#their back-and-forth is their own little love language even before they realize they're in love w/ each other

[aq2003]

watching some other productions of much ado made me realize that the thing that sells the david tennant/catherine tate version the most (at least to me) is that they make each other laugh

[theanxiousghostartist]

TMAGP 26 SPOILERS

(theories and reactions)

Sorry this is late, I didn't have time to listen to the episodes last night 😭

Pre - Case (Sam, Celia, and Alice):

Celia classified the case as "dog?" Idk, it's been bothering me (like it was with Sam) because it had no cross-reference whatsoever. Putting that aside, this scene, it felt like Celia was manipulating Sam a little bit? Like the tone she had while asking Sam what he was worried about felt werid. It could be just me but idk.

Yay! Establishing and respecting boundaries about the Institute! /pos

Helen tried to eat Celia, so it makes sense that she would bring a big knife to their meeting. "It is remarkably easy to buy an axe in Central London."

Also, can we take a moment to appreciate the word "Magnussing?" It was very clever on Alice's part, and I have a feeling that will become a new word in the language of the OIAR.

Case (Chester):

This case is Eye-related, mainly because of [Error], but it also feels like the End a bit? Not just because Rumins's father and Jarrod died, but when Rumins's father died - so did his love of running and his relationship with Jarrod.

The line "...if I took my eyes off him, something truely awful would happen." reminded me of Graham in TMA, the person that told his neighbor to keep watching and was later taken by the Stranger (specifically a Not-Them). Maybe Rumins is Eye aligned?

Jarrod's statememt (or at least the fragment we get) "They're coming now and getting close and when I slow and when I stop they will catch me and they will hurt me." makes him seem like he was a victim of a fear before [Error], as he is forcibly giving a statement. Perhaps he was a victim of the Hunt (his running reminds me of prey running from a predator)?

[Error] is an Archivist!!!! (Annabelle Cane theory fell through, but failed Archivist theory still stands lol)

Post Case (Alice and Gwen):

Alice realizing that [Error] is from the Archives!!!

I really like the Alice/Gwen back and forth here, even if it was a small bit. You can really see how each character shines through here!/pos

Post Case (Helen):

Helen is getting a section dedicated to her because something feels off with her.

Helen yay!!!!!!!!!!! (She is my favorite character from TMA so I am so happy)

Helen feels like she's reading off a script? IDK how to put it, but it feels like she's trying to manipulate Sam and Celia with a facade. When they start talking about the Institute, her voice lost it's softness, and it feels more real. I might be reading into this way too much, though.

She seems to have a good amount of information on the Institute. I wonder if she will have a reoccurring role...

Institute requirements - big basement, security options - what was the Institute doing? What kind of experiements were they partaking in?

Helen hasn't had contact with the Institute in 20 years, and she assumes all contacts are out of date, and she can't share them because of a GDPR. She could be hiding something. I wonder if she's had contact with Gertrude since she was firm about nor giving up contacts. Maybe she wants to try to steer them away from information, like Gertrude?

She is giving Celia and Sam real estate information that relates to the Institute, violating her GDPR... She is most definitely manipulating them in some way. We know that she wants to be featured in the documentary, but I wonder if there's more.

Also, her laugh - it is very reminiscent of the distortion. It says so in the transcript, lol. I wonder if this is a different path for her, sort of like Gerry. With Gerry, instead of being traumatized, he's happy. Maybe with Helen, she feels more in line with the Spiral as time went on. So instead of being forcibly turned into the Distortion, could this be a path where she slowly Becomes on her own? It would be cool to see how the Distortion could come to be, without forcing someone to it's heart.

Post Case (Sam and Celia):

Sam is worried because he and Alice let out [Error], which is to be expected, but Celia? It feels like she's more disappointed here, not knowing how to outplay [Error], since they don't act like Jon. It's a bit suspicious on her part.

Celia is very nervous around Helen, which makes sense because, again, Helen tried to eat her.

Sam and Jack are so cute, I love his little impression of Helen!

Celia said she felt like they were being watched - perhaps [Error] is on to them?

The Celia and Sam scene - where they flirt and kiss - it felt wrong to me? This could be because I'm demi romantic and sex - adversed ace, but it didn't feel right. Sam is awkward during their conversation and seems uncomfortable at first, while Celia is not. It feels like Celia is manipulating him again. She's trying to get closer to Sam and pushing him further down the Magnussing route in order to figure out how/why she is in the TMAGP universe.

I might add more to this later, because I feel like I'm missing things....

Overall though, I really liked the case and the character interactions, especially with Helen and Alice/Gwen!

[koneko-pi]

Hiii I really love your art they're so good!! and I love your writing too!!! If you don't mind, I would like to request Fuegoleon with an s/o who's been in a past abusive relationship and is apprehensive about starting a new one? How did fue go about courting her and making her fall for him?

Im so sorry it took me so long to get to all these requests! Im going through them now so hopefully I can open up some more! I hope you enjoy!

Fuegoleon x reader

Mentions of Abuse

1250 wordcount

Heal Me Softly

The moment Fuegoleon had laid his eyes upon you his heart had been trapped in a cage. One that was made of love, admiration and was just for you, now you were the one he wanted to cherish and adore. There would be no room for any other person now.

He would start his courting slowly. The occasional casual conversations in the halls would grow longer. The topics talked about may go a little deeper than a simple: "how was your day?"

Sometimes he would be curious if you made sure to eat that day and, if you didn't, would waste no time making sure you had a meal at work everyday.

Sometimes the two of you were even leaving little notes on his desk or in the library if you didn't get to see one another, something that always brought a smile to both your faces.

It was getting to the point where seeing one another could make his heart sing with eagerness. He could feel the sparks starting to fly between you, and your body language and responses was making him think that maybe you were starting to open up and take interest in him too.

But he truly didn't know what challenge was ahead of him till you had run away.

It had been another normal day, catching each other in the halls, and you had eagerly and cheerfully greeted him. He smiled and greeted you back. You both struck up a conversation talking about how hectic the last few days had been and wondering what to do with your upcoming days off. Truthfully he hoped to maybe spend it with you, he was simply waiting patiently for a chance to slip the question into your back and forth.

And then he'd noticed the hair that had begun to fall in your face. He had barely thought about it before his hand was already moving to brush it behind your ear. A simple, and otherwise… harmless gesture.

But to you, when you looked up, you saw the hand coming at you suddenly, overtaking your vision and sending the immediate sensation of panic down your whole body. It almost seized you completely. You not only flinched away out of fear but your own hand also lashed out to smack his away, the sound reverberated surprisingly loudly in the empty hallway.

You realized what you had done immediately and your head snapped up, eyes wide and full of fear… you saw Fuegoleon staring down at you with shock and worry. He wondered if he had offended you somehow but the tremble of your body and fear in your eyes told him there was much more to this than just being rude.

Embarrassed and terrified you mumbled a quick "excuse me" and rushed down the hall away from him. Leaving the poor lion confused and even more concerned…

It would take a week for him to finally learn what had transpired between you and whoever had hurt you. In-between that time though he would try and talk to you again, but you seemed to be going out of your way to avoid him, which hurt both of you.

There was no more hallway chatter or little notes left on desks. There was just a tense and awkward silence as neither of you were sure what to do now.

Until he had opened his office door that fateful day and there you were, standing patiently outside it. You had been too nervous to knock and decided to just wait till he had left for the day, who knew how long you had actually been standing there.

"Oh." Was all he could get out when he suddenly saw you.

You jolted and slowly glanced at him, your hands were behind your back and you were shrunk into yourself, like you were terrified to be there but forced it anyway. You were tired of the waiting game….

"Come in- come in." He was quick to open the door for you, eager to have you back but it was obvious he didn't want to tread too far and scare you off again.

You nodded and slipped inside, quickly making your way to the plush seats he had off to the side of his desk. You watched Fuegoleon close the door and lock it, which at first scared you but you realized it was more so others could not disturb you. It was hard to not fidget though knowing it was closed tight.

He didn't sit with you, rather he moved to his desk to lean on it. Quietly. He knew you came here to talk about something, but he would not pry it from you. Should you wish, he would happily open that door again and let you leave without a fight.

"I…"

His attention was all on you, patiently waiting. You felt like you didn't deserve someone like him. He was kind and smart and everything in between. So he deserved to know why the girl he liked was suddenly avoiding him…

"I have been through… a lot…" you said it nervously, and quietly. He almost didn't catch it. "With a past…relationship…"

You got quieter and quieter as you spoke, your body coming in closer like a tight ball. You worried about how he could react, you didn't talk about these things with others. It was just… hard.

Fuegoleon watched quietly for a few moments before he remembered what exactly had started all of this. The image of his hand suddenly overcasting your face, and how you'd slapped it away. He let out a heavy sigh as his hand came up to massage his brow. It had clicked on what must have transpired in the past; and while his action had truly been an innocent gesture, in your eyes it must have been a flashback. And he felt ashamed to have put you through that at all, even if by accident.

"I apologize." He said after a moment and his eyes came up to meet yours, full of nothing but sympathy and remorse. It actually caught you off guard.

"N-no it's okay! It's my fault… and I did hit you…"

"None of this is your fault." You watched him stand up straight off the desk. "I may not have known, but I still caused you grief. So please forgive me. It won't happen again." He even gave a small bow, promising you that he wouldn't let you feel that fear again.

You were stunned. Your eyes wide while your hands fidgeted with one another as you desperately tried to find words to say.

"I… Fuegoleon…?"

He looked up at you.

"Would you still… want me?" It was a complicated question with complicated emotions behind it. Ones you didn't want to get into, for fear of looking like some drama queen. He didn't need to know everything… you didn't want to scare him away somehow.

"My dear."

Your eyes suddenly snapped up to him. His voice was soothing and gentle, his expression soft, kind and warm as he saw no one but you in the moment.

"Nothing will change how I feel for you. We can go as slow as you would like. I am a patient man. Especially for you."

You could feel yourself tearing up from his words. His warmth and kindness were immeasurable, and you were so glad it was someone like him who had grown a precious place in your heart. Things would be different this time. You could feel it.

Please pardon any typos! Thank you for reading!

[splendsay]

COD FIC // Callsign: Sunshine // Ch. 33: A Pendulum's Swing

more Soapy Soap for your Saturday

..................................................................

Callsign: Sunshine // Chapter 33: A Pendulum's Swing

!!MDNI!!

Chapters: 33/? WC: 80,093 Pairing(s): TF141 x Reader (You) Chapter Warnings: Explicit language Chapter Excerpt (ft. big time spoilers):

It takes a long time for Soap to say anything. He simply drags you by the arms into his, kissing the top of your head with his cheek. He rocks you, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth like the pendulum of a grandfather clock. A physical countdown.

It feels worse than it usually does -- that sense of the irreversible. You're a bullet shot from the long, narrow barrel of time. Rifled and warped and spent. Fatally embedded in something solid and warm. 

Your last act wont be to spare anyone any pain, no. It can't be. 

You're the root of all of it. Just like your father was. Poetic, really. That this should be how it all ends. The knowledge is so, so cold. It sits on your shoulders, heavy on your neck, like stocks made of ice. 

You should pull away. Should free Soap from the misfortune of having to comfort you. 

You shouldn't have told him. Shouldn't have placed this burden on his shoulders. He's done so much for you, already. Given so much. Saved so much. And he'd wrapped you in his embrace without hesitation. Again. Because that's who he is...it's...it's why...

You don't want to move. You just don't want to. Soap is gentle and safe and comfortable. Holding him feels like holding the innocence of childhood in your hands. Like the smiling faces of both of your living parents. Like all your best dreams realized. 

He smells like you remember. Cedar and cloves and anise -- like a cut-your-own Christmas tree farm, deep in the Appalachians. Your heart pangs as you realize you'll never see another one. No shimmering tinsel or glittering orbs or thousands of little needles tracked all through the house. 

You haven't anyway in years -- since well before the Rift. But you'd always loved Christmas -- the festivity of it all. Part of you'd always hoped... 

You'll probably be gone before the end of October. 

