#is that so many of these dynamics feel more and more fleshed out and complex with every rewatch as you notice more and more? ALSO yes

[thecryptidbard]

Currently once again rethinking Hetty lines through the lens of her relationship to Thomas (spoiler warning through season 2).

Like her comment to Pete in Weekend From Hell, where she says he should’ve thought before he traded his soul for some snot-nosed urchin. Is this just her being anti-children in general, or specifically because she learned firsthand how thoroughly and horribly your descendants can disappoint you, such that she doesn’t believe Pete’s sacrifice for his own descendant would have been worth it even in the absence of Elias’s tricks?

Or the scene at the end of season one, where the ghosts think Sam may be about to lose her ability to see them, when Hetty says Sam has become like a daughter with harlot hair…is she at that moment thinking about the other child who she had to watch make terrible mistakes she could do nothing to help prevent or fix, wondering if that’s what her life is about to become again?

Even in the season two finale, when Sam is about to lose the house and Hetty is just talking about the cable package and how much they’ll miss having someone to serve them…it’s played for laughs, of course, but takes place as the ramifications of everything with Thomas are still actively ringing through the house. Might Hetty genuinely in part be trying to distance herself from caring about Sam as a way to protect herself from the hurt that all her experience has taught her comes from caring about family—the hurt that she’s so very recently been painfully reminded of?

#cbs ghosts #hetty woodstone #shoutout to the ghosts server for getting my brain spinning about Hetty’s relationship to Thomas again #do I read way way way too much into this silly sitcom? yes #but do I also think one of its biggest strengths #is that so many of these dynamics feel more and more fleshed out and complex with every rewatch as you notice more and more? ALSO yes #it speaks #cbs ghosts spoilers

[bottlepiecemuses]

Let’s Be Honest He Appeals To Women A Different Way

People call Oda Oda sexist, but in my opinion focusing on his target demographic isn’t bad. Girls aren’t excluded but I think it’s good he’s not automatically pandering to them through romance because in my opinion if he did those elements would feel forced in this show. And I think unintentional pandering to your unintended audience tends to be better than when you intentionally do so and it could potentially turned off that segment. 

The most obvious attraction that women have to this series is the dilf hot males, especially the villains. Seriously, it’s really the most unintentional of pandeirng that Oda creates these types of villains and the female audience eats it up. While most shonen series focuses on hot young men, this series give attraction to old men as well and we female fans are eating it all up. 

And again the female characters, despite the criticisms of same character mold I do think when it comes down to it excluding romance has helped. Seriously, while on the surface level the latter three are attractive and used for fan service, Oda does his best to also flesh out their characters. For instance, Nami and Robin are different types of smart guys on the crew and are critical to helping Luffy on his journey by traveling safely through the world and knowing the secrets about the messages of the Poneglyphs. In my opinion, it makes them stand out to me because they serve more than fanservice but also as people who have their place in the story. They might not get as much fights, but they manage to be strong female characters in their own right. 

Another is Vivi who isn’t the strongest fighter but has the strongest spirit and has taken on evil organizations and now the government itself to stand up for what she believes is right. Vivi might not be an official member but she is in spirit a close secret ally of the crew and her presence really brought a great dynamic from the crew that makes them all still miss her being around. 

And finally Big Mom why is she on this list, because interesting enough Oda could have just made her a one dimensional fat fuck, but instead he made her a complex character even though she’s a villainess. And even though everything she’s gone through is not an excuse for her behavior, it still makes her a compelling character to read because again someone like her ended up this way because so many people wanted to use her and enable her worst qualities for their selfish ends. And in the end we have a woman who not only can’t emphasize with people and feels entitled to everything due to how she was taught to see the world. In my opinion Oda, didn’t have to do this but I am glad and it makes antagonists like her very happy to see. 

And again even though One Piece isn’t about romance, it really gives compelling canon couples some spotlight. Seriously, one of them is Capone and Chiffon, who you wouldn’t think make a wholesome couple but they do. He seriously showers this woman who was so abused by her mother for what her sister did and adores the son they have together. He even goes up against her brother who was going to kill her even though she pleaded to leave her. This guy really does love his wife and would anything for her like a real man would. And again in my opinion, lovey dovey romance is something Oda will never do but I admit I think any woman would want a man like Capone to stand up for her like that. And in my opinion, if you ever see a married couple in this franchise you will bet your ass that married couple will have something deep and lasting. With exceptions being Yassop and Big Mom herself. 

#one piece #one piece oda #oda #big mom #vivi #king the wildfire #sir crocodile #doflamingo #charlotte katakuri #nico robin #nami #capone pez #capone bege #charlotte chiffon #charlotte linlin

[liquidstar]

you know ive talked extensively about what a tragedy it is that so many nerdboy fans missed the entire point of rem's character (as well as subaru's rejection of her) but i feel like no character suffers more from this reddit cumbrain mischaracterization than ferris. fanon ferris is such an insanely far cry from the actual character- mainly because theres no fucking character to be found in fanon! most of the content is literally just about a "femboy" tr*p fetish and nothing else, ferris exists almost solely for porn and even when that ISNT the case is just blatantly mischaracterized to be a stock "smug flirty catgirl" miss nagataro-esque trope. again, no character at all just a fetish. like in reality ferris is 1. a multi-fasted complex character with a frankly insane backstory, fleshed-out dynamics with other characters, and a really cool set of healing powers taken to the extreme NOT TO MENTION a more complex relationship with gender than what the fanbase reduces it to (a fetish), 2. not even a little bit into subaru despite what so much of the fanart that uses him as a self-insert might imply. ferris is in love with crusch, they could not physically give less of a shit about whatever subaru's got going on, and 3. would not fuck you. whatever. justice for our catgirl. ferris im so sorry the gross hentai dudes took you and made even your image seem weird when its actually a cute design

everyone apologize.

#ferris ''blue'' argyle i am so fucking sorry #do i put this in the main tag? you know what yeah i will #re:zero

[hylialeia]

thoughts on the Daevabad Trilogy, short version: holy shit that was good

longer version:

holy shit that was good.

I adored the writing style, the imagery, the worldbuilding, the characters, the character dynamics, and the pacing all the way through. I first picked up this series because of how Global Medievalism talked about it as a stepping stone away from Eurocentric medieval fantasy and it definitely delivered. this is tied with Spinning Silver for my favorite recent reads--which is even more impressive since SS was a standalone, meanwhile this series kept up a consistently high quality across three separate books.

after Fourth Wing masquerading as a rich, complex adult fantasy and then being What It Actually Was, this was an immensely satisfying series to pick up. it skirts the fantasy staple of the Inherently Evil Race/Species that so many works fall into (even asoiaf with the Others) and instead opts to explore in-depth religious and racial prejudices, revolutions, bigotry, power, and privilege in ways that can be frightening for a lot of authors (and readers). I can see why this series would frustrated a large swath of fantasy fans and not just because it steps completely away from the Europe-but-slightly-to-the-left settings that they're so familiar with; people looking for escapism and a palatable black-and-white conflict definitely wouldn't find it here.

that said, I also think the narrative did a fantastic job of showcasing the brutality of oppression, as well as cycles of revenge and violence, without turning into a sermon about how anyone who fights back is Just As Bad as the oppressor. you can sympathize with any faction within the trilogy while still seeing that there's a clear hierarchy. this is a series that asks the reader to be open minded and to sympathize with a variety of people's suffering while still condemning heinous actions, crimes, and ways of thinking. portrayals of violence, swearing, and sex aside, this is where I believe the adult label is earned. the Daevabad Trilogy outshines Fourth Wing in its entirety, actually following through on promises of depth, complexity, and exploration.

