#why do they ruin most of people's hair to show that they have “grown up” XD

[tatakaeeren]

What did hawks do to his hair??? Omg 😭 they did him dirty like Gaara in Boruto.

He didn't do anything!!! he got kentuky fried chicken last season! 😭 he got burned real bad that's why his wings are still small and recovering, that's why he has some scars and his hair is shorter 😢 how poor baby bird didn't choose to look like this... buuuuuut... i think he would look great with a proper haircut... like hawks with an undercut?!?!? 😍

[strwberri-milk]

Hello can I request for Rafayel x Fem! reader head cannons (you may add the other guys if you think it applies). It’s sort of angsty but (imo) mainly funny. 

Rafayel is making his move, trying to show that he’s genuinely interested in the reader, but to his dismay she’s not getting it. The reader is pretty dense, so at the start she genuinely doesn’t get it. Later on, as Rafayel makes it a bit more obvious, and she picks up on it, but the is in denial. It could a be mix of insecurities, and not wanting to ruin the friendship, but she’d rather assume that he’s being friendly or that he’s just like that because they’ve grown closer as friends. So now the reader is in this weird state of being both dense and in denial while Rafayel is struggling. To top it all off, I think Rafayel would especially be frustrated when he does this nice bordering romantic gesture for the reader and all he gets as a reply is “oh, thanks dude!”

I hope this is all coherent. Thank you and have a nice day!

makes perfect sense!! i love. dense object of affection failing to see affection being given to them grr

Rafayel is rich, famous, and not to mention drop dead gorgeous. He's constantly surrounded by upper society and you just somehow became lucky enough to meet him during a chance encounter and now. somehow, he considers you his closest friend. Any of those things on their own would intimidate you greatly but the fact that he has all of them together makes it hard for you to believe he'll look at you as anything other than his friend.

Rafayel however looks at you and sees the life he wishes to have more than anything. He just wants quiet afternoons with you, to ramble out whatever thoughts he has in his mind, cook and take care of you. At first he was under the impression that his feelings were subtle. He thinks he's a good actor and for the most part he is very good at concealing his feelings but when you don't respond to anything romantic that he does he first thinks he wasn't obvious enough and ups the ante. This makes him become even more obvious to everybody around the two of you except for you for whatever reason.

It's gotten bad enough that he tried to surprise you with the works. Flowers, your favourite treats, some other trinkets that made him think of you all wrapped up in a pretty basket sitting on your doorstep when you came home and yet all he got in response was a string of emojis and a very platonic thank you. He's doing his best not to rip out his hair at how dense you are, finally realising that if he doesn't tell you straight up you'll never recognise his feelings for you.

You on the other hand had noticed that he was getting more romantic with you. You'd begun observing the things he does around other people versus you, knowing that he treats you differently than others by a great margin but also refusing to attribute such behaviours with a romantic intention. After all, why would he pick you out of literally anybody in the world that he could have?

You two are spending the evening together as per usual, Rafayel insisting you come over for dinner because he's received an exceptionally fresh batch of fish tonight and you absolutely have to try some. Conversation flows easily over the sound of your cutlery against the glass and you can't help but notice the soft look in Rafayel's eyes. It's as though he's dropped all his walls just for you in this moment, cheek resting against his palm as he listens to you speak.

"You really don't know how I feel about you?"

Your eyes widen as he speaks for the first time in a while. You were going on and on about something and he was more than happy to just listen to you do so, sitting back in his chair as he crosses his arms. You decide to play more dumb, biting back the doubt in your mind that he actually means what you hope he does.

"I don't know what you're talking about," you laugh, taking another bite of the food.

"Do you really think I'd do all of this for just anybody?" he asks with a chuckle, gesturing to the table.

"I - I mean we're close friends, aren't we? That's what I thought this was," you stutter, averting his gaze.

"We've been close for a while and you told me yourself I'm your best friend. You keep people at an arm's length and you just seem so lonely I don't want to even think about anything that could ruin our friendship."

You ramble a little, Rafayel carefully considering your words as you continue give him excuse after excuse as to why he wouldn't return your feelings for him.

It doesn't take him long to get fed up, scoffing a little as he comes around the table to stand beside you. He slips his arms around your shoulders, sighing happily as he nuzzles his face into your neck.

"You're really dense, did you know that?" he says against your skin, looking up at you.

"I do so much for you and you still don't know how I feel about you," he whines a little, resting his hands on your shoulders.

"I just didn't want to get ahead of myself," you finally admit, mind spinning from how close he is to you right now.

"Well, you aren't getting ahead of yourself at all. If it takes you even more to finally believe me then I guess I can keep going."

Despite the supposed annoyance in his voice you can tell by the way he slumps against you that he's glad the two of you are finally on the same page. You can't help but press up against him closer, putting a hand on one of his and rolling your eyes playfully at his dramatics.

[thatfreshi]

Little Stars and Such (Astarion x Reader)

It's here, the piercing fic, in which body-modded Tav gives Astarion hella piercings. I made a previous post with his piercing map in case you guys don't know the terms (I basically didn't until yesterday)

Tw - needles, implied sex

Recommended Song: Gregg's Woods - Alec Holowka

For the past couple of days, Astarion has been asking quite a few questions about your piercings. You had adorned your nose and face in tiny pieces of metal, all done by hand. Your little collection has grown over time, most recently with an eyebrow piercing once you settled down in Baldur's Gate once again.

"Do they hurt?"

"Like, when you pierce them? Yeah. You get used to it though. Surprised you don't have any honestly, elves are known for having the most elaborate piercings."

He stays silent for a moment, and you realize he wouldn't know that.

"Wasn't exactly a thing Cazador just let us do. Body modifications were mostly limited to demonic scars and being cut up for fun."

"Right... sorry."

"Don't be."

The conversation ended pretty abruptly, but picked up the next day while you were swapping out your nose ring.

"Do you ever get scared that your little ring will get caught on something and rip out of your nose?"

A sudden question, but a welcome one.

"I mean, sometimes, but not many people are that close to my nose. Unless you're planning on ripping out my piercing?"

You eye him suspiciously and he smirks.

"Oh, I would never."

This goes on for days, little prodding questions about all your accessories. One morning, while the two of you are lying in bed, you catch him staring at the helix on your ear.

"Astarion do you... do you want a piercing? Because I can do them. I mean I did these to myself."

"I've been thinking about it. I'm just a little nervous is all."

"Why my love?"

"I mean, I've never really had the freedom to do what I want with my body, in a lot of ways. That's one of those things I never got to explore, all the body modifications people are oh so familiar with. I suppose I could've done one with an embroidery needle if I was desperate, but that's just not something I had the liberty to think about."

You move a strand of hair out of his eyes.

"Well, you have the freedom to do whatever you want now."

"Then perhaps I'd like a couple."

"A couple? You don't wanna start with one?"

"Nonsense! One would be sad and pathetic, and we know I am a man of extravagance."

"Alright, if you insist."

You then grab a notebook sitting on the bedside table, and begin to draw out a plan for his piercings. Astarion insists that he only wants them on his ears, because he doesn't want anything to ruin his perfect face. As you're sketching, you continue to talk.

"You know this is gonna suck, right? Since your ears are so sensitive?"

"Sensitive? What makes you say that."

You blankly stare at him until he gives up.

"Okay fine, but I'm sure it can't be that bad!"

"I don't know. I mean I'm going to stab multiple holes through your ears. You barely like them being touched."

"I've been through enough pain. Nothing compares to jagged cuts in your back, I promise."

There are many moments like that, where he says something tragic that you just can't bring yourself to argue with. Without another word, he curls up against you, and the two of you discuss the options he has. Eventually, you settle on five on each side, because he INSISTED they be symmetrical.

"Tav, what kind of idiot would I look like if I had one ear with a bunch of shit on it, and one just, empty?"

"I guess you're not wrong."

He decides on two helixes, two lobe piercings, and a daith. You're a little surprised that he's going all out on this, but you don't mind. Everyone has that thing that lets them feel free, the thing they finally do to show the world 'I'm my own person.' Besides, if he didn't like them he could simply let them heal back up, forget this ever happened.

You go to grab your little makeshift piercing kit, full of fine needles you've collected over time, just in case you ever lose some.

"Now, you'll have to wear some of mine since you don't have your own earrings yet, but I'm sure you won't mind because my collection is amazing."

He sits up in bed, his shirt sleeve softly draping off his shoulder. If he could still be in the sun, you'd imagine a beam of light coming through the window right now, illuminating his face. You sit beside him, gently placing the box of needles by your feet.

"Alright, I'm gonna walk you through this as I do it, and if you want to stop at any time we can."

"Thank you my love."

The thought crosses your mind, that he'd probably not let any other soul on the planet do this kind of thing. Any time he's let someone else have control over his body, it's been riddled with sin and scars. But you? You've always been kind, soft, present. That's one thing he loves most about you, that he feels like he can be present. Not drifting off somewhere else, not closing off his mind to defend himself, not playing a chess match in his head. It's, easy. Life is easy now, and isn't that something wonderful?

"Alright, we're gonna start on the lobe. You feel the needle?"

You hold it lightly against his ear, and he shivers a little.

"Mhm."

"Alright, don't tense, but it's gonna hurt."

You hear the air escape through his teeth as the needle goes through. A pretty clean job if you do say so yourself.

"Well?"

You put in a dangling gold moon, waiting to see how he feels.

"Painful, but not horrible."

"Want to go again?'

"Of course."

He says it a little suggestively, and you give him a playful push.

"Save it for later imp."

You continue with his piercings, taking small breaks in between for conversation. You've continued adorning his ears with astral-themed jewelry, little stars and such. By the time you've finished the last one, you're quite pleased with your work. Astarion almost doesn't let you put the last earring in since he's so excited to see what you've done. He had Gale teach him mirror image a while ago, so he could finally see his reflection whenever he wanted. After casting it and giving his ears a look, he smiles.

Astarion laughs at your comment, giving one of those genuine smiles you used to rarely see. You silently curse the people that took that smile from him, wondering how anyone could see this specimen and torment him. He's like a pixie, a little trickster, someone you could pick up and hold forever. You know you're probably the only one who sees him that way, the only one who would call him cute, but he is. He enjoys it, being viewed as something that isn't devious or sexual, but a bright presence. You told him once how it's ironic that he can't be in the sun, because he was probably sunnier than the sun itself. He'd never let you tell anyone else that though.

"I... I think I quite like them."

"I do too. It's fitting."

You plant a kiss on his cheek.

"Worth the pain?"

"Most things are my love. Like you."

His hand meets your face, taking you into a deep kiss. When you break away, you whisper in his ear.

"I think they make you sexier too."

A chuckle under his breath, lips meeting again, and the morning is soon wasted away in bed. What a joy, to wake up every day with him, with someone living their life anew. Who knows what tomorrow will bring? Neither of you know, but it's exciting none-the-less.

[gale-gentlepenguin]

Gale’s Top 10: Most Hated characters

Rules:

1. To make this interesting, I’m going to be picking characters that aren’t intended by the writers to be hated (annoying maybe, but not hated). So Villains aren’t going to be on this list since most are often supposed to be hated.

2. I will be covering Anime, manga, cartoons, and comics

3. Only content I’ve heard of (and at least somewhat have exposure to)

4. This is a VERY personal list. And If you happen to like a character I list. If it’s below the top 5, that’s fine. But if it’s above the top 5, please seek professional help.

___________________________________________

10. Z from All Grown Up!

This is supposed to be a 10 year old kid. I kid you not.

When he was first introduced, I did figure it was the simple don’t judge a book by its cover story. And yea it was mid back then. But I remember watching more episodes and realizing. Z is actually really f***ing boring and the episode about not judging would have worked if they were all 14 or 15, but Z is 10! They are all 9 to 11 years old! This show was so dumb! What parent lets their kid dye their hair and get piercings at 10?! How would he even know what punk is?

I think my main problem with Z is really the fact that it shows how he doesn’t really fit in a story of 10 year olds. Which was one of the big problems with All grown up! As a show. And personally I hate being reminded of why it fails so much as I did enjoy it as a kid.

Though out of all the characters on this list. He at least isn’t a jerk.

The other reason was I am a Tommy and Kimi supporter so…. Yea. That too.

________________________________________

9. Ronaldo- Steven Universe

Now I know he’s supposed to be annoying. But that’s not my problem with him. His obsession with keeping beach city weird is fine. It’s the entitlement he has.

Not the conspiracy theories, it’s him trying to insert himself into it, trying to be the main character. And it’s always causing trouble for Steven. But I really think what does it is just how selfish he is about it. He never learns, starts to consider other people’s feelings. For Steven Universe, a show that gives pretty much everyone a redemption arc, Ronaldo basically goes “nah I’m good as is.” That’s what really grinds my gears about it.

____________________________________________

8. Chloe Carmichael from Fairly Oddparents

Now I should stress that before her introduction. The show was already on a decline with the introduction of Poof, Foop, Sparky.

But Chloe, oh she was a different breed of ruining the show. She made it unwatchable. Like people often complain about Mary Sue characters. CHLOE is a 100% grade A Mary Sue.

