#this is because conflict creates interest and i care more about interesting characters than happy ones!!!! they arent real!!!!!!!!

[coelacat]

petty complaint time: being a queer woman into men sucks!!! this sucks. you dare want to see your relationship portrayed in the fandom, and all you see in the tag is people trying to act like theyre superior for liking a "straight" ship amongst all the gay ones, or in every unrelated tag that ship is bashed and they say that the characters "deserve better." im as much a fujoshi as the next guy but im so fucking tired of the women being forgotten about and getting less content than the stupid yaoi brothers. all because she "deserves better" you dont fucking treat her like it!!

[theallyandhisbeast]

About bucktommy and 911 in general

You know, in the end, this just feels extremely cheap and cruel.

Showing bucktommy be incandescently happy in all the episodes but 8.6? Even in this ep you can feel how much they care and genuinely love each other. Audience was largely optimistic and excited about them, in a way we have never seen for other buck's LI.

Only to what? Throw it all away because you can't be bothered to write a satisfactory arc for them? Because Buck is the epitome of the guy who dates a lot but always gets broken up with? That to be able to decide if you want to be in a committed relationship if you are bi you have to explore first or else your decision is null and void?

What a way to waste potential and your characters arc.

The special thing about Tommy was that he was beloved by not only bucktommy fans, but GA, and most importantly he was a sort of representation we don't see all that much in media. People loved him because they saw themselves in him, they could connect to his journey and they were genuinely rooting for him to find love and family with Buck. To waste it all away, and to do so by basically throw at us all that we loved about them is unnecessarily cruel.

What hurts the most is that even buck and tommy themselves didn't want to break up. but instead they "must" because bowing down to harmful stereotypes about bi people who are "confused and so they must experiment before settling" is more important than telling a compelling story.

Even without bt break up, I feel like this season took a sharp dive for the worst about well thought storylines in a way that baffles him. Gerrard was reduced to a joke, as was Ortiz, both pgs that could have been used to create compelling arcs that intertwined the 118 even more but instead we got this cheap throwaway joke of a Gerrard, Ortiz was basically throw out of office in a single ep. Hotshot sl could have been fun but instead it's just.... there. And coming back too just for funsies, cause apparently that sl was more important to develop instead of a interesting queer relationship.

Athena once again doing copaganda. Bobby coming back to the 118 without any particular struggle or even guilt about dropping the bag. Things said in interviews that we expect to happen and never even made it to the screen (Eddie's loneliness? Chim and Hen having conflict over Mara? Buck feeling guilty about injuring Gerrard?).

The way Maddie cannot have any sl that is not either tied to a man or about motherhood. Madney having another surprise baby instead of them choosing on purpose to expand their family. Hen & Karen gaining trauma after trauma about their children and not having any other sl that is not tied to that. Josh just existing in the periphery and only becoming important as the "insightful token gay" but not having any type of meaningful screen time since Carson.

The other side characters like Sue, Ravi, Linda, Carla completely disappearing without anyone mentioning them. Ravi has not been given any important sl ever since he talked about having cancer and ever since reduced as a comic relief without anything to add to his character but he's a "landlord".

Chris is out of the picture for who knows how long, and is basically kept around to be traumatized over and over again. Eddie hasn't gotten any character development until first s5 and seemingly now, but i'd argue that the whole thing just felt rushed because what do you mean it takes one chat with a priest for him to do a 180° while he still isn't talking to Chris? And Eddie was the one who got the best treatment of all of them this season.

It's the way this show is slowly chipping itself away. It's the way they start a queer story line promising it would be impactful and handled with care and then half-assing it a best. It's the way the other queer characters are never explored and able to breath and revel in their queerness in the first place. Because, really, when was the last time Hen and Karen kissed on screen? When was the last time they went on a date? When was the last time their arcs were not about children or getting hurt, but just about them as individuals? And on this thread what about Maddie? Or Josh? Or Chim? Or Eddie?

Everything feels reused again and again and again without no real development than then starting the circle all over in half a season.

What a waste.

[yan-lorkai]

.⁠｡⁠*⁠♡ This hasn't requested but bro I so love him, even more in nightbringer. Platonic or romantic Solomon is quite interesting character, plus I just know that his lessons would be chaotic like one moment your learning abt magical healing spells or smth and the next he pulls out a dragon egg for you to care lmao

.⁠｡⁠*⁠♡ Warnings: Yandere content, possessive Solomon, platonic relationship.

You may be young, but even you could see that someone like Solomon was very secretive and that it had been a long time since he had created any emotional bond with another human or living being, he didn't even know how to develop a true friendship with someone without any other intention. Solomon is a kind mentor who likes to tells silly jokes while teaching you about protective barriers, how to manipulate the elements of nature or travel through the rifts of time and space but sometimes he has difficulty expressing what he thinks and feels.

Solomon acts with extreme patience and care when teaching you, ensuring that you fully understand the subjects and constantly testing your knowledge with questions and surprise attacks. For someone everyone thinks is shady, he is sweet and easily adapts his teachings so you understand them. Solomon also loves listening to your questions and he answers each one carefully. Though do be careful, he tend to pinch your cheeks or do something annoying at every wrong answer you give.

As time passes and you become closer, Solomon resembles more an older brother than a mentor and he takes advantage of this to tease you and play small pranks to scare you. He becomes absolutely unbearable. But he is also your own cheerleader, encouraging and motivating you, and listening to each of your complaints and fears without judging you, especially if you feel insecure, in your own words, that you're still weak compared to him.

Despite the comfort offered to stop these thoughts, Solomon actually enjoys knowing that he is potentially stronger than you. This means that you still depend on him, you still need him and Solomon is extremely protective and possessive of you, he doesn't have many people in his life and he doesn't want to lose you. He values ​��your happiness above all else, but a happiness that you should share only with him.

He is always alert to any situation that could jeopardize your safety, Maybe one of the reasons why he only teaches you the theory but doesn't show you the practice if there is a chance of you getting hurt in some way. He could even use his magical abilities to create a rift in time-space to build an environment that was safe and nothing and no one could hurt you, a perfect environment and if he wasn't so weak because of your puppy ​​eyes he would have trapped you there a long time ago. But he can't.

Not when he wants your physical and mental safety, and arresting you would affect you negatively. Solomon feels conflicted about this, but know that he is always there for your.

[alittlebitofloveliness]

I’ve always loved the idea of Buck accidentally developing a fatherly relationship with Dallas because imagine being a Cowboy kinda guy in the 1960s and finding some rat stealing from your pantry and then whoops, that’s your new son! You’re stuck with him! You love him and you will be gutted when he inevitably gets himself killed because no one can take the wild out of an animal, especially not you and you are very aware of this!

I'm not going to lie, with all the awesome headcanons and lore being created about Buck I am SUPER conflicted about my take on him. I think having him act as a fatherly or older brotherly figure to Dallas in an alternate universe would add some really interesting depth to his character and offer a bit more insight into his motivation for doing and saying certain things. HOWEVER, that said, I think within the canon universe I couldn't really ever see Buck that way and there's a few reasons for that. For one, in the little we see from Buck we know that he displays none of Dallas' gallantry, and that he's weak. Canon Dallas would abhor that weakness, and we know he uses it to his advantage, bullying Buck to get what he wants. Even PONY knows this is a hallmark of his character as he 'bullies' Buck into going to get Dallas after Johnny stabs Bob. We also know that Dallas has a dad that wouldn't care if he died and that it 'doesn't bother him'- I can't see canon Dallas forming a father/son bond with someone only a few years his senior, or really anyone at all (remember, it was the Curtis' MOM he was canonically close to, not their dad). Finally, if we establish Buck as a fatherly/brotherly influence in Dally's life we lose some of the 'shown not told' elements of his character. Dally lives alone in rented room in a (heavily implied to be) illegal bar at seventeen years old, and he is stuck in this dangerous environment BECAUSE he is entirely self sufficient and has to take care of himself. Dally living at Buck's has always been (in my eyes) a way to further establish him as wilder and more dangerous than the rest of the Curtis gang and Tulsa hoods.

