#sorry hi btw i know i keep bringing up my awesome year so far but i’ve got nowhere else to talk abt it <3< /div> Explore tagged Tumblr posts

[stardial]

in 9 days i’ll get to be in rama’s arms again…… then everything will be fine <3333

[sevensoulmates]

As always it's a delight to get to read your posts and meta, it's just as satisfactory and fun as it is watching the show. You're just awesome ❤️

You know after watching the last episode (and now that we know little bit more about Marisol) it made me feel really sorry for her, because I just know she'll be collateral damage while Eddie figures himself out and that's just so sad. And I wasn't really sure why those comments Eddie made about him/Marisol when they encountered Buck and Tommy at the restaurant and after having sex with her made me feel so uncomfortable, but then you pointed it out and I was like yeah that was kinda like locker room talk, Eddie was overcompensating here like trying to be a big macho man and that's why it felt so weird.

I'm baffled about Eddie's situation the most because I'm sure it's gonna be hell for him for a while since he will have to work through a lot of issues to finally be at peace with himself. And until stated otherwise my headcanon is the same as yours. I'm sure he is a gay repressed man (and not no get into the gay Eddie vs demisexual  Eddie discourse but I'm sure he may be both) I grew up in a Mexican household, I was raised catholic and although I wasn't in the army my dad was and he raised me and my siblings with an iron fist. So Eddie's background/storyline has always hit too close to home for me. I'm just dreading all the issues he's going to have to face.

Which brings me to this. To show his coming out arc and make it into completion do you think they will have to show us more about his childhood and upbringing, not just having Eddie talking about it but to have scenes like we did with Buck's childhood?

And why do you think the scene about Buck apologizing to Eddie for hurting him at the basketball court had to happen off screen?

Btw thanks for always replying to my questions.

Hi there!!! No problem!!! You always have super interesting questions to ask, so I am always delighted to answer them!

We all know how Eddie feels about "performance". I just feel like why would Eddie feel like the performance stops once he's actually made it past the dating phase and into the relationship phase? Maybe the external pressure from others is off (none of his family or the firefam questioning him, etc) but in order to KEEP the relationship, it really would require MORE performing.

It's fascinating to me, because we don't see Eddie acting this way with Shannon. You could make some arguments that their relationship was pretty fractured from the get-go and we didn't really see their dating/"honeymoon" phase but even when they were ~slightly~ back together in season 2b, Eddie wasn't acting like that with Shannon. Even when they were sleeping together, he wasn't. The most he did was make a couple of cringe comments about his "dashing good looks" or something, but that was more poking fun at himself. Even when Eddie was telling Buck about how "sex complicates things" with Shannon, he wasn't out here smirking or making comments about how good it feels to finally get some after two years of (apparent) celibacy. Say what you want about their relationship, but at least Eddie respected Shannon enough as a person to not start speaking about her that way. Their relationship was far too serious for that.

With Ana, it was so incredibly hard to watch because even though the storyline ITSELF wasn't about sex, a lot of their scenes had that edge to it? Like the sex-scene fake out in season 4, "grade me on a curve", "you really like to see me dressed up" "and the other thing" it was so ODD and FORCED. At the time of s4/5 airing you could maybe chalk it up to Eddie overcorrecting since it's his first real relationship after Shannon, but then he goes and does the same thing with Marisol which now makes it a pattern.

Once it clicked in my brain that the reason his relationships with women feel so fake is that he is literally putting on a show of hyper-heterosexuality (idk if that's a real term or not but roll with me here) it all made sense. I think seeing him "in a relationship" with Marisol for real was the final puzzle piece to seal this deal for me.

His extreme performances with these women, combined with their purposeful lack of development into full characters, all points to the fact that none of these relationships are going to work out. Eddie is not going to be able to actually settle down with his "endgame" partner until he actually finds someone he can be his true, real self with and "doesn't have to pretend with them" ;)

Is it bad that I actually enjoyed getting to know Marisol a little? Putting aside the actress, Marisol, the character, is interesting, because we're actually getting to know her a little bit more, far more than we got to with Ana. But I find both of these love interests fascinating in one mutual way: the fact that they put up with Eddie. Like I think about other characters and if they would've been okay being treated by their partners the way Eddie treats his girlfriends and I'm like.....hell no!

Oddly enough the only person I could see putting up with it was Buck before he finally started realizing that he doesn't have to be in a relationship with someone just because they want him. Only someone who also has deep insecurities, abandonment issues, and a general lack of self-respect would put up with Eddie's BS to his girlfriends. That's not to say that Eddie's a horrible person or abuses his partners or anything, but it's basically indisputable that he does not ever put in any emotional work to actually create meaningful relationships with his girlfriends. So why were Ana and now Marisol, so willing to accept that?

Ana resisted the break-up even though she could feel Eddie's whole heart wasn't in it. She was willing to keep trying in a dead relationship just in the hopes that something would work out. The same goes for Marisol. Idk about you, but if I was in a relationship with a man for going on 4-6 months and he knew NOTHING about me? I'd feel unloved, uncared for, and unappreciated, and I'd LEAVE.

We know that Marisol was scared of Eddie rejecting her or fetishizing her and that's why she didn't tell him about the nun thing, and I understand her reasoning and fear there. But gworlie, what else do we know about you? Can Eddie name a single hobby you have outside of loving Jesus and DIYing houses? Does Eddie even know your last name? It really makes me think that Marisol is unfortunately the type to just let things like this slide in the hopes that some man will accept her, any man. Since they rarely do because of the nun thing. And boy, do I understand that feeling, but that's NOT real love. I bet you anything once we get to the Eddiemarisol breakup she's gonna be very similar to Ana in that she knew Eddie's heart wasn't fully in it, but she just didn't want to be alone again.

I think that like attracts like, and Eddie's clutching onto this relationship for the same reason Marisol's clutching onto this relationship: because it's easier than being alone and being judged for it.

This is a tangent but I also want to point out that one thing that Eddie found uncomfortable about Marisol being a nun was the fact that nuns used to be his teachers....but was Ana also not a teacher? Just because she wasn't a nun, doesn't mean she couldn't have also been in a position of power that Eddie could've found uncomfortable. I find it interesting that even though Marisol's not a teacher, the show found a way to connect her to teachers and therefore to Ana.

As for Eddie's coming out arc, while I don't think it's entirely a necessity to have flashbacks to how he grew up, I certainly think it would help a lot of people who can't read between the lines if they had some. I especially would like to see scenes of young him + Shannon. Maybe seeing how the pressure from his family and church led him to believe men have to be a certain way, potentially microaggressions about being lgbt that he might've seen from his family/church (I don't necessarily mean full-on homophobia but possibly like little ways in which he was shown that there was no other "acceptable" option from his church other than heterosexuality. I think seeing scenes of how he and Shannon got together could be enlightening too, how their community reacted to them getting pregnant, etc. I think all of this, combined with a mirrored storyline in the present (similar to Buck Begins) would really drive home the point the show is trying to make, especially if they can finally be overt about Eddie's queerness. BUT all of this can still be done present day without the need for flashbacks either. I just think it would be a way to make the storytelling more rich and to spell it out more obviously for the people in the back.

As for Buck apologizing to Eddie for the basketball scene...I would've liked to see it too, but at the end of the day, it's like Ryan said in his interview...Eddie was always going to forgive Buck because he loves him to his core, because he knew Buck didn't come at it from a place of truly wanting to hurt Eddie. All of it was a manifestation of Buck's own issues, and by this point (especially after the lawsuit arc and the deadbrother arc) Eddie is aware of that. We did see plenty of scenes where Buck was scolded and demonstrated he was aware his actions were shitty, and Eddie probably assumed that letting Buck stew in his own guilt was atonement enough. And so I think likely the writers felt that in the end, the sentiment got across. Separately--given all the switcheroo stuff that happened with 7x04 and 7x05, I wouldn't be surprised if there WAS an apology scene and it got cut for time.

[sarahjtv]

BNHA Chapter 308 Spoiler Thoughts: Beat His Ass, Young Midoriya!

Chapter leaks are out!  Full chapter hasn’t been revealed yet (and take what I say with a grain of salt until the official translations come out), but I think I have a pretty good idea of what’s going on.  Nothing super heavy, but it’s an action-packed chapter that shows us how much of a badass Deku has become since he left UA and went all vigilante on us.  So, let’s do this:

Before we get into the chapter, I need to mention our mangaka, Kohei Horikoshi-sensei’s comment this week.  He’s basically apologizing for taking a break last week, calling himself a “small-fry”, and promising to pick himself up.  Horikoshi deserved a break last week and he is by no means a “small-fry” for creating one of the best and most popular pieces of fiction in the last few years.  I hope that he knows that and that he shouldn’t blame himself for taking a break.  

So, the chapter picks up right where we left off!  Deku and Muscular’s battle begins and Muscular recognizes Deku’s voice.  He says that he’s been waiting for this moment as everyone else he’s faced have been weaklings compared to Deku.  As far as we know, Deku has been the only one to even beat Muscular by himself.  It took over 100% of his strength to do so, but Deku did manage to kick Muscular’s ass.  It makes sense why he’d want a rematch.

I need to take a moment here to talk about how awesome Deku looks in his Vigilante costume (as I’ve decided to call it).  The tattered clothing really works for him and the dark sclera around his eye adds to the effect.   Again, I love that he’s finally putting the bunny hood and metal mask to use.  I mean, he used them before, but not as a real part of his daily costume.  He looks almost like a completely different person with them on.  I’d be scared of Deku tbh.  

As the fight continues, he gives the injured Yo Shindo to his GF, Tatami.  Tatami can’t see Deku’s costume because of the smoke surrounding him, but she does kind of recognize his voice from somewhere.  I do wonder if Tatami’s going to put the pieces together and find out that the vigilante is Izuku Midoriya.  And I wonder if she’s going to get the word about his actions spreading and if that will reach our UA kids.  Or the news stations will, that might happen too.  

Speaking of smoke, DEKU UNLOCKED THE 6TH OFA USER’S QUIRK!  The 6th user is the Tobio Kageyama-looking dude with the long collar (He’s cute btw 😳!) and his name is “En” which translated to smoke.  His Quirk is Smokescreen which explains the smoke surrounding Deku at the end of the last chapter.  Deku is using the Quirk too much, so he needs to calm down a bit and use each Quirk individually.  There’s actually quite a bit that Deku could use with a Quirk like Smoakscreen: He could hide himself for a sneak attack, he could use it as a distraction, use it if he needs to retreat, etc.  My mind immediately went to Pokémon (because of course it did) and how Team Rocket would constantly use moves like Smoakscreen and Haze to either distract Ash and Co. to confuse them or use a sneak attack, or run away from the protagonist.  It’s another support-type Quirk, but it’s a damn good one if used right. 

Edit: There’s a panel that shows the scale of how much Smokescreen Deku used and it’s A LOT.  Like, the smoke is covering several streets and it goes to the top of some buildings.  It’s hard for really anyone to see anything.  Deku’s really trying to keep himself in the shadows, I suppose.

To use all his Quirks well, En suggests that Deku think of each Quirk like a support tool.  So, Float is a jetpack, Black Whip is a long string of rope, Danger Sense is a radio, and Smoakscreen is a flare or some kind of smoke grenade (I don’t know the specific name).  This is a really good way of thinking for Deku since he’s been using object-focused metaphors for OFA before.  Remember the “Egg in The Microwave” and the “Turntable in The Microwave”?  Similar to that!

Edit: Fan-scans are out.  It seem like Deku is actively talking to En here as if he’s a little voice in his head guiding him on what to do.  My guess is that after his coma talk with the OFA Holders, Deku can now talk to the vestiges consciously.  He doesn’t need to enter a dream-like state to interact with him; it’s just a thing he can do willingly.

So, Deku uses each Quirk individually and finally ties Muscular down with Black Whip.  I can’t describe it, but it’s so cool to see Deku in action here absolutely folding Muscular.  He really has improved since their last fight. There’s one panel that has a close up of Deku’s masked face and he looks so damn cool!  I’m so tempted to color it when the official translations come out.

Deku is asking Muscular where AFO and Shigaraki are, but Muscular doesn’t know.  He also asks why Muscular is doing what he’s doing, but Muscular just responds that there is only blood and battle in his heart and  he doesn’t want to live a life where he regrets not fulfilling that (his name is revealed to be Gouto Imasuji btw.  Don’t know the translation behind that, but I assume it has to do with his Quirk and his violent personality).  So, this confirms that Deku is actively looking for Shigaraki and AFO.  He’s not just saving people left and right, but he is actively looking for the big bad on his own.  I can’t see that ending well without help unfortunately.  Deku’s also trying to reason with Muscular to see if there’s a different path for him similar to his fight with Gentle and LaBrava.  He’s really going for the “Save People’s Hearts” route and I can understand why.  That’s Deku’s character at its core.  It’s why he wants to try to save Shigaraki despite everything.  If there is a different path for a villain, then Deku will try to lead them to it.  Unfortunately, villains like Muscular don’t always have that path.  

Edit: Actually, you know what, how in the world did Deku know Muscular’s real name?  Did he see it on the news somewhere?  Did he do some research and manage to look it up?  Does he have someone to give him intel?  I mean, unless Muscular’s name was broadcast out there, his real name is some very specific information Deku got a hold of.  

Finally, as he remembers Shigaraki and Kota (the small boy Deku saved back in the Forest Training Camp), Deku runs towards Muscular with full speed and finishes him with one powerful punch!  Deku speeds past Muscular as we finally see his face again under the mask (Badass Deku🥵)!  One Punch Man has left the chat, my dudes.  For real, though, if Muscular really is defeated, it’s amazing how flawlessly Deku beat him.  Deku used every Quirk well and efficiently to dodge Muscular's attacks and pin him down so he could get a clean hit in.  Everything was calculated and executed perfectly.  This is not the Deku we knew back in the Training Camp Arc.    

Edit: Ok, it was explained that Shindo’s Vibration actually did effect Muscular’s Quirk.  Then tendons in his muscles were pulled and were starting to unravel.  That’s what made an opening for Deku to get a good hit in.  I think it would’ve been hard for Deku to knock Muscular out with one punch if that opening wouldn’t have been made.  So, Shindo wasn’t entirely useless.  

And that’s it from what I can gather!  Damn good action-packed chapter! A+ art and writing from Horikoshi once again!  This man just keeps bringing us 🔥.  I’m so glad to see Deku fight like the badass he’s meant to be.  I wish it didn’t have to take a war and several near-death experiences to get here, but Shonen gotta Shonen.  He knocked the lights out of Muscular, I almost feel sorry for him.  He got his ass kicked by the same kid twice in less than a year.  You should’ve stayed in Tartarus, my dude.  Really, all prisoners should’ve stayed in Tartarus.  If Deku can defeat Muscular, then none of them stand a chance against him now.  I can only assume Deku’s going to go after everyone who was associated with the LOV to find Shigaraki and AFO at this point.  Thankfully, we don’t have a break next week.  Will En teach Deku how to play volleyball?!?  I’m kidding!  I do want to know what our UA kids are doing, especially Bakugo, Shoto, and Uraraka.  This would be a good time to transition to them.  Like, they can see Muscular’s capture on the local news, put the pieces together, and go after Deku.  Or we could just keep focusing on Deku’s vigilante adventures, that works too!  

Me @ Deku:

[cozyforjate]

MacGyver 5x03-Review

MacRiley fam, this will be my last MacGyver review. Thanks for the support and the great feedback on my reviews so far. You guys are awesome! But i’m taking a looong break from this show. I’ll be watching the Jack episode and if we get a Bozer, Matty or Riley centric i’ll tune in to watch. But my passion and excitement for this show is mostly over now.

I have so many things to say about 5x03 but if i start to express all my feelings i’m afraid i might break Tumblr. LOL 

This probably wouldn’t feel like a proper review coz i’m gonna focus on the RETCON that the writers pulled out of their asses to keep MacDesi together.

Ok so for people who are not familiar with the word “retcon”; it means changing an aspect of a fictional work by introducing a piece of new information, typically used to facilitate a dramatic plot shift or account for an inconsistency.

The writers usually pull a retcon, when one aspect of an already canon plot isn’t working well. You can call it a “fix-it” method.

In terms of MacDesi, they retconned some moments from season 4 that defined this relationship. I think the new showrunner and the writers team realized that MacDesi has become quite “toxic” during season 4. But because the additional episodes kept them together, they needed to at least fix this relationship.

From their POV it’s understandable to a degree. But from a viewers POV it’s total BS. Because what we watched in season 4, can’t be changed.

We remember the unhealthy dynamic between them, we remember the lack of trust between them, we remember how incompatible they were, we remember how they couldn’t communicate with each other, we remember Mac not letting her in emotionally, not opening up to her at all, we remember how much they BOTH hurt each other, we remember Mac’s own words on their relationship.

Most importantly we still remember 4x12. How quickly Desi turned her back on him, how she brought his mothers and aunts names into their ugly fight, how Mac said he’d say anything to get her off his back, we remember how she and Russ left Mac no choice but to improvise a plan to save lives, we remember Riley risking everything to protect him and be there for him. WE REMEMBER.

So when you dismiss all of that and re-write MacDesi as if they’re this great couple, it’s not going to work for people. And when you tease MacRiley the whole week with promos, exclusive pictures, articles, SM promotion; promising progress between Mac and Riley only to walk over everything that made them special, you get a lot of NEGATIVE reaction from the fans. With good reason.

* * *

Episode started with Mac and Riley on a picnic mission. The scene was amazing in every sense. The colors, lighting, the conversation between them, the almost kiss, the way Mac held Riley and they lied down for a while, the smug smile on his face and the looks he gave to Riley were all awesome! The car chase was super fun too!

But then everything went down the toilet. Coz in the next scene Mac was complaining to Bozer about how Desi wasn’t spending time with him and avoiding his date attempts. In this scene they retconned Bozer too. For the first time, Bozer encouraged Mac to go ask Desi out and fix their relationship.

Normally Bozer would never do such a thing. Why? Bcoz he’s been against a romantic relationship between them ever since Desi first showed up in 3x14. Bozer thought it was a bad idea from the start, called them Mesi (messy), he didn’t think it was a good idea to bring Desi back on the team in 4x01, coz MD break up was NUCLEAR. So up until 5x03 Bozer was never on Team MacDesi. Lets also remember this exchange between them:

In 4x12 when Bozer was trying to save Mac and Riley’s lives, he turns to Desi... 

Bozer: Desi, back me up here.

Desi: Sometimes we need to sacrifice the things we love for the greater good.

So after 4x12, one would only expect that his thoughts on MD would get stronger. But guess what? Bozer is now supporting MD. Just like that. I don’t buy it writers, sorry.

Back to the scene… Mac wants to go on a date with Desi. And he is so desperate about it. We had to witness one of the most awkward scenes between them. Not only that but we had to sit through Riley throwing smiles at MD, saying her feelings for Mac was just Codex adrenaline. Riley, who couldn’t watch any interaction between MD, is now totally cool with them!

And lets just say that Riley was pretending she’s over Mac, that she lied to Bozer bcoz she’s trying to move on. We already watched her having feelings for Mac, hiding those feelings and pining for him. Her one-sided love can’t drive the plot anymore. 

Besides she didn’t need to give her blessings to MD. It was an overkill. I really hated the scene where she says “Don’t screw up this time” to Mac…That was totally out of character for Riley.  

Riley who reminded Desi that Russ & her were gonna nuke them,

Riley who said she went after Mac coz she trusted him &asked Desi "Why didn't you?",

Riley who risked it all to protect Mac, tells Mac not to screw it up with Desi.

By saying those words, Riley makes it known that Mac was the one screwing up his rl with Desi. Desi had no fault. Once again the writers used my favorite character to prop my least favorite character. Shame on you!

***

I’m not gonna talk about every MacDesi scene in this episode. But let me just say that the writers turned Mac into a desperate, begging, lovesick puppy. He asked Desi for a date like 5 times, apologized twice. Kissed her out of the blue. Bcoz lets face it, that scene was so unnecessary. Nobody was onto them, the police car was passing by slowly and if the police were really suspicious, why would they look at the couple kissing instead of checking who’s in the car? So stupid. Oh and while they were kissing for minutes with great lighting and all, General Ma escaped. Mac acting this stupid, is not something we are used to see. But what you gonna do? I guess love is not only blind but also destroyes brain cells in the process.

Anyway, Mac literally begging Desi to go on a date with him was agonizing to watch. Every time he offers a new dating idea, Desi’s answer is NAH. Back in the picnic scene she made it sound like she wanted to date Mac, but of course she needs to make him suffer first!

I only like to point out the scene where Mac –finally- opened up to Desi about the fishing trip he and his father went together. This story is obviously precious to him. He called it a happy memory. Clearly he misses his father, still mourning for his loss. So he shared his happy memory and asked if she would like to go fishing with him. Desi’s answer? “Not gonna go fishing with you as our first date!” You can read the dissapointment on his face. And my heart breaks for Mac but this kind of treatment is something he’s asking for.

He is desperate to get Desi back. The fact that they are the worst match ever, doesn’t change sh*t. Mac wants Desi and he loves Desi for god knows why.

***

Btw- the whole “lets blame only Mac for Codex and ignore Desi’s wrongdoings” plot is disgusting. Yes, Mac suffocating Desi and Russ to escape Phoenix with Scarlett was wrong. Yes he hurt her, yes in a sense he betrayed her. AND HE APOLOGIZED. But what about Desi? What about her betrayel? 

First they made Riley apologize to Desi for following Mac and now they made Mac apologize… But no apologies from Desi. The writers are obviously worshipping Desi and they’re ready to sacrifice every character to make her look “perfect”. I’m sorry but i’m not here to watch the Desi show, or more MacDesi nonsense.

***

Mac said Desi is the woman he loves… but not only that, she is also the woman who guided him back. And the RETCON is really strong with this scene.

Lets remember…

In 4x08 Mac loses his father, at the end of the episode Desi wants to go with Mac but Mac stops her, telling he’d see her tomorrow.

