#what’s funny is most of these characters are doomed and it hurts me

[percentstardust]

kid aemond whenever he sees rhaenyra with a lemon cake: may I have some kind older sister my favorite older sister PLEASE MAY I HAVE SOME FUTURE QUEEN OF THE REALM

[tgcg]

happy day of egbert

CG: DON'T YOU JUST HAVE THE MANUAL SOMEWHERE?

TG: dude its the most overwhelmingly basic thing on the planet trust me i literally did all the other settings for you

TG: all you gotta do is point the thing at egbert

TG: half press to focus subject

TG: press down fully and bam done the shit is shot

CG: BUT --

TG: i know youre desperate for this to be rocket science but its genuinely like first grade biz i promise whatever pic you take is gonna be fine

===

EB: yeah, come on karkat!

EB: i am only going to be the birthday bad ass for like, 24 hours total you know.

EB: longest birthday of my LIIIIIIIIFE. haha.

EB: oh hey, from one birthday-dooms day guy to another…

EB: i am pretty sure you understand the magnitude of what i just said!

===

CG: OH HEY. FUCK YOU.

CG: I'M JUST ACCOUNTING FOR THE LITERAL FUCKING INEVITABILITY THAT WHEN I TAKE THIS PHOTO, SOME INSIDIOUS LITTLE KARMA GNOME WILL FROLIC ONTO THE SCENE IN AN UNBELIEVABLE STROKE OF LOATHSOME SERENDIPITY TO BURY ME IN 12 CUBIC METERS OF FOOL-GRADE FUCKING IDIOT POWDER.

CG: AT WHICH POINT ANOTHER HEFTY BOULDER WILL BE ADDED TO THE BULGING MACRO-BINDLE OF SHAME YOU PEOPLE HAVE FORCED ME INTO CARRYING MY WHOLE LIFE.

CG: SHIT, SOMEONE HAS GOTTA LOOK OUT FOR MY ASS.

TG: alright give us a sec

TG: huddle formation

EB: psssshhh, alright.

===

TG: youre not gonna fuck this up

TG: your ass is completely secure dude

TG: i got the double foam padded booster seat and you know that shit is strapped on this 5mph drive through quaint ol piss-easyville

EB: you know if it really is so bad you can just re-take it, right?

EB: it is really not worth aggravationing your sponge over.

TG: 'xactly

TG: knights honor that shit isnt hooked up to my ishades and will not instantly forward me a copy in crisp HD of whatever blunder youre cooking in your beautiful nugbone

===

CG: IT'S NOT JUST THAT.

CG: HAVEN'T I SHADOWED YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY SHENANIGANS LONG ENOUGH FOR YOU TO TOSS ME A GODDAM BONE?

CG: I MEAN. I FEEL LIKE I'M READY FOR THIS. I'VE BEEN PRIMED FOR THIS BULLSHIT FOR EQUINOXES AT THIS POINT, WATCHING YOU PRANCE AROUND WITH THIS FUCKING THING.

TG: woah wait youre legit into it?

CG: YES, I AM LEGIT FUCKING INTO IT.

CG: AND I KNOW IT HAS SETTINGS YOU'RE HIDING FROM ME. WHAT IF I WANT TO TAKE A BLACK AND WHITE SHOT, HUH? WHAT IF I WANT TO ADJUST THE "APERTURE" OR THE "EXPOSURE" OR SOMETHING.

TG: alright i dig the enthusiasm but maybe we can unwrap that shit when we dont have someone waiting for us

TG: i didnt know you were scoping photography man you shoulda said something!

CG: I WAS PLANNING TO! I DIDN'T ENVISION IT COMING UP SO FRIGGIN SUDDENLY MAN.

TG: i promise ill open the pandoras fuckin box of snap addicts anonymous afterwards alright

===

CG: OK, FINE. BUT I AM HOLDING YOU TO THA --

===

CG: HA HA EGBERT. VERY FUCKING FUNNY.

CG: FOR YOUR SAKE I SERIOUSLY HOPE THIS IS JUST AN EMBARRASSING NOSTALGIA-DRIVEN LAPSE IN HUMOR AND NOT A GENUINE ATTEMPT TO "PRANK" ME. I REALLY DO!

EB: huh? who is this "egbert" you speak of? i have never heard of such a character.

CG: OH, JUST THIS BULGECRUD-HUFFING IMBECILE THAT FALLS BACK ON SHITTY PRACTICAL JOKES SO PLAYED-OUT THAT THEY PHYSICALLY HURT TO BEAR WITNESS TO.

CG: MY LOWER JAW IS THREATENING TO REVERSE-DROP WITH ENOUGH VELOCITY TO BURROW DIRECTLY INTO MY THOUGHT SPONGE, KILLING ME INSTANTLY.

CG: SO EITHER GET SOME NEW MATERIAL OR GET ME TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM, YOUR PICK.

EB: damn, ok. that does sound like some pretty serious bullshit, but…

===

EB: whoever that weirdo next to you is kind of seems like he needs medical resistance more than you do!

CG: WHAT

[galactic-rhea]

WDYM Anakin is Luke and Leia's dad

I dunno if this post will reach the Star Wars fandom but I hope it does because I'm sure you all will get a good laugh at me.

As of recent I have developed a good hiperfixation for Star Wars, the thing is I knew nothing. NOTHING about Star Wars besides the fact it had aliens and...a war...in space? And funny swords. And main character is Luke or something, I spent over 20 years ignoring anything about Star Wars and somehow missing most references out there.

And recently, literally less than a month ago I saw a gif and said to my partner "oh this guy this guy looks cool, this gif looks nice" and he said "Oh well, he's a good character." And it all developed into me watching Clone Wars, the animated series you know and...and I was kinda blown away, on my opinion the show IS GREAT. And I love every character and their interactions, I love how much they focus on side characters, and they all seem very well written. I got hiperfixated really fast and saw Anakin and I was like "Omg, babygirl. He's a blorbo now."

And because of the show, this was super unexpected, but somehow I also got, really got, into the ship with Padmé because omg, cool woman. Literal happy squeaky noises of someone who was in a bad state and needed some good ol' distraction and comfort.

Now, like I said I knew nothing about Star Wars as a whole. And I still haven't watched the movies, besides the ocassional gif?

So imagine my shock, my surprise, my...bewilderment when I realized.

"Wait a minute, LUKE IS ANAKIN'S SON?! HOLY-"

Ladies, gentleman, and others, I think I came very late to this party and I don't even know how it took me so long.

Not only that, but because of this sudden love for the series, I went to my friends circle like "BESTIE, GUESS WHAT, I HAVE A NEW BLROBO AND A NEW FAV SHIP AND EEEP"

And my friends are like "omg that's amazing, what is it?"

I tell them, and of course they all know these characters and they all react like they know this very bad secret fact and I got told several times already "Please, don't watch the episodes 2 and 3 alone, it will hurt."

I feel like blissfully walking among rainbows and blue skies while everyone else know that my future is doomed. Somehow.

(Uncomfortable silence)

Not only that, but then I spent a whole deal of time thinking "Where the heck I have seen these guys" cus there was some fmailiarity I couldn't just point out and then one day I woke up, brushed my teeth and of all sudden I realized and it was such a shock.

Do you know how SURREAL is to get very into a character, and into a ship, and then realize they're the same from that super widespread meme that has been around for who knows how much time?

I swear I thought that meme was from some old medieval fantasy movies or something.

But alas, Star Wars now is EVERYWHERE. People do references to Star Wars ALL THE TIME and it's just now I'm catching them.

I got spoilers. From a meme. In a youtube review that had nothing to do with Star Wars hah. Everything is a spoiler, the world is an apparent spoiler. Now I'm here, trying to avoid spoilers from something everyone seems to know, even my family knows. It's so surreal and I wouldn't have it any other way 😂

Anyways, if you read until here, know that a wild ride still waits me, cuz I'm only starting Season 3 of Clone Wars and I don't plan to watch the movies until I finish the series.

And yes, I made this blog just to ramble freely about SW and draw stuff because it sparked my inspiration after a long art block.

Have this doodle I drew after watching the two first episodes, my offering for you reaching this far.

Note: Wouldn't Anakin and Padmé's ship name be Animé? Cuz that's hilarious.

[kawaiipienerdfreak]

I'll never believe your tears, Sunday.

edit: i was given a great analogy to zuko from avatar, and now i'm not so critical. thanks everyone for your attention

I want to say this upfront: as a character, Sunday works perfectly fine for me. But I absolutely can’t stand how the fandom obediently swallowed such a stupid retcon of his character. And I can’t stand fandom stripped him of all blame. Time and time again, I see posts like: “Oh, my precious little sunshine! Don’t cry... Oh no, he’s crying in his ultimate! He didn’t deserve this, poor thing!”

And I’m left wondering: what the hell?

What the hell was HoYoverse thinking when they gave us a dictator with a god complex (borderline chūnibyō syndrome) as an antagonist? A character who defended someone who sold children into slavery. Someone who mocked a slave for their origins. Someone who placed himself above the local police and even above the very creator of Penacony. All while chaos reigned under his (and Family’s) rule in Penacony. Within Penacony, everything’s a mess: banditry, alcoholism, shady financial dealings. Criminals hide from the hounds in the Dreamscape, and Sunday defends them, driving the hounds away. Many people work for pennies, losing any chance at a better future. And some have even been dragged back after death, turned into lifeless husks just to serve as local attractions.