SIGH. Now I'm done yapping I can explore the fun world in your ask because it really DOES offer some fun headcanons/character work. Sooooo, here's some headcanons:

-Buck is (as we know) a cowboy, and he first establishes a connection with Dallas because he just unconciously treated him like a horse he was trying to tame and lo and behold it worked

-Dally only rides in the rodeos because BUCK talked to the higher ups and got him a chance at the position. It made Buck even more mad when Dally wouldn't help him fix the races

-Buck isn't sure if Dally is completely sane because he's seen one too many violent outbursts or mental breakdowns but it doesn't bother him much, because there's a lot of folks from the east side who aren't completely right in the head. What DOES scare him is the look in Dally's eyes sometimes when he pulls out his switch

-Dally is the only 'tenant' of Bucks that Buck ever drags back to their room when they pass out drinking at the bar (Dally is convinced he's just good at taking care of himself when he's blackout drunk. He isn't, but Buck isn't gonna be the one to tell him.)

-Buck looks out for Johnny because Dally looks out for Johnny, and Dallas might go full crazy if anything happened to the kid

-After Dally died, Buck hosted a party that lasted three days and nights until the fuzz finally shut it down (it was easier to drink and party than to think about the blond haired asshole Buck had grown to love)

-Buck is the only person besides Johnny who ever saw a softer side of Dally, and it wasn't because Dally was soft with HIM but the hoods' eyes were calm and his face almost happy whenever he went with Buck to the stables to groom the horses

thanks for the ask xx

[invested-in-your-future]

Having just started to rewatch Arcane S1, one of the things that I like about it is how it lays out its premise and follows through on it.

In episode 1, Benzo tells Vander that the young people want to write their own stories, and won't be held back by the caution of elders, even well-meant. At the end of the same episode, Vi promises Powder that one day the city will know their names.

And the rest of the season follows through on that, both through Vi and Jinx driving the story in spite of Silco's efforts to stop or control them, but also Cait's refusal to take dismissal lying down, and Jayce continually pushing against Heimerdinger. They drive the story and won't let themselves be held back. (It felt, in many ways, like a better-executed version of what RWBY volume 6 was trying to do).

Which is why the most disappointing aspect of S2, personally, is the way that aspect got lost, as the story became dictated by the hexcore, by Ambessa, by outside forces compelling the protagonists to react instead of driving events the way they had before.

Yeah, one of my biggest issues with S2 is that it offloads every major resolution to an outside plot device.

Vander resolves the sisters' feud. The Magic Robogod subplot resolves the Viktor and Jayce subplot for them AND the class divide (LOL). The child plot device resolves Jinx's role (without even starting it). The random traitor girl resolves Caitlyn's position.

Now, don't get me wrong—reacting is an important aspect of character writing (and character building)—outside stimuli are usually how characters change and develop.

The issue is that Arcane S2 is not interested in having characters react.

Viktor's struggle with his humanity could have been fascinating, but he just shifts between his S1 self, a messiah, robot god, and plot device man in an instant, sometimes within the same episode. Vi and Jinx's feud gets resolved via the Vander subplot, but do we get Vi's characterization and screen time dedicated to her processing what happened? No. Likewise, Vi's "I don't care" would have hit harder had she been allowed to react to Caitlyn going full dictator and struggle against it throughout the season—Caitlyn being even a bit remorseful would hit differently for her if we had seen that struggle where Vi is happy to have her back now.

The show posits those plot devices as "resolutions" but doesn't actually use them at all beyond that—it's as if writers are content with having "closed off a plotline" rather than portraying its effects on the characters or HOW they change.

They created all those new out-of-nowhere subplots and plot devices, and then characters aren't really allowed to react or change due to them—because the plot devices are there to close plot threads rather than characterization.

The annoying part is that Arcane S1 gave all the tools needed to tell the same story but through the lens of the key characters' journey.

Season 1 ended with the inciting incident that every character in the cast could be reacting to throughout Season Two.

Jayce's push against Heimerdinger could shift into Jayce's push against Viktor as the city pushes for more aggressive use of Arcane in "handling the unrest."

Vi and Jinx confronting each other was already set up perfectly—it didn't need a death retcon MacGuffin to solve. By just playing out the character conflict here to its conclusion, Vi and Jinx WOULD have ended up in similar positions they did.

The show didn't need Vander, Black Rose, Noxous, or Magic Robo Gods to convey the cycle of violence, resolve the ongoing civil war between the two cities, or address the destructive nature of unrestricted use of arcane/technology.

They could have done that already and not wasted precious final season screentime introducing all the additional subplots.

And that would have led to a proper, worthy follow-up to Season One's greatness.

[kosmical]

alr i'll bite what's isat

Omg thanks for opening pandoras box! You will regret this

In stars and time is the recent food source of my brain eating amoeba and it Will Not Leave. before i get into why im rabid about it though ill give a brief synopsis . putting a read more here because i suspect this post will get LONG.

its a game about a classic rpg party on the last two days of their quest to save the country from The King who is freezing everything, including people, in time. the main character, Siffrin, is the party's rogue who, upon going into the House of Change (the game's dungeon so to speak) and promptly dying, finds out that they're trapped in a time loop. they're the only one who remembers repeating the last two days- aside from a star named loop who helps him try and figure out whats going on, why, and how to break out.

Now personally ive never been invested in a time loop story?? Im not sure if thats because i havent consumed much media thats implemented it before as its main premise or if i just havent been interested but i think in stars and time meshes the two different genres a time loop story can fall into really well (the mystery and the emotional conflict).

The mystery is what drives you through the game (and there are other questions unrelated to the timeloop about siffrin's origin and the world itself that i think handle a variety of themes like loss of culture and personal transformation really well but thats a different tangent) but the emotional parts are what really got me. You have to watch almost in the backseat as Siffrin is like. Slowly depersonalized from the people they care about. All while refusing to tell them anything about their misery because they don't want to burden them or drag them into his suffering. Even happy moments that Siffrin doesnt mind repeating become tainted because it becomes a matter of acting so that the "scene" doesnt stray from its path and his party doesnt become suspicious.

and yet they still DO, both in regards to Siffrin's World Alteringly Terrible Case of the Mondays and the actual time loop. they notice how tired and fake he seems. one of my absolute favorite scenes is one where you interact with a closet and it provokes a conversation about where Siffrin got their cloak from and how long they've had it, because its really one of a kind. it has temperature regulatory magic imbued in the stitches and is made to grow with him. And siffrin just cant fucking remember. not only because hes been looping so long that its created a haze over his mind but because he has no true "identity." and as he's scrambling to fill in an answer for this hole in his head, a gust of wind hits his face because one of their friends, isabeau, flapped his cloak while inspecting it to ground him. and he disguises it by commenting on the thickness of the cloak.

