#rnmmarchformeta2023

[ober-affen-geil]

March for Meta Day 5: Free Day

Controversial opinion? I think Kyle Valenti is straight. More importantly, I think Kyle's straightness is a crucial aspect of his character, and if that aspect is removed his general character arc is significantly weakened.

This is the disclaimer where I say people can write whatever they want and this is my opinion blah blah blah. Personally, I strongly dislike the "homophobic bully turns out to be queer" trope, but that's only part of why it's important to me that Kyle is straight as an arrow.

It's because I dislike the thought that one has to be queer to be comfortable around queerness. I think Kyle is a more interesting character if he's straight and still goes to hang out at Planet Seven.

I think it fits his personal growth of owning his mistakes and becoming comfortable with being an imperfect person if, as an extension, he becomes comfortable and confident in his straight identity as well.

The reason he bullied Alex in high school is because he was allowing himself to be affected by the judgement of others. It *mattered* to him what other people might think about him based on who he associated with, and he didn't feel confident enough in himself to not care.

Part of his arc in the time between high school flashbacks and the show beginning, to me, is him realizing that it doesn't actually matter what people think about him and that his own moral compass is more important to him. The thing that makes him call out everyone else in the show is the same thing, to me, that puts him at Planet Seven on Taylor Swift drag night. Absolute, complete self-assurance that he *worked for*. And, for me, making him queer undercuts that.

#a riley special #roswell new mexico #rnm #kyle valenti #rnmmarchformeta2023

[jule1122]

March for Meta Season 4

March Meta Day 4 Season 4: Sometimes Alex gets the words right

With Alex missing so much of Season 4 and the drama of the last few episodes, I tend to forget about the first few episodes of the season.  They tend to be eclipsed by all that comes later so distant from the ending that it’s hard to remember they matter.  But Alex was very clear with Michael as they moved their relationship forward.  It’s amazing to see the transition from the early seasons where his regard for Michael was almost spoken in metaphor, Michael maybe missing the “I love you, you matter to me” in “I want to know who you are” and “You asked me to.”  There is no subtlety in S4, I think it’s Alex’s romantic equivalent of “I left nice behind in the Middle East.”  He is no longer hesitating in saying what he means and mostly what he means is Michael is the most important person in his life,

In 4x01 he tells him:  “Hey, I can live without that gazebo.  What I can’t live without is you.”

It’s a lovely way of telling Michael he prioritizes their future over nostalgia for one of the few positive memories of his childhood.  He trusted Michael with the gazebo, and Michael takes it to mean he trusts his with it physically, but I think what Alex was really doing was trusting him with it emotionally.  He was letting Michael see his vulnerabilities, sharing a dream he never told anyone else about.  Michael might have broken the physical gazebo, but he didn’t break the trust Alex placed him, he didn’t break the feeling of safety and support he gives Alex that allowed Alex to share that with thim.  Alex lets Michael know that he is the important part of the story not the gazebo.

4x02 is not a favorite of mine, but I am going to focus on something that makes me smile.

Alex: “Like a piece of alien tech, I don’t like being parted from my alien.”

Is it cheesy?  Absolutely.  But that’s what I love about it.  I love seeing Alex and Michael in a place where they can be cheesy with each other, where it’s not all shouted love confessions but bad puns that let them know how much they love each other.  Also, I think it’s important that Alex let Michael know why he wants to take the console.  His priority is getting back to Michael as soon as possible.  He is focused on Michel and being with him.  Michael is his alien and I love that for them.

#rnmmarchformeta2023 #malex meta #rnm 4x01 #rnm 4x02 #I love openly in love Alex #Could write a whole other meta about his telling Michael the house was his #He really goes all in in S4

[jule1122]

March for Meta Season 2

March Meta Day 2 Season 2: Sometimes Alex gets the words right

I am so excited because I get to talk about one of my favorite scenes between Michael and Alex and definitely one of my favorite moments in S2.

Let’s talk about 2x09

Michael “You came.”

Alex: “You asked me to.”

