#the most wholesome and relatable love story ever honestly. this is what love is at its best

[viktortittiforov]

once again thinking about how yuri on ice is basically about two men who are incredibly caring and wonderful creatures but who have been lonely, incredibly hard on themselves and struggling for so long on their own that they have trouble accepting love and thinking of themselves as lovable as a result. and then. they meet and fall in love and they love one another like it's the easiest thing because it is. and through that they each learn that no neither of them is broken actually and they slowly teach one another how to accept love + how to give it to both others and themselves. i need to lie down for 3-5 business days

[moonlightsapphic]

Look, I just need you guys to understand how important queer coming-of-age forbidden romances on internationally accessible platforms like Netflix is, especially to youth in countries where homosexuality still hasn't been legally decriminalised or socially accepted.

That was a mouthful, so let me explain. You, a white American adult with a liberal family, may not relate to a fictional anxious teen Swedish prince grappling with strict familial and societal expectations versus his first love. You may not find anything special in a bunch of queer British teens discovering themselves and figuring out complex relationships that are honestly rather simplistic, in retrospect. It might be a little too trite for you. Like, just a little vanilla without any extra drama. Perhaps corny—cringe, even. Too wholesome.

But you know what that is to me, a desi queer young adult? It's representation, in an unlikely place. My country certainly isn't making movies or shows where I see my secret relationship between me and my girlfriend portrayed. I don't see that happening in the next couple of decades, either, sadly. But you know who’s telling our stories? Alice Oseman. Lisa Ambjörn, Lars Beckung and Camilla Holter. Through fictional storylines that might seem kind of boring to you, I am finally able watch my lived experiences play out on screen.

American media has done such a disservice to queer coming-of-age stories. I want to scream this from the rooftops. Y’all, I’m glad to see more out quirky queer side-characters—I can’t get enough of them—but why is it so rarely their story, in sharp focus, about how they found themselves? I want to know how they overcame internalised homophobia. When was the moment they knew? What is the cost they have to pay for being out? For not being out?

And no, I don’t want it to be dramatic. I don’t need to see violence or betrayals or victorious kisses in public, really. I’m happiest with the teenagers behaving like real teenagers. Innocent, vulnerable, nervous. I want it to be heartfelt, and excruciatingly slow, and authentic. I want to see the small wins and the subtle losses. The quiet mental toll of how much you have to give to a queer relationship—especially your first queer relationship—and how hard that can be to separate from your Identity itself.

Give me that "am I gay?" quiz and genuinely crying at 3:00 AM because you're in a rabbit hole about LGBTQ+ rights in a country where you actually don’t want to be gay and you don’t even know if you “count” anyway. Show me that moment where you're going back and forth from forbidding yourself from seeing the one person that sees and understands you and it's to protect your mental and physical well-being but it's driving you insane. Give me ALL THE YOUNG ADULT BI+ AWAKENINGS where one person strolls into your life and changes everything. No, it’s really not the same as most cis-heterosexual insta-love movies out there, even if it looks that way to you. It doesn’t even cut it close.

The happy ending, the acceptance is only what I can dream of, not what I can expect. The wholesomeness is actually radical to me.

No, we’re not past the need for basic star-crossed queer romances. For most countries in the world (including for many white American teenagers!), we need them as much as ever.

[tellmegoodbye]

Hello friends! I have been planning on doing one of these in-depth rec lists for a while, and I figured that since this is our first week off from season 5 it would be a good time to finally post this!

This list includes some of my favorite fics that I read over the past several months, so some of these are going to be older, and others will be much more recent. I'm hoping you guys can use this to discover some new fics and writers, especially if you're just getting back to the fandom after the long hiatus we had.

---

Oneshots

In Watercolour - @bonheur-cafe

I'm not someone who ventures outside of Tarlos very often, but this fic was absolutely beautiful and I had to include it in this list. The journey of Marjan slowly realizing her feelings for Nancy was incredibly well written and something I could really relate to when I looked back on my own experiences of liking a girl for the first time.

I recommend this even if you're like me and not someone who typically reads NancyMarjan fic. Overall a very wholesome fic and a wonderful insight into what Marjan having a queer realization at this point in her life might look like.

Made From Stardust - @paperstorm

I absolutely adore 2nd person pov fics and this one was no exception! Andie's writing is always breathtaking and to be able to read all of these pivotal moments in TK and Carlos' relationship from such a unique and creative perspective was really interesting!

I recommend this fic if you like reading canon fics but you're looking for something a little different. This was a really refreshing read and definitely something I'll find myself coming back to.

All Turns To Silver Glass - @thevenstar

Another absolutely gorgeous 2nd person pov fic! The writing in this one is so beautiful and it really stuck with me so much that I found myself coming back to it recently.

I recommend this if you're looking for something unique! I don't think I've read anything quite like this in this fandom and this author really has a way with words so that so much emotion and introspection is packed into this 4k fic.

Recreate The Sun - @reyesstrand

This is a very beautiful AND hot first meeting fic! It really captured the way Carlos immediately fell for TK, as well as the excitement of kissing and touching him for the first time, and overall it was incredibly immersive.

Recommend if you love spicy first-time Tarlos fics!

Monday - @butchreyes

This fic was very emotionally heavy and action packed! It's a beautiful insight into Carlos' character that balances both the past and the present to tell the story, and it honestly felt like I was watching an episode of Lone Star if Lone Star decided to dedicate a whole episode to Carlos.

I really recommend this if you enjoy reading fics where the stakes are as high as ever for Tarlos, and if you love Carlos as a character and want to read more fics centered around him.

Your Back Beneath The Sun, Wishing I Could Write My Name On It - @emsprovisions

Tarlos on vacation my beloveds! This fic was such a fun read and there were so many beautiful moments that made me stop and close my eyes because I could really picture myself in that moment with the characters. Emily does such a good job at appreciating the smallest moments and highlighting their beauty, and her writing is incredibly immersive!

I recommend reading this if you enjoy TK and Carlos going on adventures as husbands and are a Tarlos gets a dog truther. Lizzie was the true star of this show!

Let Him Speak! - @goodways

This fic really showcases the thing I love the most about Shannon's writing. It's fun, and at times, incredibly hilarious! I also loved how this fic handled Carlos and TK bringing up the topic of kids again.

I recommend this if you want some Lou II shenanigans from the queen of hijinks and shenanigans herself! As well as some beautifully emotional moments that will make you smile like an idiot.

This Belongs To You - @chicgeekgirl89

This post-breakup fic had me in my feels! It shows how Tarlos are dealing with the newness of being back together, struggling with being apart for the first time since then, and recovering from TK almost dying.

Read this is you're craving some beautiful emotional hurt/comfort. Carlos is so sweet here, and this fic has some wonderful 126 family vibes too!

Chaptered Fics (ongoing)

Not Strong Enough - @honeybee-taskforce

This AU is in its early stages but I am in love with this universe and the individual superpowers TK and Carlos were given, and I can definitely say that I was hooked from the very first chapter!

I recommend this fic if you're looking for a type of AU that hasn't been explored much in this fandom yet and want to see creative worldbuilding, as well as new and interesting versions of TK and Carlos' characters. I'm excited to see how they continue to navigate this world!

Something To Give Each Other - @alrightbuckaroo

This wip contains some of my favorite smut scenes I have ever read. I love how the love and trust between TK and Carlos is written here and I love how so many different types of intimacy are being explored.

I reccomend this if you love smut obviously, but even more importantly I recommend it even if it's not something you'd typically seek out. It's very hot and unapologetic, but it's also beautiful and tender and really highlights how much TK and Carlos truly love each other. There's also no overarching story here so all of these chapters can be read as oneshots if you're someone who doesn't read wips.

Live To Tell - @cold-blooded-jelly-doughnut

If you know me, then you know I'm a sucker for angst, but another thing I absolutely love is horror! Jamie has really mastered that aspect of this fic and when I'm reading this I really feel like I'm in TK's shoes and feeling his fear right alongside him. There's still so much mystery to unveil about who this antagonist is and I can't wait to see how this story unfolds!

If you're not too squeamish about whump or horror then I definitely reccoment giving this fic a read! I love when authors aren't afraid to drag out the scairest and most painful moments, because to me that makes the reading experience so much more immersive and satisfying.

When Fate Cries - @theghostofashton

We all had a great time watching the Olympics this summer, right? If you're in the same boat as me and experiencing withdrawals from that excitement then you should absolutely check out this AU!

I love how this fic navigates the world of gymnastics shows how a traumatic injury can affect an athlete's mental health, as well as the overall pressure TK and Carlos feel performing at such a high level with such a large audience. It is really interesting to see how all of this affects them as individuals, as well as how their relationship has developed overtime.