You wonder if you should tell him. No, you think. Add to his pain? The decrepit, brainless beast within you is already rearing her head if that's a thought that's crossing your mind. Soap is your...friend. Friend isn't even a strong enough word. If you add your complicated feelings into an already mixed up pot of shit and piss, you'll be an even bigger asshole than you'd originally thought. 

No. No...

But to leave it unsaid...is that worse? Shouldn't he know the impact he's had on you? Would he want to know?

At what point are you being too selfish? 

Which is worse? Knowing or not?

You'll be dead, so you suppose your feelings don't really matter. 

Soap's hoarse whisper finally cuts into your maelstrom of thought. "How long ago?" 

You grind your front teeth together before answering. You dread even considering how many minutes you've already lost. "Close to twenty-four hours. I don't...I don't know how long it takes..."

He sighs, a heavy thing. Like he's letting out a plume of thick, black smoke instead of a simple breath. His forehead slips to your bare shoulder. 

"We have to tell the others," he says, his voice faint. Delicate. "Maybe...maybe there's somethin' we can do."

"You should just kill me," you croak, shaking your head.

He pulls back sharply, gripping you by the biceps. His eyes are fierce. 

"Outta the question, lass."

"Soap...there's no...we...I'm already dead."

He grasps you by the chin. 

"I won't let you go that easy, Ace. Ghost won't either."

Your blood goes a little cold at the mention of Simon. "He...he'll blame himself."

Soap nods. "Aye. Which is why you're not gonna resign yourself to death just yet. D'ya hear me?"

"But Cap...Gaz...Alex...the others -- they're at risk too."

"Nobody on this team wants to see you die, love. Not a one."

He lifts his thumb to brush away a tear that's crept from your eye. "How...how do you feel?"

You blink. "What?"

He gestures at you with his head. "D'you feel like you've a fever? Any sort of physical symptoms?"

You frown, considering. "I...maybe...but it could just be nerves."

He pulls your wrist into the light again, studying it closely. You can't hardly bear to look. 

"It doesn't look...infected," he mumbles. "But ah...I don't know what it's supposed to look like."

"I don't either."

"Should we ask the doc?"

You snatch your wrist away, cradling it in your other hand. "No."

"Ace...we din--we don't have to tell anyone else yet. Maybe he'll have an idea. Stave off the infection -- give us more time."

You shake your head. "It's not...I don't..."

He grips your arms again, but this time it's softer. As he speaks, his hands slide up, eventually cupping your face. One of his thumbs caresses your chin. He looks at you with such -- heartache. Such pain. It hurts you to see him this way. But that's what you do...

"Ace, ya listen to me, aye?," he says, shaking you gently. "You are too fuckin' important. Yer too fuckin' important to just leave to die. D'ya hear me?"

You try to shake your head again but he holds you firm. "Yer worth it. You are worth saving."

"No," you whimper. 

"Yes, darlin'. You are. Let us try. Please, Ace. Let us try to save you."

"I can't, Soap...I can't let you do that..."

He closes the small distance between you, resting his forehead on yours. "Please," he whispers. "Let me try."

Maybe it's the way his voice breaks. The way his blue eyes shutter closed. The way he tenderly runs his thumb along your bottom lip. 

Maybe it's that you don't actually want to die. That you're terrified to die. 

Or maybe it's that you love him. You love him and you'd realistically do anything he asked. Anything, you realize. Anything.

Your mind bounces between Simon and Soap -- Johnny. Two sides of the same coin. Two men that have had such a monumental influence on you. Your wellbeing. Who you are and who you want to be. You're not good enough for either of them, let alone both. 

You're so fucked. Why are you like this? Why do you do this? To yourself? To others? What the hell is wrong with you?

Soap's warm breath on your cheeks stops your self-imposed interrogation. 

You acquiesce. You nod once. Twice. 

"Okay," you murmur. "Okay."

..................................................................... Links to: Spotify Playlist Full Fic

[dekupalace]

5 11 and 14 for isat ask game :3

in stars and time ask game 🌌

5- favorite optional event?

answered here !!

11- any character headcanons?

SO MANY but I'll be here all day if I list them all. I'll just list a couple for everyone:

siffrin - he needs mobility aids post game! all that craft in act 5 did a number on them, even if they're at a higher level. sometimes when walking gets to be a bit too much, isa will carry him. mirabelle has offered a couple times too but their similar heights can make it a bit difficult, even if she's capable of lifting them mirabelle - the stimmerrrrrrr... she tries to mask her stimming a lot by keeping her hands together all the time, but once she starts opening up around the others she gets her flaps out!! her and sif are hand flappers, and her and isa like to go back and forth with vocal stims! ding ding! isabeau - if you've read my fic you know I'm giving this man freckles. I am not immune to the freckles + redhead isa propaganda. obvious thoughts aside though I think isa would be a really REALLY talented artist. he sketches sif a lot...no reason why!!!! odile - "I might be nonbinary but I have a job so I don't really care right now" yknow. do you get it. jokes aside I'm gonna throw in a sad headcanon and say that, after the whole northern island thing, odile uses her book to write little quirks or facts about the people she cares about just in case she ever forgets them. there are lots of notes about the party in there (that would later get transferred into their own shared familytale post game!) bonnie - we all know their love language is food. but also what if they collect little objects to give to people! nille has A Lot of seashells on a shelf cause bonnie would bring her so many. they slip a cool looking rock in frin's pocket. they give za a weird looking leaf. dile wakes up to a pile of different feathers by her belongings. belle gets broken pieces of toys they find in town. YOU get an object! and YOU get an object!! cause they think they're cool! loop - loop...loop my best friend loop.....sniffles.. they either join the party post game (maybe after a little bit of alone time) and learn to realize they are just as loved as they were before even if this isn't their party, OR they find a DIFFERENT party and find a new family to call their own and finally grow to move on from what they've lost (as long as they meet up with sif and his family every so often for shenanigans and funnies!!). also as much as I love human loop designs those will never be canon in my heart I'm sorry but loop Not being human anymore and needing to learn to accept that is a big part of their character to me. I fucking love human loop designs though they are everything to me

14- favorite character portrait(s)?

one of these things is not like the other--

and I SWEAR I'm not biased with these two. I'm not. I'm NOT---

[the-witty-pen-name]

ok so for the requests, maybe a Loki x teen!reader (platonic) where they're both touchstarved dorks but one day Loki has a horrible nightmare and reader tries their best to comfort him? and their bond grows from then onwards? just a suggestion :))

Thank you so much for the idea! I have never written anything platonic before so I hope I do your idea justice! I really enjoyed writing this and I hope you don’t mind I took a couple of creative liberties writing this! It ended up being a little more serious than I planned when I started writing but it just flowed out! I didn’t have classes so I got to write so I’m posting earlier than I usually plan to which I’m happy about. I really appreciate you reaching out to me with this idea :) 

Confidant 

Loki x Reader 

warnings: none; angst

word count: 1.4k 

Loki’s childhood is not entirely something he can look back on fondly. However, like many of us, he is blessed with several good memories that despite everything which has happened in his life, he looks back on fondly. One of these was you, it was always with you. In your youth, you and him were many times inseparable. That was years ago now, and even then, you weren’t in his life until his teen years. His best friend and confidant, forever loyal to him as he was to you.

Before becoming your friend, Loki had no previously been exposed to a relationship like it before. Other than his mother, who he loved dearly, he confided in no one about how he felt about his father, his feeling of inferiority when it came to Thor… It was all very internalized. However, even after making your acquaintance for the first time, it took him a very long time to open himself up to your kindness and your promise of friendship.

You had first met the god of mischief when you were living at the palace for an extended stay. Promising a group of Asgardian teenagers the finest education he could afford, Odin in an act of charity (but also a glorified publicity stunt) invited a handful of gifted students from the local school to learn under the tutelage of the finest minds. In layman’s terms, these students were invited to be taught alongside Thor and Loki during their academic term when it would normally be just the two brothers.

The first several days of lessons, the tutors instructed everyone to work in pairs and of course you were partnered with Loki. The first several days, he wouldn’t speak to you. He would compete the assignments without so much as look at you and then allowed you to take credit for half the work. He’d resist any sort of attempt you would make to make small talk or help with the tasks at hand, but he always refused.

You were very much like Loki as well, and you were oftentimes more alike than you would ever care to admit. You were just as ambitious and proud, and you wouldn’t stand to just sit back while he ignored you. You also didn’t have many friends. You were much more social than Loki, but like him you had no real lasting friendships. Eight of the brightest in your year were selected for this program and being one of them is not something you planned to take lightly.  

Eventually, you wore him down. You began to work together to complete assignments and you both were very competitive in getting the correct answer before the other. The back and forth was at first strictly academic, but he was still the closest thing you had to a friend. You enjoyed working with him immensely. You both started to see where the other exceled and you both knew when to let the other take lead. It was an exercise of trust and teamwork, the first positive experience of teamwork you both had.

There was an unspoken change between the two of you that evolved very naturally, even though you still both acted quite distant and closed off. There was mutual understanding of wanting company, but only being willing to extend yourself so far. He would take the spot next to you when dining, and you both would walk to and from lessons together.

Your quarters were down the hall from Thor and Loki. All of the students in the program were staying in the same wing of the house as the two princes. Your room was three down from Loki’s room. Your room and private bathroom were one of the nicest luxuries you were ever exposed to. Falling asleep every night had been so easy for you since staying at the palace, something you were never used to before in your lifetime. However, there was one night where you couldn’t shake an uneasy feeling no matter how much you tossed and turned looking for comfort. Normally, you would sink into the mattress engulfed in the lavish bedding and fall into a dream almost instantaneously. As the nights passed, the appeal of the large room and the oversized palace transformed more into a feeling of emptiness. You were one person and in a large room like that every night where the ceilings were as tall as giants, you felt more and more small.

You noticed when there was a dim light outside your door in the late hours of the night. You didn’t know the source, but you knew they were right outside your door. You closed your eyes, and buried yourself under the covers- not afraid of anything in particular but just the reaction to the fear of the unknown. The door to the room was gently pushed open and Loki revealed himself to you.

He looked small, just like how you felt. His eyes were red and swollen, his pale skin patchy and the lamp he held illuminated the tear stains on his cheeks. You could tell he was trying his best to keep himself together, and you could see the fear in his eyes and in his body language. It was a mix of him allowing himself to be so exposed emotionally, but also a reaction to the night terror he had just woken up from.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered, closing the door behind him. He stood sheepishly. He realized his only instinct was to go to you but his plan stopped there. It was an involuntary response he didn’t stop to think about before coming to you to seek comfort. “I’m sorry for waking you. I just… I just had an absolutely terrible dream and I couldn’t bear to be alone.”

You nodded sympathetically and moved from the middle of the bed to one side. You pulled open the comforter so Loki could join you. He placed the lamp on the night table and turning it out, and then he tried his best to settle himself in the unfamiliar bed as he sinks in under the covers. You pull the blankets back up and his arms wrap themselves around your torso pulling you into a tight hug.

He needed someone and he didn’t know where else to go. Perhaps he could’ve sought out his mother, but he knew she might have sent him back to his own room. Which would’ve been fair, because he is no longer a child, even though there are many aspects of his life where he still feels like one. You feel the tenseness in his body ease away as you hug him back. The embrace doing wonders for the anxieties you faced as well. It was a moment you were not going to ruin by talking or asking him about his nightmare. It was a very comfortable silence, and his presence filled the room of the emptiness that was bothering you mere minutes before he arrived at your door.

For the first time in a very long time, Loki slept very easily. Just the touch of someone who seemed to understand and share his own stresses helped him more than he’d ever be able to communicate. Just the simple embrace was enough for now to allow him to rest easy. You rested your head into the crook of his neck and just comforted your friend in the darkness. He was cold, especially his hands. It was comforting combined with the extra warmth provided by the many pillows and layers of bedding. It was a perfect mix. It would be something he would never forget and yet also something he could never bring himself to thank you for.

