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warmerstranger · 11 months

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SAPPY AND THUMPING HEARTBEAT!

ft. (separate) Mayoi Ayase, Midori Takamine, Tsumugi Aoba.

This took me ar.4 days while studying their character, sorry if they're not still exactly on point wee ;( not beta read.

°°``summary: they like you but doesn't take things further when you suddenly become their very drive to a new point of relationship.

°°``Marked as and included with: fluff, angsty kind of, Mayoi being a silly creeper guy.., stalking implied but not extreme, self-deprecating humor... Just a few heads up, nothing too much ^^ also, I'm thinking the timeline for this is in !!/Music era

Mayoi Ayase

The one who takes things slow like baby steps while feeling that he doesn't deserve you. At the beginning, insistently asking if you maybe want to reconsider and apologizing because he have become your very wrong choice. Even though he was just pleased watching out for you from afar like the secret admirer he is... But, please don't misunderstand, he's actually has been dreaming this moment! He just can't help it that he still always have thoughts of your breakup in various worst case scenarios and he every so often compulsively expresses it. Holding onto your trust in him, he's slowly learning and working to be the best boyfriend so the chances of you leaving him is decreased.

Dating with Mayoi involves...

➻❥ Lots of understanding and reassurance coming from either both of you. He can easily pick up on your social cues, thus knowing instantly what would make you uncomfortable (even if he sometimes misunderstands thinking he's the source of it) and handle the situation well in a way your worries will be left scurrying off♪ so, please go easy on him whenever he makes any mistakes and goes on apologizing while belittling himself profusely about it.

➻❥ Acts of service. Even without you telling him, he can be unexpectedly a gentleman, shown through little gestures that would make him sound as if he's lesser than you although he means well. You wouldn't need to open a door by yourself and dirtying your hand with the unknown doorknob that have been in many people's hands so let him be the sacrifice since he's already not that 'clean' himself. Wiping your sweat off your face? Leave it to him, it's always been a dream to have a close up on your face he could die happily. The very same guy who would also lay on the road when you have to step over a puddle please stop him

➻❥ Physical touch. Depends after he learns that you've grown comfortable enough with him. Sometimes when you merely complimenting or acknowledging his efforts, he would tear up and hug you, saying you shouldn't be so kind to him since he wouldn't be able to hold himself back from spoiling you with all of his physical affection he could muster... He swears his heart could give out yet his grin is that of the most giddy man living if you're the one who would initiate it first. Surprisingly sudden yet tender in his advances.

➻❥ Vague menacing flirts; “Times like this makes me raring to put my beating heart out on your plate I wish my ribcage is a closet easily opened by you.”

“I feel so complete being with... you, I wouldn't mind having you wear my skin if I could.”

➻❥ Vulnerable, trembling kisses that barely graze your lips before slowly securing the right position with them, placing the effect of a stillness in space and time. Mayoi would muster up the best kiss he could give and still apologize if that one kiss isn't that good to you. He's not one to refuse for more kisses if you so wish, a better result he promises.

➻❥ Messy morning and evening text of 'i love you's accompanied by little cute emoticons along with specific cautionary expressing his worry 'Please always look both way when crossing the road!' or 'Please be careful of having your phone out in the public... it might get snatchedd or worse I'm sorry'

➻❥ You braiding his hair, him pampering you by styling your hair or giving you some accessories to decorate your outfit. His gifts are mostly sparkling trinkets he found from the ES vents secret rooms, stuffed animals, and little diorama of your anniversaries with him.

➻❥ Domestic indoor type of dates at home where this man is more like personal servant sometimes waking you up and making breakfast or dinner. Occasionally on some uneventful days though, there are other times you realize that he really is still your boyfriend.

~~~

A gentle greeting hangs up in the air, not reaching your ears even as he crouches down and peeks to you from the foot of your bed. He then creeps toward the side and now watches your rythmic breathing, feeling bad for what he's about to do but reminding himself that it's for the sake of you too.

“(Name)... Wakey-wakey... I'm so sorry I have to disturb you out of your beauty sleep. I know I'm only an annoying pest but please—umm, you're not.. no, no, you have to wake up. I have prepared you breakfast...” he whispers, nervously frowning.

“Yesh... just wait.” Stirring awake, you mumble before staying silent again. Giving you a few minutes as he admires your face, he soon shakes his head fervently. “Th-this can't do... (Name), you're perfectly fine with it, then, right? I'm sorry, ple-please don't mind, you can hit me all you want or banish me later though I would rather you—In a-a-anyy case! Pardon me...”

He slithers under your sheets knowing you aren't getting up any sooner, cuddling and nuzzling to you with hopes that you would be bothered enough to wake up. Yet, Mayoi wants this moment stay for as long as it could basking in your overall blissful presence.

Chuckling to him, you reply. “Gee, that just makes me want to sleep in more.”

He beams before sitting upright while holding your hands, accompanied by a bright smile rivaling the sun. “Th-that makes me flattered, hehe maybe we can—oh, no no (Name), you can do it, just one step away and getting closer to facing this day, please.” A hopeful tone lace his rushed sentence.

“Okay, what about my morning kiss as the final push?” you ask, pointing to your cheek.

Stammerring abashedly, he closes and opens his mouth. “..I, I can't simply-! No really, I mean... I was thinking of saving it fo-for later... But, it can't be helped if it's your wish...”

With eyes tightly shut, he pecks your cheek then shuffles down from the bed. “Now, with that, please get ready soon.” he offers his hand out for you to support. “I'm all yours.”

Midori Takamine

The one who would begrudgingly goes with the flow you brought about and giving his all. Despite all the complaining of 'why does it have to be him' and 'what do you even see in him', he would've felt worse if he just refuse this very chance that might be the green sign he has been seeking for him to go forward. Midori starts feeling more at ease going out with you, while keeping his doubts to himself about you choosing a better partner than him and feeling he may as well end this dating stuff. But that would be just a bad move to go through. Because, in the end... how can he even avoid you when you're filled with expectant hopes of him like that?

Dating with Midori involves...

☘๑ His intimidating mild discomfort and informal words with actions that speak more even as he sighs often. Things would be way less difficult liking you who weren't that interested in him before and settle with having mascot characters that's similar to you... He just can't get how you have this deep a trust leaving the rest of things or counting on him to do them. Also feels like he's high in cloud nine or something whenever he manages to lift your mood. It's a simple one, but the most satisfying achievements he have ever done in his entire life, besides pretty much being known as, well, the vegetable boy. His sighs sounds more relieved with a fond smile around you...

☘๑ Acts of service. More of from your side with his greengrocer business going on. Midori does still return the favor whenever he could and it's usually out of willingness if he offers. A bit different story if you're the one who ask him first because he might just label it as a pain but you can help yourself just fine which means borrowing him as he won't refuse lending you a hand.

☘๑ Quality time. Hanging out in his room while reading casually some comics together and commenting on tidbits of it or just simply enjoying your company is all what he needs. He's not that creative enough with supportive words or reaching out to provide some physical affections (though he won't push away your affection if you do the latter first), but he's there and will always be your pillar to lean on. Every break or day off where he could be alone with you while free from works is one of his favorites. He always try to not do some tasks around those moments since he would just get stressed out because of it and instead simply sharing his attention and efforts on you.

☘๑ Veggies. Free and the freshest only. He would give you some that reminds him of you or if he could imagine you as an herbivore animal...

☘๑ Rushed one-lip kiss and pecks because he's so not wanting to deal with his heart going crazy so he would rather make it quic. Things like this takes him a lot of energy and it's better than messing anything up anyway... Except when you're not satisfied, then he would try giving you what you want by picking up the rest from where you lead.

☘๑ Pictures sent by him taking a picture of some plush mascot key strap hanging from a random person's bag. Aside from that, casual texts from time to time asking 'where are you. if you can, dont make me search...' > (meaning so he could get to you faster).

☘๑ Insecurities intimate talk. He was and sometimes does still speak about his own misery and melancholic view, but lately because you've become a source of his consideration, he's more focused on your complaints and agreeing with whatever he relates to. Other times, he will keep silent since he doesn't want—more than anything—being your burden, thinking it would be too much for you on those particular heavy days to him. He can't bear it if you frankly get sick of him, even when he also feel at the same time, you would be better off saving your time and leave him for someone else more... better or not a loser like him. But if you aren't bothered and still wants to lend him an ear, he might express them, all the while hugging tight his favorite plush mascot character to try sparing most negativity away from you. He isn't against receiving some of your comfort, even if that would take some time for him to get used to.

☘๑ Besides indoor dates, there's a mascot character hunt type of date with an example of going to the arcade in some days off or as a celebration of his live success. Such as on one night...

~~~

The arcade isn't that rowdy this night where it could come as suffocating and it's just perfect for him. You both walk further into the section of claw machines for the stuffed animal and all kind of mascots behind the glass, waiting for the next seizer.

“So... Are we gonna start any soon now?” his eyes are already locked on a particular machine filled with vegetable mascots.

Earlier, you have challenged him into a competition where the winner who have caught the most will receive all catch from the loser.

“Yep, go crazy, we'll meet again here in an hour.” you reply, leaving him who answered an energetic 'okay' before he runs over to the machine not far away on the right side.

Not long after, he soon have gotten three of his targets finally in his hands after many determined tries. There's suddenly a surprised 'wahh' voice sounding near by his side which causes him to press the button at the wrong time and as the result, the claw misses. “Uuh... It was so close too dammit, so annoying, wanna die...” he mumbles, looking down in despair when that same voice revealed to be a little boy speaks out.

