#spoiler alert they resolve their differences and

[spicyschemmenti]

CROSSING THE LINE ➵ melissa schemmenti

pairing: melissa schemmenti x bimbo!teaching assistant!fem!reader

synopsis: after a day of teasing and tension, you and melissa finally give in to the undeniable pull between you. what starts as a heated, impulsive kiss quickly turns desperate, neither of you able to stop once you've started

warnings: teasing, flirting, they share a kiss

word count: 2.4k

MASTERLIST ---- JOIN A TAGLIST

Later that day, the halls of Abbott hummed with the usual end-of-day chaos; kids dragging their feet as they packed up, teachers corralling stragglers, the occasional sound of a locker slamming shut with unnecessary force. It was routine. Predictable.

Except nothing felt routine to Melissa right now.

Her mind was still caught up in the fire drill, in the way your body had molded against hers like you belonged there. In the way your voice had dripped with sugar and mischief, testing her resolve with every breathy whisper. In the way your fingers had brushed against her skin like a tease, a promise, a challenge.

And the worst part?

You knew exactly what you were doing.

Melissa prided herself on keeping things professional. On being the adult in the room. She wasn’t some starry-eyed idiot who got distracted by a pretty face—she was a grown-ass woman with years of experience dealing with people who thought they could get under her skin.

But you?

You were different.

Which is why, when the final bell rang and the last of the students filtered out, she was already on edge. And when she heard the click of your heels echoing down the hall, getting closer, she didn’t have to turn around to know it was you.

Of course, that didn’t stop you from making an entrance.

“Ms Schemmenti,” you purred, your voice just this side of playful as you leaned against her desk, tilting your head with an almost innocent expression. Almost.

Melissa sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose before finally looking at you. Big mistake.

Your mini skirt had ridden up just enough to show off the curve of your thighs, your tank top clinging to every inch of soft skin beneath it, and that glossy smile of yours? Yeah, that was nothing short of lethal.

“Sweetheart, I swear to God…” Melissa muttered, shaking her head.

But you just giggled, nudging one of her pens with your fingertip like you had all the time in the world. “Swearing in front of the kids now?” you teased. “Tsk tsk, Ms Schemmenti. What would Barbara say?”

Melissa rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t ignore the way her pulse quickened when you said her name like that—low, teasing, like a secret you were sharing just between the two of you.

“The kids are gone,” she said, crossing her arms. “And so are you. It’s quittin’ time, sweetheart. Shouldn’t you be heading home?”

You pouted. “Aww, what, you tryna get rid of me already?”

Yes.

No.

Hell.

Melissa exhaled slowly, dragging a hand through her hair before leveling you with a look. “Listen, I don’t know what kinda game you think you’re playin’, but—”

“Oh, I think you do,” you interrupted, smiling sweetly as you leaned in just enough that she could smell that damn perfume of yours again.

Melissa clenched her jaw. You were relentless.

“What do you want?” she asked, her voice gruff.

You tilted your head, considering. “Hmm. I dunno. Maybe just… a little of your time?”

Melissa arched an eyebrow. “And what, exactly, do you need my time for?”

Your smile widened.

“Oh, I think we both know the answer to that.”

Jesus Christ.

Melissa swallowed hard, trying—failing—to keep her cool as you reached out, your fingers grazing the sleeve of her blouse, just barely there, like you were testing how much she’d let you get away with.

Spoiler alert: Too damn much.

“Y’know,” you murmured, your voice all honey and heat, “you never answered my question from earlier.”

Melissa blinked. “What question?”

Your lips curled into a smirk. “Is it working?”

Oh, you little—

Melissa exhaled sharply, stepping back, putting space between you before she did something she’d regret.

“I think you should go home,” she said, her voice rougher than she meant it to be.

Your smirk didn’t falter. In fact, if anything, you looked more amused. “Aww, did I fluster you, Ms Schemmenti?”

Melissa’s eye twitched. “I’m about five seconds away from sendin’ you home with a damn referral, sweetheart.”

You giggled, twirling a strand of hair around your finger. “Mmm. Kinda hot when you get all authoritative, y’know that?”

Melissa turned, gripping the edge of her desk so hard her knuckles went white.

Lord give me strength.

The silence stretched, heavy and charged, until finally, finally, Melissa heard you sigh dramatically behind her.

“Fine, fine,” you relented, pushing off the desk. “I’ll stop messing with you. For now.”

Melissa didn’t turn around, but she could hear the grin in your voice. Could feel the heat of your presence as you moved closer, just for a second, just long enough for your fingers to graze the small of her back.

“But I meant what I said,” you murmured, voice softer this time, almost sweet. “I like being close to you.”

And then, just like that, you were gone.

Melissa waited until the sound of your heels had completely faded before she let out a breath, her grip on the desk finally loosening.

She was so, so fucked.

Melissa sat at her desk long after you left, fingers still gripping the edge like it was the only thing keeping her grounded. The room was quiet now, just the soft hum of the overhead lights and the distant sound of a few lingering teachers finishing up their work for the day. But in her head? It was chaos.

Because she could still feel you.

Still feel the ghost of your fingertips brushing against her sleeve, still feel the warmth of your body from earlier when you had pressed up against her like you belonged there, still feel the breathy lilt of your voice curling around her name like a slow drag of whiskey—hot, smooth, and a little bit dangerous. And the worst part? She wanted more.

Melissa was used to keeping a tight grip on her self-control. She had to—she was a professional, for Christ’s sake. She had been teaching for years, had dealt with her fair share of flirty coworkers, pushy parents, and God knows how many situations that could’ve ended badly if she didn’t know how to shut things down.

But you?

You weren’t like the others.

It wasn’t just the way you looked—though, Jesus, that didn’t help. That damn mini skirt hugging every curve, the way your tank top dipped low enough to make her swallow hard, the way your lips always seemed to be glossy and parted like you were just waiting for her to do something about it. No, it wasn’t just that. It was the way you moved. The way you spoke to her, always toeing the line between playful and something else. Something that made her pulse spike and her mouth go dry.

She wasn’t an idiot. She knew flirting when she saw it. And she sure as hell knew when someone was doing it on purpose.

And you? You were laying it on thick.

Melissa ran a hand down her face, exhaling slowly through her nose, trying to shake the heat that had been simmering low in her belly since this morning. But it was impossible. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw you—wide-eyed and teasing, pressing just close enough to make her wonder if you were going to push further.

And God help her, she wanted you to.

The realization hit her like a punch to the gut, sharp and undeniable.

She wanted you.

Not just in passing, not just in the way someone might admire a pretty thing and move on. No, it was worse than that. She wanted to know what you’d do if she stopped holding back, if she gave in, if she let that tension between you snap like a live wire.

Would you giggle, all breathy and mischievous, just to make her crazy? Would you play innocent, bat those big eyes up at her and act like you didn’t know exactly what you were doing? Or would you push her even further, press yourself against her like you had during the fire drill and murmur something soft and devastating against her ear, just to see her break?

Fuck.

Melissa squeezed her eyes shut, forcing herself to breathe, forcing herself to think rationally. Because this? This was a problem.

A big fucking problem.

And she had no clue what to do about it.

The sun had dipped lower by the time she finally left her classroom, the hallways mostly empty now except for a few teachers lingering by their doors. She nodded at Barbara, who gave her one of those knowing looks that made her stomach twist. Melissa didn’t need to ask—she knew damn well that Barbara had caught onto something. The woman had a sixth sense for drama, and Melissa was not in the mood to be dissected right now.

“Long day?” Barbara asked, voice laced with something that was too close to amusement for Melissa’s comfort.

Melissa just grunted, shouldering her bag as she made her way toward the exit. “Somethin’ like that.”

Barbara hummed, but thankfully, she didn’t push. She just gave Melissa one last look before turning back to her own classroom, leaving Melissa to make her escape.

The air outside was crisp, a welcome contrast to the heat still simmering under her skin. She needed to cool off. She needed a drink. She needed a distraction—

And then she saw you.

Leaning against your car like you had all the time in the world, phone in hand, one leg crossed over the other, looking so goddamn effortless it was infuriating. The last of the day’s sunlight caught on the shine of your lip gloss, highlighting the curve of your mouth as you scrolled lazily through whatever was on your screen.

Melissa should’ve kept walking. She should’ve gotten in her car, gone home, poured herself a drink, and convinced herself that this was nothing.

But then, like you had some kind of radar for her, you glanced up—and the second your eyes met hers, that slow, lazy smile spread across your lips, and Melissa’s feet stopped moving.

“Fancy seein’ you here, Ms. Schemmenti,” you teased, slipping your phone into your bag as you pushed off your car.

Melissa’s pulse jumped.

She clenched her jaw, forcing herself to stay level. “You waitin’ for someone?”

You shrugged, all casual and innocent, even though she could see the mischief dancing in your eyes. “Not really. Just… takin’ my time.”

Melissa exhaled slowly, tilting her head. “And why’s that?”

You took a step closer, heels clicking softly against the pavement, your smile turning just a little smug—like you knew exactly why she was still standing there. Like you knew exactly how much of a mess she was trying to hide.

“I dunno,” you murmured, reaching up to toy with the strap of your bag, your nails lightly skimming over the fabric of your top. “Maybe I was hoping you’d come out here… and we could finish that conversation from earlier.”

Melissa swallowed.

It would’ve been so easy to walk away. To shut this down like she knew she should.

But when you took another step closer, looking up at her with those wide, knowing eyes, voice soft and full of something that made her stomach flip?

She wasn’t sure she could.

Melissa didn’t know who moved first. Maybe it was you, stepping into her space like you belonged there. Maybe it was her, finally giving in to that pull that had been tugging at her all damn day. But suddenly, you were close.

So close that she could feel the heat radiating off you, could smell that sweet perfume that had been driving her crazy, could see the way your pupils had blown wide with something that made her head spin.

Her breath caught in her throat as your fingers brushed against the sleeve of her blouse, slow and deliberate. Just like earlier, just like before, like you were testing her, like you were waiting for her to break.

And fuck, she was so close to breaking.

“Melissa,” you murmured, her name soft and syrupy on your lips, like honey dripping slow from a spoon.

That was it. That was all it took.

A low curse tumbled from her lips as she grabbed your waist, fingers curling tight around the fabric of your tiny little skirt as she pulled you flush against her. Your breath hitched—just for a second, just enough for her to know that maybe, just maybe, you weren’t as unaffected as you pretended to be.

And then her mouth was on yours.

It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t sweet. It was hungry, desperate, like something that had been caged for too long and was finally, finally set free.

Your lips parted beneath hers instantly, a little whimper slipping from your throat as you melted against her, your fingers sliding into her hair, nails scraping lightly against her scalp. The sensation sent a shiver down her spine, had her grip tightening on your waist, pulling you impossibly closer.

You tasted like mint and something sugary, something that made her dizzy, something that made her want more.

Melissa kissed you like she was starving, like she had spent the whole day trying to deny this and now that she had you, she was going to take her time. Her hands roamed, fingertips pressing into the soft curve of your hips, thumbs brushing the bare skin just beneath the hem of your top.

And you?

You were just as desperate.

You kissed her back like you had been waiting for this, like teasing her had been fun, but this? this was what you had wanted all along. Your body molded against hers, hips pressing into hers just enough to make her head spin, just enough to make her groan against your lips.

Fuck.

This was bad.

This was so bad.

But God, it felt so good.

Melissa barely had the mind to remember where you were, barely had the restraint to slow down. Because the way you were kissing her, the way your fingers were tangled in her hair, the way your body was pressed so perfectly against hers—it was wrecking her.

She broke away just long enough to breathe, just long enough to rest her forehead against yours, her hands still gripping your waist like she was afraid you’d disappear if she let go.

“Jesus Christ,” she muttered, her voice rough, uneven.

You giggled, breathless, your fingers still toying with the short strands of hair at the nape of her neck. “Took you long enough.”

Melissa groaned, eyes fluttering shut as she exhaled sharply. “You’re trouble, y’know that?”

You smirked, leaning in, brushing your lips against hers—just barely, just enough to make her chase after you. “Mm. But you like it.”

Melissa let out a short, breathy laugh, shaking her head even as her grip on your hips tightened.

Yeah.

Yeah, she really fucking did.

tags:

@undercoverprentiss

@caseycabotsvu

@schemmentisimpasours

@colourfulbisexualities

@babyboyhotchner

@sapphicandgraphic

@divorcedcigarettes

@glorifiedagents

@bellatrixnnarcissa

[antianakin]

Hey, I have a question to ask, and I'm gonna ask this to a few others cause I'm not a huge Star Wars expert on this.

Ever since The Acolyte aired, the jedi have been portrayed more as space cops. But, since when were they space cops? I thought they weren't like that. Am I wrong?

They AREN'T space cops, you're entirely correct, it's Leslye Headland who is wrong.

Here's the thing you have to understand about Leslye Headland and fans like her: they will claim to their dying day that they love the Jedi while sitting there talking about how the PREQUELS Jedi specifically were awful failures who doomed themselves by being heartless assholes who failed and/or abused Anakin and helped bring about the destruction of the Republic because they were simultaneously too political and not political enough.

When the Prequels first came out, they were received... poorly... by a large chunk of the adult audience. And it became a THING to hate the Prequel trilogy for a long time. After a while, people started deciding they didn't want to hate the Prequel trilogy, but they didn't actually LIKE some of the things in the films that were different from the legends canon that had already existed for years (primarily the way the Jedi had been interpreted), and so they chose to come up with interpretations that allowed them to "like" the Prequels better. The primary one that's become so popular as to basically end up considered the actual real intended message of the films is that the Jedi had become corrupt by the time of the Prequels, they were too old-fashioned and strict and stuck in their ways (specifically in that they forbid their members to love and were beholden to the Senate) and that this allowed Palpatine to win and Anakin to be seduced to the dark side, so they're the REAL villains of the entire story and the audience is SUPPOSED to dislike them.

