#Neil's response was that he wasn't going to do something because fandom asked for it but it's so rude to try and force it

[highseas-swede]

...I seriously cannot stress how much I hate tags like "Give us BAMF Aziraphale" because it seems to imply that he's not badass.

He IS. Tell me how well most people could endure 6000 years of consistent, persistent demoralization, harassment and shitty treatment without snapping?

Do you know how HARD it is to be kind when you've been put through a system that actively discourages kindness and softness, a system that tries to beat it out of you - not physically, but still. The fact that Aziraphale got through all of that and is not just still kind, but still has the capacity to be kind to the very people who hurt him, is fucking remarkable.

Aziraphale is badass. Period. Full Stop.

It's well past time that we stopped equating physical and fighting prowess as a measure of badassery. Just about anyone can exercise and get strong enough to fight someone. Just about anyone could possibly get weapons training. Neither of these things is half as brave as putting yourself in front of a crowd of people and holding off 70 demons with just conviction and a candleholder because it's the RIGHT THING TO DO.

EDIT: I had to add this while I was thinking of it.

I feel like people are buying into Heaven's version of badassery. Angels were made to FIGHT. To fight the last big battle against demons and Hell.

Aziraphale is a deviation because he DOES NOT WANT THAT. He doesn't want to fight a war that will hurt billions and destroy the world. His defining moment in Season 1 is when he stands in the face of the quartermaster and refuses to fight the way they want him to. Instead of a weapon, he chooses to find another way.

If anything, I would think it's leading to the idea that Aziraphale feels he must fight, that he has no choice, and then, when it comes right down to it, finding another way. A kinder way. A BETTER way.

By the standards of Heaven, Aziraphale picking up his sword and fighting would be Normal. Him refusing and finding another way is what makes him Unique. THAT'S what makes him badass.

#Aziraphale is already a BAMF #miss me with these takes about how Aziraphale needs to toughen up #aziraphale #good omens #good omens meta #bamf aziraphale #I hate that tag #I hate it because it's only ever used for “Aziraphale beats people up with a sword” and never used for Aziraphale as he is #...also on a personal note #I hate bearded “manly” Aziraphale with a passion #why do people just want to make him more masculine? #Seriously wtf #Masculinity and badassery do not go hand in hand that's a very toxic masculinity rooted idea right there. #the one exception I would see is if they channeled Mrs Robinson a bit and kept the femme quality that makes him so delightful. #i mean obviously do what you want in fandom but people have literally been asking Neil to give Aziraphale a beard #Neil's response was that he wasn't going to do something because fandom asked for it but it's so rude to try and force it

[speremint]

Good Omens S2 Thoughts

OBVIOUSLY spoilers for GO S2 below, so if you've not seen, and don't wanna be spoiled, don't read!

The tl;dr of this long post is that I loved S2, it was a lot of fun, and I love that it focused more on Az and Crowley, but I also think it was a little out of pocket and a little messy in writing.

Anyway I fuckin.. am still processing all of what I watched, and am currently rewatching with a friend, too, but here's my jumbled thoughts on S2 and especially the final episode because I'm having many emotions and I need to get my thoughts out somewhere.

Listen. I would like to clarify that I loved S2 and I loved S1, and I think S2 was VERY smart to parse down on supporting characters and keep it stuck to Crowley and Aziraphale for the most part.

I'm assuming that S2 was made with S3 in mind though, esp after this post from Neil Gaiman, bc lord I will cry if there's no S3.

The focus on the story of Job I am being super optimistic in hoping that maybe it's Gaiman punching us in the throat with S2 before offering us a nicer S3... regardless though, I loved the season despite my minor criticisms.

I... do not have anything against Beelzebub/Gabriel, but holy shit was that out of left field for the ending... I just feel that, despite Gabriel having memory loss (it doesn't seem to be COMPLETE since it was kinda touch and go during scenes), they should've sprinkled in some sort of foreshadowing the his relationship or fondness of Beelzebub.

Have him at least not try to decimate that fuckin fly with books, or take an interest in books on forbidden romance, or rebellion against authority, or maybe just flat out have him be interested in Crowley and Aziraphale's relationship, or Nina and Maggie's. Just SOMETHING to set it up a little bit...

EDIT:: while rewatching, I suppose they hinged most of their foreshadowing in Beelzebub's passiveness and interest in Gabriel, but it's a little hard to have a comparison given how little they were in S1

It was only after I skimmed the GO tag that I saw people were pissed about Aziraphale's choice in E6 and I'm kinda just like ??? It's not OOC though... He's always been loyal to Heaven, and the times when he's been questioning, the biggest issue, is that Crowley was an enabler. He kept Aziraphale from REALLY facing the consequences of these decisions because he's acted as a safety net in some of the situations they're put in.

