#or just like by far one of the most recognizable by virtue of being annoying

[kalashtars]

the state association polls really be making me realize i think about maybe 7 states max

[twixtandshout]

Tagged by @pidgeonpostal! And not tagging anyone else because I have SOILED the original template (soiled it!!) in deference to my [brushes off skirt] mostly clean public-facing appearance.

...I’ve been making a lot of Spongebob memes lately for someone who has not seen Spongebob.

How many works do you have on AO3?

71!

What’s your total AO3 wordcount?

...306,834. Jesus.

How many fandoms have you written for and what are they?

Uh. Many! I do a lot of one-offs (and/or start long things I never finish) in many different places. My top three fandoms by fics written are RWBY (29), Undertale (25), Gravity Falls/Transcendence AU (4).

Bet you can’t tell where my hyperfixations have fallen. 

I’ve also got some Pokémon and Sonic the Hedgehog fics back on my ff.net account, or I think I still do, anyway, but let’s never go back there pls

What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

1. Sweeter Than Honey (Undertale): Taking a Completely unsurprising first place, with over 600 more kudos than the runner-up, the haphazard Underswap fic featuring a post-college self-insert I wrote just after high school! I shake my head some at how overblown and ridiculous the gap between this and all my other stuff is (c’mon, guys, I’ve written way better fics), but this is also the fic which prompted me (and at least one other person!) to start using they/them pronouns. I’ve gotten a lot of really sweet comments about how seen and appreciated it’s made people feel, so I can’t get down too far about it.

2. To Be A Hero (BNHA): I don’t count myself as part of the BNHA fandom, for a number of reasons, but for something that’s arguably the main motivation for the entire plot, Midoriya’s quirklessness is something I’ve never thought has been handled well. This fic marked the first time I (somewhat tentatively) claimed the disability label (thanks again to Sweeter Than for prompting that realization) to hold that lens over canon. It also really shot up my chart, dang! It’s the only thing here I’d consider “recent.”

3. Three-Sentence Shipping (Undertale): Self-explanatory.

4. Brothers Beyond Bonedaries (Undertale): Ah, the way-overcomplicated AU³ I got nowhere close to finishing. One of the things I really like about Undertale is the interface screw, how Toby Fox uses the medium of the video game to pull off crazy things and enhance his game, but most of the fic written for the fandom seems dedicated to explaining it away, grounding it, rather than taking it to the next step and messing with the medium of fanfiction when you keep the story going. I tried to do something cool like that here, playing with questions like narrator and authorship and breaking the fourth wall, even taking the “final boss” fight to a “totally separate” fic reached through the first by link – but, well, then I never finished it, which probably didn’t make anything less confusing for the poor folks who missed the intent.

5. Spirit and Such (Gravity Falls: Transcendence AU): A whole fic written to line out a particular image I had, which, naturally, never made it to the page. I consider it a bit of a cautionary tale for myself when it comes to writing (near-)original content; there’s a lot I look back on and cringe. I still love the characters, though – well, the important ones – and I think just stepping away from the tried-and-true Mizar formula nets it a star sticker here.

Do you respond to comments, why or why not?

>w>; I try, but a lot of the time I just don’t have anything to say? Like, oh, you liked it? Neat. There’s not much to respond to in comments like that, and then I’m weighing falling down on an ~obligation~ to respond to every message in my inbox vs annoying people with copy-paste fluff responses all down the page. Plus I know I make more of an effort to comment on things that didn’t get the attention I feel they deserve, so if I’m driving up my own comment count with nonsense, am I preventing myself from being in a position to receive more comments later? And then if I do comment, am I being too effusive or running people’s ears off explaining things they don’t actually need to know? Sometimes people just want to express interest or admiration and don’t necessarily want a whole peek and guided tour behind the curtain.

Can you tell I have anxiety? x3;

Anyway, I do respond when I can. And I keep most of the comments I’ve gotten to go back and reread. 

What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

Hm, hmm. Lots of stuff in the TQ Nonsense series would probably qualify! I’m thinking of Unfixable, Wolfsong, and Ethanol. And there’s Bursting Through A Blood-Red Sky (I Can Live, I Can Breathe), of course, but that was always intended to have a fix-it epilogue. It’s just that I wrote it in a couple of hours day-of, stared at it, and decided I didn’t wanna just then. But now that’s As Long As You’re Still Burning Bright (I’m Still Awake), and that’s probably the best romance I’ve written, so that one worked out.

Do you write crossovers? If so what is the craziest one you’ve ever written?

Now and then! When the urge strikes. Uhhh, I’ve got a series of Doctor Who x Undertale crossovers I actually made a whole dang verse for that never made it to print. Get a couple great comments on that every few months or so. I think the World Trigger x Undertale crossover is probably weirder, though, by virtue of WT being a very small fandom. My enthusiasm kinda sputtered out on that one.

Mostly I just daydream crossovers with whatever happens to catch my eye at any given moment. I have a lot!!!! Though odds are out on whether I manage to remember any of them once the initial thought’s passed, lol.

Have you ever received hate on a fic?

