#people take shipping to seriously too though like does it matter who you think are cute together?

[quantomeno]

I always feel mildly bemused when I read people post about stuff like systemic sexism in fandoms, particularly things like about how people complain more about female characters but ignore male characters with similar faults, or the fandoms loving gay ships but not making as much fanworks for lesbian ones.

Part of this is just because I like female characters (despite being male, I tend to prefer things with female leads etc) and I'm not that involved in a lot of fandom arguments nor do I read a lot of shipfics, so I only hear about a lot of the sexism when people complain about it. Which is kind of funny to me in the fact it must exist, but I'm just conveniently shielded from it.

The other reason is some of my earliest fandoms I got involved in were female-majority casts, so most people do ship the women. Like, I think Equestria Daily once put out an apology after they posted a Braeburn m/m fic (admittedly, the outrage from the bronies back then in 2012 or whenever was probably out of homophobia, which isn't nice either, but the point still stands that they were no issues with w/w shipfics and to this day they are the vast, vast majority of shipping fics (mostly because once you've shipped Braeburn, Sorin' and Big Mac together there aren't that many other guys left to ship, but nonetheless)). Or like Barbie with its vastly superior chemistry between the joint female leads over the threadbare male love interest they've thrown in. Even when the male leads are good, it's popular to ship the girls.

I don't think I have anything substantial to say. I just don't understand the issues other men (or indeed women) have with female characters (and women and femininity in general) (I mean I do understand I just find it bizarre it when like a friend of mine once said he wasn't really interested in stories with female leads. I don't know, maybe read more books with better female protags? I have a bookshelf's worth if you want suggestions) (also like when people suggest there needs to be more talk about good female characters like, most of my favourites are already females and I will gladly talk about them till the cows come home). But also that's just me.

Also I kind of do like m/m ships a fraction more but that's like 90% because I'm bi and so, you know, I like seeing guys together because I kind of would like to get together with a guy if the opportunity arose. But I mean other than that they're just ships. Like sure there can be a different vibe or flavour to w/w or m/m or straight ships, but I mean if they're good characters why should my interest depend on their genders? I read things to experience the lives of others, I don't want to just see stories that match my experience. And sometimes I empathise most with the female characters so like, you need to approach characters with an open mind. I don't know.

OK I'm rambling now. I think I made my point. I'm not sure what it was anymore but I guess it's that women in fiction are cool and I don't know what everyone else's problem is.

[ink-perfect]

thinking about...

luffy and the way he is unapologetically full of love. living in an era that craves being detached and playing hard to get, he's a breath of fresh air - so uncomplicated, pure, and just. real.

he has that kind of charisma that can be charmed to lead a fleet, hypnotise a tyrant, or win over an island in a second flat. but the thing is, he doesn't care about any of that. he's not wanting to be cool or a player or anything of that sort; he's just monkey d. luffy, future king of the pirates.

this is a man who would hug you in the middle of a thousand people with absolutely no thought or care, grinning that big goofy grin of his, eyes sparkling with that childlike glee he can always seem to have, because he saw you across the deck. he doesn't do subtlety, he doesn't play games. he's an open book, loud and honest; when he loves, he loves with his whole chest - a hurricane of laughter, a whirlwind of warmth. in a world that has blurred the lines between love and lazy, luffy wears his heart on his sleeve, and it is so damn endearing.

and if there's one thing he sees other than meat, it's you. he sees you everywhere, even in himself: in the sparkle of his eyes at the tone of your voice, or how he will stop mid-bite (a big deal for luffy) just to listen to you talk.

he will let you cry on his shoulder, even when he doesn't know what to say, because sometimes, he understands it's enough to just be there.

he's one of those guys who's always chasing adventure, always running toward the horizon, yet without you even realising it, he had been bringing you along this endless journey, his hand clasping yours. you are sewn into the tapestry of his dreams, tucked between the discovery of the one piece and the thrill of the next battle. not to woo or prove anything to you, but more so because you have become as integral to him as the sea breeze at his back or the open expanse of ocean before him - freedom he holds so dear.

for luffy, love isn't about dramatic gestures or sweet words, though he does make a point of doing those for you as well.

it's more in the way he reaches out and snatches your hand up, yanking you off after him toward some mad new adventure without any afterthoughts. in the way he laughs with you into the dead of night or always manages to keep a place open beside him at banquet even when the food's all but gone (because of him, of course).

it's in the silent promise of his loyalty, as unwavering and steadfast as tides pushing his ship toward unknown shores.

and the crew? they, too, see this, no matter how observant they are. zoro, blind to everything but his training, and nami, with eyes that just always know, both notice the beauty of your connection to the same degree despite their disparity in intuition. they see how instinctively you two move toward each other, faces lighting up before a single word is even exchanged. even sanji has stopped teasing, not because he's run out of one-liners, but because he's actually, surprisingly, impressed at the sheer power of your love. usopp sometimes seriously wants to take notes for kaya after seeing just how enamoured the two of you are by each other.

and that is what it's all about: it is all so real with luffy: no games, no masks, no holding back. all or nothing, and with you, it's all. even during the filler episodes of your life, he is still there, soaking your presence like the sun seeping through sails.

to be loved by luffy means to be taken along in his world, the joy he feels is your own, the laughter yours mingled with his, carried off on sea breeze. it means knowing that no matter where the grand line may take you, or what dangers may come your way, there's always that simple, sincere smile waiting to greet you on the other side of the storm. and somehow, it will always be enough.

── ౨ৎ masterlist

[jweekgoji]

yan! hiccup/reader/yan! dagur

I'm on season 4 of RTTE but I just can't help but think how interesting the dynamic between Yan!hiccup and Yan!dagur would be.

tw: yandere, yandere rivals, mentions of attempts of kidnapping, slightly stalk-ish hiccup (?), overprotective Dragur, possessiveness

Dagur is already such a troublesome and unbearable person. sorry not sorry, but seriously, that guy toyed with Hiccup and almost drowned him? such a menace but that's why we love him, haha.

pre RTTE is probably one of the wildest times for you to be in this love triangle. while it is actually so nice to be around Hiccup, discussing every simple thing you two enjoy together like drawing or inventing (of course, not without him awkwardly standing next to you, almost stuttering every now and then); Dagur is the one who mostly talks. He would drag you around the island, yelling about how you two would be unstoppable together as dragon hunters and eventually you two might succeed in killing THE night fury! well, he would be the one who did all the job because it's him, obviously 🙄but you were here too, I guess...doing somethin very very important…

Even though Dagur gets a «bit» too crazy during dragon hunting, he still pays a good amount of attention to you. He would constantly make sure you stay NEAR him ALL the time, if you just made a few steps away, he would not bother casually taking your hand and be like 'nuh-uh, you're not going anywhere ☝️' with that calm voice of his, as if he's talking to some reckless little thing like you, who totally needs to be looked after by him. Dagur likes physical touch, he also loves the attention, giving and receiving it at the same time. If something or someone poses a threat to you, he would not hesitate to pull you behind him and deal with it himself.

Hiccup can't be as bold as Dagur though. He's shy, awkward and just doesn't have any experience at all. I'm not sure if Dagur has any experience too, but he's at least confident in what he does. Unlike Dagur, Hiccup is not as strong as him, and most of the time, it makes him frustrated and feel less of himself. He already experienced constant bullying by people on his own island, including his father and he judges himself too. But with Toothless around, he feels less powerless and more hopeful. If he is sure you're fine with dragons, he would find it as a reason to get closer to you. You want to find a dragon friend? Good for you, Hiccup is the best dragon trainer around. If you have your own dragon, it's just more perfect for him, because he would now use the opportunity to show his skills to you and maybe prove that he's actually more than everyone thinks of him? If he's very awkward with you on the ground, eye to eye, he's less tense around you now that he has his best friend around him. After all, it doesn't feel as scary as before.

Dealing with both Dagur and Hiccup would not be easy. Because if they both have a massive crush on you, it's just a matter of time before one finds out about the other. I feel like Dagur might get suspicious at first, because he doesn't care if you like him or someone else, he will be around you. Hold his hands around your waist, shoulders, constantly whining if you just stop paying attention to him as if his life depends on it. If someone approaches you, like Snotlout, he just can't help but show how annoyed he is. Dagur is not shy about making it obvious how the presence of others irritates him.

Hiccup has to be concerned about the dragons' safety, the safety of Berk, Dagur and now yours safety too. If you're not from Berserker Island but from Berk, Dagur doesn't want to part ways at all. He puts his eye on you, and he just can't let you slip away like that. He might just put you over his shoulder and get you on his ship when it's time to go— but thankfully, Hiccup notices this at the right time and saves you from the fate of being stuck with this madman.

If Dagur treats everyone as a possible rival, Hiccup is not that comfortable expressing his feelings yet. I mean, of course he likes you, he would constantly daydream about you like a normal teenage boy, sketching you in his book so many times that even Toothless can replicate it with a stick between his teeth. Well, maybe just a bit more than just a typical teenage boy crush. He knows he can't be like Dagur who can just express his love to you whenever the young Berserker chief sees you, but he shows it in every small but meaningful way he can. Hiccup would find out what you're interested in, what you like, and every small little fact he can memorize, but he would put it like it's just all an accident and pretend like he didn't know anything about it. good for you to have a friend like him?

When things get more heated between you three, Dagur is more protective, he's not that dumb, actually, and he perfectly sees how his bro gets a bit too friendly with you. He really, really tries to think it's just because his two favorite people are being nice to each other and nothing more, but jealousy...! I don't think he would be as violent towards Hiccup as to other people, before «betrayal» he actually thought of the poor boy as the only person he can trust.