“You're great, big stranger brother! Can you please catch some for me?”

An hour later on your way to the meeting point, you catch a little boy carrying a round bag full of mascots running with a big smile from the way where you meet Midori. He's scratching his head awkwardly while holding three plushies in his left arm. “Well... This is all I got.” he sighs, gesturing to the plushies.

“Oh, I also got three, luckily... what happened though?”

He glances between the plushies you have and at the floor. “Got too carried away winning for that boy earlier, so the others were...” his gaze soon return to your face with a slightly agape mouth. “Wait... Three, does that mean it's a tie?”

You nod. “Yeah! Oh, no, wait, the catch you did before still counts too, you're practically the winner. So, here. These are cute but I had fun just playing.” Handing them out to him, he instead shakes his head and pushes them back.

“No, no, thanks, you don't need to though really... I would just feel bad. The final fair results is the one we have in our hands right now.” he then smiles, “I still had fun too, anyway. I think my inner child just healed, thinking that boy reminds me of the childhood. At least, all the mascots have found their place in each of a happy owner. That's why, I could trust them to you.” On the rest way back, you can tell from how he sounds eager telling you fun facts and the backstories of each plushies you have, that it was indeed a fun time for the both of you.

Tsumugi Aoba

Similar to Mayoi, Tsumugi would be unsure how to pick up the initiative and if he's befitting of a love life. That's why, as long as he can help you from time to time and indulging in the warm feelings from seeing you happy is already a lot enough than what he could ask. More so, he feels responsible, mixed with bitter guilt that you have decided to choose him of all people... But he will try not to disappoint you and does his best, though in that aspect he somehow still acts like a friend with benefits most of the time, who doesn't seem to be treating you any different than others. That's until you find his acts are more apparent in multiplied forms and earnest expressions like your treatment is the result of being placed at the top of his world.

Dating with Tsumugi involves...

❁♡‧₊˚ His inviting aura that lets you reach out to him easily for anything you might need or if you're encountering some difficulties, even when he's in the middle of doing something, it's important to hear you out no matter what it is and think about how he can help. Unless there's some urgent work needing his attention firstmost, he would apologize with a disappointed frown, offering to plan another time between the tight schedule where he can aid you completely so he would really appreciate your patience. He would make it up to you, and he does, more than what you expect even. It feels like he has such motherly vibes, because he could be bringing the drinks you want along with some refreshments too for the discussions. You don't even realize a small torn part on your jacket until Tsumugi tells you and offers to sew it, he doesn't mind because he could show off his ability.

❁♡‧₊˚ Words of affirmation flows smoothly from him the second you seem troubled or depressed until your thoughts can be tidied and held under your capability of control again that it's easy to feel reassured. Although, it would be a lot harder were you the one to give such words because he would deflect almost any with an appreciative smile and expression about him who is undeserving of them. He'd rather you share such kind things to others who may need it more or it could serve as a good reminder worth keeping to yourself.

❁♡‧₊˚ Acts of service, naturally. You have his full attention, always compassionate in assisting you. Furthermore, his assistance is accompanied by a relaxed chat with you. He can even manage the tasks you have to be processed in order, becoming less overwhelming and tying them with how you do things so you can do them without difficulty. Do use him to your heart's content~ it makes him happy if you especially depend on him, no trouble at all. If you're the one who try to help him, he wouldn't let you do so if he can, he's supposed to be the dependable one after all... Eventually he caves in and feels motivated to finish his work faster, though.

❁♡‧₊˚ Talk for long hours, like any topic, any reminiscing, will keep you chatting on and on with him because they just give you many thoughts to think about and experience in a useful way. Those topics would time to time include him mentioning the past with a cheery tone, yet concealing the heavy implications within... But, you don't need to think too deeply about it. Besides, he's okay, and still thinking about the future in a hopeful manner, too. It's just like any other day and have the similar tone to one would speak about the weather today.

❁♡‧₊˚ Occasionally, you would receive lucky charms and your lucky item for the day from him when the morning is about to start. He would also offer to do a reading on your fortune with the intentions of helping you get ready facing the day ahead. Even if you don't believe in any spiritual part of them, he would like it if you keep the charms or item for him. So his feelings for you could stay safe in your hands everywhere you go and whenever you take a look at them, you would be reminded of him♪ that's what he would like to think, at least... He's also fine of throwing them away and not giving them to you again, he can find another way that would make you more pleased.

❁♡‧₊˚ Forehead kisses, soft and not too impudent for him to do. He's saving the deep kind on the lips for a better day and event such as birthdays or celebrations when he could feel like he's worthy of them. He would let you give those kisses as many as you like, but he wouldn't return them back, unless it's the time.

❁♡‧₊˚ A bouquet of flowers on every and each date with different color and type to commemorate the particular events on that day, on that note he would explain the message they symbolize if you like :) They're good as a build-up for the atmosphere, too. Even so, please excuse him being a little bit dense in the wrong moment sometimes. He can focus too much on making you happy it's almost like everything is about you rather than as a date of you and him; going any places you want to go, treating you to the food, bringing you drinks...