Gotten a couple eyebrow-raising comments, but I think mostly I’m just too small a writer to draw that kind of attention.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

I don’t? think so? Think my tastes are a little niche for most people to bother ^^;

Have you ever had a fic translated?

I had someone apologize once for any language mistakes in their comment cause they had to run it through a translator! That’s not what you asked (the answer is no), but it’s very flattering to think that someone liked my fic enough to read and comment despite the language barrier.

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Yes! :D @pidgeonpostal was gracious enough to agree to co-write Five Nights at Denny’s with me off an idea about shoes. This has fulfilled a long-held dream of mine (collabing with someone, not the shoes) and also introduced me to some lovely people.

What’s your all time favorite ship?

Who has time for just one? ;3c Honestly, I care more about the characters and how the relationship – any relationship – between them changes them than I do about ~A Ship~ as a solid, bounded noun-object. I’ve got characters I like more and less and feelings about who does and doesn’t have chemistry in which directions with whom, but finding anything that agrees with those preferences is hard, harder when you take alloromanticism into account. I’ll play in any sandbox with cool toys, especially if other folks have already built sick sandcastles there.

What’s a WIP that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will?

[kicks every single unfinished fic further under the bed] What nooo no WIPs here, everything on my account is either finished or does not exist

I’ve got a couple extra chapters of Sweeter Than floating around unposted, but 1. that fic’s a mess 2. high school Twixt and post-college Twixt are different people and trying to contort myself into three other me-shapes just cause people Like this fic is not something I’m super interested in 3. it’s headed for an emotional dip and I’d rather leave it where it is than post two chapters, stall out again, and leave folks with a bad end.

As for other fics... it’s looking more and more likely that v7 of my Yellow Brick Road AU will never actually make it out. >w>; I’ve got some really great ideas, but not enough to make me feel like I know what I’m doing, and that’s a big roadblock. Plus trying to engage with RT’s Atlas-Mantle worldbuilding in any serious capacity is... a headache. I can’t recommend the Happy Huntress Cinematic Universe enough, but it leaves some pretty big shoes to follow! And I’ve got small feet. <w<;

What are your writing strengths?

Dialogue’s fun, probably as an extension of characterization. I love tearing into what makes people tick, especially against the backdrop of their environment, the story they’re in, and the people they’re up against. Voice is a double-edged sword; I’ve been told my writing is really recognizable and individual, but on the other hand, I’ve been growing frustrated with with the limits of my narrative ability. There’s a strong rhythm I keep when I write (you might notice it here, even) but that leaves me feeling predictable and stale. I’m not sure I’m great at setting as a matter of course, but I’m pretty good at describing setpieces where the need comes up; that comes from my background in poetry, as does the fun I have with sublimating and abstracting complex imagery. And I think I bring some needed nuance to the universal. For good or ill, I don’t do what “everyone else” is doing.

What are your writing weaknesses?

Well, writing, for one thing. If I don’t know how something’s going to go and don’t have the urge to write it, it isn’t getting done, which means there’s a billion things that will never see the page and a few hundred more that are never getting finished. I lose momentum easily and have a hard time getting started, and I put way too much standing on finding a foothold with other people; as critical as I am of my work, I have high expectations for the stuff that passes muster, and it never seems to measure up. I’m also really uncreative. Yeah, I can mix up elements and extrapolate events, but coming up with things wholesale is really hard, which is why I avoid it wherever possible and steal/reskin stuff from other places instead.

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

Something along the lines of “Hoo boy, I am Not qualified for this but hopefully it’s decent anyway.” Maria’s Spanish lines haven’t been a big deal – I’ve used it sparingly and, as a Latin language, it should be easy for English-speaking audiences to pick up on the gist – but I’ve had a harder time with Tai’s Chinese, both because I have Even Less background there and because it is, of course, an entirely different language system. If I write it out in English or Romanized italics, am I colonizing it or changing the meaning? If I write it out in the presumed-original characters (presumed because it’s Google Translate and who knows if I’m even barking in the right forest), am I confusing or alienating my presumed-majority-English-speaking audience? Where should I put the translations? Should I put the translations? And for Frisk’s sign language, thinking back, are the brackets I used instead of quotes alienating/infantilizing? I like that different characters give the text between a different feel, but I’m not an ASL speaker – and I’m pretty sure the word is “speaker,” which would only reinforce that that demographic would rather I didn’t do that. It’s important for all these characters, I think, that they use non-English language where it makes sense; it’s part of who they are. But as a white monolingual English-speaker, I don’t think I can really weigh in.

What was the first fandom you ever wrote for?

Thaaaat’d be Pokémon, followed closely with Sonic the Hedgehog. Whether those fics are still on my ff.net account or not (pretty sure I’ve purged them, but you never know) I’ve still got a couple saved to a folder on my current laptop, ostensibly so I can look back and see how far I’ve come and more practically to allow for the possibility of furthering group cohesion through public shaming.

What’s your favorite fic you’ve written?

I still like the idea behind The Man Who Is Atlas, and Burning Bright (Still Awake) gets props for being my current fic, though it’s currently in that spot where I’m excited to get new chapters posted but also quietly marking everything up in red pen. I think Harbinger gets the crown here, at least for now.