I love the added scenes of the past with Crowley and Aziraphale, they're fuckin great and I like that it continues to expand upon their relationship and "temptations", but I do think it was kinda reiterating stuff we knew from S1... even if it was good fan service, for lack of a better word. I just kinda wish they had sprinkled in more reinforcements of Aziraphale's fealty to heaven. Or, perhaps during the scene when Azira is worried he's going to become a demon, he could take that time to ask Crowley on his feelings on being a demon, and perhaps if he regrets it, just to also set up for the finale desire of Aziraphale in turning Crowley back into an angel.

Regardless though, S3, assuming there is one, will be a big wake up call to Aziraphale when he's left on his own and also under a tighter leash by heaven, especially since Crowley is gone. Also, expanding on Crowley being a high rank when he was an angel made my fuckin night, I still stick to the headcanon that he was the Archangel Raphael, don't @ me

I do think that... some of the stuff that happened in S3 did feel a little like a response to fans as well, since I know Gaiman is on tumblr and Ik the fandom has been really vitriolic over the fact that Az and Crowley didn't kiss or anything in S1... tbh I didn't think it was that big of a deal cause love is shown in many different ways, and I admit I do like that they kissed in S2, but it did also feel uhhh kinda spontaneous.

Not a bad thing, just wasn't expecting it. I did replay the scene bc I'm an angsty bitch. But yeah, I'm like ehhh.

Also Nina and Maggie randomly coming at the end to like.. sit Crowley down and be like "erm youre stupid and in love" felt very weird in a way I can't quite describe, but also felt kinda undeserved. Esp cause Crowley was like "eh I guess". I think the more subtle off handed chat he had with Nina about Aziraphale being his partner was a more elegant way of setting that up, and having him reflect on that instead would've been better. But also tbf he and Azira were being bitches and indeed messing with Maggie and Nina.

I don't like the term of describing content as "fanfic"y because a lot of fanfiction is super well written, but I think S2 was very... fan service-y... rather.

Which tbh I don't mind that much, esp given Gaiman really didn't want an S2 to respect Pratchett's passing as his cowriter. So... meh. I did genuinely dislike the ball scene at the end though. Just... it was really weird, and I'm not sure what they were trying to say with it, other than Aziraphale is fucking demented... and tbh he should've known better since the fucker's been on earth for ages, idk. After talkin with a friend, it just was a really weird scene, and if anything was OOC for him, I think it was that bc his removal of free will, speech, and even actions, was fucking insane.

Also I don't think John Hamm is attractive, so I tbh was just confused for a lot of his scenes that had interactions or alluded to him...

I liked S2, I really did. It was campy, it was a lil sloppy, but it was fun, and it gave a lot more Crowley and Aziraphale being a bitchy little married couple before their fuckin messy ass divorce at the end.

ANYWAY... I really can't wait to see what happens, and I am PRAYING that there'll be an S3. Until then, I will happily sit in my puddle of tears

#this is word vomit im sorry #good omens s2 #good omens s2 spoilers #personal #i prob will draw go again ngl i am cry

[eddieheart]

BIG BROTHER

(Part 1)

Fandom: Stranger Things

Pairings: NONE

Words: 880

Description: Billy lives and so does Max, though she needs a bit more help from her big brother

Billy sat alone in the hospital. Max was in a hospital bed right now, just as he had been a year ago. Alone, afraid and in pain. He wasn't going to leave her, she was family and believe it or not Billy Hargrove took that shit seriously.

Billy took a deep, steadying breath before standing up and walking into Max's room. He gently pushed open the door and walked inside.

She looked so small. The casts covering her arms and legs enveloped her whole. He approached the bed, cautiously reaching a hand out to touch her. Eyes watering, he held onto her uncasted hand.

The door creaked open, Billy quickly wiped the corners of his eyes and yanked his hand away. A doctor came in, he looked serious, glancing about, probably looking for Susan.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, I can come back." Billy raised a hand to stop him.

"No it's fine, I'm her guardian. You can tell me, please tell me." Billy said, voice strained and shaky.

The doctor's lips tightened and he held his clipboard tighter. He glanced down at her file before looking up and facing Billy.

"Mr. Mayfield." The doctor started.

"Hargrove."

"Hargrove. I'm sorry to have to tell you this but, Maxine's-."

"Max."

"Max's leg isn't healing like we thought it would, she had a serious infection in her left leg and were going to have to amputate." Billy nodded curtly, glancing over to Max as the doctor spoke.

"Also, with her other limbs, even if they heal perfectly she's going to have serious mobility issues. As well as serious impairment visually." Billy nodded in response, keeping quiet.

The doctor must have sensed he wasn't welcome because he quickly nodded and left the room. He looked back down at Max worriedly, he was going to take care of her, no matter what, he would take care of her.

