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astaroth1357 · 1 year

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My Incredibly Spoiler Heavy Thoughts on Nightbringer

TURN BACK IF YOU HAVE ANY INTEREST IN PLAYING THE GAME AT ALL. I MEAN IT.

Hello. I have completed all 10 lessons on the Normal difficulty. These are my thoughts:

First, a disclaimer. All of this is my opinion. If you feel differently about a character or plot point, that's fine. This is all just as I see it.

Holy hell, I love the setup here so damn much. The Nightbringer story so far is truly more than just a rehash of the OG plot, largely because of all the small stuff that keeps happening in background. Yes, we're befriending the brothers again, but we don't know WHY. Why are we in the past? Who sent us there? What do they want from us, or... what do they want out of somebody else?? 👀 I have to hand it to the writers for coming up with this premise, it's soild. Will they stick the landing...? We'll see.

The New! (Old) Cast

Lucifer:

Whelp, Luci is being colder to us than ever... But far more openly involved with his brothers than we saw previously. You can really tell that this is fresh off of the War and he's just trying his best to keep everybody corralled and (somewhat) comfortable.

He still holds onto his Celestial Realm prejudice against demons, so he doesn't trust MC at all which is an interesting turn on the dynamic from before. As a human, Lucifer saw us as weak and insignificant so he didn't give us much time of day. But as a "demon," and someone more knowledgeable about the Devildom than himself, he has to suck it up and rely on MC even if he wants them to stay away.

By the end of Lesson 10, it's safe to say whatever trust he had in MC is going to be shattered. MC has talked their way out of a lot, but even Dia looks shaken by their abilities this time... I'm curious to see if they can reestablish a relationship with him when he was already keeping them at arms length to start with.

Mammon:

Ah, Mammon... Once simp, forever a simp across time and space. Bless him. I guess he's just doomed to always fall first when it comes to MC. It DOES NOT take long for him to be down bad even if you don't romance him specifically (I would know because I'm trying to stay mono-Levi this go around).

Aside from his tsundere-ness, though, we do get a look into more of his insecurities. I find an interesting pattern developing in him where he just tends to latch onto a person and follow them unfailing. He did that with Lucifer before the Fall, he didn't even think about the consequences before going through with it. You could see him doing much the same with MC. I think it stems from a lack of confidence in himself and his own abilities, constantly relying on others to guide him through big decisions and provide him with validation. Add another poor thing to the list...

Leviathan:

I swear to God, the devs realized that Levi's charm lies in his pathos, so they went out of the way to make him EVEN MORE pathetic than normal. I still love him for it, of course. But seriously, Levi starts out practically afraid of his own shadow when the story starts. It makes sense, Levi would have probably one of the more negative impressions of demons of the seven, having fought them head on. He was a shut in before the War and now he's even more terrified to leave the house, let alone his room... (I can't be the only one who's wondering how the hell Dia's going to look at him and go, "Ah yes! I see Admiral material right there!" right?)

I do like that the writers took the time to show that he's one of the more empathetic brothers, right alongside Asmo and Beel, even if he's bad with people. Levi is quick to sympathize with beings and creatures who don't fit in and it's always very sweet to see. I also guess that Simeon wrote TSL in secret or after the War? You think he would know of it at least having lived so long with the author... Anyway. I digress.

There's a lot of... small things around Levi that I think hint at the inner feelings of the brothers, though (of all seven of them, he has the WORST poker face I swear). I may touch on those in another post because I need time to gather my thoughts on how it all connects there... Anyway, he's still my favorite and I'm going to try to see if there's any truth to this "you get a deeper connection if you stick to one brother" thing. Wish me luck.

Satan:

Okay, load your guns now because I think Satan is the real star of the show here. They're actually pulling way more than the "He's mad because he's seen like Lucifer" card. We're at a point where Satan doesn't even consider himself associated with the brothers AT ALL. That means something and has consequences on the story. He didn't even go with them to check on Beel, despite having enough fire power that he could have probably helped a lot.

Now before someone goes screaming at me that they've devolved him into comic relief, I'd first like to ask what did you think he was going to be? OG Satan told us himself that he used to feel nothing but anger. He's going to be pissed, irrational, and violent. He's Wrath.

What truly they're giving us under all of that is a look into a vulnerable guy who doesn't know anything about the world around him and is trying to pick it up on his own because his brothers can't (and maybe won't) teach him. They keep chaining him up (which I hate btw) and talk about him like he's a beast. But it's partially because they're such terrible communicators that he flies off the handle so often to begin with.

Satan is more alone than really anybody else is the Devildom. His brothers already have all this history together and memories shared during their time as angels, stuff he has no context for and could never experience himself. He's still an outcast among demons for his association with them, despite being a fully fledged demon in his own right, and he doesn't know why he has to be linked to them because he barely knows them anyway. He's taking baby steps to understand the world, but when he goes to his brothers to ask questions they lampshade him for even having clear thoughts. All they see him as is a roaring beast. This version of Satan is fascinating to me. How does he start here and end up the eloquent, emotionally-controlled bookworm with a planet's worth of connections? I gotta know!!

Asmodeus:

They FINALLY started giving Asmo his proper flowers! I still think it could have been more, but he's gotten way more depth than he had before. I know that Asmo part technically involved MC's input the least out of all of the brothers, but I think that was by design.

Asmo is a surprisingly introspective individual under his urge to perform. MC didn't have to give much input because he just didn't need as much. He knows himself very well (unlike some of the others). He's an emotionally intelligent guy who can sort out his own inner problems and remain empathetic enough to want to help his brothers in his own way. I wanted to hear more from this side of Asmo, honestly, but the game seems to make it clear that he's content with his spot of being the family's brightest smile. I hope it makes more appearances as we go on.

Beelzebub:

This one is tricky, because lesson 10 leaves off on a cliffhanger related to Beel... So I think Beel's feelings will have more consequences than the other brothers' on the story. Most of all that we see of Beel is, unfortunately, him being hungry or off being wholesome with Belphie but lesson 10 did give us some eye-openers regardless.

First, apparently if he flies off the handle, Beel is quite the challenge to handle. It takes Dia himself to restrain him, which is pretty insane for the sixthborn in the line-up. It's possible some outside magic is cranking up his power somehow, but we won't know until the next lessons are out.

Secondly, I find it very interesting that Beel's "heart-to-heart" moment with us is being saved for last... It was definitely the most surprising one of the secrets in the teasers (in my opinion). Beel and Belphie are glued to the hip and share everything together so for him to have a secret "not even Belphie" knows is pretty shocking. I hope it's not just that he saved Belphie instead of Lilith since we all already know that. It'd be a pretty cheap pay off to all this buildup... Not that I haven't been disappointed before or anything.

Belphegor:

Similar to Beel, Belphie doesn't get much attention until the end and it isn't much that we haven't heard before, unfortunately. You kind can't blame them, since plumbing out Belphie's inner trauma about the War was the entire climax of the first game. It's nothing we don't already know. That being said, I think there's some more interesting things that are being said about Belphie or left unsaid by the others that I find more fascinating to keep track of.

TLDR, I think there's some weird distancing going on between Belphie and the others. It doesn't seem super apparent, but Levi dropped some weird bombshells early on and I can't help but notice how he just never seems to be without Beel. Those two are close, yeah, but in this game they're practically a unit. I'm pretty sure Belphie is using Beel as a security blanket of sorts. He's also the ONLY one to mention Lilith in any great detail. Unsurprising, but it's worth noting that the others haven't really brought her up despite it (supposedly) starting the War.

Diavolo:

Somebody give this guy a vacation and a raise... So apparently, the brothers were cast down, the old King took one look at them and counted to seven, then conked out. Now our boy has to rule the kingdom. He's... the same really. As far as I can tell. You can really see how much he's taken to the brothers' antics though, which checks out in the other game too.

WAAAY more fascinating to me is apparently there's some kind of body called the House of Lords who think that Dia is too young for the job. What's the House of Lords?? Who are they? Are they like a council or advisory board...? Or is this a UK setup? Is there a Parliamentary board?? I dunno, could just be my Poli Sci talking but I'm now so lost on how the Devildom operates now...

Barbatos:

Oh my God, if there is any character I could live vicariously through, it was Barbs here. For whatever unnamed reason he is NOT having any of Solomon's shit right now and I'm living for it. Setting my delight aside, we don't get to see very much of him and what we do see doesn't really differ from the norm, which only makes his detest all the more shocking.

Through Barbs, we also see just how potent the power of the pacts can be when Solomon summons him and more or less forces him to do as he says. Nothing seems to stop him from retaliating after the fact, as he sent Solomon off who knows where, but seeing that kind of power wielded over a being who's almost unattainable to us is... Well. I feel bad for Asmo.

Simeon:

There's a lot to unpack with Simeon... and a lot of it is in the stuff that goes unsaid. First, I already found it strange that he didn't seem surprised to see Satan in the House. Or if he was, he didn't say it or bother introducing himself which is... telling for a guy like Simeon. He's back to being Luke's minder in front of demons, but I can't help but notice that he doesn't do much to counter Luke's tirades. He only indicates that it's impolite to say them, so he may still harbor the very same feelings.

Simeon and Lucifer have something of a heart to heart together that they never would in the OG title where Simeon admits his biggest regret. It isn't that he didn't follow Lucifer, as we might think, but that he doesn't feel like did enough to reach out to him before he made his decision. Lucifer dispells this, but I think it goes to show that Simeon stands behind his decision to stay and that it was the better option. Lucifer also confront Simeon on why he didn't take a high position (seraph) and instead settled for archangel. It's left open ended what his real motives for that would be, but I suspect that it has something to do with Simeon's troubling streak of going against the grain, even in subtle ways. Or he has too much anger about what happened to accept taking Lucifer's old position.

I found it interesting how easily these two seemed to talk about intimate topics together here where Lucifer barely even acknowledges Simeon's attempts to reach out in the OG story. I wonder what may have happened to sour their relationship so severely...?

Luke:

Luke the Racist Chihuahua returns!! Okay, I'm being a little mean but he's pretty much just self-righteous little kid the whole way through. I will admit, it is a little funny that the person who came up with the nickname was actually Lucifer. I think it's now retconned and confirmed that Luke and the brothers never knew each other before the Fall... though Luke seems to know OF their former selves in some capacity. I could be misinterpreting things though.

The Rat Bastard Solomon:

I swear to God this was me playing through the whole game tied to this guy.

He's lying. A lot. Constantly. And it pisses me off to no end. I was wondering why things he was saying and the stuff he was doing weren't lining up and OF COURSE it's because he's either working his own agenda or being outright deceitful. I hate him so much, y'all, you don't even know...

That aside, as an impartial observer Solomon is pulling a lot of work to support MC and you can TELL how down bad he is for them, which actually has significance for the plot I think. He's keeping them in the dark about something, but considering his feelings I say we can at least be charitable and assume it isn't to hurt them or cause them any suffering... intentionally. He's also as unscrupulous as ever, considering how he ordered a very angry Barbs around and more or less took advantage of a life or death situation to make a pact with Asmo.

So. At the end of the lessons, we're reintroduced to the mysterious Nightbringer. The character who actually sent us back in time at the start of the game. Yeah, it wasn't Barbatos... probably. At least not our reliable neighborhood butler anyway. They seem to be different entities but I THINK they might share some connection....

I have to wonder who disguised MC when they first arrived. The marketing made it seem like it would be Solomon but the marketing has been hit or miss on actual accuracy about the game we're seeing. If it was Solomon, then he had to have known where the MC was before he called. If it was Nightbringer then... well actually. We need to touch on that first.

Nightbringer:

Now, much of this is just me speculating so take things with a grain of salt. Nightbringer's name is blocked out, but it seems like it identified itself to us in the beginning before sending us to the past. It appears like it wants something from Solomon.... to fully corrupt him maybe? And it's using MC as leverage against him.

I suspect that all of the weird stuff that has been happening is tied to its meddling in some way, but to what end is unclear... Sending Levi and MC into TSL, tricking Asmo then trying to feed everyone to a spider, and, likely, whatever is going on with Beel. I can't tell if it's trying to push MC and the brother's closer together, or just making vaguely comical attempts at homicide by fictional characters, spider, and Gluttony incarnate.