[anika-ann]

Nothing but the Truth - Pt.2

The Arrangement

Pairing: Steve Rogers x reader        Word count: 2690

Summary: A fake dating AU. Tony is being Tony, you are still confused until you aren’t and Sam… well, Sam finds out that his friends are idiots – bigger idiots than he thought, that is.

Warnings: swearing, threats of violence, fluff...?

Story Masterlist

‘Because we need your help.’

You repeated the words in your head; once, twice… your gaze flickered between the photos and the pair of Avengers, landing on Steve then. You repeated the whole process.

Stark’s expression screamed impatience, Romanoff’s challenge and Steve’s was completely unreadable except for his eyes which gave away how the wheels in his head were turning as much as the ones in yours.

You looked at the hologram again.

“…I don’t follow,” you said finally, earning an annoyed eyeroll from the billionaire.

“Cute,” he commented and you wondered whether he meant ‘stupid’, ‘innocent’ or… well, ‘cute’.

“Let me explain,” Natasha interrupted your musing. “There’s a streak of missing couples for the past month – ten people so far. It’s too much. And the last couple was too high-profile for Ross not to shove it our way.”

Your heart clenched, face twisting in sorrow. Ten people missing. They were pairs indeed as you had thought. Most of them were rather young, but there was also a couple of seniors, sticking out. What could have happened? Were Tony and Natasha trying to tell you that someone… hurt them?

That was surely regrettable, but what did it have to do with you and the tabloids blowing up one lunch date to proportion?

“So,” you hesitated, once more searching support with Steve; his expression was slightly irritated now and you felt your gut twist as if in dark promotion. “You want me… – or us – to do… what exactly?”

“Well you and Captain Virtue over here could actually keep pretending to be a couple-“ You could do WHAT. “-and if we luck out, you’ll lead us right to-“

The sudden bang that rattled the table you were sitting at startled you enough to make you jump.

“Absolutely not!” Steve’s voice protested loudly and you instantly knew that the conclusion you came to was right.

They wanted… they wanted you-

“You want us to be the bait,” you voiced your thoughts, sounding as much in disbelief as you were.

There might have been a hint of hurt at the instant dismissal of the idea from Steve’s side. It shouldn’t have hurt you that he hated the idea of dating you – fake or not –, you were painfully aware of how much out of your league he was after all, but it did.

Of course, you were setting aside the fact that they were suggesting for you to play bait for a potential serial kidnapper – or worse, a serial killer. But hey, you would have been in Captain America’s company, what safer place on Earth there was?

“Kinda yeah,” Tony confirmed, one corner of his lips quirking as he noticed that you were… ugh, considering it.

Except there were two major hiccups; one, Steve was apparently very much against it, which, again, ouch, and second… well.

“I’m sorry, but who would be dumb enough to try to kidnap Captain America?” you questioned silently, earning two raised eyebrows and one frown from the man in question. He seemed… angry with you? You sunk further into your seat.

“That’s your issue with this? Not the fake dating? Watch out, Cap, you might have an admirer…”

Your face felt hot for the hundredth time in the past 24 hours.

“Shut up, Tony,” Steve hissed, shifting his gaze to him again. “Just let her be. This is out of question. I can’t believe you’re even considering it-”

You felt a pang in your gut, unsure whether he was referring to you or his superhero friends. He sounded… harsh. Steve was never harsh with you. It sucked.

Natasha sighed tiredly. “The thing is, Steve, that the cat is already out of the bag. We might as well use it.”

“No! No way! It’s too dangerous! And she has a point!” he gestured to you, his voice rising in volume again. “We should use some low-key agents – well-trained but not recognizable-“

“That’s the thing,” Tony interrupted his outrage, pointing a finger-gun at him. “We need the attention of this guy, whoever he might be. Or they. You absolutely will get the attention. Some random couple? Eeee, not so much. We need to make sure he picks the ones we send-”

Steve’s hand balled in a fist and he raised it, lowering his head to it, his knuckles brushing his mouth as if he needed to stop himself from spilling whatever streak of curses which gathered on the tip of his tongue. He took a deep breath, while your mind still raced.

If he would have agreed… would you be willing to do it?

An excited hormones-fuelled voice that imagined what could it be like, basking in his intimate proximity, touching casually for show, hell, maybe even kissing, yelled an enthusiastic yes.

Another, a voice of reason, the one that guarded your heart, pointed out that it would be all pretend, you would only fell for him harder and got your heart broken in the process as you would have only had a week or something of a somewhat relationship with Steve and then had it taken away.

Then the third voice screamed at you to get your shit together, because this meant offering yourself to be a bait for a serial whatever, a very much bad guy, and you should get your sense of self-preservation checked.

But the missing couples-! Protested yet another voice and you shook your head lightly in attempt to shush them all and focus on the discussion that was still unfolding in front of you. The choice wasn’t yours anyway – at least not only yours.

“Yes, I get that, Tony. So… so it will just take some more time to lure him in, but at least we won’t endanger a civilian.”