Getting this scene by accident on my playthrough made me feel so many feelings dude like . Siffrin isn't the only one trying to hide things. Their friends care about him so much and they try to disguise how concerned thwy are and its just. Im . Im Normal.

its not just about that though . Like if you start finding shit a little too fast they'll start catching on to whats happening. a little sound effect will play whenever you know something you shouldn't know and the others notice and whenever it happened i was like. Twisting in my seat waiting for them to call me out.

it all builds up into this really fucking painful emotional climax that i will not talk about because i don't want to spoil more than i already have but omg. I was writhing. It was. Hhhggnngh.hfg. Glass shards in ym mouth yummy

On the topic of shit i cant talk about: My favorite character is this fucking thing

I have held off from talking about loop's role in the story because i cant describe to you why they make me so ill. Not because i dont know Why but because it is something you should experience yourself. They're really charming and funny and their dialogue is fantastic. Of course that's part of the reason i lauve them but theres also the underlying secondary mystery of why they're here/who and or what they are/etc. And when u know. Its. I Cant Tell You. BUT ITS REALLY GOOD. ITS REALLY REALLY GOOD. Just know that if you get to the end and are still confused about them. That theres more than the main ending . AND IT IS PROBABLY WHY I AM SO INSANE ABOUT THIS GAME HONESTLY. I LOVE YOU FOREVER LOOP . im ok

In short: In stars and time is a game that is good and you should play it :) Im pretty sure its on sale right now on steam so yeah go get that.

if you made it through this fucking dissertation length post on isat CONGRATULATIONS ! heres some miscellaneous doodles ive done of it in the past month since ive played it love love

[thenerdofthegroup]

Finally watched… trying not to be angry or sad or anything because what the actual fuck…

But my friend isn’t picking up the phone so I’m ranting here. SO FINALLY SPOILERS YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED

Like I love most of it.

But there HAS HAS HAS to be an explanation for why there was almost no Agatha and Rio. Not even in a shipper way but in a ‘no fucking explanation for anything’ way

Agatha as a ghost is fucking iconic BUT they did not have rite it well enough and it completely felt like ‘kill of all the women and bury the gay’ troupe

Jen was fucking wasted oh my god. Sasheer and Kathryn you deserved more

Agatha and Nicky was fucking incredible. I loved it. Agatha I love you and you being a mum is my life.

I wish we saw a bit more but starting off like THAT!! Uh I loved it. I wish we, y’know, understood Agatha and Rio’s interaction, but her using Rio’s love to keep her baby that she wanted more than anything was brilliant. And the slight sadness that… Agatha doesn’t know how to live without taking and killing. Not really. So that’s what she did. She loved and cared for Nick but she couldn’t get him to a school, she couldn’t settle down, she couldn’t do a lot of normal things because she isn’t a normal person. Such beautiful tragedy shown through it

Okay screaming again:

So… literally the ONLY FUCKING PERSON who gets to show of ACTUAL MAGIC IS THE FUCKING GUY!!!!!!! FUCK YOU!!! I WANTED TO SEE AGATHA BE THE QUEEN OF MAGIC AND ALL WE GOT IN THE END WERE SOME FUCKING ENERGY BLASTS!!! Fuck yourselves sincerely

“He created the road” fun twist but would have actually appreciated it if we saw Agatha being a witch.

I did not wait THREE FUCKING YEARS FOR A SHOW CALLED AGATHA ALL ALONG ABOUT WOMEN FOR IT TO BE A SET UP FOR THE FUCKING GUY

like I’m really trying not to be angry. I don’t want to end it on a bad note because the entire show has been fucking increible but OH MY GOD. OH MY FUCKING GOD WHOEVER WROTE BILLY IN IT SO MUCH ACTUALLY-

No I won’t continue. I’m just fucking pissed. Why did he have to- uhhhhhhh nevermind

Kathryn you are fucking incredible. You are fucking incredible and I have conflicting feelings now but you are the star. You made this entire show and any iffy feelings I have are not towards you. Kathryn absolutely outdid herself. She was truly the star and was incredible start to end. I just wanted more. I wanted to see her in Salem, I wanted to see how she met death (BECAUSE WHY THE FUCK WASNT THAT EXPLAINED) and I wanted to just see more. But what we were given, Agatha was the best part. She was incredible and I’m so happy we got this

I am angry. I am upset. But I’m also so happy both Agatha and Kathryn got this. And because she is my special interest this entire show is now my entire personality.

But I will say the one thing I am still not over, because I did love 90%, is how little explanation we got and how it conflicted. Jac should have written the whole thing. There should not have been separate writers because I am convinced that and Disney limiting their time is the problem. And Aubrey but I don’t want to get shouted at so… (fuck you megalopolis)

So yes I’m mad. But I am 100000% more in love with Agatha.

AND GREY HAIRED AGATHA I FUCKING WON OH MY GOD!!!! (For that tiny bit)

My biggest anger that I’ve realised, they haven’t actually concluded Agatha story. And I’m not saying ‘oh she’s going on as a ghost-‘. No. They didn’t give her ANY story growth at the end. She should have betrayed him. She didn’t. Fine. But then they did NOTHING!!! HER ENDING IS WORSE THAN WHERE SHE STARTED!!! God I was happy with a sad ending IF they gave her more of an ending. But no. She’s now the side character to the boy. She ends up as a ghost, no resolution with Rio (whether you care about their relationship or not we got no explanation), she has no proper resolution with her son’s story, and now she is helping the kid that LITERALLY WANTED TO BANISH HER?!?!? And she’s in the same place that her mum ‘lives’. Nah. I’m mad. I’m really mad. All of that for it not to be Agatha’s story. Not really. Those flashbacks were incredible but we got no complete story.

So either there is a second season/ continuation in another project about her story (not Wiccan because that will not be about her or help at all. I’m talking scarlet witch or anything to do with Rio) or she has just been completely fucked over. And it’s harsh but I’m mad right now. In 10 minutes I will have calmed down but my god. She is everything to me and for her story to not even feel slightly completed?!? It hurts man. It really hurts

I made a joke with a friend. All I wanted was Agatha and her story. And we didn’t really get that in the present day. It was just used to set up Wiccan and she is in a far worse place emotionally than she was in WV. Because she hasn’t really processed Nick. Not really. We needed to see that. We needed at the very least to see her actively process nicks death and her love for Rio to see her character and we got none of that. It really hurts man

Anyway, I might take this down or update it when I haven’t just watched it. But I am upset most of all ending it with anger. But I will have to watch it again and again to form a good opinion.

Anyway x2, anyone who read these opinions and agrees slightly, go watch it again. Hopefully our outlooks will become clearer and we can enjoy Agatha now we know what happens.

[audiblehush]

As a Penelope fan, I’m just sitting here wondering how people who claim to love her are happy with what the show (P2 specifically) has done to her.

Lady Whistledown arose out of Penelope growing up in emotionally abusive household where she was and is ignored and belittled, and she develops deeply ingrained trust issues as a result. As she grows older, society then also treats her pretty terribly (whether because of how she looks, who her family is, her shyness… all make sense in a way) and through luck or planning (since the show never tells us), she creates LW as a coping mechanism to be heard and to hit back… which I get - living that sort of life would be incredibly traumatic on a daily basis; I’m not surprised she got angry! But as a result, she ends up CHOOSING to cause hurt in the way SHE was hurt. She becomes a part of the greater cycle of pain and trauma.

That’s not to say the people around her are flawless; they’re not! But even when Pen is trying to (in her mind) help others, despite her intentions she DOES cause harm, to those she cares about AND strangers, and she does it behind a mask and a fear or exposure and censure. She chooses the nuclear option almost every time because she refuses to trust in or rely on others out of fear.

Penelope is perpetually stuck in a trauma-response and holding onto it like her life depends on it because to her, IT DOES - to her, it is the only way she has a say in her life, her way of surviving the grind of the social season, in the society she DESPERATELY wants to be a part of, but where she barely exists to others and is ignored.

