#cuz this is getting old now because then I feel like writers for the sake of just trying to keep the Brio pull going

[okamirayne]

*a wild friend looks up from the floor*

God, sorry to just stick around but those last couple of chapters...they're just so fucking good it's unreal. They're not just amazing but somehow they leave me feeling...peaceful? Idk if that makes sense or not

Just having them be together without anything standing between them, all walls down, no secrets or lies or hurts left, finally on the same page. It feels like a true beginning

How you can convey such a deep love without using the word once...though it really goes beyond love, doesn't it. That word is too tame, too small to contain what they have. It's raw and bloody and tender but also elemental in a way that defies description. I know a lot of other readers think Shikamaru mouthed "I love you" against Neji's skin but he wouldn't say that in my opinion cuz it's not enough

*sighs dreamily*

Also, this is neither here not there but something about fandom that always annoys me is how hard shippers fall into stereotypes and use top or bottom as a substitute for gender roles. And especially in regard to Neji it's very hard to find anything that doesn't make him an aggressive dominant person who just always ends up horribly ooc.

So what I really appreciate, especially considering how old the first installment is and how long running the series was, that you don't fall into this whatsoever. The push and pull between them is consistently from the get go not about dominance and submission but about maneuvering themselves and each other onto equal grounds, a place of total equality and trust where those fandom assigned roles have no meaning

It's not about top or bottom, dominant or submissive, it's about the connection and how they need that in that specific moment, which is way more in character for both these characters than anything I've ever read. Most of the time I skip over the sex scenes in fics cuz characterization tends to unravel pretty quickly but when you write them it always feels like "yes, this is the right time and place in the story for that to happen" which is a talent a lot of writers in any form of writing need to cultivate I think

They both have dominant personalities with a deep craving for connection, of course they switch.

*takes a deep breath and eats some chocolate staring into space for a few moments*

Anyway, that was another wild ride and your writing is just so good that I may have hyperfocused on it for a few days straight so now I'm just gonna crash for a bit

Because there is NOTHING else for me to read about them WHATSOEVER. You HAVE NOT written ANYTHING ELSE. This is their HAPPY ENDING.

*the wild friend gives you the two fingered "I have my eye on you" gesture and promptly goes into hibernation*

Are you kidding me? YOU’VE FINISHED UtS? ALEADY???

Ah, dear Wild Friend.  Thank You, from all the squishy corners of my gooey, mushy, Feels-Soaked Heart, for the astoundingly awesome, supportive, engaging feedback that you’ve so kindly taken the time out to leave me these past several days.  I’m gobsmacked.  It’s beautiful. 💜💜

I know a lot of other readers think Shikamaru mouthed "I love you" against Neji's skin but he wouldn't say that in my opinion cuz it's not ‘enough…’

Ah, hell. I love this. <3

Also, this is neither here not there but something about fandom that always annoys me is how hard shippers fall into stereotypes and use top or bottom as a substitute for gender roles.

Oh damn…

I feel you on this.  I’m not a fan of the seme/uke, top/bottom dynamic -- for the sheer sake of the dynamic/trope, whereby I sometimes feel that it can result in inadvertent (or deliberate) effeminising of one of the males. So yeah, not a fan. Totally different case if a character has a legit reason they don't enjoy it or want it. I think you can have a dynamic where one that tops without the other losing their masculinity. How the rest of the relationship plays out can certainly balance this.

Ah, yes. The level territory and equal footing that you described is exactly the no-mans-land intimacy they initially fought against and then fought to protect; sure it was riddled with a few landmines along the way…but I’m touched that you felt that sense of hard-won peace they managed to recover when the dust of all their conflicts settled.

Most of the time I skip over the sex scenes in fics cuz characterization tends to unravel pretty quickly but when you write them it always feels like "yes, this is the right time and place in the story for that to happen" which is a talent a lot of writers in any form of writing need to cultivate I think

I hear you. Again, super chuffed and touched you feel this way about how I wrote them.  Thank you.  With Shikamaru and Neji, it became more about the intimacy of longing, not the immediacy of lust. It’s not an itch that can be scratched elsewhere.

They both have dominant personalities with a deep craving for connection, of course they switch.

Insofar as their sexual behaviours...

so now I'm just gonna crash for a bit Because there is NOTHING else for me to read about them WHATSOEVER. You HAVE NOT written ANYTHING ELSE.

No...

No of course not....never.

*salutes* Thank you again, Wild Friend. Where my words fail, I hope gifs and emojis convey the appreciation. 💜💜💜

#wild friend chronicles #a wild friend is awesome #wild friend kindness #amazing feedback #reader feedback #btb madness #thank you #shikaneji feedback

[lollytea]

hi omg i just wanted to say i read sunshine in your smile the other night and thought it was amazing! your characterization takes such an in depth look at what drives each character and i just loved how much attention you paid to small details like those, especially with the big argument in chapter 5. your interpretation of hunter and willow has honestly been some of the best/my favorite from all the toh fics ive read, and it just has such a unique quality to it that im still thinking about days later. plus, how the huntlow was sort of evident and there the entire time, the story itself focused a bit more on them caring for and learning about each other as both friends and people without needing to lean on the romance to carry the plot? it was SO good and well handled UGHHH because your tags were right!!! two kids who see themselves in each other and form a strong emotional connection.. its such a good premise it was such a good study. sry this is long haha just wanted to say i read ur fic and loved it, youre a really good writer and i hope to see more from you in the future!! have a nice night :~)

AAAAAAAAAAAA!!!! This means SO MUCH to me, you don't understand!!! Thank you thank you thank you!! Thank you for feeling like you should tell me this cuz it makes my day so much better!! I WILL cry, I will do it, I'll do it right now

And I'm so so SO happy that you enjoyed the emphasis on their relationship outside of the romantic element because that was really what the fic was all about. It was a direct response to all the people saying huntlow would "ruin" Hunter's character and it was just some hollow "painfully hetero" ship that existed for the sake of cliche shipping. I was trying to show the potential of just what it could actually be. Something that pays respect to both Hunter and Willow as people, as well as being a love letter to both of their characters. And how those personalities really catch fire when they have each other to bounce off of.

Like he had a crush on her from the first chapter but it wasn't supposed to make you think "oh yes he is in love with her. He is her soulmate. They are meant to be together." It was supposed to make you think "Aww this dummy got a crush on a girl after knowing her for a literal day for simple silly reasons because he is sixteen and sixteen year olds are just Like That sometimes." Their mutual crushes are supposed to demonstrate how despite Willow's wisdom and maturity and Hunter's militant personality they're both still kids and are fully capable of being childish and impulsive, without mocking either them for feeling that way. Like at this stage they really don't know each other well at all. But they would really like to.

The crushes clearly grow as the fic goes on as they become more familiar and now the infatuation actually has a stronger foundation. But in the end, it's still shown to be a sweet innocent juvenile thing, not like straight up burning true love or whatever. Willow doesn't give him a flower that means undying devotion or everlasting love or anything like that. It is simple as "I think happiness suits you. Your smile is very pretty." Meanwhile the bond they begin to develop as friends and mirror images of each other is the main character study at play here. It is not so easily slotted into a box of romantic or platonic, its just this indescribable kind of thing. The fic doesn't end with a kiss or a sudden realization of feelings, but rather with them having formed this connection, gaining some perspective of each other and themselves. And sometimes, depending on how the story as a whole is handled, an ending like that can be satisfying enough.

I had a post in my drafts about it but I never posted it cuz I felt I was getting annoying constantly talking about my own fic. But here's some tags on it where I ramble about the angle I was trying to take with it.

#huntlow #this is one of the best asks i have gotten in my entire life #thank you so much for GETTING IT #getting what i was going for

[itbe-jess]

Across The Spider-Verse review (🕷SPOILERS UNDER THE CUT🕷)

So here are my thoughts on Across The Spider-Verse. Some, if not most, say that it's an improvement of the first movie. My thoughts on this film, however, are kinda mixed. I wouldn't call it an improvement.

For the pros;

The animation is stunning as always, with new diverse visuals. Lego, CGI, live-action, and whatever the heck Spider-Punk is supposed to be, who was the most groundbreaking to watch in my opinion. Speaking of Spider-Punk, he and the Indian Spider-Man were a hilarious new addition to the Spider-Squad. Really dig their "White people, get fucked" vibes. XD It was also really cool for ATSV to bring in some familiar faces, such as Spectacular, Insomniac, and 1967 Spidey. 

For Spot, it was nice to see a lesser known Spider-Man villain be brought to the big screen. Obscure villains should be playing the antagonist of our webslinging hero, not the protagonist of their own solo film. Take notes, Sony. (I have the strangest feeling in my gut that Spot will be the new Tumblr Sexyman)

Now for the cons;

I really didn't like the meta commentary on the Spider-Verse. It's good that they referenced events that happened in the comics, but it just seems stupid to me. I can't put it into words. And look what they did to poor Miles. Just when Miles thought he finally found out who he's supposed to be, adjusting to being the new Spider-Man, and making crazy friends from multi dimensions, only to find out he never really deserved it?! "Sorry, Miles. Truth is you’re a mistake, and the Spider-Man from your world died for nothing. Not to mention the whole multiverse is fucked because of you." Was that twist even necessary?

But what really had been an arrow to the heart is having Spider-Man himself turn against his own morals. Sony literally hired Josh Keaton to revise his role as Spectacular just to give us the middle finger. Spider-Man, or Spider-People in general, has been known to break the law, or suffer the most pain bearing sacrifices, just to save innocent lives. Now it's all thrown under the bus. Let people die, and harass a 15 year-old newbie, very Spider-Many. Nice job telling fans that their own hero, or favorite incarnation of their hero, would let them down. That was seriously the most heart wrenching moment to watch, and why I refuse to call it an improvement to the first. Worse, they have to do it for the writers’ sake, cuz of this whole damn plot where everything will go boom unless events follow directly to canon. It’s the writers’ way of saying Spider-Man is supposed to be miserable.

In my opinion, No Way Home, while it does not have beautifully animated visuals, certainly told a better traditional Spider-Man story, and the fan service was handled more organically, rather than being "Oh look, it's them! You remember them, right?" (Can't say the same for Venom, though) 

I rate Across The Spider-Verse a good 6/10. I will still be waiting for Beyond The Spider-Verse's release. Hopefully, part 2 will repair the damage part 1 has brought. Maybe we'll have an official team-up with Miles and "the little nerd," because I feel they would get along well, since they both broke the canon. "Fuck the Canon! We're Spider-Men!"

#Spider-Man #Marvel #comics #movie #Peter Parker #Miles Morales #Gwen Stacey #Hobert Brown #Miguel O’Hara #Across The Spider-Verse

[olderthannetfic]

I'm curious for someone else's perspective on this; when I was an American high schooler, I used to read a fic that was about high-school aged characters exploring sex and their sexualities. This was fine, good even cuz the fic was very well written and helped give me perspective on things I could potentially go through. Then I grew up. Now it feels... I don't know, kind of wrong for me to go back and re-read the fic. It is about underage sex and coming of age, but now that I'm no longer in that age group it feels faintly shifty for me to read. In the end it doesn't Really matter, but do you have any thoughts about growing out of an intended audience?

--

Who writes those things though? Who writes them well?

I know we love the myth of the young savant who's a brilliant writer as a teen, but writing is one of those crafts people hone over decades. A lot of the really insightful writing about coming of age is not only from a more skilled and older writer but from someone who is insightful because they are no longer that age themselves. They lived through it. They saw what came after. It gave them perspective they wouldn't have had at the time.

Regarding that fic, who is the intended audience? I wouldn't bet on it being teens. Plenty of coming of age stories are aimed at adults looking back nostalgically.

As a kid, I loved My Father's Glory and My Mother's Castle, but they weren't for kids. Nobody thinks Pagnol was not allowed to write memoir or that other adults aren't allowed to enjoy it. We saddle women and genre fiction with this crap about not being allowed. Highfallutin literary stuff is always allowed.

When I was a high schooler, in the 90s, most high school fic was being written by way older writers because most fic writers were older back then. Nowadays, it varies widely. You can't assume that writer was in high school or that they assumed their whole audience was either.

You are entitled to relate to art about experiences in your past.

This is normal and should be seen as such. Instead, we have some bullshit moral panic about ~pedo~. And for fuck sake, half the audience of teen stuff is queer adults who aren't that old and are still in Figuring Shit Out mode and wish they'd been there as teens or people who are in that same boat because of abuse or family tragedy or whatever, even if they're cishet and gender normative. Sometimes, you get there late and you wish you hadn't. There are sensible reasons people are hung up on the high school years for a while in addition to the fact that anybody should be able to read whatever they damn well please.

I do think it's possible to grow out of an intended audience and that this can be a negative experience though.

