#trope-tastic

[bayoubodycount]

lmfao...best ships start with attempted mutual murder to lovers🤷‍♀️

"you can't ship those characters they tried to kill each other!" sounds like someone can't appreciate the inherent eroticism of violence 🙄

[quinloki]

High School AU

I'm starting up a One Piece High School AU series. I've got whose in what grade, what kind of school, who the teachers/faculty are, all that is set.

What I'm having a hard time deciding is what kind of "Reader" do I want for this? I have their history set, but I'm pretty open to suggestions on their vibe.

Note: This story will have an "open" end with several possible love interests that will be separate stories post-graduation.

Thanks if you vote, and double thanks if you leave suggestions in the tags or notes!

[thenixkat]

Broke: Humans are space orcs

Bespoke: Humans are space raccoons

[Note: If yer reblogging this post b/c you enjoy the shit-tastic white-flavored built-on human exceptionalism trope of 'humans are space orcs' this post is not for you. I am always deriding you people. The 'raccoon' part of my joke is that humans are a rather average and not special at all middle-tier organism with one or two things going for it.]

[macsimagines]

hii! Can I please request a headcannon of Izana, Taiju, and Kazutora where they try to normalize the kidnapped life their darling lives with them, but darling just wants to go home? if you don’t want to write this it’s okay!

I'm shocked to say this is the first imagine I've ever had with this scenario. I never thought about it till now but I figure this would've been a common trope?

TW: YANDERE BEHAVIOR, MINORS DNI, PHYSICAL ABUSE, PSCHOLOGICAL TORTURE, MENTION OF KIDNAPPING, ISOLATION

Yandere!Izana Kurokawa

Ok so depending on what type of darling you are and how he fell for you is really going to vary this type of situation.

If you two were in a relationship beforehand and he took you, he's going to treat your situation like it's the most natural thing in the world. Almost like he's delusional, but of course he isn't. Knows damn well you're an unwilling captive.

But he's good at mind games darling. Gaslight and gatekeeping KING, you're going to question whether or not this isn't something you always wanted.

If you never had a relationship though? If you had out right rejected him and honestly wanted nothing to do with Izana? Its going to be torture.

Isolation in a dark cold room with the bare minimum necessities, you're only form of contact is when Izana gives it to you. And that's when he treats you like you're an absolute queen.

When you scream and misbehave you're alone for days again, when you're quiet and docile you're rewarded with his warmth and affection.

He's smart and he's going to condition you to want him.

"I'm back, princess. What's it been, a week? You ready to eat some food again? Come here, I'll feed you."

Yandere!Taiju Shiba

Boy lets hope you've got a body made of steel, he'll beat the shit out of his 'wife' until they learn to behave.

He loves you. In his own sick and demented way, he truly loves you with all his heart. But if his wife keeps acting out, Taiju will get physical to put you in your place.

Tries to start small. Slaps across the cheek, as light as he can make it when your complaints get too loud and maybe spankings over his knee wen you're too bratty (and he's feeling kinky).

But on days where work was too much and he doesn't have the patience to come home and you're being a little shit he'll straight up punch you. Beat you down until he knows you're too weak to do anything other than lie on the ground.

Eventually, you'll learn to behave and when you do, he's going to treat you as gentle as his little housewife deserves. I think Taiju wants what he never had as a kid.

That picture perfect, "Honey, I'm home!" shit, with you waiting in the kitchen making him dinner. He might even bring you flowers, just because that's what the picture perfect home looks like to him.

You'll have such nice dresses, and only the best and classiest jewelry.

So long as his house is in perfect order, his meals are made how he wants them and you're on your best behavior. Don't ruin the illusion now.

Yandere!Kazutora Hanemiya

This boy is so deluded into thinking you two are living a perfectly normal life together. It doesn't matter how hard you protest or cry he really does think you love him and are where you are supposed to be.

Freak completely remodeled his own living space to match your own, so that; "It's just like home for you! Makes it all easier right baby?"

When that doesn't make you happy, and the fact that all of the stolen items from your old home are there don't seem to pacify you, its on to the second part of his plan.

