSE HIKARU TO HARUHI. THAT HE STILL CARES ABOUT HIM IN THE SAME WAY AS ALWAYS AND CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE HIM.

kaoru's face when he sees hikaru walk off with haruhi. that is not the face of someone who is happy or likes what's happening!! he's upset!! he doesn't want to do this!! but he's sacrificing himself and his feelings so that maybe, just maybe, hikaru can be happy without him one day!

how kaoru says himself he's not sure what he'll do once hikaru realizes he wants to do things alone!! he doesn't know what'll become of him without his brother!! maybe he doesn't *want* to know, because he's scared of losing hikaru! he wants things to stay the same, but he also wants so desperately for hikaru to have someone other than him, and a life outside of their little bubble! he's self-sacrificing for hikaru!!!

ep. 25

i am probably looking too deeply into this but. i believe that comment from kaoru abt how just because he and hikaru are twins doesn't mean they'd both be good drivers is like. the first time in the whole show he acknowledges, AROUND/TO HIKARU, that they're different people. like. guys. guys CHARACTER GROWTH

aaandddd...

that's everything!

if u made it this far, ty for listening to my rant abt my favorite gay twins of all time <3

expect more hikakao from me bc i will never get over these two

[hoppityhopster23]

Facts about Frederick VI that live rent free in my head (that I simply must share) ft. a super sleepy Hopster

One of my current interests is a Danish King by the name of Frederick VI. I'm currently really tired, but really wanting to post about him. so this wont be as organized as i normally do. i'll try to avoid making it a wall of words, but this is probably going to be a word vomit.

Family/Romantic Life

this guy was a pretty caring dad, and I love that for him. This man fathered. generally a great dad. dare I say the epitome of a good dad from the time. especially given his less-than-good start in life.

his romantic life was one hell of a ride. like- he had a long-time mistress (of like- 30 years) with whom he would have an affair. but, during the Congress of Vienna, he cheated on both his wife and his long-time mistress with another woman. his mistress, Rikke, then cheated on him. That led to ever more soap opera-like stuff happening.

Man not only had legitimate (2) and illegitimate (5?) kids but took on another nine kids. Well, some of them were adults at the time, but still. basically, when his brother-in-law (a duke) died, he and a friend of said duke became the legal guardians of said kiddos. and from the sounds of it, it wasn't just throwing money at them. he actually interacted with them to a certain extent.

to piggyback on no. 3, he had agreed with his sister-in-law that one of the boys, Christian, would go to Copenhagen and attend the land cadet academy. Christian would go to Copenhagen one year after the decision. he didn't live with the monarch but did spend a fair amount of time with them. it is said the king was fond of him. unbeknownst to all of them, Christian would turn out to be Christian IX, the father-in-law of Europe.

he was a parsimonious guy, at least when it came to himself. he would wear his clothing until they were worn out. only then did he get a new one? two of his desks, both his personal one and the one for his aide are simplistic, and so are his things in general. even his rolling chair- which is in Fredericksborg castle, is worn out looking. hell- what I'm pretty sure was his own bed was nothing but an Iron camp bed! granted, he only spent a few days a week in it, as he was staying with his mistress. or his wife.

regarding his mistresses, he took really good care of them. I'm only uncertain about one- which is the French one he had at some point, which did produce a daughter. For the other two, however, it's pretty clear. the one woman he met in Vienna, Caroline Seufert, was granted a large pension from him. his long-time mistress, Rikke Dannemand, was given an apartment near him, and enough money to live a bourgeoise life. That was a far cry from Rikke's former life in Nyboder. My only problem with this was the sheer age gap between them. with Rikke, there was a 22-year age gap. with Seufert, it was 29 years. both women were under twenty when all of this started.

Political

he tended to not threaten people's lives. there was a case where one of the members of the chancellery, Anders Sandø Ørsted, who was a prominent critic of Frederick, and would often write about such criticisms. instead of exiling, punishing, or hell- even executing the guy, he just gave him the choice of his job or his pen. Ørsted chose his job.

was a gruff man (likely due to his upbringing) but quite generous with his people. notably, some of the most realistic small gifts I've seen in assorted Danish museums were given by him. For example, there is a little golden snuff box sitting in the National Museum of Denmark that he had given to somebody as a reward. It is small, intricate, and made of gold. but most of all, it was usable.