Even In The Dark - @ironheartwriter

This is definitely one of my favorite AUs I've read for Tarlos so far! Lana has really put so much creativity into this fic and the worldbuilding is incredible! I also love how TK and Carlos are such different characters as opposed to canon and I really love how much their individual powers suit them.

I recommend this fic if you like reading fantasy, mystery, and an unfolding adventure that slowly makes you fall in love with both characters even if they are at odds with each other.

Chaptered Fics (completed)

So Much For Summer Love - @strandnreyes

I cannot reccomend this fic enough! Jen has written so many incredible AUs but this was one of my favorites. It just gave me so much nostalgia and was generaly such a feel good fic about TK and Carlos finding each other and falling in love.

I recommend this fic if you love the beach, Tarlos being idiots and love, and found family vibes!

Call Me (By My Name) - @welcometololaland & @rmd-writes

This fic was so much fun to read! Not only did it have a lot of amazing smut, but we also get to see a different take on how TK and Carlos meet in canon through both of their perspectives! The alternating pov was utilized really well here, and I remember feeling so much excitement and anticipation while waiting for each update!

I recommend this fic if you want to watch our favorite idiots unknowingly having phone sex with each other and slowly fall in love. There were so many hilarious moments where they were completely oblivious, and there were so many beautiful and emotional moments in this fic as well.

Love Can Pull You Out Of Yesterday - @alrightbuckaroo

This fic is so creative in the way that it incorporates the twist of a time loop into the already emotion-pakced storyline that is the breakup/ice storm arc. I think it adds a really unique element that also elevates the tragedy surrounding everything that happens. It's also very thoughtful in the way it tells this story from Carlos' pov, and the way it all unfolds is ultimately very satisfying!

I recommend this fic if you're a fan of the time loop genre, or if you want some delicious push angst!

Dance Me To The End Of Love - @bonheur-cafe

This fic is so beautiful! It will take you on an overwhelmingly emotional journey through different stages of TK and Carlos' relationship, all through the lens of dancing! This theme is perfectly incorporated and I love how it holds so much importance in this relationship.

I highly recommend this fic for something that is both conceptually simplistic, yet rich in gorgeously written scenes that had me crying and smiling like and idiot.

Series

Let Me - @heartstringsduet

This is the ultimate dom/sub fic! Michelle really does a wonderful job of exploring this dynamic and how exactly TK and Carlos would navigate all of these new feelings. This series also does a great job at showing the development of trust in their relationship and highlighting just how mental health and sex intertwine.

I recommend this if you want to see a really insightful look into TK and Carlos as individuals and as a couple, absolutely gorgeously written sex, and some wonderful and realistic development when it comes to communication.

Tu Corazón Es Mío - @lemonlyman-dotcom

This series is such a cool idea and I've been loving it so far! I think it's awesome how each installment is based on a different song, and the way this series takes you through different phases of TK and Carlos' relationship makes for a fun mix of emotions!

I recommend this if you enjoy songfic mixed in with some beautiful in-between canon moments!

Wherever You Stray, I Follow - @strandnreyes

Did somebody say vampires?? I have to say that this type of AU never used to be something I would seek out, but I absolutely love the way this story unfolds and you can immediately tell just how much care and effort Jen put into building this world for TK and Carlos. There were moments where I cried, moments where I couldn't breathe, and moments where I felt every other emotion you could possibly imagine. Every fic in this series is a gem, and I am loving the latest installment so far!

I recommend this if you love vampire AUs, obviously, but also if you love stories that have higher stakes, and stories that leave you guessing and get you on the edge of your seat. If you have an appreciation for gorgeous scene settings and a story that becomes more expansive and intricately detailed as it goes, then you're going to love this fic.

Missing Moments - @paperstorm

The ultimate filler fic series! Andie does such a good job at breaking down even some of the smallest Tarlos moments from the show and really slowing everything down to give us some beautiful insight into the things we didn't get to see.

This series is completed up to season 3, and I highly recommend reading it if you haven't already!

Season Five Codas

There are many writers who have gifted us with some beautiful season five fics. Here are a few of my favorites + some series that you can check out!

@morganaspendragonss [x] @heartstringsduet [x]

@theghostofashton [x] @bonheur-cafe [x]

---

He's The Air I Would Kill To Breathe - @morganaspendragonss

If I had to pick one fic from the above-mentioned series to recommend, it would be this one! The angst was particularly powerful, and it's very memorable for me because I had to take a minute to stop crying before I could finish reading. This episode definitely tugged on our heartstrings, and then this coda amplified all of those emotions in such a beautiful way.

Deeper Than Breath, Closer Than Air - @carlos-in-glasses

This coda takes you through a whirlwind of emotions. There are a lot of conflicting things at play here, and this fic beautifully tied it all together and touched on everything TK and Carlos are dealing with. They laughed. They cried. They had sex. They did it all and this fic will make you feel ALL of it.

Brighter In The Morning - @strandnreyes & @paperstorm

Even though this is technically a chaptered fic, it is a collection of season five codas so I wanted to include it here. I absolutely adore this concept, and the fact that it's cowritten just makes it even cooler! These season five codas are hot, angsty, emotional, and beautiful extensions of each episode.

Breaking Like A Wave - @reyesstrand

This coda was absolutely beautiful in the way it broke down all of the emotions surrounding episode five. I loved the way the sex is written to be both tender and desperate, and overall it really shows just how much love there is when TK and Carlos come back together after all of that tension.

[fairygeek777]

Pinterest showing me the most wholesome and accurate representation of Aurora and Phillup.

In case you do not care to read this whole blog:

Too long not going to read: Sleeping Beauty is the standard both romantically and artistically.

I was totally about to say "they're so MamOuSa coded" but ya know what? I also just really freaking love these two so much.

Sleeping Beauty was the first Disney story I ever watched/was introduced to. My mom had a Disney classics collection story book and she also bought Sleeping Beauty Platinum edition for me and my sister. Ever since I was little it's been my favorite. Phillip is 100% the best prince there ever was. Aurora is so pretty and sweet and honestly relatable. The three good fairies are actually quite entertaining and I think they have a lot to like about them. Maleficent is the most iconic Disney villainess there ever was.

AND THE ART?!?! This movie has got to be the most esthetically and artistically pleasing animated film in history. The character designs fit the background to a tee. The first thing I ever noticed about the art as a child was the use of geometric shapes (square trees) and bright, saturated colors for the props and characters. It's just a freaking masterpiece.

The story makes me swoon in a very similar way that the first arc of Sailor Moon does (I mean duh I've said this a million times)

Prince and Princess betrothed from birth but separated before ever meeting and the first time they do meet is 16 years later as perfect strangers and fall in love as ordinary people, a boy she met in the woods as she was leaving her cottage and the first thing he does upon seeing her is sweep her off her feet and pull her into a dance. Then they are told that they must marry their betrothed but Oh no! What about that wonderful stranger I met and can't stop thinking about? And then the curse that Phillup has to wake her from; and he does not hesitate whatsoever the minute he learns that his betrothed and the girl he's falling for are the same person (thanks to a top tier villainess taunt/speech from Maleficent btw) and be rushes to her and defeats the wicked villainess and awakens her and then THEY LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTERRRR

Ahhh it's just- ack I'm in love with this storyyyy.

I do not however think I'd be as moved by it if I were to read the original fairy tale. Just a hunch-

[synonomy]

As a David Thewlis enthusiast, what movies of his would you recommend?

That depends if you’re watching for the plot or just simp fodder tbh

Naked (1993) is number one for David simp fodder since it lives up to its name/you get to see him doing sexy things, but its a tradeoff since his character is fucking insufferable and the film is a weird, unpleasant slog, so any time he isn’t naked or being sexy will be 💀💀💀

Resurrected (1989) is pleasing because it features a babyfaced and very Remus-esque David, but the plot is kinda meh and depressing/upsetting, especially near the end

Vroom (1988) also has some very young and pretty David (with bright orange hair!!!) but the film itself is kinda boring since he’s not the main, so you have to put up with some shitty Clive Owen lovestory

Total Eclipse (1995) is worth a watch because even though David has the most atrocious hairstyle possible you get to see him being topped by a twink Leo DiCaprio 👌 I mean, they have the most toxic relationship you’ve ever seen, but it’s gay so

Gangster No. 1 (2000) features the most Daddy of Davids as a slick suit-wearing London gangster, but the plot is kinda trash and you have to endure Malcom McDowell’s godawful narration throughout the whole thing. Ironically, the narration mostly revolves around him simping for David, which, while relatable, doesn’t make it any less irritating

Veronika Decides to Die (2009) also has a Daddy-style (also very Remus-esque) David as a smart and bespectacled psychiatrist. The plot isn’t absolutely terrible from what I remember, but he’s not in it a great deal, so

If you care more about the film itself, or are looking for a good balance between plot and simp:

Divorcing Jack (1998) is my favourite David flick by far. Not only is it the best he’s ever looked, he has an Irish accent(!!!), his character is adorable and the film is hilarious. There’s also bonus Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy). Highly recommend 🙌

Seven Years in Tibet (1997) is also pretty good. David has an Austrian accent (can’t comment on its quality) and looks cute with a lil Remus moustache. My main takeaway from the plot is that David has superior rizz to Brad Pitt (unsurprising) but I remember being entertained

The Lady (2011) is also one of my faves. It’s based on a true story about a Burmese diplomat, in which David plays the most supportive and wholesome husband ever to Michelle Yeoh (whom I also love) 🥰

I’m Thinking of Ending Things (2020) is great, though again David’s not in it all that much

I also really love Life is Sweet (1991) despite him only being in it for about 5 minutes

Honestly though, most of his really great performances have been in television rather than film.