That’s it, just a quick exchange, but one I am obsessed with.  I think it is a crucial moment in their relationship, one I firmly believe is necessary for both of them.  This is the first time they’ve seen each other since the end of 2x06 when they effectively put the last nail in the coffin of their future together.  They both admitted that while they had believed they would somehow end up together, they no longer thought that was true.  And then Alex walked away.

So while they were clear on what they weren’t, what their future wouldn’t hold, they didn’t establish what they would be.  Would they be friends?  Would they be bitter exes who share friends but do their best to avoid each other?  Would they become acquaintances who work together when necessary but never share anything personal?

Michael’s reaction to seeing Alex seems to indicate even he isn’t sure.  He asked Alex (and we know it’s not easy for Michael to reach out but that’s a different meta) but wasn’t sure he would show up.  

And Alex gives him the most wonderful, perfect response.  “You asked me to.”  That’s it.  No further explanation, no qualifications.  “You (Michael) asked me to.”  That is all Alex needed.  In that moment, it’s not about their past, it’s about figuring out how they move forward.  So Alex establishes that Michael asking for him is all he needs.  It’s not about a promise or hope of a future together, it’s about their present and working to build their friendship.

#rnmmarchformeta2023 #malex meta #rnm 2x09

[jule1122]

March for Meta Season 3

March Meta Day 3 Season 3: Sometimes Alex gets the words right

Season 3 time!  Another season where Alex had his ups and downs when it comes to communicating with Michael.  There were definitely some moments where he said the wrong thing or shut Michael out at the wrong time, but again I am here to celebrate the times he did say the right thing.

3x03 drive in is a wild ride of a conversation.  Michael is not in a good place - resigned to his death and thinking he deserves it because of his father.  Alex has just come off a conversation about his own father and is again trying to figure what to do with his life and not knowing how to make a choice for himself.  It’s honestly a miracle they came out of this intact.

Alex:  “In Maria’s vision, I say I’m covering up a murder, right?”

Michael: “Yeah.”

Alex: “It’s not you.”

Michael: “You can’t know that.”

Alex: “Yes, I can.  If it were you, I would not cover it up.  I would burn the entire world down first.”

First off, credit for a dramatic exit and leaving Michael to think about what he said.  This is obviously an iconic line, and it’s important for many reasons.  In context with what I’ve been focusing on, how at times Alex is able to address one of Michael’s fears - that he doesn’t matter, that he is the one left behind - it is perfect.  Alex doesn’t say he wouldn’t cover up a murder, he says he wouldn’t cover up Michael’s murder.  Michael is the exception here, the person Alex knows regardless of circumstance he wouldn’t stand for his death.  Not only would he not cover it up, he would seek vengeance.  It’s not a love confession, but it is a confession of the value Alex places on Michael’s life.  Alex makes it clear that to him Michael isn’t disposable, that there is nothing that would convince to let Michael’s death go unpunished.

I can’t talk about Season 3 without 3x08.  

Alex:  “Guerin, you are the one piece . . . that I cannot go through life without.”

Have I sufficiently recovered from that moment - no.  I think back to Season 1 Alex saying he’s tired of not saying what he wants to and in this moment I think he really is able to say what he wants.  I think it’s important to remember that Alex and Michael are not together at this point, this was not a romantic declaration by Alex.  Instead it is a plea for Michael’s safety, for him to follow the plan so there are no unforeseen complications that could put him at risk.  Most importantly, he lets Michael know that his importance in Alex’s life is unique to him, Michael is not replaceable or forgettable, his is someone Alex can’t live without.  Michael has never been the most important person in anyone’s life before.  And while it doesn’t erase the pain of their past, Alex is finally able to tell Michael what he means to him,

#rnmmarchformeta2023 #rnm meta #malex meta #rnm 3x03 #rnm 3x08 #the season of Alex's big declarations

[jule1122]

March for Meta Day 5

March Meta Day 5 Free Day: Michael’s Turn!