Memory making. He's got this Creep-tastic wall of all the things you're going to do together. Pictures of both of your faces glues over wedding magazine photos and happy couples he found on Instagram.

"And this is when we'll go on our third year anniversary to the place where you bumped into me for 4th time back in June twenty-second two-thousand and- why are you backing away?"

Things are already normal to him. The universe is finally aligned and you're with your soulmate. All that's left is to get married and get started on making your big family with 5+ kids.

[green-with-envy-phandom-event]

What's this...?

Trope-tastic manhwa cover art made specifically for the Green With Envy event?

Gracious me!

Whoever will color it?! (You, the answer is you.)

Join the event!

COLOR ALL THE LINE ART!

Or set your own line art loose and watch our crazy gremlins fight over the right to make it a hue-ge success!

You still have two weeks left to sign up for the coloring competition or submit drawings to the event, after all~!

Get to it!

Line art submissions and all sign-ups are due Sunday, February 25th (02/25/24) 11:59 pm, Pacific Time Zone and the color competition runs during the month of March! It'll get you squeezing every last bit of creative juice out of your brain like a well-wrung rag!

WE'VE ALREADY GOT 73 LINE ART ENTRIES SUBMITTED AND 47 COLORIST SIGNED UP AS OF RIGHT NOW! We're so stoked! That's already 6 more line arts and 14 more colorists than last year! AAAAAH!!!

We are going absolutely feral about every new member!

COME!

Become ONE OF US!

------

@foxyteah and @weshney provided the stunning manhwa line art for this post! I am absolutely frothing over it, and I hope you are, too!

Interested in the event? Take a look at the Masterpost to find exact dates, rules, the faq, tutorial, and more!

If you're looking for the discord server for this event, find it here.

[schmem14]

It’s my birthday! Celebrate with me by reading my top favorite fanfic discoveries this past year. (Feel free to flail with me in DM’s!) I feel so lucky to have found so many wonderful talented friends and amazing stories! 

1. flour and flesh by foxglovetonic (nocturn) Hermione x Pansy, wc: 666 rating: M

(Mind the tags) This sapphic horror fic gripped my soul from the moment I read it and it lives rent-free in my head because of its amazing imagery and masterful use of unreliable narrator. I’ll be forever creeped out by carving pumpkins and pie (but in the BEST way, I swear!) This is the #1 reason Halloween is my fav. 

2. Usually by @lumosatnight Percy x Oliver, wc: 1k, rating: E

What’s not to love about banter, chess as foreplay, and stripping down until there’s nothing left but heart-pounding hot AF sex? This pairing is fantastic, and Lani’s writing is on point, as always, and I was incredibly impressed by the real live chess match taking place in the background. Read it, you won’t regret it! 

3. drink up, boys by @emilyrickman gen work featuring Parvati Patil, wc: 1.5k, rating: M

(Mind the tags) I URGE you give this gripping revenge story a chance! Between Parvati’s confidence and the absolute heartbreaking and empowering ode to sisterly love, this story gave me goosebumps. Emily is such a great writer, and I can’t stress enough how well the feels come through on this one. Also, give the song What It Means To Be a Girl by EMELINE a listen as you read, it will elevate the whole experience! 

4. One Woman’s Trash by @nanneramma Lavender x Hermione wc: 2k, rating: T

My friend Nan can do it all, and I don’t care that coffee shop AU has been done a thousand and one times before, THIS is the one to read! Lavender is to die for in this, and the fluff is pure, gourmet sweetness. It will have you kicking your feet and squealing by the end. 

5. Head Over Heels by @vdoshu Narcissa x Mrs. Zabini, wc: 575, Rating: M

This itty bitty fic is singlehandedly feeding my Narcissa Mommy delusion. I want her to step on me SO BAD! Ugh. Doshu packs a punch with every story, and the punchline of this one is sure to have you gasping like a beached fish. Please come scream at me about it if and when you know what I mean. 