[youbutstupid]

My personal ranking of all of the episodes directed by Matthew Gray Gubler

1. Mosley Lane, 5x16: the first episode directed by MGG and arguably one of his most iconic. The carnival themes along with the actual story created a really stressful but engaging watch and I loved watching the mum be proved right. The line ‘he was alive yesterday’ really sealed the episode for me.

2. Mr Scratch, 10x21: I love dark and creepy episodes, as you will see from this list, and this episode was perfect. The horror movie aspects added to the mind games that were being played on both the audience and the characters were insane. I loved how the lighting in this episode remained dark so the audience never got any reprieve from the horror. We also had to grieve each character at some point.

3. The Lesson, 8x10: this episode was so gruesome and I don’t normally like gore but this was done in such an interesting and terrifying way. I loved the ballet scene and the end when Hotch is walking through the fake ‘audience’- both such beautifully haunting scenes and I loved how we were put inside the unsub’s delusion.

4. Lauren, 6x18: arguably one of the most iconic episodes for Emily Prentiss’ character. I really loved how this episode opened a lot of things up for Prentiss as a character and also allowed for a lot of things about her to be explained. I also loved the reveal about Doyle’s son and it really left me on edge and questioning a lot.

5. A Beautiful Disaster, 11x18: I really deliberated this ranking because I wanted it to be higher but didn’t know where to place it. I’m not easy to make cry yet this episode had me sobbing. It was so intense and Morgan’s departure was done so beautifully, I honestly didn’t know what to do with myself after watching it. MGG really perfected his craft with the set out of this one.

6. Tall Man, 14x05: this episode is amazing because you can see the influence it takes from the real life Slenderman case which made it really eerie but interesting to watch. I also loved that the episode was JJ centric and we got to learn more about her and her background with Roslyn and her parents. This episode really made me adore JJ’s character even more and AJ’s acting was incredible (I know that isn’t a note about MGG’s directing but I just needed to give AJ her credit because she was insane).

7. Heathridge Manor, 7x19: the old Salem themes with the medieval dresses and the old rituals? Stunning. The visuals for this episode were amazing and the story was so interesting. The end when she hallucinates and we are left with the image of her alone on the doorstep; my Lord.

8. Elliott’s Pond, 12x06: this might not be the right word for a Criminal Minds episode but it honestly felt kind of cosy? With the 80s horror themes and the overall lack of death, this episode is more wholesome than other Gubler episodes whilst still maintaining his classic spark. The end of the case itself was really emotional and heartwarming and I’m glad that MGG gave Hotch’s character some semblance of a goodbye because we know how close he was to Thomas Gibson.

9. Blood Relations, 9x20: probably the most messed up episode ever. Picture every dark theme you can put into a piece of media and you get this episode. It honestly made me feel sick and I think that’s why I liked it so much; I like episodes that make leave an effect and this one definitely did that. I can’t even describe what happened in this episode without getting banned but oh my. This only isn’t higher because I preferred the storylines in the previous episodes.

10. The Capilanos, 13x17: this episode had a good premise and I think the introduction where there is no music and you’re left with the odd squeaks of the clown was amazing. I liked the calls to IT, my only issue with this episode is it had the opportunity to be really tense and scary but the middle chunk of the episode just wasn’t. The end of the case was good though and it started to pick up a lot.

11. Alchemy, 8x20: this episode had a good storyline and the visuals definitely had influences from horror movies such as The Shining. The only reason it’s not higher is because it didn’t hit me as hard as the others, but it’s still a really good episode to watch.

12. The Gatekeeper, 9x07: the storyline was good, it just felt more like classic Criminal Minds than a Gubler episode. The main star of this episode is the team bonding that we get to see with Rossi helping Reid grieve Maeve and then the karaoke scene was so beautiful.

[lixiesfreckless]

below is my general reaction/review of part one of because even then, I knew by @catboyieejeno . contains SPOILERS

not to mention I did betaread/edit this fic, so it may not have all of my first reactions(and I reread this on call with carina LOL)

"When he was 7 he fell in love."

sorry this is just the most endearing and relatable thing I've ever read. I had my first crush at five years old, pretty much the second I entered elementary school, and the concept of loving someone in a way that differed from how I felt about my parents was so all encompassing and overwhelming, that when my best friend spilled the beans to him, I had never felt more rage towards a person than I had towards her in my entire(albeit, short-lived) life. crazy how things become magnified before you reach adulthood lmaoooooo

"Why can't he stop looking at you?"

I can't get over how insanely human this feels. It's such a humbling feeling, having your apprehensions about something and nevertheless veing drawn to it all the same. Especially when that "thing" is a person. The juxtaposition between "I swore I'd never" and "why do I keep running into this" stirs some kind of critical thinking in all of us that I CANNOT get enough of ughhhhhh

"Seokmin found himself looking forward to seeing you every single night from then on"

not much to say here my heart just hurt a little bit remembering what that felt like. it feels so innocent, and you try to find other reasons for your selfish actions, but sooner or later you admit to yourself the real reason why you do what you do and it's so. SOOOOOOOOOOOOO

that part where seokmin dreams about how you'll thank him for returning your phone and also readying himself to stand "he didn't forget, he just wanted to sound nonchalant"

painfully human. I have to applaud you for how relatable all of these emotions are. and it makes me kind of happy how obvious it is that in this story, I'm seokmin instead of y/n YIKES

"And stop moping. You're making the flowers sad. They feel these kinds of things"

LITERALLY JUST READ A MINGHAO FLOWERSHOP AU WHERE A SIMILAR THEME WAS PRESENTED UGH I LOVEEEEEE

"Are you still sulking over the pretty girl from the bus?"

ngl I would die of embarrassment here lmao there is no way he just got outed like that lmao

"Simply put: you were not her."

ahhhh subtle but appreciated emotional maturity. that's hot

"he starts counting down the hours until he can see you again."

TOOOOOO REAL I WANNA BE IN LOVE AGAIN AHHHHH

"I wanted to."

THIS. why is it casual honesty that feels the most attractive to me? my ex's close friend had told me that honesty is intimacy and I think she might be right. the vulnerability has to be somewhat attractive to me but MANNNNNN it's always gonna get to me isn't it?

"This is me"

never ever EVER getting over this double entendre. "this is me" meaning that that is your bus stop, but also that that song was just the embodiment of you. and seokmin not only accepting but LIKING that part of you is more than wholesome IT MAKES ME WANT TO RIP MY HAIR OUT

"You don't have to, even if you brought it all the way out here. It's up to you."

as someone who plays guitar, this is so reassuring. a lot of time the pressure/nerves of playing in front of someone gets to you and it feels too daunting of a task, so the reminder that it's up to us is genuinely so kind

"Have you always been this lovely, or am I just starting to see it now?"

stood up from my bed and clapped(in my head)

"A little embarrassed but somehow happy to be caught."

"happy to be caught" THE WAY I COULD WRITE A WHOLE E S S A Y ON THIS

"What's this doing all the way out here?"

no bc an american penny all the way in seoul is kind of magical. like it was meant for them. ughghgshghsjdhsdgjs

"your hands anchoring each other"

the way this is phrased is so beautiful but I honestly just needed a minute to rant about the entire karaoke/kiss scene. as someone who has lived through that kind of love-drunkenness, it is insanely well written and accurate. the unexplainable gravity between the two of you, the not wanting to be far from each other, the inability to find reasons to leave each other, the reluctance to look away, everything. that kind of stumbling down the street with stars in your eyes love is something that I hope everyone who reads this fic experiences one day. it almost hurt a little bit to relive that, knowing that my heart is similar to dk's in the sense that it's apprehensive towards feeling it again, KNOWING where it leads if everything goes wrong. ITS SO COMPLEX but the scene is so sweet I just wanna lie down and cry

I'll post a separate one for part two <3

[epicspheal]

hi cami! hope youre doing well! id like to ask.. have you seen that pokemon zensho is now fully available in english? i only found out recently lol. you can find it at mangadex! if you have, what are your thoughts on it?