«I just HATE how every time I try to get close to [them], someone always appears out of nowhere and takes [their] attention from ME! I mean, [they're] obviously mine, right? You wouldn't try to steal [them] from me too, yes, Hiccup? 🤨 Haha! Of course, you wouldn't, it's not like [they] interested in you anyway ☺️��

«...Right. 👀»

After the fight between the two when it gets revealed about the dragons, Dagur is practically furious. More than usual this time, since he is forced to leave, and he can't see your pretty face again now :((

But good news, it makes you and Hiccup closer now! Whether you want it or not, you were close to Dagur for a good amount of time, you might consider him even some kind of friend of yours. Someone might get a little suspicious of you, because maybe you accidentally took some bits of craziness from Dagur too, but eventually, Hiccup, being the sweet trustful sweetheart would make sure you feel as comfortable as possible. He stays longer than usual, asks if maybe you need a nice quiet ride with him and Toothless just to clear your mind off the recent incident, would always be the one who checks on you every day. He really, really wants to do more, but expressing his true feelings is still so hard for him. It was said that Hiccup is a good gift maker, so expect to receive some small gifts next to your door out of nowhere.

While being away from you, Dagur thinks only about these three things. Night Fury. Hiccup. You. 🔁

His ego hurts, his heart aches, and it doesn't help that he gets even more violent towards others. Every time he tries to attack the riders, he hopes to see you too. When he spots you on your dragon with other riders, he is happy. But you are with dragon riders, so he quickly loses his temper, screaming orders about how his people should focus on capturing you and night fury, the others don't really matter to him.

You just can't help but notice how the fights between the two get more serious with each time now that you're the main target. Dagur would make it one of his personal goals to drag you back to his ship, meanwhile Hiccup would do everything to not get you on Dagur's ship. And that just repeats over and over again, at this point it's just something deeply personal you three have. Meanwhile, the others are left all confused and lost. The time Dagur spent in prison is probably not for the best, isn't it?

[ivryne]

late night, telephones ˖ ࣪

⋆ ᳝ ֺ alhaitham x gn!reader | modern high school!au

— in which Kaveh made it his life mission to find out who is his roommate’s secret lover. [ pt two here ]

“Yes, goodnight darling. I’ll see you tomorrow. Yeah, love you too.”

Accidentally overhearing Alhaitham’s late night phone call was one thing Kaveh didn’t plan on. But hearing those words spur from his literally cold-as-ice tongue made him question his existence. Alhaitham?? Being affectionate with someone???? Saying ‘I love you’ back??? Was Kaveh about the be called up to celestia and live his remaining life with the primodial one??

Okay it’s not even about the fact that he called them darling. OR THE FACT THAT HE SAID I LOVE YOU BACK. Even though those facts alone were something he desperately need to talk about later. But one thing Kaveh was mostly surprised at was the fact that someone wanted to be affectionate with him.

That made him wonder. Like the green haired moron does literally nothing but sit and read. Without his pretty face, perfect brawns, and outstandingly smart brain, he would be nothing. No but seriously, did you ever see Alhaitham taking a step forward to start a conversation? No, exactly! In fact he’s the one that takes the initiative to stop them.

So from now on, Kaveh decided to make it his life mission to find out who exactly is willing to suffer for the sake of being with Alhaitham.

Going to his lists of candidates he has…uhm. He can’t really think of anyone right now rather than the librarian that spends 24/7 in the library. I mean he guessed they do have one thing in common. But no let’s cross that out.

Oh yeah! Alhaitham was in the student council. He was there as secretary! Okay that opened up a few spots for some people Alhaitham could be dating.

Okay so far here is his list:

1. Vice president of the student council, Cyno

Notes: possibility 40%. Seen them talk before but they hate each other sm. Honestly giving enemies to lovers vibe but didn’t Cyno had a thing w Tighnari? Idk need to check again.

2. Student council head of social media department, Nilou

Notes: possibility 60%. Very very pretty, single too (I think??) Seen them talk but I think only abt student council matters (or is it??). Kinda too good for Alhaitham. She doesn’t seem to be the type that likes cold guys. Does that cross her out??

3. Student council head of sports department, Dehya

Notes: possibility -100%. Definitely not. Rumour spreading around that she’s dating Dunyazard. Ship them sm ngl if she turned out to he dating Alhaitham I’ll kill him for ruining my ship. But overall definitely not.

4. Student council president, [ Name ]

Notes: possibility 25%. Nah bro they too good for him. They’re literally the definition of social butterfly and he’s likes the opposite. So many ppl chasing after them fr so if they turned out to be taken by Alhaitham, I’ll personally go back to celestia myself.

So far that was the list! It was okay so far but he needed more evidence. The one with most percentage on his list was Nilou. He’ll have to ask around to find more candidates too. But he was sure that the list of candidates wouldn’t be more than 5.

Before you questioned Kaveh to why didn’t he just asked Alhaitham, it’s because he would just stare at him blatantly and said “It’s not your problem” ! Honestly, getting an answer from Alhaitham aside for calculus matters is extremely difficult.

He did his research and observations. Alhaitham goes to the library every day (literally). He spends his time there reading the same kind of shit he does at home, staying quietly at a remote corner, away from all the other students.

There was no way this man is taken. The problem is he doesn’t even try. Like at all. 0 efforts. If Kaveh was his lover, he would’ve dump his ass in public and let him suffer the embarrassment. The worst part about that is the fact that he probably won’t even care!

After what seemed like 30 minutes, Kaveh decided that all was hopeless and finally went his merry away. Ah, if only he stayed just a minute more. Then he wouldn’t have missed your approaching figure heading towards the man whose nose is stuck in a book.

“Hi.” A small smile graced your lips, your eyes melt into those turquoise hues, one that reeked of fondness and admiration.

No words of greetings has yet to leaves his tongue, but the way he scooted over to the right, indicating you too sit by him was more than enough.

“So, when are we going to tell him?” Alhaitham averted his gaze from his book unto you. His eyes slightly squinted, showcasing evidence of him clearly thinking.

“Is it really equivalent for him to know?” Your boyfriend asked, earning a soft chuckle from you.

“Statically speaking, not really. But the way he’s searching for candidates is so hilarious and amusing to watch, don’t you think, darling?” Alhatham lifted his book up to eye level, covering the dust of pink that shimmered around his features.

He pondered awhile before replying “Ah you’re not wrong. It is quite the fun to see him run around chasing for some bit of evidence. A mastermind are you, my love?” Now it was your turn to flush shades of red. You can see the smile of adoration on his eyes cascading through the shades of his irises.

Times like these are where you love him most. Where the two of you sit in the presence of one another, quietly scheming and watching that friend of yours running around like a detective on a case. Seeing him desperately looking for the answer when it is right in front of him, sitting cross legged and maneuvering the most amusing smile.

do not repost, share, or copy ! Reblogs and likes very much appreciated!! Thankyou for taking ur time to read this hope you enjoyed it! Follow me for more xx

©️ shrslair.

[whymustyouhurtmeinthisway]

I know it's all jokes and I'm taking this too seriously, but all those A.B.A. cheating/Paracelsus cuck memes going around on Guilty Gear twitter piss me off a little. Not because they're getting in the way of my ship or anything like that, but because they fundamentally misunderstand A.B.A. and Paracelsus' dynamic to a ridiculous degree

A.B.A.'s unstoppably obsessed with Paracelsus, her soul's consumed by almost nothing but the overwhelming desire to be connected with him at every single waking moment. She'd never even consider "cheating" on him for a second, and even if she did she wouldn't take it even the slightest bit lightly. If she were to ever feel even a hint of attraction to anyone besides Paracelsus, she'd immediately undergo spine-tearing amounts of remorse, inner conflict, rage, doubt, and a thousand other negative emotions towards herself for even thinking about "cheating" on her beloved "husband" for a millisecond. I'm not gonna yell at you for making lighthearted ship art between her and another character or anything, but to me it'd be pretty out of character for her to just casually love someone else without massive inner torment before, during, and after the fact.

All the Paracelsus cuck jokes don't work at all because Paracelsus would be nothing but overjoyed if A.B.A. were to move on from him and find someone who actually loves her back. To be a cuck you gotta be feel a) distraught that your significant other's cheating on you, and b) turned on by it despite the circumstances, and Paracelsus fits neither of those by a long shot. Though he respects and cares for A.B.A. as a friend, he feels absolutely no romantic or sexual attraction towards her, and wants more than anything for her to not be in love with him. 100% of the "marriage" stuff between him and A.B.A. was done entirely without his consent, he takes every opportunity to remind people that he's not actually A.B.A.'s husband and doesn't love her the way she does, and the only reason he sticks with A.B.A. at all is because he's literally incapable of moving on his own to get away (and also because she'd be devastated were he to leave and he's too nice to put her through that).

