#the very person he's so rightfully giving love advice to

[mengyanchen]

fireworks of my heart e03

[liesmyth]

locked tomb characters ranked by how cringe they are

because this post by @wifegideonnav reminded me that they’re all losers, but some are even more losers than the others

Hot Sauce: 1/10. This girl is cool in all possible ways and definitely future lead researcher material. No cringe, zero notes.

Pyrrha: 2/10. By far the least cringe of The Olds. Yes her nicknames for Nona have dad joke energy but she’s very earnest about it and it’s cute.

Juno Zeta: 2/10. Total MILF. Very smart and should know better than to get flirty with We Suffer, but I get it.

Marta Dyas: 3/10. A complete badass with a very sensible outlook on avoiding unnecessary forms. Call me Judith because I would also make a pass at her at the first possible chance.

Commander Wake: 3/10. She made Pyrrha fall in love with her, seduced ever-loyal G1deon into hatefucking and galvanized a dying resistance movement. She was genuinely nice to Gideon those 3 seconds they interacted in passing! Then she had to go and hide under the bed of a mentally ill teenager.

Dulcinea: 4/10. Her horniness for revenge is epic. Let down Pal as nicely as she could and managed to outwit Cytherea when it mattered. Not cringe at all.

Camilla: 4/10. Yes, she could kill you in seconds but she did once sell cigarettes, her most liquid asset, for about a third of their market value.

Alecto: 4/10. Scary eldritch woman-shaped creature with a sword, comes highly recommended by Pyrrha Dve. Loses points for confusing Middle English and thinking John was the best possible Sailor Earth when he was clearly the worst.

G1deon: 5/10. Utterly willing to burn for what he believes in. Yes, he probably needs some perspective but he made sure the baby had enough air before kicking Wake out of the airlock and Matthias Nonius thinks he’s an okay dude.

Pash: 5/10. She has that freedom fighter swag and the cool hair but she is a terrible bodyguard coasting on nepotism, sorry to say.

Palamedes: 6/10. He didn’t clock the serial killer pretending to be his ex because he was too busy going to painfully extreme lengths to avoid interacting with her.

Naberius: 6/10. My controversial opinion is that Babs is the least cringe of the Third House throuple. Yes he looks and acts like a peacock but he puts up with Corona snacking on him for no reason and is still nice to her, and gives Ianthe solid romantic advice.  

Nona: 6/10. Cringe in the unselfconscious way of a young teenager, and put this ability to use making Pal fess up to his nurse kink. She will never be cool but it’s part of her appeal.

Mercymorn: 7/10. Speaks in onomatopoeias. She knows she is insufferable so she’s gonna do her best to make sure to be the most insufferable person in every room. Once called John Gaius “the best man I who ever lived” to his smug face and not even blowing him up later makes up for that.

Ianthe: 7/10. Looks like a wet rat. Hopelessly dramatic but she pulls it off. Declares her love for Harrow at every turn in the most transparent possible way then pretends she’s just being snarky. Some cool points for actually getting shit done

Coronabeth: 7/10. Terrible taste in love interests. Her freedom fighter era was hot but she thinks pompadour hair is a good look? Also, the way she spent her whole life lying about necromancy speaks of extreme conflict avoidance. Cringe move.

Judith: 7/10. She deserved to suffer and has suffered more than she deserves. It’s cringe how she clings to her imperialist brainwashing but she gets a point for rightfully understanding she should be wary of Corona, something Ianthe still can’t even grasp.

Ortus: 7/10. Yes he quotes his own epic poetry WIP at people but he also had to grow up on the Ninth with nothing better to do. Genuinely a very nice guy.

Cytherea: 8/10. Her unhinged vibes are very hot but she killed a couple of nerds and two teenagers instead of anyone who was actually dangerous. Cringe of her!

Silas: 8/10. Smarmy cloud-looking motherfucker. He is a child Pope and I guess he can’t help the inherent cringe of the Eight. But that’s still no excuse for bringing a portrait of John all the way to Canaan House just to hang it in your bedroom, dude.

Gideon: 8/10. Babygirl is a horny virgin with the vocabulary of a nerd. Harrow is bones over tit in love with her and she fails to notice after living in Harrow’s brain for eight months. Gets points for managing to maintain impressive biceps on a diet with no protein.

Augustine: 9/10. Extremely cringe because of how hard he tries to pretend he’s not cringe. Cigarettes on a space station and effectively performing swag don’t make up for how much he clearly wants to suck John’s dick. Which he did at least twice.

Harrow: 10/10. Spent most of her life being mean to Gideon because she was too hot to deal with and lobotomized a coffee shop AU into existence. Thinks Ianthe Tridentarius is beautiful. Once built a bone cocoon to sleep in after not drinking water for two days. Should’ve told God months ago that she just didn’t want to eat his fucking biscuits and stop offering.

John: 10/10. Unfortunately, this scale only goes up to 10 but we all know it’s not enough. Deeply cringe in a myriad of ways, chiefly among them the way he inflicts his barely veiled incest kink on all his friends. That one dad joke was gold, though.

This was getting too long but for the record: Aiglamene is cool and so is Abigail Pent. Magnus is not cool but he’s a fun time. The Terrible Teens are exempt from judgement on account of being 14.

[silviakundera]

Did a speedrun through modern cdrama Everyone Loves Me because I'm a fan of both leads. A fairly well constructed romcom for a specific trope, AND also one of the most valid examples of the critique that cdrama storylines are pointlessly over-extended. This would have been a great modern drama at 12 episodes. Unfortunately, it's at least 10 episodes too long. The literal gaming (characters interacting while playing videogames) is very light - it's an initiating plot device piece but doesn't consume much actual screen time. The real genre is IT workplace romance with Hidden Identity trope.

Do you like:

* Capable & ambitious female lead x male lead with a competency kink whose turn-offs are white lotus & green tea girls and turn-ons are brash ladies who can cuss you out; dressing up to impress is not required

* Romantic dynamic of equal partners (2 strong personalities, not active/passive)

* "We don't know yet who is going to be the breadwinner. My goal is to be a CEO."

* Low heat (just a few kisses),

* modern workplace dramas (so much working)

[heavy spoilers below]

The actual set up & outline are:

* Online friend group who casually game together, in the last days of university. One of the guys starts catching feelings for the girl, our FL (let's call him Gamer Friend). FL isn't romantically considering Gamer Friend at all, because she has a crush on a guy from her uni.

* This crush is Gamer Friend in rl! 😮

* ML isn't open to being crushed on by anyone at rl uni, because he is already hung up on FL (as his online friend) 🙈

* FL asks for advice from her gaming buds on how to pursue her rl crush. Gamer Friend doesn't want her to succeed, because he wants to win her heart, so he keeps giving terrible advice to chase him by acting out the soft-spoken innocent maiden archetype (the opposite of FL's real boisterous & brash personality)

* This creates a comedy of errors where ML in rl is being pursued by the woman he's in love with, but he's shooting her down left & right. This culminates in her confessing and he publically rejects her in a harsh manner. When she comes crying (and vengeful) to the group, the guys all realize the identity confusion. Appropriately horrified, bros have no idea what to do. (This whole scene is gold tbh.)

* This plotline covers 7 episodes, but should have been dealt with in 4.

* Next 5 episodes (should have been 2!): Gamer Friend, toiling under karma, tries to be virtually supportive of his beloved while in person desperately making gestures to show remorse & have her less willing to obliterate his RL person. (this is all complicated by them both hired into the same company post-grad; there's a whole gaming dev & art design subplot - like in Lighter & Princess, the writers did the research so the setting is reality-based). This arc ends with identity reveal: she finally knows irl crush = Gamer Friend

* Next 6-7 episodes lead her from being (rightfully) furious and humiliated to them finally becoming friendly & supportive of each other. He waits to ask for more until he feels truly forgiven for the shakespearean hijinks that kept them apart. Includes work drama and fake-dating For Reasons. This arc, again, could have been 3-4 episodes.