If you personally find you only read narratives where all of the heroes find themselves or do great things at 18 and you're 45 and now you feel like a has-been, maybe that's a problem. Maybe you need some literature about finding yourself in middle age and about how it's never too late to start again. I honestly do think people can hurt their own mental health by never consuming anything where someone their own age gets to be interesting and cool and where everyone is supposed to have everything figured out decades prior to their current age. But that's not a problem with the art, and it's not a problem with reading one example, and it's not even a problem for every reader.

I do find that there's sometimes an overlap between people who are super weird about YA and people who are desperately clinging to childhood and insisting that they're in a super different life phase from other adults who are a bit older but who also haven't settled down or reached various milestones. There can be a connection between feeling like you're aging out and engaging in unhealthy lashing out and denial because you're afraid of change.

The majority of people read a variety of things and just enjoy what they enjoy and don't worry about it though.

If you want to read the damn thing, read it.

I don't think you're obligated to feel icky doing so, but feelings are not logical, so if you do feel weird about it, it might not be fun anymore. In that case, find something else to read.

Basically, you're overthinking this and borrowing trouble when you really don't need to.

[amarriageoftrueminds]

Now now, we all know how Bucky's been in love with Steve (and known about his feelings) his whole life, but what about Steve? I've always swayed towards the theory 'Steve's been in love with Bucky his whole life as well, he only realised after Bucky fell from the train', but what if Steve's known he's in love with Bucky since their Brooklyn days? That would shed an entirely different light on his interactions with Miss Nazis Hirer and the whole 'right partner' talk

Going by canon, I think there must've been either: a declaration of mutual feelings, or; the first foray into a sexual relationship in their late teens, because one of Bucky's trigger words was 'seventeen', and Steve said he felt like a 16 year old again when he heard Bucky's name.

What's interesting is, at that time, and especially in that place*, there wasn't the idea that gay sex acts made you gay, because there were loads of 'straight' men around (eg. sailors.) going with other men just for sex. This was pre pill, pre sex-before-marriage for most, especially for Catholics like Steve.

So it might be that Bucky and Steve were doing the do with each other looong before either of them came to the realisation that they were also, coincidentally, in love.

I agree that Bucky, simply because he's exposed to dating women more than Steve is, has more of an opportunity to Realise before Steve. He'd have the benefit of being able to contrast his experience of feelings with Steve, with his experience of feelings for others, leading him to a lightbulb moment.

And he'd cover this up (and keep up the pretense of believing both he and Steve are really straight) by going out with girls in the meantime; in a period-appropriate gentlemanly way, not bedding them. Also to protect him and Steve from any potentially dangerous accusations.

I don't see Steve as not knowing precisely that he is in love with Bucky; I think he knew before the events of CATFA started, and it was a big part of his motivation for wanting to go to war.

But I do think it hadn't occurred to Steve that he might only be attracted to Bucky / men until after he got serum -- because, before then, his health would've been a limiting factor.

Before then, I can see him thinking 'well it's no wonder I have no libido like Bucky does around women, I'm just too unwell!' and not connecting the dots.

This would explain why he seems so panicked when sexual situations arise with women, after the serum; because he's realising 'oh shit! actually, I don't even like this when I have Perfect Health!' and hastily trying to backpedal himself out of an unwanted situation.

My HC is both of them thinking they're the only male-attracted one in the relationship and they're just engaging in sex acts together for convenience' sake but the other one's only going to keep doing it until he can get a girl.

So when Steve shows up all heterosexual-passing, looking like he can get any girl he wants, Bucky looks devastated because he thinks that signals the end of his physical (in his head unrequited romantic) relationship with Steve.

(But then between Peggy showing up and he and Steve going to the Continent together with the Howlies, Bucky mysteriously seems to perk up!)

By which point Steve, with his strong moral instincts and anti-Fascism, has come to the conclusion that if he's a physically perfect man, and he's still in love with and attracted to Bucky, then there must by definition be nothing wrong with feeling physically attracted to Bucky.

IDK if it makes it better or worse to imagine that they finally confessed to each other before the fall?

Maybe it'd be nice if they saved that for Post-WS, especially since Bucky might be then in even more doubt as to Steve's feelings for him. It's a common choice in fic for a reason!

There are two ways to read the 'right partner' talk Steve has with Peggy.

One is:

Steve's a straight man acting like an incel and attempting to pull pick-up artist tricks on Peggy which don't work, because she's not interested in him, and so doesn't take the bait (we only don't notice he's being a creep because Cevans and HA play it as benign, and because the writers, being themselves douchebags, don't realise what they've written; and probably wouldn't care even if they did.)

Two is: (particularly egregious if you flip the genders and imagine a woman saying this to a man) 

Steve going out of his way to make it clear that he doesn't want to date, isn't interested in dating right now, while there's a war on, and finds women terrifying. 

And yet as soon as he's fuckable, Peggy pulls a 180 and starts claiming she always liked him as he was, despite the fact that her actions directly disprove this; she didn’t ask him out when she had the chance and the encouragement. 

Naturally, her arrogance leads her to the immediate assumption that if Steve is waiting for The One, then she must be the One to whom he was referring. 

The fact that his wording either means he’s already found the One and is waiting for them, OR that he hasn’t met them yet, both exclude her from the running (since he’s known her a week) is...  immaterial. She never asks if he has his eye on someone, does she? Would Steve being already married stop her? 

(You don’t say ‘I don’t want to date because I’m waiting for the One’ to the person who IS the One, or whom you suspect may be the One. This ain’t rocket science!) 

And hey, did you notice, that Peggy is just so important and special and perfect that her sudden interest in Steve means that Steve's stated wishes are now irrelevant? 

The staggering hubris of waltzing up to him to go ‘hey, by the way, one day... when all this is over... I will allow you to date me.’ 😘😌 

Too bad he didn’t ask! 

The fact that Steve explicitly told her he isn't interested in dating and didn’t specify he’d be interested in her is invalidated by his new looks and her desire. 

Sheesh. These Carter girls sure are rapey as hell.

(Also, in characteristic NOT-A-FEMINIST Peggy Style, the first thing she does upon seeing Big Steve is yank a t shirt out of the hands of a waiting nurse, because Saint Poppins is apparently so good at everything without training or experience that she can do nursing better than an actual nurse, too? (Could be she's also being characteristically territorial, pissing a circle round her chosen prey.) While simultaneously, out of nowhere, affecting a  dumb ‘oh I’m so soft-and-feminine’ voice she didn’t have before?? Does that sounds like someone Steve ‘son of a nurse’ Rogers would admire? UGH.)

The irony of all this is ^ you can read Steve as 100% gay and not have to change a single piece of his characterisation or interactions with women at any point.

I've touched on this in other asks, but:

He never asks Peggy out when he has the opportunity; only when he knows it's too late and he won't be expected to follow through (due to him being dead.)

He never makes a move on any of the chorus girls or his female fans (no matter what those creeps M&M claim). Or Private Lorraine. Or Nat. He has to be nagged to make one on Sharon (while Peggy's body's barely had time to cool, and looks fine about never seeing her again lol!) But he goes out of his way to befriend Sam, and waay out of his way to get Bucky back.

Throughout all his films he's consistently assaulted by women, even friends, and never looks happy about it; he also never looks upset when he's rejected or cut off from women love interests, or when he's able to dodge flirting (by, eg. jumping out of a frickin' plane!?)

It's 'his choice', in his own words.

He seems his happiest with women in platonic situations, and only sad about them when it's a question of a shirked duty, a bereavement, or him feeling he's let them down; eg. when Nat dies, when his mother dies, when he's unable to deliver a promised dance to Peggy, etc.

(But it makes people uncomfortable to address this since many of his fans are female.)

But even marrying a woman (albeit the most OOC choice it's physically possible for a Captain America to make, not to mention that it involves abandoning our-Bucky alone in the future). It doesn't preclude Steve from being gay, since lavender marriages were hella common (doubly so for famous gay men).

He could be gay and still in a relationship with Bucky, and married to Peggy. I mean, he's guaranteed a wife who'll spend most of the time away at work, able to use her connections to squash any inconvenient press; and unable to out him or Bucky without ruining her own prestige. Perfect!

Still makes EG Steve a douchebag tho. 😒

.

*we know they frequented north Brooklyn, because Steve said 'I know this neighborhood!' while the Brooklyn Bridge was in sight behind him; but, they got the street angle wrong, cuz they made it look like the BKB has a street which looks right at it, when in fact the street with that famous view is of the Manhattan Bridge. The places Steve describes being beat up; a parking lot, alleyway, and diner, are also all places you'd go while you're Out, rather than where you live. So IMO Steve and Bucky lived somewhere near DUMBO, but not so far east that their view was of the Manhattan Bridge; either Brooklyn Heights or Downtown. So that puts them right in the heart of Gay Brooklyn (as in, Truman Capote had a house there, because Walt Whitman wrote a famous poem about there; that level of gay), next to the Navy Yard and Sands Street (gay cruising central) and they also frequented gay cruising mecca Coney Island (big burlesque hot spot).

#mcu meta #antipeggy #toAyourQ #hey nonny #steve meta #bucky meta #p*ggy meta #anti st*ggy #endgame steve is a skrull #antiendgame #dat's me #bucky barnes #meta #mcu #yet each man queues the thing he loves

[butmakeitgayblog]

Aaalright. I finally had time to read your new CI snippet, I waited the entire day and now, finally, I did it. In the wise words of Kristen Wiig: Hello Julia aka Hallelujah.

But anyway.

I L O V E D it.

I like a little bit of possessiveness or jealousy (expect when is definitely too much) and CI Clexa are perfect for this dynamic in my opinion.

And even though Clarke is a little shit that loves to provoke Lexa, you can definitely see how much she loves her and she obviously ignores everyone else.

It's a little game, a game that Lexa lose every time it seems 😁 but I don't think she is sad for it and as you said in other occasions, she shows her affection with her actions so they balance each other. They are super cute. Super lethal but super cute.

After this plethora I had a question though.

I was rereading - because I fell in the loop of reading all the previous snippets again - the one in which Clarke and Lexa confront Hellen and the one in which Clarke tries to comfort Lexa because is her dad's anniversary.

So, two things:

1. In Clexa vs Hellen's snippet I never noticed that you compare Lexa's grace to angels' grace. Eheheh I very much appreciated it. I don't know if you did it on purpose, but nice. 😏

2. In Gus' anniversary snippet, Lexa said that Hellen doesn't give a damn about Lexa's dad anniversary (in fact Hellen and Jake are on holiday that day) so for years it was just Lexa and her mourning and she doesn't want to do anything (or at least is what I perceived) and Clarke is the first person that tried to help her get through that day. So, my question is: in the distant future, maybe when they are even married, what does Clarke on that specific day to help Lexa and what does Lexa to help Clarke when she feels nostalgic of her mom if she does? Because I understand that they have this kind of special connection (and you are so good in underline it in every snippet) where they actually understand each other without telling much, sometimes they understand each other way before the other one reach the point.

Sorry. It's a long message in a not very clear English, but... I hope is readable enough. 😂

💕💕💕

Thank you, I loved this so much 🥺 I'm really glad you're liking it and yeah you totally see them. Cute, but lethal lol

And don't apologize! Your English is great and long comments/messages are a writer's lifeblood 😩

Putting this under the cut cuz it's a longer answer than I thought

///////

As for your question, when it comes to her dad's anniversary, Lexa has a tendency to become melancholic. Clarke always notices she gets a little quiet on the days leading up and does her best just to be there. Not imposing, just present. She knows Lexa needs time and silence sometimes to collect her feelings and be alone in her thoughts. Needs time to remember her dad and allow herself to miss him rather than giving in to the impulse to try to be strong and grit her jaw through it. Clarke would be the type to compile all the pictures of him she can find over the years. Secretly harass all the employees of the company who worked with him from before Lexa was even born, track down old school friends and classmates and photos from yearbooks and get them framed. Take pictures of him and baby Lexa, from their first picture together with her little chunky butt swaddled in his huge arms, to every birthday and family vacation thereafter, and make a whole new album just for her. One a lot less tainted with the sour notes of Hellen.

On the actual day I think she'd plan things for them to do in the afternoon and evening. Lexa likes to go into work in the morning because that's her father's legacy. She's proud of it and she knows a lot of those people miss him too. She may be a bitch but she's loyal to them for his sake. But the afternoons and evenings are them at home. It's an unspoken thing that they just spend it together. Reading, drawing, watching a movie, eating a ridiculously expensive dinner they had delivered from a place that Does Not Do Deliveries. Lexa once told her Gus always said important days are meant for family, chosen or otherwise, but they're meant to be spent with those you hold dearest. And they're each other's family now. So Clarke plans exactly that.

