#spoiler buck isn't fine

[onyxsboxes]

Last line tag

Thank you @heretoobsessstuff @survivedthenight @morriganravenclaw and @happy-days19 for tagging me 🥰🥰🥰

I've been tagged by more people (thank you 🤗, I'll try to post more glimpse in the coming days 🤞). The last few days/weeks have been a bit busy and I haven't touched my usual WIPs for a while, the lil' drabbles have taken up most of my writing time and they're a bit too short to share them in advance, but here's a little of Buck's thoughts in the stalag (when Bucky first arrived) aka Buck isn't fine, and let me tell you, the boys aren't having a good time at all, that's for sure.

When Bucky's whole body flinched as Buck tried to hug him, it was as if someone had ripped his heart out of his chest with their bare hands. The overpowering reek of Bucky's fear fills the air between them thick and vile. A fog passed through John's eyes as if he's somewhere else. No. What have they done to him? It broke Buck's heart to see Bucky, vibrant and full of life Bucky, his handsome, caring John reacting like that to a friendly, caring touch. What had they done to him? What had they done to his strong Bucky to make him act this way? Act out of fear of pain, of hurt. Benny's light kick to the calf was the only thing that prevented him from spinning out of control, letting the monster inside him escape into the open (and getting them all killed). That prevented him from shifting into a murderous rampage, sinking his fangs into the neck of the nearest person who dared to hurt Bucky, who dared to hurt his mate, tasting their fear and pain on his tongue, to make sure they never did it again. To ensure everyone knew Bucky was his, under his protection and he'd do anything for him. Bucky's barely audible, faint, too faint whimper is what snaps him out of his murderous rage, making him focus again on his wounded partner, his attention, like a compass arrow, directed inevitably to his magnetic north, Bucky. Buck's fine.

And it's only the beginning 😈😇🥺(you can find more about this one here) or the lil' drabbles

Tagging, no pressure 😊: @alienoresimagines @amiserableseriesofevents @joeyalohadream and @johnslittlespoon

[bisexualbuckl-y]

i can't stop thinking about buck's future reaction to this new eddie storyline in like a best friend way, because i don't know how aware buck is of how much eddie is struggling with his mental health lol, like how long ago was the last time they spoke about shannon in relation to eddie? does buck think eddie is over her death? or maybe not over but at least he's come to terms with it? i feel like we'll see eddie trying to hide this thing with kim and buck will surely know something's going on but i don't think he'll ever imagine something close to what's happening, and then aside from the lying and bad feelings surrounding the situation he'll also feel awful because he just didn't know how this was still an issue eddie was having... yk?

[warpedpuppeteer]

How they can still save the bi Buck storyline and kill BT next season:

Have Buck think about that dinner conversation again and look at their interactions in a different light. Make Buck realize that he's fallen into the same pattern of dating someone who takes his trauma lightly or is only physically interested in him. Have him notice how uncomfortable or uninterested he's been in the actual relationship because it's slightly been coloured by the excitement and joy figuring out his sexuality gave him so he didn't realize he was ignoring the red flags. Buck having a realization that just because he's dating a different gender than he used to, doesn't mean that it's magically going to be better. Kill BT immediately with fire. ON screen because they really need to write Buck acknowledging all of this and actually move off the hamster wheel.

[jaycetclis]

.

excuse me I'm annoyed and I'm gonna rant for a second :)

...

[skateboardtotheheart]

why am i legitimately nervous about tonight's episode, like my chest is tight about it

[guywrestlingaddiction]

That Wrestling Moment: Hey Jealousy - Jonny Firestorm v Reese Wells (bgeast.com)

It's a wrestling tale as old as time. Just when you start to get good at something, you find out that you're already past your prime. Today we look at the jealousy of Jonny as he rips-apart Reese.

Jonny Firestorm v Reese Wells (bgeast.com) SPOILER ALERT: I highly recommend viewing this match in its entirety before reading this post.

The Backstory We enter on a taught and fit Reese, in peak condition and ready to prove himself. Bronzed and strapping, those lean muscles have never faced a challenge they couldn't overcome.

Next we're met with Jonny arriving fully covered up in a bathrobe, sizing up the young challenger.  I can almost imagine him reflecting on his own youth and nostalgic for earlier times.

Jonny: What do we have here? 

Jonny: I used to be built like that once ...

The Action

Jonny is a true pro gay wrestler, the man knows how to throw a jobber around and excels at the fine art of showing him off to boot.  But what Jonny doesn't get at first is just how talented the new kid is.  Not only does the kid have him beat physically, that much is sure, but he also has him matched in wrestling gravitas.  

At some point it's clear that this is more than just about winning.  Jonny has come to wrestle his own feelings out and beat those same feelings into Reese.  

Suddenly something shifts during the match.  Maybe Reese is just too quick or maybe Jonny just couldn't keep up with the young buck, whatever it was, a fatal error was made and Reese claims a win over the more experienced Jonny.  

It was bad enough that Jonny had to suffer the humiliation of youth besting his experience, no Reese had to take it a step further and shove that fit, tight body in his face.  

Jonny: Did that just happen?! What the hell do you think you're doing?!

The Moment 

And just as suddenly, jealousy has crossed over into rage.   Our match concludes with a victorious Reese relishing in his triumph over the heel.  Now I say this is the conclusion of the match because from this point on, it's no longer a match, this is all about settling scores.  

In fact, this isn't about the match at all but really about an experienced wrestler fighting against time itself. If Jonny can only pound enough experience into this young buck then maybe, just maybe, he can feel that nostalgia again.