Hi there @soulsilvers I'm doing well thank you for asking! Yeah, I actually didn't know that they full translated Pokemon Zensho until I got this ask, so thank you for alerting me to this I appreciate it! So of course I had to read it all last night! Link here for anyone who wants to read it! It was so cute honestly. First Pokemon Concierge, now Pokemon Zensho making me cry and I'm here for it honestly. Like you said on discord, it definitely is very rushed at only 9 chapters. I definitely would've loved to see it have a few more chapters to explore more about Red and Blue's friendship (well here called Ash and Gary) and going through the league (I always feel like the elite four part of the Kanto story always seems to get the short end of the stick). Despite it's rushed nature, it does make up for it in being the most true-to-gameverse adaptation. But what I appreciated the most was the details that were added were very grounded. Like the problems the gym leaders were facing felt real. It was cool to see how Giovanni became the way he was because it has been hinted at that he's not always been the ruthless Team Rocket boss but something made him that way. I've grown to like Lt. Surge a lot over the years and I feel like his arc was really wholesome too. Many people criticize Kanto for it not being particularly story driven (which to each their own, some people like story drive gameplay some don't, groups are valid), but to say it's completely devoid of story is false. The theme of Gen 1 besides exploration is relationships. It's why the key driver is the rivalry (and strained friendship) between Red and Blue. The orphan Cubone, Agatha and Oak, even Mewtwo's existence plays on the concept of relations in a subtle way. Zensho takes this concept and runs with it throughout as Red travels through Kanto. Much like Pokespe, Pokemon Zensho does a good job at bringing smaller but notable NPCs into the fold and it was done in a way that was not overbearing (looking at Marvin from SwSh Pokespe taking Hop's spot). It was cool to see the SS Anne captain and Game Warden get some more screentime. Also props for this manga low key making non-binary Bill canon! I know some people who read it may not like this version of Red not being "badass" in that he does earn some of his badges without actually defeating the leaders but I think the way it's handled here was okay. I think part of Red's character is supposed to be how he puts caring for others first despite being so talented at battling and I think it's okay that there are adaptations that don't just fall into him being a legendary battler who sweeps everyone. Even though this is a retelling of Red's story I would say if I'm honest this was really Blue's story. Blue got a lot of focus in this manga and outside of Pokemon Generations we don't really get to see into Blue's mindset. I appreciated as you mentioned on discord, how despite everything it did still focus on the fact that Blue was still Red's friend despite everything. It's not something that's focused on a lot in gen 1 adaptations. And of course the rest of the Oak family gets some shine too. This is probably my favorite portrayal of Oak in that it retains some of his flaws but humanizes him too (although I wish they had devoted some time to his and Agatha's rivalry). And Daisy...even with her limited screen time very much still shone especially with her calling out Professor Oak for his harsh words towards Blue. And then of course the revelation of what happened to Blue and Daisy's parents. Give those kids (and this Professor Oak) a hug. This is definitely my favorite of the four Pokemon manga I've read thus far and if we ever got a short miniseries for the Gen 1 games again I would hope it would take more of the Zensho approach and be game accurate while still expanding on little lore details.

[izzythehutt]

Hello! I just wanted to say that I really love In the Black and Black Mask! I adore your take on the Black family because to me it makes so much more sense than the usual Walburga and Orion casually Crucio-ing Sirius at every mistake take. I really enjoy seeing how history tends to repeat itself in terms of familial relationships, because it's something I see often on families. Also most of their relationships with one another are complicated, and never clear cut.

I loved the most recent chapter, it was honestly hilarious. Ted is absolutely the hero of this chapter, he's the only sane man there and I love how he takes the Blacks being well... The Blacks, in stride. Also Dora just latching onto Cygnus was wonderful and him getting offended when Dora said "but I thought you didn't like us?" was so funny. Seeing Walburga break down was so painful, I think in part because she always appears as strong. Sirius calling her Mama and then hugging her was so wholesome. Also, his 'Reason You Suck' speech to Arcturus had me gasping with both awe and horror in real life because all of these characters are so alive they feel like actual people. Your dialogues are absolutely brilliant, and so much of their personalities shine through from how they speak and react to things.

Also I absolutely love Colette, she's definitely someone who keeps Sirius grounded. Her touching his wrist and telling him to speak to James was so intimate, it felt much more intimate than a spicy smut things or things like that. It reminds me of Pride and Prejudice where there's not actually much PDA going on, but it's infinitely more romantic to me because you can feel the affection between these two people. Also, Colette just shamelessly kissing Sirius in front of everyone (including her own parents!) and calling him darling got me grinning.

I'm excited to see how her parents will react (her mother in particular), because Fabienne (I'm sorry I can't remember her mother's name) strikes me as not having much hope for Colette as long as she marries a respectable pure-blood wizard because she set her sights on Rabastan who is a second son, thus unlikely to inherit, instead of someone like Evan Rosier who is already the head of the family. But then Colette went and snagged the heir to one of the most powerful families in Britain.

I'm sorry for the long comments. Kudos <3

This is a very sweet comment! Thank you!

To be compared with Austen is so flattering, because tbh she is a major inspiration to me in general as a writer and storyteller and in particular for this story. I was re-reading a section of the story and realized that I had flat out stolen phrases from Austen/Austen adaptations (1995 P&P in particular.) Sorry, Jane!

Sirius's rant to Arcturus was peak Reasons You Suck speech, good use of the trope.

I'm glad you enjoy my interpretation, I find it far more interesting (and frankly, fun) than the popular fanon portrayals of over the top abuse and crucio-ing etc.

It's become a bit of a sticking point for me, because I've been accused directly/publicly of putting the blame for the dysfunctional family relationships on Sirius/white-washing abuse more than once. Which I resent, a bit—I don't think I've ever presented the Black parents as healthy or good (though they are entertaining in their problematic manipulativeness at times and I can't deny that I do occasionally play that for laughs.) What I've tried to show (with mixed success, clearly) is that Sirius's coping mechanisms are the product of their bad parenting and don't actually make him a happy/healthy person because he still loves his family, in spite of them being objectively awful. Which I think is probably relatable to many humans on the planet? There's a desire for a relationship with our parents.

As it's a version of characters who never appeared in canon, I would call my softening of them "alternative character interpretation", though I will maintain until the end of time that there's nothing in BSDU characterization directly contradicted by canon.

[sleepyricee]

Fic Writer Review

Thanks for the tag @reviiely !! I'm a small (semishira) fic writer but very proud to be part of the community so I'll give this a shot.

How many works do you have on AO3?

I've written a grand total of 13 (all SemiShira heh). My writing inspiration comes in spontaneous bursts.

Your top 5 stories by kudos/likes?

1) A Sleepy Shirabu - 127

I'm glad that this one is at the top, since it's one of my favourites. It also promotes my username in a way, since I'm a sleepy person. I relate to this fic in my SOUL. Whenever I reread it, it takes me back to surviving on one hour of sleep. It felt like a daze but also sparked my creativity levels so yay.

2) Coffee and Chaos - 82

My second fic ever ayyyy. I actually wrote this down before typing it up. It didn't turn out as planned, but was still entertaining and I absolutely adore coffee shop AUs so I'm glad this one is getting noticed.

3) Pucker Up - 76

My first attempt at a 3+1 fic. Also one of my first attempts at writing kiss scenes. I found it quite cute so I'm glad other readers do too.

4) Trustfall - 67

This is a silly little fic that popped up in my mind and I loved it instantly. It's pretty short but was very fun to write and reread. I'm tempted to start a series where the Shiratorizawa Volleyball Team just do random challenges to improve their teamwork skills.

5) Brownies with you - 67

I haven't baked brownies in a painfully long time, but I thought of this when my sister mentioned how one of her classmates was always baking brownies. My first thought was "wow, it'd be amazing to room with her" and my second was "wait, this could happen in the Shiratorizawa kitchen" and thus this fic was born.

Do you respond to comments? Why/why not?

YESSS I LOVE COMMENTS!! I'm just terribly late with my responses but I'll always reply to them <33

What's the fic you've written with the angstiest ending?

I'd say "Still missing you" but I haven't really written many angsty fics. Angst isn't my forte and I'm such a sucker for fluff.

What's the fic you've written with the happiest ending?

Possibly "Under the shade, by the lake" but most of my fics have fluffy endings. I just like this one the most :)

Do you write crossovers?

Nope but I'd love to try writing a Haikyu ship in a Harry Potter au. I've seen a couple and am so in love with how people have written them. I'd highly recommend "Of polaroids and peanut butter cookies" (semishira being so so cute in Hogwarts)

Have you ever received hate on a fic?