❁♡‧₊˚ Library and bookstore dates are his go-to usually. Even if books were not your interest, his presence already does much to make the experience fun and rewarding. Besides that, he likes visiting few diners with their special steamed red sweet buns which are his favorite. The moment he mentioned it with such a happy satisfied smile, you realize it would be good to buy him some especially on this late night in the library.

~~~

Already covered by his own blanket, he was slowly dozing off at the second you call his name out. “EEP—sorry I'm not... Oh, (name), it's only you. Your voice sounded so soft I thought a ghost was whispering to me, you see.” he smiles sheepishly. “Is there anything you need? You should go to sleep soon... though I'm not the right person to be saying this, huh, ahaha.”

Putting a tea on the long table, you then give him a wrapped box which he accepts. “Enjoy them while it's hot, let me handle your work.”

“Is this...” he leans his head closer to the box, eyes widening in realization of a faint smell wafting from the box. “Ah, I know this smell anywhere! Thank you, (name). For the tea and the buns. But I didn't do any work, it's only a few lesson plans needing to be reviewed. I'm almost done with them. I have troubled you enough...” The still closed box is laid down on his lap.

“Yeah, right, your eyes are almost done sleeping there too. Let me handle them if they're only few left.” you take a seat from his side.

“I have a much better idea, how about we eat this buns together? I don't think I would be able to keep myself awake if I'm left alone while you're focusing on them.” He moves the box up on the table, closing the distance between you and him while he wraps the blanket around you. “There we go. Today was really exhausting, but I managed to finish all the works. Well, except that one. Fufu, what reason do you have for staying up late?”

“..nothing much, just worried about you.”

He takes a bite from one of the buns, humming delightfully. “How thoughtful of you like always. I'm glad to be the one who occupy your mind at this time, thought I can't say I like the thought of worrying you.” Finishing a piece, he then leans on your shoulder. “I can still get some sleep and, I will be revitalized enough now that you're here. Tomorrow too, with the warmth and care you provide me, I can try working harder again as usual. I don't think I could ever repay you back even with this insignificant love I have compared to the dearest you. But, I hope you can still accept my best everything of efforts for your happiness...”

#enstars headcanons #enstars x reader #ensemble stars x reader #tsumugi aoba x reader #mayoi ayase x reader #midori takamine x reader #ensemble stars headcanons #ensemble stars x you #enstars fluff #enstars x you

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aihoshiino · 5 months

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chapter 134 thoughts!

My immediate first thought going into this chapter and seeing how it picks up from last week's cliffhanger is that while I thought last week that this conflict served as an excellent character beat for both Ruby and Kana, I feel less positively about it as the catalyst for long term RubyKana conflict. Maybe that's hypocritical because I like the similar AquKana conflict back during the LoveNow aftermath and this is basically just a roided up version of that but… IDK, I guess it helped that the AquKana conflict is very clearly a romcom style miscommunication and it ends up leading to one of my all time favourite and funniest character moments for Aqua, this… isn't that. In general I really hate the old tried conflict trope of "Character A betrays or is otherwise cruel to Character B For Their Own Good and refuses to communicate about it" so this was kind of irritating to see…

It also really doesn't help that Kana is going SO above and beyond in being cruel to Ruby here in comparison to the AquKana conflict where her short-sighted lashing out was being mostly played for laughs but still came back to bite her. There's just something a bit excessive in how deliberately and pointedly cold and mean to Ruby Kana is shown being here and I guess it just feels a bit icky to me though I obviously can't make a proper call on all this til we see its conclusion.

I also have to question like… why is everyone around them just letting this happen lol. Memcho not intervening I can at least make sense of because she's been shown to be feeling off her game and a bit out of her element so I could see all that combining to make her uncertain of what to do but… uh, is Miyako not paying any attention? Admittedly the timeframe here is a little vague so we don't know exactly how long this has been going on but it's been happening at least long enough for Ruby to be going to school and fretting about it to her friends. So the idea of Miyako either being unaware of this or not intervening in this is really baffling to me??? Especially off the back of chapters 124 and 126 making a point of how badly Miyako wants to reach out to Aqua and Ruby and support them as their mother - the only way I can justify this to myself is if Miyako somehow doesn't know this was going on but how would she not know??? Like, we see Gotanda and his assistants fretting over Ruby crying after her scenes! If they're well aware something is wrong, why not Miyako? She's Aqua and Ruby's manager! This is a Strawberry Productions produced movie! We've seen her on set before! Is she just… not here now that it would be inconvenient for the plot?

(The answer to that is 'yes')

Uh all that up there does make it sound like I disliked either this or last chapter but I actually really loved them both for reasons we'll get into soon! I think they're both strong individual chapters and as points in RubyKana's shared arc I actually do really like this conflict, what it says about them both and where it seems to be taking them. There are just a lot of small, piled up contrivances pushing this conflict along and I think they annoyed me so much BECAUSE I otherwise think this is some really tasty character work for both girls and I'm otherwise enjoying it.

My bitching aside, I do really like the talk that follows this. I've been revisiting a lot of the earlier material recently via friends re-reading or giving the series a try for the first time so I've been back in that space of Ruby being particularly starstruck with Frill. It's sweet to see their present day dynamic where Ruby is fully comfortable with Frill just as her friend and trusts her enough to share her worries with her.

aw hey minami we thought you were dead

This entire scene really got my brain gears whirring and I can't help but speculate a little about its placement. At first I was just nodding along, thinking this was just Industry Exposition as usual but… isn't this odd? We don't see how Ruby phrases this question so maybe she was vague but from an authorial standpoint, why is Akasaka having Frill talk about love instead of dislike or hostility, which is what is actually going on between Ruby and Kana? Reading over that scene again and again, I can't help but wonder… is this supposed to be taken as some commentary on what's going on between Ruby and Aqua? Is Ruby developing confusedly romantic feelings for him purely because of their 'playing the roles', so to speak, of Sarina and Gorou? After all, the only other similar 'showmances', so to speak, that this could be referring to are AquKana and AquAka, neither of which quite fit the bill, especially when Frill talks about immediately snapping out of those feelings once the show is over — which didn't happen in the least for either pairing. Is this a hint of something to do with Ruby's feelings? Am I reading too much into this??? I mean, I almost definitely am, but I do that every week so…

Hopping over to Kana, the scene between her and Memcho itches my brain less mostly just because it's reiterating things communicated last week. I've said all I'll say about it feeling weird to me that Mem isn't making a move to intervene here but I do like the talk she and Kana have about their human jealousy towards Ruby. Honestly, I have a lot of respect for their being able to push it aside for so long because… honestly, none of what Kana said is wrong!

The second generation of B-Komachi exists for Ruby. Strawberry Productions got back into the idol business entirely so Ruby would have a group to be part of. Kana and Mem were recruited so Ruby would have unitmates to perform with. It doesn't revolve around her to the extent the previous generation did Ai, but in a very real sense Kana is correct when she identifies herself and Memcho as 'extras' for B-Komachi, who exist for Ruby's sake. Not only that but Ruby honestly treated them really badly while she was in black hoshigan mode! Yes, we as readers know what was going on in her head and why but think about how all that probably seemed to Kana and Mem who had no idea: From their POV, what happened was that they broke into mainstream success at last and Ruby immediately left them in the dust, prioritizing her own growth and success in a way that had a very real impact on the fan response the two of them got while they were busting their asses and trying their best to keep B-Komachi going in her absence. I don't think they would be wrong to feel honestly kind of used and hurt!

Obviously this isn't me saying that Ruby is a bad person or that she deserves to have Kana snap at her like that or whatever but… I dunno! It just feels good to have Mem and Kana finally address those feelings and admit to them without it compromising their genuine love and care for Ruby, which is one one of the main ways that the current gen of B-Komachi has surpassed the previous one. Kana especially touches on something I discussed last week in that I think her half of this shared RubyKana arc is going to be about confronting and besting her 'inner Nino', so to speak. Like Nino, she has those same tangled up feelings of admiration and envy, but Kana is capable of confronting them and identifying them. Most importantly, she loves Ruby enough to not let them take her over completely.

ANYWAY FORGET ALL THE REST OF THIS STUFF BECAUSE THIS WAS SECRETLY AN AI POST THIS WHOLE TIME MFS!!!!!!!! oh god this chapter review is already so long and now it's about to get even longer.

Anyone who's read any of my OnK meta before will probably know that I have always stood by one thing that I won't compromise on: Hoshino Ai was just a normal girl. She was a normal girl who suffered abuse and neglect and hated herself as a result, who was exploited by the entertainment industry because she was pretty and vulnerable, who didn't understand people but spent every waking moment of her too-short life reaching out so she could try and love them. The idea of Ai being fundamentally mysterious or unknowable, that the so called 'real Ai' had some horrible dark secret or that the supposedly 'true' Ai really was as horrible as Ai thought herself to be have never resonated with me. The 'real me' that is so horrible that Ai can only speak of her with black stars is nothing more than the flawed, hurting, abused human behind Ai of B-Komachi. I've said this all along and yet there's always been a little part of me worried that Akasaka was going to pull a fast one and betray that idea and rupture the heart of this character I've come to love so much.

To that end — I cannot tell you how insanely fucking cathartic the ending of this chapter was. To have Ruby at last come face to face with her mother as a human being and recognize her for who she really is. That this key final puzzle piece of the real Ai is centered on her pain and her loneliness and her raw humanity, that Ruby describes her as just a normal girl who was always crying and in pain… I genuinely don't have words to say how incredible it felt to finally, FINALLY have someone recognize Ai's suffering. And not just anyone, but one of Ai's children, one of the people she loved more than anything else in the world.

The imagery and framing here is so insanely powerful. Ai taking the place of Ruby's reflection, the look of weary, resigned pain on her face. How small Ai is when Ruby sees her. The barrier of the glass between them; even now in this moment of understanding, the unbreechable barrier of Ai's death keeps Ruby from truly reaching her. It almost feels skeuomorphic in how literal the visualization of this moment of connection and empathy is. Ruby literally sees herself in Ai — she sees Ai in herself. It's pure empathy made as real and tangible as it gets. At long, long last, someone has squinted past the blinding light cast by Ai of B-Komachi and seen Hoshino Ai alone in the shadows where she's been this whole time.

Break next week…! That was to be expected — Jump Festa 2024 will be taking place next weekend and there will be a OnK panel with the seiyuu for Ai, Aqua, Kana and Akane in attendance. We're confirmed to be getting some season 2 news as well, so there's that to look forward to!

#oshi no ko #oshi no posting #onk spoilers #ruby hoshino #ai hoshino

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erin-bo-berin · 2 years

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Singlemom!reader ‘verse idea: how are the Reader and Nancy around each other? I like to think there would be some friction at first not only because of Steve but also because they are different paths in life but then they grow to respect each other.

Since I imagine this universe taking place at the same time/ages of everyone as season 4, we’re gonna pretend the Stancy things never happened this season as Steve’s already with the reader. But I imagine the first meeting was probably very awkward giving their history. A little blurb coming your way!

