#okay I’m off my hater train again for the moment lol

[lunar-years]

This is going to be very petty but everyone has got that one popular fanon take they can’t stand so I’ll say it…I hate when people respond to my posts like “why would Jamie ever forgive his father when he has TED now ❤️.” Ted and Jamie aren’t close and Ted continually gives Jamie absolutely terrible advice because of his own issues. He is soooo beyond far from being a pseudo-father to Jamie. I’m sorry to say.

[reikunrei]

okay, so, i watched free! the final stroke vol.2 today and i just need to put my Thoughts somewhere.  this will contain spoilers but isn’t any real analysis or anything

i went into it being a little worried, bc folks had been watching it the last few days and i kept seeing lots of people say they were disappointed, etc.  therefore, i went into it expecting to be disappointed while still thinking i’d at least have fun.  ultimately, i think going into it thinking i’d be disappointed made me come out having enjoyed it!  at least, a little bit lol.

basically, i wouldn’t say that i was “disappointed” but more that i was very underwhelmed.

it had some fun moments!  lots of stuff with the underclassmen which made me very happy, since they’ve been shoved aside a lot as of late.  parts that were meant to be serious were very easy to make fun of, which is what i look forward to in this show tbh.  like i loved the asshole baby Haru talking back to adult Haru, and then was ultimately heartwarmed when adult Haru broke through to baby Haru at the very end, i thought that was sweet.  it was fun to see Sousuke come back into his own, and i enjoyed seeing everyone working together in training and whatnot.  i just love seeing them all be friends!

which leads me into how i’m glad that they got through the “Haru is being brooding and distant” really quickly.  perhaps a little too quickly, but it was far better than saving it until the very end (*cough* season 3 being the same runaround every episode until episode 8 *cough*).  i could go more into detail about what i did/didn’t like about this whole thing with Haru and Rin fighting and Haru shutting himself off from everyone else and thrusting himself into swimming so much that he drains his battery completely, but i’m getting over a gnarly cold and don’t feel like thinking too hard.  ultimately, i think it was an interesting direction to take the story, but wasn’t executed as well as it could have been.

but again, overall, i enjoyed that it happened within the first half of the movie so that the second half could be them reconciling, Haru realizing his true potential (that we already learned the source of in season 1 but whatever he can have the same arc over and over again i eat that shit up the power of friendship reigns supreme), and getting to see him really show everyone else what he’s made of.

my biggest issue ultimately with it was how there was a lot of lost potential.  i feel like they could’ve and should’ve leaned more heavily into the Haru/Albert parallel, and how they are like two sides of the same coin.  like Albert was posed as such a big, important character starting in s3, he was the driving force for this new arc in Haru’s character, and he just sort of... petered out?  i feel like a really strong direction would have been to have them basically switch spots.  like, Albert learns how to swim freely like Haru by nurturing strong bonds between friends and doing it simply because you want to, and Haru falling really deeply into the cold, sterile loneliness that Albert was forced into.

that’s the other thing!  we started to see Albert pushing back against his coach, but we never actually saw him break free from it.  it was just sort of posed and then never resolved.  and i feel like it would be really powerful to have had him see Haru swim, learn from him, and then come back and teach that to Haru again.  like Haru’s methods makes Albert stronger, and Albert comes around and says hey, my guy, YOU taught me this.  my way is not the best way.  do it because you enjoy it, and that’s it.

in terms of lost potential, the relationship with Albert was my biggest letdown, purely because he was so hyped up only for him to just sort of... fizzle out.  and i feel like that happened with almost all of the character relationships.  they all just sort of... petered out.  hell, even the final relay felt really lackluster!  in every single other season, the final relays/races make me cry.  even as a certified season 3 hater, watching Haru and Ikuya do the medley relay together makes me cry!  because it’s this big, powerful breakthrough moment for the both of them.

nothing will ever beat the high i felt watching the season 2 final relay.  that shit ruled so hard and the fact that this FINAL final relay didn’t even come close is SUCH a letdown.  like i’m honestly shocked they dropped the ball so hard on it.  like, the intervention with Haru should have been something more dramatic or something!  it was very just “oh hey let’s all hang out on this rooftop pool for a bit” like even the race between Haru and Rin, while more exciting than the final relay, was very just like. okay.  i was just glad to have such a blatant example of crybaby Rin again, but the substance of the race, of their conversation... it was very lackluster.

i’ll be entirely honest too, i actually was really happy with it... until the very end.  like i said at the top, having gone into it expecting to be disappointed, i was pleasantly surprised that i was having so much fun watching it.  bc i really did!  i did have fun watching it!  it was just not a good ending to the series.

i was actually pretty happy with it where it ended before the credits rolled.  i didn’t super love how they just touched on Haru quitting swimming, and then saying he came back again anyway??  like let me TELL YOU i am the biggest proponent for Haru quitting competitive swimming.  it would have been SUCH a great conversation to have, in that he loves swimming, he loves doing this thing with his friends, and he might even enjoy competing sometimes under the right circumstances, but it’s just not good for him.  how GREAT would it have been for him to realize that.  to look at himself shutting down, to have his friends constantly voicing their worry for him, and him going, “oh. i can’t do this,” and having to come to terms with that.  having his FRIENDS have to come to terms with that.  it would have been SO GOOD and been a great story in trying to find a dream, and feeling like it’s okay to go back on that, and your true friends will always back you up even if they’re upset about it at first.  it would have even been a great parallel with Rin quitting swimming as a kid!  but this time it’s a good thing!  like dude!

anyway.