In 4x09 Desi says he can share his burden with her, Mac’s not interested, he says what he needs is to stop Codex.

In 4x10 Mac makes apocalypse kits for Riley and Desi. Desi’s so happy she got a crossbow and didn’t think those kits were a bad sign. But Riley notices that Mac is not in a good place, he needed help and support. Riley shares her concerns about Mac with Desi. She probably thinks it’s not up to her to be the one doing that when Desi is the girlfriend. So after her conversation with Riley, Desi makes soup and gives Mac a compass. Saying he’s not lost (he clearly was tho). She askes if everything’s ok, he looks different but Mac says, he’s just tired.

In 4x12 Mac is lying in bed, lost in his own mind, he gets up, leaves the compass on her side of the nightstand… On the run he ignores Desi’s calls.

Then things get really ugly for MacDesi. Desi says “You are so drunk on somescrewed-up cocktail of your mom, your aunt, Codex science...”… She says “You're compromised”…  Mac was just trying to get Scarlett on their side to stop Codex but Desi couldn’t see it. She thought Mac was losing it!

And then Desi sides with Russ and turns her back on Mac. Russ dismisses Mac from the Codex mission. Mac's forced to improvise. Bcoz he wants to stop Codex without bloodshed.

So as you can see they completely re-wrote the events of 4x12 to fix MD.

Desi says: “I had front-row seats to the war that raged in you last year, and I can't do that again. Lose you.”

She was ready to sacrifice him for the greater good. But yeah, sure! Why not.

Mac says: “Des, I know it looked like I was lost, but you were there the whole time, guiding me back home.”

THE WHOLE TIME.

In 3 times she “tried” to be there for him, Mac didn't let her in emotionally but lets just say that she brought him back to his senses.

Lets just say that the compass he left on her side of the nightstand represents that it guided him back. (btw lets also ignore that the compass Mac gave Desi back was a different one. Who knows, maybe he threw it in the garbage during the pandemic and bought a new one)

Lets just forget who really brought him back. Lets just ignore what Riley did for Mac. How she saved him, how she was the one who risked everything for Mac. How she was the one there by his side when they were facing a missile.

Only if we forget and retcon history we can all buy MacDesi. 

But i can’t… I can’t forget, i’m not ok with a retconned half-ass love story that they want to sell with MD. I can’t sit through the episodes and keep watching the “flawless Desi” show.

This show isn’t entertaining to me anymore. I can’t recognize Mac, i’m pissed that my fav characters are being used as tools to prop Desi.

One last thing before i say my final goodbyes:

The lighting in this episode was so weird. In almost every scene, heavy light effects distracted me. Usually they use it when they show you a flashback, a dream or a hallucination to seperate the real-time scenes from others. But this episode had them from the start to the end. So i don’t know what to make of this.

Some of the dialogues had subtexts…

Leland to Russ: Now, I know you don't care about much in this world, but even the best of us can be blinded by those we love.

General Ma to Mac: I was blinded by him (Leland) once. I-I won't be blinded again.

Mac: Many things blind us. Anger, betrayal, even love. But sometimes, a little blindness can work to your advantage. You can create a fog that will cause the world around you to disappear.

Normally i would dive deep into the subtextland. But i don’t think the writers were trying to give some deep message or anything. 

I do believe that Mac is totally blinded by his “idea” of love… But i’m done waiting for him to open his eyes. The Mac i watched in this episode is not My Mac.

Writers made their choice. They made Mac's feelings crystal clear. He's all about Desi. At this point, Desi breaking up with him would mean nothing to me. Just like Riley still having feelings for Mac means nothing anymore.

Official accounts tweeting “There’s more to come for MacRiley” means nothing to me anymore.

Noone wants a rebound plot but unfortunately it's the only possibility they left to MacRiley. My ship is tainted forever. 

And as a Riley stan, i don’t want this Mac with my girl. She deserves better.

[kthstrawberryshortcake]

That Should Be Me - kth drabble

Pairing: Taehyung x Female!Reader, Jin x Female!Reader

Word Count: 3.5k+ Genre: Mostly angst, some fluff Topics: College!AU, Unrequited love Warning: Kinda sad but not TOO sad

No one ever sets out to end up in these sorts of situations, but lo and behold, they do. Are they unbelievably unlucky? Did they commit some unforgivable sin in a past life? Are they just lackluster people? Whatever the explanation, you too found yourself head over heels in love with someone who didn’t love you back. You had been friends since the start of freshman year when a friendly, cheerful boy in one of your classes introduced himself. Ever since then Taehyung had been a huge part of your life. He could make you smile even on what felt like the worst days, and he was one of the most caring people you had ever met. You didn’t realize you were falling until it was much, much too late. No one knew except for your two other closest friends, Jimin and Sara. 

The three of you had been roommates since sophomore year when you decided to live together, despite others’ comments that a guy living with two girls was a bit of a weird situation. It had never felt weird. No, living with them had felt like home right away. You picked each other up when you were down, understood each other better than anyone else, and spent most of your time together, often with some of your other friends as well. Now, in the fall of your senior year, you were much busier than before, but you still made sure to spend time together. Your roommates knew how strongly you felt towards Taehyung and carefully guarded your secret, though Jimin occasionally tried to push you to do something about it. You knew you wouldn’t, though. You were very quiet and shy, as well as a homebody, and confessing was so far outside your comfort zone it was almost comical. So you did nothing, just holding in your feelings, praying they would go away eventually.

Sitting in the floor of Taehyung's dorm room, studying for a class you had in common, it certainly didn’t feel as if you were going to fall out of love any time soon. Sure, it was hard to hang out with him like this when you felt how you did, but you’d rather keep him as a friend than lose him altogether, so you dealt with it. After hours of studying (with several spurts of getting distracted by each other’s silliness and falling into laughing fits), you went to take a break. “Be right back, I’m going to use your bathroom, okay?” You said as you stood, giving him a small smile. He nodded absentmindedly, looking over some of his notes. 

After you’d gone, however, your phone buzzed with new text messages. You’d left it sitting there, he realized, and against his better judgment, he peeked at the screen. It was a text from Sara. “I’m so sorry you have to deal with this. This whole unrequited love BS isn’t for the faint of heart, is it?”, it read, followed by another immediately after. “Btw Jimin’s out right now, you and I can have a movie night when you’re done studying.” Taehyung blinked, carefully sitting the phone back in its place as he processed what he’d read.  You were in love with someone who didn’t feel the same, and Jimin was out? Was it on a date? Wait, you were in love with Jimin! That must be it. He jumped headfirst into the conclusion. He felt bad knowing that his friend was hurting and he hadn’t even noticed. He should really try to be there for you, he thought to himself. 

You returned to the room after that and he gave you a huge grin, which you found a little random. You gave him a questioning look as you sat back down. “You know you’re one of my favorite people, right? I’m just really happy you’re in my life, you’re pretty awesome, you know that?” He said sincerely, and you felt that right in your heart, honestly shocked by his unusual candor. “Thanks, Tae. I’m happy you’re in my life, too.” You replied quietly, smiling despite your confusion, shaking your head before returning to the textbook in front of you. Just for that moment you thought he might not be as far out of reach as you’d always believed.

A couple of weeks later you found yourself totally out of your element at a party your friends had dragged you to. You weren’t much of a party person, in fact you usually avoided them. But you knew Taehyung would be there, plus Sara and Jimin had pestered you into coming with them. You were feeling pretty optimistic as the night began. You looked really nice, if you did say so yourself, and were just the slightest bit hopeful that your feelings weren’t as one sided as you’d believed for so long. You navigated your way through the noisy, crowded house along with Jimin and Sara, who, after all this time, were a newly minted couple, complete with heart eyes for each other and holding hands. You were thrilled, honestly. It had been a long time coming and you were glad they were finally together. 

You scanned the room, hoping to see Taehyung, but as soon as you did, you wished you hadn’t. He was across the room looking as gorgeous as ever, but clinging to his arm was a girl who honestly looked like she could be a model. She was stunning, nearly as tall as he was, slender and with legs for days. You couldn’t help but stare in shock. She was clearly a very outgoing, social person, looking like she was talking constantly and saying hello to almost everyone who passed by, seemingly the social butterfly. And Tae looked happy. You didn’t think you had ever seen him look that happy when he was with you. The fragile hope you’d been carrying was instantly crushed, and it felt as if your heart had been run over by a truck. 

Feeling yourself getting emotional, you quickly fled out the back door. The house was on the edge of a lake and you kept going until you reached the dock before allowing yourself to collapse to your knees, the tears pouring from your eyes against your will. Who had you been kidding? That was the kind of girl he wanted, the kind of girl he deserved. A “hot” girl, a “fun” girl. Not an admittedly cute but short, bookish, shy person who hated large social gatherings. Basically, not you. 

You weren’t sure how long you sat there sobbing, trying to get a hold of your breathing and calm down but failing miserably, before you heard footsteps coming down the hill. You sniffled, hoping it was Sara or Jimin and not someone else. But you were unlucky. 

Taehyung sat down next to you, deep concern etched into his features. “Y/n? What’s wrong?” He asked so sincerely you almost wanted to laugh. When you just shook your head, the tears still coming, he wrapped you in a hug and held you close. “Hey, it’s okay… You’re okay… Tell me what happened.” He said quietly, trying to soothe you. By some miracle you pulled yourself together, calming down even though the tears were still running down your cheeks. You felt like you were going to be sick, pulling away from his hug. “I’m so stupid. I managed to fall in love with someone who’s never going to love me back, and even more foolishly, I thought maybe I had a chance…. Until tonight.” You admitted in a small voice, not making eye contact. 

Taehyung observed you carefully. “He came to the party?” He asked, and you shut your eyes tightly, nodding. “But with somebody else, and it just became so clear it’s never going to happen, and I was dumb to think that it could.” You said in a near-whisper. Taehyung thought over your words. Jimin had showed up with Sara, so clearly in love, and that must be what you were referring to. He really felt for you. He couldn’t imagine how you felt at the moment. “You’re not dumb. There is every reason for someone to love you, you’re wonderful. You’re so kind and so caring, you’re smart, you’re funny… You’re more than good enough for any guy. You’re probably too good for him.” Tae said, and you wanted to just melt into a puddle on the ground and disappear. He had no idea, you thought. 

You sighed deeply, wiping your eyes. “It doesn’t matter. I’m just going to go home. You go enjoy the rest of your night, don’t let me bring down your mood.” You said, forcing a small smile at him. He furrowed his brow in concern. “Do you want me to take you home? Is it a good idea for you to be alone right now?” He asked, trying to be a good friend. You shook your head. “No, no. You should get back to…. oh, I don’t know her name… The girl you came with. Go have fun, don’t worry about me. I’ll go home and go to bed.” Taehyung nodded slowly, accepting your instructions. “Yeah, that’s my girlfriend Kira. You should meet her sometime when you feel better. Get home safe, okay?” He said, patting you on the shoulder before rising to his feet and returning to the party. 

You didn’t want to ruin Jimin and Sara’s first outing as a couple, so you just sent a vague text that you were tired before returning home, burrowing under the covers of your bed as the tears came without stopping. You didn’t sleep much that night. 

Over the next week or so you were even less social than usual, noticeably changed. Your two roommates, now knowing what’d happened, had been taking good care of you and trying to cheer you up a bit. But your other friends and classmates didn’t fail to catch your lack of smiles, how you were even quieter than usual, or how distant you seemed. You couldn’t avoid the class you had with Taehyung, so you just tried to stay extremely focused, ignoring his attempts to start conversation or inquiries about whether you were okay. He definitely noticed how unusual your behavior was, and he sent you texts a couple times a day trying to be supportive or make you feel better. Little did he know that he was only making matters worse. Meanwhile, every time your friends met up for lunch or for game night or anything of that nature, he brought Kira along with him, clearly extremely into her. You weren’t surprised. She had everything you lacked. So over time you stopped going to those gatherings, too. 

Weeks passed and Taehyung was still in his “not leaving you alone in a misguided attempt to be a good friend” routine, refusing to leave you alone no matter how much you pushed him away. He finally showed up at your door one Saturday, smiling and carrying a bag of snacks. “We’re having a movie day, I won’t take no for an answer. You’ve always been there for me when I was down, so I’m going to do the same thing for you. I’m worried about you, you’re so not yourself. So let me cheer you up!” He insisted. The two of you sat down on the couch in the living room, with you trying to breathe deeply as you covered your face, frustrated beyond belief. He babbled on cheerily about how you were a total catch and you shouldn’t be so down on yourself, that everything was going to be totally fine and that he couldn’t let you just retreat into yourself without trying to help. 

Suddenly the pent up feelings bubbled over. “STOP.” You yelled, not looking at him. He was shocked. You were always so soft-spoken, not once had he heard you raise your voice like that. When you finally looked at him, the pain in your eyes was clearly visible to him. “It’s you. I’m in love with YOU. Honestly, I have been for years. I know you have good intentions, but what you’re doing here isn’t helping. I’m trying to get over you but you just won’t let me.” Tears welled up in your eyes, your voice sounding strained. Taehyung was, in short, astounded. Never in a million years would he have anticipated this. “I…. I’m sorry. You’re right, I just don’t feel that way about you. You’re my friend, I don’t…. I’ve never seen you like that.” He said like word vomit. 

You laughed harshly to yourself as a couple tears escaped. “Yeah, because there’s every reason to love me, wasn’t that your phrasing? I’m more than good enough for anybody, you said…. Well, anybody except you, I guess. It’s cruel, really, to hear you say those things knowing the truth of how you feel. You mean well, Tae, and I’m furious that I can’t blame you for this. I can’t blame you for how much this hurts. But you have to stop now. Leave me alone. Stop talking to me, stop sending me motivational texts, don’t even smile at me. Just leave me be, please.” You implored. “Go away so I can learn to let you go.” You said in a whisper, more tears leaking from your eyes. Not sure what else to do and still in shock, Taehyung nodded dumbly, getting up to leave. He paused in the doorway for just a moment, muttering a quiet “I’m sorry” before leaving. And when he was gone you finally broke down again.

He did as you asked, completely cutting off contact and leaving you alone. You did your best to avoid him. He was surprised at how much it hurt every time you avoided eye contact with him or turned to walk in a different direction upon spotting him. He figured it was just the loss of a close friend being painful, so otherwise he continued on as usual. Taehyung spent most of his time with Kira. He found himself bored in most conversations with her, and he found her loud, chatty nature kind of annoying. But everyone said they made the perfect couple, so he must just be feeling this way because of guilt, right? He convinced himself of that, pushing away any thoughts that his relationship wasn’t right. 

Months passed. For a while nobody really saw you aside from Jimin and Sara. If you were shy before, you were antisocial now. If you were a homebody, you were now a recluse. You had all but disappeared from your greater social circle, knowing it was the only way to avoid Taehyung. You focused on your schoolwork. You were visibly sad leading up to winter break, and you knew everyone else was noticing how unlike your usual self you’d been. You were grateful for the reprieve of the break, a chance to live your life for a while without the threat of running into Tae. The time away did you good and you felt like things were finally looking up. 

The glimmer of hope was amplified tenfold when over the break, you met a guy in a bookshop with a radiant smile and a squeaky laugh. Seokjin, as you learned was his name, was a master’s student at your university. You’d struck  up a conversation as he was perusing the cookbooks in the shop you’d met in. He was one of those genuinely nice people who brightened your day without trying. He made you laugh with cheesy jokes and fascinated you with stories of his cooking adventures. 

Before you knew it you were spending most of your time together. You started to feel happy again and for the first time in longer than you could remember, you felt something in your heart other than pain. With him you didn’t feel like you needed to be a “hot girl” or “fun girl”. You didn’t feel like you were missing anything. He thought you were small and cute and loved nothing more than quiet nights in with you, cooking together or watching dramas. You no longer thought about how you wished your legs were longer, or how you wished you were more social, or how you didn’t think you were pretty like other girls. Like the perfect fit of two puzzle pieces, you felt like enough. By the time break was ending you were officially dating. Not that Seokjin wasn’t absolutely lovely, but it wasn’t just him that changed how you saw yourself. The time away from an environment where you saw nothing but flaws had done you good, and as much as he had helped heal you, you’d healed yourself. 

At the start of the new semester, Taehyung caught himself keeping an eye out for you, hoping to see you even from afar. He missed you terribly, if he was honest. To his delight, you had a class in common again. He felt a warmth in his chest when he finally saw you again, settling into a seat in the lecture hall. The light had returned to your eyes. You were smiling again. The relief he felt was immense, having felt awful for hurting you in the first place. 

Without realizing it, he watched you, eventually noticing your focus on the new TA and the looks you were exchanging. It gave him an odd almost nauseous feeling. When the class finally ended, he stopped to read a text before he packed up his things to leave. That’s when he heard you laugh. It occurred to him what a beautiful sound it was and how much he had missed hearing it. Then he looked up. You were standing with the new TA, arms wrapped around each other as you whispered, laughing at something. Taehyung couldn’t remember the last time he saw you smile like that. The TA planted a quick kiss on your forehead before taking your hand, and the two of you walked out of the lecture hall together. Though he couldn’t wrap his head around why, Taehyung felt like he’d been slapped. 

He couldn’t stop thinking about it for the rest of the day, including when he got dinner with Kira that night. “Baaaaaabe! You’re not listening to me!” She whined, pouting. It was true, he had totally zoned out. He was too busy trying to make sense of the overwhelming feelings he was experiencing. It was late that same night that he finally realized what was going on. The realization hit him with both excitement and a sense of horror: he had feelings for you. The horrifying part was how much he’d hurt you, only to discover his feelings after all this time. But you had really loved him, right? The strength and sincerity of your feelings for him had been so apparent. Surely it wasn’t too late.

That’s how he found himself rushing across campus past midnight, hurrying to your apartment, feeling like he was about to burst with all the emotion running through him. He knocked loudly on the door, breathless from the anticipation and his rush to get to you. You were beyond surprised to see him when you opened the door, standing there with messy hair and a blanket wrapped around yourself. You frowned, entirely perplexed at his sudden appearance. “Tae? What are you doing here?” You asked in complete confusion. Taehyung had a big, dumb grin painted on his face. “Y/n, I’m so sorry it took me this long to realize it, I have feelings for you too! I - I think I love you too.” 

You could hear the excitement in his voice. Your confused face morphed into an annoyed frown. “You smug bastard. After all this time now that I’m finally happy you want to bust back in here and drop a confession?! Are you joking?!” Your voice was growing shrill with anger. The blanket you were wrapped in dropped to the floor, forgotten as you angrily gestured at him. “I honestly can’t believe you’re actually this selfish. You don’t get to treat me like I’m disposable, like some toy you can pick up or toss away whenever you get bored.” This was the second time ever he’d heard your voice raised in a near-yell. 

He heard footsteps as he stared at you, finally taking in your appearance. You were dressed in a men’s tee shirt that was much too big for you and a pair of shorts. It was impossible to miss the dark marks on your neck. A taller figure approached from behind you, placing a hand on your shoulder. It was the TA, also messy-haired in a sweatshirt and sweatpants. You turned to look at him and your angry face transformed instantly into a soft, affectionate smile. “Everything okay?” He asked you, and you nodded. “Everything’s fine, Jinnie. Taehyung was just leaving.” You turned back to Taehyung and in an instant your gaze was like ice. 

The pain in his chest and the hollowness he felt was suffocating. Was this how you’d felt for so long whenever you were with him? Tears were welling up in his eyes, but he just nodded and turned away, leaving as you shut the door. He’d been a fool, and he was far too late, he realized, thinking he may have made the biggest mistake of his life. The smiles that had been reserved for him alone for years now belonged to someone else. And though he knew it was selfish, he couldn’t help but be bitter that you had moved on. 

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Okay that one hurt a little bit, huh? A tad angstier than what I normally write. Still, I hope you enjoyed it! I love feedback so please do leave some. <3

[eyeslikefoxglove]

Episode 21 - The PTSD is strong with this one & we need more braincells

Hello hello! Welcome to the commentary. How’s everyone? I’m frozen solid because it’s mid-June in Spain and yet we had 11°C yesterday. Fucking awesome!

I AM NOT WEARING MASCARA SO I CAN CRY ALL I WANT. I DONT KNOW IF THATS GOOD OR BAD THO.

Can I just take a second to appreciate how much this big strong powerful men emote? I mean, I know this isn’t western media where the tough guy can’t show emotions, and I don’t know that eastern media has the same hangups about men emoting but just... it’s so refreshing.

Huaisang bb you’re so sweet.

Oh, oh the PTSD is strong with this one.

Also, bless both JC and NHS, they absolutely noticed WWX flinch and, in their own ways, went and steamrolled over it so WWX wouldn’t feel scrutinised.

WE INTERRUPT THIS BROADCAST TO INFORM YALL THAT I GOT A KITTEN ON MY LAP. (She’s kneading my boob, which, ow, but...)

*BICHEN GRIIIIIIIP*

How do y’all think the guards go deliver bad news to WRH? Like do they paper-rock-scissor it? Draw straws?

NMJ did you have to?

And once again I wonder what would’ve happened if JFM had let sect leader Yao kick it.

Ughvhfnevus it’s this clown. Same as with Su She, if you see a bunch of screaming it’s just me not wanting to listen to Jin ZiXun.

The Nies: let’s throw a banquet to honour WWX’s return

Every asshole there: *gossips about WWX while in the room with him*

Once again I wish I could transmigrate (and speak mandarin lol) and just start delivering tongue lashings.

Listen, I have no idea how to play Guqin, but I did play the guitar for years and even from here I can see how much YiBo’s hands don’t match the melody. Nothing against him but why does this always happen? I know they got classes, so was the music not written by that time or something? Because one thing is not hitting the correct notes, another is plucking slow notes when the tempo is much faster.

JC: Since yours and LWJ’s unhappy separation...

My dumbass: do you mean breakup? *eyebrow waggle*

You will pry my “JC knows his brother is pinning after LWJ, he probably doesn’t want to know anything else” hc out of my cold dead hands thankyouverymuch.