This wrestling moment is all about the feelings brought out in me and isn't that what artistic expression is truly meant to do? For you see, the feeling of a seasoned heel pounding his feelings into a young jobber is what gay wrestling is all about. I can almost feel the jealousy radiating from Jonny, which makes sharing in his eventual gratification all the sweeter.

Jonny: I...I'm the man.  (Yes Jonny, you certainly are)

[becausebuckley]

michelle's buddie fic recs: week 45!

what a week... i'm greatly enjoying all of the post-8x06 buddie fic (many more recs to come!) and took some time to revisit old favourites, which can be found in previous rec lists. enjoy!

this is a mix of fics with all ratings, so some include NSFW content. please take a look at both the ratings and the fic tags before reading! some might also contain spoilers for season 8.

if you come across something you like in this list, remember to show some love to the author by leaving kudos and a comment!

all that we need | not1_2write | 26.4k | M

When Buck buys a Powerball lottery ticket he doesn't think much beyond his need for change to air up his tire. He forgets all about the ticket until word spreads that the winning ticket was sold in LA and hasn't been claimed yet and pretty much dismisses it. After all, there's no way he won the lottery. Turns out no, he really did win the Powerball, to the tune of 295 million dollars and just in time for Christmas. He's going to make sure the 118 has the best Christmas of their lives. And just maybe he'll have a good one too. idk about all of you but i do dream about winning the lottery regularly (way too often for someone who's never bought a ticket, that's for sure). this is such a lovely look at what buck would do with a whole lot of money <3

i take this magnetic force of a man | playinginthunderstorms/@playinginthunderstorms | 9k | M

Turns out, he isn’t actually afraid of commitment. He’s just afraid of committing to the wrong thing, or the wrong person. Ana, obviously, had been a mistake, because he hadn’t been ready, and he’d put other people’s expectations above his own wants and needs. With Marisol, he’s done the same thing. Moved too fast, doing what he thinks is the right thing according to who? His parents? For Chris’s benefit? Again, pushing past his own comfort, discarding any doubt because it doesn’t fit like… Like Buck. blanket rec for one of my favourite authors who has been posting incredible fics lately!! this one in particular is so beautifully written and so romantic and just so very buddie <3

if i need to rearrange my particules i will for you | thelikesofus/@thelikesofus | 7.9k | GA

Eddie catches a cold and Buck takes care of him while having a minor, non-platonic emotional crisis. this is definitely influenced by the fact that i've been ill myself but wow truly nothing hits as hard as buddie taking care of each other when one of them isn't feeling well. the bed sharing in this is so good <3

let me | facewithoutheart/@facewithoutheart | 1.6k | T

Eddie doesn't think he needs romance. Buck, respectfully, disagrees. AKA the fic where Buck picks Eddie up and kisses him breathless against a wall. and buck is so right for doing that!! i love it when buck turns eddie to jello <3 so lovely!

second child, restless child | lesbianrobin/@lesbianrobin | 23k and counting| M

how Evan and Maddie make it out of Pennsylvania, and Buck and Maddie build a family. okay so listen these past few weeks i've been doing this thing where i only rec finished fics, and every time i scroll through my ao3 history for these rec lists, i come across this one and go oh i wish i could rec this already. and then i realised wait it's my rec list i can do whatever i want, and so then i did. anyway, mind the tags for this one, but wow are you in for a treat here! i love the character dynamics (chim is brilliant in this!! and maddie!!) and i'm so so excited to see the rest of this fic unfold <3

said that i was fine, said it from my coffin | justhockey/tumblr | 7.3k | T

And it doesn’t matter that he feels like he’s dying. Like the version of himself that he’s always been is suddenly a stranger to him - just a mask he’d spent his entire life hiding behind, without ever even realising he was wearing it. It doesn’t matter that Eddie is…that he’s gay. Because he knows - as surely as he knows that the sun will rise again tomorrow - that the only person he has ever, and will ever, truly love is Buck. And Buck isn’t his to love. another blanket rec for an author who's been posting incredible fics!! this one in particular has such brilliant eddie characterisation and i just devoured it the second i got that little ao3 email hehe

there's no place like home-spun | icewhisper | 4.1k | GA

Buck has spent most of his life trying to find something to settle fidgeting hands and the restless need for a home. He found the key to the latter when he was thirteen. He finds the former in a cozy home on South Bedford Street with two of his favorite people. (AKA the Buck-crochets fic that literally no one asked for.). this fic makes me want to learn how to crochet. i am the least crafty person ever and i have like minus time but just know that if two weeks from now i'm posting about yarn and crochet hooks and whatnot, it's all thanks to this fic. i love buck who crochets so very much <3

you get your dreams for free | llovely/@butchdiaz| 14.9k | T

five times buck and eddie cuddle drunk and one time they cuddle sober. buddie bed sharing my absolute favourite. i read this late at night curled up under three blankets and it hit just right <3

[lemotmo]

I'm nervous to send anything but certain topics aren't being posted or answered anymore so this feels safe! But feel free to tell me NO! ❤️

Q. Have you seen the Tik Tok Ryan watched about how if Eddie isn't gay then they've just made him the biggest jerk possible when it comes to dating? 😂 I mean she wasn't wrong. Having hope makes me nervous!