After that night, the barrier you both had up seemed to gradually fade much faster than the pace it was going. Loki confided in you as a confidant and many times began to open up to you about his troubles. You understood each other and he loved that he never needed to explain himself… you just got each other.

He looks back at that year fondly, and he oftentimes regrets not making the effort to keep up with you over the years. However, whenever he did see you, it was like time and life had never interfered in your friendship. He’d see you at events at the palace, and you’d meet his eyes with the same familiar smile and greet him with a tight embrace that takes him back to all those years ago. You were a constant, never changing, when it came to your friendship to him. He was able to depend on that you were there. He could go a lifetime without seeing you, and yet he’d recognize you anywhere from the sound of your voice, or your laugh alone. It was an unbreakable bond.

[secretlyatargaryen]

Don't respond if you don't like talking about specific/individual ppl or are irritated by such asks, if so I apologize. So do you have any thoughts on the Tyrion narratives put forth by content creators like PoorQuentyn/BryndenBfish? I know u wrote on Brynden's "monster" piece, but I searched Tyrion/Tysha on twitter and have followed other NotACast Tyrion discussion,and it all seems to be aimed at framing him villainously,and since they're influencers, it sets the tone for all Tyrion discussion.

I do want to answer this question, but I don’t want to start discourse directed at any specific person so I thought about blacking out the names. But as you said, I’ve responded to these specific people before and written my own counter-meta so it’s no secret what I think about their theories. And they do have influence in the fandom and this interpretation of Tyrion is a popular one so it’s not like I’m dog-piling on a small minority by making a different argument. And you’re right about it setting a tone, and I think we need to be aware of the tone we’re setting when it comes to a visibly disabled character like Tyrion, and I think a lot of people aren’t aware of this or refuse to be sensitive to it. It’s better than it used to be but the ableism in this fandom is still shockingly bad. I mean, I saw a post recently calling Tyrion the “most vile” character in the books. Really? That vile dwarf, amirite?

I will say first of all that any argument for Tyrion’s villainy that claims him as “the monster he was told he was” or any iteration of that phrase should be dismissed outright on the grounds of gross ableism. Even if Tyrion ended up as the biggest villain of the series, he would not be the monster he was always told he was because he was told that because of ableism, by a society that thinks that disabled people are less than human, and that is fundamentally wrong.

I know we use the word “monster” in a moral sense, to describe a person who does acts that we consider so heinous that they seem inhuman, but not only is that fundamentally wrong - because even people who commit horrible acts are still human, despite what is comforting to think - but there’s a connotation of ableism there even without taking into account how it’s used in the text to demonize Tyrion, and used by his family and others to justify abusing him.

Like, if I can go on a tangent for a second, I started thinking about this when I used to be a big “Dexter” fan, before I’d ever read asoiaf or seen an episode of GOT. Dexter is a ridiculous show and not very good (but I love it), and it suffers from the same problems that a lot of villain discourse in fandom revolves around. Dexter is a bad guy but in the context of the show, he is a hero. Dexter, the character, often calls himself a monster in the show, and yeah, he’s reprehensible. He’s a serial killer whose one redeeming quality is that he kills other killers. He’s more reprehensible in the books and the earlier seasons before the show got too in love with the idea of him as the good guy, but even before that, I started noticing something really interesting. The ways that Dexter refers to himself as a monster have less to do with his serial killing habits and more to do with how he is mentally different than others. I don’t mean in the “sociopathic” sense, either, because early Dexter would talk about himself in ways that are recognizable to a lot of neuroatypical people. Dexter talks about pretending to be a real person and not a monster the way that my college roommate and I would talk about pretending to be real people when we would work up the spoons to go out to a party.

After I realized this, I began to be really uncomfortable every time I heard the word “monster” on the news, used to describe some person who’d committed some terrible crime. I get why people use this word, because, as I said above, it’s comforting to distance these sorts of people - rapists, murderers - from humanity, to pretend they’re inhuman. I’m not asking anyone to find the humanity in a rapist. I’m not saying that disabled people are just like serial killers. What I AM saying, though, is that using the word “monster” to describe a canonically disabled character who, throughout his life and throughout the series, has suffered horrible abuse because of ableism, carries a lot of unfortunate implications. We use this word to distance humans from their humanity. Tywin and Cersei also use this distancing language to justify poor treatment of Tyrion. He’s not Cersei’s brother, he’s not Tywin’s and Joanna’s son, he’s a monster. The slavers use it to refer to the slaves in Yezzen’s menagerie, which includes disabled people and an intersex person. And we should all know that the best way to justify enslaving and abusing others is to dehumanize them. Don’t call Tyrion a monster. Don’t.

The same thing needs to be said about arguments that use Tyrion/Tysha as evidence for Tyrion’s villainy. I’ve written extensively about this and I’m not going to argue with anyone on whether Tyrion should be blamed for what happened there, because he was a child being sexually abused by a parent and any attempts to retroactively assign blame or link this to theories about Tyrion’s future villainy is completely and absolutely wrong.

Now, as far as what I have to say about the narrative that Tyrion is a villain / will be by the end of the series? That depends on a lot of things, and one of them is what we mean when we say a character is a villain.

A lot of people, when they talk about this, are of course talking about the theory that Tyrion will somehow lead Dany astray and manipulate her into blowing up King’s Landing. Unless you’re one of those weirdo people who also think Dany is a villain, but that’s a whole different story and I don’t feel the need to address that because it’s complete nonsense. Anyway.

But here’s the thing. In asoiaf there’s multiple conflicts in every POV narrative, and in Tyrion’s story here’s what I see as the two major big ones: the internal conflict, Tyrion vs himself and his desire to prove that he is not a monster / his desiire for goodness / love / acceptance; and the external conflict, the more immediate of which is Tyrion getting back to Westeros / whatever role he plays in the war of five kinds / whatever role he plays in the song of ice and fire / the conflict with the others.

The things that people often cite as making Tyrion villainous are personal villainies. They’re part of the internal conflict. And in this conflict, Tyrion himself is his own villain. GRRM says that killing Shae is “the great crime of his soul” (and I would also add raping the woman in Selhorys) and those are part of Tyrion’s internal conflict because their role in the narrative is the effect they have on Tyrion mentally. I don’t mean that what happened to these women isn’t important, but from a narrative perspective, they are important for how what happens to them affects Tyrion. Now, we could talk about how that’s problematic, but it’s problematic from a narrative perspective, and that should be lain at the author’s feet. And the problematic aspect of it is that it’s NOT there to make Tyrion a villain. It’s there to provide conflict for Tyrion’s internal struggle, which he will need to resolve in order to participate in the external conflict. I think that’s the real reason why some fans hate Tyrion, but I wish we could be honest about that instead of pretending the author intends him to be a villain, because that’s just not how Tyrion is written.

Now, when I say the internal conflict has to be resolved, I don’t necessarily mean that it will be solved, or resolved in a good way. I think it would be like GRRM to have Tyrion play a major part in saving all of humanity and still be terrible on a personal level, but I don’t think that’s where he’s going with Tyrion either. I mean, in the latter half of ADWD he has Tyrion say things like this:

An honest kiss, a little kindness, everyone deserves that much, however big or small.

Which is…just not the statement of a character who is being written as a villain. If GRRM were writing Tyrion as becoming a villain in Dance it would be a gradual progression to more and more villainy. Instead he has Tyrion vacillate between depression, apathy, and cruelty and kindness and heroism. In fandom spaces we used to call this Heroic BSoD, Joseph Campbell called it The Innermost Cave. This is the part in the story where you don’t want to hear the end, Mr. Frodo, because how can the end be good, after all that bad has happened?

…You get the idea. GRRM is darker and grittier, and we can argue about whether he goes too far, especially when it comes to his unfortunate habit of fridging female characters, but that’s a different issue.

So, my thoughts on whether I think Tyrion will cause Dany to blow up King’s Landing? I mean, I don’t necessarily think it unlikely for GRRM to go that route, but if he does it won’t be that simple. Like I said, there’s a difference between the internal, personal conflict in Tyrion’s narrative and the external, wider conflict that is going to come to the fore in the next two books. Will Tyrion try and convince Dany to blow up King’s Landing because of his own desire for revenge on his family / the city that turned on him / people in general? Maybe, but that won’t be his only motivation, and Dany isn’t going to be his hapless puppet. If that happens, here’s how I see it: I think Tyrion, when he finally meets Dany and sees the dragons, is going to buy into what she is selling. Yes, Tyrion is incredibly cynical about Dany, but he’s also intrigued and even a little hopeful, and there’s also that inner part of him that’s going to be all “dragonsdragonsdragonsDRAGONSGDSDrasfGonSSDRGRRAGONSS.” So if he has a hand in getting Dany to torch the city, it will be because he actually thinks it’s necessary or that it’s an acceptable sacrifice for the world Dany wants to create (a world where even a dwarf can look down upon the world on the back of a dragon) with maybe a side helping of revenge because here’s Dany, the rightful heir to the throne, who wants to make the world a better place and who trusts and values him, and here’s the city full of corrupt people who hate him, who almost executed him for something he didn’t do. Tyrion’s crime there might be convincing himself that it’s an acceptable sacrifice to make, for the greater good, but that’s not that different than decisions many of the rulers in the books have made, and that’s a scenario in which he, Dany, and anyone else at play are equally culpable, and a far cry from the theories about how he’s going to be the villain leading Dany astray. GRRM is too good of a character writer to pull anything else with one of his major POVs, especially not his favorite who he has often stated is “the grayest of the gray.”

It would also be like GRRM to have Tyrion commit war crimes and still save all of humanity on the back of a dragon as his final act of love, resolving the internal conflict once and for all. I have problems with this too, because I find it incredibly uncomfortable for a disabled character whose narrative deals so personally with a desire for love end with him dying in a selfless act of sacrifice / have some kind of epiphany about how his desire to receive love on a personal scale is not important. I go back and forth, but really, the only thing I’m sure about is that GRRM is not going to make it so easy for us to categorize Tyrion in the end.

[morkhan]

Will Byers is Gay: The Evidence So Far

With the release of Stranger Things 3, there has been a lot of discussion kicked up about the character of Will Byers and his sexuality (or lack thereof). I've seen a lot of takes about what "it's not my fault you don't like girls" was intended to mean, many of which seem to take it in isolation, so I wanted to make a post putting it into what I think is its proper context; not an isolated incident, but the latest carriage in veritable train of queer themed language and imagery that has followed Will Byers since episode one of season one, and before that. You ready? Alright, let's go.

Season Zero: the Montauk Files

Before Stranger Things became Stranger Things, it was called Montauk. Like many would-be show makers, the Duffer Bros put together a "show bible" describing the premise, setting, tone, and characters of the show they intended to make. Like many shows, a lot of these ideas changed or were lost on their way to the screen, but it's always worth looking into their original concepts. Here is their description of Will Byers in the Montauk show bible:

Obviously, the major whammy there is in the first line "sexual identity issues." But there are some other interesting notes, like his "colorful clothes" that you might want to keep a lookout for on your next rewatch. Now, onto...

Season 1

The thing to pay attention to regarding Will in season 1 is in the language used to refer to him when he is not present (which he isn't for most of the season).

Episode 1: the subject of bullying comes up right away in the conversation between Joyce and Hopper. "The kids, they're mean. They laugh at him, laugh at his clothes, call him names." "What's wrong with his clothes?" "I don't know!" This harkens back to the Montauk show bible, but it's arguable, since it's never made clear what about his clothes draws ire.

She also mentions that he is "sensitive," "not like most," and that his dad said he was "queer" and called him a "fag." Hopper asks "is he?" to which she replies "He's missing is what he is!"

Episode 3: Troy says he's not missing, he's dead. "Probably killed by some other queer."

Episode 4: Troy, again "Will's in fairyland, flying around with all the other little fairies, all happy and gay."

Sensitive, queer, fag, fairy, and gay are all used to describe Will in season 1, but perhaps more notable is the fact that they aren't used to describe anyone else. If the show were truly period accurate, let's be real; the whole party would've been called queers on a pretty regular basis, because "queer" doubled as a generic insult back then. But in season 1, these words are only ever used in relation to Will, with one exception; in episode 6, Steve says to Will's brother, "I used to think you were queer." So it's not even an active accusation in that moment; it's used in the negative.