WWX: *spouts a bunch of misdirection to avoid giving JC a straight answer*

JC: Bull-fucking-shit.

Should I count how many times WWX PTSDs all over the place or would you like me to leave your hearts intact? That’s two so far.

Ok ok, I feel that, if someone with a bit less trauma and a bit of insight (NHS maybe?) had seen the bit where ChenQing fucking hurts Shijie thing would’ve gone differently. I mean, yes, LWJ keeps warning WWX that this shit is gonna fuck him up, but as I said in my previous commentary LWJ also has the communication skills of a hermit crab so that wouldn’t work, and JC would be too wound up and WWX too busy trying to conceal his lack of golden core for that conversation to go anywhere. But if someone who WWX knows is a good egg (I’m not gonna say trusts bc paranoia) had sat him down and told him “your new instrument that you use for your new form of cultivation just hurt the person you love most please be careful when you use it.” I think it would’ve worked wonders towards his health overall.

I know Shijie says it’s like Zidian, but she’s not working with the fact that this thing is made for and by the Dark Side of the Force and I’m sorry but I can’t help but see ChenQing as a bit of a horrocrux almost. Or like, if you like me think the Burial Mounds is an Entity, something that’s a bit more sentient that it lets on.

Speaking of reputations and NHS being a good egg, I have oh-so-many ideas (I won’t say plot bunnies because I can’t write for shit) in which NHS for Reasons (time-travel? Letter from the future? His massive brain?) realises just how much damage WWX is doing to his public image. And he might be a sheltered dandy, but he saw what being the son of a sex worker did to Meng Yao despite how hard he worked (I’m assuming he doesn’t know about the whole betrayal business). This is way fucking worse, like hell is he going to let one of his best friends paint a target on his back. So he pulls back his sleeves, engages his slytherin brain and proceeds to lay down a plan to throughly destroy WWX’s reputation as a powerful genius.

I’m guessing LWJ and JC protest, and maybe WWX, and NHS just hits them with “do you want him respected or alive?” And they shut tf up. He glues himself to WWX, and brings up as many instances in which their behaviour can be compared as he can (we got drunk and punished at cloud recesses, we slept in class, we skipped to go fishing, I don’t carry my sword either). And, because assholes be assholes, people like Sect Leader Yao or Clown Cousin are quick to start spouting their own derogatory bullshit and thus WWX the untamed powerful prodigy dies a fiery death. Now he’s just a mouthy kid with a quick mind that “does tricks instead of battle” (I’ll never get bored of using that Thor quote). I also like to think that people who personally know WWX and are not pieces of shit go give NHS a tongue lashing for messing with what they thought was his friend, NHS takes that as a test of good eggness and bring them into the plan. Soon the whole Cloud Recesses class is swearing up, down, left, right and centre that all the shit WWX has ever successfully pulled is just an insane amount of luck and quick thinking.

I don’t know how would they work him into the battlefield (disguise? Mask?) to unleash his demonic cultivation but that’s Plot and I don’t do that.

Also, because I’m a terrible human being I want to say that people assume LWJ is on “pretty but useless” WWX like white on rice because *insert derogatory comment about being good in bed and sexual favours*. Because y’all know the assholes here are Like That. And WWX is horrified because holy fucking shit he’s gonna drag LWJ’s reputation down, he can’t have people thinking HGJ is ok with having him as a concubine pretty much. But before he can act LWJ politely all but confirms that yeah, he’s tapping that, y’all wish you were but he doesn’t share and none of y’all are good enough for his Wei Ying anyway. CUE FAKE/PRETEND RELATIONSHIP BECAUSE I AM INDEED TRASH FOR THAT TROPE.

Muahahahaha y’all thought I was gonna devolve into my personal hcs and not include my fave trope? Shouldn’t y’all know me better by now?

(Btw I like this bit ^ so I might polish it a little and post it separately as well, just a warning if you find yourself reading an eerily similar post by me)

WuJi is playing and LWJ is pining so much. Also, if LWJ did not just realise that, just like Yu the Great, WWX had no other option but tame resentful energy I’ll eat my blanket.

I refuse to believe Jiang Yanli didn’t become the unofficial war camp therapist/sounding board/only sane person/everyone’s mum/I just need a hug and a corner to cry in peace. There are not enough fics about Shijie being her gentle BAMF self while in the camp and it’s a pity. My crops are dying y’all!

Also, I will fight anyone who scoffs at Shijie being the epitome of the “gentle woman who cooks and waits for the men to come back from war”. Look at her mum, do you think it is easy for a kid (she was a kid in the flashback when WWX ran away) to see that day in and day out, to have that as a “role model” and decide that she was not going to be like her mum? That she didn’t like what she saw in her so she was going to be kind and gentle? And do you think it is easy for a person barely in their twenties to deal with years of verbal and psychological abuse for again, being gentle and kind, and not grow a hard shell of bitterness to protect themselves? And to keep being gentle and kind while at war, with your parents dead and your siblings unraveling before your very eyes? Shijie is so fucking strong and I love her.

Hey look, the White Walkers!

“Resentful energy is just energy” ok, valid. But my dude, you’ve got black ghost smoke coming out of you and can hear people screaming in your head. I’m not saying it is evil, like someone’s uptight set in his ways arrogant uncle; but it sure as shit ain’t healthy.

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH (that’s a Clown Cousin scream btw)

Ok ok, just one little thing: IF SOMEONE ELSE CALLS WWX WEI YING AS A SHOW OF DISRESPECT IMMA SCALP THEM.

...are those crows eating that man alive? Yikes on bikes.

(Assume my comment about YiBo’s Guqin playing also goes for Xiao Zhan and his flute. I can’t play the flute but the tempo doesn’t match his fingers)

I’m just gonna say it, I think 3zun (well, 2zun as of now) suspect shit went down badly for WWX, that’s two questions by both of them in a very soft conciliatory tone. They are genuinely interested/worried about the topic, and don’t seem to come off as chiding or judgemental. I mean WWX is a weirdo irreverent kid and they’re sect leaders, they outrank him so much it’s ridiculous. I’m also counting the fact that both their baby brothers like him towards them being so kind. But I also think WWX just triggers all their big brother instincts the second he walks in.

Oh there’s a thought, Shijie, Wen Qing, NMJ and LXC take a look at everyone’s shitty parents and just decide to adopt everyone.

What happened at Yiling was a traumatised teenager (is WWX even 20?) PTSDing all over the place with the Dark Side of the Force whispering in his ear and an all powerful trinket at his disposal. Not saying I approve of all the torture and murder but he clearly isn’t revelling in them.

That is some outstanding bit of big-brothering on LXC’s side and I love it. Also, my dumbass just realised LWJ probably wasn’t quoting WWX when he was being punished (what is white what is black?) I think he was quoting his big brother. Which is magnitudes deep too, but in a different direction and I might love that scene even more.

Ok fuck it, I’m gonna tangent. So I had a terrible boyfriend when I was 15-18. He alienated me from my friends, sunk my self-esteem to the molten core of the earth, tried to convince me my parents were abusive and encouraged (aka threatened manipulated and cajoled) the slow tanking of my high school marks. I have A Problem when I see media where someone latches onto their significant other and everything they are shifts towards that person. Now, love, true genuine love, is powerful, and I believe it can be the catalyst for shifting your world-view for the better. I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t have a problem with people sticking with their romantic partner if it is clear their previous “family” is so much shit. I don’t have a problem with LWJ coming out of his shell and defying corrupt precepts because his love for WWX made them see they were wrong, or getting sassy and unrepentant during his punishment (I have a problem with the punishment bc that’s abuse but...). But I do side-eye WangXian being the only thing in their orbit. People need people, and WangXian have other good people around them. So I kind of love that yes, WWX showed him the system was corrupt, but it is the words of his brother he is sticking by to the defy said system.

Let’s go back to our scheduled slew of held pinning glances shall we?

LXC after That awkward run-in: WangJi I wasn’t gone that long, what the fuck did you two oblivious pining idiots do?

(LXC has “bitching” tea sessions with Shijie and you can’t convince me otherwise)

LWJ: *is being dramatic and not knocking on WWX’s door*

Me: oh my god you fucking idiot

Shijie: *walks in*

Me: oh thank god someone with a braincell.

Ah yes, there we go triggering WWX’s paranoia again. Why would he get a break.

OH MY GOD YOU PAIR OF FUCKING IDIOTS. THATS IT, FUCK THIS SHIT IM OUT.

@ LWJ: bitch wtf was that? I know you’re shit at talking but have you thought about writing it down? Letters anyone? It worked for mr. Darcy.

(Yes LWJ is mr darcy and now I want an au where LWJ writes WWX letters and just pours everything in them, WWX finds them, any everything is sunshine and rainbows)

While this bullshit fight/misunderstanding is all on LWJ’s shoulders, I’m also going to scream at WWX. Because yes, he is in PTSD hell, but he trusted LWJ before, and yet he can’t get past his perceived notion of LWJ’s character (and his own inadequacies) to trust him again and ask for help. Plus, you know, he thinks he doesn’t deserve he’ll bc *waves hand at WWX’s trauma conga line*

These episodes can’t be good for my BP.

Thanks for reading!

[2612-1802]

A little lost

Hi! Can you write a scenarios if you have time were the reader is on a vacation to korea for the first time in her life and got lost. It is really late at night, And she happen to bump with Changmin and ask him for direction. Then you bump to each other a few more times coz you always getting lost. This become a reason for the reader and changmin to be friends ti lovers. Btw she didn’t know DBSK, she’s only familiar to yoochun bcoz of kdramas. Can you feat. OT5? Thank youuu💕keep safe!  -- Hi, sorry it took so long! Hope the story is worth the wait! Stay safe too!

“KOREA~” you sang as you picked up your luggage from the aisle. Dragging it along out the doors, you breathed in the air in Seoul for the first time. “Finally!” you whispered to yourself. A well-deserved holiday after your completing your research project. A long 2 years project, finally, time for some fun.

You dropped your bags off in the hotel and quickly ran out for some grubs. Seoul was just like the pictures you saw online. Full of bright lights and loud crowds, busy people, walking up and down the streets in a hurry. Typical city life.

First, the raw fish restaurant, then the pork bbq, then the spicy chicken feet, and now the desserts. You managed to get a lot more grubs than you expected around your hotel vicinity. Though feeling bloated, there was one more thing to do. The travelling ritual. The must-do for you as long as you stayed in a hotel. Eating instant noodles in the hotel room. Following the google map on your phone, you snaked around the buildings looking for a 24/7 store while constantly frowning in disappointment because it’s supposed to be just a 2mins walk.

“I think I’m starting to digest all those food now.” You grumbled to yourself, pressing harshly on your phone screen to find the convenience store. You rolled your eyes and looked around. There was no one in sight, but a man in his car. You plucked up the courage and walked towards the black car, hoping that he speaks English.

“Hi, sorry, excuse me. I’m looking for the convenience store. I’ve been walking around for half an hour but I still can’t find it. Google says there is one around here.” You smiled weakly at the masked man, showing the google map app on your phone.

“Oh, it’s just there. Walk down the street, you will see the main junction, it’s on your right when you reach the junction.” He told you coolly and you thanked him.

You strolled down the street, with a sense of relief. Finally, a clear direction to your instant food paradise. “Is this even worth this midnight walk..” you cussed at yourself and your weird travelling habits, skipping along till you reached the junction.

“Well, I’m here. Where is it?” You looked to your right, and then the left. There was no 7/11 in sight. “Damn it.” You shook your head in disbelief. You walked towards your right, thinking that it might be behind this building, but there was no 7/11 there too. Desperate, you just kept on walking till you hear a car honk at you.

“Hey, you’ve drifted too far off, it’s not this junction. The junction with the green building.” The same man you directed you pointed it to you again.

“I went, but I didn’t find any 7/11.” You sighed.

“It’s there. Maybe you didn’t spot it. I just went there to get sweets yesterday.” He waved the leftover sweets in your face.

“Alright, thank you. I’ll go over again.” You waved goodbye as he drove off.

Walking back to the junction, you looked at the green building. You see nothing. “Is this even the correct green building?” You thought to yourself. Checking your phone again, you see that you’re in the correct place. But there is no 7/11, no nothing. This was not a good continuum of that awesome feeling about Korea you felt this afternoon.

You walked around, looking for another green building but there were no other green buildings. Groaning, you turned around the corner and you saw the man again. You immediately scurried off, hoping that he doesn’t spot you. “Damn, if I see him again, he’s going to think I’m stalking him!” You whispered to yourself.

Trying again, walking the same directions he showed you, you came back to the same spot, but a little more different this time. Instead of just feel lost, you felt stupid too. “Where is this store?!” your eyebrows knitted in anger, almost touching each other for the first time since your birth.

“Ohh, this is awkward.” You murmured under your breath, as you recognized the man standing in front of you.

“Lady, this is the 5th time I’m seeing you.” The man shook his head, laughing at you. “The store sign is brighter than your future, you can’t miss it when you pass it.” He pointed you to the same direction he did the past few times, laughing uncontrollably. “You are worse than Yunho Hyung. Come, I’ll bring you.” He took his jacket with him and walked infront of you.

You hung your head in embarrassment as you followed behind. Surely enough, it was just right there. “Oh, the 3rd floor.” You sighed after hearing his teehees. “Isn’t the sign bright?” the man pointed at the neon board as he opened the door for you.

Excited, you went straight into the ramen aisle to pick out your cup noodles.

“Hmm, isn’t that too much calories at night, young lady?” The man asked as he picked out his own cup ramen.

“Well, I’m not having all of them tonight sir. Just one.” You paused “Or maybe two.” You giggled at the thought of finally getting cup noodles.

“You can call me ChangMin.” He chuckled. “One or two? Like how you did one or two or more rounds around the block?” ChangMin side-eyed you as he paid for his supper.

“Well I didn’t mean to, I mean I was. Well, I’m not from around here.” You stuttered. “I was lost okay.” You frowned making your noodles. “But hang on, if I am walking in circles, and I keep bumping into you... Then why were you driving in circles?” You asked him, finally piecing things together.

“It’s late.” ChangMin replied as he slurped his shin ramen. “It’s dangerous for a lady to walk on the streets this late at night. And you’re a foreigner. It’s dangerous plus dangerous. Double danger. I was just worried you cannot find your way.” He looked up, chewing the noodles in his chipmunk cheeks.

“Oh.” You lifted your eyebrows. “Thank you though. Appreciate it. I was getting kind of scared around here.” You drank some soup from the cup.

“So, you’re not from around here you say?” ChangMin looked up at you again, but this time you noticed how round his eyes are. “Did you come Korea because you like kpop? Do you like kpop?” ChangMin questioned.

You gave an awkward smile. “Erm, I’m not really into kpop. Just watched some dramas. Started with youtube clips, then I really liked this actor, so I’ve been following his dramas.”

“Ohh, not into kpop uh.” You saw him frown slightly, before carefully replying him.

“Yeah, I’m too busy to go after boybands. Working working working.” You let out a pathetic laugh. The whole point of this holiday was to revaluate your career decisions. To venture out into something you want or just continue to have a stable life with a stable income from a job you hate.

“Woah, sounds like you hate your job.” ChangMin poked into his noodles cup. “So who’s this lucky actor?”

“Don’t really hate it. Just kind of regretting it.” You shrugged your shoulders and Changmin nodded.  “Park Yoo Chun. The first one I watched was Rooftop Prince. He was so funny in that.”  

ChangMin choked hard at that comment. Shocked, you immediately offered him your drink as he coughing really harshly the moment you mentioned Park YooChun.

“Are you okay?” You panicked as you rummaged through your bag for tissues but he wouldn’t stop coughing.

“I’m okay, Yoochun hyung, yes. He’s a lady killer.” ChangMin cleared his throat forcefully as he patted his chest repeatedly. “Ugh, I think I saw my life flashed in front of my eyes.” You heard him whisper to himself.

You guys chatted for a while before he sent you back to the hotel. One fun night turned into a few more till you reached the end of your 2-weeks holiday in Korea.

“Hey, thanks for the ride. This trip was a lot more fun because of you. ” You thanked ChangMin as you took your luggage from him.

“Yeah, it was fun for me too.” Changmin replied, avoiding eye contact. “This is kind of early, but.” You breathed in deeply, not sure if he is thinking what you’re thinking.

“Yes, yes, yes, yes!” You thought loudly in your head. It’s been sometime since a guy gave you butterflies.

“When will your next holiday be?” ChangMin asked and you let out a soft “What?”

“Umm, I don’t know. Maybe in 1 years’ time or 2?” You answered, disappointed.

“That’s a long time.” ChangMin scratched his head. “How about in 1 or 2 months’ time instead? But we can go together this time around.”

You became speechless and your eyes enlarged at the suggestion.

“If you want to of course. I mean.. Umm.” ChangMin’s rounded eyes started darting around and started looking at his shoes.

“1 or 2 months’ time is a little to early to ask for vacation again from work. How about in 4 months’ time?” You proposed, trying to contain your happiness with your pokerface.

“Sounds good. Where do you want to go?” ChangMin brightened up, it makes your heart skip a few beats that the idea of hanging out more perks him up so much.

“How about I tell you later? Got a plane to catch.” You waved your ticket at him and gave him a goodbye hug hurriedly.

“Alright, just don’t ghost me!” You hear ChangMin shouted behind you as you walked through the gates.

“See you soon, hopefully where you live.” Your phone chimed with a second last message before your flight.

“I’ll be free on the weekends if you want to come visit.” You responded with a winky emoji.

“That’s a date babe.”

“BABE! HE CALLED ME BABE!” you screamed so loudly inside your head you swear the lady beside you heard it.

“Babe?! Babe? Isn’t it too early to use babe? You need to put out the lure then fish her in. You’re giving everything out in the beginning. That was not the 101 we taught you about wooing girls Minne.” Yoochun smacked Changmin in the head.

“If he ever follows whatever we said, he’ll be married by now.” Yunho whispered in ChangMin’s ears from the back.

“Just how many of you are here?” ChangMin turned around and started counting the masked men with caps in the airport at midnight. 

“We can GHOST you if you want. Since we are not BABE.” Jaejoong finger quoted as Junsu chortled behind with his hands in his pocket. 

“I hate you guys.” ChangMin rolled his eyes. 

“Okay, BABE.” the four men responded in unison, fist bumping each other as they walked towards the carpark.

[expression-in-its-essence]

The Goldfinch movie.

7 min 26 secs in : Why the fuck did they start the movie like that. Why didn't the explosion take place? Theo's mom's apartment? His anxiety? Also.. why do they keep cutting the scenes abruptly? They ain't tweets... No limit.. then??

8 min 2 sec in : Okay they went to the apartment. Audrey's sweater deserved more screen time. The lipstain on the mug in focus *chef's kiss* poetic cinema!

9 min 19 sec in : Do you see what I see? Tom Cable's face has a stark resemblance to Boris's face. Did Theo have a crush on him?

9 min 54 sec in : Mr Barbour's hand is shaking. I like that they put it in there. He was sick. Nice. (I'd imagined Audrey's apartment building entrance like they showed the Barbour's apartment building entrance. Wild.)

11 min 8 sec in : Don't shove it into his face that y'all are fancy okay? He's not used to that life style. He didn't have maids making his bed. ARE YOU GIVING HIM DRUGS, MRS BARBOUR? But you just glared at your husband for offering him the same sort of thing?? Oh God. Poor child. "it's perfectly understandable" my ass. You gave him meds just because your sleep was getting affected.

14 min 39 sec : Woah woah woah Theo wtf you're so smol how'd you do that? Also... Again. The frame of Theo and Tom standing close and Theo and Boris standing close when they kissed, Theo is wearing the same damn sweater.

16 min 58 sec in : Ayyyy Jeffery Wright!

20 min 33 sec in : "He drank a lot", Theo about his dad. Honey just wait up, you will too. (The grilled sandwich and the cute lil smile 😍 also this is the first time since the movie started that Oakes' voice isn't deep.)

23 min 54 sec in : Wizard of Oz poster, I see you!

24 min 19 sec in : I love how Oakes is expressing being caught off guard. Theo knows he did something bad and every time he's dealing with something he didn't expect to deal with, he's like OMG THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PAINTING AND IM FUCKED even if no one knows.

25 min 1 sec in : The glasses made a difference. He went from mature to cute. Angry bird to angry birb.

25 min 44 sec in : Another sweater? Or was this THE sweater of Audrey? (Off topic but Oakes is hella cute. I could murder anyone who hurts him.)

29 min 9 sec in : Pippa doesn't remember or doesn't wanna remember? There was something in her eyes that was hard to read. Also, why doesn't anyone say 'I'm sorry about your mom' to Theo? Do Americans not care? It's weird to see no response when he tells people that Audrey is dead.

31 min 17 sec in : "The Goldfinch, destroyed"? Then why is Theo upset. Good riddance. Oh yeah. I know why. It's Donna Tartt we're talking about.

32 min 39 sec in : Hobie just casually predicting the future. "It's only fake if you pass it on as an original". Theo's like, "noted, gonna do exactly that".

34 min 16 sec in : Why does Theo write like a five year old child? That's toddler handwriting! And omg all the Andy-prom-dress memes are making sense now. (Also did I mention that Mrs Barbour seems more selfish in the film than she does in the book. Like hey I'm putting up with this kid because he helps my kid. He's serving a purpose for me. What the hell.) (How old is Andy anyway? He looks younger than Theo. I think he's different. Didn't grow up like other kids. That was mentioned in the book right?)

35 min 20 sec in : Ayyy Hobie's earring!

35 min 49 sec in : He shopped for himself? Nice! Didn't know kids could shop without adult supervision in the West. (Because they can't in the East.)

35 min 50 sec in : Ayyyy Sarah Paulson! Damn she's hot. How can you dislike her? *heart eyes*

37 min 30 sec in : I can't bring myself to hate Luke Wilson since Skeleton Twins but SHUT THE FUCK UP LARRY! AUDREY DESERVED BETTER. Look at how Larry and Xandra are looking at the place like they're vultures.

