#zero decisions on who she will romance. we will see

[marigoldbaker]

durge btw

[zuko-always-lies]

Shower thought about Sokka/Yue

Maybe we should see their canon story in the context of a princess who is forced into a political, arranged engagement with a guy she doesn't love and who she knows is kind of a jerk, who has mixed feelings, at best, over this situation, and then, as a reaction, proceeds to become infatuated with a somewhat funny, foreign and exotic guy who shows up out of nowhere and who she barely knows. Maybe it's not a coincidence that the guy she shows romantic interest in is the outsider with zero knowledge of her circumstances and zero understanding of why she has to marry Hahn.

And for Sokka's side, maybe we should pay attention to the fact that he's an emotionally immature boy with near zero experience with women who sees one sight of a pretty girl, decides based on that alone "she's the one for me," lies about his background in an attempt to romance her, brushes aside her concerns and her attempts to end the emotional affair between them, and persistently and consistently shows zero understanding of the social and cultural context surrounding Yue and her decisions, just like he shows zero understanding of or respect for her sense of duty.

I don't mean to criticize Yue or Sokka here, but they're both acting like idiotic teens who barely know each other and are more in love with the idea of each other than with the actual person they're supposedly infatuated with. I think this is good writing and makes them very real and realistic characters, but I also think this means that, had Yue survived, Sokka and Princess Yue would not have had a stable or long-lasting relationship even with Yue's betrothed Hahn, the alleged obstacle between them, dead and gone. It probably would have fallen apart shockingly quickly.

P.S. One thing I love about "The Serpent's Pass" is that it shows that Sokka completely misunderstood how and why Yue died.

[codegeassfacts]

A Collection of Code Geass Season 1 Informations from Various Sources and Interviews // Canon

I've reunited in there all of the various information I couldn't fit into full fleshed out post and only kept the one with sources (that mostly came for Celiss Galvea Geass legacy), that were mentionned in various corner of the web, so there might be some missing as I don't want to share rumors/unconfirmed material. You'll be able to find the same similar Collection for R2 right there.

The title “Code Geass” was a fairly last-minute decision (the tentative title was “Lelouch of the Rebellion”) The production team were in a panic over the lack of a proper title; “We need a title to design the title logo!” etc. (ura de net geass!)

An 8 hour meeting was held to determine C.C.’s name and real identity. Supposedly none of the participants ate or drank throughout the whole thing (Okouchi: “Give me something to eat!”) According to Yoshino, whenever he thought the meeting was about to come to an end, someone would start up again and the meeting would continue with no end in sight. XD . (ura de net geass)

The hero wasn't meant to be an anti hero like Lelouch, but an ace pilot, just like in most anime from SUNRISE (Taniguchi/Okouchi Interview)

At first Lelouch had white hair, Shirley had blue hair and the Ashford uniform was red, that's why some old school scans show the characters with those colors.

Kallen's first name was Akira, then Kallen (Mutuality Artbook)

C.C. had a name during the creation phase, it was Sera, but nothing says it stayed the same, in Stage 11, Jun Fukuyama, Lelouch's voice actor actually spoke her real name but they decided to cut his voice during the montage. (Mutuality Artbook + DVD commentary) Yukana's voice work profile also used to say the name of her character in Geass was "Sera/Cera."

There was a classement of the boobies size of the girls of the anime which went out in a magazine and you'd be glad to learn that Milly has the biggest boobs of them all ; Lelouch's mother is a close second and Kallen takes the third spot. (Newtype)

Lelouch's line in Stage 14 when he erases Shirley's memories "if there is another life…" was supposed to end up like that "…let us be lovers" but it was eventually cut out. (Shirley gave the full line in the best phrase award session stage 14 to 25 of the first DVD of season 1)

When asked about a possible romance between Lelouch and C.C.,(During S1) Taniguchi said that for that to happen, Lelouch would need to see C.C. as a human being, for he was currently seeing her as some kind of alien (That's why he was about to take a blood sample in Stage 11) (Newtype interview)

About romance, Taniguchi said there would be romantic devellopment for Lelouch in season 2 and that it was left out of season 1 to focus more on Lelouch's goals (destroy Britannia, happy world for Nunnally) and him setting up his rebellion to avoid complicating matters (pash ! interview )

Kallen's story was moved to R2 when it was announced they'd be getting a season 2, that's why she became less present within the second half of season 1 (Fake Okouchi interview)

Suzaku isn't a virgin and is said to be experienced, but we don't know who the lucky girl was ; We know his first love was an older woman, that's probably why he had some form of relationship with Cecile, even if she'll be more of a big sister than a lady mama for him eventually. (Commentary DVD of Turn 19)

Zero was meant to kiss Kallen at the end of the first season to give her courage and determination after being shaken up; she was meant to remember the scene during a fight, but the kiss was removed because Season 2 was coming and a lot of arrangments had to be made around Stage 20 (Megami Magazine /Fake Okouchi)

Kallen doesnt know how to cook, if she tries to make bread, it will turn into ashes; (Kallen's character information given to her seiyuu, Ami Koshimizu)

Jeremiah was meant to die at the beginning of season 1 but he had so much popularity within the staff (and in 2ch) that they chose to bring him back to life. Twice. (Taniguchi interview)

Zero was one of the first character to be created, Okouchi wanted a masked man because a Sunrise anime without a masked man didn't seemed right (Taniguchi x Okhawa Interview)

In case the sequel wasn’t greenlighted (they already received the OK for it back in December 2007 at least), they had an alternative route prepared for the story to take, one which would have ended the story in episode 23. It would have been a non-conclusive ending though; according to Taniguchi it was more of a “psychological” ending for Lelouch like the Evangelion Ending (Taniguchi Interview)

Kawaguchi said Lelouch had Euphemia phone number on his phone because they certainly exchanged their numbers when they met on the deserted Island. (Ura de net Geass)

Mao’s repetitive clapping didn’t exist in the scripting stages; Taniguchi was the one who later added it to make him “more annoying”. (Ura de Net Geass)

Originally, Toudou was supposed to join Lelouch’s side much earlier. They talked about the Diethard and Toudou shot in the ED. All were baffled by it; Conclusion: “Only Taniguchi knows.” (Ura de Net Geass)

Stage 19 was written by Yoshino ; supposedly he requested to do it, saying “Oh well, if (Okouchi) wants me to write a script, I might as well do the island arc.” (he’s more or less the fanservice supervisor for this show) According to him (and the Newtype Taniguchi + Fu-kuyama interview), this was how Lelouch’s trap was supposed to work: Lelouch successfully digs a proper hole –> However, a boar appears behind him –> Lelouch tries to Geass it: “Lelouch Vi Britannia orders you to SIT!” –> Geass doesn’t work on animals –> Lulu Quality Tragedy ; However, Taniguchi changed it all, telling Yoshino: “Well, in the first place, Lelouch isn’t capable of digging such a hole…” (Ura de net Geass)

The reason why the writers made Kallen stand on Gawain’s shoulder instead of getting into the two-seater cockpit with Lelouch in Stage 19: “There’s no way Kallen will hand over the 2nd-pilot position to anyone else once she’s in there.” Good point. (Ura de Net Geass)

According to Tanaka, right after the airing of Stage 22, three of his friends rang him up asking “What the hell was that? I need to know what happens next!” etc...; According to Kawaguchi, “some of the viewers may have been satisfied with the handshake in episode 22, but actually, a lot more people would have been upset…” (Ura de net Geass)

After episode 23, the production team received letters from fans saying “Okouchi is so evil”, “Dark Okouchi” etc, and he didn't liked that (Ura de Net Geass)

Discarded Season 1 plotlines :

Kallen's father was first hinted as being someone important by Okouchi, when he claimed his occupation couldn't be revealed back in March 2007 (Okouchi 28 questions interview from Animage)

Suzaku was meant to have an unrequited love, and it was hinted as being an important subplot back in the day ; The hints strongly pointed at Nunnally. (Fake Okouchi)

Suzaku was meant to be linked to Geass, that's why he reacted to C.C. and to the ruins in Kamine Island, in relation to his superhuman abilities; He didn't had a Geass though (perfect Stage Mook Interview)

Cecile's seiyuu said her character had a "painful sibling relationship" in the past, and she was allowed to reveal that because it wasn't going to appear anymore within the show. Cecile's relationship to Suzaku was basically discarded) A scene with Suzaku was also seemingly cut out from Stage 20 (Magazine preview back in S1.) * What happened to Naoto (Kallen's brother) ; The writers considered bringing him back but then couldn't find a place and decided to let him stay dead (Audio commentary Stage 4 + perfect Stage mook interview)

That's about it for the various miscellanous information I could find for the first season; Now that I have gotten several of those magazines, expect more full blown articles from those whenever I'll have more time.

Hope you enjoyed.

[141wh0re]

Chapter 1: Echoes of The Past

Summary: You've been hard at work, managing a run down pub, trying to get things back in order. It just so happens that one of your favourite regulars is also your long-lost brother. He'd been careful, enough. He only paid with cash, used his alias, and never let your gaze linger long enough to risk being recognised by you. He couldn't risk it. Yet. Older brother Simon x younger sister reader CW: Dark themes, swearing, minor angst, alcohol usage, smoking, mentions of child abuse & neglect.

3.6k words

AN: This is a forbidden, taboo romance. Spoiler alert - incest to come.

He knew it was you. He’d know those eyes anywhere, no matter how long it had been since he’d last seen you. Twenty years, ten months, and six days to be exact. And somehow, you still held most of the same characteristics you had as a little girl. 

Simon stood at the bus stop with his eyes zeroed in on your frame across the street. You were on break from your shift at the pub, smoking a cigarette. It hurt him to see you so grown up, so different, yet so familiar all the same. He noticed the difference between you, and the little girl you were when he left. 