Nope. Everyone is honestly so sweet, lovely, and supportive.

Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

No. I'm into writing wholesome stories with witty banter and chaos.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

I hope not lol. If I have, then I'm completely clueless about it.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

No but I feel like that'd be pretty interesting. I'd love to hear different linguists pronounce the characters' names.

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

No. Currently, I feel like I'm better as a solo writer. Maybe in the future, I'll try co-writing out.

What's your all-time favourite ship?

SEMISHIRA ACKSDN MY OTP (if that wasn't obvious) I thrive off their bickering and their dynamic is so fun to write.

What's a WIP that you want to finish but don't think you ever will?

Definitely "His Feathered Dreams" which I started approximately one or two months ago and still haven't completed.

What are your writing strengths?

Fluff. So much fluff. Featuring Shirabu being sleepy/overworking himself.

What are your writing weaknesses?

Dialogue without a doubt. I struggled with dialogue when I started out, but I can see some improvement. It's pretty difficult for me to keep everyone in character, but writing conversations is honestly really fun.

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

That'd be pretty fun. I can imagine Oikawa or Hinata slipping into Spanish on occasion, or Lev and Yaku speaking Russian. I don't know Russian but I know bits of Spanish so I could try experimenting.

What's a fandom/ship you haven't written for yet but want to?

This question feels crafted specifically for Ushiten. I love their unconventional pairing so much!! In fact, I'm planning a Christmas themed fic for these two and I'm looking forward to the results (I'll try to keep them as cannon as possible lol)

What's your favourite fic you've written?

Either "A Sleepy Shirabu", "Under the shade, by the lake" or "Hypocritical Oath". I honestly love these so much. I think I was in the zone while writing them, and all of these are pretty wholesome (or at least have a wholesome ending).

All of the people I would've tagged have already been tagged, so I'll end my lil review here. Thanks for reading till the end <333

[ceoofhelaegon]

I like Aemond but damn he was so inept like it's soo funny . He ends smooshing his brother with his Godzilla dragon, maiming his King and one of their few dragons. If he had killed Aegon or sunfyre , he would had cost the Greens the war.

Manages to LOSE THE FUCKING CAPITAL and if not for Larys smuggling out Aegon would had cost the Greens the war again.

Decides to genocide a entire noble House which was TEAM GREEN because they were related to the Velaryon boys, possibly getting Aegon poisoned down the line(Larys wanting revenge for the doom of his House is what makes sense about him killing Aegon)

Spending his time committing war crimes that will come back to bite his brother and his mother´s asses after Rhaenyra´s death.

Let Daeron and Criston die because.......reasons? Yeah but don't forget he study the blade and the philosophy lmaaooo he is so unserious

Nonnie, I honestly never thought of this way...Aemond messes up so badly during the war. But it's more the character or the contrived plot since GRRM wanted Daemon to die in the battle of gods eye? But you're right, he messed up way too much, can't take him seriously.

aemonds whitewashing makes me want to rip my hair out cause of them planning to erase daeron and probably give his arc to aemond and the absolute destruction of argon’s character… don’t get me started

Oh trust me, I've ranted about this way too much as well.

i hope aegon doesnt build aemond thst statue after how he treated him when he wanted to run away lmao

me seeing that happening because Ryan loves Aemond for some reason:

Of course they had to make Aemond involved somehow 🙄 as if these are not Aegon's children that Aegon will torture Blood and then get revenge for them later. At this point Aemond is Ryan's self-insert it's so ridiculous how he needs to involved him in every plot.

Ryan is literally self-inserting himself into Aemond so don't be surprised if he made the entire story about him

It makes A LOT of sense if that's what he's doing and explains so much of the writing choices. 💀

Don't be surprised if Ryan made b&c about Aemond (there is a reason why he made Aemond's intentional kill an accident) he will made rock's rest about Aemond as well, not mention that Aemond will become prince regent and Ryan will force Aemond in every scene even when there is no need to that, I like Aemond but let's be real other characters deserves to shine not just Aemond

Nonnie, you're making me a doomer ngl:

Greenis who think that Aemond of all people would be a good ruler are delusional. Only Jace and Daeron are capable of becoming good rulers

I mean, can we blame them? They believed what Ryan made Aemond say in ep. 9...the fucking CRINGE

I love how lazy Ryan and co were to the point they couldn't write anything for Aegon ii so they decided to copy the personality of Aegon iv (one of the most boring targaryen ever) and start pretending that they have created a complex and grey character who rapes maiden in the morning and watch wwe kids in the night, extremely unserious. If they wanted to copy the personality of a bad/tyrannical targ at least they should have picked someone interesting like Maegor or Visenya

WWE KIDS PLSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

But you're so right, Aegon IV is just so boring and copying his personality is so dumb...if the Blackfyre Rebellions ever get adapted how are they're gonna make Aegon IV?! A guy good who's misunderstood? So unserious.

Aemond's line was probably a lazy set up for the plot of Aemond becoming prince regent

We shouldn't be surprised, the writers have the subtlety of a bull in a china shop.

I love Aemond but there is no denying that he is extremely dark and he will get darker in future seasons, why can't his hardcore stans accept that and stop assaulting anyone who dislikes him or admits that he is a dark character? Like where is the fun liking wholesome uwu characters all the time? Aemond is interesting in this way and there is no fun in pretending that he something he is not (that he's some uwu kindhearted soul)

I think it comes from the fact that people don't want to like a dark character, they might think that somehow it reflects badly on them.

It doesn't btw!!!!!

should’ve had the baratheon girl tell aemond that luke cut his balls off instead of his eye which she humbled his ass ngl but that would make aemond seem like a crybaby for a statement like that and we can’t have mr. i should be king doing dumb shit like that

I'd love to see Maris (I think that it was her) being bitchy, I love bitchy characters!!!!!!

I honestly think it would make him look the impulsive character that he is.

aemond is a massive dick in the books idk why they portrayed him in such a positive light if anything that’s daeron and lord knows were never getting him at this point and aegon is an ass but nevertheless a smart one and a strong one with a decent relationship but no anyways i’ll shout it from the rooftops #justiceforphiaandtom

Same, Nonnie. I kinda liked him before the war, he was just the kind of friend that all of us have, and need sometimes, that says what everyone is thinking.

I NEED MY BABY DAERON. 🥲

Sorry to Ryan but Aemond talks,walks, and looks as an anime villain so it's really hard for me to take him seriously especially after his oopsie daisy in ep10 after he chased luke while laughing maniacally

I think it's something like: It doesn't matter if it was an accident it's done kind of thing BUT having him lose control of Vhagar made him look very goofy.

But yeah, he didn't need to laugh like an anime villain.

You are so right, Helaena is barely a character and if the rumors are true she will only be there to be a catalyst for Aemond arc.

Hopefully is not true, but I'm not hopeful at all, Nonnie.

Idc how unpopular this opinion is, but Helaena deserves much more than to be a mere plot device to give some development to Aemond, i don't want her to die early on and for her death to be the beginning of Aemond's man pain arc, it's the fault of the showrunners who whitewashed him too much and tried to merge Daeron's personality with him, if they want him to catch up with his book counterpart there are plenty of ways to do that WITHOUT sacrificing a female character for him. If they did that they have no right to claim they're progressive and feminists

I'll riot if they make Helaena's character about Aemond, THIS ISN'T ABOUT AEMOND!!!!!!!

But Nonnie, they're not feminists nor progressives...we need to realise that, they only say that to avoid criticism and it works.

I love how the mass genocider Aemond who enslaved a woman and most likely raped her is a feminist Marxist and his mommy's little criminal while Rhaenyra and Daenerys are mad queens who deserve to die horribly. We love when misogyny prevail <3

I mean, making excuses for disgusting men and hating teenage girls for being kids is VERY on brand for the ASOIAF fandom.

I love how in the book Aemond was the worst of all of his siblings, now the show is pretending that he is Jaeherys reborn again after they cut Daeron, made Aegon a mustache-twirling villain and never give Helaena any personality whatsoever

Every time I think about the butchering of helaegon and my baby Daeron:

the merging of characters was the dumbest thing ever like daeron and aemond? who was gonna burn bitterbridge ? aemond?? while he’s making stupid decisions in the riverlands ?? god where is daeron they refuse to announce his casting

WHERE THE FUCK IS DAERON, HBO?! WHERE?!

Imagine the incompetent showrunners Thinking that the lunatic mass murder who killed small children just because they have strong blood in them and enslaved a woman and possibly raped her as he has taken her as his *war prize* and who is a disgusting misogynistic as well would be a better grey&complex character than Aegon who took the crown only to protect his family and Daeron who was the most popular kindest son of Alicent lmao sheer stupidity

Nonnie, the Daeron is erasure was PERSONAL!!!!! I hate it here and HotD was a mistake.