His reaction to the July Revolution was good. the November after it, constitutions were made for Schleswig and the Kingdom of Denmark- but the absolute monarchy was still in place. on top of that, 4 Advisory assemblies were created. One for each major region of Denmark. this was a very primitive version of what was desired (and what would come not long after) as the king still appointed a number of the members, and only 3% of the population got the right to vote.

He tended to overwork himself. sometimes until he got sick (like during the Vienna congress). he died still working. he also had the belief that no matter was too small for the king. this meant that he stuck his nose into a lot of paperwork he didn't necessarily need to worry about. this tended to elongate the completion of paperwork, but it did make him more aware of what was going on in the country, so there was some benefit.

Other

he built one of the finest gardens I have ever strolled in in Copenhagen. If you are on any servers with me, there's a 99% chance you've seen the pictures.

It's obvious that his strongest gene was his hair. In every portrait I've seen of his children, they're blonde. like- super blonde.

The man was stubborn as hell, not wanting to change too much. this tended to rear its ugly head from time to time, but he wasn't too stubborn to not kind of acknowledge his mistakes.

that was a word vomit... I do apologize. but thats all my sleepy brain can think of. I'll likely have more when i wake up tomorrow. and if i actually find the time, I can go into more detail. I just need to check the copyrights on a few of the books i have.

[anonymous-dentist]

One of the weirder things to come out of the dsmp I think is like. An over-reliance on fanon? Not that that’s a bad thing, because that’s about all dsmp fans had after summer 2021, but it’s weird.

Because you’ll have these tumblr polls going around and it’ll be like “Benchtrio versus Cumduo” and the propaganda for Benchtrio is that people really like the fics written about them. Same goes for any poll involving c!Tommy or the rest of SBI.

Even when it’s supposed to be a poll explicitly about canon, you’ll see the propaganda be like “I love reading fics about them they live in my head rent free” despite the characters never really interacting beyond fanfiction or headcanons, and they’ll win the round because they’re popular and they have a lot of fics written about them

Is this a bad thing? Not necessarily. Sometimes fanon is all you have, and that’s fine, it’s how things have worked for all of human history

What really confuses me though is the erasure of canon dynamics in favor of feel-good fanon. Take Benchtrio as an example: c!Tubbo and c!Ranboo were married, and c!Tommy felt left out and lowkey resented them for it. But in fics you see them all living and sleeping together as best friends and roommates/traumatized orphans. Or c!SBI: c!Phil and c!Techno literally nuked L’Manberg, which was c!Tommy and c!Wilbur’s pride and joy, and Phil killed Wilbur, and Phil would barely even look at Tommy in-lore, and Wilbur and Techno barely interacted outside of Pogtopia and even then it was. Not healthy. But then you look at their fics and they’re a nuclear family who have no problems with each other

It’s just a little weird to me when people take these fanon ideas and get pissy when people don’t take them as canon. I mean, if you go around saying c!SBI wasn’t a happy little nuclear family you’re liable to get death threats and insults and everything.

Are these fans the only ones like this? Absolutely not. There are people who send death threats over saying c!tntduo never canonically happened. There are c!Dream or c!Techno stans who get ANGRY if you say that they weren’t poor misunderstood angry babies because, in fanon, that’s what they are usually seen as. Fanon romantic c!Beeduoers versus fanon platonic c!Beeduoers is still an active war zone, and even trying to get close to c!DnF is a death wish

I’m a fanfiction writer, I know exactly how awesome fanon is, and I know just how important it is. It’s what’s left after the end of it all, and it’s beautiful in its complexity. But like. Sometimes people go weirdly overboard to the point of erasing actual canon and harassing people when they talk about actual canon dynamics or relationships.