The situation with Adam does give us a hint into its nature. It appears to be some kind of dark, trickster being that gives a person what they desire, but never the way they intended. A walking monkey's paw, if you will. Solomon says that Nightbringer made him what he is today, so perhaps he worked under it or is simply under the influence of one its "deals." Their relationship is adversarial, though. When they're speaking, they talk about the two supernatural sides, Angel and Demon, and Nightbringer seems to want to force Solomon to make a choice between them. Lose his humanity, maybe?

I'm not quite willing to say that Nightbringer is a demon just yet, at least not one of the ones we normally encounter. Something about it seems... older. More powerful than that. But we'll have to wait for more info.

My crackpot theory?

Solomon has made a deal with Nightbringer in order to go back in time and do... something. He's after something. Nightbringer agreed, but dragged MC along as collateral for Solomon to get it done within a certain amount of time or makes sure he honors his part of the bargin. Barbatos knows this, either because he is linked to in some way to Nightbringer or saw it happen in the doorway, and is disgusted by his actions but unable to speak about it due to the pact. Or, you know. That's our present Barbie also dragged along for the ride and he's pissed that he's been essentially hijacked and taken away from present Diavolo, but forbidden to speak about it.

#i may do ONE LAST analysis post #over my speculation #and just weird stuff I saw #but after that #it’s back to the normal content #obey me #obey me shall we date #shall-we-date-obey-me #obey me nightbringer #obey me analysis #obey me nightbringer analysis #om spoilers #omn spoilers #obey me spoliers #obey me nb spoilers #obey me nighbringer spoilers

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miraofhearts2point0 · 1 month

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i cannot stand the fact adap Chishiya is a Hearts player, sowz. it's clear to me the adap writers completely misunderstood what makes someone a Hearts player in the first place and ran with it.

Chishiya can read others emotions to some extent, sure, but not in-depth enough to sympathize.

you wanna know why Chishiya (and Niragi) are Diamonds players? because they don't care enough to truly understand the hearts of others. they manipulate situations, not (usually) out of desperation, but because it's all they know. they lack a genuine understanding with others.

(adap) Arisu being a Diamonds player also completely misses the point: Arisu is so similar to Chishiya and Niragi that if, at any point prior to the Borderlands, he had one more thing go wrong, he could've ended up like the two of them; but he didn't because he refused to be like that.

Arisu is a Hearts player because he's both smarter than he gives himself credit for, and emotionally mature enough to take to heart (wink wink) the emotions of others and actively put himself in their shoes to get through a game.

that last reason is why Matsushita Enji is such a lousey Hearts player, because, like Chishiya and Niragi, he isn't emotionally mature enough to truly be good at Hearts. he has great setups, sure, but he's too proud to acknowledge other players and their inteligence, which is why he was ultimately defeated by Yaba and Banda.

Yaba and Banda both come from backgrounds where they need to read others to some extent: Yaba, a CEO who climbed the corporate ladder by reading others and using those emotions to his advantage (as we saw happen with Arisu when he was confronted by the militants), and Banda, a misogynistic murderer who got into the houses of women he killed, needed to be agile enough to get them to trust him by manipulating the situation in his favor, all while keeping in mind the emotions of those he killed.

Hearts games are not won by sheer manipulation, as we saw with Enji and Urumi; there needs to be a level of connection with others if you want to survive, which is also why Mitsurugi's defeat was so upsetting; ideally, he did everything right, but ultimately was a bit too confident in his plan and thus, refused to acknowledge the power the other players had. he was too good of a person.

Mira is a bit of an outlier, not because she was bad at the games or anything, but because she's the perfect mix of both understanding and master manipulator; if she went up against any other player in the Borderlands, they would easily lose. Arisu almost lost too, but as we've established, Hearts games are built off connections with others and Usagi was needed in order to make it.

I'm sure Mira was well-aware of that fact, especially with Arisu, but her ulimate failure was the same as Mitsurugi's: she ended up downplaying the connection between him and Usagi. Hearts games need love, level-headedness, mild manipulation, and an open mind if you intend to win.

going back to my main point, that's why Chishiya either avoids Hearts games all together, manipulates people during them, or turns to violence; he lacks the emotional maturity and agency to clear one the way they are meant to be cleared, why Arisu is a much better Hearts player than Chishiya will ever be, and why the adap writers completely misunderstood that point.

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in-g-major · 4 months

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ATLA Unpacked: Kataang is Reactive, not Constructive (Part 2)

(Part 1) Still no Kataang in sight (B1:E11 - B1:E13) As of B1:E10, we've been given no text or subtext which demonstrates Aang and Katara having a romantic bond. Beyond that, all of the romantic subtext involving Katara has been with three boys other than Aang, and Aang is completely uninvolved in all three dynamics. With this in mind, we can dismiss the argument that Kataang was an integral part of the show from the beginning. This will continue for another few episodes, until we come to our first instance of bringing romance into Aang and Katara's relationship The Fortuneteller (B1:E14): Strike One This is our first Kataang episode, and it doesn't put us off to a good start. What seems like a fairly innocuous episode about young love has some serious problems in terms of romantic agency and sexist double standards. So we establish Aang as now developing a crush on Katara with another shot of her from his POV.

(Oh hey, Aang made Katara a necklace! It disappears later in the episode because it wasn't really important to anyone involved) Now this does make sense in terms of Aang's perspective. Aang is young and this is probably the first time he's had these kinds of feelings for anyone. He already has a rather idealized view of Katara as established in B1:E1. However, in the context of how Katara has previously been depicted in her interactions with Zuko, Haru, and Jet, how she's depicted in this shot is a step backwards. Those interactions gave her agency and depicted her as the wonderfully well-rounded character she normally is. Here, by contrast, we're seeing Katara an an ideal, not as a person. One image alone can't fully explain what I'm getting at, so let's proceed through the remainder of the episode. Once we get Aang's new perspective on Katara, something immediately presents itself as an obstacle: Katara simply doesn't see Aang the same way.

Sokka: Smoochie, smoochie, someone's in love! Katara: Stop teasing him, Sokka! Aang's just a good friend. A sweet little guy. Just like Momo. Aang: Thanks. Putting my own personal annoyance with this trope aside, it creates a serious disconnect which hinders communication between Aang and Katara. With this disconnect, the problem of Katara seeming less like a character in the context of her relationship with Aang only grows. Already we're only seeing Aang's side of this anyway. After some shenanigans involving a stranger in the woods who tells our young heroes of a fortuneteller named Aunt Wu, they go and see this fortuneteller. The one most excited about seeing Aunt Wu is Katara, which could have been the setup for a story about a character flaw we've already seen from Katara: she doesn't have much confidence in herself. - In B1:E6, Haru encourages her to take credit for helping him and his fellow earthbending prisoners stand up for themselves after she downplays her role in the prison break. - In B1:E9 she's insecure about her lack of waterbending skill to the point of getting quickly upset when Aang learns techniques faster than she does. - In B1:E10 she's easily wooed by Jet's charisma to the point where she becomes naive about any possibility that he's not what she thinks. Despite not being fully honest with her, Jet does encourage her to have faith in herself, which she later uses to turn against him. What made those episodes with Katara and the dark-haired boys in her life compelling was seeing Katara overcome various challenges and develop in her journey of becoming a remarkable young woman. Before we come to how "The Fortuneteller" backtracks on Katara's character arc so far, we experience something extremely revealing about this episode's contradictory approach to Aang's one-sided crush.

Everyone, say hello to Meng! She's Aunt Wu's assistant, and her only purpose in this episode is demonstrating that someone in the writers' room realizes what's wrong with the Kataang dynamic but can't stop the powers-that-be from going ahead with it anyway. There's a term I haven't used yet but is extremely relevant to both this scene and the POV shot of Katara: the male gaze. Put simply, the male gaze describes how women and girls are often depicted in stories written from a male point-of-view. Since ATLA fits the category of an action/adventure fantasy aimed primarily at boys aged 12-16, written and directed mostly by men, we can easily apply the male gaze as an analytical tool here. So from Aang's POV, we get an extremely idealized view of Katara rather than the more complex reality of her as a person. From Meng's POV, we get what's framed as an idealized view of Aang, but what we see is far closer to who he actually is. The double standard is extremely telling, and more than a bit concerning given how the episode ultimately turns out. Moving on, the first member of the Gaang who gets their fortune from Aunt Wu is Katara, and it establishes a pattern for the remainder of the episode. Katara becomes dependent on Aunt Wu's predictions, even going as far as asking whether she should have mango or papaya for breakfast.

(Mango >>> Papaya) Having Katara be this gullible isn't automatically a bad thing. Again, the show has already established that she struggles with confidence in herself. Had the episode gone in the direction of having her realize this flaw and work to overcome it, it would have been far better. Let's head over to our young airbender for a bit.

The prediction Aang gets from Aunt Wu mentions nothing about love. Seeing Aang's reaction to this, Aunt Wu concocts a platitude to help him feel better. Once again we get a double standard: compare what Aunt Wu tells Aang to what she tells Katara. Aunt Wu (to Aang): Well, look! I must've missed something. Right here. It says "trust your heart and you will be with the one you love." Aunt Wu (to Katara): I feel a great romance for you. The man you are going to marry. I can see that he's a very powerful bender. Aang is given a message that encourages him to be proactive in finding the one he loves. Katara is told whom she will fall in love with, and simply accepts it. This double standard is only reinforced when our heroes save Aunt Wu's village from being burned down by a volcanic eruption after Aunt Wu incorrectly predicted that the volcano would not threaten the village.

Aang: You didn't really see love in my fortune, did you? You just told me what I wanted to hear. Aunt Wu: I'll tell you a little secret, young airbender. Just as you reshaped those clouds, you have the power to shape your own destiny. For all the many problems with "The Fortuneteller," I do find Aunt Wu extremely relatable. Besides my own experiences in customer service, I've befriended two middle-aged Asian American small business owning women in my life. Now I can't watch this episode without thinking of them. Her being voiced by Tsai Chin, a veteran actress with an incredible career, is a huge bonus. So, what revelation does Katara come away with after this awe-inspiring experience?

Sokka: Man, sometimes I forget what a powerful bender that kid is. Katara: (surprised) Wait, what did you just say? Sokka: Nothing, just that Aang is one powerful bender. Katara: ...I suppose he is. Not only is Katara much more confused than enthused by the prospect of Aang being the one Aunt Wu predicted, both in the way she's drawn and in Mae Whitman's delivery, but we're ending this story with no indication of how she feels about Aang other than him being a friend and "sweet little guy." She had an obvious crush on Jet, who was quite a different type both physically and in personality. Nothing we've seen from Katara so far indicates a mutual attraction to Aang, which ultimately makes her nothing more than a "prize" in Aang's "quest" to win her over. If you think later Kataang focused episodes rectify this, I have some very bad news. What's especially frustrating is "The Fortuneteller" could have been an easy setup for Katara learning more about what kind of boys she's into and seeing Aang more in a romantic light over the course of the episode. Them actually interacting and becoming more aware of each other's feelings would have kept Kataang from being completely insufferable and sending a pretty lousy message to its young viewers. Piling on the insult to the injury is that there is a truly good message within "The Fortuneteller" which is ultimately ignored. Until now I haven't commented much on Meng's cute but ultimately shallow crush on Aang because all that's worth addressing is how it's established and how it's resolved.