Clarke and her mom is a lot trickier territory. Because Clarke genuinely kinda fucking hates Abby for what she did. There's hurt there of course but Clarke's been through a lot (and I mean a lot) of therapy to help her accept that it wasn't her fault. But she's also fucked up enough that she just turned all that energy into sending an eternal Fuck Youuuuu out into the universe to wherever Abby may happen to be. I think the only times Lexa really feels the need to ever do much is when something triggers those buried resentments and hurt. In one of the snippets cooling its heels in my drafts actually has Lexa accidentally triggering it herself 😬. But it could be anything, really. Usually it surprises Clarke as much as anyone. Seeing a mom and daughter at luncheon that reminds her of when her mom would take her to these things. A movie when a parent calls their daughter 'princess'. Randomly getting a piece of gossip that somehow winds itself back to Abby's circle of elite on the West coast.

Then it's more about distracting Clarke. Not letting her go down the spiral of thinking she'll be abandoned by everyone. Remind her that she's wanted. Yearned for. Needed. Irreplaceable. It's a process of slowly drowning out those fears with the truth of how much Clarke is loved. Clarke would rather throw herself into traffic than admit that the whole Abby thing still hurts, and Lexa respects her boundaries on that subject after they're together. So Lexa knows she'll never be able to fix those feelings, just like Clarke can't fix Lexa's, but she's always there with her quiet steadiness and devotion. Her own whispered pet names and wordless touches that Clarke seems to crave in those moments.

#anon #cruel intentions au

[monkey-network]

Why Klaus IS Christmas Kino

Klaus isn’t flawless, let’s get this out the way. My love for this film won’t deny that it bears a couple nits that can distract the experience. Jesper and Alva’s relationship felt like an eye-rolling inevitability, notable cliches here & there, a notable song felt both fitting and out of place, and while enjoyable, I’m not as big a fan of the climax as I thought. But in spite of it all, I love this film and it is one of the best modern animated Christmas films, period? Follow me here. I could go on about its wonderful animation cuz yeah, it’s unlike any other film. But a philosophy of mine is that the best animation enhances the writing and I can say Klaus is that surprisingly well written and has become an all time Christmas fave

*deep breath in* So let’s do this...

I mention that Klaus has its cliches, but you gotta know that it’s smarter than expected. Believe me when I say if the writers didn’t care, this could’ve actually been so much worse. Jesper could’ve been more manipulative towards everyone for his goals, Klaus would’ve given up entirely after knowing the truth about Jesper, we could’ve had an argument between Jesper and his dad about upholding business, the townsfolk could’ve reverted back to their old ways, plenty writing moments where this could’ve been Emoji Movie levels of insulting to your intellect. BUT, they don’t. The film never really turns back on itself, it keeps moving where, as the notable quote goes, an act of good will sparks another as it starts with Jesper’s father.

Even if nepotism was responsible for Jesper getting the job in the first place, he clearly sees his son be more spoiled than he’s worth so is like, “Ma boi, I will send you to the ends of the earth or leave you to the streets if you don’t do something with yourself.” He never cared about his son representing the postal company, or ruining his top class image, he was only tired of Jesper taking advantage of his fortune while not having any ambition of his own. Can’t help but say Jesper’s dad is a very respectable character because the sole reason the whole plot happened in the first place was because he just wanted his son to do better. It’s that act of genuine consideration that pushes Jesper to his wake up call as he reaches Smeerensburg.

People have compared this movie to Emperor’s New Groove through Jesper’s character and I say yes, but this film takes that next step and put Jesper in the pit of pits way early. Reminds me more of Ratatouille’s beginning where Remy’s lowest point is around the same time as Jesper’s. The harsh atmosphere of the island is treated very blunt in how this is our mailman’s nightmare come true. With his situation, our guy is truly at his lowest. Gives up now, he’ll be cut off his inheritance and probably will have worse. Everyone hates him and each other, his post office itself is in shambles, symbolic of how communication is practically thin outside conflict, and the teacher turned fish seller Alva is that path Jesper could notably be if he didn’t try. Everything is literally grey for this guy, but like Ratatouille, when you’re at your lowest there’s no where else to go but up. That’s where Klaus comes in...

This is genuinely the most clever interpretation of Santa I know, hands down. A well established woodsman, a crafter both of living, for him and the birds that reside in his woods, and recreation with the toys he made himself not just for kids, but specifically the kids he and his wife wanted but couldn’t have. Klaus feels like a real person, not just another take on the mythical man. You’re with him and Jesper as he, after familiar winds provide him a letter, a small spark to do something good, soon opens up and gets reminded of what’s kept him going all these years. It is no wonder he sees his wife in Jesper, it’s thanks to him that he could refurbish his dashed dream into a new one. He didn’t just want to do it for the children of the island, but for himself. That is another thing about this film: communication. I mention before how it’s practically thin at first due to a long going feud that isn’t even aware of why it’s still going. The joy in hate is only for hatred’s sake, and they make it very clear how miserable it all feels. That is where Jesper comes in. They don’t take shortcuts with how he gets the ball rolling, both accidentally and purposefully, he boots up to get things done, pushes himself to go to Klaus to make things happen. This is all in part by the youth, what really ties the plot together...

As I mentioned before (again), life in Smeerensburg is noticeably miserable but thanks to Klaus, by extension Jesper, the kids are enticed to do what it takes to get some genuine joy in their lives through the toys they’re able to get. They’ll make them letters, and if they can’t write, they’ll go to Alva for teachings, and if they act naughty, they’ll try to do good which in turn pushes the adults to do good for the sake of their kids. It really would’ve been one thing to sure enough make the kids spoiled because of the toy giving, focusing more on the extrinsic value of Klaus’s kindness but no. The children are very grateful for these gifts enough to feel compelled to do good, and it makes them feel good as much as it soon makes the adults more convinced to stop fighting. It helps that this all takes place in older times cuz I believe this would’ve been far different, possibly worse, if this took place in modern times. That or just kinda rip off Arthur Christmas, it’s my guess. As such, it gradually becomes an amazing Christmas film because it isn’t just the presents, the Santa Claus myth, the festive style of it all that makes this holiday special to me. It’s the warmth... of togetherness.

My favorite detail about Klaus is how it transitions from cold to warm with its atmosphere. We start out with the emptiest, harshest environment, enough fog to choke your eyes, and then we get to this moment with a brighter, clearer sight of the more united town as the Christmas spirit builds in the film, even when it isn’t even that day yet in-universe, so too does the warmhearted feeling that can come from celebrating it appear more and more. This film fleshes out more of what the Grinch taught me, what A Charlie Brown Christmas taught me, what I’ve come to appreciate about Christmas as I grew up in this materialistic world. I can say everyday can have the Holiday spirit, but Christmas is the time where I feel compelled to be grateful of what I’ve made and got and give back when honestly, I don’t care about getting the most expensive stuff anymore like I used to when I was way younger. This film is so sincere in what it wants to say, and you know this is indeed the same guy that made Minions. Yeah, not kidding and I’ll let you sit with that if you’re reading this as I continue because we have to talk about that moment...

Yeah, I don’t like being the Nostalgia Critic, but I too don’t take kindly to the ‘liar reveal’ trope myself and this could’ve been a point where the film lost me a little. Though you know what? It still works. See, with that trope, what sucks is that it can tend to unravel the plot to where you know as soon as they break apart, they’ll get back together regardless of the deed done. This is why I don’t like A Bug’s Life, don’t @ me. But I’m not saying it can’t done right, like in Over the Hedge. The breakup between Jesper and the others is painful, but it is necessary to give us a couple great character moments. One is with Jesper and his dad, who came back personally to see that Jesper has indeed built something for himself. We get no dialogue between them but it’s clear that even when Jesper’s unintentionally successful thanks to Yzma and Bubba, he can tell his son wasn’t happy leaving everything behind, so he lets him stay since that was what he truly wanted this whole time. Again, give that man some credit for amazing dad. Another moment comes before the big reveal where not only do we see Jesper come to understand his own guilt surrounding his original intentions, but in the end they never hated him for coming back, especially due to him inadvertently stopping the enemy feud all together. Lastly, without that moment, we probably wouldn’t have got this smile. When Margu, purest character ever that I could make a whole segment about but I don’t wanna keep you too long, started to tear up after calling for Jesper thinking he left for good but she then sees our guy never really left and we get this teary smile:

I felt that. Almost more than anything else in this film.

Cliched as it can appear, the execution excels in those more memorable emotions for this film. It’s been a year since I watched this again and I remember so much about these characters. And my god, I haven’t even gotten to the animation which... my god.

Klaus is indeed the most beautiful upon beautiful films I’ve seen, and what makes it better is that it all enhances the story. I mention before of its transitional visual from cold to warm sights, but goddamn, the character designs, the environments, the expressiveness, the textures all amount to style perfect for this alone. I think it would’ve as well received if it had a more flat look, but they seriously went higher for a traditional appealing story that compliments the unique children’s storybook look of it all. This honestly is better than most of modern Disney films that I’ve seen, ironic since it feels like if you took Tangled the Series and made it 3D with more fluid character animation. And if I’m comparing something to the continuous mindblower that’s Tangled the Series, you’ve most certainly got on my best side.

Sergio Pablos and his team really pulled no punches in making this a great movie. A great Christmas movie, one worth seeing if not at least once but every Holiday season for tradition’s sake. Klaus gave me a good time, made me cry, and above all showed me to never stop having a good heart because doing good can indeed go far, thankless as it can be. Heck, my heart felt more rejuvenated than before in making this critique, that’s a testament to how much good this film means to me personally. What else is there to say?

It's The Best

#Klaus #Klaus movie #klaus netflix #Klaus 2019 #movies #art #animation #Christmas #holidays #xmas #analysis #long post #reviews #Good Stuff

[bigskydreaming]

Interesting. Another week where I liked all the X-books that came out. Must’ve been cuz there was no Duggan in the mix.

New Mutants was one of the better issues since Ayala took over. I haven’t loved all of their issues, though enjoyed them for the most part, but this one I could really see everything start to come together that they’ve been seeding from their start. I wanna reread once next issue comes out and see whether it works better overall to read the full arc in one sitting. Also it might be that the Otherworld stuff was a forced detour they had to make and that threw off the pacing. We’ll see. 

But the kids with Gabby was such a sweet moment, and its so nice to see them all on the same side when it comes to Farouk......but Farouk’s motivations and the little interlude about the boy call back to Ayala’s first issue and it looks like the suspicions laid back then were true. Its almost certain that the Shadow King is actually an amalgamation or even just a full on puppet of an Amenthi demon who merged with or possessed Amahl Farouk as a child and using him as a host, has been all about trying to make this world match the one it came from, based on the same ideals Annihilation espoused. 

Basically, Amahl is not the same as the Shadow, the Shadow is trying to turn Krakoa into a new version of Arakko, and if I’m interpreting one panel of the art right, I think Xi’an (who seemed to have her suspicions back at the start of this arc too) just sensed another presence for the first time - and she’s the one who knows the Shadow King’s psyche best after all - and she’s figured out that there’s a separate Amahl Farouk consciousness hidden somewhere inside him. And given that second ‘demonstration’ interlude and the fact that the New Mutants are now nowhere to be found in the Shadow King’s mindscape, I’m guessing she managed to shunt them from the part the Shadow King controlled, into whatever part the original boy Amahl is hiding in.

Excalibur was one of its better issues. I’m far more interested in the politics of Otherworld than the political shit in X-Force, Mordred being a mutant is an actually interesting twist, and the idea that Arthur is making his son’s betrayal a self-fulfilling prophecy by attacking mutantkind because he believes Mordred will inevitably side with them as a mutant has some interesting possibilities. It was also unexpectedly....nice, to see like, the whole family Braddock fighting on the same side for probably the first time ever, lol, from Betsy to Brian to Meggan to Jamie.....Jim Jaspers remains a wildcard I’m wary of because like, lol I’ve read the original stories of him and it seems this writer has too, and I want someone to bring up that he’s keeping Redroot captive and make some kind of issue about that, especially now that Death has been brought back into the mix and Betsy’s offered to help him escape Sevalith. 

(Only to have him say no, he’s working - lol anyone else think Death’s trying to pull off a one-man coup and take over Sevalith for mutantkind and do his Daddy Dearest proud? Or given that he’s obviously still crushing on Ororo, even after - well I mean, probably BECAUSE she kicked his ass and left him for dead.....I could TOTALLY see them playing this as like, part of some weird courtship attempt of his. The only way he feels he can woo her as an equal is to come to her with a kingdom of his own or some shit like that. Idk, we’ll see. He’s definitely up to something though, but I do believe him when he says that ultimately he’s on the same side as the rest of them).

I liked that they haven’t forgotten about the other Rogue, Gambit and Rictor Captains, I liked Roma’s conversation with Jubilee about Shogo and the foreshadowing there, as well as Jubilee’s response and her clear conflict.....Merlyn can fucking die in a fire already, please and thank you, ugh, enough with this old shithead.....oh I LOVED that someone is FINALLY doing something with Bei, and it does make sense for it to be Excalibur though I figured it would’ve happened in New Mutants by now. But she and Shatterstar make a fun odd duo, and actually Star’s comment to Brian about being a new friend too like, lol, okay, I’m kinda here for a trio of Brian, Star and Bei to be like a Krakoan Warrior Three who are all united by their perspective as like, lifelong combatants and being outsiders among the rest of Krakoa even if Shatterstar and Bei are technically still mutants too. It makes sense.