And it was interesting; what a conflict!!Penelope, a young woman in a time where women had little to no power or agency, has created this massive machine that the ton is addicted to and feeds… but the power is heady, and she is ALSO addicted to it and can’t seem to stop despite the harm she KNOWS she’s doing, even when it blows up in her face, even when it harms her AND her precious people. Her hyper independence arose out of being emotionally alone nearly her entire life. She keeps her focus outward instead of internal at all costs, because what will she find when she looks inward?

All of this in S1 and S2 was fine with me because characters are allowed to (and should have) flaws. And I was under the impression that in S3, the narrative was going to finally grapple with Penelope’s trauma and the way she CHOSE to cope with it and how those who love her will grapple with this discovery. I was excited for Colin and Eloise to help her realize she is more than what her life has pushed her to be and what she feels she needs to do to survive. And then the show just… doesn’t.

The show’s answer to this was that LW was a victory for her character; that all she needed to do was “be confident” and that fixes all her pain she caused and that staying LW should be the pinnacle of her character growth.

To the show, Penelope “growing up” means actively choosing her coping mechanism over every relationship in her life and framing it as feminist… and that if she were to be rejected, it’s because those people were rejecting Penelope herself, and that she should be blindly supported… when the reality is that the show forces Penelope to reject everything except LW and never lets her consider a different option.

And I’m screaming into the void because how could they want that for Penelope?! Penelope, a hopeless romantic who reads romance novels to escape and because they are a “history of connection,” the thing she has lacked and seeks desperately! And in P2 she’s not alone; she now has Colin who loves her desperately!

Growing up means doing the hard work of self-reflection and acknowledging when you’ve harmed others and then trying to do better. To realize that you can’t live constantly seeking the validation of society because they will always move the goal posts, and that the harm done to you is a reason… but not an excuse to continue to harm others when you know better. But what does the show do?

The show has the briefest of scenes where she attempted a half-assed apology to Colin before the it barrels past any sort of meaningful conversation and then… ultimately keeps her right where she started… but public now (despite the fact that LW CANNOT function out in the open and the show is fucking dumb to pretend otherwise).

Pen is still focused externally on society instead of inward on her own thoughts and her own dreams. The show handwaves LW as “she’ll do better!” with no explanation for what that looks like or entails, (and ignores how people will weaponize gossip now that they know it’s Pen). The show forces Penelope to remain stagnant because they decided they NEED LW to frame future stories, and they would sacrifice everything, even the romance upon which the season is based, to keep that narrative framing as a crutch.

We could have had Colin finding out earlier in the show, still experiencing his RIGHTFUL anger toward Pen and what she’s done… and then having Pen WANT to fight for Colin but not knowing how! To her, who is she without LW? And Colin loving her enough to call her out and help her realize that only living and focusing on what others are saying is deeply unfulfilling when she has her own thoughts to share with the world… because he KNOWS that! He’s LIVED that! LW is mask for a broken, hurt girl but he loves her anyway and they can help the other heal! Polin against the world, against Cressida’s panicked blackmail, against the Queen… against the ton.

Instead, LW is validated every step of the way. Reconciliations with Eloise and Colin are rushed and hand-waved because the narrative demands it. Penelope and Cressida, set up as parallels, never come to together to realize how their actions were influenced by their similar traumas and that maybe they, along with Eloise, can show solidarity and tackle their problems head on. Nope, Penelope is forced to remain hyper-independent (because ✨girlboss✨ or something ) and never learns to rely on others who want to help her: not Eloise, and not Colin. Colin is regulated to her yes man and trophy husband instead of the love of her life who is her EQUAL and has just as much to share with the world if they support one another. Penelope never gets the chance to learn that you can comment on the failings of and imperfections of society without attacking others. That being a writer doesn’t mean you’re stuck as a GOSSIP writer. That she could in fact write about the “histories of connections” she so admires. Nope, for her it’s “I’m this thing that I do, deal with it.”

Her ending is a literal deus ex machina and that is why it is so deeply unsatisfying for so many viewers.

As a Penelope fan, I’m crushed the show didn’t allow her to grow up and move beyond what her emotionally negligent home life did to her, but instead completely shaped her character and ending around it and painted it as a victory. I’m outlining fix-it fic, but it hurts me knowing that this is “canon” and I’m mostly pretending P2 doesn’t exist (aside from a few sweet moments).

This season certainly wasn’t Colin’s, but it wasn’t even Penelope’s - it was Lady Whistledown’s and the writers don’t even realize that they created a tragedy as a result.

[immoralimmortals]

Akatsuki Member Songs and Headcanons

I have had years to ruminate to myself on certain songs I listen to that get associated with certain Akatsuki. I'm gonna try to present some of these pairings in a comprehensive way for you guys.

I can 100% replicate this post several times over with different songs and explanations, so I most likely will. We will see! Songs are linked within the post.

Pain: Mr. FEAR by Siamés

This man wants to fix everything, and yet if you look deep enough, he is absolutely crumbling. He is the Mr. Fear, literally, to instill fear in order to bring what he dictates as peace. The song itself is simultaneously calm and chaotic. Despite how conflicted he ends up being, every single contradiction is still said as a command to the listener.

Standout lines:

I wish I had a faster therapy

I've come to mind control your needs

Just trust in me, my dear

Don't fight with me, my dear

Don't trust in me, my dear What cure is coming near?

Konan: Youth by Daughter

Youth, hope, suffering. She has experienced life in that order, and it has left her an angel in constant mourning. This song is, to me, the retrospective side of her, the part of Konan that is still a scared and hurt young lady, the place in her mind that inspires her to keep going for something better. I specifically associate this song more with her loss of Yahiko and the original Akatsuki than her actual childhood.

I could literally quote the whole song for her, so I recommend you listen if it seems interesting. Here's some painfully selected lyrics:

And if you're still breathing, you're the lucky ones 'Cause most of us are heaving through corrupted lungs

We are the reckless, we are the wild youth Chasing visions of our futures One day, we'll reveal the truth That one will die before he gets there

Collecting pictures from a flood that wrecked our home It was a flood that wrecked this home

Zetsu: Dangerous by Big Data

This song sort of changed my brain chemistry, both in general and about Zetsu. If you pair the (honestly very strange and parodic) music video with the content of the lyrics, it creates an idea of heightened awareness of insidious knowledge and, though it is meant about modern advertisements, I also take it about being spied on in general, being dangerous because of your knowledge of the world against you. When I started associating this song with Zetsu, I began seeing him more as an active character than one that merely is there. His spying has purpose, he has motives.

Standout lines:

You understand, they got a plan for us I bet you didn't know that I was dangerous

Nobody's listening when we're alone Nobody's listening, there's nobody listening, No one can hear us when we're alone No one can hear us, no, no one can hear us And I've gotta get out of here Sink down, into the dark

How could you know, how could you know? That those were my eyes Peepin' through the floor, it's like they know It's like they know I'm looking from the outside And creeping to the door, it's like they know

And especially if you're in a shipping mood:

It must be fate, I found a place for us I bet you didn't know someone could love you this much

Tobi/Obito: Dirty Imbecile by The Happy Fits

Being an Uchiha is hard, you know? The expectations, both from your clan and from everyone else... Obito really put the bar of achievement really high because he thought that's where he'd finally be respected, so much as acknowledged. This is a song about being much more deep down than the fool you seem to others, the righteous desire to be worth your many efforts.

Standout lines:

Damn this town and damn this city You never give me anything that I want No one seems to really care They're just wholly unaware Of all the blood and sweat I cry before dawn

Am I good? Is all I could enough for you? I'm so scared of when and where I'll find the truth

Count my little scars, I've got dozens down inside I come complete and invincible behind my dirty imbecile

Hidan: Nothing Personal by Night Riots

Relaxed yet vicious, I think this is a good pairing to think about how he must strut about, preaching of Jashin. You can't be better than him. He will always know better, be better, believe better. Self-centered prick. I adore his confidence.