while i did sort of hate that they totally glossed over the quitting and returning thing, i was just sort of like oh cool, i like this sort of ambiguous but happy ending!  idk who this Haru/Makoto lovechild woman is that they keep cutting to closeups of who seems to know who Haru is!  is it his mom!  i can’t remember what she looks like bc she’s never around!  idk!

and then.  the post credits stuff was just.  a mixed bag?  and ultimately made me dislike it more LMAO.  the one thing i really liked was that Haru dug up the time capsule from season 2 and read his letter to himself again, that made me really happy!  bc that was something that i really really really wanted to be remembered.  like that’s something that could have totally been forgotten, but i’m glad it was found and touched on, even if it was just at the very end.

the stuff i didn’t like was.  basically everything else LOL.  mostly because it felt so weird to think that none of these people talk to each other.  like i get it, we’ve long established that Haru doesn’t use his phone or keep in contact with people, but it felt so WRONG for it to just be like “yeah i was in the hospital for a month, i’m doing rehab now, hi Makoto, who had to come hunt me down in hungary and randomly run into me on the street” like WHAT!!!!  hello????  it felt like there was no growth at all.  wasn’t the whole point of the movie, and the WHOLE SHOW, to strengthen the bonds between friends?  and reconnect with old friends?

like i guess you could argue that it’s like “they’re bonded forever.  even if they don’t see each other for a while, they’ll find each other and it’ll be like no time has passed at all” because like.  that was a whole thing and my favorite part of s2, about how “it’s not our last summer together” but like. it just felt so WRONG and backward to display it like that.  it just felt. hollow. and bad.  especially for characters such as Haru and Makoto who are so closely tied to one another and some shade of codependent.  it’s not that it couldn’t have been explored, but it wasn’t even explored.  it was just thrust upon us, and it felt really forced and left an unsavory taste in my mouth.

i think it just sort of felt rushed.  and there was a lot of potential that was set up in s3 and fs1 that just wasn’t followed through on in a satisfying way.  so while there were fun moments, and it was great to see my kids all together again in new scenes and interactions, it was just very. meh.

so okay, i think i’ve talked myself into being disappointed in it.  i’m not really too upset though, because i did indeed still have fun watching it, and will have fun watching it again in the future.  but the show should have ended after season 2 when it was in its prime.

[genork-the-fandork]

Okay gen dear, i just had an idea. So can i request a scenario of a female adventurer the hated valentines day back at earth, but Florus got curious and asked her to explain the holiday for her lol. And the adventurer explains things to her by ironically doing little valentines day traditions through the day lmao. Thanks for hosting this little "event" queen, you really serve us♡♡♡ (also, careful not to overwork urself)

A/N: Of course! The Kortia fandom really does deserve it :3 and I love this idea! Irony is my favorite, hehe. Enjoy! I swear I’m not overworking myself xD

Word Count: 919

Pairing: Florus x F!Adventurer

A Totally Non-Valentine’s Day Out

Love seemed to be in the air, and honestly, it was disgusting. It reminded Adventurer of the dreaded time of year back on Earth, with all the clingy couples and the cheesy love songs on the radio. February was a dreaded month, a cursed month, and she had never liked it.

Adventurer crinkled her nose as she strolled with Princess Florus down Main Street. At least nobody was flaunting red and pink hearts everywhere, but that didn’t really better Adventurer’s mood all that much.

“What’s wrong, Adventurer? You look pissed,” the princess pointed out, looking completely unperturbed, as per usual.

“Nothing, nothing,” Adventurer muttered, trying to wipe the frown off her face. But Florus looked unimpressed by this answer, so she sighed and admitted, “All the lovey-dovey stuff just reminds me of a holiday from—uh, where I grew up.”

“Really? What was this holiday like? What did you do?” Florus seemed to gain a spring in her step as she skipped ahead of Adventurer and turned around so she was facing her. “Come oooooon, tell me!”

It was incredibly hard to say no to a face like hers. Especially when her pink eyes were so wide and hopeful… Argh!

Fingering a strand of her hair, Adventurer thought up a simple but non-suspicious explanation for Valentine’s Day. “Okay, so, everyone has their different ways of celebrating. One of the main things, though, is getting someone close to you flowers or chocolate.”

Florus’s eyes drifted to the right, and her lips twisted in a smirk. “Oh?”

Following her eyes, Adventurer saw a florist’s cart overflowing with all sorts of colored flowers. The poor florist looked a little overwhelmed with all the customers clamoring to purchase bouquets of blooms for their sweethearts. Adventurer grimaced, but there was a pink flower that caught her eye. It was the same shade as Florus’s hair, and it looked very similar to the roses on Earth. Before she’d given permission to her feet to go over to the florist, she was approaching the cart, placing a coin on the table and plucking the bloom from the grasp of its brethren. The florist shot her a smile before returning to his work, and Adventurer held the rose-like flower out to Florus.

So occupied was she with matching the flower to Florus’s hair that she barely noticed the pleased blush that tinted the princess’s face a soft shade of pink.

“Another part about the holiday was having a fancy meal with dim lighting and saying all sorts of gushy stuff about the person you’re with,” Adventurer continued, drifting back to the middle of Main Street.

“There’s Blood Tavern,” Florus remarked, steering Adventurer towards the familiar tavern. “Let’s stop there.”

“Alright,” Adventurer agreed. They entered the tavern and sat down at a table. The lighting in the tavern was dim since it was late afternoon, which meant Adventurer had to squint a bit to see Florus’s face clearly.

“Tell me something, Adventurer,” Florus said as a waiter brought them each a mug of mead. “What do you really think of me?”

