#yes I know they're also teamed with impulse

[eternalapogee]

Wild Life Spoilers Below!

The Fandom: I think it would be cool if this player and that player teamed in the next season

Pearl, Cleo and Scott: but have you considered, no

[asidian]

Alright. It is time. Buckle up.

Why you should be watching Dead Boy Detectives: the targeted-specifically-at my-readers edition.

Meet the leads, our two ghost boys:

Edwin Payne: Fussy, repressed intellectual type from the Edwardian era. Exceedingly gay for his partner and best friend. Tortured in hell for seventy years on a technicality because he was ritually sacrificed as a prank gone wrong. Endearingly awful at people and dealing with emotions or his own wants.

Charles Rowland: Impulsive, people-pleasing wildcard from the 80s. Heart eyes 24/7 at his best friend but has zero self-awareness. Badly abused by his asshole of a father. Beaten to death because he saved a kid from bullies. Endearingly awful at sorting his own emotions or talking about his problems.

Some highlights:

/slaps hood you can fit so much trauma in these two

Both leads get sobbing breakdowns that happen on screen. The actors are incredible at crying

Both leads get much-needed hugs

The absolute devotion between the two of them. The shared history that lives in their dialogue and how they work together like people who have been each other's Most Important Person for literal decades

I mean, I'm talking in-canon Orpheus and Eurydice reference level of devotion here

The protective way Charles puts himself physically between Edwin and damn near every threat in the show

They're just fun together. Their interactions and banter and how they work as a team is a delight

Their shared plot arc literally involves them learning to talk to each other and communicate more so that they can be there for one another about their respective issues

The symbolism. God. They are metaphorically and literally one another's light in the darkness

But what about stuff that isn't the main duo? Just wait, there's more:

This show is unabashedly, unapologetically queer. It's there in the text and the subtext. The whole show lives and breathes it

So many good, complex, well-written female characters. The Bechdel test gets blown straight out of the water in episode one and they never look back. Headstrong amnesiac psychic learning to be a better person! Quirky meta commentary matchmaker! Cynical lesbian butcher! Delightfully sadistic witch! They are all amazing.

[audience voice] But I'm here for the hurt/comfort. How can I whump ghosts? Worry not, my friends. Canon has you covered. Not only are there ways, there are ways that happen on-screen. The hurt/comfort and rescue are also on-screen. Yes, it is amazing

Absolute chaos, really cool supernatural cases and creatures, a surprising amount of humor, charming writing, and a cast that absolutely nails it on the acting and chemistry

There is an extremely suggestive trickster type who is also the king of cats. He's a cat in human form. He hits on Edwin nonstop. Charles gets blisteringly jealous

All of the leads have well-thought-through, fully developed, emotional character arcs. They're all messy and flawed and sometimes lash out in their pain, but at turns can be incredibly supportive and kind and loyal

A character who is a crow who is also a boy, who is tortured by his witch/creator and also is crushing hard on one of the leads

There are so many incredible details in the setting, costume choices, prop decisions, etc. that you only catch after you know what it's laying the groundwork for. The level of care that went into this show is phenomenal

It's only eight episodes. The time investment barrier to entry could not possibly be lower

Anyway, tl;dr, if any of this sounds appealing to you, you should give this show a watch.

Dead Boy Detectives is well worth your time. It's easily my favorite show in years.

[bruhstation]

steam team's seniors during their baby years

A friend group so weird and toxic to people they dislike it could rival It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia’s. They're not immune to the "I came to Sodor to avoid my problems and wanted a fresh start" trope many Sudrians also follow

Edward Pettigrew

Age: 31 as of 1984

A kind, friendly NWR railwayman who didn’t mind a lot of things and was popular amongst younger folks for his looks and demeanor. He likes showing newbies the ropes of the NWR and Sodor as a whole because he just loves infodumping. Despite being made fun of by some railwaymen for his “weirdness”, Edward worked hard and was known as the jack-of-all-trades by his peers, usually treating younger and newer railwaymen to drinks after work to get them accustomed to Sodor (he did this to Henry, then Gordon, then James). Originally from the village of Pezë in Tirana, Albania, 1940s. Due to his beginnings in a small rural village and the Albanian government’s censorship of outside influences and heavy restriction of traveling outside the country, Edward’s hunger for knowledge about the world grew more and more. His family had connections to the Lëvizja Nacional-Çlirimtare and Edward’s particularly bright and good at talking, so he became a diplomat to travel outside Albania – a step into his plans of learning more about the world. After landing himself in the United Kingdom and studying everything he wanted, he believes it’s still not enough. He found out about an island infamous for its supernatural occurrences and cases of people missing just off the coast of the UK – Sodor. Being the curious man he is, he discarded everything that’s needed for the LNÇ to locate him and landed on Sodor, gorging himself with every mystery the island has to offer. Impulsive? Yes. But for the first time, Edward felt true freedom. However, Edward got too curious and nosy and became a casualty in an accident fueled by supernatural hysteria related to Lady of the Legend and was transported around 40 years into the future, landing in 1983 with his memories all over the place. Despite losing his sense of self and having no idea what he is, his thirst for knowledge still lives on inside his head. His cheerfulness, amicability, and kindness are extensions he formed to make up for the hole inside his heart. Edward does love his friends, but he believes that if he can withhold information from them and make them all live in blissful ignorance, they can be truly happy – this all stems from his fear of exceeding his limits and being discarded (which he later copes by being a typical wise friendly old man in 1999). He often sees visages of Lady in his dreams.

Gordon J. Gresley

Age: 26 as of 1984

Joined after Henry. Looked like he was fresh out of a funeral. A young hotshot who was more polite, quiet, and reserved compared to his 1999 counterpart. Gordon started out as an apprentice fireman for the Wild Nor’Wester’s previous driver. He treated his arrival on Sodor as a desperate last resort to escape his issues and grief and pitifully believed he was “lumped with the social pariahs in the boonies”, but he’s gotten better and believed that this is where he can truly outshine everyone, much to the annoyance and chagrin of his seniors. Gordon acts like he knows what he’s doing in order to build up his image as someone who’s dependable and strong and revels in small basks of limelight. However, he was constantly uncomfortable with how Edward treated accidents as normal due to their survivors being in tip-top shape the next day and how Henry is so distrustful of and odd about everything and everyone and sweats 24/7, but he’s been masking and convincing himself that he’s not like the rest of them. He’s normal. He’s normal! Let’s all hold hands. Don’t be fooled by his sad face. Young Gordon can be arrogant and think he knows everything for being a youngin.

Henry Stanier

Age: 27 as of 1984

Joined after Edward, so he’s quite close to him. Gordon’s “senior” by 6 months. He’s always, ALWAYS scared endlessly about anything “out of the ordinary” and beats himself up over it, much to his own disgust. Henry had a deep rooted hatred and jealousy towards his peers for pitying him after a coworker revealed to other railwaymen that he’s narcoleptic without his permission. He’s been masking his disabilities despite it being detrimental for his well-being, but as long as people treated him “normally”, Henry would endure (dreadfully). He did this especially with Gordon, the newest addition to the Northwestern Railway at the time, because he didn’t want anyone else to treat him differently when they find out about his health issues. As an extention, Henry developed a vitriol towards Gordon too – he’s particularly jealous about how he’s so “ungrateful” of everything’s given to him like his fair looks, clothes, and position as the to-be face of the Wild Nor’Wester. They did become friends though despite the process not being easy. It’s okay. They became besties that were mean to old nosy folks. Initially wanted to pursue arts, but due to circumstances from his past related to his health and paranoia fueled by his past failures and “jinxes”, he came to Sodor as a half-hearted last resort to get a job. He wasn’t hopeful of having anyone respect him for who he is, but things do get better, much to his surprise.

James A. Hughes

Age: 25 as of 1989

Joined the NWR 5 years after Edward did. At that point, Gordon already discarded his GNR Green look and went for the blue attire (minus the big coat). Flaunts his beauty almost at any given time, especially when someone mildly complimented him. He’s more of a nerd (word used loosely because he acts like a know-it-all when he actually has no idea what he’s doing) compared to his canon, 1999 counterpart. James came to Sodor for a fresh start and believed he deserves more than what he’s given. He thinks he’s so tough and hard as nails – in fact it became his source of hubris because he gets into accidents and was scolded by his seniors for being so vain and stubborn. He doesn’t want to get dirty, he doesn’t want to shovel coal, he doesn’t want to get wet from the washdown suds – he only wants the good out of the work and doesn’t want to accept the “bad” sides as well, so James was branded as the “problem kid” of the NWR by older folks. James, who can’t handle harsh criticism and labels well, grow even more distant with them. He primarily hangs out with the RWS trio because they seem to understand his situation and the feeling of being “outcasted” (despite Gordon’s annoyance at his boastfulness). 

[ivys-garden]

Life Series Session Recap and Alliance Report: Session 5.

I can't believe they added mettaton to the life series.

Another week means more chaos in the block. This session has the wild card of… morally dubious trivia robots falling for the sky? OK?