In fairness to these fans, there IS a theme in the Prequels of an institute that's supposed to stand for peace and goodness being corrupted into an organization that is run by fear and greed. It's just that the institution in question is the SENATE, not the Jedi. And we spend a LOT more time with main characters who are Jedi, going out and doing cool fun Jedi adventures, than we do in the Senate with any of the known Senate characters doing political things. The only Senate character who could be considered a main character in the Prequels is Padme and a LOT of her more political scenes got cut from the films in order to focus on Anakin's story instead. Even in TCW, most of Padme's "political" episodes and storylines just devolve into action adventure plots instead. So it isn't hard to understand why people focused in on the Jedi and assumed that the story was ABOUT the Jedi rather than the politicians and picked up on a theme about corruption that was very much THERE and just misapplied it. But it's still wrong.

Leslye Headland appears to be one of those fans. A LOT of Star Wars fans of a certain age tend to follow this particular headcanon. Dave Filoni is another one of them, despite his reputation as George Lucas's "padawan" and the person who understands Star Wars the best after Lucas (spoiler alert: he's not).

So what we're getting in the Acolyte is a VERY intentional critique of the Jedi becoming more political I guess, more beholden to the Senate, and therefore becoming more like "space cops" instead of... I don't know... space Knights of the Round Table maybe? I think there's this concept that the Jedi should be more free spirited like... fairy god parents wandering the galaxy just handing out random miracles to worthy people and smiting the unworthy or some shit instead of being intergalactic ambassadors for the Republic, helping to resolve conflicts with legal backing and power.

This is something that's been around for DECADES now. It's in plenty of other books and comics that have come out during and since the Prequels, it's in TLJ, it's in TOTJ and TOTE, it's in the Ahsoka show, and now it's in The Acolyte. And it's obviously floated its way around fanfiction plenty, too. It's almost impossible to avoid if you talk to any other Star Wars fans from that age group (and even honestly fans YOUNGER than that age group because a lot of the older fans basically taught their children and younger siblings to hate the Prequels or that the Prequels were about the corruption of the Jedi, or younger fans just picked it up via osmosis if they spent almost any time within fandom the way I did). But it's becoming a thing that newer shows are really hammering in as if it's real canon. Headland genuinely believes that it is and we know that to be true because she's flat out SAID THIS in an interview she gave before the show aired. She 100% believes that the point of the Prequels, George Lucas's intended message in those films, was that the Jedi were corrupt and had fallen from grace. Her show is written with this misinterpretation of the films as a foundation for how she portrays the Jedi.

And that's how you get the Jedi suddenly feeling like "space cops" when that's so very clearly not what they are in anything Lucas ever created.

[jumped-for-the-yaoi]

listen jet if i have to think abt soulmate mutiny you do too. mutiny duo who r soulmates thru every server they join.

lszam who feels the soulbond snap into place the first time wemmbu joins in s4 with the wormhole and subsequently does her best never to leave his side. shes still devoted to mapicc and her other friends and allies, sure , but thats her soulmate. when he gets killed and banned off the server by minute thats the start of her joker arc . she doesnt stop until theyre both dead and gone. lszam who tries to stay by lswemmbus side even when he hurts her over and over again in s6 and grieves for him when hes killed again in s6, unable to resolve their final conflict. lszam who loses her soulmate again and again but still tries to keep a piece of him by her side, always there as a momento.

uuwemmbu who meets zam for the first time on unstable and feels his soulbond click, and he starts following her practically unquestionably from that moment onward. even when egg questions zams motivations even when she betrays them both, even when she levels that nation to the ground and hurts him in every way possible he still feels attached to her. uuwemmbu who tries to get back at her, get through to her the only way he knows how; through more and more violence that eventually leaves them both at a standstill. uuwemmbu who loses his soulmate when she disappears into the woods with pangi, unsure of where to go next.

and then zincewam, where they meet another version of their soulmate- whos the same, but ever so slightly different. its not the same, and they dont have that incessant urge to stay by this version of their soulmates side, but they do anyway. because they understand. and yeah so im gonna go drown myself now

wait hold on im like really abnormal about this actually oh my god. wait oh my god . if you’re gonna go drown cna i come with

ls!mutiny duo is so doomed bro… especially s6 . God. They’ve been on opposite sides since the very very beginning but they’re still tied to each other . S5 do you think Zam felt the bond dwindling with every time Ash killed him. Felt it fading before disappearing altogether until all that was left in its wake was void. Do you think it was even more violent the second time around, with hardcore mode enabled. Idk just something to think about… And oh my god in s6 Zam didn’t even get to resolve her conflict with wemmbu herself. he was cut down and banned off the server and in the end zam wasn’t even the one gripping that sword’s hilt . Anyways im being really really normal about this yeah

uu mutiny duo on the other hand is so so toxic and fucked up dear fucking god. how unflinchingly wemmbu trusts zam in the beginning and wholly believes her to feel the same (spoiler alert: she doesn’t). zam later being unwilling to kill him because 1) he doesn’t want to and 2) its more fun that way vs wemmbu coming back every single goddamn time he’s defeated and humiliated because he has a plan and it’s to destroy everything zam has and he’s not going to stop until he’s finished. they’re tethered and pulled together in this cycle of violence and destruction until neither of them have anything left to lose but the other . strangling each other with the red string of fate that ties them together so to speak. they’re so fucking terrible for each other i hate them so much

the zincewam version waiiiiiiiit. the bonds being not as strong and not exactly the same as they would be with their soulmates from their respective universes . maybe uuwemm is okay with that because his tie with uuzam is a painful reminder of their past and the slight difference in the soulbonds is a reassurance that this is different and he will not be haunted by his past here. Or something idk im writing this at 2 am am i cooking or should i be cooked

i literally can’t think of anything for wincezam so. Shocking they would have the most decently average soul bond stuff going on out of all four of them jesus christ i think that says something. What if lswemm found a way to make the soul bond visible to them both so he could tug on it lightly or hold it up for uuzam like that one meme thats like “im your idiot. Foreverrrr”

its almost 3 am jfc im gonna go to bed

[freakinator]

funny thing about how i view the conflict in todays stream is that i view flame and wemmbu in very separate ways despite them doing essentially the same thing

in flames case:

i view his betrayal as ultimately a tragedy, their history all thrown aside due to a combination of wounded pride and genuine upset

if yall didnt see his chat for this stream it was actually really, really bad, like his chat is genuinely so fucking annoying oh my god and is a really good demonstration of why i think streamers should be mean to their chatters sometimes to so i actually wasnt at all surprised that he was so upset but i thought hed log off instead of acting out like this

he wanted respect but literally ruined the months long work of one of the few ppl that were willing to trust him over something that couldve been resolved if he just waited until september, but at the same time i can kinda understand why he was being so impulsive considering again his chat is Really bad, but at the end of the day that really shouldnt have been something you took out on one of your few allies like???? bruh even mocked zams storytelling as if he didnt do thee same shit as well 😭

honestly one of the reasons i was sad about his betrayal is cause it kinda sounded to me like he was genuinely about to cry at first??? maybe im just making shit up tho and he def stopped sounding like he was gonna cry after blowing up the spacewaffles tower lol

in wemmbus case:

i feel no pity for this man, he wanted conflict wherever he can get it and he got it! i think hes a lot like zam in that he just wants some attention and most importantly something to do but whatever happens to him next is his own fault lmao, i respect his honesty tho like hey he sucks but he knows what hes about at least lol

the fact that he still kept trying to get a commission from zam (or at least guilttripping him about it for lack of a better word) like bro i know you wanted to do a capitalism morality dilemma arc with zam but read the room my guy 😭

maybe hes at least a little mad that zam kept turning him away despite the fact he accepted a commission from mapicc of all ppl but like. bro. theres a reason zam called him a nightmare customer lmao

that being said you can tell hes not used to going this overboard considering he offered to help repair the tree when zam got upset lmao

idk i just thought his evilness was kinda funny, still hope he gets his shit kicked in spectacularly tho!

its funny, despite being acting like the shitty no reading comprehension version of abyss he gives me the exact same feeling of schadenfreude i did for minute back in s5 and i believe part of it is his mockery of lore and weird complicated dismissal of moral conflict particularly regarding zam

by weird complicated dismissal of moral conflict i mean both he and minute both tried to convince zam to see ''their side'' and ''reason'' but coming at it from an angle that completely misunderstands zam and when zam points it out they dismiss it and act like it means nothing because of their ''objective'' view of reality, spoiler alert! its not objective at all and they refuse to understand things from zams perspective cause they think hes just being unreasonable or something

idk overall i think their motivations for doing things are just kinda... shit lol

like ik theres some pretty obvious parallels that can be made with s5 here but the difference between the og players and flamebu aside from the lack of style and drama is that the og players waited several months before they started acting out the way they did and when they did start acting out tgey always made sure evryone who wanted to get involved Actually got involved rather than doing it while everyone was away plus their opps werent their own allies (except maybe pangi depending on how you look at it)

[vesora]

Hi Sora! Thank you so much for your advice and help! I’m sorry for the long post ahead, please feel free to ignore me if you find the post too chunky.

I checked out RealityWarpingg and saw a post that goes like this “And if right now, I could 100% drop my belief in the possibility of failure, success would be the only thing that I would experience for the rest of my life” and I kinda see what you mean by “If self is perfect and you are self then why wouldn’t everything be perfect”. I’m not sure if I’m understanding it correctly, please correct me if you see a problem.

It’s the self that gives the reality to the experience. I’m so afraid of letting the problem go because I think once I let it go, the body and mind will suffer from hell knows what problems. Back in loass, I always have this and that method to do to “fulfill” myself so that I think I’m working towards something, so the world won’t burn because of me doing nothing. All these thoughts were because I identify myself as the ego, the ego thinks she has to do xyz or the world will doom. But if I stop identifying myself as the ego, and start to know who the true self is, I just drop the problem, and it will disappear, like literally disappear, in the example I stated before it’s “dropping out of school doesn’t exist, everything is perfect because the self is perfect”.

This is my understanding till now, please correct me if I made a mistake!

Writing this down arises another two question:

1. so how would the problem be resolved? By the belief or the love the self has? Because Self loves all of her creations?

2. I remembered reading a post of Ada several days ago, I don’t remember the exact words, and based on my understanding I remembered the overall meaning as something like “you have to accept the worst situation that might happen to the you, have the courage to face what the ego fears”. I’m sorry if I misunderstood what her meant, please ignore it if you find this sentence ridiculous. Did she mean “only when we are open to accept the worst situation do we let go the ego”? Because if we don’t see ourselves as the ego, we won’t be bothered by the problem it’s facing, then the problem flies away because we don’t give it reality? Or did she mean “let the ego deal with the problem, it’s not my problem, let the ego suffer because it’s all just a dream”. I think this is not what she meant because this is duality, but I’m not sure of my understanding.

Thank you Sora, for your help and time! Apologies for the long post, I’m really bad at concluding my thoughts lol.

hello again love!

I’m so afraid of letting the problem go because I think once I let it go, the body and mind will suffer from hell knows what problems. Back in loass, I always have this and that method to do to “fulfill” myself so that I think I’m working towards something, so the world won’t burn because of me doing nothing.

Oh boy I get this! It is so incredibly scary to just surrender since we have been in a process of doing and controlling 'external' circumstances (which there has never been a process but we identify with there having been one). ND is radical whereas LOA is more to get something so if you want to just get something right now, I would suggest LOA just so you don't spiral. Any 'method' 'works'' as long as you know that you are not a human and that which you 'think' you see is an illusion and effectively, unreal and can be molded into a different thing at any given moment the Self decides. There are no facts at all, there is nothing that is static and stable, it depends on your will to accept yourSelf as the Absolute Authority you ARE. The character has no power because the character is an illusion. You can try changing from the outside world but the only reason it will work is if you know that circumstances start and end with You.

By Ada:

But if I stop identifying myself as the ego, and start to know who the true self is, I just drop the problem, and it will disappear, like literally disappear, in the example I stated before it’s “dropping out of school doesn’t exist, everything is perfect because the self is perfect”.

Yes, because the one who you think you are is in school just because you believe they are in school, therefore if you wanted a different experience you can easily get it because there is no one here but you. No other power but you. The world is only solid because you believe it is.

1. so how would the problem be resolved? By the belief or the love the self has? Because Self loves all of her creations?

The problem will be resolved because Self doesn't want to experience it anymore. Imagine this:

You are painting a beautiful scenery. You have alllll the colours you could have but for this painting you only want green. However, you have red in your hand. The green is RIGHT THERE for you to grab but you won't let go of the red. The paint doesn't have a mind of its own, the air isn't dictating which colour is in your hand, it is all YOU. You are struggling against your own Self, trying to grab green whilst your hands are filled with paintbrushes with red. Drop the red and grab the green paint. THERE IS NOTHING BUT SELF! There is no effort, just a conscious decision to stop identifying yourself as the paint but instead, as the painter. Then you go one step forward and identify yourself with every-thing because the reason that there even is a thing is because of You. In reality, Self is a total negation.

Did she mean “only when we are open to accept the worst situation do we let go the ego”? Because if we don’t see ourselves as the ego, we won’t be bothered by the problem it’s facing, then the problem flies away because we don’t give it reality?

Yes, because you are not afraid of it anymore. It is just a passing thought with no basis.

