#the potential dynamic is very enticing

[telanadasvhenan]

thinking more about the psychological aspect of solavellan, and before I start, I'd like to stress that this is NOT CRITICAL of it, I actually think it's what makes part of the dynamic interesting. My word isn't the be all and end all, however, this is just my musings on the topic :] Also, REALLY long post! so, more under the read more lol

From Lavellan's point of view, I would personally struggle to see her trusting another lover or close one again for a long time, if ever again. I don't really think people ever talk about the real impact of the things she goes through, or what solas put her through, and the hurt as a result of it. The relationship is never defined between the two of them, it's always spoken about in vague undetermined words from their companions and poetic elvish between the two of them. Are they lovers? companions? partners? it's really up to the player. Leliana says that "you were close", Sera says Lavellan is "in it." Vhenan means home, heart, it's not a word said lightly imo and he tells you he loves her by their second kiss. It's never an official thing, so how secure can Lavellan truly feel?

This could go both ways when it comes to the break up. Crestwood, as a scene, is so interesting to me because the first portion seems like a man brought to his knees by weakness for the woman he loves. The two of them never cease to touch, fingers entwined, shoulders brushing, skin to skin. It's so reminiscent of how Lavellan matches his Hallelujah cadence. They're two parts of a song singing together. It's a gorgeous scene and it's understandable how so many are angry at how it ends because the whiplash between how it starts and what it leaves you with is severe. Imagine this from lavellan's shoes.

You're desperately in love with someone at odds with your people, who is wonderful and enticing and smart. Loving solas feels like loving the whole world, like being free and connected with the stars. But you don't know what this is. And, if you thought you did, how far can you presume? Is Lavellan always on edge, scared to love him deeper and richer than he loves her? or is she in a false sense of security, assuming his affection is forever hers. So when he not only breaks away your faith and trust in your history, plus potentially the vallaslin, she is clearly deeply upset. This isn't a minor fact that simply can be swept aside. The vallaslin is important. And Solas, even with the best intentions, has hurt her. He knows it and there's a reason why he apologises (bc he wimped out on the real truth). How much more does he know about her people that he has refused to tell her or kept from her by omission? Can you imagine the embarrassment, the utter humiliation of that secret? how many memories of them together where she replays his distaste for her people in her mind, knowing that he has access to knowledge that could change her perception of her past? Its ALOT. and thats even before the breakup.

Solas is not kind about the break up. It's rushed (impulsive to me) and doesn't do their connection justice. His composure cracks in places and it's very unlike him. It absolutely blindsides the player, so imagine being in Lavellan's place, AFTER THE VALLASLIN? personally, I wouldn't have been able to function. I half suspect that a sad, calm Lavellan is also in shock or disassociation. Because how else do you cope? The lack of communication between them alone is enough to raise my eyebrows. He promises answers. He confides that she saw through his mask and doesn't tell her what was real, and what was fake. He has given her a kernel truth whilst keeping her in the dark. Everything he told her could be a false, imaginary polite mask or it could be the truth. Where does it end? Where does he begin? Where does she stand?

I don't know if everyone has experienced what it's like to be ghosted or for a friend to simply disappear one day, but it changes you. I say this as someone who has both been avoidant as well as anxious, but you never recover. Someone disappearing like that makes you doubt any reassurance that people won't just evaporate from your life. So when Solas just disappears, the game's single conversation with Leliana feels a little lacking to me. I understand that they can't really dedicate a lot to it, I get that, so I'd like to fill it in. At first, it's search parties. Solas wouldn't just leave her like that. He promised her answers. He started another mural just before they left for corypheus. He didn't intend to just leave, surely.

Days, weeks and months pass. The question is worse than the truth. Is he dead? Did he use them? Was he being truthful when he spoke to her in those ruins, or another polite mask he could hide behind? Is it better if he's dead or better than he didn't deem her worthy enough to even say goodbye? We, as the players, obviously know this isn't true, but she doesn't know that. Does your lavellan assume the worst and be overcome with grief that her one love, her heart, her home, was nothing more than a lie of omission? or is there anger there at his betrayal of her trust once more? I seriously doubt it was easy to forget or dismiss. That kind of disappearance ruins your trust with people. Something. Anything would have been enough.

Again, this is all my opinion on how these emotions would play out and DEFINITELY NOT canon nor do they have to be! But I seriously struggle to see how Lavellan could even come to heal from these wounds within even a two year time skip. By the time of trespasser, almost everyone has left her side. She's almost entirely alone again, save Cullen and Josie (and leliana if she's not divine). And thats okay: they all have rich lives to return to. But that must just reaffirm to her that no one will stay. She is alone. How does she trust again?

And then there is Fen'harel. Lavellan's reaction to fen'harel has always lacked the fear I kind of hoped would be there? I mean this isn't just a minor deity, this IS THE antagonist of her entire faith. I'm assuming that she's lost hope in the gods, even though it's confirmed to her that they're real, but that message has been a part of her since childhood. So learning that he is the dreadwolf, again not from him, but from the fragments of his past must cut her deeply.

Her love was never who he said he was, she knows this, but who is the real man? She's never known him in a context where he can truly show her. Her love is fragmented between each identity he holds. Her trust that he is who he said he is fragments with it. The knowledge that not only has he been watching the inquisition, her, for years without a single hint that he lives or is okay must destroy her. Could you imagine how insignificant you must feel to him? And he essentially affirms to her that yes, in the greater scheme of things, his love and hers are inconsequential. They cannot matter to him because he cannot strive from his path. His indulgence was a mistake. And it's undeniably cruel. I love solas and I cannot argue that he was kind to Lavellan because he wasn't. To me, there is no way to see his actions as kind. Understandable, absolutely and definitely without malicious intent.

Lavellan learns that he loved her just as deeply, if not more. He loved her with all his heart and it did not matter. She changed him and it has only brought him more pain. He loves her too much to even allow her near him, to even give himself that weakness. They are apart from each other in an endless distance, only the two of them in the world. No one else.

Obviously, each Lavellan is different, and I've made a lot of assumptions, but I think it's worth considering. How do you love someone again after all of that? How much can you rebuild your faith after what you have learnt. Lavellan has loved a "god" (I know he's not a god, but for all intents and purposes, he has the power of a god and wears an evanuris crown.) and in turn, a god has loved her. And he left her with one last embrace that will leave its mark on her forever, then he leaves once more. Lavellan is alone.

Each love after is met with suspicion, distrust and comparison. Lavellan is entirely changed. How many pieces of her can be taken away until she is no longer herself? Each person wears a new mask she cannot determine. Where do they begin? Where can she find herself?

How lonely it must be to love someone like Solas and be at the other side of an endless distance.

[akirathedramaqueen]

No, I am not done with Western Energy yet, and I am not sorry

I. Just. Can't. With those parallels.

Just look at that! I am sure bunch of people already pointed that, but Hell knows it makes me think a lot about this shift.

Murder Family

[Blitzø]: Stolas, this is really a bad time!

[Stolas]: Mm, when isn't it a bad time, Blitzy?

Stolas *knows* Blitzø is in danger. There could've been a room for speculation, if it wasn't for the next exchange:

[Blitzø]: What is it?!

[Stolas]: I've been meaning to follow-up on our last little conversation regarding my grimoire.

[Blitzø]: What did you just call me?!

[Stolas]: My book, Blitzy. The book I was given to do my job. That I've allowed you to use to do yours.

*gunshot*

[Blitzø]: Shit!

[Stolas]: Anyhoo, I have been thinking... You know I've been permitting you to access the mortal realm less than legally for some time now? But I do need it back to fulfill my duties. I was thinking; what if we worked out some kind of an exchange? Favors for favors... Doesn't that sound...

*gunshot*

[Stolas]: ...enticing?

[Blitzø]: You gotta stop using your fancy-ass rich people talk, okay? I am trying to concentrate to not getting FUCKED IN MY A *gunshot*

I will omit the rest, as it won't add much to the point (if you've seen the show, you know the conversation doesn't stop here), but you can draw some conclusions from the dynamic:

Stolas sees Blitzø in projection. Gunshots do not give any chance for the wrong interpretation. He knows imp is getting chased.

Stolas takes his time to get to the point, speaks slowly, as if playing with Blitzø, with his life even, and he enjoys that. He knows Blitzø can't turn him down as imp is on a hook.

Blitzø is clear that he would like to pass on the call for the better time, but Stolas keeps him on the line. Blitzø is clear that Stolas needs to get to the point because he is about to get killed, and Stolas, although does that, is still slow in speech, playful, and demeaning towards him.

Overall, Stolas does not care about Blitzø being safe at the beginning of the series. You can also get from that convo that he crosses boundaries without guilt, and if he was able to jeopardise life of his potential lover, it's not surprise at all that he is demeaning, creepy with overly sexual talks at inappropriate times, and does not take Blitzø's offence as something to care about (I don't think Blitzø was called by his name properly at least once in the 1st season, but I have to check), as shown in later episodes. Stolas is abusing power and knows he will get away with it, because Blitzø has nowhere to go and has to put with it.

Western Energy

[Blitzø]: It's really not a good time, buddy...

[Stolas]: I'm sorry it's a bad time yet again, Blitzy, but, um...

[Stolas]: I seem to have found myself in a bit of a sitch.

You see the parallel, right? Right?!

I'm sorry it's a bad time yet again, Blitzy.

The first time we heard that, he wasn't sorry. He was dismissive.

