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official-kenralie-fanbase · 1 year

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Thoughts about Sophies and Oralies relationship? What will happen? Are they going to be friends again? Will they become a mother-daughter duo?

I've been wanting to talk about this for a while so thank you for giving me a window anon! And ignore the fact that you asked this over a month ago in my eyes it has been merely a day

(and on a side note if I take a while to answer an ask please don't let that deter you from sending them! I promise I am incredibly honored with every ask I receive and am working on it slowly but surely)

Okay there is A LOT so I'm putting it under a cut

tl;dr: Both Sophie and Oralie messed up involving their relationship, but I think they're going to make up before the end of the series.

Sophie and Oralie's relationship is a really controversial topic everywhere in the fandom, and it's easy to understand why. From where I see it, the two main arguments are either "Sophie completely overreacted and Oralie was 100% in the right" or "Oralie's a jerk who ruined Sophie's life and Sophie had every right to get mad." (Obviously these are exaggerations, not calling anyone out in particular)

(LOL this reminds me of one time I made friends with like a 9-year-old girl -I think I was 16ish- who liked KOTLC, and I had Kenric and Oralie on my phone case at the time, so I showed her my case and she literally took my phone, punched the spot where Oralie was and walked away, never to speak to me about KOTLC again

Anyway back to the analysis)

But as I see it, neither of them was entirely in the right.

As someone who loves both Sophie and Oralie, I think it's a very complicated situation to which neither of them reacted the best way. In Sophie's defense, she did have every right to be upset, even angry. She'd known this woman for what, two years (ish??? I think?) at this point and never once had any indication that she was her biological mother. I would be very angry about that, and I have a stable family situation, unlike Sophie. Sophie's a teenager who's been through a lot of trauma, especially family-related trauma. She had every right to have the reaction she did.

And as much as I love Oralie, I can say without any hesitation that she had a bad reaction to Sophie finding out. There's more about why I think she reacted this way below, but she just kind of froze. Didn't really apologize, didn't explain, just went... hmm, might we say numb??? (*cough cough hint hint*) Not exactly a good way to convince your daughter that you care about her.

BUT I also think that Sophie's reaction to Oralie was a culmination of all of her frustration and anger about the whole situation. She deserved to be mad at Oralie, specifically, but she was also taking out a lot of her anger on Oralie. Because Oralie was a really easy person for her to take it out on. She 1) had been there all along and saw what Sophie went through, 2) had just participated in a highly emotional situation with Sophie in which she was encouraging Sophie to be honest and 3) didn't really fight back.

However, as justified as Sophie's original reaction was, I think she's purposefully holding onto her hatred at this point in the story. I'm not blaming her -I actually think this makes a lot of sense- but there have been many times when Oralie's cried or gotten emotional about Sophie/Kenric/whatnot (she's a very emotional person and I love her for it alright) and Sophie's gone like "sympathy what no I can't feel sympathy I'm reminding myself that I hate her". This is fascinating to me, how she's been betrayed so many times by people she cared about that she doesn't want to let herself believe that Oralie actually cares about her.

And then there's the whole thing about why Oralie reacted that way. She has actively shown how much she cares about Sophie at every opportunity she really could, so why did she not try to convince her daughter about how much she really loves her?

I think it boils down to two things: fear and being an Empath. If Kenric hadn't died, I honestly think that she would have told Sophie the truth much earlier in the series. But after he died, she was scared that she'd lose more people she loved, and purposefully tried to help Sophie while putting up more of a wall between them.

I think Mr. Forkle's death contributed to that as well. In the Nightfall-Flashback era, Oralie is in like two scenes in total. She'd lost one person she loved, and then watched Sophie lose someone she cared about. Oralie blamed herself a lot for Mr. Forkle's death, since he did die to protect her (their relationship is fascinating to me). After that, Oralie put up even more of a distance between herself and Sophie- not because she didn't care. Because she'd watched two people who she cared about die in horrible, violent ways, and the last thing she wanted was for that to happen to her daughter. It was easier to put distance between them, especially since the Council had just been targeted. If there wasn't an obvious relationship between them, the Neverseen wouldn't use Sophie to punish Oralie, as a Council member.

And then there's the fact that she's an Empath. It's obvious from her relationship with Kenric (especially *that scene* in Unlocked that I will never recover from) that she is a pro at hiding her emotions. As an Empath, she has to be. But my theory is that Empaths have to hide their emotions well, but over time, they forget how to use the emotions they've hidden- kind of like a minor version of what happened to Vespera.

I legitimately think that Oralie forgot how to care about Sophie- and not that she ever didn't care about Sophie, she just knew she couldn't actively show her support, so she tried to act more as a Councillor than she did as a mother. She's pushed that side of herself down for so long, not wanting anyone to find out that she's Sophie's mother because of the drastic repercussions that could have, that she's forgotten how to use it. She's used her Councillor guise to protect Sophie for so long that she forgot how to stop using it.

Oralie's helping Sophie with the caches and with finding out what Kenric hid, as emotionally painful as it was for her, is a strong sign that she is trying so hard to care. She's realizing that she can't be a Councillor and a mother at once, as much as she tried (WOAH Y'ALL the parallels to Shannon's own life :| projecting on her characters, she's just like us). That's why she had such a dramatic switch in Stellarlune. The personality swap, the outfit change, the secret office... it's all her trying so desperately to prove to Sophie that she's willing to stop being a Councillor to show her that she cares.

And Sophie still doesn't believe her. It makes sense under the circumstances, but I think both of them are going to regret this.

(subtly transitions into what's probably going to happen in the next book)

I think it's going to take the revelation of Oralie's secret for their relationship to actually heal. Whether Oralie's forced to reveal it herself, someone else reveals it, or it's discovered against her will, I am like 99.6% sure that it's going to be revealed to the world. There wouldn't be such drama around the whole "knowing your parent's identities could topple the world" thing if just that wasn't going to happen.

When Oralie's identity is revealed, Sophie's going to have to make a choice: To stand with her or against her. And I think she's going to stand with her. Because as angry as she is, Oralie is not her enemy. She's a flawed, broken person who's made both good and bad choices- just like Sophie herself. I think Sophie's matured enough by this point to realize that.

There's probably going to be an emotional scene where they make up- and a strong likelihood that this scene happens as Oralie is dying. I described in detail why I think she's going to die here so I won't explain it too much, but it would honestly be just like Shannon to make a super dramatic, emotional scene as Oralie is dying where they finally make up and end on a good note before she dies.

But as much as the angst-loving part of me would eat that up, I also think it would be amazing for them to become a girlboss mother-daughter duo and just like defeat Neverseen members together. I think between these two options, it depends on how late Oralie's identity is revealed. If it's late in the story, like right before the final battle or something, the first is more likely. However, if it occurs early in the final book(s) then I believe it's likely that they do have a good friendship for a while before the book ends.

If Oralie doesn't die, I think she and Sophie will remain friends. Sophie won't call her Mom, and Oralie won't be offended by that, but they'll still have a solid, deep relationship. I can picture Oralie being in the audience at her Foxfire graduation, the two of them having lunch together, Sophie taking her to the Forbidden Cities and showing her where she grew up. At that point, Oralie will likely have sacrificed something major for Sophie (probably her Councillor position) and Sophie will know that, even if she doesn't see her as a mother, Oralie really does care for her.

KOTLC is all about how your family isn't just who you're related to, it's who you choose. So how poetic would it be if it ended with Sophie and Oralie deciding what their relationship will be? They won't be mother and daughter, but they've bonded to have a beautiful friendship despite all the hardship and pain.

#kotlc #kotlc analysis #thanks for the ask!#anonymous #long post #kotlc headcanons #councillor oralie #kotlc oralie #sophie foster #kotlc sophie #there is so much potential in an amazing friendship between them post canon #these two broken women who partially contributed to breaking each other #they might be related by blood #but they have to decide to be related by their own choice

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ga-yuu · 2 years

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Yoshino Is my best girl❤️

I honestly love her because she's so different from the other MCs and so relatable!!!

I like how she can be such a cutie and a badass at the same time❤️❤️❤️!

Because of that I have many questions, so please answer if it doesn't bother you!

1. Does Yoshino kill somebody in any route or event? (If she does she's gonna end up being my waifu with Yona)

2. Does she have any interaction with her rival in love?

3. Does she treat Tamamo like a pet?

4. Is she someone easy to manipulate? (Honestly I don't think so but just in case)

5. Let's try to see ikegen like a visual novel, so we are Yoshino but she is herself and has a personality that sometimes can't be so relatable: who would ship her with?❤️

6. In the end: how will rank Ikemen MCs? (In the game you played ofc)

Thank a lot!

Sure!!

She is not the kind of person who chooses 'killing someone' as means of solving anything. Rather she would choose an alternative that doesn't involve killing. Of course, she's not a saint because she knows that wrongdoings have to be punished and she won't support any heinous act. You won't see her act all innocent and dumb. She would try to evaluate the gravity of the situation first and then decides to select the right punishment. If she thinks that a person deserves a second chance she will try and ask for it....it's not like she will get on her knees and beg 'Please punish me instead!!' or something like that.

But then there are situations where she does threaten to kill anyone if they touch her man. At that time, she knows that what she's doing is wrong and she won't forgive herself for it. But she'll still do it because saving the male lead would be her main priority. As for now, other than killing demons, she hasn't killed any humans.

2. Are you asking about Masako? Yes, she does.

3. Never! She always sees Tamamo as her best friend in every other route except for his. A buddy who will also support her and is always by her side. Due to their pact, her soul feels much closer to Tamamo than any other male lead. It's the same as Yoshitsune does with Kurama. You get what I mean right? It's something more than a friendship but less than a lover. It's a complicated relationship. Sometimes, Tamamo does switch to his little fox form to comfort Yoshino when she feels tired or sad. She'll be hugging him all night.