[blacksails-rarepairs]

black sails rarepair week 2024: the week in review

a brief overview of the fics and art posted for rarepair week! there's a delightful array of work here--modern AUs and canonverse, comfort reads and belligerent sexual tension, repression and introspection, gen and queerplatonic and romantic and unrequited affections.

the event is now closed, but the fics & art posted as part of it can be read and appreciated at any time! comments, kudos, reblogs, etc. are highly encouraged!

huge thanks & all my gratitude to everyone who participated--it has been my honor to serve as your host <3

now: the rarepairs!

an introduction by Benja

rated T. Flint & Gates.

fascinating portrayal of Flint's early days as Flint in Nassau, from Gates's POV, with super sharp dialogue

The creation of Captain Flint, from Gates' perspective.

this is what you do at parties (right?) by sunset_waltz (@thenobleprincess)

rated T. Abigail Ashe/Idelle.

new college student Abigail meets-extremely-cute with local bartender Idelle. (nb: sunset_waltz's fics listed here are all set in the same modern & very queer/trans AU!)

Abigail is new in town, and Idelle is too pretty.

let me get this straight by ElectricKettle

rated M. Flint/Gates.

i'm nominating this fic for most apt use of the ao3 tag "Belligerent Sexual Tension" SERIOUSLY oooooough

Hal Gates is a man of moderation. He is not prone to impulse or hotheadedness. So why is it that this all goes out the window when it comes to a man named Flint?

i think it's magic (and i hope you'll agree) by sunset_waltz (@thenobleprincess)

rated T. Miranda Barlow/Madi.

meet!! cute!!! SO much chemistry

Miranda is Abigail's mom. Madi is her teacher.

a love lost or false by @van1lla-v1lla1n

rated T. Billy Bones/Charles Vane.

Jack Rackham reminiscing on the golden days and spinning tall tales about the love life of his buddy Charles Vane (rip).

I met Jack Rackham at a tavern once, long after the golden age of our kind, and he spun me a tale of a love lost or false, I knew not which, and I know not still to this day.

unspoken words (are preferred) by sunset_waltz (@thenobleprincess)

rated M. Bonny/Rackham/Vane but super multiship!

another installment in the author's rarepair-centric modern au, with so many fascinating poly character dynamics

Charles fucks up, and apologizing is hard.

post-XXVII by @kairennart

Flint/Vane art!!!!!! SUCH beautiful colors, amazing lovely expressions, have i mentioned that i'm in love with Flint's freckles BECAUSE. just go look at it <333

by the way (i forgive you) by sunset_waltz (@thenobleprincess)

rated M. Flint/Madi, Flint/Madi/Silver.

(modern au) Silver disappears, and Flint and Madi find each other as they grieve in his absence. & as if that weren't an amazing enough premise: BONUS OT3 AT THE END

After John Silver vanishes, Madi and Flint are left to their own devices--until he comes back.

under the stars and the sky by Veridissima (@thestagthatlovedthewolf)

rated T. Miranda Barlow & John Silver.

a very quiet and comforting middle-of-the-night Miranda-Silver interaction, with background Miranda/Flint/Hamilton/Madi/Silver. super compelling miranda-silver queerplatonic relationship

Miranda hears Silver walking past her bedroom door, and she can't help but follow him outside.

the unnoticed bulge by BilliesBud

rated M. Billy Bones/Charles Vane.

my wife's first fanfiction :''''''') a very tongue-in-cheek portrayal of a deeply repressed Charles Vane confused about why he's thirsting after Billy Bones

Billy living rent-free in Charles' head.

five times Howell was too blind to see what is right in front of him + the one time he wasn't by tahiri_veila (@twopointsinspace)

rated E. De Groot/Dr. Howell + unrequited Howell/Flint.

absolutely masterful portrayal of Howell's unrequited affection for Flint shifting to a requited friends-to-lovers situation with De Groot. (with bonus background silverflint)

"Welcome aboard." De Groot lowers his voice to a near-whisper. "Don't mind the captain's disgruntled mood. He may be a capricious bastard, but he's damn good at his job. The best, I'd say. You get used to his ways."

pourparler by @van1lla-v1lla1n

rated T. Max/Marion Guthrie.

i'll be honest this was mainly me thirsting after Harriet Walter. but don't you want to know what all those meetings between Max and Marion Guthrie were like! this is that.