She just shows up, gets partial custody of the fairies, everyone likes her, but she somehow a bit miserable so she gets to have faries? Chester is WAY more deserving.

But seriously everything around her seemed to bend to her will. And it was so bad I think they canceled the show midway through the season.

But the reason she is so low is because she was simply the last straw on the shows decline and not the root cause. And I hardly watched the season she was in to care enough.

___________________________________________

7. Hiruzan Sarutobi - Naruto Shippuden

Now for those of you who watched only the first part of Naruto you are probably VERY confused on why this old man is on the list.

For those of you who have watched part 2. You know EXACTLY why he is on this list.

This man’s inability to stop ANY of the awful crap that resulted in the events of the story.

-He let the Uchiha extermination happen

-He let Danzo basically do whatever he wanted

-He didn’t stop Orochimaru who ended up attacking his village years later (and resulting in his death)

-Never told Naruto about his parents, and Litterally just gave the orphan money and dipped out.

-Didn’t stop the village from ostracizing Naruto

And the list goes on.

Like for some things, I get. The uchiha were planning a Coup and it could have gotten ugly but for f***s sake he could have done a better job in negotiations! Also why would he ever trust Danzo?

The rest is on him. Konohamaru is better off having Naruto as his mentor than that old bastard.

___________________________________________

6. Chris Thorndike - Sonic X

I hate this f***ing kid so much.

Oh people complain that Amy is so focused on sonic. Nah man, this kid only ever thought about sonic. This kid even tried trapping Sonic in his world because he didn’t want to say goodbye.

“But he’s lonely without his parents.”

WTF you talking about. His parents see him pretty often despite their careers and both clearly love him. He also has a maid and butler that both watch over and care for him. Not to mention uncle Chuck that is watching over him. Plus he has a group of friends his own age (all of which are more interesting characters than him).

I can’t even begin to describe how much of a jerk he can be. I will say the only reason he isn’t higher is because Chris actually TRIES to be useful in the matarex arc.

____________________________________________

5. Velma Dinkley - Velma

Or should I say Mindy kaling wearing Velma like a skin suit.

I hate when people turn beloved characters into self inserts and this entire show was this. Now I could go on about how they ruin Velma’s character. But this, this isn’t Velma. This isn’t even Scooby doo. It’s just using its name. And that’s all I can say. I’ve only watched enough clips to justify putting this on the list. This character and the show are both awful, so at least she isn’t ruining the show. And she does die, so at least there is some satisfaction. Which is why she is only this low on the list.

____________________________________________

4. Jared Shapiro - Powerpuff girls 2016

I don’t care what the interviews say. No one can convince me this kid isn’t a self insert of one of the writers.

An out of nowhere love interest for the main character.

While not as bad as the case of Velma, this one is much more personal having grown up with the OG powerpuff girls. So this makes me want to gag.

He’s such a bland and weird character. It’s just so creepy. I can’t even begin to describe how creeped out this character makes me feel. It does not feel like him and blossom are the same age either. It just ain’t right.

___________________________________________

3. Caillou from Caillou

I happen to like kids. Kids are creative and fun little gremlins. But whenever I see Caillou, the visceral urge to punt this child is intense.

He is the WORST child character in all of fiction. If the show never existed I’m 100% sure the world would be a better place.

He is a brat that NEVER learns. He says he does but he doesn’t. He is always the exact same little turd he’s always been. The only redeeming quality about that show is that the theme can be remixed into a bop.

___________________________________________

2. Paul Jeremiah Rabin from Amazing Spider-man

This man is probably the most hated man in all of spider-man comics.

Zeb Wells really s*** the bed so hard when he created this guy. Making a character that basically kidnapped Mary Jane, gave her super powers, made her get into a relationship with him, and basically ruined Spider-Man’s personal life.

You want to know how bad you messed up when in the issues where spiderman was possessed by the green goblin’s evil and he wanted to kill Paul, PEOPLE WERE CHEERING.

I do not think exists a single person that Likes Paul as a character. It’s actually kind of amazing.

But he is only number 2, because the ultimate spider man run is helping us forget the TRAVESTY that is Paul.

__________________________________________

1. Dave from Total Drama Pahkitew Island

He was the worst part of the worst season of total drama.

He started off as a whiny less then fun version of Noah and ended up as a clingy, psychotic toad that deserved to get ripped apart by bears.

Now with previous entrees I can kind of understand if there is someone that could like the character. Maybe…

But Dave?

If you actually like Dave and the person he became, we can not be friends. I would recommend a psych evaluation.

The boy is vindictive, controlling, condescending, and overall PATHETIC! And his label was Normal. The normal boy?! Nothing about that ‘Nice guy tm’ is normal. He was a piece of garbage.

Every action he takes is in his own self interest and I don’t see a SINGLE redeeming quality about him.

We are supposed to Want him to get together with Sky?

Him dating the Communal toilet would be a disservice to the toilet.

And that’s all I got to say on that matter.

[creative-kny-fics]

I want to apologize for the person who asked me for the fic that I will show below. I was editing it and it was posted by mistake, it wasn't ready and in a panic, I deleted it. I ask your forgiveness 😭

Ler: Tanjiro Kamado

Lee: Muzan Kibutsuji

'Mr Kokushibo, you truly are amazing! I didn't know you could do so many tasks at the same time!'

'Thank you, I wish everyone would see it that way. But no problem, where do you want me to leave this box?'

'What do you mean by "I wish everyone looked like that"?', Kamado crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow.

Michikatsu just shrugged and tried to justify himself by saying it was a lie, but Tanjiro knows when you're lying, so there was no way he could be fooled.

Even though Tanjiro insisted, the older man did not give in and once his "social work" was finished he retired and left the young man alone.

'It's not right that your boss or other people appreciate your work...' 'What did you expect? That's how grown people are Tanjiro, plus it doesn't seem like that guy cares enough to do anything. If it were him, I would have given up a long time ago and sent them all to hell.'

'Zenitsu! That's very cruel! Maybe he has his reasons... Mmmm, I know! I'll brighten his day by bringing him some desserts! They're sure to make him smile!', Zenitsu shook his head in disbelief and sighed, there was nothing he could do after all.

After a huge controversy over what dessert he should bring, Tanjiro finally opted to bring him some sweet breads, a few mochis and a huge slice of cake, it had to be enough.

Now the challenge was where he could find him, he didn't know where he worked, so that was the next mission.

'I wish I had spent more time with him to ask him where he worked... It's almost half a day... Half a day... Ooooh, I know where he goes to lunch! It must be there!'

But nope, the place Tanjiro went to didn't give him the answer he was looking for, this was harder than he thought.

'Is something wrong with you young man? I've seen you go around the street about 7 times. Are you looking or waiting for someone?'

'In fact yes, I'm looking for someone... But I don't think you know him... Anyway, thank you for your concern sir...?' 'My name doesn't matter now, little one! Why don't you tell me who you're looking for? I know most of the people in the city, maybe I can help you with something', well, there was nothing to lose, was there?

He turned around, the guy was a little tall, with blonde or silver hair, he couldn't be seen well because of the sun, but anyway.

He told him everything about the person he was looking for, this in case he didn't know his name or something similar. 'Oooooh, I know who you're talking about! I didn't know Kokushibo-Dono had friends at school hahaha!'

'Do you know him?! Do you know where he works?!'

'Sure, I'll tell you, but don't tell him that I was the one who brought you... His boss might get upset with him hahaha', Tanjiro agreed.

As they walked, Tanjiro was thinking seriously, was Mr. Kokushibo's boss so bad to bother just because he is friends with a child?

He shook his head, if he kept thinking about it he was going to end up kicking his boss and he didn't want any problems.

'Well, it's here, I hope I've helped you. Tell him to take good care of himself and that I hope to work with him again...'

'Thank you very much sir! Here, I'll buy you something to eat! It's the least I can do for helping me' 'No thanks little one, I'm sure Kokushibo-Dono eats too much hahaha. It's nothing, see you!'

Well, it was moment of truth, it was curious, there was no receptionist or anything similar, now who could he ask about where his office was?

'WHAT THE FUCK IS KAMADO TANJIRO DOING HERE?! HE'S GOING TO RUIN EVERYTHING IF HE SEE US HERE!!'

'SHUT UP KAIGAKU!! We have to think... We are not going to achieve anything... We have to hide and SHUT UP or he will find us'

'And now what's happening to you? Kaigaku, if you're in trouble again don't expect me to save your ass...', Kaigaku shook his head and dragged Michikatsu to where the trio was.

When he looked out, he realized the young man's presence and sighed, leaving and covering his mouth as he dragged him to his office, luckily no one had seen them. 'What are you doing here kid? It's no place for you to be here, mainly, how did you find me?'

'I had help! And to answer your question, I brought you some desserts because I thought you...-'

Tanjiro's mouth was covered again, someone was approaching and it didn't seem to be anything good.

'KOKUSHIBO WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?! I ASKED YOU TO DO ONE THING AND YOU CAN'T EVEN DO THAT?!'

'Sorry sir, I'm coming right now. I got distracted by something' 'I'm not surprised, you're a distracted idiot sometimes', Tanjiro's patience ran out.

Despite Michikatsu telling him not to go anywhere or go out, Tanjiro did it to confront the adult, he was not afraid after all. 'That uniform...'

'Why are you acting like that?! Mr. Kokushibo tries his best and you should appreciate it! Don't yell at him!'

'Don't fuck with me, I don't have time to deal with brats like you. My head hurts so I screamed, I'll apologize, satisfied?'

Naaaaah, the way he said it didn't convince Tanjiro at all, so he came out from under the desk and stood in front of him with his arms crossed.

'Look kid, I don't know you, I'm not interested in knowing who you are and so on. So do me a favor and leave already or else I'm going to... AAAAAHAHAHA!!'

'LEAVE MR. KOKUSHIBO ALONE!!', do you believe what you just read?

Don't be scared my dear readers, Muzan is not ticklish even in his nightmares, and if so, why is he laughing?

Hasn't it happened to you that someone pinches you and instead of hurting you, it makes you laugh? Well, that's more or less what happened here. That "useless" squeeze probably also contributed to him laughing, but anyway, no one understands that man.

'Why are you laughing?! I'm hurting him!!' 'Yohohour stuhuhupihihid attehempt is whahahat mahahakes me laugh... You should...'

'Sir, I already brought you the files, where do you want me to...?', Michikatsu dropped his papers, why?

Well, it's not every day you see a kid kicking Muzan in the balls, so it was something new.

That inclusive blow hurt Michikatsu, who intervened and moved away, even knowing that it could cost him his dismissal. 'Sorry about that sir... By the way, here's the bill for your order...'

'Oh, sure, here you go young man and something extra for bringing you here'

'Thank you, see you! I hope you get better soon sir!', Tanjiro skipped away before disappearing.

You can imagine the scream that Muzan gave for having been humiliated by a child...

But hey, at least, Kamado definitely achieved his goal, he made Kokushibo smile.

[obligitory-fma-blog]

I watched the second fma Netflix adaptation. Here’s the best of my notes:

They had the whole fma original soundtrack to use for this movie and tHEY DIDNT??

Purification arts of Xing?? Just call it Alcehestry like they do in the show?? (No I didn’t spell it right I was noting stuff as I went and didn’t look it up)

Okay the weird pause before Lan Fan pulled out the smoke bomb…

ITS AN ACTUAL BOMB?????

Lots of weird pauses and slow-mo’s to mimic anime fights but it reads weird as live action and I don’t like it

HUGHES THANK FUCK PLEASE MAKE THIS LESS WEIRD

Wtf never mind hi envy with your shit ass wig (I forgot they killed off Hughes in the first one 😭😭)

LAN FAN BODIED HIM LMAO

Ed really be like “you do you ig”

“Yeah people exploding today!” Is my favorite line so far. (English Captions with Japanese audio; this was the train hijacker guy from fma 03)

Ed’s expression when Mustang shows up is the most in character thing I will say that (after train stuff)

I will say they did better on characterization this time around I feel like they’re close to the actual characters

But it’s hard to get close to them since they aren’t, well, animated characters. Trying not to judge too harshly.

Not terrible so far actually

Okay nevermind about the cgi WHAT IS WITH XIAOMEI

“I mean, we’re just some decent human beings.” -Ed who wanted to leave Mei behind

GO OFF MEI YEAHHHH TELL HIM THE BITCH

Okay we’re gonna have a really awkward explosion-over-short moment that just will not work because it isn’t animated

GIRLIE ARE YOU HAVING A SEIZURE

Mei being a bitch back is warranted

They be running

“You’ll never catch me, tiny rice man!” -Mei (rice man?)