Sunday knows how to act righteously, but he chooses to do things his own way instead. That’s his whole arc. He became a god (boss version) for the Dreamscape and felt zero guilt over the fact that Penacony under his rule remained a pit of sin and filth, far from any kind of paradise.

And then, we defeat him. He regrets... but only regrets losing. His remorse isn’t about what he did—it’s about being beaten. He’s ready to do it all over again, just with a different strategy.

So again, what the hell?

Why does HoYoverse give us a character like this (admittedly fascinating because he’s ridiculously stubborn, manipulative, selfish, and unhinged), only to suddenly turn him into a martyr, a lamb, and a tragic victim we’re supposed to feel sorry for? Poor Sunday, who only wanted the best but ended up dooming everyone to suffer. They’re so insistent about making us pity him that it’s disorienting. What’s the point? No one’s going to believe it. He locked his own sister in a cage, justified slavery, carried out vigilante justice, and controlled the fates of millions. No one’s going to believe he’s a victim...

Except they d i d. And that’s what pisses me off the most. People have forgotten that just a year ago, he was the thorn in everyone’s side, deliberately hurting those around him with glee. Now they call him “sunshine,” “poor thing,” “precious baby.” They wipe his tears during his ultimate move, saying he doesn’t deserve to be imprisoned, doesn’t deserve to face the consequences of his actions. Are you all out of your minds?

Why didn’t Kokolia get a chance? Why didn’t Tisok 2 get a chance? (Tisok 2 is from a side quest about a ruler whose memories were erased. In it, we’re shown that she was a tyrant before losing her memory. The NPCs ask us, “Does she deserve redemption?” And no matter what, the NPCs will yell, “No, absolutely not!” Funny. She doesn’t deserve it, but Sunday does?)

The idea that he isn’t to blame is also questionable. He and Robin grew up under the same person’s wing. Robin was constantly told her perspective was wrong, yet did she grow up as a submissive follower? No, she grew into a truly strong person capable of thinking for herself. But Sunday? He basked in the praise for his bad decisions. He’s just an overgrown brat who decided the world is his playground.

So no, I will never believe in his redemption. I will never believe he’s changed. HoYoverse can’t convince me that he’s repented or truly regrets his sins, because as long as he’s free and has done nothing for society, it’s all meaningless.

He will never have a place on my Express. The Express will never be his home. He will never stand among the people who’ve become my family.

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL - Top 3 Are HEATING UP

Organized, in each category, by ones I'm enjoying most at the top.

Dec 2023 Wk 2

Ongoing Series - Thai

Honestly, 3 are neck & necking for top position! They are all so good in different ways. But The Sign had me hooting with laughter this week, so it scooped #1.

The Sign (Sat YT) ep 4 of 10 - This show is literally everything (except straight) all at once. It's BL, queer, band of brothers, romcom, erotica, paranormal, fated mates, mystery, suspense, slasher, and horror. It’s the king of genre mash-up chaos. I have no idea what I’m watching but I’m ON this ride. Is it a roller coaster? Is it a haunted house? Is it a twirl & hurl? Is there candy floss? Am I even tall enough? Who tf cares. All through the second scene, I was laughing. It was legit funny. Billy has great comedic timing. Guess he’s not just a pretty face.

Everyone should be watching this. Sure, it's madness but there is genius in it.

Last Twilight (Fri YT) ep 6 of 12 -  Yech. August may be one of GMMTV’s least likable characters ever (and that is saying something). Meanwhile, MOAR language play! They spoiling me!

Mhok letting Day go then walking away at the party hurt so bad.

Argh this show is great!

Ep 6 so that kiss was right on schedule. I’m looking forward to the boyfriend eps before doom & pain in the new year. Carry on GMMTV. 

Speaking of...

Cherry Magic (Sat YouTube) ep 2 of 12 - Oh they’re great. It’s great. It’s paced oddly, moving quickly through most of the key scenes of the original JBL in these first 2 eps. I think it’s intending to encompass more of the manga series than that one did. Which is good, cause that will get us all the way to The Library Kiss (TM). It's the best kiss in the manga. I also like the sides in this show (better than the JBL version). 

My Dear Gangster Oppa (Thurs iQIYI) ep 8fin - What a lovely slightly unhinged little show. Tew, can we talk? Un-ironic suspenders, that takes courage. Also, the revolver was a crazy gun choice. 

Final thoughts:

This show is just as ridiculous as its title. About a gaymer who falls in love with one of his in-game teammates, who just happens to be a IRL gangster. A real gangster, the kind that actually kills people regularly. The lead pair is doing their best with a ridiculous story and shoddy script, but I enjoyed it. Although I was grateful it wasn’t very long, what we got was oddly satisfying if, frankly, a little bit silly. Recommended. 8/10 

That said, what's important about this BL is not the show, but the production and style. Let me explain... no, too much, let me sum up.

This is a chimera BL. Regarding characters: it has Japan's style otaku + Korea's style gangster + Thailand's style friendship group. It used Thai talent + Korean money (Kakao) & IP (adapted from a manwha) but aired on a Chinese channel globally (iQIYI). I'm delighted by the eclectic insanity of this production and truly doubt that any other genre but BL could ever produce like this. It's like diplomat's BL and it's the great wonder of our age that it happened at all. This BL deserves its place in the history books on production alone, even if that place is only in the footnotes. A remarkable little monster.

For Him (Thurs iQIYI) ep 3 of 10 - The sides are… messy. Using the same actor for the old bf is… odd. But in the end, this show leaves me smiling. Which means, I like it despite myself. 

Bake Me Please (Mon Gaga) ep 4 of 6 - It's decent. It’s basically what I wanted Antique Bakery to be when I first watched that way back when (not to mention Bite Me). But there’s been so much BL since then that, for some reason, this is falling flat. I think it’s moving too fast for a Thai series. Although, say what you like, Ohm has to be one of the best soft kissers in the industry. He's just good at mouth tenderness.

Ugh, that doesn't sound right. But you know what I mean.

Twins the series (Fri GaGa) ep 7 of 10 - I love how First is so upset when Sprite starts chatting and being nice to Koh. Sprite is just a sweet easy-going likable boy. I enjoy Sprite as a main character, he’s a bubbly little communicator. And they had a cute kiss.  

Pit Babe (Fri iQIYI) ep 5 of 14 - Because there was more Alan and Jeff and they were more key to the plot I was more into this ep. I do compare it to green smoothie down the pants in the Trash Watch.

Cooking Crush (Sun YT) ep 3 of 12 - Look OffGun are truly great. But I’m just not sure we need them in BL anymore. That said, it’s nice to see Off as "the one with the crush" for a change. Also, this show is only good when OffGun are on screen together, otherwise it kinda, well, sucks.

Night Dream (Sat YT) ep 1 of 6 - Cafe setting featuring a cook and a writer. *Seems awfully familiar.* Except these two are exes and this is a reunion romance. It’s stiff and very pulp but not bad (no crap sound effects) and I am a sucker for a reunion romance. That said, Rookie Thailand is not to be trusted, proceed with caution.

Absolute Zero (Weds iQIYI) ep 12fin - I'm grateful this is over. It was tense but for the wrong reasons - sadness and confusion. This final episode was fine, but that’s because it was mostly them being together + flashbacks. Plus all the familiar actor faces of the grown-up friends (hi, Karn my lovely, still stunning I see). But 2 of 12 episodes is not enough for the 10 of suffering and confusion that came before.

In conclusion:

A man is killed on his 10th anniversary resulting in a time paradox, for which the only solution is him never meeting his childhood sweetheart until later in life. Both lovers cycle back to the past at different ages, so that they each become their own 1st & 2nd great loves, but every time it ends in pain, until each also endures 10 years of separation. Finally it gets fixed, but leaves them with multiple memories of time's failures like temporal PTSD, and everyone around them has chronic deja vu. Me? I got both. This is one of those BLs that is high-quality with great acting but poor story. If you like your BL dwelling, maudlin, and tense due to angst and suffering, then you might enjoy this. But I just regret it, 6/10. Recommended only if you like confusing time travel emo pain.

In which case, just watch Tokyo in April is... instead. Give over Thailand, Japan does it better.

Middleman’s Love (Fri YT & iQIYI ep 6 of 8 - While our main couple isn’t working for me... the side couple isn’t working for me either. I really wanted to give LeoTai a chance, this is the 3rd show I’ve seen them in, and still nope. I like Jade a lot more when he’s sad. He’s a much more pleasant screen experience depressed. I would like him to stay hurt for a couple of eps, just so I can enjoy this show a tiny bit more. But then he just goes unhinged again. Argh. I just don’t like it. 

My Universe (Sun iQIYI) Pisces of Me ep 17 of 24 - Codependent boyfriends in middle school planning for high school dealing with stuff. Including other boys being into them. 

Playboyy (Thurs Gaga) 5 of 14 eps - Dear Playboyy, it's not you, it’s me… I hate you. You’re about as deep (and as palatable) as a shot glass of cum. While I'm sure you’re someone’s kink, you're my weakest link. Goodbye. DNF 

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

VIP Only (Taiwan Fri Gaga) ep 5 of 10 - It’s cute but I don’t think BL in this short format is Taiwan’s strength these days. And this is quite slow and dull. Perhaps they should have whacked it down to 6 eps, not 10.