Mm, when isn't it a bad time, Blitzy?

And the situation... Stolas is literally getting kidnapped, and finds time to ask an apology for calling at wrong time. *Again*.

Let's look at another piece of conversation:

[Moxxie]: That's Striker, sir!

[Blitzø]: Oh, for fuck's sake! Can't you just get away? Aren't you powerful?

[Stolas]: I believe he has me bound with blessed rope, which limits my ability to free myself I'm afraid. So I think you should come save me.

[Blitzø]: Oh, shit, Stolas, I can't today, alright? I'm sorry. I-I'm literally on my way to take Loona in for her very important Hellbies S.H.O.T. It takes years to book an appointment at that place, it took me five to get this one... and she's doing a lot of field work, so you know, she needs it...

[Stolas]: Oh, ha-ha, well, I do agree that is very important... but I-

We know the rest. The phone is taken away by Striker, and the conversation is interruped. We also know that Stolas gets a sudden realisation that he is in danger, which gives a hint that before he didn't recognise the situation quite as serious.

You see the shift that happened?

Stolas apologises for taking Blitzø's time, despite being in imminent danger. He went from total dismissive to total apologetic and even evasive.

Stolas takes into account Blitzø's reasons, and admits their importance.

This time Blitzø is the one who talks more, but he is on point the whole time and generally sounds uneasy, understanding that this time this is, despite being the bad time, very important. As we know, after the conversation he rushes in, before agreeing with Moxxie and Millie for them to go instead.

And why is so?

I find it very interesting that the similar phrase was used in so different contexts. In the comparison, the power dynamic simply has flipped.

Stolas was the one who needed attention, and Blitzø was the one who was asked for help.

The first time around, Stolas needed attention as well, but his matter was so diminutive and Blitzø's problems at the moment were so serious, it was simply disrecpectful, to say the least.

The second time, his request is to literally save his life, and he apologises, puts Blitzø's interest higher than his. He now feels like he is a burden, a nuisance in Blitzø's life, not wanting to disturb him at all. The connection that holds them became so fragile, because Stolas realises he has nothing to offer besides power, and from that sole conversation it becomes clear that he now avoids using it against imp even on the verge of being hurt.

Stolas's attitude shifted from dominant to apologetic, he went from assertive to frightened, and, as Blitzø's importance in his life grew, so grew Stolas, giving us hope for his redemption, but also showing how insecure he really was all the time.

So much for the regal title and eldritch powers, if you can't hold onto a meaningful relationship with the one you care for.

[pressplay-if]

I've written some asks before about MC romancing Angel and Zima. The thing is, I for sure just wanted to romance Zima. The angst, the drama, and Zima's allure are enough to entice me even before Zima is introduce into the narrative.

But Angel stole my heart. I wasn't considering him from the initial post description. And while I thought the idea of him not being incredibly attractive was interesting, and had the potential to a quite cute romance, I didn't think I would pursue him since Zima was right there.

Then the demo drops, and boom! Angel is a dream. He is affectionate, he is a bro. He is supportive. And clearly cares. I think my MC could easily grow attached to Angel both as a friend (if you ever implement a best friend feature, unless is incompatible with romance, I would choose Angel immediately as my MC's best friend) and as a lover.

Then the NSFW alphabets convinced me further. While I still want Zima (my MC is a bottom, so it's only natural), the idea of being experimental with Angel seems so fun that I even imagine scenarios for them. It's crazy.

I also love the dynamic between my MC (a very tall man, with a down to earth kind of beauty), being so attractive and all, being so deeply in love with a guy that people would so easily put to a side because he is average looking. I just love the idea of my MC being devoted to Angel, as a pilgrim with a Saint, only for the world to simply not understand it. I also love the idea of my MC, looking for cuddles from Angel, while being so much taller than him. And Angel being so receptive, and so caring, as if MC was a small bean instead of a big man.

I don't know how you did it to make me so enthralled by an RO. At this point I'm just waiting to see how Zima is, at which point my heart my decide to drop Zima in favor of Angel. Or not. If there is poly I just need those too to top my MC. How will that work? No idea, but the vision is too great to give it up.

Anyway. I guess I owe you a question. This being an ask, after all. So, I wonder. How is Angel name's pronounced? Is like in Spanish (Ángel)? Or just the standard English pronunciation (if such a thing exists, since English is not standardized at all)?

Have a nice day!

Thank you so much for the Angel-appreciation and the very long ask. I reread these when I feel down you know. This is quality material. Angel would like to wear your very tall MC like a scarf <3

Ok so. His name. Originally, I wanted to go for the Spanish spelling and pronunciation, but then I grew enamored with the idea of him being literally named Angel. Like an actual angel. So I decided to use A instead of Á, even though in my head, I pronounce it Ángel. I also imagine Angel will introduce himself pronouncing it differently everytime to confuse people, so there's no general consensus even among the band members on his it's pronounced 😂

[unabashegirl]

Enticing 34 || Harry Styles

Summary: Harry is a young billionaire and CEO of his own company. He mostly keeps to himself, he is stern and very meticulous when it comes to business. He also likes to keep his personal life very private for the sake of his newly born son Oliver Styles. It isn't until he meets Y/N Y/L/N that everything changes. She becomes his new nanny after his previous one quits due to personal reasons. She is young, caring, and sweet. Will they ignore their feelings? Will Harry's girlfriend accept their love and leave them? Will she be able to cope with his busy agenda? What about Oliver's mother? Where is she? Who is she?

masterlist

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Y/N found herself seated in the cozy confines of the Indian restaurant, the warm ambiance and enticing aromas tantalizing her senses. She glanced down at her watch, the minutes ticking away as her anticipation grew. She had arrived a bit early, eager to honor the plans she and Harry had made for their dinner date.

As her gaze flitted over the menu, a mixture of hunger and curiosity stirring within her, the entrance of the restaurant caught her attention. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw Harry walking in, his presence commanding attention even before he reached her table.

Harry's eyes scanned the room briefly before landing on her, and a genuine smile lit up his face. The sight of her sitting there, waiting for him, was a reminder of the connection they were trying to rebuild—a connection that had been tested by time, distance, and unexpected revelations.

Y/N couldn't help but admire Harry's impeccable appearance as he approached her table. His perfectly tailored suit accentuated his form, the elegance of his attire matched by the warm sincerity in his gaze.

"Y/N," Harry greeted her, his voice a mixture of warmth and fondness.

"Harry," Y/N replied, her smile mirroring his.

As he took his seat across from her, their eyes met in a silent exchange that held a hint of vulnerability. The weight of their shared history and the newfound dynamics they were navigating was palpable, but so was the desire to bridge the gap between them.

"I'm sorry I kept you waiting," Harry apologized, his expression sincere.

Y/N waved off his concern, her gaze softening. "No worries. I just got here myself."

Harry's smile deepened, a touch of relief evident in his features. "I hope you're hungry. I've heard great things about this place."

Y/N chuckled softly, her laughter a testament to their shared humor. "Starving, actually. And Indian food sounds perfect."

As they perused the menu together, an air of camaraderie settled between them—a comfortable familiarity that held the promise of eased tensions and genuine conversation. The tension that had marked their previous interactions seemed to fade in the warmth of the restaurant's ambiance.

As they engaged in light banter, the layers of complexity that had once overshadowed their connection began to peel away. Their conversations flowed with ease, and Y/N found herself laughing more freely than she had in a long time. In the space of the restaurant, they were just two individuals, connecting over shared experiences and the prospect of a future that held hope.

As the evening progressed, their connection deepened, the weight of their history giving way to a sense of rediscovery. The wounds of the past were gradually being replaced by the potential for healing and growth—a future that was as uncertain as it was promising. And as they dined together, their laughter mingled with the flavors of the food, creating a tapestry of shared memories and newfound possibilities.

Harry and Y/N's conversation continued to flow, carrying them through topics that ranged from their shared history to hopes for the future. As the evening progressed, a pivotal decision emerged—a decision that held the potential to shape the path ahead.

Harry looked down at his phone, his fingers tapping against the screen as he navigated the sensitive topic that lay between them. He took a deep breath and met Y/N's gaze, his expression earnest.

"Y/N," he began, his voice gentle yet resolute, "about the paternity test..."

Y/N's attention shifted to him, her curiosity evident. "Yes?"

Harry's gaze held hers, a mixture of seriousness and determination in his eyes. "I think we should schedule the appointment for the day after tomorrow. I want to get this over with."

Y/N nodded in understanding, the weight of his words settling between them. "I agree. It's something that needs to be addressed."

There was a pause in their conversation as Y/N a bite out of her coconut chicken green curry, her thoughts mingling with the flavors on her palate. Harry's decision to confront the issue head-on resonated with her, a testament to the complexities of their situation.

Harry's fingers danced across his phone's screen as he responded to a message from Andrew, his assistant. A sense of purpose seemed to guide his actions as he navigated the logistics of their decision.

Andrew had taken the initiative to set up the appointment with Harry's family doctor, knowing that this step was significant for both Harry and Y/N. As Harry typed out his response, his focus remained on the conversation at hand, the weight of the decision they were making still heavy in his mind.

Y/N's gaze shifted from her plate to Harry's face, her expression a mixture of understanding and curiosity. "Did you manage to set up the appointment?"

Harry nodded, a sense of accomplishment in his gaze. "Yes, Andrew's already on it. The appointment is scheduled for the day after tomorrow."

