#I’m very looking forward to the wedding planning eps

[violeblanche]

owen in his funny era

#I’m very looking forward to the wedding planning eps #dadzilla at its best #911 lone star #911 lone star spoilers

[absolutebl]

This week in BL - Gay Boy Turf Wars Galore!

Also, ALL the guest couples: TutorYim & MacNat showed up in Korea. Korea also reused the Love Class pair. And Wayne Song & Huang Chun Chih (H3:MODC) popped up AGAIN. (To be fair, when does Wayne not show up in a Taiwanese BL?)

Entirely subjective yadda yadda. Organized by favs in each category. No numbered lists anymore, tumblr be buggn'.

Aug 2023 Wk 4

Ongoing Series - Thai

Laws of Attraction (Sat iQIYI) 7 of 8 - Plot reveals galore + all the penultimate tension we could want. (How many different kinds of smiles does Film have in his arsenal?) OMG I LOVE the unhinged idiot bloody tattooed ex bf - intro music and all. He is my precious psycho-bunny-snookums. Also Tinn, baby-boy, communicating about your honest feelings in a BL? What madness is this? I sense doom incoming. Smart Chan, always tell him he’s better in bed than your ex. The sides getting caught! Noooooo. I mean we knew it would happen but still noooooooo! 

I Feel You Linger in the Air (Sat YT) ep 2 of 12 - I like the surreal slip-stream dream-sequence openings. Is it a cerebral examination of temporal paradox or just designed to creep us out? The pace has picked up a bit and I'm delighted that external threat, stressors, and conflict are driving this plot. Refreshing. I love historicals - every touch and action can have such lingering significance, it’s very elegant. Thai BLs can often feel clumsy but not this one. I’m really enjoying it. 

Dangerous Romance (Fri YT) ep 2 of 12 - Sailom is great. I love a smartass who’s actually really smart, reminds me of Bai Luo Yin in Addicted. (The real Addicted.) Never a bad thing. Kang is nasty bit of business, I look forward to his redemption arc. I love his grandma. (BL is giving good grandma right now.) Nicely executed narrative twist into sympathy too: rich kid sees how rough life really is. The complexity of character depth needed for this script makes me so happy it's Perth & Chimon, they both have such expressive nuanced faces.

I do keep wanting to rewatch LBC tho. 

Only Friends (Sat YT) ep 3 of 10 - It remains a blast. Boston is king of red flags, cutting down Ray because he is the easiest punching bag? Going after his friend's bf just to prove he can? No thank you. I know Ray is lovely when he’s soft but danger zone, Sand. Be careful upon entering a minefield, every little step forward may cause an explosion. I don’t think being master of snark is gonna help you avoid getting blown up.

Sand is the one I feel the worst for - bi guy strays into cesspit of gay toxicity. He ain’t gonna make it out alive.  

Hidden Agenda (Sun GMMTV YouTube) ep 7 of 10 - The boyfriends date ep! Zo’s past explains a lot about his behavior. Flirty Zo is v dangerous to all our hearts. Nice kiss. Poor Joke. Meanwhile, the side couple gave good kiss too! However, why is Title playing the bad guy again? Did GMMTV bring him in just to be resident jerk face in all their BL? Makes me sad.

Be Mine Super Star (Mon Viki) ep 8 of 12 - This should be a 8 or 10 ep show, 12 is too many. I think I just don’t like the lead couple's character dynamic and personalities. (No shade on JaFirst.) Side couple went startlingly high heat allasudden. And while their sex scene was good, I wish Daddy and the Hot Doc were being given a lot more script, screen time, and character dev. Sigh. I guess I just wish they were the mains and the others were the sides.

Can't have everything, I suppose.  

Wedding Plan (Wed YT & iQIYI) ep 6 of 7 - Nuea is a saint and next week everything comes to a head (that didn’t already get head this episode). Trash watch here!

Love in Translation (Sat iQIYI) ep 2 of 10 - The side couple is everything. They are so cute and my favorite trope. Plus hugs with neck kisses! I love big brother using his adorable boyfriend to try and help his annoying little brother’s business. It’s just perfect. Unfortunately, that annoying little brother, is too fucking annoying. I remain largely unable to watch the main story arc. 

My Universe (Sun iQIYI) 1 of 24 eps - Sampler pack BL, 12 pairs, each pair gets 2 eps, so this show will run all the way into 2024.

First installment is Casanova Begins. Dead boy wakes up in his enemy’s body, 2 years after his own death. Has to make things right with the boyfriend who thinks he was abandoned. Everyone has secrets. No one can be trusted. And the dead kid can never tell anyone who he really is. It’s … different? Unique take on the My Ghost Boyfriend trope.

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

Jun & Jun (Korea Thur Viki) ep 6 of 8 - Random moment of TutorYim. Hi cuties. Simon is my favorite, I love him and his flirty irreverent ways.

Who does he actually like?

Or is he just flirting with everyone?

Can he have a crush on anyone but himself?

He’s a house cat among the pigeons. Clearly wouldn't know what to do with the bird if he managed to catch it. Or would he?

The 4 boys dodging around each other and re-shuffling is so funny. I can’t tell you how delighted this show makes me. I do feel sorry for Lee Jun, he’s just the toy everyone wants to play with. I understand his frustration, do any of them really want him or is it all because the others are interested? Kiss! Yay! Good kiss! Even more yay! 

Stay By My Side (Taiwan Fri Gaga) ep 9 of 10 - Poor baby doesn’t think he’s good enough and is holding JC back. They are THE CUTEST BOYFRIENDS. It hurts. The sappy. 

Kisseki: Dear to Me (Taiwan Tues Viki & iQIYI) eps 1-2 of 13(?) - From screenwriter Lin Pei Yu (We Best Love, H3: Trapped) formerly known as Miracle, features a student doctor forced to take care of a gangster. I love the premise and like the writer. This one could be sad. Never forget Taiwan will go there.

Shall we get tucked in?

Gay boy turf wars! Main couple is cute. Sunshine gangster (turns out to be a sweetie who cooks) meets broken brilliant tsundere student who wants to be a doctor. Side couple is the leader of the gang and his rabid Pet. Also, all praise the guest couple de jour (baddies). Nice to see you 2... again. All actors are clearly having a blast with this script.

Triggers for knife play, child abuse, lingering trauma. 

Love Class Season 2 (Korea Fri Viki) eps 5-6 of 10 - Aw guest couple from Love Class original, that is very sweet. The tutor and returning student, aka couple 3, are the best. So funny. But the whole thing remains engaging in a messy way.

Why R U? (Korea Wed iQIYI) eps 1-2 of 8 - Oh, it’s very odd. Certainly a lot more comprehensible if you've already watched the Thai version. As with that version, I still dislike the SaifahZon couple and love the FighterTutor couple. And once again I hate the weird IRL shipping sister. HATE HER. I’m not mad at the "Man who Fell into the World of BL" overtones but I wish they went at it more intentionally. (They’re not using NPC the way I would, are they? Cause that’s hella cruel.) MaxNat are fun. I love that Fighter went to his girlfriend's birthday party, didn’t even say hi to her, picked up her drunk bestie, and took him home.

This show is WILD. It’s very Korea tries to do a Thai BL. And, I gotta say, I kind of like the absurdity of the whole scheme. Do I think it will ultimately "work" as a stand alone piece? No. But as a very odd kind of parody? Sure.

Minato's Laundromat Season 2 AKA Minato Shouji Coin Laundry Season 2 (Japan Thu Gaga) ep 7 of 12 - Truth always comes out in hot springs. It's a rule of life. Coming clean is coming clean, I suppose. Still, moving very slowly for me and I need sake to get through this season. It's certainly suffering from sophomore slump.

Stay Still (Hong Kong Tues YouTube) ep 4 of 5 - Sad episode is sad. 

In case you missed it

My Personal Weatherman AKA Taikan Yoho (Japan Sat Gaga) ep 3 of 8 - didn't air this week

Dinosaur Love (Sun iQIYI) ep 9 of 10 eps - Didn’t drop this week? MDL thinks it should have. Everyone is confused. But also… who cares? 

Low Frequency (Thai iQIYI) Finished it's run - NO SINGING as flirty boyfriends they very cute actually, but this final ep was V E R Y slow.

All in all this was not a great show. Classic pulp with an interesting twist on “ghost boyfriend investigates his own not-murder” but ultimately not very good in any arena. 6/10 Only if you have nothing better to do. 

Sing My Crush (Korea iQIYI) Finished it's rerun

This a cute coming of age drama around music and 2 kinds of self acceptance and actualization journeys. This was basically Korea’s version of About Youth, and was perhaps a bit too soft and ungrounded by comparison, like a marshmallow sculpture. Sweet but somewhat lacking in discernible flavor. Inoffensively unmemorable. 8/10 RECOMMENDED especially if you enjoy KBL's style

8/24 Man Suang (Thailand movie, domestic cinema release) - historical drama about Thai burlesque with KP’s MileApo. Do I know where to get it? Nope. Do I care? Nope.

Next Week Looks Like This:

Coming September

I have 4 on my radar:

9/2 Naughty Babe (Thailand Sat ????) - MaxNat back on our screens. We think iQIYI but aren't confident.

9/15 You Are Mine (Taiwan ????) - it's taking over from Stay By My Side so likely Gaga. Secretary has to deal with grumpy boss.

9/26 I Cannot Reach You AKA I Can't Reach You AKA Kimi ni wa Todokanai (Japan ????) - Adapted from the manga, childhood best friends: The cool, smart one who’s good at everything, and his average, dorky friend who struggles. Always by the other’s side, but not together in the way they truly want to be. No matter how hard they try, their hearts cannot reach each other.

9/27 Absolute Zero (Thai iQIYI) - from 2021, Studio Wabi Sabi and New Siwaj finally bring us this “time loop to prevent tragedy” romance. We don’t always get HEAs from them, so I'm on my guard.

9/?? Venus in the Sky (Thai iQIYI) 10 eps - ????

2023 forthcoming BL master post (see comments, some are inaccurate, NOT KEPT UPDATED).

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENTS

No you aren't, Lom. You don't even know what that means. (Wedding Plan)

Minato comes out to the best person.

Trope spotlight! (Low Frequency)

I Fell You Linger in the Air

So true. (Only Friends)

I love them so much, as @heretherebedork would put it, Tiny Idiots!

(Last week) 

Gotta say I am hating this new UI so much I'm not bothering to tag with shows. We shall see what that does for ROI.

#this week in BL #bl news #BL reviews #korean bl #japanese bl #taiwanese bl #thai bl #Rakutan Viki #gagaoolala #GMMTV

[theforgottenmcrmy]

Spring~ Part 1/2 (Ser Harwin Strong x Reader)

᯽ Please note that this is an overall Part 6 of the series “Growing Strong”, the masterlist of which can be found on the pinned post on my blog. For some reason Tumblr doesn’t like me posting it here lately.᯽

Pairing: Ser Harwin Strong x Tyrell! Female Reader

Warnings: GOT typical sexism, canon divergence, suggestive themes, mentions of pregnancy, death of minor character.

Summary: A few months of wedded bliss has been abruptly ended by another raven bringing grim news from Highgarden. As you try to come to terms with how the news will impact your life, someone familiar approaches you with an offer to lessen your burden... But are their motives genuine?

A/N: Thank you all so so so much!🖤🖤🖤 I’ve got a few more parts planned for this series, and I hope you all continue to enjoy reading it as I much as I have writing it. This chapter made me low key sad to write, but it had to be done for character development and future plot...💔 Maybe I’ll go back and write more light hearted stuff when this main series is over.

Fun fact, when I had planned this series, it was only going to have about 3 parts, and this would have been the last part. If I went that route, this part would’ve been named “Growing Strong” ... take from that what you will about what’s to come. Part 2 should be up on Thursday 10/20.🖤

PS, if anyone, and I mean anyone, wants to chat about last night’s ep, please hit a girl up. Shoot me a message. Send me an ask (shoutout to the anon who did so last time). Anything. I’m dying to talk about this stuff. 

Ravens frequenting the skies between King’s Landing and Highgarden had become commonplace once more.

...

…

... 

Dearest Brother,

Though you suggested you have been feeling less than well as of late, as I suspect is largely due in part to the cold weather, I beg you to take heart. The arrival of spring is upon us once more. With the improvement of the weather, I pray that you shall improve as well.

In the spirit of that happy news, I hope you will forgive me for what I am about to ask of you.

As I have before, I must continue to urge you to muster your physical and mental strength in order to finalize the negotiations with Lord Jason. The marriage between you and Lady Cerelle would be most advantageous for our House, and Lady Cerelle will be a fine Lady of Highgarden.

If not for the best interest of our House, I beg you to come to an agreement for your own sake. I have known nothing but pure happiness since I was wed some months ago. And for you, Brother, I would wish for nothing less.

As planned, my husband and I, along with my Good Sisters, shall see you for a visit in a few short weeks. If I do not receive a raven from you before we depart King’s Landing, I trust we shall speak further of this matter in person.

I hope this visit will benefit us both. Though I have come to think of King’s Landing as my new home, I fear that a part of myself will always long for the Reach, and for Highgarden even more still. Father always said that House Tyrell is at our strongest when we are not divided.

Take care, Brother. Despite the nature of this letter, I sincerely hope you are feeling more favorable than when you last wrote. I look forward to seeing you again.

Love,

Y/N

It was the warmest day of the year in recent memory. Though the winter had been short, and very forgiving, the warmer months were always heavily favored by those in King’s Landing.

Despite the small winter chill that still clung in the air, Princess Rhaenyra had requested to spend some time out in the gardens. You, Lady Lilyan, and Lady Eyla had joined her happily. 

The four of you made yourselves comfortably seated at a table. Various trees and shrubs surrounded you, giving just enough of an illusion of privacy to placate the Princess. The sun shone upon the gardens, bathing the brightening greenery and blooming flowers in rays. Without any canvas overhead, the sun’s rays fell upon all four of your crowns as well. Though it was warm, it felt quite pleasant in contrast to the cool breeze.

“Under the Dragon’s eye…”

Samwell the Bard concluded his song, and the soothing chords faded away into nothingness.

Not but a moment later, Princess Rhaenyra requested, “Again.”

You saw Samwell’s complacent facial expression shift into an exasperated one, but fortunately, the Princess did not. As the bard began to strum the opening chords of the song once more, you exchanged amused looks with Lilyan and Eyla.

“Here you are, Princess.”

A serving girl placed a platter of candied lemons upon the table.

“Ah, yes!” Princess Rhaenyra gleamed, looking at the lemons with hungry eyes. “Thank you very much.”

As the serving girl excused herself, the Princess dug right in, grabbing several of the candied lemons at once. Before she ate the first one, she gestured down to the platter, and looked between the three of you. “Please, I insist- have some.”

Lilyan and Eyla grabbed a few for themselves, but the thought of the typically delicious sweets sound less than appealing to you at that particular moment. “Perhaps I shall have some later, Your Grace.”

“As you wish,” the Princess smiled with a nonchalant shrug. Placing her hand on her stomach absentmindedly, she added, “That just means there is more for me to enjoy now.”

The candied lemons were the latest of her cravings. Princess Rhaenyra, less than a year into her marriage, was with child.

It was a most welcomed development.

Since their marriage, Ser Laenor had been absent from King’s Landing more often than he had been present. It was not aided by the fact that winter had roughened the waters significantly, making sailing between Driftmark to Blackwater Bay and back a more difficult feat than it usually was. Thankfully, the news of Princess Rhaenyra’s pregnancy had quelled the more nefarious rumors about him and the nature of their marriage.

King Viserys was overjoyed with the news. If he had doted upon his daughter before, it was nowhere near comparable to the attention Princess Rhaenyra received from him now. Only the best maesters would be permitted to see to the new needs of his daughter. In fact, those said maesters had recommended against the Princess taking air outside in the gardens that day, citing that it was still too cold.

In response, Princess Rhaenyra had quipped, “When my mother was with child, she listened to every advice and suggestion you gave. But in the end, what effect did your words of wisdom have upon her wellbeing?”

The maesters were awfully quiet after that.

“Did you hear that Lord Hawick means to bring his daughter to Court in a few weeks time?” Lilyan asked the group conversationally.

With the warmer weather, it was not uncommon for ladies of noble houses to start flocking to King’s Landing. Though their fathers and brothers would do so under the guise of paying respects to and discussing business with King Viserys, you knew that it was really a means to flaunt their daughters about in the capital in the hopes of securing a worthy match for them. Various noble lords, their sons, and even knights were not a rarity in King’s Landing, nor the Red Keep.

You and Princess Rhaenyra merely hummed in response to Lilyan’s statement. Now that the two of you were each wed, neither of you were nearly as invested in the gossip pertaining to romantic intrigue of others at Court as you once might have been. You were satisfied with your own lives, in your own ways. However, neither of you would dare crush the spirits of Lilyan or Eyla, as the young girls had reached the age where they seldom talked about anything else but chivalrous pursuits.

“It is unfair,” Eyla sighed, downtrodden, “that as soon as we are to leave for Highgarden, countless others shall be arriving in King’s Landing.”

“There are plenty of interesting people of the Reach to meet, I promise you,” you assured her patiently. If only she knew.

“Lady Y/N is right,” Lilyan agreed firmly. “Besides, I believe that just as many will be departing King’s Landing as those arriving. Ser Royce, for example. I heard Lord Boremond ordered his grandson to depart for Storm’s End by next week.”

You eyes flickered over to Princess Rhaenyra upon the mentioning of Ser Royce’s name.

But Princess Rhaenyra was a good actress. A great one, even. There was absolutely no indication that there was any particular fondness between the Heir to the Iron Throne and the future Heir to Storm’s End.

But you knew there was.

Since the tourney in celebration of Princess Helaena’s second name day, Ser Royce had stayed in the capital city. His grandsire, Lord Boremond, in accordance with his father, Lord Borros, had asked the King if he would be willing to host Ser Royce for a time, hoping that it would enable the young lord to become better acquainted with the business dealings of his House that he would be expected to manage one day. As Lord Boremond had been blessed with longevity, and his son, Lord Borros, was also of good health, Ser Royce had not received the same guidance and tutorage he otherwise would have. But should anything happen to Lord Boremond or Lord Borros, Ser Royce would have to rise to the occasion.