The dialogue being altered where Ed says he doesn’t have a god to pray to before scar kills him bothers me

I like Alphonse’s movements on the ground when he’s incapacitated, I think the cgi works well there

Hi Mustang good on you for saving your pseudo sons

Riza with the side eye lmao

The slowmo’s again like hello

ARMSTRONG HIIIII You look really fuckin weird tho But HIIIIII

Okay the flexing I can do without thanks it looks weird

Yes Breda why is he shirtless

The red eyes don’t look good either. (For scar)

N ow see why wouldn’t you put in a leitmotif for the brothers theme in this scene with Ed and Al and instead just put in sad piano that sounds vaguely similar to it

WHERES THE LINE ABOUT THEM BEING BROKEN BUT ALIVE WHY WOULD YOU CHANGE THAT

Riza being the best and putting her coat over Ed >>>>

Mustang go comfort your son’s PLEASE

Okay just ignore that I’m on the found family train

Girlie that looked like a bad PowerPoint presentation WHY WOULD YOU DO IT LIKE THAT?? (The part where the officer shot the ishvallen child)

Gluttony… hi… again…. Can’t wait for your cgi…. (It didn’t look as bad tbh)

Sorry but with the military uniform off and just the white collared shirt he looks LIKE A DAD LIKE CMON (Mustang)

“You’ve grown… at least I think.” -Hoenhiem, observational genius

“I think I like this scene better than canon a bit actually? Cause Ed gets to express his emotions more than just calling him a bastard

Okay Hoenhiem just ignore him??

Uh oh they have to walk back together

“Our hair matches :D” -Hoenhiem

Ed immediately takes his out of the ponytail

Im not gonna lie I chuckled at that

Also I love seeing Ed with his hair down we don’t get enough of that

“stop following me” -Ed

“we’re going to the same place? 😥” -Hoenhiem

Okay we’re talking about Xerxes instead of Ed and Al’s mom or…?

And the bitch is gone

YOURE GOING TO XERXES WITH AUTOMAIL YOU DUMBASS YOURE GONNA OVERHEAT

Ooooo love the look of Xerxes ruins

Awwww Winry’s parents :D we get more of them

They’re gonna die tho and I hate that :(

This is gonna be so hard wrenching actually-

GIRL IM GONNA CRY

5 minutes into Central and you’re already causing trouble, good job Ed

Al I feel like has the weakest characterization so far in this adaptation he’s just reacting to stuff rather than doing stuff as far as I’ve seen

Scar when Winry is having a breakdown🧍

Ruhroh Winry’s got a gun

Okay the slowmo makes more sense here

Ed saves the day :D

Also we finally see scars brother after getting no context on him

Good acting on Lan Fan’s part

Also why is this calling her Ran Fan? Is that a dub thing (they called Ling “Lin” but this was all in the captions so I’m confused)

“King Bradley is a Homonculus” very serious Ling “hUh.” -Ed

Any Mustang and Hughes content is good Mustang and Hughes content I don’t make the rules

Also it’s good they didn’t change the layout of Riza’s explanation montage for Ishval because it works really well in canon and translated pretty well to live action

Riza and Roy’s speeches near the end >>>

Oh great the bros are gonna try and catch scar alone this can only end well

Well they definitely didn’t catch him

WINRY HOW TF ARE YOU HERE??

MUSTANG WHY TF ARE YOU HERE???

Oh hi Riza :D

Mustang’s like “let ur gf speak to him if she wants like damn”

Ed’s like “bb girl if he says anything shitty I’ll fight for you”

WINRY GIRLBOSS LUV HER

“Hell no I don’t forgive you for shit, but I’m gonna patch you up anyway.” -Winry

Okay cool message, someone must endure pain if it means they can prevent further suffering and cycles of violence

Uh oh Gluttony escaped

He be runnin

YEAH ED AND AL SAVE UR DAD

YEAH SCAR SAVE WINRY

YEAHHHHHH

“Wait I won’t leave you behind” MUSTANG BEING A DAD AHEGWIWNWN

“Colonel your fight is elsewhere” SCREAMING

Oh hi envy

ED SAVINF LING

and they got eaten lmao

Yay we’re all trapped in Gluttony’s stomach :D

Envy is so cynical what a bitch lol

“Tf is a portal of truth 🧍” -Ling

Oh great we’re gonna get cgi envy this will go well right?

EW

Could be worse but

EW

Conclusion: it was okay. There were parts I genuinely liked. There are things that also bug me to no end. The soundtrack from the original series would’ve fit way better and a lot of times it sounded like an off brand marvel track. Acting and cgi was a lot better (at times.) An improvement on the first one, and a semi-worthwhile watch if you have nothing else to do and you like fma. Cannot and will never be a substitute for the original obviously. Seems like less of a cash grab and more of a genuine effort this time which I appreciate. Overall? 6.5/10

(Lemme know if y’all want my full notes version because it has way more of me screaming and being goofy)

[burnt-tortellini]

Phillip Graves is cursed forever to sleep on a twin sized mattress (feat. soap)

aka line by line breakdown of twin size mattress by the front bottoms and how it relates to gravesoap because i made a joke about it on tiktok and i cant sleep

“this is for the lions living in the wiry broke down frames//of my friends bodies”

a key part of being in a non private military is that the people you’re surrounded with are literally stripped down to being a fighter and to their aggression and how good they are at killing people. having a genuine connection with anyone is hard when basic/SAS training guts you of most of your personality when youre on the job. the 141 in general are good examples of people who slip through the cracks but other examples of people who arent like that that theyre around is people who are part of pmcs like the shadow company who dont have SAS training exactly.

“when the flood water comes it aint gonna be clear//its gonna look like mud//but i will help you swim i will help you swim//im gonna help you swim”

one of the reasons i hc soap putting up with graves’ toxic behaviour is because he sees his past self in him. he sees the internalised homophobia and the self hatred and he wants to help because he knows from experience exactly whats coming, what itll look like and what he wished he had when he was going through it.

“this is for the snakes and the people they bite//for the friends ive made for the sleepless nights//for the warning signs ive completely ignored”

soaps aware hes getting hurt, hes aware that the most graves will let them be seen as is really close friends but hes also aware of the night hes spent lying awake wondering why he went back to graves’ room knowing hes wake up in his anyway. hes seen the warning signs and they are yet to stop him

“its no big surprise you turned out this way//when they closed thier eyes and prayed you would change//and they cut your hair and sent you away”

soap understands why graves is like this, he might not have grown up in southern America but he’s no stranger to the Christian culture surrounding being queer. the military is often seen as an escape from society or the people in your community, they might not have sent him away as such but they definitely pushed him in that direction

“you stopped by my house the night you escaped//with tears in my eyes i begged you to stay//you said ‘hey man, i love you, but no fucking way!’”

while graves’ betrayal was a complete shock to soap i think they both fantasise about what couldve happened if graves told soap beforehand. i personally think that if canon compliant graves ever did confess it was the night before he betrayed them because he knew it would be the last time

“im sure that we could find something for you to do on stage//maybe shake a tambourine or when i sing, you sing harmonies”

in an AU where soap finds out about the betrayal before it happens i think he would try and convince graves to stay and try to carve out a place for him in the 141 so he could switch sides despite them both knowing its not feasible

“it should’ve felt good but i can hear the jaws theme song//on repeat in that back of my mind”

in the lead up to the betrayal i think soap realised something was wrong, graves was making the most of their time together and trying to appreciate what they had while they had it but soap could sense something was wrong even though graves kept denying it

“make sure you kiss your knuckles before you punch me in the face//there are lessons to be learned//consequences for all the stupid things i say”

graves knows that soaps gonna be pissed, he knows hes ruined it and worst of all he knows that the anger soap shows him will he more emotion than graves ever gave him back

“and it is not big surprise you turned out this way//the spark in your eyes, the look on your face//i will not be blamed”

whatever soap thought he saw in graves is gone the second he betrays them. and then it hits him that this was always what was going to happen, this was always the plan and it kill him because he had to convince everyone (cough ghost cough) that they could trust him and he was wrong. thats gonna leave a stain on his reputation

“i wanna contribute to the chaos//i dont wanna watch and then complain//cause i am through with finding blame//that is a decision that i have made”

soap has a bit of a moment after the betrayal where he decides he either wants to never so much look at a man again or just become THE worst person ever when it comes to dating

“she hopes im cursed forever//to sleep on a twin-sized mattress//in somebody’s attic or basement my whole life//never graduating up in size to add another//and my nightmares will have nightmares every night”

soap is PRAYINGG for thjs mans downfall

[mrsreginagold]

Fic: I Like You Here

Fandom: Nikita 

Pairing: Ari Tasarov x Nikita Mears (Nikari)

Rating: PG

Spoilers: Canon divergent AU for season four. 

Summary: Nikita hosts a dinner party with some assistance.

Author's Note: When the show decided to use doubles in the plot at the end of season three, my mind began *whirling* as to how Ari could potentially return. Sadly the final season was too short to do anything of the kind, but that's the beauty of fanfiction: possibilities are endless. I hope to eventually play around more with the general concept of Ari returning in this way in the future, but for the time being have something sweet, fluffy and domestic.

On AO3

I Like You Here

                  “I don’t think I’m doing this right,” Nikita Mears resisted the urge to swipe her hair away from her eyes due to her tight grip on the very sharp blade that she held. Her grasp faltered slightly as she brought the knife down, but it made its way through the soft melon skin with minimal resistance. 

                  Familiar, strong hands landed on her shoulders before sliding lower, and then elegant fingers curled around her wrists. “You just need to loosen your hold a bit.”

                  She had to bite back a moan due to the hypnotic effect that Ari Tasarov’s deep, resonant voice held over her. 

                  The challenge, it turned out, with living with your crush – after discovering that he was very much alive thanks to the version that died in your arms being a double – was keeping your emotions in check and not giving in to the urge to jump him at any given moment. 

                  In the little time that had passed since his rescue, he had become her professional partner and turned into a dear friend. The last thing she wished was to ruin what they had, but it was also damn near impossible thanks to how much of a temptation he could be, particularly in a moment like this one: where they were intimately close. 

                  She could feel the heat of his solid chest through the thin linen shirt that covered it, her pulse racing when his mouth brushed the shell of her ear as he murmured quiet instructions on how to properly cut the watermelon. 

                  His touch was downright reverent as he guided her hands with his own, patiently showing her the best method. 

                  It was clear that he was as reluctant to pull away as she was, and instead he rested his chin against the top of her head once they had finished with the task. “You’re nervous. You needn’t be.”

                  “I know, but I can’t help it. It’s the first time we’re entertaining here, in this huge place we’ve been given.” She reached up, curling her hand around his bicep and squeezing briefly. “I want to make a good impression.”

                  “Nikita, everyone we’ve invited are people you trust. Most of them know you far better than I do, so please, stop worrying. I don’t like seeing you fret.”

                  The former rogue agent let go and sighed, before twisting around to face him and toying with the top-most button of his shirt. “It’s just that I want them to see you how I do: kind and capable and fiercely intelligent. I know your past is a hurdle but, if I was able to overcome it…”

                  “Look at me,” he tipped her chin back with his thumb, his beautiful, clear blue eyes glimmering in the kitchen light as they took her in. “The only thing that truly matters is what you think of me. It’s why I’ve grown to care for you so much.”

                  Her heart jumped at the unexpected confession. “I – I like you too, Ari.”

                  “Darling, I think we’ve catapulted far beyond like,” there was a playful note to his tone. “I just didn’t want to push in any way. I know the breakup was rough on you.”

                  She was grateful that he didn’t mention the name of her ex. While Michael had been invited to the gathering, he had politely declined and frankly she wasn’t ready to face him just yet. 

                  “I’m not sure I want to define what we are right now, but I do want to explore it.” She admitted. 

                  “I believe that can be arranged,” he whispered, and then he dipped his head towards hers. 

                  Just as their lips were about to meet, there was a loud chime as the doorbell rang. 

                  Simultaneously, the couple groaned, though when they looked at each other it was tough to hold back their laughter. 

                  “Is it just me or did that seem suspiciously timed?” Ari questioned, linking one arm with Nikita’s so they could meet their guests. 

                  “We’ll know the answer if it turns out to be Alex or Birkoff,” she shook her head, bemusement evident on her lovely face. 

                  “You need to tell me everything that has been happening between you and Ari before I do something drastic.” Alexandra Udinov cornered Nikita the second that she had a chance to talk to her alone. 

                  A perfectly groomed eyebrow was arched in her protégé’s direction. “Oh really? And what were you planning on doing, exactly?”

                  “Trapping the two of you in the hall closet so that pesky sexual tension can be unleashed. You know, just as an example,” her friend couldn’t fully suppress a grin. 

                  “Alex!”

                  “What? He’s hot. You’re hot. You’re both recently single,” there was a shrug before Alex flipped her brown waves over her shoulder. “It’s clear that he’s crazy about you, and you feel the same way about him. I haven’t seen you smile this way since…well, a while.”

                  Nikita’s expression softened when she caught the concern in her companion’s tone. “It’s not complicated so much as he’s being respectful given all that’s happened recently. He made it apparent today that he has feelings, and I made sure that he knows they’re reciprocated. We were about to kiss right before you and Sean showed up at the door.”

                  “Oh. Oops?” A guilty look crossed her fellow operative’s face. “Sorry.”

                  “Don’t be. We had to get on with the dinner preparations anyway,” Nikita handed Alex a soda and together, they headed out to the patio where Ari, Sean, Birkoff, Ryan and Owen were all talking animatedly. “And it’s worth the interruption to see him actually making some friends besides me.”

                  “True. He looks relaxed. It can’t be easy having to re-acclimate.”