Y/N's appreciation was evident in her smile. "Thank you"

Their conversation continued, intertwining with the decision they had made.

As the evening unfolded, the air around Harry and Y/N seemed to hold a delicate balance—a balance between reconnecting, addressing their shared past, and navigating the uncharted territory that lay before them. With the paternity test scheduled, the topic of their future was bound to arise.

The aroma of their meals still hung in the air as Y/N's gaze met Harry's, curiosity evident in her eyes. "Harry, what's going to happen after the paternity test? I mean, if it confirms everything..."

Harry's expression was contemplative, his gaze steady as he met her eyes. "I've been thinking about that, Y/N. And honestly, I'd like you to move in with me—for the duration of the pregnancy."

Y/N's eyebrows shot up in surprise, a mixture of emotions flickering in her eyes. "Move in with you?"

Harry nodded, his tone sincere. "Yeah. I want to be there for every step of this journey. I want to support you through the pregnancy, and I want us to share this experience together."

There was a moment of silence, the weight of Harry's words hanging in the air between them. Y/N's mind raced as she processed his request, a complex mixture of feelings swirling within her.

"I appreciate your offer, Harry," Y/N began, her voice soft yet resolute, "but I can't accept that."

Harry's expression shifted to one of confusion, his brows furrowing slightly. "Why not? I just want to be there for you."

Y/N's gaze held a mixture of determination and vulnerability as she spoke. "I'm in the process of renting out my first apartment. And more than that, I want to continue to be independent. I know you mean well, but I can't simply move in with you. We're not together anymore."

Harry's features softened with understanding, his gaze reflecting a sense of empathy. "Y/N, I get it. I respect your need for independence. But this is about supporting each other through a crucial time."

Y/N's eyes glistened with unshed tears, her emotions on display. "Harry, how can you expect us to live together now, when we're not together as a couple anymore? It's not the same as it was". 

Harry sighed, his gaze dropping to the table momentarily before meeting hers again. "You're right, Y/N. It's complicated. But my intention is just to be there for you, to share in this experience as parents."

Y/N's gaze softened, the vulnerability in her expression matching his. "I know, Harry. And I appreciate that. But we have to find a way to navigate this in a way that works for both of us. I want to continue to be independent, even amidst the pregnancy."

Harry nodded slowly, understanding her point of view.

Their conversation lingered in the air, the weight of their decisions and the complexity of their feelings forming a bridge between them—a bridge that held the potential to guide them forward, even as their paths diverged. The future was uncertain, but in their shared dialogue, they found a glimmer of understanding—a reminder that despite the challenges, they were united by the life they were bringing into the world and the journey they were embarking upon, together in a new way.

The evening had been a delicate dance of shared moments and honest conversations, woven together by the flavors of their dinner and the warmth of their connection. As they finished their meal, Harry's insistence on indulging in dessert had elicited a smile from Y/N—a momentary reprieve from the complexities that surrounded them.

With the Indian restaurant behind them, they found themselves strolling through the streets, the cool evening air a balm against the tensions that had simmered beneath the surface of their discussions. Their steps were unhurried, their conversation light as they explored the cityscape that surrounded them.

As they walked, their path led them to a baby store, its display windows showcasing an array of items meant for the tiniest members of society. Their gazes lingered on the storefront, both hesitating just outside the entrance.

Nervousness mingled with curiosity as they exchanged a glance, the unspoken fears and uncertainties hanging in the air between them like a fragile thread.

Harry's voice broke the silence, his tone soft yet tinged with vulnerability. "I never thought I'd be standing outside a baby store like this. Not even after Oliver. I sent out someone to buy everyone for him”.

Y/N's gaze remained fixed on the store's window, her emotions visible in the furrow of her brows. "Me neither." Y/N remembered that Harry wasn't there for Oliver's pregnancy. Ashley had taken that away from him. She had almost taken that away from him. 

For a moment, they stood there, their shared history and the circumstances that brought them to this point weighing heavily on their shoulders. The future was uncertain, and the prospect of parenthood together had brought them to a crossroads—one that was filled with both hope and apprehension.

Harry's fingers brushed against Y/N's hand, his touch a gentle reminder of their connection. "It's okay to be scared, Y/N."

Y/N's gaze met his, vulnerability and uncertainty mirrored in her eyes. "I know. It's just...it's a lot to process."

Harry nodded, understanding the weight of her words. "It is. But no matter what happens, I'll  be here for you". 

As they continued to stand outside the baby store, the moments of shared silence and understanding seemed to knit their connection closer. The complexities of their situation had not faded, but the willingness to confront their fears and navigate their shared journey was a testament to their growth.

With a deep breath, Y/N turned to Harry, a mixture of emotions playing across her features. "You're right. We'll figure it out. And maybe...maybe we can step inside and take a look."

A small smile tugged at the corner of Harry's lips, his gaze holding a mixture of warmth and reassurance. "Only if you're ready, Y/N."

Together, they stepped inside the baby store—a physical manifestation of the path they were treading together. As they explored the aisles and examined the tiny garments and necessities, a sense of unity seemed to settle within them, quieting their fears and strengthening their resolve.

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[theblissfulstars]

Full Moon in Scorpio,April 23rd 2024

On Tuesday April 23rd, 7:49 p.m. Eastern standard Time, we are going to be experiencing a full moon in Scorpio.

This full moon is thematically aligned with motifs surrounding healing, rebirth and second chances.

With both the Moon in Scorpio and on the Ascendant, themes of rebirth, death and horror are highlighted prominently this full moon. We are going to be faced with crises surrounding our sense of security, home place and well-being. With a Mars ruled sign at the helm we can expect explosivity, volatility and violence to take center stage during and around this full moon. Mars for this full moon is currently in the fifth house conjunct Neptune and Saturn. Mars and Saturn are enemies, this energy creates a hyper focused, stressed, anxious and drained quality. There's a lot of pressure for success, and karmic influences on how we're spending our energy. This indicates major power plays and disruptions surrounding places of hegemonic power, governmental control and business. Throwing in Neptune, there is exacerbated delusions, violent fantasies, naval warfare and even abuse of substances leading to injury during this full moon.

Risk-taking behavior is not advisable during this full moon, nor is gambling as it can lead to an unnecessary expenditure of precious resources.

There is an incredibly heady, sensual, provocative and enticing energy to this full moon that made tempt you to physical action of a libidinous variety. This can make one impulsive or unwise and how they go about romantic and physical connections. This tension in this area can facilitate breakups, conflicts and issues in already established relationships. It could even prompt breakups with people who no longer resonate with your path.

Spiritually, this configuration is incredibly potent. With both Scorpio and Pisces heavily at play we're going to be having supernatural occurrences, visitations from the dead and otherworldly beings. If it is within your path, you are gently advised to seek counsel and/or blessings from the dead during this lunation and to listen to your intuition.

All of this intense and heavy energy is undergirded by the t-square configuration between the Moon, Pluto and the Sun. This t-square configuration is all about transformation and illumination of the darkest parts of the self. Symptoms of anxiety, depression and other mental ailments may be amplified during this full moon in order to force us to confront the parts of ourselves we may be ashamed of. There is an escalation here, as Pluto is mutiny, power shifts and dynamics the sun is authority figures and the moon is the people in electoral astrology. There may be an overthrowing of a government on or around this full moon that is quite significant.

This all sounds very frightening However this full moon as stated prior is all about healing, rebirth and second chances. With the Sun in Taurus in the 6th and mercury Rx in Aries in the 6th conjunct the NN, collectively, we're being given the opportunity at a second chance to cultivate health, healing and productivity in our environment and around us. This is a time of massive healing of the past, trauma and pain that we've gone through.

With Jupiter conjunct Uranus trining Ceres, we can expect a lot of monumental and positive changes in environmental procedure in conservation efforts, renewable energy and agriculture. Similarly, in the world of medicine the potential for revolutionary or experimental techniques arises, especially surrounding dietary science, the bones and herbal medicine.

All in all, this is a moon of healing and passion.

The cards for this full moon include: eight of swords, ten of wands, ace of pentacles, seven of wands.

Spirit acknowledges the collective malaise that has befallen the collective. However, this is a rather encouraging message that this moon will illuminate the bindings of our mind and liberate us from powerlessness. There's an opportunity for physical growth in some way for the collective and an acknowledgment that we are overwhelmed, overburdened and overworked. But with the seven of wands, do not give up! We are close to achieving something big. Keep going and keep having faith.

Workings-

•Healing

•Transformation

•renewal

•sex

•new love

•career

[lorelune]

hellow! this ask is quite random seeing as you posted this little drabble perhaps a month ago, but i found myself reading it again and had to ask..

the step mom kafka and “weird friend” blade drabble.. i suppose part of the appeal is the mystery of how kafka goes about doing her things (we love a mysterious and slightly malicious woman) but was it meant to imply that kafka was the one working behind the scenes to get the reader to move back home (the breakup, the job, etc)? did she like the reader initially, but decided to go ahead and marry reader’s father to incite the power dynamic?

you certainly don’t have to answer— i know the appeal is in the mystery (and perhaps the feeling of unknowingly being watched..) but these were just some thoughts i had about it.. very lovely writing i find myself going back to read it often

have a lovely day

omg hello anon!! thank you for asking such juicy questions about that drabble bc truly. it haunts me. there absolutely is a large concept behind it with more details of how kafka operates within your life and how she puts you in the position of reliance that you ultimately find yourself in.

more under the cut hehe

the original drabble was meant to imply (lightly) that the kafka played a part in instrumenting the readers move home, break-up, job loss. and she did!! putting in a few harsh emails from burner accounts at your job. enticing your then-partner with dms from an irresistable fling that puts a riff between you and them. the move home was the hardest, probably. the building you live in came under new ownership, and your rent shot up. she gets you just broken enough to flee home with your tail between your legs.

i think kafka married your father and also staged a way for him to improve his life without strings attached (aka a better, well-paying job that keeps him out of their big new house most of the time.)

in my mind's eye, kafka met you through your father prior to them even getting together. maybe through a work event or something like that. i think kafka didn't immediately want to mommy you, but saw some intrigue and potential in you that was worth pursuing. blade also took a (wordless, but noticeable) shine to you, and that's worth a lot to her as well.