A. Haha, yes, I saw the Tik Tok and it does make him look particularly bad in the context of dating. But it just continues to prove what a very hard corner they've written themselves into where Eddie is concerned. He is not a bad guy. He's not. He's a good man with a very deep sense of duty, responsibility, obligation and expectation. And in that context the women he has chosen to date, post Shannon, make sense. His relationship with Anna was always the obvious head scratcher because on paper she was absolutely the perfect person for him, but the relationship always felt off. Once we got the spoiler from the insider saying she was supposed to be the relationship that led to Eddie's sexuality discovery it made the Anna relationship make much more sense. I know there are some who don't want to believe the insider information, but given Tim's history I think he would have repudiated the claim if it had been false. We have already seen Tim correct false information this off season, so I see no reason why he wouldn't have corrected that one as well if it were untrue. It was everywhere. He knows it was leaked information. Everything Eddie experienced in that relationship further seems to support the idea that the original plan was a sexuality awakening. The panic attacks he was having fit perfectly into this theory as well because Eddie is not a commitment phobe. They never felt like a couple. She felt like Christopher's babysitter. They even had Eddie flat out admit that Christopher loved her so he thought he could force himself to love her too. It's the classic sexuality arc relationship.

Marisol is another mess entirely. You could tell she wasn't meant to be back last season, and they didn't even bother trying to pretend otherwise. I think the Kim nonsense was Tim's way of maybe trying to demonstrate that Eddie just doesn't feel like he can find a connection with anyone else, romantically speaking, and he was reaching out so hard for doppelganger Shannon because he thought she could tell him why. There is absolutely no other plausible reason for that storyline. Eddie specifically told Buck that it wasn't about sex and he didn't want to sleep with her. He wanted to talk to her, and once he was able to, what he talked about was how broken he feels. That is where we are with Eddie. That very much feels like trying to recreate where he was mentally in season 4 without retelling the same storyline. So it feels very much like they're headed in the sexuality direction. I understand people are hesitant to allow themselves to be excited about the possibility. And they are correct when they say we have no proof that's where they're going. But what I will say is that it's okay to say that things feel genuinely different this time around. It feels very different than it ever has before. And we're allowed to acknowledge that. Oliver and Ryan are behaving in ways they never have before. And we're allowed to also acknowledge that. Ryan has very much followed Oliver's pattern from last off season. He has followed the same interview patterns, right down to switching to gender neutral pronouns. And he is following the same fandom behavior from Oliver last season. He is being very openly pro Buddie. Acknowledging the corner the show has written themselves into, and acknowledging the patterns that Oliver and Ryan are following and repeating is not giving false hope or unfairly raising expectations. It's acknowledging the clear change. That's all anyone is doing. If it makes certain people feel better to be adamant that it's not happening, fine. That's their fandom right. But it's other people's fandom right to be excited about and to acknowledge the possibility of the storyline. A storyline that feels very much within reach. Let people be excited.

Hey Nonny! I'm firmly saying YES to be honest. I know that Ali also isn't posting about certain subjects and topics anymore. So please, don't be afraid to drop something in my inbox. As long as it's not about fandom messes, it's fine. Thanks again for doing this. I do appreciate it.

If we all focus a bit more on fandom positivity, we can hopefully counter some of the negativity.

As for Ali's answer? Yes, yes and yes. The playing field has been set and all the pawns are exactly where they should be to get Eddie out of that closet and into Buck's arms (after some extra loopholes, no doubt).

I agree so hard on the fact that it's okay to be excited and hopeful. Let yourself hope. Why not? What have we got to lose at this stage? Besides our sanity that is. 😉

And yes, the people out there who are being cautious about Buddie? They have ever right to be. I mean, nothing is set in stone at this point. So, it's more than fine to want to hold back on the excitement for a while.

We can all coexist just fine, if we respect each others opinions and POVs, because after all:

We all have the same end-goal in mind. 😋

IMPORTANT! Please don't repost this ask and/or a link that leads straight to my Tumblr account on Twitter or any other social media. Thank you!

Heads up! For anyone who is giving me the shifty eyes for reposting Ali's updates instead of reblogging. Read this.

Remember, no hate in comments, reblogs or inboxes. Let's keep it civil and respectful. Thank you.

If you are interested in more of Ali’s posts, you can find all of her posts so far under the tag: anonymous blog I love.

[zoinkszuben]

tadc episode 3 spoilers ahead

you know i don't really get emotional about father-daughter found family dynamics in media because usually it's either:

a) the daughter is a young child

b) the father is aloof and grumpy, and has to adjust to the position

c) both

and these tropes are fine and good! but they don't do a lot for me personally? cause at least in my case... i'm an adult now and my father isn't an aloof type

but seeing kinger readily step up and comfort pomni when she needed it... even though she's an adult, she still needed help and support from a parental figure in that moment, to help her feel safe and grounded.

and kinger did just that, and rather than tell her to "buck up," he reassured her that she was already strong and capable, and he stayed with her and guided her through. he never belittled her feelings or babied her, just accompanied her and gave her support when she needed it. it makes me cry watching that whole sequence every time.

i liked kinger from the pilot and now i have so much more of a reason to

[deluweil]

It's hard to take the Tommy storyline seriously especially knowing that it was supposed to be Eddie and Tommy. People say the chemistry is through the roof with Buck and Tommy, but I barely saw any and most of it was cringe. (They had three scenes together and people are throwing Eddie out. Yeah just prove that it's not buddie they want, but more kissing other guy. They don't accept girlfriend, but the first guy is the perfect one. Be for real.) The way they wrote episode 4 was done for Eddie so all of this comes out of left field with the Tommy and Buck.

I can't take it seriously and honestly I hope he's gone soon. Like usual Buck gets all the storyline and Eddie is left with barely anything. Also I'm sorry, but I find it funny that this was all last minute planning and Buck got Eddie coming out storyline.