4. The Shogunate gang never manipulates her.....they bully her. The Rebels are the sweetest cinnamon rolls. They wished she was on their side. The Imperial Court trio is kinda sus. They have an Exorcist, a dead man, and a handsome grandpa.....so they might try to manipulate her because they think they're the darkest people in the world. Yasuchika would manipulate her if the situation demands (#anything for Akihito). Akihito, well, he does manipulate her almost entirely in his route. Ibuki.....I can see him manipulating her in his child form.

5. Wait Ikegen is not a visual novel? I didn't get that question. Do you mean to say 'WE' meaning 'I' am playing the visual novel as the main protagonist who is Yoshino....then who would I ship with? Sorry I didn't get that one!!??

6. Ikemen genjiden MC: Best MC EVER!! In the whole otome universe! You can't change my mind! She's the golden standard for MCs. Love her design! I'm happy that they didn't go for the boring long brown hair and brown eyes. Usually, Ikemen MC's designs seem inferior compared to the beautiful-looking male leads. But this girl has a pact form where her hair turns silver and eyes turn to gold...like a real fox. Not only that! My favorite form of her is in the story event 'Eternal Contract - What if I am a Demon?' where she's an actual demon and her eye color is hot pink and has beautiful pure white hair. I just love that form. Even her personality is very cute. I thought at first she would be dumb...and her only purpose in the game would be nothing more than romance. But I was wrong. Not only that! Yoshino is still useful to the male leads without her fox powers. She can work as a doctor and also get along with the soldiers. She's also very good at giving everyone moral support when necessary. She's my golden child!!! Okay, I'll stop here because I can go on and on about her if I want to.

Ikemen sengoku MC: She's the first sassy MC I've ever played and I like her. I don't know how she is in the JP ver. but in the Eng ver. I think she's really really good!! (Not as much as Yoshino though, no one can beat Yoshino!!). Since Ikemen Sengoku is the oldest game, I will give a pass for her design. I can say that her design and her hairstyle look very modern for Sengoku era. That's why I give her a pass!!

Now the rest feels like first copies of Ikemen Sengoku MC----

Ikemen Vampire MC: Seriously? They're the same person!! Ikesen and Ikevamp MCs look the same.. the difference is one wears a kimono and the other wears a shirt and skirt. Come on! Can't they make her hair or eye color different! or give her some more fashionable clothes. Maybe she's meant to be a relatable MC but at least make her look desirable. The male leads look so colorful with feathers and other accessories attached to their clothes but why not MC? And don't even get me started about her personality....She has no personality! She's vanilla! Other than being horny I found nothing going for her. I'm sorry if I offended Ikevamp MC's fans.

Ikemen prince MC: This girl has personality....BUT she's just too dramatic for me. I find her very loud sometimes and her reactions to things...well....some might think she's pure-hearted, innocent little girl but I don't! I don't care if her personality changes in every route...because no matter which route I play I'm sure I wouldn't really enjoy playing as her. I'd rather put Yoshino in every Ikemen Games if I was the CEO of Cybird! Her design.....yeah boring.....and also, can I ask WHY they made her job as a librarian? instead of author. I mean, her work as a librarian doesn't make sense. Also after she starts dating one of the princes, she just easily gets the librarian job in the palace without any effort. Yoshino had to prove to herself that she is useful both as a pharmacist and a reliable partner in war to everyone and Mai was on her own. Mai started her own business by herself in the Sengoku era!! These two worked hard for their jobs and Ikepri MC simply gets handed over everything just because she's in love with the male lead? Huh? I'm sorry! The plot of Ikepri is all over the place for me. I don't miss playing that game!!

Ikemen Revolution MC: At least!!!!!!!! Her design looks desirable! Blonde hair with blue eyes....perfect!!! Her dress is supposed to be the way it is because she is 'Alice' so yeah...I like that too. I don't know too much about her personality because I only played one route of Ikerev and in that route I found her to be Okay. Not great But okay. That's all I can say.

#ikemen series #ikemen genjiden #ikemen mc #ikemen sengoku #ikemen vampire #ikemen revolution #ikemen prince

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aro-attorneys · 1 year

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Oh the complicated...state of Dual Destinies and Spirit of Justice.

I'm not sure how to word this well so I guess this will just be a rambly essay or something.

I feel like my expectations were already lowered, which helped me enjoy any mainline game after the trilogy more (probably). I'm leaving AA4/AJ out of this though because it feels a lot more like Good Old Ace Attorney game that is clearly a follow-up after the trilogy and has the "retro" Nintendo aesthetic (can't believe I can call it retro. god).

Going into the Trilogy, I knew almost nothing about AA aside from "people ship the blue and red/pink guy" and a few memes. None of that knowledge came even close to the True AA experience, so I was rather blown away by the quality of the games.

Moving my way into the fandom after finishing AA3/TaT made sure that getting "spoilers" is inevitable. A combination of Fandom Exposure and having Friends who already played the games caused me to kind of receive...mixed reviews for post-trilogy games? DD and SoJ were the most controversial (I guess AJ just aged really well bc I mostly see praise for it nowadays). The overall impression I got was "not bad bad but also Not That Good either". (some takes were more on the negative side but some of them were more on the..."forgiving" side.

I really loved AJ, so I was wondering how DD and SoJ would hold up in that case. Like...maybe it wouldn't be that bad or something, you know? And the overall impression they gave me was Kind of a Drag but Not Bad.

Cases felt a lot longer. I guess that was only natural after moving to a better Nintendo system with more memory and processing power. But sometimes Cases that are Longer are Bad. It felt like they had more padding just to fill up some time and it made me move through the storyline incredibly slow; I got distracted easily because they failed to keep my attention. I know, big surprise from someone with ADHD lol. But the Trilogy simply held my attention better because with the limited space they had, everything had to kind of Move Faster for the plot to happen and every line contained important information.

Anyway, that's mostly a mechanical issue. I think another issue, one that most people probably agree on, is that it's very sterile. The first 4 mainline games clearly took more risks. They wanted to tell their story and felt more experimental; it felt more integer in a way. The games had a story to tell, a direction they wanted to follow. Whereas DD and SoJ so far feel very...safe. I'm sure others before me explained it better than I can, but I will try regardless:

The Trilogy and AJ didn't shy away from letting characters react pretty intensely to the situation around them, especially Phoenix. Because things were stressful! There wasn't a constant yelling of course but you could feel how stressful the final cases were for everyone involved.

I think the best example I can think of is Trucy. She was introduced in AJ and they made her instantly likeable to me. You're also immediately invested in her since she's the daughter of Phoenix. And you want to know what happened! How did she end up in Phoenix's care? Is she hiding something? Who were her biological parents? And by the time you unravel that mystery, you're invested enough that you can emotionally feel the importance of the bond between Trucy and Phoenix. AJ even ends with Phoenix stating how well he knows her as her adoptive father! You get a little glimpse of how both of them truly feel and it's just...so good.

And all of that was thrown out the window in DD (and SoJ by extend). They barely interact, they don't even mention any of the terrible things they went through together.

And that's the impression I have throughout both DD and SoJ. They do have compelling characters that I care about. I loved Athena's storyline! And I liked going against Blackquill! And so far I really like Apollo and Dhurke's storyline as well! But none of them really have the same lasting impact on me as the Trilogy and AJ had on me. I would say it's just AA Fatigue (I've been playing these games for so long lol), but even then. I've worn myself out during TGAAC too and yet its impact on me is much greater.

I know this "playing it safe" actually pissed some people off, or at the very least made them stop playing the game. To me, they are still enjoyable. But that is also about it. The only exception for me was doing Athena's trial in 5-5 which gave me the same excitement + stress feeling I had during the trilogy sometimes. There's also some other moments in both games that are actually really good. But if I had to give an overall expression, it would be Enjoyable at best and Dragging at worst.

Tl;dr: DD and SoJ are not Bad to me, but it does disappoint me a bit that once they knew they could just get money with a Safe AA game, they stopped taking creative risks and made Just Average Games.

Last side-note: I am aware of the rumor that Shu Takumi said to ignore AJ as much as possible due to its controversy. Ironically, I see most fans nowadays really like AJ so uh...hm.

#ace attorney #dual destinies #spirit of justice #phoenix wright #this wasn't gonna get a readmore but it got longer and longer so...hhhh

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thelasttime · 7 months

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Hi Madie! I am in this weird situation where I just don't know what to do or to feel... And I don't really have anyone I can talk to about it, but I need to tell this to someone. Hope it's OK, this might be long.

I dated this guy for 10 months, 5 years ago. He had a very close female friend whom I didn't like at first mostly out of jealousy. They seemed way too close. But whenever I brought her up, he would assure me there was nothing going on between them. And when I got to know her better with an open mind, I realised how sweet she actually was. I wouldn't exactly say we became friends but I had no negative feelings whatsoever towards her. And whatever doubts I had were all gone. So he and I dated for ten months, it was great, and then we broke up because I was moving across the country for uni and neither of us wanted to do long distance. We kept in touch at first but eventually, our conversations grew duller and we grew apart and now we only speak twice a year when it's one of our birthdays. A couple days ago, I got coffee with a girl I knew from high school who was friends with my ex's girl best friend. I'm gonna give everyone fake names this is getting complicated. Girl from hs, Anna was very close to Mary, when Toby and I were dating. Anna and I recently, coincidentally, realised we live very close to each other at the moment and decided to hang out. So as we were talking she said something that prompted me to ask if she was still close to Mary and she went, "Oh no, not really. But did you know she and Toby broke up" and I was like "what do you mean they broke up???? Were they ever dating?" and she had this look on her face like she said something very wrong. She immediately tried to change the subject but I persisted and she ended up telling me everything. So apparently, Mary liked Toby the whole time they were friends (as I suspected) and she actually told him about her feelings around the same time Toby and I started talking. He friendzoned her and then we started dating. But she got over it, or at least seemed like it, and so they acted like it never happened and kept on being very good friends. I didn't know any of this. According to Anna, nothing happened during the time Toby and I were dating but a little after we broke up, Mary admitted she still had feelings for him and they ended up making out at a party. A little after that, they started dating and they've dated for 3 years. THREE YEARS. In these three years, I would sometimes talk to Toby and he never ever mentioned a girlfriend once, which okay I can understand, but Mary's name would come up in conversation and I don't know- he'd say "oh I'm hanging out with mary this weekend" and all this time I thought they were just friends. I don't know how exactly one can say "Yeah the girl I told you not to worry about, I'm dating her now" but I would like to know? And how do I even trust Anna? Maybe there is more to the story. Maybe they were romantically involved somehow even when we were together? I don't know, I feel betrayed. I am completely over Toby, I've dated other people since, I moved on, but this new information is just... How do I trust anyone now? And also after we first broke up I was so incredibly upset and I was crying a lot about how I missed him so much and he was apparently making out with her at parties!

