#so i'm not all that emotionally invested in them yet

[miwiheroes]

Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love + Stranger Things Couples

This is very different from my other posts on here, but I was inspired by @hawkinsschoolcounselor to make this. Just wanted to give this tag some of my own insight from a Psychology student's perspective, specifically talking about the Triangular Theory of Love (TTL) in relation to couples (whether they are platonic or romantic or not) on Stranger Things. I'm not here to say that the Duffer Brothers specifically took inspiration for their couples from this theoretical model, just that this is one of the many theoretical models of relationships that can be applied to how people view love. Therefore, a writer would have written real life people's experiences of love into the show.

(Just want to quickly add -- this theory was made in the 80s. The most common criticism of this model is that it is made on the basis of westernised ideals of love. It also does not take asexuality or aromanticism into account.)

First of all, an Introduction to the TTL:

Imagine yourself a triangle. Every triangle has three sides. Each side of this triangle is an essential component to love. It’s the combination of these elements that creates the different types of love we experience.

First, we have Intimacy, which isn't your classic physical intimacy that you know (e.g. hugging, kissing). It's basically the emotional side of love. Can you tell this person your deepest secrets? Can you trust them? Do you two have similar interests? Can you have a laugh? Intimacy is what makes us feel understood and accepted for who we are.

Next, is Passion, which is the fire, the spark, the physical attraction that ignites the magnetic pull between two people. The chemistry, the electricity, you could say. We feel this at the beginning of most relationships, that intense desire to be with someone, emotionally and physically.

Lastly is Commitment. This is the decision to stay, to continue even if something changes. This can be for various reasons like investments you've made in the relationship, the promises you've made to someone.

Each of these components are associated with a certain type of love.

Nonlove -- This relationship has neither intimacy, commitment, or passion. You are acquaintances with this person.

Liking -- This relationship has intimacy only. This is a friendship, without commitment or passion that a romantic relationship has.

Infatuation -- Only has passion. It's exciting, overwhelming, but there's no emotional connection, trust, or commitment.

Empty -- Only has commitment. The relationship is stable and safe, but has no real connection or passion that it may once have had or never had.

Companionate -- This relationship his intimacy and commitment, but it does not have passion. This could be a very close friend, or a couple that may be in love but do not have physical attraction to one another.

Romantic -- You are intimate with this person and have passion with them, but you are not yet committed. For example, a partner that you've been dating for a short time.

Fatuous -- The presence of passion and commitment, but without intimacy. For example, two people who barely know each other can get married super quick on a whim.

Consummate -- Is the 'ideal' love. This is the complete, balanced love we all strive for. It’s a mix of deep emotional connection, physical attraction, and a strong, lasting commitment.

So how does this relate to Stranger Things?

I do believe we can sort of apply these definitions of love to many different duos in ST, and see what this means for them in the future. Love can also be different on either side, for example, on side of the duo may see passion in their love, while the other side sees none.

BTW you may notice that I'm not going to include Byler or Mileven in this first list, I will diagnose them after all the other duos in the show. So scroll down if you want to only see them.

Nonlove

This would be a duo from ST that really has no interaction with each other. No commitment, no emotional connection, no physical connection. I guess we can just pick people who've barely had an interaction, like Steve and Will. Eddie and Hopper. Mike and Robin (not yet anyways).

Liking

E.g. Joyce and Murray, Mike and Lucas. Just friends, but they are friends enough that they have believable closeness and an understanding of one another. More examples include all the party's friendships with each other (except Mike and Will). I don't want to really dumb them down into not being committed toward each other, but we can see that they're not dependent on each other in a way that's got more emotional depth than some other platonic duos in the show.

Infatuation

The only notable one that I can think of here is Stancy, more specifically on Nancy's side. This means she only has passion with him, aka, physical attraction. She's not intimate with him (in this model's definition at least). This model's definition of intimate means sharing deep secrets and trusting each other. During S1, Nancy's reason for being with Steve was because he was popular and she was just excited to be with the most desire guy in high school. She didn't confide in him about her emotional turmoil, she didn't understand his decisions and he didn't understand hers. In S2, this is the same. The only time that she confronted him was when she was drunk, other times she didn't feel he understood her enough like Jonathan did.

She also wasn't committed to him, which makes sense, because she had a far more emotional intimacy with Jonathan.

Empty

The first one that comes to mind ^. Obviously, this isn't necessarily fully in line with the psychological definition of 'Empty love', because Karen is not fully committed to Ted in S2 or S3, but ultimately she does make the decision not to cheat on her husband because of her commitment to her family. They have no intimacy and no passion (Ted's bed is literally downstairs). This is one of those relationships where people don't even have to ask why they don't get a divorce -- because they're too committed, which is their downfall.

Companionate

I believe Steve and Robin are different to those friendships in the 'Liking' category. They have intimacy, because they confide in each other and understand each other on a deeper level. But they're also committed to each other in a way that the other platonic duos don't have. They go where the other goes -- (they always need to have the same job together), and other people already think they are a couple (based on heteronormativity but also because they're seen together so often). They obviously have no passion, because uh well, their physical attractions lie elsewhere.

Romantic

I couldn't think of anything that just fitted only intimacy and passion and no commitment, most of the couples on ST basically have commitment if they also have the other two.

Fatuous

Without intimacy, but only commitment and passion, this is a super rare kind of love, and probably not represented in Stranger Things. If anyone has any idea of what could be in this section, please let me know.

Consummate

The ideal love, with intimacy, passion and commitment, is luckily represented by most of the canon couples in Stranger Things. This is how you know that the writers are good at writing believable romances -- you don't need the characters to explicitly state that they are in love for you to know, because they have all three of the staples for an ideal love.

Jancy has intimacy because they can tell each other secrets and they understand each other's emotional traumas (Jonathan understands Nancy's trauma surrounding Barb, for example. As a wise man once said, they have shared trauma). The biggest reason why they definitely have this love to me, though, is because the moments that they have the most trouble in their relationship is when one of these sections breaks down. AKA -- intimacy was broken down in S3 when they 'don't understand each other' anymore, and they were able to come back from this, showing their commitment. Season 4 also shows their commitment, because while Nancy was being sweet talked to by Steve (ugh sorry), she still stayed committed to Jonathan, same on Jonathan's side. Despite being in a different state, he still made all his decisions based on her future as well as his, showing they were committed.

Jopper has intimacy because she feels that he understands her more than anyone -- he met her in high school and clearly have both shared memories and shared trauma. They trust each other with sensitive information about each other's lives, and are able to confide in each other when the other is going through something. The commitment is shown deeply in Season 4. Joyce's commitment is quite literally shown in almost crashing in a plane for him and trying to break him out of prison. Hopper's is the plan he makes to break out and go see her. Their passion well.... that is also shown in the way Hopper continues to pine for her in S3, giving her longing looks, but also in S4 because this desire has a pay off.

Okay so now we can talk about which categories Mileven and Byler fit into:

Mileven and Byler

Lets' start by looking at each of the three components:

Mileven's Intimacy:  In the beginning of Season 1, Mike has emotional understanding with El, but this is gone by the time Season 4 rolls around. She explicitly states to him "No. You don't." He also finds no time to express his insecurities about his relationship with her actually with her, instead choosing to confide in Will about his insecurities. On El's side, she chooses to lie to Mike about having a really hard time in California, because she does not have the intimacy with him to feel like she can confide in him. There is a reason for this, obviously, and that is because she feels insecure about their relationship. But instead of communicating that, she chooses to ignore it. When Mike finally chooses to tell El about his 'feelings', even if they are true, he is only spurred on by Will alone, not by his own desire to do it. Whenever Mike tries to actually tell El what he's feeling, he ends up trying to do it in other ways in order to avoid it. Their scenes where they're about to open up to each other are either interrupted or extremely frustrating.

Byler's Intimacy: Will has always chosen Mike to talk about his problems with. He says to him in the 'crazy together' scene that Mike can't tell the others because they won't understand, showing that they have a unique kind of intimacy. Will also chooses to confide only with Mike about his problem with D'art in S2, because the situation is slightly icky (because D'art was literally inside him ig) and trusts only Mike with this situation. This is the same as the situation at the end of S4, where Will knows it would be scary for anyone else to hear, but he's happy to tell Mike about Vecna being alive. Luckily, Mike is ready to jump into action at the drop of a hat in both situations. Mike's intimacy with Will is the sheer amount of heart-to-heart scenes they have in S4. He's always ready to tell Will about his relationship problems, but not El (and no, not just because she's in the lab). He's more comfortable around him than El. All Mike and El do is make out (in S3), have some slight banter, but they don't actually have any shared interests. Mike and Will both have the shared interest of all things nerdy, and Mike finds Will's artwork moving and amazing. Mike has been shown to have an appreciation for what Will creates.