6. Welcome, Peasants by @fluxweeed Draco x Ron x Harry, wc: 15k, Rating: E

It was nearly impossible for me to pick just ONE of my favorite fics from Dronarry fest this year, but I narrowed it down to two. Strap in for an hour and immerse yourself because the payoff is WORTH IT!  This one blends the juicy polyjuice trope with a healthy dollop of mistaken identity and a pinch of jealousy. Better yet is the twisty reveal and the absolutely smut-tastic finale that follows.

7. For I Have Found Salvation by @lumosatnight Severus x Harry, wc: 7k, Rating: E

Yes Lani, I couldn’t resist another! I feel like I have to preface this by saying I’m not usually a Snarry fan, but this filthy Priest AU fic is EVERYTHING. The dynamic of guilt and forbidden church sex (while church is IN SESSION) is so fucking delectable. I’m going to just say it and embarrass myself: Insta-Wank Bank. Yep. 

8. Nightswimming by @sweet-s0rr0w Draco x Ron (x Harry), wc: 5k, Rating: M

…Which brings me to my SECOND Dronarry fest pick from this year, and I love it so much because it’s all banter and hypotheticals. Draco and Harry are a couple, but Draco and Ron share a car ride where it comes out that maybe they’ve been considering a three-way with Ron. They don’t even fuck, but the tension of them just talking about it is too hot to handle. Bonus: There’s art at the end! 

9. Mistletoe Mojito by @amethystheart2421 Sybill x Severus, wc: 3k, Rating: E

This fic knocked me flat on my ass. This lust potion fueled one-night stand fic had me laughing and crying (from hilarity and absurdity and sadness) all at once. Such delightful writing, and the perfect example of crack taken seriously. 

10. All That Is Beautiful, Burns In The Making by @sailtomarina Narcissa x Bill, wc: 8k, Rating: E

Narcissa is hot. Bill is hot. We all know this from canon, but imagine they get together and how much hotter they are as a couple! This fic contains such delights as werewolf Bill, seduction, forbidden love, infidelity, knotting, endless refractory periods, voyeurism, rough sex, and mating. It’s not quite A/B/O but it has a lot of the elements that make it such a juicy AU.

11. A Perfect Answer by @p1013 Draco x Harry wc: 9k, Rating: E

Downton Abbey AU. Harry is Draco’s valet and the love is very much forbidden. Contains: pining, jealousy, decorum, emerald cufflinks that Draco favours, and BATHS. Something about it reminds me of Jane Eyre, though I know that’s a different time period and there’s no crazy wife in the attic. I loved this fic so much because it was a well-written AU and it brought a breath of fresh air to an old favorite otp. The angst is divine, and the ending is such a lovely payoff. Enjoy! 

[amf-studios]

Because I need to do more dumb yokai

Believe it or not, Skeleton musicians are a pretty common trope. And I just really wanted to make a yokai that plays Saxophone.

I primarily took inspiration from the villains of my favorite Mystery incorporate episode, Rude Boy and the Ska-tastics

They're also undead musicians with with a saxophone. (The episode is good, it had a musical duel, the Hex girls, and 2 absolute bops! :3)

Design wise, he's a rather simply yokai. I gave him black, almost charred bones to make him more unique among the pearly white skellies, paired with a white suit and matching phedora. Also gave him a goal tooth, cause why not.

Power wise, I imagine Saxo-bone causes Dancing plagues. You know, where mobs of people dance until they pass out from exhaustion, which is a real phenomenon that's happened a few time throughout history. (Our best guess at an explanation is food being contaminated with hallucinogenics.)

Saxo-bone is a B rank, Merican yokai of the Eerie tribe. He's a wind attribute with the soultimate appropriately called "Dancin' plague" which inspirits his opponents.

I hope you enjoy this musical skeleton!

[sirfrogsworth]

Flamin' Not

Eva Longoria directed a movie about Flamin' Hot Cheetos. It is supposed to depict a real life Latino rags-to-riches story.

It's about a poor Mexican-American, Richard Montañez, who got a job as a janitor in a Frito-Lay factory and saved it from shutting down by inventing the "Flamin' Hot" line of products.