Standout lyrics:

The center of the world is lonely me Float along through the catacombs The endless cycle, flesh to bones

I’ll be the king, you’ll be the filth I wash away Nothing personal, personal, personal I am the light, I am the truth, I am the way Nothing personal, personal, personal

I’ll take your crown, I’ll make it mine As you sulk your days away Numb yourself and think of me

Kakuzu: Ain't No Rest for the Wicked by Cage the Elephant

I highkey associate a lot of the themes from the Borderlands series with Kakuzu, featured songs included. This song is pretty self evident to me, overtly about how money motivates people. In my view of Kakuzu, he has crafted over his many decades of war and hardship this encompassing, compassionless worldview of why people do things. If you say "money is the only thing that matters" and you're older than like, a five year old who got their first dollar, you are going to have a strong and elaborate justification for it. It's a song about hard truths about humanity, some things that will never change and you need to accept without taking it personally.

Standout lyrics:

Oh there ain't no rest for the wicked Money don't grow on trees I got bills to pay, I got mouths to feed There ain't nothing in this world for free Oh no, I can't slow down, I can't hold back Though you know, I wish I could Oh no there ain't no rest for the wicked Until we close our eyes for good

He made it clear he wasn't looking for a fight He said, "Give me all you've got, I want your money, not your life But if you try to make a move, I won't think twice" I told him, "You can have my cash, but first you know I gotta ask What made you want to live this kind of life?"

I saw a preacher man in cuffs, he'd taken money from the church He'd stuffed his bank account with righteous dollar bills But even still I can't say much because I know we're all the same Oh yes, we all seek out to satisfy those thrills

Deidara: Fear & Delight by The Correspondents

Brief aside: gorgeous music video, very skillfully made. Deidara would love it. Certainly a mastercraft of editing and camera tricks.

Dynamic, vibrant song. My partner has used this song as a pairing with another character, comparing the love interest in the song to courting something you really probably should not be. Deidara courts with destruction and death with absolute abandon. His art is beautiful. His art will hurt him. He's so, so okay with that.

In addition, I think this song describes really well how he approaches things that are novel and perhaps frighten him.

It is, again, literally the whole song but here's a couple of lines:

I'm a little boy that's gonna be getting his fingers burned But I can see this lesson's gotta, gotta, gotta be learned

In any case, my friends, it's too late Like a moth to light, like a beast to bait And I know the black widow eats its mate

I'm an innocent being seduced by your charms I'm a young boy tickled to death in your arms Your kisses taste like bitter almonds

Addiction pulling me to a grave end You're an enemy who I'm keen to defend Down the black hole of my lust I descend

Why is it that I'm keen to be devoured by you When there's the option of a love affair that's pure and true? I always choose the dungeon over the sea view

It's wrong but I want you tonight

Sasori: Body by Mother Mother

This guy hates every inch of his human body. As soon as he realized he could change himself, every cell of skin, every drop of blood, every breath of air was cursed. As long as he is flesh and bone, he suffers. This includes even the barest hint of humanity in the cylinder that is his heart. If he could get rid of it, he would. The body only exists to get in the way. He will break these confines.

It is. Yet again. Just the entire song that works for him. Here are a few lines:

Take my eyes, take them aside Take my face, and desecrate Arms and legs, get in the way Bodies break

'Cause I've grown tired of this body A cumbersome and heavy body I've grown tired of this body Fall apart without me, body

Kisame: Promiseland by Mika

It's no secret I adore thinking about Kisame's worldview, and I think this song is a wonderful insight into it. He is the definition of disillusioned, trying to find out what he can really depend upon, if anything. He has nothing to lose. He's already lost it all.

Standout lyrics:

Sold my soul, broke my bones, tell me, what did I get? Did my time, toed the line, ain't seen anything yet Strike me down to the ground, you know I've seen it before Make it hurt, I'll eat the dirt, I just don't care anymore

I kept my promise, man, show me the promiseland

And the whole world's bringing me down

One person's lie is just another man's truth We kept on running from the devil, but the devil was you Every time I see the light, I'm falling deeper in debt If I've never seen the good, how can it come to an end?

Itachi: The Villain I Appear to Be by Connor Spiotto and Molly Pease

Itachi puts his mission first before anyone's impression of him, even that of his beloved brother. However, he can still yearn for his understanding, his respect. The song reflects on doing the right thing without slowing down to explain, lest it be too late, and hoping the pieces may be put together later. Maybe it'll be in your favor, maybe not. That doesn't matter as much as the outcome of your actions.

Standout lyrics:

Nothin' left to do but Try to take the leap and follow through And that's exactly what I'll do

I don't plan on slowing Down, no I'll keep on going Even if you think I'm in the wrong

I know that's what I'm here for I don't wanna wait around anymore Even if you can't see The good inside me

I don't have the time to tell you Why I do the things that I do Just please hold on and soon you'll see That I'm not the villain I appear to be

And I know you think I'm crazy But I hope that maybe Now you'll see why I had to try

[writingquestionsanswered]

Hello! I am planning on writing a story of two characters getting married because of convenience/ for their kingdoms but they end up falling in love. How should I write an arranged marriage/ marriage of convenience ?🩷🩵

Writing a Marriage Alliance with Eventual Romance

Quick clarification: marriages of convenience are when the couple marries so they can utilize benefits that come with marriage such as citizenship, employment benefits, tax breaks, or to appease societal/familial expectations.

When two people marry for their kingdoms, this is usually called a marriage alliance or political marriage, because the point of the marriage is to seal an alliance with another kingdom.

Reason for the Alliance: The first thing you need to do is figure out why these kingdoms want to form an alliance. Are they uniting against a common cause? Trying to look more formidable to the outside world? Sharing resources? Calling a truce from years of conflict? Trying to increase wealth?

Addressing the Problems: Next, you'll want to consider the ways in which forced marriage is problematic. Yes, they happened (and still do), but we know better now so we have to be careful not romanticize them, and we do this by addressing the things that are problematic. We can either correct these things or address them in ways that are forward thinking. You can do research on forced marriages and the things that make them problematic, then look for ways to correct/address them in your story.

Figuring Out the Couple Dynamic: Now you'll need to think about how the characters interact in the beginning and how that leads to falling in love. There are lots of possibilities here. They might both be on board with the marriage alliance and interested in trying to fall in love. They might both be indifferent to the romance but interested in friendship. They might openly dislike each other and be opposed to all of it. Or one might be one thing while the other is something else. Either way, the following posts will help you get them on the path to friendship and love:

Enemies to Friends Enemies to Romance Friendship Turns to Romance Guide: Creating Romantic Chemistry Guide: Characters Falling in Love Guide: Writing a Slow Burn Romance

Fleshing Out the Outward Impact: Whatever the dynamic is between your couple, you'll want to consider how it impacts the alliance and resulting politics. If they appear to be anything other than a happy couple with a productive marriage, the alliance could potentially be in danger. So, you'll want to think about the concerns of those around them, the pressure put on them by their advisors, how the court and citizens view them, etc.

Happy writing!

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[watermelinoe]

don't say that i want to read your isekai opinions

i feel like i am being buttered up here but i will allow it bc i do love talking abt isekai hehe ( •̀ ω •́ )✧

so for context what made me think more abt isekai as a genre was finishing the main story chapters of saving my sweetheart, which i think is really strong for the first two thirds and then loses it in the last third for reasons i will explain shortly

and i've had this issue w other isekai/regression manhwa (i pr much lump these together under the isekai umbrella even though it is not technically the same thing) where things are just too easy, one that comes to mind off the top of my head is i shall master this family, which has great art and i like that it's less focused on romance but i ended up getting bored bc the protagonist just. never loses. she can always use her past life experience to perfectly predict what will happen and completely curbstomp whoever her opponent is.