Meng: You don't like me, do you? Aang: Of course I like you. Meng: But not the way I like you. Aang: Oh, I guess not. Meng: It's okay. It's just really hard when you like someone, but they don't think of you that way. Aang: I know what you mean. Meng: She's beautiful, by the way... that Water Tribe girl. I can see why you like her so much. She's sweet, she's a bender, and her hair seems so manageable. Aang: Don't worry. You're going to meet a great guy who's going to completely fall for you. I know it. Now this is good! It brings up what having a one-sided attraction feels like and gives a positive example of resolving it. There's no vindictiveness, or jealousy, just Aang being as reassuring as he can. It's not just a good message for ATLA's target audience, it's something relevant to people in later stages of life too. This could have also been a great setup for Aang realizing later on that the advice he gives Meng here is just as relevant to his relationship with Katara. Alas... In conclusion, "The Fortuneteller" sucks. I didn't even get into the most misogynistic moment in the episode, which is the underage slut shaming from Meng that destroys her wonderful moment with Aang earlier. Ultimately it's a symptom of the lousy romance tropes which plague this entire episode and undercut what could have been a good story. Easy fix: have this be an episode where Aang and Katara discover feelings about each other they didn't anticipate. They're given conflicting advice on their romantic prospects by Aunt Wu, and they help each other resolve their respective dilemmas. Aang helps Katara become more independent and not simply depend on everything Aunt Wu tells her. Katara helps Aang not be so anxious about deciding his future and instead allow things to happen more "naturally." By the end they begin seeing something "more" between them, and it teases the possible beginning of a love story. As it stands, B1:E14 contradicts Katara's established characterization, ignores her romantic agency, and sets a very bad precedent for how Kataang will be handled going forward. Fortunately, Kataang is no longer relevant to the remainder of Book 1, so next time we'll skip right ahead to Book 2. Get ready, because this is where the story puts Kataang through a stress test it's absolutely not prepared for. Related Meta & Additional Reading - Romantic subtext in "The Fortuneteller" by marsreds

#atla meta #katara #anti kataang #katara defense squad #katara deserved better #g major writes #g major meta #pro mango #anti papaya

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animegoil-vnc · 10 months

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I didn't even *consider* it wasn't LG himself doing that crazy stunt, but now...

Look, my estimation of the writers for this show has taken some hits this season - if it's not LG himself, time travel shenanigans or not, I'm going to lose so much respect for them.

It'd be one thing if they'd put in clues beforehand - LG maybe smiled a little too much like CXS or did or said something that made us go hmmmm something is off with LG... And then this scene happens and they play up that smirk and confidence and so now we have CLUES to say HOLY SHIT I BET THAT'S CXS. That would be a great setup! That would be exciting because it allows the audience to becomes more invested and engaged as they "pick up what the show is dropping" so to speak. The suspense is around the *anticipation*.

If they make it so that it wasn't LG himself, that would be, in my opinion, a huge breach of the audience's trust. There are so many reasons why it being Lu Guang is important in terms of audience satisfaction and expectation:

The emotional thread tying the show together has always been LG and CXS's relationship, and they've made a point of showing how protective LG is of CXS already.

Despite that, there hasn't been much communication between the two this season despite all the insane plot events that have been happening - this becomes a gap the audience is dying to have filled.

The fact that they've shown LG being suspicious this entire season, which is setting up expectations that LG does indeed know something and that he's going to do something unexpected.

Even if LG hadn't been set up as knowing something about this ahead of time, the suspense and mystery of his background means the audience is waiting for that moment when the story will finally dig into that.

In terms of action, LG hasn't gotten many moments to shine this season yet compared to the others - makes sense since he's (supposed to be) bedridden, but it means the audience is also going to anticipate or be excited about him getting a chance to be the center of the action or plot.

Given all of that, it would be incredibly cruel and bad storytelling (nearly on the level of killing LG off in the first place) if they turned around and removed that agency from LG and revealed it was never him. That kind of yanking around of the audience's feelings would be really, really dissatisfying. Despite all the missteps I personally feel the show has made in storytelling this season by creating hype and suspense through misdirection and questionable pacing choices, I really hope that they're not so hellbent on that vision of their story that they'll make this kind of error.

#link click #commentary #storytelling is a craft #and there's certain guidelines that need to be followed

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quenthel · 2 months

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also... this might not be my place to make this criticism and i bet a lot of gaming fans of color made similar points but this tendency in rpgs lately to include black companions without actually like... giving them the same amount of love/attention from the writing team is so shit lol. Like Wyll is a good example but also Idira from rouge trader... both of them have interesting personalities and the setup of their characters/character arcs is very good but then around the midway point of the game they get dropped or the resolution feels very tacked on like the writers themselves lost interest. and like on one hand ok rpg writing is a group effort but also many times a single writer is forced to make stories for multiple companions/party of the story etc so its a very large workload my main issue is that it seems to always always be the black characters who get the short end of the stick while (usually white men in the story) get a lot more attention bc the ppl working on them clearly had more fun and felt more inspiration. and again for any creative work inspiration and what ideas stick in your head are very important and can be fickle but like once again.. why is it ALWAYS like this. like are rpg writers just less confident about writing black characters? do they simply lose interest faster? like we cant ignore racist bias here and like ok there is an attempt but imo its not much of an attempt lol. like the other excuse i can think of is these (mostly white) writers being scared to write flawed characters of color bc they are afraid of being called racist for accidentally stepping into some stereotypes but like that just feels a bit... idk cowardly. like on some level i get it but if its your job at least do research and treat these characters the same you would treat white ones... like black characters not allowed moral complexity either is connected to this problem lol... like perhaps this reflects upon some greater social structural issues... and how most white people cant empathize or connect w black characters as much...

#quenthel special #bg3 #rouge trader #once again pillars of eternity gets a crown #eventho pallegina's characterisation is not quite as strong in deadfire...#but that can be said of all returning cast...

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paintingformike · 2 years

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no cause my biggest confidence in byler really is just in the narrative and the writing itself like. i feel like the reason a lot of bylers tend to lose hope easily is because they might only be hanging on to tiny hints and proofs (eg. blue and yellow color coding, parallels from the shows they’ve taken inspo from, etc) but when you really understand the way they’ve set up the love triangle and the patterns they follow in writing healthy relationships it just makes sense that the logical conclusion is byler ending up together? like i can assure you the writers didn’t just randomly forget how to write a couple that may go through bumps but still be able to resolve it the right way. the lumax and m!leven conflicts both happened in the same season. if they wanted us to believe that m!leven is endgame couple material they wouldn’t have involved will so heavily into the supposed “resolution” of their problems, especially when he’s the other love interest. they would’ve done it similarly to lumax where they actually talked to each other and had deep conversations without getting other people involved in their issues. they know that portraying will’s love for mike in such a selfless and pure manner to the point that he’s sacrificing his own feelings for m!leven’s relationship would make the audience sympathize with him and paint them in a bad light. heck, it’s a classic love triangle setup to show the person in the middle (mike) feeling so insecure in his current relationship and the one pining for him (will) knowing exactly how to comfort him throughout it all. it’s also obvious that they’re making a point to show how mike becomes more vulnerable and authentic around will in a way that he never is around el. in an unrequited love scenario, they wouldn’t have given them so many heart-to-hearts and just focused on will longing for mike from afar. there’s a reason they decided to completely separate them from the supernatural plot and developed their relationship, and also never even let mike and el have a single proper conversation about their relationship apart from their big fight. they can’t even be emotionally vulnerable around each other, but the other couples can, so why would they suddenly just be bad at writing m!leven specifically? it’s because they’re doing it on purpose.

also idk how to explain it well and i hope im like. making sense in this but in showing a specific chain of events i think it’s pretty common that the scene that follows the first one is written to have more of a positive/significant impact than the one preceding it. so what does it tell you when right after mike just had a pretty bad fight with his girlfriend, his best friend, who happens to be in love with him, manages to cheer him up and have him look the happiest and calmest he’s ever looked since the start of the show? exactly.

#literally the fact that will is the foundation of mlvn’s “fixed” relationship rn makes me certain that theyre gonna be bones next season #theres just no other way to resolve this other than byler endgame like the direction this plotline is going is so clear #byler #byler analysis #byler proof #stranger things

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googoogagaeyes · 1 year

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I hate to say it but some fans really want Mike to be Will so bad at this point. The narrative doesn't position Mike for being a victim. Like you said, it is positioning him to be the leader like he was in S1-S2, he will be helping others and the Party (mostly Will). He is not going to get targeted himself. He will be there to help Will when Will gets targeted as he did in S1-S2.

Mike getting targeted/possessed/kidnapped would make him Will.2. And Will would try to save Mike like taking charge and trying to find him... which makes him Mike because that's Mike's role. Will would be in need for taking the charge and lead the Party to save others and be the leader.... and.... that is not what his character is about, it is Mike's. That's role reversing to the highest core and confusing the characters' narratives .

Not sure why ppl do not get this, lol. And there really is so much bias regarding 'Mike's getting targeted Max/Will style' reasoning. Instead of looking at the more obvious and clear setup people try to reverse the characters' narratives and personalities by making Will the leader who will help Mike and Mike will be the damsel who gets Will's storylines.

Hiiiiiiii,

I think all of this discourse stems from the fact that people are still insecure about Mike being a "main character". I'm vaguely recalling, even before the Mike getting Vecna'd theories appeared, that people were fighting for their lives trying to defend Mike's status as "main".

The "main character" is often the one who experiences the most angst and stress, because their existence (characterization and backstory) push the action in the central plot line, causing a ripple effect on everything and everyone else. Given Mike and Will were written into more prereferral roles in S3, as well as S4 (*big sigh* the writers fumbled the bag), you can see why we are all anxious to see their involvement increase in the final season.

However, Mike shouldn't be shoe-horned into a major role in the supernatural plotline, because his character arc wasn't meant to move along this part of the story. Folks need to remember: these aren't real people. Writers crafted these characters to follow specific paths. Even if the writers plop a character in a new dynamic or environment, it's to serve the pre-planned endpoint for their arc for the season, as well as their journey throughout the entire show.

Mike is tangentially related to the supernatural, due to the most important people in his life (Will and El) being major players in the Upside-Down lore. As of right now, Mike has no canonical personal connection to Vecna (and his family), the Mindflayer, and the Upside-Down. Mike is a middle-class bullied nerd who entered a supernatural conflict, because he loves Will so much that he would do anything to save him. That is Mike. What makes Mike so amazing is his devotion to his loved ones. However, Mike doesn't think that is "special".

In the van scene, Mike highlights how inconsequential he is in the face of El being "born special". He's just "some random nerd". He doesn't even think he is the Lois Lane to her Superman. While Will's indirect confession boosted Mike's confidence, it's only a temporary solution (just like Max + Kate Bush). Mike can't and shouldn't depend on others to improve his self-esteem. He needs to accept and embrace who he is, without comparison or trying to people please. This is why a majority of Mike's time in S5 should be devoted to his self-growth, so he can become the leader who will unite and inspire his fractured friend group. If he can't empower himself, how can he empower others? (Mike's problems don't start and end with Byler. People need to be serious)

A few things Mike's arc needs to address—

Eddie: Mike idolized this guy, because Eddie was unequivocally and unabashedly himself (one of the "nerds and freaks"). He was genuine in a way Mike aspired to be but couldn't, due to his own fears. Now, his role model is dead. This is definitely a huge blow to both Dustin and Mike. Plus, Eddie's "murders" heightened the "satanic panic" and religious fervor in their small-town community. These social pressures are perfect triggers for Mike + Dustin to question their identities. To conform or not to conform, that is the question. Will Mike believe it's worth trying to be "normal" if it causes one to behave like a "raging psychopath" (See Lucas's non-conformity arc in S4--diving into that is another post entirely lol The fault is not with my son, but with the writing).

His inferiority complex: see the whole show.

His relationship with El: these two are only together because of compulsory heterosexuality (comp het) and abandonment issues. They can't meet each other's needs and mainly hurt each other through their dishonesty. They need to break-up and repair their friendship, tying together S1 themes of truth, family, and love.

His sexuality: because this is subtext (but definitely one of the Duffer's S5 plot twists), I can't say this is canon. But, we all know this man is queer. Mike needs to confront his internalized homophobia and decide whether he is going to accept his sexuality or remain in the closet. I think this conflict is the easiest way for Karen to come into play with her overdue motherly advice. Despite what people say, Karen is not a bad mom. She's made mistakes (Hi, Billy). So has Joyce (Hi, Jonathan and his parentification) and Hopper (Hi, El and him over-controlling her life). None of these people are "perfect parents". What they all have in common is: they love their kids. Just like how Karen's guidance gave Nancy the final push to keep fighting, she'll do the same for Mike. Mike always turns to her for comfort, the proof is in the pudding (see S1 and S3. Hell, see S4. He loves his mama).

His strained friendships: Mike's best relationship, right now, is with Dustin. I'm so serious. Max is brain dead. Mike and El are a dumpster fire. Mike and Will have a lot of subtextual and textual baggage (The unresolved rain fight, Mike's monologue, the painting, you're-dating-my-sister/you're-my-sister's-ex, the unrequited requited love, the phone calls, and just poor communication). Dustin and Mike still need to talk to Lucas about how they wrongly treated him and apologize. Lucas deserves an apology. Honestly, given Max and Will are both big parts of S5, as well as Lucas and Mike being their respective person, both boys are bound to clash. Mike and Lucas will probably fight like they did in S1. Unclear if Dustin will be in the mood for peacemaking this time around, since he's got his own issues. Mike and Lucas may need to do some mutual legwork.