I don't think the series reaches into absolutely flawless territory; on reflection, there are a lot of scenes I wish we'd seen happening in the moment rather than summarized or briefly flashed back to. this goes especially for the end of the last book, Empire of Gold, which would have enhanced the pacing quite a bit. there's a bit of rushing through the final battle, and though it's still quite fantastic and follows through on a deal of foreshadowing and character build-up, it definitely feels over too soon. there are also a few loose ends and potential conflicts when it comes to the characters themselves that the series felt too tired to actually flesh out by the end. I can forgive that chiefly because of just how well-rounded and consistent the characters themselves are, even despite those instances.

and holy shit did I adore these characters. I've only seen the barest tip of the iceberg of discourse this series caused (which I'm sure was insane when it first came out), but thankfully the 10 million+ Way More Problematic Characters (that I also love) in asoiaf has made me immune to whatever the hell was going on over there. I also couldn't get involved in a ship war if you paid me.

I think the first book made a good call only having Nahri and Ali's POVs not just from a technical standpoint (Dara's POV wouldn't have added much, and may have even spoiled some meaningful twists) but also in priming the reader for what is the heart of the entire trilogy: their dynamic. Nahri and Ali carry the series whether they're young, platonic best friends who should be enemies, awkward ex-friends who still get a long way too well, or best friends who are deeply in love which each other but too traumatized to admit it. they both stand incredibly well as individuals (evidenced by the fact that they don't even meet until over the halfway mark in the first book), with Ali being a particular favorite of mine from the very beginning. their opposite upbringings yet similar interests made them a fantastic duo, one where it made sense the impact each one would have on the other's journey. there's something so incredibly endearing about their inability to legitimately dislike each other despite their circumstances, one that makes sense based on their already established personalities; they propel the series' most meaningful moments.

for the elephant in the room: as frustrating as Dara's POV could be I found it a worthy and fascinating addition in the later books, one that I think a lot of people missed the weight of if they were too busy excusing him/hating him. his perspective, biased and misguided as it often was, provided so much rich exploration of the trilogy's overall themes: militarism, religious fanaticism, prejudice, free will, just war, revolution, cycles of violence, conditioning and abuse, etc. that so much of this seemed to fall to the wayside in a strive to decide if he was excusable or not (and thus a viable love interest or not) is a huge shame. his ending was, to me, profoundly satisfying; not redeemed but finally allowed to act of his own free will, no longer bound by outside magic or internalized religious obligation. I never violently disliked Dara and Nahri's romantic entanglement so much as I knew it was doomed from the moment Ali had a POV chapter.

the secondary characters were no less engaging for me, especially as their prominence grew throughout the books, antagonists or otherwise. it was refreshing to see Muntadhir and Jamshid's individual characters (and thus their relationship) become a more prominent aspect of the story--again, especially after the tokenism in Fourth Wing. side characters always seemed to have deeper personalities and roles to play, with even early character deaths like Anas having lasting impacts for our main POVs. their presence was as vital to the immersion and depth of the world as much as the setting and imagery--which are also aspects that completely blew me away. from character, technical, to thematic standpoints, the Daevabad Trilogy absolutely amazed me.

final thoughts and rating: if you give me a book where two married characters are in love with the other's brother and expect me not to give it a high rating you're insane. 8/10. maybe even 9/10. go read these books.

#spoiler warning for people who want to read this series (which you should) #thank you chakraborty for Thee character dynamic of all time #ali love of my life. apple of my eye. <3 #the daevabad trilogy

[dearinglovebot]

If the Grady family ever met the Nublar Six Five, how would they interact? Who would really vibe with each other, who wouldn’t?.

maisie being the closest to their age means I think she’d get along with them the best. she has a pretty similar personality to brooklyn and yaz so they’d either mesh very well or clash over it. I lean towards get along pretty well. sammy would be a little overwhelming at first but sammy is also the most insistent that she break out of her shell with the group. very much giving “hey she’s just like you were yaz!”. darius and her would have a very chill dynamic where they understand each other and could probably problem solve their way out of any situation. ben? they’re chill. but kenji is who is gonna have to grow on her the most. early seasons kenji is going to drive her crazy but later season kenji might grow on her. she’s going to find him annoying and he’s going to see her as quiet and broody. they’re going to be have to trapped in an escape room together before they become real friends.

the hidden adventure episode probably had the right idea in saying that yeah JWCC darius would love a dude who worked directly with velociraptors. maybe not JWCT darius who is being hunted for sport, but JWCC darius would be begging for velociraptor infodumps. what were their interactions with each other like? did they have biome preferences? what types of calls could they make with each other? he wouldn’t be asking owen about his day he’d be going straight to “did they have different sounding voices?? how many words did they know?? what types of enrichment were they given??”

owen overall is going to be a much easier sell to the kids than claire. yasmina is going to make fun of him the moment he says “alpha”, brings up motorcycles, or does the hand thing. the only way he is winning her over is if he shows his #vulnerable side over the dinosaurs or his family. basically she isn’t going to like him until she’s given a reason to believe he isn’t some weird emotionally repressed redneck. and speaking of rednecks, owen is semi-canonically from the south so that’s winning points with sammy. they probably share stories about cow tipping and everyone else goes “what the fuck does that mean”.

he’d get on with ben and brooklyn fine but kenji has a habit of annoying most people so im inclined to believe he’ll be considered a “little shit” type kid. pre-fk owen and early seasons kenji would require intensive care to get along 1v1 but after that then they have potential. now that owen has experienced #Fatherhood he’ll be more inclined to make an effort to reach out to troubled teen kenji™. it will have the same vibes as a school guidance councilor and class clown where the kid says the councilor is soooo lame but still asks for a hug at graduation.

like I said above, claire is going to be the hardest sell for all of them. she is Miss Jurassic World in the flesh. they’re not going to trust her at all. but she feels really bad about the whole incident so she’s going to do her best to pay off any therapy bills or travel expenses for the families.

kenji is the only she feels the most guilt towards because she actually knows him from his dad. on the island, he annoyed her (he was objectively very annoying) but now that she’s reformed she just feels bad because he was probably just acting out because his family dgaf. kenji initially doesn’t trust her even more because she ran in the same circles as his dad. but he also recognizes how much she’s changed since then and it makes him kind of upset because his dad wouldn’t do half the things she did for maisie. they have a very complex dynamic where claire feels indebted to him for everything that’s happened (with both the island and his neglectful dad) and he has to work through a lot of daddy issues whenever they interact. they get each other in a nuanced way but it’ll keep the relationship strained for a long time.

sammy is the most willing to give her a chance because she wants to believe that someone like claire can change. and claire is going to try her hardest with that chance to prove she wants to mend things however she can. for a while, sammy is going to be the only one really holding conversation with her but the others are kind of using that to gage if they want to take a chance on her too.