[wilcze-kudly]

I watched Korra again for the Weilin but I still Don’t Get It even though I want to!!! Can you give me the rundown/pitch/Weilin 101??

Oh boy I am so sorry I made such a fuss to over weilin you felt like you needed to rewatch the show for it.

So basically, Wei and Bolin don't have many interactions in canon. In fact I would say that there are only two scenes that properly count as one on one interactions. Its also important to note that the only Beifong twin Bolin ever interacts with as a singular person rarher than a pair is Wei. He never interacts with Wing unless he is addressing both twins.

The first interaction between Bolin and Wei is during B3 when Bolin is trying and failing miserably to learn metalbending. Wei seems annoyed to be stuck with someone who doesn't know metalbending and decides to sandwich Bo between two metal plates. As you do.

He then claims that 'trial by fire' is the best way to learn metalbending. Since Wei is such a minor character, we don't know enough about him to be able to fully pinpoint where this action came from. Does Wei genuinely think that bodily harm is the best way to learn a martial art? Was he trying to distract Bolin from his constant failure to bend metal? Was this the equivalent of a puppy biting someone as an attempt to initiate playtime? Is he just a douche?

We will probably never know. Thanks nickelodeon.

Bolin does eventually return the gesture in kind, getting his own petty revenge. And hitting Wei in the head with a pebble.

I like this scene, because it showcases Bolin's pettier side. One that rarely, if ever comes out with his canon romantic interests. Bolin is a character that has a habit of reigning in his less palatable traits, in order to appeal more to the people around him. His petty and more sarcastic nature is reserved mainly for Mako, probably the person he feels most comfortable with.

I think it's a very fun thing to see this side of him flare up with this random guy and it gave me thought about how their relationship could incorporate this. Wei enjoying pressing Bolin's buttons, causing Bolin to showcase more of his more authentic self.

They so seem to both have a passion for sports and earthbending which is cute. They're both competitive which adds some nice flavour and potential spicy sparring scenes.

The next scene is the famed catch n' pat.

Youre gonna tell me this wasn't at least a bit fruity?

The prolonged eye contact? The damsel in distress imagery? Bolin's lil smirk that is soon replaced with bisexual confusiom?

Imo they have a lot of chemisrty in both these scenes and make me want more of their relationship.

I also think it would be very interesting to see Bolin develop feelings for a guy. We see that he puts his female love interests on a certain pedestal. Id assume this is due to a rather naive and innocent view of love, most likely due to the fact that he didn't get to emotionally mature enough to acknowledge that romance isn't like what the fairytales say it is.

It would be interesting to see Bolin not get to 'court' said male romantic interest like he usually does. Bolin wouldn't be as 'showmany' with a guy friend than with a girl he'd like to seduce. This causes an interesting dynamic to the relationship if Bolin were to want to seduce said guy, who has seen him with his guard down.

Also seeing comphet boy Bolin going through a crisis of sexuality because his (ex?) girlfriend's brother patted his face is very appealing to me

I think what entices me in weilin is being able to have a dynamic no other ship could fully offer Bolin. And the potential of character growth it could afford Bolin, a character whose complexity is often overlooked, much to my upset. Personally, I dislike all of Bolin's canon relationships, so when Weilin came chemistry guns a blazing I was very intrigued. And then I fell down the rabbit hole and now im here.

If you have any more questions on Weilin please feel free to ask! I'm over the moon to ramble about them to whoever will listen. Hope this was enough to start you off with.

Also, if you're interested, I have a concerningly long essay on the subject because I am very sane and normal about them:

Rest assured my feelings have since evolved and i now have more reasons to ship them.

I guess there's so much fun to have with this ship and the dynamics and stories they could have.

[spiderdreamer-blog]

2023 at the Movies: A Year in Review

2023 has been an odd year for American cinema in particular, between overall tepid box office outside of a few big hits and the combination of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes affecting release dates as well as promotional tactics. (Just so we're clear, this is a Union Solidarity Blog) But it was a fascinating year artistically nonetheless, especially on the blockbuster end. What this list aims to achieve is sort of a capsule review of the theatrical releases I saw (not counting streaming-only films even if I ended up seeing theatrical releases ON streaming) and how I felt about them in capsule review form. And even then, there's still stuff I need to catch up on like Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, Oppenheimer, Elemental, or Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. Anyhoo, on with my list, in chronological release order:

John Wick: Chapter 4: Much like its titular hero, there are perhaps some signs that this franchise could benefit from taking a bit of a rest. Some of the worldbuilding is going from knowingly absurd to just plain absurd, and a couple early action beats, while fun (NUNCHUCKS), are a little familiar in terms of director Chad Stahelski's neon-as-fuck aesthetics. Ultimately, it's not too much to derail things, as Keanu Reeves proves a capable grounding lead like always, and the Parisian third act is giddy, comically overblown violence in the grand John Wick tradition that reaches an unexpected poignancy. The supporting cast might also be one of the best in the series; while Asia Kate Dillion's unflappable Adjudicator is missed from the last installment, we do receive Bill Skarsgard doing an OUTRAAGEOUS French accent as a smarmy villain you really want to see dead by the end of this, Donnie Yen as a clever, funny spin on the blind swordsman trope, Rina Sawayama is both badass and touching, Shamier Anderson stands out by dialing down, and my beloved Clancy Brown has some of the best implicit "are you fucking kidding me" reactions I've seen in a while.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie: I was honestly dreading this for a while. Illumination Entertainment is a perfectly cromulent animation studio who makes films that, with a couple exceptions, represent pretty much everything I dislike about American family filmmaking: loud, hyperactive, deficient of nutritional value, and did I mention loud? But the trailers started impressing me in terms of how well they adapted the candy-colored toybox Nintendo aesthetic to a wider theatrical scope. And if nothing else, casting Jack Black as Bowser would probably be pretty awesome (spoiler alert: he was). Thankfully, it manages to be an immensely entertaining, zippy adventure film that minimizes potential annoyances at nearly every turn. This is primarily thanks to a ready-to-play, enthusiastic voice cast (outside of Black, I particularly like Pratt and Day's brotherly dynamic and Anya Taylor-Joy doing a Disney Princess-esque comedy action spin on Peach), a smartly simple story structure, and leaving a lot of potential open for the future like Seth Rogen's lovable ready-for-spinoff-movies Donkey Kong. It may not rock the boat, but it was better than it had any business being, and that counts for a lot in my book.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: The Marvel Cinematic Universe and I are admittedly on a bit of a break. Not because they're doing anything WRONG per se, just that a lot of their shows and movies haven't enticed me as much in the past year. I did get out to see this, though, which is both the best all around MCU film since Endgame and very possibly the best film of its own trilogy. James Gunn pulls out all the stops emotionally for his Marvel swan song (godspeed to you over at the still-in-progress trashfire that is Warner Bros. Discovery, good sir), crafting a beautiful, resonant journey for all the characters. The ensemble cast fires on all cylinders, for one. While Bradley Cooper is the obvious vocal standout as Rocket takes center stage, it's assuredly the role of Chris Pratt's career (other non-Mario/Marvel directors, take note! You can in fact have this guy be funny, credibly tough, AND sympathetic instead of missing out on the other two), Zoe Saldana navigates a difficult emotional dance, Pom Klementieff finds real heart in Mantis, Dave Bautista is still one of our most interesting wrestlers-turned-actors in the choices he makes, Karen Gillan has slowly become of the MCU's MVPs as Nebula, Will Poulter is endearingly dunderheaded as a comedic take on Adam Warlock, and Chukwudi Iwuji proves a truly vile villain who exemplifies the maxim of "if you really want an audience to just HATE a motherfucker, have him torture cute animals". And of course Gunn's musical tastes remain impeccable, such as a Beastie Boys needle drop that prompts a truly bitchin' fight scene (oddly the second time this specific song happened this year in a Pratt-led vehicle). It's funny, it made me ugly cry at SEVERAL points, and I got to see a psychic cosmonaut dog beat people's asses with her mind. What more could I want?

Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse: Into the Spider-Verse was a revolution and a revelation for what the American animated film industry could accomplish artistically and technically. How could a sequel possibly live up to it? Across does, against all odds, proving to be the Empire Strikes Back to the original's Star Wars in terms of going darker/more complex on the emotions and to greater visual heights (albeit with the caveat that maybe next time, we can manage the production better and not crunch people so much). Co-directors Justin K. Thompson, Kemp Powers, and Joaquim Dos Santos (who I've stanned as one of our best animation action directors from Justice League Unlimited through Voltron Legendary Defender) craft a propulsive narrative that asks big questions about who and what Spider-Man is. And while those will have to wait to be fully answered in the third installment, what it sets up is no less compelling or thrilling. Shout-outs in particular go to Hailee Steinfeld, who has to anchor this film with Gwen as much as Shameik Moore's still-iconic Miles; Daniel Pemberton for an outstanding score; Oscar Isaac for giving rich complexity to Miguel O'Hara, who could have felt like a boorish bully in lesser hands; and Jason Schwartzman for not just proving he transitions REALLY well into voicework between this and projects like Klaus, but being by turns pathetically funny and terrifying in ways I've never heard him be as the Spot. Can't wait to see where that goes next time in particular.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny: "Pleasant surprise" comes to mind. While I never hated Kingdom of the Crystal Skull as much as most, it was definitely a little underwhelming as a possibly final Indy adventure. (Not helping is that Steven Spielberg immediately turned around and made an infinitely better indy movie in the form of The Adventures of Tintin) So I was curious to see how going to the well for seemingly the real final adventure would work this time around. Thankfully, director James Mangold proves he has a good eye for creative action, even if nothing here quite reaches the heights of the original trilogy, and Harrison Ford does some of his best acting in ages as a weary, burnt-out Indy; one always got the sense that THIS was much closer to his heart than Han Solo. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is a terrific foil to him, joyously amoral (or so she says), while Mads Mikkelsen finds a new spin on coldly cruel cinematic Nazis; he has a tense reintroduction scene that had me squirming in my seat. Add in a slam-bang ending and a touching epilogue, and I'm pretty happy with where things end up for our favorite archaeologist. A solid B+, which we could use more of nowadays.

Also they Poochie-d Shia LaBeouf, which is hilarious to me on several levels.

Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One: The Mission: Impossible franchise has undergone a curious metamorphosis from where it started as one of many oldies TV adaptations in 1996 to a purposefully old-school action franchise. Director Christopher McQuarrie has become a pro at these over the last three installments, and Dead Reckoning (now no longer a part one, as the back-in-production followup will be retitled) has lots to offer both large and small for action fans even outside of the continued spectacle of Tom Cruise Possibly Wants To Die On Camera. Obviously the big stunt sequences remain a draw, like a terrific car chase through Rome or the climactic journey onboard the Orient Express because trains are ALWAYS bitchin' locations in movies. But just as good are pleasures like a tense cat-and-mouse game in an airport where nobody's quite sure whose side Hayley Atwell's thief Grace is on, Henry Czerny coming back to the franchise after 27 years and looking as shiftily patriotic as ever, Pom Klementieff on this list for the second time looking really hot as she whoops ass, and Cary Elwes getting an unexpectedly choice exposition monologue. Plus the whole deal with the A.I. villain ended up being, uh, fairly relevant.

Barbie: A brilliant human comedy from an unexpected source. This could have gone wrong in so many different ways, I can easily imagine a version that's WAY more lugubrious and, crucially, much less funny. But director/co-writer Greta Gerwig has quickly become one of our best talents between this and the wildly-different-but-has-more-in-common-than-you'd-think Little Women (I also still need to see to heard-it's-excellent Lady Bird). With an infinitely clever script (I love in particular that the "real world" is just as ridiculous in its own way as Barbieland) and Sarah Greenwood's impeccable production design, Gerwig and her cast craft a feminist fable that remains light and funny even at its most strident and angry. Margot Robbie has never been better, hilarious and gut-punching by equal measure, America Ferrera ends up as the unexpected heart of the piece, and Ryan Gosling is absolutely hysterical as Ken while still making him intensely sympathetic. He and Robbie deserve Oscar noms in particular. No, I'm not kidding. Might expand this one to a full review at some point tbh.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem: I missed this in theaters and regret it immensely, given that this is a hilarious, cheerfully irreverent take on characters who've really managed a surprising amount of relevance in the modern age. Actually having teen actors voice the Turtles makes them feel so authentic, and they're matched well by an equally game cast like Ayo Edebiri's thoroughly modern April O'Neill, Jackie Chan as a more bumbling-but-heartfelt version of Splinter than usual, and Paul Rudd going full surfer bro as Mondo Gecko. And of course the scribbled-notebook underground comics vibe of the animation is a neat bit of full circle aesthetics if you know these guys' origins.

Wish: All of you are wrong and being dumb about this movie. It's not that I can't grok some of the criticisms as being legitimate, to be fair; for example, the songs, while very good on their own IMO, don't always hit the iconic level of a Frozen or Encanto. But the vitriol with which they've been expressed, and this odd narrative that Disney is in the toilet artistically and needs to nebulously "fix" things, is something I can't at all agree with. It's gorgeously rendered, for one; yes, I would potentially like to see a return to full 2D animated films for the studio at some point too. But if they're gonna experiment even marginally with CGI, I applaud co-directors Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn making it look this painterly as a starting point. And as with a lot of modern Disney, there's real richness and inner life to these characters. Ariana DeBose is a winning heroine as Asha, who feels distinct from other "princesses" by essentially being working class and unionizing the kingdom. And Chris Pine as Magnifico is a Disney Villain for the ages, blending real complexity in his relationships with scenery-chewing madness. (Also am I the only one who got major "studio executive/CEO" vibes off him?) If this is "mid" or "bland" Disney, I really question what some of y'all are seeing that I seemingly can't.

Also I liked the 100th anniversary references, sue me. The last one in particular gets points for quiet charm rather than grandstanding.

The Boy and the Heron: Hayao Miyazaki, anime's favorite grumpy old man, comes back out of retirement for like the fifth time. Seriously, remember when Princess Mononoke was supposed to be his last film 25+ years ago? I'll believe his "last film" is truly his last when he's in the cold, cold ground. Regardless of the continuing saga of Old Man Won't Retire Because He Seemingly Can't Be Alone With His Own Thoughts, this is a brilliant, haunting spectacle of animation that might be a new favorite for me. Some have called it confusing, whereas I go for "dreamlike", possibly his most to date. Nearly every frame is suffused with longing and melancholy (though this also has some of Miyazaki's best comedy in a while), and, oddly like Wish, this feels like a true career reflection, if a bit more fraught and questioning what legacy truly means. Joe Hisaishi contributes possibly his moodiest, most dissonant score, with little of the bombast or whimsical charm that typifies his music, but it works unfathomably well. Credit also to the dub, with Robert Pattinson as funny and menacing as you've heard, but Luca Pandoval is also excellent as our stoic lead Mahito, Florence Pugh manages to be both a total badass and a funny old woman (it makes sense in context, I promise), Christian Bale puts forth a fascinating two-step with his boisterous father, Gemma Chan and Karen Fukuhara nail some complex emotional turns, Willem Dafoe nearly steals the whole thing in under two minutes, Dave Bautista makes a real meal out of a part not much bigger than that, and Mark Hamill finds resonance as a tired old man.

[tadpolesonalgae]

the relationship drama and dynamics and angst of cbmthy is obviously very intriguing and enticing But im also rlly drawn for the mystery element of reader's powers 👀 like What exactly is it and why is it manifesting in her body like that (burning her own hands, the bumps, glowing, feeling deadly towards others, also potentially affecting other ppl's emotions according to the mor + feyre scene?????) and also wtf was the lump thing that madja removed from reader's lungs a while ago ⁉️ what did madja discover after examining reader's body while she tried to use her powers ⁉️⁉️ so many questions 🫣🫣🫣

Reader's definitely having such a fun time with her magic isn't she?

I've also been doing some thinking about how to explain her powers since it's based off something preexisting, but I don't want to ruin the mystery of her magic by dumping you with solid text? So I'm just thinking about how to show it, maybe give some moments that hint at stuff without having to slam anyone with uninteresting and blocky exposition? I want it to be fun and fluid! Not to suddenly lore dump!

'⁉️ what did madja discover after examining reader's body while she tried to use her powers ⁉️⁉️'

So...hopefully I'll get to touch on this in Part 21... If I can get my fingers and brain to work together 😭

Also (and this might sound weird) I'm so flattered/heartwarmed/just-kind-of-vaguely-melting-with-an-appropriate-level-of-happiness that you've read those details? I know people read cbmthy (obviously) but sometimes it doesn't actually click with me that people read cbmthy? Anyway, I'm going to be fluttering around my apartment for the next hour or so

[cherrymoonvol6]

maybe it’s a me problem but for the life of me i cannot figure out why people believe willow is supposed to be the evelyn to hunter’s caleb (besides just being his LI), when there’s a point to hunter’s first act of defiance to belos being show in HP, the episode that establishes his dynamic with luz.

and besides, the plot contrivances in both HP and ASIAS make it clear that there are so many more things at play into hunter choosing to help willow and co, whereas in HP the laser focus in hunter and luz make it abundantly clear that he’s choosing this for luz’s sake and her sake alone.

a big difference between hunter’s behavior towards the respective female leads in HP and ASIAS is that in the later hunter is deceiving willow, while in the former hunter and luz are very aware of each other’s real identities. so i guess it’s a little unfair to consider this a failing in the willow/hunter dynamic... is what i would say if HP didn’t make a real point about hunter opening out to luz about his upbringing out of his own volition.

this is way different in ASIAS because willow reaches out to hunter because he seems like a good candidate for her flyer derby team, a sport she’s been passionate about ever since S1:

...but hunter has no interest in flyer derby at all, and instead chooses to play along because he thinks there’s great potential in willow and the rest of the flyer derby members for his own motives.

compare this to HP, where luz and hunter have formed a truce to serve their personal interests at the moment, which leads to the moment where luz’s enthusiasm for learning and conjuring magic overlaps with hunter’s deep interest and knowledge about the subject.

hunter is so excited to share his knowledge about magic that he interrupts luz, finishes her sentence and causes her to look at him in shock. and even when hunter realizes what he’s done and retracts a little, he can’t help but continue to talk about magic with luz and she then shares his excitement, leaning into him and smiling too. this marks the first time they talk to each other in friendly terms: out of their shared passion of magic.