In conclusion, Paracelsus would be extremely happy if A.B.A. were to ever "cheat" on him, not because he has any cuckholdish or voyeuristic tendencies, but because the two of them aren't actually in any kind of romantic or sexual relationship at all in the first place (no matter how much A.B.A. believes they are) and he'd love for her to move on from him to someone who actually loves her back (both for her sake and his own)

[sixosix]

BUT THEY ALL LEAD BACK TO YOU | S. HEIZOU

he said, “it’s a shame, then, that it’s against my ideals to commit a crime.” you couldn’t think too hard about what he said because he distracted you quickly with a kiss, even forgetting your name for a moment.

tags implied…Ahem yk, getting together, heizou is pining BAD but so are u (carnally now too ig), sweet sweet fluff

a/n 2700 words, holy shit this was longer than i planned T__T

previous part

"why does this shikanoin heizou want to meet me that badly? how does he even know me?"

kazuha smiles lightly, content with watching you make a mess of your temporary room like a cyclone. “i’m not so certain. heizou has a habit of prying into the lives of people he hears mentioned. i was reminiscing about the day i met you while catching up with him, and he insisted i introduce him before i could talk about anyone else.”

seriously, who does that?

kazuha had mentioned shikanoin heizou before, as with his other close friends. you were listening but not paying attention enough to have him as your surprise not-in-a-romantic-way-date like a pop quiz. it was as though you didn’t have enough time to prepare for heizou’s inevitable “what time and date did i meet kaedehara kazuha and what’s the name of my distant cousin?” but that’s not the case right now, which means what else could doushin shikanoin want from you? a good first impression and a far-from-suspicious job, obviously.

“there’s nothing about me—my hair’s a mess, why didn’t you tell me?— that could possibly warrant a tenryou commission detective’s interest in that way.”

you pick an unruly strand of hair off, then belatedly realize that walking outside would lead to more of them, and there is no point in doing so. you’re deeply stressed.

“clearly he disagrees,” your friend says in return, amused. you do not share his delight, back to pacing across and around your room.

“kazuha,” you groan, “he’s your friend, isn’t he? can’t you just ask what he wants from me? get this over with.” you abhor first introductions. can’t kazuha just tell you if you should ship your ass back to liyue right this instant?

“are you truly this nervous?”

“he’s a detective, kazuha. and no one can know what i do for a living—yelan will kick me out!”

“you don’t have to worry too much. he bears no ill intentions towards you. if he did,” kazuha pauses to meet your eyes intently, turning serious, “i wouldn’t have offered to introduce you to him in the first place.”

you throw your hands in the air, exasperated.

that answers absolutely nothing and only brings more questions. what does he want from you if not your occupation? surely a detective with a renowned reputation such as himself taking an interest in you means that he wants you to spill truths you’ve sworn to lie about.

maybe it’s not too late to ask if beidou wants a trip back home at this very moment.

“y/n,” kazuha says, with a hint of a fond smile, “let fate take the lead for today. you’ll find that it’s nothing like you’re agonizing over.”

your first memory of inazuma city is when kazuha was hauled away by a few people and left you stranded in the crowd, the same one who had seen you tailing kazuha like a lost puppy—the same one who treated your friend as something sort of a celebrity because of his famous block.

in the few days you’ve been wandering around here, you’ve learned that people everywhere, no matter the region, are always too curious. and somehow prepared to bargain for information.

you’re breezing through everyone in hopes they can sense you don’t want to talk with any of them at the moment. the last time you were lenient, new rumors sprung in the air the first few hours you arrived at inazuma, saying that you’re their ticket to meeting kaedahara kazuha himself.

you’d been deeply affronted. you’re not a scammer; even you’re incapable of tying kazuha to one place, much less holding a meet-and-greet for his fans.

“sorry, sorry, hey—wait up! you!” someone calls out from behind, sounding oddly familiar.

irritation spikes.

“i don’t know who kaedehara kazuha is, sorry,” you say, speeding past stalls and apologizing in advance for people who swerve out of your way.

but this person is determined, somehow swift enough to seize your wrist. there was a second where you forgot where you were for a moment and jerked your arm back in favor of a very, very violent self-defense— even so, this person’s grip was surprisingly strong.

he smiles when you meet his eyes. “i was looking for you, actually.”

there is no mistaking it. his face had been hard to tell in dim lighting, but even then, you could make out the soft features and the distinct twin moles illuminated by blue.

you couldn’t confuse him for someone else even if you tried. the moment you stared a little too long when he was being dragged away, you set it upon yourself for today—as if he was never unfamiliar.

“i know you,” you say, “you’re the drunk guy.”

and then it hits you harder than yelan’s kick on a good day.

this is the same guy kazuha said is a tenryou commission detective—their best one, people say, renowned for his commendable skills and intuition. you were expecting someone older, taller, who fit that description, and definitely, someone who didn’t look like…this.

“yes, that’s me,” he grins brightly. “hi.”

seeing him up close on a bright, sunny day was not the best idea. only here can you see the startlingly compelling shade of green on his eyes and the softness of his burgundy hair. only here can you realize that this man is exactly your type.

“hello,” you say pleasantly and hope you aren’t gaping.

shikanoin heizou looks around, taking in the number of people passing by. he looks back at you, and leans in close to whisper, “let’s go somewhere else.”

you follow him into a food stall, with only one person on the far edge eating. you take a seat on the two chairs laid out on the far right with him. this is starting to feel less like an interrogation and more like something you’re not willing to get into at the moment.

heizou leans against the wooden counter, announcing his order. he suggests food for you upon seeing the conflict on your face.

“you’re from liyue, right? you live in liyue?” is the first thing heizou asks, his arm still resting on the counter with his chin on his palm.

he looks enticing in the gold glow of the lanterns on both sides of the stall. you let your eyes stray, pretending you’re entranced by the ramen and not his arms. “i’m not here on any official business. i’m just here because kazuha begged me to accompany him to inazuma.”

“from what i heard, you jumped at the boat the moment kazuha offered inazuma for you.”

your brow twitches, caught. “details, details.”

the distinct scents of different foods sold in other stalls along with this fills your senses. your stomach rumbles, a gentle reminder. an embarrassing one, at that.

heizou smiles, and it’s almost sweet if you weren’t so suspicious. “my treat.”

“...shikanoin-san,” you begin, “is there a reason why you were so adamant about meeting me?”

his gaze drifts then, ears darkening. “do you remember that night we met? i dragged myself to work the next day, head pounding, my desk a mess from stumbling around it the night before. my mind was elsewhere. my peers ushered me when they caught me snea—ahem, doing patrols.”

“did they belittle you once again or something?”

“i’m pleased you still remember that.” your face burns, intently staring at the ramen the stall owner is preparing. “they told me all about how i was blabbing their ears off about someone. someone i insisted must be a youkai with how uncharacteristically enamored i was. they told me i kept asking to get myself drunk again to trace myself back to you—and i almost considered it sober.”

“that’s stupid,” you say, pretending you aren’t flustered by this.

“isn’t it?” he doesn’t look embarrassed at all. “but then i saw kazuha. we caught up, and he told me about this friend who is a stranger in inazuma; my intuition honed in on your name the moment he mentioned it.”

“and what do you know—” heizou glances at you, “—my intuition still hasn’t failed me.”

this could’ve been the moment you realized that shikanoin heizou is a dangerous, dangerous man, but really, it was on that night when he had been an ungraceful mess, letting you pin him against the tree with a gleam in his eye.

finally, food is served, and you don’t have to answer that. you can only hope that heizou won’t hone in your face the same way, and you can excuse the steam of the ramen as the culprit of its heat.

“so,” heizou begins, and you dread how it’s going, “you come here often?”

you hide a laugh. “you shouldn’t be so curious about me, for your own sake.”

“why? are you hiding something?”

he is no threat at all, you realize. you’re almost desperate, because whatever is happening right now is far from your expertise. with a glimpse of honesty: “i have no obligation to give you information about myself or my field of work. if i spill anything, the commission will never hear from you again.”

“is that so?” he looks excited.

shikanoin heizou is strange. so why are you fighting off a smile?

is it also so strange you realize his body is completely facing you? he speaks again, “well, i heard from kaedehara about a case here in inazuma that i would’ve been thrilled solving, and you were the one to bring it to a close before anyone else caught wind of it. before i caught wind of it.”

you remember that. it was practically nothing. the bandits were just unfortunate enough to do their crimes in front of your face, trained and armed for these very moments.

but where is he going with this? “i have committed no crimes myself, detective.”

“that’s not what i said,” heizou grins, resting his chin on the center of his palm. “i just want to say i appreciate you for helping in your own way. even if that meant we had to deal with interrogating dazed, thoroughly beaten-up nobushi. i want you to tell me about what went down in excruciating detail some other time.”

“you’re welcome. are you going to arrest me for interfering?”

he hums. “why do you want me to arrest you so much? want my handcuffs on you that badly?”

you’re glad you’ve already swallowed the noodles before he opened his mouth. “that’s not what i mean and you know it.”

heizou giggles, the bastard. “cute,” he murmurs as he sips on his drink, smiling to himself.

are you the one with alcohol in your system this time? because the tension is suffocating and you want him bad. “you’re too forward, shikanoin-san.”

“heizou,” he corrects. “and what’s the point in beating around the bush? we both know what i want at the end of the day. you think i meet you again and i’ll let you slip from my fingers again?”

it’s hard not to want the same. it’s itching under your fingertips, begging to be closer, to feel his laugh against your skin. “let’s pray kazuha doesn’t find out.”

“what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.” or makes things extremely awkward for him.

that night is also the same night you last see shikanoin heizou for a while. you told him about how you were leaving the next day, and getting attached would be a bad idea.

he had been hovering over you when he said, “it’s a shame, then, that it’s against my ideals to commit a crime.” you couldn’t think too hard about what he said because he distracted you quickly with a kiss, even forgetting your name for a moment.

with inazuma added to your to-do list for next year (ASAP!!! written beside it), you and the crux sail back to liyue. you were already starting to miss it, but homesickness washed over soon enough at the sight of the familiar wharf. people wave at you, saying they missed you, asking if you enjoyed your vacation.