I don’t necessarily think Michael is a better communicator than Alex, just that his communication issues are different.  Where Alex struggles to say what he means reverting to silence or cold formality, Michael is more likely to speak before he thinks.  And just like Alex there are times when he says the absolute perfect thing, something that shows why he and Alex belong together.  As I did with Alex, I want to look at a few times where what Michael says to Alex addresses a fear or insecurity Alex has.

3x09

Alex continues to struggle on the ledge. We flash briefly to Nora suddenly smiling, then flash briefly to the dials on the Lockhart Machine turning. Then, Michael rushes onto the balcony, through Nora, who fades away.

Michael: “Alex! I got you! I got you.”

Ramos has rushed onto the balcony after Michael, while Michael grabs Alex's hand and helps him down off the ledge and onto the balcony. Alex collapses into Michael, panting, and grabs on to him. Michael holds Alex.

Michael: “I always got you.”

Alex has never been cared for.  It’s never been safe for him to be weak or vulnerable.  Here, Michael finds him at one of his most vulnerable times - he is weak physically, he is confused, he’s stuck in vision reminding him that he is a failure.  And Michael holds him in his arms and lets him know that he is safe, that he as someone to lean on, someone who won’t turn away from his weakness but instead will protect him until he’s strong again.  Michael doesn’t ask for an explanation or tell Alex that now that the threat is gone he should get him, he tells him again that he has him, that Michael will take Alex’s weight as long as he needs to.  I can’t imagine what it must have felt like for Alex to sink into Michael’s arms, to be held, to be able to let go and feel safe and loved in that moment.  I might need to go cry about it for a few hours.

Michael has so many amazing moments at the end of Season 4.  He has my favorite line of the entire series “I am so in love with you it’s embarrassing.” But we are going one episode forward for this.

4x12

Michael: “Because all I’ve ever wanted my entire life was to make you happy.”

Perhaps not the best circumstances for this sentiment, but it’s still really important.  We start the series with Alex telling Michael, “What I want doesn’t matter.”  I think it takes him a very long time to move past that.  Alex’s mother left him with his abusive father and his brothers witnessed his abuse and didn’t stop it.  All of this people were also abuse victims and aren’t to be blamed for prioritizing their own safety, but Alex still would have learned that his safety wasn’t a concern.  Regardless of the changing narrative of Jim Valenti, he was an authority figure who didn’t intervene to protect Alex because of what it might have cost him.  Years in the military would have reinforced the belief that while Alex might have a purpose, he, as a person, his happiness, didn’t matter.  Michael telling him that Alex’s happiness not only matters but that it was something Michael wants to give him would have been something new.

*Special thanks to @saadiestuff for episode transcripts.  They are such a gift to the fandom and a huge help to me.

#rnmmarchformeta2023 #malex meta #rnm 3x09 #rnm 4x12 #Michael is the king of dramatic declarations

[rnmmarchformeta-archive]

[Image description

An open book on a counter with two hands writing in it. The text across the center of the gif reads “Roswell, New Mexico March for Meta March 15-19, 2023″.

End description.]

Don’t forget! March for Meta is coming up soon. If you’re looking for inspiration, find the prompts HERE and find suggestions for contributions that do not involve actually writing meta (fics, fanvids, art, playlists, and gifsets) HERE.

No meta is too small or too long, but we will not be reblogging posts with added commentary so if you want to riff you should create your own. The more the merrier! We will be tagging for triggers, and any post that contains explicit character/ship/creator hate (especially those with slurs or blatant racism/queerphobia) will not be reblogged.

Remember to use the tag in the first five tags (#roswellmarchformeta2023 or #rnmmarchformeta2023), or tag the blog in the post so we can find it!

#rnmmarchformeta2023 #roswellmarchformeta2023 #event #roswell new mexico #rnm

[jule1122]

March for Meta Season 1

March Meta Day1 Season 1: Sometimes Alex gets the words right

Full disclosure - I love Alex, I adore him, he is far and away my favorite.  But I don’t think he’s perfect.  Communication is one of his biggest struggles especially with Michael.  He says nothing, he says, both intentionally and unintentionally, the wrong thing.  I feel like Alex’s communication issues are fairly well documented, but we don’t talk much about the times he gets it right.