His relationship with Will: They are endgame. If you have doubts, come to me. I don't know how they'll get together, but it will take a majority of S5. Folks, Mike and Will both need to grow in order to be their best selves. Both of their unresolved issues will continue to sabotage their relationship if they get together early on. "True love" doesn't fix you. After they work on their insecurities, resolve their significant identity issues, and obtain the self-satisfaction they need, then it will be the right time for them to be together. Until then, they can't be a successful couple.

I honestly think it is ironic how people want Mike to be "special" by inserting him into the supernatural plot line (As far as its been established, being involved in the Upside-Down lore is nothing but a curse). It seems like they are committing the same error in logic as Mike did in the van scene. Supernatural powers don't make you special. Who you are is what makes you special.

Mike is so fixated on the supernatural that he fails to understand what has and what will make them save the day: friendship, love, and teamwork. Mike is literally a spokesperson for all three of these concepts. He is the heart of the fucking Party. It's time for him to rise up as the leader, not get dragged down into the Upside-Down to be a hostage. Like I've said before, and I'll keep saying, this plot choice will not only stagnate his arc but sabotage Byler endgame. Mike needs to be better to do better. Mike needs to be an active part of the story, so he will be pushed to make choices about who he wants to be.

Anyways, come back soon! Sorry this is so long. One day, I will write a brief response. Just not today lol :)

Edit: Had to fix a typo under the Eddie section. It really bothered me TT_TT

#hello it's me #stranger things 5 #mike wheeler #byler endgame #will byers #stranger things 4 #this took so long to write #byler #mike wheeler analysis

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eisforeidolon · 1 year

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Q: When you have to get into character, like a crying scene, like when Dean's crying on the rock because spoiler alert Mary dies -

Jared: Wow!

Jensen: Wait, when I'm what? When Dean's crying on the rock? [fan repeats] Oh, yeahyeahyeahyeah. [pause] Right.

Q: How do you get into - both of you - how do you get into that character - or, not character, like zone, I guess? Into that crying role? And then when it's over, are you like, [fake tough voice] 'I'm ready to go fight somebody', are you in the feels all day after?

Jensen: Yeah, that's how I am in real life. I'll watch a - a commercial and I'll be like [exaggerated distressed inhale, gets up and walks off], 'I wanna go fight somebody!' No, I just go to the bathroom for some tissue.

Jared: I just think of the saddest moment of my life. No, I think he and I are similar. One of my least favorite things I can see on a script is stage direction saying they break down, or they cry. Or something. And so many scenes in Supernatural - I can't necessarily name one right now - but so many scenes that didn't say Dean cries or Sam cries or Dean breaks down or Sam breaks down? We did, you know? And so many scenes also, vice versa, say Sam sheds a tear, Dean breaks down - it just didn't, it didn't feel right? So we just kind of - I think we just let the scenes happen? I feel like as the seasons progressed, when we get to like 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and so on and so forth? [points to baby crying in audience] You feel me! I feel like it was just one of those things where we'd do a scene and we'd rehearse it and be like, 'Oh, wow! That felt more powerful than I anticipated looking at the page.' [Jensen nods] So then you get to set and one of the characters kinda breaks down a little bit - okay, go with it! And vice versa. It'd be a really sadly written scene where they're talking about loss or fear or something, but it didn't feel like the characters would approach it with sadness as much as frustration? So it's - I think by - pretty quickly we had a pretty good idea of who Sam and Dean were, and then as the show progressed, the writers kind of wrote Sam and Dean to Jared and Jensen, and so they trusted us with like, 'Hey if this is a scene where y'all make a joke, we're not gonna write Dean says kiddingly yadda yadda or Sam says, you know, emotionally yadda yadda. They just kinda wrote our dialogue. And, like, y'all do y'all's thing! So I feel like that's more how I approach it.

Jensen: There's also a large capacity of confidence within the character that we have as actors. [Jared: Right.] And I mean I - to brag on him a bit [hits Jared's knee] - I remember watching him, cause in the first season, a little episode called Heart. Sam loses - what was her name? [Audience: Madison!] Madison! Yeah, and has a really, y'know, emotional scene. And Jared really got into a headspace that day, and I remember watching him on set and he was - I mean, just in a corner, just like sittin on the floor, just kinda rocking. And these lighting setups can take half hour, forty five minutes sometimes. And he was staying in this emotional - you can't do that for ten hours a day. [Jared shakes his head no.] And I remember asking him, I was like, 'Dude, what are you thinkin about?' And he was like, 'I'm thinking about my dog Sadie dying.' And that's, that's - and I mean, my God, like how emotionally taxing that must have been for him to do that for several hours, just to stay in an emotional state so that when they yelled action, he could shed tears. And -

Jared: That was the last time I did that.

Jensen: That was the last time he did it. And I watched him as not just as a scene partner and a friend, but I got to watch him as an audience member and see Jared figure out a way to tell Sam's story through actual emotion that he had for the character. And so when we got to season 15 and we had that barn scene, those weren't two actors thinking about something else that made them emotional so that they could put on an emotional face for their character. These were two actors who were so deeply invested and confident in their character that all we had to think about was Dean dying and Sam losing his brother. And the tears, and the emotion, just kind of swept us up. So yeah, it evolved over the course of the show. And getting out of it when they yelled cut? Sometimes - you know, you're essentially tricking your body into thinking that something horrible is happening? And your body is reacting by -

Jared: Your body doesn't know.

Jensen: Your body is - I remember, there were several times but I remember the one time when I was recounting Dean's experience in hell to Sam and they yelled cut and I had to walk away, because my body was shaking, because my body was thinking that I was going through something very traumatic. And it's interesting because those leave little scars on your heart. Those leave little impressions on your soul, because your body reacted to what they thought were real. And even though we knew in our brain it wasn't - we went through that process, physically. And so yeah, I had to go and walk that off because I couldn't stop - the tears just kept coming and my body was shaking and I was like [exaggerated blinking, shaking out his hands]. And so, you know.

Q: So you weren't ready to go fight anybody after?

Jared: He would've.

Jensen: Yeah, you know, I went and boxed a tree.

Jared: And we're not, like, woo-woo guys. We're southern. We're both Texans, born and bred [audience cheers] - yeah, thank you. The idea that someone's like, 'Oh, well if you do a crying scene you're gonna go home and you're gonna feel exhausted cause your body was just crying.' I'm like [loud scoffing noise]. Surrrre. Like I'm acting, I memorized the lines. But it's legit. Having done it now for 23 years, done 450 episodes of television? Yeah, you do a scene where everybody's having a good time and riding horses or laughing or joking or you're - nutcracker whatever? You gotta go home and you're laughing. You feel like you should invite friends. You do a scene where someone's, where your brother is dying? I slept for days after we shot that barn sequence. I just had no energy, I had no dopamine in my body. And I was like, this is really weird, I slept eight hours last night, I never sleep eight hours, why can I not get out of bed to go to the bathroom or whatever?

Jensen: It's strange that an emotional scene is more physically taxing on you than a day of fight scenes. It's strange but it just is, it's coming from within and it just exhausts you.

Jared: Yeah, yeah.

Jensen: It's also one of those things - just like a day of fight scenes - where at the end of it? Man, you really feel like you hung your hat on that day. Like I put in the work today. [Jared nods along and mouths yeah and same] Like I felt that, and that's always a good feeling when you know you - when you feel like you really delivered.

#SPNATL 2023 #J2 main panel #long post

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mdhwrites · 11 months

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I believe the villains in Owl House got screwed over because Dana disliked writing them. Belos was stripped of his complexity, ignoring his lore, Kikimora was reduced to a joke, and the Collector was transformed from a malicious, cruel person to an innocent kid who only wanted friends. It feels like Dana doesn’t enjoy writing villains.

So I don't think it's that Dana hates villains. I think it's that the TOH writers had no interest in writing an adventure series. Because of how much time is wasted, even in S2B, purely on romance and schoolkids being schoolkids (Them's the Breaks still has no point to exist after all) and how the villains are barely there outside of something to beat at the end of an episode, it kind of feels like the crew just wanted to do a magical school show which makes the supposed claim that Hexide was Disney mandated hilarious.

This actually also goes for the characters too though. A real adventure show would care about its power levels, its tricks and tools and actually showing the growth of our characters as fighters, not just as people. TOH... doesn't. Willow's big gimmick when she's first introduced is that she is incredibly powerful but can't control it. Then THREE EPISODES LATER, in the first episode that has Willow in it for more than a minute, it's resolved. Period. Until fucking S3. At that point, she is all powerful. Luz is all powerful by the beginning of S2, literally three episodes after she got her last glyph. Arguably, by Young Blood, Old Souls because she kicks the shit out of the entire Conformatorium in that one.

Even before then, most villains show up, cause a slight problem and then are quickly defeated after the character moment that the show setup with the conflict is resolved because their purpose is not as villains, it's just for the sake of it being an adventure show. Even the creatures of the Isles are for this purpose. That's also why most villains in TOH get like MAYBE three minutes of screen time at most. This would actually be okay if interesting things were being done with the characters but... Well, Luz goes through the same lesson multiple times in S1 about not taking cheats for magic and listening to Eda, almost ALL of King's plotlines in S1 are just repetitions of "Maybe don't see people as disposable pawns?" until S2 it's all "FAMILY!" until he's unrecognizable from his S1 counterpart. Then Gus has shades of self confidence issues in ALL of his episodes and never anything else. Then in S2 we have Hunter who is just mostly there in his episodes and learning constantly, "Maybe... Maybe friends are nice?" rather than actually challenging his world views and making him grow that way. That's also why I claim the show actively ships him with every girl his age.

It ironically makes the fact that TOH is so split in its identity feel like a necessity for the writers to have had more than at best two season's worth of material. With how much they recycle plot points, characters, etc. like that, of course it wastes time because it has no idea what to do with the amount of time it had.

Ignoring Belos' lore though is a different problem that has to do with his role as the big bad clashing with this, because he can't just be a slight obstacle to be overcome or else he looks like a joke like Kikimora or the coven heads came off as, but also that... Well, the show was ending.

So because they had nothing to do in S3 to keep audience interest because S2 had wrapped up too much, they leaned hard into saying "We have a complex villain, we swear," to keep people theorizing and invested in the show until the third special came out and the show went "JK LOL! We need to wrap this shit already. BYE!" Like they KNEW they didn't have the time, it's ENTIRELY on them to have focused so hard on Belos and then pulled the rug out from under everyone but...

But that's also just the normal trick of TOH. Here's the golden guard. No wait, he's a sad but mad boy, let's wrap this up. Here's a bully character who has deep ties to wanting the status quote to stay and should have a dozen anxieties about liking Luz. Never mind, none of that mattered, she's actually a good girl and has no issues getting into love besides the basic question of 'will she say yes?' Here is the ex-coven head for the EC who got betrayed and hurt by Belos while trying to just be a good sister fi- ISN'T HER TRAUMA HILARIOUS!?

If Dana disliked writing the villains, frankly, that means she disliked writing 90% of the show because most parts of the show aren't actually any better than the villains. They just got more screentime.

========

I have a public Discord for any and all who want to join!

I also have an Amazon page for all of my original works in various forms of character focused romances from cute, teenage romance to erotica series of my past. I have an Ao3 for my fanfiction projects as well if that catches your fancy instead, If you want to hang out with me, I stream from time to time and love to chat with chat.

And finally a Twitter you can follow too!

#the owl house criticism #toh critical

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kpopimagi · 8 months

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A Flower Under The Rain [Part 10-2]

Characters: Baekhyun, Kyungsoo and Kang Gyuri (OC) Genre: Angst, Romance Au: Hanahaki!Au Type: Series Word count: 7,902

It all began with a cough and then, a subtle sting in her chest. Kang Gyuri cried, knowing that in a matter of months, she would be another figure in the death toll of the most dangerous and cruelest outbreak in human history.

Warning! This is Part 2. If you haven't read Part 1, go back to catch up.