It was not terrible. Though it came very close to feeling like a Hallmark movie. But as I was watching it, the story felt very formulaic and a bit too... feel good. Like a bullshit fish story an uncle might tell you in order to seem cool. True stories usually aren't quite so tidy and trope-tastic.

Reality usually has some weirdness that is very difficult to capture when writing fiction. Like, in the movie about Reality Winner where they used a real life transcript, there were things a writer could never imagine. In one scene a random FBI dude opens the door and says, "Is this a room?"

So I was real suspicious there could be some Flamin' Hot nonsense in this movie. I figured they just took some dramatic license as many "based on a true story" movies do. I decided to look up the real life Richard and see how close his actual story was compared to the movie.

Turns out... it was a complete work of fiction.

He made it all up.

The only part that was true... he was a janitor at Frito-Lay and eventually got promoted to their Hispanic marketing department.

After he left the company he just started telling people he invented Flamin' Hot. And since the internet wasn't very robust yet, people were just like, "Yeah, okay. Neat."

He came up with an entire narrative with backstory and side characters and humorous anecdotes and a thrilling climax where his neighborhood drug dealers took samples to the street for some guerilla marketing to spread the word about spicy Cheetos--saving an entire factory and hundreds of jobs.

And in the less cynical 1990s, people just accepted it as the truth.

Companies would hire him to give motivational speeches. Eventually he wrote a book about his fake story. And he tours around the country telling his uplifting story of spice and puffed cornmeal.

And Frito-Lay just kinda... let him.

I think they liked his story more than the one where a bunch of food nerds created spicy Cheetos in a lab in the Midwest. He was giving them free marketing. He gave their Flamin' products street cred in Latin communities.

But when journalists finally got around to fact checking his story, Frito-Lay very casually told them "None of our records show that Richard Montañez was involved in any capacity in the Flamin’ Hot."

It seems their line was they would let him lie without consequence, but they weren't going to lie for him.

I have no idea what to think about this. I watched an entire movie about fucking Cheetos thinking it was a true story.

Part of me appreciates the hustle. He seems like an okay person. Stayed faithful to his wife for decades, speaks of her with love, and took good care of his kids. He inspires his community and is involved in philanthropy. And he made bank by tricking a bunch of white folks into hiring the Flamin' Hot dude to give speeches to motivate their employees.

Seems like a harmless enough grift. I don't know.

[farm-witches-fic-recs]

The winner of the inaugural Farm Which poll was enemies-to-lovers!

The coven thanks you for your participation as we try out some new things. We hope you will enjoy these trope-tastic recs and leave the authors some love!

baby, just say yes - LFTPD

Death of a Socialite - @Obsessedwithdavrick

Good Fences - @agoodpersonrose

Grew up out of ice-frozen ground - yourbuttervoicedbeau ( @kiwana-writes)

I Kissed Ruth Clancy - doingthemost ( @sarahlevys), @lilythesilly

Push and Pull - @samwhambam

Rose from the Ashes - @Likerealpeopledo-on-ao3

Strike Anywhere - @MadLori Weathering the Storm - iola17 ( @beaiola)

[wolfertenerisian]

🐺Linda Alexandria-Silas Cortez🐺

[Artist Note: This was an Art piece I commissioned a friend to do of my OC Linda Cortez] [Artist Note #2: This also delves into my Prominent OC Linda's background and history generalized being expanded upon] Now without any further AAAAHHHDOO! °˖✧✦─────••.. ˚｡˖✩★✩˖｡˚ ..••─────✦✧˖° Linda Cortez, known by her home planet's Longer name Linda Alexandria-Silas Cortez, or by her Kosanic name, L'eandha Alekh'zandr'áa-Si'less Khor'tej'jhz she's a Kosan female Furry [Ortho] wolf from the musically prestigious Cortez Family that owns the family Music Company "Cortez Music" which she also had an alter ego thanks to Star like Earrings & Necklace (Jem/Holograms Reference) where she turns herself as Zara beautiful singer with her formed band "Zara & the Wolf Pack" with her sisters Jaci, Maria & Lysandra respectively. After a small stint in the Kosan Army for 2-3 years, she then got back to singing with her sisters making the band famous. Subsequently, she assumed the role of Ambassador to Valazaria after aligning herself with the ODKP-KODU coalition party for a period. Alongside her childhood friend Qivula, she traveled to Earth to assist in thwarting the Valzarian Empire's attempts at domination. She later ascended to the presidency & is presently the Earth Sovereign of the Republic.