That was unexpected. Adventurer nearly choked on her sip of mead, coughing a few times before she could speak. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” Florus teased, folding her hands and leaning her chin on them, grinning broadly.

“I, uh…” Adventurer tried to look anywhere but directly at the princess, her eyes catching instead on the flower now tucked behind her ear. Had she really liked it that much? “I think you’re… cool?”

“Is that it?” Florus folded her arms on top of the table and laid her head there, her eyes half-closing as if she was about to fall asleep. But Adventurer knew better—it was the same way Florus had tricked her into doing her bidding time and time again. Mostly in the form of battle training. Damn practice swords…

Adventurer sighed. There was no getting out of this. “I think you’re amazing, Princess. You’re strong, you care about your kingdom, and you light up any room you walk into.”

That seemed to satisfy the princess more. Sitting up, she stretched her arms over her head. “I have two more questions. First, what’s the name of this holiday, again?”

“Valentine’s Day,” Adventurer grumbled, the name sounding like a curse coming out of her mouth.

“Interesting. And is kissing involved on this holiday of yours?”

Okay, that got her attention. “Wh-what? Why would you—?” she stammered, but it was too late. Florus was leaning closer, and for a moment, Adventurer panicked. The princess wasn’t actually going to kiss her, was she?

In the split second that their lips seemed like they were going to touch, Florus moved, and she pecked the tip of Adventurer’s noise with a chuckle. “Another time, perhaps,” she said, standing and leaving some coins on the table for the mead. “Oh, and I swiped some chocolate for you,” she added, sliding a singular square of chocolate across the table.

Words refused to come out of Adventurer’s mouth as she sat staring at the chocolate. Had she just gone through an entire Valentine’s Day date with the princess? Her? An avid hater of all things Valentine’s?!

“Come on, Adventurer! It’s time to train more!” Florus called as she made her way to the tavern’s exit.

Blinking rapidly to dispel the fog in her brain, Adventurer pocketed the candy and followed the princess, still reeling from the realizations of the past few minutes.

Florus was definitely going to kick her ass in training later.

[thotsforvillainrights]

Hello! Can I please ask for a scenario? (or Hcs if it is too complicated); since Zuffer has retired, I couldn't ask that. She said once that Kai probably couldn't/know how to ride a bike. How about his S/o trying to teach him that?? It would be hilarious due to how stuborn and arrogant he is (aka tsundere mafia man) 😂😂

(I don’t think Zuffer is retired! At least, I kinda don’t think so. What I feel like is maybe she’s stressed out with the whole pandemic going on, and also the haters, and also her ask box is probably filled up or something. Either way, I hope she feels happier soon, no pressure yknow! I’d kill for her. Anyway!!! I’ll do this ask in her honor lol)

~The Curious Case of Chisaki and the Red Bike~

headcanon|scenario|imagine|match-up

-”MY BOY!!!!” Pops shouted when he saw Kai coming around the side yard. You were currently helping the elder clean out the garage for the first time in a long time since it’s been cleaned! You smiled when Kai approached with three more large trash bags. One was blue, indicating the stuff to be kept. Another was green, indicating the stuff that would be donated to charity. The last bag was orange, indicating what would be thrown away. 

-Really so far all Pops did was stand watch while you and Kai worked. He was the voice of reason because without him YOU would try to keep everything, and KAI would try to toss everything. Besides, Pops liked spending time with you guys anyway! 

-”AAAHHHH, OH MY GOD!” You almost started crying when you came across baby pictures of Kai. Well...not baby per-see, but childhood pictures of him after he was taken in by Pops. So now, you and the elder where flipping through Kai’s pictures while he desperately tried to clean up without the help. Eventually, you guys cleared all the way to the main wall when something caught your eye. “What’s this?” You grabbed it and pulled to dislodge the item from behind the junk. It was a dusty old bike! Sure it was a little large for the size of a child, but the rust indicated that it must’ve belonged to Kai a long time ago. “Well now, I haven’t seen that old thing since Chisaki’s 8th birthday.” Pops chuckled as he wiped his finger along the dust. “Trash it.” Kai said abruptly before trying to pull it away from you. “What?! No way!!! Besides, this bike is the perfect size for you now. I mean, you can actually ride it now that you’re big enough.” Pops and Kai exchanged a knowing glance at each other before the old man started to chuckle lightly and Kai groaned. “Angel, just let it go. Let’s get some more work done before it gets too late outside.”You reluctantly agreed, but the bike stayed on your mind until after dinner was long gone and you were now in bed with Kai. You watched his breathing slow as he fell asleep peacefully and you wondered what was the deal with the bike? Why did he want to throw it away so quickly. Your view went to the window of your room. You stared at the rusty old bike parked under the huge cherry blossom tree in the front. An idea struck you like a moving train.

-The next morning Kai woke up and you weren’t by his side. He would've started worrying had he not heard you laughing outside with Pops. Maybe you two were finishing the garage job? He went outside and to his surprise, you were standing next to a brand new Red bike. “Kai, you’re awake! I went to trade your old bike into a pawn shop. It got me enough money to buy you this new bike instead! It’s practically a carbon copy of the old one. Isn’t this great? Now you can ride it again! We can even go riding together if I get my bike out of storage!” You were happy for a moment until you noticed the expression on his face. Once again he and Pops exchanged the same expression. Finally Pops spoke up with a teasing tone. “Chisaki hasn’t ridden the bike because of the way it looked. The boy never learned how to properly ride one.” You gasped, looked at Kai blushing lightly from embarrassment and annoyance, and then you laughed. “I’m sorry...WHAT?!” 