Mileven's Passion: I guess it's slightly awkward to talk about this kind of stuff with either Mileven or Byler, because they are teenagers. But teenagers obviously experience physical attraction and desire. The reason we can see this desire in other couples is because they have a lot of build up. Jancy have desire because they've been kept from each other because of Steve and Nancy being together. Jopper have been kept from each other because of Joyce's relationship with Bob and her grief, then Hopper being kept in jail (though that's not to do with romance). Lumax have been kept from one another because of Max refusing to get help from others. There was no pining, desiring moment with Mileven. And I know what people might say: Season 2 and Season 3 had moments where they were kept from each other and it was shown that Mike wanted her back. Oh? You mean the Mike that gave up on calling her and focused on Will until El reappeared again? You mean the Mike that joked around with Lucas after El broke up with him and played himself as the victim? It's not the same, because it has no pay off like the others. The maybe-pay off is the 'passion' of them making out in S3, constantly getting interrupted by some funny old guy haha!. As Hopper said, too much passion is 'not normal, not healthy'. This passion has Mike pulling her hands away from him and is just presented as humour/puberty-ridden teens figuring themselves out. Idk man

Byler's Passion:  Ignoring the fact I feel so weird talking about this, let's just reiterate some of the points I brought up to you in the last paragraph. All other main couples in ST have had a moment of unambiguous pining. Jopper, Jancy and Lumax. This is also the case with Byler, clearly, from S4, Will's pining for Mike can be seen as him wanting something. Have you seen those longing looks, marked by sweet, pining music? Those scream attraction, even though some of you might be allergic to two teen boys showing attraction to each other but are totally fine with 13 year olds making out. Those are just Will's pining moments. I mean, I can talk at length about Mike's slip ups. The triple take? The amount of lip glances on this man? It's hard to say at the moment whether they have passion in this relationship, but the thing is. We don't need to have it right now. All we need to know is that there is potential for it, potential for an amazing pay off where Will confesses his feelings. And from the amount of pining Will's shown (and Mike in a lot of ways), there definitely is potential.

Mileven's commitment: So this is where they actually have something. But that's not necessarily a good thing. Mike is the first person that treats El well after being stuck in an abusive lab for the first 12 years of her life. He made a promise to her that he would take care of her, and they both stress that Friends Don't Lie. They don't want to lose each other. Mike tells Will and El that he doesn't want to lose her and wants her to need him. This is not the same as romantically loving somebody. Mike's feelings shift during S2 and S4, but his commitment to El overrides everything. El wants to break up with him because of various reasons, and says that he is her 'first boyfriend' during S3. But they still stay together despite the troubles in their relationship, showing that the commitment is not something they want but something they need in order to feel secure. We have established they have no intimacy, we have established they have no passion. So why do they stay together? Because of the security, or some other reason. We have seen that Mike doesn't love El during S4 because he describes 'explaining himself' to her, while also not knowing what to say when she spells it out for him. We have seen how Mike treats El poorly, and the other way around. They lie to each other, they don't confide in the other. But they stay together because... they've made a promise, a commitment. Mike says I love you because she's going to die and believes it's what she wants. Even if this commitment was supposed to be genuine and pure, it can't be worth rooting for without intimacy and passion.

Byler's commitment: Will states many times that he will always be Mike's friend, always need him, wants to be with him for the rest of his life, playing games in his basement. That is the most obvious sign of commitment I have ever seen. He is so committed that he is willing to sacrifice his own feelings in order to make Mike happy, effectively tying himself to his love forever. Mike is committed to Will in his own way. He is always the one to apologise and take the fall in their arguments, while with El he is not committed in that way. When Will is away from Mike, he's worried that he's lost him. Basically this means Mike is afraid that Will isn't as committed as he is to their friendship. It's funny because Will has the exact same worries during the Rink o Mania fight. But that's the irony. They are both committed. Mike's commitment despite the distance is shown through his fear of losing Will. Will's commitment to him despite the distance is through his painting. No matter what, Mike is always ready to be a team with Will and work with him. Even while they were supposed to be fighting, Mike confides in Will. And Will? A huge part of Will's arc is his undying commitment towards Mike, which makes his scenes with Mileven so upsetting -- because we know his love will never end, meaning his sadness won't end unless Mileven break up.

So what's the diagnosis?

Mileven: Empty Love (Only commitment to each other. There is no show of emotional understanding and connection. The passion and pining for each other is not shown like with other ST couples.)

Byler: Consummate Love (Has all three elements. Both have a mutual understanding to each other's needs, both have a mutual pining, even though it's much easier to see on Will's side. Both have a commitment to the other in their own way. All other popular ST couples have this love and would fit in with Byler's)

Im so scared to post this because it's so different from my other posts. But hopefully you see that even if Byler is not endgame, Mileven being endgame would not be a true show of 'love defeats all' -- because it is not a healthy love. 

[paulilily]

Imagine Nagi comes home to Ba-ya waiting by the door to give Choki back -bc she follows bltv- and Choki has a small bump on one of its bulbs. When Nagi asks about it Ba-ya informs him that some time after they left Choki sprouted a flower bud but it hadn't bloomed. Nagi doesn't say anything and just takes his pet back.

Months later, Nagi has moved on to another team and is actively chasing his own goals, regularly checking on Reo through bltv to see how he's doing. Despite not wanting to play with Reo anymore, he's still invested on his ex-partner's dream. That's why it hurts to see how emotionally vulnerable he left him and how, despite the time that has past, Reo's smiles are rare and usually fake. (He's been around both the fake ones and the sincere one long enough to know) Yet, he's very proud of Reo for challenging the world on his own, he just wished he was brave enough to actually tell him.

Choki's flower bud had grown a bit bigger and started opening. That made Nagi very happy, to see Choki change and grow with him, despite being just a plant.

Finally, the day his team is facing blue lock in the tournament comes and the thought of seeing them all again excites him the same amount as it scares him. One specific face haunts him the most. He decided to focus on the chance of fighting Isagi again and not on what would he do once he saw Reo. And he was so busy with this that he forgot his morning routine of pricking his finger.

He remembered once he was at the door and decided to go back to his room to say goodbye and ask Choki to wish him luck (although he knew the cactus wouldn't answer him, he'snot crazy) What he hadn't known was that, under the pale moonlight, Choki had blossomed a deep purple flower, sitting atop one of it's bunny ears.

Nagi stood frozen by his bedroom door. Then, he took a deep breath and, as he released it, felt a weight being lifted from his shoulders. "Right. Thanks Choki. I'm going now."

[isa-ghost]

AU where Cucurucho can see through all the Fed workers'........ well they don't have eyes, but don't worry about it.

Do I even have to mention the angst potential between Tubbo and Fred? Or Walter Bob? Or any of the other workers we or the islanders actually got kinda emotionally invested in?

Something something eventually he can see through the islanders that work for/with the Federation's eyes too. Cellbit, Fit, Foolish.

Maybe also the ones that have pasts with or get too close to the Feds or Cucurucho himself. Bagi, Baghera, Jaiden.

And maybe also the ones the Feds have kidnapped and done things to. Phil, Felps, Pac, Mike, Roier.

Maybe the latter two groups aren't compromised yet, but Cucurucho certainly has aspirations to get to that point.

Once the islanders who aren't compromised are told about what's happening, paranoia explodes among the islanders. They start suspecting each other despite trying their best to keep trust strong. They start wondering if the eggs are being used too. Even SecurityCraft cameras start getting suspected.

This is the shit the Codes were trying to warn them about. They Know. They're the previous iteration of islanders.

It's Etoiles's time to shine. Granted, several candidates that were being considered eligible to join The Resistance are now compromised or Could Be compromised, but they can figure that out as they go.

He builds an underground meeting place in the spirit of Order Theoritas. He'd use The Order itself if it weren't for Cellbit being compromised and having full access to the hideout he built. This is the place he'll use to sort out what to do to stop Cucurucho, or at least to find a way to disconnect his eyes from the islanders. He calls it La Résistance Aveugle, which translates (perhaps incorrectly because Google Moment) to "The Blind Resistance."

He definitely finds a way to disconnect the eyes at some point, bringing the saved people under The Resistance's wing, letting them recover from it before recruiting them to help save the others.

At first The Resistance is made up of the other people who have been Touched by the Code. Charlie, Maxo. Luzu (or more accurately, Arin) is also vaguely involved, more like another informant that's not physically in the picture.

The Codes do their best to get Etoiles intel from within the Federation ASAP in an effort to try and stay one step ahead of Cucurucho, or at least so they have some ability to anticipate what the Federation's next move(s) will be.

Etoiles decides it's most important to seek out the vulnerable islanders and recruit them first, before Cucurucho can get to them. Bagi, Baghera, Jaiden, Phil, Felps, Pac, Mike, Roier.

But he's not going to just welcome them in so easily. They're essentially quarantined in a secret location meant to look like where The Resistance is based, but in reality it's a decoy. In this place, they're screened and monitored for a period of time to ensure The Feds didn't beat The Resistance to them.

Once they pass all the tests to ensure they're not compromised yet, they're brought into The Resistance officially and brought to the REAL hideout. And there's a diabolical plot twist I'm planning for this part. :)

Phil and Roier pass the tests for sure. Roier is particularly feisty throughout the process, he wants to save Cellbit ASAP. Phil's hatred of The Federation is potent. Etoiles trusts them wholeheartedly by the end of their testing. Codebreakers and Bloodhounds >>>>>>.

