#there is so right or wrong way to interpret or play with fandom- leave people alone

[metis-iphigenia]

As someone who has been a fan of The Odyssey, being inside the Epic: The Musical fandom has been absolutely so amazing. Every Saga that has happened up to the Ithaca Saga was just so,,, great that I can't find words😭😭 Not only that it has been amazing to read other peoples interpretion of the Gods, Myths, Monsters and Heroes alike.

Anyway, I can't get over the Ithaca Saga and how beautiful every song sounds. So have some of my favourite moments in this Saga.

1- The Challenge

In the past Sagas, I have already been too in love with the violin playing whenever Penelope was mentioned etc, not only that I already knew the singer of Penelope had an amazing voice. BUT OH MY LOVE DID THE VOICE CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD./pos

Sirens are real guys and she is one of them(real information)

I don't have a significant favourite part in this song because honestly Anna Lea's voice is so captivating that the entire song passes in a very fun way. Just a very beautiful, sorrowful song overall.

2- Hold Them Down

I already knew this song from the snippets released before but hearing it from Ayron's voice was a whole different experience. He was SO good. Again, the whole song was amazing.

"Can't you guys see we're being played? This is how they hold us down while the throne gets colder. Hold us down while we slowly age. Hold us down while the boy gets bolder. Where in the hell is our pride and our rage?"

One of my favourite moments in this song was this probably. While listening, I actually got the feeling that the suitors were fed up from waiting for Penelope to choose a king. I think Ayron did a wonderful job in not only singing a villainous song but also making us feel how entitled the suitors are actually are.

I especially loved the moment where Antinous gets hit with an arrow by Odysseus and him encouraging the others about their plan is cut off. I will admit, I did audibly laughed at that.

3- Odysseus

I literally can't think of words to describe the emotions I was feeling while listening to this song. I think this is my favourite song alongside of "Would You Fall in Love with Me Again".

The electric guitar playing in the start, again the symbol of him becoming a monster and leaving his humanity(the acoustic guitar) MAN I LOVED THIS SONG.

Him aiming for the torches just like Scylla has done was a great add to that too. Bunch of people has already pointed out this before but it can never be too many amiright? But yeah he really is using every trick in his domain just like Hermes told him to and I love it.

"Somewhere in the shadows lurks an agile, deadly foe..."

(...)

"He's using the darkness to hide his approaches!"

The image of Odysseus as Batman popped up in my head after these lines and I can't get it out😭(That au would be so amazing though, especially Talia as Penelope and Damian as Telemachus.)

"You don't think I know my own palace? I built it."

I was already smiling during this whole song and I screamed when he said this. like okay king you go slay I am right behind you

"Old king, our leader is dead. You've destroyed the serpent's head, now the rest of us are no longer a threat.

Old king, forgive us instead, so that no more blood is shed. Let's have open arms instead."

Well It is not a Saga if it doesn't have an "open arms" comeback I guess. Though I did cackle when Odysseus said "No" and killed the guy.

Honestly, deserved. I might be remembering it wrong but I think Eurymachus also asks for forgiveness in The Odyssey? Really glad Odysseus didn't grant it in The Odyssey and in The Epic because from what I remember in The Odyssey, Eurymachus was Antinous' right-hand man and just as bad as him. (Correct me if I am wrong please, It has been a while since the last time I read The Odyssey)

I have no idea who sings Eurymachus in Epic but this whole part was just enough for me to want to learn who it is.

TELEMACHUS' PART! Mico's voice is already beautiful to listen to and it became way more beautiful with the backround music. His own theme music, violin symbolising all that he has learned from his mother. Those sounds just went really well against eachother in my opinion.

"Brothers, we have company, and he's made a grave mistake."

The way this guy sang the sentence, especially "grave mistake" was so satisfying. Absolutely so satisfying I love it.

Also, I heard somewhere that the "Odysseus" repeating in the backround was how the name was pronounced and I love that detail. I loved whenever his name was said in the backround and it is also very interesting how every monsters song is named after them, just like this song.

The screams of the suitors after the whole slaughter is over was a really nice touch, I love it when Jorge adds screams into his songs.

The speech Odysseus gives is also worth to mention.

Mercy? Mercy? My mercy has long since drowned, It died to bring me home. And as long as you're around, my family's fate is left unknown.

You plotted to kill my son, you planned to rape my wife! All of you are going to die!

I also love how it doesn't beat it around the bush about what the suitors were planning to do to Penelope. It should be said as it is, they were planning to rape her which is so vile and awful. Which what made their deaths so satisfying exactly.

Overall, Odysseus was an amazing song. So amazing that I will be going insane about it to my friends for the next 2 months probably.

4- I Can't Help but Wonder

I was crying by the end of this song. Seeing them FINALLY reunite was so 😭😭😭 ALSO THEIR HUG. ☹️☹️☹️/pos

Oh my son, look how much you've grown. Oh my boy, the sweetest joy I've known. Twenty years ago I held you in my arms, how time has flown.

Used to say I'd make the storm clouds cry for you, used to say I'd capture wind and sky for you. Held you in my arms prepared to die for you, oh how times has flown.

Hi, so this should be illegal! All I want to say about this song is how emotional and beautiful it was. And I love how it reminded me of "Dear Theodosia" in Hamilton.

THE WARRIOR OF THE MIND COMEBACK. DEAD AND BURIED. I am not well after that ☹️☹️ Also Odysseus putting everything behind for his family,,, falls to knees with my hands ripping my hair... I am so happy for them.

5- Would You Fall in Love with Me Again?

Finally, we are onto the song that made me shit tears. The OdyPen reunion we all were waiting for just like they were.

THE VIOLIN IN THE START. It is so beautiful just like Penelope, I can't get over it.

Again, Anna Lea's voice make me want to just drop everything I have and listen to it until I start to lose the ability to hear. It is so amazing.

Love how whenever someone uses the word "Waiting" in the song, Its volume and impact raises more than the last one. I especially loved Penelope ending it with "for you." saying that it was him she was waiting for, not love itself because to her, he is her love. I don' know if that made sense but hope I was able to explain it.

The part where Penelope asks Odysseus to carry their wedding bed away from here was such a beautiful moment becasue Anna Lea just sang it very beautifully(as she does as always) It was so emotional and so beautiful.

How could you say this?

I had built that wedding bed with my blood and sweat, carved it into the olive tree where we first met. A symbol of my love everlasting...

Do you realize what you have asked me? The only way to move it is to it cut from its roots!

I just find their Tree Bed very sweet that is all. And a lot of people have pointed out how in The Odyssey, Penelope asked her husband this to prove to herself that this is her husband, while in Epic she asked this to prove to him that he is her husband. I find that change very sweet.

I will fall in love with you over and over again. I don’t care how, where, or when, no matter how long it’s been you're mine.

Don’t tell me you’re not the same person! You’re always my husband and I’ve been waiting, waiting.

The emotion in her voice OHHHH I AM NOT SURVIVING THIS SAGA.

Never getting over the fact that Epic The Musical ended with Odysseus and Penelope saying "I love you." to eachother. NEVER.

There are so much more things I want to say about this banger of a Saga. But for now, I will just congratulate them all on their beautiful voices(EVERY single person who sang in this musical has amazing voice, counting other Sagas too. Holy damn, y'all are amazing.)

The fandom has been an AWESOME one to be in too! Everyone is such amazing people and not only that all of you are very talented. So congratulations to every and each one of you who have done fanarts, fanfictions, animations, fan songs, analysis and so so much more about the Musical, all of you are amazing. <33

[sleepy-crypt1d]

The belief of "if you like [insert ship] then you dont understand the characters" is baffling to me.

Because that's not what shipping is about.

I don't want to see these characters making out on screen, I don't want them to be made canon, I have no interest in the main story being changed just for a relationship to work. What I DO want to see is the what-if scenarios of how these people would end up together.

That's what shipping is, the what-ifs, the possibilities, the understanding that of course this is never gonna happen but what would it take for them to cross the line? What needs to happen to make him say that, y'know?

You can understand a character perfectly, can know them more than you're own brain and have never once strayed from their canon and still find the possible dynamic of them and a character interesting.

You can still imagine scenarios of 'what if he said this instead?' 'what if this went differently?' 'what would it take for them to mesh just right?' and you can do it ENTIRELY in character.

People explore ships and enjoy ships because they are a way to mess with different dynamics and ideas, not because it's what they want to see on screen, and not because they think it makes complete or perfect sense. They simply find the dynamic and 'what if they kissed' ideas enticing. That's all it is.

Fandom is for having fun, it's for relaxing and playing with digital dolls and writing fanfiction about if the dolls had trauma, and this weird elitism of 'well you don't get them like I do so therefore YOUR interpretation is wrong' is just. . . mean?