-”Yes it’s true! He tried one good time and gave up after he fell and skinned his knee.” Pops continued through laughter. Kai turned around and began to stomp away from you two until you grabbed his wrist and apologized. “Just try one more time for me Kai? Won’t it be fun to ride as a couple?” You gave him those puppydog eyes and he was hooked. He reluctantly got onto the bike, pushed off, misplaced where the peddle was, and fell on his side. “Okay, that’s enough. Get rid of that death machine right now.” He stood up, and dusted himself off angrily. He saw the look on your face and realized he wasn’t going to be free to go until he got this down.

-Of Course he could overhaul the bike and call it a day, but you would just go get another one.

-Somewhere along the line this led to lengthy bike riding lessons on his offdays, and even more skinned knees. One day, he finally got it!!! But then he didn’t know how to stop the damned thing, ran into a tree, and went flying into the bushes.

-It would take some time before he might ever hope to conquer the Red bike

»—————————–———————————————————–✄

TIp Jar: https://cash.app/$YuTakeyama

[thoughtsfromaclutteredbrain]

My WrestleMania Overview

1. Andre the Giant Battle Royal | Winner: Woken Matt Hardy (with an assist from Bray Wyatt)

This was a pretty good match as far as Battle Royals go. They can sometimes be hectic and hard to know where to look. Some people like Shelton, Goldust and Dolph got some chances to shine when they usually wouldn’t so I enjoyed that. The interesting thing however was the win of Matt Hardy. I was sort of expecting him to win (once I saw Elias wasn’t there, more on him later), but the addition of Bray Wyatt was a little more unexpected. It seems that the Lake of Reincarnation has turned Bray into a Woken Warrior, and I love it! Bray hasn’t gotten too many wins, despite having an awesome gimmick, and the team of Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy (and a certain Brother Nero) will be unstoppable. I want them to go to Smackdown to tackle the teams there. Them against the New Day, Bludgeon Brothers or Usos would be great. And will this win start the Woken Hardy’s Quest for Gold in the WWE? I guess time will tell.

(gif credit to @thearchitectwwe)

2. Cedric Alexander vs. Mustafa Ali | Winner (and new champion): Cedric Alexander

This was an all around amazing match. The heart and the soul of 205 Live brought a great match that showed why the Cruiserweights should get more respect than they currently do. 

Although I was rooting for Mustafa Ali, this win for Cedric was long overdue, and so I am satisfied. Congrats Cedric, you earned it.

(gif credits to @machomanwrestlinghistory)

3. Women’s Battle Royal | Winner: Naomi

I have a couple of beefs with this match, even though I think it was a pretty decent Battle Royal. The first is this: if not everyone is going to get a WrestleMania entrance, then no one should. It bothered me that Becky, Bayley and Sasha (even tho I love them all) got their entrances and everyone else (Natalya, Mickie, Naomi) came out in bulk. Another thing that I wanted was to get more of a spotlight on the NXT girls. They all did a great job and I wish they would have highlighted them more. So in case you didn’t hear their names (I know I didn’t), let me introduce you to them. Kairi Sane, Kavita Devi, Peyton Royce, Dakota Kai, Bianca Belair and Taynara Conti. You girls are the future.

(gif credit to @machomanwrestlinghistory​)

Back to the match, like I said, it was pretty good as far as Battle Royals go. I thought Carmella would cash in her MITB later in the night and that was why she only spent .01 seconds in the match, but it seems that’s not the case (more on this later). 

I loved seeing Sasha and Bayley square off in the center of the ring. I’m waiting for the day that they get a one-on-one Wrestlemania moment, but for now, I’m happy they got to do that, and that Bayley threw her out the same way Sasha did at Rumble. 

(gif credit to @thearchitectwwe​)

However, it was not meant to be for the Hugger, as she forgot that she had Naomi still in the ring. In the end, Naomi prevailed and became the first Wrestlemania Women’s Battle Royal winner. Congrats to her. Now can they just make a better trophy, please?

(gif credit to @machomanwrestlinghistory​)

Now onto the main card!

4. The Miz (champ) vs. Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor | Winner: Seth Rollins

Before starting, I want to take a moment to thank Balor for his entrance. It was definitely the simplest of the three, but it showed the type of person he is, and it was a bold statement. The Balor club is for everyone, and I am happy to be a part of it. 

(gif credit to @jimdrugfree​)

Overall, this was a great match by some of the best in the business. We’ve seen Balor and Seth put on some great matches before, but pairing them with Miz, arguably one of the best and most talented wrestlers, was a recipe for success. All of them got their moments to shine, and Seth came out victorious.

(gif credit to @jarillian​)

Congrats to Seth Rollins, on now being a Grand Slam Champion! It’s very well deserved, and I’m hoping he can get some good storylines in the future.

(gif credit to @thearchitectwwe​)

5. Charlotte (champ) vs. Asuka | Winner: Charlotte

I want to first take a moment for Charlotte’s entrance, which was sheer, golden perfection. 

(gif credit to @jimdrugfree​)

Anyway, onto the match. This match was next level, and showed us why these two are some of the best in the Women’s division right now. It was smooth and it was dynamic and it was crazy in all the best ways.

There were power moves, there were submissions, there were kickouts. It was everything a good match should be, and honestly, I think it should have been later in the night. It could have even been main event. 

(gif credits to @jarillian​)

But the ending... ASUKA TAPPED????? LIKE ACTUALLY LOST????