Read this - the following are not my words, the creators have been credited in the beginning of each section:

Neville:

I AM the believer limited by my beliefs, the knower defined by the known. The world is my conditioned consciousness objectified. That which I feel and believe to be true of myself is now projected in space as my world. The world – my mirrored self – ever bears witness of the state of consciousness in which I live. There is no chance or accident responsible for the things that happen to me or the environment in which I find myself.

The most difficult thing for man to really grasp is this: That the “I AM-ness” in himself is God. It is his true being or Father state, the only state he can be sure of. The Son, his conception of himself, is an illusion. He always knows that he IS, but that which he is, is an illusion created by himself (the Father) in an attempt at self-definition.

Now that you have discovered your I AM, your consciousness to be God, do not claim anything to be true of yourself that you would not claim to be true of God, for in defining yourself, you are defining God.

The visible world of itself can do nothing; it only bears record of his creator, the subjective state.

Lester Levenson:

God is All, God is Perfect, and if God is All and God is Perfect, everything must be perfect, and that leaves no place for imperfection or troubles - Lester

reality warpingg:

infinite.ko/infiniteko:

"Deciding to wake up as a different ego" How do you expect to wake up as something that fundamentally does not exist? Would it make sense to you if the ocean wished to wake up as a wave? Does a wave truly exist on its own or is it an illusory form the ocean takes on? What are both made of?💧

[wombpala]

s8 was great bc Dean was like im different now bc I've spent the past "year" having dirty nasty gay sex with a big Cajun vampire I'm covered in blood and grime and I want to bark at ppl in the supermarket and Sam was like yeah I'm different now bc I finally decided to be clean and good and have a birthday picnic with my dog. I eat so much salad bc I'm the world's normalest man who is not scared of meeting my girlfriend's dad ❤. irreconcilable differences. how ever will we resolve this conflict and go back to living in the car together. spoiler alert. they went back.

[hikaritakaishi]

Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning [My Movie Review]

♡ ! SPOILER ALERT! ♡

This review will contain spoilers of the movie, continue reading if you already saw the movie, or just don’t mind the spoiler! Enjoy & comment something if you want to share an opinion! ♡

After what seemed ages of waiting, Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning finally aired in Portugal, on May 16, 2024, several months after it’s national premiere in Japan, on October 27, 2023. I was worried that it wouldn't come to my country, but perhaps due to the huge acceptance of Digimon Adventure: LAST EVOLUTION KIZUNA, the distributor made the hearts of the DigiDestined from the most hidden corner of Europe warm again and brought us the sequel. Thank you remembering us once again! ♡

I really tried to keep my expectations as neutral as possible until the day I went to see the movie, which was pretty difficult, due to the fact that I was constantly being bombarded with online information about it, whether on Tumblr or Twitter, or through video recommendations on Youtube. I was so excited for the movie, that I had to control myself immensely not to go see the spoilers.

Initial considerations? I like it. In general. But let's go in parts!

This will be an analysis of what I consider to be the most important points of the movie and what caught my attention the most. A personal analysis, so don't take it too seriously if I don't talk about a certain point or a certain specific topic, I probably just missed that.

Firstly, I would like to comment on the initial dynamics of the movie.

Everything seems to happen much faster here than it did in Kizuna. Despite being two movies with practically the same time span, this one seemed to go by much faster. But it might just be me. [LAST EVOLUTION KIZUNA have 94 minutes, and The Beginning have 87 minutes total].

 We're introduced to the key plot problem pretty quickly too.

People's digital devices are glitching, and the same message is repeating itself on all of them, not just on the phones and televisions, but on computers and large digital screens in cities all around the world. And this all around the world is very important, because it not only brings us closer to what will be the future of humanity and it’s increasing contact with the Digimon and the Digital World, but it opens the path we take since 2012 [time of the movie] until to the epilogue of 02 (which the production team and Toei animation seem to insist on wanting to keep canon, despite all the script inconsistencies it can cause, or how different from the initial profile of each character it may be).

“May everyone have friends, may everyone have a partner Digimon”

It's the message. Meanwhile, we are told that a suspicious and unknown Digitama appeared in the sky of Tokyo, right above the Tokyo Tower, and it’s been there for a while. Taichi and Koushiro are showned to be trying to help resolve this issue as professionals in the field of diplomacy and technology respectively, but without major progress.

I think it's important to highlight that they are the only two characters from the first season of Adventure who appear in this movie, and even so, without any direct speech or great relevance, beyond contextualization, and later Taichi as well again for the context of “space- time”, in that frame we see in the trailer of the movie with Hikari, which we later discover is located in Hikarigaoka, where Rui also lived when he had his first contact with Ukkomon.

The focus is on the characters from 02, or at least, it should have been. But as in Digimon Adventure Tri, this focus is overshadowed by the introduction of another new character in the story: Rui Owhada [or Lui, in Japanese pronunciation].

Rui [or Lui] is a much more charismatic character than Meiko was in Digimon Adventure Tri. There is no doubt about that.

Meiko was a somewhat empty character. A static character without great charisma. The only pleasant scenes she had were driven by the other characters around her (namely Mimi).

Rui doesn't. Rui is a character on his own. With a much more aggressive personality and a much more interesting past. The only issue here is the length of the movie: This movie is too short; too short for us to get attached to this character and actually be able feel empathy for everything we are shown about him. So short, that it's difficult to develop both this new character and the others around him, which, by the way, is a shame.

I mostly went to see the movie in hopes to see more from the 02 cast, and not because, again, of a random character they created for this new script. Just like what happened in Tri.

And this is important because notice that one of the most complex and best-built characters in the Adventure universe is literally the character with the most screen time: Takeru.

Analyzing Takeru's character as a whole is extremely time-consuming, because he was in every season, and practically involved in all the main events of the plot, either by himself or through the relationships he establishes throughout the plot, which feed the character's emotional charge. Which makes him a very complex character.

There's no time for that here. There is no time to establish a relationship between Rui and the other characters, nor to establish a relationship between Rui… and the audience.

Rui's childhood is very shocking and once again, Digimon brings a very strong narrative based on a complex and deep family plot.

We had already had examples in Adventure of family issues with Takeru and Yamato, Koushiro, and in 02 with Iori and also Ken. To a certain extent, even with Miyako. But here we reach a higher level of complexity... and violence (remember that the age to see the movie is over 12 years old. I can totally understand why).

Rui is physically abused and neglected by his mother, who leaves him out in the cold, starving when he makes a childish mistake or does something she doesn't like... when he is only four years old. His father has a very serious illness and depends on his wife to survive. Rui is then shown as a sorrowful child, lonely and without any support network. We've never had anything in the Digimon Adventure series so… raw. The aura of the movie is deeply heavy and dark.

The evolutions and battles in this movie are far from being the focus, which probably frustrated many people who went to see the movie for this more dynamic side of the anime.

It is a film with a moral content and even touches on the philosophical, about the bonds we create with others and their nature, about how we should relate to others and learn about them every day we have them in our lives.

It's about healthy communication, and how it's okay to correct the people around us, as long as it's made based with pure intentions. Because love is not omissive. Love corrects, love draws the other's attention for what really matters, in the form of love. In the form of companionship. Nothing physical or superficial is worth the price of a real bond.

The movie really grew with it’s audience. It is not, at all, a movie targeted for new fans of the franchise, or for those who know little about the Adventure series universe. It's for those who know the characters, for those who grew up with them. If you don't know the characters, you will miss details and conversations that are important to really understand the plot as a whole.

Daisuke and Ken look on Rui’s past with him. They see the arrival of Ukkomon in his life, who should’ve bring peace and comfort, but it is only the beginning of all his problems.

Let's take a break from the movie's plot to talk about the characters of 02.

I'm going to divide them into groups, because it seems like they individually… don't have much progress or very memorable scenes, honestly. It doesn't even make sense to separate them, in my opinion, and you'll understand why.

♡ Daisuke & Iori

There is not much to talk about them here. Daisuke and Iori are the flattest characters in the movie. Iori much more than Daisuke, let's be honest. Iori barely speaks, and has very few relevant scenes.

Daisuke works at a ramen restaurant, as he always wanted, where he gathers his friends to talk about the problems they are facing right at the beginning of the movie.

His personality is practically the same, Daisuke from 02 is the same Daisuke from The Beginning, and even the same character as in Kizuna, he is just taller here and wears different clothes. He still aspires to have his own ramen business and is extremely focused on his career goals. Which was predictable, given the way he talks about his dream in 02.

Daisuke's only two relevant scenes are seconds long: the first when he convinces Rui that the bond of friendship he and his Digimon partner share is much more than something superficial; it's something that comes from the heart, and that no object makes a difference between them, namely the Digivice, (something we also expected to hear from Daisuke in 02, which justifies my opinion that in the meantime... he remains the same).

The other is a scene that had enormous potential, but is cut short by a comical moment in which Miyako pops up.

Daisuke is talking to Ken seriously about Rui, and how he and his Digimon could understand each other better if they just communicate more effectively and directly, and Ken comments that Daisuke's more serious side is very pleasant and rarely appears. However, Miyako speaks up and dismisses the subject. Sadly.

We could have had a conversation here that could tell us more about Daisuke’s presente self and way he sees life now.

*sigh* Anyway.

Iori, again, doesn't speak much. Seems to only have intermediary interventions, and serves as a “pair” for Daisuke and Rui in the snowball fight that we see at the end of the movie. A very beautiful scene, don't get me wrong, but only if we see it from the perspective of Ken and Miyako, and Hikari and Takeru. I'll talk about that now.

♡ Ken & Miyako

Ken and Miyako are two characters who seem to grow more together than apart within the movie's plot. Which is natural, given that we know at the end of 02 that they become in fact a couple, and that they build a family together in the future. Here we see the first steps towards their future as a couple.

As expected, nothing explicit or direct is given to us about the nature of their relationship, but we can understand that there is progress, especially by the end of the movie, before the snowball fight, when Miyako tells Ken something that seems extremely vague, but actually means something.

 “Let's do it together! "  What? I don't think they are aware yet. Ken also seemed very confused about it.

“ Keep thinking Ken, we have to find another solution. “ We also see Miyako trying to support Ken at that moment when they have to make a decision about the future of Ukkomon and the world.

Here comes what I said above: Love cannot be omissive. We cannot expect the least from those we love. If we know the potential of the person we have by our side, we have to support them. If we see that they are trying to go further, we must support their journey and be a source of advice and rest. Alone we can go faster, but with the right company we can certainly go further.

And I think this is where the movie touches on something really important.

It is in these small moments that we see that they really want to tell the audience something beyond, but we need to have a fine power of perception.

No conversation or comment is random, everything contributes to the story. Digimon Adventure has always been made up of metaphors and subjectivities, it is necessary to know how to interpret and be attentive.

In the midst of that dilemma of whether or not to defeat Ukkomon that we talked about a moment ago in relation to Ken and Miyako, we have another moment that I consider important between Takeru and Hikari, which for those who don't know the characters, can take it as a normal conversation of two people who know each other well. Too well, even.

♡ Takeru & Hikari

Keeping in mind their journey, and everything they went through together, is the key to understand the nature of the relationship they share now. But before that:

Much like Ken and Miyako, Takeru and Hikari do not exist separately in the plot. It's ridiculously difficult to separate them. If you talk about one, you have to talk about the other.

At the beginning we see them together in the city when the electronic devices break down, and this dynamic continues throughout the entire movie.

They practically always walk side by side, Hikari takes the front seat in Takeru's car, and even when they are talking to Rui and trying to understand what happened to him in his past, they were a nucleus apart from the others. Nothing new, really. More of the same. But it's in that conversation I spoke about earlier that we understand something that is even part of the main moral of the movie: the way they now communicate with each other now, is different.

Anyone who has followed Takeru and Hikari throughout the series knows that the main “problem” in their relationship has always been direct communication.

Exposing things to others as they are is scary. And none of them were good at doing that.

Deliberating about feelings, exposing what disturbs us, what distresses us, what we think of a certain attitude of the other person. That was always Takeru and Hikari's problem and what hindered the possible evolution of their friendship, into a real love relationship.

In Tri we discover that Hikari starts to look at Takeru differently. And we know that Takeru has concrete feelings for Hikari (Said by the actor who plays Takeru's voice) And then? It's done? Things… are much more complicated than that.

They first need to accept the situation in question (And I tell you this as someone who also developed a romantic relationship with a childhood friend. It's not easy. Trust me. It's far from easy!)

And far from being quick.

It requires a lot of deliberation mostly. Just accepting the fact that we see that person we grew up with differently, someone who has always been part of our life, and we can lose them. Just because we developed feelings. Is scary. There's a lot to lose. It's all or nothing. Especially when one side has trauma associated with romantic relationships. (remembering that Takeru's parents are divorced) it's even worse.

What seems to exist between them in The Beginning was the result of a long process. But effective, it seems to me. Whatever decision they made, it went… pretty well.

Takeru is completely against defeating Ukkomon, from the moment he realizes that this could also imply the disappearance of his Digimon partner.

He probably saw the suffering Taichi and Yamato went through when Agumon and Gabumon disappeared and the suffering he would go through if he lose Patamon... again. And he is extremely vocal and firm in what he says and what he thinks about all of that. Impulsive really.

Until Hikari intervenes. Which cuts through his catastrophic reasoning. She asks him to think, opening up a new perspective on the situation.

Here we have a conversation between them that is quite lengthy (compared to the fast action standard of the rest of the movie) in which Hikari tries her best to make Takeru use reason and not emotion in his deliberation on the situation.

Takeru who, remember, whenever “darkness” or “sacrifice” is mentioned, leaves his rationality aside, becomes blind with pain because of his past traumas.