(Also I know this gif is weird with this and looks way more intimate than it should be for this fic but I’m sorry I love chest hair Joe so much lord have MERCY I GOTTA STAY FOCUSED)

Never in a million years would you have thought that one of the auntie’s to your child would be your boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend.

Of course, your relationship with Nancy Wheeler hadn’t always been so smooth sailing.

It wasn’t bad, but the relationship hadn’t been necessarily good either.

The first time you’d met her, you were on edge. Things didn’t come out the way they should’ve have due to your nerves and there had been plenty of tension. Perhaps, it was mostly on your part, but you’d felt pretty inferior to the beautiful petite brunette.

In most cases, partners’ exes were out of the picture, but Steve was still really good friends with his ex-girlfriend. It made you self-conscious. Not in a jealous way, though. You trusted Steve. You just felt plain and messy next to the done up Nancy.

You were in sweats and had your hair tied up, bags under your eyes from sleepless nights with a baby. Nancy was always put together, perky and off to college in the fall to pursue her dreams of being a journalist.

So, that being your mindset, you two didn’t exactly hit it off.

Steve had told you about their tumultuous history and quite confusing break up, leading to some unresolved feelings though that was before you’d met him. Still, your confidence in yourself seemed to take a hit around her.

She seemed curt, straight to the point and didn’t bother talking to you much other and instead spent most of the time talking to Steve. Your slight bitterness might’ve shown a bit.

All in all to say, it was awkward and embarrassing. You were very embarrassed to admit how your self esteem had plummeted because of her.

Future interactions were slightly better, but you were exactly the best of friends.

Turns out, all you needed was a little bit of your daughter’s help.

It had been an occasion where everyone decided to hang out at the Wheeler’s house. Kids and teens were spread out everywhere. Some of the boys were playing D&D downstairs, Max, Steve and Robin were playing videos games in the living room, you reading a book while they played. El and Nancy were in the kitchen, Nancy helping her mom bake cookies and El playing with your little girl.

You heard the crying before you heard your name being called.

You were immediately in the kitchen, seeing your little girl in Mrs. Wheeler’s arms.

“I’m afraid she had a little fall when she was toddling around the kitchen. Just a little bump, I think it scared her more than anything. I’m sure she’ll be fine.”

You smiled and thanked her, taking the fussing infant into your arms.

“El, would you like to help me deliver these cookies to the boys downstairs?” Mrs. Wheeler asked, picking up two plates of fresh baked cookies, handing one to El.

They both headed down the stairs to the basement and you turned to head back to the living room with your daughter, when Nancy stopped you.

“Y/N? Can I talk to you for a moment?”

You turned back, seeing her twisting her hands in nervousness and found it odd. It’s not exactly like you’d had many conversations with her and none of them long at that.

“Please, sit,” she said, motioning to a chair across the table from where she’d just taken a seat.

You sat down, positioning the baby in your lap so she could still lay her head on her shoulder. She was due for a nap and knew she would be going down at any minute.

“I just wanted to apologize if I’ve made you uncomfortable or anything,” Nancy started.

“No, you—” you began to protest.

“No, no. I wasn’t exactly the friendliest when we first met and I’m sorry about that. I can’t imagine how awkward it would be to meet your boyfriend’s ex and realize they’re a permanent part of their life.”

“It was a little…surprising,” you admitted warily.

“Steve and I are just friends though. You have nothing to worry about, okay? We dated a long time ago. But still, that doesn’t give me a right to treat you badly. It’s nothing against you either, I promise. It’s just, Steve means a lot to me.”

“I imagine,” you nodded.

“I’m as protective of him as any friend would be. I just want the best for him and was afraid he’d get hurt,” she shakes her head as if trying to stop her rambling, “I can’t apologize enough, Y/N. Even if we’re not friends, I want us to get along.”

“Don’t worry, I wouldn’t dream of hurting him. We’re lucky to have him,” you nodded to your now sleeping angel on your shoulder, “But, I agree. I’d like to get along too.”

It was as if a truce was settled that day.

You two never had any ill intentioned feelings towards one another, you were just two very different people on two very different paths in life.

But over time, you did manage to become friends. After all, she did become an honorary auntie.

#steve harrington #steve harrington fic #steve harrington blurb #steve harrington fluff #steve harrington x fem!reader #steve harrington x you #steve harrington x reader #stranger things #stranger things fic #stranger things fluff #stranger things blurb

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phantomram-b00 · 2 months

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Been wanting to do this for sometime so here are some of my headcanon for Autistic Aziraphale.

Please note that Autism is a spectrum and that everyone’s have a different experience because some of these are hc are based on experiences I have as an autistic person or maybe other might’ve too. So please be mindful, but hope you guys enjoy and feel free to ask any questions. (I love this gif)

Headcanon 1:

Aziraphale isn’t comfortable with crowds or at the very least crowds that might be noisy or isn’t his usually spaces or familiar with (I.e his bookshop, Give me coffee or give me death, etc) so he usually just wouldn’t want to go or if he does try it, he’ll bring his yellow Walkman Crowley got him so he can listen to music since music calm him down.

Headcanon 2:

He’s the type to want to listen to any other songs to not get out the comfort zone so if he does, he would have to listen to them twice or three times in order to decide if he like the song or not. (Idk if this one odd let me explain, it something I do since I don’t like to listen to different songs that isn’t in my comfort zone let alone song that aren’t my usual so if I did listen to it I would have to listen to them fully two or three times to see if I like the lyric, rhyme and beat. Just to make sure it not too loud, repetitive, or fits in my comfort zone for me. But also the lyric the factor since I like interpreting songs, probably why I like The Crane’s wives for example or even Laufey sm.)

Headcanon 3:

Hardcover > Paperback because he likes the feeling of the hardcover then he does with paperbacks. But also he feels the texture is better. Hence why most of the books in his bookshop are hardcovers.

Headcanon 4:

He does have specific food textures he doesn’t typically like. Like bananas, if the bread is too flakey, rice is too hard, some sandwiches or eggs. So he stays away from it and stick to his safe foods like sushi, pears, cakes.

Headcanon 5:

Crowley love it when Aziraphale hyperfixates and talk about his favorite book he reading because it fill him with love to see that Aziraphale find something he loves. It actually took Aziraphale some time since heaven would often interrupts, ignore or blatantly brush him off to cut it out leaving Aziraphale to feel insecure about his special interest. Ofc it also toke meeting mortals like him to get him to open up so when Crowley first heard him hyperfixate it made him happy. Because that how Aziraphale in a sense show trust in him and himself to open up.

Headcanon 6:

Aziraphale likes to stim! I think I kinda dip my toes in it in some post from before but I do believe that he stims. Whether he hums a tone, wiggles or etc. he also started doing this after time passed because again heaven and also some mortal look down on this. But with the comfort of his bookshop, Crowley and also meeting understanding mortal he start to feel more comfortable. Granted he still try to hide it due to masking and to this day still mask but once he with Crowley or in the comfort of his home he stims.

And that really about it for hc today

Me rambling in 3…..2…….1 (tw: ableism)

And that’s pretty much concludes it, I might do this again as it fun. Headcanon is my favorite thing as well as when it comes to autistic headcanon. Autistic rep has been… not the best, granted I haven’t watch much tv shows other than ofmd, good omens, and more so I’m not sure if they got better, I don’t know if I’ll talk about that aspect of negative reps but all say, they have harmful impact as I have a family member that will joke “when will I see numbers” which…sure it a joke but…. I can’t help but feel bad. So doing this and seeing positive rep or seeing autistic/adhd coded characters make me happy!

This is fun in so many ways, mostly because as shown in my past post I relate to aziraphale. Still don’t know how I feel about that but regardless I love his character, his flaws, everything! And I see how he autistic coded in my eyes so it makes me almost relate to him even more. And I’ve been wanting to show my personal headcanon for a while just I thought now would be the best day. Especially as this Good Omens brainrot is alive and well among my other brainrot. I do hope you guys enjoy this let me know if you wanna hear more or if you have your own personal hc that you want to share. And hope you guys are having a good day with how bizarre 2024 is and hope you’re also having fun ghostly pals.

Here a Aziracrow/ineffable husbands/spouse/wives gif:

#autistic aziraphale #good omens #autistic headcanon #aziraphale #aziraphale good omens #good omens aziraphale #I do believe Crowley also autistic or adhd or both #good omens headcanon #good omens rambles #phantomramble #phantom rambles #tw: ableism #good omens is my permanent roommate #good omens fandom

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theteasetwrites · 8 months

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The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon | S1E2 Thoughts

⚠️ SPOILERS AHEAD ⚠️ do not read below the cut unless you’re okay with spoilers

Positive Thoughts

The opening scenes in Paris at the start of the outbreak? Genuinely got my heart pumping and my adrenaline rushing. I was actually freaked out. I wish TWD would have shown the outbreak actually happening more than they did. It would've been really interesting to see how each character ended up at the quarry, going all the way back to season 1 of TWD, but that's irrelevant lol

Camerawork is crazy good??? I mean, I don't really know anything about cameras but I thought that there were some really cool dynamic shots, especially in the flashbacks.

Isabelle is growing on me a LOT. I am so glad she is turning out to be her own character so far. I mean, I don't completely trust her because I think she definitely has her own agenda (can't really blame her), but I like her character. She hasn't annoyed me once which is crazy because even DARYL has annoyed me a few times in this episode lol

I loved the little detail of Sylvie being at the abbey when Isabelle arrives with Lily. Just a cool little detail where we see a little bit of Sylvie's story, too

The entire concept of Laurent being born to a walker is cool as hell and idc what anyone says. I wonder if him being born to a walker actually has some kind of effect on him. Of course, my first thought goes to maybe he is immune or something, or he carries the cure to the virus in his blood. I am so excited to see how that pans out. Idc if it's "ripping off" TLOU (I don't think it is tbh)

Speaking of Laurent, I have a newfound appreciation for him. He's so cute and sweet, and I felt bad for him when the children were picking on him

Lou's group is SO COOL. I love that they're a little group of children who raised themselves. Kinda reminds me of Jocelyn's kids from season 9 of TWD, but less evil. MUCH less evil. Not evil at all, actually. They remind me of the Lost Boys from the movie Hook, which is based on Peter Pan. That dinner scene was especially reminiscent of that for me

Daryl being undercover as a priest LOLIONGJWKDS

Daryl has some amazing sassy/cute moments in this episode. I think my personal favorite is when he loudly slurps down the soup at the dinner table. I also loved the little detail of Daryl starting to eat before everyone else/before they said grace, signifying how Daryl doesn't really have good table manners (which I love). It's so cute when he starts saying the prayer with food already in his mouth lol

And Norman's acting in this episode was once again so good. There's a scene when they're watching the TV where the camera slowly zooms in on Daryl. His smile begins to fade and you can just see in his eyes how much he misses home, and how much he wishes he could be with his family, even Merle, who he is probably thinking about, too, since he used to watch the show with him.

DARYL USING A MORNINGSTAR DARYL USING A MORNINGSTAR DARYL USING A MORNINGSTAR DARYL USING A MORNINGSTAR DARYL US--

That annoying American was slightly entertaining. Mostly annoying but slightly entertaining as well

Daryl and Laurent are very cute. I love how Daryl sort of relates to him in that they were both outcasts as children

Negative Thoughts