Personally, I feel it was premature to break Asuka’s streak (especially at her first Wrestlemania, more on that later), but if anyone could beat it, Charlotte definitely was the woman to do it. It seems no one should go to a New Orleans WrestleMania with a streak. However, as a submission specialist, I’m a little salty that she TAPPED. Although, Charlotte’s one-armed Figure Eight was a thing of beauty.

However, my favorite part may have been the camaraderie at the end. Cuz at the end of the day, Charlotte was ready for Asuka.

(gif credits to @machomanwrestlinghistory​)

6. Randy Orton (champ) vs. Bobby Roode vs. Jinder Mahal vs. Rusev | Winner: Jinder Mahal

Maybe it was because it was placed after such a shocking and dynamic match, but this match sort of seemed like filler. I’m not satisfied seeing Randy as the US Champ. I just haven’t really been able to get invested in Bobby Roode since he came here (which is probably due in part to the fact that his theme gets on my nerves lol), and after Jinder was just the Smackdown champ, being the US champ felt like a step down. But you want to know who should have won?

Rusev.

Rusev has been passed up on so many opportunities. He’s a great wrestler and is hilarious, and he’s top selling merch. I don’t know what else Rusev has to do to get the belt he deserves. However, Jinder pulled out the victory, so congrats to him. I am happy that Jinder has been able to come back and do well for himself, first with the Smackdown belt and now with this, but I think it was the wrong call this time. 

(gif credit to @machomanwrestlinghistory)

7. Stephanie and Triple H vs. Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey | Winner: Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey

I wanna start off by saying I love Triple H and Stephanie. They’re the definition of a power couple and are great entertainers and wrestlers. And their joint entrance was great!

(gif credit to @totaldivasepisodes)

Okay, I’m gonna come out and say it. Ronda did amazing in her first match!

There I said it. Ronda haters can unfollow/send hate now. (***see end***)

This match was arguably one of the best matches of the night, which is a very impressive feat for a rookie. She showed power, she showed skill, she showed strength. She did everything she could. And not only did she do that with Steph, she did it to Triple H.

(gif credit to @jarillian)

She showed an insane amount of skill and training for someone in their first match, including rolling out of the powerbomb into an armbar.

(gif credit to @thearchitectwwe)

My favorite thing about Steph is that she’s a full fledged entertainer, and so not only did she perform well physically, she added a bit of humor to the match as well.

I totally expected Steph and Triple H to have to carry the match (on account of her greenness), but that wasn’t the case at all. Ronda did amazing. I understand the apprehension of her coming to WWE since we’ve been burned by Brock (more on that later), but in my eyes, she silenced every doubt I had. Yes, she was a bit sloppy at times, and she definitely needs better gear, but it was an extraordinary debut. My only wish is that we see more submissions/a different finisher from her in the future. I know the armbar is her signature, but it can become a bit cheesy if used too much.

Welcome to the WWE, Ronda Rousey. I have a feeling you’ll be here for a while.

(gif credits to @machomanwrestlinghistory)

8. The Usos (champ) vs. The New Day vs. The Bludgeon Brothers | Winner: The Bludgeon Brothers

Once again, I don’t know if it was just because of placement, but this match did nothing for me. It felt like a squash match, and while I’m very happy the Bludgeon Brothers finally get some gold, the Usos deserved better on their first WrestleMania on the main card. Congrats to the Bludgeon Brothers. I just wish the match went longer/better. It felt like it was squeezed in.

(gif credit to @machomanwrestlinghistory​)

9. John Cena vs. Elias The Undertaker | Winner: The Undertaker

Speaking of, this section was a bit of a mess in my opinion. So first, John Cena, who swore to attend as a fan, comes out. He waits patiently for the Undertaker. Suddenly the lights go dark. I look over to my family and tell them “Plot twist, it’s gonna be Elias”. And guess who came out...

ELIAS!

Now, here’s the thing. I actually wanted to SEE this fight. I believe it was the Christmas Raw where they had a great match, and since then, I’ve been calling for Elias vs. Cena at Mania. What I did NOT want to see, however, was Elias get squashed at Mania. 

But then, we see the lights go out again, and we’re met with this sight.

To be honest, I half expected this to drag out until SummerSlam, so I’m happy I’m wrong with that. But this was not the fabled Cena vs. Undertaker match everyone dreamed of. It was another squash match at best, and Cena looked downright terrified the whole time.

Is this not what you wanted????

Anyway, the match was relatively quick, which was good for Taker’s sake. And he left with a victory in New Orleans, where he suffered his loss. I said it last year and I’ll say it again. Thank you, Taker.

(gif credits to @machomanwrestlinghistory)

10. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens vs. Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan | Winner: Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan

I’m gonna be honest, any Shane match gives me a high level of anxiety, but Shane and DANIEL BRYAN made it even stronger. I was super excited for this match but also dreading it at the same time. I am a Daniel Bryan fan, but I was really worried about him getting back in the ring, especially at Mania where his adrenaline will be so high. But damn, was it good to see Bryan in a wrestling ring again.

First note, SHANE TOOK A BEATING! And I was surprised he did, especially since he actually did have diverticulitis not too long ago. He is a trooper, and did some great moves.

Now onto DANIEL BRYAN! I’m sorry, I really never thought I’d get to analyze Daniel’s fighting again. This is Lita at the Rumble all over again. At least I didn’t cry this time. (Lita was my idol growing up, I was sensitive!)

Anyway, back on topic. I was worried about Daniel, but I was very happy with what I saw. First of all, there was no sign of ring rust, which is great. Second, he seems to have modified his style a lot, which I’m thankful for. Everything is done safer, and with a lot more care, even the high risk moves.