Hmm, what else. Would love to see Bei’s thoughts on Death and Redroot, all things considered, and have something to do with those plotlines in the future. And really in general I’m here for this big all-kingdom smackdown with Sevalith, Hothive, Mercador, the Furies and Merlyn’s kingdom all arrayed against Krakoa and Avalon. Of course, these are still only the Foul Kingdoms. Roma and the rest of the Fair Kingdoms so far don’t seem to have any real problem with witchbreed....but this arc is still only getting started. Still waiting for Mordred’s inevitable entrance....curious to see what his power is, and especially if HE even knew he was a mutant before now.

Also: JULIO AND SHATTERSTAR CUDDLES. WE HAVE WAITED 84 YEARS FOR THIS.

And as for Hellions....

Okay, I didn’t actually love Hellions, its kinda on...layaway. I liked a lot of the fallout of last issue, I liked that the stakes are so apparent here, but I’m gonna be bothered by a lot of stuff unless there’s some kind of plot twist that reveals that Kwannon’s daughter is still alive somehow. Like maybe Sinister lied about not having another back-up JUST to ensure he still had one last card to bargain with up his sleeve since he lost the ‘in’ he had with the Hellions now, and with the Council now aware of his secret experiments with Arraki DNA (and bringing Tarn down on their heads in a way that COULD have started a full on war with them if Ororo hadn’t handled it for them)....like point is, all eyes are going to be on him for awhile now and he has very few cards left to play or people in his corner, so I’m HOPING that there’s another plot twist coming in the last couple issues there. 

Because if Kwannon’s daughter is ACTUALLY dead....it really doesn’t sit well with me that the first real mutant death in an age of literal immortality for the rest of them (since even Gorgon and Rockslide technically are still alive in SOME sense)....like for that to be Kwannon’s daughter, the only real innocent in all of this, and having been held hostage to this storyline the whole time, and only existing to force Kwannon’s hand in all of this....yeah. No. Thank you, do not like, that better not be all there is to this. I never trust anything Sinister says as a general rule, so I’m not gonna believe him about that having been the only back-up of her daughter until its wholly proven otherwise.

Other thoughts.....I like that Emma knows that she fucked up, I like that Emma DID have her own kinda failsafe in place because she didn’t trust Sinister for shit, I like that she was RIGHT not to trust Sinister for shit and that her fail-safe stopped even worse shit from happening....I DON’T like that her fail-safe literally just made Alex a weapon of mass destruction with no awareness he even was one and someone else’s hand (let alone fucking MANUEL’S on the trigger)....I DON’T like Emma looking all pained at how devastated Alex is when that was the inevitably outcome of this particular failsafe, like sorry Emma but if what it did to Alex was really that big a problem for you, you should have found a different failsafe.....and I REALLY REALLY don’t like Emma effectively just offering up Maddy’s resurrection as essentially a bribe to ‘fix’ what had happened to HIM, like....if you guys could have made the case for Maddy’s resurrection before now, it should have been for Maddy’s sake, not as like....a cheer-up tactic for fucking Alex, and DEFINITELY not to ‘fix’ a mess that still resulted in Kwannon’s daughter’s death (unless of course there’s a twist there).

Oh and I also meant to say there BETTER be fallout once Scott discovers Emma and Manuel’s role in all of this. I could definitely see Scott like, interceding on John’s behalf if he manages to pull of killing Empath, because like....he’d kinda want to do it himself. This is one of those times where I REALLY wish they’d spend more time developing where Gabe fits in with the Summers brothers now, relationship wise, because like, just show him giving any kind of shits for Alex as his older brother like, at all, and you can EASILY justify Gabe going full wrath-of-omega-mutant on Empath, and what’s the Council gonna do to one of their prized omega mutants, especially one who’s already been imprisoned on Krakoa for Xavier’s mistakes in decades past? 

Actually damn, now THERE’S a consequence-arc I’d love to see, because imagine Gabe helping John go after Empath, and then the Council really trying to throw HIM in the Hole for that, and then Scott being like uh no, remember the events of Deadly Genesis? The fuck I’m gonna stand by and allow that, Xavier you still owe him for that shit, especially since this resurrected version of him never did all the shit Emperor Vulcan did, at least as far as he knows. Or THEN ALSO I could see him getting Storm to back him up on this and she gets the Arraki to be like, well we owe this mutant a debt of gratitude for his role in making our new home, and actually his actions sound totally acceptable, we’re honestly not sure what the problem is, actually he sounds more like us than you so we’re happy to offer him sanctuary, and then the Council would shit their pants because they don’t want to lose an omega mutant to their war-like cousins since you KNOW more than a few of them are making contingencies in case they ever have to fight them again, and like, it’d split the loyalties of the entire Summers Clan in doubt and just...tons of story possibilities there. Lots to consider.

Eh, that’s not where they’re going with this at all though, so whatever. I’ll actually be really surprised if they do end up writing John as managing to successfully kill Empath.

Last thoughts.....this was weirdly the first time they EVER made me give a crap about Nanny? They managed to make me more interested in her in one issue than they have in her previous thirty-five years of existence, gave her more DEVELOPMENT in one issue than in all of that time, and when she was willing to sacrifice her just to save the orphanage from being destroyed I was like, holy shit. I....like...her?

And then they fucking ruined it all the very next page with how they had her react to Peter, and their ominous as fuck final epitaph. I’ll wait on deciding my full thoughts and feelings about that, and see just WHAT Peter ends up doing as a result....I have a feeling things are not going to end well for him and we might be close to seeing the last of him, especially with the inferences they’ve made about how destructive Peter’s true power is - whatever the hell it actually is. Like, Peter, at least, I can see the Council being more than willing to leave in the Hole, or just....put at the back of the resurrection queue for the rest of eternity. Which is shitty but would be perfectly in keeping with them and also I don’t actually know what he’s going to do yet.....like, is it going to be some bullshit like HE tries to destroy the Nursery or some shit because Nanny wanted to save it, or more likely is it gonna be something like he goes to the Right and betrays Krakoa or whatever and gives them valuable intel or something like that? Idk. 

Finally - YES MADDY’S COMING BACK. And she’s gonna be pisssssssed. Like, I don’t see how they’re planning to approach that, like....I’m expecting Xavier to try some serious editing on her back-up to maneuver WHICH point in time Maddy will come back remembering up to, because uh....that’s gonna matter a lot. But since this is all happening against his objections in the first place, and this seems more like Emma’s personal crusade to try and make up for her part in all this, I wouldn’t be surprised if Maddy comes back with full memories up to her most recent back-up.....which means she’s going to still be full on hating all of them, being like FUCK Krakoa AND your amnesty for all mutants I just want you all to burn, and oh yeah, on TOP of all that its inevitable she’s going to find out how much some of them FOUGHT to keep her from being resurrected, like....? Oh there is like only a 1 or 2% chance this ends any way other than TERRIBLY for everyone concerned.

(And yet I still hope they pull it off, because I don’t want her back just for one or two more issues, I want her back longterm. Ideally, I’d love her to take Jean’s place on the Council and pull it off with the support of like Mystique and Emma and Destiny and others as a giant fuck you to Xavier, but I’d also settle for her ditching Krakoa for Arakko and being like these are more my kinda people and also you can’t do shit to me here).

Oh and PS - lolololololol forever at Hank fucking McCoy trying to give Emma shit for her actions here. Like I mean, at least he’s AWARE he has literally no leg to stand on, whatsoever? I mean, I guess there’s that? But still. LMFAO OMG SHUT UP HANK YOU LITERALLY DON’T GET TO SAY SHIT ABOUT ANYONE ELSE BEING SHADY EVER.

Edit: Oh and also I forgot - I need to know how MUCH the Council found out about Sinister’s experiments, in particular if they found out he was ALREADY experimenting with making chimera mutants, like way ahead of schedule according to Moira’s LAST life in Powers of X, when like, the chimera mutants were a recent development as of a full hundred years in the future from now. Like, that changes a LOT and I would love to know what Xavier, Moira and Magneto think of that accelerated timetable and how it might change things.

#wednesday spoilers #x-books spoilers

[seijorhi]

I am sorry this is so late to the ask about favorite fics, but I am a slow not so great writer, and it is also very long 😬. But I still wanted to share this with you, and I hope you like it! Anyways here’s my top ten!

1.) Et Tu

So this is my favorite and most reread. You build the tension so masterfully that it is like a noose tightening around the mc’s neck. The glances and looks from each team member during practice are used to skillfully inform the reader and are used as reference during the confrontation (gotta love continuity!). The fact that you referenced earlier in the fic made me super happy. I immediately knew you were a good writer the second I read it (I mean I already knew you were good, but I feel it was this moment I was like your not just good but phenomenal) The confrontation scene is amazing it had me going from anticipation and curiosity to thirsty so fast. I also liked the fact that you once again described the team in the locker room, so we could know how their dynamic with the reader changed once they were in private. Is beautiful 100/10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 gold stars

2.) Like Nobody Else

You are a queen of building tension as seen in most of your works, but this one was the pinnacle of everything I wanted:

soulmates ☑️, yandere ☑️, smut ☑️

Like you put all of my favorites in one fic and I was like ma’am this is some queen level writing. It’s so amazing I have read it multiple times. Will read it again. Never gets old. Will probably go reread it again now.

3.) Bully

Ah yes once again the spice that gives me life ~tension~. So much so that it is the first thing I have written for all top 3. Your just so good at writing it. Unfortunately I don’t really know how to explain how amazing you are at building tension. Like I can cut the tension in your writing with a super dull plastic butter knife (if that even makes sense???). I like how in this fic it isn’t just Oikawa, but also his fan club getting involved. Whenever his fan club is involved it’s like soft very small crime Lord vibes cause it’s other people doing his bidding. I will get my mafia au fix in anyway I can get it until you update Lion’s Den. Ok got off track there, anyways I like all the character interactions in this fic and how Oikawa corners the readers throughout it. Also I have thoroughly enjoyed all the Drabbles you wrote for Bully.

4.) Feral

This is the first fic of yours I read. I love this one as well as your other BNHA fics. I love how you write Hawks in this, and the more you write BNHA fics the better you’ve gotten at writing the characters. There is always a learning curve when writing a for a new character or fandom, but as you’ve gotten more comfortable writing in this world your works have improved. This is the fic I felt as a reader you were getting more comfortable writing for BNHA. It’s such a good fic too. I love how you wrote snapped Hawks in this. I am so happy I found you and this fic.

5.) For Old Times Sake

I love this one so much. Probably cuz the Miya twins are in it lol. I don’t know why?? but I love your description of the pool flashback I just do? Like I will go open the fic and scroll right to that part and reread it. Like I love that scene so much that when you open your requests back up Imma probably ask for a prequel just for an extended pool scene. Like the twins orchestrating getting everyone drunk and then once the reader is making out with them each twin takes turns shooing everyone else out of the pool so they can be alone~.

Anyways amazing fic. Like so good in fact that I moved it up the list twice.

6.) Dirty

👏 MY CRUSTY BOI 👏

You did so good with the smut in this fic. I know you said you were going to practice writing smut more and I want you to know it either A.) paid off (even though I didn’t think you needed practice it the first place because your good at writing smut) or B.) in the case this was practice that you no longer need to practice and that you are now a smut master. Good stuff, and was an amazing surprise to find during my daily check of your tumblr. Here another gold star to add to your collection ⭐️

7.) Good Girl

I call this one the OG even though it isn’t your first fic. I think I started calling it the OG once I figured out it was your first Haikyuu!! smut on AO3. I really liked all the character interactions in this. If you ever feel up to posting the first draft with yandere Sugawara so we can see how the original confrontation plays out and how this changes the interactions I would love to read it. Cause honestly the more yanderes the better lol. Also Oikawa was really hot in this like 🥵. Love reading the second chapter cause the smut is fantastic. Also really liked the cliffhanger to be continued ending that also has a certain amount of finality to it. I have no clue how you were able to write the ending like this for Good Girl or any of your other fics, but I’m happy you write the endings this way. It leaves me fine with the ending you have but leaves the door open for you to revisit and add more to completed fics which can be done through drabbles or with a part 2. Just really well done 👍

8.) Dear Old Friend

First Atsumu, then we get Kiyoomi, and then in a drabble Osamu!!! Hell yeah! The interaction between the reader the yanderes is so different compared to your other fics and I really enjoyed drunk reader. Drunk reader is always fun would read anytime.

9.) Outrunning Fate and Breaking Point

People have said it before and I’ll say it again your souls mate fics are phenomenal. As if that wasn’t enough then you wrote drabbles about both fics. It’s like your trying to steal my heart here like damn. I loved both these fics so much that I couldn’t decide between the two and now they both get to be here. Part of this decision came from the fact that both fics have wildly different dynamics, and the other half was me unable to leave one off the list.