darius will be the next person to take that leap of faith cause she does seem like she’s putting in an effort. she’s a full blown activist and mother now after all. claire appreciates them both immensely and has probably cried at least once over winning them over. they have a lot of similar moral stances post-fk so there’d be a very easy dynamic. she values everything about her park a lot more and he’s happy to talk with her about it. she’s got a collection of anecdotes about the dinosaurs and their handlers and he appreciates what she shares.

yas may always be a little weary of her but her knack for terrorism is going to appeal to ben the arsonist and brooklyn the true crime detective. she’s got so many leads about lockwood manor for brooklyn to chase down. she may not totally love claire but she does respect her. as for ben, i think if anyone was going to commit burglary it would be them. she would refuse to “encourage” his behavior (because she wants to at least pretend she’s a responsible adult) but if it happens then it happens okay! they’re as bad as each other and shouldn’t be left alone

weeew that was a lot. loved getting this ask

#jurassic world #chaos theory #jwct #asks #maisie lockwood #owen grady #claire dearing #ben pincus #darius bowman #brooklyn jwcc #yasmina fadoula #sammy gutierrez #kenji kon

[thiscoldheart]

sydcarmy braindump

one of the things i noticed as i've been posting gifs of the bear s2 is that there is a LOT of support for sydcarmy...which makes me comfortable enough to share some thoughts about them and their future ☺️

back when only s1 was out i thought i was crazy for seeing romantic undertones and largely kept that to myself. i was happy to see this dynamic go either way (platonic or romantic) back when it was more ambiguous in s1 but now it's becoming more obvious, isnt it? seeing that literally everyone and their mother is picking up on these not-so-platonic signals makes me feel less alone.

i'm just praying we don't go the ted lasso route where the showrunners bait us with tedbecca endgame only for it to mean nothing. i would much rather that this relationship remain platonic, wholesome and complex than to be fooled and constantly misled. if anything i hope this goes more of the mentalist route where our main leads jane and lisbon spent a lot of time as just co-workers, only to eventually end up as a couple in the final season. in this scenario, we still get to have the 'will they/won't they' build up and thrill, plus we also get to spend some time with them as a couple when they're ready for it. their dynamic is tested countless times but they always go back to each other throughout the seasons, stronger and closer than before.

i don't understand why there's such a loud and vehement response against this ship online and i won't even bother to. if the ship becomes canon, it isn't bad or lazy writing, its just a natural development that we can trace all the way back to s1. and if they remain platonic, then ohh boy that's gonna be fun to unpack. i think if they decide to keep them platonic just because "you don't see it often on television", then imo THAT'S lazy. there's clearly potential here and it would be a shame to see it go to waste all in the name of being different and edgy. this show still stands out amongst so many others because of its writing, directing, character studies, premise, etc. so leaning into a romance would not be a disservice to the story/writing in any way, unless syd and carmy are reduced to only being love interests. i wouldn't be too happy about that either because both characters are so fully fleshed out and have their own pasts, presents and futures that they need to work on together, but also individually too.

but hey that's just my opinion 🤷‍♀️

despite all that i guess all i really hope for, more than anything else, is that we get satisfying stories and arcs for our bear fam 🙏🙏 i don't want my expectations to be sky high so i will remain cautiously optimistic 👍

p.s. thanks for all your support for the gifs! if you have any suggestions for gifsets, pls hit me up because my well of ideas has run dry 🥲 let's see what the next season will have in store for us 💙

#the bear #the bear fx #the bear spoilers #carmy x sydney #sydcarmy #carmy berzatto #sydney adamu

[kyouka-supremacy]

Dazai?

Eheh Dazai

Favorite thing about them: I really like how as a character he was able to deeply touch so many people!! Seeing so many people finding relief in being able to relate to and emphasize with the character makes me happy.

Least favorite thing about them: I mean, his personality? I don't like how his many flaws are written to be interpreted as strong points / good traits for his character to the point no flaw is actually a flaw, it makes the reading experience very frustrating for me.

Favorite line:

brOTP: Mmmmhh, I don't spend a lot of time thinking about Dazai. Soukoku, probably. The Buraiha trio makes me emotional a little. Souheki, but in a very passive-aggressive, over-competitive, one-sided rivality, can't-stand-each-other way. Dazai and Kyouka. Dazai and Atsushi too I suppose, though I prefer them romantically. I think he makes for a lot of interesting dynamics with virtually all the characters, but none compells me in particular tbh.

OTP: Odazai is plain canon to me, idk what to tell you. I think they make for a beautiful, tragic love story. Get you a man who is willing to change the path of his whole life for another man just like that, nobody does it like them (actually, wait, I can think of another man... ). Although I always distantly liked them, dazatsu has grown on me like, an INSANE amount in the last few months. I'm not sure what happened. I think it was an unfortunate (lol) coincidence of growing a little fonder of Dazai and just wanting to give more space and agenda to Atsushi. Like to me a lot of what dazatsu is really is about giving Atsushi more agency and autonomy and independence and overall just respecting him as a complex, full fleshed out character. I don't see ANY kind of power imbalance in it I keep finding people talk about. Dazai pushes Atsushi to be better every day, and Atsushi does exactly the same for Dazai. Atsushi admires and respects Dazai, and Dazai admires and respects Atsushi equally. I really don't know why the ship isn't more popular and instead just gets discarded most of the time tbh. I feel like everyone should sit down a second and actually give Atsushi the dignity to choose for himself. And fyozai!!! The investment in this ship mostly goes on waves for me but despite that I firmly believe that they really make for an engaging and interesting dynamic to be interpreted romantically. The epitome of “You're both just enabling each other's mental illnesses. You're both perfect for each other. Never change. Just never involve anybody else in what you've got going on.”

nOTP: Nothing comes to my mind.

Random headcanon: Not canon related, but in modern aus I feel like he'd be one to always end up working at ceo roles and he would HATE it. He fires himself and starts working at some cheap frozen yogurt place and one month later he'll find himself as the ceo of the most important oil company of the country AGAIN without him even realizing it / despite his active efforts to avoid that. And he HATES IT. He fires himself again but the loop only repeats forever. He's just that kind of person for whom all doors open automatically.

Unpopular opinion: ............ I could be here forever. I regretfully fail to relate to a lot of characterization / readings of the character I've seen the fandom give him. I really don't want to dwell on this so I'll just mention something mostly unrelated to his characterization: I wholly can't share the take of him being physically built like??? At all??? Which got REALLY popular a few months ago. Dude feels like he never lifted a finger his whole life, I really don't know where the idea comes from???? And I personally don't take his manga visual portrayal as a telling factor for this; pretty much all the characters have the same body type, it's impossible for me to base the buff Dazai assumption on how he's drawn in the manga. Just one thing about his chracter though stop making him matchmaker for ss/kk he really isn't stop don't do it please

Song i associate with them: HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE associating him with my favourite vocaloid song ever but. Meltdown by iroha is a very Dazai song. So many other songs though... Parade of Liars by ryo. Abstract Nonsense by Neru. God-ish by Pinocchio-P. So on and so forth.

Favorite picture of them:

Favourite panel from the manga:

Favourite illustration:

Favourite illustration in the anime art style:

Favourite Mayoi card:

Send me a character?