                  “The first week, there were nightmares. It’s why we grew close so rapidly.”

                  “You’ve been helping him through a bunch of trauma, like Sean helped me through mine…” Alex sighed, gazing lovingly at her boyfriend. “I’d say that means Ari’s a keeper. Plus: he cooks! That’s a bonus.”

                  Nikita giggled and peered out over the scene before her. It felt so blissfully domestic and normal – a far cry from the chaotic life she had led until recently. 

                  Then Ari caught her staring and offered a warm, open smile, causing her heart to cartwheel joyfully. 

                  “I love him, Alex. It’s new and exciting and terrifying, but he’s everything to me, so I’m glad that you’re okay with it.”

                  “I think the others will be too, in time. Probably best to ease Birkoff into it, though.”

                  “I was worried that you’d be less than enthused, given your own history.”

                  “Ari isn’t Gogol anymore, nor was he Zetrov, or Semak. He even saved my life a few times. What happened with Amanda was horrible – no one deserves to be taken against their will, and god knows what he endured while he was trapped in that awful lab. The person to be mad at here isn’t him, it’s that bitch. She made you think that you could save him by sending a double running into your arms only to kill him. That woman is the villain here. It’s why we need to find the real deal and take her down once and for all.” There was determination coupled with a steely resolve in Alex’s eyes as she spoke. “Then we can all finally have a happily ever after. It’s what my papa would have wanted. He loved fairy tales.”

                  Nikita smiled and raised her glass of white wine to tap it against Alex’s soda can. “To Nikolai.”

                  The younger woman smiled in return and completed the toast to her father. 

                  “Nikki, you should probably come get this tofu burger off the grill before it burns,” Birkoff exclaimed, having noticed the ladies talking quietly. 

                  The resident technology expert received a quick elbow in the side by Owen for his remark.

                  “How dare you insinuate that I would overcook anything,” Ari looked appropriately offended. 

                  “Ari’s perfectly aware of the fact that I actually prefer mine lightly charred,” Nikita moved behind her newfound soulmate and circled her arms around his waist, effectively communicating how she felt with a light kiss to the base of his neck before she glimpsed over his shoulder. “It all looks wonderful, babe.”

                  “Wait…wait, when did the two of you playing house actually become you playing house?!” Birkoff gaped at them both, aghast. 

                  “Oh my god finally,” Owen could barely hold back his delight. “I sensed something brewing back in South Ossetia.”

                  “We’re apparently quite obvious to those around us,” Nikita explained while ducking another kiss to Ari’s shoulder. 

                  “Well then, they aren’t going to mind if I do this,” he turned just enough to capture her mouth with his. 

                  The embrace was gentle and romantic, but not prolonged – enough of a taste to leave her longing for more once they were properly alone. 

                  She grinned and nuzzled him. “Yeah, they’re just going to have to get used to it.”

                  “Please don’t do that when we’re about to consume food,” Birkoff groaned. 

                  “Leave them be, Birkoff,” Ryan interjected, giving the pair an apologetic look. “If anything it’s about damn time.”

                  “Oh my god it’s a miracle, Fletch just agreed with me!” Owen crowed, looking utterly pleased with himself. 

                  Nikita shook her head. “They’re all going to be insufferable, aren’t they?” 

                  “Afraid so, love. Afraid so.” Ari chuckled. 

                  For some reason – she didn’t mind this fact, and when they shared another kiss, it was clear that the future was going to be bright in every way. 

The End

[twoidiotwriters1]

Daughter of Olympus (Leo Valdez xFem!Oc)

A/N: The Nemean lion is so baby me thinks -Danny Words: 2,813 Series' Masterlist Previous Chapter / Next Chapter Listen to: 'Jumpstarted' -by Jukebox The Ghost

XXIII: I Hope This Doesn't Awaken Anything in Me

"Welcome, baby!" My mother has been waiting for me. "Take a seat—You've gotten so big since the last time we spoke!"

I examine myself on one of the many mirrors around in the living room. I have not grown, the only difference is the bruises and scratches on my body from all the hard training. 

"Why am I here? Or why are you..." I frown. "Where are we?"

"This is my home in Olympus. Have a drink!" Pink lemonade appears on the table, along with my favorite super-stuffed cookies. My mother's smile widens. "All for you."

"Why?"

"Your birthday!" She clasps her hands together. "Thirteen is a cute age! So many changes..." She stares at me intently. "Let's talk about it."

I step back. "I'm sure I can ask Chiron later on—"

"Oh, that old horse doesn't see the full potential of an Aphrodite," she turns up her nose. "Might and skill—as if love isn't at the core of everything! Love—"

"Makes people useless," a man's voice comes from the doorway.

Aphrodite's eyes flash with annoyance. "Clean your boots before coming in."

"I'm only here to grab lunch," Hephaestus makes his way to the kitchen. "Hi again, kid."

"Hi," I say awestruck.

This has to be their shared home, though it's clearly decorated and used by Aphrodite only. I doubt he likes spending his afternoons in a soft and cozy room like this one.

"Can you hurry?" Aphrodite asks coldly. "We're having a private conversation."

"Ruining her," he glances at us. "The first of your children that's not a lost cause, and you're tainting her mind already."

"Tainting her?" My mother's eyes fill with tears. "You gave her the pantodýnamos!" Hephaestus grumbles, but I can't hear what he's saying. "You're such a momma's boy, and you don't even like her!"

The god's gaze is on fire, though unlike Ares's, his isn't violent. "Your child will be rewarded—mine won't have her luck, and that's on you." Hephaestus looks at me before leaving. "You've dealt with your brother's vanishment bravely, you'll learn from it."

Most gods take the opportunity to show off in front of mortals, but he seems to dislike talking to us. I can't blame him, he's been overshadowed by his peers, and Aphrodite has deemed him unlovable, that's got to sting.

"You have a funny mind," my mother sighs, drying her tears. "He's not special, honey. Hephaestus wants to be worshiped as much as I do."

"You were listening to my thoughts," I frown.

"Wherever love is, I get called to it. That's how it works."

I return to our prior discussion. "What can you tell me that not even Chiron would know?"

"Right!" My mother claps excitedly. "I haven't gotten one like you in decades!"

"What are you talking about?"

"A matchmaker!" She beams. "You see soul lights!"

To my mind comes that scarlet glow that enveloped Annabeth and Percy. "You mean that's a power?" I stammer. "That's a... a thing Aphrodite can do?"

"It's a blessing," she brushes my hair lovingly.

"I don't want it!" I whine. "My siblings do that all the time and they only cause trouble!"

"That's innocent fun," she starts to erase the bruises and scratches from my body. "This is a gift! To be a spokeswoman of love is..." My mom stops her speech and makes a face. "You think it's beneath you. Love is part of who you are, Arae."

I pout. "What's the use?"

"Soul lights show more than just compatibility. People can't hide their true nature from you."

I try to understand what she means. "So I can see... what, exactly?"

"Let's put it this way," Mother tilts her head pensively. "If you were to visit a chef's kitchen, you'd see him light up while he's cooking. If someone swears they care about something, but their skin remains the same, you'd know they're not being genuine."

"So I could discover who the traitor is?" I ask eagerly.

My mother frowns a little, but she nods. "You could."

If training is not enough, I have to prove I'm valuable in other ways. 

"Mom, I'll make good use of this gift."

"I have no doubt," she sighs heavily. I get up to leave, but she speaks one last time. "I don't think my husband is unlovable, Ara. But he doesn't respect me, so I don't respect him."

I have nothing to say to that, but I do have a question. "Do you hate that I like his children better than some of my siblings?"

She laughs. "Why would I hate you for loving those who need it most?"

If Jason dies in the stupidest way possible, she'll go to the Underworld, drag him back to life, and kill him herself. 

"It's no use, child," Hera tells Piper.

The girl is holding onto Jason desperately. The wolf house has been restored to its original gloomy looks, and luckily for Ara, the Nemean lion lives. He's licking his paws next to her.

"This is your fault," Thalia cries. "Do something!"

"Do not address me that way, girl. I am the queen—"

"Fix him!"

"I did warn him. I would never intentionally hurt the boy. He was to be my champion. I told them to close their eyes before I revealed my true form."

"Um... True form is bad, right?" Leo frowns. "So why did you do it?"

"I unleashed my power to help you, fool! I became pure energy so I could disintegrate the monsters, restore this place, and even save these miserable Hunters from the ice."

"But mortals can't look upon you in that form! You've killed him!" Thalia cries.

"That's what our prophecy meant," Leo pouts. "Death unleash, through Hera's rage. Come on, lady. You're a goddess. Do some voodoo magic on him! Bring him back."

"It doesn't work like that," Ara replies quietly. She remembers Bianca Di Angelo, how her ghost asked Nico to stop his attempts at resurrecting her.

"He's breathing!" Piper gasps.

"Impossible," Hera gets slightly closer. "I wish it were true, child, but no mortal has ever—"

"Jason! Listen to me. You can do this. Come back. You're going to be fine."

"Healing is not a power of Aphrodite," Hera tries to be the voice of reason, but reason can't reach a broken heart. "Even I cannot fix this, girl. His mortal spirit—"

"Jason," Piper's voice echoes in an unnatural way. "Wake up."

The boy opens his eyes abruptly, they're like Kronos's and for a moment Ara fears he's been possessed by an evil being, but then his eyes go back to normal, and he coughs. "What—what happened?"

"Impossible!" Hera steps back in shock.

Piper pulls Jason into a hug and squeezes him. 

"Crushing me..." He chokes out.

"Sorry," she sniffs, hastily cleaning her face.

"How do you feel?" Thalia asks.

"Hot. Mouth is dry. And I saw something... really terrible."

"That was Hera. Her Majesty, the Loose Cannon."

"That's it, Thalia Grace! I will turn you into an aardvark, so help me—"

"Stop it, you two," Piper snaps.

Ara hits Jason. "Ouch!"

"That's for not closing your eyes!" She scolds him. "Don't you have any survival instincts at all?"

"I almost died and you're punching me?" He complains.

"I wouldn't punch you if you were smart! Leo almost died too but that wasn't his fault! And I'm not punching him, am I?"

"Heard that? I'm smarter than the lightning boy," Leo grins, but he holds his tongue after Ara glares at him.

"Now..." Piper speaks as they help Jason up. "Hera—Your Majesty—we couldn't have rescued you without the Hunters. And Thalia, you never would've seen Jason again—I wouldn't have met him—if it weren't for Hera. You two make nice, because we've got bigger problems."

After a moment of heavy silence, Thalia huffs. "You've got spirit, Piper. You ever want to be a Hunter, call me. We could use you." She places a card inside Piper's jacket.

"Fortunately for this Hunter, you have a point, daughter of Aphrodite," Hera crosses her arms. "You wondered, Piper, why I chose you for this quest, why I didn't reveal your secret in the beginning, even when I knew Enceladus was using you. I must admit, until this moment I was not sure. Something told me you would be vital to the quest. Now I see I was right. You're even stronger than I realized. And you are correct about the dangers to come. We must work together."

"Yeah," Leo sighs. "I don't suppose that Porphyrion guy just melted and died, huh?"

"No. By saving me, and saving this place, you prevented Gaea from waking. You have bought us some time. But Porphyrion has risen. He simply knew better than to stay here, especially since he has not yet regained his full power. Giants can only be killed by a combination of god and demigod, working together. Once you freed me—"

"He ran away. But to where?"

"Home," Ara scratches her lion's ear. "Where all of them were born the first time."

Hera stares at her. "Arae Jackson, when the Fates chose you none of us understood, but I'm starting to see through your disguise. Your resilience and wits are outstanding."

The girl seriously doubts that, considering she's the only one who looks like she's been run over by a truck and struggles with basic math.

After a second of silence, Thalia clears her throat. "I need to find Annabeth, she has to know what's happened here."

"Thalia..." Jason holds her hand. "We never got to talk about this place, or—"

"I know. I lost you here once. I don't want to leave you again. But we'll meet soon. I'll rendezvous with you back at Camp Half-Blood." She looks at the goddess. "You'll see them there safely? It's the least you can do." 

"It's not your place to tell me—"

"Queen Hera," Piper presses.

"Fine. Yes. Just off with you, Hunter!" Hera scowls.

Thalia reaches Ara and she smirks. "Hit by lightning. What's next, bitten by a hellhound?"

"That already happened. Mrs. O'Leary mistook me for a chew toy," Ara grins. "What's next is to be drowned."

Thalia eyes the lion next to them and shakes her head. "I can't believe you're making me agree with Hera, but she's right. You really are the daughter of Olympus."

By the time the hunters leave, the moon is up in the sky. Ara looks around as she rubs her bad shoulder, and before she can ask, Piper does it for her. 

"Jason, what happened to you here? I mean—I know your mom abandoned you here. But you said it was sacred ground for demigods. Why? What happened after you were on your own?"

"It's still murky. The wolves..."

"You were given a destiny," Hera reminds him. "You were given into my service."

"Because you forced my mom to do that," he frowns. "You couldn't stand knowing Zeus had two children with my mom. Knowing that he'd fallen for her twice. I was the price you demanded for leaving the rest of my family alone."