While the processes with The Vulnerable are ongoing, The Resistance also try and reach out to people they're confident haven't been compromised yet. Tubbo, Bad, Tina, Pierre.

It's a long shot to contact them, but they try to go to the people who are rarely around too, since they're also unlikely to be compromised. Missa, Mariana, Niki, Mouse.

Etoiles has mixed feelings about it, but out of necessity he forms a blacklist of members he absolutely refuses to recruit, for the sake of keeping things secure. Quackity, Antoine, Vegetta. He has valid reasons for all of them.

Tubbo's on board immediately, he's been grilling Cucurucho and challenging him since his first days on the server. With his intelligence and ability to plan combined with Etoiles's skills, The Resistance surely stands a better chance.

They successfully assemble Bad, Tina, Pierre, Missa, Niki, and Mariana (after an Average Slimariana argument and subsequent hatefucking). Mouse's correspondence is pending (she's a very busy demon!) but Tina and Niki are able to vouch that she'd be likely to help them too.

By the end of all their recruiting, The Resistance consists of Etoiles, Tubbo, Bad, Tina, Pierre, Missa, Niki, Phil, and Roier. Hopefully Bagi, Baghera, Jaiden, Pac, and Mike will join them soon, they're still going through their screenings. (Pac especially is working hard to earn their trust, he wants to save Fit as much as Roier wants to save Cellbit).

I'm gonna place this fic pre-Purgatory, which means the eggs are actually missing at the moment. It makes things easier plot-wise, LMAO.

But that isn't stopping Niki. She proposes The Resistance devotes a portion of themselves to figuring out what to do about finding the eggs. They can't just abandon the kids! Suffice to say it's a controversial idea to The Codes, but she has a point. Much spicy debating to be had about it.

As THE babysitter ever, Bad volunteers to assist her, though he also intends to be in the thick of everything, not just lingering on the side worrying about the thing they were all trying to resolve prior to this whole crisis.

Phil basically joins Bad, because 90% of his reason for living on the island are Chayanne and Lullah. But make no mistake, he too wants to be a smidge more involved. Anything for a reason to beat The Federation's ass. He also has experience with these kinds of things thanks to The Syndicate, he has wisdom to offer.

Ideally, over time and through so much DELICIOUS suspense and tension and angst, they'd find a way to stop Cucurucho. But I don't know if I'd end the story 100% happy so maybe not Everyone can be saved. I dunno. It wouldn't be a completely unhappy ending though. :)

EDIT: I GOT MORE.

This fic will be called Eye Spy With My Evil Eye! :D

Every chapter's title will complete the phrase, Chapter 1 being "Something... Wrong."

It'll start off with Cellbit, and he's the first to have a moment where a weird encounter with Cucurucho sets off alarm bells that something is more off than usual. Cue Investigator Mode.

Fit and Foolish will have similar moments in the chapter where something is Just not right enough for them to get wary there's some new fuckery afoot, but unlike Cellbit they kinda brush it off.

I'm incredibly proud of how I characterize Foolish already and in classic me fashion, my notes on the chapter are fucking hilarious. Behold:

After they each have their "Well that's even more weird than usual" moment, the chapter will return to Cellbit as he contacts Fit and Foolish because he suspects that their association with The Federation is doing something to them in a similar vein to how the Codes have affected Etoiles, Charlie, and Maxo.

The Horrors(tm) will unfold from there, I already have 4 chapters plotted and it'll definitely be more than that. No idea how long the fic will be in total though.

[beedreamscape]

This has to be the last thing I say on C3 finale because otherwise, I will not stop, it simply baffles me in its mediocrity. And obviously, this will be negative, if you loved it, good for you, this is my takeaway as someone who loved this campaign and was severely let down.

This finale changes everything that came before and not for good, better yet, it emphasizes all the faults in the structure of what c3 tried to be, it made most of the campaign feel like a true exercise in futility — How far can we go in a campaign that is meandering and unsatisfying? How long can we have the same discussion over and over and over again despite everyone knowing how this will end? How long can we drag out characters that don't change without anyone noticing? (spoiler everyone noticed)

Can't say I was emotionally invested in the finale because I tapped out back in the 70s, came back for Aeor/Downfall shenanigans, and left again. But in experiencing the finale something became clear to me:

THIS STORY NEEDED TO BE SHORTER.

WITH ANOTHER PARTY AT THE HELM.

If the objective from the very conception of C3 was to wipe out the gods, that had to be clear from the very start. And it wasn't clear, at all — not in the characters, not in the starting city, not in theme. This was a completely different campaign at the start! That clarity was what made Calamity so great, it was short and precise, and every pc SERVICED THE THEME, filled with hubris and contempt, not to mention the setting.

Even Ludinus went in circles for convenience of the campaign length and became a weaker opponent for it, more of a nuisance than a villain. The threat he posed at episode 50 was much stronger than now at 120 something. The battle against Otohan was more nail-biting and emotionally engaging than fighting Ludinus and Predathos, a god eater!!!!

This campaign would've benefited from three to four acts instead of one overarching objective like the past campaigns because urgency is the name of the game and we can't carry urgency for 70 episodes straight (and they didn't).

The constant inclusion of the other parties made it clear how easy it was to detach BH from the story, how easy and fun it was for them to tell it through another party's eyes (one of the main reasons why I walked away back when I did, but that's more of a personal preference).

Which is not to say Bells Hell's didn't deserve a long story! They could very well have existed in a more intimate campaign which these characters were clearly built for! Their premises begged for closer looks in slow moments, something tragicomical, exploration of the inner world while developing MARQUET and its microcosm of injustice and politics which was left in the dust mid-campaign (pun intended).

And I'm not suggesting this just for our enjoyment, I know it's them playing and their enjoyment comes first blah blah, though this is a multi-million company therefore their jobs but this would contribute to their enjoyment! You could see several moments in the campaign how tapped out they felt and acted. I doubt it was "fun" discussing the gods situation ad naseaum, trudging through landscapes they barely cared about, with empty arcs.

I could nitpick every fault I see in the finale but it would be pointless, these issues have been dragged from ages ago and poor character matching, and now this is a culmination of everything and it barely fazes me anymore.

(And yeah it's their game and it's "free", but that doesn't undermine its weight as a story, stories were made be analyzed, and it was a poorly structured one no matter how much I still like and admire them as people.)

WHICH is not to say I had no fun at all ever, I did! several times! and that's what makes me upset, it could've been great instead is just meh.

[sagistrology]

id love to see your interpretation on pluto conjunct ascendant, or virgo venus! i find these placements fascinating.

pluto conjunct ascendant 

♇ a conjunction implies a tight orb (8° or less), creating a direct impact on the ascendant while furthering the qualities of the respective sign. here, it affects one's identity, how one responds to their environment, the 'self', and their physical appearance - in connection to pluto.

♇ this aspect is incisive, intense, and amplifies whichever sign pluto's in - sometimes leading to an obsession with what they identify with, as well as providing a breeding ground for 'negative' traits if not handled carefully.

♇ for a lack of better word, these 'shadow' / unhealed aspects may include repressed trauma, destructive tendencies, secretiveness, the desire to dominate, control, manipulate etc. (doesn't exclude these same tactics being used or inflicted on them).

♇ there's a need to learn how to alchemize their pain in order to allow transformation to be beneficial rather than destructive. this aspect tends to dominate the majority of other placements, esp. since the ascendant is what we relate to, and portray. intense and challenging, yet highly rewarding.

♇ strong sense of purpose – craving to be consumed by meaning. ambitious, meticulous in their approaches, deeply analytical, seeing through other’s behaviours. (benefit from exercising).

♇ fully immersed or disinterested. this applies to humans, causes, ambitions, you name it. once committed to either, they become enduring and sacrificial. being driven by something that gets them involved mentally and emotionally is essential.

♇ knowing how to cater to people’s egos because they had to read their desires in order to be tolerated at some point lol, think of the seven deadly sins; greed, wrath, sloth, envy, lust, gluttony, and pride. seeing behind these facades - and those aspects in themselves, has them in tune with human desires and the most vile manifestations of it.

♇ depending on how pluto’s aspected there’s even more nuance to it, which can’t be generalised. (e.g. pluto in 12h conjunct ascendant)

♇ ‘darkened’ appearance, more so in their essence rather than features alone, naturally demanding attention upon entering a space, observant, psychologically-inclined, often drawn to heavier subjects and taboo conversations.

♇ deeply connected to the cyclical nature of death and rebirth – knowing how to ‘play’ a character, as well as being aware of its impact. tend to go through changes in their appearance, often rapidly (mesmerizing eyes).

♇ magnetic but intimidating to most, attracting jealousy that’s often hidden because few dare to confront them (eyes are on them - even in times of isolation).

♇ secret admiration, being studied carefully, sometimes obsessively - desired by many and known by few.

♇ immensely projected upon, tending to attract people that want to benefit off their innate influence, the energy of relevancy and ‘power’ – also, being assigned a higher tolerance for pain and harshness, however, almost demonized once defending themselves.

♇ if you want to buy them something get it engraved with a personal message or specific reference, i'm thinking lighters, rings, knives, lockets etc. (sth. resilient they will treasure).