39 min 34 sec : They got the airport scene right. STOP GIVING HIM DRUGS WTH IS WRONG WITH THE ADULTS IN THIS MOVIE!

41 min 12 sec in : Ayyy Popper!!!!!

43 min 27 sec in : It just dawned on Theo that he's alone. Oh god. My poor baby.

45 min 12 sec in : Let me take this moment to say that Ashleigh Cummings is pretty. And I finally get why y'all were pissed at the non linear storyline and the weird voiceovers. Guess I'd been prepared for that so it didn't really suck that much.

49 min 30 sec in : I'd imagined Boreo reunion like the Platt Theo reunion. In the day. Dang it. Also... Adult Platt Barbour was not supposed to be good looking? In the book?

55 min 34 sec in : Without context, none of it could make sense. Apologies to whoever didn't read the book beforehand. Crowley fucked this up.

58 min in : Ayyyy Finn Wolfhard! BORIS IS HERE AND IM SO EXCITED IDK WHY

1 hour in : It's such a Boris thing to leave the bag unzipped.

1 hour 3 min 20 sec in : Slumdog Millionaire's Jai Ho (2008) is playing in the background. The only song that I've recognized so far. Wow. Lets me know about the time setting. Nice.

1 hr 3 min in : Someone gif " That cost twenty dollars!" *Stare* "That would have cost twenty dollars!"

1 hr 8 min in : So Boris's room is exactly like I had imagined but Theo's room isn't. Boris just mentioned Kotku though.

1 hr 9 min 14 sec in : Isn't it hella hot in Vegas? Why are they wearing sweaters? Or does drug intake make you more vulnerable to the environment?

1 hr 10 min 15 sec in : Xandra Theo argument : gold. "Cocktail sausages that you like." I wanna laugh in Crowley's face. What was he thinking?? Omg I'm dying.

1 hr 11 min 17 sec in : The slap sound didn't work??

1 hr 13 min 53 sec in : I like serious Boris better.

1 hr 14 min in : The slum house Audrey dream thing was not in the book. That's an entirely new addition.

1 hr 18 min 26 sec in : The Welty Theo scene is awesome. The sound effects work. I feel suffocated. The ambulance noise fiasco is also nicely pulled off. (also Theo's Yellow bag was dirty af then how did it get all clean when he didn't even do anything to it?)

1 hr 20 min 57 sec in : Shhhh Potter.

1 hr 22 min in : Holy shit he got slapped twice!! Ouch! And Larry's audacity to tell Theo to stop with the crying?? Good thing he died. Asshole.

1 hr 25 min in : "You don't tell me a lot of things but that's okay". I see what you did there, Boris. Which was of course, I love you.

1 hr 26 min in : "Act normal" - Theo knows his way around drugs pretty well, doesn't he?

1 hr 30 min in : "No family No friends" line punched me in the face. (Also awww popchik's excuse was the last resort for Boris to make Theo stay.)

1 hr 31 min 17 sec in : That pause after "What do you have to tell me?". You can clearly see Boris struggling to hold something back. Which was of course, I love you.

1 hr 31 min 34 sec in : What the fuck is that music? Oh heyyyyyy they kissed!-- he fucking runs away?? Also what kind of a kangaroo runs like that? (Yes, the taxi driver watched. I don't have to wonder anymore.) (They didn't address why he took the bus instead of flying?)

1 hr 33 min in : I didn't imagine Welty's room like that at all. Also why doesn't Hobie seem happy to see Theo again?

1 hr 35 min in : Longer stretches of one storyline are kinda bearable. From drugs in storage unit to waking up beside Kitsey. We got Vegas and Young Theo. Nice. (Also, who the heck puts jewelry in shoes? Is Theo that dumb? And now I can't think of anything else than Boris piercing his ear for the emerald earring. Tumblr has fucked it up bad.)

1 hr 43 min in : They nailed the Kitsey Theo confrontation.

1 hr 44 min in : Ayyy Ozma of Oz!

1 hr 48 min in : I noticed it before but I wasn't sure... Now I am. Pippa has Welty's ring. On her finger. At all times. (also, is NYC always that noisy? Must suck to walk on the roads.)

1 hr 52 min 23 sec in : They nailed the Theo Pippa date. What's that song playing in the background? I want the name. It's almost like two hours and I still haven't seen Aneurin Barnard once. Why! (Jerome's mentioned in the movie btw.)

1 hr 52 min 51 sec in : Complained too soon. Boris is sat in the dark doing god knows what. My man Aneurin is here!

1 hr 53 min 37 sec in : BOREO REUNIONNNNNN - no don't look at me like that I only watched it thrice.

1 hr 56 min in : Boris saying "it's someone else" with a knowing look and Theo looking at him. The frickin yearning.

1 hr 57 min in : Boris is like you're unhappy, I'm here, we're both rich, let's f*ck. "We could"... What are you suggesting dude he's repressed!

1 hr 58 min in : "you unwrapped it and showed it to me." So many meanings. The heart, the love the soul... Wow. Good for you, screen play writers! ( It's kinda hilarious how Boris got mad at Theo for never quote unquote fucking opening it.)

2 hr 1 min in : I'm calling it. They're going to fuck up the Theo Hobie confrontation. They put it on the wrong time. And they also fucked up the text from the book.

2 hr 5 min 48 sec in : Even Platt is saving his sister's face. Also where did Todd go? Did he never grow up? I wish Mrs Barbour didn't use Theo like she did.

2 hr 7 min in : The frame where Boris is between Kitsey and Theo. Chef's kiss.

2 hr 10 min 54 sec in : *intense music playing* Boris put his leg up on the table and I burst into laughter THOSE ARE THE FAMOUS FUCK ME PUMPS.

2 hr 11 min in : AAAAA THE FOREHEAD TOUCH AAAAAAA (Theo just knows without looking that Boris is close enough to touch? Theo are you sure you don't feel feelings for him?)

2 hr 12 min in : Theo is so worried that I'm not sure if it's for Boris or for losing the painting again. Omg he just murdered a man. Oh god.

2 hr 14 min in : Theo is spiralling. In the movie they imply that Hobie played a part in him attempting suicide. So wrong. Poor Hobie. In the book that wasn't the case.

2 hr 15 min in : The transition of the Goldfinch into Audrey, wow. Also, is it the first time we're seeing her? The movie started so long ago that I've forgotten if I saw Theo and Audrey in the museum. Boris following right after Audrey? That's a subliminal message. Boris is here to rescue y'all.

2 hr 16 min in : No shit Boris is freaking out right now.

2 hr 17 min in : The diner scene. They're both crying. "Happy Christmas, Potter" - which was of course, I love you.

2 hr 18 min in : No don't you dare compare Audrey and Mrs Barbour. Audrey would never drug her child or use him for her benefit.

2 hr 20 min in : Poor kid bumps into his mom lol. I found it funny.

On the whole

The movie was nice if you'd read the book beforehand. The first hour was steak, The second hour was Korean BBQ and the rest of the twenty minutes were minced beef. If you get what I mean. Weird analogy. It could have been much better. But it was really very nice in some places. Most places I'd say.

I didn't like how the pop songs ruined the mood of certain moments. I didn't like how you couldn't hear the conversation over the music playing. For example in the engagement party when Platt and Theo talked. Or in the diner scene.

Both Borises killed the accent thing. They tried their best. Cut them some slack.

Oakes deserves an Oscar for holding up this movie on his smol shoulders. I was shook at how a kid could act that well.

Popchik deserved more screen time. I'm still pissed they didn't add the Popchik Boris reunion. But then they couldn't make it chronological, what were we supposed to expect anyway.

Ansel Elgort y'all. Theo sure improved his handwriting lol. Ansel's writing is nice. He was actually good in this movie. Better than he was in The Fault In Our Stars. The internet is just mean. The critics too. I will never understand the hate.

All in all, it could have been a better adaptation but it didn't suck as bad as everyone made it out to be. John Clownery should be punished nonetheless. Special shout-out to Roger Deakins for making it work.

[krizaland]

I've got an idea for Zim x Reader story. Zim lost his PAK and didnt get it back on time which led to his body death. But then Reader found PAK and uploaded Zim's consciousness to a computer. And now both Reader and Zim trying to figure out how to bring Zim back to the physical world. P.S. I know, that PAKs attach to every being availible, but can we just skip this? P.P.S. Sorry if i make mistakes. English is not my native language. P.P.P.S. Your stories are really cool. Thank you.

Thank you for your kind words and your very interesting request! I’ve actually got the perfect idea for this one!

Be warned: I decided to take inspiration from Issues #24 and #25 of the Invader Zim comic series. So there will be some spoilers ahead! If you haven’t read issue #25 then I highly recommend you do so. However, if you’ve already read it or just don’t mind spoilers then read on! Reader will also be hit on by a very gross creep! While, there won’t be anything sexual, things might get very uncomfortable. There will also be some swearing ahead.

Here’s the song I used btw

You let out a groan as you slowly opened your heavy eyelids.

“Oh hey! You’re finally awake!”

You let out a gasp as you were greeted by none other than Fitzoo-Menga!

“Sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you there!” He chuckled as he pressed a few buttons on his chair.

The moment he got closer to you, the most foul odor assaulted your nostrils.

You nearly gagged as you started to cough.

“I take it you....must be...Fitzoo-Menga” You wheezed through your coughs.

“Please call me, Virooz. It’s who I am on the inside!” He purred as he circled you.

“Why did you kidnap me?!” You heaved as you managed to catch your breath.

“Because your Zim’s life mate! At first I was gonna destroy you for making Zim all soft and stuff but you’re actually kinda hot so I think I might keep you around for a while!” Virooz chuckled as he stroked your face.

“Hey! Quit it!” You whined as you tried to turn your head away from him.

“Aww! Playing hard to get I see.” Virooz cooed as he patted your cheek.

“Let me go! I wouldn’t date you even if I wasn’t already dating Zim!” You snarled as you struggled in your restraints.

“Aww, Come on, baby! You gotta be crazy to not want to date a High-Tech qudrillionaire genius!” Virooz pouted.

“Well then throw me in the crazy house! Because I’m not interested in dating someone who smells like he hasn’t showered in 300 years!” You snarled as you shot him a glare.

“Oooh! Feisty! Virooz likey.” Virooz crooned as he wiggled his eyebrows.

“Eww! Stop looking at me like that!” You gagged as you tried to avoid Virooz’s hungry gaze.

“Don’t worry! You’ll learn to love me, baby!” Virooz chuckled with a wink.

You were just about ready to vomit when

BEEP! BEEP!

“Oh! Looks like your now ex boyfriend is nearby!” Virooz sang as he turned to his main computer and pressed a few buttons.

SHOOMP!

Zim was lifted off the ground and sucked up into the ship

PLOP!

Zim fell onto a bright green couch.

“Welcome, Zim.” Virooz crooned without turning his chair around.

“Virooz I presume! Why have you brought this humble janitor to-” Zim asked.

“You’re not a janitor and you didn’t fool anyone with your stupid disguise, Zim!” Virooz’s voice was ice cold as he spoke.

“Fine! I am indeed Zim! Just as you, ‘Virooz’ are Fitsoo-Menga! I’m right about that right?” Zim’s voice shrank a bit as he spoke.

“Yep”

“JUST WHAT IS YOUR GAME, VIROOZ?! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH MY Y/N?!” Zim demanded as he snapped a finger in his direction.

“My game is to make you stop sucking! And as for Y/N? They’re right here! ” Virooz cackled as he spun his chair around and revealed you tied up in a chair.

“RELEASE Y/N! RELEASE THEM OR SUFFER THE WRATH OF ZIM!” Zim roared as he stomped his foot.

“Relax, Zim! I’m not gonna hurt Y/N. I wouldn’t want to hurt my new life mate!” Virooz chuckled as he put his hands on his stomach.

“Eh?! Your life mate?! But Y/N is my life mate!” Zim whined as he gestured to himself.

“Not anymore! Y/N is my life mate now!” Virooz taunted as he patted your head.

“No way! Get your hands off of me you creep!” You snarled as you tried to move your head away from Virooz.

“You know, I was going to like destroy them and stuff but man! They are feisty! Y/N is the only thing about you now that doesn’t suck, Zim!” Virooz purred as he kept stroking your head like a cat.

“GET YOUR FILTHY CYBER APPENDAGES OFF OF MY Y/N!” Zim let out a war cry and lunged at Virooz

SWIP!

CRASH!

Virooz moved his chair aside, causing Zim’s face to kiss the floor.

Zim let out a groan as he peeled himself off of the floor.

“Wow! Even your attempts so save your life mate are lame!” Virooz shook his head as he pushed a few buttons on his chair.

SWIP!

A chair came zooming into the room and knocked into Zim’s legs, causing him to fall into it.

All you could do was watch Zim scream in agony as he was forcibly tied to the chair.

“There! Now that everyone’s here, I think you need a reminder of just how awesome you used to be!” Virooz exclaimed as he pressed another button on his chair.

ZAP!

A large monitor in the center of the room crackled to life and the lights dimmed.

Inside the Irken Dooqbase, Commander Poki was giving the Invaders-in training a lecture on why they should never remove their PAKs.

“…And, as Private Sox is showing us, rookies, that is why you never detach your PAK! The PAK is all that you are as an Irken! It controls your body! It contains your memories! And emergency directions to the nearest snack stockpile.” Commander Poki explained as she held up Private Sox’s PAK.

“There you go, Private Sox! Neurothing on!”  Commander Poki dropped Private Sox’s PAK and pulled out a small pen like device.

“REATTACHMENT PROTOCOL”

And with that, several metal tentacles whipped out from Private Sox’s PAK.  Private Sox’s PAK then scuttled off to reunite with its host.

You hummed as you slowly became invested in the recording. Zim mentioned that his PAK was basically his brain but you never knew that it could come off.

“Enjoying the show so far?” Virooz whispered.

You let out a gasp as you felt his hot, smelly breath burn against your ear.

“Heh. You sure are jumpy.” Virooz teased as his arms slithered around you.

“Get off of me!” You hissed as you tried to shake him off of you.

“Mmm…Keep that fire burning baby.” Virooz purred as he released you.

A shudder ran down your spine as you turned your attention back to the monitor.

As the recording went on, you couldn’t help but giggle. Zim was so cute when he was younger, despite blowing up the entire Dooqbase.

Soon the recording came to an end and the lights came back on.

“That was amazingness, maaaan! The way you blew up that dooqbase? Sick! And your first mission, too!” Virooz gushed as he zipped in front of Zim.

You and Zim exchanged confused glances for a moment.

“Of all your videos that I hacked from the Irken military archives, that is definitely top three. Well, top five. If you don’t include that things with the Electro-slugs and the rubber shorts. That was killer, maaan!” Virooz bailed as spittle begun to fly from his lips.

“So you’re a fan of my work. Great. So am I. Now let me and Y/N go.” Zim growled as his ruby eyes narrowed.

“Fan? Man, I am like all over your work! I mean, yeah, by day I’m Fitzoo-Menga, high-tech quadrillionaire genius. But at night, I am totes into your stuff!” Virooz gushed.

“And sticking cyber-things on your hideous body, it seems.” Zim muttered.

“And being a disgusting creep.” You added.

“Oooh! There’s that fire again! Man, I’m glad I didn’t destroy you, baby! We’re gonna have sooo much fun together!” Virooz giggled.

“Stop calling me that! I’m not your baby!” You snarled as you shook in your seat.

“Yeah! Y/N is Zim’s baby! Not yours!” Zim added as he tried to scoot in front of you.

“Whatever.” Virooz scoffed as he flicked his wrist.

“Anyway, Fitzoo-”  Zim began

“Call me Virooz! It’s who I really am inside!” Virooz crooned as he gestured to himself.

“Well, Virooz-”

“Virooz got your attention by getting GIR to attack you!” Virooz cooed.

“Well, Virooz-”

“Virooz led you inside GIR’s programming to give you the coordinates to Cyberflox!” Virooz chuckled.

“Well, Virooz-”

“Virooz kindapped Y/N and seduced them.”

“No you did not!” You gagged.

“Then Virooz watched your every move on mall security cams!” Virooz squished his cheeks.

“Well, Virooz-”

“And Virooz grabbed you when you figured out the truth! I am Viroooooooz!” Virooz cackled.

“WELL, VIROOZ!!!!! If you will stop blowing your word-hole!!! WHY ARE WE HERE?! Do you want my autograph?” Zim roared as he shot Virooz a glare.

“No way maaaaan! You’re terrible now!” Virooz whined as he pressed a few keys on his main computer.

“Terrible?!” Zim parroted.

“Ever since you’ve been on Earth, you’ve gone totally downhill! Squishing the Earth with Mars? What is that?! Or that bologna serum? And what’s with the big-headed kid?! Who cares about him?!” Virooz complained as gestured to all of Zim’s previous schemes on screen.

“All right-”

“Oh, and now you’ve given up on being an Invader?! Just because you got a totally hot life mate?! Maan, I don’t even know who you are anymore! You’re not my Zim that’s for sure! Why can’t you go back to destroying things?! I’ll bet Y/N would look so much hotter setting off some gigabooms with you!” Virooz pouted as he folded his arms.

“You’re right, he’s not your Zim. He never was! Zim is his own awesome person, who doesn’t exist just to please sweaty man-babies like you! Things change, Virooz! Things change! Zim has indeed changed and he will continue to change whether you like it or not! You wanna know why? Because Zim is growing up! Maybe you should try it sometime!” You ranted as you wriggled in your seat.

“Hot damn! Did you hear that?! Maaan, That was so spicy! What a savage! See, Zim?! At least your life mate is cooler than you!” Virooz squealed as he dragged you closer to him

“GET YOUR CYBER HANDS OFF OF MY Y/N!  And as for your feedback, I will take it….And ignore it! NOW LET Y/N AND I GO!” Zim demanded as he scooted closer.

“Nuh-uh! See, I know how to fix your slump! I’m going to become you!” Virooz cackled as a creepy grin spread across his face.

“WHAAT?!” You and Zim exclaimed in unison.

BEEP! BEEP!

“Oh, look! We’re here, Planet Dooq, site of your first awesome mission” Virooz announced as he  begun to land the ship.

“Well, it was pretty awesome.” Zim admitted.

“Do you know what this is?” Virooz chuckled as he pulled out a large poorly constructed PAK.

“Terrible?” Zim retorted.

“Garbage?” You grumbled.

“It’s my version of an Irken PAK! I designed it myself!” Virooz boasted as he patted his mechanical abomination.

“You designed it terrible.” Zim noted.

“Come on, Maaaan! It does everything the Irken PAK does! Holds your personality. Controls a body. Plus full surround sound speakers!” Virooz beamed as he made the PAK play horrible music.

“So you want me to endorse it?” Zim asked as he tilted his head in confusion.

“Nope! I’m going to dump my mind in it… and attach it to your body!” Virooz squealed as he shoved the poorly constructed PAK in Zim’s face.

“WHAT?! Never!” Zim screeched.

“Yeah! This is insane, Virooz! I don’t even think your underdeveloped brain is even compatible with Zim’s body!” You added.

“Just wait here, duuuuudes. While I get just one sick thing from the wreckage! Oh and one more thing!” Virooz chuckled as he made his way towards you.

SMOOCH!

Virooz planted a sloppy, wet kiss onto your cheek.

“Bye baby! See you real soon! Computer! Lock the hatch!” Virooz purred as the door locked behind him.

You sat gobsmacked for a moment as you tried desperately to hold back your vomit.

“Y/N! Are you alright?!” Zim yelped as he scooted his chair next to you.

“No….Oh god I feel so violated…” You shuddered as a few tears trickled down your cheeks.

“Don’t cry, my sweet, Y/N! I’ll get us free from these primitive chairs!” Zim reassured as he activated a multitool from his PAK.

“At least we’re in this together.” You sniffled as you tried to regain your composure.

“He tied us up with rope! What kind of idiot uses rope?! Now let’s see.. Ion inverter…Transphasic screwdriver…Quarkmonker….Transcranila Binulator…..Polarmonistonic Corkscrew…Lot of stuff in this thing..” Zim grumbled as he searched through his multitool.

“Why don’t you try the-”

“Shh! Not now, my sweet! I need to concentrate!” Zim hushed as he continued his search.

You let out a sigh and shook your head. You loved your boyfriend but sometimes he was just so stubborn!

“Ah ha! Tweezers!” Zim announced as he selected the small pair of tweezers amongst the sea of other gadgets.

“Really tweezers?” You groaned as you raised an eyebrow.

“Yes! Tweezers are the perfect tool for a job like this, sweet Y/N! Now just hold on while I tweeze myself free! Once I’m free of this primitive rope, I can set you free as well!” Zim explained as he begun to tweeze away at the rope.

Meanwhile, Virooz ventured out into the ruins of the Dooqbase and stumbled upon a first aid kit.

“Aha! An Irken Neurothing!” Virooz cheered as he held up the neurothing.

It wasn’t long before Zim was almost free of his rope prison.

“Almost completely tweezed through…” Zim muttered as he got a communicator device from his PAK.

“Zim to GIR! Come in GIR!” Zim screamed into the communicator.

GIR was hanging out in a birthday cake alongside Minimoose who was wearing a purple flowery sun hat.

BRRING! BRRING!

GIR’s head opened up and projected a hologram of Zim.

“GIR! It’s an emergency! I need you to-What are you doing?”

“I’m a birthday cake!” GIR chirped.

“Ohhh-kay. I need you to get the ship and get to my coordinates immediately! Understand?!” Zim commanded.

“Yes, my master!”

“Good! Zim out”

GIR was about to cut the call but Zim stopped him.

“I mean now GIR!”

“Oooh! Ok! Come’ere ship!” GIR chirped.

BOOM!

The ship crashed through a wall and zipped in front of GIR and Minimoose.

“WE GOIN’ TO SPAAAACE!” GIR sang as he hopped into the ship.

“Neyah!” Minimoose squeaked as the ship blasted off into the starry sky.

Meanwhile, Zim had finally managed to tweeze himself free of his primitive prison.

BAM!