It's so hilarious that every male character needs to be either get assassinated or get cut (applied to both teams) just to make Aemond shine.... (even Daemon get the worse interpretation of his character lmao) I wonder what this says about the quality of Aemond's character and the Showrunners's confidence in making him a "relatable" character. It's a curios decision especially when you consider what Aemond will do in the future

Makes you wonder how they'll handle his arc moving forward...maybe change it completely, he won't commit any war crimes 💀

The most unserious scene will be that Battle above God’s Eye scene and the leading up to it and knowing the two fan favorites go out at the same time and I know they are waiting until the damn series finale for that and are going to rush Rhaenyra’s death cause they hate Aegon or have Alicent poison Aegon cause she loves Rhaenyra so much or even sacrifice herself for Rhaenyra. They’ll probably have Aemond’s head be cut of cause it’s Daemon like where’s my stupid Aemond who literally was the second worst decision maker in the dance behind daemyra who deserve to be together at the number one spot.

The erasure of Aegon as a character is my villain origin story!!! Can't wait for the most unserious scene in TV history.

Fun fact: the majority (especially non book readers) hate Aemond, so obviously they're not shipping him with anyone and the majority of who want Helaemond to become canon are wanting that out of hatred for Alicent since Helaena's children being bastards will make Alicent super hypocrite. So they don't care about Helaena's "happiness" (yeah she will be happy with the brother who caused the death of her children and her ultimate suffering and death lmao) they only care about Rhaenyra being on the absolute right and Alicent being nothing but a raging misogynistic and a hypocrite so they don't care about any nuance

The amount of Tik Tok comments and creators wanting the kids to be Aemond's just make Alicent look dumb is huge, and as a helaegon is sad to see.

So according to GRRM logic aemond is bastardphobic but takes a bastard to bed and gets her pregnant? Not ONE person says this could be because of magic but out of true love like y’all saw Melisandre in season 2 with how strange she was at Harrenhal? I’d assume she would be more like her because Ryan needs the constant comparisons 💁‍♀️

Since Ryan is trying to be GoT 2.0, it wouldn't surprise me if we get Melisandre 2.0 in HotD.

Cant wait for the battle above Gods Eye to be so unserious while pregnant alys is right there 😭

It's going to be so fucking unserious, I laughed the first time I read a 50 year old man jumping from his dragon and killing his 20 year old nephew. 💀

Never forget Aemond is bastardphobic but sleeps with a bastard GRRM is so unserious 😭

Especially a bastard from the SAME FAMILY of the bastards he hates!!!!!

Of course only Aemond is going to get his Daenerys Targaryen moment in the Riverlands and not Daeron and what happened at Bitterbridge because the writers hate Daeron and instead gave every character trait to Aemond probably making him regret what happened in the Riverlands after he burns it instead of giving that humanizing moment to Aemond. The worst part is he probably would’ve been a fan favorite had the included him in the first season. This is all coming from an show!aemond girlie

It was probably the dumbest thing HotD has ever made, ngl.

Team black here, and I got to say I've seen your and your anons criticism about Ryan's favoritism and to be honest I agree but it's not just about how Aegon is written compared to how Aemond is written, it's also about how all the young characters are written compares to Aemond Jace,luke,baela and rhaena all have been vilified by Ryan for the sake of giving a poor me sob story for Aemond. Rhaena and Baela weren't in the fight in the book, and Jace and luke have been turned into bullies and not only that, Jace canonical talents and skills with the sword, being studious and worthy of being the next ruler (after rhaenyra) the maesters said something similar to Jace proved himself to be worthy of being the prince of the iron throne all of it have been taken away and given to Aemond in show. Jace and luke could care less about Aemond's stupid toast in the book and the fight was between Aegon and Jace because of Helaena. Ryan made them instead get angry because of Aemond's speech not to mention he made Jace who has been described as tall and strong just like Harwin to gets pushed down into the ground by Aemond whose greatest achievement as a fighter is killing some random 80yr man. Luke whose mother is a valeryian supremacist can't even speak valeryian properly while Aemond can lmaoo. Not to mention that Laena used to have a scene while she claims Vhaegar as a brave 12yr girl but Ryan cut that out because he wants Aemond's scene to be more impressive? Rhaena who grown up dragonless doesn't has any backstory and the show doesn't even focus on her pain while Aemond had given a fully made up bullying story? There is no mention of the impressive fact that helaena as 11/12 was able to claim one of the largest/oldest dragons of that time? There is nothing wrong for a writer to like a certain character but not to the point of literally stealing and destroying other characters just to make their fave the only likable character. And I wonder what trying to woobify a mass murder and a rapist whose greatest achievement is about killing innocents and children while destroying and subjecting female characters truly says about Ryan?

I've seen team black talking about the same thing before, making the son of Breakbones this weak and pathetic boy was certainly a choice.

I agree with you, we should've seen Laena and Helaena claiming their HUGE dragons at such a young age. I honestly think that it wouldn't make Aemond's scene less impactful, we would get way more attached to Vhagar and see that Laena was her own woman and worthy of the biggest dragon in the known world.

As I said before, the feminist angle is just to stop criticism of bad writing.

Something all Helaegon and Daemyra stans can agree on is Aemond fans are bloody wild! I post about shipping both them couples and somehow my inbox is filled with hate from Aemond supporters🤣 like bru, nobody is mentioning him

LMAO, Nonnie...I'll get so much hate asks after this...but you're so right lol.

what are the aemond stan’s crying about? he’s fictional ya’ll but seriously what do they complain about

Mainly about how Aemond isn't my favourite, because god forbid Aemond isn't my fave.

[simplyclary]

A Letter Filled With Love and Appreciation

As some of you might know, I express my thoughts, feelings and emotions through writing and words. In fact, my number one love language is words of affirmation. I just think that little notes, messages and letters filled with love and positivity goes a long way. This is my fan-art (in a way) and nothing but love flows every time I write something about the people and things that I appreciate and love.

This whole post is a letter that is dedicated to one of the best fandoms that I have ever joined this year. That is none other than the TZP Squad. This might be lengthy, might not be, but one thing's for sure, I'm gonna be a little bit sentimental considering what they've got me feeling these past few days.

I don't celebrate Thanksgiving, but I think that giving thanks and being grateful knows no time and date. Since it's Thanksgiving season anyway, this will be my Thanksgiving gift to the lovely angels of the fandom who has been nothing but pleasant, accepting, warm and just some of the kindest folks that I have ever encountered online. Other than Taylor himself and some of my other favorite people, these folks are what keep me sticking around in the crazy and ever-evolving realm of social media.

So, without further ado, here's my letter of love and thanks to my dearest fandom, the TZP Squad.

To my dearest TZP Squad,

I would like to start the letter by telling you guys that the found family trope is one of my favorite tropes in books. Just the feeling of finding people outside your own bloodline that loves and appreciates you is a special feeling.

To me, a fandom is like a virtual family, where the members bond and share a mutual love for a specific person or a group of people. Nothing compares to the happiness and pride I feel being a part of one. I have been a part of several fandoms throughout the years, some are still active and some no longer. With every fandom I enter, I always make a promise to stay there for as long as I can unless my heart calls to another or I'm no longer interested in the content or there's too much controversy and negativity that I had to leave and just be a casual supporter instead of a die-hard fan.

The TZP Squad is a special one. What started with me casually replying and liking some posts on Twitter/X and IG turned into something special and meaningful. You guys are just some of the most pleasant, sweetest, kindest and most respectful bunch of people that I have ever encountered on social media. To be able to interact with you and share the mutual love for Taylor Zakhar Perez with you guys have been amazing so far.

The amount of creativity and artistry in this fandom is just overflowing. The edits and the artworks are just amazing and is deserving of so much appreciation. I have a few of my favorite accounts that I interact with on a daily basis but all of you honestly deserves lots of love and appreciation.

Since I live in the Philippines which is in Southeast Asia where it's night when it's day for some, if not most, of you guys, being able to wake up to your TZP-related updates, photos, videos, interview insights and edits is just some of my favorite things to wake up to. Like to be honest, I can't start my day without seeing and interacting a least a couple of posts from you guys.

That's quite the story time, I'll actually now get to the "Thanks-giving part" before I get carried away.

My dearest members of the TZP Squad, first and foremost, thank you for accepting a newbie like me into the fandom. This fandom is new on its own but I know some of you have known Taylor since his "The Kissing Booth" days. Thank you for the warmest and most pleasant welcome into the fandom. Do continue to be your pleasant and accepting souls so our little squad can continue to grow and diversify.

