#they're just both so goddamn brilliant in this

[bird-inacage]

Only Friends Episode 10 | Sand & Ray's Fight Scene

This has got to be one of the most memorable scenes delivered by this pair in the series. It's one I come back to again and again.

Probably the single confrontation where we see Ray so utterly devastated. Even in his 'fight' with Mew, he didn't look this torn up. Khaotung manages to combine high levels of rage with incredible sadness, that his every response is laden with just how deeply hurt Ray is feeling. The first gif breaks my heart because Ray looks like a wounded child, the vulnerability in his expression simply says 'Why? How could you possibly do this to me?'

Whilst Sand (as always) tries to reign his emotions in, tries to remain as composed as he possibly can whilst Ray verbally batters him. This is also the only scene where we see Sand unravel, but he only allows himself to do so once Ray has left the room. The degree of anguish and disbelief in his face when Ray accuses him of lacking any integrity really hurts to watch.

I've said this before but when these two characters come into conflict, the dynamic is so challenging. Ray is always outwardly emotional (which requires Khaotung to be explosive), whereas Sand is mostly inwardly emotional (so First needs to be tightly wound throughout). This could very easily be misbalanced but the tension bounces between these two so well.

[spaceorphan18]

Bridgerton Season 3 Favorite Quotes : For God's sake, Penelope Featherington. Are you going to marry me or not?

This season has some incredible dialogue - some amazingly beautiful speeches (not just Colin, Pen, too!) to some of the most hilarious zingers (insert? insert where?) and I keep coming back around this. This ridiculous and amazing proposal.

Obviously the carriage scene is brilliant. And I will not downplay the first 90% of it. But these last few minutes are probably my favorite part of the season.

The thing is that it kind of all starts with this moment here. The thing about Colin in this season is that once he realizes he has feelings for Penelope, and once he kind of works through them, and then - here after the carriage ride and the fact getting to the point that he understands she has feelings back, he's done. That's it 100% I'm here for this woman and this woman only and the. end.

And yeah, he was pretty gone before all of this, but him understanding her feelings are the same -- just solidifies it. And I love that after they stop, after they reaffirm they weren't just horny at each other (and don't get me wrong, they were). You can see him think through - yeah, I'm marrying this one. She's my person.

And it just speaks to the both of them. I find it so refreshing that Colin is not beating around the bush with his feelings. He wears his heart on his sleeve. He'd scream it from the mountain tops if he could that he was in love with her. So, of course he isn't going to wait.

And it plays into their dynamic, and the story being told so well. They've been best friends for so long. There's no need to repress how they feel about each other. The assurance of love is never in doubt, no matter how messy it's going to get in part two (or whatever in the future).

And, also interestingly, it's one of the few times in the season that Colin is carrying the dynamic. Most of the time this season, Pen is carrying the power in the relationship (which is totally fine -- especially since we spent two seasons of watching her just devastatingly pine for him).

But the beauty of the proposal is that she does not know what's about to happen. She's still trying to figure out what the hell just happened. She's overwhelmed and still processing. She thinks, when he asks her to follow him, they're going to get busy up in Bridgerton house, and god, she'll do it, too. What she doesn't expect is that HE'S FUCKING GOING TO ASK HER TO MARRY HIM. And as an audience, we've waited with her for so long that it's just, so goddamn magical that it takes my breath away.

Meanwhile, they are the romantic ones, and yet they almost subvert their own trope. You'd think Colin would be over the top planning something, and maybe under certain circumstances he would be. But he's just so damn smug and cheeky about it. It's playful, it's warm, it's plays into the fact that they've probably had similar exchanges before. And I love that. I love that in a season of some of the most romantic speeches (including all the pontificating he did earlier in the same damn scene) he just gets to the heart of it.

Because that's where his heart is. And he's so fucking sure that's where her heart is, too. He is one step ahead of her, and wants to play that up, and gets a little joy out of seeing her light up with surprise and shock and wonder and love.

It's so brilliant. It's so amazingly done, I could probably talk about this line for ages. My god, I love it.

[gossippool]

I've fallen hard for poolverine and I've read and loved your fic, do you have any fic recs you can share pretty please?

hi anon i do indeed!! i've been meaning to do a rec list eventually so thank u for asking. here are some fics out of the 14 i have bookmarked

twice upon an odyssey by lkst (E, 6k)

It would be tempting to say the propensity for physical violence in their relationship is gone, but nothing is created or destroyed, it would seem. While the urge to kill each other has faded it’s translated into tension between them hot and wet enough to grow orchids, and it’s taken the willpower of gods to keep them from fucking nasty about it. They're managing. The thing is, Wade doesn’t want to manage anymore. Wade drags Logan out on a little heist hoping to finally get him to make a move.

one of my favourites!! this is mostly smut but also some of the best characterisation of wade i've ever read and SO FUNNY. i giggled through the whole thing. sometimes humour in fics falls flat but not this time

deadpool/wolverine series by farmhandler (11k + 46k+)

i feel like recommending this series is a must tbh. only two fics in here so far and the second one is still updating but both are just. SO good. the first one is more wade-and-his-issues-centric and the second is more logan

tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow by signifier (E, 10k)

The one where Wade gets stuck in a time loop, and he's determined to get Logan out of it alive.

time loop fics are so hard to execute well and this was just perfect. typical emotional toll of being stuck in a time loop is taken on wade so there's Angst

movin' out (deadpool's song) by jenniferlawrencelover (E, 36k)

Wade wasn't fond of change. Both in the life sense as well as the coin sense. So they might have to move houses? Okay. Sure, his tummy hurt a little more than usual when he thought too hard about it, but he could move past that. Would move past that. Eventually. Probably. Most likely not. Probably not at all. Wade didn't do change.

GODDDD i love this fic. it is so gorgeously written i think i have some parts screenshotted which is how you know it's good. brilliant exploration of both wade and logan

where soul meets body by edgebug (E, 34k)

In which something very interesting happens underneath the Time Ripper, and Wade and Logan deal with the aftermath.

no idea how to explain this but their minds kind of get intertwined??? ish?? and it's so fucking good the writing is just impeccable. angst and smut galore

guess by handfulofteeth (E, 16k)

Logan stops talking. He’s mid-chide, tossing his soiled paper towel onto the counter and about to reach for another one when his eyes land on Wade. He’s got his pajamas halfway down his thighs, clearly trying to avoid sticking his fingers all over the gooey fabric, and whatever, that on its own isn’t a big deal...What is a big deal, a huge, massive fucking deal, is what Wade’s wearing underneath his pajamas. Panties.

now this may seem like it's mostly smut and you would be right. but it is goddamn good smut (with a dash of angst) and just such an alluring read. their other fics are also just as good

[sinsinsininning]

Can i request a luffy x fem reader who's his childhood best friend and they're both as dumb and hyperactive as each other (she followed and stayed him when he started his pirate journey) and they also like each other but arent together and theyre just two puppies in love

I love dumb idiot x dumb idiot, with a smidgen of oblivious mutual pining. I’m keeping this to pre time skip and kinda vague timeline wise. Keeping this as SFW since you didn’t specify just to be safe.