Trust me, I get not liking certain ships or HCs, I do that all the time but I also know that I don't live in that person's head. I don't know the dynamic they see, doesn't matter if they're 'in-character' or not. There are plenty of ships I have seen and haven't liked at first but then after seeing a person's AU or fic, I change my mind based on that interpretation.

Making the claim that 'you don't really understand these characters or the story' based on someone having fun with the source material is so strange to me. Not everything has to be serious 100% of the time. People will see things differently than you, and saying that they're 'fake fans' or 'don't get it' because of that feels so silly to me.

No one is lesser of a fan because they ship something.

I am so sorry for such a long post, I am just very passionate about this subject.

TLDR; people are still on their 'real fans vs fake fans' trip and I'm tired of it.

[teamfreewill58]

Atem Leaving Was Wrong

Like many other members of the fandom I have a lot of thoughts about Atem going to the afterlife at the end of the series and also a lot of issues with it. I watched it straight through recently and it’s just so clear that it was not the right thing for Atem and also a really shitty way for the story to treat him. Let’s for a moment ignore the weird sudden push of “it’s not right for souls to remain with the living” that Ishizu kept insisting on and then claimed that’s what Yugi was telling Atem through the monster reborn card (which by the way could have been taken another way but I’ll get to that later.) The main reason the story insists on Atem returning to the afterlife is because it’s supposed to signify that Yugi has grown up and grown into himself as a person and no longer needs to rely on Atem the way that he did for a good portion of the series. “If I don’t become stronger, my other self can never leave my soul”. (Yugi Episode 221 8:18)

But the issue with this is that Atem--just like Yugi--is a person and people don’t just peace out of your life because they’ve taught you an important lesson or helped you grow. Yes, Atem and Yugi taught each other and helped each other grow, but that’s not a reason for Atem to leave.

What they learn from each other isn’t going to suddenly get negated because Atem stays--if anything it would create a new growing experience for Atem and Yugi because now they have a different dynamic and relationship that they would have to figure out and try to navigate. 

So, back to Ishizu’s “it’s not right for the dead to stay with the living” and “that’s what Yugi is saying to Atem” by putting Monster Reborn in Gold Sarcophagus during the final duel. First off, this doesn’t apply to Atem because he didn’t die. His spirit was used to seal Zorc and as we’ve seen again and again throughout Yu-gi-oh a character’s spirit no longer being inside their body doesn’t mean they’ve died. Characters have lost their souls multiple times and had it put back in a body. Atem’s body is never mentioned and neither is the notion that his mummy is in his tomb. Second, Ishizu is making a whole lot of assumptions for people she hardly even knows. When Yugi reveals the card, Ishizu thinks, “Yugi is sending Atem a message. The soul of the dead must not remain in the world of the living.” (Episode 224 14:33) But no, Yugi isn’t sending Atem a message. And if he is, it's not the one Ishizu says he’s sending. He’s playing the game. “I knew you were going to do that, my other self. Because if I were you, I’d summon a God too.” (Episode 224 13:29) Showcasing how well Yugi and Atem know each other and have gotten to know each other and that Yugi has developed new skills. If we are to interpret it as Yugi giving Atem a message I’d say it’s Yugi saying what he’s said the whole duel, “I’ve grown and you’ve made me better and we both have been reborn”. But it is NOT Yugi telling Atem he needs to leave because Yugi and Atem have stated and showed again and again and again that they want to stay together whether that’s in separate bodies or the same one. In episode 52, right after the Millennium Puzzle got smashed and Yugi is home from the hospital Atem and Yugi talk:  

Atem: Thank you. You risked your life to assemble the Millennium Puzzle during the fire.

Yugi: It was Jonouchi and Honda who saved us.

Atem: You’re right. We have great friends.

Yugi: Yes.

Atem: What are you thinking about? (7:21-8:01)

Yugi: Who are you really? I want to know. 

Atem: Why?

Yugi: Why? Because….

Atem: I don’t know anything.

Yugi: Huh?

Atem: I knew you would ask me eventually. And I planned to answer honestly. I don’t know my name or where I came from. I don’t have any memories.I don’t know who I am. (13:07-13:39)

Yugi: Sorry. I should’ve never brought it up, so let’s not talk about it again. 

Atem: The one thing I know is that I only exist because you hold the Millennium Puzzle.

Yugi: That’s enough.

Atem: But I-

Yugi: I said enough!

Atem: I want to stay with you forever. I don’t care if I never get my memories back.

Yugi: I also want to be with you forever. I’m willing to give you all my memories. (20:27-21:11)

I do feel like its very important to point out here that Yugi is in a heightened emotional state. He was caught in a fire, the Millennium Puzzle was shattered, shattering his connection to Atem and based off how Yugi is sitting on the bed staring at the puzzle hugging his legs--in addition to the fact that he is thinking about reassembling the puzzle in the fire---he didn’t know that Atem was still inside the puzzle until Atem initiated this particular conversation.

Yugi’s clearly been sitting here also thinking about the fact that Atem isn’t another personality of his or anything along those lines because he says “Who are you really?” He then feels a mix of emotions when Atem admits he planned to answer honestly but doesn’t know anything about himself. He feels guilt because he apologizes and says he should never have brought it up and then tries to completely close the conversation “so let’s not talk about it again”. And then he gets upset when Atem adds “I only exist because you hold the Millenium Puzzle.” Because this drives home that if the puzzle had got destroyed or lost in the fire Atem would have really been lost forever and that scares Yugi. At this point in the story it scares Yugi to realize that Atem can leave or be taken away. I suspect that if Yugi hadn’t cut Atem off he would have said “But I do want to know who I am.” However he doesn’t finish it because Yugi cuts him off and Atem picks up just how distressed Yugi is which is why he doesn’t finish his statement and switches to reassuring Yugi that he wants to stay with him.

Atem wants to stay with Yugi but he also wants to know who he is but now he can’t talk about it with Yugi because he’s seen it upset Yugi and this is part of why he’s depressed in the following episode. Yugi mentions “My other self seems depressed these days. He won’t open up to me.” (Episode 53 2:48) 

Atem also confirms to Anzu:

“We both don’t know where we want to go. Who am I? Where did I come from? And I don’t know where I’m going. But it’s fine. I’m fine as is.” (Episode 53 5:28-5:49)

Atem: My dreams…But I can keep the status quo by not pursuing my dreams. 

Anzu: You’re really fine with that?

Atem: I want to know more about myself. I want to know where I should go. But if I keep the status quo, I can stay in his heart forever. And that’s also what he wants.” (episode 53 10:34-10:56)

Here Atem confirms that he wants to know who he is but that he also meant it when he said he wanted to stay with Yugi, for him it’s not a “I have to choose one or the other it’s I want both of these and plan to do what I can to have both.” He doesn’t say “I want to go where I’m supposed to” he just wants to know what that place is. He further confirms in episode 54 “My partner doesn’t know that I saw the tablet today. Can you keep the tablet and what Ishizu said a secret? Even if I get my memories back I don’t know if I can stay with my partner. I don’t want him to worry for no reason. We always build my deck together. His soul makes up half of this deck. When he truly understands me, this deck will unleash its true power.”  (episode 54 17.20)

Again Atem being mindful of Yugi’s fears and concerns that were brought up the previous night but also reaffirming that he wants to stay with Yugi. Then also adding that without his memories Yugi--and honestly, no one--- can truly understand him and that’s something that he wants. 

When Ishizu gives them the Millennium Necklace they have this conversation shortly after: 

Atem: You can’t sleep? (19:00 Episode 95)

Yugi: The other me.

Atem: What are you thinking about?

Yugi: Well….When we gather all the Millennium Items…I’ll eventually have to go to Egypt and place them in the tablet of memories. That’s my role as the vessel for your soul. When that time comes…Let’s go to sleep! Tomorrow is the finals.

Atem: Yeah. (19:38)

*Yugi then turns on his side so Atem can’t see him and cries.*

Atem: Partner… (19:40 Episode 94)

This scene in particular we can tell from Yugi and Atem’s expressions that they still don’t want to do this, Yugi looks incredibly sad about it and look at the shot of Atem when Yugi is saying “That’s my role as the vessel of your soul.” (12:20 Episode 94) he’s listening attentively but its just so clear in his expression that leaving isn’t what he wants. In their final duel it's mentioned that Atem's pride as a duelist won't let him just lose and Yugi does have some inflections here but unlike Ishizu Yugi does know Atem.

Literally spelled out right here, even on the day of the final duel, his "one chance" to go to the afterlife and Atem and Yugi both don't want him to go. Yugi picks up on this and also admits it in these pages.