"It was the right choice for you as well, Jason. The second time your mother managed to snare Zeus's affections, it was because she imagined him in a different aspect—the aspect of Jupiter. Never before had this happened—two children, Greek and Roman, born into the same family. You had to be separated from Thalia. This is where all demigods of your kind start their journey."

"Of his kind?"

"She means Roman," Jason explains. "Demigods are left here. We meet the she-wolf goddess, Lupa, the same immortal wolf that raised Romulus and Remus."

"And if you are strong enough, you live," Hera concludes.

"But... What happened after that? I mean, Jason never made it to camp," Leo raises a brow.

"Not to Camp Half-Blood, no."

"You went somewhere else," Piper understands what they're implying. "That's where you've been all these years. Somewhere else for demigods—but where?"

"The memories are coming back, but not the location," Jason looks back to the goddess. "You're not going to tell me, are you?"

"No. That is part of your destiny, Jason. You must find your own way back. But when you do... you will unite two great powers. You will give us hope against the giants, and more importantly—against Gaea herself."

"You want us to help you, but you're holding back information."

"Giving you answers would make those answers invalid," Hera shrugs. "That is the way of the Fates. You must forge your own path for it to mean anything, Ara knows how true that is. Already, you four have surprised me. I would not have thought it possible..."

Ara stops rubbing her shoulder. If Roman demigods have to start their journey here, and Percy switched places with Jason...

"Enough of that, Jackson!" Hera exclaims, startling Ara. "Suffice to say, you have performed well, but this is only the beginning. Now you must return to Camp Half-Blood, where you will begin planning for the next phase."

Ara isn't interested in arguing with the goddess, so she points to the lion. "Can I keep him?"

Hera scrunches up her nose. "I suppose... your mother sent it because you cared for him like no one else—you know, Hercules would've—"

"But I'm not Heracles," Ara replies politely. "Thank you for letting me keep it, but he can't take all of us to camp in one night, so..."

"I suppose you destroyed my nice storm spirit horse too, so we'll have to walk home?" Jason adds.

"Storm spirits are creatures of chaos. I did not destroy that one, though I have no idea where he went, or whether you'll see him again. But there is an easier way home for you," Hera replies. "As you have done me a great service, so I can help you—at least this once. Farewell, demigods, for now."

Ara's body flickers oddly, she hears the lion growl, and then the screaming. Ara jumps off the table where she's standing and runs, shielding the creature with her body.

"WEAPONS DOWN!" She orders. "HE'S FRIENDLY!"

"Ara!?" Lily Saggio stands, eyes wide open.

Leo is the next one to jump off the table and run to a bronze brazier to puke. Ara grimaces, the gods won't like that smell floating around their throne room.

"Jason, Ara..." Chiron says in utter shock. "What—How—?"

"Hi," Piper speaks, and it's then that Ara realizes they materialized on top of Aphrodite's table. Her sister has one foot firmly planted on Drew's dinner. "We're back." 

The crowd starts spitting out questions but none of them approaches Ara, she's still next to the Nemean lion, and she guesses he needs a friendlier name now. 

"Silence!" Chiron exclaims. "Jason, Piper, get off the table—nymphs, give Leo a fresh glass of water—and Ara, that Nemean lion..." the centaur raises a brow. "Belongs to you?"

"Yeah," Ara pats his muzzle. "Hera said I could keep him."

Chiron settles everything so now the four can narrate their quest to the campers. They're terrified, so she's half expecting them to start chanting "Curse! Dishonor on your cows!" at any given moment.

"So you rescued Hera, sent Enceladus back to Tartarus, tamed the Nemean lion—and got clues about Percy's disappearance?" Lily recounts.

"Basically, yeah," Ara replies. "But—" Lily interrupts her with a hug.

"Let's hear it for our General!" Travis clamors.

The crowd erupts into cheers, and Ara blushes furiously at their reaction. It was all Piper, Leo, and Jason, she was there mostly for moral support! No one seems to care, though. She gets carried all the way to the Big House. 

Ara's lost her new friends in the sea of people. The campers leave her on the porch, and Lily ushers everyone away.

"Let her rest..." Lily notices Ara's injured arm when she takes off her cloak. "Oh gods, what happened!?"

Ara sighs. "Lighting hit me, but I'm—"

"WHAT!"

"I'm fine!" Ara raises her voice but Lily's gone back into the crowd shouting Will's name. Ara lets out a weary chuckle. "Never listens..."

"That was quite a welcome."

Ara gives a start. Leo Valdez found his way back to her. "Hey! What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to talk to you—I mean, you, Jason, and Piper, but the campers took you away, and the others went to sleep as soon as the campers stopped paying attention—"

"I didn't want to steal the spotlight—gods, that sounds terrible. I'm so sorry," she rambles.

"Do you hear me complaining?" Leo smirks. "You deserve to be carried around like the legend you are, but we got work to do, so that's why I'm here."

Ara's skin glows when the boy moves a couple of steps forward. Now that they're safe, and she's got her answers, it's much harder to ignore how attracted to Leo she is. She thinks that if she's ever gonna get the chance to "shake off" the feelings before it's too late, that moment is now... and she's about to waste it.

"You think you can meet me in the forest? Tomorrow, after you're done with your General duties."

Ara's tongue isn't responding nearly as fast as she would like, having a crush was way more problematic than she'd anticipated. "'kay."

The boy smiles a little. "I think you'll love what I have to show you, might be the answer to our problems."

"What problems?"

Leo winks at her. "Sleep tight!"

Ara doesn't want the conversation to end, but Lily returns with a heavily concerned Will Solace by her side so she's forced to move on.

"Hit by lightning! What are you, a magnet for natural disasters?"

"Think so," she replies with genuine worry.

Next Chapter ->

Taglist.

siriuslysirius1107 @ask-giggles1303 @ash-the-hoarder @im-planning-something-look @bandshirts-andbooks @coolninjapaper @thewaterlily @whenisthefall @1randomcomic @you-bloody-shank @sunflowergraves @owlalex44 @taylordaughter @typicalsolangelolover @writingmia @espressopatronum454 @slytherinnqueen @orbitingpolaris

[morrisxn02]

ogden college (un)official class playlist ! if you already thought they needed therapy, wait until you see their designated taylor swift songs !

PART TWO: ogden college (taylor's version)

clean, from 1989 (taylor's version)・henrietta astor

"the drought was the very worst, when the flowers we'd grown together died of thirst. it was months and months of back and forth. you're still all over me, like a wine-stained dress i can't wear anymore."

peace, from folklore・reina azarolla

"but i'm a fire and i'll keep your brittle heart warm. if you cascade, ocean wave blues come. all these people think love's for show, but i would die for you in secret."

picture to burn, from taylor swift・ida clarke

“there's no time for tears. i'm just sitting here planning my revenge. there's nothing stopping me from going out with all of your best friends. and if you come around saying you're sorry to me, my daddy's gonna show you how sorry you'll be..."

cowboy like me, from evermore・lincoln crawford 

"i've got some tricks up my sleeve. takes one to know one... you're a cowboy like me, never wanted love, just a fancy car... now i'm waiting by the phone, like i'm sitting in an airport bar. you had some tricks up your sleeve..."

carolina, from where the crawdads sing ost・nova dodson

"lost i was born, lonesome i came; lonesome i'll always stay. carolina knows why for years i roam free as these birds, light as whispers, carolina knows."

mastermind, from midnights・sassa fiske

"no one wanted to play with me as a little kid, so i've been scheming like a criminal ever since. to make them love me and make it seem effortless... this is the first time i felt the need to confess. and i swear, i'm only cryptic and machiavellian 'cause i care."

the last great american dynasty, from folklore・charlie fletcher 

“there goes the last great american dynasty. who knows, if she never showed up, what could have been? there goes the most shameless woman this town has ever seen, she had a marvelous time ruining everything.” 

betty, from folklore・jesse hart 

“if you kiss me, will it be just like i dreamed it? will it patch your broken wings? i'm only seventeen. i don't know anything, but i know i miss you...”

this is me trying, from folklore・carmen hearst

"they told me all of my cages were mental, so i got wasted like all my potential. and my words shoot to kill when i'm mad. i have a lot of regrets about that... i was so ahead of the curve, the curve became a sphere. fell behind all my classmates and i ended up here..."

lavender haze, from midnights・ollie inoue

"talk your talk and go viral, i just need this love spiral. get it off your chest. get it off my desk. i feel the lavender haze creeping up on me. surreal. i'm damned if i do give a damn what people say."

only the young, from miss americana・mika ishii

“and the big, bad men, with their big bad plans, their hands all stained with red... oh, how quickly they forget. they aren't gonna help us. too busy helping themselves. they aren't gonna change this... we've got to do it ourselves!”

gold rush, from evermore・logan iyande

“i don't like anticipating my face in a red flush. i don't like that anyone would die to feel your touch. anybody wants you, but i don't like a gold rush. what must it be like to grow up that beautiful? with your hair falling into place like dominos? my mind turns your life into folklore..."

a place in this world, from taylor swift・samantha jimenez 

"i'm alone, on my own, and it's all i know. i'll be strong, i'll be wrong. oh, but life goes on... i'm just a girl, trying to find a place in this world."

dorothea, from evermore・nixie linghui

“hey, dorothea, do you ever stop and think about me? when we were younger. down in the park, running, making a lark of our misery...”

nothing new (feat. phoebe bridgers), from red (taylor's version) ・ roxie marsh

“and my cheeks are growing tired of turning red and faking smiles. are we only biding time until i lose your attention? and someone else lights up the room... people love an ingénue.”

fearless, from fearless (taylor’s version) ・courtney mills

“we’re driving down the road, i wonder if you know i’m trying so hard not to get caught up now. but you’re just so cool, run your hands through your hair, absentmindedly making me want you.”

champagne problems, from evermore・cara morrison

"one for the money, two for the show, i never was ready, so i watched you go... sometimes you just don't know the answer until someone's on their knees and asks you. 'she would've made such a lovely bride, what a shame she's fucked in the head', they said."

evermore (feat. bon iver), from evermore・edward morrison 

"hey december, guess i'm feeling unmoored. can't remember what i used to fight for... i rewind the tape, but all it does is pause on the very moment i was lost sending signals to be double-crossed. and i was catching my breath, barefoot in the wildest winter, catching my death."

no body no crime (feat. haim), from evermore・greer morrison

"they think she did it but they just can't prove it. she thinks i did it but she just can't prove it. oh, no body, no crime... i wasn't letting up until the day he died."

end game, from reputation・milo navarro

“i hit you like bang, we tried to forget it but we just couldn't and i bury hatchets, but i keep maps of where i put them. reputation precedes me, they told you i'm crazy. i swear i don't love the drama, it loves me.”

castles crumbling (feat. hailey williams), from speak now (taylor's version)・alethea pierce

“once i had an empire, in a golden age. i was held up so high, i used to be great... they used to cheer when they saw my face. now i fear i have fallen from grace."

dear reader, from midnights・lennon reed

"so i wander through these nights, i prefer hiding in plain sight. my fourth drink in my hand; these desperate prayers of a cursed man spilling out to you for free, but darling, darling, please. you wouldn't take my word for it if you knew who was talking..."

the archer, from lover・magnolia rhodes

"i've been the archer... i've been the prey. screaming 'who could ever leave me, darling?', but who could stay?”

the lakes - original version, from folklore・monty richler

"i want auroras and sad prose, i want to watch wisteria grow right over my bare feet, 'cause i haven't moved in years and i want you right here. take me to the lakes where all the poets went to die, i don't belong. and my beloved, neither do you..."

mad woman, from folklore・anya saetang

"what did you think i'd say to that? does a scorpion sting when fighting back? they strike to kill. and you know i will..."

forever winter, from red (taylor's version)・nathaniel shaw  

“he says he doesn't believe anything that he hears these days. he says 'why fall in love, just so you can watch it go away?' he spends most of his nights wishing it was how it used to be, he spends most of his flights getting pulled down by gravity." 

mirrorball, from folklore・natalia vega

"i'm still a believer, but i don't know why. i've never been a natural. all i do is try, try, try. but i'm still on that trapeze, i'm still trying everything to keep you looking at me."

new romantics, from 1989 (taylor's version)・jacqui velazquez

“we need love, but all we want is danger. we team up and switch sides like a record-changer. the rumors are terrible and cruel, but honey, most of them are true."

wildest dreams, from 1989 (performed at the grammy museum)・parker walsh

"say you'll remember me, standing in a nice dress, staring at the sunset, babe. red lips and rosy cheeks... say you'll see me again even if it's just in your wildest dreams..."

hey stephen, from fearless (taylor's version)・malik wright 

"i've seen it all, so i thought. but i've never seen nobody shine the way you do... the way you walk, way you talk, way you say my name... it's beautiful, wonderful, don't you ever change. hey stephen, why are people always leaving? i think you and i should stay the same..."

seven, from folklore・mari zuko

“and i've been meaning to tell you, i think your house is haunted. your dad is always mad and that must be why. and i think you should come live with me and we could be partners, and you won't have to cry, or hide in your closet..."