King Viserys agreed to Lord Boremond’s request, and he, Ser Royce, and Princess Rhaenyra had spent quite some time discussing trade to and from the Stormlands over the past few months.

You supposed that’s where the fondness began for Princess Rhaenyra. Whatever it had started as, you suspected that the relationship between the Princess and Ser Royce had developed beyond what one might expect between a future monarch and a future lord pledged to them.

But that was entirely speculation. Princess Rhaenyra knew how grave even a whisper of such insinuations would be. You doubted she would be willing to take the chance of causing such stirrings, despite how inadequate she found certain aspects of her marriage to be.

And when the babe was born with the silvery white Targaryen hair, you would happily wallow in your guilt for ever having doubted the Princess for even a moment.

“It’s about time,” Eyla declared. “He has been in King’s Landing for months… How many trade details could there possibly have been to discuss?”

The Princess looked suddenly alert upon the other young woman’s quandary, but you intervened, knowing that she was not likely to.

“The Stormlands have many forests,” you reminded Lady Eyla tactfully. “Ser Royce has been overseeing the wood traded to the Crownlands throughout the winter. But now that spring has arrived, he is able to return home.”

Lady Eyla accepted your answer on the surface, but there was a small look on her face that suggested she didn’t entirely believe you, or perhaps, merely found your answer dissatisfactory.

“Good day, Your Grace, Sisters… My Lady.”

The four of you looked up at the sound of a fifth voice joining you.

“Ser Harwin!” Princess Rhaenyra greeted, putting the candied lemons she had in her hand back onto the serving dish. “It is a lovely day. Perhaps you would care to join us?”

The clothes and armor your husband wore suggested to you that Harwin had just come from the training yard. Confirming your suspicions was the fact that part of his hair was tied up and away from his face, which would have granted him better visibility. Despite his nickname of Breakbones, it still surprised you just how natural the ensemble looked on him. Some men had the appearance that suggested they were more fitted to scholarly pursuits, but not Harwin.

The gods could mourn that someone of his size, stature, and strength was not likely to ever see true war in his lifetime. But you would not. Just the thought of watching your husband ride off into battle was almost too painful to imagine.

“It is a lovely day, Your Grace,” Harwin affirmed. “Though, I regret that I must decline your invitation to partake in it.”

“Oh?”

“Might I be granted permission to steal my wife away for a short stroll?” Harwin asked Princess Rhaenyra. His eyes finally landed on you, and when they did, a conspiring smile played on his lips.

“Granted permission?” Princess Rhaenyra echoed. “No- I insist!” She turned to you with a knowing look. “Go now, Y/N. Take a stroll with your husband on this fine day… So that I may live vicariously through you.”

Despite your marriage to Harwin, Princess Rhaenyra still found plenty of amusement in forcing you to spend quality time with your husband. Had she not been destined to rule the Seven Kingdoms one day, you ventured to dare whether she would have had a propensity for matchmaking.

“Very well, Your Grace,” you complied, rising from your seat and walking over to your husband.

“And take your time!” Lady Lilyan called from behind you, causing Lady Eyla and Princess Rhaenyra to giggle.

Harwin ignored them, though without having taken offense, and offered you his arm. You took it, and the two of you walked away, waiting until you were out of earshot of the other women before speaking.

“It is a lovely day,” you noted conversationally.

“Yes,” Harwin agreed readily. “Though not as lovely as you.”

You bit the inside of your cheek, and tightened your grip on his arm. “You have already won my hand, Dearest. There is little need for such flattery.”

“And yet, you are no less deserving of compliments simply because we are wed,” Harwin challenged playfully. “Aye, I am your Husband now. But that means that I am the only one who is properly allowed to bestow such words upon you.” He sighed then, and the gesture bordered on being dramatic. But you knew it was merely a jest. “It is a heavy burden, ensuring that you are showered with such praise, but it is one that I chose to bear...”

You rolled your eyes at his antics and lightly slapped his arm in mock discipline. Before you could chide him, your eyes widened in surprise as you passed a familiar face along the garden path. “Ah, My Lord!”

Your cousin, Lord Garrett Redwyne, greeted both you and Harwin with a pleasant smile and cordial nod.

“Do my eyes deceive me, or is that really you?” you teased him. “I heard you had arrived at the Red Keep a few days past, and yet, as you did not pay me a visit, I did not dare to believe it.”

Garrett gave you a sheepish smile, and bore your jibes good-naturedly. “My sincerest apologies, dear Cousin. I had some urgent business to attend to upon my arrival, though calling upon you was the next very thing I planned to see through.”

That was not surprising to you. Garrett, a son of your late father’s sister, was the second son of his family. As such, Garrett had frequently been charged to act as an envoy on behalf of many Redwyne matters across the Reach and Crownlands. Though only a few years your senior, it was indisputable that Garrett was far more-traveled, and you’d always looked forward to his tales at family gatherings for that very purpose.

“No apologies needed, Cousin,” you assured him truthfully, before looking up at Harwin with a hopeful look in your eyes. “Though, should you still feel the need to make amends, perhaps you would care to dine with us some evening before you depart for the Arbor?”

“Well,” your cousin began hesitantly, eyeing Harwin somewhat nervously, “if you insist…”

It was no secret to you that Garrett was frightened of your husband. Perhaps it was Harwin’s rather notorious nickname that put fear into the young lord’s mind. But his fear was unwarranted. You enjoyed your cousin’s company, and were even closer with his mother, who had acted as a mother figure for you throughout your life.

As long as Garrett did not cross you, he had no reason to fear Harwin. And Harwin was aware of your cousin’s reservations, too. He’d done his best at the wedding feast to reassure Garrett that he was not the monster his nickname suggested, but it had all been to little avail. At least Garrett had seemed to get along well with Harwin’s younger brother, Lord Larys.

Still, your husband was not one to be defeated so easily. Harwin gave your cousin his most approachable smile, and confirmed, “We insist, My Lord. It would be an honor to share your company.”

You couldn’t tell if Lord Garrett was affected by Harwin’s effort to appease him, as he made no facial or verbal acknowledgement of it. Instead, your cousin gave you one last smile, before heading about his way. As he passed you, he said, “We shall work out the details of when at a later time, so that may leave the two of you to your stroll. Good day to you, Cousin… Ser Harwin.”

Your cousin all but scurried off into the gardens along the path from whence you and Harwin had just come. You fought the urge to laugh as your focus returned to your husband, and why he had decided to “steal” you away from Princess Rhaenyra and his sisters a short while ago.

“Now, my dear Husband, what is it that you wish to speak with me about?”

“My father has suggested two more men. I was hoping to hear your thoughts about them?”

“Of course. Whom did he name?”

“Lord Graige of House Graceford and Lord Cerran of House Leygood.”

You frowned involuntarily, though quickly recovered, hoping to spare Harwin further cause for concern. “Lord George Graceford is known to be quite cruel… though perhaps his son has learned from his father’s misgivings. And as for Lord Cerran, I’m afraid I have not heard much about him… Though, perhaps no news is good news?”

Harwin hung his head in dismay.

Lord Lyonel Strong had been more proactive in seeking matches for his two daughters as of late. With your upcoming visit to the Reach, the Lord Hand had begun to look into eligible lords from your homeland, with the hopes that you might be able to arrange a meeting between them and his daughters. Though Harwin was less than thrilled with the idea in general, you were honored when your Good Father had asked for your advice on the matter. You’d come to love Lady Lilyan and Lady Eyla as younger sisters of your own, and you loathed the idea of them being wedded off to less-than-honorable men.

You patted Harwin’s arm reassuringly. “Do not fret. I trust that you and your father will find a more than suitable match for each of your sisters.”

“Are we certain they must marry at all?” Harwin questioned, only half-seriously.

“Gods forbid, what if something should happen to you and the Lord Hand?” you proposed. “You will have wished your sisters were married then. Their husbands will see that they are well taken care of. They will be safe and secure, and have households of their own to run, instead of being resigned to your father’s.”

“But Larys-”

“I know you love your brother, but Larys would have his hands full simply by inheriting your family’s seat and lordship. Would it be kind to worsen his burden by forcing him to secure matches for his sisters as well?”

Harwin fell silent, knowing that you made several valid points. Though he adored his sisters, and was fiercely protective of them, he was aware of the reality of their situations. He had a castle and title of his own to inherit someday; his sisters were not so fortunate.

You stood on your toes, and placed a chaste, comforting kiss upon his cheek. “I know your father would only agree to marriages for your sisters with fine, decent men. And, if those men are from Houses in the Reach, we would be able to visit your sisters as often as you’d like whenever we are in Highgarden.”

Harwin’s spirits were immediately uplifted at the idea of that.

“My Lady!”

Harwin came to a stop, as did you, at the sight of a messenger headed your way with the utmost haste. When the young man finally reached you, you noticed he was rather disheveled, and nearly out of breath. He heaved heavily, attempting to recompose himself.

“Gods,” Harwin frowned, very concerned. “What is the matter?”

“There was a raven from Highgarden, My Lord.”

It was your turn to frown, though yours was out of confusion. “Already?”

Your last correspondence to your brother, Lord Derron Tyrell, had been sent by raven just a few days before. Hardly enough time had passed for him to have received your letter and returned his response.

The messenger dug into his coat, and revealed the small scroll of a message.

Your eyes glazed over the scroll, awaiting in the messenger’s open palm, before raising to his face. The young man’s expression was a sorrowful one.

Your gut sank.

“What is it?” you demanded, in as level a tone as you could manage.

The messenger said nothing, and merely held out the scroll to you even further with a pained look in his eyes.

Another chill wind blew through the air. Though spring was on the precipice, it seemed that winter was still desperately trying to cling on. You weren’t displeased with it, despite the lovely day you’d experienced several days before.

The colder weather was far more attuned to your mood.

You and your husband’s shared quarters, which had once felt alive with joy and love, now felt cold and empty. But then again, the whole world felt that way.

You sat at the small table in silence. A grand view of the setting sun over King’s Landing was visible from the balcony, which was only a short ways away, but you couldn't find the strength to venture out there yourself. Besides, you could see it all well enough from where you sat.

The soft shuffling of armor and rustling of a cloak could be heard in the background. The noises gradually grew louder, and suddenly, you realized the bearer of both was now standing behind you.

“I must go now,” Harwin informed you, speaking softly.

Normally, you would bid him the warmest of farewells, and make him promise to keep himself safe. Though Harwin was no stranger to the streets of King’s Landing, every night he had to depart for his rounds for the City Watch, you feared greatly for his safety.

But that night, you said nothing. Though you wanted to, you feared what your voice would sound like. Disuse and sorrow would have wreaked havoc upon it. As it was, you could not even bring yourself to look at him. He’d been so patient with you… But you couldn’t help but feel as though he deserved a wife who was able to pull herself together more quickly.

You could tell Harwin was waiting on a response. Though your eyes were fixed over the city, you offered him a small nod in compromise.

You half-expected him to leave without another word, and confirm your worries that he was beginning to pull away from you.

But Harwin’s fingers suddenly brushed across your neck. The gesture would have normally made you shiver from another feeling altogether, but this time, it made you shiver from surprise. He silently adjusted the black shawl you hadn’t even realized had fallen to rest up and over your shoulders once more. Once he was satisfied that you were better protected from the chill, he moved to rest his hands upon your shoulders. The gesture was hardly an embrace, but it still left you feeling protected. Loved.

Harwin leaned down and pressed a tender kiss to your temple. As he withdrew his hands, he suggested gently, “Try to get some rest, My Love. I shall be back in the morning.”

With those last words, your husband walked across the room and exited your chambers. The door shut softly behind him, but once he was gone, you felt no more relief.

You would not be getting any rest.

Your brother was gone.

Between your fits over mourning over the past few days, your mind tore itself apart with questions. How does a young man in perfectly good health be so abruptly struck down by some sickness?

When your father had taken ill, you had a far easier time making sense of it. Your father, though he was not what you would have considered to be old, had lived a large part of his life. He’d gotten married, had children, and served your House, the Reach, and the realm dutifully. But your brother…

The maesters thought it was odd, but seeing as Derron had passed in his sleep, and that your brother was loved by most who knew him, they did not look into the nature of his death any further. You wished that they had, so that you could reassure yourself that nothing foul had been amiss, but you’d lost your chance. The silent sisters would have already begun to see to him by now.

Derron was but a young man, only a few years older than you. He had just inherited your father’s seat, and was robbed of the time he deserved to fully grow into the role and make it in his own right. He had no children. He wasn’t even wed.

You frowned even deeper.

The thought of Lady Cerelle, whom, despite the lack of an official betrothal, you knew cared for your brother so very deeply, disturbed you. How was she taking the news? … You dared to wonder if, had she been present, you might be able to offer comfort to each other in this difficult time.

…

Sometime later, there was a knock on the door.

Despite the fact that you would much rather be silent in the hopes that whoever it was would assume you were not there, you knew that it would be futile. Word about your brother’s passing had spread quickly throughout the Red Keep. If you were not seen out and about, it could only be assumed that you confined yourself to your chambers.

Princess Rhaenyra had visited you several times already, offering her kind words. Though you wanted to be alone, you had to admit that her presence offered you some peace. You were heartened that the woman you had been chosen to serve had become more of a companion to you than you would have ever dared to hope for.

The fact that it was most likely Princess Rhaenyra knocking on the door now encouraged you to call out, “Come in.”

The door to your chambers opened, and closed a moment later. The entrant was silent, but you heard their gentle footsteps upon the stone floor as they approached you from behind.

“Cousin.”

At this, you finally tore your eyes away from the city.

Lord Garrett looked down upon you with sympathy. He was donned in black doublet, and matching trousers. You weren’t sure if you took comfort in the knowledge that you were not alone in your grief, or if it was just a painful reminder of the loss that you both suffered.

Slowly, your cousin took a seat in the chair opposite of you. He looked upon you carefully for a few moments, before saying, “I apologize for not calling upon you sooner. I suspected you might have wanted some time alone.”

A correct assumption. Your focus had returned to the view of King’s Landing.

“I wanted to offer you my deepest condolences for the loss of Lord Derron,” Garrett continued, not dissuaded at all by your lack of response. “My cousin was a great man, and he will be deeply missed.”

Still, you said nothing.

“It is a small blessing that we are here, in King’s Landing, together. At the very least, perhaps we may take comfort in one another.”

At this, you turned your head and gave your cousin a blank look. After a moment, you let out a single, dry laugh.

Your cousin gave you a small smile, evidently relieved to have finally gotten some sort of response out of you.

Now that he had your attention, you inquired, “What brings you here, Cousin?”

Garrett’s smile faltered. “I would have called upon you sooner,” he repeated carefully, “but I wanted to give you a few days of reprieve.” He pursed his lips, clearly deciding how best to phrase his next words. “Though I wish to be delicate at this time, there is a pressing matter that I wanted to discuss with you.”

Ah, of course, you realized. “You are more than welcome to travel with myself and my husband back to Highgarden for my brother’s service, My Lord. The rest of your family may meet us there, if they wish. I shall be happy to see them.”

Garret’s lips twitched uncomfortably. “While that is a generous offer, and one I shall seriously consider, that is not the matter of which I speak.”

“Oh… Then what is it, Cousin?”

Guilt, pity, and a sense of resolve twisted upon Lord Garrett’s face, which resulted in a very conflicted expression. Your entire focus was upon him now, and you were greatly intrigued by whatever subject he had deemed pressing enough to visit you at this late hour of the night.

“I have requested an audience with King Viserys and the small council. I plan to petition them to declare myself as Derron’s legal heir. This would encompass my inheritance of the lordship’s titles, entitlement to Highgarden, and all of House Tyrell’s other holdings.”

…

Your mind went blank.

Your father had been Lord of Highgarden. You had just come around to processing and accepting the reality that your brother was Lord of Highgarden now… or, was. Having anyone else, no matter the individual, assume their place felt… wrong.

In the middle of grieving the loss of Derron, you had somehow overlooked the daunting question that his passing had left. Who was to inherit your family’s seat?

Your cousin was unbothered by your silence. In fact, he seemed to interpret it for his own purposes. “I hope you can forgive me for speaking of such a trivial matter at this time, but, as I said, I do believe this to be a pressing matter.”

You were too stunned to speak.

“I have seen how well married life treats you, My Lady,” Lord Garrett said then, his tone shifting from apologetic to persuasive. “I would not wish to burden you with the responsibilities that plagued your father and brother. If it is your desire, I shall take up lordship of Highgarden, as our grandsire once did, and spare you from any further distress. You and Ser Harwin shall be free to travel the realm as you please, without the weight of responsibility bearing down heavily upon you… Of course, I give you my word that you shall be well taken care of. Any allowances for you currently in existence shall not cease, and, should you require funding for anything else in your lifetime, you would need only to ask it of me.”

Still trying to make sense of anything and everything that Lord Garrett was alluding to, you pursed your lips.

“The meeting with the King and small council is in two days,” he informed you then. “Though you are welcome to attend, that will not be necessary. Your absence will be understood as support of my claim. I am sure everyone will understand your wish to mourn privately.”

Your brows furrowed as your mind began to race.

Lord Garrett took that as his having been dismissed. He rose from his seat, and placed a comforting hand on your shoulder as he passed. “I bid you a good night, Cousin. Fear not, these dark times shall pass.”

Once the door to your chambers closed behind him, you cursed.

The sound of birds chirping filled your ears.

The opening and closing of the chamber doors, followed by quickened footsteps, stirred you.

But it was the sound of your extremely concerned husband that completely woke you.

“Gods, Y/N!” he muttered, though it was loud enough for you to catch in the otherwise silent room.

You forced our eyes open, lifted up your head, and looked about your surroundings. But as you did so, you winced in pain. You very quickly realized that you had fallen asleep right there, still seated at the table in front of the balcony.

Harwin was at your side immediately. As he was still wearing his armor and gold cloak, you knew he had only just arrived back from his watch. Despite his evident tiredness, the concern in his eyes shone through, making you feel more guilty than you already did.

After rising from your seat with a small pained groan, Harwin offered you support immediately. His hands fell to your waist, and he slowly maneuvered you away from the table and chair.

As he gently guided you across the room, he asked, “Were seated there the whole night?” One of his hands rose, and he pressed it softly upon your forehead and cheeks. “Gods, you’re chilled!”

He was probably right. And though your guilt had begun to eat away at you, there was something more pressing. “We need to talk.”