* Final 5 episode arc is dating era and culmination of the gaming dev plotline. Heavy emphasis on work drama. Only 2 out of the last 5 episodes had significant romance material for the main couple, which was the major flaw in the drama. Avoided the separation cliche but also no marriage scenes at the end - we just see that they're still close, supportive partners a year later. Should have been 3 episodes ;)

The structure is right for a simple rom com set up of: one party pursues, gets rejected, then the other party pursues & corrects their mistake. The misunderstandings are logical enough; FL is assertive and we see evidence of her talent (not just told); ML likes her for herself & doesn't want a childish, obedient woman like the idol dramas represent; they are shown to make a good team & respect each other; the wronged party isn't a push over and their forgiveness has to be earned. It's clear why they like each other and that they work as a couple. (Though the emphasis is on compatibility & domesticity rather than sexual heat.)

The showrunner just needed to compress each arc and spend a lot less time on corporate minutiae. The way I engage with this type of drama is to binge, skip all 2nd couple scenes, and liberal use of fast forward ⏩⏩.

[an-au-blog]

Yo your Shuggy King/ Jester AU is such a good take and I swear to everything holy i'd do unspeakable things to get more of it! Like like like --- like, what if Buggy's not even a jester and was really some third rate theif there to steel some expense trinket or another at some feast and he gets caught beacuse hes a pretty shit third rate thief and just somehow got lucky that the right door was unlocked somewhere but now these folks are ushering him in to entertain the king and his aristocratic asshole friends and he doesnt know what to do!!!! He should have just stuck to picking pockets at taverns and now he's in front of the king and -- wow, OK, so the king is kind of hot? -- nothepoint!!! -- they're all looking at him and he just... the feast turns into a roast and it's so unhinged and also a commentary on all the shit buggy really feels about these rich stuck up assholes and the king is dying from laughing so hard so he just... keeps going? And then he is asked to stay on full time and, sure, why not? Beats the streets any day and plus hes closer to treasure and can just buy his time and strike it rich but then he gets legit invested because don't these assholes know what the people need? What they want? 1 guess and the first one is already wrong because apparently everyone has their heads so far up their asses that they can't see the real issues in the kingdom so he accidentally speaks out of turn and totally out of place but the king, like, listens? He's listening to him. He's taking Buggy's advice and... oh shit... he might be in love now....

Ohhhh you did not just spike my interest back into an au that flopped like a month ago

This is sooo... I'm speechless because yes??? yes please!?!?

Also hi, sorry it took me a little to answer, i try to answer asks in order of who sent one first ':)

Buggy never stops taking small things. Trinkets no one in the castle would miss. But such trinkets outside the castle go for quite some berry. Unfortunately for him, some of the guards caught wind of what he was doing so they start following him around. He meets up with his friends and heist buddies on the outside, selling and buying and they see it all.

He still had connections that only multiplied once he got to in the palace.

One day they practically throw Buggy in King Shanks's feet and started listing all the accusations he was very rightfully blamed about and he thinks that was it. He was going to die because liked the weight of money in his pockets.

And the King is furious. He's shouting and spitting venom. No one had seen him this angry in a while, or maybe even ever. But the most shocking thing was that he was angry at the guards who caught Buggy. He claimed that Buggy was sent by him personally into the city to scout out the common folk. After all how could he know what the people need and lack if he can't leave the castle. He tels them he doesn't need such incompetent and naive people in his guard but he'll send them off with just a warning.

He was talking so convincingly that even Buggy started believing him.

When the doors close and it's just them, Shanks falls to his knees to inspect Buggy for any injuries.

The king is in his royal garments, the ones that probably cost ten times more than what he stole through the whole week. And he's just sitting there, worrying because Buggy's elbow got scratched when he was tossed in the marble floors.

After a good amount of time, Buggy still getting away with way too much, decides to test the limits. A lot had changed since the first time they met. But Buggy was still convinced that there was no way an attractive, powerful and charismatic king like Shanks was genuinely interested in a jester who only tells him what to do and steals from him. And for what? What was Buggy giving in return? Criticized the court and sneak around. Sure they messed around sometimes but the king could have a dozen way more beautiful women at his feet in a second if he wished so. So why?

One night, he feels ballsy and takes a knife into their bed. He hides it under his pillow and waits for the right time to come. He thinks that him and the king had gotten their lines so blurred that Shanks didn't notice the knife, but it wasn't true. Because when it happens nothing changes.

Buggy was fast. The king was already curled up in him, so it took only one motion for the jester to straddle him and put the knife up to his throat.

Shanks was smiling. His hands still running up and down his thighs. And the jester is so confused. If he pushed a bit harder he was sure he would have drawn blood. So why? "Why aren't you scared of me?Why do you keep me around?"

To which the answer sounded so simple it almost didn't register in Buggy's mind. "Because I relish in your presence. And you have my favor." He put his hand on the one holding the knife. "I know you won't kill me..." it wasn't arrogance. It wounded more like comfort.

Because of course he wouldn't. If he did, what would he do? He'd have nowhere to go. And the people would get some snot-nosed brat who would ruin the country. Where would he run? Who would he reside in? Who would love him like this?

Buggy didn't know how but he ended up crying in his king's arms that night. Worst part was - it was the most comforting place the jester had ever been to.

Idk something like that, I probably missed something I wanted to add but oh well

[alaskan-wallflower]

Going off of the Sandy being openly toxic thing.

Maybe some hcs of each of the gang and their first little alarm bells about how she treated soda?

And then maybe their reactions to finding out how she left soda?

of course!

I feel like Pony didn’t really see the signs. She would love bomb him a lot and he honestly just thought she was being nice and didn’t see this as toxicity. but when he found out he was immediately livid on Sofa’s behalf and even wanted to send her a letter to show how angry he was

Darry on the other hand caught on right away. He took her aside and immediately like “Look, I can see right through you and I swear to god if you hurt Soda I will personally kill you” and she just cried for Soda and Soda got SO pissed at Darry and wouldn’t talk to him for days. When she broke up with him he just hugged Darry and sobbed out “you were right…I’m sorry.” And it’s so sad

Johnny honestly didn’t like her. He’s VERY observant and she was probably one of those girls who giggled too loud at Soda’s shitty jokes, or she would wear skimpy clothes and he doesn’t like girls like that. He doesn’t say anything but if he survived the fire he would probably just let Soda talk to him and awkwardly offer support

Dallas was open about his hate. He literally doesn’t give a shit that “she’s a chick” he would openly just be like “yeah you’re a bitch y’know that?” and if he was alive honestly he would skip town to find her (he is scarily good at memorizing license plates) and literally confronted her. He didn’t even do anything but he verbally assaulted her so hard she cried (deserved tbh)-but he would never admit to it.

Two Bit honestly didn’t give a shit. She was a blonde so he would flirt with her sometimes (sometimes as an experiment to make sure she was being loyal to Soda) and when she reciprocated he was immediately like “yeah she isn’t good for you” and he probably has told Soda. But when he finds out he’s rightfully pissed off and probably tries to do something about it but can’t think of much to do. So he encourages Dallas and maybe goes with her.

Steve at first was all “I told you so. I told you you can’t trust chicks like her. Look at Evie.” and that made Soda start bawling and he felt so awful. He noticed everything because he always hung out with Soda and Soda would go to him for advice like “I don’t know what she wants! Every time I try to help her she yells at me but every time I don’t she says I never help, I don’t know what to do!” and he was just like “oh hell no”

[thelikesoffinn]

Hello Finn! You said you'd give advice for fanfiction, I think and I'm a bit desperate so I hope you can help me!

A follower asked me to write about Tav killing herself to be free from ascended Astarion and I have a lot of trouble with writing his reaction because I really don't know how he'd react to that???? It's stressig me out so much pls help me

Hello there, petal!

I think this ask has been sitting in my inbox for a while, I'm so sorry. I haven't been on top of it lately. (But I'm getting to it, I swear! I know a few people are still asking why I hate Astarions reaction to Tav's romp with Mizora and I'll definitely get to that, do not fret!)