Anyway I had "traitor" by olivia on repeat today

this new information is definitely world-shaking ground-breaking news - i think i had something pretty similar with my ex boyfriend but it wasn't to the same degree (one of his friends also liked him while we were dating and then she also told her friends after we broke up that she had feelings for him but then he ended up not liking her which, because i am a petty bitch, made me feel incredibly good - sorry)

my perspective in this case is that it's so valid to feel upset and feel betrayed. it's also really shitty that he didn't mention at all that they were dating, i know it's not an obligation but it's definitely .. common courtesy and the right thing to do. i'm sorry to hear that this is happening AND he doesn't deserve anything good that happens to him. it also sounds like he's absolutely unworthy of any of your love and appreciation and your tears!!!!!!!

and it's possible to trust again, i think it will take time but i'm here to tell you that it's possible to trust people again. you're so valid in feeling like there's no ability for you to trust someone again, but i promise that in time, everything eventually heals. i hope this helps!!

#asks #asking you this*#anonymous

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vvatchword · 10 months

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Realizing that you have become polarizing for literally no reason is one of the oddest experiences in the known universe. Most of my life, I've had to work on my own sense of self-importance.

"u ain't shit," I'd say to myself. "U are just like any other goofy human being. Learn a little fucking humility."

It helped that life itself joined in and started curb-stomping me. Yeah u ain't shit let me show you what you look like on the inside bitch

But after this experience i went to my best friend and said, "I have just realized i am a motherfucking genius."

"now i think you are, too," she said.

You know why learning to read is important? Because it's how we organize and collate our thoughts. And it is horrifying how very, very badly that these people read. Hell, I'm not sure I was read at all! I'm pretty sure i was added to a long and sprawling blacklist and that there are return visitors to my blog activity to harass supporters.

This whole thing has also been a learning experience. How many times have i been guilty of abandoning OP's context to ramble off on some side track that's way outside their scope? Kinda rude honestly, especially if i held them accountable for not hitting my extremely specific new direction. There's a difference between adding to a concept and yanking it into a full 180. There's also a difference between judging someone harshly for an omission or mistake and being able to look at the rest of their work and realize it was just a bobble, something they would gladly correct or modify with a spot of discussion.

There is no optimism in essayism. Or on the internet, for that matter.

I will say that it's wild how someone can just say something without any proof and bam: that is the truth now. Because it's easy to consume, because the person disagreeing with me is who people want to believe, whereas i wrote a very long and complicated and unpleasant thing in support of media already lying firmly beneath the heel of a devoted hate machine. And who wants the trouble of dealing with a harassment campaign? Don't blame people for not reblogging or commenting. No, not at all.

It also makes me think about some of my favorite essayists, all of whom have been the targets of focused harassment attempts. Man, i will miss Lindsay Ellis until the end of fucking time and i will always resent the dumb fucking bullshit that drove her away. And for what? If anything, her treatment and the general handling of the situation proves the only way to win is not to play. Nobody wanted her to win and she was never going to be given the credit of a doubt as an adult human being with a working brain.

The control of the flow of ideas: controlling who sees whose work, probably with a single sentence of unsubstantiated bullshit. I'm looking at everything differently now: why do i feel the ways i do? Where and why did i consume bullshit, hook, line, and sinker?

The only thing I would change about the BioShock essay is responding to the Lakota blogger at all. Take the one correction that mattered and go on. Because there was nothing there to debate--what they were bringing up, the reasons they said what they said, and the ways they said them was for a very good reason: it involved family and their unjust murders. So i should have granted grace in that case: should have understood that a deep and violent hatred was fucking guaranteed, and that an intelligent debate was never, ever going to happen--not because the blogger was not intelligent, but because they were furious. What's more, if said blogger were truly Lakota, i could've gotten more cultural context. If that person ever shows up around here again, I'd extend an apology for not thinking about that.

But c'est la vie. Time to take that correction into the future.

But for everything and everyone else:

#vvatchword

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nightswithkookmin · 3 years

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RE: JUNGKOOK CHANGED IN RUN

Anon:

Why did Jungkook not want to be on Jimin's team in the last run episode? He has changed a lot from before. Thoughts.

My first thought is, you don't gotta interpret everything in a negative light.

Not every strong reaction is a bad reaction.

I'd be a phony ass fraud if I sat here and told you with my two thumbs that I didn't raise a brow at that moment. I did.

Especially when you contrast that episode with run 112 which falls on all fours with this current situation- ok may not all fours.

But in that video, like many others, RM had suggested they form teams based on the sunglasses they wore, just as he had suggested they form teams based on the seating arrangements.

Of course he'd meant it as a Joke just as we discussed in a previous blog post. Personally, I expected they make a draw, rock papers or even dance in circles like they did in the other episode to decide who got who in the competition.

But it seems in all the times he's been paired with JM he's been supper thrilled about it. He even warned the members not to underestimate him and JM when they'd unanimously concluded they were the disadvantaged team in the game- Jin not even bothering to ask them what their scores were on Korean.

He reset the timer to 10 seconds when Jk pointed out he wasn't good at reading fast

When the time stopped and they were asked to make a team of four, he turned to find JM almost immediately as if to make sure JM was part of the four, he held on to his arm to prevent RM from breaking the link.

He was supposed to pair with Yoongi and Jimin with Tae but he didn't even try to find Suga. At least V did try to find Jimin. He moved towards JM and when he realized JK was hugging him he went for Suga.

Throughout the episode he was giving JM tips on how to cheat and shot when he wasn't sure of the answers.

Yet in the last run, he didn't seem as enthusiastic about being paired with JM- or so, he'd have us believe. Smirk.

He ain't slick. Lol.

To me he seemed, on the surface of it, either really salty about the others having Jin or RM on their teams or upon reflection, just plain ass overcompensating for something.

I'd go with the later.

It's similar to how, Jimin got the Sauna card and he'd complained about not liking the Sauna but then swapped cards with Tae so he could be on JM's team.

Or how he'd make a theatrical show of wanting to win a competition but smirk satisfactorily to himself when he loses.

I really don't think it's a big deal.

Personally, I love watching them paired up and doing such activities. It's a great way to see how they work together as partners and as a team.

It's also a great way for them to spend time with eachother, enjoy eachother, nurture their bond and strengthen their relationship.

Fanservice or not, scripted or not, you cannot deny that spending time together doing activities together is good for building a relationship.

They spend a considerable about of time together off cameras but a lot of their time is spent on cameras and at work.

They gotta find a way to make their relationship work on the work as I keep saying. All that 'fanservice' people say they are doing? That's them making it work. They gotta find a way to go on dates, feed eachother, hold each other's hands, tell Jokes, laugh at eachother's jokes, express their attraction for each other, flirt, share eachother's interests and do things couples do without inviting public scrutiny to their every interaction and invasion of their privacy.

So where they see an opportunity they go for it. For JK it's the the little decisions he makes on their behalf like choosing where they will sleep, what activities they can do together, wanting the bigger room, making sure JM wins the presidential suite, or choosing a room detached from the other rooms.

He invests in his relationship the best way he can. Same goes for Jimin.

I keep saying this whole fanservice culture is a win win situation for them- for even any queer idol couple in the same band.

What seem like a challenge could technically be an opportunity for a date for them without dispatch breathing down their necks.

A typical example would be this. Jimin said he wanted to go get Yoga with the others but ended up going with YoonKook on their brewery excursion.

The more time they spend together, on and off cameras the more closer they get and the more they get to know eachother on a deeper level.

But you have to bare in mind, they need their personal spaces too in order for their relationship to function properly.

Jimin used can be very needy in his relationship but for the most part he enjoys his independence too.

Jk has always had a strong sense of independence but he can equally be quote needy and over attached once he is in a relationship- especially when things are going great for him.

Spending time apart, persuing personal goals and interest is good for them.

If it helps, think of moments when they hang around eachother as Jikook dates and when they hang quietly in the background of videos do think of those as them having their me times at work...

Would they miss an opportunity to 'date' or hang privately with eachother? I don't think so.

It's in their dicks interests and the interest of whole production team and crew to allow them to be around eachother as often and as much as they want and can.

I for one, I'm not prepared to sit through yet another excruciating episode of Jungkook wanting Jimin- physically and emotionally. I'm still dealing with the PTSD from the last BonV four episodes.

Y'all buy me Ko-fi please. I don't intend to sit through that shit sober.

If Jk is pushing to be on JM's team and what not it's mostly because he feels he needs to spend more time with him. If he's not pushing for that it just means he or they are both allowing for space and room in their relationship for eachother to pursue other activities and interests or even connect with other members- unless of course they are having relationship problems which I don't think is the case.

Jimin is particularly good at this.

He goes out of his way to nurture his relationship with the others even on set.

He does this especially with Tae.

He'd take Tae to go see places he and JK had already been to, he'd request to take pirate rides with Tae- even though JK is available and won't hesitate to let him know, he often make plans involving Tae or even the others- in Soop when Tae asked him to go ride around the town with him he chose to stay and manspread on Jin and Yoongi. *I'm cackling. Lmho.

Jimin is a funny guy.

Now does this mean he doesn't like spending time with Tae or that he's changed? Hell no.

Hell, Tae does the same thing from time to time too. I mean when he found out he had picked a Sauna card he asked to swap it knowing very well Jimin had picked that card too. Soulmates coulda soulmated that shit in hot piles of steamy.