Hope you like it ✨

—————

You’d grown up attached to his hip, returning with him to Dandan’s house after saving him from drowning. He’d fallen off a bridge he’d made and into the fast river, his elder brothers, Sabo and Ace, rushed to help him. But you’d been faster, watching the trio from the shore and being a great swimmer/fisherman.

His brothers had been so grateful they’d offered you protection and dinner at their home, your own family was broken up by war and violence just like theirs so you accepted. And while Dandan hadn’t been happy about another mouth to feed, she’d thought having a young girl around would help the three wild boys settle down and act better.

It didn’t.

Everyone was dismayed to learn you were just as crazy as Luffy and equally stupid. Though you both had your brilliant moments and emotional intelligence, time and time again proved that though wisdom was chasing you, you were faster.

That’s how it’s been as kids, your adventures so intertwined Luffy couldn’t remember a time you weren’t by his side. Even Garp mistakenly called you his grandkid half the time and never held back his training or punishment on you either.

As you got older, your ambition remained unchange. You wanted to see Luffy become King of the Pirates, which is why you were the first to join his crew. Over time as your crew gained more members, you were a steady pillar of loyalty.

Loyal to your crew, your captain, and your captain’s stupid ass.

Some examples of your daily hourly conversations:

“If you could only eat one food for forever what woul-“

“Meat.” Luffy cut you off.

“Too broad be more specific.” You smack his chest lightly, it’s late at night and you’re both stargazing on the main deck.

“Cooked meat.” Luffy said after thinking a moment. “You?”

“Hmmm Ice cream. Or potatoes.”

“Mmmm now I’m hungry. Lets ask Sanji for a snack.” Puffy starts to stand but you yank him back down.

“Can’t remember, he’s still mad at us for putting a regular carrot in the bin with the baby carrots so they’d have adult supervision.” You laugh together as he lays still, the only time he can be still is if it’s with you.

Or.

“Nothing to see here,” You whistle lowly, trying to keep Nami’s attention on you as you whiddle. “Love being normal. Peak ordinary! That’s me, heh no problems here. No one’s ever been this average.”

“Are you sick or so- GODDAMN IT LUFFY!” She cuts herself off to try and whack your captain on the head, but it was too late, he’d already grabbed her slice of cake and ran off. The red head throws her book at you as you follow after him.

He saved you a forkful, the rest was gone the second he started running, but for you. For you he saved a bit.

Or.

“We didn’t come here to make friends.” Zoro says as he holds his blade to an enemy captain after a short skirmish.

“We came here to make Best Friends.” You interjected.

“Yeah!” Luffy gave you a thumbs up.

“Shut up you idiots or I’ll slice you!” Poor Zoro’s blood pressure was insane with the two of you.

Or.

“I’m not surprised you’ve gotten a bounty.” Garp sighs, tired eyes locked on Luffy. “But I expected better from you!” He rounds on you, shoving his finger in your face accusingly.

“Shishishi! Well that’s your own fault, nothing to do with me.” You and Luffy laugh as Garp chases after you. The old man doesn’t miss the way, Luffy looks back to ensure you’re still stride for stride with him or the way he takes the heated blows aimed for you.

But.

Overtime, your feelings are softer and softer for him, but you have no clue what this means. You notice the little things he does for you, the things he’s always done for you only. You watch him listen intently to Sanji’s flirting advice -that no one really asked for- and try not to feel weird about it. It’s only when Nami finally just announces that you’re both in love that you finally understand. A little.

“Duh.” Luffy says when she tells the crew.

“Yeah of course we love each other.” You agree wholeheartedly, but a small part of you wonders if that’s what she meant. Your suspicions are confirmed when she groans exhaustedly.

“No, you guys are IN love with each other.” Ussop says, trying to help her out.

“Huh.” Luffy says contemplating it, you don’t say anything for once. You don’t feel embarrassed, you never do really, but you do feel curious and warm. “Like married people?”

“Jumping the gun a little there, but yeah.” Nami says, feeling a little accomplished now.

“I don’t know about that.” You answer honestly, cocking your head as you literally roll the idea around in your mind. Luffy isn’t glaring at you, he couldn’t glare, but he’s certainly making a face.

“It makes sense.” Luffy announces, staring hard at you. “I mean I don’t wanna marry Hancock.”

“But you know that doesn’t mean you wanna marry each other.” Ussop interjects.

“Yeah it does, she just needs to ask.” Luffy says like it’s obvious, which frustrates his crew, except you and Robin of course. You aren’t even shocked by his answer, it did make sense, you didn’t want to date Sanji despite him asking multiple times. But if Luffy asked you wouldn’t say no.

“Luffy you know it’s traditional for the man to ask the woman, right?” Robin asks gently, though she knows the answer.

“Huh? Then why is Hancock always asking me?” Luffy looks to you for an answer, you shrug just as confused as him.

“No clue, i don’t think I’ve ever met a married person now that I think about it.”

“Huh me either, I’ve never noticed. Shishishi.” You and him laugh again, but this time his hand entwines with yours.

“God you’re impossible.” Nami shouts, stomping off.

“Those two are made for each other.” Ussop rolls his eyes as you and Luffy start talking about wether it would be better to be a bird or a fish.

“Yes, isn’t it lovely.” Robin sighs as she watches you.

[smytherines]

Do y'all ever think about the part in A1P1 where Owen and Curt are about to do the handclasp thing and get interrupted by Barb? Because it's super interesting to me. It's one the few times when the choreography seems to break out from being non-diegetic (meant to represent something, not literally meant to be what is happening) to diegetic (something that is occurring within the story)

I can't get a clean shot of it, but it's very interesting that they're about to do the clasp, Curt gets a call, Owen waves his hand kinda annoyed at the interruption, and then Curt talks to Barb while Owen fights a guy on the catwalk.

The implication is that they weren't literally clasping arms, but the way the characters react tells us that the interruption was real. So now when I watch the show it's like... maybe they hadn't seen each other for awhile, and finally had a moment alone to just reunite, maybe a hug or a kiss or just an opportunity to freely talk to each other, and that's what Barb's call interrupts. Its kinda brilliant that these little moments are both obscured and accentuated by the choreography.

I do not know a goddamn thing about choreography, but the more I watch this show the more in awe I am of Lauren Lopez as a choreographer, because there is so much storytelling packed into the choreography of A1P1 especially. The first time you see it your brain can easily slip into "this is a stylized James Bond intro sequence," but on the rewatch it's like "oh, OH! This is kinda... intimate, isn't it?"