Sahara-sensei to Toki-kun (Japan Fri Gaga) ep 3 of 8 - This is one of those JBLs that I should like on paper but is failing me. The drag bit was ridiculous but handled gently. The kiss was… well… something wasn’t it? It’s all very odd. I like the photographer cutie character. 

It's Airing But...

The Whisperer (Sun ????) 10 eps - Thai horror BL that ALSO involves cheating (what joy is mine). I don't think even the perfect single dimple can motivate me to watch. Word is... it's terrible.

7 Days Before Valentine (Weds WeTV) 10 eps - Giving me Luminous Solution vibes. I'm waiting to binge if it's safe.

Beyond The Star (Weds iQIYI) 8 eps - House of Stars meets Boyband. I was NOT impressed with ep 1. Been told I shouldn't bother.

What Did You Eat Yesterday Season 2 AKA Kinou Nani Tabeta? Season 2 (Japan Gaga) 10 eps - I find this series more fun to binge, so I'm waiting until after it completes its run next week.

Dear Kitakyushu (Thai/Japan movie) in theaters in country only, I know nothing about distribution.

Behind the Shadows (Korea movie) this is a historical I was interested in, but I've been told they kill the gay so I'm OUT.

Next Week Looks Like This

Still coming:

12/23 Dead Friend Forever (Thai horror) iQIYI

Original 2023 forthcoming BL master post (see comments, some are inaccurate, NOT KEPT UPDATED). With the end of the year upon us I'll do an "announced for 2023 but never happened list" soon.

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENTS

He so pretty.

I forgot how likable TayNew are, and frankly I think New is a better version of this role for me, personally. I like him a lot. He's a conscientious sweetheart. And a good egg. (Cherry Magic)

Ah the rooftop my old friend. (Last Twilight)

I would like to point out that it's no accident the naga's sex dream happened in the shower, he's a water creature after all. (The Sign)

(Last week)

[kandadze]

Ep 27 loose thoughts

Well, that's one way of snapping someone shell-shocked out of making a drastic decision. I feel like PSJ snapped something in herself at this moment, too. Anyone else found the ancestor's commentary going on in the background while the girls are bawling their eyes out hilarious? Just me? Okay.

While I was waiting for the ever burning wood to activate or something, the moment WX opened the box to reveal dried flowers I choked. ZYC!!!

Baby!Yichen breaks my heart, so impressionable, so open to learn. It's interesting to see that the phrases about suffering we've seen him use as an adult might have come from WX... Not a fan of telling people in mourning to stop dwelling in misery and sadness like it's as simple as flipping a switch (not to mention, she apparently *just* met him for the first time? The heck?), but at least the rest of her words seem to have helped him... so much that he kept the flowers 😭 The irony of her snow metaphor contrasted with their current predicament is indeed exquisite, A+ for that.

Are they going to be saved by the power of lurrrrve??? (At least this time. Still holding out for how that's gonna play out in the finale.) I mean, what other way to sway an ancient creature who's seen pretty much everything there is to see, than to show them something new? What's that? A test for a future event? (I'm getting really paranoid about nothing we've seen so far being real. It's like Alice in Wonderland on a bigger scale. Or Finnegans Wake on a smaller scale. I don't know.)

Oooh Bingyi and Ying Long, our original doomed couple (of self-sacrificial idiots)! I would watch a whole drama just about them. And damn, I can definitely see where Zhao Yuanzhou got his masochism from. Stoppppp not "Just let me be the first star"! (Especially since I just remembered ZYZ's "I'll be the rain...") It's not supposed to be literal! 😭😭😭 Ahhhh this scene just broke me, also because it seems to reinforce the idea that ZYZ *has* to be killed for the greater good. The visualssss in the execution- sacrifice? What the heck do I even call it?- scene though, soooo good!

"Let me do it myself." LET ME DO IT MYSELF??? FUCKKKKKKK DAMNIT HE JUST- ::head in hands, crying forever::

"Remember. This is my choice, not yours. You don't have to bear any blame or guilt." That's not how that works. That's not how any of that works!

Again, we're dealing with choices. But the fact that ZYZ choice was the same as Ying Long's... the fact that YL says that neither he nor Bingyi had any regrets... oh this is going to hurt.

Oh? ZYZ's future is not what he wants? (And wouldn't that be funny, considering ZYZ's own words while schooling ZYC in the very first ep... 9 times out of 10, things don't go our way?)

"You two are really like us." 😭😭😭

I was wondering if they were going to show us what ZYC saw, and not only does the image of ZYZ's body on that dark floor mirror Ying Long's body floating in the water, both ZYZ and ZYC wear the same clothes as in the very few scenes from the trailer that didn't happen yet... These poor sods, they've been Going Through It for almost a decade now with the only end in sight being yet another tragedy (even if the drama seems to suggest that they don't see it that way at this point.) ::head in hands, crying continues::

"My friend is here. We'll go together." The *sound* I made. Everything else this drama has given me aside, the growth of these characters and their bonds is so well done, and absolutely precious to me.

I want Ying Long's hopes and wishes for them to become true. Seeing how there's hints everywhere in this drama, I hope the words of one of the most powerful beings in existence will count for *something* in the end! (Am I grasping at straws? Maybe. Let me be delusional for a bit longer.)

What do you mean, five, ZYC? What's Ying Lei, chopped liver?

Oof this *almost* hug before WX starts feebly hitting ZYZ. It's relief, it's anger, it's fear for the next time, it's all the feelings that became too big to contain. I feel her so much. (I would've started whacking both him and ZYC way earlier tbh 😅) And ZYZ allowing her that release before pulling her in for reassurance, patting her as if she was a scared child. 😭 Cut to PSJ, looking as if she wanted nothing more but to be the one offering the reassurance to WX. Cut to ZYC, remembering that willingly or not, he's going to hurt WX beyond reassurance. Once again, the bonds in this drama!

Wait hold up hold on what? You just removed Bingyi's blood from him, that should mean that ZYC will not have to become a demon, right? So what's that about developing the inner core? (Also, I just realized that so far all they got from this trip was "go east and ask for a dragon scale" lol) Thankfully him and ZYZ had their conversation(s) about titles and identities so being asked to make that particular choice was not completely out of left field at this point. And all he cares about is whether that means that the last trace of Ying Long will disappear! 😭 (I'm so with Bingyi on this one... I would hold onto that last shred of my friend's existence, too, *especially* if they offed themself via my goddamn sword.)

What's with that look after he says that he thinks he has it - the inner core - is there a joke here somewhere? (I *gotta* go back to learning the language, the things I'm undoubtedly missing on!) The only thing I can think of is - did they think he said he's pregnant??? ::dies:: "So what's your true form?" "Must be dragon." "I say you're a mule." "Better than being a monkey." "I'm a white ape!" ::dies again:: Nice to see we still get a friendly ribbing between all of them, and I can breathe after all the angst. Fingers crossed? There's still 5 minutes left...

Oh good, let's talk about getting Bai Jiu back! (I knew there was one more character from the opening credits that didn't show up yet... guess it's the rebel princess.) While Ao Yin is eavesdropping! Talk about good hearing. Sigh, here it comes, another goal they have that will conflict with Li Lun's; they want the scale to restore the sword, and LL not only doesn't want that to happen, the scale could potentially help him get rid of the poison.

Oh for fuck's sake, I think I was subconsciously waiting for Chongwu Camp to show up, knowing that they've eavesdropped on the gang earlier, and here they are. ZYZ should really think of putting up some sound barrier when they discuss important plans, everyone seems to know exactly what they'll be doing at any given moment!

Ahhhh we're getting a nod to that little cough and stumble WX had shortly before this trip. Something's wrong with Baize token? Or with her connection to it? We only have 7 episodes left, drama!

(ZYC is such a good little brother.) Oh great, it was the rebel princess who killed WX's dad? I repeat, we only have 7 episodes left!

Sigh... with only 7 episodes left, we *also* find out that the goddamn 3-face-mask has history with the princess? And has everyone and their mother sat on that little bridge???

This feels like the endless final scenes in Peter Jackson's "Return of the King," my head is spinning.

Note to self, *stop* looking at previews. Ying Lei, what the absolute fuck?