---> Read Part 1 Here <---

If someone had told Gyuri that a higher being pulled strings and moved circumstances like chess pieces to appease her heart, she would never have believed it. For the last few months, her entire life felt like that very same almighty creature had been trying to strike her down. But as much as she wanted to believe that life itself was against her, in that very particular moment, magic appeared to flow around her, gravitating toward her and bending to her desires. As if whoever was in charge let her do her will for a split second, and everything was just perfect.

It had started raining. Soft and thin, almost feathery, falling gently over every surface like a sparkling breeze. The sound of the pitter-patter of rain was so subtle, it felt like the softest of murmurs, lulling her heart to slumber. Gyuri stopped by the handrail, taking in that instant of peace that filled her every pore, and observed the writer with all of her attention. She wondered if he was, by any chance, that higher being controlling her surroundings and making it all magical.

As soon as everything fell into its perfect place and sparkled in such a charming glow, like a flare, it all came to a sudden end, letting shadows engulf everything around it. Maybe the excitement of going out with Kyungsoo and the warmth of his words spreading across her skin were finally wearing off. Maybe it was nothing but the calming effects of the rain on her heart that made everything a thousand times hazier. She observed the setup—the low table and cushions on the floor—and every bit of her body protested at the idea of sitting down there. Her knees, her back, and even her arms felt like they were aching without even moving, and she knew she wouldn’t move. She felt physically unable to do it. Wearing her low-heeled heels was already too taxing.

However, as much as the prospect of any physical extenuation was already taking her breath away, it was only thanks to him that she’d been doing things way beyond her comfort zone. The very same dress she was currently wearing was proof of that. Every wish she had completed, the beautiful place she was standing in at that moment, and all the peace she felt were all because of him. It was all thanks to him.

“What?” He asked, sensing her staring at him.

“Not everyone would go to such an extent to help a stranger out.” She said,

Kyungsoo hesitated, and even she was taken aback by her own candidness. He looked at his hands before him for a moment before getting up, and she struggled to figure out what his body was saying. He walked toward her with a certain confidence, but if he was nervous, she only picked it up because of his hands. He started to pick his nails. It was the smallest of details, and Gyuri surprised herself with that observation.

He stood next to her, holding himself to the handrail, and it seemed like he was making up his mind about something. He took his time before turning himself toward her. Just like it happened in that bathroom, Kyungsoo was looking at her straight into her eyes, and the intensity of his gaze made her heart race.

“I pitied you.” He said softly, yet it was a statement full of intent, “Pitied, as in past tense.”

For some reason she couldn’t really understand, but the revelation lifted a huge weight off her shoulders. She wasn’t offended by the knowledge that, at some point, he pitied her. If anything, it all made sense, and she was glad that he did back then. She would be forever grateful to the heavens that she found him. or, better said, that he found her when she needed it the most.

“But I found you pretty first.” He said this while leaning closer to her, just like he did in that cabin’s bathroom.

“Past tense too?” She asked with a chuckle, as if joking about it could deflect his intense gaze, but he wasn’t even smiling.

“No.” He whispered, taking a strand of her hair between his fingers, “I still do.”

Gyuri knew he was telling the truth, although it felt like a joke to be so sure about it. She could remember the way he did a double take at her when she walked into the ciabatta place. The moment played on her mind so vividly, and she couldn’t help but smile at the memory. She liked it when he talked to her like that. She realized she liked it a lot, but at the same time, she was too shy to admit it or go along with it. She didn’t know how to react to such words other than to smile at him.

“I’m glad you do.” She mumbled, feeling her cheeks burning, “Thank–”

Her words got caught up against soft lips. Lips ever so softly pressed against hers. He kissed her. Out of the blue, stopping her words. Just as fast as he closed the gap between them, he pulled away, and she just stared at him, stunned. Her cheeks burned with so many emotions that she just stood there, like a reindeer caught in headlights.

It was a simple peck on her lips, but it felt like it ignited something within her. For the first time since she could remember, the buzz that had always been present in the center of her chest was suddenly gone. The sting in her chest disappeared. Gyuri wondered if he had done something to take the pain away, but when she touched her lips, they felt normal.

He kept staring at her, and she wanted to kiss him back. Right then and there was the right moment to do so; it was the right timing, but she didn’t know how. She didn’t know how to kiss. Where she was even supposed to begin with if she had never done it before, and just like that, the chance was gone. She hesitated for far too long, and she felt the embarrassment taking over.

“I…” The emotions made her stutter, “I missed my chance, did I?”

Kyungsoo shook his head. Smiling back at her, he leaned just enough to be within reach, and the second his hands softly touched her face, she closed up the remaining space and pressed her lips over his. She was now kissing him, and he was gentle. He was patient, softly holding her in place and moving his lips so delicately over hers.

It had been so long since she felt her body so light and without pain. She had been so accustomed to it that now that it had backed away, she didn’t know exactly what to do. It felt right to kiss him. It was as if things were finally falling into place inside her. It was exciting. A bundle of emotions burst all over her body, but at the same time, something felt oddly calm and peaceful the closer she was to him.

“You’re freezing.” He said against her lips.

“I'm not cold,” Gyuri admitted, pulling away to press her hands against her cheeks, feeling her flesh as if it could burst into flames at any second.

Kyungsoo laughed wholeheartedly, taking her hands between his, and she finally felt the difference. His hands were so hot, they felt like burning pieces of coal. Gyuri closed her eyes, basking in the comforting sensation of his skin against hers, and only when she felt him chuckle did she realize that she had leaned against him again. Not that it seemed to bother Kyungsoo in the slightest. He had wrapped his arms around her shoulders as if shielding her from the coldness.

“Have some tea, and we’ll leave,” he said before bringing her hand to his lips to press a soft kiss against her frizzing fingers.

Gyuri agreed, too excited to even ask where they were going after, but she did not care. She wanted to enjoy the thrill and the contact. Kyungsoo hesitated to let her hands go, although she wasn’t sure if it was either him or her. Neither of them wanted to let go.

He finally stepped away and prepared the tea. She dared to ask him who else he had brought to the tea place, and with a cheeky smile, he teased her about it. Between awkward smiles and little chuckles, Gyuri and Kyungsoo waited for the tea to brew. When it was done, the writer settled himself next to her against the railing, holding the two cups of tea. He handed her one, and when she grabbed it, he reached for her free hand and slipped his fingers through hers.

They both stared at their holding hands. She admired how perfectly natural it felt to have him that close. His fingers stretched only to get a better hold of her small hand, and she smiled. As small as that gesture was, it filled her with a sense of safety. It felt like she could stand taller and walk faster if he was there, holding her hand like that. Bringing the cup up, Gyuri smelled the tea, taking in the scent and letting it warm her nose. She smiled at the comfort of the steam, the rich flavor of whatever herbal mix Kyungsoo chose, and the warmth that ran down her body with every sip of it.

The droplets of water outside the pavilion picked up, the sound going from a gentle hum to a pouring rain that somehow quieted down everything else around them. They welcomed it. Gyuri couldn’t believe that the writer appeared to find the same comfort she did in the soothing sound of rain.

“Get a kiss stolen.” She said, breaking the silence when she finished her tea, “Which wish was that one?”

“Number 8, I think.”

“Does that leave us with one wish left, right?”

“The last one on the list.” He said, looking down at their hands again.

The struggle that clouded his expression twisted something in her chest. Gyuri understood where it came from but wished he didn’t take it so personally. In the end, wish number 10 wasn’t for Kyungsoo to fulfill. He had done so much already that leaving that last wish incomplete was okay with her.

“Kyungsoo, it’s fine.” She said, looking at him, trying her best to convey how grateful she was.

Whatever she wanted to say got lost in his gaze. His hand found her face again, his thumb gingerly drawing a line across her cheek before he kissed her. She closed her eyes, basking in the gentle pressure of his soft lips, and it felt easier now. It felt better and more special, and like muscle memory, it came back to her like second nature. She kissed him back. Suddenly, as if she’d unlocked something in him, a new wave of sensations rushed through her when his mouth opened and his lips found every way with hers.

Gyuri felt herself losing herself against him as his hand softly held her head by the back of her neck. Her breathing shortened, and her skin came alive when he gently pulled her lower lip between his teeth in the softest of nips. She might have let out a sound. She couldn’t be sure, but Kyungsoo had stopped, and he was breathing hard. What she realized the moment she looked at him was that she was just as agitated. He kept his eyes shut, bringing their intertwined hands to his chest to press them right over his heart, and all she could feel was the heat from his skin and the rapid beating of his strong heart.

For a moment, she didn’t know how to feel. She never expected that kissing would make her feel so alive. Much less bring someone like him to that state. When he pressed his forehead against hers, she felt his warm and sweet breath against her skin and closed her eyes, afraid that she might be imagining it all.

“We need to leave.” He said, his voice sounding raw and deeper.

Gyuri agreed, shivering in a foreign need to do something and letting him deal with their way out of the tea house. She just followed him, but she could not, for the life of her, put the memory of his kisses aside. She tried to control the new agitation that made her entire body feel so overwhelmingly hot, but the more she looked at the writer, the more her skin craved his touch.

Once in the privacy of his car, she allowed herself to dwell on it. She observed the writer as he drove, his face seemingly deep in thought, and she let it happen. She let her mind take her to places she was too shy to reach, but not anymore. She looked at his profile, and she imagined running her hands through his hair, her fingertips dragging along his lips, and those same lips leaving kisses across her skin. She might’ve stared at him too intently because he looked at her, and the seriousness in his expression faded away to a smile that was full of way too many things. It brightened up his entire face in a different way, and when he grabbed her hand to press his lips on the back of it, it was so soft and gentle, she felt like she might melt on the seat in absolute delight. The scratches on her skin had long ago stopped itching, as if he had somehow healed her with his kisses.

The Kyungsoo that picked her up earlier that night and the one that arrived at the building were completely different, and she just stared at him, blown away by the manliness oozing off him. He never let her hand go as he walked her to the elevator, and as soon as the doors closed, she shivered at the electricity that sparked between them. The gentle way he brought her closer to his side made her so weak to her knees that she just had to lean against him. Like in a chain reaction, one action leads to another. When she felt him pressing his lips against her forehead in such a gentle gesture, she had to get closer. She moved, wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing her head against the crook of his neck.

“We’re almost there.” He whispered, and the warmth that brushed her ear made her shudder.

The doors opened, and begrudgingly, Gyuri stepped away from him, but his arms did not let go. Still holding her, Kyungsoo stepped out of the elevator, taking her along, and she could only admire his manly figure walking ahead of her, still holding her hand and his shoulders wider than she remembered. When did he become so manly?

He pressed the code on the lock, and everything happened so fast that she just stared at him. At the look on his face as he closed the door, at the hastiness with which they took their shoes off, and with a confidence that sent chills to her entire body, he pulled her further into the apartment.

Apparently, Kyungsoo had no intention whatsoever to show her the place first. Gyuri didn’t think the heat burning in her would let it happen anyway, but as they walked by the kitchen, something in the corner of her eyes caught her attention. There was no way she could not recognize the pictures. The pictures they got on that damned double date at the park. The pictures that portrayed them as a couple, despite the real situation of their relationship.

Kyungsoo had those two pictures right in the center of his fridge and nothing else. She halted for a second, pulling the writer back, but there was no chance to elaborate. She was too stunned to talk or react, for that matter, when she felt his hands pushing his jacket off her shoulders to let it fall to the floor. The emotion sparkling in his eyes was too riveting to think about anything else but him and his lips. As if he could read her mind, he brought her closer, leaning over her, and his lips brushed so dangerously close to hers that she shivered in excitement. Although he didn’t kiss her. She found herself bewitched by the spell of his eyes as he pulled her hair out of her face. His fingers gingerly caressed her cheeks, and his other arm brought her even closer to him, so that all she felt was his warm chest against hers.

Overwhelmed by all these new sensations running through her flesh, Gyuri closed her eyes and stopped trying to contain what she felt. He touched her, bringing goosebumps across her skin and making her dress feel heavy and tight, and she could not handle more. She felt herself caving in to him, and that was all he was waiting for. She could swear he chuckled against her skin, but none of that mattered when he finally kissed her. Even if she wanted to say something, it didn’t matter because she had the thought in her mind already. She imagined what it would be like to be kissed by him in such a way, but she didn’t have to imagine anymore. She kissed him, tasted his lips, and savored his tongue as she ran her fingers through his hair, reeling in the groan that her actions pulled out of him.