*these observations are general and don't cover all aspects. let me know if you have specific questions.

virgo venus

♍︎ by being opposite of pisces (where venus is exalted), venus in virgo is considered in its fall, which can present as less rewarding or harmonious. it becomes a beautiful placement once understood.

♍︎ venus (also) deals with money and its accumulation. in virgo, wealth is accumulated through consistency and endurance - mostly benefiting from savings and investments. however, there's a tendency for their efforts to go uncompensated. verbal praise and validation ≠ financial compensation.

♍︎ very modest in their expectations and often too shy to ask for a raise = ending up receiving less than adequate compensation for their efforts and expertise, which often exceed the requirements but become the norm. (you don’t owe a company free labour)

♍︎ sometimes, it can be hard for them to distinguish between 'helping' and overextending themselves beyond their emotional, physical, and mental capacities - with venus, this can be emphasized as one partner (virgo) being on the 'giving', and their partner on the 'receiving' end.

♍︎ they may develop an expectation of having to earn compassion and attention (conditional love). 'overcoming' the fixation on providing and learning to receive can be very healing.

♍︎ experimental yet sophisticated (also with clothing), detail-oriented. extremely critical, scrutinizing their discipline and behaviour. value high quality products.

♍︎ appear effortlessly beautiful, which isn't to devalue this aspect, but rather emphasize the time, effort, and dedication that goes into maintaining a certain appearance and health. e.g. through exercise, meditation, nutrition, supplements, consumption habits etc. no detail is 'coincidental', even if it looks like it, it was most likely calculated.

♍︎ crave mental and physical stimulation in romantic relationships, sensual (earth) and analytical (mercury); love to please and see the effects of having 'done well'. write beautiful letters.

♍︎ obsessed with cleanliness. tend to serve when committed, often aren't used to being considered. seeking stability and healthy / productive routines.

♍︎ would probably cry if they received a thoughtful gift that shows you've taken the time to analyse and do something for them unprovoked. truly one of the sweetest things you can do. they tend to be strict on themselves, try to show them they are more than deserving of your love.

*these observations are general and do not cover all details or aspects venus is associated with. for more precise interpretations consider your personal placements.

thank you for your request!

[im-not-a-ghost]

General messages for the collective

Group 1

2 of pentacles, 2 of swords, King of cups, ace of cups, page of swords, queen of cups, back of the deck 7 of pentacles

You lack clarity and balance concerning a person that you love. This is a romantic interest that holds a lot of importance to you, considering they are represented by a King. This person may have played hot and cold with you, either voluntarily or because of their life circumstances. Their actions and words got you confused and you may have thought that this person wasn't truthful or reliable. Soon, you will gain clarity on this person's point of view and experience. You will be able to understand their stance better and there may be a renewal in your connection. Because clarity has been made about feelings and expectations for the connection. Either you or they communicated clearly how you felt about the situation which will enable both of you to heal and regain balance in the connection. That could either mean that you will receive an apology from this person and explanations about their behavior which will allow you to move on from them or the conversation could bring you closer and help you move on to a new step together. With the Queen of cups also being present in the reading, I get the feeling that this person considers you an equal and values your input. It is at least very obvious that they care about you and do not wish to cause you harm. With this set of cards, I don't sense any ill will coming from this person. This isn't to say that their actions haven't had a bad effect on you but this person's first intention was never to bring you down or make fun of you. The ace of cups is at the center of the deck. So the heart of the matter is compassion, love, understanding. This card can symbolize a new start in a connection, the will to open up to another and share feelings. It's the blossoming of interest and the expression of a genuine care. The 7 of pentacles at the back of the deck suggests patience and caution, taking the time to assess the situation and leave up to fate a part of the outcome. The 7 of pentacles indicates that has person has done what was necessary to set their goals into motion and have reached a stage where there is nothing more that they can do to ensure a positive outcome. The ball is no longer in their court.

Possible confirmation signs : repeating 2s, water signs, letters P, C & S

Group 2

7 of pentacles, 8 of swords, King of cups, 9 of cups, 9 of wands, page of cups, back of the deck 8 of wands

You may have felt drawn to group 1 as well. If that is the case, I suggest that you check that group too. Because the third card is exactly the same and the 7 of pentacles was group 1's back of the deck. So your energy and group 1's seem to be linked. I have the energy here of people that feel like they gave a situation their everything and are running out of options to make it progress. Yet, they haven't given up on the idea of succeeding, because this situation matters a lot to them. This is something that they are deeply emotionally invested in. It is a dream of theirs, whether that dream is in the form of a project or a person, maybe even both. This person is determined to fight for that dream no matter what but they're at a loss at what to do. They feel like they tried everything, used all the tricks up their sleeve and thought about it over and over again. Yet, they can't seem to find a solution that allows them to get the desired result. They feel like they're in a dead end and they have no emergency exit or detour route that they can take to get where they want. They feel stuck and exhausted, discouraged but still adamant on trying their best until their last breath. I get a feeling of urgency, like "if I don't act soon enough I'm gonna lose my dream", "I will lose the opportunity and I don't want to miss it". I get a "now or never" kind of vibe from this spread. It's like they wish they could jump straight away to their goal because right now they feel like they're in a maze and if they keep walking in it they're gonna miss the exit and will never see the end of it. It's like a lion in a cage, running in circles trying to find ways to be free and find their home. I saw the card that was hidden behind the 8 of wands and it was the 9 of pentacles. And it gave me the feeling of someone trying to save money to travel. The 8 of wands calls for quick action and swift communication. It's also an encouragement to move. So if there's a particular goal you have in mind and you feel like you're not making any progress, you are encouraged to make a significant move towards that goal. There's a need to take a risk and get out of one's comfort zone once and for all.

Possible confirmation signs : repeating 8s and 9s, fire and water signs

Group 3

10 of wands, 10 of pentacles, 2 of swords, 2 of pentacles, King of cups, King of pentacles, back of the deck 3 of swords rx

These messages seem to be more career oriented but that doesn't have to be the case necessarily. I pick on the energy of someone feeling burdened with their responsibilities and overworked. Yet, they are sucessful in their career and projects. That doesn't seem to satisfy them. There may be a feeling of boredom or lacking visibility on the future. I also pick up on the energy of someone that is in a period of doubt concerning their life in general, but also concerning two people or two instances. There is an energy of pondering, decision making, reevaluating one's priorities and goals. There's also an underlying fear of being disappointed, hurt, abused. These energies are weighing on the mind and creating an extra pressure. There's a need to take time to process information and analize what is going on. I looked for a clarifier for the 3 of swords rx and got the page of pentacles. Studying, investigating may be the key to an important step on your journey. This page of pentacles could also represent a younger person, possible an earth sign, that could help you on your journey. I am also picking up on reading, research. Organization is also important. Anticipation, task managing, being open to new ideas and unconventional ways of proceeding. All of these elements could be useful resources in your situation. I'm also picking up on the energy of two people that are circling around each other and testing each other. Neither of them are willing to make a step and risk being vulnerable. Both are testing and trying to assess the intentions of the other. If one has a very practical approach to the situation, the other has a very strategical approach. And I feel like this has been going on for a while. This in a way feels similar to the energies of group 1 and 2. So there may be a lot of people that are going through a similar experience of going back and forth with something or someone. There's a need hear to clearly assess one's intentions to be able to decide on the appropriate course of action.

Possible confirmation signs : repeating 2s, 10s and 14s, letters K and P, Scorpio, Taurus, fixed signs

[zalrb]

Severance finale spoilers: Okay so, yes, thematically I get what they’re trying to say about the relationship between innies and outies. How outies don’t see their innies as people but they are. And innie Mark did his duty to his outie and got outie Mark’s wife out. On paper I do get that they both chose the woman they love. But I just need to say that MarkGemma just had the juice and I really don’t care about MarkHelly - not in the sense that I don’t get it, don’t understand the magnitude of innie Mark’s feelings. I just don’t believe them! And Mark and Gemma subverting Orpheus and Eurydice! Both being each other’s Orpheus and Eurydice!

100% agree. I get it, Innie!Mark is choosing his life, choosing autonomy, choosing himself, fighting for his right to make decisions and to love who he wants, he has an allegiance to himself and Helly is a part of that. I objectively get that. I just don't care about the MarkHelly aspect of it all. Like, I get the writing. I get that it's technically earned, I just don't think it is emotionally. The writers and the actors have yet to make me invested in that relationship, and I get the frustration that some people have around certain viewers boiling everything down to a ship war, but frankly, the writers tied the themes of autonomy and free will and personhood with Mark and Helly's romantic relationship. So, it makes sense to me that if you don't buy that romantic relationship, if you don't have an investment in that dynamic then that will be what you talk about because it impacts everything else, considering that, again, the wider, more existential themes for the Innies are delivered through that relationship. So, I'm left being like, I get it, does it have the same impact on me as Outie!Mark being so deeply in love with his wife and choosing to sever himself to get some relief from the grief he was drowning in only for his Innie to be working on her literal consciousness, and how she yearns for him with as much as intensity as he's been yearning for her and how the two of them will fight to get back to each other, and what that says about the bonds of love? No.