There are still some things he has to still modify for safety (no more dropkicks, please), and some moves people have to be really careful delivering (WHO BOOKED HIS FIRST MATCH AGAINST SAMI “HELLUVA KICK” ZAYN???), but other than that, he looked great in his comeback.

And man, was it great to see the YES lock again.

Welcome back, Daniel. We missed you.

(gif credit to @machomanwrestlinghistory)

11. Alexa Bliss (champ) vs. Nia Jax | Winner: Nia Jax

First of all, I am so happy these best friends got to share this WrestleMania moment, They both deserve it. And before I talk about the match, let me talk about Alexa’s amazing entrance. She really is a goddess.

(gif credit to @jarillian)

I know a lot of people were salty about the bodyshaming angle, but this was storytelling at its finest. Even the match told a story with every move.

First, Nia had some great strategy with taking Mickie out first. It was smart and gave her the advantage. I do wish that Mickie gets a push after this tho. Maybe a feud with Nia?

(gif credit to @machomanwrestlinghistory)

I was a bit worried that this would be a squash match, but that wasn’t the case. Between a Twisted Bliss from the ringpost, a drop off the second rope and some great storytelling, this was actually a pretty good match. 

(gif credit t @jarillian)

Congrats Nia. You definitely earned it, and your title reign is already inspirational to so many. 

(gif credit to @jimdrugfree)

12. AJ Styles (champ) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura | Winner: AJ Styles

Let me start by RAVING over this work of art that was Shinsuke’s entrance. Loving the rock version. Can that be his new theme, please?

(gif credit to @frentique)

On paper, this match was a great one. Some may even say it was a dream match. However, the entire match very much favored AJ. AJ looked great, showing off his strength and his technical fighting, but for some reason, it didn’t seem to do much to help Shinsuke, making Asuka and Charlotte outshine them.

I was disappointed in Shinsuke’s loss, but I see him come in with the belt and present it to AJ. I’m ready to praise him for being so classy, until...

The low blow seen round the world!

Earlier in the day, Shinsuke said that WrestleMania would mark the beginning of his story, and he is not wrong. I’m excited to see the new, heel Shinsuke. 

13. The Bar (champ) vs. Braun Strowman and his mystery partner | Winner: Braun Strowman and... NICHOLAS???

Mark the day down, guys. April 8, 2018 was the day that Braun “Flipped Over an Ambulance with Someone In It” Strowman officially turned into a babyface. How this happened? I have no idea. Am I here for it? Hell yes!

For weeks, Braun had been needing a partner for this match. He comes out alone, and I’m thinking Big Show or Samoa Joe or Big Cass is gonna come out... Nothing happens. Suddenly he declares he’s gonna have a partner from the crowd. I’m suspicious, but I figure this is gonna be a Santino Marella moment and there’ll be a wrestler in the crowd that’s gonna come up this way. Until he chooses the smallest little boy he could find. 

Nicholas, the most terrified little boy I’ve ever seen, was his tag team partner, and if it couldn’t get any better, he actually tagged him in for a hot second.

Despite this hilarious twist of events, Braun singlehandedly (no shade to Nick) won the belts, in what was a pretty good match. It was short, but it was good. 

And so now, half of the Raw Tag champs is a child. This is bizarre in the best way, and I’m excited to see who replaces Nicholas on Raw tonight. (SOMEONE HAS TO, RIGHT?)

Congrats, Nicholas. You got your WrestleMania moment. 

(gif credit to @machomanwrestlinghistory)

14. Brock Lesnar (champ) vs. Roman Reigns | Winner: Brock Lesnar

And so... the main event of the night. I wish I had something more positive to say. This match was... not the best. Roman gave everything he had, and Brock... well, he gave his suplexes and F5′s, but not much else. In terms of brute strength, this match was up there, as it’s not easy to get slammed through a table, but it wasn’t very exciting, and it got a bit scary when Brock busted Roman’s head open and he started gushing. By the end, he was covered in his own blood, and he lost. I really am disappointed in this, because the fans were FINALLY starting to get behind Roman. He was at a spot where giving him the belt would have actually resulted in some CHEERS, which is something he’s struggled to get, even though he’s one of the best in the business right now. I just don’t get why you would have Roman defending the full time talent and finally getting over just to have him lose. I just don’t get it. I will end with a Roman gif, because he deserved better last night. 

(gif credit to @machomanwrestlinghistory)

Other notes/rants: -Literally when is Carmella gonna cash in this MITB? I’m starting to worry that she’s either gonna time out, or she’s gonna waste it. She’s already held it the longest out of anyone EVER. Let her have her moment. -Not only did Rusev get screwed, he was the one who got pinned. -_- -The Usos have been the face of the Tag Division for the longest time, and have basically owned the Smackdown Tag belts all year. This match was a disservice. -What was the point of Royal Rumble PPV? Both winners (and both Japanese wrestlers, might I add) lost in their opportunities. I’m disappointed Asuka and Shinsuke didn’t get the WrestleMania moments they deserved. -I totally forgot to say that Kurt looked great in the ring too. Good job! -The Undertaker match was severely underwhelming. Now that he’s righted the wrong that took place in New Orleans tho, let us please take a note from him and let him rest in peace. -Wondering where Cena goes from here... -As for Ronda’s next opponent, I wanna see either Charlotte, Becky or Sonya. Charlotte is the money fight. Becky would be putting armbar against armbar, and Sonya would just be a great MMA vs MMA match. I also wanna see her fight Alexa cuz I need to see Alexa pull her “broken arm” move on Ronda! -GOD I LOVE SEEING DANIEL FIGHT AGAIN -First order of business, getting Miz and Daniel on the same brand again. That is NOT over yet. -Can we get Mickie turning heel and getting pushed please?? -***I very much respect Ronda as an athlete. I do not agree with her comments, and I don’t like her very much as a person, but she is undeniably talented, and I wish her happiness and success. -So is Nicholas gonna drop out of school and defend the belt with Braun now???? -I’m gonna pretend the night ended with Nicholas.