It did mean we got more Life Series Oli and we got to find out how little our idiots actually know about their own series. So that's something

But hey lots of stuff that will affect the future of the season happens here, so let's stop dilly dallying and get to it.

The Final Girls (Cleo, Scott, Pearl, Impulse… Bigb!?)

Apparently Scott's desire to keep the team together is stronger than we thought, as despite having no good reason to, he allows Bigb to come back into the crew. Bigb does later try and fail to abandon them for Renwood, but it's the thought that counts.

Also established in the opening to this session, Scott is fully enabling whatever Pearl wants to do… provided what she wants to do is not hide a death pit from him.

No, what Pearl wants to do is murder people, and she has plenty of options since everyone wants to antagonise the girls this session. First Mumbo shows up to mace Cleo in the face, then Gem lures Cleo into a death trap & then Martyn explodes everyone but Pearl.

Naturally Cleo wants to get even with these pesky killers, and when Cleo wants to get even the flames are soon to come. Gem's Barn and Martyn's home are burnt by Cleo & Scott, and yet somehow everyone ends up chilling in the end, with everyone actually agreeing that they're even and that they should stop trying to kill each other. So yeah, no harm, no foul….

Except Ren, he got his house burnt down for no reason.

On the topic of revenge on martyn, Pearl tries to avenge her team by putting Martyns crystal trap back on him… only to blow herself up in the process. What follows might be Pearl's most pathetic showing in the life series as she repeatedly fails to trap Gem or kill Lizzie, still ending the session in red. Scott and his martyr complex come through in the end though and Scott gives one of his life's back to Pearl in a way that mirrors the powdered snow torture or yesteryear, only much wetter.

Oh yeah Impulse was here too. He was trap building’, he was bot nappin’, he was beepin’ N’ boopin’, and he gave up a Trident to acquire a new member… we'll talk about that washout later

Also congrats on Bigb finally getting diamonds, took you long enough.

Also also congrats on Cleo for getting the most difficult question in Trivia correct!... it was 50% a guess and they had help but shhh

The Family. (Gem & Joel)

Yeah I'm calling them the family now. Not because that's a good name, but because while Joel continues to be fast, Gem is no longer furious.

Yes, in this episode the Gals-Fam drama begins to sorta maybe kinda possibly come to a close. It starts with Gem admitting the drama was made up for the sake of having drama and being funny, something most of us guessed since if you think about the drama for more than five seconds you realise how silly and ultimately inconsequential it actually is.

The real amend making starts where all amends are made, in the smouldering remains of your home after the prison you lured into a trap burns it to the ground. Yes if they had not been interrupted by exploding, Gem and the Gals would have called each other even right here. Luckily Gem gets another chance to do this later as Pearl failing a task and having her mouth removed stops her from trying to eat Gem alive for long enough for the two of them to have a chat. In this chat that Pearl has literally no say in, it is agreed that once the two of them go red, they'll “have some fun”. Sp yeah, in the future we are looking at meminiun at a temporary alliance between Pearl & Gem.

(Also Gem and Joel try to get Pearl to betray Scott, which marks the second time this has happen this season)

In other stuff Gem builds possibly the worst tower I've ever seen. So I'm happy Cleo burnt that down. Of more consequence she also builds their very own Creeper spawner. Very dangerous in the hands of Joel.

Speaking of Joel he has a rollercoaster this session. He has many notable successes such as creating two hidden cow spawners, a chicken farm and braving the never to get Potion ingredients. But he also got his ugly car exploded by Skizz and got smashed and banged by Tango.

He did manage a three block jump over Etho's head though so I'd say this was his best session of the entire life series.

Renwood (Martyn & Ren)

Rambert last session when I said Scott probably regrets being teamed with 3 little chaos goblins? Yeah translate that to Ren this session. Martyn is an absolute menace and there is no way Ren will achieve his goal of “extinguishing the evil within this man”. Martyn is tricking folks into messing up Trivia, he's killing Gem with creepers despite being allied, he's killing The Gals right after seeing Cleo burn down Gems entire base, he might be the most chaotic one here.

That isn't to say Martyn doesn't get his narrative comeuppance, he gets ravaged off his own base and exploded by Pearl, but Ren still gets a lot of bad vibes his way due to Martyns actions. At least he can still rely on Jimmy to be his friend and not burn his house down on accident.

Speaking of burning, good luck doing that now. The mound has officially been flattened, no longer teh Ren Mound it is now In-The-Little-Lake and has been flooded with water in a rare showcase of a Ren plan working and being a big brain move overall.

However, while creating the lake, the most important discovery was made

THEY FOUND THAT STUPID HORSE! WOOOOOOOOO

anyway.

The Tuff Guys (Tango, Bdubs & …Etho?)

Bdubs starts the episode being objectively wrong about a game he's played for decades.

Due to his bad leadership last session, Etho takes over and immediately starts try harding, requiring everyone to get stacks of food, iron, the souls of the damned and probably other stiff to tbh I wasn't listening. Luckily neither were Bdubs or Tango so we're good

Speaking of Tango, despite getting of to a rock start of sucking and being pathetic, he does manage to get two pretty impressive kills on Joel, once with a mace and another with creepers. He also manages to stick a snail on Skizz by botnapping him while he was distracted by his, Impy and Pearls robot voice. He failed every other single trap he tried but it's something.

Now, more important horse news, Bdubs got his!... Etho immediately killed it since it was better than his. But bdubs got a new one! He needed 3 people to help him on it since he acquired the big curse at the time but he got the horse!

While he wasn't being a try hard, horse killer, or stunt ramp, Etho was off performing a very important task, Betrayal! But is it betrayal if they openly admit they won't help you or share their stuff? Yep Etho has made moves to leave the Tuff Guys, being the second member to do so, only with more success than bdubs. So, did he go off to his family? Nope. He went off to become one of the Final Girls. Etho officially joins that team and all it cost them was a Trident. How will this go over with the Family and the Tuff Guys? Who knows. That's the growth thing about the life series: everything is stupid and nothing is predictable, so don't worry!

The Bamboozelers (Jimmy, Scar, Lizzie)

Everyone says these 3 are doomed… including me I said that. But we all are wrong, these 3 are being extremely big brained and brave.

Let's start with Lizzie, she helps the team come up with a safety code word to bring people back up the mountain. She braves the Nether. She builds an ender porter to bring people to Bam Mountain safely & she survives several attempts on her life, including one from Pearl. She only falls into two traps, being killed by Skizz and having her Bot hidden resulting in the return of her snail. She also had one failed plan, a Drowned spawner plan to get Trident Drowned to kill people for Jimmy, but not a bad showing.

It's a toss up between Gem, Joel and Impulse for who will win, but I'm gonna go all in and sat Lizzie wins, just because I want her too.

Then there's Scar who makes some great diplomacy plays. Despite a rocky start to their relationship that might have actually caused the desertduo side of tumblr to explode, Scar and Grian are able to work out a peace deal between them, Scar gets a mace and in exchange they don't kill each other. Scar gets a lot more than just a mace though, he gets what he's always wanted: Friendship.

He also manages to get the Enchanter back and finds a great hiding spot for it. On top of this Scar also strengthens pre existing alliances with Gem, Martyn and Skizz, even helping Skizz in a Fast Na Furious style boat race to reclaim his out bot.

OK, Jimmy… yeah tbh Jimmy kinda underperformed compared to last session. He got toured by trivia bot, died to the ravager instead of checking his hotbar for his pearls, failed repeatedly to kill Scott and also killed himself in Impulse's lava trap. He got no kills this session and all his traps failed. He did blow a massive hole in the side of the Final Girl's tower for no reason tho.

Gem, seeing this utter failure tried to help Jimmy kill Scott, only for him to sacrifice himself to Pearl. Now Jimmy is in the hard possession of killing his family or his teammate. But hey, as long as he isn't first out, he's won

And on that note…

The Spanners (Grian & Skizz.)

…Let's start with skizz. He was really good! He got a good kill on Lizzie and one on Bigb too. Bigb wasn't Dark green but he's certainly got the spirit. He should also be kept away from the Bam Lands from now on, he gets spotted there way too easily. Scar isn't even that observant, it's kinda embarrassing.

Skizz does also do some alliance work, vowing never to kill Lizzie again due to how much he hates doing it. Lizzie repays him by literally babying him and dumping him on Ren.

Then there's Grian, he and Mumbo were able to collaborate revenge on Scar, even though he was too big and Mumbo couldn't speak. They buried Scars Bot Super low and neither he now Ren could find it.

And than, somehow, eSCARgot returned.

Feeling bad for an incredibly cheap kill, Grian did work with Scar to set aside there differences and create an alliance. Now with revenge off the agenda, all that was left was getting Mumbo a life.

Grian built a great tower, and within it built two super speedy tnt launchers. These were incredible basketballs for destroying the tower bdubs spent all session building, but in terms of netting kills for Mumbo… not very good.

Mumbo fell off that tower trying to get a kill.

Mumbo, desperate for a kill, begged Gem to die.