Sure JK lurks around sometimes. He is the resident intruder stepping on Jimin's other ships' neck. Love him for this. Lol.

Perfect Disney villian.

Tae had to drag his ass away from the kitchen for intruding when he and JM were cooking in the Kitchen. Let's not talk about him physically removing him from JM's car or all the times he's complained about JK raining on his Vmin agenda.

When V wanted to be on a team with JM this man literally sabotaged him, hugging Jimin first. It's his laughter afterwards for me. Lmho.

V needs to insure his Jimin cos at this point it's trademark infringement. Hashtag soulmates. Lololol.

Jk needs to go ahead and free Vmin.

But JM does this too, in much more subtle ways- I'll never forget the look he had on his face when he had to get off the bus and walk home as punishment. It was the most heart breaking thing I ever seen.

Then he had to hang off Hobi to get JK to leave his friends and come to him.

It's why I used an ellipsis the last time I talked about Jimin being very mature now. Old Jimin would have, clapped back, made JK pay for that outburst if he genuinely thought JK meant what he said or believed JK really wanted to be on a team with someone else.

Y'all don't see him when JK compliments other people? He stays kicking his feet under the table🤣🤣🤣🤣

I used to pinch a gurl I liked when other gals talked to her when I was little- In my defense, I didn't even know I liked her or that it was straight up abuse💀

Jimin can be pretty scary and petty when he's mad or offended.

If it helps you sleep at might, think of this moment as just another one of those 'we've been a unit for so long do you wanna be with someone else now' scene from February last year.

Jk answered yes when JM asked him that. But do you really think he meant it?

Jikook is complex, not complicated.

They love eachother.

We can't be looking at their interactions as either or. Grey areas exist and it's not a negative thing.

Signed,

GOLDY

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itsclydebitches · 3 years

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Here's a quandary I've suddenly found myself in: where do you stand on writers deleting their own works, fanfiction or otherwise? I've had this happen to me on more than one occasion - I go to look for an old favorite and find it's since been deleted from whatever site I read it on.

On the one hand, I'm inclined to think that, "Sure. The author wrote it, it's their call. I don't own the work - I certainly didn't pay for it. It's their decision, even if it's disappointing."

But at the same time I can't help but consider the alternative - if I believe in death of the author (and I do), that an author's work fundamentally isn't solely theirs once it's been published, posted, etc., then it also seems wrong to have a work deleted. Stories aren't the sole property of their creator, after all.

But then I circle back. D'you think there are different obligations between authors and readers and the works being made in fandom space? I know if I had bought a book and the author decided they wanted it back, I would feel pretty comfortable telling them no, given I'd paid for it and whatnot. But that's a different world from fanfic and fandom space generally.

So. You're insightful Clyde, I'm curious as to what you'll have to say here (and to all y'all thinking about it, don't flame me. I haven't decided where I stand here yet - haven't heard a good nail-in-the-coffin argument for or against yet).

Val are you a mind reader now? I’ve been thinking about this exact conundrum the last few days!

(And yeah, as a general disclaimer: no flaming. Not allowed. Any asks of the sort will be deleted on sight and with great satisfaction.)

Honestly, I’m not sure there is a “nail-in-the-coffin argument” for this, just because—as you lay out—there are really good points for keeping works around and really good points for allowing authors to have control over their work, especially when fanworks have no payment/legal obligations attached. In mainstream entertainment, your stories reflect a collaborative effort (publisher, editor, cover artists, etc.) so even if it were possible to delete the physical books out of everyone’s home and library (and we're ignoring the censorship angle for the moment), that’s no longer solely the author’s call, even if they have done the lion’s share of the creative work. Though fanworks can also, obviously, be collaborative, they’re usually not collaborative in the same way (more “This fic idea came about from discord conversations, a couple tumblr posts, and that one headcanon on reddit”) and they certainly don’t have the same monetary, legal, and professional strings attached. I wrote this fic as a hobby in my free time. Don’t I have the right to delete it like I also have the right to tear apart the blankets I knit?

Well yes… but also no? I personally view fanworks as akin to gifts—the academic term for our communities is literally “gift economy”—so if we view it like that, suddenly that discomfort with getting rid of works is more pronounced. If I not only knit a blanket, but then gift it to a friend, it would indeed feel outside of my rights to randomly knock on their door one day and go, “I actually decided I hate that? Please give it back so I can tear it to shreds, thanks :)” That’s so rude! And any real friend would try to talk me out of it, explaining both why they love the blanket and, even if it’s not technically the best in terms of craftsmanship, it holds significant emotional value to them. Save it for that reason alone, at least. Fanworks carry that same meaning—“I don’t care if it’s full of typos, super cliché, and using some outdated, uncomfortable tropes. This story meant so much to me as a teenager and I’ll always love it”—but the difference in medium and relationships means it’s easier to ignore all that. I’m not going up to someone’s house and asking face-to-face to destroy something I gave them (which is awkward as hell. That alone deters us), I’m just pressing a button on my computer. I’m not asking this of a personal friend that is involved in my IRL experiences, I’m (mostly) doing this to online peers I know little, if anything, about. It’s easy to distance ourselves from both the impact of our creative work and the act of getting rid of it while online. On the flip-side though, it’s also easier to demean that work and forget that the author is a real person who put a lot of effort into this creation. If someone didn’t like my knitted blanket I gave them as a gift, they’re unlikely to tell me that. They recognize that it’s impolite and that the act of creating something for them is more important than the construction’s craftsmanship. For fanworks though, with everyone spread around the world and using made up identities, people have fewer filters, happily tearing authors to shreds in the comments, sending anon hate, and the like. The fact that we’re both prefacing this conversation with, “Please don’t flame” emphasizes that. So if I wrote a fic with some iffy tropes, “cringy” dialogue, numerous typos, whatever and enough people decided to drag me for it… I don’t know whether I’d resist the urge to just delete the fic, hopefully ending those interactions. There’s a reason why we’re constantly reminding others to express when they enjoy someone else’s work: the ratio of praise to criticism in fandom (or simply praise to seeming indifference because there was no public reaction at all), is horribly skewed.

So I personally can’t blame anyone for deleting. I’d like to hope that more people realize the importance of keeping fanworks around, that everything you put out there is loved by someone… but I’m well aware that the reality is far more complicated. It’s hard to keep that in mind. It’s hard to keep something around that you personally no longer like. Harder still to keep up a work you might be harassed over, that someone IRL discovered, that you’re disgusted with because you didn’t know better back then… there are lots of reasons why people delete and I ultimately can’t fault them for that. I think the reasons why people delete stem more from problems in fandom culture at large—trolling, legal issues, lack of positive feedback, cancel culture, etc.—than anything the author has or has not personally done, and since such work is meant to be a part of an enjoyable hobby… I can’t rightly tell anyone to shoulder those problems, problems they can’t solve themselves, just for the sake of mine or others’ enjoyment. The reason I’ve been thinking about this lately is because I was discussing Attack on Titan and how much I dislike the source material now, resulting in a very uncomfortable relationship with the fics I wrote a few years back. I’ve personally decided to keep them up and that’s largely because some have received fantastic feedback and I’m aware of how it will hurt those still in the fandom if I take them down. So if a positive experience is the cornerstone of me keeping fics up, I can only assume that negative experiences would likewise been the cornerstone of taking them down. And if getting rid of that fic helps your mental health, or solves a bullying problem, or just makes you happier… that, to me, is always more important than the fic itself.

But, of course, it’s still devastating for everyone who loses the work, which is why my compromise-y answer is to embrace options like AO3’s phenomenal orphaning policy. That’s a fantastic middle ground between saving fanworks and allowing authors to distances themselves from them. I’ve also gotten a lot more proactive about saving the works I want to have around in the future. Regardless of whether we agree with deleting works or not, the reality is we do live in a world where it happens, so best to take action on our own to save what we want to keep around. Though I respect an author’s right to delete, I also respect the reader’s right to maintain access to the work, once published, in whatever way they can. That's probably my real answer here: authors have their rights, but readers have their rights too, so if you decide to publish in the first place, be aware that these rights might, at some point, clash. I download all my favorite fics to Calibre and, when I’m earning more money (lol) I hope to print and bind many for my personal library. I’m also willing to re-share fic if others are looking for them, in order to celebrate the author’s work even if they no longer want anything to do with it. Not fanfiction in this case, but one of my fondest memories was being really into Phantom of the Opera as a kid and wanting, oh so desperately, to read Susan Kay’s Phantom. Problem was, it was out of print at the time, not available at my library, and this was before the age of popping online and finding a used copy. For all intents and purposes, based on my personal situation, this was a case of a book just disappearing from the world. So when an old fandom mom on the message boards I frequented offered to type her copy up chapter by chapter and share it with me, you can only imagine how overjoyed I was. Idk what her own situation was that something like scanning wouldn’t work, but the point is she spent months helping a fandom kid she barely knew simply because a story had resonated with her and she wanted to share it. That shit is powerful!

So if someone wants to delete—if that’s something they need right now—I believe that is, ultimately, their decision… but please try your hardest to remember that the art you put out into the world is having an impact and people will absolutely miss it when it’s gone. Often to the point of doing everything they can to put it back out into the world even if you decide to take it out. Hold onto that feeling. The love you have for your favorite fic, fanart, meta, whatever it is? Someone else has that for your work too. I guarantee it.

So take things down as needed, but for the love of everything keep copies for yourself. You may very well want to give it back to the world someday.