Max meets with Marion Guthrie for initial negotiations.

joy, and music, and peace by Benja

unrated. Eme/Madi.

ough be still my heart this one is SO sleepy-sweet--literally sleepy like Madi and Eme have a cozy little rest together, a lovely moment of safety and security.

A moment of rest.

[ravenpureforever]

random question time! which wwx's relationship do you like the most and why? It could be platonic or romantic, all canons allowed

Thank you for the ask! Oh boy this question is hard, because I like I appreciate so many of his relationships for different reasons that picking just one feels kinda cruel 

I think the biggest tie for me is between JC and LWJ for WWX. 

Wangxian is the rare ship where I genuinely can only see them romantically with each other, like I’m multishipper, I’ll ship literally anything if you have an interesting concept, pretty words or beautiful art, like grab my attention I am yours, except these two, they live in my head rent free and they can only be together because like maybe you lost everything, maybe you can never go back to that blissful youth you once had, but that doesn’t mean you can’t build a new life for yourself and find happiness and all the grief and tragedy does not define you but you still want to help people and you will help people and maybe it isn’t the life you thought you wanted when you were fifteen but it is a wonderful one and you love and you are loved and you are happy and that is enough. Maybe you suffered, maybe you were cruel, maybe the world misread who you are and assigned you a role you did not ask for, but maybe that doesn’t matter because you know who you are, you are still kind, and you have someone who knows and understands you and trusts who you are. You are both also kind of insufferable in your love and get to be annoying too. 

But JC & WWX are my ultimate tragic doomed platonic relationship, my neurotic little freaks who can’t be normal about each other and have zero boundaries, bickering idiots, wanting to go back to your youth except you’ll never be 15 again and you the person who knew the most intimate parts of yourself is now a stranger except you still see the glimmers of the person they used to be, the most brutal variation of you’ll never recover from that kind of devotion, the ultimate capturing  lost youth and having to go down different paths and really depicting what growing up is like sometimes, the viciousness where I am able to hurt you unlike anyone else (regardless if I want to or not), the abusive household codependency of survival, literally carrying a piece of your soul in my chest and making the ultimate sacrifice you never asked for because I couldn’t bare to risk losing you, the hollowness is a symbol of my devotion and the fullness is an omen of our splintering, there is one brain cell being shared like a game of tennis, my pathetic meow meow and beloved blorbo, I genuinely can’t be normal about them. 

I think if I really have to pick between them though, I’ll have to say JC & WWX just by virtue of I don’t like Wangxian fics that mischaracterize or villainize JC, like if he’s featured and isn’t a well-written character (Shanastorytellers' and loosingletters’ fics my absolute beloveds), it really takes me out of the narrative. His depiction and relationship with WWX has a lot of impact on my Wangxian enjoyment, and even in canon my beloved Wangxian gets to develop because of all the Ls this poor guy takes, so congrats JC, you win here! It’s by a literal hair, but JC & WWX platonic relationship, get these boys a reconciliation so they can drink in Lotus Pier and gossip about their kids and people they think are stupid, WWX it will enrich your marriage so much I promise. It’s what *I* deserve.

[zepskies]

Okay, now that I was able to go through the list, time for some questions! From your ask game, how about #7, #12, #15, and #25? And I didn't see it on there but is there a character/genre you never expected to like writing for but ended up enjoying it? 🤔

I love it I love it! Thanks, Michelle! I sent you a few too.~ 💓💓 So people know, this is still from the End of Year Asks.

#7. Comfort character to create for

It's changed over the years depending on my fixations, but right now (and for the past 2 years), it's definitely Dean freakin' Winchester.

#12. A concept you’d like to develop next year

Oof, how much time you got? 🤣

I have a few WIPs that are already drafted and in the editing phases for next year -- including all of my remaining fics for @jacklesversebingo. (Jacklesverse Bingo24 Masterlist here!)