10.) Bite the Bullet

YAAS! Love the make out scene in this and the possessiveness of the Shiratoizawa team. My goodness just take all of my gold stars why don’t you ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Side notes to the top ten list:

- Like I knew what Haikyuu!! was I just hadn’t read or watched it yet when I came across your works. So while I was reading everything I kept on having to google characters and read their wiki pages lol. You know a fanfic is good when you dedicate yourself to entering a new fandom.

-I get so nervous writing Japanese names since my autocorrect is so sensitive and corrects them when I don’t notice so I don’t use a lot of the character’s names lol

-I wrote this before Split came out otherwise it would have been on the list, and I also forgot that Final girl existed and then went to make sure I got all the titles right and was like 🤭 oh no. But alas the list was already made.

-I went into this being all serious and then .2 seconds later it turned into whatever the hell my bastard hands typed so my bad. Also I feel as if I come off as aggressive at points and I need you to know I’m not trying to be aggressive I’m just very passionate about how good u are at writing.

-anyways

-YOUR SO GOOD AT WRITING💖

-sorry for yelling

-please get some sleep u are precious and need to rest. very happy u were able to finish writing split, but would be even happier if you didn’t derive yourself of sleep to get it done. take care of yourself first, writing second

I just-

thank you so much oh my god this is like the sweetest ask I’ve ever gotten i’m crying like?? who gave you the right?? sdfghghjk i’m gonna need a moment 😭

#ask #anon #long post #i don't have words but i hope you know you reduced me to a blushing sobbing mess #ily #you're the sweetest #you have my undying love

[alexa-crowe]

A 2004 Kid Watches GoT S1E1

That’s me, I just finished watching the very first episode of Game of Thrones. I was live Tweeting, but now I’m going to ruminate using my Tweets before watching episode 2.

First off, there’s a lot of problems with this show. It’s nothing obvious, but I feel like I need to say it because it’s a big problem: there’s a lot of unnecessary nudity of women. Sure, the actresses are consenting, but that doesn’t make it right. Just because a character is nude doesn’t mean the camera needs to show her boobs or naked body for fuck’s sake. Maybe if men were also nude as much it wouldn’t be so bad, but they aren’t. The writers of Game of Thrones sexualized women, which is abhorrent and disgusting. They “had” to age up the characters for nudity and sex scenes that were either unnecessary scenes or could not display nude bodies! It’s, quite frankly, disappointing. I just needed to get all that out.

Onto my actual thoughts of the first episode.

YO WHY TF DID THE NIGHT KING HAVE A HORRIBLE DEATH SEQUENCE WHEN THE WHITE WALKERS WERE LITERALLY THE FIRST PLOT THREAD INTRODUCED & THEREFORE THE MOST IMPORTANT?????? (like seriously, wtf. he’s literally the main villain of the story!!)

(okay but like what is the symbolism for?????)

oh lawd Arya is a feisty one and Bran’s super soft oh fuck I love: them. (YOU HEAR THAT?? I LOVE THEM!)

Jon, bby, ur a real Stark. (but seriously he’s literally a Stark. his mom’s Lyanna he’s legit a Stark lmfao no infidelity here, Cat.)

Oh shit NED U BETTER NOT—YOU BETTER BE THE “winter is coming that means white walkers” TYPE OR I WILL RESCIND MY MISPLACED DEVOTION TO YOU.

Omg direwolves i’m OMG JON’S A SMART ONE! HA! WHOULDA THUNK?

Lol Jon’s a real Stark fuck off Theon

If I have to watch Cersei and Jaime be romantic or sexual istg i’m gonna throw up a little in my mouth.

Please don’t hit me w twincest in the first episode prayers as I take a bathroom break (they hit me with the twincest 😭)

Also, King’s Landing is soooo beautiful!

*squeals in Jaime-gasm*

ah...ahaha... He’s so hot i’m STOP LOOKING AT CERSEI JUST STOP STOP STOP IF HE MAKES ANY SORT OF LOOK OF LOVE AT HER I’M GONNA LOSE MY APPETITE.

Oomf me ser why is he so hot my GOD BRIENNE IS SO LUCKY 🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵 KBDJDVSIBSJDBDKDBDKDNKDBDKDNDKNDKDBDJDBKDBDNDBDNDBDJD

Okay but in all seriousness, who died? *Opens character guide* ohhh ok idc abt him lol

I was about to press play but...I just wanna appreciate Jaime for a moment. You know? Just...the outfit is...damn.

Also idk if i’m ready for this conversation between Jaime and Cersei. PLAY—

HE LOOKED AT HER WITH KINDA HEART EYES AND LOVING SMIRK (VER. ONE) I’M—

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I had to pause. Idk if i’m ready to proceed. Props to Nik tho bcs damn he knows how to do heart eyes. That’s not easy.

Ok ok ok I just need to get this over with and watch it.

OHHHHHHHHHH THEY THOUGHT JON ARRYN MIGHT’VE LEARNED ABT THEM FU—FUCK—FUCKING!

Issa raven~

Cat! ❤️❤️

Oop is this actually the episode where Bran gets pushed out of a tower? I hope not cuz oof that would suuuuuuuuuck

But also foreshadowing~~~~~~ hot damn if he hadn’t climbed a lotta shit wouldn’t have gone down... Woah.......... Holy crap...

Heyyyyyyy Joffrey!

Oh shit Sansa’s got a crush on the wrong guy.

Skksks Arya turned into Aya sk

Hot damn helmet hair is too sexy. Maybe i’ll just...leave it pause...right here...

No one should be allowed to be this sexy. No one.

Teehee I made a reaction pic lol

Jaime, sister-fucker: Tyrion, I’m disappointed in you for having sex with a whore even though you’re not related.

Tyrion: -_- right. Okay. Fuck off. I love you.

lmao their relationship is really cool

My mom came in the room to talk to me and she was like, “He [Jaime] looks like a shithead.” AND THEN I MENTIONED SHREK’S PRINCE CHARMING AND SHE WAS LIKE

I REMEMBER HIM AND THEY TOTALLY LOOK SIMILAR MAYBE THAT’S WHY I THINK HE’S A SHITHEAD

BSKBDODHDJ I’M DEAD DECEASED GONE LMFAO

This Jaime is peak shithead energy lmao

BWHAHAHA that wasn’t what I expected at all didhjdhd Jaime is kind but he’s closed himself off to everyone but Tyrion 🥺🥺 poor baby 🥺🥺 even Cersei doesn’t know his true self...

God I love this show already WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE RUINED WTF

i have since rescinded my previous statement FUCK why do i care so much...

Lyanna 🥺💕💕

Dany! She’s so pretty! *Bisexual mode activated*

Unnecessary boobage  And why is there MORE incest vibes?????? WTF????? 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

Oh, Dany i’m sorry for everything that’s happened and will happen... 😔

Wait—wait lol Sansa’s only thirteen? I THOUGHT SHE WAS LIKE MY AGE AT LEAST HOLY COW WHY’S EVERONE SO FUCKIN’ YOUNG????

I feel old now lmfao

Lol they really did make Joffrey seem nice, didn’t they? 

Oomf me ser UM—right, Jaime’s back, just as hot as always—I mean...

Ned Stark with the great comeback! Jaime Lannister with the sexiest smile of the century!

HAJSHKEBE Arya and Sansa are legit me and my sister. I’m Sansa and my sister’s Arya ksksbdkdb

OH SHIT! OH SHIT LYSA KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED OH SHIT oh ohhh ohhhhhh not good

Oh no Ned...

On another topic, I did this bdjndkdjdjdn

I’m tempted to rewind to Jaime & Ned’s convo just to make another reaction picture... I don’t wanna forget so imma do it now skskks

Here’s the pic:

Wait fuck he was already making heart eyes why did I cover them up

Oh, Dany... I’m so so so so so so sorry. But now she has the dragon eggs, at least.

Bye bye Ned :’(

OMG BRAN’S CLIMBING THE TOWER EYE—I WANT TO VOMIT GOD I’M SUPPOSED TO EAT DINNER RN BUT I CAN’T BECAUSE THAT’S VILE AND DISGUSTING AND ABHORRENT AND—

Ok but the fact that they don’t sound into it makes it a bit better. Only a bit. I don’t think I can eat my Mac n Cheese for a while tho. And I love Mac n Cheese :’(

Bran’s too young for this!

Idk if I can play it...no idk I just no no no no Jaime......... 😔☹️😨😰😖😵🤢🤮🤒

OH MY GOD JAIME YOU ARROGANT, SISTER-FUCKING, KING-SLAYING, BRIENNE-MOCKING, BRIENNE-HURTING, BOY-CRIPPLING, MOTHERFUCKING BASTARD-ASS PSYCHO HOW COULD YOU TRICK HIM LIKE THAT YOU FUCKING MONSTER!

Sorry, Ser Dad, but idk if i’ll be able to look at you for an hour or so

These can go in the trash. Bye. I WANT SEASON 2+ JAIME CUZ THIS ONE SUCKS ASS

#got #game of thrones #jaime lannister #brienne of tarth #season one #s1e1 #catelyn stark #ned stark #arya stark #bran stark #jon snow #robb stark #lyanna stark #daenerys targaryen #cersei lannister #robert baratheon #lysa arryn #sansa stark #tyrion lannister #idk who else i mentioned lol #sexualization #anti d&d #joffrey lannister

[actuallylorelaigilmore]

Okay... going on a bit of a Schneider x Avery rant for a little bit. I've been reading some of your old posts about them and honestly I really do think they're endgame. If the show were to continue, I think season 3 would've been the closest we ever see Schneider to the family, but I think Avery (bc she doesn't have that much character development) would pull him back to the outer circle for season 4. I don't think they would've brought her back for the finale if they weren't endgame.

(cont) Schneider just barely makes the cut for family in this show. I mean I love him, but the show is about Penelope and her family. If they made too much noise between Penelope’s best friend’s love interest, who has no connection with the rest of the family, it would distract from the main characters too much. Nikki, Schneider’s only other “love” interest had a connection to both Penelope and Alex. But Avery’s there just for Schneider and I’m afraid it would stay that way.

hi anon!! i had to wait a while before answering this one because i knew i would need coherent thoughts and that hasn’t been working so well for me lately

you make two important points here, so i’ll start with the schneider side of it. i agree that s3 was the closest that we’ve ever seen schneider to the family, and that makes sense because honestly even as s3 progressed the storylines for everyone in the family, schneider kind of had the biggest, most consistent arc. (i think alex’s was the next biggest/most consistent. elena and pen and lydia’s stories were more episodic in s3 and sometimes connected more to previous season events than the preceding episodes.)

the showrunners/writers had been planning to address schneider’s sobriety for a while and talked a lot with the actor while they worked on it, and i think they handled it really well. but in my opinion, that all builds up to cementing schneider’s place in the family. not just pulling him into the circle, but making it clear that he belongs there–in a way they aren’t likely to go back on. 

we went from penelope shutting the door in his face in 1.13 when he’s telling her they’re like family, to elena joking about him NOT being family in s2 and him telling a comatose lydia that they’re his family while punctuating his grief with jokes…to the entire family rallying around him in 3.12 after they were all a bit more distant earlier in the season.

elena is the first member of the family to actually direct the word ‘love’ his way! penelope tries to make it clear that he’s important to her just as he is and that he needs to fight his addictions not just for his sake but because of her family, especially the kids! schneider interrupts his big romantic reunion with avery to focus on lydia officially claiming him as an alvarez!

this snippet of an interview todd grinnell gave after s3 mentions the tension between any future schneider would have with avery, and his ties to the family. i don’t know how much the plans for a potential s4 might have changed over time, but since we know the writers do discuss plot arcs with the actors in advance (or at least they have done so with todd before) i believe that when he said this, it was based off his awareness of what the writers were thinking. 

which means that avery could have been brought back to be a source of future conflict–and after schneider’s s3 declaration that ‘family is everything’ it’s not guaranteed that he would choose avery in that scenario. i could see him learning to balance and compromise, maybe, but schneider drifting out of the picture because of his love interest wouldn’t make sense for who he is–unless the actor was leaving the show maybe? i still wouldn’t find it very believable though.

i do agree that avery’s only connected to the show through schneider. that actually bugged me in s3, because they gave her so many little great moments in the beginning to establish who she was, and then she really never interacted with the family even when she was in scenes with them!! they either need to fully include her in s4 or keep her more separate; now that we’re more familiar with her, it won’t make sense at all for her to be in the apartment or at events and ignoring the rest of them most of the time. (unless that’s part of the plot, of course.) i think that avery won’t be likely to get much actual plot unless it starts to be about non-schneider things, like how she affects family members.