Sorry I had to vent. It's feeling like the Buck show again.

My dear Anon,

I have to admit, it is kind of hard to take the pairing seriously when we know Tommy was supposed to be with Eddie originally, another "fine patchwork" from the 911 creative team.

I hate last minute patches, those make for dumb storylines, like a nun Marisol, like wtf? Most men catholic or not usually fantasizing about nuns, religious or not. - I'm guessing gay men, don't lol

I have to say that both Oliver and Lou are giving it the old college try, but to be honest, the "platonic" bromance we saw between Eddie and Tommy had more chemistry than Buck and Tommy.

And even if they decided, last minute, to get Tommy with Buck, they could have written it so much better, than Buck OOC hurting Eddie physically for attention from the virtual stranger Eddie hung out with for two weeks. (Speaking of dumb storyline and patches).

I do agree that the whole TommyBuck became a thing very quickly, like buddie never existed and Tommy and Buck have been together for almost a season, which would have been more time to actually prove this match worthy of the praise it's getting after a couple of episodes.

Also, not to antagonize anyone, we all know if they'd brought back Lucy like it was originally planned (though how it was supposed to lead to a gay storyline is beyond me) Arielle would have gotten so much backlash that it would make ppl wonder about the selective feminism in this fandom. (though I have to say that Lucy being besties with Eddie could have been epic).

I also have to say that dazed and confused Buck is so not how I thought bi!Buck would look and I thought by Maddie's comments over the years that it would be anything but surprise for her. Sometimes the continuity of the show is a bit... wonky.

And indeed episode 4 that was originally written for Eddie does feel a bit left field with Buck, but I think Lou and Oliver handled it well. I love Lou's expressions to be honest, they tell a lot that isn't being said. - So much like Ryan now that I think about it.👀

Making it all about Buck again, is indeed a bone of contention I have with the writers and showrunners. This story was tailored for Eddie and they should have followed through, the catholic guilt, the internalized homophobia, and all the mixed feelings would have been delicious and made more sense than the nun crap we got.

I have a lot to say, some flattering, some less.

On the bright side this season have hope yet, I doubt we get much of Tommy for long, I was already spoilered that he is not here to stay, but he will play a part at Chimney's rescue, I love that idea.

I just hope he doesn't get killed off.

Also I wouldn't mind a threesome before we get buddie, if we get buddie lol

So yeah, the Evan Buckley show indeed, but Buck has always fan favorite so no surprise there.

I love Buck, but 7 seasons later demand that there will be some growth that sticks, what drives me crazy that we're still getting the same childish pouting mannerism from him and that it is all good somehow because that's Buck. 🤷‍♂️

I do love Lou/Tommy, he's perfect for this storyline. As someone who is observing without the "OMG TOMMYBUCK" glasses, 7x05 pretty much seals the fate of TommyBuck, Tommy's "You're adorable" is a death sentence for a relationship in any standards, many things could have been said, "I find you hot/sexy as hell" "I would really like to be with you" anything except you're adorable, adorable is a thing you say about babies and puppies, and though we all consider Buck a golden retriever puppy, he's a "hot hot firefighter man" - not adorable. - adorably confused maybe. An Ally if you will 😂

Also, I have yet to gif it, but in that last scene between them Tommy's smile looks like he's happy, but his eyes tell a different story, one that says "As much as I would like to believe I am the one you want I know better." He knows they won't last long.

And that "Evan" felt to me more like, "We have barely made it past the first date, and we barely know each other, A WEDDING? Are you serious rn?"

Obviously everyone else would disagree with me, but COME ON, who invites a failed first date to a wedding? Like Buck lost all sense of direction in his effort to prove his okay-ness with his new bi-ness.

At least he has a rainbow in his instagram lol

Anyway, all that's left is set the clock and wait for Madney's wedding, a wedding has a way to rectify things or just throw everything into utter chaos, either way we get a married Madney and an adventurous wedding. - That will be an episode I watch, solely for Maddie and Chimney. - Anything else would just be bonus ;)

[bucktommyverse]

!!!911 SPOILERS 7X05!!

Am I the only one who understands why Tommy left the date and says, "I don't think you're ready." Clearly, Buck isn't ready. His whole panic and blurting out stuff when Eddie and Marisol showed up at the restaurant clearly shows that. Of course Buck was nervous (most people are on first dates) but I also think he really did need to take some time, talk to the people around him (like he did with Maddie and Eddie) before jumping into this relationship. If Tommy didn't leave and they continued to go to the movies and act like everything was fine, it probably would have been a lot worse. I understand both their viewpoints, Tommy didn't want to rush into anything with Buck since he was showing signs of not being ready and Buck wasn't lying to himself and lying about his feelings, he just needed some time alone (or with others) to fully understand everything. During their last scene (the coffee date), they were communicating and stating the fact that they needed to actually get to know each other. We got Tommy saying he didn't want to pressure Buck and Buck saying that it wasn't his proudest moment. Then Buck finally says that he doesn't know what he's ready for, but he knows that he wants something with Tommy. We get Buck asking Tommy to be his date to the Madney wedding and Tommy asking If he's 100% sure about it, They just seem way more comfortable in this scene (Buck's not looking around to see if people are looking) AND we had them hold hands (well, put their hands on top of one anothers) in Public with no hesitation. They progressed throughout the episode, even if we didn't see them together that much. They both had their reasons for saying/doing some of the stuff they said/did, and seeing them communicate like that at the end really shows them both growing together as characters.

Anyway, this was a lot, but I had a lot to say.

[onyxsboxes]

Last Line

Thanks for the tag @donotnomi. It took me a while but here it is.