[buddiebeginz]

Saw this ridiculous thread on twitter that really deserves to be taken apart so lets go:

First of all while it's obvious that Buck is attracted to T*mmy (and at this point likes him a lot considering they're now dating) in 7x04 the the main person who's attention he was trying to get was Eddie's. I did an entire breakdown of that ep btw for anyone who is still confused about what was really happening there.

------

1.

Buck goes to see Maddie after the basketball incidient and this is how the conversation goes

Maddie: You didn't mean to hurt him did you?

Buck: I don't know. I was pissed you know. Seeing him and T*mmy being such good friends after only two weeks. I felt left out and I guess I was trying to get his attention.

I know that you B/T shippers desperately want to see 7x04 as Buck sent the entire episode being super smitten over T*mmy but that is just not the story that show is telling. The entire conversation that Maddie and Buck are having in this scene prior to T*mmy even being mentioned is about Eddie. Buck and Maddie are talking about Eddie's injury and how Buck thinks Eddie won't want to talk to him after what he did. The focus is on Eddie. Also it doesn't make any logical sense for Buck to be so upset and emotionally invested over some guy he barely knows. He's upset because he thinks Eddie his best friend can so easily replace him in his life.

------

2.

You're defending T*mmy because you say he left the date not wanting to pressure Buck...yet he almost outed him in front of Eddie (someone T*mmy knows is important to Buck). By the time they were on their first date T*mmy already knew how new all of this was for Buck and how nervous he was, I mean the man was talking about how he was an ally ffs while he was on a date with a guy. And while Buck's comment about finding some hot chicks was embarrassing and I get T*mmy not liking it he should have had a little more understanding given where Buck is in his journey. Instead he made it worse by making that crass closet comment.

It's also just plain rude to go on a date with someone and then ditch them in the middle without making sure they have a way home and without any real explanation (I'm not talking about more extreme circumstances like your date just being an ahole btw). Sure T*mmy told Buck he didn't think he was ready but that was really all he said. Buck was likely left feeling like he was being punished for having a moment where he acted out of fear. T*mmy could have shared an Uber with Buck and talked to him on the way home and they could have seen if they wanted things to continue. But it was like at the first sign of Buck needing more support he bailed.

------

3.

My personal feeling on the first kiss is that T*mmy really should have given something of an indication of his intentions before he kissed Buck.

Speaking as someone who is bi if I was into another woman and they were giving off the kind of vibes Buck was I wouldn't just jump in there and kiss them. I know they try to make everything more sexy for tv and it's the oldest trope in the book to have the hot guy grab the main's face and lay one on them but given all of the signals Buck was sending out T*mmy really should have gotten more confirmation beforehand.

I'm not accusing T*mmy of anything and clearly Buck liked the kiss and it was also clear in that loft scene he was attracted to T*mmy. Still the vibes he was giving off were also really nervous an unsure and he talked about Eddie 90% of the time literally moments before the kiss. Why jump in an kiss someone who seems that nervous and probably is into someone else? I don't know it's just issues I have with that scene.

----

4.

When it comes to a lot of the discourse I see around between Buddie shippers and B/T shippers I feel like a major difference is in how we perceive the show. I feel like a lot of B/T shippers mostly just take the show at face value. If something is written a certain way and presented that way to you on the screen you take that as exactly what the story is saying but you're missing the more subtle messages in the writing.

Like the whole scene with Buck, T*mmy, and Eddie in the karaoke bar had a lot going on beyond just what the dialogue was saying and it was likely missed by those who weren't paying attention.

Yeah T*mmy was on call and yeah that could be a reason why he didn't dress up. Although as many have pointed out there's plenty of things he could have worn that would have made it easy for him to quickly change and get to work and still put an ounce of effort into something that was clearly important to Buck.

But the not dressing up wasn't even the biggest issue it was that when Buck seemed hurt by the fact that T*mmy didn't care enough to dress up T*mmy was just like it's not that big of deal get over it (in the demeanor with which he responded). Obviously it was just a silly bachelor party one Chim didn't even show up to and no one else even dressed up for it (besides Eddie) but for me it's another red flag showing that T*mmy doesn't listen to Buck and doesn't have his back like a (potential) partner should.

Also you can defend T*mmy all you want but very deliberate choices were made with this Buddie and T*mmy scene. They chose to have Eddie arrive first and call a lot of attention to what he was wearing. Right before they had T*mmy come in and have that whole convo about his lack of costume to Buck.

Multiple times in the episode they pointed out that Buddie were wearing a couples costume and that Eddie is the one who picked it out. Not only were they matching in the bachelor party outfits but if you look at their outfits in the later scenes while looking for Chim they're coordinated like spouses there too.

They chose to have Eddie be the one to stay with Buck when everyone else left. They chose to have Buddie partying alone when they could have easily had T*mmy there. Especially when you consider this is a much shorter season every scene and every ep means even more than it would in a normal season. If they were trying to build B/T and get the audience to warm to them showing them partying even showing B/T partying with Eddie would have been a great time to do that instead they only focused on Buddie.

-------

5.

I'm happy for B/T shippers that you got your kissing scene at the end but here's what I saw. In a very overstuffed episode they chose to have a ton of Buddie stuff including having Buck and Eddie show up together multiple times while everyone was out looking for Chimney. Meanwhile B/T got one small scene (which included Eddie) in the beginning and one kiss at the end away from everyone else (that immediately cut to Eddie and Chris). The kiss didn't even feel like it's main purpose was to further develop the B/T relationship, it felt like it happened more to serve Buck's bi storyline so he could come out to everyone.

Also others have pointed this out but just because B/T have physical chemistry doesn't mean they have romantic chemistry. They seem like very different people. Too different in my opinion. In what little scenes of conversation they've actually had I just see two people who won't be compatible long term.

Juxtapose that with Eddie and Buck and just how much alike they are while at the same time being so uniquely themselves. How they're able to call each other out when they need to like when Eddie pointed out how it was maybe not the greatest idea for Buck to come out at his sister's wedding.

You can dislike Buddie and ship B/T all you want but you can't deny how all Buck and Eddie have to do is stand near each other and they exude chemistry and compatibility. People who don't even watch the show assume they're together and there's not even one scene of them kissing. Yet the main reason people ship B/T is because they're two hot guys who've kissed twice. There is no other real point of substance there. Now tell me again which fandom is guilty of fetishization here?

----

6.

You can call us the delusional ones all you want but EVERYTHING is screaming in your face that T*mmy isn't going to last forever. I don't even care if he comes back for season 8. T*mmy and B/T have a giant ticking clock over them and sooner or later their time will be up. There is no way Tim, the writers, ABC, Ryan, Oliver, etc would pass on the phenomenon that Buddie will be once it goes canon. The show already gets a ton of attention just from talking about the possibility of them going canon. Every single article where they even mention Buddie gets attention.

It's hilarious to me that you say the actors and showrunners are what rooting for B/T? In all the the interviews they talk about Buddie now. Tim literally was saying he cares about Buddie too in his response to a fan the other day. He literally said he included Buddie scene specifically for our fandom. Oliver is always posting and liking stuff related to his scenes with Ryan and Buddie. When Ryan gets to do interviews he gushes about Buddie and Oliver. Meanwhile B/T which is supposed to be the canon ship in this important queer storyline they're doing barely gets mentioned. Let me know when that same energy is being given to your ship.

[tirfpikachu]

for me the term tirf is actually a means to an ends -- if i hadn't seen the term tirf i 10000000% would've NEVER orbited radblr. and radblr genuinely saved my mental health unlike anything else.

i legit thought it was pure evil, like incels or white supremacists. but the term tirf turned a gear in my head and made me go... huh...? is there more to radical feminism than i thought? the term, the label, is a hook to show nuanced tras, tras who are on the fence about many things, that we have the complex feminist conversations in here that they have always been craving. for me being a tirf means being a mediator between radfems and the trans community. it means making accessibility for dysphoric folks WITHIN REASON without stepping on female & homosexual rights. it means acknowledging the oppression that some transfems may face, and calling out the ableism (against dysphoric folks) & gncphobia rampant within radblr, while also openly calling out how fucked up the tra movement has been to female/ofab ppl and homosexuals. it also means often using terminology that tras understand and combining them with radfem terminology so that ppl understand what radfems ACTUALLY mean, and not the version they see in tra text posts misrepresenting radblr.

as a physically & mentally disabled detrans woman, my tirf activism is also my disability activism. it also involves my strong alliance with gnc folks as a soft butch woman - including with gnc people who are dysphoric, or even just personally enjoy trans/nonbinary labels as a gnc subculture. i still want to call out their much too common sexism, misogyny, homophobia (especially lesbophobia) and other bullshit. i want to be a haven for freshly peaked trans allies orbiting radblr.

if you are a radfem, you do not need to become a tirf. that is not my goal at all with this. we need all kinds of radfems, including strictly female-focused radfems who i really do highly respect. with my own personal brand of tirf activism, i am merely appealing to people who are already orbiting both tra and radfem spaces. people who are already emotionally invested in both trans activism and female activism. slowly peaking misogyny-affected ppl, especially homosexuals, who are still wary of radblr. i'm also appealing to trans-identified people, those affected by misogyny & gncphobia who can benefit from having a corner of radfeminism to speak on their unique experiences and can strengthen the radfem movement. i also reach out to ppl who don't identify as radfems but are disillusioned with mainstream feminism & mainstream lgbt activism. a lot of us have been harmed by tras. we desperately want to stop the tra movement from harming more female & homosexual people and work hard to limit more painful detransitions... yet some of us also need trans accommodations and support due to their dysphoria to participate, and topics may often include trans issues and trans experiences.

this does not need to be something you are involved in; i know it can get frustrating. but for those of you who are curious, who are new to radblr, who are maybe dysphoric or trans-identified or just want to both support trans people and do real feminism, my inbox, DMs & discord server are open and we're waiting with open arms for you.