The only reason they are doing this is because we have a character who keeps insisting that the dead shouldn't be with the living, that the Millennium Items need to be sealed away, and that if Atem doesn't go he'll be stuck there for eternity.

But the Millennium Items DON'T need to be sealed away anymore. When Atem accepts the Ring from Jonouchi he looks at it and goes, "There's no evil inside the Millennium Ring." (4:19 Ep 220) Zorc is defeated, that means all the Millennium Items are now just gold artifacts. They are EMPTY. Let's not forget the entire process Atem had to use in order to seal Zorc in the Milennium Ring, it isn't as though someone can come by and just infuse it with new darkness. Hell they still could have put them in the tablet, Atem and Yugi have the duel so that they can know Yugi and Atem have grown and are better and the place still collapses after Atem decides he doesn't want to go.

The Atem being stuck there for eternity if he doesn't do it now. Why? What lore says he'll be stuck there? This is an additional arbitrary rule that just got thrown in so that he'd have to leave. When they have the final duel Atem and Yugi split and Atem clearly has a body. His soul is no longer attached to the Puzzle because the Puzzle is in the tablet. Even if he can't have his own body it's clarified that Yugi IS Atem's vessel so why can't Atem and Yugi just share the same body and switch as they have been? It's incredibly unfair to Atem who not only barely had a childhood because he became Pharaoh at 15 AND got sealed but his time with Yugi is very very short, its like a year to little over a year? Yes Atem probably misses his family and friends from Egypt but he also deserved to have an actual life and it's just cruel and fucked up that he gets taken away from the people he loves twice. The first time he had a say and it was his choice but the second and final time he was literally forced by the narrative and it is just such a bullshit way to treat such a good character.

[chrysalis-the-butterfly]

❤️🧡💚 !!

❤️ Which character do you think is the most egregiously mischaracterised by the fandom?

I was going to say Angel Dust, but then I realised it's mostly the hatedom that mischaracterises him, not the fandom. For the most part, the fans have a much better understanding of his character. Probably because they enjoy the show and watch it a lot and read about it a lot and think about it a lot, which gives them plenty of time to examine his many facets - whereas haters will probably watch the show once, dislike it too much to revisit it, and therefore never get past their initial assumptions about Angel.

Trying to think of another character that the fandom does mischaracterise is actually quite tricky. Everyone has a mix of good and bad interpretations.

So I'll tentatively say Sera.

I don't agree with the theories that she's going to become an all-out villain who brutalises the demons. Apparently some people have written fanfics about her torturing Sir Pentious, which ... I'm sorry, what?!

I think it's wrong to say that Sera doesn't have a compassionate bone in her body. (Come to think of it, do angels have bones at all?)

From what little we saw of her in Season 1, I believe she's going to be more of a well-intentioned leader who tried to do the right thing, but with limited information. She does seem to genuinely care about Emily, and I think that care could be extended to the Sinners and the redeemed in the right circumstances.

I suppose it's possible that her nice behaviour could all just be an act, and that I'll be a fool for letting my guard down, but I highly doubt it.

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

That Angel Dust will kill Valentino and stop doing sex work.

Regarding killing Val ... I don't think it's completely impossible, but I do think Angel would need to go through a lot of healing time away from Val before he's mentally ready to fight him. After all, when we see Val from Angel's point of view in Episode 4, he's cast in shadow and towering over Angel. He seems to Angel like an immovable object.

Look at how brash and bold Angel is at the Hotel compared to how timid and appeasing he is to Val. No way is Angel in the right headspace to think he has a chance of taking Val's life.

Also, to anyone who keeps asking why Angel didn't just shoot Val in Season 1: a) He didn't have access to angelic steel bullets until the finale. b) He's terrified of Val and the abuse has messed with his brain. c) You can't criticise Husk for supposedly "victim-blaming" Angel and then go and do it yourself.

Regarding the possibility of him leaving sex work ... I suspect that won't happen. If it did, it would imply that the sex work was the problem, not Valentino. I think the Hellaverse is trying to be more sex-positive than that. (Husk doesn't have an issue with Angel being a "dick-sucking ho," after all.)

So I think it's more likely that after breaking free of Val, Angel would keep doing sex work, but this time making ethical porn with people who actually care about his safety.

💚 What does everyone else get wrong about your favorite character?

That you're supposed to focus on the sexual harassment Angel was doing in the early episodes and never let it go and definitely never let Huskerdust become a thing because of it.

I'm mostly thinking of the haters here. It baffles me how many of them bring up Angel's earlier behaviour but don't take into account how he changed over the course of the series.

Yes, Angel was harassing Husk. Yes, he did keep bothering Husk after Husk made it clear he didn't like it. At first. But do you know what happened after Episode 4?

Angel stopped.

Not enough haters bring that up. Probably because it doesn't fit their argument.

After Episode 4, the worst Angel does is greet Lucifer with "Heya, short king!" (without even invading Lucifer's personal space, unlike Niffty) and laugh at Husk's comment that the angels won't stop coming (which is basically just him playing Innuendo Bingo and not targeting anyone in particular to make them feel uncomfortable).

Angel may not have apologised to Husk onscreen, but he has clearly shown himself to be capable of changing his behaviour. That's more than Val's ever done.

Actually, let's compare Angel's misdeeds to Val's. Angel comes on to Husk (and other men) as a way of saying, "Hey, hot stuff! Just so you know, I'm available for sex! You can fuck me if you wanna! In fact, I actively encourage you to plough me into the bed so I don't have to think about how shitty my life is, but of course I'll never say that out loud. Whaddaya say, handsome?"

But he never pushes it to the point of rape. He does get pretty touchy-feely, but when Husk says no to sex, Angel doesn't ignore it and have sex with him anyway.

By contrast, Val's approach is more like, "You will do as I say and you will have sex, or I will make you pay, you bitch!" Val forces himself on people. Val is controlling. Val always has to get what he wants. Angel never brings himself to do that.

I'm not trying to downplay the wrongs of sexual harassment - I'm just pointing out the differences to show how absurd it is to act like Angel Dust is an irredeemable monster when Valentino is right there.

As for the suggestion that Angel's behaviour irrevocably taints Huskerdust and means you can't ship it, I don't think that needs to be the case. Ships don't have to be perfect. They can be an opportunity to explore messy character dynamics as well as fluffy ones. "I ship it" doesn't (or shouldn't) mean, "I judge these two people to be a healthy couple." It just means, "I find the idea of a romance between these two interesting."

The fact that Angel stops harassing Husk is already a step in the right direction. The question now is about whether it's possible for a relationship that began in a rocky way to turn out good in the end. And, well ... isn't the entire show about redemption and second chances? Wouldn't it be in line with the themes of Hazbin Hotel for Angel and Husk to go from botheration to romance?

[valworth]

I do think that Wrightworth's popularity makes the AA fandom slightly uninhabitable. I'm by no means the first person to say this, but it sure is on my mind. This isn't to say I don't understand the appeal. I do. They have some incredibly strong moments and are an interesting, compelling couple. They are also both massive bitches, which is tremendously fun. My issue lies more so in how inescapable it is.

I think both Phoenix and Edgeworth deserve the grace to be interpreted apart from each other. They are individuals, with massive lives outside of the other. I think it's really insulting when some can't bear to think of the two apart, god forbid in other relationships, for more than five seconds before they have to make a joke about how they're the most important couple. We get it. Can people talk about something else, though?

Not only that, but I yearn for more varied and nuanced depictions of their relationship, if we're using them at all. My request will always be to make it fail. They're so compelling as a failed couple. I mean, god. You, on an obsessive whim, shape your life around chasing this guy. This guy you knew for a year in elementary school. You have other reasons, but always in your mind, there he is. This thing that's just out of reach, a goal to pursue. Then it happens. You get him, and you win, and it's everything you dreamed. And then it isn't. It just doesn't work. Plain and simple, cruel and real. You're not a good couple, and it crumbles, and every time you see him from that point forward, you have this pang of anger. This feeling of betrayal. You were not what I wanted you to be.

Then there's the inverse of that. The feelings that come from being a trophy, a conquest, an item. They both lack the emotional intelligence to talk about and navigate their own feelings, with Phoenix running head-on into everything with reckless abandon, refusing to question his own motives, and Miles having a tendency to detach himself from his issues as hard as he possibly can. It's such an interesting, flawed basis for a relationship. That's just my take, though. It's how I like them, and no one else will ever be beholden to my interpretations!

I get AA is escapism for a lot of people, and if that's how it works for you, total respect. But I crave variety, god I do. It's not about being right, it's not about being wrong, I just think there are so many ways to play with these characters and the fandom is stuck in a rut of samey-same content, both happy and sad. I'm not here to shame you for liking what you like, either. I'm pretty esoteric. I mean, Jesus. There's nothing less welcome in the AA fandom than a self shipper getting between Wrightworth. I don't mind doing my own thing, and I'm happier with fewer eyes on me anyway. If my stuff upsets you, that's okay.