Harwin, though he had always been courteous to you, had grown impatient, and he was forced to put his foot down. “Whatever it is, we can discuss it later, My Love. For now, you need to rest,” he insisted. His tone left little room for argument as he continued to lead you over towards your shared bed. Then he added, “Proper rest.”

You shook your head in protest, though allowed him to seat you upon the mattress nonetheless. “No, it cannot wait. It is about my cousin.”

“Lord Garrett?” After Harwin was satisfied that you were not going to move from your spot, he turned and walked over towards the fireplace. Once there, he added a few more logs to the dying fire. As he began to stir the flames, he asked, “What of him?”

“He wants the lordship.”

Harwin froze.

When he said nothing, you turned over your shoulder to look at him. He turned away from the fire and headed back over towards you slowly, looking as though he didn’t understand, or perhaps hadn’t quite heard, what you had said.

“Forgive me, My Love… What did you say?”

“He wants Highgarden, the titles, the coffers… everything. He is going to petition the King and the small council to be declared my brother’s legal heir.”

A mixed array of emotions flooded your husband’s face. Before you could think of your next words, several knocks sounded on the door.

You attempted to rise, but Harwin was already on the move. As he passed, he calmly gestured at you to stay put. “Rest.”

You did as he bid. Rest finally was beginning to sound like an appealing option. Now that you had confided to Harwin about the matter that had kept you awake most of the night, you could afford a few hours of sleep.

Harwin answered the door, opening it just far enough for you to catch a glimpse of who it was.

Lady Bethany Hightower, the Queen’s cousin, and also, one of her ladies in waiting.

“Forgive me for the early hour, My Lord.”

“What can I assist you with, Lady Bethany?”

“The Queen has requested an audience with Lady Y/N.”

Harwin hesitated. With one hand resting upon the door, he looked over his shoulder towards you. You weren’t sure what your expression conveyed- it could have been tiredness, distaste, or even fear.

Whatever it was, your husband interpreted it well enough. Harwin turned back to face the Queen’s cousin with purpose. “I’m afraid My Lady Wife is resting. As she has just lost her dear brother not but a few days past, I am sure the Queen can understand why her request must be denied at this time.”

“She understands, My Lord,” Lady Bethany claimed, “But she still insists upon an audience with Lady Y/N at once.”

You could see the muscles along your husband’s back and shoulders tense, despite the armor and cloak that covered them.

“Very well,” he said, through slightly gritted teeth. “I shall accompany her then.”

“The Queen wishes to speak with Lady Y/N alone,” Lady Bethany protested disapprovingly.

“And she shall,” Harwin promised haughtily. “The Queen may command me to leave a room in order for her to speak with my wife alone. But she shall not forbid me from waiting for her just outside the door, nor from walking her through the halls, for only Lady Y/N may command that of me.”

Once you knew that it was inevitable, you rose from the bed, and put on your best face to disguise your true fatigue. “Come now, Dearest,” you told Harwin sweetly, placing a light hand on his arm as you approached him. You gave Lady Bethany a stiff nod in greeting. You looked up at Harwin and stated airily, “We mustn't keep the Queen waiting.”

A/N: Thank you for reading! TO BE CONTINUED in Part 2, which is planned to be posted on Thursday 10/20.🖤🖤🖤

#harwin strong #harwin strong x reader #house of the dragon #ser harwin strong #ser harwin strong x reader #ser harwin strong x you #ser harwin strong x y/n #harwin strong x you #hbo #ryan corr #hotd #got #house of the dragon fanfiction #house of the dragon fanfic #game of thrones fanfic #game of thrones fanfiction #harwin strong fanfic #harwin strong fanfiction #ser harwin strong fanfic #ser harwin strong fanfiction

[notwithout-mymuse]

Ok so how’s this for a ‘secret’ theory:

I’m probably utterly insane but still, humour me.

So… season 4 opens probably a few weeks after season 3 left off, with soft, domestic just-engaged, deliriously happy Tarlos. Insert this scene here:

I’m thinking a soft morning just-woke-up-together scene, but honestly it could be anything.

Later in the episode we see Carlos meeting Andrea for lunch mid-shift pre-frog apocalypse.

Only, what’s so important that she had to meet him while he’s in the middle of a shift? Maybe because she wanted to talk to him alone? (cause we all know off-duty Tarlos are joined at the hip).

Here, we get our first hint at the big secret. We realise that whatever it is, Andrea knows and is trying to convince Carlos that he needs to let TK in on the secret now that they’re engaged. Insert this line here:

Then, the conversation gets interrupted by the disaster of the week, and the audience is left wondering.

Sometime later we get excited TK in wedding planning mode, probably featuring a lot of this smug playful face:

Only this time, the audience senses that Carlos is hesitating, maybe thinking about his mother’s warning, but it’s not the time or place to have that conversation (and maybe disaster of the week part 2 is kicking off), so again the audience is left wondering.

Very much this scene from S2 kinda vibes, where Carlos (bless his cotton socks) thinks he’s being smooth and subtle in his deflections, but he’s really, REALLY not and TK starts to realise that something is up:

Then we skip ahead to this angsty-looking scene:

I mean, think about this from TK’s perspective, with his past and previous traumas. The show literally opened with him getting his heart broken over a marriage proposal. If this poor little poppet starts suspecting that Carlos is hesitating when it comes to them getting married, that’s gotta reopen a whole lot of old emotional scars.

I still can’t work out which order I think the two photos from this scene will fall, but either way I think it becomes - if not an argument - then at least a very emotionally charged conversation (in which we will charge Ronen and Rafa for our therapy bills after) where TK says something along the lines of ‘if you don’t want to marry me then just say so’.

And Carlos, unable to bear the thought that TK thinks he doesn’t want to spend the rest of his life with him blurts out the truth:

He can’t marry TK. Not because he doesn’t want that with all his heart..

But because he’s already married.

BOOM. MIC DROP. RIP lone star fandom 2020-2023. Of course the ep ends on a cliffhanger so that we all have to suffer for a whole week without answers. Hence the “gasp-inducing revelation”.

HOWEVER (stay with me here) I don’t think it will be quite as straight-forward as like ‘oh here’s an ex boyfriend I never mentioned before and oops we got married’. For one thing, there doesn’t seem to have been anyone cast who would fit that role, and that would be the obvious route for the story to go, for TK to meet this ex - accidentally or otherwise because DRAMA. Also, how would Andrea know if TK is the first of Carlos’ partners that she has met?

But also, you know who has a role in all of this that we haven’t really been able to figure out yet?

Iris.

Again, stay with me here…

Given that we know that Carlos came out as gay at 17 and has never been suggested to be anything else, I’m pretty sure he would not have married Iris out of love.

However, Carlos has been presented as someone who cares deeply about the people around him, who will do anything to help someone in need, and who struggles with not being able to make things better for people.

So what if Iris didn’t need someone to marry her out of love. What if she needed someone to marry her because she was desperate?

Remember - the last time we saw Iris she was homeless, penniless, traumatised and extremely mentally unwell. But in the new stills she looks in much better health. So who has been making sure that Iris is taken care of financially - her unemployed sister? Her retirement-age mother? And we have no evidence that either of them are even still alive or around to help - if they killed Gwyn off why not Michelle - especially if Liv Tyler is definitely not coming back which looks likely.

So who has been paying what are presumably exorbitant medical fees? It’s not likely that she had medical insurance after living on the streets with no job. But what if she had a ‘husband’ - one with a stable job, decent income, and presumably good health insurance benefits?

Only it would have to be a secret, wouldn’t it?Because the marriage is fraudulent, and Carlos is literally an officer of the law.

Of course this makes me wonder about time frame (always a risky thing with shows like this), but I’m wondering if it happened during the Tarlos break-up era. If Carlos thought there was no chance of reuniting with TK - and lord knows the poor boy wasn’t moving on no matter what he said - then what would be the harm in pretend marrying a friend for a little while so that she could get help?

Nothing. Until TK comes back, and proposes of course!

And understandably TK would have grounds to be upset about Carlos not letting him know what was going on (which is what I think Carlos’ real ‘slip-up’ is, rather than the marriage itself) but given everything that happened after the reunion - with Gwyn dying, TK nearly relapsing, the Sadie drugging, Owen’s cancer scare and a building nearly crushing him - I can see why it might have been difficult to casually slip a sham marriage into the conversation!

Ultimately though, the solution is simple. If Iris is doing as well as she seems, then explain the situation, get the marriage annulled - problem solved!

Which is what I think this scene is about, given that everyone seems happy. (Side note: I think that the image of them in the same clothes where TK looks worried, and Carlos seems to be comforting him could be from before Iris arrives and TK is nervous about how she might respond).

But it’s all fine, she’s happy for them and they make arrangements.

Only, DUN DUN DUN plot twist! Something happens to Iris (probably linking back to some other plot that has been bubbling away in the background) and she goes missing/needs rescuing first:

Anddddd, that’s all I got.

#can’t wait to have to put on my clown nose next week 🤡 #tarlos #tk strand #carlos reyes #iris blake #911 ls spec #911 lone star spoilers #911 lone star #beth rambles about lone star

[thelaithlyworm]

Love Like The Galaxy

“looking forward to your thoughts on 48. see you on the other side!“ ( @uchihasass )

Episode 48 was indeed  a m a z i n g. This visuals, the gathering storm, that tense spoken confrontation at the Marquis’s birthday party that explodes when Ling Buyi throws off his cloak! That they chose some discretion in the fight scene and pulled back to show the blood spattering on the windows (because the big mook fight was not the main event and it gives the audience a breather before the next big gory event. (Good heavens, Ling Buyi’s blood-spattered face.)

And I’d adored the build-up as Niaoniao begins to realise what’s happening and sends out a quiet messenger to confirm what’s going on and, and - she’s acquired a lot of subtlety. And that scene where her mum and dad are talking about how there’s kind of an ominous air about her and at the same time we can see her and the wedding attendants through the window just quietly doing the preparation thing...? They had a really good cinematography team here, a good eye, they take the time to set things up nice.

The bit where I started crying was when Niaoniao is about to head out on a horse - and then her entire family gears up and fights the blockade so she can get through. For a girl who starts the story completely estranged from her family, this is a powerful moment.

I’m now on ep 50 where she has, once again, saved Ling Buyi’s life, but doesn’t want to ever forgive him for, er, not letting her die with him.

And like a lot of conflicts in this story, I can absolutely see where both sides are coming from. He loves her. He can’t give up his revenge. He doesn’t want her to die. Kill his ‘dad’ before the marriage happens so her and her good family don’t get implicated.... it’s an obvious choice.

Whereas Niaoniao, who has been very lonely for much of her life, very disrespected, in situations where people believe the worst of her, all things which scar her soul, wanted him to understand that she was Ride or Die.

There’s some other things boiling out when she talks to various people about things - her continuing frustration that she, a talent just as much as Luo Ben was a talent, is expected to marry and put all her energy into supporting her husband, that this is the only way her culture will let her advance. That she can’t trust his sincerity, because at multiple times it looked like he was doing things for her, but was also using that as a smokescreen for his other matters.

Yeah, Ling Buyi made his decisions because he loved her very very much.

His actions also... made her feel like something flimsy and disrespected.

“Has he ever been of one heart with me before?”

And she still saves his feral bastard life. (Because he saved hers.) Bless her: she’s got a good heart.

There’s... there’s a lot about relationships in this story, the ones that work, the ones that don’t, about loyalty to the family and how they can support you, and what one owes to the family. So Niaoniao, a spiritual loner, interacting with all these issues, is interesting.

EDIT:

Also... so people act out in this story for two big reasons. 1. They have a pretty cushy life but They Want More. 5th Princess etc. Kind of... super-anxious about losing status or selfish, whatever.  And 2. They cannot get justice through the rule of law.  Niaoniao with her 2nd Aunt and, once that woman is gone, her mother constantly believing the worst of her (not without cause). Luo Ben, his career constantly sabotaged by his uncle because the minor family should not outshine the main branch. Huo Wushang, who witnessed murder and treason but he’s a tiny child and the only other witness is mad...

I can understand why people start planning private revenge and crooked tricks when the law fails them. It’s still a dangerous road to start on - once one starts doing extrajudicial violence it’s tempting to keep going. Note the bodycount from Luo Ben’s ploy, or Ling Buyi in his status of a law enforcement officer torturing prisoners.

And I think it’s important to note that Ling Buyi spends more than a decade (mostly) trying to assemble his evidence in a (mostly) legal way. Niaoniao, yes, a trickster, who dares to love and hate, learns not to deny her tricks - and she will ask for clemency for people who have actively tried to wrong her. Somewhere, someone, probably 3rd Aunt and the Empress, taught her mercy as well. Perhaps, through the estrangement with her mother, Niaoniao learnt some of her mother’s ideas on justice, too. (They’re trying, okay!)

#love like the galaxy

[carlos-in-glasses]

same anon from this post, thank u for giving us the room for this discussion!! <3

you and i are the same in that i really hate it when things are left up to our interpretation, in my mind i'd just automatically assumed the worst just so i can avoid being disappointed again. i'd also talked myself into accepting that it could be in reference to carlos and iris rather than the other way around, but the lack of closure/clarity is genuine killing me and i hate that it very well could be left unaddressed in future eps, which is why i'm trying to bury it now and just pretend it hadn't happened

i didn't particularly get any...closure, per say on tk's end so far, and i would've been okay with the angst if carlos wasn't such a jerk to tk the whole time. i guess it's why i've struggled so much getting through the first 3 eps, and rn i'm dreading 404 even though i've seen so many ppl getting excited over it. i really do hope this was set up in a way that 404 would be cathartic and also a great time for them to address the amount of shit tk was put through in the past eps, but i'm also trying to manage my expectations here

i do also think this is why ppl are struggling in this ep - we've never seen them so un-synced (for lack of a better word) with each other before, what with carlos being so focused on his mission and tk buried in his own guilt spiral and also his worry for carlos. and i really wished they'd talked to each other rather than letting this play out for angst purposes, if the payoff wasn't worth it in the end. bc angst is only done well if it's cathartic imo.

also, i hope this is a journey of carlos acknowledging his faults (e.g. lying, avoiding, repressing, pretending) and working towards them (like tk's arc), bc its honestly getting really exhausting time and time again seeing tk being shut out without any closure. it's going to be painful, and ugly, and confronting buried feelings that he didn't know was possible to feel, but i do hope he's going to get to a place where he stops running from his past in order to move forward into his future with the help of tk, and them working towards this as a team 🥹🥹 i love him and i'm exhausted and he needs to get his shit together (and i meant this in the nicest way possible).

I’m glad I’m not the only one! I’m just not wired to be cool with things that leave me with lots of questions. I don’t necessarily need shows to be super on-the-nose with things, but I can struggle with ambiguity when it comes to something like this. I definitely stand by something I said in a previous answer, which is I wish the ‘I love you’ moment could have had a little more too it. It wouldn’t have to be anything major, just a stronger ‘I love you too’ would do, or something dramatic like, ‘I want you know I don’t blame you, TK…I only blame…myself!’ and then he hangs up. Soapy as hell, but then we’d know! For me, having TK go feral while looking for Carlos who has been kidnapped by a serial killer would be plenty of angst on its own, without the additional angst of a rift between them. But this is the hand we have been dealt.

I’m sorry you’re dreading 4x04 though. I’m excited for it because I’m trusting Ronen. I hope it far exceeds your expectations and you love it – you deserve to love it! Even if it leaves some things lacking, it really should still be cathartic after what’s happened so far, because we know they’ll be reunited and the wedding planning will properly commence. We know they will be back in sync – maybe more so than ever. Maybe the show will play that up. We know it can do Tarlos extremely well, hence we love Tarlos so much, and they do usually feel like a team.

And your last para – yes, I agree. It’s exhausting when a character doesn’t grow and it’s invigorating when they do, and it does seem to me like the set up is for growth to happen. It doesn’t seem possible for Carlos to go through what he’s going through now, as a direct result of his past, and come out of it pretending nothing ever happened. Again, we know growth is something the show can do well, for instance contrasting season 1 TK against season 3 TK.

I think with Tim at the helm, the show has taken a risk this season and (at the time of writing this response anyway) it isn’t paying off the way they’d hoped and some damage control and reactiveness seems to be happening. My takeaway wish from all this is: the creators and writers also grow from the backlash and bring a season 5 that still has plenty of drama but handled in a different way, ie. a disaster that TK and Carlos truly do face as a team. Or something that is less reliant on angst between them. (I want to emphasise this is my wish, which may well not align with anyone else’s). This can all be absolutely fixed – either in the next episode or beyond.

#Ask

[goblinconceivable]

braindump: betty/daniel

I’ve been living with them for a while, notes taken, a few stories significantly started but there’s a gelling issue, which I’m hoping is at least partially down to a lack of proper braindumping.  So, in no particular order and certainly not comprehensive:

Frankly I also got too hooked on the last 2 eps, which is likely where I’m blocked.  It’s an abrupt emotional twist for them (esp Daniel), and in trying to make sense of that I’m losing focus on the 4 previous years.

- I’m a little bit obsessed in the scene where Betty tries to convince Matt she’s fearless by pointing out her bang-less-ness.  And then runs into Daniel, who is at that moment half brain-washed, but yet when she asks about her fearless quotient his response is immediate and natural and entirely lacking in irony: “no bangs.”  It’s a tiny little moment that shows how well he not only knows her, but understands her.  Without judgment, without fanfare.  Were I to have a husband, this is the sort of response that would confirm I’d married the absolute perfect guy for me.

- They’re too close for mirroring to be an important indicator, but there are two scenes that stand out in this vein: the first is when Betty thinks he may have pushed Christina down the stares and steals the video.  She’s backing out the door, and he follows, matching her step for step.  I love the direction choices because from her perspective there’s a sense of menace, Daniel as potential villain is stalking her.  But from his guileless perspective he’s talking to her and if she’s moving, so is he.  The second is from the penultimate, talking about Trista, where Betty’s rolling back and forth and he moves with her, rather than simply turning his head.  It signals his full engagement in the conversation, seeking her attention, and is why the scene plays as flirting rather than their normal banter.