And when Gem was walking down the stairs with Jimmy, Mumbo got too desperate.

Mumbo died in a machine made to save him. Mumbo died in front of grian. Mumbo died and everybody just watched. Hell, Jimmy celebrated. He laughed. Because now there was no denying the curse was broken.

Skizz will mourn all of the next session. Grian will not. He will be consumed by the Dark rage within him. Jimmy should watch his back…

Kinda like Mumbo should have watched his back for that minecart, Amiright?

[revive-the-fandom]

please please please talk about how Jack looks to North for confirmation and how he left after North turns away during the Easter scene I really wanna hear your thoughts about that

ahhh anon tysm for asking!!!! i will gladly ramble about this, but remember, you asked lol

(also so sorry!! this has been a draft since August :| whoops!)

i feel like it's important to note that the Guardian's don't have a leader - at least not in an official capacity. in battle they individually hold their own and defend each other, but there's no one calling the shots because they're all equal. and when it comes to decisions, they discuss them as a group (and seem to go by majority rather than unanimous decision).

North is often mistaken for the leader, when the fact is that he's not. He's just loud and driven, and often more proactive or impulsive than the others. They tend towards following him because he is the only one who actually suggests anything. He's the Idea Guy. He's also the Guy With The Tools. so they default to his house, not because that's their Home Base, but because North is the only one to invite anyone over.

But North's not the leader because there is no leader.

which makes this scene really interesting to me, because when Bunny dismisses him, Jack doesn't give up then and there,

Jack turns to North for confirmation that he feels the same,

and yes, technically Tooth is also there, and a part of the Guardians, and we've established that North is not the leader because they work as a team in all aspects. but Jack is not looking at Tooth, the camera work/angle shows that explicitly,

the only opinion that Jack deeply cares about is North's.

not Bunny's, who's holiday he (accidentally) ruined, who he just started honestly getting to know and like, whose relationship has the most history and tension and stakes. not even just because Bunny's the symbol of Hope and this scene is about the destruction of it.

nope. North is who Jack looks to.

because North has repeatedly proven himself as someone Jack can trust to have his back socially, emotionally and physically. North has shown that he's willing and able to see through Jack's blase front and that he knows how and when to knock it down and talk through the issue, and when to play along with it.

He knows when to seek Jack out when he by all accounts appears to want to be alone.

North and Jack is perhaps the most vital relationship in the whole movie. North is the biggest reason Jack stays with the Guardians, and Jack is the only reason the Guardians survive the movie. Despite the movie's focus on the Guardians working as a team (including Jack), the movie relies heavily on Jack and North's friendship/father-son relationship to carry the movie.

North and Jack have only known each other for a handful of days, and yet the scene in which Jack and Bunny have a falling out, which is central to their characters and character arcs/themes, has to include Jack and North because it's already such a deep bond.

and it's so clear as to why it is that way! after 300 years of isolation (whether that be near total, or just as someone disconnected from his family and friends in an unfamiliar culture) Jack finally gets someone who goes out of their way to bring him comfort and stability.

like, the others try, and they're lovely to Jack but they're not equipped to do the same thing as North. North has this near-instant and total understanding of what Jack needs to feel comfortable.

I know a lot of people don't like the GoC books, but given his backstory there - an orphan who was raised by Cossaks, who was constantly on guard, constantly moving around, demanding authority, but still retaining a strong moral compass - it makes a lot of sense. He's probably trying to emulate either Ombric (his mentor and father-figure) or Katherine (his little sister-figure), and how they comforted him. He's probably treating Jack how he himself wanted to be treated, though likely tweaked a bit to fit Jack's personality (he's shyer than North for sure).

which is a very long way of saying, I love that North's relationship with Jack is strong and deep enough that Jack, even after being threatened with physical harm

and being outright rejected by Bunny, he still looks to North. Not because North has any authority, not because Jack wants to stay on the team, but because he wants to know he hasn't disappointed North. He wants to know that North believes him, will hear him out, will sit him down and explain that no, actually, it wasn't his fault.

it's only once North turns away, rejects him too, that Jack accepts the rejection.

and his response? He throws away North's doll (which represents a lot of things for Jack, but for the purposes of this argument) because the relationship is broken at this moment. they've lost that trust and understanding, and Jack is acknowledging it, accepting it, and cementing it all at once by leaving.

and North immediately grieves and regrets it

because again, in this moment that's centered around Jack and Bunny, Jack is once again only (or, mostly) thinking about North. It's North's rejection, North's doll, North's trust and compassion that he cares about.

North gave Jack that little piece of himself, that little bit of Wonder that sits in North's core, so that Jack could experience it, lean on it in place of his own core, while he works out what his own is. He gave Jack that reasurrance that he would support him, and Jack throws it away because it didn't work (again, in part because of Jack's own failure to communicate).

there's just something so tragic in that moment to me. more so than the argument between Jack and Bunny, more so than the antartica scene or the memories. Jack and North losing faith in each other is more of an emotional gut punch than anything else.

[lurkingshan]

10 Things I Love About Only Boo!

*kicks down the door* I'm a few weeks late but I have arrived and I am here to yell about this fucking adorable show. Have you heard that it's the cutest shit you've ever seen in a fresh new package of all your favorite silly old romance tropes? Besties, this is truly the Sunday Serotonin we need. Here are the top 10 things I love about it:

The main romance is between a confident sunshine protagonist and a kind older boy working through his grief and an artistic block. Mok (Moo) and Kang are such nice boys, two cinnamon rolls too sweet and pure for this world, and I loved them instantly. They have a nice crackly chemistry between them and really solid communication right from the start.

The setting is rural and refreshing. Moo moves to Nakhom Pathom to attend school for a semester because his mom wants him to focus on his studies before she will allow him to pursue a career as an idol. Little did she know she was delivering him to a cute boy who would become the new distraction.

The crushing and flirting starts immediately, and it's mutual. They just like each other, man. Kang is (slightly) older and trying to be responsible about keeping Moo focused on his studies so he's putting up some token resistance, but it's very very token. They both find excuses to keep seeing each other after they meet.

There's a side couple with a long-term pining friends to lovers arc. The way I squealed when they revealed that photo wall. I support you, Payos, you will get your boo. These two also have a lovely, easy chemistry and seem so comfortable around each other. Their characterization also gets a fun twist in the beginning of the story.

The writing is strong and assured. This was written by the same screenwriting team as Cooking Crush, aka the best written original Thai bl of last season. These folks know their way around a smart romcom. They know how to deploy classic tropes so they feel fresh, build authentic character arcs, and make all the beats of the story feel confident. We are in good hands and don't need to worry about any out of left field conflicts or weird plot turns with this one.

A fresh new cast brings a ton of energy. I really love all four of the main actors for this show. They're young and bright and breathing some new life into an old formula. And both pairs have solid chemistry and seem comfortable in their scenes together.

Some of our old favorites are here too. They've made the smart decision to bolster the young main cast by surrounding them with more experienced seniors like our lady Milk, here playing Kang's friend and neighbor who is all up in his crush on Moo. Louis and Book are also going to show up at some point.

The show incorporates music and dancing in such a charming way. Moo is one of those kids who just has to dance, and the show mines a lot of comedy around his efforts to stifle the impulse as his mom ordered. I don't think he'll hold out for long, though, because Payos and Tae are on him to train with them. And of course the music supervisor is having a great time working in some classic GMMTV music gags (yes, Love Score and Too Cute To Handle both make memorable appearances).

It's a high school story brimming with youthful energy without being mired in immaturity. The tone of this show reminds me of My School President in the best way, in that it has all the sweetness and innocence of a high school romance without making the characters so immature and bad at communication that it's annoying to watch. As expected from the CC writers, these characters may be inexperienced but they are going to talk to each other and honesty will prevail every time.

We are only three episodes in and the romance is already well underway. This is the kind of show where we will see the main pair flirt and date and face obstacles together. The swoony moments started immediately and Moo is already throwing around the faen title. We know from the synopsis that the core conflict will come when Moo is forced to choose between his relationship with Kang and his dream of being an idol, and I expect he will be finding a way around that choice. I'll be strapped in for the ride because I already believe in these two.

[allwormdiet]

Sentinel 9.4

Back in the saddle again

You know, I'm not sure if tinkers actually are "supposed" to be smart. The other examples we have to work off of besides Kid Win are Bakuda (constant state of fucking around and finding out until it killed her), Armsmaster (he of the dumbfuck raid boss solo plot), and Dragon (actually no notes on Dragon's relative intelligence), plus Chariot in just a minute here who literally only succeeds at being a mole because the Protectorate allows him to succeed as a ploy

I'll concede that they're adept engineers and scientists, sure, but you can know how to build a nuclear reactor and still be dumb enough to build it in your backyard. There's no single measure of intelligence that everyone measures high on, that's just not how it goes.