Rule: post the last line that you wrote and pass the tag along!

He tries to coax John into following him. He tugs lightly on the sleeve of his jacket to guide him, trying to keep the contact as light as possible with John's skin, not wanting to make the other Major flinch again. It's okay, he can do it. Gale can take care of John. He's done it before. He knows what to do.

I've tagged so many people today 🤭. Tagging if you want to: @bucking-mustangs-with-wings @jenning-fcb and @triggerlil and anyone else who wants to join in.

[melishade]

Attack on Prime: New Age Anthology: Investigation

Main Story

The Message

(So this starts around Guren No Yumiya so major spoilers ahead!)

"Whoa," Miko spoke up as the Iron Will hovered over the planet they had arrived at, "Dude, that looks like Earth."

"No, that's..." Jack trailed off as he tilted his head to the side, "Oh my god, Miko's right."

"The continents are flipped and inversed," Rafael commented as he stared at the screens atop the keyboard.

"Fine, the planet looks like Earth, but would it be safe for Jack, Miko, and Raf to be on?" Bulkhead demanded.

"Readings on the planet's oxygen levels shows that they do match Earth's," Ratchet informed, "But there would no doubt be a new set of pathogens and bacteria strains you won't be immune to."

"So that means-!"

"Raf!" Jack warned.

"If we do this-!"

"Don't say it!" Miko yelled.

"We'll have to quarantine ourselves," Rafael groaned in defeat, causing Jack to groan as well and Miko to scream in frustration.

"This is such bullshit!" Miko screamed.

"I'm picking up something else!" Ratchet informed as he continued scanning the planet, "High readings of...I don't know what they are, but they look like they've come from this island."

Ratchet pointed to the island up on the northern hemisphere of the planet.

"Looks like Madagascar," Jack commented.

"The message's original source also came from the island," Ultra Magnus declared, "We need to locate Wheeljack and Arcee first to ensure their safety. We can get information about the situation from them."

"By the Allspark! I'm picking up dark energon!" Ratchet exclaimed.

"Whoa, what?!" Smokescreen and Bumblebee snapped their helms at the screen. The ship did manage to catch the readings of dark energon near the high energy readings spreading across the planet, but it quickly disappeared.

"Hey...if that message said Optimus was alive...you don't think Megatron would be here too, right?" Bulkhead asked nervously.

"It...it can't be Megatron!" Smokescreen exclaimed, "We saw him leave the planet! We don't even know where he went!"

"But Megatron is the only person we know that has dark energon in his system!" Bumblebee reminded.

"Not to mention the apocalypse sounds right up his alley," Ratchet seethed, "So much for understanding the meaning of oppression."

"Five bucks Buckhethead is trying to destroy the world," Miko spoke up.

"I don't think we need to make a bet on the obvious," Jack added.

"We still do not have all the facts," Ultra Magnus reminded, "For now, we need to send someone to the location the message came from."

"Wait, what about the message?" Bulkhead asked.

"What about it?" Ratchet demanded.

"Didn't the message say something about titans destroying the world?" Bulkhead reminded, "I don't think us, as titans, coming into the picture first would be a good idea."

"So one of us has to go," Jack concluded.

"I'll go," Rafael volunteered as he climbed down the console.

"Raf are you sure?" Miko asked.

"I'm the only one that isn't armed to the teeth." Rafael gestured to Jack and Miko being fully equipped in their military uniforms, "I'll go and check it out before getting help."

"See if you can find....Onyankopon and Hanji," Ultra Magnus read the attempted spelling at both names.

"Got it." Rafael adjusted his lab coat, "Open the spacebridge."

Ultra Magnus opened up the spacebridge leading to the northern end of the island. Rafael took a deep breath before running through it.

"So...what are we going to do if this is actually Optimus, like the message said?" Smokescreen asked, causing everyone to grow tense.

"There's a matter of explaining this to the council," Ultra Magnus spoke up, "We'd...have to consider the publicity this would bring. The backlash. It might be unwise to give Optimus a position of power considering the strides of peace that we have made without him. To have Optimus be placed back into power would no doubt have the Decepticons question our motives."

"Ultra Magnus, it's hard doing this on our own," Ratchet confessed, "Optimus was the best of us...and if this is him-!"

"We still do not know if this is him," Ultra Magnus reminded, "Temper expectations."

“Ratchet!” Rafael cried through the comm. link, “Someone’s down! We need to move!”

"What happened?" Ultra Magnus as Rafael arrived through the spacebridge.

"The Jackhammer's empty and some humans are there with it!" Rafael explained, "One of them is the person from the video! Onyankopon! C'mon!"

Ultra Magnus immediately put the ship on auto-pilot before grabbing the hammer seated next to him. "Ratchet, prepare your supplies for any injured! Bulkhead, Rafael, keep a close optic on the Iron Will! Everyone else, with me!"

Ultra Magnus, Bumblebee, Smokescreen, Jack, and Miko stepped out of the spacebridge and found themselves in front of a group of humans situated in front of the Jackhammer and an abandoned Cybertronian ship.

"My name is Ultra Magnus. Where are Arcee and Wheeljack?" Ultra Magnus ordered.

"Um...they went-!" Everyone paused when they heard footsteps heading towards them. The Autobots snapped their helms to see an...an organic sharkticon running to them on all fours?! Ultra Magnus, Bumblebee, Smokescreen, Jack, and Miko pulled out their guns and blasters to aim it at the sharkticon, but everyone started panicking in response. The sharkticon dug its feet and hands into the ground to slow it's momentum as a human woman flew off the sharkticon and got in front of it to protect it.