[whim-prone-pirate]

WATCHING AND DREAMING LIVEBLOG ??????? UPDATING AS I WATCH☹️☹️☹️☹️

8:23 who up watching the end of phineas and ferb the mvoie rn

8:25 WHY ARE WE WATCHING AN EDIT OF THE SHOW BEFOFE THE EPISODE WHATS HAPPENING😭😭

8:26 ........archives WOAH SCARY FACE

8:27 oh my god color pallets i'm gonna be sick

8:28 LUMITY ANGST ???? IN HER DREAM ?????? WHAT THE FUCK ?1??1???1?

8:29 oh em gee not lilith's died hair again

8:29 FATHER CLAWTHORNE NO

8:29 EWWWEWEWEWEW☹️☹️☹️

8:30 please do not the luz

8:31 luz blames herself for flapjack💔💔💔💔

8:32 hehe face hold

8:34 REUNION !!!!!!!!

8:34 ray ray im going to kill myself

8:37 GET IT RAINE

8:39 not precariously stacked jenga!!! no !!!!!

8:40 I SAID THEY WOULD NEVER USE THEY/THEM FOR THE COLLECTOR IN CANON AND THEY DID IM SORRH I DOUBTED YOU DANA AND CREW IM SOREY

8:44 ok i got distracted with a different fandom thing where are they

8:46 collector playing grudgby is real

8:46 NOW THATS A SPIN-OFF I'D WATCH

8:47 oh no!!!!!!!!!!

8:48 bros participating in eugenics

8:48 "how'd he get here without a body" most normal toh problem

8:49 oh collector my bug😭😭😭

8:49 FUCKING HELL OH MY FUCKING GOD OH MY GOD HER HAT LUZ STOP IT !!!!!!!!!

8:50 kmskmskmskmskmskms

8:50 jaw on the floor she's dissipating

8:51 he csnt fix her😭😭😭😭😭😭

8:52 NO SHE ISNT !!!!! SHE IS NOT !!!!!!!!!!

8:52 oh😭😭😭😭😭 my😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 god😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

8:52 I SHOULD HAVE THANKED THEM

8:53 TITAN ????? HAII

8:53 I AM BOTH KING AND QUEEN BEST OF BOTH THINGS :o)

8:54 watching. and dreaming. watching ..

8:54 where did he get a bad girl coven shirt

8:54 this is what modern leftist political conversations sound like

8:55 it's giving lich

8:56 big fan !!!

8:56 what'd he say what's he SAY WE ONLY HAVE SO MUCH TIME HERE

8:56 CAMILAAAA !!!!

8:58 "please stop run away" * i am feeling burdened and i taste milk i mumble please please run away but it lives where i live

8:59 WHAAAAAAAT

8:59 SHE HAS FANGS SHE'S TOO COOL

9:00 did i miss something why are they mossydiseased like luz

9:01 i'm too tired for fight scenes rn

9:03 oh my god the titan's hand looks so cool

9:03 RAINE NOT BEINT ABLE TO SEE LMFAOOO

9:04 oh my god she put their glasses on for them

9:04 their hair looks so good🤭🤭

9:05 that fight was not as drawn out as it deserved to be but that is not dana + co's fault💔💔💔💔

9:06 collector💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔

9:06 here's how gustholomule can still win

9:07 we have thirteen minutes for canon raeda and huntlow and gustholomule AND another lumity kiss. no pressure tho

9:07 oh god her look is so dark she's. wow

9:07 she doesn't have to be naive to the people who want to hurt her anymore. a win.

9:08 BYE TITAN ILYY

9:09 I LOAF YOU :)))))))))

9:09 so the next eleven minutes are domestic bliss????? yeah??????

9:10 steve moment!!

9:10 GUS AND DAD REUNITE !!!!

9:10 WILLOW AND DADS REUNITE !!!!!!!!!!

9:10 DARIUS ASKING ABOUT HIS SHIRT OH MY GOD😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

9:11 bump cut your hair ..🙁

9:11 cute boscha moment sobs

9:11 darius protects the isles from absolute bitches and whores (real)

9:12 the guards!!

9:12 RAEDA CUDDLES

9:12 LUMITY KISS I TOLD YOU

9:12 NOCEDACLAWTHORNE HUG😭😭😭😭😭💔💔💔💔💔💔💔

9:13 see you in the stars bug😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

9:13 sorry i'm ruining my own like

9:13 SHE CANT USE HER GLYPHS ??????????????????????

9:14 oh my god what's happening

9:15 I KNEW HER NARRATION SOUNDED OLDER HER FIT IS SO GOOD

9:15 oh my god THEY LIVE IN THE HOUSE

9:15 willow short hair<3

9:16 flapjack.

9:16 lilith looks so good and matt's stache hasn't grown at all

9:16 AMITY ????????????? LOSES MY MIND

9:17 bump gardener era

9:17 coven removal so real

9:17 ok what was THAT little moment with aladarius

9:18 raeda is def married right like for sure i need to make sure i didn't miss a ring or anything

9:18 GUS LOOKS SO GOOOOOD

9:18 HEADMASTER EDALYN CLAWTHORNE

9:19 oh my god does she have a tattoo

9:19 SHE GETS A QUINCE OH MY FUCKING GODBOH MY FOD OH KY FOD

9:20 LIGHT. LIGHT GLYPH !!!!

9:20 SHE TOKD THEM THANK YOU☹️☹️☹️☹️

9:21 by.3😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

9:21 do you think she's gonna play one more song. she's. she's gonna come back— NO SHES GONNA COME BACK😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅 /ref

[chlodoll]

i was just trying something here and the week is now over (this was also getting longer than expected)

random thoughts of the week 😮‍💨

that song from north west is so catchy i can’t lie! it’s your bestie ~ miss miss westie ~~~

tiktok shop is really ruining the experience on there

andrew and emma broke up over a decade ago .. please get it together stop the lala land edits i beg

idk if those summer fridays lip balms are worth $24

i need to start watching sports these men are always fighting

selena selena selener… oh girl hahahaha

are kids really in 8th grade unable to spell their own names? what is going on?

still hate a man with a podcast mic

i really have no memory of fantasia and jennifer hudson being on the same season of american idol… i thought they were on different ones? you mean jennifer wasn’t a winner but won in the end?! oh i know that’s right!!

i’m actually shocked kylie didn’t walk the carpet at a wonka premiere yet she was there for most of them?

pardi is 40??? he has a kid???????

they did WHAT in the senate hearing room!!!!

suki still has that photo up on twitter cropping nabiyah out? oh she’s a nasty one and stands by it

and fuck south korea for not giving bts that exemption! giving it to people for playing fucking video games! are they insane?!

ariana needs to just rest and revamp rem beauty OR let it go

both of those rings are hideous

the day james gunn stops coming online and fact checking every damn thing is the day i know peace

these white boys of the month are more in the gutter each time. bring back the heartthrob!

seeing those pics of emma stone from behind with that long black hair for poor things is actually the thing convincing me to watch. idk what it’s about otherwise but that hair!

i never really felt deeply about veneers but zendaya should never get them. she has to keep the toof

it’s been time to recast kang

i really do love the bow trend. that one is really cute

i just want zac efron to be happy

how are they mad at people keeping up with tz and call us weirdos who only like tom and don’t like z when they get majority of their z news from here… if we didn’t like her how does that work? if they really thought we were the weirdos why are they here too?

book authors making fake accounts to leave 1 star reviews? on goodreads? wtf

i would love for meghan and megan to meet

i’m shocked people like the movie the holiday so much. even more that people loved the jack and kate relationship. i must’ve tuned them out each time i watched cause i have no idea how they happened

bridergton will be cancelled before they get to all those love stories. they gotta start doubling up. and shouldn’t have changed the order

drake and camilla cabello? please be serious!

why are they even releasing aquaman in theaters?

sydney sweeney is suddenly styled incredibly well

where is simone ashley casting news

the 9 month cruise on a boat from 2003 sounds like a bad idea

who was that white man who instantly became more attractive saying that grown woman by beyoncé was his favorite song by her?

when are they announcing spider man 4?

what did charles say to get them to totally ruin the crown? they were on his neck before. claire foy didn’t work her ass off for them to end the show like that

my reading goal is going to be 40 next year i’m over this

[your13threasonwhy]

holy shit im so mad.

!!!SPOILERS FOR SEE YOU IN MY 19TH LIFE KDRAMA AND WEBTOON!!!

(disclaimer-sorry if any of the characters names are spelt wrong or need a hyphen, i get things confused between the kdrama and webtoon)

i read the webtoon way before the kdrama came out and i am still, to this day, so emotionally attached to it like, its one of the most amazing things ive read and i still cry when i think about it too much.

so, imagine my excitement when i find out its getting a kdrama and my absolute dissapointment when i find out that they changed literally everything (this is an exaragation) that made the webtoon so amazing.

when the show came out i was basically begging my sister to watch it with me (since she hasnt read the webtoon) and we are currently seven episodes in because we had to go on holidays however, we will continue watching it (even though i spent a good hour and a half contemplating whether or not i would actually be able to watch it without combusting after i read what they changed) until the end.

so, like the the overly anxious person i am, i searched up the ending just to make sure they hadnt changed anything else apart from min-gi's character and adding han-na (who we will discuss later) and proceeded to rip my hair out after reading that they made the female lead LOSE ALL OF HER MEMORIES ABOUT EVERYONE SHE LOVED.

but before we get into that i want to talk about the things they actually did well, for example, the cinematography, casting and scenery were actually so amazing and its definitely so much better than the webtoon (however the webtoon does still have a special place in my heart) and i think possibly the only good plot change they did was make han-na the reincarnation of seo-ha's mother. as someone who despises sad/bittersweet stuff i love that they made his mother reincarnate and keep her memories even if he doesnt meet her (which i dont know if he does because im only on episode seven) because its so sweet to think that she got a chance to see her son all (sort of) happy and grown up. i also love the fact that they added more depth to her past lives and showed up more scenes of them as, in the webtoon, im pretty sure the only things we got that related to her past lives were- her and min-gi's friendship, her and doyun's 'relationship' in her first life and her being ae-kyung's uncle.

now, onto the things im sad they didnt keep in but that i could deal with, which is mostly min-gi's character as a whole and the convinience store scene with ji-eum and min-gi where they recognise each other from their past lives (which im assuming they dont do since they changed his whole character). apparently, in the kdrama, min-gi and ji-eum used to be rivals/enemies in their past life or whatever so he decides to like hunt her down and basically stalk her😭😭 and then proceed to tell her that she needs to stop speaking and being around people from her past life because it hurts them (something i will talk-type?-about in a bit).

the reason why im so mad at this is because they straight just basically made him antagonistic instead of HAVING HIM AND JI-EUM BE FRIENDS IN THEIR PAST LIVES AND HAVING HIM SAY THEIR LITTLE SECRET MESSAGE AND HER BEING LIKE 'omg someone actually remembers their past life other than me?' AND THEN HIM JUST TRYING TO HELP HER NOT REMEMBER HER PAST LIVES ANYMORE BUT BEING A LITTLE BIT MISGUIDED BUT THEN THEIR STILL FRIENDS AND THEY TALK ABOUT IT 😖😖😖. like, they just ruined his character potential so much my changing that and adding the stupid motherfucking thing about how interacting with people from your past lifes hurts them.

finally, the things i hate, buckle up folks because this is going to be as long as my dick/j. first of all, the ending and THE STUPID 'YOU CANT INTERACT WITH YOUR PAST LIVES' BULLSHIT. i think the ending and the knowing about past lives hurts people is just absolute boiling garbage because 1-it just doesnt make sense 2-it doesnt make ANY fucking sense and 3-why the fuck does she need to forget but the people from her past lives dont forget who she was as ji-eum and as her past lives??? like i would rather they all forget but they're still happy and her and seo-ha are still dating/married and they're all still close but whatever. second, the whole fucking plot change like they apparently made this whole thing that made ji-eum think seo-ha murdered her sister for some fucking angst instead of the perfectly reasonable (and just as dramatic) thing with doyun where she thinks they were married so she distances herself from seo-ha but it turns out they were sisters and her and seo-ha still get to be happy AND THE WHOLE THING ABOUT THE DEAL WITH GOD (which also relates to the ending) BECAUSE IN THE END SHE ASKS GOD TO MAKE HER STOP REMEMBERING HER PAST LIVES AND SHE GRADUALLY STARTS TO FORGET THEM BUT SHE STILL KNEW SHE HAD HAD PAST LIVES AND SHE STILL REMEMBERED EVERYONE SHE CARED OUT AND THEN (if i remember correctly) SEO-HA REFUSES GOD'S OFFER TO REMEBER HIS PAST LIVES BECAUSE HE DOESNT WANNA HAVE ANY OTHER LOVE APART FROM HIS AND JI-EUM'S😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭(not sure if thats what he actually says but you get the gist) AND THEN THEY GET MARRIED AND LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER INSTEAD OF HER FORGETTING LITERALLY EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE SHE EVER CARED ABOUT AND HAVING TO REBUILD HER RELATIONSHIPS WAAAAAAAAA I LOVE THEM SO MUCH

THEY ARE EVERYTHING TO ME.

in conclusion, the see you in my 19th life kdrama was absolute trash and i think they should remake it. In this essay i will

[luckymeryl]

Outlaw Insider Chapter 8

Damn that Man

Author's Notes: Sorry for previous misspellings. It's Amorus Lynch, not Amorous. He is not lovely. If you would like to show your appreciation and/or help me move out of my mom's house feel free to send me a ko-fi https://ko-fi(dot)com/kokohamstar

Summary: Meryl and Milly are reporters interviewing the biggest baddies on No Man's Land. Now Vash is just trying to keep them safe. Who is chasing who now?