“hey, you.”

you don’t have to look to know who it is. “yelan.” you crane your neck. “i haven’t seen you since i got back.”

“there wasn’t much you missed out on; i was dead to the world,” yelan says with a cunning smile, slinging an arm over your shoulder. “how was your trip? had fun? bring home anything good?”

you smile to yourself, “i had fun.”

“oh,” yelan smirks. “i see. what did they call it? summer fling.”

“no, nothing like that.”

she flicks your forehead. “you’re still a lousy liar as ever.”

the days pass, and it’s almost easy to forget you even went to inazuma. everything falls back into place, as routine dictated—if it weren’t for the way you keep thinking about bare sides, olive eyes, and unending playful banter.

although you weren’t slacking off, it was easy to tell that your mind was far away when you walked past couples whispering to themselves, tucked into some dark corner.

“hey, y/n! kazuha is calling for you in the wharf.”

“coming! hold on!”

the crux fleet’s grand ship looms over other boats. curiously, you note that the crew has only begun to disembark. beidou waves at you when she spots you, and you wave back with a wide smile.

she gestures at the side. you follow her gaze.

if you didn’t know who he was, you’d think—with the way he walks around and smiles at curious onlookers as if he knows them personally—that he belongs here. but you do, you do know him, madly so. he’s been in your mind for far too much that you convinced yourself he’s just a fragment of your imagination until he catches sight of you and brightens.

“y/n!” he says, enthusiastically making his way towards you.

“heizou…?” you let him tackle you into a hug, too stunned to do anything else. “wait, heizou!?” you pull away, cupping his cheeks in your palms. “what are you doing here… in—in liyue? who…”

heizou sighs, looking away despite all the confidence he’s bragged about. his face is very, very red. “it’s a long story.”

kazuha appears behind him, startling the both of you bad enough to have you freezing in sync. “he jumped at the boat the moment i offered. it was starting to get disheartening seeing the longing looks.”

he definitely knows something between you two went down.

“thanks again, kazuha, i owe you one!”

“two, heizou.”

“two,” heizou amends. “you’re the best.”

kazuha quirks a brow, amused. “flattery won’t make me lessen it, doushin shikanoin.”

“dammit,” heizou curses, smiling when you laugh.

“i’ll leave you two to it,” kazuha says, and despite all this, he looks genuinely happy. maybe because he’s rubbing on your face that he’s right—this was far from what you were agonizing over.

“ah, so you work for…the ministry of civil affairs.” heizou definitely doesn’t believe this, and he doesn’t even bother trying to hide it on his face. “the youngest, too, i heard on the way here. very good with a sword.”

“don’t underestimate me,” you instinctively say. deep inside, you’re pleased with the way your friends are giving him a good impression of you. “i do more than issue bounties on wanted criminals.”

“i knew that. though most of them don’t need to carry around a weapon as sharp as that.” you try not to react too strongly, but based on the way heizou smiles, you know that he can see straight through you. damn intuition or whatever. “and you don’t have to explain to me, i’m not underestimating you. i’m the youngest in the commission, too, you see?”

“oh…” you do remember him repeatedly mentioning how extraordinary and young he is.

“look at that,” he coos, his arms snaking around your waist, “we have so much in common already. what are you gonna do about it? shikanoin heizou, in the flesh, all for you.”

you couldn’t help but laugh. “is that all you think about?”

“you’re all i think about.”

you learn that it’s difficult to keep heizou’s hands away from you.

( “do you like him?”

“huh? who? shikanoin heizou? he’s annoying. the flowers in chinju forest are taller than him.”

kazuha looks thoughtful. “are they?”

“yes. they were taller than me, too, but that’s not the point.”

“and so was the answer to my question,” kazuha says, “you didn’t outright say no.”

your face burns, caught.

kazuha grins. “i’m glad to have someone accompany my every visit to inazuma from now on.” )

a/n thank u for reading!!!!! i feel like i didn't do heizou enough justice </3 but i wasn't expecting the first part to get attention at all so thank u to the people who commented and reblogged <333

[amemenojaku]

Akyuu/Reimu for the ship ask, please

hi I um. turned this into akyuurei manifesto. sorry

How differently do they think of each other now compared to when they first met?

I just reread Memorizable Gensokyo and some of the FS chapters where they interact (+the bit at the end of SoPM) back-to-back and it feels like they’ve come to really respect each other. When they first met properly in MG Akyuu tried so hard to impress Reimu, who looked amused by Akyuu’s work but didn’t seem to take her very seriously… I suppose that’s partly because they were younger then. I like that small panel in MG where Reimu introduces herself and Akyuu’s like “:O!!!”… By the time we see them together again in FS, they talk as equals. Reimu acknowledges Akyuu’s authority (she’s still super blunt about the chronicles but that’s Reimu for you lol), and Akyuu trusts Reimu to get the work done when it’s needed. They know they can rely on each other. I’d even go as far as to say Reimu treats Akyuu with a bit more softness than she does a lot of characters… She worries about Akyuu walking all the way up to the shrine in a latter FS chapter, she doesn’t chastise Akyuu for organizing the symposium in SoPM despite how pissed she is at the other participants (although I do think she was still hurt… more on that below), etc. As they are now they see each other as individuals more than roles I think, which is an important part of their dynamic (and also of Reimu pairings in general imo).

What do their friends/family think of their relationship?

They’d be the type to go in circles for a while before committing to something. Take their time with it. Past a certain point Marisa and Kosuzu start scheming to get them together (much to the concerned parties’ annoyance). When it finally happens they’d be teasing but supportive. I think the relationship would be kept secret for a time… Some people still manage to sniff it out though, Yukari for example; she’d be satisfied with it. Two people she has a weird close situationship with, together? That works. There might be some gossip about them… But if/when they make it official to everyone, I honestly think they’d be blessed by most of the village – it’s the Hakurei shrine maiden and the head of the Hieda clan after all! Might break a few nameless village women’s hearts though…

How do their personalities/skills complement or contrast with each other?

They have a ton of parallels (human but not quite; role directly tied to the survival of the world they live in; bridge between humans and youkai, etc) but also a few differences both symbolically (Akyuu doesn’t fly (she’s grounded to (a relative) reality), Reimu is literally the power to fly (transcends reality); Reimu is the “eternal shrine maiden”, Akyuu doesn’t live past 30 (but even that can be turned into a parallel with Akyuu’s reincarnations*), etc) and in terms of personality (Akyuu being calmer in general and displaying better social skills). Imo it’s one of the relationships with the most interesting balance between contrast and similarities… They’re the same girl but they’re also on two different sides of the same coin and the pining that comes out of it is SO good.

*if you look too hard into this like I do you’ll see the child of Miare’s reincarnation gimmick as a parallel to how it’s implied that the past Hakurei shrine maidens were replaced often (died quickly?)

What is their favorite aspect of each other?

In canon, I’d say it’s how reliable they find each other. They’ve worked together/consulted one another a few times in FS for matters related to the human village, and despite some differences in opinion they’re on the same wavelength on a lot of issues. Now, with my yuri goggles on…. I think it’d be really sweet if they could make each other feel normal. If their similarities brought them together on a level different from their other friendships, where they can understand the weight of each other’s role and that whole “human but not quite” thing they share, and be able to completely treat each other as ordinary. I really really like it when a character with a lot of obligations gets to just be themselves, and I also love it when two characters who’re both special or generally “apart” from everyone else grow close thanks to that, so I’m just mashing things I enjoy lol

Do either of them have pet peeves about each other?

I like to think Akyuu has a healthy lifestyle and her days go like clockwork (except when she’s close to a writing deadline), so she’d probably find some of the situations Reimu ends up in very frustrating. I think that fits well with the fact that Akyuu doesn’t always realize how high her quality of life is and can sometimes act a bit inconsiderate towards people who aren’t as rich as her. Meanwhile Reimu’s a very honest, very blunt person who struggles with keeping secrets for long (see Forbidden Scrollery’s ending), so she probably wouldn’t like some of the secrets Akyuu keeps at times. But Akyuu’s an important figure to the human villagers and she does take her role as a chronicler seriously, so there must be moments she has to prioritize her obligations over honesty. I think that kind of contrast is very interesting.

How would each reconcile with each other after a fight?

They’re both stubborn… But I see Reimu as the first to try to reconcile most of the time. Her soft spot for Akyuu would take over her natural pride imo. So she makes the first move. Akyuu takes longer, but her apologies are sincere.

Buuut there’s one time I can imagine Reimu completely withdrawing into her shell and refusing to even acknowledge that she’s really upset at Akyuu until confronted about it: SoPM. I won’t ever be able to explain it better than que-de-metal did right here so I recommend reading it!!

What would be their ideal vacation getaway together?

Hot spring resort. Quiet, relaxing and good for Akyuu’s health! And plenty of time for Reimu to laze around and read mystery novels. (I’m projecting… I miss onsens…….)

Think of a new way (AU, different situation, etc.) they could have met for the first time.

I’m honestly a bit upset that Memorizable Gensokyo is when they first met proper, even though there’s no way the Hieda family isn’t regularly in contact with the Hakurei shrine maiden. I think it’d be cute if they met when they were both kids and Reimu was in training with her predecessor and they were both called at the Hieda mansion for something. Extra points if Akyuu was intrigued by Reimu’s natural powers and that’s where her desire to impress her in MG comes from, and if Reimu barely remembers that meeting (like with Alice in PCB).