[lemon-natalia]

Nona the Ninth Reaction - Review

firstly, i just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has taken an interest in and encouraged me in doing these liveblogs! this has been such a fun project to work on, and reading these books for the past nine months or so has been a bright spot in what has otherwise been a relatively tough period of my life. i’ve really enjoyed getting to theorise about all of the lore of these books and make horribly ill-advised emotional attachments to inevitably doomed characters

more fun statistics that no one asked for: this liveblog was the longest, at about 20,000 (!!) words. my GtN liveblog was 12000 words for comparison. i have no excuse other than i like to talk

NtN definitely was an interesting diversion from the other two books so far. it wasn’t exactly a breather, since it was still incredibly heartbreaking and horrifying, but it was fun to see a part of the worldbuilding very different from what we’ve seen before. as much as I missed both Harrow and Gideon, i liked that it gave other characters time to shine outside of interacting with them. it was fun to see more of Palamedes, Camilla, and Pyrrha, and how those characters act in a vastly different environment to the Nine Houses

although NtN was essentially telling two different narratives, John chapters vs Nona’s, it still didn’t feel particularly disjointed - i think it was thematically held together by being a bit more grounded than the other books so far, sci-fi and fantasy elements notwithstanding (contemporary issues like climate change and nuclear war, & John’s world being a setting far closer to our own vs Nona’s domestic life & very real problems of living in a warzone)

i also loved getting John’s perspective in the chapters narrated by Harrow, his point of view and recollections were equal parts funny, terrifying, and fascinating. he’s certainly got a … unique perspective on the world. it was just a slow horrifying journey trying to figure out how the world ended, knowing that it was doomed but not exactly how it happened

Muir really has a talent for endearing you to a protagonist, and Nona was no exception, I absolutely loved her, and just, her whole story and how tragic it was physically hurt me. i also wasn’t expecting to get as attached as i was to Hot Sauce and the school gang - i hope we get just even just a mention of what happens to them in AtN

tldr: 11/10. reading this series is like the emotional equivalent of voluntarily getting stabbed in the heart repeatedly. i have absolutely no clue what I’m going to do with my life now that this is over for the meantime, other than go crazy in a locked room with a red string conspiracy board trying to figure out whats going to happen in Alecto the Ninth

speaking of, obviously its not a pressing issue since to my knowledge there isn’t even a release date yet, but i’m not sure if i’ll do a liveblog for Alecto when it comes out? on one hand the most fun bit about liveblogging has been the reaction from everyone who’s already read the books and we’ll all be in the same boat of not knowing what’s going on when Alecto comes out, so i don’t know how much of a point there is? on the other i would very much enjoy doing it anyway, and i’m a perfectionist so it would be nice to have completed all of the books like that. so i guess it depends on how impatient i am to read the whole book when it comes out lol

[oldfaneworld]

I would like to prefix all of this with saying that I don't know how hard it is to be a professional writer of any kind, or have any understanding on how things work behind closed door and what's cut and what's not. But i would like to thank all the writers and artists that gave us the Sonic idw comics because i really love it!

After getting my hands on Sonic issue 74 when I was at lunch yesterday and reading it once I got home I loved 90% of it. I do have a few issues with 74. The first problem I had with it was near the end of 73 for the Diamond Cutters’ part we were left on a cliffhanger with Tangle falling to her “doom” and there's just not a real resolution to that. We just time skip to all the important characters on one of the translucent tracks almost as if the fight didn't happen. Tangle is fine, we don't know how she gets saved or if someone saved her or if she just woke up mid fall and got her bearings under her. We just don't know and that feels like a broken promise to the readers. 

My biggest problem I have with 74 is that near the end of the Diamond Cutter’s part in 73 in the middle of the fight Lanolin is told by Tangle that Sonic is the Phantom Rider and she sees this with everyone else in the crowd. So why are we retreading this as if she doesn't already know or seen it herself? I know we need an excuse for Mimic but everything he says could have just been inferred by Lanolin if we were allowed in her head. 

Why not take out most of the scenes with Mimic talking and give us more scenes to show how hurt Lanolin is as she rides after Sonic and up to the falling ship without saying a word to the others or Whisper reacting to just how betrayed Lanolin looks. Knowing very well that betrayal and going behind someone's back is the very cause of the original Diamond Cutters death.

I see what they were going for but I just feel like it misses the mark a little bit or just doesn't have enough room to breath. 

I just wanna add this, I love the second page, the focus on the Diamond Cutters, especially the panel of the Diamond Cutters racing behind Sonic with the city in the background. 

I know many people dislike Lanolin and say that this arc is designed to make her look bad, I honestly just don't see it. At the beginning of the arc in 69 i can see why people don't like her, she’s a bitch, i however find that funny though. Though heading forward after that I just don't see it, in 70 she’s just reacting to the Phantom Rider knocking someone off their board with no guarantee of someone saving them. Especially seeing as Sonic told himself that he wasn't going to save them because it would affect what he was doing. He was just lucky that the Diamond Cutters were as close as they were to save that racer. Later in 70 when Lanolin goes too far and plays a major hand in destroying a large part of the track she immediately regrets her actions. Just like with Sonic she’s lucky that the rest of her team is as close as they are and everyone is saved.

The biggest thing that I don't understand about the Lanolin hate, is when people say she doesn't change or isn’t learning from her actions. even though Heading forward from 70 we see a few things happening and change one she becomes more frustrated and reserved after her major fuck up, in 71 and in 73 when she see’s the Phantom Rider both the real one and the fake one (even though she doesn't know he’s a fake) in those respected comic issues she doesn't immediately attack, she tries talking to the riders/demand them to stop. She doesn't want to risk more lives than she already has (which tells me she’s learned) because she does that, it leaves her open to the fake to attack her and take her out of the race. While in 73 it leaves her open to being stopped by Kit. On top of all that when the Phantom Rider appears she makes sure her team surrounds him instead of trying to go 1v1 like in 70 which shows she’s changing her approach. 

A big thing that bothers me about all of this is at the end of 71 when Lanolin is in her room giving the boxing bag a one two combo. It feels like people are ignoring that Duo is even in the room and that he is the one talking shit about the other half of the Diamond Cutters. Tangle just happens to be on the other side of the doorway listening in. I know people are saying that Tangle is afraid of Lanolin and you can make that argument with how Whisper puts herself between the two (in 74) but I don't think so. I think Tangle is letting her empathy get the better of her and I don't think she knows how to really handle someone who is frustrated. (especially someone who is frustrated with themselves, at least that's my thought for Lanolin.) Tangle has shown to be a very empathetic person, she knows how to handle a person who is angry at an outside force, someone who’s crushed under their own emotions. She’s able to pull people back from dark places but someone who’s frustrated who’s not willing to speak about what's making them mad I don't think she knows how to handle that and I think that's what we're seeing. With how Tangle tiptoes around Lanolin about if she should or shouldn't tell her about Sonic seeing the state she’s in.

with how 73 and how 74 started and went for the Diamond Cutters, Lanolin doesn't look at them with any suspicion at all. (if i'm wrong please show me/send me the panels) I don't think she put any real weight on any of the words Duo said to her in 71. In the same way it seems she didn't put any weight on Silver’s or Whisper’s words about Duo because of how they targeted him at the end of the Misadventure arc.

A few things I have seen that have become brainworms for me is someone saying that what Sonic is doing is equivalent to a prank, which is wild to me. Seeing when Sonic is playing the Phantom Rider role he is unintentionally putting normal people's lives at risk. Another thing I've seen that I somewhat agree with is that I don't think that Sonic cares what the public think of him. I do however think he does care about how his friends feel and how they are affected by what he does. So I think that's why he is so nonchalant about letting Lanolin throw the book at him after everything in the ship is dealt with, seeing as he can see just how much what he did hurt her. He may have been annoyed with her in 69 but that doesn't just get rid of all the good will the two had with each other at the end of the Urban warfare arc. 

So this has been all my thoughts I've had in the past day about issue 74 and a few other things I've seen. So if you read all this thank you so much and thank you for your time. Hopefully I don't sound like a whiny little bitch.

[oliviaischillin1204]

tickletober day 16- "cackle"

word count: 980 words

i changed ideas for this prompt like 4 times before settling on this one lol. hope u like it!

Virgil was dying, and Patton was killing him.

Not because he was doing anything wrong-- Patton would never do something to hurt Virgil, and even if he did he would always apologize and try to fix things in the future. He made mistakes sometimes, but Virgil wasn't perfect. All he cared about was that his friend was trying.

So no, Patton wasn't trying to kill Virgil. But he was.

They were all downstairs, everyone having a good evening together. Logan and Roman were in the kitchen, meal planning for the week; Remus and Virgil were sitting on the floor playing a new horror game that'd come out recently; and Patton and Janus sat on the couch watching Tiktoks on Janus' phone. He was very picky about his Tiktok taste, hence why he insisted they use his phone, but Patton didn't mind-- he found most things funny anyway.

And therein lied the problem: Patton's laugh.

There were levels to Patton's laughter. He'd start with giggles, his shoulders scrunching up as his smile widened on his face. They'd get louder if he found something particularly funny: strong belly laughs as he pointed to the screen and repeated every punchline out loud (to Janus' chagrin). And when he saw something really funny, something that delighted him with how surprising it was... there was no word for it other than cackling. Shouts of laughter that burst out of his mouth, head falling on Janus' shoulder as he wheezed words out between desperate belly laughter.

It was driving Virgil crazy. Because it was adorable.

He couldn't focus on the game. All of his thoughts were stuck on Patton behind him on the couch, listening to him laugh and getting increasingly distracted. Were his cheeks getting pink? Was his nose scrunching up? When he let out another peal of laughter, did Janus feel as tempted as Virgil did to give him something else to laugh about?

And his laugh!

Virgil was doomed.

"Come on, Virgin, get on with it!" Remus' voice snapped, bringing Virgil back to reality. He narrowed his eyes and moved his character forward.

"I'm coming, chill out."

"Oh, I'm chilled, baby! You're the one who's too chicken-shit to go through the maze."

Virgil narrowed his eyes. "Bite me, I'm not scared." His character entered a doorway and the screen went black, loading the next room. In the TV's dark reflection he could see Patton sitting behind him, grin wide enough to split his face as he giggled at whatever video they were watching. Virgil couldn't help it; he leaned forward, trying to subtly watch his friend laugh without turning around.