That being said, I think I'd have a much easier time being around the fandom if people treated it less like there was a way to interpret the games correctly. The general fandom consensus is suffocating at times. Escapism can be dangerous if you don't know how to handle threats to your perception of a made-up world. I don't mean that to be condescending, I've just been there.

It was a breath of fresh air to leave the AA fandom for a while and focus on something built upon 18 years of fan-interpretations, with no right answers. Where every artist's version of them feels drastically different. It made me realize how silly this all is. It also made me remember how sad it was that when I joined the fandom and started trying to share my opinions on certain Phoen-ish ships, a popular AA blogger publicly ridiculed me and let their followers harass me. I just don't understand why the AA fandom compels people to feel like they have to be correct about everything. I've had to be very careful not to let feelings like that sour the whole franchise for me.

I myself have veered into that territory, and it's why I don't like writing this post. I don't want to be that person. I think everyone should be able to give each other space to do what makes them happy. If common fandom interpretations are what you like, then go with those. If you're like me, though, and you've ever been nervous to share headcanons and analyses that are unpopular, this is me telling you I think you're great. Say what you want, make what you want. It doesn't have to make sense. It doesn't have to be right. People might be mean about it, but you still deserve the right to self-actualization, even if no one else likes the things you do.

It's more important for you to post what you want than for others not to see it. If you're not hurting anyone, you can always rest assured that you've no reason to entertain their ire. From the bottom of my heart, just get silly with it.

[the-smallest-star]

//Think this needs sayin;

When I first came to tumblr, I was part of the once-ler fandom... do you know... how many interpretation's we had... of ONE BEANPOLE OF A MAN! We had dark versions, kid versions, cannibal versions, furry versions, it was ENDLESS!

I'm used to canon divergent muses. And when I see one that's well put together, I ADORE them!

Let people be creative! Let people explore, let people have someone tall or someone small, let people change up stories!

And if you don't like it? Don't follow them! Leave them to their fun! I see so many people worry if their muse isn't right or good enough, and what I can say to you guys is I heckin love what you're doing. There is no right or wrong way to play a character, whether its canon, canon divergent, or an OC.

Take it from someone who had five different Greed-ler's following them.

[orionsangel86]

Subtext Glorious Subtext! A Dreamling on Netflix analysis in The Sandman - Part 7

1989

You've given me shattered dreams, but I know you'll come back to me...

Here's where we step into unchartered territory - what is a show to do when its source material ends 33 years too soon? Apparantly lean fully into the angst, pining, and misunderstandings tropes that all good fandom ships thrive on!

After the disastrous break up of 1889, Hob is clearly nervous about whether or not Dream will show up to the next meeting. In both comic and show, he calls out that he will still be there in a hundred years, and if Dream is too then its because they are friends. Dream doesn't answer leaving Hob to wonder whether he pushed Dream too far.

In the comic though, Dream escapes from his imprisonment in time, and is able to reunite with Hob, having spent 70 odd years contemplating his past behaviours and actions in his solitude, and evidentally makes the decision to meet Hob and accept his offer of friendship:

In the comic, they reunite with Dream reassuring Hob that they are in fact friends, and it ends there. The next time they meet in Season of Mists Hob states how surprised he is to see Dream before their next meeting. There is no hint in the comics that they had changed their once-a-century date to be more frequent.

But the show changes all of this. Dream doesn't escape until 2022 so he misses his date with Hob. Instead we get to see Hob grow more and more concerned as he waits all day for Dream.

Whilst Hob waits, they show the passage of time by playing a mix of popular 80s songs, and although I know the fandom talked about this a lot when the show first aired, I can't not bring it up here because it such a hugely important part of the 1989 scene. Song choices in media are always carefully picked out. Nothing is unintentional. Producers have to apply for the rights to use songs in their shows and get those songs signed off and it isn't always an easy process, so song choices are always significant. ALWAYS. They are one of the principle ways we can analyse media and theorise about what the creators are trying to tell us. Every song choice has meaning.

For example, in Stranger Things both Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill and Journey's Worlds Apart are important song choices which reflect the emotional conflicts and journeys of the characters in season 4.

Our Flag Means Death also uses modern songs in an exceptional way to support the story and the emotional journeys of the characters. Using Fleetwood Mac's The Chain at the emotional climax for the characters in episode 8 was a work of genius.

Whilst songs specifically about love, romance, and break ups aren't always used for romantic character arcs, using three break up songs in a row for what should be interpreted as a falling out/misunderstanding between platonic friends is... unusual. Outside of comedy where the song choice could specifically be used in a humorous way (for example an overly emotional lovers break up song used for friendships in comedy could be a commentary on how ridiculous and overdramatic the two friends are being, with them acting like dramatic lovers being part of the joke.) But the scene in 1989 isn't a comedic one. Hob is genuinely hurting and Dream at this point is imprisoned. The song choices are therefore sincere. The message in the song choices should be taken at face value.

So please dear reader. Tell me what you think the following is supposed to be telling us?

Song 1: She Drives Me Crazy by Fine Young Cannibals

I can't stop the way I feel Things you do don't seem real Tell me what you've got in mind 'Cause we're running out of time Won't you ever set me free? This waiting 'round's killing me

She drives me crazy Like no one else She drives me crazy And I can't help myself

I can't get any rest People say I'm obsessed Everything you say is lies But to me there's no surprise What I had for you was true Things go wrong, they always do

She drives me crazy Like no one else She drives me crazy And I can't help myself

I won't make it on my own No one likes to be alone

Song 2:Shattered Dreams by Johnny Hates Jazz

So much for your promises They died the day you let me go Caught up in a web of lies But it was just too late to know

I thought it was you Who would stand by my side

And now you've given me, given me Nothing but shattered dreams, shattered dreams Feel like I could run away, run away From this empty heart You said you'd die for me

Woke up to reality And found the future not so bright I dreamt the impossible That maybe things could work out right

I thought it was you Who would do me no wrong

But now you've given me, given me Nothing but shattered dreams, shattered dreams Feel like I could run away, run away From this empty heart

You've given me, given me Nothing but shattered dreams, shattered dreams Feel like I could run away, run away From this empty heart

From this empty heart

I thought it was you Who said they'd die for love

And now you've given me, given me Nothing but shattered dreams, shattered dreams Feel like I could run away, run away From this empty heart

You've given me, given me Nothing but shattered dreams, shattered dreams Feel like I could run away, run away From this empty heart

Oh, no, no, no You said you'd die for me Oh, for Die for me So much for your promises So much for your promises

Song 3: Keep on Movin' by Soul II Soul

Keep on moving Don't stop, like the hands of time Click-clock, find your own way to stay The time will come one day

Why do people choose to live their lives (lives)

This way?

No-oh-oh (Keep on moving) (Keep on moving) Keep on moving yeah, yeah (Keep on moving, don't stop, no) (Keep on moving)

It's our time, time today The right time is here to stay Stay in my life, my life always Yellow is the color of sun rays

I hide myself, from no-one I know the time will surely come when You'll be in my life, my life always Yellow is the color of sun rays

Keep on moving (Keep on moving) Don't stop! (Keep on moving don't stop, no) Like the hands of time (Keep on moving) Click-clock, find your own way (Keep on moving) To stay (The time will come one day)

No-o-oh (Keep on moving) Hey-ey-ey (Keep on moving) (Keep on moving, don't stop, no) (Keep on moving) Oh!

I know the time, time today Walking alone in my own way Extremely cold and rainy day Friends and I have fun along the way Yes we do!

I hide myself from no one I know the time will really come when You'll be in my life, my life always Yellow is the color of sun rays

Keep on moving (Keep on moving) Don't stop (Keep on moving, don't stop, no) Like the hands of time (Keep on moving) Click-clock (Keep on moving) Find your own way to stay, yeah (The time will come one day) Yes!

Oh! (Keep on moving, don't stop, no) (Keep on moving) Ah-hey! (Keep on moving) Keep moving along, moving along (The time will come one day) Hey-yeah!

Keep movin', don't stop, no (Don't stop, like the hands of time) Hey-yeah! (Click-clock, find your own way to stay) Find your own way to stay (The time will come one day) (Why do people choose to live their lives this way?) Oh-woh-oh Oh, why do they choose to live this way?

Yeah! Ah-hey! (Keep on moving) Keep on moving (Keep on moving, don't stop, no) No-woh-oh (Keep on moving) No! (Keep on moving) Keep on moving in my own way I know the time will come today (The time will come one day) Ah-hey! Yeah! (Keep on moving) Yeah-hey Keep on moving, don't stop, no) Don't stop Keep on moving) Ah-hey-ey (Keep on moving) Hey-yeah! (The time will come one day) The time will surely come one day!