You were taller now. No longer underweight from the years of abuse and neglect, no, you’d filled out now. Curvy hips, ample chest, and a round ass. And your features were still very much your own, though with a mix of your mother’s. 

It was as equally haunting as it was alluring. He couldn’t believe you were here, working one of his usual haunts outside of base. He thought it was too good to be true when he laid his eyes on you, standing behind the bar, looking so familiar, yet so different from how he left you. It was a decision that would haunt him until his last days, but he had to do it for you. To make sure you got out safely. 

But you were none the wiser to who he was. He could see the absence of recognition in your eyes, and he was an idiot to feel angry that you didn’t recognize him. How could you recognize him? The last time you saw him, he was an eighteen-year-old boy, scrawny, underweight, without a single scar on his face. 

She still should’ve been able to recognize my eyes.

If you couldn’t recognize him as your long-lost-older brother, you’d at least recognize him as a regular patron of the pub.

He rolled out his shoulders before crossing the damp road. His skull balaclava was secured over his features, ensuring only his eyes were visible. Rough, calloused hands were shoved into the front of his hoodie pocket, keeping a brisk gait to his steps. 

“Yes, mum. I’m fine. No, we don’t need any more food. I do know how to cook, y’know.” Simon kept his head bowed as he eavesdropped on your conversation over the phone. Mum?  But she’s- His face fell behind his mask as realization set in. You weren’t talking to your biological mother, because she’s dead. It would be impossible for you to have a phone call with a dead woman, unless you were crazy, but Simon was sure you had most of your sanity intact. Mostly. 

His fists clenched in his pockets, and he felt his jaw set in irritation. She’s not your real mother.

���I gotta go. I love you too- bye!” You quickly hung up the phone as Simon reached the doors of the bar. 

“Hey, Ghost. Fancy seeing you here,” You greeted in a chipper tone, flashing a dazzling smile in his direction.

Simon paused the moment you said his alias. His shoulders relaxed upon seeing the dazzling smile on your lips.

“‘Ey, luv. Alright tonight?” He responded in a gruff tone, trying to swallow down every emotion rapidly rushing to the surface just from seeing you again.

You nodded while drawing a final hit from your cigarette, snuffing it out against the aged, brick wall behind you. “Yeah, yeah. How are you doin’?” 

“Same shit, different day.” He shrugged, then held the door open for you, allowing you to enter the pub ahead of him. 

It was particularly dead tonight. Just the way Simon liked it, absent of rowdy patrons. A crew of men in their fifties sat around a booth, watching an MMA fight on one of the overhead TVs, nursing their pints and greasy food. 

Simon sat atop his usual barstool at the far end of the bar. It was the only spot that allowed him to keep his eyes on all exit and entry points, without feeling the constant need to look over his shoulder. 

“Double shot of Kentucky bourbon, neat? Right?” You asked, drawing his attention back to you. 

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips under his balaclava, and he gave a gentle nod. “Tha’s righ’,” He responded, attempting to keep his tone indifferent. 

He watched with rapt attention as you poured his drink. His brow quirked with mild impressment when he noticed you pour without measuring, but by counting alone. Only seasoned bartenders could do such a thing without under-pouring, and upsetting their patrons, or over-pouring and upsetting management. It was obvious you knew what you were doing. 

Seeing you like this was a stark contrast from the toddler that used to spill the juice jug all over the kitchen counter, only successfully managing to pour a third of it into your Winnie The Pooh cup, and the rest on the floor and counter. 

He wonders if you remember that.. If you remember any of the good moments of your shared childhood. 

Simon murmured a quiet, ‘Thanks’ as you set the glass on the coaster in front of him. “Kitchen closes in an hour, if you want anything.” You informed him while leaning against the bar. “Mm. I’ll take some mozzarella sticks.” 

His heart ached in his chest when he saw you flash that dazzling smile at him again. 

“Comin’ right up.” 

Simon couldn’t tear his gaze away from you while you input his order into the POS system. Everything you did now, you did with such grace and fluidity. You were an entirely different person now, no longer a shy, clumsy little girl. No. You were a full-grown woman now. 

He’d missed so much. Due to his actions, he missed out on the better part of your life. He missed your rebellious teenage years, early adulthood, and watching you become the young woman you are now. But he had to remind himself that it was for your safety. 

Everything Simon did for you was to protect you. If he had let you stay, who knows how fucked up you would’ve turned out. Had your father had his way with you, and your mother never changed her compulsive need to remain ignorant to any wrongdoings done by her husband, there’s no telling how much worse off you’d be. How much worse your trauma would’ve been, had he not called the proper authorities to have you placed in a girl’s home. 

At least you weren’t violated by the man who created you. Simon made damn sure of that. 

Simon’s thoughts were interrupted when you returned with a diner basket of mozzarella sticks. The delicious smells of garlic and Italian seasonings wafted towards his nose, making his mouth water at the sight of the fried cheese. A feeling of nostalgia tugged at his heartstrings as a memory flashed to the forefront of his mind, a memory he’d long since forgotten, until now that is. 

The distinct smells of carnival foods flooded his senses. A small hand gripped onto his larger hand, so small and so soft. Bright lights from various carnival rides and food trucks took up residence in the once vacant lot, providing fun and entertainment for couples, and families alike. Carnival music played over the speakers of the rides, accompanied by the delighted shrieks of adrenaline-addled kids. 

Your eyes were as wide as saucers as you took in the sight of all the sweets and fun that awaited you. The tear streaks that previously marred your cheeks now dried, once your big brother came to your rescue. He did what any rebellious teen would do, and disobeyed their father. The same man who made you cry by refusing to take you to the carnival to celebrate your sixth birthday, the only thing you’d asked to do, and yet it was shot down without a second thought. Simon had to take matters into his own hands to give you the birthday you deserved, a birthday worth remembering. 

“And what’s first on Bug’s Birthday Agenda?” Simon asked, lifting up your small form to sit atop his shoulders. 

You had felt as if you were on top of the world. Sitting up so high on your big brother’s shoulders, you felt as if you could touch the sky. And he encouraged you to, wanting nothing more than for you to feel the freedom of a day as a normal child, without all the fear and anxiety you were burdened to live with. The burden of being the spawn of  Bruce Riley. 

“Cheese sticks!”  You exclaimed enthusiastically. 

Simon couldn’t wipe the grin from his lips if he tried. “Mozzarella sticks, Bug. Mozzarella.” He corrected, chuckling softly. 

“How are they?” You asked, bringing him back to the present. 

“Good. Uh, yeah. Good.” He answered, clearing his throat. He felt a warmth creep up the back of his neck, feeling as if he’d been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “Mm.. and that’s why you haven’t touched them?” You remarked, raising an inquisitive brow while narrowing your gaze on him with a playful suspicion. 

Simon swallowed the lump in his throat. You’d completely thrown him off balance with your remark, catching him in the act. But he wasn’t about to key you in on the little secret he was harboring, at least not yet, anyway. He at least owed you somewhat of an explanation, to quell the curiosity swirling in your mind. 

“Someone… I was rather close with, she loved mozzarella sticks… she was practically convinced they were a food group in and of ‘emselves.” He admitted after a moment. 

A grin split your soft lips, and he watched as you leaned against the bar, propping your elbow on the bar, and resting your chin in your hand. “Sounds like she had good taste.” 

“Impeccable.” Simon agreed, unable to resist giving an amused chuff. 

His amber eyes flitted up to meet yours. How desperately he wanted to reminisce with you, and remind you of all your adventures with him. Simon may have been ten years older, but you were his little beacon, in the rotten pit of hell called ‘home’, you were his bright light. He never got to thank you for that, for being his light. 

“How long you been a bartender?” Simon asked just before he lifted the edge of his mask to sit just above his lips, revealing a pale, jagged scar that slanted across the top left lip, and ran until it reached the edge of his clean-shaven chin, taking a bite of a mozzarella stick. 

He didn’t miss the way your gaze flitted down to the scar. Your eyes flickered with lingering curiosity, wanting to ask the questions burning at the forefront of your mind. But you were too polite for that, having been taught proper manners from your adoptive mother. 

“Too long,” you joked, flashing him your familiar grin.

He hummed thoughtfully, amused by your response.

Simon was familiar with your work history. He’d been watching you for years, keeping track of your whereabouts. After you were adopted from the girl’s home, he hired an investigator to do some digging on your adoptive family, and ensure they were upstanding citizens who’d give you nothing but the best. The wife was a grade school teacher, and the husband was an aviation mechanic for the regional airport. And they only had one other child, a daughter a few years younger than yourself.

They’d moved around a bit to follow the money. Which was good, it meant you were being properly cared for. There were no signs of abuse within the household, and you seemed to still be close with them, if the earlier phone call was any indication. Simon was happy for you, but still felt a bitter ache from having to remove you from his life. 

But he wouldn’t do that anymore. He was happy to learn you were promoted from a shift lead to Assistant General Manager for the pub chain, and when he found out you would be transferring to the city just outside of 141’s HQ? He couldn’t help himself, he couldn’t have you just within arms reach, only to let you go again.

He’d selfishly insert himself back into your life before he ever let that happen again. 

“Not that I’m judging, but I have to ask…” You started, narrowing your eyes as you studied his balaclava. “What’s with the mask?” 

Simon’s lip twitched beneath the material. His sharp, honey eyes locked onto your gaze. Weren’t you a curious one? Though, you’d made it several weeks before asking, which is more than anyone else normally had made it.

“Hide my face.” He shrugged noncommittally, knowing the answer was likely frustrating to you in an underwhelming way. 