And Corey Lubowich deserves so much credit for directing the show just in general (Corey I love you), but especially for one of my absolute favorite parts- the hug. In the BTS stuff there's a scene of Corey, Joey, and Curt working out the hug choreography, with Corey talking about how it should be one fluid motion between the embrace and the action stance, which is just *chefs kiss* because it really does kinda fool you into thinking it's a stylistic choice instead of a storytelling choice on the first watch. (Plus it just looks cool as hell)

[kandisheek]

FIC REC WEEK 23 – POST-CA:CW

Over Sea, Under Stars by vorkosigan

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: T Words: 36,651 Tags: Depression, Fix-It, Texting

Summary: Tony gets the phone, but he never uses it and he never intends to. Or, he doesn’t until Steve starts texting him, asking strange questions about medication and mental health, which is when Tony gets worried. (A texting fix-it that grew beyond all proportion. Deals with depression and anxiety quite a lot. There is even some plot in there somewhere.)

Reasons why I love it: This fic makes me so goddamn emotional. They hurt each other so much, and the guilt floating around is so thick it feels like it's choking me. But when things get better, it's so rewarding and satisfying, it almost makes me cry. Also, if you read this, pay attention to all the time-stamp descriptions, because they're hilarious. This fic is wonderful and a brilliant fix-it to the whole mess that is Civil War, so if you haven't read it yet, I hope you give it a whirl.

Forms of Love by bear_bell

Pairing: Bucky/Tony Rating: E Words: 33,596 Tags: Civil War Team Ironman, Separate Personalities (Winter & Bucky), PTSD

Summary: Months after the Avengers' dispute in Germany, the team returns to the US and moves back into the tower. As always, everyone pretends that nothing happened. Tony is just fine with this. He's used to pretending, and he'll be damned if he lets any of them see him flinch. Tony's the bad guy, after all. He's used to it. He's fine with it. He's good at it. Only now, there's something far worse loitering around the tower - The Winter Soldier. No one notices the guy at first, but when they do, Tony figures that he should have the soldier's back. Birds of a feather should flock together, and the bad guys should start a book club.

Reasons why I love it: I gotta be honest, I'm not a big fan of CW discourse when a specific side is taken. So it says a lot that I enjoyed this fic regardless. Even though it clearly leans towards one side of the argument, it's handled in a way that feels respectful and understandable. The writing is amazing, and I ADORE the relationship that Tony has with both Winter and Bucky. Plus, the way Bucky slowly learns to stop fighting Winter and starts getting along with him instead is really beautiful. This fic is wonderful, and I highly encourage you to read it!

The Crying Game by fohatic

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: E Words: 36,416 Tags: Angry Sex, Dubious Consent, Power Play

Summary: Steve Rogers stared at the dimly glowing digital screen of the little burner phone, rereading the text message as if it might somehow give away something he missed the first dozen times he scrutinized it. His frown only deepened, though, brows drawing together with consternation as the 88 characters only left him with an even more ponderous sense of uncertainty. If you meant what you wrote, I'll be at the Swissotel Sarajevo, 4/18. Presidential Suite. 9pm. Come alone. Nearly a year after Steve and Tony's fallout—and only weeks after hearing press rumors that Tony and Pepper's engagement was inexplicably called off—Steve gets a message on the dedicated burner phone. Despite his instinctive reservations, he's compelled to answer the mysterious call.

Reasons why I love it: Oh, this one hurts SO GOOD!! I just want to take them both and shake them, god, the emotional conflict is so raw and awful, and I LOVE it! It's like that feeling of wanting to peel off a scab, and then you do it and it hurts, but the itching goes away so it's worth it. If that makes any sense at all. Point is, I love this fic to bits, and you should give it a read (if you can stomach some unpleasant emotions, that is).

[befuddledcinnamonroll]

Tharn, babes, the man was full on seizing. That was not just a dream!

Lol, Phaya is all "faen speed-mode engaged!" already.

Goddamn, Gap!

Lol, y'all were right about Yai's "Tharn got nailed" radar.

This move always always makes me weak.

I knew Slow Motion was making Phaya see things!

I assume he also messes with Tharn's mind as well? So he didn't notice Phaya leaving? Otherwise, after all of Tharn's concern about Phaya, it makes him seem awfully careless.

Aww, this is really sweet.

This whole flashback is both ridiculous and amazingly awesome. I love how seriously everyone is taking it.

Yesss, put Heng & Billy in costumes and make them scream at each other in the middle of the woods. Brilliant!

Also the CGI is hysterical, but I am loving it so much!

Oh god, the feels...

Oh, this is unexpected...

Um, how are the other police not hearing the million gunshots going off here?!

Dammit. We all knew this episode would end here, but still...waaaaaah.

I do still have some questions after the flashbacks though.

Because in earlier episodes they keep talking about the "wrong" that Tharn & Phaya did to others? What wrong? Was it just them being together despite being from different worlds? Or Tharn being technically promised to Slow Motion?

If it's just either of those things, then I'm a bit annoyed about them being told they did wrong. Love isn't wrong, and not wanting to marry an abusive partner you've been promised to is not remotely wrong.

And what about Slow Motion murdering two people? Where is his comeuppance?! I mean, yes, we got the tease that he's destined for hell. But he's still managing to fuck over Phaya & Tharn life after life, and yet they're the ones told to make sure they're good?

My poor babies.

[witchthewriter]

@therococobean.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐎𝐁𝐁𝐈𝐓

𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

𝑰 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑮𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒍! Peaceful, atmospheric, slow, and caring - Galadriel would make you feel at complete peace. She soothes you to the core. But it's not just her that makes your life better; you do the same for her. Like a hidden treasure, she thinks you are invaluable.

𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒏𝒔

・Since Galadriel loves the natural world, expect your home to reflect that. Growing plants, flowers, herbs etc., is just the tip of the iceburg with Galadriel

・Get ready for immense respect and loyalty. Galadriel's strength provides a sense of security and commitment in your relationship.

・She absolutely LOVES your creativity. Whatever you create, she wants to know about it. If it's drawing/painting/sculpting - then she wants it all around the house. She is PROUD of having you as her partner.

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈

I'm Kissing You by Des'Ree

𝑹𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔

Home Is Wherever You Are

Will follow each other to the end of the earth

The Moon (You) and Her Star (Galadriel)

𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆

Intertwined Destinies

𝐍𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐀

𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

𝑰 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑬𝒅𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝑷𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒆! King of Narnia, Edmund the Just, and a cracking good bloke. He would care about you so goddamn much. And that is just from afar - when he actually gets to know you, and you're in a relationship, then he is scared every day of losing you. You become the highlight of his life, the light in the darkness.

𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒏𝒔

・The home you share together is completely nurturing and supportive. Negativity is left at the door and everyone is heard. It's just how it is when you're married to a man called The Just.