[jonesywrites]

Hey, I love your writing! I think I've consumed everything at this point. Do you have any favorite stories you can recommend? I may have blasted through all the fic updates of my own faves and just looking to see if people are reading stuff I might have missed. Looking forward to your next updates! No pressure!

Anon!

First, I am so very sorry it’s taken me so damn long to answer this. 

I actually did answer it - I wrote a very long, very beautifully gif’d post and then accidentally scrolled left on this stupid macbook and I lost the entire fucking thing and I wanted to throw my laptop out of the window.

::calming breaths::

Let us pray that doesn’t happen again this time (I am a klutz, so it’s a definite possibility). Secondly, I decided that now is the perfect time to recreate this answer because a) there are some goddamned talented ass writers out there killing the game rn, b) there are also haters out there trying to steal our joy rn and not only is it not going to work, I think now is a good time to spread the love as far and wide through Richonne as possible, so reblog the shit out of this and get reading if you haven’t already and c) I don’t have time to write the way I want at the moment so I hope this makes up for it.

I also really really need a list I can return to b/c I signed up to read a lot and am still verrry slowly getting through it.

So! Here goes…

Current Favorite Richonne fics…!

1. Round After Round by @nattah-gudgrrl

ZA Canon - Rick and Michonne after 6x10, being domestic and sexy af, round after round.

Holy crap, Anon. I was hooked from the first few words. I’m not finished yet, but this is incredibly sexy and beautifully well-written. Nattah’s writing is hypnotic and poetic. She drops precious gems throughout each chapter with her words, the way she phrases things is so original and addictive. Rick and Michonne are pitch perfect, but so is everyone else (and she’s hilarious, btw). She includes music to score her amazing writing, and trust me, listening to her suggested tracks while reading will only suck you deeper into the tantalizing atmosphere she’s created with these two. AND THE SMUT. HOLY SHIT. Prepare yourself. I love opening up to a chapter and letting myself fall. I almost feel like I need to smoke a joint, turn out the lights, and close my door reading this, no joke. (no seriously, i’m not joking, be alone b/c you will feel thangs down there)

2. Musings of Rick Grimes by @nyese3529

NonZA AU - Rick as a NYC photographer slowly falling head over heels for a charismatic college student Michonne as she becomes his muse.

OKAY. I’m not sure anything I say here will do this amazing piece of fanfiction justice. I’m not even caught up, but the chapters I have read so far are PURE FIRE. Nyese is a master at unfolding a real, atmospheric, moody, sexy, intense, and totally riveting Rick and Michonne for us to fall in love with from the start. Rick’s attraction to Michonne leaps off the page, as does she. She is so damn cute and sexy and seeing her through Rick’s eyes the way Nyese has written them is just to die for. Nyese also NAILS New York City life, especially as a southern transplant and artist (I feel you Rick) AND as a young, gifted black woman looking to make a difference while everyone else covets her light (I feel you Michonne). It’s a beautiful read, and I encourage you to ASAP. The smut is off the chain, as in every fucking moment of it had me squirming around wishing I had me a Rick Grimes here in NYC damn you Nyese you’ve ruined me!

3. The Art of Control by @avintagekiss24

NonZA AU - Rick as a sexy, wealthy contractor Dom and Michonne the comic book shop/cafe owner as his sub in Atlanta (bonus: featuring probably the best version of Maggie I have ever read)

GOTDAMN. Let me tell you something. THIS IS THE SEXIEST RICK GRIMES OF ALL TIME FOR ME. Every fucking word Miss Kiss wrote for him to utter had my panties wet and my brow sweating, do you hear me? This fic is hot as fuck. Even before Rick Grimes shows up in the story, I was feeling hot and bothered about his mere existence, just like Michonne. The way Miss Kiss writes the buildup throughout their relationship is simply riveting. She’s a very visual writer, just like Nyese, so I can see, taste, feel, and ground myself in this stunning world of money, undeniable attraction and absolutely delicious sex. AND DID I MENTION HER MAGGIE IS SEXY AF, FUNNY AF, NAUGHTY AF, AND GODDAMN IT I WOULD SO BE HER PLAYTHING?? The plot is really good, too, like really good. Screw 50 Shades of Garbage. Miss Kiss’s sub!Michonne and Dom!Rick Grimes are what you want, what you need, what you deserve. Go forth, and savor every moment of this. In fact, I need to catch up, myself. Hell yeah.

4. Sirens of the ZA, by @isisnicole

ZA AU - Michonne and her two sisters, fierce, trained fighters, find and protect Carl. Richonne begins to develop once Carl is finally reunited with Rick three years later.

Sigh, I love this fic. Miss Isis hooked me with her stellar opening, and the plot just got more and more compelling the more I read. Carl is still very Carl, but he’s got that “loved, protected, and taught to survive by three amazing black women” vibe to him that makes my heart melt. Ila, Luna, and especially Michonne are just everything in this. EVERYTHING. Their relationship is tight af, they keep it real, they are badass warriors (trained, medal-winning warriors, mind) and even though your heart yearns for Rick and Carl to reunite and for Richonne to soar, you cannot help but fall in love with the family dynamic that Miss Isis has written for them with Carl. The tension between Rick and Michonne is even more intense in this than in canon when they first meet, I’d say, but deliciously so. And once they both start to realize the business, it’s time to pull out the popcorn because the buildup is sooooo good. And did I mention an alive Shane and Merle, also written so well you kinda sorta forget they didn’t make it in canon? Yeah. Read this.