Zim burst free and rushed to your side.

“Fear not, my sweet Y/N! For Zim is here to set you free!” Zim sang as he untied you.

You let out a sigh of relief as you felt the rope loosen.

“Thanks, Zim!” You hopped out of your chair and stretched for a moment.

“Of course! Zim wouldn’t leave you with that DISGUSTING Virooz! Now let’s clean your beautiful face free of Virooz’s FILTHY SLOBBER!” Zim pulled out some wipes from his PAK and cleaned your face.

“Victory! I have successfully eliminated all traces of Virooz’s FITHLY SLOBBER!” Zim cackled as he put the wipes away.

“Thank you so, so much, Zim!” You squealed as you rubbed your now clean cheek.

“It was no trouble, sweet, Y/N! I-”

SMOOCH!

Zim was cut off by you planting a much cleaner kiss on his cheek.

Zim’s PAK sparked as his antennas sprung straight up. His face turned a darker shade of green as his worm like tongue hung out of his mouth. He let out a few chirps and purrs as he rubbed his cheek.

You let out a giggle at Zim’s lovestruck behavior.

Zim shook away his infatuation and cleared his throat.

“Now, the door is locked! So we shall escape through the ventilation ducts!” Zim announced as he gestured to one of the ventilation ducts.

“Are you are that’s the best way-”

“Of course it is, sweet Y/N! Now come on! We don’t have much time!” Zim insisted as he ripped off the ventilation duct’s grate and pulled you inside with him.

Zim’s spider legs clicked against the inside of the ducts as he held your hand and lead you along.

After what felt like a few minutes of struggling to navigate through the maze of ventilation ducts, Zim had found an opening.

“AHA! Freedom!” Zim squealed as he burst open the grate and pushed you out with him.

PLOP!

PAF!

You fell flat on your rear as Zim plopped into your lap.

“Hey duuuuudes! Trying to get away? Epic fail!” Virooz taunted as he floated back into the room.

“We did this on purpose! To show you we escaped your primitive rope!” Zim lied as he gently crawled out of your lap.

“Yeah! Seriously? Rope? How uncreative! You claim to be a high-tech quadrillionaire genius and all you had to capture us with is rope?” You added as you got up and put your hands on your hips.

“Primitive? Uncreative? Rope is classic, maaaaan! You’ve gotten so lame you couldn’t even save your life mate and leave the ship, Zim! But hey look what I got! An Irken neurothing! For detaching and replacing Irken PAKs! Killer right?!” Virooz sang as he waved around the neurothing.

You gasped as you stood in front of Zim protectively.

“Move aside, baby! It’s time for me to take over Zim’s body, go out there into the galaxy and restore his former glory!” Virooz cheered as he shoved you aside with his chair.

You let out a yelp as you plopped onto your bottom.

“Y/N! Listen, Virooz! You will never be Zim! I am Zim! Your Zim would be a grubby shadow of the real Zim! Weak as a sickly mweep! Stinky like the rotten fruit of the filth-squeezing filth tree of-”

Suddenly, Zim’s rant was cut off by the sound of the Neurothing activating.  

CLANG!

FLOP!

Zim’s PAK popped right off his back, causing his body to follow suit.

“Even your speeches got dumb!” Virooz groaned as he hovered Zim’s lifeless body.

“ZIM!! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HIM?!” You seethed as you rushed to Zim’s side.

“Relax, baby. Zim’s gonna be juust fine!” Virooz tried to sound reassuring but his voice dripped with malice.

A sinister grin spread across Virooz’s face as he pulled out his poorly contracted PAK and tried to jam it into Zim’s back.

“NO!” You screeched as you tried to stop Virooz.

But you were too late.

Virooz had already attached his poorly constructed PAK and hooked it up to his brain.

“Transferrrrr!” Virooz sang as he begun to download his brain into the new PAK.

Virooz screamed in agony as all of his mind and spirt was ripped from his brain.

All you could to was watch in horror as that sweaty man child took over your boyfriend’s body.

Soon, Virooz’s disgusting, sweaty body was left a lifeless husk as the download finished completion.

Soon, Zim’s body begun to shudder and squirm about.

“I AM ZIIIIIM!!!”

You let out a shriek when you heard Virooz’s voice come out of Zim’s body.

“See, baby? I told you your Zim would be just fine!” Virooz crooned as he flopped about in Zim’s body.

“You-You’re not my Zim! Get out of his body, you monster!” You commanded as you backed away form him.

“No way, baby! This is my body now! I’m going to go out there and start a new era! By rolling in the dust of my enemies! C’mon! Let’s go on a rampage together!” Virooz sang as he tried to grab you by the hand, only for his to go limp.

“That’s not your body, Virooz! You don’t even know how to control it!” You seethed as you gestured to his now noodle like arms.

“I’m not Virooz anymore! Didn’t you hear me?! I am ZIM! Don’t worry! I’ll get used to this body in no time!” Virooz insisted as he tried to reach for your hand again only to miss and have his hand wiggle about.

“Give Zim his body back, NOW!” You commanded as you shot him a fiery glare.

“Oooh yeah, baby! Gimme some more of that fire!! Mmm! We are gonna have some fun tonight!” Virooz purred as he continued to flail about in Zim’s body.

“You’re disgusting! Give Zim his body back now, you creep!” You demanded as you snapped a finger in his face.

“How many times do I gotta say this, baby? I. AM. ZIM!!! The other guy you keep talking about is  dead! I’m Zim now and there’s nothing you can do about it! Now, come on! We got a galaxy to doom!” Virooz cackled as he continued to throw around Zim’s body like a rag doll.

“I’m not going anywhere until you return what you’ve stolen!” You snarled.

“Fine then! Who needs you anyway?! I AM ZIIIM! I don’t need anybody! Computer! Lock the hatch!” And with that Virooz stumbled out of the ship as the door locked behind him

“Virooz! Come back!! Zim needs his body!!!” You pleaded as you banged on the locked door.

You slowly slid to your knees as you realized that your pleas weren’t going to be heard. All you could do was sob.

“Zim….I’m so sorry…I couldn’t save you…” You choked out as you picked up the neurothing.

PING!

“EMERGENCY ATTACHMENT PROTOCOL.”

You let out a gasp as you saw several metal tentacles slither out from Zim’s PAK.  Soon the PAK scuttled off in search of a new host.

Luckily, Virooz had abandoned his chair. It smelled a bit but it would have to do.

CLANG!

ZAP!

Zim’s PAK latched onto the chair and projected an image of Zim’s face.

“You cannot defeat me, Virooz! I activated the emergency attachment protocol and attached to… A CHAIR?! I’m a chair now. Great.”  Zim grumbled.

“Zim!! Oh thank god you’re ok!” You squealed as you ran up to the chair and tried to hug it.

“Y/N! Don’t worry! Zim is fine! I’m just…a chair now I guess.” Zim sighed.

“We gotta get you out of this chair and back into your real body!” You yelped.

“Worry not, sweet Y/N! Chairzim will triumph!” Zim insisted as he unlocked the door and took you outside with him.

You activated your special space helmet and held onto Chairzim tight.

“If we’re gonna get your body back, we’re gonna need a better vessel than a chair. Do you think we can find something in these ruins?” You asked as you scanned the area.

“Well…I suppose you make a good point. Let’s see what we can find.” Zim hummed as he floated around.

After a few minutes of searching, Zim let out an excited gasp.

Standing before you and Zim was a MASSIVE mech!

“THERE! The Dunedoomer! The perfect vessel for Zim! Besides my SUPERIOR IRKEN BODY of course!” Zim cheered as he gestured to the mech.

“Holy crap! This is awesome, Zim! But how are we gonna get it running?” You asked as you hopped off of Zim and knocked on one of the mech’s rusty legs.

“Just leave that to me! Y/N? Did you happen to find a neurothing by chance?” Zim asked.

“Huh? Oh! It’s this thing right? Virooz dropped it before he left!” You chirped as you held up the neurothing.

“Excellent work, Y/N! Now on the count of three you will activate the neurothing and I will activate the emergency attachment protocol. Once I’ve activated the emergency attachment protocol, I will attach my PAK to the mech!” Zim instructed.

“You got it, master!” You giggled with a salute.

Zim let out a dopey giggle before clearing his throat.

“Ready? One…Two… Three! NOW MY SWEET!” Zim commanded.

“I love you, Zim! You wailed as you activated the neurothing.

CLANG!

Zim’s PAK fell off the chair and into the ground.

“EMERGANCY REATTACHMENT PROTOCOL”

And with that, Zim’s PAK scuttled off and attached itself to the mech.

Meanwhile, Virooz had stumbled his way into an abandoned weapon chamber.

“Now these are some real weapons!” He giggled as he browsed the weapon rack.

Soon, Virooz’s browsing was interrupted by an all too familiar laugh echoing throughout the room.

“Who’s there?! I got a bazooka and I’m not afraid to use it!” Virooz yelped as he struggled to hold up a large bazooka.

“Let me introduce myself”

BOOM!

The wall burst open to reveal Zim in his new mech body with you sitting on it’s ‘shoulder’.

When the dust settled, Virooz’s floppy jaw hit the ground.

“What the-? Really, dude?! Now you decide to stop sucking?!” Virooz stuttered as he almost dropped his bazooka.

“You didn’t think I was done? Did ya?” Zim sang as he thundered forward.

“Well I just begun having my fun, baby!” The ground shook as Zim continued to show off his new body.

“Some people live for attention, playing the victim. But baby, I was born to do the KILLING!” Zim cackled as he activated his laser guns and burst a hole into an empty slot on the weapons rack.

Virooz gasped and desperately struggled to pull the bazooka’s trigger with his limp fingers.

“I see how you’e going crazy, always thinking ‘bout me baby on the daily! Feed me your negativity! Talk some more about me! I know that you love me. LOVE ME!” Zim roared

Virooz loaded his bazooka and started to fire.

BLAM!

PINK!

BLAM!

PINK!

Every shot ricocheted off of Zim as he continued his song.

“Funny how you think I’m bothered! Know, I’m nothing like the others! You shouldn’t have messed with me ‘cuz I heard that you’re afraid of monsters. MONSTERS!” Zim stomped his foot, causing Virooz to shoot upward for a moment.

Virooz let out a shriek as the bazooka went flying out of his noodle hands.

“Are you ready for the monster?” Zim stomped forward as Virooz picked up a later gun and tried to fire it.

PINK!

“Monster?”

PINK!

“Monster?”

PINK!

Not a single shot even made a dent on Zim’s new body.

“Are you ready for the monster?” Zim continued his rampage, slowly getting closer and closer to Virooz.

Virooz picked up another weapon and tried to fire it.

PINK!

“Monster?”

PINK!

“Monster?”

PINK!

Once again, no luck. Zim’s body was still intact and Virooz ran out of ammo.

“Are you ready for the monster?” A sinister smile spread across Zim’s face as he left tracks on the sandy floor.

Not wanting to give up just yet, Virooz picked up another weapon and tried again.

PINK!

“Monster?”

PINK!

“Monster?”

PINK!

Still no luck. Zim was still standing and Virooz was growing more and more panicked.

“Are you ready for the monster?” Zim had never felt more powerful.

Virooz let out a growl as he kept trying to take Zim down.

PINK!

“Monster?”

PINK!

“Monster?”

PINK!

Virooz had lost once again and scrambled to find more weapons.

“You ain’t ready for the monster. Monster!” Zim cackled.

“Man! Why couldn’t you have been this cool before I had to steal your body!” Virooz spluttered as he frantically rummaged through the debris.

“I’m just being me! Cut out the things that I don’t need!” Zim growled as he begun to follow Virooz.

“But you need me, dude! Without me you’d just keep on sucking!” Virooz countered as he continued his search.

“I don’t care if you disagree! I don’t need no sympathy! Winning the game on my own! Yeah, BABY!”  The ground shook as Zim savored every second of his power trip.

Virooz gasped as he tried to run but ended up falling flat on his face.

“I see how you’e going crazy, always thinking ‘bout me baby on the daily! Feed me your negativity! Talk some more about me! I know that you love me. LOVE ME!” Zim cackled as he loomed over Virooz.

Virooz peeled himself off the ground and kept running.

“Funny how you think I’m bothered! Know, I’m nothing like the others! You shouldn’t have messed with me ‘cuz I heard that you’re afraid of monsters. MONSTERS!” Zim stomped his foot again, causing Virooz to let out a loud yelp.

“Are you ready for the monster?” Zim blocked Virooz at every turn.

“Aha! Got you now!” Virooz let out a nervous laugh as he struggled to hold up a large laser gun.

PINK!

“Monster?”

PINK!

“Monster?”

PINK!

Virooz let out a squeak as he ran out of ammo once more.

“Are you ready for the monster?” You sang along as you gave Virooz the smuggest grin you could muster.

Virooz had finally found another weapon and gave it one last try.

PINK!

“Monster?”

PINK!

“Monster?”

PINK!

“C’mon! C’mon! Don’t die on me too!” Virooz whined as he shook his weapon.

“Are you ready for the monster?”  Zim’s stomps grew louder with each step.

STOMP!

“Monster?”

STOMP!

“Monster?”

STOMP!

“YOU AIN’T READY FOR THE MONSTER! MONSTER!” Zim bellowed.

Virooz desperately tried to search for another weapon but there were none left.

He tried to make one last run for it but realized he was at a dead end!

“Ah, it could’ve been so different between us! But then you went and messed everything up!” The room darkened as Zim’s shadow engulfed Virooz.

Virooz almost found a way out but you jumped off of Zim and blocked his exit.

“Going somewhere, Baby?” You sneered sarcastically.

“You took a knife and stabbed me in the back! Took everything I had! Sat in your chair and laughed!” Zim’s words dripped with venom as he drew closer.

“C’mon! I’m in your body! You wouldn’t want anything to happen to it right? Right?!” Virooz pleaded as he found himself drowning in stolen sweat.

“This is the last time, I’m gonna tell you now! If you try to break me, I’m gonna burn you down! Baby I’m done with you! Not coming back for you!” Zim’s voice was a low growl.

“Please man! I’m your biggest fan!” Virooz pleaded as he shrank down to his knees.

“NOW, Y/N!”

“With pleasure!” You sang as you grabbed Virooz and activated the neurothing.

CLANG!

Virooz’s PAK fell to the ground with Zim’s stolen body following suit.

“Funny how you think I’m bothered! Know, I’m nothing like the others! You shouldn’t have messed with me ‘cuz I heard that you’re afraid of monsters. MONSTERS!” Zim roared as he let you climb back onto his ‘shoulder’.

“Are you ready for the monster?” Zim stomped towards Virooz’s PAK

STOMP!

“Monster?”

STOMP!

“Monster?”

STOMP!

“Are you ready for the monster?”  You joined in and started to clap along to the beat.

STOMP!

“Monster?”

STOMP!

“Monster?”

STOMP!

“YOU AIN’T READY FOR THE MONSTER!” Zim let out a maniacal laugh that rumbled throughout the ruins of the weapons chamber.

“Alright, Zim! Let’s get you back into your real body and get rid of Virooz’s PAK before he tries anything.” You giggled.

“Aww! Can’t I stay in this one for just five more minutes?” Zim pouted.

“Well, I can’t exactly kiss a mech.” You teased as you hopped off of his ‘shoulder’ and grabbed the Irken neurothing.

“Oh, ok! But only because you said so!” Zim huffed.

“Alright! I’m activating the neurothing!” You warned as you hopped onto Zim’s ‘shoulder’ one last time.

“Three…two…One!”

CLANG!

CRASH!

Zim’s PAK fell to the ground with the mech following suit.

“EMERGENCY REATTACHMENT PROTOCOL”

And with that, Zim’s PAK was reunited with its proper host.

“HA! VICTORY! I AM ZIM!! AGAIN!!” Zim cheered as he peeled himself off of the ground.

“I’m so glad you’re you again! Now what are we gonna do with this hunk of junk?” You asked as you held up Virooz’s PAK.

“I think I have an idea!” Zim chirped as he pointed to the sky.

And with that, Zim snatched Virooz’s PAK out of your hands and carried it outside.

“Where are you going?” You asked as you followed Zim.

“You’ll see.” Zim assured as he stopped in front of a large couch.

“Let’s see how he likes his new vessel.” Zim chuckled darkly as he threw Virooz’s PAK onto the couch.

“REATTACHMENT PROTOCOL”

Soon Virooz’s PAK attached into the couch.

“Ugh…What?! I’m still alive?!” Virooz whined.

“Unfortunately.” You grumbled.

“Really, Zim? You’re too lame to properly kill me?! And here I thought you were actually cool again! You really are terrible!” Virooz griped.

“Naaah! I AM ZIM! I AM AMAZING! Anyone who says I’m terrible is just too stupid to see it!” Zim boasted as he put his hands on his hips.

“The only terrible one here is you, Virooz! You harassed me,  tried to possess a body that wasn’t even yours and you were stupid enough to tie us up with rope and to leave the Irken neurothing back on the ship!” You ranted as you punched one of Virooz’s couch cushions.

“OW! How does a couch feel pain?!” Virooz whined.

“Shut the fuck up, you literal couch potato!” You snarled as you stood in front of Zim protectively.

“At least you still have that fire…” Virooz whimpered.

You were about to rip him to shreds when,

ZOOM!

The Voot Cruiser zoomed by and plopped right in front of both you and Zim.

“HI MASTER! HI UNICORN! HOP ON IN!” GIR urged as he motioned for you two to get in.

“Looks like our ride is here, Y/N.” Zim chuckled as he grabbed you and pulled you inside the ship.

“Maybe now that you’e a couch you can finally get laid!” You quipped as GIR closed the Voot’s entrance and blasted off.

Zim, GIR, and Minimoose burst into hysterical laughter as the Voot left Dooq.

“That was glorious, Y/N!” Zim wheezed as he wiped away a pink tear.

“Thanks! God, he was lucky that GIR showed up with the ship! Otherwise Virooz would’ve been all stuffing!” You giggled.

“Now, about that kiss you were talking about earlier…” Zim purred as he nuzzled next to you.

“But of course, master.”

SMOOCH!

[migleefulmoments]

So... Abby responds to her family's intervention by obediently telling them she'll stop (ie. lying to them). She then immediately tries to find ways to keep the blog in secret, hiding behind various usernames, lurking on her coven's blogs, more time deleting posts from both blogs we know about. Meaning, instead of getting help, she spends even MORE time online engaging in more batshit crazy crap to cover her ass. Yeah, sure, that doesn't signal dire need for mental health intervention AT ALL.

It looks like that is what is happening.  We will have to see what the future holds. What does Abby do? 

So far the fandom is flailing. Cassie got a couple of anons- one that reads like those anons Abby used to send herself as it covers all the issues they are most upset about so perfectly well (My comments in parenthesis and italicized:: 

Anonymous asked: Even if I am unsure about CC itself, I don't buy M*arr*n. I just don't. And the other side is using doxing and the fact that you and others say things they don't like about M as an excuse to do so and as a way to detract from the fact that their couple goals have some pretty big, glaring plot holes in their love story. I've not seen anyone on this side of the fandom out or dox anyone publicly as a way of humiliation. M gave up her privacy by dating D, but Abby didn't and they were wrong. Period. 

cassie1022 answered: Nonnie, I swear every time they diagnose us as mentally ill or say we’re bitter hags, an LGBTQ angel gets his or her wings. We all know my beliefs, but there are MANY people that are like you and don’t know for sure about CC but sure as hell know Miarren isn’t a normal, healthy relationship. (Funny thing, I don’t remember anyone diagnosing Cassie as mentally ill. Cassie is alwasy the wallflower that nobody wants to dance with and she tries so hard to be part of the fun people. Last week she was sad because I hadn’t sent her a “hate” message (See comment in last post below) 

Even if I remove D from the situation, I would still think M is a lazy, spoiled toddler with no discernable work ethic coupled with a superiority complex that rivals the Cheeto in Command of the US.

You are absolutely correct. Our fandom just wants to be left alone. We don’t send hateful asks to the other side. We don’t have to. They feel they have the right to dox CCers because they don’t like what we say about M, a woman that would light a cigarette from the flames engulfing them and not call 911 to help them. I mean, honestly, it doesn’t get much lower than mocking someone’s death. Plus, as you correctly said, M put herself in the spotlight “dating” D. If she didn’t want that attention, she would have stayed in the background. There are plenty of celebrities married to non famous people and we don’t see them at every event like we do M. (It is BAFFLING to me that they can’t comprhend something as simple and obvious as the reasaon they “see Mia everywhere” is because they fucking stalk her and they hyperanalzye every photo Darren is in looking for her. If they started stalking Ben Feldman they would see his wife just as much as they see Mia).    

Bottom line is what they did to Abby was deplorable, but, just like their kween, they feel justified in doing whatever they want. This isn’t the first time they’ve crossed a line with regards to my friend, but it was the worst.

notes-from-nowhere Anon, they love to throw the guilt of their actions on our shoulders, it’s how they justify what they do to themselves. They need us to be the bad guys otherwise what is the only option left? (I never know what the hell Notes is trying to say- throw the guilt of our actions on their shoulders? I’d love an example of that. I can’t imagine what guilty action I put on their shoulder. As for needing them to be the bad guys or what do we have left? OMFG are you kidding me? We critcize the cc fandom for being misogynistic, homophobic, bullies who attack  Mia, Darren, Ricky and their own Nonnies. They have viscioulsy attacked people in their own fandom who dared to question them. But the biggest reason we push back is because THEY LIE. All the damn time. So what do we have left? Being on the right side, being correct, not lying, not needing to lie, and the joy of watching Darren live his best life)   

Leka got a couple of asks but her answers were weak, confusing and pointless. It’s clear she isn’t ready to take over as their leader. She repeated Abby’s main talking points, tried to use big words to sound smarter and basically ended up not making a lot of sense:

Anonymous asked: I could be wrong, and I hope I am, but I think the character on the HW poster holding the girl is D's character, it would fit if you look at the other guys on the poster, maybe this is already the first hint to show D's character is not gay and so technically not breaking the no more queer roles rule his team set for him. It won't make it any better because it's still a career on the bag of LGBTQ+ people with it's teams but it's technically not a broken rule. I just really need for things to change, I want them to so bad, it kills me seeing someone so kind in a situation like that, and I truly believe D is one of the kindest people in that horrible town. He deserves better than M, I wouldn’t even mind if he goes onto another beard but she and RR just need to go. I really think it’s crazy people still think everything HW is real and PR relationships don’t exist, I wished that place was just better and had a moral compass, people deserve more it kind of shows just how jaded this situation has made me, I can’t even enjoy amazing promo material without directly twisting it into something negative, I don’t want to be this way and if I feel like this I can’t even imagine how D must feel. He is stronger than I’ll ever be living through hell every day, even if he’s not ok he’s still here and holding on, I don’t know if I could in his position. Sorry for the long message and the unneeded negativity, I guess I just had to vent a little

*********************************

Leka answered: So let’s look at the way HW is described:

“Each character offers a unique glimpse behind the gilded curtain of Hollywood’s Golden Age, spotlighting the unfair systems and biases across race, gender and sexuality that continue to this day. Provocative and incisive, HOLLYWOOD exposes and examines decades-old power dynamics, and what the entertainment landscape might look like if they had been dismantled.”