Hell, Troy walked up to Lucas mockingly proposing to Mike and proclaiming his love for him, and he still didn't call them queers. That language is reserved for Will.

Now granted, most of these are used as insults by characters who don't like Will, but still; as a writer, if you want your audience to remember something, repetition is an excellent way to embed it in their minds. There's a reason for the specificity of language surrounding Will, and a reason that language keeps coming up over and over and over again.

Season 2

Season 2 retires much of the homophobic language used to insult Will, replacing it with "Zombie Boy." The only homophobic language used in season 2 is the word "faggot," used by Billy's father to refer to Billy, who expresses a clear interest in women (and an arguable interest in one particular man, but that's the subject of another post).

Still, there is an arguable bit of queer theming in Will's conversation with Jonathan regarding the benefits of being a "freak" and how normal people never accomplish anything. Jonathan even invokes bisexual icon David Bowie to make Will feel better about his "freakishness."

The clearest piece of queer theming for Will in season 2 comes in episode 8, in this beautiful speech from Joyce to Possessed Will:

"When you turned eight, I gave you that huge box of crayons, do you remember that? It was 120 colors. And all your friends got you Star Wars toys, but all you wanted to do was draw with all your new colors. And you drew this big spaceship, but it wasn't from a movie. It was YOUR spaceship; a RAINBOW Ship, that's what you called it. And you, you must have used every color in the box. I took that with me to Melvald's, and I put it up. I told everyone who came in, 'My son drew this.' And you were so embarrassed, but I was so proud. I was so, so proud."

This is one of the most powerful memories of her son that Joyce has, an image so strong and distinct that she uses it to invoke his true identity against the monster that is slowly subsuming him. She notes very specifically that it's not something he copied, but something that came entirely from Will himself, an image that she felt represented him so perfectly that she took it with her to work and proudly touted it as his to everyone she knew. The Rainbow Ship is Joyce's picture of her son's very heart, and surely I don't need to explain to you how powerful a piece of queer imagery the rainbow is.

Some subtextual stuff; in episode 9, when the girl asks Will to dance, he stammers "I... I don't..." and only goes to dance with her when Mike literally pushes him towards her.

During the final montage, the scene cuts to different characters in time with appropriate lines from the song: "every move you make" cuts to Mike and El (as he is teaching her to dance), "every vow you break" cuts to Nancy dancing with Dustin (as she technically cheated on Steve with Jonathan), "I'll be watching you" cuts to Lucas dancing with Max (as she has playfully called him 'stalker' all season). What line cuts to Will? "Every smile you fake," specifically on the word fake, while Will dances with a girl wearing this expression:

That is not a real smile, that is not a comfortable boy, and that is not an accident; Noah Schnapp is one of the best actors in the entire show, and of the young boys, he is the one the Duffers trust most to do dramatic heavy lifting.

Do you want it to be a little more explicit? Okay, here is that scene in the script:

I mean, that pretty much speaks for itself. It's less explicit in the actual show, but it's still there, you know?

Season 3

And now, the biggest and most explicit thing to date; The Scene. I mean, you could discuss the obvious subtext in the simple fact that Will is the only male main character who has yet to find a girlfriend or express any interest in girls whatsoever, but that pales in comparison to The Scene.

The setup for The Scene is pretty simple; after declaring "a day free of girls" in order to get his friends to run the D&D campaign he's probably spent a significant amount of time creating, his friends have blown him off to continue bemoaning their girl troubles, so Will has decided to leave. Mike, realizing too late that he has genuinely upset his friend, chases after him to try and get him to come back.

A back-and-forth argument ensues, where Will accuses Mike of ruining the party and abandoning his friends in favor of girls, and Mike, in the heat of the moment, responds with "It's not my fault you don't like girls!" After which, everything stops. There is a full second of silence, and a close up on Noah Schnapp's face so you can take in his reaction.

There is a lot to unpack here. Now, acting is up to interpretation to a degree, but to me, that expression conveys two primary emotions; shock, and betrayal. That face says "how could you?" Because here's the thing; regardless of what Mike does or doesn't know about Will's sexuality, Mike knows for a fact that Will has been called a queer all his life by everyone from his school bullies to his own fucking dirtbag father. By invoking even the specter of that, Mike has crossed a fucking line, and he knows it. And we know he knows it, because he immediately backtracks and tries to mitigate the damage. But it's too late. The damage has been done.

I also think there is a tinge of fear in that image. Just a moment of soul raking panic that pretty much every closeted queer person knows intimately. It's very brief. But I think it's there, if you look.

This scene sends Will into an emotional tailspin that culminates in him tearing down the literal last bastion of his childhood in a fit of sorrow and rage. His innocence has been destroyed. He cannot regain what he has lost, and he can never go back to the way things were before. This is the emotional climax of his arc for season three. It's a powerful one-- shame it comes in the third of eight episodes, but that's neither here nor there.

And that's pretty much it for now. Any one of these things taken in isolation could be very easily dismissed, but here's the thing; they aren't isolated incidents. They are part of a clear and consistent pattern, one that goes all the way back to the show's inception, before even one minute of footage was filmed. And this pattern points to one very obvious conclusion; the Duffer Brothers have always intended, and continue to intend, for Will Byers to be gay.

Now, for the obvious question; why haven't they made it explicit yet?

The answer is as unfortunate as it is obvious; I don't know.

It's entirely possible that there is some external force that the Duffers have to answer to that is preventing them from actively pursuing this particular storyline. This happens all the time in Hollywood, and it could be anything from Netflix to Noah Schnapp's parents to Noah Schnapp himself just being uncomfortable with it. Many are the creators who dream Big Gay Dreams only to run into the horrors of our Forced Hetero Reality. If the Duffers ultimately submit to these pressures, I hope you won't be too hard on them. This shit is harder than you think to get to the screen sometimes.

But it's also possible that they just aren't ready for it yet. That they have been saving this for a future storyline, that they just want their characters (and the actors) to get a little older before they pursue this particular storyline explicitly, but they've been busily laying groundwork for it so that anyone paying attention will know it's coming.

I don't know. Only time will tell for sure.

For now, I can tell you this; I see a great deal of evidence that the Duffers still intend for Will to be gay, and precisely zero that they have changed their minds.

I hope that holds true.

[ty-talks-comics]

Best of DC: Week of May 29th, 2019

Best of this Week: Doomsday Clock #10 - Geoff Johns, Gary Frank, Brad Anderson and Rob Leigh

And yet another wrinkle is added to the DC Universe.

Or should I say, “Metaverse” now? Yes, after I think three months since the last issue, Doomsday Clock returns with yet another strong issue that expands upon the mythos of the DC Universe and just how Doctor Manhattan viewed and affected things at the many different positions of time that he has been able to inhabit.

The issue is framed around an actor by the name of Carver Colman, a very huge star in DCs 1954, who has been referenced or used in previous issues. This gives some kind of continuity in the context of the story as Johnny Thunder was seen watching his movie in the retirement home al the way back in issue two or three. Colman, unfortunately, has a secret that gets him killed soon after wrapping up the filming of his biggest hit, The Adjournment and as we make it through the issue and the back and forth of his life, we find the biggest change to Doctor Manhattan’s character and how he has to bend to the rules of this new universe.

Doctor Manhattan actually meets Colman in 1938 when he was a struggling actor who had just lost his job delivering mail to a movie studio after an unfortunate accident and things he saw. Manhattan takes Colman out for some food, attempting to use him as a rod to focus on to look towards the future as he can’t seem to do so on his own after arriving. He does so and is able to see a year into the future, then four and so on. His abilities work again, but then he hears something strange.

A radio report of a man lifting a car into the air. The first appearance of Superman on April 13th, 1938. Suddenly, it was gone, the crowds of people were gone as if they never existed. He follows the path where Superman existed in 1938 and finds the Justice Society, having formed and waiting for Superman to answer their summons. Jay Garrick “Flash”, “Green Lantern” Alan Scott, Hawkman, Doctor Fate and others, waiting for the Man of Steel to join their ranks and suddenly, they too have never heard of him.

Manhattan follows the many arrivals of Superman, from 1956, to 1986 and sees his arrival change again and again, noting the many deaths of Ma and Pa Kent and how this “Universe” seems to use Superman as a focal point, even going to a thousand years from now when Superman was briefly part of the Legion of Superheroes. So to test how things revolve around Superman, he changes the past by moving the Lantern away from Alan Scott, killing him, and drastically changes the future, creating the New 52 Timeline.

Everything is recontextualized as Manhattan sees that this action changes this universe and that it’s constant state of flux affects the wider multiverse. From the parallel worlds, to the anti-matter, to the Dark Multiverse, Earth Prime is a “Metaverse” in his words. The others change to match whatever is going on in the Prime World and once it realizes what he’s done, it begins to fight back. Manhattan sees Wally West trying to fight his way back to the Universe. This one action causes a chain reaction that will lead to his inevitable confrontation with Superman where Superman either kills him or he kills the Metaverse.

Cutting back to 1954, Manhattan is at Carver Colman’s home on the night that he’s murdered. He doesn’t do anything to stop it.

There’s a saying that “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” In the Watchmen Universe, Doctor Manhattan was allowed to do or not do as he pleased because that world was a little bit more grounded or at worst cynical. Though, one might say that because he refused or didn’t care to use his power at a larger scale, Ozymandias’ “evil” won. Though Ozymandias thought what he did was the right thing, this series proved it it be disastrous in the wake of Rorschach’s journal being published, but initially Veidt’s plan did succeed. Doctor Manhattan escaping to the DC Universe put him into direct conflict with the Metaverse and its Hope. Its innate desire to have the good triumph over evil won’t let Doctor Manhattan get away with inaction and in his words, “To this universe of hope… I have become the villain.”

Words can’t describe how hype I was for this. With each and every issue, a new layer is added and brings us closer and closer to the epic conclusion that only Geoff Johns and Gary Frank can realize. I also love how they’ve expanded on the importance of Earth Prime, seeing as how it has indeed gone through many changes. It’s good to finally have an explanation that implies that even through the many reboots and retcons that if DC wanted to, they could tap into those timelines as main universes at any time. Everyone’s favorite time period matters or will matter again soon.

---------------------------------------------------

"One last adventure together…"

Runner Up: Batman: Last Knight on Earth #1 - Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion, FCO Plascencia and Tom Napolitano

Joker's words to describe his and Batman's last run together in the hell that is the world after some unexplained event killed numerous heroes, villains and just about anything else. It also describes what MAY be the last time we see Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo do a big Batman story together and I already feel like we're in for a BIG one.

After a curious case of large scale chalk drawings,  showing a dead Batman, leads the Dark Knight to the Crime Alley he inadvertently sets off a trap laid by an unknown assailant using the decomposing body of a ten year old child. He later wakes up in Arkham Asylum, apparently having been there since KILLING HIS FAMILY in Crime Alley all those years ago. Capullo does a great job of setting atmosphere and making things unsettling as even a small fly buzzing around and "Dr. Redd Hudd" looming over a straight jacketed Bruce Wayne looks creepy.

Arkham appears to be just a regular Asylum with Alfred showing up and trying to convince Bruce that Batman was all in his head, showing him a mock costume they made to keep him calm with a cowl stitched to a straight jacket. Bruce sees through it all and fights his way through Arkham until Alfred reveals the truth. He only wanted to keep his boy safe because half of Gotham was just gone. Years had passed and Batman has no idea what happened.

He later wakes up in a desert and coincidentally finds the head of The Joker. He wakes and immediately begins cracking jokes as Batman takes him and they begin to walk to Coast City. I don't know how much of this is real and that adds to the mystique of the story. We're never given an explanation as to how he got there from Arkham or how Joker is surviving.