But anyway, let's see how I can help, shall we? I did a bit of research and watched a ton of ascended Astarion content so that I could actually give you proper advice and ohhh boy, when I tell you that I've had clients like him before...blegh. But, as always, do take it with a grain of salt because I'm no expert. Just a social worker with a lot of time to watch vampire videos, apparently, haha.

So, to recap: Your Tav committs suicide in order to escape from ascended Astarions grasp. And I guess he only finds out after, seeing as you need his reaction, yes?

I can see why that would be stressful, but it's probably less because you really don't know how he'd react and more because there's a disconnect between the reaction he'd actually have and the reaction we all want.

As both a writer and a reader I'm not ashamed to admit that I'd want him to suffer. I'd want him to realise all his faults and where he went wrong and I'd want him to cry because he fucked it all up, so much so that he's now lost the one person that loved him despite everything he has done.

But with ascended Astarion, I don't think a reaction like that would be very likely. True vampires are a bit difficult when it comes to things like guilt and shame and loss, as in they don't really seem to take it the way normal people would.

Or, rather: They can't react to them the same way normal people would.

Where a normal person would go through an entire circle of mourning, a true vampire is probably going to throw a tantrum and create a demiplane that he can sulk in. (Looking at you, Strahd.)

Instead of sadness, It's very likely that he'd react with anger. A LOT of anger. The anger likely won't be self-directed - at most a little annoyance because he didn't lock them up harder and more securely - but it will most definitely be directed at Tav.

I don't think I need to explain that while ascended Astarion does not really love Tav anymore he does want them.

Tav is his. Their entire being belongs to just him. Only he get's to decide when and if they're allowed to die. They're his to destroy and his alone. So how dare they kill themself without his permission? How dare they take away what's rightfully his!?

And just as anger replaces sadness, it's very likely that blame overshadows guilt and shame. So he doesn't feel shame over how he treated Tav. He doesn't feel guilt over how he drove them to suicide. No, instead he blames Tav for their decision because they're spoiled and unthankful.

He is not the problem, they are. He gave them everything. Everything one could ever want, they had. He game them power. He gave them wealth. A palace. A life filled with all sorts of pleasure, right by his side. He granted them eternal fucking life. What more could they want? What more could anyone want? He did everything for them, and they threw it right back at him like a spoiled little brat. He should've been sterner, should've kept them on a tighter leash. Should have showed them his bad side so that they'd learn what staying on his good side meant.

The only thing he'd probably actually feel is loss, but once again... it'd be different. It's probably less the gut-wrenching feeling of loneliness that suddenly haunts you when you remember that you won't ever get to speak to someone again because they're no longer here and more the upset of loosing a beloved item. So more of a 'fucking hell that was my favourite fucking thing and now it's gone'. There'd probably be some despair in there because he can't simply replace Tav but that despair is, once again, likely tied to his possessiveness and not to true loss. He'd be desperate because he wants them - he wants them - but not because he's just lost the one he loves.

That's probably the reaction I'd expect of ascended Astarion and, as you can tell: It's not what one would expect of a fanfiction, yes? We'd expect the heartbreak and the sorrow, the guilt and the tears because we love Astarion and Astarion is supposed to love Tav. We want him to love Tav. And those who like him ascended want him to love Tav even as his ascended self.

Now, does that mean the reaction I described wouldn't make a good stroy? Absolutely not! In fact, I do believe it would be a nice switch up in between the very heavily romanticised ascended-fics because it adds that shot of realism. (As much realism as a high-elf-vampire can have, at least.)

So, what I'm trying to say is: Don't worry too much about what is "correct" and what isn't and instead focus on what you want to achieve. If you want to hit your readers with the sad truth of ascended Astarion, maybe go for the approach I described. And if you want to be a bit softer and more romantic, have the boy cry tears of woe.

Or you could go totally crazy and do both things - have someone watch him and describe how they see it - the points I just mentioned - but once you describe what's happening inside him, go full on romance novel and break our hearts!

Find your own path, petal, I'm sure it will be a lovely read either way!

[afterthelambs]

Mushitaro+Yokomizo's parallels with other character pairings

I noticed a surprising amount of parallels between Mushitaro and his dead friend Yokomizo with the other characters in BSD (fyolai, dazai, ranpoe, sskk). There's even potential foreshadowing for the future of certain characters. Idk if anyone's done this before but I wanted to write something about it since we're meeting them in the anime soon. Just hear me out for a bit, and spoilers for the manga up to current events!

So Yokomizo is a mystery writer and his goal is to create the "Ultimate Mystery" greater than anything else in the genre. He achieved this by having his friend Mushitaro secretly kill him, turning his own death into a real life mystery. Basically, his death at his friend's hands brought him fulfillment.

This is a common theme in BSD characters: Death as an expression of love or death with the person you love bringing fulfillment. Yokomizo turned to Mushitaro to be the "key" to his death because Mushitaro is the only one he trusts. Mushitaro agreed to this plan because he cares about Yokomizo. He wants to "fulfill his friend's final wish" even if it hurts him in the process. This murder represented how much they loved each other. Chapter 56 shows Yokomizo telling Mushitaro "you truly are the only--" while Mushitaro cries:

To me this parallels Fyodor and Nikolai's storyline later on. Chapter 78 is where we find out that Nikolai wants to kill Fyodor because Fyodor is "the only one who gets him" (which sounds a lot like what Yokomizo's last words to Mushitaro were). Since Nikolai's goal is to go against his emotions, that means his actual desire is to keep Fyodor with him. Nikolai's basically saying "You're the one I have to kill because you're the one I love the most." Just like Mushitaro, it's death as an expression of love.

I believe the parallel is intentional since it's through Mushitaro that we first meet Nikolai in chapter 57. Isn't it fitting that the characters with very similar arcs serve as introductions to each other?

This could be more than just a cool parallel. It potentially foreshadows Nikolai's future if he does manage to kill Fyodor (or if he's fooled into thinking Fyodor is dead). We see what happens to Mushitaro after Yokomizo is dead. In chapter 69, he writes to Yokomizo as if he were still alive and cries while doing it. Then he hallucinates Yokomizo giving him advice in his time of need:

In the same chapter he says "I can't drum up much interest in the outside world any longer." While Yokomizo found fulfillment in dying, Mushitaro was left alive and suffering. Maybe this is what awaits Nikolai if he achieves his goal? I've seen people meme on this before, the whole Nikolai-kills-Fyodor-and-instantly-regrets-it but given this parallel, it's actually a possible direction for his character. But this is just a guess/meta/prediction so take it with a grain of salt.

On a lighter note, there's Ranpo and Poe. They also have a dynamic where they're the only ones who get each other, and that's the reason Poe wanted to kill Ranpo initially. The difference is they realized immediately that the other's presence fulfills them more than their death would. (good for Ranpoe for being the most stable pairing in BSD). From chapters 32 and 49:

The next parallel is Dazai and his constant desire for a double suicide. It's not as clear a parallel since there isn't any love here (he begs literal strangers for it). But he does have the same concept of death bringing fulfillment, even if the rest of the BSD cast is (rightfully) horrified/confused by it. Interestingly, he actually does commit suicide in the Beast universe... in the presence of Atsushi and Akutagawa. So like Yokomizo, he still wanted his death to be witnessed by meaningful company.

So is that all? I mean, the main duo of the series is Shin Soukoku but they don't seem to have any parallels with Mushitaro and Yokomizo. They try to kill each other yeah but they hate each other. This is supposed to be about death as an expression of love, or death by someone you love bringing fulfillment. What parallels could they possibly have with them?

Oh wait whats this--

oh. oh.

So Yokomizo had a terminal illness... with one year to live... and he used his friend as a last resort to finding fulfillment...

That sounds familiar...

Yeah... 🥲

Akutagawa desperately wants acknowledgement from Dazai before he dies. He thinks the only way he can achieve that is through his rivalry with Atsushi. Just like Yokomizo needed Mushitaro, Akutagawa needs Atsushi for his fulfillment. The fact that it can only be Atsushi PLUS the fact that Atsushi hallucinates Akutagawa telling him what to do in the recent chapter 105, similar to how Mushitaro hallucinated Yokomizo giving him advice in chapter 69? It shows they do find meaning in the other (even if it's not 'love').