“Hmm..” You hummed, letting your gaze linger on the enigma of the man before you. 

“You settlin’ in alright in the city?” Simon wondered, remembering that you’d moved here only just under a month ago to start your new life.

Your bright smile tugged at his heartstrings. Your smile could light up the world around you, it always had. He was happy to see that smile hadn’t changed one bit, it was still just as bright, just as full of life as it had been when you were little. But Simon could vividly remember the days where a few of your teeth were missing at a time, having lost your two front baby teeth within a few weeks of each other. That toothless, toothy grin would forever be ingrained in his memory. 

But he noticed your adult teeth were much straighter. Perfectly straight, even. He guessed you had braces sometime in your teenage years, knowing firsthand the lack of routine maintenance due to your father’s neglect, and your mother’s inability to convince him his three children needed dental care. He wouldn’t dare pay for anything, if it cut into the cost of his booze. 

Simon needed braces himself. And that’s exactly what he did the moment he had enlisted, finding the first dentist that would take him. He had his wisdom teeth pulled, and braces put on, which finally alleviated the constant aches he had suffered through, even if it was short-lived from having a few teeth knocked out. At least he no longer had the horrid, crooked bottom teeth. 

No one has to know a few of his teeth are fake. 

“It’s going really well. My neighbours are all pleasant, and a bit older, so I won’t have to deal with any rowdiness. My younger sister and I went to IKEA, and bought a bunch of furniture to set up a cosy, little study nook for her.” 

Simon listened intently as you gushed about your new flat. It amused him, finding it endearing how such domesticity made you so happy. 

“How’s she likin’ uni?” He inquired.

“She seems happy. Said her professors are helpful, and they seem to care about their students actually being successful in their classes. Though, her economics professor seems like a prick.” 

A gruff chuckle rolled from the back of his throat. He couldn’t help but to be amused by your brash words, coming from such a sweet thing as yourself. 

Part of him couldn’t help to wonder why you’d done it. Why had you transferred to this bar? Was it for your career? Was it to help keep your sister safe?  Or did you do it in hopes to lessen the homesickness your sister would eventually feel, after the excitement of being in a new area began to wane, being so far from home for an extended period of time?  

He had so much he would have to learn about you. While you still looked very much like his little sister, you were an entirely new person. You’d lived several lifetimes without him, and he was eager to learn about the current one you were living, hoping there was still some semblance of his Bug locked in the back of your mind. Simon would pay for every one of his sins, as long as it meant he could have a fracture of the light you exuded back in his life. He’d move heaven and hell to quell the homesickness he’d felt for all these years apart, but it wasn’t homesickness for the hell he’d grown up in, it was homesickness for a person. For you. 

His Bug. 

It was busier tonight than when Simon was last here. But the night would soon be coming to a close, so he wasn’t entirely concerned about it. Most of the patrons typically left the pub just before eleven, and especially with the storm due to hit soon, people would be scrambling to get back to their homes to avoid being caught in a torrential downpour. Simon didn’t mind the rain, he’d take it over the recent dust storm he’d been caught in on his latest deployment. 

Two girls worked behind the bar this evening. He glanced around in search of you, hoping you were working tonight. And to his relief, one of the girls had retrieved you from the back office, informing you that her shift had ended. He sank down on his usual bar stool, silently observing the interaction, patiently waiting for the right moment to get your attention. It wasn’t long, because you’d spotted him before he even had to say anything. 

“Hey. The usual, I presume?”  You asked, already retrieving a scotch glass from the shelf. 

“‘Course,” he answered in a rough voice.

His throat still felt raw and scratchy from the yelling that ensued on his most recent op. The dust storms his team were exposed to didn’t help either. It left his nose and throat irritated, despite wearing his mask, and a keffiyeh. He was content to be back in a damper climate, like England. 

Somewhere that didn’t dry out his nasal cavity, and cause nosebleeds in his sleep. 

Simon took in your appearance. His sharp eyes picked up on the slight bags of your under eyes, and the way your shoulders were slightly slumped.

“Long day, luv?” He asked with a curious eye following your movements. 

You sucked in a drawn out breath, releasing it as a sigh. “You could say that.”  You answered as you set his drink on the coaster. 

“Kitchen is closed, unfortunately.” 

“Good thing ‘m only ‘ere f’r the whisky then.” He retorted, pulling a gentle laugh from you.

Simon decided not to bother you too much with the pub being busier than the nights he was normally in. The night slowly began winding down, and patrons filed out one by one. Simon’s gaze was trained on the window, watching the storm clouds open up, dumping water into the streets. Thunder rumbled just beyond the walls of the pub, and he didn’t miss the way you startled at the booming sound.

She’s still afraid of thunderstorms… 

Simon had to bite back a smirk beneath his balaclava. Even in your youth, you startled easily from thunderstorms. He had countless memories of being woken in the middle of the night to your small form scrambling into his bed, desperately seeking refuge from the anxiety-inducing thunder, and blinding flashes of lightning. 

He could never refuse you then. It was his duty to keep you safe, and soothe your fears. 

“Not a fan of thunder?” He couldn’t resist the urge to tease you. 

You shook your head with a wry smile on your lips. The register clicked closed, having finished your nightly counts. “Not in the slightest,” you answered with a soft chuckle, “It’s been that way since I was little.” 

Simon hummed thoughtfully. He glanced down at his finished glass of whisky, tongue poking his cheek beneath his mask. He knew he should get going, so you could finish closing up the pub. Yet, he couldn’t bring himself to come off his stool, and especially after hearing your confession. 

“You know it can’t hurt you while indoors, right?” He tried to soothe, still keeping a humorous lilt in his smooth tone. 

“You couldn’t have convinced me of that as a child. I always feared lightning would come right through the window, and grab me.” 

He gave an amused huff, shaking his head. Simon was well aware of how difficult it was to convince you that the lightning couldn’t harm you. He’d gone as far as teaching you to count the seconds between each crackle of lightning, hoping it would ease you if you knew the distance of where the lightning was striking. It was a useful trick he picked up from an American student, in his youth, and was happy to pass that knowledge off to his baby sister. 

Lightning struck close by. Simon watched your head snap towards the window, and heard the sharp intake of breath. Thunder rumbled the pub once more, and with it, went the lights. Your hands gripped the edge of the bar, knuckles turning white when a haunted look flashed behind your eyes, and Simon could just barely make it out, but he saw it. There was no hiding the fear and anxiety rapidly rearing its ugly head. 

Shit. 

He knew that look all too well. The way your eyes glazed over, the rigidness of your spine. He’d seen it plenty of times within his career, close to two decades witnessing that look. Physically, you were here— but mentally, he had no idea where you were. But if he had to guess… it was somewhere you’d both rather not think about.

“Hey.. hey.” Simon gently started, pulling your attention back to him. “Where’d ya go, luv?”

“S-sorry. Sorry.” you chuckled nervously, shaking your head to clear your thoughts. 

The panic pulsing through you was tangible. Simon knew he had to calm you down, had to get you back to the present. In a last ditch effort, before he could even think about it, he uttered the words he hadn’t spoken in years. 

“Count ‘em, bug.” 

[satureja13]

The Friendship between: Saiwa and Vlad

Like Vlad and Jack, Saiwa and Vlad met at the Space (Balls) Bar & Grill & 'Residence'.

They have a very solid friendship and respect each other. Usually one of them is reasonable and able to talk the other into doing the right thing or out of making wrong decisions and usually the other listens.

Saiwa is a reluctant leader (no one except himself ever questioned his abilities to lead them, neither the Boys themselves nor the Resistance) and often questions his position in the group and it's a burden for him. He's glad that he can ask Vlad (and Kiyoshi) for advice.

And he also thinks that Vlad would be a better leader (also no one else shares this opinion lol and Vlad would be shocked if he knew about this. He has more than enough problems, is an introvert and prefers quiet activities like painting and writing over herding a bunch of weirdos out of control ö.Ö') More about this (and more ^^') here (under the cut) and here (also under the cut).

Aside of all their hardships, they also are a very handsome pairing (=the visuals of the group ;) (Romance Level: Below Zero) At Mount Komorebi

In our Heidi Special I love the way they look at each other.

And a very funny one! That was when we made the Simtimates Collection Special at the end of the Sabotage Chapter: Sai joked about what if Ms Coombes, their teacher (Vlad is her favourite) ever sees these pics hahaha. (And a few weeks later she said she really saw them! omg ^^')

And that was at the 6 month anniversary of our story ^w^ Hissing and growling with the yeti :3

And in the Jungle of Selvadorada

After Vlad died, it had been Saiwa who refused accepting it and kept on investigating. He even dragged Jeb to DEATH's Domain to find out what happened to him.

And that was when Saiwa and the Gang Doctor 'encouraged' Vlad to tighten the Bond with Ji Ho :3 (Ah I really enjoy doing this series, we had so much fun! And it keeps me busy and from worrying until I have my new computer and if everything goes well ^^')

And no one ever found out which song it was...

The only fights they had (and I remember) were before Ji Ho and Vlad tightened the bond. This was at the beginning when Vlad wanted to avoid Ji Ho:

And this was when Giga/Saiwa had sent Ji Ho to Vlad's room to take a bath and Vlad was upset because he feared to lose control ^^' (It had been Saiwa who dragged Ji Ho to the Space Bar and Saiwa was the first who predicted their epic love story at the first they they'd met)

Oh and the epic fight they had that faithful day when Vlad decided to bond with Morgan to spare Ji Ho from doing Bond Magic... Sai and Jack had been so mad at Vlad, they didn't speak with him for months ö.Ö' (this stupid action also lead to the Boys' separation and a few weeks later they swore to not have any secrets from each other to avoid further harm).