#fandom #fic things #mymetas #never any easy questions on this blog huh? lol

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rinisbowen · 2 years

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I am sending you this ask bc I know that you try to make objective analyses of the show. I just wanted to point out something that I keep seeing in many tv shows, including hsmtmts. I don't like how they romanticise the idea of someone homewrecking a relationship bc of love. What Ricky did was wrong. At least in Descendants Mal and Ben apologised to Audrey. I really hope that the show will address this in the future seasons and teach the viewers to "never put passion in front of principle".

i do try to do like- some decent analysis on this show, so I'm kinda excited to see this ask and such :) thank you for sending it!

i will note really quickly that i don't want to claim to be like- entirely objective in any whole sense of the word. no one is. our opinions are clouded by our own perceptions of what we see. it's also been like- a fairly solid amount of time since i've seen a vast majority of season 1.

another quick note: with some of this i do defend ricky as a character, because i see him get hated on quite a large amount, but this answer is critical of the actions he takes. i'm just not going to sit here condemning him wholeheartedly for being flawed, all of the characters are. we don't have to throw the baby out with the bathwater. (btw this note isn't for you specifically anon, i love talking about these types of things, just- a caveat of sorts for people who may read this).

there's a lot of media that does use this sort of trope, and tbh cheating which comes to mind for me here, is a lot worse for me than the homewrecking thing, i truly hate the cheating trope with a passion, but it is definitely not the greatest thing morally to actively pursue someone you know is seeing someone else.

i will say the mal, ben, and audrey triangle in descendants which i've also seen is definitely a bit complicated compared to the hsmtmts triangle, given there's like- love potions involved bc this is a fantasy universe. tbh it's a huge red flag that that's how things started between them in the first place, even if he's supposedly just properly into her regardless after the spell has been broken. idk- i don't like it. like i know there are nuances, and it's disney, so it's not that deep, but- i still really don't appreciate it. i think mal 100% owed audrey an apology though, honestly she owed an apology to ben too for controlling and manipulating him.

you're right that ricky shouldn't have tried to get between ej and nini. it wasn't fair to nini to continue pursuing her this way and ignoring that she was with ej (nor was it fair to ej, but obviously ricky has no loyalties to ej, so that doesn't necessarily matter to the same extent).

to the writing's credit- i think it's SO important that a) we see that nini does still love ricky, particularly when she sings all i want in 1.04 "this song's still for you", which is then reinforced obviously when she initiates their second almost kiss in 1.08 (meaning we're not supposed to be against him in wanting her back), and b) that nini and ej don't end things because of ricky's pursuit of nini.

we can argue the nuances of that whole voicemail situation all day, and ricky was probably overstepping by sending it, but it's not his actions that cause the breakup. it's ej's own reckless choices that do. ej was right to be jealous about ricky in a way, because we find out that nini does like ricky, but at the same time, it is a trust thing. ej should be able to trust his girlfriend. that was going to be an issue regardless.

ej and nini weren't right for each other, and it's obvious this was just a stepping stone for rini to get back together, but you're absolutely right, that ricky wasn't being a good friend to nini in his pursuit of her, which is- arguably, what she needed at the time. they were best friends before they dated, and while it wasn't going to go right back to that, i think that's kind of what would've been her own best case scenario, just friendship of some kind. after their breakup in the hallway, he was definitely hurt, and that's okay, but while bettering himself to be worthy of nini's eye is positive behavior and isn't inherently an issue, actively trying to get between her and ej (which is where this gets complicated), is a problem.

it's a complicated situation, with a less complicated framing, where we sort of see ricky going after nini who's ej's girlfriend and it's like at first we see nini and we're like oh she's happy what's this idiot who broke her heart trying to do now... but then we see that it's not that simple. but then it is that simple at the same time.

even if nini isn't necessarily 100% satisfied with her relationship with ej, that doesn't make it more morally right to get between them. how much of his actions were to put a wedge between nini and ej versus how much was to prove himself to her, is where the morality kinda balances for me, and honestly- i don't know how much falls on either side.

i do want to note that i don't find what he does here any more morally reprehensible than any of the other characters' actions that we're also supposed to more or less brush over, but you're absolutely right that he's not exactly mr. perfect. in the same way we learn ej isn't, even though that's how ej is introduced. (which is funny bc we sorta meet ricky more through how he broke nini's heart, but then we learn that he is a really good guy who really does care for her.)

ricky does give up trying to pursue nini after some time, because he realizes that well- it's not fair to her. i love that ricky can't have nini's eye until he's sort of decided he probably can't have her. it's the same sort of thing as how gina was never going to get a lead until she stopped feeling entitled to one. (tbh in my mind this is the first season she's actively in contention for a lead role and i'm excited for her). as long as ricky thought that he could have nini back and continued on that assumption, he was never going to be able to, but he learned, and he grew, and he was able to deserve her again.

as to the show addressing this in the future, given there's been no real like- ej / nini / ricky related issue since season 1, beyond i suppose you could say the conversation in 2.10 about "letting her go", i doubt we're going to have much chance at a conversation about this whole ordeal. they could prove me wrong, because if season 3 is, as i suspect, at the same camp nini and ej went to pre-season 1, they might take the opportunity for ricky to be like hey, ej, i'm sorry for trying to break you and nini up, that wasn't fair. and ej'll be like hey it's fine, we weren't exactly right for each other anyway. if they do it, it'll probably be very quick and dismissive.

i say this because the way the whole narrative was framed, the ej and nini relationship would've ended anyway, even if not for ricky's interferences, and then also because we're so far past that point now. heck ricky and nini aren't even together anymore. if we were going to get any kind of real conversation between ricky and ej about this, it would've had to happen early season 2. especially given ej and ricky seem pretty much chill in season 2 by and large. they're not like- particularly close, but they're not cold to one another by any means. ej being completely over nini (2.10) kinda closes off any real reason the show has to feel the need to address it.

i want to see the callbacks to the ej/nini relationship go on with the summer camp season, i think it's a waste not to use it in some way, but that's another post for sure. not because of ej and nini's relationship, but because of the vibes. i love a good parallel moment.

lowkey i very much love the phrasing there, "passion in front of principle", because that's what the situation is at its core.

it's what i hate about the cheating trope. i think the person in the relationship is obviously the most at fault when there's cheating involved, but knowingly getting involved with someone you're aware is in a relationship isn't great either.

i don't think that's necessarily a lesson this show plans on teaching, because to me so much of the show is about following your heart even when that's not the easiest thing. that theme plays out in a lot of ways across the narrative, but i think leading with your heart is why nini ends up with ricky necessarily instead of ej, and why that oh so heavily promoted triangle is so easily decided between for viewers of season 1. nini's heart is with ricky even if ej is the smart choice maybe, he's "perfect on paper". it's why nini comes home from yac even though her moms have had to do so much to be able to afford it and even though it's what she thought she wanted.

i think it's a good lesson, for like- real people, that you should behave in a more moral way and not let your own feelings get in the way of how you treat other people, but in terms of this show, i just- wouldn't anticipate it.

#hsmtmts #hsmtmts: analysis #hsmtmts: ricky bowen #hsmtmts: meta #answered #anonymous #descendants #anti bal #(not necessarily anti but... not friendly)#ship: ej x nini ( hsmtmts )#ship: ricky x nini ( hsmtmts )#//it's not really containing a ton about either ship but- i think for categorization of posts it's worth tagging

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gil-estel · 3 years

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~✨gil-estel’s long-promised spn rec list✨~

the general criteria:

(all fic will fit at least one, many will fit most)

✓ long (10k+)

✓ published after 2017

✓ canon-verse

✓ plotty and/or casefic

✓ nuanced exploration of dean winchester’s bisexuality

the fics:

Bender by vipjuly (destiel, 13k, rated E)

In order to protect a sorority from a vampire, Dean allows Rowena to transform him into a girl so he can go undercover.

He's still Dean. Just in a female body.

This is surprisingly easy.

Build a Home by domesticadventures (destiel, 20k, rated T)

After they save the world, Dean expects Cas to come back to the bunker with them.

He doesn’t.

Everything Comes Back to You by VioletHaze (destiel, 33k, rated E)

Dean knew better. Of course he did. But Cas seemed so charmed by the antique-filled bed and breakfast that Dean went along with it when the proprietor mistook them for a couple. Telling himself it gave them a strategic advantage to be so close to the crime scene, he agreed to the weekend special she offered them. When the case ended up being a bust, they stuck around anyhow because hey, the second night was free…

it never gets dark by vaudelin (destiel, 30k, rated E)

Normally Dean wouldn't get out of bed for a run-of-the-mill kidnapping, even without the hangover, but when Sam can't even write out the missing kid's name, he has to admit something's up.

Helping Sam, Patience, and Claire figure out who (or what) erased all traces of the kid is as good a distraction as any to get over Cas bailing from an abortive love confession. But when finding answers comes at a terrible physical price, the team is left with no choice but to call in any help they can get.

Like it or not, Dean and Cas have some uncomfortable truths to confront, and when worst comes to worst they'll discover what truly matters in the end.

Kelp! I Need Somebody by andimeanittosting (destiel, 27k, rated E)

It’s been a week since Michael was defeated and Dean freed, but Castiel can’t seem to get back on the horse. Dean, on the other hand appears to have bounced back completely, with one small exception: he no longer dares touch the now-human Cas at all.

When they receive a call from Jesse and Cesar to come investigate a series of mysterious drownings near their New Mexico ranch, Dean jumps on the job, much to Cas and Sam’s dismay. But more challenging than the kelpie they encounter, Jesse and Cesar’s relationship holds up a mirror, showing Dean and Cas the future they wish they could have. When Rowena and Charlie get involved, a shake-up is inevitable.

let me lay here so slow (i need never get old) by vaudelin (gen & bg destiel, 10k, rated G)

The day of Dean's fortieth birthday, told from Lebanon's point of view.

like moses and batman and james dean by saltyfeathers (destiel, 31k, rated E)

dean used to turn tricks. over a decade later, he met cas.

One Cold Night by xylodemon (destiel, 16k, rated E)

"Dean, are you all right?"

"Yeah. I'm just —" Dean shivers again. His teeth clack together. "Jesus Christ, it's cold."

So Goes the Song by aeli_kindara (dean/lee webb, 21k, rated E)

The first time Lee meets Dean Winchester, it’s courtesy of a chokehold.

Someone Who’s Feeling For Me by ellispark (destiel, 46k, rated M)

Dean sees her for the first time in nearly six years in some no-name town in Idaho, and it's panic at first sight.