So of course that was the perfect time for a jumpscare.

Virgil shrieked, throwing his controller to the ground and covering his face with his hands. He heard his character die on screen, he heard Remus and Janus mocking him for losing, he even heard Roman and Logan stick their heads out of the kitchen to see what on Earth all the noise was about. But of course, for Virgil, all of that faded into the background: the only thing he could focus on was Patton's screaming, squealing, adorable cackles.

"Virgihihihil! I'm so sorry-- I'm sohohorry-- are you okahahay?" he asked, desperate laughter falling out in between trying to check up on Virgil. "I'm sorry kiddo, I'm sohorry but-- that was so funny!" His giggles and guffaws made Virgil feel flustered, embarrassed by his outburst, but also ignited the competitive spirit in him.

He whipped around. "I'll show you some thing funny!"

And with that, Virgil dove in fingers first, latching onto Patton's stomach and squeezing before the other Side could blink. He heard Patton take one big gasp before his laughter exploded tenfold.

"Wahahahahait! Ahahahahaha!" He squealed, throwing his head back. Janus leaned to the side, clearly amused at Virgil's retaliation, and Remus laughed and pointed at Patton's demise. But neither of them mattered to Virgil. All he wanted was to hear Patton laugh.

"What's wrong, Pat? What's so funny now?" he taunted, moving his hands rapidly between tazing his tummy and his sides, crawling down to squeeze at his hips and thighs, or fluttering so quickly agsint his neck and chin the other Side couldn't even block him. Patton screamed again, wiggling wildly and flapping his hands around in a desperate attempt to block Virgil's access to his tickle spots, but he made no real motions to stop him.

"You-- you're-- Virgil!" he squealed. "Whyhyhyhy--!"

Virgil slowed his hands just enough to let Patton breathe. "'Cause you laughed at me!"

Patton panted. His face was now a bright pink, and his eyes sparkled with mischievous delight. "No, not you, I was-- laughing at a video!"

"Oh, really?" Janus interjected. "What was the punchline then, Patton?"

Patton could only giggle in response. He wormed his way back against the couch cushions, but Virgil kneeling on the floor in front of him easily kept him boxed in. "Um-- um-- it was--"

Remus made a loud buzzer noise. "Too slow, Patty-cakes! Janny, wanna be player 2? I think Tickle me Emo's gotta take care of a dirty liar."

"Noooooo," Patton whined. He grabbed Janus' wrist. "Janus, save mehehe!"

Janus looked down on his, face unamused but eyes clearly playful. "No, I think Virgil's correct. He'll need a lot more laughter out of you before he's done, isn't that right?"

Virgil smirked up at Patton. "That's exactly right, Jay." He drummed his fingers against Patton's tummy, making him giggle nervously. "And I've been waiting to do this all day."

Patton's eyebrows raised. "Wait, you have? What-- ahahahahaha!"

And with that, he was off again, cackling with nothing but pure joy as Virgil vibrated his fingers into his tummy over and over and over again. Yeah, he'll tell him the full story later. For now, he just wants to hear Patton's perfect laughter, all night long.

[halogalopaghost]

OKAY NOW IM GONNA TALK ABOUT SPOILERS FOR THE HELLBOY THE CROOKED MAN MOVIE

FIRST OF ALL, WHEN HB SHOT THE CROOKED MAN IN THE HEAD AND THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION OF COINS?? I LITERALLY GASPED. I WAS STIMMING SO HARD DURING THE WHOLE END SCENE WITH THE CROOKED MAN.

LIIIIITERALLY HELLBOY SAID GET FUCKED AS HE ROLLED THIS GUY DOWN MULTIPLE FLIGHTS OF STAIRS. AAAHAHAH I WAS LAUGHING SO HARD

And this movie UNDERSTOOD HELLBOY FUNDAMENTALLY. Like, with the Crooked Man giving him prophecies of doom at the end?? I literally cheered for that, that's the kind of cryptic shit my boy gets after every big bad fight. And and! When he grabbed the shovel and said "that'll work" GAWD. And when he called the Crooked Man a howdy doody fuck!! That would have admittedly had a little more punch if he hadn't already said fuck like five times but meh

but the big one!! the big one was when he heard a baby sobbing its guts out, knew that it was a trap and there was likely no baby, and went in there anyway! oh my gosh! the way they understand that he will run into a burning building to save a baby that isn't there! and the way he walks off those wounds! oh mgoysh!! Yall have no idea how fast im typing right now. Character who feels the pain of mortal injuries but cannot die by one fuck me UPPPPP. The way he just walks it off and says "it won't kill me" not "it doesnt hurt" or "this doesnt suck" just "it won't kill me" baby boy I undersTAAAAAND. AA!!

At first I wasn't really sure I was on board with the talking about his mom thing,, we don't see a lot of him discussing his mother in the comics! From what I recall he kinda finds out about his mom's story, goes "wow that's pretty fucked up" and then moves on, we don't really hear him say much of it. And with the knowledge that this is a younger Hellboy too! It's the 50s, he's only like. Fuck, he's like 20 at the MOST I think?

The way they go on with the scenes with his mother and the "I hated ME! I hated MYSELF!" and transferring that hate to her...Mignola has been known to use moments like this (the ability to retcon an earlier decision he made when he didn't know what the consequences of it wouold be for the larger canon) to reframe or restate a point he made when he was establishing Hellboy's larger story early on. That's very much what this felt like to me, this felt like it came from Mignola's hand to say "hey, wouldn't it just be a little fucked up if this is how he felt?" and yeah. he's right. The way it gets hellboy to put his gun to his own chin. yeah. he's right. And we know that wouldn't have killed him but that's not the point, is it? It's the knowledge that he's really internalized that much about his being a monster and that the crooked man would have gotten one over on him. It was the mindgames, that was the point. When he grabs the kid after and ruffles his hair like,, yeah you're real alright. God. Way to remind me that this very fucked up looking indestructible guy is so very soft and human inside.

also when he ate the fucking cigarette butt that was so funny. that was so fucking hilarious can we PLEASE acknowledge that. I'm incorporating Hellboy "eats cigarette butts so the pigeons dont have to" Bruttenholm into my worldview posthaste.

I honestly even really liked the character of Bobbie Joe!! I started to roll my eyes a little bit when they hinted at a romance plotline and fully was dreading the cringy "now we have to kiss" scene at the end, but it happily never came!!!! It was left sort-of-ambiguous in a really kinda sweet way. And again, when we remember that this is a 20 year old hellboy, it comes across differently. This is a kid with a crush essentially and it's so well handled. She seems like an amalgamation of several BPRD characters and again, is very well done. I love how several times she goes "this isn't real/this isnt how this works/this isn't happening" and the people around her who are more willing to believe in the paranormal just go no,,pretty sure it's happening. (That's not binding!! ehh, it's pretty binding?? I laughed so hard please)

Anyway I'm gonna be insane about this forever and ever <3

[the-rat-woman]

thoughts about saw (2004)

8.5/10

i rly rly liked this movie! honestly before this i hadnt really seen any horror movies at all. not a big fan of being scared honestly,, but this one was so great! its great for me because even thouhg its a horror film its not really a “scary film”, like it wasnt meant to make me feel scared rather than focusing on the characters being scared. thats what i think anyway. it was super morbidly fascinating (my fav kind of fascinating!!). i dont rly like specifically live action bloody violence n stuff (im fine with the illustrated/animated kind) but this film i think had a great balance of it. most of the nastiest stuff like the sawing scene and the shotgun trap was offscreen which i appreciate. i thought the guts in the reverse beartrap scene looked pretty funny though. that scene though was so ffgsgshdhsgsgahe. u know what i mean. hurts my face just to think about it. wait was that girl the amanda character i’ve heard about or is that a different amanda. anyway. the characters were great too! not the biggest fan of larry he cheated on his wife boo thats bad but i still felt emotions over him. adam i dont even know why he was in there. but i felt so bad over him. during that scene at the end where he was pulling at larry and sobbing and crying and begging him “dont leave me here” i did cry. those police officers too i was sad when he went to the one that got his throat cut and held him for a moment. when he went away to catch the guy i was thinking “nooo hes bleeding out dont leave him what if he dies alone” he survived anyway but still that was sad for a moment. the ending too i loved the twist! i wasnt paying full attention so i did have to google an explanation but once i understood it i was like woah! thats so cool and clever and i love this movie!!!! yay!!!!! the Torment Mechanism!!!!!!! lets break all our bones!!!!!!!!!! nobody is gonna wanna read this ugly ass text wall of a post but eh. gotta get it out of my skull or else itll be rattling around in there all night

tldr middle aged men doomed yuri (or however old they are) and blood violence death hurray!!!

[youhideastar]

Deastar’s 5 Most Re-Read Fics of Last Year

My New Year’s resolution was to rec more, so I’m starting with my 5 most re-read fics of the past year!

1 and 2: Blooded Crown and Misethere by Astolat (The Witcher)

Look, I don’t even go here. I’m not even in this fandom. I first read these before the TV show had come out, and let me tell you, it made said TV show very disappointing. But I have re-read these two fics (they’re not related to each other but they’re similar enough that I’ve grouped them together) probably 10 times each over the years. I absolutely fucking love their twisty-ass plots. I love the “what if Wolverine and Machiavelli fell in love” takes on the characters. I love the combination of humor and deadly serious political shit going down. I have a problem and it’s that I can’t stop reading these fics and probably never will.