Name: Linda Alexandria-Silas Cortez [Kosan: L'eandha Alekh'zandr'áa-Si'less Khor'tej'jhz] Nickname: Linnie/Lindy DOB: June 13th, 2940 [Earth Years: 1903] Hometown: Calzino'Kal, Voccazik, Unikosa Residence: Unikosa [Formerly/Birth Planet], Montreux, Switzerland, Earth (Currently) Paternal Father: John Alexandria-Silas Cortez Maternal Mother: Martina  Alexandria-Silas Cortez "Callesto" Paternal Tribe: Voccazik Tribe State Maternal Tribe: Fal'cao Tribe State Occupation: Singer [Formerly], Earth President [Formerly], Terran Sovereign [Currently]

Personality: She's a woman of friendliness & understanding, she's a Gemini born in June willing to understand both or multiple sides of things before coming to a conclusion of her own! She is very Athletic, Musically orientated, Trustworthy & even Cautious about certain things as well bunch of other stuff. However, while Linda can be Friendly she's the person that fits the "Beware the Nice Ones" Trope. IF you Anger her enough times for a long period you don't want to see her angry and wish you met the Nice Linda & not the "Angry Linda!" Art ©️ AleesianiCool Linda Cortez ©️ ME Anyway, enjoy the Art Piece & stay FANG-tastic!

[these-emo-thoughts]

Pit Babe Anniversary Rewatch! Episode 1!

I can't even begin to describe how happy I am to be rewatching one of my favourite shows and sharing in the joy with others 🥹 Below are my thoughts of the episode as I watched it, I'm trying not to simp so much for the show and the actors entirely, but I think I failed in that department 🤣

So, in the words of Speed of Love - Let's go! Let's go, let's go, let's go! 🙌

Theme song is still an absolute banger and the clips for the intro are fan-fucking-tastic ahhhhh I'm so excited!!

Hello, old friends 🥹 Yes, even you Winner, lol.

ESPECIALLY YOU WAY 🖤

(Why is it fitting to me that Way is reported to have a fabulous record for the racing season? Is it because he's played by the fabulous Nut Supanut? Yeah, probably 🤣)

Thank you Alan for the omegaverse commentary 🙏

Vroom vroom

Babe is so freaking beautiful, ugh

Ohhh, that lil fist-bump between Babe and Way when Babe comes out of his 'concentration'... my heart is already like, hurting, lol

HELLO CHARLIE! Look at you in your suspicious lil get-up, creeping in the corner, lol

Actual racing in the racing omegaverse show - I swear I didn't forget, lol

Sonic in his coat 😍

Okay but Dean being part of the team and being so supportive... my boy 😭

The uncle-being-single bashing began really early didn't it 🤣

OKAY CAN BABE AND WAY STOP BEING SO CUTE TOGETHER???

One of my favourite things in any BL is one character pinning another one against the wall and keeping them in place by holding their arms. What I like about Babe doing this to Charlie is that cute lil smile Charlie gives Babe when he turns around after his face-mask is removed 🥹

I get Babe, Charlie's request for a car is a weird one, I'd be confused too LOL

I LOVE how smug Babe looks, I bet $100 he did NOT think that Charlie would take his bait which is why he's egging him on so much

But damn, Charlie can give back just as well 👀

OKAY BUT Charlie hesitantly trying to kiss Babe on the lips but Babe turning to the side so he gets a cheek instead and then shrugging like "idk" is just perfection

And when Babe realises that Charlie doesn't have an alpha scent and then smiles like he's won the lottery and then gets super into it? Amazing.