The way Steve said the last word gave you a pause, angry and yet warmly; and his distaste made so much more sense now, his protective side kicking into overdrive and the realization eased your mind a bit. He might not want to date you (fake-date you, whatever), but it wasn’t the only reason.

He wanted to keep you safe.

Which was… very sweet and thoughtful of him and there might have been a part of you that lighted up at his care; purely friendly or not, you apparently mattered.

See, you should go through with this. It could be so, soooo nice…

Shut your cakehole!

“Ten people are already missing, Rogers,” Tony reminded him and your gaze involuntarily shifted towards the photos again, guilt stabbing your stomach. “Potentially dead.”

“And she’s NOT going to be the eleventh!” Steve exploded, hitting the table again with his fist, glaring at his friend, fuming with irritation.

You gulped, startled by the display of strength, yet you didn’t tear your eyes away from the hologram to check Steve’s expression.

Ten people. Potentially dead. Christ.

Innocent people. Civilians, just like you.

Their faces were staring at you accusingly. What choice was to make here?

Fuck self-preservation; you would have Steve by your side. The danger of getting hurt was minimal. Admittedly, your heart was in a considerably higher risk, but that was for you to deal with later.

You cleared your throat, fighting against the lump that had grown in it. Your voice was quiet in comparison to Steve’s angry exclaims, but it brought everyone’s attention to you nonetheless.

“No, I won’t…”

Steve shot you a grateful look, apparently convinced you finally gathered some sense and were taking his side. Natasha’s slow smile seemed to confuse him; and you knew that she, unlike Steve, caught on.

“…because you’ll protect me,” you explained slowly, skilfully avoiding Steve’s gaze, grateful when Tony clapped his hands twice, content, and gave you an excuse to look at him instead.

“Great! It’s a date!”

“Doll…” a low warning came from your left and you swallowed again, mouth dry as he spoke the rarely used pet name.

Shifting your gaze so it focused on the table between you, you bargained, ignoring the flutter in your stomach. “Unless you’re disgusted with a little pretending. We don’t exactly have to make out-“

A hand, a very nice large hand with tenderlong fingers appeared in your field of vision, making you look up, your teeth worrying over your lower lip. Hesitantly, you extended your own hand, placing it in his. He squeezed gently; you barely noticed, too lost in his eyes, his emotions served on a cerulean platter. Disapproval. Concern. Hesitance.

He was considering it.

“That’s not it, doll. This… this could get ugly pretty quickly and— you didn’t sign up for this. I- I’d hate for you to get hurt,” he whispered sincerely, a vulnerability you weren’t used to seeing softening his expression.

Your heart might have almost given out at his admission.

“I trust you, Steve,” you declared with the same honesty, making sure to keep your gazes locked. “I trust you with my life.”

You could almost hear the wheels turning in his head again, considering every angle, battling the responsibility he felt towards the missing couples and his unwillingness to go through with this.

You heard your pulse pounding in your ears, speeding up with each second of staring into his eyes, assessing your expression, searching. God, how a person could have eyes so deep? Were you even breathing or did you forget how to do that with him looking at you as if the rest of the world didn’t exist, his warm palm engulfing yours?

The sound of slow claps snapped you from your reverie and you backed into your seat as if you got burned (again), following the sound with your eyes; Tony was clapping his hands, earning a death glare from Natasha and Steve, while you only stared at him, confused.

“What? I thought they were practicing!” he said to his defence, shrugging.

“Tupitsa,” Natasha muttered under her breath and you had a distant feeling that it was an insult in her mother tongue. Not that you cared, you were still too taken aback by the fact this was actually happening. And you were most definitely not recovered from your surreal moment with Steve. “Anyway. There’s one more little thing.”

“…what?” Steve sighed, seemingly bone-tired.

“All of the couples? They were freshly engaged,” Natasha explained with an innocent grin.

Well. Fuck.

“So, hon,” Tony hummed, pulling out a jewellery box from his pocket, apparently having been counting on you agreeing to their plan.

He made a show of opening the box ceremonially and revealing a ring which very obviously came from a vending machine. He placed it on the table between you and Steve, much closer to you.

“Will you make me the happiest man on Earth and become Steve’s wife?”

Sam Wilson was a man on a mission.

And the mission was to punch Captain America so hard that the man would see all the stars he was supposedly spangled with.

The nerve on him! How dared he to-

Oh, Sam was so pissed off.

No, he was beyond pissed off. He saw red. He was out for blood. He was fucking furious.

He didn’t bother knocking and threw the door open with such force that it hit the wall; he was sure that the only reason it was able to do that was not the lack of technical advance, but Tony’s need for dramatics for when he needed to do exactly what Sam did.

For once, Sam was truly, truly grateful.

“What the fuck were you thinking?!”

He found his so-called friend who was about to get punched sitting at his desk, pinching the bridge of his nose as if he was ready to take a nap for another seventy years.

“Sam-“ he muttered and the image of him, his tone… it gave Sam a pause. Enough for him to have the decency to shut the door and take a breath before turning back to the supersoldier, who was now watching him with a set of puppy eyes.