Hikari's role here is almost the same as Miyako’s in Ken's case: calling to earth and calming Takeru, always in an understanding way, because you can see that she knows where that feeling comes from and that position initially adopted by him (and it is something which she can almost predict would happen, by the speed with which she responds) but she knows that he is better than those triggers that make him impulsively speak based on emotion and neglect reason.

It's about getting to know each other. Knowing how to talk to our person about the most difficult topics. Because it is necessary to strengthen your union. Predict reactions, and be there to calm them down, because you may even know that the person is not to blame for the feelings and traumas they carry, but believe that they are bigger than them. And expect the same from the other side.

The way Miyako knew that Ken could find a solution, he just needed to think a little more. Hikari understood perfectly where Takeru's impulsive reaction came from, but she knew that if she appeal to his racional side he would be able to think of a better alternative to the problem, which he thought would be the end of the world.

That's why I separated this analysis into groups (although the first one isn't... substantial) and decided to analyze the characters together, because that's what this movie is about.

It's about who you are with your people, and the bond you share with them. In a world so individualized, so selfish and so distant (largely because of technology, which distances us from each other), I found it a very necessary message.

And the role of adults? With children and more painful lives?

It is to understand that children are also humans. Who also think, and feel, and understand things. Just like them. Adults tend to forget that they were once children themselves.

We already saw this topic being developed in Adventure 02, but seeing Rui as an adult, reaching to his mother in the past, and drawing her attention to the fact that she neglects her son, is something very touching. Sometimes, we just need a wake-up call, and we can change the future. Ours, and our future with others.

 The DigiDestined of 02 encouraged Rui not to give up on someone he loved, Ukkomon, because after all, he only acted the way he acted because he thought it would make Rui happier, even though he failed. Several times.

Ukkomon basically gave Rui everything he thought he needed, everything he wanted. But this is not always ideal.

He acted with his partner's happiness in mind, and this blinded him to the risks he was putting him into. He idealized their entire relationship, and everyone's relationship with him. Instead of being, real. And real things are never perfect.

Rui wanted friends? He gave him friends. He even reprogrammed his parents. They became manufactured humans. And the movie is about reality and accepting it as imperfect as it is.

Do you know what that reminded me of? That whole fantasy created by Ukkomon of “perfect world where Rui is never sad and everything is wonderful?” The fantasies in which the characters from 02 cast were trapped in at the end of the series. That world created with the characters’ deepest desires.

Takeru wanted his family united. Iori wanted his father back and to be able to show him the Digital Word. Miyako wanted attention. Ken… wanted to redeem himself. Hikari wanted peace. It's exactly the same thing.

Think about it with me: For example, Takeru's parents could’ve stay together, they could never have divorced, but they would still have problems. They would argue, and there would be conflicts. Which doesn't mean that this wouldn't traumatize their children even more. Maybe the divorce was in fact the best option for all four of them.

Ken felt he deserved the same suffering he inflicted on others. Would that really be the answer to appease his soul?

But none of it was real.

Not even Hikari's utopia of a world constantly at peace is real. Not even the absence of siblings in Miyako's life would solve anything. Things are not black and white and really, what we want is not always what we need.

Rui just needed to talk to Ukkomon and be sincere.

Where is Mimi tho?!

I will end with a few quick notes that I think are worth highlighting: First, the music and animation in general. As expected, they are excellent.

Very well done visually, appealing scenes, and the last snowball fight scene is so simple… but so delightful.

Life is made up of beautiful moments as well as tragic moments, light and darkness.

Did you notice that part of the movie takes place in a much dark environment, and when the main action is resolved, the movie gains light? I believe that is not just because!

Visually it can be very strong because there is blood, there is violence, there are physical wounds, it conveys the affliction in a very literal way.

Another thing that was expected to happen, but that probably wasn't even thought of properly when the Epilogue of 02 was made, was the problematic of whether or not everyone deserves, has enough morals and ethics, to have a Digimon partner.

How do you maintain peace between humans when you give them free access to machines of war and mass destruction? How do we build the world we see bz the end of 02 where everyone lives in peace even under these circumstances? Which is the the role of the government?

We'll probably need one more movie to find out.

Honestly, I hope you enjoyed this short (not... that short in fact) and sincere review. If I were to give stars, I would give the film 4/5 stars.

It could’ve been better, sure, if there was at least another half hour of animation.

But I don't complain. Despite that, I liked it. I cried, I laughed, just like I cried and laughed when I saw Digimon in my childhood, and that's everything for me. I was surprised by the message of the movie and the way they chose to visually convey it to us. Either way, I hope there's one more movie. To finally conclude the arc of all these characters, and finally, reach the epilogue of 02 (but in a dignified way please).

♡ Thank you once again Digimon ♡

[coqquit]

My Unusual Success Story

I have this really unusual success story which happened to me today. It really changed my perspective on how manifestation happens in different ways.

Reminder, this is not a methodical guide on manifesting. This is simply my success story. So, here's some context: My school was conducting online classes today and the internet went out during my second-last class. I was home alone and my phone had no data so I couldn't contact my mom about the problem. I waited for a few minutes for it to come back, but it didn't. So I decided to manifest it back! I robotically affirmed for a few minutes while I engaged myself with other activities. Naturally, as I got absorbed in something else, I stopped affirming altogether and just...forgot about it, lol. Suddenly, a very uncharacteristic thought occurred inside my head, "I can just go to my neighbours and ask to use their phone to contact my mom and ask her to somehow resolve it. I would normally not go through with such bold moves, especially while being alone at home, but something in me shifted, and I felt a push to go through with such an idea. Long story short, I followed through with this idea and got my internet back almost immediately and was able to attend my last class for the day. Now, you guys may be questioning the reality of this, my internet didn't come back by itself after robotically affirming, but I followed through with a 'silly' idea and got it back anyway in a short period.

I want you guys to remember the definition of manifestation, it's aligning our energy with our desires because our desires are already ours in the 4D, we just make the mistake of chasing them instead of attracting them. I'd like to emphasise on 'aligning our energy' here. By robotically affirming, I subconsciously shifted my energy to this higher version of myself who wasn't afraid of thinking about such bold moves and actually going through with them. By robotically affirming and detaching, I completely immersed myself in the 4D, which led my literal thought and behavioural process to change, which led me to do something 'uncharacteristic' and ultimately having the 3D align with the 4D. In simpler terms, manifestation doesn't just mean assuming and persisting and having it magically appear in front of you, it means that you quite literally rewire yourself so hard that the universe sends these 'uncharacteristic' thoughts in your head as signs of your manifestation working. When you truly indulge in these thoughts, you complete the process of aligning with your 4D, which is so powerful in its truest form that it leads the 3D immediately conforming to the 4D. And that is probably just one other way the universe manifests your desire, there can be multiple if you observe closely. One more thing I learned from this experience is that the things you conclude as insignificant can be the biggest signs the universe can be sending out to you, signalling that your manifestation is working! So that's it really, just remember that you are the one most powerful being in YOUR reality because spoiler alert!! ITS YOURS. Anyway,

Happy Manifesting, xoxo

[physalian]

On “Passenger” Characters

Or, when your hero’s journey ends up mattering very little to the overall plot. No matter what they do or don’t do, the villain’s plan still comes to fruition. This is not a doomed narrative, as if the character is cursed or trapped in a time loop, rather, it tends to feel like an accidental oversight.

Most famous example: Raiders of the Lost Ark

This is the best case scenario, right here. In this movie, Indiana Jones is on a mission to stop the Nazis from retrieving the Ark of the Covenant to wield it against the free world. The movie resolves with the Nazis getting exactly what they asked for—the Ark of the Covenant, and all that comes with it. Indie’s actions only delayed the inevitable, and in other ways, sped up the inevitable.

For instance, when he figures out that their staff is too short and finds the correct burial site of the Ark, he gets caught with the Ark already recovered, handing it to the villains who were digging in the wrong place. They would have kept doing so for who knows how long had Indie not found it for them.

 However, Raiders is still a fantastic movie. Why?

Because Indie’s story is still compelling, whether he succeeds or not—and he did. Had he not been there to witness the Ark’s vengeance, it likely would have either sat abandoned on that island, or been recovered by the remaining Nazis unaware of what transpired. He made sure it made it to… well, different hands.

In this movie, whether or not Indie succeeds takes a bit of a backseat to this back-and-forth cat and mouse between him and his foil: Beloch, the enemy archaeologist who represents beliefs and values in their shared practice that Indie is staunchly against. The theme of the movie isn’t even “good always wins” it’s “evil’s absolute power will corrupt absolutely”.

It was never about whether Indie would beat the Nazis—the Nazis’ arrogance beat themselves.

So, yes, Indie’s actions throughout the movie largely cancel out to nothing more than an entertaining chase, but you still came here for this guy’s string of Worst Days Ever, cheering when he succeeds, commiserating when he doesn’t. And, he learns, he grows.

He starts out the movie as a staunch skeptic of spirituality/godly wrath/cosmic energy/etc and ends it quite humbled—unlike the enemy who very much believed in it the whole time, or at least enough to attempt to control it for themselves.

—

I’m going to pick on a tiny little book I just read in comparison, and we’re going to ignore the divide between Spielberg’s screenwriting skills and this author’s experience. I did enjoy the book, what I didn’t like about it is still fresh in my mind, however, and I think it can be a learning experience.

Spoiler alert for Aces Wild.

The premise of this book is what I think demanded the resolution the way it happened, and I touched on this already in my review but that was mostly spoiler free.

This is a love letter to Ocean’s Eleven, but with a small group of teenagers. The problem is that, as this is contemporary fiction with no fantastical elements, you can’t have a cast of unfounded OP teenagers. In the film, these are adults with years-to-decades of experience in their niche fields of expertise. You don’t question for a second their competence and ability to get shit done.

Teenagers, however, lack that knowledge and skill.

So if you’re writing a story on a premise that’s, by design, a little shaky, you can’t have your characters doing all the cool heist things and succeed. They don’t have the skill, the connections, the funds, the insider knowledge. They’re visibly underage and 4 out of 5 of them have never gambled in their lives. They’re vastly out of their depths, and the story knows it.

But what happens is that a majority of the team ends up incredibility limited in their capacity to act, doing whatever the protagonist says with little say in the direction of the story. It’s believable, it just leaves them quite passive.

The resolution of the book, however, was a bit of a letdown.

Protagonist gets caught by the villain attempting one last go at getting the evidence he needs to take this guy down… and the villain reveals that this whole story was part of his plan, that all Hero’s progress was artificial, that his efforts amounted to nothing because the villain was just letting it all happen.

Believable, because it gives credence to how these kids snuck into the places they did reach if the guards were told to let them pass, but it makes 90% of the plot pointless.

Hero does snag the evidence he needs anyway, which wasn’t part of the villain’s plan, but all his efforts, all their own planning and practice and learning how to play poker and blackjack, their disguises, one kid’s hacking expertise—all of it was moot, because this nab came down to the Hero’s ability to pick-pocket.

He does learn and grow, and his arc concerning this high-roller life he’s inherited and whether he wants to let it define his future does resolve in a fulfilling way.

I just can’t shake the “oh, well, okay, that was underwhelming” feeling and it’s stuck with me in the two weeks since I read the book.

The villain is not his own undoing, either. It’s not his hubris that does him in, it’s not keeping a more secure fist around his precious intel. He doesn’t flash it smugly to the hero or taunt him with it, the hero figures out where it is on his own so his comeuppance is, while absolutely deserved, told to the reader as a thing that happens between scenes and not enjoyed live by the hero himself.

I’m not sure it’s fixable, because of the flawed premise. I’d even take a cliché “villain accidentally broadcasts their confession” resolution to at least include the hacker’s skills in making that happen.

Can’t stress enough that I didn’t hate the book, but one more pass through a developmental editor to address the climax would have made it that much better.

—

Bottom line, there’s nothing wrong with having passenger characters in the story. Raiders did it phenomenally, but Raiders was also a story about the villain’s ambition being their own undoing. It was a doomed tragedy, just the villain’s tragedy, not the hero’s.

[westwingwolf]

Why the Chenford Break Up Era Needs to Come to a Close Sooner Rather than Later on The Rookie...

I've expressed my opinion on the Chenford break over several long posts in the Chenford Discord. I'm sure I've annoyed them plenty with my thoughts, but I needed a place to vent so thank you for being patient with me and letting me rant. I swear I am trying to do better, but maybe getting all of my thoughts out in once place will finally calm the beast inside me enough to hold back any further ranting. This post will focus on what should come next after the break up, and not my opinions on whether the break up should have happened at all. It's over. It's done. We're here now, and I have to accept that so I can move on to enjoy what comes next.

Anyways, I thought I would collect all my thoughts here for those of you who are not in the discord. Whether you agree or disagree with me, that's fine. I'm making this public so I know I am opening myself up to disagreements. Just know I'm likely to respond if I can, and I'm less likely to give up discussing my opinion until long after it is necessary. So fair warning, everyone should proceed with caution.

On the highly unlikely chance that someone involved with the show sees this and it makes them think about what stories the show wants to tell, then feel free to share.

I foresee this getting long as the introduction is already this long, so proceed behind the cut if you dare... (Spoiler alert: it is very long.)

First off in most typical break up storylines on television (Because keep in mind I am strictly talking about how these storylines are portrayed in fiction for maximum dramatic effect. Real life is a totally different thing.) , there are certain elements that play out in a break up that is always meant to be temporary. And make no mistake, I do believe this break up is temporary. I refuse to believe otherwise. It's just a matter of how temporary will it be. I must also commend the writers for hitting these elements in a quicker fashion than I expected. (Whether that turns out to be a good thing or not depends on what comes next, but for now I like it.)