Last bit of angst before this ends: if Yokomizo's illness truly is foreshadowing for Akutagawa's illness, then idk if I like that because it kinda foreshadows that Aku's ultimate fate really is to die even if he somehow manages to come back from being a vampire.

And that's fun. Everyone loves the thought of their favorite character dying :DD

[atomicwinnerdreamland]

Heyyyyyy I saw you were taking requests :)

Can we please have some NY and Louisiana hc’s?

Hii! Yes of course :D

New York:

-He likes to paint and read. His favorite things to paint are sunsets/sunrises, architecture (CA's Golden Gate, FL's Disney World, his own buildings, etc), and plants. His favorite types of books to read are psychological thriller, fantasy, and coming of age classics (occasionally romance as well, though he'd never admit it)

-He and California have little arguments where they talk about how similar they are to each other. "I have the Brooklyn Bridge!" "Well I have the Golden Gate!" "I have the New York Times, you copycat!" "No you're the copycat, I have the Los Angeles Times!" They're not really arguments though since these conversations usually end in laughter.

-Speaking of the NYT, he likes to journal. Whenever he can't resort to violence to let out emotions, he writes his feelings out on the nearest piece of paper he can find. Sometimes he burns them, other times he keeps them in a special drawer to read for later. He also likes to write little moments that occur in his life that he finds interesting; like eating good food, making a snowman, discovering a new song he knows he'll hyperfixate on for months, etc. He also likes to write books, though most of the time they're just little picture books you could read to kids because that's all he has time for

-I've mentioned this before, but New York plays board games with California. He wins against Cal in Monopoly but loses against him in Uno. New York also plays games (board games and party games) against his northeastern besties and he's very competitive when doing so.

-He's a fashion icon. The other states ask him for fashion advice and he delivers since fashion is a passion for him 💅 He's been told he could be a model, but he never actively pursued a modeling career bc of his statehouse responsibilities

-I feel like he'd be a huge fan of Taylor Swift, especially 1989 TV. Evermore's another one of her albums that he vibes with since a song called coney island's on it and bc it's a calming album for him :)

-He's friendly to Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. All three states are kind and don't annoy him, and New York appreciates that. They also all play in the snow at times. He also has a soft spot for Indiana, Wyoming, and Alaska.

-This one's a popular one, but my baby over here has insomnia. The only way he can get a true night's rest is if somebody's there to cuddle him ane calm his mind down, like *coughs* California. This fic by @alaskashigh is a great example of this if you want to read one :)

-Him and Illinois get along well. They buy each other coats for the winter and argue a lot about pizza and sports teams. Through this, New York managed to get along with Indiana and Minnesota, and now all three of them like to grocery shop together lol

-When that whole fiasco of the skies turning orange occured in the Northeast, the first person New York turned to was California, and rightfully so. California helped patch New York up and gave him advice on how to deal with stuff like that. New York told the rest of the NE what Cal told him so that they also know what to do.

-He shows he cares through gifts and actions. He doesn't say "I love you" very often, but he'd hurt anyone who hurts his loved ones, give you his coat when you're cold, make you some food, or plants specific flowers when he finds out what flowers you like. New Jersey usually helps New York with the planting part, and that's one of the rare times those 2 get along.

Louisiana:

-Louisiana hangs out in the woods with Florida and Texas just to get away from the Statehouse and to gossip.

-One of his favorite songs ever is House of the Rising Sun, and he never misses an opportunity to sing it. You can hear him sing it while he cooks, cleans, or when he does really anything. The states aren't annoyed about it though because his voice is captivating.

-He's a very comforting person. The states go to him whenever they need somebody to talk to because Loui can do it all: he can listen, cook, and make jokes.. whatever you need to feel better.

-He enjoys learning about old folk tales, urban legends, and superstitions in the US and around the world. The states often catch him watching paranormal true crime documentaries with a grin on his face, and the only state that's not unsettled by this is Florida.

-Speaking of Florida, he and Florida go on dates by doing the most dangerous stuff. Skydiving without parachutes, doing hit and runs, armed robbery in important government buildings just to make Gov mad, whatever crazy things these goons can think of. But on other times where they're feeling relaxed, their dates are just them cuddling or eating. They enjoy both bc they have each other :)

-(TW: suicide, death) If he was a normal person, he'd be dead a long time ago. He's been stabbed, shot at, beat up, hanged, basically killed, but since he's a personification he just sustained the injuries and went on about his day. When he found out he was a personification, he killed himself just to see what'd happen. Would he clearly see the paranormal stuff he likes so much? Would he see an afterlife? Imagine his surprise when nothing happened to him.

-He can read, but he just doesn't want to. He just likes to read his Mama's recipes and children's books. When New York makes a new children's book, Loui usually asks him if he can read it, and New York lets him.

-He was a nice kid in high school. Respectful to his Mama, probably indulged in some sports, escaped to the woods once in a while, and had a decent group of friends that were just as wild as him. He's the type of guy to not make any enemies, and he was one of those rare ones who were good looking in high school (I wish that were me lmao)

-He and Texas are buddies and cook together a lot. When Louisiana needs help with anything, especially natural disasters, Texas is the first one to make sure he's okay and vice versa. When Florida's off doing... something that definitely is a threat to his life and/or someone else's (aka being himself), Loui and Texas go to parties together. Loui gets drunk and usually almost blacks out whereas Texas only takes a couple drinks to make sure he and Loui get back home safe. They got each other's backs, basically.

-He and South Dakota get along most of the time, and the only time they don't is when SD talks about Pierre and pronounces it "peer". Loui doesn't take it too seriously, but they like to jokingly argue about it.

-He has a big heart and it's obvious. He likes to show love through his words and his actions. Like New York, he wouldn't hesitate to throw a punch to someone who has hurt you, but he also would stop whatever he's doing to make sure you feel loved and taken care of. He's almost burned the statehouse down once because he was comforting his buddy Arkansas, but California was around to stop this potential fire. He also likes to say he cares about you, you can occasionally hear him say je t'aime mon amour/mon ami(e) & tu es magnifique. (I love you, my love/my friend & you are beautiful).

That's all I have for now, thank you for the ask :D

[letmywingsdown]

Previous anon, because i’m not confident enough for DMs:

The thing is today I was arguing with my boyfriend. I’ll admit it was my fault because I initiated it for some very irrelevant dumb shit because I’ve been in a horrible mood lately. I knew I had to apologise once he began explaining to me how shitty it was, and I was about to but I couldn’t bring myself to actually say the words because I have a huge ego problem. So he smacked the left side of my face, my left cheek, because I just would remain stubborn and bitchy and not looking his way when he talked. It wasn’t harsh or violent and it didn’t hurt; just the wrist and upper side of the hand, quite quickly like when you have to tell off a kid. But it really caught me off guard and I stood there frozen. It feels like a boundary violation and when I brought up the subject to my mom (w/o saying it happened to me), she agreed. My bf started apologising right once I said how fucked up it was and I think it’s a genuine apology, but what am I supposed to do? I was getting on his nerves basically on purpose, and now I want to pretend I am the victim of the situation? But I was seriously just about to tell him I regretted making a fight up from thin air.. and stuff like that has happened twice before, once in my shoulder, the other one on my scalp. He continues apologising and I really want to forgive him because he is a lovely guy and the best thing that has ever happened to me, but how am I supposed to call myself a feminist and stuff when I am compliant once my boyfriend “beats” me? My father told me only the other day that women who stay in abusive relationships while knowing about the red flags are stupid. I disagree with him, but am I stupid? Or am I just thinking about this too much? I have childhood trauma, physical too, and I am unsure if I am overreacting because of being triggered rather than because it was objectively wrong to hit me.