North pls you are my favourite social media vlogger, I love you LOL

Lmao I would hate to be in Charlie's position, with everyone betting how long I'd last with the great Pit Babe. And ofc, Way starts the betting LOL

HERE HE IS, THE WORLD'S BIGGEST LOSER, WINNER, COMING TO STEAL THE SHOW SPOIL THE PARTY

AGAIN, I WOULD HATE TO BE CHARLIE RN LMAO

Love that Winner has an entourage cheering him on for some reason, he's so smug too about winning the first round (bb boy, you're not winning much else this series so enjoy while it lasts LOL)

The romantic break with Charlie and Babe looking at each other while Babe is doing doughnuts has me hollering

Idk how Babe won the drifting when there were two rounds and he and Winner each won one, but CONGRATS BABE

And congrats Charlie for not being Winner's new plaything, lol

It really does feel like Babe has never met a person like Charlie before doesn't it? Charlie from the get-go makes it clear he doesn't want to take advantage and is fine with Babe saying no to not staying over to sleep. Pavel's subtle acting really makes it seem as though Babe is mildly surprised, imo

KENTA BABY BOY, HELLO, I MISSED YOU AND YOUR CREEPING ASS 😭

TONY!

Alan in a singlet top 🥵

There's a lot of vroom vroom in this episode 🏎️

Wise uncle Alan giving such great words of advice to Way about his feelings for Babe too bad he doesn't FOLLOW IT

Charlie, like, transforms when he's doing a sex scene with Babe. His eyes, his expression, it's all so seductive

The "no kissing" trope, ugh, yes (made even better with the way Babe is SQUISHING Charlie's cheeks)

I'll still... never get over the design of this house 😭 or the fact that it was used as the restaurant for This Love Doesn't Have Long Beans LOL

Charlie's little "bye bye!" is so cute

Babe's mood swings, imma get whiplash, Charlie is god's strongest soldier for weathering that storm lol

Charlie the maid without the uniform 🤣

I'm assuming this was a slight timeskip and was not just the next day because of how Charlie says they've already had "test drives" many times by now lol

They're already so domestic, I can't-

The "bye bye" again, so CUTE 😭

The father (Alan), son (Babe), and holy spirit (Way) of X-Hunter LOL

From the very BEGINNING Way is planting the seeds of Charlie being sus, set up for us to believe it's because of his not-so secret feelings for Babe - a red herring if I ever saw, and done so well

God, even when Charlie is waving "bye bye" to Way it's cute. I don't ever remember him being this adorable in my first watch, but I'm smitten now 🤣

Charlie not getting jealous that Babe checked out another man and instead saying "I don't know why you found me special" 😔

BUT IT'S SO CUTE HOW BABE TALKS TO CHARLIE HERE AJSFALFJSL, they look so HAPPY!!

Man, I know he's the absolute worst kind of villain, but I love S Vorarit so much, lol

AHHHH the phone call! Innocent lil Charlie isn't so innocent after all!

Ep 2 preview 👀

KIM! WELCOME!!

Way looks so much like a good friend in the preview: "keep an eye on Charlie", bc we just saw from that phone call we might not be able to trust him 👀

And ofc the iconic behind the scenes that Change so generously gives us (more pls 🤣)

Such a great first episode, very much enjoyed the rewatch, hopefully will get to Ep 2 tonight as well (BABY BOY JEFF WAS NOT IN EPISODE 1 AT ALL 😭)

[jpechacek]

I will be at Rose City Comicon this weekend!

You can find me on the following panels

-Trope-tastic on Friday

-Horny on Main on Saturday

-the Art of Worldbuilding on Sunday

With signings of The West Passage following each panel!

[elfwreck]

50,000 words of self-indulgent fanfic with id-tastic tropes and too much snarky dialogue.

...Maybe someday it'll hit AO3. (Don't hold your breath.)

But for now: I WON!

[jaybren]

I Believe...Steddie

I normally don't mind angst (though I avoid drama fics in general). Miscommunication is the biggest trope in romance, so I'm all for it, but for some reason Steve x Eddie fics / drabbles where Eddie still thinks of Steve as Steve THE KING Harrington always sit weirdly for me. Sometimes, if the Upside Down didn't happen (AUs in general) or pre-UD setting, maybe -- sure, then that could work. But close to canon fics where Eddie lives and Steve legit confesses to him? Always just -- strikes me as wrong.