This is one of the few things they'll never agree on I fear. Saiwa wants to use their Bond magic for doing good and Vlad wants to spare Ji Ho from doing it.

Their Friendships (in chronological order):

Giga/Saiwa and Jack

Vlad and Jack (updated)

Giga/Saiwa and Vlad

Vlad and Sai at Tartosa

Vlad and Sai dancing together in our Goth Special

In chronological order: 🫛 Saiwa and Jack 🫛 Vlad and Jack 🫛 Saiwa and Vlad 🫛 Kiyoshi and Jeb 🫛 Saiwa and Ji Ho 🫛 Ji Ho and Jack 🫛 Ji Ho and Jeb 🫛 Ji Ho and Kiyoshi 🫛 Vlad and Kiyoshi 🫛 Vlad and Jeb 🫛 Saiwa and Kiyoshi 🫛 Jack and Jeb

❤️‍🔥 Ji Ho and Vlad (and Luci) ❤️‍🔥 Saiwa and Jeb ❤️‍🔥 Jack and Kiyoshi ❤️‍🔥 Noxee and Greg ❤️‍🔥 Leander and Wesley (and Vlad) ❤️‍🔥 Francine Spencer (Jeb's Grandmother) and Jules Rico

From the Beginning  ~  Underwater Love ~  Latest 🕹️ 'Therapy Game' from the beginning ▶️ here 📚 Previous Chapters: Chapters: 1-6 ~ 7-12 ~ 13-16 ~ 17-22 ~ 23-28

[yourhighness6]

A Yue Stan's Thoughts on Yue's Character in NATLA

As much as I appreciated what NATLA was trying to do and think it is worth a rewatch, can I just say as an unapolagetic Yue stan that they completely ruined her, and Yukka by extension.

And say whatever you want about her scenes leading up to the sacrifice (which did make me cry, I'll admit, her speech about living was actually a nice addition), but it was actually this line that left me absolutely seething and in my opinion proves that the writers completely misunderstood what made the sacrifice so powerful:

I actually had to pause the television and collect myself after this one because holy fuck is this the stupidest thing I've ever heard. The entire point in the animated show was that she didn't get to make her own choices before this point. She didn't get to choose who to marry, she didn't get to choose her role in society, she didn't get to choose basically anything about her life besides maybe how to style her hair or something. Yue was a character who was extremely dutiful, but also extremely boxed in by her duty. It was both her greatest strength and her greatest weakness, a parody of itself, just as her mere existence was a parody: while she was saved by the moon spirit as a child and allowed to live on, it was that very reason that she eventually gave up her life. And the very fact that she was given these choices in the first place in the LA seriously undermined the idea of her sacrifice. Yue was told her entire life what to do, and although she did manage to find a bit of freedom through her brief romance with Sokka, ultimately, she still didn't get to publicly be with him or reject Hahn or anything similar. Her sacrifice was what she saw as her duty, yes, but her sacrifice for her people was also a way of standing up for herself and finally resolving to make her own choices. In that moment, she not only saved her people, but she finally made a decision for herself instead of doing something someone else told her to, even going against Sokka's wishes to do what she thought was necessary. So in the LA, with her having a place of influence in her community, with her being able to call off her engagement, with her being told that she could one day be chief, to that stupid fucking line implying that she was in no way ever repressed and free to make her own decisions the entire time, removing all of her character growth and any character significance to her actions, it was all basically pointless. It made Yue into a plot device for Sokka to bond with and to move the Aang-and-Kuruk plotline forward. In the animated series, Yue was not a plot device, and she was extremely well written, whereas in NATLA, her character fell completely flat. She talks about responsibility and pressure in her first scene with Sokka, but other than that, she has no depth. In other words, she has no depth besides her relationship to him.

Anyway, I hope we can all agree that her characterization and a lot of the decisions made in the last two episodes of NATLA were nothing but a pile of bulshit. From Iroh killing Zhao to Yukka having zero chemistry to Katara just magically becoming a master to Zuko being shelved to the plotline about Aang not feeling like he belonged having absolutely no buildup beyond a throwaway line in the second episode to everything about Yue I spelled out above, I would go as far to call it just plain bad. Again, I'm glad it got renewed, and I'll be the first to say a lot of other episodes get unnecessary hate, as well as that we are working with slightly different characters (especially Azula) in this version than the first, but I was really disappointed with seeing Yue in LA for a second time.

[koreandragon]

One spring night was amazing. Not only did we get so many great women and relationships btw them we also got some important themes and stories domestic abuse, single parenthood for both men and women in Korea etc. And the best thing is all this and we got an amazing love story with a badass lady who is so well written and has friendships and a job she loves and dynamic relationships with her parents and siblings but also is so proactive in her relationship and while she makes mistakes she is as steadfast and strong in defending and protecting her boyfriend as he is her. It just honestly makes all these dramas lately pale even more in comparison because they seem to think we're stupid or something. Our brains can't possibly see something as feminist if it's not as performative as possible while also forgoing the actual point of most of these shows which is to make a romance. Like the male characters only|main purpose is to be in love and that's what drives all their thoughts and actions with zero regard for their individuality or safety or anything else at all on the other hand that's the female characters last concern and they can't possibly make decisions based on prioritizing the person they love lest they crumble where they stand because uwu girlbosses so it's like two different stories written by Jekyll and Hyde.

literally so tired of the hallmark movie Ambitous City Girl Learns To Love Again trope like i'm tired of all the girlbossery where women don't allow themselves to feel anything because we're in the age of the Strong Woman at least some bastardization of the concept and then she meets the clingiest motherfucker on earth to teach her to live laugh love like we just need women portayed as normal fucking people. i beg

[walking-tornado]

Chobits is an asexual fantasy and yall feel weird because a show has never catered so hardcore to demiromantic asexuals until Chobits.

I highly recommend reading it to watching the anime. The anime deviates quite a bit from the manga and cuts a lot of important details from the last arc. Spoilers ahead for the end of the show, i will get into basically everything soooo be warned.

Feel free to fight me in the comments, i love discussions :>

At its core Chobits is a romance between a human cishet man- Hideki- and a female asexual Robot/Persocom -Chi-. Its a slow burn romance, where Hideki is given time to observe the complex relationships around him, before coming to a decision, while Chi has more of an introspective journey of finding out what she wants outside of her programming.

Chobits explores quite a number of themes and ideas about romance and the nature of sapience:

The most glaring is the idea of Human/Persocom relationships and romances. Is a Persocom with complex enough programing sapient? Is it enough that the human observer believes their Persocom is sentient for it to be? When a Persocom consents, does it really?

We see people become obsessed with their Persocom who can do anything ,without question, to the point where they neglect their spouses. At the same time we see people who are wholeheartedly in love with their Persocom, and who endure the societal pressure to seek human companionship. We see characters who create a Persocom duplicate of their deceased loved one, and their emotional struggle.

We are shown the effects of the sociatal pressure on women to rise up to the beauty and "perfection " standards that these dolls bring to the table.

Okay okay buuuut wait WalkingTornado, isnt this that one anime where her power button is down THERE?!?!

Yes, thats the one. Its treated as a comedic hook in the first chapter because Hideki has zero experience and background information and we see the world though his extremely naive eyes.

After learning from those around him about the nature of a romantic relationship with a Persocom, he is hit with the magnitude of that perticular design choice. Chi has no innate desire for sex, and should she have sex, her fundamental personality will be deleted and changed forever.

And Hideki, accepts to enter a purely romantic relationship with Chi, and consents to not have sex with her ever, despite being allosexual.

He doesnt ask if they can move/remove the button, he doesnt ask if he can possibly have oral, he doesnt ask if he can date someone on the side, he doesnt ask her to sacrifice her being for his sexual benefit.

He accepts her as she is and respects the now completely asexual nature of their relationship.

Now onto the negatives: The asexual being a robot is nothing new, but is it problematic? Maybe, but considering that so much media has trouble accepting an Asexual as not a broken/ill/hasnt met the right person/traumatised/low libido/nun who has to get over themselves and just have sex like the rest of us, Chobits with it unusual premise, does a good job of portraying an asexual romantic relationship using an unconventional premise.

I pray for a future, where asexual representation in media gets to a point where we can look back and snicker that hehe they thought we were all robots. But till then, i will defend Chobits as my go to Asexual media to my dying day.

[atsoraasayoma]

Hi! I just found your page, and as a Takari shipper, I really appreciate what you do!

I bring you a topic to analyze! Recently I've been thinking about something that I haven't seen discussed anywhere, and that is that if you look at the children of the chosen ones in the epilogue, the oldest ones are Yolei's and Ken's, and then Hikari's (???).

Taking into account that the epilogue takes place in 2027 and her daughter (or son?) looks about 10 years old maybe, then let's say she only has about 5 years left between '02 The Beginning' and the birth of her child to meet someone, fall in love, date and perhaps get married (I mean, it's not necessary to get married to have a child). That's a long time I know, and she could still meet someone between that time, date and then get married in a space of 3 years or so, but it sounds a bit accelerated. Could it be that by the time of the last movie, she's already meeting someone, going out to bars and fooling around? See where I'm going?

I would like to know what you think about it? :)

Hi there! Thanks for consulting with me about this topic friend. For one, I don’t really see Hikari going to bars by herself. She is very cautious unless going through emotional distress, but if one of her friends were there specifically Takeru or Miyako I think she would allow herself to get a little buzzed but not full on wasted and make those kinds of decisions.