He seriously is a very nice guy and I have never felt as loved and I know his love is genuine, but this has left me unsettled and, as I said, it is not the first time. Even those two aforementioned events aside, there have been very off putting things in our relationship, like him watching porn and being into cnc (we never acted on them, just dirty talk); though I think the latter might have been my fault because I was the one mainly in it (again, trauma). This was years ago and our sexual life is very healthy now, and I know for a fact he despises porn as much as I do. So what should I do? He is the only person I have left because I am a lonely loser and our connection is so sincere but at the same time I don’t feel ensured that he would never ever harm me. Is it my trauma induced paranoia, or my intuition?

Sorry for this. Thank you.

Having a bad day and starting a stupid argument is no excuse for him putting his hands on you. Doesn’t matter how mild it was; he has shown that he is willing to resort to physical violence against you, and it is absolutely 100% in your best interest to leave him as soon as you can.

You are not being paranoid at all. You are rightfully afraid of your boyfriend who has slowly begun to show you his abusive side, and it is likely that it will only worsen as you adjust to it and make excuses for him. I absolutely understand your fears, and I don’t think you’re stupid at all, but I think everyone will agree that it is objectively better to be lonely for a little while than to continue a relationship with a man who attempts to physically discipline you.

(To be completely honest, I am a 19 year old with very little experience with relationships and abuse, and I’ve had a hard time figuring out how to answer this; I would REALLY appreciate if older and wiser women would add on to give anon better advice)

[faewritesfanfic]

Crossover Event

It's a different universe, and it's not cannon, but I did it! Enjoy some Ena and Kore foraging while trying to figure out how to handle Sydney's sex drive.

Ena belongs to @bearbeardbread They've done some adorable art with Kore in it, and I wanted to return the favour by writing something cute with Ena. Enjoy!

TW: Frank discussions of sex.

---

“I think these are good?” Ena looked up to Kore from the mushroom field guide the older girl had loaned her. Eden hovered nearby, uncomfortable with the presence of another person but unwilling to let his wife out in the forest unprotected. He had, probably rightfully so, deemed the tiny orphan girl an unsuitable bodyguard.

Kore didn’t have many friends, mostly by choice. She’d met Ena while foraging with her husband one day. They’d come across the young woman surrounded by wolves, and though Eden had wanted to leave immediately Kore couldn’t have the potential death of an innocent on her conscience. She’d given Eden the best puppy dog eyes she could muster, and promised him all sorts of good food and good sex. He’d finally caved in, scaring the wolves off. Kore had kept her promise, of course, and seemed to have made a friend in the process.

Ena had been joining Kore to forage for the past few weeks, and was in the process of teaching the girl to hunt mushrooms. She sat next to Ena, taking the boletus from her and cutting it in half with her work knife. Kore inspected the fungus closely before nodding.

“Penny buns. These are good to eat.” She said brightly, handing the find back to Ena. “You have to be really careful with mushrooms of this type. England has some very poisonous boletus. Make sure you cook these thoroughly before eating them.”

“Okay!” Ena nodded, proceeding to pluck some of the mushrooms from the ground. Mushroom hunting was hard to learn, and Ena had a knack for finding some of the most poisonous mushrooms in the country. She’d also managed to find some mushrooms that were definitely not for eighteen year olds, and Kore had to confiscate them. For Ena’s own good.

“What was it you were saying about your boyfriend?” Kore asked. It was nice to be seen as an authority on relationships. She liked to think her relationship with Eden, unconventional though it was, was solid and healthy enough to allow her to give out advice. Though what was unconventional in their little town? The entire place seemed to run on aphrodisiacs and ‘no means yes.’

“He’s, um…” Ena blushed brightly, focusing intently on her foraging basket. “He’s been really enthusiastic lately? I’m having a hard time keeping up.”

“Oh, I see.” Kore said thoughtfully, patting the younger girl on the head to calm her. That must have been difficult to say. She could see why Ena would confide this in her. Kore’s husband was much bigger, and more athletic than her.

While Kore pondered, Ena’s blush grew. “I shouldn’t have said anything. I just thought you might have some ideas. I don’t really know anyone else in a relationship, and Eden is–” Ena glanced up and met the eyes of a glaring Eden. She squeaked and looked back down. “--a lovely man who I am sure treats you very well!”

Kore couldn’t help but chuckle, casting an affectionate glance to her husband. “He is, and he does.” She said warmly. “If you’re having trouble keeping up with your boyfriend, why not set the pace yourself?” Kore offered, rising from the dirt to dust herself off before leading Ena towards an apple tree.

“M-me?!” Ena replied, a mixture of shock and disbelief on her face.

“Not something you’ve tried before?” Kore asked.

“I can’t do that! I… he…” The blush on Ena’s face could have warmed Eden and Kore through the winter. It was truly adorable. “I’d be bad at it!”

“That is generally how learning a new skill begins, yes, by being bad at it.” Kore chuckled. “If you don’t like it, you never have to do it again. Though I think your boyfriend will really enjoy it, from the sounds of it. Being tied up and edged within an inch of his life by the girl he likes would probably be a dream come true for him.”

Poor Ena was almost vibrating from embarrassment, stuck in place as Kore plucked apples from a tree.

Kore smiled at the girl. “Ena?”

“Y-yes?” She squeaked.

“Do you love and trust this person?” Kore asked.

Ena looked down at her feet, shuffling awkwardly before nodding. The girl was too cute, sometimes. Kore adored her.

“Then everything will be fine. Sometimes relationships are scary. Being vulnerable with someone is always a challenge. It’s worth it, though. Trust me on that.” Kore looked to Eden, smiling at him and catching his small smile in return.

“O-okay!” Ena declared. “I’m gonna do it! I’m gonna e-edg– still can’t say it!” Her declaration had turned into a squeak, but at least Ena had tried.

“That’s the spirit.” Kore said with a small clap. “Now here. Help me get these apples.”

[astroyongie]

Hello Yongie! 😊 Here's my daily ask for Golden Child's red or green flags (Im sorry! 😅). Have a good day!

sorry for taking so long!

Golden Child Green Flags

Daeyeol:

Emotionally: He is the type to understand someone and to always go for the underdog. the type that will defend your emotions and that will act depending on how you feeling

Communication: he isnt much of a talker but he is a listener. Daeyeol can always keep all of your secrets and advice you the best when it is needed

Love: it's passionate, it's rough, it's hard. whenever he loves it's so deep and so hot that you barely have time to escape such an embrace.

Behavior: he is rather chill, he isnt the type that seeks for arguments or messes. Daeyeol behaves on the right way, sometimes he acts on his emotions but they are always sincere

Y:

Emotionally: he is very earth to earth and always able to put some practical on your feelings and make you see things a way you are unable to when you are clouded

Communication: super jovial, a perfect sense of humor and his energy can be contagiant to everyone around him. he is a positive source and the type you can always laugh with

Love: he is very loyal to those he loves, and he always puts his partner up there. the type that shows you off constantly

Behavior: he is rather jovial, very sensual and he always tried to act the upmost rightfully. Y isnt the type to want and make a big fuss, so he always behave as a good person or at least he tries to

Tag:

Emotionally: he might be unstable but he is the type that isnt scared of taking risks when it comes to his emotional side and he will do things for himself and others, no question asked

Communication: he is the best at giving emotional advices like, maybe it is not that much practical but he is a good friend and he always tried to help others through his voice

Love: a hopeless romantic, the type to always put his partner first and to take them on dates and give them nice gifts. a perfect boyfriend is how he likes to picture himself

Behavior: just like Y, he is the type to put a lot on his appearance but he also tried to be a good person. the type that will offer food to those in needs or that will always try the just causes in unfair situations

Youngtaek:

Emotionally: he has emotional intelligence and thus able to read people like an open book, which can be good to those who have a hard time expressing themselves since he will do it for you

Communication: he is very hot headed but so honest, the type that wont lie to you and will always tell you things straightforward

Love: Just like Tag, he is a pretty much helpless romantic and although he might have standards that are high, when he loves, its so deep and so sincere that it melts one away

Behavior: he loves to eat and he loves to be surrounded by comfort. Youngtaek is someone that can act almighty but he will always include those he love in that status

Seungmin:

Emotionally: he is super emotional, but the good thing about it is that not only he totally gets you whenever you are like this, but he has the power to positively gaslight you to make you feel better about things

Communication: He talks in a way that smooths people emotionally, he provides good advices and also good tips whenever you feel lost.