#Thank you for asking!! <33 #osamu dazai #bsd #mine #people asks me stuff #I hate how for all the other characters so far I had to go over all their panels/lines while with Dazai I already knew exactly what to pick

[horsetailcurlers2]

addison montgomery fanfiction recs by pairing

(although i am *relatively* new to the greys fandom, once i finished season three i immediately obsessively scoured the internet for any addison montgomery centric fanfiction i could get my hands on. here are just a few of my favorite ones for each of my addison ships (of which there are many). this is by no means an exhaustive list. my qualifications for this are that i’m cool and have good taste and spend way too much time thinking about fictional people)

ADDEK:

-“The Climbing Way” by winter machine (this is actually probably one of my favorite fanfictions of all time, period. this author is just absolutely brilliant at capturing their dynamic and all of its complexities. the entire thing is actually from derek’s POV which i was surprised how much i enjoyed considering i can sometimes be a derek hater lol but it provides some really good insight into his character without being as forgiving as canon or as bash-y as some fics (if that makes any sort of sense?). it also combines two of my favorite addek tropes: “sad baby backstory” and “traumatic event forces them to actually confront their issues”. it is also a very captivating portrait of derek and mark’s realtionship and has lots and lots of flashbacks. big angst warning especially for the early chapters.)

-“Some Bright Morning” by winter machine (i just can’t get enough of this author. i love any addek fic that heavily features savvy and weiss bc i think they should have made more appearances in canon. or savvy should’ve at least lmao. weiss was kind of a dick. but i like him in this fic! this is a very very interesting AU because it takes place largely outiside of canon settings and features a lot of OCs. it also takes place around early season one so the mark wound is still very fresh. its set entirely on a small island in georgia during savvy’s mother’s funeral so there’s plenty of forced proximity and bed sharing. the original setting and cast of characters are really fleshed out and completely captivating. like, i would read a whole separate story just about this island and its inhabitants. also features lots of background on savvy and addison’s friendship. and plenty of angst of course. you may be sending a pattern with these recommendations)

-“do you think i have forgotten (about you)” by crime_wives (this one legitimately made me sob. like, my body produced actual tears. angsty one shot. not happy-addek. a perfect snapshot of their tragic ending)

- “Unhinged (AddisonandDerekandMark)” by RulerOfAllThatIsEvilChiFlowers (very dark. very twisty. somewhat non linear.)

- “This Hurt Can Teach Us Both” by darlingwrecks (oh my lord this one is so so addek- bittersweet, sexy, nostalgic, painful and delightful all at once. my favorite thing about this writer is the way they write backstory, especially for the Med School Trio. this is also kind of fun because we never got to see how these two dealt with their post divorce logistics. derek was just kind of like “take all the property and fuck off” which is not at all how these things work lol)

MEDDISON:

- “lately she’s undressing for revenge” by emilyprentits (only read this if you want to be driven to tear your own hair out by the emotions this will make you feel. this is one of the fics that fully convinced me to ship meddison. so so so good and it’s like it was written from inside of meredith’s actual brain)

-“i’ll show you every version of yourself tonight” by withpeopleinperson (two words: stripper addison. read it. be forewarned it’s only one chapter and has not been updated in a few years but it’s a GREAT chapter regardless)

-“the seven stages of intoxication” by theprincessdiarist (meredith grey doling out meredith grey levels of emotional dysfunction. featuring loads and loads of delightfully frustrating mutual pining)

-“Sex and Caring in Seattle” by Bluefall (meredith once again having totally normal and regular feeling about her ex boyfriend’s wife. i love this one because they are both just kind of bisexual disasters and derek is just Also There. i love the way this author perfectly captures meredith’s perpetual inability to navigate her own emotions)

*EDIT: i also realized i forgot to add that these last two were recommended to me by @crime-wives !!!

-“open the floodgates up” by SugarsweetRomantic (this has EVERYTHING you could want in a meddison fic: mutual hurt/comfort, bed sharing, friends to lovers, these two being absolute dumbasses about each other. had me crying and also kicking my feet. genuinely)

MADDISON:

-“Make This Go On Forever” by darlingwrecks (i am so in love with this universe. i usually don’t gravitate toward kid/family centric fics but this one is so so much more than that. it’s maddison, if those two had made a real go of things, stayed in new york, and kept the pregnancy. there’s even some background merder eventually (which is not usually my jam but i like in this context). very very fluffy at times, a bit angsty at others, super in character but iirc i think this was written pretty early on in the show so addison and mark’s backgrounds may be a smidge different than in canon. this is the link to the rewritten version (i think?) on ao3. the author had the original up on live journal back in the day and i could have SWORN i read a sequel that i found a link to in the depths of their LJ but i cannot find it anywhere rn)

-“When I Grow Up” by winter machine (another maddison-if-they’d-stayed-in-new-york-and-addison-kept-the-pregnancy, but with a twist that brings them to seattle to see derek, who they haven’t spoken to in seven years. a fantastic plot but also sort of just a brilliant exploration of how mark and addison would be as parents given their own childhoods and how they have pretty much been cut off from the one healthy(ish) family dynamic that either of them have experienced. there’s also background merder in this one and it actually kind of made me like merder which is a major feat)

-“Celery” by winter machine (a fun little one shot featuring Derek Being An Idiot, Drunk Addison, and Mark Crossing Boundaries. a little bit sad and a little bit funny. again, everything by this author is just great)

JADDISON:

- “A Certain Slant of Light” by darlingwrecks (this is for those of us that were weirded out by addison’s convo with amelia in season 18. a more fleshed out exploration of addison’s mental health during the pandemic. it’s a very raw and honest portrayal of depression and anxiety and how someone like addison would navigate it while being a doctor in a global pandemic and raising an 8 year old. it’s not nearly as bleak as it sounds though. lots of fluff, a little smut. also touches on how addison might’ve grieved mark and derek. and archer makes some appearances which i loved (i know he’s an asshole but i really like addison’s brother lol))

-“Diamonds in the Sky” by Ziaaaaa_sdc (there’s so few jaddison fics out there, probably because of how compressed their relationship timeline was as they tried to wrap up the show, but this writer has several and they’re all so good. there definitely aren’t enough fun AUs for them so i was really excited when i first found this. its Ballet School Jaddison and there’s actually only three chapters atm. no idea if it will be updated ever again but it’s still more than worth a read. a smidge angsty so far. also seems to be setting up a little enemies to lovers arc)

CADDISON:

-“Help Me (With The Butterflies)” by BlackRoseMatron (a very sweet one shot. this author is single-handedly keeping the caddison shippers fed and i love it. they also have some really great meddison stuff)

#read these at your own risk lol i tend to gravitate toward angst #most of these are rated T and above #the word counts vary wildly #greys anatomy #private practice #addison montgomery #addison montgomery fanfiction #addek #meddison #merdison #caddison #mark x addison #fanfiction #fanfic rec

[p0th]

ik im probably rlly late to the party but what is objectum, like is it a role play thing, is it a coping thing? I need someone to explain it to me like im 5 bc i genuinely just don't understand what it is lol

So the literal definition of being objectum is someone who's attracted to inanimate objects, whether that be platonic, romantic, sexual, or somethin else. However, looking at it with only its literal definition doesn't really account for the intricacies that such a label brings.

I just want to point out that while some people see objects as alive (the label for that being POSIC), others dont. Animism is also a similar term for where people percieve inanimate things as having souls. Personally, I dont see my object as alive, but do sometimes use gendered terms to describe them and feel comforted by their presence. People can also be objectum and be attracted to actual people too.