Hey-yeah! (Keep on moving, don't stop, no) No-oh-oh! (Keep on moving) Oh-woh-oh (Keep on moving) Hey-yeah!

I mean... *gestures at all of this*

The way I interpret these songs is a very linear emotional journey. It's a narrative in itself of Hob's state of mind as day turns to night and he waits and realises that his date isn't going to show.

First he contemplates how he can't help the way he feels. The waiting around is killing him, he's being driven crazy by his feelings, he's obsessed. But his feelings are true, and he won't make it on his own without [Dream].

Next comes the heartbreak. He dreamt that things might work out, but his dreams have been shattered. He feels like he wants to run away from his empty heart.

Finally, he realises that life goes on, he's gotta keep on moving, because he has hope that the time will come when [Dream] will be in his life again and this time [Dream] will stay.

I don't think I even need to attempt to make this any clearer! All these songs are about love, either obsessive love, heartbreak, or hope for future love. This is the kind of shit Johnlock and Destiel fans would have eaten up back in the day. At this point in Dream and Hob's relationship, at this point in this half hour sequence of television, I am not sure how else to interpret this, which is why the conversation Hob has with the bartender comes across so bizarre.

Bartender: You waiting for someone?

Hob: I think I've been stood up. We had a fight, last time we were here, but it was my fault. wish I could say I was drunk at the time, but I was just an idiot.

Bartender: I've seen plenty of friends get into fights in pubs, even more of them laugh about later.

Hob: *chuckling* maybe in another hundred years.

We all agree how bloody bizarre this is right? I have to praise this bartender for not jumping to conclusions but it would have been far more natural for him to assume Hob was stood up by a date, a woman (this is 1989 after all) and instead given his apologies and said something like "Don't worry mate, just send her some flowers and be honest with her. She'll come around."

Why does he assume they are just friends? Being "stood up" is commonly used to indicate a failed romantic date. It just isn't a natural assumption for someone to make based on the information Hob gave him. Hob cleverly keeps his explanation gender neutral, so the bartender does too, but even with gender neutral language the immediate conclusion should be that Hob was abandoned by a romantic date.

But the natural conclusion would have prompted a clarification. A definitive from Hob on the nature of his and Dream's relationship, and for whatever reason, the writers decided they didn't want there to be a definitive clarification here. Just like how they removed all the references to canon queer characters in 1589 to avoid distinguishing them from Hob and Dream, here they made sure that Hob was unable to refute or deny any implication that he and Dream may be more than platonic friends. Instead they chose to go with clunky language that doesn't really make sense, all to avoid having to make clarifications. Sorry y'all, but thats some SPN writer levels of ambiguity layering and I ain't buying it *side eyes Neil Gaiman suspiciously*. What are those writers up too eh?

I did read an interesting meta on this that the bartender could have assumed that Hob was talking about a man, clocked him as queer, and spoken in safe language to avoid an accidental outing (1989 was a difficult time for the LGBTQ+ community) but I couldn't find it or remember who wrote it to link it here. I found that interpretation to be really interesting and certainly worth considering, even if it's not my initial reading of the scene.

The other explanation is that maybe it was an attempt to "no homo" what otherwise comes across as a failed romantic date. But if that was what they were going for, it was very sloppily done and in fact only called further attention to the very romantic implications of the whole scene at least from Hob's side of things. If they really wanted to "no homo" the scene, why not just have Hob tell the bartender that he was supposed to be meeting his friend?

Then in a totally new decision made for the show, Hob finds out that the White Horse Tavern is closing its doors for good. This adds a further layer of angst and drama to Dream and Hob's relationship that the comics do not have. The worry that should Dream ever decide to return, how would he find Hob if the tavern is closed? It's once again pretty tropey in that its yet another external force keeping our boys apart. Anymore of this and we start falling dangerously close to star crossed territory.

The 1989 scene ends with a distressed and sad looking Hob, with a hint of determination, leaving the audience expecting him to do something about this.

Then we get that final glorious transition, from the whiskey glass to the glass sphere holding Dream, reminding us all that no, Dream did not stand Hob up, he was in fact stuck in his prison. Dream looks stoic as always, but the glance upwards indicates that he too remembers the date, and is regretting his inability to be there to make things right.

That look then transitions seemlessly into the modern day, as Dream stares sadly at the ruins of the White Horse tavern. Which is where we leave this chapter.

Check out Part 8 for my analysis of the glorious reunion!

[crawavesse]

Memory lane on how I come up with the fanfic stories : Marble Hornets x Creepypasta , Immortal Universe/Limbo in Immortality

Marble Hornets spoiler below.

I have made this idea ever since I have interacted with Marble Hornets and Creepypasta through Deviantart. My poor highschool mind...

I originally write this out of spite for what Creepypasta fandom has done toward Marble Hornets character and butchering their characters and story, diminishing them to just their masked form and made what's behind the mask inconsistent despite Marble Hornets was not a Creepypasta OC but an Analog horror played with actors. So I write this story while using Hoodie and Masky actor faces and personality (with a few we see for Brian/Hoodie) instead of the popular interpretation.

I was also at first tried to write Ticci Toby similarly to what the original author written him, cause he was mad with how people written him as peppy and cheery guy. Emphasis on "tried" though. I also fail miserably in the end.

In this fanfiction, Toby was the main character and the story plot was basically figuring out the mystery of Brian. Because this is Marble Hornets x Creepypasta, they all lived in Slenderman mansion. And all the location in Marble Hornets also here.

I barely write the story when I eventually abandoned it because I was overthinking it too much (per usual)

But me leaving this story for several years was not a bad thing cause I eventually see I was writing it for all the wrong reason. Sure I was writing it for me, but I also see how much I limited myself (or maybe overexert myself) just so I could follow the guideline when there is no guideline to begin with. Jeff The Killer backstory was not written by the original author and yet at one point it has become my bible when creating him. Same goes with Eyeless Jack where his backstory was also written by someone else.

Everything I thought about how Brian act and think during his masked era was just that, headcanon. In the end I can never prove it my idea was correct because we will never truly see things from Brian's pov, because my headcanon for Brian in his masked era was an intense paranoia combined with hallucinations where he can't separate reality from his mind

And also I write the story out of anger and pettiness. And I don't like the idea of writing a story just to make me think I was better than other writers or I was the right one, they didn't even try to be accurate.

So I done a complete overhaul to the story, although it's a slow process.

First, I still use Ticci Toby for the MC in this second iteration. But because I realized his personality is super ooc and the author didn't want people to use his character anymore, I gave this character many changes. First, I named him Tobiel Castor. Kastoway => Castor. This is my way of showing that despite I didn't use their character anymore, his story resonated strongly with me and I wanted to show my appreciation to him.

I haven't fully decided on the plot for this second iteration, but I remember wanting to make him and Tim to be rivals, just like in Creepypasta version. In the final iteration, it still happened, but they eventually became best friend.

I do not exactly remember what happened next in my brain, but I then decided Tim will be the main character in act 1 and Tobiel will become MC in act 2 of the story. It's because im second iteration, Tobiel would be told to hate Tim because he refused to follow the rules. But why tho? If I added Tim's story in act one, I don't have to think hard on how ro introduce this part in Tobiel's story!

..... In hindsight, I probably can explain it slowly in Tobiel's pov, but I have and habit of tell than show, so I dunno. It's a predicament. But either say, back to the past.

I currently can't remember what made me come up with this premise, but eventually I decided that "forced immortality" will be the part of the main plot. I think it's because some Marble Hornets scenes where the bodies in the sub dimension/The Operator dimension looks extremely fresh.

Or maybe just because ever since I was a child, I was always into writing story about immortals and semi immortals people ever since I watched Digimon and making Devilmon into the semi immortal species. Short lore about them, in my AU/headcanon, Devilmon was originally human before a gooey thing like Venom latches onto them and turn them into Devilmon. Too much of it, you'll lose all of your humanity and turn into feral monster. A bit and resist the gooey influence, and you'll become Devilmon. Other than looking similar to one another, they will also forget their human name, but better evoking than one part of their humanity rather than their entire memories.

Short lore over. But dang, that's one of my favourite fanfic I have written even as a elementary student.

I'll explain Tim's Act in different Post. Not just because this is already long, but also because Tim's act was when I started to really figuring out how the Immortality system works in this fanfic.

Thank you for reading this

[amorisxx]

Tashi Duncan and fandom misogyny? Are there double standards?