"but isn't that the appeal of an isekai??" you may ask and you would be INCORRECT, yes the wish fulfillment element of isekai is about getting a do-over, but more than that my favorite thing abt the genre is how it plays with expectations and the idea of fate/any kind of higher power that decides how things are "supposed" to be. and oftentimes this force is an active character and antagonist. i've seen several manhwa now where the characters essentially have to beat "god" in order to get their happy ending. there are no predestined endings and true love is the love you make with the person you choose, not someone who is chosen for you. soulmates are made, not created. these are all themes that are extremely important to me and why i think isekai as a genre works so well. i'm someone who LOVES tropes - as tv tropes always says, Tropes Aren't Bad. isekai plays with tropes like i used to play with my dinosaur toys. it's supposed to be self-aware, it's supposed to subvert expectations, it's supposed to be fun and genre savvy and meta. it's really a treat for people who care a lot about the mechanics of storytelling.

the working isekai formula relies on establishing the wish being fulfilled - why is this person being reincarnated? and the answer to that question generally determines how the story first plays out, which is typically one of two ways, where the female lead either has to claw her way up through obstacle after obstacle, or the female lead is immediately welcomed and loved in her new life (but often there is still some underlying conflict that keeps her from being at ease and embracing Happily Ever After, such as her knowledge of what's "destined" to happen in the future). the latter is more of a hurt/comfort trope usually following a depressing first life. in either case, at the beginning the female lead can rely on her insider knowledge to score some wins early on, but the essential key is that there comes a point where her past knowledge means nothing anymore because the story has changed too much. and usually there will be an additional twist as well. this is to keep things from being too easy for the female lead, because even in a revenge story, it's not actually satisfying to watch someone win over and over with no meaningful conflicts. the archvillain's daughter-in-law also has a female lead who seemingly never misses, but the difference is that she thinks her father-in-law is planning to kill her so his son can remarry the royal princess (divorce is illegal), and honestly at this point in the story without spoiling anything that still seems like a reasonable fear. so the story isn't boring because you have this conflict of interests, she's attached to her new family but also knows she needs to be dead for her father-in-law to accomplish his overall goal. i shall master this family doesn't seem to have that extra layer, everything just goes her way.

saving my sweetheart does a great job with challenging the female lead for the first ~90 or so chapters and then in the last third, i swear literally every single obstacle is squashed before you can even start to worry about it. including the main looming death flag introduced at the very beginning of the story. it just no longer matters at a certain point. and obviously as readers we know that these types of stories will work out in the end, but for some reason this story decided that the characters should know that, too. in the third act. they literally solve things by showing multiple characters the future. sorry but if the main characters already know it's going to be okay... why am i here exactly lol it was like the story said yeah yeah you know what it's gonna be like huh??? what a baffling choice

and it's dangerously easy for stories that use gods as major players to eliminate any real challenge for the main characters because they literally have the power of god and anime on their side. there has to be some excuse why whatever divine power can't just stomp the bad guys with a giant foot monty python style. it's also just.... less satisfying for a story to have the Ultimate Objective Good on the side of the main characters. Good is often Boring. i liked how flirting with the villain's dad portrayed its god as more human and flawed, like a greek god.

what really left a bad taste in my mouth by the end of saving my sweetheart was that fate was never against them in the first place, it was the villain who upset the balance, and the two Good gods just give the main characters the answers because fuck it, you all know how it's gonna turn out anyway, who are we kidding. there's an especially laughable moment at the end and this will be a spoiler, but when a major character has to go to the land of the dead at the end to persuade another character to come back to life, this character worries bc in the happy future he originally saw, he wasn't in it. and for a split second you think there's going to be a nice message because the major character says smth like "i can't guarantee the future but i know we would be less happy without you in it" BUT THEN the goddess literally just fucking SHOWS the dead guy the future with him in it to prove it will all be fine and i am still not over it because WHAT WAS THE POINT THEN, what was the point of any of it, no one had to be uncertain for a single fuckin second because yknow power of god and anime

and i feel like an insane person bc everyone else was just like "this felt kinda rushed" but i had this whole rant built up inside me lmao i am aware i'm too into this genre but i think there's interesting parallels you can make here to like, christian media and why it's boring...

[juniperhillpatient]

ok I’m like… back to this. I do love that the coffin of andy & leyley is so brutally bluntly HORROR as in not pg 13 blumhouse ghost horror movies that shy away from anything too taboo but horror that’s meant to offend & upset. I like the way it sees shit you’re not “supposed” to talk about & goes as hard as it can like - I don’t think at this point it’s a secret to literally anyone who follows me or has ever discussed fiction with me ever that the controversial or daring are obvious draws for me in any genre but particularly my favorite genre of horror.

like an anon suggested this to me, I saw the words “cannibalism” “incest” & “botched satanic ritual” as soon as I googled & was ready to check it out BUT I think it’s worth noting that it’s not the dark concepts themselves that got this game its well earned hype or that ensure that it lives rent free in my head & the heads of other fans.

I think the writers have created really compelling & complex multilayered characters & a fascinating storyline with a lot of questions left unanswered about the nature of these demons & of human souls & the world these characters inhabit & I’m being so sincere here I also think it’s a really thought provoking critique or at least exploration of the american nuclear family.

I already said this but I would’ve stopped caring pretty fast if andrew & ashley were not more than their archetypes which SURE are fun we love a quirky evil girlboss & her simp boyfriend brother but the fun archetypes are not enough on their own to keep me hooked. luckily, these are some of the least 1 dimensional characters I’ve ever seen. this got carried away talking about how good I think the game is & giving an obligatory disclaimer that yeah, I totally got into it initially for shallow & edgy reasons lol but I actually wanted to talk about the themes because I genuinely think it’s an incredibly well crafted story. anyway -

I think it’s really interesting that ashley is the one that is originally shown believing / hoping their mom hasn’t truly abandoned them. andrew discourages her from having hope in their mom or considering trying to find her until it’s about finding sacrifices for the demon & getting money. yet this initial dynamic is totally forgotten once they’re home. ashley just wants to kill these motherfuckers while andrew is busy playing mind games & - one might argue- playing house / pretending be a happy family. it’s andrew who is offered the olive branch. who we see considering sparing his parents or at least feeling conflicted about killing them. in the flashbacks we see that “andy” was forced to take care of “leyley” & she uses it against him “mom says you have to play with me.”

ashley is so depressingly achingly desperate for any hint of affection & it’s so obvious the reason she’s latched into andrew is that he’s the only one who’s ever chosen her. that’s why she’s so obsessed with calling andrew “andy” despite the conflict it constantly creates. andy helped her hide a body. a possibly hot take but I don’t think leyley was going “yay murder” in her child brain - I don’t think she cared that the girl died don’t get me wrong - but I do believe it was an accident. this is a happy memory though because it’s the only time in ashley’s entire life that someone has chosen her with that level of commitment. yet for andrew it’s horrific & traumatic & he wants to get away from it - or so he tells himself. maybe his parents were decent to him or at least not actively hateful how they were to ashley but it’s abundantly clear based on the fact the story’s premise relies on them leaving him to fucking starve to death that they do not give a fuck about him.

when mrs. graves tells andrew that there’s still hope for him & that she always cared about him the compliments she chooses are telling - they thought he was easy, quiet, a good kid - they thought they could have another (& hand her off to him to take care of). and ofc it’s worth noting mrs. graves only says all this to save her own skin & would never freely talk about caring about andrew.