There are a few things Daryl does in this episode that rubbed me the wrong way just a tad bit. Of course I still love him but I just don't understand some of his decisions lol. Like when he let the mule go instead of just getting off his ass and taking out those walkers. He could've done it! Especially with the help of Isabelle and Sylvie. They probably could've taken out that herd without sacrificing the mule. Just kind of a stupid decision imo. Unnecessarily cruel too. I also didn't get why Daryl locked Lou in that shed. Kinda not cool? He could've just said, "hey, you stay back and I'll handle this." I didn't really see the point in having him do that :/ and he lies a lot to Lou and the kids in order to get what he wants. I mean, I get that he doesn't owe anything to these kids, but still... just seems a little callous. It's giving Carol vibes lol. They're basically making Daryl do things the way Carol does them—by lying, manipulating, and being cruel to children. I like Daryl because of his kindness, not this weird deceitfulness that he has going on suddenly. Again, I get that he is in a foreign place and these are all strangers to him so why should he care, but it just really doesn't seem like our Daryl. Other than that, I liked Daryl a lot in this episode, but there were just some little things I didn't vibe with

This episode did seem to veer away from the main plot quite a bit. I wonder if Lou's group will return later to help Daryl and the others in his group, or if they were just a one and done storyline. While I loved this little adventure, it did seem to not really add to the overall arc, and the little scene at the end with Codron walking around the abbey did seem a bit shoehorned just to remind us of the actual plot, but who knows?

Neither Positive Nor Negative Thoughts

So lets talk about the bed scene. Idk. I didn't hate it because I didn't see anything romantic there between Daryl and Isabelle, BUT it was a little like... can't you guys just have there be two beds lol. I really just think it's baiting, once again. I don't feel any romantic connection between them, and I don't think the show is necessarily trying to get that across to us, but I do think that they're like "well if people do think this is a romance, it will get them to continue watching the show and see if they get together!" So basically I think it's just a way to get people interested, but I don't think anything will happen. I think they will stay friends, otherwise it would be very awkward, at least from the way their relationship is so far

That's about all I have to say I think! Thanks for reading my thoughts. Hoping to get Chapter 2 of Begin Again out before the next episode, but no promises <3

#the walking dead: daryl dixon #twd: daryl dixon #daryl dixon #the walking dead

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trillscienceofficer · 11 months

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I got why federation asylum would be good for the protostar crew as, y'know, runaway child slaves, but it didn't make sense to me that they would also be so drawn to starfleet. Dal made some good points early in the show about the reasons they have to be wary of authority. They really just escaped a prison camp and ran toward the nearest hierarchical structure they could find?

I feel like the show mostly painted starfleet as an enlightened institution and a force for universal good and all that. But the encounters that dal and jankom pog in particular had with starfleet officers revealed some serious prejudices. If you were to write their disillusionment from starfleet, how would you do it?

I totally get your frustration, though personally I found that the kids' goal of getting into Starfleet was more a reflection of their affection and trust for holo!Janeway than anything else. I think they were allowed to have a good amount of misgiving and doubts about their objectives and destination over the course of the first season, too, certainly more than what the characters in the current live-action shows are allowed to (with maybe one exception in Michael Burnham's arc in S3 of Discovery), so all in all I wasn't disappointed with Prodigy's approach.

I liked that they showed Starfleet's less perfectly ‘utopian’ side too, with the episodes like “Asylum” pretty explicitly showing how prejudices (as you mentioned) and incompetence can interact in truly awful and damaging ways. I think the show did a great job also showing the way even Starfleet heroes like Janeway can default to assuming the worst when it comes to unknown quantities like the kids. I found it very believable and less... hollow ‘propaganda’ for the Federation and Starfleet than what either the Picard show or SNW are currently doing, where none of the slogans we hear are reflected in the actual experiences of the characters we're shown.

I think what I would do is simply continuing with this character-centric strategy and extrapolate further from these children's very troubled backgrounds. None of them have had good experiences when it comes to authority, as you correctly pointed out, so what happens when Janeway inevitably gives an order they disagree with? Most importantly, would they be allowed to leave if the disagreements pile up high enough and they decide that a Starfleet ship is not for them after all? At this point my main gripe with Trek is the apparent unwillingness to have its characters choose anything but the one path allowed: a career in Starfleet. I think it would be a good message to have in a cartoon for children, that no matter what your dream was you can find out it's not for you after all, and it's not the end of the world and you will be able to find inspiration and meaning elsewhere (ie outside of Starfleet. It would be especially significant to me if such a storyline included an older, more at peace with herself B'Elanna Torres).

I'm not entirely sure this particular approach to what most people would call ‘failure’ is something that can actually be explored in a children's cartoon from the US—‘work hard till you make it’ is the correct moral position after all, according to mainstream wisdom. But animation has also been exploring complex topics about choices, responsibilities and their weight on individual characters since Avatar: the Last Airbender at least, so I'm confident that the Prodigy production could do great things, if allowed! I don't expect at all an anti-establishment messaging (again, children cartoon situated in a venerable franchise and all that), but... a less monolithic view of the Federation, and the question of choosing to be part of it or not, would be something I'd love to see. The Prodigy protagonists definitely could bring a different, outside perspective to the table.

#thank you so much!! really love this kind of meaty questions #askbox #prodigy

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gffa · 2 years

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I’ve read half of Stories of Jedi and Sith and, while I do have some complaints (mostly in that I wish the Yoda and Obi-Wan & Anakin stories had actually been more about those characters/shown their POV), I genuinely enjoyed each of the stories so far! I wasn’t sure what to expect of the Qui-Gon POV or the Barriss POV but those two actually wound up being my favorites! Qui-Gon is at his best in his story and you can see how much the Jedi value him for being himself, as well as his advice is lovely in the story. And, oh, Barriss. My sweet girl Barriss. (SOME SPOILERS for Barriss’ story here!) This story made me love her even more than I already did, I feel like it’s the one story that actually did justice to her and the Jedi around her. The darkness is growing in her, but it comes from a deep pace of pain at the loss of Jedi life, the wounds in the people around her that she cannot heal, that she cares so deeply and even working as a healer, it only made it harder for her because she couldn’t let go of feeling their pain and knowing more hurt was coming. The Jedi around her stop multiple times to really look at her, give her chances to say something, to touch her arm or to take time to meditate with her, which actually does help, she bounces back and lights up and is warm from their trust in her and their care for her and their time with her, it clears away the dark, except we know it will come back and it’s just. Oh, my beloved Jedi and my beloved Barriss. This story felt like it actually accomplished something and illustrated her character so well. The first five stories have all been fairly Jedi-positive (Ventress’ doesn’t really touch on the Jedi either way, other than her hilarious hateboner for Obi-Wan) and there’s some really lovely stuff on a meta level in the Obi-Wan & Anakin one, but if you’re only going to read one story from the first five, my favorite is that Barriss one. MY SWEET GIRL I LOVE HER SO MUCH SOB.

#stories of jedi and sith #barriss offee #novels

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charlieslowartsies · 10 months

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I read the newest chapter of Lies Within and a few things I loved:

DJ casually kidnapping Max bc his good friend asked and a love of headphones

Glitchtrap's creepy possessiveness over Goldy. (Also wondering if Ness is truly discarded bc Mike is rotting away.)

Gregory and Glamfred now have a third member! You can also see a bit under Gregory's tough guy exterior and realize that he's just a kid who is delighted by a lot of things (something I think a lot of fans forget)

Vanessa and Daycare Attendant's dynamic as a meant to be pairing that got twisted. It feels like to me that Moondrop's mostly written her off in favor of Max (has a small spark of hope however) but Sunnydrop still wants her. Makes me wonder what it would've been like if Glitchtrap hadn't screwed things up.

I'm so glad you liked the recent chapter! While it didn't give me the same fight that chap 14 did, for some reason I was a little nervous with it. But I hit all the topics I wanted to on the outline, so we should be good for the upcoming climax. I commented on some of your bullet points, but since I ramble, tossing them under a RM lmao:

I LOVED writing DJ, mostly because he's one of the few Animatronics that is, more or less, seated in the middle of the Good/Bad line. He's not evil or controlled, but he's not able to be incredibly active or involved. He does, however, end up making a lil bond with Max!

Yep~ It's been brought up a few times, but Glitchtrap's obsession with getting what he can't have seems to be over riding some common sense or smarts he previously used to manipulate the Pizza Plex. Glitchtrap's obsessiveness is meant to parallel what the Marionette went through before Devil's Spine and during--so focused with finding the perfect Suit and not caring how many lives it ruined as it searched for a way to protect the restaurant.

Some of my favorite parts to work on are the scenes where Gregory breaks down and feels his emotions. Obviously this has been a terribly long, terrible night, though it hasn't been his first awful night. But he is still a kid. His concern over Glambear, the gang feeding him, and his small cry sessions and short naps are things I wanted to see in Security Breach. And just as important are the things that still turn him into a kid--wide eyed and wondrous at the world, be it Mari or DJ or even just a simple candy bar being given to him.

Moon feels very cheated by the system, haha. So does Sunny, but he's more open minded. It also might mean that Vanessa (should she choose too, of course) has to work to earn the DCA's trust if she wants to stay in her position as Head Guard. After all, she was only given the job due to Glitchtrap's meddling and controlling. Moony doesn't feel she's earned it, maybe, nor does he trust her due to Glitchtrap. (Of course, how many don't trust Moon either because of his erratic actions?) But trust and friendship can be rebuilt in some cases! It will certainly come down to communication (and perhaps Vanessa's trust colors being shown.) Moon didn't engage with the Marionette until he thought about all the ways the Puppet could be of use to the Mega Pizza Plex.

#kga #knight guard au #answered

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dontbotherwiththepronunciation · 7 months

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I'm following the shipping anthropology like it's my paid job ofc but was there anything interesting about gen preferences ? Iirc exacty if there was a question about it/what it was like but I'm curious if anyone shared

Sorry for the last response! I went over the answers many times already and one of my regrets is not digging deeper into general non-romantic dynamic preferences so I am sorry I will have to disappoint you when it comes to it since I was too short-sighted. Here are the stats for Greyjoy dynamics, some comments on Robb and Theon as friends and a few general comments on possible friendships. Character studies type of gen fanwork sadly wasn't mentioned.

Extremely surprised by Theon & Euron being more interesting than Theon & Balon to the common fandom.

Many throbb people and also less Theon-centric people who answered the survey also spoke of Theon and Robb as friends or friends to lovers which I found interesting because this wasn't the case with other ships that are are based on somewhat positive interactions/emotions, like show! theonsa or theyne (who I don't consider his friends either).

i picked theon/robb mostly because that's been his healthiest relationship during his life but i generally don't engage with shipping content besides occasionally seeing fan art. i enjoy the dynamic of childhood friends turned lovers as well as like maybe them bonding over their mistakes in the afterlife. i like to think robb would forgive theon eventually, he doesn't seem the type to give up on his loved ones. -

Very close tie between Theonsa and Throbb for me. I enjoy a dark twist on the childhood friends trope, I like the potential for exploring Theons trauma from being a hostage vs his genuine love for Robb and Sansa

I don't feel strongly about it, I don't think Theon and Robb would ever say or do anything explicitly romantic/sexual "in canon", but I get that it can be fun to explore it. I like to explore how their friendship developed, how they grew so close, and the crushing guilt, regret and trauma of the betrayal