...to the point that he has to stop himself because at that point, the only thing that overtakes his interest in magic is what he perceives as the history of his ancestors.

none of this is found in ASIAS because hunter is decisive about faking his enthusiasm in the beginning.

moreover, this moment leads to luz asking him about what made him join the emperor’s coven. and upon this tiny opening of friendliness between the two of them, hunter chooses to be honest and share about his family’s history and his motives to luz. again, HUGE change from ASIAS in which at no point hunter trusts willow enough to be that vulnerable with her before his talk with steve.

i believe this later encounter with luz rings much more true to caleb and evelyn’s dynamic. we know from belos’ account of the story that evelyn “enticed” caleb with magic to abandon his side, but since we’re meant to question belos’ skewed view, i’d say it’s much more likely that caleb grew to be interested in this magic and that eventually this changed his perception of witches and took evelyn’s side. and this is not what happens with willow in ASIAS: hunter considers her a pawn for his desire to prove himself to belos (he wants to bring her to his side), while HP makes it so hunter and luz have genuine bonding moments before he makes the decision to let her go.

so, second point: every episode that centers around hunter’s dynamic with each one of the hexsquad members features something that i call the Hunter Projection Scene™, which is basically the one point in the episode where hunter makes assumptions or attempts to understand the character in question by comparing them to an aspect he finds on himself. [if you’re interested here’s how i rank them by how effective they are: luz (HP) > amity (EL) > gus (LR) > willow (ASIAS)]

in ASIAS, the Hunter Projection Scene™ happens after hunter leaves the hexside courtyard after his first impression of the flyer derby team.

enough people have talked about how meaningless the half-a-witch comment is so i’ll just say that it’s mega-weird that hunter calls her that to her face after seeing absolutely 0 people refer to her that way, and his only impressions of willow being that she’s really fucking good in her magic track. moreover, i dislike this moment because hunter doesn’t make the decision to come back: he’s just pulled back to the courtyard by willow’s doing. granted that he immediately changes his mind, but still. this moment could’ve been so much better if he had made the choice, just like in HP he makes the conscious choice to let luz go - a natural outcome of him opening up to luz and her returning the favor just a moment later by giving hunter his staff back:

the fact that willow’s action strips hunter from of his agency, while luz gives hunter what she knows is his only source of his magic, also works in favor of HP and their relationship. going back to caleb and evelyn, at this point is abundantly clear that flapjack used to be caleb’s palisman and evelyn either carved it for him or instructed him/gave him the necessary tools to do so. therefore, the moment where luz returns the staff to hunter works as a small scale parallel to evelyn and caleb’s relationship, while luz introducing flapjack to hunter works on the larger scale.

and hey, speaking of the half-a-witch thing, luz gets two Hunter Projection Scenes™! isn’t that neat? the first one deals with the knowledge that both of them can’t cast magic conventionally as other witches in the demon realm can, as well as hunter’s acknowledgment that belos thrusts a magic staff into his apprentice and tells him he’s destined to Great Things - which is the exact opposite situation that eda and luz had going on in early S1. however, i think the second one is more subtle and way more impactful in the development of the episode:

which has its payoff at the end of the episode, when hunter is the one who didn’t think this through. his reluctant truce with the human has lead him to change his perception of luz, to the point that he’s too nice to just “blast her to bits”.

this is also something that i believe rings true for evelyn and caleb. i think it’s safe to say that caleb never pictured doing anything other than witch-hunting: it’s clear from how attached belos is to the idea of his brother “betraying” him upon meeting evelyn - and it’s her influence that caused him to rethink his life choices. luz’s behavior in this episode is the sole catalyst of hunter deciding to disobey the emperor’s orders just to let luz go.

in ASIAS, since willow shares the spotlight with a bunch of other characters that help to steer hunter’s mind, the result is a bit more diluted. so we have gus who says this at the beginning:

then, hunter’s surprise when he realizes the members of the flyer derby team are actually pretty competent at what they do and the camaraderie they form during the game.

(this is what i think the episode mostly succeeds at: giving hunter a chance to experience real teamwork between people at his level, and realizing that he really likes it.)

then we have darius’ disappointment in hunter. as the catalyst of hunter’s actions during the episode, he’s also the one who kickstarts hunter’s doubts.

and finally, steve works as a talking conscience for hunter to realize the mistake he’s made.

it’s only after realizing what belos will do to the palismen that hunter decides to liberate them.

this is an aspect that is so deliberately absent in HP: luz brings up the harm belos will cause to the palismen and hunter’s determination is unchanged.

and it’s understandable why hunter doesn’t really mind that: at that point, he only saw the palismen as something his uncle and mentor needed to feast on to mitigate his pain. after all, it’s only after this confrontation that flapjack decides to become hunter’s palisman. this is correctly accounted for in ASIAS. but you see what the problem is, right? hunter’s guilt about what he did to the derby team (essentially taking away their right to make a choice about their lives - exactly what he tells luz he wanted to have [”at least you can choose your future”]) is not enough to spring him into action. it’s only when the emotional appeal of hunter’s connection to his palisman is brought up that he changes his mind. it’s not for the team’s sake, let alone willow’s.

since HP does not count with this situation, though, hunter’s reason to avoid fighting with luz is...

...her appeal to the connection that forms between them.

it’s luz’s sheer disappointment in him betraying her after she grows to respect his agency that hunter turns visibly afflicted by her words (literally luz implying that he’s not her friend!!!) that causes him to hold off from his intentions of stopping her.

there’s also the fact that the resolution in ASIAS is just so... blegh. like starting from the fact that darius didn’t even have the intentions of delivering the kids to the emperor’s coven to begin with. this smashes any sort of gravity from the initial situation, and while i do like darius’ presence and actions in this episode for the most part, i wish there would’ve been another way to maintain the stakes of the conflict while showing the first signs of darius’ rebellion against the emperor. i also dislike that hunter attempts to free them from darius by telling him, in front of the team, that they’re unfit for the emperor’s coven - even if he also is self-deprecating by saying he’s unfit to be the GG. like wasn’t there another way to make it so it doesn’t sound like he’s insulting the flyer derby team? lol

going back to HP, it’s clear by that point that hunter holds more than some semblance of respect for luz, because not only he refuses to fight her: he chooses to be vulnerable with her once again, sharing his name to luz.

also, he does this as a response to her reducing his persona to the title of “golden guard”. this is the first time hunter goes against the notion that he’s destined to one path only.

and not only that, but as soon as kikimora begins fighting the both of them, he completely takes the heat off luz by going aggro on her.

he makes use of the agency luz lend him (which, i should remind you, makes her significantly more vulnerable to hunter if he decides to attack her) and decides to fight on her side. he could’ve just walked away and let luz deal with her, since their truce is now over, but he chooses to stay by distracting kikimora and even defending luz from her - to the point that luz doesn’t even have to use her magic to make it out of there.

this is something that looses its impact in ASIAS because willow and her flyer derby team are the first ones to fight - and even after hunter arrives to the scuffle, he only steps in after darius defeats the kids and has them cornered. i think it would’ve been way more impactful if, just like it happens in HP, hunter deliberately fought a coven head.

this is something that i love in HP because as luz is flying away, kikimora says this:

if at that point hunter somehow forgot about his official duties and the impact of his choice in that moment, kikimora reminds him of the real stakes: by letting luz go, hunter is purposefully disobeying the orders from the emperor. yet after kikimora yells these words, hunter continues to fight her until she passes out.

(also i love this little smile, after the emperor expresses his full disappointment on what hunter did. like this kid is just so proud of having taken the decision to protect luz and disobey his uncle. what the FUCK)

and this moment is night and day compared to how hunter approaches the conflict during ASIAS: he appeals to the rules of the emperor by implying that he’ll step out of the GG role if necessary. not only this, but he begs willow to go along with his plan. willow and co leave the scene on hunter’s terms. and i think it’s such an interesting parallel that luz leaves hunter having been gifted the knowledge of his real name, while willow’s last remark is sad and out of spite, referring to hunter with his fake name.

again, going back to evelyn and caleb: caleb betrayed phillip in order to be with evelyn. he took her side. this is not what happens in ASIAS: this is what happens in HP. hunter’s just lucky that darius isn’t an uptight asshole.

look. i’ve made it clear in my posts that i’m biased towards lunter, but i’m not even asking you to see the HP scenes in a romantic light. i’m just suggesting that HP pulls off hunter’s first act of defiance against belos in a way that frames luz as the reason why he does it, whereas in ASIAS hunter’s connection with willow is meddled by 1) the presence of three other people that hunter grows to respect in the EE, 2) the effect of darius’ disappointment on him and 3) his newfound connection with flapjack re-framing how he sees belos’ actions towards palismen. and in that case, the parallels to evelyn fit luz way, waaaay better than with willow.