Avoiding each other and thereby avoiding fixing the issues that caused the break up. This element is the biggest key in determining how long the break up can last. The longer the characters avoid talking to each other, the longer the break up can go on without being resolved. As we saw in 607 Crushed, Tim didn't want to talk about it while Lucy did. This set the stage for avoiding the issue. This could have gone on longer with Tim digging his heals in to avoid addressing the issue by first refusing to admit to it, but Tim actually did the adult thing and sought out help. Because he had been thinking about needing help all day and because Lucy gave him that final push to get it when he still wanted to avoid talking to her about their issues. That dramatically cuts into the waiting time of couples getting to the point where they can talk about their problems.

Pining for each other. I will admit I thought 608 and 609 were going to be episodes where Tim and Lucy avoided each other entirely to prolong more of this break up by not having them interact at all, but I was pleasantly surprised and glad to be proven wrong. They had their nice pining and awkward moment in Grey's office in 608 Punch Card. Tim spends time thinking about Lucy and being reminded of her birthday. That leads to the very sweet Kojo Birthday Card moment which leads to an even bigger moment of pining for each other in the hall.

Putting aside the relationship problems to help each other and be vulnerable with each other. In 609 The Squeeze even though Lucy is still hurt by the break up, she knows Tim is going through a lot, and so she does what she can to comfort him. Thereby showing that Lucy is still the one who brings out the most vulnerable side of Tim. He put on brave face for Grey and Angela and everyone else, but that moment of melting into Lucy's arms and answering that he is okay now that she's holding him showed just how much he was trying to hold it all in. And he immediately goes back to his brave front once the elevator doors open. Tim has always been his most vulnerable with Lucy and that doesn't change whether they are together or not. Like the Kojo Birthday Card moment, this shows that they still care about one another and they don't let anger from/resentment of/shame about the break up stop them from showing that they care.

Working together in spite of the break up. I was surprised by how quickly they had them working together after their break up. I knew thanks to spoilers that they would have scenes together in 610 Escape Plan, but I expected group scenes. I didn't expect the car scene. Talking about Tim's therapy. Joking about their sex life. They seemed more at ease together after a break up than I thought they would be. Which makes it hard to believe they can go back to any of the major awkwardness from before. A scene like where they can barely speak to each other in Grey's office coming after this kind of moment won't make much sense. Therefore they have to be out of the awkward post break up phase. Again something that significantly cuts down the timeline in delaying getting back together.

Having the talk about their issues or at least getting close to the talk. Now, Tim and Lucy haven't had the full discussion about the breakdown of their relationship and all of Tim's issues. But they are closer to having it 610 then they were back in 607. With Tim going to therapy, with the sense that he wants to continue therapy despite having a psychotic blackmailing therapist, and with the apology he gave Lucy in the elevator along with his promise to repay her kindness in whatever small doses she'll allow; all of that indicates that he is finally in a place to have the necessary discussion about why they broke up. And Lucy wanted to have this talk back in 607 so there no longer seems to be a reason to delay it.

So now with all the steps that The Rookie has already shown through the Chenford break up, it's time to think about what comes next. Typically once the characters finally have the talk about why they broke up, they tend to talk about if they can get back together. We know the show is going to have do a little bit of time jump. A couple of weeks at most. If they want the audience to see this discussion, they'll have to come up with a reason for why they delayed it instead having it almost immediately when the door was open for them to have it at least the next day after that elevation conversation. Which I will allow if only because I really want to see it. If you remember when Wopez broke up in season one; they indicated they needed to talk about their relationship, then the talk they had was off screen and the next time we saw them they were back together. Great for them, but after the emphasis on how important is is that Chenford needs to talk to each other about why Tim broke up with Lucy, I want to see it. So I'm willing to go along with Lucy needed a couple of weeks to wrap her head around the idea and gather her thoughts to confront Tim.

What I will not understand is if Lucy or Tim decide to delay this talk for a long period of time. Lucy wanted to have the talk from the beginning. Tim wasn't ready but there is clear indication that his ready now. In order for Lucy to have agency in this situation and regain the balance that she lost when Tim unilaterally decided to break them up, I do think Lucy needs to be the one to say she wants to talk about their relationship. I don't want it to be like Tim saying "I'm ready to talk about our relationship" and Lucy to respond with "Oh, now you're ready?!" Because she would have a right to be mad. And if Tim is being true about letting Lucy take the lead by accepting his proving how much he appreciates her in however she will allow, then he has to wait for her to make that decision. I can't see Lucy delaying for whatever reason for too long. Even if she is still hurt by his actions, her curiosity about the cause of the break up is too much for her to let it go indefinitely. Think about how she was in 607 where she was desperate to know why. Think about her behavior after Emmett broke up with her, and this is Tim. She cares about Tim way more than she ever cared about Emmett. If nothing else, that need to know why is strong in her.

Having the discussion about the break up has a huge impact on whether or not the break up storyline can continued to be prolonged or not. As long as they avoid having the discussion, the longer they can delay the characters getting back together. But Chenford has already reached the logical point where they should have the discussion. As I've shown above it doesn't make sense for Tim or Lucy to want to delay it, so it cannot work for character reasons. It also doesn't make much sense for storyline reasons because they've already done everything else they can possibly do during a typical break up storyline as I explained above. This is literally the last step. Any delay would strictly be done to drive the viewers crazy, and when your writing becomes so obvious as to manipulate an emotional response from the audience it veers into bad writing territory. Always try to keep the writing more subtle so that it works for a character or a storyline, and not so you can see the pipe laid out easily for the viewer.

Now that I've explained why they have to have the discussion right away, I will talk about how I think it should be handled and what I would like to happen because of it. And when I say right away, I mean season 7 premiere. I'll give them until 702 if they have a lot going on action wise, but no more wasting time after that.

As I said, I want Lucy to have agency. That means she decides when they have this discussion. That also means giving her a lot more control in what happens because of the discussion. I understand her heart is broken. Her trust in Tim is broken. However, I do not believe the answer in fixing any of that is by her deciding not to give Tim another chance right away. Her agency isn't going to be affected by her deciding to stay broken up with Tim. She doesn't somehow get more power or power back because she decides they can't be together right now. I also don't see Lucy punishing herself or Tim because she is hurt and angry. That's Tim behavior, not Lucy behavior. If she loves him, if she wants to be with him, then she will want to fight for them. Also she has a psychology background, is she really going to let Tim suffer because he was going through an identity crisis? Is that at all true the nature of one of the most empathetic characters on the show? Lucy's agency comes in guiding the story and taking control. If anything delaying getting back together, only keeps her level of agency in the relationship/break up at where it was before. If she chooses not to get back together with Tim now, then what will drive her to make that choice later? Something he does to change her mind? Some unknown time when she suddenly feels "ready"? Neither of those options show me she has control. True agency in her relationship is her saying "I want to be with you, but things in our relationship have to change for the better, and this is how I want to make those changes happen."

Which leads to the what I hope comes next. I want to see Tim and Lucy actually working on their relationship. I don't want them going the route of "Everything is better now that we had that break up and got back together so we never have to discuss the problems that led to our break up again." Like what was essentially done to Wopez. Or how every now and then Nolan kind of snarkily brings back up the fact that Bailey hid the truth about Jason from him, and when he does she looks like she wants to beat him over the head with a bat. Actually working on fixing the relationship is more interesting a storyline that prolonging a break up as long as possible only to pretend like everything is okay afterwards because getting back together somehow miraculously solved all their problems. The writers and actors told us the importance of this storyline was to show them as a real couple with real problems. Well, a real couple that wants to be together is going to work on their problems if they have any hope of staying together so show me Chenford working on their problems.

One way to show me Chenford working on their problems is through couple's therapy. I think watching Tim and Lucy in couple's therapy would be funny, heartwarming, and dramatically tension filled with angst when necessary. And there doesn't have to be a lot of sessions. At least not a lot shown. Alexi mentioned not wanting to do the static, almost repetitive nature of Tim in therapy even though theoretically he does want to show ways that Tim has continued therapy. So really all that is needed is one episode of Tim and Lucy in therapy. Bookend the scenes of the episode with the first meeting is them being funny and awkward about it. And the final scene has the more raw and emotional moments that are tough to watch but get them understanding each other better. Then the rest of the episodes all they have to do is talk about what they learned or discussed in therapy or trying some exorcises to improve communication and intimacy.

No matter what Tim and Lucy do to fix their relationship, one thing that is absolutely necessary is to show Tim's growth. He started showing this in the elevator scene in 610 by willingly be more emotionally vulnerable with Lucy. It's never been about that Tim can't be emotionally vulnerable with her. He's more vulnerable with her than anyone. It's about Tim willing to put himself out there without Lucy having to ask or work to pull his feelings out of him. He pushes his feelings down so much that he doesn't ask for help when he needs. He needs to learn to ask for help. And he needs to learn to accept that help when it is offered. I would like to see Tim have another personal crisis, but this time instead of hiding and ghosting Lucy, he tells her about it immediately. She doesn't even have to ask or notice that something is off about him, he just tells her that he has problem and he wants her help in whatever way she can help him. That shows that Tim has grown and that he trusts Lucy to allow her to see the messy parts of himself. We know Lucy has seen plenty of the messy side of Tim and still loves him, but there is a part of Tim who is still afraid Lucy will walk away if he causes too much trouble. That's part of the reason he broke up with her. As much as he wanted to protect her, he also wanted to protect himself by not having her walking away from him. In his mind he lost Isabel because he didn't do enough and she said that living up to his standards was too much for her. He lost Rachel because he couldn't move for her job, and she couldn't give up that opportunity either. He lost Ashley because he couldn't give up being a cop, and she couldn't deal with that kind of life for him. Time and again has shown him that he isn't enough for people all the way back to probably feeling like is some kind of disappoint to his dad. And anyone who stays with him is going to be dragged down by him. The sad irony in that Lucy feels the same way in how her parents treat her. Lucy is the person who can understand Tim the most and love him for all of it. So an opportunity for Tim to willingly put himself out there for Lucy would be a great turning point in their relationship to show it has changed for the better.

Now you are thinking, well once everything is fine between Tim and Lucy isn't that going to make things boring again and put us right back to where we were before? I would argue that things were never boring, but if you are asking if it is not better to prolong the break up so that at least Tim and Lucy have a storyline filled with tension rather than things going back to being good between them again, I say no for these reasons:

Because the working through their problems storyline is filled with tension and needs to happen. It is still wrought with tension of whether or not it will work out. Arguably more so than just waiting to see if they will change their minds about getting back together. Working on their issues means putting all those problems right back in the forefront. It means talking about them instead of avoiding them. It's raw and messy and potentially shows all the cracks in the relationship that has to be repaired.

A longer delay in getting back together means we are less likely to see them actually work on their problems. If God forbid, they take a whole season for Tim and Lucy to decide to get back together, then we don't get any of that. If we manage to get a season 8, and Tim and Lucy don't get back together until the season 7 finale, then what is likely to happen is we come back to season 8 with them saying they worked it all, are fine, and will go on happily with their lives. Which is great, but I'm still going to be pissed that I had to endure a season and a half of a break up and I didn't even get to see the effort of them working on their problems. And if we don't get a season 8, if the writers find out near the end of this season that it is their last and they spent so much time on this break up, then what we get is a rushed getting back together to leave us satisfied that they are together but not particularly happy in the execution of it.

Once they are back together, and even if they are happy, they still have other issues that could cause them problems. One is Lucy wants to work undercover. The other is the chain of command issue. These problems only have significance to Tim and Lucy's relationship if they are together. If Lucy goes undercover while her and Tim are broken up, Tim is probably still worried about her, but there isn't much he can do about it. If they are broken up, Lucy not being around because of UC is no different than Lucy not being around because they are broken up. It doesn't really capitalize on all the problems between them if they aren't together to make it an issue. Same with the chain of command problem. Doesn't really matter if they aren't together. Neither of these issues can be tackled to their full extent by the writers is Chenford is not back together first. And if these problems are solved before Chenford get back together, then it's taking away a potential storyline when Chenford inevitably gets back together. Becomes a little too easy for them if Lucy get a job out of being under Tim's chain of command and decides she doesn't want to do UC anymore before she gets back together with Tim. So get them back together sooner, and they can address the storyline sooner.

Now here we are at what storylines can Tim and Lucy have after they are back together, have worked out their problems, and seem to be in a good place.

1.) The chain of command issue: I get that it was a whole thing in 5B and eventually led to Metro Tim. Sadly, because I think the writers really do want to put focus on either Patrol or Detectives, that means no more Metro Tim. If we are all honest with ourselves, as much as we love Metro Tim, the show wasn't really do enough with him in Metro. They spent just as many storylines, if not more, figuring out how to get Tim back on Patrol and/or working with Lucy as they did doing his own Metro thing. For this reason, I think Tim is going to remain on Patrol until the end or when they promote/retire Grey so Tim becomes Watch Commander (which I hope also isn't until the end if they decide to retire Grey.) They came up with a storyline that still doesn't make any sense to me to keep Lucy from getting promoted to Detective in order to keep her on Patrol so I assume that means they want her to remain on Patrol for as long as possible too. (Seriously, Primm, you got promoted and presumably a position you wanted because of Lucy so take your male ego and shove it up your ass.) So that means Tim and Lucy both on Patrol for the foreseeable future. As mentioned above this isn't an issue for them until they get back together so it's not an issue the writers need to address until they get back together. And no point in fixing it prior to that if they want to have the storyline. But how to fix it?