5. Red Dirt Road by @siancore

NonZA AU - Young!Richonne in southern af King County, Georgia, teenagers that fall in love one summer along a red, dirt road.

Honestly, this fic is just perfect. The world is real. I can smell the dirt. I can feel the heat. Rick in this is juuuuuuuust….! He’s everything we think of when we think of a teenaged Rick (but not underage of course). Kind, responsible, stoic, patient, respectful, and sexy. Michonne is a vessel for us all, transporting us back in time to when we went to our grandmama’s house and she bossed us while loving us like nobody else could. The whole gang is there and they’re all written to perfection, especially Shane. He’s as shady and selfish and yet completely charismatic as you’d expect a young Shane to be. The story is so sweet and the pacing is comfortable, fun, and easy, just like those summers we spent messing around with our friends, falling in love, learning to drive, staying out after curfew. I adore Sian’s writing and this is by far my all-time favorite of hers right now. It’s a must, must read! 

To Continue Reading, So Help Me…!

1. HALO, by leeeel

Holy smokes. I have only read chapter one so far and it is absolutely amazing. AMAZING. I reeeeaalllyy need to get back into this one. Rick and Michonne meet under dire circumstances, and the mystery begins. The writing transports you, and I actually got chills reading this. CHILLS.

2. Deception by @severelybabykryptonite

YO. I HIGH KEY LOVE “THE BODYGUARD” AND THIS IS THE RICHONNE VERSION AND IT IS EVERYTHING. Rick as a no-nonsense bodyguard to Michonne’s sexy, vulnerable star is a dream come true. I really need to catch up on this one, it’s just so good and it’s visual and it makes my geeky movie+Richonne loving heart soar. 

3. The Day I Met You, by @chezza3009

I almost don’t know how to describe this one. It’s dark. It’s riveting. It’s nothing like I’ve ever read in Richonne before. Rick and Michonne in the aftermath of an affair that leaves Michonne devastated and Rick a mess. I don’t recognize this version of Michonne or Rick, but then I need to continue reading. What I’ve read so far makes me very, very intrigued by this story. And it shall have my undivided attention ASAP.

4. The Beginning, by @vegasloversteel

Once again, Vegaslover has an uncanny ability to hook you with great story telling, dialogue that flows like “how is she doing this??” and chemistry between Rick and Michonne that vibrates off the page. Richonne is hot hot hot in this. Set in their college years with a great plot and fun with all your faves. Gotta catch up!

5. Palm Trees, by @cake-by-thepound

I AM SO UPSET I CANNOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY OF THE JUICY FIC TALK GOING ON ABOUT THIS STORY RN. Arrrrgggh the spoilers I’ve seen alone are killing me not so softly. I just loooove the way Cake writes Richonne’s worlds. Rich, grounded, dramatic but in a real, honest-to-goodness “that could totally happen to me” way that makes me want to stand up and cheer. I know this is going to be a beautiful ride, so far everything I’ve read is perfection, as usual, so I’m really looking forward to the day I am finally caught up and I can (too late, of course) dip into the forums and be like “GURL. BUT CAN WE TALK ABOUT THAT PART WHEN…” 

You Thought I Was Done? LOL.

These are the stories I haven’t gotten to yet, but that are also on my list. I’ve heard nothing but good things and I am hoping to get to them soon!

Right Where We’re Supposed to Be by @tigerwalk3 - I’ve read her mini-fic Sparklers and I cannot wait to dive into this one. Her characterization alone is amazing, and the way she puts phrases and details together makes me low key jealous.

Honey Bees by @cranesinthe-sky - I don’t get enough Michonne and Judith in my fandom diet and I’ve heard some really awesome things about this one. I’ve heard nothing but praise for Lady Cranes’ writing, so I’m excited!

The TWD Chronicles by @yellehughes - I read Yelle’s Richonne Secret Fantasy fic and loved it, and I actually feel rather ashamed that I haven’t gone back to dive into this epic Olympian take on Richonne!! Allow me to correct this, with the quickness. 

The Hunter of Screams, by @codename-me - I started this, and holy crap is it amazing so far. Like me, Lady Codename has a thing for sci-fi and fantasy, and her writing is rich and detailed and visual, which totally turns me on. 

The End of Wanting, by @glowysweetfab​ - I have started this, and love this period AU, it’s immersive and the plot is so interesting I’m not even all that fussed to get to the romance bits (well that’s a lie, of course I’m trolling for smut but I’m really enjoying the ride).

Honestly, there are so many more stories I have favorited/followed that it would take me all night to list them all here. But I will do more posts like these as I finish fics and move on to others, it’s important to me to show the same support for all of these amazingly talented writers that they have shown to me, and to spread as much positivity as possible because they deserve it. 

This fandom is chock a block full of major talent, huge hearts, astonishing intellect, and abundant passion. No one can deny that, and anyone who does is lying. 

READ AND WRITE ON, RICHONNERS!!!!

Thanks for the ask, Anon! 

-Kendra

P.S. I promise I will get back to updating as soon as I can. I’m in the middle of preparing myself to move across the country and transition to a new career. But my beloved fics are always on my mind, and boy do I have such glorious Richonne in store for you! Thanks for sticking with me! I promise you won’t regret adding a few of these ladies to your reading list, either, if you haven’t already.