- That bulletpoint was getting a bit long, so second point on the flirting is that it plays against Betty shutting down the conversation “none of my business,” leading to the fight over involvement in each other’s personal lives, leading to the revelation that they know each other at that deep personal level so very, very well.  Which was a very clumsy leadup to Daniel’s revelation during Hilda’s wedding speech, that could have been handled so much more deftly but those last two eps were quite rushed, I don’t know when they found out about the shortened season but it feels like they’d planned for more space and had to jab in exposition.

- Becaaaaause: they narratively broke his ‘aha’ moment onto “know you better than you do” while the strength of the message is really in the “do anything to protect them.”  Which is, I believe, where they cut to his softened expression.  Not coincidentally, this is precisely what a lot of fan-readings of the characters focus on: Daniel will do anything to protect Betty.  Bobby might have said he’d throw himself under a bus for Hilda, but Daniel HAS done that for Betty- in fact literally doing so would probably have been easier than publicly shouldering the blame for the Tornado cover and giving away the profits.  Due to the fact that he had time to consider the consequences and did it anyway.

- Which is tidy segue into an admission that I’m flying mostly blind on the Molly arc because I basically skipped all her scenes, but it’s my understanding that Daniel doing this was a pivotal moment for them.  Ie, she was impressed that he did this thing.  I mean, I really appreciate that he spent the whole press conference scene looking for Betty, so the show in no way undercut their relationship.  But then they very clearly built the Molly relationship on the foundation of not only the man Daniel had become due to Betty, but choices he was making in large measure for Betty: it’s not that he saw Betty beaten down and resolved the situation: he was upset but lost, she yelled at him, and THEN he resolved the situation by taking the bullet.  Did I break grammar by ending up with two colon’d clauses in the same sentence?  It’s a braindump, ain’t gotta be pretty.  XP

- Quick sidebar that the same thing happens with Alexis.  She was expecting to come back to one brother, but then listens in on his pep talk with Betty and finds she’s returned to a different brother.  This may be where I got the “an assistant” phrasing, if so, my bad.  But basically, she was impressed with Daniel’s actions, not understanding that it was Betty specifically inspiring his actions.

- Follow that a step further and did Molly ever acknowledge how important Betty is to him?  Legit question.  I think her line here was about him doing it “for an assistant” (?) rather than even “his assistant,” establishing Betty as a non-entity for her.  (Quoting a summary but I think I’m in the ballpark.)  And I’m sure I’d have read about it somewhere if she brought Betty up during their discussion on who he’d date when she was dead.

- Just one last note on Molly, (okay it’s a multi-part though it veers off her as a character) but a possibly incorrect beef is that I hate the Daniel/Molly relationship because there’s no interesting or even real conflict?  It’s perfect?  I’m supposed to think this is magical “true love”?  Molly has apparently been engaged for years to a man she doesn’t really love (and um... that’s lazy not strong), and helps inspire a vengeance filled betrayal by her ex because she’s so awesome everyone loves her?  But she comes out squeaky clean because any emotional cheating on her part is balanced and thus “justified” by Connor falling for Wilhemina.  And then the only “conflict” is that she’s dying, and is perfect throughout it?  That’s...  weak.

-That poem thing WOULD have been an interesting point of conflict but it was resolved by Betty’s intervention, rather than within the relationship.  Which actually is an incredibly interesting beat.  The problem with that being it’s so entirely consistent with the role Betty plays in Daniel’s life that it’s treated as just another beat, as if it doesn’t MATTER that a fundamental moment of intimacy and growth of vulnerability in Daniel’s very important romantic relationship is a door opened by a third party.  There’s a strong argument to be made for something but I broke off to write the next point and now can’t remember what that strong argument is.  I might remember later.  It may have had something to do with Molly being a stepping stone in Daniel’s arc, but the cult-thing was so long and dominating that it didn’t work, it tied him too tightly for too long and coinciding with a loosening of his relationship with Betty there was flailing.

- Quick one: Daniel’s fast-forwarded and time-bounded relationship with Molly is the analog to Betty’s time-limited relationship with Henry.  Which is a discussion I would like Daniel and Betty to have.  Esp. noting that Betty and Henry had issues they worked through together (ice cream foreplay being one.)

- Player!  So going back to a happy place, when Betty’s on the phone trying to fix the apartment situation and the camera pans onto Daniel just leaning against the doorway: this may be a legitimate little moment of “squee!”  There’s so much denial in his laid back attitude at Player, but I still love watching how the informality of the environment reflects in the informality with Betty.  He gives her free reign, and there’s many answers to “why,” and I (almost) don’t want to go into them because I totally adore how this Daniel is basically a College!Daniel only he’s latched onto Betty, who, meanwhile, is just being Betty.  OMG how different his life would have been if he’d met Betty in college...

- Okay I actually don’t feel like going into whys, it’s just an arc to enjoy.  With a small mention of how he TOTALLY was playing with the MODE book and handed it to Betty knowing she’d understand and use it to get them back in.  Such a crazy subtle manipulation, to the point where I’m not sure it wasn’t almost entirely subconscious on Daniel’s part.

- The YETI recommendation letter.  What I love is that this is another time when Daniel fvcks up, but fixes it, and more importantly displays competence and ingenuity alongside authentic caring and effort.  Here’s the thing: YETI wanted Betty, even if it was just a quota thing (which it wasn’t entirely, at least one of the board was generally enthused.)  So all that was necessary was to have them re-label her as from Player.  Daniel knew this and did this.  And told Betty that.  BUUUUT that point was purposefully (by script and character) overshadowed by the gesture of the lengthy rec letter he put significant time into.  Whose real audience was... wait for it...  Betty.  He even did a second draft!  Which is more time and effort and a cleaner product.

-  Also flaking on her practice run.  I also enjoy how he (finally...) bounced back into the office clearly having forgotten her schedule, but having mentally shifted from Molly-space into Betty-space.  He’s enthused, he’s engaged, he’s sort of bantering and I’d like to see where that scene would have gone if she hadn’t immediately gotten the acceptance call.

- So there’s this moment somewhat early on, pretty sure when Betty’s taking the writing class, and wants Daniel to give her feedback.  And he’s all “why?,” coming from his “I don’t actually know what I’m doing” place.  She responds that he’s her friend and wants to know what he thinks.  And he does a little double-take at that word.  Because until that point Daniel totally sees Betty as HIS Friend, and they’ve referred to each other as friends, with a little “f,” and he believes that.  But it wasn’t until this moment that he even considered that HE might be HER Friend.  Presumably because he doesn’t believe he has anything to offer her, beyond the power he holds as EIC and her boss - ie, “here run this show” and other such responsibilities.

- Which is a recurring theme.  Pronounced on relationship stuff especially.  When she asks him for input on the Henry vs Gio situation, when she’s trying to date the playwright.  His response is always “I’m in no position to offer relationship advice/judgment on relationships.”  He sorta dodges the first and is permissive on the second.  I don’t know where to go with that so I’ll leave it (for now).

- When  he was supposed to be in Rio, Betty wasn’t even at MODE, she was working for the “enemy,” and he was sending her regular postcards?  First, they’d have been postmarked in New York and presumably with local stamps, so I’m not 100% on Betty not cottoning on.  But it’s super cute that he was thinking of her when he was incommunicado with literally everyone else.  Did he want her to figure it out (subconsciously)?  It’s an act of reaching out, but also of convincing: he’s created a fictional narrative of being in Rio, fed and embellished by the media and swallowed by coworkers, but it’s through Betty that he’s establishing the fiction in a definitive way.  He wants HER to believe it, because if SHE believes he’s there and having a good time, then he can believe it too, with a small piece of his imagination.

- Same convincing as in Player.  BTW, how did all those messages on her phone work?  He was 99% totally hiding the situation from her.  a) why wouldn’t he just call her from his phone, as he always did in the past?  b) he was creating another fictional space.  Where her “number” was literally on a post-it on his temporary assistant’s monitor.  It’s all play: “call Betty” happens many times, and every one is the act of doing it while knowing that he’s not really doing it.  c) Betty does not point out that he should have been confused he never heard back, or more to the point, that he never heard her voicemail message.  d) he was in a state of limbo waiting for her to come back, nothing is real until she does.  At which point there’s lovely dramatic tension since he both wants her to fix it and get them out of there, and wants to draw her into this new reality and thus make it feel viable.

- 100th Anniversary edition.  I love the idea that he’s hep on her writing his bio because he needs her name, at least, to be next to his.  His identity as EIC is predicated on her being his partner, and needs that shown, even if it’s functionally an “in joke” because it’s not like she can be featured.  In musing over his thoughts while flipping through the book right before deciding to quit, I usually come back to a realization of the transience of the role, but I want it to be a gutpunch of how he assumed, without being aware, that Betty would be next to him in picture, and that’s what they were heading for.

- I’ve actually got through most of my notes, so just a couple more.  Daniel is super impressionable.  He did what Becks told him to in the pilot.  He did what Natalie told him in the cult-situation.  Both against his better judgment - his look after Betty when he kicked her out for being “drama he didn’t need” - that’s the same look when he told her to clock out and was dragged off by the not-16-year-old.  I’m too tired to go check the pilot, but assuming similar look there.  He does what he’s told by anyone telling him to do something, but he WANTS to be rescued from the bad influences, who are so often so forceful.

- Final scene: okay so it turns out quick a lot of my thoughts are trying to understand Daniel.  His growth is blatant and deep.  So a second round will be more Betty-focused.  ‘Cuz I identify strongly with her and don’t have a lot of surface questions about her motivations, but I’m LOST on side of the romantic coin.  And plus she deserves a close look regarding how she grows during the series.

- I watched at least part of the reunion and very much like how AF answered the question of the final scene versus what EM says.  Because I think they each, as actors, see it from the perspective of their characters, which means it was played authentically and grants insight.  AF basically says that she saw it as Daniel coming to say thank you, and how it came down to Betty teaching him that he was good enough.  Which came across a little funny because her phrasing implied they’d never talk or see each other again or something and that’s an alarming finality.  But also implies that Betty really did see moving to London as a significant parting of ways, something that started as soon as she became an editor and their relationship changed.  Probably before.

- She then challenged EM as to why Daniel didn’t say goodbye (as if she didn’t know and hadn’t thought about it?  I’m guessing this was panel performance: asking the question “in character” and throwing the question to the other relevant actor.)  But anyway, EM’s answer was “Because things were just starting.”  Which is blatantly a shippy answer, and he even explains Daniel’s “revelation” as when he “really saw Betty for the first time through and through.”

- At some point in these things you’re like: oh but I thought of something else, and only stop when your brain falls asleep.

- I thought of something else.  And then I forgot it.  My brain is failing!  But not yet failed.

- After Betty gets her braces off there’s this scene near the end, at the shoot.  Daniel sees her and crosses quite purposefully to talk with her.  He wants to banter and share this exciting moment with her.  And the scene goes a little strange when Betty kinda goes “yeah, going now bye.”  I expected more eye contact, a big smile, more conversation.  That’s Betty.  That’s them.  But instead it’s a little awkward so Something Is Happening Here.  Is she self-conscious?  Did she see and hear something in Daniel’s look and comment right after she was detached from the bra and isn’t at this moment comfortable with him?  Is this all fallout from her dream in which she and Daniel slept together/he thought she was a bad person/rejected her only they chose not to explicate this/cut a useful scene/thought I’d get that right away but I’m obtuse?  I don’t think it’s the last one because while I can be horribly obtuse, I don’t think it was coded.  But that’s what the obtuse would say.

- At any rate they don’t pick up on it again, next scene (next ep) they’re back to normal.

- But Daniel does immediately chase after Amanda and let go of her.  Which is payoff for his convo with Betty earlier where she sort of disdainfully asks if he WANTS a more serious relationship with Amanda.  I did sort of wonder if he actually does, but Betty’s judgmentalness is what convinces him he doesn’t.  Usually I’d say Betty understands him so well she knows he doesn’t, but they’re not as close at this point, Betty is living her own life much more, so I dunno.

- But I don’t actually think Daniel was falling for Amanda, or that the show wanted us to think that was ultimately a viable path.  Because of that moment when he’s in a car, calls Amanda, says “I really need to see  you” and she turns him down.  It parallels his text to Betty when Molly died.  One text and Betty came over.  This was an actual distressed voice convo and Amanda doesn’t care enough about him to be there, which is really great development for Amanda even though we don’t see her!  She previously went after Matt when he was in jail, she’s interested in Tyler here, she’s not totally pining for Daniel!

- Daniel of course was using Amanda and their earned if mild emotional intimacy as a crutch, trying to fill the space Betty left.  Also note when Amanda turned him down for sex and he stayed to “hang out,” - this is not supposed to be an analysis of Amanda but I wanna note I like that moment because it felt like she was pleased to think she wasn’t just sex to him, while still being over him romantically. Because she does care about him.

- Or for pete’s...  I have this bad habit of writing notes which I later look at and am like... “huh?”  This is a fic idea, from Daniel’s POV: “Betty had moulded him, often by sheer force of her iron will, into being a man who almost deserved Molly.  And he'd turned right around and become a man who would never deserve Betty.”  And I DON’T REMEMBER WHAT THE SECOND HALF MEANS.  Specifically.

- Wedding dancing.  Happens twice.  Hilda’s wedding, we know what that is.  But at Daniel’s wedding.  I like that he wasn’t 100% Molly focused, ‘cuz, shipper.  And I know why the show had Matt cut in, because gotta keep things moving.  But isn’t it a thing that you don’t cut in on the groom/bride?  It’s their day.  Daniel just sort of nonverbally asks Betty if it’s okay (to leave her with Matt), but can’t help a) thinking he was a bit put out and b) want Molly to see his expression looking at Betty and have some sort of “aha” moment where she - do Molly and Betty have any scenes together?  I don’t remember seeing any and I think I did skim through all the eps, but I need to do that again.

- Ooh, one of the things I forgot en route!  I like that Betty has revolving love interests, because that’s textual argument for Betty never having feelings (romantic) for Daniel.  Which is super, super important in this iteration of the story.  There’s a couple moments - pilot and the first bridge scene - where she arguably has a momentary crush, which quickly settles into a developing platonic relationship.  

- Jump back to Daniel finally seeing Betty as a true equal = romantic feelings.  It’s a thing.  Look my brain is deteriorting and wording is hard!  So there’s two sided imbalance throughout.  Daniel always saw Betty with this veneer of youth, and a great deal of his use for her is helping her “grow into the woman she’ll be.”  And that’s the roadblock in him seeing her as a romantic possibility.  Which was initially quite awesome because he was sleeping with people younger than her, even the “she’s actually 20″ girl was younger than Betty.  And yet always saw her as in many ways more mature and competent than her.  And double-yet he still saw how much further she could, and would, grow.  His belief in her knows no bounds.

- Meanwhile Betty sees him as...  someone who’s also becoming.  Who has great potential.  Bullying him into it if necessary.  And because he’s guided by her, she can’t crush on him, he’s like her pet.  Were she to have a crush, much less fall for him, it would have been horrifying.  She needs to have a moment when she sees him as a true equal, someone who - look, everyone is always still growing so it’s not like he needs to be fully formed, and it’s a little murkier what the moment would look like when she finally sees Daniel “for the first time.”

- ‘cuz as noted, Betty has been there for pretty much every important moment of growth and crossroads in every facet of Daniel’s life.  Whereas Betty consistently had many things and relationships in her life Daniel was not involved in.  She’s always been way more self-reliant (not the word I wanted, is there one that starts with c?)  It’s why they did sort of need to peel away through a chunk of S4, because Daniel needed to learn to cope without Betty propping him up, because it’s like a Miranda-thing:

- “I don’t need Gary.  But I want him.”

- Daniel has to be able to be find without Betty before Betty can see him as a viable romantic partner.  She has to see something she never has before.  Daniel saw that the seedling he’d been protecting was not only strong enough to survive on its own had grown up and bloomed (process begun early in the season when he was being overprotective and she shut that down).  For Betty...  I guess Daniel...  ...  .....  it didn’t happen in the show.  As EM noted, for Daniel, the ending was the beginning.  Because his moment isn’t leaving MODE, that’s just the corresponding moment to Betty shaking him off.  His moment is further down the road when he puts into practice everything he’s learned and ...  something answered in fanfic because it’s spec and I’m tuckered.

#daniel x betty #detty #ugly betty #meta #braindump #my brain literally has nothing except #i got nothing #what a satisfying feeling #to have removed everything and set it in a magical tardis of a post

[lizacstuff]

Hey, Liza! Always look forward to your thoughts on the ep!:) so how did you like it along with the fragman? We only have 2 eps left, and not anticipating an ep Wednesday evening will be so unusual🥺

Thanks! I can't believe we're so close to the end. I'm sad, because this show has been my pandemic comfort show for a whole year now. What a joy it was to have this world and these characters every single Saturday last winter when so many of us were stuck inside and not seeing much of our family and friends (and while US TV was in limited production). I've also really enjoyed the cast's social media interaction and the amazing way they, and Hande and Kerem especially, gave of themselves and brought a little light, laughter and love into a dark time for many.

Ups and downs are unavoidable when you have a weekly two hour show that shoots on an unimaginably tight timeline with small budgets, and is 100% dependent on the love story of the protagonists. Add COVID to the mix and what a group of talented professionals to still turn out something so watchable and addicting week after week.

So kudos to the whole cast and crew, but special praise for Hande and Kerem who carried this show on their backs for 52 episodes and 58 weeks of shooting. They were able to create magic in every single episode, no matter what quality of material they were handed by a revolving door of writers. What a duo. I'm not sure I'll ever see a pair of better matched actors.

So while I'm sad the journey is ending and will miss the show, I'm also happy, because this show is going out the right way. The producers and network are giving this show and its fans the kind of send off that seems rare in the land of dizis: plenty of time and fully planned. Serkan and Eda are going to get the happiest of endings/beginnings. We're seeing glimpses of our OTP doing things that most shippers only ever dream about... or they only get in one five minute montage in the finale. Besides both characters overcoming their fatale flaws and finding happiness and fulfillment together, we've also gotten a multitude of shipper milestones, including numerous proposals, a wedding, a honeymoon, all the domestic moments we could ask for, them as parents, pregnancy and just all the happy family goodness.