so andy is living this cold not abusive but certainly empty & devoid of nurturing life & along comes leyley. she’s annoying & needy but she loves him with such reckless abandon. adult ashley’s words say it all. “If only you could love me with half the heart I love you with.” but he DOES he just doesn’t know how to show it the way she does. so he chooses her again & again & tries to make her happy with violence & bending to her will & showing her he’d do anything for her with everything he can except the one thing she wants which is simple affection.

as things get more & more dire ashley gets more abusive, controlling & manipulative embodying the worst aspects of her mother - a cold heartless bitch who never cared about anyone but herself - & andrew gets more & more apathetic just like his worthless father who’s barely even a person in his wife’s shadow.

it’s a really tragic story & I love this idea of characters on the run but they’re really running from themselves & that’s something you can never escape. how telling is it that the one thing ashley doesn’t want is to be buried in the same grave as her parents? but this story is about a grave it’s always been about a coffin in one way or another, they thought they escaped when they got out of the apartment but they’re still in it because they’ll always still be in it, you can’t escape from who you are at your core & there’s a reason ashley having tarred soul is such a glaring theme & episode 2 (in some versions) ends with andrew gaining a mark on his hand from the demon. they’re marked & there’s no escape. I’m sorry it’s just REALLY good horror. ok I’m done for now

[uriekukistan]

how do you … hhow do yiu start writjng. like how do you. opening paragraph…. how do you begin..

sksjdj sorry this took so long, i genuinely rewrote my answer 3-4 times 💀 took me a few hours to figure out how i wanted to answer this tbh bc usually i don't even know what im doing either

also im by no means a perfect writer, i’m still working to improve with every fic, so pls take this w a grain of salt, everyone writes their own way as well…hopefully this isnt too long or annoying or preachy or anything.

i always have an outline of my fic ready before i start writing, regardless of if it's super vague or highly detailed, i also try to think about what the character(s) want from the situation(s) and potential ways that could create conflict (not in an angsty way per se but in a plot moving way). knowing this is super helpful for deciding where to start because different types of openings are good for different stories.

ideas i use a lot!

-> character intro! this is my most commonly used way to start a new story. i like to make sure my MC is in the first sentence so the reader knows who the story is going to focus on. this does have a potential to go wrong, bc essentially, there's the good way and then there's my immortal 💀

when i say to use a character intro, i mean like their mindset/beliefs as they pertain to the plot, main conflict they're facing, or how they're feeling at that moment, rather than "basic info"

ex: megumi fushiguro is 15, has black hair and green eyes, and he's a jujutsu sorcerer and is in his first year at jujutsu tech. in his free time, he reads. he loves animals. he was abandoned by his parents at a young age, so he's wary of others <- boring, bland, sparks 0 interest

VS: Megumi was never a fan of love. Not in books, not in TV shows, not in movies, and certainly not in real life. He hadn’t so much as considered having romantic feelings for someone in fifteen years of living, and he wasn’t about to start now. Definitely not now. Not after what had happened. <- interesting, gives insight into how megumi thinks (and how strongly), sparks interest bc what happened??

hsiao doesn't want to date a coworker because she has a dangerous job, but has a crush on saiko. urie can't express his feelings because he's spent ages bottling them up, and now he needs to grieve someone he didn't realize he cared for until it's too late. establishing these things is really important, and should be done eventually either way.

i think this method works best for stories focusing on a conflict that's more internal because it sets up the characters psyche, but can still be used for external conflict effectively!

-> dialogue: another one that can be tricky, and gets a bad wrap sometimes, but it can very much be used well. it's good to use if the story is focusing on interpersonal conflict, especially if it involves a lot of arguing. usually, i throw the reader into a high tension, fast moving scene with dialogue, sometimes one with a confrontational start, sometimes in the middle of an already brewing interaction.

-> strong feelings: this works best with negative feelings, so i use it mostly for reeeeaaaallly angsty fics. physical pain, extreme sadness or guilt, grief, rage, or high stress work really well for this, because they're feelings that tend to consume everything else. you gotta be ready to dedicate a few paragraphs to really good descriptions that make readers feel. it's a bit intimidating to write and has the potential to overwhelm readers as well, so i tend to reserve it for fics that i intend to be really heavy and upsetting, no happy ending/comfort type fics

-> straight into action: gonna be honest, i try to avoid this one as much as possible unless it's in a multi-chapter fic where the characters/conflict have been firmly established. used outside of this, i think it works best with actions that are literal beginnings, or it feels like part of the story is missing. things like waking up, opening a door (staring at a blank page trying to write..........)

lil tips ig

★ shorter sentences: my usual writing style has a lot of lengthy sentences, but when it's the first thing a reader sees, it slows down the pace immediately. of course, there's a place for long sentences as well, but the average reader is going to go for something that grabs their attention quickly.

★ u don't have to start from the beginning!! honestly i get this from writing academic essays, but sometimes it's easier to write the beginning after you wrote the rest because even if u think u know where ur going, it can change as u write it. tbh once i wrote fic almost entirely backwards 💀

slfkjgnkjnsfglk i hope this was at least somewhat helpful, honestly i wasn't sure what to say, but i'm really excited to see ur fic!!! ik u have a lot of things planned, so i'm sure once you get the first words out there, the rest will start flowing !!!

[kitkatopinions]

Do you think Glynda would have been the only one to side with Ozpin, or at least not hold much of a grudge against him, treating him empathy, after his big secret reveal in V6? She's already displayed a great deal of uncond trust towards him when she talked with Ironwood about him having doubts about Ozpin

Honestly, if the only thing that changed was Glynda's inclusion and the same writers were still doing the same things... I don't think Glynda would've sided with Ozpin at all, because the writers love to write "and then RWBYJNOR think blah blah blah," or "and then RWBYJNORQ want XYZ." They struggle to do plotlines where people can disagree without being framed as One Hundred Percent Bad In The Wrong Needs To Change Might Be Evil. I feel like if they had Glynda be a more prominent role and involved in the story up to V6, they would've had her also be so furious and disappointed in and angry at Ozpin just like Qrow, even if it didn't make any sense.

Logically though, what I think would happen if the writers cared about consistency and making their characters have an original thought, I think that Glynda would be the most on board with Ozpin and have the least problems with him out of anyone.

I think Qrow should've sided with Ozpin, but been personally very hurt by Ozpin's lack of trust in him, creating conflict for them to work through later. I think Yang should've been against Ozpin, resolving that he can't be trusted because he lied to them and (however temporarily) icing him out and not looking to him as a leader. I think Weiss should've been mostly on Yang's side, albeit with a bit more sympathy towards Oz, sort of in the camp of "I get where he's coming from but clearly we can't trust him to be honest or to always have our best interests at heart." I think Blake should've actually taken the stance of "you guys don't know what it's like, maybe he should've told the truth, but it's easier to say 'you should trust us' than it is to actually trust people after you've been hurt so many times, I've been there and I get it" and she should've been way more sympathetic towards Ozpin because of her backstory. I think once Jaune heard about it later, he should've had problems too and been willing to work with Ozpin, but hesitant with him and frequently doubting the legitimacy of his claims and tending to rely on himself and Ruby and not really think of Ozpin as any sort of reliable guide to be consulted in plans. Ren should take kind of the same stance as Jaune, albeit with a more logical thought process of "we should only do what he says if we think he's right, everything else doesn't matter as much." And I actually think Nora should've been fully on board with Ozpin, easily assuming that he only lied to them and/or didn't trust them because he'd been hurt in the past, and that she doesn't really care and still likes him. And I think that Ironwood should've - when he eventually heard - been somewhat hurt as well, but understand the logic of it, but also just resolve to work all the harder himself, knowing that Ozpin is not always a safety net and knowing that Ozpin doesn't always share everything important. And Glynda would fully on Ozpin's side except unlike Qrow (who I feel has a very emotional and personal connection to Ozpin and would fall back on believing in Ozpin because he loves him more than because it logically makes sense) and Nora (who I honestly think is just a very loyal follower with strong intuition and a good judge of character but doesn't really have much logic behind 100% trusting Oz,) Glynda would instead completely get where Oz is coming from, completely understand why he did the things he did, completely agree with them, and just keep trusting him completely. As for Ruby (who is the most important person here,) I think that she should've been kind of in-between and not sure what to think, feeling confused on how she's supposed to react, trying to make everyone happy at once, and be understanding but also a good strong leader herself, and tries to rely more on herself instead of others in the wake of what happened.