I’m posting my response to this post as its own post because I’d like to generate more discussion. (I love chaos)

For the most part, I’d agree that Tashi shouldn’t be viewed as a villain in the movie, Challengers, but that paragraph about Art doesn’t sit well with me. Can we honestly say that people would have that same opinion about Art if he were a woman?

If it was a woman who married her coach and essentially entered into an uneven power dynamic, had a child with him, then became depressed after losing her love for the sport, would you truly dismiss her misery because she’s a grown adult who is fully capable of making decisions? Because this is what’s done when people imply that Art knew what he was getting into by marrying his coach.

Would her husband cheating with his ex girlfriend during this time really be downplayed? (Like how Tashi cheated with Patrick and many fans either downplay it or excuse it) Because I don’t think it would. I think in an effort to even out the criticisms of Tashi, some people tend to overlook or dismiss her ill treatment of Art.

I know that it sucks to see people be dismissive of Tashi, especially as a black woman myself, but imo it’s not very progressive to absolve her of her faults simply because she’s a woc while implying that those she hurt basically knew what they were getting into. Based on what was shown in the film, Art didn’t seem to be a bad husband. He just seemed exhausted and afraid to communicate his desire for retirement with a wife who he knew was living through him. I don’t think he asked for this. And I don’t blame him for being afraid to admit he wanted to retire out of fear that his wife might leave him. If anything, I pity him that this was even a worry for him.

Not to mention, Tashi losing the ability to play tennis does not automatically mean that she had to live vicariously through Art’s career. Just because her past tragedy gives her actions more context, that doesn’t mean it completely excuses them. Her choices to cheat on Art, push him when he obviously seemed exhausted, and ask Patrick to throw the match were not decisions that made her a good wife or coach. I think it’s okay to acknowledge this. It doesn’t make her any less of a cool character. I think it just makes her flawed.

I’m not sure what the motivation was behind those posts that said she didn’t deserve him were, but for me, I personally felt like Tashi wasn’t a great wife to Art. I think he actually did deserve better. Whether that was a better version of her or just a better partner. I think Tashi worked so hard to be a great coach that she may not have been the best wife. But that’s my reading on the film. It doesn’t make me hate Tashi to admit that her relationship with Art wasn’t the best.

In my opinion, the idea that Tashi was completely innocent and did no wrong because she’s babygirl and Art is a grown man, is actually counterproductive to understanding her character. (Not to say that was the intention of the original post) To reduce her to a little angel who did nothing wrong feels like repackaged misogyny that just reinforces that female characters have to either be innocent or have their actions waved away to be palatable.

Female characters can be wrong. They can be abusive even. They can be cheaters or bad girlfriends or bad friends. It’s okay to say “hey, she’s cool, but sis did not handle that situation well.”

At the end of the day, I’m not arguing that everyone interpret Tashi the way I did, but I am arguing that we should have the right to. We should be able to voice criticisms of her character without being accused of being misogynistic or anti black. This is especially true for black fans. How ironic is it that the actual people who are being represented by a character like Tashi have to hold in our true opinions to avoid being judged?

[hangmanbradshaw]

Hi! I really like your stories, thank you sooo much for sharing them!! If it's okay, I have a question: I've been in the Top Gun fandom for a few months now, and read quite a few Hangster stories (including yours as well) and it seems to me, that many stories the basic plot is that Bradley fucks up, Jake is near perfect and Bradley has to grovel to get together with him. And while this perhaps oversimplifies it, it honestly feels that way and it's starting to become annoying for me. Now while I might be bias, because I think Bradley has become one of my favourite characters, I'm not blind to his faults. And I know that he was the primary antagonist in TG:M to Maverick's protagonist, at least looking back on the film it feels that way to me... But regarding the Hangster storyplots, what do you think? It's just I've started noticing this pattern, or pehaps it's just me being defensive over a character. Thank you in advance! Sorry for my english. And once again thank you sooo much for your stories!!!

hello!

So this is just my take, which is obviously only a personal opinion, but I think there's a general consensus that in this world where bradley/jake are exes in the movie, Bradley was probably the one who broke it off, based on their actions in the film. I think that's just the popular take? It's open to interpretation. I think people just have ways they lean or prefer and that might be the popular general plot. To be honest, I don't read a ton so I have a hard time speaking to that, but you know, every writer has the story in their head they want to tell for whatever reason, and the connection they feel, etc. I think my advice would be just to start reading something, and if you don't love the portrayal, it's totally okay to exit out! No harm, no foul. Everyone has preferences, and it's all fiction anyways and especially with fic it's just for fun, some story someone wanted to tell their way, so there's no right or wrong approach, especially with these specific characters who we have such limited canon on. It kinda leaves the door open to play with it however you want.

But again, I can only speak to myself really and I 95% of the time write AUs *shrugs* but I try to kinda switch it up in different stories and play with different backgrounds and variations, or make it complex. But yeah, no right or wrong approach, just find the ones you vibe with and focus on those :)

[xshybutdeadlyx]

Just gonna be a big rant of word vomit.

Please note I'm not trying to attack anyone I'm just kinda laying my feelings out.

I kinda wonder why I bother with Fandoms. I rarely act in any fandoms I'm hyperfixating over but for hazbin hotel I thought why not. But to the surprise of no one it is just like every other Fandom with backhanded comments always being tossed around. And most of it is centered around the character Alastor which I get but God it's giving me anxiety.

Like right now I'm seeing the a divide on the possibility of him having a kinship with the people of the hotel. Personally I think he does or more like did but he's going back to his roots of keeping everyone at an arms length and using them because of his defeat by the hands of Adam. But I personally think those feelings can resurface, but it's gonna be a battle to do so. But I am seeing a lot that people don't believe those feelings were ever there. He really is just a cold heartless bastard who has a God complex and is just mad he lost and that's it. And I feel like that is also correct. But I don't think that makes my hypothesis or how I feel I read the scene wrong? But I've seen people say "if you think this certain way then you are show illiterate and you don't know his character and IM the only one who understands him!" Like....OK? That's the beautiful thing about any piece of literature characters and scenes, anyone can interpret it in so may different ways and it doesn't make anyone wrong. So can't we all just have our own interpretation and just gush over it instead of scoffing at people who didn't see the same thing you saw?

As for shipping, that's a whole monster within its own. I personally don't think anyone is entitled to dictate what someone can and can't do with pixilated characters. I honestly very much understand that Alastor is a big deal considering he's aroace, and that doesn't get enough media representation. And I respect the hell out of it. But I'll also in the same breath say I'm a shipper. I love staticradio because I'm a sucker for enemies to lovers trope. In canon, I want Alastor to keep being the beautiful dick head he is that just has gossip tea parties with Rosie and just doesn't have those romantic or sexual urges. In fanon, though, anyone can really do what they want. I think as long as there aren't death threats or literal force being used to make the creator of the show force Alastor into a relationship I don't think theirs anything in fanon that should be taken seriously when canon is right there glaring everyone in the face. If people wanna keep the "relationship" one-sided? Awesome. If they want Alastor to smooch someone? Cool. They want him to rawdog or get raw dogged by someone. Hey, power to ya, just put it in the tags so people can steer clear of it if they don't wanna see that. I see many people saying it's erasure, but I just don't see how it's erasure when it's still there in canon. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, can erase Alastor, who is a sassy aroace king. I can't say I don't understand the mentality, though. As a bisexual woman myself, I see fanfics where bi characters are labeled straight or lesbian/gay completely, ignoring that who they date doesn't make them, neither straight nor gay. It does sting and leave a bad taste but again they can say that, they can write all they want and if it's cathartic for them then ok more power to em because at the end of the day that character is still bisexual they didn't erase it. Usually, people are good at tagging, so if they do make them one way or the other, i dont read or look at the art. It's very easy to scroll down. Sometimes i see it repedidly, but that's what blacklisting is for too. There are many countermeasures. Plus, a lot of things are all in good fun or just canon divergence. People can be creative and play with different ideas. "What if a character was like that!?" "What if they do this!?" "What if this happened instead, and it changed their whole character!?" That's what's supposed to be fun about being in fandoms. Everyone is entitled to feel how they feel. You're allowed to not like something. But I don't think you're allowed to make other people feel like shit because they go against canon, or more precisely, against your views. I genuinely don't think anyone ever means disrespect. All they want to do is have fun and create along with like-minded individuals. You're allowed to not like something. Hell, I don't like Vox and Val together, and that shits canon, but that just means I ain't gonna actively seek it out. (I personally ship Valentino with a bug zapper.)

All in all I just want everyone to feel safe and just have fun because I've just seen so many people to scared, me included, to do anything in the Fandom in fear of getting attacked and that's mostly what's been really eating away at me. But at the end of the day, this IS the internet, and discourse is basically its bread and butter.