I wanted to look at times throughout all four seasons when Alex says the “right” thing to Michael, when he says something matters, something that - maybe only in hindsight is necessary - for their relationship to progress.  I am specifically focusing on times when what Alex says addresses some of Michael’s fears.  I think one of Michael’s biggest insecurities is feeling like he has less value than other people, Max and Isobel specifically.  He was the one left behind, the one who spent his life looking to the stars for a rescue that never happened.  There is a reason he told Isobel he killed Rosa and the others and a reason he was willing to continue the lie in season one even if it led to his death.  So let’s start with season one where Alex’s communication skills were probably at their worst.

We have this wonderful exchange is 1x10:

Alex: “So, the three of you were found together, but why were Max and Isobel adopted separately?”

Michael: “I just told you I survived a UFO crash, I gestated in a pod for half a century, and I hatched.  And you want to know about my family problems?”

Alex: “Look, I’ve known about alien stuff for months.  I want to know about you.”

What I love about this is Alex has been running hot and cold all season, and even the beginning of this conversation in 1x09 has him starting to walk away.  But instead he stays, and he tries to do what came for which was talk to Michael.  And when Michael questions him, he makes it clear he’s not there on a fact finding mission, he’s not trying to get Michael to tell him about alien powers or asking Michael what he might know about an alien killer.  Instead he’s trying to fill in the gaps in their relationship, trying to get to know Michael as a friend would.  Alex lets Michael know that it’s Michael he’s interested in - his life and his experiences - not his biology.  Sure it all goes to hell a few minutes later, but in that moment, Alex really did say what he came there to say.

#rnmmarchformeta2023 #malex meta #rnm 1x10 #Alex tries

[ober-affen-geil]

March for Meta Day 2: Season 2

Ship: Miluca | Song: "Peaceful Easy Feeling" by Eagles

Miluca was a breath for me, in season 2. I was happy to multiship, and I loved Michael and Maria when they were together. "Peaceful Easy Feeling" represents Miluca, from Michael's perspective, pretty perfectly in my opinion because it tells the story of his relationship with her.

For Michael in season 2, Maria *is* the most peaceful and solid relationship he's ever had in his life. Platonic or otherwise. She grounds him, in a way that the chorus talks about. The verses tell their story, the first one representing almost exactly how they first begin their relationship. There is some introspection and recognition of faults, and an acceptance that the relationship may not last.

The genre being country rock is the icing on the cake because what else could more perfectly describe Michael?

Lyrics: I like the way your sparkling earrings lay Against your skin so brown And I want to sleep with you in the desert night With a billion stars all around Chorus: 'Cause I got a peaceful easy feelin' And I know you won't let me down 'Cause I'm already standin' On the ground And I found out a long time ago What a woman can do to your soul Aw but she can't take you any way You don't already know how to go [Chorus] I get this feelin' I may know you As a lover and a friend This voice keeps whisperin' in my other ear Tells me I may never see you again [Chorus]

#a riley special #roswell new mexico #rnm #miluca #maria deluca #michael guerin #rnmmarchformeta2023

[rnmmarchformeta-archive]

[Image description:

A person stands in front of a glass board with black marker writing on it. A hand points to the text and gestures, underlining and emphasizing with a sweep and a shake. The text across the center of the gif reads “Roswell, New Mexico March for Meta March 15-19, 2023″.  

End description.]

Reminder that the Roswell “March for Meta” event is coming this March! We are asking you to put on your analyst hat and share your meta thoughts on everyone’s favorite alien drama. No meta is too small or too long, but we will not be reblogging posts with added commentary so if you want to riff you should create your own. The more the merrier! We will be tagging for triggers, and any post that contains explicit character/ship/creator hate (especially those with slurs or blatant racism/queerphobia) will not be reblogged.