Sam huffed in exasperation. Avenging did not pay good enough for him to deal with this shit. Especially not with this kind of bullshit. He strode to the desk, but kept his fists at his side.

For now.

“You do not get to ‘Sam’ me! Not when you agreed to put my friend’s life on the line! A very civilian, very much defenceless friend!!” he spitted out, unable to keep his voice even.

And why should he? That was his friend he was talking about! And Captain Flawless Moral Compass just put her in danger! And for what?! Because he wasn’t couldn’t keep it in his pa-

“I tried to talk them out of it,” Steve defended himself evenly. “Trust me, Sam, I don’t like it either-“

That fucking nerve on him!

“Oh, don’t you?” Sam asked sarcastically, tone biting. “You really wanna pretend that faking a relationship with her, having an excuse to be aaaaawfully close, casual touching, kissing, god knows what, isn’t ridiculously convenient for you?!”

Steve straightened in his chair at that implication.

“Hey! I would never do anything against her will!”

“You BETTER!” Sam exploded, accenting his words with his fist hitting the desk hard enough to hurt himself. Panting, he drilled a hole in Steve’s head with the intensity of his glare, staring into the guilt-laced eyes, until Steve apparently couldn’t bear it, lowering his gaze. Sam sighed, dropping his head and leaned onto his palms on the table. “You better, Rogers.”

Silence wrapped around the men, neither of the saying a word, both of them too caught in their own heads.

“And I will do everything to protect her,” Steve whispered, causing Sam to grind his teeth, a coil twisting his stomach.

Of fucking course. Scout boy Steve, a protective Prince Charming. Naturally, he would promise Sam that. The responsibility Sam was convinced Steve would feel for her was the only thing that saved the supersoldier from a punch in his face.

“Good. Because if you don’t, I’ll raise a fucking hell. That’s basically my little sister we’re talking about.”

Which wasn’t quite the truth. They didn’t even know each other that long but they might as well do.

He had taken over the role of the big brother soon after they had become friends and she had come to work with red-rimmed eyes, admitting why, after a bit of subtle pressure from his side. She had been smart enough to cut off a relationship with a control-freak asshole early, but Sam was sure that moment that her gentle soul needed to be protected. And he had happily stepped in, vetting every guy who even remotely showed interest in her ever since.

It was probably pointless to say that so far, he approved of no one. Even though… well.

“I’d never forgive myself if she got hurt on my watch,” Steve pointed out, voice still rather quiet in contrast to Sam’s. “I care about her, Sam. You know that. I know you do.”

“Yeah, that’s part of the problem,” Sam scoffed, crossing his arms on his chest in defiance. “Please, all least drop the crappy act of Stark and Romanoff having to twist your arm to do this.”

The blond leaned into the backrest heavily, eyeing his friend with resemblance of guilt. At least he had enough decency to do so.

“Sam, I-“

“You keep her safe,” Sam ordered, raising his index finger to emphasize his point. “And you do not break her heart, you hear me? Because otherwise? You’re a dead man, serum-boosted or not.”

Steve gulped, his Adam’s apple jumping. Sam felt a wave of satisfaction at completed mission wash over him. He wasn’t naïve; he wasn’t fooling himself thinking Steve was afraid of getting punched. No, he was afraid that he just might hurt her himself; and knowing that, Sam trusted him a bit more.

After all, until today’s horrible decision, Steve Rogers had been so far the only candidate Sam respected enough to consider giving a green light for pursuing his little sister.

“Noted.”

Sam left the room with a sharp nod of approval, peripherally noticing Steve running a hand down his face.

This time, Sam was careful with the door.

Part 3

Tags: @mermaidxatxheart​ @bobertswagert​ @kakakatey​ @ccolz88-blog​  @joeyrumlow​ @lovemeterwrites​

If I forgot to tag anyone, kick me via an ask or a message ;) Same if you want to be added/removed.

Thank you for the love :-*

[alwaysspeakshermind]

Top 5  Anti-Varchie Arguments & Why They Make No Sense

#4: “Varchie’s boring/predictable, love at first sight is so cliché(d).”

Love at first sight is so clichéd? Okay, sure, I’ll allow that.

I’ll even agree.

But think contextually for a sec: love-at-first-sight is so clichéd as opposed to what? The utterly original, never-been-done-before uniqueness of best-friends-to-lovers that Barchie and also Bughead, why do people who say they want to see a friends-to-lovers relationship keep forgetting Bughead’s in that category? represents? The novel concept of enemies-to-lovers that is Cheryl/Toni (and Veggie if you squint)? The dated-in-the-past-but-sparks-still-fly (Falice, Tom Keller/Sierra McCoy, Fred/Hermione) or misunderstood-outsider-falls-in-love-with-“perfect”-America’s Sweetheart (Bughead, and also Kevin/Joaquin, Kevin/Fangs)? 

Come on.

Whether it’s your cup of tea or not, a trope is a trope is a trope. There are only so many combinations possible when it comes to romantic dynamics, and since fiction and reality have both existed for a really long time, there’s no one trope that hasn’t already been done a million times over. So…what’s the point of harping on this particular one? Or any other trope just because it’s not your personal favorite?