Like I said though this is mostly just a vent post but I wouldn't mind to hear others thoughts if you're willing. I know I just probably talked out of my ass for forever. At the end of the day we are just all apart of this silly little Fandom of silly little demon people and we should all just be having fun look at what we like, write/draw what we want. It's exhausting spending energy like anger and malice, we should just focus on the things that matter to us and the things we like and just enjoy it for however long the hyperfixation lasts. Nobody is wrong. Nobody is right. we are just creators or people on here to just escape for a little bit and connect with a show or characters that resonate with us.

Ok for reals this time peace ✌️ if you made it this far and actually read everything I had to say thank you, you're a trooper. I hope I didn't offend anyone since that was not my intent. I just had a lot of feelings and I'd rather we all get along then tear each other apart.

[reflections-in-a-critical-eye]

Time and time again you prove how real you are.

I really appreciate how you don’t shy away from criticizing authors.

Idk if you follow some on twitter, but many see any form of criticism as hate.

They make it sound like only us get something from the fanfics and we should shut up and be greatful.

Obviously leaving hate comments is not right, but if you put in your notes “What do you think about this chapter?” or “Thoughts?” maybe expect that not all comments are going to be “Amazing”,”Best fic ever” etc.

Anyways, I have the exact same opinion about Annie_vi (Charmander too)

They both seem like very nice people, good authors. They can write so much in such a short time and that’s amazing and an ability many writers would die for. I also appreciate that they try to write something new everytime.

You are right, they are top 5 most popular jikook authors and like you I get why. Their stories are very romcomish, but when you venture outside of the most popular fics you can find so much better.

I know exactly what you mean with that annie_vi Midnight fic. They literary took what made Jimin and Jungkook worthy of being the main characters and gave it to all BTS members. Just why?

I really dislike it when authors force all the guys to be couples. Just make some OCs damn

Do you mind sharing your opinions on starlitknife’s work?

They deleted their fics, but you can find them there https://x.com/starlitknife/status/1659926175181930498?s=46

And anoria_bard’s?

https://archiveofourown.org/users/anoria_bard/pseuds/anoria_bard

If you are familiar with them, of course.

Pt. 1

Why would I shy about it? Once someone releases their work publicly, to be shared to a readership, that work will be subject to interpretation and various types of criticisms.

The issue you're mentioning is something that can be found in every fandom. And I too can understand the authors' frustration with the way some (read a lot) choose to engage with the fanfics they're reading. It's a risk because your target demographic might include a lot of immature people, perhaps teenagers as well, people with a lot of issues who end up projecting them on the authors/works. Moral and political stances are also playing a big part. It's not wrong, but a mature readership knows the difference between author and narrator, between depicting and endorsing and so on. When they don't, they write stupid hate comments so having to read all that as an author who spent countless hours writing 200k words or maybe just 20k must be frustrating to say the least.

But, that doesn't mean we shouldn't be able to talk about a work. Nothing is perfect. I find polarizing opinions about a fanfic or an author a good sign actually because it shows there's something of value there and it's a reflection of the current state of the fanfiction in a specific fandom. Being encouraged to only share positive comments publicly while leaving some negative or/and constructive criticism in private is a bad practice, but I hope authors are able to distinguish between healthy and diverse reactions and mere hate comments.

Pt. 2

I'm familiar with both authors you mentioned. I've started reading starliknife's Jewel of Busan, but I dropped it at some point. I can't really remember why, but it wasn't because I found it bad or anything. I read some of anoria_bard's fics as well, but not much. I remember Creatures of Hate and its sequel.

[theultracharmingladynoire]

This has been a rant building up for a while now and I just need to put it in here but it's that. I remember the joy and excitement I felt when I watched y/o/i ep 1 - 10 because I literally. Knew nothing about the show except for the fact it was gay?? dvsjgshd but it just was so GOOD but then I. Came across a couple of interpretations of ep 11-12 (which I hadn't watched by then so I had no idea what went down) which was just people being disappointed, people thinking the ending was changed for a season 2, people thinking it was out of nowhere (especially V/ictor's comeback?? I guess??) And that really. messed up my perception of the show?? Like upto then I was forming my own interpretations of the characters and after this I. Was lowkey scared to watch the last two episodes because I was afraid of it being bad™ (if that even makes sense) and then one day even when I did watch them I didn't watch them properly?? Like I even missed a lot of scene and dialogue because I was too nervous about what I had read about it before.

And like. I don't even think those interpretations are entirely wrong for record. I understand that especially when there was a whole week between episodes and when the fandom was so huge and active people might have a very different viewing experience which directly plays into how they interpreted the character arcs! And those interpretation are extremely valid even though I disagree with them. The show definitely leaves a lot upto intrepretation of the viewers so there isn't any interpretation that is necessarily wrong™ (Idk how to phrase this sorry)

But it's just that I wasn't able to form MY own interpretation properly because I was influenced by others' ?? (In lack of a better way to word it) and I just. I've been mulling over this for a whole MONTH and going back and forth and back about the ending. And it just feels very draining when I go out to look for meta and people who had opinions similar to mine and find...like what ten people?? it kind of makes me feel like I am looking at things wrong, and that probably the finale WAS just bad or whatever (which seems to be a more common idea in what I've seen)

I do think there were pacing issues, and I do think the character arcs CAN be interpreted differently than what they are in the finale but I also am a bit sad that not many people tried to recontextualise the show in light of the finale (again, it isn't a MUST But I really wish people tried to if I am making sense?)

And it's sad because I know this can be fun if I just created my own bubble without all the meta and opinions I disagree with but it's hard when that is somehow always what I come across? And I KNOW I should stop reading a post when I see that it may suggest something towards the opinions that I disagree with (because that'll just waste my energy), but then what if I AM wrong? What if those posts are right and I am willingly closing my eye towards what the characters originally are or something?? Is what perplexes me out and really makes me sort of nervous and uneasy(?)

And now it is getting worse and I feel like I am slowly losing all the love I had for this show and it absolutely SUCKS because I just want to enjoy this silly little show and now this is all....just a mess

[highlifeboat]

To be onsest, despite everything I have said so far, I don`t think that it would fit Mias and or Ethans character to look past the mold to see the lonely and cofused child that hides behind the mask. They are just to hateful and impulsive for that.

I personaly think she woulld need a compleatly different person to redem her. Characters that are known for their kindness and epathy towards even the cruelest persons. Maye a specific Oc or even characters from a compleatly different fandom.

I personally have two scenarios in mind that would also make for some great webcomis or fanfictions:

An Undertale crossover were Eveline (in her child form) falls into the underground instead of Frisk. It would be interesting to see her interactions with Flowey and Toriel. Espacialy Toriel since she is also lonely and wants a child of her own. It would be interesting to see how much her influence would change the underground and the main story in general. I would also love to see her interactions with Papyrus and all the other characters, espacialy her diologs with Flowey, who would be trying to manipulate her. Beeing torn between what´s right and what´s wrong could be an interesting struggle for her. Maybe her soul would have some special propertise that she could use. I would also be curios to see how the monsters would interpret their findings when anilizing her body , genes and internal parts. Maybe she would also free the monsters like Frisk did and if not I would love to know how much she would alter this place.

A story were Eveline meets SCP-999. You know that cute orange slime creature that just wants to hug, tickle and make everyone happy. Its also known to cure depression and comfort people that are lonely and or sad. You get the idea. I mean she would be irritaded at first but since she can`t kill it, It would probably become her friend or pet. It would act like a dog and It would alsways be willing to play with her. I mean it would try to help her but at the same time protect everyone who she is trying to harm. So who knows how it would play out.

Ps: I dearly apologize in case I have been anoying you with these long questions lately.

Yeah, but that's part of the fun with AU stuff. Like, realistically they probably wouldn't, but what if they did anyway, y'know? (Granted you're talking to someone who's whole blog is basically just Mia x Alcina AU content)

I don't know much about SCP 999 but the idea of Eveline being stuck with this slime ball for a friend is kind of funny. "Aggressive child slowly learns to love through the unconditional love of a pet" is kind of cute tbh, I just don't know enough to have a full input on it.

Makes me think a scenario where SCP and Resident Evil are in the same universe, too, and instead of Blue Umbrella coming to kill Evie, the SCP Foundation shows up to capture her instead (but also the Baker house would probably be considered a secondary part of her, and the people inside a third, so I don't know if they'd take her from the location or just heavily quarantine it off. Since Eveline doesn't do anything unless someone steps on the property anyway. Unfortunately this also means nobody who goes on it leaves but y'know.)

The Undertale AU is neat too, I'm just... Not that big into Undertale anymore pfff. Just... Given how Eveline is, I don't even know if she would leave Toriel's house. Assuming all this happens the same kind way, Eveline would get saved by Toriel, taken through the entrance to the Underground, and the probably just vibe when she basically claims Evie as her own. Cause that's pretty much all Evie wants.