This last batch of episodes have been so funny, sweet and gentle. This week, I was grinning like an idiot for almost the entire 2 hours. The comedy was A+ in this one. Serkan as a neurotically overbearing, but extremely loving and devoted father-to-be was spot on with what I think most of us expected of his character. Him wanting to take a moment to congratulate himself was priceless! And this episode filled my heart to the brim watching him fawn over Eda, whether it was them quietly at home, or him showing her the house he bought years ago. I will never be over him hassling Eda over going to the bathroom without him. What a treasure you are, Serkan Bolat!

It's a gift for Serkan to experience fatherhood from the start, but it's also a gift for Eda to have him with her every step of the way this time. I think that perspective will grant Eda patience as she navigates his well-meaning overprotectiveness. These two characters have been so marked by tragedy, that these happy moments, this happy ending, and the happy beginning they'll get to the rest of their lives feels so well earned.

On the lighter side, the whole gang at the office pretending to be employees was a great way to use the ensemble, and I admittedly laughed a lot at the silly misunderstandings floating around. A clever way to draw comedy from an episode with Serkan and Eda doing a very normal thing (keeping the pregnancy quiet until after the first trimester). How cute were Serkan and Kiraz as magicians? How adorable was Eda crying because she was so touched? How hilarious was that Ayfer/Serkan conversation? At least Serkan realized they couldn't have been talking about the same thing.

Speaking of supporting characters, what a relief it was to hear Ayfer blame herself for Eda's "depression" because she'd put so many roadblocks in their way. And, you know, vastly overstepped by creating an unnecessary custody fight. Finally some self awareness! Melo still deserves better than Burak, but that's happening so i won't go on about it. Piril and Engin still bore me, but I'll even miss them. Seyfi insisting that Kemal had a newfound family of four, not three, was surprisingly touching. He absolutely is a member of that family. And if any character is deserving of some mother-in-law headache, it's Aydan, so go Serkan's new grandma! Give her hell, lmao. The subtle evolution of Serkan and Kemal's relationship is great. Serkan is slowly accepting him into his life and it's wonderful to see a character who has never really felt a father's love realize it doesn't have to be that way. As crazy as their friends and family are, it's wonderful to see Serkan and Eda, and their growing family, surrounded by so much love. All in all, a funny, heartfelt episode as the series winds down.

#Sen Çal Kapımı #Sen Cal Kapimi #edser #sckask #sck episode discussion #edser discussion #asklizac #sck 2x50 #sck 2x11 #anonymous

[mae-gi-writes]

Deobi Playlist (EP 11) | The Boyz Imagine

EP 11: in which Kevin and Mae go on a first date and Juyeon’s girlfriend has bad news. 

The Boyz x Hospital Playlist inspired drabble series.

Main Characters: Hyunjae, Juyeon, Kevin and OC (Mae)

Sides: the rest of The Boyz.

Genre: fluff, slice of life, comedy, BROMANCE BRUH

EP 1 | EP 2 | EP 3 | EP 4 | EP 5 | EP 6 | EP 7 | EP 8 | EP 9 | EP 10 | EP 11

-----

“You’ll be fine,” Hyunjae’s voice is a soothing lullaby to the ongoing tumulant war roaring through Kevin's head as he quickly buttons up his charcoal jeans and glances over at himself in the mirror. 

As per Hyunjae's recommendations, Kevin now eyes his jean jacket hiding a white t-shirt underneath, said jeans and matching converse and tries to imagine what Mae might think of him. 

"Are you sure?" Kevin repeats.

"Kevin, it's a date. Not a goddamn wedding," Hyunjae's voice resonates through the phone with clear exasperation, "she's not going to judge you for it." 

"Okay okay," Kevin takes a deep breath, "you're right. It's just a date." 

"Yeah, a date. With Mae. You'll be fine. Just think of it as just the two of you hanging out as you always do."

"Oh my god what if I make a fool of myself? Or worse, what if I spill something on her? Or me? Or what if--"

"Kevin," Hyunjae cuts him off, "breathe, my man."

Kevin does as he's told, inhaling shakily and exhaling through his mouth, "sorry," he mumbles, "I just--I don't want to mess this up."

"And you won't. Do you know how much she likes you?"

Kevin blinks at his reflection, "What?"

Hearing Hyunjae sigh at the other end of the line, his heart suddenly speeds up at the slightest possibility that this love is not one-sided. 

"Okay, this didn't come from me," Hyunjqe starts, "but--well, the reason why I was so keen foe you two to, you know, get together, is because I knew that she--that she liked you back."

"You knew? And you kept this from me?!" 

"Hey, it wasn't my secret to tell okay!" 

"HYUNJAE WHAT THE FUCK."

"I'M SORRY SHE SAID SHE'D CIRCUMCISE ME IF I TOLD ANYONE."

Kevin's fingers reach up to pinch the bridge of his nose, "what about Juyeon? Does he know?" 

Silence.

"HYUNJAE."

"Yes yes, alright! He knows too! But I couldn't possibly keep the secret for myself! It was too good to tell!"

"So all this time you both knew?!"

"We couldn't just betray Mae's feelings just like we didn't betray yours," his friend is quick to point out.

"Fine, fine. You're right," Kevin pauses, "but still--"

"Let's not continue this or you might be late for your date."

Kevin's eyes impulsively flit over to the clock on his nightstand, before letting out a reluctant groan of agreement, "fine. But I have questions when I return."

"Aye sir." 

Kevin had planned out the day with precise timing and to the finest detail. They were to have lunch at a coffee shop overlooking the Han River, a location chosen both because of the beautiful view it gave and for its location, since it was close to the arcade he'd carefully picked out just a few days prior. After that, they'd head over to the arcade for an afternoon of fun and games, and later on they could walk along the Han River, hand in hand, while watching the sunset coating the entire city in warm shades of gold. 

But of course, he should've known that everything would just go wrong from the moment he set his mind to make this day as perfect as possible. 

For starters, they met up at the coffee shop entrance only to realize that it's closed for renovation. As a result, they had no choice but to find a nearby fast food joint, settling on greasy burgers and too-salty fries to match and although Mae assures him that she is perfectly fine with that choice, it definitely does not hit the sweet romantic spot that Kevin has been aiming for. 

“Honestly, this suits more my style anyway,” Mae says as she bites a big mouthful of beef and bacon burger. 

“Sure,” is what he mumbles, though his mind is clearly trying to piece up together a better action plan for the rest of the day to come. 

It’s fine, he tells himself internally, it will definitely get better from there. Right? Right? 

It doesn’t. 

The moment they head to the arcade, they are bombarded with a group of ten-year old children running around and screaming at the top of their lungs, clambering up on makeshift motorbikes and squealing at the top of their lungs as they attempt to shoot down zombies through a two-dimensional screen. 

It’s practically impossible to hear what Mae is saying, yet have a romantic date together.

“Kevin,” Mae shouts over the cacophony of piercing screams echoing throughout the neon-coloured room. She tugs down onto his arm so that her lips reach his ear, “we don’t have to stay if you don’t want to, it’s fine!” 

“But that was what I had planned--”

“It’s okay, we’ll figure something out!” 

He tries not to show his displeasure, but the scowl breaks through his forced nonchalance. Mae, having spotted his change in expression, tugs more insistently onto his arm, “it’s okay Kev. Come on.” 

It’s only until they stumble out of the arcade -- Kevin sporting a sour expression -- that Mae bursts into a soft chuckle at the said man’s face. 

She nudges him lightly on the shoulder, “come on, Kev. It’s not that bad. We’ll find something else to do.” 

“But I know you’ve always wanted to go on a date in an arcade,” he mumbles out, words sounding a little whinier than he’s intended. Mae can’t help but laugh at how cute he sounds and looks at this very moment, like a child in need of a lollipop to feel better and as if on its own accord, her hand reaches out to pat his head.

Kevin blinks down at her in surprise, at the lingering smile faltering at the corner of her lips upon realizing how close they are at this very moment. Clearing her throat and quickly turning away so as to avoid direct confrontation of this awkward atmosphere, Mae gestures towards the Han River without meeting his eyes. 

“How about we go for a walk?” she asks. “Okay,” he mumbles, still slightly put out that all that planning has resulted in absolutely nothing. What if Mae thinks he actually doesn’t really care about first impressions? Or what if she’s someone who actually loves big romantic gestures and had been expecting so much from him, only to be disappointed by his lack of effort? These sort of questions keep on daunting the back of Kevin’s mind as the pair make their way to the riverside. The sun is shining in the distance, though grey clouds linger underneath like a barrier that already hints there will be no sunset today, which only makes Kevin want to stomp his foot in protest. It’s not fair! Chants his inner subconscious as Mae’s voice chimes through the air: 

“So this is definitely not the kind of date that I had been expecting.” 

“Thanks Mae,” he mutters, “that’s exactly what I want to hear right now.” 

She can’t help but burst out laughing at his face transformed into a pout, eyebrows drawn together and lips turned down, clearly upset by it all, “and here I thought you were one with the big romantic gestures.” 

“Look, I had the date all planned out to the finest detail,” Kevin protests as they reach the riverbank, “it was perfect in my head. And then all this shit happened.” 

“You tried,” she grins, “I appreciate that.” 

“And yet, you’re still laughing.” 

“It’s funny! You should see yourself! I’ve never seen you pouting that much in my entire life.” 

“Because I wanted today to be special,” he all but grumbles, scowling at how funny she finds it when he’s put so much effort. And for what? Absolutely nothing! “I didn’t want it to be just any date.”

“It’s fine, really. It’s just a date.” 

“It’s not--” his eyes catch her own, blazing with emotion, “--just a date. It was officially our first. I just wanted it to be special, you know?” 

There’s a slight pause as the girl takes in his words, a half-smile still dancing at the corners of her lips as she tries to find any kind of fault to the young man who thinks he has screwed everything up. In truth, she couldn’t have asked for anything better, and the fact that Kevin’s plans -- despite his amazing preparation -- have failed just makes it all the more special, and will definitely be something she’ll cherish forever. 

But she knows, no matter how much she talks, Kevin will definitely keep beating himself up about it because that is just the kind of person he is, the kind of person that expects so much from themselves, only to loathe themselves for it for reasons that shouldn’t exist in the first place. 

So she does the only thing that she thinks will boost his morale. She closes the gap between their bodies in one fluid movement before stretching up on her toes to kiss his cheek.

Kevin’s eyes are as round as saucers when she pulls back, jaw falling slack at her more than intimate action. He can’t recall the last time they’ve been this close, and it had definitely not been on romantic terms. 

This, this feels different. It is different. His hand tingles with the desire to touch his cheek, just to feel the residual warmth followed by her soft imprint.

“Thank you,” Mae murmurs as Kevin probes at her face in an attempt to find out what is going on inside that head of hers. From the soft peony colour dusting her cheeks, he’d have to think that she is definitely smitten. She continues in that shy, soft voice that is a complete contrast to her usual strong tone, “what you intended was meaningful enough.” 

His lips twitch, threatening to break into a shit-eating grin as he replies, "no problem," in what he hopes is a nonchalant, blazéed manner.

They continue striding down the pathway and it is then that Kevin finds the courage to brush the back of his knuckles against hers. And when her eyes flutter to his with curiosity, he forces his courage forward, wraps his fingers around her own before squeezing softly. 

He refuses to meet her questioning gaze, instead focusing on the sight ahead. The sun is melting into the Han river's surface, covered up by clouds so that only strands of pale light slither through. It is definitely not the most romantic mood he'd wished for, definitely not the perfect date he'd carved out in his head. 

But it'll do for now. He is content enough, because Mae is at his side, because his heart is now full with butterflies as he thinks of more exciting days to come. 

Later, the pair find themselves at a late night convenience store to buy cold canned coffee drinks and a bowl of ramen to share. Setting down at one of the outside tables and huddling together to escape the bite of the cold, Mae allows herself to get a whiff of Kevin's cologne, a scent that she grew up knowing and yet, right now this scent means so much more. 

"Now this, this is the best date I've ever had," she exclaims, slurping up the ramen and allowing the salty taste of soy sauce and Korean chilli fill her tongue, "how you gonna beat this, Kev?"

"If this was what you call the beat date, then you haven't seen anything honey." 

"Oh, overconfident now are we?" She says, a little more comfortable with being playful. 

Kevin rolls his eyes, chewing on his mouthful of noodles before passing the bowl over to her once more, "You're the one who apparently has low standards. But that's okay, It can only get better from there." 

"See, that's not something you should say to your date." 

"Why not?" 

"That's something you'd say to like, I don't know, your best friend." 

"Aren't you? My best friend?" 

Mae's halfway through gulping some of her coffee when her mind registers his words, and boy is she glad that she manages not to choke, "uh--I mean, wait--I don't understand." 

"If you're wondering whether you're my date or my best friend, don't worry," Kevin smirks, "you're both." 

"And how does that work?" 

"It doesn't. You're my best friend, and I love you--"

As soon as the words fall from his lips, the said man's ears redden as realization hits him like a truck. 

"What--" Mae breathes, "what did you just say?" 

"Nothing."

"Say it. I heard it, but I want you to say it."

"I--I--" his eyes darted back and forth with growing panic. What the fuck Kevin? He wants to slap himself across the back of his head. This is your first date! How the fuck did you ruin it so fast?

"Kevin," her tone was serious. 

"I said that I--" he takes a shaky breath, exhales slowly and tries not to throw up from embarrassment, "that I  love you."

The hitch in the back of her throat does not go unnoticed by him however, which makes the situation just marginally better.

"Look, forget I said anything. It's really not--"

"I won't forget it."

"Oh come on Mae, you can't use that for blackmail

--"

"I won't forget it because I know that this thing between us," she motions between the two of them, "is something special. And I don't want to risk anything by saying it now." 

The way Kevin's heart soars through his chest like a hummingbird about to beat out of its cage causes his mouth to stretch into a shit-eating grin, one that he can't hide no matter how much he tries, and one that keeps on glowing brighter when he notices the blush coating Mae's cheeks. 

"I--I know I feel something," Mae continues, trying not to stutter underneath the intense stare he's pinn3d her down with. Suddenly, she is all too aware of the lack of distance between their bodies, the warmth radiating from his chest, "but I don't want to say anything, not when I'm not ready yet."

Kevin nods, his smile turning gentle, "I get it, Mae."

His hand reaches out gently, smoothing over her cheek to curl a strand of hair behind her ear. He doesn't need any verbal confirmation of her part yet. It's good enough that she feels something special for him  something that can turn into so much more. For him right now, that's good enough. 

"Juyeon? I need to talk to you."

The alarming tone in Yunji's voice causes Juyeon's mind to come to attention. He straightens up from his seat before asking, "what's wrong? What is it?" 

"I--" there's a short pause as she takes in a brrath at the other end of thr line, "Please just come." 

"Where are you?" He is already standing from his seat as he talks, moving towards the corridor while dodging a few nurses scurrying by, "I'm coming."

A few minutes later, he hesiatates slightly upon arriving at Yunji's office door. She had clearly stated that they should avoid visiting esch other during office hours to avoid being the talk of town, but the seriousness in her tone cannot be ignored, no matter how suspicious it may seem. 

He knocks on the door, before he hears a soft "come in."  

Yunji, sitting at her desk with a stack of medical documents before her, jumps slightly when their eyes meet. Motioning for him to close the door, Juyeon does as he's told before taking a seat right opposite her. 

"Yunji," he starts softly, not failing to notice how hard she's trying to avoid his eyes at all costs. His heart clenches with apprehension, "what is it?"

He watches Yunji's bottom lip tremble, notices the soft glistening in her eyes, and instantly his mind swerves into panic mode: does she have an incurable disease? Or maybe her family? What about if someone had died? 

And then, the words hit him like a truck. 

"Juyeon, I'm pregnant." 

-----

Tagging @juyeonzz​ @thesingingfae1905​ @gratefulmaria​

Let me know if you want to be added to the taglist! :) 

#deobi playlist #theboyz au #theboyz fanfic #theboyz scenarios #theboyz #theboyz imagine #the boyz #the boyz imagines #the boyz imagine #the boyz fanfic #the boyz au #the boyz scenarios #the boyz drabbles #tbzwriters #tbznetwork #the boyz hyunjae #hyunjae #juyeon #the boyz juyeon #hyunjae scenarios #kevin moon #kevin moon imagines #kevin moon scenarios #the boyz kevin #hospital playlist #kpop fanfiction #kpop imagines #q #chanhee #sunwoo

[x-exo]

*slides into your asks with a rose in my mouth* why hello, tis me!

Apologies for the long wait but your favorite long asks anon is here and OOF so much has happened. Let us break it down one by one lol

Monsta x our beans, welp we can officially say we are army wives for them because shownu is now at the military and just welp this feels weird lol. I lowkey forgot he was meant to enlist so when the news came out I went through so many emotions. Its why the latest comeback feels a bit bittersweet to me. It is their BEST for sure and for this year, I agree so to not see him perform right before he left is a bit sad. I don't blame him of course (if anyone does i am fish slapping you) but just a shame. I'm happy we do get content with him still? Seems pre-planned so that is nice!

Onto legends exo, fantastic comeback. I cannot stop listening to the album, its just bops full of bops to me. They broke so many records and I'm over here sipping my tea because fudge yes. It isn't a full member comeback, 2 of the members featured in the comeback are off playing call of duty and they still did THAT. While having lay properly in the comeback!? (Or at least some form, better than tempo era!) Kyungsoo my beloved, the man that can swoon you off your feet, his proper solo album. Omg I am just in love? The album feels like a Playlist that you hear while taking a walk or on a raodtrip? I love it, I just love everything about this with how much thought was given. It makes me feel warm and I'm so proud of him (I think he even got a first win) but sadly xiumin got the it shall not be named virus D: I feel so bad and I can only hope he gets better! It makes me worried because I keep seeing more and more idols getting sick and I can't help but wonder why don't the kpop entertainment just put a pause with stuff? Of course that is VERY unrealistic, I am aware that is naive for me to think but its just so idk how to word it properly (my English brain is not working I am sorry) I cannot help the feeling of while I get people are being safe and yes we need to still live like normal beings, is it worth risking idols health just for some entertainment? Idk how to explain my thoughts properly but maybe I hope I made sense!!