To be perfectly honest I have a hard time seeing Hikari dating anyone because it takes a long time for her to feel comfortable. She’s great with children of course, but when it comes to romance I think that would prove to be difficult. She has to learn to confide in people. So if she has close friends and went to a mixer or something, maybe but she would have to have the approval of her friends first. She may be timid at times, but she is smart. With Takeru’s training I’m sure she could talk her way out of trouble what with how she seemed to learn how to tease from him.

Due to her past I think she’s better than before about making personal choices but this is usually in a group setting when it comes to decisions. I am sure she has learned from both Takeru and Miyako and the hearts of the kidnapped children in zero two. Oh, and Tailmon as well.

A part of me strongly believes that she would end up with Takeru and we are being played until the end of this. I spent quite sometime trying to analyze eye colors and heritage and how their kids could have blue eyes and the other has brown eyes which was disheartening…

…but then I remembered, hey this is anime. Does everything absolutely have to be in alignment for it to work? I don’t think so with a hint of salt.

We have to be realistic, but omission is neither evidence nor falsehood.

I try to look at trends, yet since we don’t know the names of most of the Digidestined spouses or seen them we’re not getting the full picture. So, we need to focus on what we can see.

That was just the introduction. So here are my thoughts.

Whoever Hikari dates would need some kind of approval from her brother. He’s still protective of her. He would also need to be approved by her other friends -especially Miyako who is her confidante. She would also like to know Takeru’s reaction since they were childhood friends.

So she would control her environment before she takes any hasty emotional decisions.

I think you’re right timing wise as far as the canonicity of the children being born.

Yet, even after considering what is highly likely I want to give proper credence to omission in the Takari case.

What’s fascinating about this pairing is what we can draw from their constantly being around each other. They grow, they support each other, they start to have feelings in Tri, and by the time we get to Kizuna they are in sync literally lockstep (from the limited time we see them.)

All of this is hammered down even further when we get to the 2nd dialogue script in 02 to the Beginning Movie where they literally are making up stories together on the spot with their Digimon and just literally leading Ken on with their wild stories.

(This also got me thinking maybe Hikari gave Takeru idea to write about for future novels)

Then in that same movie Hikari seems to have front passenger seat privileges, is extremely calm about Takeru’s erractic driving which tells me she is used to it, and lastly, and this is the most important point:

They are still extremely close. Even more so than their DNA digivolving partners. I can’t say the same for Ken and Daisuke.

If we take a step back and look at this from Digimon Adventure all the way through this new movie we can see a steady progression in the building of their relationship.

In the next movie then, I believe, so close to the ordained time of meeting their spouses, one of two things will happen.

They will be in good communication of course. But, what I can see is either Takeru will meet someone, introduce them to the group and Hikari will be supportive but heartbroken and then move on.

Or two, and this is my hope, that, they will finally cross that line to actually become lovers. It would have to be a truly desperate moment for them to see each other that way. They are both terrific at hiding their own feelings.

If we approach this canon wise the first option seems more likely.

But I have approached their relationship differently because so much of their relationship is based off those little details of expression, emotion, and proximity.

This is the last scene I have seen of them from the new movie that I remember. They still seem quite close.

In my opinion after such an emotional travail from the previous conflict it seems that each Digidestined ended up playing with the ones they are closest to.

Hikari could have chosen Miyako.Takeru could have not prepared himself and taken a hit from Iori but he was ready to take it from her.

In response to the last part of your question, I think, should Hikari have been dating Takeru would have made some reaction or comment about it. The same with Takeru. Like in Tri?

But, they didn’t. It wasn’t even brought up. And even if it was possible do you think another girl or guy would like their girl/boyfriend hanging out with their childhood friend in their car alone or at a restaurant?

Maybe it’s a cultural thing but you have to admit that can prompt all kind of misunderstandings.

So in summary I agree they could meet someone else by the time the last movie comes out and dash the hopes of the Takari faithful.

However, like in one of my previous posts I submit this picture as a reservation for Takari to be canon much as the vacant spot conspicuously behind Tentomon in front that seemed reserved for someone:

Mirrored Daisuke appears to have mirrored the missing spot between Sora and Yamato. Yet Takeru seems to have stepped forward as if he was meant to have been in that hidden spot besides Hikari in the first picture.

My hopes for Takaridom are banked on such observations. There is a constant ‘why’ when it comes to these two and their relationship.

One of my biggest ones is why that gap? And as this final movie comes across our path hopefully in the next five years we’ll get some kind of final answer just how far their relationship goes.

I just know that if they are still that close which I believe they will be one or the other will somehow have the other in the back of their minds when it comes to any romance. Which, is a most curious thing, isn’t it?

Would that not lead to, ‘If I’m always considering you/confiding in you does that mean we are the best of friends or could we be more than that?

…

And I am eagerly waiting for those emerging of emotions to manifest that both of them will realize.

(For further understanding of how Takari can be canon I recommend to read my fanfiction series The Digital Record Series on fanfiction.net or archiveofourown.com under Atsoraasayoma.)

I know this has been quite the long response but to me I can’t give a short answer or even a medium one. Much like their relationship you might need to take my opinion with a grain of salt or go back through the series and read between the lines.)

[azems-familiar]

my thoughts on veilguard

putting this all below a cut; it will contain SPOILERS for all of veilguard, including the ending.

alright, i'll start with the good parts.

i did actually enjoy playing the game - while the mechanics are very different from previous dragon age games, i found it still had enough tactics in it to be interesting, and the varying difficulty levels helped a lot for me; i'm actually planning to try it on a slightly higher difficulty the next playthrough i do. i quite liked the exploration and felt that they'd successfully improved on the failed open worlds from Inquisition, and the puzzles all over were a lot of fun to decode. the art style itself is absolutely beautiful; i was skeptical of it in the trailers, but found myself enjoying it once i actually got into the game itself. the soundtrack is gorgeous (though i do think it lacks a bit when compared to inquisition's), and i overall had fun.

i do love all the companions, and as someone who really enjoyed me2's loyalty system seeing a similar style brought in here was quite fun for me. i also felt they did a good job trimming down extraneous side quests while still keeping the game feeling like it had plenty of content; i didn't fully 100% it my first run but i got through almost everything.i imagine if i'd gone for the full 100% my playthrough would've ran around 100 hours rather than the 95 i clocked (though that includes some character creator time, so isn't fully accurate. maybe 90?).

there were several very good moments - i enjoyed the conversations between Rook and Solas; overall i really loved most of Solas's content in the game. i felt the Varric bait-and-switch reveal was actually really well done. i played a trans nonbinary Rook and really adored the trans dialogue peppered throughout and how that interacted with the romances and with Taash's arc. the game also keeps track of how you interact with characters and has that influence the choices you get in the future, or the choices they make, which was very neat.

but overall...it really just feels like they dropped the ball.

this doesn't feel like a dragon age game. it's entirely absent the complex politics and intrigue that i'd expect from one - we are told many things that are there for plot reasons and given no deeper justification, such as the Antaam and Venatori not only willingly working together, but willingly working together for the elven gods. it's expected to be believable that the Dalish uniformly have accepted this version of their history that only the Inquisitor and her inner circle knew, besides Fen'harel's agents, ten years ago? speaking of Fen'harel, where are his agents, his network, his people?

(speaking of the Dalish, why are they all Veil Jumpers now. we see zero traditional clan structure onscreen and i'm kinda upset about it as someone who has played as a Dalish elf wherever possible in every game.)

the game has incredibly weird pacing; it uses Varric's screens to describe things that haven't happened and the characters don't know about, and i think they meant to have that build tension, but instead imo it just deflates it; there's no natural wondering what consequences things might have because everything is spelled out long before we get there. at the same time, things that should have been quests to discover are spoken of in "varricspace". this does get better later in the game, but it still feels...very weird. i think the worst part of it is at the beginning - you stop Solas's ritual, the gods escape, you have one conversation with Solas, everyone basically uniformly agrees the gods have escaped, and away you go. D'Meta's Crossing is treated like a "find out who your actual enemy is" part but...doesn't really end up actually feeling like that because of the weird exposition.

their decision to only carry over 3 choices but still reference past events left a lot of open-ended, vague moments - like Harding's conversation about the Inquisition, where she could only give surface details about a few people and said nothing about the Inquisitor at all, or Dorian and Maevaris talking about how Fereldan's succession was decided by a duel at one point but not saying anything else about it. or the fact that Hawke never comes up, despite one of their potential romances being right here, and Varric hanging around...whether that was Actual Varric or not lol.

i found a lot of plot holes - it was pretty clear they wanted to do specific things with the Blight, so there was just a lot of Wardens going "well we don't know what's happening it's changing all the rules" and massively fucking with that lore, which, okay whatever. i wasn't very happy with the fact that we destroyed Weisshaupt, but at least trying to destroy the Grey Wardens is kinda a dragon age special. the other Evanuris are basically treated as though they no longer exist, even though Solas trapped all of them in the Fade...? this was a big ol plot hole for the ending imo.

most people have said all the other things i could say about the writing, so instead i'll address the thing that bothered me the absolute most: the ending.

first - gratuitous character death that has almost no impact on the game or the characters? well i played mass effect, so whatever, i'm used to that. nah, i want to talk about Solas, and how the ending is awful for him, even the "good" one.

even if you ignore the plot hole about how there should still be several other Evanuris out there to maintain the Veil, pushing Solas to tie himself to the Veil and spend the rest of his immortal life protecting it as "atonement" is a super shitty ending. atonement for what? for actions that happened thousands of years ago, that he has lived with awful regret for since, that he was pushed into by Mythal? the game does a wonderful job of showing how manipulative and insidious their relationship was - i'd go so far as to call it abusive, though not in a way some people would recognize, emotionally rather than physically - only to then never touch on that or let the characters properly react to it. in fact, with the Titans, Solas is the one saying he knows this is a bad idea and will have consequences, and he's told to do it anyway - and yet Harding gets furious at him, then later laments that she should be ANGRIER at him for it.