"WHOA! WHOA! WHOA!"

"Don't shoot! Don't shoot!"

"She's not hostile!" The woman had spoke up, "She's my wife!"

"You're what?!" Jack exclaimed.

The Autobots watched as steam rose from the sharkticon's neck. Out from the neck, another woman emerged, raising her hands in surrender as she struggled to climb down the giant carcass that was fading in front of their eyes.

"What in the Allspark is this?" Bumblebee demanded.

"Holy shit, you have kaiju powers!" Miko gasped with excitement, "And you can turn into a shark!"

"What?!" the shark woman had exclaimed.

"Alright, enough!" Ultra Magnus ordered in annoyance, "Where is Arcee and Wheeljack?! And where is the location of Optimus Prime?!"

The blond woman took a deep break and stepped forward. "My name is Historia Reiss, and I am Queen of...this island! Wheeljack and Arcee had been helping the island and trying to stop the Rumbling! But I have no idea where they and Optimus are located! We came to the ship in order to get resources and help!"

"Wheeljack was headed to Wall Rose!" Onyankopon spoke up, "Or whatever's left of it! Arcee, I don't know! Last we heard, she was captured and-!"

"Captured by who?!" Bumblebee demanded.

"Look we don't have fucking time! The Rumbling is active and it's going to flatten everything!" The sharkticon woman had yelled.

"Ymir!" Historia warned her wife.

Ultra Magnus' mouth formed a thin line before turning his attention to the inside of the Jackhammer, seeing the life signal that Rafael had found still fading away. "Triangulate the coordinates on that life signal and try to find Arcee's life signal!"

Ultra Magnus turned his attention to Historia, Ymir, and Onyankopon. "You three will come with us and explain everything that you know about this planet!"

"That was the plan!" Ymir declared.

"Wait, what about us?!" one of the other humans demanded, "We have homes that are about to be trampled!"

"You will remain here until further notice!" Ultra Magnus ordered them, "Understood?!"

"But-!"

"Just listen to them for right now!" Onyankopon advised, "This is the help we've been waiting for! We can't drive them away now!"

The rest of the humans looked at each other with confliction before reluctantly agreeing.

"Is there a spare 3D gear?!" Historia asked.

"I think there's a spare that Wheeljack had for studying!" Onyankopon answered, "It's in the neutral ship!"

"Be right back!" Historia immediately ran to the inside of the ship.

"As for you." Ultra Magnus turned his attention to Onyankopon and Ymir, "You will come with us and explain everything you know."

(So this came out pretty fast. I think because I already had ideas on this and this is also just filling in the gaps from the Autobot perspective. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it.)

[shoshiwrites]

MotA Ep 1!!!!

MotA ep 1 thoughts after a not-great night's sleep and before coffee

Very much contains spoilers

It's weird seeing credits like this that aren't BoB or TP. They're a little incredibly on brand but I trust my affection will grow.

John Orloff you must be so happy

MARGE

I love her you guys are just mean

Maybe she ran out of hair products. There's a war on. She's been out all night. It's fine.

I love that they have an established relationship already.

Winters distinction #1 Cleven doesn't even like sports

I was pronouncing and spelling his name wrong in my head

There's something about Austin Butler's face that isn't quite period drama for me but it's fine because the voice actually doesn't bother me at all (are we surprised considering my fave). My mom thinks he's too genre aware (derogatory) and maybe that's true (he does spend a lot of time gazing) but Callum Turner balances him out. I may be 20-34% in love with him.

Buck and Bucky have absolutely helped each other out in the biblical sense

BEAUTIFUL BRUNETTE WOMEN IN MY AREA

The gifmakers have already spoiled me for the coloring of this show

The unicorn is my favorite extinct animal/We're in a dell

Anthony Boyle's narration has an uncanny Nixon sound to it imo

Also I love him

I meant to learn about planes and then I forgot

My dad absolutely acing his "Dad watching WWII drama" report card

Forget Austin Butler's Elvis voice it is too weird having Jude Law Jr. running around

Also I want his outfit

I guess the children don't remember Jude Law???

I got emo during the music of the antiaircraft scene before the bombers show up, if it had gone on longer there probably would have been tears

I don't even want or need to check my phone rn

"We don't get any characterization or get to know anyone" I think that may be the point

Out of all the places I would not want to be on a plane the ball turret is #1. Runner up: every single other seat.

My mom thinks Barry Keoghan is the most real guy of them

I should have written down my parents trying to remember The Banshees of Inisherin

I can't wait to get caught up before this week's ep

Favorite moment and biggest laugh was throwing the salt

[twogeeseinatrenchcoat]

Spiritfarer Rant (It's Long)

Yeah. It's what the title says. I've been playing Spiritfarer a lot more recently, just wanted to share some shit my brain thought of. As a reminder, this is random shit I think of as I'm writing it and essentially rambling. Take all of my game analysis with a grain of salt. That said, play the game and be absolutely destroyed emotionally by the frog uncle.

(Putting the tldr here so people don't have to scroll)

Tldr: Spiritfarer is an excellent game that you should absolutely play. It pays attention to detail, has amazing characters and storylines, and is never boring for more than a few minutes (in my experience).

Holy shit this game is good. If you haven't played it yet (and don't mind getting absolutely destroyed emotionally by a cozy game) absolutely recommend. Absolutely. Play it. And face the consequences dear god this game is sad.