Onto svt! That is perfectly fine to not vibe with a comeback! I will admit, I didn't fully vibe with this comeback and it shocked me because every comeback was a hit to me. Even fear, left and right or homerun where I know many fans were split on, I liked but RTL was a grower. For me, listening to it without watching the mv, helped it alot and it is a song I like. Is it their best? No I don't think so but it is alright to say "hey I didn't bop to this, not my cup of tea" (imo I blame the mv? The mv REALLY didn't do the song justice at all, I am sorry if I sound like a fake fan but this mv Just is bad in all aspects. Sure we have some pretty shots but like it just doesn't fit at all?) So if anything listening to the song or wishing the live performances does it better. Seeing the choreography amps the song up more, cannot go wrong with their dancing. As for the rest of the songs, I admit game boy is my top favorite? Idk if it is because I am a gaming nerd and found all the production of the song so creative but yeah. We can wait for the next comeback! Svt always have something up their sleeves, plus we do have their music projects to look forward too (I wonder when we will get one? Seeing as RTL promotions stopped) some positive news with the boys is they resigned like a year before their contract ends and I'm a bit emotional :') I'm excited to see the boys future projects. We did have caratland recently! Did you watch it if I may ask? We did get in the soop confirmation so I'm excited to watch that, the boys deserve that nice break (even if it was filmed for a show fjsbsns)

Ok I think that is it for kpop updates? XD I do hope life has been treating you kindly! Life has been a bit all over the place sadly so I hope it wasn't like that for you as well! Until next time my bean!

hii!!!! omg sorry for the late reply i've been pretty busy these days 🙈

indeed so much has happened! and much more since you sent this ask omg!!

our shownu is at war *looks into the distance* *wipes away tear* *sighs* by now I got used to enlistment news (see what happens when you stan 2nd and 3rd gen groups) but STILL [[IT HURT]] when they uploaded the monchannel videos of his goodbye day like ????? what kind of twisted mind diuhdfuihdifuhs but the boys were all so cute and soft but they seemed so sad they didn't want to let go of their super leader :(( I hope he's learning lots and making new friends (and also we've got our international super spy yoo kihyun giving us small updates on him every now and then so everything's fine!). Yeah I totally get you it felt empty without him this comeback and at first it didn't really clicked with me but when the enlistment news came out i understood he had to take care of his health and thoroughly check on his eye sight in order to be 100% ready for the military so it made sense he had to be absent :( everything was so close (the comeback and enlistment) that I'm sure there was no other way for doing it I'm pretty sure he couldn't maybe postpone the enlistment day any further

onto exo! my ksoo my soft boi my romantic boi 🥺 his album is so him SO HIM i can't explain it bur it's just HIM you know it's the type of album you'd play on loop on a summer afternoon when you've taken your papers and paints outside in the garden to paint a bit with the warm soft breeze moving the trees lightly 🤧 and he signs in English and SPANISH (he did it for me) my multilingual king he's a native. Also I've been watching Honeymoon Tavern with Jongin these days and OMG i could d word for him really (if you haven's watched it go do it when you have time) he's SO SOFT and SO CUTE and he works as a waiter and a wedding planner and helps with the room preparations and is also a tour guide and he's just so cute so happy al the time the way he interacts with everyone is so 🥺🤧😭 onto more serious stuff now: yeah i was so worried about minseok catching covid omg but i'm glad he went through it with our any major complication and the rest of the boys are safe too! I guess the industry doesn't stop bc that would mean a huge loss of thousands and thousands of dollars/won/etc so as long as the gov doesn't prohibit going out or gathering like at the beginning of the pandemic, they'll keep on going with the idols' schedules otherwise the industry would just shut down having no way of earning money to sustain all the companies and idols.

as for seventeen! yeah i like the songs too! the mv sure ruined rtl and listening to it without watching it has really helped it grow on me more but still it feels kind of meh to me idk i really like anyone i think it's my favourite from the album. AND NOW WE'VE GOT A COMEBACK IN OCTOBER!!!! yayyyyy i can't wait they seem to be preparing very diligently (i hope they release a sexy bop) it's a shame junhao aren't gonna be present for this comeback but i'm soooooo happy they have the opportunity to visit their families again omg they have spent 2 whole years without seeing them in the flesh they must be so happy to get back to them again!!! it's so funny seeing them be bored at the quarantine hotel and doing lives every day duhdfiudhfiuh i hope it passes quickly and they can see their loved ones finally! and I did watch Caratland!! omg the unit switch song was the best thing ever hhu doing lilili yabbay and not being able to stop laughing idfuhdifuhs perf team doing chocolate and owning it????? hello??? performance team more like main vocal team wow! and the vocal team being a complete mess during check in lmaooo i loved it! In The Soop has finally started!!! I love these kind of "normal life" concepts I love seeing the boys being themselves cooking and relaxing I've watched the first and second eps as of today and also few clips from the third and omg mingyu and jeonghan drowning in the pond dfuhidfhidfs lmao they're so dumb i love them 🤣 i'm glad they could go away for a few days and spend time together away from their hectic schedules!

I hope you're well now and if not hang in there it'll all pass soon enough! 🥰💕 bye bye!!

p.s.: I got your request for the svt this or that gifset and i promise i’ll do it one day i just don’t feel like giffing these days dhbduusi i’m out of energy 

#ask #my super nice lovely anon

[its-chelisey-stuff]

‘Love and Redemption’, eps 41-50 (at this point I just feel pain)

I wanna take a moment and address the situation properly: WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK SIFENG? YOU DO THIS EVERY.SINGLE.FUCKING.TIME. You sacrifice everything for this woman everytime. You have a 99.9999999 % of disregard for your person is actually a wonder you came this far into life or maybe not if we take into account the other 9 incarnations and the one in heaven.

I can't believe the biggest reason why I love this character so freaking much is also the only reason that makes me mad at him, because it leads to his death, demise, destruction, ending, fin, whatever you want to call it, always. His only flaw is also his biggest strength depending on what day of the week or in which part of the drama he is living.

He loves Xuanji impossibly too much.

I mean... this is a drama that has deities, demons and mortals, all aware of the others' existence. I've seen dragons and weird creatures that rank from adorable to wtf scary. There are mermen who are doctors. Snakes that can turn into people and become spiritual pets!!! All of that is okay by me. I barely react to any of it. Oh, sure, you can fly on your swords? Pretty cool. By far the most fantastical thing on this drama, the one that makes me react with incredulity and wonder, is the love Sifeng feels for Xuanji.

Never ever in a million years could it be true in real life (and not only because of the fantasy elements) but that's the greatest thing about this drama. That's why I love it so much. And it makes me angry.

The whole time on ep 45 when Xuanji almost killed Sifeng by using something her senior gave her, had me screaming in desperation. Xuanji, you moron!! Thank goodness for WuZhiQi.

When the drama started, I kept looking for the big bad TM guy. As I've learned with the few costume cdramas I've seen, villains never show themselves right away. So, I wasn't expecting Dijun to be the crazy manipulating possessive obsessive bitch he turned out to be and I wasn't prepared for how much I was going to hate his character. In these last ten eps, I reached the height of my patience, my sanity limit, and I just really wanted someone to kill him everytime he opened his heavenly mouth. Damn, I wish Sifeng had really done that, instead of just being framed by the crazy bitch. 

To me, Yuan Lang nor the star of Mosha are the bad guys. It's him. 100% him. I want OTP to take revenge on him because I fear he is guilty of a lot more than we know. But woud I be lucky enough to have it my way? *sighs*

Listen, I love Tengshe and apparently someone in the drama does as well I said it on my previous post but it's important to say it again because he keeps solving things and moving the plot ahead. This is the kind of character you want introduced (if you need to) later in any story. He went to heaven and snuck onto the forbidden library, snooping on top secret records and even went into Dijun's private chambers, to look for information or any clues on Xuanji and her past. And once he did it he descended to the mortal realm and helped Sifeng stop a catastrophe and even lectured the stupid mortals on their stupidity. On these eps, he was my fave character along with Sifeng.

The mortals are stupid, as I've stated. My Linglong went through a bunch of shit, so I dare not to say anything about her, but what about the rest of the mortals? The sect leaders with their hypocrisy and so called good ways, I almost spit blood from anger lol cdramas would make you say that. But seriously, why is it that no mortal dared to think rationally? Why are they so dumb? Xuanji's driving force in believing Sifeng was her love for him and how much she didn't wanted him to be bad, but she didn't really used her brain to think about the fact that the the evidence and what she knew were contradictory. Oh, Xuanji. You were never the brightest but I always thought your love for Sifeng could work as your conscience. And because of that, you deserved to suffer a bit when you found out how mistaken you were. Karma.

The only resourceful people here are the demons (good and bad). They get things done and I'm so happy that even though Sifeng had a crazy suicide plan that was making every mortal hate him, he had a support system and good friends by his side, that knew the truth and trusted him. Hell, Wu ZhiQi had just met him and he was already saving his life and trying to stop him from doing something crazy spoiler: he failed. These demons were such a heavy contrast with the humans. Is ironic, truly, that the "monster race" was being more honorable and actually using their heads unlike the "civilized" mortals. *Sighs deeply and shakes head* Tragic.

Wasn’t expecting to like Wu ZhiQi so much, so fast, but I do. And he is such a mood! Plus, anyone who likes Sifeng and tries his best to help him, is on my good list.

What a creepy nauseating move, to try to take her away on her wedding day eww disturbing as heck. I don't know what forms of therapy are like in this world, this period of time, but if killing her kidnapper/rapist/stalker is going to help my Linglong heal and put the nightmare behind her, then I cannot tell you how happy I was that it was her, the one who sent him to hell. And I got to see her fight like the badass she is. Please, please, drama. Let her be happy now. She deserves it. 

Is so Sifeng of him to try and save Xuanji literally 15 minutes after she just tried to kill him. As angry as I was, I couldn’t help but swoon lol because here he is, desperate to save the woman he loves, no matter what things she’s done. He can’t just stand there and watch her die.

Sifeng fell for Xuanji on the Heavenly realm a thousand years ago! We still don't know the full story, but I was so happy to get a confirmation on it, and do correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Dijun didn't recognize Sifeng? Or maybe he pretended not to? Everybody from 1000 years ago recognizes Xuanji, but no one has done it with Sifeng. And yet, he clearly was there. That's weird, right? I mean, he took a few heavenly lashes for Xuanji. And he freaking was the one to stop her punishment AND he descended after her (more like fell, heh). Who on earth was this guy? Why did he have so much influence or power over what gets to be done about her? I'm not curious anymore. That doesn't describe what I feel. I'm craving for the answer, I need it.

Ah. These two. Maybe this isn't the one sided love I thought it was, after all. Maybe Xuanji did like him before becoming a mortal. But... There are so many things that I still don't get. I got a few answers but also way more questions.

I don't want this story to end, but Sifeng and tbh Xuanji too, have suffered too much already. I gotta say that I wasn't so happy with Xuanji, in fact I was very annoyed with her especially when she drew in a sword through Sifeng's chest wtf but I can't hate this girl and tbh my love for Sifeng is greater than my annoyance/hate towards Xuanji, which means that as long as Sifeng is happy and smiling, I don't care if it's with Xuanji and if she doesn't suffer nearly a half of as much as he does. There has been enough suffering on their tenth reincarnation alone that we don't even need to take into account the other 9 lives. They deserve ALL the happiness in the world.

Hehe but that won't come easily. I'm bracing myself because I think the very worst (and the painful answers) is in the last 9 episodes but hey, it'd be worth it, theres a happy ending. That's what keeps me going 😜

Edit: lmao I just realized that I didn’t talk about the biggest revelation of all, which is that Xuanji is not only the God of War but ALSO the Star of Mosha. How does that even work? Sifeng has tried to investigate and Tengshe as well, but there’s only so much that’s recorded on the official papers, so far they’re the only ones that know the truth and Sifeng’s best bro (who found out bc there’s only one person/reason why Sifeng would ever say he’s the Star of Mosha). Looking forward to finding out the whole story.

#love and redemption #cdrama #cheng yi #crystal yuan #yuan bingyan #chu xuanji #yu sifeng #i don't want this to end

[magnumdays]

Just some thoughts

After 5 days away, I’ve returned to the land of Tumblr. Here are some thoughts on the past week’s exciting developments and stuff.

SEASON 3 is officially happening! 

YAY! I don’t even care that I didn’t get everything I wanted for the finale episodes because I know I’ll have a whole season more of my favorites solving crazy crimes in scenery porn paradise! 

Even with Corona making the future uncertain and we’ll for sure have to wait a bit I’m just happy to know I’ll have more Magnum in my future...even if the exact date might be further into the future than I’d like I’m still very happy.

EPISODE 19!

I mean this episode! This was the ep I thought all the past few ones were going to be. It just worked so freaking well and I just loved it. Which is basically what my review is going to be - 500 words of I LOVED IT. Something to look out for!

THE MIGGY!

While I wasn’t expecting (even if I did have a tiny bit of hope in my heart) for actual Miggy feels and confessions, the way we’ve been having the Magnum x Higgins partners and just buddies and them being on the same side even when they’re not...It’s been on point for the past few episodes and continues to be. I kind of almost enjoy it as much as them just giving each other heart-eyes. Which they do kind of do a decent amount too in the past few eps so best of both worlds...

I also love the fact that two minutes after they decide not to get married Kumu is all “You two really argue like an old married couple”. Like yes! Thank you! That’s what I’ve been saying! No way immigration wouldn’t have bought them as married... 

THE HIGGY NOW OWNS ROBIN’S NEST!

Though for the Robin saves the day (where was the promised “Magnum attempt to keep Higgy in Hawaii? Like just to call Robin, that was his big plan?”) solution I feel like maybe someone should have thought of it maybe five minutes...or five months, earlier. But it was always going to come to that wasn’t it? Robin fixes it? 

I mean as much as my shipper heart wanted a Miggy wedding, I think it’s best left to fan fics at this stage. Because if when, we do get a wedding it should be a real one. And a that time we’re going to need a lot humorous remarks poking fun at this almost Miggy wedding, the almost TC wedding and the fact that she basically left TC at the altar. Yeah. Looking forward to that. 

Still, I liked the end. Kind of.

I mean I LOVE that Higgy now owns Robin’s Nest and all the cars and stuff. Maybe I shouldn’t - but I do. And I most ardently want Juliet to re-name the Ferrari Higgy #2 and for Magnum to drive it all around Hawaii...  

But kind of liking that aspect I gotta say that I think there were a lot more interesting ways they could have ended things (especially with them getting a season 3) such as 

1. having Higgins actually have to leave and season 3 start with a little time skip of her returning or Magnum visiting London (a hello hug in 3x01 could have been in the cards...) This is a bit angsty and different and did kind of feel like it was what they were building towards. 

2. maybe some sort of Ivan shows up and it all ends very dramatic in a different way, like maybe while Higgy is saying bye to the doggies she looks up and then Ivan with a gun. Or just Magnum returns and she’s gone...but her bags are still there...mystery and intrigue abound, where has she gone! what has happened? (and we postpone the whole Robin saves the day with a visa until 3x01) 

3. Rather than have Robin arrive maybe having the goodbye party and then it ending with Higgy about to got to the airport in a taxi and Robin calls Magnum as he’s waving goodbye to the taxi (and this leaves it open ended for if Robin fixed it or not until season 3). If we had a goodbye scene we could have gotten a Miggy hug instead of the “I’m surprised” bullshit (like what was that?)! Like come on guys? You do know what hugs are right? Just give me my god damned Miggy hug already!

Still, Magnum PI is all about the feel goods and happy endings and so I decided I’m fine with it and just going eagerly await season 3!

#miggy #magnum pi #magnum pi seaon 2 finale #I missed some stuff #miggins #magnum x higgins

[timetrickster]

Aloha Oe X Edith Nox Crossover Special Ep: The Wedding Of Edith Nox Part 2

Part 2! Let’s go!

TAG: @cometworks , @coloursintheblur

FADE IN:

Fear, the feeling had spread throughout the temple. The Warriors and The Hero looking on what had been unleashed. Shocked and worried, The MYSTERIOUS MAN had stretched finally free from his imprisonment in vaporous form. Trapped within the statues of each Fate.

MYSTERIOUS MAN

I am finally free...

His voice was deep and sophisticated, as he said his first words. His eyes had a bright red tint.

VIOLET stepped forward, with her magic of ice. She created a sword and held a stance. JUSTIN steps forward as well, moving the tail of his coat. He draws his laser revolver, aiming it toward the MYSTERIOUS MAN.

VIOLET

Who are you?!

MYSTERIOUS MAN

You little things, that live in the light! Clinging to your feeble suns and false gods for protection. The darkness and fire shall rise.

JUSTIN

Answer her question!

The MYSTERIOUS MAN looked at JUSTIN. EDITH looked toward him for a brief moment.

MYSTERIOUS MAN

Trickster!

JUSTIN

You know who I am?!

MYSTERIOUS MAN

I felt this very moment, the meeting of The Fate Defier and The Last Of The Time Walkers.

JUSTIN was clearly shocked by this.

MYSTERIOUS MAN

My strings were cut, a long time ago... my body trapped as vapor, my soul banished into the Downward.

VIOLET

Who are you?!

MYSTERIOUS MAN

So many questions asked... so many answers to give... but in due time they shall all be answered.

He vanished in a cloud of dark fiery smoke.

INT. THE THRONE ROOM. 

A couple hours after the interruption of the wedding. The Warriors reconvened within the throne room of the castle. JUSTIN had walked in, catching their attention. Having come from an awkward meeting fueled by chaos. He smiles awkwardly,

JUSTIN

Long time no see.

EDITH immediately runs to him to give him the biggest hug. As well as VIOLET & NOEMI creating the biggest group hug. 

EDITH

We missed you too! 

She nestled her head on his shoulder, and he rested his chin on her head. Releasing him from his embrace.

VIOLET

As much as we missed you. What are you doing here?

JUSTIN

Well, first and foremost I didn’t get an invite to the wedding.

NOEMI

You live in another universe dude... 

JUSTIN

I know, ( He chuckled) It’s alright but more seriously. I received a warning from The Fates.

They grew concern, 

VIOLET

What warning?

JUSTIN

A forgotten being, his strings cut and... uh... “He walks in dreams of The Savior. He shall appear the days of strings intertwined.”

EDITH realizes he was the man in the dream.

I had a dream about him! Before the day of the wedding! But who is he?

JUSTIN

I don’t know but he’s clearly someone dangerous.

NOEMI

We have to talk to the Fates.

PERIWINKLE steps into the conversation.

PERIWINKLE

Ooh! I missed the feeling of a crossover!