Then again like two-thirds of this chapter are lowkey about Kid having self-esteem issues so like, I get that he's being hard on himself. I feel like half the cape POVs we've gotten so far have self-esteem issues, never mind Taylor Hebert Queen of Self-Image Problems

I'm gonna skim over a lot of this fight like I had in 9.3, but while this can't feel good for one's confidence, honestly I'd mostly just be relieved. Like, yes, let the villains whose powers are Railgun and The Fucking Sun take it easy on me, that's fine, I like my body parts staying in the configuration they have.

Thank God he actually has a chance to feel like he's contributing, without the horror of accidentally killing someone

Wow, Trickster sucks. Why do they put up with this guy?

So, somehow I doubt he's somehow lacking in a specialty, but from the description of his apparent focus issues (plus the fact that taking medication to help with focus nearly took him out) I wonder if the way his tinker stuff goes involves having a bunch of little things, if the lack of focus is somehow a sign of what his specialty actually is.

Oh fucking boy

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay (sarcastic)

Also I don't know why they specifically would go to cities that have already been Endbringered but there's a real "kick them while they're down" energy to it that I do not care for. Goddamn jackals.

Is it the "another tinker" thing or the "that wasn't Armsmaster" thing that he's more excited about lmao

Weld's adapting a little better to his role, and Clockblocker is able to keep his mouth shut and play along, so things are improving.

I dunno man, it's a citywide apocalypse, does bedtime matter anymore?

Hey what the

Fuck

is going on here

Tinker-to-tinker communication

Y'know, now I'm curious what the wages are for a non-Tinker Protectorate member. Obviously Tinkers can have it made if they've got something the higher-ups want, but is Miss Militia making enough to own a house? Is your income tied to merch sales?

Think this is the first time someone has outright said triggering as a parahuman rewires your brain to some extent. Curious to see further elaboration on that.

I think if you're gonna hire a mole, you should make sure they can lie convincingly. That feels like step two.

(Step one is "make sure you can trust this person to be a mole for you")

Fucking gottem

Well hey Kid, looks like you're pulling your weight after all

Current Thoughts

I do think Sentinel is a neat arc but I'll admit, in recounting and rereading this it lost me a little bit. That might just be the Travelers fight though, I could feel the lack of stakes to the fight like a gap between my teeth.

Kid seems like a solid character, classic impulsive inventor with an actual exploration of what that impulsiveness does to his work ethic and self-worth. I'm glad he gets a chance to shine here and I hope he figures out his exact specialization so he can stop being so down on himself

The Wards do seem to be coalescing into more of a team as things progress, sure would be a shame if the resident lone wolf was to fall for obvious bait and disrupt that or something.

[crystaleevee4]

hey I keep seeing Splatoon aus so I want to talk now. this is mostly about skizz because he's my favorite (I need him to play Splatoon. for me. please) (there is a bit of inspiration here from rose_kitty's fic all is fair in love and turfwar, mainly just skizz bein' an ex-agent)

note that I mainly play salmon run and hero mode. I know next to nothing about the actual turfwars

Skizz really likes using long-distance stuff, in general, i've noted... but also I think he'd like something fun. other things is that he likes protecting his team. as such, some weapon possibilities I have for him: - Range blaster. Explosions. Fun. and it's long-distance. can't say much about the sub and special weapons, unfortunately - Custom explosher. More explosions! I associate this man with them, not sure why. It's also long-range and pretty accurate (plus a really fun weapon to use), and its sub weapon, Splash Wall, is a pretty good defense for both himself and his teammates! As for the special, Triple Splashdown... I mean, come on. it's triple splashdown.

mmmmm au imp n skizz are roommates (and childhood best friends!). they have a mudpuppy (yes that is a real animal but in this au it's. not that) named Kevin (bubbles malone refrigerator jimmy madeye dugan (espacito appleseed))! (this is also based on AiFiLaT ranchers having a catfish (Norman)) Kevin is skizz's dog(read:mudpuppy) that he brought with him when he and impulse moved (to inkopolis (yes they do live in the plaza area)) for college. impulse also has some pets, but they're at his parent's house.

skizz being an ex-agent. why ex? well. going through near-death experiences, almost on the daily, IS traumatizing thankyouverymuch. as is killing people. he didn't actually want to quit, though- maybe just continue his job with a bit less... murder- but it got to a point where he would literally not sleep for days at a time because of night terrors. his bosses (read: callie and marie and cap'n cuttlefish (I imagine Callie and Marie as sort of "the bosses" and then Cuttlefish as "the bosses' boss")) basically fired him. not that they disliked him, but they didn't wanna y'know. traumatize him more than they already did. he's in therapy now. yaaaaaaaaaaaaay

Scott. idk he feels to me like a dualies OR inkbrush main. also he and skizz are in a qpr because I love my rarepairs

Bdubs. Splatana Stamper. Why? Because I like the image of a tiny gremlin man holding a chainsaw almost twice his size.

Zed slosher because :3 silly weapon that I greatly enjoy.

Pearl. Luna blaster. luna. lunar. moon

lol I have no more thoughts for today. send me an ask about someone, though, and I can probably bullshit an answer and then incorporate it into my au lore!

[thesharktanksdriver]

Sharky incorrect quotes

Y/n, Ghost and soap

Sharky: Do you ever want to talk about your emotions, Ghost?

Ghost: … No.

Soap: I do!

Sharky: I know, Soap.

Soap: I’m sad!

Sharky: I know, Soap.

Sharky, holding a python: Guys I impulsively bought a snake, what do I name him

Ghost: You did WHAT–

Soap: William Snakepeare

Ghost: I know you snuck out last night, Sharky.

Soap: Play dumb!

Sharky: Who's Sharky?

Soap: NOT THAT DUMB!!!

Sharky: What do you think Soap will do for a distraction?

Ghost: he’ll probably, like, make a noise or throw a rock. That’s what I would do.

*Building explodes and several car alarms go off*

Ghost: ... or he could do that.

Sharky: Don't worry, I got a plan.

Ghost: Alright.

Sharky: TraitorSayWhat?

Soap: Excuse me?

Sharky: What?

Ghost:

Sharky:

Sharky: No wait-

Sharky: What if I press the brake and gas at the same time?

Soap: The car takes a screenshot.

Ghost: For the last time, get the fuck out.

Y/n, Price and Gaz

Price, negotiating with kidnapper: We have Sharky. Give us ten thousand dollars and they will be returned to you unharmed

Sharky: Whoa, whoa, wait, you think I’m only worth ten thousand dollars?

Price :

Sharky: MAKE IT ONE MILLION–

Price: SHARKY STOP

Sharky, at a restaurant: You guys should get the orange soda, it's amazing.

Price: Okay

Waiter: Can I get you guys anything to drink?

Sharky: Orange soda, please!

Price: I'll have the strawberry soda.

Gaz: Me too, strawberry soda.

Sharky:

Price: While I’m gone, Sharky, you’re in charge.

Sharky: Yes!!!

Price, whispering: Gaz, you’re secretly in charge.

Gaz: Obviously.

Gaz: Why are you on the floor?

Sharky: I'm depressed.

Sharky: Also I was stabbed, can you get Price, please.

Sharky: If I die, my funeral is going to be the biggest party ever and you’re all invited

Price: If?

Gaz: Great, the only party I’ve ever been invited to and they might not even die.

Entire team

Soap: Favorite horror movie?

Price: It

Gaz: Saw

Ghost: Annabelle

Sharky: High School Musical. after watching it I spent all my middle school years terrified that the entire school would start singing something and I’d be the only one who didn’t know the lyrics

Sharky: We need more help. Maybe I should call my friends.

Price: ... Your what?

Sharky: My friends.

Gaz: Are they saying “friends”?

Ghost: I think they're being sarcastic.

Soap: No, no, no, this is delirium, they've cracked from being awake all night. Hey, Sharky! All of your friends are in this room.

Sharky: I have other friends! You asked me to make new friends, I made new friends! It was a task. I complete tasks.

Sharky: What did you guys get in your yearbook?

Price: 'Prettiest Smile'

Gaz: 'Nicest Personality'

Soap: 'Most likely to start a bar fight'

Ghost: 'Least likely to start a bar fight, but most likely to win one'

Sharky: What does 'take out' mean?

Price: Food.

Gaz: Dating

Ghost: Murder

Soap: IT CAN MEAN ALL THREE IF YOU'RE NOT A COWARD.

Soap: Good morning.

Price: Good morning.

Gaz: Good morning.

Ghost: You all sound like robots, try spicing it up a bit.

Sharky: MORNING MOTHERFUCKERS

Price: Anyone d-

Sharky: Depressed?

Gaz: Drained?

Ghost: Dumb?

Soap: Disliked?

Price: -done with their work... what is wrong with you people ...

Sharky: I’m an idiot.

Price:

Gaz:

Ghost:

Soap:

Sharky:

Price: If you’re waiting for us to disagree, this is going to be a long day.

*Everyone is giving advice to Sharky *

Gaz: It's okay to ask for help.

Soap: You're not a burden.

Ghost: Murder is okay.

Price: Your feelings matter.

[watarfallar]

Who's everyone's favourite team-up this season? Anyways, have more incorrect quotes in preparation for the chaos in session 3 tomorrow!