More specifically, I have plans to write sequel fics for the following series:

Break Me Down (Soldier Boy x Reader): Their son's first birthday, with a flashback to their wedding day.

Unravel Me (Soldier Boy x POC!Reader): The prequel series to Lost in Translation, in which Ben meets the reader (afro Latina).

Every Second Counts (Russell Shaw x Reader): Can Russell make good on his promise to "get out" and start his brewery? (AKA: his past comes knocking, and might just put the reader in danger. Diving deeper into the Shaw family history too.)

Take Me Home (Beau Arlen x Reader): Because YOU, Michelle, put the idea of Beau and the reader from this series getting married into my head, and I feel like it would be a fun and somewhat angsty road to get there lol. 😂

#15. An area of your art you feel you improved on

Oooh now this one really made me think.

I feel like other people who've been reading my work for a while might be able to give me better insight into this, but I do feel like I've gotten better at balancing the angst and tension of a story with romantic fluff and humor, witty banter, etc.

You can't have the lighthearted romance without the heavier notes of the keyboard, know what I mean? lol

But too much angst isn't all that fun for me either. So something I've learned in studying screenwriting is how to try and build up to those high-tension, dramatic moments, but also have the payoff and catharsis of hurt/comfort and sweet fluff. Ebbs and flows.

#25. A scene or image that lives rent-free in your head

Veeery interesting. Of my own writing or someone else's? Recently I've had scenes from Outlander (Dean Winchester x OFC | Western AU) replaying in my head, probably because I've been editing each part over and over. 😂

But also in reading Polaris by @waynes-multiverse, there's a scene where the reader has just found out that Randy (her husband) is actually alive...but she's already been in a loving relationship with Beau for a while now. This bit of description from Chapter 9 has filtered in and out of my head ever since I read it because it was so damn brilliant:

The cool, breezy autumn air whipped you across your face, a sharp, frigid sting in your lungs that burned right through to your heart. Each breath you desperately clutched was a fight for life. Your mind, moonstruck and lunatic, spun complicated cobwebs. Your feeble body and fragile bones threatened to crumble and crack underneath the devastating weight of the truth. You crouched down on the parking lot asphalt, head heavy in your shaking hands. “Hey, hey, just breathe…” Beau’s deep voice and warm hand on your back were a short-lived comfort before the first sob broke through you.

Bonus Question: Is there a character/genre you never expected to like writing for but ended up enjoying it? 🤔

That's an awesome question. I think I could have a few different answers for this, but Soldier Boy very much took me by surprise. We've talked about this before, but when I watched season 3, the first thing I thought of with his character was, How could he be redeemed?

And Break Me Down was born. 🤣 It was also my first ever enemies to lovers fic, though I didn't consciously realize that when I started developing the series. Of course, you know what happened after that. It's become a whole damn universe of fics. 😅💚

Another example would be Boaz Priestly from 10 Inch Hero. I NEVER thought I would write for that character, but after rewatching the movie last year, he was just too adorable -- and different from any role Jensen has played. I ended up writing a couple of fics for him, not knowing if I was getting his character write (like Soldier Boy lmao). But I so enjoyed writing to his quirks and writing a reader character that I thought could match him. 💜

Thank you SO much for these questions, Michelle!! And Happy New Year! I hope you like the questions I picked out for you. 😘

[boatswainscall]

Assorted Act 3 Thoughts below now that the shell shock has worn off, mostly focusing on episode 7. SPOILERS ABOUND

Many, MANY things about the Peaceful Timeline (as I've so creatively named it for my own referencing) absolutely fucking ruined me but I was un-fucking-prepared for Mylo and Powder's relationship. How things obviously mended between them after Vi's death allowing them to form an actual sibling bond, where in the Alpha Timeline Jinx's memory of Mylo is warped beyond recognition in her hallucinations - entirely based on the way he bullied her when he was still alive.

He for sure still did that given the timelines diverged at the workshop, but Vi's death clearly shook Mylo and Claggor up badly enough for them to put aside their childish teasing to be there for Powder as siblings. Powder-related pain aside it was so fucking good to see Mylo and Claggor able to grow up happy.