3: i’ll be your girl by plonk (The Untamed/MDZS, ~30K)

This fic is everything. It’s funny. It will make your heart sore and tender. It has smoking hot sex scene after smoking hot sex scene. It’s pining while fucking (top three trope for me!). It has the absolute most ridiculous premise, and then executes it beyond your wildest dreams, never losing sight of how ridiculous it is. Said premise: Wei Ying seduces Lan Zhan, who he thinks is straight, while dressed up as Britney Spears for Halloween. They continue to hook up, with Wei Ying in a series of themed seasonal drag outfits, while Wei Ying falls in doomed love with a straight guy (or so he thinks), and Lan Zhan tries to figure out what the hell is going on but is too gone on Wei Ying to stop. My all-time comfort object fic.

4: All Old Things Are New Again by The Feels Whale (miscellea) (@thefeelswhale) (The Untamed/MDZS, ~52K)

This fic is WAY too long to be a habitual re-read, but that never stops me. “Full-time necromancer and part-time cam boy, Wei Wuxian, finds himself unexpectedly homeless. An enthusiastic patron comes to his rescue. Conversely: Immortal Cultivator Lan Wangji has been waiting a long time for his deceased husband to be reincarnated again. In retrospect, he should have anticipated that this is how it would go.” It is SO satisfying to watch Wei Wuxian slowly lower his (very reasonably raised!) guard and let Lan Wangji take care of him; in many fics, that trope ends up stripping away Wei Wuxian’s inherent badassery, but not here: this Wei Wuxian is so smart and capable and tough as nails, oooh, I like him so much!!! And it does not hurt that the numerous, exquisite sex scenes feature a delightful blend of (a) my favorite all-time kinks and (b) stuff that is not on my usual menu but that magically rocks my world as applied to these characters in this story.

5. This Tornado Loves You by FeelsForBreakfast (@rabbitcrimes) (The Untamed/MDZS, ~9K)

Want to get way, way up close with Lan Zhan’s brain while he realizes that his ferality about Wei Ying does, in fact, go up to eleven? This is the fic for you. I can’t do better than the author’s own summary: “Hanguang-jun is dating a mild mannered, non-cultivator named Wei Wuxian. The Yiling Laozu rolls up to a nighthunt on a motorbike, no relation at all to the previous statement.” This author’s Lan Zhan/Lan Wangji voice is so fucking good, it makes me mad. And SO FUNNY – I have read these jokes probably a dozen times and they STILL make me laugh out loud. The awesome modern cultivation worldbuilding is so casually done that you sleep on how good it is. Finally, this fic is tagged “you will say ‘Yiling Laozu hot’ or your money back,” and let me tell you: you are NOT getting your money back.

[h-didanart]

How do you feel about TSAMS ships? All the way from Earth x Monty (canon/generally liked ships) to Sun x Bloodmoon (not canon/rare or generally not liked ships)?

Don't ask how I know Sun x Bloodmoon exists btw

Ooh, SAMS ships eh? I’m gonna list all the ones I know about, if I miss one you’re curious about just let me know, k?

Again, I will list the ones I know about.

(This is gonna reveal my lurking habits on ao3 god fuc—)

Mearth, Monty X Earth - cute, I like the dynamic they have.

KidsCove, Foxy X Sun - I like this one. I do. I understand the vas are sick of the jokes tho, bit ironic considering they’re still dragging the jokes around, but oh well. It could be cute to see develop, and lead to improvement to both characters general health. At least I’d like to think it would

GlitterGolf, Monty X Sun - in SAMS? No. Monty is a jerk towards Sun, I don’t like it when Monty is too rude to him. Generally hate that type of thing anyways. In canon Security Breach however…… Ye :3 Is my otp.

Lumini, Lunar X Gemini - I feel neutral. It’d be cool if it happened, but after all these three have gone through it probably won’t. And I’m fine with that

EclipseXSun - I think this is the most popular one. I don’t know how to feel about it. On one hand, there’s canon, and canon says Eclipse is and always was horrible to Sun, and that makes it an immediate no. I like my ships healthy. But then comes in Eclipse Redemption stories, and I suppose it’d kinda make sense in those? I don’t know man

BloodySun, BM X Sun - iiiii don’t knooooooow. See, BM has done a lot of shit, they’ve traumatized the family so much. Sun hates them. It would never work out. But then there’s this one fic, this one, where Sun finds Original crying in the vents over his twin, and he helps them. And— and— and it’s a BloodySun fic, and it establishes character parallels so well, it shows their feelings so well, it makes it make sense! I- I don’t KNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW

SolarMoon- ……………. I’m scared of saying anything about this, I don’t want to get death threats

MechShark, Solar X Ruin- YEEEEEEEAHHH CANON CANNOT HURT ME WHERE IM GOING— uh— ahem— I like it. I cannot explain why but I’ve shipped them since Ruin started messing with the arcade machines. I like to see people still shipping it even through the doomed angle, there’s just something about this that makes it click, y’know. I myself have an au where MechShark is somewhat canon, it’s one sided and stays one sided, with Solar telling Ruin he’s aro when it confesses, and then they stay friends. Because I don’t care if they’re lovers or friends, I just like the idea of them being buds.

Eclipse trio, Eclipse X Solar X Ruin- this is actually kinda funny? I don’t know, this feels like a crackship, no offense to anyone, that’s just the vibes I’m getting. Don’t feel in any particular way about this one

Earth X Nebula- interesting, I guess. We haven’t really seen much of Nebula and I can’t really build a concrete profile for her from what we know, but I guess it’d be cool?

KillCode X Sun- I don’t like the sound of this one. KillCode caused (and helped cause) Sun a lot of trauma, it just wouldn’t feel right. That said, there is a fic that has this ship and develops it in a healthy way, and that one I like.

PumpkinGuts- next question

KillCode X SolarFlare- I can see it, kinda. Don’t hate it, but also don’t love it

Eclipse X Moon- no. I don’t care what you say about enemies to lovers, this one just doesn’t vibe with me.

GolfDrop, Monty X Moon- ehh, no. Don’t really like it, can’t see Moon wanting a relationship with them (or in general), they’re both fine as friends. I don’t even ship this in Security Breach

Forkface X Ruined Monty- I am saddened I didn’t see the content of them before the death, I wanted to experience this, I wanted to see them :(

Soppet, Solar X Puppet- sure? Don’t think much about this one

ShadowPlanet, Earth X Eclipse- I don’t really like it. I don’t like how fast it turned into a thing. I can see the appeal and what dynamic they could have, but I just don’t like this one

Solar X Sun- interesting pairing. Don’t particularly like it. I just feel like Solar’s trauma would likely get in the way. They both weren’t very close anyways, which is a real shame I would’ve loved to see them be at least friends.

Lunar X Helpy- Ehhhh? Don’t feel anything about this one :P

And that’s all I could think about and remember.

No hate to anyone who ships these, these are just my opinions, and opinions are subjective. Let’s all just have fun with these characters, yeah?

Man

AO3 scares me

[chaoticdelinqueerwithglitter]

Let me tell you now, you're the lucky one

(Enemies to Enemies Who Fuck)

(HaruKaku in Bonten timeline)

(some past-MuSan and past-KakuIza with a subtle RanOmi bc why not, it's my fic and I don't have self-restrain when it comes to multishipping)

(link to ao3 in case some one preferes to read it there)

Warnings: Dead Dove: Do Not Eat!

All of them. Bonten is their own warning. Substance abuse. Really unhealthy coping mechanisms. Depression. Mental health problems. Suicide. Major character death. (it's Bonten, they all want to kill themselves and some of them succeed, okay?) Mentions of unsafe sex, but there is no smut or graphic depiction of it.

I tried to not be too graphic with any of this topics, the focus is mostly on what the characters are thinking/feeling. But it's hard anyway, tbh the last scene was actually difficult and painful for me to write. So please, don't take the CW lightly and prioritize your mental health!

Angst and Hurt/No Comfort.

MANGA SPOILERS!!!!

Notes: HaruKaku came as an hilarious idea. Because they are hilarious, let's be real. Soulmates archnemesis, doomed to hate each other in every timeline. But then Bonten happened and of course, I ended up writing some angsty shit instead of focusing in all the other moments when they are hilarious. Kudos for me, yey! 🥲

This is canon complicit (again, is Bonten, beware!)

It alternates from Kakucho's POV to Sanzu's POV. I did that thing again of using "Haruchiyo" when he's in his most vulnerable state because for some reason I like playing with his name like this.

(English is not my first language, be nice please 🙈)

(the art is from @just-sp-in-inginthevoid who is in part responsible for the archnemesis brain riot, but mostly the hilarious part, tbh)

Is not that Kakucho enjoys Sanzu's company. Or that the pinkette gradually started to grow on him. Quite the opposite, to be honest. He hates him a little bit more every day, every shared mission, every time they had to spent hours together.