Being objectum is also more common in autistic people. Object personafication is a common trait seen in autism and other disorders and i can see how that can lead people to being objectum. Though I have never been formally diagnosed with anything, i am probably neurodivergent & maybe that has a part in me identifying as objectum idk!! Theres a study on autism in objectum ppl here if u want to glance over it: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-56449-0

For me, I started using the objectum label coincidentally around the time I started finally figuring out that i was aroace and not attracted to real people. I realized that the love I feel for my friends is equivalent to the love I feel for my hobbies and interests which was also the same love i felt towards certain objects. I drew this out cuz i think its a lil confusing how im saying it LOL. Theres also a thing called "conceptum" which is the attraction to concepts which I think i actually fall more into, but I just go by objectum because it is more general.

You know how people will swear they have this great relationship with nature? How they feel so so connected to plants and how they love watching the ocean and how they wish they could live outside forever because the forest is a part of their flesh and blood? How they feel more alive feeling the earths fresh air and how nature teaches them things they never even knew about themselves? okay, so, why is this normal to say but once u turn it around into something that’s an object it is insane talk!! I feel like there's this interesting dynamic where its okay to be super attached to nature but kinda weird to be super attached to inanimate things but i think i am rambling & getting off topic!!!

Personally, I dont really have objects that im attracted to in the same way I would be attracted to a human. It is very broad for me. Others though, have certain objects that they really like and thats fine. For me, going by that label just makes me comfortable even if i dont fit into the literal definition. I like computers in general, not just my own personal computer. Objectum for me is just another way to say that my love for inanimate things can be just as great as my love for animate things. Theres just so much complexity and nuance in it that it is hard to describe unless you've experienced it yourself.

As for it being a coping thing, I've heard some people say its a result of not being able to trust people due to past trauma, but i dont believe that's necessarily true for the majority of people and not too good to generalize. Ive grown up surronded by friends and in a loving environment and am able to maintain relationships with living people, but also use the label of objectum because it makes me comfortable.

I can very much see how someone can look at someone saying theyre attracted to objects and just cringe a little bit and thats okay LOL. At this point, I have been exposed to so many concepts -being online so much and surrounded by so many diverse people- that i just dont even pay it mind. But, I know a lot of people have literally never heard of this label before and are just weirded out by it. I think honestly people need to think about the limitless potential a relationship can be when in the hands of such a complex being as a human. At the end of the day though, it doesn't hurt anyone but its also okay to be a lil unsure of it as an outsider. Just be kind to others!!

Im sorry if this is a bit of word vomit, if u cant tell i got a lil too into it & my thoughts tend to be rlly scattered LOL. thank u 4 the ask & plz let me know if u need any clarity on anythin cuz i know i am very hard to follow at times !!!

#ok to reblog #ask #objectum #os/or #WHY DID I WRITE SO MUCH #i didnt proof read this either so plz ignore any mistakes ToT #just know everyones experience is different #also sorry if u have like. no background on this stuff i kinda just presumed u knew the basic idea </3 #also also i did not know what u meant by roleplay sorry!!!

[writerscafehub]

𝙸𝙽𝚃𝚁𝙾𝙳𝚄𝙲𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝙾𝚄𝚁 𝙱𝙰𝚁𝙸𝚂𝚃𝙰 𝙵𝙾𝚁 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙳𝙰𝚈: @fushic0re

ೀ ㅤ۫ ㅤ۪ㅤ۫ ㅤ ♡ ㅤ . 𝐆𝐄𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐑𝐈𝐊𝐀:

From one to five stars, how would you rate your writing? (No downplaying yourself!)

        I’d say a 3.5. I’m proud of my work, but there’s always room to grow and improve. 

2. What do you think makes your writing stand out from other works?

        I think my writing style focuses a lot on the complexity of the inner emotions the characters feel. I like to take a lot of time fleshing out their inner selves that way when there’s dialogue or they commit a specific act, readers are able to say to themselves “yea, this is very them”. All in all, I like a lot of emotion. 

3. Are there any writers that inspire you?

        My fellow writers café members inspire me! Everyone has such different styles and ideas, it really makes me want to be more innovative. I don’t really have any specific muses, to be honest–the fanfiction fandom in general makes me want to write and see my ideas developed.

4. What’s the fic you’re most proud of?

        “Take Me Into Your Arms, Siren’s Call” and “Dance In The Dark”. 

5. Which character(s) do you find easiest to write and which do you find most difficult to write?

        Steve Rogers for sure is my easiest. I love that man with my entire being and have dissected him and my interpretation of him so many times. I find Geralt of Rivia a bit difficult to write, hence why there’s no work for him.

6. Who or what do you find yourself writing about most?

        There’s not really a who, more like a what–my emotional wounds. Writing is used as a tool for me to not only bring my ideas to life, but use them as vessels to work out these emotions and proverbially close that chapter of my life by turning them into something positive. 

7. Tell us about a WIP you’re excited about!

        I have a very cute “Spy x Family” meets “The Incredibles” one shot for Miguel O’Hara in the works featuring Filipina!Reader, Gabriella O’Hara, and reader’s daughter hehe 

8. First fandom you ever wrote for?

        I’m really gonna expose myself here…it was for Black Veil Brides LMAOOOO 

9. Any guilty pleasure trope(s)?

        GIRL (gender neutral); black cat gf x golden retriever bf, the mean one being soft for the sunshine one, enemies to lovers, reincarnation. 

10. A trope you’ll never, ever write for.

        Mafia/mob boss. I have one singular wip with that trope and after that, I’m retiring it. Cannot stand it, no offense. 

11. Wildest fic you’ve ever written?

        Definitely my demon! Lee Bodecker and ghost!Steve Rogers fics. Those were RIDES.

12. Favorite pairing to write for? (platonic or romantic!)

ENEMIES TO LOVERS, BLACK CAT GF x GOLDEN RETRIEVER BF, and THE GRUMPY ONE BEING SOFT FOR THE SUNSHINE ONE. I clearly have a preference. 

13. Do you listen to anything while you write?

        Either bossanova, classical music, jazz, lo-fi, or a playlist I made specifically for whatever I’m writing.

14. One-shots or multi-chaptered works?

I don’t have a preference tbh. they’re both very impactful, it just depends on the plot in question. 

15. Have you ever daydreamed about side adventures/spin-offs from your fic? Tell us about them!

yES ALL THE TIME. especially for fluff pieces with family dynamics, I always wanna create little side drabbles in the style of “modern family” like they have their very own sitcom. 

16. Is there anything you’ve wanted to write, but you’ve been too scared to try?

writing for Geralt of Rivia. The deep lore for The Witcher seems like a lot of ground to cover. 

17. What’s the nicest comment you’ve ever received?

I can’t remember anything specific, but my fic “Take Me Into Your Arms, Siren’s Call” received a good amount of super meaningful feedback from Filipino readers that meant a lot to me. They expressed how much it meant for them to be seen, especially in a fantasy-fairy tale like story that incorporated our culture.

18. Have you ever gone outside of your comfort zone for a fic? How did it turn out?

Yes, lore building for “Take Me Into Your Arms, Siren’s Call”! I’ve never written anything in the fantasy genre, so that was definitely a challenge. It turned out amazing. I loved writing it and that fic is one that is near and dear to my heart. 