I don't think I even need to elaborate on why this broke me. We didn't get to see much of Benzo and Ekko's relationship the way we did Vander and Vi's, but this scene alone as well as the one where Ekko first wakes up in this timeline was enough to show that it was as strong of a family bond as any, as strong as Vander's was to his kids. I had to take a moment to pause in order to ugly cry before I continued only for it to be followed up WITH-

Now I'm biased. I'm a Silco enjoyer. My friends bully me about how deranged I am over him, it's a whole thing. I was waiting all throughout each scene in the Peaceful Timeline holding my breath wondering what happened to Silco in this world. And they held back with showing that for good reason given how the events of the show hinge off of the shattering of his and Vander's bond. (Lest it be romantic or brotherly, I like looking at it either way because it hurts for different tragedy reasons)

I was inconsolable of course. Silco's eye is still blinded, but not infected. To me it means that he must have gotten medical treatment immediately after he and Vander made amends - how long of a span of time that must have been, I obviously can't say. But clearly it was long enough to blind him, but not so long for the wound to fester.

Silco's eye always symbolized for me his inability to let go, of Vander's betrayal and of his ambitions for an independent Zaun - at any cost other than what he held closest to him. Ambessa has an amazing line later in the act about how the loss of her son "carved into me a wound that will never close". Which perfectly encapsulates what Silco's eye was - a literal and figurative wound from Vander's attempt to kill him, festering and refusing to heal even after decades had passed. Which makes what he says in response to Ekko's question about their past so fucking heartbreaking

And we of course get this as a chaser from Phantom Silco in the episode that follows:

Which is of course the Thesis of his and Vander's conflict. Vander tried to reach out through his letter, but ultimately chose to walk away when it was never found and Silco remained underground. But Silco refused to walk away.

So many of the micro and macro conflicts in this show are a result of characters being unable to walk away from vengeance and rage. The episode title alone spells out the results of that inability to walk away. Just. Aaaughgghghgghghghgh (complimentary)

The one final thing I want to comment on because it's been living rent free in my head is in the scene where Vi and Caitlyn are about to bone and Vi can't figure out how to undo the belt clasp on Cait's pants and oh my god. oh my god fuck it was such a human moment of goofy intimacy it killed me dead. I'm still reeling from it now god fucking help me

[morphean42]

Okay this may be my hottest take ever but I… bear with me… dislike how popular Ineffable Husbands is. Let me explain. Good Omens has been an incredibly important book for me since the first time I opened it at 11 years old. It’s shaped everything from my writing style to my views on society and the world. It’s safe to say I’ve read this book 8 times at least.

Season 1, also very dear to me. I loved seeing these characters on screen and although some parts were different or cut, everyone worked so hard in their roles that it brought the book to life.

Now, here’s where I get lost. Good Omens is a story about the end of the world, and while yes its “main” characters are an angel and a demon who are very fond of the world and each other, the simple fact is that they aren’t what’s important about the story. They are fun and deep and amazing characters, but so are The Them, and Anathema and Newt, and Agnes Nutter, and Shadwell and Madam Tracy, and Warlock, and the four horsemen (and other four horsemen)/ bikers of the apocalypse, and that one televangelist that lives rent free in my head, and that guy who sees the trees take over the city and R. P. Tyler and everyone else.

They make the story. They are the humans— sans the four bikers—, and this gets lost in the fandom and, dare I say it, season two. I will say right now that I adore season 2, it’s what I’ve waited 4 years for and I would never ever criticize Neil Gaiman as I am definitely not qualified enough for that.

But.

Season 2 makes it all about Aziraphale and Crowley. It loses the message of the book and becomes almost a sort of rom com (for all our yelling and heartbreak and accusations of liar, Neil was right. It is quiet, gentle, and romantic). This is not inherently bad at all, but to me, it’s not Good Omens. It’s not the same. Crowley and Aziraphale were never my favorites, they were never where the meat of the story is at, so that’s where my point comes from I guess.