Cleo, singing: He's making a list, checking it twice, gonna find out who's on thin fucking ice Scott, also singing: Santa Claus is calling you out!

Lizzie: Yeah I'm LGBT. Lizzie: cuLt leader. Lizzie: God hates me personally. Lizzie: cowBoy hat. Lizzie: *sniffles* Trying my best.

Etho: Aren’t you going to say “have a nice day?” Bdubs: I don’t care if you have a pulse, much less a nice day.

Ren: What's worse than a heartbreak? Joel: Waking up in the morning and your phone wasn't charging. Skizz: Waking up in the morning. BigB: Waking up.

Joel: That's not funny. Lizzie: I thought it was funny. Joel: You don't count. You started laughing in the middle of a funeral because you started thinking of a meme you saw on Facebook.

Gem: Play to your strengths. Impulse: I haven’t got any!

Scott: You know, Pearl, when you generalize, you tell general... lies. Pearl: ... Pearl: Are you trying to teach me moral lessons through puns.

Mumbo: You're not my friend anymore. BigB: I was your friend?

Pearl: I haven't seen Gem and Tango for fifteen minutes now. *Outside a nearby window, a car without a driver inside is seen rolling down a driveway, with Gem and Tango running after it in a panic. Pearl doesn't look outside at all.* Pearl: That probably means they're getting into trouble.

Cleo: Would it be discrimination to only hire employees at my doughnut shop who have the same name? Ren: Legally, I don't believe that breaches any discrimination laws. Morally though... I don't know. Cleo: I believe god is on my side when it comes to Duncans' Doughnuts.

Cleo: I want a bf. Scott: Do you mean best friend, boyfriend or bread feast? Because you’re being really vague here.

Mumbo: You either buckle down and do your work or you’ll end up at McDonalds. Skizz: We're going to McDonalds if I don't do my work? Mumbo: NO-

Jimmy: It is 6:09 . Jimmy: I am wondering why I’m still alive. Jimmy: Send Wendy’s. Scott: The whole restaurant?!

Grian: What is this!? Etho: That’s the weight of guilt. Give in to the nice side. Help those unfortunate, and make the guilt go away, my friend. Grian: Ow! Make it stop! Etho: Surrender to your kindness, Grian. It’s nice to be nice. Grian: Your guilt is strong, my friend. But it is no match for the power of my selfishness!

Cleo, to Joel: Are you peanuts? Because I want to boil you alive.

Scar: If I didn't know better, Grian, I'd say you were scared. Grian: Heh, scared? *absolute silence* Grian: DID YOU HEAR THAT?!

Grian: What are you up to today? Mumbo: Nothing. Grian: But you did that yesterday! Mumbo:I wasn’t finished.

Scott: Why aren't there friend pick up lines? Pick up lines to make friends like- Scott, to Pearl: Hey, that's a cute outfit. You know where it would look better? On nobody else, because you're a beautiful individual. Ren, to Impulse: Be my friend or I'll set your entire family on fire. Scar: There are two types of people.

BigB: FUCK THE CHAIR. PARDON ME FOR MAKING MYSELF COMFORTABLE DURING A SINCERE HEART TO HEART DISCUSSION WITH A DEAR FRIEND IN NEED! BigB: BUT THE TIME HAS COME FOR ME TO CEASE STRADDLING THIS DEEPLY OFFENSIVE PIECE OF FURNITURE! AWAY WITH YE, FOUR LEGGED TEMPTRESS! DISTRACT US NO MORE WITH THE MOST BASIC AND UTILITARIAN FORM OF COMFORT YOU SUPPLY! Cleo: BigB just threw a tantrum about a chair. Cleo: I just won BigB Tantrum Bingo.

Jimmy, gardening: Hey, can you bring me the hoe? Ren: Yeah, sure. *A few minutes later* Ren: Here you go. Jimmy: Ren: Joel: Why am I here?

Jimmy: What are the hardest things to say? Grian: I was wrong. Martyn: I need help. Skizz: Worcestershire sauce.

Scar: Last night I found out Bdubs is a sleep talker. Cleo: Oh, really? Scar: "The mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell." Right. In. My. Ear. At 3am.

[atopvisenyashill]

I think the people who are the most down on this show are the ones who fell they’ve been robbed of something they were never promised.

this show has not been following book canon for a very long time, since the moment emma darcy’s was monologuing over the great council and Jaehaerys didn’t have a beard down to his ankles lol but now it’s a problem because the parts that they wanted to be book canon aren’t. Which is fine, I get it but… I thought we all kinda of agreed following the canon wasn’t going to happen to the fullest. They had changed the entire of alicent’s character from the beginning and many ate it up, endorsed it, until that canon fell out of their preferred wants and headcanons for this show. Not to say, Alicent didn’t have… problems but they were already there in season 1. We weren’t ever going to get book Alicent and if we do, it’s going to be for Helaena and not her sons which pissed people off because, as someone mentioned before, many of the fans wouldn’t choose Helaena over Aegon or Aemond so why would Alicent.

Even more with Rhaenyra, who I think is following her book storyline for than anyone, even with the few tweaks they made to it. They are mad that she is doing nothing, and taking up screen time but want the writers to follow book canon, as if that isn’t book canon.

Overall, I don’t think people know what they want because they don’t know what character they want. Many take parts from book and show and create a whole new character then are mad about THAT character being off.

They want Alicent to be bloodthirsty and to protect her children and use Driftmark as an example, forgetting that Alicent was trying to phase into the background minute Jace mentioned bastards and Aemond started smiling about it. They want Rhaenyra to be fire and blood but forget they weren’t getting that until another son died. They wanted Daemon to be doing backflips off dragons but didn’t realize we aren’t there yet. Season 2 has problems up the woozow but specific complaints are so stupid and specific that you’d think the writers couldn’t do this correctly without the entire hotd fandom in the writers room with them.

I think the people who are the most down on this show are the ones who fell they’ve been robbed of something they were never promised.

god YES exactly, that is the CRUX of the issue. they wanted the parts of canon THEY liked to be included and the parts of canon THEY didn't like to be jetissoned and their own headcanons to be confirmed and then every time that doesn't happen they FLIP THE FUCK OUT. and it's like LISTEN do i think the age shenanigans were funky, silly, bordering on stupid? yeah, i haven't been shy about saying that lmao. but like, that doesn't mean i can't acknowledge the character that exists on the actual screen and see the way their arc is written and whether they're internally consistent as a character. but for so many people, the sheer idea that maybe the character on screen is different than the one they made up in their mind is a failing when no, you just made a different character up in your mind!!

and it's always always this "team" thing that makes it worse too. everyone wants THEIR side to be fleshed out heroes but when the OTHER side gets to be fleshed out it's a huge problem. i have absolutely bitched about the exact thing you're talking about with rhaenyra - we are so clearly building UP to a ruthless fire and blood queen because that is narratively much more interesting than coming out the gate that way but everyone has an issue with it! "this is a story about misogyny" yeah and the misogyny is still there! they aren't cutting it out by also showing rhaenyra has her own dark impulses! "i don't want to hear about the ratcatchers again after-" can u admit that two things can be wrong or are we in kindergarten. and this is the same issue with baela rhaena and laena - they ARE horrifically underwritten esp when you compare them to other "main but not thee main" male characters a la criston, targtower boys, and jace and we got THREE (3) new white men to focus on. the way they're written in comparison sucks! it's bad! COMMA BUT. there is a constant refrain of “baela should hate jacaerys” “jacaerys is usurping baela” “baela should hate rhaenyra” “why are they so selfish about baela & its not criticized by the narrative” and it’s insane it drives me crazy. i’m sorry that you (general you) wanted baela to be a very different character than she was in the books, but that’s the fucking plot!!! it does NOT actually deepen her character if she were to turn against the blacks - why would she do that. what are the greens offering her??? like, her specifically??? are they saying they’ll make her queen? give her driftmark? no? then why the fuck would she hate jacaerys & rhaenyra when she derives her power THROUGH THEM! "laena would hate that her kids are engaged to bastards" no she would not she would not give a single solitary shit. rhaena liked being engaged to lucerys!!!

and this is the main issue for me is that it often feels like criticism is coming from a place of “how dare they not change it in a way that makes MY FAVES look better” and that always happens but it’s been particularly egregious. you want them to stay close to the books but then you’re mad that they don’t “fix” the books the way you want? come on. it’s why i said i feel for the aemondwives but i’m also a little judgemental bc it’s like no i don’t think this came out of nowhere, i think it was done SLOPPILY in places but alicent turning against aemond for his violence has been loudly broadcasted since aemond was introduced. why are we acting like aemond wasn’t clearly shown to escalate in his behavior throughout s1? and that while he’s escalating, alicent is still holding onto the idea (however naively) of peace?? everyone shaking about how cool he looked when he burned aegon, did they expect her to hug him and go oh thanks for taking out your brother, my firstborn, and the only other battle ready dragonrider to defend the capital, you’ve always been my favorite aemond.

you're definitely right that it has a lot to do with how the audience wouldn't choose helaena over the boys so why should alicent. and that is ALSO FRUSTRATING because on the one hand it's like yes, that's because helaena is not given the screentime she needs and deserves (why did we need to see alicole fucking that often grilled CHEEZUS) but at the same time - the show itself is directly critiquing this idea that helaena isn't "worth" choosing. She's a child bride and a teenage mother living at the whims of her family with little control over her life, and she's outwardly as miserable as Alicent was internally - she is Alicent and that is why Alicent chooses Helaena again and again in s2, after being a bystander and arguably a negative force in Helaena's life up until that point. Alicent choosing Helaena is Alicent choosing herself but the idea that Alicent is not constantly self sacrificing for her sons is just inexcusable to people.