Simple answer: Sergeant Grey says it is okay for them to date. Yeah, that seems to fly in the face of making it an issue the first time around. But Grey was also there for that time. He saw what Tim and Lucy were willing to sacrifice to be together. He saw what those sacrifices ultimately led to. He paired them to work together even when they were dating and knows they can still work together well. They weren't too terrible even during the adjustment period of their break up so he didn't have to say anything more than once about making it work. If he sees them working just as well together as they are broken up, and none of it causes problems, then he can make the call to let them date. Chain of command issue be damned if he says it is not a problem. Especially if he doesn't want to lose one or two of his best officers. At this point, Chenford has been through enough so who is really going to care? Are the fans going to put up a big fuss if it means if we get to see Tim and Lucy not only dating but also working together? If the writers insist they have to remain on Patrol, then this is a concession they have to give us to make it work.

More complicated answer: Promotions As unlikely as it seems, I say just give everyone the necessary promotions. That starts with promoting Grey to captain. (Shh. I don't care about Lieutenant. ) Grey has been treated like the show's captain since Captain Andersen died. He is always in charge for the big events. Angela and Nyla go to Grey to talk about cases even though he isn't their boss anymore because they work in the Detective department. When Tim got promoted and worked in Metro, he was the same rank as Grey and answered to Pine, and yet somehow he usually answered to Grey anyway. The LAPD is currently going through a big shake up; some higher ups were probably compromised with this whole blackmail scandal. I'm sure one or two captains could have lost their jobs/rank. Promoting Grey wouldn't really change anything storywise in terms of what he does, but it would make more sense. Once Grey is promoted, Tim becomes Watch Commander. During this time Lucy takes the sergeant exam and passes easily. Grey creates a position in which Lucy is now his aide. She becomes his right hand woman when crisis mode. She can work on Patrol as sort of a liason role like Tim had in Metro so she can keep doing Patrol storylines. And if Grey is okay with it, she can even do some undercover work when necessary. It keeps Lucy available for all potential storylines while also giving her a well deserved promotion. And she will officially be under Grey's chain of command only and not Tim's.

2.) Tim and Lucy moving in together storyline. Once Tim and Lucy are back together, things get awkward for Celina as she now takes over Tamara's role of constantly catching Tim and Lucy in the middle of kissing. And maybe other things. Only a thousands time worse for everyone because Tim is Celina's boss and they all work together. Celina doesn't want to know that much about her boss/coworker's sex life, and they wouldn't like her knowing about it either. So after some very humorous and awkward moments, Tim and Lucy discuss moving in together. Are they prepared for this? Are in they in a good place after their break up? (Which is another reason they should get back together soon rather than later so there is more time between being in a good place and moving in together so it makes more sense.) Do they want to move in together to a place they already have or find a new place all together that is all their own? If they find a new place, they don't have to worry about Tim's home looking different yet again. That's at least two or three episodes. Build up the awkwardness with Celina, have the discussion about moving in, finding a place and moving in.

3.) Lucy getting a longterm undercover assignment opportunity. This storyline would ideally happen just as Tim and Lucy feel happy and secure in their relationship and have taken a big step like moving in together. They finally have to discuss what this means for them and if they truly can handle it. I think Lucy will have to take it and they will be able to make it work because they've put in all the effort that came before with working on repairing their relationship to make it stronger. If the show gets an 8th season, I can see this as a cliffhanger so that they can use the break between seasons to be a time jump so Lucy can be UC for months without having to isolate her for too long from the rest of the characters. Come back in the season 8 premiere with the end of the assignment winding down to an big action packed finish worthy of a premiere. And then Lucy decides she hates the isolation of longterm UC because she is a social person who needs to be around the people she loves. So she never does longterm UC again, and it is no longer an issue for Tim and Lucy. If this is the final season, then same storyline and outcome but sped up over a few episodes with an even more dramatic conclusion of Tim & Lucy hating being apart so they decide to get married.

And finally, I present you with the additional benefits of getting Tim and Lucy back together sooner rather later:

Secret Dating Era Redux: Tim and Lucy hiding their relationship once again, but this time it's more difficult and potentially more funny. Tim sneaking out of Lucy's apartment early in the morning without getting caught by Celina. Tim and Lucy having to act sad about being broken up even though they are back together. Other people trying to set them up in front of each other, and having to come up with excuses to say no. All coming to the ultimate conclusion where everyone finds out they are dating again. Just want the fans wanted: the everyone finds out reveal. I say Nolan should still be the last to know.

Tim finds out out Lucy dated Nolan: Maybe it comes up in their therapy sessions. Maybe Lucy mentions it when she talks about the issue with dating a cop. Whatever the way it happens, it's best if Tim and Lucy are together when he finds outs to really milk it for a potential issue. Also great to see Tim finding ways to take out his annoyance about it on Nolan. Bonus points if it if happens during the secret dating era redux so Nolan has no idea why Tim is mad at him.

Tim and Lucy having fun arguments again: Comparing their first date to their second first date or whether it's their second second first date. What counts as their anniversary? When they started dating? When they started dating again? Do they have two anniversaries? Does Lucy only want two anniversaries because she wants twice as many presents? The list goes on and on for how they can try to put humor into the idea of the break up once they know they are going to be okay after getting back together.

So there you have all my reasons for why and how Tim and Lucy should get back together sooner rather than later. I know we all want them pining for each other. I get it, but ask yourself how much time do you really want to wait to see them get back together. After the initial break up, there was a three week break of no new episodes, then four episodes where they are broken up, and now we wait 8 months just to see season 7. So that's 10 months of dealing with this break up already, and we don’t even know how much longer it will take. Do you want to wait even longer or do you want to see Tim and Lucy fix their relationship as soon as possible?

As a treat for those who suffered through this long ass rambling of my thoughts, I present you with a snippet of my new multichapter fic which I hope to finish soon so I can begin posting it in July. It's a Chenford fic based on the Once Upon A Time tv series concept. Basically if fairy tale characters were in the real world.

After they finish their meals, Lucy brings Tamara a pillow and a blanket for the night. When Tim sees that she has brought a second pillow and blanket for herself, he asks, “What do you think you are doing?”

“Staying the night with Tamara,” Lucy answers plainly like that should be obvious.

“This isn’t a slumber party. She is still our prisoner. You actually have to guard her,” Tim insists.

Lucy scoffs in disbelief. “You don’t trust me to do my job?”

“I trust you implicitly. I don’t trust her,” he points at Tamara, “not to give you some sob story that tugs at your heartstrings and has you handing over the keys.”

“You know what? Fine.” Lucy takes said keys and opens the cell. Stepping inside she throws down her pillow and blanket on the other bed. She then reaches her arm through the bars to lock the door from the inside before tossing the keys back to Tim. “You can let me out in the morning, and not have to worry about our prisoner escaping in the middle of the night.”

“And what are you going to do if there is a fire or an earthquake?” Tim asks smugly, thinking he has the upper hand.

Lucy shrugs as she challenges him on that unlikely scenario. “I guess I’ll have to trust that you can race back here quickly enough to let us out before the building crashes down on us.”

Tim doesn’t respond. Instead he leaves, and Tamara thinks he is admitting defeat and going home. But he quickly returns with his own pillow. “Just how many pillows does Smitty keep in this place?”

“Enough to build a fort,” Lucy answers as she sets up her bed. Not surprised at all that Tim is choosing to stay.

“Figures,” Tim responds as he puts his feet up on the desk while situating his pillow between his head and his chair. “Don’t stay up too late gossiping. We have a trial to attend in the morning.”

Lucy shakes her head, but fondly tells him, “Goodnight, sir.”

Tim answers with a grunt and nothing more.

Lucy seems less interested in gossiping and more interested in telling ghost stories. “Have you ever heard the one about Gracey Manor? It’s a local legend about the mansion that rests on the highest hill at the edge of town.”

Tamara and Lucy spend the next couple of hours talking and playing with a deck of cards Lucy brought with her. When they finally do go to sleep, Tim’s eyes are still closed, but Tamara has the sneaking suspicion that he is only resting his eyes. That if any trouble were to happen in the middle of the night, he would awake alert and ready to perform his duties. She knows her own experiences have kept her mindful of never allowing herself to fall too deep into sleep, but she can only wonder why Sheriff Bradford would learn such behavior.

[fosermi]

since animation is literally your major, is there any details from the Sonic X Shadow generations clip we saw today that you might want to talk about?

OK SO major spoilers under the cut for the preview of the Sonic x Shadow gen prolouge

i was WAY too busy fangirling to give a proper analysis BUT when it does come out fully i might just do one, also please take note im still in my second year of studying to be an animator so these are purely my opinion. for now i can point out a few things that i genuinely want to talk about.

first thing that stood out to me was that 2D-3D style of animation, definitely something i dont think we've seen be done for the franchise before (correct me if im wrong) and it reminds me so much of RWBY in a way. There were some bits that, to me, looked choppy BUT THEN AGAIN those were the parts that needed to be choppy for emphasis reasons, specifically it was at the start where Shadow is having some sort of break down. its obvious from how choppy his movements are in comparison to the smoothness of the rest of the preview that shadow was genuinely shaking. with that 2D-3D style that choppyness looks janky as fuck but its so perfect for conveying how uptight and bottled up shadow's emotions are. its so hard to try and capture what im saying but trust me its there!!

second thing i wanna point out are the camera angles. they shift so much to serve the dramatization of the scenes and its so ✨JUICY✨like i shit you not, i cant stop staring at the different camera angles and going "oooohhh ahhhhh" and trying to rationalize the reasoning for those angles because HOLY SHIT they're so good and they actually do serve a really good cinematic purpose!! its easy for people to get lost in the changing of perspectives and camera angles but this? oh this does it so good that it actually drives the plot FORWARD instead of it seeming like separate scenes mashed together.

third thing I'll point out is the scene color shifts. when doing something cinematic, ambiance is key. so when the scene shifted from this soft and comforting blue hues

to this eerie red so suddenly with our only warning being a slight shaking of the screen??

that made it such a surprise that it gets the viewer on alert!! a good thing!!!

now i can go on and on about the different colors for each scene but let me just touch up on this one scene in specific:

it quickly goes from hopeful gold/good light to ominous black/no light, very contrasting, which can mean oh so many things... most notably; maria's hope vs shadow's resolve.

fourth thing ill touch up on are the frames where shadow runs. specifically the one where he runs out of frame from maria.

we get almost 1 frame of a model and then...

these frames here? chefs kiss, perfect. showing us just how fast shadow really is, so fast that we the light from his airshoes doesnt catch up until a fraction of a second later!!! even the glow in the doorway changes to reflect that short millisecond split.

fifth thing ill point out and its a small little thing thats making me absolutely rabid:

he fucking glows.

and yeah, sure, you can argue that its bounce light, its most probably is bounce light since its under harsh light conditions BUT if that was the case the glow wouldnt be this vibrant of a shade and it would give an aura and not specifically on his markings. just a little thing i noticed that i will get to screaming about when i post this.

last thing i wanna touch up on is the sound effects. they were just so very crunchy and pared up with the animation style?? oh it was delicious!! i have some issues with the lip sync but then again they were trying to go for an anime/western cartoon hybrid style here so its bound to be off on the lip sync.

anyway, thanks for listening to my silly ramblings, its nothing too impressive just a fangirl fangirling. now if you'll excuse me, ill go scream to the eclipse nation about glowing hedgehog.

[theravenmuse]

Tagged by @kotias

How many works do you have in AO3? 55! A few of which are art or meta, but the majority are fics.

What’s your total AO3 word count? 329,403 words.

What fandoms do you write for? Almost exclusively Good Omens.

Top five fics by Kudos:

1. I Could Be Yours (E) - 614 Kudos

The version of Good Omens where Aziraphale and Crowley are a pair of horny immortals who enjoy engaging in very long, very elaborate, VERY INTENSE role plays.

This fic is currently part of a hostage situation and will not be updated unless/until that is resolved. I do have a handful of chapters written and ready to go though.

2. I’ll Cum Quietly (E) - 613 Kudos (for a one chapter fic? We were all a little horny after that ending, I suppose. 😆)

Aziraphale has a REACTION to Crowley saying that line. Spoiler alert: Crowley does not come quietly. XD

3. The Nightingales Were Just Sleeping In (T) - 518 Kudos

The one where Crowley falls to the bookshop floor, a sobbing mess, and these two idiots finally figure out they’re just on opposite sides of the same page.

4. Oh, Simple Thing, Where Have You Gone (M/E I keep changing my mind) - 490 Kudos

Let’s make it worse! And then eventually fix it, I promise.

Immediately post season 2, we’re going to find out just how sinister the Metatron’s plan is.

Still a WIP. I’m coming back to this one as soon as I catch up on my event things.

5. Show Me You Love Me? (E) - 406 Kudos

After dealing with a few unruly demons, Aziraphale has been crowned the local demon expert. This mostly means informing the local priests that they have in fact trapped yet another normal human and setting the poor fellows loose. That is until today.

Alternatively: Crowley gets caught by some enthusiastic humans and was likely well on his way to discorporation before Aziraphale steps in. Aziraphale tenderly cares for Crowley, and then there are love confessions, and then Aziraphale takes care of Crowley in a different way.

Do you respond to comments? When I have the spoons I respond to every comment, even the basic “I loved this” ones. But spoons have been in short supply lately so I’ve only been responding to comments that I have meaningful responses to.

What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? Oh my. Isn’t that a question. And surprisingly, it does have a definitive answer. This was only the fifth fic I ever published. It’s the first dark fic I ever wrote. It altered the way I think about using horror elements in storytelling. It has very few hits and kudos. It remains to this day one of my favourite works, despite the fact that I’ve grown so much in my prose and story structuring since then.