They arrive at Coast City and the decayed corpse of Mogo looms over a giant crater and ruins. Joker says that all of the Lanterns fell and rings are just there for the taking. Suddenly the duo are attacked by projections of babies before being saved by Vixen and Poison Ivy. Ivy then knocks Bruce out just in case and he wakes up surrounded by the new Amazons; Vixen, Donna Troy, Poison Ivy, Supergirl and Wonder Woman.

Wonder Woman explains that one day, Luthor just… convinced most that they should just take what they deserve. He told them that goodness was a lie and they just ate it up. It echoed the future that Luthor saw back in Justice League/Legion of Doom #5, but given that this is a Black Label book, one wouldn't be wrong if they didn't want to think of this as the explanation of that timeline because they're not in the same canon.

Wonder Woman also tells Batman that the one wielding the Anti-Life Equation may be one of the Boys and pleads with him to join the Amazons in Hades.

But Batman is Batman and he decides that he's going to put a stop to this.

Last Knight on Earth reads like an alternative ending for Scott Snyder's Justice League epic. Even though that story is far from over, not even close, there's this unsettling feeling that, if Scott didn't have to have the heroes win in the end, this should be the absolute endgame. A world, no UNIVERSE possibly, under siege by someone wielding the Anti-Life Equation, hope dead and dying and the ever creeping feeling of dread knowing that somehow life and death have lost enough meaning that Joker as a decapitated head still lives… this story is terrifying.

Honestly, this might be some of Capullos best art to date. With Glapion and Plascencia's help, this book feels so atmospheric and dark. Glapion accentuates Capullos lines and shading well with dark-dark inks, making Batman appear to be shrouded in it even in the sun. It's haunting, especially in the Arkham scenes where things are absolutely not as they seem and dark secrets hide behind and within the walls. Plascencia, on the other hand, can make even light and vibrant colors threatening. The red sand on Jokers jar is intense  and the Green Lantern babies are deadly. Hell, Coast City, Hall Jordan's crown jewel, looks unbelievably desolate, colored like a wasteland. Capullo pulls all of this together with as much detail as he possibly can and his work shows.

Faces are expressive, from Batmans fear, to Alfreds regret to Jokers madness. Body language is utilized greatly as Batman fights like a caged animal. He's taken aback by Jokers head, but still finds his resolve. Wonder Woman is still fierce, but even her edge has dulled with the sheer lack of hope that running away and going underground has given her.

This story is terrifying and I absolutely love it. From the creepy visuals of Capullos art, to the expression of thought because of the mature liberties Black Label books can take, it's all beautiful. This one is absolutely going to match my love for Batman: Damned and every one should go and read this. High recommend!

[istgimamess]

Label: sm entertainment

Stage name: bella (because you're beautiful~)

Debut year: 2015 (3 yrs active)

Debut concept: aggressive bubblegum synth, dance heavy, vocal heavy, bright, pop!

Number of members: 4

Group name: strawberry jam (sj)

Fandom name: jammers

Position: main vocal, visual, dance line

Male bestie: Jongin (EXO)

How you meet: you are a hard worker, always putting your best foot forward, giving it your all; putting all your effort into anything you do! Which is such a great quality, you're told! Lord knows, you've benefited from that personality trait thousands of times, mostly in your career and personal relationships! However, alot of the time, it tends to have a negative effect! Mainly on your health! You put so much effort into whatever you're working on at the moment: new choreography, new music etc. that you tend to neglect your personal health! This lands you in the hospital alot; its not ideal, but you can't complain, your doctor is probably your favorite! Which is where you end up meeting (*cough*...fighting with) Jongin! You had a really important public appearance coming up, a couple of variety shows and another comeback all scheduled within a weeks time; and you knew your health wasn't at its prime, so you were basically in mental panic mode! You were hoping to get in and out of your check up as fast as possible, because you had things to do! Long story short, that wasn't happening! You ended up sticking your head in to the doctors office, to confront the patient before you! Which happened to be Jongin! "Hi! Yeah, sorry! Could you, I don't know, hurry up!? I've aged quite drastically since being here.." "He's my doctor and I was here first!" "Yeah, well he likes me better!" After a few more minutes of back and forth, a kindergarten-like tantrum and some overdramatic whining on both of your parts, you were left by your very flustered doctor to "..Work things out!.." You quickly end up bonding over your mutual lack of priority when it comes to your health, your whiney childlike mannerisms when you're sick or hungry and a love for the theater! He ends up becoming one of your best friends and you're almost always together! You're both quite determined and hardworking, both tending to over work yourselves and this is usually the cause for most of your fights: scolding eachother for not prioritizing your health! He ends up worrying about your health more than he does his, and vice versa! But you're constantly supporting eachother in anything you pursue! "Jongin, I heard Bella from Strawberry Jam is your best friend, is that true!?" "Yeah, she's my best friend!" "Cool! I also heard she is the biggest EXO supporter, is that right!?" "Yes, she is! I made a joke the other day about her leaving music to work for EXO and help us promote our new album!" "Really!? What did she say!?" "It was so funny, she took the album and walked over to the street corner and just stood there like this...(^ gif ^)..I couldn't stop laughing!" Your friendship is really goals!

Female bestie: Jennie (Blackpink)

How you meet: you love singing and you love theatrics but sometimes you feel like dancing and choreography, in general, can be very confusing and frustrating! So you decided to take some dance classes on the side, for some extra practice! That's how you meet Jennie, through a friend of a friend! One day after class, you accidently trip over her bag and take her down in a mess of legs, elbows and sweat! "Oh my god- I'm so sorry!...Ouch! Sorry! Yikes- are you okay!?" "Yes, of course! I'm clearly living the dream!" "Oh, well...glad I could help you do that then..." you stared at eachother for a few beats of silence, still sprawled out on the floor, and then busted out laughing! You ended up attached at the hip! It's an inside joke that you were split at birth and that you're actually twins; that's how similar your personalities are and your sense of humor! You're both really sarcastic and it's 100x worse when you're together! The fans love it! And despite how goofy and silly you both are when you're together, everyone can tell you both care about eachother immensely! You're always supporting eachother and you're always both genuinely happy for eachothers successes! She calls herself your "only fan!" And she lives up to that name! "Jennie! Did you hear yet!? Strawberry Jams song 'Pink' has hit the Billboard charts!" "..(^ gif ^)..What!? Seriously!?! I have to call Bella!!..." Such a cute friendship!

Group bestie: NCT OT18

How you meet: this probably, most definitely was the weirdest encounter you've ever had! You love to skateboard; you wouldn't say you're that great at it, I mean, you're no Tony hawk! But it is a hobby of yours! And when you have a stressful, busy day, full of dance practices and studio visits- you like to sneak out in the middle of the night, when the streets are empty, go down to the local park and skate to de-stress a bit! It's kind of like your secret rendezvous self-care session! Not even your group members know about it! The park, Seoul in general, is usually dead with no soul in sight at this time of night! Which is why you're so startled when one second you're minding your own business, practicing an inward heel flip and the next second you're surrounded by a bunch of guys who look like they've just stepped straight out of an Avril Lavigne MV! It startles you so much you trip backwards over your board and land flat on your back! You say about every curse word in every language you know, on the way down! "Oh my god! I told you we would scare her!" "If anybody scared her, it was you with that stupid pedo face!" "That's so rude! Taeyong, tell him that was rude!" "I mean..I did tell you to shave this morning.." "Yeah, you kind of look like an asian yeti.." "Or a pedophile, definitely a pedophile.." "Seriously?! Is this attack necessary!?? I mean-" "Umm, so sorry, pedi-yeti and friends..could you possibly, I don't know...help me up!?" They ended up hauling you up and bombarding you with questions left and right! Questions about your skateboard, questions about your skating technique etc etc. The more they asked, the more you answered and the more you answered, the more they asked! It was pretty much down hill from there! But it's all good, they quickly became some of your biggest supporters and closest friends! They always cheer for you the loudest at award shows! And sometimes, Taeyong or Ten, will send you little videos and clips (with the funniest captions) they filmed, on the down low, of the rest of the members singing and dancing to your music, unaware the were being filmed! "..[Bella, your music is hurting innocent bystanders! RIP Jeno]..(^ gif ^).." They're such a mess and it's the cutest!

Boyfriend: Taehyung (BTS)

Ship name(s): tella, bae couple, baehyung

How you meet: the way you 'officially' meet is kind of funny! And the time and location is a bit obscure! Anytime someone asks him when and where you met, he says Italy in June! You say it was definitely paris, late July! Both of you would be right and wrong! You love traveling and any time you have the opportunity, you jump on it! This is no secret! You first noticed him in Paris, he first noticed you in Italy, you both noticed eachother in Chicago! By the time you ended up back in the Incheon International Airport - you were 98.7% positive you had picked up a stalker abroad! "Are you following me!?" "I was going to ask you the same thing!" "Well I asked you first, so answer!" "I don't take demands from potential stalkers!" Some threats to call the police and a couple defensive hand gestures later, you eventually both settled on fate being the reason you've bumped into eachother over and over again! As cheesy as it might sound! You quickly bond over your artistic and creative sides, and a strong love for traveling and then there is no going back! He's one of your biggest supporters and you both often credit eachother as being an inspiration and muse! You eventually, after realizing how important and serious your relationship was becoming, went public! You figured your close friends and family would be the most supportive, and they were, but in actuality it was the fans that became your biggest supporters! "Tae-oppa!! Over here!! Taehyung-oppa!! You and Bella-unnie are the cutest couple ever!! I will always support you!!" "...(^ gif ^)..." It's so heartwarming!

Biggest fan: your biggest fan is probably Junhoe from IKON! He's always covering your songs, he even covers the songs you cover! He says it's only because he wants to prove he can harmonize with you, always calling you out in interviews hoping to get the chance to meet you and collaborate! "Bella from Strawberry Jam is my favorite! She has the best voice, even better than me! And she has good taste in music, I would love to collaborate with her if given the chance!" He's always showing support for your comebacks as well and even your solo projects; watching every drama and CF you do and streaming your music, constantly singing along with you at the top of his lungs! He's a dedicated and loyal fan and he's pretty loud and proud about it! So much, that it's even a running joke in his group that he would leave the rest of the members for even just a chance to perform with you! Well, it's a joke to them! Him, not so much! "Junhoe! I heard that you're a huge fan of Bella from Strawberry Jam, is that true!?" "Yes! She is my favorite singer!" "Oh really!? I heard that you would leave IKON without a second thought, if she ever wanted to perform with you!" "Yes, I would! In a heartbeat!" "What the-...you answered that so fast! You would really leave us, huh!?" "Yep!.." "...(^ gif ^)..." It's pretty funny!

Scandal: it's really no secret you have been trying to break out into the acting industry for a while, and make that cross over from idol to actress - auditioning and taking acting classes and workshops in your spare time! It's also no secret that you're good long time friends with Jaebum from GOT7! You've know eachother since before your debut and he's one of your closest friends, almost family! He's always helping you practice and reading scripts with you to help prepare you for auditions, giving you advice and direction on characters! So it's really not shocking when dispatch comes out with photographs of you two, on multiple days, coming out of your apartment and/or restaurants! What is a bit shocking is the headlines that are attached to those photos! "Strawberry Jams Bella and GOT7s Jaebum! Are they together!?" "Does GOT7s Jaebum have a sweet tooth for Strawberry Jam!? New couple alert!" It's ridiculous! "Are they serious!? A sweet tooth!? Who is writing this mush!?" "What I don't understand is how they got us mixed up!? I mean, I'm clearly the more desirable one in this relationship.." "Are you trying to make me throw up, or does that just come naturally when looking at your face?" "I'm a masterpiece and you are blessed to be in my presence.." What a dork!

Other activities: it's no secret you live for the dramatics, and the theatre is almost like your second home! So when SM suggested you audition for a couple of upcoming dramas, you jumped on the opportunity! And it was the best thing you could've possibly done! You ended up, not only booking a role, but booking a lead! You got to act along Seo Kang Joon (^ gif ^) who is the sweetest and most talented! You made new life long friends, won a couple of awards and gained a whole new following! Sure, they made you dye your hair a darker shade a red and teased you a bit on set about your sense of humor, but it was totally worth it! "It was so fun! And the hair color choice is actually kind of growing on me!" "Oh really!? Quickly, say that again into the camera! In 10 years when you're bald, I want proof that you were once satisfied..." "JB, I will literally push you off of this rooftop..." You didn't, but you were close to it!