But with Sanzu, he feels. He feels intensely, he feels with passion. Even if it's twisted, at least he's not empty anymore. The void that threatens to devour him seems to disappear when he's around the other man. Sometimes, Kakucho wants to murder him, but he knows he can't. Others, he wonders what would happen to him if he also loses the only person that it's still able to provoke an intense emotion on him.

Hate is better than apathy, isn't it?

They hate each other passionately. Sanzu finds his reactions too funny for stopping it, always willing to go a little further, to push Kakucho to the edge. It's too easy to pick on him, making him forget about his allegedly righteous patience.

It's disgusting, how Kakucho thinks of himself like he was better than the rest of them. So Sanzu enjoys to proves him wrong, to show him that they are the same (even if he can't stand that fact either, seeing that burning rage in those heterochromatic eyes makes it worth it).

Now that he thinks about it, it was probably a matter of time, considering that his king denied them the right to kill each other, they needed to find a way of releasing all that build up anger. That's probably why isn't that surprising when it finally happens.

It looked like a regular night. Sanzu was high as a kite, trying to forget every one of his lives. Kakucho just seemed to be there, he can't recall exactly why, some type of report, but he didn't pay any attention to it at the moment, too intoxicated for actually caring for something that could wait until tomorrow.

“Why are you still here? You like me that much or what?”

The pinkette man says, slurring his words.

“Are you that high? You know I hate you.”

Is the harsh answer that he earns. It's brutal, but real. Kakucho's honesty has something that grounds him to the present. It's sickening. It's exactly what he wants right now.

“I hate you too, don't worry.” He laughs, finding his own words amusing. “Think about it, me and you. Just us, hating each other all night long.”

“You're crazy.”

“And you didn't say no.”

(If he was more honest with himself, he would admit that he was trying to find another way of punishing his broken mind and his body. But he's not.)

And oh, it actually feels good. Kakucho fucks him with the same brutality that talks to him. He couldn't bear any type of gentle touch (specially not from someone that it's so linked to Mucho, but he isn't thinking in that, he promised himself to forget his old captain a long time ago).

There isn't any type of care between them, only spite. Both men are too broken for having the ability to love someone again. Indeed, this was precisely what he needed. This is perfect.

The next day, Kakucho feels nauseated. How couldn't he? Sanzu was high as fuck, too intoxicated to give proper consent to do anything. So even if he was also a little drunk, even if it wasn't his idea, Kakucho feels guilty for what happened.

Until Sanzu just laughs at his poorly attempt of apologizing, mocking his morals once more. He was about to punch him in the face, but the lingering guilt doesn't allow him to do it. Not that one more bruise would make a difference, actually.

Both are covered in so many marks that more than sex, it looks like they tried to kill each other. Yeah, maybe he should stop feeling sorry for Sanzu, considering this. Maybe that was the best way to get rid of that not-so-pent-up hate.

And it works. At least for a while, it works. Until it happens again. And again.

Is not that they are lovers (Kakucho wants to puke with that idea). They just fuck from time to time. That's all. They hate each other, they wish they could kill the other. But they can't. So, sometimes, they fuck.

Their relationship is not pretty. At all. Or better. If Kakucho had to use only one word for describing it, he would say “real”. They don't lie to each other, what would be the point? Both are too able of seeing between the lies, they are too similar in so many ways. But that raw honesty only makes it worse.

Kakucho knows it's a mistake, that he shouldn't care about Sanzu's fate (he brought it on himself and he doesn't seem to have any complains). But Mikey is worse every day, the king is falling and his loyal dog is falling with him. Kakucho needs to do something, because the uneasiness he feels every time he sees them is now living rent-free in his mind.

That's why, one day, Kakucho tries. He's trying to find his clothes, dressing quickly, wanting to get out of this room that only makes him feel sick. Then, he looks at Sanzu, his pink hair scattered on the pillows, a lazy and satisfied smile than only appears after sex (and never lasts). There is some twisted vulnerability in how content the other man is while lighting up a joint, as if seeing these new swelling (all this pain) on his skin was something he wanted.

(Kakucho can't shake the feeling that Sanzu is using him as another way of hurting himself and that infuriates him so fucking much... Maybe that's the real reason why he decides against his best judgment and opens his big mouth.)

“Is not worth it.”

“Uh?”

Sanzu looks at the other, not sure if he actually heard something. He just wants to smoke and relax, to feel the post-orgasmic satisfaction while it lasts, to enjoy the pain in his body (one more of his little punishments).

“I said is not worth it. Dying with Mikey.”

If it had been anyone else, Sanzu would shoot him in the face just for saying this. Thinking like that, talking like that about his king is treason. It should be. But it's difficult to pretend Kakucho's isn't right about this when, unfortunately, it's the only one Sanzu trusts with Mikey's well-being (It's the one he calls every time Mikey is being suicidal again).

“You wish you could be me, you wish you had died with Izana.”

Sanzu spits his words, burning with all the rage he feels every time he has to acknowledge the reality of how is Mikey.

“That's not what this is about-”

Kakucho is unable to finish his sentence, turning pale in anger when Sanzu cuts him. 'Good'.

“You're a selfish bastard, aren't you? You want me to be like you, stuck here with no purpose, jerking yourself with the memory of a ghost. Pretend it's because of your high morals, that you're worried about me or some other bullshit. But you're just another selfish bastard. And you envy me.”

If it had been anyone else, Sanzu would shoot him in the face. But he can't (he wants to, oh, he wants it so much, but he can't disobey Mikey's orders). So, instead of bullets, he uses his words.

“At least Izana cared about me.”

Is the last thing he hears before Kakucho slams the door. Sanzu laughs maniacally, throwing the first shit he can find to the place the other man was a few seconds a go. He's momentary satisfaction long forgotten, replaced only by hate (and pain, but one that he refuses to see).

The worst part is that in a sickening way, he trusts Kakucho. They don't lie to each other, that makes it so much worse, because both of them know that what the other said is true. He hates him, he hates him with every fiber of his body. He doesn't want this words to be true, he can't accept that. He needs to keep living in this denial, to pretend Mikey is fine (to pretend he doesn't keep mixing this Mikey with that in his nightmares, to pretend they don't look so alike).

It's been three days. Three whole days since Mikey's death was splattered on the news (no one seems to care about Takemichi's death, even with all that footage of how the hero tried to save the most dangerous man in Japan). Kakucho cares, but he knows damn well that he wouldn't be welcomed within the hero's friends, so he would have to say goodbye in his own way (again).

During this days, Kakucho learned some things, like the fact that apparently everyone had some kind of contingency plan in case this happened (no, for when this happened, all of them could see that Mikey was more on the edge every day). But nobody spoke to him about it, keeping him in the darkness, the only idiot that didn't prepare himself for the end. Well, not the only, he knows that, of course he knows that.

(Sanzu would have killed them in the blink of an eye. Anyone who dared to imply that Bonten needed to be prepared to function without a king.)

Kakucho understands the need for secrets, of course he does. The idea of Mikey falling would be considered treason a few days ago, it was taboo to think like that. At the same time, none of them wanted to acknowledge it, like saying it out loud would make it more real. He can't even be mad when the Haitanis (obviously) thought about him on their own schemes, making sure Kakucho was also safe. Or as safe as any of them could be now that Bonten was crumbleling.

It's been three days. Bonten is crumbleling. Mikey is dead. And Sanzu disappeared the same day. Everyone knows he's dead, but they don't say it. Not in front of Takeomi, who's still desperately looking, going out in the rain for hours. Trying to find something, some clue that leads him to his little brother. Clinging to the hope that he's still alive somewhere. That he's going to find him, high as fuck, but alive (Kakucho thinks being able to find Sanzu's body at all would already be a miracle).

Only Ran is able to convince Takeomi to rest a little bit, promising that he and Rindou will help with the search as long as the older man gets a few hours of sleep. Takeomi just nods, mumbling “Today is his birthday, Ran. Is his fucking birthday and he's out there alone.” while Ran drags him softly, a concerned look plastered in those violet eyes.

Kakucho hates it, hates having to see all this sorrow around him (again). He doesn't lament the loss of Mikey and Sanzu, he's incapable of doing it. Grief took his heart for hostage a long time ago, there is nothing more for him to mourn.

More than anything, Kakucho hates himself, because he's jealous of Sanzu. He knows he shouldn't, but he hates that the pinkette man was right about him. He envies Sanzu, who had the privilege of dying with Mikey, of dying with his king.

Kakucho hates the Mad Dog even more right now. But he's aware that once this hate fades away, he would feel empty again. So he clings onto this feeling, he needs this rage as a motor to keep moving.

It doesn't matter if this energy is fulled with rage, he needs it. He can't fail his friends, what's left of his family. Kakucho has to keep living even if he can't remember how being alive felt anymore. Even if he's more dead inside every day.

So, over and over... Kakucho would keep living.

The rain keeps pouring down without truce, Haruchiyo shrinks inside the leather jacket that was always too big for him. Now the only thing that makes him feel protected from that annoying rain (from the world). To be honest, he isn't completely aware how he managed to recover it from his penthouse, but it seemed important in that moment.

The jacket and the old picture that he's still clutching in his pocket, the only two things he cared enough to take. He doesn't even need to look at it to see the four happy smiles stained with watermelon juice. Two pink haired kids that could be confused by twins, one with a shy smile, the other with a cheerful one, happy to be included with his brother friends. Next, a fierce smile showing two small fangs, already a force of nature at his young age. In the middle, a blond kid with the most radiant smile Haruchiyo ever saw, capable of making everything shine just with his presence. Full of life, of dreams. Full of potential. Brighter than the sun, a true leader.