[cosmicalart]

Trope grading game

Thank you @artsyunderstudy and @hushed-chorus for tagging me in this.

Actually took me a little bit after work to fill this out as I don't usually think too heavily about why I like a trope, and sometimes I'm in the mood for a specific trope and will look for those tags exclusively, but most of the time I'll read anything that isn't a big nope for me.

Rules: How much do these tropes affect your decision to click on a fic?

-10 -> very dissuaded 0 - don’t care either way +10 -> very enticed nope -> if it’s a hard no and you’d never click on a fic with that tag or or you even have the tag blocked or you’d insta click out of the fic if it wasn’t tagged Bonus points for explaining the rating and whether it’s conditional.

Age gap: -9

I wanted to say nope to this one, I’ve never really been in a ship/fandom that had any major age gaps, but ones with larger gaps or when one person is barely legal (18-20) it just puts me right off and gives me creep vibes. However, I didn’t give it a nope because there are some smaller age gaps that are fine, like Penny and Shep, if I remember correctly she’s 19 and he’s 22 when they met, an age gap like that is fine

Codependency: +5

Kinda hard to explain this one, it changes with the context but I do lean more towards being enticed

Obsession/Possessiveness, jealousy: +5

In cases like Simon and Baz, yes, 100% into that, but when it gets toxic or violent then I want nothing to do with it, there is nothing romantic about that

Opposites (grumpy/sunshine etc): +3

As long as that's not their defining trait, then I do enjoy seeing different dynamics where the characters balance each other out, plus I find even relationships irl tend to have some opposite differences to balance them out

Enemies to lovers, Enemies with benefits: +10

Absolutely, I eat this shit for breakfast, but it does have to be done right (like Snowbaz) they have to bond and actually fall for each other, not just be physical attraction and that's it, you can’t just have the characters hating each other and literally trying to murder the other only to turn around and bang it out

Friends with benefits: 0

I’m indifferent, I mean if it ends with them being lovers and there's some angst then hella yeah, but if it’s just friends banging it out for no reason and then happen to date because of it then no thank you

Sex to feelings: 0

As someone who is demisexual, this is a bit hard for me to grasp, but that doesn’t mean I won’t read it, sometimes I’m just really in the mood for smut and this can have the potential for some good hurt/comfort

Fake dating/relationship: +9

Now I really love this if done well, and I have read some really good Snowbaz fics with this premise and wish there were more (I may attempt to write one myself but idk if I’d be able to do the trope justice), but it can sometimes feel a little surface level and frustrating in the “why don’t you just communicate and everything would be better” kind of way

Friends to lovers: +6

This can be really fluffy, or extremely angsty and I’m down for both

Found Family: 0

I like the concept in theory, especially for Simon, his friends are his family (and once he learns about his actual family them as well) but I see this as more of a platonic thing and not so much as a romantic trope, and it can a lot of times be used to gloss over the trauma from biological family when found family isn’t some magic bandaid

Hurt/Comfort: +10 For everyone who’s read carry on, do I really need to explain this one

Love Triangle: 0

Depends on the ship, technically there was a love triangle between Agatha, Simon and Baz. I like it in a more light-hearted way where no one gets hurt

Poly, open relationships: -5

I’m perfectly fine with open relationships, and certain situations get a pass (Someone wicked for example) but I’m pretty monogamous and when reading a ship I usually look just for those two characters. I will say in previous fandoms I have read really good poly relationships so I might read it

Mistaken/hidden identity: +5

I think this would be a funny trope that could be done more, if done right. I have read a few wrong number texting fics that I will count as mistaken identity and they can be great

Monsterfucking: +5

Depends, I have to be in the mood for smut and it has to be written well because it can very easily turn me away

Pregnancy: -9

Again, another one I wanted to nope on, I click out of anything with mpreg; that just isn’t my thing, if it’s a hot couple or the pregnancy is through surrogacy or something then I have no problem with it.

Second Chance: +10

I need this, this works with hurt comfort. Break-up fics destroy me so I need a second chance trope to mend my heart

Slowburn: +10

No explanation needed

Soulmates: +5

Can be really cheesy which is fine, but if it’s cheesy and just not written well then I have a hard time getting into it, but when it is done well then I love it.

Tags under the cut

I already tagged a bunch of people this morning for wip Wednesday, so I'm just gonna tag a few and leave this open-ended to anybody who wants to try

@cultofsappho @bean-mints @ionlydrinkhotwater @larkral @vkelleyart

[mzannthropy]

The other day I was listening to Celebrity Memoir Book Club podcast episode about Olivia Munn and one of the hosts said she saw Olivia in the film Love Wedding Repeat and it was one of the worst films she had ever seen. I was seized with a sudden urge to defend the film.

I mean, it's not good. I would never have watched it had Sam Claflin not been in it, I don't like romcoms and nothing about the title or the synopsis would entice me to watch it. If you ask me for a list of essential Sam Claflin, I will happily leave it out. But I still think there's worse stuff out there. At least it's beautifully shot and takes place in Italy. Everything looks so gorgeous! I'm not sure actually whether it's a romcom or a comedy, as Sam shares more scenes with Eleanor Tomlinson, who plays his sister, than Olivia, who is his love interest. But I don't mind bc I like good siblings. In fact I like good siblings more than a romance, sometimes. Interestingly, Olivia's character, Dina, is actually a great character, she's a very successful war journalist. Sam's character, Jack, is an engineer, so they make an amazing power couple.

The film has potential, but in many points doesn't make sense, like who are the guests at the wedding, why is Jack's ex-gf there, who is Sidney, etc. It should have had more of a fun family dynamic (Sidney should have been a cousin). And the different timelines are not explained, those kids that mess up the name cards at the table, who are they, we see no kids at the wedding. They should have just gone whole Groundhog Day, let Jack re-live the day until everything gets fixed. There's a Christmas romcom, Twelve Dates of Christmas that does this (basically Groundhog Day but with a female character re-living Christmas Eve) and it works quite well, so idk why this film didn't just embrace that.

Still, is generates a few laughs and Sam is good, as always, so at least there's that.

[entomolog-t]

For the Tropes Ask Game:

I like it when the li'l guy is in charge even //just a bit// of the big person. A tiny bit of the dynamic flip situation.

...Also I like it when there is a smol person (any gender) in big person's cleavage/bra/clothes but that feels easy-mode.

Lemme just put on my nerdy psychologist glasses

G/t interactions are very visible representations of a power dynamic, and often have deep implications of our relationship with trust. Having a particular interest in the tiny being in charge could have a variety of implications based on the context.

A desire for deep trust from another, as well as wanting to relinquish a level of control without relinquishing power (should you find yourself identifying with the giant) or a longing for control and power when you yourself find you may be lacking (identifying with the tiny).

That being said, role reversal situation and dynamic switching are normally intriguing and fun because of their unexpected nature, with our brains loving novel concepts. It would help to identify what feelings arise when you interact with this trope, as well as what other characteristics you like paired along side it.

As for the cleavages? Hows your relationship with your mother?

Jokes aside cleavage and inside of clothing are intimate areas, obviously. The nature of how you like this interaction to go likely expresses how you like to experience intimacy (casual intimacy I'm assuming). If you see yourself as the giant for example, did you initiate or did they? How does the tiny react? Are they shy, casual, flustered, flirty? Their reaction likely mirrors a desired reaction the the overall vibe of the intimacy.

For example : Oh no, someone is coming, you need to hide the tiny and you have no pockets! You hide them inside your shirt. They remain quiet but are visibly flustered, not thinking about the potential danger of being caught but distracted by their *ahem* situation.

Neither party initiated, just deus ex machina that intimacy. Now that doesnt imply you want to be put into uncomfortable situations, but more so you may wish for someone to be caught of guard by their attraction to you, but without you trying. Effortlessly enticing, yet they still remain respectful.

This is just one interpretation of many possible scenarios, but I would highly recommend analyzing the specifics of that trope with the aforementioned lens

---

Thank you for coming to my pseudo psychology sessions. Expect a bill by mail in 3-5 business days.

[unabashegirl]

Vicious 1 || Harry Styles x Mafia

Summary: Harry Styles, the cold and calculating son of a powerful mafia don, must consolidate power after his father's passing. He faces challenges from his unpredictable younger brother, Silas, and navigates a complex world of alliances, ruthless decisions, and family loyalty. Amidst the intrigue, the elegant and alluring Y/N Castellano, the daughter of an Italian mafia boss, attends the funeral and finds herself drawn to Harry. As power dynamics shift and the future remains uncertain, the story explores the dark and dangerous allure of the mafia, the weight of family legacies, and the potential for unexpected connections in a world defined by secrecy and ruthlessness.

masterlist

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The air inside St. Anthony's Cathedral hung heavy with the scent of incense, a somber melody playing on the organ as mourners dressed in black filed into the pews. The grandeur of the cathedral seemed to amplify the gravity of the occasion—the funeral of the late mob boss, Arthur Francis Styles. The flickering candles cast shadows on the marble pillars, echoing the secrets and sins concealed within the heart of the city.

Amidst the sea of black-clad mourners, a solitary figure stood out—one of sons of the deceased, Harry. His sharp gaze, inherited from his father, scanned the room with a mix of grief and determination. The weight of his heritage rested upon broad shoulders, and the tailored suit he wore could not conceal the burden of responsibility that had been abruptly thrust upon him.