[sleeplesssmoll]

do you have any headcanons on how vertin's emotions manifest?

like how she experiences certain things and how that looks on the outside to the people around her

i've been thinking about angry vertin lately and how she'd react if something REALLY upset her

to me she strikes me as someone who would not yell or exhibit her anger very clearly (unless the receiving party is someone she hates, say, arcana, like how she snapped at her in chapter 5), but she doesn't repress it too much around those she cares about, just sorta indirectly saying "i do not wish to talk right now" in a slightly snappy way

The Trails (in Atlas) throughout Reverse 1999 paint a picture of an emotional person who has perfected hiding her feelings. With that said, I do HC Vertin as someone who perceives her own emotions differently from others.

For example, while many of us get "caught up in the moment", Vertin is the type to always take a step back and think "Is this worth getting angry about?"

As the only known person (so far) with guaranteed Storm Immunity, this changes the way she sees things. In her mind, she can lose her allies and friends at any time. It's why she is is generous as well as flexible with their demands. She tried to get Regulus A SHIP and her dialogue/Wilderness interactions show she'd rather go with the flow than argue. Oliver Fog even says she has a "conciliatory" nature.

Vertin is a big picture thinker. Regardless of her current anger, she loves her friends. Anger is temporary but relationships are long lasting if nurtured. Therefore acting on her anger isn't worth it because it's unproductive and she could hurt them. Instead, she focuses on working things out.

Going off of that, She considers hurtful words and shouting go against what she she wants to be: a safe haven for her friends. Her anger manifests more as disappointment or as regret for having to go through these painful feelings with whoever she is arguing with. I think in the worst case scenario, she'll excuse herself before she reaches her boiling point because she doesn't want to snap.

However, if you turn your back to storm off in a huff, she'll call after you and this is where the masks slips. It's not anger you'll hear, it's fear. Fear that you'll leave before you two can fix what's broken between you. She won't chase you because she'll assume you need time to cool off but she'll be on edge until you return.

Sometimes, people mistake this as her not taking them seriously because she doesn't get "passionate" (super angry) about things, but she's seeing things from a different point of view. With that said, she is stern when she has to be and won't back down from doing what she deems as the appropriate course of action. She will always hear others voices on the matter though (and her friends seem to trust so that makes things easier).

On the other hand, if Vertin does something she's quick to try and make amends.

And if we really think about, hasn't Vertin always asked people how they feel, how they're doing, and so on? By being proactive, she can eliminate a lot of tension before it blooms into conflict by addressing it. On the receiving end, Vertin would feel very hurt if she couldn't make things up to you.

1. She failed to make things right.

2. She is causing pain (negative emotions in general) in someone.

3. She isn't sure what to do and might back off (or shut down) completely out of fear of making things worse. It's the lesser of two evils to let you go as a happier person than to stick around you and make you angrier. If it gets to that point, good luck trying to approach her. She'll be one step ahead of you, always gone before you can speak to her. Stealth is one of her specialties and it'll be like trying to catch a cat who wants to be as far from you as possible.

So what about pure, raw, rage? It's interesting you bring up Arcana! When they first put on the friendship-bracelets (?), it was Vertin who triggered them with her anger/killing intent.

Arcana only triggered the bracelet when she sent her followers to attack Vertin's crew.

Arcana's attitude toward Vertin is not a front, but a genuine fascination. She doesn't "hate" Vertin while Vertin is ready to pull a Green Oranges on her. Sure Vertin raised her voice and whatever at Arcana, but that's the type of things we expect from a normal argument.

Vertin was ready to kill this woman. If Vertin starts displaying "normal" signs of anger, that is not normal.

She's that meme that goes "looks like a cinnamon roll but can kill you".

[eponastory]

ZUTARA...

Okay, so my thoughts...

Look, I'm an OG fan. I was a teenager when the animated show came out and boy oh boy...

Okay, so yes, I am a Zutara shipper. I have been since the show aired, and the way the show ended with Aang and Katara left an icky taste in my mouth. I'm not anti Kataang either. It just gives me... eew. Especially now that I'm an adult and I know relationships are messy to begin with. I don't agree that the show creators think that Zutara would be toxic... that is not necessarily true as Zuko's character doesn't support such a thing and neither does Katara's. Aang is still a child mentally and he doesn't seem to understand that people are going to do what they are going to do. Case and point, The Southern Raiders. Aang confronts Katara telling her that she should let it go and forgive Yon Rah... the only problem with this is that Katara needs to deal with her own closer. Forgiveness does not mean closure. Take it from me, a person who has difficulty letting go of hurts from the past. Some things I can forgive, while other things I can't because they are still a problem for me today, which is why I'm in therapy. It is not up to Aang to decide what Katara needs to do in that moment. If anything, he is showing his complete misunderstanding of her resolve. She is angry, hurt, and compulsive. She is feeling these things because her past has been thrown in her face by Zuko's presence. Because he is there, all that hurt is like a thousand daggers in her back. Zuko is letting her do. He is letting her feel, and for those who say he is encouraging her to murder someone, that isn't what is going on. He is basically letting her do what she needs to do. When someone is feeling that way, you wither let them feel it and support them or you get out of the way. People are going to do what they want. It's a hard lesson to learn.

Aang has his world view of peace and compassion, which is not a bad thing, but he lacks understanding. Probably because he is still a child and still learning the ways of people. People are cruel and sometimes unforgiving, but we can also be kind, loving, and filled with hope. Aang sees the good in everyone, except Ozai, which I'm pretty sure the only thing good about Ozai is the fact that Mark Hamil is behind his voice. But anyway, I like Aang. He's a good character that transforms everyone he interacts with. That is the best quality about him. The absolute worst of his qualities is that he tends to push his beliefs into the open without taking a moment to think about how others feel. And that isn't even that bad. It's a disregard of those emotions that leave a little bit of bitterness in my mouth. But that is something everyone struggles with at one point. That is just being human.

But yeah, this is just my humble opinion. Relationships are messy and they need work. They arent always going to be perfect, which is why neither ship is going to be better than the other. Does Aang and Katara have a happy marriage? Well, I can't say that they do because there isn't much to go on other than they have children. I'd like to think they have their ups and downs like most relationships do.

Would Zuko and Katara have a good relationship? Going off of their character I'd say they would balance each other out. It won't be toxic because they do fine when they are together in the show. They work well as a team and have each other's backs. So yeah, that is there in the show.

I'd also like to point out that Zuko and Mai don't tick the boxes for outstanding relationship. Those two have been on and off and I honestly don't think they will get back together. Kinda reminds me of the guy I was on and off with for five years... now that was toxic.

But yeah. I've done the shipping thing for so long it doesn't matter if it's Canon or not. Like I seriously shipped Sesshomaru and Kagome for years even though I knew she and Inuyasha were going to be together. Didn't care too much for Sess/Rin because again... eew. You ship who you want and what you feel makes sense. Does this mean people have to berate others about it? No. There should never be any condescension or degrading because we are all fans.

But for real... I think Azula and Sokka should get together. And I'm not on the Taang ship either.

Fight me... I dare you.

[rey-jake-therapist]

At some point, we have to face it; that kiss was played and framed as romantic from Elrond pov. Final. That’s what the visuals and the music tell the audience. There’s no “testing the waters”, “distraction tropes” (because that’s not how they work), or “platonic”. The camera focused on the kiss itself; not on the other characters reactions to it (“distraction trope”), and the only reaction we see is Galadriel going WTF. For a fandom that prides itself of reading romantic subtext, this is getting awkward.

Amazon is very much aware of what’s the most popular ship in RoP involving Galadriel, and they knew that having another character kiss her (expect for Celeborn) would piss off the shippers; so what is there to test, here? The Tolkien purists hate the show, like they hated Peter Jackson adaptations, because both don’t follow Tolkien’s story to a T. The lorebros/PJ stans will never take RoP seriously. So their audience is, mainly, laid-back Tolkien fans, shippers and casuals. With season 2, Amazon has been trying to gain those Tolkien fans over, by mentioning the books and the lore at every promo. Having Elrond and Galadriel kissing is just wild, because not even the most chill of Tolkien fans is going to accept that. Galadriel is a mother figure to Elrond, her future mother-in-law and an elf randomly kissing an elf on the lips goes against every Eldar custom in existence. I don’t know if you all are aware, but Amazon has Tolkien experts on site, and consults with Tolkien estate. Pulling off something like this is just insane.

So what are the options here? (1) Pure shock value. (2) For whatever stupid reason the show wants Elrond to have romantic feelings for Galadriel (which will tarnish his character beyond repair, btw); or (3) there is more to this kiss than meets the eye. And that’s it.

Yeah. I saw comments defending the kiss such as, "hey I kiss my friends on the lips sometimes too", "why don't people accept that a man can kiss a woman platonically", "stop sexualizing everything", "Morfydd an Rob confirmed it was platonic", etc.

There's nothing wrong in these remarks : yes, a kiss on the lips can be platonic, totally. I was one of those who defended the kiss saying I found it very platonic for a mouth kiss ! But let's not kid ourselves and assume that most of the audience will see a platonic gesture in this kiss. Anyone who saw a fair amount of shows and movies, and generally consider a kiss on the lips romantic, will believe that this one was totally romantic from Elrond's POV.