[lurkingshan]

Japanese QL Corner

We are heading into a bit of a quieter period for QL corner, with two shows ending now and another next week. At least we still have a true banger airing to sustain us through the drought. Smells Like Green Spirit is also now airing in Japan but has not yet been picked up for international distribution (pray for it to get to us soon). These shows are available for weekly streaming on Gaga unless otherwise noted.

Happy of the End

CWs: Blood and gore, child abandonment, child molestation, childhood sexual slavery, death, family rejection, heavy scarring, human trafficking, rape, sexual coercion and exploitation, suicidal ideation, suicide mention

This week was relatively lighter compared to last week's very rough episodes, but still so laced with sadness even in its happy moments. Haoren mourned his mother, and finally admitted to himself, and to Chihiro, that she was never protecting him. The show dug deeper into how this bond between them is giving them both a reason to shake off their apathy about survival, though that is definitely touch and go for both of them. The way Haoren experienced a few moments of happiness and immediately jumped to the conclusion that he would like to die now because he'll never top this feeling was telling, as was Chihiro casually laying down in the street and not moving until Haoren dragged him away. They don't have any real hope for a better life, but they each seem more invested in the other's survival than their own, and that is giving them something to cling to. It was nice to see them have some moments of trust and connection between them, and for Haoren to finally feel safe enough to strip himself bare, physically and emotionally. I'm bracing for a rough final week, with Haoren's former enslaver coming after Chihiro in a bid to destroy the source of Haoren's new happiness. I don't really know what to hope for in terms of an ending for these characters; I just hope the show can leave us with the sense that their relationship mattered and gave them something they can each hold onto.

Love is Like a Poison

This episode had me screaming with laughter and delight. Haruto can read his Ryo-kun like a book, and Shiba can't seem to figure out which way is up. I don't even want to describe all the hilarious gags and sexy tension and extremely unsubtle metaphors in this episode; I don't want to ruin it for anyone. Go watch!

Chaser Game W 2

Of all the great JQL we've gotten in the last year, why this one got picked up for a second season I could not tell you. I was less than impressed with season 1, and I don't have high hopes this next go round will be any better. Especially after watching the first ep of this new season, in which they unceremoniously undid the ending of the last in a laughably silly way only to introduce a new, more annoying conflict. They could have made something of a story about Fuyu trying to work out a way to manage her family life to be with Itsuki, but they'd rather hand wave that away via gay penguins in favor of a new love triangle. Whatever, show. Here we go again, I guess! I’ll be watching this one mostly to support the ratings.

Tagging @bengiyo to do our last anime update for the next little while, as Twilight Out of Focus has officially ended its run and there is no new animated ql on the horizon.

[vyladerz]

So season 7 is a season that exists for sure.

Okay look, I believe on my first watch I was a bit too harsh on some aspects of season 7. On my last re-watch, I have gained a much better understanding of some (SOME, not all) of the character/plotlines decisions that were made. Now, this isn't the worst season ever made, there is still plenty to enjoy but it's a far cry from anything like seasons 1-5 and I fear that is becoming a theme for these latter seasons. I am getting a bit drained here but I refuse to be totally pessimistic about the next seasons. I won't be broken yet trust.

I've been holding my tongue for too long and I might just start rambling nonsense about the poor characterization/continuity this season. Though I'll try my best to make it comprehensible.

Starting 'The Girl Next Door' for the first time, I was so eager to dig my teeth into this episode because of the young Sam flashback scenes (I've mentioned being a sucker for flashback scenes before). I was fascinated with learning more about Sam's past with Amy, being that she's a monster and the whole philosophy that comes with it. Will she be redeemed of her sins? Where's the line for monsters? However, all my hopes and expectations for this episode were ripped away from me when I saw how the very last scene played out. (If you know the scene I'm talking about you deserve compensation in every form). After Sam comes clean about Amy to Dean and is reasonably able to trust her, Dean goes behind Sam's back and kills Amy IN FRONT OF HER KID!!! Not trusting Sam's judgement and killing Amy is fine, that's really not the issue I have here. Just cause I don't agree with these course of actions doesn't mean it's out of the realm of possibility for Dean. But it comes out of nowhere and it seems like sort of a regression for Dean's character. There's so many questions being raised in my mind and the show fails to give any logical answers to why Dean would behave this way so suddenly. Also what really cements this as such a wild scene to me is him murdering her in front of her child and what he says this him. "Have you ever killed anyone? Well if you do, I'll come back for you." NO! My king would never do this!! At least not in this context, not this far into the series, and not to Sam. Did all this progress with his brother mean nothing? This is something I'd expect from a hallucination or leviathan version of Dean that I've seen so far. Yes, I'm able to try to jump through hoops to rationalize his actions here but I still can't shake the feeling that this was completely out of character. This isn't the only moment that screams mischaracterization. It's throughout the whole season and it happens to Sam too. Sam and Dean's motives go back in forth from caring to not at all. The brothers are facing such terrifying grief and agony this season and it's a crime that there a very little scenes of them actually being there for each other emotionally. I get it, their whole thing is to keep things from each other to protect one another. How heartwarming! But they are literally standing right next to each other and it feels like they're a million miles apart. That wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, no, far from it. There have been moments that benefit from this that create great brotherly drama in the past. However, it's not utilized whatsoever here, it's just ignored really. When it comes to the conversation regarding Sam's weak mental state, losing Castiel, and mourning Bobby...well there's no conversation really. There's just this total disconnect here that goes as far as interfering with their hunting abilities. Yes they should have their fair loses and they are allowed to drag their feet on missions sometimes. Just not for almost the entire season. It felt like they were going through the motions for the most part. I need them to be emotionally invested within the story so I the viewer can be emotionally invested. Ugh, I miss how passionate they were about saving other people's lives and engaging with one another in a meaningful way.

On a positive note, I did enjoy the leviathans on my second watch and I didn't see that happening for me. On my first watch I think I just hated their association with this season in general. The black goo that represented the leviathans during the opening title screen kept reminding me that I was still stuck watching season 7. Which is such a shame cause I really missed out by being distracted by the other issues that plagued this season. The leviathan's attitude towards humans is actually really fascinating. They are able to see how unique humans are and appreciate them for their one of a kind abilities while also viewing them as lesser. Also George the unfortunate leviathan intern that was ready to eat his boss was a fun addition to diversifying the league of leviathans. Dick Roman was actually a pretty fun villain and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to take him seriously but Bobby's death proved to me that this guy should be taken seriously as a threat. Oh yeah Bobby oh Bobby. I thought bringing him back as a ghost was a poor choice at first because I believe when characters like Bobby, who have made such a significant impact in a series, should (respectfully) stay dead. Then you don't have to worry about diminishing their death or cheapening their emotional moments. Except I love Bobby so much that I will be willing to throw all of that away. In a show like Supernatural it's been proven that no one truly stays gone (unless you're Jessica) even as figments or ghosts. Of course now his ghost form is gone but I wouldn't be surprised if he shows up as a hallucination or in a dream sequence later on in the show.

I have to end this review here but overall there's so many plot points that happen this season that I didn't get to mention here. Most of them either end way too early, go nowhere, or are straight up unnecessary. I'll watch an episode and see an exciting opportunity for character exploration and I'll instead be met with credits. Sadly I was very pleased to end this season. Hopefully after sometime this season will just be a funny silly memory that I can laugh about cause the show magically turns around and proves me wrong!!!

[jungkoode]

SLOW BURNS | ADDRESSING CONCERNS

Okay my sweet chaos gremlins (affectionate), let’s sit down for a second and talk because my inbox has literally exploded since chapter 11 dropped. Like, seriously, you guys need to chill—kidding, don’t chill, keep yelling at me, it's my favorite thing ever (ಥ‿ಥ)♡

I’ve noticed a pattern: a lot of you are READY TO FIGHT Jungkook for sleeping around, and some are also ready to gently shake Phoenix for not being furious about it. First of all, can I just say how much I absolutely adore that you're feeling frustrated about them? The fact you’re emotionally invested enough to threaten bodily harm (jokingly, I hope) means I’m doing something right. Go me~

But here’s the thing (puts on psychologist glasses dramatically): Fuck Me Up is, and always has been, a slow burn story. Like, really slow. PAINFULLY slow. I know this fanfic has over 60k words already and some of you are shaking me by the collar begging them to get their act together and kiss already, but babes—we're literally just warming up. Phoenix has only been in town for TWO WEEKS. They barely know each other. Right now, the extent of their emotional connection is basically "You're dumb but hot, let's bang." They’re not even friends yet. (I know, shocker.)