Frisk left because they wanted to go home. Unless Eveline has someone she's trying to go back to, I think she'd be more like Chara and just sort of hang out with Toriel.

[starrythroat]

Ok i want to talk about it more

Warning: this post is like salty, im going to whine on few behaviour patterns of some of elden ring \ fromsoftware fans, if you're uncomfortable with that please skip

So, I see this mostly in the elden ring fandom: for some reason many people act like TLB is not a medieval to reinessance high fantasy setting, but our planet Earth year 2023 setting. In particular - these people act like characters of this setting have motivations and moral compass same to theirs

Also for some reason these people view world only in black and white, which results in "every one of these characters is either Good or Bad", which in its turn results in "Good character can make only Good deeds and have only motivation for Good" and "Bad character can make only bad deeds and have only motivation for Bad"

And instead of leaving the fandom - because in Good and Bad lense almost all characters of ER will be Bad - or picking Hewg \ Boc as favourite character and hating rest of the game, these people actually stay here, and are fairly active in the fandom, and often one of their favourite characters is a demigod. For some reason their Good\Bad lense isn't working properly - they see characters that they like as Good, and tell everyone that they like these characters because they are Good

And instead of, for example, marking everyone as Good, these people leave some characters marked as Bad. And most of the times I see that there's a pattern: Good characters fit their beaty standarts, Bad - don't

Elden Ring lore is vague. It has a giant room for different interpretations, you can take two people and their Elden Rings in their heads will be completely different. This is true for bloodborne \ dark souls too. You can tweak lore of every character as you please, finding comfort zone, or collect many different settings as "AUs" to play with plot. There's annoyng tendency of some fans to choose one particular set of headcanons and act like it's a canon, or like their headcanon is the closest to canon; as the result - they either think that other headcanons are worse than theirs, or assume that everyone share one particular Elden Ring picture, and it's theirs. And if these fans also happen to have that Good\Bad lense, the difference between their Good Characters and Bad Characters becomes even more grotesque, because for their Good ones they alway interpret the lore in the "Good character can make only Good deeds and have only motivation for Good" way, and for Bad ones "Bad character can make only bad deeds and have only motivation for Bad". And often these people are very mad at other fans who don't share their views, because, well, if person likes Bad Bad Completely Awful Character it means that that person is Bad; there's no chance other person has different view on the this character, or like the way they are written, or dig for them in dark comedy way or whatever

And there are some other interesting approaches to fit the "Good character can make only Good deeds and have only motivation for Good" and "Bad character can make only bad deeds and have only motivation for Bad" rule.

For example, what happens if Good character kills Bad one? "Killing" is Bad, right? Wrong! Good character can make only Good deeds and have only motivation for Good, therefore killing Bad character is good. What if Good character killed Good? Well, It was either by accident\ misunderstanding\madness\ etc somehow, or I headcanon this havent happened at all!

And in case of judging Bad character's lore picture mirrors: suddenly all of it gets tint of their awful personality

Also you can say that actually writers\devs are Bad: they missed or confused something, or here is Big Evil GRR Martin Who Ruined Everything

Even more grotesque difference between Good and Bad characters rises because of the setting. A lot of Bad things are happening here, I'd say most of them can be classified as Bad. But since Good characters can't do these Bad things, you feel the need to distribute these Bad things - or frustration you have because of so many Bad things? - between only Bad characters. And usually you don't have dozens of Bad characters, so you end up with few ones who, like, bear all the Sins of the Elden Ring universe

I think we all have preferences, and we all adjust headcanons to our preferences; I think it's ok to have favourite and hated characters. Also I think there actually are Bad people or mostly Bad people in our world, and It's okay when this role is assigned trough headcanons to fictional character (although It's hard concept for me, I like to cope imagining that in at least fictional universe there's something good in every person). But it's sad when some people have no self-awareness, and it's enraging when these people make fandom experience of other people tiresome and sore because of their own issues and some made-up shit

I want to conclude it with some less vague examples. I think such characters as Gostoc, Godrick and Rykard are mostly considered disgusting because of their appereance \ awkwardness or non-coolness \ troubles with body health: weird diction, posture etc.

I think despite Mohg having bigger fanbase than them if Mohg was, for example, pretty young man, most of the people who hate him "because of what he have done" would be his biggest fans and went to adjust headcanons to their view. And canon doesn't contradicts it, you still can do this! I know that because I actually like Mohg's appereance, it's within my beaty standarts, and I tend to adjust headcanons to paint him in a more Good light than most of the fandom. If you don't want to deal with character who "raped and killed his brother" - don't headcanon him like that, it's not a canon

I can go on like forever because I'm very mad at this at times, but I conclude It here. If you really are so mad you want to hurt somebody over their character preferences, but also want to feel yourself Good - you can go and punch your pillow really hard. It can get you a relief without getting someone hurt. If you want to hurt someone, and pillow is not good enough, well, I have no advices here

I don't believe this post can change someone's point of view im just howling in the night

so sick of seeing elden ring fans saying stuff like “blaming george rr martin for this part of the game I don’t like because we all know he loves violence and misogyny and incest and being edgy and the game would’ve been better off without him 🙄🙄” first of all you people actually have no idea what grrm’s work is actually about and second of all the demigods in elden ring are so wonderfully complex and interesting because grrm writes incredible characters. i’ll not hear any more of this slander

[disformer]

Genuine question but like, do u have any general Protectobots headcanons u wanna talk about? I just never see anything w them for the most part /gen

Yeah! The reason you don’t see them much is they REALLY do not get a chance to shine in any media. Most of their g1 eps feel very ‘oh shit we forgot to sell these toys’; aid and blades are really the only two who get actual character arcs.

Fanon interpretation draws a lot from their official description and the cheesy sweetness of those eps. They’re the only combiner with more defensive capacity than offensive, and they’re built toe to tip to help humans. It lends to this fandom image of the boys as gentler, more comfortable around people than other cybertronians, and much kinder and loving towards each other.

ill chuck some longer takes on each of them under here ⬇️

Hot Spot: Big time dad energy; 25 year old boomer. He’s described as super energetic and invested in his team and they adore him in return. He can be a little out of touch like a high school PE teacher who thinks clapping at you is gonna make you enjoy running, but his heart is never not in the rights place. I don’t have much to say about hot spot mostly because that energy and motivation is a lot more apparent when you see it survive the really dark times. He’s a good boy, big baby blue border collie bot.

Blades: he’s the ‘bad boy’ but literally only because he’s standing next to 4 squeaky clean poster children. He’s like a cat; you need to play with him 3 times a day and give him somewhere high to sit and he’s very funny and sweet. Otherwise? Fight picking time. I like to think they have the aerialbots come over once a week to tussle with him and get all that energy out. LOVES teasing aid in the most pigtail-pulling embarrassing way possible. The cat analogy just works so well here I don’t have much else to add fhdhhdhdb

Groove: AH! This is the pacifist of the protectobots!! The official description that says it’s aid is totally wrong because Groove is the one with the philosophical streak and aid fires guns constantly. Groove sunbathes sideways on the floor in his alt mode; he’s a Garfield who’s read every Ursula Le Guinn essay. He roams and does fuck-all, and he likes to challenge people who take issue with that. Does a cybertronian need a gatling gun to be worth something? Can a mech not just be a motorcycle sitting very stoned on a cliff at sunset? The most frustrating one to argue with.

Streetwise: I’m making streetwise ACAB i’m sorry, i like him too much and he’s so nice. He’s just a dorky little Ford pursuit car and he can switch his insignia around to get past human barriers. Streetwise does the most legwork for human relations; he’s actually learnt the languages, not just auto translated, so he can better grip the cultures he’s interacting with. He talks to humans and lots of them, and he monitors when intervention would be good and when they need to stay out of it. There’s a pretty wobbly ethical issue with having 5 huge aliens just show up when there’s smoke; humanity is more complicated than that, and Streetwise does his best to make sure the Protectobots can keep operating while maintaining the trust of the people.

First Aid: Ok pulling off my kin tentacles for a moment. Aids a very empathetic bot, and in the g1 show that manifested as a lot of gentle motherly behaviour but we also have that IDW characterisation adding an edge to it. He processes his emotions externally, which is to say Aid observes the way he feels very closely in a detached way and uses that to empathise with others/manage the wellbeing of his team. As with many people who do this, it leaves an emotionally organised person; a bit prim a bit polite, very ASD/OCD. Aid also has a complex relationship with violence; he abhors seeing the waste and destruction of war, but he’s trapped himself in ritual. He might not want to be a soldier but he definitely wants to be swept off his feet.