And that's coming from a person who is just so emotionally detached to media. I cannot remember the last time I cried over a book. (it was years ago, I remember exactly, I'm just a liar. Long story short, Xan from She Who Drank the Moon) The only spirits I cried over were Gwen and Stanley. (I think I cried over Stanley? Not sure.) But if the standard of the game is "I only cried twice playing this," you know that's sad. And honestly, It's kinda expected, what else can you really expect with a game about ferring spirits to their death while simultaneously being their therapist and friend?

But it's done so well. So well. I think this concept is so hard to pull off, and to pull it off to the degree that Spiritfarer does is insane. The attention to detail, the meticulous story-crafting, the way they made sure that every single character gets a backstory---even Stella's (the player) backstory is played out so well.

MINOR SPOILERS

Like, who came up with the genius idea of her sister coming on board and them traveling around and going through a photo album of Stella's life? Give that person a raise. And the way that the backstory isn't even revealed until relatively late in the game? I loved that. It's not thrown in your face, it plays out at your pace, and the whole shit with the owl and Lily and just ahhhh I loved it! Play the game.

SPOILERS OVER

Also, the way the game is interesting even when you aren't actively doing anything? There's almost always something to do. If there isn't, they give you something to do. You can always redo your boat design to eliminate those gaps again. You can always build more farms, you can always fish more, you can always do more.

And yes, it could get repetitive after a while, but they have quests! They have so many different and unique storylines for each spirit! And there's unique houses and flowers and likes and dislikes and preferences and personalities and gifts and emotions and moods and they even have different fucking hug animations! It's not just "oh there are people on the boat but they're just kinda there." NO. They are present at all times!

You'll be flying by and see someone call out to you. You'll be on your way to grab some crops and Beverly will give you some fireglow and tell you to make something spicy for her! You go onto an island and you see Atul picking berries! You go talk to Gustav, give him some food because he's hungry, hug him, talk to him and he gives you a vase! They are present, at every moment. Even with a large ship, an endgame ship with only a few spirits on it, it still feels full because you talk to them. You interact with them. You give them food---and you better not give Buck milk, because he's lactose intolerant, or Bruce and Mickey, well anything aside from junk food really, or Elana fine dining food---and you talk with them, and you share moments with them, you bond with them, and then suddenly they're gone.

Suddenly they're asking to be taken to the Everdoor because their time has come and you're devastated. Because now the character that you've spent so much time talking with, bonding with, enjoying talking to and interacting with, whoever it may be, is gone. And holy shit if that isn't one of the best representations of grief and loss that I've ever fucking seen I don't know what is. Now take that with a grain of salt because I don't have experience with grief or loss, and I can't speak for people who have had that experience. This game knows what it is, it knows what it wants to do, and it does it so fucking well. It lets you bond with these spirits, let's you get to care about them, learn their backstories, see how it affects them, how they change, and then you have to lead them to the afterlife, where you'll never see them again.

When playing the game, it really feels like every single detail is thought out, planned, cared about. The islands are amazing, the scenery is beautiful, have I mentioned the art style? It's amazing. I think the only game that could really beat it in terms of stunning art is Gris, but Gris belongs in a fucking museum sooooooo...

One big reason that I stopped playing Animal Crossing was because I felt like I was progressing too slow, wasn't getting enough done, or there wasn't enough to do. (Not saying Animal Crossing isn't a great game, just that it's not for me) Spiritfarer never has that problem. If a character storyline isn't progressing, work on another one! Stuck making a material? Move onto another project. Have too much time on your hands because your boat moves too slow? Gather more materials, talk with the spirits, make sure to stock up on their favourite foods so they're happy, or even take a break. There's never much of a lull, and while there are moments---mainly when sailing between islands---in which you can be bored, log off! Or just wait it out, it's never really more than a few minutes. For every quest that wants you to go somewhere and do something, there'll probably be one that wants you to make something: make a house, upgrade a house, make a production building, make this or that for one of Francis's errands, the list goes on.

And if you ever get bored with the main quests, or they're too complicated, or you can't find something (Henry the Acetate, I'm looking at you) (but I googled it for that), then there's civilian errands! You can do shit for the people in the towns if you want. Deliver records to these places, go through this mine, deliver a letter from Hummingberg to Nordsee. One of my favourite pastimes is cooking. I don't know why, but I just love cooking in this game. So, I've been trying to completionist it. (I won't, I'll give up 3/4 the way through and call it good enough) But even so, it just goes to show. There's really never a long period with something to do. The game stroked just the right balance between giving you things to do and giving you free time to do what you want.

I think I should end it here before this gets too much longer. But yeah! That's pretty much all of my thoughts on Spiritfarer. (Not really, but all of the ones for now) Amazing game, 5/5, absolutely recommend. (Please sponsor me Spiritfarer I would be great at it)

[all-pacas]

to be fair, the show doesn't seem to like both cam and chase at the same time either. it spends the first three seasons with cameron getting more attention and the last three with chase. when they are shown together, it's not exactly at their happiest (drawer, proposal, sperm, dibala). if you wanna ship them together, it requires a lot of extrapolation and projection.

frankly, if you wanna be obsessed with a toxic unhealthy couple, there are other shows that give you more bang for your buck. hell, house has other couples that give you more bang for your buck. hilson? huddy? even foreteen and taub get more happy moments than chameron do.

Hmm, I'm not quite sure I agree with a couple of your points.

First, you're absolutely correct that the show has some POV issues with the two of them, but I don't know if I agree with the assumption that this is because the show doesn't like them as a couple. I think it's more that the show always posited Cameron as the more important character, and only very abruptly made the switch when she was written off: had she remained on the show, I'm confident that Chase would have remained in the background until the end. It is very telling that we only make the switch in S6, as part of the plot designed to write her off.