------------------------------------------------------------------------

@suchqt here is your idol ship~ thanks so much for the request and I hope you like it! 😅 Let me know what you think!

[ozcarpin]

I would love to read the posts you wrote about them! So I'm really curious to know how you differ Oscar and Ozpin in your writing. Like, speech patterns, body lanaguage, narrative style of their thoughts. But also how they overlap and if and how do they kinda "bleed" over to the other? I would also love to know how you see their merger going in the future, as in my story they're stuck togther for 3 years -ish. Thank you for humoring me!

Alrighty! So, to start off these three ( bing, bong, boom) can give you some quick insight to my thoughts on them. You can also search the tags ‘headcanon’ ‘Wizard of Ozpin’ and ‘Oscar the great and floofy’ on my blog to see some more things that I’ve linked to them in the past. 

In terms of how I differ them in writing, there’s a few things. 

First of all with their dialogue I’ll typically have it so that speaking outloud is in quotations, speaking in thoughts is in apostrophes and Ozpin speaking in thoughts is in apostrophes and italicized. While just a stylistic choice, I find that it can make it much easier when the two of them are going back and forth, just so it isn’t necessary to identify them repeatedly. 

Now, for speech patterns, I’ll typically have Ozpin speaking in a more flowery manner than Oscar. He’ll typically use a larger vocabulary, have a more diverse manner of structuring his sentences and be more round-about with how he says things. Ozpin is, for lack of a better term, constantly in ‘speech mode’. He thinks about what he wants to say at length, and he’s very considerate with his word choice and mannerisms. Ozpin is deliberate.

Oscar, on the other hand is very direct in his dialogue. If he wants to say something, he’ll typically use the least amount of words needed to say it. He’s not trying to impress anyone with his wording or anything like that, he just wants to convey this thoughts and feelings as concisely as possible. That said, Oscar himself isn’t a very confident person typically, which can get in the way of this goal for him. Sometimes he’ll start to say something and backtrack on it upon realizing that it might not sound that good outloud, sometimes he struggles to get across what he’s saying and he’ll start to ramble. He doesn’t always think through what he’s saying before he says it and this can lead to him getting frazzled easily. Oscar is earnest. 

For body language its a similar situation. Oscar isn’t always in control of his emotions. He can get easily overwhelmed in the heat of the moment. Oscar moves about very naturally. When he’s speaking, he’ll usually be gesturing to highlight what he’s saying, if he’s anxious or nervous he’ll shuffle about or fidget and when he’s talking he’ll often reach up to touch his own face or rub the back of his head as a nervous tic. Oscar is a very physically expressive person and this makes him incredibly terrible at hiding his feelings or lying. 

Ozpin on the flipside is very restrained physically. He has his own tics, such as preferring to pace or be in motion when he’s thinking or nervous, and he will always prefer to be in close proximity to his cane (which is at odds to Oscar who prefers to have it stowed away out of view). Ozpin will also gesture with his hands, but its typically done more to accentuate a specific point he’s making rather than having them be constantly in motion. Ozpin will physically play to an audience just as much as verbally and will always seek to hold himself in a very well-kept posture with a composed expression, though he will adjust if the emotions of a situation call for it. 

The best way in my opinion to really portray their difference is that when you’re writing for Oscar, write what would be the most natural action to do in the moment, what first comes to you for motion. For Ozpin, focus on the goal. Write the physical actions that would be most likely to get him closer to his goal in the scene, whether that be comforting someone, conveying a plan of attack or even just answering questions. What actions can he do that will cause the most flow to the scene that he can achieve what he’s set out to with the least interference.

For thought patterns and puzzling, Oscar works in the moment, in the immediate. If he’s asked ‘how will you beat Salem?’ his thought process is ‘by getting stronger’ by doing something he can do in the moment. He’s capable of planning ahead if he needs to, but once more, he can get too overwhelmed and stressed when everything builds up on him like that. He’s not stupid, in fact he’s very clever, but he prefers to work on things as they come to him, one step at a time. 

Ozpin is a strategist. He is always thinking ahead, always planning multiple contingencies for the future. His answer to ‘how will you beat Salem’ would be so vague there wouldn’t be much point in asking, one part because Ozpin will tell you what you need to know when you need to know it (sometimes because his plan depends on you acting a certain way) and also because his plans are constantly changing, always evolving. Ozpin doesn’t take setbacks as hard as other characters because he knows that he has time on his side. Even if something goes wrong now that doesn’t mean he can’t make steps to recover it in the future and make something better out of it. 

Together, Ozpin and Oscar actually compliment each other in many ways. They’re both very clever in their own ways and they both believe that people are inherently good in nature. They’re very protective of those that they care about and while neither of them are very good at initiating friendships, the ones which they do have are forged in fire and stronger than steel. They both lean more towards being selfless, and will put aside their own needs for the betterment of others, and they will both be deeply hurt in moments of betrayal. They’re both incredibly curious, which also works well for their relationship since Ozpin knows more useless facts than the encyclopedia and Oscar actually loves learning them, especially ones about different places. 

Now, as for the merger, my take on it is that once conceptualized, the full course of it will be completed in 2 years (you can of course adjust this to fit your story). They will start out as entirely different entities though over the course of this timeline they will gradually become more similar. Ozpin, in a younger body, will need to adjust to all the lovely corporeal things that go on with it, such as hormones being out of whack, things changing ect. and Oscar will in turn need to adjust to the gradual acclimation to all of Ozpin’s previous memories (not that this will be incredibly apparent to him). This could be as simple as someone asking Oscar a question that he shouldn’t necessarily know the answer to and him answering it without needing to consult first with Ozpin. Things will be more automatic for him and require less mental queuing to access. 

The way that I see this happening is that over time they will start to pick up on each other’s quirks and personality traits, the two of them very slowly becoming more similar as time goes on until they’re simply the same being. A good example of this could be Ozpin doing his little triple-axel backflip into the chair, while Oscar wouldn’t have the confidence to do such a thing, one could make the argument that Ozpin was influenced by the boy’s more dynamic nature and this could be expressed further as time goes on (ie. Ozpin being more emotionally expressive, Oscar having more confidence, taking a liking to hot beverages ect.). By the end of it they will be someone who isn’t exactly the same as Oscar but also isn’t quite Ozpin either, a mesh of the two of them with a single consciousness that is both of them as one.  

I hope that this helps explain a few things, and if you have any other questions I’m more than happy to answer them! (Honestly I could talk for days about these two). 

[saviormysticmeme]

ummmm..... I LOOOVE YOUR WORK （≧∇≦） YOU ARE SERIOUSLY SUPER TALENTED! Are YOU A GENIUS???? Sorry for caps...（´-`）If you don't mind, may I request an hc about the RFA + minor trio mistaking mc's twin for mc? Maybe they see her twin with another guy, so they ask mc about it or something... I just love love love your writtiiinngg~~~ I can write whole page! It's all so good that I they're all my favorite! (´Д` ) Sorry if its unclear/bad grammar... Bye（・◇・）/~~~

RFA + MTrio React to Mistaking CM for MC

Omg pls you guys are feeding my ego so muchAnd don’t worry about your grammar!! Grammar is the hardest part of any language, I cry when I speak anything other than English cause “How do say this” 

Ok anyways

Some of these are going to be those totally cliché “Secret Twin” scenarios that are kind of angsty but I’m gonna try some more lighthearted ones too because I feel like the “I SAW YOU WITH ANOTHER MAN IM LEAVING YOU!!!1!1!” “Babe thats my twin” scenarios have been used quite a bit and I don’t want to pump out something that’s already out here

If you decide you want those scenarios instead though then let me know! Because if you just happen to reallllly like that specific case then I’ll do a short drabble focusing on that

Also sorry in advance for the Choi twin ones, I just feel like they would know about MC’s twin and I the writing for them isn’t up to par with the others but I didn’t want to postpone posting for much longer because of it.

Ok I talk too much lets go

Yoosung:

He’s walking by a cafe near campus when he sees you sitting across from another guy

He stops dead in the side walk and stares in the window

At first he thought you were maybe just..discussing something? With some guy? Who you never told him about…?

No he didn’t think that at all his brain went straight to the worst but he couldn’t bare to think it so he came up with every excuse in the book.

MC’s a spy and they have to kill this guy

He’s a new RFA recruit???

He’s a dealer and MC’s buying drugs

MC is secretly a vampire and just trying to eat this guy

Every thought bubble he had was popped when you leaned over the table and planted a kiss on the mans cheek

Yoosung heard his heart-

rrrng rrrrng rrrrng rrrng

He was going to say breaking but apparently his heart rings when broken?

He looked at his phone and your Caller ID was up

“Huh?” He looked from his phone to the window, where ‘you’ were still sitting and talking with the strange man

He answers the phone, voice a little shakey “H-Hello?”

“Yoosung? Hey! Sorry to call but on your way home can you grab soup. I’m feeling like soup for dinner tonight.”

….

“Yoosung?”

“MC…how are you doing this?”

“…Doing what Yoosung?”

“Are you a vantrilaquist?”

“Yoosung pls just what the fuck are you talking about”

“I’m staring at you through a window having coffee with another man…but you’re on the phone with me.”

“1. Yoosung that’s creepy that you’re staring at two strangers 2…”

His phone beeped and he looked down to see you sent him a picture of you sitting on the couch with a controller in hand, soda on the table, blankly staring at the camera.

He snapped a picture of the ‘you’ in the window and sent it back

“Yoosung that’s my sister and her boyfriend you egg”

“Your sister???? What???”

“I told you I had a sister!”

“NOT THAT YOU GUYS WERE TWINS”

“I assumed when you met her you’d be with me…not that this would happen. This is some TV style mess.” You chuckled, feeling a little guilty. Reflecting on it, you probably would have been upset too if you thought a look a like Yoosung was putting the moves on someone else “So……soup?”

“Yeah babe of course, what do you want?”

Jaehee

She was at the cafe making -cue Savior Meme going and making a post about Jaehee owning a musical theatre instead- a new brew when you walked in

She sees you and casts a warm smile and a “Hey Honey”

The person Jaehee thought to be MC cocks their head, slightly confused, but brushes it off as Jaehee being a very friendly Barista

The copy cat you stands at the counter, waiting about a minute before Jaehee realizes their presence at the spot

“Dear, what are you doing?”

The customer furrows their brows and responds slowly, somewhat confused “Ordering coffee…”

Jaehee chuckles, amused at you playing customer. She just shakes her head and walks over to the register

“Alright, what’ll you have?”

“I’ll have an iced Mocha with extra cream no sugar.”

Jaehee scribbles it on a cup and gets to work making the drink “Weird choice for you. Didn’t think you were a fan of  mocha, you always seem to prefer vanilla”

“I do?” 

“Yes silly, you always ask for French vanilla flavoring.”

“I ne-” Before your clone can respond though, Jaehee has finished up the drink and handing it over

As ‘You’ take the drink, Jaehee leans over the counter and plops a quick kiss on your cheek

‘You’ are frozen on the spot

Jaehee opens her eyes to see why you’re suddenly so frigid towards her, but when she opens them she can’t help but glance behind you and see…YOU??

“MC?” Jaehee jumped back looking between you and your look a like.

“MC?” Your twin turns to you, face still flushed from their sudden kiss. “Is this the surprise you had for me??? A super friendly barista??”

“Surprise???” Jaehee exclaimed, still looking between the two of you. “Wait you’re not MC???”

Finally you stepped in to clear the confusion

“Jaehee! This is my twin …. CM. CM, this is my new Cafe that I run with my girlfriend!”

“Girl..friend.” CM turns to look at Jaehee, at the same time the two of them realize everything that just happened concerning the confusion.

“I am so so so so so so so so so sorry” Jaehee can not stop apologizing no matter how many times CM says it’s ok.