i honestly have no idea if schneider and avery are endgame or not. india is too adorable for me to be against it, despite my many objections to how avery was handled in s3 (so much potential after that meet-cute! i ranted in multiple essays about about it!). because the actors are married it wouldn’t surprise me if that’s what the show does, letting schneider’s storylines going forward be more about him maturing and dealing with his first serious lasting relationship. 

i think that how long the show gets to continue existing will also have a lot to do with what turns out to be endgame–if it ends on its own terms in a few years, then we’ll know what their intended endgame was. but if it gets cancelled then i’ll always wonder what they might have been really aiming for.

the biggest thing that you and i seem to disagree about, though, anon, that probably affects how we see the avery stuff playing out, is schneider’s role on the show. you say that he just barely makes the cut for family, and i would argue (as i sort of started to, messily, above) that in fact it’s season 3 that doesn’t just confirm but yells that he’s completely family. 

in the first scene of the season, he comes in and tells the rest of them who their own dead relative is, and in his last scene, avery passes along the news of lydia’s official adoption of him. between all of that, the family sees him turn into someone else while he’s trying to please his father–and they see the relapsed alcoholic he’s never been in their presence before–and they commit even harder to making him feel loved and like he’s a part of them. 

along those same lines, i’d also argue that schneider is a ‘main character.’ not only just technically (because he’s been included in things like promo images for the show since s1, where leslie wasn’t) but in terms of the story. if he wasn’t a main character in seasons 1 and 2, he definitely became one in season 3, when two whole episodes were formed around his arc in addition to his usual mini stories alongside the family.

tl;dr i have no idea if avery is schneider’s endgame but he is an alvarez now and i’ll believe him choosing her over his family when i see it 

#odaat #one day at a time #schneider #avery #schneider x avery #hopefully this doesn't come off rude in response i tried hard to be diplomatic and reasonable when it comes to a character i adore #a totally polite anon with a difference of opinion: schneider isn't fully part of the alvarez family #me who likes my blog to always be a welcoming and friendly space: FIGHT ME #the 'avery is endgame and schneider's sobriety was mishandled' anon does not trip lightly off the tongue #elena alvarez #penelope alvarez #lydia riera #replies

[thecorteztwins]

More Alt-Marauders time! This time it’s Pyro and Claudine in “Left Untold”, Madelyne and Shinobi in “Motherly Instinct” and then a couple of untitled Haven and Sebastian snippets that didn’t evolve into full things. I hope you enjoy!

LEFT UNTOLD “Man, family drama, eh?” Pyro said, stepping into the kitchen where Claudine was fixing a drink. There was...a lot going on, at the moment. Shaw and his son. Haven and her brother. Madelyne and her....er, was the teenage Cable the same Cable that was her son? Pyro wasn’t clear and he wasn’t getting close enough to that mess to find out. “Mm,” Claudine replied, eyes not leaving the bottle she was pouring from. “Glad I don’t have one,” Pyro added. “Is this the part where I’m supposed to tell you whether I do or not?” “Well, it’d make conversation. But uh, not DYING to know either.” It was true, Pyro was not usually into that kind of thing, getting close with folks needlessly. But lately, he wasn’t opposed to it either, if only because everyone here seemed to have a real interesting story. If he had to listen to somebody’s personal tragedy, it should at least be intriguing and unique, and this crew had that in SPADES. “Suppose I’m just a little curious about you, since I know a bit about everyone else now,” he admitted. She looked at him now, glass in hand, smiling in that damnable Cheshire Cat way she had that he was SURE she did deliberately for the purpose of driving other people nuts, “Does it worry you? Not knowing? Or are you curious for another reason?” “I’m a writer, love---a journalist, once,” he put his hands on his body waist and stuck out his slim chest a bit,  “I follow leads, follow stories, figure things out. Just instinct. If I feel like there’s a story...I want to know it. And you got one, I’m sure---from before that old ghost got his hooks in you. But you ain’t all THAT important to me either, so don’t flatter yourself. I wasn’t digging, just asking.” Claudine smirked a bit, “Yes, I do have a story. I have a “me” from before Sinister. But I like having it to myself. I don’t have much to myself anymore, you know.” “Yeah---I understand that. “ He did. He understood all to deeply wanting to keep some kind of control, when things were out of your control, your body turned against you into the weapon killing you, yeah, he understood that. He understood it painfully well. “Well, it’s getting so I could choke on the tension in there, what say you and I go out and not talk about ourselves at all?” “Sounds like a time, St. John,” she put down the drink, “I’ll put on my dancing shoes.” They went out to Bangok that night, and then a few hip Eastern European clubs, and they didn’t talk a word about themselves all night. *** MOTHERLY INSTINCT “I can’t believe this,” Shinobi was near panicking, “Of all the times not to have Haven on board!” “Excuse me?” Madelyne turned a look of irritation towards Shinobi, and then picked up one of the infants. There was at least a dozen, all visibly mutation. This one was a lovely sea-green color with upward-curving little horns. Madelyne held it perfectly. “She’s not the only one with motherly instincts around here, you know.” Shinobi, in fact, did not know. He was completely surprised by this information. Madelyne didn’t have mom vibes, not even MILF vibes---well, hot step-MILF, maybe---she wore a black leather keyhole top and stiletto heels and she was totally kickass and he LOVED that! But she wasn’t all...nice. She wasn’t mean, until she got tired with his attempts at flirtation, but she was...well she was the most normal person on here, he supposed, her and Pyro. But a mom? That did work out well for him though, because... “Oh, uh, well, you’ve got it well in hand then,” he said, and started to leave, only to have Madelyne telekinetically pull him back by the velvet color of his sparkly satin purple blazer. “Not so fast, pal,” she said sternly, “There’s a LOT of kids here, and even telekinesis won’t let me watch them all at once.” She could use her telepathy to put them all to sleep, but she damn well WASN’T going to do that. It seemed to be common for telepaths to have issues around consent, for even the best and most benevolent of them to use their powers in ethically dubious ways at times, but in Madelyne’s case, one could understand why agency, even for infants, would be something she’d be defensive of, to say the least. “But I don’t know anything about them!” Shinobi whimpered. He couldn’t take care of babies, HE WAS BABY! Madelyne was unmoved, “Well you’re gonna learn!” A few hours later, they were seated on the floor crosslegged, each one bottle-feeding one of the little shit machines. Shinobi was still kind of weirded out by the whole thing but, after many disasters, had been deemed by Maddie to be ‘doing alright’ at last. “So uh, how’d you learn all this, huh?” Shinobi asked “You used to baby sit?” He could SO see her as a hot babysitter. Seducing the dad...or the mom...oh man... “I had a son,” she said flatly, in a hostile tone that got through to even Shinobi that she didn’t want to talk about it. “Oh,” Shinobi said, and assumed the kid must have died. Then, in the true fashion of the idiot that he was, asked   “With Cyclops or my dad?” “Cyclops!” Madelyne exclaimed, in shock at very idea of other suggestion, so much so distracted her from even being mad that he’d pried, “God, Shinobi, I wouldn’t----look there are some things your father is good for but that is NOT one of them!” Shinobi laughed, “Ha! You think he’s sterile? Oh boy did he pull the wool over your---” “No! I mean---being a father---or a mother---isn’t just about getting someone pregnant, you know.” That made her think though...that really was all the “mother” she’d been to Nathan. She’d only gotten to actually care for him for less than a year before...before he was taken. Before she died. Before she tried to...to kill him. And he was left to be raised by the man who had walked out on him, and the witch he had walked out for. She’d reunited with him years later, when he was older than she was, she had cast Sebastian aside to help him...ad he’d rejected her. He’d known what she did, he’d thrown it in her face. She couldn’t blame him---how could he know the full story, that it was out of her control? All he would have heard from his “parents” was that she was the evil witch, the babykiller, the Goblyn Queen, not his real mother, not really. And when she’d run into Nate Grey, drawn to him without knowing why, the version of Nathan from another world, it turned out he’d just wanted Jean too, that wanting Jean in this world was why he’d brought Maddie back from the dead, to be HIS Jean. Everyone always thought that Scott’s rejection was all that mattered to Madelyne, that she was just the Crazy Evil Ex, that she was only bitter over that, over him. No one ever considered how much more it hurt her to have her SON push her away. For god’s sakes Scott’s ship had sailed, but her CHILD...and she’d heard he was a teenager again, on Krakoa? He’d been a grizzled old man when she met him, all the years they should have had together taken away by time travel...could she maybe, now...no, they’d never let her. But that was fine. No one “let” Madelyne Pryor do things. She just DID them. Made her own path. Always had, til she’d found it had already been laid out for her from the start. And still, she’d forked the road---Sinister sure hadn’t planned on Inferno! “So uh, you know all the stuff then,” Shinobi said, snapping her out of it, “Yyou should definitely change the diapers, then.” She realized he was holding out the baby he had been feeding. Holding it VERY far from his body. “Cuz you know how to best. Wouldn’t want them to have a crappy diaper change. I mean that’s why you’re changing it!” Ugh. “Fine,” she said, “Give him here.” She didn’t trust Shinobi not to botch a diaper change anyway. She passed the baby in her arms to him, then got to work with this one, much to Shinobi’s disgust. “That’s kind of cool though, that you were a mom,” he said, once she’d finished up. She looked at him, wondered for a moment if-- “It makes you a total MILF, literally.” Nevermind. *** SMALL HAVEN/SHAW SCENES THAT NEVER EVOLVED INTO FULL FICLETS “I’m telling you, I can’t,” Haven said plaintively. It was a firm statement of fact, and a pained one. Not emotionally pained as was her whiny usual, but physically. And for good reason---her entire right foot was crushed, the bones shattered inside it by the rocks of the terrain they were trapped upon for the moment. But that was really no excuse for giving up and slowing him down, and Sebastian Shaw was not about to let her make it one. “And I am telling you,” he said, looking down at her contemptuously, his tone and expression completely devoid of any sympathy, “That you have to. We must reach the portal. Once there, we can get you a healer. Whinge all you want, woman, but get up!” “Let me lean on you, Mr. Shaw, if you will. I cannot walk on my own, but I may limp that way.” Sebastian furrowed his brows, and crouched down so that he was on eye to eye level with her. Then, with one hand, he struck her across the face in irritation, and then, with the opposite arm, immediately scooped her up and hauled her over one shoulder. It would be much quicker this way than a limping pace.“I want you to know, I would dearly like to leave you, Ms. Dastoor,” he growled, “But I expect Charles would count that in violation of the rules he set regarding your preservation.” *** Neither Madelyne nor Claudine had been able to reverse the bodyswap, so for the time being it looked as though Haven and Shaw had to live in each other, rather than simply with each other. It irritated Sebastian tremendously. It unnerved Haven. “I shall endeavor not to take your clothes off, but understand that this might not be feasible depending how long we’re stuck like this,” he grumped from her mouth, “I already had to use the washroom once. It was an...experience.” “I did as well,” Haven said, from his face. The new gentleness behind its eyes was terrifying to look at for anyone who was familiar with him; Shinobi couldn’t be in the same room with her like this. “Did you look?” Sebastian smirked, an expression her mouth had likely never made before. “Certainly not! I assure you, I am granting you the same privacy that---” “Go ahead next time. There’s a full-length mirror in my bedroom. Take it all in. I expect you’ll see some things you never have before. It would explain a lot about you, Ms. Dastoor.”

#alt marauders #fic #writing

[thattimdrakeguy]

This is not a character hate thing but I am sick of seeing Steph being forced into every Tim Drake related too. This whole "she was a part of their family and team" thing is a bullshit, I have read the old YJ many time and she was just there for 2 issues and nothing more. And the more I see negative comments about Cassie and Anita because of her (people saying Steph should be a member of Core4 instead of Cassie) the more I hate her fans tbh. I just wanted to read a good story, but here we are.

+ 1 more thing, TimSteph had no development in Rebirth, they had problems in the pre52 and they were not even together and I just hate how writers are acting like they have to be together in every universe. It feels really forced and I don’t have to read their boring relationship over and over again in a YJ book especially.

I just wanna see Steph be her own character again. Like she had all that build to getting her own comic as Batgirl, but she’s just back to being a plot device again more than an actual character.

I’d rather Cass be Batgirl still

But here’s a high-concept

Two Batgirls

Problem solved

That line of her being family and team, I thought was just stupid. Like 2 or 3 or what ever issues isn’t enough to make that feel like an accurate statement. That was so forced, that any excuse for it just feels superficial.

I think I seen someone try to excuse it cuz “it was clearly Tim trying to force it himself”, but boy was that weakly written if that was actually the writers intention, because there hasn’t been a sign of it since. If you wanna call Tim stuttering a bit after he had his mind messed with evidence of that (which it could be, but from a writing standpoint, given the context of having his mind messed with, it wasn’t good enough to represent that).