19. Tooth-rotting fluff or merciless angst?

I’m a fucking baby and I can only have angst if it’s followed with fluff…..but I do love angst.

20. Do you have any OCs? Tell us about them!

EEEEEE I currently have one OC for a re-write of my series called “Keeping Up With The Starks”. Her name is Camila Santos Stark, a Filipina-American who is the only daughter of Tony Stark. She’s a spoiled heiress but is definitely a no-nonsense woman who you do not want to underestimate. She’s described by others around her as the rational version of Tony–the snark is there, but so are a bunch of other characteristics that Tony doesn’t possess. Steve Rogers is her love interest. He thought she was a spoiled brat, but look who fell in love!

21. If you could enter the universe of any one of your fics, which would it be and why?

Definitely “Take Me Into Your Arms, Siren’s Call” – it’s pure fantasy which sounds amazing. Plus, Namor! 

22. Is there anything you wish your audience knew about your writing or writing process?

Eh, there’s nothing really interesting going on behind the scenes–I just write at night with a candle lit. 

23. Copy and paste an excerpt you’re particularly fond of.

        “I’m a beauty, I’m a beast, it defends on the feast” – “So Cool” by Dounia

24. Ramble about any fic-related thing you want!

        If writing frustrates you, that’s a sign for you to step away and take a break. If you initially started writing because you love it, continue to lead with love–don’t kill the joy.

#writer’s cafe ♡☕︎ #barista of the month #𓆸rika𓆸

[altocat]

Square is putting so much effort in to this chibi gacha game, it’s killing me but I can’t say I am ungrateful…they just essentially confirmed multiple fanon theories about Seph within one short chapter and it’s amazing. I also love that they balance Seph by giving such a sweet, sad disposition and obvious trauma but still ensuring that his ruthlessness from Shinra’s training is at the forefront of his mind.

It’s weird, but it almost feels like they aren’t actually confirming fanon, but that many of us just did know Seph pretty well already from piecing together small details. What we were speculating on was never actually fanon, but the heavily implied truth. This story is just making it clearer and will help the large side of the fandom that can’t see him as anything other than a villain be more understanding. It’s brilliant.

I'm relieved that it looks like he really WAS a lab rat. And that he basically never interacted with people before the war. And him knowing what Lucrecia looks like doesn't break the established lore that much at all.

Of course, they could still put in something stupid. But I'm really satisfied with how they're characterizing him so far. They could have made a big edgy "Sephiroth blows shit up as a toddler while posing", but they stayed true to his character. And the worst part is that Sephiroth in this has ALREADY apparently undergone unspeakable levels of trauma and anguish, though I suspect they won't elaborate. Having this kind of survivalist mentality doesn't just happen overnight. Seph seems to know from experience. Couple that with them remembering his mother complex, as well as his social awkwardness and Seph is now really shaping into a very fleshed out, dynamic character.

Hopefully this doesn't change. But for now, my full compliments for Nojima and team in their portrayal.

#asks #ff7 #ffvii #final fantasy 7 #sephcanons #sephiroth #ffvii ever crisis #ever crisis #first soldier #ffvii first soldier

[bisexualbuckleyy]

why jodie whittaker was set up to fail

so i have many thoughts about jodie whittaker's run as the doctor and i would like to say that i absolutely loved her as the doctor and was so disappointed by how her arc was handled. i have thought in great detail about why her seasons were worse than the other doctors' and i believe i have cracked the code. this is going to be very long so i will put it below the cut.

so first of all, the situation that jodie whittaker was put in was very similar to the situation that matt smith was in going into season 5. new doctor, new companion, and a new showrunner who was now tasked with simultaneously revamping the show while not taking away what made it great. but while steven moffat handled this transition flawlessly, chris chibnall handled his…less so.

there were many things that made the transition into 11 great. first of all, the very first episode with him thoroughly established his character and his relationship with amy, while also establishing a strong baseline for amy’s character and showing the beginnings of her character arc. rory is introduced in the first episode, but really just in relation to amy and not as his own character yet. second of all, you get several episodes to explore 11 and amy’s dynamic before rory is brought into the mix, and even then rory’s development is largely connected to amy’s character arc. by the time rory is a more permanent character, amy is already a complex character who has undergone considerable development, which allows some more exploration and growth for rory’s character. and finally, moffat knew how to balance nostalgia with novelty. there’s a good mix of old and new villains in season 5, and all the new villains are compelling and interesting. the overarching season storyline only ever adds to the season as a whole, and the inevitable conclusion is satisfying and has a good build up.

on the other hand, chris chibnall failed on almost every possible front with the transition to 13.

jodie whittaker was already at a disadvantage going into her season, as she was replacing a beloved doctor who'd been around for three seasons and was going to be the first female doctor. 13's character is established fairly well in the first episode, with many awesome moments such as her building her own sonic screwdriver and knowing that she needs to help people even when she doesn't remember who she is. however, introducing three brand new companions, all with their own complex issues and interpersonal relationships, and trying to establish their characters, their relationships to each other, and their relationships to the doctor in the span of a single episode was an impossible task. the impact of this carried throughout the rest of the season, with many plotlines being underdeveloped or dropped entirely: yaz's experience being a WOC police officer, ryan's disability, graham and ryan trying to build a relationship after grace's death, etc. since there was simply not enough time to properly introduce any of the companions, the rest of the season was spent doing catch up while also trying to completely (and unnecessarily) reinvent the show. a companion group is always difficult to juggle, especially when the individual companions are not properly fleshed out and their individual relationships with each other and the doctor are not fully explored.

another huge issue with season 11 is something that has bothered me since the first time i watched it: the complete lack of returning villains/monsters. every prior season has had a mix of new aliens and old aliens, allowing each season to feel unique while still staying true to the spirit of the show. chris chibnall chose to break this pattern for some inexplicable reason, instead inventing a new alien every single episode, with varying levels of success. a lack of connection to previous seasons automatically gave this season a different feeling, and not in a good way. bringing back villains such as the daleks and the cybermen create a feeling of consistency between the different doctors and allow the audience to clearly see the similarities and differences between each doctor. with 13 facing all new villains in season 11, it automatically sets her apart from previous doctors, not the brightest idea when she's the first female doctor.

in conclusion, chris chibnall failed to successfully execute the transition to 13 by ignoring precedent and trying to do too much at once and then not following through. follow for more winding rants about doctor who, and let me know your thoughts in the comments/tags!

#doctor who #doctor who meta #doctor who rant #thirteenth doctor #13th doctor #chris chibnall #yasmin khan #graham obrien #ryan sinclair

[gainesha]

still at Season 1 with my current BSG rewatch, going slower than I wanted, but

stray thoughts:

I have seen a lot of the episodes many many times, and I had one complete rewatch years ago with my family, but it is very exciting that I committed myself to do a full rewatch again. enough time has passed so that I can kinda see it with a new eye, even though most of the show etched myself into my mind and soul forever.

she is a big deal, but i still feel like we underappreciate Katee Sackhoff as an actor and Kara Thrace as a character in the show. she is just ELECTRIC. possibly my favorite fictional TV character, give or take a Nora Durst.

the David Weddle & Bradley Thomspon scripts sing like no others. Michael Taylor is going to be my go-to writer on the show later on, but they are indelible throughout, and the first ones to truly get the wavelength of RDM

i know many purists would rank the first season as the best, and i enjoy the very classical standalone structure and small-scale feel of it, but for me it's still probably at last place, even considering some rock bottoms of later seasons. also, I love the spiritual and theological rabbit holes the writers will write themselves into, and the show gets better for all the weird detours and strange turns of the worldbuilding and the narrative. I am very curious how the dead-ends and messiness of the overall arc will feel this time through, though.

Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down is by far the worst episode of the show thus far. I don't think EJO handles the screwball rhythms well as a director, and the characterization of Ellen this early in the run does not sit quite well with me, considering how they deepen her story later, especially in the New Caprica run. here it's just a crazy scheming bitch and a bros before hos posturing - her dynamic with Saul could (and will) be great and complicated, two people who get the very worst out of each other, which is spelled out in the episode, but isn't really depicted in an interesting way just yet.

also, can't wait for Tricia Helfer to really shine in later seasons. she is already amazing in her limited role of HeadSix temptress, and you can already sense the complexities behind her purr and anger and frustration.

Tahmoh Pennikett is not the greatest actor on the show, but he is amazing at giving a protector / big brother energy for Helo. he is just so rock solid. makes Helo a much better character than on paper, I think.

Flesh and Bone doesn't hit as hard any more (it was the episode that truly hooked me the first time, and one of my faves to revisit at earlier rewatches), but it is still the episode that has the first true glimpse of the thornier political and theological stuff that make the show reach next levels of greatness in terms of the cylon-human relations. Callum Keith Rennie is alluring and next to Tricia Helfer, the most un-human of the cylons.

the costumes in BSG are PERFECT. from the shiny chrome-silver flightsuits in the Caprica arc (both Helo and Sharon have such cute asses in those pants) to the standard blue uniform and the dogtag-sleeveless-tanktop combo of the pilots... so so so cool

the handheld camera shots really pay out whenever they zoom in a close-up of adama's pockmarked face or starbuck's trembling mouth. a huge reason of why Galactica (the ship, the crew) feels so lived in.

quiet moments like this one always make me cry:

#bsg #bsg 2003 #battlestar galactica #rewatch

[familiarboat1]

The Originals instead of Klaus' Originals

Novelty -Giving the originals characters a fleshed out arc that isn't purely at the mercy of Klaus.

Character of the day - Mikael

My take on this character would be giving him a father figure role once more. Here's how I would write the Originals. There wasn't anything terribly wrong with Mikael I hated. So this post is pretty short.

Mikael, in particular, gets another chance at parenting with a young man aged 17-22. Let's call him Brett. The two are kind-of forced to work together. Brett is an enigmatic, highly skilled and tactical fighter, adept at offering advice and assistance due to his humane nature. He's perhaps the best hand-to-hand combatant in the TVD universe, often engaging in intense fight scenes, including a memorable showdown where he expertly handles a threat from a werewolf. where he get's threatened by a wolf to biting him (he keeps his wolf side a secret pretty well) and he cuts off the werewolves hands and puts a blade to the werewolves mouth and tells him to try. Pretty Tactical you know. Brett maintains a secret identity as a wolf, keeping his distance from both wolves and other supernatural factions. He has a signature weapon, perhaps a unique dagger or sword, which becomes symbolic of his prowess. In scenes, we witness moments like Brett dulling a blade, prompting Mikael to intervene and scold him. But Brett doesn't back down, asserting that a dulled blade inflicts more pain. And maybe Mikael gives him a scar or something- could've taken his eye out, but didn't, and the ever so perceptive and understanding kid isn't mad at Mikael , but actually sees through Mikael's twisted love or whatever. And we see this by acting and stuff.Their interactions are marked by these subtle exchanges. The relationship between Mikael and Brett evolves into a father-son dynamic, unspoken but deeply felt. This would be the start of where Mikael sees Klaus in him and how the viewers do too, the viewers only find out Brett is a wolf a little before Mikael, where it's pressured and really close.

Now Mikael has his secrets too. Mikael's secret would be his character development. Mikael keeps his desire to kill his son Klaus. What he's basically known for. So, you could see many scenes where he truly tries to hide it, which would be really cool to watch. Seeing Mikael protective and defensive versus his usual offensive.

A secret rooted in Mikael's shame. This shame transforms Mikael's character arc, leading him to prevent Brett from ever thinking he'd actually harm him. Their bond is further tested when their hidden truths are revealed, introducing drama and tension. This time Mikael stays with Brett, even after finding out he's from the same clan as Klaus.

And with Brett, Mikael's secret is only revealed with an encounter with Klaus where Klaus kills Mikael. Brett doesn't intervene due to shock and other complex feelings. Mikael accepts Brett's reaction too, as expected.

Even after Mikael's death, Brett mourns his passing. He grapples with conflicted feelings, attempting to convince himself that he never truly liked Mikael. In a poignant moment, he speaks to Mikael's lifeless body, inadvertently revealing his true emotions. Klaus overhears this conversation, experiencing jealousy but ultimately unable to act on it due to the realization that Brett is fulfilling a role he desired—an emotional outlet. This realization feeds into Klaus' need for the hatred that sustains him.

They could add a ton of their english norse culture into this. I really liked the Davina and Mikael arc if you couldn't tell.

#tvd #the mikaelsons #the originals #tvdu #the vampire diaries #klaus mikaelson #mikael mikaelson #pretty sure mikael's last name isn't mikaelson #orignal character #the vampire diaries universe #tvd klaus #klaus x hayley #tvdu fanfiction #tvd universe #multiverse #taylors version #davina claire #kol x davina #to #north atlantic

[chuuyadelune]

i’ve many conflicting thoughts on the BSD S5 finale but i shall be reserving (my full) judgement until the manga fleshes things out/clarifies it. because. lmao. Uhhhh

anyways, thought id make a list of things id like to see going forward to keep myself a lil more optimistic about the following chapters. as well as some Other Thoughts surrounding the anime:

- fyodor’s death (because it felt… unsatisfying! imo! there was still so much that could’ve been done w him)

- off of the back of that, whatever the hell SKK had going on (i thought the twist was funny but also. i was left very miffed. to put it lightly)

- more between the dynamic/link between fyodor and fukuchi (!!!!! this is a BIG one)

- SIGMA ?!?!? sigma. yeah. what the hell was up with leaving her there (and her getting all the info on fyodor if not for something big!)