Secondly, thank you for letting me share my thoughts and feelings about Taylor without judgment. I do keep it wholesome and pretty tame most of the time by simply letting the all capital letters and emojis speak for me, but if you can see me behind the screen, I usually go pretty feral. Along with one of my best friends, you guys are the only ones who can fully understand my love for Taylor. Like I can go on and on about him for hours, I'm not kidding.

Thirdly, I thank you guys for simply being my little corner of paradise on the internet. I don't know what it is, but the TZP squad community is my favorite little corner in the messy space of social media. You guys just make my social media experience pleasant. There's no toxicity and negativity, everyone's like helping each other out. Like it's a little space of positivity and inclusivity and I love that so much.

Lastly, I really just want to thank you guys for the happiness and joy you bring to me. I consider Taylor as my sunshine, but you guys are the solar energy. The happiness that I feel increases when I see updates and content of him from you guys. I'm not on my phone 24/7 so I really appreciate it whenever you guys provide like little updates here and there about Taylor. Also, thank you for making me scream and go wild with the insane amount of photos (I don't really care if they're the same ones!) I see on my feed every day! I love you guys so much for that.

Before I end the letter, I would like to give a couple of shoutouts to some folks...

Firstly, shoutout to the folks who run @/InfoTZP and @/tzpsquads. You angels. You have been my go-to pages for TZP updates since the beginning of my TZP fan era. I appreciate the work and effort that you put into providing accurate updates and y'all are just some of the sweetest souls ever! The fandom and Taylor is lucky to have you guys! Extra shoutout to @/InfoTZP for that poster that you made me for my birthday a few days ago. I still cannot get over the cuteness and the sweetness of that gift. That was also the first time that I have ever received a gift from a fandom so I was really touched by it. Thank you for making my birthday extra special.

Secondly, to the folks over here on Tumblr, thank you for letting me express my Taylor-related thoughts on here. Thank you for liking them, reposting them and simply reading them. They can be lengthy (especially those fashion-related ones) but I really appreciate you guys taking the time to read them.

(He's not gonna read this, but who knows, he might!). Lastly, of course, to the person who is the reason this fandom even exists, Taylor Zakhar Perez. Taylor, my comforting sunshine, thank you for being you and for being the reason why I have a lovely fandom to belong in. Thank you for being an inspiration to many people and thank you for being a positive force that we can look up to. I am forever thankful to have discovered you and I promise to forever love and support you.

This is one of my many Taylor-related posts, but this is more about the fandom than Taylor himself. The fandom is just as special as Taylor and I'm excited to spend the future loving and supporting him with you guys. The TZP squad is one of the best fandoms with the sweetest people and I'm just having a pleasant ride with you guys. I'm here for the long run and I promise to stand by you Taylor and you guys until time tells me that it is already time to stop.

Happy Thanksgiving , everyone! Eat some turkey, eat some stuffing and cornbread. Celebrate and always be grateful for everything that you have!

All my love! 🧡

Clarissa

[eemcintyre]

"Stretch" (2014) review

Aka ✨ why this movie is one of the most underrated ones I've ever seen and why it is some of Patrick Wilson's best work ✨

"If you like stories about chance and coincidence, here's one you've never heard" gives me the chills every time 😮‍💨

Patrick Wilson is one of the most underappreciated actors of his time, like, not only do his other projects demonstrate that he has drama, romance, instruments, and singing down ✨, but here he is finally given a chance to flaunt his impeccable comedic timing, vocalizations, and expressions

Idk maybe I just love movies with narration (ex., "Heathers," "Jerry Maguire," "Amelie," "Eloise at Christmastime," "Megamind," "American Made," "The Outsiders," etc.)

But jokes aside, I will defend Patrick Wilson's narration throughout the movie no matter whAT ANYONE SAYS YOU CAN PRY IT FROM MY COLD DEAD FINGIES; IT IS AT TURNS FUNNY AND RELATABLE AND PROFOUND AND WE GET TO KNOW THE MAIN CHARACTER BETTER 😤😤

It does start a bit slow, especially if you aren't as invested in Patrick Wilson as I am 🙃🫠 but if you stick with it and pay attention to the subtle comedic elements in the meantime 👌🏻

This movie is not afraid to be a bit irreverent, which is a modern and mainstream rarity

Stretch and Charlie are so cute together; I wish more of their interactions had been kept in the final cut because when I think of the quality content that we missed 😩💖

"Who gains weight in their neck?" "Sexy people." "Three months of Rosetta Stone- I HATE THE FUCKING FRENCH." "We was gettin' all romantic, watching Titan-tic..." and so, so many more

Honestly, Karl is an integral part of this film as well- he may seem overtly cartoonish to some, but again, we get to know the main character better through him, as his presence gives us a visual of Stretch's inner struggle; he contributes to the dark humor vibe, and Ed Helms was clearly having the time of his life (as was the entire cast)

Speaking of which, stellar casting all around, especially those who were cast against type; love when directors give that stuff a chance. Everyone was made for their role

Dark humor, satire of Hollywood, homage to 80s films

The Navstar scene. If you know you know

Same goes for the post-Candace club exit scene with the valet, the wannabe rapper, and the sex club exit scene (there's a man wearing only balloons. need I say more). I mean, the whole movie is basically the best part and I'm trying not to make this review me just naming every scene and going "yes. this is good" but these are some of the most standout parts

The soundtrack may be atrocious overall, but the exception is the song at the end (although I was disappointed when I read that it was originally supposed to be "Telephone Line" by ELO but they didn't have enough in the budget because that would have gone so hard) 😩💕

Speaking of the ending, why is it so incredibly pure and sweet to me that it would almost make me cry if I weren't medicated? 🥺 Something about the setting of the diner, exuding vintage charm and glowing in the sun the quiet morning after the previous night of chaos, and the serendipity of how Stretch and Charlie finally reveal how much they've obviously liked each other for a while, and after all of the danger and depravity, everything ends soft and gentle and alright 😊💖

This film is somehow so sleazy and wholesome at the same time- against the backdrop of drugs, sex clubs, threats of violence, and constant swearing, it's ultimately a story about overcoming cynicism and self-destruction, getting your "mojo" back, taking control of your life, and allowing for the possibility that things happen for a reason ✨ Honestly? 10/10

[jenuinely-speaking]

hi!!! can i ask 1, 12, 19, and 33 for the ask game?

Hello hello Lucky! 👋🏽🥰Hope your day is/has been going smoothly!

Starting off strong I see. Alrighty then *cracks knuckles* here we go~

1) What was your first exposure to TMNT?

I laugh at this now in retrospect.

Picture this: 9-year-old Jen visiting her newly moved out older sister with her mom. Mom and sis are needing to talk about stuff that doesn't involve wee little Jen, so big sis tells her to watch whatever DVD was left in the player -- should be good for a kid younger than preteen age to watch. Low and behold, it was the original 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, at that time the same age as wee little Jen. Now, little Jen has seen the original cartoon -- but it had been a hit or miss. But this movie? Holy crap, it was like the holy grail was delivered within the palm of her hands.

What's funny, apparently mom and sis ended their conversation not even fifteen minutes into the movie and tried to get my attention, but I was immediately hooked and sucked into it -- they finally got my attention about halfway through the movie lol We ended up eating lunch at my sister's so I could stay and watch the movie. Never looked back and have no regrets (and lovingly fully blame my older sister to this day for my obsession🐢💕).

12) Which version of Donatello is your favorite?

Picked up on that, I see lol Honestly, love all the turtles equally due to their differences and complimentary dynamics--BUT, speaking specifically on Dontron...couldn't have asked a tougher question lol

After thinking on this (I literally stepped away to ponder this question, no lie) it will have to be Bayverse Donatello. His adorable snort-laugh (tickles me every time). His nonchalance on electrocuting his brothers with his electric bo. His pure, un-adulterated excitement with anything science/tech related, even if it's preconceived inconceivable science and tech. HIS NONCHALANT STEPPING OUT OF AN AIRPLANE AS IF HE WERE STEPPING OFF A PORCH. BRO. Just. *mind still trying to compute after so many years* What the fuck, Don?

I also can't help but think Bayverse Donatello was a core blueprint/inspiration for Rise Donatello and, if that's truth, I love that kid (Rise) even more for his complete, unhinged energy ✨🤌🏽

19) Who is your favorite ally?

Hands down, the Nutrinos from the 1987 cartoon. Absolutely love the trio, especially Kala. The episode where she was accidently stranded in the boys' dimension, and they had to work on getting her back home is one of my top 10 favorite episodes of any iteration of the series. Michelangelo and Kala tiptoeing around their hard-core crushes for each other is just chef kiss ✨🤌🏽🧡

33) What is your favorite thing you've made for TMNT?