As a writer, my ultimate obsession is realism. Relationships, feelings—they don’t bloom overnight. Especially not when we’re dealing with emotionally traumatized gremlins like Jungkook and Phoenix. They're carrying around some pretty heavy baggage, so they need time. Realistically, people do a ton of shit without even understanding why. Phoenix doesn't understand yet why she insists on keeping things secret; Jungkook doesn't fully grasp why commitment is terrifying for him. They both think they know, but trust me—they don't really. People are rarely fully self-aware about their deepest motivations, at least not right away.

I promise I'm not torturing you for fun (okay, maybe a tiny bit). The slow pace is intentional—I want their relationship to feel earned. Every glance, every conversation, every annoying yet somehow endearing moment matters. I am planting seeds everywhere. There are breadcrumbs scattered throughout every chapter—small details, tiny moments that might seem insignificant now, but they'll mean a lot later. If you pay attention, you'll see pieces slowly click into place. This is my favorite thing to do, and I’m not changing it because you crave instant gratification (though mood, same).

Also! It’s normal and healthy for people—especially messy twenty-somethings—to fuck around and make dumb choices. That’s part of growing up, figuring out life, love, and themselves. People date and sleep around before finding their forever, and sometimes the person who ends up being your ride-or-die was right beside you all along—you just didn’t realize it yet. They’re just quietly there, blending into the background of your chaotic twenties until one day you’re like, “Oh shit, it’s you. It’s always been you.” That’s exactly what I’m portraying—real humans making questionable decisions because we’re all idiots when we’re young. It’s okay for Jungkook and Phoenix to be messy. It’s okay for them to frustrate you. Actually, it’s fantastic. That’s the realism I live for.

They'll get there eventually, but their journey isn't about just ticking off a trope because this is a Jungkook x reader fanfic. It’s about authentic, organic growth. When they finally get together, it'll feel real and right—not because they’re obligated to fall for each other, but because they've actually earned it through every struggle, misunderstanding, and quiet moment.

If you’ve checked my “About Me” section (and if you haven’t, literally zero hard feelings—I barely check those myself), you already know I’m absolutely fed up with rushed relationships in stories. Like seriously, I’m allergic to insta-love. I write slow burn, I breathe slow burn, I procrastinate slow burn (it’s a problem). Everything I write is painfully slow-paced, intentional, and deeply psychological because that’s just who I am as an author. Relationships take time and work. They require deep emotional processing, especially when your characters have as many issues as mine do. (Yeah, I’m looking at you, Jungkook. Therapy exists, bro, use it.)

And this isn't just an FMU thing—it's gonna happen in Kkangpae too. Characters doing things for each other unconsciously because feelings develop in sneaky ways is my whole-ass brand, okay? So buckle up. We're nowhere near finished, friends, and there’s a whole emotional rollercoaster ahead. (I did say I was psychologically fucked up, didn’t I?)

In short: Please trust the slow burn. Let it cook. Let it simmer. Let it emotionally devastate you gently, because that's what love and life and my stories are all about.

ILYSM for engaging with this mess. Keep the asks coming—I'm thriving on your frustration. (≖ᴗ≖✿)♡

[acourtofthought]

Ok this is probably completely controversial or shallow of me, but if the next acotar book does end up being Azriel’s (Gwynriel) I will probably not read it till SJM finally writes and releases Eluciens book.

Like I know it sounds just awful to say but Azriel is not my acotar character. He is not even in my top 5. And Gwyn as much as I love her. She is not someone I want to read about just yet.

So I would buy the book but probably just shelve it till the Elucien book is confirmed or released and then do a 2 book binge.

I just can’t read Azriel’s book without resentment or with unbiased feelings about his storyline trumping Lucien and Elain’s.

The only way I would be interested in the content of the Azriel book is if Lucien and Elain are heavily involved or get good character development for their upcoming book. But if not. If Elain is still eating away in Night Court Gardens and Lucien is still over seeing spring court and being undervalued by Rhys and his IC, then I will just skip it till the Elucien book is released.

I just can’t take much more lackluster content for Lucien and Elain.

And I am not saying I am not a Gwynriel fan. I support that ship and I fight for it and make posts in favor of it happening. Like I don’t want to hate Gwynriels book or Azriel’s book, and I would resent it and would hate read it and would then end up hating and mocking it. I just can’t emotionally or mentally read a book about them first, before my favored ship.

I only continued reading acotar for Lucien. I am not a Feyre or Rhys fan. So when SJM wrote Elain as his mate and that Helion is his father I stayed invested for those storylines and for these characters to one day get their time in the sun.

I don't think you should ever feel guilty for choosing not to read a book that you're not invested in at the moment. There are many authors who write multiple standalone books (containing an overarching plot) within a series and some pick and choose which of those books they're interested in reading rather than reading every single one. The authors often do a good job of filling in any relevant gaps from one book to the next for anyone who may not have read the book that came before.

And I completely get what you're saying. I'm not really interested in their story right now because I don't feel like I've been on much of a journey with them to be interested in their story. And yes, I realize that is the point of a standalone, to get invested within that one book but because this all started as a trilogy and because the trilogy set up Elucien long before Az / Gwyn, I've been waiting on resolution to their arcs. I struggle with the not knowing of it all and because we've not known how Elain will deal with her bond ever since book 2, because Lucien's heritage was the first one introduced out of unknown lineages, because their mystery powers were the first to be introduced but not yet explored, that has been my primary focus. Az and Gwyn's story is less "need to know" for me because right now, they don't necessarily have a "need to know" story specifically written into the text? They aren't confirmed mates, she hasn't shown true romantic interest in Az just yet and he hasn't shown true romantic interest in her. They aren't set up to butt heads the way Nessian was, they aren't ignoring one another because of tension they're feeling because of their bond the way Elain does with Lucien. They're just easily within the others orbit with no drama currently laid out for their pairing. If they get together in the next book it would feel like, "ok, good for them" but in my opinion it would not feel like a long fought battle to a HEA for them together? Definitely not the way we saw with Nesta and Cassian whose hate to love romantic arc together spanned over nearly two years on the timeline and definitely not the way we've seen Elain and Lucien's "mating bond snapping instantly while she was engaged to another guy so she fought against the bond while he's only ever put her happiness first and given her space" arc span over two years. My man has been quietly suffering for YEARS with this unfulfilled bond, that was the story long before we learned Az felt jealous he didn't get a bond like his brothers and it doesn't make sense for an author to continually introduce new plots to solve without having first resolved the ones introduced from way back when.

And I agree. Watching Az get his HEA before Lucien would feel like a scenario with two co-workers. Where one threw tantrums and acted foolish repeatedly, who verbalized threats against the other co-worker yet he got a promotion before the other co-worker who has never done anything but keep his head down, work hard, and show respect to everyone in the office. People can have their favorites of course, but I think it's hard to deny that out of these two guys, Lucien is the one who is behaving properly while Az is acting like a spoiled child. As a Lucien girl first and foremost, of course I'm going to feel a little salty if Az gets his HEA before Lucien when Lucien has waited for Elain for YEARS and Az has been jumping between women like a ping-pong ball in the last year alone. As an Elain girl first and foremost I'm not going to love seeing Az get his HEA after he repeatedly put Elain down in SF / HOFAS and while she still doesn't have a proper support system.

Az at least has friends who believe him as capable, who respect him and who turn to him for help. He has a true home in the NC and an important job.

Elain does not have people who believe in her and she was forced into living in the NC because she had nowhere else to go. She's also always picked last when it comes to doing anything to help out the IC. Lucien is without a true home, he's been a drifter since ACOWAR and for everything he is constantly doing for the NC / Spring / the Human Lands, the IC still treats him with a bit of disrespect at times, Tamlin still treats him with disrespect.

So like you said, I think I'd struggle to go into an Az book without some sort of resentment just because he has been acting like a bit of an asshole towards Lucien and I'd rather not see Elain and Lucien's characters suffer for yet another book. I also don't think there's been any real tension set up for Gwynriel's arc that has made me invested in their story at this point whereas Elain and Lucien's tension is bursting at the seams for resolution.

[lemotmo]

i am NOT dooming but i just wanted to know your opinion. now that we know T is coming back in episode 14/15, i have a bad feeling about buck being with athena in the police car. T’s most recent (and narratively, most important) link to the show is buck, so it would make sense that his plot in these episodes is related to buck eg like when abby came back for buck’s closure. however, he was on the same roof that the LAFD helicopter took off from… the LAPD helicopter seems to be chasing the LAFD one… buck and athena arriving at the same building and buck out of uniform… the only other time (i think) that buck travelled with athena is when doug kidnapped maddie. i have a bad feeling that something happens to T, eg his helicopter gets stolen or hijacked, and buck is worried about him so attends the scene with athena. i hope i’m wrong obviously and it’s something else, but in my head… T on the roof + helicopter chase + buck going with athena to the scene + that bts clip of buck crying ?? = too big of a coincidence :/

Oh oh oh Nonny! Slow down! You are making a loooot of assumptions and connections that might not have anything to do with each other.