Would I have loved to see more of Chase's POV? Absolutely. But the show clearly didn't think he mattered in the same way, he was… kind of Taub/Adams level, a character the show liked and cared about, but C-tier in terms of attention and plots.

I also sort of disagree — very mildly — that the show only saw them at their worst, because again, I think this is bad writing, not intentional writing; we weren't meant to see them as unhealthy and unhappy. It's a lot like Foreman/Thirteen, who were apparently very happy together… but we only saw them in moments of conflict or their breakup. Not to mention House/Cuddy. The show just isn't very good at romance. Cameron and Chase date for all of S4 entirely in the background, and we're meant to assume they're perfectly happy together. They spent their FWB period also happy (the "breakup" in Airborne as the exception). They mostly spend S5 in that same "they're in the background, so we have to assume they're doing fine" handwave limbo — we do see them hanging out together a lot — and in their highlight/conflict episodes, I actually do think we're meant to see them as positives. They're learning (well, Cameron is learning) and growing closer! They get highlighted in the End Of Episode Song Montage! Look at their nice wedding!

Now. Is any of this well written? Nope. (This, personally, is what interests me in the pairing — the gap between probable intention and actual execution.) Do I blame people in the least for not liking or caring about it? Also nope. It's not well-written, who has the time?

(spoilers: this got long)

if you wanna ship them together, it requires a lot of extrapolation and projection. even foreteen and taub get more happy moments than chameron do.

Here is the part where I disagree. It's true they get highlighted when they're struggling/growing — just like Foreteen and Taub and his wife — but that doesn't mean they're shown to be unhappy or miserable the rest of the time, and even their conflicts are… meant to be positive? In a weird "this writing is weird" way?

S4-5, whenever the two share a scene they are presented as happy and enjoying one another's company, with like one exception that I will get to. I'm not gonna bore you with a full pedantic list, although don't tempt me because I love boring pedantic shit, but we get things like them hanging out in the ER or lounge together, coming to work or leaving together. In one episode, Cameron doesn't appear but Chase goes on about how he thinks it's fine if people who love one another still have secrets and brings up Cameron as an example; in another Foreman goes to complain to Cameron about her boyfriend and she teases Foreman about it. In The Itch, one of their 'conflict' episodes, Chase still goes out of his way to visit her and bring Cameron coffee at the patient's house, and their conflict is written as a heartwarming moment of their relationship getting stronger. The entire ridiculous sperm plot is framed as weirdly romantic, with Cameron deciding quickly to throw them away for the sake of romance and Chase going on about where they'll be in ten years.

Where Taub and Rachel have entire episodes where, offscreen, they are fighting and he is on the couch and they're having emotional/physical affairs, or Foreteen is tainted from the start with his manipulations and Thirteen's later frustrations that he won't open up to her, Cameron and Chase's conflicts tend to be portrayed by the writing (if not by the subtext) as romantic. Isn't it so sweet that they got engaged? Never mind that Chase just dumped her and Cameron never said sorry! They're holding hands and beaming in the montage!

Again, I'm nooooot arguing this is well written. The weird fucking subtext is there. But the show doesn't treat them as unhappy, and from everything they say and do between (and in) their "relationship episodes," they're both very committed to working out their (well, Cameron's, thanks to the weird POV stuff) issues and working things out. We also get this in S3, to an extent, considering how messy the FWB arc was: they're clearly both enjoying the hell out of it, with a minor you're just trying to make House jealous blip in Fetal Position; when they breakup in Airborne it's treated as a breakup, and one they're both upset about; their getting back together in Human Error is treated as a Big Romantic Moment.

There's only two times I can think of that don't really… have this aww, aren't they sweet? filter, where they're not both portrayed as trying to make things work and wholly committed to one another (entire divorce arc aside). The first is in No More Mr. Nice Guy, where Chase goes into a jealous and passive-aggressive snit over the idea that Cameron and House once slept together; it never gets resolved or addressed on screen, he's just… mad for the rest of the episode. (Again, contrast, say, Under My Skin, where he's also mad but the episode takes pains to have him… well, call off the wedding, sure, but also give a Romantic Speech about how he has no doubts about them and wants to be with Cameron forever etc.) The other is in Lockdown, after the divorce, where the show pretty blatantly throws in some retcons and tosses Cameron under the bus because Chase has been pulled up from the bench and matters now, lol.

Which is all a lot of words, and a lot of it is about conflict, but, you see what I'm saying? Most of the time, even when they were in a rough patch, the show very much framed them (from Act Your Age to Saviors to The Itch) as "they are in love and happy together and want to work things out" (or in Act Your Age's case: are in denial so we can come back to this later). Cameron is shockingly self-sacrificial for Chase, and he's shockingly understanding and patient with her, they're almost always shown hanging out together, they're meant to be a happy couple. Does this always show? Nah. But the intention is there.

frankly, if you wanna be obsessed with a toxic unhealthy couple, there are other shows that give you more bang for your buck.

Absolutely. What I like is that this ship gets both: they're cute and happy (and ignoring underlying issues), and then they get abruptly and painfully divorced in a way neither like or even want, they just can no longer be together because of who they are as people. We see Chase spend 2 years fucked up about it. Given how Cameron is with everything, I bet she was too. It's fantastic. So much potential for unhealthy mess.

But do I begrudge folks for not caring or not being interested? Definitely not. But at the same time, I guess I don't understand the perception, how other people see things when I don't. Not in a judgemental way. Just because I don't, so I want to know.