Hhhhnnnggg That's another toughie, considering how endless my pit of stories has become. If I'm to be honest, it's a tie between two drafts that I have:

1) A story that started 13 years ago titled "The Fifth Renaissance Master". It is currently getting revised and ties in TMNT with Gargoyles and Transformers, a story that will be told within the span of 3 arcs. My two favorite bits? And this I don't mind spoiling 'cause it's gonna be in the summary once it's a good way along to post -- I figured out a way to have Elisa be their sister while still holding her adult history on becoming a detective for the NYPD. And for Transformers to tie in via the villains after the second arc. Words ✨cannot express✨ how excited I am for this story.

2) A softer story titled "A Family Tail" that is geared towards Splinter finding, in his early years as a newly formed mutant and father, the care, compassion, friendship, and eventual love from a nurse that helps him get his sons through their first ever bout of illness at a very young age. Possibly one of the most wholesome stories I've ever plotted out and my heart hurts so good every time I pick it up to write😭💕. I am thinking of posting this one soon(like, two really's soon), chapter-by-chapter, as I randomly get scenario ideas during the day. So, this one might just end up an on-going story post soon enough.

[garden-bug]

ABOUT ME 🐞🦟🐛🪲🐜🪳🦋🪰🦗🐝

I am garden-bug and you can refer to me as such. I love bugs big and small but mostly big (unless I have a microscope handy which I literally don't guys I don't have a microscope). My favourite insects are praying mantids or ants and I have written too many essays that talk about ant symbolism.

I am a literature student and literature analysis is not my degree it is my lifestyle.

I am multi fandom. I will list fandoms I engage with, my takes and my fics below:

Star Wars

OG Trilogy: Amazing incredible

Prequels: Flawed but culturally relevant

Sequels: 💀💀

The Mandalorian: Seasons 1 & 2 changed my life but none as much as season 3 which I was so appalled by that I spent the summer of 2023 rewriting

Ahsoka: 💀💀

Thrawn 1st 2 trilogies: Literally space Sherlock Holmes I love the Thrawn trilogies (haven't read the original yet I know shock horror but idt I'd cope)

Clone Wars: Very cool, Ahsoka my beloved. Darth Maul.

Anything not mentioned I either haven't seen, abhorred, or forgot what happened in.

My other takes:

New Star Wars is kinda… trash??

I do not like Dave Filoni's writing or his mando-verse or whatever he's calling it.

Ezra and Thrawn space adventures forever in our hearts 💔

Thrawn is an anti-villain guys.

Ships:

I wish I could ship Shin x Sabine but I've seen brick walls with more chemistry.

Thranto

DINLUKE!!!

My Fics:

Mandalorian S3 (+ Ahsoka series rewrite):

Force-school crack fic:

One Piece

I am on WATER SEVEN! I love Franky with my whole life and Iceberg is a beautiful man. Finished Dressrosa for Doflamingo and Law and Corazon. I cried. I’m kind of skipping around honestly because I’ve pretty much had everything spoiled I just pick an episode and go.

Ships

Zolu and Lawlu on the aroace spectrum my beloved 💞💞

Not been convinced by Zosan...

FROBIN!!

Oh my god dofuwani

Other takes:

I LOVE OPLA! It stole my heart. OPLA cast my beloved. So good. Amazing. Even my mum loved it.

Yes it’s a little different to the manga/anime and misses some details, but I think it does a brilliant job for what it is, capturing the essence of One Piece and making it more accessible to a wider audience. You would not catch my mum watching the anime that’s all I’m saying.

Crocodad/Crocomom is real idc

The one piece is real

My fics:

This was meant to be a silly genderbend dofuwani fic but it derailed significantly. Now it’s like 30k, Croco’s got a traumatic backstory, Luffy abandonment complex origin story *spoilers: crocomom*, Doffy has some gender realisations, fem dofuwani has taken over my brain like a fungus, it’s also somehow just really really fun to write.

Death Note

I don't interact with this fandom much because my takes are shaped by my AU so I literally relate to nothing. Death Note has be in a constant choke-hold just always like it’s always there in the back of my mind. I think it made me who I am. Uhh help.

Ships:

Not a lawlight shipper. Light was mean and evil and L deserved better 11yr old me was distraught and my feelings have never changed.

L x Lola (OC)

In my AU Near and Mello are raised as siblings so their ship kinda freaks me out.

Idc abt Matt I never even wrote him into my fic (rip).

Mello x Halle my beloved. I love when two bisexuals fall in love.

Other takes:

The manga is better.

The anime deserves a re-adaptation??

Near is my absolute favourite fictional character ever (genuinely do not know why huh) he is so annoying and I adore him.

Mello didn't die what L and Lola saved him.

My Fics:

I wrote this when I was 12 but it is the basis for my AU and deserves all the honorary mentions:

Jujutsu Kaisen

WHAT THE FUCK -

My fics:

Cosy one-shots basically:

Bungou Stray Dogs

Chaos shambled disarray that somehow I enjoy.

Pisses me off but it has its moments.

Ships:

Sokoku is my all time absolute favourite ship ever of all time. Yeah no it still is I just checked.

My fics:

Dazai and Chuuya get hit by a tsunami oh no they have to face their tumultuous feelings for each other (spiral) and accidentally adopt/rescue a small child:

Ninjago

JUMP UP KICK BACK WHIP AORUND AN D SHPIN -

I love Ninjago. Lloyd my beloved. Zane is me fr.

Ships:

Jaya

Zane/Pixal

Kai/Skylor

Llorumi is a NO Harumi is an irredeemable monster and you cannot convince me otherwise. My sweet Lloyd deserves better.

I don't ship any of the ninja with each other ESPECIALLY not with Lloyd the age thing is a mess.

Images used in the ninjago memes are from Pinterest and saved to this board under the ‘I’m gonna make memes’ section: https://pin.it/4rN3gIj

[burntheworldtwice]

Movies To Watch When You're Alone on Thanksgiving Part I of Who the Hell Cares

Though this is not my first holiday or even my first Thanksgiving alone, for some reason the deafening solitude is hitting a little harder than usual. My parents are together. My brothers with their families. My friends thousands of miles away. My fiancé with her friends and family. And me. Surrounded by three small old dogs and an empty house... and fridge. So as only I know how I embark on finding the best movies to soothe my soul and hopefully distract me from my anxiety. Onward.

It is 12:30pm and I have watched two movies so far. Two of my favorites. Tried and true for lonely days Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) and Stuck in Love (2012) are sure to entertain and distract in the best of ways. But lets break it down.

First off. Is there ever really a bad time for a good Wes Anderson flick? One of my favorite elements of Wes Anderson is the consistency of which the films are produced. Though some could criticize that employing the same troupe of actors time and again would lead to a certain boredom surrounding performances. Maybe you get tired of the symmetry repetitively exercised visually. When I'm alone my anxiety sky rockets. I think about what everyone is doing without me. All the fun I'm missing out on yet again. Is anybody even thinking about me? My mind moves too fast for meditation. But the familiar cadence of the actors lines, the constant symmetry, and wholesome stories soothe my worried thoughts like ASMR. Some find the sound of whispering and fucking with the teeth of a comb soothing, I find certain movies to be my ASMR. Therefore my top suggestion for honestly any lonely day is a good Wes Anderson flick. The characters will keep you company, the stories will warm you, and for two hours you will forget that you were ever alone.

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) Wes Anderson

Stuck In Love (2012) Josh Boone

On the completely other end of the spectrum is Josh Boone's emotional drama Stuck in Love. Now anyone who knows me would be surprised that I would pick a sappy movie like Stuck in Love as one of the best movies for being alone. The whole movie is about love and connection and family when my wheelhouse is horror, crimes, thrillers, violence. On a daily basis I fill my days with the darkest and most fucked up movies I can find, but, those who actually know me know that I love a good sap fest. I watched the Kissing Booth multiple times a week for months and I don't even fuck with Joey King like that. Anyway back to my point. The movie centers around a dysfunctional family made up mostly of writers. The mother Erica, played by Jennifer Connelly, cheated and left her husband, Greg Kinnear, three years prior. Their 19yr old daughter, Lily Collins, resents her mother for hurting her father and copes with the failures of their marriage through pessimism, cynicism, and promiscuity. On the other hand the high-school aged son, Nat Wolff, is overly sensitive. A hopeless romantic with dreams of being the next Steven King. While yes, the cast is star studded. The Hollywood production value is barely muffled by the soft indie cinematography. Yet every time I watch this at different points in my life I find myself relating to different characters along the way. If I feel I can relate to each characters experiences across the board whether an unsatisfied housewife, disenchanted daughter, or stoner outcast I can remind myself that other people feel exactly like me. So many in fact that books and movies are made just about us. In that sense though I am watching another family celebrate while I'm alone its almost as if they're right here with me. Reminding me that dysfunction, loneliness, and darkness are only temporary. This on one day out of 365. It really is just a blip.