Another knock sounded the door, it opened slowly. Billy expected to see the doctor again with more news, instead of him though he was greeted by the one and only King Steve and his gaggle of brats.

"Oh! Uh Billy... hi. Um... we’ll just go." Billy sighed to himself and shook his head.

"Stay. She'd want you... to stay. If it's that bad I'll go, just... you guys can stay." Billy's lip tightened as Steve lead his army into Max's room.

Sinclair eyed him wearily as he walked in, a strange girl he'd never seen before followed him in along with Henderson. Lucas stepped forward and timidly held out a bouquet.

"We brought her flowers."  He nodded and smiled softly to himself.

——

Max had been in a coma for two months now, Billy had started working at a local mechanic shop, thatcher tire, to help Susan with rent and medical bills. Billy went to see his sister everyday, rain or shine, bad day or good, he went.

Every day he saw his little sister, small and fragile, laying alone in her sterile white bed. Something Max would have hated by the way. Her room at home was always filled with colour and light and music.

Even though Neil had left and Susan had checked out mentally, Billy was alway there for her. The only reason they weren't homeless right now was because Neil was paying child support and Susan got a welfare check every month.

Today was like any other, Billy woke up, went to work, then went to see Max. She laid in bed, unmoving, as always. Billy walked up the side of the bed and placed a gentle hand onto hers.

This time, something was different, he could feel it. The heart monitor beeped faster as the young girls eyes fluttered open. Billy jumped up in surprise.

"Nurse! Nurse!" He cried out.

An older woman came running in and quickly checked Max's vitals. After assuring him everything was fine he walked over to the young girl and began to speak softly.

"Hey there Mad Max, how you doing?" He softly brushed a strand of hair from her face.

"Billy?" Her soft, breathy voice asked.

"Yeah Maxie it's me. Look I know it's scary right now, but you gotta trust me okay. Everything's gonna be okay." Billy gently brushed her face as he spoke.

Max's eyes flutter again, closing softly as she was lulled back into sleep.

——

They had to amputate. Billy was worried it would come to this. But the doctor had said that the infection had spread too much to save the leg and if they waited any longer it could spread to her blood an kill her. So they had to amputate.

Billy was there when she went into surgery and he was there when she got out. He spent most of his day sitting with his little sister, hoping that when she woke up she'd understand why they had to do it.

Billy didn't know anyone stronger than his sister, he'd been an asshole to her, it wasn't her fault Neil was beating him, but at the time she was all he could take his anger out on. It was his fault not hers, it was Neil's fault.

Billy knew he'd done wrong by her and now she was his responsibility. He needed to protect her, no matter what.

Part 2:

@buggylad

#fanfiction #fanfic #stranger things #hurt billy hargrove #billy hargove imagine #billy hargrove #max mayfield #max hargrove #susan mayfield #lucas sinclair #steve harrington #dustin henderson #erica sinclair #hospital

[disdaidal]

hello! this is a bit random but i just need to share it lmao so my best friend is finally watching stranger things (mainly bc i begged him to do so) and we were just on holiday together so over the last 4 days we watched most of season 2 together and let me tell you i was Terrified of his reaction to billy, bc our other friend who was watching with us is not a fan of the little trash boy and yk it's easy to go down the not liking him route. however today i got to see my best friend's reaction to neil hargrove and The Scene. and it was glorious. he immediately said sth along the lines of "holy shit now i feel bad for this kid and suddenly all his behaviour makes sense." it was lovely and reassuring to see this reaction from a guy who isn't as involved in fandom spaces or drama and really had a completely neutral pov. hearing this outside perspective in between all the anti bullshit and stuff was so nice -myriadof-fandoms

That's good to hear! :) Sometimes it's hard to like characters because their behavior annoys us for one reason or another but eventually they just might grow on us. Sometimes it even takes two, even three rewatches for us to fully understand that character (definitely happened to me more than once lol). So it's good to hear that your friend ended up having a more empathetic/understanding response to Billy's character instead of just sticking with a negative bias because of how Billy acts.

I actually had a similar experience with my best friend who's also here on Tumblr. :) With the exception that she wasn't actually biased against Billy because she doesn't watch the show, but rather she asked me to pick an episode or two for us to watch because she was curious about Billy. And I recall showing her at least the second episode from s2 where Billy drives like a madman and taunts Max, and my friend immediately picked up on it and said something along the lines of "he's definitely got some issues" and "he needs help". And it was also a very neutral response from her so I felt good because Billy's character really divides opinions.

Of course we didn't watch the entire show so I don't know if she would've felt otherwise if we had haha. On the other hand, she was a hardcore Loki fan back in the day so yeah. :)

#replies #myriadof-fandoms #<3 #no but i'm really happy for you actually #it's so nice to hear this kind of stuff for a change