Finally realized why -- it's literally the antithesis of canon Eddie. Canon! Eddie is quick to acknowledge Steve has changed. He literally runs up to him in the Upside Down while a bunch of madness is happening and where he has every right to be consumed by his own shit-tastic situation, but instead, he's telling Steve how he is a great guy and has changed.

Can Eddie be bitchy and prejudice? Yes.

Does Eddie have grudges against jocks / the popular crowd? Yes.

But he also goes full on bowing gentlemen for cheerleaders (going out of his way to help Chrissy and make her smile) and he's quick to acknowledge Steve's not that same popular AH anymore.

With Steve's bitchiness not aimed at him, Eddie would be eating his Honeycomb and snickering when old habits popped back up, and maybe he'd feel conflicted about jocky Steve, complaining about going to games or something until somebody smacked some sense into him. Totally believe tension and disbelief about one liking the other or some bias about things, but I just can't see Steve proclaiming his love or whatever and Eddie assuming it is a trap or trick or prank or something.

Maybe he'd think Steve was confused. Maybe he'd assume they were doomed, but I can't see him blaming Steve for that or blowing up their relationship IF Eddie accepted the confession and they started dating. Eddie's way more down on himself.

If someone can explain how it makes sense, please do. I'd love to enjoy all Steddie tropes, and that one seems popular lately, but where my brain sees so many problems with them getting to the confession point or even a number of big arguments that could happen afterward due to outside aspects, those two strike me as highly tactile, highly clingy romantics who would be convinced they were the height of discrete while practically fused, constantly touching and being snide little judgy dudes together.

[tm-trx]

currents.46[2024]

selections from my week in media [10-16 november 2024]

[ listening ]

[ loving ]

Taemin at the Korea Grand Music Awards - I'm obsessed.

[ reading ]

Tallowwood by N.R. Walker - mlm mystery romance set in Australia - One of this author's best.

[ watching ]

Every You, Every Me, ep 5-6 - My favorite story yet and I'm bummed there's only one story left, assuming they do another two episode run. I love the concept of this show and I think they really did a great job with it.

The Hidden Moon {finished: 3 stars} - Finally, in the last three episodes, we find out what the heck is going on. Apparently, everyone's dead except for the ghost. I wish the acting had been better and the plot tighter (10 episodes actually felt too long by the end, weirdly). And I, of course, would have loved a reincarnation meet cute epilogue, because it is more than a little sad that Khen briefly met reincarnated Mas in the future and had no idea.

The K2 {finished: 4 stars} - I can't believe I forgot how whump-tastic it is. And Madam is a fascinating character. She dominated every scene she was in.

The Legend of Vox Machina, s3 ep 6-12 {finished: 5 stars} - My favorite season yet. This series is so good, but this season in particular was emotional and dramatic in the best ways.

Peaceful Property {finished: 5 stars} - What a great wrap up to a great series. Somewhat predictable, but excellent all the same. I am adding this drama to my Halloween watchlist. It's definitely one of the highlights of my viewing year.

Perfect 10 Liners, ep 3 - Within the first three episodes, we've had cautionary tales about both road rage and drunk driving. What's next? Or will one or both be recurring themes? Arm and Arc are both ridiculous in their own ways and I'm loving the romcom-y nature of the performances. Book's style of slapstick is somehow really working for me, when usually I'd be supremely annoyed (the spittake in episode one(?) is going to be a highlight of the series). I cannot take either of the characters seriously because the show is clearly going all in on the tropes. The drawback to that, of course, is that if the other couples are more serious and have deeper storylines treated more seriously, then the disparity is going to be really obvious and clunky. So, fingers crossed they keep it fairly light across the board and avoid that.

previous Currents posts

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[meeravandaseera]

On the Fin Ears or Ear Fins Trope

"The Mermaid" detail by Charles Robinson for "Fairy Tales from Hans Christian Andersern" in 1899.