I live for TheonxRobb fics but mostly the ones about the war time, the angst about betraying Robb or his family, reactions to the red wedding, angsty flashbacks to their childhood and so on. it's the childhood friends to lovers to enemies to tragedy that does it for me. but when I'm in mood I can get super into fluffy fics of the two, since Robb isnt really a pov character there's much more leeway for the writer, I can read I fic about them and not be bothered if Robb is ooc (hard to be out of character when you are not much of a character lol) because I'm not familiar with inner thoughts and all that, theres more freedom for imagination.

I find Theon/Robb interesting because the themes of friendship/brotherhood/betrayal are really interesting to me. Theon's guilt, mania, depression and his complex relationship to the Starks are best shown through the Throbb (ew name lol) dynamic. I also think it's hilarious. Mordern AU throbb is insane..

I wish he was in AGOT a little more! Like I don't think we get a full conversation between Theon and Robb besides when Robb yells at Theon, which sucks because they are basically best friends.

I feel like Robb was Theon's only friend in Winterfell for a long time. Like he was the only person the idiot could sorta trust

Catra from she ra! Redemption and identity and sexy bad boy stuff again. Childhood friends to lovers. Enemy/rival of the childhood friend/lover. Most of the characters in Yellowjackets. (Jackie is Robb).

I just ignore things that bug me. I don't like calling him reek. I don't think he was "right to betray the Starks" or that he didn't betray them. I think he did betray them despite being a ward, or at the very least he betrayed robb who was his friend. Theon says as much, what he did was wrong and it supposed to be wrong.

Others

let him have other friends in modern aus, the whole botley family is right here.

Back to the iron islands support group thing we came up with. I would really love it if Wex, Falia, Jeyne & Theon would become friends (and maybe it develops into something else with one of them, maybe it doesn't). Not found family, he has a family, but friends! Good friends who treat him right and don't look down on him. He had friends in Winterfell and he had friends in the Iron Islands! He is not unloveable or unloved but life has made it very difficult for him to keep those friendships or for those friendships to even be healthy and these three people have gone through similar situations in their life and could find some happiness and carelessness in each others company.

I need to know who his dead or grown into strangers friends were. Was Botley one of them? Was that the reason he looked down on him and Qarl later on? Was Baelor one of them? grrm why add that extremely relatable line and not expand on it?!? You know me, I know you. Killing ourselves over this.

#hell-heron #speaking #theon survey #again sorry. I should have been more thoughtful.

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hwestalas · 5 days

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Aragorn (a.k.a. Strider) as Frodo first saw him, on a not-so-ordinary Thursday evening.*

This is my first (and so far only) attempt at drawing this iconic scene. It's also almost the only time I have drawn Aragorn without a beard. I initially imagined him without a beard (probably because my dad shaves, I trust my dad, and Strider gave me strong trustworthy vibes**), but I can't get him to look how I imagined. I guess he's inadvertently closer to the animated version in Ralph Bakshi's film, so that's something :)

He is my favorite fictional character (though it took a couple of years before I was willing to let him displace Littlefoot from that position). Aside from his just being such a good, noble, upright person, I mostly like him so much because of the contrasts in his character: he looks scary and ragged and disreputable, but he's actually one of the greatest heroes in the book, both in moral character and in abilities. Speaking of which, he's a powerful healer and a really strong warrior, all at once! This surprises people in-universe (even people more sensible than the Herb Master, such as the Warden of the Houses of Healing).

Oh, and he's the greatest tracker of that age, which is also cool. He's just really, really epic. And I love his sense of humor. I keep forgetting that the whack-a-troll scene exists, which is awesome because then I can laugh about it all over again!***

Funny story and fact citations in the Notes down there V

*According to Appendix A, this was on September 29, which, according to Appendix D, always falls on a Thursday.

**The Story of How I Came to Trust Aragorn:

I had heard some vague spoilers in earlier years about Aragorn being an unlikely king, revealed through his healing powers. Then I read the summary on the back of the novel, and it mentioned Frodo travelling with several people, including "a mysterious stranger named Strider." Aragorn wasn't mentioned by name, but I figured he was a main character, and my brain put two and two together to assume that "Strider" was Aragorn's alias.

Meanwhile, my dad started reading aloud The Fellowship of the Ring. Hobbits showed up, did their thing, and eventually reached Bree... but not without some super sus gate-jumper on their tail. I just knew it was a Ringwraith... Then they entered the Inn, and this super sus stranger was sitting in a dark corner, and he was *invisible*! Well, all you could see was his eyes, but I figured a Ringwraith had followed them right into the Inn! Then Mr. Butterbur introduced him as Strider, and in an instant, everything changed.

I was very excited, because Aragorn had shown up!! And I trusted him from the start; I was rather proud of that. I loved him more and more over the course of the next two chapters or so, and declared that he would always be my favorite, no matter what other awesome characters might show up later! (I knew this to be foolish, but I didn't care.)

I also learned (from him, I believe) that he had been the super sus gate jumper when the Hobbits first arrived at Bree... which means that I mistook him for a Ringwraith not once, but twice - the first two times I saw him!

***If you, too, would like to laugh at the whack-a-troll scene, I would highly recommend LotR Book One (this is the first half of FotR) chapter 12, specifically the middle part that one would expect to be boring. If you start about six sections in, the travel log should soon give way to some mention of trolls, upon the heels of which comes one of my favorite funny scenes.

#lord of the rings #fellowship of the ring #fanart #my art #aragorn #Planner 3 #which is now all posted #after this I went through a big phase of drawing Denethor &co.#So that may come at some point #but I still need to finish the last drawing so I may delay it

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alien-girl-21 · 1 year

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this probably wont make sense esp. since im talking as someone whose only seen k5 and mostly through translations lol but it's like- k!Luzu hurts to watch because he's both doomed by fate and his own hands- mostly fate in k4 it seems but like that leads into him being set up to fail in k5 because he doesn't remember the full context of what happened to him in k4 so he ends up screwing over himself and his best friend- but also it's like- he could've stopped, he could've trusted Quackity to handle the mayoral position and respected him instead of acting behind his back, he could've supported his friend and tried protecting him without hurting him even if that felt riskier, he could've accepted that he fucked up and admitted to committing fraud, he could've resigned as mayor- when he's shown the video of all of his and Quackity's moments together it hurts but he still decides to keep going- but then again why would he back down when as far as his memories could tell him the pain he inflicted on Q seemed like a lesser evil then letting him become mayor even if it meant breaking their friendship and overtime his priority shifts from protecting Quackity from Karmaland to protecting Karmaland from Quackity and so he can't just give up now but-he doesn't realize or maybe just doesn't want to acknowledge that things at that it turned out this way because he betrayed him in the first place- that the fraud and everything that follows was all for nothing now. And the longer he keeps going the worse the war gets, but the worse it gets the more like Luzu feels like he's in the right for staying as mayor for the greater good even if it hurts- having strayed so far from why he even ended up here in the first place and like- BASICALLY It's like he was set up to fail from the start but he could've stopped but then again why would he at any point- his unhappiness in k5 is both his fault and not his fault like- omg I didn't mean to ramble this much I've just been thinking about k!Luzu a lot lately and it's driving me a little nuts this ended up longer then I wanted it to 😵‍💫 I wish I knew more Spanish to do a proper analysis on him (and the revolution arc in general) because his character is really awesome- I hope this was alright, I like talking about k!Luzu but the language barrier always makes me feel nervous to do so LOL (Also I just want to clarify I'm not like absolving k!Quackity of any blame here because uh he did a LOT of fucked up shit and I share a lot of general sentiments that I brought up here with Luzu with him- like they're both were screwed by shit out of their control but also like neither are totally blameless for their suffering- I have a LOT of thoughts about k!Q too, but I just felt like focusing on Luzu's side of the story rn because of the k4 posts lol and this ask is long enough 😵‍💫)

I accidentally wrote way too much, dorry

K!luzu is soo tragic once you start thinking about it ngl

Since karmaland 4 he did nothing but help people. Someone needed food? He was giving them as much food as he had. Vegetta wated to tame a cat but didn’t have meat? Don’t worry, luzu will let himself be stabbed so vegetta can have his cat, and so on and so forth, He has the biggest heart during the beginning of the series, not only for the heroes, but for karmaland as a whole. Hell, I mean, his house got blown up like 3 times in one day and he didn’t even bat an eye and forgave the people that put the mines there, even if he lost his pig, Manolo, for a while during the commotion.

He said that he wants to be positive and help everyone else in karmaland. He loves doing good things for his friends, he has an entire episode dedicated to cooking his friends’ favorite foods! And when rubius told him it was part of his electoral campaign he said that no, it was because he loved his friends.

I guess one of the most tragic things looking into k4 after knowing what happens after the elections and everything that goes on in kv are his interactions with the hermandad oscura and his first therapy session with auron. Since the hermandad oscura was formed, they have been trying to get luzu to their side, they have blown up his house, stole his pig, and made him steal so they could give him Manolo back. Thing is, luzu never acts exactly how they want him to. They blow up his house? Oh well, he’ll patch it up. They steal Manolo and ask for ransom that has to be stolen? He’ll just put a lot of signs saying he’s sorry in the most nervous way possible while taking one diamond out of fargan’s chest. It’s impossible to make him do evil in one way or another, and they are tired of it.

When they give him Manolo back, they say: “we have seen there is darkness inside you (…) someday, you’ll know more” which he does have, he has that darkness inside him, and it comes out after the election, and it goes full blast in kv. But they try once again, to get him to their side 2 episodes later, when they swap the fake Manolo for the real manolo:

Luzu: there’s no bad blood (between us) after this mishap. But I think we could make a deal because of this. Hermandad oscura: We’re going to do something we normally don’t do, Luzu. There is evil inside you. L: (snorts) okay? HO: We’re granting you a pact. You can do one evil thing. L: You mean I have to do something evil? HO: No, you can tell us we can do something evil, and we will do it. L: This is a lot of power; I have never thought of something like that. HO: The consequences will be yours. L: Okay, so you will be the instrument for whatever evil I want you to do? HO: Exactly. L: Can I say it now? Because I have an idea. HO: Yes. L: Well, I don’t know if you know, but there’s a new Karmaland member (…) There’s a new member in Karmaland, Auronplay, he just started, and I think it would be funny —I don’t want you to hurt him— I want you to do something to entertain him, to welcome him to Karmaland like the rest of us. I think it would be funny for you to block his house and make a treasure hunt to find something, with different tramps, so he has to fight for his life… what do you think? HO: It’s a good idea, but it’s your idea. Everything that happens now is your fault. L: Okay, but don’t kill him, if he dies make sure it’s his fault, not yours– mine.

So, the hermandad oscura does as Luzu tells them, and auron has to do his little quest for some items that the hermandad oscura put in a chest with a code lock in, and every single sign left blames luzu for what happened. But they end up making up after it, so it’s like nothing ever happened in the first place. No matter what they do until before the elections, it doesn’t work.

Then, during his first session with auron as his therapist, they have many moments that just punch you in the face.