But that was a long time ago and, once again, Sanzu is the only one who remembers. The man staggering in the rain is now the only survivor from that photo. Only him, alone in this fuck up world where nothing and no one matters anymore. Not without Mikey. Even Bonten can burn from what he cares.

He keeps walking (it feels more like floating for him, floating in a cloud of pain and numbness at the same time). Until he finally reaches his destination, an abandoned bowling alley. Sanzu enters in some kind of trance, not sure if he's dissociating or too intoxicated. He doesn't care.

He sits down exactly in the same place his king sat down. How many days had passed since that moment? One? Two? Ages. It certainly feels like ages for him. Haruchiyo hugs himself, trying to make space for his legs inside the big comforting jacket. Completely curled up. And he cries, he cries like he hasn't allowed himself to do so in the last ten years.

He's starting to sober up, he can feel it. Because the flashbacks are coming back. Shinichiro jumping from that bridge. Mikey jumping from this exact building. Mikey falling from the stairs, that awful “clonk”. Mikey jumping again from this building.

Haruchiyo screams, holding his head with both hands, begging the images to stop, unable to continue reliving those memories. He needs everything to stop, to be quiet, his shattered mind can't take it anymore.

He takes out a small box from his pocket, looking at the content. Everything he needs is here, he knows how to do it, how to make sure he's not going to wake up from this trip. His stupid hands are shaking while he gets the syringe ready.

For some reason, he suddenly remembers Kakucho's words a few months ago. He hates it, he hates thinking in that fucker when he's about to die. But the other man was right, wasn't he? Mikey never cared about Sanzu, he spent years of his life trying to keep his king alive and it was all for nothing. Everything blew up in one night.

A manic laugh escapes between his whimpers. Of course is that, he's fucking jealous. Sanzu is fucking jealous because at least Kakucho got to held Izana's hand when he died, he got to comfort his king in his last moments. Sanzu didn't had that, Hanagaki was the one holding Mikey's hand. Always that cockroach, never him.

What did he expect anyway? Haruchiyo is just a failure. He never deserved to be the one making his king last moments less painful. Of course, he should had known. He failed everyone. He failed Shinichiro, unable to protect Mikey, to be the friend he promised he would be. He failed Mikey, watching him falling into the darkness, becoming the same empty shell he already saw in a past that never happened, and doing nothing about it.

Sanzu doesn't have anything left. He also killed his own chance of happiness a long time ago (he also failed his captain, didn't he?). The only thing left for him is to disappear, to follow his king. He's going with him, because he's being following Mikey for so long, that he doesn't see any other choice. He's going with him, because he doesn't deserve to keep living when he couldn't save Mikey.

But it's fine, the drug is already kicking in, his body feels more relaxed. Even his mind seems to be quiet, almost in peace. He looks at the old photo one last time, before drifting out of consciousness, looking for safety in the inner part of the leather, pretending it smells like cheesecake.

It's fine, because at the end of the day... Haruchiyo was just a failure.

[celestialspiritbabe]

Fairy Tail 100 Years Quest episode 16: thoughts + opinions

Tired Touka

look at Makarov's pose lol

how does Juvia manage to look so beautiful even when she's knocked out cold??

it's still so funny to me that Cana got super drunk to the point of passing out and then just went along with everyone who was under the White Mage/Faris' control lmao

how the fuck was Faris able to drag out both Jellal and Max without getting herself a hernia? I KNOW I WOULD'VE CERTAINLY GOTTEN ONE IF I WERE IN HER SHOES AND DIDN'T HAVE FLOATING MAGIC AT MY DISPOSAL!

I love how she just gets progressively more upset the heavier members of Fairy Tail get when she attempts to drag them out

I might hate her guts for all the shitstorm she's caused so far, but Faris was actually smart for utilizing her magic and making Elfman carry both Laxus and Nab

I love Natsu using his big bro's curse as a way to take down one of Aldoron's God Seeds, with that being an actually smart move from him for once! also, him calling Zeref his big brother is so sweet and wholesome🥹🥹🥹

these two 💙 // eeek, I'm so hyped up for the next episode (my fellow Gruvia and Jerza shippers, iykyk!)

cannot wait for Jellal and Erza's conversation about what happened between them when he was under the White Mage's control lmao

''Who could've done this?'' // WELL GUESS WHAT JELLAL? THE GUY RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU DID THIS TO THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE! (albeit under the White Mage's control, but still lol)

Jellal, sweetie, I'm pretty sure being restrained is child's play compared to what Laxus had to endure in his fight against Erza

well, God Seed Aldoron sure is one ugly-looking motherfucker

oof, Natsu looks so hot here❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

why does blood in Fairy Tail always look more like chocolate than real blood?

GODDAMMIT, THIS WAS SUCH A MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR GRAY AND JUVIA TO DO A UNISON RAID!

''Are you the one who hurt Erza?'' // well, looks like Jellal's getting ready to be a bad boy again, and for Erza only😏😏😏

THIS GOD SEED DOOM IS SUCH A GOOFY GOOBER

Cobra would be so proud of Kinana for using a similar type of magic to his! 💜

I really loved the fight between Doom and ''less important'' Fairy Tail members! Great to see them shine for once, instead of being useless background characters they unfortunately seem to be most of the time. 🙌🏻

Look, I really loved this episode, but please tell me I'm not the only who noticed Gajeel's voice sounding really off in this episode? I really, really hope they didn't axe David Wald (Gajeel's English VA) because he aired Crunchyroll's dirty laundry on Twitter a couple of weeks ago (tldr: they took care packages and fan letters addressed to voice actors and distributed them amongst the employees instead of giving them to VA's, and they also allegedly committed a federal crime by opening mail).

My fellow Gruvia and Jerza shippers, we should be well fed in the next episode, because Gray & Juvia vs. Metro and Jellal vs. Gears are both shaping up to be amazing fights + WE SHOULD GET SO MUCH GRUVIA AND JERZA CONTENT, SO I'M BEYOND PUMPED FOR IT!

[mybelovedintrepidheroes]

things I loved about dungeon meshi:

- the fact that there was very little sexualization of the women in the series. like yes they do be in the nude sometimes but to me it doesn't feel like the artist/writers are drooling and foaming at the mouth wanting to fuck those women idk how to explain sorry

- the fact that there were underpants shots but they were ONLY from Senshi which is pretty funny to me idk I love how they're poking fun at the fan service in most animes.

now don't get me wrong I'm a certified monster fucker I don't mind sexual shit what I DO mind if it's objectifying women that shit doesn't sit right with me and idk in other series I just get the vibe that the creators aren't as confident in their show so they try to get specifically men to watch that series to get horny to? idk what the fuck the deal is with that it just seems like the creators aren't confident that ppl will like the show without the fan service which is a travesty, let's be real. again, I don't mind sex and other stuff in movies/series what I DO mind is if the women aren't doing the shit they're doing on purpose. I h8 pants shots in anime with a burning passion cuz like it's ALWAYS a mistake like idk I think it'd be way more fun if the women actually did that shit on purpose or if the men reacted differently to the fan service bullshit you know?

- Izutsumi is my fave character hands down (I'm also partial to Laios but that was inevitable given the fact that Damien Haas voiced him and yes I did watch it in English sue me) I was really fond of the idea that the barrier/spell also applied to her beast side which was indeed cool as shit I loved that so so much also the fact that she clung to Marcille, there's not a straight way to see that I fear.

- I loved the ingenuity with the creatures, like mollusks inhabiting armor? sign me the fuck up that is fun as hell! insects that look like jewelry & coins? oh that spells certain doom for some ppl! MIMICS ARE ACTUALLY CRUSTACEANS INHABITING FUCKING TREASURE CHESTS!! THAT'S SO FUN! SUCH A COOL IDEA!

- also that body swap episode oh hell yeah!! it was quite fun that Izutsumi got turned into a dog girl (kobold yeah yeah I know) bc there was an uneven amount of ppl, a very fun way of going about it.

- everyone talked completely the same way they usually do EXCEPT FOR Senshi that was so fun, elf senshi my beloved it was incredibly funny to me. also like was it part of the change to have him have flowers float around his face? perhaps idc it was funny as hell.

- the fact that what's his face was happy that his grandpa turned to dust, we love to see it. they've lived so long it could've been easy to make them incredibly afraid of death and almost even resentful but instead he's just like "good for him he got the FUCK outta here"

- deeply liked Kobru I love me a good antagonist <3

- okay hear me out it was deeply understandable that Shiro got annoyed bc laois kept asking abt his home and honestly I'm pretty sure there were some hurtful questions that laois asked and I think it's okay to be mad at and put off by someone who keeps asking questions that amount to "do you do *insert racist stereotype* in your country?" and I get that but also it's super funny that laios kept cockblocking him

I guess the end

what I didn't like about dungeon meshi:

- that season 1 ended

- that idk when the next season will drop

- that the subtitles were unreadable when I tried to watch it subbed bc the color of the subs was the same as the background which isn't helpful at all. like in that opening sequence it would help to make the subs black or some other color so you can actually read wtf is going on.

thanks for reading this have a nice day