Basically, if I was the RWBY writer, I think Glynda would side with Ozpin because that's what I think makes the most sense for her character. Everyone should be having different reactions because what Ozpin did is nuanced, not just pure evil, and I think that with what Glynda was like in V1-3, the natural thing and what would make the most sense would be her understanding and supporting Ozpin. However, I think if the writers included her, she wouldn't side with Ozpin at all, because they didn't want it to be a nuanced conversation and a chance to show the range of their characters where some people agreed with Ozpin, some people didn't, and some people were kind of in-between. They just wanted to say 'Ozpin is bad and dumb and we should all be against him,' and so they couldn't have Glynda do anything but agree with Team RWBY... Unless they made her into one of those characters that temporarily disagrees with Team RWBY so they can all be like 😮🫢😞😠 and then they either take it back later of become an antagonist.

[littlelightfish]

My DnD character pokemon team!!

First, this is him. Joel, a Protective Aasimar, paladin of the crown. I do have drawings of him, just not on Tumblr, so Animal Crossing version of him it is. A cinnamon roll that could actually kill you but won't.

Sirfecht. He's just perfect for the role. He's a paladin! They are great friends. The pokedex entry had nothing to do with his selection, unfortunately.

Ferropaladin. Do I need to explain it? It could also be a Gallade, but this has literally paladin written on his name. By looks alone, his pokemon entry is quite empty of interesting data.

Salamance. First, dragon, second, he wished so hard for wings that he got some! I liked his pokemon entry and Joel would love him so much.

Ruby & Sapphire entries:

"Salamence came about as a result of a strong, long-held dream of growing wings. It is said that this powerful desire triggered a sudden mutation in this Pokémon's cells, causing it to sprout its magnificent wings.

By evolving into Salamence, this Pokémon finally realizes its long-held dream of growing wings. To express its joy, it flies and wheels all over the sky while spouting flames from its mouth."

Togetic. His entry is just. Yes.

Omega rubby & Alpha Zaphire:

"Togetic is said to be a Pokémon that brings good fortune. When the Pokémon spots someone who is pure of heart, it is said to appear and share its happiness with that person".

Legends Arceus:

"No records exist of Togetic being seen in the wilds. Rumors abound that it evolves under the loving care of a trusted human companion, upon whom the Pokémon then bestows great joy".

Joel would 100% have one of this.

Whatever the fuck Sigilyph is? I love it.

"The guardians of an ancient city, they always fly the same route while keeping watch for invaders".

Eternal guardians? I love that. Joel is a guardian. Not an eternal one but still.

Aegislash. Sword AND shield? He's just like my boy here! The pokedex entries of him in Sword are the ones that matches both him and my protective paladin.

"Shield Forme: In this defensive stance, Aegislash uses its steel body and a force field of spectral power to reduce the damage of any attack.

Sword Forme: This stance is dedicated to offense. It can cleave any opponent with the strength and weight of its steel blade".

This guys are just silly. The Falinks. He would have them in his team because he would fall in love with the little things and they would fall for him too. They so friends. Also I just love this sillies in general, they're so funny.

Chesnaught is so Joel-coded

"Scarlet : When its allies are in trouble, Chesnaught creates a shield with its arms and uses its own body to block attacks.

Violet: Its gentle disposition would have it avoid conflict, but it gives opponents a thrashing with its thorned fists when the situation calls for it".

Joel is a human shield, and this guys is basically a human shield too! They're the same picture.

I love Bastiodon and Joel does too. He must admire them so much. Like. They use their faces as shields?!?#, wtf that's sick please be part of my team ill cover your back and offer my shield to help you protect the babies.

"Diamond: Any frontal attack is repulsed. It is a docile Pokémon that feeds on grass and berries

Pearl: When attacked, they form a wall with their shieldlike faces to protect their young".

Thanks for reading all this if you did, I am madly in live with my DnD babies. I know for sure that they don't have pokemon but dreaming is free as they say. And I also know they're more than 6 but shh, he has rights to have more than 6 (I couldn't decide).

He would love all pokemon, but, you know, this resonate the most with him and would also accept being on his team because they share something. Be it ideals, be it wings, be it modus operandi. I love them. I might do more about this pokemon×DnD crossovers later for my other OCs.

[kaori04]

@thelostgirl21 So I finished watching and getting back to you!

I felt really bad for Radovid by the end, but also excited, this is very interesting storyline that can go in many ways with a huge potential for development for both Radovid and Jaskier. I am especially happy that it provides a good opportunity for Jaskier to be someone else entirely except for his comic relief persona he performs for everybody else except Radovid, the only one who takes him seriously and is eager to get to know him on a deep level without dismissiveness other demonstrate his way. Same goes in the opposite direction too, as Radovid was never taken seriously too, not by his ignorant brother Visimir who is not delicate enough to understand Radovid's more tender nature, and not by masterminds Dijkstra and Philippa, who consider him only as an object of manipulation in their game of thrones and no worthy of real attention.

Radovid and Jaskier are two sensitive and deeply empathetic ppl who developed their own protective tools for dealing with harsh realities of the world they are in. Jaskier has his humor, while Radovid prefers just to be quiet to appear smarter/more knowledgeable than he is and he is also very careful with his words whenever he does speak. So while both are very reflective of the world around them and have a habit to read ppl around them, their coping mechanisms that usually help them to survive also come back to bite them in the ass when they encounter someone who is genuine in their attempts to build a sincere connection with them.

Radovid's secretive nature, his lack of spontaneuty makes him seem more dangerous than he is, like he has something to hide (didn't it fool us all before vol. 2), and it indeed prevents him from being open and honest. That inevitably leads to a scene like that in ep. 6, when his actions is very difficult to explain without assuming his bad faith, so Jaskier falls in this trap. And I actually think Jaskier believes Radovid is telling the truth, but circumstances are such that Jaskier cannot just relax and believe in the best, because if he is wrong and acts on it the results might be catastrophic, so he takes the safest route, even if it means hurting the man who had a potential to become the most important person in his life. Jaskier chooses others (Ciri and everyone else who would get hurt if she gets in the wrong hands) over himself, and yes, also sort of pushes Radovid under the bus too. But on the one hand there is the life of a young innocent girl he feels responsible for and the destiny of the continent, and on the other there are feelings of grown man who is the whole prince (and he isn't aware yet how dangerous his household is).

I don't want it to sound like I think Jaskier choose the best route of action, I think he could be far more delicate about it, imho no need to be rude and everything. And taking into the account how soft Jaskier is with everyone else who demonstrates him their vulnerability, it looked even out of character. But given the circumstances (very stressful) I can take that as a narrative device to create more drama and more conflict and prepare the grounds for more interesting and deeper exploration of both the characters. It will all depend on how the twn team will deal with that further.