I do consider this the very intriguing thing about the news. (And it just goes to show that believing everything you’re sold is being utterly and completely ignorant.) Let’s say you’re right because ofc it’s possible. How does R/aymond fit in here? Given the excessive way team shit has pushed that article, a technicality won’t be good enough. There has to be a better plan. This doesn’t match what’s been said in his name.

What I think is this doesn’t necessarily have to mean much. You know very well what you see doesn’t have to be the (full) truth. That doesn’t just apply to the real HW. Especially considering the time period of this show. And let’s not forget the pap pics we got at a gas station. This doesn’t rule out SB as an inspiration. I would advise anyone to read up on him. We don’t know at this point. As we keep saying, the best thing to do is to wait and see. I’m certainly interested in finding out more.

As time goes on, the danger of this situation keeps becoming even clearer to me. D deserves much, much better. He’s incredibly strong, but the most toxic person in his life needs to go and she’s more than welcome to take the jumping jackass with her. That’s definitely the most important thing right now. (I’m curious what the danger of Hollywood is?)

awesome-fanfictionada: @leka-1998I’m just wondering - it must have been D who got himself this job on HW, right? Couldn’t this have been done on purpose to counter that ridiculous statement - which wasn’t even accurate, if the source was that interview where he stated that he wouldn’t want to be a casting director? Could in this case RM be a friend?

leka-1998:  @awesome-fanfictionada Yes, he did that himself. Again. And he said the show’s been sold late in 2018. According to an article that came out later, it happened in February 2019. Not true.

HW has been a thing before that statement was made, which is indeed very different from the answer D himself gave during the interview. That’s what makes the article seem like sabotage by team shit. And standing in RM’s way is never a good idea. So while I will obviously never like him, I’m reserving judgment on his current role until we know more.

Anonymous asked: The underlying issue in general is really that social media has made it so people think they get an accurate glimpse into the lives of celebrities, when in reality social media, like everything else that is publicly released about them, is used as a marketing tool. People are actually more inauthentic than they've ever been because they feel pressure to maintain a certain image for social media at all times. So anyone who decides D is living honestly, it's because they want to believe he is.

Leka: True, nonnie. Just look at the text lines that are becoming more popular again. Not nearly as genuine as people want to believe. In D’s case, what has to be brought up? M. Oh Halloween and her amazing shopping skills praised on SM. The work fam honeymoon pic promoting the place they stayed at. Coa/chella for the H&M ad. Mardi Gras posted shortly after the mockery to promote the designer. I could obviously go on. Most of what we see on SM shows the person the 10 year crew wants him to be. And what looks like a split personality if you compare certain posts. Which brings me back to ‘they want to believe’, as what you’re saying clearly isn’t a secret. Anyone can choose to ignore it but at this point, if that’s the case even though you’re more or less paying attention, it’s really a conscious decision.

Oh btw, there’s a HW IG account now and it already has a D follow. Imagine that. R/oyalties co-stars, anyone?

Flowers didn’t get any asks. Amazing since she has more followers than I do and she bragged about getting more “notes” than me.  She did answer azscc who posted an odd rant that baffles me.  Who the fuck is azscc and who is posting anything about her? I realize I am not the only person in this fandom posting about ccers But I just checked all the blogs that I know of and nobody is talking about her; 

azsc  its so weird how chillarrens call me a bully while i only say something rude towards them if they write bullshit towards me. and its just ironic how chillarrens go around calling people bullies while they are the reason why tons of cc accounts use their accounts private or don’t post their opinions and etc. the real threat to the fandom are people like you. so instead of going around throwing shit on people and calling them “mental, delusional...” get a life. no cc believer goes around hunting for chillarren pics and insult the account owner so why don’t you all grow up and realize no one has to agree with your opinions. every crisscolfer blog/twitter page/insta acc basically stan accs never asked for your opinions on their pages so why don’t you just let it go? no one cares about what you all say or do so why are you forcing it this much?

call me a bully i am pretty much okay with that. its obvious that people are unable to understand basic sarcasm and irony and i am not judging because to actually understand what people say you have to at least have an average IQ level. and if you don’t have it, it’s okay but that doesn’t mean you can twist people’s words and post them all over the internet. but its lowkey really funny that i only had my instagram acc for something like 4/5 months and i received over 300 hate/insult/blackmail/death wish messages and etc. and who are you people to call us bullies? (Nobody is a Chillarren. Darren and Mia are married and Chris and Will are in a long-term relationsihp,  Nobody has to “ship” them in order to believe they are together. In America, we accept that when someone introduces their wife or their boyfriend they are telling the truth. It is customary to address that person as their wife or boyfriend respectively. The crisscolfers on the other hand, must use a fandom ship name because they are shipping two people who are not in a relationship and never were. All evidence indicates Chris and Darren are no long friends; they are nothing more than former co-workers-friendly and polite when they see one another but no longer involved in one another’s lives. Chris and Darren both have denied (more than once) that the were ever in a relationship).  .   

flowersintheattic254 I have never in my whole time here posted an anon to a Miarren account. I have no desire to. I’m confident in my beliefs.

The interesting thing for me is that I’ve been here for about four years now and in that time I’ve seen the head of the fandom disappear, other people disappear because their families have been doxed, established long-term cc blogs with a wealth of history deleted without warning. I myself have had my daughters threatened.  This sort of stuff doesn’t happen anywhere in the fandom but here here. If we are a bunch of delusional crazy middle-aged women then this shouldn’t happen. (Who was doxed? Who dissappered? It’s all “liar liar” with everything ccers say. In the last 4 years Abby has been the only leader of the cc fandom. Michelle left between 4 and 5 years ago because her outrageious cc comments threatened her ability to raise money for her little Klaine-fanfic rip-off movie. I vaguely remember someone asking flowers how her daugther’s would feel if they read what she writes- hardly a threat. If there was something more she never posted any proof. As for blogs being deleted- so was D-Criss News.  It happens. The only cc blog that I know of that disappeared was DisneyPrincessModelWorld’s original blog which had was a hot mess of lies and catfishing. She visciously bullied Mia. Hardly someone to mourn their blog being deleted). 

It’s shocking that an actor may lgbt causes such drama. (HUH?)

Flower’s comment is so disingenuous. While it is technically true -she hasn’t sent me anons, she HAS instead publically ridiculed me and frankly, I can’t see how that is any different? I’d say it’s worse because they wanted their followers to see what they wrote and the only way to ensure that is to post it on their blogs. Flowers and Abby posted many public “Michy” posts.  Here is her most recent: 

flowersintheattic254Oh and I guess Michy sent us all some hate today.

I guess I have way more followers than you and only about 4 that send hate. You haven’t for ages.

I think I have over 70,000 hits currently to my blog. I must be saying something interesting.

He’s been married allegedly for a year and people still doubt. That’s gotta hurt you. Anyway......

✌️

ajw720 Michy told me today today that the outing couldn’t possibly be promo, because JS was only cast in September!  What a moron who clearly doesn’t know how HW works.  Sweetheart, it was ANNOUNCED in September;)

I was waiting for a few more months, but in 4 years, since i have been tracking, i have almost a million! (976,695 to be precise).

It is amazing that so many people care about what us bat shit crazy, irrelevant, psychologically unstable, threatening, hateful tin hats have to say!  And that does not include people reading on their dash or that hit you on the app!  So yep, Michy, clearly what we are saying is being monitored by someone.  And clearing making people think!! But you keep wasting your time writing for your audience of 4:)

cassie102 I feel left out, Michy didn't come at me today. Must hurt like hell knowing you're a joke that perpetuates a bigger joke.

leka-1998 Birds of a fake feather flock together. When the right person says tomorrow’s Christmas, tomorrow’s Christmas. Get ready, everyone.

If I narrow it down to the last six months, about 10,000 btw. Hm strange.

flowersintheattic254 @ajw720 the number of hits you have give me oxygen. If Michy thinks they are haters then she is delusional. People know when they are being sold something fake and they look for answers.

[kaffeinic]

Stray Kids Doctor!AU

Skz doctor! Au with some kind of romance please as a reaction

- Anon

~

I’m not entirely sure how to make this a reaction without a specific scenario, so I’ve turned it into more of a headcannon thing. Hope you enjoy!

ALSOOOOO I’m sorry that some members entries are much shorter than others. I tried my best, it’s not a bias. 😊 If you so happen to find gifs of the members in their doctor jackets, please send them to me~!

Bang Chan

Definitely going to be Chief of Medicine

I say this because the Chief is typically the one with the most experience and is highly capable of teaching the other doctors in the hospital

Which we know he would do on a moment’s notice

Probably specialize in diagnostics or orthopedics

And I say this because he seems to piece together many ideas really well

Which is great for diagnostics

And as for orthopedics....

You’re gonna kill me for this joke but

“I’m just a nice guy who has a lot of money.”

Sorry *cough*

Called in for the more difficult cases because he still needs to manage everyone else and can’t dwell on simple matters

Everyone looks up to him and comes to him for help

Whether it’s personal or professional

He’s always glad to help

Always the one clocking in the most hours in the hospital

Because, as we all know

This boy runs off of nothing but oxygen and cherries

Because they “reduce the risk of cancer”

Part of me wanted to make Chan a sleep medicine specialist

If you know

You know

~

Woojin

I’d say he could be an amazing oncologist

Why?

I know that I don’t have a way of knowing this for sure

But I feel like he’s good at giving news in a calming way

Whether it’s good news or bad

And there’s a lot of bad news in oncology

(For those who are a little lost, oncologists specialize in cancer.)

He is also a very dedicated person

And oncology patients tend to be in and out of the hospital for years

The only thing I’m not sure how well he could handle is the deaths

This boy would probably get attached

Even if he’s trying not to

But aside from that

I see him being an awesome oncologist

~

Lee Know

He was kind of difficult for me if I’m being perfectly honest

Most things I thought of for Minho I already chose for someone else lol

In the end

I think he could be a good ophthalmologist

(An eye doctor.)

First off

And probably the least important part

The patients would have no problem looking at this man for long periods of time in an appointment

*ahem*

Secondly

Ophthalmologists deal with a large range of ages in patients

I can see Minho getting an impatient middle aged businessman out quickly

And I can also see him being gentle and patient for a ten year old who is scared of the big machines

If anyone feels a little insecure because they need glasses

I know I do

I feel like he would notice immediately and give them a well-mannered compliment

Which would help a lot

All in all

Very good at his job

~

Changbin

He would make a phenomenal physiatrist

(Physical medicine and rehabilitation)

I say this because he is constantly working out

So he knows how to do it without hurting himself

I feel like he would happily teach others

He would patiently help someone get on their feet after a strenuous surgery

He would be ready for the long haul with a patient who needs an extreme amount of help

He’s strong af so he could catch someone before they fall

Which sounds all romance-y without me trying to make it sound like that

He would work out alongside you so that you don’t feel singled out or alone

After the patient’s recovery

He would be beaming if he bumped into you again at the gym

High key proud of you and of himself for the fact that you’re still going

~

Hyunjin

For Hyunjinnie, I’d say pathology

He’s not too outgoing

As I’ve said before lol

And many pathologists spend hours in dark rooms looking through microscopes

Not gonna lie, I almost posted this with the word telescope instead of microscope lmao

He would be very attentive with his work

Which he would need to be because we all know he would have many admirers

Again, another reason he would enjoy pathology

The lab would become one of his favourite places because of this

His coworkers would really respect him because of his accuracy

I’m pretty sure I’ve seen him reading books a lot in the back of rooms

Which I’m sure he would do during his lunch break

Even on his break, if someone comes up to him needing results quickly

He would run back in the lab to help

Because that’s just who he is

~

Han

1000%

Pediatrician or family medicine

He’s just so warm and inviting

This works well for most children

And puts most others at ease which is important

It’s also known that Jisung is very dedicated to his work and can concentrate really well

So it’s a nice duality

He can act all crazy and energetic to make people happy

Then turn around and stare and a clipboard for twenty minutes figuring something out without breaking concentration

I also get the feeling he can work really quickly which is good when large families want to get out of the hospital

I’m so sorry that this one is so short, I can’t think of anything else 😭

~

Felix

Dr. Felix Lee

The psychologist

He just seems SO easy to talk to

Whenever I read things that fans have said about him from fansigns

He seems to help them open up in a short amount of time and they leave happily

It just screams psychology to me

He could even get those stubborn patients who don’t want to be there to open up

He would also be good at psychology because he is not quick to dismiss others’ problems

It really makes it hard to want to talk to your psychologist if they make you uncomfortable by constantly dismissing you

At the same time

He will be able to be an unbiased third party and get to the bottom of your issues

Whether it’s something that requires medication

Or just a change by you and your behavior

Regardless

He would help you through it and make sure that you’re ready for the world

As a side note

Imagine randomly bumping into him at the store between meetings

He’d probably crack a dumb face and make you laugh before carrying on

Which would make you that much more comfortable at your next session

~

Seungmin

Don’t @ me on this because I’m not 100% sure

But I feel like with the way Seungmin acts

And how smart he seems

He must be really good at math

Which leads me to believe he would be a great anesthesiologist

Why?

Anesthesiologists have to constantly calculate just how much of each drug to put in the syringe to keep someone knocked out for the entire surgery

One slip up and things could go a little sideways

He also doesn’t seem too overly outgoing

And most anesthesiologists don’t really interact with the patients or their families much

As far as I know lol

And I feel like he could low key keep people a little entertained during the surgery

By which I mean making some sly jokes

Because this boy can be a savage

And sometimes a patient is just a little too much

He definitely wouldn’t speak out of turn though

Extremely respectful to his superiors

For this, most of them like him

Which is definitely advantageous

~

I.N

I know a lot of people said Jeongin should be a pediatrician

But I just don’t see it

For only one reason

Unless this cutie is smiling

He looks like he could frickin murder you

(Not an insult btw I think it looks cool.)

Anyway, that just doesn’t seem good for a pediatrician

Which brings me to say that he might do well in geriatric medicine

(To explain, medicine for the elderly)

The elderly still require the gentleness that children do

But they’re much less likely to get scared away just because someone doesn’t automatically look warm and inviting

As we all know

This boy is so sweet

All the grandmas would love squishing his cheeks

And he would happily oblige

Because he’s just so darn cute

~

* DISCLAIMER: I do not own any gifs/photos used in this post. I do own the written content. Do NOT repost/edit. *

[thewilddreamerrr]

A Werewolf Telling

Remus entrance in Hogwarts after more of a decade was... awkward to say the least. Dumbledore requested him to become a DADA teacher 3 months ago. Seeing him after all that had happened... well, let's say it wasn't the best display of all time. Not longer a teenager nor a young whole and happy man, it was too much for Dumbledore and for Remus to bear. Too many memories, too many tears and desperate cries, too many broken dreams... a broken heart too. The young man was now a man but there was so many things missing in him. The sparkle once in his eyes, that sparkle only present in company of his friends... in company of-

Dumbledore stopped himself there. He, better than any other could understand the pain Remus felt. Losing not only his friends, his family, but also losing the love of a man he knew... he thought he knew.

After hours of quite intense discussion, Remus accepted. He managed to say yes because Dumbledore promised (again) to do everything in his power to help him with his transformations. Plus, Severus Snape was now a Potions teacher and he could manage to prepare him Wolfbane Potion (under Dumbledore's orders, of course) so... that was an improvement Remus couldn't deny.

***

The day he arrived at King's Cross and saw the scarlet train, he felt like an eleven year old all over again. He swallowed hard because those memories always came along with other three kids in it. A bespectacled boy with messy hair, another chubby and witty one and-

Remus sighed. After all these years, after all the hurt and pain. The hate. His heart still beat like a fucking drum at the mere thought of that kid with mischievous grey eyes and a smirk worth to make his knees go weak. He didn't want to think, not in those kids, not in what happened 13 years ago, not in anything.

However, he hadn't expected what came after he fell asleep in the compartment he choose for his ride. Harry. James and Lilly's Harry. His "nephew", there with other two friends. The last time he saw him was on James' birthday. He was still wearing diapers. Harry, this 13 year old Harry, was so much like his father. The same messy hair, complexions and even the height. Now, his eyes were another thing. Lily's eyes. But not only that, he inherited his mom's eye shape and fierce gaze, the one that leaves no room for discussion.

It felt like years of repressed emotions melt away as soon as Harry laid his eyes on him. He no longer called him 'ncle Mo'oy, but Professor Lupin. Remus hoped a tiny part of Harry could recognize him but he was happy to be part of his life again.

***

Once he entered the castle and establish himself in his new dorm, he went downstairs to the Great Hall. He took no more than two steps down, when a voice behind him stopped him in his tracks

'Remus?'

He froze. And very slowly he turned around. There were already tears in his eyes.

'Poppy?'

The medi-witch whimpered and approached to him till there was only her arms around him. Remus was shocked and speechless.

'I thought I'll never see you again' she sobbed in his chest 'I was worried sick about you and what might had happened to you after-'

Remus caught off her mumbling and embrace the other woman tightly against him. Madam Pomfrey was probably the only other person who treated him like a son while in school. He never stopped himself to think how much he missed her until that moment.

'Oh, dear' Poppy mumbled taking a step back and scanning the werewolf 'look at you'. She gently placed a hand in Remus' cheek and smiled softly 'you promised to contact me... and you didn't, you silly boy'

Remus felt the heat of his cheeks grow a little after those words. He wanted to say he was no longer a boy, that he did pretty well all these years. But he knew he couldn't lie to her (he suck at lying too).

'I know, I'm sorry. I'm here now, am I?'

Pomfrey's gave a disapproving look and quickly smiled back.

'Why don't we go to dinner now, dear?'

***

'Sirius Black has escaped from Askaban' Dumbledore said in a usual neutral voice. Remus knew quite well the meaning behind those words.

'Why should I care?'

'I just thought you should know' the headmaster narrowed his eyes just a slightly bit. Remus wouldn't fall for it.

'I'm sorry, Professor, but I suppose the only concern we all should have right now is how we can protect the students and-'

'You think he might want to break into the school?'

'I- I'm not... I just-' Remus passed a hand through his hair and sighed in frustration 'Maybe he'll come after Harry'

Both men stayed in silence for what felt like an eternity.

'We'll take the precautions needed' said Dumbledore at least.

Remus couldn't reply, not even if he wanted to.

***

'Spotted in Hosgmeade'

Remus read the sentence over and over again. He was close, so close... and so far away.

'Fuck' the tears were coming. Why now? What did he wanted? Harry? Him? Everyone to just die? He threw the paper away and screamed in the isolated dorm.

'No, no, no, nO, NO, NO, FUCK NO'

His heart ached; he repeated to himself that he hated Black, that his very existence was a waste of space, that he didn't need him in his life. He didn't need those fucking gorgeous eyes or that stupid smirk. He definitely didn't love him. Not anymore. Not since he was 21.

'...fuck’

And Remus laughed. A weak and dull laugh. He was alone in that room, no other than him. He could lie to himself all the wanted but he knew that if that man walked through that same door at that same moment... he'll throw himself in the flames of hell for a second with Sirius. And he hated himself for that.

***

'He broke into school. He was here, for Merlin's sake!' Remus exploded.

Minerva Mcgonagall and Madam Pomfrey shared a concern look. Remus Lupin wasn't the kind of person who would... break down. But knowing the past Sirius and Remus shared so many years ago...

'Remus Lupin, you need to calm down now' Mcgonagall said with a sharp command. That was not the way to deal with this situation.

He stopped passing around the empty classroom and looked at the two women.

'Remus?' Pomfrey tried with a less aggressive approach 'Remus, dear, I know this must be difficult for you...'

'Difficult?' Snapped Remus 'Just difficult? Yeah, because for the past 13 years my life has been a fucking dream'

'Remus!' Mcgonagall's voice echoed all through the classroom to Remus' core 'There's no need for such... colorful... language' she cleared her throat in a attempt to recompose herself 'We are aware that your life has not been that simple' Remus snorted lowly but Mcgonagall ignored it 'Now, is not the time for meltdowns. We must take responsibility over our students and protect each one of them' she saw how Remus' was starting to fidge again and sighed 'Remus, we can't change the past not the horrible things that happened. However, we can improve our future and make the best out of it. You have the power to keep looking forward or getting stuck in your past'

Remus hadn't notice she approached to him until he felt a gentle hand over his shoulder.

Our decisions define us. Well, that's some fucked up philosophy to be honest.

***

That night he couldn't sleep at all. His mind kept bringing him memories about simpler times. Times full of color and joy. Despite living in such a dark time, he got his friends and lover by his side. They really thought they'd be able to make it. How innocent one can be at such a young age. That was until the bad seed was planted. Everything went downhill after that. The simpler times were gone, as well as the trust and confidence. He couldn't blame them for not trusting him (he wouldn't either). Because it had been Sirius after all.