Gyuri felt like she could burst into flames at any moment if she didn’t take a breather, but the moment she pulled away from his lips, he reminded her why she was burning with desire. Her head lolled back, and a moan escaped from the back of her throat. Startled that such a sound could come out of her, she tried to stay quiet, covering her mouth, but with every kiss Kyungsoo pressed along her neck, the harder it was to try.

He gave her no truce. Kyungsoo kept peppering her skin with soft kisses, cradling her head to one side as his fingertips dragged down to her chest so gently yet so desperately that her entire body burned in need of more. She moaned again and shivered in his arms, trying to hold onto him when her legs failed to keep her steady.

Her body felt so overrun by need that she had to open her eyes and breathe in as much as she could. It was then that she found the pictures stuck in the fridge. Somehow, seeing that felt like dropping a bucket of cold water over her head, but it wasn’t that easy to stop. Her body wouldn’t let her stop, not with the way he held her flushed against him.

“Do you really like me?” She asked, but Kyungsoo didn’t even flinch at the question.

“I do.” He whispered in her ear before pressing a gentle kiss there.

The admission, as casual as it was, sent a surge of invisible electricity through her body, and Gyuri tried with all of her might to keep it at bay. She tried not to succumb to his lips languidly gracing her jaw, but she couldn’t help but tremble. In the midst of the sensory overload to which the writer was subjecting her, she reminded herself to be strong. She pulled away right before their lips touched again and held his head in her hands. Her resolution faltered the moment their eyes met because his gaze burned with a fire and an all-consuming adoration, while his fingers dipped into her flesh, desperate to get more.

That was exactly what Gyuri had wished for. She hoped for someone to yearn for her touch and relish her kisses, but she couldn’t do it. She liked Kyungsoo. She might like him too much. He was nice and handsome, and he had been an absolute sweetheart since they met, but he wasn’t him. She would never pretend that she didn’t like his lips and the way his kisses made her feel, because she did. Just like she wouldn’t even attempt to deny that a part of her desperately wanted him, but, once again, he wasn’t him. He wasn’t Baekhyun.

“I can’t.” Gyuri said. “I’m so sorry.”

She might as well have said that the room was too cold because Kyungsoo leaned forward so close to her that his soft breath felt hot against her skin. His lips teasing her flesh sent a shiver down her body, and she had to close her eyes to control her own breathing.

“It’s not that I don’t like you,” She breathed out, failing to stop him from pressing a soft kiss right in the middle of her neck, right where she felt her pulse react, “But all I’ll be thinking about is Baek…”

“I don’t care.”

“But I do.” She whispered just as earnestly, putting everything in her to break away from his enchanting kisses, “I care about you, and it wouldn’t be fair.”

And she found the right words. He stopped. His hands left her, his arms fell to his side, and his eyes got lost somewhere else. Suddenly, the confident and passionate demeanor disappeared to show a man who gave nothing away. Gyuri staggered without the steady hold of his arms, but despite that, she could not look away. She tried to read his expression to know if he was angry at her, but there was nothing in him. He stayed there until his face finally twisted, his lips pursed, and his eyes furrowed, and in that moment, she wanted to take back her words.

“I’ll take you home.”

He stepped away before she could react and, without looking at her, grabbed the keys he had so carelessly thrown away when they arrived and walked to the door. Gyuri, however, never expected to feel so empty. She felt so cold that she couldn’t even move from her spot, her body aching for the pain she had caused him. She struggled to believe that the flash of rejection glimmering in his eyes could affect her that much, but it did. It hurt her that a small part of her genuinely wanted him that much when the other, much bigger part of her heart belonged to someone else.

“Gyuri…”

“Can I stay?” She mumbled, feeling minuscule, “I don't want to go home.”

“Your parents…”

“I’ll let them know.” She pressed, feeling tears blur her vision.

She watched him at the doorway, with his shirt still half done and his hair in disarray, as he played with the keys in that subtle, anxious nick of his. When he finally looked at her, she expected to find an embarrassed or angry expression, but he seemed sorry. His shoulders relaxed, and with a firm nod, he took his shoes off again.

“I’ll get you some clothes.”

The next couple of minutes felt like she went back to square one. She felt like the anxious Gyuri who could not say a word to save her life as she followed the writer through the apartment to the master bedroom. He was beyond polite, showing her where everything she might need was and placing the clean change of clothes on the bed before leaving her in the room in absolute silence.

She sat on the bed, cursing at herself and her own stupidity and trying with all her might to control her emotions. Like she told him, she called her mother, keeping her voice steady and lively when, in reality, she felt defeated. Not even the teasing in her mother’s tone managed to make her cringe. Still pretending, she let out a chuckle, hopeful that it was enough to fool her mother, and ended the call, feeling even worse.

She took the dress off, washed her face, and stressed about leaving everything in the bathroom as clean and organized as she found it. Once done, and as if being apart from Kyungsoo was the reason why she felt so off, Gyuri looked at herself in the mirror in a completely new light. It felt like the charm was suddenly gone, and she could finally see what she truly looked like. She was glad she stopped.

Her skin had turned slightly yellowish and clammy; the dark shades under her eyes were darker; and her pale lips had dried up. As if her stupid lack of judgment could really affect her that much physically, even her hair looked faded and muted. Chills sprouted all over her at the sight, and unlike earlier, she shivered in the cold. She was freezing, and looking at the sickly reflection staring at her, Gyuri reminded herself that it was for the best. She didn’t want him to see her like that, not even if he had said that he still found her pretty. Somehow, she wished she was healthy. That her chest wouldn’t hurt and that she could touch him without the fear of not touching him ever again.

Exhaustion finally caught up with her, and feeling like she might collapse, she went to bed. She slipped under the bedsheets, almost letting out a sigh of relief at the soft texture of the fabric against her skin and the comfort of the mattress underneath her. She scooted over, leaving enough space for Kyungsoo on the other side of the bed, and fought against the sleepiness. She just stared at the wall, dwelling on the difference between the things she said and the things she felt, and reprimanded her rush to reject the writer. He had said he didn’t care if they crossed that line, but she did. If they ever crossed that line, it was only fair that she wanted to have no one else in her mind but him.

Gyuri stood still, almost holding her breath to hear what he could be doing, but she couldn’t hear anything. Maybe he just decided that she had embarrassed him enough already. Maybe he was too angry to talk to her for the rest of the night. She would understand if he decided to avoid her. It was fine. She rejected him without a single hint of sympathy, and her chain of thought broke away when the door cracked open, and slowly, Kyungsoo tiptoed into the room. Gyuri practically breathed out in relief. Sitting up, she startled him, and it was almost comical how he froze to stare at her.

A million thoughts toppled over her. She wanted to apologize. She would take back her words if she could and make sure he knew how much she regretted what she said and, mostly, the way she said it. Of course, all that verbal spiel happened inside her head, and Gyuri stayed quiet like she usually did when she was too anxious to form any coherent sentences. Not that Kyungsoo made it any easier to break the awkwardness between them. He straightened up, clearly uncomfortable that she had caught him red-handed, and stared at her for a moment. He had changed his clothes to a massive black shirt and black sweatpants, but despite how comfy the garments might seem, he just stood there, awkwardly in place. Gyuri was about to say something when his attention shifted to the obvious empty space on the bed, and she knew she had to speak up.

“I have no right to ask this, but...” she mumbled, feeling the mortification heating her face. “Would you stay with me?”

The question came out of her mouth as a surprise, and for an instant, it looked like Kyungsoo might reject her just as she did earlier, but against her expectations, he agreed. As silent as he always managed himself, the writer walked around the bed to lay on top of the covers next to her. Gyuri ignored the fact that he did, assuming that he wouldn’t stay for the entire night but that she would take whatever crumbs of his company he was willing to give her.

Kyungsoo called the digital assistant to turn the lights off, and a few seconds later the room fell into absolute darkness; however, the silence that followed was outrageously loud. She could hear her thoughts louder than before, and above all that, the steady pace of his breathing. A sound she had come to cherish in such a short.

“Kyungsoo?” She whispered, closing her eyes to let the sound of him lull her to sleep, “I wish I had met you first.”

***

Gyuri opened her eyes and stretched. She felt her muscles moving without trouble and her limbs straightening, and that was odd. Scared of what that could mean, she sat up, disoriented. She wasn’t home. The white walls and blue bed sheets confused her. She looked around, and it took her a minute to recognize the place.

She just stayed there, perplexed. Something felt weird. She tried to recall everything that happened the night before and knew that something was definitely off. Scrambling out of bed, Gyuri came out of the room to find Kyungsoo in the kitchen, focused on something over the counter. His back was facing her, and she observed him, wondering how it was possible.

“Good morning.” He said, looking at her over his shoulder.

He might’ve sensed it as well, Gyuri thought, because the relaxed expression on his face was soon replaced by a frown. He left the spatula he was holding on the counter and walked around the island, visibly worried.

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know.” She replied.

“Gyuri…”

“I can breathe.” She said under her breath, finding his eyes, and the joy that took over her was too much to handle, “Kyungsoo, I can breathe!”

It was almost an out-of-body experience. What made her move? She didn’t know. She just moved. Her body followed without hesitation. Nothing hurt, and nothing felt wrong. Whatever she wanted to do, she knew she could do it. It felt like there were no limitations.

She jumped into him, wrapping her arms around him and hugging him as tightly as she could, laughing the joy out of her lungs without choking. Without choking. There was nothing in her chest that could clog her throat, and when she gasped for more air, the amount of oxygen that filled her lungs made her dizzy. She laughed again, feeling so lightheaded that she tightened the grip she had on him. It was the moment she felt his chuckles vibrate right into her that made her realize how close they were.

As if the realization sobered her up in a way, she was suddenly aware of how Kyungsoo held her tightly against him. His hands were flat on her back, his face buried in the crook of her neck, making her feel his warm breath over her skin. When did it happen that she was holding him just as close? She didn’t know. Gyuri had her arms wrapped around his neck, where her fingers found that small spot where his smooth skin met with his hairline, and she absently played with his hair, which she found incredibly soft.

Reminding herself that one more touch could entice something from her, Gyuri let go just a little bit, just enough to untangle herself from his hold, but her cheeks flared at the fact that he didn’t let her go. He kept her in there, their bodies touching and his hand sliding lower down her back to her waist.

She found his eyes, and what made it all worse was the sunlight seeping through the windows, lighting up everything about him so beautifully. His eyes sparkled in a lighter yet still warm brown that never stopped moving all over her face. She averted her eyes from his, but finding his lips wouldn’t help her either, as her skin remembered every single kiss he left on her. She closed her eyes, feeling herself blush harder at the memories as his warmth moved closer. She could feel him. Her skin remembered him well and was instantly covered in goosebumps of anticipation.

“Breakfast is almost ready.” He said.

Gyuri snapped her eyes open to find him just an inch away from her, his lips dangerously close to the corner of her mouth, but he never closed the gap. His hands found their way to her face, cradling it gently within them, and his thumb brushed over her lower lip with so much fascination that Gyuri couldn’t stop the shiver that rushed through her entire body.

“Breakfast is almost ready, right?” She mumbled.

Kyungsoo found the question amusing; he would’ve laughed, but for some reason, he held it in, pressing his lips tight together. Still holding her face, he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath of what Gyuri thought was her scent, and with a decided nod, he let her go. As if their recent closeness didn’t affect him in the slightest, he asked her to sit by the island.

Settling herself on one of the stools like he told her to do, Gyuri waited for him to finish cooking, and he wasn’t wrong. Breakfast was practically ready; Kyungsoo prepared eggs, veggies, fried rice, multiple side dishes, and a variety of fruits she wasn’t used to eating. It had been a long time since Gyuri felt that hungry. Her mouth watered at the small feast served in front of her, and unsure if she could just start eating, he assured her that he had enough food for her to eat to her heart’s content, so she did. She thanked him for the food and dug in, surprising herself at the almost uncontrollable hunger that took control of her. It wasn't until several minutes later that she noticed that the writer had observed her stuff herself with amusing curiosity.

“What?” She asked, feeling her cheeks either burning from the embarrassment or her jaw aching from the desperate chewing.

“I was wondering,” He said, looking away, “how were you when you were younger?”

Glad that he didn’t point out her sudden binge on food, she took the chance to gather herself and control whatever was making her eat like a lunatic. Gyuri paused, giving the question some thought and recalling her school days.