Solas was used by Mythal time and again, very clearly felt as though he couldn't refuse her until the very end, often spoke out against her decisions, and most importantly was only one of the people responsible for the war with the Titans, and yet is made to bear all of the blame. Frankly I'm also upset by how the game railroads you into being angry at him for Varric's death and treating it as some horrible thing - Varric fucking tried to steal Solas's ritual knife, while unarmed, i don't know what he expected. and Varric's death alone is not a crime worth forcing Solas to spend his ENTIRE IMMORTAL LIFE "atoning" for. neither is his desire to tear down the Veil, which he never actually succeeded at doing.

a true, healthy and happy ending would have been Solas getting to pass off the mantle of his people's protector and whatnot, maybe to an elven Rook, and getting to go off and live an actual life, as he says he wanted to in a particular codex entry:

while i'm glad that Lavellan gets to go with him, it just felt like such an...almost punitive-punishment style ending. the evil villain has to go atone for his crimes all his life but because there's a good man who wanted to do good things (AND DID DO A WHOLE LOT OF GOOD LET'S NOT FORGET) under there he gets to have his lover with him for it. like. what are we punishing him for, lying to Rook??

idk, man. it leaves a really bad taste in my mouth.

[kindwhispers]

Kaze Hikaru: Slow burn romance, debunking the patriarchal gender roles, and the intricacies of a fractured Bakumatsu era

Disclaimer: Attached below are heavy spoilers, please read on your own discretion.

I. Initial thoughts and impressions:

I am not well versed with Japan's Feudal history but I am well aware that this is recounting actual events during the Bakumatsu Era. At first it definitely felt like there's a lot of information bombardment in a chapter, as well as characters being thrown around and it was quite hard to catch up especially coming in with zero background on the Shinsengumi. There's definitely so much to consider and put into mind because of its setting and I can be highly critical with a lot of them (especially how huge gender role expectations were and how overbearing & cruel patriarchy is especially during this era, will get into this next).

II. Bakumatsu era, Bushido:

Just for a quick background, this was set in 1863-1867 during the decline of Bakumatsu, the last leg of Edo Period under Tokugawa shogunate, right before Meiji Restoration. Bushido is the "way of a warrior" and how bushis live with this code of conduct.

III. On antiquated patriarchal gender roles:

In the vast course of the series, Soji often offers a resolution for Sei to marry off instead of staying in Shinsengumi for a promise of safety... though distinctly coming from a place of care for her, is still in the end administering to misogyny where women were expected to be in households. It all essentially rows around patriarchy during Edo period.

Sei is someone who has struggled a lot to become a bushi as a woman. She is always told that she couldn't, as a woman, she should be married at her age instead, and so forth. Through Sei, we can see a lot of the constraining and dismantling the patriarchal gender structure as she climbs her way up to stand amongst Shinsengumi, which is domineered by mostly men. With her hard work and zeal, along with her raison d'être (first, joining to seek vengeance for her family, then, staying for Soji), she has earned her way up and is seen as a bushi on equal footings- and even better than most. Through all these, she constantly hears and deals with archetypal misogyny and sexist remarks, how being Feeling and Emotive is considered as a "girly thing," and how she always has to grapple with herself by being "a man" bc what she is doing is not "womanly" enough or what she is doing is still inadequate because she will always be a "woman" at the end of the day. This all falls on the rigid social dichotomy that is founded in patriarchy.

Below, from Volume 30, I believe, somehow counters those gender roles. Sei, when she saw Omasa looking a lot more "womanly" ever since she became a wife and a mum, came the scenes of her lamentations about letting go of her womanhood (marrying off, bearing a child, keeping the household, serving the husband, which were all what was believed to be what encompasses the happiness of a woman- an indoctrination of social mores re: what defines a woman that entirely stems from patriarchy) when she has already decided to choose to walk the path of a bushi. Though she has long been resolute with her decision, she still inevitably comes back to it, and she can't help but feel envious. Kondo saying "Soji would be a good wife" already disproves the gender stereotypes, and how the important conversation between Sei and Soji afterwards carries with it so much weight.

Because of her envy with Omasa, she sees herself insignificant both as a woman and as a bushi. She thinks that she is already past the age of a woman who's expected to be marrying off and having a family of her own, and that her mourning about it negates her being a bushi, that she is still as "girly" for thinking this way, even after coming a long way and proving herself in Shinsengumi. Soji then refutes this. Sei emphasized how she wants to be like the wind (Soji) that’s not clinging onto anything and that no desires could constrain, all she could do as a grass is look up to him and admire him even though she couldn’t be with the wind. Soji tells her otherwise, that the wind is envious of the grass that even has the ability to blossom with flowers and yearns to be like that. That Sei is already viewed as influential, and truthfully so. It's basically Soji saying he sees her as equals and is telling her that she is a strong woman and a fine bushi at that; that he, too, admires her (and how at this point Soji has already been perceiving Sei to be strong, as a great bushi and as herself, with how she carries herself & her ability to affect the ppl’s lives around her). Sei needs not to strip away her being a woman, she doesn't have to become a "man" to have been seen as equals, because she did it all being one; she is a woman of influence, and she actively debunks what were archetypal subjectifications of a woman- which, (thought not entirely), defies the patriarchal gender role expectations at this point.

IV. Slow burn romance, transformative and profound Love:

Finally, on the romance! The romance in this manga takes its time and it is wonderful.

I want to start off with how Soji really came a long way of acknowledging his love for Sei (someday I will make a separate post studying his character), how it has always been there, no matter which form, and how transformative it was. At first, he still doesn't fully recognise his feelings about Sei that he instead analogizes it to a parent having to let go of their first born, then how he was with Kondo as a sensei-disciple, then how his love for Sei is that above of a familial love. Now having met Sei, how he finds himself loving her in the process, he subconsciously files it under emotions he’s most familiar with: and that is his love for Kondo, or familial love. What he feels with Sei is something completely alien to him, he doesn’t yet have the awareness that it’s an entirely different form of love (and I will always believe that all the forms of love he had for Sei is just as significant and doesn't need to be measured, even when it doesn't have to necessarily metamorphose into a romantic love). Asking Toshi to reassign Nakamura, allowing his personal feelings get in the way of his work, was the first huge step in coming face to face with his feelings.

“It’s better than marrying someone I truly love so I can just die anytime” monologue of him, and having the dilemma of NOT being like that with Sei… because with Sei, he has something to value and that scares him more than anything. I feel this is interwoven by his past (I will also make a study on Sei & Soji's pasts, their similarities and how their contraries attract, both interlaced by their upbringing). Having ingrained the ‘bushido’ through Kondo & Toshi at an early age, and how he detaches himself from his emotions and dismisses them when it's all right in front of him just to shield himself pain links to his trauma from what happened with Sae.

Soji telling Sei that he wants her happiness more than anybody. At this point, he still struggles to rummage through how he feels. He tiptoes a lot on Sei and keeps her at an arm's length (and how Sei do not want this at all, having witnessed her mum having to bear it all alone, despite her dad loving her- again, will make a separate post about this) because he's scared of unintentionally hurting her.

So many factors come in between their love, the biggest one should be the societal structure during this era. Sei choosing to stay as a bushi & how this is the bridge that continually allows them to be together, so the best they could show it is by protecting each other with their lives. Sei coming to terms of not seeking love in return but just a love that gives and this love acts as a bridge for her to stay in Shinsengumi, to stay with Soji.

They’re both making peace with being able to be by each other despite despite not being Together… How immense their love for each other is that they have to constantly find ways for it to be selfless. 

Going back on the above panels of Sei & Soji's conversation about the analogy of wind-grass inserted in III. On antiquated patriarchal gender roles, him saying there's the desire of whisking away a flower is him wanting to bring her with him. Probably because that flower is still part of a grass so there's a part of Sei that he wants to whisk away with him, and how this ties to both of their inner desires of being together as lovers despite being unaware of how each other feels. That they feel the same about each other and have the same ‘selfish’ yearnings for their love to bear fruits.

Soji finally understands that they both have the same happiness, of being able to watch over each other as the best they can do with their love. He doesn't anymore push her to quit and marry off for a promise of safety but rather respects her agency of choosing to stay so he just does everything he can to protect her, to not lose her. Sei is the same with him. Their love transcends the formalities of marriage, as they get to be by each other's side as bushi, fighting alongside each other with their lives. That they do not need to be wedded to love each other, it surpasses it instead.

Sei and Soji: a profound love that has a pressing desire to be selfish but resists that very selfishness & instead endures all that is fencing their togetherness for each other’s sake. They can’t find themselves to gather this selfishness (of wanting to be with each other as lovers) because they want their happiness more than anything… and that happiness is mirrored by their shared longing of being by each other's side.

Ripened thoughts (under the limitations until Vol. 30):

The charm of Kaze Hikaru is the slow burn romance, & seeing how Sei fares well in a male-domineering environment. I am glad that Sei reiterates that her being a girl doesn't matter as she can be a bushi on par with men, that she does not have to be what is expected of women in that time. Although I initially have qualms about her character as a bushi in the end still being revolved around a man, but the good thing about KH is it dislodges heteronormativity. To Soji, and even to Saito, Sei's gender identity truly didn't matter much. There is also plentiful of iterations in the manga about normativities in sexual preferences, though mostly between men (I have read that sapphics were not much accorded the same way, sadly. And I have yet to read a sapphic manga occurring during the same era, please if you know some recommend them to me...), during Edo period.