Yes, Love At First Sight is the bread-and-butter of many fairytales and/or Disney movies. But it’s by no means alone in that regard. 

Best friends/childhood friends-to-lovers has been a longtime staple of books, TV shows, rom-coms, and musicals (Harry Potter, Kim Possible, 13 Going On 30, Phantom of the Opera, and Lion King all say hello), and so has enemies-to-lovers (27 Dresses, The Proposal, You’ve Got Mail, Tangled, etc.). I’m not even going to bother touching on the sparks-still-fly/loner-loves-”good” kid thing, because the first is the golden goose for Hallmark, Lifetime, an a billion-and-one romance novels, while the second is YA fiction in a nutshell. And if you’re one of those “I can’t help it, friends-to-lovers is my crack” kind of people, it might be worth noting that “Love At First Sight” is plenty of other people’s crack. Also, if your complaint against a trope you find overused is a valid argument, so is someone else’s. Childhood-best-friends-to-lovers may feel newer and unique to you, but it doesn’t to everyone. Some people are as tired of it as you are of Love At First Sight. 

And even if your claim is that “love at first sight’s not realistic/there’s like zero basis for it in the real world/it’s the exception not the rule,” that claim also extends to Childhood Best-Friends-To-Lovers and Enemies-To-Lovers. 

In the real world, the Best-Friends-To-Lovers thing is about as common as Love At First Sight, with the latter maybe being a bit more common, since the overwhelming majority of people tend to notice attraction within the first fifteen minutes of meeting someone and the overwhelming majority of childhood best friends grow up thinking of each other as a sibling. (Important distinction: when childhood best friends do grow up, fall in love and get married, they don’t tend to take until high school/college to figure out how they feel. They’re typically aware of it from puberty/slightly before puberty onward, and it doesn’t change because they already know everything there is to know about that person...they know if they’re attracted to them; they know if they’re not.) And both those tropes are more common in everyday life than enemies-to-lovers since, in truth, most people don’t want to have anything to do with the antagonistic person who made their life miserable.

So realism/unrealism? Kind of a shifting-sands argument. Especially within the context of a show that puts an ex-“gang” member in as sheriff and deputizes other “gang” members, one of whom is named Sweet Pea, of all things. I mean, if you truly feel morally obligated to reality-police Riverdale, there are far more pressing issues than the likelihood of two teens meeting each other one time and deciding within five minutes that “This is The One” (which is not even how it happens except for Archie, but still).

What it really comes down to is not the trope itself, but how well the trope is executed. 

In other words, it’s not what you’re given...it’s what you do with what you’re given. Every trope has been done many times before. Like it or not, that is an undeniable fact. Arguing that something has little-to-no value purely on the basis of its commonality is in essence weighting originality (theory) over style (practical application). To illustrate why this kind of thinking is a critical mistake, let’s put it this way: weighting originality over style is like saying Riverdale Season 3 is better than Riverdale Season 1. 

...Which, as even the most casual of Riverdale viewers knows, is not the case.

Is S3 more ambitious than S1? Yes. Does S3 contain more jaw-dropping plot twists than S1? Absolutely. Are there some damn fun episodes in S3? For sure. But guess what? S3 also contains far more plot holes, inane plot “twists” and contradictory developments/sheer why-are-you-trying-to-make-fetch-happen-with-this-storyline moments because S3 goes so hard for shock value/the unexpected, that it effectively lapses on execution and winds up with a more creative, but ultimately less-compelling finished product than S1. Moral to the story? Creativity is good, but devotion to creativity at the exclusion of all else is not. If a few predictable elements aren’t mixed into an unpredictable world (or vice versa), everything ceases to shock. On Riverdale, because things are always so wild, the biggest surprises are usually when things unfold normally/don’t go haywire.

Now.

Me personally, I’ve shipped every trope at least once. I’m in the habit of making myself set aside all preconceived notions when beginning a new show/book/movie, because I never know what, if any, ship I’ll go for. Historically, I’m about 50-50 on Childhood-best-friends-to-lovers—sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it. Enemies-to-lovers—usually, I dig it, sometimes it’s a big, fat no from me, dawg. Love At First Sight however, I am overwhelmingly prejudiced against. And when I say overwhelmingly prejudiced, I mean that as a rule, I flat-out hate it. I find it stupid. It annoys me. I roll my eyes and make jokes.

But, here I am. Writing a bunch of long-ass Tumblr posts in defense of a fictional relationship that makes a direct play on the Love At First Sight trope.

So why are Archie and Veronica my huge exception? 

Well, for one thing, their relationship kicks off in a manner that is highly evocative of the comics. The instant Archie sees Veronica, all of time (for him) stands still. The one solitary thing he’s aware of from the moment she steps into Pop’s and he looks up is her. No matter what he’s doing, he ends up looking at her, and after a very short amount of time, the same goes for Veronica (though of course, she tries to play it cool). Regardless of how I feel about the cheesiness of the trope, the execution of the scene is fricking cute.