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (E) Mind the tags. I did not do in depth CWs the way I do them now. All of the warnings are in the tags only.

A Christmas horror story in which Crowley accidentally releases the demon of Yule, Krampus. Intense horror elements throughout, especially at the end. There is no bright side at the end of this. There is no safety. There is no peace.

What is the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? This one is actually harder. I know I’m more known for dark fic, but I’ve written more than one piece where they’re just completely happy at the end. Nothing could be better. Because of that, I’m going to go with the one with the happy ending that means the most to me. That would be this one:

There were Angels Dining at the Ritz (G)

Seasons 1, 2, and 3 (I hope) from the perspective of a waitress at the Ritz.

Do you get hate on fics? Not really. I’ve gotten two hate comments over 30+ dark and/or intense kink fics. One of those accounts is perma-banned, the other got off with a warning. Try it, I dare you.

Do you write smut? Yes indeed. The kinkier the better. You didn’t ask, but this is my favourite soft smut:

Just Another Day in the Rest of Their Lives (E)

It's a soft sort of spice, being woken by your lover's kisses in the cottage you share in the South Downs. How long can they linger here, letting eternity pass them by?

And this is my favourite kink:

Submission (E)

Crowley is in one of his "bratty bottom" moods and needs some help calming down.

And finally, my favourite dark smut fics:

Belle Mort (E) - lovingly nicknamed “Necro”

Heaven is on to the Arrangement. Fortunately, Aziraphale has a plan to throw them off the scent. Surely hereditary enemies couldn't be fraternizing if one of them discorporates the other? Crowley would never agree to such a plan, of course, but they can talk about it after.

No Escape For the Wicked (E) - lovingly nicknamed “eggs”

Crowley has been Lucifer's brood bitch from the dawn of the Earth, a duty he can't escape after his treachery. When he is forced to return to the depths of Hell for his task following his betrayal, he finds a vengefully jealous master.

Craziest Crossover? I don’t know about craziest, but this Good Omens X The Sandman is quite a bit of kinky fun.

Desire (E)

Crowley has spent the last several thousand years keeping Desire at bay. He's had to. But after a certain night in 1941, when Crowley's defenses are shot and Desire comes in the shape of his angel, the demon at last gives in to a temptation of his own making.

Have you ever had a fic stolen? Not that I’m aware of. I do occasionally scour for stolen works through general Google search, but that isn’t a guarantee.

Have you ever had a fic translated? The first chapter of I Could Be Yours has a Russian translation. I’m unsure if the translator intends to do more. The lovely @nosferatini has also made a podfic of Platypi and Other Insignificant Topics of Discussion.

Have you ever co-written a fic before? Not that has been published yet. I have written fics based on other works and have had a few write fics based on mine. There’s a lovely comic up on Gleafer’s Patreon based on one of my own Patreon Exclusive fics. The Great Flood (available now to free and paid members on my Patreon).

All time favourite ship? Aziraphale/Crowley. Honorable mention to the crack ship I’ll go down with: The Bookshop/The Bentley.

What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will? Still unnamed. Serial art thief Anthony Crowley/FBI agent Ezra Fell. Slow burn. And I mean slooooow burn. Currently sitting at 150k words. It will be well over 400k when completed, I think.

What are your writing strengths? Intense emotion. Intense psychological elements. Putting just the right amount of feeling into a whump fic that the pain hits that much harder.

What are your writing weaknesses? I’m still a fairly young writer. I’ve only been publishing fic for four years. I’ve only really been writing for about fifteen. Because of that, I’m still evolving very rapidly. I see it the most in my prose. I’m still learning how grammar works among other things.

Thoughts on dialogue in another language? It’s fine. It can help with the story immersion. I don’t speak any other language well enough to use more than the occasional short phrase. I do have an upcoming Rennaisance Era Pirate/Witch Crowley who says quite a few Irish Gaelic expletives.

First fandom you wrote in? Warrior cats. Never published but I do still have it somewhere around here. Written in pencil so it’s fading fast. 😆

Favourite fic you’ve ever written? YOU WOULD HAVE ME CHOOSE BETWEEN MY CHILDREN?!

Okay, I really did try. I scrolled through several times but I can’t choose. So instead, have the crack fic that I nearly got a heart attack over when someone sent an ask about it to Neil Gaiman’s inbox. 😳

Hey Sexy, Wanna Oil My Exhaust Pipe? (E)

The Bentley doesn't appreciate being left out in the cold while her demon gets it on with his angel. Fortunately, the bookshop is all too willing to engage in some fun times of their own.

Tagging: @nosferatini @theonewiththeshippinggoogles @naromoreau @startledplatypus @depressedpenguin2

[moviemunchies]

I’ve been checked out of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for a little bit, not having Disney+ and not having much motivation to check out the recent movies in theaters. Well, with this movie, it looked like this film was going to pick up some Plot threads, and it featured some antiheroes/former villains, so why not give it a go?

Is this Marvel’s big comeback, as some people have claimed?

Director of the CIA, Valentina de Fontaine, is under investigation for her very illegal activities, so she decides it’s time to clean up house. Along with destroying many of her projects, she tries to get her contracted assets (including Taskmaster, Yelena, Ghost, and US Agent) to eliminate each other and then get incinerated. Spoiler alert: they don’t all die, and decide to team up against Valentina, who has one last secret, dangerous project in the works that’s a threat to the world.

Okay, so I haven’t seen a couple of the previous things: Captain America: Brave New World (I fully intend to watch that one when the library gets it) or Black Widow. There’s this idea out there that you can’t understand a Marvel movie unless you’ve watched everything else in continuity–that’s not always true. I obviously missed some things, but I had enough to keep up with the story presented to me.

I’ve heard the declaration a couple of times that this is the first Marvel movie in a bit that actually felt like a movie. I’m not sure what that means, precisely. Like many Marvel films, it sets up a lot of things that are meant to happen in the future, and I’m wary of those because so often they don’t turn out to mean much. There is a lot more practical effect work here, though. I’m not saying there’s no CGI, because there’s plenty, but I will say that there is a lot here that feels real, not like everyone is in front of a green screen somewhere interacting with nothing–which is a complaint I’ve seen leveled at things like Quantumania.

The story is much more character-focused than I usually remember. Marvel heroes often have good character arcs, to be sure, especially in their introductions; this one has an interesting facet in that the characters’ mental health is actually part of the Plot. Yelena’s own emotional baggage is, from the get-go, a massive part of the story’s setup. Her first scene is her talking about her problems and then jumping off of a building (before releasing a parachute, but still). And the story isn’t resolved with a big CGI battle, but with working through the characters’ issues.

[It’s a shame that Tumblr isn’t the same place, because they’d have been all over this back in its heyday.]

Although, I will say that where I am in life right now, the discussions of depression in the movie hit hard.

I did notice that Yelena acts differently here than she does in Hawkeye. They are different situations, sure, but it didn’t quite feel like the same character? At least, not to me. I could be wrong. It might be more in line with her depiction in Black Widow, I don’t know–I haven’t seen that movie. Her character work here is good, though. 

Now there was this annoying change in the movie’s marketing, which I’m not going to spoil here. I found this frustrating–that a big part of the movie’s conclusion is being spoiled by the marketing immediately after opening weekend. It’s a weird sentiment that, if you really cared, you would have seen it already. Or maybe Marvel is so desperate to make sure they sell tickets that they thought they needed to spoil it. I don’t like it; the movie should be able to stand on its own without a title change.

I had fun watching this movie. I wouldn’t say that it reaches the heights that the MCU had grasped before. I don’t think the MCU is “back” as such, though it certainly feels like a step in the right direction, in that it has a direction. I know what I’m supposed to be looking forward to, instead of vague ideas that something is coming somewhere down the line that might be awesome or threatening.

It’s worth checking out.

[misc-obeyme]

Okay okay I was not at all expecting the new lesson to drop so soon. I was in the middle of writing that nsfw Barbatos prompt when I got the alert yesterday and was like what?!

They're really going hard with the lore and stuff, huh?? I don't have time to write a ton about it, but there's so much to process I have to write a short thing, so here I am.

Spoilers below!

Okay, Barbatos is Nightbringer. Right? I mean it's not like we haven't had a TON of proof, but I did think it would be interesting if it all turned out to be a misdirection. But at this point... I'm like... it's not, though, right?

I am feeling a tiny bit apprehensive about it. Because listen, it could turn out to be super cool but they could also totally screw it up.

I was just getting such villain vibes from Nightbringer and that just doesn't jibe with my understanding of Barbatos's character. So either Nightbringer is less villain-y than he seems, Nightbringer is Barb from another timeline/a different version of him, or my understanding of his character is off. Or all of the above, even!

Still we got some new stuff about him - the Celestial Realm calling him the father of all demons, huh? That's certainly interesting. And we know Barb has been around since before the Devildom really existed... also there's the whole "goes by many names" situation. I just don't see how they could have it be anybody else. Unless it's an entirely new character that we haven't met yet and that Barbatos is somehow tied to...

But anyway...

I LOVED the new lore about the Little Ds!!! I was so happy that they get to have a more important role without it changing them as being little castle cleaning helpers. See, that was well done, imo. They didn't change anything, they just gave us more info. Little Ds born from a tree, sorta fairies but call themselves demons, and we still don't really get how it works? Perfect. Also note how Barbatos is the one who knows all this lore...

Also, without spoilers, I loved the hard lesson lol.

Anyway, Little Ds are great, Little D No 2 is especially my fave, and I am so interested to see how this part of the story goes.

I was gonna stop there, but really quick I HAVE to talk about Mammon and Asmo oh my god...

Their fight in the library!!!

I mean of course it's bad when the boys fight and obviously Mammon is not in his right mind, but the way Asmo just goes for it, like he is ready to throw down.

And all the other brothers are staying surprisingly calm and trying to stop them!!

I just really love how Asmo seems like the kind of character who wouldn't jump in to fight immediately, but in reality he absolutely is. It reminded me of the way he went after those rumor spreading demons in the Princess event (which is funny since he was doing it to protect Mammon in that event).

And then Lucifer's just like ugh what now lol. I can't deny that using a little bit of his magic to knock Mammon out entirely was pretty cool.

Anyway, I'm worried about Mammon, but I'm sure this is all going to be resolved somehow. I found it very interesting how when we go into his mind with Little D No 2 at the very end, we're in the Celestial Realm. Wonder what that's about? Hmm.

Okay, now I'm done. Sorry for the lack of screenshots this time around, but I just didn't have time to fit them in lol.

[frostfires-blog]

What are your top 5 (or top 10) favorite media ever (can be anime/manga, tv series, books, movies, games, etc)? Why love them? Thanks ⭐

[ In all honesty, as I was going through my inbox, I was dreading responding to this ask. Not because the question was awful—it's a great question. The problem is that I'm quite indecisive and tend to overthink things. I'm going to attempt to keep this brief because if I allow myself to ramble, it will take me a month to write this post—and by then I'll have changed my mind. (Spoiler Alert: I failed lmao)

As I've already stated, I typically only consume anime/donghua and manga/manhua/manhwa, so my list will be confined to those. I have conflicting feelings about many of the series I've seen, especially those that have ended recently—because, let's be honest, manga endings have been terrible lately (if you know, you know)...

Another issue is that I've been attempting to restructure my top ten because my entire concept of what constitutes a great series has shifted recently. For a long time, I had subconsciously internalised the notion that shoujo/josei series and non-combat-orientated series were inferior to mainstream battle-focused shounen series.

I subconsciously thought that I would be looked down on for including these series in my top 10 over more respected manga. Although it persists to some extent, I was mostly able to get over this after learning about biases in the anime and manga industries on how shoujo versus shounen series are handled and perceived. ]

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Top 10 Favourite Series:

#10 The Apothecary Diaries

This show has captured my attention even though I have only seen the first season. Although Maomao and Jinshi's dynamic is undeniably my favourite part of the series, its complex themes and political intrigue are not to be understated either. Another aspect I like about the series is its unique incorporation of femisism. It uses its rigidly misogynistic historical setting to highlight the subtle strength, ingenuity, and resolve that women rely on to navigate and endure society. Even amongst a society that devalues women and fosters competition among them, we observe women supporting one another and persevering. In this manner the series provides a refreshing standpoint on female empowerment. The adaptation was perfectly executed, as exemplified by its undeniably captivating aesthetics, music, and ambience. I'm eagerly anticipating season 2 and can't wait to see where the series goes.

#09 Link Click

While at first, it may not seem like much, this show has really developed into something refreshingly brilliant thanks to its unique supernatural abilities and ever-increasing stakes. Aside from its unique art style, compelling twists, and captivating storytelling, all of which are refreshingly good, the music is definitely my favourite part of this show, as it is carefully crafted to complement the narrative. The dynamic between our two leads is incredibly endearing and heartbreaking. The symbolism is incredibly intricate and complex and is intertwined masterfully into every aspect of its production—most notably its character designs, music, and visuals. Every episode leaves you on the most stressful cliffhanger of your life, leaving you eager for more.