For the whole story, read on AO3 here

Now. Onto the story:

If they were traveling for pleasure, the three of them could say their vacation was relatively enjoyable. They were able to see friends that they hadn’t seen in years. People like Brandon Marlon, and Miss Melanie from the orphanage. It was unfortunate to have to give her the news on Wolfwood’s passing, but she seemed like it was almost expected, albeit heartbreaking.

They met up with Kaite, who was now, legally, working on sandsteamers. He’d grown so much. He was a young man now, and had worked up the ranks to being one of the head engineers on the steamers. He was even able to grant them passage on the one he managed for free.

Luida was a sight for sore eyes. Milly had scooped her up into a hug the moment they saw her, Vash and Meryl laughing gently at the scene. It was a nice break from traveling for a few days staying with her, but when their feet had rested and the itch to keep moving settled under Meryl’s skin, she was practically dragging her two partners back out into the desert.

The most interesting visit that they’d made, was to a girl Meryl hadn’t met before. Lina and her grandmother pulled Vash into a strong embrace. The younger cried upon seeing him, touching his hair gently.

“Wow Lina. You’re growing up so fast.” Vash laughed, patting the girl on the head. “I almost didn’t recognize you.”

She gave him a punch on the arm. “Yeah yeah. Where have you been? You should have visited a long time ago!” There was blush proudly spread across her cheeks.

Meryl smiled at the girl. So that was the one who cared for Vash after the fifth moon incident, huh? This is where he had settled down and lived…normally for a bit. There was a bit of sadness as she thought about this. Could he go back to living a normal life? Was having him chase her around ruining what could be considered retirement?

Dinner was cleaned up, Milly ducked off to bed, followed by Lina and her grandmother. Meryl considered following Milly, but found her mind still buzzing with the idea of what Vash could be doing, instead of wandering from town to town as he always had. Instead of sleeping, in that case, she decided on a walk. It was chilly. Without the warmth of the suns, the dry cold wind caused chill bumps on her arms before she ducked into the town saloon.

It was relatively quiet, as far as bars are considered. There was a gramophone playing in the corner, a low rumble of chit chat among the men (and a few women) that occupied the room, and the clink of glasses for those being served.

It’d been a while since she’d had a drink, she thought. So headstrong into her goal of  finding her next big scoop, she’d barely given herself any chance at relaxing. She took a seat at an empty table, ordering one beer from the waitress, and picked at the splintered wood as she waited. She heard the movement of the chair in front of her and readied a glare at the intruder before even looking up.

“Hey Meryl.”

She blinked slowly. “Uhm. Hi, Vash.”  The waitress brought her beer and Vash ordered his own. “Why are you… did you follow me?”

“Yep!” There was a brilliant smile on his face. He looked like the dopey-faced puppy she first met and she couldn’t help the warmth in her heart at the memory. “I can’t have you getting into too much trouble without me, after all.”

How the tables had turned. For years she chased him down, trying to keep an eye on him, trying to keep him out of trouble….trying to keep him safe. But now he was here. He chose to be here. He chose to keep her close and out of her own mess. “I can take care of myself.” She mumbled as she brought her mug to her lips. “You’re the one that causes trouble.”

He laughed. “Yeah I guess you’re right about that.” He accepted his own drink from the waitress with a smile and a ‘thank you’ before she left. “But you left alone. You’ve been in your head all day. I was worried about you.”

Meryl couldn’t help the flush on her cheeks. Stop it. She told herself. Stop it stop it stop it. She was willing the blush to go away before he noticed. “I’m fine. Thank you.” Her tone was short.

“Mm.” He nodded. “Man this place sure has changed.” He glanced around the room, stretching at the same time. “This place used to be eat up with bullet holes. They did a lot of fixin’ up since I left.”

“You were here for a while, right?”

“Two years.” He commented. “Lina and Sheryl were very kind to take care of me back then. I owe them a lot.”

“Do you miss it?”

“Lina and Sheryl? Sure. It’s been great seeing them again.”

“No I mean…” Meryl stared into her drink. “I mean do you miss living an easy life here?”

“Hmm…” Vash thought for a long moment. Meryl could feel the muscles in her shoulders tensing up as the clocked ticked just a few seconds. “I mean… kind of? I liked it. But there’s something about a normal life that always makes me wonder when the other shoe will drop, you know?”

For some reason that didn’t set her mind at ease. Her thumb ran across the rim of her glass. “But if you knew it was safe. If you could just…erase your reputation. Would you do it?”

“Mm… nah.” He laughed. “I think I’d just get bored.” He leaned over, tipping his head low to look at her face. “What about you?”

“Huh?” She looked up at him. “What about me?”

“I mean do you think you’d ever be able to settle down and live the normal life?”

“I… maybe at another time I could have done that? But now… no. I don’t think the normal life is for me. I feel like if I’m not moving, I’m stuck.” She took a long drink to finish her beer before ordering another.

“Careful.” He teased. “If I remember right, you’re kind of a lightweight.”

“Lightweight?” She glared up at him. “I’m not a lightweight! I can hold my own just fine.”

Vash motioned his hands to lower her voice. “Hey hey. I thought I was the one who caused a scene.” He laughed nervously. “Besides, if I recall, it didn’t take much for you to get incoherent in the past. Maybe two or three beers?”

Meryl’s eyes bore into him as she brewed silently in her thoughts. “Ma’am! Can we get two whiskeys please!”

“You’re having liquor now?” The look he gave her was that of worry. “You don’t need to prove anything.”

“We’re having liquor.” She corrected. “I’m not proving anything. I just want whiskey. And I know that’s your drink of choice. Okay?”

“Alright, alright. We’re having liquor.” He wouldn’t argue with her. In his experience, it never ended well when you chose to argue with one Meryl Stryfe.

That explained the first drink. Getting lost in conversation could almost explain the second glass of whiskey set before them. But when she ordered a third, he started to worry. Alcohol didn’t sit as well as it used to. Now he was more human than ever and his alcohol tolerance was getting to be about the same. “I think that’s enough, short girl.”

Meryl frowned up at him once again, face flushed and a pout on her lips. “You just don’t think I can take another drink.”

“No no. I know you can. But I think I’m done.”

“See? I’m not the lightweight. You’re the lightweight.”

He couldn’t help the chuckle that left him. “Right. You’re right, I’m a lightweight.” At least more so than he used to be.

She groaned, taking a drink of her beer. “I can’t believe we’ve still got nothing on him.” She ran her hand through hair. “We’ve been at this for weeks and just…just dead end after dead end.”

Vash wasn’t going to complain that they hadn’t run into a serial arsonist slash murderer in their adventures. If he were being honest, meeting up with all of their friends was actually his favorite part of traveling. He could do with just that. But he’d support her, nonetheless. “We’ll get something soon. We’re scouring the planet, after all. So it’s only a matter of time.”

There was a small huff from the woman. “Yeah well… I need a matter of less time.” With that she downed the last of her beer. This time, she didn’t order another drink. Perhaps she’d proven her point well enough. She glanced up at Vash, meeting a warm smile in return that made her heart flip.

No. No no no. She’d gotten over it. She’d gotten over him. She’d moved on. He was… just a friend. Just a partner in all this. She used all of her will power to try and get her pulse to slow down, but his smile faded into a frown and she felt her insides sink.

“Are you alright, Meryl?” He was concerned. Of course he was concerned. Of course he was just… just good. Of course when she needed most to forget that, he’d give her a gentle glance, with brows furrowed just a bit and make her remember just what it was that she fell for years ago.

“M’fine.” She muttered, turning her eyes away from him. Her cheeks only reddened further, which she hoped she could simply blame on the drinks. She wasn’t so far gone that she’d try to acknowledge it, after all.

She heard his soft laugh across from her. “You’re kind of cute when you’re drunk.”

Damn him. She didn’t know if she wanted to spill everything, grab him close and kiss him, or just simply run outside and vomit in the closest dark alley and hope he never found her. “Hush.” She said instead. When did words become so hard?

Vash only chuckled again. They sat in silence for what Meryl considered an awkward amount of time as she stared into her empty glass. When the silence between them broke, it was Vash that spoke up. “This song is nice.”

“Huh?” She lifted her head, listening close to the old gramophone, trying to catch the tune. It was a nice song. A little jazzy. Slow. Maybe something from Earth? She wasn’t sure. There weren’t any words. “Oh… yeah.”

“Do you want to dance?”

“I…what?” She blinked at him, jaw dropped in shock before she shook the expression from her face. “I mean…  this isn’t really the dancing place. It’s a bar.”

“C’mon.” He took her hand, pulling her to her feet. “No one here cares. Maybe we can make it a thing? Dancing in the bar.”

She stumbled a bit, the alcohol in her stomach flowing into her head. She fell against him, hand still in his before stepping back carefully. “Sorry uhm…” She took a deep breath. “I’m not really a dancing type.”

She wasn’t sure if Vash didn’t hear her or just didn’t care, because he gently led her to an open spot between the tables and the wall and placed his right hand on her hip, his prosthetic left holding hers. “It’s easy. Just follow me.”

With the way her head floated, she didn’t have much of a choice. He turned her and swayed with her to the music, holding her close. Her vision began to drift from the focus she was trying to keep on his coat, up to his neck, then his lips, until she was finally looking at his eyes. Okay… so she wasn’t over him. She clenched his hand, hoping he couldn’t feel it. Her feet started to freeze beneath her, causing him to have to catch her once…twice.

He stepped back, looking down at her. “Are you okay?” Once again, he was ducking his head down to get a close look. “You’ve had a lot. Do you need to sit down?”

“I uhm… I just…” She stepped back, pushing him away with her hands on his chest. “I think I need to go sleep this off. Get some water. Don’t want to have a hangover tomorrow.” There was an awkward laugh to match the mood she’d placed between them.

“Okay. Let me just get the bill and we’ll leave.” Damn him and that smile. It was supposed to comfort her. She could tell it did. But instead it just made the alcohol burn more and her stomach churned.

“Mmm…mhm. Thanks uhm… I’ll pay you back.” She was not going to puke in front of him. He was not going to see that.

“Meryl?”

“Thanks again, Vash. G’night!” she turned on her heels, feeling the whiskey burning its way back up. She held it back. She held it until she got out the door, round the corner, and into the dark alley between the tailor and the grocer. Just like she’d imagined doing out of sheer embarrassment, she found herself heaving on the ground, propping herself up with a hand against a wall. As she regained some sense of composure, taking deep breaths and, gracefully, wiping her mouth with her hand, she grumbled. “Damn that man…”

How she’d missed him getting back to Lina’s she would never know nor care to find out. She’d made it before he did. He never knew what happened. She just owed him a few double-dollars for the booze and what dignity she had left when they continued their excursion the next morning.

“Feeling better?”

She’d avoided Vash during breakfast, choosing instead to shower and have coffee in her room. Now she was face to face with him as they loaded up the bed of the truck and, even through her hangover, she’d rather look straight into one of the suns than look him in the eye. “M’fine.” She mumbled, giving him a nod as she threw her bag onto the mess of provisions. “How much do I owe you?”

“Don’t worry about it.” His hand came down on her shoulder and he gave her a gentle squeeze. “Just get some water and let me or Milly drive, alright?”

Another silent nod is all she gave him before she went to the cab of the truck, listening to the creak of metal as Vash climbed onto the back. At least she wouldn’t have to sit by him while they traveled. She took the paper from Milly as her partner had approached her with a canteen. “Thanks.” She took a sip of the water—the only true cure for a hangover, she was sure of it—and unfolded the newspaper. “Milly…”

The blonde looked at her, head tilting curiously. “What’s up?”

“They caught him.” She said, looking over the page again. Mass Arsonist Behind Bars. “They caught Amorus Lynch.”

[ballplayersxo]

I get mad at LeBron for ruining his legacy, but I also blame the people around him he got trained and conditioned at 18. He came into the league very young not even fully developed yet with a lot of pressure and although he likes to say he blocks out the noise I believe that’s what’s eating up his hair at the top so he clearly lying, the league is a business and for LeBron to be a billionaire while still playing has to show how much of a good puppet he is.

I also think he doesn’t have the smartest people in his corner so he was probably heavily convinced to do dumb shit or the people he had in his ear really wanted the most they could get out of him and made him do things that weren’t really in his best interest but benefited them. He brought a lot of money to the nba so ofc he was going to bring a lot of money to other companies.

There’s also the part where money speaks the loudest to LeBron and that may be because of how he grew up but he pleases his pockets to no end, no matter who he has to walk over to do it. He also puts money in the pockets of all his people, he is feeding/ helped feed a lot of mouths and that in itself is pressure and I know that from experience, I watched my dad put money in all his brothers pockets because he is adamant on taking care of his family and his brothers ran him try but are doing fine and act like he did nothing.