These so-called ear fins or fin ears are often pointed and sometimes webbed ears, at least somewhat, resembling the pectoral fins of fish yet placed on the sides of the head. They are commonly found in many 21st century media of waterfolk. This article dives into this so-called trope a little: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/EarFins. Ear fins appeal to me very much because their shape looks so FIN-tastic. When I sea ear fins on a waterperson, I immediately think: they shorely are fishy, but abzulutely not in the informal negative sense! The author of any waterperson shorely knows what they are doing when they add these ears.

While one could view it as a rather recent phenomena as of now upon releasing this, it actually does date back in the past. For example, Charles Robinson (1870-1937) created some depictions of ear fins.

Illustration by Charles Robinson for an illustrated edition of "The Sensitive Plant" in 1911.

"Tritonenfamilie" by Mortiz von Schwind in ca. 1865. The ichthyocentaur in the center possesses a possible fin ear.

Other waterpeople's fin ears could look more like pointed ears. Some supposed exhibited waterfolk specimens had such kinds of ears, for instance. To be honest, some do look like the fin ears that get depicted in the form of a seashell in some 21st century works.

"Mermaid" by John Pass or Paas for Encyclopaedia Londinensis in 1817.

It still not only does date back into the 19th and 20th century. Triton had been supposedly depicted with "Spitzohren", namely "Sharp-Ears" or pointed ears according to "Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon" vol. 19 issue six on page 730: https://archive.org/details/meyersgrosseskon19meye/page/730/mode/2up?q=triton

A sculpture of Triton as referenced in "Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon". His ears look pointed, but still somewhat round. Sculpture featured in the Gallery of Statues at the Vatican Museums in Vatican City. "Triton" photo by Michele Mang (1840-1909). Vatikan, Museo Pio Clementino, Galleria delle Statue (Nr. 253) from ca. 1865-1870 - Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen - Neue Pinakothek München: https://www.sammlung.pinakothek.de/de/artwork/jWLpmlKGKY CC BY-SA 4.0

Sometimes, the modern ear fins are thought of to serve as external gills like those of an axolotl. This can be found in one description of the species of Triton, namely the tritones in Greek mythology. Pausanias described them with "breathing organs below their ears" as told accordingly on Theoi: https://www.theoi.com/Pontios/Triton.html.

The watermen called the adaro from the Melanesian mythology of the Solomon Islands also feature "gills below/behind their ears" according to "Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore" by Theresa Bane on page 14: https://books.google.de/books?id=7PYWDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA14&dq=adaro+mythology&hl=de&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjHucGn9rOJAxWnxgIHHS2dFHsQ6AF6BAgHEAI#v=onepage&q=adaro%20mythology&f=false, "The Mythical Creatures Bible: The Definitive Guide to Legendary Beings Volume 14" by Brenda Rosen on page 139: https://books.google.de/books?id=mI0vKhZXJqwC&pg=PA139&dq=adaro+mythology&hl=de&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjHucGn9rOJAxWnxgIHHS2dFHsQ6AF6BAgOEAI#v=onepage&q=adaro%20mythology&f=false and "Pacific Mythology: An Encyclopedia of Myth and Legend" by Jan Knappert on page 15.

Woodcut by Sebastian Münster in 1600.

Medieval depictions of waterfolk tend to feature such long, pointed ears, more resembling those of horses or dogs. I still do perceive that these might serve as some initial ear fins in some way or another.

Illustration by Conrad Gesner from his "Conradi Gesneri medici Tigurini Historiae animalium" in 1585-1604.

"Merpeople Pair" woodcut detail from "Prodigiorum ac ostentorum chronicon" in 1557.

"Lib. III. Pars VI. Caput II. §VI. : De Pisce Anthropomorpho, seu Syrene sanguinem trahente" from "Magnes sive De arte magnetica opus tripartitum" in 1654.

"St. King Olaf fights Margýgr" from "Flateyjarbók" in ca. 1394.

"A most strange and true report of a fish" engraving from 1604 for a supposed mermaid sighted by Thomas Raynold in Wales in 1603.

Thanks for diving into this :>