Remember to use the tag in the first five tags (#roswellmarchformeta2023 or #rnmmarchformeta2023), or tag the blog in the post so we can find it!

Find the prompts HERE, find a list of trigger tags HERE, find a more extensive explanation on non-trigger tags HERE, find the policy regarding the iOS banned tags HERE, find reasons your post may not be on the blog HERE, and find suggestions for contributions that do not involve actually writing meta (fics, fanvids, art, playlists, and gifsets) HERE.  

#rnmmarchformeta2023 #roswellmarchformeta2023 #event #rnm #roswell new mexico

[ober-affen-geil]

March for Meta Day 3: Season 3

Ship: Echo | Song: "Bop" by Dan Seals

Echo has honestly been one of my favorites since episode 1, but they're my pick for season 3 because this season was about them repairing their relationship. About finding a way to really make it work, and reconciling after their first try went so wrong.

"Bop" represents Echo, from Max's point of view, because it's basically just a guy singing about how much he loves his partner. It's sappy, it's a little old school but not in a bad way, and it's endearingly a little cringe. It's about a current relationship, but it's reminiscing as well, which fits with how Max thinks about Liz.

Most importantly to me, for this being about Max, is that it's...not quite pop and not quite country. It's definitely poppy and it's definitely country, but it's a little too much of both to be either. This, for me, fits with Max's desire to really be able to fit in as "just a guy from Roswell" but being unable to.

Lyrics: Put on your Bobbi-sox baby Roll up your old blue jeans There's a band playin' down at the armory Know's what rock and roll really means I want to ride in your '55 T-Bird Drive through some old memories I ain't after your body baby I just want you to dance with me Chorus: I want to bop with you baby, all night long I want to bop the night away I want to make it a night like it used to be When our hearts were young and our souls were free I want to bop with you baby, all night long I want to be-bop with you baby till the break of dawn I want to bop with you baby all night long I got an old photograph in my pocket We were still in our teens Lord knows I feel a lot older now But you still look the same to me Honey, you don't ever laugh like you used to And I don't want to see you blue If you ain't busy tonight and you think it's alright This is what I want to do [Chorus] Let's twist and shout Oh, just like in the good old days Baby, watch out You know I just can't stand it when you look at me that way [Chorus x2]

#a riley special #roswell new mexico #rnm #echo #max evans #liz ortecho #rnmmarchformeta2023

[ober-affen-geil]

March for Meta Day 1: Season 1

Ship: Malex | Song: "We Belong" by Pat Benatar

It should come as absolutely no surprise to anyone familiar with my RNM meta that my ship pick for season 1 is Malex. It's the ship that got me into the show and it's the ship that ate my brain and spat meta out at a feverish pace in the first few months of the first hiatus...it's the ship that put me in this fandom.

"We Belong" represents Malex, especially season 1 Malex, to me because it's about a romantic relationship that is....rocky? It's actually unclear if the relationship is actually in progress or is only past tense, and how the other person feels about the relationship at all. But what is clear is that the two people have had issues of communication, have hurt each other, but ultimately are linked inextricably.

The language of the chorus states not only "we belong together", but also references the natural; unavoidable elements of living. Elements specifically found in a storm (light, thunder). Cosmic elements. It's this in the chorus and the specific lines throughout the verses speaking about how uniquely they can hurt each other, and acknowledges they are both wrong.

It's also that the song is a classic pop ballad sung with a powerful voice and a slow but driving and inescapable percussive rhythm in the back.