LeBron is a grown man but he doesn’t have control over shit but his household. His job is to obey and act accordingly and he does it great. He also has no reason to stop as long as he’s continuing to grow his wealth. LeBron played ball to better his life and take care of his family he’s doing that perfectly, he is being a sellout but he truly has no reason to stop.

Why this man lies so much who tf knows but he’s conditioned to be a people pleaser and he decided to do that by lying about the most stupid shit ever. Why nobody around him stops him idk, maybe it’s doing some good behind the scenes. He just needs to hurry up and get the scoring title and play a game with his son so he can finally go home.

hmm this is a really good analysis of him

[faithfromanewperspective]

This is so beautiful thank you so much! Such great observations as always <3 and actually I think I do have some theories to add onto this too! Cordelia actually reminds me a LOT of one of my best friends irl--so much so that I can't read her without thinking a little of my friend. She's another woman of colour who's excellent in her field without seeming obviously neurodivergent--and yet is interested in all that gives the vibe of a little more freedom (which often comes from people who are neurodivergent!) and also comes from a kind of similar family background. You should meet her actually, if she happens to come your way.

Anyway, I have noticed quite a bit about Cordelia's lack of agency and the fact that the plot and all of our protagonists did suffer because of it. But I do think it was realistic actually when you think about it: she's grown up in her family's shame, taught culturally never to question her elders, unable to properly connect with nearly anyone her age for her entire childhood because she moved around so much, and on top of that is obviously a person of colour around circles with almost only white Europeans who have their own fashion trends in terms of colour, style, and even body type and hair thickness that she knows she can't keep up with. She's also mixed race and as a result doesn't really fit in anywhere. (I've got a post about this somewhere in my drafts that I didn't finish before I trekked to Melbourne for a week and now can't remember most of the content of). But pretty much what happened is a pile of things conspired together to keep Cordelia innocent and naïve and pretty much powerless that were actually quite likely to happen especially then, and actually I'm not at all surprised she makes any of the decisions she does and is not even confident to confront James instead of running away. I wonder if it's me looking too far into it or it's possible to make a point of the importance of empowering women and people of colour from Cordelia's story: it's obvious things would've gone way better if she wasn't so sheltered, so without agency. She could've been the hero she really wanted to be, and she would've made wiser decisions and not be blaming herself for things that aren't her fault. I hope at least we can take away from her story a need to look out for heroes hidden in marginalised groups of people who, like Cordelia, need to be set free from shame and expectations in order to be the heroes they want to be.

That being said, I absolutely hate that the story didn't show us her growing into the confidence in herself we see a glimpse of when she tricks Lilith. She deserves to get to be a hero like she wants to be. And I get why she didn't willingly go and be Lilith's paladin or even fight as it: moralism and shame as a woman of colour runs deep when you know you are much more scrutinised than other women because of how you look and your cultural customs, who are also much more scrutinised than men. You could be excluded at any time and so it's a pretty common response to have to be morally perfect (which is also why it's such a big sacrifice what she did for James to 'ruin' herself, though I feel like it's her heroism that comes in to push past the shame she feels forced into). I wish Cordelia would stop putting so much pressure on herself, and I do feel like being with James would help her with that--he's both a socially acceptable/powerful choice and a rebellious one due to his heritage that does leave him marginalised sometimes--less powerless and ignored as I feel Shadowhunters of colour often are, and more focused on with negative, hateful, curious attention. I feel like that alone is exactly what Cordelia needs. And on top of that James adores everything about her, especially when she breaks through the role that her family often puts her in (thinking of that scene in Chain of Gold when Barbara faints and Cordelia acts and Sona apologises for her, and also all the times he just gets super excited every time Cordelia picks up Cortana). He's generally a lot less restrictive about what's a woman's or a man's role is and has grown up fielding negative attention and learning to be himself unapologetically despite pushback. Cordelia will be empowered every minute she's with him as she never was during her childhood. But that's left to our imagination because we don't ever really get to see their relationship ever be functional. And for that she deserved better. We deserved the real hero Cordelia we know she's going to be in her 20s and beyond, who fights to keep the world safe with her parabatai, her husband, and all her friends through two world wars.

Her relationship with Alastair is complicated: we know she feels abandoned by him as a child which would've been really difficult especially since she didn't really have friends. (She should bond with Cecily about this.) And we also know that she feels quite betrayed by the fact that her family lied to her, even if it was to protect her. She doesn't want to be a little child who needs protecting. She just wants her dad, who she always felt like understood her when Sona and Alastair did not, to get better--not think of her as some part of his own delusion about who he could be, unable to be tarnished by the truth of who he is and what he's doing to the ones she loves. Unable to help. Cordelia just wants to help and be a hero, like Elias was in his youth. And so yes she could stand up for him better, but my take was always that there was a bunch of underlying resentment there and just that ugh feeling when you see someone so close to you who just refuses to be vulnerable. She wants Alastair to treat her as a friend and co-conspirator again--which he doesn't really until Chain of Thorns where we see how awesome their relationship can be. Before that, he's a reminder of how she needed to be protected and she hates that (she's a lot like me in that way). For almost a decade, too. And so sorry, but I can't really blame her for petty angst against her brother that makes her take Matthew's--or the milkman's--side against him. Even if a bit of communication and assertiveness could resolve it almost immediately, no one ever taught Cordelia that.

Really, I do think she's a hero simply in the fact that she's a cycle breaker. We don't really have much evidence of that other than speculation and knowledge of her and her friends, but I just know she's not going to let her kiddos feel powerless. It's going to take a lot of work on her behalf, but I think that brain cell that goes away when it comes to self-preservation and the like (she is such a herondale, even if she had to become one by marriage you can see her in a certain blonde descendant) actually will do an amazing job there. She's going to have them believing that women can do anything, a belief that Zachary will grow up with and pass onto his children right down to Emma. They'll believe it because she's going to show them.

And finally, I do have a theory of why she always hangs out with the neurodivergent lot! It's both because she doesn't fit in either (as I've mentioned, and they accept and celebrate her) and because, like I mentioned, she longs for and is drawn to the freedom they have. Which is why when she travels with James it's so empowering and so different to what she did as a child. It's what draws her to run away with Matthew when she can't take it anymore, even if it did mean simply putting off everything she needed to resolve (and wouldn't you, too, if you never had the power to resolve anything in a way that worked for you ever in your life). I'm not sure I agree that she wants to feel settled; I don't really see it as a binary between what James and Matthew offer her. I think she just wants agency, and part of that is the freedom to be herself in a world that says she shouldn't. Maybe seeming a bit more settled gives her a bit more control over what she does with her life, but I don't think she wants to be settled for its own sake. She wants room in her life to be a hero in whatever ways she herself chooses. And Matthew's got a big personality that could accidentally overshadow her (which aside from the fact that he would've reminded her of Elias if they had stayed together is the biggest reason I don't think they were suited: in order for Cordelia to be herself and Matthew to regain his freedom they would come in conflict with each other). Having said that, I love their friendship and I love the way that they're there for each other when no one else is, and I think that her and James both being best friends with the same people is really good for them because they both have a tendency to get themselves into either silly little miscommunications that add up or an isolated bubble that I think Matthew could quite easily get them out of, while James and Cordelia are also there for him in different ways. It's all very cute.

tell us more about cordelia! something you love, something you wish we knew more about, something you relate to, something you've discerned that we might not have seen yet, why she doesn't seem to know any neurotypicals yet might be neurotypical herself, etc. just cordelia. i think we should talk about her more

Cordelia, Cordelia, Cordelia!

She is my daughter. She delights me. She confounds me.

Despite being one of my favourite characters in TSC, I find everything she does baffling. Every time she is faced with a choice, any choice at all, she does the exact opposite thing than I would have done. For her, she makes the right choices. If I made her choices, though, I'd rip my own hair out. We are SUCH different people.

I actually really like this. A lot of my favourite characters are important to me because of the ways that I find myself mirrored in them. Matthew, Alastair, and Thomas are all great examples. Cordelia serves a different function to me as a window character. Watching her is like a huge character study in someone Very Unlike Me who's extremely complex, likeable, and ultimately lovely.

Matthew and Cordelia

The sole exception to this "Cordelia-and-I-make-different-choices" rule is when she runs off to Paris with Matthew, which I would have done. It would have been a good decision for me but was actually an awful one for her.

I'm going to be a little rambley here, but I want to talk a little bit about her relationship with my Best Blorbo Matthew. I think that she fundamentally misunderstands him, which is interesting for me to watch as someone who's so similar to Matthew. I might dissect the whole scene one day when I have time, but there's this bit where she's rejecting him where he's going on and on about all the places they can travel to. She says, "we can't always be running away." This was so interesting to me!!! Because it was so obvious to me that Matthew wasn't running away. He's planning his dream future full of unknown adventures, and he's trying to fit her in. She's too settled, she wants to be settled, and that's okay! They're just not compatible. But she so greatly misunderstands what he's trying to do, and I kind of turn my head to that scene to go "huh. That's why I don't understand her."

Daisy, My Daughter

There are so many things I love about Cordelia. I absolutely adore her bravery and her compassion, and I think she feels a lot. I think she's strong and independent.

I think that she's capable of being crafty and sneaky when she wants to be (see: the wording of the oath she has Lilith repeat to her in ChoT.) She's my daughter, my ridiculously frustrating daughter, who I know has a brain somewhere in there that she never uses.

I also will say that I really like the drive that she has to be a hero. It's refreshing to see a girl character who actively attempts to realize a goal like that rather than someone who's thrust into a world Chosen-One-Style. Both Clary and Tessa were "Chosen One" type characters, which served their genre well for the time. Cordelia, like Emma, was just an ambitious Shadowhunter, and I find her story very interesting as a result. And I like how Cordelia is in part driven by a desire for merciful, compassionate heroism (unlike Emma, who was driven by a desire for revenge). It sets her apart from all the other Emma-type Badass Warrior Girls who want to go out and kick as much ass as possible.

She's such a delightful person and one I would be proud to call a friend IRL. And she's a great character in a lot of ways, though I think there are some narrative issues holding her back.

Cordelia and Cassandra Clare's Narrative

I feel like Cordelia is the one character that I wish I could steal from Cassie and repurpose. I generally really like what Cassie does with most of her characters, and I like a lot of the things she did with Cordelia. If I didn't, I wouldn't love her so much. But I think that with some VERY MINOR tweaking, Cordelia could have been even better.

The issue with Cordelia is that the author gives her very little agency. The narrative serves to protect her and James as the Herongraystairs kids, and I get that, but it feels like Cordelia is often just dragged along for the ride. Like, she is the main character! Why is she given almost no agency or real choices? Why is she just swept along with the narrative as a pawn in this large chess game that is TLH? I was talking with a close mutual @alastaircarstairsdefenselawyer a while back who said it would have been great if Cordelia became Lilith's paladin willingly to try to take power from all the awful men who abuse it. I would have loved this! If Cordelia had been allowed to get just a little bit messy, bend the rules of morality, and make some mistakes, she would have been even more incredible than she is.

The Impact of Lacking Agency

This narrative issue manifests as my least favorite Cordelia character trait: her hyper-naivete. She is so naïve in a way that is almost unbelievable to me as a reader. Like, her response to "dad's an alcoholic who's been abusing me since I was 10" is "huh!!!! That's why I found gin bottles everywhere and he was super clunky and they stopped serving wine! Who'd have guessed?" And, she literally swore fealty to this dude who said he was Wayland the Smith because... he said so? Like ??? Girl!!! Other people, especially your brother, have paid a great price for that naïveté. That bothers me.

The thing that's annoying about this is that I've come to the conclusion that Cassie didn't intend for Cordelia to be so naïve. It was a side effect of giving her no agency. If someone is an adult, that means they necessarily have agency; if someone has agency, they lose moral purity. Ergo, Cordelia was necessarily naïve.

Alastair and Cordelia

I also feel like re: the writing, I find Alastair and Cordelia's dynamic to be simultaneously excellent and irritating. Because he sacrificed his whole life for her! It should not have taken her several months and a murder accusation to marginally stand up for him! I'm sorry!

But I also really love their relationship, especially in ChoT. It makes me so happy to see them joking around together like normal siblings, and I feel like Alastair by Beloved Blorbo gets to kind of... be a normal guy with his little sister, if only a little bit. He doesn't need to act in loco parentis anymore, and they're immediately messing around. I love it.

Again, I wish the relationship were written in a more cohesive way. Maybe it's because I don't have a sibling. But it feels like Cordelia DOES acknowledge that Alastair is the constant lifelong protector that she wants to call out to when she's scared. But she also simultaneously says that he's like quicksand unprompted and tells Matthew that he must think she's terrible to love him.

Cassie, why!?

Cordelia and her Neurodivergent BFFs

This is a funny observation you make, that she "doesn't seem to know any neurotypicals yet might be neurotypical herself." And I agree, actually! I don't really have a lot of thoughts on this besides "that's just who she naturally wound up around because of her familial and life circumstances." What do you think of it? I'm curious to know. <3