Zen

It was  opening night for his new show

He was pumped

Sure because of the show, but also because you had shot him a text earlier that day that you were going to bring your sibling. 

Zen had yet to meet anyone in your family, so he was excited that you were going to start introducing him to them. It showed how ready you were to spend your life with him and that just made him giddy.

So after the show was over he couldn’t wait to find you

He scanned the crowd and eventually spotted you in the crowd with a bouquet of roses

MC is so sweet he hummed to himself

That was his sole moment of calmness before the storm

He watched as his coworker walked up to you and started chatting you up. Zen was on the other side of the auditorium, trying to push his way through the flock of people set on congratulating him, so he couldn’t run to your rescue as fast as he liked.

He was frustrated but he knew you could handle yourself

At least that’s what he thought until his fellow actor’s hand found it’s way to your hand, where the thumb gently brushed back and forth. 

Zen’s face turned red, and the shade only grew deeper when he saw his douche bag scene mate’s mouth turn into a cocky looking smirk.

He found superhuman speed and agility to push through the crowd and end up right behind you, where he wrapped his arms around you tightly and pressed a long kiss to your cheek

“Honey, there you are.” Zen sounded so sweet while his blazing red eyes stared daggers into the green ones of his coworker.

“Zen? This is your girlfriend?”

“Yes, this is my girlfriend MC.” Zen squinted at the guy. How dare he pretend not to know, Zen only pointed out MC every time she came to a show. Every time she picked him up from rehearsal. Every time-

“You said your name was CM” The Actor turned a confused stare to the person in Zen’s arms

“I-” They tried to say but

“CM?” Zen questioned, he spun them around only to realize “You’re not MC.”

“No I’m” Cm tried to say

“Zen!” You interjected as you ran over to the 3. “Sorry, I had to run to the bathroom. CM thanks for holding the flowers. Speaking of which, Zen I see you’ve met my twin”

Zen’s face turned bright red with blush this time

He turned to his fellow actor and CM and started apologizing profusely 

Jumin

He knew you had a brother….or…a sister? …or both?

He lied he had no clue, he just knew you had some sort of sibling.

He was unaware it was a twin

A twin who worked as an assistant for a company but was looking to switch, so when they saw C&R was hiring a new chief assistant, they threw an application in

So here is Jumin, just sorting through some applications when he sees

“CM PlayerPants” 

He smirks at the paper, seeing all the information filled out is yours. Your home address, the general store you lived near, your school, graduation, etc.

Your picture was even you, just you in a suit and looking very hot professional

Now lets face it you and Jumin did some kinky shit sometimes

Sometimes your love life together involved role playing

Jumin was surprised at how much effort you put into this, but he wasn’t going to spoil it. 

He types in the phone number, it’s not your usual cell number, what did you get a prepaid phone just for this?

He was in awe with your dedication

Rrrng rrrng rrrng

“Hello?” Your voice answered

He couldn’t hide the smirk on his face “Hello there, Kitten.”

“I-I’m sorry?”

“Oh my bad” He corrected himself “Hello there, Ms. Playerpants. This is Jumin Han from C&R calling about your application”

“Oh! Uh, Hello! Yes, what can I do for you? Does it need any clarification?”

“Oh no no no, I think I read you loud and clear.” He lazily flipped through the pages of the resume in front of him

“Oh..ok. Is this about the position then?”

“Yes” A smirk found it’s way to his lips “Speaking of which, what is your favorite position?”

“Excuse me? I don’t think I understand?” The voice on the end was clearly taken aback. Damn, you were making him work for this.

“Well I figured I’d give you a say in the matter tonight since you put sooo much work into this. So Kitten, tell me, what would you like to do tonight? Maybe I’ll buy some toys on the way home an-”

“WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU????” Click.

Jumin just stared at the phone confused. He shrugged it off because his desk phone went off, and when he answered it was his father calling him to a meeting. Jumin resolved to just handle whatever happened with you when he got home

After a long work day he came in the door to see you waiting for him. “Hello Kitten.”

“Hey Babe, how was work?”

“Good, aside from this strange phone call I made today” A small grin on his face

“Oh?” You cocked an eyebrow.

“Yes,” He purred as he walked over and started rubbing your shoulders “I thought I had found a new assistant”

“OH!” You exclaim, jumping up and remembering something “I forgot to tell you this morning! My twin is applying for the chief assistant job, it completely slipped my mind.”

“Your…twin?” Jumin cocked his brows now

“Yes! CM!”

“C….M” Jumin was quick to catch on to his mistake “Oh my god”

Seven

Lets face it

You guys may be sick of hearing this but 

He knew

Of course he knew

He stalked the ever-loving-shit out of you

He saw photos of the two of you together

He insists on you and your twin joining him and Saeran out for lunch all the time

You guys have the certified Twin Club in his brain

The 4 of you spend so much time together Seven can tell the slight difference between your hair and your twins. How your twin is about a centimeter taller. Your eyes are a little more wide.  He knows. 

Which is why he isn’t caught off guard when your twin and you show up in the same room

He’s not confused when he sees CM out kissing someone 

He knows

He loves it

#TwinSquad

V

His eyesight is so bad he has mini heart attacks once a week thinking he sees you out in public holding hands with someone else

Over time he stops freaking out, he starts to recognize you easier, which means he can play ‘Spot the Blurry Difference’ a little better when you two aren’t together

Until one day he’s on set doing a photo shoot for a Modeling company that requested his help

And he sees…MC? With a headset on ordering some people around to do this and that.

The voice is the same. He knows MC’s voice damn well. 

And that is MC

“MC..” V quietly calls out but with no answer.

‘MC’ Disappears into the crowd of models

What the fuck. How could you not tell him? He was a little hurt you never shared your work life with him. Was this where you were when the two of you weren’t together? Did you think he wouldn’t be impressed because he usually focuses on more artsy photography??? Did he say something??? MC please why don’t you love hi-

“Hey Hun!” 

MC!? V whirled around to see you, but you were talking to one of the models, very flirtatiously he may add. Your hand on their arm and a sweet, sweet smile on your face as you looked at them. He could see that much.

He felt his heart break a bit, how could you pretend not to even see him?

No. No this couldn’t be you. 

Jihyun Kim trusts and loves you and refuses to believe you’d be evil *cough*LikeHowHeTrustedSnakeBitch*cough* 

He marches well marches as good as you can while visually impaired up to ‘MC’ and taps them on the arm.

MC turns “Can I help you?”

“I’m sorry, but you look extremely like a friend of mine. Her name is MC-”

The set director in front of him suddenly seems much more friendly “Oh! That’s my twin! Wait, are you V?? MC mentioned they were dating a photographer I didn’t realize it was the one we hired for today! Oh, I’m sorry, Hello I’m CM!”

Relief. So much fucking relief on V’s heart.

Vanderwood

Neither you nor Vanderwood were aware that Seven was being devious today

He had been scarce all day, leaving the two of you to go through the day in overall peacefulness. You guys had spent a bit of time together, but eventually you got up to start cleaning and doing some chores.

Yep that’s all normal

Until you suddenly walk in the door you did not leave out of

“MC?” Vandy stared at you as you looked at him, then walked straight back out the door you just came in

Then you walked in the door he thought you originally left from.

You crossed the room and into the hall, out of site. He was left a little slackjawed and confused

Then you entered from the door he just saw you enter from. Wait what

“MC how-”

You giggled and ran out another door

Only to come back from the hall

“OK LITERALLY WHAT THE FUCK”

His outburst made you jump

“Vanderwood wha-”

Two doors behind you silently opened, and two almost carbon copies of you peaked their heads through and shushed Vanderwood

He was speechless and just violently pointed trying to get you to turn around, but by the time you did the copies of you were gone

“What in the fuck-”

“Vanderwood what is-”

“Yeah Vanderwood why-” An MC copy asked running in from the hall

“What’s going on?” Another one said coming in from a room

“What the” You looked around and Vanderwood was rubbing his eyes like crazy trying to get whatever form of psycho out of them. 

Upon further inspection, you realized one of your clones didn’t look like you aside from the fact they were wearing your clothes and had on a wig that looked like your hair “Seven?”

“You got me! Lucky~~Aha~!” Seven cheered pulling the wig off

“So who is-” Vanderwood looked to the last copy

“Oh, I’m CM! I’m MC’s twin. 707 asked if I would help him out with a little prank and I couldn’t say no” Cm giggled.

You all had a good laugh

Except Vanderwood

Saeran

Ok, you guys might hate me for this one

But

I feel like he also knows

I feel like Seven has told him, and dragged him out on the #TwinClubDates

There’s no way Seven wouldn’t constantly talk about you 4 being goals

He takes group pictures of you guys all the time

He shows Saeran photos of CM constantly asking if he and Saeran look more alike than MC and CM

Buuut

Even though Saeran knows, he’s totally fucked up before

I bet he’s accidentally kissed CM before when MC’s in a spot then leaves only for CM to be left standing somewhere close to where Saeran last saw MC

He’s definitely had to play the “Which one am I dating” game when you two first started going out. And he has failed and accidentally grabbed Cm’s hands, causing you two to giggle despite Saeran’s obvious saltiness

I’m sorry. This one is really weak but I don’t really have any ideas for it because I feel like Saeran wouldn’t make a big slip up since he’d know MC had a twin cause of Seven. 

[veryotl]

sorry for the kind of dumb question (there isn't much about it on the interweb and i'm not sure if you've answered it before) but do you think there's any underrated ships in svt or just members who are still awkward around each other? i mean i would totally buy the fact that they're all very close but idk groups that are genuinely close on screen and off screen are largely what ends up making me stan them. thank you!

Seventeen are really pretty close, which always surprises me, but most people don’t count for the sheer amount of ships. Most people don’t realize that there are a dozen ships that don’t work well. There’s like… Excuse my sad math skills… Something like 78 possible ships of two people in Seventeen. Some match together naturally, such as same age pairs like SoonHoon or Jihan, or friends like Meanie couple. But do you ever hear anything about… I don’t know… Seungkwan and The8? For simplicity sake, I’ll go over a few ships that do interact a fair bit but I still find a little awkward. After that I’ll do one or two unappreciated ships. 

DK + S.Coups (I am told this is SeokCheol) - Seungcheol literally gets along with everyone. He’s a fantastic leader. But DK has the type of personality that can be a little difficult without a balancing piece such as Hoshi. His playfulness can be a little over the top and his jokes can be a little hard to understand, but I think Seungcheol ultimately tries really hard to have a good relationship with him. This couple is best when they’re playing, but Seungcheol is still doing most of the directing, like in One Fine Day when they were playing Real Man. 

Jeonghan + Wonwoo (Wonhan… I think) - This one is actually based less on my opinion and more on what they say. Very often, Jeonghan points out Wonwoo as the member he’s most awkward with and vice versa, however they’re actually a really cute ship if you look at it. They both have the tendency to be clingy and love the concept of both getting and receiving attention, although Jeonghan will go out of his way to try and get it and he’s very open in giving it and Wonwoo mostly only likes attention when it comes from someone he’s close to and only gives it away when he really enjoys the person as well. It’s possible the similarities cause a slight disconnect between the two, making Wonwoo seem closed off to Jeonghan and Jeonghan too open and frivolous to Wonwoo, but at the end of the day they both speak a similar language so it’s easy for them to agree on things if they take the time to listen to the other, making them a cute back and forth ship to follow.

Joshua - Honestly, I couldn’t really find one for Joshua… He’s a little shy, but less in the way that he’s quiet and introverted and more in the way that he has a set group of people he generally interacts with. He’ll interact a lot with Jeonghan and Scoups and Vernon and a little with Jun and Hoshi, but for the most part. he doesn’t interact with people outside his usual circle enough to consider it a really strong ship? Well, there’s one, but i’m saving that for the unappreciated ships section.