The Warriors and Heroes walked side by side leaving the throne room.

INT. THE TEMPLE OF FATES.

They walked in and reached the altar slowly walking through the rubble of the destroyed Fates statues.

EDITH 

Fates! We need to talk!

In a flash, they are transported into the Realm Of The Fates.

INT. REALM OF THE FATES.

The once divine paradise it once was, now in shattered ruins destroyed by hellish fire. The garden severely burned and the Fates nowhere to be seen. The sight of this had created even more worry and fear in them.

EDITH

What happened... 

The distorted shadow of CAT appears EDITH concerned.

EDITH (cont’d)

Cat! What happened?! 

She comforted her, holding her. OWL & FOX appears weak but still standing from what had happened.

FOX

Edith... Time Walker.

JUSTIN

What happened here?!

CAT

Liberius.

She finally got the word out.

They look at the standing Fates.

VIOLET

Who is?

OWL

Answers and questions, too many to say. Weak and hurt we cannot convey.

FOX

Liberius... is this universe’s devil. (Looking toward Justin) You know of the devil right, Time Walker?

JUSTIN

Yeah... he exists in many religions throughout the universe and including the multiverse.

FOX

Well... we made sure his legend did not come to fruition.

EDITH

Tell us about this “Devil”.

FOX had waved their shadowy hand in the air, the galaxy had turned back time to a moment.

FOX

Long after the cataclysm of this world... it was desolate and very little of humanity. We reworked tirelessly to reform the strings and set the path of magic on the evolution of humanity. 

(FOX breathed heavy and hard as they faced great pain.)

Liberius was once a king, benevolent and kind. But a facade...

(FOX sneered at the thought,)

His curiosity knew no bounds and he attempted to become powerful as us. 

OWL

His strings were severed, but he was unfettered, standing tall and proud. Now he.. was unbound.

FOX

Despite his strings being cut the essence of his soul darkened his broken string. It... it fixed itself in darkness... creating a devil... His fire magic had darkened... he had access to shadow magic....

EDITH

Then what happened?

OWL

Banished his soul and trapped his body. The plan was quick, simple, and shoddy.  

FOX

Before we banished him, he stole a prophecy thread, to make his return through the Savior’s love.

EDITH

Why me?

FOX looked toward EDITH.

FOX

My dear, you are the only Savior in the long line of your predecessors to live long enough. The rest have died young but you, my dear you have lived long enough to fall in love.

JUSTIN

How do we stop him now?

FOX

Banished him once, banish him again... but we are weak, we need to heal.

VIOLET

Where is Neydolya?!

OWL

Went after him she did... find her you must.

EDITH looks at the rest of the team.

EDITH

Well, gang. It looks like we’re gonna be saving the world again. You ready?

NOEMI

Always ready with you dude.

VIOLET

With you my love? Ready.

EDITH looking toward JUSTIN.

JUSTIN

I’m a hero for god’s sake, always ready. (He smirked)

EDITH

Good.

JUSTIN

First things first, we need to come up with a plan and figure out how to take him down.

VIOLET

Agreed with the alien boy.

JUSTIN Aw, miss the nickname. (Looking to FOX) Where is he exactly?

FOX

A pocket dimension within the stars called The Downward

JUSTIN

Well, here we go again.

CUT TO: INT. THE ETERNITY.

After meeting with The Fates, and leaving them to heal. The Warriors and The Hero team up once again to save their universe. They aboard the time ship, The Eternity. ENOCH greets them properly,

ENOCH (V.O)

Welcome back, Captain.

JUSTIN

Hello Enoch! Guess who I’ve brought.

Immediately reacting, ENOCH allowed her physical form to develop. Her robotic body formed as it levitated down from the ceiling. In place, it connects and her holographic face project within her robotic body.

ENOCH

Hello again. 

You see her smile on her digital face. EDITH smiles and immediately hugs ENOCH.

ENOCH (cont’d) Nice to see you again, Ms. Nox.

EDITH

You look so cool, Enoch! (She begins looking at the shiny white exterior of her robotic body)

ENOCH

Thank you, my dear.

JUSTIN

Well, we’ll have our little reunion later. Let’s prepare.

ENOCH

To the armory then.

INT. ARMORY

One by one, they suit up in their last armor from The Battle Of Abricot. 

EDITH choosing to brandish her threads of the time-traveling look, which she borrowed clothes from JUSTIN. She wore a pastel green long coat, wearing a shirt of her favorite empath, Mantis from Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol.2. Now wearing jeans and boots to go with it. Her gauntlet with the gemstone to make her shield of light and a pauldron on her right shoulder.

EDITH

I never watched this movie yet... I really wanna see this empath!

JUSTIN

We will soon after we’re done with saving the world again.

NOEMI dons something new, a porcelain white, leather suit with black strips near his chest. Along with a black cloak and hood to go along with it. His weapon of choice was Ingram’s Scythe having practiced the weapon and his magic in the time skip. Now named as The Spirit.

JUSTIN

Dude! You look like the Grim Reaper!

NOEMI

Cool! Who is that?!

JUSTIN

The personification of death dude!

NOEMI excited by hearing it. He looks in the mirror and smiles at the sight.

NOEMI

AWESOME!

VIOLET dons on something new as well. A black slick, leathery suit with a silver snowflake symbol etched into the chest. With a sleeveless navy cloak that hugs the body and pauldrons on both shoulders. Near her belt was her silver dagger with a beautiful design on the handle. It was called The Icicle.

VIOLET

I love it, it really goes with my magic.

INT. THE BRIDGE 

The team now ready for a fight, head to the bridge. EDITH walks next to JUSTIN 

EDITH

Justin, I need my sword. I need to go home.

JUSTIN

Let’s go. Enoch?

ENOCH

Already on it, Captain. 

CUT TO: EXT. EDITH’S HOUSE - EDEN

Landing back at Edith’s house, JUSTIN & EDITH run to her garden. Eden, Now having built an enormous greenhouse, there stood the gigantic tree in the middle. Running up to it she caresses it.

EDITH

Hey buddy! Berry, I need you!

BERRY... the once imaginary friend of EDITH. Now become real through a reality-warping wish. The King Of The Dryad had opened a door within himself. Edith’s Sword Of The Fates stood in the middle trapped in a wooden stump.

BERRY (V.O)

Edith is everything alright?

EDITH

Not really, Berry. I need my sword.

She ran to it and pulled the Sword Of Fates from the stump. Holding it high and pride.

EDITH (cont’d)

Hello old friend (She says to herself)

Meanwhile, JUSTIN talks to BERRY on the outside. 

BERRY 

Justin! It’s good to see you! (He hugged him)

JUSTIN

It’s nice to see you too Berry. I need you to do something for me.

BERRY

Anything, What is it?

JUSTIN holds three devices,

JUSTIN

These devices I’m giving you are distress beacons. You get one and give the others to Argento and Periwinkle. If we are in trouble, Enoch will follow protocol immediately coming back for you guys to come and save us. Be ready.

BERRY

Will do.

EDITH comes running out of BERRY’S tree home. 

EDITH

Let’s go!

JUSTIN

Take care 

He dashes off following EDITH back into the ship.

CUT TO: INT. SPACE 

The Eternity had reached space. 

ENOCH (V.O)

Captain. The entrance portal is right in front of us.

JUSTIN

Good, enter now.

INT. THE DOWNWARD - CAVE

The Eternity had slowly moved forward and they entered a new world. A fiery wasteland, desolated with nothingness except for destroyed foundations. They exit the ship and are hit with a heatwave.

JUSTIN

It’s hellish here... 

Speaking his a comm device, he spoke to ENOCH

Enoch keep an eye on the ship. 

ENOCH (V.O)

Yes, Captain.

EXT. THE DOWNWARD.

The dimension was small but it felt like a huge room. A throne had stood within the distance where they left The Eternity in a cave. The ground shook as soon as they left the cave, within the distance NEYDOLYA and the MYSTERIOUS MAN was still fighting. Despite their energy of going on had slowly depleted neither side wanted to give in.

NEYDOLYA was on one knee and breathing heavy.

NEYDOLYA

You just never give up? Do you? Liberius.

LIBERIUS also tired and hands on his knees.

LIBERIUS

Neydolya... my former goddess... I don’t.

Charging at each other once more, fire burning in his hands. Neydolya vanished in shadow, missing his attack. She reappeared behind him and with her magic blasted him with shadow blast. 

The Warriors and The Hero rush in to help.

EDITH

Neydolya!

Distracted by their sudden appearance in The Downward.

NEYDOLYA

Children, how did you even get here?

JUSTIN waved his hand. Suddenly LIBERIUS stood back up and grabbed onto NEYDOLYA holding a weapon to her neck.

LIBERIUS

Children... you shouldn’t have come here.

Armed and ready, they all draw their weapons.

EDITH

Let her go, Liberius.

LIBERIUS

Finally... The Savior. I have to thank you for waking me. 

JUSTIN Let her go.

LIBERIUS looked toward JUSTIN.

LIBERIUS

Yes, finally I get to talk to you. The Time Trickster, the Last of The Time Walkers. So many titles, so many meanings behind it. 

JUSTIN

How do you know who I am?! 

LIBERIUS

When my soul was trapped... in this infernal place! I saw the sky of your stories and the Savior’s! I walked in your dreams when I felt my return coming.

His voice was raspy.

VIOLET

We’ll take you down, one way or another.

LIBERIUS’ fiery eyes locked with VIOLET

LIBERIUS

You think... you can stop me, Princess? I am the Fate Defier!

NOEMI immediately charged his the Spirit, with necromantic energy. Charging instantly quicker than usual and striking at LIBERIUS. Quick enough to block, his sword of fire was locked with his scythe.

LIBERIUS (Cont’d)

I almost forgot about you, Dark Angel.

NOEMI pushed him back with force and swing and struck when he could. He equaled his speed, JUSTIN and VIOLET join the fight while EDITH quickly tended to NEYDOLYA.

EDITH

It’s gonna be okay.

She took a pouch from her coat containing water. Pouring the holy water over the goddess.

NEYDOYLA

Thank you, Edith... I have to return to the realm to heal. 

She vanished quickly before collapsing again. EDITH summons her light shield and drew her Sword Of Fates from the sheath on her back. She charged into the battle.

The Fight: 

NOEMI unfurled his wings and flew backward in the air to catch his breath. 

VIOLET with the Icicle and JUSTIN with his katana. They strike at the same time, but LIBERIUS had blocked both. They both were strong enough to hold him where he stood. VIOLET summons what she could another dagger of ice, which she attempts to stab into his shoulder. But it melted quickly due to the heatwave leaving a small stab in his skin. 

JUSTIN freezes times and as everything had slowed down. He attacked him quickly, slashing then moving on to slashing another part of his body. Finally kicking him from a midair jump, EDITH charged in with her light shield. Bashing his head face first. She swung the Sword Of Fates onto his shoulder, it was buried into his shoulder.

LIBERIUS has cried out in pain. Attempting to punch EDITH in the face, squeezing the gauntlet, the shield of light became a dome surrounding and protecting her. JUSTIN quickly switched to his laser revolver and stunning him with electricity. NOEMI & VIOLET with their respective weapons striking. VIOLET stabbing him in the left shoulder, then wrapping her arms over his and held onto the dagger.

Holding onto it, in order to hold him down. With his magic, NOEMI’S scythe had extended and curved over his body and tightened to hold him in place. EDITH lets go of the shield and stabbed the Sword Of Fates into LIBERIUS’S chest. Lights began to blare out of his eyes and he falls the ground.

Releasing their weapons, from his fallen corpse. They stood over him, 

EDITH

I think we won.

A slow clap, the imminent sign that evil was still around. They all turned to find LIBERIUS unscathed and fine. Sitting upon the once empty throne.

LIBERIUS

That was rather amusing to see.

(No longer in armor, he had a distinguished suit. A polo without a tie and a blazer and slacks embellished with a bright red.) 

Sorry, while you were fighting... I had to get dressed for these new times. Aliens, time travel, space... combine that with magic... it’s an interesting crossover.

Gripping their weapons and aiming their sights toward him.

LIBERIUS (Cont’d)

Children... as always. With your powers, you could help me take over this world.  But you all of you... good to the core. You’d rather die than join me.

(They were silent but he knew their answers. A smile appeared on his face, grinning with such creepiness, it could send shivers down your spine.)

Anyways... I should tell you one thing before I came home... I stole some creation thread from the Fates. 

(With a snap of his finger, a small roll of glowing yarn was in his hands.)

With this... and while you lot were busy. I created what you call in your universe, Time Walker.

(He plays coy...)

Hmm... what were they called again, Time Walker?

From the ground, had risen a small army of the newly created demons. Fiery and filled with stones, they arise and surround them.

JUSTIN

Demons...

Unseen, JUSTIN had pressed his communication device. Whispering one thing.

Distress Protocol

The Eternity had begun to float and reversed back through the entrance portal. Once returning in space, a time portal suddenly opens and flies through it. The Jump Ship had separated from the main ship, as it dove in first into the Chronal Zone.

LIBERIUS

Yes, Time Walker. Demons. Fire Demons. Ooh, I like the sound of that.

Now back to back they were surrounded by the rising army of fire demons. LIBERIUS begins to laugh with such evil and malevolent intent, as the Warriors and the Hero were now without a means to escape... they were trapped.

FADE TO BLACK

TO BE CONTINUED...

IN PART 3

[agl03]

not to be alarmist or anything, but do u think there's any chance that season 7 will somehow end with fitz realizing he has to get back in the cryopod to go to the future and end up dead again. maybe in order to complete the loop or something? i'm so scared the writers won't give fs a happy ending cuz they never ever do. i could even see jemma dying and fitz, true to his word, not being able to live in a world without her and the whole time fitz was in season 5 he'd already lived thru s6. 😨

Hi Anon,

No, I am not really concerned about Fitzsimmons ending, I’m really not.  I would be more concerned if Fitzsimmons were together and happy all Season 7, then the red flags come out.  But we know going in Fitzsimmons are separated, Iain was light on filming a few eps, and Fitz is being hidden away and will do doubt be kidnapped/captured before the end.  

When the writers were mapping out Season 5 they knew going in that Iain would miss a few episodes for Overlord....even before that they admitted that Fitz was going to be separated from the team somehow.  It was as they mapped things out that they realized their paradox of 2 Fitz’s early and from then on plans were in place for Loop Fitz to die.  Going back and rewatching Season 5 you see hints EVERYWHERE.  One that jumped out at me was he was repeatedly injured in the side where he suffered the fatal wound.  

Killing Fitz but having a way out was something the writers couldn’t resist.  Giving that kind of arc/scene to Iain and those with him.  The emotional freakout with fans (though it backfired and they lost some fans that didn’t come back).  And it allowed them to do things story wise they likely wouldn’t have otherwise in regards to the split and even Fitz’s relationship with Deke.  

It’s also been revealed an alternate ending was filmed for Season 5 that might have resolved Cryo Fitz and given fans closer....its what I like to think anyway.

And I have made peace with them doing it because they had what they pitched for Season 6 already to go.  And the fact that that led to what has been my favorite arc, favorite episode in Inescapable, and favorite season...it just had some really painful set up.   That’s me, I know other fans feel differently.

Where my rambling with that is going is that they won’t do it again.  

Other items that I’ve been taking into account with my ‘chill factor’:

They said that the finale season and a lot of what happens within the team is based on their experiences as a show family over 7 Seasons.   A big one I’ve seen happen just watching is that there have been of ‘production babies’ even Benny who has grown up on the show.  All the set up for starting a family has gone to Fitzsimmons.  They have Deke but I do think that before the end the baby bomb will be dropped one way or another.  Be it my long shot die on the hill secret child in hiding with Fitz, or we find out Jemma is pregnant or get a fast forward with them as a family in some sort of epilogue.  

The writers have a pattern of laying the groundwork for a major Fitzsimons milestone well before they pay it off.  Them becoming a couple took for freaking ever, the engagement, wedding (which pleasantly came faster than expected thank you 100th), and now building a family together.  The other part of that pattern is there is a major separation/fight to be reunited before the pay off of said milestone.

Out of everyone on the team and where the arcs are going Fitzsimmons, to me, are the ones most ready to be the ones to step away.  This last mission jumping through time and them having to go against everything they usually do in trying to get back to each other might be it.  After this they are going to step away, maybe the Academy maybe their own lab, but I think they move out of whatever Shield’s base is at the end.  I wouldn’t be surprise if part of “we had time” they weren’t quietly working on that place they will land.  

How happy Lil was around the end of the Season.  Elizabeth is very easy to read when she was unhappy with a story arc.  Fitzsimmons are as dear to her as they are to many fans.  It was how I accurately predicted when they all got out of the Framework.  

Pulling Elizabeth, Iain, Jed, and Mo from SDCC to film something.  SDCC is nothing to sneeze at, its very expensive to get a cast there and its a massive amount of press.  Fans gobble up and analyze every single comment and interview for clues.  And they purposely took out one of the shows biggest ships and showrunners from that for filming.  The other factor was that it meant fewer people were on set, none of the other main cast was around to see what they did, and if those script pages were withheld from the table read they will be surprised too.  I also don’t think it was anything bad filmed that day as Lil was posting fun videos well into the night.

The writers had a dry run if you will on a Series finale and got what few shows can, massive amount of feedback from fans and critics as to how they would have ended it.  And a chance to improve on it.   I can’t speak for the fandom but because it was where i saw Coulson going all along, I did feel him ending in Tahiti with May was very satisfying.  I still maintain that had they known about Season 6/7 sooner that end would have been saved for then and they’d not pulled the trigger early.  But how they ended it with Fitz/Fitzsimmons....not so much.  They are on the internet, they saw the I’ll just go with backlash on it.  I know I wasn’t the only one who actually wrote into ABC’s feedback form as well and vented my frustrations.  

To address the cryo concerns and the loop thing.  If my thoughts on how that panned out are correct that is another timeline that is preserved.  So even when the team left and saved the world it is still in tact for Flint and Tess.  When they went ‘back to the past’ they went back to their original timeline and their future has yet to be made.  There is actually a good chance that Tess, Flint, and Deke won’t be born in the current time line the teams is living in, the timeline we’ve had all along, because the circumstances that led to their births will never come about.  So since that future is protected on its own timeline and they did all that stuff at the end of Season 5 to stop it, it won’t come about again.  