Lisa Braeden, the one woman Dean ever actually had a shot at a real life with, back from where he buried her in his mind. And her hand is on Cas's arm like it's no big deal, like it belongs there. Cas, Dean's dorky, sweet, badass, angelic best friend, and he's just standing there next to Lisa and not moving her hand away.

Dean feels the jealousy rising, and it's not directed where he expected it to be. Because it takes this exact moment for Dean to realize he's in love with his best friend. He's in love with his best friend, and Lisa is looking at Cas like he's the best thing since automatic rifles, and Dean is utterly fucked.

Suck It, Judy Garland by midrashic (destiel, 20k, rated M)

It had to be St. Louis. Or, the one where Sam and Cas get fake married for a case, and Dean loses his mind.

Superheroes by aeli_kindara (dean/omc, 4k, rated T)

"I fuckin' hate group projects."

Dylan gives Dean a wary glance. He gets it — he’s not the biggest fan of these things himself. But when you’re a group of two, “I fuckin’ hate group projects” is awful close to “I fuckin’ hate working with you.”

In which a teenage Dean Winchester makes a friend and leaves something behind, and Sammy doesn't know when to shut up.

Talkin’ Bear Mountain Picnic by MittenWraith (destiel, 41k, rated E)

Strange things were happening in a small town in Northern Maine that had gained a reputation as the most honest town in the world in only a matter of weeks. Residents were going out of their way to confess their sins-- everything from jaywalking to murder, infidelity to true love. Sam, Dean and Cas all have their own reasons for wanting to stay far away from an honesty curse, but with Jack and his natural bluntness serving as their last line of defense, they decide to investigate. The last thing they need is another Veritas situation on their hands. The honest little town might be enjoying their newfound liberty to speak their minds, but the cause of this particular curse might prove to be Dean and Cas’s undoing.

The Thirty Six Questions That Lead to Love by aeli_kindara (destiel, 13k, rated M)

“So I need you to be my gay dads,” says Claire.

Though The Course May Change by imogenbynight (destiel, 51k, rated E)

After a couple who went missing several years ago from an Oregon couples retreat are mysteriously returned on the same night that another disappears, Dean and Charlie plan to go undercover to find the cause--until Dean's foot meets his mouth, and he finds himself fake-engaged to Castiel instead.

The Tunnel of Love by xylodemon (destiel, 21k, rated E)

"We might," Cas starts slowly, pausing like he's choosing his words. "We might have to kiss."

Dean just stares at him.

You Start to Grow Wings by FagurFiskur (dean/omc & destiel, 11k, rated T)

Dean feels his face warm up, suddenly all too aware that he’s sitting right next to his very male friend. He can’t make himself look over, too nervous that he’ll catch Eli’s eye and make this whole experience even more excruciatingly awkward. He wants to leave, but he also doesn’t wanna call attention to how uncomfortable he is.

He’s known gay people exist of course, but he’s never seen them outside of Very Special Episodes on sitcoms. Never seen something so explicitly, in-your-face gay.

At seventeen, Dean falls for another man for the first time. Twenty years later they happen to meet again and things are somehow much more complicated.

#spn tag #fic recs

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wearejapanese · 5 years

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By Yukari Tanaka

One question I have always found difficult is, “Where are you from?” While most people I meet are able to answer it with a single word — Japan, England, India — for me the answer is a lot more complicated.

The question itself is innocent enough, and rolling in multicultural circles also makes it unavoidable. At worst, it can come off as a less polite “What are you?” and, over time, I’ve shortened my response to “It’s a long story.” Here’s the abbreviated version: I was born in the Netherlands and grew up in Italy. My mother is Korean and my father is Japanese. I studied and worked in the United States, but six years ago I moved to Japan and it is the first Asian country I’ve ever lived in. What am I? Well, a little bit of all of these places.

The main thing that makes me uncomfortable about the “Where are you from?” conversation is that my answer tends to involve a lot of explanation, and the process of having to explain makes me feel like I am exposing way too much of myself to a complete stranger. It can sound particularly out of place in Japanese since people don’t tend to go into so much detail when they first meet one another.

When it comes to job interviews, it can be good to talk about yourself but being too chatty isn’t necessarily a good thing. What happens in my case is that, after carefully reviewing my resume and speaking to me in Japanese, my potential employers usually react with astonishment when I am able to answer any of their questions.

“Your Japanese is really good,” interviewers will tell me. “You can speak Japanese much better than we expected.”

I imagine this is also the experience of many kikokushijo, children born here who have returned to Japan after having lived abroad for a chunk of their life.

Though, I have to admit that when it comes to kanji the level of excitement would likely dissipate quickly as I’m still weak in that area. For instance, if I find a kanji that I can’t read on a menu at a restaurant, I either smoothly skip over it or mumble it in my mouth, then throw a big smile at the waiter and leave it to them to figure out what I just ordered.

Osaka and identity

Dealing with the question of where I’m from for my entire life has left me with a different one: Given the highly connected world we live in today, is it necessary to define people by their nationality?

Recent debates on Naomi Osaka’s identity have inspired me to re-examine my own identity. Osaka, the tennis champion who has been representing Japan on courts around the world, is what is referred to by some academics as a “third culture kid.” In their book, “Third Culture Kids: The Experience of Growing Up Among Worlds,” David C. Pollock and Ruth E. Van Reken define third culture kids such as Osaka and myself as people who have “spent a significant part of his or her developmental years outside the parents’ culture.” They note that the third culture kid will build relationships with all the cultures they come from, but not assume full ownership in any.

During the U.S. Open last year, Osaka was asked at a press conference about how each of her culture heritages — Haitian, Japanese and American — has affected her.

“Well, my dad is Haitian so I grew up in a Haitian household in New York, and I grew up with my grandma, and my mom is Japanese so I grew up with Japanese culture too,” she replied. “And if you’re saying American, because I grew up in America, I have that too. So I hope I answered your question.”

Hearing that answer, I don’t know if I’ve ever empathized with an athlete so much in my entire life.

Given our multicultural backgrounds, us third culture kids are frequently asked about which cultures we think we identify with most. I suspect that the people asking those questions are hoping that the beliefs and stereotypes they hold about my different heritages will be echoed back to them. For example, more than one of my Japanese acquaintances has credited Osaka’s athletic ability to her black heritage and her well-spoken answers at press conferences to her Japanese one — a problematic assessment that I try to correct when I hear it.

In my case, people don’t usually believe me when I say I speak Italian until I actually speak it, which I guess is understandable considering my Californian English and Japanese name. When I do speak it, I’m met with a lot of surprised faces because I speak it so fluently.

However, I get similar looks when I speak in Japanese because I move my hands a lot when I talk. This is likely something I picked up from being in Italy, and it goes against the stereotype of your typical Japanese woman. That’s when I will mention that I grew up in Italy, which helps the people I’m speaking to feel a little more comfortable again.

This exchange doesn’t just happen with my Japanese acquaintances; my Italian friends will tell me I’m not a “real Japanese” because I don’t like sushi and am bad at math. The former I can laugh along with, but the latter assessment? I feel I need to correct that one, too.

At home, my brother — born and raised in Italy — and I argue in a mix of Italian and English for two main reasons: Firstly, we express frustration better in English. Secondly, bad words — combined with some hand gestures — sound so much better in Italian. Mum sometimes speaks to us in Korean, and Dad’s Fukuoka dialect will come out during debates at dinner. While a conversation that involves four different languages may sound strange to others, to me it’s normal. And, in 2019, I’d like to think this situation is becoming less abnormal in homes across the country.

Citizen of the world

When you grow up in multiple worlds, you are not usually considered “native” in any of them. I can’t speak for all third culture kids, of course, but given my complicated roots I can say that I feel like I belong everywhere and nowhere all at once. I get homesick for a lot of different places, even if I can’t pin down which one I’m from.

Do I know every kanji in the “Manyoshu”? No. But I feel like I have the ability to communicate with people in Japan, the United States, South Korea and Italy. In the world we live in these days, I’d argue that this skill might be more useful in general.

Under Japanese law, Osaka has to choose a nationality by October, when she turns 22. Watching this situation play out in the media, odds are that whatever nationality she chooses will likely be a business decision. In the end, though, I think it is important to understand that just because she represents a certain nationality on paper, it doesn’t mean she identifies with one heritage more than another.

“Everyone is different, and that’s what makes life interesting,” Osaka tweeted last year. “We all have our own backgrounds and stories. Individual things that make us, us.” I couldn’t agree more with her statement.

I’ll continue to answer the question “Where are you from?” to the best of my ability with patience and good faith. For me, however, the more interesting question isn’t where I’m from, it’s where I’m going to go next.

#returnees #Mixed Race #Third Culture #Japan #United States #South Korea #Italy #Korean #Mixed #Japanese #Italian

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marshaeb · 3 years

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P.S: I'm Mated With The Cursed Alpha!

Chapter Fourteen

Hey guy! Don’t forget to Like, Comment, Review, and Follow for more updates! My apologies in advance for all the grammatical errors. Book will be professionally edited when completed.

“Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday, Miss Joel, Happy Birthday to youuu!”

The entire day-care staff and the pups surrounded me, singing off-key in my ear.

“Happy Eighteenth Birthday, Joel!” Ms. Sumpter exclaimed, resting a chocolate cake in front of me.

“I know it’s not much, compare to what’s in store for you.” She winked. I smiled, but my heart was ready to erupt in my chest. “But please accept this token of our appreciation.”

I was overly emotional but also happy that I’ve finally reached a milestone in my life. From a little girl, I’ve always dreamed of this day. Finding my mate, falling in love, starting a family, but unfortunately, that could all change in a matter of seconds.

The things in life I wish I could control.

That day in the library was the last time I’ve seen Alpha Darius. I haven’t spotted him anywhere since, and it was nerve-wracking.

Damn, he’s so unpredictable! But little by little, I’m starting to figure him out.

Then again, I haven’t heard or seen Jackson since he told me returned the other day.

The suspense of it all...it was eating me alive! They’re both aware that it’s my birthday. Who knows what those two have planned for today.