I’ve seen that person that who said Steph should be a part of the Core Four, and genuinely I think it’s those people that have started this thing of people hating Stephanie, because her fandom, (it’s most notably vocal members because there’s some genuinely nice people in her fandom, they just don’t pop up as much) have grown this toxic attitude, that’s gone past appreciation and into just being a total jerk even when they try to act like it’s just “peppy fan girl/boy” stuff or what ever.

Like those people that think fan passion should equal “we must shove this character into everything. Everyone, character, or person, should like her, otherwise it’s wrong. SHE IS SO IMPORTANT. LOOK AT HOW IMPORTANT SHE IS. WE MUST OVERSTATE HER IMPORTANCE SO YOU IMMEDIATELY LOVE HER AND FEEL BAD FOR NOT LIKING HER AS WE DO” sometimes to the point of making stuff up, and it’s like, just stop, because it’s just getting aggravating at this stage.

Why do you like this character if you have to lie about them, and do you understand the point of character conflict, or even just the character you love so much in general?

Not to just crap on everyone who does some semblance of that thing in general. I’ve seen nice AUs with her that I actually quite like, but some I’ve seen lately are just so dead-set of creating this image of her as Miss Most-Important/Perfect-Character, that it’s just slowly becoming a genuinely unhealthy obsession with her if it didn’t start like that with some people.

Being mean to other characters people like while hiding under a vague act of “peppy fan girl/boy”, doing weakly hidden attempts at trying to get people to like her or keep reading by occasionally taking swipes at what people aren’t liking, or weakly trying to act like those swipes are for another character’s sake,

or even just straight up saying some homophobic things that denounce the existence of the gay closet, just to act like it’s wrong to ship Tim with anyone else but a girl, is freaking toxic.

Just general toxic things I’ve seen on different parts of the fandom and social media sites that I think have caused a somewhat backlash against Steph herself, cuz the toxic part of her fanbase making her the icon of some statement, which just did not end up well for her like what they might’ve hoped beyond people that have more of an obsession with her than a passion for her.

Which sucks, because I’m not against Steph, and I like her. I still actually quite like her. At one point I think I called her my second favorite Robin even, but I’m just trying to summarize what I think has caused this big backlash against her that I’ve noticed lately.

When you start mocking other people’s criticisms, lie about her importance or at least overstate it to an insane degree, act like it’s wrong that any character doesn’t like them, crap on other people’s favs, their ships, or  no matter if you’re acting like a peppy fangirl/fanboy, you’re just being toxic at that stage, and that’s the stuff that backfires when a lot of people on different sites start doing it at a similar time that it creates a backlash reaction.

At that point you’re targeting other people who like different things than you, just for the sake of your own fav. A very very toxic thing to do.

Like it’s not only one toxic Steph fan doing this, it’s different people on different signs doing different things, with a similar toxic attitude that’s back firing, and causing this notable reaction.

So now that the comics themselves are copying a bit of the behavior that the toxic people possess, that it’s just becoming freaking obnoxious and makes it an even bigger problem to people who simply have the goal of reading a comic that’s good.

Because these toxic people don’t want a good comic, they want a comic where they get everything they want, even if what they want is random lies and made-up bull.

Which of course makes the toxic fans go “deal with it”, because of how toxic they are, which furthers the reaction of Steph hate.

This is the stuff that makes me hate the comic book fandom and become what’s possibly considered too critical, because of how weird comics are as a medium to digest and figure out, this stuff happens quite a bit.

And it sucks to have quality taken away from what used to make you happy, just because some writers took the advice of the toxic or maybe even just confused people instead of simply doing what would actually make the comic actually good.

[daikenkki]

MrDonald09: Since Series 22, what new change has annoyed you the MOST??

tttedrawings: Fantasy sequences and the intro/life lessons outro, they just make the episodes shorter, and most of the time aren't really needed at all.

MrDonald09: Ah yes unfortunately you can only have 4 options on Twitter polls, I’m sure the list would be huge if you could have more.

MasonDey1: To me the whole concept of the Steam Team is just pointless.

MrDonald09: Yeah it limits the characters that are used most of the time.

PSideplates: I voted for bouncing since it's closest to the general "kids show" tone that BWBA takes on. It really is like watching a show you put on for your 3 year old so you can leave the room in peace. It hurts to watch. If we were getting the Brenner era where the engines bounced, had ugly details, went worldwide, and got Nia and Rebecca, I'd be miffed but accept it. But BWBA just claims to be TTTE and acts like a generic preschool show. And I don't wanna be in a position where I'm an adult watching a preschool show.

MrDonald09: Agreed. I feel proud to be a fan when I watch classic era and Brenner era, but if it was like BWBA throughout the whole show I can tell you I would not be supporting it now.

TCKRangeltoon: I blame Chuggington.

PSideplates: I don't. Chuggington ended before they came up with BWBA. If anything, Chuggington made the market for train toys/shows competitive which forced HiT to make good Thomas products, well toys anyway.

ronniethe14xx: Honestly, disagree with the point it's the most general kids show tone. Travelling seems to be the new hip and cool thing to do in kids shows, I'd argue that makes it slightly worse then the bouncing because it's clear Thomas only jumped on that trend to be "hip".

JovanniChavez11: Faster pace and Thomas losing his identity. I don’t mind Thomas going on a trip but that wasn’t the way to handle it.

MrDonald09: Yes. IMO it should have stopped after the BWBA special, I think it should have only been a special.

Bostonthomasfan: Don’t really mind the bouncing but it can be over done at times. For around the world? I wish there were more episodes on Sodor and less around the world. Like 18-8 would be good.

MikeArc31375512: The bouncing. Loathe it with a passion.

ThomasTVNostal1: The thing I hate is constant arguing over opinions.Some people have been told to fuck themselves for disliking an episode of BWBA that the majority of the fandom likes and vice versa. This is unacceptable. As a fandom, we're a team and we help each other out.

ChillerB3: The forced feminism with Nia, Rebecca and the newer Steam Team really rubbed me the wrong way, more than hyper bouncing and worldwide shit did.

MrDonald09: Same, especially how the majority of the audience really doesn’t care about that, having more females, great! but don’t mess with many people’s childhood to make SJWs and toxic feminists happy cuz I guarantee you the people who wanted this change probably don’t even like the show.

ryanburges4472: I didn't read properly and the real thing since Series 22 that has annoyed me the most is the bouncing. I've been more bothered about the steam team without Henry (Just Henry). I'm happy with Edward sleeping at Wellsworth.

MrDonald09: Yeah, I completely agree honestly i’m not mad that Edward isn’t in the Steam Team anymore. It's Henry that annoys me the most.

ryanburges4472: I know! Gordon and James sleeping at Tidmouth without Henry. Edward is best at Wellsworth because he has a branch line which stars from Wellsworth.

CoolCar161: Henry and Edward stopped appearing as much anyway. They haven’t been good characters since series 4, even in the Brenner era they had little to no appearances due to writer's block. Rivets is a nice little detail that makes them seem more real, Thomas always wanted to see the world and the bouncing is hardly that bad.

TheBlueE21: Thomas' world tour. It's so inconsistent. Doesn't tie into the movie that hyped it up, never explains why or for how long Thomas is in each country, 1 ep he's in China, then Brazil etc then Sodor eps act as though he never left due to always being there. Plus most sets aren't great.

halfbakedhex8: For the record, I voted the 'rivets' option because the inclusion of the new detailing runs so counter to what the show is now, that trying to inflict reality onto the now-very-unreal engines feels very confused as to what the show is trying to achieve.

BluebellThEngin: The "bouncing" doesn't bother me much at first, but as time went on, it starts to get a little out of control and it kinda bugs me. I don't have a problem with the added details like the rivets, but they do look a little too big. Shrink them in size and they'll be okay. I'm mixed on Thomas travelling around the world if I'm being honest. The new Steam Team is what bugs me the most out of all of these options. I never liked it to begin with (minus my child self). It makes the other characters look useless. What I love about the Classic Series is we got lots of stories about almost each and every single one of them it makes the series interesting. But with the Steam Team, not only does it focus on the main characters so much, but it also brings them out of character. Especially if it's for the sake of the plots.

fan_ttte: The New Steam Team with Nia and Rebecca is what I don’t like most. I don’t mind the bouncing or rivets, Thomas going worldwide is okay. I don't know, I just feel like it would’ve been better if Nia and Rebecca did join, but also keep the others, for some interesting interactions and episodes.

islandofodor: If Thomas hadn’t gone worldwide, we’d probably still be in the Brenner era. Granted, it’d still be a slight step down but the international episodes barely take advantage of the different setting and opt to use generic plotlines that we’ve already seen on Sodor.

thesaddletank18: Bouncing, rivets and worldwide idea are bad but the new Steam Team is just....why was this done to the show?

Jacob34335638: I liked the new details, I’m mixed on the New Steam Team, and Thomas travelling the world. But the bouncing is what pisses me off the most, it literally makes the show look like Chuggington. The bouncing was at it’s worst in Journey Beyond Sodor and Thomas’ Magical Birthday Wishes.

TWR_Douglas_10: ALL OF THE ABOVE!!!!!!!

DFox1203: Is everything an option?

TheWinnerGuyCJP: Voted worldwide cuz it makes Thomas completely out of character.

SoupyGunzilla: I think a lot of the stories suffer from the shorter time. A lot of them could be better if they had more time.

kofi_milky: The bouncing, more sing alongs, replacing Edward and Henry with Nia and Rebecca. Even Thomas going worldwide. When the Rev. W. Awdry said "Here is your friend Thomas the Tank Engine. He wanted to come out of his station yard and see the world", the world that's he meant is Sodor.

sodordaily: Choosing New Steam Team because I miss the old SO MUCH!

peter_sam_no4: I think for me the bouncing as it’s so unrealistic . A 1 ton lump of metal can not swing all over the place like it has no weight.

Growlithemaste1: I hate the bouncing the most, but the rest are all useless too.

sixteen_dnw: Worst is the New Steam Team, then worldwide, then rivets, and then bouncing. TBH it doesn’t bother me too much.

BearsFlush: It annoys me that Thomas travels the world, as they remove chapters that might be focus on Sodor, and the locations and some engines are not represented correctly on the railroad.

VacentTest: I’m fine with the New Steam Team changing Edward and Henry out for Nia and Rebecca, I’ve always supported it in the beginning because increased feminism is good. Thomas going worldwide, that didn’t annoy me cause I was interested in that, the rivets is minor and nothing to worry about. But the bouncing, annoyed me the most at first but I’m used to it.

SnatchyBoi: The bouncing and the New Steam Team.

GWREngine: The New Steam Team is the most annoying change. It feels like Mattel doesn't care how special Edward, Henry, and Toby are. Plus we don't need to have more than 1 female main character. Emily being the only girl used to make her special. With Nia and Rebecca around, she isn't special anymore.

TurnTable2002: Chris Renshaw's music really annoys me.

MichaelfromNZ1: Bouncing, worldwide and New Steam Team. They represent how far Thomas has fallen since Mattel fully took over.

ArmchairRailway: New Steam Team.

TI4MGP: This is probably the hardest time I’ve had deciding on one of your polls lol. I went with the Steam Team though, but bouncing comes in a REALLY REALLY close second. The other two are less but equal with each other.

jack_bench: TBH, I'm fine with all of them? But I chose bouncing because the rivets are neat, world-tour - while it makes no sense - has a valuable goal (and is kinda fun), and the Steam Team really needed more female representation which we got with two positive role models in Nia and Rebecca. Bouncing is unnecessary, but not horrendous.

Holycro1Michael: Everything!

JosefSnowBall: Rivets was something I actually liked seeing on some engines. Bouncing is something I’m OK with, it’s kind of grown on me. New Steam Team sucks because it gets rid of the 2 best engines, Edward and Henry, and Thomas worldwide sounded like a bad idea to begin with.

TheThomasFan: Probably Thomas going worldwide . The animation is shit and it’s all just recoloured.

TheUnluckyTug: The new Steam Team. I think I'd be a little more accepting of BWBA if Edward and Henry weren't so transparently and obviously thrown to the side and treated as if they don't exist. It was like the biggest "fuck you" to fans ever.

MrDonald09: Yeah, not to mention Nia and Rebecca have such generic personalities they can barely hold a unique episode nowadays. I can understand Edward staying at Wellsworth but they did Henry DIRTY by slapping him at Vicarstown so he can focus on his Mainland duties yet not do any episode focused on this new job.

SteamEn83954980: Ok so ignoring Emily, it was a perfect 1-7 number of characters and now it's just 1, 18, 22, 4, 5, 6 and 12. Like I know it's minor but that fact gets under my skin.

DBlue02: I voted for the bouncing, but yeah, I kinda have to agree with Simon Martin’s opinion on the Steam Team concept, it’s long since overstayed its welcome. I’d prefer a nice balance of the main and side characters getting their share of the spotlight, like in the classic seasons.

TFan512: What if Edward, Henry, Nia and Rebecca were all part of the main cast.