Love: the type of lover that will never stop from seducing you. no matter how much time you guys have been together he always finds time to tease, to flirt and too seduce you to keep the passion burning

Behavior: He is a pratical man, someone that works very hard for himself and those around him. he is very down to earth

Jaehyun:

Emotionally: he might be a little dramatic, but he is very loyal to his emotions and he always tried to be a joy ball and bring happiness and good energy around people he loves

Communication: He suck at communication but he is the type to never say no to things and be always ready to listen to you and to provide the most random advices

Love: the 3rd helpless romantic on GC, and honestly Jaehyun is the type to always prioritize his partner no matter the situation he is in. When he loves, its for life

Behavior: he too is the type to hate unfair situations and he always tries to behaves the best he can and the most rightfully so. he isnt the type to use privileges

Jibeom:

Emotionally: he isnt the type to overact and he doesnt let himself be overwhelmed by emotions, so he is someone that works well under pressure

Communication: the type you can talk with about ANYTHING. he is super open minded about culture, the world and its mysteries and its always a pleasure to have deep talks with him

Love: a super romantic dude, that put his partner above everything and that is totally over heels for them. the type to want to marry and is always ready to spend some time with their love one

Behavior: super protective, like a body guard toward the people he care for. you can always count on him and he always behaves accordingly to his values. super loyal

Donghyun:

Emotionally: He is a mess when it comes to emotions, but Donghyun is versatile and he can change his moods and his intimate self to accommodate people

Communication: he gives the best advices that follow the heart instead of the head. Donghyun is open minded about the strange things In the world and a conversation with him Is always magical

Love: he is very passionate about things, very physical with their partner and sometimes rough but it might feel like protected and hot at the same time.

Behavior: he is super romantic, protective and very lovely with the people he loves. he will be loyal and always fight for what he cares about

Joochan:

Emotionally: he is very sensitive but he is also a sponge and the type to remove the bad of you through his comfort (even if it's not good for him). he is the best when you seek comprehension

Communication: he is the type to always make people around him laugh, he loves to say jokes and he hates to be emotive. the type you can run to when you need a bust of serotonin

Love: a man that loves through practical gifts. he always ensures to his partner protection and financial comfort

Behavior: just like some of the boys, he is the type to always protect people around him, too act all manly and to be super loyal to everything that is dear to them

Bomin:

Emotionally: Just like Donghyun, he is a bit of a mess but he knows how to change his emotions and how to act with people according to their own moods

Communication: he always able to process peoples emotion and bring them so sense of serenity. he provides true advise based on evidences and always brings truth to things

Love: He is a lover that takes care of their partner financially wise but also in terms of comfort. he might lack in the emotional part but for the rest he makes sure to get it all

Behavior: He is super sociable, loves people and loves to be around that good energy (that he also provides). super local, likes to be a center and is always in a good mood

[lezbianxion]

oh shit i forgot to send you the things back 🧡💖💕

🧡- What is a popular (serious) theory you disagree with?

this is a hard one mostly bc i tend to not bother with theory stuff bc i just. don't care fjfs;kfsa or at least i don't care when it concerns brotherhood lmao. 💖 - What is an unpopular opinion that you have about the series? that it's not as progressive or revolutionary as everyone thinks it is LMAO. fma is, for whatever reason, a fandom that will act like you killed their dog if you dare to criticize the author's politics (or just criticize fmab in general). idk why fans are so resistant to hearing that arakawa's politics are shit, but they are. even today, i still see posts that unironically say shit like "oh well of COURSE you're not supposed to sympathize with the military, THAT'S THE POINT BC THEY'RE WAR CRIMINALS!!!!" (i won't say Which post it is but if you know...then you know) and yet.... the series makes you sympathize with the military characters lmfao, not to mention how arakawa villainizes scar but we been knew that. and more than half the fandom genuinely thinks the "mustang becoming furher so he can (somehow?) fix amestris and change a corrupted system fRom tHe InSiDe" plotpoint is good, when, real talk, it's fucking shit. it's very liberal-ish, if i'm being honest. you can't change a system that's corrupted. despite mustang becoming furher at the end, he doesn't change shit. none of them do. also, the way that mangahood is like "oh btw the REAL cause of racism and genocide in this universe is bc of the homunculi :)" and people eat that shit up and call it good storytelling.... like be fucking serious lmfao fuck outta here with that liberal-ass shit. if i had to give one piece of advice to any fma fan, it'd be to watch fma 2003. it's not perfect, bc nothing is, but it treats the ishvalan characters with respect, it actually tackles the reality of ed being a child soldier in the military and it doesn't really force you to LIKE mustang and co. if anything, 2003 is very explicit in the fact that amestris is a military dictatorship and (rightfully) places the blame of the ishvalan genocide on the amestrian military which is way more than i can say for the manga.

there's way more, but i'm gonna cut it short here lol otherwise we'll be here all day.

💕- What is an unpopular ship that you like?

ednoah!!!!! maybe some spoilers here bc idk if you've seen cos but the way that ed is so protective of her is fantastic, and i LOVE how he asks her what she wants to be called. you can tell he's come a long way and that he's grown as a person, and this is a definite sign of that. which is more than i can say for mangahood ed lol who's racist from the start to finish of the series but anyway--

[the-blackholeus]

Bebop X Sea Monster Mutant! Reader X Rocksteady PART 2

This is part 2. It is horrendously late and I am sorry if there is any spelling mistake. I am going to fix that tomorrow, when I am more awake. It's 11 pm where I live and I am beyond tired. Goodnight my friends, and I hope that you are still be able to enjoy this.

You actually formed a deep and wonderful friendship with them. You came to appreciate their over-the-top nature and their personalities and soon could no longer imagine a life without them. You even began to help them with their little pranks that they were playing on soldiers, providing all the things they needed from the bottom of the ocean. For example: You once fished a black lobster and gave it to them. They then used it to get a soldier pinched as he patrolled in the black of night. 

But it didn’t stay a friendship for long. After about a year of being besties, the mutants began to develop feelings, romantic feelings. For you, to be specific.  

At first, they didn’t know how to approach you about it. It took them so long to get you to like them, and they didn’t want to mess it up by confessing their feelings for you. They got so desperate, they even went to Shredder in the middle of the night and knocked on the door of his private chambers as loudly as they could until he woke up from his sleep and opened it.  

Shredder was pissed, and rightfully so. He almost slaughtered them then and there, and only because of the strange man that was always with Shredder (Bebop and Rocksteady assume that this is Shredder’s boyfriend), he had to spare him because the man just straight up kicked them out of the chambers and into the hallways so he could continue to sleep because he just came back from a night and day shift combined and was beyond tired.  

Now more or less forced to listen, Shredder got his ears penetrated with whines and wails on how they fell in love with you and how they had no idea how to confess without ruining your friendships and they needed him to help him because they needed to tell you how they felt or else they could go crazy but they were afraid that you would kill them and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah...  

Shredder would have liked to just leave them standing there and go back to sleep, but after his mind eventually awakened as well, he realized that this was a problem. A very big problem, in fact. Because this situation could destroy everything that they have achieved in the last few months.  

He then led them into the kitchen and made coffee (it was 4 in the morning, and he usually woke up at five. There was simply no point in going back to sleep after that), sitting down at the table and demanding them to explain what in the world was going on. After he had gotten it and now understood the situation, he was prepared to give some advice.  

Then, for the next week, they prepared the perfect confession. They got wonderful plants from your realm and collected the most beautiful things they could find before creating a wonderful bouquet of these things. Then, on a beautiful Friday evening, after a long dicing session, they gave it to you and asked you if you would be their lovely significant other.  

Needless to say, you were shocked. You really did not expect that, and your first instinct was to run. But the shock you felt forced you to stay.  