This manga doesn't weather down how barbaric this period can get, it instead reminds us many times that deaths were inevitable, no matter how unjust- people die and people kill. It's so bittersweet, yet it manages to keep a balance by showing us how there are found joys & bonds in their quotidian lives, which I really loved and stayed for. Love Kaze Hikaru for how unhurriedly progressive the characters are, how the story takes its time to venture into such a fractured era, & mostly how passionate the mangaka is to chronicle historical events.

Kaze Hikaru is nowhere near perfect, but it is still a wonderful manga that deserves more audience. Please read it and let's team up against V*Z to give us a more consistent volume release.

[septembersghost]

What do you think of the idea that this was PR for SNTV so that everyone would be paying attention to the Nash shows?

oof. okay, first of all, and this isn't aimed at you anon, but everyone has gotten way too comfortable using the term "PR" inappropriately, to the point where it's meaningless, because you get people online saying everything they see ever is PR when that's simply not the case and a lot of things are just...humans living life who happen to do so in the public eye. but the whole point of the concept there is some benefit. this is not an instance where there's benefit of publicity - trolling potential aside, because that would serve a different purpose - all eyes are already on her.

she knows fans pay attention to the shows every week (even the ones like me who aren't viewing the livestreams! i read along with the updates as they happen but haven't watched, others might check in the next day due to time zones or busy schedules, and so on), no matter what we all know what happens and what surprise songs she plays and what she might've said, and we know very quickly. every entertainment and music outlet is paying attention. an album announcement would make spectacular noise and immediately be reported no matter what.

furthermore, stoking romance/personal rumors, if anything, takes *away* from the announcement, it doesn't add to it - hence the internet being in a dither about matty rather than only being focused on excitement over SNTV. why on earth would she intentionally court speculation and rumor that distracts from an important project? moreover, why with someone who undeniably would be controversial and cause anger/annoyance? how does that help her? (answer: it's irrelevant to her if she likes him.) i'd be slightly inclined to think it was a silly joke for the sake of 1989 TV and a potential collab if she'd announced that album instead, but everything about the optics, especially given very recent events and history, has such overwhelming negative downsides with really no upsides as far as press and reactions go. so PR for SNTV specifically makes very little sense to me, versus her being in a do-whatever-i-want-with-whoever-i-want moment (which, let's be real, is not out of character).

it's either a (perhaps ill-timed and unclear) bit of shenanigans between chaotic friends or it's...whatever it is, and we're going to be living with that rebound reality for a bit. he took a very long trip to get to a hometown show for her...we're gonna have to face what that means, particularly after not seeing the person we thought we should have seen on opening night. i didn't want to read into that absence before, but unfortunately information is now what it is. (me @ mr. bowery: you should've been there! you should've burst through the door with that, "baby, i'm right here" smile!)

the announcement of SNTV would've happened last night no matter what, i'd lay odds she's had that planned for the first night of nashville for quite a while. the matty of it all is a wrinkle, not a boost. the only thing i hope is that it doesn't have any negative ramifications for her (not necessarily in the press, but in her personal life. having fun is fine, i just don't want her to be hurt anymore than what's already happened, you know?).

ultimately, what we all have to remember is that boundary - we don't know her directly. we have no say or influence over her decisions or personal life. that doesn't mean we have to like them, but we have zero input into her making those choices. all we can continue to do is what we already do, support her artistry, wish her the best, and cherish her music.

[ladytemeraire]

Ok I binge watched both Enola Holmes movies and I am a bit wine at the moment so here are my thoughts:

I want all of Enola's clothes immediately thanks

Did not know I needed Henry Cavill as Sherlock Holmes but he has absolutely ROCKETED to the top of my personal favorite Sherlock Holmes portrayals

(The way he politely but firmly demands that Mycroft make Enola his ward? His delighted little "Ha!" when his baby sister beats him to the punch on a case? The way he immediately softens when he realizes someone held a knife to her throat (and he wasn't there to protect her)? They have a standing sibling date to check in with each other??? A+ Sherlock zero notes I would happily watch six seasons and three more movies of these two)

Related, I know Enola would always be in his shadow and thus she was right to turn down his offer, but I would also watch six seasons and three movies of Holmes & Holmes Detective Agency, oh my GOD GIVE ME THIS

The soundtrack for both movies absolutely WHIPS, it is exactly the right blend of Dramatic and Playful Period Murder Mystery without overpowering the visuals or demanding you Feel Things that aren't supported by what you're watching

The first movie does, unfortunately, suffer from the modern adaptation plague of "corsets are RESTRICTIVE and a CURSE" but that scene is mercifully brief and Enola proceeds to kick ass in appropriately structured and tailored period costume; also I will give her a pass since she was raised, as Mycroft says, as a wildling and so was probably not used to corsets and viewed them as a symbol of society trying to box her into a particular role.

Speaking of which, I was ready to go through the screen and fight everyone who wanted to force Enola into the mold of a Proper Lady, I should not have been surprised at the vehemence of my reaction and yet here we are

ALSO re: asskicking: ENOLA IS THE ANTI-MARY SUE, oh my God I was so delighted to see her being competent but not hypercompetent. She is resourceful and clever and skilled but she still gets bested sometimes, because she is a young woman facing off against unscrupulous men who are not pulling their punches! She wins through hard work and cleverness and it takes multiple tries for her to succeed!

I expected to be mildly annoyed at the romance but I actually really like Enola + Tewkesbury, they are v cute and I am surprisingly soft for competent badass lady + soft gardener gentleman and their whole relationship felt very organic rather than forced. (I did have some secondhand embarrassment at the ball in the 2nd movie but I suspect that is A Me Thing rather than a writing issue.)

Please see my previous post re: period dramas/romances and why Regency period costumes are boring as hell. MORE VICTORIAN/EDWARDIAN FANCY COSTUMES AND BALLS AND RELEVANT PINING PLEASE AND THANK YOU.

The social commentary in general is very very good, especially in the 2nd movie, but Edith's speech to Sherlock in the 1st movie absolutely knocks it out of the park

(Also speaking of Edith: Enola has two moms thanks for coming to my TED talk)

Holy SHIT I am so here for this version of Moriarty???

Enola setting her big brother up with Watson as a flatmate is a gift to me personally and I would like to thank everyone involved with that decision

[crossdressingdeath]

🔥+ Hunters of Artemis

The way the Hunters recruit Bianca (and possibly others, it's a little unclear if the way they recruit her is standard procedure or not) is incredibly manipulative and it pisses me off that no one acknowledges that (even Nico's anger at them is focused more on just them recruiting in general and not the tactics they used on his sister). I mean, they take this twelve year old who's been forced to play primary caregiver for her little brother and they promise her a family all her own and oh, it's okay, Nico can go to camp, she doesn't need to worry about that, boys shouldn't be her problem, she can have a new family and she'll live forever without the responsibility of caring for anyone, and oh she has about five minutes to decide the course of her eternity. She doesn't need to talk to the campers about what Camp Half-Blood is like and ask the Hunters what being a Hunter is like so she can weigh her options! She certainly doesn't need to, I don't know, discuss it with her little brother at all! Make your choice, Bianca, chop chop! She is given no chance to consider what she wants, it's just... the Hunters show up and tell her she could choose to join them and she has to make her decision like ten minutes later, and there's no take-backs if she decides later she made the wrong call. Like, it was shitty of her to just abandon Nico without a second thought, but the Hunters absolutely manipulated her to make that choice. (And it's also fucked up that Zoe decides to bring this girl with zero training who's known she's a half-blood for less than a week on a super dangerous quest where they know two of their number are going to die.)

Also just in general I really hate their habit of recruiting prepubescent girls who haven't gotten the chance to really explore their own desires and decide what they want in life. If nothing else that's terrible planning, a ten year old is not going to make a great hunter in terms of physical capabilities, but like... give them a chance to actually reach an age where they'll seriously think about sex and dating and can decide whether or not they want that! Don't just grab them before they can really think about those things and call it good! Like, I'm so glad that in ToA we finally get to see a character who's a little older and has considered her life and her desires and has decided that eternal life without romance or sex is for sure what she wants. (I don't count Thalia because she pretty explicitly joins the Hunters mainly to escape the prophecy.) I mean Reyna's still a teenager, I'd much prefer it if the majority of the Hunters were adults, but these are children's books so I can accept that. It's good to see someone actually weighing up the options—the impression I get is that Reyna has been considering joining the Hunt for some time—and deciding after a lot of thought that yes, this is what they want. (I also love ToA establishing that yes, Hunters who decide they want romance after all can choose to leave so they can pursue it with no hard feelings.) It just feels incredibly skeevy that Artemis goes after girls who haven't even hit puberty and for sure haven't really thought about sex and dating outside of the abstract and then essentially cuts them off from that forever before they get the chance to consider it explicitly to maintain their "purity" (...was that the word Titan's Curse used? I can't remember, but I'm pretty sure it was a G-rated euphemism for virginity); pretty sure that while Artemis was a protector of children in the myths (side note, lots of child endangerment going on here for a protector of children...) her Hunters were all adults!

[villain-in-love]

At last, a bunch of Liang x Zero headcanons

⬩ Ah yes, the “Peace Was Never An Option” team.

⬩ It's basically one unemotional, socially unadapted combatant x another unemotional, socially unadapted combatant. Well, "unemotional" if we don’t count sadistic glee for Zero and annoyance/anger for Liang. Wow, what a pair.

⬩ I don’t think these two are familiar with dating customs that are known to most normal people, not just because of the peculiar lifestyles/upbringing, but also because both Liang and Zero were never interested in romance before. In fact, they are still not interested in romance. They are interested in each other, and there is a difference.