Remus' heart skipped a beat at the thought of him.

'Really? After all these years...' he whispered to himself.

***

It hadn't been him. It hadn't been him, it had been Peter. Fucking Pettigrew.

Sirius laid in the floor beneath him looking desperate and somehow relieved Remus figured it out. He wanted to cry and laugh and curse and fucking scream but now it wasn't the time. The intensity of Sirius grey eyes, ranking him from head to toe was burning him alive.

And in that moment, Remus decided that yeah, if he already scorched quite a bit for Sirius in his youth, he'll fucking die in flames again for him.

☆~☆~☆~☆~☆~☆

ALL RIGHT!! Hey, there I'm Julie. So, I wanna say a couple of things now that I have your attention:

First of all, this is my first time posting something I write on my own so you probably feel the stress too,huh and to make things worse English isn't even my first language *finger guns* What I'm trying to say is sorry if there're mistakes and all that because this whole situation gave me a lot of anxiety lol

Second, imma wolfstar trash, bitch. Lol Alright, so this whole idea started as some weird day dream I had about Remus and Madam Pomfrey (completely inspired btw by @captofthesswolfstar and her 💖A-MA-ZING💖 fic WWI) and well, let's say I carried away. I love to think how Remus must had felt in his return to Hogwarts and also dealing with Sirius all over again. He's a chill dude but Mcgonagall and Pomfrey know him very well and I know he trusted them enough to y'know break down.

Third, I wanna give a H U G E thank you to my friend @wavesofjoyy for helping me out and correcting this mess. You're fucking awesome I love you.

Fourth and hopefully lastly, I really hoped you enjoyed this little thing I made. If everything goes well, I might share other things related to wolfstar, who knows? Thanks in advance everyone💕

Julie's out *drops mic*

[gwenore]

The princess of Avonlea. Part 7

Happy birthday @dekujin! I hope you will like this next part of this story which has grown way more than I ever expected, but I really enjoy writing. After this I will do a tiny follow up for this part of the story.  Btw, everyone should see the awesome cupcakes she got for her birthday! I am so jealous!

“Urgh… nothing…” Neal was ready to slam his head into his laptop.

“What?” Emma, his girlfriend, glanced over towards him, looking at what he was up to. “The old rundown amusement park? Doesn’t your dad work there?”

“Uh… yeah… he has just discovered something… strange might have caused it to be shut down…” Neal was not certain if he should tell even his closest friend about the fact that his father had brought home a sentient animatronic.

It wasn’t that he didn’t trust her it was just… well… blabbering about sentient animatronics were an easy way to make people believe you are not quite there.

“Have you heard about what happened?” he asked, Emma having lived longer in this town than he had. Emma shook her head.

“No… it has been closed for as long as I can remember… but…” she paused.

“What?” Neal asked.

“Well… I did sneak in once as a child…” she then muttered.

“I am honestly surprised that you have only snuck in once,” Neal shrugged. “You like to sneak into all sorts of places.”

“Yeah… but… well… there is something wrong about that place,” Emma looked a bit uncomfortable.

“Did… did something happened?” Neal asked, moving a bit closer to her. Emma was quick to shake her head.

“No. I don’t actually remember much. I was like… five. Ran away from another home. Hey that is hardly new. I used to believe that my parents were prince Charming and Snow White. I was… a rather strange child. The orphan who had found parents who didn’t reject her… too bad they were not real,” she sighed. Neal swallowed. He knew Emma lived in a youth home, having run away from all the foster homes she had in the past.

“But…”

“What?” Neal asked.

“You are going to think I am insane,” she then said.

“Look… I am not going to think  that,” he assured her. What could be more insane than a living sentient animatronic who he had eaten breakfast with?

“It is just… I could swear that if no one was around they… the animatronics I mean, would act different,” she then said.

“Different how?” Neal moved even closer. Could it be… that Belle was not the only one?

“Like… real? They would speak to me, like… not voice lines… but actually respond and praise me, ask questions and such… look I must have just imagined that part, but… the memories feel pretty real,” Emma then admitted. “I… I think that was why I thought they were my parents and I wanted to go live with them. But… something happened.”

Neal was practically at the edge of his chair. “What?”

“There was this monster… this monster with yellow glowing eyes. He tried to take me, but they protected me. I was found by them in the morning. I was scratched pretty badly on the arm,” she rolled up the sleeve showing a couple of old scars going across her forearm. “See. I have no idea where they came from had it not been from that monster. I cannot remember being hurt except for when that monster grabbed me.”

She took her sleeve down, Neal staring astonished. His father had said Belle could not remain at the amusement park which was why she was staying with them now.

“And you haven’t gone back since?” he had to ask.

“No… haven’t had a reason… and I haven’t dared to be honest. Hey, are you looking into this because your father has seen something?” she asked.

“Yeah… there is something strange going on there,” Neal had to admit that. Emma breathed out slightly leaning her chin on her hand as she thought.

“Hey, have you checked the library? They must have records of whatever happened right? Old newspapers and stuff like that?” she asked after a while. Neal light up at once.

“No. I haven’t. But I will, the moment school is out,” he nodded.

“I’ll come, you have me curious,” Emma nudged him. “Still class is starting. Miss Mills is such a pain.”

She rolled her eyes, Neal sighing too before they wandered to class.

  Rum Gold stirred softly, and seeing someone close caused him to startle, his forehead slamming into a metal skull, causing him to groan.

Belle’s glowing eyes widened with worry as Rum was clutching his head slightly.

“Rumple! You alright?” she asked, resting her arms on him, trying to figure out why he was acting so odd.

“I am fine… just… not used to waking up next to someone so close,” he rubbed his forehead, finding that he was actually pinned to the bed by the animatronic’s arms laying across his chest.

“I am sorry I was just… I wanted to be close,” Belle could not say why she wanted to be closer to the human, they were in the small room together and it was certainly not a big room. Rum gave her a gentle smile before nodding his head.

“It is fine,” he assured her. “I will get used to it.”

A smile came upon her faux lips.

“So… what are we going to do today?” she then asked as she watched him sit himself up when she allowed him to get up. Rum still had to rub his head, aching still. The human skull really did not have anything against metal it would seem.

“Well… I haven’t planned anything,” he shrugged her shoulders. “However…”

He hesitated slightly.

“I have to go back to Avonlea in the evening… being a security man… that is my job,” he then said. It was a job he would gladly quit… but living paycheck to paycheck… he had no other choice, but to go back. At least until he could find something else.

Not that there were anything other work in this little town.

The animatronic sat herself up, her blue glowing eyes meeting his.

“I’ll come with,” she said firmly. Rum visibly hesitated.

“Belle…” he began.

“I have to. I can keep you safe, trust me!” she grabbed his hand.

“But what if he hurt you?!” he then blurted out his fear. Belle shook her head firmly.

“He won’t. He won’t hurt me,” she said.

“How can you know that?” he said.

“Because I am like him… I...” her eyes looked down. “I do not want to stay there anymore. I do not want to be under his spell anymore. His curse… but more than anything I do not want him to hurt you.”

Rum lowered his head, her strong metal arms holding him in place.

“I… I do not want you to be hurt either,” he admitted his fear, looking into her glowing blue eyes.

“We… we can just stay in the office… I also have a taser. I do not know what that would do to him… but it is something…” he then said. “Also… we are close to the truck so we can get away if he appears,” Rum then said, though his face was filled with worry.

He didn’t want to go back. Belle was the only good thing about that place and now that she was here…

But he had no other choice.

“Yes, that sounds like a wonderful idea!” She light up, the glow of her eyes growing stronger. “We could bring some books to pass the time!”

Rum had to give a soft laugh as he nodded. “Yes… we can certainly do that.”

  The hours before work started had gone far too fast in Rum’s opinion. Once Neal came back from school, no doubt having had some fun with his friends too as he was a bit late, they had all had dinner together.

Neal had gone to the library like he had planned earlier in the day, but they had to order the papers they needed from the archive on the other side of the town, but they should arrive tomorrow. They had asked the librarian if she had known what had done on there, but she had only moved to Storybrooke from Australia a couple of years ago.

Still… what happened must be in the archives right? The newspapers certainly must have written about what was going on.

For now he had decided to keep his investigation secret from his father and Belle. Best not to let them know until he was certain that he had something.

“Are you certain it is wise to go back dad? Didn’t you bring Belle here for a reason?” he asked. His dad and Belle hadn’t really said why she couldn’t stay at Avonlea anymore… not that he minded… the animatronic was really nice.

“I have no other choice, laddie,” Rum sighed.

“But don’t worry we will be careful. We will be in the guard office and read,” the animatronic mentioned to the stack of books that she had eagerly picked out for tonight.

“Well… that is good, just… be careful alright?” Neal clearly had a worry in his voice.

“We will,” his father informed him. “Reading is all the excitement we will have tonight.”

Neal really didn’t know how that was possible when you would be spending time with an actual living animatronic.

“Alright… but be safe… and if some animatronic… you know… other than Belle, promise you get out of there!” he then insisted.

Rum nodded.

“Yes, we will,” he said, swallowing nervously. It was nothing which could have him stay if that… thing, showed itself. Rum knew he was a coward, but in this instance, he was certain that no one would blame him.

“Alright then…” Neal swallowed as he nodded his head. “You two have a safe night, I will see you in the morning.”

“Tomorrow lad,” Rum nodded as he ushered the animatronic out to his truck. Luckily it was already getting dark, not that there were many who walked past the small house even during the middle of the day.

Most of the time… the street was practically abandoned.

Still with making sure that no one could see her they piled into the car and drove off towards Avonlea.

  Pulling into the parking, quite the large lot with the asphalt cracking and weeds growing up between them. Rum drove slowly, not wanting to hit a pothole, or the like… especially with the added weight of the animatronic seated next to him.

Finally they pulled close to the entrance where a car was already parked. Rum let out a sound of surprise.

“Huh…”

“What is it?” Belle asked curious.

“That is Archie’s car,” he muttered in reply.

“Who is Archie?” she cocked her head towards.

“He works the shift before mine… he usually has gone before me… perhaps he is running late?” Rum didn’t believe this himself. Archie may be a bit of an airhead at times, but he was very eager to get away from the amusement park.

Rum didn’t know Archie well… but he did know that he was scared of the park, but like Rum needed the money. Finding work in a small town isn’t easy after all…

Belle’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

“So… is he still here…?” she asked. Rum froze. Archie seemed like a nice guy as far as he knew, but he didn’t knew how he would react to a sentient animatronic. He was rather… skittish.

“I suppose he is…” he glanced around. From where they were parked they could look into the office and there were no one there, but the light was on.

“But he should be in the office… unless something has happened,” Rum swallowed the dread building in his throat.

Belle was completely silent, the soft sound of the mechanical parts inside her.

“Um… you don’t think…” her mechanical voice came without her moving her lips as she stared at her.

Rum froze, gripping his hands on the wheel, his nails digging into the fake leather.

“I do know…” he whispered slowly.

“We have to help him!” Belle was already moving out of the truck, Rum feeling it move.

“Belle wait!” he rushed out the car before he followed her closely, grabbing her arm, glancing over at her. She stopped looking over at him, and Rum didn’t really know what he should say.

“We have to be careful!” he then burst out.

“I know! And we will, but… I… I believe… I believe that he was the reason… for all of this… and we cannot let him do the same thing again!” Belle insisted.

“Belle, you have to be careful! If he is in there…” fear was twisting his stomach making him practically tremble. He hated how scared that he felt. How many times had he been called a coward in the past?

Far to many… but here he didn’t care.

For the longest time Neal had been the only good thing in his life… and he still was the most important to him, but she… she had become so immensely important to him during the time he had known her.

More important than he could imagine.

So loosing her?

What worse dread could there be in this world?

“But your friend!” she insisted, continuing to walk on, pulling him along, hardly noticing the weight of the man she was dragging after her.

“What if he sees you! We do not know if he is going to keep you a secret… and if you are exposed…” Rum tried to get her to stop, but he was not strong enough. Belle turned towards him, blinking her eyes.

“It doesn’t matter if he is in danger! Look… you know him don’t you? Isn’t he a good man?” she then asked.

“I don’t really know him…” Rum hesitated.

“But do you believe that he is a good man?” she repeated. Rum hesitated for a moment.

“Uh… I mean yes… but…” he stuttered nervously.

“Then he will understand, come on!” her metallic hand wrapped around his hand and pulled him into the park. Rum still had a bad feeling in the bit of his stomach… but… if Archie was in danger… then again… what could they do?

He unlocked the door to the office, still feeling his hand tremble slightly. He prayed in his mind that Archie’s things wouldn’t be there… that perhaps his car had broken down and he had gotten another ride home.

But as he opened the door he saw the other guard’s coat, his thermos and his book… but no sign of the guard himself.

Rum took his taser out, feeling himself tremble so much that he struggled to keep his hand steady.

“Alright… let us just… look around…” he swallowed the animatronic nodding her head.

They started to walk into the depths of the park.

  Like always Avonlea was silent as the two walked along the paths, Rum holding the taser tight as he moved his flashlight around.

But there were no sign of the other guard.

“Where could he have gone?” he whispered.

Most of the attractions in the park was boarded up, so it was impossible to get inside them and they seemed so far to be undisturbed. The old theater which was where he had seen the monster animatronic was also silent. No sign of him.

Belle shrugged her metallic shoulders.

“I don’t know,” she whispered back. She kept close to the guard, trying to silence her steps as much as possible on the paved road.

“Archie hates this place,” Rum muttered, shaking his head. “He would never leave the path and would do his rounds as quickly as possible… or so he told me… I have no reason to believe that he was lying about that…”

“If only there was a way that we could contact him…” Belle tried her best to look in the windows of the abandoned attractions. She jolted a bit surprised when the security guard beside her slammed his and against his face and groaned.

“The phone!” he fished up his old flip phone. “Why didn’t I think to call him!”

At times he was marveled by his own stupidity.

“Oh that is a good idea!” the animatronic said as cheery as ever. Rum simply rolled his eyes. It would have been when they had first noticed the abandoned car… still… better late than never he supposed.

He pressed Archie’s number and called.

There were no one picking up. However they could hear a faint chime not far off.

“I hear something!” Belle tugged at Rum. “It is over there, by the Haunted house!”

Rum had never explained the buildings in the park and he was surprised that she knew the term… but she was correct.

The sound was coming from the haunted house… and he didn’t like it one bit. Still there weren’t really much that he could do, as he found himself pulled along by Belle.

The haunted house of Avonlea was a massive mansion of a building, clearly inspired by Old Hollywood horror movies. It had been boarded up for as long as Rum had worked there… and probably far longer than that.

However this night was different… this night the door was opened the sound of a ring tone coming from inside along with a very terrified whimper.

Something else were also moving inside… something large… heavy… metallic.

Rum was absolutely frozen in terror.

“That must be Archie!” Belle exclaimed and without concern rushed inside.

“BELLE!” the cry coming from the security guard betrayed the terror which came from the man as he ran after her into the haunted house.

There just beyond the hall laid Archie clutching his bleeding arm, looking frozen with fear into the distance, the phone was continuing to ring, but this went totally ignored by the terrified man. he didn’t even seem to notice them coming in.

Not daring at all to look away from whatever was terrifying him in the dark.

“Mr. Hopper! Archie!” Rum was the one to rush over to him, Belle standing a bit back, not wanting to scare the man more than he already was. When the security guard put his hand on him, Archie was able to pull his eyes away from whatever terrified him.

“Gold! We have to get out! It is here! There is more! The animatronics! They are STILL HERE! THEY ARE ALIVE!”

Rum swallowed.

“Calm down… we will get you out alright… alright?” he attempted to calm the guard down, so they could get to safety. However… explaining Belle would be hard… but he could not think about that right now.

Archie then let out a terrified sound as he clung to Rum.

That was when he heard it.

Very heavy steps moving closer to their position, and then he saw it. Yellow glowing eyes from the darkness… but this thing was much larger than the Rumplestiltskin animatronic. Closing in further he saw it looked like a big bipedal animatronic wolf. A werewolf.

He was frozen in fear when he saw Belle walk over, but she actually seemed excited to see this monster, waving her hand towards it.

“Hello Ruby!” she smiled happily. The large werewolf lifted its clawed hand and waved back excitedly.

“Hi Belle!”

[nettlestonenell]

How Peggy Carter Shows Up in Avengers: Endgame

...is actually a really important question to ponder, Gentle Readers. Thanks for asking.

As I recently set forth here, Peggy Carter is the central bedrock of the MCU. If you don’t like her, you don’t like it.

As such, it seems unlikely that the attention she will be given in Endgame will be limited to the infamous black and white picture Steve keeps in his old compass (which some fans believe he looks to for moral guidance. About which I stringently disagree.)

Insert your own traveling-across-realms Once Upon a Time Swanfire keychain reference here.

Just to cover all the possible bases, then; 

SCENARIO #1: Peggy used solely as image/misunderstood totem for Cap.

NOPE.

I firmly expect “actual” Peggy Carter to make an appearance in Endgame, and according to the internet at large, I am not alone.

HOW she makes that appearance, and what is made of her appearance is entirely unknown at this time, but here are the strongest possibilities. (All following scenarios involve Time Travel or universe-shifting.)

SCENARIO #2: 

Cap sent back in time to his version of a Valhalla/warrior’s paradise: right after his jet goes into the ice he manages somehow to arrive the following Saturday at the Stork Club at 8pm as she and he were talking about in his last moments on the radio.

While iconic for that time period, The Stork Club (of New York City) has always seemed a rather upscale venue for Peggy and Steve to pick. (Coincidentally, it closed its doors in 1965)

(Ultimately, you may recall Steve saying he’s going to need a raincheck on that dance.)

I don’t see it. Doing this robs those moments in The First Avenger entirely of their gravity and their far-reaching impact in the MCU. Peggy wouldn’t even have a hot moment to grieve for what she lost. What’s more, Peggy in the immediate aftermath of Steve’s disappearance hasn’t got anything to offer the plot/Cap in the way of fighting Thanos/the power of Infinity Stones. She’s just relegated to a sort of trophy/reward, without any utility in the storyline.

If Peggy Carter is used in Endgame without having something to contribute to the forward motion of the plot, IF, for example, she’s reduced to a sort of ‘Grey Havens’ for Cap, what an utter waste of everything MCU has put into her over the years. If going back to be with Peggy (pre-Marvel’s Agent Carter and ongoing developments in the MCU) is simply Cap’s “reward”, then Peggy gets reduced to nothing but a dog treat. [which, I daresay from reading enough tumblr plenty of bloggers think she is]

Just as I said in that earlier blog, narratively it’s Steve in TFA who has to “come up” to Peggy’s level, both physically 

She could snap him in two if they tried that dance, now.

(at least narratively-speaking—obviously there’s absolutely NOTHING wrong in real life with two partners not being the physical equal of one another, in fact it’s rather more standard than not) and also heroic conviction-wise; he has to be willing to step out there and join the fight (as when he left the showgirls, etc). 

Of course, even leaving the showgirls behind, Steve won’t miss out on the sight of a great pair of legs, Angie Martinelli will gladly tell you.

Ahem. It’s been awhile since Cap woke up from the ice. He’s seen and done a lot. But Peggy, in the immediate wake of his crash, well, she’s hasn’t had a chance to grow similarly.

TFA-era Peggy and Infinity War-era Cap are far from on the same footing. She’s only just had her first brush with the supernatural (Vibranium and the Tesseract, super-soldier serum). She’s still WWII-Peggy, and Cap hasn’t been WWII-Cap for awhile (remember his government’s betrayal in Winter Soldier? His own rebellion in Civil War?).

Unlikely we’ll see this noobishly terrified expression ever again.

Lots has happened since next Saturday at the Stork Club, 8pm. Let’s talk funerals. Cap has gone to Peggy’s, 

I’m not proud of showing you this.

and in the season one finale of Agent Carter, Peggy “Goodbye, My Darling” (words, btw, she never said to him in real-life) Carter takes a moment to pour Steve’s blood sample off the Brooklyn Bridge to prevent it being used for ill, and memorialize and let him go in a real way, which she had yet to be able to do.

Do you think the military held a funeral/event in memory of Steve after he was lost to the ice?

A day or two (or even a year) after the crash, she hasn’t been able to bring herself to do that.

Secondarily, as I said in that earlier blog, Peggy has to live and operate in a world without Steve IF ONLY TO BE SHOWN AS SUCCESSFUL ON HER OWN TERMS and not viewed merely as Captain America’s Girlfriend.

Having him show up ON TIME for their dance doesn’t allow her that. It also doesn’t see her co-found S.H.I.E.L.D. (for one example). Peggy would have remained Peggy unchanged, and Cap—well, Cap’s changed plenty. He doesn’t even dress the same. 

Just look at the confidence in this man’s face. This man has grown and changed since burying that plane in the ice.

If he wakes up in TFA the same year that film came out, that’s almost nine years ‘til Infinity War, and who knows how long ‘til the plot of Endgame picks up. All of WWII lasted six years. It doesn’t seem like Cap’s life since waking up has been any less of a crucible.

I absolutely understand the emotional desire fans have to see that dance and that date take place as though nothing has happened. I. Get. It. But from a story standpoint, it’s a bad idea that negates so much work and development that’s come before.

I deeply apologize for my story-based convictions on this matter.

SCENARIO #3: Parallel Peggy

Parallel universes make my brain hurt. Literally anything could happen in them. Except Steve getting time with actual Peggy.

Also, that would be something of a Whovian #10/Rose re-tread, wouldn’t it?

SCENARIO #4:

(Possibly one-way) Time Travel to Just the Sweet Spot Where Peggy Has Access to an Answer the Avengers Need

Peggy Carter’s life and work have meant a lot to the MCU (don’t get me started on the fact the franchise didn’t have Nick Fury, Coulson, Hill, and Tony Stark attend her funeral).

We know some of what she was involved in with SSR and S.H.I.E.L.D. (okay, well, likely she was involved with literally EVERYTHING). We know she had two children, a boy and girl, and a granddaughter (we don’t want to negate them, do we?[Aside: Could Steve and Peggy even have kids?]). 