After what seemed like minutes, the boys’ hope deteriorated, and they feared that they might just have ruined their friendship with you. But then, you nodded. You didn’t say anything or even make a sound, you just nodded.  

They BEAMED after and jumped off the edge of the fortress to hug your massive form, barely able to hold onto your scaly hips as they literally cried out of pure joy. You eventually hoisted them up and kissed them both on the top of their heads. 

After that, you developed a routine with them. After they were done with their shift, they would go diving with you and fool around with you, just having plain old fun with the self-proclaimed ocean monarch. 

Kisses are rather difficult. As you are massive, truly a monstrosity, you could not kiss their lips without almost swallowing them whole. As such, you settled with soft smooches on top of their head and nuzzles, not wanting to accidentally transport them into your stomach where they would die within seconds. 

You had to sleep separately also. They could not survive under water for long, and while you could remain above the surface, your gills eventually dry out as well and you had to return to regain moisture and not suffocate. As such, sleeping impossible is impossible, at least for now. But your boys promised you that they were working on that. You doubted that they would ever find a solution, but you let them have their hopes and beliefs. 

Then, there is Shredder. That guy acts like Rocksteady and Bebop’s dad and while he gets frustrated with them very easily and does not hesitate to kick their asses, he keeps a very close eye on the three of you to ensure that his boys are happy and healthy. It’s so amusing and adorable to watch, you purposely started to call him Bebop’s and Rocksteady’s dad. And while he always gave you a heated glare, he never protested or even corrected you. 

You were super protective around them before, but now that you are a couple, the protectiveness you felt towards them tripled. When you all ventured deeper into the ocean, you made sure that they were never too far away. You were well aware of the dangers that lurk in the darkness, and you would never forgive yourself if the boys would get hurt or killed. You even slaughtered a giant squid to protect them as soon as it got too close. While the boys were fascinated and stared at it with pure wonder, you knew that this fucker had no good intention and took quick care of him. 

If you ever encounter the turtles, you would wreck them as soon as they would dare to lay a finger on your sweet little boys. Living in an environment that meant kill or be killed, you had no restrain when it comes to battling and you would use every dirty trick in the book. Additionally, being as big as you are with so many tentacles and a shark fin that was strong enough to destroy an entire army ship with a single hit, they’d have absolutely no chance against you. 

Not only has Shredder gained a new ally and Bebop and Rocksteady a new partner and lover, they also gained the key to the success for all of their plans. 

The only downside was that you would live for a very long time and your boys would not. But for the sake of your happiness and that relationship, you chose to ignore that for now and have decided to focus on the here and now. That problem is a problem for the future, one that you could hopefully solve. 

[anonymous-tals]

An observation I had about season five is that a lot more people are willing to tolerate Gob(not counting family). He does have frequent moments where he’s rude or disrespectful but a lot of the ways people treat him, I think, speaks to the better behavior we see from him.

So, the reason Michael was given the company was because Gob was deemed too dumb, unteachable, and the family left him to rot and fester in his struggles. And perhaps he’s just not a business guy, ya know? He probably has inherent struggle that would make a job like that far more difficult but also he’s clearly not interested in it, and that’s okay. But they treated Gob like he was entirely hopeless. That there was no saving him, from day one, and that he was absolutely worthless.

But then, Adhir, who in spite of being clearly annoyed by Gob a lot, and rightfully so, still put in effort to teach him basic stuff about the company. And I mean, like, insanely basic, like what ‘k’ means when it comes to money, but it’s more than anyone else has ever done for Gob. His family just stuck him in positions he’s struggled to thrive in, done nothing to teach him or when he doesn’t learn the “normal” way, they give up, and they scoff. But Adhir saw the same stuff when trying to teach Gob, how he wouldn’t keep focus or that stuff wouldn’t stick as easily for him but instead of giving up on him, which he easily could’ve done, he created a reward system that clearly worked for Gob and kept him engaged. Even though it was for small things and Gob still wasn’t perfect, Gob was actively and genuinely putting in effort to listen and contribute in that scene with the candy. And that along with Adhir’s genuine advice to Gob about how he shouldn’t send himself to conversion therapy, I feel, displays a kind of bond, a kind of friendship, that Gob hadn’t been able to form in any of the previous seasons. I’m not sure I’d fully call it friendship but it’s closer to it than we’ve ever seen him. It’s the same thing with the Laguna Closet guys. This guy comes into their store and he fully just buys it when he realizes he’s accidentally told three random guys who he didn’t realize weren’t a part of a conversion therapy organization that he’s gay and he’s kinda rude to them sometimes and he has a temper and is impatient and talks a lot AND YET they are willing to help him.

And that’s not even mentioning Tony but I’ve written other stuff delving into their relationship so I’m not gonna repeat myself for the millionth time but, I’m mentioning it because, like, oh my god, TONY. Tony understands him! He loves Gob for Gob. His love is not conditional.

A running theme throughout him working with Adhir and the Laguna Closet guys is that Gob really isn’t hopeless. He very clearly struggles when it comes to learning things, and planning things out, and not just being impulsive and deciding to not put in effort because he doesn’t have the patience to do so but we see in season five that, with the right support, things can go a lot better. With the business stuff, once again, he’s not a business guy, nor is he interested in it, but he technically still did learn things! Things he didn’t pick up any of the other times he’d been put in positions like that. And with the parade float he and the Laguna Closet guys made, if it weren’t for the Gay Mafia, things would’ve gone relatively smoothly. But for pretty much every other time he tried to do a magic show of sorts, chaos ran rampant and the whole thing fell apart, sometimes literally.

And once again, just to mention Tony, we see that Gob is capable of being a patient, caring, considerate person who does things for others just because he cares about them, not because there’s something in it for him(like, he got Tony out of the Gay Mafia contract…just because! He just wanted to help him out and get him back and out of the awful contract!).

Of course, Gob is still Gob. He is still very ‘idiot(affectionate)’. BUT even so, with a little help and support from patient people who understand what he needs in order to get things done and to steer him in the right direction, balance him out, he can do things right! He may still stumble but he has people to lift him up when he’s down and help give him the support he needs flourish. People to cheer him to the finish line. And as he continues to improve as a person, people will be more and more willing to be there for him and not only will he have Tony supporting him, but he’ll have other people, real friends, to help him too.

[badedramay]

Breakdown of the Kim and Daood scenes from this week? 🤓

OH DO I HAVE WORDS TO SAY!!!!!

i can't believe how Yunhi is shaping up to be such a comfort watch for me. the mellow mood of the show..the quietness with which it does its thing..the gentle manner in which all the characters behave...all of it is very very comforting. even in situations where characters of other shows wouldn't hesitate in creating intense melodrama..the characters in Yunhi remain grounded and sensible. it's beautiful, i love it.

so, a LOT happened although in canon not even a day passed? Kim learned about Naveed's betrayal (yeah it is what it is). in her haste to apologize for her mistake she ended up making things worse for Dawood's family. Kim, rightfully, got reprimanded for her behavior. but gawwwwdddd it still warmed my heart. IQBAL, the one person who perhaps had disliked Kim the MOST when she had arrived in the house, was the one to gently make Kim understand how sometimes truth is the most dangerous thing one can hold. and that sometimes withholding truth in favor of harmless lies can save a person many troubles. Kim wears her truth like a badge of honor. her bluntness is a point of pride for her. since the start we have seen her practically sneering in contempt at these people who live their lives being hypocrites. who hide their truths and thus, live a life that's not honest. for Kim that's the worst way to live a life.

what Kim doesn't understand is that in a closely knit household..some level of hypocrisy is necessary to maintain a peaceful environment. some truths better hidden while ALL truths better phrased carefully lest they do more damage. Dawood and Dadajaan were going to ask Dawood's friends the same thing Kim wanted to ask them. however, they'd have phrased it in a less truthful but fully harmless way. but in comes Kim wielding her TRUTH and she blurted out in the worst possible way. her intentions were right..she wanted to apologize for accusing them. but her manner of doing so was wrong. so yeah..Dawood had every right to reprimand her for it.

what's BEAUTIFUL is how even when Dawood was calling her out..he was still so gentle with her. he wasn't scolding or shouting or spitting out in anger. he just told her, BLUNTLY, how she had screwed up. and Kim who knows what honest bluntness is fully understood where Dawood was coming from. she wasn't offended, she knew she had no right to be when she was in the wrong. the beauty of Kim is that if she is quick to point out the wrong in others, she's quick to accept the wrong in herself.

off goes Kim to apologize to Dawood's friend which was just a whole hilarity in itself. the "visa sponsor karden" wali request..the lie aunty made up about her diabetes, and Kim..my sweet innocent pure CHILD Kim..completely unable to read this social cue of someone making up an obviously fake story to save face taking that lie as truth and giving medical advice while Suraiya sat next to her trying her best to control her laughter...I LOVED IT SO MUCH!!! IT'S THESE LITTLE THINGS THAT MAKE YUNHI A PLEASANT WATCH!!