・Time together is never boring. Edmund is so witty and has a huge playful side. This humor brings lightness and joy to the relationship, making everyday moments enjoyable.

・As a King of Narnia, Edmund faces leadership challenges. Balancing personal and royal duties would sometimes create tension, requiring understanding and support from you. Yet I think you would be invited into the politics because Ed never wants to leave you out, but he also thinks you have a brilliant mind. He wants your input!

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈

For the Dancing and the Dreaming by Erutan

𝑹𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔 

The Gomez & Morticia Adams (loving and devoted, you top)

Looks Like A Jerk But Has A Heart Of Gold (Ed) x Looks Like A Cinnamon Roll But Is Also A Badass (You)

 “Shut Up” x “Make Me”

𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆

Bickering and Banter

𝐌𝐂𝐔

𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

𝑰 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑴'𝑩𝒂𝒌𝒖! You might be wondering how each of these characters could possibly match with you. But they do! Each character shares things in common; they are just, fair, equal. They do not like the darkness, they at least balance it with the light or are completely on the 'right' side - rather than be an antihero or villian. They are seen as they good guys.

And that's why M'Baku would be a great partner for you. He's strong, noble and has unwavering determination.

𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒏𝒔

・M'Baku’s connection to the Jabari tribe means that your life together would be steeped in rich traditions, rituals. M'Baku would keep your life exciting without even having to try.

・In this partnership, there would be a blend of strength, adventure, cultural richness, and deep emotional connection.

・M'Baku encourages those around him to grow and thrive. In your partnership, this would translate to a supportive environment where both partners uplift each other.

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈

The Tour by James Newton Howard

𝑹𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔 

Snarky Power Couple That Can, And Probably Will, Destroy You

Thinks They're In Charge (M'Baku) x Is Actually In Charge (You)

Fake Relationship Which Turns Into True Love

𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆

Timeless Love

[kimbapisnotsushi]

shiratorizawa/inarizaki headcanons bc i miss them and i love them and i crave yamagata and reon content so i have to be the change i want to see in the world. so let's go!!

reon, the love of my life

i actually think he really likes comforting cozy slice-of-life sim games, like stardew valley and animal crossing and such

okay this is the part where i retcon the entire haikyuu timeline bc i really like the idea of everyone piling into reon's and tendou's dorm and watching reon game on a switch

or just like. gathering in the common area and squishing onto the couch or whatever while reon roams his island collecting fruits and bugs or whatever

(these games are the only sense of peace and stability reon gets at this goddamn school)

anyways it's funny bc tendou screams every time reon runs into a wasp's nest and yells "RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN" until reon either gets stung or successfully evades them

admittedly i do think the ds and gameboy are sacred and, for the sake of nostalgia, are definitely used to play pokemon (of which everyone has a favorite gen and get into endless arguments about it)

tendou DOES teach goshiki how to pirate shit and get ROM hacks and emulators and such tho

reon and semi are the most popular members out of the third years btw

they're both polite and calm and generally nice and don't have an RBF that makes people nervous

too many people keep trying to fight yamagata just bc they think he's glaring at them and he is SO tired

yamagata (slightly inspired by my own recent purchase) decides to get a phone charm to see if it'll help him keep track of his phone btw

he mentions this idea to semi who mentions it to reon who mentions it to tendou who blabs to the whole team. and guess what? everyone gets the absolutely brilliant idea of gifting yamagata a phone charm!!!

so now he has like a dozen different ones. and he's STILL losing his goddamn phone, so now his convos are like "have you seen my phone? yeah right now it's got a little phone charm hanging off of it, so just keep an eye out for that. what does the charm look like? oh i meant it's a charm that is literally a phone. of course it was tendou, who else do you think it was"

tendou has also taken to putting stickers on yamagata in an attempt to make him "less scary". sometimes yamagata knows about it. sometimes he doesn't.

kawanishi: "yamagata-san, pardon me for asking, but why do you have one-punch man on your butt" yamagata: "i have what now"

tendou meets someone he can talk to manga about online in some fandom/community forum or whatever and he is absolutely BETRAYED to find out that it's akagi michinari of inarizaki

okay not really but he is SUPER dramatic about it and keeps going on and on to akagi about how he can't be caught fraternizing with the enemy

akagi is just like "yeah yeah now are we going to talk about the complexities of yoru being both a victim and a perpetrator and his inevitable redemption arc or what"

(GO READ GOKURAKUGAI I AM BEGGING)

aran is still scared of tendou btw. like he won't outright admit it but he's still not over the time tendou yelled that he was going to piss in his pants from all the way across the court.

when akagi tells him they've become friends aran is like "are you SURE about that"

also i know tendou gets pissed off at suna. but i think it'd be REALLY funny if suna got pissed off at kawanishi

something something "he should be more sure of himself, he'll never stop aran-san like that" something something "and i thought i was a sarcastic little bitch" something something "no i DON'T think he's cute what the fuck are you on about"

(i didn't mean for it to go that way when i started typing it but i DO think it'd be an absolutely hilarious development)

i htink kawanishi and shirabu go on a lot of study dates, holing up at coffeeshops and boba cafes with their backpacks and notebooks and spending hours on homework and studying

shirabu worked his ass off to get into shiratorizawa and he intends to keep it that way!! he's a model student. probably even the top of their year. everyone knows him as the high-achiever.

kawanishi is there to make sure shirabu doesn't get lost inside his head and gets him take breaks and makes sure he doesn't get sucked into the endless soulless spiral of academic rigor at an elite private high school

basically: shirabu's consistently on the path to burnout and kawanishi is there to keep the flames alive

(hey that would be a good fic summary)

maybe that's another thing, then, that helps kawanishi and suna become friends. because suna's been there. suna knows, sometimes, that feeling of imposter syndrome. feeling like you don't belong. feeling like you have to prove your worth, your entire existence, just to be able to stay in a place you love, even if that place might not love you back.

and kawanishi knows shirabu would rather shove a volleyball down his throat than open up about the bad days and the bad feelings, so he picks suna's brain instead to find out how he can help. what he can do. what shirabu might be thinking and how kawanishi can fix it

you can't, suna tells him, you can't fix something like this. he has to learn to live with it. to grow around it. to believe in something better until it's the only thing he believes in. but having people you care about care about you helps. it did for me.

and so kawanishi is there to draw the blanket around shirabu's shoulders, and he's there to put snacks on shirabu's desk, and he's there to flip shirabu's textbook close when the clock hits eleven they need to sleep, and he cares for shirabu in all the ways shirabu can't care for himself and hopes that it's enough

[ani-coolgirl]

Man's Best Friends with Benefits (08x15) is hilarious and dumb right off the bat and I think it's great.