- more on fyodor and nikolai’s dynamic

- more on teruko (just. yeah. she has me very intrigued)

- generally i just think that fukuchi’s goals/motives deserved more time

my complaints aside, i honestly do think the manga will do things a little differently/more in-depth, since bones probably just wanted to end the season on a high? mostly because personally i have the impression that the anime team were probably working with some of asagiri’s vague ideas/outlines. because again not all of it feels strictly on them! but also… i feel that asagiri can definitely do better.

that said, i personally don’t exactly expect the best/most-complex-ever nuanced takes on the characters and story from the anime given its track history. so like, for me, this ending feels on-brand for the anime, weirdly enough? considering that they did… rush through the vampire arc and therefore remove some of the nuance of the story. so. again. i can’t complain too much. i shall reserve my nitpicking for the worst-case scenario that this is the same route the manga goes.

anyways… waiting til october to see what else happens 👍

#i did like a few things!! abt this episode!! it’s just. #i liked how they did the fukuchi-fukuzawa scenes! #BUT #i felt the complexity of this arc was horrendously watered down #and not only that but the characters felt a bit Flatter too #like… fyodor’s death was. i said this on twt. it felt villainously cliche and almost cheesy? #the conclusion felt all at once Too Clean but also Messy at the same time #but again i don’t know if that’s a bones thing or on asagiri #therefore my judgement shall be restrained #treating the manga and anime as separate things for my sanity #jem rambles #jem complains (?) #bsd #bungou stray dogs #bsd spoilers #bsd s5 #bsd s5 spoilers #this post is an absolute clusterfuck i’m so sorry #this is mostly for myself though so we move

[palossssssand]

c and i for any of your guys!

banger ask. I'm going to do this for All of my guys

C) Did you have trouble figuring out where they fit in their own story?

Gingull: Both yes and no. "Yes" in that she's the main character, or at least, the story would be from her point of view and revolve around her. "No" in that I've been struggling to pinpoint exactly how her personality is and how she interacts with everyone else. I want to make relationship dynamics interesting. Maybe I'll make a chart.

Alfin: He's very much a designated "support character" in that he's Gingull's sibling and is the closest to her, but other than that I feel like he doesn't have too much of an active role other than being a presence and a part of Gingull's world. I'll have to workshop him a little more because admittedly he's the character that I'm least invested in.

King: As a parental figure for Gingull, how he plays off on her is pretty important on understanding her decisions and general worldview and etc. I think she has an overall positive relationship with him, which is a little different than my personal experience, so I'd like to explore how to make this more complex and how King influences her arc. He's in the same boat as Alfin where he individually probably won't drive the story forward but is an integral part to Gingull.

Moberry: This is where things get more interesting, Moberry possibly plays one of the most active roles in the "plot" of slug city in that their dynamic with the city's leader, Maika, affects nearly every other character on various ways. I'm particularly really into the results of these interpersonal interactions and dynamics having consequences. I love The Consequences. Maika is a character that doesn't appear much physically in the context of the story and the city in-universe, so Moberry serves as the bridge between him and the "outer world" through their personal experience with him. They also serve as the leader of the hidden underground, so there's a parallel going on between them and Maika.

Smooks: I love smooks so much. Easily one of my favorite characters and designs. Her role in the story is less "plot related" and more "worldbuilding and imagery" related, if that makes sense? The main tower, many buildings, and the vehicles are all mainly designed by her, so I want to play around with the implications from that. Is transportation useful and convenient, or is it disabling? Was this from Maika's influence? Her own internal concepts? Much to think about. She plays an interesting role in the background for sure and I think would be a fun adult figure for Gingull to look up to.

Dr. Walworth: Her current role is "character who worked closely with Moberry and also has guilt about her involvement with Maika" and is also a therapist for Delta. There's some implications with her role that I feel like I need to flesh out more, for example, if therapy isn't a "licensed practice" due to the nature of the city's organization being so aggressively anti-mental health, is it hidden? Does she make her services known to the general public? There's a lot of questions I have to jump off from there, including the fact that she herself is autistic and therefore was unknowingly contributing to the detriment of citizens like her. Like Moberry, she's actively trying to make up for the damage done, and I like exploring that sort of character arc.

Delta: She's probably my favorite character to think about. Initially, she was the "soldier with ptsd" archetype that I kind of wanted to stray from and develop more, and then eventually brought in the idea that she was responsible for bringing Gingull in to their machines, and then turning around and rescuing her when the machine malfunctions. As far as Gingull is concerned, Delta is part of an oppressive and violent force and wants nothing to do with her, the flip side is that Delta has been seeking an Out from the military and feeling increasingly trapped by it, and the machine malfunctioning was her breaking point for her to actively rebel. Gingull doesn't know any of this, and even when she does, there's no forgiveness involved with it. I'm like. so interested in her arc in that she is both a victim and perpetrator in her system. the tension of it. it's so juicy to me. There's so much that I want to think about for Delta. Any other character, if put into her position, might have done the same, or at least understood why she kept under wraps for so long. What are you supposed to do when you feel like you have no choice in what you can do, no impact on the circumstances, and knowing that what you are doing is ultimately wrong?

Oster and Co: Oster and his alters are very much side characters, similar to how Alfin in there to give Gingull relationships. Oster is there to flesh out the underground city community on Moberry, Dr. Walworth, and Smook's side. He's also there to be a friend to Gingull, someone who is a little older but still a kid, so there's solidarity there and also as an example/contrast for living with some kind of accommodation. Alka, Kaola, and Teris (alters) I'm not entirely sure how they fit in, but at the very least they're going to switch fairly nonchalantly. I'm wanting him to have a more major(?) role in the story but I haven't thought about this character in depth enough for that.

Eidwinn: He's pretty much stayed the same as I was thinking about his role initially; someone who isn't connected to any of the other characters personally except for Gingull, and the brief moments that they share end up having a profound impact on both of them. I talked about this a little more in the previous ask, but I'm really attached to Eidwinn, so I don't mind that his role in the story is fairly small. Something about the contrast between Eidwinn and Gingull (young and old, someone who still has their life ahead of them vs someone who's lived through much) works so well with how they are fundamentally very similar people and were both impacted by Maika's project. I love having parallels.

Maika: Very obviously the Main Antagonist, responsible for everything that's I've talked about regarding the previous characters. Originally, I had him as a more flamboyant, appealing villain character, and stepped down from that because it really didn't seems to fit in with his goals and role as the city's leader and opted for a more serious, cold, cutthroat character. The thing to understand about Maika and that I want to come across is that his desire to do good for the citizens is guided by a misunderstanding of what people actually need, going off of his own idea of what's best, and what was once a genuine effort to make a great city was overtaken by his curiosity about like. Conditions. and what he could do to fix them. I'm wanting to dig a little more into his motivations and in the context of slug city's world as a whole, culturally. I might have typed this out in a different post or just forgot but I want to think about if his mindset is a product of other dominant schools of thought in slug city society, or if there was any particular event that set off this obsession and whatnot. I'm wanting to steer clear from "this guy is completely irredeemable" or imply that he's intrinsically "evil", not to deny that he fucking sucks and that his actions have consequences on Everybody. I think the dynamic between him and Gingull is interesting, in that to him, Gingull is fairly unremarkable and he isn't aware of her until much later when she ends up breaking into the tower and seeing him in person. To Gingull, it's extremely personal, he's the man who built up(or at the very least, enforced) the system that she's suffered under.

I) Do you prefer to keep them in their canon universe?

Yes, but also I drew them as splatoons just for funsies

I have a tendency to just draw existing characters as species or crossover from other media, so there's like a nonzero chance that I'll draw the cast as Something sometime down the line. It's definitely not going to be any fully fledged AU that I think hard about conceptually (who knows. I might be lying. I'll never know)

list of slug city characters question list

#my art #my ocs #slug city #long post #gingull #alfin #king #moberry #smooks #dr. walworth #delta #oster #alka #kaola #teris #eidwinn #maika #i love having thoughts. oh man #I hope this is interesting for everybody to read! this is just me like. talking a lot so it may or may not be coherent