#08 Mo Dao Zu Shi

My favourite part of this series is that there are so many different mediums to experience it through, with each one providing a slightly different experience. While the novel and Donghua are my personal favourite adaptations, the C-drama was very entertaining as well. I hope to be able to experience the manga, manhua and audio drama adaptations as well. Its story and characters are so intricate and multi-faceted that trying to describe them in such a short paragraph would be laughable, so I'll refrain from doing so. This series combines action, mystery, and romance with complex themes and vibrant characters. MDZS is unquestionably the most exceptional MXTX novel in the field of world-building. The story is set in an intricately crafted world in which historic customs, mystical abilities, and martial arts intersect, with each setting playing a critical role in the development of the characters and their journeys. This was the first series I watched featuring a canonical M/M main pairing that also possessed a robust and compelling plot beyond the romance, which I greatly appreciated. The heart of the series is its compelling cast of characters. WangXian's dynamic is the foundation of the series and is undeniably one of my favourite aspects of it. Their contrasting personalities are deftly counterbalanced by their similar ideals and shared passion for protecting others. Their relationship is an attestation of the enduring power of love and is centred on the themes of transformation, loyalty, and sacrifice. The series addresses a variety of complex themes, including enduring love, filial piety, vengeance, justice, acceptance, redemption, forgiveness, corruption, morality and perseverance despite adversity. The most apparent themes in the narrative are social prejudices, the interplay between perceptions and actuality as well as the dichotomy between good and evil.

#07 Kimetsu No Yaiba

Inexplicably, this series is both exceedingly popular and heavily criticised. It is generally critiqued for its simplistic story, but I believe it exemplifies how simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. People often fixate on its stunning animation and thrilling battles, overlooking its powerful emotional narratives and seamless integration of complex themes. The series centres around themes such as the importance of family, coping with loss, and maintaining resilience and determination in the face of adversity. That said, my favourite theme in the series is how it highlights the significance of compassion and empathy, even amidst extenuating circumstances. This is a vital lesson that reminds us that we are all capable of demonstrating compassion and empathy to others within reasonable limits. Alongside its compelling narrative and dynamic battles, KNY's eclectic ensemble of well-developed characters stands out—thanks to their distinct designs and motivations—lending depth and complexity to the series.

#06 Akatsuki No Yona

Although YOTD seems like another archetypal historical romance about a princess on the run—there is so much more to this series. YOTD is a masterful blend of romance, adventure, and drama. The series deftly reworks conventional tropes and integrates them into its intricate, fantastical setting. YOTD's multi-layered narrative and its profound character arcs—in addition to the depth of themes it addresses—set it apart from comparable series. The manga incorporates various heavy themes into its narrative—such as betrayal, vengeance, inequality, power struggles, and the connection between privilege and ignorance. It also covers more hopeful themes—such as camaraderie, courage, and the enduring power of love. YOTD's primary strength is its remarkable character development. Each of the series' characters is thoughfully constructed to embody several themes that add to the plot, while every one of their interactions helps to advance other characters.

#05 Boku No Hero Academia

Although this series mostly garnered popularity from its compelling plotline and flashy fight sequences—its greatest assets are its well-developed core cast, significant emotional resonance, and nearly seamless integration of deep and heavy themes. Despite the series' initially light-hearted and hopeful tone, its stakes are deftly heightened by introducing darker symbolism and more intense conflicts. Its later seasons highlight the complex nature of heroism along with the obstacles encountered by both heroes and villains—thereby differentiating it from other series in the superhero genre. Some of my favourite themes that the series highlights are identity/self-discovery, the nature of heroism, power/responsibility, sacrifice/redemption as well as the importance of having bravery in face of adversity. The series' astute use of imagery, metaphors, and narrative subtext enhances thematic and character development, augmenting its symbolic value and rendering it more engaging and captivating.

#04 Fruits Basket

Fruits Basket has an unparalleled charm thanks to its unique blend of drama, humour and romance. This series has become a staple in the shoujo genre due to its profound character depth, compelling narrative, and immense emotional resonance. A web of multilayered character dynamics forms the foundation of Fruits Basket—where characters are not merely utilised as narrative devices, but portray the subtleties of human emotions, relationships, and development. It is precisely because the series' characters reflect real-life issues that we are able to empathesize and relate to them. The series' capacity to engage in meaningful discussions on profound concepts and convey insightful messages is the primary reason it resonates with its fans. The series weaves a variety of profound themes into its narrative, including loss, acceptance, transformation, healing, love, societal expectations, parental alienation, familial connections, and the cyclical nature of life. The series' emotional impact is established by incorporating the aforementioned themes—which not only enhance its complexity but also foster introspection and empathy within its fans.

#03 Naruto + Naruto Shipudden

Regardless of its shortcomings, detractors cannot dispute that the Naruto series has significantly influenced pop culture—evolving the animanga industry and influencing audiences on a global scale. The series' popularity stems from its complex storytelling, emotional depth, large multi-faceted cast and exploration of profound themes. To this day, the Naruto series continues to be relevant, having cemented itself as a cornerstone in the history of the animanga industry. The series has not only inspired numerous creators, but it has also played a significant role in the integration of anime and manga into global mainstream pop culture. The themes addressed in the series add greatly to its narrative depth and resonance—not only enhancing audience engagement but also providing them with valuable lessons. Some typical themes explored by the series are friendship, personal growth, and perserverence admidst adversity. While some of its more profound themes include the vegeance, redemption, the cycle of hatred, the reprecussions of war and conflicting ideals of peace. The series employs these themes to not only enhance its character arcs and layer its narrative—but also to encourage its audience to contemplate their implications within human interactions, historical contexts and the systems of society. The series' continuing relevance as a pivotal reference for analysis and discussion is a direct result of the adept integration and complexity of these themes. Another essential component of the series is its character development which not only drives the narrative but also enables viewers to empathise with its characters. Throughout the series, we encounter an array of compelling characters whose development and interactions significantly contribute to the series' depth and appeal.  Considering that this series was a significant part of my childhood, it will always hold a special place in my heart. I practically grew up alongside its characters, which has made their hardships, conundrums and triumphs all the more personal. Given this was the first anime series I completed, it was the catalyst for my current passion for anime and manga.

#02 Gintama

Let me go off script and say that I know this series' length is off-putting to a lot of people—but I promise it is absolutely worth it... Though I wouldn't reccomend this series for everyone. I myself quit this anime about 4 times despite liking the characters. However, I'm glad that something (cough opening 13 cough) convinced me to stick with it—since it has become my favourite anime now. This series is set in a fictionalised version of Japan's Edo period, where aliens have invaded the nation after having defeated its samurai. This bizarre premise serves as the foundation for the show's quirky characters and absurd happenstances. Gintama has made an everlasting impression on the animanga industry due to its distinctive amalgamation of genres, outstanding character development, and capacity to weave together comedic and serious narratives. Gintama is infamous for its comedy. Its ability to parody various sectors of pop culture, including other animanga, is second to none. The series is able to poke fun at both itself and the animanga industry thanks to its satirical take on classic shonen tropes. The series' unapologetic willingness to take risks has contributed towards it becoming a cornerstone in the animanga industry thereby influencing numerous subsequent works. The series also humorously explores an array of social and cultural issues, not only providing entertaining social commentary but also reflecting society, thereby fostering introspection and discourse on a number of topics. This not only enables it to delve deeper into its complex themes but also to surpass conventional anime archetypes. Unexpectedly Gintama is adept at balancing its comedic elements with its profundity, allowing fans to resonate with the series on a deeper level. The series' core themes include resilience, mental fortitude, honour, loss, camaraderie, platonic bonds, and maintaining optimism when confronted with adversity. Gintama's enduring appeal stems from its distinctive, diverse, and colourful ensemble of characters. Their differing personalities, experiences, and peculiarities add to the series' humour, relatability, and complexity. We witness these characters face many obstacles as they grow and evolve thus deepening our connection with them.

#01 Tian Guan Ci Fu

For those unfamiliar, MDZS (ranked as #8 on this list) and TGCF are written by the same author, MXTX—thus, many of my statements there also apply here. Despite consuming almost every adaptation of this series—the novel, the donghua and the manhua—I have never grown tired of it as every rendition presents a novel perspective on the characters and setting and is enlightening in its own right. This series deftly integrates action, comedy, mystery, horror, fantasy and romance—while also drawing inspiration from Chinese culture and mythology, to create a riveting story that draws you in from its start.  Although I wouldn't want anyone to value this series solely based on its romance—it is undeniably its most captivating aspect with its main couple being the epitome of devotion, longing and enduring love. Similarly to MDZS, the TGCF donghua is heavily censored when it comes to its romantic dipictions under China's censorship regulations. This becomes especially noticeable when comparing it to Japanese animated BL series. Nevertheless, the production team's meticulous attention to detail ensures that the affection between the main couple remains just as apparent as in the novel. In no other series have I paid as much attention to the characters' movements, expressions, and tones as I did with TGCF. HuaLian's affection for one another is palpable through every held glance, melodic sigh, and subtly delicate touch. Consequently, this meticulous attention to detail allows for a steady build-up—resulting in an immensely authentic and sincere romance. The series' amalgamation of its fantastical setting and mystical elements with Chinese traditions and mythology augments its richness and immersiveness. Furthermore, each song in the donghua is flawlessly crafted to complement each scene—creating the ideal ambiance. The series touches on a multitude of heavy topics providing insightful commentary on social expectations—making it worthwhile for those seeking depth and complexity. Among the themes featured are duty, sacrifice, redemption, vengeance, unconditional love, acceptance, perception as opposed to actuality, and the correlation between free will and fate. One understated feature of the series that I appreciate is its deft deployment of motifs and symbolism to represent characters and their growth as well as to hint at impending plot points. Flowers, colours and other celestial symbols are recurring motifs in the series that add depth to the narrative. It is undoubtably the series' complex characters and intricate character relationships that form the core of TGCF—adding substantially to its allure. Our lead characters are incredibly multifaceted and nuanced, possessing distinct motivations and principles—while remaining charming and endearing. In contrast, each side characters in the series adds complexity and intrigue to the narrative—enriching the series without detracting from the main characters' roles while remaining well-rounded.

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[P.S. Were any of you guys who regularly see my posts surprised by this list? I'm willing to address any questions you have regarding these entries, and I hope it encourages anyone who hasn't seen any of these series to do so. Once again I'm sorry for rambling...Hope this answered your question. ]

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[itouchedthefire]

Writing tag game

Thank you to the lovely @silvagrey for allowing me to harp on my babies!

Putting a cut here to follow the example:

How many works do you have on AO3? 11 as of right now, but planning out making it 12 by the end of next month.

What’s your total AO3 word count? Alright, holy cow, 153,264 words. That is a lot more than what I thought.

What fandoms do you write for? Currently Young Royals and Star Wars (prequels/clone wars), but I have works on the Harry Potter and Shadowhunters/Mortal Instruments fandoms too.

What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Where Do We Go From Here? is n°1 with 1,837 kudos

Where Your Heart Is is n°2 with 252 kudos, followed closely by

My Love, He Keeps Me Warm, with 202 kudos

Like Those Foreign Stars is our first non-YR fanfic, with 192 kudos

Call Your Girlfriend (it's time you had the talk) finishes the podium with 131 kudos.

It's very interesting to me that while my YR fanfics are definitely more prominent, two of my top kudos are from Shadowhunters. Good data.

Do you respond to comments? Yes! Either right away or as soon as I can" I love love love comments, they truly make my day (as a recovering non-commenter, I can't tell you what a difference it makes in an author's day)

What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? Angstiest ending is a tough one, but I think it's gotta be If I Can't Speak The Words (I'll sing to you). It's not an bad ending per say, but it doesn't resolve the issue presented, so...

What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? This is kind of a moot point bc it just happens to be the only long-shot I finished, but it's Where Do We Go From Here?

Do you get hate on fics? Thankfully, no. I'm a pretty small writer and that's completely fine by me if it means my fics won't be in the radar for this kind of thing. I did get the scam comment about art, though.

Do you write smut? Not really? I'm asexual and while sex-positive, I do feel awkward writing sex scenes just because I never had it. I take more of heavy flirting/petting/fade to black approach.

Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written? Does Jelsa count? That's as far as I went hahaha. Although I did tease an Anakin as Wille's older brother in this blog before (for those who don't know, the same actress plays both Kristina and Shmi)

Have you ever had a fic stolen? No, thankfully, but I do keep an wattpad acount just to check from time to time.

Have you ever had a fic translated? No, but I did translate one once, way back in 2014 I think? It's hard work but so rewarding

Have you ever co-written a fic before? Yes! Years ago with a friend. It was a Divergent AU where *spoiler alert?* Tris faked her death and came back for Four. We just wrote the first chapter and then she moved away, but it was great!

What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will? Oh, it hurts to admit, but Like Those Foreign Stars. I was waaay out of my league writing political intrigue back then, and although I think the foundations are good and I'm better at politics now, I would need to rework so many things. Maybe one day, though.

What are your writing strengths? Maybe readers should answer this one, as I'm not sure. I like to think is the way I describe strong emotions, but even then I have some doubts.

What are your writing weaknesses? I am wordy. Girly pop will use every single adjective to describe every object in the room. But also, I will sometimes need seven-bussiness days to decide how to describe a simple face expression. I blame the 'tism.

Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic? I'm a fan, but had some much trouble to figure how to do it right. Do I translate immediately in the text, do I do footnotes, do I just not translate it? It's a toss up and sometimes it has gotten me to give up on the idea of writting the dialogue in question.

First fandom you wrote for? Not sure if anyone will know this, but Disney had a teen telenovela in 2012-2014 called Violetta. It was my first fandom and so much fun (for the ones who know what I'm talking about, I wrote Leonetta fics set in various different scenarios, and they weren't half-bad)

Favourite fic you’ve written? That's tough. I think emotionally I have to go with Where Do We Go From Here? because it was a product of grief (love everlasting) and I'll always be able to look back at it and see the way it helped me heal. All of my fanfics are my babies, though, and they are so different on their own. I could stay here all day talking about them.

I don't know who else has done this, so I'll tag some of my faves (as always, no pressure to do this) @caramelpenguin, @simons-purplehoodie, @tideswept and @tennessoui