For another: it actually is an unusual trope, and I was surprised to see it used. 

Don’t get me wrong, the whole see-a-person-across-a-crowded-room deal is a cliché and it’s a million percent been done to death. But the funny thing is, Love At First Sight is such a clichéd cliché that it’s hardly ever used nowadays. By virtue of its extreme clichédness in fact, it has accidentally and ironically become fresh again because the second someone suggests it, someone else inevitably goes, “Nah, that’s too clichéd, we can’t do that.” In all honesty, I can’t remember one TV show or non-90s-Disney movie I watched in the last ten years where that trope was used over any/all of the other tropes available. I actually intended to make a list of the books/movies/shows I know of that have used the friends/enemies to lovers trope for comparison purposes, but it was getting so long with just the books section I ended up going, “Haha, no,” and scrapped that plan. (But for the record, almost every single Jane Austen novel is on that list.)

So, in summary: Love At First Sight clichéd? Yep. For sure.

Too clichéd?

Nope.

Certainly no more, and arguably less, than the other tropes Riverdale’s many ships adhere to. So if you’re not nonstop complaining about those other ships on the basis of the overdone/predictability factor, it shouldn’t be an issue that Varchie’s relationship is built around a recognizable trope that has been out-of-use by most everyone except Disney for a good while now. (Besides, some tropes are considered timeless for a reason.) 

And seriously, if we’re going to go down the Disney path, let’s stop a second and recall how many Disney Channel shows/movies in the last decade utilized Best-Friends-To-Lovers and Enemies-To-Lovers. Or hey, what about Nickelodeon shows? Or  maybe cop/CSI/civil service-type shows where best friend partners/partners who hate each other eventually fall in love?

Again, a relationship is not automatically made “boring” because it falls within the parameters of a well-known trope, and “predictable” does not automatically mean “bad.” If that were truly the case, no fictional relationship from probably the 18th century onward would have any popularity and/or critical acclaim. And if you try to argue that that’s just how it is for you personally: predictable/clichéd = boring, you should probably keep in mind that when measured by those standards, every single other ship on Riverdale is, by definition, boring. 

Every.

Single.

One.

Not just Varchie. 

So if you really are passionate about Riverdale not focusing on a “boring, predictable, clichéd ship instead of an interesting one,” you might want to take a break from griping about Archie and Veronica and start examining exactly how original those "interesting” ships you’re touting actually are. And if that’s not really what you mean, if you don’t really buy into the line you’re selling (i.e., you’re just using “they’re so boring” as an excuse to disguise the fact that you don’t like Varchie because they prevent your preferred ship from happening), you might also want to consider just being honest about that. 

Because when you build your argument around a point that encompasses more relationships than just the one you’re criticizing, it makes you look like you’re either extremely clueless in not realizing that your complaint also applies to your ship/other ships, or else a giant hypocrite.

[reflektormag]

Our top 10 albums of the year so far

Brian Rhatigan

Here at Reflektor, we listen to a lot of music, I mean a lot. So, we decided to compile a list of our favorite albums from the year thus far. Please take your time and listen to each of these albums, they are our favorites for a reason!

Note: The ranking of these albums are in no particular order.

God’s Favorite Customer - Father John Misty

God’s Favorite Customer, Josh Tillman’s fourth studio album under the name ‘Father John Misty’ is arguably the most emotional album by Tillman. FJM’s other albums have been received with great praise, and so has God’s Favorite Customer.

“God’s Favorite Customer is Father John Misty’s 4th studio album. As with all of his previous releases, it’s his lyrics that always stand out to me. This time around Tillman’s lyrics are more vulnerable and sincere than they’ve ever been although he never seems to loose his wit and humor. Aside from the lyrics the album just sounds really good, there’s some nice soft rock/70s vibes. God’s Favorite Customer is a record about heartbreak, and is a comedown from his previous 2 records.”  - Carla Huysmans

Tell Me How You Really Feel - Courtney Barnett

Aussie rocker Courtney Barnett comes in swinging with her second full length studio album. ‘Tell me how you Really Feel’ is filled to the brim with emotional and meaningful lyrics like in “Nameless, Faceless”, when Barnett sings about the troubles she has had with internet trolls.

“She really manages to fully cement her style, both musically and through her lyrics, which I find very vulnerable, but also uniquely original, with always an expected twist. I also recently went to a concert of hers and she is one of those rare artists who sounds better live, on a musical level.” - Leila Ricca

Lush - Snail Mail

Maryland native Lindsey Jordan started writing her first EP ‘Habit’ when she was 15. After graduating high school, Jordan released her debut LP “Lush” on Matador records. Songs like “Pristine” and “Heatwave” stand out because of the simplicity in the chords and the meaning in the lyrics.

“Lush is easily my favorite album of the year. Each song brings something lyrically new to the table that anyone can connect with. And Lindsey Jordan is just so damn gorgeous.” - Brian Rhatigan

KOD - J Cole

KOD is North Carolina rapper J Cole’s fifth studio album. The 12 song album is a beautiful blend of soul, jazz, rap, and rock. There are three different interpretations behind KOD; Kids on Drugs, Kids Overdosed, or Kill our Demons, all fitting labels for the atmosphere of the album.