When I first defended the kiss, I was certain that Elrond had put the pin in his mouth ; I hadn't seen him put the pin in Galadriel's hand. So we can say that the distraction trope worked on me (I focused on the lips and not on the hands) : I, and many others I think, were too busy doing "yikes" and wondering what the hell was happening, to look at Elrond and Galadriel's hands. BUT it didn't work as it should do in universe, because we didn't see the Orcs and Adar watching the kiss even though it was the so-called purpose of Elrond's disturbing behavior. So, within the narrative, the distraction trope fell flat as pancake.

The way it was filmed, the big close-ups, the softness of Elrond's hands as they caress Galadriel's face, the music blasting in the background.... It was an undeniable romantic set-up, no matter how we want to kid ourselves in believing it wasn't. Did you even see how Elrond put the pin in Galadriel's hand?! He doesn't just put it there, he caresses her hand tenderly while doing it. He does that exactly the same way that he touches Galadriel's face. Coincidence (or not? 🤔) : in the same episode, we got to see someone else touch a FRIEND's face twice : Galadriel, with Arondir and Celebrimbor. Just watch these scenes and spot the difference! Galadriel was certain she would never see Celebrimbor again, right?

Elrond's behavior is the behavior of a man who's touch starving and is afraid he won't get to touch Galadriel again. A very commun behavior when coming from a love interest, much less commun from a platonic friend. Just sayin'.

Before you protest, "but friend can be...." : YES friends can be tender with one of another, especially in a farewell scene, of course. But these people who make the show, they know what they're doing and know exactly what reaction such visual cues will provoke. In LOTR, we saw a lot of scenes where Frodo and Sam were very tender with one another, with forehead kisses, bright eyes and all, but none of these included Frodo brushing Sam's hand, let alone a peck on the lips, because it would have been a step too far in wanting to show a platonic friendship.

We're talking about professionals who know these codes, not about some amateurs who made their first fan stream! I mean can we stop defending these people and admit that they fucked up on this one? 😭

"But Rob and Morfydd said..." I mean no offence to Rob and Morfydd, but nobody should care what they said. Their opinion on the scene isn't canon. If we can dismiss Charlie's opinion that Sauron isn't capable of loving Galadriel, there's no reason to take Rob's and Morfydd's opinion of the kiss as "evidence" that everything about this kiss is right and find. It was very obvious Rob was just doing damage control here. And he admitted himself it weirded him out ! Why would it weird him out, if he genuinely believes there's nothing bizarre and uncomfortable in this scene? The man was obviously uncomfortable, his body language was off during the interview.

Who watched these interviews anyway? Only the hardcore fans do. The average viewer whose jaw dropped when Elrond mouth kissed Galadriel will not hear Rob's justification of the kiss, so as far as they're concerned Elrond is in love with his future mother-in-law.

How embarrassing. And for what?

[all-pacas]

We know that Cameron hasn't had any real romantic relationships since her husband and it's accepted that Chase hasn't either but... I don't buy it? This guy falls at the drop of a hat for a co-worker? for a nun? Maybe he hasn't had any long-term relationships but am I supposed to believe he hadn't fallen in love with anyone until his thirties?

he truly is pathetic…

That said, I actually do still buy he hasn't dated much, because as much as we tease him for falling hard the second he likes someone… he doesn't actually. Or rather, Cameron and Moira-the-nun were both special cases.

In his slut era, Chase doesn't just sleep around, he does date women, we see and hear about him having dinner with women in S7 and S8. None of these seem to be long term or serious relationships (in Chase he has a one night stand and later that day has a restaurant date with a completely different woman, before Moira), and… I mean, he could, you know? If he was interested, he could absolutely have pretty much whoever he wanted, in universe. Now, to be fair, we only see his slut era after his divorce and murder depression, but even though it's new there are plenty of references in S1-3 of Chase being a flirt, of sleeping around a little bit: he stepped it up, but didn't change his MO that much. He's a dumb whore.

But what he doesn't do is fall in love. He doesn't feel an emotional connection to any of these women. It's when he gets that that he's in trouble.

Like I said, Moira and Cameron were special situations. Moira I think… gets taken a bit more seriously as a love interest than maybe she should, possibly because Chase decides he's in love with her after 6 hours like the toxic lesbian he is in his heart. But House lays it out pretty clearly: Chase is rebounding. He almost died, he's freaking out, he's trying to make huge life changes (and telling Moira at the same time don't make huge life changes). He is, as House says, a mess. He met a woman he clicked with at a moment of huge vulnerability, saw himself in her (she, too, is suffering from guilt over — accidentally — killing someone), and was questioning his life and choices. He wants to be a person who is in love and happy. It's a rebound in like five different ways. And Chase seems to admit it by the end of the episode: he doesn't pursue her, he doesn't try to talk her out of joining the convent. It still meant something to him, it mattered… but it wasn't really love.

Cameron is also a special situation, because, for real: they were friends. They had been friends 2 years when they first hooked up, they had been friends almost 4 when they started officially dating. S1 is littered with examples of them hanging out, joking, Chase giving her advice on banging House, etc. Maybe they weren't BFFs, but they were friends, she was someone Chase basically was spending all day every day with for years, someone he knew well before they ever slept together.

Chase doesn't open up to people easily. At all, if he can help it. Moira and Cameron both came equipped with cheat codes to get past that hurdle, and clearly once he's vulnerable around someone he immediately falls head over heels; most of the women he dates, however, do not come with this bypass, nor does he seem to date them long enough to really let them get close — either because pre-Cameron he just wasn't interested in dating seriously, or because post-Cameron he's a bitter whore.

(There's also the fact that when has he had the time for a serious relationship. He's spent the last decade in med school, his teenage years either taking care of his family or in the priesthood.)

We also see this platonically, depending on your shipping preferences: he and 13 are acquainted for years before they slowly start opening up to one another, and Chase doesn't really let her in until the end of S7 (given his track record, he probably left After Hours on the 13 is my bff train lol); he's very standoffish with Park and only slowly — and through Park's persistence — opens up to her over several months.

So do I think Chase had a bunch of dumb crushes on girls his whole life? Absolutely, and canonically (he broke his ankle jumping off a roof to impress a girl… deeply 14 year old boy of him). Did he probably "fall in love" immediately and then burn out after a week? You bet. But serious relationships…? I'm not entirely convinced he had more than one, tops.

[sabo-has-my-heart]

hi! I’ve just found this blog! I’m getting back to one piece after a long time and was wondering if I could please ask for an Izou, Ace and Marco HC’s?

So you know how Luffy idolised shanks a the red hair pirates as a kid? How about the mentioned three with a little girl who’s maybe the daughter/granddaughter of the bar owner and sees them quite often (maybe the island belongs to whiteboard) and is always excitedly following them around when they visit. How about her saying she’ll become a big brave pirate and wants to marry them once she’s old enough? Like a little girl crush maybe?

If you’re not comfortable with the crush then her being a big fan of them is fine! Thank you!

This is so cute! Just this adorable little girl with her little girl crush like kids do sometimes (I know I had one). As a note, just because she has a childish crush, does not mean that this is romantic in any way nor do I condone such things!

Warnings: slight Wano spoilers, little girl crushes

Word Count: 690

     Every time you saw their ship on the horizon, you couldn’t help but become giddy. He was coming, he was almost here, you’d get to see him again! Your ‘first crush’ as everyone called him. You were insistent that you were going to marry him though! You weren’t just a stupid kid! You were going to be one of the biggest, bravest pirates out there. You were going to become so great that Whitebeard would have no choice but to change his ‘only guys’ rule and allow you to be on his crew! Then once you were on his ship you were going to marry your love! Until then, you’d greet them at the docks, running towards their ship as fast as your little 10-year-old legs would allow.

Izou

100% thinks of you as a kid sister.

He thinks you’re the most adorable little girl ever.

Just so sweet and cute.

If he were the kind of person who ruffles hair, he’d totally ruffle your hair.

Instead he dresses you up in nice kimonos. 

You’d wanted to dress like him so you’d tried wrapping a bed sheet around yourself.

He’d chuckled and helped you out, saying that next time he’d bring you a real kimono. 

Said you looked like a little doll once you were dressed up and in make-up. 

When you’re not around, he asks if there’s any little boys interested in you. 

Partially to protect you and partially so you become interested in somebody your own age (seriously, he’s 43 pre Marineford!)

Still encourages you to follow your dreams, whether that’s becoming a pirate or simply protecting those you love. 

Tells you all sorts of stories about Wano, his sister, Oden, and the other samurai.

Also tells you a lot of Wano fairytales.

Has taught you how to shoot. 

Seriously, he cares about you, you’re like family to him.

Marco

Tries, repeatedly, to tell you you’re too young for marriage (and too young for him, cough cough) or to be thinking about marriage.

Lots of head pats.

Indulges you and lets you play nurse.

You do actually help him when they dock.

You help him with organizing things, restocking, and ‘bandaid duty’.

You literally just hand out bandaids to people who ‘need’ them. 

Being the adorable little girl who follows him around, he’s noticed a lot more people needing bandaids while they’re at your island. 

Has let you curl up for a nap while he was in phoenix form. 

Niece-uncle vibes. 

Always sighs in exasperation when you say you’re going to marry him no matter what.

He doesn’t want to crush you, but he doesn’t want to indulge that either.

Tells you that being a pirate is hard work and tries to encourage other things while not crushing your dream to become a pirate. 

He wouldn’t mind if you became a pirate, but for safety reasons, he’d rather you take over your mother’s bar.

Because of his phoenix form, people call you his ‘duckling’.

Ace

Omg, ALL the big brother vibes!

Calls you his little sister, ruffles your hair, just so much big brother shit!