I’m excited to see how the writers wrap everything up and I’m still thinking Fitzsimmons fans will be pleasantly surprised how it will all play out.  I mean secret messages guys....if we get Fitz sneaking out to see her just once....and I am looking forward to Jemma and Deke strengthening their bond as well.  

#aos spoilers #fitzsimmons #aos speculation #way to early for panic

[discoursecatharsis]

Please post anonymously

VLD discourse is really repetitive at this point so I feel like making one last long rant and then I’ll shut up about it forever: I did not understand the creator’s intentions with Shiro and Keith’s relationship to each other at all. The first few seasons we get soft lighting and longing looks between the two while Keith calls Shiro “like a brother” which LGBT folks often can tell means “censors won’t let us put them in a relationship.” Keith and Shiro are constantly paired together in the first two seasons, then we’re constantly shown Keith’s undying devotion to Shiro, while their motif includes hugs and sunsets and endless encouragement to each other. Staff were fine talking about the ship and shooting down it’s main rival. Then season six came and it was both so pro-sheith and ???, cuz not only do we get Keith choosing Shiro over the universe and telling him “I love you” and Shiro gay-panicking over older/hotter Keith, we get Krolia thanking Shiro for raising Keith. Which is some really damn weird wording when the staff had actively encouraged the ship. That “you’re my brother” line can still be considered censorship. And then we get season 7 episode 1 and we’re given flashbacks to Shiro and Keith’s first meeting and Keith looks too young tbh so it gives the impression that their initial age difference was larger than we were actually told. Which doesn’t make sense when we later found out these flashbacks were planned in season 2. So honestly what was their relationship supposed to be? I can’t say they were meant to emulate Hiro and Tadashi from Big Hero Six cuz they don’t act anything like those brothers (or any brother pairing in fiction.) Their earlier interactions just felt too romantic for that. But the “thank you for raising him” seriously throws their whole relationship into the ??? pile. And those flashbacks with a very young Keith don’t help, especially when we know the EPs knew since season 2. It’s like, why keep this fact about their relationship a secret until season 6? Its not a grand reveal like Vader and Luke, it just leaves viewers confused about this friendship they’ve been watching for the last 6 seasons. And then season 8 came and just completely buried their relationship as if it never existed. Their sunset theme was given to Keith and Lance and their encouragements and protectiveness of each other had practically entirely evaporated. Keith’s face doesn’t even show in Shiro’s wedding but his stance implies displeasure at the affair. Viewers are left completely baffled at the entire season and question wth went wrong but no one dares to even ask why’d this one plot point, this relationship that formed the backbone of season 6’s epic final was gone. They’d be labeled a rabid shipper by people who were (rightfully so) sick of the ship wars that fucking ruined this fandom. And, even though I have my own personal beef with the Sheith community, them being petty even half a year after the final makes sense to me. All the shitty plot points about the last season got some (disappointing) explanation but the erasure of Shiro and Keith’s relationship still hasn’t. It must fucking suck to get heavily harassed and mocked for three years and defend the story so vehemently, telling people to wait it out and let it finish and trust the staff, just to get this slap in the face that doesn’t make any sense. And no explanation. There’s no closure. And I still can’t honestly figure out how we’re supposed to interpret their earlier interactions. I’m used to not expecting ships becoming canon, so I didn’t expect Victor/Yurri or Hannigram even though the subtext was there. But Sheith? It’s the weirdest fucking ship I’ve ever had cuz there is a shit ton of subtext in the first half and a whole lot of ??? mixed with plain TEXT and then nothing. I’m just confused and feel alittle betrayed you know? But whatever it’s happened and I’ll forever be salty but whatever. Great shows are not immune to disastrous ends (looks at GOT) but that’s just how it is. I’m done with ranting, I won’t care after this long ass cathartic rant (thank you reading 4am ramblings haha.) There’re more stories to grip me and hopefully they won’t all disappoint but I’ve learned my lesson with VLD. I hope the klantis will rmb how they harassed actual gay men over cartoon drawings when they get their klance in voltrons next iteration (and I genuinely hope regular klancers enjoy it cuz it’ll be a move forward for LGBT in cartoons anyway right?)

(above submitted by anon)

-

If I can add something else that was also confusing about season 7 episode 1: they literally compared Keith to Shiro’s ex-boyfriend. Parallel, juxapostion, whatever you want to call it. But they literally compared Adam not supporting Shiro to Keith “never giving up” on Shiro. And when asked in an interview if the parallel between Adam and Keith was intentional, JDS answered “well yeah.” Like is it any wonder why Sheith shippers got their hopes up?

Thank you for this rant anon, you said everything. I also hope you feel better after getting it out of your system haha

#submission #vldask #fav

[bookishnerdhero]

ROTBTD - OUAT AU Episode 1 (Part 2)

Note:  Since it’s based on Once Upon a Time there are themes and scenes here that I intentionally mimicked from the series, including the first meeting between Jack and Jamie which had dialogue I’d intentionally based off of the one from Ep. 1 of OUAT (between Emma and Henry), and the exchange with Mother Gothel. Just thought y’all should know as a heads up. 

ROTBTD - The Big Four – OUAT AU

Present Day

Jack St. North managed yet another average school day where he was either invisible or everyone pretty much stayed out of his way, just the way he was used to. He made his way out of Dreamwork’s Academy, slinking down the halls and ducking and dodging past students that had just gotten out of classrooms right after the bell rung. Some were probably off to extracurricular activities while some to go hang out with friends—cliques. 

He couldn’t help thinking with a shake of his head how easily the crowd divided into groups, filling the spaces and corners by the locker. Like clockwork. It was as if there were these invisible magnets that ironically attracted like is to like and everyone just sort of fit in together. He couldn’t add up to that because with that logic, Jack didn’t seem to be like anyone else. Not in a good way either, but he couldn’t quite put into words how different he was.

There were the drama kids carrying a huge flat Tower prop, led by a guy who kept swishing his near shoulder length blonde hair about as he whined his orders. “You’re holding it wrong! When will any of you listen to me? I’m practically the King in this production! Do as I say! How are we supposed to outshine Disney High if you don’t pick up the slack?” Jack shimmied by a water fountain to get out of their way, otherwise they’d accidentally hit him with the painted roof. Then there were Kids from, what he’d always assumed but never quite understood was, a flower club…scouts or something, marched down the hall in black and yellow matching uniforms. He sidestepped to avoid them all focused on individual guide books, nearly bumping into four other kids dressed smart casual with matching black ties. Those ignored him too, too absorbed in something their leader—Skipple? Was it?—was saying. He was almost to the exit when a girl, who was a lot taller than him, shoved past excitedly and accidentally stepped on his foot, as she called the attention of that jerk in one of his classes, ‘Derek’.

By the time he was out of the school’s driveway and walking down the sidewalk and into the town he was more than relieved for the space. When you were invisible like he was you wouldn’t be able to help noticing everything. One way or another you’d know everyone, even if you don’t exactly know them by name. He watched them. In a non-stalker-y way. It was unavoidable because no one exactly talked to him, so he’d often felt on the outside looking in, and yet he was always unsure whether he wanted the attention or just wanted to be left alone. Because when he did get attention it’s almost always the wrong kind and people understand him wrong.

That St. North kid. Oh, him? He doesn’t look too approachable.

Where’d he come from anyway?

Adopted.

Came out of nowhere. They say by the edge of town.

Was in a coma.

His whole family died in a car accident just there.

He’s the only survivor.

He can’t remember any of them.

That’s sad.

Tries too hard to fit in.

Attention seeker.

Messing everything up.

Jack ruffled messy brown hair as bits of snow started falling on him. He looked up at the sky with eyes an odd sort of cool, glacial blue. Despite the previous negative thoughts, a mischievous smile like the cracking of ice, played in his lips. Snow? Could tomorrow be a snow day? Just a single snowflake flickered into his view as he faced the direction of Disney High a few blocks away. Now that school had an actual tower. It looked like an actual castle anywhere you look at it in town, compared to DA’s group of buildings, cropped together to make one colorful compound. It had more character in his opinion, though.

His route home always involved passing by the old clock tower that was shut down because it stopped working since who knew when. This he’d often look at and imagine what it would be like to walk around the narrow ledge beneath the great circle; wondered how he could get to it through one of the doors at the back and whether or not there used to be something robotic coming out of it like his dad’s favorite cuckoo clock. But that was the one kind of trouble he promised himself he would never get into because underneath the clock tower was a homey yellow library managed by one of the few people who actually payed attention to him.

“Hm. Sandy isn’t in.” Jack observed the ‘Closed’ sign.  Sandy had once tried to explain to Jack why no one was allowed to go up to the Clock Tower. It was old and city hall didn’t want anyone going up there and barely allowed him to revive the library below. Something about being a town treasure, explained Sandy via sign language which he was happy enough to teach to Jack. He said they had to leave the top of the Clock Tower the way it was and keep people from possibly destroying its interior. Jack would never cause trouble for Sandy, who was also one of Nicholas St. North’s oldest pals, so his imagination would have to make up for the curiosity. Sandy had made a zero with his hand and waved it forward a bit. Nothing. He shrugged.

 His adoptive father wasn’t home yet from his work at the toy company uptown, which meant Jack had the house to himself to play punk rock music as loud as he want. Nicholas would usually laugh it off, pretending to put his fingers in his ear, and say something about choosing a happier song, perhaps? This is happy! He’d left Jack a note taped to the fridge saying there’s frozen pizza in there and for him to use the microwave this time. This joke was courtesy of that one instant that he ate a slice he’d picked up from the table thinking it was leftovers and didn’t even notice how frozen it was. Nicholas saw him, pizza half-way done and Jack seated in the living room, and gave him a quizzical look because he’d just bought that from the supermarket and he didn’t hear the sharp ‘ting’ of the microwave. They’d had a good laugh about that one too.

All things considered, Jack was grateful that he was the one who took him in. He’d been very patient with helping Jack get back up his feet, even without his memories and the bit of depression that came with it. Nicholas and Sandy had found him in that accident and helped bring him to the hospital. They’d felt responsible for keeping tabs on him and were there to greet him when he woke up, looking sadly at him to bring the news of his loss and even more so when he couldn’t even remember what he’d lost. Slowly, they’d had to bring Hope and Joy back into him when he’d felt an Absolute Zero. Empty.

Somehow it’s been a day of reminiscing the sad stuff, huh? He thought. If there was one thing Jack learned by trying to get through all his troubles, it was to find the fun. Pizza in the microwave, he went into the living room. His feet were careful around the new train set Nicholas had been trying to set up for a test run yesterday and had left. Though he tried to start it up and see it work for himself a little while, and then he opened the T.V. to see if the news would say anything about the weather, and then looked for a movie and settled for a cartoon. He went upstairs to find his speakers and cued in “Welcome to the Black Parade” as he fished around for his other drum stick that should been there in the living room somewhere. He didn’t have a drum set but tapped rhythmically around any surface he could find.

It was just supposed to be an average, boring or good-enough-for-fun Friday night. Just the way he liked it. Mundane enough to distract but spontaneous enough to feel like a good time. Especially today, on the anniversary of the day he’d lost his family, had amnesia, and started being the town nobody. That was just it. He had no memory of who he was and didn’t think it mattered anymore at this point.

“I’m good. It’s all good. I’m used to it.” But alone he felt he could be honest and think that, really, it got to him. There was always something missing because he couldn’t really remember it. Sometimes he’d wish there were more family out there than the ones he’d lost so that they could come and tell him who he was and what the missing piece feeling meant. He sighed.

The microwave sounded.

Not a minute later, so did the doorbell.

            Jack frowned. What?

Just as he was about to shrug off that maybe it was the neighbor’s doorbell, there was a knock on the door.

            He opened the door.

            Looked and saw the house across the street.

            Looked down.

It was a grade-schooler, probably 9 or 10.

The kid seemed to study him first, not saying anything. He was dressed in a green shirt, a puffy sleeveless jacket and a white beanie. In his arms was a big brown book with golden lettering.

“Um…Can I help you?”

“Are you Jack?”

“Yeah. Who are you?”

“My name’s Jamie. I’m your son.”

***

The Past

Jack and Elsa had been worried ever since the wedding and Hans announcement of Pitch’s new curse so they went to Corona to talk with Mother Gothel in her prison. They thought she may know what The Dark One’s plans were. Flanked by both Rapunzel and Eugene, the Frost couple walked down the prison halls in silence. Until Eugene broke the silence because it was really too much for the guy and Rapunzel had just given him a ‘say something’ look.

“So, first time in a prison, folks?”

“Er, no. I’ve spent time in our dungeon before. In Arendelle,” Elsa said.

“Why would you–?”

Rapunzel shook her head. Wrong something.

“Obviously I’ve been here before,” Eugene continued babbling. “Lot of fun, when you think about it. Time to think. I once had one of my buddies break me out of here because I was sentenced to death by my own father-in-law. Hah. That could’ve been…messy. But it all worked out. Probably not the time to be talking about death and fathers and the sentencing to death bit considering…and you didn’t need to hear that…how do you two feel about ducklings?”

Rapunzel face was deeply into her palm.

They reached the end of the hall where there was a thick brown door with only the one small window with little bars at the top of it to look through. Mother Gothel was already expecting them, her gray eyes like steel.

“Isn’t this just adorable? I see two queens and two fools looking very desperate indeed.”

“Thanks. I always thought I had that queenly look about me,” Eugene said, trying to break off the tension this villainous woman’s words tended to bring, but his face was grim as well. She did almost succeed in killing him before and kept Rapunzel locked away in a tower since she could remember.

Mother Gothel rolled her eyes at him and then went back to looking at Elsa and Jack, both of whom wore blue cloaks covering their heads.

“Gothel, we came here to ask—“

“Now, now. I know why you’re here, Fool.” She paced back into her cell. “You want to know about that insipid Hans’ threat.”

“Tell us what you know,” Elsa ordered.

“Oh. Tense, aren’t we?” Mother Gothel pressed herself closer to the bars, eyes glinting in enjoyment. “You know there’s just something about seeing a young and lovely royal squirm. Now, I can’t be sure what it is. You’re always so helpless and desperate to save…something.”

“She’s wasting our time,” Jack said, hand on Elsa’s shoulder to keep her still. “Look, we just want to know if you know anything about Pitch’s curse. You were once in league with him. Maybe he ran something by you.”

Mother Gothel scoffed dramatically. “Now what’s in it for me if I told you? Because, yes, I do know something of it. But you’ll have to make it worth my time too. I may be in a cell but I know when I still hold something of value.”

“What do you want?” Elsa was too quick to say, pulling away from Jack.

“No. We’re not buying into this,” Jack said.

“I want out of this prison.”

“No!” Rapunzel, Eugene and Jack all say at once.

“Oh, come on. How much more of a threat am I compared to Pitch and his delusional king-wannabe side kick? I don’t have magic, now do I? And I certainly don’t plan on helping him anymore. I’m no second fiddle.”

“You have crimes against Corona, Gothel,” Rapunzel started.

“Corona wronged me first. The flower was mine.”

“And you stole the princess. How does that make you quits? It’s a flower over an actual baby,” Eugene expressed with matching incredulous hand gestures.

“Then I won’t talk. What would be the point of giving away my leverage?”

“Fine,” Elsa said. “You can live as a free woman in Arendelle. Tell me what you know.”

“Elsa!”

Elsa gave Jack and Rapunzel a pleading look to trust her.

 “We need to know how to stop this. She’s the only one who could’ve manipulated answers from Pitch and Hans.”

They could tell Mother Gothel was smiling and relishing this moment.

“Alright then. As you already know, Pitch’s curse has already been planned and it’s too late to stop it from happening. The curse is designed to bring all of us from this realm, to another realm that’s a prison to all of those who wronged Pitch Black. A prison for you, but worse than the prison I’m currently in. That prison is the loss of memories—“

At this Jack’s face flickered with recognition and worry.

“—and the achievements you’ve gained along the way. He would have it all erased so that you’re all back to nothing. You wouldn’t even know what you’ve lost. I’d like to see you all break your curses with true love’s kiss.” Her laugh was deep and cruel. “So much for happily ever after.”

“Then, why do you still want to break out of this prison then? If it’s all doomed?” Eugene questioned.

“Because I don’t want to end up in an even worse prison in that other world. Who wouldn’t like to spend their last days a free woman?”

“But what can we do? Please, there must be something.”

“Not you. We’re all worthless once the curse breaks in.”

“What about our child?” Elsa said, all the worry pouring out in one go. “What does this curse have anything to do with our child and why does Hans think we’ll have to kill him?”

“Because we won’t.” Jack’s fists were clenched. “There’s no way we will just because Pitch gives us empty threats. I’m done with his games.”

“Well, someone’s bound to consider it sooner or later. It doesn’t matter if it’s you. Pretty soon, you won’t even be able to trust your friends.” At this she gestured at Rapunzel and Eugene with malice in her eyes. “You see, whatever baby you’re having is the one who will start the curse.”

“How?”

Mother Gothel stepped away from the door again, hiding in darkness. “That, I don’t know. But you already said Pitch liked to play games and to mess with people’s dreams. I imagine he wouldn’t allow you to enjoy a life with a child of your own if he can’t have his. To make the game just a little more interesting, he did tell me this. This child is also the one who can find the only ones who could break the curse.”

“There’s hope then!” Rapunzel cut in, stomping a foot forward. “There’s always good. This can still turn around.”

“And there’s always a catch, silly girl. Yes, the child can find who could break the curse, but we already know who it is. You. The Big Four. But without your memories, that’ll be quite a task for just one child, if he’d even believe in himself at all. And it doesn’t mean the child is saved, this challenge will ensure they come to great harm. Once you are saved from the curse, it could still be possible that none of your children are. You see, Pitch’s curse is to keep you away from your children. It’s you or them.”

Her last words rang in the halls of the prison.

Elsa took a huge gulp of air and turned away. Jack took hold of her hands.

“So she’s saying there’s no hope at all. Our child suffers no matter what we do.”

“No. She said The Big Four could break the curse,” Jack said with whatever faith he had with his bonds keeping him confident. “And the Big Four isn’t made to hurt but protect. We’ll be there to protect our child. We know what will happen now, so if the curse comes we’ll find a way to remember. We always find a way to make things right. We always find a way.”

(End of Part 2)

Part 1

Part 3

Part 4

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