“It was the best album of the year where all the songs fit together as one piece of work, rather than individual songs put together. It also told a meaningful story, had great lyricism, and combined different genres of music.” - Bryce Murphy

Blank Panther, The Album - Various Artists

“Black Panther: The Album is a perfect contender for this list. It showcases each TDE member’s talent, and blends the themes of the film with African culture seamlessly. The transitions are flawless, the lyrics are thoughtful, and the fact that it was made while some artists were on the road is incredible. It provides a modern soundtrack to a movie that blends tradition with the future of what will hopefully be a Hollywood that is more diverse and groundbreaking than ever before.” - Sarah Beckford

Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino - Arctic Monkeys

“After five years of silence, the Arctic Monkeys make their much-awaited return with surprising and hypnotic ‘Tranquillity Base Hotel and Casino’. Perfectly managing to avoid self-parody or stylistic repetitions, this new album appears as a startling reinvention, a meandering and puzzling journey beyond known territories. Just like mankind first set foot on the moon on the ‘Tranquillity base’ site, the Arctic Monkeys disembark in an unknown universe in which they reveal a new, unexpected aspect of themselves.” - Freda Looker

Little Dark Age - MGMT

“This new album draws heavily from 80’s synth pop/brit pop, and yet still holds true to that psychedelic charm that has peppered their career. They kick things off with ‘She Works Out Too Much,’ a spoof on exercise music. The driving beat, and pounding bass line keep the listener mentally jogging in place for four minutes and 38 seconds (the instructor voice-overs really sell it). Title track, ‘Little Dark Age’ is a darker turn into goth pop, previously unexplored by the duo until now. That’s not to say it’s not catchy, as it does bare a similar song structure and groove to one of their “big three,” ‘Electric Feel.’ It has, undoubtedly, the crispest production on the album; sharp vocals, a tight snare, and a most notable synth bass that doesn’t let up. The third track and second single, ‘When You Die,’ is gloomy and aggressive. The stringy acoustic guitar is perfectly present, weaving in and out of a frustrated Vanwyngarden, who isn’t hesitant in telling the audience, “Go fuck yourself”. ‘Me and Michael’ is a straight trip to the 80s: cheesy lyrics; copious synth; dozens of “woahs;” and some guy named Michael. It’s familiar, charming, and it’s a foot down on the grounds that they can still write a hook. ‘Tslamp’ (Time Spent Looking at my Phone) is what the tape machine spit out after being fed an utter disregard for the technology that we have literally become addicted to. ‘James’ is another ode to the 80s and a “Goonies” type camaraderie. ‘One Thing Left to Try’ is in the same vein as ‘She Works Out Too Much,’ in its annoying, overdrawn out glory. An unnecessary, synth pop battle cry.” - Kendall Wright

Freedoms Goblin - Ty Segall

“This 19 song album is one hell of an adventure, composed of ballads and fuzz ridden tunes guaranteed to leave the listener asking for more. But if 19 songs are not enough for you, don’t worry. Segall averages one album each year, just like fellow Bay Area rocker John Dwyer of Thee Oh Sees, who happened to help produce Segall’s debut album. “Freedom’s Goblin” consists of hard rocking songs like “Fanny Dog”, and straight covers like “Every 1’s a Winner”. Regardless, Segall continues to push out hard rocking tunes that even the faintest rock fans can enjoy.” - Joe Terry

Isolation - Kali Uchis

“The album opens on the Bossa Nova masterpiece ‘Body Language.’ During a Reddit Q&A, when asked what the overarching theme of the album was, she replied ‘finishing your dry martini, enjoying views of the water as a beautiful woman dives in,’ and this track invokes exactly that image with the first beat drop. After that, the album flutters between genres through the hard-and-fast R&B track ‘Miami,’ the beat-driven collaboration with Steve Lacy ‘Just A Stranger,’ and the dreamy ballad ‘Flight 22.’ She flows through each medium with ease, rejuvenating it and making it her own as she goes. Pop hits like ‘Tyrant’ brush shoulders with the funk triumph ‘After the Storm’ and the Winehouse-esque closers ‘feel like a fool’ and ‘killer.’ There’s something for everyone on this album, yet at the end of it all, no matter your tastes in music, there will be only one name on your lips; ‘Kali Uchis.’” - Thomas Nell

Virtue - The Voidz (Formerly Julian Casablancas + The Voidz)

“Arriving three and a half years later, Virtue, the sophomore effort of the group (now just wearing the moniker The Voidz, as if to dismiss claims that it is a ‘side project’ in the traditional sense) is the anti-Tyranny. All that unbridled experimentation and exploration has been distilled into something that is much more recognizable and palatable. Although artistically, it’s coming from the same place fundamentally, Casablancas and his new group, have purposefully tamed the unwieldy beast of creativity, presenting the results of their exploration in a much more neatly presented package so that their audience can enjoy what they discovered as much as they did.”  - Dylan Harkin