The funeral was a spectacle of contradictions. The cathedral, a symbol of divine sanctity, now played host to the final farewell of a man whose life had been entwined with shadows and whispered alliances. Harry’s eyes swept across the assembly, recognizing familiar faces, each harboring a tale of loyalty or betrayal. As he approached the casket to pay his respects, the gravity of his new role settled on his shoulders like a heavy cloak.

Arthur Styles’ passing had left a void, a vacuum that would inevitably draw power struggles and rivalries. Harry, the heir apparent, found himself at the epicenter of this storm. The funeral served not only as a farewell to his father but as the beginning of a new chapter—a chapter stained with blood, loyalty, and the unspoken code of the Mafia.

As Harry stood in the dimly lit cathedral, he felt the weight of his father's legacy press upon him, and the whispers of the past seemed to echo through the hallowed halls. The mournful hymns played on, but the symphony of the streets would soon drown them out, revealing the true nature of the shadows that lurked within the city's underbelly. The funeral was over, but the legacy of Arthur Styles would live on, casting a long, ominous shadow over Harry’s uncertain future.

Harry observed as his father's supposed friends and family offered their condolences, each reverently kissing the ring that adorned his father's lifeless hand. It was the very same ring around which they had sworn allegiance and loyalty, seeking resolution to their problems.

The wooden bench in front of him felt the weight of a pair of hands settling on its back. The distinctive ring on the third finger of those hands revealed the identity of the person without Harry needing to turn his head.

"Harry," Anthony started, his voice a subdued murmur blending with the somber atmosphere. "I never thought this day would arrive." Anthony, the younger brother of Harry's father, continued, "He appeared to have the capability of outliving all of us."

Harry nodded subtly but chose to keep his silence. His mind was a tumultuous sea of thoughts, and his head felt burdened, almost oppressively heavy. He was acutely aware that the path ahead would be arduous. His father had been grooming him for leadership since he could articulate words. Yet, Harry never anticipated ascending to power without his father by his side.

"Taking the reins of the English Mafia won't be a stroll in the park. Your father maintained a delicate balance, and stepping into his role makes you a target." His uncled warned.

Harry nodded solemnly, the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders. "I know. But someone always must lead."

Anthony's gaze bore into Harry's, a grave understanding passing between them. "You're right. But brace yourself—old alliances may crumble, and new foes will emerge. The English Mafia is a beast, and maintaining control is a constant struggle."

Harry surveyed the mourners, his gaze lingering on the faces of those present, contemplating the intricate challenges that loomed, he spoke, "I worry the most about the Italians and the Russians. Dad always said that dealing with them required finesse, and I'm not sure we've earned enough goodwill in those circles." The gravity of the situation hung in the air as he acknowledged the potential pitfalls that awaited them in the unpredictable world of the English Mafia.

"You can anticipate the maneuvers of the Italians and Russians, and they don't reside under your roof. Your brother, on the other hand..." A shadow fell over Anthony's countenance. "He's a wildcard, Harry. Young, impressionable, his allegiance might sway. Keep a vigilant eye on him, especially when you make your move. Not everyone in the family will readily embrace the change.”

A furrow deepened on Harry's brow. "You think Silas might turn against us?"

Anthony's response was as measured as the somber atmosphere around them. "In our world, blood doesn't guarantee loyalty. Silas has his own battles, and he might choose a different path."

Harry tightened his jaw, the mere thought of his younger brother betraying him causing his blood to simmer with anger. After their mother's passing, Harry had essentially taken on the role of raising Silas. Harry had played more of a father figure to Silas than Arthur ever did. Their father had shown minimal concern for Harry, the firstborn, which made Silas seem like nothing more than a contingency, a spare kept in reserve in case of some unforeseen tragedy.

Anthony leaned in, his gaze piercing. "I believe you will rule righteously, Harry. But be prepared for anything. The English Mafia is a game where pieces move without warning, and the stakes are higher than you can fathom." With that, he offered a reassuring pat on the back, bidding Harry farewell.

Harry bided his time, waiting patiently for the crowd to disperse, before rising from his seat. Straightening his suit blazer and fixing his tie, he approached the casket at the cathedral's end—the final resting place of his father. The familiarity of the suit caught Harry's eye, a garment he had seen his father wear countless times. A small blood stain near the boot of the pants, a detail his mother had frequently lamented, marked the attire. Suppressing a smile, Harry noted the irony that his father had been laid to rest in the suit his mother detested.

Leaning down, Harry whispered into his father's ear, "Omnes sumus peccatores," before deftly sliding the ring off his father's finger.

Chapter 2

[celandeline]

Hi hi hi,

How you dodaling? (How are you?)

Your story; The throne was meant for us my dear.

Is so damn good.

Please tell me there might be a part 2?

Please I am begging. I need more of this relationship. Their dynamic. How Aemond is so obsessed and in love with her. Devoted. How she is confused and torn.

To see them as king and queen and having children.

I bet Aemond would some how go even more feral than he already is when she says she is pregnant. He would be like a story true dragon guarding his treasure.

So good. I am going to read more of your works now but just needed to praise this great fic.

- :)!

hi hello!

thank you so much i’m so glad that you liked it!! and yes, im thinking of doing a part 2. i want to wait for more of the season to come out before i start writing it though so it might be a little bit.

i can’t decide if i want to stick to being semi-canon compliant or completely go off the rails and rewrite the ending of the dance of dragons so that aemond wins. on one hand, the angst potential of keeping everything canon compliant is so enticing. but on the other hand, aemond and reader/jaenara as king and queen with some babies. a very hard decision to make.

[quartings-main-blog]

Pseudo Harem Reviews: Episode 1

I don't want to clutter my art blog with 12+ nerding out posts, so I'll be posting episode reviews here every week instead!

Animation

It’s a bit on the cheaper side, but that’s okay since the art style is very faithful and nice, even down to the slightly crooked mouths in some scenes- which I personally find a bit charming! Another change I like is adding a blue-grey tint to Rin’s hair to stop it from blending too much into other dark objects like her blouse!

I do wish that the animation got to be a bit higher quality at points. To list a similar show for comparison like Tomo, it at least had some dynamic animation for action shots and better lighting in the night scenes. At least showing some visual or audio cue for Rin’s switch in personas would help. Also I'm not sure I like how the personas are listed as stuff like "spoiled girl" instead of "Spoiled-Chan", "Spoiled Rin", "Sweet-girl" or anything to solidify their identities more. I can only hope a potential dub is able to figure out how to make it work!

Voice Acting

I’m not a longtime fan of Saori Hayami like some of the people who follow her in Spy X Family, Oregairu, and more, but I like the work she does here as Rin! I agree with the few people who say her voice is a biiiit too adult for a high schooler, but I at least like her voices for Cool-chan and Spoiled-chan. Her takes on Cheeky and Tsundere could be a bit more on the high-pitched side though. Still excited to hear more though!

Nobuhiko Omamoto as Eiji is nice too in one of the more subdued roles I’ve seen him in- he does a great job of capturing Eiji’s straightforward and goofy sides and you can feel why Rin likes him early on!

And I’m still crossing my fingers for a phenomenal dub too, which should hopefully get more new viewers onboard with this show! (PLEASE don’t be a bad dub…)

Music - OP and ED

So far nothing major to note in the soundtrack- just your standard highschool romcom style score. I will say I love both the OP and ED as songs- they’re great and I’ve already added what I can to my playlists! And I do hope we get the Rin and Eiji version of the opening down the line too (and maybe some extra surprises hopefully?)

It’s just a shame when the opening suffers from some of the cheapest animation in the whole show- it’s supposed to be the thing that hooks viewers into watching, but over half of it is just a bunch of still PNGs, barely showing the actual Pseudo Harem gimmick until the chorus.

At least the ED has cooler and more creative visuals with the anime-to-manga hybrid beginning, the rap verse from Rin, and better showing off all her personas (I find it a bit funny they’re trying to showcase every single one rather than the main 4-5 to entice new viewers more and maybe provide more contrast haha)

Pacing

And here we have the elephant in the room. I was so hyped for this series I didn’t even consider that the short disconnected nature of the series’ early chapters would lead to a very disjointed first few episodes.

If the show wanted to spend more effort on animation, they could have either rearranged the chapters so that the similar ones in the same settings got paired up into bigger scenes like how Squid Girl did it. If I could have everything my way, I would just extend the episodes with lots of original content, but I know that’s unrealistic.

If not, then short connecting scenes or establishing shots could help, or even interlude cards if you really want to save on budget. From what I’ve heard new viewers say, they all really liked the series concept, the characters, and their dynamic, but they were really put off by the pacing, assuming it would be this way for the whole show. And sadly, I can’t blame them for being disappointed since they don’t know the series will go into longer arcs and better-paced episodes as it goes on.

The choice to move their first meeting to the first scene was also very odd, as it shows why Eiji likes Rin, but creates a weird and unclear timeskip where she likes him by the Ch1 gym scene immediately after, and also kind of diffuses a bit of the tension on whether Eiji actually likes Rin or just the Pseudo Harem for the first 40 chapters or so.

I can only hope the show better arranges the scenes to keep the viewers’ attention from Episode 2 onwards!

Extras/Overall

I still had tons of fun with this pilot though! I do hope it shapes up a bit more in the animation and pacing departments, and I hope new viewers will give this show the usual 3-episodes chance at the very least! This is still my most anticipated anime of 2024 and I can’t wait for more!