⬩ I still have very little idea on how exactly they could meet, but what I can say already is that the first impression was not the best, at least from Liang’s perspective. Zero, on the other hand, fell in love practically at first sight. But it’s ironic how, instead of Trois, Honey, and cell 13 boys, who were all so eager for female attention and happy to finally have a girl around, said “girl” decided that instead she wants the only guy who doesn’t want anything to do with her and overall would rather be left alone.

⬩ At first Liang was mostly just interested in convincing Zero to fight him (just a bit less reckless decision than trying to fight Hajime), because by absolutely refusing to hurt him while delivering injuries to others left and right, she unintentionally injured his ego more than any physical damage could ever do.

⬩ It lowkey made him feel insecure, like, does she see him as fragile? An unworthy opponent? What on Earth did her "I'd hate to hurt you, so stay away" even mean??

⬩ They haven’t seen each other for almost a year after the incident, and the first thing Liang did when they met again was immediately trying to challenge her to a duel and demanding a reason why she refused to fight him back then.

⬩ It was actually pretty funny how for quite some time, most of their interactions inevitably came down to: “Fight me.” “No.”

⬩ At this point Liang was starting to hate her. Until one day she agreed. I went as well as one can imagine because even a martial artist as skilled as Liang cannot compete with this absolute monster.

⬩ The reason Zero refused to fight him is simple – she doesn’t want to hurt or kill the first person that actually made her feel something, especially not before she manages to make sense of this strange phenomenon. And she’s not interested in a fight where she can’t injure or kill. Not to mention, Zero is actually not that great at controlling her own strength and she’s somewhat concerned about possibly slipping and going into the killing mode by a force of instinct.

⬩ One would think that difference in species and very weird age difference would cause problems, but considering that ever since she crawled into existence 8 years ago, Zero was wandering around, exploring, studying, and trying to socialize with humans, she’s practically on the same level of life experience as Liang who dedicated all his 19 years of life to studying martial arts and later working in mafia, where most of the “normal people” he interacted with were his targets. It could have been a "Born Sexy Yesterday" trope, but no, they both are just really weird.

⬩ Because of his lack of any experience with opposite sex and romantic love in general, and because he’s just a tiny bit of a moron (I mean, it’s Nanbaka we’re talking about…), I wonder how much time it would take for Liang to realise that Zero is genuinely into him and her weird attempts at flirting are not just her trying to pick a fight or make him uncomfortable. And then how much time will pass before he realises that he himself caught feelings for her (imagine Liang feeling weirdly nervous and excited when seeing Zero and thinking that he probably just got sick).

⬩ One of the first signs of Liang falling in love with Zero was him starting to ward off other guys from her when they start getting flirty. When asked why, he justifies it by saying that he finds their actions generally inappropriate and embarrassing.

⬩ He also never misses a chance to show off, dragging Zero to the trainings grounds of the Building 5 with him, while actively brainstorming how he can impress a demonic abomination with superpowers. Honestly, he just found another reason to obsess over getting stronger…

⬩ Liang used to be somewhat jealous of Qi because Zero was more enthusiastic about spending time with him and his biology books than sports and trainings with Liang. Until Qi told him that most of the time when they are not talking about science, Zero just talks about Liang non-stop and desperately tries to pry more information about him out of Qi.

⬩ He barely convinced her to spar with him, and it’s more of a challenge for Liang to figure out a way to defeat her (A hard task for a human, but not completely impossible). While she’s not keen on the idea of fighting him, Zero still thinks it’s beneficial for Liang to try and fight stronger opponents, so he could further improve his strategy and creative thinking, and not just pure skill.

⬩ If we’re being honest, personally for Zero their sparrings feel more like a dance than a fight (and that’s probably the closest you could ever get to these two dancing together).

⬩ Love is stealing each other’s combat moves.

⬩ It took some time for him to open up, as using techniques from his past is not something he likes, but Zero was truly delighted to see Liang fight dirty and use that vicious fighting style he was taught in mafia.

⬩ Liang is a bit annoyed and envious because while she doesn’t even train, Zero will always be leagues stronger than him just because she got lucky and was born as supernatural creature.

⬩ He will still try to convince her that she should do some training, because if he puts his personal feelings of being annoyed at such unfair power imbalance aside, he really wants to see just how much more powerful she could get if she tried and realised her full potential.

⬩ And so Liang’s interest in her strength and Zero’s love for experiments collided, resulting in Liang proceeding to come up with increasingly more ridiculous ways to challenge Zero and her abilities, and so our long-suffering guards ended up forced to keep an eye on these two, so that they won’t accidentally destroy the entirety of building 5.

⬩ Liang would die before he makes a first move romantically, though. He generally has no idea what he’s supposed to do in this situation, the only thing he knows is to not listen to any word Qi has to say on that matter.

⬩ Qi got the memo that his romantic advice is unwanted, but still actively tried to play a matchmaker and make ship happen, because finally, this boy got interested in something other than trainings and combat. Honestly, Qi didn’t think he would live long enough to witness this moment.

⬩ Liang will probably still wait at least another year before trying to actively reciprocate Zero’s advances, because falling for the first girl you befriended is already pathetic enough, and he still has some pride.

⬩ It’s not like Zero is better at communicating her feeling, though, she’s only slightly better because she's physically incapable of feeling embarrassment. When she tried to confess her love to him she said “I have this intense craving for you… It feels almost as if I want to eat you, but not quite.” Which can be scary to hear coming from a cannibal.

⬩ Samon is... lowkey concerned about Liang's friendship with Zero. Building 5 supervisor clearly sees sees her as a danger and possible bad influence.

⬩ In the end, Samon tolerates her for now, but Zero often ends up getting hit or thrown into the walls when he thinks she acts inappropriately towards Liang (not that it would do her any harm, it’s just a little annoying at worst). Though even Liang finds such measures lowkey extreme, as it’s not like he can’t handle himself.

⬩ Zero stays in prison only because Liang is here, and plays nice because she wants to be able to get out of her cell to see him. But when he finally leaves… Nothing can stop her from going after him, and she will do whatever it takes to break out.

[percontaion-points]

Can We Fix It?! Jocelyn's Choice

It’s been a while since I last did one of these… AKA it’s been a while since I last read a book/series that I thought was remotely salvageable. 

Anyway, can I fix Jocelyn’s Choice? Yes, I think that we totally can!

My biggest problem with this story is the age-gap between Jocelyn and Alex. Again, it’s not so much the six (?) year difference between them, but their life experiences. Jocelyn hadn’t even graduated high school when Alex knocked her up, while he has a fucking master’s degree. Icky. 

Ideally, Jocelyn should probably be in college. Maybe shift her age up 4 years, have her be on the brink of her COLLEGE graduation, and that immediately solves so many problems.

But, if one were to be hung up over the idea of a teen pregnancy, then obviously Alex’s age needs to be lowered. Maybe he’s a year or two older than she is. But not six. However, I feel like even 2 years (with him being 20) is kind of pushing it, so I’d want to establish that they knew one another before this, and it’s not like the relationship sprung up out of nowhere. That would probably curb the icky feeling of their relationship feeling forced and groom-y. 

I think that either of these options could give way to some interesting options as far as Jocelyn’s worry about Alex’s future. In the college-only version, his educational background wouldn’t necessarily change that much. But in the teen pregnancy version, maybe Alex has a full-ride to Yale. She doesn’t want him to drop out, because… bro. Full ride to an ivy-league. 

Now obviously, my second biggest problem with this book is that the title is “Jocelyn’s CHOICE”, yet we never see her making any sort of decision. She simply falls into bed with Alex, zero questions asked. She never puts up a fuss when he said he didn’t have a condom. 

She also NEVER thinks, even for a nanosecond, about anything to do with getting an abortion or even giving the baby up for adoption. Also, Max never questions any of this, either, and never brings it up. The only time that it’s mentioned is when Alex comes home. But as I said during that conversation, it was beyond tacky to suggest to a woman who is heavily pregnant that she should have gotten an abortion. 

So obviously, that’s something that I’d want to see in this kind of a book. Even if even the readers know that she does end up keeping the baby, there should be the actual choice. She’s looking over brochures or maybe she watches Juno or something. IDK. I feel like there are a lot of good ways to go about it, even if the end goal isn’t to abort or adopt. 

Something that bugged me about this book was the way that every single thing was simply told to us. I felt like I walked away from it all without knowing a single thing about what Jocelyn wanted from life. Yes, she wanted Alex and the baby. But what about before that? What were her goals, her hopes and dreams? We knew a little bit more about Alex, but not much. The background characters were even worse. 

This book has got to be one of the worst cases of passive story telling that I’ve ever had the misfortune to read. The entire book was like this! This is exactly what teachers are complaining about when they tell you “show, don’t tell!” PLEASE SHOW JOCELYN HAVING INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF HER PREGNANCY AND LUST FOR ALEX! 

I WANT to get to know the characters, especially the two leads in a romance novel! I want to care about them, and to understand the decisions that they make. 

I feel like even if somebody were to copy-paste all of the beats of the story yet work in deeper characters, and do none of the other suggestions that I talked about, that the story itself would be IMMEDIATELY improved. And I personally find it insanely sad that I have to say shit like this. 

But then again, if Jocelyn, Max, and Alex had any sort of depth to their characters, they might have naturally had the “should I/you get an abortion? Should I/you/we consider adoption?” BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE PEOPLE IN THEIR OWN RIGHTS, WHO HAVE OPINIONS ON ABORTION!

I feel like there’s less here than what I normally write about. But I thought that the base of the story wasn’t terrible, it was mainly the execution of it all that fell really, REALLY flat. 

As usual, these are only ideas, and I don’t lay claim to them. Feel free to use any of these suggestions if you want for your own story! And if you do use this, I want to see what you’ve written! Please?