[not-goldy]

There's a lot of cognitive biases towards each other that gets in the way- I hate to be the one to say this but I don't think Jimin imputes good intentions behind Tae's actions most of the time.

Whereas if it were Jungkook, he would make mental excuses for those behaviors.

At this point, we're over a decade into their relationship. If jimin doesn't view good intentions behind his behavior, then it likely that he's learned, for one reason or another, to not do so. Whereas with jungkook, he learned the opposite, that maybe if he messes up, his heart was still in the right place. I do think they are stuck between a rock and a hard place because for the sake of the group, they can't really risk ripping apart the relationship to fix it the way it might need in case it ends badly. I'd say we also see growth in jungkook (he's better at expressing his emotions for example), I can't speak for jimin, but its possible he doesn't see that with tae i.e. even if they worked on it, does he feel like anything productive would come of it?

I do think jimin isn't the best at setting boundaries because he doesn't want to make people uncomfortable, and tae isn't the best at respecting boundaries. I think this is what causes friction between him and jungkook at times. Jungkook has pretty firm boundaries and tae has a tendency to override those in a way that IMO irritates jungkook, such as the way tae will go full hyung and baby jungkook in a way that's borderline condescending, or inviting himself to stuff like AYS or suchwita. But with vmin, the lack of boundaries while simultaneously being closed off leaves them in a weird limbo.

Tbh this deep into their relationship, if jimin feels like he can't fully trust or be open with tae, then I don't think he ever will. Only he knows what occurred for that trust to be broken, but I do think he's too emotionally reserved to open up again to that person once he's been stung. You can only do so much "holding someone down" before you've become nothing more than a cement block to tether their emotions.

I think if it weren't for bts and them being same-age friends, vmin wouldn't have been as "close" as they were or expected to be. I think they had fun playing around when they were younger, but like siblings, you go through different stages of life and maybe don't relate anymore. Maybe you were close as kids, but grew apart as adults, or maybe you were distant and fought a lot as kids, but understood each other better as adults, etc. They're very different people in a lot of very important ways that I think, in their current state and stage of life, are maybe not meant to be close. We'll see after MS I suppose, although if its up to jimin, we wouldn't get a whiff of their internal conflicts.

"if he doesn't then it's likely he's learned" yup.

I think they are all genuinely good people. Tae and Junkook can be a bit antisocial with they are and the way they behave- they are both strong willed, will say their mind, don't bend easily and hold on to their sense of self and righteousness.

Such traits can be an impediment to bonding with others and relationships in general. You are required in a relationship to give in to the other, to submit enough to share the others perspective and not hold on to your own views as always the right one.

I think what makes Jungkook different is, he knows he shouldn't be putting up a fight in the first place. He knows he's antisocial but he doesn't want to be. He said it himself he finds it difficult to connect with others.

Yes he's impulsive yes he has walls but those aren't things he wants to get in the way of achieving vulnerability in a relationship.

He knows his limits and his social inadequacies and he knows how harmful and hurtful it can be to him and others. And unlike Tae who lacks that awareness, I think JK acknowledges this fact and has always been willing to unlearn and learn how to be a better man and a better team player.

And I think he and Jimin have worked through this together as Jimin understands and empathizes with him. Shit he is the one to say Jungkook sucks at emotions aka being vulnerable and I think JK trusts Jimin to let him know when his walls are growing too high and thick.

That basic understanding and depth is lacking in Vmin sadly. They are two individuals capable of being vulnerable with each other and that gives their relationship so much depth.

But there is a barrier still and I think they need to work on it. I think Tae is awfully unaware how antisocial he can be. Because he is out going funny emotionally sensitive and can empathize I think he has a false sense of emotional depth and can be painfully unaware how some of his attitudes gets in the way of achieving the intimacy he craves in his connections.

He needs someone who can be brutally honest and understanding of him and do for him what Jimin has done for Jungkook.

I always say he does crave Jimin's friendship- perhaps in ways he doesn't even understand himself. Jimin is good for him and can be good for him. They both just need to work a little bit more. Their dynamic is beautiful I don't care what anyone says. Their ability to work through problems without letting those problems be the doom of their relationship is truly admirable. Will support them if they both let their guards down and take their relationship there- to a point where they don't fight too much not because they are walking egg shells around each other but because they have a meeting of minds on most things.

Tae and I need to talk. Love is not just about forgiveness, it's about being thoughtful and considerate of others. I personally, and this may be a Libra thing, I'm not very good at forgiveness. I'm learning. I'm a very thoughtful and considerate person and I consider the consequences of my actions on others before I do them. If I don't care about you I will act whatever towards you. But I can't be like that towards those I love even when I am mad and fuming I still stop to consider. I'll rather do that than harm them and mend them. It's just how our scales work. So me I consider a thoughtful person as a loving person. And that's what I understand love to be.

In spite of all these, personally I think they have one of the best friends dynamics in kpop and they are likely the two duo to remain friends when the dust of fame settles- or Jimin might just move on and he'll never hear from him again 😹

In a perfect world Jimin would be God's strongest soldier who can take on everyone's trauma and anti social behavior without getting mentally scarred or drained. But he's human and have his own challenges you know.

Plus he's also the one most willing and eager to cut off toxic people from his life so quick so his dynamic with V is very interesting.

I see Jimin. He is emotionally sharp and emotionally more healthy than most Kpop idols. I see his ability to cut off people as one of his strongest assets. But that strong cut off game also means he is emotionally more sensitive and hyper vigilant than most people and that's the downside of being emotionally intelligent.

He can tell which behaviors are a threat to his mental health and mental peace and he will not hesitate to rid himself of such people. And he knows which behaviors won't help a relationship and he will try to work through it with you.

I wish them all all the best.

Now let's focus on our ship please I'm over this whole Vmin situation 😒

[saxandviolins77]

What are your thoughts about what the relationships between the Constructicons are like?

I didn't know if this was G1 specifically or my AU... So why don't we do both?! Better yet! I even finished those relationship charts I talked about with Tumblr user @/the_last_magpie (hi!).

So, first of all. G1. My canon-compliant and headcanon-less take is: they're a group of good friends. Nice and simple. Episodes like "The Core" and "City of Steel" really solidified this for me. They banter, they talk and they work together almost seamlessly. This really endeared me to them because... They're 'Cons and... They're friends! Mind-blowing right?

For G1 is just that, no deep takes for them that don't border on headcanon territory.

Now, if you just wanted a G1 take, you can skip the other part of this post. Now we're entering AU-zone! Of course, the eagle-eyed followers at home know that my Fan Continuity is just: "G1 but sitcom... and the Constructicons are main characters."

LOOOOOONG POOOOOST

I always say they're a polycule, for quick recognition. But if I wanted to be specific, they are really more akin to "fictive-kin", a group unrelated to each other by blood bonds, but which functions much like a family. You can say "found family" too, but that's so diluted nowadays. For extra context, yes, they had lives and were full individuals before they became gestalt. They are all from different backgrounds and socioeconomic realities.

SO RELATIONSHIP CHARTS + MORE EXPLANATIONS GO!

Scrapper is a bottle of joy and supportiveness. The way I write him is some kind of fusion between the idealized figure of fatherhood and the idealized figure of motherhood. He genuinely cares for the team, no ifs or buts.

He is in a romantic relationship with Long Haul. They are a very boring and disgustingly happy couple. They love doing anything together, even if sometimes they have a quarrel they'll always communicate first and try to find common footing. The bad thing is that Long Haul is very silently unhappy with this whole "gestalt" thing and not so silently unhappy about his function in the team. Scrapper feels immensely guilty for that, even if Long Haul just shrugs it off.

Hook and Scrapper are also in a romantic relationship! Their relationship is definitely more "work-based" in a way? Like, Scrapper is in love with Hook's talent and his mind and how he's so logical and cold (and how problematic he is). They make a great working duo because Scrapper knows how to handle Hook perfectly and how to get the best out of him. They're also into more inventive ways of having sex.

Scrapper sees Scavenger as a mentor in a weird way. If Long Haul's common sense and Hook's hard logic aren't doing it for him, he'll go to Scavenger for advice. They're also great friends! Scavenger can control Scrapper when he's getting ahead of himself and Scrapper reassures Scavenger when he's depressed.

Scrapper is in awe of Bonecrusher, not only of his technical abilities but also his fighting skills. He's very worried about his problems to open up and how hard on himself he is because of the whole "gestalt" thing. Tries to reassure him and support him as much as mechanically possible.