This is cheating because I've seen the episode before, but after James has his nightmare it cuts to him in bed... with his dog familiar... who can also appear as a human woman. But she sleeps in his bed as a dog. Which they're both okay with even though they're having intimate relations. Okay!!! Interesting dynamic!!!

Dean complaining about going out of their way to help someone who saved their life (apparently; happened off screen, it's real, shut up) is the funniest character growth of all time. Season!One Dean insisted they spend a week in prison for some guy that their dad knew, and now he's inconvenienced by someone they literally owe a life debt to. Amazing.

Sam immediately gets played by a dog doing nothing more than showing her belly. People shouldn't have this much trouble killing the Winchesters, send in a skinwalker and Sam would open the door to it right away and get his face bitten off.

Sam also immediately freaking out when Dean comes back with the food and the dog's in the room. What's Dean gonna do, idiot!! Ground you?? I love you.

Sam and Dean objectifying the dog woman giving them a dressing down two minutes after meeting her. What the actual hell. Dean, I can see it, but Sam, I'm surprised with you.

This is the first episode with good witches (though there's an argument to be made with Cordelia and Spike in Shut Up, Dr. Phil) and right away sets them up as a fancy-pants club with cool powers. The whole witch mythos really starts spiraling here because you can just, a) become a witch, or b) you sell your soul to become a witch, or c) are just naturally a witch which is different from being a psychic... somehow. It's such a mess. Also, this witch club is silly. How many goddamn witches are there in St. Louis that they need a whole-ass club?

The only people James have are the Winchesters? The fact that he's never been in any episode before this makes this whole exchange ridiculous. And kinda sad.

Portia storming away from an argument as a dog is great. I wish I could to that. I wish to be literally that bitchy.

Dean breaks out chains to keep James locked down. I know they have handcuffs! What the hell!!

"Witch killing spell," oh my gaaaawwwd, somebody shoot me. Witches aren't a different fucking species, somebody please explain who felt the need to write this into the lore! Chuck!! I see you!!

Aww, Dean can only trust himself which is a terrible decision.

Why would you choose Dean to go with you to the secret witch club? Ah, yes, so he can call a woman a pet and get a lecture about it so we can get more LOOOOOOOORE (/matpat voice)

You know, considering all the spellwork we see later on in the show, the idea that a witch controlling another via magic is basically unheard of is just silly.

Okay, we finally get to address the the elephant in the room--that a white guy "owns" a black woman that he's sleeping with, whom she calls "master." I just wish I could be a fly on the wall in that writer's room when that finally clicked. "You know, the optics on this aren't great." "Shit, you're right. What if... she chains him up while they're having sex. It's like symbolic of how their relationship is actually equal!" "BRILLIANT!" What a shit-show.

I love that the boys were just going to Molotov James in his bed. While he was awake. Amazing.

Dean awkwardly implying bestiality is great. Dean, they don't fuck when she's a dog, for crissakes. I mean, probably not.

WHY IS DEAN STILL THINKING ABOUT BESTIALITY?? Also, Dean asking a Black woman about her identity... stay classy, Dean.

Why is there a spell specifically for implanting images into a witch's mind? Why is it not for everyone? WHY ARE WITCHES JUST SUDDENLY A DIFFERENT SPECIES?!

But Sam is proud that Dean hasn't made an explicit bestiality joke. Fuck, my fic's gonna be about dog sex, isn't it? But I was saving that for Dog Dean Afternoon!

"What, like phone sex?" Dean. Dean. You're an idiot.

"He was always spineless. Now, literally." B-but there was a cracking sound effect when his neck broke... that very much implies the presence of a spine...

Evil guy chooses to torment the boys with images of the Cage for Sam and Mary dying and being in Hell for Dean. Those are some choices. I approve.

Actual biggest character growth in the series--Dean going from not liking dogs to owning a dog in the last episode.

"I saw Mom, when she died." Waitaminute. Dean never actually witnessed that. He was four and in the hallway. How was that in his head?

Sam coughing up blood at the end?? Like some frail Victorian maiden?? Right after Dean says he trusts him?? Beautiful, no notes.

Okay, look, this episode is certainly... flawed. But I honestly think James & Portia would have made much better spin-off material than that stupid Bloodlines crap they tried to sell us next season. Think about it. You get the forbidden love angle without the tired Romeo and Juliet crap Bloodlines was going for, and James is a cop so you could have them start up a supernatural detective agency or something, which would be a much better way to expand on witch and monster lore without being restricted to the five family politics. Would it be a good show? Probably not, but it's not like Bloodlines was going to be high art either, and at least James & Portia wouldn't have committed the crime of trying to pitch a show that basically already existed on the network (The Originals).

[gen-is-gone]

Gah see the one thing I can't do with the EDAs, and it drives me up the wall nuts, no matter how much I do agree that they are meant to be books and that's the point of them, that they only metatextually and even thematically work as books, and obscure forgotten books at that - the one thing is, I can't make vids. Gifsets either. God, you have no idea how much I wish I could vid this series.

So many things, so many astonishing visuals and cinematic parallels, so much I want to string together in a coherent form and I can't, I just can't. Like, the actual factual thing that caused me to fucking Mandela-effect myself into misremembering the series as a 90s tv show in the first place was imagining a fanvid about Fitz's fashion sense set to Macklemore's Thriftshop, of all fucking things, BUT. While yes, obviously that would be a work of unrivaled genius, it's not just that. Over the years it's become this endless want, this constantly seeing gifsets and screencaps and vids, vids, above all else, vids, of all the different moments there are.

There is (of-fucking-course) a blog (at least one, but maybe many more) dedicated exclusively to making gifsets of every time destiel touch each other in all contexts. Of fucking course there is. I scream with envy over this because like. That could be us, if only the EDAs had any footage at all, but it's a goddamn (brilliant, daft, exceedingly stupid) BOOK SERIES instead. Every time Eight/Fitz touch? Fitz is in fifty books and they are both extremely touchy; you could absolutely dedicate an entire fucking tumblr blog to making a gifset of each of those moments; you'd be making gifs for fucking years.

I want to bestow upon them the highest honor I could give: a fanvid about their insane nutso relationship set to Vienna Teng's Never Look Away. I want a Sam vid set to Marina's Oh No! I want an Eight vid to the Indigo Girls' Galileo. I can see all these so so clearly and I want to share them with the world. I want a gifset of thematic uses of the color red in Sam's early books episodes books. I want to hear Sail on Sailor and know how the fuck the diagetically composed Dr Who theme would actually sound on violin or acoustic guitar, with its unspeakably tender lyrics. I want someone's painstakingly color-corrected, digitally restored, hi-res slo-mo shot of Fitz in his princess fairy tale wedding dress flying around on a jetpack.