My stomach started to breakdown as I overthink about the worst possible outcomes. What if...just what if those two run into each other.

All the demons in hell would break loose! And here I am, caught up in the mix.

I zoned out everyone in the room...my mind was far and my heart was too heavy to focus on those celebrating for me.

“Ms. Joel?” Ms. Sumpter called me out of my daze, concerned. “Is everything alright?”

Gosh! If only she knew...

I placed a happy facade on my face and smile up at her as a few of the pups gathered around me. They were only there because they wanted to blow out my candles.

“Everything’s alright... I’m just thinking about this big day.” I whispered.

“Oh yes, didn’t we all on our Eighteenth Birthday,” she said as the other caregivers agreed with a smile. “Today you turn a new leaf...that lucky fella is out there waiting for you.”

I wish it was that easy. I’m in a living love triangle at the moment and it’s driving me nuts.

“Yes,” I cleared my throat. “Thank you.”

I lean forward and blew out my candles. The pups cheered and popped their party time confetti at me.

Since it’s my birthday, Ms. Sumpter gave me the rest of the day off to enjoy myself, but to be honest, I was far from enjoying myself.

Any second now things could turn around, and Alpha Darius could be my potential mate.

Arriving home, just a the door, Samantha waited for me with a small box in her hand with a bright smile on her face.

“It’s from yours truly,” she said, placing the small box in my hand.

My heart melted for a second and for the first time for today a genuine smile widened on my face. Jackson sent me a box. He always loves to surprise me.

I took it in my hand and shook it near my ear. Something was clunking inside. I wanted so badly to see what it was, but first to my room.

Before I could make it to the second step, Mom called out for me in her office down the hall. The door was wide open.

“Yes, Mom?” I said, entering her office.

She leaned back in her chair, her desk full of paperwork.

“I heard Mr. Hamilton is Sarah’s mate and they are engaged to be wed next month.” She said, eyes fixed on her yellow booklet.

I rolled my eyes annoyingly and sighed “Yes, good for her...”

She rests down the booklet and looked over her glasses at me confusedly.

“Wow, you said that quite coldly for a best friend.” She said, taking off her glasses. “What’s going on with you two? She said. “She told me you two had a little scuffle at the hospital. Ever since she been trying to reach you, but you’re deliberately ignoring her.”

“It’s nothing really,” I mumbled. “She has her mate...and I got my problems.”

“But, she’s your best friend.” Mom replied. “She called to wish you a happy birthday. And told me to tell you, that as soon as she comes out of the hospital, she’ll be stopping by to see you and patch things up face to face. She wants you involved in her wedding plans.”

“She has her mate...let him help her!” I exclaimed heatedly, then I shut my eyes feeling shame for overreacting.

“I see... I don’t know what happened between you two, but obviously, I sense that it’s jealousy.” She said.

“Jealousy?” I repeated, upset that she called it out for what it was. “Jealous of what?”

“That she already has her mate...and that you are in a more complicated situation,” Mom replied. “You envy her. I’ll admit it’s kind of cute. It reminds me of when you two were younger and always had fallouts.”

“Well, this is different!” I said, getting even more upset. “I’m not interfering with her life any longer.”

“Don’t worry, you two will patch things in no time—

“No, Mom! I mean it this time.” I said, not giving my decision a second thought.

Mom folded her arms and shrugged her shoulders. “If you say so.” She said not taking me seriously, but I was as serious as a heart attack.

“Anyway, that’s not the only reason why I called you in here.” She said. “Are you enjoying your birthday so far?” She asked tiredly.

I breathed out anxiously and nodded my head, “Y-yes ma’am...so far so good...and thank you for everything—”

“No need to thank me for the breakfast in bed and the gifts...” She said. “It was mainly your father’s idea... You should thank him.”

“I-I did thank him before I left for work,” I said wanting to finish say what had I to say, but she kept cutting off. “But—

“I wanted to take you hiking to the lagoon, but obviously Alpha Darius ruined my plans.” She said, tapping her pen against the desk.

Mom wanted to take me to the lagoon?! I’ve always wanted to go there...ever since I learned about its magical healing powers in school. Almost every day in junior high, I would beg her to take me, but she was always too busy and promised me she would take me on one of my birthdays...my eighteenth birthday!

“Sorry for interrupting you...what were you going to say?” She said.

“I just wanted to thank you,” I said holding back tears. “I— I haven’t got the chance to do it earlier... Now that we’re alone, I just thought I’d tell you.”

“What are you thanking me for, Joel?” She asked. “Not for... protecting you... as I should, right?”

I cleared my throat and nodded my head. “But it’s not just that...these couple years I’ve been nothing but a troubled teen. Disobeying you, shaming you. Even though I’m not your biological daughter, you still put up with my rebellious behavior and loved me anyway. The gifts are nice and all, but...nothing can top you, Mom...” I said wiping my teary eyes. “And of course Dad, Sammy, and Samantha.”

She paused and shook her head at me. “You’re my daughter...it doesn’t matter, biological or adopted...your mine, Joel.” She said to me. “You know that I love you.”

I nodded my head. Her words touch me deeply. I couldn’t hold back the tears. They just kept flowing and flowing.

“Come here.” She said as I shuffle towards her slowly. She took my hand in hers. “You’re nervous aren’t you?”

I nodded my head, looking down at my feet.

“Nah uh, use your words...” She said.

“Y-yes ma’am.” I sniffled.

“I know you are...any second now you won’t belong to me any longer...it’s such a hard pill to swallow,” she said. “Especially for me and your father.”

A warm, relaxed sensation came over me for a split second as she rubbed her thumb over my knuckles.

“Who do you think it might be?” I asked softly.

She glanced up at me, “What do you mean?”

“My...Mate.” I said, seeing images of both Alpha Darius and Jackson in my head.

She sighed, releasing my hand, “I don’t know.” She said. “But there’s no doubt that you are Alpha Darius’s mate. Because of his curse, his chances of his mate accepting him in return is very, very scarce... but because of that, you have a chance of finding another.”

Part of me felt thrilled because my heart beats for Jackson, but a part of me felt bad for Darius... All he wants is for someone to love him in return, but Moon goddess why me? Why?”

“If that’s the case, why is he so determined if you know what’s to expect?” I asked.

“Because it’s obvious that you have an attraction for him as well. The stronger the connection the weaker the curse will be.” She said.

“I-I don’t have an attraction for him...” I said strongly, but deep down apart of me really did. Even when I don’t want it to. “I mean he is awfully handsome, but...but so is Jackson.”

“Jackson is nowhere close to Alpha Darius in looks, stature, and dominance, but they do have one thing in common... agility.” She said. “Regardless of who ends up being your mate, just know that you will be the most loved and protected thing in their life.

“Mom, w-what are you saying?” I said giving her a hard, confused look. “I thought you wanted Jackson to be my mate?”

“I’m just saying what it is, Joel.” She replied. “Of course I want Jackson to be your mate, but that doesn’t change your situation, does it?”

I shuffled uncomfortably where I stood and softly reply, “No...”

“Good, now the only thing we could do is wait and see what happens.” She said. “Jackson’s back and he sent a surprise for you. It’s upstairs in your room.”

Immediately I turned around and rushed upstairs to my room.

My bed was covered in rose petals, a few gifts, and a silk emerald dress. My heart fluttered in my chest...it was the sweetest thing. I was falling in love all over again.

I walked over and started with the smallest box. It was from Sarah.

Read:

Happy Eighteenth Birthday, Joel!

About the other day, please forgive me, I love you,

Love, Sarah

Getting overly emotional, I forcefully bite back my tears and opened the box. It was a silver bracelet with stars, my birth sign, and a blue moon that represented my birth month.

It was beautiful, but being immature and narrow-minded, I rest the bracelet back in the box and rest it on my nightstand.

My mind was solely focused on the surprise Jackson had for me. I opened his first gift, revealing the most beautiful black and silver rhinestone heels I always wanted. I took out a shoe and marveled at its beautiful detail.

Then my eyes drifted to another small box. Inside revealed the most beautiful drop diamond earrings I’ve ever seen.

“They’re beautiful!” I whimpered as I blinked back my tears.

My sweet, sweet Jackson. He did all of this for me not having a clue that our relationship is being compromised by another man. The same man that seduced me and in return I willingly seduced him behind my boyfriend’s back. Guilt and sadness started to take over me. Questioning myself if I should accept these lovely gifts that he wholeheartedly went out of his way to get me, his unfaithful girlfriend.

I looked over at the small box Samantha gave me at the door.

I opened it up and stared at the two chocolate kisses, my favorite candy, but there was also a folded piece of note inside. I unfolded it and read it aloud.

~Happy Birthday, sweetheart! I hope you love the gifts I sent you, there’s more to come...I can’t wait to hold you in my arms again. I’m going to wine and dine you tonight. Meet me at the Closure at 7:00 pm in your pretty, little dress.

Love, Jackson.

I instantly grew all bubbly inside and quickly ran into the bathroom to prepare my bath with the bath&body works Mom gifted me this morning for my birthday.

After soaking, shaving, moisturizing, and applying a small amount of makeup over my face and my neck, I fixed my hair into a curly afro.

The dress fit me so perfectly, showing my natural curves. The drop earrings complimented my complexion nicely. I felt like a million dollars, but deep inside I was still so nervous...nervous about what to expect.

As I walked downstairs, all eyes were on me.

“Is that you, Jo?” Sammy said with his eyes wide open.

Samantha playfully nudge her elbow into his shoulder, “Of course it’s her!”

I chuckled softly as Dad called for me.

“You’re so beautiful!” he said holding my hand. “My baby’s all grown up!”

“Ah, Dad you’re gonna let me ruin my makeup,” I said trying to force back the tears, kissing him on the cheek.

“Which we don’t want!” Mom said, sipping on a can of soda. “So it’s a date, that’s nice! Where to? I’ll drop you off.”

“It’s at the Closure,” I replied.

They all gasped sharply.

“The Closure, eh? That’s quite expensive.” Samantha said.

“Yup, Lad got that coin I see,” he said. “Maybe he can take me and my girlfriend out next.”