Scrapper and Mixmaster are a dangerous duo. Scrapper is really impressed by the other's mind and chemical knowledge that sometimes they simply get in trouble if left alone, with Scrapper saying that everything is fine and nothing will go wrong. Scrapper's general tendency to be unorthodox does NOT go well with Mixmaster's impulsiveness.

Hook is a creature. He has trouble socializing outside of the gestalt and he's emotionally constipated AF.

Hook admires and respects Mixmaster's prowess in chemistry. Very veeeery annoyed by his antics and "jokes". Every interaction of theirs ends with Hook frustrated and angry and with Mixmaster laughing his ass off. Hook still likes Mix' as a friend and will defend him to anyone (awww).

Hook is definitely in love with the enigma that is Scrapper. The thing that made their relationship actually become a thing is the fact that Scrapper respects Hook as a whole, his personhood and skill. Hook rolls his eyes at Scrapper, but will always look out for him... In his own way.

Brooooooo, these guys. They're in a weird non-relationship and they fuck every once in a while, just casual. Hook views Bonecrusher as "the person who is actually worth his time". Maybe even an equal in some way. When Hook needs an opinion, he'll very much go to Bonecrusher first, because he'll say what Hook is already thinking and maybe what Hook wants to think. Just by that, they make each other worse. They also pretend that they can't stand the other, and bicker like hell. (that's how they flirt.)

Hook has a weird, almost romantic kinda platonic relationship with Scavy. I'll just say, they knew each other for a very long time and were each other's comfort in a violent and dangerous environment. Hook has been Scavenger's caretaker for the longest time, and he's very proud of that, in a way. Hook has a very foggy type of possessiveness with Scavy too.

Hook and Long Haul DO NOT see eye to eye. Their whole view of being "gestalt" differs and it makes them fight a lot. They respect each other, but their relationship is estranged.

Mixmaster loves the team and being in a gestalt (where he's finally understood and accepted.) He wouldn't trade them for nothing... Not even a new bigger and improved lab...

Mixmaster really likes Scrapper! He doesn't have that "oh, I gotta respect the boss" mentality or anything, Scrapper is just his friend who takes care of them. Very much likes all of Scrapper's crazy ideas and goes along with them in a heartbeat, also puts his own two cents because he knows he'll be heard.

Hook is like his brother in a way. Loves to bother him and annoy him. Also loves him in general. He'll try to give Hook advice on his problems but sometimes he feels like he doesn't quite get what is going on in Hook's mind.

Long Haul is the person Mixmaster has been trying to understand the most. They are actually very good friends, Mixmaster is a very positive influence on Long Haul's more downer personality... He's also just a real goober. (Thank you Mr.Meanor on Twitter for pointing this dynamic out to me, very endearing!)

Mixmaster and Bonecrusher are best friends, point-and-blank. Bonecrusher will follow Mixmaster on any of his schemes and new projects to take care of him and Mixmaster helps Bonecrusher out when he is in "angst mode".

Mixmaster really likes Scavenger and sees him as his "cool grandpa". He tries to listen to Scavy, but knows that he can be really hard on him sometimes. Cares a lot for his well-being and happiness, even if he drives Scavy insane with his antics...

Scavenger sees the team as his support net but also sees himself as a burden to them. Tries to work 2x as hard to make up for it. (Oh, Scavy... You poor old man.) Might I say that Scavy is also disabled, and suffers from chronic back. Sometimes has difficulty walking, standing, or transforming (does wonders to his self-esteem).

Scavenger is out here gentle parenting Hook ha ha. Ok, seriously Scavy really tries to look out for Hook, he knows he's the only person that can go through him and actually help his problems (they both suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, forgot to mention). Scavy is very much Hook's therapist and friend, and it sure makes him feel useful.

Scavy really tries to take care of Mixmaster and make him stay out of trouble, to... Mixed(lol) results. Scavy genuinely wants Mix' to live his best life and be free from the expectations of outsiders, but he can't help but think: "What will everyone else think?". Really makes an effort to understand Mix' and accommodate for him.

Respects Scrapper more than anything. Tries his best to be helpful and "return the favor", but still, he thinks Scrapper is unreachable. Loves spending time with him, and values the quiet moments between them. Always brings him a cup of energon when he forgets to refuel.

He can't treat Bonecrusher like Hook and that confuses him. He'll try to press and coddle him, but it only works in making Bonecrusher more distant. Respects how Bonecrusher values and cares for the team, but he can see this is very much a responsibility and trauma response and not something that comes naturally to him.

Since Long Haul is more stern than Scrapper, Scavy tends to REALLY put weight on anything he does, says, or thinks. Really respects Long Haul and finds him impressive and a figure of inspiration. When Long Haul is around he pretends he's not in pain, even if he's having a really bad flare-up.

Talk about being emotionally constipated. Bonecrusher really makes this "nonchalant", "aloof" and "detached" persona but the truth is, he values these five guys more than he values his own life.

Thinks of Scavenger as a "little guy I gotta protect". Keeps an eye on him to make sure he's not stressing himself or doing more than he can, and will often take his tasks for himself. Doesn't really know how to talk to him without making him think he's mad at him, really trying to balance the persona and the "making the gestalt happy" thing with this one.

Respects Long Haul. Even when he doesn't agree with him, he'll disagree in silence. However, in comfortable conversation, he'll freely pick on Long Haul and try to wrestle with him. Really thinks Long Haul should use his strength to fight Autobots and is death-set on being his teacher.

Bonecrusher is crazy loyal to Scrapper, like CRAZY LOYAL. He respects Scrapper so much he'll pick fights on his behalf. To him, every word Scrapper says is law and he should be the one to take it upon himself to fulfill his every wish (Scrapper lowkey hates this). Also endeared by how chill and caring Scrapper is.

Values Mixmaster's friendship and company a lot. Makes sure to protect him from himself and from anyone who means him harm. Secretly enjoys his antics and laughs at his stupid jokes. More willing to open up to him due to his carefree nature.

Bruh moment again. Bonecrusher also thinks of Hook as "my equal but not really". Pretends to hate him, but actually values his opinion and most of the time not only gets where he is coming from but will share the same viewpoint. Very angry to get used as his "personal bodyguard"... won't stop getting into fights because Hook crossed someone they both hated. These guys are disgusting and they should die, now.

Long Haul is the odd one out. He likes the guys, sure... But he very much doesn't like the whole gestalt concept. This is just his job.

He's so deep in love with Scrapper, it's ridiculous. Values Scrapper more than anything, will go to hell to make him happy, puts him above himself, and is just generally sappy with him. Sure, he's more reclusive, so the way he shows love is different from Scrapper's. Maybe he'll put a blanket over him, remember his favorite human song, make food for him- ok, I'll stop because I'm getting sick just from thinking about them.

Respects Bonecrusher a lot, even if he thinks he can be a bit over-the-top in... Generally everything. Doesn't like all of his enthusiasm for fighting and teaching him how to do it, but whatever. Doesn't mind talking to him, even if he has "Hook Behaviour" sometimes.

Cares for Scavy, and doesn't know how to show it. Hates it when Scavenger goes out of his way to "prove how useful he is". Thinks Scavy should value his own health more and stop worrying about others. Even if some projects will need to have their deadline extended, it doesn't matter in the long run.

Rocky relationship with Hook, respects his skills but does not respect his mindset. He definitely gets mad pissed when Hook goes over the deadline and budget because he "just needed to get this part perfect". Also doesn't get his distaste for people outside the gestalt and thinks he's crazy for this. Also also, doesn't know what an OCD is.

Even he is surprised with how good friends he and Mixmaster are. He may not find everything he does funny, but he tries to understand what is going on with Mixmaster's mind and talk to him equal to equal. Defends Mixmaster even if he knows he is 100% in the wrong, a little bit ashamed of his lack of professionalism but damn if he isn't endeared by the guy. Will scold him later, probably with Scrapper there to nod and agree.

.

TL;DR: these bitches are dysfunctional but love is love ig ❤️.

[brw]

Would you consider the Xmen to be neglectful. I asked because the krakoan era has made me reevaluate how I see the Xmen, and nowadays I can't help but see them in a negative light.

I think definitely up to a point, although to be perfectly honest I don't think this is an X-Men thing so much as a general superhero team. The Avengers were massively neglectful and failed hugely in the ways they treated Hank Pym, Wanda Maximoff, and Carol, and there are massive injustices with the ways in which Monica was treated, etc etc. Alpha Flight, who I've been reading a bunch of, also fail massively with Aurora, and Heather and arguably Purple Girl. Even the Fantastic Four have many issues where their members go unsupported, have their issues not taken seriously, etc etc.