It makes you pout. He’s treating you like a kid!

You’re his future wife, how dare he treat you like a child!

You claiming to be a big, brave pirate reminds him of Luffy.

He absolutely encourages it and says that you’ll totally be accepted onto Whitebeard's crew

Knows you likely won’t

Plays pirates with you so long as you don’t pretend he’s your ‘pirate husband’. 

Defends his decision to play with you by saying that he doesn’t want to crush your dreams

Which is kind of true, but he also loves being a big brother to you. 

Is the least strange of the three to say you want to marry him. (he’s 20, not 40)

Still doesn’t want to indulge the idea of getting married though.

For so many reasons.

Tells you so many stories about Luffy.

Calls Luffy your ‘other big brother’.

Treats you kind of like how he treated Tama.

Teaches you all sorts of things like tying knots, navigation, etc. things you’ll need to become a pirate. 

[jayahult]

I try not to get too political on here, which is sort of a fool's errand. All speech, of course, is political speech, it is just that some topics appear neutral. The biggest sticking point for me has always been less controversy and more a lack of audience. I do not have many followers, and so for a long while now I have felt like my voice, while heard, would not be heard by many. That said, over the past twelve months I have felt increasingly compelled to speak on the matter of Israel and Palestine. My conscience will no longer permit any further silence, even if my words only reach a few people.

I am not Israeli, nor am I Palestinian, but I do not need a nationality to know what is wrong from what is right. A year ago today, Hamas engaged in what is fairly called a horrific attack on Israel, and took hostages. It killed nearly a thousand people. The horror that followed, though, beggars the October 7th attacks. The direct death toll of the IDF's terror campaign has been counted in the range of 40,000 and counting. This of course does not count the indirect death toll, and those that are missing. Were that taken into account, it would point to a death toll that now approaches the mark of 190,000 dead.

I live in a small town of about 8,000 people. I think about this - that had it been the IDF attacking my home, they would have killed every person there, every man, woman and child, almost 240 times over. Every person I have passed on the street, every child who took the bus to elementary school, every family, every person I liked or disliked here, my family, all would be annihilated. And then I think again of Gaza and my heart feels nothing but the deepest sympathy for them, and the greatest anger at the IDF for putting them in this position.

What angers me even more is that, by dint of being American, my government has made me complicit in this matter. It takes my taxes, spends them on bombs and planes and guns and ammo and ships them off to men who kill children to achieve aims that are at best inscrutable. Even the most jaded, cynic, realpolitik bastard you could think of would probably admit that at the very least Israel must be reigned in before the war escalates any further; that Israel's actions have seriously damaged the image of America abroad, even more so than before; and that in continuing support we burn international bridges that may not be able to be repaired for a long time. And yet my government, one I voted for, seems set upon supporting Israel's military forces without any thought of this.

Let me remind you now that this problem is not a new one but it is not an old one either; it is not one of religious conflict between Muslims and Jews. Religion and ethnicity play a factor, certainly, but that factor is as an agent of justification, not an agent of cause. The justification of this conflict is spiritual and racial; the cause is material and simple. Israel is akin to South Africa or Rhodesia, and yes I make that comparison intentionally, because Israel does indeed perform apartheid upon its Palestinian populace. Its cause since its inception with the British Mandate have been one and the same with South Africa and Rhodesia and even French Algeria: to displace and dispossess a native population of people at the barrel of the gun for the purpose of creating profit and landed ownership for a select few; to create a promised "living space" for the upper class; and to ensure the oppression and brutalization of a racialized underclass for further profit, be it through the military-industrial complex or forced labor on the part of the underclass, or both. You could call that apartheid, or settler-colonialism, or any other number of names. You could call it ethnoreligious conflict (though I would disagree with so weak a term) if you wanted. But what you must understand - what you must come to grips with - is that the Israeli government's actions are unequivocally wrong, and my government's support of them fundamentally debased.

I do not know what arguments will convince the unconvinced upon this matter, or what the great trepidation and cowardice is with people trying to defend these actions. When viewed with a clear eye it becomes obvious that the Israeli government has the attitude of an errant dog, loosed from its long American leash upon the innocents of Gaza, of Palestine in general and now of Lebanon where the genocidal warmongering seems primed to spread. Pundits and politicians continue to equivocate about Hamas's actions. Do they think we're fools? It's plain to see that if we are measuring butchers, the IDF have the better of them, and my government continues to enable them. Every bomb dropped and every person killed in Gaza is a black stain upon history which, if there is any justice, will live in infamy so long as history itself persists.

Perhaps there are those among my American audience who are so-called patriots; you believe that because Israel shows affection towards the US and its aims, that its actions and the United States' interests are so aligned. Perhaps you trust in your leaders to make the right choice in this matter. I would count this as also quite foolish, though perhaps understandable. The love of country blinds men to the love they should lavish on their fellow man. You only need look to Israel's actions for proof. That sort of patriotism will only let your leaders deceive you. Do not let them! If you must love your country, be clear-sighted in that love and do not let it outweigh your common sense and morality! We must put to our leaders great critique on the handling of this matter, on the left and the right, for their inadequacy and failure to do anything to restrain these acts of needless and unjustified aggression and genocide.

Perhaps there are those among you who would say that the Jewish people must have a state, and that state must be allowed self-defense, and these actions have been taken in that interest. To this I must say that I frankly must disagree, and I will word myself carefully here because I wish to make myself absolutely clear. I hold no animosity towards Jewish people, nor any religion in specific. I have animosity towards Israel's state; were it a Christian state, or a Muslim state, or a Buddhist state, or any other state with such an affiliation committing to these same actions, I would earnestly hold the same opinion. I do indeed believe that the movement for Palestinian freedom must brook no quarter for antisemitism, both for moral and strategic reasons which I presume to be obvious. Having said that, the root of my animosity is this: I have said before that I am an American by birth, and I must say that while I am not a patriot, I am endeared to certain values which are found in the US Constitution. Among them is the separation of church and state. How can I, a believer in this principle, in good conscience support a state bonded to a religion in its foundation? How can I understand Zionism, so defined as a ideology seeking the foundation of a Jewish state, as anything other than a direct violation of that principle?

Another principle of mine is this: only a man has a right. A state can have a right only so far as it defends the rights of men, and Israel has vastly breached that rule in this war. How lucky I am to worry for my right to free expression, to my religion, to my free movement; the people of Gaza must worry about their right to drink, to eat, to live uninjured by bombs, to live, and it is Israel who denies them these rights. If this is what self-defense means on the scale of nations, then it ought be abolished altogether on account of how it interferes with the rights of the subjects of that "defense."

Perhaps there are those among you who would say that there is also an ethnic component to Judaism. To this I have little to say, besides that a state bound to a single ethnicity and a single religion stands apart to me as substantially worse than just one or the other, perhaps even more than the sum of its parts. That is all I can muster on the matter.

Perhaps there are those who believe that this problem, at its root, is intractable. This is something I would consider too pessimistic, though I understand more the trepidation here. The crimes committed are obviously not easy to remediate or reconcile. However, the solution to this is not to stand idly by and allow these crimes to continue to happen. As I have mentioned before, the United States has continued to deliver weapons to the Israeli government in full knowledge of their crimes, and that only serves to make the problem more intractable, not less. The only way to start the process of healing these wounds will be to stop the bleeding. The only way to stop the bleeding is to prevent the continued assault on Gaza. And, though these situations are different, when we look to places like South Africa, we can see that reconciliation is possible. There can be a day - there must be a day - where Palestinians and Jewish people may live in peace together, without oppression, without fear of dispossession, without fear of violence or danger.

That day can only come with great effort, with collective action, with courage, intelligence and patience to see the whole thing through, not just in Israel and Palestine but around the world. We live now in a world more connected than ever, for good and ill, and we may wield that fact for good. The Israeli economy is, like most, reliant upon the global network of trade and commerce. This is why Boycott, Divest, Sanction is doing such important work. I would pay particular attention to their words; their work is to try to strategically force companies to divest themselves from the Israeli economy, disrupting the war machine and their ability to continue these actions, and would suggest that you take part in this effort if you can. This is something almost anyone can do, and every part counts if it is part of these strategic efforts; it only asks that you do not spend your money. But if you do have money to spare, I would suggest donating. There are of course many vetted fundraisers on this site. I don't think you'll need to look far to find them. I would also suggest the UNRWA, who are deeply underfunded in the face of the present crisis and need all the help they can get to in turn help the Palestinian people.

And, of course, I would suggest that you protest. I unfortunately live in an area where there is little opportunity for this, but if you can join a demonstration or protest, I think you ought to. We will not get the attention of our leaders without us letting them know, and public protest is one way to do that. I would also gladly suggest that you write to your leaders. Tell them that this matter weighs heavily on your conscience. Tell them that you are concerned on where they stand on the matter. Tell them that your support may be at risk if they do not stand in favor of Palestine, regardless of whether that is true or not. Get your friends involved. Get your family involved, wherever you are. The genocide can stop. The genocide must stop. The genocide will stop.

I hope, if you were not already convinced, that this has changed your mind, and I am sad that I did not say anything earlier. That is all.