“Nothing dramatic, really.” She said it with a shrug.

“Did you get bullied?” He asked, sitting across from her on the island and serving himself some of the food she spared.

“As much as the smartest in the class can get.”

“Were you?” He asked with disbelief, as he also dug into his bowl with a need.

“Of course I was.”

“That can’t be.” He mumbled with his mouth stuffed with rice and eggs, and the expression made something in Gyuri boil.

“You don’t believe me?” She grumbled, unlocking her phone, “Just look how much of a nerd I was.”

A chuckle. She heard him chuckle as he absentmindedly kept chewing his food. An amused chuckle at that, and it just made Gyuri snap even more, to his utter amusement. She jumped off her stool and went around the island. The mocking grin on his face faded, and he backed away when she leaned closer to him. Gyuri watched in bewilderment as he even raised an arm as if to protect himself, and now she was the one with a smirk.

“Do you really believe I’m the violent sort?” She scoffed and pulled out the nearest stool.

Sitting down next to him, Gyuri opened the gallery her parents had online to show off to the world how accomplished she was.

“Eat,” he ordered, placing the unfinished bowl in front of her.

Not even looking, she kept eating while showing Kyungsoo every childhood picture she could find, and eventually, after some begging, he reluctantly agreed to bring out his own childhood pictures. They snickered, teased, and ate their breakfast together as if there was nothing else to worry about in the world.

“When are you planning to come back home?”

The screen of her phone blinked with the notification of a new text from her father, and they stared at it, finally getting brought back to reality.

“Guess it’s time to take you back home.” He said with an easy smile.

There was no point in arguing about it. In one way or another, she had to go back. She had to go back to her world, where not only her house had stopped feeling like the safest place, but to a place away from him. Pushing the dark thought aside, Gyuri gathered the empty dishes together, but Kyungsoo stopped her, reminding her that she was a guest as he gently nudged her away from the kitchen. Chuckling to herself, she gave in to his wish and left, but on her way to the bedroom, a question made her stop. She had to know.

“Is there any chance we would’ve become friends before any of this?” She asked, deeply hoping that he would say yes.

“No.”

The matter-of-fact tone in the writer's voice made her heart shatter a little, and to keep the disappointment from showing on her face, Gyuri bit down on the insides of her cheeks.

“I would’ve asked you out first.” He said.

Kyungsoo looked up at her, and for a split second, she wondered if his eyes had suddenly turned glossy. His lips twisted up in a weak smile that, as soon as it showed up, disappeared. Before she could say anything about that, he turned around to take their empty dishes to the sink, leaving her alone to brew with that piece of information.

An hour later, showered and with her feelings replenished in many sorts of ways, Kyungsoo drove her across the city to her house. There was no need to speak. The moments of silence between them were welcomed and enjoyed as music played in the background and Gyuri munched on the rest of the churros from the night before. They were cold, soggy, and greasy, but the burnt milk filling and sugar coating that were left on them tasted like heaven in her mouth. The peace of that moment could only last for so long when they turned the corner of her street and saw the red car parked right outside her house.

Gyuri cursed not so silently. Choking on a mouthful of churro, whatever made her body feel so light and her chest so loose instantly disappeared. She felt suddenly heavier. The air around her was so thick she could barely breathe, and when she gasped for air, her throat dried up instead. The sudden warmth that wrapped her hand and, for an instant, grounded her to safety dissipated the terror that threatened to crush her. She searched for the warm lifeline and discovered Kyungsoo holding her hand between his.

“I agreed to stay with you, remember?” He said. “I’ll stay with you, I promise.”

Gyuri hadn’t realized she was holding her breath, and trembling in her seat, she nodded, letting that promise release her lungs from the panic hold and focusing everything on her to count her panic away. She couldn’t stay inside the car forever; she had to get out sooner rather than later, and when she did, Baekhyun scrambled out of his car with an urgency that froze her on the spot.

She was out in a daze, but Baekhyun caught up and stood right in front of her. He blocked her way to eye her from head to toe, and his eyes hardened at the realization that she wasn’t wearing her own clothes but Kyungsoo’s. Whatever it was, it seemed like something very close to jealousy, although Baekhyun getting jealous of Kyungsoo would mean that he had a hint of feelings for her, and Gyuri couldn’t afford to think that way. Not now that she was feeling great.

“Did you spend the night with him?” He asked.

The pain stinging in her chest was instant, and with a nod, she pulled the churros' arrangement closer to her chest. The rancid sweetness that came out of them suddenly felt like a safe line, and she held onto it. Dealing with a smell was better than dealing with her feelings.

“So you're dating him.” Baekhyun said, and forgetting about the churros, she shook her head in response. “Then why would he give you that? Wait, are those churros?”

“He's just a friend.” She pointed it out, walking around him.

“Friends don't do that.” He said.

Oh, but she knew that already. Gyuri was a victim of those silly fantasies, and the scoff of disbelief that came out of him ticked her off. She had to clear her throat to hold back the pressure that threatened to come up through her because, under any circumstance, she could not start coughing in front of him.

“I know that, Baekhyun,” she said, trying to swallow although her mouth felt like sandpaper.

Kyungsoo was right by her side in a blink of an eye, his arm just as stable as ever around her waist.

“Kyungsoo, I’m fine.” She said through her teeth.

The lie made her entire body tremble.

“She said she’s fine.” Baekhyun interfered, calling Kyungsoo out, but the writer didn’t budge.

The tone in his voice made her wince. Gyuri couldn’t even see his face, but from the heavy tone in his voice alone, she felt another pang of pain across her chest. She wondered how it was possible to get that affected just by his anger. How could he have that much power over her?

“I’m basically family,” Baekhyun added with confidence, trying to pry Kyungsoo’s arm off her waist, “You can leave now.”

“You’re just a friend, Baekhyun,” Gyuri said, grabbing her friend’s hand off the writer.

Somehow, and Gyuri didn’t know where it came from, but she felt protective of him. Kyungsoo did not deserve such rude treatment, and as if she could protect him from any attack, she stepped away, dragging Kyungsoo along with her, but she wasn’t nearly strong enough to keep him safe. It happened so fast that she couldn’t really keep up with one action after another. Suddenly, she found herself tangled in a mess of arms and hands and caught up between Kyungsoo and Baekhyun. She tugged at the writer’s sleeve, trying to bring him to his senses.

Baekhyun saw the action first. He watched Gyuri reach for the guy, almost begging him to let go, which he did, making him stumble back. But it wasn’t just the momentum. He staggered back in shock as he watched her try to convince the accountant to come into the house with her.

“Gyuri, what the fuck is going on?” He asked, confused and pretty much still in shock, “Since when do you keep so many things from me?”

However, Gyuri had reached a point of no return. A sharp pain snapped in her back and pinned her to the ground. Kyungsoo’s arm brought her closer to his body as if he could feel her need for support, but the anger, the desperation, and the fogginess in her mind were bigger than the pain. She felt the fire flowing under her skin as pins and needles covered her limbs, and she knew what was coming. She felt it revolving inside her. She felt the roots take over. The flower petals buzzed, ready to explode, and she decided to let everything go. She was living on borrowed time already.

“This again? I told you already, Baekhyun, I would make friends on my own, so excuse me for going out on a date with someone I like.” She mumbled back, angry and desperate. “Isn't that what you always wanted? For me to fend for myself?”

“Gyuri…” Kyungsoo warned her, but there was no going back.

For the first time in her life, she was answering back. Gyuri was speaking up for herself, and the anger running through her was scary yet so liberating. She was angry with no one other than Baekhyun, and she was letting him know that. That just didn't happen, and by the stunned expression on his face, he was probably thinking the same.

The thrill and the rush of emotions wavered when a pained gasp called her name. Her parents were out, witnessing the confrontation, and she hated the worry in their voices. Her blood boiled at Baekhyun’s stubbornness, and she hated the caution behind Kyungsoo’s words when she had nothing to lose anymore. Gyuri simply had enough.

“Stop!” She said, raising her voice, “Just stop treating me like a child.”

Gyuri heard her parents shoot back a warning, but then she found Baekhyun with what could be the most heartbreaking expression she'd ever witnessed. His eyes were turning glossy. Even worse, he was disappointed. She was letting him down, and that was worse than his rejection.

“You're right.” He said, swallowing back. “Now that you're such a sufficient woman that you even managed to get a boyfriend on your own, why would you need me?”

“The nerve you have to make this about yourself.” She snarled.

Gyuri regretted it as soon as the words were out. She felt Kyungsoo shift the tiniest bit as he looked at her. She didn’t have to look at his face to know his expression was nothing but disappointment. Hell, she was disappointed in herself as well, but she wasn’t the only one. Baekhyun stared at her, lost for words, and instead of getting angry, his features fell into a sadness she’d never seen before.

“Who are you?” He whispered.

The tiny tremble in his voice made such a simple question sound so heavy and loaded with meaning that her head was suddenly pounding. Her entire body reacted; her back hurt, her hands burned, and her chest tightened up even more.

“G uess I don't know you anymore.”

Baekhyun left before she could stop him, and she just stood there, rooted in her place, watching him get in his car, and something deep inside of her finally broke and exploded. As if his presence had put her in a chokehold, she gasped for air the moment he was gone, but that didn’t mean she could breathe. Gyuri tried. She really tried to fill her lungs with air but it felt like her lungs suddenly imploded.

“He hates me.” She wheezed.

She could feel the roots invading everything. A sharp pain tore her flesh apart, breaking bones and splitting her in two, and every part of her protested. Gyuri screamed in pain, but she choked and gurgled. She tried to scream again to let out something within her that could ease the agony, but her sight blurred with tears. Although tears wouldn’t turn everything red.

The only thing she was aware of was her mother's wailing and her father's strong arms around her, and their faces struck in terror. It was one voice, worried like she'd never heard before, that truly frightened her. His voice was so broken and scared that she just looked around for him. She had to find Kyungsoo, and when she did, his hands were splattered with blood, as was his face as well.

She called for him to grasp at the smallest hint of peace, but nothing came out of her. She was slipping into unconsciousness, trying to hold onto the soothing sound only his voice could bring. She reached for him, but all she found was his face stricken with absolute despair.

"Help me, please.” He cried.

#EXO #EXO Fanfic #EXO Fanfiction #Kyungsoo #Baekhyun #Angst #Romance #Hanahaki #Hanahaki Disease

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chirpsythismorning · 1 year

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I get your point (the recent post you made) but I think there was and is a serious shift from how Byler was treated pre-vol2 and after that. It's not exactly being promoted anymore. In fact, Mileven was being promoted more after vol2. And I think if the writers wanted to show and signal Byler to the audience, they should have and should kept promoting Byler. So far there is literally no promotion or signaling regarding Byler, only about Will's feelings and how Mike will accept Will being gay when he comes out. They definitely should be using promoting and markering NOW especially before the filming starts, imho.

I understand where you're coming from and I slightly agree, but I also disagree.

This is kind of like the whole discourse about Mike's monologue, and how if they wanted byler endgame, they shouldn't have done that bc it was too confusing. So many bylers will argue that they wish they could have gone about it differently and how that whole ordeal is a big reason they have doubt?

But the reality is, it had to go down that way.

This is a series long straight-bait we're talking about. A plot twist involving a queer slow burn romance. It's a revelation of quite a few that is being saved for the last season. They needed to make it seem possible, while also giving this guise that it is impossible. Hence Mike's monologue.

And so if the plan is for it to be mostly a surprise, you don't clue your audience in fully about the surprise, before that revelation happens. And that revelation isn't set to happen until late s5, with heavy setup early s5 at best.

Arguably, what they're doing right now works in their favor in a lot of ways.

Redditors and GA are still very convinced that Byler is not happening, which is the way the Duffers want it, at this time!

Bylers are adding up tremendously bc there is already enough in the details to convince those willing to actually look at things with an open mind, and that's also simultaneously what the Duffers want, at this time.

And yet, along with that, they obviously want doubt in the mix on both sides, which is why they sort of whiplash the fans back and forth, making them confident, only to tear them down with doubt.

It's also not even about us being convinced right now, but after the fact once that revelation happens. For example, fans will be able to look back at the s4 poster and go OH Mike is staring at Will and his feet are pointing towards him, almost like he is choosing him... it all makes sense. That detail wasn't there necessarily for people at the time to be convinced fully, but for people in the future to not be able to say it came out of nowhere, bc there were at least some hints pointing to it all along.