So I think up to a point a lot of it is down to the fact that it's more dramatic for an audience to have a character uncared for and feeling broken and be allowed to indulge in their worst behaviour and their worst impulses. The problem, of course, is that you can really only do that plotline a couple of times before it does read as a character or team as being horrific friends who mistreat the people around them. Janet, as an example; I am massively sympathetic to Janet in the context of Yellowjacket. I think she was young, she was scared, and she was in a position where actually trying to have a conversation with her teammates about her husband's clearly declining mental health would have likely resulted in him being institutionalised. She was caught in a horrible position where he is unstable, clearly so, and a danger to both himself and other people, but she can't reach out to anyone because the last time she did they stuck him in an electric chair. But Janet in the buildup to Avengers Disassembled? All that sympathy leaves me. Because Janet at that point should know better. She should know far better than to ignore the warning signs of someone clearly mentally unstable, because it has resulted in tragedy before, which she has a direct and very personal experience in. And the vibe there is that Janet simply is a neglectful person, and a bad friend to the people around her who would rather prioritise keeping a fun party atmosphere than look after the people around her.

She's just one example, but my point is that I think a lot of superhero teams end up being neglectful to their members simply by proxy of the soap opera elements of the genre that have defined it for ages. But I also do think it's fair enough to also want more calling out of this behaviour, which never really happens, and extended periods of resentment are rare unless they're villians. Carol, very understandably told the Avengers to take a hike for what they let happen to her, but that resentment and fury isn't there anymore. Hank only ever got angry at the Avengers in any way when Ultron was puppettering his corpse around, so that barely counts, Jeanne Marie was allowed to briefly divorce herself from her brother, but no mentions of his abrasive, misogynistic and ableist behaviour is found in any contemporary comics, and I can't recall any time Wanda was allowed to be furious at the Avengers for what they allowed to happen to her because of their neglect and mistreatment.

Anyway. Yes, I do think the X-Men are certainly neglectful to many of their teammates, but for me, this is also just a general part of the cape comic genre as a whole, so I don't necessarily blame them for it as a specifically X-Men issue, however there are certainly characters like Kwannon and Hank and Warren and whoever else who I think do deserve a bit of righteous fury, because I think it makes for interesting team drama and is often nice for an audience to see.

[cenorii]

Hello, I wanted to ask if you have any headcanons about the time when Chris just joined STARS and they got to know each other? :D

And maybe if you have some hcs about Jake Mullers mother? Tbh I hc her to be 22/23 when she met Wesker (like Chris when he joined STARS XD)

I hope those questions are okay for you!

Yes, I have hc about the very beginning of the formation of STARS.

Initially Chris only socialized with Barry because he was an old acquaintance, but then he quickly became friends with the others because of his open and kind soul. He tried to bring Wesker into the friendship, but it seems to have been to no avail, though Wesker did change his behavioral pattern in the team and began to treat them more warmly, playing the role of “good captain” rather than strict and demanding. Young Chris is skeptical of high ranks, and they're not authoritative, all because of his background in the Air Force. So he takes a closer look at Wesker first, trying to see any hints that he's “as much of an idiot as his boss in the Air Force,” to put it bluntly. And I'm sure Chris was relieved when he realized Wesker was something else entirely. Jill at first seemed like a work-focused nerd, which to him rebellious and lazy young character seemed boring, but then they'd gotten to know each other each other better and went to bars together. Jill would leave the bar before Chris and his friends were having a bash there, but before that unsuccessfully trying to persuade Chris to go home.

My hc about Ms. Muller is very simple - she is to me a female version of Chris, but long-haired, redheaded, and perhaps not as impulsive (in terms of she's more like re8 Chris than re1). I also think she was 25 like Chris in re1, I love parallels between the two, it's my weirdness.

[hwnglx]

skz love life update?

here you go anon ♥︎

who in stray kids is dating? dec '23

based on tarot. i do not know these idols personally. energies are always changing. what i say is NOT straight fact. pls take it with a grain of salt!

bang chan

is he dating? 4osw, 9ow, 6op, pagosw, ju, 7ow, 7op

no, he isn't. bangchan is someone very very careful.. about his actions, about who he lets his into his life and who he decides to dedicate his time and energy to. i'm getting this feeling that right now, his main focus is on his self-development as a person. being a more generous and giving man, making sure to always do the right thing, standing strong as a leader, work hard and tirelessly in order to secure a better future for his team. his focus isn't on relationships right now. he's putting his effort into being a good influence on the people around him, and isn't interested in starting anything romantic for now.

minho

is he dating? 4owrx&kingocrx+10ow, 4oc, 5osw, kingop, knosw

my god, what a mess.. my brain kept going, yes he is, no he isn't, yes he is, no he isn't. i can see there is someone in his life, however things seem to be pretty complicated for them. there is this sense of instability and a lot of immature and overly emotional reactions going on, which is causing the relationship to tire minho out. he's trying his best to not let the negative emotions consume him, but he's feeling kinda hopeless about this connection. he's focusing on work in order to distract himself.

the knight of swords just flew out, even when i stopped shuffling.. i'm getting bad energy from this person i can't lie, they seem very impulsive and obnoxious. minho feels like they're provoking him a lot and making his irrational sides come out more, which he hates. very messy energy for him.

changbin

is he dating? 7oc, 4osw, 9ow, 3ow, aceoc&dev, 7op, aceow&4oc

no, he isn't. changbin seems to have some hesitations towards dating. he might be the type to get obsessed or overly attached to people once they start engaging romantically, and he doesn't really like this feeling of losing himself in that emotion. he feels like love is a pretty emotional manner for him, and he doesn't like that standing in the way of everything else in his life. like once he dates, they're on his mind a lot, he can't focus on much else. losing "control" of himself in that way, makes him feel like he's turning into a "worse" version of himself. (struggling to express this in the right words, english third language lol bare with me) he's consciously making the decision to lay low and not start anything, although he seems to have a lot of people interested in him. he's deliberately delaying and waiting it out.

hyunjin

is he dating? 8ow&5op, hier&queoc&7ow, kingow&mo, 4oc

no, he isn't. but, still holding on to the same person after twenty light years (almost)

i don't think i've ever read for any idol who screams pisces energy (esp venus) the way hyunjin does.. he's literally just allowing himself to be ran over and led on from this person he can not let go of, even if his life depended on it ☹︎

this person has feminine energy and is likely to be a water sign, they seem to be a pretty powerful figure, someone wealthy or with a lot of authority. he's still trying to talk to them sometimes, but the person isn't really giving him much back. he's feeling lonely and pretty empty, but he's still very attached to them. he's scared to end things, and afraid of losing his grip on them.

there also seems to be someone with more masculine energy and fire placements who could play a signifcant role for him. however, whatever they have seems to be very uncertain und confusing. the four of cups in the end is showing me, that hyunjin is feeling very dissatisfied, but trying his best to push his intense emotions aside.

jisung

is he dating? know&kingow, pagop, 6osw, 10ow, 4ow&3oc

no, he isn't. he seems to have recently moved on from a relationship, that might've caused him a lot of self-doubt and insecurities. jisung often gives me this slightly awkward energy when it comes to dating, because he subconsciously puts so much pressure on himself to satisfy the people he's with.. he's easily inclined to feeling like he isn't doing enough. like they aren't happy in the relationship, or believe he's very lacking, or not being the best partner. he struggles with that pressure a lot and doesn't like it, which is why he ends up distancing himself in order to "run away" from that negativity.

the four of wands and three of cups is a pretty good sign though. he isn't really lonely, and still surrounding himself with friends. he often gave me this vibe of being great at remaining friends with his exes.. it's likely he hasn't ended the relationship on very bad terms.

felix

is he dating? 4oc&fo, dev&6op, 7oprx

no, he isn't. felix is trying to take a more light approach to love right now, because he can easily engage in unhealthy and toxic habits, especially when it comes to himself. he's a huge people pleaser. he doesn't like hurting or offending people, so he ends up being nice to everyone, which can quickly give off the wrong impression or send misleading signals to his suitors. he's bad at being direct and truthful about his feelings.

he's trying his best to not give into these bad habits of his, but it isn't as easy. tbh, his energy is pretty confusing right now. he himself seems very lost on how to proceed, it seems like he's either being all "whatever, i shouldn't care so much", or blaming himself a lot for creating so many problems with his unresolved inner issues..

seungmin

is he dating? sun, 2oc, aceop, char, 2ow

yes, he is. seems to be the same person i picked up on first time i read for skz, very stable and sweet energy for these two. things are looking harmonious and happy. they have a nicely built foundation of loyalty, seungmin's partner trusts him immensely and vice versa. they give each other a lot of strength and push each other to be more confident in their pursuit of challenging tasks in life. with both the two of cups and the two of wands here, it seems like this relationship is very much based on mutual feelings of love and affection, as well as mutual goals for their connection. they're ready to hold on to each other for years to come. such pleasant energy, really rooting for them.

jeongin

is he dating? know&6oc, 2osw&lov, queop

hmm, no. not dating. but, i can see there's someone with feminine energy and earth placements in his life, who he's having something with. it seems to be a more physical connection, where they don't wanna put the label "boyfriend/girlfriend" on it. they're likely to be older than him, pretty mature energy.

(jeongin didn't rlly wanna share much more, he's just having fun ☺︎)