Auron: I’ve heard you are a very kind-hearted person, that you are one of the few that enters conflicts and is always smiling (…) that’s what they say, that’s why I’m asking, why are you here?

Luzu: I don’t know if you’re heard, but there’s going to be elections in Karmaland for being the mayor (…) the elections are coming up, and I’ve been feeling this pressure that grows, that I didn’t realize before (…) you know I’ve been preparing my campaign and some friends have betrayed me during this (…) I think that (everyone should have) free choice, you know? Everyone has to be the person they want, but of course, I think: what did I do wrong? What did I do? Because, of course, I made my friend react that way, so I don’t know what I did wrong and I want support so I know how to take this campaign. And if I become mayor, it’s because of you helping me with the pressure…

So yeah, he wants to be mayor, but he feels the pressure, and it’s even more when mangel, who was meant to be the creative director of the campaign, decided to form his own political party. And then you look at luzu in kv, he’s constantly saying to quackity that he shouldn’t mess around in politics, that it’s not worth it. Which I think lines in with what auron says next:

“This is a tricky subject, my father always used to say: ‘never talk about football and politics on the dinner table’. I have to say politics creates many betrayals, many enemies, it’s tricky, and you knew what you were getting into”

What does luzu say to quackity whenever he brought up running for mayor? That it’ll destroy his life, that it’s not worth it. In kv luzu accidentally became auron, he did not only become the therapist of karmaland, but he was saying stuff that auron had once told him to quackity, the naïve kid with a dream (in luzu’s eyes).

Luzu was betrayed, someone decided to step up last second in the election and run along-side luzu, his friends voted for them; his friend left him behind for the other guy because he had power. Luzu was failed by everyone he knew and he fucking snapped. He had flashbacks to this in kv, and that’s why he repeated his own history, to save quackity from what he thought was going to be a fate worse than dying.

Luzu is just surrounded by a narrative that’s always against him. He tries to do good; he tries to be positive, he tries for people to like him, see him as a friend. But it always fails, people think he’s the hermandad oscura, no way a guy is so nice just because; he gets betrayed in the thing that meant the most to him because of the need of power. But he still does good, I mean, if it wasn’t for him the members of kv could have never gone back to k4. Even in kv, if he didn’t trust anyone, he still helped them out, he was still there in all the events being friends with everyone.

Mucho texto, so I will finish with: tl;dr: k!luzu is doomed by the narrative and the narrative lets you know like it’s a slap on the face and I think cc!luzu should be praised more for his storytelling skills <3

#this makes no sense whatsoever #this is why i can't write proper analysis of media LMAO my brain just writes down whatever it's thinking of #anyway i love k!luzu so much he's my bbg <3 #and everyone go watch episode 31 of his k4 series it gives so much good insight into k!luzu and the person he becomes in kv <3 #because if it were for me i would've translate that entire video because GOD

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littlerabbittarot · 1 month

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Tarot: Being Reminded of ‘Strength’

What I love so much about tarot is how it speaks with us, or how we speak to ourselves through it. In our day to day routines, the simple, or even sometimes fantastic of things can get lost. A moment with ourselves, our cards, and opening our hearts can be a good reminder (or reinforcement) of those precious things.

While finishing up reading the book “Tarot Shadow Work: Using the Dark Symbols to Heal” by Christine Jette, more of a workbook in confronting and addressing the darker or more deeper sides of ourselves, I had a pretty profound experience with the final spread. A culmination of the efforts the readers of the book had put in, this final spread centered around ‘The Star’, and our hopes for the future. And not to spoil the spread, I mostly wanted to talk about one card that has had a tendency to follow me. In the position of “Your Gifts” — What does one need to keep or nurture? What gifts have you found in the dark? What strengths have you developed? — That’s where it popped up. ‘Strength’, quite fitting.

The Strength card from the Rider Waite Smith Pocket Edition tarot deck.

I won’t lie, I often get emotional whenever this card shows itself. Almost no matter the spread, no matter the position, it’s like this card appears and tries to remind me, “Don’t forget me, I’m always here, you’ll always have me.”

I can get frustrated, angry even, when that lion comes up. It can almost feel like a moment of weakness, of humbling, feeling at fault for my struggles and not channeling what the card says I already possess. I think many can relate to this feeling. Being challenged by life and never feeling good enough. Like you’re barely standing on your own two feet, dangling by a thread. One false move and you’ll crumble.

“What strength!?” I often yell back this card. “I’m terrified all the time, unable to do the most basic tasks, crippled by anxiety, hardly taking one step forward before I stumble backward! What kind of strength is that!” I feel mocked, like this card is placed as a joke at my expense.

But the card says nothing in return. In reality, it’s just a piece of paper, it has nothing to say. But it doesn’t need to say anything. The picture says it all.

A lone figure, no sign of fear in their face or posture. In fact, they seem content, pleased even, as they grasp at the jaws of a fierce predator. The lion, with all the power it holds, relents. There is no submission, but trust. These two beings existing together, frozen in time as one. Neither needs to make a move, neither has to. There is this unspoken exchange of curiosity. The courage it takes to approach the lion, and the faith the lion gives to be vulnerable.

When I saw that card appear in this spread, I laughed. The things life has thrown at me these last few years, and when this spread asks me, “What strengths have you developed?” I am shown literal ‘Strength’, I couldn’t help but laugh! And once I was done laughing, I sat with this card. Let it linger in the air, my thoughts going blank as I stared at the artwork. And for the first time, I could hear it speak. Through images in my head of recent events, of me overcoming things I never could’ve imagined. Simple things for most, scary things for me. But I had tried, and stumbled, but kept trying. Going forward, trudging on, pushing through the muck. Looking back at my efforts, I could see why this was the only fitting card to have come out. I may have times of self-doubt, low confidence, and my anxiety is still kicking, but as am I. Slowly, but surely, I continue on, and ‘Strength’ says, “I’ve been there all along, you just couldn’t hear me.”

Sometimes you have to wait for the right moment for something to resonate. You can be told time and time again the same thing, but one day you’ll hear it in a slightly different way, and it feels like brand new.

I’m opening the floor for you to join me in a quiet moment of reflection. If you have a deck, pull out your ‘Strength’ card (or use my photo from this post), a journal ideally too, and sit with it for a bit. Give yourself the space to absorb the imagery, have an open mind and try to listen. After a few minutes, record your thoughts. Maybe leave the card out for a while, or snap a pic and use it as your phone or computer wallpaper.

What strengths have you exhibited recently? How does it feel to notice it?

—

Thank you for reading! I hope to continue to blog about tarot, mental health, and similar topics. Feel free to follow, or support me on Ko-Fi.

-LR🐇

#mental health #tarot cards #inner strength #self love #tarotblr

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d-lissa · 11 months

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Liveblogging TMA - Season 2 - MAG 41-45

"Trust can get you killed."

TOO DEEP :

First episode of season 2 !

Or otherwise called "Jon's Paranoid Era". Here's to hoping it's just a phase.

When I first started the episode, I thought that Jonathan sounded kind of unstable in his statement, unhinged in a way that didn't suit him.

Turns out, he is ! But he is also aware of it, and self aware enough to use it to his advantage and make people focus on the wrong things. Which is good, I think, though I'd rather he wouldn't be alone in this endeavour.

He won't be for long, I'm sure, but knowing that Not-Sasha is here is putting me on edge, and I am glad that she is not aware of what he's planning. If Martin or Tim were, I'm sure they'd probably end babbling about it to her.

Elias is not even worth thinking of.

Robert Smirke and his architecture have made a comeback, and a new mystery is to be added. The tunnels, and who controls them. Is it the being that is watching him ? But then, why would it, whatever it is, go look through the files whenever nobody's there, as shown in the trailer ? What was it doing before the tunnels were discovered, was it trapped there ? Surely not, if Gertrude went there herself.

If she did at all, anyway.

The plot is advancing, and Jonathan's sanity has taken a plundge. Personally, while I do think that Prentiss is dead, it doesn't mean that the Hive is, I am calling bullshit on this one.

Still, entertaining episode and strong season opener.

Onto the next one !

GRIFTER'S BONE :

HELL YES MUSIC BABY !

Music so beautiful, it makes you violent, music so good, it makes you kill yourself because you just know that you will never hear anything as good ever again and what's the point of living if you can't ?

Oh, I loved this one.

Not much else to say about the oddity though. Grifter has probably made the same kind of contract or whatever it was that Angela from "Piecemeal" jiggsaw demon did, the ability to make the most beautiful music at the price of the lives of the people who hear it, or something like that.

A little cameo of the Dreamer (or Oliver as his name probably is), trying to warn the poor girl before it's too late.

The things stubborness and curiosity makes us do.

Speaking of Jon though, our dear is slipping more and more, he already sounds more perturbed than in the last episode, but to be fair to him, what the fuck was even that Martin ? I am going toassume that his mother is dead or something, otherwise why he wouldn't just send her a text and have a conversation with her is beyond me.

For what it's worth, I am pretty positive that Martin isn't the one who killed Gertrude. Again, I don't trust him, but that's mostly because I don't really believe that people like him exist without hiding something, which was confirmed this episode !

Whether or not his secret is dangerous is another matter though.

Pretty sure his sudden bouts of mastery is just his dedication trying to impress Jonathan though.

Those two are probably SO shipped by the fandom, I just know it.

SECTION 31 :

"The words you learn to look out for are “weird”, “odd”, “strange” and if you hear the phrase “I’m not quite sure what I’m looking at”, then yeah, you’re not getting much back-up."

EVERYONE SHUT UP, JON MADE A JOKE !!

Oh my God, we're getting more lore on the functionning of society in TMA, I am screaming. This is amazing, perfection, show stopping. I need more of that, please and thank you, gimma aaaaall the world building. I do want to learn more about the oddities, but I also really want to know how the world outside of the Institute works. Let Jonathan have a supernatural cop buddy.

He's already so alone, and so tired and unsettled. Let him get a friend that he is sure won't be coming after him.

Anyway, we got the name of the man from "First Aid", the one calling for the scorching demon, lightless light, whatever its name is.

The way the police force work is fascinating though.

Basira probably have been implicated in some of the statements we read. I remember some mentionning a female cop ? But considering that those never got really resolved, I have to assume that she didn't even realize that they were genuine cases. Working with Jonathan could potentially broaden her horizons quite a bit, and maybe she could learn the ways to actually protect people from those oddities.

I wonder, was she the one who went on to check on Not-Garam, from "Across the Street" ? If, maybe, she suspected something, I wonder if she would get implicated in the Not-Sasha thing, then.

And what happened to the Leitner of Diego Molina, that made Spencer kill himself ? Did Diego get it back ? Before getting killed by Gerard, anyway.

Plus, the whole guy who tried to kill himself. I have genuinely no clue as to what is happening here, maybe another immortal like the one in "Cheating Death" trying to die ? What with the ancient looking dominos in glass cases. She never mentionned anything happening after that. Maybe it was the same guy that made the statement, actually ! Nathaniel Thorp. I guess he was tired, and decided that living in hell wasn't actually worth it, compared to death.

I could see it.

From the little list, we also got spider-husks ("Arachnophobia" link ?) and vampires ("Obviously, from "Vampire Killer". I wonder if she ever met the hunter before he died.).

Lots of call backs and links to be made, that the police never realized because they never got a hand on those statements. Fascinating.

But anyway, next episode !

Considering the title, am I to understand we'll get a "Circus of the Other" statement ?

TIGHTROPE :

HOLY SHIT IT'S A GERTRUDE'S RECORDING !!