[babybatscreationsv2]

I watched Deadpool and Wolverine and I have thoughts

Spoiler buffer for people with notifications on

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First of all

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ELEKTRA

I cannot believe I saw my girl Elektra again and yes I would have cried and thrown up if they killed her. If Blade and Gambit are both getting a new movie where's Elektra's?? I say we riot. And I'm only a little bit kidding. Spider-Man needs a new mother figure after all. How about an Elektra/Jessica Drew team up? OMG I'm just realizing they could have put her in the canceled Shang-Chi film. Does the Hand never face off with the Ten Rings? You would think a couple of a martial artist gangs would have a rivalry. We could have been shipping Elektra and Xialing 😭

Okay actual movie thoughts

Yes the car scene was in fact a sex scene and I don't even think that's even debatable. You can't tell me Hugh Jackman threw his head back like that and groaned like he was fucking cumming and it wasn't an analogy for sex and then following it up with a pan away/sunset shot? It was 100% an ode to the many gay writers who hid their desire to penetrate another man through swords, guns, and fangs. Bram Stoker would be proud

Do not watch this movie if you're uncomfortable with inappropriate sexual touching, or language for that matter. Everyone's getting sexually assaulted and it's a joke every time, but at least they call it what it is I guess?

I feel like the amount of graphic sex jokes was to cover for the fact that they were told not to joke too much about drug use. Although choosing to joke about how they can't do coke was possibly my favorite joke, don't ask me why

They sure did let that little people joke in there though... yikes. Disney is really begging people with dwarfism to jump their asses this year

The weakest part of the film was definitely the villain dialog. I guess they didn't want any big plot twisty reveals because man these dudes came out monologing and like who asked? Nobody. Why are they talking so much?

I have a genuine love for Happy becoming the new Stan Lee cameo. I just love that man as a character and it feels right that he has a hand in everything.

I saw someone on here pouting about the photo of Tony and Peter together and how Peter's face was covered BUT ACTUALLY it's a running gag in the comics that Deadpool can't see Spider-Man's face or hear his name. Even if Peter takes his mask off right in front of him the "Marvel censors" hide it from Wade and I hope to god that's why they covered it because it'll be so damn funny if and when they're both in a film together

Speaking of funny, the comedy in this film was so well done. They poured most of the jokes out in the first act and left room for the movie and the characters to be taken seriously. I'm here praying that the other Marvel writers take notes because while I'm a very emotional person who requires comic relief to get through most movies without crying, we all know the humor in Marvel films is getting to be a bit much.

I was holding my breath during the big team up thinking it was going to be Deadpool 2/Suicide Squad all over again, but they actually got to have their hero moment and it was beautiful.

But WTF? Why did Blade and Gambit get a big moment where they show off their skills but Elektra gets half the screen time during the fight and her moment is just her kicking someone? She has magic ninja abilities?? She could have also done something cool?? The martial arts stuff was cool in her stand alone film, it doesn't impress in a crowd of people who know how to fight. At least let her skillfully throw her sais or something, damn.

And how good is Channing Tatum as Gambit? I'm not a Channing Tatum fan or anything, but damn does he nail it.

NICEPOOL I love Nicepool, I have no idea what Deadpool variants exist in the comics because I actually hate multiverse stuff that isn't spiderverse, BUT it's canon that if Deadpool were to stop killing people that he would become pretty again and I love that there's a universe where's he just insanely nice and handsome mostly because I don't think they would ever make a Spider-Man/Deadpool film so at least we acknowledged that this happens, sorta, they don't really talk about why he's pretty and our Deadpool isn't

I love how it was a Deadpool film, but also everyone got their moment. It was barely even about him. He was the vehicle through which Wolverine and Nova and Laura got to tell their stories and it worked really well

I also feel like Wade getting Johnny killed felt weird and mildly out of character. He's an asshole, not a sadist. There's a big difference. If they wanted him dead to get rid of Chris Evans and still have their cameo, it didn't have to be Wade's fault

Wade and Logan recognizing Chris's face as belonging to Steve also sets a precedent for RDJ playing Doom. (It also means that yes people in universe will recognize him and angst will happen, I'm still crossing my fingers that there's multiple Dooms)

I give the whole thing a 4/5 had a good time, few complaints

[mrspark7777777]

when people say things like they find moments where added up it leads them to believe Jikook are not in a romantic relationship I wonder what they mean. So I’m talking actions and whereabouts etc. because to me, they are closeted and busy men but they have always been consistent in their behaviour to each other, even last year despite the longing, am I missing something?

Nah anon. People are just morons

1) Trashkookers:

Their bias is V and so if they're gonna ship anyone in BTS it has to be V. Must be V. No matter what. But nooooo they won't ship him with someone like Jhope where they don't have to make anything up or Jin where they actually do some pretty sus things where edited end up giving us some awesome Taejin sexual tension videos 🤭🤭😂 V does the exact kind of fanservice with everyone which is why what Tkk do can never be special, but with Jin he kinda goes the extra mile and I for one love to see it 😂 It totally makes sense to me why Taejin was the first ship in BTS way back when. So yeah, these idiots could ship Vhope or Taejin and never be frustrated by their ship. But nope. Its gotta be with the youngest because he's hot and popular and looks like a badboy thus fulfilling their fantasies or whatever. Idek man. It dont gotta be JK people. It really doesn't. As long as Jimin exists this dude is always going to frustrate you and thems the truth!

2) Antis

Antis have categories. JJKs, PJMs, Homophobes and Anti shippers.

JJKs hate Jimin because PJMs hate on JK. But PJMs only hate on JK because his rlship with Jimin brings him hate from the vermin. Who hate Jimin because JK doesn't do to V the things he does to/with Jimin.

Damn, that's a mindfuck.

Homophobes, well. These include JJKs, PJMs and anyone in the fandom who believes all members are straight. We've seen extremely homophobic stuff get tweeted especially by KJJKs. They are hella nasty. (For the most part thou, majority of PJMs know their fave is not straight)

As for the Anti shippers, they are not homophobic, but don't believe any members are dating each other. Heck, they too ship members but not seriously, just for fun. They think other shippers take it too far because skinship is normal in SK and so what Jikook do is normal skinship. (Even though we've seen Koreans react to Jikook and say they would never do that with their own friends but I digress)

Idk why its so hard to think the biggest boy band in the world could have some gay members, but okay.

So no anon, you aint missing anything. Other people are 🤷🏽‍♀️

[miraculousdeservesbetter2024]

Ships:

Chlonette

Adribrina

Lukalix

Characters:

Miss Bustier

Andre

Rose

Hmmm…🤔

Ships:

Chlonette

👍👍👍

My favorite Chloe OTP! On the surface, Chlonette might just look like your basic cute crackship or possible redemption/reformation story for Chloe, but thanks to this Chlonette server I'm in (with these awesome people I might add), Chlonette is a lot more complex and has more layers than you think. My reasons for shipping it are a possible Chloe redemption/reformation, Chloe can of course treat Marinette better, enemies to lovers (though in my case, it’s enemies, to hesitant friends, to friends and THEN to lovers), they generually look interesting together, and Chloe already has (or did have) a crush on Ladybug, so that's to assume if she had an crush on Ladybug, she might be her type.

Also, before S4-5, I saw Marinette (other than Miss Bustier, Sabrina, and possibly Adrien) being really the only one who truly understands Chloe. I feel that Mari being Ladybug is more prominent when it comes to this. Also, I feel that Marinette and Chloe are a lot alike when you really think about it when you take away their different upbringings. People dislike these two together for obvious and understandable reasons (the way Chloe canonically treats Marinette, Chloe's a bully, Marinette gave up on Chloe etc.), but I personally think it has potential (or at least it did, until canon/Astruc ruined it).

Adribrina

👍

Adribrina isn't a bad ship. Two friends of mine got me invested in this ship (and it also comes from the fact that I also ship Lukabrina). From what I’ve gathered, people ship because it’s “cat and dog” shipping and the lack of interactions these two had in the series. So basically it completely resonates from potential, which is understandable. I also think it would be a bit interesting to see these two interact.

Lukalix

👍

I prefer this ship as a strong friendship, but I’m perfectly fine with people shipping it. It has some potential and the two are holders of time-related miraculouses 😄

Characters

Miss Bustier

Eh…

👍👎

Sorry. I know it’s a copout, but I legitimately feel REAL indifferent on Bustier right now. Her teachings at first came off as wholesome and understandable, but once you really look into it, not only she’s an enabler to Chloe’s bad behavior, but throws her actual good student under the bus and doesn’t even bother to take up for her against Lila (Ladybug episode). Then later ends up throwing Chloe under the bus too once she starts to “finally understand Chloe’s true nature”. Which I GET the intent behind this, but I don’t like it because SHE’S one of the many adults who enabled her in the first place, but now she wants to give up on her!?

“BUT Chloe got her fired even though she’s pregnant!” It doesn’t matter? I’m not trying to sound cruel here (because that really is messed up), but I just think as the grown adult who choose to enable Chloe and gave her the benefit of the doubt (compared to what she did for her other students btw), does she really have the right to bail on her now??? I’m not trying to sound insensitive or unsympathetic of Bustier’s situation, but I just think it’s not all on Chloe. I don’t think Miss Bustier is a bad person, but some of the stuff she does is seriously questionable.

Andre

👎👎👎

I didn’t necessarily “hate” Andre in the past, but now? He’s a corrupt politician and a bad father who gave up on his own daughter AND replaced her with a girl who’s not even 💯 his. I also hate how he’s somehow more sympathetic than the 14 year old girl who he failed to raise property. It’s so dumb that it’s constantly said that Chloe is “evil” because she doesn’t want to lose her privileges, but who GIVES HER those privileges in the first place??? So that automatically falls on her PARENT.

Rose

👍

I like her! She’s not my favorite character, but she’s a sweet character who represents jubilation well.