Like they are books and they're supposed to be books and it's significant to what the silly things are trying to say, and also quite frankly there is no way in hell any doctor who ever, even now, could pull off even half the shit they got away with via the infinite budget of the page, and they certainly could not have made say, YIT in the 90s and have it look anything but silly and cheap when it needed to look real, BUT. I wish I could see it. I wish I could make the vids I see playing in my head when I reread these silly, edgy, annoyingly smug, painfully earnest, wildly creative and visually stunning FUCKING books.

[remyfire]

I don't know if I'll keep this post up because this is not what any of y'all are here for, but I have to get it out somewhere. This is just a lot of gritted-teeth venting, so if that's not your style, scroll on, I love you, I hope you see a cat photo soon.

Truly every day of my life I find myself gritting my teeth when I see another joke or article or post or anything at all about booktok romance novels, that specific style of book cover, the disdain about promotional graphics like trope maps, that whole kerfluffle because I just! Wanna be like. Hey guess what! None of us wanted things to go that way either!

Like it really is remarkable sometimes to remember how readers don't necessarily get to see us smaller romance authors gritting our teeth and bitching in our spaces because we hate the trends that are being pushed forward, but also we have to compete somehow, right? We have to be sell books. We have to find a way to be picked up and read in this oversaturated sea. We have to try and gain traction against those people who hire 50 ghostwriters at a time for pathetic rates to churn out romance novels so they can release one literally every month. We have to fight against the 99-cent expectations even though we're lucky to make 35 cents per book sold if we offer it at that rate.

I think one of the most insulting things that publishers did was decide that it was the author's responsibility to go viral on booktok. That way, the publishers got to save a hell of a lot of money on marketing budgets, right? No, we won't be arranging tours unless you're lucky, we won't be pushing your book as hard as we usually should. It is your job to have a social media following that is broad enough that you make your books go viral, not us giving it a boost as your publisher. If you don't go viral on booktok, we will probably not be signing you for another book, sorry, bud.

Cannot express to you either how many of us erotic romance authors especially were gritting our teeth when the cover trend started leaning toward basic primary colors and splotchy abstract shapes. I completely understand that not everybody wants a shirtless man with a 12-pack just slapped on the front cover of the book they're reading—I actually thought it was brilliant when I saw several self-pub authors offering both the traditional steamier cover but also an option of paperbacks with a more tame, understated cover that just makes it look more like a literary novel. But god, it felt so lazy, these aforementioned abstractly illustrated covers. They told me nothing about the book. There was barely a sense of themes or important objects and these shapes had no defining characteristics that set any of the characters apart and they just looked like YA novels, which is fine for YA novels, but how do you market your extremely high-heat romance novel in that cover trend? If you throw together those blotchy illustrated shapes, people are going to think it's sweet or closed-door, and then they get in there and there's 12 graphic sex scenes on the page, and they're furious about it. I loved seeing illustrated covers that were more detailed start to make a move forward, especially because it meant starting to separate the American cultural assumption that illustrated = childish. Letting them be sexy, letting the author be able to represent any kind of protagonist they wanted without being restricted to the tiny selection of mostly skinny white able-bodied cis models on stock photo sites? Incredible. Love that. Want more of it. Wish it was easier to get publishers to really buy in on that.

The fact that readers will complain about promotional things like trope maps when the publishers require the use of them. The publisher makes them, they hand them over, and now you are the one who will be using it because that is contractual and because even if it wasn't, you want your goddamn book in front of people's eyes. And if you are self-pub or indie, if you don't have a substantial marketing budget to spent thousands of dollars on ads, promotions, and whatever the hell else, you are all but required to follow the trend because that's the only way you're gonna get people to share your shit.

And god, the way that it's all reduced to just 'booktok romance novel.' I get what that's referring to, that exact grouping of authors and why they're frustrating, but holy shit, I wanna know how many of those readers have picked up a self-pub or indie romance by a marginalized author. I'll see people complain about the quality of romance novels as compared to the quality of romantic fanfiction and I wanna shake them by the shoulders and say, "It's there! It's out there! It's self-pub and indie romance authors out here doing the goddamn work and you! Aren't! Looking! For it! Because it's easier to mock the genre instead!" Especially self-pub/indie queer romance authors who are marginalized, they are out here revolutionizing the genre and not getting anywhere near the accolades they deserve.

It's just irritating and exhausting. It's frustrating enough to have your genre used as the constant butt of jokes, treated like it's a substandard genre, like all it is is trash, using 'bodice ripper' as a disparaging term for modern romance novels when that is a relic of a very distant past and a historical pinpoint about which we can have an in-depth discussion about the decades-long process of making it socially acceptable for a woman to talk about her sexual desires rather than the 'bodice ripper' days when a woman had to have them forced on her instead before she could ever dream of admitting that she might know her own body and its cravings.

It's frankly embarrassing to see my genre so poorly understood. That's all. The one genre that is devoted to making sure that every marginalized person can have a happy ending of their choosing—marriage, pregnancy, queerplatonic, no sex necessary, no marriage or kids necessary, whatever feels right—rather than just the skinny white able-bodied cis people, that's the one that is always getting the potshots taken at it, and it's really a goddamn shame.

[partywithponies]

The ghosts ranked from least to most shippable with Alison (in my opinion):

(If you're going to ask "how" and you can't think of a way, just like. Imagine Alison died and became a ghost. It's a miravle she hasn't already)

11) Cap: The man is a homosexual. And even if he wanted to experiment he's too repressed to approach Alison for that.

10) Humphrey’s body: Alison's unhinged but she's a different flavour of unhinged to Fanny. I don't see this happening.

9) Pat: Pat and Alison don't interact that often, and I can't see them being each other's type. Still, under the right circumstances, maybe? I think it'd be an incredibly boring ship though. Where's the spice. Where's the flavour.

8) Thomas: Apologies to Thomas for ranking him so low but I think if Alison returned his feelings Thomas wouldn't actually enjoy dating her at all. He's too much into big and grand gestures, she's too casual, she'd be annoyed by him while he'd be frustrated by the lack of effort on her part, and I know Alison wouldn't be satisfied in bed by this man. I just know my girl is a freak in the sheets, and Thomas is the biggest virgin in the house.

7) Humphrey's head: It's cute! Weird, but cute. I could see this. Not the most exciting though. It's too cute. I want spice.

6) The plague ghosts: lumping them together because I have the same answer for all of them. I think they'd all happily sleep with her but nothing romantic would happen. They're shippable in a FWB way.

5) Kitty: Look in the show they're clearly going for the sisters angle at this point, but a lot of Kitty's behaviour toward Alison could easily be read as gay if you wanted to already. This one's just a given.

4) Mary: Go on Mary. Teach Alison what else Annie taught you. It's only fair.