Lyrics: Many times I tried to tell you Many times I cried alone Always I'm surprised how well you cut my feelings to the bone Don't want to leave you really I've invested too much time to give you up that easy To the doubts that complicate your mind Chorus: We belong to the light, we belong to the thunder We belong to the sound of the words we've both fallen under Whatever we deny or embrace for worse or for better We belong, we belong, we belong together Maybe it's a sign of weakness when I don't know what to say Maybe I just wouldn't know what to do with my strength anyway Have we become a habit? Do we distort the facts? Now there's no looking forward Now there's no turning back When you say [Chorus] Close your eyes and try to sleep now Close your eyes and try to dream Clear your mind and do your best to try and wash the palette clean We can't begin to know it, how much we really care I hear your voice inside me, I see your face everywhere Still you say [Chorus x2]

#a riley special #roswell new mexico #rnm #malex #alex manes #michael guerin #rnmmarchformeta2023

[rnmmarchformeta-archive]

As with previous years, this blog will continue to reblog contributions to the event through the weekend :)

Another matter of business, this is the last year I plan to run this event. I will be changing the blog title to "rnmmarchformeta-archive" at the conclusion of this event and if someone wants to take it over they are welcome to it.

#rnmmarchformeta2023 #roswellmarchformeta2023

[rnmmarchformeta-archive]

[Image description:

A closeup on a glasses case being held on top of a book. Hands open the case and remove the glasses. The text in the center reads “Roswell, New Mexico March for Meta March 15-19, 2023.”

End description.]

Want to participate but written meta isn’t your style? Fear not! While the prompts were created with meta in mind we will accept contributions of any medium! Here are some suggestions to work off of; feel free to use them or to riff on them. We will reblog them along with the written metas on the day of each prompt.

Gifset - Repeated line or word - A scene you think is underrated (tell us why!) - Favorite character relationship - Repeated character trait - Favorite dialog exchange (tell us why!) - Feature your favorite costume/accessory (tell us why!) - A reoccurring color or image

Fanvid - Give us a medley of your favorite character dynamic (tell us why!) - Put two characters together that don’t usually appear on screen - Pick a favorite song used in the show and show how YOU would use it - Compilation video: every time X happens - Spotlight a repeated costume piece   - Feature your favorite minor character (tell us why!) - Show us a character’s development over the show condensed in one place

Fic - Expand a scene you wanted to see more of - Write canon scenes from the POV of a minor character or OC - Fill in a flashback that isn’t shown on screen - Pick your favorite piece of a character’s costume and tell us why they wear it - Give us a major character’s thoughts/inner dialog during a canon scene - Write about what a minor character does when they are NOT onscreen - Write how a character might have acted differently in an earlier season if they knew how the show ended

Art - Draw a character in the costume/setting that you feel best represents who they are - Show us your favorite minor character (tell us why!) - Give us a canon scene that was discussed but never shown - Put characters together that don’t usually appear together - Show us what the characters do off-screen in their free time, slice of life style - Feature your favorite character dynamic - Put a one-off side character from any season in a canon scene from a different season

Playlist - Make a list of songs *from the show* that are focused around a character or pairing (or location) - Give us songs YOU think a certain character would listen to - Put a list together with songs centered around a theme in the show - Show us what’s on the jukebox at the Crashdown (and what time period) - Spell out a line from the show with song titles - Put a song used in the show over a scene from a different season - Design a list around a song that is mentioned, but not played, in the show

#roswellmarchformeta2023 #rnmmarchformeta2023

[rnmmarchformeta-archive]

PSA about missed posts

If you do not see your post here there are a few things to check:

1) If a post has explicit content/creator/cast/character hate in it, up to and including slurs or violent/aggressive language, it will not be reblogged here. 2) If a post has explicit hate towards another blog or fan it will not be reblogged here. 3) If a post is an add-on to another, earlier meta that has already been posted it will not be reblogged here. (We encourage you to write your own! Referencing, presenting a counter argument, or linking to a meta that has already been posted is fine as long as the meta is it’s own post.) 4) If the blog was not tagged or if you did not put #rnmmarchformeta2023 or #roswellmarchformeta2023 in the first five tags it will not be reblogged here.

If you still don’t see your post (and enough time has passed to have reasonably been reblogged) then please send us a message! We know Tumblr can be finicky with links and we would hate for anyone to get missed because of a glitchy website.

#roswellmarchformeta2021 #rnmmarchformeta2021 #roswellmarchformeta2022 #rnmmarchformeta2022