Kim's reaction to her father's betrayal was quite cold and also befitting her character. Dawood, bless his soul, continue to try make conversation with her going so far as to provoke her just to get a reaction out of her. but Kim is quite adamant when she makes a decision. which is what ultimately the big conflict™ between them will be about - her zidd to leave, his zidd to give her reasons to stay (gah i love it) I must say..Kim and Dawood have a very mature relationship considering how they are comfortable being in the same space. that shot of Kim playing with the flowers on the bed while Dawood unpacked his stuff...there was something so casual and everyday about how they were positioned? otherwise you'd see these newly wed characters trying to avoid being in the same space as much as they can but with Kim&Dawood there's this tacit understanding that this relationship and whatever tension that comes with it need NOT be anything overwhelming until they themselves give it the power to. it's quite interesting to watch.

NOW THE BIG FINISH!!! their terrace convo. major applause to Yunhi for addressing the criticism it got in such a wonderful manner. as Kim went on and on making another of her points­™ about how people judge women by the clothes they wear and completely disregard any goodness they have cuz how can a person be decent if their attire is "indecent"? first Dawood, while smiling, counters that you need to spend TIME with people to understand if they are good or not..a veiled critique of Kim's stubborn refusal to believe this household can have good people because of her own preconceived notions. and then Dawood drops the bomb (pun intended) that this very thing that Kim feels so offended about...didn't SHE do the very same thing to HIM when she first met him? Kim's passionate defense of a person's character not being defined by what they wear and how they appear to be...doesn't it reek of HYPOCRISY when she also judged Dawood to be a terrorist because he was wearing a traditional attire? and Kim, who has always something to say, WAS LEFT SPEECHLESS.

GAAAAHHHH I LOVE THIS. I LOVEEEEEEE THIS DYNAMIC THEY HAVE!!!! if he isn't always right, she isn't either. and they KNOW this. when they talk..they learn things about each other and accept them. there's no one FORCING the other to change. just them simply saying 'this is me. understand me. and accept me as i am.' this rids of their relationship from any power imbalance. as Dawood said..i'll accept your terms today and in exchange you'll have to accept mine tomorrow. this is how their relationship going to be. honest and a one where they both can demand the other for efforts because they THEMSELVES will be putting in that effort. oh..i am so so SO excited to watch it unfold. Sunday cannot come sooner. i am HOOKED!!!

[survey--s]

525.

Do you like getting flowers as a gift? I love flowers but they’re not most practical of gifts - I always appreciate them when they’re given to me.

Who is one person you never get tired of? I don’t think anyone falls into that category, everyone pisses me off eventually lol.

How different would your life be if “that one thing” didn’t happen? I mean, very different.

What is “that one thing”? My break-up with Chris.

What’s the most desperate thing you did? Nothing in particular is really coming to mind right now.

Where was the last place you took a train to? Manchester.

What are your living arrangements currently? Are you happy with them? I live with my husband, two cats and a dog and yes, I’m very happy.

Have you met your soulmate? I don't believe in those.

If your best friend wanted to cheat on their partner, you would say what? I mean, our marriage would be over.

Who do you know that gives very sound advice? My dad is actually really good with advice, he’s very practical.

At what age did you start to feel like a teen and not a kid anymore? Around 12-13.

What is your parents’ idea of grounding you? I was never grounded.

Do you think art museums are pointless? I mean, they’re not pointless but I would never voluntarily go to one.

Do you care about looks when you’re looking for a romantic partner? To an extent, sure.

How many times have you moved? I have no idea, 5-6 maybe?

Is Christmas stressful? No, but then again, I don’t have kids and I take two weeks off work at Christmas so I don’t really have to worry about much.

Your best friend has a good or bad taste in music? Bad lol.

What would your friends be surprised to see in your music library? I have no idea.

Do you like to talk about the future when in a serious relationship? Yeah, I mean, it’s important to have the same goals.

Do you like public displays of affection? No.

Do you believe in moving in together before engagement or marriage? Yeah, personally I think it’s fucking ridiculous to agree to marry someone that you’ve never even lived with before.

Do you watch mukbangs? No.

Do you have a lot of friends? Do you have a partner? Have you ever had one? No, yes, yes.

Do you currently have any hickeys? From who? No.

Who was the last person to come to your house? Aside from family, it was Helen I think.

Have you ever had sex with the same gender? No.

If you’ve experienced both, is sex better with men or women? ...

Have you ever been the other woman? No.

Would you ever want to be with a virgin? If no, why not? Not at my age, no, because I’d want someone with experience and who has been in a committed sexual relationship before.

Do you constantly find yourself internet stalking your ex? No, last I knew he only had Facebook and I was (rightfully) blocked, but I haven't even tried to look in a very long time. I don't look at Sara's accounts anywhere because I've learned it never, ever serves me any sort of good whatsoever so I just don't.

Are you friends with any of your exes? Not really.

Do you have an addiction? To what? The internet and caffeine.

Blunts, bowls or bongs? None of the above.

When you have a fight with your partner what do you do? We normally give each other some breathing space, then talk it over.

Who does the grocery shopping in your house? We each buy our own stuff.

Are your parents still together? Yeah, they’ve been married almost forty years.

Have any siblings you know of but don’t actually know personally? Technically yes, as my dad was a sperm donor, but I don’t really think of them as my siblings.

Greatest fear? Cancer, dementia and homelessness.

Something most people fear that you do not fear at all? Snakes.

Don’t you hate getting nice & comfy & then having to pee? Hahaha yes, and as soon as I realise I need to pee, I can’t relax or sleep until I get up and go, lol.

Ever faked being pregnant? No.

Ever had a major surgery performed on you? Nope.

Which of the seven deadly sins are you guilty of? Sloth and greed lol.

Do you believe in divorce? Absolutely - why on earth would you make people stay married to someone who makes them miserable? Or even worse, who is abusive?

Is intelligence a turn on for you? Yes, but not necessarily book-smarts - common sense and street smarts are important too.

Who has made the biggest sacrifice for you? My parents.

Do you treat others better or worse than yourself and why? About the same, I suppose.

When you sleep next to someone who usually falls asleep first? Normally the other person, but it does depend how tired I am.

Do you think it is harder for a parent to outlive their child or for their child to outlive them? I think it must be horrendous for a parent to bury their child. Obviously it’s horrendous to lose a parent too, but that’s what’s supposed to happen.

What is one selfish thing you tend to do? Take over the music in the car lol.

What kinds of people do you find intimidating? People who really talkative and socially confident.

Who is the most overbearing person you know? My old manager fell into that category.

How old was the first person you kissed? We were both eleven.

Do you plan on moving out within the next year? No. I have no plans to move anytime soon.

Have you ever slept nude? Yeah, but I much prefer to wear something to bed.

How many stories tall is your dream house? Three.

Do you consider yourself to be promiscuous? No.

Do you have any obscure pets? No, just cats and a dog.

Do you consider yourself politically correct? No. I know it’s increasingly unpopular view, but I do think people are becoming too easily offended.