(These top three all collectively get bonus points for being the funniest possible ships by vitue of the fact they're the ships that would most cause Thomas to absolutely lose his goddamn mind if Alison became a ghost but then chose to date/sleep with one of these people instead of him. I think he would practically have a ghost-aneurysm and it'd be very funny. Then maybe Thomas would finally get his act together and go after someone more suited to him. Like Kitty, or Mike.)

3) Robin: As I just said, mostly only ranked this high because of how much it'd make Thomas flip his lid. Imagine the woman you've been pining over is finally physically able to touch you but she choses to bang a caveman instead. Brilliant. That said Robin and Alison do already have a great friendship, and I think they'd treat each other right. Plus I strongly believe they're both polyamorous so it'd leave them both with their options open.

2) Fanny: Don't you dare judge me for putting her in second place. I am not immune to mommy kink.

1) Julian: Delicious, finally some spice. Falling for the person you tried to kill once? You know that's my jam. Plus they already have so much in common. They'd commit so many crimes together and have such good sex. 10/10

[bnha-more-like-bnh-gay]

Some bullies stole Izuku's money, leaving him unable to buy lunch. He checks his pockets, and miraculously, he still has a small amount of coins inside. It's not much, but it's enough for him to buy a treat. And there's just this limited edition All Might themed ice cream being sold in some cafés.

So he goes straight to the nearest café. And just his luck, he got the last ice cream. According to the employees, the other cafés already sold out.

Izuku is happy of course. He can't wait to try the dessert!!

But fate has another plan.

Before he even get to enjoy the first bite, he bumps against someone else running from the opposite direction. Both he and the stranger fall.

And inevitably, Izuku's ice cream splattered onto the ground.

The stranger, who happens to be a guy around Izuku's age, profusely apologized. And even more so when he notices the ice cream, which is now a puddle of melted sticky liquid. And it's beyond saving.

The guy insisted to treat Izuku on a meal. Izuku politely declined, wanting to just go back home at this point. But then his stomach made a rumbling noise.

So Izuku has no choice but to relent. Together, he & the guy went to the nearest fast food restaurant. And the guy paid all of their orders.

They talked, and Izuku unexpectedly find himself actually enjoying the guy's company.

When the topic of their conversation shifted into heroes, Izuku's inner fanboy practically came out. He went on a ramble about their quirks, strengths, weaknesses, etc.

This went for quite some time until Izuku realized that he had been dominating the conversation, now fully aware that the guy stared at him. Izuku shrunk, conscious of his habit & action. He closed his eyes, waiting for the insults, jeers & mockery. But they never came.

Izuku slowly opened his eyes, only to find the guy grinning at him widely.

The guy has the same wide grin as Kacchan, but unlike Izuku's former-friend-now-turned-bully, the guy's big smile isn't threatening. It has no malice, murderous intentions & anything associated with Kacchan.

Instead, his smile is friendly, inviting & open. Warm, welcoming.

And it was at that moment Izuku took a closer look of the guy's appearance. His spiky, bright red hair definitely made him look recognizable - at least in Izuku's eyes. There was also a faint, small scar above his right eye. His teeth were pointy & sharp. They're very much like sharks.

The guy exclaimed that he never thought of applying the heroes' quirks the way Izuku said earlier, acknowledging Izuku's brilliant analytical mind.

Before they knew it, it's getting late, so they have to part ways.

Izuku went back home with an ecstatic mood that day. And it's not until he's about to sleep that he realized he forgot to give his name to the guy (and exchange numbers with him).

AGAIN, I AM SO SORRY FOR THE GODDAMN SEVERAL MONTH LATE REPLY🥹🥲😭💀 burnout is fun💀

MIDDLE SCHOOL FRIENDS KIRIDEKU MIDDLE SCHOOL FRIENDS KIRIDEKU MIDDLE SCHOOL FRIENDS KIRIDEKU MIDDLE SCHOOL FRIENDS KIRIDEKU MIDDLE SCHOOL FRIENDS KIRIDEKU MIDDLE SCHOOL FRIENDS KIRIDEKU MIDDLE SCHOOL FRIENDS KIRIDEKU

Kiri being so apologetic about making izuku drop the ice cream😭 and izuku is just kinda like 👁👄👁 because people are never this nice to him?!

They do go get food though, and izuku is so uncomfortable and nervous at the beginning, but kiri is determined to make it up to him! (It’s the manly thing to do)

Eventually, kiri cracks the boy! He’s a nerd!!! He loves heroes!!!! That’s great, kiri loves heroes too! He’s not a nerd, but izuku is really smart and he admires him so much!! He’s so manly!!!

Izuku is just surprised that he’s having a conversation with someone his age and not being berated. This is a first in many years (give him affection)

Kiri is so excited to have made another friend! They talk for hours! In all the excitement, they forget to introduce themselves though :(

A little while into food, kiri gets a texts from one of his moms asking him to come home/where he is and he and the green lad part ways!

It’s not until both boys get home that they realize they have no way of contacting their new friend

Now, kiri does not give up. He asks people about a sad and manly green boy. He asks for months. His moms are a bit worried, but they love and support their son.

Izuku doesn’t really have anyone to ask, but he does keep a look out!

It isn’t until a bit later that they meet up at UA

So much has happened

They honestly don’t recognize each other at first, and their reconciliation is rather amusing

It’s like spider-man meme. “You’re the sad, manly green boy!” “You’re that nice kid!”

Izuku is conflicted to learn that for the past few months, kiri has thought of him as “the sad, manly green boy”

Kiri is so glad to know izuku thought he was nice despite the fact that he (accidentally) destroyed his ice cream

I like to imagine that this happened in the middle of training too, and everyone is just watching like a ping pong ball between the two

Bakugou is. Mad. Distressed. Confused.

The whole izucrew gaggle is one of my favorite MHA groups/relationships, but kirideku is literally just. THEY’RE JUST LADS. JUST LADS. THEY DESERVE SUPPORT AND HAPPINESS. THEY PROVIDE SUPPORT AND HAPPINESS. WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT FROM A DUO?! WANT ANGST? THEY CAN DO THAT TOO! WANT FLUFF? VERY EASY. WHAT LADS.

All might hears the telephone version

“There was an all might ice cream bar-“

Wha? I mean, sure, but what? When was the last time he did a promo involving ice cream? Was it a knock off? (Dude has a shit ton of merch, I just think it’d be amusing if he had no idea what the fuck was going on. Poor lad)

Monoma is insufferable about it. “Class A had had students who knew each other but didn’t recognize each other for months/weeks! Class B would never do that! We know everyone in our class-“

It’s okay, we love him anyway.

Kiri and izuku are so glad to find their friend again though.

When I tell you kiri is so supportive.

Izuku’s contact name in his phone is “manly green boy”

Kiri’s contact in izuku’s phone is, “the nice kid” despite now having friends

They’re so supportive

Sorry that this is short, but I hope you liked it!!!