[raeofalbion]

ETA - June ‘19 Edition

Wow, I haven't done one of these since last October, wtf me. Anyway. The momentary return of the least appropriately named part of this blog just to give a brief overview of what’s going on. -sad confetti canon-

Blackout - I’m gonna aim for 2 - 3 chapters being posted before July cuz I’ve been really shitty about updating this year and I’m really sorry about that. Given the fic is done and edited and all I really have to do is check formatting and typos and fix last minute changes, it just feels really inexcusable to me that I’ve let myself get so far behind. So I’m gonna try to do a little bit better.

ACoIaS - on hiatus still. As I said at the end of last year, I’m on a slight break from Fable (other than Blackout) to avoid burn out and also just to keep from stagnating so much when I get back to it. But if I’m feeling very Fable-y come November, I’ll probably finish up at least the first part during that NaNo. If not November, then next April’s NaNo. I haven’t lost interest, it’s not abandoned, I still like it and I have the entire fic outlined (and most of the second outlined, as well), I just need to take a little break and eventually write it.

Gothic Horror AU - I’m having a hard time figuring out my conclusion to this which is keeping me from making good progress, but I’m planning on returning to it next month and maybe I’ll make some progress. We’ll see.

Shorts & One Shots - I’ve got a handful of one shots started; can’t really go into detail because I’ve just got so many in progress things that it’d be impractical to list them all here (unless y’all really want a super long list here? Idk, I need to redo my In Progress page so maybe I’ll do that there). But I’ve got the next two of the Numbers fics (Three and Five) started and a few other things I know I’ve talked about (the robot fic, anyone?) so still poking slowly away at those. I’m hoping to get a few done soon.

- The Noir AU (& Other Sherlock Fic Ideas) - I know I mentioned plotting this out, but I wanted to put this to a majority vote: would you like me to prioritise this, or any other bigger Sherlock ideas I’ve mentioned, over the Gothic Horror AU? Because I have a lot of interest in a lot of those ideas, but I’m trying to keep an eye on not doing too much at once. So, quick summaries: * Gothic Horror AU is focused around a case that begins about a month after TEH and also deals with questioning reality, repressed trauma, and possibly actual ghosts. Sheriarty, but the ship’s very much background except where it nudges against the main plot. * Noir AU is very trope heavy, but very much on purpose--a noir retelling of various episodes and ACD’s stories, but Sherlock’s actually aware of what all the tropes are and mean and no one else is (so it can get a little cracky and a little dark, but mainly intended to be fun). Ship tags for Adlock, Sheriarty, and Warstan which will all impact the plots in various ways, though the retellings will, of course, be the focus. * That (Probably Sad) Very Gay Victorian Fae AU...which I’ll just link to here. The only problem with this idea is how much research I’ll have to do. Not for big things, I’ve researched a lot of the big things for other projects and for fun, but for all the little things that will need a lot of looking into. So idk. * Writer AU which is best detailed here. If you’ve read MoI (which I doubt unless I’ve discovered some Sherlock fans who also like Fable?), I’m thinking that level of balance between shippy stuff and plot? But yeah, those are the main big ideas. If anyone has one they’d really like me to prioritise, lemme know cuz it really helps to know what readers are into. <3

Prompts - Not listing for practicality’s sake, but I’m prioritising the most recent ones and making decent, if slow, progress. I’ve also shelved a couple dozen really, really old prompts (like verging on 3 yrs old) that didn’t have ships/characters in the ask. Or that I’ve lost the ask for. Or, worst of all, have characters but don’t have what prompt it’s for added to them (which, LOL, good luck me figuring out which prompt list that’s for 3 years later). It’s actually a really weird relief to shelve those? Feels a little less overwhelming. Still a lot to do, but with time, right?

Some personal stuff below the cut.

I don’t usually do personal stuff on etas, but I figure y’all should know why I’ve been so slow writing lately. I’ve never tried to hide that I’ve got pretty severe depression and BPD on top of that, both of which have been complete assholes lately. Unfortunately, I also get really badly heatsick and my depression is worse in the summer so, now that summer’s happening in full, I’ve been feeling just...bad. Also physically bad in a way that suggests I really need to see a doctor, but, every time I’ve brought up these symptoms to my doctor, he’s shrugged them off, told me to lose weight (and to basically cut my calorie and carb intake down to nearly nothing which...doesn’t work and is a horrible thing to tell someone, so fuck you, doc), and then did nothing. And he seems to be the norm, attitude-wise, for doctors in the area. So I don’t really know what to do that’s practical in my current circumstances. But I’m pissed off it’s affecting things I enjoy and it’s just...ugh. I’m tired. I’m really tired. I want to enjoy my writing and my gaming and all that the way I used to but it just kinda feels hopeless at times. Gotta keep at it, I guess, but fuck if it’s just mentally and emotionally exhausting.

#eta #writing #not a fic #really long post #medical bs warning for the cut #don't worry about the sheriarty bakery au not being on the list doaa; I'm still working on it on and off; it's a good stress relief fic #ot but I've got Bury A Friend on repeat and it's actually making me wanna write SO maybe I'll give that a go instead of work

[hirakdesherrani]

EBSS 24-28 June:

Okay, first off, I just have to hand it to the writers for covering so much ground in a span of 5 episodes. Was it rushed? Yes, for sure. But it was so, so good. Not on a single count of writing, did I feel dissatisfied. Star Plus has been ruthless, ordering a revamp so soon (ram jaane what trp they expected on this slot, esp. during the WC), but writers did an incredible job under so much pressure.👏 Its been a while I’ve been so impressed with the writing of a show, and I’m not going to stop gushing about it so soon. 

Anyways, here are some scattered thoughts:

What a longgggg, and exhausting day it has been for Kabir, from parting with his wife and son, to finding out that his Dad is a shitty human being, to saving his Dad from burning to ashes, to finding himself and his family homeless, boy has been having a tough time, all within 24 hours. 😓

Initially, I was mighty annoyed that instead of giving us Kabir v/s Jahnvi, they started with the good bahu v/s bad bahu crap. Though happy about the revamp, I was curious about how will the writers manage to bring Kabir into the picture? And they did it quite smoothly. So, obviously good bahu Kavya has to poke her nose everywhere, but of course, Jahnvi can’t have that. So, she gets her out of the way, without doing anything really, because Kavya, like an idiot, has to stalk Jahnvi. Toh ab bhugto. I ain’t feeling bad for that girl. 😈

A lot of people felt it was wrong on Jahnvi’s part to frame Kavya, esp. considering she has been shown so concerned for Aarush. But the thing is, Jahnvi prizes her revenge above everything else, so it was obvious from the start, that Aarush would get hurt somewhere down the line. Will Jahnvi regret it in future? That remains to be seen. 

Coming back, by framing Kavya, the writers managed to involve Kabir as well as, provide a dignified exit for Kavya. I loved the parting scene of Kabir-Kavya, surprisingly really, that by the time I like them, its too late. What I liked most, was Kabir insisting on leaving the house with Kavya, with their heads held high. Kavya already has the reassurance that Kabir trusts her, but Kabir didn’t want Kavya’s departure from the house under a cloud of accusation. He was so concerned for her respect. And that has made Kabir my most favorite male lead in the last five years, right after Asad. I just love male leads who can take a stand for females. Especially, in this case, because Kabir isn’t in love with Kavya, but he knows his duties as a husband, and friend. 😍

Kavya’s departure also seemed sensible. Even without Jahnvi framing her, PK didn’t lose an opportunity to humiliate her. The kind of asshole he is, I don’t ever see PK accepting Kavya. I’m glad she actually moved away from the shitty Mittal household, more so for Aarush, at least bachcha bach gaya. But I’ll miss baby Aarush. 😔

Now that his wife and friend was framed, obviously Kabir has to investigate, and it was the most natural transition from Kavya to Kabir as the protagonist (like it should have been from the start). I just loved how Kabir proceeded with it. The investigation, esp. the scene where he fools Amma with the microchip, was so sleek. The writers remembered that he’s a special agent, and I do assure you, its a rarity by ITV standards. 

Another thing I’d like to highlight is that Kabir doesn’t lose his head through allllllll the shit that’s been happening. Why? Obviously, because he is an army man, and they are trained to deal with pressurized situations. The writers underlined this fact very subtly, I don’t even know if viewers caught on. After all that has transpired, Kabir was still being patient and  composed when he was talking to Pooja. 

Which brings me to Jahnvi/Pooja.....I love her so much. I think the best thing about Jahnvi is that she is so unforgiving. YAS! We need more female characters, esp. female leads who are unforgiving. Tellywood has innumerable times reinforced this idea of a kind and forgiving, farmabaddar, female lead. After Maya (of Beyhadh), thankfully this trend is changing. I am so, so glad that Jahnvi tried to immolate PK, and even gladder of the fact, that not just the perpetrators, but she punished junior Mittals too, in a way. It might seem unfair, but c’mon, they are grown up, educated adults who had a good childhood, and they can fend for themselves, unlike Pooja and Rani who lost their father, their childhood, and would have suffered a worse fate if Amma had not adopted them. Bless Amma, one of the best parental figures in ITV rn. 🤧

Was Jahnvi’s plan rushed? Hella yes. But there are two things here, first with Manohar, and then Kavya/Kabir, Pooja has had two close shaves. Even if she framed Kavya, Kabir was sure to find the truth. So, obviously she had to expedite her plan. Secondly, Jahnvi has been working on her plan for at least two years, I’m presuming, entering PK’s company as an employee, gaining his favor and trust on her skills over even his own son, then marrying into the family and gaining their trust. For the audience, the show is only two months old, but from the point where the show started, Jahnvi has already spent quite a few years reaching up till this stage, so she can’t delay anymore, especially with the chances of her cover being blown increasing. 

The plan seemed too simple, but the thing is, PK was going to read the papers. For Jahnvi to avoid that, she needed two things, his unflinching trust, which she had gained over the years, and second, a pressure situation, where he can be distracted easily. I’d say finding out about a supposed arch enemy, threatening your rebellious son, and your Dad being paralyzed post a heart attack, can be pretty stressful.

Obviously Jahnvi could have lured him to a shady place and burnt him long ago, but she needed to ruin him and his family completely. So, getting the papers signed was a priority. 

I think this is where the best part comes. OUFFFF Shrenu was so good in the scene burning down that house. The transition from pain and hurt, to resolve and anger, and deathly calm after she did the act. Terrific! 🔥 In the same episode, Zain and Ayub were great too.

Kabir’s motivations are so clear. He is the good cop, upholding what is right and just. Obviously he saved his Dad, because he is a son after all, but right next moment he threatened his father, in a non-negotiable tone, that he better surrender himself to the law. 

And here we have the clash of values. While Pooja follows her own law, i.e. Hammurabi’s code of eye for an eye, Kabir staunchly believes in law and justice. I really liked that he restrained Dhruv, when Pooja ridiculed him, because he understood Pooja’s motivations and maybe even sympathized with her on some level. 

It was a little thick of PK to shout at Dhruv and blame him for marrying Jahnvi, when he was the one who trusted Jahnvi the most in the family, and even ridiculed his son, and thanked the stars that his son was lucky enough to marry someone like Jahnvi. Hmpf.

About Dhruv’s actions, I’ve already mentioned in another post, so moving on to Pooja. I am so glad that she broke off the relationship. Why was it surprising to anyone that she had never married him for real? I thought it was obvious. I mean, she wasn’t going to really marry a guy, in the legal sense, for the sake of revenge. That too, the son of her enemy. I was so glad when she said, “Mere kareeb aane ki koshish mat karna”. Throughout the two months of the show, they’ve shown us Jahnvi’s discomfort when Dhruv comes near, even though she did feel guilty sometimes about using him. Imagine her relief to be finally rid of him. Agreed, she should not have ridiculed him like that, but there is no polite way of telling a person that “you are a dumbfuck and I used you for my revenge.” What annoyed me were the reactions on Twitter condemning Pooja for humiliating Dhruv, and insisting that JanRuv should be endgame, because ‘Dhruv loves her so much’. I mean, what sort of shitty male entitlement is this? More so, because it is propagated by female stans. 

Anyways, coming back to the climax of this drama, SHRENU WAS PHENOMENAL. The transition from rage to mockery to a business-like voice telling the shitty Mitals to gtfo was so well done.👏 Esp. the moment, when she drills into their heads that ‘folks, that car ain’t yours, leave it’, I cackled so bad! 😂

I absolutely loved this week’s episodes. Only thing is, Imma gonna miss my shady Jahnvi Mittal. Shrenu was at her best with her micro-expressions and transitions, and I’ve never seen a more perfect casting on Star Plus in the past few years. No one else, and I mean it, no other actress on ITV rn can play Jahnvi Mittal, cuz no one has the calibre of micro-expressions that Shrenu does. 💜

But I’m ready for the open fight. Zain was so good this week, this show finally giving him what he’s capable of. Bring it on! 

#ek bhram sarvagun sampanna #ebss #shrenu parikh #zain imam #my stuff