First: Are we absolutely sure that he will be back in 14 or 15? The man made one vague post, the Tommies assumed it was for 911 and we just follow their lead? I don't know. Granted, since there seem to be helicopters he might be back, but let's not jump to conclusions yet.

Second: The Buck and Athena stuff might be interesting, I agree. But why would it have anything to do with T? If this episode is helicopter heavy, he might be there, but that doesn't mean that he will play some kind of vital part in the story. The man is a plot device character. They are only going to use him when absolutely necessary.

I think there might be some kind of hostage situation and there will be some helicopters circling the building. That's it. That could be the reason why he might be back: to show us someone we know in the helicopter.

Also, if he is there, I fully expect him to have some part in the Buddie plot, because he still is that plot device character designed to bring Buck and Eddie even closer together. That's his whole reason of existing.

Further more, they are not going to waste an nde on T, because no one from the audience would be emotionally invested. Most people have already forgotten about him. He is not that important and the stakes wouldn't be all that high. Let's face it, T possibly dying won't have a big emotional impact, so they won't do that.

That's why I think Eddie will be involved in all of this somehow. To bring Buddie even closer together. It's about time that one of them gets hurt again. 🤣

Third: For some reason everyone and their mother assumes that that one clip is Buck crying, just because someone on Twitter said so. I've listened to that clip many times now and I'm not convinced. I don't think it's Buck at all. it sounds like a higher female voice. I think it might be Hen and I think she's coughing, not crying.

Could be wrong though, but keep in mind that this might not be Buck at all.

Fourth: Please Nonny, it's important to take a step back and see T for what he is. Him and Buck are not getting back together. The show has been working hard to make Buddie happen and to get the GA involved. It's worked. A lot of people in the GA have started seeing the Buddie of it all. There is a reason for that.

Believe your eyes. Believe what the show is telling us. Forget about everyone's opinion and speculation for a moment and just watch season 7 again, watch 8a again and mostly, watch the first two episodes of 8b again. The show has been telling a story of two friends who have slowly, but surely given their heart to the other. It's all right there for us to pick up on. It's no longer subtext, it's text.

The first two episodes of 8b show us exactly where this story is going. So who cares about exes coming back or not? This is a love story. That's what they are writing and what they are showing us: a love story between two best friends who will soon realise they are in love. So whichever ex comes back? They're only there to propel the Buddie narrative, like they have consistently been showing us since season 7.

So sit back, relax and let the writers tell you this story the way they want to tell it, exes and all.

[markantonys]

I have to ask, as someone who didn't connect with Rhuidean as it was written in the books, how did it land for you in the show? Did Rand actually having a deep emotional reaction to it here help?

good timing, i was just about to muse on this! i will treat this as my Episode Reaction Post.

and alas, i have to say, i felt pretty much the same as i did in the books: objectively, it's a great sequence, but subjectively, just doesn't really pique my personal interest or hit me emotionally. with this episode, i can 100% see why people are raving about it, but it simply didn't hit me that way (again, not at all a knock on the episode or a criticism of it, purely personal taste! this was as perfect an onscreen adaptation as the rhuidean sequence could've had, but that sequence at its core just isn't one i connect with. i think i'm just always going to prefer the main present-day story over a journey through fantasy world history, regardless of how well the journey is presented.)

josha playing all the ancestors was an A+ choice and definitely helped with the emotional investment, but i'm still left with the feeling that even though this is rand's big focal episode, to me it didn't feel like it was about *rand* that much, but rather more about worldbuilding and world history and the aiel than about present-day rand himself as a specific character (which was indeed my initial hesitancy when it came out that the big rand episode would be this one). but i know i'm in the minority because all other rand fans are so thrilled with this episode, and i'm not too fussed about this either since i know present-day rand himself as a specific character has plenty more stuff to come that will hit me better! and josha really got to flex his acting muscles in this episode, so it was definitely a josha focal episode even if not so much a rand focal episode. still, when i compare this to the nynaeve & egwene focal episodes, those two absolutely blow it out of the water in terms of "how emotionally affected was i, how much more connected did i feel to the character afterwards, how much deeper an understanding of the character did i gain" (i will say that for rand as a specific character, 1x08 moved me more than 3x04 did and i can feel the brains of all other readers exploding in rage when i say that djkfgjh but for me it's because the 1x08 dream temptation stuff is really about RAND in such a specific way that tells us so much about who he is and what drives him). this episode will probably wind up low on my personal episode rankings, both for the season and all time. but feeling like i'm having a stroke while the entire rest of the world raves about the rhuidean visions being the best scene in the whole series is an integral part of my WOT experience, so i'm fine with that being maintained again in the show version hahaha

the only actual "critique" i have (that isn't just "personal taste makes me not that invested") is that it would've hit a little better if they'd been able to squeeze the tuatha'an into perrin's storyline in ep3. totally understand there wasn't space for them yet, but i think that especially for show-onlys who haven't seen or thought about tuatha'an since 2021, getting ila et al reintroduced to us *before* the big reveal that the aiel splintered off from the tuatha'an would've increased the impact. in my opinion, anyway! i'm definitely REALLY curious to see show-onlys' reactions to this episode and see whether they're as excited and mindblown by the world history trip as readers expect them to be or if they're more like "okay, cool, but can we get back to the main story?"

[befuddledcinnamonroll]

Episode 4! Let the unhingedness commence!

Aaaand this is why getting wasted before ropeplay is not the best idea.

Safety first, kiddos.

This house looks familiar - have we been in this interior for another series?

Love that the translators are familiar with American slang.

Fadel is just completely right, all the time. No wonder the poor dude is so tired and angry.

Poor Bison. He wants this to be real so badly.

The funny thing is, he's not actually in love yet. He just really really wants to be.

I do look forward to when all these idiots are insanely in love with each other, and acting accordingly.

Haha, one time and Style is totally hooked.

It's cute you can see he did get some of his personality from his dad.

Lol, Fadel, how's that whole "I'll fuck him once to get this over with" working out for you?

The costumer designers nailing it once again!

Lol, Style just lying back in the "take me!" pose. He wants another railing so badly.

Yeah, knew Fadel was just fucking with him. He's not ready to crack yet.

Fadel, change your gloves!!! This show and food safety, good grief.

I do like that Bison is more suspicious here. He's not stupid! Just wants love.

Oh no, is Babe getting beat up at school? Ooh, are we going to get Bison fucking up some bullies?

It feels like Bison has some first hand experience with this kind of thing at school. :(

Oh Style, you are already getting emotionally invested here.

Noooo, not the homophobic bullying. These poor babies.

The teacher? I'm not surprised, but damn. Oh please fuck this dude up.

I love them as a united front.

Before this show ends, I really need all four of them working together to take someone down.

Also still laughing about the janitor and PE teacher thing, cuz it does fit the outfits.

Ha, they brought it up again!

Beating up a pedophile with a toilet plunger, A+, no notes.

Yessss, love that Kant realizes this guy would be a repeat offender, and that beating him up isn't enough.

Oh Style... coming to the support group again is such a shitty thing to do. In character, but shitty. The man is 100% wounded pride at the moment.

Omg, dying.

There is a very different version of this show where Fadel literally has to murder this man to be left alone.

I love how First is playing Kant, where every once in a while there is just a slight hint of fear as he remembers what Bison is.

Gah, the cuteness! It doesn't matter which characters, when First & Khao get flirty, I get all giggly.

Heart-giving via burger pin, that's a new one.

Y'know I'm so used to thinking of First and Khaotung as GMMTV's top actors, but Joong is fucking blowing me away in this role. I think this is such proof of how many actors are often limited by the material they are given, and when they get the right script and director, they just soar. Joong is feasting on this material.

I do feel for Fadel, both for the loss of control, and the realization that "loudmouth dumbass" is his type.

One, this scene is amazing,

and two, I have to laugh that this is the least sexy place to be getting it on - which is of course probably why Fadel picked it, and yet he broke anyway.

Aww, I love sweet sibling moments.

Gah, having Style talk about the car just makes me think about how much Fadel's heart is going to break.

How is it that we have two men who murder people on a regular basis, and I want the two non-murdering ones to be the ones who eat all the crow later. Jojo you devious bastard.

Truth

Ha, Style's argument - "you can still jerk off, just do it with me in the room!"

Oh, is Kant finally going to tell Style?

Oooh, twist - were Fadel and Bison's parents targeted so they could be acquired, or was the murder the main plan, and the boys were a secondary prize? I mean, it was definitely Mother who was behind it, right? This guy is just a patsy?

Poor Style, as much of an annoying jerk as he is, this is a hard recontextualization of everything that he's done up to this point.

Kant, you are being such a dick to your friend! First for not telling him, and now for pressuring him to keep dating an assassin. Of course he wouldn't be able to quit Fadel anyway, but you don't know that!

And again, First nailing the uncertainty when Kant doesn't have anyone looking at him.

Oh, I am not going to survive flirty Fadel.

Well, Fadel did say he prefers being the pursuer... he's gonna get his chance.

Everything is so heightened by having two killers in the mix, Kant's ex better be careful.

Lol, Bison being all "I will get my romantic love, or you will suffer".

Rating - still unhinged, still super fun