We also have to keep in mind that this revelation is going to potentially be followed a lot of harsh feedback from homophobes, which means they're gonna need to be ready to stand beside their decision to go the byler route. This means the Duffers and cast themselves voicing support to combat that. Which is why I do agree a shift is inevitable going into s5, though that doesn't mean it wont be gradual.

This is also why they have to be really subtle about it in the first place, so they don't scare away the homophobes before they even reach that revelation. They would much rather trick the GA and fans with mindsets like those on reddit into thinking they're right so that they tune in, while also being subtle about it so that those same people can't make excuses when all is revealed.

If this was a straight slow-burn, maybe they could be more obvious about it like you would prefer, but that's not what we're dealing with here.

We wont start getting semi consistent promo for s5 until they start filming (maybe an announcement regarding it) and even then it's still not going to be full fledged promo until we get an official date, which probably won't be until the end of the year at the earliest.

I would also disagree that they're still promoting milkvan from strictly romantic lens. Most of their posts related to milkvan are ambiguous and that combined with them acknowledging byler by name is aligning with the shift necessary to set up this surprise.

At the moment, they want the core audience to believe that the monologue was 100% genuine.

And so until they want us to think differently about it, they're going to stay very subtle.

But I can guarantee you, that when s5 actually nears and we're looking at 6 months until the premiere, followed by 3 months and then weeks and then days, that shift is going to become a lot more obvious. And it's going to eventually lead to ambiguous comments from the Duffers, making snide comments that force the audience to question things they have made them believe up to this point...

Similar to those cryptic tweets about Will's birthday, all it takes is them sarcastically acknowledging Mike's monologue in a different light, for that shift to suddenly take place more obviously and for them to really make a point that nothing is what it seems overall, mostly in relation to the byler revelation obviously.

In large part, more than any other season, s5 is going to be promoted in a way that encourages the viewer to rewatch the show and pay attention to the details so that they can be ready for what is to come. Which means the Duffers and the people involved with the show (including social media), are going to be stringing the audience along to accept this truth as we get closer.

As much as I would love for them to give in and just admit to it right now, or better yet to make it more obvious by dropping milkvan all together, that's not happening, not any time soon. Because that would make the GA too close to the truth and for now, they want them to stay ignorant in the mean time. Right now we're in a hiatus which means no official promo circuit is going on outside of casual references here and there. Right now this is where subtlety thrives.

But I assure you, once we get closer and we get dates and posters and interviews directly related to the s5 promo circuit, the shift is going to become more obvious bc they are going to be dealing with homopohbia and backlash and so that shift is something that will need to be clear beyond just it being thrown at the audience at the last minute. It might not look the way we want it to bc we want to just throw the proof in anti's faces to be like told you so!

RN we should just enjoy the ride and the fact that the ga is so confident, despite all of the evidence already stacked against them. If it was any more obvious than it already is, the duffers would be at risk of ruining the surprise... tbh I genuinely can't even believe with everything at this point most fans still don’t see it coming.

Things are definitely going to get interesting though... And when that shift happens, like for real, we'll know.

#stranger things #byler #st promo #st5 promo

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goron-king-darunia · 1 year

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Rank the ships from dotnw?

All of them? I'm not sure I could even name all of them, there are so many characters and so many possible ships. I'll just go with the ones I've seen and if you want another one or some other ones to be included, ask for them specifically.

Emil/Marta: E for Effort. This is clearly the main and intended canon ship. They tried. I could theoretically write a version of Marta and Emil that I might find appealing, but I generally just do not like them together. 0/10. Never seen a fic about them staying together that I enjoyed. I can see why it's popular because in a vacuum, the two have an interesting dynamic, but none of the canon materials ever made me see anything good between them. (As with other judgements, these are subjective. If you like this ship, no shade, just saying this is a NOTP for me and you will not be able to talk me into it. I have seen the fics and talked with the fans, I just cannot stand Marta as she's written.) Ratatosk/Marta: C for Chemistry. There's substance there. As much as I don't understand, Ratatosk clearly likes Marta and wants to keep her safe, even though she doesn't treat him with the same kindness as she does Emil. At least Ratatosk can stand up for himself, though. So I wouldn't feel anxious of Marta taking advantage of him like she would for Emil. 2/10. Could be excellent with a competent writer or the most toxic stuff you've ever seen with an incompetent writer (though you can't do worse than the Crestoria Writers who made Marta the literal worst when she says IN FRONT OF RATATOSK that she can't wait for him to leave so that she can fuck Emil.) Richter/Aster: S for Sexy. Top Tier unofficial canon ship. Buff awkward introvert nerd who is desperately trying to stay sane and twinky confident extrovert nerd who was never sane to begin with is such a delicious dynamic. 10/10.

Richter/Emil: S for Sad/Angst and also Sexy. You can make this work ANY way you want it to. Tragedy, love against all odds, starcrossed lovers, destined lovers, enemies to lovers, friends to lovers. The literal bread and butter of the franchise. You can turn it into anything and it will be good. Always gotta have a pinch of conflict since Richter clearly sees a bit of his younger self in Emil and wants Emil desperately to grow and be better. But, like, the sad/angst is what makes it juicy. 10/10. Richter/Ratatosk: P for Potential. I can see this working with enough setup or with a soft enough Ratatosk. Canon Ratatosk would take FOREVER to get to the point of being soft enough to work with, but Richter can live for 1000 years so that can still work. Delicious for PWP or for a long, drawn out enemies to lovers fic where they fight and they fight and they fuck and they fight until they form a reluctant softness for each other and then absolutely cave into each other because they're too similar and too different and as much as they anger and bewilder each other they're also the only other person to understand each other. 7/10. Needs good writing to pull it off but very juicy.

Richter/Aqua: W for Wasted Potential. The manga clearly wants us to think there's something there but they don't do anything with it. I'm not opposed to it, but it needs the right setup and context and Aqua needs to chill the fuck out and start as Richter's friend. 3/10. I can definitely think up some juicy stuff for them, but I prefer Aqua as Richter's queer platonic BFF who crushes on him but understands she can't force him to like her back and just wants him to be happy, even if it isn't with her.

Aster/Rilena: D for Dynamic Duo. The manga suggests in one line (that may or may not be properly translated) that Aster and Rilena were engaged. I think this was to lampshade how Rilena knew Aster had a birth mark in a place you wouldn't see in his normal clothes because he wears a high collared coat and shirt. I don't buy that for one second. If they WERE engaged, I 100% headcanon it as Rilena agreeing to be Aster's beard so Aster could be gay for Richter and Rilena could be very asexual in peace without getting hit on buy other guys and girls. 10/10 for chaos scientist buddies where Rilena has all the braincells and common sense but is equally as willing as Aster is to ignore her better judgement to pull off crazy shenanigans. Richter is the cautious member of the bunch but he trusts Rilena before he trusts Aster, even when it's clear that they're both taking insane risks. If she had gone with them to the Ginnungagap, Aster would have lived for sure and Sheena would have been there to help make a pact with Ratatosk. 1/10 for a romantic or sexual sort of relationship. I can see how that dynamic could work, I really do. Of all the straight couples so far, Aster and Rilena would be the healthiest and most realistic/easiest to envision. I just do not buy it for one second that they're anything other than BFFS with each other.

Emil/Lloyd: H for Huh? I guess people just like shipping the protags and because Zelloyd was a popular ship, people easily swapped to Emil/Lloyd for another dose of enemies to rivals to lovers. I do not see the appeal other than the fact that it's a yaoi ship and they both have some relatable struggles of being protagonists and some good angst fodder for Emil having to come to terms with his anger even when he finds out the Lloyd he was mad at was actually Decus. 0/10. Not saying it's a bad ship, just saying it's definitely not a ship for me and I do not see the appeal. As with Marta/Emil, this is functionally a NOTP for me. Emil/Aster: A for Absolutely. Introvert shy boy with identity issues and extrovert goofball who is very secure with himself both gush over how cool they think Richter is and foster a mutual affection for each other. 9/10. No notes. Just some good blond boys exploring the world with each other.

Emil/Ratatosk: C for Crackship. Absolutely love the self-cest vibes and potential here. Again, I prefer a softer Rata than is canon, but I absolutely see the appeal. Something something self love and something something loving the self through loving the other. 7/10. I'll read it from trusted sources but it's not a very popular ship and I can see people either taking it way too seriously or way too cracky and ending up with something unreadable for my tastes. But excellent potential. Richter/Aster/Emil: O for OT3. Excellent and impossible unless we get really wiggly with the rules of the canon very quickly. Still. Love it. 12/10, no notes. I am willing to break canon for this to happen and also so thirsty for AU. Real Emil/Richter and Real Emil/Aster and RealEmil/Richter/Aster: I for I'm the only one thinking about this. Depending on how you interpret the canon, game Emil and Real Emil are either two totally different people or the same person through weird soul absorbtion means. Ratatosk's powers are more concrete than Verius's powers but still INCREDIBLY WIGGLY and while it's heavily implied that Emil is just Ratatosk's kindness made manifest and his old personality splitting off from his new, grumpier one, I 100% see where some theories come in stating that some of the things game Emil knows about Real Emil are too coincidental to not indicate some sort of memory convergence. I personally consider Emil to be a part of Ratatosk that essentially became his own person who just happens to use Aster's body and Emil Castagnier's name, so the potential for a world in which the Real Emil didn't die and got to be part of the party working to save the world is just so juicy. We know very little about the Real Emil too, other than some JP only journal entries that were on the DotNW website that were thought to be written from the Real Emil's perspective. He was still a soft boy and seems to have considered Lloyd and the rest heroes, but other than that, he's a blank slate. So he's incredibly fun to play with. 8/10. I'm the only one I know of working on a fic like this and I am loving the hell out of it. I really should get back to writing and finish it though! Alice/Decus: P for Problematic (affectionate). They are perfect for each other and I mean that in the most affectionate AND most derogatory way. Absolutely toxic foundation for a relationsip. 0/10 real life recommendation. Do not emulate. But also profoundly romantic in ways that a healthy relationship simply cannot be. The codependence, the willingness to kill for each other, the toxic and blatant onesidedness, the palpable sexuality. Again, 0/10 for real life emulation but 8/10 for the fucking drama and romance in the purely fictional sense. Aster/Ratatosk: S for Science. I have only seen this very rarely and at least one of them was a sort of PWP angst story my partner wrote that was definitely not meant to be romantic. But Aster is fascinated by Summon Spirits. And Ratatosk is one. And Aster is an optimist and idealist who sees the best in everyone. So 100% I can imagine Aster getting weirdly freaky with Ratatosk "for science" just to see what sex with a Summon Spirit is like and what a summon spirit is capable of. 7/10. Some juicy potential there, but as ever, I'm pretty sure I enjoy a softer Ratatosk than most for these things. Richter/Aster/Emil/Ratatosk: F for Foursome. Just the sheer number of bodies involved has potential, especially if Ratatosk can shapeshift at will. Absolutely crazy and carnal. Not exactly an OT4 for me, but I definitely see the potential and I would not mind some fics of this type more often. 8/10, but I would probably only enjoy it from trusted sources because, again, if Ratatosk is too abrasive, I don't like it as much.

Richter/Colette: C for Crackship. They get one interaction but I can 100% see a whole lot of potential there. If I could see Richter as preferring women or not having the option of Emil, I would 100% see this as a good candidate, though I am 100% basing this off of their one offscreen interaction. Crack to the max but I'm a sucker for Richter with a woman in this case and this case alone. Colette is like a puppy dog. Even if you don't really like dogs, you can't help but love her. Richter is not immune to this I think. Would definitely take a slowburn to establish more than just that one interaction and build chemistry, but I am here for it. 9/10, but only to me. Alice/Marta: T for Toxic (affectionate.) I have mostly seen (and utilized) this ship to just get Marta out of the way, but, like... They're so toxic that I can somehow see them fixing each other.

Ratatosk/Mithos: T for Toxic (derogatory.) Absolutely vicious and catty exes that WILL fight CONSTANTLY and will not give a single shit about any collateral damage. 10/10 for drama, 0/10 for something I want to see on screen as a main focus.

And that's all the ones I've seen! If you want me to rank any other specific ones!

#DotNW #opinions #ships #ask GKD #anonymous

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