~~~~~~~~~~

"I wouldn’t have had to find this tape player tucked away in the storage room, covered in dust and cobwebs."

And it was, indeed, a "Circus of the Other" sighting ! Grandiose.

Great episode, as usual. This season didn't have a boring one yet, it's amazing.

I didn't expect to get a Gertrude's statement full on so early, but it was amazing. I really enjoyed her voice, though I kind of felt that Jonathan somewhat put more ... I don't know, emotions to them ? She did too, but the difference between her voice as she recites the statement and her archivist voice isn't as ... Stark as Jon's is, at least to me.

Still, it is there, and means that whatever is pushing Jon to make the statements the way he does has been here for a long, long time, and doing the same for each and every of the archivists.

More information on the circus, which I have been curious about, especially considering that whatever has destroyed statements at the end of last season took the time to destroy the one about the calliope. It never really made sense, and it still doesn't, to be honnest.

More about Denikin, the granfather who had the calliope, and who was apparently pretty violent and evil ? Considering where he was working at anyway. So what, one day he just decided he didn't want to murder and defigurate people to put them in a show with his friends and just ... Retired ? No consequences ? Peaceful end of his life ?

Goddamn.

What was the goal of this circus though ? And why did they suddenly decide to come to England ? Between Denikin and Breekon and Hope, does this mean the others from the circus troupe, (the ones that were actually crew and not puppets or disfigured victims at least) also came to England ? Is it because of the Leitners ? Probably not.

"Unfortunately, he appears to have passed away in 1984, but he must have been something rather special."

This quote intrigues me though. I hope to see a statement about the man some day, to understand what she means by that.

Back to Gertrude Robinson though, contrary to what Jonathan thought, she did know that something was happening. Actually, she probably (definitely) knows more than Jonathan himself ever has. I guess it makes sense, considering that she was the Head Archivist for 50 years.

Does this mean that she was faking not knowing, or being incompetent, to hide whatever she knew from being discovered ? Are all Archivists destined to become paranoid messes ?

And talking about paranoid messes, Jon is slipping, little by little. Suspicious of everyone, which, again, it's good ! Because Not-Sasha. But also, if he's gonna lose his marbles anyway, he could have been smart earlier and think to hide the tapes himself BEFORE, instead of letting them into his drawer.

Better late than never, I guess. Here's to hoping it wasn't anything.

... I think this post could fit another episode.

BLOOD BAG :

"Not just malaria though, but yellow fever, hepatitis B and signs of cholera."

Can we please stop with the bloody insects, for FIVE FUCKING MINUTE ???

Urgh, whatever. First miss of the season for me, though it was still good, just not something that spoke to me.

Onto the case itself. Again with the diseases and the insects and the blergh. An act by the Hive, maybe ? Or Asag, the demon/oddity of diseases and stuff.

Did the scientist really exchange his syringe for money ? I doubt he did it for another item. Maybe the syringe was protecting him, and when he gave it away, he stopped being protected ?

But then, why did he need to be protected ? Was the oddity after him, for some reason ? Maybe after his family, since it was mentionned that his ancestor had found a way to save people from cholera, which is ... Pretty significant. And I just know that oddities are petty enough to keep a grudge to last several centuries and generations.

Something else to notice is the emphasis on the type of blood it was in the bag. O negative. And infected with several, potentially deadly diseases that could kill any normal man.

... Unless he cheated death and somehow became an immortal with a wish to die.

Jonathan is slowly making his way through the team, which is worrying, but also good because Not-Sasha DOES need suspicion thrown at her, but I swear to God, if he goes easy on her or end up trusting her over any of his friends, I will find a way to reach through the screen and strangle him.

But I fear it might just go that way.

Because I know he is the most open with her. That she is the closest to him of them all, at least at this point in the story.

And Martin, with his hovering, is not helping with the trust issues.

Still, it was nice to have a bit of Timothy's background. I too am asking myself all of these questions.

The quote of the post will not be from TMA, but rather from Niccolò Machiaveli, an author I partcularly like, and who's quotes Jonathan this season has reminded me of, time and time again.

"Never was anything great achieved without danger."

End Liveblogging.

#tma #the magnus archive #liveblogging #liveblog-tma

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