Children on the right, on the left the photo is taken later (note clothing style), indicating a granddaughter.

We know she was married, though the powers that be have stopped short of ever naming her husband. 

Sorry, wrong wedding dress, wrong wedding, v.v. sad day about to happen.

Season Two of Agent Carter shows her embarking on a relationship with Daniel Sousa, 

All my love, Daniel!

but for all we know that proved a non-starter, and in a twist she wed Jack Thompson—or even Dum Dum—or some other guy we never met. We’re simply not told. No man appears in photos by her bedside in Winter Soldier, her husband is given no name in her official obit from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

In her 1953 interview we’re told that she’s married by that time, she speaks about her husband, a WWII vet. (The bedside picture with her two children shows her with a similar hairstyle to this interview)

What we’ve never been given is information about how long that married lasted. Divorce, death of a spouse? Entirely possible. If Cap’s being sent back (at least in part) to pitch woo to Peggy, I’m betting her husband will have passed on. (Truly sorry if it’s you, Daniel!)

I’m betting that in those files Cap was reviewing in The Winter Soldier, there may have been something among his research about what Peggy got up to after he was gone. 

In my memory, there’s like a whole box of this sort of thing sitting around Cap’s apartment.

And that among her work, or even among Howard’s Bad Babies, might well be technology or an item needed to help defeat Thanos or reverse the snap.

So, Cap shaves his beard (to be more recognizable to her), 

goes back not to 1940, but sometime after Peggy’s interview in 1953 

(recall the motion-capture dots on Hayley in that Instagram pic which may be used to age her, recall also the casting call for 1960s office girls). 

This gives us BOTH a Peggy who had moved on and done important work, AND a Cap who has grown and changed since being pulled from the ice.

In a scenario like this, what we are presented with (again) are Steve and Peggy as two EQUALS, the reward for each of whom, and their lifetime of service and sacrifice is each other. And a Cap returned to a world more in- line with his human life expectancy (and among which he might feel more comfortable—and in which some of his friends/the Howling Commandos might still live). Peggy would be in her 40s in the 1960s*. (Don’t even get me started on loving middle-aged awesome, reaching her sexual peak Peggy getting to be with constantly on-peak super-soldier Steve.)

I mean, check out Peggy in her late 60s: Here, hot, and still happening.

SCENARIO #4 doesn’t diminish a possible Steggy happy ending. In fact, it just deepens and burnishes it.

*Perhaps whatever takes place in the 60s also involves the long-unexplained tease of how Peggy as head and founder of S.H.I.E.L.D. remained (we assume) unaware that Hydra had long infiltrated her organization. #utterpipedreams

COMPLICATIONS:…now don’t get me started that if Cap-Now goes back, Cap-Then is still in the ice, destined to wake up, and that gets all kind of weird—sort of like Parallel Universes. 

Time Travel and the potential plurality of existence is treacherous and headache-y to contemplate.

QUESTIONS THAT PERSIST: IF Cap is able to go back in time, and there’s nothing in-story that can be gained by it other than his reunion with Peggy, doesn’t it make more sense that he’d choose to go back and reverse something terrible in history, such as prevent the US from dropping atomic bombs, saving countless (estimated around 250k) lives?

Or that he would go back and rescue Bucky from Armin Zola?

After all, he’s seen that Peggy’s life was happy. She died loved, safe, and respected as a (very) old woman in her bed. Ya can’t say that for ole Buck.

Truly, if the power of time travel is in your hands, and you choose to use it purely for selfish reasons, well, that’s about the most un-Cap thing I’ve ever heard of.

So, Gentle Readers, how do you think this thing is going to go down?

[jeanjauthor]

Origin Stories

I think one of my favorite things about the Captain Marvel movie, something that really has only been discussed by a handful of people so far, is that it’s a Dual Origin Story.

What’s that, you say?  What is an Origin Story? Why, it’s the backstory told to explain How Or Why That Character Became This Way!

...Of course, it isn’t always a backstory when you’re starting a new version (a very common and popular thing to do with comic book protagonists, etc).  And that’s okay; you can start at the beginnings.  Or (if you’ve rebooted a character a gazillion frikkin *coughspidermancough* times) you can skip over an extremely well-known origin story.  It’s just that, to be an Origin Story, the character almost always has to have been established as Badass or Awesome or Dangerous or whatever.

This is often told in flashbacks, or in the rarer (but still used) flash-forwards.  In Deadpool, we get the Maverick (old television series) style “protagonist in the thick of a predicament” action scenes or peril scene, etc...and then they say something like,  “I’ll bet you’re wondering how I end up in this mess!”  Or, they can be self-aware of the Origin Story trope while narrating their own story, which, although it strains the Fourth Wall, doesn’t necessarily break it.  (Self-narrated dawning awareness of an Origin Story setting doesn’t have to actually say “Origin Story” at any point, btw, but rather, it just has to be aware that Things Are Changing & Becoming Greater Than Before.)

In Captain Marvel, we don’t get the flash forward, or the flash back within the movie.  Or even the self-narration.  But we do get two Origin Stories.

We got the obvious character, Vers / Carol Danvers, who becomes Captain Marvel...but is it really a backstory, when we haven’t seen her before now in the MCU?  Yes, it still is a backstory, because in the late 2010s, we see her being summoned at the end of Infinity War, and then her movie--her story--opens up back in the mid 1990s.

If you stick strictly to the MCU, it doesn’t seem to work as coming off of a pre-established character of Badassery, Dangerosity, and/or Awesomeitude. (Hush, those last two are words; I’m a writer, I get to make up shhh all the time! My job is awesome in that regard.)  ...But since we don’t have to stick to the MCU to be familiar with this character and her many incarnations...it technically is still an Origin Story.

However...even if we do stick rigorously to the Marvel Cinematic Universe...it does technically work.  Because the MCU establishes that calling upon Captain Marvel is Nick Fury’s Last, Best Hope.  Which brings us to the second Origin Story:  Nick Fury’s Origin Story.

The first time we see him, we see a battle scarred, hardened, calculating, clever, resourceful Nick Fury. (Played incredibly well by Samuel L. Jackson; I like his portrayal way better than the scarred, grizzled, gray-haired white dude (who frankly always looked more like a HYDRA agent to me than a SHIELD agent) we’ve always seen in the comic books & cartoon series.)

He’s so resourceful, he even keeps his scarred eye on retinal scan profile Just In Case. He admits he doesn’t trust anyone.  He connives, he schemes, he’s dedicated to protecting and saving humanity, a complex, kickass character along the lines of Hawkeye and Black Widow, not a superhuman, not an extraplanetary god or the son of an Eternal, or an Infinity-Stone-empowered whatever.  He. Is. Badass. Dangerous. And Awesome.

But he’s not that in this story.  This is a full-blown Origin Story for Nick Fury, far more so than Captain Marvel, because we already know what he’s become.

Instead, we get to go back in time to see him when he’s a mere level 3 clearance middleman of SHIELD.  (Plus we get to see seemingly-mild-mannered Agent Coulson’s earliest days, yay!)  Fury is not calculating, is not heavily resourceful, is not scheming, is not prepared to do anything and everything.  Willing, yes!  Don’t ever mistake that.  But...he is not yet the prepared & resource-rich Badass of the other movies.

And though we don’t get to see how he becomes that resourceful, dangerous Badass (we instead get to see how Carol Danvers becomes her own powerful Badass self), we get to see the origins of his badassery story, as in the impetus, the stuff that makes him very much want to step up his game in all the intervening unseen years between the mid 1990s and the end of the Iron Man movie in the late 2000s.

I know that a lot of guys online are trying to wreck Captain Marvel by trying to discourage viewers from seeing it...and that some of the methods they’re trying to use are slandering Nick Fury’s Origin Story...saying he’s been emasculated, that he’s shown as weak, etc...

Dudes.  Stop.  You’re just embarrassing yourselves.

Nobody is born super-fantastic at the very start. (Not even Clark Kent/Superman; he couldn’t change his own diapers, ya know, and he had to learn to control his super-strength growing up, and he had to learn how to fly, etc, etc.)

That’s why it’s an Origin Story.  You’re never fantastic before you get the training you need to actually use whatever badassery or awesomeitude or dangerosity you end up possessing later on.  There doesn’t have to be a training montage in an Origin Story.  There just has to be the impetus, the change in circumstances, The Reason Why This Character Is The Way They Are When It’s Later On.

And for flerken’s sake, dudes!  Washing the dishes is HELLA manly, NOT EMASCULATING!

If these guys truly think washing dishes is “unmanly” and “emasculating”...I feel sorry for anyone those dudes have to live with, and/or the frequency of cockroach infestations their landlords have to spray against. *shudders at the horror of how nasty & pathetic their home life must be, if they can’t even bring themselves to wash the flerken dishes...*  (Seriously dudes, grow up, get your own Origin Story impetus going, and become someone tough enough, skillful enough, resourceful enough, and flat-out badass enough to do the dishes!)

[calliecat93]

RWBY V6 CH8 Review: Dead End

Last week, Kerry revealed that the finale would take place on January 26th, which since this week was a holiday, totals to a 13 episode season. It's one episode short from last year, but hey 13 is a standard number for an anime season, so fair enough. Also sorry that this took so long, I had... stuff happen with the blog the past few days. But it's fixed now, I posted Chapter 7 yesterday, and now it's time to cover Chapter 8! Lets get to it!

Overview

Team RWBY, Qrow, and Maria at at Argus' military base, but are denied access by the... bizarre twin guards. I think that they may be based on The Cards form Alice in Wonderland, and it'll be more clear why in a bit. The heroes are forced to play the Weiss Schnee card, and it gets the guards to agree to fetch their commanding officer. But to the ire of all the Winter fans out there... it's not her. Maria thinks that she knows who it is though, and they happen to be enemies because said CO put Maria on the advanced screening list for life for taking cashews on a flight. Sheesh. But hey, maybe Maria's right and she's dead! Funniest moment of the episode BTW.

The CO of the Argus base is an egotistical elderly woman known as Caroline Cordovan. She displays much of the attitude that we expect from Atlas characters. Egotistical, boastful, authoritarian, and sees Atlas as the greatest kingdom of all. She had already refused to help JNR, who are also there, and it's pretty clear that she's not going to help the group still. They try to reason with her by explaining that they know that Atlas isn't at fault for Beacon, but it only makes it worst. Cordovan DOES offer to take Weiss home if she's come to her senses... but isn't going to do the same for her friends of 'questionable nature' while looking at Blake. Wow, she's a racist. Lovely. When Weiss questions this, Cordovan slams the gates int heir faces. I agree with Maria's previous sentiment, she's a she-devil. I'm pretty sure that she's supposed to be the Queen of Hearts considering her personality, which would explain the guards being the Cards.

With the plan reaching... well, a dead end, Qrow calls it quits and goes to drink. So he obviously learned nothing form Brunswick! JNR just suggests coming up with a plan without him, pointing out that they still have Ozpin. Que an awkward beat and we cut to later... where Jaune punches a hole in his sister's wall. I hope she has home insurance. So yeah... JNR doesn't take the truth well. Even Nora is pissed off. I'm... mixed about this. It's very understandable for them to be angry and upset, especially considering they lost Pyrrha due to this. But it does bring up a minor critique I have. The response to Salem being un-killable and Ozpin not having a true plan have all ha done reaction: anger and giving up. Some took ti worst than others, but it's still the same. The only one who hasn't is Ruby, which helps but it makes the fact that no one is wondering 'well maybe we can win without killing Salem' or 'maybe we can ask Jinn if there's a way to defeat Salem and not destroy her' hasn't been brought up once. It gets annoying when, even though you understand why everyone is reacting the way that they are, no one has had any logical thought since and continue to spew in their negativity, like Qrow is. All I'm saying is let the reactions be a bit more diverse, if only to keep this from getting either predictable or just irritating.

Oscar tries to calm everyone down, pointing out that they aren't the bad guys in this. Jaune questions this however before storming over to Oscar, wanting to know if he had known about this the whole time. Even when Weiss tries to say he didn't, Jaune grabs the farmboy and slams him into the wall, questioning where his loyalties stand and even if it's even Oscar that they're talking to. Throughout, Oscar is clearly terrified and it only ends when Ruby calls out Jaune. To the paladin's credit, this get shim to realize what he's doing and is clearly horrified. He backs away before going upstairs, Nora and Ren soon following and wanting to be left alone. The RWBY girls also scatter, leaving a clearly distraught Oscar. Great for none of you to check if he's okay or not. Doing a bang up job ladies.

As the others go to get food, Ruby goes outside to an absolutely beautiful butterfly garden. She's trying to call Qrow to find out where he is, but she gets nothing and throws her Scroll in frustration. It's clear that all of this is beginning to get to Ruby, something that Maria, who had gone back there to avoid the yelling, sees as well. Ruby explains how with everything happening, she's at a loss of what to do. Maria can't help with that, or at least she can't without it defeating the purpose, but she does offer to help Ruby feel better if she's sick of not knowing about things. Yes my friends, we are FINALLY going to talk about the Silver Eyes! I have waited for this for so long!!!

When Ruby explains what she does know, aka more or less nothing Maria explains that there isn't much known about the bloodline. She was lucky as she was trained by her father, who we can assume was also a Silver Eyed Warrior. He taught Maria all that she knew and it led her to scoring higher on the Huntress Exam than any other applicant without having to even attend one of the academies. But if the Silver Eyes are so powerful, why are they so rare? Simple, they were hunted down and killed by Salem. This is why Maria took on a masked persona and hid things such as her name, to hide her powers and not be a target. Of course, we all know how that ended, and Maria credits her survival to both her training and her Semblance. The latter is revealed to be what she dubs Preflexes, which is more or less Spider Man's Spidey Sense. She can sense things before they happen and can be one move ahead of her opponent due to it. Awesome!

Ruby is all set to learn to vaporize monsters with her eyeballs... which earns her a bonk on the head. I guess Maria attended the Rafiki School of Mentorship. The Silver Eyes aren't fueled by the desire to destroy Grimm, it is powered by the desire to protect people. On every case where Ruby used the powers thus far (Pyrrha's death, Jaune facing Cinder, The Apathy), she did so because she was trying to save someone and it allowed her to freeze the Wythern and vaporize the Apathy.  Maria goes on to explain that where the Grimm were created by the God of Darkness, the light of the Silver Eyes comes form his brother, the God of Creation. How does Maria know this? Well remember in Jinn's vision when the God turned into the dragon for the first time? We saw a burst of light that vaporized the Grimm. I thought that was just the effects of the transformation.. wow I feel stupid! That is an awesome detail!

Now since the light only effects Grimm, any training that Ruby can get is going to be a trial by fire. But Maria does suggest that the young huntress can work to create a mindset that she can turn to in order to unleash the power when she needs to. But Ruby is confused by something. The light on works on Grimm, right? Well if you recall, Ruby was able to use it on Cinder back in Haven... IDK how she remembers this since Emerald knocked her out immediately, but still. Now we all know why that is, but Ruby doesn't. Which has Maria suggest that maybe there's something that the huntress isn't seeing. But anymore talk comes to an end as Ruby and JNR are informed that Oscar has gone missing. Well... shit.

Review

Of the episodes so far, it's safe to say that this may be the weakest. But only in terms of it being an exposition/build-up episode instead of an action episode or something along those lines. I can't call it bad though as a lot of good came out of this episode. The first half was pretty dang funny. Caroline is terrible, but her boastful personality makes her entertaining to watch at the very least. Maria was comedy gold here with her rant about the cashews and the 'Maybe she's dead!” line. Again, funniest moment in the episode. It's nice that we got to have a couple of laughs before the heavy stuff came back in because... haha, IDT we're going to be having many more light-heated moments in these last five episodes. Call it a hunch.

As I said, while I would like for the group to have some cold hard logic hit them already, Team JNR's reactions are completely understandable. Jaune especially. Really, he's got the most reason out of everyone aside form maybe Qrow to be angry. Remember, Pyrrha got killed because of this and even she wasn't aware of all the details when the whole Fall Maiden thing happened. We can argue about the circumstances all that we want, Pyrrha still died trying to do what was right, and ever since everything that Jaune has done has been to not let her death be in vain. So finding out that all of that was for nothing? I can't blame him for being angry or how he reacted. Am I defending him? Hell no. Oscar did NOTHING wrong. The way that Jaune manhandled him was horrifying and seeing this young kid clearly terrified was just wrong. But it still makes sense hwy Jaune reacted that way all things considered, and to his credit he DID realize what he was doing and stopped. And we find out that Oscar is gone, it is very clear that Jaune feels remorseful for taking his anger out on Oscar and of what could happen to him now. Out of everyone so far aside from Oscar, I sympathize with Jaune the most.

Who I have lost my sympathy for however is Qrow. He is just...a  mess. Brunswick was bad enough, but now? Look, I know how hard it is to let go of addiction, especially considering how bad of a mental state that Qrow is in. But after how his drinking caused him to be so out of it that he failed to realize that the kids that he's responsible for to get killed, it's becoming more and more difficult to feel bad for him. He SAW what his carelessness could have led to, and even now he hasn't learned. Because of it, Ruby has to be the adult trying to keep everyone going despite all the circumstances, and she has to try and find him on top of everything else. It's at the point where this can't go unaddressed anymore. Ruby or someone needs to give Qrow an intervention and outright tell him to stop. I imagine that it'll get ugly, but if something isn't done soon, then most likely Qrow is going to get either himself or someone else killed. It's time for him to stop the self-loathing.

Okay, lets try to talk about something more positive, like the Silver Eyes! First, I need to say this again. Maria has been a delight as a character and has just fit right in with the cast. Funny, sassy, practical, she's been a great addition and is the kind of character that Ruby needs to mentor her. I loved hearing some details about her past, like her relationship with her father and how she became a Huntress. It's exposition, sure, but it's used to show Maria's experience and wisdom. We learn more about a character that so far the fandom really loves, and it serves a purpose. We also see her intelligence as she pieced together about the source of the Silver Eyes powers just form Jinn's vision. She is very much what Ruby needs. She's an optimistic character, but also firm and wise. She can push Ruby in the right direction without being too harsh or too nice. Hopefully she sticks around after this season because she's such a welcome addition.

As for Ruby, she continues to be a bright spot in the season. She's trying so hard, but the weight is really beginning to get to her. She had to stop Jaune from physically hurting someone, is being ignored by Qrow and his unreliableness is clearly upsetting her, and she feels like she's letting everyone down due to how hopeless everything seems. She is meant to be an inspiring, hopeful figure and she is trying her damnest to be this way. After the initial plan went up in smoke, her first response is to comfort Weiss and again assure her that they won't leave her side. She's stepped up as a leader, but she's till a 16, maybe 17 if Lindsay can be believed, year old girl in a very difficult situation and with Qrow intoxicated and Oz gone, she has to be the adult. She has to look after everyone and keep them on track. She has to try and encourage them and not give up, and so far that doesn't seem to be working. This girl has so much pressure on her because everyone else has given up, and it's starting to weigh on her. Will this be the season where she breaks down? It's hard to say, but I do think that before the volume is over, we're going to see some kind of reaction out of her.

On the upside however, after so long, Ruby is finally learning about the Silver Eyes. She's asking questions. She's excited to learn to use this power. She actively WANTS to learn about it. This is what I have been hoping for ever since the end of V3. This is the moment where we are seeing Ruby beginning to go from a rookie fresh out of Beacon long before she was ready, to taking the steps to becoming the Huntress that she has always wanted to be. In light of everything and even with her doubts, Ruby has stepped up as a leader, has yet to give up despite how hopeless it looks, and is still determined to do what's right. Now she has a mentor to teach her to use her gift, something unique to her, and hopefully that can help ignite the will to continue on. Ruby's goal has always been to be a Huntress to help people, and overtime that has gone form naive ambition to seeing how dark the world can be, and wanting to do whatever is possible to do good because it's the right thing to do. Ozpin was right about what he said in V5, she truly is an inspiring figure, and this is why. Even in face of the hopelessness and everyone around her giving up, she hasn't. Will she? It's hard to say, but there is no doubt that no matter what tries to keep Ruby down, she'll face it and she will somehow pull everyone up with her. This volume, more than any other, has made that clear and I love it.

What helps that entire scene, of course, is both the setting and the music. The garden is absolutely beautiful, having a very calming atmosphere, which after the blowup was very much needed. The butterflies also added to the beauty and calmness. Apparently blue butterflies can symbolize change, and butterflies in general can symbolize life. You see it in anime all the time. It's perfect symbolism here as Ruby seeks to change herself and become a Silver Eyed Warrior, so it's a very welcome touch. And the music... gosh the music is so beautiful and serene. Jeff and Alex once more killed it, especially with the new renditions of Red Like Roses and This Will be the Day. Very nostalgic and it added to this being about Ruby taking that next step forward. Very well done!

Then of course we have the ending. Oscar is missing. For the moment, we will assume that he has left of his own volition due to the manhandling and the questioning of his identity, which was already a problem for him. And... is anyone surprised? I mean Jaune shoving him alone would be enough reason to leave. But the way everyone keeps seeing him as Ozpin, directing the anger at him even if unintentionally, and how no one seemed to care about how he's felt about all of this. Only Ruby ever did, and Qrow made sure to kill that. Of course he would leave. No one trusts him and now even he's questioning who he is and what to do now that it looks like they will inevitably lose. Hopefully he will be found safe and sound and will come back. And hopefully everyone will apologize, or Jaune will at the very least. For now, all that we can do is worry about his safety until Saturday roles around.

Final Thoughts

This may not have been the heaviest chapter, but it was still enjoyable. The first half was entertaining and did a good job of setting up the next obstacle for our heroes. The second half was very much emotional and Jaune's reaction was pretty much what we were expected. The exposition was welcomed and added to the scene instead of dragging it down. And of course we're left on a cliffhanger that is mean, but not 'Weiss just got stabbed' levels of mean. Overall, while it may be the weakest episode of the volume so far, I still give it two thumbs up! Great work!