THANK YOU FOR THE ASK AND YOUR PATIENCE

[camellcat]

scrambled thoughts about s4 bc I'm losing my goddamned MIND

just finished s4 of Doctor Who. quick question: how the hell do you go on without Rose Tyler? I can't even imagine I literally. what.

like once s3 rolled around I really fuckin realized I was apparently very much watching this show for ROSE and her dynamic with the Doctor, not the Doctor himself or whatever else lmaoo

ONLY Rose has made me bawl my eyes out, let alone even tear up at all. I just can't even fathom being able to connect with any other plot or character like I did with her and her love for the Doctor.

I just ohh for all of s3 most of s4 I just missed her so much??? like Martha and Donna are great (well, I didn't like Martha at first and you can definitely guess why based on all of this but once s4 rolled around she was great!! loved her) but oh my god they were just no Rose Tyler.

plus WOW I really got so attached to her relationships with other people?? like Donna and Martha's families n whatnot made me feel NOTHING whereas I could not get enough of Jackie and adored Mickey (Mickey is family. he is. I don't care if he's her ex or whatever. he's part of the family). Captain Jack Harkness my one true love (btw just sayin I really think Rose and the Doctor should've gotten a hello kiss. maybe not the Doctor he did not deserve one for leaving Jack but Rose did!! hello!!! you gave them "I'm going to go die" kisses give them "hello we're all still alive missed you" kisses!!!). idk if maybe I was just so clocked out of s3-4 that I missed something but I swear those two just had like no really compelling personal relationships outside of the Doctor, and maybe like one specific family member (lookin at you, gramps).

the fact that Rose ended up liking Martha and Donna though??? dfindsnjdj dying dying DYING I love that she would've been friends with them both. they deserved to all sit and gossip about the Doctor like she did with Sarah Jane right in front of his face.

also oh my god no one why why why please PLEASE I'm not used to consuming sad media I try and avoid it as much as possible and this show is just. just. oh my god.

Rose is so close to what she truly wanted. she'll have a life with the Doctor, but not her Doctor and not the life she fought so hard to get back. instead she's still still still stuck in Pete's World, unable to travel across time and space and save the universe with her Doctor (and don't get me wrong, I love the idea of Tentoo, but it just rubs me the wrong way no matter how I try and look at it. it feels like when a character's memories are erased. they're still technically themselves, but something important is missing all the same. and that thing missing is the TARDIS in this case Tentoo is the best thing she could've gotten lol). I feel like I can't even adequately put it into words why her ending makes me as upset as it does I just hope you Get It. I don't think it would've been good for her to not have ANY other solid relationships like she would've had if she'd gone with the Doctor but also oh my god. oh my god.

and the Doctor is once again without his brilliant, fantastic Rose.

I really hope she doesn't come back though unless it's on her own terms, because she missed her friends or smth. I really hope she's able to travel the world and it be enough for her as long as she's got Tentoo by her side. I really, really hope she's happy and fully in love with Tentoo and they are living the BEST life they can.

Fuck. this SHOW.

[pretensesoup]

Queer books, day 12/30

I've been trying to mentally reconstruct my history with this play. Back in 2001 or 2002, Jesse (my Ask a Medievalist co-host) told me I should read it. Why? I don't remember. But I did everything Jesse told me to do back in those days, so I dutifully went out to a bookstore (it might actually have been Canterbury Books, which still existed back in those days, but it might also have been Paul's?). I was only able to find one part, so I bought it and read it and decided it was brilliant. Then in 2003, the TV version was announced (that's why there is a photo of Emma Thompson on the cover of this version) and I was able to buy them both combined.

Back in let's call it 2002, I was 19, knew some LGBT people and thought they were fine and cool, but that was about where my thinking began and ended. This play...I mean, as a work of art, it blows my mind to this day. As a record of a particular historical time period, it's amazing. It's magical realism, it's Jewish in a way that I understand Judaism (not just in opposition to other people's religions, but in contrast to more orthodox elements within Judaism), it's gay, it's about death, it's about life... I don't know, it's brilliant. And of course, a few years later I got to see Mr. Kushner interviewed on stage and enjoy this conversation between the hapless student who had been selected to interview him and the man himself:

Student: So Belize has this speech where he says... "Big ideas are all you love. "America" is what Louis loves. Well I hate America, Louis. I hate this country. It's just big ideas, and stories, and people dying, and people like you. The white cracker who wrote the National Anthem knew what he was doing. He set the word "free" to a note so high nobody can reach it. That was deliberate. Nothing on earth sounds less like freedom to me." So why do you hate America?

Tony Kushner: (with the patience of a goddamn saint) I think everyone who has taken an entry-level English class can identify that the characters are not the author.

SO.

The play centers on Prior, who is dying of AIDS and his ex-boyfriend Louis, who is having a really hard time with Prior dying. Prior is not exactly thrilled about it either. Then there's Roy Cohn (the evil, evil lawyer who was a historical figure and also died of AIDS) and his clerk, Joe, a repressed gay Mormon. And then Joe's drugged-out wife Harper, his mother Hannah, and an angel.

Look, I don't know how to describe the plot very well. Prior is ill, and Louis abandons him, and then sleeps with Joe. Roy Cohn is in the AZT clinical trial (the first generation of HIV/AIDS drugs) and is trying to blackmail someone (unnamed) into making sure he doesn't get the placebo. Harper suspects something is up with her marriage. Prior is visited by the angel, called a prophet, and asked to help fix things in heaven. Then Hannah, Joe's mother shows up and meets Prior.

The thing about this play is that all of the characters are really, really human. Louis does something terrible in running out on Prior, and he KNOWS it's terrible, and he can't not do it. And at the end, Prior forgives him. Joe walks out on Harper, who is sick and needs him, and in the end she realizes that maybe she needs him less than she thought, and she lets him go. And everyone does terrible things, really, and they feel bad and they get forgiven. Excluding Roy Cohn, who is evil. But in the end, the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg says kaddish for him. So maybe the message is that you, too, can be forgiven. A little bit, anyway.

One time I went running in Central Park and I went to the Bethesda fountain, which is referenced in here, and it was awesome.

Key quote:

I've lived through such terrible times and there are people who live through much worse. But you see them living anyway. When they're more spirit than body, more sores than skin, when they're burned and in agony, when flies lay eggs in the corners of the eyes of their children - they live. Death usually has to take life away. I don't know if that's just the animal. I don't know if it's not braver to die, but I recognize the habit; the addiction to being alive. So we live past hope. If I can find hope anywhere, that's it, that's the best I can do. It's so much not enough. It's so inadequate. But still bless me anyway. I want more life.

Now I haven't even gotten to how much I learned from this about how characters have give and take in dialog, and this and that, but I've written a very long post already, so I'll stop here. 50/10, go read it.