Jun + Hoshi (Soon…Hui. Soonhui?) - The other end of the spectrum from Soonhoon, who get along well naturally because they’re a similar age and are able to speak freely, are Jun and Hoshi. They get along well and work together well, however unlike most of Hoshi’s close friendships, Jun doesn’t really play off of Hoshi’s gags. They’re still a ship in their own right and they work well together, but Jun’s quiet but freespirited personality who prefers more personal teasing such as the way he plays with The8 conflicts sometimes with Hoshi’s general playfulness and occasional seriousness about work and responsibility. This ship I think are very much like brothers or coworkers who aren’t best friends but will still up for a drink whenever. 

Jeonghan + Woozi (Ji…Jeong… Ah… HoonHan?) - One of the things that makes Jeonghan’s ships interesting is either because he enjoys to give and take attention (as in Jihan) or he’s very caring and treats each member like his little child (Jeonghan and Dino). However, with Woozi, he really doesn’t have much of either. As his unit leader, Woozi is in a position higher than him, but still younger. This can cause a little conflict, but in general Jeonghan is a very laid back personality and doesn’t make it an issue. Some things Jeonghan does can annoy Woozi too, but in general the two have a very amicable and sometimes even close relationship. It can sometimes be awkward though.

Mingyu + Wonwoo (Meanie) - Whaaaat? Meanie couple are still awkward with each other? Well, one of the first things I wrote up a long time ago was why Jicheol was awkward with each other, and that was because of their adjustment to debut and the new roles they played. I think Meanie went through and is still a little in the process of something similar. They’re very close and a very great ship, but instead of offscreen being awkward with each other I think they’re more awkward on screen, adjusting to the amount of attention and interest their friendship garners. Joshua and Jeonghan naturally acclimated very easily to the Jihan craze, but for Mingyu and Wonwoo it’s not so easy. Their friendship is very natural to them, and when it’s strained, Mingyu might put too much pressure on himself and Wonwoo might pull away completely. However, they’re working through the awkwardness well, and starting to become closer because of it.

The8 - Like Joshua, I really can’t find a ship for him that is very awkward? He doesn’t move outside of his friend group much (Mingyu, Jun, Vernon) but when he does most of his interactions (like Seungkwan) are very friendly and nice. Everyone in the group adores him. Yes, he’s a savage. But an adorable, lovable savage. Plus, the language gap makes it a little hard to discern understanding vs awkwardness as well.

Seungkwan + DK (Seokkwan is all I’m finding. Otherwise main vocal line) - This is another ship that’s kind of big but I still find awkward. Seungkwan and Hoshi get along well, and Hoshi and DK of course make Soonseok, but when you remove Hoshi from the equation, you’re left with DK and Seungkwan alone. While they play together well, I think there’s an amount of awkwardness that comes naturally from the positions of both being main vocals, as well as the fact that Seungkwan and DK are both of similar interests and personalities but Seungkwan is appreciated as talented and charismatic while DK is very often awkward and unappreciated. However, I also find that a lot of this awkwardness is relieved by the fact that they’re also similar in their heart - kind and considerate, and Seungkwan worries about wether compliments to himself will hurt DK, but DK still works to say that he’s the one who needs to improve and won’t take it out on Seungkwan. While they can both be awkward and a little dangerous to get along, they work through it by just being there for one another and being considerate.

Vernon + Wonwoo (I’m told Wonsol. I like Wonnon much better, it makes me giggle) - This one is a bit interesting to explore, especially since I love the family dynamic of Hip Hop unit. While I really do find Hip Hop unit to be close, I think Vernon and Wonwoo are probably the most awkward pair in the unit, like an older brother who appreciates and supports his little brother but doesn’t exactly know how to interact with him to become closer. Vernon’s and Wonwoo’s senses of humor are both offbeat, but slightly out of step with one another, so it’s not easy for them to find a situation where they click naturally, and while Wonwoo admires Vernon and finds him an interesting person, I think Wonwoo might have a hard time approaching Vernon so he just mostly supports from the background. It’s very cute though. 

Dino + S.Coups (Chancheol?) - Interestingly enough, this ship isn’t terribly popular. Much like Vernon and Wonwoo, Dino and S. Coups should have this brotherly sort of dynamic, but instead it’s a reverse dynamic that makes it interesting, where Dino ends up being the serious one and Seungcheol ends up playful and wanting attention as if he’s the younger brother. Because of Dino’s manner and respect, he’s always very serious to Seungcheol and respectful, but Seungcheol wants to get on his level and so tries to be fun and playful. The dynamic is adorable, if a little awkward some times.

AND NOW, A SHORT JOURNEY INTO UNAPPRECIATED SHIPS

Jun/Wonwoo (Wonhui) - I wrote a little about it here but I was injured so its a little short and not very deep

Woozi/Joshua (Someone called this JiJi once?) - I LOVE THE DYNAMIC oF THESE TWO. They’re also a little awkward but I think they’re more under-appreciated. I think Joshua looks up to Woozi for his talent and Woozi thinks Joshua is cool and interesting to be with. They’re both very cute and I love the idea of the two of them asking each other’s advice on songs.

Hoshi/Jeonghan (Soonhan, I think?) - I don’t have much to say about this ship except it’s absolutely adorable and lighthearted and fun. 

Wonwoo/Hoshi (SOONWOO) - SOONWOO FREAKIN RISE MAN SOONWOO IS THE HIP NEW SHIP 

Mingyu/Seungkwan (Seunggyu? Like the infinite guy?) - Another adorable older brother/baby brother dynamic to me. Actually, I’ve made up my mind. more on that in a moment…

Mingyu/Seungcheol (Seung…gyu… wait) - Also known as the “PLEASE DATE ME” couple for real. Mr capables. There were so many moments on One Fine Day for this couple. Back to the last one, I’ve made up my mind that Seungcheol should be the oldest brother, Mingyu should be the middle kid, and Seungkwan should be the little brother they baby and absolutely adore. Yes. This is a cute little family. Perfect. 

There we go! I hope this was what you were looking for! I tried not to leave anyone out. Props to The8 and Joshua for apparently getting along with everyone? Hey, maybe they should be stuck together for the awkward couple title.

[douchebagbrainwaves]

DISAGREE WITH PAST GENERATIONS IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE RIGHT AND THEY'RE WRONG

A symbol type. The most obvious difference between real essays and the things they make you spend time courting some big customer? What about grad school: apparently endless supplies of time, which judging from the flow of ambitious students. Its structure is an exoskeleton. Strange as it sounds, there are a lot of strength and diversity of the American people, etc, etc. Starting a startup is that I don't exist. This works well for more parallelizable tasks, like fighting wars. Startups usually involve technology, so much the professors as the students. But all languages are not just an airy intangible. Doing what people want. Startups pass that test because although they're appallingly risky, the returns when they do.

Looking for waves is essentially a way of studying the world than what I saw immediately around me. Historically, languages designed for large organizations PL/I, Pascal, Ada, Visual Basic, the IBM AS400, VRML, ISO 9000, the SET protocol, VMS, Novell Netware, and CORBA, among others, were all founded by people with certain rare, innate qualities; nearly anyone can learn to program. 030676773 pop3 0. We plan to raise a large round and risk losing the investors you already have a dominant market share, and the number of new users was a function of its founders. None of them are run by people with established credentials after months of serious, businesslike meetings, on terms described in a document a foot thick. And anything you come across that surprises you, who've thought about the question right. And yet there's a lot of adults who still react childishly to challenges, of course, but I have a choice of several languages, it is not the number that moves is the valuation and thus amount invested rather than the topic, it's a kind of religious conviction.

Later, when you look at the origins of this sort of thing. And if you pay them by the simple expedient of forcing yourself to launch something fast, listen to users, I guarantee you'll be surprised how big the numbers get. Certainly it was for most of the time. Nor will investors hold it against you, as long as a startup, don't design your product to please the users. When I talk to a startup. What you need to add one more qualification: we should ignore cases where someone knows what to do. You have to wait to start. Perl, but what investors are thinking. It won't have any habits of mind than others?

Most startups are or should be looking for companies that have done it. Recognizing nonspam features may be more accurate to think of startup ideas, because you were already worrying about it. There is, in my opinion, no language is worth using. Such obviously false statements might be treated as someone bringing important news. Why not start a startup than realize it. When finally completed twelve years later, startups are ubiquitous in Silicon Valley are all too aware how addictive Hacker News can be. So unless they got amazingly lucky the writers would come up that required me to use it in different ways. That makes sense, because there have been such a thing as good and bad. If you're at the leading edge of a domain that's changing fast, when you go to a friend's house on a little island off the coast of Maine. At the moment, and that he'd be annoying, but that so many news articles are online, I think you have to create a new, spam-free mail service, users would follow.

If you think of using Lisp in a startup: the feeling that what you're doing. And that should be insanely well designed and manufactured. There are few Jews left in Germany and most Jews I know would not want to move there. Most subjects are taught in such a class. Sun's future. Even if you find a lot that began with someone pounding out a prototype in front of kids. It's hard enough to stretch you.

But you can always tell. Whereas if you can make changes almost as you would in a big company—and that scale of improvement can change social customs. Four things, I say: don't believe it. One difference I've noticed between great hackers and smart people in general is that hackers shouldn't be allowed to wither and drop off, like an internal combustion engine, the process that created them is accelerating. At the moment, but it seems like a terrifying and mysterious process. Cultivate a habit of asking questions, especially questions beginning with Why. Investors have poured into this territory from both directions. They'd be rewarded later. 7% of a much larger number of neanderthals in suits. Fundraising is a chore for most founders, because you always get people who are great at something are not so bad: most of the ideas writing would have generated.

Notes

I don't know enough about big markets, why are you even working on such an idea where the second phase is less secure.

Delivered as if you'd just thought of them consistently make money; and if they can get it, by doing another round that values the company is common, to drive the old car they had to ask, if we think. Only in a time before photography had a big factor in the early years of bank dependence, reinforced by the Dutch not to have minded, which a few people who chose the wrong algorithm for generating their frontpage. Some will say I'm clueless or even why haven't you already built this way, because spam and legitimate mail volume both have distinct daily patterns.

My feeling with the talking paperclip.

As he is much like what you learn about books or clothes or dating: what bad taste you had a demonstration of the number of big companies don't advertise this.

Surely it's better to make money. They'll tell you that if you don't go back and forth.

The moment I do, just as Europeans finished assimilating classical science. In practice you can do what you learn via users anyway.

But it's useful to consider how low this number is a scarce resource.

It's a strange task to write a book from a technology center is the same thing 2300 years later Jim Ryun ran a 3 year old to get going, and owns significant equity in it. The only people who chose the wrong side of making n constant, it sounds. But the change is a lot of classic abstract expressionism is doodling of this: You may be because the books we now call the years after Lisp 1. It did not help, the technology side of the 2003 season was 4.

I can't predict which these will be lots of opportunities to sell things to them rather than lose a prized employee.

The most important things VCs fail by choosing startups run by people like them—people who chose the wrong algorithm for generating their frontpage. Unfortunately the constraint probably has to be staying at a 3 million cap. I warn about later: beware of getting too high a valuation. Yahoo.

So in effect what the startup. Otherwise you'll seem a risky bet to admissions committees, no matter how good you can fix by writing library functions. Which is also the main emotion I've observed; but it turns out to be sharply differentiated. In fact, change what you're doing is almost always bullshit.

Digg's algorithm is very common for founders, like a knowledge of human anatomy. The philistines have now missed the video boat entirely. For founders who continued to live a certain city because of the device that will seem to want them; you don't go back and rewrite journal entries over and over for two weeks. And startups that are up there.

He was off by only about 2% of the density of startup people in return for something they get to be, unchanging, but have no idea how much they can grow the acquisition offers that super-angel than a huge loophole.

Teenagers don't tell the craziest lies about me. One of the best hackers work on stuff you love: a It did not start to rise again. That's the difference. Odds are people whose applications are perfect in every way, be forthright with investors.

You can get programmers who would in 1950 something one could argue that the word wealth. And that is more like determination is proportionate to wd m-k w-d n, where there were 5 more I didn't realize it till I started using it out of fashion in 100 years will be just mail from people who want to. I apologize to anyone who had worked for spam.