I am so glad we have representation like them. Middle aged queer people who have god knows what gender fuckery going on. But, sometimes I wish we talked about anything other than them. I wish I could find thoughtful analysis and writing and art just about the book (and even the show) that wasn’t simply “Crowley and Azirapahle aren’t together and they’re sad but then they are and now they’re happy.”

I don’t want anyone to read this and think I don’t like the ship, I love it, it was my first ship. But, sometimes, I just wish Good Omens hadn’t turned into a romance. I wish it was still the delightfully funny and childishly dark story that made me think, for the first time, writing was something I wanted to do. Because it was more than just a story, it was an idea.

TLDR: I love Ineffable Husbands, but I wish the fandom could talk about literally anything else for a change

[onesidedradiostatic]

Seeing Alastors and Vox beef feels like im the child of their divorce, only difference to a real divorce is that they were never romantically involved with eachother and they just have unhealthy obsessions with each other.

Which brings me to my little theory, that Alastor might also have an obsession with Vox or at least gives some kind of shit about him and doesn’t show it so openly like Vox does.

Obviously not in a romantic/sexual way just if like Al hyperfixated on his littel guy too unhealthily. And that would make everything WAY messier because their obsessions have different meanings:

Vox has his little hate-crush

and

Alastor who just wants him for entertainment, maybe Al wants him back as a friend even(that ripped foto haunts me) and doesn’t want Vox advances.

And ig my bit of proof? Is that Al only had duets with two people: Lucifer(who we know he doesn’t like) and Vox

At the end of Stayed Gone Al hints he wants to continue beefing with Vox too

(This theory isn’t og mine its from an irl friend and we expanded on it and i just wanted to share)

I don't think alastor is obsessed with vox but I think he does enjoy his rivalry with him because vox gives him the attention he seeks (as we've seen from his reactions to carmilla and lucifer not giving a fuck about him, he is very bothered when people don't care, meanwhile vox literally broadcasted his return on live tv), and bullying him is probably very entertaining to him LMAOOO. I do think alastor enjoys keeping up his rivalry with vox because of this. and I do think their falling out also impacted his current attitude towards modern tech. I don't think alastor wants vox back as a friend? I mean he's the one that turned down being on a team with him LMAO. maybe he could in a "I wish you didn't end up like this" way!?!???! but at this current point in time, I'm pretty sure alastor was the one who stepped away because he disagreed with vox's worsening attitude or practices

either way I do think vox's obsession with alastor is still imbalanced because of like multiple factors:

their respective reactions to the other first being mentioned after alastor's 7 year absence. kinda talked about it here. but basically when the vees are brought up in front of alastor, he just casually says "oh nobody important". alastor being brought up in front vox causes a very big reaction, and IMMEDIATELY gets him to completely drop the calm and cunning demeanor he had the ENTIRE time before that that he kept up with both his coworkers, employee and civilians. he was calmly able to manipulate val to stop him from going after the hotel. but one mention of alastor made him completely lose his cool. meanwhile for alastor to have a reaction that's similar to that, he had to have his deal that constrained his freedom brought up which is a BIG deal to him, nothing about vox made him react that same way.

most of vox's screentime has alastor occupying his head rent-free, let's not forget the whole of episode 8. alastor stares into vox's cameras to mess with him but like naturally, a large portion of the time alastor is noticeably not thinking of vox. vox meanwhile was already spying specifically on the hotel start of episode 8, literally keeping focus on alastor during the extermination. the only hint of anything in return from this would be like I said, alastor staring into the camera to mess with vox, otherwise vox is not on his mind

not to word of god this but also: Faustisse described Vox as having something of a fixation on Alastor and that he is interested in having Alastor notice him. Alastor does not have the same interest in return. although stated by ex-staff, I do think this made into canon proper LMAO

it's not like I think their rivalry is completely one-sided because alastor will still fight back with petty insults and all that when provoked (he did like immediately return to his radio tower to bash vox when he saw vox trying to diss him in stayed gone), but it's very clear to me only one of them is completely and utterly obsessed with the other