“Get a job, heffa!” Samantha said.

“Let’s get going.” Mom said as we headed out the door.

“Have a goodnight!” Dad and Samantha said waving as we left.

“Bring me a spare plate, Jo-Jo!” Sammy said as Samantha pulled him back inside the house.

After a short drive to the Closure, Mom dropped me off at the entrance.

“Tell Jackson there’s still a curfew for you,” she playfully winked. “Enjoy your night and stop worrying.”

“Yes ma’am,” I said as she drove off.

I turned around and face the entrance of the door and slowly walked towards it, but something felt off. The wind had a thrilling feeling to it and all my senses were growing sharp.

As I stepped inside the five-star establishment, I marveled at the elegant interior design as the hostess welcomed me.

“Welcome, to the Closure, ma’am,” she said.

“Oh, thank you,” I said looking around for Jackson, but it seemed as if he hadn’t arrived as yet. “table for two please.”

She escorted me to a comfortable seating near the frosted window under a stunning chandelier.

“Thank you!” I said as I took my seat.

This was so romantic, but where is Jackson? Probably late on purpose to surprise me. He always does that.

I glanced at the couple a few tables before me, indulging in a warm kiss. The scene made me melt inside a little, but then my mind went on Alpha Darius. Remembering the intense kiss we shared. I shook my head, trying to forget all about it, but my heart kept racing as I shuffled uncomfortably in my seat.

I have to stay focus. I have to get him out of my mind!

Five minutes turned into seven, then ten. Still, Jackson was nowhere in sight.

I was starting to grow worried. My mind raced with every disastrous thought I could think of. What if Alpha Darius got a could hold of him on his way here. He’ll find out that I’ve lied to him when I said I had broken up with Jackson when really, I didn’t.

“Oh, goddess! I can’t take this!” I muttered to myself.

I got up promptly and headed towards the lady’s restroom.

I looked myself in the mirror and took deep, sharp breaths. I just needed to calm down, but nothing seems to work.

“Come on, Joel, calm down,” I said. “Deep breaths...deep breaths.”

Gradually I became at ease when suddenly the restroom open and it locked behind the person who entered.

“You look really nice in your dress, princess.” The familiar deep voice said.

My ear flinched back as a sharp, chilling sensation rolled through my body. I slowly looked over, gasping deeply at the man standing before me. He was dressed in a fitted black suit that displayed his gold chain laying on his muscular chest. His jet black hair was slick back with a diamond stud in one ear.

He stared at me with those blazing golden eyes as a dark, cunning smile formed on his face.

It was Alpha...Darius.

“Happy eighteenth birthday!” he said with a smile.

Instantly, it hit me.

Every hair strand on my body stood upright as I inhaled a big whiff of his scent. It was a sharp, hazel, vanilla mixed with a hint of mango passion. It burned in the back of my nostrils, hitting my brain like a strong drug.

He took a step closer and his scent became even more potent.

I hunch over, feeling a slight churning feeling in the pit of my stomach. “That’s right...take me all in, baby girl,” he said. “You can’t fight it...the more you fight, the stronger it gets.”

My nails were shifting and unshifting into claws and the same with my teeth.

“I’ve kept my word...I’ve waited...” he said.

My wolf, she was raging, flipping, and howling from within, ready to emerge for the man standing in from of her. She has finally found her mate.

“I told you an Alpha knows when something belongs to him!” he smiled hungrily at me. “You officially belong to me, princess. Get ready for a hell of a ride!”

A/N

How do you like the book so far guys? Are you happy for Darius?

(Click the link below to continue)

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noshitshakespeare · 7 years

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Do you think Benedick and Beatrice are the feminist, funny, wonderful couple that Tumblr thinks? I'm just disgusted by Beatrice being like, "if you're not willing to kill someone for me then you don't love me". How is that funny and healthy?

I think that any labelling like ‘funny’ or even ‘cute’ is going to be a simplification whether you’re talking about a couple or a character in Shakespeare.

As far as Benedick and Beatrice are concerned, a funny, “feminist” and wonderful couple is at least part of what they are. Their ‘merry war’ (1.1.58) is funny and charming in its own way, and the best thing about them is that they can talk to one another as equals; that is, as intellectual equals, and that Benedick is willing to trust Beatrice over his friend and comrade as well as his prince. But as you point out, that’s not all there is to them, and that glimpse of darkness we get when Beatrice tells Benedick to ‘kill Claudio’ (4.1.288) is not easily reconcilable with the image of the witty charming lady of the earlier scenes. There is most definitely a touch of unhealthiness in there. I also think that, while one can argue that Benedick and Beatrice were really in love with one another all along, textual evidence suggests more strongly that their love interest remains half manufactured by their friends to the end, so that Benedick loves Beatrice ‘in despite of his heart’ (3.4.83).

Criticism is not straightforwardly positive on the subject of this couple. What becomes clearer through the most tragic moment of this play is that the whole story is hiding some serious anxieties about marriage and about the relationship between sexes. As many have pointed out, male distrust of women and marriage is the driving anxiety behind this play. And the automatic connection between marriage and cuckoldry suggests a fear of the power women have over men when it comes to the questions of paternity.

Even though it can be taken and played as a light-hearted repartee, the initial battle of wits between Beatrice and Benedick also, on closer look, hides some serious fears and problems both of them face and that reflects the wider problems of the society of their Messina. A sharp tongue and a ready wit is both a weapon and a shield that protects the two protagonists from their fear of the other sex.

For instance, one can’t ignore the fact that Benedick calls himself ‘a professed tyrant to their sex’ (1.1.160-61) putting on the persona of a misogynist (which draws on a long tradition of rhetorical debate literature that argued about the virtues and vices of women). His description of Hero, even in his joking spirit is based on outward appearances alone – ‘too low for a high praise, too brown for a fair praise…’ (1.1.165-6) – and is frankly abominable. Also Benedick’s general approach to women shouldn’t easily be dismissed as innocent just because of his actions later in the play or because he happens to generalise all of mankind as sexually promiscuous: ‘That a woman conceived me, I thank her; that she brought me up, I likewise give her most humble thanks; but that I will have a recheat winded in my forehead, or hang my bugle in an invisible baldrick, all women shall pardon me’ (1.1.223–7). The equation of marriage and cuckoldry is problematic and fundamental to an understanding of Benedick’s character.

Beatrice too has her own set of problems. She, like Benedick, likes to play a part, in her case the part of the shrew who ‘must sit in a corner and cry heigh-ho for a husband’ (2.1.299-300). She also takes on masculine characteristics and implicitly devalues women in doing so, much as Rosalind is accused of doing by Celia in As You Like It. Even though she’s powerful in her own way, she is only so within the confines of her small world, and as her reaction to Claudio’s treatment of Hero goes to show, she isn’t willing to break down the constraints of society and the decorum of what a man or a woman can and can’t do. In saying ‘O God that I were a man! I would eat his heart in the market place’ (4.1.306-7), for instance, she actually accepts male violence and her inability to step into that world (which is not a feature of Shakespeare’s women is general).

But Benedick’s personality goes beyond the character of the stereotype misogynist (and Beatrice, needless to say, is more than a shrew) in the same way that Hamlet goes beyond the conventions of the revenger character. And one of the greater things that happens in the play is that he shakes off these conventions he professes by choosing to believe in the women he claimed to be a ‘tyrant’ towards. What it reveals, in the process, is that all these constraints of behaviour are neither natural or necessary parts of human relationships.

Still, I don’t think Much Ado ever quite manages to step out the the confines of social forms (even though it’s apparent that Shakespeare as a writer has a broader perspective on the matter), because in the very process of breaking apart assumptions about the relation between sexes, new constraints related to honour and gender come into play, and that’s the moment that Beatrice asks Benedick to ‘kill Claudio’.

I can understand your disgust about this scene, but it’s complicated because involves early modern notions of honour which by current standards can seem problematic. Beatrice wants to avenge the insult to her family, but feels she can’t because she’s female (showing her adherence to the violent codes of honour). To be fair on Beatrice, she doesn’t enforce the role on Benedick immediately. He offers his help and she refuses it by saying ‘it is a man’s office, but not yours’ (4.1.266). This is a threefold point: she’s saying that he doesn’t owe her anything, that he isn’t a close enough relation of hers to take on the role, and that he’s too close a friend of Claudio’s to do it. Benedick should have seen what was coming at this point. It’s not so much that she says Benedick needs to kill Claudio to prove his love to her (at least initially), it’s more that because he’s told her he loves her (which is the same as a promise of marriage by early modern standards), he is now a close enough relation of Hero’s to avenge the slight. If he doesn’t, then he might as well be saying that he isn’t willing to become her family. In a way, it’s a wonderful moment because it’s explicit about the injustice of a woman’s situation that she cannot stand up for herself. But it also shows the implicit violence of a society that makes giving a man such a choice socially acceptable and the limits of the freedom of these characters that they can’t see past the arbitrary social structures that enforce silence and patience on women and active violence on men.

It’s probably not such a problem for people to see Beatrice and Benedick as a funny and wonderful couple, because the enjoyment of a play doesn’t need to include an in-depth analysis and a full recognition of the problems that boil under the surface of what seems a light-hearted comedy. It’s worth remembering that people remember and emphasise the parts they enjoy and rationalise other parts based on their perception. I do think, though, that the recognition of the jarring moments in Shakespeare’s plays are key to going beyond the stories and characters to a structural assessment of what the playwright was up to in creating this particular piece. The recognition of one’s discomfort is the first step to a critical appreciation of a work of art that goes beyond entertainment.

#Anonymous #anon anon sir!#Beatrice #Benedick #Shakespeare #much ado about nothing #asks #long post #I've been disheartened lately by people implying that I haven't a decent understanding of this play or its characters #This post is probably a little more wordy and scholarly than usual in consequence #sorry #I just don't like to tackle a subject when I don't think there's space for it in a post #And as you can see I think Beatrice and Benedick are an extremely complicated pair #even this is a little on the simple side as analysis goes

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